Michele StuevenThe first flyby images of the Moon captured by NASA’s Artemis II astronauts during their historic test flight reveal regions no human has seen before, including a rare in-space solar eclipse and phenomenal photos of Mother Earth herself from space.
Released Tuesday, the images were captured by astronauts on April 6 during the mission’s seven-hour flyby of the lunar far side, showing humanity’s return to the Moon’s vicinity and opening a trove of scientific data. The crew is expected to return to Earth with a San Diego splashdown on Friday, April 10.
Here are our picks for celebrating Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, and all of Earth Month.
On Saturday, April 25, ROW DTLA will host Pedal for the Planet, a bike-powered celebration where families move between hands-on sustainability activities across campus. Families are encouraged to bring their own bikes and can access the on-site Metro Bike Share. However, participation does not require biking, as all activities are accessible on foot within ROW’s walkable campus.
The event is presented in partnership with Playdate, a Los Angeles-based community for parents that creates in-person gatherings, pop-ups, and workshops designed to connect families through play, creativity, and shared experiences.
Mother Earth (Courtesy NASA)
Throughout the afternoon from noon to 4 p.m., visitors can experience:
- Seedling planting and propagation workshops with ROW DTLA tenants Weiser Family Farms and Katie Kimmel, using upcycled materials
- Natural plant-dye workshops with Blue Hour Goods
- A community art installation, where kids contribute drawings and messages about protecting the planet
- Additional crafts and activities to be announced
As an adaptive reuse campus, sustainability is foundational to ROW DTLA. What was once a historic industrial site has been transformed into a walkable, community-driven district, where sustainability shows up year-round through design, tenants, and programming.
Located at the edge of Downtown LA’s Arts District, ROW DTLA is a design-forward destination home to independent brands, standout retail, and critically acclaimed culinary concepts — all in one highly walkable district.
Beyond the event, sustainability extends across campus through participating tenants. Katie Kimmel’s limited-edition Earth Day collection will feature a limited-edition collection made from reclaimed cotton, recycled-plastic accessories (in collaboration with Cool Trash), and upcycled planters with Weiser Family Farms supporting reforestation and climate education initiatives.
Sustainable Staycation: 1 Hotel West Hollywood offers sustainable design, energy-efficient practices, and nature-driven experiences.
1 Hotel West Hollywood Pool Deck (Eric Laignel)
Nestled at the base of the Hollywood Hills, the property draws from Southern California’s natural landscape, with a design inspired by the land, sea, and sunshine. Committed to sustainability, the property integrates smart irrigation, reclaimed materials, and indigenous greenery to create a connection to nature while emphasizing conservation. Key highlights include:
- LEED silver certified, with an energy score of 95, making it one of the most energy-efficient hotels in LA
- On-site 100% organic vegetable and herb garden, designed with sustainable practices like water conservation, companion planting, and a closed-loop ecosystem
- An on-site beehive, which works in harmony with the garden, supporting pollination while thriving on its diverse plant life
- On-site composting to minimize waste and enrich soil health
- 75 tons of reclaimed urban lumber from local fallen trees, repurposed into planters and design elements in partnership with Angel City Lumber
In addition to its year-round sustainability efforts, the property will also be hosting a series of Earth Month-focused programming and experiences. Highlights include a seasonal cocktail, Blue Horizon, made from sustainably sourced ingredients, with a tree planted for every drink sold in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.
Celebrate Earth Day with a splash of family fun at The Shops at Rossmoor on Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free community event invites families to enjoy an ocean-inspired afternoon filled with interactive activities and hands-on learning.
Courtesy The Shops at Rossmoor
Kids can dive into ocean-themed crafts, face painting, games, and balloon twisting, while also discovering ways to care for marine life. Plus, explore a Tide Pool Encounter, offering an up-close look at real sea life, and take photos with everyone’s favorite Shark Character for a memorable Earth Day moment.
Visitors are also encouraged to stop by the Ocean-Themed Earth Day Display through Sunday, April 26, to snap a selfie and share their commitment to protecting the planet. The event is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courtyard near ULTA Beauty.
Feel the earth between your toes: Officially established in 1860, Glen Ivy Hot Springs has been a renowned wellness destination for more than 160 years, blending centuries-old traditions with modern nature-led offerings.
Located in Temescal Valley, the area has been a sacred part of the earth for centuries, with Native American tribes believing the mineral water sources had spiritual powers to heal the body, mind, and spirit.
The local hot springs are geothermally heated groundwater that rises to the earth’s surface. Enriched with various minerals, as the hot water dissolves mineral deposits while making its way through rocks and soil in the earth’s mantle, hot springs offer greater benefits than regular water sources on Earth. Hot springs have long been known for their numerous health benefits, including pain relief, improved circulation, enhanced immune system, greater detoxification, and more.
The mud at Glen Ivy Hot Springs is locally sourced red clay, one of the purest and rarest clays on earth. Clay baths, like Club Mud, have been used for centuries as a therapeutic practice. It is traditionally used to remove toxins from the body and replace them with healing vitamins and minerals found in the earth, like iron. Soaking in a clay bath can offer a multitude of benefits, like skin exfoliation, skin healing, and acne prevention.
Subterranean Grotto Cave (Courtesy Glen Ivy Hot Springs)
The history of the grotto caves dates back centuries, with these natural or man-made caves often connected with spiritual and therapeutic properties. The damp environment of grottos is believed to have therapeutic benefits for both physical and mental well-being, including promoting relaxation, reducing stress levels, aiding respiratory issues, helping with stress relief, improving muscle relaxation, and increasing skin health.
Planets vs plastics: The LA Sanitation and Environment Dept. will hold its 10th Annual Earth Day LA event at Pan Pacific Park on Saturday, April 18. Join a day of earth-friendly fun with free food and giveaways, while supplies last. There will be more than 40 educational and fun exhibitors, city vehicles to explore, plenty of photo ops, a kids zone, games, and prizes, while supplies last.
In the spirit of environmental awareness, this will be a Zero Waste event. Please bring your own reusable water bottle, and you’ll be provided with cold, filtered water. There will also be meals from Savage Tacos until they run out. Performances will begin around noon with local entertainers and a DJ throughout the day.
Note that for safety and sanitary reasons, only service animals are permitted. Taking public transportation, using rideshare, or walking/biking to the event is recommended. REGISTER HERE
The first confirmed event for the 2026 CicLAvia season is West LA on April 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring three miles of open streets along Santa Monica and Westwood Boulevards. As a nonprofit, CicLAvia opens streets to the public for walking, skating, and biking. The event is free and open to pedestrians, bicycles, strollers, and skateboards (no motorized vehicles). Streets on the three-mile route are closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.