National Night Out Next Week!

Your chance to meet and thank the first responders that keep us safe (and maybe win a raffle).

Author

Adam Kruze
July 31, 2025

Next Tuesday is National Night Out, an event that started simply in 1984 and has grown to over 16,000 community participants, several of whom are here in the SFV. They’ll all have first responders and no doubt booths with resources, but some will have safety vehicles on display and a lot of them are offering free food and a couple have free movies.

Did You Know - The pool at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center is the 23rd largest pool in the world? You can also catch a movie while swimming every once in a while.

🎭 Curtain Up on Creativity: Colony Theatre Launches Playwrights Lab

Calling all dramatists, dialogue lovers, and anyone who’s ever thought, “This would make a great play…” — Burbank’s Colony Theatre is giving your inner playwright a stage to shine.

Starting this August, The Colony is kicking off the TCT Writers Lab, a brand-new program designed to help Los Angeles-based playwrights bring their boldest, funniest, weirdest, and most moving ideas to life. Think of it as an incubator for theatrical brilliance—minus the heat lamps and lab coats.

Running through May 2026, the lab will bring together 25 to 30 writers each week for readings, feedback, and creative camaraderie. It’s not just about writing alone in a coffee shop with your laptop and questionable pastry—this is collaborative, with real-time responses from fellow writers and guest actors jumping into unrehearsed readings. (Yes, your words will literally be brought to life on the spot!)

“We are so thrilled to launch this special program,” said Producing Artistic Director Heather Provost. “TCT is committed to nurturing the artists of today and tomorrow.” Translation: your half-written play about vampire baristas might just find its people.

The lab will be led by playwright Alex Goldberg, whose work wowed audiences during the Colony’s Scripts & Sips reading series last fall. And if your script truly sparkles? The Colony might just select it for a public reading—or even further development.

So if your Google Docs are full of characters waiting for their moment in the spotlight, the TCT Writers Lab might be your next big scene. Burbank's calling—better answer with a monologue.

🎬 Calling All Creeps, Creatives, and Campy Weirdos: ZJU Horror Film Fest Wants Your Nightmare!

Have a terrifyingly brilliant idea you can pack into three minutes of screen time? Then it’s time to grab your camera, summon your inner Hitchcock (or your inner Hot Topic manager), and get to work—because Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre in NoHo is launching its first-ever Horror Film Fest, and you are the star. Or the scream queen. Or the doomed guy who hears a noise and investigates anyway. Or maybe just Director.

🩸 Festival Dates:
🗓 Saturday & Sunday, September 13–14, 2025
🕐 1–4 PM
📍 At ZJU in North Hollywood

But Wait—What Counts as Horror?
This is where it gets fun: you decide.
Whether your vision of horror is a cursed hairdryer, an existential crisis in a dentist’s chair, or a slow descent into madness because someone keeps leaving three sips worth of Kool-Aid in the pitcher (you know who you are)—if it’s creepy to you, it’s horror enough for us.

Your Mission (If You Dare):

  • Make a short film, max 3 minutes long, including credits. (They mean it—three minutes or less—even one second over gets rejected.)

  • Shoot it entirely in August. Cameras can’t roll until 12:00 AM on August 1st, and the final cut must be in by 11:59 PM on August 31st.

  • Submit your masterpiece in .mov or .mp4 format (5GB max) to [email protected].

  • On August 1st, you’ll receive a list of five random objects. One of them must appear in your film (like Chekhov’s glue stick). It’s a fun twist—and proof you didn’t film it in your backyard last spring.

🎟 Tickets are $20 via Venmo (@zombiejoes). Filmmakers need to buy a ticket too—ZJU needs to pay the light bill—and the more friends you bring, the louder the screams.

🚫 No AI Allowed
This is a human horror fest. That means no generative AI writing, voiceovers, animation, or other shortcuts from our robot overlords. Analog fear only.

🔞 A Note on Content:
Yes, this is a horror fest. But you still have neighbors. No real violence, no illegal activity, and anything graphically intense will be reviewed carefully. ZJU reserves the right to reject anything that crosses the line.

Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or someone with a phone, a flashlight, and a spooky idea, this fest is your chance to let your freak flag fly—covered in fake blood and existential dread.

So get weird. Get wild. Get horrifying.

👉 Submit your info and join the fun
Good luck, and may your screams be heard far and wide (when noise ordinances allow).

🧊 Etch Your Name in Ice (Literally): LA Kings Want You Under Center Ice

Ever dreamed of making it to center ice with the LA Kings? Now’s your chance—without the need for skates, teeth guards, or, you know, knowing how to play hockey.

For the 2025–26 season, the LA Kings are letting fans become part of the team in the coolest way possible—by freezing your name into the actual ice at Crypto.com Arena. That's right, your name will be embedded under the surface of the center ice logo. It won’t be visible from the stands (sorry, mom), but rest assured it’ll be there, chilling with the big shots all season long.

To honor your icy legacy, every participant gets a commemorative LA Kings ice cube tray featuring the alternate team logo. Finally, a kitchen gadget that says “I’m a die-hard fan and I make excellent cocktails.”

So go ahead, make your mark (and help a good cause)—because nothing says commitment like being permanently frozen in ice. Just ask Ted Williams.

🎨 Calling All Local Artists: Your Work Could Be Part of SFV’s Transit Future

Ever dreamed of turning your art into a permanent part of LA’s cityscape? Here’s your chance to make your mark—literally. Metro Art is on the hunt for Los Angeles County-based visual artists to help transform upcoming East San Fernando Valley transit stations into vibrant community landmarks.

Metro is currently accepting artist qualifications for 12 new public art opportunities—yes, twelve!—linked to two major projects:

🛤️ The East San Fernando Valley (ESFV) Light Rail Transit Project
This 6.7-mile street-level line is bringing 11 brand-new light rail stations to Van Nuys Boulevard, connecting Van Nuys Station to a future stop at Van Nuys/San Fernando. It’s under construction now, and once complete, will be a major milestone for East Valley mobility—and for public art.

🚈 The G Line Improvements Project
This project includes a brand-new elevated Van Nuys Station, designed to connect with the ESFV line. Think of it as transit’s version of a glow-up.

🎨 What Metro’s Looking For
They're seeking artists to design two-dimensional (2D) artworks—think murals, graphic panels, or anything flat and fabulous—that will become integrated features of the new stations.

🗓️ Deadline to Apply: Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11:59 PM (PDT)
📍 Where to Apply: bit.ly/ESFVandGLine

Whether you’re a seasoned public artist or a first-time applicant with a strong vision, this is a golden opportunity to turn your creativity into civic pride—and reach thousands of transit riders every day.

And if you’d like to stay in the loop on more artsy calls, events, and installations, sign up for the Metro Art newsletter. It’s the best way to keep your finger on the pulse of LA’s ever-expanding public art scene.

Go ahead—put your art where LA moves. 🚌💥

👮 National Night Out 2025

It’s like a block party—but with cops, community groups, and a purpose.

National Night Out is a yearly event that brings neighborhoods together to build stronger ties with local law enforcement and each other. Think BBQs, music, meet-and-greets with police and firefighters, and kids running around with glow sticks. It all goes down on the first Tuesday of August (that’s this Tuesday, August 6), and several Valley neighborhoods are hosting free events.

If you’re looking for a wholesome way to connect with your neighbors (and maybe snag a free hot dog), this is it. Here’s a collection of links to some of the events being held around the SFV.

  • Mission National Night Out - Tuesday, August 5, 5pm-7pm. Free food (while supplies last), a DJ, raffle prizes and static displays, 15121 Brand Park on Brand Blvd, Mission Hills

  • National Night Out in Sun Valley - Tuesday, August 5, 6 – 8:30pm. Free food (while supplies last), music, and prizes. Sun Valley Recreation Center, 8133 Vineland Ave, Sun Valley

  • Northridge National Night Out - Tuesday, August 5, 6:00pm. Outdoor screening of Paddington in Peru, plus free Kona Ice, face painting and bounce houses. Northridge Recreation Center 18300 Lemarsh Street Northridge

  • Burbank National Night Out - August 5, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Games, prizes, and giveaways for all. Johnny Carson Park 400 Bob Hope Drive, Burbank

  • Glendale National Night Out - August 5 from 5 PM to 9 PM. Police vehicles, the SWAT truck, food, fun, and games for the whole family. Pacific Park, Glendale

  • Valley Village National Night Out - August 5, 6:30pm-8pm. Food drive! Bring nonperishables to donate. Food, music, raffles, LAPD Glo Stick Wall. Valley Village Park 5000 Westpark Dr, North Hollywood

  • Studio City National Night Out - August 5 · 5:30 - 8pm. North Weddington Recreation Center, 10844 Acama Street, North Hollywood

  • West Valley National Night Out - August 5, 6pm-10pm. Outdoor screening of How to Train Your Dragon, free activities and treats. Randall D Simmons Park 6731 Wilbur Ave, Reseda

  • Calabasas National Night Out - August 5, 6pm-8pm. Interactive law enforcement vehicles, games, food trucks, live DJ. Calabasas Civic Center 100 Civic Center Way, Calabasas

  • Toluca Lake National Night Out - August 5, 6pm-8pm. Safety demos, food, ice cream and giveaways. Logix Credit Union 10064 Riverside Dr, Toluca Lake

Watch a Movie From Dodger Stadium’s Outfield

I know it’s not the Valley or in the near future, but these sell out fast and sounds epic. Click the image for deets.

😆 Comedy

  • Sick lil Run-through - Comedian Liz Zagone will be running a very loose hour of stand up comedy with the addition of some of her favorite friends! Jul 31, 2025, Thu @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm. The Glendale Room 127 N Artsakh Avenue, Glendale

  • FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE Headliner: Jimmy Brogan, Justin Hires. 08/01/2025 7:30 PM Door Time: 6:30 PM. The Comedy Chateau 4615 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood

  • Consensual Emu Musical Improv - Sat, 02 Aug, 2025 at 08:00 pm to 09:30 pm, LA Connection Comedy Theatre 3435 Magnolia Blvd, Burbank

🎭️Theatre and Performing Arts

  • Vimshati Anugraha/Twenty Blessings Pragathi Art Foundation presents an enthralling evening of Bharatanatyam dance and live Carnatic orchestra. Saturday, August 2 · 4pm PDT. Doors at 3:30pm The Colony Theatre Company 555 North 3rd Street Burbank

  • The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals - Friday, August 1, 2025 @ 7 pm, Saturday, August 2, 2025 @ 2 pm, Saturday, August 2, 2025 @ 7 pm. El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood

📽️ Film

  • Folktales co-director Rachel Grady will participate in Q&A's after the 4:30 P.M. screening at the NoHo on August 1. NoHo 7 5240 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood

  • Pretty Woman (35th Anniversary) Costumes from the film will be on display. Ticketed event, might sell out! Aug 2, 2025 6:00 PM, The Los Angeles Equestrian Center 480 Riverside Dr, Burbank

🎵 Music

  • Killroy, SideKick, LA Slumlords, and The Cursed Machine - Friday, August 1, 7:00 PM - 11:55 PM Corbin Bowl 19616 Ventura Blvd Tarzana

  • START ME UP – The Rolling Stones Tribute with Emerging Artist Tonight’s Sunshine August 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm. North Hollywood Recreation Center 11455 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood

  • LIVE FROM EARTH – Pat Benatar and Beyond with Emerging Artist Abby Berman August 3 @ 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Warner Park 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills

  • Carolyn Martinez Aug 03, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Urban Press Winery 316 N. San Fernando Blvd, Burbank

🤷 Other

⚠️ BEACH AREA WARNINGS (as of July 30):

  • Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from Lifeguard Tower #24.

  • Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

  • Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

  • Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

 These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

🧹 BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

  • Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey