Two lawsuits brought by Michael Jackson’s most vocal accusers were revived on Friday after being dismissed in 2017.

The Second Appellate District in the California Court of Appeals issued the decision on Friday after a state law went into effect extending the statute of limitations on child sexual-abuse cases. The decision reinstated previous legal actions brought by Jackson’s accusers, James Safechuck and Wade Robson, against two corporate entities that Jackson owned, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures Inc.

The two men alleged childhood sexual abuse by the late king of pop in last year’s Emmy-winning documentary “Leaving Neverland.” Jackson’s estate has issued heated denials about the accusations made in the film.

“We are pleased that the Court has recognized the strong protections California has put into place for sexual-abuse victims under the state’s new law extending the statute of limitations,” their attorney, Vince Finaldi, said in a statement to The Times. “We look forward to sharing the facts of the terrible abuse of James Safechuck and Wade Robson with a jury.”

The suits had been dismissed in 2017 after a judge ruled that MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures were not liable because “no one other than Michael Jackson had the legal ability or authority to control Michael Jackson.”

But a state law signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in October allowed the suits to move forward on Friday. The law, which went into effect on Wednesday, increased the age for which an accuser could report an allegation from 26 years old to 40 years old.

The restoration seemed likely after three judges made a tentative ruling on the case in November.

Howard Weitzman, an attorney for Jackson’s companies, responded to Friday’s court decision by saying that the lawsuits “absurdly claim that Michael’s employees are somehow responsible for sexual abuse that never happened” and pointed to the law change for their restoration as well.

“The Court of Appeal specifically did not address the truth of these false allegations, and we are confident that both lawsuits will be dismissed and that Michael Jackson will be vindicated once again,” Weitzman said in an email to The Times.

Safechuck and Robson previously sued the Michael Jackson estate, but their cases were dismissed in 2016.

In February, the estate took legal action against HBO for violating a non-disparagement agreement and engaging in “posthumous character assassination” of Jackson, who died in 2009. The case was sent to arbitration, but HBO appealed that ruling in October.

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Tim Burton’s aliens, spiral-eyed girl and flying saucers aren’t leaving Las Vegas anytime soon. The “Lost Vegas” art show at the Neon Museum has been extended through April 12, according to a Thursday news release.

Burton too will be back to the city he has been visiting “since I was basically a baby,” he said earlier.

The creator of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) and “Corpse Bride” (2005) will return to the museum to sign copies of the show’s new catalog, “Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @ The Neon Museum” ($29.95), and other books. Advance registration for the signing (required) starts 10 a.m. Pacific time Wednesday at neonmuseum.org.

The show features site-specific works of art inspired by neon and sci-fi B movies of the ’50s and ’60s plus disaster films of the 1970s, the release said. It was originally slated to close Feb. 15. The show is Burton’s first American display since his name and work drew more than 800,000 visitors to the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2009, Jessica Gelt wrote in an L.A. Times story.

Tickets cost $30 for an hourlong tour of the show in the museum’s Boneyard. For an additional $24, visitors can see “Brilliant!,” a second Burton show in the North Gallery that uses light projections, music and unrestored neon signs to dive into the history of Vegas.

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Info: The Neon Museum, 770 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas

In a move that could put the Obama-era health insurance law squarely in the middle of the 2020 election, Democratic-led states Friday asked the Supreme Court for a fast-track review of a recent court ruling that declared part of the statute unconstitutional and cast a cloud over the rest.

A coalition of 20 states led by California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra filed a petition seeking expedited review, joined by House Democrats and Washington, D.C. They hope to get a Supreme Court hearing and decision by this summer, before the November election. For the court to agree to such a timetable would be unusual but not unprecedented.

Defenders of the Affordable Care Act are arguing that the issues raised by the case are too important to let the litigation drag on for months or years in lower courts, and that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans erred when it struck down the health law’s now toothless requirement that Americans have health insurance.

“The lower courts’ actions have created uncertainty about the future of the entire Affordable Care Act, and that uncertainty threatens adverse consequences for our nation’s healthcare system, including for patients, doctors, insurers, and state and local governments,” the states’ filing says.

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There was no immediate reaction from the Trump administration. President Trump had hailed the appeals court ruling, calling it “a win for all Americans.” But many congressional Republicans want to avoid another election-year battle over the ACA. Their unsuccessful effort to repeal the law helped flip the House back to Democratic control in 2018.

While finding the health law’s individual mandate to be unconstitutional, the 5th Circuit made no decision on such popular provisions as protections for people with preexisting conditions, Medicaid expansion, and coverage for young adults up to age 26 on their parents’ policies.

The 2-1 appeals court decision left the law in effect for now. Open enrollment season for 2020 has proceeded without disruption.

The 5th Circuit sent the case back to a lower court judge who has already decided once to throw out the entire health law. The appellate court asked Texas-based U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor to determine whether other parts of the law can be separated from the insurance requirement and thus remain in place.

About 20 million people have coverage through the ACA, including its subsidized private insurance and Medicaid expansion. But the 900-page law also made many changes to other programs, affecting such diverse areas as Medicare, community health centers and fraud-fighting. Sorting out whether some provisions could remain while others go with the insurance mandate would be a colossal effort.

The 5th Circuit found that the requirement to carry insurance was rendered unconstitutional when Congress in 2017 eliminated the tax penalty for people going without coverage.

Five justices would have to agree for the Supreme Court to hear the appeal on an expedited schedule.

If court does take the case, this would be its third extensive review of the health law. The five justices who upheld the law the previous two times are still on the court.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said in a statement that the Supreme Court should not delay, arguing that there is no legal or practical justification to leave the case in limbo.

“The Supreme Court should hear this case now and recognize Congress’ clear intent to preserve protections for people with preexisting conditions, and all the other benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act,” Pelosi said.

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Actress Diana Maria Riva in the backyard of her Spanish-style Burbank home. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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Chairs made by her son for Mother’s Day. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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A fire pit. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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The actress calls her backyard her “comfort space.” 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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Some backyard color. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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A fountain. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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Flora. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

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“There are many nights when I come home from work and I want a little tranquility and serenity and this space affords it to me,” Riva says. 

(Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Diana Maria Riva often sits in the backyard of her Spanish-style Burbank home and reflects on its many incarnations — it once held a playhouse for her children when they were younger, and then a small swimming pool, and then a mound of dirt while she was trying to decide what to do next.

“I’ve recalled all the transformations, and the story along the way,” said Riva, who shares the home with her 15-year-old daughter (her son is away at college) and two rescue dogs, Ty and Coby. “It’s been a good story, a real-life story. And now, in its newest phase, it’s something still for the family — but something special I gave to myself too.”

Riva has a busy shooting schedule. She appears on the NBC show “Sunnyside,” on Netflix’s “Dead to Me” and in Disney’s Christmas movie “Noelle.” But when she’s home and the sun is setting, she likes to retreat to what she calls her “comfort space” in her backyard, a small area with a fire pit and a set of chairs that hold a special meaning for her.

Why is this your favorite space?

There are many nights when I come home from work and I want a little tranquility and serenity and this space affords it to me. It feels private and protected. You can see the colors of the sunset, and there is plumeria with beautiful pink blossoms. But it doubles as a great entertainment space with wonderful conversations when people come over. I like anything that makes you feel happy to be in my house.

What was this space like when you first moved in?

I bought the house in 1999 and the backyard was just a rickety patio with some grass and very thick ivy, which took up a lot of space and harbored a lot of critters. We cleared that out, and that gave new life to the back yard.

And one part of your outdoors is special to you?

There was a dirt square where the pool used to be and I didn’t know what to do with it for many years. But then everybody was coming into town for my son’s high school graduation, and I knew I had to do something out there. You know what they say — if you want to get anything done around the house, invite people over.

What was your plan?

My gardener suggested deconstructed granite on the ground. And I knew I wanted a fire pit and some comfortable seating.

And the chairs are extra special.

I was looking at these Midcentury Modern-style lounge chairs on Pinterest; they looked like they wouldn’t take up too much space and were comfortable. I went away for a weekend and my son downloaded the plans, went to Home Depot and bought the lumber, borrowed some power tools and built and stained them for me. When I came back on Mother’s Day, they were in the backyard ready for me. It’s a wonderful thing to think about every time I go out there.

Where are the other pieces from?

The ceramic end tables are from Target and the steel orange stools from Cost Plus (World Market). I got the fire pit at a great price during a Memorial Day sale.

And this fire pit area is separate from your main outdoor entertaining space?

Over a decade ago I built this canopied area. I found old railroad beams on which I hung a scalloped awning. We have a terracotta floor — I wanted it to feel like we were in a hotel in Miami, tropical and whimsical. Then the fire pit area is next to it, not conflicting but being an extension of it. I love sitting out here in its newest phase.

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Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bündchen are asking $33.9 million for their Massachusetts home, down about $6 million from when the five-acre estate first listed for sale last year. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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The Richard Landry-designed manor features a classic brick exterior, modern amenities and a country-inspired kitchen.  

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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Tom Brady’s Massachusetts home. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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The skylight-topped breakfast room features a wall of steel-framed doors and windows that takes in leafy views. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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The kitchen. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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The estate. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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A barn-inspired guest house accompanies the 10,000-square-foot main house. Elsewhere on the grounds is a zero-edge swimming pool. 

(Erhard Pfeiffer)

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Diahann Carroll’s longtime condo at the Sierra Towers building has hit the market for $4.2 million. 

(Christopher Stinner)

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Owned by the actress-singer for decades, the 1,990-square-foot unit features interiors by designer Stephen Rieman, a library and a private balcony. 

(Christopher Stinner)

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Antiqued mirrors and hand-stenciled walls are among features of the condo, which has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A chandelier tops the dining area, which has booth seating. 

(Christopher Stinner)

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A private balcony. 

(Jim Bartsch)

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Disney Channel actress Bridgit Mendler has sold her longtime home in Silver Lake for $1.986 million. 

(Jo David / Charmaine David Photography)

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The traditional-style house, built in 1935, features an updated kitchen with vaulted ceilings and a window alcove. 

(Jo David / Charmaine David Photography)

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A bathroom. 

(Jo David / Charmaine David Photography)

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Basketball star Russell Westbrook is seeking $5.35 million for the Beverly Crest home he bought in 2014 from reality TV personality Scott Disick. 

(Hilton & Hyland)

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The two-story contemporary features pocketing walls of glass and a remodeled kitchen. 

(Hilton & Hyland)

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There are five bedrooms including an upstairs master suite with mountain and city views. 

(Hilton & Hyland)

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Hedged backyard with swimming pool. 

(Hilton & Hyland)

Tom Brady is moving up and down the field as he and the Patriots make another postseason run. Away from the gridiron, however, the three-time league MVP is still looking to score big in the real estate market.

Brady and his wife, former supermodel Gisele Bündchen, are asking $33.9 million for their gated estate in Massachusetts, a roughly $8-million reduction from when the property first hit the market last summer.

Set on roughly five acres in Brookline, the estate centers on a 10,000-square-foot brick manor designed by architect Richard Landry. The Los Angeles-based Landry is the same architect Brady and Bündchen commissioned to design their former estate in Brentwood, which they sold in 2014 to music mogul Dr. Dre for $40 million.

Built in 2015, the mansion blends rustic touches with modern amenities. Among features of note are a great room set beneath exposed ceiling beams, a garden-view dining room and a lavish country-inspired kitchen.

A lower level holds a playroom, a wine room and spa amenities. There’s also a barn-inspired guesthouse with a yoga studio.

The property abuts the ninth hole of the Country Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in the United States. A zero-edge swimming pool, lawn and lush landscaping make up the grounds.

Brady and Bündchen bought the property in 2013. Beth Dickerson of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.

Brady, 42, has spent his entire career with the Patriots and won a record six Super Bowl championships. Bündchen, 39, has been on the covers of “Vogue,” “Vanity Fair” and “Allure,” among other magazines.

Sale marks end of a dynasty

The West Hollywood condominium of late actress-singer Diahann Carroll has come on the market at $4.2 million.

The Sierra Towers residence, owned by Carroll for more than two decades, is on the 17th floor. Designed by Stephen Rieman and Mark Krasne, the condo features antiqued mirrors, hand-stenciled doors and a wet bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the condo, which sits on the northeast corner of the high-rise.

The 1,990-square-foot unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms was converted into a library, and the master suite offers a collection of closets. A chandelier-topped dining area with booth seating sits off the living room.

Carroll, who died in October at 84, was a pioneering stage and screen star known for her roles on “Julia” and “Dynasty.” Among the first black actresses to star in studio films, she received an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1974 comedy-drama “Claudine.”

She won a Tony Award for best actress in a musical in 1962 for her role in “No Strings.”

Angela Roessel and John Galich of Sotheby’s International Realty hold the listing.

Still looking to pass

NBA star and Long Beach native Russell Westbrook is still looking to score a sale in the Beverly Hills Post Office area. His modern home, which he bought from TV personality Scott Disick four years ago, has come back on the market for $5.35 million.

That’s about $650,000 shy of the original asking price but still $700,000 more than Westbrook paid for the place in 2015.

The two-story home is perched above the city on a private street near Beverly Park. Taking advantage of the scenic setting are a second-story balcony and a hedged backyard with a patio and pool.

Inside, modern flourishes fill out the 4,100-square-foot interior. An expansive open floor plan combines a living room, dining area and kitchen, and sliding walls of glass connect the space to the backyard.

Elsewhere are five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and a media room. The second-story master suite boasts sweeping city and ocean views, as well as a marble bathroom with a freestanding tub.

Bjorn Farrugia of Hilton & Hyland and Donnell Beverly Jr. of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties hold the listing.

Westbrook has made eight NBA all-star teams and won the league’s most valuable player award in 2017. He has averaged a triple-double in points, rebounds and assists in each of the last three seasons.

After 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was traded over the summer to the Houston Rockets, where he’s currently averaging 22.5 points per game.

Rockin’ a new beat

Rock musician Troy Van Leeuwen, known as the guitarist for Queens of the Stone Age, has shelled out $2.325 million for a gated Mediterranean-style home in Woodland Hills, public records show.

Over the years, the L.A. native has picked up a few different properties in Southern California. Two years ago, Leeuwen sold a Spanish-style home in Glendale and bought a two-story traditional house in Camarillo a few months later.

His new pad is a bit different from the others. Set on a lush acre, the home boasts expansive living spaces with floors of tile and hardwood across 5,900 square feet. Highlights include a window-lined great room with sweeping views, a spacious kitchen with a center island and an indoor-outdoor lounge.

Up a sweeping staircase, the master suite combines a bedroom, balcony, sitting area and chandelier-topped bathroom with a spa tub, steam shower and fireplace. It’s one of six bedrooms and five bathrooms in two stories.

The lushly landscaped backyard was made for entertaining. There’s a flagstone patio with a massive stacked-stone fireplace, an outdoor kitchen and grill, a spacious lawn and a terraced pool and spa with a waterfall. In front, there’s parking for 15 cars.

Van Leeuwen, 49, played guitar in the bands Failure and A Perfect Circle before joining Queens of the Stone Age in the early 2000s. He’s recorded four studio albums with the rock band, including “Era Vulgaris” and “Villains,” which was released in 2017.

Scott and Sherry Walter of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage held the listing. Debra O’Neill of RE/MAX TerraSol represented the buyer.

Disney star ends run

Disney Channel actress and newlywed Bridgit Mendler has sold her home in Silver Lake for $1.986 million.

Built in 1935 and imbued with traditional charm, the Cape Cod-inspired house has more than 2,400 square feet of white-walled living space. Vaulted, beamed ceilings and ample windows bring a light and airy vibe to the interiors.

Steps lead up to a brick porch at the front of the house, while double doors open to a patio at the back. A living room with a fireplace, a dining room with corner built-ins, three bedrooms and 3.75 bathrooms are among living spaces. The vibrant blue tile floor in the updated kitchen is also used on the stair risers leading to the upper floor.

A pergola-topped sitting area and raised vegetable beds make up the backyard. Views from the hillside perch take in the reservoir and the cityscape.

Mendler, 26, has appeared on the Disney Channel shows “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Good Luck Charlie.” She stars on the new sitcom “Merry Happy Whatever” along with Dennis Quaid.

The property previously changed hands six years ago for $1.075 million.

Patricia Ruben of Sotheby’s International Realty was the listing agent. Michael Nourmand of Nourmand & Associates represented the buyer.

Giving up a desert post

In the Arizona desert, a limited liability company tied to politician Sarah Palin has sold a half-built house for $6.2 million. That’s $50,000 under the asking price but a whopping $5.263 million more than the corporate entity paid for the property in 2015.

Set on an acre in Scottsdale, the property was owned by Safari Investments, a company that the former Alaska governor confirmed ties to in 2011. The company has purchased multiple properties in Scottsdale over the last few years, including a pair of vacant lots and a 7,900-square-foot home with a swimming pool and basketball court.

This one clocks in at a slightly smaller 7,660 square feet with four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms across two stories. Nestled in the McDowell Mountains, it enjoys sweeping mountain and city-light views from its scenic perch.

Though just the foundation is finished, construction plans call for living spaces with beamed ceilings, stone accents and walls of glass, as well as a collector’s garage accessed by an elevator. Outside, lounges would surround a new infinity-edge pool and spa.

Ryan Bailey and Patrick Bailey of Platinum Living Realty held the listing, according to the Multiple Listing Service. Andrew Bloom of Keller Williams Arizona Realty represented the buyer.

A native of Alaska, Palin served as mayor of Wasilla, the state’s sixth-largest city, before being elected governor in 2006. The politician gained national attention after joining John McCain as the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee for the 2008 election. She has since appeared on reality shows such as “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” and “Amazing America with Sarah Palin.”

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With apologies to multiple lyricists, there’s music in the air and lots of home sales everywhere this week. A rocker bides his time and offers his mountain retreat for lease while waiting for a buyer, a guitarist finds a home that hooks him, and a songwriter puts pen to sales contract in Nashville.

Our Home of the Week is a Swiss Chalet Craftsman in Riverside’s Mount Rubidoux Historic District. The 1909 landmark features original woodwork, leaded-glass windows and a brick fireplace within 3,900 square feet of living space. The asking price is $1.2 million.

Once you’re done reading about these deals, visit and like our Facebook page, where you can find Hot Property stories and updates throughout the week.

– Neal Leitereg, Jack Flemming and Lauren Beale

Rocker changes his tempo

While longtime rocker Sammy Hagar is seeking a buyer for his Lake Arrrowhead estate, the French-inspired chateau is also available for lease at $30,000 a month — or even just for weekends.

The asking price is $3.9 million, down from $5.25 million when the property was originally listed in 2017.

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The waterfront house, built in 2009, features beamed ceilings, a two-island kitchen, a formal dining room, a family room and a living room anchored by a limestone fireplace. The 6,557 square feet of living space also contains a wood-paneled game room, a wet bar, a sound-proof music room and eight bedrooms.

Hagar, 72, is a vocalist and songwriter. The Red Rocker, as he is known, fronted the bands Van Halen and Montrose and is an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A place to hang his ax

Rock musician Troy Van Leeuwen, known as the guitarist for Queens of the Stone Age, has shelled out $2.325 million for a gated Mediterranean-style home in Woodland Hills.

Set on a lush acre, the home features expansive living spaces across 5,900 square feet. Highlights include a window-lined great room with sweeping views, a spacious kitchen with a center island and an indoor-outdoor lounge.

The master suite combines a bedroom, a balcony, a sitting area and a chandelier-topped bathroom with a spa tub, steam shower and fireplace. It’s one of six bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Van Leeuwen, 49, played guitar for the bands Failure and A Perfect Circle before joining Queens of the Stone Age in the early 2000s. He’s recorded four studio albums with the rock band, including “Era Vulgaris” and “Villains.”

A closer in Nashville

Singer-songwriter John Hiatt has sold his house in Nashville for $1.075 million.

The two-story stone home, built in 1929, is surrounded by more than an acre of lawn and mature trees. A steep roof and dormer windows accentuate the traditional style.

There is one bedroom on the first floor and three, including the master, upstairs. Dining and living rooms, a den with built-in bookcases, an office and four full bathrooms lie within the 3,374 square feet of living space.

The 67-year-old musician plays guitar, piano and keyboards. He has worked in a variety of genres including country and blues rock. Among artists to cover his songs are Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Exec is ready to pull the plug

Music executive and producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid has listed his modern mansion on the Westside of Los Angeles for sale at $22.9 million.

Built in 2015, the multilevel house is set on a one-acre ridge of grounds that include a half-moon-shaped infinity-edge swimming pool, a spa and an outdoor kitchen with a bar.

The open and vaulted great room features a floating black granite fireplace that divides the space. Red velvet walls, carpeting and draperies create visual interest in the living room/den, which has a wet bar. In all, there are seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms in about 11,250 square feet of space.

The former Epic Records chairman, 63, has worked with such top-tier talents as Usher, Outkast and Sean “Puffy” Combs. He co-founded LaFace Records in the late 1980s and later headed up Def Jam Music Group for more than a decade.

Time to move the Grammys

The English record producer Spike Stent — who has won five Grammys for his collaborations with Madonna, Beyoncé, Muse, Frank Ocean and Ed Sheeran — has sold his traditional-style home in Encino for $2.65 million.

Stent made a few subtle changes to the two-story floor plan during his two-year ownership, splashing white paint over a pair of brick walls and adding bold shades of blue, purple and pink to the 4,618 square feet of living space.

The seven-bedroom house opens to an expansive living room under skylights. Other main-level highlights include a billiards room with paneled walls, a family room with a stone fireplace, an office lounge with built-ins and a master suite with a corner fireplace.

Hedges and fences frame the backyard, which contains a flagstone patio, a swimming pool, spa and lawn.

Her favorite room

“For All Mankind” actress Shantel VanSanten converted the garage of her 2,200-square-foot San Fernando Valley home to create just the right space for her collectibles and one very special object — a 10-foot table of tamarind wood from Southeast Asia. The barn-like space has black walls, white concrete floors and pine posts and beams.

From the archives

Ten years ago, singer Cher had just put the finishing touches on her latest remodel project, an 8,821-square-foot luxury compound on three-quarters of an acre in Kona, Hawaii. She planned to sell it at auction. Our headline: “It’s Sunny and It’s Cher’s.”

Twenty years ago, actor Tim Allen purchased the Hollywood Hills home of actor Christian Slater for $2.2 million. The Mediterranean-style house had three bedrooms within its 5,500 square feet.

Thirty years ago, Mike Love of the Beach Boys purchased the home of aviator Charles Lindbergh for about $1 million. The seller of the five-acre estate was Lindbergh’s widow, Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

What we’re reading

Retired NBA power forward Antonio McDyess has bought a 10,287-square-foot mansion in Houston for an undisclosed amount, reports Realtor.com. The six-bedroom Spanish-Mediterranean style mansion was last listed for $3.025 million.

Missed this housing deal of the year from 2019? You can still get a dilapidated, abandoned house in Italy for just over a dollar. CNN has rounded up the destinations that are continuing to offer properties to anyone willing to refurbish a crumbling Italian home.

Winter in Southern California is a time when hikers can take advantage of cooler temperatures, which means longer hikes without risking heat stroke. But days are shorter and darker at this time of year, which means you need to carry more gear to be prepared. Here are some items designed to make the going easier.

Poles apart

Cascade Mountain Tech Quick Lock telescoping trekking poles, at a bargain price.

What we like: Hiking sticks are essential any time of year to reduce leg strain and turn hiking into an all-body workout. Cascade Mountain Tech’s Quick Lock poles are hard to pass up. Adjustable to any size user, their three-section legs of ultralight carbon fiber (usually found on far pricier models) lock in place with bicycle-type quick-release levers, extending to 54 inches and compressing to 26 inches for storage. Just 7.8 ounces per pole, they come with cork or foam handles, padded straps and a five-piece accessories kit with tips for street and snow use. And the price is about half that of poles with similar features.

Price: $47.99 to $59.99 for high-end 3K carbon model; cascademountaintech.com

Hike-all-day hydration

Platypus Duthie AM 10.0 hydration backpack for hiking and mountain biking.

What we like: This compact pack is loaded with smart features: an all-day 3-liter water bladder, zip pockets on the waist belt for full-stride access to snacks and a comfy mesh back panel fitted over a wire frame that allows for air flow and keeps the pack from pressing against your back. It also includes handy extras like a fleece-lined pocket for sunglasses, built-in rain cover and a key clip and tool pockets inside the main cargo compartment.

Price: $139 on Amazon; platy.com

Cooler heads prevail

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure nylon sun hat, with polyester mesh inserts.

What we like: While the sun is less harsh in winter, you might be out in it more. This well-designed sun hat keeps your face and neck covered with a wide 3¾-inch brim and 6-inch neck cape, which does not bump up against the top of a backpack (as a full-brim hat does). It includes a sunglasses keeper, antiglare material under the brim, mesh inserts for ventilation and a wicking headband to absorb sweat.

Price: $42; sundayafternoons.com

Wear anywhere light

Nathan Luna Fire 250 RX chest and/or waist light.

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What we like: A light is a must in the short days of fall and winter. This 250-lumen model for hikers and runners can be clipped or strapped anywhere on your clothing. The beam can be angled up and down and adjusted from spotlight to strobe. A USB-rechargeable battery and adjustable strap are included.

Price: $39.99; nathansports.com

Rain-and-heat shedding jacket

The North Face Flight Futurelight waterproof-breathable jacket made of nylon and elastane.

What we like: This waterproof hooded jacket for hiking and running limits overheating by using Futurelight, a highly perforated fabric that lets air vent while keeping rain from coming in. It weighs 8 ounces, wads into a back stash pocket barely bigger than your hand and easily stows in a backpack or fanny pack. It’s not cheap, but North Face gear never is.

Price: $280; thenorthface.com

You’re just not getting out enough. Really. Author and environmentalist Richard Louv has been warning the world about nature-deficit disorder, loosely described as a state in which humans lose their connection with the outdoors.

“An expanding body of scientific evidence suggests that nature-deficit disorder contributes to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions of obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses,” Louv writes on the website of the organization he founded, the Children & Nature Network (childrenandnature.org). “Research also suggests that the nature deficit weakens ecological literacy and stewardship of the natural world.”

Indeed. The 2017 Nature of Americans report surveyed 12,000 people and found that while the majority highly valued contact with the natural world, half said they spent five hours or less in nature each week — and that their children spent three times as many hours with computers and TV screens as they did playing outside.

The good news? You can boost your bond with the outdoors right in your geographical backyard. For those who need a fresh start, or even a reboot, here are ways to connect with nature that could forge healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Like a hawk

Nest-watchers wanted, no experience necessary. The 2020 Raptor Survey is looking for volunteers to help track the mating cycles of hawks, owls and kestrels by watching their nests over time. “We need nest watchers for every stage of development, from nest building to incubation to hatchlings to fledglings,” says Courtney McCammon, co-manager of the project in and around Griffith Park.

The survey offers a way to experience firsthand the life cycle of raptors. Each volunteer (you can ask to be paired up) is assigned to a nest and visits every few weeks to record all that happens until the end of June, when most hatched chicks have left the nest.

There are about 200 nests in the study area, which includes Griffith Park and nearby canyons, Atwater Village, parts of the San Fernando Valley and Debs Park.

Beginners are welcome. “I love that one of the most important aspects of the program is that it’s a citizen science project,” McCammon says.

You’ll need to bring a pair of binoculars and attend a volunteer training session to participate. Sessions are held 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 1 and Feb. 9 at the Ranger Visitor Center Auditorium in Griffith Park.

Info: bit.ly/raptorsurvey2020 or email [email protected]

Into the pool

You won’t see creatures that hang out in Southern California’s tide pools unless you go looking for them. It’s a great way to discover species you may have never seen before, such as limpets, crabs, anemones, sea hares, urchins and sea stars, and a good outing for families with children of all ages.

For those who would like a guide, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro can help. Free tide pool walks that last about an hour and a half start with a slide show to educate you about sea creatures and their habitat. Then a naturalist will take you to nearby tide pools to have a look and help you identify what’s within. Upcoming walks are set for Jan. 11, 12, 19 and 25; and Feb. 8 and 9; for Spanish speakers, Jan. 12 and Feb. 9.

Info: bit.ly/tidepools2020

Counting sheep

Bighorn sheep in SoCal’s local mountains aren’t easy to spot. But you might get lucky on the annual California Department of Fish and Wildlife‘s ground survey in the San Gabriel Mountains. Volunteers are recruited to use spotting scopes and binoculars to count the number of sheep and where they’re located (sorry to say, no guarantee you’ll see one during the survey, but you’ll experience their backcountry habitat firsthand).

The survey area for local bighorns starts in the east at California 39 above Azusa and spreads west to Lytle Creek near the 15 Freeway. Volunteers are limited to 200; all must register in advance and attend a Feb. 29 orientation at the Angeles National Forest office (701 N. Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia) to receive training and an assigned search area. The boots-on-the-ground survey takes place March 1.

Online registration is expected to start in mid-January; check the state agency’s website for updates.

Info: wildlife.ca.gov

Fish finding

You can be part of an effort to monitor the habitat of fish, invertebrates and plankton in one of Southern California’s richest coastal ecosystems. During monthly low tides, volunteers collect and identify species at the Back Bay Science Center in Newport Beach.

The idea is to add data to the study of the coastal zone and changes in the local habitat. Volunteers are trained to help with trawl nets to find bottom-dwellers, beach seines to survey shoreline creatures, mud sampling devices and plankton nets.

Inventory events are held during low tides on Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 7, April 11, May 9 and other dates. Each event is limited to 30 volunteers, ages 13 and older, who must register in advance. Sessions begin at 8:15 a.m. and run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers should dress for wet and muddy conditions. Sign up by contacting education program coordinator Robin Madrid, [email protected]

Info: bit.ly/marinelifeinventory

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January in Los Angeles is a special time: The air feels a little crisper, there’s snow coating the mountains in the distance, and many Angelenos are just easing back into their regular schedules while trying to be mindful of their New Year’s resolution. Whether your resolution has you experimenting with veganism, meditating or spending more time in nature — or some impressive combination of the three — Pacific Palisades provides an ideal place to take a breath and recharge before diving into 2020.

Before hitting the road, be sure to throw a beach blanket and a few extra layers in your bag — when you make a trip to this picturesque seaside neighborhood, it’s a shame to miss a visit to the beach, no matter the season.

1 p.m. Ease into a day of relaxation with a stop for lunch at Matthew’s Garden Cafe at 859½ Swarthmore Ave. off the Palisades’ main shopping district. Walking into Matthew’s is like discovering a treasure hidden in plain sight; from the street, diners walk through a narrow passage onto a lush patio with tables. If you’re tired of the rich meats and sweets of the holiday season, the restaurant’s wholesome salads and sandwiches are a surefire way to transition back to the simpler pleasures of everyday dining. The jasmine salad and chicken pesto panini make for a particularly satisfying lunch, especially coupled with a tea or coffee. After you finish lunch, don’t leave in a hurry; Matthew’s is one of those places diners can feel comfortable lingering and soaking in the surroundings.

2:10 p.m. Even if your New Year’s resolution has you avoiding animal products or gluten, you won’t have trouble finding plenty of places for dessert in the Palisades. A short walk across Antioch Street and Sunset Boulevard is Sweet Laurel Bakery at 15279 Sunset Blvd., an overwhelmingly pink and predictably expensive bake shop nestled in the Palisades’ posh shopping district. Despite the $10 price tag on slices of cake, anyone searching for a new grain-free or dairy-free dessert option, or just curious about how the 1% consumes its calories, should stop in for a slice of vanilla coconut jam cake or a few snickerdoodle cookies.

2:30 p.m. Time to hit the road. Drive 2.5 miles west along Sunset Boulevard to the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine at 17190 Sunset Blvd.; you might spot the Golden Lotus Archway or windmill chapel from the road. The shrine is a regular contender on internet lists of the best places in L.A. to relax, meditate and, my personal favorite, “harvest your inner calm.” Amateur bloggers and the New York Times alike are right to call attention to the shrine — and there’s a lot more to understand about the shrine than its undeniable feeling of peacefulness.

Once you arrive, take a moment to pick up a brochure and read about the shrine’s history before taking a walk through the Meditation Garden. I recommend keeping an eye out for all of the different religious influences found within the gardens, from the Mary and baby Jesus on display to the statue of Krishna playing his flute. In some ways, the variety of religious iconography at the shrine can be seen as a testament to the fusion of cultures that makes Los Angeles unique.

4 p.m. After finishing at the shrine, continue oceanward on Sunset Boulevard to Pacific Coast Highway and turn left, heading back toward L.A. After about a mile and a half, you’ll reach Will Rogers State Beach at 17000 Pacific Coast Highway, a clean, relatively crowd-free stretch of coast ideal for watching sunsets.

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If the beach looks familiar, you might recognize it from one of the many movies and TV shows shot there — including “Baywatch.” The best part? There’s ample parking, either in the lot or along Temescal Canyon Road.

Grab a blanket and a few extra layers from the trunk (it gets chilly on the beach at twilight) and find a spot to watch the sunset. Once you’re settled in and layered up, keep an eye on the horizon. You might just see some dolphins jumping through the waves.

When Los Angeles interior designer Schuyler Samperton was growing up in Maryland, her mother used a men’s black-and-white houndstooth-check suit fabric to recover their sofa, placed against a wallpaper featuring blueprints of Italian villas. Antique Indian tree of life panels were tablecloths. “Our house didn’t look like any of my friends’,” she says.

Samperton now combines memories with modern-day living in her versatile textile style, in which fabric — whether from a vintage sari or a tapestry found at the Santa Monica swap meet — can be used not just to cover a sofa or pillow, but also lampshades, kitchen banquettes, beds, walls or the inside of an actor’s trailer. “Fabric is the soul of a room,” she says. “That’s what gives it character and interest. For me, color, pattern and prints bring a space to life.”

And they bring her joy. So she created Schuyler Samperton Textiles to spread it around. “Fabrics say so much about who we are, personally and as a culture,” she says. “They hold a lot of resonance for people. I wanted to do something close to my heart.” Which is why the fabric names in her line are born of nostalgia, such as Overlea, the street she grew up on, Woodley for her childhood school and Caledonia for her Scottish roots.

We took a stroll with Samperton to see where she finds her spark.

How can the rest of us bring joy into our lives with textiles?

Surrounding yourself with things that are really beautiful elevates your life and changes the way you live every day. Not just on special occasions.

Aren’t textiles a commitment?

I change the pillows all the time. If you just buy the covers, they’re easy to store and you can change them out. I have a crazy stash of stuff. People are afraid they’re going to make mistakes, but don’t be. And stains come out.

What if someone can’t afford to hire an expert?

It’s easy to upholster stuff yourself, especially if it has a removable seat cushion. Use a staple gun and recover it. You can change everything, like a great set of dining chairs. You can mix stripes and florals; they don’t all have to match. That’s a cool look too.

How many pillows on a sofa are too many?

Pillows are a very controversial topic. People say “I don’t want so many pillows that I have to throw them on the floor,” especially men. It’s a real sore spot. I do three on a standard 7 ½-by-7 ½ sofa, a pair and then another one.

Can all these textiles work in a small place?

It’s not about the square footage but how the elements play off each other. I live in a tiny place here. I can sit on a sofa and my eye will land on something I love. Color is the most stimulating. I painted the walls of my bedroom Pitch Blue by Farrow & Ball. It just makes it warm and cozy. Sometimes you just have to embrace your condition. Same goes for life.

Here are a few of interior designer Schuyler Samperton’s sources:

Treasure Trove
By appointment at (213) 500-3229 or [email protected]

“[Owner Johnny Zerbo] travels all over the world to find vintage fabrics of all sorts — England, France, Spain, Italy, Africa,” Samperton says. “I come here when I’ve got the basics organized and I want that special layer to make it sing. This is my super secret source. We go through phases where I’m here every day of the week.”

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

By appointment at (310) 916-7074, lisaborgnesgiramonti.com

“She’s a textile artist; it’s artwork made out of textiles,” Samperton says. “They’re needlepoint samplers with 21st-century predicaments. It’s the coolest thing ever. Everything’s so personalized; it’s yet another way to make a space particularly interesting; nobody else is going to have this.”

Hollywood at Home

703 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 273-6200. hollywoodathome.com

“I’ve always been a big client, and then when I came out with my textile line I wanted to be repped here,” Samperton says. “It’s got a really nice vibe, a boutique feel. There are all these fabric lines in one place, super colorful, full of pattern. If you are looking for punch and individuality, this is the place to go. They also mix well with vintage textiles, which I love.”

F&S Fabrics

10654 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 441-2477. fsfashionfabricslosangeles.com

“This place is a classic,” Samperton says. “It’s the best source for good patina’d-looking ticking. This cotton/linen blend (see top photo) from India is my favorite and it’s $39 a yard. I love the charcoal, but the red makes it a little funkier. I’d upholster a great sofa or sectional then cover it with tons of really cool textiles on pillows. And anyone can come in and buy yards of fabric without having to order. It’s reasonable and useful.”

Heather Taylor Home

1101 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 305-4343. heathertaylorhome.com

“I love tabletop linens, Heather’s got a range of things you don’t see other places,” Samperton says. “She had this great idea to do rentals of linens; the convenience is incredible. People are returning to this type of comfort, patterns and textures and a touch of fringe — all those details feel cozy. My mom was obsessed with tabletop; growing up we had racks and racks of napkins in our basement for entertaining.”

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