MARCH 17TH, 2025

MONDAY’S VIBES

^SUBSCRIBE

MARCH
MADNESS

GO
TIGERS!
(always a Clemson Tiger - sorry LA)

HI CUTIE! 🤙 MARCH MADNESS

• Though many celebrated over the weekend, today is officially St. Patrick’s Day, marking the traditional death of Saint Patrick, a Saint of Ireland. Meanwhile, MLB Opening Day kicks off in Tokyo tomorrow, with the Dodgers facing the Cubs in a two-game series. As this hits your inbox (6:00am), The PLAYERS Championship is in a three-hole aggregate playoff—catch LA native J.J. Spaun against Rory McIlroy live on NBC and Peacock. With inclement weather in the forecast, activities return Wednesday. See you then, LA! - Wyatt

ON THIS DAY ⏪️ 

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HOV LANES

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EATS

OPENINGS

HIGHLAND PARK 🥐 SANTA CANELA

• From the team behind Loreto, Santa Canela is a new Highland Park bakery showcasing inventive takes on classic pan dulce. The sleek pastry case highlights creations like a concha-croissant hybrid and a champurrado-flavored maple donut, alongside savory bites like potato soyrizo croissants and beef chimichurri focaccia sandwiches. Traditional Mexican drinks, including cafe de olla and horchata, round out the menu at this stylish new spot.

  • Website + Instagram

LONG BEACH 🍺 MIDNIGHT OIL

• Midnight Oil brings late-night dim sum and inventive cocktails to Downtown Long Beach, set against a backdrop of traditional Chinese lanterns and pottery. The menu features pork buns, har gow, shumai, and popcorn shrimp, alongside creative drinks like a fried rice-inspired cocktail with Baijiu, gin, and rice syrup, served in a snake cup. Open Wednesday to Sunday until midnight on weekends, it’s a stylish spot for late-night dining and drinks.

  • Website + Instagram

GLENDALE 🥪 LITTLE CORNER CAFE

• Little Corner Cafe has recently opened its doors on N. Brand Boulevard in Glendale, offering a delightful fusion of New American cuisine with a focus on sandwiches, breakfast, and brunch options. Guests can enjoy a variety of dishes in a cozy atmosphere, complemented by an array of beverage choices, including alcoholic options. This eat is relatively new and can currently be found online via Yelp.

SANTA MONICA 🍨 BACIO DI LATTE

• Bacio di Latte, known for its rich, house-made gelato, is expanding to Santa Monica on Santa Monica Blvd, taking over the former Jamba Juice space. Already a favorite in Century City and Brentwood, the gelateria is broadening its SoCal presence with additional openings in Studio City, Beverly Hills, and beyond. Expect signature flavors crafted from top-quality ingredients in a welcoming space designed to bring an authentic Italian gelato experience to the Westside.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

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EVENTS

MONDAY

TUESDAY

THREE FUTURES

GUIDES

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COMMUNITY

LA MARATHON 🏃‍♂️ AMERICAN WIN

• Matt Richtman of Illinois made history at the 40th Los Angeles Marathon, becoming the first American to win the race since 1994 with a time of 2:07:56—an impressive feat in just his second marathon. Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Gebisa Tulu claimed the women’s title at 2:30:16, while Savannah Berry of Bakersfield placed third, proudly representing the United States. The event drew over 26,000 participants, including firefighters running for wildfire relief efforts. The marathon also revived the Marathon Chase, offering a $10,000 bonus for the overall first finisher.

SANTA MONICA 🎡 TENANT PROECTIONS

• Santa Monica is launching an $8m Renters’ Protection Program to support tenants facing eviction, funded primarily by Measure GS real estate transfer taxes. The initiative includes legal aid expansion, adding five Right to Counsel attorneys, and a Flexible Financial Assistance Program offering up to $20,000 for households in eviction cases. Eligible renters earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income can receive emergency, ongoing, or relocation aid. The program, overseen by the Housing and Human Services Department, will roll out over five years to assess funding needs and impact.

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DEVELOPMENT

SAWTELLE 🏡 NEW APARTMENTS

• The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved a seven-story, 102-unit apartment building on S. Beloit Avenue, just south of Santa Monica Boulevard. Developed by EJKS, LLC and designed by Sam Ghanouni, the project replaces five existing homes with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, including fourteen designated as very low-income affordable housing. The building will feature recreation rooms, roof decks, and a rooftop terrace, with completion expected in 18 to 24 months. The approval includes density bonus incentives, allowing for a larger structure in exchange for affordability provisions.

PASADENA 🌹 AC HOTEL

• Marriott is opening the AC Hotel in Pasadena this April. This European-inspired hotel comes to Pasadena’s Playhouse Village, bringing 194 thoughtfully curated rooms, a rooftop restaurant with San Gabriel Mountain views, and curated artwork from California-based artists. Guests can enjoy signature spaces like the AC Lounge, AC Kitchen, and AC Café, along with 9,500 square feet of event space. As the official hotel partner of Pasadena Playhouse, the AC Hotel blends modern design with Pasadena’s cultural heritage, offering a stylish and welcoming retreat for visitors and locals alike.

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BUSINESS

FCTRY LAB 👟 SERIES A

• FCTRY LAb, the LA-based independent footwear innovation lab, has secured an oversubscribed $8m+ Series A round, co-led by Level One Fund and Fog City Capital, to further its mission of giving creators greater ownership in the sneaker industry. Since its 2023 launch, the Black-led brand, founded by Omar Bailey and Abhi Som, has disrupted traditional endorsement models by rapidly commercializing viral designs like the Duck Boot with NLE Choppa and collaborations with brands like Collina Strada.

SCRUNCH AI 👾 BRAND LAUNCH

• Los Angeles-based Scrunch AI has officially launched, helping businesses optimize their presence in AI-driven search. Already backed by 25+ customers—including Lenovo and Crunchbase—the company secured a $4m seed round led by Mayfield to fuel growth. As AI models reshape online discovery, Scrunch AI equips brands with tools to monitor visibility, close content gaps, and enhance brand perception across AI search platforms.

INFRA 🔌 GIGA HUB

• San Francisco-based INFRA is launching its first Giga Hub in LA, a key step in its plan to build global infrastructure for autonomous vehicles. The hub will integrate ultra-fast charging, AI-driven fleet coordination, and automated maintenance, powered by INFRA’s Hub-to-Grid (H2G) system, which optimizes energy use by charging AVs during off-peak hours and feeding power back to the grid. CEO John Gabriel sees the project as a scalable model for cities worldwide, tackling traffic congestion and emissions while advancing next-generation smart city development.

VENICE 🫒 FLAGSHIP OPENING

• Olive Tree People, the fastest-growing waterless beauty company, has opened its first U.S. flagship store on Abbot Kinney in Venice. With $104m in sales in its second year, the brand is expanding 200% faster than celebrity-led competitors. Founded by Thomas Lommel, the company replaces water in skincare with olive tree cell elixirs, emphasizing sustainability and holistic beauty. The Venice location offers an immersive experience, allowing visitors to step inside a 3,000-year-old mountain olive tree. Olive Tree People also leads conservation efforts, protecting 31,000 ancient olive trees and funding clean water projects in Africa.

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ENTERTAINMENT

TED LASSO ⚽️ SEASON 4

• After much speculation, Ted Lasso is officially returning for a fourth season on Apple TV Plus. Jason Sudeikis confirmed on the New Heights podcast that the show is in early development, with the new season following Coach Lasso as he takes on a women’s soccer team. While casting details remain unclear, writer and Roy Kent actor Brett Goldstein is set to return. Sudeikis teased the season’s theme as learning to ‘leap before they look,’ promising a fresh chapter for the beloved character. The renewal joins Apple’s growing slate of returning hits, including Silo, Severance, and Mythic Quest.

BOX OFFICE 🍿 WKND RECAP

• Paramount’s Novocaine led a sluggish box office weekend with an $8.7m domestic debut, slightly outpacing Black Bag ($7.5m) and Mickey 17 ($7.51m, -60%). With a global total of $10.5m, Novocaine relied on last-minute ticket sales (74% same-day), drawing a younger male-skewing audience (59%) and solid reviews (82% RT, “B” CinemaScore). Black Bag, the Cate Blanchett-led spy thriller, opened with $7.5m domestically and a stronger $11.76m worldwide, but struggled to attract younger viewers. Elsewhere, The Last Supper ($2.8m) found a niche faith-based audience, while A24’s Opus flopped at #12 with just $1m. Overall, the weekend’s $52.6m total marked the lowest of the year, down over 40% from 2024.

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SPORTS

NCAA 🏀 WOMEN’S PICKS

• UCLA’s Lady Bruins secured the No.1 overall seed for this year’s Women’s Tournament, with USC earning the No. 1 seed in the Spokane 4 Region. The Lady Bruins of UCLA, Spokane 1 Region, will face the winner of UC San Diego/Southern University on Friday while the Lady Trojans of USC will play UNC Greensboro on Saturday. View: Printable Bracket for Women’s Tournament.

NCAA 🏀 MEN’S PICKS

• Three teams represent our area this year on the men’s side of March Madness. UC San Diego makes history with its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, facing No. 5 Michigan in the South Region. San Diego State, a tournament staple, takes on North Carolina in an 11-seed First Four battle for a shot at the Round of 64. Meanwhile, UCLA faces Utah State, aiming for a deep run. View: Printable Bracket for Men’s Tournament.

LAGC ⛳️ TGL FINALS

• The TGL Semifinals tee off as our top-seeded Los Angeles Golf Club takes on New York Golf Club in a high-stakes showdown. L.A., undefeated in regulation play, looks to continue its dominance, while New York, fresh off a clutch win, aims to pull off an upset. The match airs tomorrow at 4:00pm local on ESPN2 and ESPN+, with the winner advancing to the Finals for a shot at the inaugural SoFi Cup.

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GOODIES

NCAAW 🏀 SOCAL BALL

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SEE YOU WEDNESDAY, LA!

🤙 GO TIGERS!
…AND BRUINS 🚀

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