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Streaming: The Mandalorian Season 2

Without a doubt, the most anticipated streaming series of the year—  “The Mandalorian” will be returning with its second season on October 30th to Disney+. To gear up for the release, we suggest you not only watch the first season (if you have not already), and watch these other Star Wars spin-offs to get you even more excited for the new season releasing incredibly soon! 

Mandalorian Season 1 

Where to Watch: Disney+ 

A lone gunfighter makes his way through the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. While on his way, he encounters enemies and unlikely allies. 

Solo: A Star Wars Story 

Where to Watch: Disney+ 

Young Han Solo finds adventure when he joins forces with a gang of galactic smugglers and a 190-year-old Wookie named Chewbacca. Indebted to the gangster Dryden Vos, the crew devises a daring plan to travel to the mining planet Kessel to steal a batch of valuable coaxium. In need of a fast ship, Solo meets Lando Calrissian, the suave owner of the perfect vessel for the dangerous mission — the Millennium Falcon.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 

Where to Watch: Disney+ 

Set just before A New Hope, Rogue One is the first of the spinoff movies. It tells the story of a group of rebels on a risky mission to steal the plans for the Galactic Empire’s super-weapon, the Death Star.

Original Star Wars Trilogy

Where to Watch: Disney+ 

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

The first Star Wars movie ever made, A New Hope follows Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi on their journey to free Princess Leia, the leader of the Rebellion, and destroy the Death Star.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The second installment of the classic trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back, focuses on the Galactic Empire’s pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance. Set three years after the events of A New Hope, the movie follows Luke as he studies the Force under the guidance of Jedi Master Yoda.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Taking place one year after the second movie, Return of the Jedi focuses on the Galactic Empire’s attempt to build a second Death Star and the Rebel Fleet’s plan to foil it.

Second Set of Star Wars Trilogy

Where to Watch: Disney+ 

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Set 32 years before the first Star Wars movie, The Phantom Menace tells the story of how Qui-Gon Jinn, the Jedi Master, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, his apprentice, protected Queen Amidala in an attempt to end the interplanetary trade dispute peacefully.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Taking place 10 years after the events of The Phantom Menace, this movie follows Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala as the trio witness the onset of the Clone Wars.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Set three years after the events of Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith follows Obi-Wan Kenobi in his journey to eliminate the leader of the Separatist army, General Grievous.

Last Installment of the Star Wars Trilogy

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

The first of the sequel trilogy, The Force Awakens, is set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. It follows Finn, Han Solo, Poe Dameron and Rey in their search for Luke Skywalker. The movie introduces a new antagonist, Kylo Ren.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

Taking place right after the events of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi follows Rey as she seeks Luke Skywalker’s help to defeat Kylo Ren and the First Order. Meanwhile, Finn, General Leia Organa and Poe Dameron try to fend off an attack on the Resistance. This movie features the first posthumous performance by Carrie Fisher and honors her memory.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) 

The final installment of the sequel trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker, is set shortly after the events of The Last Jedi. It follows Finn, Poe Dameron and Rey as they lead the fight against Kylo Ren. Although this movie isn’t yet available on Disney+, you can expect to see it on the service by the end of the year.

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Home Tips: Fall Harvest Decor Ideas

When summer fades, many of us are ready to welcome the fall season. Pumpkins, gourds, and other decorative squashed are in abundance this time of year! Why not use them as inspiration for your fall harvest decorating project?

Wheat Wreath with Wooden Beads

A wreath is a lovely way to welcome guests into your home. This wild wonder owes its elegant good looks to the natural materials that embellish its standard straw base. We added wheat stalks laced with wooden beads and sculptural bleached seedpods.

Wheat Centerpiece

Summer flowers may have wilted with the changing of seasons, but wheat stalks – with their delicate, golden form – are long-lasting. Arrange an armful of tall stalks into a vase, cropping the ends and fluffing the tops, and display your glorious autumnal bouquet.

Hanging Basket of Fall Flowers

Assorted pinecones, pods, acorns, and other natural decorations all make for a wilt-proof wall hanging. Treat them with a few coats of golden yellow paint, then hot-glue them to dried twigs gathered from the yard.

Tabletop Baskets

Baskets are good for more than bearing fruit! Make use of them on the dinner table as centerpieces, salt, and pepper cellars, or and added touch to your guest’s place settings. For each place card, cinch a napkin with a waxed cord and tie the ends around the basket’s handle.

Cornucopia

For the piece de resistance of your fall harvest décor, why not consider the universal symbol of bounty? The cornucopia, that is. This raffia cornucopia lined with a bed of dried wheat stalks holds an abundance of golden squashes, apples, and pears. This is a natural Thanksgiving decoration that radiates good fortune!

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Economic update for the week ending October 10, 2020

Stock markets had their best week in three months – It was a strange week on Wall Street. Stocks opened the week higher as Treasury Secretary  Mnuchin has begun to bridge the gap between democrats and republicans on another round of stimulus. Stocks dropped midweek after President Trump announced that there would not be a stimulus bill passed until after the election. The following day he announced that a deal was close, and the White House increased their stimulus package from $1.6 trillion to $1.8 trillion. The House had approved a package for $2.2 trillion. Investors feel that a deal is close and stocks rallied on the prospect of approximately $2 trillion added to the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 28,586.90, up 3.3% from 27,681.71 last week. It’s down 0.2% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,477.13, up 3.8% from 3,384.44 last week. It’s up 7.6% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 11,579.94, up 4.6% from 11,075.02 last week. It’s up 29.1% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.79%, up from 0.70% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.58%, up from 1.48% last week.

Mortgage rates – The October 8,  2020, Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.87%, unchanged from 2.88% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.37%, unchanged from 2.36% last week. The 5-year ARM was 2.89%, unchanged from 2.90% last week.

September home sales figures should be released either at the end of next week or the beginning of the following week. Those results will appear in upcoming updates.

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LA & Valley Eats: Wine + Cheese

Wine and cheese prove to be an unstoppable food pairing. Check out our favorite wine bars with delicious snacks to pick up from for a fun quarantine pod picnic at home!

Mirabelle Wine Bar

Located: 12518 Burbank Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607

This cozy but stellar wine bar has settled nicely into sleepy Valley Village. There’s cheese and charcuterie for those needing something light to pair with beers and wine, and the grilled cheese sandwich makes for a heftier bite late into the night. Make a reservation before going!

Buvette

Location: 15005 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

An incredible wine bar that the locals love with snacks and food that complement the wine parings perfectly! Make a reservation before going since there is plenty of outdoor space to sit.

Canyon Bistro & Wine Bar

Location: 120 N Topanga Canyon Blvd #119, Topanga, CA 90290

French-style cuisine, boutique wines & live jazz highlight this chic, art-filled cafe with a patio.

Tabula Rasa

Location: 5125 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Bestia vets Zach Negin and Daniel Flores operate this quaint wine bar in Thai Town. With dark, moody lighting and plenty of approachable wines by the glass, it’s the perfect kind of neighborhood spot.

Bar Covell

Location: 4628 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Dustin Lancaster and Matthew Kaner’s Bar Covell is the definitive Los Angeles wine bar. The bar’s incredibly knowledgeable staff helps guide customers through its constantly changing selection of roughly 150 labels spanning 24 countries. The food selection includes a solid selection of cheese and charcuterie options, as well as some assorted small plates.

Esters Wine Shop & Bar

(Image Credit: Lindsey Huttrer)

Location: 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Kathryn Coker’s sophisticated wine bar boasts an extensive selection that leans heavily toward import and small-batch labels. Chef Jessica Liu-He oversees Esters’ food menu, which includes bar snacks like lavender almonds and heartier small plates like a sausage with pickles and beer mustard.

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Weekend Events: Oct 9th – Oct 11

There is plenty to do out and about in Los Angeles and the Valley socially distant. Check out our round-up of some events perfect to attend or celebrate with your quarantine pod!

The Magic Castle

When: Friday, October 9-Sunday October 11

Where: The Magic Castle (Hollywood)

Cost: $125 per car for up to 5 people

There’s so little live comedy right now in LA that this bi-weekly drive-in series at the Magic Castle almost seems like a miracle. This weekend’s lineup includes a slew of Improv/Comedy Store regulars including Sarah Tiana, Preacher Lawson, Jamie Kennedy, and a ton more. There’s food available to order, too, including fried chicken sandwiches and burgers from the Magic Castle kitchen.

Screamfest Screenings

When: Tuesday, October 6-Thursday, October 15

Where: The Regency Van Nuys 

Cost: Varies

The longest-running horror film festival in the U.S. is back again, with in-person drive-in screenings at the Regency Theaters in Van Nuys. Screenings include a bunch of new low-budget horror shorts and features, as well as some of the classic “Halloween” films and a free screening of the new Steven King thriller, “Mr. Mercedes.”

Celebrate Filipino American History Month

When: Saturday, October 10

Where: Your Home!

Cost: $20-90

October is Filipino American History Month, and the Filipina-owned gin bar Genever has teamed with HiFi kitchen for a one-off dinner/cocktail/show extravaganza, featuring a traditional Kamayan feast (Chicken adobo/saltado/sisig/fixings), a cocktail by Genever’s Jesse Smith, and the hosts of This Filipino American Life podcast schooling viewers on Filipino history. Food is available for pickup or delivery for an additional fee.

Golden Road’s Oktoberfest Pop Up

When: Saturday, October 10-Sunday October 11

Where: 1300 Glendale Ave, Echo Park

Cost: $40-$75

Raucous Oktoberfest parties may be off the menu this year, but that’s not stopping beloved local-gone-national brewery Golden Road from celebrating the season: in addition to a new Oktoberfest Bier, they’ve collaborated with ultra-colorful clothing brand The Quiet Life on a capsule collection. Order any of the clothes to pick up at their popup this weekend (ranging from a logo-heavy hat to tie-dye shirts) and they’ll throw in a 6-pack of the new beer as well as a limited edition tote.

West Adams Ballot Party

When: Sunday, October 11

Where: Delicious Pizza (West Adams)

Cost: Free

Hip-hop inspired, party-hearty pie-slinger Delicious Pizza is getting civically involved with this socially-distant get-out-the-vote event. Bring your ballot by for a pop-up photo booth, voter guides to help you figure out how/who you’re going to vote for, and DJs all day.

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Streaming: Classic Rom-Coms

For decades, romantic comedies were derided as unserious “chick flicks,” as if that was a bad thing. But in recent years, the moviegoing public and critics alike have finally come around to celebrate the rom-com in all its frothy, silly, heartwarming glory. Check out some of our favorite classic Rom-Coms on Netflix!

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Julia Roberts was the perfect casting choice for ’90s rom-coms like My Best Friend’s Wedding because her bubbly personality and giant smile helped conceal the fact that her character is kind of a jerk (see also: Runaway Bride, which is unfortunately not available to stream anywhere).

10 Things I Hate About You

10 Things I Hate About You is one of the best entries in the teen-rom-com-based-on-classic-literature genre (see also: Clueless, She’s The Man). Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger star as Kat and Patrick, high school versions of the sparring couple in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, with Larisa Oleynik (aka Nickelodeon’s Alex Mack) co-starring as Kat’s younger sister Bianca, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt new student Cameron who’s smitten with her.

13 Going On 30

Were one to claim that 13 Going on 30 is the best romantic comedy ever made, there’d be slim argument against it. The movie is a charm on all fronts, from its cast — the winning Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo — to its premise, which involves Garner’s 13-year-old self wishing to become “30 and flirty and thriving” is magically granted.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Steve Carell’s kicked off his post-The Office career by playing the leading man in two rom-coms: Crazy, Stupid, Love and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. The former sees Carell as a recently divorced dad navigating the dating scene with the help of a smooth-talking Ryan Gosling.

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Home Tips: Pumpkin Painting Ideas

It’s time to get into the Halloween spirit! A fun family activity (that is less messy than carving pumpkins) is painting pumpkins! Check out these creative ways to paint pumpkins for the interior and exterior of your home this season.

Chalk-Painted Pumpkins

The chalk paint trend is ever strong, has inspired us to create a set of these elegant floral pumpkins. We love the combination of a matte chalk finish and these large stencil designs! Thy match any fall décor perfectly.

Glittered Pumpkins

There’s no denying it – everything is better with glitter. Both pumpkins are coated in a fine sprinkling of shimmer – gold and copper, respectively – and one is polka-dotted while the other is crafted with the visual effect of dripping in luxury.

Falling Leaves Pumpkin

Autumn-inspired silhouettes add simple charm. To paint this pumpkin, adhere the leaf stencil to the pumpkin and pounce the inside of the stencil with white craft paint. Slowly, peel off the stencil and re-adhere it to a new spot on the pumpkin. Repeat this method until the pumpkin’s entire rounded surface is covered in leaves.

Abstract Expressionist Art Pumpkins

Abstract Expressionist artists – Pollock, Rothko, and Franz Kline – all use sophisticated designs. Similarly, the trio of pumpkins pictured here is inspired by some of the greatest artists of our time.

Skeleton Pumpkin

A skeleton with a devilish grin like this is just the thing your front porch needs this Halloween. Kids will love to help come up with their own spooky, silly, up-to-no-good expressions.

Content Sourced from: Martha Stewart Living
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Economic update for the week ending October 3, 2020

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 27,682.71, up 1.9% from 27,173.96 last week. It’s down 3.0% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 3,348.44, up 1.5% from 3,298.96 last week. It’s up 3.6% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 11,075.02, up 1.5% from 10,913.56 last week. It’s up 23.4% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.70%, up slightly from 0.66% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.48%, up from 1.40% last week.

Mortgage rates – The October 1, 2020 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.88%, down slightly from 2.90% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.36%, down from 2.40% last week. The 5-year ARM was 2.90%, unchanged from 2.90% last week.

The U.S. economy added 661,000 jobs in September – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 661,000 jobs in September. Analysts expected 800,000 new jobs, so this number was quite a bit below expectations. This represented a slowing in the pace of the jobs recovery, as over 1.3 million jobs were added in August. Th e unemployment rate dropped to 7.9% in September. It was 8.4% in August.
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LA & Valley Eats: Voted Best Restaurants

Talking about “the best” restaurants in LA during a pandemic seems entirely unfair, and frankly irrelevant, considering what the industry is facing at the moment. At the same time, restaurants have never been more important. They’re an essential escape from the monotony of quarantine, and an inextricable part of what makes Los Angeles great. Check out our favorites in LA and the Valley!

Katsu Sando – Chinatown 

Chef Daniel Son helped turn his father’s Sunset Strip sushi bar, Kura Fine Japanese Cuisine, into a destination until it closed last November. Thankfully, he had this formidable back-up plan. Katsu Sando started as a popular Smorgasburg LA stall selling their take on the namesake Japanese konbini snack (more about katsu sandos here) before Son partnered with James Lee on this fast casual-sandwich spot on Broadway.

Kismet Rotisserie – Los Feliz 

Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson’s latest addition to the Kismet restaurant family already appears to be an industry favorite, drawing chefs to shaded sidewalk tables and counter seats during simpler times.

Olivetta – West Hollywood 

Michael Fiorelli previously thrilled Manhattan Beach with modern Italian food at Love & Salt. By teaming with Marissa and Matt Hermer, one of LA’s best Italian chefs managed to expand beyond the boot to Mediterranean neighbors like France, Greece, and Spain. A-listers and studio heads are already regulars. Oliveta is currently “on vacation” at nearby La Peer Hotel.

Hummus Yummy – Valley Village 

You won’t miss meat at this fast-casual Israeli restaurant near Los Angeles Valley College. Haifa native Tony Weiner graduated from a food truck and celebrates the humble chickpea by crafting exquisite hummus with a choice of toppings.

Tel Aviv Fish Grill – Tarzana 

Tel Aviv Grill is one of LA’s leading shawarma practitioners, with three locations across the San Fernando Valley, but spit-shaved meat wasn’t enough. The founders refocused their original Tarzana location to fish in late 2018.

Petit Trois – Sherman Oaks 

When Ludo Lefebvre, wife Krissy and their high-profile partners first opened in Hollywood, they didn’t even have a sign, but people still swarmed their shoebox-sized French bistro. Petit Trois Le Valley is larger and more visible, with a snail logo ushering diners to a space that now serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

 

 

 

**Content Sourced From Thrillist.

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Economic update for the month ending September 30, 2020

September marked a turbulent month for stocks – Stocks rallied on the last day of September to end the month lower, but much better than they were during the month. At one point, markets were down approximately 10% for the month. Much of the turmoil this month centered around a new round of stimulus. It was widely felt that a coronavirus stimulus package was a done deal in late August. The size and scope of that stimulus were in the range of $2-trillion to $3-trillion. It was felt that a package was days away. All stock markets hit all-time record highs in August. As prospects of a deal on the stimulus package began to fade, stocks began to drop. Over the last few days of September, a new round of negotiations between Democrats, Republicans, and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin have produced results that lead investors to feel a deal is near, and stocks have climbed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the month at 27,781.70, down 2.3% from 28,430.05 last month. The S&P 500 closed the month at 3,363.01, down 4.1% from 3,500.31 last month. The NASDAQ closed the week at 11,167.31, down 5.2% from 11,775.46 last month.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the month yielding 0.69%, down from 0.72%, last month. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the month at 1.46%, down slightly from 1.49% last month.

Mortgage rates – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on October 1, 2020 reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 2.88%, down from 2.91% last month. The 15-year fixed was 2.36%, down from 2.56% last month. The 5-year ARM was 2.90%, nearly unchanged from 2.91% last month.

The U.S. economy added 1.37 million jobs in August – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 1.37 million jobs in August. While that number slightly exceeded expectations, approximately 250,000 were temporary census workers hired by the federal government, so the report was pretty much what analysts expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.4% in August from 10.2% in July. August’s unemployment rate was the lowest since March 2020. The unemployment rate in February was 3.6% but I surged in March and April when it peaked at 14.7%. This was due to the government-ordered shutdown of the economy because of the Coronavirus pandemic. While 24.2 million people are still not working, who’s employers have either shut down or reduced staff, the economy is still on a positive track.

Home sales figures are released in the third week of the month for the previous month. These are August’s results.

California’s existing-home sales and prices hit a record high in August – The California Association of Realtors announced that existing, single-family home sales totaled 465,400 in August on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. That marked a month-over-month increase of 16.3% from the number of sales in July. Year-over-year sales were up 14.6% from August 2019’s 406,100 sales on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. The state-wide median price also hit a record high. It was $706,900, up 6.3% from $666,320 in July. Year-over-year the median price increased by 14.5% from $617,410 last August. That marked the steepest year over-year-increase in the median price since March 2014 when home prices were recovering from steep drops during the Great Recession financial crisis. The median price is the point at which one half the homes sell for more and one half sell for less. Historic low-interest rates with 30-year fixed at or under 3% have increased buyer demand, and very low inventory levels have created competition and pushed prices up. The unsold inventory index in August held steady at a 2.1-month supply. That was unchanged from July, but down from a 3.2-month supply one year ago. A 5-6-month supply is considered a normal market, but we have not seen that high of an inventory rate for many years. The index indicates the number of months it would take to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current rate of sales. The graph below indicates the number of sales and median prices for counties in Southern California.

The graph below indicates results from Southern California by county.


U.S. existing-home sales and prices soared in August – The National Association of Realtors reported that U.S. existing-home sales hit 6 million in August on a seasonally adjusted yearly basis. The number of homes sold in August was 10.5% higher than in August 2019. That marked the highest number of homes sold in a month since December 2006. Prices also surged. Nationally the median price paid for a home jumped 11.4% from one year ago.
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