Great Places To Eat At In Anaheim
Outside of Orange County, Anaheim is mostly known for its largest tourist destination: Disneyland. But locals know that the city extends far beyond The Happiest Place on Earth, with plenty of non-Disney things worth doing — and the food scene doesn’t end at the resort zone, either. Dig deeper into the strip malls, modern food courts, and transit terminals in Anaheim’s surrounding grid, and you’ll uncover restaurants serving food from around the world that are cool enough for LA, but could only exist in the OC.
From speakeasy fine dining to all-Halal feasts (and every down-home American breakfast in between), here are the restaurants you should be eating at in Anaheim right now.
The Blind Rabbit
Hidden spot for fine cocktails and decadent food
Orange County’s first speakeasy is thankfully still one of its best. Some of the most creative mixologists in the region continue to pass through The Blind Rabbit’s hidden front doors, where they craft seasonal menus of stalwart classics and custom cocktails that range from off-the-wall to tiki-inspired. A food menu of equal decadence (bone marrow, duck confit mac & cheese, lamb chops) awaits — if you can find the place.
Olive Tree
Middle Eastern food at Little Arabia’s preeminent restaurant
Orange County’s unofficial “Little Arabia” is a conglomeration of restaurants and businesses around the intersection of Brookhurst and Ball in West Anaheim; Olive Tree is its most notable food ambassador. The eatery (which recently expanded across the strip mall) serves familiar Middle Eastern food like falafel and beef shawarma alongside hard-to-find regional specialties from Palestine, Libya, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.
MFK by Aysee
Filipino bowls and a dinner you eat with your hands
In the Philippines, chef Henry Pineda’s aunt and grandmother own a small chain of restaurants specializing in sisig, or crispy chopped pig-head parts that come sizzling on a cast-iron plate. In Anaheim, Pineda serves the same dish but is more well known for his quick-service rice bowls topped with everything from spiced chicken adobo to crispy pork belly lechon. Order in advance for a full kamayan dinner, where you’ll eat a traditional Filipino meal of various fried and stewed meats off banana leaves with no utensils.
Club 33 and Napa Rose at Disneyland
The two best restaurants at the Happiest Place on Earth
Amusement parks are known for hocking lots of junk food, but Disneyland’s most exclusive dining experiences instead offer up-close views to upscale, cheffy freedom. At Napa Rose inside the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Chef’s Table offers custom, multi-course meals from chef Andrew Sutton, who puts SoCal twists on NorCal-inspired California cuisine. Club 33, meanwhile, is Sutton’s more historic affair. The exclusive, membership-only restaurant hidden somewhere in New Orleans Square is where, for $10,000 a year (plus a $25,000 initiation fee), you get five annual passes, private tours, access to VIP treatment and the privilege of reserving a time to try Sutton’s take on classic American fine dining.
THE RANCH
Farm-to-table steakhouse and dance hall
THE RANCH (yes, all caps) can best be described as a new-school steakhouse — enough nostalgia to represent the genre, but with a contemporary upgrade to keep the food snobs happy. Executive chef Michael Rossi and master sommelier Michael Jordan (both formerly of Disneyland’s Napa Rose) represent Western farm-to-table with seasonal takes on classic meat dishes, like a 36-ounce bone-in rib-eye and Beeler’s Family Farm pork chop. Bring lots of friends, and stick around for the live music afterward!
The Oyster Bar SKC
Southern selections inside a transit hub
The Oyster Bar SKC is the only sit-down restaurant operating inside ARTIC: Anaheim’s new train and bus terminal that looks like a fluorescent rainbow airplane hangar just off the 57 Freeway. With a New Orleans theme, The Oyster Bar focuses on seafood-drenched pan roasts — made through steam kettle cooking, thus the “SKC” — and its raw bar, which stocks shells of all kinds from every coast.
El Gaucho
Argentine market and deli that’s perfect for lunch
From the outside, El Gaucho looks like it could be just another suburban carniceria, but this Argentine market and deli counter offers so much more. Shelves of South American goods and a well-stocked butcher counter await for the grab-and-go set, while the attached deli oozes Italian influence with Argentine pizzas, charcuterie sandwiches, and empanadas stuffed with Mediterranean spiced meats like beef and tuna.
Ma’s Islamic Chinese
Pork-free dishes from Western China
If you ever needed a reminder of how diverse Chinese food can be, spend a Sunday grubbing with a posse at Ma’s Islamic Chinese, a restaurant that from the outside looks like a mosque but might as well be Muslim Chinese food heaven. No pork, but lots of beef, lamb, and noodles dot a menu of massively portioned dishes, each originating from the Hui people of Western China. Food here is hearty, heaving with spice and designed to be wiped up with a fresh sesame-seed flatbread that tastes like the bridge between the Arab and Chinese worlds — just like the Hui themselves.
Healthy Junk
Vegan fast food and other comforts
When a former manager of beloved Costa Mesa vegan restaurant Native Foods strikes out on her own, you get Healthy Junk: a haven of animal-free comfort food on a redeveloped promenade in Anaheim. Almost In-N-Out burgers, mock-meat Tex-Mex, and not-lame salads made this one of the OC’s early vegan spots that helped spawned the current wave of cruelty-free dining.
Don Churros Gomez
Churro truck straight outta Jalisco
Forget the Instagram-famous wannabes at The Loop and Churroholic: Don Churros Gomez is the real deal. Pulling from a family recipe brought here from the highlands of Jalisco, this Anaheim food truck makes not long and lean churros of the carnival variety, but puffy, fat and stout ones oozing caramel and topped with ice cream. It’s what churros have always wanted to taste like — worth the wait!
The Original Pancake House
Old-school breakfast in a classic setting
The Original Pancake House might have started in the Pacific Northwest, but its Anaheim location has become a breakfast institution for its decades of dedication to the international art of flapjacks. Specializing in sugary and fruit-filled pancake recipes from around the world, TOPH is where you’ll find Danish, Dutch, and Tahitian specialties plus crepes, bacon waffles and enough maple syrup to put you in a sugar coma before lunchtime.
The Scratch Room
New, creative modern brunch
Traditional breakfast mashes up with contemporary SoCal culture at The Scratch Room, where brunchy burgers come on French toast-dipped brioche buns, and the Benedicts are topped with corned beef hash, salmon cakes, carnitas, and more. The family-owned restaurant is everything a modern diner in Anaheim should be — machaca breakfast burrito and all.
Story by Thrillist.
Weekend Events: June 22 – 24
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, June 22 to Sunday, June 24, features Dance DTLA, Concha Con, The LA Taco & Beer Festival, The Arroyo Seco, Off The 405 at the Getty, Annenberg PetSpace ‘AnnniFURsary’ Celebration, KCRW’s World Festival and MUCH more.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!
Friday June 22nd, 2018
1. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. Kicking off the series is Dance Downtown. Learn some new movies via free dance instructions with a different focus on dance styles every event. This week features the art of Samba. FREE
2. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances with two featured productions: The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Winter’s Tale at a variety of venues across the Los Angeles. The series continues with performances of The Winter’s Tale at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p. Thursday through Saturday. FREE
3. FIGat7th Downtown Festival is back for another festive summer filled with live performances by leading artists in a variety of genres. The series concludes with performances by WAVVES and Thumpasaurus. FREE
4. The Chocolate And Art Show Los Angeles returns to the Vortex in DTLA June 22-23 for a peek at some of L.A.’s best up-and-coming artists, photographers and creators, all converging in one delicious space. Highlights of the night include live body painting, vendors, live music, face-painting, and of course… free chocolate treats.
5. Cat Art Show 3: The Sequel Returns Again is on view from June 14-24 at Think Tank Gallery in Downtown. Admission is free on weekdays and $5 on weekends with several special ticketed events throughout the show dates.
6. Every year local breweries, bars and restaurants celebrate LA Beer Week (June 16-24) through events highlighting craft beer culture. Check their schedule for all the free and ticketed events happening this week.
7. 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. On view now until July 6, 2018. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
8. Free Family Movie Nights at Redondo Beach Pier will screen Peter Rabbit this Friday. FREE
9. The BET Experience is back with show stopping performances all week from Ferg, Teyana Taylor, SZA, Lil Pump and more.
10. Grand Park will host Big L.A. Portrait Gallery from June 7 to July 4, transforming itself into a nighttime art gallery featuring photos by Los Angeles-based artists. Photography will be projected onto the 100 square-foot wall of the historic L.A. County Hall of Records right in front of Grand Park. Art will be on display nightly from sundown to midnight and is free to the public. FREE
11. 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.
12. The Sorting Room nightclub housed within the Wallis Center’s Lovelace Studio Center presents a new season of unpredictable performances from poets, composers, jazz singers, cabaret veterans and more in a variety of genres alongside happy hour drink specials. This week R&B soul artist Kandace Lindsey will take the stage.
13. 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 French pianist Christophe Chassel will perform his “ultrascore” project, Indiamore. On Saturday music, comedy, stories, and short films from digital series The Secret Lives of Muslims will be screened. FREE
14. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Pretty Woman, The Greatest Showman, Baby Driver and more.
15. Venues such as 2nd Stage, Hudson Theatres, The Broadwater and the Underground Annex Theater will host comedy, ensemble theatre, dance and many more performances during the annual Hollywood Fringe Festival from June 7-24.
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. Summer Movies in the Park is a family-friendly movie night in the city of Monterey Park with free popcorn. Kicking off the series is Beauty & the Beast at George Elder Park. FREE
18. This Friday Caltech’s Stargazing and Lecture series returns to Pasadena for a night of outer worldly discussions and some stargazing. FREE
19. June is California Avocado Month and Grand Central Market in DTLA is the place to be for all things avocado. A select group of chefs have rolled out avocado inspired offerings on their menu just for the month.
20. Rogue Artists Ensemble’s ‘Hyper-Theater’ style show Wood Boy Dog Fish combines puppetry and tech to produce a visually stunning show. A dark re-telling of the classic Pinocchio story, this show is strictly for adults. Wood Boy Dog Fish runs Friday through Sundays now till June 24 at the Garry Marshall Theater. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
Saturday June 23rd, 2018
21. The Mass Meditation Initiative is a free festival that features mindful yoga, live performances, sound domes, vegan products, art and more at Los Angeles State Historic Park. FREE
22. Concha Con at Plaza de la Raza will feature over 60 Latinx vendors (with sweet treats!), interactive installations, live food demonstrations, a fashion show, a Lucha Libre art exhibit and kid-friendly activities.
23. The LA Taco & Beer Festival at Raleigh Studios (June 23-24) is back at at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood with unlimited taco and beer tastings from local and national taco venders and breweries.
24. The Arroyo Seco Weekend music festival features an impressive lineup for both days including Neil Young, Kings of Leon, Jack White, Pretenders, Alanis Morissette and Third Eye Blind. Happening Saturday and Sunday.
25. Drunken Devil presents Sin-A-Rama an evening of madness and mayhem. Be transported to a 70’s style movie premiere at a seedy theatre where drinks flow and concession stand eats are endless. There will be tantalizing burlesque, heavy blues and dirty disco tunes.
26. LACMA will host a night of Korean Art & Exploration of the museums Korean art collection, one of the largest collections of Korean works in the United States. The evening includes gallery viewing, discussions, art making, Korean tea tastings, and a mini-fashion show. FREE
27. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Goonies in Glendale Central Park, I, Tonya at Poinsettia Rec Park and Back to the Future at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar.
28. Blue Roof Studios Arts Festival in South Los Angeles will spotlight the diversity of our city through 60+ artists and 20″ artisans, along with live music and other performances, local food for sale, a makers bazaar, and workshops. FREE
29. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Clerks at The Autry Museum. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
Off the 405, free concerts at the Getty will host performances by Peaking Lights Family Band and Onochie Chukwurah with a DJ set by Aquarium Drunkard. FREE
30. Get ready to paw-ty, because SoCal Corgi Beach Day returns with more than 1,000 Corgis expected to attend. Happening at Huntington Dog Beach, events include costume contests, Corgi limbo, Corgi watermelon eating contest and more. FREE
31. Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation presents The South Bay Festival of the Arts a free day of entertainment, art exhibitions, crafts and demonstrations. FREE
32. Riviera Village Summer Fest in Redondo Beach happening Satruday and Sunday features 200+ exhibitors, an international food court, carnival rides and free admission. FREE
33. 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 Raiders of the Lost Ark.
34. Head to Downtown Long Beach for FKA 720 at the Promenade and Broadway on Saturday for a day of live music, skating, live mural art, a dance floor and more. FREE
35. One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival is a 40 day celebration through mostly free art events and exhibits between May 22 through June 30. This weekend Heroic Lives a musical based on the lives of and performed by LGBTQ seniors at City Council Chambers on Saturday and a Summer Sounds concert with Mariachi Arcoiris, the world’s only LGBTQ mariachi at Plumber Park on Sunday. FREE
36. Last Remaining Seats, the Los Angeles Conservancy’s annual event featuring classic film screenings in some of Los Angeles’ most beautiful vintage movie palaces. This week they’ll screen The Joy Luck Club at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.
37. 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.
38. The 33rd Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival brings the Big Easy to the LBC at Queen Mary Events Park. NOLA is known for its food and music and this event always brings out the best of both. Happening Saturday and Sunday.
39. Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece Long Day’s Journey Into Night led by director Sir Richard Eyre and starring Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons and Olivier winner Lesley Manville is now playing at The Wallis until July 1, 2018.
Sunday June 24th, 2018
40. Annenberg PetSpace is hosting a free ‘AnnniFURsary’ Celebration This Sunday featuring meet-and-greets with adoptable pets, behind-the-scenes tours of PetSpace, complimentary food trucks, and a few other family-friendly surprises. Family pets are welcome (one visiting pet per family), provided they meet a few requirements, including being up to date on vaccinations. FREE
41. Art Beyond the Glass will host it’s annual event at Los Globos in Silver Lake featuring bartenders mixing cocktails and showcasing their art as well as music, photography and much more, all while raising funds for non-profit Women’s Center for Creative Work.
42. Visit the Skirball for Late Night with Leonard Bernstein an evening inspired by the inimitable artist’s habit of creating masterworks and entertaining friends into all hours of the night. Hosted by the composer’s daughter Jamie Bernstein the night will feature live performances, enchanting renditions of Bernstein’s compositions and much more.
43. Father John Misty and Gillian Welch will take the stage of the Hollywood Bowl when KCRW’s World Festival returns for a 20th year at the popular outdoor concert venue.
44. The 18th annual Summer Soulstice celebration returns to Santa Monica’s Main Street for a day of live music, local vendors and various interactive attractions. FREE
45. Head to DTLA for a tour of one of the most iconic spots in our city during the Clifton’s Living History Tour. This Sunday the tour will be joined by 100 Things to Do in L.A. Before You Die authors Danny Jensen and Carrie Kim with a book signing after the tour.
46. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening this week of Ladybird.
47. 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.
48. Concerts on the Green presents The Highwaymen a tribute to three musical luminaries: Willie Nelson, Jonny Cash and Waylon Jennings comes to the Lou Bredlow Pavilion in Warner Park on Sunday for their crowd-gathering renditions of On The Road Again, Get Rhythm, Always On My Mind, I Walk The Line and more. FREE
49. Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden will host a family-friendly summer festival featuring live music, performances, a rice ball making demo, crafts and more.
Schedule provided by We Like LA.
A Handy Guide For The Perfect Day In DTLA
Downtown L.A. is one of the most culturally vibrant, diverse and exciting neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles. As an explorer there’s a lot to see, do, and taste. In fact, there’s so much packed into such a small area you might wonder… where do we begin?
Well, with a little help from OUE Skyspace LA, We Like LA created a handy guide that clues visitors in to some the best free things to do in the neighborhood, showcases DTLA’s unique history, and culminates in the most spectacular view of Los Angeles you could possibly imagine.
Sound like that might be something you’re into? Good. Now let’s get to it!
The Last Bookstore. Photo by Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.
Marvel at The Last Bookstore
The Last Bookstore boasts one of the largest collections of and new and used books and records in all of California. It’s also one-of-a-kind space that hosts events, talks, and workshops on a regular basis. The main shopping floor is punctuated by massive columns that shoot up towards cloud-high ceilings. On the second level you’ll find more genres to browse, plus a whimsical book archway and corridor that’s more than a little Insta-worthy.
Stroll over to the Bradbury Building
Go a half block up from the Last Bookstore, take a right on Broadway, walk five minutes and you’ll find yourself at The Bradbury Building. With its iron railings, glass ceilings, and unmistakable birdcage elevators, The Bradbury is a living piece of art history that’s made cameos in numerous notable films including Blade Runner and 500 Days of Summer. And the best part? The first two floors of The Bradbury are free to explore during normal building hours.
Grab lunch at Grand Central Market
Directly across the street from The Bradbury Building you’ll find Grand Central Market, a 30,000 square-foot arcade and marketplace that’s been in continuous operation for over a century. Hungry visitors will find dozens of vendors to choose from with options ranging from BBQ and gourmet coffee to oysters, ramen, seafood, and LOTS more. Take your time examining all the options and make it a meal worth remembering.
Angels Flight Railway. Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.
Take a ride on Angels Flight
Just northwest of Grand Central Market is another historic marvel: Angels Flight Railway. Once billed as “the world’s shortest railcar” Angels Flight was original built in 1901 as a practical means to transport Bunker Hill residents to the rest of Downtown south of Hill Street. After periods of on-again, off-again service, Angels Flight is back up and running offering one-way fares for just one dollar. Take a ride and experience life as an early twentieth century commuter on your way to your next location.
Interior of The Broad. Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.
Spend an afternoon at The Broad
Downtown’s largest art Museum features over 2000 works its collection, including a pair of world famous Infinity installations designed by artist Yayoi Kusama. The Broad offers free general admission, and advance online tickets are distributed for reservation on the first of every month. Although reservations are recommended, same day tickets are available through an onsite standby line with first-come, first-served access.
Enjoy the views at OUE Skyspace
Now that you’ve had a chance to take in some of the sights up close, there’s no better place to marvel at the splendor of it all than at the stunning perch of OUE Skyspace. From nearly 1,000 feet above the city in the iconic US Bank Tower, OUE Skyspace LA is the premiere destination for panoramic, 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Enjoy the thrill of a ride on the world’s first ever Skyslide or grab a drink at the all new Skyspace bar. We honestly can’t think of a better way to cap the day than with a trip to Skyspace. The view is just the beginning!
And keep in mind there’s no better time to visit! Right now, Skyspace is giving away a family fun-day four pack for We Like LA readers. Enter to win by commenting on THIS @WeLikeLA Instagram post. This pass includes unlimited Skyslide rides for kids and access to all levels of the attraction. Also remember that Skyspace is offering a special promo code that gets you $5 off any ticket, so even if you don’t win the giveaway, you’ve still got a great chance to save!
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Wherever your adventure takes you, we hope this guide has been a useful tool in helping you plan your own perfect day in DTLA. Mostly we just want you to open your eyes and take a look.
We have a feeling you’re going to like what you see.
Article courtesy of We Like LA.
Places In LA To Watch The World Cup
The World Cup is underway!
Looking for a spot to watch it with your fellow fans? From bars to bowling alleys, we’ve got your guide to where to catch the games around the city. And here is the full schedule if you need it.
THE FOX AND HOUNDS
This is the bar for die-hard fans. The Fox and Hounds promises to show every World Cup match. They will open 15 minutes before the start time of the earliest matches. They boast 10 TVs throughout the bar and two projector screens. You’ll have to plan ahead for the more popular matches, though, since the bar requires tickets for the England vs. Panama game on June 24 and the England vs. Belgium game on June 28.
The Fox and Hounds is located at 11100 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, CA 91604.
JOXER DALY’S
Joxer Daly’s is the place to go for a traditional pub vibe. They’ve got lots of TVs, a dart board, a pool table, and a full bar. They’ll be opening at 5 a.m. just for the World Cup and will serve a full Irish breakfast. They recommend that fans call to check that they’re open for their games at (310) 838-3745.
Joxer Daly’s is located at 11168 Washington Blvd. Culver City, CA 90230.
YE OLDE KING’S HEAD
They call themselves an “Ambassador for all things British,” and claim to be one of the most recognizable British pubs in the world. Crowds might be a bit bigger on days when England is playing, but Ye Olde King’s Head will broadcast all of the World Cup games. For fans looking for a bit more from their viewing experience, the pub is also walking distance from the beach and Santa Monica Pier.
Ye Olde King’s Head is located at 116 Santa Monica Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90401.
GUELAGUETZA
This Koreatown bar will open as early as 5 a.m. on game days. Guelaguetza offers breakfast and big screens for early-bird soccer fans. It’s earned approval from L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold and offers authentic Oaxacan food. Call the bar at (213) 427-0608 or visit their website to find out what games they’re screening.
Guelaguetza is located at 3014 W Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90006
BIG WANGS
Big Wangs claims to have more HDTVs than anyone else in the city. They will screen every soccer game and open their doors at 5 a.m. for the earliest games. They’re even offering a World Cup breakfast burrito for early-risers.
Big Wangs has two locations at 5300 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 and at 801 South Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90017
SHARK’S COVE
Shark’s Cove will open at 5 a.m. for select games, but otherwise they’ll keep their regular hours, which means opening at 11 a.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. weekends. They boast 50 flat screens inside and outside on their patio and a breakfast menu added for the soccer season. The bar recommends to call ahead to check which early morning games they’ll be screening at (310) 545-2683.
Shark’s Cove is located at 309 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES
LA Plaza offers plenty of activities during some of the most popular games of the season! McDonalds will host viewing parties at the plaza for the Mexico vs. Korea game and the Germany vs. Sweden game both on Saturday, and for the final match on July 15th. Entry is free, but requires registration. They promise interactive activities, live entertainment, and a free McDonald’s breakfast.
La Plaza de Cultura y Artes is located at 501 N Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012.
HIGHLAND PARK BOWL
L.A.’s oldest bowling alley might not be the first place soccer fans would think to go to watch the World Cup match, but it boasts a unique experience. It will show every game from the quarterfinals until the finals on the alley’s 15-foot projector, so viewers can watch while they bowl.
Highland Park Bowl is located at 5621 N Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90042.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjV9MchBPTZ/?utm_source=ig_embed
Story courtesy of LAist.
Annenberg PetSpace Hosting FREE ‘AnniFURsary’ Celebration This Sunday
In 2017 Wallis Annenberg PetSpace opened its doors with a mission to strengthen the human-animal bond, educate the community, and find loving homes for pets in need. One year later… it’s time to PAW-TY!
This Sunday, June 24, Annenberg PetSpace is hosting a special AnniFURsary celebration fit for the whole family. Festivities for the day include meet-and-greets with adoptable pets, behind-the-scenes tours of PetSpace, FREE food trucks, and a few other family-friendly surprises. And the best part? Sunday’s event is free and open to the public! There’s no better day to come and find a new addition to the family.
For dog owners wishing to attend with their canine companions, keep in mind that pets are welcome (one visiting pet per family), provided they meet a few requirements, including being up to date on vaccinations.
To register for free tickets, and to learn about rules regarding bringing your own four-legged friend to the event, please visit the official event page on Eventbrite.
Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is located at 12005 Bluff Creek Dr, Playa Vista, CA. The AnniFURsary celebration takes place on Sunday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See you there!
Article courtesy of We Like LA.
25 Gardens Hidden Around Los Angeles
Los Angeles has the ocean and the mountains and the desert all within a couple hours’ drive, but there are a good amount of parks large and small that dot the city that make it easy to get a dose of nature whether you’re in Downtown or in the Valley.
Many of these places, especially the larger parks, are better known to locals than people on the other side of town (though few things are really a true secret in the age of Instagram).
We’ve listed 25 of our favorite under-the-radar gardens, parks, and quiet green spaces across town, including quiet rooftops, folk art gardens, and even a serene spot at Union Station. They’re all open to the public in one form or another, though hours, access, and cost vary.
1. Union Station
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Union Station is known for the gardens and courtyards close to its main, Art Deco building, but this little gem sits on the far east side of the property, behind the Metro building. This sunken hideaway has gardens, benches, fountains, and waterfalls.
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2. Biddy Mason Park
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Biddy Mason Park is a quiet little courtyard Downtown named for a former slave who became a prominent figure and one of the first black landowners in 19th century Los Angeles. The park is lined with a black concrete art wall designed by Sheila Levrant de Bretteville.
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3. The Medallion
Los Angeles, CA 90013
M2A Architects designed the mind-bending park in front of the Medallion rental building in the Old Bank District.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfJaBl4FFC8/?utm_source=ig_embed
4. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown
Los Angeles, CA 90012
It may be one of the worst kept secrets in LA, but the Japanese garden at the DoubleTree (formerly the Kyoto Grand) is still pretty lovely. Just take the elevator to the third floor for a half acre of waterfalls, bamboo, and stone paths.
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5. Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
It’s true, there’s nearly an acre of public park and garden up on the third level of Disney Hall—take the stairs up from the street near First and Grand. The Blue Ribbon Garden is also where the Patina restaurant below grows a lot of its ingredients.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj23hhiAY6L/?utm_source=ig_embed
6. Amir’s Garden
Los Angeles, CA 90027
After a fire in the seventies, Iranian immigrant Amir Dialameh took it upon himself to replant a hillside in Griffith Park—today it’s nearly 5 acres of “pine and jacaranda trees along with rose bushes, geraniums, oleander, and yucca.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd8p_yQBKNz/?utm_source=ig_embed
7. Virginia Robinson Gardens
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Built as a home for Virginia and Harry Robinson of the Robinsons department store chain, this 1911 estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The gardens are open to the public by appointment (and for a fee).
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8. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Los Angeles, CA 90012
The James Irvine Japanese Garden has a 170-foot-long stream flowing through it, cedar bridges, and stone lanterns. It’s closed Mondays. Admission is free.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiiHrf1h7vD/?utm_source=ig_embed
9. The Japanese Garden at Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area
San Fernando Valley, CA 91406
The Japanese Garden is six and a half acres “fashioned after ‘stroll gardens’ constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries for Japanese Feudal lords,” its website notes.
Adjacent to the futuristic-looking Donald J. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, the garden was intended to show that reclaimed water could be used for lots of things, even a delicate-looking Japanese garden.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-fwgC3NnVA/?utm_source=ig_embed
10. Los Angeles River Center and Gardens
Los Angeles, CA 90065
This spot in Cypress Park originally opened in the 1950s as Lawry’s California Center, a showcase for Lawry’s seasoning and condiments. It’s filled with pepper trees, roses, and Mission architecture.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiqD0wKnm-Y/?utm_source=ig_embed
11. Los Angeles Police Academy garden
Los Angeles, CA 90012
One of the more unexpected sites in LA is the charming, rocky garden at the LAPD’s police academy, tucked in Elysian Park by Dodger Stadium.
https://www.instagram.com/p/1jGhDhlRkr/?utm_source=ig_embed
12. Garden of Oz
Los Angeles, CA 90068
This mosaic-adorned folk art garden was originally created by Gail Cottman and is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It’s often gated, but we’ve heard a rumor (probably untrue!) that the local kids have keys.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR5gpsRgtuH/?utm_source=ig_embed
13. Wattles Park
Los Angeles, CA 90046
This Runyon Canyon-adjacent site is perhaps most popularly known as the site of the Freddy in Troop Beverly Hills. The house was designed in the early 1900s by Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, and is surrounded by several gardens (including a community garden) in various states of upkeep.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi2mD0tBFfz/?utm_source=ig_embed
14. Debs Park
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Tucked in Montecito Heights, Debs Park has a lake, tons of trails, and lots of spots to picnic (plus barbecues). It also has an Audubon Center so you can learn about all the birds that hang around the area.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh4P2Pcloj3/?utm_source=ig_embed
15. Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens
Los Angeles, CA
Busby Berkeley’s old mansion in West Adams is now home to the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness. There, they’ve created meditation gardens and a labyrinth (“Walking a labyrinth in modern times is a great way to bring peace and relaxation to our minds”). You can take a guided tour on select days of the week (sign-up is required but there is no fee— they will take donations though).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bikdq4cH8g6/?utm_source=ig_embed
16. Cascades Park
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Super-simple and relaxing, Cascades Park is basically just grass and a long waterfall.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bji_w-pnTxp/?utm_source=ig_embed
17. Self-Realization Fellowship International Headquarters
Los Angeles, CA 90065
While the Self-Realization Fellowship’s Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades is better known, locals swear by the peaceful gardens at their Mt. Washington headquarters, which was built in the late 1800s as the Mt. Washington Inn. There is no cost to visti the grounds.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjYM8LRliRo/?utm_source=ig_embed
18. Arlington Garden
Pasadena, CA 91105
Caltrans owns this property—it was originally planning to do construction staging here for 710 Freeway work—but it’s been turned into Pasadena’s only dedicated public garden. It has an app too for identifying all its plants.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjz9vU9AX8_/?utm_source=ig_embed
19. Runyon Canyon rock mandala
Artist Robert Wilson created this mandala off the hiking path at Runyon in 2008. According to the directions on the mandala’s Facebook page, hikers can find it “at the end of N. Fuller Ave, North of Franklin Ave and Hillside Ave, go up into the park and don’t take the hairpin turn, go up the path less traveled.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5MPKjAca1/?utm_source=ig_embed
20. Museum of Jurassic Technology’s rooftop garden
Culver City, CA 90232
MJT creator Robert Wilson used part of his MacArthur genius grant to build this lovely rooftop garden and aviary. It’s the perfect counterpoint to the dark, detail-packed museum. (Museum admission fees are listed here).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhC-WTyh01n/?utm_source=ig_embed
21. Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Los Angeles, CA 90095
This seven-acre botanical garden at UCLA is used as a teaching and research lab and as “a long-term repository for unusual plants, a refugium for biodiversity.” The school offers guided tours once a month, or you can go on your own. The garden is open seven days a week, and there is no admission charge.
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22. La Casita Del Arroyo
Pasadena, CA 91105
La Casita del Arroyo was built during the Great Depression using lumber from the 1932 Olympics bicycle track and boulders from the Arroyo Seco, with design by famed architect Myron Hunt. Today, it’s got a water demonstration garden and butterfly sanctuary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-P8mBh21R/?utm_source=ig_embed
23. Old Trapper’s Lodge
Woodland Hills, CA 91371
Tucked by the stables at Pierce College is the Old Trapper’s Lodge. It was built by a man named John Ehn in the 1940s as part of his western-themed motel (called the Old Trapper’s Lodge). Today it’s a landmarked collection of weird Old West art surrounded by trees and trails.
https://www.instagram.com/p/4h_m_Pn44P/?utm_source=ig_embed
24. Orcutt Ranch
Canoga Park, CA 91304
The Orcutt Ranch in West Hills was built in the 1920s by William Warren Orcutt, the geologist who first discovered fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits. It has oak and citrus trees, gardens, ranch structures, and an adobe residence on site.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeeiB8sDSAD/?utm_source=ig_embed
25. Earl B. Miller Japanese Garden
Long Beach, CA 90815
This little, 1.3-acre garden on the CSU Long Beach campus was designed by Edward R. Lovell and opened in 1981 as “a hybrid art form that combines typical elements of Japanese garden design within the context of its Southern California location.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkEE81HFAHY/?utm_source=ig_embed
Story courtesy of Curbed.
Economic update for the week ending June 16, 2018
Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance Celebrating 25th Anniversary This Sunday
Have any plans for this Father’s Day weekend? How about taking dad to see some classic cars?
The Rodeo Drive Committee, in conjunction with the city of Beverly Hills, will be having their annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance this Sunday.
The event has been a Father’s Day tradition for 25 years. The Rodeo Drive car show is free and open to the public. Attendees get the opportunity to see classic automobiles and luxurious new models to Beverly Hills. Some automobiles displayed include the 2015 Ford Mustang, a 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom and a McLaren 12C.
The Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance has been named one of the “300 Unmissable Events & Festivals Around the World” by top travel publisher Frommer’s.
You don’t want to miss it!
‘Cat Art Show’ Returns to DTLA
The biennial Cat Art Show is returning to Los Angeles for the third time, filling DTLA’s Think Tank Gallery with kitty-inspired work from over 100 different artists, starting Thursday, June 14.
Cat Art Show’s Susan Michals, who also founded CatCon, is a former journalist and current cat enthusiast. She said she created these feline-centric events as a way for people to connect in the real world as opposed to the virtual one, and to share experiences together. After all, cat videos have siphoned countless hours of our time, but it’s nothing compared to gathering with your fellow cat lovers to look at a trove of cat art.
“Cats are beautiful creatures, both inside and out, and have been revered since the days of ancient Egypt,” Michals says. “They can be found in museums the world over.”
She points to a 2015 Brooklyn Museum exhibit, Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt, which contained a bevy of objects including sculptures, amulets, and even cat-shaped wooden coffins meant to house cat mummies. The exhibit toured to a handful of other museums, including the Smithsonian in D.C. in 2017. According to Antonietta Catanzariti, a curatorial fellow with the Smithsonian at the time, Egyptians did not worship cats as gods, contrary to popular belief. They were actually associating the behavior of cats—the way they might hunt or protect their families—to specific deities.
“For some people, it’s quite hard to see how that works, but then when you think about how a cat you own has a hunting attitude or is more relaxed, it can be related to Egyptian gods and goddesses,” she told the Washington Diplomat. “Don’t think of Egyptians as worshipping animals, but as observing the natural world.”
It’s not so far off from associating a cat with, say, grumpiness or the desire to buy a boat. So when you think about it, humans have, in a way, been making cat art and cat memes for a long, long time.
Dr. Paul Koudounaris, “Mewcifer” Photo: Cat Art Show
Cat Art Show has grown over the years, now featuring more artworks than ever before. While they saw some 4,500 guests in 2014, Michals says they’re expecting about 10,000 visitors over the course of this year’s 10-day run. These guests might find work from “godfather of pop-surrealism” Mark Ryden, German photographer Ellen von Unwerth, and Los Angeles’ own Dr. Paul Koudounaris, who will also present a lecture on cats throughout history on June 21.
Michals has several pieces she’s excited to see in this year’s show, including Tiffany Sage’s painting “Apollo and Garfield,” in which an orange tabby is cradled by a person in a Garfield mask. There are also two pieces from Serbian painter Endre Penovác, whose watercolor cats bleed into the paper like a passing apparition. Scott Hove, who previously installed a ‘cake maze‘ at Think Tank Gallery in 2016, now offers a cat sculpture in the same style, called “Kittycake.”
Some of the artwork is political, like Rose Freymuth-Frazier’s “Divine Intervention,” in which a fluffy, white cat with amber eyes places one paw on a stuffed Trump toy. Other pieces are more playful, like Penelope Gazin’s “Pussy Princess,” in which a beautiful woman in a green gown wears a similar fluffy, white cat on her head.
“I love Jayne Mansfield and [the piece] reminds me of her, plus it’s got a great camp quality to it that reminds us to lighten up and have a laugh,” Michals said.
Proceeds from the Cat Art Show will benefit two different charities: Kitten Rescue, a volunteer-run rescue for homeless kittens and cats, and the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which, among other efforts, offers funds to low-income pet owners for emergency animal care. (If you ever feel like becoming a volunteer at Kitten Rescue, their Atwater Village no-kill sanctuary always needs people to help socialize and care for their animals.)
And yes, Michals does have a cat of her own: a Maine Coon named Miss Kitty Pretty Girl, rescued from a South Central shelter when she was just eight weeks old on what was to be her last day. Miss Kitty is now 13 and Michals calls her, appropriately, “The Muse.”
Alexey Sovertkov, “Triptych” Photo: Cat Art Show
Cat Art Show opens today, June 14, at Think Tank Gallery, located at 939 Maple Ave. in the Fashion District. The exhibition runs through June 24.
There will be a public opening on June 14 from 8 to 11 p.m. with a full cash bar, vegan food via Beyond Vegan, and a photo booth from Vetted Pet Care. Tickets are $10. Starting June 15, gallery hours will be daily from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free on weekdays and $5 on weekends.
On June 21 from 7 to 10 p.m., Dr. Paul Koudounaris will present his lecture, Feline Frolic: An Evening of Famous Feline History with PURRlesque PURRformances by Vanessa Burgundy and Iza La Vamp. Cash bar. Tickets are $20.
On June 23 from 7 to 10 p.m., there will be a closing party with adoptable kittens from Kitten Rescue LA and a photo booth via Vetted Pet Care. Tickets are $25 and include two cocktails. Find all ticketing info here.
Article courtesy of We Like LA.