West Hollywood, CA Indoor Activities

On this night only Dianne Reeves belts it out on one of the largest, most star-strut-upon stages in Los Angeles. Orchestra-level seats place you right up front (seating is anything below the balcony section), close enough to feel all of the soulful notes roar. Reeves, a musical titan, part R&B star, part storyteller, and pure jazz from voice to toe, improvises and revises the genre's tradition, singing always her present moment's gospel. She has earned so many Grammys and other shiny accolades that she donates them to children to fill up their birthday piñatas. Her eclectic career defies simplistic labels: she sung the soundtrack to period-piece heavyweight Good Night and Good Luck, closed the 2002 winter Olympic games, and broke through a seemingly impassable cultural barrier by being the first jazz singer to perform in the Arab kingdom of Qatar. With a voice that holds more soul than purgatory, it's an evening not be missed.

Exhibitions and lifelike dioramas containing more than 150 vehicles sprawl across Petersen Automotive Museum's 300,000-square-foot confines, illustrating the impact of the automobile on American culture. On the first floor, permanent collections elucidate with detailed displays covering the role of the car in Los Angeles and motion picture, the history of alternative power, and the favorite engine sounds of each president. The Hot Wheels Hall of Fame parades more than 1,000 Hot Wheels vehicles, original models, and design sketches. Five galleries on the second floor shelter rotating exhibits, and the third floor's May Family Discovery Center introduces tykes to the fundamental functions of cars with interactive driving stations. Patrons wander among the extensive displays individually or join tours for groups, schools, car clubs, or families of parking cones.

Mission Street's impassioned instructors remix pliable poses from the Anusara tradition into a variety of specialized classes. Options include prenatal, youth, core strengthening, and restorative yoga, among others. With multiple classes every day of the week, the ample schedule prevents prospective flexi-folks from having to contort their day to make a class.

The Gamble House was constructed between 1908 and 1909, an astonishing achievement designed by the brother-architects Greene & Greene for Mr. and Mrs. David and Mary Gamble of the Midwest. Built as a retirement sanctuary, the estate exemplifies architecture's Arts and Crafts movement through its incorporation of natural materials, handcrafted detail, bold aesthetics, and ample googly eyes. One-hour guided group tours lead keen-eyed spectators through the inspired views of the exquisite abode. Knowledgeable guides illuminate the natural beauty of the spacious yards and gardens and describe the cultural and architectural context of the stunning interior.