Rodeo Realty

July 26, 2018

Weekend Events: July 27 – 29

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, July 27 to Sunday, July 29, features KCRW’s Summer Nights, Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours, Ain’t I a Womxn? A Genders Promenade, The California Pizza Festival, Summer Happenings at The Broad, The Summer Playwrights Festival and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday July 27th, 2018

1. KCRW’s Summer Nights offers free all-ages outdoor music shows over the course of the summer throughout Los Angeles and this Friday they’ll takes over Union Station with KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe and Jason Bentley. FREE

2. Uncorked: LA 90+ Wine Festival comes to Barker Hangar in Santa Monica featuring a curated selection of over 100 wines rated 90 points and higher from all over the world. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

3. Movie Night at The Wiltern will screen Up in Smoke and celebrate the 40th anniversary with a Summer Smokeout of 420-friendly vendors and photo ops. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

4. Head to the Long Beach Crawfish Festival July 27-29 to enjoy world class crawfish, New Orleans-style food, music, dance lessons, and more by the shore. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

5. Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours is back with a special edition highlighting the connection between science and art with a program that includes pop-up dance performances, sci-fi performance art, a gastronomy lab, and much more.

6. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Summer Supper + Show returns every Friday and Saturday, July through August, with a Asian-inspired dinner at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck followed by a movie screening on the private 26th floor hotel rooftop. This weekend they’ll screen 50 First Dates .

7. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

8. See an all-star cast in a special production of Annie at the Hollywood Bowl July 27-29. On the bill is Ana Gasteyer, David Alan Grier, Megan Hilty, Lea Salonga, Steven Weber and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

9. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Isle of Dogs, La La Land, Purple Rain and more.

10. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances. The series continues with performances of The Winter’s Tale on Friday and The Merry Wives of Windsor on Saturday and Sunday all at three different locations. FREE

11. East LA Meets Napa celebrates Latin cuisine and California’s Latino-owned vineyards while raising funds for community health center AltaMed. This years event features 80 participating restaurants and wineries serving guests outdoors at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

12. Artist Ben Allanoff’s Perch art installation made up of woven reeds is taking up residence at Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura Hills from July 27 until September 8. To celebrate there will be a special moonlit evening of reading and writing renku a form of Japanese poetry dating back to the 1300s. FREE

13. Old Pasadena Summer Cinema concludes this week with screenings of How Much Further at Distant Lands and 500 Days of Summer at One Colorado on Friday, then Princess Bride at One Colorado on Saturday. The series brings free movie screenings to the Old Pasadena area at select venues from July 5 to 28. FREE

14. Beyond the Streets is a fully immersive exhibition of street and graffiti art comprised of over 30 artist in a massive 40,000+ square feet exhibits. Artist are an eclectic mix of street and beyond including Retna, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf Dennis Hopper and Jenny Holzer. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

15. Non profit fair trade focused shop Ten Thousand Villages is hosting their annual tent sale July 26 -29 at their Riviera Village, Redondo Beach location with fair trade handcrafted products at 25 to 75 percent off retail price.

16. Shakespeare on the Bluff brings Shakespeare’s greatest plays to Loyola Marymount University for free shows in June and July. The series concludes with Othello performances Friday through Sunday. FREE

17. dineL.A. will have food-lovers and connoisseurs taste, explore and enjoy various prix-fixe menus from restaurants across various L.A. neighborhoods from July 13 through 27 .

18. 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.

19. Barnsdall Fridays returns to Barnsdall Art Park for the tenth year in a row, with evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

20. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series runs June 1 through August 18. Performing this Friday is Roger Guenveur Smith’s “Frederick Douglass Now,” featuring percussionist Marcus Miller. Via a release, “Douglass’ classic 19th-century texts inspire a radically remixed vision of the present American moment.” FREE

21. The Department of Beaches and Harbors presents Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler Youth Center this week screening Cars 3. FREE

22. Jazz at LACMA welcomes The Billy Mitchell Group with vocalist Billy Redd at the BP grand entrance at 6 p.m. FREE

23. Free museum days: Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Museum of Latin American Art (5 to 9 p.m.)and Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

Saturday July 28th, 2018

24. See gender expression challenged and reexamined during Ain’t I a Womxn? A Genders Promenade at Los Angeles State Historic Park. An evening event taking place under a full moon, Ain’t I a Womxn? unites 35 artists, art collectives, and activist groups to share spoken word, performance art, sonic art, media projections and zines.

25. The California Pizza Festival is sure to please all types of pizza-lovers. Hosted at L.A. Center Studios in Downtown Los Angeles on July 28-29, the festival will feature unlimited pizza samples from some of the world’s best pizzaiolos.

26. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Parkat the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with a free performance of Titus Andronicus on Saturday and Sunday. FREE

27. The 56th Annual California Watermelon Festival July 28-29 at the Hansen Dam Soccer Fields in Lake View Terrace will host delicious watermelon-themed activities, all-you-can-eat watermelon, carnival rides, games, contests, and live entertainment.

28. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Blazing Saddles at The Autry Museum. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

29. Summer Happenings at The Broad is a series of late-night events featuring music, performance and art. Now in its third year, the evening series is inspired by The Broad’s new exhibition, A Journey That Wasn’t which explores artists’ representations of time, memory and repetition. This months focus will be on German artist Joseph Beuys with performances by faUSt and Baltimore duo Matmos.

30. Heritage Square Movie Night will screen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? a comedic film, set in 1940’s Hollywood, that merges animation with live action.

31. L.A. Rare and Wild Beer Fest in Santa Monica is billed as a beer connoisseur’s one-stop celebration. Coming to Barker Hangar, the evening will inclide unlimited beer tastings and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

32. The Midsummer Scream Convention from July 28-29 is a horror convention featuring dozens of presentations from creative professionals, Halloween industry vets, entertainment, onsite haunt experiences and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

33. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes will host a free Latino-themed film screening series starting June 30th and occurring once a month till October. Continuing the series is a screening of 2006 film Walkout.FREE

34. KCRW’s Summer Nights offers free all-ages outdoor music shows over the course of the summer throughout Los Angeles and this Saturday they’ll takes over Chinatown with KCRW DJs Mathieu Schreyer and Anthony Valadez. FREE

35. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Grease at Eagle Rock Rec Park in Eagle Rock and Space Jam at Park Center in Griffith Park. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

36. Off the 405, free concerts at the Getty will host a performance by Lola Kirke and a DJ set by King Tuff in the museum courtyard. FREE

37. Cinespia is back for its 17th summer season, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for screenings of films modern, cult, and classic. This Saturday they’ll screen The Graduate.

38. Tom Gun Live brings back their Top Gun spoof party to Union Night Club in Hollywood this Saturday Night. The performance includes karaoke sing-a-longs
dance-offs, paper airplane battles, missiles ziplining through the crowd, and more. Check fordiscounted ticketed before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

39. Marina Movie Nights returns to Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey for free Saturday-night screenings of beloved musicals. This weekend it’s Dirty Dancing, with tango lessons. FREE

40. Esotouric Bus presents Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles Bus Tour. Spend a Saturday afternoon exploring the tough streets of L.A. through the famous crime writers eyes. There’s also a stop for Chandler-themed gelato. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

41. Join Craft in America and Heal The Bay for Craft in Action a special one hour discussion on marine pollution and view Arline Fisch’s Aquatic Bloom solo exhibition of surreal knitted jellyfish creatures. FREE

42. Enjoy a summer movie night at Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hills when Movies on the Greenwith a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. FREE

43. The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck makes its way to Westfield Culver City for a day of Hello Kitty Cafe goodies, edibles and collectibles.

44. See Hershey Felder as Beethoven at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The one-man shows will depict the iconic composer’s story through music and monologue. Hershey Felder: Beethoven will run from July 26 to August 19. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

45. Celebrate summer in the SGV during Movies in the Park, a free outdoor film series screening at Alhambra Park. This weekend they’ll screen Willy Wonka. FREE

Sunday July 29th, 2018

46. The Hammer’s Family Flicks Film Series will screen Kirikou and the Sorceress at 11 a.m. Tickets are free on a first come first serve basis. FREE

47. ICA LA presents “I Drank the Kool-Aid But I Didn’t Inhale” a staging of Jafri’s Product Recall: An Index of Innovation, which combines framed texts and “still life” photography of failed food products. Opening day will offer tours in English and Spanish, a conversation with Jafri and ICA LA curator Jamillah James and Kool-Aid cocktails. FREE

48. 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)

49. Check out LACMA’s latest exhibition, 3D: Double Vision an interactive exhibit that explores the art and illusion of 3D.

50. The Setup presents Stand Up Trivia Night at Bar Lubitsch. The trivia portion will be movie and comedy related and in between breaks there will be stand up. FREE

51. The Summer Playwrights Festival will show 30 plays in eight days from July 29 through Sunday August 5 at the Road on Lankershim in the Historic Lankershim Arts Center in North Hollywood.

52. Free museum days: Museum of Latin American Art (5 to 9 p.m.) and pay what you can at Craft and Folk Art Museum.

Schedule courtesy of We Like LA.

July 25, 2018

The Best Places To Get BBQ In Los Angeles

LA’s barbeque game is… interesting. On the one hand, there are a slew of long-standing shacks and restaurants serving up what can only be defined as LA-style BBQ, which consists of all kinds of meat swimming in sauce — a nightmare for smoked-meat traditionalists, but a cuisine of comfort for Angelenos bred on it.

On the other hand are a smattering of newer joints, many of which have opened up in the last decade, and focus on classic American ‘Q styles, from Kansas City, North Carolina, and — most notably — Texas. And on the other, other hand are the backyard smoke enthusiasts. They’re another story entirely, due to potential legal issues and inconsistency in terms of opening hours and days, but it’d be discounting a huge part of the scene to not at least mention them (especially Trudy’s Underground BBQ).

Point is, we’ve got a lot going on in town when it comes to barbecue. Here are LA’s best places to grab ribs, brisket, hot links, and whatever other BBQ dishes you’ve been craving lately.

MAPLE BLOCK MEAT CO

CULVER CITY

When it opened, Maple Block was crowned the king not just of LA BBQ, but BBQ in all of California by a guy who should know: Daniel Vaughn writes about BBQ, and only about BBQ, for Texas Monthly. And he’s still right: the brisket here could not be more perfectly moist, the chicken bursts with flavor, and the creamy mac and cheese, while not exactly traditional, is crave-worthy.

EAGLE ROCK

Eagle Rock’s Max City has gained a cult following by crushing Southern-style BBQ for the Eastside, wood-smoking ribs and pork into juicy meat-monsters while sourcing local ingredients for collard greens and coleslaw. Also, they catered one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to, and goddamn if it didn’t help make it one of the best weddings I’ve ever been to.

VENICE AND WEST HOLLYWOOD

Alright, we’ll admit it’s divisive: BBQ purists sometimes hate on this beloved-by-everyone-else mini-chain, but we’re going on taste alone. They offer a wider range of sauces and sides that’re all great, and the meat is also delicious. Haters gonna hate, but uh, the rest of us gonna eat (and drink — the WeHo location has a full bar!).

HOLLYWOOD

Sadly, the OG Bludso’s in Compton is gone, but the fancier LA Brea offshoot lives on, taking Kevin Bludso’s original recipes — juicy brisket, great pork ribs, amazing pulled pork — and giving them the love they deserve. The draught cocktails are just an added bonus!

CULVER CITY

This shack-space — right where La Cienega and Fairfax meet — is one of those spots you’ve probably driven by 1,000 times and never looked at twice. Next time, stop: the family-run business busts out great Memphis-style pulled pork, great ribs, and sweet, succulent baked beans.

STUDIO CITY

Years into its run, this hot-out-of-the-gate East Valley joint’s still always jammed, with Valley denizens diving into Santa Maria tri-tip, Louisana hot wings, and, of course, perfectly fatty brisket with a loud, salty smoke. Also, you’ve gotta get the hoecake; it’s on our list of 50 things to eat in LA before you die, and while it may very well kill you, it’s totally worth it. We promise.

SANTA MONICA

Holy Cow is sort of smothering the Westside, with locations in Santa Monica and Culver City; their menu is more far-reaching than most, with not just the standard brisket, rib, and chicken line-up, but also beef ribs on weekends, fried chicken sandwiches, and an extensive sides menu that includes an insanely great smoky corn chowder as well as kale & quinoa salads, if someone at your table wants to be super-sad.

MID-WILSHIRE

Don’t hit JNJ if you’re not into LA’s distinctive brand of drenched BBQ; this West Adams stand (which also has one of our favorite off-the-radar burgers) douses its ribs in a sweet, spicy sauce, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

DOWNTOWN

Though this DTLA standby has long been a favorite for the hickory-smoked BBQ they offer, they’re known for more offbeat dishes, too: this is probably the only place in town where you can get a chicken breast stuffed with onions, jalapeños, and cheese, then wrapped in bacon, then pit-smoked. Read that again, then go. Again.

VAN NUYS

Since the ’60s, this Valley staple has been marinating delicious brisket and spareribs in its distinctive special sauce, served in monstrous — truly, MONSTROUS — portions. In other words, you’re gonna be feasting off the leftovers for the rest of the week.

DOWNTOWN

When this now-staple Texas-style window opened at Grand Central Market a few years ago, it was sort of an Emperor-Wears-No-Smoke situation. Thankfully that’s been remedied, with moist brisket and tender ribs regularly served to lines of their faithful customers, along with craveworthy sides like cornbread and banana pudding. Don’t sleep on the fried chicken sandwich, as well.

DOWNTOWN

The vibe at Pearl’s is just as big of a draw as the food: the owner’s an Austin obsessee, and Pearl’s clearly mirrors that city’s charm, with an airstream serving the smoked meats to an outdoor flat-top covered with picnic tables, and a stage that sometimes sees Americana bands providing a weekend soundtrack. On the menu you’ll find massive smoked short ribs, coleslaw, and, for an otherwise Texas-skewed operation, a very Cali side: half an avocado covered with Pico De Gallo.

LONG BEACH

Now that Bigmista’s is closed (RIP!), Robert Earl’s can take its place as the BBQ king of Long Beach. Spicy links, monster beef ribs, and killer brisket reign over the meat menu, but the sides — a very cheesy mac, vinegary greens, and, most notably, his Auntie’s Banana Pudding — are what keep people coming back.

STUDIO CITY

This classic valley spot’s a little classier than your average BBQ joint, but the meat is totally legit; hits include hand-rubbed, hickory-smoked pork ribs and Santa Maria tri-tip, as well as fried mac and cheese (!!). The non-BBQ menu is full of bangers as well, like kobe beef chili-filled donuts, smoked chipotle buffalo wings, a quesarito with Wagyu beef, nacho cheese, and rice, and much more.

ECHO PARK

This Filipino-style BBQ joint was a surprise hit right when it debuted six years ago and has been killing it ever since, with interesting flavors — a bit of coconut here, some front-of-palate spice there — setting their pulled pork, ribs, and tri-tip apart. Don’t sleep on the fish sauce-spiked coconut beef stew, or the sweet rice-flour bibingka (honestly, the pro-tip is to take some friends, get a six-top, and just order the whole menu.)

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

July 23, 2018

The most Instagrammable places in Los Angeles

People sure love taking photos of Los Angeles. A wonderland of diverse architecture and stunning natural landscapes, LA consistently ranks among the most Instagrammed cities in the world.

Below, we’ve curated a list of our favorite places to put images on Instagram. It includes architectural gems like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, outstanding vista points like the Hollywood Bowl Overlook and world-famous landmarks like the Santa Monica Pier.

You might have to elbow through tourists or get sweaty hiking a steep trail to get the shot, but the geotag will make your followers jealous.

Venice Canals

Today’s Venice canals aren’t the original bodies of water built by enterprising developer Abbot Kinney. But the channels once flowed through Kinney’s planned European-style community, and they exist today as scenic waterways dotted with colorful boats and crossed by arched bridges.
Address: 200 Linnie Canal, Venice, CA 90291

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Hollywood Bowl Overlook

There are seven scenic overlooks on Mulholland Drive. This one is tucked up behind the Stone Canyon Reservoir, and it offers sweeping views of the Downtown skyline and Hollywood, and even a glimpse of that signature LA fixture: the freeway. The Hollywood Bowl Overlook can be reached by car, but has a very small parking lot. It’s open from sunrise to sunset.
Address: 7036 Mulholland Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

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Urban Light and LACMA

If you didn’t ’gram from Urban Light, did you even spend time in Los Angeles? A perennial Instagram favorite since it opened in 2008, the installation of 202 historic street lamps is located outside of the museum’s entrance on Wilshire Boulevard, and it’s almost impossible to take a bad photo of it. The museum has plenty of other photogenic spots, too, from Levitated Mass to the zig-zag roofline of the Renzo Piano-designed Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pavilion to the palm trees to the soon-to-be-demolished modernist buildings designed by William Pereira.
Address: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Walt Disney Concert Hall

The shiny Frank Gehry-designed venue pops up in many a Downtown photo. The curvaceous exterior is endlessly photogenic but the rooftop garden and its mosaic water fountain make for a nice backdrop too.
Address: 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Griffith Observatory

One of LA’s most iconic buildings, the Griffith Observatory also offers some of the best views of the city from its balconies and observation decks, with sight lines all the way to Palos Verdes on a clear day. Parking at the nearby lot is $4 per hour, but you can also park at the bottom of the hill and take the free shuttle—or take the Observatory DASH bus.
Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

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Abalone Cove

For some of the best ocean views in Southern California, head to Abalone Cove, at the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. From there, you’ll see miles of sparkling blue ocean, with the hulking outline of Catalina Island in the distance.
Address: 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

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Watts Towers

Built by hand by Simon Rodia over the course of 33 years (1921 to 1954), the unconventional building materials of the Watts Towers—pieces of porcelain, mirrors, seashells—make for exciting pictures up close; their heights and unique shapes look great from across the street.
Address: 1765 E 107th St, Los Angeles, CA 90002

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Hollywood Walk of Fame

There are a lot of reasons to dislike visiting the tourist mecca that is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it’s undeniably fun to see the pink star of an actor or musician who has earned your admiration. And if you aren’t in it for the celebrities, there’s the glittery terrazzo.
Address: Hollywood and Vine, Los Angeles, CA 90028

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Santa Monica Pier

Another tourist hot-spot that’s unmistakably fun (and photogenic), the wood pier is undeniably one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in all of LA. Whether you visit to snap photos of the Ferris wheel, kitschy restaurants, or the shoreline—definitely stick around for the pink and orange sunsets.
Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

The best Instagram photographers in Los Angeles don’t always disclose their shooting locations, but they do regularly take advantage of this vista point from a bluff above Culver City. The one-mile hike to the top is steep, but you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the basin and Downtown skyline. At night, a sea of twinkling lights will spread out before you.
Address: 6300 Hetzler Road, Culver City, Ca 90232

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Article courtesy of Curbed.

July 21, 2018

Economic update for the week ending July 21, 2018

Stocks end week with mixed results – Strong second quarter earnings were hampered by trade and tariff fears. Stock market indexes were slightly changed from last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,058.12, up from 25,019.42 last week. It is up 1.4% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,801.31, unchanged from 2,801.83 last week. It’s up 4.8% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed the week at 7,820.20, down slightly form 7,825.82 last week. It’s up 13.3% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond Yields higher this week – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.89%, up from 2.83% last week. The 30-year Treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.03%, up from 2.93% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.

Mortgage rates almost unchanged – The July 19, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.52%, unchanged from 4.53% last week. The 15-year fixed was 4.00%, almost unchanged from 4.02% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.87%, unchanged from 3.86% last week.

California Unemployment rate remains at all time low in June -The Employment Development Department reported that just 800 new jobs were created in June. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Average hourly wages were $30.42 in June. That was just 2.6% above last June’s rate. Los Angeles County had much better results, 8,800 new jobs were created in June. Average hourly wages grew 4.8% in Los Angeles and Orange County.

The California Association of Realtors has not released June sales figures. I’d expect them any day. Housing sale prices and numbers will be included in next week’s update. I would not be surprised to see inventory levels begin to creep up from historic low levels based on what we are seeing. We are seeing a number of homes that are being reduced in order to sell.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

July 20, 2018

Rodeo Realty hosts Movie Day for Valley agents

On Thursday, Rodeo Realty hosted a Movie Day at the Archlight Theatre for all their Valley agents. Attendees received a Rodeo Realty movie ticket and were able to enjoy some popcorn, candy, hotdogs, and refreshments.

Agents gathered in a reserved theatre to watch “5 Flights Up,” a movie about a husband and wife who spend a hectic weekend thinking about the sale of the apartment they’ve shared for more than 40 years. The real estate-related movie stars Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton, who in the movie, become overwhelmed by all the issues they encounter when they plan to move away.

The next Movie Day hosted by Rodeo Realty will be August 2. Westside Rodeo Realty agents are invited to attend the event!

July 20, 2018

Six Rodeo Realty agents ranked in REAL Trends The Thousand list, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal

REAL Trends Inc., in conjunction with The Wall Street Journal, has published the 13th annual The Thousand list of America’s top 1,000 real estate sales professionals and teams.

Rodeo Realty is proud to announce that six agents from the company qualified to take part in the prestigious list.

“In an industry that has nearly 1.3 million people involved in residential real estate sales, the fact that these sales associates have achieved the level of sales it takes to be in this esteemed group is outstanding,” said REAL Trends Inc.

The Thousand is divided into four categories, each listing the top 250 designees: Individual Agent—Sales Volume; Individual Agent—Transaction Sides; Agent Team—Sales Volume and Agent Team—Transaction Sides.

The following Rodeo Realty agents were ranked Top 250 in the nation for their sales volume: Jordana Leigh, Josh Flagg, Adi Livyatan, Carol Wolfe, Ben Bacal, and Joe Babajian.

“The average agent ranked in The Thousand closed 204 transaction sides and the average team closed over 533 transaction sides,” said Steve Murray, president of REAL Trends and publisher of The Thousand. “These kinds of results show that those who commit to being full-time professionals can build meaningful businesses and succeed beyond expectations. Achieving this level of results is simply incredible.”

Congratulations to all our agents who made the list!

July 19, 2018

Weekend Events: July 20 – 22

This weekend, from Friday, July 20 to Sunday, July 22, features JAWS at The Hollywood Bowl, L.A. Zoo’s Roaring Nights, 626 Night Market, Big Sing California, Dance DTLA, Summer Street Market Nights, Movie Night at The Wiltern and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday July 20th, 2018

1. As part of their summer line-up, the Hollywood Bowl is hosting a rendition of the thrilling cult classic Jaws for two nights on July 20 and 21. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

2. Salsa at the Station returns to Los Angeles’ Union Station for an evening of exciting Latin music and salsa dancing in the beautiful train station’s historic ticketing hall. FREE

3. The Los Angeles Zoo’s annual after-hours music series, Roaring Nights, is back for summer 2018. Come experience DJs, indie bands, Silent Disco, the all-new Glamping Lounge, adult beverages, more than a dozen great food trucks each evening and more. The series continues with a 90’s theme night with covering bands like Weezer, Alanis Morrisette, The Backstreet Boys, the Goo Goo Dolls, Smash Mouth and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

4. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Summer Supper + Show returns every Friday and Saturday, July through August, with a Asian-inspired dinner at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck followed by a movie screening on the private 26th floor hotel rooftop. This weekend they’ll screen 1995’s Jumanji .

5. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

6. Outfest Under the Stars is four nights (July 18-21) of LGBTQ films at Hollywood”s Ford Theatres. The series will screen Bad Reputation, Wild Nights with Emily and more.

7. dineL.A. will have food-lovers and connoisseurs taste, explore and enjoy various prix-fixe menus from restaurants across various L.A. neighborhoods from July 13 through 27 .

8. Zombie Joe’s Underground takes their production outdoors for Camp Whitsit. Described as a haunted immersive trip to summer camp for very courageous scouts the production takes place this Friday and Saturday.

9. Old Pasadena Summer Cinema continues with screenings of In Bruges at Distant Lands and The Incredibles at One Colorado on Friday then Wonder Woman at One Colorado on Saturday. The series brings free movie screenings to the Old Pasadena area at select venues from July 5 to 28. FREE

10. 626 Night Market returns for three nights of deliciousness at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

11. Friday Flights at The Getty invites artists to respond to the iconic architecture, gardens and exhibitions of the museum through multiple art forms that include music, performance and film. FREE

12. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series runs June 1 through August 18. This Friday and Saturday G.P. will host Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance with Graham Reynolds and Mexican Theater collective Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol with “a bilingual, multimedia chamber rock opera that explores borders, battlefields, conflict, and culture through the life and mythology of the iconic José Doroteo Arango Arámbula aka Pancho Villa.” FREE

13. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Parkat the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances Wednesday through Sunday of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. FREE

14. Odd Nights at the Autry features 22 gourmet food trucks, a full bar, mobile boutiques and pop-up shops from local makers, and live music from emerging artists.

15. Get Fit an inaugural Workout Week Los Angeles Festival happening July 14-21 will bring 100+ classes at participating boutique gyms and studios for $10 per class.

16. Barnsdall Fridays returns to Barnsdall Art Park for the tenth year in a row, with evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

17. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. This week features Dance DTLA an evening focused on salsa. Enjoy music, dancing, and more starting at 7 p.m . FREE

18. Delicious Little Tokyo 2018 (July 20-21) is a food and drink event taking place on the streets of Little Tokyo, from local establishments.

19. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances. The series continues with performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro on Friday, The Winter’s Tale at Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach on Saturday and The Merry Wives of Windsor at Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach on Sunday. FREE

20. Beyond the Streets is a fully immersive exhibition of street and graffiti art comprised of over 30 artist in a massive 40,000+ square feet exhibits. Artist are an eclectic mix of street and beyond including Retna, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf Dennis Hopper and Jenny Holzer. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

21. The Department of Beaches and Harbors presents Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler Youth Center this week screening The Incredibles. FREE

22. 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.

23. Jazz at LACMA welcomes Rayford Griffin at the BP grand entrance at 6 p.m. FREE

24. Perfect for dog lovers, Mutt House is a musical centered around a doomed animal shelter, a boy named Eddie and six zany mutts working together to save the shelter they all call home. Performing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City from July 15 through August 5 with previews beginning this week on July 10. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

25. The City of Monterey Park presents Summer Movies in the Park a family friendly event with free popcorn taking place in different parks in the neighborhood. This month Wonder will be screened at Cascades Park. FREE

26. Free museum days: Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Saturday July 21st, 2018

27. Come share your voice at Big Sing California, a choral concert broadcast across the state along with choirs from San Francisco and more during a simultaneous performance. The Los Angeles edition will take place at The Walt Disney Concert Hall. FREE

28. Summer Street Market Nights taking place at The Mixing Room at the JW Marriott in DTLA will feature an assortment of interactive food stations offering international cuisine paired with themed entertainment. This week the theme is Bollywood with unlimited sweet and savory Indian street food.

29. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of 10 Things I Hate About Youat Heritage Square Museum and The Princess Bride at Pan Pacific Park in Beverly Hills. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

30. PLAYDATE 2018 is an after-hours adult night that supports the Kidspace Children’s Museum, a non-profit organization. The evening will include cocktails, food and access to the museum’s various exhibits. All funds raised will benefit Kidspace’s educational programs, summer camps and free family nights.

31. Pop Saturdays, a summer series off free concerts taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park kicks off with R&B artist Lalah Hathaway. FREE

32. Sweetgreen launches The La Brea Farmer’s Market a weekly market hosted within the parking lot of Sweetgreen’s storefront on the corner of La Brea and W. 2nd Street. The market will feature 40+ vendors that range from produce, meats, dairy, and beyond. On launch day guests can enjoy a wine and lounge garden with Helen’s Win, mini Sweetgreen salad bowls, DIY floral Bar, live music and DJ sets from HAIM, Them Jeans and Dana Boulos.

33. Enjoy a summer movie night at Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hills when Movies on the Greenwith a screening of Jumangi: Welcome to the Jungle. FREE

34. HUSHfest the all-ages Silent Disco dance party will take place on the Santa Monica Pier this weekend with a Daft Punk vs P-Funk vs G-Funk theme.

35. TOMS will be hosting a special screening of the Original Sleeping Beauty film on The Green at The Americana at Brand to celebrate the launch of TOMS x Disney Sleeping Beauty Collection. FREE

36. The South Pasadena Summer Arts Crawl is an all ages free evening event featuring gallery exhibitions, art activities, live music, open houses, food and drink specials, and more along Mission Street and the South Pasadena business district. FREE

37. Composers and filmmakers create scores to be performed live at the 5th annual Los Angeles Live Score Film Festival at Barnsdall Art Park’s Gallery Theatre.

38. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Ocean’s Eleven at Centennial Square at Pasadena City Hall. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

39. Celebrate summer in the SGV during Movies in the Park, a free outdoor film series screening at Alhambra Park. This weekend they’ll screen Coco. 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.

41. City of Rancho Palos Verdes presents Free Movies in the Park at Civic Center. The series will kick off with a screening of Coco. FREE

Sunday July 22nd, 2018

42. Movie Night at The Wiltern will screen classic films with live music and a full bar. This Sunday is a matinee screening of The Lion King with themed photo ops, face painting and coloring stations. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

43. Check out LACMA’s latest exhibition, 3D: Double Vision an interactive exhibit that explores the art and illusion of 3D.

44. The biannual Brewers United Fest returns with eight DTLA breweries for a special festival celebrating beers from Angel City Brewery, Dry River, Indie, Highland Park, Mumford, Arts District, Iron Triangle, and Boomtown. All proceeds go to the Keep-a-Breast Foundation.

45. Shakespeare’s most magical play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon for 12 performances throughout the summer, from June 3-September 3.

46. The City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Arts program presents the 2018 Summer Sounds Outdoor Concert Series. This Sunday 10-piece TropiFunk band Jungle Fire will give a free performance at Plummer Park. FREE

47. Friendship Buddies a free stand-up comedy show taking place at the Verdugo Bar back patio features some of the best comics in Los Angeles and beyond. Show starts at 8p.m. FREE

48. Free museum days: Museum of Latin American Art and Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

Schedule courtesy of We Like LA.

July 18, 2018

LACMA’s Latest Exhibit Explores 3D Art

LACMA’s latest exhibition, 3D: Double Vision is a survey of 3D art, dating as far back as 1838, when the stereoscope had just been invented by English scientist Sir Charles Wheatstone.

Sometimes, 3D images feel like the future. Not necessarily the one we will have, but the one imagined by those who lived before—the kind of future where you’d live in a silver dome and drive a hovering Trans Am. When I told this to Britt Salvesen, Head and Curator, Wallis Annenberg Photography Department and Prints & Drawing Department, she nodded.

“I think ‘futuristic’ is a great word for [3D], and another word that I often find in the literature is ‘utopian,’” she said. “Dream of the perfect image, the perfect mode of representation of the ultimate realism. That kind of rhetoric occurs again and again. That’s sort of the frontier that image makers are always going for.”

Double Vision takes over the Art of the Americas building (where you may have seen Guillermo del Toro: At Home with the Monsters, also curated by Salvesen) and has been divided into five sections. The first serves as an introduction to 3D, while the rest move chronologically from the Victorian era to the present.

3D works via binocular vision: essentially, two eyes take the information they receive and convert it into one, volumetric image. This is also how a stereoscope works. It offers two nearly identical images, each taken from a slightly different perspective, and presents one to each eye. Your brain does the rest of the work, merging the two into a single image with depth. It doesn’t work for everyone; an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people may have stereo blindness, meaning it’s difficult for them to see 3D images the way they are intended. Yet enough people were excited by 3D imagery that the medium took off.

Peering through a stereoscope. Photo: Juliet Bennett Rylah

Salvesen was focused on the 19th century in her graduate studies, writing her doctoral dissertation on Victorian stereoscopy. She became secifically became interested in how 3D became “massively popular in a very short time.”

“I wanted to think about what was the craving that people had for the experience, and not just wanting to repeat it, but to collect and own it,” she said. “I was fascinated with that, and then kept getting curious about the next chapter. It seems like there is always a desire and an impulse towards that illusionism.”

Wheatstone’s stereoscope, which used drawings and mirrors, was cumbersome. In 1849, scientist David Brewster—inventor of the kaleidoscope–produced a more portable device which could be used to view stereocards. Stereocards featured two side-by-side images that would appear as one 3D image when viewed through the device. They became wildly popular, and Victorians would snatch them up from companies like the London Stereoscopic Company for at-home viewing. They’d immersive themselves in far-off worlds without packing a bag, a primitive harbinger of the 21st century’s consumer VR headsets.

The World’s Fair also played a large role in the growing popularity of 3D imagery. The stereoscope made an appearance at The Great Exhibition in London in 1851, supposedly enchanting Queen Victoria. The View-Master made its debut at New York’s World Fair in 1939. At that same event, auto company Chrysler revealed a short 3D film titled In Tune with Tomorrow in which a 1939 Chrysler Plymouth is assembled, seemingly by magic thanks to stop motion animation. The film was so popular that it was redone in technicolor and presented again during the fair’s second season. This was the first time many people were exposed to 3D cinema, but Hollywood would start cashing in on the gimmick in the ’50s.

Guests to 3D: Double Vision will be able to view In Tune with Tomorrow, multiple iterations of stereoscopes and dozens of stereocards, a host of 3D cinema, and several more modern illusions. Various types of 3D glasses are available throughout the exhibit space, while signage indicates which one is best for each piece. There are enough things to look at and watch that one could easily spend a couple hours inside.

As guests enter, Thomas Ruff’s 3D-ma.r.s.80 (2013) offers two large, grayscale images of Mars’ surface, the craters deepening as soon as one slips on their red and blue glasses. Nearby, artist Tristan Duke’s Platonic Solids (2015) offer hand-drawn holograms on nickel-plated coppers discs. There are five of them, and on each, a geometric figure dances and shimmers.

Tristan Duke’s Platonic Solids Photo: Juliet Bennett Rylah

Among the many stereocards depicting beautiful places and historic events, one will find a collection 19th century French Diableries. These hellish, yet humorous images depict skeletons and demons getting wild in the underworld. When backlit, the black and white images change. Eyes glow red, as light shines through tiny pinpricks. Viewers can activate the light by pressing a button on the display. (You can see some Diableries, appropriately set to Bauhaus, in this video.)

In a dark theater, a 25-minute montage of various 3D clips plays on repeat, ranging from mid-century B movies to modern film and animation. Definitely stay to see the trailer for The Maze, a 1953 horror flick in which a man breaks off his engagement after inheriting a Scottish castle from his uncle—not exactly an original conceit, but a delightful horror trope, nonetheless. His suspicious fiancée follows him to Scotland, only to experience a cavalcade of horrors inside the eponymous maze. Plastic bats and cobwebs dart out from the screen, eliciting more laughs than terror.

Other notable pieces include Simone Forti’s hologram piece Striding Crawling (1975-78), in which a holographic figure does just that, vaguely reminiscent of the desperate message Princess Leia sends to Obi Wan Kenobi in ’77’s Star Wars: A New Hope.

Then there’s the exhibit’s largest work, at least in terms of scale: Michael Snow’s sculpture, Redifice(1986). It’s a hulking, red box, about eight feet high and 20 feet long. It’s peppered with windows, some of which contain holograms, sculptures, or dioramas. Salvesen named it as one of the pieces she was most excited to display.

“It’s like if you were looking into a skyscraper,” she remarked. “It’s just so effective and fun.”

Near the conclusion of the exhibit is a series of holograms by Ed Ruscha, each one appropriately declaring it ‘the end.’ Continue down a hall with your glasses on to see Peggy Weil’s 3D Wallpaper, originally presented in 1976 and redrawn for Double Vision. Though this is sure to become the designated selfie spot, Double Vision isn’t the kind of exhibit one can simply view through other people’s photos. Many of the illusions can only be seen with the human eye, making it a truly interactive and immersive show that Instagram alone could never do justice.

3D: Double Vision is part of The Hyundai Project: Art + Technology at LACMA. See it on display in the Art of the Americas building July 15 through March 31. Visit LACMA online to keep up with exhibit-related programming, including a screening of ‘The Maze’ at Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on August 9.

Story courtesy of We Like LA.

July 17, 2018

The Best Rooftop Bars In Los Angeles

There’s a special feeling you get at every great Los Angeles rooftop. After taking an elevator (or the stairs) all the way up to the deck, you experience a revelation: a view of the city you’ve never seen unfolds before you, courtesy of a previously unknown vantage point. That feeling of discovery is, of course, made even better when it’s abetted by great drinks, or great food, or… tennis? Whether you’re lookin to turn up after work or simply relax in style, you’ve got plenty of options — which is why we’ve gathered the choicest hangouts into one handy guide. Start enjoying LA’s vertical side at the coolest rooftop retreats in the city.

DOWNTOWN

At the top of the Freehand Hotel sits Broken Shaker, the type of rooftop spot that LA desperately needs more of. Bright, colorful, and buzzy, Broken Shaker is rocking some of the best DTLA views of any rooftop in the area. The cocktail and bites menus are no joke either — think beachside fish shack vibes. Protip: They’re open during the daytime, too.

DOWNTOWN

The Nomad Hotel rocked LA as one of 2018’s biggest openings, and between the lobby and mezzanine restaurants, you probably thought that was all they had to offer. Wrong. The newly opened rooftop bar is wonderful, featuring a menu full of Nomad-quality stuff; all the cocktails, beers, wines, and frozen drinks you could ask for are available, as well as tasty bites (shout-out to those scallops), and there’s even a whole section of non-alcoholic cocktails. Fun for the whole family!

CENTURY CITY

If you’ve been in LA for even one second, you’ve heard somebody rejoicing that we finally got an Eataly. It hasn’t disappointed, despite being located in the Century City Westfield Mall (it’s honestly shocking how much great stuff is in there now), and the new rooftop is no exception. Drinks are a no-brainer, but if you’re hungry there’s also a full-service lunch & dinner restaurant.

DOWNTOWN

There are rooftops, and then there’s Spire 73. This open-air hotspot is, you guessed it, 73 stories in the air, and an absolute titan of the DTLA scene. Clocking in at over 1,000ft, the Wilshire Grand Center is the tallest building west of the Mississippi (seriously), and that makes Spire 73 — part of the building’s InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown hotel — the highest place to grab a drink in LA. The views are breathtaking (literally — you’re 73 stories up), and there isn’t a single piece of LA you can’t see.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

This longtime local favorite rooftop somehow still feels like a hidden treasure: the pool is beautiful, the food at its classic-American restaurant is delicious, the garden calming, and the bars — there are two — thirst quenching. It’s a favorite for parties and weddings too, though, so call ahead to make sure you can get up there before heading over.

DOWNTOWN

The prime Downtown rooftop of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant atop the Ritz-Carlton is usually closed to the public — except for this summer, when on Friday and Saturday nights it’ll be open for a revolving door of food concepts, including ramen, American BBQ, Korean BBQ, and an ongoing dessert bar.

MID-WILSHIRE

It’s confusing which half of this two-story restaurant/bar is EP and which is LP, but it doesn’t matter: everyone calls it by both names, and everyone’s happy when they end up on whichever one is actually the rooftop, which has great views, fire pits, amazing cocktails, and small-bite Asian food from EP downstairs. Er, LP downstairs. Er, from the downstairs kitchen.

DOWNTOWN

Since the hotel’s opening in 2014, the Upstairs bar at Ace has become an unquestionable classic in the rooftop game, thanks to a roaring fireplace, a killer view of that iconic “Jesus Saves” sign, amazing drinks, a pool (albeit a weirdly small one), and DJs and performances nearly nightly. It’s also a perfect place to stop before a show (and after a show) at Ace’s Theater.

HOLLYWOOD

This right-in-the-heart-of-Hollywood hotel opened its rooftop just in time for summer 2016, and it’s completely open to the public, with great panoramic views of the city, a full-on yoga studio with daily classes, a Mediterranean restaurant, and evening programming that includes DJs, film screenings, and acoustic sets from local songwriters.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

This airy patio on Sunset is right in the heart of tourist-central, but still delivers great drinks and food — a rarity to find on the Strip, and an even bigger rarity overlooking the Strip.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

You’d never know this rooftop bar was here if you didn’t, uh, know this rooftop bar was here, which is just one of the many reasons it’s great: carefully-curated, fresh ingredient-filled drinks are another.

SILVER LAKE

Anyone can das boot on the lower level, but grab a drink upstairs at the Red Lion to feel like you’re really in the middle of Berlin (and grab one of the monster-size pretzels for extra authenticity). Oh and just because it’s not that high off the ground doesn’t mean it’s not a rooftop.

HOLLYWOOD

You know what’s better than seeing a show inside the Fonda? Watching the live feed of the show from ON TOP OF THE FONDA while drinking a cold drink. Boom. We said it.

SANTA MONICA

Yellowtail ceviche. Korean BBQ sliders. Chili/garlic/furikake wings. A view of the ocean. Wait, sorry, what were we talking about?

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Okay, this one stretches the rooftop definition a little, but its top-of-the-mountain view of the city + great pool + model-y ambience is probably what people from the Midwest think of when they picture LA. Grab some of the house-made harissa hummus or some seafood flatbread, and think about all the poor unfortunate souls who aren’t you.

DOWNTOWN

Yeah, this Downtown restaurant’s got one of the best views in the city, but did you know one floor above is a bar with EVEN BETTER-ER VIEWS IN THE CITY? And the drinks are so good, you guys. Try a Spicy Concombre w/ Greenalls gin, St. Germain, lime juice, cucumber, and jalapeño. Alternatively, you can grab yourself a $6 Scrimshaw, or a $7 Stone IPA. And psst, they’ve even got a late-night menu, including ahi tuna tartar and burgers.

LONG BEACH

Oysters, Sriracha butter chicken wings, 50 craft beers on tap, ping pong, board games, picnic tables, and live music. Any questions?

DOWNTOWN

The sushi here is kinda, sorta, a little bit, pretty good — and the 21st-floor view is next level. Add the club Elevate next door for post-dinner drinks, and, yeah, winner. Winner.

DOWNTOWN

Waterbeds. DJs. A biergarten. Actually good food. Bikinis. You. Yes.

MID-WILSHIRE

It looks like a nondescript office building on the outside, but the Hotel Wilshire is actually a great boutique hotel on an otherwise non-hotel-y part of, uh, Wilshire that’s equipped with a fantastic rooftop bar and a killer view of the Hollywood Hills.

VENICE

Take the less than 10min walk from Abbot Kinney and peep Hotel Erwin’s rooftop bar (assuming you haven’t already while you were completing the LA bucket list). The sea breeze goes great with one of the craft cocktails or some mahi-mahi tacos. Easy street parking and nutso sunsets are also a major plus.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

Eating and drinking don’t have to be your only rooftop activities this summer (but they could be!). If you’re done unleashing your inner Jeremy Piven and want to unleash your inner Serena Williams instead, head over to the West Hollywood Tennis courts and check out the beautifully-maintained courts on the roof of the parking structure.

KOREATOWN

Eating and drinking and playing tennis also don’t have to be your only rooftop activities this summer (but again, they could be!). Once you’re done unleashing your inner Serena, unleash your inner Tiger Woods (minus, you know, the cheating) at this rooftop driving range, which has an automated ball-teeing system and is open ’til 10pm.

HOLLYWOOD

Of all LA’s rooftops, The Library at the Redbury seems to be the one everybody forgets about… so, you know, stop forgetting about it. As its name suggests, the place has a library-meets-lounge-meets-rooftop-meets-Hollywood vibe, and the Mediterranean food menu comes courtesy of Cleo Hollywood downstairs. Oh, and of course it’s got views for days. See ya there.

HOLLYWOOD

A brand-new, elite-level day-drinking option on the rooftop of the Hollywood Proper, Filifera is here to combat the woeful lack of great rooftops in LA. Grab some upscale cocktails, upscale snacks, and bask in the glorious sunshine that brought you there in the first place. By the way, if you’re wondering what a filifera is, you’d know it better as the desert fan palm tree.

Story by Thrillist.

July 16, 2018

The Best Places To Travel To In August

Did you know in some countries they take the entire month of August off? Must be nice. Chances are you’ve still got a few days of paid time off in your basket, so do as the Romans do and take some time this August to mellow out. Maybe see a new place or two. All over the world, there’s great weather, festivals, and events that make August a perfect time to visit — including plenty of spots here in the USA. From the mountains of Vermont to the deserts of Dubai, we narrowed down the coolest places to travel to in August.

Japan

So, yes, Japan is a lot of territory to cover. But no matter where you opt to go, there’ll be something cool going on this August. For starters, this is the tail end of hiking season on Mount Fuji, where ambitious travelers can scale the 12,388-foot peak for a sunrise view over Tokyo. And for less experienced climbers, InsideJapan offers guided tours that skirt many of the backups near narrow passes that can get clogged in the height of summer.

Firework festivals are a trademark of the Japanese summer, and the grandest of them goes down on August 25 in Miyajima. This little island an hour from Hiroshima will launch 5,000 fireworks — 200 from the water — creating a spectacle that draws over 200,000 people to the shores of the nearby cities. Meanwhile in Niigata, you’ll find the largest art festival in the world at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. It runs from July 29 to September 16, and this year features 50 site-specific installations that examine how architecture interacts with the natural world.

LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA | ASHLEYWILEY/E+/MOMENT

Reno & Lake Tahoe, Nevada

The summer heat in the Nevada desert can be, well, unpleasant. But the state’s most highly underrated city also happens to be right next to the cooling waters of Lake Tahoe. In August you’ll find the summer party in full swing here, when watersports on the lake and hikes through the surrounding mountains lead into leisurely afternoons on the beach. The highlight of the month is August 7-12 when one of the biggest classic car shows in America goes down at Hot August Nights. More than 5,000 classic cars converge on the city, and a nightly music festival caps off full days of activities around Reno and Sparks. This year’s headliners include Eddie Money and The Greg Kihn Band.

Mexico

This is another country where there’s so much badass stuff happening in August, it’s hard to drill down just one place to go. For starters, it’s the height of whale shark season off the coast of Cancun — which means you can casually find yourself snorkeling amongst these mysterious gentle giants, some of which are the size of a freakin’ school bus. If you’re looking to stay in town, the Marriott Cancun is handing out $100 in resort credit every day you’re there, or skip the heavy Cancun crowds and stay on Isla Mujeres instead.

Down the road in Riviera Maya, a new Bohemian market opens at Salum, which’ll feature a Mexican craft beer bar, a beach bar, six restaurants, and a sprawling Mexican Market. In Riviera Nayarit, the Masters of the Kitchen festival runs from August 8-11, welcoming chefs like Gilles Epie and Elizabeth Falkner for a week of lavish dinners and cooking demos. And if you’re looking to learn Spanish on your Mexican vacation, a luxurious new Spanish immersion program starts this August in Mexico City, August 5-12 and 19-26. The Fluenz Spanish Immersion program puts you up in an opulent city mansion for six days, where you’ll get the same language training the US military has been using for years, plus homemade meals and visits to local art destinations.

Memphis, Tennessee

Forty-one years ago this August, we lost the King of Rock and Roll. The city he loved commemorates his death with Elvis Week from August 9 to 18 (yeah, Elvis Week is longer than a week, WHAT OF IT?). The festival includes live performances on the Graceland Soundstage at the new Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment district, located across from his famous home. Also on the schedule is a “tribute artist” competition, panel discussions, auctions of Elvis memorabilia, and field trips to his birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi. The whole shebang peaks with a candlelight vigil at Graceland on the 15th, where thousands of fans line up to pay tribute to Elvis’ grave in the meditation garden.

Sardinia, Italy

August is an off-month in Italy, and many leisure-loving Italians choose to spend their vacation on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Home to some of the most stunning beaches in the country — Cala Goloritzé for one, Costa Paradiso for another — Sardinia is a paradise of golden hills and crystal clear water. Italians spend their days relaxing on pleasure boats in hidden coves, partying in beachside day clubs, and generally avoiding the hordes of tourists clogging up the mainland. August 15 brings the festival of Ferragosto, where locals throw lavish feasts, and if you’re lucky enough to make friends with some you’ll be treated to one of the most delicious meals of your life.

Queenstown, New Zealand

If you’re more of a winter person and think skiing in August sounds downright delightful, head to the adventure capital of the world on the South Island. Queenstown boasts four world-class ski resorts in the peaks of the Southern Alps, with terrain suited for everyone from small children to advanced freestyle skiers. You can kick back and enjoy the alpine views at Clicquot in the Snow from August 2-5, Veuve Clicquot’s epic après-ski party at the new QT Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is also the birthplace of bungee jumping; adrenaline junkies can leap off the Kawarau Bridge even when the weather is a little chillier, or go check out the snow-capped majesty of the fjords in Fiordland National Park.

Nebraska

From August 5 through 10, folks from all of the country pour into the Sandhills region of north-central Nebraska for the Nebraska Star Party, a “lovely offbeat annual Woodstock for amateur astronomers.” The premise is simple: this region has less light pollution than probably anywhere else you’ll go in the country, which is why people have gathered here each summer for the last 25 years. Just pick up a Park Entry Permit, and if you have a telescope, bring it; if you don’t, try to at least cop some binoculars, but even if you’re a total amateur you’ll be greeted by plenty of people with high-end equipment who can also tell you what you’re looking at. Beer and wine were once prohibited in state parks, but they are not now.

Spend daylight hours tubing and kayaking around Smith Falls. Come nightfall, you can and should camp, but there are also plenty of hotels to stay in nearby Valentine (the closest town, about 30 miles northeast). You should go there anyway, at least once, for dinner at the Peppermill & EK Valentine Lounge. If you are a person who eats steak, get the steak.

Seattle, Washington

They say Seattle has two seasons: winter and August. And there is quite simply not a more beautiful city in America than Seattle when it shines during its brief, glorious summer. The deep-blue waters of Puget Sound and Lake Washington reflect the emerald hills of the city and the Cascade and Olympic Mountains in the distance. Taking urban hikes through Discovery Park is one of the best way to catch the views, or head south to Mount Rainer and walk through the wildflower-filled fields that surround the most iconic mountain in the state. The Mariners seem to be playing decent baseball this year, which makes afternoons at Safeco Field good for something other than nice views of the skyline. August 31 is the first day of the annual Bumbershoot Festival at Seattle Center, headlined this year by the Chainsmokers and Lil Wayne.

Paraguay

Look for this California-sized country between Argentina and Brazil to become a quiet South American hotspot. Here you can take breathtaking hikes to the top of Cerro Yaguarón for a sunset, or visit one of the most beautiful churches in the Americas at the base of the mountain. It was hand-carved in the 1880s and is perfectly preserved, if relatively unknown to tourists. You can also drive through the wetlands of Neembucu, which is home to almost 300 bird species.

Paraguay also gives you access to Iguazu Falls — both the Argentinian and Brazilian side of the falls are accessible here. Resources for traveling through the country are still somewhat slim, but if all this sounds enticing, Intrepid Travel just launched a new Paraguay expedition that leaves August 20. The 12-day trek hits all these highlights, plus sets you up for two days in San Rafael National Park, where you will take guided night walks and day trips through the endangered Atlantic forest.

LA TOMATINA FESTIVAL, SPAIN | PABLO BLAZQUEZ DOMINGUEZ/STRINGER/GETTY IMAGE NEWS

Bunol, Spain

Put food waste out of your head for just a moment, and head to one of the most bizarre festivals in the world. August 29 marks the La Tomatina festival, the biggest food fight in the world, when normally-sane Spaniards chuck tomatoes at each other for an hour or so. It’s been a thing since 1945, and up until a few years ago drew nearly 50,000 participants ready to chuck fruit at perfect strangers. Though the event has never gotten out of hand, it’s now limited to 20,000 ticketed participants. The fun gets going when water cannons fire into the square, and once the hour-long free-for-all is over, fire trucks hose down the plaza as if nothing ever happened.

Vermont

Summer in New England is about as perfect as perfect gets, and an ideal time to hit the green mountains of Vermont. Take a boat out and fish on Lake Champlain, hike above the tree line to the top of Mount Mansfield, or play some of the most challenging mountain golf courses in the world. August 11 brings the Spruce Peak Folk Festival, a celebration of folk music, and from the 18th through the 20th you can see up and coming tennis stars at the Stowe Mountain Lodge Tennis Classic, headlined by 20-year-old phenom Frances Tiafoe. Relax between matches at the lodge’s brand-new beer garden with local craft beers, or hit the Linehouse, the best small-town bar in the state.

NIGHTFALL MUSIC SERIES, TENNESSEE | NIGHTFALL MUSIC SERIES

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Nashville might have the official “Music City” moniker, but in August, Chattanooga has more music going on than anywhere in the South. Friday nights bring the Nightfall Concert Series, where you can enjoy the cool Tennessee evenings with live concerts in the heart of Downtown. If you’re into bluegrass the Rock City Summer Music Weekends Festival happens all month, with old-time folk and country music joining the lineup at shows held atop Lookout Mountain every weekend. August’s music lineup finishes strong with the start of the Levitt AMP series, a free 10-week concert series with free shows on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center ranging from jazz to country to Southern rock.

Dubai

At first glance you might say “Dubai in AUGUST??? Maybe if you’re into instant basal cell carcinoma!” But seeing the futuristic wonders of Dubai is mostly an indoor pursuit, and in August you can do it cheaper, with a lot fewer people to deal with. The luxe accommodations are significantly more affordable this time of year, and a cooling dip at Jumeirah Beach will find you sharing it with a fraction of the crowd. The famous indoor ski slope gives you the world’s only opportunity to go alpine skiing on 115-degree afternoons. Equally as refreshing are trips down the 30 attractions at the Wild Wadi water park right next to the iconic Burj Al Arab. Lines to the top of the Burj Khalifa — the tallest building in the world — can stretch for hours in January; you’ll find them far shorter now. Emiratis are pioneers in finding air-conditioned ways to enjoy their country, and August is the best time to see why.

Article courtesy of Thrillist.