FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024

WEDNESDAY’S VIBES

👋 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST 2024

• 🦺 EMERGENCY ALERTS: Our State of California is very tech-driven. That said, I want to provide us all with the appropriate county links to where we can all sign up for emergency alerts:

  • The City of Los Angeles: NotifyLA

  • The County of Los Angeles: Ready LA County

  • Ventura County: Ready Ventura County

  • Orange County: AlertOC

  • Riverside County: AlertRivCo

  • Santa Barbara County: ReadySBC

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EATS

😋 HEADLINES

• 🌊 DINE-OUT LONG BEACH: The City of Long Beach is celebrating Dine-Out Long Beach, a week-long festival of eats + drinks where participating restaurants offer special menus and exclusive deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The event aims to support and showcase the diverse array of dining establishments in the city, providing an opportunity for locals and visitors to explore new culinary experiences and support local businesses. The festival is ongoing until February 28th.

• 🥤 COCA-COLA SPICE REVIEW: A new member of the Coca-Cola Family was introduced on Monday, Coca-Cola Spiced. And the folks at Mashable have a review worth reading.

• ☕️ LONG BEACH: Mangette recently opened in early December. This seems like the perfect place to get up in a comf-corner, work, study, or just enjoy people watching on what will hopefully be our last day of consistent rain | View Online Menu | 📸 @mangettelb

• 🫒 CULVER CITY: Esme is another great spot for getting comfortable. But instead of going solo, bring a friend or two. And if nobody is around, then simply show up: Esme is intentional about building both connection + community over Latin flavors | View Online Menus | 📸 @esme_la 

• 📆 CONTENT CALENDAR: Future openings on the CuratedLA radar:

  • Heavy Handed in Studio City: 2024

  • Butchr Bar: Spring 2024

  • Sushi Nakazawa LA: Winter 2024

  • Maydan Market - West Adams: Summer 2024

🚀 OPENINGS

• 🏳️‍🌈 WEST HOLLYWOOD: Retired West Hollywood Police Sergeant Bernie Gambino is opening Sweetwater, a 2,000 square-foort nightclub for the Community of Pride. The nightclub will be located where Zpizza and 8oz Poke formerly stood. When asked about the energy he has for his upcoming opening, Gambino said, ‘On the energy scale of 1-10, I’m a 100.’ 

• 🍔 SANTA MONICA: Burgette opens March 15th in Santa Monica. The menu is expected to feature items such as the ‘La Burgette’ with beef, Dijon burger sauce, and six-month Mimolette cheese. The ambiance is described as a hole-in-the-wall with exposed brick and vibey tunes to match.

• 🍻 WEST HOLLYWOOD: The New Bar in West Hollywood is having their Grand Opening this weekend and all are invited.

• 🦞 PASADENA: A stunning seafood haven, Pez Costal Kitchen, just opened in Pasadena. This seafood eat offers a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood, including smoked meats and dry-aged fish prepared on-site. Pez Coastal Kitchen is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm; Friday + Saturday from 5:00pm to 11:00pm | View Online Food + Drink Menus | 📸 @pezpasadena

🧭 GUIDES

• 💜 HAPPENINGS BY CAMBER: Mady Maio is LA’s best friend, here’s her buzz-around-town for this week.

• 😋 EATER LOS ANGELES: Best Dishes This Week: February 20th

• 🍕 VEGOUT: Where to Get Vegan Pizza in Los Angeles

• 😋 FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANTS: Recommend some of your favorite new openings for a future CuratedLA Guide.

EVENTS

🔮 TRENDING FUTURES

🎫 ADAM SANDLER: The Nocturne Theatre will play host to Adam Sandler over four nights in Glendale. Glendale’s shows are also a live taping for an upcoming special. Tickets go on-sale to the General Public starting today at 3:00pm. But because you are a wizard of sourcing insider info, you can use the code DARLING to unlock tickets now. They go for $20.00 each. 

• 🖥️ 5:00pm - 8:00pm: LA Founders & Investors

  • Santa Monica

• 🎸 7:00pm: Helado Negro

  • Belasco Theater

• 🎛️ 7:00pm: Sofia Bolt, Itasca, DJs Burgers Rana + Diana Diaz

  • Gold Diggers

• 🎸 7:30pm: Gretchen Klempa

  • The Silverlake Lounge

• 🎤 7:30pm: SNL Alums ft. Pete Holmes, Darrell Hammond, Jay Mohr, Dane Cook, Finesse Mitchell + Greg Baldwin

  • Hollywood Improv

• 🎤 7:30pm: A Night of Laughter with RFK JR & Friends ft. Wife Cheryl Hines, Tim Dillon, Bobby Lee, Rob Schneider, Tre Steward, Mike Binder, Erica Rhodes, Dustin Ybarra, Adam Carolla and surprise guests!

  • The Million Dollar Theater

• 🎸 8:00pm: Bart Davenport, Hod & the Helpers, Eric Shafer

  • Permanent Records Roadhouse

• 🎤 8:00pm: Tag It with The Skylar Brothers ft. Kiran Deol, Adam Ray, Jonathan Kite, Blair Socci, Luke Null

  • The Comedy Store

• 🎤 9:00pm: Headliners of The Original Room ft. Steve Rannazzisi, Shapel Lacey, Neal Brennan, Chris Estrada + more!

  • The Comedy Store

• 🎛️ 9:00pm: Dub Club with Boss Harmony and Special Guests

  • The Echo

• 🎸 9:30pm: Grady Spencer + The Work

  • The Moroccan Lounge

MORE COMING THIS AFTERNOON ON EVENT MASTERS
Weather cancelling some futures, bookmark if you’d like ^

🧭 GUIDES

• 🧘 YOGA: The Best Local Woodland Hills Yoga Studios

• 🥳 WE LIKE LA: Things To Do This Week in Los Angeles, thru Friday

➡️ Event Masters ⬅️ 
 🔖 Bookmark Event Masters for Daily Events
Our newsletter runs 6:00am MWF, events daily

ACTIVITIES

• 🧼 SLIME MUSEUM: The Sloomoo Institute, an interactive slime museum, is set to open its fifth flagship location in Los Angeles this Summer. The museum offers a fun and colorful experience, allowing visitors to play with slime and even make their own at the DIY bar. It is described as a ‘slime heaven’ and is suitable for all ages. The museum also has a focus on wellness, making it a unique and exciting adventure for those interested in the magic of slime. Additionally, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Nickelodeon have collaborated to bring an interactive ‘Science of Slime’ experience, exploring how different species use slime to survive. This includes a kid-friendly exploration of the various uses of slime in nature, featuring virtual tours, DIY activities, and the opportunity to engage with scientists and ongoing research projects related to slime.

• 🎸 ED SHEERAN: Ed Sheeran is set to perform at the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala on May 2. The event, presented by the Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership Group, will feature a blue carpet, a pre-show dinner party, and two hours of entertainment, including Sheeran's concert, a DJ set, and post-show party food trucks. The gala is expected to be attended by Los Angeles Dodgers, alumni, coaches, and other stars. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's mission to improve education, health care, homelessness, and social justice for all Angelenos.

• 🥁 PEARL JAM: Pearl Jam is set to perform at The Kia Forum in Inglewood on May 21st + May 22nd.

• 📵 NO CELL PHONES: Our hometown musical group Tool recently tested a ban of cell phones during a recent performance at Crypto Arena. For many, the results were positive as fans felt immersed in the concert. Others, however, couldn’t quite give up their addiction to their digital fifth limb.

• 🎨 20’S/20’S: The 20's/20s exhibit at ARCANE starts Friday and lasts thru March 10th. This captivating showcase celebrates the creativity and vision of a new generation of talent, offering a glimpse into the diverse and dynamic art landscape of the 2020s. From bold, thought-provoking pieces to innovative and experimental works, the exhibit promises to immerse visitors in a tapestry of contemporary artistic expression. Explore the cutting-edge perspectives and distinctive voices that define this era, and experience the power of art to inspire, provoke, and captivate | 📸 @arcane.space

COMMUNITY

• 🇺🇸 POTUS: President Biden landed around 3:33pm yesterday at a rainy LAX where he was greeted by Mayor Karen Bass and Representative Maxine Waters (CA-43). Last night, Biden had a campaign fundraiser at the home of Haim Saban. Both Haim Saban and Casey Wasserman were set to host but both tested positive for COVID. Spotted at last night’s campaign were celebrities like Jane Fonda and Comedian Greg Proops. Both The President and Author Leslie Gilbert-Lurie spoke at last night’s campaign. The President will speak in Culver City today at noon and deliver remarks with Mayor Karen Bass before departure to San Francisco. 🐇 ℹ️ (I got the inside scoop, yo! No link needed.)

• 🦷 PASADENA: USC Mobile Dental Clinic will be at Blair High School from today until Friday, from 8:00am - 4:00pm daily. The free mobile dental clinic in Pasadena, sponsored by the nonprofit Young & Healthy, offers essential dental services to children in need aged 5-18. The clinic provides comprehensive dental care, including treatments and services necessary for the children's oral health. Patients must reside in Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre, or South Pasadena, and pre-registration is typically required. This initiative aims to ensure that local children have access to vital dental care, regardless of their financial circumstances.

• ❤️ NEW FETAL CARDIAC CLINIC: The Children's Hospital Los Angeles has unveiled a new Fetal Cardiac Clinic. The clinic offers comprehensive care and expertise in prenatal diagnosis and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including over 3,000 square feet of space and three scanning rooms dedicated to fetal cardiology. The program provides multidisciplinary care, including fetal cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, fetal surgeons, nurse care managers, and other specialists, ensuring personalized care for expectant mothers and their unborn babies. The clinic's services include fetal echocardiography, fetal surgery, prenatal genetic and neonatal counseling, and access to a level IV Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU) for babies with complex health conditions.

• 🛫 AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The Los Angeles City Council has approved the formation of a citizens advisory committee to provide input on the future development of Van Nuys Airport. This committee will likely consist of Valley residents and will be involved in discussions and decision-making processes related to the airport's development. The formation of such a committee reflects the city's efforts to engage the local community in matters concerning the airport and its surrounding areas. This is a great service opportunity for those that would like to get involved.

DEVELOPMENT

• 🏗️ DTLA: An eleven-story hotel near Pico Station and the L.A. Convention Center is the AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. It is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, near the LA Live and the LA Convention Center. The hotel offers 347 guest rooms, 13,000 square feet of flexible event space, and several dining and drinking options. It is directly across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto Arena.

• 🎒 USC: Landmark Properties breaks ground on a new residential community near USC. The new community, named The Standard at Los Angeles, will be one of the largest purpose-built student housing developments at USC, offering over 1,500 beds for the Fall of 2026. This state-of-the-art development will feature a variety of floor plans, from studio to five-bedrooms, with 87 units reserved for those identified at the low-income level or below. The community will also include over 20,000 square feet of retail space and a wide range of amenities, such as a resort-style pool, fitness center, and rooftop outdoor spaces. The development is expected to be completed ahead of the fall 2026 semester, providing students with a luxury off-campus living option just steps from the USC campus.

• 🐸 FROGTOWN: The small lot housing development on W. Blake Avenue in Frogtown is making significant progress. Approved plans have allowed for the construction of up to one-hundred small lot homes on the east side of Blake Avenue, along with seventeen condominiums and commercial space. This project, situated near the L.A. River, is part of Harridge Development's initiative and has been in the works since 2014. The area is undergoing a transformation, with the industrial site being repurposed to accommodate residential and commercial spaces, reflecting the evolving landscape of Frogtown.

• 🎬️ HOLLYWOOD: City Council has approved the allocation of one million dollars to support a project in Hollywood, which aims to fund a first-of-its-kind restroom facility in the Heart of Hollywood. The facility is intended to serve as a model for the city, providing about 40 bathrooms for the public with the goal of having staffing, maintenance, and cleaning available to open the restrooms 24/7. The funding will be used to build out the 2,200 square foot public restroom, and once completed, it is estimated to cost $500,000 annually to staff and maintain. The project is expected to take 18-24 months to complete. In addition to the public restrooms, plans are being developed to install a small visitor center in the space.

BUSINESS

• 🧑‍🚀 LIFE ON MARS WITH NASA: If you do not have any plans for the next year, or wish to drop everything personally and professionally, then consider joining NASA on a year-long simulation of what life would be like on Mars.

• 📺️ VIZIO: Walmart has announced its acquisition of Vizio (Irvine) for $2.3 billion. The move is aimed at bolstering Walmart's advertising business and expanding its presence in the TV streaming and advertising market. By acquiring Vizio, Walmart aims to leverage Vizio's SmartCast operating system to offer advertisers the ability to display ads on streaming devices and creating new opportunities to help advertisers connect with customers |💲NYSE:WMT

• 💳️ CAPITAL ONE + DISCOVER: Capital One announced on Monday that they had acquired Discover Financial Services for $35.3 billion. But what does this mean for those of us that use either of these companies?

ENTERTAINMENT

🎬️ HEADLINES

• 🪲 FOUR BEATLES MOVIES: Sam Mendes, the acclaimed director known for films like American Beauty, Skyfall, and 1917, is set to helm an ambitious project: four separate Beatles movies. Each film will focus on a different perspective, telling the astonishing story of the greatest band in history. Here are details for each:
  

• Paul McCartney: One film will delve into the life and journey of the legendary bassist and songwriter, Paul McCartney.

• John Lennon: Another movie will explore the enigmatic and poetic world of John Lennon, the band’s iconic frontman.

• George Harrison: A third film will shine a spotlight on George Harrison, the quiet genius behind timeless hits like ‘Here Comes the Sun.’

• Ringo Starr: Finally, we’ll get a glimpse into the world of Ringo Starr, the charismatic drummer who kept the beat for the Fab Four.
  

  The films will intersect, weaving together the individual narratives to create a comprehensive portrait of The Beatles. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison have generously granted full life story and music rights for these scripted films. It’s a historic moment, as this marks the first time The Beatles have fully supported a feature film project.
  
  Sony Pictures Entertainment will finance and distribute all four films theatrically, with a planned release for all four movies in 2027.

• 💫 51ST ANNIE AWARDS: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse claimed the top prize for Best Feature, along with six other awards, solidifying its position as a frontrunner for the Animated Feature Oscar. The TV categories were dominated by Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai, which secured six wins, including Writing, Editing, and Character Design. The late animation pioneer John Oxberry was honored with the Ub Iwerks Award for technical achievement, and a Special Achievement Award was presented to The Artists of Walt Disney Animation. The full list of winners can be found on the official Annie Awards website.

• 🍿AMAZON PRIME: Best things to watch on Amazon Prime right now according to The New York Times.

• 📺️ HULU: A full list of everything that is coming to Hulu next month in March.

SPORTS

• 🏀 LEBRON JAMES: 

• ⚽️ LA GALAXY: The LA Galaxy has signed Harbor Miller, a young defender from the LA Galaxy Academy, to a homegrown player contract. The three-year contract will begin in 2025 and run through the end of the 2027 MLS season.

• 🏈 COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The new twelve team College Football Playoff format, set to begin in the 2024 season, will feature five automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champions and seven at-large bids. The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive a first-round bye to the quarterfinals, while teams ranked No. 5 through No. 12 will compete in the first round at the home venue of the higher-ranked team. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the New Year's Six bowl games, and the national championship will be held at a neutral site.

COFFEE OR TEA

WKND —> IN A BLINK