Media Relations

August 7, 2018

LA's History Of Food-Shaped Restaurants

After decades of dashed hopes and broken promises, Tail o’ the Pup, Los Angeles’s famous hot dog-shaped hot dog stand, will finally reopen.

The last we heard, this gem of novelty architecture was heading to the Valley Relics Museum in Chatsworth, where it would be on display but wouldn’t dish out franks.

Now, just in time for National Mustard Day (yes, it’s a holiday and it happens the first Saturday in August) comes word that the 1933 Group has acquired the landmark — and plans to bring it back as a restaurant.

Two customers eat at Eddie Blake’s Tail o’ the Pup, a famous hot dog stand located at 300 N. La Cienega Boulevard. (David Clarke from the Security Pacific National Bank Collection via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

The 1933 Group owns a bunch of bars around town — Bigfoot, Sassafrass, Thirsty Crow, Oldfield’s, a few others — all themed, often with a heavy vintage vibe. These are the folks who restored Highland Park Bowl to its Jazz Age splendor, resurrected the Idle Hour, a once popular North Hollywood bar and restaurant shaped like a giant barrel, and are in the midst of revamping the Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood. They respect the history of the venues they acquire and they seem to know what they’re doing, so fingers crossed that they’ll treat Tail o’ the Pup with the care it deserves.

The Idle Hour in North Hollywood was built in 1941 and renovated in 2015. (Photo by Mike Hume/Flickr Creative Commons)

Built in 1946, Tail o’ the Pup operated (not always at the same location) until 2005. After shuttering, it spent years moldering in storage facilities including a Torrance warehouse and a Lake Elsinore salvage yard.

Excited about eating at this landmark? You can thank Alison Martino, who runs Vintage Los Angeles. According to Los Angeles magazine, she spent years searching for the stand then working with the family of Tail o’ the Pup founder Eddie Blake to get it back. Now, the 1933 Group is looking for a new home for the Pup, somewhere street-facing in West Hollywood or Hollywood, near the stand’s original location.

Tail o’ the Pup is one of L.A.’s most famous examples of “programmatic architecture” — buildings designed to look like food, animals or other items — but it’s hardly the only one. Southern California has a rich history of buildings shaped like boots, owls, toads, pigs, airplanes and more. In fact, we were ground zero for the bizarre building boom.

The giant donut on the roof of Randy’s Donuts is adorned with a mini Space Shuttle on October 11, 2012 in Inglewood. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

The trend reached its apex in the early 20th century. Motoring was still a new pastime and business owners wanted to catch the eye of passing drivers. Unhampered by modern building codes, they threw up these cool and kooky structures.

Sadly, most have been demolished. You can still see a few, including the famous Randy’s Donuts and a couple of old Chili Bowl locations

Fortunately, Southern California’s rich history of novelty architecture remains well documented.

The Toed Inn, shaped like a frog, was originally located on on Channel Road in Santa Monica. After it was damaged by a flood in 1938, it was moved to 12008 Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood. (1920) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Shaped like an owl, the Hoot Owl Cafe had a head that rotated, blinking eyes made from Buick headlamps and a sign that read: “Hoot hoot, I scream.” It was designed by Roy Hattrup in 1926 – 27 and for more than 50 years, his wife, Tillie, ran it. It was originally located in Rosemead but was moved to two subsequent locations, both in South Gate, before being demolished in 1979. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

“There was an old woman, who lived in a shoe; she had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.” Apparently, she opened the Mother Goose Pantry at 1951 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. (1928) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Launched in 1931 by former amateur boxer Art Whizin, the Chili Bowl chain had 22 outposts at its peak. Each building was round and shaped like a chili bowl with 26 stools around a circular counter where diners could get the signature dish: an open-faced burger blanketed with chili. This 1937 photo shows the original Chili Bowl, located at 3012 Crenshaw Boulevard. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Although the exact L.A. location of The Airplane Café is unknown, the airplane-shaped restaurant came with wings, a propeller and wheels, although it rested on raised slabs of wood. (circa 1924) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Originally built as an ice cream parlor with an oversized ice cream cone at each corner, the building became the Feed Rack restaurant during the Depression. Notice the sign: “Hello, Oldtimer! Are you hungry? Stop and get some coffee & donuts. They are on us.” (circa 1930) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

The Teepee was a popular ice cream stand in Long Beach on 2nd St. at Covina Ave, 1931. During this time, the swastika was commonly displayed as a positive symbol before the Nazi Party adopted it and gave it its hateful connotations. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Located at 1124 Vine St. in Hollywood, the Hollywood Flower Pot is both the name of this flower shop and an accurate description of its facade. (1930) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

The Pig Cafe was built in 1934 near La Brea and Rosewood avenues in Hollywood. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

This photo of the Sphinx Realty Company, located at 537 N. Fairfax Ave. across from where Fairfax High School now stands, supposedly dates to 1920, so it’s too early for it to have been inspired by the Egyptology craze that swept the U.S. after Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered in 1922. Notice the signs listing nearby properties for sale. Back then you could buy a six-bedroom, corner stucco house for $7,200. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

A giant grand piano marks the entrance of the California Piano Supply Co., which was renamed the Big Red Piano in the 1960s. (circa 1920s – ’30s) (Photograph via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Shaped like a blimp (aka a zeppelin), the Zep Diner was located at 515 W. Florence Ave. near Figueroa St. (1931) (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

As its name suggests, the Tamale, located at 6421 Whittier Blvd. in East L.A., specialized in Mexican food as well as hamburgers, chili, malted milk and something called “Spanish delight.” The structure went on to become Charley’s Beauty Salon in 2001. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Shaped like a milk can, the Cream Can sold buttermilk (5 cents), orange juice, root beer and other beverages. (Photo via Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

Cars exit The Donut Hole drive-in restaurant, located on Elliot Avenue at Amar Road in La Puente, on January 4, 1983. (Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library Collection)

1934: Exterior view of the first Brown Derby restaurant at Wilshire Blvd. and Alexandria Ave., with its large “Eat in the Hat” neon sign atop the dome. There were four Brown Derby restaurants — in Beverly Hills, Los Feliz, Hollywood and Wilshire — but only this one, the original was shaped like a bowler hat. It was first located at 3427 Wilshire Blvd. but in 1937 was moved one block over to 3347 Wilshire Blvd. (Works Progress Administration Collection/Los Angeles Public Library)

Picketers protest in front of the Brown Derby Restaurant on Wilshire Blvd., in 1980, hoping to prevent the restaurant from being razed and replaced by a high-rise. The restaurant had suddenly closed its doors after paying and dismissing employees. In September of 1980, it was torn down and replaced with a parking lot and later a strip mall with a domed structure on the third floor of the building, to resemble the original hat-shaped building. (Mike Mullen/Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library)

Article courtesy of LAist.

August 6, 2018

TV Shows You Should Watch Before The End Of Summer

This summer might not have had Game of Thrones, but it wasn’t lost by any means. Already we’ve seen Pose, Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking TV series; Succession, HBO’s strong answer to Billions; and The Staircase, which enjoyed a much-anticipated update on Netflix. And that’s to say nothing of the other top-tier shows, movies, books, albums, and podcasts that have been out! Oof. We get it. There’s been a lot to see, and, yes, there’s lots more on the way. To make some of your decisions easier, we’ve flagged a few highlights to see before fall — what’s Game of Thrones again?

The Sinner (USA)

Premiere date: August 1
Reason to be excited: Sadly, Jessica Biel is returning only as an executive producer. Silver lining: The brilliant Carrie Coon (The Leftovers) will take over as leading lady. Her reviews are in, and so far, they make The Sinner sound like it won’t be a one-hit wonder. (“Coon’s enigmatic performance never fails to intrigue,” says Mashable. “This is the one case where the only need for a critic is to remind you to watch,” adds the Washington Post.) For Season 2, the crime drama unspools a mostly unconnected, new story — save for familiar face Det. Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) — about an 11-year-old boy who poisons his parents and watches them die. Awful, yes, but as the show’s tagline teases, “The sins of a child are never his alone.” Buckle up for another riveting whydunit. [Trailer]

Random Acts of Flyness (HBO)

Premiere date: August 3
Reason to be excited: Random Acts of Flyness has been billed as a “late-night show,” and while it will feature sketches and special guests (like Whoopi Goldberg and Gillian Jacobs), none of it will be anything like what you’re used to. (And thank God. Sorry, Jimmys.) Instead of your average desk bits, this six-episode series, from artist Terence Nance, will showcase “interconnected vignettes that make the series a unique mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama, and humorous animation” — all about “the beauty and ugliness of contemporary American life.” To which we say, yes please! [Trailer]

Better Call Saul (AMC)

Premiere date: August 6
Reason to be excited: Season 4 will be all about (slight spoiler for the uninitiated) the fallout from Chuck’s death, and how it compels those left behind to be better or… worse! Bring on the Saul. [Trailer]

Lodge 49 (AMC)

Premiere date: August 6
Reason to be excited: From Jim Gavin (Middle Men) and Peter Ocko (The Office), Lodge 49 follows a Cali surfer named Dud (Wyatt Russell, aka that guy from the weird Black Mirror video game episode) who’s trying to recover from the death of his dad and the downfall of their family business. He happens upon a local fraternity — the titular lodge — which may or may not help solve all his problems. Godspeed, Dud. [Trailer]

Insecure (HBO)

Premiere date: August 12
Reason to be excited: More mirror rap sessions! More Daniel! More relationship drama? We’ll see — stay in the know with our Season 3 dossier.

Disenchantment (Netflix)

Premiere date: August 17
Reason to be excited: It’s Matt Groening’s latest creation. The series, about “the misadventures of a hard-drinking princess (Abbi Jacobson), her feisty elf companion (Nat Faxon), and her personal demon (Eric André),” has been positioned, aptly, as the love child of The Simpsons and Game of Thrones. Or the fantasy version of Futurama. Either way, it might just scratch your Westeros itch — in a loving send-up kind of way.

Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy (Sony Crackle)

Premiere date: August 23
Reason to be excited: Bear traps. Explosions. NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher. This beautifully dumb show, about Rob Riggle (aka Pow! Guy) and a bunch of campers learning how not to look like assholes while riding jet skis, apparently has it all. So if you’re hunting for your next offbeat (heavy on the offbeat) comedy, look no further. [Trailer]

Ghoul (Netflix)

Premiere date: August 24
Reason to be excited: It’s Netflix’s first horror series out of India! Co-produced by Blumhouse (Insidious, Get Out), Ghoul follows “a prisoner who arrives at a remote military interrogation center and turns the tables on his interrogators, exposing their most shameful secrets.” And, yes, it looks creepy as hell. [Trailer]

The Innocents (Netflix)

Premiere date: August 24
Reason to be excited: This British saga has been teased as a sci-fi Romeo & Juliet — although Romeo & Mystique might be more like it, because this Juliet is a freaking shape-shifter. [Trailer]

Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime)

Premiere date: August 31
Reason to be excited: If your favorite John Krasinski is Action John Krasinski (see: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi), this should be right up your alley. From Carlton Cuse (Lost, Colony), this Tom Clancy-inspired TV show puts Krasinski in the title role as a modern-day, up-and-coming CIA analyst thrust into his first field assignment. We’re confident this character is better at Call of Duty-ing than Jim Halpert because Jack Ryan has already been renewed for Season 2. [Trailer]

Ozark (Netflix)

Premiere date: August 31
Reason to be excited: More Serious Jason Bateman! After barely surviving a stressful move to the Ozarks, his character and his family, the Byrdes, will have to dig in their heels and learn how to run a freaking riverboat casino. “In Season 2, [the Byrdes have] kind of gone from the shadows into the light a little bit. There’s this idea that Marty’s enemies, the Snells and the cartel, are now his partners,” Ozark‘s Chris Mundy teased us last year. “[Season 2 is] more about capitalism and what you do to win, the difference between things that are legal and illegal, ethical and unethical. Are the Byrdes going to own this new life?” If you need a Season 1 refresher, we’ve got you covered. [Trailer]

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

August 4, 2018

Economic update for the week ending August 4, 2018

157,000 new jobs added in July – The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 157,000 new jobs were added in July. This was below the 193,000 expected by analysts, but still a healthy number. In the last 12 months, job gains have averaged 203,000 a month. Wage growth, which is an indicator of inflation risk, showed average hourly wages growing by 2.7% over the past 12 months. The unemployment rate dropped to near historic lows of 3.9%, down from 4% in June. While more wage growth would be nice, 2.7% won’t put much pressure on The Fed to raise rates to combat inflation risks. Usually, with unemployment so low you would see wage growth at 3% or more. Wages have been stubborn to rise, which has kept inflation in check and interest rates historically low–especially with such robust growth.

Strong corporate earnings overshadowed trade fears this week – With over 30% of companies reporting second quarter earnings, this earnings season is turning out mostly positive. Most companies posted results that beat expectations. While Tech stocks sunk last week after Facebook reported disappointing earnings, they soared this week after Apple’s earnings were reported. Apple became the first company to have a valuation of over $1 trillion. China and the U.S. both stepped up tariffs on more products, while The U.S. and The European Union edged toward a trade deal. Trade fears probably are the reason stocks did not rally much higher on such strong earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,462.08, up slightly from 25,451.06 last week. It is up 3% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,840.30, up from 2,818.82 last week. It’s up 6.2% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,812.01, up from 7,737.43 last week. It’s up 13.2% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond Yields unchanged this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.95%, almost unchanged from 2.96% last week. The 30-year Treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.09%, unchanged from 3.09% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.

Mortgage rates slightly higher for the week – The August 2, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.60%, up slightly from 4.54% last week. The 15-year fixed was 4.08%, up slightly from 4.02% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.93%, up slightly from 3.87% last week.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

August 3, 2018

Some of The Best Whole Foods 365 Products

Whole Foods is an absolute wonderland of edible treats. And while it’s tempting to put everything in your cart, it’s also foolish. First of all, that poor shopping cart is gonna collapse and there’ll be a serious mess. But savvy Whole Foods shoppers know that you can find affordable and delicious food within the store’s own brand: 365 Everyday Value. Not everything with the 365 label on it is organic, but plenty of it is, and it’s often competitively priced.

To help you find the best 365 Everyday Value eats to take with you to the cashier, Thrillist asked a whole lot of serious Whole Foods fans/famed food Instagrammers to tell them their favorite products.

365 Everyday Value Organic Almond Milk Unsweetened

“This almond milk in the 32 ounce container doesn’t have to be refrigerated until it’s open, so I like to keep several in the pantry as backups since almond milk goes fast in this kitchen. The texture of the almond milk stays smooth, so it’s great for coffee, golden, and matcha lattes.” Sarah J. Gim, founder, @TheDelicious

365 Everyday Value Almond Butter

“As a dietitian, I think it’s important to provide awareness around added sugars in our everyday foods — this especially counts for nut butters! Nut butters should have two ingredients or less and no added oils. The Whole Foods 365 almond butter (unsweetened) contains only dry roasted almonds and sea salt.” Rachael DeVaux, RD, CPT, @Rachaelsgoodeats

365 Everyday Value Bite-Sized Wheat Squares Cereal

“I’m a huge fan of this cereal. It’s sodium free and contains 100% whole grains, which not only makes it a great source of fiber, but it helps to slow digestion and keep you fuller longer. (Throw in a handful of berries for a touch more sweetness… and fiber!) At $2.99 for a 14oz box, you’re getting quite a few meals (or snacks) for less than a dollar each!” Caitlyn Elf, @caitsplate

365 Everyday Value Freeze Dried Strawberry Slices

“Absolutely love the versatility of freeze dried fruit! You can add it to granola for a sweet crunch, toss it into chia pudding or smoothies for extra fruit flavor, or even roll the outside of homemade energy balls with it for extra crunch — just delicious!” Marie Reginato, @marie.reginato

365 Everyday Value Organic Grade A Maple Syrup

“You will not find anything but 100% pure maple syrup in my house, because life is too short to buy anything else. I adore Whole Foods maple syrup because it’s both organic and totally affordable! You pay the same price (or even less) for a bottle of this top-notch organic maple syrup than you would for another non-organic variety at any other store! We use this maple syrup on top of our fair share of pancakes and waffles; I have four kids ages 7 and under, and those are their two most requested breakfast foods! I also love using maple syrup as a wholesome, vegan sweetener in our favorite baked goods!” Laura Sandford, founder, JoyFoodSunshine

365 Everyday Value Organic Riced Cauliflower

“The 365 frozen organic cauliflower rice is always stocked in my freezer. It makes for the perfect low-carb rice alternative, [and is perfect] to grab for a weeknight dinner.”Lexi Davidson, founder, Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

365 Everyday Value Magnesium Cherry Fizz

“When I discovered this at Whole Foods I became quickly obsessed. I take a scoop and have it with my water as my nighttime elixir every night. It helps me wind down and get ready for bed. I also drink it during the day if I’m feeling extra stressed — it calms me down almost immediately!” Remi Ishizuka, @rrayyme

365 Everyday Value Organic Cracked Black Pepper Turkey Breast

“This is one of my favorite items to buy as a protein source to build easy and healthy lunches for the week. It’s organic turkey and made with vinegar, salt, and honey instead of nitrates as a preservative. The cracked black pepper adds just enough flavor without being too salty!” — May Zhu, MBA, RDN, founder, Nutrition Happens

365 Everyday Value Extra Hot Habanero Sauce

“I’m a huge fan of spicy foods, and habanero is my favorite type of pepper. This hot sauce gives a nice little kick to everything, but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I like to add hot sauce to everything from eggs to homemade tacos, and even sometimes pasta!” Carina Wolff, @kalememaybe

365 Everyday Value Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

“Coconut oil is my favorite dairy-free pantry staple. I use it to bake dairy-free treats, put it in my coffee in the morning, and make delicious frostings and spreads! Since I use it so frequently, the quality of the coconut oil I purchase really matters to me. This unrefined coconut oil is my favorite because it has an ultra-creamy texture, unbeatable taste, and is 100% organic (which I care about a great deal when it comes to products we use often)!” Rachael DeVaux, RD, CPT, @Rachaelsgoodeats

365 Everyday Value Pasture Raised Large Brown Grade A Eggs

“I love the way pasture raised eggs taste: the yolk is always super bright! Whole Foods has one of the best prices around for pasture raised eggs, and the quality is evident in the taste. One of the most common nutrition myths around is that brown eggs are better than white eggs, but the truth is that shell color is not an indication of quality or nutrition content. So when it comes to the gold standard for eggs, I always encourage going the pasture raised route!” May Zhu, MBA, RDN, founder, Nutrition Happens

365 Everyday Value Organic Garbanzo Beans (Canned)

“I try to make my own chickpeas at home using dried beans, but when I’m in a rush, the Whole Foods 365 brand comes in handy. Not only is it inexpensive, but the can is BPA-free, which is really important. I like to put chickpeas in everything from soups to salads, so it’s convenient to have some cooked ones on hand for last-minute dishes.” Carina Wolff, @kalememaybe

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

August 3, 2018

Sparrow Mart art installation opens in Los Angeles

Supermarket Shopping can be a chore, but British artist Lucy Sparrow has made the mundane task into an experience so joyful that it’s even worth waiting in line for. She’s hand-stitched over 31,000 felt-covered plush replicas of grocery store items for her whimsical Sparrow Mart art-exhibit-meets-shopping-spree at The Standard in Downtown.

On the second floor of the hotel an entire room has been transformed into a grocery playground of sorts with shelves fully stocked with felt goodies that are all for sale throughout the month of August. In the produce section, smiley and doe-eyed avocados, potatoes and watermelons fill large cardboard bins, that are, of course, also covered in felt. White gondola shelves are stocked with Reese’s Puffs and Frosted Flakes cereal boxes, Jif peanut butter jars, and KitKat and Skittles bags — all hand-painted with striking attention to detail. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even a felty ATM machine at the entrance.

Photo via The Standard

“I decided to work with felt because I find that it’s a medium that is so synonymous with being a child,” Sparrow said in an interview with The Cut. “It’s an easy fabric to work with, it doesn’t fray, it’s available in all the colors you could possibly think of. So, I thought, I wonder if I could make an entire shop that if you’re daydreaming, it looks similar enough that you could go there thinking it was real.”

There’s an interactive component that brings childlike wonderment to many of Sparrow’s objects, like a felt-shrouded soda refrigerator with doors that open up to Coca-Cola and Snapple bottles, and a gum-ball machine that dispenses plastic capsules containing Dubble Bubble candies glimmering from its blue metallic fabric. At the overwhelmingly massive selection at the sushi glass counter, visitors get to pick out their favorite cut rolls and fill a black plastic sushi tray with the items. To add to the experience, guests can use actual shopping carts and baskets to hold their goods and line up at the check-out counter to purchase them.

Photo via The Standard

Hidden within this dizzying array of art pieces are Sparrow’s more playful and irreverent items, where she even manages to make things like alcohol bottles, Trojan condom boxes, Gas-X meds and Marlboro cigarettes cute. As an added bonus, a blue display case features Sparrow’s hand-made recreations of 1980s VHS and Betamax movie boxes like Footloose and Ghostbusters.

While the price tag of the items range from $1 to $50,000, pieces like a Twix bar will run you $35, a head of cheery cabbage for $40 and sushi at $10 a piece. If you happen to have very deep pockets, you can buy an entire seafood case filled with lobster, fish and clams for $50,000. Don’t forget to make your way to the back room behind the check-out counter to scope out some of the more expensive pieces of art, like a shopping cart filled with an assortment of grocery items and a Playboy magazine, or a Warhol-esque shadowbox of pastel-rainbow Campbell’s Condensed Tomato Soup cans.

Photo by Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

A total of 50 visitors can be in the store at once and stay for 30 minutes at a time. All it takes to get into Sparrow Mart is checking in with the hosts at the hotel lobby before heading up the escalator to the store. Since there are no reservations, keep in mind that this exhibit is first come, first served.

If all that faux food shopping gets your stomach growling, there’s a British-inspired pop-up eatery downstairs in the lobby and in the hotel’s 24/7 restaurant that coincides with the Sparrow Mart installation. Here you’ll find snackable items like a sweet-and-savory Sparrow hand pie stuffed with confit duck and acho blackberry barbecue sauce, or a New Delhi Grilled Cheese sandwiched between melted cheddar and Beemster with mango chutney. If you want to go very meta, the hotel also offers combos where you can eat the real versions of the felt creations, like a raspberry-and-blueberry pop tart, and then take its plush counterpart home. Same goes for the homemade Moon Pies and a Tapatio cocktail made with mezcal and lime.

Photo via The Standard

Sparrow Mart is the artist’s fifth felted show, following her New York appearance where she debuted her 8 Till Late bodega at The Standard at the Highline and sold out everything in two weeks’ time. It took Sparrow and her five-person team a full year in her “Felt Cave” studio in Essex, England to create all the pieces for this L.A. show.

Back when Sparrow had her first Cornershop installation in Bethel Green, London in 2014, she started off with just 4,000 pieces. In the ensuing years, her different exhibits have tackled subversive topics, like her sex shop installation called Madame Roxy’s Erotic Emporium that showcased didos, porn mags and sex toys. And then there was her Warmongery show that featured weapons, including guns, tanks and rocket launchers.

“I am very interested in military history and everything to do it, warfare and the grizzly events of people getting harmed. What better to turn it on its head than to use a fabric that is so innocent and childlike, it just completely messes with your head,” Sparrow told Wonderland Magazine.

Sparrow Mart is the artist’s largest installation to date. While that means that you’ll have a larger selection of items to choose from, it doesn’t mean that it’ll make it any easier deciding which adorable goods to bring back home.

Sparrow Mart is located on the second floor of The Standard hotel at 550 S. Flower St. in Downtown, and runs August 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018. The installation is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed on Mondays.

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

August 2, 2018

Weekend Events: August 3 – 5

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend, from Friday, August 3 to Sunday, August 5, features Sparrow Mart, The Emoji Art Show, Free Happy Hour at the Viceroy, Stronger | Weekend, The Mayan Warrior art car experience at Grand Park, CatCon, Beach Goth, TASTE OF ECUADOR and MUCH more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Friday August 3rd, 2018

1. British artist Lucy Sparrow has transformed the second floor of the Standard in DTLA into Sparrow Mart a supermarket art wonderland fill with over 31,000 adorable felt-covered food replicas all for sale. Part art installation, store and loads of photo worthy moments, Sparrow Mart is free to attend on a first come first serve basis. FREE

2. Jackalope Arts is bringing a new night market to Pasadena on August 3-4 featuring a massive assortment of artisan vendors, free sunset yoga classes, acoustic music, DIY activities, and local food and drink, including a beer garden to sit back and enjoy the summer evenings. Happening at Old Pasadena’s Central Park. FREE

3. There’s a multi-sensory art party revolving around emojis coming to Los Angeles for one night. The Emoji Art Show, at DTLA’s Inner Space, will feature over 30 emerging local artists, live art, body painting, performances, DJ tunes, a full bar with food and emoji desserts.

4. Enjoy a vintage-style summer evening watching a drive-in movie during San Fernando Valley Summer Drive-In Movie Nights at the Lake Balboa Complex. Each evening will offer food trucks, a 26-player arcade game truck, laser tag, silent disco headphone party and family board games all included in your ticket price. Kicking off the weekend is a screening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Friday followed by Back to the Future Part II on Saturday. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

5. Viceroy Santa Monica is hosting a “Vice Hour” happy hour this Friday to celebrate their new chef, Sean Piccarreto and the Angelenos are invited to come in for complimentary drinks and eats poolside with summer music vibes provided by TSR Airlines’ Dan and Lindsay Mancini.

6. American Cinematheque and LACMA present 3-D Double Vision a 3-D movie screening seriesfeaturing Amityville, Friday The 13th, Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone, The Meg and more.

7. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. This week features DJ Nights an evening dedicated to curated music, dancing, and more from 9 p.m. to midnight. FREE

8. Brew at the L.A. Zoo features beer sampling from 40+ local craft and microbreweries, live music, pop-up zookeeper talks, animal discovery stations and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

9. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Park at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of Titus Andronicus on Friday and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Saturday through SUnday. FREE

10. The Hammer will host a Yappy Hour at 6 p.m. this Friday. Meet adorable adoptable dogs over a drink in the Hammer’s courtyard explore the museums current exhibition Made in L.A. The Hammer kindly ask you to leave your own dog at home for this event.

11. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

12. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Summer Supper + Show returns every Friday and Saturday, July through August, with a Asian-inspired dinner at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck followed by a movie screening on the private 26th floor hotel rooftop. This weekend they’ll screen Moonrise Kingdom.

13. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE

14. Rodeo Drive’s BOLD Summer is set to bring an energizing spin to Beverly Hills’ Golden Triangle this August. Come enjoy a block party with live entertainment, special restaurant offers, and more. BOLD happens every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from August 2-25. FREE

15. The Roadium in Torrance presents Classic Drive-in Movies every Friday night in August and the first Friday of September. Each family-friendly event features classic films projected on the screen tower. Kicking off the series is a screening of The Goonies.

16. See Hershey Felder as Beethoven at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The one-man shows will depict the iconic composer’s story through music and monologue. Hershey Felder: Beethoven will run from July 26 to August 19. Hershey Felder: Beethoven will run from July 26 to August 19. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

17. Are you a Chase bank customer? Got a freebie you might want to know about. Coolhaus is teaming with the Forum and Chase to hand out free ice cream sandwiches to Chase customers on Fridays all summer long. Locations will change every Friday, and the offer is ice cream sandwich per cardholder. Get more info here.

18. Barnsdall Fridays returns to Barnsdall Art Park for the tenth year in a row, with evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

19. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series runs June 1 through August 18. This Friday “When Moons Become Stars” a panel discussion featuring five indigenous ballerinas—Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, Rosella Hightower, Yvonee Chouteau, Mocelyne Larkin—and moderated by Bonnie Oda Homsey. FREE

20. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances. The series continues with performances of The Winter’s Tale on Friday and The Merry Wives of Windsor Saturday through Sunday all at three different locations. FREE

21. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Black Panther, A Quiet Place, La La Land and more.

22. The Summer Playwrights Festival will show 30 plays in eight days from July 29 through Sunday August 5 at the Road on Lankershim in the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood.

23. Outdoor theater Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, located in Topanga Canyon summer 2018 season begins on June 2 with a performance of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

24. The City of Monterey Park presents Summer Movies in the Park a family friendly event with free popcorn taking place in different parks in the neighborhood. This month the series concludes with CoCo at Barnes Park Amphitheater . FREE

25. Beyond the Streets is a fully immersive exhibition of street and graffiti art comprised of over 30 artist in a massive 40,000+ square feet exhibits. Artist are an eclectic mix of street and beyond including Retna, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf Dennis Hopper and Jenny Holzer. This Friday is “Free Kids Friday” with a purchase of an adult ticket. Also, check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

26. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.

27. Free museum days: Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.) and Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.)

Saturday August 4th, 2018

28. To celebrate LiveStrong.Com turning 10 years old, the entire team is holding a day of workouts and wellness this Saturday on the field of the Rose Bowl. Stronger | Weekend will feature celebrity trainers leading the day with workout classes, wellness insights, a marketplace, art installations, DJ tunes, and much more. You can even be a part of history, as Stronger | Weekend will include an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Most People Holding an Abdominal Plank! Use the promo code LOSANGELES10 for $10 tickets to the event!

29. Celebrate Los Angeles’ unique celestial beauty when the National Park Service’s Night Sky Festivalreturns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills this Saturday. The free event will allow guests to observe the planets of our Milky Way Galaxy through telescopes, listen to Native American night sky stories, and enjoy kids’ activities, including the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger. FREE

30. KCRW’s Summer Nights for the first time will be held at the new KCRW headquarters this Saturday. The Backyard Party will have 18 piece band The Midnight Hour, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Adrian Younge, KCRW DJs Garth Trinidad and Travis Holcombe performing. A selection of food trucks curated by KCRW’s Evan Kleiman will also be available, along with record collectors and dealers hand-selected by Beats Swap Meet. FREE

31. CatCon is back August 4-5! The ultimate feline convention where pop and cat culture converge will have two days of cat merchandise from 150 vendors, DIY workshops, cat-world celebrities, adoptions and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

32. Head over to Boyle Heights for the 1st Annual Beer Fest, celebrating the best of locally crafted beers. Food vendors and live entertainment will be available, while guests will sip on beers from the likes of Brewyard, Iron Triangle, Indie, Old Stump, and plenty more. According to Eventbrite this event has been delayed until October. Apologies for any confusion!

33. One of Burning Man’s most iconic art cars The Mayan Warrior will stop at Grand Park in DTLA August 4-5. The immersive light and sound experience is a ticketed event. All proceeds go towards funding the art car’s journey from Mexico City to Burning Man in August and Create Now, an organization fostering arts and education for youth’s.

34. Pop Saturdays, a free summer series taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park returns this week with a performance by Cat Power. FREE

35. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Groundhog Day at Centennial Square at Pasadena City Hall. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

36. The Actors’ Gang will once gain bring back Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families with a production of Much Ado About Avengers an original play inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and the characters of Marvel’s Avengers. Taking place at Media Park in Culver City, the 45 minute, all‐ages production will run every Saturday and Sunday this month through August 26. FREE

37. If you’re a brunch enthusiast, you’ll want to head over to the Brunch Life Festival in Long Beach this Saturday. The inaugural event brings together restaurants in Orange County, Long Beach and Los Angeles for brunch tastings, mimosas, bloody marys, live entertainment, outdoor games, photo booths, and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

38. Flypoet is bringing its Summer Classic to the newly renovated Ford Theatre for another year of the most highly sought-after spoken word poets in the country. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

39. Heritage Square Museum in Montecito Heights is hosting a screening of L.A. Confidential this Saturday.

40. HARD Summer Music Festival is returning to the Fontana Speedway with a jam-packed EDM lineup on August 4-5 featuring Marshmellow, Travis Scott, Diplo, Virgil Abloh, Yellow Mustard, Flosstradamus, Rick Ross, Jaden Smith and much more.

41. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of The Mask at Victory Park in Pasadena and Mama Mia at Poinsettia Rec Park in West Hollywood. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

42. The Hollywood Beer and Music Festival is coming to the Hollywood Event Lot featuring 60+ local and regional craft beers, live entertainment and eight food trucks. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

43. Enjoy a summer movie night at Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hills when Movies on the Greenwith a screening of Grease. FREE

Sunday August 5th, 2018

44. Local L.A. band The Growlers presents the Beach Goth music festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Headliners include The Voidz, Doug E. Fresh, and The Growlers of course, with fan favorite experiences like Death of a Clown Cabaret a Beach Goth Island, which will feature a world of palm trees, dubbed out reggae music in quadraphonic sound, beer and plenty of sandy vibes.

45. Mount Wilson Observatory is offering classical music concerts within the dome of the 100-inch telescope above the observatory. Located in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, the shows happen once a month from May to October.

46. Bon Iver will take the stage of the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday as part of KCRW’s World Festival.

47. The 20th Annual TASTE OF ECUADOR Food Festival & Parade comes to Placita Olvera for a full experience of Ecuadorian cuisine and culture featuring crafts, musical groups, folklore customs, a parade and more. FREE

48. Head over to the Regent in DTLA for The Rock and Roll Flea Market. Happening on the first Sunday of every month, this flea market features 50 vendors offering vintage and handmade crafts, memorabilia, instruments, vinyl and more. The space also offer two full bars, a brunch menu, DJ’s all day, and “boozy bingo.” Free to attend.

49. The third annual BrunchCon LA returns to The Reef in Downtown L.A. with plenty of brunch items, plus an open Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar. In addition to brunching, there will also be photo booths, a Museum of Brunch, dancing, a marketplace, Mimosa Pong, Giant Jenga, corn hole, and more! Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

50. Escape the summer heat during Jazz on the Lawn, a series of free summer concerts at Santa Monica’s Gandara Park every Sunday in August. In addition to live music there will be free dance lessons, food trucks and picnic games. FREE

51. Movie Night at The Wiltern will host a Toy Story matinee screening with themed photo ops, face painting and coloring stations. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

52. The Beverly Hills Farmers Market is hosting a Picklefest, featuring a variety of pickled fruits and vegetables this Sunday. Event is free to attend!

53. Check out LACMA’s latest exhibition, 3D: Double Vision an interactive exhibit that explores the art and illusion of 3D.

54. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.

55. Sunday August 5 is National Oyster Day! Herringbone in Santa Monica will be offering $1 oysters all day long (limit two dozen per table) and Ivory on Sunset will be offering $1 oysters all day in honor of the day.

56. Celebrate summer in the SGV during Movies in the Park, a free outdoor film series screening at Alhambra Park. This weekend they’ll screen Lego Ninjago. FREE

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

August 1, 2018

Cool Things to do This August in LA

Need stuff to do this month in Los Angeles? We looked ahead on our calendar to focus in on some of the best events happening in August around Los Angeles that you should probably have on your radar. After all, better to get your tickets now than wait till the last minute and find out your favorite event is sold out.

August 2018 event highlights include Jackalope Summer Nights, CatCon, the L.A. Taco Festival, Harry Potter Roller Skating Night, Echo Park Rising, KCON, the start of the L.A. County Fair, and much more.

Enjoy!

1. BOLD Summer Nights Kickoff Block Party on Rodeo Drive (August 2)

Head to the kickoff event of Beverly Hill’s BOLD Summer Nights, which will feature fireworks, art installations, food offers, shopping, and plenty more. If you miss opening night, you can still attend BOLD Summer Nights every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from August 2-25. -> More information

2. Jackalope Summer Nights in Pasadena (August 3-4)

Head over to Central Park in Old Pasadena for Jackalope Arts’ new night market, featuring food, drink, music, and over 200 artisan vendors. -> More information

3. Classic Drive-In Movies at the Roadium (starts August 3)

Enjoy classic films under the stars and with loved ones at The Roadium’s drive-in movie theatre every Friday this August and the first Friday of September. -> More information

4. The Emoji Art Show in DTLA (August 3)

The Emoji Art Show is coming to Los Angeles, featuring a night of performances, live art, body paintings, desserts, and more, all based around emojis! -> More information

5. Brew at the L.A. Zoo 2018 (August 3)

Brew at the L.A. Zoo celebrates its annual brewfest with music, pop-up zookeeper talks, and animal discovery stations, plus craft suds from 40+ breweries. T -> More information

6. Stronger | Weekend: A LiveStrong.Com Event at The Rose Bowl (August 4)

Stronger | Weekend will feature celebrity trainers Jillian Michaels, Anna Victoria, Cassey Ho, and more leading the day with a yoga class, a mat pilates class, insights on eating healthy and exercise habits, and much more. Plus, join in on a group plan to break a Guinness World Record. Be sure use the promo code LOSANGELES10 for special $10 tickets to the event! -> More information

7. Brunch Life Festival in Long Beach (August 4)

Come to the first-ever Brunch Life Fest, where a variety of brunch tastings, mixed drinks, games, and music will take over Long Beach’s Rainbow Lagoon Park. -> More information – Discount tickets

8. 1st Annual Boyle Heights Beer Fest (August 4)

Sip on beer from dozens of locally crafted brews and help support charities like OLTE during the 1st Annual Boyle Heights Beer Fest. -> More information

9. Night Sky Festival Returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills (August 4)

9. CatCon 2018 at the Pasadena Convention Center (August 4-5)

Pop and cat culture will converge at CatCon for two-days of cat-centric showcases including merchandising, cat world celebrities and cat adoptions -> More information – Discount tickets

10. Night Sky Festival Returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills (August 4)

National Park Service’s Night Sky Festival returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills on August 4 with kids activities, telescope viewings and more. -> More information

11. KCRW Presents Summer Nights’ Backyard Party (August 4, 11, & 18)

KCRW’s wildly popular Summer Nights series is back, and for the first time ever is being held at the station’s new headquarters, located at Santa Monica College’s Center for Media Design. The three-concert series will feature The Midnight Hour (the new project from Ali Shaheed Muhammad) and composer Adrian Younge performing with an 18-piece orchestra on August 4, a solo acoustic performance from Jim James on August 11, and a DJ set by Henry Rollins on August 18. -> More information

12. BrunchCon LA at The Reef in DTLA (August 5)

The third annual BrunchCon LA returns to The Reef in Downtown L.A. on August 5 for the highly acclaimed food and drink festival that’s all about your favorite morning ritual… brunch! -> More information – Discount tickets

13. Dog Days of Summer at Hammer Museum (starts August 7)

Celebrate canines during Dog Days of Summer at the Hammer Museum. Adopt a dog at Yappy Hour or enjoy a film screening like Old Yeller, Best in Show, or Isle of Dogs. -> More information

14. KCON LA 2018 in DTLA (August 10-12)

The world’s largest Korean culture convention stops in Los Angeles from August 10 to 12 for KCON, a celebration of music, workshops, meet-and-greets, and more. -> More information

15. ‘Frida Kahlo Under the Stars’ at LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes (August 11)

Frida Kahlo Under the Stars with Gregorio Luke comes to LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes on Saturday, August 11 for an evening dedicated to this iconic artist. -> More information

16. Angel City Brewery’s 6th Annual Avocado Fest (August 11-12)

Angel City Brewery’s 6th Annual Avocado Festival takes place August 11-12, celebrating the state fruit with music, food, and limited release Avocado Ale. -> More information

17. Echo Park Rising 2018 (August 16-19)

Echo Park Rising celebrates the creativity, diversity, music and businesses of Echo Park with a four-day celebration featuring food, drink, and live music. -> More information

18. STRETCH at OUE Skyspace LA (August 17)

STRETCH is a spandex-themed dance party that doubles as a cheeky homage to an 80’s workout video. The event features two indoor floors plus two outdoor decks, all taking place 1,000 above the ground at OUE Skyspace LA. -> More information

19. Long Beach BBQ Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park (August 17-19)

Pitmasters at Rainbow Lagoon Park will cook a variety of meats, while guests enjoy live music and fun activities. -> More information

20. The 2018 L.A. Taco Festival in Grand Park (August 18)

The 2018 L.A. Taco Festival features an eclectic array of traditional and trending tacos, all from local L.A. spots. Admission is free (pay for tacos as you go). -> More information

21. Rum Tiki Social & Tiki Swapmeet (August 19)

Head down to Roxanne’s Cocktail Lounge in Long Beach for a Tiki Swapmeet and social featuring live tiki bands and DJs, games, and selected tiki vendors from across SoCal. -> More information

22. The Labyrinth Masquerade Ball XXI in Downtown L.A. (August 24-25)

Get ready for a unique experience at the Labyrinth Masquerade Ball at the Millennium Biltmore in DLTA. This a unique experience features extravagant costumes, artists and performances. -> More information

23. 2018 DTLA Proud Festival Pershing Square (August 25-26)

The DTLA Proud Festival begins at noon each day and will feature live music, food trucks, local artists, a pop-up water park and much more! -> More information

24. Brick Fest Live: Lego Fan Experience in Pasadena (August 25-26)

Brick Fest Live, the Lego Fan Experience, is coming to the Pasadena Convention Center for two days of insane builds, hands-on activities, and sets to buy. -> More information

25. ScareLA 2018: Halloween in Summer (August 25-26)

Celebrate Halloween in the summer with ScareLA, the city’s only convention with interactive experiences, industry professionals, roaming monsters and more. -> More information – Discount tickets

26. Leimert Park Village Book Fair at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (August 25)

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair comes to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw on August 25 for an all-day literary extravaganza. -> More information

27. The 13th Annual Venice Beach Music & Arts Festival (August 25)

The free Venice Beach Music & Arts Festival features world-class music, and dance entertainment, as well as food trucks, murals, book signings and more. -> More information

28. Muse ’til Midnight — LACMA in 3D (August 25)

Muse ’til Midnight at LACMA is the ultimate late-night party. 2018’s edition is a celebration of 3D art, inspired by LACMA’s new exhibit, 3D: Double Vision. Enjoy music curated by DUBLAB, access to five galleries and more. -> More information

29. 7th Annual Harry Potter Roller Skating Night (August 25)

This August Harry Potter Roller Skating Night returns to Moonlight Rollerway for a 7th and final edition. -> More information

30. Cinecon Classic Film Festival at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre (August 30 to September 3)

Cinecon 54 returns to the Egyptian Theater with a 5-day festival full of classic film screenings, celebrity appearances, panels, a memoribilia show, and more. -> More information

31. L.A. Times The Taste at Paramount Studios (August 31 to September 2)

Hosted at the iconic Paramount Studios from August 31-September 2, Taste LA will feature tastings alongside demos, pop-ups and chef experiences. -> More information

32. L.A. County Fair (starts August 31)

The L.A. County Fair returns to Pomona for a enormous assortment of activities, musical performances, food and beverage offerings, and more. The fair runs through September 23. -> More information – Discount tickets

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

August 1, 2018

Schedule Of Free Museum Days In Los Angeles For August

The intent of this “cheat-sheet” is to denote specific free days in any given month where Los Angeles museums that normally charge an admission waive their entry fees (not including parking). For this post we’re detailing August, 2018.

Remember if you can’t make it to one of the free days listed below there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here.

And as for the rest of the freebies listed below… enjoy!

[AUGUST 2] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 2] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 2] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 2] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for September and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix)

[AUGUST 2] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 3] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 3] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 3] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 5] Museum of Latin American Art

[AUGUST 5 ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[AUGUST 7] Kidspace Museum (4 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 9] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 9] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 9] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 9] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 9] Santa Monica History Museum

[AUGUST 10] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 12] Museum of Latin American Art

[AUGUST 12] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[AUGUST 14] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[AUGUST 14] Autry Museum of the American West

[AUGUST 16 Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 16] Japanese American National Museum (all day)

[AUGUST 16] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 16] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 16] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 17] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 19] Museum of Latin American Art

[AUGUST 19] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[AUGUST 21] Los Angeles County Arboretum (note: the tram doesn’t run on this day)

[AUGUST 21] South Coast Botanic Garden

[AUGUST 21] Descanso Gardens

[AUGUST 23] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 23] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 23] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 23] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 23] Museum of Latin American Art (5 to 9 p.m.)

[AUGUST 24] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 26] Museum of Latin American Art

[AUGUST 26] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[AUGUST 30] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 30] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 30] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[AUGUST 30] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[AUGUST 31] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

As a reminder, it’s ALWAYS good to verify the status of free days before you visit, so be sure to check the official museum websites to verify visiting hours, parking costs, and any other pertinent details. Keep in mind free admission days may not include specially ticketed exhibitions.

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

July 31, 2018

How To Enjoy A Day In Santa Monica Without A Car

Sometimes it’s nice not having car. Sometimes what you really want is to be in a place where you don’t need a car. Santa Monica can be such a place, especially if you’re a visitor just trying to make a day of it.

This beachside city offers a world of opportunities, attractions, and landmarks all concentrated in a central downtown area, and/or easily accessible via public transit. Shopping, art, food, and entertainment are available virtually everywhere you look. But where to start?

Let’s imagine you’ve just arrived at the Downtown Santa Monica Metro station. Or maybe you’re staying at a nearby hotel for work or pleasure. It’s 11 a.m. and you’re now standing at the corner of 4th and Colorado with an open day you aim to fill with adventure.

Where might you go? What might you do? How will you get there? Let us offer you a few starting points below.

Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.

Getting Around Santa Monica

The great news is that public transit in Downtown Santa Monica is in no short supply. As a primer, we wanted to just go over a couple of local transit options so there’s no confusion if we make references later on.

Metro (L.A.’s light rail system) has an east-west route called the Expo Line that originates at the 7th Street station in Downtown Los Angeles and ends at the Downtown Santa Monica Station. If you’re coming into the city from an outside area and want to avoid the traffic, this is a terrific entry point. One-way rides on Metro are $1.75 and you can purchase a day-pass for $7. For more detail we suggest checking out their fare sheet and trip planner.

The Big Blue Bus is Santa Monica’s municipal bus line, which offers a dense grid of service routes criss-crossing the DTSM area. Individual rides are $1.25 if you pay cash. For more info check out the BBB fare sheet and Routes & Schedules page.

In addition to the city-run public transit options, you might use ridesharing services (like Uber and Lyft), or bike and scooter rentals (like the ubiquitous Bird scooters). Any or all of these can be handy in a pinch depending on where you need to go, and how fast you need to get there.

Things to Do and See in Santa Monica if You’re Car Free

Pacific Park and the Santa Monica Pier

Walk west on Colorado from the Expo station and in just a few short blocks you’ll arrive at the world famous Santa Monica Pier. Chief among the Pier’s many attractions is Pacific Park, L.A. County’s only admission-free amusement park (and the only amusement park located on a pier on the west coast!). A visit to Pacific Park includes everything you’d want in an authentic California experience: games, twelve different rides, cotton candy, ice cream, an ocean-air food court, and tons of family fun. Rides and attractions are priced individually and range in price from $5 to $10, or you could buy an unlimited ride wristband for $32.95 (or grab them online ahead of time for a discounted price) that gives you access to all 12 rides as many times as you’d like.

Additional to-dos along the Pier include Trapeze School New York, Playland Arcade, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium (just to name a few). More than anything, you’ll want to take a leisurely walk and enjoy the sights and sounds!

Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.

Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica State Beach stretches over 3.5 miles of Southern California coast line, with the sand space divided in two by the Santa Monica Pier. Just south of the Pier is the Original Muscle Beach (not to be confused with Muscle Beach Venice), and at the far north end you’ll find one of our favorite spots in all of Santa Monica: The Annenberg Community Beach House.

The Annenberg Community Beach House offers all you’d ever want from a private beach club experience, just without the fancy price. In fact, it’s free. So what does free get you? Among the features and amenities are a pool, playground, splash pad, beach courts and fields, beach access, free wi-fi, tables, chairs, and umbrellas. Some free reservations are available online, but mostly it’s first-come, first-serve. A couple things to keep in mind: It’ll draw big crowds on hot days (you could be put on a wait list) and the pool is closed from October to May.

There isn’t a bus stop directly in front of the Beach House on Pacific Coast Highway so if you’re coming from near the pier your options become walk (about 30 minutes), rent a bike to go along the beach path (about 10 minutes), or perhaps, most advisedly, take a rideshare (7 minutes during low traffic times… longer if there’s gridlock on PCH)

Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.

Third Street Promenade

Santa Monica’s most walkable street features four lively blocks of retail shops, restaurants and performers of all sorts. On the southern end you’ll find Santa Monica Place, a traditional outdoor mall sprinkled with luxury boutiques. Dining options around the Promenade are endless, but we have a few suggestions you might look into. Try SUGARFISH for a five star sushi fix or True Food Kitchen for innovative and delicious health conscious eats. Top the evening off with a posh cocktail at Copa d’Oro, a dimly lit bar with speakeasy vibes.

Third Street Promenade is also near a few unique spots worth going off the path for. We Like L.A. recommendations includes live music at Harvelle’s Blues Club located on 4th street (jazz, hip-hop, blues and more every evening since 1931) and M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater which offers affordable ticketed improv shows and occasional drop-ins by some of the most famous names in comedy (Dave Chappelle, Dana Carvey, Judd Apatow, Zach Galifianakis, Tig Notaro, to name a few).

Bergamot Station

Bergamot is a massive art gallery complex spread over 5 acres of city-owned land multiple buildings that offer more than 60,000 square feet of space. The site is open daily, with most galleries open for view from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Two great things about Bergamot: entry is free, and there is an Expo line stop literarily at the doorstep of the facility.

Photo by Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

McCabe’s Guitar Shop

McCabe’s Guitar Shop claims to have the “largest collection of stringed things to make music in California,” which would be impressive enough on its own. What’s even cooler is their stripped-down backroom / concert space, which regularly showcases some amazing players and musicians. Any guitar player or hardcore music fan owes themselves a visit if they’re in the area.

The shop is about 2.5 miles from Downtown Santa Monica. You could take the Expo line, depart at Bergamot Station and then walk an extra 15 minutes (0.8 miles). If that’s not in the cards, a rideshare works just as well, and the Big Blue Bus #7 has a stop on Pico Blvd not too far away.

Camera Obscura at the Santa Monica Art Lab

The Camera Obscura Art Lab on Ocean Ave plays host to a number of community classes and workshops throughout the year, but perhaps the most unique feature is a dark room on the second floor that contains a four-foot disk in the middle of the space. Light from outside is projected onto the disk via a mirror from the ceiling and casts an image of what’s happening directly outside the building. It’s kind of like being on the inside of a giant, working camera as you watch what looks like a surveillance footage being beamed in from above. You won’t spend a ton of time here, but the cost (free!) makes it worth a visit. The Camera Obscura mechanism is free to visit on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.

Tongva Park

Tongva Park is a beautiful six-acre public space divided into four sections (or hills). The park features gardens, a natural amphitheater, a children’s splash pad, shaded picnic areas, a restroom, and free-wifi. It makes for a perfect morning walk destination, or a lovely spot for an afternoon family outing. You can get there with a short walk southwest from the Downtown Santa Monica Expo Line station.

Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market

The best Los Angeles chefs know you won’t find fresher produce anywhere in the city than at The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market, which you’ll find twice weekly on Arizona Ave near 2nd St. Two version of this market happen weekly: The Wednesday edition (that’s the larger one) runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, and routinely hosts over 75 different farmers. A smaller affair focused on organic produce runs at the same location (but a couple blocks shorter) on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market makes for a perfect morning stroll filled with plenty of tasty samples to enjoy.

Santa Monica Farmers Market. Credit: Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

Santa Monica History Museum

If you want to learn about the Santa Monica of yesteryear, the Santa Monica History Museum is the place. The museum features six galleries and a research library. The collections include over six hundred rare photographs, and a permanent exhibit on the city’s history that features authentic artifacts and fabricated environments. Admission is normally $10 per adult, $15 for couples (two adults), and the museum offers a free day every second Thursday of each month. To get there is about a 10-minute walk from the Third Street Promenade at Santa Monica Blvd.

Article by We Like LA.

July 28, 2018

Economic update for the week ending July 28, 2018

Strong second-quarter earnings lifts Dow and S&P, while NASDAQ drops on tech fears – As second-quarter earnings season has begun, most companies are reporting better-than-expected earnings. Social media companies were an exception. The NASDAQ hit an all-time high on Wednesday, only to fall sharply after Facebook reported earnings below expectations. Facebook stocks dropped 20% on Thursday. Friday, Twitter reported a loss in users with disappointing earnings and a more cautious outlook on growth. Twitter stocks dropped over 20%. These dragged the tech-heavy NASDAQ down and it closed lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,451.06, up from 25,058.12 last week. It is up 3% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,818.82, up from 2,801.31 last week. It’s up 5.4% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,737.42, down from 7,820.20 last week. It’s up 12.1% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond Yields higher this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.96%, up from 2.89% last week. The 30-year Treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.09%, up from 3.03% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.

Mortgage rates unchanged for the week – The July 26, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.54%, almost unchanged from 4.52% last week. The 15-year fixed was 4.02%, almost unchanged from 4.00% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.87%, unchanged from 3.87% last week. Rates rose at the end of the week. Expect next week’s rates to be slightly higher.

U.S. Gross Domestic grew 4.1% in the second quarter – Highest quarterly reading in four years – The Commerce Department reported that the Gross Domestic Product rose 4.1% in the second quarter of 2018. That reading was in line with what analysts expected. It was the highest quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2014 when GDP grew 4.9%, and marked a nice rebound from the first three months of this year when the economy grew at a slight 2.2%. Consumer spending grew at an annual rate of 4% in the second quarter, up from a sharp pullback in the first quarter. Business investment grew 5.4%, down from 8% in the first quarter. Exports surged 9.3% in the quarter, as the trade gap narrowed. Experts point to a surge in soybeans and other items that were purchased prior to tariffs going into effect. They warn that there is no way demand for these items increased so sharply, and they were purchased to be held in inventory for later consumption. They feel this will adversely effect next quarter’s results, as advance purchases were made this quarter instead of next quarter. They still feel it was a positive quarter and the economy is very strong. Inflation also moderated as The Commerce Department’s Personal Expenditure Consumption Price Index grew at an annual rate of just 1.8% in the second quarter, down from 2.2% in the first quarter.

Fewer California existing homes sold in June – Prices continue to increase – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales totaled 410,800 in June on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. While that was .4% higher than the number of existing home sales in May, it was down 7.3%, year-over-year from June 2017, when the annualized rate was 443.120. That was the largest year over decline in sales in almost four years. The statewide median price was $602,750 in June, up 8.5% from last June’s median price. The median price paid for a condominium or townhome was 7% higher than last June. Statewide Inventory levels rose for the third consecutive month, up 8.1% in June. That was the largest monthly increase since January 2015, when listings increased 11%. The unsold inventory index had a 3 month supply of homes for sale, up from 2.7 months in June 2017. A normal market has a 6 month supply.

New home sales soften in June – The Commerce Department reported that sales of new single-family homes dropped 5.3% in June on a month-over-month basis. New home sales in June totaled 631,000 on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. That was the lowest rate of new home sales since October 2017.

Have a great weekend!