Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we wish nothing but happiness to the best quarter-horse announcer … ever.

We’re going to go off script today and not lead with thoroughbreds or some industry gossip or the doings of the California Horse Racing Board.

This weekend is the last for Ed Burgart as the full-time regular caller at Los Alamitos Race Course. He’s done it for almost four decades. Talk about someone who can’t get a new job. Seriously, Ed is as much a part of the fabric of Los Alamitos as the cheap beer and hot dogs. He’s a track treasure and they even named a restaurant at the track after him a few weeks ago.

I interviewed him on Friday and he had some interesting memories. You can read it, just click here.

So, we’re going to move Orlando Gutierrez’s Los Alamitos nighttime weekend preview to the top of this newsletter. It’s not just Ed’s last weekend, it’s the last weekend of the season and it has some great races. So, Orlando, take it away.

“Ed Burgart’s final weekend as track announcer at Los Alamitos Race Course kicks off on Saturday with an outstanding nine-race card headed by his favorite race, the Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions at 400 yards. Burgart has called some of the greatest quarter horses in history in this race, such as three-time winner Refrigerator, the Bob Baffert-trained Gold Coast Express, the superb filly Dashs Dream, plus world champions Cash Rate, First Down Dash, SLM Big Daddy, Heza Dasha Fire and more. The field for Burgart’s final Champion of Champions will feature a great lineup headed by Bill Hoburg’s BH Lisas Boy, who is the top older horse on the grounds, plus the outstanding 3-year-old filly Flash And Roll.

“Owned by Scott Bryant, Flash And Roll is undefeated in six starts at Los Alamitos, a record that includes three Grade 1 victories. Her three stakes wins came in the Golden State Million Futurity, Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, and Los Alamitos Super Derby. She’s the only horse to win all three of these races.

“Ridden by the phenomenal 18-year-old jockey Oscar Andrade Jr., the 7-year-old gelding BH Lisas Boy won the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship and the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap. This is BH Lisas Boy’s third appearance in the Champion of Champions.

“Jim Walker’s Zoomin For Spuds, the Champion of Champions winner in 2016, and Ed Allred’s millionaire He Looks Hot will each be making their fourth consecutive starts in the Champion of Champions.

“Los Alamitos will conduct an Ed Burgart bobblehead giveaway with a paid general admission while supplies last, starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“On Sunday, Burgart will conduct a meet and greet with fans after the last daytime thoroughbred race at Los Alamitos. Burgart will sign autographs, take photos, and enjoy the company of racing fans in the track’s winner’s circle until approximately 5:30 p.m.

“Michael Wrona will call the first race of the nighttime program while Burgart conducts the meet and greet. Burgart will then go to his announcer’s perch for his final racing program, which will be highlighted by the $1.9 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

“When Burgart called his first Champion of Champions both Allred and trainer Mike Robbins had horses in that race. For Burgart’s final call, Allred will be represented by fastest qualifier Nomadic, while Robbins will saddle Mr Ricks. John Cooper, one of Burgart’s best friends, will saddle Cartel Jess Rockin in the Two Million. The field will also feature Grade 1 futurity winners Runforyourlife and Flokie. Post time for the Two Million is 9:12 p.m.

“Day and night racing fans at Los Alamitos will receive a free 2020 Los Alamitos wall calendar with their paid admission while supplies last on Sunday night. The calendar will feature Burgart throughout the various months of the year. It’ll be another keepsake to remember the greatest quarter-horse race caller of all time.

“There’s one other important quarter-horse figure retiring at the end of 2019. Jockey Cody Jensen, a winner of more than 1,660 Quarter Horse races, 101 graded stakes wins and 50 Grade 1 stakes wins, will call it a career at the end of the month. The winning rider in last year’s Champion of Champions, Jensen will be aboard the super filly Flash And Roll in the Champion of Champions and then on Up And Coming in the Two Million. His final mount will likely come at Sunland Park on Sunday, Dec. 29.

“The 70^th season of quarter horse and thoroughbred racing will open at Los Alamitos on Friday, Dec. 27 with Wrona calling the action. The first stakes race of the season will be the Holiday Handicap on Dec. 28. Los Alamitos will be open for simulcasting during the time-off although the track will be closed Dec. 24-25.”

Los Alamitos daytime review

The feature on Friday’s card was a $40,000 maiden special weight for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies, won by Florentine Diamond. She was strong in the stretch winning by seven lengths over Shenandoah Star.

Paula Capestro was the owner, trainer and co-breeder of the filly. Florentine Diamond paid a healthy $21.40, $10.80 and $5.40. Agapito Delgadillo was the jockey. Lets Get Wild finished third.

Los Alamitos daytime preview

Saturday’s card has a $100,000 stakes race, four races for 2-year-old fillies and nine races total. First post is at 12:30 p.m. The stakes is the Soviet Problem Stakes for Cal-bred 2-year-old fillies going a mile. There are 10 starters.

The favorite, at 7-5, is Been Studying Her and she has some good credentials for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Drayden Van Dyke. She has won three-of-four races including the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. She also finished fourth in the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at Los Alamitos, her only loss.

Smiling Shirlee is the second favorite at 9-2 for Jeff Bonde and Ruben Fuentes. She has won one-of-three races and finished second in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies.

Here are the field sizes, in order: 7, 7, 8, 8, 10 (1 also eligible), 10 (1 ae), 8, 10, 10 (2 ae). Not too shaby.

Ciaran Thornton’s Lrc picks of the day

RACE ONE: No. 5 Darkhawk (10-1)

Darkhawk trainer Brian Pitnick also owns this horse and is winning 29% in maiden claimers like Saturday with a 64% in the money percentage. The horse ran second at the beach last month with the strongest late pace we see in this race. Has as much speed as the top choices and we are getting a great 10-1 or more value. Darkhawk finished ahead of 7/2 Norski in this race yet this horse is better value.

Friday’s result: Cunning Munnings looked great on paper but even with go fast jockey Edwin Maldonado riding the horse had nothing, finishing off the board.

Ciaran Thornton is the handicapper for Californiapick4.com, which offers daily full card picks, longshots of the day, best bets of the day.

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on Saturday. All times PST.

10:14 Tampa Bay (3): $125,000 FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes, Fla-bred fillies 3-years-old, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Wildwood’s Beauty (6-5)

11:04 Woodbine (3): $100,000 Display Stakes, 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Elusive Knight (1-1)

11:14 Tampa Bay (5): $125,000 FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes, Fla-bred 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Jackson (2-1)

11:30 Gulfstream (6): Grade 3 $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Lady’s Island (5-2)

11:56 Fair Grounds (5): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes, La-bred fillies 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Vacherie Girl (5-2)

12:00 Gulfstream (7): $100,000 My Charmer, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Favorite: Mitchell Road (9-5)

12:30 Gulfstream (8): Grade 3 $100,000 Rampart Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile. Favorite: Baccarat Fashion (5-2)

12:46 Aqueduct (8): $500,000 New York Stallion Series, NY-bred 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs. Favorite: Dream Bigger (5-2)

12:54 Fair Grounds (7): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes, La-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Minit to Stardom (8-5)

1:00 Gulfstream (9): Grade 2 $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Favorite: Channel Cat (3-1)

1:23 Fair Grounds (8): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes, La-breds 2-years-old, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Chimney Rock (8-5)

1:30 Gulfstream (10): Grade 3 $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday Stakes, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Prince Lucky (2-1)

1:52 Fair Grounds (9): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes, La-breds 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: In the Navy (7-2)

2:21 Fair Grounds (10): $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, La-breds 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles. Favorite: Underpressure (5-2)

2:50 Fair Grounds (11): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf Stakes, La-bred fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Favorite: Is Too (5-2)

3:19 Fair Grounds (12): $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes, La-breds 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Monte Man (3-1)

3:58 Los Alamitos (8): $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes, Cal-bred fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile. Favorite: Been Studying Her (7-5)

Ed Burgart’s LA pick of the day

SEVENTH RACE: No. 1 Genuine Version (7-2)

This gelding relishes the rail post and has much early quickness. He figures to be even quicker than normal since he is coming off a speed-sharpening 110-yard victory in last start. In addition, he has won eight of 26 starts while Delayed Steal, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, is coming off restricted allowance victories in non winners of two and three race lifetime categories.

Final thought

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And now the stars of the show, Friday’s results and Saturday’s entries.

Los Alamitos Race Course Charts Results for Friday, December 13.

Copyright 2019 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 5th day of a 8-day meet. Clear & Fast

FIRST RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $15,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $20,000-$18,000. Time 24.75 49.41 1:13.55 1:26.28 1:39.25

Winner–Flying Blue Ch.f.3 by Mucho Macho Man out of Ayres Hall, by Jade Hunter. Bred by Calabria Farms, LLC (OK). Trainer: Eoin G. Harty. Owner: Stetson Racing, LLC, Lanni, Donato and Riccelli, Rita. Mutuel Pool $41,795 Exacta Pool $13,671 Superfecta Pool $3,633 Trifecta Pool $7,373. Scratched–Northern Encounter, Probable.

FLYING BLUE sped to the lead into the first turn, set the pace down the backstretch and around the second turn, inched clear in upper stretch and held the advantage to the wire. GOTTA BE LUCKY pressed the pace throughout, bid for command in upper stretch, was turned back but was clearly second best. FULL COURT chased off the rail down the backstretch, drifted out in the stretch, could make no headway but gained third. GODDESS APHRODITE stalked the pace three deep, came into the stretch three wide and gave way. The half mile fraction was hand timed.

SECOND RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $21,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $50,000-$40,000. Time 22.15 45.97 58.16 1:05.04

Winner–Ice Kitty Grr.f.3 by He Be Fire N Ice out of Ridge Kitten, by Monsieur Cat. Bred by Cicero Farms LLC (CA). Trainer: Tim Yakteen. Owner: Cicero Farms, LLC. Mutuel Pool $71,523 Daily Double Pool $11,706 Exacta Pool $36,055 Superfecta Pool $13,980 Trifecta Pool $21,734. Scratched–none.

ICE KITTY Had good early foot, set pressured pace from the inside, retained slim advantage into the lane and gamely turned back outside rival. HOT MAGISTRATE forced the pace from between rivals, continued outside winner around the bend and into the lane, challenged throughout the drive but narrowly missed outside foe. DURGA was three abreast into the turn, continued on same path on the turn then four wide into the stretch, lost contact with top pair in the drive and saved the show. STICK UP briefly forced the pace then was taken off the leader, stalked from along the rail, angled three wide leaving the turn, came out further in final furlong and missed third outside rival. REMEMBER TO SMILE close up early from the outside, caught four wide into and on the turn, drifted out six wide into the stretch and lacked needed late response. MRS. KIMBERLY K reserved while bit off the fence, chased two or three wide on the turn and failed to make any late impact. Half mile fraction was hand timed.

THIRD RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $15,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $8,000-$7,000. Time 23.49 46.91 1:11.75 1:24.28 1:37.38

Winner–Top of the Game B.g.6 by Desert Party out of Indy Future, by A.P. Indy. Bred by Cantrell Family Partnership Ltd. (KY). Trainer: Ryan Hanson. Owner: Dunn, Robin D and Hanson, Ryan. Mutuel Pool $74,345 Daily Double Pool $7,999 Exacta Pool $33,600 Trifecta Pool $26,387. Scratched–Tasunke Witco.

$1 Pick Three (4-2-1) paid $37.00. Pick Three Pool $16,264.

TOP OF THE GAME was sent up inside and grabbed command entering backstretch, dictated pace from slightly off the fence, padded cushion in upper stretch and stretched that margin late while show the stick and under hand urging. BEST TWO MINUTES unhurried early, chased from bit off the rail, advanced along the fence around last turn then out gamed outside rival in the lane for the place. LIBERTY PARK stalked while three or four wide to the second bend, moved up bit outside on that turn, came three wide into the stretch and was turned back for second. FOR HIM pressured the pacesetter into and through the backstretch, dropped back around last turn and weakened. AUTUMN DAY forced early pace while three deep, and between rivals, continued well off the rail, also dropped back on the final turn and faded in the stretch.

FOURTH RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000. Time 23.75 48.04 1:13.22 1:25.87 1:38.81

Winner–Call Me Daddy B.c.2 by Palace Malice out of Ravenesque, by Dance With Ravens. Bred by Copper Penny Stables (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O’Neill. Owner: ERJ Racing, LLC, Kenney, Dave and Strauss, William. Mutuel Pool $104,542 Daily Double Pool $11,125 Exacta Pool $46,561 Superfecta Pool $20,449 Trifecta Pool $28,231. Scratched–Convex.

$1 Pick Three (2-1-6) paid $63.70. Pick Three Pool $8,584.

CALL ME DADDY entered the first turn three wide, stalked the pace four deep on the backstretch, moved up three wide around the second turn, took the lead in midstretch and drew away in the final furlong. MAHI MAHI dueled inside a rival on the backstretch and second turn, fought back when challenged in midstretch, could not hold off the winner but was clearly second best. BAMBOOZLER chased off the rail down the backstretch and around the second turn, swung out in the lane, did not threaten but gained the show. DEBT MONGER pulled behind rivals around the first turn, moved up between horses entering the backstretch, dueled outside a rival into and around the second turn, drifted out in the stretch and weakened. SOUND CHECKERS stalked the pace three deep on the backstretch, angled in on the second turn, gave way in the lane and was eased through the final furlong.

FIFTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 21.85 46.15 58.40 1:05.13

Winner–Florentine Diamond Ch.f.2 by Smiling Tiger out of Silver Score, by Even the Score. Bred by Woodbridge Farm LLC & Paula Capestro (CA). Trainer: Paula S. Capestro. Owner: Paula S. Capestro. Mutuel Pool $80,216 Daily Double Pool $13,075 Exacta Pool $42,992 Superfecta Pool $17,638 Trifecta Pool $26,914. Scratched–none.

$1 Pick Three (1-6-5) paid $70.30. Pick Three Pool $22,031. $1 Pick Four (2-1-2/6-5) 4 correct paid $547.40. Pick Four Pool $40,156. 50-Cent Pick Five (2/3/4-2-1-2/6-5) 5 correct paid $699.20. Pick Five Pool $145,431.

FLORENTINE DIAMOND was lightly bumped leaving the gate, stalked four wide into the bend, continued outside on the turn, fanned five wide exiting the turn, rallied strongly outside, reached front passing three-sixteenths pole and drew clear under couple right handed taps. SHENANDOAH STAR broke alertly and sped to the front, controlled pace while bit off the rail then three wide exiting the turn, was overtaken in upper stretch but safely held second. LETS GET WILD attended the early pace while outside leader, remained prominent while three then four wide into the stretch, remained well off the rail and clearly bested others. JEMSEK settled off the leaders, hugged the rail into the stretch chasing the pace, remained along the fence and never threatened. TOO MUCH SMOKE hesitated while off very slowly, dropped well back early, saved ground but never reached contention. MISS CAROUSEL broke in and lightly bumped inside rival, crossed over leaving the backstretch, moved up and loomed on the turn but gave way in the stretch and was eased nearing the wire. The stewards conducted an inquiry involving the start for TOO MUCH SMOKE but ruled that horse caused its own problem.

SIXTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Starter Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000. Time 21.65 45.21 58.02 1:05.00

Winner–Coalinga Hills Ch.m.6 by Thorn Song out of Alphabet Kisses, by Alphabet Soup. Bred by Harris Farms (CA). Trainer: Martin F. Jones. Owner: Hicker, George and Button Stable. Mutuel Pool $107,339 Daily Double Pool $9,835 Exacta Pool $57,895 Superfecta Pool $34,326 Trifecta Pool $41,219. Scratched–Madame Mousse.

$1 Pick Three (6-5-4) paid $124.30. Pick Three Pool $20,806.

COALINGA HILLS tracked leading duo into and around turn while three wide, roused in upper stretch, closed strongly in the final furlong and collared leader in final yards. TIMBERLAKE GAGE hooked up in prolonged duel from along the rail into stretch, inched away in upper stretch and again past mid stretch but could not stave off winner. EREBUNI settled off the pace and well off the rail, continued on four wide path to the stretch, remained outside through the lane and was up in final jump for minor award. HERUNBRIDLEDPOWER crossed over and contested the pace outside runner-up, battled well into the stretch, fought back through the drive but had little left for the final sixteenth. JUST BE HELD chased while well off the fence or four wide into the stretch and failed to threaten while between rivals late. BRAGGING RIGHTS was void of early foot, saved ground while trailing the field and failed to make any serious late impact.

SEVENTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $28,000. Starter Allowance. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.05 45.18 56.88 1:03.29

Winner–Lord Adare Dbb.c.3 by Violence out of Pure Genius, by Mr. Greeley. Bred by Helen Barbazon & Joseph Barbazon (NY). Trainer: Robert B. Hess, Jr.. Owner: Happy Go Lucky Stables, LLC, Arthur, Michael V. and Islas, Ruben. Mutuel Pool $141,510 Daily Double Pool $14,568 Exacta Pool $81,853 Superfecta Pool $41,283 Trifecta Pool $49,741. Scratched–none.

$1 Pick Three (5-4-3) paid $191.00. Pick Three Pool $11,516.

LORD ADARE quickly sped to the front, came in slightly approaching the bend, retained slight advantage into the stretch, inched away in upper stretch then dug in late under strong handling to hold off rival. MAYAN WARRIOR forced the early issue outside leader, continued three wide then between rivals leaving the turn, continued outside winner and closed gap in final yards. BOB’S SNIPER close up early from along the rail, stalked from inside into the lane, could not match top pair in the drive and just lasted for the show. POLICY bumped at the start, chased while well off the rail, came four wide into the stretch, remained outside, finished willingly and just missed third. ANNIVERSARY SALE bumped with outside foe at the start, stalked four wide into the wide, continued on same path and loomed exiting the turn, remained well off the fence but was out finished. CUNNING MUNNINGS was in bit tight early and shuffled back, chased on two wide path around the turn and did not threaten late. CAPTAIN BUZZKILL chased from the outside, caught five wide into the bend, angled over around the turn and failed to challenge. HIGH FIVE settled outside and off the pace, chased four then five wide into the stretch and lacked needed late response.

EIGHTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 3 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000. Time 22.02 45.70 58.17 1:04.98

Winner–Dairy Kid Dbb.f.3 by Richard’s Kid out of Ban, by After Market. Bred by Linda Adair & Julie Adair Stack (KY). Trainer: Robert J. Lucas. Owner: Robert J. Lucas. Mutuel Pool $149,737 Daily Double Pool $41,067 Exacta Pool $91,854 Superfecta Pool $62,590 Super High Five Pool $5,852 Trifecta Pool $61,817. Scratched–Miracle Miler.

$1 Pick Three (4-3-4) paid $530.30. Pick Three Pool $74,705. $1 Pick Four (5-4-3-4) 4 correct paid $7,966.80. Pick Four Pool $185,397. $2 Pick Six (1-2/6-5-4-3-4) 5 out of 6 paid $405.80. Pick Six Pool $24,825. Pick Six Carryover $13,263.

DAIRY KID stalked while bit off the fence, secured rail later on the turn, continued inside in the lane, shifted out inside eighth marker, surged under strong asking and nailed leader nearing finish. PALM D’ORO had good early speed, controlled pace while slightly off the rail, retained cushion well into the stretch, dug in late but could not hold the winner. BUYBACK chased on two wide path into and on the turn, angled four wide later on the bend, continued willingly in the lane and gained third. MY S V R was caught five wide leaving the backstretch, moved up outside then three wide entering the stretch, could not match top pair in final furlong and eventually lost third. DANNYBOB stalked while outside winner on the turn and into the stretch, dropped back bit in upper stretch then finished evenly. PASITO chased three wide into and on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked needed late punch. WINNING BELLS angled over early, chased while outside a rival, came two wide into the stretch, angled out bit in the lane but did not threaten late. ROOT BEER RAG was slow into stride, also shifted inward some early, chased three wide leaving the turn and failed to challenge. WILLOWGLADE stalked from along the rail early, dropped back around the turn and weakened. HOPE PARKWAY was off slow, dropped well back early, saved ground to the stretch then gave way.

Los Alamitos Race Course Entries for Saturday, December 14.

Los Alamitos Race Course, Los Alamitos, California. 6th day of a 8-day meet.

FIRST RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $15,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000.

SECOND RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $30,000. Claiming. Fillies. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $32,000-$28,000.

THIRD RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000.

FOURTH RACE.

6 Furlongs. Purse: $40,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds.

FIFTH RACE.

5 Furlongs. Purse: $14,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000.

SIXTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $17,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $30,000-$28,000.

SEVENTH RACE.

1 1/16 Mile. Purse: $17,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $16,000-$14,000.

EIGHTH RACE.

1 Mile. Purse: $100,000. ‘Soviet Problem Stakes’. Fillies. 2 year olds. State bred.

NINTH RACE.

5½ Furlongs. Purse: $45,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. State bred.

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Howdy, I’m your host, Houston Mitchell. Let’s get right to the news.

LAKERS

The Lakers beat the Miami Heat 113-110 on Friday, handing Miami its first home loss of the season. The Lakers (23-3) have now won 13 consecutive road games, the most the franchise has had since the 1971-72 championship season.

After a sloppy first half in which he turned the ball over seven times, LeBron James more than atoned in the second half, scoring 17 and making three three-pointers. He finished with 28 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Anthony Davis finished with 33 points, 18 of them in the second half, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. JaVale McGee blocked five shots and grabbed 10 rebounds despite playing only 17 minutes.

The Lakers had a one-point lead after the first quarter, but in the second quarter Miami went on a 12-2 run and eventually led by 14 points. The Lakers cut the Heat’s lead to eight by halftime, giving themselves hope for the second half.

Although the Lakers opened the second half with yet another turnover — their 12th as a team and James’ eighth — they quickly recovered.

James delivered a pair of dunks before pulling up for a three-pointer that tied the score at 65 with 8:21 left in the third quarter.

The Lakers are 2-0 on their current trip, which will take them to Atlanta, Indiana and Milwaukee.

CLIPPERS

Paul George scored 46 points, Kawhi Leonard had 42 and the Clippers held on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-117 for their fourth consecutive victory.

It was the highest combined scoring output of the season for the Clippers’ new superstar duo. Leonard and George’s previous high came Dec. 1 when they combined for 65 points against Washington. They became the first set of teammates in Clippers’ history to each score 40 points. It was the 21st time in NBA history it has happened.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 39 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its seventh in a row.

Read more

Clippers coach Doc Rivers has a message for the ‘Doris Burkes of the world’

DODGERS

In his first public comments since the Dodgers were eliminated from the postseason in stunning fashion two months ago, Clayton Kershaw on Friday said he was keeping close tabs on the activity that generated from this week’s winter meetings, he did not recruit Gerrit Cole before the ace chose to sign elsewhere, and he welcomed the possibility of playing with nemesis Madison Bumgarner.

As for the sign-stealing allegations levied against the Houston Astros that have outraged the industry and generated speculation about the Astros cheating during the 2017 World Series against the Dodgers, Kershaw admitted being somewhat stunned.

“A little shocked, honestly,” Kershaw said at the Dodgers’ annual holiday party for more than 300 children experiencing homelessness. “During the ’17 World Series, we all took as many precautions as we could. Just because it’s the playoffs and you want to do your due diligence.

“I guess all I can say is when the team and the players are doing what they can on the field to get the signs, that’s obviously part of the game, you know? But when technology comes into play, if that is really true, it sucks. And unless we get to win the World Series, I don’t really care what the punishment is. But it just, it does suck, no matter what.”

USC FOOTBALL

A week after an interview with Texas led USC to offer offensive coordinator Graham Harrell a sizable raise, the school has yet to announce a new deal for Harrell. But as the Trojans held their first of 11 bowl practices on Friday, with their full staff still intact, all signs continue to point to him sticking around.

The same can’t be said just yet about USC’s other two coordinators, Clancy Pendergast and John Baxter, whose jobs appear to be secure until USC plays in the Holiday Bowl against Iowa on Dec. 27. Questions about their status won’t be answered until Tuesday, when Clay Helton speaks to reporters for the first time since USC announced he’d continue as head coach.

Harrell proved himself worthy of the investment in his debut season with the Trojans. Even after USC lost its starting quarterback two quarters into the season, Harrell still managed to turn the Trojans into the nation’s fifth-ranked passing attack (335.9 yards per game), while helping develop a three-star backup quarterback, Kedon Slovis, into the Pac-12’s offensive freshman of the year.

RAMS

The dynamic pass-catching ability Rams tight end Tyler Higbee displayed during consecutive 100-yard receiving performances was no surprise to some.

Bob Hudson helped develop it while coaching Higbee in high school in Florida. Jeff Brohm and Tyson Helton used it as coach and offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky.

And Rams star running back Todd Gurley has seen it during three-plus seasons as Higbee’s teammate.

“He’s been doing what he’s been doing at practice,” Gurley said. “He’s just doing it in a game now.”

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Higbee could play a large role again Sunday when the Rams play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. It is a must-win game for the Rams, who are 8-5 and chasing the Minnesota Vikings (9-4) for an NFC wild-card spot.

Higbee, 26, helped position the Rams for a possible run to the playoffs by producing career-best performances against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

With tight end Gerald Everett sidelined because of a knee injury, coach and play-caller Sean McVay made Higbee one of quarterback Jared Goff’s primary targets. Higbee caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the 34-7 victory over the Cardinals. He had seven receptions for 116 yards in a 28-12 victory over the Seahawks.

“It’s not any different than what we’ve seen in moments in games,” Rams tight ends coach Wes Phillips said. “He’s done that in spurts before but just now, having more opportunities, it’s really come out.”

YOUR FAVORITE SPORTS MOMENT

What is your all-time favorite local sports moment? Email me at [email protected] and tell me what it is and why, and it could appear in a future Sports newsletter.

This moment comes from John Thomas of Culver City:

In 1994, I was working for a small firm that had Dodger season tickets. The four tickets would circulate around the office. That same year, Fernando Valenzuela was pitching for the Phillies and were scheduled to play the Dodgers in L.A. The baseball gods lined up the rotations so that Fernando would face Orel Hershiser. It was not my turn for the tickets, but the guy whose turn it was knew how excited I was about the game so he skipped his turn and gave his tickets to me. I went to the game with dreams of bringing home a souvenir. Early in the game, Fernando came to bat and hit a soft line drive foul towards our seat on the loge level. I was able to outreach an 8-year-old kid and snag the ball. We both had gloves.

I couldn’t believe my luck and was on Cloud 9 for the rest of the game. Later in the game, one of the Phillies’ big guns came to bat and lifted a towering foul ball in our direction. I joined a scrum of guys in the aisle between sections, stuck my glove up and felt the ball settle into it. What were the odds! I suspected some divine intervention so there was only one thing to do with this foul ball. The look on the 8-year-old kid’s face when I dropped the ball in his glove was the second best moment of the day.

TODAY’S LOCAL MAJOR SPORTS SCHEDULE

All times Pacific

Clippers at Chicago, 5 p.m., Fox Sports Prime Ticket, AM 570

Kings at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m., FSW

NY Rangers at Ducks, 1 p.m., PRIME

UCLA (basketball) at Notre Dame, noon, ABC, AM 570

BORN ON THIS DATE

1901: Tennis player Henri Cochet (d. 1987)

1939: Football player Ernie Davis (d. 1963)

1946: Javelin thrower Ruth Fuchs

1946: Tennis player Stan Smith

1949: Baseball player Bill Buckner (d. 2019)

1953: Tennis player Vijay Amritraj

1954: Race car driver Alan Kulwicki (d. 1993)

1965: Baseball player Craig Biggio

1966: Basketball player Anthony Mason (d. 2015)

1966: Hockey player Bill Ranford

DIED ON THIS DATE

1920: Football player George Gipp, 25

1980: Baseball player Elston Howard, 59

1985: Baseball player Roger Maris, 51

AND FINALLY

Red Barber has the call on Roger Maris’ 61st homer in 1961. Watch it here.

That concludes the newsletter for today. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, please email me at [email protected]. If you want to subscribe, click here

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POWAY, Calif. — 

A planned talk by Rep. Rashida Tlaib at the Westview High School theater has been canceled after the Poway Unified School District revoked its approval of the event, saying that the date of the talk is the only day the space can be cleaned before the holiday break.

Notice of the cancellation came late Thursday morning, a day after the San Diego County district had sent an email to the Center for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) confirming use of the theater on Dec. 21 for the two-hour event titled Defending Our Communities, a Conversation with Rep. Rashida Tlaib. CAIR representatives had spoken with school officials about the event before it was originally approved and had applied via the district’s web portal.

On Wednesday, a letter was sent by a conservative legal fund to the Poway Unified superintendent and school board president suggesting that Tlaib’s presence and the event would be an insult to the Jewish community, which it said is still struggling to get over a shooting at the nearby Chabad of Poway synagogue last April that left one person dead and three wounded.

Daniel Piedra, executive director of the nonprofit Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, said he was not told what prompted the district to cancel the event, but believes concerns expressed by his organization about “Tlaib’s anti-Israel rhetoric” played a role. The Defense Fund in 2017 represented plaintiffs suing to prohibit CAIR from teaching about Islam in the San Diego Unified School District’s anti-bullying program.

The fund was founded in 2012 by Rancho Santa Fe lawyer Charles LiMandri, who defended the Mount Soledad Cross in San Diego when challenged by the ACLU.

Tlaib, 43, a Democrat, was elected to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District last year. She is the first Palestinian American woman in Congress and, with Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.

She has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration and has sharply criticized the Israeli government and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

Tlaib is a member of the informal group of female Democrats in the House known as the Squad, along with Omar, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Dustin Craun, executive director of the local chapter of CAIR, said Thursday afternoon he doesn’t believe in coincidences and thinks it’s highly possible the district made up an excuse to avoid controversy.

“I was told there was a conflict and the school needed it,” Craun said. “I said, ‘Well, that’s convenient.’ ”

“Now the congresswoman wants to speak to the superintendent, so obviously it’s pretty upsetting,” Craun said. Tlaib clearly has the right under the 1st Amendment to speak, he added.

The $65-a-person event will still be held that weekend, Craun said, when a suitable new venue can be found. Craun and UC San Diego political science professor Tom Wong are listed as participants in the conversation. Wong, a Democrat, is one of the candidates running to replace Rep. Susan Davis in the 53rd Congressional District.

A spokeswoman for the district said Thursday that the letter protesting Tlaib’s visit had nothing to do with the permit being denied. In fact, the spokeswoman, Christine Paik, said, Supt. Marian Kim-Phelps hasn’t even seen the letter.

“This time of year is crazy,” Paik said. “All of the holiday concerts and events are happening at our facilities. At that theater in particular, there is something scheduled every day through [Dec. 20],” she said.

She said Dec. 21 was the first and only time when scheduled maintenance of the building could be done before employees went home for the winter break.

“Sometimes facilities requests are approved without consulting the maintenance schedule, and that’s what happened in this case,” Paik said.

Tlaib could not be reached for comment.

Jones writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported Friday afternoon at 3:14 p.m. Pacific time 20 miles from Chowchilla, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred 23 miles from Merced, 26 miles from Madera, 32 miles from Atwater and 33 miles from Clovis.

In the past 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.

An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three year data sample.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 11.1 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.

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Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.

This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.

SAN DIEGO — 

Train service between Solana Beach and San Diego will be suspended Saturday and Sunday while a steel-reinforced concrete wall is built to shore up the tracks on the eroding Del Mar bluffs.

The 80-foot-long “shotcrete” structure will be constructed between the exposed concrete piles that have tie-backs already in place, transit officials said. Tie-backs are anchors drilled into the side of the cliff to hold the 8- to 10-foot-deep piles in place.

The work is the second round of repairs since runoff during heavy rain on Thanksgiving Day eroded the edge of the bluff along the tracks. Two steel plates backed by concrete slurry were installed at the cliff’s edge over the weekend after the holiday.

The concrete wall to be built this weekend is also called “lagging,” a structure that serves the same purpose as the steel plates and coated wood timbers in other places on the bluffs.

North County Transit District, which owns and operates the tracks, has been working with the San Diego Assn. of Governments and the consultants HNTB Corp., Leighton Engineering and Mid-Coast Transit Constructors to plan the repairs for the area between Seagrove Park and the end of 15th Street in Del Mar.

Over the weekend, passengers of North County Transit’s Coaster train headed south of Solana Beach can board buses for what’s called a “bus bridge” to the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego. Regularly scheduled Coaster trains will run between Oceanside and Solana Beach both days. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner also will offer a bus route into San Diego to bypass the construction in Del Mar.

Passengers headed north from San Diego will be bused the entire way to the Oceanside Transit Center. Northbound Coaster passengers who board between Solana Beach and Oceanside will be served by the train’s regular schedule.

Anyone traveling by rail over the weekend should allow extra time to reach their destination, transit officials said. Regular service will resume Monday, though there could be delays of up to 15 minutes that morning.

In January, North County Transit and the San Diego Assn. of Governments are scheduled to begin the fourth of six planned phases of construction that began in 2003 to stabilize the 1.7 miles of bluffs in Del Mar. That work is designed to keep the railroad operating on the bluff through 2050.

Transit officials said last week that the emergency repairs will cost up to $5 million and that about $100 million is needed over the next few years for additional construction to stabilize the bluffs in Del Mar.

Studies show that the bluffs, which are about 40 feet high in the area being repaired, erode away from the beach at a average rate of about 6 inches a year. However, that erosion usually occurs during a sudden collapse that can peel away a few feet of the cliff at once.

Plans are underway to move the tracks to a different route away from the bluffs, possibly through inland tunnels. That project will take years of planning and construction, estimated to cost as much as $3.5 billion.

The railroad corridor between downtown San Diego and the Orange County border carries more than 50 trains daily, including freight trains serving the Port of San Diego. Together they carry more than 7 million passengers and $1 billion in goods annually, according to the San Diego Assn. of Governments.

Train traffic is expected to increase steadily in the decades ahead to serve the area’s growing population and relieve congested roads and freeways.

Diehl writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Dec. 14.

Thank you to the readers who have already written in to tell us about how how this year’s California headlines have affected their lives. If you haven’t already, we’d love tohear about your experiences for a year-end feature we’re working on.

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Use this form to tell us about how a news event or issue affected you, and we’ll share some of the responses in the coming weeks.

Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week:

Top stories

Claremont Nativity scene goes viral. A Methodist church in Claremont unveiled a Nativity scene that depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees in cages, likening one of the most well-known images of the Christmas season and photos that have become synonymous with criticism of the Trump administration’s border separation policies.

The scene makes people uncomfortable — but that’s the point, writes columnist Sandy Banks.

Clean energy crossroads. Power plants in Redondo Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Oxnard have become part of an early battleground in an increasingly urgent debate: How much natural gas does California need on its power grid, and for how long?

How to “adult.” “Adulting” classes for college students and postgrads have swelled in popularity in recent years, in part because many high schools have largely abandoned “life skills” courses. At UC Berkeley, students learn to create and stick to a personal budget, build a resume and apply for jobs and navigate romantic relationships.

MLB opioid testing. Five months after Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died in a hotel room with opioids in his bloodstream, Major League Baseball and its players union have agreed on a new drug policy that would add opioid testing for major leaguers and would not punish marijuana use in the major or minor leagues.

Recovering from the Big One. To understand what the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake would look like, the L.A. Times went to Christchurch, New Zealand, which was devastated by a magnitude-6.2 earthquake in 2011. Here’s what we found.

What Californians want for PG&E. After years of deadly wildfires and the recent season of sweeping blackouts, a new poll of California voters finds most would impose major changes to the operations and control of Pacific Gas & Electric.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected PG&E’s proposal to pull itself out of bankruptcy, complicating PG&E’s ability to remain in control of the company.

The 101 best restaurants. With familiar names and brand-new entrants, this ranking is our current working definition of where to eat in Los Angeles.

From UCLA gymnast to “Watchmen” hero. Ex-UCLA gymnast Sadiqua Bynum is one of the youngest and most successful black stuntwomen in an industry that is just beginning to experience the effect of efforts to increase diversity in all of Hollywood.

California’s drought is mostly gone. Recent rains have saturated California and reduced the portion of the state deemed to be abnormally dry to just 3.6%, according to the Drought Monitor released Thursday. That means 96.4% of the state is drought free.

The “Beverly Hillbillies” estate sells. The mansion in Bel-Air has sold for the highest price in California history. The buyer? Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch.

This week’s most popular stories in Essential California

1. The struggle is real for some restaurant chains, and they hope younger diners can save them. Orange County Register

2. The spectacle of Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane. Curbed Los Angeles

3. Elon Musk hits traffic pylon with new cybertruck after dinner in Malibu. Gizmodo

4. Here are 10 stunning waterfalls in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties. The Press Democrat

5. The suite life arrives in Silver Lake with a new boutique hotel. The Eastsider

ICYMI, here are this week’s great reads

The rise and fall of facts: How fact-checking as a practice came to be, and why it matters. Columbia Journalism Review

To bring a boy’s murderers to justice, a prosecutor wrestled with his own childhood abuse. Los Angeles Times

Meet Mia Lehrer, the doyenne of L.A. landscape design. To Lehrer, making L.A. more livable is all about peeling back the concrete. Curbed

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. (And a giant thanks to the legendary Diya Chacko for all her help on the Saturday edition.)

Here is a list of museum and gallery shows in L.A. for Dec. 15-22. Capsule review by Leah Ollman (L.O.).

Openings

Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific Large-scale exhibition of works from the South Pacific island nation include figurative sculpture, ritual and decorative pieces, weapons, watercolors, paintings, historic photographs and more, plus a traditional double-hull sailing canoe. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Starts Sun.; ends July 19. Closed Wed. $10-$25; 17 and under, free. (323) 857-6010. lacma.org

Things to do

Unseen: 35 Years of Collecting Photographs The Getty celebrates the 35th anniversary of its photo department with this exhibit of 200 never-before-seen images by leading photographers dating from the birth of the medium to the present day. The Getty Center, N. Sepulveda Blvd. & Getty Center Drive, L.A. Starts Tue.; ends March 8. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 440-7300. getty.edu

Rufino Tamayo: Innovation and Experimentation LACMA pairs works by the late Mexican painter, printmaker and muralist with Mesoamerican sculpture from the museum’s collection. Charles White Elementary School, 2401 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Starts Sat.; ends July 11. Open Saturdays only, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6010. lacma.org

Critic’s Choice

Max Hooper Schneider For his spectacular Hammer Projects show, Schneider has built a dystopian extravaganza of trash and downscale treasure, fascinating in its alienness, disturbing in its familiarity. Is this an alternate world or the underbelly of our own? A portent of the future or a mirror to the present? The L.A.-based artist’s first solo museum show reads as many things, including as a model — outrageous and incisive — of the beset planetary island we call our own. (L.O.) UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Ends Feb. 2. Closed Mon. Free. (310) 443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu

Edward & Nancy Kienholz: The Merry-Go-World or Begat by Chance and The Wonder Horse Trigger Kienholz installations, at their best, collapse the distance between life and its interpretation. This one, both immersive and performative, has that no-degree-of-separation visceral impact. The artists collected materials, textures and visuals from around the world to give the work its darkly honest naturalism, to best make the point that fortune and misfortune are largely accidents of birth. L.A. Louver, 45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice. Ends Feb. 22. Closed Sun.-Mon. (310) 822-4955. lalouver.com

Takako Yamaguchi: New Paintings The L.A. painter’s new works leave a first impression of extreme restraint. The canvases are all of the same modest size and hushed palette. As calm as these pared performances seem, however, they still generate a wild whir of challenge and gratification. As Is, 1133 Venice Blvd., L.A. Ends Sat. Closed Sun.-Mon. (213) 610-4110. as-is.la

Also recommended

Tania Franco Klein: Proceed to the Route The Mexican-born photographer has assimilated an assortment of familiar aesthetic stances, among them retro styling, cinematic staging and use of the still picture as a narrative spur. She also has adopted now-common tropes relating to female isolation, longing and the elusive definition of identity. She builds on these foundations and tweaks the recipes just enough to give her work its own piquant flavor. Rose Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Ends Jan. 18. Closed Sun.-Mon. (310) 264-8440. rosegallery.net

Tatiana Trouvé: On the Eve of Never Leaving In her first L.A. show, the Paris-based Trouvé stages architectural interventions in both of Gagosian’s large galleries. One leans dystopian, the other utopian. Both are ambitious, immersive environments that insinuate themselves into the psychic realm via the physical. Both rely on high production values and impressive scale to effect, as in good theater, subtle interior shifts. Gagosian, 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. Ends Jan. 11. Closed Sun. (310) 271-9400. gagosian.com

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Here is a list of classical music performances in L.A. for Dec. 15-22:

American Youth Symphony Brass Ensemble Classical and holiday favorites. Laemmle Monica Film Center, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica. Sun., 11 a.m. Free; reservations required. eventbrite.com

A Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Music by Briggs, Adelmann, Paulus, Josquin des Prez, Berlioz, Rütti, Phillips and Tavener. All Saints’ Church, 504 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. Sun., 5 p.m. Free. (310) 275-0123. allsaintsbh.org

Darkness Sounding: Satsang 1 Singer-composer Odeya Nini and Wild Up artistic director Christopher Rountree lead a program of group sings, sound baths, readings and discussions. Craft in America Center, 8415 W. 3rd St., L.A. Sun., 7 p.m. Free. wildup.la

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker The Duke Ellington Orchestra performs its namesake’s reimagining of the Tchaikovsky classic. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., 7 p.m. $28 and up. (949) 553-2422. PhilharmonicSociety.org

Home for the Holidays Los Cancioneros Master Chorale presents C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat and more, plus an audience sing-along. Armstrong Theatre, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance. Sun., 7 p.m. $15, $25. (310) 781-7171. LCMasterChorale.com

LACMA’s Sundays Live Members of the Capitol Ensemble perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat Major. St. James’ in the City, 3903 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sun., 6 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6234. lacma.org

Los Angeles Symphony Christmas Concert Works by Handel, Rutter, Verdi and more. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. Sun., 7 p.m. $25-$80. (562) 916-8500. cerritoscenter.com

The Magic Flute Performers interact with projected animations in L.A. Opera’s staging on Mozart’s fantastical romantic fable; sung in German with English subtitles. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Ends Sun., 2 p.m. $19 and up. (213) 972.8001. LAOpera.org

O Magnum Mysterium Los Angeles Master Chorale performs the Morten Lauridsen favorite plus works by Nico Muhly and Dale Trumbore. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sun., 7 p.m. $29-$149; children under 6 not admitted. (213) 972-7282. wamasterchorale.org

Organic II This Jacaranda series continues with organist James Walker performing works by Bach, Ives, Hugo Distler and David Lang. First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. Sun., 2 p.m. $10, $55. jacarandamusic.org

Sounds Festive: The Four Seasons X 2 Salastina pairs the Vivaldi classic with contemporary works by local composers. The Edye Second Space at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. Sun., 3 p.m. $10-$40. salastina.org

A Southern California Christmas Seasonal favorites with the Orange Community Master Chorale, plus other local singers, dancers and musicians. Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University, 415 N. Glassell St., Orange. Sun., 4 p.m. $25-$58. (844) 626-8726. muscocenter.org

Tchaikovsky & Copland With MTT Guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leads the L.A. Phil in Copland’s Symphony No. 3, Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Dubinushka” and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. With pianist Daniil Trifonov. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sun., 2 p.m. $20-$219. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com

Why Music Matters: Jazz and Early American Music The Duke Ellington Orchestra celebrates the legendary pianist, bandleader and composer. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., 3 p.m. Free. (949) 553-2422. PhilharmonicSociety.org

A Chanticleer Christmas The Grammy-winning men’s chorus sings holiday favorites. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Tue., 8 p.m. $40-$104. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com

Holiday Organ Spectacular Organist Todd Wilson and members of Pacific Symphony perform sacred and secular favorites. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tue., 7:30 p.m. $15 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org

Glendale Noon Concerts Mandolinist Evan J. Marshall performs. Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale. Wed., 12:10 p.m. Free. (818) 244-7241. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com

39th Annual Messiah Sing-Along Guest vocalists perform and audience members sing the choral parts as Los Angeles Master Chorale presents Handel’s classic. Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $25-$85; children under 6 not admitted. (213) 972-7282. lamasterchorale.org

Der Ring Des Polykrates Numi Opera stages Erich Korngold’s one-act comedy about a happily married musician whose life is upended by the arrival of an old friend. Zipper Hall, the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Thu., next Sun., 7:30 p.m. $29-$75. (866) 811-4111. NumiOpera.org

Christmas With Marie Osmond The veteran entertainer joins Pacific Symphony for holiday favorites plus a selection of her own hits. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m. $40 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org

Darkness Sounding: Jiji Wild Up guitarist Jiji performs music for electric guitar. Human Resources, 410 Cottage Home St., L.A. Fri., 8 p.m. $25. wildup.la

Things to do

Christmas Joy Concert With the Modern Brass Quintet, church choirs, handbell ringers and others. First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena. Sat., 4 p.m. Free; donations accepted. (626) 796-0157. fumcpasadena.org

Darkness Sounding: Solstice Sounding Members of Wild Up celebrate the winter solstice by performing drones from dusk till dawn. Human Resources, 410 Cottage Home St., L.A. Sat., 4:30 p.m. $25. wildup.la

Handel’s Messiah The Los Angeles Master Chorale and guest vocalists perform the holiday favorite; Grant Gershon conducts. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m. $29-$129; children under 6 not admitted. (213) 972-7282. lamasterchorale.org

Holiday Pop! With the Copa Boys The vocal trio joins Long Beach Symphony Pops for Rat Pack standards and seasonal favorites. Long Beach Arena, Pacific Ballroom, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m. $30 and up; students, $10. (542) 436-3203. longbeachsymphony.org

Holiday Sing-Along Melissa Peterman hosts this annual family-friendly event featuring Angeles Chorale, plus a jazz combo and the Disney Hall pipe organ. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Sat., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. $38-$97; no children under 2 admitted. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com

Dilijan Chamber Music Series Works by Brahms, Bruch, Shostakovich, Berio and Arutiunian. Colburn School, Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 3 p.m. $15-$75. (818) 500-9997. dilijan.larkmusicalsociety.org

Pacific Chorale Holiday Sing-Along Audience members are invited to join in on seasonal favorites. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Next Sun., 4 p.m. Free. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org

Take3 The violin-piano-cello trio is joined by singer Lauren Jelencovich for seasonal favorites. Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga. Next Sun., 2 p.m. $20-$40. (909) 477-2752. lewisfamilyplayhouse.com

’Tis the Season! Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and the Southern California Children’s Chorus join forces for a holiday celebration. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Next Sun., 5 p.m.; also Mon., Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m. $29 and up. (714) 755-5799. PacificSymphony.org

White Christmas Sing-Along A showing of the 1954 Bing Crosby-Danny Kaye film features on-screen lyrics. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Next Sun., 3 and 8 p.m. $36-$72. (323) 850-2000. laphil.com

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Dance performances in Southern California for Dec. 15-22 includes several different productions of holiday favorite “The Nutcracker.”

Holidays Around the World Mexican ballet folklorico, Bollywood dance, German folk dances, Chinese lion dance, live music and more. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake The British choreographer’s acclaimed reimagining of the Tchaikovsky dance fable returns. Ahmanson Theater, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Sun., next Sun., 1 and 7 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; ends Jan. 5. $35-$145. (213) 972-4400. CenterTheatreGroup.org

The Nutcracker American Ballet Theatre returns with its spectacular staging of the holiday favorite, with Pacific Symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s classic score; featured dancers include Misty Copeland. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Sun., next Sun., 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Wed.-Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $29 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org

The Nutcracker California Dance Ensemble performs. Calabasas Performing Arts Education Center, 22855 W. Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. Sun., 1 and 5:30 p.m. $22-$37; discounts available. CaliforniaDanceEnsemble.org

The Nutcracker Conejo Civic Ballet performs. Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Sun., 1:30 p.m. $20-$36. (800) 745-3000. ticketmaster.com

The Nutcracker Festival Ballet Theatre performs with guest dancers from San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West and Joffrey Ballet. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Sun., next Sun., 1 and 6 p.m.; Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $45-$90. (949) 854-4646. thebarclay.org

The Nutcracker Inland Pacific Ballet’s locally touring production of the holiday favorite. Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. Sun., 2 p.m. Also at Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m. $39 and up; discounts available. ipballet.org

The Nutcracker Long Beach Ballet performs with a full symphony orchestra. Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach. Sun., next Sun., 2 p.m.; Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; ends Dec. 22. $34-$115. (877) 852-3177. longbeachballet.com

The Nutcracker Los Angeles Ballet’s annual locally touring production. Royce Hall, UCLA, 10745 Dickson Court, Westwood. Sun., noon and 5 p.m. Also at Dolby Theatre (with live orchestra), Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 5 p.m.; next Sun., noon; Dec. 24, 3 p.m. $34-$109; Dolby only, $44-$131; 10% discount for students, children, seniors and military. (310) 998-7782. (Also in Redondo Beach, Dec. 28-29) losangelesballet.org

The Nutcracker Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre performs. Luckman Theatre, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive, L.A. Sun., 2 p.m. $42-$64. (800) 838-3006. Maratdaukayev.com

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The Nutcracker Palos Verdes Ballet performs. Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Sun., 1 and 5 p.m. $28, $39. (310) 544-0403. palosverdesballet.org

The Nutcracker Pasadena Dance Theatre performs. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. Sun., Sat., next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends Dec. 23. $22-$68. (626) 683-3459. PDTNutcracker.com

The Nutcracker Suite American Contemporary Ballet puts its own spin on the holiday favorite in this intimate and immersive show. Metropolis Los Angeles, Upper Level, 877 S. Francisco St., downtown Los Angeles. Sun., next Sun., 2 and 5 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 5 p.m.; ends Dec. 24. $55-$137. acbdances.com

Animate Space: Syncopated Ladies Sibling tap-dance duo Chloe and Maud Arnold perform a show inspired by the current CAAM exhibit “L.A. Blacksmith.” California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, L.A. Wed., 7 p.m. Free. RSVP at eventbrite.com

Fiesta Navidad Mariachi Los Camperos and dance troupe Chiquina Palafox celebrate the holiday traditions of Mexico. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Thu., 8 p.m. $29 and up. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org

An Irish Christmas Traditional music and step dancing. Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. $42-$50. (800) 745-3000. ticketmaster.com

The Nutty Nutcracker Inland Pacific Ballet’s family-friendly spoof of the holiday favorite. Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont. Fri., 7:30 p.m. $39 and up; discounts available. ipballet.org

Things to do

Great Russian Nutcracker Moscow Ballet’s touring company performs the Tchaikovsky favorite. The Wiltern Theatre, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Sat., 3 and 7 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 5 p.m. $40-$166. (800) 745-3000. nutcracker.com

The Nutcracker Coast City Ballet performs. Huntington Beach Historic Theater, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach. Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. $22-$26. (714) 963-9771. coastcityballet.com

The Nutcracker Pacific Festival Ballet performs with guest dancers from New York City Ballet. Fred Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Sat.-next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m. $27-$43. (800) 745-3000. ticketmaster.com

The Nutcracker South Bay Ballet performs. Marsee Auditorium, El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. Sat.-next Sun., 2 p.m. $24, $36. (310) 329-5345. southbayballet.org

Celtic Angels Christmas Family-friendly celebration features the Celtic Knight Dancers and the Trinity Band Ensemble of Dublin. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $40-$60. (562) 916-8500. cerritoscenter.com

Christmas With the Celts Traditional Irish music and step dancing, plus seasonal favorites. La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Next Sun., 3 p.m. $16-$38.50. (562) 944-9801. lamiradatheatre.com

Creola Dancer-choreographer Candice Clarke performs. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. Next Sun., 3 and 5:30 p.m. $25. (800) 838-3006. brownpapertickets.com

The Nutcracker Anaheim Ballet performs with Symphony Irvine. City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. Next Sun., 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. $25-$45. (714) 712-2700. anaheimballet.org

Randall Roberts did a great job on “50 Songs for a New L.A.” [Dec. 8] but missed a big one. Where is Collective Soul’s “Hollywood” (2007)? This tune perfectly captures the sunny, synthetic, sexy energy of La La Land. This is Tinseltown anthropomorphized into a sweet object of desire.

The Neko Case song you cite, “In California,” was written by Lisa Marr and recorded and released on the 2000 album, “4AM” by the Lisa Marr Experiment.

Great band, great singer and a great song full of regret for having moved to Los Angeles, “living in Koreatown / waking to the sound of car alarms.”

Donald Sweetnam
Los Angeles

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Where is Collective Soul’s “Hollywood”? This tune perfectly captures the sunny, synthetic, sexy energy of La La Land. This is Tinseltown anthropomorphized into a sweet object of desire.

Gerald Hill

Santa Barbara

As I was enjoying the “L.A. Songs Hall of Fame” section [of the Dec. 8 “50 Songs for a New L.A.” project by Randall Roberts] I came across A Tribe Called Quest’s “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo.” My daughter lives in El Segundo, so I asked if she’d heard it. Yes, she had, but she was surprised it showed up in this list since the song is about Mexico.

Sue Vogl
Manhattan Beach

Editor’s note: A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip is on record saying that the inspiration for “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo” was Redd Foxx’s “Sanford and Son” character, who talked about his Ripple wine coming from “the vineyards of El Segundo” and of wanting to commission a painting of Moses parting an El Segundo oil spill. It was a Southern California joke.

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Really? Where is the Doors’ “L.A. Woman”? That song is L.A.

Michael Delbuck
Santa Monica

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I’m willing to bet you will get a letter from drummer John Densmore protesting the omission of “L.A. Woman” by his band, the Doors.

With that in mind, here are some more songs to top off the Hall of Fame list at 50 classics:

The Doors, “L.A. Woman”; The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ USA”; Dick Dale, “King of the Surf Guitar”; Albert Hammond, “From Great Britain to L.A.”; Jan & Dean, “The Anaheim, Azusa and Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review and Timing Association”; Kay Keyser, “When Veronica Plays Her Harmonica Down on the Pier in Santa Monica”; Felix Figueroa, “Pico & Sepulveda”; Neil Young, “L.A.”; Iggy Pop and James Williamson, “Kill City.”

Mark Furcick
San Pedro

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I can’t argue with any of the choices Randall Roberts claims to be a panoramic portrait of Los Angeles in the 21st century, but I canpoint out an astounding omission [in] the 40 “classics” listed in The Times’ inaugural class of the L.A. Songs Hall of Fame.

To leave out “L.A. Woman” by the Doors, one of Los Angeles’ most iconic bands, is like writing about Christianity and not mentioning Jesus.

Kelly Olsen
Santa Monica

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“Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” by the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Just listen to the L.A.-specific lyrics and you’ll see why it is also a special ode to a special place that we call home.

Jon Merritt
Los Angeles

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Two overlooked songs: “Pico & Sepulveda” from the early Big Band era and the New Riders of the Purple Sage’s “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy,” about the ’60s music scene. I can’t help but think that these classics influenced the later songs on the list.

David Sweeney
Long Beach

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The 1987 song “City of Angels” by 10,000 Maniacs, a prescient recording which reflects our current homeless crisis was overlooked.

John Kopczynski
San Pedro

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“Come a Long Way” by Michelle Shocked. Released in 1992 on her album “Arkansas Traveler,” it paints a beautiful day in the life of an Angeleno traveling throughout L.A. on her motorbike, evading a repo man.

Gordon Antell
Burbank

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Madonna’s song “Hollywood” (from the “American Life” album) was left out.

Everybody comes to Hollywood

They want to make it in the neighborhood

They like the smell of it in Hollywood

How could it hurt you when it looks so good?

Nora Poladian
Woodland Hills

Editor’s note: What else did we leave out of our 50 Songs for a New L.A. and L.A. Songs Hall of Fame? Enter your picks here.

Democracy on the small screen

Regarding TV critic Lorraine Ali’s [“Fact is, This is Not ‘Law & Order,’ ” Dec. 6]. As a retired attorney, I concur that the reality of legal proceedings is not consistent with television drama. The goal of a trial is to ascertain the truth. Not so with portrayals on television which, after all, are meant as entertainment.

The truth of the current hearings before the House committees has demonstrated facts and conclusions that are airtight. They are also consistent with factual determinations of the Mueller report and other sources. The Republican tactics and position are based on a practice that I have seen in many jury trials, which is: when you don’t have the facts or the law on your side, bang the table, attack people and raise diversions in the fact of reality.

This article raises a real issue at the heart of whether or not our democracy and rule of law will survive. When did television and over-hyped reporting replace what our educational system and upbringing should have instilled, which is a basic understanding of America, its Constitution and the importance of truth and reason?

The final sentence says it all, “Should our democracy really depend more on legal dramas than it does on the law?”

Michael H. Miller
Los Angeles

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TV critic Lorraine Ali says the current impeachment inquiries, “do not appear to have significantly shifted public opinion.” Does any TV? Only “Trump On Trial” might crack the frozen sea inside an already axed-down-the-middle America.

Hank Rosenfeld

Santa Monica

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I am happy I read the entire article because I was getting angry at what seemed to be a rather flippant overview of the House of Representatives’ Judicial Committee hearings to determine the next steps in resolving a serious threat to our Constitution and our future as a republic.

The last few lines were the real message -”…but maybe it’s time to stop craving spectacle and start listening to the facts. Should our democracy really depend more on legal dramas than it does on the law?”

In my opinion, that should have been the headline.

I found the hearings informative and engrossing and spent most of Wednesday watching and appreciating the legal scholarship and Constitutional analysis and how it defines the impeachment issues. Full disclosure: I watch the “Law and Order” reruns regularly. I think it is still one of the best shows on TV.

Judith Fenton

Playa Vista

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Lorraine Ali’s piece may enlighten the many who have a bare understanding of our unique democracy and no idea of the many processes its functioning requires. I have heard and read comments that the impeachment proceedings are “boring.”

Tedious, yes, but not boring if you truly care about how we govern ourselves and of how important it is to keep a fire under our elected officials so that they do their jobs faithfully. Our public has become so used to scripted events that it has but a slight grasp of what is happening.

Carleton Cronin
West Hollywood

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Even though I disagree that “The Democrats methodically laid out an airtight case,” I must compliment you for a very colorful and entertaining article.

Norman Eagle
Palos Verdes Estates

‘Starved’ for Mister Rogers

Mary McNamara’s column [“Real Magic of Mister Rogers,” Nov. 30] rightly noted that despite a superb performance by Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” was less about Mister Rogers than it should have been.

That said, this well-crafted film confronts us with the inescapable contrast between the decency of Mr. Rogers and President Trump’s total negation of the same.

As I exited the theater, others around me were expressing their gratitude for the message of the film. When I said to them, “We hunger for this,” they replied, “No, we are starved for this.”

Glenn Pascall
Dana Point

A chillingly familiar show

Makeda Easter’s review of “El Sueño Americano,” Tom Kiefer’s photography show at the Skirball Cultural Center [“Object Lesson,” Dec. 8], makes no mention of the similarities between Kiefer’s pictures of items confiscated by the Border Patrol, and the heaps of similar items now exhibited behind glass at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.

I found the similarities spine-chilling. However, the fact that the show is at the Skirball Center makes the case, whether the comparison is drawn or not.

Carol Clark
Los Feliz

Hopping to his many meanings

Christopher Knight‘s review of the Nayland Blake retrospective at ICA LA [“Nayland Blake Wryly Explores Sex, Prejudice,” Dec. 4] captured the double and triple meanings in this wry artist’s work.

Weaving in the history of the AIDS crisis, Knight unfurls the multi-layered meanings of the rabbit symbol. I don’t know if I would have caught the irony in the erotic power of sexuality and its sorrow had I visited this exhibit without Knight’s guide to comprehending it.

Adrienne Rosenthal
Los Angeles

Charlie Brown, the great equalizer

Regarding “How ‘Peanuts’ Shaped Writers’ Worldview” [Dec.1]: As Patrick Kiger points out, it is remarkable how strong the Peanuts cartoon has been in shaping our lives.

Some 50 years ago, I did a research survey on the attitudes of political club members at a large university (Brooklyn College). After asking a series of substantive questions, I included a question that asked respondents to “choose which Peanuts character they most identified with.”

My thinking was that students in Republican and conservative groups would identify most with Lucy, the hard-nosed realist, while Democrats and leftists would identify most with Charlie Brown, the introspective idealist forced to endure life at the bottom. I was surprised to find out, however, that students across all political persuasions identified most with Charlie Brown.

I’ve thought about that study many times over the years, concluding that perhaps, even in turbulent times like then and now, we’re more alike than we sometimes think.

Steven Bloch
Laguna Niguel

Scorsese, Chang are on the mark

I share Martin Scorsese’s distress at the current state of movies, as related by Justin Chang in his excellent column [“Scorsese Proves Yet Again Why He’s Essential,” Dec. 1]

Comic book movies are more like theme parks than cinema, and economics dictate that television reigns as the chief source of our cultural narrative. It’s a shame.

Theaters, whether movie or “legit” are a communal experience, where strangers can dream together in the dark and have their lives mutually enriched for it.

Television is an appliance. Shared many dreams from your toaster lately?

Michael Jenning
Van Nuys

More book reviews

I want to thank you for the recent book reviews in the Arts & Books section. I look forward each week to the essay quality and great guidance you normally offer with book reviews instead of interviews, like [‘The Preacher of ‘Radical Kinship’ on Father Gregory Boyle, Dec. 8]. Please keep writers like David Ulin and Carolyn Kellogg present in your pages.

Tom Yang
Eagle Rock