Soaring Orca + Flower Blood Moon + Road Trip + Breakthrough COVID

Good morning, Los Angeles!

And it is a good morning! The Lakers and Clippers are in the playoffs, the Dodgers hit a hot streak, the weekend is here, and a Super Flower Blood Moon lunar eclipse (that is a real thing) is headed our way. So let's get to it!

Here's a look at some of the stories we're following this week:

Friday's Weather:

Expect a cloudy, breezy morning on Friday, with a high of 70 and a low of 53.

Patch Pick: Tourists on a diving boat were startled with an incredible sight: An Orca cavorting with or hunting dolphins breached and soared breathtakingly high into the sky. They recorded the remarkable flight, too (More).

Here are the top 5 stories in Los Angeles County today.

1. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released some coronavirus numbers that may seem alarming without context. Countywide, 933 fully vaccinated people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 12 died as a result. With more than 3.3 million Angelenos fully vaccinated, that's an infection rate of .03 percent and a COVID-19 death rate of 0.00036% among the full vaccinated. That's even lower than the efficacy rate forecast for the vaccines (More).
2. With COVID-19 rapidly receding in California, the itch to travel is strong, and Christopher Reynolds put together a great list of outdoor destinations for the Los Angeles Times. Local draws include Catalina Island, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Bowl, La Brea Tar Pits, Malibu Pier and the Santa Monica Farmer's Market. The statewide list includes more obscure gems such as Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. (Read More).
3. The lunar spectacular occurring next week over Los Angeles County is a bit of a mouthful: It's a super flower blood moon, and it's definitely going to be worth marking on your calendar (More).
4. LA's new District Attorney George Gascón hasn't shied away from controversy with reform policies that his critics see as soft on crime. Gascón was elected with a mandate to reform, but it's cases like this one that test the public's appetite for justice reform (More).
5. Openings! Keep 'em coming! The Aero Theatre announced an opening date in Santa Monica. And Brothers Meatballs reopened on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. (More and More).

Featured Events to look forward to this week:

Butterfly Pavilion 2021: LA Natural History Museum, Los Angeles Sat, May 22, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Through Monday, Sept. 6, 2021

• "Our Butterfly Pavilion is open for the season. Butterflies are taking flight at the museum! Walk among beautiful butterflies in our seasonal Butterfly Pavilion. This springtime exhibition features hundreds of butterflies, colorful native plants, and plenty of natural light to help you see these creatures shimmer.

Solidarity & Communion: Celebrating Black-Asian Solidarity Friday, May 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 22

• Join us for a weekend of healing, protection, and renewal between our Black and Asian communities featuring guided meditation, West African drumming, martial arts, bystander intervention training, and a closing panel discussion. This hybrid event combines virtual presentations and in-person, COVID-safe outdoor activities.

Online Series: Huntington Landscapes in Watercolor, Fridays at 9 a.m. starting May 28

• "Join artist and instructor Robert Sherrill for an eight-week virtual course on landscape painting in watercolor.

RE-OPENING: Knott's Berry Farm 2021: Buena Park Saturday, May 22 at 10:30 am.

• Opening To General Public For Summer Hours: Friday, May 21, 2021. Re-opening to season pass holders: May 6, 2021 Knotts Berry Farm,8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park CA Click here for more.

Torrance Antique Street Faire, Sun, May 23 at 8:00 a.m.

• Join the hunt for vintage treasures when over 150 shoppers transform the streets of downtown Torrance into an eclectic open-air flea market! Antique Appraisal Booth - only $3.00 per item!

OPENING: 'Ai Weiwei: Trace' Exhibit 2021: Skirball, Los Angeles

• The Skirball Cultural Center will resume indoor museum operations Saturday with the Southern California debut of Ai Weiwei: Trace. "Created by Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most provocative and socially engaged living artists, the installation features portraits made up of thousands of plastic LEGO® bricks, each assembled by hand and laid out on the floor.

See more on the Los Angeles calendar!

Patch's sponsors help keep you in the loop about what's happening in Los Angeles County.

For sponsorship inquiries, email: paige.austin@patch.com.

Now you're in the loop and ready for the day.

But don't miss the latest stories we have to share with you!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.

~Paige

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Los Angeles County Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Los County Patch? Email all inquiries to me at paige.austin@patch.com.

About Paige Austin: I'm a SoCal native, a UCI grad, a mom, a news junkie, and a diehard Kings/Dodgers/Lakers fan, who's been covering the region my whole career