Author: Rodeo Realty Media Team

For most of us Southern California natives, we know that when September rolls around, it means school is starting, daily life routines adjust, and that the environment is at most risk for fires. With the fires throughout the west coast messing with our air quality, local officials have advised us to stay indoors as much as possible. You should be aware that some of the smoke from outdoors can enter your home and make it unhealthy to breathe indoor air, too. Check out our tips below on how to maintain healthy air quality inside your home.

Keep Windows, Doors and Vents Closed

Outdoor air, including fine particles from wildfire smoke, can enter your home in a few ways: through open windows and doors, which is known as natural ventilation, through mechanical ventilation devices such as bathroom or kitchen fans that vent to the outdoors, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with a fresh air intake, and through small openings, joints, cracks, and around closed windows and doors through a process called infiltration.

Purchase or use an Air Purifier

Use a portable air cleaner or high efficient filter in your air ducts to remove fine particles from the air. If you use the portable air cleaner, run it as often as possible with the highest fan speed. If you have an HVAC system, run the system’s fan as often as possible to remove particles while the air quality is poor.

Purchase or use a Humidifier

Purchase a humidifier to keep the air quality at a healthy moisture level since air purifiers are notorious for drying out the air.

Avoid Activities That Create Fine Particles Indoors

Avoid using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces, spraying aerosol products, frying food, burning candles or incense. The fine particles cause your air purifiers to work harder and your lungs to work harder. It is important to keep your home a safe space.

Clean up Ash

When the smoke clears, you may need to clean up ash or other debris left by the fires. Children, older adults, or people with heart and lung diseases should refrain from clean up work. It may irritate your eyes, nose, and skin that could cause coughing and other health effects. When cleaning, wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts and pants, shoes, socks, goggles, and an N95 respirator to protect your lungs. Make sure to clean the ask with a DAMP towel instead of a dry vacuum as that can spread the ash.

Stocks declined for the second straight week – Although all stock market indexes were down, tech stocks were hit especially hard. The tech-heavy NASDAQ fell 4.1% for the week. It’s now dropped over 10% from its all-time high less than two weeks ago. To be fair, it’s still up 21% year to date. This week’s drop was a combination of several issues: Some investors felt the market’s incredible rise over the last 90 days had caused stock prices to become overinflated and took profits. There were also fears of a setback in a leading vaccine trial when one participant developed an unexplained illness. Perhaps the largest factor of the past two week’s declines was the realization that a stimulus package once thought of as a done deal may not happen until after the election. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 27,665.64, down 1.7% from 28,133.31 last week. It’s down 3.1% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,340.97, down 2.5% from 3,426.96 last week. It’s up 3.4% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,853.55, down 4.1%, from 11,313.14 last week. It’s up 21% year-to-date.

 

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.67%, down from 0.72% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.42%, down from 1.46% last week.

 

Mortgage rates – The September 10, 2020, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.86%, down from 2.93% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.37%, down from 2.42% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.11%, up from 2.93% last week.

Housing sales data for August should be released next week. That data will be on next week’s update.

As Angelenos, we are lucky to be so close to the infamous wineries in Napa Valley. However, did you know that you can taste great wine locally in LA as well? From Zinfandel to Pinot Noir and everything in between spend some time wine tasting in your own backyard!

Malibu Wine Safari’s

Location: Malibu, CA

What makes Malibu Wine Safari’s so special is all in the name. Enjoy your glass of choice while touring through their vineyards and encounter safari animals along the way. Make reservations well ahead of time as they sold out constantly pre-covid. With more restrictions, their reservations are filling up even more!

REV Winery

Location: Covina, CA

One of the first to take on the trend of urban wineries is the Covina located REV Winery. REV takes the wine-making process another step further by producing wine that is non-sulfited, vegan and gluten free from organic grapes. Each bottle has a unique history and original artwork.

Firestone Vineyard

Location: Los Olivos, CA

Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, Firestone is more than your average state winery, holding concert events and even offering a cellar club membership and property rental for private events. This along with an amazing history of quality and fantastic wine makes Firestone the day-trip perfect choice.

San Antonio Winery

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Situated in DTLA, San Antonio Winery offers three tastings as a perfect intro to new flavors or forgotten favorites in their urban setting. They also have a restaurant with a menu designed around their wine selection. along with public and private events.

Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room

Location: Ojai, CA

Located in downtown Ojai, this winery is one of only four in the town but well worth the visit. Enjoy their Five Wine Flight as their wine expert guides you through the notes of your Syrah or chardonnay. A welcoming staff and reasonably priced wine makes this an ideal stop for wine enthusiasts.

Do you have a list of restaurants you have been wanting to try? Do you want to spice up your quarantine by adding more restaurants to your “usual” list? Well, Dine LA is the perfect week to try new to you restaurants with their prix fixe menus at an affordable cost. Check out the menu to some of our favorites below.  

Casa Vega – Sherman Oaks 

Whether you are here for lunch or dinner, the food coma will no doubt find its way to your body whether you want it to or not. There is so much to try here, and it is all delicious!

Located: 13301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 91423-3912

Coin & Candor – Thousand Oaks 

You have the choices between a peach panna cotta and the oreo and candor for dessert. How can you choose one? They are both well known as some of the best dessert in the valley. Check it out.

Located: Two Dole Drive, Thousand Oaks 91362

Malbec Argentinean Cuisine – Toluca Lake

Argentinean cuisine is some of the most dynamic around. Indulge in all the meats, sides, and dessert, here.

Located: 10151 Riverside Dr, Toluca Lake 91602

Gray Tavern – Studio City 

Imagine this: corn salad, mac and cheese, and the tavern steak finished off with their infamous lemon bar. The ideal meal if you ask us!

Located: 10964 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City 91604

The Raymond 1886 – Pasadena 

Full of complex flavors and dynamic dishes, this longtime Pasadena favorite is an exciting addition to the Dine LA menu.

Located: 1250 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena 91105-3417

Check out the entire list of restaurants on the Discover Los Angeles Website: https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela 

Do you have a list of restaurants you have been wanting to try? Do you want to spice up your quarantine by adding more restaurants to your “usual” list? Well, Dine LA is the perfect week to try new to you restaurants with their prix fixe menus at an affordable cost. Check out the menu to some of our favorites below.  

Boa Steakhouse – West Hollywood 

Located: 9200 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 90069

BOA is well known for their incredible surf and turf options with eclectic sides and their gooey cookies!

Crustacean – Beverly Hills

Located: 468 N Bedford Drive Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills 90210

Crustacean is the restaurant of choice for both locals and tourists in Beverly Hills when it comes to seafood. Known for their fresh fish, garlic noodles, and beyond.

The Penthouse at The Huntley – Santa Monica 

Located: 1111 2nd St., Santa Monica 90403

The Penthouse has incredible views, great drinks, and delicious food. We highly recommend the Truffle Fries to share!

Yamashiro – Hollywood 

Located: 1999 N. Sycamore Ave., Hollywood 90068

A classic and historic place in Hollywood serving some of the most authentic sushi you can get in Southern California.

Violet Bistro – Westwood 

Located: 1121 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles 90024

Violet Bistro is one of those “can eat here every day” places. Check it out if you haven’t tried!

Check out the entire list of restaurants on the Discover Los Angeles Website: https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela 

We’ve put together a long-overdue update of our classic guide to Los Angeles and Valley food trucks and the many different cuisines they occupy, from tacos to pizza to artisan coffee. Go on a socially distant adventure with your quarantine pod and grab a meal and maybe some dessert later!

Kogi

Food trucks are a staple of LA’s cultural identity. While they may be popping up in every major city across the world, it all started in Los Angeles. More specifically, it started with the Mexican food trucks that drove to construction sites, until the concept was revolutionized by Roy Choi and his Kogi truck, where he invented a hybrid of Korean and Mexican deliciousness (think kimchi on tacos instead of salsa).

Cousin’s Maine Lobster

Founded by actual cousins Jim and Sabin, who both come from Maine but now live full-time in Los Angeles. The organization has expanded in big ways since the early days, now boasting trucks in more than 10 cities, a brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica, and mail-order lobster feasts available through their website. That said, the LA trucks are the originals. Lobster is shipped in fresh from Maine, and rolls are served both warm and cold (we actually like them equally—it kind of depends on your mood and taste).

CVT

Served out of a 50-year-old truck named Charlie, CVT offers soft-serve the way it was meant to be served—simple. Your only choices are vanilla, chocolate, or a twist of both, with an option of added sprinkles or sea salt. But you only really need two topping options when the ice cream is this good. They have recently gone viral in the news and social media for being the “anti-influencer” truck. You can find them in Burbank and Sherman Oaks.

Bowled and Beautiful

If you’re looking to come away from a sea of food trucks with something moderately healthy, this truck is for you. While Bowled & Beautiful still offers a variety of indulgent comfort foods (blondie bars, truffle fries, and tater tots are just a few), our favorite from their menu is the Barbie Bowl: greens with brown rice, black beans, grilled chicken breast, corn relish, and their creamy chipotle sauce. Pro tip: ask for a fried egg or an avocado on top.

Warbler Coffee

Okay, so technically this isn’t a food truck—it’s a tricycle. Headquartered in Santa Monica, this direct trade, micro-roast coffee company operates out of a three-wheeled vehicle outfitted with a brewing and kegging system that produces top-notch nitro cold brew. You can usually catch them somewhere in Santa Monica or Downtown, and they’re also available for private booking.

We’ve put together a long-overdue update of our classic guide to Los Angeles and Valley food trucks and the many different cuisines they occupy, from tacos to pizza to artisan coffee. Go on a socially distant adventure with your quarantine pod and grab a meal and maybe some dessert later! 

Free Range 

Free Range is indisputably one of LA’s best food trucks, and while everything on their menu is great, it’s their Original Free Range LA Chicken Sandwich that made them famous. Their tempura-fried chicken is unbelievably juicy and flavorful, and their Portuguese buns are the perfect width and density. Unlike so many other food trucks in LA, Free Range has a consistent daily schedule, so you always know where to find them—we like to hunt them down at the adorable Melrose Place farmer’s market on Sundays (just make sure to arrive early, before the line gets too crazy).

Kogi

Food trucks are a staple of LA’s cultural identity. While they may be popping up in every major city across the world, it all started in Los Angeles. More specifically, it started with the Mexican food trucks that drove to construction sites, until the concept was revolutionized by Roy Choi and his Kogi truck, where he invented a hybrid of Korean and Mexican deliciousness (think kimchi on tacos instead of salsa).

Cousin’s Maine Lobster

Founded by actual cousins Jim and Sabin, who both come from Maine but now live full-time in Los Angeles. The organization has expanded in big ways since the early days, now boasting trucks in more than 10 cities, a brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica, and mail-order lobster feasts available through their website. That said, the LA trucks are the originals. Lobster is shipped in fresh from Maine, and rolls are served both warm and cold (we actually like them equally—it kind of depends on your mood and taste).

CVT

Served out of a 50-year-old truck named Charlie, CVT offers soft-serve the way it was meant to be served—simple. Your only choices are vanilla, chocolate, or a twist of both, with an option of added sprinkles or sea salt. But you only really need two topping options when the ice cream is this good. They have recently gone viral in the news and social media for being the “anti-influencer” truck. You can find them in Burbank and Sherman Oaks.

Warbler Coffee

Okay, so technically this isn’t a food truck—it’s a tricycle. Headquartered in Santa Monica, this direct trade, micro-roast coffee company operates out of a three-wheeled vehicle outfitted with a brewing and kegging system that produces top-notch nitro cold brew. You can usually catch them somewhere in Santa Monica or Downtown, and they’re also available for private booking.

When talking to other people who do not happen to be from California, you usually find them talking about how amazing the hikes, the oceans, and the sun is out here. They are not wrong. We are blessed with amazing weather, views, and adventures. Check out our favorite waterfalls you can go chasing in Los Angeles and the Valley!

Eaton Canyon Falls

Trailhead: 1750 North Altadena Dr, Pasadena 91107

Located in the 190-acre Eaton Canyon Natural Area, this hike in the San Gabriel Mountains is popular with kids and families with dogs—it’s mostly shaded, flat, and just over a mile in and mile out. At the end you’re rewarded with a 40-foot waterfall, which you’ll hear before you see. Plenty of room to rest on a rock, splash around in the cool mountain water, and have a snack before heading back. Free, easy parking and the adjacent Nature Center offers fun guided hikes with friendly docents—including periodic Moonlight Walks.

Escondido Falls

Trailhead: Winding Way and Pacific Coast Highway

This roughly 4-mile hike to a three-tiered waterfall at Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu is one of Southern California’s biggest and best. Most of the terrain is flat and well-marked, though things can get steep in a few places if you choose to hike to the top rather than the bottom of the falls. The canyon forest is flush with chaparral (aka “cowboy cologne”) and sometimes the creeks run high. It’s one of the busier hikes in the region (for good reason), so plan ahead.

Monrovia Falls

Trailhead: 1200 N Canyon Blvd, Monrovia 91016

It’s a gentle uphill hike for ¾ of a mile through man-made dams, down narrow trails and under old-growth trees until you get to these year-round falls at Monrovia Canyon Park in the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s only 1.5 miles there and back, with nice amenities offered by the City of Monrovia – water fountain, restrooms, and friendly naturalists at the Canyon Park Nature Center. Parking is $5 on weekdays, $6 on weekends. Dogs on leash welcome. Note: Park is closed on Tuesdays.

Santa Ynez Falls

Trailhead: 20829 Entrada Rd., Topanga 90290

The 2.5-mile round trip hike on the Santa Ynez Waterfall Trail starts at Topanga State Park (no dogs allowed) in the Pacific Palisades. The lush creekside trail is shaded and leads to more of a gorge than full-fledged waterfall – it’s beautiful all the same. The Eagle Rock route is longer (9 miles roundtrip) and offers a view of the coastline and valley.

Solstice Canyon

Trailhead: 3998 Solstice Canyon Rd, Malibu 90265

Don’t let the paved road from the parking lot deter you—it opens up to actual trails crossing a stream and leading to a couple sets of stone foundations of homes that burned down long ago. The 30-foot waterfall in Solstice Canyon is just 100 yards up from the Roberts House (aka the “Tropical Terrace”), which ranges from a trickle to a gusher, depending on recent rain. This 3.5-mile hike in the Santa Monica Mountains rewards with an awe-inspiring vista of the Pacific Ocean in the distance, too.