L.A. Live has replaced Hollywood Boulevard as the bright, bejeweled bellybutton of Los Angeles.

What’s your pleasure? High-stakes basketball? Red-carpet concerts? Stunning views? This downtown destination has them all. Maybe I’m biased, but I’d say it now rivals New York’s more-celebrated Times Square for things to do, places to go, celebrities to see.

I’ll go even further and declare L.A. Live superior to Times Square on nearly every level. Jack Nicholson is its honorary king. LeBron James is the court jester. Beyoncé and Ariana Grande are its wild-child courtiers.

All because Staples Center, which opened 20 years ago, transformed a drab part of town into an entertainment vortex.

Like the city itself, L.A. Live and the surrounding neighborhood can seem impenetrable at first — a dense and dizzy light show. But not with this little checklist of 20 attractions — some party-loud and obvious, others quietly off the beaten track.

(All venues within L.A. Live itself, unless address is listed)

WP24: A soft spot in a brittle city, Wolfgang Puck’s place on the 24th floor of the Ritz-Carlton is a great vista to overlook the skyline at sunset. A festive meet-up spot or a dark, quiet place to unwind. The food is always fine — get the scallops ($39) — but I prefer the bar to the restaurant. wolfgangpuck.com

Hotel Figueroa: Tell your friends: “Meet me by the fireplace in the front lounge.” They’ll figure it out. Kind of clubby, with rich architectural touches. The 100-year-old Fig will quickly become your go-to spot. Taco Tuesdays by the pool is a worthwhile stop too. hotelfigueroa.com

Grammy Museum: I suspect many folks think this will be a glorified gift shop, a la Hollywood Boulevard. No way. This is a first-rate, hands-on museum that celebrates music. Kids love it. And you can even take a drum lesson from Ringo. Admission $12. grammymuseum.org

The Original Pantry: A landmark … a great nosh … the greasy spoon of greasy spoons. This cash-only monument to late-night binging will be here long after Staples is gone. Look for legendary Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich sneaking a midnight bite. Yes, cash only. 817 S. Figueroa St. pantrycafe.com

Conga Room: Though home to the Grammys and audacious mega-concerts, L.A. Live is remarkably light on late-night music options. That’s what makes the Conga so popular on weekends. Sometimes live bands, sometimes DJs, sometimes salsa, sometimes EDM. But always a party. Covers vary. congaroom.com

Fleming’s: A proper martini is your revenge on the world. It should come with a skin of ice across the top that sparkles like a skating rink. You can get that here, along with a sizzling chunk of prime cow that you’ll be reliving a week later. Steaks from $49. flemingssteakhouse.com

The rink and the tree: Speaking of rinks, there’s a great one here during the holidays. A destination all its own, this is a selfie or a Christmas card waiting to happen. It’s also a first-date venue right out of a Hallmark movie. Nov. 30-Jan. 12. Adults $22, 6 and under $17 (includes skate rental). lalive.com

Ace Hotel: Well worth the six-block schlep, the old United Artists building is noted for concerts and a bar beneath the stars. Small plates won’t break your budget: street tacos ($3) and a robust stack of nachos ($10), along with an eclectic list of cocktails that range from $12 to $14. To get to the rooftop, look for the street entrance labeled “Upstairs.” 929 S. Broadway. acehotel.com

Lucky Strike: Not exactly the ma-and-pa bowling alley of your youth. It’s a nightclub is what it is, with bowling as an option. Great for birthdays or group nights out. Also great for people-watching, including — if you hit it right — athletes kicking back after their games. Hourly rates, up to eight bowlers per lane. Beware of food and drink minimums after 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. bowlluckystrike.com

Shaquille’s: Shaquille O’Neal’s upscale restaurant adds some welcome Southern flair to the dining choices. Noted for the fried chicken and biscuits. But you can get that anywhere these days. If you’re a true Southerner, you’ll probably opt for the shrimp and creamy grits. Dinner entrees in the $30s. shaquilles.com

The Palm: They pour a good drink at this pre-game hot spot, and be sure to add the Gigi salad ($17) or crabmeat cocktail ($26). This handsome old place, in a former toy factory, almost always impresses. 1100 S. Flower St. thepalm.com

Broken Spanish: What contemporary high-end Mexican cuisine looks like. “There’s a playfulness that permeates the cooking, along with all the guajillo chiles and green garlic and epazote,” Los Angeles Times food writer Amy Scattergood says. Entrees from $39. 1050 S. Flower St. brokenspanish.com

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Red Mango: Grab a seat at a sidewalk table and watch the world rush by on Fig, while you calmly treat yourself to a decadent, berry-laden smoothie or yogurt. Yogurt from about $5. Smoothies about $7. (213) 746-2646. redmangousa.com

Regal L.A. Live: Big as a presidential palace, this movie house now hosts occasional Hollywood premieres. If a major release is in theaters you’ll find it here, with shows that start mid-morning and go late into the night. Check out $9 Tuesdays. regmovies.com

Club NOVO: Leave the major pop stars and awards shows to Staples and Microsoft Theater — you’re probably too cool for that. This music venue focuses on edgier up-and-coming artists. Prices vary. thenovodtla.com

JW Marriott lobby: High-end cookie cutters are still cookie cutters. I shouldn’t like this chain hotel but the lobby bar always outperforms expectations. Live music helps, and the roomy lounge areas are casual and comfortable. A touch of class without feeling stuffy. marriott.com

Smashburger: Admit it, you usually just want a burger most of the time anyway. Smashburger proves that not every meal at L.A. Live is 30 bucks (though it sometimes feels that way). These delicious, loose-packed burgers drip with flavor. From $6. smashburger.com

Rock’N Fish: The sourdough bread ($2.95), among the best in the city, alone is worth a stop. I like the bar here for the rum cocktails. But the place is usually packed for blackened fish ($25.95) and a relatively affordable chowder and salad combo ($16).la.rocknfish.com/

Tom’s Watch Bar: Everyone swears by the Yardhouse, but I prefer this sprawling sports bar that is about to renovate and get a video upgrade. Friendly wait staff hustles like a sixth man off the bench. Burgers from about $15. tomswatchbar.com

Rosa Mexicano: Great selection of sipping tequilas and a beloved guac ($16.50) made at your table. Regulars also pounce on the queso fundido ($12.50). rosamexicano.com

If you have a plant-related class, garden tour or other event you’d like us to mention, email [email protected] — at least three weeks in advance — and we may include it. Send a high-resolution horizontal photo, if possible, and tell us what we’re seeing and whom to credit.

Nov. 14

“Spines, Thorns, Prickles and Beyond”: Sean Lahmeyer, plant conservation specialist at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, discusses the “spinescence” of the gardens and the many external defenses that plants in the gardens use to protect themselves. A plant sale will follow. 2:30 to 3:30 pm. in the Ahmanson Classroom in the Brody Botanical Center, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Admission is free. huntington.org

Nov. 15

The “Dana Point” buckwheat plant giveaway is a collaboration by the Orange County Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Assn. to give away 200 of the city’s namesake buckwheat plants to Orange County homeowners between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo St. in (of course) Dana Point. buckwheatbringsbutterflies.com

Nov. 15-16

“Sheet Mulching for Healthy Soil” is the topic of two free workshops offered by the Pasadena Department of Water and Power about sheet/lasagna mulching techniques to suppress weeds, reduce irrigation and improve your garden soil, at the Sheldon Reservoir, 1800 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Register for one workshop taught by Leigh Adams and Shawn Maestretti. ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/

Nov. 17-Jan. 5

Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest of Light is a gentle one-mile walk through the gardens highlighting some of the most popular locations with large-scale light displays. New this year is a “magical ‘stained-glass’” creation at Mulberry Pond by contemporary sculptor Tom Fruin. This year’s exhibit also features updated versions of the popular “Celestial Shadows” display of spinning polyhedrons, the “Lightwave Lake” light show and Jen Lewin’s flowing interactive landscape of meandering pathways called “Aqueous.” Students from California School of the Arts will perform Dec. 6-7 and 13-14. Member-only nights Dec. 20-23 and 26-28. General admission tickets start at $30, members pay $5 less. Children 2 and younger, free. Tickets must be purchased in advance. descansogardens.org

Nov. 19

Aquatic gardener David Gardner of Sunland Water Gardens discusses plant breeding, water lilies and edible aquatics during the monthly meeting of the Southern California Garden Club in the Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. with a fundraiser plant market and country store, a business meeting at 10:20 a.m. and the speaker at 11 a.m. A bring-your-own lunch follows at noon, with the club providing beverages and dessert. Free. socalgardenclub.org

Nov. 23-24

Landfill to Landscape in Altadena: Hands-on Hugelkultur/Bioswale Workshops These two-day rain garden and bioswale workshops by Shawn Maestretti Garden Architecture are $20 a day, with a $10 refund on Day 2 if participants attend both days. Hugelkultur is a technique for creating raised garden beds using logs, branches and other clippings covered with soil. Rain gardens and bioswales are techniques for collecting, filtering and storing excess water. Specific location to be announced Nov. 20. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. smgarchitecture.com

Dec. 3-8, 10-15, 17-23 & 26-30

San Diego Botanic Garden’s Holiday Nights in the Garden promises a family-friendly range of activities such as nightly “snowfall” and a play area with real snow, visits with Santa (through Dec. 23), holiday crafts, a 10-foot poinsettia tower and a “romantic mistletoe hideaway” (something to keep the parents busy perhaps, while the kids are tossing snowballs?). Admission prices range from $25 for nonmembers on weekends to $17 for children 3-17; prices slightly lower on weeknights, at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. SDBGarden.org

Dec. 5-8, 12-15, 19-22

The sixth Nights of 1,000 Lights at Sherman Library & Gardens celebrates the holidays with a 12-night garden light show Thursdays through Sundays. The event, which includes music, has been expanded this year. Ticketed guests get free photos with Santa, a chance to make a traditional Scandinavian Julehjerter (heart-shaped Christmas decoration), complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and s’mores around a bonfire, along with beer, wine and other food on sale. Tickets on sale now; $15 members, $25 nonmembers, children 3 and under free. 6 to 9 p.m. at 2647 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. slgardens.org

Dec. 10

California Native Plant Society board President Steve Hartman recaps his 45-year history as a CNPS volunteer and conservationist during the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica, 1008 11th St. Admission is free. lasmmcnps.org

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Dec. 11-13

Rancho Los Alamitos Holiday Open House will light up the grounds of the 18th century ranch house and gardens between 4 and 7 p.m. each night. A special event for children ages 3 to 8 is set for Dec. 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and reservations are required. The children’s event includes stories about holiday parties and family traditions from the Rancho’s past, as well as an interactive concert by the Long Beach Camerata Singers and craft activities in the barnyard. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $15 adults, $10 children under 12. Children 2 and under are free. The three-day evening open house features music, light refreshments at the barn, seasonal displays outside and tours of the ranch house decorated for the holidays at 6400 E. Bixby Hill Road in Long Beach. Admission is free but parking reservations are required; call (562) 431-3541.

Dec. 13-Jan. 5

Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo transforms the zoo with music, lights, animal-shaped light sculptures, special animal experiences and holiday-themed entertainment, including acrobats and Dr. Zoolittle, the zoo’s costumed characters and Santa Claus (through Dec. 25). 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Dec. 24, when the zoo closes at 5 p.m., at 2920 Zoo Drive in San Diego. Free with admission to the zoo, $46 ages 3 to 11, $56 12 and older. sandiegozoo.com

A sign outside a store in Riviera Village reads:

“To live in Manhattan Beach, you have to be rich.

“To live in Hermosa Beach, you have to be young.

“To live in Redondo Beach, you have to be lucky.”

Who can argue on a day like this, sunny and 69 degrees in November? This beachside neighborhood, which boasts more than 300 boutiques, restaurants, galleries and businesses tucked into several blocks in Redondo Beach, is the perfect place to rejuvenate your soul.

3 p.m. Relax and release stress with a massage at Eli’s Stay in Touch at 1820 S. Elena Ave., Suite B. There are more upscale places here for residents to park their Porsches and get pampered; Eli is here for the rest of us. She’s been helping clients from 11 to 95 feel comfortable in their own skin for more than 15 years. Her sessions last from 30 minutes ($35) to three hours, and she’s not stingy with her time. Make an appointment and be prepared to tip.

3:40 p.m. Muscles massaged, satisfy your thirst with an organic shake at the Punchbowl, 1811 S. Catalina Ave., a second location of the Los Feliz juice bar that opened here in September. How about a sweet Greeña Colada: kale, pineapple, avocado, lime and the water, nectar and meat of coconuts. The founders wrote on their Tumblr page: “Los Angeles is such a stressful city … we wanted to create … a peaceful little enclave where people could … fill their bodies with delicious, nutrient-rich juices.” They aren’t cheap ($9 to $11), but they’re 100% organic with no ice or filler and they’re served in eco-friendly packaging. I feel better already.

4 p.m. Score some good karma shopping at Ten Thousand Villages at 1907 S. Catalina Ave., a nonprofit fair trade store (one of more than 100 in the U.S. and Canada) that showcases the handcrafted works of artisans around the world. Instead of buying that designer sweatshirt made in a sweatshop, consider a hooded poncho from Ecuador ($99.99). Or splurge on a gorgeous piece of Haitian metal wall art ($350).

“Ten Thousand Villages is so much more than a store. We are a maker-to-market movement that’s almost entirely run by volunteers,” store manager Brittany Costa says. “We work in 30 developing countries with over 20,000 artisans to break the cycle of poverty by bringing their products and stories to our market through long-term, fair trading relationships.”

4:30 p.m. New Age healing is the art of Sacred Stone Gallery, 1832 S. Elena Ave. Part gallery, part gift shop and 100% “renowned energy field,” this space shimmers with crystals, stones and jewelry. The healing powers of each type of stone, which cost from a few dollars to much more, are advertised on cards. The local wisdom is to allow yourself to gravitate to the one that speaks to you. My wife chooses mangano calcite (“Heals the inner child”) and asks me which one I’m attracted to; I tell her I already married my Krystle.

The gallery holds almost daily events — sound baths, in which instruments produce sound and vibration for relaxation, are among the most popular — in a small meditation garden behind the store, where you can write down a prayer and leave it before a statue of Buddha. “The religion here is love, not anything else. Divine love, expanding love, unconditional love,” the gallery’s founder, Gustav Schindler, once said. Amen to that.

5 p.m. Your body is your temple, so give it a healthful offering at the Green Temple. This vegetarian restaurant, like Eli and Sacred Stone a staple of the neighborhood for two decades, is open and airy with inside and outside patios. We sit side by side at a small mosaic table in a private nook, surrounded by colorful pillows, plants and Eastern designs that transport us, and the feathery sounds of Sting’s “Shape of my Heart” feel right here. We share a plate of enchiladas ($15) filled with soft, stewed veggies and organic white cheddar cheese, and wash it down with an organic lemon fizz ($4). My mind is clear and not troubled by thoughts of the location of the closest In-N-Out. Maybe this inner peace stuff really works.

The ocean breeze plays with wind chimes, reminding us we’re just two blocks from the beach.

6:20 p.m. The soothing sounds of the water and the church of crashing waves are the perfect way to end our day as we share a sidewalk bench atop the bluff that looks out at the vast Pacific.

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GAZA CITY — 

Israel said early Friday it has completed a series of airstrikes on targets linked to the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza after overnight rocket fire rattled a day-old truce.

The Palestinian territory’s Hamas rulers, who kept to the sidelines of this week’s fighting, canceled the weekly protests they organize along the perimeter fence without explanation — apparently in an effort to preserve the calm.

Israel reiterated that it was willing to abide by the cease-fire if there are no additional rocket attacks. The army said in a statement that it struck a military compound, a rocket-manufacturing site and a militant headquarters in the town of Khan Younis overnight.

The airstrikes came after a barrage of rockets late Thursday. There were no immediate reports of casualties on either side. The situation was calm on Friday.

The unofficial cease-fire that began early Thursday ended a two-day escalation triggered by Israel’s targeted killing of an Islamic Jihad commander. The fighting killed 34 Palestinians, including 16 civilians. Palestinian militants fired more than 450 rockets toward Israel, paralyzing much of southern Israel without causing any deaths or serious injuries.

An Israeli airstrike overnight Thursday struck a home in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, killing eight people, including two women and five children under the age of 13. The airstrike apparently targeted the home of an Islamic Jihad commander who was not there at the time. Neighbors said the airstrike killed his brother, who was not involved in militant activity.

The military said Friday that it struck “Islamic Jihad military infrastructure” in Deir al-Balah and did not intend to harm civilians.

“According to the information available to the IDF at the time of the strike, no civilians were expected to be harmed as a result of the strike,” the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement. It said an investigation is underway.

Hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been killed in previous rounds of fighting in Gaza, drawing heavy international criticism, and the International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened a preliminary investigation into Israel’s battlefield tactics.

Israel rejects the criticism, saying it takes numerous precautions to prevent unnecessary civilian casualties. It also accuses Palestinian militants of using civilians as human shields and firing rockets from residential areas. It says militant commanders often have weapons or command centers inside their homes, making them legitimate targets.

Islamic Jihad announced the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire early Thursday, claiming it had extracted several concessions from Israel. Israel does not generally comment on informal understandings with militant groups and said only that it would halt fire as long as the militants did the same.

The truce angered many Islamic Jihad supporters, who held protests across Gaza. The barrage of rockets fired into Israel late Thursday, which Israel said were intercepted by its missile defenses, may have been an expression of discontent with the militant group’s leadership.

Unlike in previous rounds of violence, the more powerful Hamas stayed on the sidelines, adhering to understandings reached through Egyptian mediators after previous rounds of fighting with Israel. Both militant groups are committed to Israel’s destruction, but Islamic Jihad is seen as more radical and has closer ties to Iran.

Hamas has held weekly demonstrations along the frontier for more than a year to call for the lifting of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza when the group seized power from the internationally backed Palestinian Authority in 2007.

The protests often turn violent, with demonstrators hurling rocks and firebombs and Israeli forces responding with tear gas and live ammunition. Hamas has tamped down the protests in recent weeks, apparently as part of the understandings with Egypt.

In return, Israel has loosened the blockade and allowed Qatar to deliver millions of dollars in cash so that Hamas can pay its civil servants.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars, the most recent in 2014, and have exchanged fire on a number of occasions since then. In the latest fighting, Israel refrained from targeting Hamas, which does not appear to have fired any rockets, a sign that both want to maintain the calm.

TOKYO — 

Many of the protesters who had barricaded themselves in a Hong Kong university this week began to leave Friday after temporarily clearing a road they had blocked and demanding that the government commit to going ahead with local elections on Nov. 24.

It wasn’t immediately clear why the protesters at the Chinese University of Hong Kong were leaving, or where they might go next. Some remained but in much smaller numbers.

The university’s president, Rocky Tuan, urged everyone to leave, saying the situation was out of control and that the university may need to seek government help.

In the morning, the protesters cleared one lane in each direction on Tolo Highway and gave the government 24 hours to agree to their demand. After the deadline expired, they blocked the road again.

“In the face of the inconvenience we have caused to the elderly and other young people, we have decided to take the initiative to show our goodwill,” one masked protester said before the lanes were cleared. “We would like to reiterate that our target is the government.”

Workers sent in to clean up remaining debris and set up traffic cones were heckled by protesters, who pointed bows and arrows at them, government officials said, but the two lanes were reopened around midday.

The district council elections are seen as a barometer of public sentiment in the semiautonomous Chinese territory, which has been riven by antigovernment protests for more than five months. Pro-democracy activists say the government may use the escalating violence as a reason to cancel the elections.

Patrick Nip, the secretary for constitutional affairs, said the government hasn’t changed its decision to hold the vote.

“We are all worried as to whether the election can be held in a safe manner,” he said at a news conference. “If we want to hold an orderly election it takes the whole society to chip in so we can lower the risk.”

The police, meanwhile, said they would investigate the death of a 70-year-old man who was hit in the head by a brick as a murder case.

The man, who was using his phone to film a skirmish between protesters and others trying to clear a street earlier this week, died Thursday night. The Hong Kong government expressed outrage over what it called “the malicious acts of the rioters.”

In London, the Chinese Embassy said that Hong Kong Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng was pushed to the ground by activists who were following her and shouting at her, injuring her hand. It wasn’t clear if she was pushed or fell in the confrontation.

“We express strong indignation and unequivocally condemn the activists,” the embassy said in a statement. “Now, they are taking such violence abroad and into the U.K.”

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam called the attack “barbaric” and said it violated the principles of a civilized society.

Asked about the incident, Metropolitan Police in London said they are investigating an allegation of assault of a woman who was taken to the hospital with an arm injury.

Students and other protesters have taken over major campuses in Hong Kong this week, building barricades and stockpiling gasoline bombs and other weapons.

In Taiwan, civic and religious groups protested outside Hong Kong’s representative office, calling for an end to what they said were abuses against antigovernment protesters in the territory.

Cheng Ying-er, a pastor in the Presbyterian church that has long been active on pro-democracy issues, said the situation in Hong Kong was a matter of “religious values and human rights.”

“Taiwan stands with you all,” he told those gathered outside the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei.

Taiwanese lawyers have formed a pro-bono committee to help any Hong Kong residents who want to seek refuge in Taiwan, said Lin Chun-hung, a member of the group.

“Our lawyers will provide them with assistance so that they can stay here,” he said.

Many in Taiwan have come out strongly against the crackdown on the Hong Kong protest movement.

Taiwan underwent a largely peaceful transition to full democracy in recent decades and has rejected China’s proposal of unification with the mainland under the same “one country, two systems” formula implemented in Hong Kong.

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Two students were killed and three other teens were wounded in a shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Here are the stories you shouldn’t miss today:

TOP STORIES

A 16-Second Burst of Violence

A routine day. Shots fired. Lives taken. A community left asking, “Why?” On Thursday, that horrific, familiar scene played out again — this time at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, where authorities say a 16-year-old known as a cross-country runner and a Boy Scout pulled a .45-caliber pistol from his backpack and shot for 16 seconds.

A 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy died at a hospital soon after. Three other students were injured. The suspect, on his birthday, shot himself in the head.

In the aftermath, students ran, hid and frantically texted, younger children preparing for a Thanksgiving pageant at a nearby elementary school were traumatized, and parents far and wide were once again left searching for how to talk with their kids about a school shooting.

‘Evidence of Bribery’

Public impeachment hearings into President Trump will resume today, with Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, set to testify. The first hearing on Wednesday provided evidence of one of Trump’s most audacious fixations: getting Ukraine’s new president to announce investigations of Trump rivals, including potential 2020 opponent Joe Biden, after Trump had suspended $391 million in congressionally approved security aid to the government in Kyiv.

On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said for the first time that the president’s demands to Ukraine amounted to bribery, an offense that’s listed in the Constitution as impeachable. (She also felt the need to explain the term “exculpatory” to Trump.)

Trump’s Above-the-Law Argument

While the impeachment inquiry plays out, Trump has asked the Supreme Court to shield him from part of another investigation: a New York grand jury’s demand to see his tax returns and other financial records. It is the first of two appeals from Trump that seek to protect his tax returns from investigators, and it sets the stage for a constitutional clash over whether the president has an “absolute immunity” from being investigated or prosecuted.

More Politics

— A second U.S. Embassy staffer in Kyiv overheard a key cellphone call between Trump and his ambassador to the European Union discussing the need for Ukrainian officials to pursue “investigations,” the Associated Press has learned.

— Meet the young Ukrainian reformers fighting corruption, elites and Trump.

— Ten Democratic presidential candidates have qualified for Wednesday’s debate in Georgia, giving voters a smaller lineup onstage to consider even as the party’s overall field expands.

Hollywood Tit-for-Tat

It’s been seven months since thousands of Hollywood writers “fired” their agents to protest longstanding industry practices. With no end in sight to the labor dispute, some talent agencies have found a workaround: They are not selecting writers before they sell new TV projects to studios. Instead, they are building shows around popular books, podcasts and English-language adaptations of foreign-language shows that are attractive to buyers because they come with already proven ideas.

Super-Charged

Hot rods. The very word conjures images not just of blazing metal but also of large, gas-guzzling engines. But these days, some hot rodders are cannibalizing crashed electric cars and using their batteries to create electrified sports cars and muscle cars. See how a totaled Tesla can be reborn as an 800-horsepower, all-wheel-drive Shelby Cobra.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

On this date in 1964, the Dave Clark Five — the second British Invasion band to hit U.S. shores, after the Beatles — landed in a remote part of LAX ahead of concerts at the Melodyland in Anaheim. The Times reported at the time:

“Fancy footwork by the law and airport officials decoyed hundreds of teenage fans from seeing the newest British singing idols, the Dave Clark Five, arrive at a chilling gale here Sunday morning. Unlike their front-running competitors, the Beatles, whose fans strained safety precautions and policemen’s patience at their last visit, the Clark quintet slipped in on the ‘DC-Five’ (named for them) on a far southeast outpost of International Airport. Large groups of excited teenagers milled around in several different airline terminals looking frantically for the Five.”

For more from The Times’ archives, follow our new account on Instagram — @latimesarchives — dedicated to decades of archival photos from Los Angeles, the West and beyond. Read more about the project and what to expect here.

CALIFORNIA

— The Coast Guard will reconsider federal recommendations that could help prevent boating tragedies like that aboard the Conception dive boat, a leader of the agency told lawmakers Thursday — days after The Times reported it had rejected them.

— The University of California is investigating an allegation by a UC Santa Cruz student that Regent George Kieffer repeatedly squeezed her thigh at a dinner with students.

— Sen. Kamala Harris introduced a bill to boost wildfire preparedness, setting aside $1 billion each year to pay for better infrastructure, land-use and evacuation route planning in fire-prone communities.

— Fundraising for LACMA‘s new building has stalled as costs have soared. But the bigger problem with the project is more fundamental, our critic writes.

YOUR WEEKEND

— Pumpkin spice season is here. Cringing already? Here are seven recipes our cooking editor hates to love, a taste test of many PSL things (including Spam!) and the story of nutmeg in Malaysia.

— Stumped for where to eat in L.A.’s South Bay? Here are some excellent suggestions.

— It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the mall.

— Garden calendar: Botanic light shows and serious soil-prep workshops are among the highlights.

HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS

— Mo’Nique has sued Netflix for race and sex discrimination, accusing it of giving her a lowball offer for a comedy special and of a broader tendency to underpay black women.

— Here are a bunch of movies that columnist Glenn Whipp says should earn Oscar nominations for best picture, and one that shouldn’t but probably will.

— “Ford v Ferrari” is a thrilling film that gives its plot and characters room to breathe — “a glorious throwback that combines a smart modern sensibility with the best of traditional storytelling,” our critic writes.

— Lil Nas X made history as the first openly gay black artist to win at the CMA Awards.

— The main thing you, an adult, need to know about the new “SpongeBob” movie is that Keanu Reeves is in it, and its new trailer.

NATION-WORLD

— Laws that punish women for using drugs while pregnant are often billed as a way to protect their babies. New research finds they have the opposite effect, discouraging women from seeking addiction treatment and putting their babies at greater risk once born.

— Kentucky’s incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has conceded his bitterly fought re-election race to Democratic rival Andy Beshear, as state election officials double-checked vote totals at his request.

— Did Russia meddle in the 2016 Brexit vote? In this year’s British election season, there’s dismay over a delayed report.

— Bolivia’s interim leader says ousted President Evo Morales cannot run in any new elections, but his party can.

BUSINESS

— This holiday shopping season, U.S. retailers will have a hard time predicting consumers’ behavior, especially with rising pressure from Amazon. Here are key trends to watch.

— Google, under pressure from European regulators, will restrict its data-sharing with advertisers to protect people’s privacy.

SPORTS

— Call it an L.A. MVP sweep: Dodgers slugger Cody Bellinger was voted the National League’s most valuable player and Angels outfielder Mike Trout the American League’s.

— These maps show how the Rams dominate the Chargers in Southern California ticket sales.

— When the NFL holds a private workout for Colin Kaepernick this weekend, there are a few teams oddsmakers think are most likely to give him a shot.

— UCLA football kicker J.J. Molson with Utah’s Andrew Strauch will meet on the field Saturday, but their families have a history: the RMS Titanic’s fateful voyage.

OPINION

— After nearly half a century, the Equal Rights Amendment finally has a chance, thanks to the Democratic takeover of one statehouse, The Times’ editorial board writes.

— California Republicans have sunk into oblivion. Columnist George Skelton says their anti-immigrant stance is just one reason.

— Climate change prevention is losing to sprawl in San Diego County, the board also says.

WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING

— The U visa is supposed to help protect immigrants and solve crimes. But police are undermining it. (Reveal)

— The first generation of developmentally disabled adults who grew up at home, not in an institution, are now middle-aged. Their parents are getting too old to care for them — and the healthcare system isn’t prepared. (Politico)

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

Santa Rosa may be the land of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, but it’s a craft beer that’s getting people a little hopped up. Specifically, one that expresses some profane disdain toward Pacific Gas & Electric. The brewery owner says he’s upset with the executives at the utility after years of devastating fires, but some relatives of PG&E workers have taken exception to the name.

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President Trump on Friday released the summary transcript of an April congratulatory call to Ukraine’s then-President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky.

It is the latest salvo in the White House struggle to blunt Democrats’ contention that Trump abused the power of the presidency.

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The focus of the Democratic-led House impeachment inquiry has been on another call between Trump and Zelensky that was made on July 25.

In that call, Trump asked Ukraine’s president to do him “a favor” and look into the actions of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

The memo recaps the short April call in which Trump congratulates Zelensky on his election. There is no mention of Biden or corruption but Trump does note that he once hosted the Miss Universe contest in Ukraine.

Pope Francis met with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders in the Vatican on Saturday morning and the two discussed the need for morality in the world economy.

Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs said that the meeting took place in Domus Santa Marta, the pope’s residence, where Sanders had slept Friday night after addressing a Vatican conference on social justice.

Sachs, who has advised the United Nations on climate change, said Sanders thanked the pope for his pronouncements on the need for morality in the global economy and statements in defense of the environment.

“The pope thanked the senator for coming to the meeting and for coming to speak about the moral economy,” Sachs said.

The meeting lasted about five minutes, said the economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, an adviser to the Sanders campaign who said he had been present.