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March 21, 2018

Melrose Rooftop Theatre Coming to E.P. & L.P.

E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood is one of the prettiest patios if you’re looking for a cocktail and a view, so it’s only fitting that they host a rooftop cinema series. Melrose Rooftop Theatre comes to E.P. & L.P. starting on May 1 with a screening of Pretty Woman.

MRT will take place every Sunday through Thursday from May 1 through November 15, screening over 100 different films, with a mix of genres, including cult classics and new-ish releases. There’s comedy (10 Things I Hate About You), horror (IT), drama (Moonlight), sci-fi (Blade Runner 2049), and romance (The Notebook). You can catch something like Coming to America or Pulp Fiction, or a more modern film like Black Panther or Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And if you missed the most recent Academy Award contenders, they’ll be screening some of those too. For instance, Best Picture She Shape of Water is on June 25.

Guests will head up to the rooftop, where they’ll grab a cushy bean bag seat and a pair of wireless, noise-canceling headsets. Differing this year from previous iterations is that all 100 seats are “VIP” bean bag chairs.

Tickets for just the film are $27.50. Or, for $65, guests will receive not only a ticket to the film, but a three-course, Southeast Asian meal at E.P. beforehand. (That price also includes tax and tip.) Dinner starts at 6 p.m., while the films start at sundown. Concession-style snacks, including popcorn and candy, and cocktails are available during every screening. Check out the full schedule and tickets here.

Also, if rooftop movies are your jam, you may consider Rooftop Cinema Club, which is back for its fourth season in Los Angeles starting in April.

Story by We Like LA.

March 14, 2018

Places to Volunteer in Los Angeles for Spring 2018

2018 resolutions may have come and gone but a fresh new season (that would be spring) makes it the perfect time to reconsider, especially when it comes to giving back to the community.

There are many organizations that tirelessly provide and serve hot meals to homeless and low-income families and individuals on a daily basis, find safe and loving homes for animals, tutor and encourage young female students in STEM, and work the land to protect our natural habitats, native wildlife and environment. Now is a great time to help!

The need for volunteers is great and simply helping out to make a PB&J sandwich, donate diapers and baby gear, clean out your closet, plant seedlings, trees and edible gardens — all of this is vastly appreciated more than you could ever know. These charities make it easy to volunteer – visit their websites to fill out applications, or just sign up for a project. Check out a list of volunteer ideas below!

Spring 2018 Volunteer Ideas

1. Dress for Success is a gratifying way to volunteer locally. Women who are just getting back on their feet and entering the workplace are in need of work attire and suits. This one is an easy way to help. Do you have work clothes and shoes that don’t fit or you don’t wear anymore? Dress for Success could really use the donations for its boutique. This amazing org helps unemployed women pull together all of the pertinent elements needed to secure a job. Volunteers who have skills as a personal stylist, who can prepare clients for job interviews and coach on overall careers, makeup artists to train clients on makeup application, are welcome. -> More info

2. Girls, Inc. is such a feel good volunteering gig. Supporting at-risk students from South LA, Compton and Watts, Girls, Inc. volunteers have the opportunity to work with these girls via educational enrichment programs focusing on STEM education, literacy and math. The program participants come from diverse backgrounds ranging from family poverty, gang surroundings and homelessness. Sign up to become a mentor, an instructor, a guest presenter, a homework helper, and a positive role model. -> More info

3. Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is in need of volunteers to help improve and protect 1,600 acres of preserved land areas, 60 different plant species and 23,000 seedlings in Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling HIlls, Rolling Hills Estates and San Pedro. PVPLC works to improve the natural habitat to support wildlife and native species, maintain trails and signage, and educate students and the public. Sign up to volunteer on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and help to transport seedlings and prepare native plants to be planted in the designated areas. -> More info

4. The Big Sunday End of the Month Club is an on-going volunteer and help to fill food pantries, put food on the table and feed the homeless and undernourished folks of LA. Big Sunday has a lot of opportunities to volunteer throughout the year, but this particular project collects more than 700 food items each month. -> More info

5. To eat and be satisfied – this is the English translation of the Hebrew word “sova.” This is also the mission of SOVA food pantry, which takes care of over 9,000 individuals each month. These are people who cannot afford groceries, as well as homeless families, people with disabilities and senior citizens. Volunteers can participate in a few ways from stocking shelves or packing custom grocery orders, sort and box canned and packaged food donations. -> More info

6. Each year Baby2Baby provides basic necessities to more than 180,000 children (0-12 years) in LA. Whether it’s a supply of diapers, formula, onsies and pjs, clothes to grow into, bath time care, car seats and furniture, these items are super appreciated by a variety of homeless, low-income, foster care and hospitalized children. Volunteers are invited to help sort items and put together gift bags for the children. -> More info

7. Each week Food Forward rescues 300,000 pounds of leftover produce from LA Wholesale Produce Market, farmers markets and local farms to donate to hunger relief programs throughout Southern California. But after the devastating Thomas Fire in Ventura County, Food Forward found themselves in need of support. Many of the farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties that Food Forward relies on have been impacted. Today FF needs extra help to fulfill its goal. Join in its efforts by making donations, reaching out to vendors with excess produce and collect fresh produce. -> More info

8. While an average of 475 pets euthanized each day in our city of Angels, Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue works its tails off to help find these animals a second chance home. So, how can you help? Help out by driving Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue dogs to and from weekly adoption events, to the vet and to doggie daycare. This charity also needs help transporting food and medicine to foster dog parents who many not have cars. And, how awesome is it that volunteers can also sign up to take pups on walks and hikes. -> More info

9. Under the Bridges and On the Streets is a program that literally provides and delivers food to homeless individuals and families who live under bridges, on the streets, in alleys and on the sides of local freeways. Under the Bridges accepts in-kind donations: mustard packets, tubs of butter, latex-free gloves,wrapping foil, packs of turkey meat, cheese blocks, and bottles of water. Additionally Under the Bridges’ monthly shopping list includes toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, feminine hygiene products, new cotton tube socks, sweat pants and clean blankets, athletic shoes and reading glasses. Every last Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. -> More info

10. Hollywoof to the Rescue fights the pet overpopulation fight in LA. And, they need help to do this. Supported by volunteers (Hollywood artists, actors, musicians and celebrities), Hollywoof is known for its outreach and education via responsible pet ownership, spay and neuter, adoption, fostering and rescue. If you love animals, there are many ways to contribute. Email Hollywoof to volunteer: info@hollywooftotherescue.org.

11. St. Francis Center is a hub for providing and serving food to homeless and extremely low-income individuals and families. In need of help all week long, St. Francis Center encourages both students and adults to serve hot breakfast meals and make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before school or getting to the office. Relying on its strong network of volunteers, St. Francis Center welcomes anyone interested. Volunteers need to complete an application and speak with a volunteer coordinator before participating. Early birds are invited to serve breakfast Monday – Friday at 7:15 a.m. -> More info

12. LA Works is a unique way you can offer your time in a variety of ways. From preparing meals and emergency food for the city’s homeless and low-income community to working with disadvantaged kids through education activities to cleaning and restoring LA’s most precious natural environments, there are projects for every kind of volunteer. Check the website – there are more than 50 projects alone in the month of March to sign up for: beautify White Point Nature Preserve in San Pedro or Portuguese Bend Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes and create edible gardens in schools throughout Los Angeles with Enrich LA. -> More info

13. As the earth’s atmosphere and climate continue to dramatically change, the mission behind TreePeople is more important than ever to the future of LA’s natural habitat. TreePeople engages Angelenos to take care of their environment by volunteering. Help by creating strong and resilient landscapes, by planting and caring for trees in urban areas and tending to overgrowth and watering native plants in the mountains. Volunteer events are open to all ages – just sign up online to participate in Urban or Mountain Forestry on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -> More info

14. The 29th annual Great LA River CleanUp will take places over three weekends (at three different river areas) during the month of April. Last year the CleanUp attracted some 10,000 volunteers who removed over 100 tons of trash from the LA River at more than a dozen sites. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds, along with any community service-based organizations, are invited to participate. -> More info

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

March 9, 2018

Get Free Coffee Bean on Sunday for Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time is back at it again, forcing us to lose an entire hour on Sunday, March 11. But here’s some good news: If you find the loss of sleep leaves you groggy, remember that you can score free coffee at various Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf outposts throughout Southern California.

According to a release, tabs up to $15 per transaction will be covered, thanks to a partnership with Wescom Credit Union. The freebies begin as soon as doors open and will continue until the sum reaches $2,000. That could end up being pretty early; while opening times vary from shop to shop, a majority of them unlock their doors around 5 a.m. More info here.

Here is a list of participating locations:

Brea
Imperial & Randolph — 1080 E Imperial Hwy

Baldwin Park
Garvey & Francisquito — 13916 Garvey Ave

Costa Mesa
Newport & Harbor — 1835 Newport Blvd.

Culver City
Washington & Overland — 10705 Washington Blvd.

Encino
Ventura & Woodley — 16101 Ventura Blvd.

Irvine
Irvine Spectrum Center — 628 Spectrum Center

Long Beach
Circle Center — 1996 Ximeno Ave.

Manhattan Beach
Rosecrans & Redondo — 1590 Rosecrans Ave.

Mission Viejo
Avery & Marguerite — 26281 Avery Pkwy.

Oxnard
Rose & Lockwood — 2180 N. Rose Ave.

Palmdale
10th St. & Rancho Vista — 39605 10th Street West

Pasadena
Old Pasadena — 18 S. Fair Oaks

Rancho Cucamonga
Haven & Foothill — 8140 Haven

Redlands
Orange Street Plaza — 528 Orange St.

Riverside
Central & Riverside — Riverside Plaza — 3545 Central Ave.

Santa Ana
Main & Memory — 2783 N. Main St.

Santa Ana
17th Street & Tustin — 2264 17th St.

Simi Valley
Tapo Canyon & Alamo — 2944—G Tapo Canyon Road

Thousand Oaks
Moorpark & Wilbur — 487 N. Moorpark Road

Torrance
Hawthorne & Del Amo — 20301 Hawthorne Blvd.

Valencia
Westfield Valencia Center — 24201 Valencia Blvd.

Westwood
Westwood & Weyburn — 950 Westwood Blvd.

Westwood
Westwood & Ohio — 1500 Westwood Blvd.

Story by We Like LA.

March 7, 2018

Echo Park Lake debuts new swan pedal boats

Swans have arrived at Echo Park Lake just in time for spring. Well, sort of. The pedal boat services at the lake are under new management, and part of the change includes an upgraded fleet of swan-shaped pedal boats available for rental. Wheel Fun Rentals has taken over the pedal boat rental space previously run by Chaffin & Reeves (doing business as Echo Park Lake Pedal Boats Canoe & Gondola). The first day of new service was this past Saturday, and it included the debut of the aforementioned swans.

According to The Eastsider the previous operators were outbid by Wheel Fun for the rights to manage the rentals in a decision approved by the Department of Recreation and Parks this past September. Chaffin & Reeves had provided pedal boat rental services at the lake since the extensive renovation of the area that took place in 2013.

Riders are prepped for a swan boat ride. Photo by Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

We Like L.A. spoke to assistant manager Tom Oddo, who was has worked at the pedal boat rental space for the past 10 months, and was kept on during the transition of service providers. Oddo said the newer boats represent a significant upgrade, both in terms of size and the notable addition of canopies to shade pedal-boat riders on the open water. A small swan boat can accommodate two adults and two children under 10 years old. A large swan boat can hold up to five people. Presently about half the fleet has been swapped out for the new swan models, but the plan is to convert all of the boats in the near future.

Rentals cost $11 per hour for adults and $6 per hour for children (ages 2-17). This is a $1 increase for both adults and children compared to the old rates. Weekdays are your best bet if you want to guarantee rental availability, as weekends tend to sell out quickly. Once summer begins Oddo told We Like L.A. he expects to see high demand every day of the week.

A swan pedal boat glides across the lake. Photo by Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

Boat rentals are available year-round, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to sunset. The boathouse is located on the eastern side of Echo Park Lake, adjacent to Beacon at 751 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

March 1, 2018

Free Museum Days in Los Angeles For March

The intent of this schedule is to denote specific free days in any given month where Los Angeles museums that normally charge an admission waive their entry fees (not including parking).

For this post we’re detailing the month of March, 2018. One special call-out for this month: The Getty is hosting a free family festival on March 10 as part of their ongoing 20th anniversary celebraton.

As always please keep in mind there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here.

Enjoy!

Free Museum Days in Los Angeles – March 2018

[MAR 1] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 1] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 1] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 1] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for April and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix)

[MAR 1] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 1] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 2] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 2] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 pm)

[MAR 2] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 3] The Pasadena Museum of History is launching a new Sci-Fi exibit and offering day of festivities with free admission to mark the opening (noon to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 6] ] Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 6] Natural History Museum

[MAR 6] Page Museum at La Brea Tarpits

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

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

[MAR 8] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

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

[MAR 8] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 9] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 11] Museum of Latin American Art

[MAR 11] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[MAR 13] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[MAR 13] Autry Museum of the American West

[MAR 15] Japanese American National Museum (all day)

[MAR 15] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 15] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 15] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 15] Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 15] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 16] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 18] Museum of Latin American Art

[MAR 18] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[MAR 20] Los Angeles County Arboretum

[MAR 20] South Coast Botanic Garden

[MAR 20] Descanso Gardens

[MAR 22] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 22] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 22] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 22] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m,)

[MAR 22] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 23] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 25] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[MAR 25] Museum of Latin American Art

[MAR 29] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 29] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 29] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[MAR 29] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 29] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[MAR 30] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.)

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

February 21, 2018

Uber Launches 'Express Pool' In Los Angeles

A new Uber service is launching in Los Angeles today. It’s called Uber Express Pool, and it works by asking pool riders to walk to and from nearby pick-up and drop-off locations.

The POOL option already offers lower prices to riders who are willing to share their ride with other passengers. This typically takes a bit longer, as drivers take brief detours to pick up and drop off other riders along the way.

Express Pool seeks to streamline that process. Here’s how it works:

In the Uber app, Express POOL will appear as an option on the slider next to POOL. Choose Express Pool, then call for a ride. Within a few minutes, the app will assign you a driver and that driver’s ETA, just like with a standard uberX ride. However, the app will also provide you with walking directions to a nearby location where you will meet your driver. When your driver arrives, you’ll get in a car that may or may not contain other Express Pool passengers. When you get close to your destination you’ll be assigned a drop-off point and provided with walking directions from that spot to your final destination.

Uber Express Pool Photo: Uber

Ideally, this ride will be faster than your typical POOL ride because the driver is picking up and dropping off passengers stationed along the route. Uber also estimates that an Express Pool rides is 50 percent cheaper, on average, than POOL and as much as 75 percent cheaper than uberX.

This is potentially an ideal situation for commuters who regularly rely on ride sharing services to get to and from work, or for people going for a night out who don’t mind a brief walk.

It could also potentially alleviate some of POOL’s problems, such as an anecdote published in Motherboard in which a POOL passenger and their driver spent 40 minutes looking for another passenger who was seemingly lost “somewhere between a road closure and his hotel.” The author finally snapped, using the driver’s speakerphone to ask the passenger why he couldn’t just walk to a nearby gas station.

Uber first launched this service in San Francisco and Boston in late 2017. The service launches in San Diego, Denver, and L.A. today, while Miami, Philly, and D.C. will get it tomorrow.

Of course, there’s another service that already functions very much like Uber Express Pool: the Metro system, where standard fare is always $1.75, with free transfers within two hours. It may not always be as reliable as calling a car, but it’s pretty cheap!

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

February 16, 2018

Rodeo Realty's Studio City Agent Todd Jones Talks About LA Luxury Market With Forbes

An article published this week by Forbes takes a look at several markets around the country where “the luxury segment is currently showing some weakness signaling buying opportunities.”

According to Forbes, there are currently several luxury markets to consider if you are shopping for your dream home.

“…if you are in the market for a luxury home, now may be the time to make an offer,” said Forbes.

One of the luxury markets compared and talked about in the article is Los Angeles. Forbes interviewed Todd Jones of Rodeo Realty Studio City to get a better idea on the luxury market in the area.

“For the higher end, I look at Days on Market (DOM),” said Todd to Forbes contributor, Ellen Paris. “When I last checked there were 406 active listings with an average of 208 DOM in that luxury category. That would tell you it’s a buyer’s market in that $5 million and up price range.”

The article also looks into the luxury market in Chicago, Atlanta and Boston.

To read the entire Forbes article, click HERE.

February 14, 2018

The Best Restaurants in Santa Monica

Santa Monica used to be the redheaded stepchild of the Los Angeles culinary scene — sure, there were some good eats in the neighborhood, but restaurateurs focused their efforts on Downtown, Hollywood, and elsewhere, probably figuring our proximity to the beach was a decent enough deal. But no longer! Now we get fancy tasting menus, imported Bolognese pastas, and a sweet ocean breeze: these 30 restaurants — some old, some brand-new, all very delicious — are proof that Santa Monica has something for everyone.

Belcampo Meat Co.

Organic, grass-fed meats for the conscious carnivore
West Hollywood has Animal, but the Westside has Belcampo, where you go to binge on meat-centric dishes like grilled beef heart, goat tartare, and tallow chips. It’s an ethical carnivore’s dream, too, since Belcampo prides itself on humane practices and high-quality, 100% organic cuts.

Estate Restaurant + Bar

Craft cocktails and farm-to-table food in an elegant setting
Estate’s good-looking downstairs bar and lounge has SaMo’s best non-basic happy hour, which takes place seven days a week from 5-7pm. While other places are content to ply us with greasy sliders, fried mozzarella sticks, and spinach artichoke dips, Estate supplies an eclectic selection of crisp, panko-breaded shrimp, filet mignon skewers, and grilled salmon salad. And then there are the well-priced (and stiff) drinks — like $5 draft beer, $7 glasses of wine, and $8 mixologist-approved cocktails.

Bay Cities

Gourmet Italian deli beloved for its substantial sandwiches
It’s easy to forget that this OG Italian deli makes over 20 different kinds of sandwiches, because most people only talk about its famed Godmother — and we can’t blame ‘em. That salty, satisfying stack of Genoa salami, mortadella, capicola, ham, and prosciutto tucked into a chewy Italian sub is hard to beat, and well worth the trek west.

Mélisse

Michelin-starred restaurant serving fancy French food
This contemporary French spot does things the old-school way; after all, it boasts two Michelin stars, 10-course tasting menus, and the kind of service that includes folding your napkin every time you leave the table. Bring mom and dad here for the egg caviar and foie gras.

Swingers

Late-night diner with a ‘60s vibe and massive menu
Many an inebriated Westsider has stumbled through the doors of Swingers, which stays open until 3am Thursday through Saturday. This ‘60s-style diner serves alcohol, too, but it’s better-known for classic late-night fare to help sop up all those tequila shots.

Milo & Olive

Warm, welcoming pizzeria/bakery with wood-burning ovens
Milo & Olive serves as the bread-making epicenter for Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan’s Rustic Canyon group of standout SM restaurants — which include Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry Cafe, Cassia, Esters, and more. The bread baked in its wood-burning ovens may sneak onto other menus, but the crust is the focal point here at this perpetually busy pizzeria. And if you judge your pizza by its crust (who doesn’t?), you’ll appreciate M&O’s crisp, thin-crust artisanal pies made from Nathan’s 48-hour, whole-wheat dough and topped with seasonal Californian ingredients.

Tacos Por Favor

Tasty, quick, street-style tacos for cheap
If you’re looking for an authentic taqueria on the Westside, this cheap, no-frills joint is it. Go for the street-style tacos — made with corn tortillas, fresh toppings, and salsa that’s legitimately spicy — and massive burritos.

Herringbone

Seafood-focused menu in a stunning atmosphere
To be fair, there aren’t enough oyster happy hours anywhere (a discussion for another day) — but Herringbone’s, which runs daily from 4-7pm, is still exceptional. For just a buck each, load up on as many juicy, fresh-shucked West Coast oysters as you can handle, in addition to $6 wines, $5 beers, and more substantial fare like shrimp louie toast and three-cheese arancini balls.

Pono Burger

Charming Hawaiian-inspired burger joint with craft beers and wines
Pono has perfected the art of the creative burger. After locking down the base — patties made from organic, grass-fed, locally sourced beef and cooked over an oak-fire grill — chef Makani focused on dressing each one up with Hawaiian-fusion-inspired extras. The popular Kuawa Crunch oozes spicy guava rum sauce, the Paniolo (which is also stacked with onion rings and smoked cheddar) is decked out with Kona coffee bourbon BBQ sauce, and the Sassy Wahine includes wasabi mayo and sesame ponzu dressing.

Cassia

Reservations-needed Asian fusion spot with al fresco seating
This Southeast Asian fusion spot — which has been lauded a dozen times over by critics from all over the country — has much more to offer than seafood, but Angelenos know that Cassia boasts the city’s most stunning seafood tower. The other chilled seafood options are equally delectable, like Vietnamese prawns, raw scallops in chili oil, and snow crab claws accompanied by grilled country bread. As for the mains, you can’t go wrong with either a delicate black cod bathed in clear, light broth or the perfectly seasoned whole grilled sea bass. Pro tip: If the weather’s nice, dine alfresco; with exposed lights strung up overhead and plenty of heat lamps, the patio’s a looker.

The OP Café

Family-owned restaurant with consistently good eats
From its owner (a third-generation SM resident) to the surf-inspired décor and hearty breakfast dishes featuring fresh farmers market ingredients, this Ocean Park café is a neighborhood institution. Even better, the prices are budget-friendly with all entrees under $15.

Inotheke

Contemporary Greek eatery for modern palates
The name’s a mouthful, which is fitting since the modern Hellenic food here is meant to be ordered en masse. There’s no Greek mother to ensure you leave with a full stomach, but between the scallops saganaki, moussaka, and spanakopita, you’ll do a fine job by yourself.

Air Food

Experimental, beautifully plated French-inspired fare
This four-month-old gem is the brainchild of two Parisians with a love of good food and sweet sneakers. The latter might seem irrelevant, but this duo’s passion for design is all over the food, from edible egg-white filigrees decorating your mashed potatoes to artfully arranged rows of pickled veggies. There’s an unmistakable French stamp on everything, but the menu culls influences from Japan (tempura escargot), the US (fatty foie gras-topped burger), and other countries. Every ingredient — even dressings and mayo — are made in-house, but the 55 various still and sparkling waters are imported from all over the world. And while the fancy H2O offerings are actually shockingly good, we’re guessing this spot will get more popular when its liquor license is approved.

Tar & Roses

Perpetually buzzy, New American date night favorite
When Tar & Roses took an extended hiatus in 2015 due to a kitchen fire, the neighborhood was — quite literally — starved for its phenomenal food (which, because of its kinda-New American, sorta-Asian-slash-Mediterranean-leaning feel, is sometimes hard to categorize). Luckily, the restaurant made a wildly successful comeback last year and returned to becoming a date night favorite thanks to shareable small plates (including bacon-and-brown-sugar popped corn, melt-in-your-mouth oxtail dumplings, and Sriracha-and-honey-glazed pig tails) and close-quarters candlelit dining. If you want something heavier, the star entree — a crunchy whole snapper fried to a delicate, golden crisp — serves two… and then some.

Ingo’s Tasty Diner

Elevated diner food with an emphasis on local produce
Ingo’s does food that others have done before, but with more farm-to-table finesse (a lot of its produce is sourced from the Santa Monica Farmers Market). Brussels sprouts get an upgrade with tangy goat cheese sauce; juicy Jidori chicken is marinated in lemon, herbs, and roasted garlic; and the prime rib French dip boasts fatty, marbled beef just begging for a dunk in the flavorful au jus. Plus, there’s always a platter of complimentary French sea salt chocolate chip cookies by the door. And if you’re a fan of Misfit, you’ll love the similar vibe and solid eats at Ingo’s — which is owned by the same people but doesn’t quite attract the same decibel level.

HiHo Cheeseburger

Ojai transplant specializing in quality wagyu burgers
High-quality, 100% grass-fed wagyu beef makes all the difference at HiHo, a burger joint that uprooted its Ojai operation and relocated to Santa Monica earlier this year. The lean menu has only three burger options, but take our word for it and order the HiHo — two tender, beefy patties nestled inside a squishy bun with sweet onion jam and melty cheese. It’s an uncomplicated but irresistibly tasty combination that goes well with crispy, hand-cut, perfectly salted fries and, if you still have room, a slice of made-from-scratch banana cream pie.

Sweetfin Poke

Build-your-own poke bowls with inventive toppings and fresh fish
Dozens of poke places have sprung up around the Westside to service our seemingly never-ending obsession with raw, cubed fish over rice. But, if you judge your bowls by the freshness of its seafood, no one does it better than Sweetfin. This California chain also one-ups the rest by offering unique toppings, such as wasabi-toasted coconut flakes and blistered shishito peppers, and quality sauces like citrusy yuzu kosho, or a Sriracha ponzu that packs some heat.

1 Pico

Upscale hotel restaurant with seafood-heavy menu and ocean views
Shutters on the Beach — a hotel with a West Coast-meets-Nantucket vibe — is a Santa Monica institution. Out-of-towners book rooms for its proximity to the water, and even locals come here for staycations, or to dine at 1 Pico, a restaurant that’s pretty much right on the beach and offers window tables with million-dollar sunset and ocean views. Naturally, the dinner menu’s heavy on seafood — fresh-tasting kumamoto oysters, delicate fluke crudo dressed in olive oil and lime, beautifully seared scallops, and the like — but there are a few pastas and decent steaks, too. On weekends, there’s also a lobster brunch: a $60-per-person affair that lets you OD on lobster-enhanced Benedicts, bucatinis, or BLTs.

Esters Wine Shop & Bar

Art deco-inspired spot offering tasty small plates and over 200 wines
Esters started off as a great wine bar that offered a few bites like gourmet nuts and charcuterie, but over time, its menu expanded to include killer “real” food. Weekend brunch means cornmeal waffles topped with Bavarian cream, or heirloom tomatoes and burrata, while lunch brings a selection of grab-and-go sandwiches made with fresh bread from Milo & Olive (both belong to the Rustic Canyon restaurant group). Dinner offers heftier fare, like crispy chicken confit or sausage served with truffle aioli and pepper relish: the kind of stick-to-your-bones food that pairs well with a robust red or artisanal beer. On select Tuesdays through January, inventive burgers created by guest chefs (like Felix’s Evan Funke or Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe’s Erin Eastland) are also on the menu.

Dialogue

Intimate tasting menu restaurant in an unexpected location
Helmed by a James Beard Award-winning chef, Dialogue is housed in a former food court on Third Street Promenade — a curious location for an 18-seat fine dining experience in LA. But foodies near and far will brave the tourist hordes for Dave Beran’s 18-to-22-course tasting menu, which changes seasonally and features farmers market produce, petals, leaves, and other natural elements, all arranged in an exquisite feast for the eyes. Dishes even come with names and stories, like “Springtime for Sean” (a composite of caviar, white peanut butter, and charred scallions designed to look like a tree) or a made-ya-look-twice mash-up of pork belly, strawberry sambal, and trout roe.

Flower Child

Fast-casual salads, grain bowls, and kombucha on tap
You can’t walk a few blocks on the Westside without stumbling on a make-your-own-salad bar, but bright, zippy Flower Child is a cut above the rest. It’s a full-service restaurant masquerading as a fast-casual joint, where soups are made in-house and avocado toast, grain bowls, and yes, plenty of wholesome salads, are all on the menu. But hearty portions and the use of interesting spices and sauces, like garam masala or red pepper miso vinaigrette, keep you surprisingly satisfied — not starving — hours later.

Meat On Ocean

Spacious, stylish steakhouse for both locals and tourists
Unless your visitors are vegetarians, this sleek, massive chophouse on Ocean Avenue will properly impress. It’s got ocean views (a prerequisite for tourists), the shiny patina of a still-newish restaurant, striking red leather booths and warm wood decor, and lots and lots of quality meat to live up to its name. The best is an order from the on-site aging room, where steaks are aged for at least 30 days, but sugar-cured pork ribs, racks of lamb, house-made terrines, a smattering of seafood, and typical steakhouse sides round out the rest of the vast menu.

Uovo

Traditional, popular pasta bar perfect for a quick bite
Before Uovo came along, there was nothing quite like it in the area: a decently good, fast-casual pasta bar where you could enjoy a plate of traditional tonnarelli all’Arrabiata by yourself in under 30 minutes. Uovo rightly prides itself on its pasta, which gets made in Bologna using special eggs that aren’t available stateside and shipped overnight to be prepped in Uovo’s kitchen. If you’re dining alone and want something a little fancier (and more Italian) than Chipotle or Lemonade, this easy-in, easy-out spot is your best bet.

Wexler’s Deli

Classic Jewish deli eats including house-smoked fish and bagels
Since opening its beach-adjacent location last year, this Jewish deli quickly became a neighborhood favorite, so co-owners Chef Micah Wexler and Mike Kassar launched an expanded, exclusive-to-SM menu over the summer. In addition to being the only Wexler’s that serves matzo ball soup, this outpost now slings brunch-centric dishes, including kippered salmon on toast, an ultra-rich gooey French toast made with chocolate babka, and Cheddar-cheesy scrambled eggs.

FIG Restaurant

Sophisticated neighborhood favorite with Mediterranean flavors
Santa Monica’s got its fair share of fancy-pants hotels, but classy FIG — tucked inside The Fairmont — is a consistent favorite even among locals. Bungalow-bound day drinkers get solid brunch food, like lemon ricotta pancakes and corned beef hash, while the upbeat lunchtime crowd enjoys elevated burgers, salads, and pizzas. Dinner is a slightly more sophisticated affair, with the kitchen turning out seasonal, Mediterranean-slanting items like harissa-spiced fries, grilled halloumi, a puffed-up bread balloon, and a slow-cooked lamb pasta flavored with fennel, mint, and black garlic yogurt.

Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar

Lively Italian spot known for its cheese wheel pastas
This always-bustling eatery is famous for serving pastas tossed in giant cheese wheels, like butternut squash risotto in grana padano or a perfectly peppery cacio e pepe in pecorino romano. But you’d be remiss not to explore the rest of the menu from chef Piero Topputo, who grew up in a small town in Puglia and now whips up fried artichokes, branzino, and panzerotto Pugliese — a mozzarella-stuffed fried pastry that’s a specialty from his region — for the Montana Avenue crowd.

Michael’s

Santa Monica classic with an updated creative menu
Michael’s has been a Santa Monica pillar for over 30 years, but last year’s brilliant hire of chef Miles Thompson (who’s worked in the kitchens of Animal and Son of a Gun) has reinvigorated the place. While the sunken, leafy outdoor patio is still there, Thompson’s seasonally changing menu features interesting ingredients and inventive flavor combinations, like potatoes dusted with bonito flakes and furikake aioli, or hamachi collar accompanied by baba ganoush. Plus, it helps that even though Michael’s is situated on the Promenade, it’s a ways away from the tourist scene — which, over the course of the restaurant’s decades-long lifespan has grown more scene-y than ever. Look out for a new lounge menu, featuring bar snacks and wine specials, coming later this year.

STRFSH

Customizable fish sandwiches for the hungry lunch crowd
If you live or work in Santa Monica, this build-your-own-fish-sandwich spot — a recent addition to Third Street Promenade’s The Gallery food hall — is a compelling option. The Maryland-born Voltaggio brothers know a little something about well-made fish sammies — a staple on the East Coast — so they’ve produced a tightly edited menu with room for personalization: Choose between freshly grilled swordfish or salmon, a few house-made seasonings and tasty smears (including yuzu kosho mayo and jerk rub), and a toasted potato roll or tostada.

Terrazza

Italian-leaning restaurant with 180-degree Pacific Ocean views
Santa Monica has tourist traps, venues vying to appear trendy, and divey joints, but there aren’t many places here as quiet, elegant, and refined as Casa del Mar — which, like the aforementioned Shutters, is super nice and super close to the ocean. The hotel’s best-kept secret has to be its European-inspired lounge Terrazza, where there are floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the Pacific and SM Pier, scheduled live entertainment or cool electro beats on weekends, an ocean breeze, and a menu that includes barrel-aged cocktails and tons of sashimi and shareable plates (the Dungeness crab crostini on country bread and deep-fried artichokes are standouts).

Cava

Build-it-yourself Mediterranean menu with hearty portions
Cava is yet another build-it-yourself concept in SM — but it’s very well-executed… and may very well be one of the first of its kind to offer customized Mediterranean eats. Choose between bowls or pita sandwiches, spicy lamb meatballs or falafel, handcrafted dips and spreads like harissa or roasted red pepper hummus, saffron rice or black lentils… and the list goes on.

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

February 9, 2018

Schedule of Free Museum Days in Los Angeles For February

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

For this post we’re detailing the month of February, 2018, which includes a special free admission day at LACMA for President’s Day on February 19. As always please keep in mind there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here.

Enjoy!

[FEB 1] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 1] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 1] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[FEB 1] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for March and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix)

[FEB 1] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 2] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 2] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 pm)

[FEB 2] Long Beach Museum of Art

[FEB 6] ] Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 6] Natural History Museum

[FEB 6] Page Museum at La Brea Tarpits

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

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

[FEB 8] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

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

[FEB 9] Long Beach Museum of Art

[FEB 11] Museum of Latin American Art

[FEB 11] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[FEB 13] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[FEB 13] Autry Museum of the American West

[FEB 15] Japanese American National Museum (all day)

[FEB 15] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 15] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[FEB 15] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 16] Long Beach Museum of Art

[FEB 18] Museum of Latin American Art

[FEB 18] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[FEB 19] Los Angeles County Museum of Art is free on President’s Day.

[FEB 20] Los Angeles County Arboretum

[FEB 20] South Coast Botanic Garden

[FEB 20] Descanso Gardens

[FEB 22] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 22] Skirball Cultural Center

[FEB 22] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 22] Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[FEB 22] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m,)

[FEB 23] Long Beach Museum of Art

[FEB 25] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[FEB 25] Museum of Latin American Art

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

February 2, 2018

Tickets for the ‘Saved by the Bell’ Diner Pop-up Now on Sale

If you’ve been anxiously awaiting more news about the local outpost of Saved by the Max — the Saved by the Bell-inspired pop-up diner that held Chicagoans in thrall for an entire year — you’re in luck. The official Los Angeles opening date of May 1 has finally been announced, and tickets went on sale Friday, February 2 at 9 a.m.

Though Saved by the Max will look like the sitcom’s The Max diner, with its neon decor, jukebox, and vintage video games, there’s more to this eatery than mere ‘90s nostalgia. Its chef-driven menu was created by Brian Fisher, who helmed the kitchen at Michelin-starred restaurant Schwa in Chicago’s Wicker Park.

As in Chi-town, the menu here will offer dishes like the Kelly Kapowski Monte Cristo, A.C. Sliders, the Bayside Burger, the Preppy BLT and Mac & Screech.

As we told you last fall, Saved by the Max will be located at the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center at La Brea Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. “First semester” will run through early October, with plans for the pop-up to eventually make its way around the country.

Each tickets includes admission and dinner. As Saved by the Max was a smash success in Chicago, reservations are highly encouraged. Walk-ups will be limited.

Article by We Like LA.