MARCH 22ND, 2024

FRIDAY

FRIDAY’S VIBES

 NWSLA Forecast | Live Traffic and Conditions

🥳 HI, CUTIE! HAPPY FRIDAY. THE GIF BELOW ALWAYS WINS ON A FRIDAY. WE DID IT. AMERICA. WEEKEND.

 🚀 TRENDING 

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* 🐇 political in-the-know w/o opinions

 ⚡️THE HOV LANE

EATS

 😋 HEADLINES

• 🫙 SUBWAY SAUCES: Subway is expanding its sauce offerings by introducing four popular sauces to grocery stores nationwide. These sauces, including Sweet Onion Teriyaki, Roasted Garlic Aioli, Baja Chipotle, and Creamy Italian MVP, are now available for consumers to enjoy at home. Proceeds from thee sauces support the Fresh Start Scholarship Fund, providing tuition assistance to Subway employees pursuing secondary education.

• 🏈 WOLFGANG PUCK + CHARGERS: Wolfgang Puck Catering has partnered with the Los Angeles Chargers to oversee food and beverage operations at their new state-of-the-art practice facility in El Segundo. This collaboration promises an elevated dining experience for players, staff, and guests, combining culinary excellence with sports innovation. The culinary team will work closely with Chargers' nutritionists to create a bespoke food program tailored to players' dietary needs without compromising on flavor or creativity.

 🚀 OPENINGS

• 🎞️ CULVER CITY: After a four-year hiatus, Vespertine, the avant-garde culinary experience helmed by Chef Jordan Kahn, is set to reopen on April 2nd, offering diners an immersive narrative curated by Chef Jordan Kahn and complemented by Eric Owen Moss's striking architectural design. Vespertine has received numerous accolades in the past, including two Michelin Stars from 2019 to 2021, recognition as one of the Most Beautiful Restaurants by Condé Nast, and a place on Time Magazine's list of the World's 100 Greatest Places. | 📸 @vespertine.la

• 🧑‍🌾 LA CAÑADA: Farmhouse is set to open a second location at Roger's Garden in Corona del Mar under the culinary guidance of Chef Richard Mead. This new location in the Descanso Gardens promises a farm-to-table experience that embraces sustainability and local flavors. From wood-fired pizzas to seasonal specialties, guests can anticipate a culinary journey that harmonizes with the natural beauty of the Descanso Gardens’ surroundings. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @farmhouseatrg

• 🎡 SANTA MONICA: Odd One Out Craft Milk Tea, a Taiwanese boba shop and previous winner of the Taiwan Milk Tea Festival, is set to open a new location on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Known for its wide variety of boba milk tea concoctions like Harmony Black Milk Tea, Blue Matcha, Juniper Bliss, Wintermelon Lemonade, and Kasha Buckwheat, this franchise will bring a taste of Taiwan to the West Coast. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @oootea.us

• 🌳 PASADENA: Stumptown Coffee Roasters, renowned for its farm-to-coffee grinder artisanal beans, has recently relocated its Downtown Los Angeles Arts District cafe to Pasadena. The cafe, situated on the border between Pasadena and Altadena, aims to become an integral part of the local community by offering exceptional coffee in a welcoming environment. Stumptown's commitment to quality is evident in its direct sourcing of beans from farmers, resulting in a consistent, clean, sweet, and balanced flavor profile without any lingering aftertaste. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @stumptowncoffee

EVENTS

 🔥TRENDING 

 📆 BIG LIST OF EVENTS

ACTIVITIES

• 🎤 MELROSE HILL: Roni Gayer is an up-and-coming actress, writer + USC Grad, and she’s also one of our own, CuratedLA Family! Roni will be returning center-stage for a special one-night performance of her comedic show, MADD About The Boy. This special is in response to showing requests after a sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival last June + the prestigious Hollywood Producers’ Encore Award. Receive good vibes with Roni + MADD About The Boy on Sunday, March 31st, 8:00pm at Studio/Stage in Melrose Hill. | ⭐️ Read Reviews | 📺️ Watch Trailer 💌 

• 🎶 DOWNEY: The Dennis Kamakahi Music Festival in Downey will take place on Saturday, April 7th. The festival brings authentic Hawaiian music to honor the late great slack key master and prolific songwriter, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi. This festival, part of the Aloha Everywhere Concert Series, features renowned artists like Mike Kaawa, Kawika Kahiapo, Patrick Landeza & Sons, and Jon Yamasato. The event will be hosted by Brook Mahealani Lee, former Miss Universe 1997.

• 🖼️ WEST HOLLYWOOD: Louis Stern Fine Arts is pleased to present Richard Neutra: Travel Drawings, on display March 23rd thru May 4th. Richard Neutra (1892-1970) is best known as an icon in the world of architecture, whose notable residential and commercial projects exemplified the functional principles and minimalist aesthetics of the mid-century modern movement. The lively drawings in this exhibition, executed during the architect’s numerous travels throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas over the course of the 1950s and 1960s, manifest the same empathetic and curious spirit that characterized Neutra’s architectural practice. Serving as a form of communication that transcended language barriers, these expressive drawings offer a profound window into the perspective and interior life of their celebrated maker. | 📸 Instagram: @louissternfinearts

• 🕶️ PASADENA + TEXAS: The Planetary Society, based in Pasadena, is hosting an Eclipse-O-Rama"event in Fredricksburg, Texas, to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. Although Pasadena won't experience totality, the society is organizing a camping party with music and science activities in Texas.

• ✝️ SANTA MONICA: Santa Monica is gearing up to celebrate Easter a week early with a family-friendly event hosted by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. The festivities take place this Sunday and will feature free photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, live children's music and entertainment, face painting, balloon twisters, arts and crafts, and engaging games. The celebration will kick off with free photos with the Easter Bunny, where the first two-hundred kids will receive a special surprise treat. Attendees can enjoy live children's music and entertainment while exploring various activities and attractions from noon to 4:00pm along the 1200 block of the Third Street Promenade.

• 🏔️ SANTA CLARITA: The Celebrate event series is making a return to the Canyon Country Community Center for its third year, offering a diverse exploration of unique destinations from around the world. This series, held every second Friday of the month from April through September, showcases various cultures, customs, and culinary delights through music, dance, food, art, and educational experiences. The 2024 schedule includes themed events such as Brazil, South Korea, Sweden, Cuba, Japan, and Germany. A new addition this year is the Celebrate Passport, allowing attendees to track their participation and enter raffles for prizes inspired by the featured destinations. The series kicks off on April 12th with a celebration of Brazil featuring Brazilian arts and crafts, food trucks, and Samba Dance instruction.

• 🎒 GETTY CENTER COLLEGE NIGHT: The Getty Center will host an annual College Night event to engage college students with art + music on Monday, April 15th. The event, which has been running since 2006, offers exclusive curator-led gallery tours, hands-on art making activities, a KCRW DJ set, live performances, free food, and parking. Students from various disciplines are encouraged to participate in this exciting evening filled with cultural experiences. The event features exhibitions like Camille Claudel, Blood: Medieval/Modern, and more, along with activities such as oversized games, silkscreen printing, and customization of tote bags.

• 🏫 INGLEWOOD: The new Latin remake of the iconic movie musical Grease, titled Vaselina, is set to tour in the U.S., including Southern California this summer. The cast of Vaselina includes members of the legendary Mexican pop music group Timbiriche, with Benny Ibarra playing the lead role of Danny Seco in this Latin adaptation. The show will be performed twice at the YouTube Theater in Hollywood Park on Sunday, June 23rd at 4:00pm + 8:00pm. Tickets for these two showings will become available in two hours, today at 8:00am. This remake holds a special significance as it revives a production that was originally performed by Timbiriche in the mid-80s, providing patrons with a blend of nostalgia and contemporary entertainment.

• 🧵 PASADENA: The sixteenth annual fair-trade rug event by Bunyaad has returned to Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena and lasts until Sunday. The event showcases hand-knotted artisan rugs and other pieces crafted by families in Pakistan. The rugs are meticulously made by hand, with unique designs reflecting the artisans' creativity, using natural dyes from items like dried flowers and pomegranate shells.

COMMUNITY

• 💼 UPCOMING LOCAL + STATE HOLIDAY: Government offices in Los Angeles city and county, along with courts and libraries, will be closed this Monday, March 25th in observance of César Chávez Day. This holiday honors the legacy of labor leader César E. Chávez, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association and played a pivotal role in advocating for farmworkers' rights. Additionally, state offices will be closed next Monday, April 1st to mark this significant day.

• ⛑️ OPIOD EDUCATION: Students are taking proactive steps to combat the opioid crisis through peer education initiatives. Led by a third-year pharmacy student at USC Mann, Shannon De Leon, the NaloxoneSC program aims to distribute naloxone on campus, providing students with access to this life-saving medication without stigma or financial barriers.

• 👩‍⚖️ COURT ACCESSIBILITY: Los Angeles city and county leaders have launched a groundbreaking legal service program called the Community Outreach Court to assist unhoused individuals in resolving legal issues that could hinder their access to housing and social services. This innovative initiative aims to simplify the criminal court process for homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness by providing legal aid services, such as addressing outstanding fines, misdemeanors, expunging convictions, and clearing bench warrants. The program also connects participants with essential services and employment opportunities. Initially established as a pilot program, the Community Outreach Court has already assisted around 190 individuals, including those facing housing instability.

• 🇺🇸 FIRST LADY BIDEN: First Lady Jill Biden is set to engage in a fundraising swing through Southern California, headlining events in Los Angeles and the Palm Springs area this weekend. She will also speak at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles dinner on Saturday. The fundraising activities include a campaign reception with various co-hosts and ticket prices ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, offering opportunities for photos and dinner receptions. The proceeds from these events will support the Biden Victory Fund, benefiting the Biden campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and state parties. 🐇

• 💸 $100M CALTECH DONATION: Caltech received a $100-million gift this week. The money is aimed at developing new technologies at the speed of SpaceX. The generous donation will establish the Brinson Exploration Hub, fostering collaboration with industry and embracing a try-and-fail approach to speed up research and development processes, similar to SpaceX's methodology. Funded projects will focus on breakthrough exploration endeavors that drive scientific and societal benefits, with a focus on speed, agility, and risk tolerance, you know, cool nerd stuff.

• 🎭️ PASADENA: Pacific Opera Project has announced its 2024-2025 season, featuring a range of performances including the LA premiere of Rusalka, the US premiere of La scuola de' gelosi, and more. The season will include pop-up performances and events around Los Angeles, as well as at POP's new headquarters in Highland Park.

• 🚨 EMERGENCY DRILL: A public safety drill is scheduled to take place on the Metro E Line in Culver City next Saturday, March 30th from 6:00am to 10:00am (nice wakeup call). The drill, led by LA Metro, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, + LAPD & LAFD, will occur take place at the Culver City Metro station. While the eastbound E Line track will be closed during the drill, the westbound track will remain open. The purpose of this exercise is to prepare for potential emergencies on the E Line at Culver City. Expect a significant presence of first responders, vehicles, and simulated smoke during the drill, with no sirens being used. Questions regarding this particular drill can be routed to Metro via email: [email protected] ℹ️

DEVELOPMENT

• 🎬️ HOLLYWOOD: A new chapter unfolds in Hollywood's architectural landscape with the unveiling of the innovative office tower design known as The Star. Spearheaded by real estate developer Maggie Miracle + designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, this billion-dollar project is set to redefine Sunset Boulevard with its visionary concept. The 22-story structure promises a blend of indoor-outdoor workspaces, lush gardens, and a rooftop restaurant open to the public. While embracing the evolving needs of office tenants post-pandemic, the tower's design prioritizes health and well-being, offering a refreshing approach to workspace environments. With plans for a vibrant mix of amenities including restaurants, entertainment spaces, and art exhibition areas, The Star aims to not only stand out visually but also cater to the dynamic demands of Hollywood's bustling commercial scene. As Miracle sets her sights on a late 2026 construction start and a 2029 opening date, this ambitious project signals a bold step towards shaping Hollywood's future as a thriving business hub. 🖼️ Further designs via Foster + Partners.

• 🌴 HOLLYWOOD BLVD: The City of Los Angeles announced upgrades to Hollywood Boulevard for the Access to Hollywood project. The project initiative includes the introduction of bus and bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and improved pedestrian safety measures and covers a 3.6-mile stretch from La Brea Avenue to the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, with protected bike lanes and bus lanes.

• 🏡 WEST CARSON: An affordable housing complex is currently under construction at 800 W. Carson Street. The development comprises a seven-story building featuring 230 residences ranging from one to four bedrooms, situated above a two-level underground parking structure. Designed by Y&M Architects, the complex will offer various amenities including a community center and landscaped courtyards. The apartments are intended for households with incomes between 30 and 70 percent of the area's median income level. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.

• 🌲GLENDALE: An industrial site on San Fernando Road in Glendale is set to be redeveloped into a new 249-unit residential development. The project involves razing existing commercial uses to make way for this housing project, which will include a portion of affordable housing units as part of a density bonus review.

• 🚇️ VENICE BEACH: Metro is contemplating the redevelopment of Division 6 in Venice, a former bus yard spanning over three acres near Venice Beach. The site, once part of the Pacific Electric railway's Ocean Park Car House, transitioned to a bus facility after the Red Car system era. Metro ceased operations at Division 6 in 2016, paving the way for redevelopment. Two proposals were unveiled at a recent community meeting: Sunset + Main by Camden Securities Company and Metro on Main by Metro Venice Art Collective, LLC. Both plans include a mix of residential units, commercial space, and parking facilities, with a focus on affordable housing components. The decision on which developer to engage with exclusively is expected by this summer.

• 🏳️‍🌈 WEST HOLLYWOOD: The West Hollywood City Council recently approved a redesign plan for Willoughby Avenue and parts of Gardner Street, Vista Street, and Kings Road. The decision, made in a 3-2 vote, aims to enhance pedestrian safety and prioritize non-motorized transportation. The proposed changes include adding curb extensions, protected bike lanes, wayfinding signage, a mini-park, enhanced school crosswalks, scaled traffic circles, and other measures to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.

• 🚴‍♂️ PASADENA: The City of Pasadena is seeking public input on the Activate Allen Avenue project, which involves quick-build Complete Streets improvements along Allen Avenue to enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. This initiative aims to connect existing bike facilities on the city's north side to the Allen Avenue Metro A Line station, promoting sustainable and active transportation options within the community.

BUSINESS

• 🌆 LA’S NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN: Los Angeles Tourism has unveiled its expansive Now Playing global advertising campaign, marking a significant investment in promoting the city's diverse attractions and lifestyle. This comprehensive initiative, the largest in the organization's history, targets key markets worldwide, including the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, U.S., France, and South Korea. With a strategic focus on arts, food, culture, and other facets of the LA experience, the campaign leverages various media channels such as TV, streaming platforms, social media, podcasts, and billboards to reach a broad audience. The Now Playing campaign is a collaboration with LA-based artists Mister Cartoon and Steven Harrington. 💁 Inside scoop on the Now Playing campaign below.

• 📽️ APOLLO PROPOSAL: Apollo Global Management has made an eleven billion dollar offer to buy Paramount's film and television studio in Hollywood. This bid comes as part of a potential acquisition of the iconic Hollywood name, with Paramount Global stock experiencing a significant jump following the news. The offer surpasses Paramount's overall market capitalization of $7.7 billion, indicating substantial interest in the studio business despite challenges faced by the company. The proposal from Apollo could potentially lead to significant changes in the entertainment industry landscape, prompting discussions about the future of Paramount and its assets.

• 🚚 LYNWOOD: Einride, a freight mobility company, recently unveiled its first U.S. Einride Smartcharger Station in Lynwood, making the electric charging site North America's largest operational charging station for electric heavy-duty freight. This station, equipped with 65 chargers and the capacity to charge up to 200 vehicles daily, is strategically located near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, crucial hubs for international trade in the U.S.

• 🎵 PASADENA: Rightsify recently unveiled Hydra II, an advanced AI Music Generation Model that revolutionizes music curation. Hydra II, trained on a vast dataset of over a million songs, offers customizable copyright-free AI music generation with features like Remix Infinity, Multi-Lingual support, Intro/Fade Out options, and more. This innovative tool aims to empower users to create high-quality instrumental music or sound effects efficiently and ethically, catering to both individual users and businesses in need of music production creative curations. | HQ: Pasadena

ENTERTAINMENT

 🎬️ HEADLINES

• 🪲 BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: The trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice dropped yesterday. In the upcoming sequel to Tim Burton's iconic classic Beetlejuice, Jenna Ortega and Michael Keaton reprise their roles. The teaser trailer features Jenna Ortega riding her bike to school and attending a funeral with Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara. The storyline revolves around Lydia's family returning home to Winter River, where her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens a portal to the Afterlife. This long-awaited sequel is set to be released on September 4th. | 📺️ Watch trailer below:

• 📚️ BILL HADER + CAT IN THE HAT: Bill Hader has been cast to voice The Cat in the upcoming animated movie The Cat in the Hat, based on Dr. Seuss' classic story. The film, set for release on March 6th, 2026, will feature a star-studded voice cast including Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, and Paula Pell. Directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, the movie follows The Cat as he tries to cheer up siblings adjusting to a new town. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are collaborating on this project, marking the character's animated big screen debut.

•  👩‍❤️‍👨 THE SIMS: The Sims, a beloved life simulation video game series, is making its way to the big screen with a movie adaptation in the works. Directed by Kate Herron, known for her work on the first season of Loki, and co-written by Briony Redman, this project is generating significant buzz. Margot Robbie's production company, LuckyChap, along with Vertigo Entertainment, will be producing the film. Electronic Arts, the publisher of The Sims games, will also play a role in the creative and production aspects of the movie. With The Sims' unique gameplay centered around managing avatars' lives and needs without a defined plot, the movie adaptation offers ample room for creative interpretation similar to successful projects like Barbie. The film's storyline and specific details are yet to be revealed, leaving fans eager to see how this iconic game translates to the cinematic experience.

• 🌿 JIMMY KIMMEL’S HIGH HOPES: Jimmy Kimmel is producing a cannabis-themed reality series called High Hopes for Hulu. The series follows two Belarus-born brothers and their crew as they navigate the cannabis business in Los Angeles, focusing on their dispensary, MMD. Set to premiere on April 20th, the show captures the challenges and aspirations of the brothers as they aim to expand their brand nationally.

• 👮 BOSCH SPINOFF: Maggie Q is set to headline Prime Video's untitled Renée Ballard series, a Bosch spinoff about the LAPD's Cold Case Division. This new series marks the first in Amazon MGM Studios' Bosch franchise not led by Titus Welliver. Detective Renée Ballard, portrayed by Maggie Q, is tasked with running the LAPD's new cold-case unit, characterized as a poorly funded, all-volunteer unit with a substantial case load. The show follows Ballard as she approaches these frozen cases with empathy and determination, uncovering a larger conspiracy during her investigations. She relies on her retired ally, Harry Bosch, played by Welliver, to navigate the dangers that threaten both her unit and her life. The series is executive produced by Michael Connelly, Michael Alaimo, Kendall Sherwood, Trish Hofmann, Henrik Bastin, Melissa Aouate, and others. The character of Renée Ballard is based on Det. Mitzi Roberts from the LAPD and is part of Connelly's book series that includes titles like The Late Show and Dark Sacred Night.

• 🚔️ BOSH LEGACY SEASON THREE: The third season of Amazon Freevee's Bosch: Legacy is set to feature five recurring guest stars: Tommy Martinez, Andrea Cortes, Orla Brady, Michael Reilly Burke, and Dale Dickey. These actors will join the cast in this season, adding depth to the storyline based on Michael Connelly's novels. The season will revolve around the investigation into the murder of Kurt Dockweiler, unveiling dangerous secrets that could impact the lives of the main characters.

• 🎬️ ENGLAND STUDIOS: Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England, has recently completed a significant expansion, making it the second largest film studio globally. This development includes thirty-one purpose-built sound stages and additional production spaces, totaling 1.5 million sq ft. Amazon MGM Studios and Netflix have secured stages at the expanded site, with Amazon taking nine new stages and Netflix adding eight to their existing fourteen. The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, praised this move as a testament to the government's support for the country's screen sector. The expansion aims to enhance Shepperton's facilities and accommodate major content producers, solidifying its position in the film industry.

• 🪀 OUR CHILDHOOD: Toys "R" Us is making a nostalgic comeback in a movie set in Burbank, featuring the classic brown-roofed, rainbow-striped version of the iconic toy store. This revival is part of the set for the forthcoming biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and focusing on Michael Jackson's shopping sprees at Toys "R" Us during the 80s and 90s. The movie set, located at the former Kmart location on N San Fernando Boulevard, replicates the distinctive look of the original Toys "R" Us, evoking memories of its heyday and my childhood when I roamed around looking for Hot Wheels. 📸 More photos via Reddit.

• 💪 TEAM LITTLE HOUSE: The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) announced Team Little House yesterday. Created by the late Michael Landon’s family, friends and castmates in honor of Michael for PanCAN PurpleStride, the event is the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. The event takes place on Saturday, April 27th, in LA and in nearly sixty other cities nationwide. The goal of Team Little House is to raise at least $50,000 in Michael’s memory for PanCAN to advance progress against the disease. Team members include two of Michael’s children, Leslie Landon Matthews and Michael Landon Jr., and Dean Butler who played Almanzo Wilder. “My father is always in my daily thoughts,” said Leslie Landon Matthews, daughter of Michael Landon and Little House on the Prairie castmate. “Celebrating the series’ 50th anniversary warms my heart and takes me back to those glorious years we spent so much time together both on and off screen. I hope our team can help bring awareness to this disease and encourage people to donate in my father’s honor to PanCAN.” 💌 

• 🚁 DISNEY DRONE SHOW: Disney has announced a new drone show called Disney Dreams That Soar coming to Disney Springs at Walt Disney World in Orlando this summer. This nighttime experience will feature state-of-the-art drones choreographed to create designs in the sky, accompanied by a musical score and memorable movie quotes. The show will run nightly from May 24th through September 2nd.

SPORTS

• ⚾️ MOOKIE BETTS: Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will be working at a Raising Cane's location in Alhambra ahead of the team's home opener. Fans can catch him at the drive-thru and front counter on March 27th from 10:00am to 11:00am before the Dodgers face the St. Louis Cardinals on March 28th at Dodger Stadium. During this event, Raising Cane's will donate $100,000 to Betts' 5050 Foundation, which supports sports programs in inner-city schools.

• 📺️ SPECTRUM + SPORTSNET LA: Spectrum is offering SportsNet LA subscriptions for free, providing Los Angeles Dodgers fans in the greater LA market the opportunity to watch the team's games without a cable subscription. The streaming agreement is exclusive for the 2024 season as Spectrum tests out fan preferences for a streaming-only option or a broadband-telephone-streaming bundle.

• 🏈 AARON DONALD EXPLAINS RETIREMENT: Aaron Donald recently explained on NFL’s X account that he retired because he felt that the passion to play the game was no longer there for him and expressed a sense of fulfillment with his accomplishment over the past ten years. His retirement marks the end of an era for one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history.

HAVE A GREAT WKND, LA!