Posts

Posted on

3 Dessert Trends That Will Take Over Los Angeles in 2018

Predictions and New Years go together like cupcakes and sprinkles, especially when it comes to the topic of desserts.

2017 was a year of colorful decadence and over-the-top sweets like cake-topped milkshakes and funfetti cream-filled croissants. But in 2018 we’ll say goodbye to cereal atop everything, with a shift towards wellness, plant-based goodies, and whole grains (yes, even in our desserts!).

Below are the biggest trends we think you’ll want to watch out for in the year ahead.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSw5f60BI-e/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi

1. Desserts for Every Diet

If 2017 was a year of excess, 2018 will be equally focused on mindful eating and wellness. We’ll see this in the confections we consume as well. As demand for plant-based food options has reached record highs, 2018 will bring a bigger emphasis on plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan sweets. You can already see this with the popularity of the vegan/dairy-free selections at LA’s beloved soft-serve institution Magpies Softserve, but you’ll soon start to see such options on menus citywide. We’re even predicting more stand-alone spots devoted to alternative-diet sweets. One place to look out for is the upcoming bakery from whole-foods baking company Sweet Laurel, focusing on paleo, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free baked goods.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BROaosVl-1N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi

2. Heirloom Grains

Even with the gluten-free craze in full effect, it’s clear people are still enjoying bread and baked goods, and heirloom grains are making a big comeback this year. In 2017 we embraced heritage grains in the form of artisan breads from local millers like Grist & Toll and farmers like Alex Weiser of Weiser Family Farms, but in 2018 we’ll see these grains go beyond bread to make their presence felt in pastry cases across L.A. Roxana Jullapat at Friends & Family offers great examples of this, with heirloom grain in housemade viennoiseries and baked goods like sonora wheat croissants, einkorn shortbreads, and spelt blueberry muffins.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYzIuzzhsP8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_ufi

3. Middle Eastern Desserts

2017 was a big year for Filipino food and for ube in particular — just take a look at the trending treats from Silver Lake bakery FrankieLucy Bakeshop for reference. While we think Filipino food will continue to make a splash in 2018, we’re predicting that Middle Eastern flavors and spices will be a dominant force in desserts. Middle Eastern cuisine had a strong presence in Los Angeles in mid-to-late 2017 with Kismet and Mh Zh hitting the scene. We expect continued growth and excitement about Middle Eastern food to make a big impact on desserts — think flavors like cardamom, pomegranate and pistachio. One great place you can expect to see this is Bavel, the new restaurant from chef Ori Menashe and pastry chef Genevieve Gergis (of Bestia fame) opening in early 2018.

Article courtesy of We Like LA. 

Posted on

The Best Places For A Big Trip in 2018

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

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

New Orleans, Louisiana  

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

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

Russia

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

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

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

Iceland

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

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

Colombia

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

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

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

Malta

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

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

Highway 1, California

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

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

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

Hamburg, Germany

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

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

Jordan

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

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

Seoul, South Korea

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

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

Turks and Caicos

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

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

Nashville, Tennessee

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

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

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

Cape Town, South Africa

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

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

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

Mexico City, Mexico

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

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

United Arab Emirates

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

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

Ireland

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

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

The Florida Keys

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

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

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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

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

Mozambique

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

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

Article courtesy of Thrillist. 

Posted on

Economic update for the week ending January 13, 2018

Stocks continued to rally this week –  On Friday, The Dow gained 228 points after Wells Fargo announced that the new tax law would result in a $3.35 billion tax reduction. As companies estimate the tax savings, investors are seeing the magnitude in which profits will increase due to a reduction from 35% to 21% in corporate tax income, easing regulation, and other incentives. Oil prices also rose to the highest level in two years, which helped energy stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,804.19, up from last week’s close of 25,295.87. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,786.24, up from 2,743.15 last week. The NASDAQ closed at 7,261.06, up from 7,136.56 last week.

Treasury Bond Yields – It was a wild week for treasuries. On Wednesday, a Chinese banking official made a comment that they were going to cut back on buying U.S. debt and rates rose. Later that afternoon, an unofficial source said that the bankers comments were not the policy of the central bank. By Friday, a Chinese official made an official statement that The Chinese Central bank was not going to cut back on U.S. debt and bonds settled, but ended the week higher than the previous week. The 10-year treasury bond closed the week at 2.55%, up from 2.47% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.85%, up from 2.81% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates. We expect mortgage rates to be slightly higher next week.

Mortgage Rates – The January 11, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.99%, about the same as last week’s 3.95%. The 15-year fixed was 3.44%, up from 3.38% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.46%, also almost unchanged from 3.45% last week.

Stricter rent control bill defeated – A bill in the California Assembly, that would have eliminated restrictions on local cities, was defeated this week. Real estate groups were against the bill that would have eliminated the current California law, which limits how restrictive rent control ordinances could be. They argued that landlords would not be encouraged to keep apartment buildings, many have been torn down and converted to condominiums, if this bill passed. They also argued that there will be less incentive to build rental housing, which already has a shortage.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

Posted on

Rodeo Realty's Brentwood agent Deidre Powell sells the most expensive home in Santa Monica's history

A two-story home on an acre of land in Santa Monica has sold for $41 million, the most expensive home sale historically in the city, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Rodeo Realty’s Brentwood agent, Deidre Powell, was the only agent involved in the $41,082,000 off-market deal. The sale made news in the Los Angeles Times, Mansion Global, Observer, and Yolanda’s Little Black Book. In addition to breaking a record, it is also recognized as one of the top real estate sales of 2017.

“Deidre, Congratulations! I noticed that the home you sold was among the top 10 most expensive homes sold in Los Angeles in 2017,” said President of Rodeo Realty, Syd Leibovitch. “Your sale of just above $41 million also marked the most expensive home ever sold by any agent in our Brentwood office. I especially admire how well you handled yourself, and what an outstanding job you did in assisting the buyer and seller in the transaction. Your knowledge of the high-end real estate market on the Westside and the expertise you exhibited in handling every detail was just remarkable!!”

According to Mansion Global, the property includes four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a home theater, gym, an entertaining room with an indoor/outdoor bar, and a swimming pool.

Posted on

The Perfect Date Ideas For Winter In Los Angeles

Whether you’re trying to impress with that all-important first date or need a break from the predictability of Netflix-and-fall-asleep-on-the-couch-together, getting creative with date night isn’t always easy. So, to help you shake things up a bit, we’ve scoured the city to find date ideas that are actually great. And while we don’t exactly have seasons here in LA, we’ve recommended options ideal for the (slightly) colder months to help heat things up.

Take a retro flight with the Pan Am Experience
Pacoima
While booking a flight with your date might be a bit premature, you can still hop aboard a retro-themed flight with the Pan Am Experience and sip cocktails together in first class. The immersive, five-course dinner experience features an exact replica of the airline’s Boeing 747 done to the last 1970s-era vintage detail. Order martinis from the open bar, feast on chateaubriand carved seat-side by flight attendants in the iconic Pan Am uniforms, and even shop old school items from the duty-free cart. You also tour Air Hollywood studios, where pretty much any film or TV show set on an airplane is filmed. It’s a fun, one-of-a-kind experience that’s sure to impress.

Sweep them off their feet (just be careful on the ice)
Various locations
While the rest of the country is avoiding frostbite, we here in LA merely inch closer to the heat lamp as we continue drinking outside year-round — but that doesn’t mean we don’t like to pretend we have seasons. Enter: curling, that curious Winter Olympic sport beloved by our neighbors to the north, involving sliding “rocks” across ice and furiously sweeping their path to a target. It actually involves a lot of teamwork, strategy, and healthy competition — great ingredients for a date night. Plus, you can warm up together with drinks afterward and laugh about all the times you wiped out on the ice. Hollywood Curling, the only club in LA, offers frequent curling classes for beginners.

Get your heart racing on a slide 1,000 feet above DTLA
Downtown
There’s nothing like an exhilarating experience to bring people closer together, which is why you should take your date to OUE Skyspace LA at the top of the US Bank Tower. There, you can zip down a 45-foot glass slide from the 70th floor to the 69th(!) floor on the outside of the building; afterward, soak up spectacular views from California’s tallest open air observation deck. If stretching is your thing, there’s also sunset yoga classes up there, and if you’re ready to pop the question, there’s a wedding proposal package with a private dinner, string quartet, and a helicopter tour that leaves from the roof. If you’re not quite ready for that, though, just head up to 71Above, one of the most romantic restaurants in town, for a fantastic prix fixe dinner and cocktails. The sunset views up there are so legendary, they even have their own Instagram account.

Tour the secret tunnels beneath the streets of DTLA
Downtown
Venture below street level to discover the hidden tunnels, former speakeasies, and lore of the city’s underbelly with Cartwheel Art’s Underground LA tour. In partnership with Hotel Indigo, the tours will give you and your adventurous date an up-close look at the legendary secret passageways once used to transport booze (and bodies!) during Prohibition, and the clandestine watering holes used by those in the know. Once you’ve seen a side of the city that most haven’t, you’ll likely want to whet your whistle at a modern-day LA speakeasy like The Varnish, The Slipper Clutch, or Jackalope. Also note that Cartwheel Art has several other tours for other options as well, in case secret tunnels aren’t quite the date you had in mind.

Get cozy over boozy cider and mead
Carson
Take a break from your usual hop-heavy brewery date night, and discover refreshing new flavors together at Honest Abe’s Cider House and Meadery. Located just down the road from the spooky and sour brews of Phantom Carriage Brewery in Carson, this cider house features 15 rotating taps of classic ciders (as well as creative ones like pineapple and pomegranate), plus a variety of meads, wine, and even brandy — perfect for warming up on a chilly night. The cozy tasting room has couches and games, plus Taco Thursdays and free pizza and movies on Fridays.

Share your creative side with art classes at LACMA
Exploring LACMA’s numerous exhibitions and taking selfies in front of Levitated Mass and the streetlamps of Chris Burden’s Urban Light could constitute a respectable date on its own, but why not kick your creativity up a few notches and sign the two of you up for art classes at the museum? The adult classes include drawing and painting, mixed media printmaking, and more, and not only will you learn about composition, color, and technique together, but you can gift each other your own works of art. Most of the classes are five, once-a-week sessions, so this is really more for advanced dates; if you’re more of an entry-level option with less commitment (and the addition of booze), try Paint Nite.

Take a staycation cruise aboard the haunted Queen Mary
Long Beach
Head down to Long Beach to the historic (and haunted) Queen Mary, which offers a multitude of date options in one location. The retired ocean liner, which sailed from 1936 to 1967, hosts numerous historical tours, as well as the Ghosts and Legends tour and paranormal-themed dinners sure to bring you and your date closer together. It also features monthly comedy shows and local band nights at the Observation Bar & Art Deco Lounge, and you can check the calendar for special seasonal events. If things go really well, you can even book one of the stylish staterooms for a luxurious staycation.

Hiking
Various locations
Don’t worry, we’re not recommending hiking hiking — the hikes we’re referring to (10 of which we detailed here) are instead easy-breezy short ones that’ll get you to I-think-I-can-see-San-Diego-from-here heights. They’re all ranked from one to five, with a one being a suuuuuper-easy hike, and five being just a little bit not-easier.

Disco roller-skating
Glendale
Your roller-skating skills are definitely shaky (get it? DO YOU?), but struggling to stay upright while holding onto your date will be way more fun than trying to practice your solo spin move. Alcohol isn’t served at this throwback roller rink in Glendale — one of the last in LA — but that’s what flasks were made for, right?

Explore a new food neighborhood with Six Taste
Various locations
For both the new transplant in the city, and the longtime local who plainly just loves food, Six Taste’s walking tours hit up five or six different spots in one tour, focusing on the most edible and historical highlights of neighborhoods all over LA.

Make sure your next date can be a romantic dinner in with a Hipcooks class
Multiple locations
Whether you consider yourself a Top Chef or a Boyardee Chef, your cooking game can always use some refining. Hone your skills and get messy together at one of the classes from this fun and affordable cooking school (at the Eastside, Westside, or Woodland Hills locations). You might just learn how to make some dim sum or pasta from scratch. Added bonus: You get a meal (and usually booze!) out of it.

Look fancy with dinner and a show at the Wallis Annenberg Center
Beverly Hills
Stock up on culture cred with your date by checking out a jazz/theater/dance/classical production at the Wallis, the impressive arts center in Beverly Hills (of all places), and enjoy a sweet happy hour at the upscale Italian bistro Cecconi’s before the show. Hungry diners can pop in and get a little tipsy with some wine and cocktails, and soak up all that booze with gourmet bites (including truffle burgers and pizzettas with porchetta) for $4-$7 Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4-7pm.

Taste local wine with wild animals
Malibu
Because Sonoma is a bit far to drive for someone who maybe accidentally swiped right, this handy wine tasting room along Mulholland offers you two a chance to sip vino with a view without awkwardly suffering through the smell of cow pies while driving north on the 5. Pack a picnic/stock up at Trader Joe’s and catch some live folksy music on the weekends, or get wild with the Wine Safaris, where you can take a jeep tour to meet and feed zebras, camels, giraffes, and more wild animals on the property (while tasting wine along the way).

We already told you how awesome OUE Skyspace LA is for dates, so what are you waiting for? From the two open-air observation decks, located 1,000 feet above the city, you get 360-degree views of Downtown Los Angeles. Visit at sunset and it’s one of the most romantic spots in town. But there is one small problem: how will you ever outdo yourself?

Indoor rock climbing
Downtown
You and your date can flex your muscles and “spot” each other at LA’s largest indoor bouldering gym (no ropes!) in the Arts District. Even if the two of you aren’t feeling like Stallone in Cliffhanger, the gym offers intro classes to get you both climbing safely.

Nighttime bike riding
Various locations
The Passage is a weekly bike ride that starts and ends at a donut shop (score!), and along the way aims to hit unexplored parts of LA — sometimes hitting pool halls, bowling alleys, and karaoke along the way. Is it oddball? Yes. Is it still an awesome date? YES.

Roll a spare at vintage bowling at Highland Park Bowl
Highland Park
Sure, many of LA’s classic and well-worn bowling alleys have that endearing je ne sais quoi (like All Star Lanes’ karaoke stage!), but if you want to really impress a date, Highland Park Bowl is where it’s at. This historic joint has been open since the Prohibition era and was the former home to punk rock venue Mr. T’s Bowl. The revamped alley’s been given a glam makeover that melds the old with the new, like a recovered mural from the 1930s, chandeliers made of vintage pin-setters, and some seriously good wood-fired pizzas and craft cocktails. Pro tip: Go to happy hour Monday through Fridays from 5-8pm for discounts on drink and food — like a $10 pizza-and-draft combo or $3 PBRs — and lanes.

Scope out the city’s architecture at Barnsdall Art Park
East Hollywood
Barnsdall Art Park is one of the most underrated spots in LA to get a gorgeous view of the city and some culture under your belt. For the architecture buffs, Frank Lloyd Wright’s first-ever LA project, Hollyhock House, sits on this hilltop and is open for viewing with the purchase of a ticket Thursdays to Sundays. Pack a picnic for a sunset meal for extra bonus points with the date. And check the park’s calendar, as throughout the year it also plays host to wine tasting parties, outdoor movie screenings, gallery openings, and plenty more fun cultural events that are prime date material.

Grab a drink in secret at LA’s best speakeasies
Various locations
The Prohibition era may be long gone, but the idea of sneaking into a speakeasy never gets old. A few years back there were only a scant number of LA bars with secret entrances and special passwords (like “ET phone home”). Now we have so many (23 of the best ones are detailed here) that you and your date could even do a bar crawl visiting these watering holes. But shh, you didn’t hear it from us.

Explore the bizarre at the Museum of Jurassic Technology
Culver City
While some people like to have romantic candlelit dinners on dates, others love a good adventure exploring really weird and creepy stuff. Don’t let the name of this place confuse you — it’s not quite a museum like LACMA or MOCA — but rather a bizarre experience exploring art, trinkets, and stuff that will have you giggling and muttering to your date, “What the hell?” We don’t want to spoil it for you, but all we can say is go in with an open mind and just know you’re in for a fun and delightfully unsettling time. An added perk is that you get to end your visit with a trip to the rooftop garden where you can have tea and cookies… because why not?

Lace up your shoes for an urban hike at the secret Beachwood Canyon Stairs
Hollywood Hills
One of the coolest things about LA is its many, many secret sets of stairs. From Silver Lake to Santa Monica, you’ll find hillside neighborhoods with shortcuts dipping up and down random sets of stairs — something Angelenos used to use back in the day, many for the sadly defunct streetcars. Our favorite route is the Beachwood Canyon one that goes through what old Hollywoodland once was. It’s a chill 2.6-mile hike/walk where you and your date can get a little sweaty (that’s sexy, right?) and have fun figuring out the route and discovering some cool views and architecture porn along the way. If the date’s going well, extend it a little further with a bite to eat at nearby Beachwood Cafe, which just so happens to be owned by Chopped winner Patti Peck.

Take advantage of our weather and dine al fresco
Various locations
LA is #blessed with good weather pretty much most of the year, which means we have a plethora of al fresco dining and drinking options. We’ve highlighted 20 of our favorite restaurants with outdoor patios here, from a sweet rooftop bar with Fijian food to poolside dining at a swanky ‘60s-style hotel.

Take a guided tour of the Watts Towers Arts Center
Watts
Watts Towers is unlike anything else you’ll see around LA. Go on a guided tour and walk through the 17 historic art structures made of steel and mosaics. The tallest one is nearly 100 feet high! After you’ve gotten your dose of history and art, do yourself a favor and take your date to Watts Coffee House for soul-food brunch and get some of the best fried chicken wings and waffles in town.

Star Parties in Griffith Park
Los Feliz
Whether you venture up to the Griffith Observatory on a hike or take the easy way by car, it’s always an excellent, starry-eyed date destination offering stunning views of the city. You can, of course, re-enact plenty of movie scenes from Rebel Without a Cause to La La Land — or better yet, take your date to the Star Parties held one Saturday a month, where you two can peer through telescopes to see the real stars of Hollywood. Then head down to date night classic Little Dom’s to get cozy in a booth with a bottle of red and some hearty Italian eats.

Enjoy a magical meal
Hollywood
You’ve probably heard couples talk about how they want to add some magic back into their relationship, so why not add some actual magic to your next date? Surely you know a magician — er, illusionist — who can get you into the legendary, members-only Magic Castle where illusions abound and dinner is actually much better than it used to be. Or, if you don’t, you could impress your date with an intimate show at Black Rabbit Rose, the new magic theatre from the creative Houston brothers (Break Room 86, Good Times at Davey Wayne’s, etc). After the show you can grab magic-inspired cocktails and excellent Thai-Chinese from Crying Tiger.

Journey through LA’s historic past
Downtown
There’s nothing like a bit of vintage Los Angeles history to inspire swoons straight from a classic noir romance. Start off with a ride on the newly reopened and restored Angels Flight, the iconic funicular railway that originally opened in 1901. Afterward, head over to Grand Central Market, which celebrates its centennial this year, where you and your date can feast from the myriad of delicious vendors (both new and legacy). Pro tip: The market now stays open for dinner, and offers nightly date-friendly events like trivia and jazz. You could also head down Broadway to historic Clifton’s and grab a drink at the Pacific Seas tiki bar. Explore even more with Esotouric’s unique and fascinating tours, which take you through the darker corners of LA’s literary, cultural, and true crime past.

Take in a floral-inspired brunch
Flower District
Even if you aren’t a budding botanist yourself, exploring the historic Southern California Flower Market and Original Los Angeles Flower Market is an incredible only-in-LA experience that everyone should check out. Plus, what date wasn’t improved with a bouquet of fresh flowers (especially ones at a fraction of the cost of retail shops). Admission is just $2 per person for the general public, and you two can roam through the fragrant aisles freely, but just be sure to go before noon when most vendors close. There’s also a farmers market between the two flower markets on Saturdays, and you definitely want to grab brunch or lunch at Poppy & Rose. There you’ll find incredibly delicious American classics, including biscuits & gravy and buttermilk-brined fried chicken, as well as salads and egg dishes.

Crafts, brews, and sea life in San Pedro
San Pedro
Venturing down to San Pedro may be unfamiliar territory for some, but the drive is well worth it if you’re looking for a unique date adventure — and possibly even a staycation. Kick off the date at Brouwerij West, the massive brewery specializing in Belgian-inspired brews that use unique grains and ingredients. Grab a bite at the food truck parked outside and if you happen to go during one of the summertime Popfuji festivals on the huge patio, you can catch live music as well. Across the way, you and your date can also check out works from local artists at Crafted, and you should definitely visit the Frank Gehry-designed Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, where you can explore exhibits of Southern California’s sea life, or get even more up-close during guided tide pool walks or local excursions.

Article by We Like LA. 

Posted on

Weekend Events: January 12 – 14

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, here is 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 in L.A. (January 12-14) includes the 2018 start to dineL.A., Anime Impulse, the LA Art Show, Fiesta Perpetua at Echo Park Lake, free vinyl record days, the Hello Kitty Food Truck, and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday January 12th, 2018

1. dineL.A. the city’s restaurant week (January 12-26) kicks of this Friday with another round of exclusive lunch and dinner menus (and deals!) at a laundry list of the city’s finest eateries. Want to know where to eat among the huge list of choices? Start here, with our picks for 20 can’t-miss menus.

2. The LA Art Show continues at the Los Angeles Convention Center January 10 – 14 for the West Coast’s most comprehensive art experience of the year. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

3. Lula Washington Dance Theatre celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at The Wallis with three different programs of dance over the holiday weekend (January 11 – January 13.)

4. Greenbar Distillery will open up their facility for a tour of their organic distillery. The tour is one hour long and guests will have a chance to learn about the process of spirit making and taste some of the Greenbar portfolio.

5. Tijuana is a multimedia solo show straddling the line between fiction and reality which stars Gabino Rodríguez. Playing at the Skirball Cultural Center on January 11-12. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

6. Redondo Beach Restaurant Week is back from January 12 to 26. Dozen of eateries from the beach city’s growing food scene will be participating by offering either specially priced prix-fixe lunches and/or dinners, or other Restaurant Week-only special offers.

7. 7th Annual Pasadena Cheeseburger Week  returns with over 40 restaurants and bars offering special cheeseburger items from January 7-12.

8. Enjoy a double feature and see Willem Dafoe in person at The Egyptian Theatre. The Florida Projectand one of his most memorable performances Shadow of The Vampire. A discussion will be held between films with Willem Dafoe.

9. Check out the brand new Batman ’66 retrospective at the Hollywood Museum. Highlights include original costumes and props from the 60’s T.V. Show, plus four distinct exhibit sections to check out: Wayne Manor, The Batcave, Gallery of Guest Super Villains, and The Collectibles of Batman ‘66. The retrospective continues through March 17.

10. Take an afternoon yoga class in beautiful Grand Park. The 45 minute workout is complimentary to the public every Wednesday and Friday. After yoga, checkout the many food trucks lining the park and grab lunch al fresco style.

11. The Groundlings: The Completely Different Late Show is a hilarious improv show by the cast of the Groundlings’ Main Company. Audience shout suggestions throughout the night for improvisational scenes performed by some of the best in the business. It’s also a testing ground for brand new material for the Groundlings’ main show. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

Saturday January 13th, 2018

12. Head to Echo Park Lake for Fiesta Perpetua! Acclaimed experimental Mexican vocalist Carmina Escobar will lead a 40-member Oaxacan youth brass band in a performance on floating rafts and at spots surrounding the picturesque lake. FREE

13. The Burger & Beerfest comes to Santa Anita Park this Saturday with mouth-watering gourmet burgers from some of the best burger joints in Southern California, accompanied by frosty brews. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

14. A fun, creative show for kids, Story Pirates Live Radio Show returns to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills this Saturday.

15. L.A.’s only live animated comedy show Picture This! is back with another free show at The Virgil. This time they’ll also showcase live animated improv for the first time. FREE

16. The Hello Kitty Cafe will pop-up in Culver City this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with super adorable treats for kids and adults.

17. Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a service and community event at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. In honor of the beloved civil rights figure, Baldwin Hills will host a day of giving back with a variety of free services for individuals and families. FREE

18. Fusing the world of anime and video games, Anime Impulse happening January 13-14 will feature celebrity appearances, esports, artist alleys, Kawaii fashion, and cosplay, all at the Fairplex in Pomona.

19. Boomtown Brewery is throwing a release party for their specialty canned beer Double IPA called Ignorant this Saturday. International graffiti and tattoo artist Fuzi, whose mural adorns the wall of the brewery will be on hand doing flash tattoos for $100. There will also be a DJ spinning tunes and food by CA Burger Shop. Admission to the party is free.

20. The 37th Annual Asian American Expo will takeover the Fairplex in Pomona from January 13-14 with vendors, performances, food and much more.

21. Looking for a little free comedy this weekend in NELA? The Frogtown Show is a free monthly comedy show that takes place at Spoke Bicycle Cafe along the L.A. River. Light bites, wine and beer specials will be available for the evening. FREE

22. This weekend The Record Parlor is hosting  free vinyl days on both Saturday and Sunday. Spend $20 and you get to take home 100 records for free. Bringing your own box or bag is recommended!

Sunday January 14th, 2018

23. Enjoy unlimited tastings of specialty and limited-edition beers during DTLA Breweries United Fest ’18. Taking place at Triangle Lot the brew-centric event proceeds will go directly to non-profit Keep A Breast.

24. The Wallis in Beverly Hills will host “Dance Sundays” with famed actress/dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen. Suitable for the whole family, each month will feature a special dance theme, this month it’s Flamenco. FREE

25. The annual Happy Birthday Marion! event returns to celebrate the popular silent-era film actress with a fabulous vintage style party at the Annenberg Community Beach House. FREE

26. Friendship Buddies is a weekly stand-up comedy show at the Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park. Come hangout in the back patio, enjoy a cocktail, and LOL to outstanding stand-up comedians in Los Angeles. FREE

27. Free admission at: Museum of Latin American Art, USC Pacific Asian Museum (11 am. to 5 p.m.) and Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can).

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

Posted on

All The TV Premieres You Need To Know About In 2018

There’s a lot of good stuff on the schedule in 2018! So if you’re curious about when Roseanne returns or when that weird Brit hit Rellik makes its way stateside, bookmark this ridiculously comprehensive, passionately curated, and always updated guide to fill out your own premiere-date calendar.

**denotes new show

January 1

The 2018 Rose Parade (various networks)
Start the year with this SoCal celebration of floral floats — if you want a new kind of coverage, catch Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon as “cheesy local TV hosts” on Amazon.

The Bachelor (ABC)
Previously seen getting dumped by Bachelorette Emily Maynard, real estate agent Arie Luyendyk Jr. tries for love and redemption in this popular reality show about transactional relationships.

Glacé** (Netflix)
Also known as The Frozen Dead, a grisly but promising French serial killer thriller about mysterious killings that seem to be masterminded by an incarcerated psychopath.

Kids Baking Championship (Food)
Season 4 of those kids who can already bake better than you.

Love & Hip Hop: Miami** (VH1)
The popular rap reality show moves to South Beach and features TRICK DADDY!!!! Remember him???

Lovesick (Netflix)
A third dose of this British hidden gem, which used to be called Scrotal Recall, and now mercifully is not. Lovesick is far better wordplay for a show about a man who must notify all his past sexual partners that he has an STI.

January 2

Ellen’s Game of Games** (NBC)
Players vie for $100,000 on this thing that looks like a Nickelodeon game show for grownups, hosted by the increasingly ubiquitous Ellen DeGeneres.

LA to Vegas** (FOX)
Imagine Airplane!, but with episodes, more idiots, and Dylan McDermott.

January 3

9-1-1** (FOX)
Ryan Murphy and all your favorite American Horror Story cast members put a fresh spin on… every classic procedural ever?

grown-ish** (Freeform)
The black-ish spin-off follows Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi) as she starts at Southern California University.

The X-Files (FOX)
Eleven seasons deep, still trying to find the truth, which is definitely out there.

January 4

The Four: Battle for Stardom** (FOX)
Fergie presents this new singing competition, and ummmmm, you can audition!

Nashville (CMT)
The country melodrama’s final season begins.

COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE | NETFLIX

January 5

Child Support** (ABC)
Kind of like Kids Say the Darndest Things, but with Ricky Gervais and Fred Savage goading on the children.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix)
Jerry Seinfeld brings new guests to a different streaming service.

DEVILMAN crybaby** (Netflix)
A stunning, ambitious anime adaptation of Go Nagai’s legendary manga.

January 7

75th annual Golden Globes (NBC)
Seth Meyers hosts the fun awards show, the one where all the celebrities drink a lot and comedies can win awards.

The Chi** (Showtime)
Created by Lena Waithe, a look at life on the South Side of Chicago — watch the first episode here.

January 9

Undercover High** (A&E)
A (creepy?) docuseries about young adults posing as high schoolers to investigate student life.

January 10

Alone Together** (Freeform)
Executive produced by the Lonely Island gang, a sitcom about two (strictly) BFFs trying to survive and thrive in LA.

The Magicians (Syfy)
Felicia Day joins for Season 3 of this show about — wait for it — magicians.

January 11

Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story (ABC)
In case I, Tonya wasn’t enough for you, ABC gives you another look at the controversial figure skating icon.

January 12

Disjointed (Netflix)
Part 2 of the Kathy Bates pot-com, from the mind of Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men).

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams** (Amazon)
Kind of like Amazon’s version of Black Mirror, but less heavy-handed with its warnings.

Somebody Feed Phil** (Netflix)
A six-episode docuseries in which the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond eats and makes you watch!

Taken (NBC)
What happens when you make a show about a man with a “very particular set of skills”? You get a second season.

January 14

Crashing (HBO)
Season 2 of comedian Pete Holmes semi-autobiographical comedy (never heard that before, have you?) about his time couch surfing and trying to make it. Hopefully with less barking this season.

Hot Streets** (Adult Swim)
Fans of Rick and Morty will be excited to see (read: hear) Justin Roiland in this funny, supernatural FBI spoof — watch the pilot here.

Victoria (PBS)
The baby drama‘s second season will either make you want kids or birth control.

THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE: AMERICAN CRIME STORY | FX

January 15

49th NAACP Image Awards (TV One)
Anthony Anderson continues his serious hosting streak.

January 16

Black Lightning** (CW)
The electrifying DC Comics superhero gets his own standalone series, starring Cress Williams.

The Paynes** (OWN)
A House of Payne spin-off that has the original stars trying to enjoy retirement in Florida.

January 17

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story** (FX)
Self-explanatory, but this is the prolific Ryan Murphy’s follow-up to last year’s smash hit. Remember how much you liked the OJ one?

Corporate** (Comedy Central)
Exactly what’d happen if 300 and Office Space had a kid and everyone’s hero, Aparna Nancherla, volunteered to tame it — four episodes available here.

The Path (Hulu)
Season 3 of Hulu’s cult drama (as in, it’s about cults, though perhaps it also has a cult following) starts with an episode titled “The Beginning,” so prepare to get fucked up.

January 18

Portlandia (IFC)
One last hurrah for Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s offbeat sketch show, which enters its final season.

January 19

Grace and Frankie (Netflix)
Season 4, because these hilarious ladies can’t stop, won’t stop. (Also: Lisa Kudrow shows up.)

High Maintenance (HBO)
Everyone’s favorite weed dealer keeps biking around NYC, unluckier than ever for Season 2.

January 20

Planet Earth: Blue Planet II** (BBC America)
A sequel to the popular (and thorough) docuseries about the world’s oceans, narrated, of course, by Sir David Attenborough.

January 21

The Resident** (FOX)
The Good Wife‘s Matt Czuchry stars as a psychotic but inspiring resident — think the Nike “Just Do It” slogan, but a doctor.

January 22

The Alienist** (TNT)
Cary Fukunaga, the director behind every episode of True Detective’s first (and good) season, steers this adaptation of Caleb Carr’s critically acclaimed crime novel.

Mosaic** (HBO)
A linear cut of director Steven Soderbergh’s (The Oceans Trilogy, Erin Brockovich) innovative whodunit, featuring extra material that didn’t make it into the app.

ALTERED CARBON | NETFLIX

January 23

Another Period (Comedy Central)
For Season 3, your favorite comedians venture to the past and tackle women’s equality, opioid addiction, and #MAGA — sound familiar? Same shit, different (time) period.

Baskets (FX)
How would you describe Season 3 of Zach Galifianakis’ bizarro clown comedy in three words? “Baskets. Family. Rodeo.” Also: Yippie Kie Yay!

January 25

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 (VH1)
Another one, featuring Aja, BenDeLaCreme, Chi Chi DeVayne, Kennedy Davenport, Milk, Morgan McMichaels, Shangela, Thorgy Thor, and Trixie Mattel.

January 26

Dirty Money** (Netflix)
From Alex Gibney (Going Clear), a docuseries that promises to investigate the world’s biggest and baddest businesses — including Donald Trump’s.

One Day at a Time (Netflix)
If you still haven’t watched this rebooted, updated version of the Norman Lear classic, binge before this Season 2 premiere.

January 28

60th annual Grammy Awards
James Corden: The Sequel.

January 31

Step Up: High Water** (YouTube Red)
This YouTube original series takes the dance, romance, and social drama of the movie franchise to a contemporary (and very competitive) performing arts school in Atlanta.

February 1

A.P. Bio** (NBC)
Created by Saturday Night Live forces Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, and Mike O’Brien, a comedy about an award-winning philosopher forced to teach high school biology.

February 2

2 Dope Queens** (HBO)
Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson’s hit podcast gets the TV treatment with four themed episodes and as many big-name special guests — hey, Jon Stewart!

Altered Carbon** (Netflix)
A murder mystery that takes place in a future where death is impermanent, like if you mixed Black Mirror with True Detective .

February 4

Super Bowl LII (NBC)
Justin Timberlake has been tasked with following Lady Gaga’s wild 2017 halftime performance. No one invited Janet Jackson, though.

February 11

Here and Now** (HBO)
Created by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under), this is the story of a multiracial family whose bonds are tested when “when one of the children begins seeing things which the rest cannot.”

Our Cartoon President** (Showtime)
Need more Trump satire? Animated Trump satire, executive produced by Stephen Colbert.

February 16

Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon)
Season 4, if you can believe it. (If you can’t, the name is a good reminder to watch The Lost City of Z, one of 2017’s better movies!)

JODI BALFOUR IN RELLIK | CINEMAX

February 23

Seven Seconds** (Netflix)
Mirroring today’s controversial relationship with police, race, and media, an anthological thriller that “gives viewers a glimpse into the human stories behind the headlines.”

March 2

B: The Beginning** (Netflix)
A future-set anime in which a serial killer runs rampant and “new humans” are kidnapped for evil purposes.

March 4

90th annual Academy Awards (ABC)
America’s newfound public conscience, who is somehow Jimmy Kimmel, hosts cinema’s most prestigious night, which will yield at least one cringeworthy joke and several unintentional memes.

March 7

Hard Sun** (Hulu)
From the creator of Idris Elba’s detective drama Luther, an insane thriller that has two polar-opposite cops pair up to prevent an “extinction-level event.”

March 8

The Oath** (Crackle)
Sean Bean looks stereotypically grumpy in this gritty crime drama — executive produced by 50 Cent — full of corrupt police gangs and impenetrable secret societies.

March 11

American Idol (ABC)
The show rises from the dead on a new network because, like a phoenix, it’s destined to outlive us all.

March 27

Roseanne (ABC)
The very self-aware revival plans to bring back all your faves.

April 1

Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (NBC)
Starring John Legend and Alice Cooper, TV’s next big broadcast musical comes to the world on April Fool’s Day.

April 13

Rellik** (Cinemax)
A gruesome Brit thriller that chronicles in reverse the hunt for a serial killer, co-starring Game of Thrones‘ Richard Dormer and The Crown‘s secret weapon, Jodi Balfour.

Article by Thrillist. 

Posted on

20 dineL.A. Menus You Need to Know About for This Month

Now back for its 10th anniversary, dineL.A. highlights our city’s finest restaurants through special lunch and dinner menus offered over a two-week period from January 12 through January 26.

The winter edition includes 300+ eateries with menu deals that are affordable for all budgets. Lunch menus run $15, $20, or $25 depending on the restaurant and $29, $39, or $49 apply to dinner menus. The only exception is a small set of experiential menus from the Exclusive Series which are priced at $95 and up. Even that is a small price to pay when you can dine at Michael Cimarusti’s award winning Providence or Wolfgang Puck’s iconic Spago in Beverly Hills. Now the only question is, where to begin?

Below you will find all recommended menus organized into sections for lunch, dinner and exclusives with details on what’s being offered and what to order.

One other quick note: American Airlines will help commemorate the 10th anniversary with a contest, “dineL.A. Golden Dish” will award one lucky winner with 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles. Simply participate in dineL.A. this year and if you get served a dish on a gold commemorative plate you’ll be deemed the winner. Obviously the more dineL.A. restaurants you visit, the more chances you’ll have to win. Good luck!

dine la 2018

Photo Credit: Discover Los Angeles

Top Lunch Deal Picks

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcYNdDJA7ER/

1. Redbird ($25)
Chef Neal Fraser has created a two course brunch/lunch menu for dineL.A. Guests can dine on creations that any curious eater would want to try including Salmon Pastrami, Bacon Wrapped Trout and Rabbit Tinga. Other options include: Liberty Farms Duck with gochujang friend rice, Salmon Pastrami, Bacon Wrapped Trout and Rabbit Tinga. –> Full Menu Here

2. spring ($25)
Elevate your lunch without compromising your wallet during spring’s dineL.A. lunch menu. The three course prix fixe opens with a salad or soup and moves onto main courses like Branzino with lemon confit and pickled grapes. Your choice between a Louis XV or an Apple and Tea Crumble Panna Cotta will end the meal on a sweet note. Other options include: Branzino, Pasture Raised Flat Iron Steak and Panna Cotta. –> Full Menu Here

3. Cosa Buona ($20)
Zach Pollack’s Echo Park pizzeria is as good as it gets if you like a nicely burnt, chewy crust with a just-sweet-enough red sauce to top it off. Diners can get a two-course meal plus marinated olives to snack on for $20. Other options include: Pasta Salad, Broccolini, Margherita Pizza and Sausage Pizza. –> Full Menu Here

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaX815wACZf/

4. Badmaash ($20)
Hip Indian mash up eatery Badmaash will offer a dineL.A. lunch menu on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Choose an appetizer of Bean Sprout “Bhel” Salad or a Punjabi Style Onion Fritter and your choice from four main courses served with a side of daily pickles, yogurt raita and basmati pilaf. Other options include: Classic Butter Chicken, Goan Pork Curry, Good Ol’Saag Paneer and Punjabi Style Chickpeas. –> Full Menu Here

5. Kali ($25)
Chef Kevin Meehan creates a hyper seasonal and local dineL.A. menu this winter. The three course meal will have diners choose between a Charred Avocado Salad or a Black Barley Risotto made with black garlic and local cheese for starters. As for the main course it’s a tough choice when Mary’s Chicken and Uni Pasta is involved. Lastly, there are two options for dessert, a Meringue Gelato with sugar cured egg yolks or a Chocolate Cremeux. Other options include: Charred Avocado Salad, Black Barley Risotto, Uni Pasta and Meringue Gelato –> Full Menu Here

nick-stefs-dine-la

Photo Credit: Nick + Stef’s

6. Nick + Stef’s ($25)
Patina owned steakhouse Nick + Stef’s will offer a decadent lunch where you get a starter and a main course like a hanger steak with your choice of a side (there are four to choose from.) Guests will also have the option to make an entree “Oscar Style” where jumbo lump crab is topped on your dish for $10. Other options include: Oak Grilled Salmon, Hanger Steak and Jidori Chicken. –> Full Menu Here

7. The Stalking Horse ($15)
New to dineL.A. the British pub inspired restaurant will serve a two course lunch that’s fitted for vegans or carnivores. Options like their American Burger and Chicken Pot Pie can be made sans meat. Other options include: Chicken Pot Pie, American Burger, Welsh Rarebit and French Onion Soup. –> Full Menu Here

8. Gratitude Beverly Hills ($25)
Elevated plant-based eatery Gratitude’s special lunch menu starts with a small bite of chips & gauc and moves onto a starter then an entrée and ends with dessert. Other options include: Kelp Thai Noodles, Gratitude Blue Plate Special and Key Lime Pie. –> Full Menu Here

Top Dinner Deal Picks

9. Rossoblu ($39)
An Authentic Italian meal can be found at Chef Steve Samson’s Rossoblu. His Downtown eatery has become one of the most popular places to dine in the last year, landing at #10 on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Resturants. For dineL.A. diners get a three course meal that include comforting Chopped Winter Vegetable Soup, Lasagne Bolognese, Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Zuppa Inglese an Italian dessert layering custard and sponge cake. Other options include: Warm Calamari & Clam Salad, Chopped Winter Vegetable Soup, Lasagne Bolognese, Roasted Lamb Shoulder and Zuppa Inglese. –> Full Menu Here

the-bellwether-grilled-skirt-steak

Photo Credit: Marie Buck for The Bellwether

10. The Bellwether ($29)
Dinner at Ted Hopson’s Studio City restaurant will usually run over $30 but during dineL.A. The Bellwether will let diners choose three items from a list of ten tasty choices. Other options include:  Tempura Cauliflower, Saffron-Mushroom Ragu, Cheese Platter and Jameson Bread Pudding. –> Full Menu Here

11. Petrossian ($59)
If you enjoy caviar you can get it in three courses and even have dessert in the end for a shocking $59 at Petrossian. The three course menu featuring decadent dishes like Crème Brulée made with Foie Gras will also offer a Tsar Imperial Caviar Flight for a $50 supplement. Other options include: Caviar Flight, Foie Gras Crème Brulée and Caviar Risotto. –> Full Menu Here

12. Manhattan Beach Post ($39)
Michelin-starred Chef David LeFevre’s much beloved M.B. Post will offer a four course meal sectioned by vegetables, seafood, meat and sweets. Simply choose from each section of the dineL.A. menu and expect to be surprised by his flavor combinations like lamb belly with plum sauce and trout with Fuji apple chimichurri. Other options include: Weiser Farm Roasted Sunchokes, Japanese Hamachi Sashimi, Milk Braised Pork and The “Elvis” a chocolate pudding with peanut butter mousse and bacon brittle. –> Full Menu Here

rays-stark-bar-pizza

Photo Credit: Ray’s Stark Bar

13. Ray’s & Stark Bar ($29)
Create a full day event around dineL.A. by heading to LACMA for a museum day and having dinner on campus at Ray’s and Stark Bar. The special set menu includes a Black Kale Salad, a Neapolitan-style Margherita pizza and a signature cocktail of your choice. –> Full Menu Here

14. Herringbone Santa Monica ($49)
Find Big Eyed Tuna Carpaccio, Buffalo Octopus, Whole Roasted Branzino and other seafood options on the special three course dinner menu during dineL.A. at Brian Malarkey’s Herringbone. –> Full Menu Here

15. Same Same ($29)
The prix fixe menu at Silver Lake’s Thai eatery Same Same includes your choice of two courses that include Thai Dim Sum, Beef Panang Red Curry and desserts like Sweet & Spicy Pineapple and a cooling Coconut Flan to combat the heat from some of the deliciously spicy dishes. Other options include: Sidewalk Pad Thai and Chicken Katieam. –> Full Menu Here

16. Westbound ($29)
Speakeasy bar and restaurant Westbound will offer market pickles to cleanse the palate, a vegetable forward snack choice and a protein as the main course. Other options include: Chickpea Artichoke Fritters, Boneless Short Rib and Mary’s Chicken with Spatzle. –> Full Menu Here

dineL.A. Exclusive Series ($95 per person)

17. Providence ($100)
Dining at a two Michelin star restaurant for $100 is rare. Take full advantage to try one of the most decorated American seafood restaurants in the city when they roll out a tasting menu designed just for dineL.A. Also important to note, for a $40 supplement you can get a taste of the rare a5 Wagyu, the highest grade given to beef in world. Other options include: Amuses, Sea Scallop, Liberty Farms Duck and Salmon. –> Full Menu Here

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcoDsNJhNuX/

18. The Arthur J ($95)
The Manhattan Beach neighborhood steakhouse will feature a three-course menu where diners will start with something chilled like a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail or Beef Sirloin Tartare and move onto warm starters like Swedish Meatballs or a Farro Risotto with Black Truffles. As for the main course, guests can choose from a Petit Filet, Ribeye, Tuna Loin or Braised Lamb Shank. Steak entrées come with a choice of topping from a classic mushroom to a decadent seared foie gras or buttered crab. There’s also three different desserts to choose from. You’ll probably leave with leftovers as portions here are generous. –> Full Menu Here

19. Union ($100)
Current Top Chef contender Bruce Kalman’s California/Italian inspired eatery will take diners on a five course journey that starts with his popular bread service and moves onto cured fish, little gem salad, Agnolotti, a Flannery Holstein Beef Ribeye and Olive Oil Cake with a salted honeycomb gelato to end. Other options include: Citrus Cured Pacific Yellowtail. –> Full Menu Here

20. Spago Beverly Hills ($125+)
A special California Tasting Menu will be offered during dineL.A. Normally $145, the menu will be priced at $125 for a limited time. Guests will feast on 13 courses that include Hand Made Agnolotti with the option to add French Black Truffles for a $20 supplement. Other options include:  Snake River Wagyu Beef, Ikejime Black Cod and Slow Braised Pork Belly in Korean Gamjatang Soup. –> Full Menu Here

Article by We Like LA. 

Posted on

Economic update for the week ending January 6, 2018

Employers add 148,000 new jobs in December – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that 148,000 new jobs were added in December. That fell short of the 190,000 that economists expected. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, a 17-year low. With such low unemployment, investors were not at all concerned with fewer jobs added than expected, as so many jobs have been added over the past 5 years. Average hourly wages grew a modest 2.5% year-over-year in December, which was the same as in November. Although not the wage gains expected in an economy with such a low unemployment rate, 2.5% is higher than we have seen for several years. This was seen as a bright spot in the jobs report.

Stocks begin 2018 higher as rally continues –  Stock markets all climbed again to record highs with the Dow breaking 25,000 for the first time and then rising almost another 300 points. The Dow rose 577 points this week, a 2% increase. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,295.87, up from last week’s close of 24,719.22. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,743.15, up from 2,673.51 last week. The NASDAQ closed at 7,136.56, up from 6,903.39 last week.

Treasury Bond Yields – The 10-year Treasury bond closed the week at 2.47%, up from 2.40% last week. The 30-year treasury yield ended the week at 2.81%, up from 2.74% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates. We expect mortgage rates to be slightly higher next week.

Mortgage Rates – The January 4, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 3.95%, about the same as last week’s 3.99%. The 15-year fixed was 3.38%, down from 3.44% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.45%, also almost unchanged from 3.47% last week.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

Posted on

The Best Places To Eat On Ventura Boulevard

Not only are there great classic spots all over the Valley, but the past few years have brought a food renaissance to the SFV, which is why Thrillist has updated their list of the best restaurants on Ventura. Of course, there are also great cuts deeper north, but the Boulevard’s where much of the action happens, and is also way easier for any friends coming from over the hill to get to.

BLACK MARKET LIQUOR BAR

STUDIO CITY

Strong cocktails and killer brunch from a Top Chef alum
The just-off-Cahuenga section of Ventura is one of LA’s trendiest gastropub havens, but one of the first to set up shop on the block was Black Market, which combines the efforts of Top Chef alum Antonia Lofaso with lauded barmen Pablo Moix and Steve Livigni. It’s jam-packed on weekend nights, thanks to the tremendously tasty drinks (the spicy/grapefruity Chilero is a favorite) and some of the city’s best wings, as well as an egg-laden brunch.

BLUE DOG BEER TAVERN

SHERMAN OAKS

Divey spot with pub fare and 60+ taps
Not only does this (yes, again) gastropub have one of the best burgers in town that you’ve never heard of, but it’s also got an insane beer list, and is walking distance from the Galleria, where you’ll smirk at the people waiting in line at The Cheesecake Factory… right before you stumble up to the ArcLight.

CASA VEGA

SHERMAN OAKS

Late-night Valley institution with terrific margaritas
Is this the best Mexican food you’ll ever eat? No, it is not. Still, it’s been a Valley classic for over 50 years, due in one part to amazing margaritas, and in another part to incredible chips-and-guac, and, in yet another part, to that old-school charm-y Mexican restaurant decor that falls flat when anyone tries to modernize it. And the oven-style burritos — wet with sauce and covered with drippy cheese — are pretty excellent too, all told.

BAMBOO

SHERMAN OAKS

Classic, family-style Chinese food
If you’ve got friends who grew up in the Valley, it’s likely that their taste for Chinese food started at this mid-Boulevard staple. But it’s not just nostalgia that keeps the lights on here: Bamboo’s a Zagat-rated favorite, with reliably delicious takes on classic dishes like well-salted wonton soup and sizzling hot beef & scallops.

SUGARFISH

STUDIO CITY

Reliable reincarnation of a sushi classic
The transformation from Sushi Nozawa to Sugarfish — the most consistent chain of any kind we’ve ever eaten at, with some of the best sub-$50 sushi you’ll find anywhere — has not gone unnoticed. Sugarfish is great, and unequivocally so.

SADAF

ENCINO

Middle Eastern spot with excellent kebabs
Sure, it’s as far west as you’re likely to go, but it’s worth heading under the 405 for this Persian treasure. In addition to melt-in-your-mouth skewers of beef and chicken, you’ll also want to try the rice boiled with sour cherries and chicken, and the juicy, thick savory stews of veal and eggplant. As an added bonus, there’s plentiful, under-the-405, shopping cart parking nearby!

BONEYARD BISTRO

SHERMAN OAKS

Barebones space with barbecue and a massive beer selection
This long-standing BBQ spot is a classic for a whole host of reasons. It serves up tender, drool-inducing ribs, features a wide-ranging and ever-changing craft beer list (42 taps long), offers a half-priced wine special every Tuesday and Wednesday, and has a daily happy hour. Oh, and the Kobe beef & chili-filled donuts here are life-affirmingly good.

IROHA SUSHI OF TOKYO

SHERMAN OAKS

Longtime sushi spot serving both trendy & traditional takes
OK, props to one more sushi joint: this unassuming, tucked-away spot serves not only hearty helpings of salmon nigiri and crazy-good uni, but also has the best blackened cod on the Boulevard. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a man throw a 13-foot python at you while you eat your dinner.

THE BELLWETHER

STUDIO CITY

Bistro emphasizing farm-fresh ingredients
This New American spot got a rave review from Jonathan Gold and has become one of the surest bets for great food in the Valley. The dinner menu’s got tempura cauliflower and a patty melt that’s become a local favorite, and chef/owner Ted Hopson’s also got a poached-egg-topped grain bowl and a hot chicken sandwich for brunch on the weekends.

FIREFLY

STUDIO CITY

Romantic spot for a sit-down dinner
This longstanding nice-dinner favorite has an indoor/outdoor vibe, and a pedigreed chef who’s now doing a three-course tasting menu as well as a la carte options like an osso buco and lamb-rib duo. Try to get a seat outside by the fireplace: this is the rare Valley restaurant that feels romantic without being hokey, and the patio vibe goes a long way in establishing that atmosphere.

JOE’S FALAFEL

STUDIO CITY

Counter service standby for lunch or dinner
There is tons of great Middle Eastern food in the Valley, but for the East Valley, Joe’s reigns supreme: their falafel is a lunchtime staple, thanks to a perfectly crisp exterior and a chickpea mixture that’s surprisingly spiced (is that… cinnamon I’m tasting??). Their bowl specials are also exceedingly affordable and always delicious.

THE FRANKLAND LEE EMPIRE

ENCINO

Acclaimed restaurant group by a husband/wife duo
Vaunted Scratch|Bar chef Phillip Frankland Lee and his pastry chef wife Margarita have single-handedly (or is that double-handedly? How does that work?) changed the dining scene in the West Valley with a quartet of restaurants, all located in the Woodley Plaza center. There’s the gastropub-y Woodley Proper, the seafood-centric Frankland’s Crab & Co, Sushi|Bar (which trounces the Valley’s raw-fish mainstays), and of course the flagship Scratch|Bar, all of which have become destination restaurants in a part of LA that had never really been on the culinary map before.

VERSAILLES

ENCINO

LA landmark serving traditional Cuban dishes
This LA Cuban mini-chain is responsible for one of the city’s most iconic dishes (garlic chicken, yes please), but is also great for sandwiches, casual/inexpensive group dinners, and other events that don’t involve making out afterwards. Plus, you can tell your over-the-hill-friends that you ate at a bona fide LA institution, and then argue over why the hell they don’t believe you when you say the Valley’s every bit as good as the city is.

THE LOCAL PEASANT

WOODLAND HILLS & SHERMAN OAKS

Well-made comfort food in a pub-style atmosphere
Gastropubs started trending in the East Valley nearly a decade ago, and the trend’s welcome crawl westward is exemplified by The Local Peasant’s two locations on Ventura — one in Sherman Oaks, and one all the way west in Woodland Hills. Does that mean Woodland Hills is the next Studio City? Maybe, but until we know for sure, order some chocolate chunk bread pudding and make yourself comfortable.

HUMMUS BAR & GRILL

TARZANA

Addictive Middle Eastern fare inside a shopping center
Worthy of a Tarzana trip all by itself, the bubbly, doughy flatbread at this Middle Eastern mainstay has the perfect consistency to sop up any of the 12+ all-you-can-eat “salads” served with every dish, which include multiple deconstructions of eggplant, a chopped liver pate, and a slew of spiced vegetables. Here’s your go-to move: order one of the skewer dishes for every two or three people at your table, and then go HAM on the salads — and the bread. Oh, and also order the hummus (duh).

Article courtesy of Thrillist. 

Proudly powered by WordPress