Economic update for the week ending August 19, 2017

Stocks drop for second week – Political drama and a terrorist attack in Barcelona weighed on investors and were attributed by analysts as the cause of stocks falling this week. Stocks are now off about 2% from their all time highs just two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week at 21,674.51, down from 21,858.33 last week. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,425.55, down from its close last week of 2,441.33. The NASDAQ closed the week at 6,216.53, down from last week’s close of 6,256.56.

Bond yields stable this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week at 2.19%, unchanged from 2.19% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.78%, almost unchanged from 2.79% last week. Mortgage rates follow treasury bond yields so we watch bond yields carefully.

Mortgage Rates down slightly this week – The August 17, 2017 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.89%, down slightly from 3.90% last week. The 15-year fixed was 3.16%, down slightly from 3.18% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.16% up slightly from 3.14% last week.

Existing home sales and prices higher in July than last July – Sales of existing homes in California totaled a seasonally annualized rate of 421,460 units in July, according to the California Association of Realtors. The number of sales of existing homes was down 4.9% from June’s sales pace. July’s sales pace was still 0.9% higher than last July. The statewide median price was $549,460, up 7.4% from July 2016. There was a 3.2 month supply of homes for sale, up from 2.7 months in June, but down from 3.6 months in July 2016.

Have a great weekend!
Syd

August 18, 2017

Home listed by Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Debbie Rauh featured in DIGS Magazine

Since listed, the home has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, and most recently, DIGS Magazine.

The newly built house has 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and really unique features throughout! Vintage nautical brass fixtures, art-deco lighting, and a prohibition bar are just a few of the unique features of the home.

The 5,000+ sq. ft. home has an open living room which goes out into the backyard with sparkling pool, baja bed with Jacuzzi spa/fountain and entertainer’s cabana.

The “Southern Grandeur” also comes with a stone-finished roof deck with built-in lounge seating, a bar/bbq, and views of both Century City and Hollywood Hills.

The home was also featured on the show “Behind the Gates.”

https://vimeo.com/222876425

832 N. Ogden Drive is offered at $3.799. For more details on this home, visit www.832nogden.com.

August 18, 2017

Rodeo Realty's 2017 Summer Picnic

It was a beautiful day for Rodeo Realty’s 2017 Summer Picnic! The event was held Thursday at the Roxbury Memorial Park in Beverly Hills.

Rodeo Realty agents enjoyed a day filled with great food, water balloons, and softball! Oh, and let’s not forget about that delicious banana bread pudding–thanks Kerry Gelbard!

To view more photos of the picnic, visit our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1643837135635206.1073741877.131332220219046&type=1&l=d1ec177855

August 18, 2017

Proposed DTLA Tower Could Become Southern California's Tallest Residential Building

Plans for a 70-story, 810-foot mixed-use development have been revealed for downtown Los Angeles’ South Park neighborhood. The tower is currently referred to as 1045 Olive and it will be the tallest residential building in Southern California.

According to Urbanize LA, 1045 Olive will include 794 apartments, and 12,504 sq. ft. of retail space.

The building is being developed by Miami-based Crescent Heights, which also developed Century City’s Ten Thousand tower along Santa Monica Boulevard, and was designed by ODA New York. According to Curbed, no low-income units have been decided on for the building. The Los Angeles Business Journal mentioned Crescent Heights paid $11.5 million for the half-acre site in 2015.

A development timeline has not been revealed.

August 18, 2017

Where To Find Eclipse Glasses In Los Angeles

Monday will bring a historic, total eclipse of the sun—the first total eclipse to cross the lower 48 U.S. states in 38 years. Here in L.A., we won’t quite reach totality (more like 70%) but it will still be extremely dangerous for your eyes to look directly at the sun.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun, according to our friends at NASA, is through special-purpose solar filters like “eclipse glasses.” However, as you would imagine, said glasses have become quite the hot commodity as eclipse mania descends.

The glasses were formerly available at REI stores, but according to a Santa Monica REI store employee, that location is sold out—as are the rest of the AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force-approved REI stores in the city.

To make matters worse, experts have been warning of the potential for counterfeit glasses, which could damage viewers’ eyes. So where can the real deal still be procured?

Libraries
Try your local library. A selection of both city and county libraries across the L.A. area will be having eclipse viewing events on Monday, with free glasses stocked on a first-come, first-serve basis. Important note: the glasses will only be available for participants, during the actual events. The full list of participating county libraries can be found here, and participating city libraries here.

7-Eleven
7-Eleven is another one of the handful of retailers listed on the Task Force’s site. We haven’t had much luck finding anything in stock by calling around, but given the sheer number of 7-Eleven locations in Los Angeles, giving your neighborhood outpost a call is probably worth a shot. Most eclipse viewers are priced at $2 to $3.

Your nearest 7-Eleven store can be found here.

The Stellar Emporium Gift Shop At The Griffith Observatory
The Stellar Emporium gift shop at the Griffith Observatory will be selling a limited number of eclipse glasses (priced at $5) every day until the big event. There was already a line of people waiting outside when the store opened at noon on Thursday, so we recommend getting there early if you want to snag a pair.

The Stellar Emporium is located at 2800 E Observatory Road in Griffith Park. They open at noon on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Warby Parker
As mentioned above, Warby Parker was giving out free glasses—all of which have now been distributed from their Los Angeles locations. However, an employee at the Warby Parker Green Room location in West Hollywood told LAist that there was a chance their L.A. locations might get a few more in over the weekend… So, fingers crossed, it might be worth dropping by your local Warby Parker store on Saturday or Sunday (they say they won’t be giving out store-specific availability information over the phone). There are four Warby Parker stores in Los Angeles: one in Venice, one in the Arts District, one in West Hollywood, and one at the Standard Hollywood (also technically West Hollywood).

Make Your Own Pinhole Projector
Yes, you can prevent eclipse-blindness with a cereal box (and a few other basic supplies). Here’s a NASA tutorial on how to make your own pinhole projector for safe viewing:

August 18, 2017

Weekend Events: August 18 – 20

Get out and do something fun this weekend!

August 18 – August 20 includes Echo Park Rising, Muse ’til Midnight at LACMA, a Soapbox Race in Elysian Park, an Art Deco Festival, the Chocolate & Art Show, and plenty more!

Take a look at the list below.

Urban Lights. Photo Credit: Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

Friday August 18th, 2017

1. The Long Beach BBQ Festival. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase.

2. Echo Park Rising.

3. Join the Los Angeles Philharmonic for an evening of music and fireworks at The Hollywood Bowl for Tchaikovsky & Fireworks.

4. Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler Youth Center.

5. Experience all things Korean during KCON 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

6. KCON Food Street by KTOWN Night Market.

7. Garbage Pail Groundlings at the renowned LA theater.

8. The Music Center’s Dance DTLA series at Grand Park.

9. FIGat7th Downtown Festival.

10. Enjoy some free Shakespeare this summer at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park.

11. The Chocolate and Art Show.

12. The 4th Annual Burbank Comedy Festival.

13. 818Day.

14. Pershing Square continues their free summer movie screenings.

15. The Music Center on Location comes to the Ford Theatres.

16. Grand Performances in DTLA.

17. The Barnsdall Art Park’s annual Wine Tasting Nights.

18. Shakespeare By The Sea at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.

Saturday August 19th, 2017

19. Muse ’til Midnight happening at LACMA.

20. BuskerFest at Long Beach’s East Village Arts District.

21. Family Day: Art for Good comes to The Hammer Museum in Westwood.

22. Marina Movie Nights returns to Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey.

23. The Nisei Week Japanese Festival in historic Little Tokyo.

24. The Queen Mary Presents the 13th Annual Art Deco Festival. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase.

25. Taste of Brews Long Beach.

26. KCRW’s 2017 edition of Summer Nights.

27. Opening Night for Drinkin’ Smokin’ & West Coastin’ — A Group Love/Hate Letter to LA at Think Tank Gallery.

28. The Wallace and Ilegal Mezcal will collaborate in a cocktail class at Bar & Garden.

29. Street Food Cinema at Will Rogers State Historic Park Pacific
Palisades and at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

30. Unique LA at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar.

31. Brouwerij West’s Popfuji summer concert series.

32. Spend the night enjoying a classic film beneath the stars during Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This weekend they will screen Some Like it Hot.

33. Los Angeles brand Project Social T sample sale.

34. CA Hot Sauce Expo in Anaheim.

35. Movies on the Green at the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills.

36. Opening reception for Brandi Milne’s ‘Once Upon a Quiet Kingdom’ at Corey Helford Gallery.

37. Shakespeare By The Sea at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro .

38. To Live And Buy in LA, Super Summer Sample Sale at the ROW DTLA.

39. L.A.’s only live animated comedy show Picture This! at The Virgil.

40. Summer of Music at Redondo Pier.

41. Eat|See|Hear at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills.

42. The Vanishing Trading Post in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District.

43. KX Festival at the Levitt Pavillon.

Sunday August 20th, 2017

44. The Red Bull Soapbox Race Los Angeles comes to Elysian Park.

45. Girl Cult Festival at the Fonda Theatre.

46. Los Angeles Comic Book & Science Fiction Convention at The Reef.

47. The West Hollywood Dance Festival.

48. Laguna Beach’s annual Pageant of the Masters.

49. Smorgasburg LA’s 2nd annual BBQ Day.

50. Grand Performances in DTLA.

August 15, 2017

Places In Los Angeles To Catch The 'Great American Eclipse'

Although Los Angeles lands outside of the total eclipse’s prime zone, Angelenos will still be able to experience an eclipse that takes up just under 70% of the sun’s diameter.

According to E.C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory, the moon will start overlapping the sun at around 9:05 a.m. The max overlap will be around 10:20 a.m. The effect will be done around 11:45 a.m.

If you plan on catching the eclipse, NASA says you will require additional equipment, which includes solar eclipse glasses (not the same as sunglasses), telescopes with solar filters, and pinhole cameras, among other items.

You can definitely catch the “Great American Eclipse” from the comforts of your backyard. If you want to be among other spectators, there are plenty of spots in Los Angeles that will be holding viewings. The National Park Service (NPS) will be hosting some of these events, and will have a limited supply of solar glasses and “Junior Ranger eclipse books” at each spot. All the following events are free unless noted otherwise.

Enjoy!

Griffith Observatory (Photo by Al Pavangkanan via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)

Griffith Observatory

The Observatory will have a public viewing on its front lawn from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is free of admission. According to organizers, personal telescopes won’t be allowed at the event.

The Griffith Observatory is at 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles.

L.A. State Historic Park (Photo by Annie Lesser/LAist)

L.A. State Historic Park (NPS Event)

Visit this 32-acre parcel of sprawling greens and either join the event directly at the park at 9:30 a.m., or you can meet up with NPS rangers at 8:30 a.m. at the Gateway to Nature Center in El Pueblo. From there, you can hike to the park to catch the eclipse.

L.A. State Historic Park is at 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles. Gateway to Nature is at 130 Paseo de La Plaza, Los Angeles.

King Gillette Ranch (Photo courtesy of National Park Service)

King Gillette Ranch (NPS Event)

This 588-acre space features a Spanish Colonial Revival style mansion, a large constructed pond, and an abundance of sweeping meadows. According to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, “it offers a rare unspoiled view of California’s rich archeological, cultural, and historic resources, including a Chumash settlement.”

The NPS says that a ranger will be there at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. to speak on the total eclipse. Afterward, guests will be invited to view the partial eclipse from the visitor center grounds.

King Gillette Ranch is located at 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.

Rancho Sierra Vista (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa (NPS Event)

At 9:30 a.m., visitors can gather at the park’s Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center, where there’ll be children’s activities and presentations of Native American sky stories. You’ll also get to see the eclipse, of course.

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa is located at the cross street of Via Goleta and Lynn Road in Thousand Oaks.

The Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson. (Photo by Josh Patterson via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)

Mount Wilson Observatory

Thomas Meneghini, executive director at Mount Wilson Observatory, tells LAist that the site doesn’t have official plans just yet. Meneghini says that he’s thinking about pointing a 100 mm solar telescope at the sun, and having the image projected in the auditorium that seats about 250 people. If you’re interested, you can follow the observatory on Facebook and/or Twitter to stay up-to-date with developments.

To get to Mount Wilson Observatory: from the 210 take Highway 2 northbound for 14 miles, turn right on Red Box Road. Follow it 5 miles to the top.

Montebello Library (Via County of Los Angeles Public Library/Facebook)

L.A. Libraries

Many city and county libraries will host eclipse viewings. Within the Los Angeles Public Library system, branches in Little Tokyo, Pacoima, Woodland Hills, and South L.A., among others, will be hosting events. County libraries joining in on the party include branches in San Gabriel, Rosemead, and Norwalk. Many of the libraries will be projecting NASA’s live-stream of the event, and some offer eclipse viewing glasses and will have a solar telescope on hand. Contact the library for information for what, specifically, will be happening.

Here’s a list of LAPL libraries hosting viewing parts, and a list of county libraries hosting viewing parties. All these events are free of charge.

August 12, 2017

Economic Update for the week ending August 12, 2017

Stocks drop this week – This week the latest companies to report second quarter corporate earnings had disappointing results. Snap Inc., the owner of Snapchat saw a loss of nearly 20% after its quarter loss grew. That affected many stocks in the tech sector. JC Penny also had a disappointing quarter. It’s stock dropped to an all time low. This put pressure on retail stocks. Some analysts attributed the drop on geopolitical conditions due to rhetoric with North Korea. Year-to-date the Dow is up 10.6%, the S&P is up 9% and the NASDAQ is up 16.3%, so some profit taking is expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week at 21,858.33, down from 22,092.82 last week. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,441.33, down from its close last week of 2,476.83. The NASDAQ closed the week at 6,256.56, down from last week’s close of 6,351.56.

Bond yields drop this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week at 2.19%, down from 2.27% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.79%, down from 2.84% last week. Mortgage rates follow treasury bond yields so we watch bond yields carefully.

Mortgage Rates down slightly this week – The August 10, 2017 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.90%, down slightly from 3.93% last week. The 15-year fixed was 3.18%, down from 3.18% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.14%, almost unchanged from 3.15% last week. Rates dropped late in the week. Next week’s survey rates should be even lower.

Home affordability slips in California as prices rise – The California Association of Realtors reported that 29% of California households could afford to buy a $559,260 median-priced home in the second quarter. That is down from 32% in the first quarter of 2017 and 31% one year ago in Q2 2016. The annual income required to purchase the median-priced home was $110,780. They found that 38% of California households were able to purchase a median-priced condominium or town-house, which was $443,400. The annual income required was $88,870.

Have a great weekend!
Syd

August 11, 2017

Art Taking Over Old Pasadena This Saturday

This Saturday, August 12, Old Pasadena will have a free, one-day art takeover throughout its historic 22-block district.

BoldPas: An Art Takeover of Old Pasadena will feature 12-site specific installations from both established and up-and-coming artists.

In addition to the installations, event-goers will also find creative Art Stops at more than 30 participating shops and restaurants. A great opportunity for Instagram photos!

BoldPas will go from 12 to 8 p.m. For those looking for a greater experience, Pasadena Walking Tours will have two tours on Saturday, one at 1:30 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m. Tours will include temporary installations and Old Pasadena’s permanent public art. The $10 tours will also offer a chance to meet the onsite BoldPas artists. Advance registration is required.

Remember, all installations are free and open to the public. For more details on the event, visit oldpasadena.org.

Have fun!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXeMDnVg3-Q/

August 11, 2017

Great Craft Coffee Bars In Los Angeles

Can’t start your day without coffee? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. There’s a wide variety of coffee bars in and around Los Angeles. You can actually find a latte, cappuccino, or a brewed coffee in every corner–but the questions is, “which are the best ones?”

Below is a list of some of the best craft coffee bars in Los Angeles. Hope this gets your day started!

ALFRED COFFEE & KITCHEN