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Have you ever been in a dilemma on the weekend when you wake up too late for breakfast but too early for lunch? Without a question, brunch would definitely be your answer! This becomes a perfect match as you are living in LA, home to the prettiest, most Instagram-worthy, delicious brunch places. While studying at UCLA, exploring off-campus brunch places with your friends can certainly refresh yourself from dining-hall food or your own meal preparations! Whether you are clueless about brunch places, have some sort of idea or are currently looking for more brunch places to try, here are 5 options that are worth checking out!

Bondi Harvest Santa Monica Cafe

This Aussie-inspired Café is a hidden gem located in Santa Monica. As you walk in to make your order, you are greeted with beach vibes seen through the furniture and decorations. Their classic brunch menus range from acai bowls, avocado toasts, burgers, sandwiches and pancakes which aim to inspire and develop healthier lifestyles.

The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker (BBCM)

Have you been saving up and collecting some money to spare on the weekends? BBCM is a perfect brunch investment to make as it lies on the pricier range of brunch places with ‘$$’ on Yelp. As you drive by West Hollywood, don’t be surprised when you see a packed café especially on the weekends.

Mama Shelter Los Angeles

Located on the roof top of a hotel, Mama Shelter Los Angeles presents you a breathtaking 360 degrees view of Los Angeles, making it a picture-perfect place. Yes, if you look closely, you get to get brunch with a view of the Hollywood sign! Who can resist a perfect combination of good food, good views and a good time?

Blu Jam Cafe

Don’t be surprised if you are 22^nd on their Yelp wait-list early in the morning. Blu Jam Cafe is continuously packed with people. However, don’t work because it is balanced with their fast service. Their classic Blu Jam Benedict, Rancheros, French Toast or other menu items would definitely be the highlight of your weekend!

Northern Cafe

Lastly, Northern Café offers a twist to the list. Although the classic light brunch menus may be typical in LA, there may be times when you are looking for a more filling option and a taste of Asian cuisine. If you choose to go with a group of friends, you can have a ‘family-style meal’ allowing you to get a taste of different dishes while paying less!

Photo by Chris Ader on Flickr Creative Commons

This past year, UCLA students have been exposed to severely unhealthy air conditions due to wildfires in surrounding areas. Massively destructive wildfires have become more and more frequent in California, and are part of a worsening trend due to increasing dry and warm weather conditions state-wide each year. These fires are projected to become more frequent, and as such it is crucial that more students understand how to properly protect themselves from smoke inhalation, and prevent any health complications in the future from repeated exposure.

1. Check the AQI

The AQI, or the Air Quality Index, is a scale that measures air toxicity by rating it from 0-500 in six different categories–0 being good, 500 being hazardous. If you want to know how the air quality is on a given day, a simple Google search with your location is enough to find the number, and there are also smartphone apps with similar functions that you can download.

At what point on this scale to start wearing a mask depends on personal preference, age, and your medical history. If you have respiratory conditions such as asthma, take extra caution on these bad days if you have to go outside. But for the average, healthy, college-aged adult, anything after 200 is when it starts getting really dangerous, and prolonged exposure without a mask is going to take a serious toll on your health and your breathing. (Keep in mind this is the upper limit. The earlier you start wearing a mask on this scale the better.)

2. Buy the right mask and know how to use it

Throw away your bandannas and surgical masks, because an R95 respirator is the only thing that’s going to help you. (If you don’t know what that is, picture the masks that contractors and carpenters wear, but make sure it says R95 on the front.) Before you go out in your R95, look up the proper fitting for the straps and make sure you are wearing it correctly, or it won’t work like it’s supposed to. IMPORTANT: these masks will lose effectiveness after some time, so it is advised to change them every hour if you are forced to be outside for long periods of time. Stock up!

3. When you’re home, close all windows and doors, and turn off any ventilation systems

Check every room in your apartment/house and make sure none of the windows are even slightly cracked. If you have air conditioning or a heating system, it’s best to turn it off for the time being in case it’s circulating air from the outside. If you have any noticeable gaps at the base of your front door leading outside, try plugging it with a rug or a towel until the air clears. Limit physical activity during this time, even inside the house–save your physically demanding housekeeping chores for another day.

Just as a rule of thumb: It’s better to be cautious now than unhealthy later. Don’t just rely on your eyes alone–there are harmful particles in this type of smoke that are too small for us to see. The smoke may appear to clear up on a particular day, but look up the AQI to get the real story. Also, if you know the air quality is bad, but you think you’re being dramatic by wearing a mask that day because no one else is wearing one, just do it! Your lungs will thank you.

Stay safe, Bruins!