8 places in L.A. to catch the sunset before it gets dark absurdly early

Earlier and earlier comes the darkness as we hurtle through fall toward year’s end. There’s no stopping this, so you might as well enjoy the light while you can.

This week, before diving into your evening plans, take a moment to watch the sunset.

Once the seasonal time change takes effect Sunday, Nov. 6, sunsets will jump to before 5 p.m., then edge even earlier. For the first half of December, we’ll have the earliest sunsets of the calendar year, between 4:43 and 4:45 p.m.

This troubles many people, prompting persistent arguments about daylight saving time. But it also gives you a good reason to start taking a late lunch (well, a very late lunch). If you time it right on a weekday afternoon, you can race to the rooftop bar at the Hotel Erwin in Venice, order a beer, cocktail or snack at discounted happy-hour rates, and have that refreshment in hand when the sun vanishes.

Then, of course, you can start every Californian’s favorite argument — the one about the green flash.

Anyway, here are eight of my favorite sunset-viewing spots in Los Angeles County.

And as a bonus, I should also mention the Los Angeles City Hall Observation Deck has reopened. It’s on the 27th floor of L.A. City Hall, open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free, with open-air views in every direction. To get up there, start at 201 N. Main St. Bring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test.