Author: Rodeo Realty Media Team

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Valley Eats: Curbside, Takeout, and Delivery

Don’t look for the dining-out experience you remember to be back on the menu anytime soon. Even as restaurants across Southern California innovate to stay open, it’s clear the shelter-in-place orders sparked by the coronavirus pandemic won’t be entirely lifted until a vaccine is available to the public. Instead, as outlined by state officials, even when restaurants reopen at an as-yet-unspecified date, it will be with stringent social distancing guidelines. In the meantime, be sure to support any of the restaurants throughout the Valley that keep their doors open by offering curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Just always call ahead as hours and menu items are subject to change. 

Conejo Valley

Al Mulino Italian Restaurant

Paseo Marketplace, 3709 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Westlake Village  | 805-379-0016

Takeout and delivery: Daily: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Offering authentic Italian food with ingredients imported from Italy, this eatery’s takeout and the delivery menu promises a feast for pasta lovers. After sampling such starters as the bruschetta or the beef carpaccio with sliced Angus beef and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, choose from entrees including the Rigatoni Strascicati (imported Napoletana pasta with Italian sausage) and the cappellacci ossobuco (ravioli stuffed with veal ossobuco).

 

Holdren’s Steaks and Seafood

1714-A Newbury Road, Newbury Park  | 805-498-1314

Curbside pickup: Daily: 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

You don’t walk into a steakhouse looking for a salad (although they have those, too). Likewise, their curbside menu offers such options as a Kobe beef burger with a 10-oz. patty to their signature “Cowboy Cut” — a 24-oz. bone-in ribeye, served with jalapeno and onion rings. If you aren’t in the mood for meat, try the seafood linguini with scallops, mussels, clams and tomatoes.

San Fernando Valley

Prime Pizza

603 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank   | 818-736-5120

Curbside pickup and delivery: Sunday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This latest addition to the chain opened in Burbank earlier this year, generating excitement among fans of its pizzas, sandwiches and garlic knots. Round pies come with toppings ranging from sausage and kale to spicy arrabbiata and pepperoni. Square pies include their classic Brooklyn with mozzarella and grandma sauce. As for the garlic knots, they live up to fresh-baked, buttery expectations.

Olive & Thyme

3821 Riverside Drive Toluca Lake  | 818-557-1560
Curbside pickup and delivery: Monday through Saturday: 11 a.m. through 3 p.m. Sunday: closed.

The modified menu at this family-owned market and cafe features all-day items ranging from salads and sandwiches to pastas and baked goods to “Grab N’ Go” meals like the Santa Fe bowl with free-range chicken, cilantro rice, black beans, house-made avocado pico de gallo, tortilla chips and cilantro dressing. If you need groceries, their market-fresh selection includes chicken, salmon, eggs, bread, milk and vegetables.

Santa Clarita Valley

Brewery Draconum

24407 Main Street, Santa Clarita   | 661-568-9160

Curbside pickup: Thursday through Saturday: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Expect organic, house-made comfort food infused with house brews at this family-owned brewpub, which centers its dining experience around craft beer. That includes a hot dog smothered in homemade chili topped with cheddar cheese and onion, the shepherd’s pie with gravy made with in-house stout and the grilled salmon, topped with white wine cream.

 

Crepissima

28166 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia   | 661-670-8770

Takeout and delivery: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This locally-owned spot offers every kind of delicious twist on the crepe you can think of — from Nutella with strawberry to shrimp with chipotle to tuna melt to pizza, stuffed with mozzarella and pepperoni. But even among this abundance of riches, the signature dish is unquestionably the goyi crepe, crammed with apples and splashed by chopped walnuts and dulce de leche.

 

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Streaming: Feel Good Movies

If you never saw Contagion, why start now? That’s like stopping to watch Jaws as your life raft springs a leak. Yet movies about viral pandemics — like the excellent but eerie Steven Soderbergh thriller as well as such lesser efforts as Outbreak and Pandemic — are topping digital movie charts, despite the reality, we’re living in. Our advice? Give your mind — and your stress level — some relief and seek out something upbeat and life-affirming. Any of these five films will do just fine in lifting your spirits.

Groundhog Day

Streaming on:  Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube

Bill Murray is a weatherman trapped reliving the same day, again and again. Sort of like being locked down at home. Murray’s predicament generates raucous laughs, but by the end, both the character and the equally sarcastic movie are channeling Frank Capra, elevated by the big-hearted notion that a man can improve, even if it’s one day at a time. FOR AGES: 12 and up

Ratatouille

Streaming on:  DisneyPlus

Remy is the best chef in Paris. Unfortunately, he’s also a rat. Enter Linguine, a garbage boy who is clueless at cooking. Working together — sort of Cyrano de Bergerac meets Anthony Bourdain — the new partners enjoy huge success until a food critic with his own issues turns up the heat. This undervalued Pixar movie is for anyone who’s ever been told they can’t realize their dreams just because of what they are or where they came from. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Singin’ in the Rain

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

The quintessential Hollywood musical, this 1952 classic stars Gene Kelly as a silent film star making the career move into “talkies.” Together with a chorus girl (Debbie Reynolds) and a vaudeville pal (Donald O’Connor), they plot to make a masterpiece. Once you surrender to its old-school, all-ages charm, it’s impossible not to be won over by the performances and the iconic musical numbers, which still endure almost 70 years later. FOR AGES: 6 and up

The Princess Bride

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Don’t expect the effects, violence and grit of today’s action-fantasy genre in this 1987 Rob Reiner comedy. A sly, self-aware fairy tale that favors humor and romance over battles and bloodshed, what distinguishes The Princess Bride is its utterly unique tone: whimsical, silly and warm, without a trace of mean-spiritedness. It’s framed as a bedtime story told to a child, but really, it’s a bedtime story being told to us. FOR AGES: 8 and up

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Streaming on: Netflix

Argue all you like about who the best movie Spider-Man is — Maguire? Garfield? Holland? — the best Spider-Man movie, period, is this 2018 animated Oscar-winner, in which a teenager named Miles Morales partners with Spider-heroes from alternate realities to save the multiverse and defeat the villain who killed his world’s Peter Parker. Bolstered by a sensational soundtrack, standout cast (including Nicolas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld and Mahershala Ali) and eye-popping animation, this thrilling, emotional adventure truly feels like a comic book sprung to life. FOR AGES: 9 and up 

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Virtually Out and About: L.A. Museums

Think of it as a virtual staycation. While museums like the Louvre and the Guggenheim welcome interactive, international visitors with tours of their exhibitions, self-isolating Angelinos have plenty of culture, history and science to explore right here – from behind the safety of their screen, of course. Take these five local institutions, for example. They may be shuttered, but thanks to online archives, activities and resources, they’re hardly off-limits to the public.

The Getty

If you were thinking of dropping by the Getty Center or Getty Villa before the lockdown, good news: some of its most popular exhibitions are open to virtual visitors. That includes Michelangelo: Mind of the Master, which examines rare drawings by the artist, ranging from sketches to detailed figure studies. Listen along to a free audio tour as you browse his work. For something fun, in addition to the online archive of art, videos and books, you can download a free coloring book filled with some of the museum’s most iconic artwork.

The Grammy Museum

The doors are closed, but the music plays on. On their website, you can enjoy archived performances by artists ranging from Common to the late Kenny Rogers. Join their album club, which is sort of an interactive book club for music fans, and follow along as founding executive director Bob Santelli discusses such classic albums as Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.

 

Natural History Museum

For families wanting to hit pause on streaming movies and TV, the Natural History Museum offers the chance to link up with scientists and other students for virtual adventures and crowd-sourced science. It also boasts an impressive video selection. For example, after learning about the animals and plants we share Los Angeles with, you can watch a clip chronicling how scientists uncovered the skull of the prehistoric world’s smallest dinosaur preserved in amber.

California Science Center

For burgeoning young scientists, the California Science Center live streams “Stuck at Home Science” every weekday at 10 a.m. Considering topics include “gross science,” it’s fair to say the goal is to keep children engaged and interested as they learn. Don’t worry about having to leave the house for materials, either. All the projects use common household items.

Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA offers an entire schedule of interactive activities throughout the week, designed to help the community stay connected. Available on the website as well as across MOCA’s social media channels, these include workshops, classroom curriculum discussions, an Instagram takeover series with a new artist every week, a book club and “Feel Good Friday,” which focuses on meditation and other exercises to relax the mind and reduce stress.

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Home Tips: DIY Grooming

Living in a lockdown can expose a lot – including your roots. So it’s no surprise that a month into the coronavirus pandemic, grooming gear is being snapped up with an urgency usually reserved for toilet paper and sanitizing wipes. According to Nielsen data, hair clipper sales have shot up 166 percent from this time last year while hair dye sales have increased 23 percent. With salons shuttered and Americans becoming do-it-yourself stylists faced with unkempt hair, chipped nails and scruffy stubble, here are a few tips to help you stay tidy while also avoiding jagged hairlines and accidental bald patches.

Cutting your hair 

If you can, you should wait until salons open again for your next haircut while also keeping your hair healthy and moisturized with leave-in creams and conditioners. As well, such products as gel, wax and pomade will let you experiment with your style without resorting to shears. Likewise, if you feel your bangs are out of control, try a slicked-back ponytail or headband to wrangle them away from your face. But if you absolutely feel like you need a cut, keep it simple and clean, snipping at dry – not wet – hair without switching up your style (again, leave that to the professionals). If you’re tackling the back of your hair, seek out someone to help you.

Doing your nails 

Try to make manicures a social activity in these self-isolating days. Invite the kids to participate. And if you have roommates, take turns doing each other’s nails. While there are manicure tool kits, all you really need are the essentials: a file, buffer and clippers. For a simple manicure, cut and file the nails into whatever shape you want, then buff the nail plate and wipe it with an acetone-based polish remover. A base coat will guard against chipping. If you want to remove Shellac or gel nails, there are plenty of online video tutorials to help guide you.

Coloring your hair

Because at-home and salon products are different, if you haven’t already been dyeing at home, you shouldn’t start now as it can wreak havoc on your appearance and your hair. So as you wait for your salon to re-open, take a few steps to maintain your hair: wash it less to keep the color from fading; use root touch-up products to conceal roots and vanishing colors; and for blondes and people with highlights, use purple shampoo to brighten your locks.

Caring for your skin

If you’re missing your regular facial and are looking to show your skin some love, but don’t have any face masks at home, you can make any number of your own alternatives, using such foods as bananas, cucumber, honey, milk, egg whites, squash and oatmeal.

Waxing

With salons closed, let it grow. That’s the advice from most experts, who suggest you don’t do anything more drastic than shaving at home while we’re all self-isolating. But if you’re a first-time self-waxer who is feeling particularly hirsute (and courageous), there are at-home solutions for you. The first, and most well-advised, are wax strips. For non-beginners, there are hot wax options, which are ready to go out of the microwave.

Growing a beard

So you’ve always wanted to grow a beard. Why not a pandemic beard? Being stuck at home is a perfect excuse to experiment. A few tips to unleash your inner lumberjack: let it grow for a month before you try to style it beyond snipping the edges; wash it at least twice daily while also using a beard oil to reduce the itchiness; and brush it in the direction you want it to grow.

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Valley Eats: Buying Groceries From Restaurants

Dreading the daunting, winding line at the grocery store? With restaurants forced to shutter their doors, many local eateries are now offering groceries to meet the needs of residents faced with bare store shelves. Additionally, some have partnered with area farmers as one way to both generate revenue and provide people with fresh fruits and vegetables. Note: call ahead or check delivery apps since both inventory and operating hours are subject to change.

Conejo Valley

Nonna

951 S. Westland Boulevard, Suite 2, Westlake Village | 805-497-8482
Hours: From Tuesday to Friday, groceries can be ordered online by 5 p.m. and are then available for pick-up or delivery the next business day.

After a hiatus in March, this Westlake Village eatery has adapted to the times by offering curbside pick-up and delivery for its menu dishes, as well as a grocery service featuring pasta, produce, canned tomatoes, pantry goods, oil, sugar and a grocery kit that includes three pounds of chicken breast, one loaf of ciabatta, eggs, milk, rice, vegetables and toilet paper.

Lemmo’s Grill

4227-A Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark | 805-530-1555
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: closed.

This restaurant’s abbreviated menu for curbside pick-up includes a range of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and pasta – along with a spaghetti-and-meatballs platter featuring garlic bread, salad and a bottle of house cabernet sauvignon. Also on the menu: groceries, including milk, eggs, produce, a selection of meats and water.

San Fernando Valley

Brent’s Delicatessen and Restaurant

19565 Parthenia Street, Northridge | 818-886-5679
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for delivery and pick-up.

This iconic deli, established in 1967 and revered for its Rueben sandwich, is open for pick-up and delivery. In addition to regular menu items like the corned beef hash, Brent’s is selling such grocery items as ground beef, sausage links, sugar, bacon, chicken breasts, milk, salmon filets, marinated skirt steaks and eggs. Order through their delivery app.

Tender Greens

325 N San Fernando Boulevard, Burbank  | 818-333-8340

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This chain, known for its salads and soups, is also offering produce and other grocery items for pick-up and delivery. Their grocery boxes are sourced from local farmers such as Scarborough Farms in Calabasas. Among the boxes, there is the Veggie (including Yukon potatoes, yellow onion, carrot, celery, garlic and asparagus), the Farm Fresh (butter lettuce, romaine hearts, arugula, carrots, beets, red butter lettuce) and the Morning Box (eggs, milk, flour, white and brown sugar).

Santa Clarita Valley

Lazy Dog

24201 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita  | 661-253-9996
Hours: Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9  p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition to a limited menu that’s available for curbside pick-up and delivery, Lazy Dog is also offering several DIY meal kits. The Home Essentials package includes three pounds of boneless chicken breasts, 15 eggs, milk, bread, rice, onions, red potatoes, carrots and toilet paper. Other kits are the Backyard Barbeque, which comes with two flat iron steaks, eight hot dogs, buns, coleslaw and potatoes; the Pizza Night kit, which includes enough raw materials to make two 12-inch pizzas; and the Brunch kit with eggs, breakfast potatoes and pancakes.

Italia Panetteria and Deli

27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia | 661-294-9069
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

This family-operated destination for Italian sandwiches, bread and desserts continues to offer its selection of pasta, virgin olive oils, vinegars, meats, tomatoes, sauces and pizzas, along with groceries ranging from frozen meals to fresh bread. Call ahead so your order is ready for pick-up.

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LA Eats: Buying Groceries From Restaurants

Call it the new economics of supply and demand. With restaurants and bars shut down, despite the supplies they have, many local eateries are now offering essential groceries to meet the needs of residents confronting long grocery store lines and shelves stripped bare by hoarders. Additionally, some have partnered with local farmers to sell produce boxes as another way to generate revenue and provide people with fresh fruits and vegetables. Note: always call ahead or check delivery apps since both inventory and operating hours are subject to change.

Kismet

4648 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 323-409-0404
Hours:  Pick-up hours are 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you place an order after 6 p.m., your order will be made for the following day.

This Mediterranean-Middle Eastern restaurant in Los Feliz is now offering groceries for pick-up, including rice, beans, olive oil, wines, steaks, salmon and produce sourced daily from Thao Family Farm. For the complete selection and to confirm what items are still available, click the “Goods” tab on their website.

The 101 Coffee Shop

6145 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood  | 323-467-1175
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5.p.m. for to-go service only.

This long-time Hollywood landmark, best-recognized from the film Swingers, is now offering bread, eggs, produce and beer, in addition to menu items. As well, they are partnering with next-door neighbor MiniBar to provide family-sized margaritas and other pre-made cocktails.

Gwen

6600 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 323-946-7513
Hours: You can call or go online to order between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for next day delivery or curbside pick-up. Delivery window is 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Given that Gwen is both a high-end restaurant and a European-style butcher shop, it’s no surprise they are offering select butcher cuts along with produce boxes, prepared meals, pantry items as well as wine and beer. For a morning menu update, you can go to their website and subscribe to their daily newsletter.

The Butcher’s Daughter

1205 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice  | 310-981-3004
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for delivery, take out and curbside pick-up.

In addition to an abbreviated menu including all-day breakfast, sandwiches and pizza, this vegan eatery is offering such groceries as olive oil, coffee, cashew ricotta, house-made veggie burgers, walnut mushroom pate, bread, granola, pancake mix and even vegan collagen.

Rockenwagner Bakery

12835 Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 310-577-0747
Hours: Pick-up is available 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Delivery hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This Westside bakery and cafe has launched a pick-up and delivery service, partnering with County Line Harvest and Lady and the Larder to offer market-fresh produce and artisan cheeses in addition to pasta, pastries, bread and prepared meals. To order, go to their website. They offer same-day delivery for orders within five miles and next-day delivery for orders within five to 10 miles. They do not deliver outside of a 10-mile radius.

Bar Avalon

2112 W. Sunset Boulevard Suite J, Los Angeles  | 213-908-5352
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Delivery is now offered from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday within a five-mile radius.

Calling itself “Bodega Avalon,” this Echo Park spot is now offering wine and provisions ranging from produce and made-to-order hot sandwiches to ready-made meal kits and such pantry items as couscous and rice. Check out their website for pick-up and delivery details.

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Streaming: 6 Documentaries to Binge after Tiger King

Tiger King’s roar is inescapable. The breakout Netflix docuseries about illegal big cat breeders and other eccentric characters has been the streamer’s top title since it debuted last month, inspiring mullet-themed memes and Twitter talk about who should play Joe Exotic in a forthcoming limited series. (If you don’t know who Joe Exotic is, he’s the owner of a private zoo who is currently in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill the activist who wanted to shut him down.) Whether you’ve already binged Tiger King or have zero interest in its garish world, what can’t be denied is the popularity of documentary filmmaking across platforms. From true crime to family mystery to adorable guide dogs in training, there is a subject for everyone.

Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and Fyre Fraud

Streaming on: Netflix (Fyre) and Hulu (Fyre Fraud)

The Fyre Festival was such a debacle it produced not one, but two, documentaries exploring how the influencer-touted music festival on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma descended into what has been described as a “millennial Lord of the Flies.” Which one should you watch? The Netflix doc offers a more vivid account of what transpired, but Hulu’s version, which presents the fiasco through a cultural lens, boasts an interview with co-founder Billy McFarland, who went to prison for six years. In other words, why not just watch both? For Ages: 15 and up

The Jinx        

Streaming on: Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

This masterful six-part series chronicles the bizarre existence of Robert Durst, the disquieting, possibly homicidal heir to the Durst empire in New York City. Just consider how many people close to him either disappeared or wound up brutally murdered: his wife, Kathie, who vanished in 1982; his friend, Susan Berman, who was killed in 2000; or his neighbor Morris Black, who was murdered and dismembered in 2001. Durst is currently on trial for Berman’s murder in Los Angeles thanks to new evidence uncovered by the filmmakers. For Ages: 15 and up

Pick of the Litter

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

This heart-tugging, six-part series follows six pups – Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane and Tartan – as they endeavor to become guide dogs for the blind. Not surprisingly, their journey is no bag of chew toys as they and their trainers face an intensive process marked by both triumph and disappointment. You’ll find yourself cheering on the dogs – as well as fully appreciating the work done by the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. For Ages: 6 and up

Cheer

Streaming on: Netflix

Forget the big guys on the field – this six-part docuseries finds as much ferocity and anxiety on the sidelines. Another pop culture mega-hit for Netflix, the filmmakers follow five members of Navarro College’s cheer squad as they journey from Corsicana, Texas, to Daytona, Florida, to compete against other athletes in the National Cheerleading Championship. If you’re expecting something light (a la Bring It On), expect to be surprised – and enthralled. For Ages: 13 and up

Three Identical Strangers

Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime

What begins as a wildly-entertaining true story – identical triplets, separated at birth, are reunited by chance as adults only to become talk-show-circuit celebrities – turns into a much more provocative, emotional exploration of fate and self-determination as they and the filmmakers untangle the twisting mystery of why they were separated as newborns. For Ages: 13 and up 

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Rodeo In The News: Shemar Moore Lists in Encino

Rodeo Realty Agent, Milla Pariser, just listed Shemar Moore’s previous Encino Home. Shemar Moore is an award-winning actor known for The Young and the Reckless, Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T. and more.  Shemar is on the hunt for a buyer in Encino, where his home of more than a decade has come on the market at $2.596 million.

The property is in a highly desirable area as it is close enough to the hustle and bustle of Ventura Boulevard, but secluded enough to serve as your own personal sanctuary. Brimming with absolute tranquility, this home is the entertainer’s dream, equipped with the most ideal necessities. From the airy living area to the luxurious backyard with pool, spa, and grass. This sophisticatedly stylish Spanish Abode is ready to welcome its new owners! 

This property received numerous press hits through the Rodeo Realty Public Relations Department. Featured in Variety, LA Times, Realtor.com, and more!

To learn more about the property and Milla’s other listings, see below. 

Address: 3465 Caribeth Drive, Encino, CA 91436 

Listing Agent: Milla Pariser 

Listing Price: $2,596,000

Property Video: HERE

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Home Tips: Making Your Own Mask

As the world tries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, both the City of Los Angeles and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging residents to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home. Specifically, the CDC says people should don cloth home-made masks while in such public spaces as grocery stores. So how do you make a mask? What material should you use? How do you wear it properly? And why are masks necessary now, anyway? Here are some answers.

Why are masks being recommended now?

At the outset of the pandemic, officials told the public they didn’t need to wear masks unless they were exhibiting symptoms or caring for someone who did. There were multiple reasons for this. They didn’t want the public stockpiling medical-grade masks needed by health-care professionals, for one. For another, masks are simply not as effective a method of protection as social distancing combined with hand washing. But officials also hadn’t realized people who have the virus but are asymptomatic are just as contagious as those who are visibly ill. By urging everyone to wear a mask, they hope to stop people from unwittingly spreading it. In other words, they want you to wear a mask, not to protect you, but to protect everyone else from you.

What kind of materials do I need?

Medical-grade masks, including surgical and N95 masks, need to be set aside for healthcare professionals already confronting devastating shortages of protective gear. Instead, the CDC recommends “cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.” Although there are no guidelines for what material you should use, in general, thicker is better, so try to find something that is 100 percent cotton such as old clothing.

Where can I learn how to make my mask?

Not surprisingly, the Internet has exploded with tutorials showing how you can make a DIY mask. On the official Twitter site for the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates how to construct one by easily folding a piece of cloth such as a scarf or hand towel and tying an elastic band on either side. This method is similar to one shown by an online Japanese arts and crafts educator, in which a no-sew mask is assembled with a handkerchief and hair ties. For a more elaborate design, John Hopkins Medicine offers these instructions, suggesting to avoid using solid white or blue material so it doesn’t look like you are wearing a medical-grade mask. Likewise, Kaiser Permanente has this how-to-guide for people who prefer to sew one together. Kaiser also suggests you wash your fabric several times before cutting it, so it doesn’t later shrink. The tighter the fit, the more effective the mask.

Is there a right way to remove it?

If you’ve gone to the effort of making a mask, wear it correctly – and just as importantly, remove it correctly, by taking the straps off from behind your ears without touching the front of the mask. Remember, it is now contaminated. After each use, it should be either thrown out and replaced or disinfected with soap and water.

Does a mask mean I can stop social distancing or washing my hands?

Absolutely not. In fact, you should not be leaving your home at all, except to make essential trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. And even then, although your face covering may give you a false sense of security, maintain a space of six feet or more between you and others. This physical distancing, in addition to frequent hand washing, is the most effective way to both protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19.

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Valley Eats: Date Night at Home

Date night isn’t what it used to be. With restaurants closed throughout Southern California and residents under shelter-in-place orders, venturing out for an evening away from the kids, or simply as a couple, is impossible. So why not order in from any of the restaurants that remain open for delivery or takeout? You’ll be supporting a business in need while carving out some time for yourselves. Just call ahead as hours and menu choices are naturally subject to change. (Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable ordering take out during this time, please consider purchasing a gift card from your favorite local restaurant to support them).

Conejo Valley

The Cliffdiver

21337 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu  | 424-235-2595

Takeout and delivery: Monday: closed; Tuesday: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

You can’t carry the laid-back surf vibe home with you, so you’ll have to get by on eats alone from this Malibu restaurant: tacos, nachos, burritos and quesadillas (the vegetarian quesadilla comes especially recommended). Whatever you dine on, wash it down with a margarita or sangria to go, served in a 32-ounce container (or roughly four to five drinks). Your dining room may not be the beach, granted, but at least you won’t get sand in your shoes.

Lure Fish House

60 California Street, Ventura  |  805-567-4400

Takeout and delivery: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Featuring fresh, locally-sourced seafood, this family-owned restaurant offers plenty of favorites to go: from bowls like the miso-glazed swordfish with organic stir-fried seasonal vegetables and organic brown rice to market salads like the Seafood Louie with Dungeness crab, Pacific white shrimp, avocado and seven-minute egg. Other fare includes the New England clam chowder, salmon burger and grilled salmon tacos.

 

San Fernando Valley

Anajak Thai

14704 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks |  818-501-4201
Takeout and delivery: Tuesdays to Thursdays: 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday: 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This family-owned Thai spot has been a neighborhood staple for nearly 40 years. They have their full menu available for takeout and are offering 20 percent off all bottles of wine. Start off with the papaya salad with dried shrimp and lime or the spicy lemongrass shrimp with roasted chili before moving onto their dinner selection of curries, stir-fries and plates, including a whole fried branzino with apple slaw, chili, lime and jasmine rice.

Din Tai Fung

177 Caruso Avenue, Glendale  |  818-551-5561
Takeout and Delivery: Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

The full menu of this superb dumpling restaurant in the Americana mall in Glendale is available for takeout and delivery – so enjoy. Whether you’re in the mood for potstickers or wontons in a spicy sauce or a soup dumpling (whether with added pork, truffle or crabmeat), the food here is equal parts delicate and delicious.

Santa Clarita Valley

Royal Tandoor

26532 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita  |  661-263-7100
Takeout and delivery: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you’re looking for classic Indian cuisine, including numerous vegetarian options, this relaxed restaurant offers no shortage of samosas, pakoras and kababs as well as tandoori and tikka dishes. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to add an order of flatbread.

Teriyaki Madness

28227 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita |  661-753-3366

Takeout and delivery: Monday to Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The full menu from this Asian fusion restaurant is available online or by phone. After selecting from such appetizers as the potstickers, chicken egg rolls and crab rangoon, roll up your sleeves and dive (virtually) into assembling your own teriyaki bowl with chicken, steak, salmon or tofu as protein options.

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