Streaming: Quintessential Summer Movies

With many of us social distancing, staying home, and canceling our traveling plans, many of us were hoping things would have been back to normal by summertime. As the weather continues to heat up, however, we’ve begun to accept that summer is looking a little different this year. No matter what the next few months look like, there is plenty of streaming content available. From classics to the more recent hits, we have compiled a list to celebrate Summer 2020! 

The Endless Summer 

Where to watch: Tubi

It’s hard to imagine a more quintessential summer movie classic than Bruce Brown’s 1966 documentary The Endless Summer. So much of surfing culture was defined by this film, which follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August around the world. Brown’s movie captured surfing as it was, but also inspired a generation of surfers who followed. It might even have you craving some waves.

The Sandlot 

Where to watch: Hulu (with Starz)

Nothing beats the nostalgia of David Mickey Evans’ The Sandlot, about a group of boys playing baseball in the summer of 1962. It doesn’t matter if grew up in the ’60s (when the movie takes place) or in the ’90s (when the movie came out)—the coming-of-age story and the camaraderie among the kids will take you right back to the summer days of your youth, whenever that might have been. 

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 

Where to watch: Netflix

While it was released in the summer, John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off takes place during the school year—that’s kind of the whole point. But in watching Matthew Broderick’s Ferris play hooky and cram an absurd amount of action and fun into one day, we’re reminded of a message that’s more important than ever: Summer is a state of mind.

Adventureland 

Where to watch: Hulu (with Starz)

Greg Mottola’s coming-of-age dramedy takes place in the summer of 1987, at an amusement park that’s seen better days. Jesse Eisenberg stars as a recent high school graduate forced to skip his planned European vacation and get a summer job instead. While there are plenty of laughs, Adventureland offers a bittersweet look at star-crossed teenage love and nostalgic memories of a time when things were simpler—sometimes at the expense of safety regulations.

Jaws

Where to watch: HBO

Maybe you don’t want to go to the beach after all. You’ll certainly have second thoughts after revisiting Jaws, Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller about a shark wreaking havoc on fictional resort town Amity Island. Even 45 years after its release, Jaws remains a harrowing viewing experience that will have you afraid to dip your toes in the water for some time.

Home Tips: Security and Safety

It is important to audit your home every few months for potential dangers in regards to security and safety. We have compiled a checklist of things you can do to make your home safer for you and your family. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry!
LOCK UP YOUR HOME 
Often a burglar will enter through an unlocked door or open window. Sometimes you just run out for a short time. This creates an easy opportunity for a burglar.
CHECK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS 
Check all your doors and windows to make sure they all close and lock properly.
RE-KEY YOUR LOCKS

MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK OCCUPIED
Having lights, TVs, radios, etc turn on and off automatically will discourage burglars. Your home should appear occupied at all times. There are great light bulbs or plugins that you can purchase to set electrics on a timer.
LIGHTING
Keep porches and patios well lit. Burglars don’t want to be seen. Consider exterior lighting around all windows and doors. Consider motion detection systems.
SHRUBS & TREES
Trim shrubs and trees. They can help hide burglars.
LADDERS & OTHER TOOLS
Don’t store ladders and other tools outside. They can be used by burglars to break into your home.
DOGS
Dogs are the number one deterrent to burglars! They are your built-in security system!
ALARM
Install an alarm and use it. If your alarm doesn’t work properly repair it immediately. Let your neighbors know it’s been repaired. Frequent false alarms make neighbors ignore alarms.
WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
Talk to your neighbors. Keep an eye out for each other. Report and discuss suspicious people hanging around.
GET ID’S & CREDENTIALS
Don’t let anyone into your home without checking their ID. Burglars are often people that were invited in. That includes contractors, repair people, and even people purporting to work for government agencies. Don’t open your door for someone you don’t know.
THINK LIKE A BURGULAR
Walk around your home. See if you can break-in. Often you will discover some points of entry that make your home vulnerable.
NEWSPAPER & MAIL 
Have someone take in your paper and mail. Make sure your home doesn’t look like you are out of town.
KEEP PEOPLE FROM KNOWING YOU ARE AWAY 
Posting about that great vacation your on seems harmless, but often burglars monitor social media to see who is away.
BE CAREFUL OF WHO KNOWS YOU ARE AWAY
Even that driver who picks you up and takes you to the airport can have bad intentions. Have someone you know take you The fewer people that know you are on vacation the better.
PEOPLE ASKING FOR HELP
Never let someone in your home that comes to your door asking for help. Often they want to use your phone to call a mechanic or the police. Don’t fall for that. You can make the call for them if you believe them but never open the door.

Economic update for the week ending July 11, 2020

The NASDAQ closed the week at a record high – More economic data showing that the economy is recovering quicker that expected, despite a surge in Coronavirus cases, pushed stocks higher again this week. Although all sectors did well, technology stocks saw the highest gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 26,075.30, up 1% from 25,827.36 last week. It’s down 8.6% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,185.04, up 1.8% from 3,130.01 last week. It’s down 1.4% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,617.44, up 4% from 10,207.63 last week. It’s up 18.3% year to date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.65%, down from 0.68% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.33%, down from 1.43% last week.

Mortgage rates – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on July 9, 2020, reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.03%, down slightly from 3.07% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.51%, down slightly from 2.56% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.02%, almost unchanged from 3.00% last week.

Housing sales results for June should be out by the end of next week. That data will be included in next week’s update.

Summer Vacation by Boat: Catalina Island 

Catalina Island, also known as Santa Catalina, is just 29 miles from Long Beach. The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles wide. Catalina has a rich history– especially in Hollywood. The island has served as the location of over 500 motion pictures and television programs over the past 90 years. It’s been a Hollywood celebrity favorite since 1911 due to its close proximity to Los Angeles. In 1975, descendants of Catalina Island owner, William Wrigley (a chewing gum entrepreneur), deeded 42,000 acres of Catalina Island to the Catalina Island Conservancy with a mission to conserve the island for a balance of conservation, education, and recreation. 

HOW TO GET THERE: 

Most visitors use The Catalina Express. They depart from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Newport Beach. There are departures throughout the day and it’s a one-hour boat trip. The cost of a general seating set is just $37.25 each way. You can also charter a private boat or fly over by way of a helicopter (a 10-minute flight) out of Long Beach. 

WHAT TO DO: 

Beaches

Catalina has great beaches throughout. Perhaps the most famous is the Descanso Beach and Descanso Beach Club which offers comfortable beach chairs and beachside food and beverage service! 

Water Sports 

All water sports are open during this time. You can parasail, rent a jet ski, go paddleboarding, kayaking, and more!  

Zip Line Eco Tour

Here you can soar above the sea while you cruise along high-speed zip lines and enjoy views of Descanso Canyon. You will also learn about Catalina’s wildlife, history, and ecology along your zip line adventure. 

Boat Tours 

Whether you go whale watching, take a glass-bottom boat, go for a coastal or Ecological tour, Catalina has an adventure for you! 

Fishing Charters 

Catalina’s coves and reefs provide a fantastic fishing habitat. Fishing is great year-round, but the summer brings warmer waters, and Yellow Tail, Tuna, and Marlin are abundant!

Golf

Would you believe that Catalina has the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi? The Catalina Island Country Club and Golf Course was originally built in 1892. This course meanders through the Catalina canyons and down to the ocean. It’s stunning views of Avalon Bay make this course a favorite! If you have the family with you, they have a local outdoor mini-golf course that is ALWAYS a hit! 

Hiking and Biking

There are more than 165 miles of trails. You can go for an easy walk, or pick a difficult hike or ride. The wildlife, views, and terrain are stunning. 

WHERE TO STAY: 

Hotels are abundant as are private condominiums. The boutique hotels are charming, and the private condos (especially in Hamilton Cove) are stunning. Hamilton Cove feels as if you were whisked away to Santorini, Greece! 

There is so much to do and see you could easily spend a week or more here, but many people also opt for the day trip. It is easy to grab the ferry from the harbor at 830AM and head home at 430PM. Whether it’s just for the day, or you’re going to recharge and spend some time enjoying the island Catalina is a must this summer.

Streaming: Broadway at Home

A night at the theatre (at home) has never been more convenient! Hamilton recently released on Disney+, and it has been all of the buzz across all generations as of late. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite Broadway Shows to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Hamilton 

Available on Disney+.

Filmed on the stage of the Richard Rodgers Theatre in June 2016, the live capture of the Pulizter- and Tony-winning musical was slated for an October 2021 theatrical release—until COVID-19 preempted that plan, resulting in the movie dropping on Disney+ July 3. After five years of buzz, the streamed version—featuring creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony winners Leslie Odom Jr. and Renée Elise Goldsberry, and most of the original cast—lived up to fans’ expectations, and created another wave of Hamilton frenzy.

 

Rent 

Amazon Prime, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube, iTunes, and Google Play.

Jonathan Larson’s Rent updates the story of Puccini’s La Boheme, setting it in New York City’s East Village. As most theatre fans know, it made a splash on Broadway, and the level of devotion its biggest fans carried had never really been seen before. It was the first major Broadway show to offer rush tickets, and fans would camp out overnight to get inexpensive front row tickets. The production won four 1996 Tony Awards including Best Musical, along with the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It enjoyed a run of 12 years and over 5,000 performances.

Cats 

Available on BroadwayHD, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Google Play.

Once Broadway’s longest-running musical, everybody has an opinion on this Andrew Lloyd Webber show, but what can’t be denied is that Cats is like almost no other musical to ever play the Main Stem. Based on a book of poetry by T.S. Eliot, Cats is about… well, cats! The production features an iconic costume and set design by John Napier, legendary makeup design by Candace Carell, fabulous choreography by Gillian Lynne, and of course the anthem “Memory,” one of the more successful songs to come from a musical in the last 40 years.

Kiss Me Kate

Available on Amazon Prime, BroadwayHD and Google Play, and on DVD from Amazon.

With a classic Cole Porter score that includes such tunes as “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “So in Love,” “Too Darn Hot,” “Always True to You in My Fashion,” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” Kiss Me, Kate became an almost instant classic when it debuted on Broadway in 1948. The 1999 Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Revival, directed by Michael Blakemore, choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and Rob Ashford, and starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie. The 2019 revival starred Will Chase and Kelli O’Hara.

Into the Woods

Available on YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, iTunes, and DVD on Amazon.

Before it was a hit movie starring Meryl Streep and James Corden, Into the Woods was one of Sondheim’s most successful Broadway shows. It’s still one of the most produced works at schools and regional theatres across the country. This mash-up of fairytales that dares to go beyond “happily ever after” is one of Sondheim’s most accessible works, and has certainly been the Sondheim entry point for more than a few theatre fans, largely due to the video of the original Broadway production with the original Broadway cast, including Bernadette Peters and Joanna Gleason in her Tony-winning performance.

Valley Eats: Al Fresco Dining

In the wake of recent news, restaurants in numerous counties in California are shutting down their indoor dining operations. Restaurants are exclusively open to take out and outdoor dining. We have rounded up a list of restaurants that are open for business for a fun al fresco dining experience. Please make sure that upon arrival, you assess the restaurant’s compliance with the guidelines to align with your comfortability. Happy eating! 

Kings Fish House – Calabasas 

With seafood, there’s so much to be passionate about- the freshness, the flavor, the variety, and the surprise. To create the ultimate seafood experience, the creators of Kings Fish House traveled down the highways and byways. The pleasure of preparing and sharing seafood was simple and genuine to these chefs and they are very clear about that in the dining experience they offer. 

Vino Wine & Tapas Room – Encino 

Vino Wine and Tapas Room Restaurant, a European-style wine tasting restaurant in the heart of San Fernando Valley, California (Encino, Ventura Blvd), offers a delicious alternative to the same old dining experience and more than 100 wines into the establishment, which diners can pair with myriad cheeses and tapas.

Hom Italian Eatery – Woodland Hills 

H.O.M. has a double meaning. Everything is homemade. From the regional kinds of pasta to the dough for the pizza. Their intention is to make you feel right at home, hence the name. They are the same family that introduced Da Pasquale and House of Meatballs and are now introducing an upscale casual Italian Eatery nestled in the heart of Woodland Hills.

The Tipsy Cow – Sherman Oaks

Tipsy Cow is a contemporary American restaurant and bar. The restaurant is self-described as being an “eclectic urban eating house” with a deep and interesting beer list as well as a large selection of craft cocktails utilizing all manner of spirits. While the majority of the menu there is made up of fresh Californian cuisine like tarragon deviled eggs, short rib poutine, and blue crab dip, the menu’s centerpiece is definitely the burgers.

The Sunset – Malibu 

The Sunset Restaurant is located on a beautiful stretch of Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. As you drive up to the secluded restaurant location, the first thing you notice is the breathtaking ocean views and magnificent Pacific horizons. Situated a few steps from the waves, and the passerby whales, The Sunset offers a unique setting unmatched in Southern California.

LA Eats: Al Fresco Dining 

In the wake of recent news, restaurants in numerous counties in California are shutting down their indoor dining operations. Restaurants are exclusively open to take out and outdoor dining. We have rounded up a list of restaurants that are open for business for a fun al fresco dining experience. Please make sure that upon arrival, you assess the restaurant’s compliance with the guidelines to align with your comfortability. Happy eating! 

Cecconis – West Hollywood 

Cecconi’s serves hand-made pasta, seafood and dishes from Italy using the finest ingredients. Cecconi’s is a modern-day classic Italian restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Polo Lounge @ Beverly Hills Hotel – Beverly Hills 

The Polo Lounge has been the favorite breakfast spot and watering hole for generations of stars and Hollywood deal-makers. Guests enjoy indoor and outdoor seating for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and late-night suppers. Lunch and dinner are served with piano accompaniment. The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel is a classic in Los Angeles and a must for meetings, lunch, or dinner.

 

Perch – DTLA 

Perched on a rooftop, this downtown restaurant, and bar located in the financial district serving delicious food, handcrafted drinks, and amazing views of Los Angeles. 

 

The Sunset – Malibu 

The Sunset Restaurant is located on a beautiful stretch of Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. As you drive up to the secluded restaurant location, the first thing you notice is the breathtaking ocean views and magnificent Pacific horizons. Situated a few steps from the waves, and the passerby whales, The Sunset offers a unique setting unmatched in Southern California.

 

Pizzeria Mozza – Hollywood 

Pizzeria Mozza is a bustling, urban burst of flavor and color. Pizzeria Mozza is a perfect atmosphere – whether it be a business lunch or late-night snack. The wine bar provides a vibrant venue for sampling wines from a list with a selection of Italian wines, but don’t forget about the ample offering of antipasti, salumi, and pizza.

Economic update for the week ending July 4, 2020

Employers added 4.8 million jobs in June – The Department of Labor and Statistics reported that 4.8 million new jobs were added in June. That eclipsed analysts’ expectations of 2.9 million new jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 11.1% from 13.3% in May. It was 14.7% in April, the highest reading since the Great Depression, so the last two months have shown a very positive trend.

Stocks rose sharply on jobs data – Despite a sharp uptick in Coronavirus cases, and a pausing and scaling back of the reopening of the economy, major stock market indexes rallied all week. This was due to positive payroll data and the June jobs report which confirmed that over 4.5 million workers returned to work in June. The Dow had its best second quarter since 1987 gaining 17.8%, as investors believe the recovery will be quicker than previously expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,827.36, up 3.2% from 25,015.55 last week. It’s down 9.5% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,130.01, up 4% from 3,009.05 last week. It’s down 3.1% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,207.63, up 4.6% from 9,757.22 last week. It’s up 13.8% year to date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.68%, up slightly from 0.64% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.43%, up slightly from 1.37% last week.

Mortgage rates – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on July 2, 2020, reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.07%, down from 3.13% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.56%, down slightly from 2.59% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.00%, down from 3.08% last week.

Wishing you a happy, healthy 4th of July!

Economic update for the month ending June 30, 2020

Economic update for the month ending June 30, 2020
Stock markets – June featured major weekly shifts in stock markets. Fueled with a better than expected May jobs report, and the largest monthly gain in retail sales ever, stocks soared at the beginning of the month. By the third week of June, the country began to see a spike in coronavirus cases, which caused many states to pause the speed of the re-opening of their economy, and some states even scaled back and closed some sectors that had recently reopened. Investors sold off stocks and stock markets lost most of their gains from earlier in the month, but still closed higher. The Nasdaq closed the month at a record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,812.88, up 1.7% from 25,383.11 last month. It’s down 10% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the month at 3,100.29, up 1.8% from 3,044.31 last month. It’s down 3.8% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 10,058.87, up 6.0% from 9,489.87 last month. It’s up 12.2% year to date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the month yielding 0.66%, almost unchanged from 0.65% last month. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the month at 1.41%, unchanged from 1.41% last month.

Mortgage rates dropped again this week – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on June 25, 2020, reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.13% down slightly from 3.15% last month. The 15-year fixed was 2.59%, down from 2.63% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.08% down from 3.13% last month.

Employers added 2.5 million jobs in May – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that the economy added 2.5 million net jobs in May. That marked an all-time record for jobs added in one month. The unemployment rate in May was 13.3%. While that marked an improvement from April’s 14.7% unemployment rate, it’s still much higher than at the peak of the Great Recession. Economists had expected the unemployment rate to be 20%, so this beat all expectations and stocks surged. It should be noted that the unemployment rate was 3.5% three months ago! Most of the job gains came from re-hiring of employees that had been laid off by companies forced to close and have now begun to reopen. While some experts questioned the methods of how the numbers were calculated, they all agreed that employers are hiring back workers faster than expected. The June figures will be released Friday and will appear on Saturday’s report.

Home sales figures are released in the third week of the month for the previous month. These are May’s home sales data.

California existing home sales – The California Association of Realtors announced that existing home sales totaled 238,740 on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis. As expected that was down 41.4% of the number of homes sold last May. May sales consist mostly of homes that went under contract and in escrow in March and April when it was not permitted to even show home in some cities. Fortunately, since May pending sales, homes that went under contract, have increased. The median price paid for a home in California decreased by 3.7% year over year from last May. That marked the first year over year decrease in almost a decade. Experts were not surprised by this, as many of these sales represented people that either bought homes virtually, or viewed homes in person against city ordinances. Fortunately, those ordinances changed in the third week of April, and in person, showings became permissible with safety restrictions statewide. Once that happened pending sales increased sharply. On a regional basis Los Angeles County saw a 1.4% increase in the median price, Ventura County saw a 3.1% increase, and Orange County saw a 1.2% drop in the median price from last May’s level. We are expecting the median price increases to be higher next month judging by the pending sales.

California Pending Home Sales – Leslie Appleton Young the chief economist and VP of The California Association of Realtors announced that pending sales increased 67% in May from April’s pending sales figures. Pending sales are new contracts signed and reported to MLS systems. They take on average 30-60 days to close. May’s existing-home sales marked a historic low number, down over 41% of the number of homes sold last May. Fortunately, judging by the number of pending sales, June and July’s existing sales numbers will be significantly higher, and much closer to last year’s figures.

Streaming: Fourth of July Fireworks

Every year, we feature the best places to watch fireworks in our area for the Fourth of July. Firework shows that normally would be open are closed and canceled due to increased cases of COVID-19. This year, stay safe and enjoy fireworks in the safety (and comfort) of your home on TV!

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

A Capitol Fourth | PBS 

WHEN: July 4th @ 5PM PST

HOW TO WATCH: A Capitol Fourth is broadcast on PBS and can also be heard on NPR member stations nationwide and via the American Forces Network to U.S. troops serving around the world. This 40th annual event features a star-studded concert event and fireworks that go off above the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event is covered from 20 cameras positioned around D.C., ensuring viewers are front and center for the greatest display of fireworks in the nation. 

Macy’s 4th Of July Fireworks | NBC

WHEN: July 4th @ 5PM PST 

HOW TO WATCH: This event is broadcast live on NBC. For those who don’t have a television or cable subscription, NBC can be streamed online. This year’s event is slated to look a little different. Rather than a single 25-minute show on Independence Day, Macy’s will instead hold several unannounced, smaller fireworks displays across New York City’s five boroughs. The smaller displays, held June 29-July 4, are meant to reduce crowds and encourage social distancing. The mini displays will build-up to this televised finale July 4 featuring the Empire State Building.

Boston Fireworks, Fourth of July Fireworks & Pops | Bloomberg TV 

WHEN: July 4th @ 5PM PST 

HOW TO WATCH: The event will be broadcast on Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio. This July 4, the Boston Pops will present “A Boston Pops Salute to Our Heroes” to pay tribute to COVID-19 front-line workers and honor those who have lost their lives during the current health crisis. The event can only be watched on television, radio, or and digital media; no live performance will take place. The event will feature newly created content from the Boston Pops and guest artists, as well as traditional Fourth of July favorites and other highlights from recent broadcasts of The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.

Rancho Cucamonga Chaffey College | Facebook Live 

WHEN: July 4th @ 9PM PST

HOW TO WATCH: The event will physically take place in the Rancho community– There are actually no spectators allowed on campus. If you are physically close, look at the sky towards Chaffey College, or you can stream it on their Facebook Live at @CityofRanchoCucamonga if you are not in an area with a clear view of the show.

Tustin Fourth of July Fireworks | Tustin4thofJuly.com

WHEN: July 4th @ 9PM PST

HOW TO WATCH: The event will physically take place at Tustin High School. However, it is encouraged to watch from your homes if you are close, or online at their website Tustin4thofJuly.com.