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Out and About: Virtual Tourism

There’s never been a better time to explore the world. From the Louvre to the Smithsonian to the Guggenheim, the largest museums around the globe are now as close as your screen, thanks to the arrival of virtual tours designed to carry you through their corridors and exhibits. For a population increasingly isolated as current events unfold, this online arena offers a welcome reprieve from confinement and the chance to glimpse cultures, civilizations and works of art that might have otherwise gone ignored. From Manhattan and Paris to London and Sao Paulo, here are 10 museums to seek out – without ever having to step foot in an airport. 

British Museum: London

And now for something truly epic, this legendary museum’s interactive virtual tour of the world’s history spans roughly two million years. Along the way, you can explore the religions, conflicts, and triumphs of a multitude of civilizations that have dotted our planet through the ages. Additionally, the museum, which is closed due to the pandemic, allows virtual tourists to wander its halls and discover artifacts including the Rosetta Stone. If that still leaves you unsatisfied, supplement the virtual tours by listening to A History of the World in 100 Objects, a podcast narrated by the museum’s director Neil MacGregor.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.

Especially for kids, you can’t go wrong with dinosaurs, fossils and mysterious creatures from the depths. So take them along for this virtual tour and embrace the adventure.

The Louvre

The world’s largest art museum, this Paris landmark, located on the Right Bank of the Seine, measures more than 782,000 square feet and displays more than 38,000 artifacts and works from prehistory to the present – all of which can be appreciated from your home now.

African American History and Culture: Washington, D.C.

This museum and its 35,000 artifacts set out to do nothing less than telling the story of America. Although the virtual tour offers only a glimpse of all that the museum has to provide visitors, it’s impressive nonetheless.

Russia’s State Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg, Russia

This stunning video – remarkably filmed in 4K in one continuous take on an iPhone 11 Pro – spans more than five hours as it carries you through this museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. All told, the tour covers 45 galleries and 588 artistic masterpieces.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence 

One of the most prestigious art museums in Italy and the world, the Uffizi Gallery sits adjacent to the Piazza Della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. Built-in 1560, its treasures include works from the Italian Renaissance, all of which can be explored here.  

MASP, Sao Paulo 

Considered Brazil’s first modern museum, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit boasting a collection of more than 8,000 works, including sculptures, paintings, and photographs from across continents. 

Guggenheim Museum, New York 

As renowned for the skylight and spiral staircase at its center as its vast collection of art, now you can explore both, thanks to Google’s Street View feature. 

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located on the left bank of the Seine, this museum is housed in a former railway station and features mostly French works dating from 1848 to 1914. Take their virtual tour and browse masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Focused on Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations and culture, this museum features more than 20 exhibit rooms, complete with Mayan artifacts. 

  

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Streaming: 10 “Grade A” Shows & Movies to Stream

Moviegoing, with its elbow-to-elbow maneuvering room, is not socially distant. Which, of course, is one of its great pleasures: watching a story unfold on a big screen in the dark, surrounded by strangers. So it’s no surprise the experience itself is changing in these difficult times, as cinemas are shuttered and studios scramble to adjust. Already NBCUniversal has announced movies still in release, including the hit The Invisible Man, will arrive this week on VOD platforms. Given this, here’s a rundown of what else is available to stream from home.

Frozen 2 (DisneyPlus)

When you have children with nowhere to go, you need a friend like Disney. In addition to a library that spans decades of animated and live-action family fare, this streamer released Frozen II this past weekend only a few weeks after it arrived on DVD and Blu-ray. The sequel picks up with Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf on a journey to learn the origins of Elsa’s magical powers. FOR AGES: All ages.

I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)

As it opens with a traumatized teenage girl with telekinetic powers wandering a small-town street, comparisons to Carrie are inevitable. But this new paranormal series isn’t Stephen King’s thriller about a prom queen with demons. And it’s not the X-Men either. Which explains why this clever, soulful spin on adolescent self-discovery has emerged a breakout hit. Sophia Lillis stars as Sydney, a high school student in rural Pennsylvania who realizes she has superpowers. It’s also a quick binge: each episode is a mere half-hour. FOR AGES: 16 and up.

One Strange Rock (DisneyPlus)

Think of this as Earth’s biography. Will Smith narrates as the series, propelled by the cinematic style of producer Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), plunges across amazing terrestrial spots and to the heights of the International Space Station. The show lives up to its National Geographic pedigree, but with Aronofsky’s involvement, it also proves a stylish, at times troubling fever dream almost as volatile as the planet itself. FOR AGES: 10 and up.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)

If you haven’t had a chance to sample this Emmy-winning comedy, there’s no better time to catch up on its breezy first three seasons. Rachel Brosnahan stars as a 1950s housewife turned unlikely stand-up comic. Brosnahan radiates charm, but it’s the supporting cast – including Alex Borstein, Marin Hinkle, and Tony Shalhoub – who take the show to creative heights. FOR AGES: 18 and up.

Locke and Key (Netflix)

Based on the graphic novels from horror author Joe Hill (NOS 482), this supernatural series involves three siblings who discover their home is a portal to a universe of magic and mystery. Despite Hill’s involvement, the drama is less a fright fest than a teen-friendly fantasy. In other words, if you’re looking for a Stranger Things fix, this might suffice. FOR AGES: 13 and up.

Spenser Confidential (Netflix)

Beantown’s Mark Wahlberg – who once made an online video tutorial on Boston slang – goes home for this buddy comedy loosely inspired by the works of the late private eye author Robert B. Parker. He stars as Spenser, a disgraced ex-cop fresh out of prison who investigates a murder alongside a quietly-intense mixed martial arts fighter called Hawk (Winston Duke from Us and Black Panther). FOR AGES: 18 and up.

Bob’s Burgers (Hulu)

Neither as farcical as The Simpsons nor as nihilistic as Family Guy, this long-running animated comedy about an oft-beleaguered family man living his dream of operating his own burger joint has wit, heart and a deep, abiding affection for life’s oddballs. If you’ve somehow managed to miss it this past decade, or simply want to revisit favorite old episodes, Hulu has curated 10 seasons – or 188 episodes. FOR AGES: 13 and up. 

Hunters (Amazon Prime)

Al Pacino has embraced the new streaming reality lately – first, with a volcanic performance as Jimmy Hoffa in Netflix’s The Irishman and now with Hunters, his first regular series role as the leader of a band of Nazi hunters in the 1970s. If the subject matter sounds grim, the tone of the Jordan Peele-produced thriller is closer to Inglorious Basterds. FOR AGES: 18 and up. 

Love Is Blind (Netflix)

For fans of The Bachelor, this reality dating show follows 30 men and women who get to know each other from behind private pod walls before eventually coming face-to-face. As their relationship progresses, they need to decide if love is truly blind. FOR AGES: 16 and up. 

Stargirl (DisneyPlus)

Don’t mistake this for the superhero series coming soon to The CW as part of its DC Universe of shows. This Stargirl is a teen drama based on the 2000 bestselling novel by Jerry Spinelli about a free-spirited new girl in school who inspires other students to embrace their true selves and resist conformity. FOR AGES: 10 and up. 

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Games: Family Edition

Game night has evolved a lot since the days of checkers and Clue. Board games now range from intricate puzzles requiring the utmost strategic thinking to intense mythologies that draw in players for hours (and hours) to raucous adults-only laugh riots. So to say, in this era of social distancing, games are one way to pass the time is a disservice to their makers and the people who play, regardless of current events. Sit yourself and the kids down and break out any of the following 10 family-friendly games. You might end up having a great time, even stuck indoors.

Jax Sequence

As with life, all this takes to win is some luck and a little strategy. Participants play a card while at the same time placing a chip on the equivalent space on the board. The aim is to assemble five in a row: a winning sequence. Suggested for ages seven and up, the game is ideal for almost any setting since it can be played by as few as two people or as many as 12. 

Heist        

If you think spending a few days on a road trip with your family is a pressure cooker, what about trying to pull off a heist together? That’s the premise behind this game, which sets your team out to crack a safe. Expect as many twists, turns and close calls as an Ocean Eleven’s sequel as your team works to crack a safe. For ages seven and up.

Hasbro Gaming Monopoly

If you have several hours to wheel and deal, backstab and bankrupt, then the classic board game, which dates back to the Great Depression, offers all the pleasure and pain of Wall Street without leaving your living room. It’s recommended for ages eight and up, but honestly, you’re never too young to learn the value of money – or how to connive and claw to get some.

Not Parent Approved: A Card Game for Families            

If you’re in the mood for laughter without having to think about things, you’ll approve. A family-friendly variation on the adults-only Cards Against Humanity, this game challenges mischief makers to match a fill-in-the-blank question with a card from their hand. Silliness ensues.

Throw Throw Burrito Board Game                  


You don’t go into a game called “Throw Throw Burrito Board Game” expecting a master class in chess. The goal is simple enough: “collect cards and throw things at your friends.” Those things, as you might expect, are the ever-smiling burritos. And you lose points every time one strikes you. Recommended for ages seven and up.

Game Mashups – Candy Land Connect 4        

This mashup game takes the architecture of Connect 4 and adds some sweets straight out of Candy Land. Players try to line up plastic candies on the bottom row or vertically from the bottom. Recommended for children ages six and up.

Flying Sushi Kitchen Game    

For parents who find retrieving pieces of sushi with chopsticks a challenge, here’s a game to ensure their children develop vastly superior motor skills. The goal: snare levitating pieces of sushi out of the air and be the first player to assemble his or her platter. This one is recommended for children ages eight to 14.

Twister Scrabble Game

 

Another mashup of two classic games. In this one, for ages eight and up, the twister mat is actually a giant Scrabble board, with players forced to contort, twist and bend themselves into knots in order to spell out words.

Party Bowl Party Game

From What Do You Meme’s line of family-friendly games, this one is perfect for outgoing players who enjoy Charades-like guessing antics. Words and phrases are tossed into a bowl, then guessed upon by others. Since it allows players to decide how racy they want the game if at all, it’s suggested for ages 12 and up.

Family Feud Trivia Box Card Game 

No explanation required. This trivia-box version of the enduring game show brings the feud home. Just remember, after the game’s over, you’re still going to be stuck with these people for a while longer. For ages eight and up, so the whole family can get in on what the survey says.

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Home Tips: Sick-Proofing Your Home

You may not have heard lately, but it’s still cold and flu season. This means as concerned as you are about the coronavirus, there are other germs galore equally intent on making you ill. The good news: most of them, including COVID-19, can be effectively dealt with by simple cleanliness, especially around the home. And while that has predictably created mass shortages of sanitizing products, it also requires more than a simple wipe-down. Here are a few ways to help keep your house a healthier place as you hunker down for the long haul.

WIPE SMART

Possessing the precious sanitizing wipe isn’t enough – you also need to wield it correctly. First, after cleaning, surfaces should stay wet for a few minutes, then be allowed to air dry. Second, the wipe should be discarded (no matter how diminished your supply is) as studies have shown reusing it will only spread germs rather than eliminate them. If you don’t have sanitizing wipes, try mixing five tablespoons of bleach in a gallon of water as a make-ready disinfectant. Using a vinegar solution isn’t potent enough, especially against COVID-19. 

Wipe your fEET

There’s little point to assiduously scrubbing your house down if you’re tracking in dirt and who-knows-what into the place every time you enter. Slap down a fresh doormat at every entryway and remove your shoes whenever you come inside. Better still, wash the soles frequently because, again, who knows what you stepped in out there.

WASH TOWELS AND LINENS

Linens and towels, which viruses and bacteria cling to, should be washed frequently in hot water. If someone in your home has been sick, a few extra steps are recommended, such as introducing bleach to your laundry – always follow the instructions on the label – and then sterilizing the washing machine itself. This can be done by adding bleach to an empty cycle of hot water, then running it a second time just to make sure the bleach has been drained away.

SANITIZE YOUR CLEANING TOOLS

After you’ve scrubbed and disinfected from one corner to the other, you aren’t finished cleaning until you’ve sanitized the mops, rags and any other items you may have used. Otherwise, you run the risk of having only captured the germs in your home – which you will then distribute around the next time you “clean.” Wash them with hot water and soap as well as a touch of bleach. And if possible, ditch your mops and brooms altogether for disposable cloth refills.

HUMIDIFY YOUR HOME

From cutting down on static electricity to keeping wood from splitting, there are many reasons to keep humidifiers around, especially during winter. But most importantly, a humidifier, like the Vicks mist humidifier pictured here on Amazon, can help eliminate flu viruses. And if you are suffering symptoms, a higher humidity level can soothe sore throats and sinus congestion.

 

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Economic Update for the Week Ending March 13, 2020

 

Stock Markets Entered Bear Market Territory

Its difficult to imagine that all major stock market indexes closed at all time highs on February 19, 2020. In less than a month the longest bull market in history has ended because of a virus that has caused a global pandemic. Investors have concluded that the cruise industry will be decimated. It’s probable that the airline industry will need a bail out. Retail, sports, entertainment, restaurants, private schools, and other business sectors will also suffer devastating losses. Demand for oil with cruise ships halted, flights cancelled, people staying home and not driving has caused a surplus in the supply of oil. OPEC had called for cutting production to keep an already over supply of inventory from increasing and stabilizing prices, but Russia refused, and oil prices saw their largest one day decline since 1991. By weeks end the Fed had announced how they would add liquidity to support the financial system, and help business lending. The House also passed an emergency package. The Fed action, and the prospect of congressional stimulus sparked a 2,000 point rally on Friday to end the week with less devastation to stocks by making up much of Thursday’s losses which was the largest one day percentage drop in the DOW, eclipsing Black Monday’s drop in 1987. To be fair, on the positive side major stock market indexes are still above their levels at the beginning of 2019. We have lost about one year of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 23,185.62, down 10.4% from 25,864.78 last week. It’s down 18.8% year to date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,711.02, down 8.8% from 2,972.37 last week. It’s down 16.1% year to date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,874.88, down 8.2% from 8,575.62 last week. It’s down 12.2% year to date.

U.S. Treasury Bond Yields

As stock markets continued to plummet investors moved money from stocks to the safety of bonds. The 10-year treasury bond yield closed the week slightly above last week, but still at their lowest level in 100 years, Monday’s yields dropped to the lowest in the history in America, but worked their way up in the end of the week. The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 0.94%, up from 0.74% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 1.56%, up from 1.25%, last week. We watch treasury bond yields because mortgage rates often follow bond yields.

Mortgage Rates at 40-Year Lows 

The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on March 12, 2020 reported mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.36% up from 3.29% last week. The 15-year fixed was 2.77% unchanged from 2.79% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.01%, down from 3.18% last week. Usually, mortgage rates follow bond yields, but lenders have not lowered rates to the extent that bond yields have dropped. This week lenders actually raised rates because they did not have the staff to handle the volume of all the loans in process, as sales have been brisk, and refinancing has surged.

 

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Rodeo in the News: LABJ Ranks 5 Of Our Own Among Top Realtors in Los Angeles County

The Los Angeles Business Journal released its annual list that ranks top agents in the Los Angeles Residential Real Estate Market. Five of Rodeo Realty’s own are featured on the list!

“For the agents who drive L.A.’s residential real estate market, the past year was defined by escalating growth, the rising presence of international buyers and record-breaking prices for luxe estates. The features that follow provide an in-depth look at the market’s key players and top sales as well as detailed data on the city’s leading brokers.” – Los Angeles Business Journal

Check out who is featured, below!

Congratulations to all, well deserved! See the rest of the list, HERE!

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LA Events: March 13- March 15

From a Broadway sensation to film noir tough guys to the return of The Strokes, there’s a concert, event or conference for you in Los Angeles and the Westside this weekend – whether you’re in the mood for dark, catchy pop or a jazz phenom’s fairy tale.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Hamilton

Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit almost immediately entered the pop culture lexicon. If you haven’t seen it, this is your chance to find out why. With hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and classic Broadway, Miranda tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  For details, go HERE.

VERITE with Arthur Moon

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

VERITE is California native Kelsey Byrne, whose style of catchy but moody pop first turned heads in the blogosphere. In 2017, she released her first full-length album, Somewhere in Between, on her own record label. For details on the show, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

22nd Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir

The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood, 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Dedicated to hard-bitten hustlers, sleek gangsters and vexing dames, the longest-running film noir festival in Los Angeles is casting its long shadow at the Egyptian Theatre with another sensational lineup of rare films. On Saturday, March 14, the festival unspools a five-film noir marathon: Out of the Past with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas; The Guilty with Don Castle and Wally Cassel; High Tide with Lee Tracy; The Prowler with Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes; and Try and Get Me, with Lloyd Bridges. For details, go HERE.

The Strokes

The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA

Indie princes The Strokes return to the City of Angels ahead of their first full-length album in seven years, The New Abnormal. Most recently, the group has been stirring interest with a stream of singles including Ode to the Mets and At the Door. Performing ahead of the group is rising rocker King Princess. For ticket information, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020

Cecile McLorin Salvant

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Jazz phenom Cecile McLorin Salvant blends bluegrass and jazz in the fairy tale Ogresse, about a human-eating monster who lives in the woods. And like all the best fairy tales, this one, told from the point of view of a young black woman, has a lot to say about the world today. For ticket information, go HERE.

Shordie Shordie

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

Once considered one of rap’s best-kept secrets, Shordie Shordie now appears on the cusp of big things. With his Baltimore trio Peso Da Mafia, he released projects such as What Matters Most (2017) and Never a Drought (2018). Their 2017 single Money Man became a sensation in their hometown. For details about this show, go HERE.

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Valley Eats: Iconic Side Dishes

You order the meal, but what you really came for is the side. It happens. Whether it’s the favorite hangout where the fries are the salty sensations you crave or the pub that serves mac n’ cheese that outpaces the rest of the menu, some side dishes transcend their class status as mere half-considered, disposable pleasures. They become the plates of calorie intake we truly, madly love. Around the Valley, here are a few sides so delicious and unforgettable they will have you coming back – but only for them.

Conejo Valley

Hummus

Hummus Bistro, 587 N Ventu Park Road Suite 587A, Newbury Park, CA 91320

Who says a side can’t be good for you? This Middle Eastern dish is a far healthier option than the other dips or sauces you might turn to. This eatery’s hummus consists of garbanzo beans blended with garlic, lemon juice and tahini sauce, topped with organic extra virgin olive oil. While it’s served with pita bread, remember hummus can be used as a dip for almost anything.

Chili Cheese Fries

Stacked Food Well Built, 446 W Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA

From the image above, can you tell which is the side and which is the main? These fries arrive buried under cheddar and jack cheeses, finished off with house-made beef and pork chili, sour cream and green onions.

Hot Homemade Soup

Chocolatine, 2955 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

This charming French-themed venue offers croissants, croque, quiche, pastries and salads, but the one side that cannot be missed is the home-made soup. Try the tomato and goat cheese or the zucchini-boursin. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a hint of France without leaving California.

San Fernando Valley

Vegan Nachos

SunCafe, 10820 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

If you’re a vegan, these nachos were engineered for you. If you’re not, you’ll be pleasantly shocked that you can’t tell the difference. Made from Mexican turnip and blue corn chips, they arrive under a blanket of cashew cheese, vegan sour cream, meatless chorizo, jalapenos and a smattering of other veggies. Now that we’ve settled the question of whether vegan nachos can be good, it’s time to ask: are nachos really a side or are they a meal? Discuss.

The Potato

Fresh Potato Factory, 9420 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, CA, 91324

Whatever your potato preference you will likely find one to your liking at this counter-serve vegetarian spot. Whether mashed or baked (but never fried) or presented as wedges, paninis, burgers or fries, everything on the menu is carved with the potato in mind.

Chili and Cornbread

The David Brothers Chili Parlor, 1145 East Chevy Chase, Glendale, CA 91205

We will sidestep the question of whether chili is really a meal since, whether you’re having the house chili (angus beef, red peppers, onions, kidney beans and cilantro) or the veggie chili (fresh peppers, onions, beans, corn and cilantro), your choice of sides includes a cornbread bowl or a cornbread muffin. In other words, it is both the meal and the side. Don’t forget the toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, diced onions and jalapenos.

Santa Clarita

Southern Fried Dill Pickles

Lucielle’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 West Valencia Boulevard, Valencia, CA 91355

Fried pickles first appeared on the culinary scene in the south in the 1960s, which begs the question: what did people do with pickles before that? For dipping, Lucielle’s serves ranch and Creole mustard alongside their Cajun fried pickle spears.

Chips and Guacamole

Rubio’s, 27055 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

If you’ve ever ordered a bowl of chips and guac to start and completely spoiled your meal, you know that sometimes the guac was all you really needed. This beach-themed eatery makes their guacamole fresh daily with Hass avocados, natural sea salt, garlic and lime juice.

Gyromania Fries

Gyromania, 20655 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 

For evidence of the versatility of the fry, look no further than this Greek-inspired side – although it certainly looks like meal enough – which offers your choice of meat, buried under crumbled feta cheese and oregano flakes and served with tzatziki sauce. Opa!

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Valley Events: March 13 – March 15

Conejo Valley

Travel back in time to the reign of the original rock stars, catch up with an original Jersey Boy or spend time dueling the Red Baron. Whether you’re in the mood for comedy or music, there is plenty of entertainment to check out this weekend in the Conejo Valley.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Fred Kavli Theater, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Frankie Valli was the original Jersey Boy. Decades before the smash Broadway musical, Valli was the lead singer of the Four Seasons in 1962. Their journey formed the basis of the show, which now ranks as the 12th longest-running production in Broadway history. The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. For tickets, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

Rockin the Legends

Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Academy Awards musical director Michael Anthony Perna takes audiences through the rock of ages, chronicling modern rock from the early classical composers through the blues – then into the modern era from Ray Charles to Led Zeppelin. With a live band, the show tours the lives and legends of performers including The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, John Lennon and Elton John. For more information, go HERE.

Jim Jefferies

Fred Kavli Theater, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Jim Jefferies first got noticed by American audiences with his debut HBO special I Swear to God. Since then he’s established himself as one of the most popular comics working today – from his FX sitcom Legit to his late-night talk show The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central. This latest tour was announced shortly after his fifth stand-up comedy special Freedumb debuted last summer on Netflix. For details about the show, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020 

Karla Bonoff

Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA

Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff’s career spans four decades, during which time she’s written hits for Bonnie Raitt (Home), Wynonna Judd (Tell Me Why) and Linda Ronstadt, who recorded a number of Bonoff’s songs including Someone To Lay Down Beside Me and Lose Again for the 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind as well as the 1989 duet All My Life. For tickets, go HERE.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

The Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi adapts Clark Gesner’s classic musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, adapted from Charles Schulz’s legendary comic strip. All your favorites are here – from Lucy and Linus to Snoopy and Charlie Brown, who, in fine form, spends the show veering from defeat to indomitable hope. For more details, go HERE.

San Fernando Valley

From a rising singer-songwriter to a pair of Hollywood comedy veterans – they’re all part of what’s going on this weekend in the San Fernando Valley.

Friday, March 13, 2020 

Best in Show 20th Anniversary

Studio Movie Grill, 128 Artsakh Avenue, Glendale, CA 91206

The Shore to Shore Film Festival kicks off with a screening of Christopher Guest comedy Best in Show on its 20th anniversary. After the movie, stay for the Q and A with actors Jim Piddock and John Michael Higgins. If you arrive early, you can drop by the happy hour mixer at the bar. A portion of ticket sales will go to Dog Cafe LA, who will be on hand from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. with some of the dogs up for adoption at the rescue organization. For details, go HERE.

Saturday, March 14, 2020 

Kendra and the Bunnies

Room 41, 4105 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

“Kendra & the Bunnies” is actually singer, songwriter, poet, and author Kendra Muecke, whose first album, Of Vinyl, debuted last July. Her sound fuses singing, spoken word, guitar, percussion, medicine drum, and electronic samples. For more information, go HERE.

 

Dana Gould

Flappers Comedy Club Burbank – Main Room, 102 East Magnolia Burbank, CA 91502

A prolific comic, actor and writer, Dana Gould’s credits include The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Maron, Seinfeld and Parks, and Recreation. He even played a live-action version of himself on Family Guy. Behind the scenes, he has written for The Simpsons and The Ben Stiller Show, as well as created the series Stan Against Evil. You may also have come across his monthly podcast, The Dana Gould Hour. For tickets, go HERE.

 Sunday, March 15, 2020 

 

Jeremy Piven

Flappers Comedy Club Burbank, 102 East Magnolia Burbank, CA 91502 

Long before he nabbed what would become his signature, Emmy-winning role as uber-agent Ari Gold on HBO’s Entourage, Jeremy Piven had carved out a career for himself as a character actor known for such films as Grosse Pointe Blank and Family Man. Post-Ari, he followed Entourage with the critically acclaimed series Mr. Selfridge and then the CBS drama Wisdom of the Crowd. For information about his show, go HERE.

Atomic Roots Orchestra 

1901 W Burbank Boulevard, Burbank, CA

Hosted at the Burbank Moose Lodge, go swing dancing with the Atomic Roots Orchestra. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is a free dance lesson at 7 p.m. For details, go HERE.

Santa Clarita

Nancy Drew is without a clue and a pair of very different acts promise to transport audiences back to the 1980s. All this and more can be found going on this weekend in Santa Clarita.

Friday, March 13, 2020 

The Dickies and D.I.

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, 24201 Valencia Boulevard No. 1351, Santa Clarita, CA

From 1979’s Banana Splits to (I’m Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota, California punk pioneers The Dickies always infused their Los Angeles lifestyle into their lyrics. Toyota, for example, was about a local TV news personality. D.I. formed in 1983 in Fullerton in the wake of The Adolescents and Social Distortion. For information on this double-bill, go HERE.

Saturday, March 14, 2020 

FNR      

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 1351, Santa Clarita, CA. 9135

If you want to know what love is or simply feel cold as ice or you’re into playing head games, FNR is the tribute band for you. Promising more than a simple rock show, they intend on transporting audiences to a time when Foreigner was at the peak of its popularity in the 1980s. For details and how to get tickets, go HERE.

NANCY WHO? The Girl Detective Without a Clue!

The MAIN, 24266 Main Street, Santa Clarita, CA

For all the attempts by film and TV adaptations to modernize her, Nancy Drew is still best enjoyed as a period piece, befitting her origins. And sure enough, that is exactly what Crowsnest Productions has done with Nancy Who? The Girl Detective Without A Clue! by Mary Main. Set in the 1930s, it follows Nancy as she tries to – what else? – solve a crime. For information, go HERE.

 Sunday, March 15, 2020 

40 Oz to Freedom

The Canyon – Santa Clarita, Westfield Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 1351, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Taking its name from the debut album by rock supergroup Sublime (responsible for, among other singles, the Billboard hit What I Got), 40oz to Freedom has emerged as a tribute band with a worldwide fanbase. To see their mix of ska, reggae and punk, go HERE.

A Historic Evening with Anne Frank’s Stepsister: Mrs. Eva Schloss

College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA

When she was eight years old, Eva Schloss became friends with Anne Frank.  In July of 1942, both of their families went into hiding before being captured and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. Eva survived. This is the story of Anne Frank as told by Eva, who will be making her only appearance in L.A. County here. For more information, go HERE.

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LA Eats: Iconic Side Dishes

You order the meal, but what you really came for is the side. It happens. Whether it’s the favorite hangout where the fries are the salty sensations you crave or the pub that serves mac n’ cheese that outpaces the rest of the menu, some side dishes transcend their class status as mere half-considered, disposable pleasures. They become the plates of calorie intake we truly, madly love. Around Los Angeles and the Westside, here are a few sides so delicious and unforgettable they will have you coming back – but only for them.

Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Manhattan Beach Post, 1142 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

If you live in the South Bay, you likely know this spot from Michelin–starred chef David LeFevre – and especially this signature side dish. Served with maple butter, these crispy bites of heart-stopping goodness are loaded with cheese that burst out crisp when baked. Better yet, because the eatery is all about shared plates, they are easily gobbled up with friends.

Misfit Mac n Cheese

The Misfit Restaurant, 225 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Just because a dish is gluten-free doesn’t it can’t also be decadent. Case in point: The Misfit’s mac n’ cheese comes topped with house-made chorizo and studded with green chiles that are baked inside this crispy, cheesy sensation. And yes, it’s sans gluten.

Tater Tots

The Craftsman, 119 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Is there a more maligned side than the tater tot? Is it because it’s a punchline in pop culture (looking at you, Napoleon Dynamite) or simply because when compared to its potato-related cousin, the fry, it’s remarkably tasteless? So give this rustic-themed gastro bar credit for enlivening their crispy tots with a range of flavorful dipping sauces.

Belgian Double-Dipped Fries

Wurstkuche, 625 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90291

Found among the many pints and exotic sausages served in this Venice spot (including the rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapenos) are the Belgian double-dipped fries. The fries are expectedly excellent, but there is no denying the power of the dip. Choose from such sauces as chipotle aioli, curry ketchup, Thai peanut, tzatziki, and bleu cheese walnut and bacon. They also have a location in downtown L.A. if you’re nowhere near the beach.

Onion Rings

Akasha, 9543 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Forget about the menu’s suggestion to share the rings. You will wisely want to keep every last one for yourself. What makes these rings run circles around the competition? To start, they use rice flour instead of wheat and serve them with smoked paprika aioli. Bite into the crunchy exterior and you’ll discover organic sweet onion that’s meltingly delicious, marinated in soy sauce. Best of all, they are also vegan, meaning they can be enjoyed by anyone if you do choose to share (you probably won’t).

Bacon Cheeseburger Fat Fries

Fat Sal’s, 972 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Imagine a salad. Now instead of grilled chicken or tofu, picture French fries. Then add bacon, cheese, beef, pickles, and some Thousand Island dressing. And because it’s a salad, toss in some lettuce and tomatoes. That’s essentially this side at Fat Sal’s, which has two other locations, one in Encino and the other in Hollywood. If you’re looking for a different kind of salad, you’re in luck: they also serve buffalo chicken cheese fries.

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