👕 COVID, the Powerball, and Clothing Swaps

Welcome to your weekly San Fernando Valley update: September 4–September 10, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🦠 COVID wave

• 🥣 Sound bath

• 👕 Clothing swaps

• 🇺🇾 South American restaurant

Have you seen those newer cars that don’t have turn signals?

I’ve seen more of them around L.A. lately, mainly on the Westside.

They have a small “exemption” tag above the license plate. (I think that’s what it is?)

The cars still have red “lights” where the taillights typically are, but they don’t actually turn on.

They must be getting ready for a driverless future.

Have you seen them yet?

Want to see a film that captures the vibrancy of the San Fernando Valley?

See local spots like Downtown Burbank, The Roost, Toro Sushi House, and the recently demolished Pickwick Bowling.

"Jeff Gets A Job" is on the big screen September 7 at the Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria. Directed by Emmanuel Duga.

A new slice-of-life film about Jeff trying to find a purpose in life.

It's a one-night event only, part of the official selection for the Tarzana International Film Festival.

Go to the event →

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Here’s what’s happening:

💸 $1.4M Powerball Ticket Sold in Sherman Oaks: A winning Powerball ticket worth $1.3 million was sold at the 76 gas station on Ventura and Van Nuys boulevards. The prize remains unclaimed. The player matched five numbers but missed the Powerball. The $1.7 billion Powerball drawing is on Saturday evening. (NBC4)

😷 COVID Wave Sweeps California: Cases and hospitalizations are climbing again. From L.A. County to the Bay Area, health officials are urging people to mask indoors until transmission eases. The recommendations echo early-pandemic precautions as California braces for another surge. (LA Magazine)

🎾 Burbank Court Closures: Verdugo Park tennis courts will close Sept 15–19 for repairs, and Maxam Park pickleball courts will close Sept 15–26 for resurfacing. Both projects aim to improve safety and play quality. (City of Burbank)

🔥 Sepulveda Basin Fires Spark Outrage: 700 fires were reported in the Basin over the past 18 months. Encino and Balboa Park residents fear the blazes could spread. City officials cleared one acre of brush recently. However, there are nearly 600 more that remain a concern. Neighbors are frustrated with the slow progress. (ABC7)

These are my favorite upcoming events:

Ongoing

🎶 September Live Music (Studio City): The Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge hosts outdoor live music every Saturday this month. Unwind with local performances while you shop and dine in the open-air center. Free. Saturdays in September, from 5 PM to 7 PM at The Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge.

Thursday, September 4

🏈 NFL Kickoff (Burbank): Catch Thursday Night Football (Cowboys vs. Eagles) on big screens with $2 wings, $7 street dogs, and $10 margaritas. Perfect for settling in with game-day bites and ice-cold drinks. 5:20 PM kickoff at Magnolia Corner.

Friday, September 5

📻 KPBJ FM Fundraiser (San Fernando Valley): Support the launch of a freeform community radio station with live sets from local bands, merch, and tabling from neighborhood groups. Donation-based. Friday, September 5 at 6 PM.

📚 Meet & Greet with Raegan Revord (Studio City): Annabelle’s Book Club hosts the Young Sheldon star and debut author for a signing of her YA rom-com Rules for Fake Girlfriends. $22. Includes a copy of the book. Friday, September 5, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

🛍️ Vintage Clothing & Collectible Sale (Valley Village): Shop decades of women’s and men’s vintage fashion, from Victorian to the ’90s, including brands like Valentino, Halston, Bob Mackie, and Levi’s. Friday to Sunday, September 5–7.

Saturday, September 6

👕 Clothing Swap Event (North Hollywood): Buy Nothing NoHo returns with a free clothing exchange at Moby’s Coffee & Tea. Bring clean, folded adult-size clothes, shoes, or accessories. Browse what neighbors have donated. Free. Saturday, September 6, from 12 PM to 3 PM at Moby’s Coffee & Tea Co., 10513 Burbank Blvd.

🔘 Collectible Pins: Pinfinity Pop-Up Launch (Sherman Oaks): GeekyGlamorous hosts Pinfinity’s launch party, featuring AR-enabled pins, custom art buttons, and treats from local vendors. Pins from Godzilla, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Fallout. Saturday, September 6, from 12 PM to 2 PM. Runs through October 4.

🎭 Queer Cosplay & Sketch Meetup (Woodland Hills): Join fellow creatives for cosplay, sketching, and community fun. Donation-based entry. Saturday, September 6, from 11 AM to 3 PM at 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd.

🪕 Square Dance Night (North Hollywood): Grab your boots for live square dancing with band Echo Mountain and caller Robin Fischer. Beginner-friendly, no partner needed. $20-25. Saturday, September 6, from 7 PM to 10 PM, at the Mayflower Club.

🎶 House Concert (Winnetka): A neighborhood music night. Nacho bar, potluck (bring a dish), and live sets from Bernie Barlow (backed Sarah McLachlan, Moody Blues, Melissa Etheridge) and Little Days, a retro-inspired indie pop-rock duo. A suggested donation of $20 supports the artists. Saturday, September 6, at 6 PM at 5711 Manton Ave.

🐶 Puppies n’ Pilates (Calabasas): Stretch, strengthen, and snuggle at the Calabasas Pickleball Club with pilates and rescue puppies. Two sessions. $50. Saturday, September 6, at 8:30 AM.

🏺 Pottery & More Sale (Valley Village): Shop ceramics and artisan goods. Saturday, September 6 from 11 AM to 3 PM at 4901 Radford Avenue.

Sunday, September 7

🌙 Weekly Walk & Sound Bath (Valley Village): Evening walk followed by a restorative sound bath under the lunar sky, hosted by Los Angelistas. Free. Sunday, September 7, at 5:30 PM.

🏐 Volleyball Sundays (North Hollywood): Casual, all-skill-level volleyball games hosted by Burbank Rec Club. Bring water, sunscreen, and athletic wear. Free. Sunday, September 7, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at North Hollywood Park.

Happening Soon

📚 Wine & Books (Sherman Oaks): Wine and book pairings, trivia, and time to share your favorite passages in the 1946 back room at Augustine Wine Bar. Wednesday, September 10 at 6 PM. $50, includes wine.

📺 Severance Bingo: Emmy Edition (North Hollywood): Interactive bingo night celebrating the hit show Severance. $20. Wednesday, September 10 at 8 PM. Tickets are available online or at the bar.

📚 Adult Scholastic Book Fair (North Hollywood): Idle Hour and The Last Bookstore team up for a Scholastic Book Fair for Adults with drink specials, door prizes, nostalgic school supplies, and author meet-and-greets. Saturday, September 13, from 1 PM to 5 PM at Idle Hour. 21+ only.

👟 Van Nuys 5K Run (Sherman Oaks): Lace up for the 3rd annual community 5K at the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. Proceeds benefit Van Nuys youth programs. $35. Sunday, September 14, at 8 AM.

🇺🇾 Uruguayan and Argentinean Restaurant (New—Studio City) ALTO is a new “fire to table” restaurant on Ventura Blvd. It’s a unique concept restaurant inspired by the South American Pampas, a fertile grassland. Led by Michelin-trained chefs.

🍻 Roguelike Tavern Needs Support (Burbank): After a week-long closure for major plumbing repairs, Roguelike Tavern is raising funds to cover lost income, expenses, and create an emergency cushion. Grab a beer or donate. The bar has weathered shutdowns, strikes, and wildfires, and is now asking for community support.

⛸ WeHo Skate Party (West Hollywood): A three-day outdoor roller skating event with music, rentals, and safety gear provided. Open to all ages, pre-registration required. $15. September 12, 13, and 14, from 12 PM to 7 PM, at West Hollywood Park.

🎬 Working Directors Workshop (Downtown LA): A two-day intensive for directors of all genders 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.

🏺 Claytivity (Burbank) is a community ceramics studio with 24/7 member access.

Bring your ceramics experience or take beginner/advanced classes to become a member.

$200/month membership includes firing, wheels, hand-building tables, and studio access.

🔦 Darth Vader’s lightsaber is going up for auction in September.

🧘 Erewhon is opening in NYC inside a members-only club that costs $36k to join.

🤖 Taco Bell is rolling back AI drive-throughs. One man crashed the system by ordering 18,000 cups of water from the robot cashier.

❓️ This British-American comedian lived most of his life in the same Toluca Lake home until he died in 2003. Who is it?

Hint: He starred in 50+ films, and his estate sold for $26 million in 2023.

Last week’s question: Before the name was shortened to “Los Angeles,” what was the original name for our city?

Answer: The Los Angeles area was originally home to the Tongva people, and their settlement was named Yang-na. Spanish settlers founded a town in 1781 with the name "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula."

Thank you for reading. See you next week!

PS Stay safe and healthy! The new COVID variant sounds nasty.

PPS Your Cybertruck doesn’t fit in the Trader Joe’s parking lot, no matter how much you want it to.

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