2005 Year

The following new laws take effect Jan. 1 unless otherwise indicated. .50-caliber rifles: Sale of the heavy, long-range weapons, used mostly by target shooters, is banned in California. Ban supporters argued that the weapons, capable of hitting hovering helicopters, could be used by terrorists. AB 50 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood).

Consider the weekends you lost in 2004 to activities that were merely necessary. Visiting in-laws. Studying for an exam. Painting the bathroom. In 2005, you have 53 opportunities to do better; a quirk of the calendar gives the year one extra weekend. To help, we've selected a promising activity for each and every weekend -- rooting for the Dodgers, tanning at Coachella or appraising King Tut's stash at LACMA, for starters. We had to choose between ballet and baseball.

Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron Architects It might seem absurd to give the "Faces to watch" label to a pair of 54-year-old architects whose Switzerland-based firm is one of the best-regarded in the world. But 2005 will be a debut year of sorts for them in the United States, where their only public work until now has been the Dominus winery in Napa Valley. In April, Herzog & de Meuron's extension to the Walker Art Center will open in Minneapolis.