MARCH 1ST, 2024

FRIDAY’S VIBES

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🐰 RABBIT, RABBIT

⚡️THE HOV LANE

• 🥳 HAPPY FRIDAY! A shorter newsletter (for our recent in-depth newsletters) today. Next week should be a busy one with headlines, pr, and grand openings as the Oscars draw closer to the ceremony. As always, fill free to respond to this email with any content that you might have, or simply fill out this form.

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EATS

😋 HEADLINES

• 🍔 IN-N-OUT: In-N-Out Burger is expected to open its first location in Washington State in Ridgefield. This move marks the popular burger chain's expansion into the Pacific Northwest, with plans to establish a presence in the Ridgefield Union Ridge Town Center. The company's expansion strategy involves setting up a processing plant/distribution center in the region to support multiple locations within a 50-mile radius, ensuring freshness and efficient supply chain management. While In-N-Out has already made its way to Salem, Oregon, the upcoming location in Ridgefield will be its first venture into Washington State, bridging the gap for fans of the chain in the area.

• 😋 FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANTS: Recommend some of your favorite new openings for a future CuratedLA Guide.

🚀 OPENINGS

• 🧇 LARCHMONT: Phil Rosenthal, the host of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil and creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, is set to open his first restaurant in Larchmont this summer. The restaurant, named Max and Helen's, will be an old-school diner. Rosenthal will partner with renowned chef Nancy Silverton and serve menu offerings that feature American breakfast staples and comfort food.

• 🍕 HOLLYWOOD: Jones Hollywood reopened last night after three months of repair and reconstruction following a car crash that caused damage to the restaurant's eastern corner entrance. The main dining room reopened, but the cafe remains closed due to structural damage. The owner, Keith McCarthy, expressed gratitude for the support received from loyal customers and the community. The restaurant raised funds through various initiatives, including a GoFundMe page. For reservations, you can call (323) 850-1726. The restaurant's hours of operation are from 7:00pm to 2:00am, seven days a week, with dine-in and take-out options available. | 🖥️ View Menu | 📸 @joneshollywood

• 🍝 KOREATOWN: Acclaimed chef Nancy Silverton is set to open a new pasta bar in Koreatown this fall. This venture will be in collaboration with her longtime business partner Joe Bastianich who is known for his involvement in various renowned restaurants. Initially inspired to fuse Italian and Korean cuisines for the menu, Silverton faced resistance to keep the dishes more traditional but still aims to incorporate some fusion elements. The restaurant's name, different from her original suggestion of K-Pop Pasta, will be a Korean term that she humorously mentioned she might not even remember. This upcoming pasta bar adds to Silverton's impressive culinary portfolio, which includes establishments like Mozzaplex restaurants, Nancy's Fancy gelato line, La Brea Bakery, Triple Beam Pizza, and more.

• 🍔 OXNARD: Shake Shack is expanding its presence to Oxnard's RiverPark development. The new 3,470 square foot drive-through location will be located near the corner of North Oxnard Boulevard within the RiverPark area. This expansion is part of a broader trend, with Shake Shack also opening new locations in Orange County this year. In addition to Shake Shack, the RiverPark development in Oxnard will see the arrival of two hotels and a Starbucks, enhancing the area's dining and hospitality offerings.

• 🥘 CALABASAS: The Mulholland recently opened in Calabasas. The eatery offers crafted New American cuisine and is local, family-owned. The restaurant features an executive chef, Chris Flint, and offers a dining style described as casual. The menu includes contemporary American and Californian cuisines, with dinner served daily from 5:00pm to 8:45pm. The Mulholland provides both onsite and offsite catering services, along with private dining options. Additionally, the restaurant has received positive reviews for its food, service, and ambience from diners on platforms like OpenTable. The Mulholland aims to create memorable dining experiences with a menu crafted from seasonal, local, and organic ingredients, complemented by a vibrant wine list and creative cocktails. | 🖥️ View Menu | 📸 @themulholland

• 🇮🇹 ATWATER VILLAGE: Spina recently had their opening on Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village. Spina offers a variety of classic Italian dishes with a special focus on pasta with dishes like cacio e pepe, ricotta-stuffed ravioli with butter and sage, lobster linguine in tomato sauce, meatballs in tomato sauce, fried calamari, burrata with prosciutto, grilled salmon, prime ribeye steak, tomahawk pork chop, tiramisu, and panna cotta. This Atwater Village eatery was opened by Duc Pham and chef Pablo Cruz. Duc Pham is also known for bringing the popular Florence sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio to Los Angeles. The restaurant aims to provide an eclectic vibe with a menu curated by chef Pablo Cruz, who has experience in renowned kitchens like Eataly and TerronI.  | 🖥️ View Menu | 📸 @spinalosangeles

• 🆕 HIDDEN GEMS: Five under-the-radar new restaurants to check out in Los Angles right now.

🔎 DISCOVERIES

• 🍷 STUDIO CITY: Cosette Wine Bar is a hidden gem located within the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City. This upscale wine bar and restaurant, founded by Sasha Hagenlock, offers a luxurious dining experience surrounded by lush greenery and a sophisticated ambiance. The name Cosette is a play on the French word for 'hideaway,' reflecting the concept of this charming establishment. The menu at Cosette features elegant dishes like steak tartare, celery salad, and French onion dip, along with artfully composed cheese and charcuterie platters. The wine selection includes more than ten options by the glass and an extensive list of bottles from classic regions. Unlike typical mall fare, Cosette offers a refined culinary experience in a botanical-inspired setting, making it a delightful escape.

• 🌮 DANNY TREJO: Hollywood hardman Danny Trejo on opening a taco restaurant at 80: ‘No killings and mayhem? Not my remit,’ feature article via The Independent.

• 🇲🇽 HOLLYWOOD + MEXICAN FOOD: The Los Angeles Restaurant that sold Hollywood on Mexican Food via The New York Times Style Magazine.

🧭 GUIDES

• 🇲🇽 SECRET LOS ANGELES: Twenty-two Mexican restaurants that have fiery flavors

EVENTS

🔮 TRENDING WEEKEND

📆 TODAY

🧭 GUIDES

• 🇲🇽 LA TIMES: Five Latino art shows to check out right now

• 📆 WE LIKE LA: Things to do this weekend in Los Angeles

ACTIVITIES

• 🎨 CANVA CREATE 2024: Canva will host their very first live and in-person Canva Create here in LA at Hollywood Park, which is home to YouTube Theater and American Airlines Plaza. The Canva Community will be able to attend a full-day program of keynotes, product demos, thought leadership panels, workshops, community spotlights, and more. Canva Create 2024 takes place on May 23rd. Tickets are now available for a limited time, early-bird price of $95.

COMMUNITY

• 🎒 USC ACCELERATOR: USC has collaborated with Techstars to launch the USC and Techstars Digital Economy Accelerator Program. This program aims to invest in early-stage startups that are advancing digital transformation across various sectors. The accelerator program will run for ten weeks in the fall, offering selected founders access to valuable startup education, mentorship, community building, and Techstars' network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners. The program will be delivered in a hybrid format with both virtual and in-person components.

• 👩 LOS ANGELES WOMEN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL: The 31st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will honor eight deserving women for exceptional career + life achievements during Opening Night Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony in North Hollywood on March 28th at Lankershim Arts Center. The women honored will be Caryn Desai, Maria G. Martinez, Naomi Grossman, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lisa Sanaye Dring, Carolyn Ratteray, Jessica Lynn Johnson and the late Shirley Jo Finney. Special performers at the event will include Karen A. Clark and Juli Kim.

• 🌳 BEVERLY HILLS: Beverly Hills hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Burton Way Green Street and Water Efficient Landscape Project on Wednesday. Mayor Julian Gold provided a cutting of the ribbon and an overview of the project’s current + future accomplishments, particularly in reducing pollution. The Burton Way Green Street + Water Efficient Landscape Project aims to enhance sustainability and environmental efficiency in the area.

DEVELOPMENT

• 🛳️ ONE OF LA’S BIGGEST CRUISE SHIPS: LA is set to get one of it’s biggest cruise ships ever as The Quantum of the Seas is set to sail from Los Angeles starting in 2025. This ship will offer various itineraries, including voyages to the west coast of Mexico like Navigator of the Seas. Passengers can enjoy short cruises, such as a three-day weekend cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, and experience the ship's amenities like the RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator and the Bionic Bar. Additionally, Quantum of the Seas will introduce a four-night sailing from Los Angeles on October 2nd.

• 🌳 SAWTELLE: Co-living apartments are becoming a popular trend in Los Angeles, offering shared living spaces that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to live, work + build new connections. On S. Barrington Avenue in Sawtelle, a co-living project just became fully framed to include eighteen residential units that include a mix of four and five-bedroom units with outdoor patios and an indoor clubhouse.

• 🏖️ REDONDO BEACH: A mixed-use development is underway at 1700 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach. The Legado Redondo project includes a five-story complex with 115 residential units and nearly 22,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Additionally, the adjacent Palos Verdes Inn will be renovated into a 110-key hotel with a modern exterior and rooftop pool deck. This project by the Legado Companies received a $75-million loan in December 2019 and was downsized from its original plan of 180 units to gain approval from the Redondo Beach City Council.

• 🎞️ CULVER CITY: Main Street will be closed today from 7:00am to 7:00pm for the installation of automatic retractable bollards at Culver Boulevard and at the City Limit. This will force Main Street to be closed during work hours today. Traffic from Venice Boulevard will be allowed to U-turn at the closure. Please note that every effort will be made by Culver City to minimize these inconveniences. Please continue to observe all traffic controls and parking restrictions. Any questions can be addressed to Andrew Maximous at (310) 253-5628 or [email protected] ℹ️ 

BUSINESS

• 📸 ADOBE + TIKTOK: Adobe has partnered with TikTok by bringing a new integration, ‘TikTok Creative Assistant,’ to Adobe Express. The integration is now live through an add-on within Adobe Express. Creative Curators can use Adobe’s library of templates, Adobe stock assets, video editor, AI-driven insights, and even content copy scripts for TikTok content. Prompts can also be used: ‘Show me what’s trending on TikTok, give me some tips for making a high-performing ad creative, show me some TikTok ad examples, write a few attention-grabbers for my brand.’ Adobe Express is free use forever, no credit card required.📍TikTok HQ: Culver City

• 📺️ DISNEY+ AND HULU BUNDLE: What can we expect from the new Disney+ and Hulu bundle? And what does it mean for our entertainment industry? The Economic Times breaks it down for us.

• 🏆️ NONPROFIT AWARDS: The Los Angeles Business Journal is seeking nominations for their Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards. The Los Angeles Business Journal will honor the nonprofit community’s amazing work and the corporate citizens + businesses that support them. Nomination deadlines are soon: next Friday, March 8th.

ENTERTAINMENT

🎬️ HEADLINES

• 🧔‍♂️ NICK OFFERMAN: Nick Offerman has been casted for Netflix's upcoming limited drama series ‘Death by Lightning.’ The drama is based on ‘Destiny Of The Republic’ by Candice Millard and follows the assassination of President James Garfield. Offerman plays Chester A. Arthur, President Garfield’s vice president and eventual successor. The show also includes Betty Gilpin, Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon.

🪩 OUR CULTURE

• 📺️ TV GUIDE: The Ultimate Guide: What to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max, and more in March 2024.

• 🐻 THE BEAR: The outlet Evanston Round Table has found evidence that The Bear, Season Three, is in production with filming in Evanston, Illinois.

• 🦅 WEEKEND REMINDER: Three baby bald eagles are about to hatch in the San Bernardino Mountains. Now, at anytime…

🏆️ AWARD SEASON

• 🎞️ LA PRESS CLUB: Killers of the Flower Moon won LA Press Club’s Veritas Award. The Veritas Award for LA Press Club is judged by over a thousand judges that are considered to be based equally upon fidelity of subject matter and artistic excellence. Killers of the Flower Moon was produced by Apple Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone. It was directed by Martin Scorsese. This year’s runner up for the Veritas Award was Oppenheimer.

SPORTS

📰 HEADLINES

• 🏌️ ANTHONY KIM: Los Angeles native Anthony Kim is teeing up his golf comeback this week with LIV Golf from Friday to Sunday at Royal Greens Golf Club in Saudi Arabia. Kim, 38, has been away from the game for more than a decade. Kim turned pro in 2007 after playing collegiate golf with the Oklahoma Sooners. In his active early years, Kim played 122 events, had 22 top-10 finishes, won on the PGA TOUR three times and earned a collective $12.2m. Kim stepped away from the game to focus on himself, but now makes his return this weekend in Saudi Arabia. And here’s how to watch and follow along with the LIV circuit.

• 🐏 RAMS’ NFL DRAFT CELEBRATION: Pending local city approval, the Los Angeles Rams will host an NFL Draft party on April 25th and 26th on Hermosa Beach. The event will feature a sixty yard football field, a telecast, food, music, games and more. The event if part of the Rams Draft Experience, a weeklong celebration for all things Los Angeles Rams. 

• 🤵 SHOHEI OHTANI: Shohei Ohtani, world renowned baseball start who recently moved from the Angels to the Dodgers, surprised many by announcing his marriage on Instagram. Ohtani revealed that he has married, keeping most details of the relationship private. This announcement came as a shock to fans and the media, as Ohtani has always maintained a very private personal life focused solely on baseball.

• 🏈 CALEB WILLIAMS: Potential No. 1 NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams reportedly made approximately $10m in NIL deals during his final two seasons at USC. This substantial amount was earned through endorsement deals, with brands like Dr. Pepper and Wendy’s among his top sponsors, making him one of the highest-compensated players in college football over that period. Williams' significant earnings shed light on the evolving landscape of college sports, where players like him can now capitalize on their value through NIL deals. His success not only benefits him but also positively impacts USC by attracting other talented players to the program.

🏡 COMMUNITY

• ⛳️ COMPTON: A nonprofit organization is working diligently to reopen the Compton Par 3 Golf Course in California. This public recreation facility, owned by the City of Compton and managed by the Parks and Recreation Department, aims to serve and benefit the local community. The golf course offers various amenities such as a fully stocked Pro Shop, a snack bar, and off-street parking. Additionally, golf instruction is available from a Golf Pro for those of us looking to improve our game.

HAVE A GREAT WKND, LA!