👋 HAPPY MONDAY: Happy Monday, LA! College football this weekend had many October surprises, with five top-ten teams losing. Sadly for us, UCLA + 11 USC both lost their away games. But in some good vibes, my Clemson Tigers won over rival Florida State. This week will be a bit dull weather-wise, but hopefully CuratedLA can cheer you up when needed. Quick note: a short + sweet CuratedLA Monday with our Activities Section coming back on Wednesday. And now, onto today’s good vibes!

🧽 SPONGEBOB: Randy’s Donuts is diving deep into nostalgia with their ‘Krabby Patty Kollab’ to celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants' 25th anniversary. Starting tomorrow, and lasting until October 27th, indulge in a Krabby Patty-inspired donut featuring a devil’s food patty and sweet, playful toppings, plus a refreshing Bikini Bottom Pineapple Lemonade. Available at select SoCal and Vegas locations, this limited-time collab is sure to make waves. Whether you're an Inglewood regular or chilling in Burbank, don’t miss your chance to snack like SpongeBob himself. 💌

🛣 BEST DRIVE-THRUS: For the fourth year in a row, Taco Bell fastest drive-thru in America, clocking in at just 4 minutes and 16 seconds, according to QSR’s 2024 Drive-Thru Report. KFC and Arby’s aren’t too far behind, but Chick-fil-A is the slowpoke of the bunch with a nearly eight-minute wait. However, it’s no surprise since Chick-fil-A is the most popular, handling triple the cars of any other chain. As for customer happiness? Chick-fil-A nailed it with a 99% satisfaction rate, while Dunkin' and Wendy’s are leaving people a little salty.

🍨 SANTA MONICA: Santa Monica’s sweet tooth is getting a serious upgrade. Ghirardelli is set to open a new spot on Ocean Ave (just steps from The Pier) in Winter 2025. The iconic San Francisco chocolatier is bringing its famous sundaes, hot fudge, and rich chocolates to the beachside crowd—tourists and locals alike. With nearly two hundred years of chocolate-making history under its belt, Ghirardelli is the longest continually operating chocolatier in America.

🥤MALIBU: Malibu is getting Kreation, LA’s go-to spot for organic juices, smoothies, and wellness shots. Kreation’s Malibu location in Malibu Village on Cross Creek Road will be the brand’s 24th location. Kreation is known for their cold-pressed juices and farm-to-bottle philosophy, as the brand is all about making clean eating easy and delicious.

🐠 WESTWOOD VILLAGE: A fresh addition to Westwood Village's culinary scene is Seaburry. Known for its coastal-inspired menu, Seaburry will bring a taste of the seaside to this bustling college town, offering fresh seafood dishes with a California twist. Its location near UCLA makes it a prime spot for both students and locals, blending casual dining vibes with a refined touch. As Westwood continues to grow as a dining destination, Seaburry adds to the area's lineup of new openings that cater to a variety of tastes.

🍣 SAWTELLE: Sen Yai Thai Eatery is the latest buzz on Sawtelle, offering an authentic dive into bold Thai flavors right in West LA’s bustling food district. Known for its comforting bowls of noodle soups and vibrant curries, Sen Yai specializes in homestyle Thai dishes with a focus on fresh ingredients and traditional techniques. Whether you're craving spicy Tom Yum or a rich bowl of Pad See Ew, this spot is quickly becoming a favorite for both casual diners and Sawtelle regulars. The cozy atmosphere and reasonably priced menu make it a must-visit for a taste of Thailand without leaving the Westside.

⛽ GAS PRICES: Gas prices in LA continue to fluctuate, with the average for a gallon of regular self-serve ticking up slightly to $4.572, just 1.3 cents higher than last week but down significantly from last year’s dizzying heights. Orange County followed suit, with a small bump to $4.525. Compare that to the national average, which is still dropping at $3.173, thanks to lower domestic demand and OPEC+ eyeing a production increase. While LA prices aren't what they were last fall, we’re still paying more than most.

🛒 GROCERY LEGALS: Albertsons, Vons, and Safeway have been slapped with nearly $4m in penalties after being accused of overcharging customers and falsely advertising prices. According to the lawsuit, the chains were charging more than the lowest advertised prices and mislabeling items like produce and meat. While the companies didn’t admit fault, they’ve agreed to a ‘Price Accuracy Program’ offering customers up to $5 if they're overcharged. With inflation already stretching wallets, this case is a reminder for Angelenos to keep a close eye on their grocery receipts.

🏡 EXPOSITION PARK: A new mixed-use apartment complex is set to replace a collection of 1920s buildings near Exposition Park. The development, proposed by Ventus Group, will rise seven stories on both S. Figueroa and S. Flower Streets, offering 209 apartments with 42 units being reserved for low-income tenants along with ground-floor restaurant space. Designed by KTGY, the complex will feature amenity decks with views of USC and Downtown LA. This project adds to the wave of change sweeping the area, with Exposition Park's Lucas Museum and Air and Space Center also under construction.

🏫 WESTWOOD/UCLA: UCLA is reshaping Westwood with a new $108m student housing project on Gayley Avenue. Slated for completion by 2026, the eight-story building will feature 545 beds in co-living, triple-occupancy rooms, with 358 beds reserved for low-income students at just $600 per month. Designed by Mithun, the donut-shaped complex includes shared spaces for cooking, studying, and socializing. While small room sizes briefly delayed the project, it’s now back on track, aiming to ease LA’s student housing crunch, an urgent need given that some UCLA students are still forced to sleep in cars.

🚀 SUMMIT: The inaugural LA Sports & Entertainment Supplier Diversity Summit takes place on Thursday, and it’s all about helping local businesses tap into the massive opportunities heading to LA. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, this event will equip small businesses with the resources they need to get in on the action. Expect a fireside chat featuring Mayor Karen Bass and Jessica Alba, plus networking, workshops, and insights from big industry players. It’s a prime chance to get contract ready and secure a spot in LA’s booming sports and entertainment future.

🎤 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Saturday Night Live brought the laughs again this week with a cold open featuring the VP debate—this time poking fun at JD Vance and Tim Walz’s surprisingly friendly vibes. Jim Gaffigan played a nervously charming Walz, while Bowen Yang nailed Vance’s ‘fact-checking’ critiques. The debate chaos unfolded under the watchful eyes of Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff. Bonus laughs? Dana Carvey’s Biden dropping classic no joke one-liners—before smashing an ice cream cone into Harris’ face. Also, shoutout to Nate Bargatze as host and Coldplay rocking the stage.

👸 PRINCESS DIARIES 3: Anne Hathaway just confirmed her return for Princess Diaries 3, and the internet is losing it. In a playful Instagram post, Hathaway teased the threequel by counting to three with iconic cuts of her younger Mia Thermopolis self and Julie Andrews’ Queen Clarisse Renaldi saying, ‘Shut up!’ Director Adele Lim, known for Raya and the Last Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians, is officially on board. No word yet on Julie Andrews, but with Hathaway back and Lim at the helm, Genovian royal life is about to get another major glow-up.

🏈 PENN STATE 27, UCLA 11: In his first start as UCLA’s quarterback, Justyn Martin handled the intensity of Penn State’s Beaver Stadium like a pro, going 22-for-30 with 167 yards and a touchdown, despite the 27-11 loss. The Inglewood native impressed even Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin, with his composure under pressure. While Ethan Garbers remains the Bruins’ starting QB, Martin’s poised performance showed that UCLA has depth at the position. With a revamped offensive line and a touchdown drought finally broken, the Bruins may have found some much-needed momentum heading into the next stretch of the season.

🏈 MINNESOTA 24, USC 17: USC’s offense is officially in a rut. Despite a strong rushing performance by Woody Marks (134 yards), questionable play-calling down the stretch led to a 24-17 loss to Minnesota, dropping the Trojans from No. 11 in the AP Poll to unranked. Lincoln Riley’s commitment to the passing game backfired, with quarterback Miller Moss throwing a costly interception when a field goal could’ve iced the game. Even more surprising, USC’s defense has outshone its offense this season, ranking 28th nationally in points allowed, while the offense struggles to generate explosive plays. With Penn State looming, USC’s pass protection and Moss’ downfield accuracy are critical concerns.

🐏 PACKERS 24, RAMS 19: The Rams entered their bye week with a tough 24-19 loss to the Packers after a promising start unraveled in the second half. Leading by four at the break, the Rams saw momentum shift when a Kyren Williams fumble and a Matthew Stafford interception set up back-to-back Packers touchdowns. Rookie Jaylen McCollough’s pick-six and solid defense weren’t enough to salvage the game, as costly errors and missed opportunities on key drives led to the Rams’ fourth loss of the season. Now at 1-4, they’ll have extra time to regroup before the second half of the season.