FEBRUARY 28TH, 2024

WEDNESDAY’S VIBES

👋 HAPPY WEDNESDAY, CUTIE

🚀 MORE GROWTH, MORE COMPLIANCE: As CuratedLA continues to grow, I’ve been busy behind the scenes: Gmail + Yahoo are nudging the entire newsletter realm to update nerdy complaince by this Friday. Here’s what’s new + nerdy tips:

⚡️THE HOV LANE

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EATS

😋 HEADLINES

• 🍟 WCDONALD’S REMINDER: McDonald’s is now taking reservations for the WcDonald’s anime experience that will take place on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. There, WcDonald’s will become a pop-up for two days, on both March 9th and March 10th, directly across from the historical hot dog stand, Tail o’ the Pup. The pop-up space will be transformed by 360 projections with tabletop projections, WcNuggets, Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce, WcDonald’s packaing and more. Reservations can be made using the Open Table Platform by searching ‘WcDonald’s.’ 

• 🏎️ EAST HOLLYWOOD: Tesla's drive-in diner and drive-in movie theater + Supercharger station in East Hollywood is rapidly taking shape. The eatery’s foundational structure and exterior circular-walls are now standing. The 1950s-style diner complex will feature a rooftop theater + bar, two movie screens showing classic movie clips, and carhop-style waitstaff delivering meals to customers who have ordered ahead from their cars. The site will have thirty-two charging stalls and is located along West Santa Monica Boulevard. The opening date is TBD but for those Tesla geeks like myself, new photos and drone footage from mid-February is available.

• 🍔 WENDY’S DOES SURGE PRICING: Wendy's is planning to introduce surge pricing, also known as dynamic pricing, on its menu items starting in 2025. We’ve all seen surge pricing on our favorite rideshare apps such as Lyft. This strategy for Wendy’s involves fluctuating prices throughout the day, based on factors such as the economic basics of supply + demand. This new implementation is part of Wendy’s $20m roadmap of investing in new digital menu boards and other digital-first solutions.

🚀 OPENINGS

• 🍷 WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL: The Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival takes place this upcoming Friday and lasts throughout the weekend. The festival is an epicurean event showcasing leading chefs, top wineries, and culinary icons for five days of delectable food and drink. The festival features unlimited samples of food, wine, custom cocktails, and beer, allowing attendees to explore a variety of culinary offerings. It includes cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs like Masaharu Morimoto and Richard Blais, exclusive lunches by legendary figures such as Nancy Silverton, and sessions on beer and wine pairings. Tickets for this weekend are available on the Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival website.

• 🍪 BURBANK: Crumbl just opened it’s 1000th store location right here at home in Burbank. Crumbl is one of the fastest-growing dessert chains in the United States and the brand has only been in business for six years. | 🖥️ View Website | 📸 @crumblcookies

• ☕️ WEST HOLLYWOOD: Pantheon Coffee is now open in West Hollywood. The coffee shop offers patrons exquisite coffee + engaging conversations with a comfortable vibe. Pantheon Coffee is located in the space that once housed Market Style Restaurant. Their menu offers a signature Apollo latte, Freddo Cappuccino, Fizzy Romano, along with classic espressos, cold drinks, organic teas, toast, homemade sandwiches, and more. | View Online Menu | 📸 @pantheonch

• 🥘 DTLA: The Los Angeles Times’ takes an inside look at Joyce, the new Downtown Los Angeles Southern Comfort spot that everyone has been craving. And upon viewing the Times’ article, we can all understand why. | 🖥️ View Online Menu | 📸 @joyce_dtla

• ☕️ BURBANK: Republik Coffee just opened a second location, paving way to Downtown Burbank. Republik serves locally as both coffee shop and a wine bar. The brand is known for its locally sourced ingredients + hand-crafted syrups that are all made in-house. | 🖥️ View Website | 📸 @republikcoffee_

• 🥪 BEVERLY GROVE: In 2020, Avi Ahdoot posted a picture of a sandwich that he made for his girlfriend on Instagram. The picture of the sandwich went viral overnight, leaving many to wonder where he bought the delicious-looking curation. Since then, Ahdoot has been taking orders for sandwiches all by virtue of a private Instagram account. But that will soon change as Ahdoot is opening a permanent location in Beverly Grove under his brand’s eat, ‘Carla Cafe.’ Though there is no opening date slated, Carla Cafe will be open from the hours of 7:00am to 5:00pm and will initially include both breakfast and lunch, with dinner to be added later.

• ☕️ MARINA DEL RAY: Bacio di Latte is opening their fifth location, with the fifth location coming to Waterside at Marina del Ray. Fans of the coffee shop include Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Jamie Fox and others. Their menu offerings are Belgian chocolate, vanilla, vegan options, and fruit. Bacio di Latte serves other locations in Newport Beach, Larchmont Village, Brentwood and at Westfield Century City. | 🖥️ View Website | 📸 @baciodilatte.us

🧭 GUIDES

• 💎 EATER: Essential Eats for Beverly Hills (updated)

• 😋 EATER: Best dishes of the week: February 26th

• 🍔 THE INFATUATION: The twelve best smash burgers in Los Angeles

• 💯 CURATEDLA: Recommend your favorite eats for an upcoming CuratedLA Map

EVENTS

🔮 TRENDING FUTURES

• 🎫 HOT TICKET ITEM: And it’s not sold out (yet, as of 1am)…I haven’t seen it posted elsewhere. And I source like a hawk. But….Ed Helms (The Office + Hangover) + Zach Galifianakis (Hangover) + Lamorne Morris (New Girl) will be joining Doug Benson next week, March 5th at Dynasty Typewriter. Tickets are $20.

• 💃 7:00pm: Mahalia: In Real Life

  • Belasco Theater

• 🎸 7:00pm: Sarah Jarosz

  • Troubadour

• 🎸 7:00pm: Extreme with Special Guests Living Colour

  • The Bellwether

• 🤘 7:00pm: Actress with Maral

  • The Echo

• 👢 7:00pm: Bootloose

  • Desert 5 Spot

• 🎛️ 7:00pm: Robert Ellis (Solo) with Jenny O.

  • Gold Diggers

• 🎤 7:15pm: [FIRST SHOW] Skyler Stone Presents Comedy Rocks ft: Sarah Silverman, Nick Kroll, Natasha Leggero, Matt O’Brien + more!

  • Hollywood Improv

• 🎤 8:00pm: Marc Maron

  • Largo at the Coronet

• 🤘 8:00pm: Califone, Max Knouse, Psychic Temples

  • Zebulon

• 🎸 8:00pm: The Ocean ft: The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Shy, Low

  • Lodge Room

• 🤠 9:00pm: Maoli with special guest Mishka

  • Fonda Theatre

• 🎤 9:30pm: [SECOND SHOW] Skyler Stone Presents Comedy Rocks ft: Sarah Silverman, Nick Kroll, Natasha Leggero, Finesse Mitchell, Matt O’Brien + more!

  • Hollywood Improv

• 📣 9:30pm: Live Band Karaoke

  • Harvelle’s Santa Monica

🧭 GUIDES

• 🍀 LIFE HACKS LA: Don’t miss these March 2024 events

• 📆 WE LIKE LA: Things to do this week (thru Friday)

• 🥂 LA DAILY: Things to do this week in San Fernando Valley

• 🐸 LA TIMES: Guide to Elysian Valley (Frogtown)

• ⛳️ REDFIN: Things to do in Glendale in 2024

• 🎵 MOMS LA: Twelve places to get music lessons for kids

ACTIVITIES

• 🧪 MAGIC SHOW + VIP POTION COCKTAIL: A fun and enchanting magic show featuring a trio of magical artists takes place every Thursday, Friday + Saturday at the Black Rabbit Rose. This location of an ornate theater serves up a magical time with cocktails specially crafted for the sole purpose to satisfy, amuse, and enchant.

• 🔮 BACK TO THE FUTURE: Back to the Future + Some Like It Hot have been announced for Broadway in Hollywood’s 2024 - 2025 season at Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Previously announced shows include Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, and the current nineteen week showing of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Tickets and season packages for the ongoing season can be purchased online.

• 🦖 NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM: The National History Museum is presenting this month’s First Fridays series with frisky events: ‘From Feelings to Pheromones.’ The eighteenth season of this series takes a look at the love lives of both plants and animals. Talk about ‘Morning Wood…’ ohhh!! Come on Mom, that was funny. ←link is safe, obvs

COMMUNITY

• 🦅 LIVE CAM OF BALD EAGLES HATCHING: A live webcam will soon stream the hatching of three bald eagles. The couple and Jackie and Shadow are welcoming this new trio, and everyone can enjoy this magical moment, all live on YouTube. FWIW: I work from home with this newsletter, and this plays in the background on the TV.

• 🚎 SANTA MONICA: The City of Santa Monica would like to collaborate with residents on changes for the Big Blue Bus system. In particular is feedback that would make the Big Blue Bus system more accessible and reliable. Santa Monica residents can provide feedback at two upcoming workshops: a virtual workshop on Wednesday, March 6th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm and an in-person workshop at the Santa Monica Main Library on Thursday, March 7th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Registrations are available online at Big Blue Bus’ website. And an online survey can also be filled out for those that have valuable feedback.

• 🏃‍♀️ INGLEWOOD: The United Way of Greater Los Angeles is hosting WalkUnitedLA, an event that raises money to combat homelessness throughout Los Angeles County. The event takes place at SoFi Stadium on May 11th and is a family-friendly walk + run. Partnering with the United Way for WalkUnitedLA are the Los Angeles Rams and other community partners. Those interested in WalkUnitedLA can register on the Race Roster website.

• 🗳️ CULVER CITY: Culver City residents are encouraged to take advantage of the city’s early voting center for upcoming elections. The center will be open for eleven days at City Hall’s Patacchia Room. The center opened Saturday as is available daily (with the exception of Sunday) from 8:00am - 5:00pm.

• 😃 HAPPIEST SOCAL CITIES: Seven cities in California received accolades from WalletHub for the happy vibes they spread throughout their community. Four of the top-fifteen happiest cities are found within Southern California: 5) Irvine, 12) Huntington Beach, 14) Garden Grove and 15) San Diego. Our northern neighbor Fremont claimed top honors as the happiest city in America.

DEVELOPMENT

• 🏨 ARTS DISTRICT: A one-hundred year-old fire station in the Arts District has been transformed into a stunning Japanese-style hotel called the Kodō Hotel. Located within the century-old firehouse known as Engine Company 17, the boutique hotel features eight beautifully designed rooms that follow an immaculate Japanese minimalist style. The hotel rooms, restaurant, and cafe were gorgeously designed by architect Matthew Royce with a moody and minimalist Japanese aesthetic.

• 💎 BEVERLY HILLS: The mixed-use project at 55 N. La Cienega Boulevard, location of the previous Stinking Rose restaurant, will undergo a design refresh. The refresh blends a project for residential living with retail opportunities, strategically located near the future Wilshire/La Cienega Station. The development plans include 105 studio and one-bedroom apartments with 19,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. A three-level, 196-car garage will also be accommodated for both retail patrons and residents.

• 🏳️‍🌈 WEST HOLLYWOOD: The City of West Hollywood has released information on the road closures that take place today and last until March 14th. The road closures are for the annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party and Fundraiser. The areas that are affected immediately include N. San Vicente Boulevard, with West Hollywood Park, Santa Monica Avenue, Melrose Avenue, and N. San Vicente Boulevard affected in the latter stretch, from March 10th - March 14th.

• 🚧 BEVERLY HILLS: The City of Beverly Hills also published information for road closures due to ongoing construction and this busy award season. From now until March 14th, the areas near North Crescent Drive and North + South Santa Monica Boulevards will have detours. On Sunday, March 10th, North Crescent Drive near City Hall, and nearby surrounding areas, will be blocked off for Vanity Fair’s post-Academy Awards Party.

• ⚾️ DODGER STADIUM: On Friday, The Metro Board approved the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit project, which includes an aerial gondola system connecting Los Angeles Union Station to Dodger Stadium. This project aims to provide a rapid transit option for visitors to Dodger Stadium and improve access between the stadium, surrounding communities like Chinatown, Mission Junction, Elysian Park, Solano Canyon, and the Los Angeles State Historic Park, and the regional transit system at Union Station. The gondola system is expected to have a maximum capacity of approximately 5,000 people per hour per direction, with a travel time of about seven minutes between Union Station and Dodger Stadium.

BUSINESS

• 🏨 HILTON + HILTON: The Hiltons have launched a new luxury real estate brokerage named Hilton Hilton, aiming to modernize the real estate industry by leveraging their extensive network and relationships within the luxury market. The firm aims to provide access to unique properties, connections, and innovations not found elsewhere. The brokerage has started with a small group of agents and plans to expand its presence to Palm Beach, Miami, New York, and the Hamptons. The new firm is described as a boutique operation centered around family, relationships, and established reputation.

• 👖 WEST HOLLYWOOD: The Frankie Shop has opened an L.A. pop-up and launched an ad campaign featuring Demi Moore. The pop-up installation is a collaboration with Crosby Studios and is located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, promising a unique experience for visitors. The Frankie Shop announced that the pop-up is in partnership with interior architecture and design firm Crosby Studios and is titled, ‘The Meeting Room.’

• 💃 BEYONCÉ: A scholarship fund for aspiring students studying cosmetology and grants for salons has been announced by Beyoncé. In partnerships with her BeyGOOD Fund and Cécred hair care brands, Beyonce will offer the scholarships to twenty-five students, and twenty-five salons.

• 📵AT&T OUTAGE CREDIT: AT&T is offering a five-dollar credit to those customers that were affected by the recent service outage.

ENTERTAINMENT

🎬️ HEADLINES

• 👨 EUGENE LEVY: Actor Eugene Levy will be honored with the 2,773rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next Friday, March 8th at 11:30am. Levy will receive his star in the Television category. Those speaking at his induction will be his daughter Sarah Levy and actress Catherine O’Hara.

• 🕺RYAN GOSLING: Sources have told Variety that, after months of speculation, Ryan Gosling will officially perform, ‘I’m Just Ken,’ live at this year’s Oscars. Mark Ronson, who wrote the song with Andrew Wyatt, told Variety that it was his dream for Gosling to perform at the Academy Awards.

• 📺️ NETFLIX: Five underrated Netflix movies that are perfect to watch for the winter via Digital Trends.

📺️ STREAMING: TV

🎞️ STREAMING: MOVIES

SPORTS

• CLIPPERS UNVEIL NEW JERSEYS: The Los Angeles Clippers have unveiled new uniforms and a logo ahead of their move to the Intuit Dome for the 2024-25 NBA season. The new logo features a compass rose forming a letter C with an oncoming Clipper ship, while the ship creates the points of the four directions. The uniforms include navy Icon Edition, white Associated Edition, and red Statement Edition jerseys, each incorporating nautical themes and an updated Clippers script. The primary logo will be featured at center court in their new arena, with the N in Los Angeles facing north, and the arena's geographic coordinates painted onto the hardwood.

• 📬️ UCLA POSTAGE STAMP: John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, was honored with a United States Postal Service postage stamp on Saturday. Wooden, known as the ‘Wizard of Westwood,’ led UCLA to unprecedented success, leading the Bruins to seven national men’s basketball titles. Wooden passed away in 2010 at the age of 99 but this stamp will commemorate his significant contributions to the sport, UCLA, and his legacy.

• 🐏 NEW RAMS DEFENSIVE HIRE: The Rams have hired Sean Desai to a senior defensive coaching role. Desai served as a defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears in 2021 and was most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.

• 🏈 UCLA: Eric Bieniemy has been hired as The Bruins’ associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Bieniemy will join Head Coach DeShaun Foster, both of whom are in new coaching roles with new teams in that of UCLA for this upcoming football season.

• ⚡️ CHARGERS HIRE NEW RB COACH: The Los Angeles Chargers announced the hiring of Kiel McDonald as the team’s running backs coach on Friday. McDonald’s name might be familiar to some of us as he spent the last two seasons with USC as their RB coach. McDonald also served with the University of Utah for five seasons, and Eastern Washington for four seasons.

• ⛳️ GENESIS INVITATIONAL: Why the 2024 Genesis Invitational felt bigger than ever via Hypebeast.

GROCERY SHOPPING

On Friday….64% of us said that we were going to stay in and watch Netflix as opposed to going out for the weekend. I was surprised, but then realized it was a bit of a rainy forecast.

CU TOMORROW, LA!