FEBRUARY 5TH, 2024

CURATEDLA: GOOD L.A. VIBES

👋 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH 2024

• ⛈️ LIVE WEATHER UPDATES: Our local weather forecast has made international headlines. The Independent (UK) surprisingly has great coverage with live updates from various local sources of our stormy weather.

• 🏜️ FREE SANDBAGS: NBC4 has provided us with a list of fire stations that are providing free sandbags during this major storm that we are in. As mentioned on Friday, sandbags are used to direct water flow. Please only venture to the nearest fire station if able to do so safely.

• 🚨 THIS IS A MAJOR STORM: I was glued all day to the TV yesterday and the news is playing a recurring theme: we are in a major storm. I have seen anchors and others advise us all to stay home, to even ring work and ask if we can work remotely. Garrett’s Mom has echoed this same sentiment. Please stay safe, stay home (call in sick, w/e) because I do not want to see any of us go viral on TikTok for believing that our cars can float.

• 👨‍⚖️ STATE OF EMERGENCY: Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a State of Emergency for the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

• 📺️ LIVE UPDATES: We do have the luxury of viewing outside, thanks to those professionals that are risking it for us. Here are some links that I found interesting, all via YouTube:

  • ABC7’s Dedicated Live Channel

  • Venice Beach Live Stream

  • Fox Weather Live Stream

  • Live Webcam Near City Hall Downtown

  • Santa Monica Beach Live Stream

  • Planespotting: LAX 24/7

  • Stormchaser Reed Timmer’s Live Broadcast (when online)

  • Feel free to add more live LA weather cams in the comments below.

  • And that’s it for weather-related items. Good vibes start now!

⚡️THE HOV LANE

EATS

😋 HEADLINES

• 👧 GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: The Girl Scout Cookie season has begun in the Greater Los Angeles area, with sales running through mid-March. The cookies can be purchased in-person or online, and the organization offers multiple ways for us all to buy our favorite cookies. The sales support service projects, travel, and summer camp opportunities for young girls within the organization.

• 🍔 MCDONALDS: McDonald's has introduced its best burger initiative, which includes more than fifty tweaks aimed at enhancing its core product. These tweaks involve changes to the cooking process, new, softer buns, more Big Mac sauce, and the addition of white onions at the grill for a caramelized flavor. The company's updated burgers are now available nationwide, and the changes have been well-received, with small improvements adding up to a big difference that customers are noticing.

🚀 OPENINGS

• 🥪 SANTA MONICA: B&T's Deli has recently opened in Santa Monica, offering a plant-based sub-sando concept. The deli is located on Montana Avenue and prides itself on being housemade, organic, and locally sourced when possible. The menu features items sourced directly from the Santa Monica farmers market.

• ☕️ SILVER LAKE: Makisupa Coffee Bar has been testing their new cafe menu. In addition to serving cheese burritos, coffee drinks with mini beans, and vegan alternative sandwiches, the cafe now serves a delicious peanut butter latte. It’s photogenic, just like the cafe itself with their new menu.

• 🇬🇷 WEST ADAMS: The Great Greek recently opened in the West Adams neighborhood. The Great Greek is a both a cloud kitchen and catering eat and can only be ordered online. Their menu consists of various soups, Greek dips, salads, mezze + falafel plates, and more. This could be a great option for a rainy day, or any day! If ordering, be sure to tip your drivers well b/c it’s raining. View Online Menu | 📸 @thegreekgrill_koreatownla

• 🥪 WEST HOLLYWOOD: Mamie looks like it recently opened in West Hollywood. From the Yelp results, it looks to be like a delicious Italian Deli that serves sandwiches and pizza. We are trying to hunt down more information on this gem! If you know anything, please comment within the comments section.

• 🥖 NORTH HOLLYWOOD: We mentioned this sub shop previously, but Chēba Hut is now open in North hollywood on N. Magnolia Blvd. Chēba Hut is known for its toasted sandwiches and also offers a variety of signature sub sandwiches, as well as salads, Rice Krispy treats, and munchies. The menu features over thirty signature sub sandwiches and most locations also offer craft beer bars that feature local beers from neighborhood breweries.

🧭 GUIDES

• 🎞️ CULVER CITY: The fourteen essential restaurants in Culver City via Eater: Los Angeles.

• 🌮 MOST FAMOUS L.A. TACOS: A guide to the most famous tacos in Los Angeles via Mariana in LA.

• 😋 FAVORITE EATERIES: Favorite Los Angeles Eateries, broken down by neighborhood, brunch, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, via Cold Brew Vibes.

EVENTS

🔮 TRENDING FUTURES

🚨 Due to today’s major stormy forecast, I have decided not to post events. Many events have been cancelled. If events are posted for Tuesday, they will be found on Event Masters. I also did not post events for this past weekend due to weather forecasting. I know, I want to get out as well. 🚨 🫶 

🧭 GUIDES

• 👨‍👩‍👦 LUNAR NEW YEAR: Best Events for Kids in Los Angeles

• 🎈INDOORS: 27 Free Things To Do Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days

• 📆 SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Things To Do: February 1st - February 8th

• 🎉 BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Celebrate Black History Month with these events

➡️ Event Masters ⬅️ 
 🔖 Bookmark Event Masters for Daily Events
Our newsletter runs 6:00am MWF, events daily

ELIZABETH GUEST

 👋 ELIZABETH GUEST

Elizabeth is a writer, director, actress and comedian from Los Angeles. She was born on-location to parents that are also in the entertainment industry. Elizabeth will give you the shirt off of her back if ever needed. Her people pleasing ways have put her in some crazy situations. And she will tell you all about it, tomorrow night at The Elysian.

I interviewed Elizabeth to talk about her life, what it’s like watching movies that her parents are in, and more. Check it out, and check out her show, Sweeter, tomorrow night, 7:30pm at The Elysian!

ACTIVITIES

• 🎢 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: The one-year anniversary of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is set to be celebrated on February 17th. The anniversary will feature the grand opening of the all-new Power Up Cafe on New York Street in the park. Additionally, a commemorative special-release Golden Power-Up Band will be available for purchase inside the land and at the Super Nintendo World store on CityWalk.

• 🎭️ LOS ANGELES OPERA: The Los Angeles Opera is set to open its 2024-25 season on September 21st with a production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly reimagined in a film studio. The season will also include a variety of other performances, such as Mozart's Così fan tutte in March 2025 and Verdi's Rigoletto in May 2025. This current 2023-24 season features a range of operas, concerts, and special events, including Don Giovanni, The Bride of Frankenstein, La Traviata, and more.

• 🎞️ PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL: The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is a two-week-long celebration of film, art, and culture that takes place in Los Angeles. The festival, which is in its 32nd year, showcases over 175 high-quality, newly produced films, highlighting the diverse stories of Black America, Africa, and the global Black Diaspora. The festival will take place starting tomorrow and runs through the 19th.

COMMUNITY

• 🤝 CONNECT + CONTRIBUTE: Burbank offers various opportunities to connect with vibrant clubs and contribute to the community. The city is home to a range of service clubs and organizations that provide avenues for social engagement and community involvement. These include the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, which hosts networking events and programs tailored to the needs of local businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Check out some great clubs to get involved with today!

• 🚢 PORT OF LOS ANGELES: The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade at the Port of Los Angeles has officially opened. The promenade, located on S. Avalon Blvd. Adjacent to Banning's Landing Community Center, it offers unprecedented access to the water's edge for our Wilmington community. The promenade features a picnic pier over the water, a public floating dock, and waterfront seating and shading, among other amenities. The project is part of the Port of Los Angeles' efforts to enhance public access to the waterfront and create new open spaces for the local community.

• 🎒 GAHR HIGH SCHOOL: Gahr High School in Cerritos has been named a finalist for the America's Best School Award, presented by the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST). This recognition is a testament to the school's commitment to academic excellence and student success. Gahr High School, a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) magnet school, offers a rigorous curriculum and various Career Technical Education pathways, preparing its students for college and careers.

• ❤️ CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL REMINDER: I would like to remind all of us that Children's Hospital Los Angeles has launched its annual Valentine's Day card drive to children in the hospital. This is free, and it takes thirty-seconds. For every card sent by February 14th, a generous donor will give $1 to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, up to $25,000. Additionally, Hasbro will donate $2 to CHLA for every card sent, up to $50,000. This is a new change since first mentioned Friday on CuratedLA. The card drive not only spreads Valentine's Day joy to the young patients but also supports a good cause by providing funds for the hospital's activities.

DEVELOPMENT

• 🏟️ INGLEWOOD: Fast Company provides us with an exclusive look into our new Intuit Dome that is being developed in Inglewood. The article covers the experience that we will all have when the doors open for the Clippers’ 2024-2025 season: a basketball pick-up court, a seventy-five foot 4k video backdrop, an amphitheater-style staircase-and-seating structure, and of-course….toilets. 

  • 🚽 FLASHBACK: Ballmer’s excitement for the dome’s new toilets, 1160 toilets to be exact. 📺️ Toilets! via YouTube

• 🏗️ MORE INGLEWOOD: Developer JPI has broken ground on a new 222-unit housing project in Inglewood, California. The eight-story, transit-oriented property will feature 222 studio, one-and two-bedroom apartments, with eleven units set aside as affordable housing. The project, known as Jefferson Inglewood, is expected to bring 222 homes to the area by early 2026.

• 🏡 DTLA: Eight projects that are bringing housing to Downtown Los Angeles.

• 🏳️‍🌈 WEST HOLLYWOOD: West Hollywood is planning a shared street makeover for a short stretch of San Vicente Boulevard. The project, known as Sky Sanctuaries: San Vicente Streetscape Plaza, is a pedestrian-centric design concept that will encompass roughly one third of an acre. The plaza will be raised on a street shelf, which ramps up at the north and the south to sidewalk level, encouraging slower vehicle speeds and providing better pedestrian access. The project is part of the city's efforts to create more pedestrian-friendly spaces and integrate with adjacent landmarks, such as Stories: The AIDS Monument. The cost of constructing the plaza is estimated to range between $13 million and $18 million, with funding potentially coming from state or federal sources. The project is expected to impact a one-block stretch of San Vicente between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica.

• 🚀 EXPOSITION PARK: The Space Shuttle Endeavour has been repositioned to a launch-ready stance at the California Science Center in Exposition Park. Previously displayed horizontally, the shuttle was hoisted and carefully positioned alongside two booster rockets, creating a unique exhibit where Endeavour will be the only space shuttle displayed as if ready for launch. This significant move is part of the ongoing development of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will nearly double the Science Center's educational space themed for air, space, and shuttle exhibits.

BUSINESS

• 📦️ BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES: Amazon is celebrating and supporting Black-owned businesses during Black History Month. The company provided ways that all of us can support local Black-owned businesses within a company press release. Amazon’s company release also features Terminal B, a luxury fragrance brand that was curated by entrepreneurs Chris and Fay Breedlove, right here in Los Angeles.

• 🌿 SWEETGREEN: Our own Sweetgreen (HQ: Cienega) announced Rossann Williams as the company’s Chief Operating Officer on Friday. Williams served as the former EVP and President of North American Retail for Starbucks until March of last year. Her professional tenure also includes leadership roles at both Blockbuster and Toys R Us. Williams will oversee Operations, Real Estate + Development, and Supply Chain for Sweetgreen in her new role as Chief Operating Officer |💲NYSE:SG

• 🔌 BELKIN: Consumer electronics company Belkin (HQ: El Segundo) announced a new division to the company, Future Ventures. This branch of the company is dedicated to exploring new opportunities and creative solutions for the modern world including content creation, spatial computing, AI, robotics and more |💲PRIVATE COMPANY

ENTERTAINMENT

🎬️ HEADLINES

• 🏢 THE OFFICE: Bryan Cranston has expressed interest in the idea of a feature-length movie for The Office during an interview on the Office Ladies podcast. Cranston suggested that the film could provide an opportunity to see where the characters are a decade after the series ended. Cranston, who directed a season nine episode of The Office, mentioned that he would only want a minor role in the hypothetical movie, stating, "I just want to be an extra in it. I would be some guy. I'd be a crossing guard or something like that." The idea was well-received by some cast members, with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey expressing their willingness to participate, provided that co-creator Greg Daniels was involved.

• 💼 SUITS: LA: NBC has landed a TV pilot for a Suits spinoff, Suits: LA. The spinoff follows a former federal prosecutor from Manhattan who comes to L.A., reinventing himself with high-end clients. It is unclear at this time if cast members from the original Suits will take part in the spinoff and a lead star has not yet been named. Production for Suits: LA begins next month in Vancouver.

• 💿️ TAYLOR SWIFT: Taylor Swift’s Grammy win for Best Pop Vocal Album (Midnights), and thirteenth Grammy win overall, was followed by her surprise announcement of a new album release, The Tortured Poets Department, available April 19th.

🪩 JUST FUN

• 👓️ APPLE VISION PRO: Creative Casey Neistat posted one of the best reviews of Apple Vision Pro that I’ve seen on YouTube. Neistat is known for his creative videos and continues to inspire many current and future creatives to identify their talents. Personal note: I emailed Casey in the seventh grade (2001-ish) and we’ve kept in small touch since. The power of email! And another fun tidbit: his video includes shots from my old stomping grounds of Lower Manhattan, Worth Street. 📺️ Watch Casey’s Apple Vision Pro Review on YouTube

🏆️ AWARDS

• 🎷 GRAMMYS RECAP: Ninety-four Grammys were awarded at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards last night in L.A The complete list can be found here, with a recap of some of the biggest four wins below:

  • RECORD OF THE YEAR: Flowers by Miley Cyrus

  • ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Midnights by Taylor Swift

  • SONG OF THE YEAR: What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell // [Billie Eilish]

  • BEST NEW ARTIST: Victoria Monét

• 🦊 MICHAEL J. FOX: Michael J. Fox is set to receive the inaugural Visionary Award at the sixth edition of the DaVinci International Film Festival. This award celebrates the human endeavor and the unwavering pursuit of excellence, recognizing Fox's significant contributions and impact. The award highlights his achievements not only as a beloved actor but also for his advocacy and work through the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

SPORTS

• 🏀 LAKERS BEAT KNICKS: The Lakers (26-25) won in New York against the Knicks (32-18) Saturday night, 113-105. This was the second straight win for the Lakers. The Lakers play in Charlotte tonight to face The Hornets (10-37) | 📦️ Knicks Box Score | ⏪️ Lakers at Knicks Recap | ⏩️ Charlotte Hornets Preview

• 👟 CLIPPERS BEAT HEAT: The Clippers (33-15) beat the Heat (26-24) last night in Miami, 103-95. This was the third straight win for the Clippers. The Clippers play in Atlanta tonight to face The Hawks. | 📦️ Heat Box Score | ⏪️ Clippers at Heat Recap | ⏩️ Atlanta Hawks Preview

STAY SAFE + DRY, LA!