Stock market indexes closed the week at record highs – As the economy is recovering quickly from the effects of the pandemic, investors have pushed up stock prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 33,800.60, up 2.0% from 33,153.21 last week. It is up 10.3% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 4,128.80, up 2.7% from 4019.87 last week. It is up 9.7% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 13,900.19, up 2.6% from 13,480.10 last week. It is up 7.2% year-to-date. U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 1.67%, down from 1.72% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 2.34, unchanged from 2.35% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates often follow treasury bond yields. Mortgage rates – The April 08, 2021, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.13%, down from 3.18% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.42%, down slightly from 2.45% last week. The 5-year ARM was 2.93%, up from 2.84% last week. The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index strengthened in March – Americans are more upbeat about the idea of buying and selling a home according to Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index which rose to a reading of 81.78 in March. That marked a 5.2 point increase from the February reading. The index is done from a tabulation of responses from consumers surveyed by Fannie Mae. Some of the results were: 61% of consumers said it was a good time to sell, up from 55% in February. 53% of consumers said it was a good time to buy, up from 48% in February. 50% of consumers said that home prices will go up over the next 12 months, up from 47% in February. 82% of consumers said they are not concerned about losing their jobs. 25% of consumers said their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago, up from 17% in February. Have a great weekend!

With so much constantly coming out on all of the streaming platforms, we are tracking the top picks this month to help you decide what to watch (and avoiding any scrolling fatigue). Check them out below!

Amy Schumer Learns to Cook” Season 1

Where to Watch: Hulu

The actress/comedian and her husband, Chef Chris Fischer, spend their quarantine time in Martha’s Vineyard attempting to help her learn how to cook.

Life in Color with David Attenborough

Where to Watch: Netflix

In a new three-part series, the legendary David Attenborough travels the world from the rainforests of Costa Rica to the snowy Scottish Highlands to reveal the extraordinary and never-before-seen ways animals use color.

Luther

Where to Watch: Starz

Idris Elba stars as DCI John Luther in this popular British crime drama.

This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist

Where to Watch: Netflix

In 1990, two men dressed as police officers conned their way into a Boston museum and stole a fortune in art. This doc takes a deep dive into that daring and notorious crime.

Looking to venture out this weekend? Check out these fun virtual and outdoor activities suitable for the whole family!

 

 

LA Dodgers Home Opener

The Dodgers are excited to welcome you back to Dodger Stadium! They are committed to providing you with a safe, comfortable, and fun experience. Seating will be in socially distanced pods in groups of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

 

LA Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals (HOME OPENER)

Friday April 9, 2021 | 1:00PM – 4:00PM

Location: Dodger Stadium

1000 Vin Scully Ave, , Los Angeles 90012

 

 

Alice in Wonderland at Cinespia Drive-In

Experience one of the most magical nightlife entertainment experiences in greater Los Angeles at the Cinespia Drive-In. Showing the Disney Original, Alice in Wonderland, this will be an activity perfect for all ages.

 

Alice In Wonderland Drive-In

Friday April 9, 2021 | 8:00 PM PDT Doors at 7:00 PM

Location: Cinespia at The Greek Theater

2700 N Vermont Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Limit 4 customers per car.

Patrons must remain in their car, masks must be worn when using the restroom.

Bring food and drink, no alcohol permitted.

Occupants of your car must be members of your household.

 

USC Comedy Festival

Tune in to free streaming panels with Bill Hader, Aidy Bryant, Demetri Martin, Lisa Kudrow, Lindy West, Matt Besser, Patton Oswalt and Ramy Youssef during this annual USC comedy fest.

 

USC Virtual Comedy Festival

Friday April 9, 2021 – Sunday April 11, 2021

Streaming for free

https://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=59723

 

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—and returns for the first time in a year.

 

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Sunday April 11, 2021

Opens at 9:00am

Location: Rose Bowl

1001 Rose Bowl Dr

Los Angeles

$10.00 per person walk-up, no credit cards. (cash only) The exact admission price only, no change. (Because of Covid 19 mandates) Children under 12 are admitted free with an adult.

 

 

Poolside Dinner and Aquaman Screening at L.A. Live

Eat dinner and watch a movie during this poolside screening of Aquaman at Downtown’s JW Marriott. Each $45 reservation includes one appetizer or snack, one entrée and unlimited popcorn.

 

Poolside Aquaman Screening

Saturday April 10, 2021

Doors Open at 6:30 PM, Showtime 7:30 PM

Location: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE

900 West Olympic Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Facial coverings or masks must be worn at all times unless eating or drinking while seated.

Hand sanitizer station available

Seating is pre-arranged for party size (groupings of 2, 3 or 4) to ensure social distancing. Tickets must be purchased together. Chairs may not be moved around. Maximum grouping size is four guests.

Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Outside food and beverage is not permitted.

There isn’t any easier or faster way to brighten my mood than by adding a few touches of spring to your home! Spring is a time of renewal, so it’s no wonder that many of us feel an urge to spruce up our homes this time of year. But it can be difficult to know where to begin to give your spaces a fresh feeling. If you’d love to update your home without spending a lot of money or making drastic changes, follow these spring home decor ideas.

Tip #1: Liven things up with plants and flowers.

Using fresh flowers to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside is one of the easiest ways to decorate your home for spring.

 

Tip #2: Refresh your spring styling.

Lightening up the look of your home for the new season can be as simple as making little styling tweaks to coffee and accent tables, shelves, mantels, and countertops. Even something as simple as a pretty dishtowel draped over the sink can add a fresh touch of spring decor to the kitchen.

 

Tip #3: Update your bedding.

Spring is all about awakening, so now’s the perfect time to freshen up your bedroom for the warmer months with some new bedding. Or, simply refresh your look by switching out your heavy winter blankets, throws, and pillows with lighter-weight and lighter-toned versions.

 

Tip #4: Rearrange the furniture.

One of the easiest ways to update your home for spring is to rearrange your furniture. Not only does moving the furniture change the look of your home, but it can also change the way you live! Rearranging the furniture only costs a few minutes of time (and maybe a few sore muscles), but it can return dividends in satisfaction, making you fall in love with your home again.

 

Tip #5: Welcome the sun.

As the hours of sunshine increase each day, this is the perfect time to maximize the amount of light in your home by replacing heavy or dark curtains with white or lighter-colored versions–or even remove them altogether!

 

Stock markets – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the month at 33,066.96, up 6.9% from 30,932.37 at the end of January. It is up 8.0% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the month at 3,958.55, up 3.9% from 3,811.15 last month. It is up 5.6% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the month at 13,045.29, down 1.2%from 13,192.35 last month It is up 1.9% year-to-date. U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the month yielding 1.74%, up from 1.44% last month. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the month at 2.41, up from 2.17% last month. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates often follow treasury bond yields. Mortgage rates – The April 01, 2021, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.18%, up from 2.97% last month. The 15-year fixed was 2.45%, up from 2.34% last month. The 5-year ARM was 2.84%, down from 2.99% last month. U.S. employers added 379,000 jobs in February – The Department of Labor and Statics reported that 379,000 net new jobs were added in January. That’s a healthy turnaround from January when the economy gained just 49,000 jobs. The figure also stunned analysts who expected 210,000 new jobs due to a rapid drop in COVID cases that has allowed more of the economy to re-open. Most of the gains came from the hospitality and leisure sector which saw an increase of 355,000 jobs as employers re-hired workers upon re-opening. Of those 355,000 hospitality and leisure workers, 286,000 work in bars and restaurants, 36,000 in hotels, and 33,000 in gambling and recreation businesses. Despite the gains, the hospitality and leisure sector still has 3.5 million fewer workers than before the pandemic. The unemployment rate in February was 6.2%, down from 6.3% in January. The March jobs report will be released tomorrow and included in the report this weekend. Home sales statistics are compiled and reported around the third week of the month for the previous month. These are February’s results. U.S. existing-home sales -The National Association of Realtors announced that the number of existing-home sales in February was 6.22 million on a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate. That marked a drop of 6.6% from January’s sales rate, but a 9.1% increase from February 2020, when sales totaled 5.70 million on a seasonally-adjusted annualized basis. One reason is that February has three fewer days (10% fewer days) than January and that the majority of February closings went under contract in December and January which has fewer openings due to the holidays. The median existing-home sales price in February was 15.8% higher than one year ago. That marked 108 straight months of year-over-year increases in the median price. Existing-home sales include all single-family, condominium, townhouse, and co-op sales. California existing home sales – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing, single-family home sales totaled 462,720 on an annualized basis in February. That represented a year-over-year increase of 9.7% from the 421,670 annualized rate of homes sold in January 2020. The median price paid for a home in California was $699,000, up 20.6% from the median price of $579,770 last February. Inventory levels were lower than one year ago. There was just a 2.0-month supply of homes for sale in February, down from a 3.6-month supply one year ago. Below please find a graph of regional statistics for Southern California.

Sports are coming back into full swing! Check out some fun (and mighty competitive) games to check out!

Dodger’s Opening Day

When: April 1, 2021  Location: Coors Field — Denver, Colorado
Live stream: fuboTV | TV: ESPN

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies will kick off their 2021 seasons at Coors Field on April 1. The reigning World Series champion Dodgers enter the year looking for their ninth consecutive NL West title, while the Rockies are looking to avoid falling into their third straight losing season.

Check out the rest of the opening day schedule, here!

 

NCAA Basketball Tournament: UCLA v Gonzaga Bulldogs

When: April 3, 2021 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Live stream: fuboTV | TV: ESPN

In the final four, UCLA will take on the undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs who are favored by 15 points. Grab some popcorn and sit at the edge of your seat as you watch this game on Saturday!

 

LA Kings Season In Full Swing

When: April 16, 2021 Location: Denver, Colorado

Live stream: fuboTV | TV: ESPN

The hockey season is in full swing and next up is LA Kings versus the Colorado Avalanche teams in Denver, Colorado! Watch the games live on TV or stream through fuboTV!

Check out these new releases in April. From the incredibly long-awaited season 4 of Handmaid’s Tale to Dolly Parton’s MusicCares Tribute, we have you covered in all things streaming.

Dolly Parton: A MusicCares Tribute

Where to Watch: Netflix

In a star-studded evening of music and memories, a community of iconic performers honors Dolly Parton as the MusiCares Person of the Year.

The Mosquito Coast

Where to Watch: Apple TV+

Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name, this gripping drama follows the dangerous journey of a radical idealist and brilliant inventor, Allie Fox (Justin Theroux), who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government.

Moneyball

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime

Frustrated that his baseball team can’t afford big-money players, the Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane, bets on a bold new strategy to change the game in this sports history drama.

The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 4

Where to Watch: Hulu

June (Elisabeth Moss) is a fierce rebel leader who strikes back at Gilead. But with risks come new and dangerous challenges in the hit Hulu series that starts streaming in April.

In today’s LA & Valley Eats, we’ve rounded up the absolute best desserts in Los Angeles. Do whatever you need to in order to make sure you have this list handy the next time an unexpected, sugar-coated craving comes along!

 

ICDC

7454 1/2 Beverly Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Yes, the doughnuts are delicious (especially the signature ICDC, a salted caramel doughnut topped with vanilla ice cream and finished with a shot of espresso poured over). But for our money, the chilled coffee float at this colorful hot spot is absolutely the way to go.

 

Cast & Plow

4375 Admiralty Way, 

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

If you’re in the mood for some campfire nostalgia, look no further than Cast & Plow’s chilled S’mores concoction. We hate to say this, but we think it’s actually better than the real thing.

 

Copenhagen Pastry

11113 Washington Blvd

Culver City, CA 90232

This Culver City spot serves up authentic Danish pastries that are as light and fluffy as they come. Trust us, you’ll never settle for the Starbucks version ever again.

 

Forage

3823 Sunset Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90026

Have you ever wished for a massive Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup? Well, it exists, and it’s served at Forage. Trust, this one is next level.

 

Porto’s Bakery

3614 W. Magnolia Blvd., 

Burbank, CA 91505

What started as a simple love of baking for Rosa Porto in a seaside town in Cuba turned into a 20,000-square foot catering facility in Los Angeles. Porto’s is a go-to for Cuban-style desserts, cakes, mousses, and just about anything else your sweet tooth is craving.

 

Carrara Pastries

28914 Roadside Dr Ste 107 

Agoura Hills, CA 91301

At Carrara’s, they believe that each and every one of their desserts represents who they are. They use only the finest and freshest ingredients to adhere to this standard so that they may deliver you an outstanding product that not only you, your friends, and your family will enjoy, but also something that they are proud of.

The more time you spend at home, the more problems you notice about your space. That tiny pile of clutter suddenly seems like a mountain; those dusty surfaces suddenly all you can think about. Luckily, you don’t have to spend all of your time cleaning to get your home pristine. With these easy home tips, you can get your home more organized, more efficient, and cleaner in no time—and keep it that way.

 

Tip #1: Have a “no shoes in the house” rule.

Instead of walking through your home wearing dirty shoes, giving you yet another thing to clean up, make sure to kick off your kicks at the front door. It’s particularly important for homes with wall-to-wall carpeting or rugs, which require a more involved cleaning process than hardwoods or tile.

 

Tip #2: Create a cleaning schedule.

If you find that you never seem to have time to clean your house, put it on your calendar and make it a standing event. Plan out your to-do list in sections of daily, weekly, and monthly chores to outline what needs to be done first.

 

Tip #3: Use a squeegee after you shower.

Want to keep your bathroom cleaner without spending hours scrubbing? Then it’s time to break out the squeegee. The mineral content of the shower water settles on the tiles, walls, and glass over time leaving hard-to-clean spots if you don’t wipe them away while they’re still wet. We suggest keeping your squeegee stored on a hook inside the shower

 

Tip #4: Put things away immediately instead of putting them down.

Instead of coming home and immediately setting your phone, wallet, and keys on the kitchen table, put things away where they go. If you can make that part of your daily routine, that’s a huge game-changer.

 

Tip #5: Give yourself the 20-minute test.

If you can’t neaten up a room in 20 minutes or less, you’ve likely got too much stuff in it. Set a stopwatch, time your clean-up, and if you’ve still got clutter once the clock runs out, it’s time to start giving things away or tossing them.

Check out these top restaurants that the local Los Angeles and Valley food critics are saying are the places to pick up from.

Broad Street Oyster Co. has emerged as one of the best restaurants during the pandemic, owing in no small part to the Malibu destination and drive-thru capabilities. Still, it’s hard (pandemic or not) to find laid-back seafood shack-style eats this great in Los Angeles, including what may be LA’s best lobster roll.

Pizzana

LA’s pizza game has been very strong lately, and this casual Brentwood restaurant takes the artform to new heights thanks to its detailed approach to Neapolitan pizza. But unlike many other pizza specialists, Pizzana isn’t afraid to play around with the medium, incorporating new techniques and flavor combinations that reflect the diversity of LA. Open for takeout and delivery.

Gish Bac

There are a bevy of excellent Oaxacan restaurants in Los Angeles thanks to influx of settlers from the 1990s, and Gish Bac might be the best of the bunch thanks to the work of chef and owner Maria Ramos. This Mid-City classic serves a bit of everything from Oaxaca, including a great tlayuda and delicious torta, but the star of the show is the goat barbacoa enchilada, slow cooked for five hours in guajillo chiles. Truly one of LA’s best regional Mexican restaurants. Everything is available for takeout and delivery.

Asanebo

During the pandemic, the only thing missing from the Asanebo experience is chef Tetsuya Nakao’s impeccable attention to detail and service. He’s still cranking out those unique specialties, and many that are perfect for take-out — although most won’t make it past sitting in the parking lot. Order the seafood sticks, halibut yuzu, and the beautiful toro carpaccio. —Mona Holmes

Mizlala

Danny Elmaleh and wife Justine opened this Middle Eastern restaurant in an unexpected Sherman Oaks slot serving reasonably priced small plates that display a wealth of flavor and cooking technique. The neighborhood has discovered the place too, with packed tables on many nights in the rather small space. It all adds to the charm, with Greek salad, falafel, hummus, and lamb shawarma as the menu highlights. The West Adams location has a smaller, more casual menu that excels nonetheless. Both are open for takeout and delivery.

Joy

Pine & Crane founder Vivian Ku has another casual winner in her second restaurant, Joy, which opened in Highland Park in 2018. With a very affordable menu of shrimp wontons, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, and minced pork over rice, Joy is a delicious Taiwanese restaurant that’s good enough to visit every week. Don’t forget the milk tea drinks, which might be the best in town with house made puddings and tapioca balls. It’s all terrific taken out or delivered, too.