What's Happening This Week: November 2, 2020

Los Angeles Greater Area

Drive into wonderland with Elf on the Shelf

Santa needs help! Shrink down to elf size and enter his magical world of dazzling lights, toy workshops, gingerbread villages, music and more. World-class movie, theater and TV artists collaborated to create this incomparable holiday experience, and it shows.

elfonashelfjourney.com

MONA Neon Walks

The Museum of Neon Art has created a collection of neighborhood guides to LA’s most striking neon beauties, both historic and modern. Download the museum’s free guides online, then follow the lights and learn more about the science, history and art behind them.

Neon Havana | Courtesy of the Museum of Neon Art

10 ways to spend the day in Long Beach

Whether it’s a day trip or a weekend, Long Beach can feel like a whole different world. Here are some ideas for making the most of it, from the Aquarium and the El Dorado Nature Center to boating the Naples Canals, biking Shoreline Village and dining al fresco on Pine Avenue.

Rainbow Harbor with city skyline at Long Beach , CA

Artists create For the Love of LA

The Music Center asked more than 35 Angeleno artists to express their Los Angeles love stories through curated music, dance, art and more. They created dozens of beautiful experiences to explore; wander the website to build your own streaming program.

The Music Center

San Francisco Bay Area

Medium rare treat

Diners in the Bay Area are familiar with Belcampo via its legendary burgers that are sold, among many other locations, at the San Francisco Giants’ Oracle Park. It turns out that you can actually stay overnight at the sustainable ranch’s 25,000-acre farm in bucolic Shasta County in canvas “glamping” tents.

Late evening campfire in front of a wood log cabin
iStock

High spirits

As the weather turns cooler, cocktail aficionados’ tastes tends to turn with it. Here are recipes from local mixologists for five autumnal drinks that are sure to lift your seasonal spirits, including Calavera’s Grandé Antonio made with whiskey and roasted corn.

Smoky apple cider margarita fall cocktail with cinnamon, rosemary and star anise | iStock

Silver State surprises

Looking to escape the day-to-day status quo of the Bay Area? Nevada offers up a whole other world just a few hours to the east. A 1.3-acre micronation, a “forest” of cars buried front-end down in the desert, and an oasis of funky folk art are among the quirky wonders to be found across the state border.   

iStock

Pizza Pizza

Let’s face it, pizza is the perfect pandemic food: It’s cheap, easy, and comforting. With that in mind, Eater put together a list of the 11 best spots in the East Bay for a pie, from Raymond’s in Richmond and Cheese Board in Berkeley to Bluebird in San Leandro and Bombay Pizza House in Fremont.

Cheese Board Collective/Facebook