APRIL 26TH, 2024

FRIDAY

FRIDAY’S VIBES

Eats | Events | Activities
Community | Development
Biz | Entertainment | Sports

🥳 YOU MADE IT. IT’S FRIDAY

• 🌬️ WIND ADVISORIES: Wind advisories are in effect until tonight at 11:00pm. A high wind warning is also in effect until tomorrow at noon, both notices for various portions of LA County.

• 📰 PUBLISHERS, PR AGENCIES + CREATIVES: Are you having a hard time growing because of the new Google limitations for California outlets? If so, please let me know as I’d love to review your content for the potential to link. CuratedLA is a non-competing community outlet, providing good vibes of all types from all sources possible. My email is [email protected]. *No political opinions or morbidity.

• 🌅 MORNING START: CuratedLA will be back to our traditional, 6am morning start. Please be on the lookout for an email from ‘[email protected]’ (for some it might be [email protected]) so you do not miss out on LA’s good vibes! I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend - Wyatt

TRENDING 

THE HOV LANE

EATS

LOCAL HEADLINES

• 🍷 PASSOVER POP-UP: Festivus, a Texas BBQ spin on Passover, takes place this Saturday + Sunday at Gingergrass Silverlake from 5:30pm until sell out. The event is a first come, first serve basis and includes items like The Big Maccabee - a crispy latke sandwich stuffed with smoked brisket, Matzo Crack, pickled trio, deviled eggs + more. Vegetarian options will also be available and all items are naturally gluten-free and K4P (Kosher for Passover).

• 🍸️ TWO OF AMERICA’S BEST: Thunderbolt in Historic Filipinotown and Mírate in Los Feliz, were named to this year's North America's 50 Best Bars list. Thunderbolt was ranked eighth and also received the Best in the West USA award, while Mírate was a new entrant at number 46. The prestigious list features many bars from New York City and Mexico City, but these LA spots stood out for their unique cocktail menus and welcoming atmospheres catered to both locals and visitors. Thunderbolt incorporates Filipino flavors and a relaxed vibe, while Mírate offers a more extravagant multi-level space with modern Mexican-inspired cocktails. Both bars aim to provide an approachable, neighborhood-friendly experience despite their high rankings.

• ☕️ ASTRO MAKES HISTORY: The iconic Astro Family Restaurant, a 1950s vision of space-age angularity, has been nominated as a City Historic-Cultural Monument. For 65 years, this prominent diner at the corner of Fletcher Drive + Glendale Boulevard has been a beloved gathering spot, serving up coffee, sandwiches, eggs, and pie. Designed by the renowned architectural firm of Louis Armét and Eldon Davis, the Astro is a distinctive example of Googie-style architecture, which defined the look of many iconic restaurants in the city, including Norms and the prototypes for Denny's and Bob's Big Boy. As a part of Silver Lake's history, the Astro represents the city's growth in the post-World War II period, standing in contrast to the elegance and restraint of mid-century modernist homes and buildings in the neighborhood, and embodying a striking example of People's Moderne architecture.

OPENINGS

• ☕️ FUN POP-UP TONIGHT: Canyon Coffee hosts Mon Petit Canard for a one-night pop-up featuring an à la carte menu of classics and new dishes inspired by the setting. The pop-up starts tonight at 6:00pm and is walk-ins only. Mon Petit Canard (MPC) is a restaurant with daily-changing music, menu, location and design. | 📸 @mpc.restaurant X 📸 @canyoncoffee

EVENTS

Submit your event 

• 🐇 POLITICS: I would like to make a correction: CuratedLA does allow the submission of political events.

• 📆 LAST UPDATED: The CuratedLA Calendars were last updated on Friday, 11:30am.

TRENDING

BIG LIST OF EVENTS

ACTIVITIES

• 🎭️ AS YOU LIKE IT: The Independent Shakespeare Company is bringing the enchanting world of Shakespeare's As You Like It to life this summer with their Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Audiences can immerse themselves in the lush, forested setting of the Forest of Arden, just as the Bard intended, when the production opens on July 10th. Beyond the play itself, the festival promises a host of special events and activities, from costume parties to dances, that will further capture the whimsical spirit of this beloved Shakespearean comedy.

• 🎨 LITTLE LUNA: On Sunday, May 5th and May 12th, Little Luna is inviting kids, parents + caregivers to a new-family focused event featuring performances and a mask-making workshop in their courtyard. Bob Baker Marionette Theater will host performances that will take place on the Courtyard Stage at 11:00am + 12:30pm with workshops by Kalli Arte to follow. The Luna Luna Cafe will also be serving new snacks + sips for the little ones, and those that are young at heart.

• 🛣️ ACTIVE STREETS: Active Streets: Mission-to-Mission takes place this Sunday from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Spanning 5.5 miles of car-free corridors in Alhambra, San Gabriel, and South Pasadena, this free + family-friendly event welcomes residents to walk, bike, skate, and explore the cities' downtown hubs, which will feature live music, artists, community organizations, and e-bike test rides. Parts of Mission Street, Marengo Avenue, and other major roads will be closed to vehicles from 9:00am to 3:00pm, allowing attendees to freely enjoy the car-free streets. | 💁 Locations for Area Hubs

• 🪩 WORLD’S LARGEST DANCE PARTY IN SANTA MONICA: Daybreaker is kicking off its eleventh season with a focus on peace, compassion, understanding, and harmony. On Sunday, the community will gather at the iconic Santa Monica Pier to soak in the stunning coastline views and dance in unison, dressed in white (with a touch of sparkle) to embody the season's theme.This year, $1 from every ticket sale will go towards the new Belong Center non-profit, whose mission is to end loneliness and inspire belonging for all.

• 🥧 CANCELLED: From KCRW: ‘KCRW has decided to cancel this Sunday’s Good Food PieFest. We are aware of the campus protests at UCLA and believe it’s in the best interest for all to cancel. PieFest is a beloved KCRW community event. As such, we will be looking into a possible reschedule and share the details as soon as we can.’

  • 🎓️ RELATED: USC has cancelled main stage graduation due to similar concerns regarding college protests. ℹ️ 

• 🎢 LAS VEGAS: Spy Ninjas HQ recently opened and is a twelve-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip. Spy Ninjas is the first adventure park based on a YouTube-born IP. The massive twelve-thousand square-foot facility features interactive activities like a ropes course, escape rooms, trampolines, and the largest indoor zipline in Vegas, all designed to engage fans and grow the Spy Ninjas brand. Vegas is not too far of a drive from us here at home, and Spy Ninjas could be a great weekend getaway for you + yours this summer.

COMMUNITY

• 🛣️ HOV LIFEHACK GOES SOUTH: The California Highway Patrol in Santa Fe Springs has definitively answered the age-old question: no, a mannequin does not count as a second occupant for the carpool lane. In a recent incident, CHP Officer Kaplan pulled over a driver for crossing a solid double line and discovered the passenger was in fact a well-dressed mannequin, complete with a goatee that the officer deemed a little too sharp. The driver was issued citations for multiple carpool lane violations. CHP Santa Fe Springs advised drivers to plan ahead and know their routes to avoid being tempted to bend the rules, noting that plastic is plastic and cannot replace a living, breathing passenger. This is not the first time California drivers have attempted to use mannequins to access carpool lanes, with similar incidents reported in the Bay Area in the past.

• 👛 SHOPLIFTING WALL-OF-SHAME: Kitson, a retailer in Beverly Hills, has resorted to publicly shaming shoplifters as a means of combating the devastating losses it has faced due to theft. The store has started displaying large mugshots of shoplifters on its windows and sharing videos of theft incidents on social media, where viewers often help identify the culprits. The initiative has not only named and shamed shoplifters, but has also led some to return stolen items out of embarrassment. The community has responded positively to Kitson's efforts, with nearby businesses expressing their support for the store's stance against the growing problem of shoplifting.

• 🔉 NEW EPIC SOUND SYSTEM: The Soraya is set to unveil an all-new sound system by L-Acoustics this upcoming Tuesday. The new sound system was made possible by a generous contribution from the Ahmanson Foundation. The new audio system will ensure continued acoustic excellence for future artists and audiences at The Soraya. Tuesday’s unveiling of the new system will consist of a concert featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit accompanied by the award-winning CSUN Jazz "A" Band. This upgrade, made possible by the Ahmanson Foundation's support, will elevate the listening experience for all who perform and attend events at The Soraya.

• 🏳️‍🌈 THE ABBEY FINDS BUYER: Tech and hotel entrepreneur Tristan Schukraft has acquired The Abbey Food & Bar and its sister venue, The Chapel at The Abbey, in West Hollywood for twenty-seven million. The 14,200-square-foot properties on North Robertson Boulevard were described as a generational purchase opportunity to acquire one of the world's most iconic nightclubs and restaurants, including all branding and branding rights. Schukraft plans to keep the restaurant and nightclub operational, stating it is both an honor and a significant responsibility to build on the legacy created by previous owner David Cooley over the past thirty-three years. Real estate brokers Matthew Luchs and Brandon Micheals of Marcus & Millichap handled the transaction.

DEVELOPMENT

• 🚲️ NEW LINCOLN PARK AVENUE BIKE LANES: The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has recently installed 1.25 miles of new bike lanes in the Happy Valley neighborhood, which spans the eastside communities of Lincoln Heights and Montecito Heights. The new bike lanes are primarily located on Lincoln Park Avenue, with portions also extending onto Flora Street and Sierra Street. The project involved reconfiguring the street space, eliminating a center turn lane to make room for the new bike lanes - a technique known as a road diet. This marks one of the first new city bikeways implemented since the passage of Measure HLA, which aims to expand Los Angeles' bike infrastructure.

• 🚇️ SOUTHEAST GATEWAY LINE: The Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors has voted to adopt the final environmental study for the initial segment of the Southeast Gateway Line, which will span 14.5 miles between the A Line's Slauson Station and Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia. This transformational project, which is expected to begin utility relocation by late 2024, will serve eight stations through cities like Vernon, Huntington Park, and Downey. The full nineteen-mile Southeast Gateway Line will eventually connect to the A, C, and Union Station lines, providing crucial transit access to an area where 44% of residents live at or below the poverty line. The $7.1 billion project has secured over two billion dollars in state and local funding, and is expected to create up to 46,000 jobs. While the initial segment is slated to begin service by 2035, the second phase running parallel to Alameda Street faces ongoing design debates, with a subterranean alignment potentially adding $750 million to the overall cost.

• 🏫 LA APARTMENTS: Grubb Properties secured a twenty-million dollar loan to revamp retail sites into mixed-used developments throughout LA + Santa Monica. The North Carolina-based developer, led by Clay Grubb, obtained the loan from Bolour Associates to transform three retail properties into mixed-use buildings with a combined 378 apartments in North Hollywood, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. The projects will add much-needed housing to the supply-constrained LA market, with Grubb Properties' focus on affordability through its Link brand. The firm, which manages $2.5 billion in assets, has been actively expanding its multifamily portfolio across the country, including recent developments in Koreatown, East Hollywood, and Berkeley.

• 🏡 EAST LA: Nearly four years after an arsonist burnt the near-finished affordable housing development to the ground, East LA Community Corporation has finally completed work on the sixty-six million dollar El Nuevo Amanecer apartments. The four-story project, located in unincorporated East Los Angeles, features sixty-one units reserved for homeless veterans, formerly homeless households, and low-income families, as well as seven-thousand square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Despite the early setbacks, the development, designed in a Spanish Colonial Revival style by Birba Group Architects, is now a welcome addition to the community, providing supportive housing and on-site services for its residents through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and The People Concern.

BUSINESS

• 🎞️ NEW VP AT SCOUT PRODUCTIONS: Scout Productions has named entertainment and media executive David Marker as Vice President of Development. Marker is a seasoned unscripted development executive and producer with over fifteen years of experience in entertainment. Since joining the team at Scout Productions in 2021, Marker has developed and sold series with names like Amy Poehler, Kristen Stewart, Charlie Puth and Julia Fox, amongst others. Marker started his career at The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and went on to produce series for ABC, Travel Channel, BET, and H2. He also has experience in branded content, working with global brands like DC for many years. | 💌 

• 🌯 CHIPOTLE’S STRONG FIRST QUARTER: Chipotle Mexican Grill reported strong first quarter 2024 results, with a 7% increase in comparable restaurant sales driven by over 5% transaction growth and expanding margins. Total revenue increased 14.1% to $2.7 billion, while operating margin rose to 16.3% and restaurant-level operating margin reached 27.5%. Diluted earnings per share grew 23.9% to $13.01, or $13.37 on an adjusted basis excluding legal reserves. The company opened forty-seven new restaurants, including forty-three with Chipotlane formats, which continue to enhance guest access and convenience while boosting sales, margins and returns. | 💌 HQ: Newport Beach

• 🏰 DISNEY’S IMAGINEERING UNIT: Disney's Imagineering Unit, responsible for designing and building the technology behind the company's theme parks and attractions, is pushing the boundaries of innovation. At their Glendale headquarters, researchers are developing cutting-edge technologies like a responsive HoloTile Floor that can track and respond to a person's movements, as well as advanced robot characters like the agile Stuntronics Spider-Man and the interactive BDX droids from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. These innovations allow Imagineers to quickly prototype and test new ideas, with the goal of creating ever-more immersive and engaging experiences for Disney park guests. As the company plans a sixty billion dollar expansion of its parks and experiences business, these technological breakthroughs could provide a blueprint for the future of themed entertainment.

ENTERTAINMENT

HEADLINES

• 🕺 GOSLING’S PEACOCK RECORD: The April 13th episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Ryan Gosling set a new viewership record for the series on NBC’s Peacock with a collective 8.9 million viewers across all platforms during the first seven days of streaming, compared to just 1.7 million views on Saturday’s premiere night.

• 📈 PROJECTIONS FOR IF: Paramount's original family film IF, starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by John Krasinski, is projected to open with a strong forty-million-dollar-plus debut on May 17th, which is impressive for a non-holiday release. Krasinski produced, directed, and wrote the PG-rated movie, which is generating significant interest from parents, kids, and the 17-34 demographic, especially females. The film's high unaided pre-release tracking, indicating audience interest without prompting, is higher than that of the upcoming Kung Fu Panda 4. While comparisons are challenging, IF could follow the success of Reynolds' previous original franchise-starter Free Guy, which opened to $28.3m and went on to earn $121.6m. This latest win for Paramount's Brian Robbins-led studio comes on the heels of the strong openings for Mean Girls and Bob Marley: One Love, as the studio remains in exclusive talks with Skydance/Red Bird for a potential takeover.

• 🎤 STEVE CARELL + TINA FEY: Steve Carell is reuniting with his Date Night co-star Tina Fey for Netflix's upcoming series The Four Seasons, an adaptation of the 1981 Alan Alda film. Carell has closed a deal to co-star in the straight-to-series order, which was co-created by Fey and her fellow 30 Rock alums Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield. The series, set to begin production later this year, marks a reunion for Carell with both Fey and Universal Television, where Fey's production company is based. Carell's return to Netflix TV also follows his recent work on Space Force and the upcoming animated film Despicable Me 4. For Fey, The Four Seasons represents her first lead acting role in a series since 30 Rock ended in 2013, as she continues to expand her presence on the streaming platform.

• 👨 PIERCE BROSNAN: Pierce Brosnan has signed on to star in the romantic thriller In The Wind, the feature directorial debut of Simon Barry. The film, produced by Uri Singer's Passage Pictures and Barry's Reality Distortion Field, centers around a reclusive, retired spy who is drawn out of hiding by his enigmatic new neighbor, uncovering both of their secrets in the process. Brosnan, known for his roles in films like Tomorrow Never Dies and Mamma Mia, is described as the perfect fit for the lead role. Nadine de Barros' Fortitude International will finance the project and handle international sales, with the film set to launch at the upcoming Cannes market.

• 🪖 WAY OF THE WARRIOR KID: A star-studded inspirational movie package is set to hit the Cannes Market this year. Way of The Warrior Kid is slated to begin production this summer, with Chris Pratt starring and McG directing an adaptation of the novel by retired Navy SEAL Jock Willink. The youth empowerment tale follows a self-doubting, bullied eleven-year-old who is taken under the wing of his injured SEAL uncle, who uses his elite training to help the boy find his inner warrior over the course of one transformative summer.

• 🎧️ STERN INTERVIEWS BIDEN: President Biden joined radio host Howard Stern for a live interview at Stern's New York City studio on Friday. The wide-ranging conversation covered Biden's personal life, including meeting his first wife, his struggles with a stutter, and the tragic loss of his first wife. Biden also recounted feelings of suicidal thoughts following his wife's death.

CURATEDLA EARLY SUMMER 24 PLAYLIST

SPORTS

• 🏆️ SPORTS EMMYS: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced the 2024 Gold and Silver Circle Inductees who will be celebrated at the 45th Annual Sports Emmy Awards on Tuesday, May 21st. This elite group of professionals have made significant contributions to television and are responsible for bringing the exciting and exhilarating sports programs and commentary to viewers. NATAS is thrilled to honor the incredible careers of these distinguished individuals at the 45th Sports Emmy Awards. | 💌 

  Gold Circle – 2024 Sports Inductees:

  • Bob Stenner, Lead Producer, Fox Sports (1994-2015); CBS Sports (1959-1994) for 65 years, John Gilmartin, Coordinating Producer & Director, NBC Sports (46 years), for 50 years

  Silver Circle – 2024 Sports Inductees:

  • Drew Esocoff, Director, NBC Sports (18 years); ABC Sports (16 years), for 44 years, Fred Gaudelli, Producer & Executive Producer, NBC Sports, ABC Sports, ESPN, for 42 years, Pam Oliver, Reporter/Host, Fox Sports (1995-present), Showtime (2016-2018); TNT (2005-2009), ESPN (1993-1995), for 39 years, David Roberts, Head of Events and Studio Production, ESPN, for 46 years, Renata Sedzimir, Senior Concept Artist & Senior Designer, ESPN, for 28 year and Jake Soto, Engineering Management, MLB Network (15 years); WPIX (17 years), for 33 years

• 1️⃣ CALEB WILLIAMS: In a quarterback-heavy NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. Williams, the consensus top prospect, was followed by the Washington Commanders taking LSU + Cajon High School’s Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and the New England Patriots choosing North Carolina's Drake Maye at No. 3. In total, six quarterbacks were taken in the first twelve picks, setting a new draft record for offensive players selected early. Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, joins a retooled Bears team that made a major trade to acquire the top pick. The Commanders and Patriots also landed highly touted signal-callers, with Daniels coming off a historic season at LSU and Maye drawing comparisons to Chargers QB Justin Herbert. The biggest surprise came at No. 8, when the Atlanta Falcons selected Washington's Michael Penix Jr., despite having just signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a lucrative contract.

• 🏈 BUSH REUNITED WITH HEISMAN: 

• 🧢 DODGER CLUBHOUSE EXPANSION: Dodger Stadium plans to expand its home and visitor clubhouses by over nine-thousand square feet each, increasing the total clubhouse space to more than sixty-one thousand square feet. The project will also install thirteen new signs for stadium users. | H/T Barry Lank of The Eastsider

HAVE A GREAT WKND, LA!