If you are planning a “Stay-cation” this holiday season, don’t sit home and watch TV. Instead, get yourself and family into the Christmas spirit by following one or more of our entertainment plans around the City of Angels.
Plan A
Start off your day with an early morning journey to Downtown Los Angeles. Your first destination to get into the holiday spirit is the Original Los Angeles Flower Market. Get caught up in the hustle and bustle of floral shopping while picking up a fresh bunch of Poinsettia plants and a wreath. Afterwards, stop by Moskatels for Christmas ornament shopping. Finally, head over to the Grand Central Market for a late breakfast. Get a “Big Poppa,” a bagel, Pastrami, egg and cheddar cheese sandwich at Wexler’s Deli or a variety of egg sandwiches at Egg Slut.
Los Angeles Flower Market
754 Wall St. (between 7th and 8th), LA, 90014
Phone: (213) 627-3696
Moskatels
733 San Julian St., LA, 90014
Phone: (213) 689-4590
Grand Central Market
317 S. Broadway, LA, 90013
Phone: (213) 624-2378
Plan B
The morning begins with breakfast at The Original Pantry, a mainstay in downtown Los Angeles since 1924. After breakfast, walk over to the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Los Angeles Auto Show which is open to the public until November 27. When you are done looking and sitting in new cars, your next destination is right across the street at L.A. Live. Bowl a couple of games at Lucky Strike Lanes and complete your day by ice skating at the L.A. Kings Holiday Ice rink. When the auto show ends, replace that option with a holiday movie at Regal Cinemas.
The Original Pantry
877 S. Figueroa St., LA, 90017
Phone: (213) 972-9279
Los Angeles Auto Show
L.A. Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St., LA, 90015
Phone: (310) 444-1850
L.A. Live
800 W. Olympic Blvd., LA 90015
Phone: (866) 548-3452
Regal LA Live
1000 W. Olympic Blvd.,
Los Angeles, 90015
Phone: 1-(844)-462-7342 ext. 4046
Plan C
Start the evening off with deep dish pizza at Masa in Echo Park. Afterwards, head over to Griffith Park at The Old Lodge, Montecillo De Leo Politi for Snow! Los Angeles. Snow! Los Angeles offers snow tubing for kids and adults under holiday lights, a snow blowing blizzard and stunning winter wonderland. Walk through a giant snowman forest light show or get into a snowball fight with your friends. Looking for a snack? Snow! Los Angeles has a variety of food trucks on site and a fully stocked bar for adults.
Masa
1800 West Sunset Blvd., LA 90026
Phone: (213) 989-1558
Snow! Los Angeles
The Old Lodge – Montecillo De Leo Politi
Stadium Way and Scott Ave., LA 90012
Contact via email: info@SnowLosAngeles.com
Plan D
Start your morning at Republique on La Brea for breakfast. Afterwards, rush over to LACMA to check out filmmaker, Guillermo Del Toro’s exhibition which ends on November 27th. Taking inspiration from del Toro’s extraordinary imagination, the exhibition reveals his creative process through his collection of paintings, drawings, maquettes, artifacts, and concept film art. If you are visiting the museum on Saturday, November 26, visit the Holiday Marketplace at the Craft & Folk Art Museum which is located across the street from the LACMA. CAFAM’s annual holiday shopping event features the museum’s favorite Los Angeles makers. Find special one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry, art, textiles, housewares, and other beautiful hand-crafted gifts for your loved ones. Participating artists and vendors include Venice Clay, Karlita Design, Earth + Element and more.
Republique
624 S. La Brea Ave., LA, 90036
Phone: (310) 362-6115
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036
Phone: (323) 857-6010
Craft & Folk Art Museum
5814 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 90036
Phone: (323) 937-4230
Plan E
Start your day early morning at The Grove. The first destination with the family is meeting Santa Claus. Make a reservation with Santa or get online and wait while your kids and wife roam around the area. Meet Santa, take pictures and get the videos. I have 12 years worth of Grove/Santa Claus videos and we break them out once a year on the DVD player and now computer. It’s nice family tradition. After visiting Santa, walk over to the Christmas tree and take some pictures with your family. Then, jump on the trolley for a ride to The Farmers Market. Make sure you sit up top. Ideally try to get the bench uptop at the helm of the Trolley. The views and picture opportunities are a lot more spectacular. After you get off the trolley, head over Kip’s Toyland for a toy purchase. This is a tradition in our family where each of my kids gets to pick out one toy. Then, walk into the Old Farmer’s market for a late breakfast at Dupars or an early lunch at Loteria Grill.
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr., LA 90036
Phone: (323) 900-8080
The Farmers Market
6333 W. 3rd Street, LA, 90036
Phone: (323) 933-9211
Plan F
Start your evening off with pizza at Mulberry Street Pizzeria on Canon Dr. in Beverly Hills. Afterwards, head over to The Wallis to see Merrily We Roll Along (Nov. 23 thru Dec. 18th), this rarely staged Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story) musical. Following the show, walk to Rodeo Ave and window shop along the streets of Beverly Hills. Stop off at Sprinkles Ice Cream or the famous Sprinkles Cupcake ATM machine.
Mulberry Street Pizzeria
347 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210
Phone: (310) 247-8998
The Wallis
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90210
Phone: (310) 746-4000
Sprinkles
9635 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90210
Phone: (888) 220-2210
Plan G
The LA Zoo Lights is a fantastic way to kick off the holidays in the city. Make sure you dress warm on your visit to the zoo. L.A.’s brightest holiday tradition shines more brilliantly than ever as we “ZooLAbrate” our 50th year! Explore a dazzling wonderland of light with magical Golden Anniversary touches throughout. View real reindeer (including two babies!), visit with Santa on select dates, and enjoy seasonal treats and goodies, all under the stars at the beautiful Los Angeles Zoo. Start the day early with a visit to Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment will be at the Staples Center from 12/15 thru 12/18.
LA Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., LA 90027
Phone: (866) 949-8007
Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment
At The Staples Center (12/15 thru 12/18)
1111 S. Figueroa St., LA, 90015
Plan H
Eaton Canyon Trail is a 3.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Pasadena, CA that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Then, drive over to Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena (Santa Rosa Avenue, between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive) is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in the United States. Saturday, December 10th is the official lighting ceremony and the Winter Arts and Craft Festival. Get dinner at Pizza of Venice and gelato at Bulgarini.
Eaton Canyon
1750 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, 91107
Phone: (626) 398-5420
Christmas Tree Lane
Santa Rosa Ave, between Woodbury Ave. and Altadena Dr.
Altadena, 91001
Pizza of Venice
2545 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena, 91107
Phone; (626) 765-9636
Bulgarini Gelato
749 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena 91001
Phone: (626) 791-6174
Plan I
Angel City Chorale (ACC), the celebrated Los Angeles choir led by Founder/Artistic Director Sue Fink, will jump-start your holiday season season in style with "Bring on the Joy," the choir’s 23rd annual set of holiday concerts and sing-alongs. The festive evenings will bring together talented Los Angeles-area singers and instrumentalists with a tapestry of seasonal favorites featuring musical textures from diverse traditions. The inclusive, family-friendly concerts will take place at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles over two very special nights on Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4. Start the evening beforehand with dinner at Vernetti in Larchmont Village. Vernetti is a neighborhood restaurant where old school meets new school Italian. Inspired by a century long history of Italian-American cuisine, Chef Steve Vernetti, shares his passion for fresh, delicious Italian food made simply, with the best ingredients. Steve feeds the community as he does his own family, providing a special place to celebrate all the amazing things that happen when sharing a delicious meal!
Angel City Chorale
at the Wilshire United Methodist Church
4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 90010
Phone: (310) 943-9231
Vernetti
225 N. Larchmont Blvd., LA, 90004
Phone: (323) 798-5886
Plan J
If you're looking for a little holiday cheer, look no further: Grinchmas is here! Get yourself over to Universal Studios Hollywood to celebrate Grinchmas from December 3 thru January 1st. Snap a photo with The Grinch or a 60 foot tree, then visit Max to take a picture for all to see. Catch the Who-liday Singers on the Studio Tour, singing from the real Who-ville set on the Backlot and more! Listen to the carols of the Who-ville Singers, then decorate ornaments - prepare for messy fingers! Send the Grinch a postcard promising three good deeds, and a book will be gifted to a child in need. Catch Martha May and the Who-Dolls' big holiday revue before setting in for story time with Cindy Lou Who.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
Phone: (800) 864-8377
Plan K
Chill out at Chill, the annual holiday adventure at the Queen Mary. Light up the holidays in the all new "Alice in Winterland" plus ice tubing on the Glacier Glide, ice skating, live entertainment, North Pole Village, Prancer's Paintball, Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Claus Cottage and more!
Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach 90802
Phone: (877) 342-0752
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