Rodeo Realty

June 7, 2018

The Best Restaurants in Los Angeles Right Now

HOLLYWOOD

An indulgent meat-centric nirvana from Adam Perry Lang
BBQ genius/Jimmy Kimmel’s best friend Adam Perry Lang has finally opened his first LA restaurant, and to say it’s a barnburner would be an understatement. He legitimately may have the best steak in town with his rib-eye, the French onion soup will knock you out, and — oh yeah — there’s a giant dinosaur-sized short rib that’s as perfectly smoked-and-dry-rubbed as anything you’ve ever eaten in your life. Will your wallet feel hurt after you leave? It will, but this is definitely a good kind of hurt.

SHERMAN OAKS

The Valley’s new hot pot spot
This ambitious new Asian fusion joint’s essentially a dolled-up version of Mongolian BBQ: choose a ton of ingredients, hand them to a chef, and get an instant dinner. Here’s the thing, though: those ingredients include out-there options like alligator and camel as well as more-traditional options including meatballs and lobster, and they’ve also got curries and a full-on cocktail menu.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

A new barstaurant from the Jones crew
The group behind some of LA’s longest-running all-stars (The Roger Room! Jones!Bar Lubitsch!) are back with this gorgeous, date-friendly, French-ish barstaurant/partying space. The cocktails here are from award-winning bartender Brittany Olsen, who’s dreaming up interesting concoctions like the Northern Trick, with gin, bergamot, lemon, coconut water, and blue peaflower; food, meanwhile, ranges from starters like radish with butter to a saffron-laced crab rice entree and, of course, steak frites.

SANTA MONICA

The Westside’s modern Indian answer to Baadmash
Move over, Cassia: the Westside’s newest modern Asian hit is Tumbi, which is an Indian restaurant that — like the critically acclaimed Eastside favorite Baadmash — takes classic flavors and masterfully reinvents them. Dishes include charbroiled paneer tikka with yogurt, curry, and mint chutney, and an Afghani seekh kebab with ground lamb, fennel, and tomato chutney.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

A ‘90s TV throwback restaurant that’s more than just gimmicks
Surely by now you’ve heard all about Saved by the Max, the Saved by the Bell-themed restaurant that’s been Instagrammed by every single person you know. If not, here’s the CliffsNotes version: yeah, it looks great on Instagram, but the food is from a guy who’s worked for Michelin-starred restaurants (Entente and Schwa), which means it’s more than just a novelty act. They’ve decided to keep the pop-up running at least through September, so you’ve still got time to get in there so long as you’re not HOPPED UP ON CAFFEINE PILLS.

BURBANK

Burbank’s standby is back on the up and up
It’s not an entirely new restaurant, but after a reported $10 million renovation it might as well be: this now-stunning Burbank restaurant’s open again after a year, and boasts a massive patio overlooking the city, as well as a brand new menu with a full cheese and charcuterie bar as well as American wagyu brisket and whole roasted branzino with shaved fennel and oven-roasted tomato.

June 5, 2018

The Best Books of 2018 So Far

Here’s a piping hot tip: If you want to read the best new books, read them while they’re new. Don’t wait until December when the end-of-year lists arrive; you’ll always be a year behind. Since there are so many books being published every month, how can we boil it down to a few bests? Taste is arbitrary, but here’s the basic goal: These books are exciting, interesting, and well-written. Some are conversation-drivers, others are hidden gems. Great books are coming out all the time. You shouldn’t have to wait until the end of the year to see how they (arbitrarily!) stack up.

16. A Princess In Theory

Written by: Alyssa Cole (An Extraordinary Union, A Hope Divided)
Publish date: February 27
Why it’s worth reading: Cole is known for historical romances set at pivotal moments in American history, but here she tries out contemporary rom-com, with winning results.The cultural and political relevance aren’t gone, they’re just tweaked and lightened a bit. Ledi is an epidemiology PhD student who suddenly starts getting a flood of spam emails claiming she’s the long-lost betrothed of Prince Thabiso of Thesolo. But the emails are not spam, and this former foster kid is indeed a long-lost princess. What follows is a fairy-tale romance rooted in the very real world. What’s most fantastical might be the kingdom of Thesolo, a wealthy and technologically advanced state that will leave anyone longing for a thoughtful, benevolent government instead of whatever’s going on in Washington now.

15. The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America

Written by: Isaac Butler and Dan Kois
Publish date: February 13
Why it’s worth reading: Angels in America is one of the most important — and best — plays of the 20th century, but if you’re not a theatre aficionado, why should you care about this oral history of the play’s birth, life, and legacy? Well, how about an incisive look at reactions to the AIDS crisis and the Reagan era, with chilling parallels to our own time? Or what about a soaring testament to the power of collaborative art and its reach beyond the theater seats? Maybe you’d prefer a dishy, enthusiastic chorus of behind-the-scenes tales and reminiscences from people like Meryl Streep, Nathan Lane, Mary-Louise Parker, and Jeffrey Wright? The point is, this is a book about one play and about so, so much more. It sprang from an article for Slate, and there’s a reason that niche oral history went viral, far beyond the theatre-loving world. The World Only Spins Forward is funny, moving, and utterly fascinating, a portrait of artists coming together to make something radically new and beautiful.

14. Beneath the Sugar Sky

Written by: Seanan McGuire (October Daye series)
Publish date: January 9
Why it’s worth reading: Fantasy books are rife with children who go on magical adventures; Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children takes them in when they return. In Beneath the Sugar Sky, a girl named Rini falls from the sky into a pool on the school’s grounds, seeking her mother — long dead, since before Rini was even conceived. Which makes it even more important that Rini find a way to save her mother before Rini herself ceases to exist. Rini is joined on her quest by several young residents of the Wayward home into a world called Confection, equally dark and whimsical. The adventure that follows carries a sincere belief in the power of friendship.

13. When Einstein Walked with Gödel: Excursions to the Edge of Thought

Written by: Jim Holt (Why Does The World Exist?)
Publish date: May 15
Why it’s worth reading: Jim Holt approaches some of the biggest questions on the blurry boundary between science and philosophy, not as a journalist making a beeline for empirical truth, but as an essayist, circling and spiraling toward understanding. It’s an unusual and invigorating approach — Holt’s voice is warm and engaging, and his writing is lucid. This book also offers a collection of biographical sketches of some of the greatest thinkers from the last century, including Benoit Mandelbrot, Alan Turing, and the titular pair, specifically the unlikely friendship they developed at Princeton in the ’40s. Together these essays create a complex (though unfortunately overwhelmingly male) portrait of the great minds of the twentieth century and an illuminating exploration of their ideas.

12. The House of Impossible Beauties

Written by: Joseph Cassara
Publish date: February 6
Why it’s worth reading: In The House of Impossible Beauties, Joseph Cassara brings readers into the Harlem drag ball scene of the 1980s, awash in glitter and beauty and pain. This is a fictional story built on the foundation of the real-life House of Xtravaganza, with the house’s first “mother,” Angie, re-envisioned as Cassara’s Angel, a trans woman who builds a family in order to find her own home. As Angel’s house grows, so does the scope of the novel, with characters that, whether based on real people and invented whole-cloth, are rich and vibrant. Many are runaways, literally or figuratively, searching for a place where they can be known as themselves and loved. And they find it, however fleetingly: a queer, Latinx sanctuary that’s not a subculture but a whole wide world. The story of that world is full of anger and sorrow and joy.

11. Hurts to Love You

Written by: Alisha Rai (Forbidden Hearts series, The Karimi Siblings series)
Publish date: March 27
In the third and final installment of her Forbidden Hearts series, Rai brings the whole thing home with satisfying closure. Eva Chandler, who so far has been a meek and polite minor character, comes vibrantly to life as she struggles with oppressive family expectations, her emotionally abusive father — and a longstanding crush on Gabe, her big brother’s gregarious, and of course gorgeous, best friend. This isn’t love at first sight, but the culmination of years of mutual longing and their history gives this romance more heft and believability than many others. It’s sweep-you-off-your-feet delightful, and the weightier aspects of the story add depth to the romance rather than souring the mood. If you’re new to the series, the whole thing is worth reading — while Gabe and Eva’s story is self-contained to Hurts to Love You, the conclusion to the epic intergenerational drama that Rai’s been weaving may be disorienting to a new reader.

10. The Pisces

Written by: Melissa Broder (Last Sext, So Sad Today)
Publish date: May 1
Why it’s worth reading: The Pisces had its origin in a thought experiment: What if the traditional mermaid-human man love story were flipped? What if a woman fell in love with a merman? It’s a simple flip, but in Melissa Broder’s hands, filtered through her dark, wry worldview, it’s anything but an old story. Lucy leaves behind her languishing dissertation and the ashes of a long-term relationship to spend the summer pulling herself together in her sister’s Venice Beach home. Long story short, she meets Theo, who turns out to be a merman. What follows is sexy, funny, dark, and surprisingly complex. Broder’s willingness to write through taboo is coupled with (or rewarded with) sharp and surprising insights. The result is a book about reality and fantasy, love and obsession, mental health and so much more. But it’s never too heavy, and always a pleasure — if a twisted one — to read.

9. Heart Berries

Written by: Terese Marie Mailhot
Publish date: February 13
Why it’s worth reading: Mailhot started writing her memoir after suffering a breakdown and committing herself to a psychiatric hospital. Soon after, doctors diagnosed her with PTSD, bipolar II, and an eating disorder. Heart Berries chronicles Mailhot’s experience, though her memoir writing doesn’t fall into pat cliches about mental illness and suffering. Instead, the work is transcendent in the most literal sense, surpassing every readerly expectation about genre and form to create a truly unique book. Mailhot, who grew up on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in British Columbia, writes deftly about mental illness and indigenous identity, about failure and yearning and ambition. And all of it is unified and amplified by Mailhot’s singular voice: bold and poetic and elegant. This is a short book that packs a punch.

8. Circe

Written by: Madeline Miller (The Song of Achilles)
Publish date: April 10
In The Odyssey, Circe is just one of many obstacles Odysseus must overcome, the witch or nymph who turns his men into swine. In Circe, Madeline Miller’s novel, she is sui-generis, as she says in the novel’s first line, “When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist.” What follows is a story of coming of age and coming into power, as Circe grows from the awkward daughter of the sun god, Helios, into a commanding sorceress. Miller is in full command of the Greek tales that she spins into something utterly, brilliantly new. This is a book of magic of mortals, of myths and mysteries, that honors its ancient origins while being powerfully of our time.

7. And Now We Have Everything: On Motherhood Before I Was Ready

Written by: Meaghan O’Connell
Published on: April 10
According to one school of thought, a writer must have lived something remarkable to warrant writing a memoir; according to another, great writing elevates the mundane into worthy material. In And Now We Have Everything, Meaghan O’Connell satisfies both camps at once, writing beautifully, thoughtfully, and honestly about the commonest thing in the world — pregnancy and childbirth — while clearly showing that the experience, for all its familiarity, is extraordinary, too. And this isn’t “extraordinary” in the miracle-of-birth way — O’Connell’s experience was, in many ways, harrowing, from her traumatic 40-hour labor to a first year of motherhood wracked with anxiety and emotional pain. So it’s even more remarkable — and a further testament to O’Connell’s skill — that in the end this is a kind of a love story, with O’Connell’s son, with her husband, and with the woman and mother O’Connell discovers she can be, or always was.

6. Semiosis

Written by: Sue Burke
Publish date: February 6
Why it’s worth reading: What if a clutch of human colonists landed on an alien planet and discovered that it was home to sentient plants? In Semiosis, an amazingly assured debut novel, Sue Burke takes this simple concept to soaring heights. Sentient plants seem like both a stretch of imagination and paltry grist for drama, but Burke’s inventiveness and sensitivity make this a not only plausible but utterly gripping book. In scenes spread across a century, Burke writes deeply believable characters — young and old, men and women, and life beyond that, too — and paints her human society and alien ecosystem with equally deft brushstrokes. This is up there with Ursula K. Le Guin: science fiction at its most fascinating and most humane.

5. Back Talk

Written by: Danielle Lazarin
Publish date: February 6
Why it’s worth reading: There are 16 stories in this book’s 237 pages; together, they leave you with a sense of crystalline fragments, sharp-edged shards of stories and experiences that paint a fractured picture of life as a woman and a girl. There are stories of friendship, loving and barbed, of the tender violence of familial love, and of the freedom and pain of loneliness. There’s a little bit of romance, too, but at the center are always Lazarin’s vibrant, peculiar, brilliant girls and women navigating getting what they want in the world. This is a powerful and tender collection. (Please read it even if you’re not a woman. Come on.)

4. Captive Audience: On Love and Reality TV

Written by: Lucas Mann (Lord Fear, Class A)
Publish date: May 1
Why it’s worth reading: You don’t need to love, like, or care about reality TV to connect to Captive Audience, a savvy blend of memoir and cultural criticism, but know that author Lucas Mann loves reality TV. He sees it for what it is, with all its flaws and pitfalls, but this brilliant, insightful book is hardly the story of a guilty pleasure. Instead, Mann writes about reality TV with his eyes wide open, about what it is and why he loves it. He also writes about who he loves it with, namely his wife, and the result is a twinned exploration of popular culture and personal experience, rich with resonance and nuance. Mann writes eloquently about powerful moments and characters from reality TV — his ode to Rob Kardashian is especially intense — and casts that same searchlight on his most personal experiences, of love, shame, loneliness, and joy.

3. An American Marriage

Written by: Tayari Jones (Silver Sparrow, The Untelling, Leaving Atlanta)
Publish date: February 6
Why it’s worth reading: Oprah’s Book Club sticker is a powerful imprimatur: it promises both literary excellence and cultural relevance. An American Marriagedelivers on both. It’s the story of a young black couple, Roy and Celeste, who feel the lucky promise of their lives stretching ahead of them. But early in their marriage, Roy is falsely convicted of a crime, and his years in prison — and then sudden release — bring irrevocable change to their lives and their marriage. Oprah said of the novel, “It’s a love story that also has a huge layer of suspense. And it’s also so current and so really now that I could not put it down.” Coupled with that suspense are heartbreaking empathy and a sharp look at America, on a powerfully intimate scale.

2. You Think It, I’ll Say It

Written by: Curtis Sittenfeld (Eligible, American Wife, Prep)
Publish date: April 24
Why it’s worth reading: The title story of this collection — like every story in its pages — is very, very good, but the real stand-out (which, granted, would’ve lent the book a less fitting title) is “The Prairie Wife.” I first read it online last summer when it was published in The New Yorker — I read it twice then, actually, starting again as soon as I’d finished, to try to figure out how Sittenfeld pulled off such an extraordinary narrative coup. It’s a marvel of a story, with a gut-punch of an ending that completely recasts everything that’s come before it — but rather than a gimmick, it’s an added depth to a sensitive and melancholy story about love and growing older. Those themes resonate throughout the collection, culminating in a wash of longing — for the past, and also for what we might make of the present. Each story is a gem in this extraordinary book.

1. The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath

Written by: Leslie Jamison (The Empathy Exams, The Gin Closet)
Publish date: April 3
If you loved Leslie Jamison’s break-out hit essay collection, The Empathy Exams, let me say: this is even better. If you didn’t love that first book, or haven’t heard of Jamison before, let me say: this book is fucking amazing. Part memoir of Jamison’s alcoholism and recovery, part critical inquiry into the myth of the addict-genius artist, part cultural history of addiction treatment in America, this is a beautiful behemoth of a book, 544 pages that absolutely fly by. Jamison is a notably lyrical writer, but what really shines is her curious, generous, sensitive mind, as she reframes stories we think we know — John Cheever, Amy Winehouse, the War on Drugs itself — and shines a light on new ones. In bringing together the voices of great artists, everyman alcoholics, and Jamison’s own past, she replicates the story-sharing of an AA meeting. It’s a rich and powerful chorus.

Article by Thrillist.

June 4, 2018

Economic Update for the month ending May 31, 2018

Employers add 223,000 new jobs in May – Unemployment rate drops to 3.8% – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that U.S. employers added 223,000 new jobs in May. That exceeded the 190,000 that analysts expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.8%, the lowest reading since 2000. The unemployment rate has steady declined from its peak of 10% in 2009. Average hourly wages grew 2.7% from May 2017.

California added 39,300 jobs in April and unemployment dropped to a record low – The Employment Development Department reported that 39,300 new jobs were created in April. The statewide unemployment rate dropped to 4.2%.

Stock markets higher in May despite huge daily swings – It was a crazy turbulent month for stocks with daily swings in the DOW of as much as 450 points, yet stocks ended the month higher. Major news included the announcement of tariffs against China, followed by an announcement that a deal was in place and tariffs were on hold, followed by an announcement of even more tariffs just one week later. In the closing days of the month, tariffs were placed on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and The European Union. China, Canada, Mexico, and The EU retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods. These on and off again trade wars caused stocks to fluctuate sharply. The Fed also released a statement that led investors to believe they were not as hawkish on raising interest rates as many had felt. That was well received. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the month at 24,415, up from its April 30, 2018 close of 24,163. The S&P 500 closed the month of May at 2,795, up from its April 30, 2018 close of 2,648. The NASDAQ closed the month at 7,442, up from its April 30 close of 7,066.

Treasury Bond Yields lower at the end of May – The 10-year treasury bond closed the month yielding 2.83%, down from 2.95% on April 30, 2018. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the month at 3.00%, down from 3.11% on April 30. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.

Mortgage Rates end month almost unchanged – Mortgage rates spiked in May, but they settled back down in the last week of May to end the month just slightly higher. The May 31, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.56%, almost unchanged from 4.55% on May 3, 2018. The 15-year fixed was 4.06%, up slightly from 4.03% on May 3. The 5-year ARM was 3.80% up from 3.69% on May 3.

U.S. existing home sales pace slows and prices increase in April – The National Association of Realtors announced that the number of sales of existing homes nationwide dropped 1.6% on a year-over-year basis in April. It should be noted that U.S. existing home sales were at record levels in 2017, so even with a slight drop, although not optimal, sales numbers are still at a robust level. Prices continued to increase. The median price paid for a home nationally was up 5.3% from last April, the 74th straight month of year-over-year increases. The number of existing homes for sale were 6.3% lower than last April. The unsold inventory index nationwide had a 4 month supply of housing available for sale, down from a 4.2 month supply last April. That was the 42nd straight month of year-over-year inventory level declines. The western region of the U.S. showed even better results. Sales for the western region were down just 0.8% year-over-year and the median price was 6.8% higher than last April.

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 continued 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.

Housing Affordability index rises in first quarter of 2018 – The California Association of Realtors reported that 31% of home buyers could afford to purchase a median-priced existing single-family home in California in first-quarter of 2018. That was up from 29% in the fourth quarter of 2017. Year-over-year affordability was down slightly. The index stood at 32% in the first quarter of 2017.

June 4, 2018

The Best Places to Travel in July

PLACE DES ARTS, MONTREAL | JEFF GREENBERG/UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES

Quebec

No one crushes on summer like French Canada, and no surprise, July’s the height of festival season in Montreal and Quebec City. If you’re into ex-Olympian acrobats soaring overhead, the Montreal Completement Cirque is your jam, a circus festival where jaw-dropping acrobats have nightly public performances in squares and streets, like a city-wide Cirque du Soleil running from July 5-15, most of it free. Montreal also hosts the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival July 14-18, headlined this year by Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, and Tom Green. For jazz enthusiasts, one of the biggest jazz gatherings in the world kicks off July when the Montreal International Jazz Festival runs from June 28 to July 7. For practically every non-jazz genre, head 150 miles further northeast to Quebec City for the Festival d’été de Québec, one of the most underrated parties anywhere on the continent. Just $80 (USD) covers your pass for the entire festival (July 5-15), which fills clubs, parks, and pop-up stages around the 410-year-old city’s vibrant, fortress-lined Downtown with the likes of Neil Young, The Weeknd, Future, and the Foo Fighters.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Yes, it might be a little warm down Mexico way this time of year. But you know what that means? One of the most popular and beautiful beaches in the world won’t be nearly as packed and will cost a fraction of what it would during spring. There’s also tons to do here toward the end of the month, when the Festival of the Virgin Carmen lands and parades, musical performances, and general Mexican mayhem take over the city. A few days later, the ZoukMX festival takes over the beach, a 10-day dance party on the shore that feels like a more-authentic spring break, with a far more upscale vibe.

MACKINAC ISLAND HARBOR, MICHIGAN | APMADOC/ROOM/GETTY IMAGES

Mackinac Island, Michigan

There may be no better place to spend a summer week than on the shores of Lake Huron, where perfect weather and calm lakes make for an idyllic summer retreat. If you’ve got the cash, the best place to experience it is historic Mackinac (pronounced just like Mackinaw) home to one of the country’s most impressive Fourth of July fireworks displays over the lake. Cars aren’t allowed on the island, and with 80% of the land protected as a state park, it’s the kind of place where you’ll feel completely disconnected once you cross over the largest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The highlight of the month is on July 21, when the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac arrives in town. Bringing with it all the parties, dinners, and general high society that accompanies a big-time sailing race.

Kenya

The single greatest animal migration on the planet happens this month in Kenya, when the thundering wildebeest make the move from the Serengeti to Masai Mara. It’s one of the greatest shows in nature, and unlike the northern lights or a spewing volcano, you can actually plan a vacation around it. The places to see it best are at the Lamai Wedge and at the Mara River, where the wildebeest must cross treacherous, crocodile-filled waters. It’s like a front row seat to Animal Planet. The Kichwa Tembo Camp, Bateleur Camp, and Sayari Mara Camp are the ideal spots to stay to catch the action. Afterward head out to the coast and some of the most underrated beaches in the world at Watamu, where you’ll likely have most of the sand to yourself.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

If you haven’t ever been to one of the great natural wonders of North America because you thought it was basically Pigeon Forge with a waterfall, prove yourself wrong in July. This month Niagara Falls welcomes the world’s biggest elevated go-kart track at Niagara Speedway, which looks like a real-life Mario Kart set atop Clifton Hill. Also returning to the falls is the new-ish Mistrider zip line, where you’ll zip past the US falls, right to the base of Horseshoe. Once you’re done marveling at the power of the water flow at Journey Behind the Falls, head up the river and take a high-speed jet boat through the Niagara Gorge and its class V-VI rapids. Then sample beers you’ll never find in the States along the Niagara ale trail with stops at Niagara Brewing — right by the falls — and Oast House, a brewery set inside a barn in the heart of Ontario wine country.

Byron Bay, Australia

Music festivals have become a summer tradition on par with road trips and T-shirt-shaped sunburns. And sure you COULD drive to your nearest Live Nation-approved festival and see names like Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, and Vampire Weekend. But wouldn’t it be more fun to head to the easternmost point in Australia and see all those people plus the Wombats, MGMT, Franz Ferdinand, and dozens of other bands in the temperate winter down under? Of course it would, so go ahead and blow your 2018 festival budget on Australia’s biggest festival, Splendour in the Grass, held July 20-22 in tranquil Byron Bay. Beyond the festival, Byron Bay has some of the most unheralded beaches on the continent, plus a hinterland rainforest and plenty of trails traversing it all.

Idaho

Even though it got its own dark sky preserve last year and spots like Sandpoint and Stanley are lauded as outdoor paradises, Idaho is still the undiscovered gem of the Pacific Northwest. And no time of year does it shine brighter than July, when biking through the Sawtooth Mountains, rafting the Snake River, or perusing the breweries and greenways of hipper-than-you-realize Boise can all be done under cloudless skies. On July 14, the northern resort town of Coeur d’Alene welcomes From the Ashes, sort of a mad science fair of smoked foods. More than a simple barbecue throwdown, this festival gives pitmasters from Idaho, South Carolina, Texas, and New York City (NEW YORK CITY??) custom-built equipment to test modern takes on smoked food, served alongside a bounty of local craft beers.

Turkey

This is one of those world destinations where you really have to separate the acts of the government — currently the world leader in imprisoning journalists — from reality of regular restaurateurs and hoteliers and tour guides who would love to welcome you. So on the assumption you still want to see one of the world’s oldest, most fascinating cradles of civilization, this is not the worst time to do so (tourism isn’t exactly at an all-time high). Places like Istanbul and the coastal city of Ankara won’t be nearly as clogged with visitors, and considerably cheaper. To best experience the ancient ruins, natural wonders, and exotic culture of the country, Intrepid Travel offers a 12-day tour for about $1,100 that’ll have you cycling along the shores of Lake Gokova before soaking in nearby thermal mud baths. You’ll also tour historic World War II battlefields, kayak over sunken cities, hike through pine forests, and spend time in the town of Antalya, a waterfront gem just a few miles from the Greek Islands. Along the way, you’ll probably answer a few questions from curious fellow travelers about what the hell, exactly, is going on in Washington DC these days.

ST. LOUIS ZOO, MISSOURI | CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE/GETTY IMAGES

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is one of the great bargain American destinations, where top attractions like Forest Park, the zoo, the art museum, and the science center are all free. This month also brings the grand opening of the $380 million Gateway Arch renovation, where the city’s signature landmark reopens with 11 acres of new park space, 7.5 acres of gardens, a bridge over the highway from downtown, and live music at the new amphitheater. It’s also the height of baseball season, and few scenes in baseball rival that of Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium before Cardinals games. Add in a cold, refreshing trip to the original Budweiser Brewery and you’ve got the best cheap US destination to hit in July.

NANJING ROAD, SHANGHAI | DOWELL/MOMENT/GETTY IMAGES

Shanghai, China

One of the biggest logistical pains in travel is getting visas. But Shanghai is making it a little easier for you to visit now, allowing US visitors to stay in the city visa-free for up to 144 hours (six days). Shanghai has sunk millions into redeveloping its waterfront at The Bund, where you’ll stroll by Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture with striking views of the modern skyline across the river. Want to get in your summer theme park fix? Shanghai’s got its own Disneyland. Or relax in the more-classical Yuyuan Garden after a hectic day of shopping in along Nanjing Road.

New Hampshire

For outdoor-adventure types in the east, no place beats New Hampshire in July. White Mountain National Forest is more green than white this time of year, with some of the best mountain biking and off-road cycling trails in the country. Kayaking and canoeing along Squam Lake makes for a calm, serene mountain getaway. Or hit Newfound Lake in the state’s Lake Region for the largest freshwater swimming beach in the state. For the extreme athlete, July 8 brings the Loon Mountain Race, where competitors climb more than 2,000 vertical feet over the course of 6.5 miles, including the Upper Boss ski run. Afterwards, relax at the RiverWalk Resort, which in addition to a massive lagoon pool also has a small winery onsite where you can nurse your sore muscles with a nice glass of rosé.

CALGARY, CANADA | JEFF WHYTE/SHUTTERSTOCK

Calgary, Alberta

If you love country-western anything, there may be no better place ever than Calgary in July. That’s when this Canadian prairie city hosts the annual Calgary Stampede, where more than a million people attend the 10-day festival that’s as much about the parties as it is about the biggest purse in outdoor rodeo. Nightly concerts include headlines like Brad Paisley and Luke Bryan, with plenty of smaller country bands playing venues around a city that’s striving to be the Austin of Canada. If live animals get old, head about 80 minutes outside of the city to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the only solely dedicated paleontology museum in world. In July, it offers opportunities for you to join in on an actual live dig and maybe find some dino bones.

Story by Thrillist.

June 1, 2018

Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Bruce Walker lists historic home designed by architect William J. Gage

A 1937 home, designed by architect William J. Gage—who designed the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall, is currently for sale. Bruce Walker of Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills is the listing agent.

The home was recently featured in Curbed.

The subject property qualifies as historic, according to the Beverly Hills Community Development Department Historic Preservation Overview. Shortly after the completion of the Beverly Hills City Hall, architect William J. Gage was hired to independently design the home in 1937.

Some of the architectural details include: Colonial broken pediment door surrounds, full-facade porch with square based columns, original wood windows, parquet wood entry floor, classic staircase and original moldings. Total of 6 bedrooms, 5 baths plus large family room. Approximately 5000 square feet of living space. French doors open out to a huge usable back yard with pool, patio areas, gardens, 3-car garage and lush backyard surrounded with mature trees and landscaping. Sited on an over ½ acre lot of usable space.

William J. Gage, the Beverly Hills-based architect, began his career in partnership with Harry G. Koerner, with whom he designed the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall in1932. Gage is included in the Beverly Hills list of Master Architects.

For more information on this property, visit www.1188coldwatercanyondr.com
To read the Curbed article on this home, click HERE.

June 1, 2018

Cool Things to do This June in Los Angeles

Need stuff to do this month in Los Angeles? We looked ahead on our calendar to focus in on some of the best events happening in June around Los Angeles that you should probably have on your radar. After all, better to get your tickets now than wait till the last minute and find out your favorite event is sold out.

June 2018 event highlights includes KCRW Summer Nights, Venice Pride, FIGFest, Arroyo Seco Weekend, the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the DTLA Donut Festival, and much more.

Our complete rundown starts after the jump. Enjoy!

1. FIGFest (starting June 1)

FIGat7th Downtown Festival is back for another festive summer filled with good tunes and good times. Free concerts will take place on four Fridays in June with performers including Poolside, Lion Babe, Gabriel Garzón-Montano and Thumper. -> More information

2. Grand Performances (starting June 1)

For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series kicks off on June 1, and continues through August 18. Higher! The Psychedelic Soul & Genius of Sly and the Family Stone will kick off the series. -> More information

3. KCRW Summer Nights (starting June 2)

KCRW kicks off their summer of free outdoor concerts this month with two events at One Colorado and a June 30 edition of Chinatown Summer Nights. -> More information

4. 3rd Annual Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party with Thelma Houston (June 2)

The 3rd annual Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party 2018 returns to Windward Avenue on June 2 for an inclusive celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with Thelma Houston, DJs, food trucks & more. -> More information

5. ‘Made in L.A. 2018’ Opening Celebration at The Hammer (June 2)

Celebrate the glories of Los Angeles art when Made in L.A. opens at the Hammer in Westwood. The opening night party of the fourth incarnation of this art showcase takes place on Saturday, June 2 and is FREE and open to the public. -> More information

6. The 21st Annual South Robertson (SORO) Community Festival (June 3)

SORO Festival is a free Westside event with fun activities for kids and adults alike. Highlights include live music, vendor booths, a Beer and Wine Garden, gourmet food truck stop, a car show and more. -> More information

7. Los Angeles’ Taste of the Nation 2018 in Culver City (June 3)

Taste of the Nation is returning to Culver City on June 3 for another year of unlimited food samples and fundraising for No Kid Hungry. -> More information

8. Hollywood Fringe Festival (June 7-24)

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. Be sure to check out our preview guide for the best of this year’s Fringe Fest. -> More information

9. One Night Only: Taste Of Israel at the Skirball Cultural Center (June 7)

For one night only, the best of Israel’s culinary creators gather at the Skirball Cultural Center on June 7 for a bottomless gourmet food and wine sampling. -> More information

10. Downtown Dark Nights Birthday Edition at L.A. LIVE (June 8)

Downtown Dark Nights Birthday Edition at L.A. Live is a one-night only birthday bash that will feature live bands, DJs, $5 food & drink menus, local artisans, street performers and more. Admission is free. -> More information

11. ‘Summer of Salsa’ Concert Series: 5 FREE Cuban/Salsa Shows in DTLA

This monthly free concert series kicks off at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes on June 8. -> More information

12. The L.A. Pride Festival Returns to West Hollywood (June 9-10)

In honor of Pride Week 2018, the two-day festival Pride Festival will feature headliners Kehlani & Tove Lo at West Hollywood Park. Tickets start at $20. -> More information

13. GRoW @ The Wallis: ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (June 14-17)

Experience the theatrical version of Douglas Adams’ cult classic novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy when it comes to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts June 14-17. -> More information

14. The KTOWN Night Market (June 15-16)

For the 4th year in a row, the KTOWN Night Market is returning to Koreatown for a weekend of live music performances, delicious food offerings and trendy Korean-beauty shopping. -> More information

15. DTLA Donut Festival at Union Station (June 16)

Everyone’s favorite pastry now has a dedicated event! Highlights of the DTLA Donut Festival at Union Station include donuts tastings, live fry demonstrations, chef-led workshops, coffee tastings and much more. -> More information

16. The 2018 L.A. Beer Week Kickoff Festival (June 16)

L.A. Beer Week marks its 2018 return with over 90 independent craft breweries, live music and tons of entertainment at Los Angeles Center Studios. -> More information

17. HUSHfest Silent Disco 2018 at the Santa Monica Pier (June 16)

HUSHfest returns for 2018, with five different Silent Disco events taking place on Saturday nights throughout the summer (starting June 16) at the Santa Monica Pier. -> More information

18. The El Segundo Art Walk Returns for Three Nights During Summer 2018 (June 21)

The El Segundo Art Walk will take place every third Thursday in June, July and August. The event is a self-guided featuring works from 40+ artists in 30+ venues in downtown El Segundo and Smoky Hollow. -> More information

19. Silver Lake Picture Show (starting June 21)

Now in its seventh season, The Silver Lake Picture Show offers free outdoor film screenings on select Thursdays at Sunset Triangle Plaza. This year’s series starts on June 21 with a screening of Dirty Dancing. -> More information

20. The Mass Meditation Initiative at Los Angeles State Historic Park (June 23)

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. -> More information

21. The South Bay Festival of the Arts in Torrance (June 23)

Taking place at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, the South Bay Festival of the Arts in Torrance will feature live entertainment, art exhibitions, crafts and more. -> More information

22. 2nd Annual Concha Con at Plaza de la Raza (June 23)

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. -> More information

23. The LA Taco & Beer Festival at Raleigh Studios (June 23-24)

The L.A. Taco & Beer Festival is back at at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood with unlimited taco and beer tastings from local and national taco venders and breweries. -> More information

24. Arroyo Seco Weekend Returns June 23-24 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (June 23-24)

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. -> More information

25. Summer Happenings at The Broad (starting June 30)

Summer Happenings at The Broad is a series of late-night events featuring music, performance and art held on the last Saturday night from June through September. Now in its third year, Summer Happenings will take place on June 30, July 28, August 25 and September 29. -> More information

26. Chicas Tacos Baja Market L.A. 2018 (June 30)

Chicas Tacos in DTLA will celebrate their anniversary on June 30 from 4 to 9:30 p.m. with Baja Market L.A. Taking place in the backlot of Chicas Tacos. The event will highlight Baja Mexico’s Valle De Guadalupe with an afternoon fiesta showcasing a roster of talent from the region. -> More information

Schedule courtesy of We Like LA.

May 31, 2018

Weekend Events: June 1 – 3

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 1 to Sunday, June 3, features Grand Performances, Made in L.A., KCRW Summer Nights, Los Angeles Bread Festival, Taste of the Nation, Urban Air Market and MUCH more.

Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.

Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!

Friday June 1st, 2018

1. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series kicks off on June 1, and continues through August 18. Higher! The Psychedelic Soul & Genius of Sly and the Family Stone will kick off the series. FREE

2. FIGat7th Downtown Festival is back for another festive summer filled with live performances by leading artists in a variety of genres. The series kicks off with a laid-back dance DJ set by Poolside. FREE

3. 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.

4. The 13th annual Lummis Day Festival celebrates Southwest Museum founder Charles Fletcher Lummis through multiple lively events in select locations in the Northeast Los Angeles area. This year the festival will run from June 1-3 with art, music, film, poetry programs scheduled. FREE

5. Virgil Village hosts its inaugural Virgil Village First Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy a variety of special offerings like complimentary wine tastings and bites from local restaurants and businesses such as Melody, Vinovore and more.

6. The Clare V. annual sample sale will take place in the Arts District in DTLA from June 1-3.

7. L.A.-based dance troupe BODYTRAFFIC comes home for a three-night performance at The Wallis starting May 31.

8. Star Wars combined with cabaret is what you’ll when The Empire Strips Back heads to The Theatre at Ace Hotel for a unique parody of the classic saga. Hailing from Australia, the show will feature classic characters, song and dance, troupe routines, comedy and, of course, a bit of striptease. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

9. Third annual Venice Pride kicks off this weekend with a Pride Flag raising and rainbow reveal. The weekend will include the Venice Pride Sign Lighting, a block party, drag brunch, concerts and more.

10. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of The Montalban in Hollywood and LEVEL in DTLA with multiple screenings this week that include Coming to America and The Greatest Showman.

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

12. 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.

13. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE

14. First Fridays return to the Natural History Museum this Friday. The event will explore how L.A. came to be through lively discussions and tours from NHM’s history department. There will also be a rare display of the museums collection of classic cars and live musical performances by Tuxedo, Duckwrth and Madame Ghandi.

15. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.

16. Jazz at LACMA welcomes The Nick Mancini Collective at the BP grand entrance at 6 p.m. FREE

17. Enjoy high tea as you watch Oscar Wilde’s comedy masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest unfold in the Madeline Garden in Pasadena. This immersive dining expereince includes a full traditional tea meal with your ticket. Happening Friday through Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

18. Free admission at: Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.), Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.) and Long Beach Museum of Art.

Saturday June 2nd, 2018

19. Celebrate the glories of Los Angeles art when Made in L.A. opens at the Hammer in Westwood. The opening night party will feature live music, photo opps, a bar and showcase of local artists including Christina Quarles, Eamon Ore-Giron, James Benning and many more. FREE

20. On Saturday KCRW kicks off the 9th season of Summer Nights, a free series of all-ages, outdoor shows featuring some of the best bands and KCRW DJs. The series opens off at One Colorado Old Pasadena with Pinky Pinky and KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox. FREE

21. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Tommy Boy at Centennial Square at Pasadena City Hall. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

22. The 13th Annual LAWineFest returns for two afternoons of unlimited tastings from various wineries, artisan brands and even breweries on both a local and national level. Hosted June 2 and 3 at The Row in Downtown L.A. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

23. The 3rd annual Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party returns to Windward Avenue for an inclusive celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Legendary disco queen Thelma Houston will perform at 8 p.m. and the lighting ceremony will take place at 8:30 p.m. FREE

24. As part of KPCC Filmweek, the Theatre at Ace Hotel hosts a screening of the seminal film The Graduate followed by a conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle and special guests.

25. Best Croissant Los Angeles 2018 comes to Le Petit Paris in DTLA on June 2 for the ultimate competition among a group of the finest bakeries in the area to win the title of “Best Croissant in Los Angeles.”

26. Last Remaining Seats, the Los Angeles Conservancy’s annual event featuring classic film screenings in some of Los Angeles’ most beautiful vintage movie palaces kicks off with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) at State Theatre in Downtown L.A.

27. iHeartRadio’s KIIS FM Wango Tango music festival returns to L.A. with some of hottest music acts live on one stage. Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor and the Backstreet Boys are just a few names performing. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

28. PHAME Hair & Makeup Expo happening June 2-3 at Magic Box L.A. in Downtown Los Angeles will host popular influencers in the industry including Natalie Eva Marie, Vanessa Simmons, Angel Brinks and Lilly Ghalichi Mir.

29. Kick off summer at the L.A. Underground Barbecue Festival hosted at Los Angeles Ale Works in Hawthorne. The food festival will feature six of the best BBQ pop-ups in L.A. for one epic bbq showdown.

30. 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 Spirited Away.

31. Outdoor theater Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, located in Topanga Canyon summer 2018 season begins on June 2 with a performance of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

32. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Space Jam at Park Center in Griffith Park and Spice World at Poinsettia Rec Park in West Hollywood. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

33. 4th Annual Los Angeles Bread Festival takes over Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles for two days (June 2-3) of SoCal’s thriving artisanal bread renaissance through tastings, a bread market place, butter-making workshop, demos and more.

34. The Original Farmers Market, Los Angeles will host the 24th Annual Gilmore Heritage Auto Show. This years theme is a Southern California classic, the Lowrider. 30 exquisite Lowriders will be on display throughout the market. 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 Saturday there will be a full day of screenings and panels around the theme of “I Remember.” FREE

Sunday June 3rd, 2018

36. Taste of the Nation returns to Culver City’s Media Park with unlimited tastings from local chefs, restaurants and mixologists. As always, proceeds will benefit No Kid Hungry, a campaign that fights to end childhood hunger within the United States.

37. Monrovia Music Fest returns to the Library Park Memorial Fountain in Old Town Monrovia on Sunday. This lively event will feature both up-and-coming and award-winning indie So Cal bands and artists from a diverse mix of genres and even musical whistling. FREE

38. South Robertson’s SORO Festival is a free Westside event offering lots of fun activities for kids and adults alike. Highlights include live music, hundreds of vendor booths featuring local businesses and community information, and special villages including a Beer and Wine Garden, gourmet food truck stop, a car show and more. FREE

39. Mount Wilson Observatory is offering a classical music concert within the dome of the 100-inch telescope above the observatory this Sunday.

40. Traveling marketplace Urban Air Market returns to Los Feliz Village on Sunday with more than 100 emerging designer pop-ups, live musical performances and support from neighborhood shops and restaurants. Free to attend.

41. Le Salon de Musiques presents a stage free chamber musical experience with champagne and high tea to follow at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

42. 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.

43. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA) presents This Brush for Hire: Norm Laich and Many Other Artists, a survey of world-renowned works fabricated by Laich over the past three decades, with an emphasis on artists based in Los Angeles. FREE

44. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of Thor Ragnarok.

45. On Sunday Angel City Brewery hostsa live taping of Go Fact Yourself, a game show podcast from where comedians get quizzed in topics they claim to be experts on. Special guests for this event include Laraine Newman and Tom Bergeron

46. Union Station welcomes THE FLOOR Improv Days, a free public event showcasing some of L.A.’s best musicians and dancers kicks off Sunday with The Red Line Horns. The event also features a percussion workshop and Afro-Cuban dance lessons. FREE

Article by We Like LA.

May 31, 2018

KCRW’s Free Summer Nights Events Schedule for 2018

With summer less than a month away, you’ll want to start making plans — fortunately, Los Angeles offers lots of great free events all summer long. One of the best options is KCRW’s Summer Nights, with a whole slew of outdoor music events throughout summer 2018.This year’s edition of KCRW’s Summer Nights begins on June 2. Now in its ninth year, Summer Nights offers dozens of fun, free, all-ages outdoor music shows over the course of the summer throughout the greater Los Angeles area, with venues as far north as Santa Barbara (at the Museum of Contemporary Art).

There’s a new first-time venue for Summer Nights this time around: KCRW’s new home base, located at Santa Monica College’s new Center for Media and Design. See below for the list of every KCRW Summer Nights show and get ready to celebrate our beautiful summer nights!

Saturday, June 2, 7:30 p.m. – One Colorado Old Pasadena: Pinky Pinky + KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox

Saturday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. – One Colorado Old Pasadena: shey baba + KCRW DJ Chris Douridas

Saturday, June 30, 8:00 p.m. – Chinatown: KCRW DJs Liza Richardson + Garth Trinidad

Thursday, July 5, 7:00 p.m. – Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara: KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd

Thursday, July 12, 6:30 p.m. – Hammer Museum: Talent TBA

Saturday, July 14, 6:00 p.m. – California African American Museum: KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd + Garth Trinidad

Thursday, July 19, 6:30 p.m. – Hammer Museum: Talent TBA

Thursday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. – Hammer Museum: Talent TBA

Friday, July 27, 5:30 p.m. – Metro Arts Presents at Union Station: KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe + Jason Bentley

Saturday, July 28, 8:00 p.m. – Chinatown: KCRW DJs Mathieu Schreyer + Anthony Valadez

Saturday, August 4, Time TBA – KCRW HQ @ Santa Monica College’s CMD Campus: Talent TBA

Thursday, August 2, 7:00 p.m. – Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara: KCRW DJ Marion Hodges

Friday, August 3, 5:30 p.m. – Metro Arts Presents at Union Station: KCRW DJs Anne Litt + Dan Wilcox

Friday, August 10, 5:30 p.m. – Metro Arts Presents at Union Station: KCRW DJs Raul Campos + Anthony Valadez

Saturday, August 11, Time TBA – KCRW HQ @ Santa Monica College’s CMD Campus: Talent TBA

Saturday, August 18, Time TBA – KCRW HQ @ Santa Monica College’s CMD Campus: Talent TBA

Saturday, August 25, 8:00 p.m. – Chinatown: KCRW DJs Raul Campos + Jason Bentley

Thursday, September 6, 7:00 p.m. – Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara: KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe

For more information, visit KCRW’s official website.

Story by We Like LA.

May 30, 2018

Schedule of Free Museum Days in L.A. For June

The intent of this “cheat-sheet” is to denote specific free days in any given month where Los Angeles museums that normally charge an admission waive their entry fees (not including parking). For this post we’re detailing June, 2018.

Remember there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here. We’ve compiled a handy list of ALL of those free museums (including favorites like The Getty, California Science Center, The Hammer Museum, and more) if you’d like to explore all your freebie options for June.

Enjoy!

Free Museum Days in Los Angeles – June 2018

[JUNE 1] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 1] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.)

[JUNE 1] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JUNE 3] Museum of Latin American Art

[JUNE 3 ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JUNE 5] Natural History Museum (note that L.A. County residents receive free NHM museum admission Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Bring a valid ID or utility bill the day of your visit.)

[JUNE 5] Page Museum at La Brea Tarpits

[JUNE 5] ] Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 7] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 7] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 7] Skirball Cultural Center

[JUNE 7] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 7] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 7] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for July and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix)

[JUNE 8] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JUNE 10] Museum of Latin American Art

[JUNE 10] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JUNE 10] USC Pacific Asian Museum

[JUNE 12] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[JUNE 12] Autry Museum of the American West

[JUNE 14] Japanese American National Museum (all day)

[JUNE 14] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 14] Skirball Cultural Center

[JUNE 14] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 14] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 15] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JUNE 17] Museum of Latin American Art

[JUNE 17] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JUNE 19] Los Angeles County Arboretum

[JUNE 19] South Coast Botanic Garden

[JUNE 19] Descanso Gardens

[JUNE 21] Japanese American National Museum (all day)

[JUNE 21] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 21] Skirball Cultural Center

[JUNE 21] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 21] Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 21] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 22] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JUNE 24] Museum of Latin American Art

[JUNE 24] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JUNE 28] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 28] Skirball Cultural Center

[JUNE 28] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 28] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JUNE 28] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m)

[JUNE 29] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

May 26, 2018

Economic update for the week ending May 26, 2018

Stocks higher this week – Stocks soared on Monday after an announcement that The U.S. and China would hold off on imposing any new tariffs. It was first reported that China had agreed to encourage purchases of U.S. goods in order to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries. Throughout the week it became apparent that there was no actual deal in place and stocks gave up much of their gains from the beginning of the week. Interest rates dropped after minutes were released from the May Federal Reserve meeting in which they made statements reiterating that interest rate rises will remain gradual. This year a new Fed Chairman was appointed and almost half of the voting members have been replaced. Investors speculated that the new makeup of the Fed leaned towards more aggressive increases. The minutes from the May meeting calmed investors, and bond and mortgage rates dropped. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 24,753.08, up from last week’s close of 24,715.09. It is up 0.1% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,721.23, up from 2,712.97 last week. It’s up 1.8% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,433.85, up from 7,354.34 last week. It is up 7.7% year-to-date.

Treasury Bond yields drop this week – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.93%, down from 3.06% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.09%, down from 3.20% last week.

Mortgage Rates higher this week – The May 24, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.66%, up from last week’s 4.61%. The 15-year fixed was 4.15%, up from 4.08% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.87%, up from 3.82% last week. Rates dropped Thursday and Friday, so next week’s rates will be lower.

Housing Affordability index rises in first quarter of 2018 – The California Association of Realtors reported that 31% of home buyers could afford to purchase a median-priced existing single-family home in California in first-quarter of 2018. That was up from 29% in the fourth quarter of 2017. Year-over-year affordability was down slightly. The index stood at 32% in the first quarter of 2017.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Syd