Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globe-trotting sports nut Oly Bennett, broadcasting from the city where palm trees wear Christmas lights and the skyline is basically a movie set. It’s Saturday, December 20, 2025, and LA is serving up classic winter-in-SoCal vibes: cool, sunny, and perfect jacket-optional weather while the rest of the country argues with snow shovels.

Today’s energy is pure holiday hustle. Downtown to Hollywood, you’ve got shoppers, skaters, and selfie-takers all chasing that “I swear this is festive even though it’s 70 degrees” feeling. Over at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles Ballet is performing The Nutcracker, a local twist that whisks you from snowy scenes straight to Venice Beach and the Pacific coast. Over in Inglewood, the Intuit Dome is the center of the sports universe tonight as the Clippers take on the Lakers in a rivalry matchup that feels like a family feud with better lighting. And if you’re into stargazing instead of slam dunks, Griffith Observatory is hosting its free Public Star Party this afternoon and evening, where volunteers set up telescopes so you can literally spend Saturday night looking at Saturn instead of your phone.

For families, several community toy giveaway events are popping off across the city today, including holiday villages and Santa visits offering free toys, food, and activities for kids in neighborhoods like Crenshaw and South LA. Later tonight, nightlife cranks up: Academy LA in Hollywood is hosting Nicky Romero for a high-energy electronic set, while The Vermont Hollywood welcomes Rooler for an 18-plus, festival-style chaos-your-legs-will-feel-tomorrow kind of night. If you like your holidays with a side of speakeasy mystery, Santa’s Secret immersive experience turns a winter wonderland into a hidden holiday bar with cocktails, variety acts, and live music.

On the local news and city info front, holiday traffic is no joke, so expect extra congestion around shopping hubs like Hollywood & Highland, Downtown, and major arenas. Metro rail and buses tend to be packed but are a smart move tonight if you’re heading to the game, concerts, or clubs; you dodge parking prices that look like rent. Keep an eye on service alerts from LA Metro if you’re riding late.

If you’re planning your perfect LA day, here’s your game plan. Daytime: hit Griffith Park for a hike up to Griffith Observatory, then stick around for the star party. Swing through the Arts District or Mission Road to check out immersive exhibits and holiday pop-ups. Evening: grab dinner at one of the city’s buzzy new seasonal menus—LA restaurants go extra creative in December—then choose your lane: ballet at the Dolby, hoops in Inglewood, jazzed-up holiday concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, or straight-up clubbing in Hollywood.

Local tip from Oly: LA may be a driving city, but the real pros park once and make a mini walking tour out of a neighborhood. In Hollywood, you can hit dinner, a show, and a nightclub all within a few blocks, instead of playing “find the parking spot” after every stop. And fun fact: instead of snow, LA’s winter “storm” is jacaranda petals and palm fronds, so your biggest hazard is tripping while taking a sunset photo.

Tomorrow, the holiday engine keeps rolling with more Nutcracker performances, ongoing immersive holiday experiences, and plenty of last-minute markets and festive pop-ups. Tune in next time as we hunt down more surprise gems, wild events, and maybe a sport you’ve never heard of hiding in a Los Angeles park.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great...

Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globetrotting sports nut pal, Oly Bennet! It’s Friday, December 19, 2025, and LA is serving classic winter-in-SoCal vibes: cool, sunny, and smugly reminding the rest of the country that jackets here are mostly fashion accessories, not survival gear.

The city’s energy today is pure holiday sprint-meets-chill mode. Downtown and Hollywood are lighting up early, traffic’s already thick around the shopping zones, and Metro is bracing for a big weekend crowd heading to shows, games, and light festivals.

If you’re craving culture, Los Angeles Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood tonight brings snowflakes and sugarplums to a place usually reserved for blockbuster premieres, according to Ticketmaster and Discover Los Angeles. Over at L.A. Live, A Charlie Brown Christmas at The Novo turns everyone into a nostalgic peanut, with afternoon and early evening performances, as Discover Los Angeles reports. For music lovers, Ellington’s Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky’s Winter Daydreams at Walt Disney Concert Hall offers a jazzy twist on the classic, according to the LA Phil. Rock fans can hit the Osees: Last But Not Least… Holiday Spectacular at Teragram Ballroom downtown, via Ticketmaster. And sports fans, the weekend ramps toward that Clippers vs. Lakers showdown at the Intuit Dome, which Discover Los Angeles highlights as one of the big marquee events.

On the newsier side of things, local outlets are emphasizing holiday transit reminders: expect heavier crowds on Metro rail lines into Downtown and Hollywood tonight and through the weekend, with LA Metro encouraging tap-and-go payment and extra time for connections. Holiday guide sites like SoCal Pulse and Secret Los Angeles report that seasonal light experiences such as Grand Illuminations at California Plaza and Enchant Christmas at Santa Anita Park are drawing big turnouts, so plan for parking or take transit where you can. Food-wise, LA dining guides are buzzing about new year-end menus and special holiday pop-ups, especially around Inglewood near Hollywood Park and along the Arts District, so don’t be surprised if your “quick bite” turns into a full foodie adventure.

Now, Oly’s must-do playbook for today. Start day-time with something classic: stroll Grand Park and then walk up to the Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall to soak up the architecture and early holiday décor. Swing by Grand Central Market for lunch—grab a taco, ramen, or a wild gourmet grilled cheese, then wander over to the Bradbury Building nearby for a quick, cinematic look-see. For evening plans, choose your lane: pure nostalgia with The Nutcracker, jazzy and sophisticated at Walt Disney Concert Hall, or loud and sweaty at the Osees show. If you want something more low-key but ultra-LA, head to Highland Park or Echo Park for cozy bars, vintage shops, and neighborhood holiday lights.

Here’s a local tip: in LA, “15 minutes away” is a myth—especially on a December Friday. Cluster your plans by neighborhood: if you’re going downtown for a concert, dinner and drinks should also be downtown. And bonus fun fact: according to Discover Los Angeles and long-running holiday guides, LA is one of the few major cities where you can theoretically surf in the morning, ice skate at a seasonal rink in the afternoon, and watch fake snow fall on a palm-lined street by night. That’s peak City of Angels chaos.

For tomorrow, keep an eye on more big holiday concerts like Festival of Carols at Walt Disney Concert Hall and that looming Clippers–Lakers clash at the Intuit Dome, plus family-friendly movie nights and outdoor light walks across the city. Tune in next time as we scout the quirkiest, wildest, and most unexpectedly epic things to do in Los Angeles.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more...

Welcome to Things to Do in Los Angeles, listeners! I'm Ollie Bennet, your globe-trotting sports nut turned holiday hype machine, and today the City of Angels is buzzing with festive fire under sunny skies around 65 degrees—perfect for ditching the coat and diving into December magic.

Kick off with **Ellington's Nutcracker & Tchaikovsky’s Winter Daydreams** at Walt Disney Concert Hall at 8 PM, where the LA Phil jazzes up the classic with sugar-plum swagger and holiday vibes for culture lovers[7][4]. Families, snag spots at the **A Christmas Carol Cocktail Experience** in San Pedro—boozy ghosts and Dickensian drinks from 6 PM, or skip the cocktails for the kiddo version[1]. Music fans, Stevie Wonder's 26th House Full of Toys benefit rocks the Fonda Theatre at 8 PM, packing soul, toys for tots, and all-ages energy[2][17]. Night owls, catch **Lady Gaga in Harlequin** live at the Grammy Museum at 7 PM for a reel-to-reel extravaganza that's sold out fast[15][10]. And for immersive lights, wander **Holiday Road** in Calabasas with candy cane paths and food trucks till late[1].

Local buzz: Over 375 eateries are in Winter Restaurant Week with fixed-price steals across LA—dive into diverse menus now through early January, per LA Tourism[8]. Santa Monica's gearing up for epic music fests tied to the 2026 World Cup and Olympics[6].

Must-dos today: Hit Grinchmas at Universal Studios for Who-ville cheer, Grinch pics, and snowy tree lightings[1]; explore Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens for glowing trails[1]; or pedal through Downtown Disney's fake snowfalls from 6 PM[1]. Hidden gem: Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden—astral projections and cosmic cocktails that'll make you feel like an alien sports star[1].

Local tip: LA drivers, beat traffic like a pro—use the Metro Expo Line to Exposition Park for events, and fun fact: Did you know our Nutcracker ballets sneak in SoCal nods like Pacific waves? Pure quirky genius[1].

Tomorrow, Nutcracker openings explode at Dolby Theatre and Enchant LA's massive light maze at Santa Anita Park—tune in for the scoop!

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt

For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome to Things to Do in Los Angeles, listeners! It's Sunday, December 14, 2025, and LA's buzzing with that perfect holiday crispness—sunny skies around 65 degrees, palm trees twinkling with lights, and a festive vibe cranking up the cheer after yesterday's wild weekend kickoff.

Today's packed with epic picks for every crew. Sports fans, charge to SoFi Stadium for the LA Rams battling the Detroit Lions at 1:25pm—Discover Los Angeles calls it a gridiron showdown not to miss. Families, catch Brainstory's Broke Ass Xmas tour closing at The Paramount with Chicano Batman vibes and Twins Seas, or dive into Santa's Secret immersive holiday speakeasy at 7pm, complete with Christmas cocktails, bites, and variety acts per Voss Events. Culture hounds, hit the Cultural Holiday Market at Astralab for free sound baths, Afghan dance, live calligraphy, and craft gingerbread ornaments—Eventbrite says RSVP for this global gem. Music lovers, Depeche Mode Convention at Avalon Hollywood with tribute bands hosted by Richard Blade, or Privilegio & La Victoria's regional rhythms at Leonardos de Huntington Park starting at 5pm. Night owls, VEDO's sold-out R&B heat wherever it's popping tonight.

Quick local scoop: Metro's running smooth with no major alerts, but watch for post-game traffic around SoFi. New hotspot? The Grove's Spa Sunday at Charlotte Tilbury from 11am-5:30pm for glam holiday glow-ups.

Must-dos today: Tailgate the Rams game like a true Angeleno, then hidden gem it with JACCC's Sashiko Basics workshop at 10am—stitch Japanese embroidery for a chill cultural win. Or family-fest at The Grove's ongoing holiday vibes.

Local tip: Skip the freeway snarl—hop the Expo Line to SoFi and strut like a local, dodging tourist traps while grabbing In-N-Out en route. Fun fact: LA's got more Nutcrackers than Starbucks, with Los Angeles Ballet wrapping at Royce Hall today!

Tomorrow? More holiday heat building to the massive L.A. County Holiday Celebration on the 24th. Tune in for the scoop, listeners!

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt

For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome listeners to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globetrotting sports nut pal, Oly Bennet. Los Angeles is serving up one of those classic mild December days: cool mornings, sunny afternoons, and just enough chill after dark to justify that stylish jacket you bought purely for vibes. Perfect weather to roam, snack, cheer, and stay out way too late in the City of Angels.

According to Discover Los Angeles, today’s got serious range. If you want big holiday energy, roll to Marina del Rey for the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade, running most of the day out of Burton Chace Park. Picture yachts dressed like they’re auditioning for a Christmas movie, lights everywhere, and sea breezes that make your hot cocoa taste like victory. Over in Downtown, the LA Phil’s Holiday Sing-Along at Walt Disney Concert Hall turns the whole hall into one giant choir, complete with jazz combo, pipe organ, and pre-show Winter Wonderland crafts and cocoa. Sports fans, Galen Center hosts USC Women’s Basketball vs. UConn this afternoon, a heavyweight college hoops clash that’s basically the Champions League of jump shots. Night owls, Academy LA in Hollywood is bringing in techno star Anfisa Letyago for a late-night dance marathon, while Insomniac is throwing a Dimension show at 1756 Naud Street for bass lovers who consider earplugs optional equipment.

On the local news front, SoCal culture sites like SoCalPulse point out that December in LA is packed with holiday performances across the city, from classical concerts to festive theater, so expect heavier traffic around Downtown arts hubs and plan extra time if you’re using rideshares or hopping trains. Metro has been pushing riders toward transit for big holiday events, so checking Metro’s trip planner before you leave can save you from the classic “stuck-on-the-110” experience.

Now, must-do moves for today. Start with something iconic-but-fun: a stroll at the Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade, where holiday lights and ocean air team up like a superstar duo. Then hit the Original Farmers Market by The Grove for global eats and seasonal treats before heading to your chosen event: the boat parade, the sing-along, or the USC game. If you want a hidden-gem vibe, swing through the Broad or MOCA earlier in the day—both are near great coffee spots and perfect for that “I do culture” flex before your night out.

Local tip from your boy Oly: in LA, “15 minutes away” is a myth. Stack your plans by neighborhood—do Downtown things together, Westside things together—so you spend less time in traffic and more time living your best, churro-fueled life. And another fun fact: thanks to LA’s microclimates, you can be in a hoodie in Echo Park and in a T-shirt by the beach an hour later, so layer up like you’re subbing in for a decathlon.

Coming up tomorrow, LA keeps the holiday and sports train rolling with more concerts, festivals, and big games around SoFi Stadium and beyond, plus plenty of family ice rinks and light mazes lighting up the night. Tune in next time for more wild, wonderful Things to Do in Los Angeles.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt

For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globe-trotting sports nut Oly Bennet, your guide to the wild, weird, and wonderful side of the city. Los Angeles is basking in classic winter sunshine today, cool but comfortable, that perfect “light jacket by day, hoodie by night” weather that makes the rest of the country slightly jealous.

The city’s vibe is pure holiday hustle: palm trees wrapped in string lights, traffic crawling past inflatable snowmen, and everyone debating where to get the best seasonal latte. Discover Los Angeles highlights a packed calendar, and today is no exception, so let’s dive into what you can actually do right now.

For culture lovers, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is bringing serious sparkle tonight with Ellington’s Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky’s Winter Daydreams at Walt Disney Concert Hall, a jazzy-meets-classical mashup that’ll make even the Grinchiest listener hum along, according to the official LA events calendar. Over on the Westside, the Los Angeles Ballet is performing The Nutcracker at Royce Hall, reinventing the classic for the West Coast with local flavor, as Los Angeles Theatre reports.

If you’re in the mood for pure holiday spectacle, Discover Los Angeles lists the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade this weekend, where yachts and sailboats roll out looking like they lost a bet with a Christmas tree. Perfect family outing, plus you get ocean breeze and twinkling lights all in one shot.

Night owls, your time comes late: Avalon Hollywood is hosting electronic duo ARMNHMR tonight, with Insomniac presenting a full-throttle dance session starting at 10 p.m., according to Avalon Hollywood’s calendar. Think lasers, bass, and a cardio workout disguised as nightlife.

For art and indie vibes, LAist’s weekend guide points to events like creative night markets and film screenings, and Quentin Tarantino’s Vista Theatre has been running special 70mm screenings, the kind of deep-cut cinephile experience LA lives for.

On the news-and-updates front, holiday transit tweaks are in effect across Metro, so give yourself extra time if you’re rail-hopping between downtown, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. Around town, multiple outlets are covering a wave of seasonal pop-ups and winter festivals in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, including magical holiday lights tours through Hollywood and Beverly Hills reported by the Beverly Hills Chamber’s Magical LA Nights tour, plus rooftop screenings and themed parties highlighted by Santa Monica Daily Press.

Now, Oly’s must-do list for today: start with a downtown skate at the Pershing Square Holiday Ice Skating Rink, flagged on the LA events calendar as a daily seasonal staple. Then hop the Metro to Hollywood for an afternoon stroll down Hollywood Boulevard before catching a holiday concert or dance show. Cap the night with a drive out to see Enchant LA’s massive Christmas light maze or a holiday lights tour through Beverly Hills if you want maximum sparkle with minimum effort.

Local tip from your sports-obsessed globetrotter: LA may be a driving city, but for big events near downtown and Hollywood, park once and move by Metro or scooter. You’ll save time, money, and at least three arguments with your GPS.

And a fun fact to flex on your friends: according to the city’s tourism office, Los Angeles County has more museums and performing arts venues than any other U.S. city, which totally explains why your weekend calendar here looks like a choose-your-own-adventure novel.

Tomorrow, keep an eye out for more holiday festivals, family-friendly sing-alongs, big-time sports matchups, and maybe even a bizarre local competition or two—I’m always hunting those down for you. Tune in next time for another lap around the city’s best events and hidden gems.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet...

Welcome, listeners, to Things to Do in Los Angeles with your globetrotting sports nut Oly Bennet, coming to you on Thursday, December 11, 2025. LA’s serving up classic winter-in-SoCal vibes today: mild temps, blue skies, and just enough chill to justify a cute jacket without sacrificing your flip-flops, according to local weather reports.

The city’s energy is part holiday sparkle, part full-throttle nightlife. Downtown is buzzing tonight with Electrik Seoul’s K-pop x EDM takeover at Exchange LA, teaming up with KATSEYE for an official pre-party starting at 10 pm, as listed by Exchange LA’s event page. Over on the Sunset Strip, the Viper Room is hosting breakout metal–hyperpop hybrid Prtty Ridiculous for a big milestone show, according to The Viper Room’s Eventbrite listing. If you’re more into brainy adventures than mosh pits, Eventbrite also lists “Los Angeles’s Secret Society: Mystery Hunt” happening in Beverly Canon Gardens in Beverly Hills—a puzzle-packed urban quest that turns Rodeo-adjacent into your personal escape room.

For culture fans, the Beverly Press highlights “Trans Lineage: Rites of Passage” at Greenway Court Theatre starting tonight, blending performance, identity, and ritual for listeners who like their evenings thoughtful and theatrical. And for the civically fired up, DSA-LA’s calendar shows a postcarding event in Highland Park, where volunteers are gathering to write voters in CD1—so you can save democracy, then grab tacos on Figueroa.

On the newsy side, the Grammy Museum notes it’s closed today for a private event, so don’t roll up expecting a music history deep dive—pivot instead to the Broad or MOCA. Transit-wise, Metro’s winter schedules are in effect across many lines, so give yourself extra buffer time if you’re training it to downtown clubs or to Exposition Park for events at the California African American Museum, which is hosting curatorial walkthroughs this week per the park’s calendar.

Now, Oly’s rapid-fire must-dos for your LA adventure today:
Hit Griffith Park for a late-afternoon hike to the Observatory—catch golden-hour views of the city, then head down into Los Feliz for an early dinner and still make it downtown for Electrik Seoul or the Viper Room show. If you’re feeling festive, many of December’s big experiences like Enchant LA’s light maze at Santa Anita Park and Astra Lumina at South Coast Botanic Garden are running all month, according to Discover Los Angeles and Secret Los Angeles, so you can lock those in for another night and focus today on more spontaneous fun.

Local tip from your sports-obsessed tour guide: LA might be known for its teams, but the real game is parking. Near downtown venues like Exchange LA, use a lot a few blocks away and walk—often cheaper, faster, and you dodge the post-concert traffic scrum. And remember: in LA, a 20-minute drive is “close,” no matter what the map says.

Before I sprint off to hunt down the city’s next weird competition, keep an eye on tomorrow’s lineup: K-pop continues with more KATSEYE action around town, and December in LA means ramping up toward massive holiday concerts, light festivals, and hoops games all weekend. Tune in tomorrow for fresh picks, new openings, and the quirkiest happenings I can dig up.

Thanks for listening, please subscribe, and remember—this episode was brought to you by Quiet Please podcast networks. For more content like this, please go to Quiet Please dot Ai.

For more check out https://www.quietperiodplease.com/

and make sure to jump on these great deals https://amzn.to/3V0gjPt

For more on Oly check out https://www.instagram.com/olybennet/

This content was created in partnership and with the help of...