AUGUST 2ND, 2024

FRIDAY’S VIBES

FRIDAY. AMERICA.

NEW RESTAURANTS.

• 🚀 EXCITING NEWS: Exciting news for brand owners: CuratedLA is teaming up with OpenAI to explore how publications like ours will be incorporated into SearchGPT. Right now, we at CuratedLA are offering complimentary hosting of local or of-interest press releases on our platform. If you have a press release you'd like to share and potentially boost your brand's visibility in search results, we encourage you to reach out to us at [email protected] for this valuable opportunity.
  ^{*This offer is complimentary and a notice will be provided publicly in a newsletter/article if press releases become a paid model at CuratedLA.}

• 😋 NEW OPENINGS: We have a lot of restaurant openings in today’s edition of CuratedLA, perfect for some weekend eats. More openings will also be published on Monday, in addition to good vibes, just like the ones 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.}

• ℹ️ ^{indicates information only, no linked content}

• ^{CATFISH TEXT LINE: 747-200-5740 to submit content. Please no late night ‘WYD?’ or OnlyFans.}

HEAR AGAIN

OTC Hearing Aids For Just $189/Pair

Meet Audien Hearing: the company making hearing affordable for everyone.

Audien Hearing aids work right out of the box. No hearing test needed.

Rated by USA Today one of the "best hearing aids of 2024", Audien's Atom™ 2 Series starts at just $189/pair.

It has amazing new features:

✅ 4 hearing modes
✅ 2 in 1 UV cleaning case
✅ Nearly invisible design
✅ Feedback cancellation

Audien offers a 45 day risk free trial, lifetime support, and free shipping! Don't wait. Try the Atom™ 2 Series risk free NOW!

Start Hearing Now

EATS

HEADLINES

• ☕️ DUNKIN: Dunkin’ has teamed up with celebrity chef Nick DiGiovanni to unveil The Chef Nick Menu, featuring four exclusive iced coffee creations available only through the Dunkin’ mobile app. Dive into summer with refreshing flavors like Blueberry Donut Iced Coffee, Caramel Coconut Cream Iced Coffee, Mocha Vanilla Iced Coffee, and Caramel Almondmilk Iced Coffee, each crafted to elevate your iced coffee experience.

• 🇲🇽 SANTA MONICA: Celebrity chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken have launched exciting new dinner and happy hour menus at Socalo, their vibrant Mexican pub in Santa Monica. Highlights include the mouthwatering Socalo Burger and refreshing Tamarind BBQ Chicken, alongside affordable happy hour bites like Grilled Riblets, all crafted with sustainable ingredients to celebrate the flavors of summer.

OPENINGS

• 🥯 SANTA MONICA: H&H Bagels, a beloved New York institution known for its iconic bagels, is set to open its first West Coast location in Santa Monica, taking over the former Marmalade Cafe. This exciting debut is part of a national expansion that will see the franchise launching new locations in major cities across the U.S. in 2024. Fans can look forward to a menu featuring favorites like the Avocado, Egg & Cheese and the classic NOVA Salmon With The Works, all while enjoying the cultural legacy that has made H&H a staple in shows like Seinfeld and Sex and the City. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

• 🐔 WATTS: Landmark Watts restaurant Locol is set to make a triumphant return next Thursday to the Watts Neighborhood. The eatery has been revamped + reimagined as a soul food destination and nonprofit under the Alta Community umbrella. Chefs Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson are reviving the beloved eatery with a focus on community-driven cuisine, job training, and addressing food insecurity in South Los Angeles, aiming to create a sustainable model that empowers local workers and satisfies the neighborhood's culinary cravings. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

• 🍺 ECHO PARK: Bia Garden quietly opened up recently on Sunset Boulevard near Dodger Stadium in Echo Park. This new beer garden serves patrons sausages and pretzels and has a spacious patio for patrons to enjoy, especially before or after a Dodger win. The menu showcases a crisp-looking schnitzel, grilled fish, and beers from local and known breweries. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

• 🥃 DOWNTOWN LA: Kenji Suzuki's Bar Suehiro, which opened on Wednesday, marks a bold new chapter for the beloved Suehiro Café, transitioning from a cherished Little Tokyo eatery to a vibrant cocktail destination in Downtown L.A. With a Type 47 liquor license in hand, Suzuki and bartender Huy Nang Pham offer a menu inspired by Tokyo's whiskey bars, featuring innovative cocktails and a cozy atmosphere that invites intimate gatherings. | 📸 Instagram

• ☕️ VIRGIL VILLAGE: Good Friend Coffee is set to open in Virgil Village by mid-August, offering a variety of espresso-based drinks, drip coffee, and pastries from Sugarbloom, including croissants and cookies. Owner Max Rand envisions the café as a community hub, featuring vibrant decor inspired by primary colors and ample seating for patrons to relax or work. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

• 🇲🇽 MR. TEMPO: Mr. Tempo is gearing up to launch a new Sports Bar & Cantina in Downtown Los Angeles, as confirmed by a post in the DTLA Development Facebook group and listed on their website. The menu will feature a diverse array of tacos, enchiladas, and specialty margaritas, although details on the opening date and exact location remain under wraps. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

• 🍷 HIGHLAND PARK: Byron Blatty Wines has opened a new tasting room on York Boulevard in Highland Park, showcasing fourteen wines, with twelve sourced from Los Angeles County vineyards. Co-founders Mark and Jenny Blatty aim to celebrate L.A.'s rich winemaking heritage, offering tastings Thursday through Sunday at their inviting space, 5122 York Blvd. | 🖥️ Website | 📸 Instagram

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

EVENTS

BIG LIST OF EVENTS

[CLICK FOR FULL AGENDA VIEW]

TRENDING

[CLICK FOR FULL AGENDA VIEW]

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

ACTIVITIES

• 🎞️ NORTH HOLLYWOOD: NOW - AUGUST 8TH: The 2024 Valley Film Festival commenced yesterday at Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. The festival kicked off with the Los Angeles premiere of A Little Family Drama, a heartwarming tale of a Mexican-American family whose annual reunion dinner is threatened by an unexpected taco truck crisis, directed by VFF alumna Nadia Zoe. The festival's Centerpiece Screening features The Ghost Trap, a haunting narrative about a lobsterman navigating personal and community challenges. The Valley Film Festival also showcases events, such as various coffee + conversations and Q&As throughout the duration of the festival.

• 🎞️ DOWNTOWN: TONIGHT: Join Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA for a magical evening under the stars. Arrive early to secure your seats, enjoy stunning views of the LA skyline, and immerse yourself in two showings with Legally Blonde starting at 8:20pm, followed by Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, starting at 10:55pm.

• 🎤 WEST HOLLYWOOD: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH: Join Judd Apatow & Friends on August 14th for A Benefit for Laughing Together, an evening dedicated to supporting mental health in schools through the power of comedy. Laughing Together, a division of Wellness Together, sends comedians into schools to teach workshops that foster communication, connection, and resilience. Secure your seats now for a night of laughter and impact, with tickets starting at $50. Doors open at 7:00pm, and the show starts at 8:00pm—arrive early for the best seats.

• 🎹 LOS FELIZ: TONIGHT, 8:00PM: Experience an unforgettable night with twelve-time Grammy winner John Legend at the Greek Theatre tonight at 8:00pm. This special solo performance will intimate reimaginings of his greatest hits, along with captivating stories that showcase the artistry behind his celebrated career.

• 🎸 ENCINO: SATURDAY, 6:00PM: Experience the vibrant LowerDeck Sessions LIVE, an outdoor concert series set against the stunning hills of Encino, where you can enjoy intimate performances from artists like Evening Elephants and Savannah Leigh. With food and drinks available for purchase, this 18+ event welcomes you to bring your own seating and encourages respectful enjoyment of the beautiful surroundings—just remember to arrive early for the full show!

• 🎸 DOWNTOWN: SATURDAY, 7:00PM: KCRW's summer of free programming continues tomorrow night with a vibrant pop-up concert at The Music Center's Jerry Moss Plaza, featuring Grammy-winning Americana artist Gaby Moreno. KCRW DJ José Galván will set the stage with his warm summer grooves starting at 7:00pm, making it a perfect night to enjoy music under the stars—free for all!

• ✂️ VENICE: AUGUST 11TH: Paper Cut Out Art returns at the charming MoDa Studios in Abbott Kinney, where creativity meets community in a delightful backyard setting. Inspired by Henri Matisse, this beginner-friendly event invites you to draw with scissors through guided exercises, followed by a fun creative session accompanied by delicious sips and light bites—perfect for solo adventurers, romantic dates, or a day out with friends! | 💌 

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

COMMUNITY

• 🏀 8-2-24: A second statue honoring Kobe Bryant is set to be unveiled outside Crypto Arena this weekend, with a private ceremony scheduled for Friday. This new statue will depict Bryant alongside his daughter Gianna, who tragically passed away with him in a helicopter crash in 2020. The unveiling on 8/2/24 holds special significance, reflecting the jersey numbers worn by both Bryant and Gianna, and will be available for public viewing starting Saturday.

• 🌳 TARZANA: Los Angeles has officially broken ground on its first self-sustaining park, Caballero Creek Park, which will utilize innovative water-capture systems and solar power for irrigation. Located in Tarzana, this 1.5-acre green space aims to educate the community on water conservation while providing amenities like an outdoor fitness center and recreational areas. Councilman Bob Blumenfield emphasized the project's significance for future generations, as it sets a new standard for sustainable parks along the Los Angeles River.

• 🔥 NIXON FIRE: The Nixon Fire in Riverside County has grown to 5,222 acres, with containment increasing to 18% as firefighters battle changing weather conditions and utilize water-dropping helicopters to maintain control lines. Despite minimal growth on Thursday, over one-thousand personnel remain engaged in the firefight, with evacuation orders still in place for scattered homes in the area and an evacuation center established at Temecula Valley High School.

• 😷 COVID: Los Angeles County is witnessing a concerning rise in COVID-19 cases, prompting health officials to emphasize the importance of preventive measures as families return from summer travels and schools prepare to reopen. With reported cases doubling in the last month and wastewater virus levels nearing winter peaks, residents are urged to practice good hygiene, consider mask-wearing in crowded spaces, and stay home if symptomatic to help curb the spread of the virus.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

DEVELOPMENT

• 🌳 KOREATOWN: Fencing now surrounds the parking lot of Koreatown's Pio Pico Library as plans to transform the site into a pocket park advance, following the issuance of a construction permit for the $26m project. Designed by JFAK Architects, the new 26,000-square-foot park will feature a playground, fitness equipment, and a walking loop, with construction expected to take about eighteen months.

• 🎡 SANTA MONICA: The Santa Monica City Council has unanimously voted to kickstart negotiations with Revitalization Partners Group, LLC to breathe new life into the historic Civic Auditorium, which has been dormant since 2011. With a team boasting expertise in live entertainment and real estate, including industry heavyweights like The Azoff Company and Live Nation.

• 🎬️ HOLLYWOOD: A new seven-story mixed-use development is on the horizon at 1445 North Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood, promising sixty residential units alongside five-hundred square feet of retail space. The project, spearheaded by And Asset Management and designed by Urban Design Specialists, aims to revitalize the site previously occupied by the Hollywood Playhouse theater, which was lost to a fire in 2022, while incorporating affordable housing incentives for nine units.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

BUSINESS

• 📚️ SANTA MONICA: Book lovers on L.A.’s Westside are eagerly anticipating the return of Barnes & Noble to Third Street Promenade, with the grand opening now set for August 28th. After closing its previous location in January 2018, the new store will occupy a long-vacant space adjacent to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, marking a significant comeback for the franchise in the area.

• 🏀 CLIPPERS STORE: The Los Angeles Clippers are set to unveil their first flagship store, The Flagship, in Inglewood today, coinciding with the opening of the Intuit Dome, their new home. This store will offer a wide range of merchandise, including customizable jerseys and a unique shopping experience, marking a significant milestone for the team as they prepare for the upcoming season and their first event featuring Bruno Mars on August 15th.

• ⛽️ GAS COMPANY TOWER: L.A. County is poised to snap up the distressed Gas Company Tower for $215m in an all-cash deal, marking a significant discount from its $632m valuation just three years ago. This acquisition of the fifth-tallest tower in the city at 555 West Fifth Street underscores the steep decline in downtown office values and the county's strategic move amid market downturns.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

ENTERTAINMENT

• 🦑 SQUID GAMES RETURNS: Netflix's Squid Game is set to return for its highly anticipated second season on December 26th promising a thrilling continuation of its deadly games. The new teaser hints at a darker journey for Player 456, who, three years after his win, must re-enter the perilous competition to dismantle the organization behind it, with a final season already confirmed for 2025. Watch the official drop of Squid Game Season 2 below or on YouTube.

  • 🔎 GO FURTHER: Everything we know about Squid Game Season 2, via Vanity Fair.

• 🎮️ VOICE ACTORS: Hundreds of video game performers rallied outside Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, marking their first major protest since voting to strike over AI concerns last week. SAG-AFTRA's Duncan Crabtree-Ireland highlighted fears that AI could misuse performers' likenesses without consent, while industry spokesperson Audrey Cooling emphasized that negotiations were close to a resolution, with significant agreements already in place.

• 💃 BRITNEY SPEARS: Britney Spears' bestselling memoir, The Woman in Me, is set to be adapted into a biopic by Universal Pictures, following a fierce bidding war for the rights. Directed by Jon M. Chu and produced by Marc Platt, the film promises to explore Spears' tumultuous life and career, with her music catalog included in the deal and her involvement in the project confirmed.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

SPORTS

• 🏈 NEW KICKOFF FORMAT: The NFL is shaking up the kickoff format for the 2024 season, aiming to enhance safety and increase return opportunities. The new rules will see kick coverage players lining up at the opposing 40-yard line, while the return team must have at least nine blockers set up between the 30-and 35-yard lines. This overhaul, inspired by the XFL's kickoff model, is designed to reduce violent collisions and revive a play that has seen a significant drop in returns, with hopes of making special teams a more dynamic part of the game again.

  • 📺️ GO FURTHER: New Dynamic Kickoff rules explained using Madden, via NFL on YouTube.

• 🧑‍⚖️ SUNDAY TICKET: U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, who is based here in LA, tossed out the $4.8bn verdict against the NFL, ruling that the jury's damages were based on guesswork or speculation. The NFL, previously found guilty of antitrust violations over its Sunday Ticket package, expressed gratitude for the decision, which came as the preseason kicked off with the Hall of Fame game.

• ⚾️ MIKE TROUT: Angels superstar Mike Trout has announced that he will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee, a setback that follows his previous surgery in May. In a heartfelt message, Trout expressed his disappointment and determination to return stronger, acknowledging the frustration felt by fans as he continues to battle injuries that have limited his play over the past several seasons. The three-time MVP has only managed to appear in twenty-nine games this year, contributing a .220 batting average with ten home runs before this latest injury.

• 🏒 JORDAN SPENCE: The Los Angeles Kings have extended defenseman Jordan Spence’s contract with a two-year deal worth $1.5m annually. Spence, twenty-three, who tallied 24 points in 71 games last season, will likely see expanded responsibilities following the departure of Matt Roy. With the addition of veteran Joel Edmundson and the potential pairing with Brandt Clarke, Spence is poised to play a crucial role in the Kings' defensive lineup next season.

• ⚡️ JUSTIN HERBERT: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot, sidelining him for approximately two weeks and requiring him to wear a walking boot. While Herbert is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 8th, backup Easton Stick will take over the majority of snaps during training camp.

• 🧢 PADRES 8, DODGERS 1: San Diego's Dylan Cease continued his impressive run, dominating Dodgers in an 8-1 victory, just days after throwing his first career no-hitter. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw struggled in his season debut, allowing seven runs—three earned—over just 3 2/3 innings, marking a challenging return for the three-time Cy Young winner as the Padres clinched the season series against their rivals. The Dodgers travel to Oakland tonight for a 6:40pm showing.

• ⚾️ ROCKIES 5, ANGELS 4: Jake Cave's dramatic two-run homer in the ninth inning propelled the Colorado Rockies to a 5-4 victory over the Angels, with the winning run scoring in the 10th due to a throwing error. This win marks the Rockies' second consecutive victory, showcasing their resilience following a five-game losing streak and solidifying their success since the All-Star break. The Angels play the Mets tonight at home, 6:38pm.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter

CU MONDAY, LA!

🤙 Have a wonderful weekend to my Favorite Crew.

🔼 Back To Top of Newsletter