Category: feature

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Weekend Events: April 26-28

Now that Angeleno’s are returning to their normal schedules post Coachella, the spring weekend fun is just ramping up! With so many activities to chose from throughout LA, why limit your days off to just one outing. Check out our weekend round-up and discover the best of Los Angeles all weekend long!

Discover your inner Angeleno!

Friday April 26, 2019
Photoville LA

Location: Outside of the Annenberg Space for Photography

This New York export heads to Los Angeles for the first time and features exhibitions in repurposed shipping containers, photo cubes and light-boxes. Over two consecutive weekends in Century Park (that’s right next to the Annenberg Space for Photography), expect a mix of nighttime projections, talks, workshops, family-friendly activities, Smorgasburg vendors and a community beer garden.

Click here for more info.

MLB Food Fest

Location: Magic Box, DTLA

MLB FoodFest comes to Los Angeles for the first time on April 26 – 28. Angelenos can dine on an array of food from the MLB world including Mariners Toasted Grasshoppers, the D-Backs Churro Dogs, Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas from London, the Japanese Curry from Tokyo, and many more.

Click here for more info.

Cirque Du Soleil Amaluna

Location: The LA Waterfront

The famous Montreal based theatrical company will be performing Amaluna kicking off this week through May 26. The story is loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, at the LA Waterfront in San Pedro. The island you’ll visit is ruled by goddesses, and the athletic acts and circus-cool expertise will include teeterboards, aerial acrobatics and more.

Click here for more info. 

Saturday April 27, 2019
L.A. River Clean Up

Location: Compton Creek @ Del Amo Station

Feeling guilty for not doing anything for Earth Day? Well it’s not too late to take part in the Friend’s of the Los Angeles River’s annual cleanup. Every Saturday of the month of April, volunteers have been organizing cleanups with multiple meet-up locations at each and instead of focusing on one spot, the cleanup tackles a different branch.  This Saturday is the last chance to take part in your civic duty but to make it more enjoyable there will be live music performances, gift giveaways, family activities and refreshments.

Click here for more info.

Our L.A. Voices Festival

Location: Grand Park

Grand Park’s “Our L.A. Voices” takes over for a weekend-long spring arts gathering on April 27 – 28 that showcases diverse and important artistic work from Los Angeles county. This free festival features both visual arts exhibits, as well as dance, musical, and theatrical performances. This year’s theme is “Origin Stories”, and explores and questions Los Angeles perspectives and culture.

Click here for more info.

Wanderlust 108

Location: Santa Monica Pier

Wanderlust 108—the world’s only mindful triathlon—brings the community together for a 5K run/walk, DJ-powered yoga session, and guided meditation in your local park.  Wanderlust has joined (RED) in the fight to end AIDS. For every Wanderlust 108 ticket purchased, Wanderlust will donate $1.08 to the Global Fund to fight AIDS with (RED).

Click here for more info.

Sunday April 28, 2019
Taste of the Eastside

Location: Los Angeles River Center and Gardens

This food enthusiast event returns to Los Angeles River Center and Gardens this weekend. Stop by for a day of celebrating food and drink from Eastside neighborhoods including Silver Lake, Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village and beyond.

Click here for more info.

14th Annual Thai New Year Songkran Festival

Location: 5448 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

The Thai New Year Festival returns to Hollywood’s Thai Town neighborhood on April 28 for one of the largest, free festivals in the area. This vibrant festival features a Sidewalk Cafe with many Thai food choices for purchase and the Singha Beer Garden with live jazz music. Additionally, there will be a variety of entertainment choices, including a Beauty Pageant, Folk Dancing, a Tribal Costume Show, Muay Thai Face-off, Thai Cooking Demonstration, Fruit Carving Demonstration, Ice Sculpture Demonstration , Lei Making Demonstration and a Thai Wedding Ceremony.

Click here for more info.

Skirball Puppet Festival: Fantastic Creatures

Location: Skirball Cultural Center

Enjoy a celebration for the art of puppetry and the magic of storytelling at the museum’s eighth annual Puppet Festival. This massive affair features both new and old tales, presented by a variety of puppets, in addition to live music and art making. 2019’s program showcases animals (both real and imaginary), including performances and creations by North Carolina–based puppeteer and designer Hobey Ford, as well as local artists Yulya Dukhovny, the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry, and the legendary Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Attendees can also design a puppet and join the storytellers and puppeteers for the festival finale with funk band Delta Nove.

Continue reading “Weekend Events: April 26-28”

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The Best Lightbulbs for Your Home

Buying lightbulbs used to be a cinch. When your 60-watt incandescents burnt out, you simply bought more 60-watt bulbs. But incandescents wasted a lot of energy to create that warm glow and were phased out. Energy-saving CFLs were meant to replace them, temporarily, and then LED lightbulbs arrived in stores.

LED bulbs are electronic devices and since lighting is the most important real estate in the home—it’s in every room and everybody uses it—manufacturers are adding sensors, cameras, or speakers to some LEDs. These bulbs are designed to provide home security, safety, or music while casting light.

Your Lightbulb Lineup

LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode Bulbs)
LEDs instantly brighten and light color ranges from warm yellow to cool bluer white, and colors in between. Some are dimmable. LEDs use slightly less energy than CFLs, trimming your electric bill, and most are claimed to last 20,000 to 50,000 hours. That’s about 18 to 46 years when used three hours a day.

They cost more than other bulb types, although prices continue to drop. Some A-type bulbs, named for their bulbous shape and used in lamps and other general applications, do not evenly cast light in all directions, providing spotty light. And LEDs emit more blue light than other bulb types. Any light can suppress melatonin, the hormone that facilitates sleep, but research has shown that human eyes are especially sensitive to blue.

CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs)
CFLs use about 75 percent less energy, last 7 to 10 times longer than the incandescents they replace, and cast light that’s warm yellow to cool blue, and colors in between.

They take time to fully brighten, especially when used outdoors in frigid temperatures. Most aren’t dimmable, and CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should be recycled to prevent mercury from being released into the environment if the bulbs break in the trash or a landfill. Follow the clean-up tips from the Environmental Protection Agency if you break a CFL at home. Several manufacturers offer bulbs with a plastic coating, which contain the mercury and shards if the bulb breaks.

Halogen Bulbs
Halogen, a type of incandescent bulb, uses about 25 to 30 percent less energy than standard incandescents. It instantly produces light, and can be used almost anywhere and with dimmers. The A-type bulbs, used as general purpose bulbs, cast light in all directions and accurately reveal the color of objects and furnishings.

They do not last much longer than standard incandescent bulbs yet cost more. Light color is typically a cooler white or blue, and while some bulbs have a color filter that improves the light, the filter reduces brightness.

Shopping Made Simple

Energy Star-qualified LEDs and CFLs meet high standards for brightness, color, and energy use and the mercury content in CFLs is capped. CFLs come with a warranty of at least two years and three years or longer for LEDs. Look for Energy Star rebates before you buy, and consider these tips:

Bring Your Old Bulb With You
It’s a sure way to know that the LED or CFL fits your fixture since some are bigger or heavier than the incandescents they replace.

Read the Label
A Lighting Facts label must appear on the packages of most lightbulbs. It indicates brightness, light color, energy use, estimated energy costs, and expected life.

Learn the Lingo
• Lumens tell you how bright the bulb—think luminous—and the more lumens the brighter the bulb. You’ll want around 800 lumens for light that’s as bright as a 60-watt incandescent.

• Color Temperature indicates light color. Warm yellow light is around 2700K (the K is for Kelvin temperature). White light is about 3000K or so. Bright white light is 3500K to 4100K and bluer white light is 5000K to 6500K.

• Color Rendering Index, or CRI, isn’t always on the box and tells you how accurately colors appear under the bulb’s light, ranging from 0 to 100 (incandescent bulbs are 100). A CRI of at least 80 is generally recommended for interior lights and differences of fewer than five points are insignificant. To compare bulbs look at the CRI of bulbs with the same Kelvin (K) temperature. We test the color accuracy of lightbulbs so you’ll see the scores in our Ratings.

Features You’ll Want

Dimmable
Bulbs must be dimmable if you’re using with dimmers. Most LEDs we tested are; most CFLs are not. Our Ratings indicate which bulbs are dimmable.

Works in Fully Enclosed Fixture
Some CFLs and LEDs we tested can be used in fully enclosed fixtures, according to the manufacturers, and is noted in the Ratings. This matters because if heat builds up inside the fixture it can change the bulb’s performance and shorten its life.

Works Outdoors
Many of the tested CFLs and LEDs work outdoors but cannot get wet, and need to be protected from direct contact with rain or snow. The Ratings indicate which bulbs can be used in this way, according to their manufacturers.

Works With Motion Sensor
Also known as an occupancy sensor, it automatically turn on lights when activity is detected and shut them off after activity stops indoors or a short while later outdoors. The bulb and motion sensor must be compatible to work properly. Check the website of the motion sensor manufacturer and read the bulb package to be sure.

Works With Photocell
Another way to save energy, the photocell turns off lights when daylight appears and turns them back on when it’s dark. Check the photocell manufacturer’s website and read the bulb box for compatibility information.

Courtesy of: Consumer Reports
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Rodeo Realty Ranks High on Real Trends The 500 List for 2018

Pulling in top rankings for the year, Rodeo Realty continues to emerge as a top producer in real estate.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (April 24, 2019)- This week REAL Trends released their highly anticipated “The 500 Residential Real Estate” list for 2018. Rodeo Realty held it’s place in some of the top rankings with the #17 spot for Average Sales Price and the #27 spot in both the Billionaires’ Club and the largest brokerages by volume.

Aptly titled “The 500”, the list is comprised of the leaders in residential real estate across the United States. The accolades are a true accomplishment during what was considered one of the tougher real estate quarters heading into the new year. With a total sales volume of $4,908,093,531 in 2018, Rodeo Realty showcased an impressive year-end average out of thousands of other competing brokerages.

“A record 1,757 firms qualified this year. The results-turned in by the firms on this year’s REAL Trends 500-showed that the nation’s leading realty firms outperformed the market, proving that size and leadership do matter.”

Rodeo Realty has received numerous awards through the years as a leader in residential real estate for Southern California. Being the largest single owned brokerage, company President and CEO Syd Leibovitch takes pride in each accolade received.

The REAL Trends 500, now in its 32nd year, remains the undisputed leader in ranking the performance of residential real estate firms. Due to the requirement of independent verification, the REAL Trends 500 is the trusted source for information about the performance of these firms.

These transactions represent over one-third of all new and resale transactions completed by brokers during the year. The 500-ranked brokers closed nearly 3.3 million home transactions with a value of nearly $1.2 trillion during 2018, up from $1.1 trillion in the calendar year 2017.

The 500 top firms by sides and volume will be published in REAL Trends’ acclaimed magazine. The magazine will also rank the Top Affiliated Firms, the Largest Independents, the Top Movers by Count and Percent, the Billionaires’ Club, the Up-and-Comers (firms that did not qualify for the 500 yet still closed 500 or more sides for the year), and other categories based on their analysis.

This year’s survey represents the most comprehensive collection of data assembled on the leaders of the residential brokerage industry. Numbers are documented by outside accounting firms and/or MLS reports.

“For several years, the REAL Trends 500 has gained market share,” says Steve Murray, president of REAL Trends. “In 2019, the REAL Trends 500 did it again—up 2.7 percent in 2018 against a national existing home sales factor which was down 3 to 4 percent. ”

About Real Trends:

REAL Trends has been The Trusted Source of news, analysis, and information on the residential brokerage industry since 1987. We are a privately-held publishing, consulting and communications company based in Castle Rock, Colorado. Residential real estate leaders look to us for timely and trusted information and analysis through our monthly newsletter, news updates, conferences and publications. In addition to creating research studies, we are a leading provider of high-level business, technology and digital marketing consulting services to the residential real estate industry. We provide a wide range of advisory services to a clientele of local, regional, national and global real estate organizations. Our areas of expertise include operational analysis, valuations, mergers and acquisition advisory services, compensation analysis, consumer and business research, strategic planning and technology and digital marketing consulting services.

www.realtrends.com

About Rodeo Realty:

Rodeo Realty is a residential real estate firm that has more than 1,200 licensed agents and brokers and 12 offices throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Rodeo Realty services various markets in Southern California, including luxury real estate markets. The company’s celebrity and other multi-million dollar listings are regularly featured in the news through several television networks, online sites and publications.

Operated under the direction and vision of a single owner, Rodeo Realty stands today as one of the largest independent real estate companies in the nation, while still maintaining the friendly approach of the neighborhood REALTOR®. As the largest independent real estate brokerage headquartered in Beverly Hills and operating throughout the Los Angeles area, with the highest sales volume, Rodeo Realty has the resources to provide the best tools in the industry to deliver the very best results.

www.rodeore.com

www.facebook.com/rodeorealty

www.instagram.com/rodeorealty

For media inquiries, please contact:

Samira Murphy

Public Relations- Rodeo Realty

(310)471-2600 ext. 145

mediarelations@rodeore.com

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South Park creator repped by Oren Barkan nabs Adi Livyatan’s Brentwood listing

It has been an outstanding month for our agents! In what is a double feat for the company, as many outlets reported Rodeo Realty agents repped the seller and buyer for the $6.2 million purchase by South Park creator, Trey Parker.

Los Angeles Times was one of the first publications to report on the sale of the 4-bedroom and 4.5 bathroom estate.

The luxurious listing held by Adi Livyatan of Rodeo Realty Encino was picked up this month by Trey Parker.

Oren Barkan of Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills was the buying agent for Parker on his purchase of the Brentwood Estate.

The stunning pad is a modern masterpiece with 5,322 square feet of interior living space. Parker will have plenty of zen space as the home also boast a vast outdoor area with swimming pool, detached yoga studio and private courtyard.

The abode also comes equipped with a wine cellar, indoor-outdoor family room and designer kitchen.

Every detail was thoughtfully considered in this stunning contemporary style home.

Trey Parker is most notable for his hit satirical animated series South Park, co-created in 1997 with Matt Stone. The show has run for 22 seasons and remains a pop-culture fixture. Parker has also gone on to create other hits like the Tony Awarded Broadway comedy “The Book of Mormon.

Read the full LA Times Feature here

About Adi Livyatan:

A Luxury Home Specialist, Adi is a top producing real estate professional and is the Number One agent in Rodeo Realty’s Sherman Oaks office. Recognized by “Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate”, she is one of the country’s top Realtors and one of the most accomplished and respected agents in Southern California. With sales over $100 million per year, Adi is in the top 1% of all agents nationwide. In 2018, she was recognized for her sales volume and ranked #184 in the nation by REAL Trends The Thousand as advertised in The Wall Street Journal. She has been a consistent award-winning associate for several years, winning the President’s Circle Elite award for a number of years, and is one of a very select group who won the Chairman’s Award, the highest award possible, for her production in 2017, with closed sales of over $100 million. In 2018, Rodeo Realty recognized Adi for her significant sales in 2017, as she had the most transactions recognized as ‘Significant Sales in San Fernando Valley’ by Rodeo Realty. Exceptionally well respected, Adi has represented hundreds of buyers and sellers in various price ranges, and is one of the very top agents specializing in development and new construction in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities. Known for her integrity, honesty, and knowledge, Adi is committed to providing the highest level of service to all of her clients.

About Oren Barakan:

Providing Fantastic Real Estate Service throughout the San Fernando Valley, I am “”Your Family’s Realtor.”” My Philosophy of one-on-one communication allows me the opportunity to find the perfect real estate match for my valued clients. I understand that exactly what a family needs is vital. Once they share their vision with me, the home buying and selling process is extremely successful and smooth. I offer the finest services, technology tools, marketing and concierge programs. My service has proven results!

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Weekend Events: April 19-21

The holidays this weekend are underway, meaning the options of fun things to do in LA are endless. And with another Coachella ramping up, a traffic free weekend also approaches. From the Egg Bowl to Pawsapalooza we have you covered on the best places to spend you free time this Friday-Sunday. Read on and discover your inner Angeleno!

Friday, April 19

For a Limited Time Only

Location: The Nomad, DTLA

The NoMad Los Angeles recently launched a new food series titled  A Limited Time Only. The foodie-centric event transforms the hotel’s coffee shop into a variety of themed pop-ups every Friday and Saturday evening. The first iteration, Mamma Guidara’s, takes inspiration from NoMad New York’s dinner series of the same name, which itself is inspired by old-school Italian-American red sauce restaurants.

Click here for more info.

Lebowski Fest

Location: The Wiltern

Lebowski Fest returns to Los Angeles with a live concert by the dude himself, Jeff Bridges at The Wiltern. A screening of the The Big Lebowski plus special guests will also be part of the night. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase.

Click here for more info.

Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival

Location: Knotts Berry Farm Theme Park

The festival will expand to run everyday for a full month from March 29 to April 28, every day. The festival is going to have over 75 boysenberry inspired dishes with a mix of savory dishes that weave in some boysenberry flavors and special desserts and drinks. There will be lots of live entertainment, boysenberry products from local crafters, and various boysenberry foods to take home. All the details about this year’s food and entertainment can be found at the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival website.

Click here for more info.

Saturday, April 20

PAWSAPALOOZA Festival & Marketplace

Location: West Hollywood, CA

This family-friendly event is FREE ADMISSION and will open from 10:00am to 3:00pm. It will include a myriad of exhibitors featuring dog-friendly products and services, and activities for kids including carnival games, face painting, balloon art and more. A selection of food trucks will serve up a delectable variety of food choices and drinks. Other fun activities include a Canine Easter Costume Contest and Raffle.  But please remember to always pick up after your pets.

Click here for more info.

32nd Annual Chinese Dance Festival

Location: San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

The American Chinese Dance Association presents their 32nd Annual Chinese Dance Festival, Saturday evening, April 20th at 7:00pm. For over 30 years, the American Chinese Dance Association has beautifully brought to life the regions of China through their dazzling costumes and captivating music. The minimum age requirement for attending the performance is 5 years old.

Click here for more info.

Egg Bowl

Location: Rose Bowl

Celebrate spring by hopping your way through Pasadena’s 5th Annual Egg Bowl and Festival. Admission to the Egg Bowl and egg hunts is FREE. Come have an EGG-CELLENT time at the spring festival and enjoy fun for the whole family with fun games and activities. The Egg hunts and festival are scheduled to take place from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Click here for more info.

Sunday, April 21

Eggstravagent Easter Celebration

Location: The Queen Mary Long Beach

The Queen Mary Eggstravagant Easter Celebration returns on April 21 for a special afternoon that includes a Royal Easter Sunday Brunch, three egg hunts, a Bunny Bounce House, and much more. This is a family-friendly day with Easter Petting Zoo (with bunnies, ducks, guinea pigs, sheep and a mini pig!) as well as Easter Bunny Face Painting for kids. The champagne brunch takes place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m and tickets are $69 and $79 with sparkling wine for adults and $24 for children.

Click here for more info.

Easter Fest 2019

Location: Grand Hope Park, DTLA

Head to DTLA for the  11th Annual EasterFest 2019 at Grand Hope Park.
They will have Easter Egg Hunts (several based on age groups and with 20,000 eggs ready to be found), multiple Bounce Houses, Face-painting, Arts and Crafts, Games, Food and drinks, Popcorn, Music and more. A portion of the proceeds goes to help ministries in Skid Row helping homeless families and children.

Click here for more info.

LA Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors

Location: Staple Center

Head to the Staples center for Round 1 of the Playoffs where the Clippers will take on the Golden State Warriors. This will be the Clippers forth Home Game as they attempt to dethrone the returning champions.

Click here for more info.

 

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LA Eats: Plant Based Treats in LA

As Angeleno’s it’s safe to say we are health fanatics (for the most part). From the Celery Juice cleanse to a new vegan spot popping up every month, options are endless. Instead of sifting through your plant-based options, we’ve narrowed down the top choices throughout LA. Whether you reside in the 90210 or 91604, we’ve got you covered. Celebrate this earth day with 100% plant-based bites courtesy of Mother Earth (*suitable for herbivores and carnivores alike).

 Sun Cafe

Location: 10820 Ventura Blvd., Studio City

Not only is the menu 100-percent plant-based and dairy-free, but nearly everything is made from scratch including the cheeses, chorizo, mayonnaise, and butter. Everyone raves about the nachos.

Orean’s The Health Express

Location: 817 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena

Located on Pasadena’s fast-food restaurant row, Orean’s The Health Express has been around since the late ‘80s. The 100-percent vegan menu boasts a shockingly good Philly cheese “steak” sandwich and chili cheeseburger. Wash it all down with a strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, cappuccino, chai, or peanut butter milkshake.

Au Lac

Location: 710 W. 1st St., Los Angeles

Head here for Vietnamese vegetarian fare by chef Mai Nguyen. Regulars sing high praises for the restaurant’s salt and pepper yam “shrimp” and garlic basil noodles. As a bonus, the restaurant is a short walk from the Walt Disney Concert Hall and perfect for a pre-show meal.

Doomie’s Home Cookin’

Location: 1253 Vine St. #9, Los Angeles

Vegan food doesn’t always have to be healthy. Consider Doomie’s menu of nachos, animal-style fries, bacon cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, and the Big D, the restaurant’s version of a Big Mac. Open since 2010, Doomie’s is a charming place to bring carnivores and herbivores alike.

Crossroads

Location: 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

At Crossroads on Melrose, chef Tal Ronnen is elevating vegan fare to an art form. The team has been turning out some of the most inventive and thoughtful meat-free food in Los Angeles since opening in 2013. Crossroads it not only a haven for vegetarian fine-diners, but for anyone curious about how delicious vegan food can be. Get the Artichoke Oysters and thank us later!

Gratitude

Location: 419 N. Canon Drive., Beverly Hills

The newest addition to the Café Gratitude family of restaurants is the upscale offshoot Gratitude Kitchen and Bar. The restaurant boats a breezy indoor/outdoor space and a crowd-pleasing menu. The best seat in the house is at the bar, where beverage director Jason Eisner makes cocktails using ingredients like turmeric and ginger.

Equelecua Cuban Cafe

Location: 1120 W. Florence Ave., Inglewood

Owner Caro Lafaurie and head chef Julito Ortega launched Equelecuá Cuban Cafe with the idea of bringing a plant-based approach to traditional Cuban food. For anyone that’s eaten Cuban food, this might seem impossible, but try the ropa vieja, arroz con pollo, or Cubano sandwich for a pleasant surprise.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

Location: 4130 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City

This size-able eatery in Culver City has a wide menu of vegan comfort fare, from bowls and wraps to salads and burgers. The chainlet boasts Echo Park and Pasadena outlets for anyone on the Eastside who needs their vegan fix.

Plant Food and Wine

Location: 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Los Angeles

Matthew Kenney’s vegan restaurant is a stunner with one hell of a back patio. Good looking diners flock to the Abbot Kinney address regularly whether they’re refraining from meat or not.

Seabirds Kitchen

Location: 975 E. 4th Str., Long Beach

Seabirds Kitchen in Long Beach — or the original Costa Mesa outpost — produces fresh and hearty dishes like purple potato taquitos, grilled mushroom tacos, and a Korean-inspired jackfruit bibimbap bowl. It’s all served in Seabirds’ beachy dining room, which is less than a mile away from the ocean.

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Home Tips of the Week: The Mulch Must-Knows

The best mulch can make all the difference in your yard. With so many types of mulch available, it can be difficult to choose one. From shredded bark to compost, we cover the mulch basics to help you select which one will work best in your landscape.

While mulching may seem like a basic part of gardening, there is so much to learn about the different types of garden mulch and what benefits each type provides. We’ll show you how to compare and contrast the different types of mulch and what situations to use them in.

Mulch Benefits

There are a number of advantages to adding mulch in your garden. In the summer, mulch helps the soil hold moisture so you don’t have to water your garden as often. In the hot sun, soil also tends to dry out faster and harden. Mulch will help with this by protecting the soil from direct sunlight.

Mulch also prevents weeds. Adding mulch to your planting bed will block light from openings in the soil, therefore inhibiting weed germination. By adding a thick layer of mulch, you’ll ensure that the weeds never see the light of day!

Types of Garden Mulch
Shredded Bark

Shredded bark is one of the most common and least expensive types of mulch. It comes from a variety of sources, including cedar trees. Shredded bark is one of the best mulch types to use on slopes and it breaks down relatively slowly. Some shredded-bark products are byproducts from other industries; they’re considered environmentally friendly. Check the mulch packaging for more information.

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Earth Day in LA

California leads the way in clean initiatives, so of course when it comes to Earth Day, we know a thing or two. With so many ways to give back to the planet this month, there no excuse not to help mother nature. Whether you’re planting a tree or keeping it solar, the round up of earth day events below gets the green thumb of approval.

Discover your Eco-Friendly Angeleno!

Earth Day by One Tree Planted

Location: Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park

When: Sat. April 20, 9:00am-12:00pm

Get your hands dirty and do something good for nature this Earth Day! Join One Tree Planted, Friends of the LA River and North East Trees on this beautiful weekend day to help clean up the Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park! Friends of the LA River will be doing a giveaway of items items including tote bags, t-shirts and stickers for those who come help us restore this wonderful park!

Click here for more info.

The Great East Hollywood Earth Day Clean-Up

Location: Los Angeles

When: Sat. April 21, 9:00am-12:00pm

The GREAT East Hollywood Earth Day Clean-Up Help take care of the planet right here at home.   Breakfast • Free T-Shirts • Refreshments All are welcome to help! Don’t just post about Earth Day.  Presented by the Volunteer Ministers of Southern California. Following the GREAT East Hollywood Earth Day Clean-up will be an exciting and free Easter Festival & Egg Hunt! Stick around for an Easter celebration that the whole family will enjoy!

Click here for more info.

Our Voice, Our County: Earth Day Fair + Expo

Location: Armory Center for the Arts

When: Sat. April 20, 9:00am-12:00pm

Learn about local efforts to be more water wise, reduce waste, support clean energy, travel green & more! Engage with community groups, organizations and eco-friendly businesses. Enjoy art, music, food trucks, and take action! Family & kid-friendly.

Click here for more info.

Kids & Kites-Earth Day Celebration

Location: Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park

When: Sat. April 20, 11:00am-3:00pm

Spend the day flying kites with your family and friends at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park. Stop by and enjoy a mobile aquarium, arts, crafts, games, vendors and food trucks. Along with all of those fun activities will also be a sidewalk chalk art contest and tons of other fun giveaways. Don’t let this day of fun fly away!!

Click here for more info.

Earth Day by City Plants

Location: Sun Valley Rec Center

When: Sat. April 27, 8:30am-1:30pm

Come on down to Sun Valley Recreation Center and join Council member Nury Martinez, Cal Fire, the Department of Recreation and Parks, City Plants, and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps for a fun and family-friendly day of climate and community action! Come for the tree planting, stay for the environmental education resource fair and free yard tree give-away.

Click here for more info.

LASAN’s Earth Day

Location: Woodley Park

When: Sat. April 27, 10:00am-3:00pm

Join LASAN for a day of earth-friendly fun as they celebrate their 4th Annual Citywide EARTH DAY LA! LA Sanitation & Environment will again bring their trucks for kids to explore, and they’ll have over 50 educational (and fun!) exhibits for the whole family to learn about sustainability. Food and beverage are free all day in their Food Tent, while supplies last. The Kids Zone has games, activities, and prizes for children as well as an Envirorazzi Photo Op!

Click here for more info.

Monterey Park Earth Day Festival

Location: Barnes Park Amphitheater

When: Sat. April 27, 11:00am-1:00pm

The Earth Day Festival features various environmental exhibits, displays, speakers, and presentations alongside the Eco-Summit festivities which bring fun and entertaining environmentally-educative activities for parents & children and the public. The Earth Day Festival raises awareness on the many fronts of environmental issues related to the San Gabriel Valley and most particularly to the Monterey Park community. The theme for Monterey Park Earth Day Festival 2019 is focused on Energy Efficiency.

Click here for more info.

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Out and About: Botanic Gardens to Visit this Earth Day!

Monday is Earth Day and what better way to celebrate our planet than with a stroll through LA’s nature scene? With a bounty of botanical gardens to visit, spend some time exploring our city’s best gardens. Not just on Earth Day but every day, any day of the year!

Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

Location: San Marino

You’ll find cultural glories inside the library’s impressive book collection—the bequest of entrepreneur Henry E. Huntington—but the Huntington’s true highlights are outdoors in its vast jigsaw of botanical gardens, arguably the most glorious in the entire Los Angeles region. The acres and acres of public gardens are divided into a variety of themes, including a prickly desert garden, a serene Japanese garden and bamboo forest, as well as an ever-expanding assembly of Chinese pagodas, pavilions and bridges.

Descanso Gardens

Location: La Cañada Flintridge
This delightful tribute to the horticultural magic of Southern California includes more than 600 varieties of camellia (these are best seen between the middle of February and early May, when there are around 34,000 of the plants in bloom) and some five acres of roses. There are also lilac, orchid, fern and California native plant areas, as well as a tea house—flanked by seasonal cherry blossoms—donated by the Japanese-American community.

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Location: Arcadia
These gorgeous grounds in Arcadia have been designed as an educational facility (the plants are mostly arranged by region, and tours are available), but many people simply come here for a little peace and quiet. You could wander these gardens for hours, taking in tropical forests and waterfalls, trees and fish. Plus, be on the lookout for wild peacocks.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

Location: Griffith Park
The L.A. Zoo’s greatest asset is its location in the isolated hills of Griffith Park. It’s a pretty popular place, but the zoo’s size—80 acres, plus a huge parking lot—means that, like the park itself, it rarely feels busy. There’s not a separate botanical garden here, but you will find over 800 different plant species, from native succulents to prehistoric cycads, labeled and catalogued throughout the zoo’s continentally-themed habitats.

South Coast Botanic Garden

Location: Rancho Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills Estates
This South Bay botanical garden covers 87 acres on the northeast side of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You’ll find a mix of Southern California flora, from fuchsia to the tangled roots of Moreton Bay Fig trees, alongside more specialized areas like small Japanese and desert gardens. It may not be as grandiose as some other gardens, but it’s well worth the reasonable price of admission.

James Irvine Japanese Garden

Location: Downtown
This small, tranquil garden is one of Little Tokyo’s best-kept secrets as the urban oasis isn’t accessible from the street. According to the adjoining community center, gardens carry great importance in Japanese culture. Caring for the grounds is a form of art and spending time among the flora encourages harmony with nature. So walk the outer path for a complete view of the garden’s foliage, babbling stream and cascading waterfall.

The Japanese Garden

Location: Van Nuys
This appropriately titled Japanese garden sits just across from the Sepulveda Basin on the border of Van Nuys. The stony bridges and footpaths wind along a central pond, flanked by by rock work, manicured trees and tea houses. Of course, this wouldn’t be the Valley without a bit of an industrial edge—the garden is irrigated by the adjacent Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant.
Courtesy of : TimeOut LA
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LA Eats: Passover and Easter Edition

No matter which day you celebrate, LA has a bounty of dining options to chose from. From luxurious brunches to decadent dinners, we’ve rounded up the city’s best. With only a week away to book, time is of the essence. Spring is in the air and you cookware can stay in the cupboard next weekend. Read below for our LA Eats: Passover and Easter Edition.

Passover Seder in LA 2019

Akasha

In the historic Hull Building in downtown Culver City, Akasha will offer Passover Seder on Saturday, April 20. Author and spiritual leader Rabbi Mark Borovitz of Beit T’Shuvah will preside. A reception (6:15 p.m.) precedes Seder and dinner (7 p.m.), which will include dishes such as Akasha’s matzoh ball soup, red wine-braised brisket, and dessert presented family-style. Cost is $110 for adults (includes wine or juice, coffee or tea) and $55 for children under 10 (includes juice).

AR Cucina

Celebrate Passover at AR Cucina in Culver City. From 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, the restaurant will complement its regular dinner menu with holiday specials such as matzoh lasagna with spinach and ricotta; grilled lamb chops paired with vegetables and Sardinian olive oil smashed potatoes; and Passover.

Jar

Chef-owner Suzanne Tracht’s California chophouse offers Passover Seder on Friday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. Officiating the Seder service will be Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser, with the four-course dinner to follow. Guests will encounter tray-passed items, then choices such as butter lettuce salad with asparagus, radish and egg; and sautéed Alaskan halibut. The meal ends with lemon cheesecake, chocolate covered matzah and ice cream sandwiches. Cost is $120 for the menu, coffee, tea and Passover wines; $55 for children 12 and under.

Kali

Larchmont’s Kali will offer Passover dinner on April 19-20. The family-style meal starts with matzoh ball soup and moves on to ancient grains and shaved radish, shawarma spiced lamb shanks, chocolate macaroon cake and more. Cost is $70; à la carte is available, too.

Spago

Saturday, April 20, will bring Spago Beverly Hills’ annual Seder dinner (5:30 p.m.; $195 per adult, $80 per child under age nine). The evening will go on for about three hours with a plated dinner in communal tables.The event will feature the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir.

Click here to book online or call in to make a reservation.

To view the full menu click here.

Easter Brunch and Dinner in LA 2019

Brunch at The Biltmore

Celebrate Easter Sunday amid the historic glamour of the Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore, which is serving a special Easter Brunch Buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Buffet highlights include Eggs & Pancakes live station, Breakfast Favorites, Small Plates, Chilled Antipasti, Seafood Selections, Carving Stations, Dessert Display, and Kids Easter Buffet. There’s also an Egg & Cookie Decoration Station with attendant. Pricing is $69 per person and half-price for kids ages 5-11. Free for children 4 and under. Reservations are highly recommended.

Sunday Supper at Lucques

The flagship restaurant opened in 1998 by Suzanne Goin (named Outstanding Chef at the 2016 James Beard Awards) and James Beard nominee Caroline Styne offers a warm and inviting setting for a special Easter Sunday Supper. Featuring an ever-changing menu that showcases the best seasonal ingredients, the legendary Sunday Suppers are the inspiration for Goin’s cookbook of the same name. The weekly Sunday Suppers are served from 5-9:30 p.m. and priced at $52 per guest.

Jean-Georges Beverly Hills 

New York mega-star Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings his globally informed French cuisine to his eponymous restaurant at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills hotel. Available starting at noon, the Easter Brunch Menu starts with grilled baby artichoke, Thai spiced broccoli soup, ahi tuna tartare, and grilled octopus. Entrees include ora king salmon, seared black cod, parmesan crusted organic chicken, roasted wagyu beef tenderloin, and Veal Milanese. Brunch also features family style sides and a decadent dessert buffet. Pricing is $155 per guest and $75 for children.

Spago Sunday Brunch

One of L.A.’s most iconic restaurants, Spago Beverly Hills is the flagship restaurant of legendary chef Wolfgang Puck’s culinary empire. On Easter Sunday, Spago is hosting the inaugural Easter Brunch with a three-course, prix fixe menu from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Easter Dinner will likewise be served in a three-course, prix fixe format from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Brunch and Dinner will both welcome the Easter Bunny for a special visit! Pricing for Brunch or Dinner is $145 per person and $65 for children age 12 and under.

Catch

Enjoy a coastal Easter Brunch or Dinner from Catch at the Hotel Casa del Mar, which serves fresh local fare from land and sea along with panoramic ocean views. Catch is featuring a three-course, prix fixe Easter Brunch from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m and Dinner 5-10 p.m. Pricing is $110 per person for brunch or dinner. A Kids Brunch Menu is also available 11 a.m. – 4 p.m for $45.

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