Dear Reader
I wasn’t sure how to start my Los Angeles year-in-review newsletter. So many starts and stops, whole paragraphs erased and started over again.
A lot has happened.
Los Angeles has experienced a lot of loss in 2025—neighborhoods lost to fires, neighbors lost to ice (so many), small businesses closures that really hurt, and so many friends experiencing layoffs. I am watching, from afar, the news reports of torrents taking over the area. It’s been a rough year, and it seems that 2025 won't go quietly.
It has been hard to keep up with all the business closures, and I am due for a review of old This Ugly Beautiful City blog posts to delete and, hopefully, add to my neighborhood guides. The hardest restaurant loss for me this year is Birdie Gs, which had its last service this past week. It was our spot for out of town guests, milestones, and celebrity sitings.
I want to thank those who have reached out to me and helped by donating during the fires in January. I want to thank both Angelenos and non-Angelenos who reached out to me during the year to check in and ask how they could help in other ways. (I was able to donate $100 to No Kid Hungry through my November Los Angeles Curated subscription drive—Thankful for your support and my husband's employee match program.)
What has gotten me through this year of chaos and loss of 2025?
My neighbors.
I live in what seems to be a very rare part of Los Angeles where neighbors are community-minded people who want to meet in person. Our Discord server is 500+ people strong. We have a job board, a buy nothing group, a run club, a weekly walk, and a craft group. On any given day, you can read with neighbors, co-work, do bar trivia, or launch D&D campaigns. Through this group, I’ve found ways to connect with the other humans in my area—ways to help people who need it and combat the feeling that we are so disconnected. (This isn’t a commercial for Discord, but I do like that I am not constantly bombarded with ads, ahem Meta.)
This isn't the L.A. of stereotype, but the real Los Angeles I've been trying to tell you about all these years.
All 2026 trends point toward a year of appstinence. (i.e., ditching the apps for analog and real-life experiences.)I hope this inspires you to stop looking for people through panes of “glass” and to search out or create your neighborhood group. I would love you to join me on one of my Los Angeles neighborhood tours or subscriber meet-ups. Make 2026 your year of connection irl.
The best thing that happened to me in Los Angeles this year
I met José Andrés at an event and spoke to him for a bit about the work he was doing during the Alaskan floods and getting to Jamaica ahead of the hurricanes.
I have been a fan of his philanthropy through World Central Kitchen for years. When I found out that he was doing a pop-up of his restaurant/bar concept, Barmini/Minibar, I knew I had to get tickets. I loved meeting him. He is such an inspiration to me.
Your One Thing To Do, See, And A Small Business To Support This Month
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The One Thing To Do
EXPERIENCE THE KING TIDES
LOCAL BEACHES
Throughout December and March
FREE
Disconnect from the apps and experience tidepooling. December and January are filled with spectacular low tides. Get some friends together and experience a free natural phenomenon.
- December 31st: -1.1 at 1:40 p.m. (What a great way to spend the last day of the year! Experience the universe in micro.)
- January 2nd: -1.9 at 3:40 p.m.
In fact, the whole first week of January is amazing! See the tide calendar here.
See my post about tide pooling here.
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Your One Thing to See
Made in L.A. at the Hammer
UCLA/WESTWOOD VILLAGE
Now-March 1st
FREE
It is time for the Hammer Museum’s biennial Made in L.A., which focuses on art made in sprawling Los Angeles or made by Angelenos living anywhere. This year’s theme is somewhat nebulous, but this exhibit is always thought-provoking.
Paid subscribers, stay tuned for a meet-up to see this exhibit in the new year, plus my favorite places to get a coffee and grab a budget-friendly bite when visiting the Hammer.
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The One Small Business To Visit This Month
Sorry For Your Loss
I feel like the theme of this issue is grief and loss, and I am reminded of this small business owner I met through a Get Stuff Done night with L.A. in Common. She creates greeting cards about grief, loss, sympathy, the alienating nature of silence, and what you can do to help.
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Support This Ugly Beautiful City
Here are some ways you can support my work.
For those of you who were Substack subscribers, many of your subscriptions expired in December. (You would have received a disabled notice from Substack.) I hope you will renew and attend some of the events in 2026.
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$28.50 / year
I'm a fan
This tier is for those who want to see This Ugly Beautiful City grow, and you believe in the mission to support small... Read more |
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$50.00 / year
I want to get out and do stuff
This is for those of you who are craving community and want to get out and explore the city you call home. You will... Read more |
Something random I did while I was taking a break from social media
I am really bad at forming habits and doomscroll more than I should. My nutritionist challenged me to ditch app-based tracking and go analog. I couldn't find anything that fit my needs, so I created my own. Then I had it published. The people I showed it to loved it and recommended that I sell it, so I am.
I'm really proud of it. I am offering it through Kofi to see if there is a demand.
Thank you for reading!
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Kristen Fung
L.A. Guide, Travel Curator, and Published Author
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If you didn't know, I am a travel advisor who plans trips for lovers of art, food, and local feels. I made a milestone earlier this month. Follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my world travels newsletter to see how I made it.
