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September 11, 2018September 11, 2018

Weekend Events: September 8 – 10

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend, from Friday, September 7 to Sunday, September 9, featuresThe Original Long Beach Lobster Festival, Frankenstein 200 Group Art Show, L.A. Food Fest, Long Beach Comic Con, the Bergamot Station Fall Open and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday September 7th, 2018

1. The Original Long Beach Lobster Festival returns for the 22nd year in a row (September 7-9) with live entertainment, activities, and boat loads of fresh Maine lobster. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

2. See Annenberg Space for Photography’s current exhibit, Not an Ostrich, after hours, along with live music, and a special documentary screening. FREE

3. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’s 4th annual Summer of Salsa concert comes to a close this Friday with Conjunto Costazul, led by salsa scene veterans Freddie and Johnny Crespo, bringing the sounds of swing and salsa with booming horns and percussion. FREE

4. Alpine Village Oktoberfest celebrates 50 years! The fun kicks off this Friday with traditional Bavarian fun like Oom Pah Pah party bands, German fare, and delicious cold German beers. Oktoberfest runs Fridays and Saturdays September 7 through October 27.

5. PaleyFest kicks off this Thursday at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. Check out panels and screenings of the most hotly anticipated new fall TV shows from September 6-16. The fest will feature talents like Nathan Fillion (The Rookie), Aaron Paul and Alison Brie (BoJack Horseman), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Atypical) and plenty more.

6. The LA County Fair is open this Labor Day! Head to the Pomona Fairplex for an enormous assortment of activities, musical performances, carnival style food and more. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

7. Westfield Topanga Restaurant Week kicks off on September 7 for a 10-day dining event across the Westfield Topanga properties, highlighting a diverse selection of choices and flavors, from fine dining steakhouses to good old Southern BBQ. The best part? Guests can expect savings of up to 20% off on uniquely crafted prix-fixe menus.

8. The Roadium in Torrance presents Classic Drive-in Movies. The family-friendly event features classic films projected on the screen tower. Closing out the series is a screening of On Any Sunday.

9. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. The last installment is a 90’s theme dance night. FREE

10. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE

11. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Clueless, The Greatest Showman and more.

12. Are you a Chase bank customer? Got a freebie you might want to know about. Coolhaus is teaming with the Forum and Chase to hand out free ice cream sandwiches to Chase customers on Fridays all summer long. Locations will change every Friday, and the offer is ice cream sandwich per cardholder. Get more info here.

13. The 10th Annual Burbank International Film Festival September 5-9 will feature 200 films by up-and-coming filmmakers.

14. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.

Saturday September 8th, 2018

15. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at Corey Helford Gallery’s opening reception and month-long exhibition of Frankenstein 200 a group art show featuring over 100 artist. On view now through October 13. FREE

16. The 9th Annual L.A. Food Fest returns to Santa Anita Park for a tasting experience of signature bites from 100+ exhibitors. On top of that, there will be craft beer garden, craft cocktail bars, a tequila tasting, iced coffee lounge and an ice cream social.

17. Grand Park + Outfest Present PROUD Picnic + Movie Night inviting the LGBTQ and ally community to Grand Park for a night showcasing short films from Outfest Fusion Festival, coupled with a feature length presentation. FREE

18. Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station will host their annual fall open featuring a dozen galleries and artist receptions in one night. FREE

19. Buskerfest in Downtown Long Beach will feature four flatbed trucks serving as stages for local and regional bands to perform throughout the day while guests dance in the streets. FREE

20. Crawfish for Cancer is part festival and part fundraiser that takes place around the country. They’ll head to the Santa Monica Pier for their first L.A. event this Saturday with a full day of unlimited crawfish and all the fixings, an open bar and live music to provide an authentic Cajun crawfish experience.

21. Long Beach Comic Con (September 8-9) returns for two-days of cosplay, panels, a space expo, screenings, and a behind the scenes look at the comic industry. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

22. Trancas Country Market will celebrate their unveiling of a new BumblebeeLovesYou installation with Endless Summer Satruday a fun filled day of free massages, a yoga class, Vintage Grocers BBQ, live music by Blu Juice, a Malibu Beach House Cornhole Tournament, crafts for the kids and much more.

23. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screenings of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist at Central Park in Glendale and La La Land at Marriott Golf Course in Manhattan Beach. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

24. Saunter through charming Claremont Village tasting wine and food from more than 40 locations during this year’s Claremont Village Wine Walk.

25. The Hammer Museum Family Day: Kids for Peace is a free annual festival featuring storytelling, art making, music making, dancing, puppetry and much more. FREE

26. The Silent Treatment Film Series taking place at The Autry will screen 3 Bad Men. Directed by John Ford, this epic Western will be shown in 35mm on the big screen at the Wells Fargo Theater, with live musical accompaniment from Cliff Retallick.

27. Celebrate the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles’ first anniversary in DTLA with the return of their Incognito art sale where over 400 works of art from a range of upcoming, established and local artists will be available for sale.

28. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Boogie Nights at LA State Historic Park. Check for discounted tickets at select screenings. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

29. Nude Art LA is back for another year of pushing the artistic envelope through a show with 65+ artists from around the globe and live entertainment such as interactive exhibits, live semi-nude sketching, painting demonstrations both on canvas and the body, burlesque, live music and much more. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

30.. The Silverlake Flea-Night Market taking place every Saturday from 5-10 p.m. all summer long features a plethora of local, independent sellers that offer vintage clothing, art, rare vinyl, crafts, and much more.

Sunday September 9th, 2018

31. Challenge yourself with a 75-minute yoga class while enjoying views of the DTLA skyline during Flow + Flavor: Rooftop Yoga at Smorgasburg x ROW DTLA.

32. Returning for its 29th year, the Belmont Shore Car Show boasts over 500 classic, custom and novelty vehicles parked on over 14 blocks in Downtown Long Beach. Guests get to peruse, take pictures with, and sometimes, even get inside some of the cars. FREE

33. Swing Night At The Wiltern will jump, jive and wail on the dance floor all night long. The night will start off with an hour long swing dancing lesson then a live band will play 20’s through 40’s tunes. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

34. L.A. Dragon Studios located in the valley is a all you can play gaming center with VR, Escape Rooms, and an Arcade all for a flat fee of $10. Open seven days a week.

35. A Dog Day Afternoon returns to The Lincoln in Venice featuring specialty cocktails, discounted Rosé bottles, dog treats, professional dog portraits, games, prizes, free hot dogs, adoption, and more. All dogs are welcomed!

36. Modern Southwestern eatery Panxa Cocina in Long Beach just rolled out an impressive Hatch Chile Menu for the month of September. Highlights include a Wild Prawn and Hatch Relleno and Wagyu Chicken Fried Steak smothered in hatch chile gravy.

37. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of Top Gin this Sunday.

38. There’s two new hyper-realistic VR experience at The VOID in Glendale a Ghostbusters themed experience and a scarier Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment experience. Experiences run on different days, be sure to check their schedule.

39. A Yeti Village has been constructed on Hollywood and Vine in anticipation for the movie SMALLFOOT. Designed to look like winter, visitors of all ages can dance in a blizzard, swing on a cloud, ride a 20-foot slide, play in a snowball pit, sing karaoke, do arts and crafts and more. The family-friendly experience is free to attend and runs through September 14, 2018. FREE

40. Outdoor theater Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, located in Topanga Canyon summer 2018 season begins on June 2 with a performance of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

Schedule courtesy of We Like LA.

September 11, 2018September 11, 2018

Things To Do This Fall

Unlike bad toasts, pointless meetings, and the Rolling Stones farewell tour, summer doesn’t go on forever. Thankfully, the end of summer in LA doesn’t mean the end of fun events — or even the end of trips to the beach, for that matter. There are a ton of fall activities waiting for you just around the corner, and we’ve rounded up all the ones you need to know about, ranging from music festivals and boozy parties to neighborhood art shows and dog-surfing lessons. You can now decide how to spend your weekends from here till eternity (er, until it rains).

September 7-9
Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
A food and wine weekend for the ages, with all-inclusive passes available. Returning for its fifth year, you can expect rock-solid stuff like tasting sessions with sommeliers, wine and golf combined at “Pinot Putting,” and even a full-on food fest.
Cost: $650

Bust out the stretchy pants for LA Food Fest

September 8
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
You know the drill with food fests in LA: A wristband gets you all the food you can eat and drinks you can drink. The vendors are still TBA, but a VIP pass gets you in an hour early before all the lines form. What is there to even think about?
Cost: $65-95

Come together for the Glendale Open Arts & Music Festival

September 15
Glendale
Not much is announced yet for this promising Glendale festival, but you can safely count on there being music, art, kids activities, great food, and a craft beer garden.
Cost: TBA

Teach your dog to surf at Surf City Surf Dog

September 29
Huntington Beach
If this isn’t the most LA thing ever, I’m not sure what is. For the hordes and hordes of you out there who have been desperate to teach your dog how to surf, here’s your shot.
Cost: Free

Open up your ears and mouth for Music Tastes Good

September 29 & 30
Long Beach
A ton of Long Beach’s best chefs (like Wesley Young, Rachel Aronow, and Christine Rivera) are joining forces with the likes of acts like New Order, James Blake, Janelle Monáe, and Broken Social Scene for a weekend of top-notch food and music. Oh yeah, and there’s an all-inclusive tasting event, too. You want to be there.
Cost: $85-300

Have the best Sunday Funday ever at Abbot Kinney Festival

September 30
Venice
Four stages of music and spoken word, three beer gardens, and a ton of TBA tasty food trucks & vendors will be lining the streets of Abbot Kinney for the event that waaaaaay predates trends; it’s a 34-year tradition.
Cost: Free admission

Raise a glass at the Newport Beach Wine and Food Festival

October 4-7
Newport Beach
Celebrity chefs (including Nobu Matsuhisa and Jet Tila) are at the forefront of this tasting event, which also includes cooking demos; seminars; cocktail, beer, & wine tastings; and live music.
Cost: $125-250

Disconnect completely at the Joshua Tree Music Festival

October 4-8
Joshua Tree Lake Campground
This jammy, yoga-y fest is a steal if yoga/live music’s your thing, with a four-day wristband going for a relative pittance (as music fests go). Performing talent this year includes Fatoumata Diawara and Matador! Soul Sounds.
Cost: $180 for a four-day wristband

Say hello to the Adult Swim Festival

October 5-7
Row DTLA
This inaugural fest is kicking off with some truly great stuff, like performances by T-Pain, Hannibal Buress, and your soon-to-be-favorite-new-comic Ahmed Bharoocha. Expect tons of great food, too.
Cost: $255

Show your pride at Camp No Counselors’ LGBTQ Weekend

October 5-8
Canyon Creek Summer Camp, Lake Hughes
All of the great stuff that Camp No Counselors normally offers is ramping up again in October, but this time with a focus on the LGBTQ community. All are welcome though, no matter who you are — but if you’re Mike Pence, your presence might be frowned upon.
Cost: $450-699

Get sudsy at LA Beer Fest

October 6
LA Center Studios
LA’s biggest beer fest is back for fall, held once again at LA Center Studios. Expect live music, a dueling piano bar, and food trucks galore — oh, and with over 200 beers, there’ll probably be a little drinking as well.
Cost: $55-80

Watch rich people do rich people things at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

October 6
Will Rogers State Historic Park
You’ll have a chance to watch polo, drink champagne, try to pronounce Veuve Clicquot, and even eat an individual lunch courtesy of Wolfgang Puck at this year’s Polo Classic. It’s an indulgent day, no doubt about it, but look: Sometimes we need those.
Cost: Tickets range from $80 for GA admission, all the way up to $450 for VIP

Enjoy the open spaces of COAST Festival

October 7
Santa Monica
Santa Monica will be dedicating more than 2 miles of Lincoln Boulevard to close off to cars at this annual open street event. Starting at 10am, you’ll have the opportunity to hang out and enjoy tons of food, live music, and art.
Cost: Free

Zone out at the Desert Daze music fest

October 12-14
Moreno Beach, Lake Perris
Tame Impala, My Bloody Valentine, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are toplining this year’s Desert Daze. If dazey desert ambience and psychedelic music is your thing, you shouldn’t miss this somehow-only-$280 ticket weekend.
Cost: $280-1,199

Taste some ultra-fresh fish at Off the Hook Seafood Festival

October 14-17
Santa Monica Pier
This big-time seafood extravaganza will feature winners like FIG, BOA, Herringbone, and Sushi Roku, as well as live music — including a performance by our very own Jeff Miller and the Black Crystal Wolf Kids.
Cost: $50-100

Taste the East Side at EastSide Food Festival

October 21
Mack Sennett Studios, Silver Lake
The Silver-Lake-and-further-east food fest is back for round five with a TBA vendor lineup — but it’s safe to say it’ll be as killer as ever. And as always, the wristband is all-inclusive.
Cost: TBA

Don’t escape from the music at Escape Psycho Circus

October 26 & 27
NOS Event Center
Not only does this EDM fest boast A-Trak and Alan Walker, but it’s also got circus performers, scary mazes, and lots (and lots) of fire. Sure, it’s also not the cheapest fest you’ll attend all year, but sometimes the best things in life aren’t free.
Cost: Prices range from $200 for two-day GA tickets, all the way up to $2,000+ for VIP SkyDeck tickets

Get your film nerd on at AFI Fest

November 8-15
All Over LA
LA’s premier film festival features all the trendiest Hollywood types you can imagine, gathering together for a week of screenings, tributes, retrospectives, conversations, and talent showcases. If you’re even partly interested in the film business, this fest is a must-attend.
Cost: Varies by event

Get psyched for the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival

November 10 & 11
Dodger Stadium
A$AP Rocky, Post Malone, Kids See Ghosts, and, of course, Tyler, The Creator will be headlining this year’s edition of the Odd Future-curated music fest.
Cost: $250-1,000

Drink up at Cocktails in the City

November 16
The Majestic, DTLA
Our craft cocktail scene is incredible in LA — so why not gather the top mixologists from over 30 LA spots into one building for a night of the the tastiest shenanigans you can conjure? Bars like Harvard & Stone, Melrose Umbrella Company, The Stubborn Nail, and Big Bar will be ready to party; so, too, should you be.
Cost: $25

Multitask at the Burbank Winter Wine Walk

November 17
Downtown Burbank
Not much of a riddle with this one; Burbank will be lighting up the streets of its “downtown” section with a celebration of local businesses and, of course, tons of wine tasting.
Cost: Free

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

September 11, 2018September 11, 2018

Every Winery You Need To Visit In Paso Robles

Paso Robles is like the middle child of California wine country; despite its many great producers and tasting rooms, when most people think of a destination for a wine-filled weekend, they tend to think Napa or Sonoma. Take a closer look, though, and you’ll see Paso’s no slouch: Best known for producing Zinfandel, Paso Robles’ 11 distinct wine regions can actually grow up to 60 different varietals (unheard of for a wine region), and are home to world-class wineries with a chill, community vibe. Even better, Paso Robles is only a 60-minute flight into San Luis Obispo from LAX, or a 3 1/2-hour car ride, or a six-hour train ride. Here are the must-try wineries on any trip out to Paso’s wine country, from large-scale producers with storied pedigrees to boutique operations with onsite lodging.

DAOU Vineyards

A Spanish estate sitting on a mountain with the best vineyard views
Sitting 14 miles from the ocean and 2,200 feet above sea level atop Daou Mountain, the family-owned and -operated DAOU Vineyards is the highest elevation vineyard in the Central Coast. The gorgeous estate has sprawling views of the region and an indoor outdoor tasting room with high-beamed ceilings and beautiful Spanish archways; grab a seat outdoors at the edge of the mountain and enjoy any of the Bordeaux varietals (like a glass of their Soul of a Lion) while noshing on snacks from their Lebanese-inspired menu.
Cost: $40 per person for tasting flight (waived with the purchase of three bottles)
Hours: 10am-5pm daily

Alta Colina

Part winery, part hidden trailer park
Alta Colina (which means “high hill” in Spanish) gets its name from being elevated 1,800 feet above sea level, with optimal sun exposure and an ocean breeze that make ideal conditions for a well-balanced wine. The Adelaida District winery offers a few different choices for visitors interested in tasting: Walk-ins are welcome in the tasting room (up to six guests), but you can also reserve a private tasting in the cellar room and sip on current releases amongst barrels of wine. The pricier (but more picturesque) third option is the Summit Vineyard Tasting, a hidden oasis where you can sit back and enjoy stunning vineyard views on a shaded terrace while watching the sunset over the grape-filled hills. The winery is also home to The Trailer Pond, a private pond surrounded by five retro-colored trailers nestled under string lights — so if you want to spend the night surrounded by perfectly lined rows of grapes, you can.
Cost: $15 per tasting (waived with a two-bottle purchase); Taste on the Vineyard: $35 per person
Tasting hours: 11am-4pm daily

JUSTIN Winery

The winemaker that put Paso Robles on the map
One of the larger winemakers of the region, JUSTIN produces around 400,000 cases per year, and is best known for award-winning fruity, full-bodied Bordeaux-style wines (like their Isosceles red blend). The Restaurant at JUSTIN features a rotating seasonal menu with local ingredients and popular dishes like the Charter Oak Cheeseburger made with house ground meat. The winery has come a long way in recent years, following a local controversy involving the chopping down of thousands of mature oak trees; since then, they’ve been committed to supporting the local community and have donated to several nonprofit organizations. The winery and tasting room are a bit off the beaten path, so if you can’t make it all the way to their vineyard, word on the street is you’ll soon be able to visit a second tasting room in Downtown Paso Robles.
Cost: $25 per tasting of five wines
Hours: 10am-4:30pm daily

Halter Ranch Vineyards

Historic wine ranch that you’ll tour in a vintage Land Rover
Halter Ranch isn’t just known for its delicious Syrah and Cabernet varietals; it’s also 2,000 acres of history in the heart of Paso Robles. A renovated, Victorian-style farmhouse greets you when you first enter the ranch, whose sprawling 2,000-acre property also includes three fresh water springs, 5 acres of olives, a custom private train, and a 5-acre holding pond. Book the three-hour excursion tour, and you’ll hop in a 1984 Land Rover to explore the property, including a scenic stop at Lion’s Ridge, the highest point of the vineyard. The eco-friendly tasting room, remodeled in 2016, has floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the vineyards as you taste the estate-grown wines. (Pro tip: The Grenache Blanc is perfect on a hot summer day.)
Cost: $20 per person for the tour, waived with a two-bottle purchase
Hours: Mon-Thurs from 11am-5pm, Fri-Sun from 10am-5pm

Giornata

Understated winery in Tin City (aka the new Funk Zone)
If you like the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara, then you’ll love its Paso Robles cousin, Tin City. The neighborhood gets its name from all the industrial buildings in the area, but this area gets pretty crowded on the weekends because it’s where smaller wine makers, local artisans, and craft breweries have set up shop. One of the first wineries to open a tasting room in Tin City, Giornata produces some excellent wines inspired from Italian regions like Barolo and Barbaresco — go for the 2017 Barbera, or the 2015 Nebbiolo. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser afterward, cool off with a scoop from Negranti Creamery, a nearby shop that specializes in ice cream made from sheep’s milk.
Cost: $10 per tasting; by appointment
Hours: 9am-5pm daily

Allegretto Vineyards and Wines

A tasting room conveniently located in a luxury hotel
Allegretto Vineyards and Wines is one of the more recent luxury resort developments in Paso Robles. The jaw-dropping, Mediterranean-inspired architecture will make you feel like you’ve been swept away to the Italian countryside before you even taste the wine, and the property has nice acres of grapes growing from two varietals, the product of which you’ll sample in a small-but-beautiful tasting room that looks like it’s been around for 100 years (even though the hotel opened in 2015). The tasting room is open to the public, and for $25 you can try any combination of four red and/or white wines. (Pro tip: Try the 2013 Zinfandel, or the 2014 Viognier or Malbec.)
Cost: $25 per tasting
Hours: Sun & Mon from 1pm-7pm, Tues reservations only, Wed-Sat from 12pm-7pm

Thacher Winery & Vineyard

A boutique winery that proves you can still love lower-alcohol wines
The small-production winery with the signature grasshopper label is located on 52 acres at Kentucky Ranch: a quaint place surrounded by nature that you’d normally expect to find in… well, Kentucky. While Paso Robles has historically been known for bold wines, Thacher Winery is leading the way in another direction, creating more subtle wines with a lower alcohol content (some at just 10.5%) that enthusiasts can’t help but love. Their 2015 Cinsault has become a cult-favorite, which you can sample (along with many others) for $15 in the tasting room that sits adjacent to a 1920s-era barn.
Cost: $15 per tasting
Hours: Thurs-Mon from 11am-5pm

September 6, 2018

Every Winery You Need To Visit In Paso Robles

DAOU Vineyards

Alta Colina

JUSTIN Winery

Halter Ranch Vineyards

Giornata

Allegretto Vineyards and Wines

Thacher Winery & Vineyard

June 30, 2018

Economic update for the week ending June 30, 2018

Stocks decline for third straight week – Global markets declined again this week as fears of a global trade war weighed on investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 24,271.41, down from 24,580.49 last week. It is down 1.8% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,718.37, down from 2,764.88. It’s up 1.7% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,510.30, down from 7,692.82 last week. It’s up 8.8% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond Yields lower this week – The 10 year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.85%, down from 2.90% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 2.89%, down from 3.04% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.

Mortgage Rates stable this week – The June 28, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.55%, down from 4.57% last week. The 15-year fixed was 4.04%, unchanged from 4.04% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.87%, up from 3.83% last week.

Nationwide home sales fall 0.4% in May as prices continue to increase – Extremely low inventories of homes for sale were blamed by The National Association of Realtors for a 0.4% month-over-month decrease in the number of existing homes sold in May. The number of existing home sales in 2018 up to the end of May are 3% below the first five months of 2017. Prices have continued to rise. The median price paid for a home in May increased 4.9% from May 2017. Its 75th consecutively month of year-over-year increases.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

June 30, 2018

Economic update for the week ending June 30, 2018

Have a great weekend!

Syd

January 16, 2018

The Best Places For A Big Trip in 2018

Don’t get us wrong: We love Instagram. It’s inspirational, revelatory, and just so darn addictive. But therein lies the danger. Before you know it, just about every place in the whole wide world ends up on one almighty, must-see bucket list. Suddenly you’re booking flights to some Japanese hinterland just because that unicorn cookie looks extra delicious in X Pro II, or road-tripping a thousand miles off-course to visit your sort-of-friend’s sort-of-friend in Arkansas purely to see their photogenic pumpkin.

You don’t have all the time in the world, nor all the money. Realistically you have the funds and vacation days to make one or two epic trips happen this year, max. What you really want to know is where to go right now (or at least, this year, because we all know last-minute flights can be a killer). We pressed our globe-trotting writers for their tips for a single, blowout trip in 2018. These are the places that are at the top of their game this year, whether it’s down to a flashy one-off event, crazy low flight prices, or just because the rebels are finally giving it a rest. And don’t fret, they’ll all make a good ‘Gram, too.

New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA’s anniversary year will be a party 300 years in the making
Sure, New Orleans is in a perpetual state of celebration, but a party that only comes once every 300 years is going to be especially rowdy — like, downing hurricanes on a fan boat with Coach Orgeron bellowing “go Tigers!” rowdy. Every single festival this year will get a tricentennial upgrade. Mardi Gras floats will retell the founding story of Nouvelle-Orléans; Jazz Fest will have a lineup for the ages; and at no point should you skip the ongoing exhibition Prospect 4, a treasure map of murals and sculptures raising the city’s up-and-coming arts profile beyond the blur of purple and green fleurs-de-lis.

Even if you’ve come for beads and gumbo in years past, expect to see New Orleans from new perspectives. The Mississippi River is now dotted with riverside pocket parks, replacing the warehouses and railroad tracks that once blocked the view. The North Rampart Street cable car line has been extended to get visitors beyond the French Quarter into the Bywater district. Even Bourbon Street has gotten itself a $6 million facelift, and if a street that odorous can clean up for a good anniversary party, the least you can do is répondez, s’il vous plaît. —Sean Cooley

Russia

The unlikely World Cup hosts will respect that you actually made the trip, you badass
If there’s one reason to visit Russia in 2018, it’s the World Cup. “But hang on,” I hear you say, “didn’t the US fail to qualify after losing to the Caribbean’s 12th most-intimidating soccer powerhouse, Trinidad and Tobago?”

Exactly. Just think, this the first time in over 30 years that Americans can go to a World Cup and not be surrounded by other Americans. For once, there will be no misplaced confidence, overtime heartbreak, or idolizing of beardy bald guys. All of which means you can just sit back and enjoy the spectacle, or pick your favorite team based purely on the snazziness of their kit or your granny’s penchant for brooding Latin American types.

The biggest matches will be played in Moscow, but take the train to St. Petersburg instead — the tournament coincides with the city’s White Nights, a period of round-the-clock daylight when the parties never stop and there are fancy concerts and ballets every evening. Or mix it up and head for a smaller city: Summer hotspot Sochi hosted the Olympics in 2014 and still has the blinged-out infrastructure to prove it, while Yekaterinburg and Volgograd are steeped in bloody, Soviet-era history. You may know Russia as the surname of the phrase “colluding with,” but in the even bigger picture, it’s a scandalously beautiful land, full of people who will respect your chutzpah when you arrive ready for the games. — Jonathan Melmoth

Iceland

Remote terrain and raw beauty await, once you slip past the crowds in the capital
Yes, the secret is out about Iceland and its gobsmacking Ring Road. In 2016 this country of 330,000 inhabitants hosted something like 1.7 million tourists, more than triple the visits of 2010. Certain attractions are being trampled beyond sustainability — blame Game of Thronesif you like — and politicians have suggested imposing limits on tourism to protect the environment. Translation: 2018 may be your best shot for a cheap WOW Air flight, or whatever fresh promotion Iceland Air is running. The window on the sheer raw openness of the place may be closing.

Until then, Iceland is the ultimate wellspring for powerful nature odysseys. Ethereal landscapes, each infused with evocative folk legends, await at every bend of the road. Cosied up by its lonesome at the top of the Atlantic, the unique scenery of this Maine-sized island is ever changing, both subtly and in literal volcanic explosions — spreads of rock and glacier shift and reshape amid fresh ice formations and irregularly tempoed geysers. There’s a reason movies love filming here: the place is endlessly cinematic. Go afield of Reykjavik to the active volcanic playground of the north, or compact geological smorgasbord of the west. It’s all red-hot here, even where it’s frozen. — Barbara Woolsey

Colombia

Catch the authentic South American experience before everyone else arrives
Just a few years ago, Colombia ran one of the world’s boldest tourism slogans: “The only danger is not wanting to leave.” It was a brilliant play, a gorilla-in-the-room allusion to how many Americans presume, wrongly, that “Colombia” is synonymous with “kidnapping.” Slowly, Americans have come to realize that one of the most beautiful countries in the Western Hemisphere is also one of the safest, and that trips here are a chance to live well for almost nothing.

The cities are spectacular, cosmopolitan. Look for modern urbanism in Bogota, the beaches and history in Cartagena, and epic parties in Medellin. Airbnbs that look like million-dollar Miami condos can be had for $150 a night, complete with drivers and maids. Gourmet meals are under $50. Nights out are a song. The Colombian coastline is also world-class, whether it’s the classic Caribbean beaches in Barranquilla, or the unheralded Pacific Coast.

Cheap flights from South Florida have been common for a while, but this year Avianca just launched nonstop service from Boston to Bogota, with plans to expand to more Northeastern cities. Which will mean more tourists, and soon a totally different experience — look no further than Mexico and the DR for proof of that. So see the raw, authentic Colombia while you can. In another couple of years, you might not recognize it. — Matt Meltzer

Malta

A stunner of a cultural hotspot prepares for a year of Mediterranean parties
You’ve probably seen Malta before, whether you knew it at the time or not. It’s a Game of Thrones stalwart, with sites that have doubled as the Red Keep and seen more than their fair share of mock sword-fights. But when the novelty of pretending you only speak Dothraki has worn off, you’ll find there’s much more to it. The European Commission has named Valletta, the capital, a European Capital of Culture in 2018, and there are over 400 celebratory events planned throughout the year — expect acrobatics, choral singing, and orchestral ensembles (although not all at the same time).

This being the Med, there’ll be plate-loads of superlative seafood to sink your teeth into, along with the national dish, a red wine rabbit stew called stuffat tal-fenek. The archipelago has notes of Sicilian, North African and English colonial culture, but plenty of its own quirks too. When a local challenges you to a game of boċċi, don’t go thinking you played the same thing in Italy/an outdoor bar in Brooklyn. The Maltese use cylinders instead of balls. Ever tried throwing a misshapen can of corn towards a target? No, because that would drive you insane. The Maltese, they don’t mess around. — Jonathan Melmoth

Highway 1, California

America’s quintessential coastal road trip is back after a year of punishing landslides
Start by basking in the Malibu sun. Though it may be tough to leave, good things await. Head up Highway 1 to hit some stunning landscapes and prime beaches (Pismo Beach is a good first stop). Cliffs, sun, waves, repeat.

Tour Hearst Castle, then continue on towards the real showstopper: the Central Coast. In 2017 landslides made travel trickier; until the state can build over one particularly epic stretch of sloughed mountain, you’ll have to make the occasional detour. But the big revival worth seeing is the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, rebuilt after a section washed away in early 2017, and many local businesses that had been forced shutter for months have reopened. Take in stellar views from the famed Bixby Bridge (you saw it plenty this past year in Big Little Lies) or just stop at virtually any point to be bowled over alongside other slack-jawed sightseers. Find the hidden, purple-sanded Pfeiffer Beach, and sit a spell.

Ogle houses you’ll never be able to afford in Carmel-by-the-Sea, then stop off at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Grab a seaside bowl of mouth-melting clam chowder (with a Lagunitas, naturally). Ramble over to River Road in Salinas for stellar, underrated wineries with the requisite beautiful views. Do some people watching in Santa Cruz before rolling into San Francisco. Then be sad you can’t afford to stay. And hey, if you can make the drive in late July, to coincide with the Gilroy Garlic festival, all the better. — Kylie Maxcy

Hamburg, Germany

A low-key bohemian destination has added a world jewel for music lovers
Oh, what most cities would do to be a bit more like Hamburg. It’s got a grungy, industrial past, night clubs in converted warehouses, and bohemian flea markets in the artsy Sternschanze quarter — basically everything on your hipster-leaning wishlist. Among the narrow canals and red-brick lofts of the UNESCO-approved port district (Speicherstadt), there’s even a uniquely eccentric tourist attraction: Miniatur Wunderland (loosely translated as “Miniature Wonderland”). Inside, you’ll find the world’s longest model railroad (there’s 10 miles of the stuff), teeny-weeny cities, and over 260,000 figurines. Go on, count them.

And then there’s the recently-opened Elbphilharmonie concert hall. It may have arrived seven years late and gone 10 times over budget, but you’re just learning about it and didn’t pay for it, so what do you care? Architects Herzog & Meuren have managed to create something that looks magisterial and sounds like a dream. The crystalline exterior is drawn into meringue-esque peaks, while inside, rippling ceilings and honeycomb walls make for warm, velvety, pin-sharp acoustics. And if that starts to feel too stuffy, just head two miles west to the still-standing Indra club, where a few lads from Liverpool first sported their mop-tops and sang “Love, love me do.” — Jonathan Melmoth

Jordan

Be among the first travelers to walk in some of the world’s most legendary footsteps
One of the world’s great walks is now yours to saunter, pilgrim. The newly formalized Jordan Trail is a sequence of ancient trade routes running 400 miles across hillside forests, sizzling deserts and blockbuster mountainscapes on its way from the Roman ruins of Um Qais to the glittering waters of the Red Sea. The whole thing takes nearly seven weeks to complete and runs through in 52 communities along the way, so you can meet the locals and ask them really nicely to fill up your water bottle. Each night, you’ll bed down at a traditional guesthouse, homestay, or under the stars at a Bedouin campsite.

If your vacation allowance won’t stretch that far, choose one of the eight sections to tackle, with the help of a local guide and an obliging camel. First-timers should go for the six-day chunk from the rose-stone wonders of Petra to the caverns and canyons of Wadi Rum. You’ll be following in illustrious footsteps: legend has it this very route was walked by Jesus, Moses and Mohammed, in between miracles. Oh, and Harrison Ford too, of course. After you, Junior. — Jonathan Melmoth

Seoul, South Korea

The world’s top party city will be feeling a Winter Olympics buzz
Take your mind off the Korea dominating the news cycle, the one with the rockets and the propaganda and the guy with the weird hair who hates our guy with the weird hair. Instead focus on South Korea, where PyeongChang will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Scope out the host city if you must; but consider instead a frisky nearby megalopolis — just 90 minutes away via a shiny new high speed rail — that may be most equipped to handle a massive influx of hot, young human specimens.

While PyeongChang is the quieter sister town with modernized ski resorts, you’ll come to Seoul for the soju, stay for the bulgogi, then stay even longer for a 3am visit to the pyramid-shaped sauna at Dragon Hill Spa. Channel South Korea’s feel-good vibes and make quick friends of strangers at a karaoke spot or noodle bar around Hannam. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself clinking beers with Lindsey Vonn, Shaun White, or a group of Canadians who want to show you how much momentum it takes for a stone to reach the house in, uh… curling (pretty sure they’re talking about curling). — Sean Cooley

Turks and Caicos

Getting to unspoiled luxury dives is finally down to non-ridiculous prices
Scuba divers can sometimes find cheaper flights to the South Pacific for a world-class dive vacation than to the crystal-clear waters of the Turks and Caicos, thousands of miles closer. But late in 2017 Southwest Airlines began service to Providenciales, and now flights that routinely topped $750 can be had for under $300. Suddenly the white sandy beaches of Grace Bay and the abundance of marine life along the wall at West Caicos are within reasonable reach.

TCI is still not a cheap place to visit. But if you’re planning one big trip this year, at least you can save on the airfare, leaving plenty in your budget for daily dives in what many call the best locale in the Caribbean. Even if you can’t afford the four-star resorts like Grace Bay and the Ocean Clubs, you can find reasonable rates at Beaches and Club Med, and there are no shortage of off-site dive shops that run trips cheaper than they do on-property. The summer’s hurricanes left only minimal damage, and unless you had your heart set on chicken at Chinson’s — which is temporarily closed — pretty much everything you’d want is open and waiting for you. You and all the money you saved on the airfare. — Matt Meltzer

Nashville, Tennessee

The Music City has swiftly become America’s sports trip of choice
You visit Nashville to be entertained, whether it’s listening to a band at the Ryman Auditorium or witnessing the fabulous freak show of bachelorette parties taking over Lower Broad honky-tonks for Fireball shots and make-out sessions with strangers. Increasingly, though, the main attraction is three sporting venues that all funnel into the party zone. This year, when your favorite NFL or NHL team plays in Nashville, you owe it to yourself to make it a full-on trip.

Blame the upstart Predators making it to their first Stanley Cup Finals in 2017. Thousands of hockey fans overflowed into the streets around Bridgestone Arena in the summer, and the national hockey press noticed the sea of gold. Since then, the Preds have become everybody’s second-favorite team behind their hometown crews. The Titans made the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2008, but there have been plenty of seats available for visiting fans at Nissan Stadium. Fans know it, too: One two-sport weekend, a tsunami of Chicagoans hit town, and — legend already has it — drank the bars dry before beer could be delivered on the following Monday.

First Tennessee Park hosts Triple-A Nashville Sounds baseball and the city’s new USL soccer team, Nashville SC. Won’t be long, though, before Nashville will make the leap past minor-league soccer. The MLS recently chose Nashville out of a dozen cities for their next expansion team, despite Nashville’s late entry to the selection process. The beautiful game recognizes a beautiful venue when it sees one. — Chris Chamberlain

Cape Town, South Africa

The world’s most beautiful coastal city is primed for animal lovers to pay a visit
“Cape Town’s on my bucket list, and I’ll also do a safari in Kruger,” says everyone always, and for good reason. The Mother City is hands-down the most dazzling coastal metropolis on the planet, with its dramatic seaside mountains, white sugar shorelines, and bangin’ restaurant scene, while the sprawling Kruger National Park brims with megafauna. You can even get partway between them on a sweet-ass train ride, sipping all-you-can-drink South African wines and discussing Mandela or Paul Simon or penguins.

We humbly suggest that you do this soon, though, and brace to help conserve water. An unprecedented drought has the city so thirsty its fair residents will soon be queuing at 200 police-monitored checkpoints for water rations. The good news is that for the nearby Stellenbosch wine country, drought means stressed-out grapes, which tend to produce some exceptionally complex wines.

As for the wildlife, the time to spend your money (which likely will go far in SA; the rand is crazy cheap lately) to see the world’s most awe-inspiring animals is also now. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and especially rhinos are all under threat of being poached out of existence, basically so a bunch of dudes in Asia can feel masculine by bathing in ground-up horns. If you go, keep your showers short and take pics so the next generation can see what a white rhino looked like. — Ashley Harrell

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico’s capital-turned-city-state is American eaters’ cheapest, fastest epic getaway
By any measure, Mexico City’s had a rough year. A traumatic earthquake on the anniversary of 1985’s devastating tremblor left residents and tourists shaken, and Trump’s State Department delivered a bitter early Christmas gift with an official travel warning barely two months later. But chilangos (unofficial demonym of CDMX citizens) are nothing if not resilient. Led by a courageous and adorable rescue dog, reconstruction started almost before the shaking stopped. Now the pace of life in the capital has mostly returned to its hectic, frenzied, and delicious normal.

The city formerly known as Distrito Federal is a heterogeneous mixture of European and indigenous Mesoamerican, of rich and poor, of spotless colonial boulevards and dingy side alleys. The best thing to do in Mexico City, though, might simply be la comida. Splurgeworthy, international-class restaurants exist beside greasy street meats of every description. Drop into world-renowned Pujol for a Michelin-starred feast (seated reservations need to be made a few months in advance, or just eat at the bar), then enjoy a postprandial aperitif in the form of a high-class tipple from Mezcaleria Los Amantes. Or keep it cheap with the CDMX-original tacos al pastor, available in just about all of the city’s innumerable taquerias and food carts, washed down with handmade mezcal from divey Pulqueria la Nuclear. Either way, at the end of it, you’ll be fat, happy, delirious, and like this whole city, ready to keep on rocking. — Conor O’Rourke

United Arab Emirates

A wild synthesis of tech innovations, advanced architecture — and awesome rollercoasters
The future came early in the nerve center of the Middle East, where Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become laboratories for superlative attractions and revolutionary architecture. UAE strikes a profound intermingling of tradition, modernity, and sheer excess; even the most tech-smart millennial tourists will feel as if they’ve wandered into a sci-fi novel. Rainfall from engineered clouds. A man-made archipelago shaped like a world map. Now there’s talk of hauling an Antarctic iceberg over to supply drinking water. The Burj Khalifa, as tall as two Empire State buildings, might as well be a relic.

The UAE is closing in on finishing lots of projects for mad-flaunting at World Expo 2020, so 2018 is your chance to get a good peek before. The Louvre Abu Dhabi launched in November, while Dubai has erected a 500-foot-tall picture frame; soon, the world’s largest Ferris wheel and a new artificial peninsula will come online. After a 2017 that saw Dubai open the world’s largest indoor theme park, the country is gaining on Florida as a theme-park capital. Look for the multi-billion-dollar Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi to land later this year. — Barbara Woolsey

Ireland

Flights are cheap, craft whiskey is exploding, and you probably have relatives there
The Emerald Isle is always a charmer, but there’s an extra mischievous twinkle in its eye this year, so pack your bags and get to the airport before your mother finds out where you’re going. Craft whiskey distilleries are sprouting up across the land, including Slane Castle in County Meath, Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow, and Dublin’s very own bourbon-maker, Pearse Lyons. Add to that a booming bar and restaurant scene in the capital, and you have yourself a very merry time indeed. By day, visit the newly opened Irish Emigration Museum to find out how St. Patrick’s Day became America’s favorite holiday, or head out of the city for wet and wild coasteering — a combination of climbing, jumping, and hoping nobody hears you squeal each time you hit the sea.

Bonus for the East Coasters — did you know that there’s a fourth major airport in New York? Newburgh-Stewart is a former military base which is now hosting Norwegian Air flights to Shannon, in southern Ireland, and weekend-ready Dublin. OK, so it’s a bit further out of the city (90 minutes north of Manhattan), but the traffic’s better, the lines are shorter, and the tickets start at $99 each way. — Jonathan Melmoth

The Florida Keys

Hurricane Irma blew away the tourists — and the islands would love to see you
If you were watching the news in September, you might have noticed the Florida Keys had a spite of rather nasty weather. The aftermath of Hurricane Irma left 20-foot piles of trees, refrigerators, sailboat hulls and RVs on the side of the Overseas Highway. It also made the drive through the Keys even more breathtaking than it already was. Yes, the destruction of mangroves and plant life is not a good thing, but the silver lining is unobstructed ocean views for nearly all of the three-hour drive from Miami to Key West.

Once in the Keys you’ll find the main attractions are all up and running, with far fewer people than usual. In Key West, you’d hardly know a storm passed through, yet places like Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Smathers Beach have a refreshing amount of breathing room. The bars along Duval Street feel almost like locals’ haunts, and the waits for breakfast at Blue Heaven are manageable. In the upper and middle Keys, dive and fishing charters are all at full speed, with plenty of spots to book and to cast for tarpon. A trip to the tip of Florida isn’t merely a bucket-list stop in one of America’s great natural treasures, it’s a form of on-the-ground hurricane relief. Even if social responsibility isn’t your top vacation goal, it’s still not a bad byproduct. — Matt Meltzer

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Art Basel and youth Olympics are set to hit into this sultry, sumptuous capital
There’s rarely a bad moment to hit BA — but 2018 will be the city’s star moment. To revel in the big daddy of art fairs, Art Basel, you normally have to splurge on the one-off events in Switzerland, Miami, or Hong Kong. But in 2018, the buddying up with Buenos Aires for a blitz of exhibitions and workshops by top-notch artists throughout the year and beyond. The headline acts hit the city in September for a one-week program curated by Cecilia Alemani (she looks after New York’s High Line, so trust). In October, you can try to spot the next Usain Bolt at the Youth Olympics. Soon after, the world’s dignitaries will arrive for the G20 summit, at a much slower pace.

Beyond the tentpole events, BA is a sizzling-hot city destination. Look for head-turning street murals, seductive open-air tango, and incredibly well-done steaks. The peso is at historic lows against the dollar. too, so you can get a whole lot more T-bone for your buck. — Jonathan Melmoth

Mozambique

A newly constructed coastal highway will open vast expanses of nature to explore
If you’re seeking out a big, remote destination in the new year, a safari in habitually-underrated Mozambique is your answer. This year marks the completion of the Lagoon Coast roadworks project linking neighboring South Africa to Mozambique’s capital Maputo and beyond. No more dirt-road slogs: Transport will be eons easier, especially handy with a coastline that’s nearly as long as the American East Coast.

Start on the faded Art Deco streets of Maputo. You’ll be greeted by fish market stalls where you can gather clams, squid, and the country’s legendary footlong tiger prawns, and have them grilled for you at a local restaurant. Drive up to Gorongosa National Park, one of the most diverse national parks in the world, housing lions, elephants, buffalo, wildebeests, zebras, waterbucks, and impala. Finish with a turtle tour in Kosi Bay, smack in the heart of southern Africa’s prime nesting area where, from November through mid-March, you’ll see loggerhead and leatherback turtles hatching on the beach and making their journey to shore as David Attenborough undoubtedly narrates it all in your mind. — Sean Cooley

Article courtesy of Thrillist.

December 2, 2017

Economic update for the month ending November 30, 2017

Since the month end was Thursday this is a month end report. Stocks and bonds have Friday December 1 closings following monthly results.

This morning the Senate passed their tax reform bill. Now it gets reconciled with the House bill. There will be a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, and it appears that the estate tax will phase out and be eliminated. To make up for the loss in tax revenue, many deductions will be cut back. At this point it seems that it is very likely that state income taxes will no longer be deductible on your federal return. This has been a deduction since the individual income tax was approved by Congress in 1909. The property tax deduction will be capped at a $10,000 per year. There is no current cap now. The House has a mortgage interest deduction cap of the interest on a $500,000 loan, while the Senate was shooting for a $1,000,000 loan cap. The current cap is interest on a loan of $1,100,000. We will wait and see what this ends up at. I will keep you informed primarily with regards to cuts in deductions for mortgage interest, property tax, and state taxes.

Economic update for the month ending November 30, 2017

Stock markets skyrocket in November – Tax reform, a new CFPB Director, and new Fed Chairman were considered to be a trifecta for investors. The Dow broke 24,000 just 33 days after breaking 23,000. As tax reform crossed several hurdles in November, stocks rallied at each step. First, it passed in the House, then reached a crucial vote to move to a full vote in the Senate. As the month ended it appeared that the Senate had the votes to pass. Key to the massive rise in stock prices, this year is a reduction in corporate income tax from 35% to 20%. This is the same rate passed by the House. Investors are feeling that this substantial reduction in the corporate tax rate is a done deal. Other news that ignited the markets was the appointment by President Trump of Mick Mulvaney as director of The Consumer Financial Protection Board. The CFPB was set up after the 2008 financial collapse. While the acting director has refused to leave and has filed suit to keep her position, a judge preliminarily approved Mulvaney’s appointment. Mulvaney is considered much more friendly to financial institutions and less consumer friendly. It is widely felt that many regulations will be rolled back. Financial institutions, who feel they are over regulated, were ecstatic about the appointment. Lastly, Jerome Powell was appointed by President Trump as Chairman of the Federal Reserve to replace Janet Yellen, whose term ends next February. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the month at 24,272.35, up from its October 31 close of 23,348.74. The Dow is up over 22.6% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the month at 2,647.58, up from its October close of 2,572.84. The S&P is up over 18% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the month at 6,873.97, up from last month’s close of 6,701.26. It’s up 27.2% year-to-date.

Stock markets closed slightly lower Friday, December 1 after Mike Flynn pleaded guilty and agreed to provide information to the special council in a plea deal. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week at 24,231.59, up from 23,557.99 last week. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,642.22, up from its close last week of 2,602.42. The NASDAQ closed the week at 6,847.59, down from its last week’s close of 6,889.16.

Treasury Bond yields mixed in November –The 10-year Treasury bond closed on November 30, 2017 at 2.42%, up from 2.38% at the end of October. The 30-year treasury yield ended the month at 2.83%, down from 2.88% last month.

Bond yields dropped Friday, December 1. The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week at 2.37, up from 2.34% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.76%, unchanged from 2.76% last week.

Mortgage Rates stable in November – Rates remain at historically low levels. The November 30, 2017 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.90%, down slightly from 3.94% on November 2, 2017. The 15-year fixed was 3.30%, up slightly from last month’s close of 3.27%. The 5-year ARM was 3.32%, up from 3.23% on November 2.

Third quarter GDP upgraded – The Commerce Department reported that the second estimate of the Gross Domestic Product, the broadest measure of the healthy of the economy rose 3.3% from an initial estimate of 3% in the third quarter.

California jobless rate falls to 4.9% – California posted strong job gains in October adding 31,700 net new non-farm jobs. That brought the state’s unemployment rate down from 5.1% in September to 4.9% in October. Wage growth slowed as hourly wages were 3.2% higher in October from one year earlier, down from September’s wage growth of 3.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. California is outpacing the U.S. as the national rate of wage growth was 2.4% in October.

California existing home sales and prices – An extremely low supply of housing for sale resulted in a downtick in year over year sales in October, and continues to drive prices up. The California Association of Realtors reported that existing single family home sales totaled 431,020 in October on a seasonally annualized rate. That represents a 0.8% increase from September, but a 3.4% decrease from last October’s sales pace. The statewide median price was $546.430, up 6.1% from October 2016. The unsold inventory index dropped to a 3 month supplyof homes for sale in October from 3.2 month supply in September. There was a 3.4 month supply of homes for sale in October 2016. Year over year there are 11.5% fewer homes for sale this October than last October. Pending home sales (homes that went under contract) also dropped 2.6% from last October.

New home sales pace at highest rate in a decade – U.S. New home sales increased 6.2% in October, the Commerce Department reported. It was the the third straight monthly gain, and the highest new home monthly sales pace since October 2007.

New housing starts rebounds in October – The Commerce Department reported that new housing starts jumped 13.7% in October. That was the highest level since October 2016. September’s new home starts pace was down considerably because of a very steep drop in new construction in hurricane damaged areas. Because September’s figures were depressed a 13.7% month over month increase is not as exciting as it sounds. Yet it was the highest number of permits pulled for new home construction since October 2016.

The November jobs report will be released next Friday. The final monthly economic e-blast won’t be in the system and postcard won’t be done until we have those numbers.

Have a great weekend,

Syd

November 18, 2017

Economic update for the week ending November 18, 2017

Stocks end week lower on tax reform uncertainty and falling oil prices – Stocks fell for the second straight week. There was unusual volatility this week. The Dow dropped 168 points in the first three days of the week as it looked like tax reform was losing some support in Congress. On Thursday, the House passed their version and the Dow gained almost 200 points. On Friday, a few Republican Senators said they may not support the Senate version and The Dow dropped 100 points to end the week down for the second straight week. Meanwhile, both the Senate and the House removed changes to how they would be taxing stock options for tech firms, after industry leaders argued that higher taxes on options would limit their ability to attract talent. This helped the tech heavy NASDAQ, which closed up for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week at 23,358.24, down from 23,422.22 last week. It’s up 18.2% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,578.85, down slightly from its close last week of 2,582.30. The S&P is up 15.2% YTD. The NASDAQ closed the week at 6,782.79, up from its last week’s close of 6,750.94. It’s up 26% year-to-date.

Bond yields drop this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week at 2.35%, down from 2.40% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.78%, down from 2.88% last week. Mortgage rates follow treasury bond yields so we watch bond yields carefully.

Mortgage Rates up slightly this week – The November 16, 2017 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.95%, up from 3.90% last week. The 15-year fixed was 3.31%, up from 3.24% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.21%, almost unchanged from 3.22% last week.

California jobless rate falls to 4.9% – California posted strong job gains in October, adding 31,700 net new non-farm jobs. That brought the state’s unemployment rate down from 5.1% in September to 4.9% in October. Wage growth slowed as hourly wages were 3.2% higher in October from one year earlier, down from September’s wage growth of 3.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. California is outpacing the U.S. as the national rate of wage growth was 2.4% in October.

New housing starts rebounds in October – The Commerce Department reported that new housing starts jumped 13.7% in October. That was the highest level since October 2016. September’s new home starts pace was down considerably because of a very steep drop in new construction in hurricane damaged areas. Because September’s figures were depressed, a 13.7% month-over-month increase is not as exciting as it sounds. Yet it was the highest number of permits pulled for new home construction since October 2016.

The housing sales and price report should be released next week by The California Association of Realtors.

Have a great weekend,
Syd

November 2, 2017

Here's What's Coming To All Streaming Platforms In November

It’s officially fall, which means you have a seasonal excuse to cancel plans, get cozy and watch your way through everything on every streaming platform you can finagle a login for.

Stream the entire first season of Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon this month, or catch up on the first 5 seasons of Prison Break on Hulu. The LEGO Batman Movie will grace HBO Now this November, and comedian Maria Bamford’s Lady Dynamite will hit Netflix (as will Season 2 of the criminally underrated French series Call My Agent!)

Coming to AMAZON in November

Available November 1

A Knight’s Tale

A View to Kill

Airplane II: The Sequel

Airplane!

Altar Egos

Bad Boys

Beauty Factory

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Chasing the Star

Crocodile Dundee

Crocodile Dundee II

Dances with Wolves

Diamonds Are Forever

Die Another Day

Dirty Work

Dr. No

For Your Eyes Only

From Russia with Love

GoldenEye

Goldfinger

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Legally Blondes

License to Kill

Live and Let Die

Moonraker

Never Say Never Again

Nowhere to Run

No Way to Live

Octopussy

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Redeemer

Speed Racer

St. Elmo’s Fire

The Beautiful Ones

The Cell

The Departed

The Little Tin Man

The Living Daylights

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Peacemaker

The Pursuit of Happyness

The Spy Who Loved Me

The World is Not Enough

Thunderball

Tomorrow Never Dies

Unforgettable

Up in the Air

You Only Live Twice

Available November 3

Falling Water: Season 1

The Only Living Boy in New York, Amazon original

Available November 4

Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween

Available November 5

Life on the Line

The Lovers

Available November 6

Among Us

Pearly Gates

Available November 7

Fifty Shades of Black

Home Fires: Season 2

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Amazon original, Season 1

Available November 9

Armed Response

Available November 10

Allied

Available November 13

Baby Steps

Broken Mile

Orion

The Patent Scam

Available November 16

Shot Caller

Available November 17

Landline, Amazon original

Available November 19

Man Down

Available November 20

Before the Sun Explodes

Blood Ransom

Available November 21

Dark Angel: Season 1

Available November 23

Home Remedy: Season 1

The Stinky and Dirty Show, Amazon original, Season 2

Available November 24

Fences

The Big Sick, Amazon original

Available November 27

London’s Finest

Panic

The Incomparable Rose Hartman

Available November 28

Click Clack Moo Holiday Special

Available November 29

The Circle

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon original, Season 1

Available November 30

Ogar: Will of Steel

Coming to HBO Now in November

Available November 1

2 Fast 2 Furious

Along Came a Spider

A Prueba (aka On Trial)

Bachelor Party

Bird on a Wire

Bride of Chucky

Broken Lizard’s Club Dread (Extended Version Available)

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Fast & Furious

The Fast and the Furious

Good Morning, Vietnam

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Pale Rider

The Sum of All Fears

Sweet November

Terminator Salvation (Director’s Cut Available)

Volunteers

Zoolander

Available November 3

El peso de la ley (aka The Weight of the Law)

Available November 4

Get Out

Available November 6

Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge, Part 1

Available November 7

Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge, Part 2

Available November 10

El Hipnotizador, Season 2 Premiere

Inseparables

Available November 11

The Lego Batman Movie

The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special

War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend

Available November 12

Vice Principals, season 2 finale

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, season 4 finale

Available November 13

A United Kingdom

Available November 17

Cuentas Por Cobrar (aka Achilles’ Redemption)

Available November 18

The Great Wall

Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Program

Real Time with Bill Maher, season 15 finale

Sesame Street: A Sesame Street Thanksgiving, season 48 premiere

Available November 19

Mechanic: Resurrection

Available November 20

Baltimore Rising

Available November 24

Tracey Ullman’s Show, season 2 finale

Available November 25

Kong: Skull Island

Available November 26

Warcraft

Available November 27

Meth Storm

November 28th

HBO First Look: The Shape of Water
Coming to HULU in November

Available November 1

13 Going on 30

25th Hour

5th Kind

The 13th Warrior

The Air up There

A View to Kill

Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver

Airplane!

Airplane II: The Sequel

Alfie

The Aristocats

Arizona Bushwhackers

Ashby

The Associate

Bad Boys

Bad Santa

Barbarella

Barbershop

Barbershop 2: Back in Business

Beowulf

Blown Away

Bound

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Brother Bear

Celtic Pride

Christmas Classics: Jingle Bells

Christmas Classics: O’Christmas Tree

Christmas Classics: Santa’s Christmas Crash

Christmas Classics: Santa’s Christmas Snooze

Christmas Classics: We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Christmas with the Kranks

Chuck Jones Collection: A Very Merry Cricket

Corky Romano

Cougars, Inc.

Crocodile Dundee

Crocodile Dundee II

D3: the Mighty Ducks

Dances with Wolves

Dead Hands Dig Deep

Dead Man on Campus

Delta Farce

Diamonds Are Forever

Die Another Day

Dirty Work

Double Take

Doug’s First Movie

Dr. No

Ella Enchanted

Flesh + Blood

For Your Eyes Only

From Russia with Love

Goldeneye

Goldfinger

Grumpy Old Men

Grumpier Old Men

Home for the Holidays

How to Build a Time Machine

The Hunchback of Notre Dame II

Jacob’s Ladder

Journey to Space

The Joy Luck Club

Jungle to Jungle

Jungle Book – Live Action

K-19: The Widowmaker

Kazaam

Kung Fu Hustle

Larger than Life

Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector

Legally Blondes

License to Kill

Little Man

Live and Let Die

The Living Daylights

Maid in Manhattan

Man of the House

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Marrying Man

Mean Creek

Men in Black

The Mighty Quinn

Moonlight Mile

Moonraker

The Mothman Prophecies

Mr. Holland’s Opus

Never Say Never Again

Nixon

Ocean’s Eleven

Octopussy

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Open Range

Out Cold

Outside Providence

The Peacemaker

Permanent Midnight

Pinocchio

Proof

Pumpkin

Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings

The Purple Rose of Cairo

The Quiet American

The Rescuers

Rabbit-Proof Fence

The Saint

Saved!

Scream

Shaolin Soccer

She’s All That

Shopgirl

Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th

Six Days, Seven Nights

Split Decisions

The Spy who Loved Me

Summer’s Moon

The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure

The Swan Princess Christmas

The Sweetest Thing

The Sword in the Stone

Teen Wolf

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Thunderball

Tomorrow Never Dies

Treasure Planet

Unforgettable

Up in the Air

The Usual Suspects

What’s the Worst that Could Happen?

Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year

Winter’s Bone

The World is not Enough

You Only Live Twice

Available November 2

Total Divas: Season 7 Premiere (E!)

The Penguin King

Available November 3

Player vs. Player: Season 1 Premiere (ESL)

Available November 4

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Complete Season 12

Man Seeking Woman: Complete Season 3

Tyler Perry’s Boo! A Madea Halloween

Available November 5

ESL Replay: Season 1 Premiere (ESL)

Hannah Montana the Movie

Life on the Line

Zero Days

Available November 7

Vanderpump Rules: Complete Season 5 (Bravo)

Available November 8

Gadgetgang in Outerspace

Much Ado About Nothing

Oddball

White Haired Witch

Available November 10

Bootcamp: Immortals: Season 1 Premiere (ESL)

Taboo: Complete Season 1

Allied

Austin Found

The Song

Available November 11

Citizen Jane

Obey Giant: Hulu Original Documentary

Their Finest

Available November 14

Future Man: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)

Guidance: Complete Season 2

Available November 15

Uncontrollably Fond: Complete Season 1

Extract

Iron Sky

Parkland

Still Breathing

Available November 16

Gameface: Complete Season 1

There’s…Johnny!: Complete Season 1

Whose Streets?

Available November 19

Baskets: Complete Season 2

Man Down

Available November 20

Whitey

Available November 21

Blossom: Complete Series

Marvel’s Runaways: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)

Available November 22

Chicago Med: Season 3 Premiere

The Assassin Next Door

Stander

Available November 23

Prison Break: Complete Seasons 1-5

Happy Christmas

Available November 24

Fences

Available November 30
Monkey Business

Person to Person