Rodeo Realty

May 23, 2018

The Best Home Goods Sales To Shop This Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is just around the corner and hopefully you’ll be taking advantage of some sun and BBQ! But, you may also want to dedicate a few hours to shopping some of the biggest home goods sales of the season.

Whether you’re looking to refresh your decor, invest in an outdoor furniture set, or finally upgrade your mattress, this weekend is probably the best shopping opportunity you’ll see until Amazon Prime Day.

All Modern: Take an extra 15 percent off Memorial Day sale items with code SPF15.

Allswell: Use code LONGWEEKEND for 15 percent off mattresses and bedding. Ends May 28.

Anthropologie: All full-priced furniture and decor is 20 percent off at this summer kick-off sale.

Apt2B: Save 15 percent off sitewide and 50 percent off at the Apt2B outlet. If you’re spending $1999 or more use code 5MORE for 20 percent off or use code 10MORE for 25 percent off orders of $3,499 or more. Ends May 28.

Article: Save up to 50 percent off select items including seating, lighting and storage. Ends May 28.

Best Buy: Save up to 40 percent off major appliances and get a free Google Home when you purchase two or more select appliances. Ends June 6.

Birch Lane: Memorial Day pre-sale includes up to 60 percent off indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting and more. Ends May 23.

Campaign: Use code SITANDCHILL to save $100 off any chair, loveseat or sofa.

eBay: Use code PMEMDAY for 15 percent off select products sitewide. The minimum purchase is $50 and the maximum discount is $50 as well. Ends May 25.

Hayneedle: Save up to 35 percent off indoor and outdoor finds. This fringe-covered hammock looks perfect for lazy summer days.

Helix: Take $100 off a Helix mattress with code MDW100, or use code MDW150 to take $150 off a mattress plus another Helix product, like a bed frame or adjustable pillow.

Home Depot: Save on a wide range of products from patio furniture and home decor to gardening essentials and hardware. Check out Home Depot’s Memorial Day Savings landing page for the full list.

Houzz: Save up to 80 percent off site-wide on home decor and remodeling products. Ends May 30.

Joss & Main: Take an extra 20 percent off Memorial Day deals with code STRIPES.

Leesa: Take $150 off the Leesa mattress and $225 off the Sapira mattress (which adds spring coils to Leesa’s foam layers.) Ends May 30.

Lowe’s: Save up to 40 percent off patio furniture, grills, appliances and more.

Lulu & Georgia: Save 15 percent off an order of $300 or more with code LONGWKND15, 20 percent off an order of $600 or more with code LONGWKND20, and 25 percent off an order of $900 or more with code LONGWKND25.

Nectar: Take $125 off a Nectar mattress plus get two free pillows with purchase. Ends May 29.

Overstock: Save up to 70 percent off outdoor furniture, bedding, decor and more. The gorgeous Christopher Knight chaise pictured above is on sale for $193.

Target: Online-exclusive deals include up to 30 percent off furniture and decor, with an extra 15 percent off patio furniture, rugs and Casper mattresses. Use promo code HERO at checkout.

Urban Outfitters: The Summer Fun sale at UrbanOutfitters.com offers up to 40 percent off summer essentials including breezy decor, bedding and pool floats. Who wouldn’t want to float away on a bottle of rosé? Ends May 23.

Wayfair: Save up to 70 percent off furniture, decor, bedding and more at Wayfair’s Memorial Day clearance sale. Ends May 28.

World Market: Members of World Market’s free Explorer Rewards Program can save 20 percent off sitewide with code FLAGWME. Non-members still get 15 percent off everything with code STARS15.

May 23, 2018

Fun Things To Do In LA When Someone Visits

Eventually, all of your posts touting “another perfect day on the beach” and “just finished the best hike” are going to catch up with you — as in, some of those poor souls drowning in freezing weather have decided they want to come visit you in LA. You know what that means: you’re going to have to take them places. And while you might have a few restaurants, museums, and tourist attractions up your sleeve, it’d be nice to sprinkle in a few not-in-every-guidebook activities. So… what if you don’t exactly know what they are?

We’re here to help, with a comprehensive guide to the best things to do in LA for tourists and locals alike. Below, you’ll find a combination of worthwhile tourist spots, underrated local favorites, and maybe even a few new experiences locals haven’t done yet; mix, match, and remember to make reservations.

Go inside one of LA’s Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes

$
East Hollywood
The fabled architect designed the 5,000-square-foot Mayan Revival-style Hollyhock House for an oil heiress nearly a century ago. After a complete restoration a few years back, the hilltop property — most famous for its seamless indoor-outdoor flow, massive hearth, and hollyhock flower details throughout — is open to the public for both self-guided visits and docent tours. It’s part of Barnsdall Art Park, so you can stroll the grounds and check out the LA Municipal Art Gallery afterward.

“Come on down” at a Price is Right taping

Free
Fairfax
Chances are you won’t get to run down the aisle screaming, rub elbows with Drew Carey, spin that how-big-is-it-actually-in-real-life wheel, or bid on a Jet Ski and living room set during the Showcase Showdown — but by God, you can try. Tickets are released about six weeks in advance of when the show is taping, so check this websiteto get in on the cash-and-prize action.

Experience the Infinity Mirrored Rooms

Free
Downtown
Your out-of-town visitors have most likely seen this exhibit before thanks to the Instagram feeds of every single person in LA, but it’s worth an in-person visit to impressive contemporary art museum The Broad to see the exhibits (there are two now) – in which a gazillion LED lights perennially reflect inside mirrored rooms — for themselves. While admission is gratis, you’ll need to reserve your spots well in advance.

Go horseback riding by the Hollywood Sign

$$
Hollywood
For an up-close peek at the nation’s most famous sign, hop on a horse’s back and let him do all the work. Book a one- or two-hour tour ($50 for one hour, $75 for two), which will take you along a network of trails through Griffith Park, providing killer views of the Hollywood sign, other landmarks like the Griffith Observatory, and Downtown. If saddling up isn’t your thing, you can make the hike up there by taking one of several trails.

Hit one of the LA area’s best beaches

Free
South Bay, Westside, Malibu
LA is literally lined with beaches (but you knew that). Which one to choose depends on what exactly your group is looking for. Miles dotted with pro volleyball courts and plenty of fun bars ready to host you for day drinking? Head for the South Bay. A big swath of sand surrounded by family-friendly activities including a pier full of rides? Go to Santa Monica. Small patches of rocky beach surrounded by some of the most stunning homes LA has to offer? Malibu’s your spot. If you feel like seeing them all, grab a bike and hit the 22-mile trail that runs from Torrance in the South Bay up to swanky Pacific Palisades just south of Malibu.

Jump on a Bird scooter and cruise around town

$
Santa Monica
If you’re in the Santa Monica area, you’re probably mere yards from one of these electric scooters that you can literally pick up on the side of the road (once you have the app) and pay around a buck a ride (plus 15 cents per minute). They’re a great way to get from beach to Main Street to the Third Street Promenade, or even over to nearby neighborhoods you want to tour. When you’re done, just leave the thing wherever you want and lock it with your app.

Explore the Getty

$
Westside
Sure, the impressive art exhibits are worth seeing, but it’s the actual 110-acre venue itself that makes a trip here a must-do for out-of-towners. The complex — drenched in 1.2-million square feet of Travertine to catch the light just so — is perched atop a hill within the Santa Monica Mountains boasting sweeping views of the surrounding city and the Pacific. Try joining one of the daily architecture tours or one focused on the impressive Central Garden while you’re there. Admission and tours are free, but parking will cost you $10-15.

… Or, check out one of LA’s other amazing/weird museums

Free – $
Various locations
If the Getty’s not quite your speed, have no fear: LA’s got plenty of other museums to choose from, whether you’re looking to explore contemporary art (The Broad), music (GRAMMY Museum), or… just general weirdness (Museum of Jurassic Technology). Pick out your favorite, and get ready to pay next-to-nothing for the privilege of a visit.

Eat your way through Eataly

Free – $$$
Century City
Yes, there are Eataly locations elsewhere in the country, but this one is decidedly Californian with a light-filled space (attached to a fancy mall, because LA), collaborations with plenty of hip area chefs, and an attached stunner of an open-air rooftop restaurant and swanky gin-centric cocktail lounge — Terra — one flight up. If you have more time, check the schedule for ticketed tastings, tours, and classes like gnocchi-making ($80) and olive oil tasting ($35).

See some legendary lounge lizards

Free (plus drinks)
Los Feliz
Singing spouses Marty and Elayne (who remain last-name-less a la Madonna) have been a mainstay of the Eastside real-deal retro The Dresden Room since the early ‘80s — with their cruise-ship-style versions of standards and jazz tunes dotted with bursts of falsetto synthesizer magic. Stick around for their famous rendition of “Stayin’ Alive” made famous in ’90s fave Swingers.

Drop into one of LA’s coolest hidden bars

$-$$
Various locations
You don’t have to be a local to know the ins and outs of LA’s secret bars — in fact, plenty of locals won’t know the first thing about how to get into The Rendition Room. All you need is our primer on the coolest hidden bars in the city, which includes details on how to get into each of them. Not all of them involve a secret staircase… but some do!

Sing late-night karaoke in K-town

$-$$$
Koreatown
If you haven’t sung “Like a Virgin” at 1am in a private room in this increasingly cool neighborhood that runs 24/7… well, you’ve never experienced real karaoke. Try the 17-room disco-esque Pharaoh Karaoke, go for broke by reserving one of the private rooms (complete with Atari and Simon Says games) hidden in the back of ’80s-themed club Break Room 86, or do the communal thing at the long-standing Brass Monkey.

Explore one of the country’s finest farmers markets

Free
Santa Monica
That whole “Oh, all the chefs shop there” line you hear as soon as you mention LA’s flagship farmers market isn’t just conjecture. Downtown Santa Monica’s majorly massive market is indeed full of wandering white coats, especially on Wednesday mornings, when the offerings are even more vast than the Saturday version. If you can dream it, and it’s in season, you’ll find it here — from obscure winter greens to fleeting spring ramps to heirloom beans.

See a concert under the stars

$$-$$$
Hollywood Hills
Few amphitheaters are more magical than this one nestled in the Hollywood Hills. Yes, getting in and out is never fun, but once you get there as the sun is setting, indulge in a gourmet picnic and a few bottles of wine, and then catch an amazing act, you’ll have forgotten all about that LA traffic… until it’s time to head home, at least.

Eat an old-fashioned burger at Apple Pan

$
Westwood
No city has more options for those looking for America’s meaty mainstay than Los Angeles, and Angelenos perpetually argue over which burger joint does it best — we’ve got our own opinions on that front, too. There’s no debating, though, that the 70-year-old (and cash-only) Apple Pan is about as OG a burger experience as you can get. The place hasn’t been remodeled in decades, there’s a Formica lunch counter, staffers wear paper hats, and even the menu’s font just feels old, but the stars of the show, of course, are the burgers (both the Steakburger and Hickoryburger get top billing). Follow it up with a piece of fresh apple pie, and you’ll leave feeling like you were just inside an episode of Happy Days.

Visit the world-famous Venice Boardwalk

Free
Venice
It’s a wild scene all day long and not even a tenth as charming as it looked on White Men Can’t Jump (where it didn’t look charming at all, come to think of it) but everybody has to see the Venice Boardwalk at least once. Muscle Beach, head shops, trinket hawkers, a skate park, street performers, guys riding bikes in Speedos, it’s all there. Just nod, call it “vibrant,” and check it off your list.

Have the best damn brunch of your life

$-$$
Various locations
Brunch is a big deal is pretty much every major city, but the fact that you’ve had the best brunch in Cleveland, or Chicago, or even NYC doesn’t preclude you from diving into the flavor ocean that is LA’s brunch scene. There are a ton of places to choose from — so many that we’ve devoted an entire guide to the subject — but if you’re looking for a safe bet, look no further than SQIRL. A renowned LA brunch classic with lines to match, the move at SQIRL is to avoid peak hours, or bring a way to pass the time. It’s totally worth it, though.

Go to the top of City Hall

Free
Downtown
It may not have the notoriety of the Empire State Building, but the 27th-floor observation deck of Los Angeles City Hall (LA’s tallest building many moons ago) is open to the public Monday to Friday, providing 360-degree views of the city for free. It’s a good add-on stop if you’re already doing something else Downtown, but keep in mind it closes at 5pm.

Do some next-level snacking at Grand Central Market

$-$$$
Downtown
While Downtown’s dizzying Grand Central Market has been around for more than a century, it’s undergone serious gentrification (along with the rest of Downtown) in recent years, which means old-school stalls like wonton soup stalwart China Cafe and Latin grocer Chiles Secos now sit alongside hipster magnets including the world-conquering breakfast sandwich powerhouse Eggslut (never without a line) and Thai comfort food counter Sticky Rice. We’ve put together a guide to the essentials, but whichever spots you hit, it’s a delicious destination your visitors will enjoy.

Blow everything on a crazy tasting menu at Vespertine

$$$
Culver City
Vespertine, according to Vespertine, “is a gastronomical experience seeking to disrupt the course of the modern restaurant.” And it’s pretty much doing just that thanks to chef Jordan Kahn’s $250 over-the-top tasting menu filled with course after course of food-as-art that diners devour inside a four-story glass-and-orange-steel architectural structure. We can’t tell you whether you’ll leave feeling it was worth it or not, but we can confidently say it’s a meal you won’t ever forget. Make reservations on Tock.

… Or grab a more reasonable meal at one of LA’s other best restaurants

$-$$$
Various locations
Dining at Vespertine is an admittedly tall order, but you can still get a taste of what LA’s best chefs have to offer by checking out one of our picks for the best restaurants in town. If that’s still too much choice for you, here’s an abridged selection that won’t steer you wrong: hit up Howlin’ Ray’s for Nashville hot chicken, Q Sushi for a premium omakase experience, or Felix for impossibly good pasta (if you can get a table).

Lounge on high at a rooftop bar

$-$$$
Venice, Melrose, Downtown
LA was, for a while, surprisingly low on high-level libations compared to other cities — puzzling, given our temperate weather — but these days there are enough options to fill an evening, at least. High Bar at Venice’s Hotel Erwin towers over the beach; the expansive, lushly landscaped roofdeck bar LP overlooking the Hollywood Hills does seasonally inspired cocktails and Asian small bites; the poolside Upstairs Bar at hipster haven The Ace Hotel Downtown boasts DJ sets many evenings a week; and the InterContinental Hotel’s Spire 73 became the country’s highest open-air bar when it launched last year.

Go wine tasting

$-$$$
Malibu
Malibu may not be an international destination for oenophiles, but it’s completely serviceable for LA peeps who want to spend the day sipping. Malibu Wines – with its rambling grounds in the canyons, picnic tables, and live music on Saturday and Sunday is one of the better-known spots, and gets crazy crowded on weekends, so you might want to reserve a picnic table ($85 for three hours for four people, while tastings start at $17). Rosenthal’s tasting room is across the street from the beach and offers live music and food trucks on weekends (tastings are $17 for four wines). And don’t even consider trying to bring your pup. Despite being outdoors, all the wineries are some of the least dog-friendly spots in town.

Check out 15,000 different plant species

$$
San Marino
The 120-acre botanical gardens at Huntington Library is made up of a bunch of different gardens in one – including Japanese gardens with bonsai trees, bridges, and tea houses; a glass-covered conservatory; an area dedicated to desert fauna and succulents; and ancillary gardens filled with roses, herbs, jungle plants, and much more (let’s just say you’ve got to be seriously into plants to want to see them all). Since you’ll be paying admission ($25 on weekdays, $29 on weekends) to the whole Huntington complex, you might as well visit the fabled Huntington Library along with its art galleries and special exhibitions while you’re there.

Watch a movie in a graveyard

$-$$
Hollywood
Yeah, we know it sounds kind of creepy (and guess it is, actually) but it’s also one of the most fun ways to spend an evening. Throughout the summer, Cinespia does a screening of a movie ranging from classic to cult hit (Casablanca will be the Memorial Weekend feature but you can also expect more modern flicks like Drive and Almost Famous) on the lawn of the landmark Hollywood Forever Cemetery, often preceded and followed up by DJ sets. You buy a ticket online (and grab a parking pass for extra if you like), bring a blanket and some wine and try to forget about all the dead people nearby.

Cheer on a turtle race

$
Marina del Rey
The slow-moving reptiles have been competing in world-famous turtle races for nearly 45 years in the parking lot of Brennan’s, a formerly divey pub about a mile and a half from the beach. After a change of ownership, remodel, and turtle-racing hiatus, the kids (who now live in newly herpetologist-approved sanctuaries) are back participating in now-monthly races. Stick around for dinner and drinks afterward with a vegetarian-friendly menu of bar bites, pizzas, and sandwiches.

Fight the crowds for one of LA’s best breakfasts

$$-$$$
Venice
If Gjusta — the counter-service sibling Abbot Kinney attitudey favorite Gjelina — didn’t dole out absolutely amazing everything, there would be no way we would deal with the Hunger Games-style parking, against-the-clock ordering, and reflex-testing seating situation, along with prices that will change your concept of fair market value ($17 for a sausage and egg sandwich? $45 a pound for lox? Sounds totally fair). Unfortunately, all of it — from the freshly baked bialys to the house-smoked mackerel to the seasonal veggie plates — make for a transformative experience you’ll keep coming back for. Tip: The place opens at 7am, when everyone else is sleeping. Use that time wisely.

See where Greg and Marcia slept

Free
North Hollywood
We dare you to find an American human who isn’t wowed by a drive by the iconic Brady Bunch house. While it doesn’t look quite the same as it did in its ‘70s heyday, you’ll recognize that groovy stonework and angular roofline and someone in your car will inevitably wonder aloud whatever happened to cousin Oliver.

Stroll one of the city’s fave foodie events

$
Downtown
Every Sunday, vendors hawking Instagrammable eats from fried chicken sandwiches to horchata cupcakes to sustainable oysters along with micheladas, fresh fruit slushies, and boba teas gather at the five-acre site downtown for an all-day outdoor food and drink extravaganza called Smorgasburg LA (an offshoot of the NYC markets). Take a break between courses by perusing some of the stands selling handmade and vintage goods.

Do yoga with baby goats

$$
Atwater Village
It’s a trend, you know, because blisteringly hot; power; stand-up paddleboard; aerial; and nude versions of the ancient practice just aren’t enough. So you can now do downward dog along with a cute little farm animal at this Eastside brewery. Price of admission comes with a post-yoga beer. Because yoga with goats just isn’t enough…

Get the inside scoop on graffiti

$
Downtown
LA’s street art scene is an impressive one, but rather than just walk on by all those murals without giving them a second thought, you can actually follow along with a local artist who’ll point out some of the Downtown’s most magnificent urban art — including some stellar sculptures — and share the stories behind them.

Walk Rodeo Drive

Free
Beverly Hills
The Lamborghinis, the plastic surgery, the Real Housewives lookalikes. We don’t recommend spending much time blowing your paycheck at all the pricey chain stores your friends can find back in New Jersey anyway (Hey look, it’s Tiffany!), but dedicating an hour or so cruising through the 90210 always makes for a good-for-gawking stop.

Learn how to make pizza (and then eat it)

$$
Downtown
Little Tokyo’s Baldoria — best known for its inventive pies like charred baby octopus and miso-marinated flat-iron steak versions – is now trying to make pizza pros out of mere mortals. Head chef Duke Gervais runs intimate pizza classes on the second Sunday of the month (though they’ll most likely become more frequent over the summer) where he shares tips on making his formidable dough, how to form pizzas, and then the best strategy for baking them. Afterward, you get to indulge in your own creation along with a free glass of vino or a beer for a reasonable $30.

See some really famous puppets

$
Westside
Nobody needs an excuse to check out the Jim Henson exhibition (opening June 1) at the Skirball Cultural Center, which’ll feature 25 puppets on display from Sesame Street, The Muppets, and Fraggle Rock, along with scripts, storyboards, photos, and interactive stuff like a chance to fulfill your lifelong dream of puppeteering.

Have a communal dining experience

$$$
East Hollywood
Part restaurant, part dinner party, part underground supper club, the fun of Wolvesmouth dinners is getting to meet new people, share wine (it’s BYO!), and try a parade of chef Craig Thornton’s inventive and artful dishes served inside a cozy East Hollywood house, where the only menu you’ll see is the one pinned to the refrigerator. You’ll need to sign up for the email list to be able to book a spot. Also be on the lookout for the seafood-centric Sharksteeth dinners that get rotated in throughout the year. How much you pay is up to you, but the consensus is to leave around $100 or so per guest.

Take part in a public star party at the Griffith Observatory

Free
Hollywood
One Saturday a month the Griffith Observatory, which sits on the south side of Mount Hollywood, hosts a “free public star party” where you can try out a gaggle of telescopes and peer at the sun, moon, planets, stars, and other celestial stuff out in the universe. In case you’re not an astronomer yourself, volunteers from smart-people clubs Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, and The Planetary Society will be on hand to answer questions.

Article courtesy of Thrillist.

May 22, 2018

AAA: More Than 41.5 million Americans Will Travel Memorial Day Weekend

If you’re planning a getaway this Memorial Day weekend you may want to think twice about leaving Friday afternoon, according to a new report from AAA and transportation analyst Inrix.

The report projects that this will be the busiest Memorial Day in over a decade, with more than 41 million Americans embarking on trips during the three-day weekend. Locally, many of those travelers will be hitting the road around the same time, clogging roadways already jammed with typical Los Angeles traffic.

According to the report, congestion will hit peak awfulness Friday between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. During that window of time, trips will be nearly twice as long as usual.

That’s not quite as bad as New York, where, between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., drivers will have to deal with traffic almost three times worse than in typical conditions.

Graham Cookson, head of research at Inrix, says that traffic in major cities could start to worsen Wednesday, with the worst congestion—not surprisingly—coming during rush hour. Cookson recommends travelers leave “in the late morning or early afternoon” to avoid the worst traffic.

Of course, taking a train or bus is also an option. And it’s probably best to avoid LAX if you can. The report predicts it will be the nation’s fourth-busiest airport this weekend, in terms of car rentals. That could add up to even more traffic than usual.

Article courtesy of Curbed.

May 22, 2018

USPS Issuing First-Ever Scratch-and-Sniff Stamps

First of all, we’re thrilled to announce that the United States Postal Service still exists. Whether you appreciate them or not, they’re still wearing those charming uniforms, delivering written correspondence, and apparently making stamps even better. Because scratch-and-sniff stamps are here. As in, smell-o-vision, but for mail. As in, the future.

The Frozen Treats Forever stamps are the first scratch-and-sniff Post Office stamps in US history, and they “feature illustrations of frosty, colorful, icy pops on a stick.” There’s just no better way to simultaneously support our nation’s greatest mail-delivering institution, give the gift of a moderately pleasant smell, and be endearingly retro.

These little slices of summer will be unveiled in Austin, Texas, a city where frozen treats do not go unappreciated, on June 20. But you can pre-order online now, and they’ll be delivered, one assumes by the Postal Service, shortly thereafter.

Your booklet will contain 20 stamps — 10 designs total, with two frozen treats per stamp — and while you may not have sent 20 letters in your life, this is your chance to start. The artwork is by Margaret Berg, and the design is by Leslie Badani.

Also that “Forever” isn’t just branding. These Frozen Treats stamps are First-Class Mail Forever, “which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.”

Plus, if you don’t ever end up sending those letters, you can just scratch and sniff them yourself.

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

May 19, 2018

Economic update for the week ending May 19, 2018

California existing home sales and prices increase in April – The California Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales totaled 416,790 in April, on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, that was 2.2% higher than last April’s sales rate. Prices continue to increase. Statewide, the median price paid for a home was $584,460, up 8.6% from April 2017. Local markets posted varying gains. In Los Angeles County, the median price paid for a home was up 10.1% from last April. The median price in Ventura County increased just 4.7% year-over-year. The Orange County median price gained 5.5%. Inventory levels rose 1.9% in April, marking the first rise in three years. The unsold inventory index in April had a 3.2 month supply of homes, up from a 2.9 month supply in March, but still lower than a 3.3 month supply in April 2017.

Stocks lower for the week – Higher interest rates and renewed trade talks put pressure on stocks this week. Oil prices reached a three year high, which some believe will spark inflation levels and cause the Federal Reserve to raise rates more swiftly. At the same time, the dollar straightening to a 5 month high. That makes imports less expensive and lowers inflationary pressure. We will have to wait and see. Experts are mixed on whether bond rates have topped out for the year. The 10-year treasury bond yield topped 3% this week, and hit 3.11% at one point before dropping back. Higher interest rates increase corporate borrowing costs, which lowers profits. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 24,715.09, down from last week’s close of 24,831.17. It is unchanged year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,712.97, down from 2,727.72 last week. It’s up 1.5% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,354.34, down from 7,402.88 last week. It is up 6.5% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond yields much higher this week – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 3.06%, up sharply from 2.94% last week.The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.20%, up from 3.10% last week.

Mortgage Rates higher this week – The May 17, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.61%, up from last week’s 4.55%. The 15-year fixed was 4.08%, up from 4.01% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.82% up from 3.77% last week.

Have a great weekend!

Syd

May 18, 2018

The Best Movies On Hulu Right Now

Netflix may have been first to the streaming game, but it’s far from the only player. Hulu, for example, has steadily improved the quality and diversity of its on-demand streaming offerings, to the point where now you can find titles that are just as good (if not better) than what’s on Netflix. Here, to make our case, are the best movies currently on Hulu:

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Ignore the fact that J.J. Abrams’ second Cloverfield movie isn’t a straight sequel to the 2008 original, and you’ll stumble into one of the eeriest thrillers in ages — and one of the best movies of 2016. The story of three fated companions averting (theoretical) apocalypse in a subterranean bunker runs like clockwork. Every 10 minutes offers a new reveal, a new exacerbation of paranoia. Unnerving performances — especially Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s troubled captive — and a delight in madness prevent 10 Cloverfield Lane from settling on just one answer. It’s a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too horror movie, where the sights and sounds crescendo to the very last beat.

A League of Their Own (1992)

The movie that famously taught us that there’s no crying in baseball follows a (fictional) season of the (real) Rockford Peaches, who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, founded during World War II when many of the best Major Leaguers were off in the service. With a roster of actresses including Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell, the Peaches try to save their league, win a title, and in their most daunting challenge, turn around their alcoholic jerk of a manager, played by Tom Hanks. (Spoiler: they accomplish two out of three.)

American Gangster (2007)

Word of advice: Never piss off Denzel Washington. The Oscar-winning actor stars in this biological crime drama as Frank Lucas, a 1970s drug lord operating out of New York City. But of course, no film about a crime boss is complete without a cop — in this case, that’ll be Russell Crowe — who’s determined to take him down.

Anomalisa (2015)

Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson’s intoxicating stop-motion-animated drama mixes existential crisis and self-discovery in a way that’s at once depressing as hell and uplifting. Honing in on a popular motivational speaker’s business trip, the duo tackles the pitfalls of the mundane while making a movie that’s anything but. David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh play characters so rich, you’ll soon forget they’re lending their voices to puppets.

Arrival (2016)

Based on a novella by acclaimed science-fiction writer Ted Chiang, Arrival abandons space operatics and alien super-weapons to tell a first-contact story about the virtues of communication. When a squadron of spacecrafts touches down in remote areas of the globe, the Army enlists a linguist (Adams) to “speak” to the extraterrestrial squids inside. Through code-breaking and conversation, our human heroes learn a little about this highly intelligent species and even more about their emotional capacity. Methodical and chilly, almost to a fault, Arrival delivers the biggest twists of the year. Like, maybe we Earthlings could learn to get along.

Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

More than a decade after the last Barbershop, the gang’s debates on relationships, gender, family, and age gaps are even wilder, thanks to Ice Cube’s bro-heavy barbershop sharing floor space with Regina Hall and Nicki Minaj’s salon. And in the hands of Black-ish creator Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver (Survivor’s Remorse), they’re crucial. The barbershop, always a safe haven, is embroiled in gang violence and city bureaucracy. Cube’s Calvin, his staff, and his patrons find their usual fire silenced by tragedy. Names like Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, and Trayvon Martin are on the tips of these characters’ tongues. The movie has the dramatic prowess to make it work, swinging from hard laughs — Common, New Girl’s Lamorne Morris, and the fiery Minaj steal the show — to potent drama.

Basic Instinct (1992)

Has any movie ever done more for ice-based weapons? Nineties bad-boy director Paul Verhoeven (Showgirls, Total Recall) gave us this lurid tale of a damaged cop, played with real scumbag glee by Michael Douglas, investigating an icepick-wielding serial killer, but Sharon Stone is the real star of this show. Unlike the late-night premium cable schlock that attempted to steal its sleazy style, this pulp classic has a sense of humor and a Hitchcockian playfulness to go along with all the nudity, violence, and cheesy one-liners.

Carrie (1976)

Adolescence is horrifying. Having taught high school English and endured his own punishing awkward teen years, Stephen King channeled a lifetime of social anxiety, discomfort, and anger into his brisk, righteous first novel, which Brian De Palma then turned into a stylish bloodbath. Anchored by a vulnerable, complex performance from Sissy Spacek and a showy turn from Piper Laurie as Carrie’s God-fearing mother, it’s the rare horror film that works both as psychological portraiture and special-effects blowout. Skip the muddled 2013 remake and get your thrills straight from the source.

Crank 2: High Voltage (2009)

Building on the over-the-top sensibility they explored in 2006’s Crank, writer and director team Neveldine/Taylor unsurprisingly take the “more is better” approach to this action movie sequel starring Jason Statham. Unlike the Transporter movies, which try to make the bald-headed Englishman look as cool as possible, the Crank films are all about putting his hapless character Chev Chelios in humiliating positions: the guy gets beat up worse than Wile E. Coyote. In this one, his heart has been replaced with a battery and he needs to keep it charged — or die trying. It takes the “Speed but with a human” idea of the first Crank to dizzying, hilarious heights.

Columbus (2017)

Set against the real-life architectural wonders of Columbus, Indiana, this blissful drama pairs Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), a fresh-out-of-high-school librarian who studies town history by day and cares for her ex-meth-addict mother by night, and Jin (John Cho), a Korean book translator who returns to the Midwest when his father, a prominent designer, takes ill. Together they wander the modernist menagerie of Columbus, tour guide trivia making way for intimate conversation, and eventually, arguments that challenge their worst habits. Director Kogonada, a video essayist with Reddit cred, frames everything from towering glass office buildings to the long hallways of Casey’s house with Zen-like composition, giving Columbus a beauty that strengthens the foundation of its two transcendent lead performances.

Creed (2015)

Names carry weight. Ryan Coogler’s simultaneously tender and ferocious boxing story owned carrying a legacy as its primary theme. Watching Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed struggle to accept his own father’s name becomes a complex metaphor for the movie’s own tricky relationship with Sylvester Stallone’s iconic 1976 original. How loyal to the past should we be? Coogler doesn’t have the answers, but, like in Fruitvale Station, he raises tough questions with tenacity and grace.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)

Michael Caine and Steve Martin are the best/worst kind of partners in crime. As con artists looking to defraud the uber-rich floating around the French Riviera, the two become uneasy partners before their clashes lead to a bet on who can defraud an heiress, with the loser leaving town for good. The physicality of Martin plays perfectly off the refinement of Caine, and together with Glenne Headley (as the heiress), they deliver one of the funniest, twist-filled movies of all time.

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)

What Dazed and Confused did for the hazy, hedonistic high school years, Everybody Wants Some!! does for the horn-dog college experience, a moment when lives reboot and anything is possible. On the first weekend before school, incoming freshman Jake (Blake Jenner) joins his new baseball team brethren to party like he’s never partied before, rolling through disco joints, punk clubs, house parties blasting Van Halen, and every vice under the sun. Luckily, the perfect cast keeps Everybody Wants Some!! light on its feet.

Fences (2016)

This adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a national service. Most of us didn’t catch the playwright’s sixth “Pittsburgh Cycle” installment when it debuted on Broadway in 1987, nor did we see Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in the acclaimed revival in 2010. Thanks to a commitment by Washington to film Wilson’s body of work, the world can now witness this tightly wound examination of African-American life, adapted for film by Wilson himself. (He completed the screenplay before his death in 2005.)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)

Long before we knew her as Carrie Bradshaw, a young Sarah Jessica Parker played a sheepish high school gymnast named Janey in this film that pretty much set the tone for many popular dance flicks that have followed it. The film centers on sheltered teenagers Janey and Lynne (Helen Hunt), who make it their mission to audition for a chance to appear on the fictional DanceTV against Janey’s conservative father’s wishes.

Heathers (1988)

If it weren’t for Heathers, the darkest of pitch-black teen comedies, there’d be no Mean Girls. A young Winona Ryder stars as Veronica, the precocious high-schooler tasked with taking down a clique comprised of Heathers Duke, McNamara, and Chandler from the inside. Veronica gets help, though — from a smoldering Christian Slater as ultimate bad boy J.D. What follows is acerbic and absurd, and left an undeniable mark on the teen pop culture that followed.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

This New Zealand backwoods adventure roughs up every single coming-of-age cliché. Julian Dennison’s Ricky is an absent-minded, hip-hop-obsessed, rebellious orphan. His grizzled foster father would like nothing more than to ship the little [expletive] back to government care. When the two find themselves stranded in the woods, mistaken for on-the-lam criminals, they… decide to own it. Wilderpeople is a generous genre blend, with Taika Waititi, director of the wacky, vampiric mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, finding cheeky jokes in the duo’s perilous journey. Backed by a synthy, horror movie-like score and lush backdrops, Wilderpeople is one of 2016’s most transportive comedies.

Let the Right One In (2008)

The timing was perfect for this grimly brilliant Swedish import: vampires were getting more than a little anemic (sorry) and long in the tooth (sorry again), but this fascinating adaptation of John Lindqvist’s celebrated novel popped up and reminded us that vampire movies could still draw blood (very, very sorry). It’s a simple story of a bullied young boy and an old vampire trapped in a teenager’s body — but it manages to branch off in a variety of unexpected directions. And hey, the American remake (Let Me In) is pretty solid in its own right.

Manhunter (1986)

Michael Mann’s sleek, stylish crime thriller, adapted from Thomas Harris’s novel Red Dragon, will always exist in the shadow of Jonathan Demme’s far more popular and acclaimed Hannibal Lecter movie The Silence of the Lambs, which won Best Picture in 1991 and turned fava beans into a national punchline. (For some contemporary horror fans, Bryan Fuller’s TV series Hannibal looms even larger.) That’s fine: Manhunter, which features Brian Cox as the cannibalistic serial killer and William Petersen as expert profiler Will Graham, benefits from lower expectations. It’s the perfect late-night streaming discovery.

Melancholia (2011)

At once a family melodrama, an apocalypse movie, a fantasy epic, and a symbolic meditation on mental illness, Lars von Trier’s Melancholia features a first act that focuses on Justine (played by Kirsten Dunst), a severely depressed bride-to-be struggling to make it through her nuptials, while part two shifts the focus to her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), as both she and Justine react very differently to the discovery that a rogue planet is on a direct collision course with Earth. Overflowing with stunningly evocative imagery and devastating performances, Melancholia is one of the all-time best cinematic representations of depression, one that will haunt you long after the closing credits.

Nerve (2016)

Before they terrified you with Paranormal Activity 3 and 4, directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman made the social media paranoia doc Catfish, an essential document of pre-Tinder online dating. Their movie Nerve, an Emma Roberts- and Dave Franco-starring techno-thriller about a deadly mobile-gaming app, splits the difference between visceral scares and sly social commentary. It’s the rare movie that attempts to mimic the aesthetics of the internet — emojis, text messages, Skype — and mostly gets the details of the Pokémon Go era right while still providing old-fashioned scares.

Silence (2016)

Martin Scorsese spent 20 years developing his adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s novel, the story of two Portuguese Catholic priests who travel to Nagasaki, Japan, to rescue their mentor from religious persecution, and it feels like the minimum time required. Silence is a weathered ark, wrestling with the power and pull of religion from a God’s eye view. Sebastião (Andrew Garfield) arrives to Japan to push his scripture. Over his journey, lush, meditative, and bloody, thanks to the Japanese campaign to force Christian priests into apostasy, he will question everything, and beg his savior for guidance. Scorsese asks the Big Questions, making for one of the most challenging films of his career.

Young Adult (2011)

Mavis Gary, the protagonist of Jason Reitman’s acerbic dark comedy Young Adult, is a jerk. She’s got a drinking problem, a failed marriage, an unfulfilling career as a ghostwriter, and a tendency to greet every person she meets on a trip back to her hometown with barely concealed contempt. And, yet, Charlize Theron’s clever performance and Diablo Cody’s sharp script make you understand Mavis’ plight without sacrificing the bitterness that makes her such a captivating character. It’s a high-wire act that the movie nails in its brisk runtime. By the end, you might not want to hang out with Mavis, but you at least know where she’s coming from.

Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher’s movie is for obsessives. In telling the story of the Zodiac Killer, a serial murderer who captured the public imagination by sending letters and puzzles to the Bay Area press, the famously meticulous director zeroes in on the cops, journalists, and amateur code-breakers who made identifying the criminal their life’s work. With Jake Gyllenhaal’s cartoonist-turned-gumshoe Robert Graysmith at the center, and Robert Downey Jr.’s barfly reporter Paul Avery stumbling around the margins, the film stretches across time and space, becoming a rich study of how people search for meaning in life. Zodiac is a procedural thriller that makes digging through old manilla folders feel like a cosmic quest.

May 17, 2018

Weekend Events: May 18 – 20

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 week weekend, from Friday, May 18 to Saturday, May 20, features LA Times Food Bowl Night Market, EEEEEATSCON, a Bug Fair at NHM, an L.A. LIVE Block Party, the California Strawberry Festival, a Cuban American Music fest Museums of the Arroyo Day, BEAT SWAP MEET and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday May 18th, 2018

1. LA Times Food Bowl Night Market (May 16-20) features dozens of restaurants and food trucks selling food for purchase, plus an assortment of DJ’d music and entertainment, taking place in Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park. Be sure to check for discounted tickets for access to the VIP Super Market as well. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

2. Visit the Skirball Center for Uncorked Wine Festival, an evening of wine, food and live music happening May 18-20. Sample 50+ wines from family-owned and operated wineries from top wine regions from around the world. Ticket also comes with gourmet hors d’oeuvres and appetizers. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

3. A free Night of Electronic Music at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles featuring Rival Consoles, underground mainstay John Tejada (Kompakt) and Tottie (Dublab) in collaboration with Decibel Festival. FREE

4. WhedonCon 2018, taking place May 18-20 at Warner Center in Woodland Hills is a Joss Whedon-inspired convention that includes Fan Friday, Supernatural Saturday and Super Sunday.

5. Brennan’s will host a Friday PieDay Pizza Party Power Hour on the patio from 4 to 7 p.m. with free pepperoni or cheese pizza and live music.

6. ARTXFOOD, a nightly series of communal meals merging the worlds of art and cuisine, will take place at Goya Studios in Hollywood every evening from May 11 through June 3. Top Chef All Starswinner Richard Blais will create the food, while L.A. artist Greg Ito creates art that will surround you during the evening.

7. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of The Montalban in Hollywood and LEVEL in DTLA with multiple screenings this week that include Get Out, Coco, Top Gun and more.

8. Blogger turned fashion designer Sincerely Jules is having a sample sale from May 18-20 hosted by Eclipse.

9. Monrovia Days 2018 takes place May 18-20. The community fair will feature games, rides, food, vendors, a parade, live entertainment, and more to celebrate the city’s birthday. FREE

10. Urban Death: Spring, a haunted theater attraction, is currently in session at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group in North Hollywood. Urban Death have terrorized audiences in L.A. for over a decade. Expect a completely new experience of inexplicable horrors and unfathomable monstrosities for this spring edition.

11. Vegan-friendly pub Tony’s Darts Away celebrates their 8th anniversary with a weekend-long party kicking off this Friday. Expect vegan and non-vegan food and plenty of special sour, old cellared, casks and rare craft beer. Party begins at midnight.

12. Online upscale consignment company Luxury Garage Sale (LSG) will pop-up IRL for a 30-day run in Los Angeles. The first location will launch Tuesday, May 15 at the Westfield Century City Mall, and a second will open Friday, June 1 at Westfield Topanga & The Village.

13. Happy Place has found a new home at LA Live’s Event Deck, opening on April 26 and running through May 27 the very Instagram friendly experience will feature a giant pot of gold and indoor confetti dome, a bath tub filled with rubber duckies and more. Happening all week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

14. Aussie fashion label Misha Collection is having a sample sale hosted by Eclipse from May 18-20.

15. Visit the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, a majestic Mediterranean masterpiece built in 1915 and designed by distinguished architect Reginald Davis Johnson, from April 22-May 20. The tours have been going strong since 1948, it’s also one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the country.

16. BB Dakota is having a sample sale from May 16-20. All items will be $10. Sizes range from xs to 2x and include dress, rompers, blazers, jackets and more.

17. The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Clueless takes over the Rockwell in Los Feliz with Broadway style performances in an intimate cabaret setting. Happening Thursday and throughout the weekend. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar

Saturday May 19th, 2018

18. EEEEEATSCON, by The Infatuation returns to Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar with a bevy of top restaurants from L.A. and the East Coast. Expect local favorites like Lunasia Dimsum House and Night + Market; New York spots Roberta’s, Fuku, Ravionly and San Francisco’s Liholiho Yacht Club to be in attendance.

19. The Wiltern will host cult classic film Fight Club with the Dust Brothers and Jacob Maymudes performing a live musical score to accompany the screening.

20. The L.A. LIVE Block Party will feature a pop-up marketplace with over 40 local vendors plus live music and food and drink specials from participating restaurants.

21. The 35th Annual California Strawberry Festival returns to Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard on May 19-20 for a weekend-long event packed with everything a strawberry lover could want.

22. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of The Land Before Time at Park Center in Griffith Park and Wonder Woman at Glendale Central Park. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

23. The Venice Family Clinic Art Walk & Auction at the Google Campus on May 19-20 is a weekend filled with art and fundraising. This annual event, features a silent art auction, artist studio tours, art installations, food, live music and a beer and wine garden.

24. Pico Block Party is a celebratory afternoon taking place at 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica. The free family-friendly festival is focused on youth artists and empowering youth voices. FREE

25. Tom Gun Live brings back their Top Gun spoof party to Union Night Club in Hollywood this Saturday Night. The performance includes karaoke sing-a-longs
dance-offs, paper airplane battles, missiles ziplining through the crowd, and more.

26. HUSHfest returns for 2018, with five different Silent Disco events taking place on Saturday nights throughout the summer. These all-ages headphone dance parties will take place on the Santa Monica Pier. The first installment theme is Divas: Old School vs Material Girls vs Queen Bees.

27. Amoeba Hollywood is having a gigantic garage sale in their underground parking lot this Saturday. Expect bargains on vinyl, CDs, books, DVD, Blu-ray, 7″s, dance 12″s, VHS, magazines, posters, box sets, games and lots more. DJs from KXLU 88.9FM will provide the shopping soundtrack for sale.

28. 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 Drive.

29. Come greet your bug-eyed friends during the Bug Fair at NHMLA on May 19-20. Highlights include exotic bug collections, bug-created products, bug chefs and nature walks.

30. 7th Annual LitFest Pasadena, hosted within the Pasadena Playhouse District, is a literary-focused festival that’s free for all ages. The event takes place May 19-20 and features workshops, panels, readings and more. FREE

31. Once every month Griffith Observatory hosts a free public star party allowing the public to view through telescopes to see the stars and beyond as well as discuss with knowledgeable amateur astronomers about our solar system. FREE

32. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial at North Hollywood Recreation Center. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

33. The Museum of Failure in Hollywood and Highland includes epic failures like Juicero, Facebook Gifts, Pets.com, and Google Wave. There’s also an entire section dedicated to Hollywood with some of the industry’s biggest fails. Happening all week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

34. 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.

35. ClimateFest is a free community event that aims to inspire climate action. Get to know the community working on climate action, get educated about sustainability, enjoy music, entertainment, panels and workshops. FREE

36. The Beverly Hills artSHOW is four blocks of fine art featuring 240 artists from around the country. FREE

37. WE RISE, a free 10 day pop-up festival (May 19-28) will honor Mental Health Awareness Month through artists presentations, 50-hours of creative programming and workshops, activism, sports, art along, musical performances and panels – all focused on supporting a call to action for mental health as a civil right. Participating will be Common, Jesse Williams, Kobe Bryant, Shepard Fairey, Common, YG and much more. FREE

38. Join Katherine C. Grier, author of Pets in America: A History, as she discuss how pet accessories developed as early as the 1800s and learn about how our love for pets have evolved over the past two centuries into a 20 billion dollar industry during Pet Pampering 101: The History of Pet Products at Wallis Annenberg PetSpace. FREE

39. Tanaka Farms in Irvine is hosting a Strawberry Festival every Saturday and Sunday of May featuring strawberry treats, tours, vendors, ATV rides, bunnies, tours, ice cream making, games and much more. Admission to the farm is free.

40. Vanderpump Dogs 3rd Annual World Dog event takes place at West Hollywood Park featuring dog-friendly vendors, food trucks, a dog agility park, live entertainment, a wave surfing truck for dogs, adoptions and more. FREE

41. Museum of Selfies opens on April 1 and will run till May 31 with 10 interactive exhibits that welcomes visitors to take a closer look into the cultural phenomenon. The curators of the Glendale museum have also collected an array of Instagram-inspired art as well as an Iron Throne made of selfie sticks for guests to enjoy.

Sunday May 20th, 2018

42. On Sunday six area museums and historical homes will open their doors free of charge for Museums of the Arroyo Day. The list includes the Gamble House, Heritage Square, the Los Angeles Police Museum, the Lummis Home and Garden, the Pasadena Museum of History, and The Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus. Back to the Future fans can head over to Pasadena’s famous Gamble House on May 20 for Doc Brown’s Open House during the day’s festivities. Meet Doc Brown at the DeLorean Time Machine, tour the house, enjoy free lemonade and cookies, play lawn games and more. FREE

43. BEAT SWAP MEET celebrates 10 years this Sunday! Shop, sell or trade records from passionate collectors, listen to music in four different areas, attend a scratch q&a by Open Format and more. BSM is held during Smorgasburg at ROW DTLA. Free to attend.

44. South Bay Beer & Wine Festival takes over Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates with over 80 food and drink vendors and unlimited samples.

45. Clean Made L.A. comes to California Market Center in Downtown Los Angeles with responsible vendors in clean food and beverage, beauty and wellness, fitness, home and garden, energy and sustainability, apparel, kids, pets, natural health, and more. There will also be speakers, demos, yoga, meditation hut and to other wellness events.

46. Angel City Brewery’s 6th annual Heritage Music and Arts Festival is a celebration of the brewery’s sixth birthday and a salute to the culture and heritage of Angel City’s neighbors and community through a day of live art, music, dance, local food and cold beer.

47. Enjoy a day of Cuban culture when La Plaza de Cultura y Artes hosts the Cuban American Music Festival on Sunday, with four musical acts, dancing, local Cuban artists, and Cuban food and drink.

48. Visit The Skirball Cultural Center for A Place for Us a performance inspired by Leonard Bernstein’s mission of making classical music accessible to all, hear a special arrangement of the West Side Story classic “Somewhere,” plus an uplifting symphonic and choral repertoire performed by the Harmony Project and the Urban Voices Project: A Skid Row Choir.

49. Gourmet food, classic cars and tasty libations will collide at the CBS Studio Center Back Lot duringFlavor of LA.

50. Dog Haus Running Club and Party Goats Los Angeles will join forces for a hike with goats at Echo Mountain in Pasadena. The hike cost $5 and will go directly to the goats. No dogs are allowed on this hike.

51. Alamo Drafthouse presents a screening of SPICE WORLD along with a party and drag bingo at The Regent in DTLA.

52. Speak Easy Yoga is a brand-new series curated especially for Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown on Sundays through the end of May. Do a down dog and namaste to music from the 1920s. If you follow your yoga session with Indigo’s Bootlegger Brunch, it will include one complimentary beverage with purchase of a brunch entrée.

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

May 17, 2018

Rodeo Realty's The Mulwood Team hosting annual Mulwood Community Yard Sale

On Sunday, May 20th, from 7am to 12pm, Tina Fanelli Moraccini and David Arcudi of The Mulwood Team Rodeo Realty will be hosting their Annual Mulwood Community Yard Sale.

This is a great opportunity for Mulwood residents to do some spring cleaning and sell the items they no longer need or use! Treasure seekers will be able to rummage through old items in the hopes of finding unique furniture, antiques, house-hold items, electronics, clothing and collectables!

The Mulwood Team will provide all the promotion and advertising of the neighborhood-wide event, neon directional signs, and sales stickers! They’ll even bring donuts!

Residents living in Mulwood who wish to participate must pre-register to this free event by calling David at 818.857.9805 or Tina at 310.980.3532.

Here’s how to participate:
https://www.facebook.com/events/161506554516989/

Treasure seekers, come to the Greater Mulwood neighborhood of Calabasas and follow the signs to the yard sales on the following streets: Town Crier Road, Schuylkill Drive, De Kalb Drive, Bon Homme Road, and Carsamba Drive.

One day only! Don’t miss it!

About the Mulwood Team:
David and Tina are proud to serve the Greater Mulwood area of Calabasas, where they both live with their respective families. They have children at all three schools in the neighborhood and are very active in the community. David has been in real estate for over 27 years, and Tina, who spent two decades in PR and marketing, sold her first house at the age of 20. Together, with their vast experience, familiarity with the vicinity, and business acumen, they offer the highest level of service to the families in the Mulwood area.

May 17, 2018

Free Summer Films at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Returns in June

Another summer of free movie screenings is just around the corner at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. On June 30 LA Plaza launches the return of its annual free summer film series with a screening of Up in Smoke.

LA Plaza’s summer film series will feature five Latino-themed films over five months, one each month, concluding on October 20. Films will be accompanied by cast appearances offering meet and greet opportunities, live music, and other on-site activities and/or exhibitions.

All series events are free to the public and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Each screening will feature live music, along with food and beverages for sale. Doors for each film open at 6 p.m., except for October 20, when doors open at 5 p.m.

Check out the complete schedule of films below.

Saturday, June 30: Up in Smoke (1978)

Up in Smoke, starring Cheech and Chong, is a picaresque stoner comedy whose dialogue has inspired the work of Quentin Tarantino. Martin Scorsese is such a fan of the cult classic, he cast the duo in his film After Hours.

Saturday, July 28: Walkout (2006)

Directed by Edward James Olmos and starring Alexa Vega, Walkout is based on the true story of a student walkout in East L.A. back in 1968 after a group of high-schoolers tire of inferior school conditions.

Saturday, September 21: Variedades on Olvera Street (2016)

Music, spoken word, theater, comedy and art converge to tell the story behind the oldest street in Los Angeles. Loosely based on early 20th-century Mexican vaudeville shows, this documentary includes Latina punk rock icon Alice Bag. A live musical performance from La Victoria will proceed the show.

Saturday, September 29: Born in East L.A. (1987)

A Mexican-American native of Los Angeles is mistaken for an undocumented immigrant and deported to Mexico in this comedy starring Cheech Marin.

Saturday, October 20: Machete (2010)

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Machete stars Danny Trejo as a former Mexican Federale (and major badass) now living in Texas. After a ruthless drug lord (played by Steven Seagal) kills Machete’s wife, Machete seeks vengeance by any means necessary. Machete also stars Robert De Niro as a ruthless politician, along with Jessica Alba. (Note that this movie is rated R)

Story courtesy of We Like LA.

May 16, 2018

New Rooftop Movie & Music Series Coming to DTLA

A new rooftop music and film series is coming to Los Angeles, this one boasting excellent views of downtown. Skyline Sound + Cinema is a partnership among The Bloc, ALT 98.7 and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and it kicks off June 21 with a sing-along screening of The Greatest Showman.

The Bloc is the result of massive renovations to Macy’s Plaza and Broadway Plaza, which converted what Curbed LA referred to as one of the city’s ugliest buildings into a pedestrian- and transit-friendly, open-air plaza with retail, restaurants, and more. The Bloc will also contain Los Angeles’ first Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, though no official opening date has been announced.

In the meantime, the Austin-based theater will host a summer rooftop series on the Bloc’s massive roof featuring music curated by ALT 98.7 followed by a film. Each screening has room for 800 guests, according to a release.

The inaugural event will feature music from singer-songwriter Cary Brothers. Then, guests are invited to sing along with the 2017 musical drama The Greatest Showman, which stars Hugh Jackman in a loose retelling of circus entertainer P.T. Barnum’s life story.

Future events are planned for July 12, July 26, and August 9, but screening details have not been announced.

The Greatest Showman screening takes place on Thursday, June 21. Doors are at 6:30 p.m., music from the Cary Brothers is at 7:30 p.m., and the screening begins at 8:30 p.m. Food and drinks will be available until 9:30 p.m. via variety of vendors. Tickets are $25. 21+.

Article courtesy of We Like LA.