OCTOBER 2ND, 2024

WEDNESDAY’S VIBES

LOS ANGELES

A TOP
FOODIE CITY

• 👋 RHONDA THE SONATA: Happy Wednesday, LA! Today is ‘Name Your Car Day,’ and being the open book that I am, my most recent two cars: ‘Rhonda the Sonata’ and ‘Stella the Tesla.’ I’d love to hear what you’ve named your car. I won’t share what you send over…unless you want me to. Simply reply to this email. And speaking of email, here are today + tomorrow’s good vibes, all in one jam-packed email of goodness. See you all on Friday. And as always on Wednesdays, I know that you’ll finish this week strong with MORE wins. - Wyatt

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HOV LANES

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EATS

HEADLINES

• 💯 BEST FOODIE CITIES: Los Angeles ranks 13th in WalletHub's 2024 Best Foodie Cities in America, excelling with the most restaurants per capita and affordable, highly rated dining options. The city’s diverse food scene offers everything from Michelin-starred experiences to hidden gems without breaking the bank. While LA shines in restaurant variety, there’s room for growth in craft breweries and food trucks, where it ranks 66th and 87th, respectively. For more detailed rankings, visit WalletHub's full report. 💌 

• 🍔 CHAINFEST IS SATURDAY: ChainFEST, the world’s largest gourmet chain food festival, returns to Los Angeles this Saturday, after last year's sold-out debut. This year's event, held at Los Angeles Center Studios, features pop-ups from top chain restaurants serving elevated versions of their classics, with all food included in the ticket price. Open to all ages, the festival also offers live entertainment, chef meet-and-greets, and exclusive merchandise. Kids under two can attend for free with a ticketed guardian. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy your favorite chain bites in a gourmet setting.

• 🥪 PHANTOM DUTCH BREAD: Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is bringing some spooky flavor this Halloween with their new Phantom Dutch bread—an eerie, purple twist on their beloved Dutch Crunch. Available from October 7th to November 16th, this limited-edition bread is as eye-catching as it is delicious. Celebrate Ike’s 17th anniversary in style by snagging one of seventeen favorite sandwiches served on Phantom Dutch for just $10.17 every Thursday. 💌 

OPENINGS

• 🌶️ HIGHLAND PARK: Carnal, the new Oaxacan spot in Highland Park, is already turning heads with its creative takes on Mexican staples. Chef Francisco Aguilar (of Simón fame) delivers hits like a tlayuda topped with raw tuna, tamarind aioli, and chile-dusted grasshoppers. The moody, all-black interior is simple, but the food speaks volumes—like stewed chicharron tacos and mole toast with poached eggs. Don’t forget to grab a spoonful of the banana-cotija custard for dessert​.

  • Website + Instagram

• 🥯 HOLLYWOOD: Wake & Late just opened its third location in Hollywood, bringing their signature breakfast burritos and bagels to Selma Avenue. Known for stuffing their burritos with delights like steak, tots, and scrambled eggs, they’re quickly building a loyal following. Their Hollywood outpost stays true to fan favorites, including rip-and-dip bagels with house-made cream cheese. Expect more locations soon, as this growing mini-chain has its sights set on Santa Monica and beyond.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

• 🍸️ DOWNTOWN LA: Lost Rooftop Cocktail + Taco Bar, the latest venture from the Hilltop Coffee team, has landed in DTLA. Perched atop their Downtown location, this breezy rooftop spot features palm trees, string lights, and stylish patio furniture. The menu leans into Mexican flavors with guajillo-marinated chicken tacos and mushroom quesadillas, while cocktails stick to refreshing classics like mezcal with fresh juice and espresso-based drinks. And of course, live music acts.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

• 🌮 LONG BEACH: Sonoratown has officially brought its beloved Northern Mexican flavors to Downtown Long Beach. Opening its third and most spacious location on September 17th, this taquería serves up their famous mesquite-grilled carne asada, chivichangas, and caramelos, all wrapped in chewy, housemade flour tortillas. The new spot, located on E. 3rd Street, offers both indoor and patio seating, making it a perfect spot to enjoy their smoky tacos without the drive to DTLA​.

  • Website + Menu + Instagram

• 🌯 PASADENA: Pasadena is about to get a whole lot tastier with the opening of BBAD (Breakfast Burritos All Day) at the Pasadena Hotel & Pool on Colorado Blvd. Known for its music-inspired cuisine, this spot takes California flavors and wraps them into breakfast burritos that are anything but ordinary. Fan favorites include the Chile Verde with slow-braised pork and the Basic Bae-con loaded with crispy potatoes and scrambled eggs. Having built a following from their West Hollywood farmer’s market days, BBAD is now bringing their epic burritos to this new brick-and-mortar location​.

  • Website + Instagram

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EVENTS

TODAY

THURSDAY

FIVE FUTURES

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ACTIVITIES

• 🎭️ HOLLYWOOD: NOW - OCT. 13TH: Hamilton is back at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, running now through October 13th. This award-winning musical, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda’s iconic blend of hip-hop, jazz, and Broadway, tells the story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his fight for honor and legacy. The touring production brings stunning performances to the heart of Hollywood, with tickets still available for select weeknight shows.

• 💥 LA CONVENTION CENTER: FRIDAY - SUNDAY: Los Angeles Comic Con is back, rolling in this weekend with a star-studded lineup of celebrity appearances and panels. Big names like Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, and Giancarlo Esposito are among the headliners, making this a must-attend for Star Wars fans. There’s also a special Back to the Future reunion featuring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Tom Wilson. Other highlights include anime screenings, over three-hundred panels, artist alley, and the Cosplay National Championships. Plus, don’t miss the geek couture fashion show and cosplay contest! Whether you're a comic book enthusiast or pop culture fanatic, this year’s event promises something for everyone​.

• 🎞️ DOWNTOWN LA: THURSDAY, 6PM: Head to The Bloc tomorrow for a spooky outdoor screening of the 1984 classic Ghostbusters. Heads up: no outdoor alcohol allowed, but hit up Video Vortex at Alamo Drafthouse for drinks before or after!All ages (and dogs!) welcome. Low chairs and blankets encouraged—no tall chairs, please! Parking is $15 with validation at check-in near QWENCH.

• 🦴 NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM: NOW - OCT. 31ST: The Natural History Museum’s Nature Gardens are transforming into Boney Island this Thursday, bringing back a spooky blend of glowing installations, shadow puppetry, and skeletons. Expect artistic performances paired with real fossils, plus a bonus for the adults—food trucks, local vendors, and bar service for those 21+. Boney Island haunts select days in October. Tickets: $25 for adults, $15 for kids.

• 🎃 DESCANSO GARDENS: NOW - OCT. 30TH: Carved at Descanso Gardens is back this Friday, turning the gardens into a pumpkin-filled wonderland! This year brings a new route lined with hundreds of carved pumpkins and plenty of kid-friendly fun. Perfect for a family night out, Carved runs nightly through October 30. Tickets range from $35-$45 for non-members—grab yours and get ready for some autumn magic!

• 👻 NORTH HOLLYWOOD: FRIDAY + SATURDAY: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre brings back Urban Death, their spine-chilling tradition of terrifying vignettes and creepy maze walks. The horror kicks off this Friday + Saturday, with shows running at 7:00pm., 8:00pm, 9:00pm, 10:45pm, and 11:30pm. Get your thrills early with $23 advance tickets online, or pay $28 at the door—if you dare!

• 🥃 CULVER CITY: FRIDAY, STARTING AT 3PM: Tito’s Tacos and Tito’s Handmade Vodka are joining forces this Friday for Tito’s Fiesta Mexicana, celebrating National Vodka Day and National Taco Day all in one! Expect tacos, vodka cocktails, live music, magic, and comedy from Eric Schwartz, aka Smooth-E. Proceeds benefit the Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation. Tickets are $35 for food and alcohol, or $20 for food only—perfect for taco lovers looking for a fun Friday out!

• 🍺 SAN GABRIEL: FRIDAY: The Dumpling and Beer Fest is back in San Gabriel’s Mission District, featuring twenty vendors serving up delicious dumplings! Admission is free, and for the 21+ crowd, grab a ticket to the beer garden for $44.52, which gets you unlimited beer samples from regional breweries. Don’t miss out on this perfect pairing of food and brews!

• 🎶 UNIV. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: FRIDAY: Quantum Vibrations is a free, four-part music series exploring the fusion of art and science through sound, as part of the PST ART Initiative. The series kicks off with two events in October: Black Quantum Futurism at Debs Park on Friday, followed by Quantum Preludes at The Getty on October 17th. These immersive performances delve into how music can intersect with scientific concepts, making it a unique experience for attendees. All events are free, but advance registration is required—perfect for art and science enthusiasts looking to experience something innovative this fall.

• 🍺 POMONA: FRIDAY + SATURDAY: Fairplex is turning into a Bavarian wonderland every Friday and Saturday for Oktoberfest, featuring oompah bands, DJs, and a solid lineup of tribute bands like Flashpants and Die Sauerkrauts. Get ready to dive into German classics like bratwurst, pretzels, and potato pancakes, washed down with plenty of traditional Oktoberfest beers. There’s even a Das Kär Show displaying more than forty classic Volkswagens for car lovers. The event is strictly 21+, with tickets ranging from $13 to $23 depending on the day. It runs from 6:00pm to 11:00 pm, so bring your dancing shoes for the chicken dance and your appetite for a night of fun.

• 👻 UNIVERSITY PARK: NOW - NOV. 3RD: Delusion’s The Red Castle returns for its 13th season, bringing immersive horror theater to the historic Stimson House in University Park. Running now through November 3rd, this year’s story centers around Dr. Frederick Lowell, a brilliant but disturbed psychologist who’s attempting to resurrect his deceased wife with the help of his asylum patients—you! As you explore this eerie 1891 mansion, you’ll interact with actors, solve puzzles, and make decisions that affect the storyline, all while discovering the dark powers hidden within your character. VIP options add extra layers of mystery with access to a private bar and exclusive experiences. Tickets sell out fast, so secure your spot now.

• 👻 QUEEN MARY: NOW - NOV. 2ND: The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor is back after a four-year hiatus, turning the haunted ship into a terrifying playground now through November 2nd. This immersive Halloween event features eerie mazes that utilize the ship's famously haunted staterooms, including the notorious B340, and new experiences like Lullaby, which takes you through the ship’s first-class pool, haunted by the sinister ghost Scary Mary. Expect a mix of old favorites like the Ringmaster and the Captain alongside live entertainment, secret speakeasies, and even axe-throwing​. Get ready for spine-tingling scares aboard this iconic, ghost-filled vessel.

• 🎤 THE ELYSIAN: NEXT THURSDAY: Get ready for laughs at the monthly Coyote Fugly in the Vault at The Elysian, hosted by Grace Roushdi and produced by Jess Wolinsky. Catch comics Danny Sellers, Chris Kearns, Charlie James, and Aparna Nancherla. The first show in this series starts next Thursday, October 10th at 7:00pm.

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COMMUNITY

• 🌡️ HEAT WAVE: The Southland is experiencing a lingering heatwave, with dangerously hot conditions expected to persist through tomorrow, increasing the risk of wildfires. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures could hit record highs, with warnings in place across valleys and mountains until Thursday evening. Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys might see temperatures up to 109°F, while parts of the San Gabriel Mountains could reach 104°F. Critical fire weather warnings are also in effect for these areas due to high heat, gusty winds, and low humidity. Forecasters expect slight cooling later in the week but warn of another warm-up by the weekend. Stay vigilant for heat illness signs, especially in vulnerable groups.

• 🏖️ BEACH WARNINGS: With scorching temperatures hitting the Southland, LA County health officials have issued warnings against swimming at nine beaches due to elevated bacteria levels. These locations include popular spots like Venice Beach near the Windward storm drain, Marina del Rey’s Mothers Beach, and the Manhattan Beach Pier. Visitors are advised to avoid water activities in these areas for safety. For more information, check the LA County Public Health website or their beach closure hotline.

• 🧧 RENTING CONTENT: Starting next year, California’s new law (AB 2426) will make sure you know you don’t really own that digital game, movie, or ebook. Signed by Governor Newsom, the law forces digital storefronts to stop using terms like buy or purchase unless they make it clear you’re just getting a revocable license, not full ownership. The push comes after incidents like Ubisoft deleting games from players’ libraries and Sony nearly wiping purchased content. The law won’t apply to permanent offline downloads but aims to protect consumers from misleading advertising in an increasingly digital world. 🐇

• 🎓️ LAPRENEUR: Los Angeles just celebrated its first graduating class of LApreneur, a program aimed at equipping local entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive. At City Hall, Mayor Karen Bass cheered on nearly one hundred graduates, highlighting the city’s ongoing push to empower small business owners. LApreneur, launched in May 2023, is part of Bass’s broader strategy to make LA a business-friendly city, offering resources and education through partnerships with Loyola Marymount, BusinessSource Centers, and more. With over $18m secured in funding for local businesses and streamlined permitting, LA's entrepreneurial spirit is gaining momentum.

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DEVELOPMENT

• 🏡 CULVER CITY: Construction has begun on S. Robertson Boulevard, just west of Metro’s Culver City Station, on a mixed-use project. The five-story building will feature the company's 5,000-square-foot headquarters, twelve two-bedroom apartments (including three affordable units), 1,700 square feet of retail space, and parking for 23 vehicles. Designed by BOLADarck, the modern structure will include painted stucco, brick accents, an L-shaped atrium, and an amenity deck. This development follows larger projects nearby, such as the Ivy Station complex and Apple's new office campus.

• 🚲️ TOWNSEND AVE: LADOT recently installed new bike lanes on Avenue 51 and Townsend Avenue, connecting Eagle Rock and Highland Park. The lanes are uphill-only, with downhill sharrows, designed for safety on these narrow, hilly streets. The project includes 0.5 miles on Avenue 51 and 0.4 miles on Townsend, with a bus-only lane for the DASH service also added to Townsend. These upgrades aim to improve safety and multimodal transit options while calming traffic in the area.

• 🛝 WATTS: The Jordan Downs Central Park project in Watts has secured $11m in federal funding, which will increase green space for residents by 80%. The park will feature amenities like a soccer field, basketball courts, walking paths, and a community pool. This funding is part of the national Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program. The park is a key element of the larger Jordan Downs revitalization, which aims to create 1,569 new housing units, retail spaces, and community infrastructure, transforming the area into a vibrant community hub​.

• 🏳️‍🌈 WEST HOLLYWOOD: AB 761 has passed and will now help accelerate construction, bringing Metro rail service to West Hollywood sooner than the originally projected date of 2041. The city has been working in collaboration with LA Metro and Los Angeles County to make this project a reality, aiming to improve transit connectivity on the Westside. This funding tool also benefits other LA Metro rail projects, helping local governments support critical transit investments as costs rise.

• 🏡 EAST HOLLYWOOD: A pair of small commercial buildings on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood may soon be replaced by a seven-story affordable housing project. Visionary Development Group, led by former basketball player Terry Harris, has filed for approvals to construct ninety studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, all reserved for low- and moderate-income households. The project will also include 836 square feet of ground-floor commercial space but no on-site parking.

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BUSINESS

• 📡 DIRECTV BUYS DISH FOR $1: DirecTV is finally merging with longtime rival Dish Network, a deal decades in the making as both companies struggle to stay relevant in the streaming era. El Segundo’s DirecTV will pay Dish's parent company, EchoStar, just $1—but will also take on Dish's hefty debt load. This merger comes as both satellite giants face subscriber losses to streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, with a combined user base now hovering around twenty million, a far cry from DirecTV’s peak in 2015. For consumers, the hope is that the merger leads to better pricing and packages, though regulators are sure to keep a close watch.

• 🏎️ TESLA EVENT IN BURBANK: Tesla is gearing up for its ‘We, Robot’ event on October 10th at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, with CEO Elon Musk teasing it as possibly their biggest yet. Originally set for August, the event was pushed back to accommodate design tweaks, with the potential reveal of a Cybercab prototype—think a sleek, two-door sedan that nods to the Model 3. Expect discussions around the robotaxi market, full self-driving (FSD) timelines, and AI-driven revenue. While analysts have mixed takes—some warning the hype might outpace the reality—Tesla's stock could see a jolt. Investors are watching closely to see if the robo-revolution is on track for 2025.

• 📈 PARAMOUNT DROPS NIELSEN: Paramount and Nielsen failed to reach a new deal ahead of last night’s vice presidential debate, signaling a major shift in how CBS will measure its ratings. While Nielsen has long been the gold standard for tracking live event viewership, Paramount is moving to cut costs—partly due to its pending merger with Skydance Media—and has turned to upstart VideoAmp for now. Paramount slammed Nielsen for “unacceptable demands” and price hikes, as it grapples with layoffs and budget slashes. Despite this, many networks, including Paramount, still consider Nielsen crucial, even while testing alternative services like VideoAmp.

• 🐭 DISNEY+: Disney+ just dropped four new 24/7 live-streaming channels: Hallowstream (horror), Hits & Heroes, Throwbacks, and Real Life (reality TV and docs). These playlist channels add to the platform’s recent foray into round-the-clock streaming, joining ABC News and Disney+ Playtime, which have already racked up over ten million viewing hours in the US since launching in August. For now, these channels are US-exclusive, as Disney+ continues to expand its streaming offerings for its 118.3 million global subscribers.

• 🐧 PENGUIN VIEWS: The Penguin is proving to be a hit for HBO. The series starring Colin Farrell as the infamous DC villain has pulled in 10.4m cross-platform viewers since its Sept. 19th premiere, outpacing all other current HBO shows, except for House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. After its first episode racked up 5.3m views in just four days, it added another 5.1m in the following week. Sunday’s second episode also saw a bump, with 1.6m viewers, a 17% increase from its debut. Originally planned for Max, the The Batman spin-off now airs on both HBO and Max as part of a brand shift for the network.

• 🚀 HULU’S GROWTH: Hulu’s on fire right now, smashing records with high demand for its exclusive content while subscriber churn is at an all-time low. The secret sauce? FX. This Disney-owned network only makes up 3-4% of Hulu's catalog but drives 6-7% of viewer demand. It’s a win-win: FX gets broader distribution, and Hulu locks in must-watch hits like The Bear and Shogun. Hulu’s focused on quality, not quantity, proving that a tight selection of premium shows can beat out an overwhelming library of mediocrity. It’s a masterclass in smart streaming strategy.

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ENTERTAINMENT

• 👻 AMERICAN HORROR STORY: American Horror Stories returns just in time for spooky season with a star-studded cast including Henry Winkler, Michael Imperioli, Debby Ryan, and Victor Garber. Premiering on October 15th as part of Hulu’s ‘Hulaween’ lineup, this five-episode season promises fresh takes on horror classics like “don’t look under the bed” and eerie mirror figures. With episodes titled The Thing Under the Bed, Backrooms, Clone, Leprechaun, and X, expect twisted narratives and spine-chilling moments. This is the latest in Ryan Murphy’s American Story universe, adding to his already busy fall slate.

• 📚️ THE BOOK THIEF: In the latest episode of Apple’s ‘Scamtown’ podcast, Episode 9: The Book Thief, Emmy-nominated filmmakers James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte take listeners into a twenty-year-long heist involving one of the most prolific rare book thieves in history. In the late '80s, university libraries across the U.S. and Canada began noticing rare books vanishing, eventually leading the FBI to a mansion in Iowa, where over 23,000 stolen manuscripts were discovered. Catch this wild, stranger-than-fiction true crime story on Apple Podcasts, with new episodes dropping every Monday. 💌 

• 🧱 CNN PAYWALL: CNN is rolling out a $3.99/month subscription for frequent users of CNN, with an annual pass available for $29.99. Subscribers will enjoy full access to content and fewer ads. While casual readers won’t notice a difference, heavy users will eventually hit a paywall and be prompted to subscribe. According to CNN's EVP Alex MacCallum, this marks a step towards a broader digital and streaming strategy for the network, following the short-lived CNN+ experiment in 2022. The exact number of free articles or videos allowed before the paywall kicks in is still unclear.

• 🎤 SNL RATINGS: Saturday Night Live kicked off its landmark 50th season with a strong 5.3m viewers, marking the show’s biggest premiere since 2020 and a 15% jump from last year's opener. Hosted by Hacks star Jean Smart, the episode featured big-name guest appearances, including Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, and Dana Carvey reprising political roles, plus comedian Jim Gaffigan. This impressive debut places SNL among the top-rated shows of the 2024-25 season so far, trailing only NBC heavyweights like The Voice and Chicago Fire. With election season heating up, expect more comedic political sketches and likely continued ratings boosts.

• 👨‍🦳 BILLY CRYSTAL: Billy Crystal is stepping into darker territory with Before, a psychological thriller premiering on Apple TV+ on October 25th. Crystal plays Eli, a grieving child psychiatrist drawn into a mysterious connection with a young boy, Noah (Jacobi Jupe), who may be linked to Eli’s own past. As he processes the loss of his wife (Judith Light), unsettling events unfold, with eerie imagery like bloody hands and haunting drawings. The series also features Rosie Perez, and is one of the final productions from Paramount Television Studios. Expect a chilling, dramatic turn from Crystal in this twist-filled new series.

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SPORTS

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CU FRIDAY, LA!

🤙 Enjoy great food, in the greatest city,
with your greatest wins this week, LA! See you Friday!

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