DECEMBER 10TH, 2024

TUESDAY’S VIBES

TODAY

IS

TUESDAY

FRANKLIN FIRE ❤️ Good Vibes Amidst Challenging Times:

• While the Franklin Fire in Malibu is devastating our community, CuratedLA remains focused on sharing positive energy today. Many outlets are covering the fire extensively, and we’ll provide updates on how to help when appropriate. In the meantime, take a moment to check in on loved ones, and then dive into the uplifting content we’ve curated for you. We stand with Malibu.

CURATEDLA WRAPPED 2024 🎁 Cheers To An Amazing 2024:

• I want to thank you for being part of another incredible year as 2024 wraps up, and we welcome 2025. CuratedLA turns two in January, and to celebrate this + end of 2024, we’re sharing the top five most-read articles from the past year. Think of it as your Spotify Wrapped for LA vibes:

1. Housing Pandemic Pups, via LAist.

2. Wetzel’s Pretzels is giving away free pretzels, via Deseret News.

3. Seth Rogen enhances the wake to his bake with new coffee line, interview with Comedian Seth Rogen, via Los Angeles Magazine.

4. The 5th and 6th best celebrity-owned restaurants in the U.S. are here in Los Angeles County, via Secret Los Angeles.

5. James Beard Foundation unveils semifinalists for 2024 restaurant and chef awards, via Santa Monica Mirror.

ON THIS DAY ⏪️ Los Angeles History

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HOV LANES

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EATS

EVENTS WITH EATS

DOWNTOWN LA 🎄 It’s a Miracle - a Christmas Pop-Up Bar:

• Dive into a whirlwind of holiday magic at Miracle, where kitschy decor and professionally-crafted cocktails turn even the grumpiest grinch into a festive friend. Experience the nostalgia of the best office party ever, complete with a wander through The Delphi's festive lobby, featuring a holiday village for all your shopping delights. This merry mayhem runs from now until January 31st.

DOWNTOWN LA 👻 A Holiday Experience with a Sinister Twist:

• Cole’s French Dip transforms into Krampus Cove, a devilishly immersive cocktail experience redefining holiday cheer with a macabre edge. Featuring sinister elves, evil snowmen, and a visit to Krampus’s lair, this 21+ pop-up offers themed creepy cocktails and a dark holiday ambiance. Choose from ticketed sessions or walk-in hours, and expect an evening of mischievous surprises paired with innovative seasonal drinks. Plan ahead—tickets are refundable up to 48 hours in advance.

OPENINGS

ECHO PARK 🍑 Whata Peach Brings Wholesome Flair to Echo Park:

• Whata Peach has debuted at on West Sunset Blvd in Echo Park, offering a vibrant and health-forward menu in a relaxed café setting. Known for its eclectic options like the Sweet Bowl—a blend of acai, fruits, and decadent toppings—and the Condensed Milk Latte, this spot is quickly becoming a go-to for flavorful, wholesome eats. Their focus on fresh ingredients pairs with an inviting atmosphere, perfect for breakfast, coffee breaks, or an afternoon treat and is open daily from 8:00am - 6:00pm daily.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

CULVER CITY 🐷 Smokey Chance BBQ - Smokin’ Addition to Citizen Public Market:

• Culver City’s Citizen Public Market welcomes Smokey Chance BBQ, the newest destination for authentic, slow-smoked barbecue. Featuring a massive 300-gallon smoker, the stall offers brisket smoked to perfection for fourteen hours and sliced fresh at the counter. Guests can enjoy smoked meats by the half or quarter pound or opt for a full platter with classic sides like beans, coleslaw, and pickles. Smokey Chance BBQ adds a bold flavor to this vibrant food hall, catering to barbecue enthusiasts and casual diners alike. 

  • Yelp + Instagram

HAWTHORNE 🍺 Tapville Social Debuts in Hawthorne with Self-Pour Innovation:

• Tapville Social has officially opened its first California location on Crenshaw Boulevard in Hawthorne, bringing its tech-forward dining concept to the Golden State. Known for its American scratch kitchen, craft cocktails, and 48 self-pour beer and wine taps, the venue offers a personalized dining experience that blends technology and hospitality. Situated near SpaceX headquarters, the restaurant aims to become a community favorite, with features like Tuscan-imported wine dispensers for customizable tastings.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

VENICE 🍷 A Taste of Greece Lands on Abbot Kinney:

• Alisa: Wine & Friends, a modern Greek family-style restaurant, is set to open on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, transforming the former Plant Food and Wine space. Helmed by Oleksii Kochetkov, known for the Ukrainian eatery Mom, Please, the new venture teams up with The Happiness-Project Hospitality Group. The menu, crafted by a London-based chef and executed by a head chef with 25 years of experience, promises elevated takes on Greek classics like moussaka, grilled red mullet, and shareable pork souvla. With its focus on communal dining and a location in a vibrant culinary corridor, Alisa aims to fill a Greek cuisine gap in the area.

BEVERLY GROVE 🏴󠁩󠁴󠀸󠀸󠁿 Sardinian Flavors in Beverly Grove:

• Carasau Pasta Bar has officially opened its doors at on W 3rd Street, offering a fast-casual experience steeped in Sardinian culinary tradition. Helmed by Vincenzo Porcu, the mastermind behind Culver City’s beloved Carasau Sardinian Restaurant, this new spot serves up scratch-made pasta in a welcoming ambiance. Highlights include authentic Sardinian dishes such as malloreddus and ravioli alongside crowd-pleasers like lasagna and tiramisu. Carasau Pasta Bar has daily operating hours from 11:00am to 9:00pm.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

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EVENTS

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FIVE FUTURES

GUIDES

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ACTIVITIES

BURBANK 🔔 Tomorrow, 6:30pm - 8:30pm:

• Join the community tomorrow from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Wednesday at The Colony Theatre in Burbank for Jingle Tales & Tunes, a festive storytelling extravaganza featuring eight of LA's finest storytellers. Enjoy a delightful blend of hilarious and heartwarming holiday tales, accompanied by the enchanting music of Abby Posner, the 2023 USA Songwriting Competition winner. This two-hour event promises laughter, nostalgia, and memorable moments for teens and adults alike. Doors open at 6:00pm, with the show starting at 6:30pm.

SHERMAN OAKS 🎄 Wednesdays - Sundays until New Year’s:

• Lights on Display is back in Sherman Oaks, showcasing its annual extravaganza of synchronized lights, animatronics, and music. Created by Emmy-winning editor Mike Ziemkowski, the display on Longview Valley Road features cutting-edge lighting technology, whimsical animatronic characters like DJ Jingles, and a custom ‘Z-Tree,’ all programmed to a festive playlist. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 6:00pm - 9:00pm through New Year’s Day. The show is free with donations benefiting the American Lung Association.

FAIRFAX 🎄 Friday from 6:00pm - 9:00pm:

• The Original Farmers Market transforms into a holiday wonderland this Friday evening with live performances by The Holly Belles, Greenway Fairfax High School Dance Company, The MoonRays, Grand Arts High School Holiday Jazz Carolers, and the nostalgic 90s/2000s cover band, y2k2k. Guests can enjoy festive activities, including a holiday photo booth, complimentary hot cocoa, temporary tattoos, body art at Dylan’s Candy Bar, and a Salvation Army gift-wrapping station (donations encouraged). This free-to-attend event runs from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. 💸 

DOWNTOWN LA 🎅Now - Christmas Eve, Wednesdays and Sundays:

• The Los Angeles Christmas Market at ROW DTLA transforms the Downtown Arts District into a festive European-inspired wonderland. Running on Wednesdays and Sunday until Christmas Eve, the market features open-air booths with holiday treats like pretzels, schnitzel, and eggnog alongside artisanal crafts. Beyond shopping, enjoy holiday music, alfresco film screenings, and activities perfect for families. 💌 

PLAYA VISTA 🎁 Fridays in December from 6:00pm - 8:00pm:

• Runway Playa Vista’s Cocoa & Carols series returns this Friday, December 13th, and repeats again next Friday, with both events running from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Free Market in Playa Vista. The event features acapella carolers and holiday cheer. Guests can enjoy complimentary hot cocoa or mulled wine, courtesy of Joliet, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

CALABASAS ☃️ Now - December 28th:

• Holiday Road is back for its fourth year at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, transforming the landscape into a magical one-mile trail filled with immersive holiday scenes and festive activities. Open select dates through December 28th, including this Thursday to Sunday. The event offers tickets priced between $24.99 and $34.99.

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COMMUNITY

SANTA MONICA ✈️ Santa Monica’s Great Park Vision Takes Flight:

• Santa Monica shared its vision for the Airport Conversion Project last Saturday at community event, unveiling draft principles for transforming the site into a ‘Great Park’ after aviation ends at the Santa Monica Airport in 2028. The project represents a historic opportunity to redefine public space, balancing ecological, cultural, and economic priorities for the community's future:

  • Draft principles emphasize sustainability, inclusivity, and financial feasibility, based on months of public input.

  • Planners aim for ecological restoration, creative spaces, and amenities for all abilities while preserving Santa Monica's cultural identity.

  • A final design scenario is expected by late 2025, with guiding principles set for City Council review in early 2025.

• 🔗 View: Santa Monica Project online for updates, via The City of Santa Monica.

TROJANS 🚀 USC Alumni Shine on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for 2025:

• Forbes unveiled its 2025 30 Under 30 list, spotlighting exceptional young leaders across fields such as finance, social media, and entertainment. Among this year’s honorees are over 25 current and former USC Trojans recognized for their groundbreaking achievements:

  • Anthony Zhang founded wine investment platform Vinovest, blending tech and traditional markets.

  • Natalia Bryant, a senior, balances modeling for IMG and leading the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

  • Eric Delapenha’s Strands Hair Care revolutionized personalized beauty, now a Walmart partner.

  • Shane Gill and Riley Testut’s Altstore surged as a third-party app platform following EU policy changes.

• 🔗 Read: Over 25 Trojans recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, via USC Annenberg Media.

BRUINS 🛣️ UCLA To Debut Wireless Charging Road for LA28:

• UCLA’s Westwood campus is set to debut California’s first wireless EV-charging road, planned to be operational by the 2028 Summer Olympics. This groundbreaking project is part of a $20m grant supporting electric transit innovations, including new electric buses and a transit hub connecting to LA Metro:

  • The wireless road charges vehicles via inductive coils, like a phone’s wireless charger, allowing buses to gain miles of charge while moving.

  • Construction is minimal, integrating coils into existing road layers during routine resurfacing.

  • UCLA’s fully electric BruinBus fleet will soon benefit from this efficient charging system, setting a precedent for expanded wireless charging in Southern California.

• 🔗 Go further: Electric avenue: LA getting car-charging road ahead of 2028 Olympics, via New York Post.

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DEVELOPMENT

LONG BEACH 🪸 Modern Micro Living in Long Beach:

• Long Beach is getting a sleek upgrade at 421 East 4th Street with a new seven-story residential project featuring 96 micro apartments by Harbor Vista and designs by CityFrabrick. Replacing a surface parking lot, the modern podium building will boast studios between 325 to 505 square feet, a ground-floor parking space for 17 vehicles, and two amenity decks. Renderings reveal a façade in painted cement plaster, fiber cement panels, and metal. Notably, twelve apartments will be designated as affordable housing at the very low-income level. The Long Beach Planning Commission greenlit the project in October but construction timelines remain under wraps for now.

WEST ADAMS 🌳 CIM Group’s West Adams Mixed-Use Milestone:

• The latest update from CIM Group's mixed-use marvel at 5217 W. Adams Boulevard showcases a nearly-complete wood framing for a six-story building. Set to feature 74 one- and two-bedroom apartments above nine-thousand square feet of retail space, this project boasts modern living and shopping conveniences. Thanks to Transit Oriented Communities incentives, six apartments will be designated for extremely low-income households. Design by Hwangbo Architecture promises a contemporary touch. This development joins CIM Group’s other projects in the vibrant West Adams area.

PLAYA DEL REY ⛰️ Legado del Mar Project Gets a Fresh Start:

• After over a decade of delays, Legado Companies has submitted new plans for the Legado del Mar project in Playa del Rey, proposing a five-story mixed-use building at 138 E. Culver Boulevard. The development would include 108 apartments, seventeen of which are designated as very low-income housing, alongside 3,200 square feet of retail space. Utilizing AB 2011 provisions to ease housing construction on commercial lots, the project aims to address local housing demands. Designed by AC Martin, the building will feature second-floor amenity decks and parking for 144 vehicles. This revised plan is a larger-scale iteration of its 2012 predecessor, which faced significant community opposition.

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BUSINESS

VC FUNDING 💰️ Los Angeles VC Groups Invest Locally:

• Location matters in venture capital, but Los Angeles tells a nuanced story. While the pandemic hinted at decentralization, LA’s venture ecosystem maintained strong ties to California, with 56% of local funding staying in-state, outpacing Silicon Valley, Boston, and NYC. Entertainment and media software dominate funding priorities, reflecting the city’s unique industry strengths. Investors frequently work hands-on with startups, making local ties crucial. But as ecosystems diversify, LA firms are increasingly funding out-of-state ventures to meet larger funding demands:

  • 40% of Bonfire Ventures' portfolio remains SoCal-based, but the firm is now location-agnostic.

  • LA startups needed $139bn in funding from 2014–2024 but only had $52.9bn locally available.

  • Other top VC hubs (NYC, Boston) invest more heavily in California than in their own regions.

• 🔗 Go further: VC Firms like to invest locally, via Los Angeles Business Journal.

COMCAST 📺️ Comcast + WBD Expand Their Partnership:

• The agreement cements Warner Bros. Discovery’s expansive portfolio on Comcast’s global platforms, paving the way for broader access and integration of content. The agreement also strengthens the foothold of two media giants amid shifting consumer habits and rising streaming competition. The partnership expands customer options, balancing traditional linear TV with next-gen streaming services:

  • WBD content will be bundled into Comcast’s NOW TV and Sky UK streaming services, including the ad-supported Max and Discovery+ apps. The deal ensures the continuation of WBD networks like TNT, CNN, and HGTV for Xfinity customers, alongside expanded rights for Max in the UK by 2026.

  • Comcast and WBD align amidst a declining linear TV landscape, seeking growth through streaming collaborations.

• 🔗 Go further: Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery announce multi-year distribution agreements across Xfinity and Sky UK, via Warner Bros. Discovery Press Release.

WEST HOLLYWOOD 🦄 The Unicorn - Sunset Boulevard’s Next Act:

• AE Architecture, Inc. has unveiled plans for The Unicorn, a bold mixed-use development at 9021 Sunset Boulevard, transforming the former Bank of America space. Positioned as a tribute to the Sunset Strip's iconic cultural and musical legacy, the project blends luxury hospitality, fine dining, and next-generation entertainment into one immersive experience:

  • Spanning five stories and 31,200 square feet, the project integrates a boutique hotel, rooftop pool deck, gastropub, office space, and an open-air plaza.

  • A cutting-edge performance venue honors the Strip’s rock-and-roll roots while opening doors for experimental and genre-defying acts.

  • Unique design elements like a ‘step and repeat’ wall and outdoor spaces aim to enhance visitor engagement and amplify the area’s dynamic energy.

  • Inspired by the original 1955 Unicorn coffeehouse, this development fuses Sunset Boulevard’s storied past with its ambitious future.

• 🔗 Go further: The Unicorn Music Venue is coming to the Sunset Strip, via WeHo Times.

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ENTERTAINMENT

FUN COLLAB 🕺 Box Office Feast Breaks Records This Thanksgiving:

• At 98, Dick Van Dyke proves age is just a number as the star of Coldplay's ‘All My Love’ music video, filmed in his Malibu backyard. Directed by Spike Jonze and Mary Wigmore, the video showcases Van Dyke’s signature moves, moments of humor, and reflections on life, love, and legacy. Featuring cameos from his wife and family, the video is a heartfelt tribute to his enduring charm and career, with a shorter cut set to release on his 99th birthday this Friday. Coldplay's Chris Martin, a neighbor and fan, called the collaboration ‘the most fun thing I’ve ever done.’

NOMINEES 🏆️ The 82nd Golden Globes - Streaming Dominates, New Talent:

• The Golden Globe nominations for 2025 highlight fresh talent, with Netflix leading both film and TV categories, securing 36 nods. Emilia Pérez dominates with ten nominations, followed by The Brutalist (seven) and The Bear leading TV categories with five nods:

  • Double nominations include Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez and Only Murders in the Building) and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice and A Different Man).

  • Denzel Washington extends his record as the most-nominated Black performer (eleven nods).

  • New categories like Stand-Up Comedy Performance underline the Globes’ broader entertainment scope.

• 🔗 Go further with the full list of nominees, via Golden Globes.

NETFLIX 🎤 The Roastmaster, Jeff Ross, Returns to Torch 2024:

• Jeff Ross, the ‘Roastmaster General,’ will host ‘Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year,’ premiering December 27th on Netflix. The show, featuring comedians like Tim Dillon and Ms. Pat, tapes at The Bellwether in Los Angeles on December 17th.

  • Netflix’s May roast of Tom Brady hit No. 1 on Nielsen charts with 1.7B minutes viewed.

  • Netflix released nearly 40 stand-up specials in 2024, boosting its comedy dominance.

  • December is packed with comedy releases, including Jamie Foxx and Michelle Buteau specials.

• 🔗 Go further: Netflix taps Jeff Ross to host ‘Torching 2024: A Roast of The Year,’ Exclusive via Deadline.

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SPORTS

RAMS 🐏 Thursday Night Showdown: Rams vs. 49ers - Playoff Hopes:

• The Los Angeles Rams (7-6) head to Levi’s Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers (6-7) in a critical NFC West matchup with major playoff implications. Both teams are coming off strong performances and enter this primetime clash in survival mode, as the winner stays in the hunt and the loser’s postseason chances take a serious blow. The Rams control their destiny with an elite offense led by Matthew Stafford, while the injury-plagued 49ers must rely on resilience and tough remaining matchups. Betting lines, player health, and divisional stakes add extra intrigue to a high-stakes game:

  • Rams are 6-1 against NFC West opponents in their last seven games.

  • 49ers are 1-4 ATS in their last five contests but dominated the Bears Sunday.

  • Christian McCaffrey is out, tilting momentum toward the Rams.

• 🔗 Go further: LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers prediction, odds, expert picks, QB matchup, betting trends, and stats, via NBC Sports.

WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP 🤽 UCLA Defeats USC in Men’s Polo Title:

• USC fought valiantly but fell short against UCLA in the NCAA championship, losing 11-8 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. The Trojans, riding a five-game winning streak and MPSF title, had moments of brilliance but couldn't sustain momentum in the face of a late Bruin surge:

  • Robert López Duart and Andrej Grgurevic each scored twice, with López Duart leading USC this season with 64 goals.

  • Max Miller, now 16th in USC's all-time scoring with 147 goals, finished the season scoring in 27 of 29 games.

  • Bernardo Herzer made nine critical saves, highlighting a strong defensive effort.

• 🔗 Go further: USC Men’s Water Polo Takes 11-8 Loss in NCAA Championship, via USC Trojans.

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CU FRIDAY, LA!

🤙 Let’s take care of ourselves today,
so we can support others in our community who need
us during these challenging times.

Sending positive vibes as best I can,

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