MARCH 24TH, 2025

MONDAY’S VIBES

^SUBSCRIBE

TWENTY YEARS OF

THE OFFICE

HI CUTIE! 🤙 BEST WEEK EVER

• Good morning, CuratedLA Fam! Twenty years ago today, the world met a regional manager like no other—Michael Gary Scott. A true icon of chaos, leadership, and unintentional wisdom, his antics (and those of the entire The Office crew) have left an undeniable mark on pop culture. Personally, this show was a lifeline for me during one of my toughest times—when radioactive thyroid treatment turned my world upside down in 2009, The Office always managed to bring me back with laughter. So today, I tip my hat to NBC Universal and all the creatives who made it happen. Wishing you all a great Monday—I’ll be back Wednesday! And as always, feel free to reply or reach me directly at [email protected]. – Wyatt

ON THIS DAY ⏪️ 

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HOV LANES

Last poll question: Where can one find mass amounts of poppies in Los Angeles? 

Answer: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.

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EATS

OPENINGS

VENTURA 🌮 MOTHER’S TACOS

• Mother’s Tacos, a Northern California-based taco shop inspired by Mexican flavors and a heartfelt trip to Mexico City, is set to open its second location in Ventura on E. Thompson Blvd in mid-April. This marks their first Southern California venture. Led by founders Charles Whittaker and Benedict Koenig, with executive chef Gabe Garcia, the new spot will feature vibrant branding, authentic tacos, churros, and a full bar. The menu expands to include family-style dishes like Tomahawk steak and whole duck carnitas. Mother’s Tacos promises the same inviting atmosphere and soulful food that’s made their Napa location a hit.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

ARTS DISTRICT 🍣 SAMA HAND ROLL

• Sama Hand Roll, the latest addition to the Arts District, delivers a refined take on Japanese hand rolls under the direction of San Gabriel Valley native Lester Lai. The menu blends traditional and modern flavors, featuring truffle toro, salmon skin, and sesame tofu rolls, alongside inventive dishes like bluefin burrata and lobster dashi pasta. Sake cocktails infused with lychee, mint, and a trio of melons add to the experience, making this a standout in LA’s ever-growing hand roll scene.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

WEST LA 🍳 BAKERY LA

• ​Bakery LA, a French bakery and café, recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location on W Pico Boulevard at the corner of Malcom and Pico. The owners bring authentic French cuisine to the neighborhood, offering a variety of pastries, breads, and light French entrées. Notable items include their almond croissants and pistachio éclairs, which have received high praise from customers. The café provides ample seating in a cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for both casual dining and working remotely.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

BELLFLOWER 🥩 HABACHIHANA GRILL

• Habachihana Grill, renowned for its premium hibachi-style dining, has expanded its Southern California presence with a new location in Bellflower. This latest addition joins their existing establishments in Anaheim, Orange, Yorba Linda, Huntington Beach, and LA. The Bellflower venue offers a diverse menu featuring fresh seafood, sushi, and signature open-flame hibachi entrées, including Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Salmon, and Lobster.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

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EVENTS

MONDAY

TUESDAY

THREE FUTURES

GUIDES

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ACTIVITIES

WEHO 🧑‍🌾 FARMERS’ MARKET

• TODAY: The Helen Albert Certified Farmers’ Market returns today from 9:00am to 2:00pm at Plummer Park’s north parking lot, offering organic produce, fresh seafood, baked goods, flowers, and more—rain or shine. Customers can park for one hour in the north lot or up to three hours in the south lot. CalFresh participants can now use EBT to purchase fresh goods, with up to $20 in Market Match incentives available for fruits and vegetables. Visit the info booth for details 💌 

  • 💌 Submitted by Curators from the City of West Hollywood.

HOLLYWOOD 🪄 HARRY POTTER

• ​NOW - JUNE 22ND: Experience the magic of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, with performances running now through June 22nd. This spellbinding production, based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, follows Harry Potter's son, Albus, as he embarks on a time-traveling adventure alongside Scorpius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's son. Audiences have been captivated by the show's breathtaking special effects and illusions, making it a must-see event for fans and newcomers alike. Tickets are available through the Hollywood Pantages Theatre box office and authorized ticketing platforms. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the continuation of the Harry Potter saga live on stage.​

REMINDER 🎞️ PALEYFEST LA

• NOW - SATURDAY: PaleyFest LA continues through Saturday at the Dolby Theatre, offering an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at some of television’s most celebrated shows. This year’s lineup includes panels for Severance, Agatha All Along, Hacks, Cobra Kai, Matlock, The Handmaid’s Tale, Poker Face, and a tribute to Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Étoile. Expect star-studded discussions with Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Patricia Arquette, Kumail Nanjiani, Gwendoline Christie, and more. Hosted by The Paley Center for Media, the festival remains a must-attend event for TV enthusiasts.

INTUIT DOME 💰️ MONEY IN THE BANK

• JUNE 7TH: WWE's Money in the Bank 2025 is set for June 7th at the Intuit Dome, marking the first premium live event inside the venue. The annual event, known for its high-stakes ladder match where winners secure a championship contract, will take place in California for the first time.

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COMMUNITY

WILDFIRE RISKS 🔥 NEW MAPS

• For the first time in over a decade, California officials will release an updated map today, identifying areas most at risk over the next 30-50 years. Covering eight counties, including Los Angeles and Orange, these maps will guide local planning, real estate disclosures, and fire-resistant building codes. While they highlight fire-prone zones, they don't account for homeowner efforts like brush clearing or fireproofing. The updates expand high-risk areas to 1.4m acres, up from 800,000, prompting new regulations on defensible space and ember-free zones.

IRVINE 🏅 PAN PACIFIC

• USA Swimming has confirmed that the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will take place at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Centre in Irvine, marking the event’s return after an eight-year hiatus. Originally expected to be hosted by Canada, the decision to relocate to Irvine aligns with efforts to bolster U.S. swimming ahead of the Games. The Woollett Aquatics Centre, a world-class venue with a history of hosting top-tier swimming events, previously welcomed the Pan Pacs in 2010.

  • 🔗 RELATED: AECOM tapped as Los Angeles Olympics infrastructure partner, via Construction Dive.

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DEVELOPMENT

MID-WILSHIRE 🏥 NEW HOSPITAL

• The five-story DOCS Surgical Hospital on San Vicente Boulevard is nearing completion, bringing a new surgical facility to Mid-Wilshire. Designed by Mesa Design Architects, the medical center will feature four operating rooms, an imaging center, medical offices, a pharmacy, and ground-floor retail space. A 40-car garage is also included. The facade blends concrete, terra cotta, and glass, with a rooftop healing garden for patients, staff, and visitors. Construction began in 2023, with completion expected in 2026.

SANTA MONICA 🏡 NEW HOUSING

• A corner lot on 17th Street in Santa Monica is set for redevelopment, replacing ten existing homes with a four-story, 24-unit apartment complex. Developed by Empire Associates and designed by Bica Architects, the project includes a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units above a 47-car subterranean garage. Leveraging density bonus incentives, four units will be designated as affordable housing. The design features a textured white exterior, painted metal balconies, and shared amenity spaces on the ground and top floors.

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BUSINESS

REDONDO BEACH 🚴 UPWAY FLAGSHIP

• Sequoia-backed startup Upway has opened its 30,000-square-foot flagship facility in Redondo Beach, the largest e-bike refurbishment center in California. With $70m in funding and a mission to make high-quality e-bikes more affordable, Upway bets on LA’s growing micromobility movement. As California’s new e-bike rebate kicks in and car-free commuting gains traction, this could be the perfect time to swap gridlock for a smoother ride 💌 | 🔗 Official announcement, via Upway.

  • 💌 Content from our Curator Partners at Dot.LA

EXPLODING KITTENS 😺 NEW GAME X COLLAB

• Los Angeles-based Exploding Kittens, the hit game company behind the Kickstarter sensation, has teamed up with bestselling author and entrepreneur Tim Ferriss to launch Coyote, a fast-paced, rhythm-based party game packed with chaotic gestures and unexpected twists. Designed by Ferriss and Exploding Kittens CEO Elan Lee, Coyote challenges players to keep up with an evolving sequence of moves. Coyote was released at Walmart for $9.97, with an Amazon and Target release in July.

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ENTERTAINMENT

NETFLIX 🍫 WILLY WONKA

• Netflix is reimagining Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with The Golden Ticket, a high-stakes reality competition where contestants secure a golden ticket for entry into a dazzling, retro-futuristic chocolate factory. Once inside, they must navigate a series of strategic, adventurous, and socially driven challenges to stay in the game. Produced by Eureka Productions (The Mole, TwentySomethings: Austin), the show is Netflix’s first adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic since acquiring his IP in 2021.

CONAN 🏆️ MARK TWAIN PRIZE

• Conan O’Brien was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center last night, recognizing his decades-long impact on comedy. From his early days writing for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons to his sixteen-year run on Late Night, O’Brien has been a defining voice in late-night television. His career continued with a TBS talk show, hit podcasts, and the acclaimed travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go. The ceremony, featuring tributes from fellow comedians, will be streamed on Netflix at a later date.

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SPORTS

SURFING 🏄‍♀️ RIP CURL PRO

• Caroline Marks (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA) triumphed at the 2025 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, overcoming challenging conditions at Supertubos to secure crucial wins on the WSL Championship Tour. Marks edged out Gabriela Bryan (HAW) in a tense final, securing her second Portugal title and seventh career CT victory, while Dora bested Italo Ferreira (BRA) in an all-Brazilian showdown, marking his second career CT win. Both champions now set their sights on the Surf City El Salvador Pro as they build momentum for their 2025 title campaigns 💌 

  • 💌 Submitted by Curators at World Surf League.

BOXING 🥊 LA28 OLYMPICS

• Boxing will officially be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after a unanimous IOC vote, ending uncertainty over its Olympic future. The decision follows the IOC’s recent provisional recognition of World Boxing, a new governing body formed in 2023 with over 80 national federations.

USC 🏀 NCAAW TOURNY

• JuJu Watkins reassured fans after sustaining multiple injuries during No. 1 seed USC’s dominant 71-25 win over UNC Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon. The freshman star rolled her ankle and fell on her wrist but downplayed concerns, saying, ‘I’m all right. Don’t worry.’ Despite limping off at one point, Watkins returned to the court, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. The Trojans now turn their focus to No. 9 Mississippi State, facing off tonight, 7:00pm, on ESPN.

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GOODIES

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SEE YOU WEDNESDAY, LA!

🤙 Have a strong start to the week, LA!
See everyone back here on Wednesday 🚀

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