MARCH 25TH, 2024

MONDAY

MONDAY’S VIBES

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🏀 HAPPY MONDAY. CLEMSON IS DANCING TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN.

🎖️ Today is National Medal of Honor Day

• 💪 BRANDON TSAY: Brandon Tsay will be honored today with the 2024 Single Act of Heroism Honoree from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in Washington DC. Tsay is known for his courageous act on August 9th, 2023, when he disarmed a mass shooter at the Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio in Alhambra, California during Lunar New Year celebrations. His bravery in subduing the gunman prevented further violence and saved numerous lives, earning him recognition and praise for his heroic actions.

 🚀 TRENDING 

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 ⚡️THE HOV LANE

EATS

 😋 HEADLINES

• 🥕 CRUMBL’S CARROT CAKE: Crumbl has introduced Carrot Cake in celebration of Easter. This exclusive offering lasts today thru Sunday at all Crumbl spots. Packed with seasonal goodness like warm spices, coconut, pineapple, and carrots, this two-tiered delight is finished with a light glaze and vanilla cream cheese frosting, topped off with chopped pecans. To ensure a sweet Easter celebration, patrons are encouraged to grab Easter cookies early as Crumbl stores will be closed on Easter Sunday. 💌 

• 🐰 EASTER TREATS: Fifty-three fun and easy treats sweeter than your Easter Basket via Delish.

• 🍫 EASTER TREATS FROM MARS: Mars is bringing joy to Easter with a delightful array of treats, both classic favorites and exciting new innovations. From traditional Easter classics like Dove, M&M's, and Starburst to new limited-edition offerings, Mars is set to make this holiday season extra special. One of the highlights is the M&M's Easter Sundae, a limited-edition treat that combines white chocolate, vanilla ice cream, cherry flavors, and a dark chocolate fudge coating. Additionally, Mars offers a variety of fruity confections to cater to the demand during the Easter season. Shoppers can also explore personalized gift options through M&M's Easter Gift Guide on MMS.com, allowing customization of messages, images, and photos on iconic chocolate candies.

 🚀 OPENINGS

• 🥘 LONG BEACH: Union at Compound recently opened in Long Beach. This is a unique establishment that combines art, wellness, and community impact. It features a restaurant called Union, led by chef Eugene Santiago, offering a menu inspired by various Asian cuisines. Union's menu includes creative dishes like fried chicken in bao buns and steak with golden raisin chile crisp. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @unionlbc

• 🥤 DOWNTOWN BURBANK: Kalaveras, a vibrant Mexican restaurant chain, is set to open another location in Downtown Burbank this Spring on North San Fernando Blvd. Kalaveras is known for its lively Latin music, colorful interiors, housemade cocktails, and unique take on Mexican and Latin American dishes. This family-owned business has over 20 locations in Southern California, including Northridge, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Covina, and Oxnard. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @kalaveras.la

• 🥯 BEVERLY HILLS: Sam’s Bagels, a beloved bagel spot in LA, known for its authentic and diverse bagel selection, is setting its sights on a new location in Beverly Hills. With existing locations in Larchmont, West Hollywood, Pico-Robertson, and Santa Monica, the owner's personal connection to Beverly Hills adds a special touch to this expansion. Despite its low-profile nature without a website or social media presence, Sam’s Bagels has garnered praise from both media outlets and locals for serving some of the best bagels in Los Angeles. The upcoming Beverly Hills location is eagerly anticipated, although an official opening date is yet to be announced.

• 🥪 FAIRFAX: Maciel's is a plant-based butcher shop and is considered one of LA’s essential sandwich shoppes by many foodies. The eatery just opened a pop-up location inside The Dime on Fairfax. Maciel’s offers plant-based meats, cheeses, sandwiches, and salads, all made in-house. The pop-up operates from Thursday to Sunday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, providing options for dining in, takeout, and delivery. | 💻️ View Website | 📸 @maciels.plant.butcher

• 🍕 SANTA CLARITA: Slice House, the popular fast-casual franchise by chef Tony Gemignani, is on the lookout for a new location in Santa Clarita. The franchisee, Vinny Margott, is considering the former Dudes Brewery location at Valencia Town Center for this expansion. Seeking feedback from the Santa Clarita community, Margott values their input in this significant decision. With existing locations in Thousand Oaks, Sherman Oaks, and West Hills, Slice House offers a variety of pizza styles, calzones, strombolis, paninis, house-made pastas, salads, subs, sausages, and more. | 💻️ View Online Menu | 📸 @slicehouse_socal

• 🍣 WEST LA: Mori Nozomi, located in West LA off of West Pico Blvd, offers a high-end omakase dining experience for $250 per person. This woman-owned establishment, operated by Chef Nozomi Mori, curates one service each night from Thursday to Saturday. The restaurant provides a luxurious culinary journey focusing on quality and exclusivity. Those of us that are interested in this experience can make a reservation on the Tock platform. | 📸 @sushimorinozomi

• 🍜 DTLA: Kazan Ramen, a renowned luxury ramen restaurant, has made its debut in DTLA on S. Grand Ave. This establishment, known for its innovative fusion of Japanese and French culinary techniques, offers a unique dining experience that blends tradition with innovation. With a focus on handcrafted noodles and bold flavors, Kazan aims to wow diners with every bite. The restaurant's signature dishes, like the truffle chicken broth and spicy lamb in lava, promise a gastronomic adventure that transcends the ordinary ramen scene.

• 🍷 PICO-ROBERTSON: A reminder of Cardinale du Vin’s Grand Opening that took place February 10th. Cardinale du Vin is a sleek new European-style cafe and wine bar in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. The menu currently features oysters, crudo, and sandwiches, with plans to expand to include breakfast items, pastries, and lunch and dinner options in the future. The wine selection, mostly chosen by Liu and Ngamthonglor, offers options starting at twelve bucks a glass, along with more high-end choices. The cafe and wine bar is set to provide a welcoming space for locals to enjoy accessible natural wines and Old World classics | 💻️ View Menu Online | 📸 @cardinaleduvin

EVENTS

 🔥TRENDING 

 📆 BIG LIST OF EVENTS

ACTIVITIES

• 🚴‍♂️ VENICE: CicLAvia Venice will take place on Sunday, April 21st from 9:00am to 4:00pm along Venice Blvd. CicLAvia encourages participants to explore the area by foot, bike, or other non-motorized transport. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals and families to enjoy car-free streets and engage in various activities. Businesses along the route are encouraged to engage with potential customers by offering discounts, being visible, and participating in the CicLAvia Savings Program. The event aims to bring people together to experience LA in a new light and support local businesses.

• 🎶 LA ZOO’S SPRING FLING: The Los Angeles Zoo's Annual Spring Fling is happening this upcoming weekend, Friday thru Sunday. The Spring Fling features various activities and offerings included with zoo admission. One of the highlights is the opportunity to take photos with Big Bunny. This family-friendly event includes kid-cute activities, photo opportunities, and seasonal delights, making it a perfect outing for Easter weekend. Visitors can enjoy honey tastings, live music, storytelling sessions, and an egg-themed adventure.

• ☕️ THOUSAND OAKS’ COFFEE WITH A COP: The Thousand Oaks Police Department is hosting a Coffee with a Cop tomorrow at Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters in Newbury Park from 9:00am to 11:00am. This initiative aims to foster community engagement by providing an opportunity for residents to meet local law enforcement officers and volunteers from the East Valley Search & Rescue team. The event encourages candid conversations, questions, and the sharing of concerns, emphasizing building trust and transparency between deputies and the community.

• 🏔️ SANTA CLARITA YOUTH: Santa Clarita has launched Spring Break Camps to keep kids active and engaged during the school break. The programs include activities like team sports, cooking classes, team-building exercises, and dance sessions tailored for different age groups from four-and-a-half to seventeen years old. The Spring Break Camp will be held at the Newhall and Canyon Country Community Centers from April 1st thru April 5th, with daily activities scheduled from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

COMMUNITY

• 🪸 COASTAL CONDITIONS: Brace for rough seas and strong winds along the coast until at least tonight. Waves peaking at twelve to fifteen feet in outer waters and nine to thirteen feet in inner waters will gradually subside by midweek. Gale force winds are expected through tonight, extending to outer waters west and south of Point Sal on tomorrow and tomorrow night. Small Craft Advisory winds are forecasted for outer waters on Wednesday morning and coastal waters on Thursday, with conditions improving below advisory levels by Friday.

• 🚨 101 FREEWAY: The construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills will lead to lane closures starting in mid-April, tentatively April 16th according to Caltrans. All lanes will close in one direction of the 101 Freeway between Liberty Canyon Road and Chesebro Road for five hours on weeknights, beginning at 11:59pm. During these closures, the opposite direction will remain open. A detour will be available via Agoura Road, Liberty Canyon Road, and Chesebro/Palo Comado Canyon Road, with State Route 126 as an alternative route. The wildlife crossing aims to reconnect wildlife habitats and specifically help preserve the mountain lion population in Southern California. ℹ️ 

• 💮 CHINESE THEATRE: The TCL Chinese Theatre introduced Chinese cuisine for the first time within its 97-year history this past weekend. The theatre now serves Chef Tony’s new Hollywood Dim Sum, bringing a variety of dishes to the menu, including shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, sesame balls, and vegetable egg rolls. This innovative dining experience adds a new dimension to the theater's offerings, allowing us moviegoers to savor delicious Chinese food while enjoying a flick.

• 🎬️ BLOCKBUSTER LIBRARIES: LA’s Free Blockbuster Project is reigniting the charm of physical movie rentals in a digital era. Inspired by the nostalgia of browsing video store aisles, this initiative, led by local film enthusiasts, brings back the joy of selecting DVDs. Brian Morrison, a former Blockbuster staffer, has transformed old newspaper boxes into mini Blockbuster kiosks, complete with the iconic blue-and-yellow branding. This LA-based endeavor taps into the city's love for cinema and offers a unique blend of old-school movie magic in a modern setting. It's a creative nod to Hollywood's cinematic history and a delightful way to experience films beyond streaming platforms.

• 🎫 WINNING $2.4M TICKET IN SUN VALLEY: A lucky individual in Sun Valley struck gold with a Powerball ticket worth nearly $2.5 million. The winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven store on Roscoe Blvd with winning draw numbers of 6, 23, 25, 34, 51, and a Powerball of 3.

• 😊 SMILE ON 118 FREEWAY: Happy Face Hill, a beloved landmark on the 118 Freeway bordering Los Angeles and Ventura counties near the Kuehner Drive exit, has received a vibrant facelift with bright blue and yellow flags. This iconic hillside feature, boasting 8,000 Facebook followers, was originally created in 1998 by Northridge gardener Sonny Klamerus. Recently revitalized by thirty volunteers who spent six hours placing 9,000 flags inside the face, the hill now sports a cheerful yellow face outlined in white, with striking blue eyes and a playful smile. The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise played a key role in maintaining this landmark, adding to its charm and community significance.

• 🇺🇸 FIRST LADY BIDEN: First Lady Jill Biden recently attended a fundraiser in the Coachella Valley as part of a Southern California fundraising tour. The event, hosted by James Costos and Michael Smith, attracted around 125 guests, including notable figures like Barry Manilow and former California Senator Barbara Boxer. Tickets for the fundraiser ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with the highest-priced tickets offering a photo opportunity with the first lady. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Biden Victory Fund, supporting the Biden campaign, Democratic National Committee, and state Democratic parties.🐇

DEVELOPMENT

• 🌊 MALIBU: The Planning Commission in Malibu is reviewing outreach tactics for community input regarding city-owned vacant lands. They are seeking suggestions and engagement from the community to develop a master plan for the future uses of these properties.

• 🎡 SANTA MONICA: The first US patients have undergone a new quick-zap procedure to treat irregular heartbeat in Santa Monica. Atrial fibrillation, a rapidly growing heart disorder in the U.S., can now be treated with a groundbreaking procedure that zaps the problem in seconds. This innovative approach offers an alternative to traditional methods like cardiac ablation, providing a quicker and less invasive solution for patients.

BUSINESS

• 👾 EDGE OF CO’S NFT WEEK: Edge of Company’s NFT LA Community Week takes place this week, starting today and running until Friday. Edge Of Company is a decentralized web3 festival celebrating innovation at the intersection of blockchain, art, culture, entertainment, music, and gaming. Anchored in Downtown Los Angeles, this extravaganza focuses on sparking curiosity, fostering connections, and reshaping the future through various events. The week includes activities like Meta Monday, IRL Alpha, a VIP Venice Innovator Party, and the Curiosity Circus anchor event on March 27th. The event serves as a platform for builders, dreamers, and innovators to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the NFT community.

• 🕶️ PACSUN: Pacsun's 2024 Festival Campaign is spotlighting local emerging artists to inspire the next generation with fashion and music. The campaign features four young talents showcasing their original music as the campaign's soundtrack. By engaging with young voices that authentically represent the brand, Pacsun aims to deepen connections with consumers and enhance retail loyalty. The Festival Campaign includes a curated Festival Shop offering a range of women's and men's clothing, swimwear, shoes, and accessories suitable for spring and summer concerts.

ENTERTAINMENT

 🎬️ HEADLINES

• 🎥 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 1975: The upcoming movie, SNL 1975, will take place in real time, ninety-minutes before the show airs. SNL 1975, directed by Jason Reitman, will focus on the chaotic opening night of Saturday Night Live in 1975. It features an all-star cast and aims to capture the essence of that historic night by portraying the founding members of SNL. The movie will include actors playing original cast members like Dan Aykroyd, Rosie Shuster, Garret Morris, Jim Henson, John Belushi, and Billy Crystal. Director Reitman has chosen to cast non-comedians in comedic roles, hinting at a possible dramatic element in the film. The production of SNL 1975 began recently, and creative liberties were taken while ensuring interviews with cast and crew members were instrumental in capturing the spirit of that memorable evening.

•  🏢 THE OFFICE: An update for us Office Fans: Michael Koman, known for co-creating Nathan for You, is collaborating with Greg Daniels to develop a new series set in the universe of The Office." A reminder that this prospective series, not a reboot but a spin-off, will feature new characters in a different office setting within the Dunder Mifflin universe. Koman's experience in blending fiction and reality, along with his background in shows like Saturday Night Live and The Colbert Report, makes him a valuable addition to this project. If greenlit, this mockumentary-style series will expand on the legacy of the original The Office while offering a fresh take on the beloved sitcom format.

• 🐼 KUNG FU PANDA 4: DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 attracted 46% more of infrequent moviegoers compared to the 33% capture that Kung Fu Panda 3 saw at the movies in 2016.

CU TIGERS WEDNESDAY, LA!