Month: October 2019

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Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Wednesday, Oct. 30, and I’m writing from San Francisco International Airport (and Santa Rosa, Calistoga and Petaluma, earlier in the day).

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Time collapses in the long shadow of the Kincade fire. Days have passed since the first scream of hi-lo sirens herded entire neighborhoods out.

For the evacuated and maybe soon-to-be evacuated, the emergency is still sharp, but it’s also gone elastic. Seemingly everyone has been wearing the same clothes and sleeping with one eye open. And, as they wait with go-bags and no power, there’s no end in sight.

Sitting in a rocking chair on a Santa Rosa porch, Barbara wasn’t sure if her duplex in Windsor was still standing, or what day it had been when police had shown up at 4 a.m. to evacuate the neighborhood. The 76-year-old, who didn’t want to give her last name, had her red cane propped up behind her. The other side of the porch was crammed with hampers of clothes and belongings-stuffed black garbage bags. “It’s all too wild for me,” she said with a slight European accent and a shake of the head. Who could know how many days it had been?

Sister Marie Callas wore an N95 smoke mask over a dark brown nun’s habit outside the Holy Assumption Monastery bookstore in Calistoga. The sleepy Napa Valley town known for its hot springs and mud baths was currently east of Kincade’s wrath, but a shift in the winds could bring the fire this way. The sisters had gassed up their cars the day the advisory was issued, so they’d be able to quickly evacuate to another monastery three hours north if the order came. Was that first advisory day Saturday or Sunday? Who could remember? But either way, they were ready.

In an office park in Petaluma, dozens of volunteers darted around an industrial kitchen. With their own restaurants closed for blackouts, renowned chefs had carted the gourmet contents of their powerless walk-in fridges here to prepare meals for the displaced. Sonoma Family Meal, a nonprofit that began during the Tubbs fire, had once again kicked into high gear last week.

Most of the meals were going to evacuation centers, but Oswaldo Jimenez, a chef with deep roots in the Latinx community, was coordinating deliveries to those who might not feel safe interacting with officials. Jimenez said that Sonoma Family Meal founder Heather Irwin had called him a few days ago about outreach to the Spanish-speaking community. But Irwin insisted it was only a single day prior.

One could forgive Jimenez for thinking it had to be longer — so much had happened since then, including a flood of logistics and a police escort to retrieve 3,000 tortillas from a factory in the evacuation zone. That night they planned to serve hundreds of meals to a group of largely immigrant farmworkers who had been sleeping in their cars.

[Read more: “Kincade fire: More evacuations, power shut-offs loom as winds threaten to fuel massive blaze” in the Los Angeles Times]

The latest on the fires and winds hitting California:

As of Tuesday night, the Kincade fire was at 76,138 acres and remained 15% contained. The Getty fire in Los Angeles, which is at 656 acres, had also reached 15% containment.

Because of Santa Ana winds expected to continue late Tuesday evening through Thursday, Southern California could experience “an extreme fire weather threat, with conditions as dangerous for fire growth and behavior as we have seen in recent memory.” Los Angeles Times

The Getty fire was started by a tree branch that fell on power lines, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. Los Angeles Times

The Kincade fire has left 200,000 evacuees. Who’s going to take them in? Los Angeles Times

California needs a stable electric grid to fight climate change. But blackouts are throwing the grid’s reliability into doubt. Los Angeles Times

Which California state parks are affected by wildfires, smoke and power cuts? The California Department of Parks and Recreation has shut down 17 state parks, mostly in the Bay Area. Sacramento Bee

And now, here’s what else is happening across California:

L.A. STORIES

Three people were killed and nine were hurt Tuesday night during a mass shooting at a home in Long Beach, authorities said. Los Angeles Times

Homeless deaths in L.A. County have nearly doubled in the last six years. Even when adjusting for the increase in the number of homeless people in Los Angeles, the mortality rate has increased each year. LAist

WarnerMedia unveiled its long-awaited HBO Max, which will cost consumers $14.99 a month when it launches in May, making it the most expensive gladiator in the streaming wars. Los Angeles Times

H&M employees protested at a Pasadena store, alleging workplace intimidation. Pasadena Star-News

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POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Former Trump aide George Papadopoulos to seek former California Rep. Katie Hill’s House seat. The Republican was a key figure in the FBI’s Russia probe and spent 14 days in prison. Los Angeles Times

CRIME AND COURTS

Protesters want a federal investigation of the fatal Fresno police shooting of a teen. A video of the 2017 incident was released earlier this month. Fresno Bee

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Breaking with some of their biggest rivals, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota said they were siding with the Trump administration in an escalating battle with California over fuel economy standards for automobiles. Their decision pits them against leading competitors, including Honda and Ford, who this year reached a deal to follow California’s stricter rules. New York Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

On the much-needed lighter side, a pressing question out of Ontario: Could this 965-pound pumpkin be a San Bernardino County record? Inland Daily Bulletin

The Amgen Tour of California won’t be happening in 2020. The nation’s premier cycling race will be on hiatus amid concerns over “business fundamentals.” Sacramento Bee

How Oakland teen Mxmtoon built a pop empire out of her bedroom. San Francisco Chronicle

Irvine was ranked as the safest U.S. city, at least according to to one analysis. Nine other Southern California cities made the top 50 ranking. Orange County Register

Here’s where to celebrate Halloween in the Coachella Valley, from horror mazes to a family-friendly carnival. Desert Sun

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles: sunny, 77. San Diego: sunny, 75. San Francisco: sunny, 69. San Jose: sunny, 73. Sacramento: sunny, 69. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

– Jimmy Carter, 1977

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to Julia Wick. Follow her on Twitter @Sherlyholmes.


The Easy fire is burning out of control in Simi Valley near the Reagan Library.

Evacuation area boundaries

  • North: Tierra Rejada
  • South: Olsen Road/Madera Road
  • East: Madera Road
  • West: Highway 23

School closures

  • ACCESS School (Moorpark)
  • ACE Charter High School (Camarillo)
  • Bridges Charter School (Thousand Oaks)
  • Briggs School District
  • CAPE Charter School (Camarillo)
  • Conejo Valley Unified School District
  • Fillmore Unified School District
  • Moorpark Unified School District
  • Mupu School District
  • Pleasant Valley School District
  • Santa Clara Elementary School District
  • Santa Paula Unified School District
  • Santa Rosa Technology Magnet School (Camarillo)
  • Simi Valley Unified School District
  • Triggs School (Thousand Oaks)

The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.

Shelter

  • Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road

Large animal shelters

  • Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd.

Road closures

  • The 23 Freeway is closed in both directions at Avenida de los Arboles and Los Angeles Avenue.
  • Moorpark Road at Tierra Rejada Road and Santa Rosa at Moorpark Road also are closed, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Conditions

Strong Santa Ana winds will be blowing 40-50 mph near the fire, with gusts up to 60 mph along ridgetops. Single-digit humidity is expected throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.


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The unpredictable nature of the Getty fire and a dire warning of hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds have prompted the Getty Center and the Getty Villa to remain closed through Friday, museum officials said Tuesday.

The Getty is still safe and secure, representatives said. But the fire, which has burned more than 650 acres and prompted mass evacuations, was only 15% contained Tuesday afternoon, and the National Weather Service said winds topping 80 mph could sweep over the region through Thursday evening.

More fire coverage

These winds, potentially the strongest here in more than a decade, could stoke the Getty fire. The Getty Center has been serving as a staging ground and hub for emergency responders.

A representative for the Getty Museum, which encompasses the Getty Center in Brentwood and the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, wrote in an email that the decision to remain closed was made “out of an abundance of caution related to the weather conditions, to allow space for continued movement of fire equipment, and because road closures would make it difficult for visitors and staff to come to either facility.”

Should conditions get worse, however, the Getty Center maintains that it is still the safest place for the art in a fire. The nearby Eames House, the historic Midcentury Modern landmark, also remains closed until further notice.

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The Times is offering fire coverage for free today. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.


Brooklyn quirk is nothing new in the world of independent film, but “Cubby” somehow manages to make its brand of the overused angle largely feel fresh. We’ve seen stories of 20-somethings moving to the big city before, but have we seen one where the protagonist has an imaginary, leather-clad friend born out of his sexual fantasies and a hallucinogen-laced cupcake? Directors Mark Blane and Ben Mankoff bring a kinky sweetness to this oddball dramedy, but audience’s appetites for it will depend on their patience with its lead character.

Indiana resident and aspiring artist Mark (Blane, who also wrote the script) moves to New York where he takes a job as a babysitter for 6-year-old Milo (Joseph Seuffert). His awkwardness and anxiety — and a diminishing supply of Klonopin — make navigating the city and making rent a challenge, but Mark finds stability in his friendship with his young charge. Meanwhile, he sketches gay erotica and flirts with the imagined Leather-Man (Christian Patrick) and cute neighbor Russell (Rodney Richardson).

Shot on 16mm film, “Cubby” looks the part of an old-school New York-made indie, but its dual directors still bring a bit of their own style, particularly in the animation overlays that echo Mark’s drawings. However, Blane’s script often feels more like a sketch, as many moments don’t feel earned or supported by the writing. As a character, Mark can be annoying, but Blane and Mankoff have a clear affection for him, refusing to judge his flaws.


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SERIES

Riverdale In this new Halloween episode, ominous video recordings start turning up on people’s doorsteps, sending ripples of apprehension through the community. At Stonewall Prep, Jughead (Cole Sprouse) discovers several students have disappeared, while Archie’s (K.J. Apa) Halloween party — designed to offer a safe space for local kids — is visited by some unwelcome party crashers. Lili Reinhart and Camila Mendes also star. 8 p.m. CW

The Goldbergs Beverly (Wendi McLendon-Covey) buys four paintings for a great price but soon suspects that something supernatural is causing them to be destroyed in this Halloween episode of the family comedy. 8 p.m. ABC

Nature In the delta of the Okavango River, a hyena and a warthog family share neighboring dens and help each other by watching out for threatening predators in a new episode of the documentary series. 8 p.m. KOCE and KPBS

Schooled Coach Mellor’s (Bryan Callen) plans for a couple’s Halloween costume with Julie (Valerie Azlynn) might be derailed by Principal Glascott (Tim Meadows) in this new episode of the comedy. AJ Michalka and Brett Dier also star. 8:30 p.m. ABC

Nancy Drew As the funeral for Tiffany Hudson (Sinead Curry) nears, her confused spirit seemingly haunts Horseshoe Bay. Kennedy McMann and Maddison Jaizani also star. 9 p.m. CW

Modern Family After years of failure, Phil (Ty Burrell) is determined to scare his wife (Julie Bowen), but it’s Gloria (Sofia Vergara) who’s frightened — about her age, when for the first time someone correctly assumes she is married to Jay (Ed O’Neill). 9 p.m. ABC

NOVA A trove of fossils reveals how mammals took over after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. 9 p.m. KOCE and KPBS

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SEAL Team Jason (David Boreanaz) pleads to be sent to help Clay and Ray (Max Thieriot, Neil Brown Jr.), who are under attack while on a mission abroad to protect a U.S. ambassador. 9 p.m. CBS

S.W.A.T. After an arsenal of assault rifles is stolen from LAPD, Street (Alex Russell) reaches out to his estranged foster brother (guest star Cory Hardrict) to help with the joint investigation with the Long Beach Police Department. Shemar Moore and Kenny Johnson also star, with recurring guest star Obba Babatund. 10 p.m. CBS

Life From Above The new episode “Colorful Planet” features Earth’s kaleidoscope of colors, including swirls of turquoise phytoplankton in the oceans, China’s blooming yellow flowers and the waters near Argentina that are spotted with green lights at night. 10 p.m. KOCE and KPBS

Baroness von Sketch Show The comedy series returns for a new season. Midnight IFC

SPECIALS

World’s Biggest Ghost Hunt: Pennhurst Asylum Five investigators are locked for two weeks inside the legendary Pennhurst Asylum in Pennsylvania to document unexplained reports of paranormal activity, including mysterious noises and voices and alleged physical attacks by spirits in this new special. 8 p.m. A&E

The Bronx, USA Producer George Shapiro delivers a love letter to his hometown borough in this new documentary directed by Danny Gold. Shapiro revisits memories from his childhood and talks with members of the 2017 graduating class of DeWitt Clinton High School. The film also features interviews with Alan Alda and his wife, Arlene; singer Melissa Manchester; former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; and Carl and Rob Reiner. 9 p.m. HBO

MOVIES

Twitches Twins Tia and Tamera Mowry star as Alex and Camryn in this 2005 fantasy based on the books by H.B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld. Jennifer Robertson and Pat Kelly also star. 6 p.m. Disney

TALK SHOWS

CBS This Morning Jennifer Aniston; Reese Witherspoon; Mitch Landrieu. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Robert De Niro; Al Pacino; Ray Romano; Kerry Washington; Hannah Hart. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA

Good Morning America Emilia Clarke; Rachel Hollis. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. Billy Bush; Lindsay Wagner and Sofia Carson; Gabriel Iglesias; Mariachi Divas perform. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Kelly and Ryan Emilia Clarke (“Last Christmas”); Harry Connick Jr. chats and performs. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.); author Mary Wilson. (N) 10 a.m. KABC

Rachael Ray Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”). (N) 10 a.m. KTTV

The Wendy Williams Show LisaRaye McCoy; Celeste Barber. (N) 11 a.m. KTTV

The Talk Olivia Newton-John. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS

The Dr. Oz Show New rules for buying, cooking and eating pork; a bacon lover’s guide. (N) 1 p.m. KTTV

The Kelly Clarkson Show Bradley Whitford and Anna Camp; Wiz Khalifa; NFL star DeAngelo Williams. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC, 1 a.m. Bravo

Dr. Phil Parents claim that their daughter, 23, couch surfs with strangers she meets online and that she stabbed her father. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”); Halsey performs. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Real Jane Seymour (“The Kominsky Method”). (N) 3 p.m. KTTV

The Doctors (N) 3 p.m. KCOP

Between the Lines With Barry Kibrick Living the best life possible. 9 p.m. KLCS

Amanpour and Company 11 p.m. KCET

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah Presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central

Conan Deon Cole (“black-ish”). (N) 11 p.m. TBS

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Emilia Clarke; Bobby Cannavale; Booker T. Jones; FKA Twigs. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Norman Reedus; Cynthia Erivo; Miranda Lambert performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Rob Lowe; Mackenzie Davis; Chris Porter. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

Amanpour and Company (N) Midnight KVCR

The Late Late Show With James Corden Arnold Schwarzenegger; Linda Hamilton. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Seth Meyers John Krasinski; Joel Kim Booster; Amy McGrath. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Nightline (N) 12:37 a.m. KABC

A Little Late With Lilly Singh Chelsea Handler. 1:38 a.m. KNBC

SPORTS

NBA Basketball The Milwaukee Bucks visit the Boston Celtics, 4:30 p.m. ESPN; the Clippers visit the Utah Jazz, 7 p.m. ESPN and FS Prime

2019 World Series Game 7: The Washington Nationals visit the Houston Astros (if necessary), 5 p.m. Fox

MLS Soccer Toronto FC visit Atlanta United FC, 5 p.m. FS1

NHL Hockey The Minnesota Wild visit the St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. NBCSP; the Kings host the Vancouver Canucks, 7:30 p.m. Fox Sports Net

For more sports on TV, see the Sports section.


The suspense has been mounting for months: Who will helm filmmaker George Lucas’ $1-billion art museum under construction in Los Angeles?

On Wednesday the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art announced Sandra Jackson-Dumont as its new director and chief executive officer. She comes to L.A. from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, where since 2014 she has headed education and public programs.

Realizing the Lucas Museum as an “innovative place of relevance and inspiration” is top of mind, Jackson-Dumont said in an interview.

“Museums often times feel at arms length from the public, and so much of the work that I’ve done either as a curator or as a programmer or as an administrator has been about, how do we make museums relevant and engaging and mean something to people’s everyday lives?” she said. “Those can be inspiring connections — sometimes they’re comfortable, sometimes they’re uncomfortable — and I think that the objects that are in this amazing collection speak to opportunities to connect to visual storytelling in ways that make people really have discussions. So I’m excited about that.”

Lucas Museum co-founder and Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson said in an interview that Jackson-Dumont’s background was especially fitting with the museum’s civic-minded and educational mission.

“We’re building a school for schools, I’ve said that many, many times,” Hobson said. “The museum is located within a hotbed of schools, literally 500 schools within a five-mile radius. That’s breathtaking. Not to mention the university [USC] there. So we have this constant pipeline of attendees and the ability to educate them — that’s always been front and center as a mission. So the idea that we could get someone who has distinguished herself from the perspective of education at one of the best museums in the world, the Met, we just thought: This is a great foundation on which to build.”

Of Jackson-Dumont, she added: “She has a vision and a point of view. She just stood out.”

For an institution that’s not yet open, the Lucas Museum has had its share of drama. For more than a decade, Lucas considered sites in San Francisco and Chicago for his museum, which will house his personal collection of fine and popular art, but he wrestled with community opposition. In 2016 he sought proposals from San Francisco and Los Angeles, pitting the cities against each other in a competition not only for the museum itself, but for the tourism it will draw and the jobs it promised to create.

Lucas finally designated L.A. the winner in January 2017, at which point art historian Don Bacigalupi — formerly president and executive director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark. — was the museum’s founding president.

The Lucas Museum broke ground in March 2018 on a bustling site in Exposition Park that will include 11 acres of green space. The futuristic building, designed by architect Ma Yansong, will contain two restaurants and two theaters — a total of 300,000 square feet. The museum has been rapidly staffing up and now has two full-time curators, Erin M. Curtis and Ryan Linkof, and a curatorial assistant, Michelle Prestholt, with additional curators to come, it said. The 100,000-object collection includes paintings, sculpture and photography as well as more popular forms of art such as movies, illustration and comic art. It will also showcase “Star Wars” ephemera, such as the original Darth Vader mask.

“Art that tells a story,” the museum has said.

In February Bacigalupi stepped down. The museum did not say why, just that he was transitioning into the role of “special advisor,” focusing on acquisitions, and board member John W. McCarter Jr. took over as interim president. Bacigalupi is no longer affiliated with the museum.

The international search for a new director, led by the executive search firm Koya together with Lucas and Hobson, lasted eight months.

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Prior to her current role at the Met, Jackson-Dumont spent eight years there as deputy director for education and public programs. She was an adjunct curator in modern and contemporary art at the Seattle Art Museum and also has worked at the Studio Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Jackson-Dumont takes her post in January. The museum’s target for completing construction is late 2021.


How to hail a ride or a cab at LAX

October 30, 2019 | News | No Comments

Starting early Tuesday, LAX arriving passengers who wanted to grab a cab or schedule a ride-hail trip home needed a new set of airport survival skills.

The airport banned terminal curbside pickups by taxis and ride-hailing companies, rerouting travelers and most commercial drivers to a pickup area east of Terminal 1 known as LAX-it (pronounced L.A.-exit).

The idea is to reduce clogging in an area already crowded with drivers and construction projects. Tuesday morning, the change was immediately obvious around the traffic horseshoe of the terminal area.

By 11 a.m., airport spokeswoman Becca Doten was reporting that traffic was 80% faster on the upper departures level where the taxi and rideshare drivers had been picking up passengers.

But all was not perfect in the new pickup area. Although most arriving passengers had little trouble walking or catching shuttle buses from the terminal to the LAX-it area, by 11 a.m., hundreds of newly arrived travelers were in growing lines, waiting to be matched with arriving Ubers, Lyfts and taxis. By noon, the lines were longer still. Even the taxi queue, shortest of the lot, had more than 50 people waiting.

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“It’s not so bad, if you’re not in a rush,” said Heidi Campbell, a professor from College Station, Texas, who had come to town for a conference. “I’ve been all over the world, and this is my least favorite airport. But this,” she said, indicating LAX-it, “doesn’t seem too bad.”

If you’re planning to take a taxi or ride-share from LAX in days or weeks ahead, here’s what you need to know to navigate the change:

•If you’re flying out of LAX, nothing changes in terms of getting to the airport. Drop-offs remain at the same places.

•If you’re flying into Terminals 1, 2, 7 or 8 with only carry-on bags and you’re comfortable walking a few hundred yards, don’t bother with those green LAX-it buses. Instead, follow the abundant sidewalk signage to LAX-it. It will probably take you less than 10 minutes, with one crosswalk from Terminals 1 and 2; two crosswalks for Terminals 7 and 8.

•If you’re flying into Terminals 3, 4, 5 or the Bradley International Terminal, your walk will be closer to 20 minutes (and you may have more luggage) so the shuttle bus may be a better option. If you use a walker or wheelchair, the LAX-it buses will accommodate you.

•If you still want curbside pickup, you can get it (at the outer island curb, arrivals level) by paying more. Many limousine and similar transport services, including Blacklane, 24-7 Ride, Uber Black, Uber Black SUV and Lyft Lux, hold Transportation Charter Party permits allowing those pickups.

•The LAX-it bus system is designed to pick up travelers within three to five minutes, make more no more than two stops and deliver travelers to LAX-it within 15 minutes. In the first several hours of Tuesday, those steps seemed to be working relatively smoothly. (LAX had 26 buses running from its fleet of 31, Doten said. On an ordinary Tuesday morning, fewer buses will circulate. On busy Sunday nights, Doten said, all or nearly all of those buses will be operating.)

•Once you get to the LAX-it area at World Way and Sky Way (next to the Park ‘n’ Fly lot), you’ll see four lanes for cars making pickups. Taxis, ride-hail company Opoli and pool services such as UberPool have Lane 1. Lyft has Lane 2. Uber X has Lanes 3 and 4. For help, look for one of LAX’s lane managers in green vests. Lyft representatives wear pink vests; the Uber representatives, black.

•When travelers use their ride-share apps to summon a driver during busy hours, instead of identifying drivers by their names and license plate numbers, Uber and Lyft will send PIN numbers (four to six digits) to LAX-it travelers. The travelers then line up to be matched with drivers, much as taxi customers are lined up to be matched with cabs. During low-traffic hours between midnight and 8 a.m., the rideshare companies could revert to the name-and-license-plate routine.

•If you need to eat, you have options. For most of the day, there will be one food truck and one coffee truck. This week, you’ll see Wing Society (three chicken wings for $13, a garden salad for $11) and Coastal Coffees (espresso, $3.50). Under current plans, a coffee truck will be present 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a second shift will run from 3-11 p.m. A food truck is scheduled to be present from 6 a.m.-2 p.m., then 4 p.m. to midnight.


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The discovery of gold brought people from around the world to California in the mid-1800s. And it’s in those Gold Rush towns that some of the Golden State’s oldest bars still operate. Here are four historic saloons offering a step back into the Old West.

Groveland

The Iron Door Saloon, whose sign proclaims it “California’s oldest saloon,” sits on Groveland’s Main Street about 25 miles from the westernmost entrance of Yosemite National Park. “We call it California’s oldest continually running saloon,” said Chris Loh, who owns the bar with his wife, Corinna.

Bullet holes in the ceiling and stories of rattlesnakes that were once kept in cages near the pool tables suggest a rowdy past. The namesake iron doors have not only protected against fires but also have kept out law enforcement. A former brothel upstairs now houses an office and rooms for traveling musicians who perform here.

A longstanding tradition is for patrons to write their name and the date on a dollar bill and pin it to the ceiling. The saloon recently held its 30th Dollar Party fundraiser, which raises money for kids in the Groveland community.

Info: irondoorsaloon.com

Murphys

Murphys Hotel has a historic watering hole with “an atmosphere straight out of the 1800s,” its website says. The saloon, about 43 miles northwest of Groveland, showcases moose, elk and deer heads donated by local hunters along with a 31-star American flag on the wall. A fire burns during winter in the bar’s old fashioned potbellied stove.

Calaveras County might be wine country, but in this bar you can order a green shot made with vodka, triple sec and Midori. Its inspiration? Mark Twain, author of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” stayed at the hotel in 1877.

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Info: murphyshotel.com/saloon

Mariposa

Similar to Groveland’s Iron Door, the Hideout Saloon in historic downtown Mariposa attracts locals and visitors to Yosemite. It’s about 30 miles south of Yosemite along California 140. If you look around, you’ll see dollar bills on the ceiling and historic stone walls, a tradition that dates to the days when miners left their money before they headed out in search of gold.

Hideout patrons are treated to regular live music and karaoke along with open mike nights on Thursdays. Customers can play pool, darts, cards or a variety of other games. Indeed, a great place to hide out.

Info: bit.ly/mariposahideout

San Francisco

Ever wonder how all those miners came to California? Look no farther than the Old Ship Saloon’s cocktail menu.

The description for its Gold Rush drink (made with bourbon, lemon and honey) reads, “The fastest mode of transportation to the first stop for the gold fields, San Francisco, was aboard a vessel. By summer 1850, more than 500 vessels were recorded as being anchored in the vicinity of Yerba Buena Cove.”

In 1851, the Old Ship Saloon — built on the ruins of a ship known as the Arkansas — became a bar when an “enterprising Englishman cut a hole in the side of the ship, dropped a gangplank with a sign reading ‘Gud, bad and indif’rent spirits sold here! 25¢ each.”

Info: theoldshipsf.com


Dance at the aquarium, take a book-themed ship tour, or celebrate the lives of passed loved ones on Día de Los Muertos at weekend events nearby.

Long Beach

Night Dive at the Aquarium of the Pacific means DJs, a Gloria Estefan tribute band and other performers entertaining among fish. Enjoy cocktails and food-truck bites while listening to mini talks about aquarium creatures and strolling through current exhibits.

When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1

Cost, info: $19.95. Ages 18 and older only. Only service dogs permitted. (562) 590-3100, bit.ly/LBnightdive

Los Angeles

Dozens of musical performers, hundreds of Aztec ritual dancers and an expected 40,000 guests will fill the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for its 20th Día de Los Muertos festival. Compete in contests for calaca costumes and ofrendas, or kick back with craft sessions and Mexican food as the celebrations continue until midnight.

When: Noon Nov. 2

Cost, info: $25, or free for children 8 and younger and seniors 65 and older before 4 p.m. Family friendly. Only service dogs permitted. (323) 469-1181, ladayofthedead.com

Los Angeles

Join a procession of friendly skeletons, costumed kids and people in face paint from Mariachi Plaza to the 46th Día de Los Muertos Celebration at Self Help Graphics and Art, a nonprofit dedicated to the distribution of Chicano/a and Latinx art. In the lineup are a blessing ceremony, live music, art workshops, a marketplace and an art exhibition titled “Ancestral Lights.”

When: 4 p.m. Nov. 2

Cost, info: Free. Family friendly. Only service dogs permitted. (323) 881-6444, bit.ly/diacelebration

Long Beach

Author Patricia V. Davis’ metaphysical “Secret Spice Cafe” book trilogy takes place in a fictional restaurant aboard the Queen Mary. New and longtime fans are welcomed to a “Secret Spice Cafe” dinner and tour aboard the ship, which includes a three-course meal inspired by recipes from the books, a tour with character appearances and performances, and a reading by Davis from the final book. A part of proceeds benefit Long Beach’s new Billie Jean King Main Library.

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 2

Cost, info: $129. For ages 15 and older. No dogs. (415) 306-3738, bit.ly/secretspiceQM

Fullerton

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center’s Día de Los Muertos Festival includes music and dance performances headlined by pianist Arturo Aquino, an exhibition of paintings by Heriberto Luna, and artist-led workshops on colorful sugar skulls and papel picado. You can also eat Mexican food and check out attendees’ submitted ofrendas honoring the dead.

When: Noon Nov. 3

Cost, info: Free. Family friendly. No dogs. (714) 738-6595, bit.ly/muertosfestival


Some of the world’s most exciting destinations are also the world’s priciest. But you can keep costs down by traveling on a cruise ship, where the tab includes accommodations, transportation, meals and entertainment. Some lines even throw in free land excursions.

“Cruise ships are essentially floating resorts, which bodes well for savings because costs are bundled into one fare,” said Brittany Chrusciel, destinations editor for CruiseCritic.com. “When land-based costs are particularly high — in remote regions or in countries with an unfavorable conversion rate to U.S. dollars — the value of cruising becomes even greater.”

Her favorite examples are Alaska, Norway and the South Pacific. Cruise expert Jaxson Maurer, owner of Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Sammamish, Wash., adds the Mediterranean, Canada/New England fall foliage, Japan, the Caribbean and Africa as among the floating values.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular destinations where you can save big by setting sail.

Alaska

The 49th state is known for marked-up price tags on common items such as milk, orange juice and gas — and you probably will notice some of that reflected in your restaurant bill, Chrusciel said.

“However, the true savings of taking an Alaska cruise versus a land vacation lies in the transportation costs,” she said. “Rental car prices skyrocket during the peak summer months … and some major cities, like Juneau, can only be accessed via a boat or plane. Letting your cruise ship handle the journey in and out of Alaska’s various ports will save you money and, more than likely, a logistical headache.”

The price: As little as $539 a person, double occupancy, for a weeklong cruise on Royal Princess, Maurer said. From LAX, round-trip air to Vancouver, Canada, where many Alaska cruises embark, start about $340.

Norway

Seeing the fiords is a bucket-list experience, but a casual lunch with burgers and a local beer could set you back as much as a fine steak in the U.S., Chrusciel said. “Plus, visiting by ship allows you to take in the incredible views from an entirely new perspective than you would on land,” she said. “You can watch the fiords and a changing landscape right from your balcony.”

The price: As little as $1,099 per person, double occupancy, for a weeklong cruise on Holland America’s Rotterdam, sailing round trip from Amsterdam to four Norwegian ports. Add round-trip airfare from LAX to Amsterdam starting about $800 or more.

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South Pacific

“Trade winds, palm trees, impossibly blue water and powdery white sand — oh, and over-the-water bungalows,” Maurer said. “The Tahiti experience in an over-the-water bungalow easily costs around $1,000 per night, not including food or airfare.”

Of course, “a cruise to the South Pacific isn’t a cheap purchase,” Chrusciel said, “but tends to be less per diem than land-based counterparts, especially when you factor in cruise lines that include flights.”

The price: Maurer’s best buy starts at $5,799 per person, double occupancy, for a balcony room on a 10-night cruise, including airfare, on Oceania Regatta. The round-trip Papeete, Tahiti, voyage visits six beautiful remote islands in addition to Bora-Bora.

Caribbean

Vacationers often find bargain prices in the Caribbean, but cruise industry changes and stormy weather have caused rates to sink even lower. This is tough on the lines but a boon to consumers, who can now vacation for as little as $42 a night, said Marcus Stumpe, chief executive of Cruisewatch.com. “Even though you can find accommodations for reasonable prices, if you also add in the extra cost of flights, airport transfers, food and excursions, cruising is a better option.”

The price: Stumpe’s best buy is a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard MSC’s Armonia, where rates start at $299 per person, double occupancy ($42 per night). Add round-trip airfare from LAX to Miami starting about $250.

Mediterranean

If Europe is on your bucket list, Maurer thinks your best bet is to jump aboard a ship with multiple stops in the Mediterranean. “Four-star hotels in iconic cities such as Rome and Barcelona cost more than $200 a night,” he said. “Then add the cost of food, entertainment and transportation. Compare those costs to this itinerary, which certainly gives you a much better bang for your buck in Europe,” he said.

The price: As little as $660 per person, double occupancy, for a six-night Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas cruise that sails round trip from Rome visiting Nice, France, and the Spanish ports of Barcelona and Valencia. Add round-trip air from LAX to Rome starting about $730.