By Maria Quiroga
Angelinos, as of late, have come together in response to the devastating fires sweeping through Southern California. Despite the shock and havoc caused by this sudden natural disaster, our residents and business owners have collaborated and offered their resources to give back to the city they love. This includes influencers hosting charity streams, venues opening their doors to distribute necessities, restaurants catering to firefighters, and much more. I visited two businesses in Los Angeles County to learn more.
First, Mountain Mike’s Pizza is a chain of pizzerias located throughout the United States, mainly on the West Coast. It is best known for its high-quality food, offering multiple topping options, and its pizza buffet, which is hosted every weekday at the competitive price of $15.99 for entry. The Mountain Mike’s location in Pasadena was near the Eaton fire and was on the brink of evacuation. During this time, the pizzeria hosted a fundraiser where 20% of the proceeds went to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
I visited their restaurant throughout January with my partner, and the experience was more than pleasant. The staff was disarmingly personable and compassionate, genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of every customer during this difficult time. Often, during my visits, I would see firefighters coming directly before or after duty in full uniform, eating at the lunchtime buffet. Each time, the staff would refuse to accept their money. This support for fellow Angelinos and firefighters perfectly showcases the restaurant's sense of community and the staff's kindness—not to mention the delicious quality of their pizzas, which are made fresh in-house and come with a variety of toppings and combinations.
The New Beverly Cinema also showed unwavering support for Angelinos as the fires reached their peak. The theater collaborated with Neon Productions, the company behind numerous groundbreaking and critically acclaimed films such as Parasite, I, Tonya, and their newest release, Anora. Neon sponsored The New Beverly to host free screenings to provide an escape for those affected by the fires, as well as for residents of Los Angeles who were anxious about the looming threat. Each patron was allowed to enter the theater free of charge, and the New Beverly offers a wide variety of concessions at a staggeringly low price compared to other theaters. Any candy I could think of was available for purchase, with a frozen option—which I highly recommend for Reese’s peanut butter cups. The films offered were uplifting and perfect for distracting fearful minds from the fires, focusing instead on engaging stories. These included the Disney classic Lady and the Tramp and George Lucas's American Graffiti, to name a few. While the theater is smaller than large chain venues, it boasts amazing sound quality and an artsy vibe, with all its screenings using film rather than digital projection. Overall, there's a special feeling when seeing the projectionist carry the physical film into the theater before the showing, and arguably, the image simply looks better.
Despite the hardships facing our county, the sense of community has truly shown through. This is especially apparent with our businesses and their staff. Throughout the West Coast, businesses have offered support by opening their doors freely, donating proceeds, and much more. While this tragic series of natural events has been devastating, the observable compassion acts as a light at the end of the tunnel and a pillar of support for those who are struggling.
