APRIL 28TH 2025

MONDAY’S VIBES

^SUBSCRIBE

BEYONCÉ’S LA TOUR

STARTS TONIGHT

HI CUTIE! 👋 HAPPY MONDAY, CURATEDLA

• Happy Monday, CuratedLA! Last Friday came and went without a post, thanks to some unexpected CURATIONS projects stealing the spotlight. This week might be a little unpredictable too, but that’s just part of the ride. Truth is, it feels weird not publishing - like something’s missing. I really appreciate this community and the energy that we all share. So here’s some Good Vibes to kick off the week, including some extra magic with Beyoncé tonight + Beachlife Festival this weekend! - Wyatt

ON THIS DAY ⏪️ 

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HOV LANES

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THE RUNDOWN AI

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EATS

OPENINGS

BRENTWOOD ☕️ MALOU COFFEE

• Malou Coffee is now open on S Barrington Ave, bringing a bright, minimalist space to Brentwood with single-origin brews, Uji-sourced matcha, and creative drinks like the orange espresso tonic and date-cardamom latte. Alongside coffee, the menu features a breakfast burrito and sandwich, best enjoyed on the sunny front patio. Inspired by global flavors and a love for craft, Malou offers a curated, elevated experience for coffee lovers and casual sippers alike.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

CHINATOWN + HOLLYWOOD 🍺 NITEGLOW BEER

• Brooklyn-based Niteglow Beer Company is expanding to Los Angeles with two new locations set for later this year. Owner Tohm Ifergan, who also runs Dayglow Coffee, will first open a dual Dayglow-Niteglow spot on N. Spring Street in Chinatown, offering coffee by day and a microbrewery by night. A second, taproom-only Niteglow will follow at Ovation Hollywood by year’s end, joining tenants like Hard Rock Cafe and Jinya Ramen. Both locations will feature Niteglow’s signature beers, made with California ingredients and poured on traditional Czech side-pull taps for a creamier finish.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

SANTA MONICA 🍪 JUNIOR COOKIES

• Junior Cookies, the West Hollywood favorite known for its made-to-order mini cookies, is opening a second location in Santa Monica this spring or summer at on Main Street. Taking over the former Sweet Rose Creamery space, the bakery will serve signature flavors like Banana Pudding, KitKat Tiramisu, and Salted Almond Chocolate Chip, with options that are often gluten-friendly or plant-based. Family-run and praised for its warm service and creative menu of curations.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

IRVINE 🛒 T&T SUPERMARKET

• T&T Supermarket, the popular Canada-based Asian grocery chain known for its Beijing duck, bakery, and hot bar, will open its first Southern California location at Canopy at Great Park in Irvine by late 2026 or 2027. Following a strong U.S. debut in Bellevue, Washington, and planned expansions to San Francisco and San Jose, T&T’s Irvine store will feature its signature seafood selection, street food offerings like Chinese crepes, and a wide range of Asian groceries and alcohols. Joining the ranks of H Mart, Mitsuwa, and 99 Ranch, T&T’s Orange County arrival is already generating major buzz.

  • Website + Instagram

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EVENTS

MONDAY

TUESDAY

THREE FUTURES

GUIDES

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ACTIVITIES

HOLLYWOOD 🐶 ADOPT A FURRY FRIEND

• WEDNESDAY: In honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day this Wednesday, The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood is teaming up with local animal rescue Paw Works to host an adorable adoption pop-up, featuring plenty of sweet, snuggly pups looking for their fur-ever home. The event takes place from 4:00pm - 7:00pm at the Godfrey Hotel - Hollywood and will be in the hotel's lush rooftop oasis, i|O Rooftop, featuring gorgeous 360 views of Los Angeles -- the perfect sun-kissed spot to meet the pooch of your dreams and promises a joyful atmosphere perfect for possibly finding a new best furry friend.

  • 💌 Submitted by Curators GV Public Relations.

REDONDO BEACH 🏄️ THIS WEEKEND

• MAY 2ND - 4TH: BeachLife Festival, SoCal’s celebrated waterfront music and arts event, returns this weekend with headliners Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, and Alanis Morissette, alongside artists like Train, The Beach Boys, and Jackson Browne. Set against Redondo Beach’s coast, the festival expands its luxury offerings with the debut of the California Surf Club, a year-round fine-dining membership venue also open to Captain’s Plus ticket holders. Beyond music, BeachLife will feature culinary experiences by award-winning chefs, interactive brand activations, sustainable initiatives, and a silent auction benefiting environmental nonprofits like Heal the Bay and Surfrider Foundation. Tickets, including GA and VIP options, are now on sale at beachlifefestival.com.

COMPTON 🚀 ADVOCACY ACADEMY 2.0

• STARTS MAY 5TH: The BizFed Advocacy Academy returns May 5th with a free, eight-week hybrid program offering small business owners, entrepreneurs, and students access to professional certifications, $500 stipends, and mentorship from seasoned leaders. Golf coach Chris Staples, founder of the Compton Country Club Initiative, credits the program for helping him navigate bureaucratic hurdles to restore the historic Compton Par 3 Golf Course. Participants will build skills in policymaking, lobbying, networking, and business resiliency, with a focus on amplifying economic impact and community change. Registration closes April 30th at bizfedadvocacyacademy.org.

SANTA MONICA 🎡 MAINOPOLY

• SUNDAY, MAY 25TH: The 10th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street transforms five blocks of Santa Monica into a life-sized foodie board game on Sunday, May 25th, from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Starting at Ashland Hill, players collect MAINopoly money to sample bites and drinks from over 20 spots like JuneShine, Library Alehouse, and Ashland Hill, with a chance to win a $1,000 prize package. Tickets start at $30 for general admission or $55 for VIP access to the Go To Jail Beer Garden; all ages (and pets) welcome. A portion of proceeds supports the Main Street Business Improvement District.

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COMMUNITY

I-105 PROJECT 🛣️ BREAKING GROUND

• LA Metro and Caltrans broke ground on the the I-105 ExpressLanes project this past Friday, a $1.5bn endeavor to expand the Glenn Anderson Freeway from El Segundo to Norwalk. The project will add two tolled express lanes, increasing the freeway from ten to twelve lanes over sixteen miles. Construction is divided into three phases:

  • Phase 1, from Sepulveda Boulevard to Central Avenue, aims for completion by the 2028 Olympics;

  • Phases 2 and 3, extending to Studebaker Road, are expected to finish by 2029 .

  Metro anticipates these enhancements could reduce travel times by up to 50% during peak hours.

LOS ANGELES 🖌️ WALMART’S REMODEL

• Walmart will remodel 57 California stores this year, including eleven in the Los Angeles area, introducing new signage, expanded departments, wider pharmacy aisles, and updated sections like bakery, baby, apparel, grocery, and home. As part of a nationwide plan to upgrade 650 stores, the company says the changes aim to strengthen its role as a community hub, with enhanced in-store experiences and expanded online pickup and delivery options. A new Eastvale location, set to open in 2026, will add 300 jobs to the region.

CALIFORNIA 🚌 MORE SCHOOL BUSES

• California is investing $500m to add 1,000 electric school buses and 500 new charging stations to its fleet, reinforcing its leadership in zero-emission transportation as other states stall amid federal funding freezes. Targeting over 130 rural and disadvantaged districts, the move builds on California’s $1.3bn investment that has already put 1,100 electric buses on the road. Funded largely through the state's cap-and-trade program, the expansion supports California’s broader climate goals of carbon neutrality by 2045 and zero-emission school buses by 2035, even as federal policy shifts threaten similar initiatives nationwide.

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DEVELOPMENT

SANTA MONICA 🚇️ VISIONS FOR 17TH ST/SMC STATION

• Metro has unveiled four proposals to redevelop 182,000 square feet around the E Line’s 17th Street/SMC Station in Santa Monica into affordable housing, with construction possible by 2027. Community Corp. proposes 347 homes with a focus on deep affordability and supportive housing; WHCHC plans 281 units emphasizing accessibility and workforce housing; Bridge Housing offers 324 affordable units with disability support; and Decro Corp./Alliant Communities propose 180 homes using podium construction, differing from others' modular designs.

BEVERLY GROVE 🌳 MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

• The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved a five-story mixed-use project on W. 3rd Street, directly across from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Developed by Peyman Banooni and designed by Aaron Brumer & Associates, the building will feature eighteen one-bedroom apartments—three reserved as very low-income affordable housing—alongside 8,550 square feet of medical offices and a rooftop amenity deck. The project, replacing an existing commercial structure, also includes subterranean parking and density bonus incentives, and joins a wave of nearby developments including Cedars-Sinai’s planned new patient tower.

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BUSINESS

LOS ANGELES 👩 AESOP X MOTHER’S DAY

• MAY 8TH - 11TH: Aēsop will spotlight the work of bakery organizations uplifting marginalized communities with in-store installations across Los Angeles and New York. In LA, the brand partners with Jyan Isaac Bread and World Central Kitchen, which has served over one-million free meals to wildfire-impacted families and first responders in Southern California. Visitors can enjoy complimentary breads, pastries, and the debut of Aēsop’s Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser at select stores including Larchmont, Silver Lake, Abbot Kinney, Pasadena, Century City, Beverly Drive, and Montana Avenue.

  • 💌 Submitted by Curators from Seen Group.

LONG BEACH ✈️ JETZERO GETS MULA

• United Airlines has invested in Long Beach-based JetZero, a startup developing blended wing body (BWB) airplanes that promise to cut fuel use by half. Through its United Airlines Ventures arm, the carrier plans to buy 100 of JetZero’s aircraft, with an option for 100 more, pending key milestones like a full-scale demonstrator flight by 2027. JetZero, which aims to enter commercial service by 2030, is also backed by a $235m U.S. Air Force contract. United sees the BWB design—offering greater fuel efficiency, wider boarding doors, and a more spacious cabin—as central to its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

SANTA BARBARA 🛒 ERIC SCHMIDT SAVES GROCERY

• What was set to be a bittersweet farewell for Santa Barbara’s beloved Tri-County Produce has turned into a community triumph, thanks to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy. The Schmidts, now Santa Barbara residents, stepped in as angel investors to save the nearly 40-year-old local grocery after owner John Dixon announced his retirement. Two longtime employees, Jaime Desales Sr. and Jr., will take over operations, keeping the store’s legacy of fresh regional produce and mom-and-pop charm alive. Although the property will eventually undergo redevelopment to add apartments and expand the store, Tri-County will remain open throughout, ensuring that a cornerstone of Santa Barbara’s community spirit continues without interruption.

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ENTERTAINMENT

BOX OFFICE 🍿 WEEKEND UPDATE

• Sinners held strong with $45m in its second weekend, falling just 6% from its $48m debut — a rare feat for horror — and bringing its global total to $161.6m. In a crowded weekend, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith re-release edged out The Accountant 2 for second place, while Minecraft stayed massive in fourth, topping $816m worldwide. Newcomers Until Dawn and The Legend of Ochi posted modest debuts. Thanks to hits like Sinners and Minecraft, the domestic box office is finally gaining momentum, now 11% ahead of 2024 levels after a sluggish start to the year.

WALK OF FAME ⭐️ GREEN DAY

• Green Day - Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool—will be honored with the 2,810th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday at 11:00am. Emceed by Matt Pinfield with guest speakers Serena Williams and Ryan Reynolds, the ceremony will celebrate the band's decades of influence, from their breakout 1994 album Dookie to their 2024 Saviors stadium tour.

YOUTUBE TV 📺️ MULTIVIEW UPDATES

• YouTube is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a wave of updates across its platforms, including a major new feature for YouTube TV: multiview for non-sports content, starting with a handful of popular channels and expanding over time. Other upgrades include a new voice reply option for comments, a personalized ‘Ask Music’ radio tool for Premium users, 4x playback speed, a refreshed TV app interface, and hidden features like a sleep timer, screen lock, and long-press 2x speed. YouTube also officially highlighted tools like Song Search and lesser-known keyboard shortcuts as part of the celebration.

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SPORTS

DODGERS 🧢 9-2 OVER PIRATES

• The Dodgers overcame another rocky first inning and a sudden Tyler Glasnow injury to beat the Pirates 9-2 on Sunday, thanks to a four-hit, four-RBI day from the red-hot Andy Pages and strong bullpen work. After Glasnow exited with shoulder discomfort, Ben Casparius, Alex Vesia, Luis García, and Yoendrys Gómez combined for eight shutout innings, with Gómez picking up a three-inning save in his Dodgers debut. Teoscar Hernández added his 200th career home run, and Freddie Freeman drove in two during a four-run first inning. Looking ahead, the Dodgers open a series against the Marlins tonight at Dodger Stadium, with Dustin May set to start against Miami’s Edward Cabrera (7:10pm, SportsNet LA).

LAKERS 🏀 STUMBLE IN GAME 4

• After losing a tight 116-113 battle in Minneapolis, the Lakers now trail the Timberwolves 3-1 in their first-round series. Despite leading most of the way behind strong efforts from LeBron James and Julius Randle, L.A.'s late-game execution faltered again, allowing Minnesota to steal momentum. Physical play, turnovers, and missed opportunities down the stretch told the story, putting the Lakers' playoff hopes on the brink. They’ll return to Crypto Arena for Game 5 on Wednesday night, needing a win to keep their season alive.

SOCAL 🏈 TALENT DRAFTED

• ​Southern California football talent shone in the 2025 NFL Draft, with UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger—who led the Big Ten with 136 tackles—going 33rd overall to the Cleveland Browns. His Bruins teammate, Kain Medrano, was picked in the sixth round by the Washington Commanders. From Cal, consensus All-American cornerback Nohl Williams was selected 85th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, while safety Craig Woodson joined the New England Patriots in the fourth round. Cal's Marcus Harris, a transfer standout, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round.

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GOODIES

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SEE YOU SOON, LA!

🤙 HAVE AN AMAZING START TO THIS WEEK, FAM! 🚀

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