JUNE 24TH, 2024

MONDAY

MONDAY’S VIBES

HAPPY MOANDAY, LA. WE GOT IT. WE SO GOT THIS WEEK😎 

🍟 WE WANT MCDONALDS: Hey CuratedLA Family! Happy Monday! Apologies for missing our Friday publish; my MacBook Air has been overheating. We're exploring temporary solutions to keep CuratedLA going strong. If anyone can help with a give what you can donation (button below) or loaner, it'd be amazing! CuratedLA is also being pitched to investors—exciting but early stages. Your support means everything as we navigate this growth phase. Any contribution to our laptop fund would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your ongoing support! My email if needed is: [email protected] Note: the donation amount of $10.00 can be changed, less or more.

🙏 Thank you! Anything would truly help. Now onto today’s good vibes below ⬇️ 

TRENDING 

THE HOV LANE

• 🐇 represents our hopes to provide political news without opinions. Please don’t trust us on politics, we don’t know anything other than how to drink a good CapriSun.

EATS

HEADLINES

🍿 NETFLIX: Netflix has launched its own line of popcorn bags in collaboration with Popcorn Indiana, featuring two initial flavors: ‘Cult Classic Cheddar Kettle’ and ‘Swoonworthy Cinnamon Kettle.’ Available at $4.49 per eight-ounce bag, these snacks aim to enhance Netflix's brand visibility in retail settings rather than generate significant revenue. This move aligns with Netflix's broader strategy to expand beyond digital platforms, including plans for ‘Netflix House’ entertainment complexes. The streaming giant highlighted its new popcorn line in a recent statement, emphasizing its commitment to enriching movie nights with convenient, tasty snacks now available at Walmart nationwide. LOL at the below Tweet ⬇️ 

🍟 FAST FOOD: Southern California's fast-food industry reached a new record in May, adding 4,800 jobs for a total of 362,000 workers across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Despite industry concerns about rising costs, May's hiring surge nearly doubled the pre-pandemic average from 2015-2019. The robust local economy may be sustaining this growth, with consumer spending remaining strong. Full-service restaurants and other hospitality sectors also saw significant job gains, reflecting overall economic resilience in the region.

📺️ DTLA: Tom’s Watch Bar is hosting every UEFA 2024 and Copa America USA 2024 match. From now until July 14th, Tom’s Watch Bar will feature DJs, prizes, and giveaways. Soccer fans can revel in the vibrant atmosphere, with specialty cocktails and an extensive craft beer selection enhancing your game-day experience. Tom’s Watch Bar recently hosted a 1,000-person Champions League final Watch Party in LA. | 💌 

🍹 DRINKS AT NORMS: Norms Restaurant, a Bellflower-based chain, is now offering an alcoholic beverage menu, starting at its Ontario and Rialto locations. Patrons can enjoy beer, wine, mimosas, and micheladas priced between $5.50 and $11. This move comes after a hiatus since 2015, when Norms ceased alcohol sales following a change in ownership. Corporate Executive Chef David Cox, noting a shift in consumer attitudes toward brunch drinks, collaborated with local businesses like Common Space Brewery, I Love Micheladas, and San Antonio Winery to craft the new menu. The highlight is the signature michelada, El Normando, served with Tajin, chamoy, and garnished with a fried jalapeño, bacon, pineapple, and lime. Norms, which operates twenty-three locations in Southern California, plans to expand alcohol offerings and is considering adding a happy hour.

🧃 SOBER SUMMER: Down for staying sober? You are not alone. Recent research indicates that Americans are increasingly embracing sobriety as mocktails and zero-proof spirits are becoming must-haves. This trend has been driven by health awareness, cost, diet, and legal cannabis trends, ‘California Sober.’ Sober bars are sprouting nationwide, catering to the 67% of Americans cutting back on booze.

• ➡️ RELATED: Thirteen LA bars and restaurants that are shaking up outstanding non-alcoholic cocktails, via Eater: Los Angeles.

🍪 CRUMBL COOKIES: Our friends at Crumbl are offering Butter Cake cookies for a limited-time. The Crumbl Crew says that the Butter Cake cookie is perfectly soft, and that the sweet dessert is so good. And in other exiting news for one of our favorite cookie brands: they’ve partnered with Kellogg for their new cereal, ‘crumbl.’ The team says that the cereal should be on shelves now, but if not, should be on local shelves shortly throughout our area. This all looks too yum…and the cereal looks like an excuse to have dessert for breakfast. | 💌 

OPENINGS

🍕 SANTA MONICA: Triple Beam Pizza, an L.A.-based Roman-style pizzeria chain, opened its doors on Main Street in Santa Monica over the weekend. Santa Monica’s location for the pizzeria joins its Echo Park, Glendora, and Highland Park locations that are known for thin, square slices of delicious pizza. The chain's new Santa Monica spot is led by executive chef Juan Robles. The menu offers a variety of traditional, gluten-free, and vegan options, featuring fresh ingredients like fontina cheese, calabrian aioli, cacio di roma cheese, and pastrami crumble. Inspired by numerous Italy trips, Triple Beam brings Roman-style pizza to Southern California. | 📸 Instagram | 📜 Menu

🇮🇹 BRENTWOOD: Brentwood has welcomed Osteria Vera at the old Pecorino space on San Vicente boulevard. Osteria Vera features a refreshed interior with hardwood floors and varnished wood tables replacing the previous decor. Partner Giorgio Pierangali, who ran Pecorino for seventeen years, has collaborated with Osteria Vera to maintain the beloved tableside cacio e pepe while introducing a new, two-section menu: cold and hot. Highlights include burrata with roasted beets and roasted shrimp with fava bean puree. Signature dishes such as orecchiette with housemade sausage and paccheri with lobster. With a modern, open kitchen and a menu inspired by various Italian regions, Osteria Vera is poised to become a favorite among Brentwood’s Italian food enthusiasts. | 💻️ Website | 📜 Menu

🍕 LOMITA: Schellz Pizza Co. has soft-opened in Lomita, offering a unique blend of Detroit-style pan pies and Japanese milk bread crusts they call ‘Hokkaidough.’ The menu features inventive toppings such as pepperoni with pineapple and jalapeño, sirloin steak, and their signature ‘Mushroom Magic.’ The pizzeria, located on Pacific Coast Hwy, operates Fridays from 4:00 - 9:00pm and weekends from 3:00 - 9:00pm during the soft-opening phase. Patrons can enjoy takeout and delivery options, with catering services available for larger events. | 📸 Instagram

🇧🇶 EAST HOLLYWOOD: Chef Rashida Holmes, renowned for her oxtail patties that started as a pandemic-era home venture, has elevated Bridgetown Roti to a permanent space in East Hollywood after successful pop-ups and a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Best Emerging Chef in 2023. Situated across from Los Angeles City College, the restaurant adopts a counter-service model ideal for to-go orders. The menu boasts Bajan and Trinidadian delicacies, including patties, roti, doubles, and unique Caribbean Tings-like honey-jerk chicken wings. Fans of her pop-ups can rejoice as favorites such as curry shrimp, red pepper goat rotis, callaloo greens with smoked dashi broth, and Aunt Vie’s codfish cakes are set to feature prominently. | 📸 Instagram

🇲🇽 SOUTH LA: Fátima Juárez and Conrado Rivera, former stars of Holbox in South LA, are embarking on their own culinary journey with Komal, a new venture celebrating pre-Hispanic cuisine and indigenous Mexican corn. Starting with a market in July featuring their renowned tortillas and masa products, Komal will evolve into a full-service restaurant in August offering an à la carte menu, and in September, a tasting menu experience. Teasers from Komal’s Instagram reveal tantalizing dishes like a ceremonial quesadilla with squash blossom, quesillo, and poblano, and a tostada topped with chicken tinga. As we anticipate Komal’s grand opening, their signature tortillas remain available for purchase at Holbox.

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EVENTS

BIG LIST OF EVENTS

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ACTIVITIES

🌪️ UNIVERSITY PARK: Outside the Box [Office] and Universal Pictures have invited us + a guest to attend a special sneak preview screening of Twisters. The screening takes place on Friday, July 12th at Norris Cinema Theatre at Frank Sinatra Hall. This is a free event, but RSVP is required.

👟 SAN MARINO: A sunset walk for founders + creatives takes place tonight from 7:00pm - 8:00pm at Lacy Park in San Marino. This group of creatives want to kick off the week the right way with a sunset walk: get out in nature, count some steps and meet like minded people. The sunset walk is hosted by FocusBuddi, a community of founders & creatives based in LA. They host co-working focus sessions, networking and skill-exchange events. RSVP to tonight’s sunset walk.

🎾 SAN MARINO: Overheard x Truly LA are hosting a pickleball tournament this upcoming Saturday from 12:00pm - 4:00pm at Truly LA. Grab a partner, your best pickleball outfit, and your competitive streak for a knockout-style tournament fueled by the refreshing taste of Truly Hard Seltzer. ‘Hollywood’s Favorite Pickleball Coach’ Matt ‘McNasty’ Manasse will serve as Master of Ceremonies, sharing pro tips, bad jokes, and more throughout the tournament. Custom goodies, samples and giveaways, light bites, and of course, a couple of Truly Hard Seltzers are included in your ticket.

 🎞️ PASADENA: Join One Colorado for an unforgettable night of entertainment under the stars this summer! Head to The Courtyard on select Saturdays this June and July to enjoy complimentary film screenings of some of our favorite musicals and blockbuster movies. This time, we're featuring the blockbuster hit, BARBIE (PG-13), which will surely have you entertained all night long. VIP check-in begins at 7:45pm | Films begin at 8:30p. In partnership with IPIC Theatres, guests can enjoy VIP premier seating when they show a receipt for a minimum purchase of $50 (per person) from One Colorado restaurants and shops. Each VIP guest will receive an IPIC promotion, popcorn and a soft drink. Premier seating is available first-come, first-served. Free public seating is also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Get comfy! Don't forget to bring your favorite blankets, chairs, and snacks to make the most out of this experience. We'll provide the big screen and the sound system to make sure you have an amazing time. Get ready to sing, dance, and have a blast with us at "Movies Under the Stars" this summer. | 💌 

🤖 SANTA MONICA: Discover and connect at the Preccelerator Founders' Meetup Group, where tech founders gather for an evening of networking and insights. The Meetup is on Monday, July 1st from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike, this event promises valuable advice, lively discussions, and opportunities to expand your network in the tech industry. Join us at the Preccelerator's Santa Monica Promenade co-working space for an inspiring "Happy Hour" of knowledge sharing and community building. Don't miss out on this chance to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit and propel your startup forward.

🏟️ HOLLYWOOD PARK: Ever wondered what it's like to be inside the UFC octagon or see space through an astronaut's eyes? Cosm's Summer Showcase at Hollywood Park in Inglewood offers just that. Kicking off July 27th, the 65,000-square-foot venue features an 87-foot diameter 12K+ LED dome, delivering immersive shared reality experiences with stadium-style seating. Highlights include UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad 2, Cirque du Soleil’s ‘O,’ and the space journey film ‘Orbital’ by Planetary Collective. Other features include Nancy Baker Cahill’s visual narrative SEEK, and Ricardo Romaneiro’s audiovisual symphony LIQUIDVERSE: Microcosm & Macrocosm. Tickets are on sale now for this unique blend of sports, entertainment, and art. | H/T: Pasadena Star-News

🛸 LONG BEACH: Long Beach City College (LBCC) is swapping traditional fireworks for a digital display with its inaugural drone show at SummerFest on July 27th, held at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The event kicks off at 4:00pm (July 27th) with DJ Mr. Quick, followed by performances from the LBCC Jazz Ensemble, Jelly of the Month Club, and Breezin’, culminating in the drone show by Pixis Drones at 8:45pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids aged four to twelve, and free for those under three. The stadium, once home to the Long Beach Firefighters Memorial Association's fireworks shows until 2011, now sets the stage for this modern celebration.

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COMMUNITY

🪧 WATTS INTERSECTION: Longtime community activist ‘Sweet’ Alice Harris was honored recently with an intersection in Watts named after her. The ninety-year-old Harris joined Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker at Lou Dillon Avenue and Santa Ana Boulevard North, near her home and the social services organization she founded in 1967, Parents of Watts Working with Youths and Adults. ‘This sign and this naming will remember your work -- your decades and decades and decades of work,’ McOsker said. Harris' organization supports youth education, provides emergency food and shelter, prepares teenagers for college and jobs, and offers drug counseling and parenting classes. | Watch celebration, above.

💸 POMONA: The City of Pomona is launching the Pomona Household Universal Grants Pilot Program (Pomona HUG), providing $500 monthly to 250 residents for 18 months. This no-strings-attached financial aid aims to help families with young children struggling with expenses like rent and childcare. In a city where nearly 12% live below the poverty line, this initiative reflects a broader movement across Southern California to support vulnerable communities with unconditional cash. Participants, chosen by lottery, must meet specific criteria and will start receiving payments in late August, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan.

🏅 2028 OLYMPICS: The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced venue changes expected to save $156m and streamline operations. Swimming will move to SoFi Stadium, making it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, while basketball will take place at Intuit Dome, and gymnastics at Crypto.com Arena. Track and field events will stay at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Opening and closing ceremonies will be split between the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium, altering traditional schedules by shifting athletics to the first week and swimming to the second. Events like softball and canoe slalom will be held in Oklahoma City to utilize existing venues and promote sustainability. The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area will host BMX and skateboarding, while equestrian and shooting events move to venues outside Los Angeles. These changes, approved by the city, leverage new arenas developed since the original 2017 bid, aiming for cost-effective and efficient games.

🛫 LONG BEACH: Long Beach Airport is hosting its second annual high school externship program, Careers Taking Flight, offering students from Cabrillo and Jordan High Schools a week-long immersion into the aviation industry. The program introduces students to careers such as air traffic control, TSA, aircraft maintenance, and various small businesses within the airport environment. The initiative addresses significant job shortages in aviation, highlighting alternative career options. ‘We need good skilled people,’ said Andy Lui Fuentes, CEO of SoCal Jet Services. ‘I was a factory-trained technician, and I like to pass that down to students who want to learn.’ The program offers hands-on experiences and a $500 incentive for perfect attendance.

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DEVELOPMENT

🏡 HOLLYWOOD: A vacant lot just south of Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood is set to transform into new housing, according to a recent application submitted to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Ruifeng Fan of Vesta Custom Homes, LLC, plans to subdivide the 7,500-square-foot parcel at 1255 N. Beachwood Drive to construct five single-family dwellings. Designed by KU & Associates, the project will feature four-story homes, each with four bedrooms, a rooftop deck, and a two-car garage. This development joins a trend of similar townhome-style projects in the area, including a six-home development at 1301 N. Tamarind Avenue.

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BUSINESS

🥛 WARRIOR BEVERAGES: Warrior Beverages has announced a partnership with Los Angeles Lakers Legend AC Green and Langers Juice International, aiming to elevate Warrior Energy Drink and Warrior Alkaline Water in the CPG industry. Founded by visionary Cory Lewis, Warrior Beverages is set to soar with the expertise of Eric White and Sergio Santibanez. AC Green, renowned for his commitment to health, joins forces to promote the brand’s health-conscious products. Langers Juice International’s global reach will support Warrior Beverages’ expansion, tapping into new markets and enhancing distribution channels.

🤖 GARDENA: GrayMatter Robotics, a Gardena-based industrial robotics startup, has secured $45 million in Series B funding led by Wellington Management, with contributions from Calibrate Ventures and B Capital, bringing their total funding to $70.4 million. Founded in 2020, GrayMatter specializes in robots that handle high-variability cosmetic manufacturing tasks like sanding and polishing for companies such as Riddell and Patrick Industries. CEO Ariyan Kabir highlights their robots' ability to adapt to different parts using AI and 3D scanning, addressing the labor shortage in manufacturing. The new funds will expand their product line and marketing efforts as the industry pivots back to hard tech solutions amid legislative incentives.

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ENTERTAINMENT

🎫 MOVIEPASS: MoviePass, the once defunct cinema subscription service, is making a comeback with a new investor, Forecast Labs, which is owned by Comcast. The plans for the investment are to aim MoviePass to rebuild its subscriber base through TV advertising. The New York-based company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020 due to unsustainable pricing, did not disclose financial details of the investment. Stacy Spikes, MoviePass’ CEO, expressed optimism about leveraging new technology to boost theater traffic and enhance studio partnerships. Forecast Labs sees ‘tremendous value’ in MoviePass 2.0, aiming to avoid past pitfalls of over-promising with unsustainable pricing models.

 🚀 INSIDE OUT 2: Inside Out 2 dominated the box office with a staggering $100 million in its second weekend. The movie is poised to become one of Pixar's highest-grossing films with $724m in global, collective earnings. Only a few films, like ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ have seen bigger second weekends. ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ held second place with $18.7 million, while ‘The Bikeriders’ debuted in third with ten million. Tied for fourth were ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ and ‘The Garfield Movie,’ both earning $3.6 million. The top-ten also included ‘IF,’ ‘The Exorcism,’ ‘Thelma,’ ‘The Watchers,’ and ‘Ghost: Rite Here Rite Now.’

🚓 BEVERLY HILLS COP 5: Eddie Murphy and Jerry Bruckheimer have hinted at plans for a fifth installment of Beverly Hills Cop ahead the release of Axel F. Reflecting on the franchise's forty-year history this past weekend in Beverly Hills, Bruckheimer shared a nervous memory of the original film's industry screening, which initially seemed poorly received until a public showing proved otherwise. Murphy confirmed the development of a potential sequel, while Bruckheimer mentioned having a few story ideas. Despite a knee injury sustained in his sleep, Murphy remains enthusiastic about the future.

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SPORTS

🧢 DODGERS 7, ANGELS 2: Tyler Glasnow pitched seven solid innings, while Shohei Ohtani homered for the second straight game, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, splitting the Freeway Series. Ohtani’s 459-foot homer, his 23rd of the season, provided a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Glasnow (8-5) struck out 10 and allowed two runs. Gavin Lux and Freddie Freeman contributed offensively, with Lux breaking a homerless streak and Freeman achieving his 2,200th career hit. Despite injuries to key players, both teams look ahead to upcoming games, with Griffin Canning and James Paxton set to start next.

🏒 L.A. KINGS: The Kings' preseason schedule offers intrigue this year with no games at the under-renovation Crypto.com Arena and two matches abroad. The action begins on September 23rd in Utah, facing Utah HC, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, instead of the initially planned Vegas Golden Knights for Frozen Fury. Following this, the Kings will play the Golden Knights in Vegas on September 25th and the Ducks in Ontario's Toyota Arena for the Empire Classic on September 28th, followed by a rematch at the Honda Center on September 30th. The preseason wraps up with games against the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers in Quebec City on October 3rd and 5th.

🤝 LAKERS TRADE RUMORS: The Lakers are on the verge of a potential blockbuster trade for Dejounte Murray, as reported by Shams Charania. Rob Pelinka is reportedly pushing to enhance the championship prospects around LeBron James, focusing on bolstering the team’s defense after a disappointing season. With Murray’s four-year contract extension looming, making a move before July could be financially strategic. The Hawks must decide between Trae Young and Murray, and the Lakers have shown consistent interest in acquiring the talented guard to address their roster gaps.

🏐 OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL: The United States secured their spot at the Paris Olympics by finishing first in Pool B of the FIVB Road to Paris Volleyball Qualifier, marking their 16th consecutive appearance since volleyball was introduced in Tokyo 1964. The American team boasts a storied history with three gold medals (Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, and Beijing 2008) and two bronze medals (Barcelona 1992 and Rio 2016) across their 15 Olympic participations.

⚽️ USA MEN’S TEAM: Christian Pulisic led the U.S. men's national team to a victorious start in their 2024 Copa America campaign with a 2-0 win over Bolivia at AT&T Stadium. Pulisic opened the scoring in the third minute with a stunning shot after a quick corner exchange with Timothy Weah. Just before halftime, Pulisic assisted Folarin Balogun for the second goal. Despite a somewhat sloppy second half and missed opportunities, the U.S. never looked in danger. Manager Gregg Berhalter's lineup changes included Tyler Adams' return and Balogun's start, proving pivotal. Pulisic, the standout performer, showcased his playmaking and scoring prowess, ensuring a confident opening for the Americans on home soil.

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CU WEDNESDAY, LA!

🤙 Toodles and have a great Monday, LA!

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