Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by MARTHA HAYES, DAVID NASH, ELIZABETH VARNELL, and S. IRENE VIRBILA
WEST HOLLYWOOD
This Heritage Holiday Style Hub Rises on a Street Corner
One of America’s most iconic fashion and lifestyle brands is kicking off an immersive two-day happening, THE RALPH LAUREN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE, that brings the spirit of the season to life for the whole family through its signature style and timeless heritage. Explore the RL67 Vintage Shop to discover a curated selection of vintage Polo Ralph Lauren holiday sweaters and denim, customize classic finds for free with embroidery and hand-painting by local artisans at the RL Workshop, and savor seasonal nibbles and festive beverages from Ralph’s Coffee Truck. At the center of the magical experience, choose a freshly cut Christmas tree direct from Oregon at the RL Christmas Tree Farm, where the total purchase price will go directly to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention at the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Your little ranchers will also enjoy festive face painting, RL x Zibby’s Bookshop, visits with the Polo Bear, and live music by Musyca and The West Los Angeles Children’s Choir. Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. 8495 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; ralphlauren.com. D.N.
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SAN FRANCISCO
A Zeitgeist-Driven Cast of Characters Is Convening Here
Mined from a cross-section of pop culture and product design, KAWS characters, with their distinct X-shaped eyes and emotional expressions, have gathered at SFMOMA. Installed throughout the museum’s fourth floor, KAWS: Family chronicles three decades of the New Jersey–born artist’s work, from its graffiti origins to a globally recognized practice that includes collaborations with Comme de Garçons, General Mills, Nike, and Supreme. Appearing on paper and canvas, bronze or wood — and as vinyl toys — they seem ubiquitous, part of the street art–inspired cultural landscape, but the characters (COMPANION, CHUM, BFF, and many more) are also a pathway for their creator, Brian Donnelly, to explore grief, loneliness, anxiety, joy, as well as the bonds of families. In addition to large-scale works and illustrations, there are cereal boxes, shoes, album covers, and even a loveseat made of plush animals (Bert and Ernie, we see you) created in partnership with Brazilian design Estúdio Campana. Through spring 2026. 151 3rd St., S.F., 415-357-4000; sfmoma.org. E.V.
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BEVERLY HILLS
Porcelain Plays a Starring Role in Two Los Angeles Exhibitions
Contemporary English artist, potter, and writer Edmund de Waal has a yearlong show at THE HUNTINGTON in San Marino, and GAGOSIAN BEVERLY HILLS beckons enthusiasts and collectors with an exhibition of the artist’s newest works, including, for the first time, gilded vitrines to display the ornamental objets d’art. His distinctive porcelain vessels are arranged harmoniously alongside those incorporating materials like gold, silver, marble, alabaster, and Kilkenny stone. The show’s large-scale installations feature groupings of vessels that form topographies mirroring lines in sheet music and poems by T. S. Eliot and Louise Glück. Through Dec. 20. 456 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-271-9400; gagosian.com. Through Oct. 2026. 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, 626-405-2100; huntington.org. D.N.
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MONTECITO
A New Way to Serve Up Local Bounty
The famously chic, laid-back town of Montecito has a new restaurant to celebrate: LITTLE MOUNTAIN. Call it a neighborhood sophisticate, cozy in all the right ways, with lots of warm wood and leather banquettes. The center of the action is an open kitchen and a wood-burning grill where chef Diego Moya turns out a beautifully calibrated menu. No surprise: He has cooked all over the world, including at Astrid y Gastón in Lima, Nahm in Bangkok, Le Comptoir and L’Arpège in Paris, and Casa Mono in New York. The first menu lists local sea urchin with winter citrus, grilled pork with coal-roasted apples, and wild salmon with pistachio and embered greens. The cozy-cool interior comes courtesy of Venice Beach’s Andrew Cosbie. 516 San Ysidro Rd., Montecito; littlemountainsb.com. S.I.V.
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SONOMA COUNTY
Live Lightly in New Additions to a Remote Retreat
With the addition of four new properties, crafted by acclaimed architects, to its Sea Ranch Living Program, the iconic SEA RANCH LODGE — the 53-acre site in Sonoma County, 100 miles north of San Francisco — is offering its most immersive home-away-from-home experience yet. Built in 1968 and stylishly reimagined in July 2023 to inspire guests craving a quiet coastal escape, the terrain has always been visually stunning. The new spaces — Shanti House, Third Rock, Cedar + Skye, and Compass Close — are already a draw, generating new reasons to visit and live “lightly on the land,” according to the ethos of its community. It’s hard to imagine how sea worshipers could be made to feel any more at home. Think customized pre-arrival groceries, in-room spa treatments, and an attention to detail that includes everything from Brooklinen linens to board games and sketching supplies. How to choose which property is right for you? Opt for Third Rock, designed by the acclaimed Obie Bowman FAIA, if you want panoramic views; Shanti House for serene star-gazing; Cedar + Skye for cozy-cabin-in-the-woods vibes; and the hill-perched Compass Close if you’re looking for something more spacious. No matter which one you opt for, you won’t want to leave. 60 Sea Walk Dr., Sea Ranch, 707-579-9777; thesearanchlodge.com. M.H.
December 2025
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