🎃 Oktoberfest, Persian Food, College Fair

Welcome to your weekly San Fernando Valley update: September 18–September 24, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🎃 Oktoberfest

• 👽️ E.T.

• 🍢 Persian restaurant

• 🎓️ College fair

Did you know there are multiple ways to tie your shoes?

I’ve been doing bunny ears since the ‘90s.

But there are dozens of different ways to tie shoe knots.

I’m going to try the “Turquoise Turtle” this week.

🎓 San Fernando Valley College Fair (Sylmar)

Students and parents can connect with 50 colleges and universities—local community colleges, UC and CSU systems, HBCUs, and out-of-state schools.

Workshops for financial aid, admissions strategies, and transfer pathways.

Plus, bilingual sessions and support for first-generation students.

Free. Saturday, September 20, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Los Angeles Mission College.

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Here’s what’s happening:

📚 LAUSD Adopts Financial Literacy Curriculum. The LAUSD Board passed a resolution to add personal finance and economic justice classes to high school curriculum. (Patch/City News Service)

🚇 Metro A Line Heads to Pomona. Starting Sept. 19, riders can travel from Long Beach to Pomona. Stops in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne/Fairplex, and Pomona North. The project is part of Metro’s Olympic transit push. (LAist)

These are my favorite upcoming events:

Ongoing

🎗️ Relay For Life of Greater San Fernando Valley (Valley Glen): The Valley’s biggest cancer fundraising event. Family-friendly. Honoring survivors and fighting back against cancer. Register to fundraise for this year’s event. Saturday, November 15, 2025, 11 AM to 6 PM at LA Valley College. 

Thursday, September 18

📚 Book Launch: Z vs V Among the Living (North Hollywood): Launch party for a new zombie thriller. Books, beer, and blood. Meet author Brad Goldberg, get your book signed, and hang with fans. Free. Or, $10 for a book. Thursday, September 18, 6 PM to 8 PM at Lawless Brewing Co.

Friday, September 19

🎬 Environmental Film Festival (Mission Hills): “Wild & Scenic” is an environmental film festival. Guest speakers and a silent auction. $23. Friday, September 20, from 6 PM to 9 PM at Mission Hills Christian Church.

Saturday, September 20

☕ Valley Coffee Rave (Sun Valley): Dance, sip, and swap clothes. Bring up to 10 women's or unisex clothing items to trade, enjoy local food vendors, and groove to a live DJ. $2 if you bring clothes to swap, $5 if you don't. Saturday, September 20, from 10 AM to 2 PM at 10860 Vinedale.

🧘 Vuori + ACTV Studio IRL Meetup (Canoga Park): Vinyasa yoga class led by Hot 8 Yoga. Plus, refreshments. Discover Vuori's premium athletic apparel at this morning wellness event. Free. Saturday, September 20, yoga from 8 AM to 9 AM at Topanga Social. Bring your own mat. RSVP required.

🌙 E.T. Movie Night (Encino): Steven Spielberg's beloved E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Face painting, free ice cream, and popcorn. Big outdoor screen. Free. Saturday, September 20, from 5:30 PM to 9 PM at Encino Park. Bring your blankets and low chairs.

🎨 Pasadena Art Walk (Pasadena): Stroll Green Street with 180+ local artisans at an open-air gallery. Handmade treasures, live music, and community. Free. Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, 11 AM to 6 PM on Green Street from Los Robles to El Molino.

🌭 Oktoberfest Wiener Dog Race (Canoga Park): Watch dachshunds dash for glory alongside beer challenges and stein-holding contests. Commemorative steins, stickers, sunglasses, and limited edition beers. Free. Saturday, September 20, at 1 PM at 818 Brewing. RSVP required.

🎸 Punktoberfest 2025 (Canoga Park): Start with daytime steins and festival games at 818 Brewing, then crank up the volume. All-ages punk meets traditional Oktoberfest. Free. Saturday, September 20, 6 PM to midnight at 818 Brewing.

Sunday, September 21

⚓ Pirate Pub Songs (Burbank): Salty sea shanties, nerdy and dirty parodies, and Ren faire favorites. Nerdy musical shenanigans streaming live to Twitch. Free. 2-item minimum. Sunday, September 21, at 7:30 PM at The Roguelike Tavern.

📖 Walt Disney's Train Museum (Griffith Park): Step into Walt Disney's preserved personal barn and discover his love of model trains. Only open once per month. Donation-based. Sunday, September 21, from 11 AM to 3 PM at Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn, 5202 Zoo Dr.

Happening Soon

🧙 Bilbo Baggins’ 111th Birthday Party (North Hollywood): Journey to Middle-earth. Idle Hour teams up with Fantasy (K)nights. Celebrate both Bilbo and Frodo's birthdays with drink specials, games, food, and prizes. Free. Monday, September 22, at 7 PM at Idle Hour. More details coming soon.

🎬 Burbank International Film Festival (Burbank): 17 years of independent cinema. Unique films from emerging and established filmmakers. Q&As, panels, mixers, and networking events during the week-long celebration. September 23 to 28, at AMC 16 Burbank.

🎀 Women’s Club Grand Opening Event (Burbank): Check out this new community space for women. Snacks, wine, and a meet and greet with instructors and hosts. Free. Wednesday, September 24, 5 PM to 7 PM, ribbon cutting at 5:30 PM.

🎮 Video Game “Book Club” (Sherman Oaks): Join local gamers. Play new releases. Meet up to chat about the game with the community. Games are usually multi-platform and under $20. Thursday, September 25, from 7 PM to 9 PM at GeekyGlamorous, 13634 Burbank Blvd.

🦔 Neighborhood Wildlife Program (Encino): Learn to coexist with coyotes, possums, and other critters sharing your backyard—wildlife educator Dana Stangel of Teranga Ranch. Discover what attracts animals to your property and humane alternatives to traps and poisons. Thursday, September 25, from 7 PM to 8:15 PM at Encino Community Center Auditorium.

🎤 Wine + Espresso Speakeasy & Open Mic (San Fernando): Intimate poetry and music showcase, plus an open mic. Sip wine and espresso and support a local nonprofit helping immigrants and refugee children. $5. Friday, September 26, at 7 PM at Bodevi Wine and Espresso Bar.

🍽️ Persian Restaurant (New—Tarzana): Pom Grill does Persian food with a modern twist. Family-owned. Filet mignon kabobs, vegan walnut and pomegranate stews, eggplant and hummus dips, and more. Open daily for lunch and dinner. 19535 Ventura Blvd.

☕ San Fernando Coffee Company (New—North Hills): SFCC opened its 11th location. Handcrafted espresso and fresh pastries. Good for relaxing, working, or catching up with friends. Open daily from 7 AM to 3 PM at 9160 Sepulveda Blvd. Grand opening specials available.

🥯 Sourdough Bagels Pop-Up (North Hollywood): Homemade bagels and refreshing spritzes. Featuring The Cheeseme—green chile and Monterrey Jack bagel with jalapeno cream cheese, chorizo, and scrambled eggs. Sunday, September 21, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Haley's Wines.

🎬 Valley Thriller Film Screening (Hollywood): Indie film starring Jamie Kennedy, Ash Tsai, and David Howard Thornton. Written and directed by Valley resident Frank Merle. One week only. Watch the trailer. $14.50. September 19 to 25 at Cinelounge Sunset. 

🎬 Directors Workshop (Downtown LA): A two-day intensive for directors featuring panels, workshops, masterclasses, and networking with top talent from TV, film, and streaming. Featuring cast and crew from Apple, Hulu, Marvel, AMC, and more. Friday–Saturday, September 26. $245.

🏴‍☠️ Raging Waters BOGO Tickets (San Dimas): Pirates, prizes, and splashes for the final weekends of summer at Raging Waters water park. Extended hours. Tickets are buy-one-get-one-free until September 28.

🍺 Oktoberfest on the Promenade (Santa Monica): Raise your steins for live music, festive cocktails, and Bavarian fun. Third Street transforms into family-friendly fun. Games, prizes, photo ops, and kids' crafts, plus drinks. Free. Saturday, September 27, 2 PM to 7 PM.

🏞️ Free CA State Parks Pass

Did you know that you can get free entry to 200+ California state parks with your LA Public Library card?

Check out a day pass for one car from your local library.

You can hang onto the pass for 3 weeks before you have to return it.

Great for a weekend adventure.

See a map of all the participating parks.

📱 The TikTok ban has been extended (again) to mid-December. Users will be asked to switch to a US-owned version of the app.

🚗 Celebrities on the Emmys red carpet rate the worst parking lots in L.A.

❓️ What is the name of the official song of LAX?

Hint: It peaked at No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard country chart in 1971.

Last week’s question: What is the lowest point in Los Angeles?

Answer: The lowest point in Los Angeles is where the L.A. River meets the Pacific Ocean. It’s at sea level. The L.A. River flows through the city of Los Angeles, but it ends in Long Beach. Additionally, Terminal Island in Long Beach is 13 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point in L.A. County.

Thank you for reading. See you next week!

PS Nexstar, the TV broadcaster that refused to air Jimmy Kimmel’s show this week, owns KTLA, one of L.A.’s largest news stations.

PPS Am I getting old, or is the 2026 Coachella lineup kinda boring for $650 tickets? Also, why are they announcing it in September?

PPPS Holy cow! I tried to go to the “Scholastic book fair for adults” at Idle Hour last weekend. There were 150+ people in line! Thanks for supporting local. Next time, I’m going to bribe one of you guys to cut the line…

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