Category: food

Posted on

LA Eats: Date Night At Home

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

Barcito

403 W 12th Street, Los Angeles  | 213-415-1821
Takeout and delivery: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Bring a taste of Buenos Aires home with any of the Argentinian cuisine served at this downtown restaurant – from the empanadas and Jamon serrano sandwiches to the braised short rib and endlessly delectable churros. The standout dishes, however, are the ones that you may not have expected: the seared goat cheese, for one, and the pulpo, which is octopus coiled around a fried egg. Delivery is currently free for the entire downtown area.

Lunetta

2420 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica  | 310-581-9888
Takeout and delivery: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The modified menu at this Santa Monica restaurant still features plenty of crowd-pleasing fares. Starters and sandwiches range from a grass-fed beef burger with beefsteak tomato and caramelized onions to a wood-grilled salmon sandwich with pickled red onions and cilantro aioli. The main dishes include meatloaf and mashed potatoes with shiitake mushroom gravy and the barbequed salmon with marinated greens.

The Oaks Gourmet Market

1915 North Bronson Avenue, Los Angeles  | 323-871-8894
Takeout and delivery: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This cafe and marketplace’s regular menu of salads, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and pizzas are all available for takeout or delivery – in addition to grab-and-go dinners and sides which are prepared daily. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention their selection of craft beers, wines, and small-batch liquors – all of which are also available to be enjoyed at home.

Nerano

9960 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills | 310-405-0155
Takeout and delivery: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Serving up pasta, pizzas, seafood, and antipasti, this sleek Beverly Hills restaurant also offers pre-batched cocktail jars to go since, for the moment, you can’t enjoy one in their darkly-lit bar. Aside from the Italian cuisine, the menu includes Ora King salmon, filet mignon and half jidori chicken. Special offers include 15 percent off all takeout orders, 50 percent off all wine bottles priced below $399 as well as dinner for two and a family combo that feeds four to six.

Posted on

Valley Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

With restaurants and bars forced to close their doors throughout Southern California due to the coronavirus, businesses and diners alike are continuing to adapt to this new reality. In addition to moving to delivery and curbside pickup, many eateries are offering new specials and adjusted hours. So even if you can’t go out to eat, please consider supporting them by ordering in. Better yet, supporting them by purchasing a gift card to use for future purchases is another option.

CONEJO VALLEY

Nicolas Eatery

22333 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

This French-influenced, family-run restaurant is offering takeout only from a menu that includes such appetizers as salmon tartar and truffle fries, as well as salads, sandwiches and main dishes like the lobster mac n’ cheese and Scottish salmon. If you’re a fan of toast (and who isn’t?) their selection includes avocado toast and the Malibu toast, with lobster, egg and bechamel sauce. They’re open noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Carbon Beach Club

22878 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

Dining in the oceanfront terrace is obviously not an option, but the curbside menu of this restaurant still includes favorites like calamari and shrimp cocktail. Along with salads and sandwiches, large plate items range from the classic omelet to the roasted chicken breast.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

World Empanadas

1206 W Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank

Family owned and operated since 2012, this shop’s name says it all – just don’t expect your “average meat pie selection” as they state on their website. In fact, these might be some of the most delicious empanadas you’ll ever have. Expectedly, they’ve had to adjust to current events and no longer serve their breakfast burrito, but offer fast, efficient delivery nonetheless. Their hours are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Feu Pho Kitchen

11310 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City

Starters at this Vietnamese fusion spot range from garlic noodles to spring rolls to salads like the chilled papaya and mango salad. And the vermicelli noodles are not to be missed. But their specialty is unquestionably the pho (hot noodle soup), whether you’re having the ribeye beef, the oxtail or the tofu, with boiled mushroom, onion, broccoli, and bok choy. They’re open Monday through Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SANTA CLARITA

Sharky’s Woodfire Mexican Grill

24201 Valencia Boulevard, Valencia

Offering takeout and free delivery, Sharky’s is working with WeGo Inc., a Santa Clarita-based delivery service that is offering free food and delivery throughout the valley. The menu offers a range of Mexican fare from burritos and tacos to quesadillas and enchiladas.

Las Rocas Bar and Grill

27923 Sloan Canyon Road, Castaic, CA 91384

This authentic Mexican eatery is offering free delivery and curbside pickups under reduced hours. Specialty items include the Pollo en Mole, carnitas and Chile Verde. As you should with all restaurants during these challenging times, go to their website or call ahead to confirm.

Posted on

LA Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

With restaurants and bars forced to close their doors throughout Southern California due to the coronavirus, businesses and diners alike are continuing to adapt to this new reality. In addition to moving to delivery and curbside pickup, many eateries are offering new specials and adjusted hours. So even if you can’t go out to eat, please consider supporting them by ordering in. Better yet, supporting them by purchasing a gift card to use for future purchases is another option.

Manuela

907 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles

New to its menu and available for curbside pickup or delivery, this seasonal eatery is offering a nightly “supper for two” that includes seasonal salad, biscuits, vegetable sides, and dessert. Nightly specials have included dry-aged ribeye, smoked beef brisket, and wine-braised meatballs. They also offer beer and wine. The hours are Monday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

777 S Alameda Street, Los Angeles

It’s not the same as dining in LA’s Warehouse District, surrounded by the restaurant’s exposed wood and concrete floors, but oysters at home are better than no oysters at all. Other items available include lobster tacos, the lobster grilled cheese, and an avocado and kale salad. The hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Angelini Alimentari

7317 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles

The new takeout menu at Angelini Osteria’s sister restaurant includes pasta, antipasti, focaccia, meatballs, chicken, salmon, and pizza. Plus, for dessert, try their gluten-free chocolate Caprese soft chocolate cake or Italian bread pudding. The hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Crustacean

468 N Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills

Famed for its Vietnamese cuisine, this Beverly Hills staple is offering a special “An The Go” pickup and delivery menu highlighted by its signature garlic noodles (served with your choice of lobster, prawns or crab) as well as such other dishes as crispy Jidori chicken rolls, filet mignon, and chicken oyster satay. To Go hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

 

Posted on

LA Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

Among the many businesses bearing the initial economic brunt of the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. With eateries closing their doors daily as they are reduced to serving only delivery or takeout, we wanted to highlight some of the local ones that remain open. Order in or call ahead for pick-up – the food is delicious and you’ll be supporting a business in need during challenging times.

Wax Paper

2902 Knox Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039
This solid little shop has carved out a reputation for itself among sandwich fans. Recommendations: the Ira Glass (avocado, cheddar cheese, alfalfa sprouts, red onions, and garlic aioli, although you can also add meat), the Audie Cornish (black forest ham on a baguette) and their titanic twist on the classic Italian hoagie known as the Larry Mantle (bologna, salami, and pecorino pepato cheese).

Go Get Em Tiger


230 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004
For a coffee or your first bite of the day, there’s this shop tucked away in Larchmont Village. Whatever time of day it is, you can’t go wrong with the baked egg with chorizo, which probably qualifies as a meal in its own right.

Woon Kitchen


2920 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Before it moved into its brick and mortar space located in historic Filipinotown, Woon started as a family-run pop-up whose only intention was to share their mother’s Chinese comfort food. Inspired by Shanghainese and Cantonese cuisine, the selection is relatively small but no less tasty – from the fried tofu fish cakes stuffed with fish paste, cilantro, green onions to the soy veggie wraps served with Worcestershire sauce or red vinegar.

Burgers Never Say Die

2388 Glendale Boulevard, Unit A, Los Angeles, CA 90039

For those who aren’t familiar with Burgers Never Say Die, it began life as a burger stand before breaking out to become a local sensation. So there’s never been a better time to find out what you’ve been missing, even if you’ve never been a burger-and-fries guy or gal.

Homestate

4624 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027

This low-key, Texas-style eatery serves up breakfast and lunch with tacos like the picadillo (grass-fed ground beef, potato, carrots, and pickled jalapeno), the brisket (shredded brisket, guacamole, and slaw), the vegetarian Brazos (black beans and Monterey Jack) and the trinity (organic eggs, bacon, potato, cheddar). One note: they are only taking online orders now.

Tallula’s


118 Entrada Drive, Santa Monica CA 90402
Influenced by Executive Chef Saw Naing’s Burmese and Indian heritage, the homestyle menu fuses those flavors with traditional Mexican cuisine. Dishes come both hot (like the vegetable masala enchiladas with blue corn tortillas, green garlic, and spiced tomato sauce ) and cold (the Baja kampachi ceviche with strawberry hibiscus aguachile, red onion, and jalapeno).

Posted on

Valley Eats: Local Restaurants to Support

Among the many businesses bearing the initial economic brunt of the coronavirus pandemic is the restaurant industry. With eateries closing their doors daily as they are reduced to serving only delivery or takeout, we wanted to highlight some of the local ones that remain open. Order in or call ahead for pick up – the food is delicious and you’ll be supporting a business in need during challenging times.

Conejo Valley

Kabab Plus Mediterranean Fusion Grill

50 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard No. 2, Thousand Oaks, 91360
For three decades, this family-owned business has been part of the Thousand Oaks community, serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The kababs, marinated with natural ingredients, are served with basmati rice, hummus, salad, and grilled pita. They also offer gyros, wraps, salads, and protein bowls, along with other sides, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.

Sesame Inn

3327 W Kimber Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Serving up classic Chinese fare since 2000, this eatery is located inside Kimber Plaza. Chef’s specials include the sesame crispy shrimp battered in butter then sautéed in honey sauce, the lightly-breaded lemon chicken, and the triple-meat kung pao with shrimp, chicken and beef sautéed with red peppers, peanuts, and mushrooms.

Bottega Italian Deli

3184 E Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
This eatery, specializing in genuine Italian, opened in 2015 from the same owners as Trattoria de Roma in Tarzana and Piccola Roma in Woodland Hills. Sandwiches include the Italian sausage with melted Scamorza cheese, homemade marinara, peppers and onions, and the L’Americano, with Prosciutto, roast beef, ham, pastrami, Swiss cheese, roasted peppers, and mayo.

San Fernando Valley 

Furn San Restaurant and Bakery

11146 Balboa Boulevard, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Since opening in 2013, this family-owned restaurant has been serving homemade Lebanese food to the community. Promising to give customers the most authentic experience available in Southern California, plates include falafel, Mediterranean beef sausage, gyro as well as beef and chicken shawarma. There are also vegan options with both grilled vegan chicken and grilled plant-based protein. All come with a choice of two sides, pickles, turnips, and fresh saj bread.

Szechuan Place


9250 N. Reseda Boulevard No. 8, Northridge, CA 91342
This eatery serves up American-style Chinese food – including kung pao and General Tso’s Style chicken – as well as house specials like shredded pork in Szechuan sauce. For an appetizer, dabble in either the dumplings or the spicy wonton soup.

Hugo’s Restaurant

Studio City 12851 Riverside Drive, Valley Village, CA 91607

Founder Terry Kaplan bought Hugo’s when it was still a butcher shop in 1975. According to the restaurant’s site, his vision was to “to have a family of co-workers who cared for each other in a genuine way” while producing original, memorable dishes. Hugo’s eventually became a full-fledged restaurant in 1980 and today, still makes its meals from scratch, including pasta like the vegan mac and cheese (fusilli pasta with garlic, sliced mushrooms, and sweet peas) and entrees like the Chicken Carciofi (chicken breast in olive oil with artichoke hearts and spinach).

Santa Clarita

Pierogi Spot


26511 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
This family-run restaurant offers pierogi with a range of options – from onions and cheese to jalapenos and spinach – as well as such other authentic fare as polish sausage, stuffed cabbage, and beef stew. This is the second location for the owners, who have operated the Polka Restaurant on Verdugo Road since 1994.

Temakitto


28126 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355
The self-described “first established Japanese Burrito restaurant in Southern California” serves up inventive dishes with tuna, crab, salmon, Mongolian beef and pork belly. Sushi pizza and tuna nachos are also on the menu of this colorful cafe.

Kebab Grill


18517 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Fresh Mediterranean fare is on the menu at this spot – from the beef and chicken shawarma to the lamb skewers. If you prefer your shawarma as an appetizer, you can order the shawarma fries topped with a mix of three kinds of cheese, choice of chicken or beef and sour cream.

 

Posted on

Rodeo in the News: LABJ Ranks 5 Of Our Own Among Top Realtors in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles Business Journal released its annual list that ranks top agents in the Los Angeles Residential Real Estate Market. Five of Rodeo Realty’s own are featured on the list!

“For the agents who drive L.A.’s residential real estate market, the past year was defined by escalating growth, the rising presence of international buyers and record-breaking prices for luxe estates. The features that follow provide an in-depth look at the market’s key players and top sales as well as detailed data on the city’s leading brokers.” – Los Angeles Business Journal

Check out who is featured, below!

Congratulations to all, well deserved! See the rest of the list, HERE!

Posted on

LA Events: March 13- March 15

From a Broadway sensation to film noir tough guys to the return of The Strokes, there’s a concert, event or conference for you in Los Angeles and the Westside this weekend – whether you’re in the mood for dark, catchy pop or a jazz phenom’s fairy tale.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Hamilton

Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit almost immediately entered the pop culture lexicon. If you haven’t seen it, this is your chance to find out why. With hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and classic Broadway, Miranda tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  For details, go HERE.

VERITE with Arthur Moon

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

VERITE is California native Kelsey Byrne, whose style of catchy but moody pop first turned heads in the blogosphere. In 2017, she released her first full-length album, Somewhere in Between, on her own record label. For details on the show, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

22nd Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir

The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood, 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Dedicated to hard-bitten hustlers, sleek gangsters and vexing dames, the longest-running film noir festival in Los Angeles is casting its long shadow at the Egyptian Theatre with another sensational lineup of rare films. On Saturday, March 14, the festival unspools a five-film noir marathon: Out of the Past with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas; The Guilty with Don Castle and Wally Cassel; High Tide with Lee Tracy; The Prowler with Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes; and Try and Get Me, with Lloyd Bridges. For details, go HERE.

The Strokes

The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA

Indie princes The Strokes return to the City of Angels ahead of their first full-length album in seven years, The New Abnormal. Most recently, the group has been stirring interest with a stream of singles including Ode to the Mets and At the Door. Performing ahead of the group is rising rocker King Princess. For ticket information, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020

Cecile McLorin Salvant

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Jazz phenom Cecile McLorin Salvant blends bluegrass and jazz in the fairy tale Ogresse, about a human-eating monster who lives in the woods. And like all the best fairy tales, this one, told from the point of view of a young black woman, has a lot to say about the world today. For ticket information, go HERE.

Shordie Shordie

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

Once considered one of rap’s best-kept secrets, Shordie Shordie now appears on the cusp of big things. With his Baltimore trio Peso Da Mafia, he released projects such as What Matters Most (2017) and Never a Drought (2018). Their 2017 single Money Man became a sensation in their hometown. For details about this show, go HERE.

Posted on

Valley Eats: Iconic Side Dishes

You order the meal, but what you really came for is the side. It happens. Whether it’s the favorite hangout where the fries are the salty sensations you crave or the pub that serves mac n’ cheese that outpaces the rest of the menu, some side dishes transcend their class status as mere half-considered, disposable pleasures. They become the plates of calorie intake we truly, madly love. Around the Valley, here are a few sides so delicious and unforgettable they will have you coming back – but only for them.

Conejo Valley

Hummus

Hummus Bistro, 587 N Ventu Park Road Suite 587A, Newbury Park, CA 91320

Who says a side can’t be good for you? This Middle Eastern dish is a far healthier option than the other dips or sauces you might turn to. This eatery’s hummus consists of garbanzo beans blended with garlic, lemon juice and tahini sauce, topped with organic extra virgin olive oil. While it’s served with pita bread, remember hummus can be used as a dip for almost anything.

Chili Cheese Fries

Stacked Food Well Built, 446 W Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA

From the image above, can you tell which is the side and which is the main? These fries arrive buried under cheddar and jack cheeses, finished off with house-made beef and pork chili, sour cream and green onions.

Hot Homemade Soup

Chocolatine, 2955 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

This charming French-themed venue offers croissants, croque, quiche, pastries and salads, but the one side that cannot be missed is the home-made soup. Try the tomato and goat cheese or the zucchini-boursin. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a hint of France without leaving California.

San Fernando Valley

Vegan Nachos

SunCafe, 10820 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

If you’re a vegan, these nachos were engineered for you. If you’re not, you’ll be pleasantly shocked that you can’t tell the difference. Made from Mexican turnip and blue corn chips, they arrive under a blanket of cashew cheese, vegan sour cream, meatless chorizo, jalapenos and a smattering of other veggies. Now that we’ve settled the question of whether vegan nachos can be good, it’s time to ask: are nachos really a side or are they a meal? Discuss.

The Potato

Fresh Potato Factory, 9420 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, CA, 91324

Whatever your potato preference you will likely find one to your liking at this counter-serve vegetarian spot. Whether mashed or baked (but never fried) or presented as wedges, paninis, burgers or fries, everything on the menu is carved with the potato in mind.

Chili and Cornbread

The David Brothers Chili Parlor, 1145 East Chevy Chase, Glendale, CA 91205

We will sidestep the question of whether chili is really a meal since, whether you’re having the house chili (angus beef, red peppers, onions, kidney beans and cilantro) or the veggie chili (fresh peppers, onions, beans, corn and cilantro), your choice of sides includes a cornbread bowl or a cornbread muffin. In other words, it is both the meal and the side. Don’t forget the toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions and jalapenos.

Santa Clarita

Southern Fried Dill Pickles

Lucielle’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 West Valencia Boulevard, Valencia, CA 91355

Fried pickles first appeared on the culinary scene in the south in the 1960s, which begs the question: what did people do with pickles before that? For dipping, Lucielle’s serves ranch and Creole mustard alongside their Cajun fried pickle spears.

Chips and Guacamole

Rubio’s, 27055 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

If you’ve ever ordered a bowl of chips and guac to start and completely spoiled your meal, you know that sometimes the guac was all you really needed. This beach-themed eatery makes their guacamole fresh daily with Hass avocados, natural sea salt, garlic and lime juice.

Gyromania Fries

Gyromania, 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 

For evidence of the versatility of the fry, look no further than this Greek-inspired side – although it certainly looks like meal enough – which offers your choice of meat, buried under crumbled feta cheese and oregano flakes and served with tzatziki sauce. Opa!

Posted on

Valley Events: March 13 – March 15

Conejo Valley

Travel back in time to the reign of the original rock stars, catch up with an original Jersey Boy or spend time dueling the Red Baron. Whether you’re in the mood for comedy or music, there is plenty of entertainment to check out this weekend in the Conejo Valley.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Fred Kavli Theater, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Frankie Valli was the original Jersey Boy. Decades before the smash Broadway musical, Valli was the lead singer of the Four Seasons in 1962. Their journey formed the basis of the show, which now ranks as the 12th longest-running production in Broadway history. The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. For tickets, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

Rockin the Legends

Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Academy Awards musical director Michael Anthony Perna takes audiences through the rock of ages, chronicling modern rock from the early classical composers through the blues – then into the modern era from Ray Charles to Led Zeppelin. With a live band, the show tours the lives and legends of performers including The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, John Lennon and Elton John. For more information, go HERE.

Jim Jefferies

Fred Kavli Theater, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Jim Jefferies first got noticed by American audiences with his debut HBO special I Swear to God. Since then he’s established himself as one of the most popular comics working today – from his FX sitcom Legit to his late-night talk show The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central. This latest tour was announced shortly after his fifth stand-up comedy special Freedumb debuted last summer on Netflix. For details about the show, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020 

Karla Bonoff

Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff’s career spans four decades, during which time she’s written hits for Bonnie Raitt (Home), Wynonna Judd (Tell Me Why) and Linda Ronstadt, who recorded a number of Bonoff’s songs including Someone To Lay Down Beside Me and Lose Again for the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind as well as the 1989 duet All My Life. For tickets, go HERE.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

The Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi adapts Clark Gesner’s classic musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, adapted from Charles Schulz’s legendary comic strip. All your favorites are here – from Lucy and Linus to Snoopy and Charlie Brown, who, in fine form, spends the show veering from defeat to indomitable hope. For more details, go HERE.

San Fernando Valley

From a rising singer-songwriter to a pair of Hollywood comedy veterans – they’re all part of what’s going on this weekend in the San Fernando Valley.

Friday, March 13, 2020 

Best in Show 20th Anniversary

Studio Movie Grill, 128 Artsakh Avenue, Glendale, CA 91206

The Shore to Shore Film Festival kicks off with a screening of Christopher Guest comedy Best in Show on its 20th anniversary. After the movie, stay for the Q and A with actors Jim Piddock and John Michael Higgins. If you arrive early, you can drop by the happy hour mixer at the bar. A portion of ticket sales will go to Dog Cafe LA, who will be on hand from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. with some of the dogs up for adoption at the rescue organization. For details, go HERE.

Saturday, March 14, 2020 

Kendra and the Bunnies

Room 41, 4105 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

“Kendra & the Bunnies” is actually singer, songwriter, poet, and author Kendra Muecke, whose first album, Of Vinyl, debuted last July. Her sound fuses singing, spoken word, guitar, percussion, medicine drum, and electronic samples. For more information, go HERE.

 

Dana Gould

Flappers Comedy Club Burbank – Main Room, 102 East Magnolia Burbank, CA 91502

A prolific comic, actor and writer, Dana Gould’s credits include The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Maron, Seinfeld and Parks, and Recreation. He even played a live-action version of himself on Family Guy. Behind the scenes, he has written for The Simpsons and The Ben Stiller Show, as well as created the series Stan Against Evil. You may also have come across his monthly podcast, The Dana Gould Hour. For tickets, go HERE.

 Sunday, March 15, 2020 

 

Jeremy Piven

Flappers Comedy Club Burbank, 102 East Magnolia Burbank, CA 91502 

Long before he nabbed what would become his signature, Emmy-winning role as uber-agent Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage, Jeremy Piven had carved out a career for himself as a character actor known for such films as Grosse Pointe Blank and Family Man. Post-Ari, he followed Entourage with the critically acclaimed series Mr. Selfridge and then the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd. For information about his show, go HERE.

Atomic Roots Orchestra 

1901 W Burbank Boulevard, Burbank, CA

Hosted at the Burbank Moose Lodge, go swing dancing with the Atomic Roots Orchestra. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is a free dance lesson at 7 p.m. For details, go HERE.

Santa Clarita

Nancy Drew is without a clue and a pair of very different acts promise to transport audiences back to the 1980s. All this and more can be found going on this weekend in Santa Clarita.

Friday, March 13, 2020 

The Dickies and D.I.

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, 24201 Valencia Boulevard No. 1351, Santa Clarita, CA

From 1979’s Banana Splits to (I’m Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota, California punk pioneers The Dickies always infused their Los Angeles lifestyle into their lyrics. Toyota, for example, was about a local TV news personality. D.I. formed in 1983 in Fullerton in the wake of The Adolescents and Social Distortion. For information on this double-bill, go HERE.

Saturday, March 14, 2020 

FNR      

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 1351, Santa Clarita, CA. 9135

If you want to know what love is or simply feel cold as ice or you’re into playing head games, FNR is the tribute band for you. Promising more than a simple rock show, they intend on transporting audiences to a time when Foreigner was at the peak of its popularity in the 1980s. For details and how to get tickets, go HERE.

NANCY WHO? The Girl Detective Without a Clue!

The MAIN, 24266 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA

For all the attempts by film and TV adaptations to modernize her, Nancy Drew is still best enjoyed as a period piece, befitting her origins. And sure enough, that is exactly what Crowsnest Productions has done with Nancy Who? The Girl Detective Without A Clue! by Mary Main. Set in the 1930s, it follows Nancy as she tries to – what else? – solve a crime. For information, go HERE.

 Sunday, March 15, 2020 

40 Oz to Freedom

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 1351, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Taking its name from the debut album by rock supergroup Sublime (responsible for, among other singles, the Billboard hit What I Got), 40oz to Freedom has emerged as a tribute band with a worldwide fanbase. To see their mix of ska, reggae and punk, go HERE.

A Historic Evening with Anne Frank’s Stepsister: Mrs. Eva Schloss

College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA

When she was eight years old, Eva Schloss became friends with Anne Frank.  In July of 1942, both of their families went into hiding before being captured and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Eva survived. This is the story of Anne Frank as told by Eva, who will be making her only appearance in L.A. County here. For more information, go HERE.

Posted on

LA Eats: Iconic Side Dishes

You order the meal, but what you really came for is the side. It happens. Whether it’s the favorite hangout where the fries are the salty sensations you crave or the pub that serves mac n’ cheese that outpaces the rest of the menu, some side dishes transcend their class status as mere half-considered, disposable pleasures. They become the plates of calorie intake we truly, madly love. Around Los Angeles and the Westside, here are a few sides so delicious and unforgettable they will have you coming back – but only for them.

Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Manhattan Beach Post, 1142 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

If you live in the South Bay, you likely know this spot from Michelin–starred chef David LeFevre – and especially this signature side dish. Served with maple butter, these crispy bites of heart-stopping goodness are loaded with cheese that burst out crisp when baked. Better yet, because the eatery is all about shared plates, they are easily gobbled up with friends.

Misfit Mac n Cheese

The Misfit Restaurant, 225 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Just because a dish is gluten-free doesn’t it can’t also be decadent. Case in point: The Misfit’s mac n’ cheese comes topped with house-made chorizo and studded with green chiles that are baked inside this crispy, cheesy sensation. And yes, it’s sans gluten.

Tater Tots

The Craftsman, 119 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Is there a more maligned side than the tater tot? Is it because it’s a punchline in pop culture (looking at you, Napoleon Dynamite) or simply because when compared to its potato-related cousin, the fry, it’s remarkably tasteless? So give this rustic-themed gastro bar credit for enlivening their crispy tots with a range of flavorful dipping sauces.

Belgian Double-Dipped Fries

Wurstkuche, 625 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90291

Found among the many pints and exotic sausages served in this Venice spot (including the rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapenos) are the Belgian double-dipped fries. The fries are expectedly excellent, but there is no denying the power of the dip. Choose from such sauces as chipotle aioli, curry ketchup, Thai peanut, tzatziki, and bleu cheese walnut and bacon. They also have a location in downtown L.A. if you’re nowhere near the beach.

Onion Rings

Akasha, 9543 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Forget about the menu’s suggestion to share the rings. You will wisely want to keep every last one for yourself. What makes these rings run circles around the competition? To start, they use rice flour instead of wheat and serve them with smoked paprika aioli. Bite into the crunchy exterior and you’ll discover organic sweet onion that’s meltingly delicious, marinated in soy sauce. Best of all, they are also vegan, meaning they can be enjoyed by anyone if you do choose to share (you probably won’t).

Bacon Cheeseburger Fat Fries

Fat Sal’s, 972 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Imagine a salad. Now instead of grilled chicken or tofu, picture French fries. Then add bacon, cheese, beef, pickles, and some Thousand Island dressing. And because it’s a salad, toss in some lettuce and tomatoes. That’s essentially this side at Fat Sal’s, which has two other locations, one in Encino and the other in Hollywood. If you’re looking for a different kind of salad, you’re in luck: they also serve buffalo chicken cheese fries.

Proudly powered by WordPress