Finally

Watermelon radish ahi tuna @ Lemonade MB. Yum.

A welcome new addition has graced the shops in Manhattan Beach's Metlox shopping plaza. 

Lemonade is FINALLY open... just five days post its anticipated grand opening on Aug. 13. (But who's counting?)  

Two more locations are scheduled to open before year's end - one in Westlake and one in Terminal five at LAX. 

Lemonade Manhattan Beach
451 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

California First for High Speed Rail

On Friday, the California Senate approved funding for a high-speed rail system.   The cost of the completed project is estimated at more than $68 billion. The first phase is set to be built in the state's Central Valley.  The project is expected to create as many at 100,000 construction-related jobs, and up to 450,000 permanent new jobs over the next 25 years, according to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.  The agency said the final rail line will allow passengers to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles in around three hours' time, and between Los Angeles and San Diego in about 80 minutes.

All Hail the Megalopolis

This map of L.A. County really puts things into perspective: our fair city is a sprawling mess.  What's crazy is that most if not ALL of the cities that "fit into" L.A. County have a reliable public transportation option. Especially San Francisco, which at seven miles wide by seven miles long, is damn near walkable.... (except, of course, for the hills.)

Summer Recharge

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Easy Trapezey

Ever feel the need to fling yourself through the air with reckless abandon, as slack-jawed tourists watch from below? You're in luck.  Trapeze School New York on the Santa Monica Pier is open for business.

As much fun as it is fitness, many Angelenos have begun incorporating trapeze into their regular summer workout regimen.

The instructors are patient and knowledgeable, which is great because if you look like a fool during your first class (you will), and if you are scared of heights (which I am), they are there to encourage and guide you every step of the way. By the end of the first class, students can expect to learn a backflip dismount and a bona fide catch, expertly executed by one of the staff members on the second trapeze.

Trapeze School New York is currently offering a discount on class packages. Go here for more info.

Metro Cruises to the Westside


The L.A. Metro has a new stop on its Expo Line. The La Cienga/Jefferson station opened amid much fanfare on Saturday, April 28. Passengers - including yours truly - rode free of charge during the inaugural weekend. 


The La Cienga/Jefferson train runs frequently from Culver City to downtown L.A. 


A second Culver City station is expected to open this summer.

Raise the Roof

Loving the creative drink menu at Tin Roof Bistro. A great spot for a late Saturday lunch. Did I mention they are pet-friendly? My dog likes that.






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Bearly There


A black bear that wandered out of the Angeles National Forest was nabbed in a Glendale neighborhood today. No one was harmed in "Glen Bearian's" walkabout, though he did frighten a pedestrian as he was headed to work.  Glen was safely returned to the woods after being tranquilized and tagged. 

SoCal Native Hits Like a Girl  (That's a Good Thing)

NIKnSTIX in action

Insanely talented drummer and SoCal native Nikke Blout is skyrocketing to the top of the leaderboard in the first-ever all-female international drum competition, "Hit Like a Girl." 

If she wins, Nikke plans to donate any prizes or merchandise to the Education Through Music Foundation www.etmla.org, a non-profit organization providing more access to music education in schools for children and youth. 

Check out her solo here. Every vote counts. Like, Tweet (@NIKnSTIX), share, and most importantly remember to click the "Vote for this video" button before April 14.

Oh yeah, and tell all your friends.

 

Abbot Kinney Named Coolest Block in America

Jack Spade, clothing on Abbot Kinney

What once was a street filled with run-down buildings and nary an open business, Abbot Kinney now holds the distinct honor of the "Coolest Block in America," according to GQ Magazine. 


For those of us who lived here 10 years ago, we remember when that was certainly NOT the case. Proof once again that gentrification can and does work.


“As a Detroit native who has seen this place rot from the inside-out, I’d kill for a little gentrification” - Recent tweet, Detroit Free Press editor Stephen Henderson.

The Untouchable

This gorgeous reverse shot of the Hollywood sign and expansive cityscape below is just one of thousands of entries into a photo sweepstakes, sponsored by the L.A. Convention and Visitors Bureau. Among other prizes, the winner will get a chance to touch the highly restricted Hollywood sign, which is usually off-limits for visitors. Hurry and enter. The contest ends today.

Photo by Andy Kennelly via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

"T" Time

Big news for the Saturday section of the Los Angeles Times. This weekend, "Fancy T" makes its debut. Not sure Angelenos will be able to handle such a radical departure from the original sans serif version.

James Beard Semifinalists Announced

Several Southern California restaurants have been designated as semifinalists for the James Beard Award. Among them is M.B. Post in Manhattan Beach, which was nominated for best new restaurant. 


Finalists are narrowed down by a panel of more than 550 judges from a group of semifinalists chosen from over 57,000 entries received this year. 


The winners will be announced on March 19 at the Palazzo in Las Vegas. Download the full list of restaurants here. 

1,000 Horn Salute


Wednesday night at 6 p.m., 1,000 Angelenos began honking their horns in unison, all over the city, as part of the "Car Horn Symphony" performance piece set up by artist and conductor Zefrey Throwell. 


It sounds exactly like you might expect - rush hour on the 405. Except these people seem to be enjoying themselves.



The Car-Horn Concertmaster from KPCC on Vimeo.

Frisbees Banned from SoCal Beaches

Someone call the fun police. Effective 30 days from now, tossing footballs, frisbees - anything heavier than a beach ball - will be banned from SoCal beaches Memorial Day through Labor Day. This includes Santa Monica, Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches, among others. 

What do we expect from a state that is broke? But seriously, L.A. County can't even enforce red light camera tickets anymore. How the hell are they going to enforce this new ordinance that bans beachgoers from playing CATCH in what is essentially an expansive PUBLIC PARK?