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Echo Park Lake is already a great place for a picnic (or a makeout sesh), and Wi-Fi-equipped. What more does it need? That’s right: a floating library. Wish granted, Los Angeles! Starting Thursday, February 11 and running until Sunday, February 14, those creative folks over at Machine Project (MP) have teamed up with a Minnesota-based artist to put “a collection of artist-made books and printed matter on a raft” on the lake, says a release from MP.

Article courtesy of Curbed LA

L.A. offers an incredible number of excellent destinations for craft beer, featuring increasingly local brews and delicious craft options from across the country and around the world. From special releases and tap takeovers to seasonal and rare pours, these are our favorite bars for beer around town.

VERDUGO BAR

This Glassell Park outpost offers an extensive selection of quality brews from home and abroad and a spacious beer garden-like patio to soak up the sun and suds. They offer 22 regularly rotating taps, as well as a nicely stocked fridge with an excellent bottle selection to stay or go. They also frequently host special release parties (Pliny the Younger!) and glassware giveaways on Monday nights (one per customer, while they last), and a great happy hour with $2 off draft beer, well drinks and wine (Monday through Friday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.). Settle into a cozy booth with a pint or tulip glass and enjoy some jams from the DJ booth or head to the patio where there’s often a food truck set up at their convenient service window. You can also buy your drinking buddy a gift card. Or sign yourself up for their beer passport, which entitles you to beer discounts and release party invites once you collect all of the stamps for over 70 breweries at Verdugo, or its sister bars, Surly Goat, Little Bear and Blind Donkey—all of which are also great places to go for beer.

Verdugo Bar is located at 3408 Verdugo Road, Glassel Park, (323) 257-3408.

SUNSET BEER COMPANY

Not only does this Echo Park beer mecca offer an amazing, often-changing selection of craft beers on tap, but their fridges and shelves are stocked with hundreds of bottles and cans, featuring special releases and hard-to-find breweries. Whether you’re in search of an obscure release or are in need of a bit of guidance, the staff is really helpful without being snobby. Order a pour from their taps or select any of the beers from the fridge and pay the $2 corkage fee to enjoy on one of the comfy chairs or play a board game with friends. You can also bring in food to chow while you drink. They frequently host tap takeovers and special releases—sometimes with live music or brewers. And if you wish to take something to go, you can mix-and-and match your own selections from the fridges. You also might want to sign up for their newsletteror follow them on Facebook to find out about upcoming releases.

Sunset Beer Company is located at 1498 Sunset Boulevard, Echo Park. (213) 481-2337.

UNCLE HENRY’S DELI

For dedicated beer lovers and locals alike, this decades-old, family-run deli is a hidden gem. The tiny Uncle Henry’s Deli blows most bigger establishments away with a whopping 105 craft beers on tap and over 300 rare and specialty bottles and 6-packs available to go. They also regularly host tap takeovers featuring craft breweries and “Steal the Pint” nights where you can take home the glass when you buy a select beer. And let’s not forget about the deli component of Uncle Henry’s. From cold cut sandwiches to French dips, to the hot dogs and deli salads, you really can’t go wrong. And if you’re really hungry, upgrade your sandwich to the massive, double-decker Baby Bomber option.

Uncle Henry’s Deli is located at 7400 Florence Avenue, Downey, (562) 927-0114.

BARREL DOWN

You can hit up Seven Grand for whiskey, but if beer’s what you’re in the mood for, try Barrel Down. This relatively new spot offers 40 taps, flowing with a wide variety of craft beer, plus bottles. They have several beers that are always on tap, plus a rotating selection of more season and unique brews. They also have a full bar with a selection of craft cocktails, as well as a menu of American comfort food. We like the fried chicken sandwich. During happy hour, which is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., you can get select beers for $5, select cocktails for $7, carafes of wine for $14 and deals on share plates. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Barrel Down is located at 525 W 7th Street in downtown L.A., (213) 232-8657.

TONY’S DARTS AWAY

This Burbank beer bastion delivers sweet hoppy nectar from 38 rotating taps of excellent, California-only craft beer. On Tuesday night’s they host weekly beer-centric events including tap takeovers, mystery flight nights and special beer release parties. You can also order up some delicious bites to pair with your brews, including tons of both vegan and carnivorous options, and great sausages for both. The cozy neighborhood joint also offers a pool table, darts and board games and a nice, little patio for great day drinking. You’ll also want to hit them up on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for craft beermosas and solid brunch fare.

Tony’s Darts Away is located at 1710 W Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank, (818) 253-1710

BONEYARD BISTRO

With over 42 taps and over 125 craft and reserve bottles, Boneyard Bistro offers an impressively diverse selection of first-rate beers. You can enjoy many of the draught beers as 16 ounce or 14 ounce pours, or 4 ounce samplers—with the exception of some stronger brews—and they feature a rotating choice of flights. Their slow-cooked barbecue is also worth investigating and they frequently host tasting menus paired with craft beers, and happy hour Monday to Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with 25% off draft and bottled beer.

Boneyard Bistro is located at 13539 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, (818) 906-7427.

GLENDALE TAP

With peanut shells covering the floor, vintage beer signs and old cans lining the wall and a bar made from an old bowling lane from Chicago, there’s plenty of charm at this laid-back neighborhood spot. But don’t be fooled, they’re serious when it comes to craft beer. With 52 taps of thoughtfully-curated, constantly rotating, and often hard-to-find pours, Glendale Tap is a beer nerds haven—and they’re happy to pour you a sample to help you find the right selection for you. And let’s not forget about their extensive bottle list featuring rare and seasonal options, and frequent special release nights. While you won’t find a gourmet burger here, they will heat you up a pretzel for $3 and the peanuts are free, so that should tide you over. And there’s a couple of pool tables to pass the time while you sip all of that great beer.

Glendale Tap is located at 4227 San Fernando Road, Glendale, (818) 241-4227.

BIERGARTEN

Biergarten, at any point in time, has 25 beers on draft, as well as some bottled and canned options. The menu consists of bar food that often skews either German or Korean, such as fusion burgers, sausages, wings, Korean tacos, poutine, German fried rice and crispy pig
knuckle. We suggest going during happy hour, which is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m, when you can get a pitcher of certain beers for $19 and deals on select menu items. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Biergarten is located at 206 N. Western Avenue in Koreatown, (323) 466-4869.

SOUTHLAND BEER

Southland Beer is one of our favorite local spots. Hidden in the corner of a strip mall in Koreatown, you can find a collection of 20 rotating, unique brews here from both regional companies like Three Weavers, Golden Road and Bottle Logic, as well as beers from across the country (we just spotted a porter from Michigan’s Founders Brewing Co.). This casual neighborhood hangout offers communal seating where you can play board games and find a simple array of snacks including cheese plates, sausages, popcorn and desserts. There’s also a cooler in the back where you can purchase brews to-go, or drink them at the bar with a small corkage fee. Happy hour is from open to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from open until 5 p.m. on weekends, and includes no corkage fees on bottles and cans, plus select deals on snacks. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Southland Beer is located at 740 S. Western Avenue, #112 in Koreatown, (213) 908-5104.

LUCKY BALDWIN’S

Named for a California real estate speculator, this British pub in Old Town Pasadena offers fish ‘n chips and other British fare, but also a vast selection of tasty beers. They have 63 beers on tap, plus bottles, and also hold celebrations for European drinking festivals. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and features $4 select pints, $6 select goblets and $5 select appetizers. They’re also open for breakfast! —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Lucky Baldwin’s is located at 17 S. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena, (626) 795-0652.

38 DEGREES

With 38 beers on tap and over 200 in bottles and cans, this institution has earned a loyal following of beer nerds. The helpful and beer-versed staff at both the Alhambra and Monrovia locations are always happy to pour samples and if you can’t make up your mind, and you can always go for a flight. They frequently host special beer release events featuring seasonal and rare options, and they recently hosted a bottle share day, where attendees brought their favorite brews to share with other participants. There’s also a great selection of food at 38 Degrees from hearty fare to lighter, healthier options.

38 Degrees is located at 100 W. Main Street, Alhambra, (626) 282-2038; and 110 E. Colorado Boulevard, Monrovia, (626) 408-5544.

ASHLAND HILL

This relatively new Santa Monica spot offers a wonderfully spacious patio where you can enjoy their excellent rotating selection of locally brewed craft, as well as top brews from across the country and the globe. Grab a seat in the tree-lined beer garden and consult one of the beer-knowledgeable waitstaff about the latest taps. You’re also going to want to get familiar with their food menu, which includes tasty bites perfect for sipping and sharing, like the loco moco with pork sausage and kimchi rice or the charred shishito mac ‘n cheese. Sit back and enjoy the sunshine for a day drinking session or get cozy under a heat lamp for those cool L.A. nights.

Ashland Hill is located at 2807 Main Street, Santa Monica, (310) 392-3300.

NAJA’S PLACE

This no-frills South Bay dive has been pleasing hopheads for over 30 years and offers an impressive line-up of 88 taps with excellent beers from near and far. They also often have tap takeovers and host beer festivals throughout the year that focus on a particular variety like sours and IPAs. Naja’s also has a great jukebox, frequent live bands and two pool tables, but a major draw is the great view of the King Harbor Marina. While the fried food is passable for soaking up the alcohol, keep an eye out for the roving taco cart if you’re in need of a bite. And if Naja’s gets too crowded or you’re looking for more great beer selection, we strongly recommend heading over to Select Beer Store, not far down the road.

Naja’s Place is located at 154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, (310) 376-9951.

BLUE PALMS

Though you’ll be hard pressed to get a seat if there’s a show about to happen at The Fonda, this beer bar and restaurant offers a great selection of interesting brews and hearty bar food. They have 24 taps, plus canned and bottled beer. The selection is usually quite varied, with plenty of options for those who enjoy things other than IPAs and pale ales. Food-wise, it’s a hearty selection of sandwiches, greasy burgers, wings, salads and both traditional and vegan sausages. On Wednesday, score half-off canned craft beer, and on Tuesdays you can get $4 pints, assuming there isn’t a show next door and it’s not a special event. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Blue Palms is located at 6124 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, (323) 464-2337.

BEER BELLY

Though never a shortage of places to drink in Koreatown, Beer Belly is the best spot for anyone dipping their toes into the world of craft beer. They’ve even held “Craft For Crap” nights, where people can bring in “crap” beer and get a craft for a penny. No more than two-dozen craft brews will be on tap or available in bottles, making the selection process a little less intimidating. And even though it’s a limited selection at any given time, it’s always in rotation. Feel free to ask your waiter which beer goes best paired with their famous duck fat fries, or even the duck French dip. —Carman Tse

Beer Belly is located at 532 S. Western Avenue, in Koreatown. (213) 387-2337. A new location is coming soon to Long Beach.

MELODY LOUNGE

Stepping into this space, dimly lit by a number of Chinese lanterns, reveals a comfortable lounge with 24 beers on tap and a few bottles in the cooler. They do not serve hard liquor. It’s a perfectly pleasant place for a post-work hangout, but can really pick up (and get noisy) if they have a DJ—typically spinning vinyl—or music event at night. They don’t serve food here, but feel free to pick up something to much on at any of the nearby eateries. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes $1 off drafts. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Melody Lounge is located at 939 N Hill Street in Chinatown, (213) 625-2823.

STOUT

When you’re in the mood for a quality burger-and-a-beer, Stout is the obvious choice. With outposts in Hollywood, Studio City and Santa Monica, each location offers a wide variety of craft brews and wine, on top of a hearty bar food menu. They’ve got hefty burgers for the hungry, made with either medium rare beef, organic ground chicken or quinoa veggie patties. They also offer suggestions as to which beer would best pair with each sandwich or burger. —Juliet Bennett Rylah

Stout is located at 1544 N. Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, (323) 469-3801; 11262 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, (818) 505-0076; and 111 Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, (310) 260-8679.

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Offering two dozen taps—16 of which rotate regularly—and an extensive offering of bottles and cans, Public School is a great place to go to study up on your favorite beers. Each location has in-house beer experts who are always ready with recommendations and who curate the offerings with special releases from local brewers as well as those further afield. You can also share large bottles of limited edition brews with their “Study Group” selection. Each location also offers great happy hour deals. And whether you need a small bite or a tasty burger to tide you over, their food selection is really solid.

Public School has multiple locations.

FATHER’S OFFICE

Some call the burger overrated and others laud it as the one that launched a million ‘gourmet’ burgers across Los Angeles. Whatever your feelings, there are fewer pleasures as satisfying as a good time at Father’s Office with good company. Chef Sang Yoon’s decadent gastropub fare is always a delight, and there are dozens upon dozens of international and rare beers to go with whatever you’re having, whether it’s the roasted bone marrow, beet salad or, heck, even that burger.

Father’s Office is located at 1018 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, and 3229 Helms Avenue near Culver City, (310) 736-2224.

Steep losses in financial, technology and other companies sent U.S. stocks sharply lower in midday trading Monday. The decline followed drops in Europe and set the market on course for its second big loss in a row. Crude oil prices slumped again.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 308 points, or 1.9%, to 15,897 as of 12:25 p.m. Eastern time, but that was up from a loss of more than 375 points earlier in the day. The Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 34 points, or 1.8%, to 1,845. The Nasdaq composite dropped 91 points, or 2.1%, to 4,271.

“Traders are worried that the financial market weakness that we’re experiencing is going to lead to weakness in the real economy,” said Jim McDonald, chief investment strategist at Northern Trust Wealth Management.

TURBULENT MARKET: Several factors have investors in a selling mood this year, including falling crude oil prices and the economic slowdown in China and elsewhere. Traders will be monitoring several big companies’ earnings this week to see what management teams say about their prospects for future earnings.

SECTOR VIEW: All 10 sectors in the S&P 500 index lost ground. Banks and other financial companies fell the most: 3%. Consumer discretionary, technology and materials stocks also fell sharply.

SHARED PAIN: Credit Suisse Group AG slid 5% on news that the bank’s new chief executive has asked for his bonus to be cut after a report of a huge fourth-quarter loss and plans for 4,000 job cuts. The stock shed 75 cents, putting it at $14.20.

ROUGH QUARTER: Cognizant Technology Solutions sank 6.8% after forecasting earnings and revenue that were well below what analysts were expecting. The stock shed $3.98, reaching $54.56.

IN TROUBLE: Harman International Industries was down 4.8% on news that a former executive at the car audio and video systems’ maker has been charged with insider trading by federal prosecutors. The stock fell $3.40 to $67.29.

GOING PRIVATE: Apollo Education Group vaulted 24.5% after agreeing to be acquired by a consortium led by the Vistria Group, an investment firm. The firm aims to take the for-profit college operator private. The stock gained $1.70 to $8.65.

MARKETS OVERSEAS: Among Europe’s main indexes, Germany’s DAX fell 3.3%, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 3.2%. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares slid 2.7%. In Asia, many markets wereclosed for the Lunar New Year holidays. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1.1%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was flat.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 62 cents, or 2%, to $30.27 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, was down 61 cents, or 1.8%, to $33.45 a barrel in London.

BONDS AND CURRENCIES: Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.77% from 1.84% late Friday. The euro was up at $1.1168, and the dollar fell to 115.75 yen.

 

Article courtesy of the LA Times Business

U.S. Employers add 151,000 jobs in January – Unemployment rate drops to 4.9% – The Labor Department reported Friday that employers added 151,000 non-farm jobs in January. This was well below the 190,000 expected, which could signal slowing overseas has finally affected employer confidence. A robust 4th quarter of job growth in 2015 showed that employers’s confidence had not been affected by slowing overseas. Perhaps that is about to change is the feeling of some analysts. Others were encouraged by stronger growth in the manufacturing sector than expected and shrugged off the lower number as offsetting stronger than expected job growth over the last few months, and offsetting some temporary holiday seasonal jobs lost. We will see which analysts are right in the coming months. Hourly wages rose showing a 2.5% annual increase in January. This was the most positive part of the report. The unemployment rate also fell from 5% in December to 4.9% in January, its lowest level in 8 years.

Stocks sell off following U.S. jobs report – Stocks sold off on Friday following the announcement of a disappointing jobs report. The dollar also strengthened after falling earlier in the week. The strong dollar is a concern for companies that sell products overseas. Oil prices also dropped which had risen over the past two weeks. All in all not great news for investors, yet the drop over the past week was not very much. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Friday at 16,204.97, down from 16,466.30 last week. TheS&P 500 closed the week at 1,880.05, down from 1,940.24 last week. The NASDAQ closed Friday at 4,363.14, down from 4,613.95 last week.

Bond yields drop – The 10 year U.S. Treasury bond yield closed Friday at 1.84%, significantly lower than 1.94% last week. The 30 year U.S. Treasury bond yield closed Friday at 2.67%, down from 2.75% last week.

Mortgage rates at lowest levels in 2 years – Uncertainty has caused investors to move money into lower returning safer investments like U.S. treasury bonds and mortgage securities. At the same time central banks around the world have dropped rates. Our bond and mortgage security rates, while historically low, offer a decent return comparatively. This has continued to push rates lower. The 30 year fixed rates below loan amounts of 419,000 are around 3.625%. 30 year rates for loans above 419,000 are about 3.875%. The 15 year fixed was around 3.10%. The 5 year was around 2.625%.

The real estate market seems to be in full swing! I’m seeing more listings come out, but they are selling so quickly, if priced right, that our historically low inventory levels seem to be here to stay. That is driving prices up, yet not at the levels seen a couple of years ago. I’d expect most of the years price appreciation to occur in the next few months, and prices should level off in late summer as they did last year. Interest rates are at the lowest levels in a couple of years, which are close the lowest rates in decades. If you are buying, buy now! If you are not buying, you should! If you are going to move up, I’d do it now! If you haven’t been thinking of moving up, you should!

Have a great weekend!

17501 Ventura Boulevard, Encino | 818 285-3688 | CarolWolfe.com | Carol@CarolWolfe.com

An icon in San Fernando Valley real estate, broker associate Carol Wolfe’s slogan is “Nobody Does it Better.” For more than four decades she has been striving to provide real estate clients with an unparalleled level of service—based on integrity, honesty and a commitment to excellence. She is a licensed broker, a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), e-Pro, Architectural Specialist and Certified Negotiator. Carol specializes in properties throughout the San Fernando Valley, especially Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Woodland Hills and Calabasas.

In 2015 Carol had another record-breaking year, once again ranking among the top agents at Rodeo Realty and the #1 agent for Rodeo Realty throughout the San Fernando Valley. Carol and Rodeo Realty are associated with the largest recognized luxury networks, and these affiliations position Carol as a luxury leader for marketing high-end properties internationally. With the ability to specifically target exclusive Asian and European markets, Carol and Rodeo Realty utilize the latest technology and resources to increase global exposure.

Carol is an active member of the Encino Chamber of Commerce and supports the local community. She and her husband, Bruce, a real estate developer, have two children: daughter, Alex, who works with Carol, and son, Adam, a computer consultant. When she’s not working, Carol enjoys traveling and spending time with her two grandchildren: David, 5, and Eden, 3.

What does it take to be the best in the real estate business?

“What I bring to the table is outstanding client representation, detailed market knowledge and high-tech marketing solutions. I have always been on the cutting edge of technology. I am very good at negotiating the best price for my clients and great at problem-solving. Another thing that makes me successful is the great relationships I have with other REALTORS®. I’m known to be very cooperative and easy to work with.”

What’s one trend that is defining the real estate industry today?

“Transactions have gotten more complex over the years, and there are often many difficulties. Many of my clients have expressed a desire to work with me because they trust that things will be handled with expertise and the utmost professionalism. My clients often include referrals from business managers, attorneys, CPAs, real estate agents and past clients.” 

What’s most rewarding about your work?

“The many friendships I’ve made. To have clients thank me in the end for a job well done and refer me to their friends and families is the best reward. It’s extremely rewarding to work with my clients, gain their trust, guide them through one of the most important transactions of their life and deliver beyond expectations.”

What would you like potential clients to know about you?

“I will take good care of them; they have chosen the best agent in the area. I will work relentlessly to make sure my clients get the best possible results.”

Tell us what your clients are saying about you.

“One example is Robert Bluman, an agent who used to work in Encino for more than 32 years. He retired and moved out of state, and when it came to selling his own property he chose me over all the agents he knew and worked with. He said, ‘Having recently retired as a Los Angeles area residential and commercial real estate broker after 32 years in the business, I had the opportunity to work with many, many real estate professionals. The incredible quality of the job that you did on the sale of this property was probably one of the finest and easiest transactions that I have ever encountered in my life.’

Howard Borris, a business manager who handles celebrities and high net worth individuals, said, ‘I have closed literally hundreds of real estate purchases, sales and trades. I can honestly say that your participation in any deal adds great dimension, efficacy and technical skills too few brokers possess.’

Brad Stone, a commercial real estate agent, said, ‘Not only did you achieve what you hoped to do, your negotiation skills proved to be an outstanding advantage to the end result.’

Another retired agent, Rebecca Uzemeck, said, ‘When you first listed our home I told my husband it would take 3–6 months. But you did it in 30 days from start to finish. We are extremely grateful, and our experience with you and your staff was above all our expectations.’

And attorneys Stephen Monroe and Linda Monroe said, ‘As professionals ourselves, we recognize the importance of experience and professional service, prompt and timely action, and efficiency. We could not have asked for more.’”

Article courtesy of Ventura Blvd. Magazine

Q. Have any clients made unusual demands when closing a deal?

Josh Flagg, executive estates director, Rodeo Realty, Beverly Hills; appears regularly on “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.”

“I negotiated a deal in Holmby Hills where I represented both sides. I go to look at the house with a couple and their son, who is probably 6 or 7 years old, and a golden retriever comes out on the lawn. The kid plays with it while we all look at this huge estate and I don’t think anything of it.

Either one of my assistants or teammates writes up an offer on the property from these buyers and I look over the paperwork. They offer very close to full price for a $24 million deal. And that’s when I see the additional terms: It says the sale is contingent on the inclusion of the dog.

I call them and say, “You’ve got to be kidding.” But they’re insistent: The kid likes the dog and they don’t want to say no to the kid. I figure this deal is over. I call the seller and tell him, and he just chuckles. So I say, “No, you don’t understand. I’m being serious.” And he says, “How much is the offer?” I tell him it’s $24 million and he says, “Uh, let me speak with my wife.”

What happened? It was a $24 million offer! What do you think happened? They threw in the dog.

Laszlito Kovacs

Mark D. Friedman, agent, the Friedman-Rosenthal Team, Halstead Property, New York City; also makes guest appearances as an actor on “Law & Order: SVU.”

“I had a $19 million listing on Central Park West, owned by a very famous entertainer. I also represented the buyer, who had inherited a ton of money and was looking at properties with this kind of nutty attorney who was like a friend and adviser. We ended up selling it for pretty close to $18 million.

So we’re at the closing table at the property management office, with the buyer, the nutty attorney, someone from the closing department and a couple of attorneys. In the conference room, there are three huge pictures on the wall, including a beautiful picture of the living room of the property the guy is buying. It’s a nice, blown-up photograph in a big, heavy, wooden frame, about 4 feet across.

The nutty lawyer looks up and says, “Hey, that’s your living room. You should hang that in your house.” I say, “I can get you another picture.” But he says, “No, this is good.” He stands up, takes the picture off the wall and puts it on the conference table.

I say, “That’s their property,” meaning the management company whose office we’re in. And he says, “We just spent a lot of money.” Which was true. He’s about to hand me a check for $700,000, so I really don’t feel like I can say anything. I turn to the woman who works for the management company and softly say, “Are you going to say something?” And she says no. Everyone at the table just sits there staring at each other and at the picture laying there on the table.

So I just say, “Good luck getting past security.” And in fact they walked past security and out of the building with the frame with no problem at all.

Edited from interviews by Katy McLaughlin

Write to Katy McLaughlin at katy.mclaughlin@wsj.com

It turns out most out-of-state transplants coming to Los Angeles aren’t coming from all that far away. Las Vegas, just six hours away (in good traffic), sends more people our way than any other metropolitan area in the country.

Or at least that’s what an analysis conducted by the moving website Sparefoot, of U.S. Census data between 2009 and 2013, says. According to their work, precisely 6,264 people from Sin City picked up and made the long drive down the 15 Freeway before settling down in Los Angeles County during the five years analyzed, more than any other out-of-state locale.

Along with Las Vegas, the other leading out-of-state sources of transplants who clog up the 405 are Phoenix, New York, Chicago, and Seattle. Though if we’re going to nitpick, the analysis was built on a county-by-county analysis, which separates out the five New York boroughs into their own counties.

When you put all the boroughs together, you arrive with a value of exactly 6,061 New Yorkers who moved here between 2009 and 2013. That’s more than the 4,042 from Phoenix, but still less than Vegas.

To put this all in perspective, all these out-of-state transplants are dwarfed by the number of people moving into L.A. County from other places in California. More than 30,000 people moved from Orange County into Los Angeles during this period, along with 22,327 from San Bernardino County and 13,337 from Riverside County.

In all, a total of 216,018 out-of-county folks moved to L.A. County over the five-years examined. Looks like we’ve still got it.

 

Job growth in the U.S. slowed sharply last month, the latest in recent signs of economic weakening amid turbulent global financial markets, lower corporate profits and a contracting manufacturing sector at home.

The government said Friday that employers added 151,000 jobs in January, down from a revised 262,000 jobs in December and 280,000 in November. Late last year’s hiring was probably inflated by unseasonably warm weather; still, analysts on average were expecting job growth of about 190,000 last month.

The unemployment rate, however, edged down to 4.9% last month, the lowest since February 2008. And in another positive sign, the Labor Department said Friday that workers’ average hourly wages rose a strong 12 cents in January to $25.39 after being flat the prior month. The January figure was up 2.5% from a year earlier.

The jobs report may add to anxieties that the American economy is losing momentum and could be in for a sharp slowdown after more than 6 1/2 years of recovery. The weaker-than-expected job growth, if followed by more signs of slowing, would likely give the Federal Reserve pause in nudging up interest rates at its next meeting in March.

Even before stocks and oil prices began convulsing at the start of the year, thanks largely to worries about China’s economic slowdown, job growth in the U.S. was expected to moderate after back-to-back years of robust increases that outpaced the broader economic performance. The economy added an average of 221,000 jobs a month last year, a pace that was unlikely to be sustained given the slow economic output and an economy closing in on full employment.

In January, the hiring picture by industries was mixed. Retailers led the way, adding 58,000 jobs over the month after no gain in December. Restaurants kept up their brisk level of hiring, increasing payrolls by 47,000. And manufacturing added a surprisingly strong 29,000 jobs, despite declining production indications in the last four months.

The big weakness in hiring last month came in the sprawling business and professional services, which added a small 9,000 jobs after increasing a net 60,000 staff in December. Private educational services, the transportation and warehousing sector, as well as the oil and related mining industry, shed jobs last month.

 

Article courtesy of the LA Times

 

Got plans for where to watch the Super Bowl this year?

Whether you’re a Broncos fan, a Panthers fan, or have no real rooting interest, you have to admit it’s always better watching the Super Bowl with big group and plenty of tasty snacks (and drinks!) to go around.

To that end we’ve put together a quick  rundown (in no particular order) of  spots in and around Los Angeles providing special food deals and festivities in celebration of the big game for 2016.

Enjoy!

1. The Morrison Pub

Los Feliz sports joint, The Morrison Pub will throw a huge party ALL DAY on Super Bowl Sunday. There will be an extra large TV set up outside and the game will be broadcasted live throughout the restaurant with the volume up. The Morrison’s entire parking lot will be covered with a tent for indoor and outdoor entertainment. Food and drink specials such as appetizers, dessert, beer & cocktails will be offered, including “Super Bowl” themed crafted cocktails made just for the day. Brunch will be available until 2:00pm and daily Happy Hour will happen 3:00pm – 7:00pm.

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2. Doug Benson Watches the Superbowl + Pot Luck!

Looking for some comic relief during the Super Bowl? I think we have what you are looking for. Doug Benson is having a Superbowl viewing party and pot luck. It’s totally free BUT you need to bring a dish for the potluck don’t be the guy with two bags of chips or you’ll get some side eye and no one will speak to you. The fun happens at Cinefamily from 2:00pm – 7:00pm. Register via link below!

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3. HACHÉ LA

Silver Lake’s new age burger joint is serving burgers, beers and Bottomless Mimosas on Super Bowl Sunday. Watch Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos take on Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on the sunny patio and order up succulent chopped steak burgers, house-made Guacamole & Chips and Bottomless Mimosas to sip on throughout the entire game. Don’t skip dessert their Cookie Butter Frozen Custard whipped up with liquid nitrogen is delicious.

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4. Sausal

El Segundo’s new Nuevo Rancho hotspot will feature three new tailgate-friendly specials from 2:00pm – 7:00pm, including comfort food master Chef Anne Conness’ Chicken Wings tossed in housemade adobo sauce, Pork Chili Verde Nachos, and Queso. Wash ‘em down at any seat in the house with drink specials ($2 off ) like the signature Rancho Margarita and the restaurant’s exclusive brews.

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5. Venice Whaler

Party at the Venice Whaler! Watch the Carolina Panthers play the Denver Broncos, upstairs in the Crow’s Nest on the sunny balcony or opt to view the game downstairs in the cozy Crab Shell Bar while dining on tasty specials like the Super Bowl Platter, which includes succulent blackberry BBQ ribs, jalapeño poppers and crispy touchdown slaw for just $16.00. Raise a complimentary drink (must be 21 or older) at 3:30pm and order up a special Super Bowl Sour crafted with Kappa Pisco, egg whites, lime juice, Peychaud and blood orange bitters for just $8.00.

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6. Artisan House

The popular DTLA brunch destination is offering a $30pp post-brunch buffet of game day favorites like a Build Your Own Burger, Hot Wings, and Nacho Tater Tots. Whether you’re there to root for the team or watch the ads, indoor and outdoor flatscreens will provide optimal viewing while you kick-back and wash down your food with a cocktail or beer from the bar, or the $7 Bloody Mary special they are offering!

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7. Dog Haus

Take advantage of Old Town Pasadena’s gourmet sausage and burger haven’s weekly all-day happy hour (every Sunday). Come early to grab a seat and tune in to pre-show coverage – and stay late to celebrate the winner (or mourn the loss). All Day Happy Hour includes: $4 draught and canned beers, $4 well drinks, $2 off signature cocktails, $1 sliders and $1 fries.

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Article courtesy of We Like LA