#chase campen

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A small variety of buses are seen leaving the outskirts of northern Toontown heading up the road towards a small town of Bottomless Heights. They turn onto a dirt road with an intricate sign that reads Camp Campen. In this small adventure 5 child characters are stuck together as cabin mates and are encouraged to participate in the second day of camp activities at Camp Campen. Chasing down the Cryptids of the Camp!

DM: @megamagma​ Banana - @blazedrgn Mettle - Breaks Benjamin - Vegan Bear Ruby (Alex) - @artist-of-obsessions​ Keris - myself

Angst Level: None! TW: (Implied drug use) Shenanigans Level: FUN!

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Metro wins $100M federal grant for last leg of Purple Line extension

Photo courtesy of The Source/LA Metro. Article written by Bianca Barragan for Curbed LA.

Metro announced Wednesday that the federal government has approved $100 million in funding for the third and final leg of the Purple Line subway extension between Century City and the Veterans Affairs campus, just west of Westwood.

That’s just a fraction of the $1.3 billion in federal funds the agency is seeking for the third phase of the extension, which will put new subway stations at UCLA and the VA. Metro says this $100 million grant is “a significant step in the path toward obtaining” the full funding, which it expects to receive in early 2019.

Construction on the third segment of the extension is expected to begin that same year.

Metro is also using funds from Measures R and M—two sales tax hikes that were approved by voters—to pay for the project, but the federal money is crucial.

It’s “needed to complete the Purple Line to Westwood by 2026,” says Steve Hymon at The Source, Metro’s news blog.

It’s estimated that the third section will cost $3.56 billion in total to complete.

Metro has already won $1.25 billion from the federal government for the first segment of the extension, from Wilshire/Western to Wilshire/La Cienega. It has also received about $1.2 billion for section two from La Cienega to Century City’s Constellation Boulevard, despite expertly publicized protests from Beverly Hills schools.

Both portions are under construction now.

The full 9-mile extension will connect Downtown LA to the Westside, mostly along Wilshire Boulevard. When complete, it will offer a one-seat ride from Union Station to the Veterans Affairs campus in a mere 25 minutes.

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Light rail extension to West Hollywood aims to be ‘shovel ready’ by 2020

Photo by John Moyers. Article written by Jeff Wattenhofer for LA Curbed.

A train that could run through West Hollywood isn’t slated to open until 2047, but local officials and residents who live along the route are eager to speed up the project.

On Thursday, Metro’s Board of Directors took a key first step in making that happen, authorizing a new study of the light rail project, an extension of Metro’s under-construction Crenshaw/LAX Line.

Finishing that study is crucial to ensuring the project is “shovel ready” by 2020, as Metro CEO Phil Washington has promised it will be.

“This will tie the region together like never before,” a representative for state Sen. Ben Allen told the board.

Members of the West Hollywood City Council, who earlier this year asked city staffers to figure out ways to pay for the rail line’s early construction, were similarly enthusiastic.

Councilmember John Heilman said he was “thrilled” to see the project moving forward.

Initiated as part of a package of projects included in Metro’s Measure M sales tax initiative, the northern portion of the Crenshaw/LAX Line isn’t scheduled to break ground for nearly a quarter-century (the southern part of the line was scheduled to open next year, but may be delayed).

Finding money to speed up the project won’t be easy.

Finishing environmental analysis of the project—something the agency is gearing up to do—would ensure construction can begin if and when more money becomes available. Metro has already received multiple public-private partnership proposals for other planned transit lines, and West Hollywood Mayor John Duran has even proposed new taxes on marijuana as a possible funding source.

West Hollywood officials might be less enthusiastic about paying for the project if the rail line bypasses the city.

Right now, Metro is considering five routes for the project. All would connect the Crenshaw/LAX Line to the Purple and Red lines, though one alternative would bring the train through Koreatown, ending at the Wilshire/Vermont Red Line Station.

Proposed routes for the Crenshaw/LAX Line northern extension. Courtesy of Metro.

All other routes would end at the Hollywood/Highland station, passing through some part of West Hollywood along the way—though alignments along San Vicente and La Cienega boulevards would service far more of the city than those along Fairfax and La Brea avenues.

Metro will determine more about the feasibility and cost of each of these options while undertaking public outreach and further technical review.

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Compass raises another $400 million, earns a $4.4 billion valuation

Photo courtesy of HousingWire. Article written by E.B. Solomont for Real Deal LA

Compass is officially a $4.4 billion brokerage.

The New York-based firm said Thursday it closed another mega-round, raising a $400 million Series F led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund and Qatar Investment Authority. Wellington, IVP and Fidelity also participated in the deal, which gives Compass a total capital raise of nearly $1.2 billion, the company said.

Compass said the latest funding, first reported by Bloomberg, will enable it to accelerate plans to control 20 percent market share in 20 U.S. cities by 2020, and to double down on its technology. The firm, which was founded in 2012, also said it plans to expand internationally.

“Real estate is the largest asset class in the world,” founder Ori Allon said in a statement, “and we are excited to bring Compass technology to international markets.”

News of Compass’ latest funding comes less than a year after Softbank poured $450 million into the company in December 2017, at the time valuing the brokerage at $2.2 billion. That round closely followed a $100 million funding from investors including Fidelity Investments.

With nearly $1 billion in new money over the last year, Compass has been on an unabashed growth spree, scooping up agents and brokerage firms nationwide. (On Thursday, SoftBank also announced a $400 million investment in the iBuying platform Opendoor.)

“There’s nothing that will stand in the way of their growth now,” said Steve Murray of Real Trends, a Colorado-based research and data company that values brokerage companies. “With the capital behind them, they can grow as much as they want to. They really can.”

Last month, Compass told The Real Deal it is on track to hit $35.6 billion in sales volume this year, up from $14.8 billion in 2017. This summer, it picked up Pacific Union International, a $14 billion firm in San Francisco. Compass is also projecting $1 billion in 2018 revenue up from $370 million in 2017.

In addition to brokerage revenue, Compass is banking on new tech products, licensing and other money-making ventures to hit that target.

The firm plans to roll out title and escrow services, and this summer it announced its first tech licensing deal — though the partnership fell apart soon after. Some of the latest tools it has introduced to brokers include a CRM (customer relationship management) system and illuminated real estate signs that feature QR codes.

At $4.4 billion, Compass’ valuation blows other residential firms out of the water. Realogy — the New Jersey conglomerate that owns Coldwell Banker, the Corcoran Group and Sotheby’s International Realty — has a market cap of $2.5 billion. Its stock is down 25 percent since the start of the year, with a closing price of $20 per share on Wednesday.

Compass has stayed tight-lipped about its own plans to go public, but some speculated that the Series F would be the last one before an IPO.

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Metro tests low cost ride-sharing service to get riders to & from stations

With Uber and Lyft now carrying millions of passengers in Los Angeles County each month, Metro is testing its own ride-hailing service, operated by private transportation company Via.

A year-long pilot of the program launched Monday, and residents of El Monte, North Hollywood, and Compton will get the first crack at the new service, which offers rides to and from major transit stops in those areas.

“Many Metro users face a challenge getting from home to station and vice versa,” said County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl in a statement Monday. “They need a quick, easy, and inexpensive door-to-door solution and this new pilot is one to consider.”

Users can summon drivers through a smartphone app or by dialing Via’s call center (619-731-0710). Rides cost $1.75 with a TAP card and are free for those enrolled in Metro’s Low Income Fare is Easy program. The fare without a TAP card is $3.75.

Similar to Uber’s Express Pool option, the program allows drivers to pick up multiple passengers and users of the service may be asked to meet their driver at a specific location to avoid time-consuming shuttle detours.

Users also can’t use the service to get from, say, the grocery store to a friend’s house. Rides must start or end at one of three stations: El Monte, North Hollywood, and Artesia. Passengers must also travel within the boundaries of service zones around those stations.

Metro CEO Phil Washington suggested Monday that, if successful, the service could provide a key solution to what transportation planners commonly refer to as the first mile/last mile problem: how to get riders who live in areas with poor transit service to and from places with trains and buses that can carry them where they need to go.

That could be a key issue as the agency builds new rail lines and revamps its extensive bus network. In spite of considerable transit investment over the last decade, Metro ridership has fallen dramatically in recent years. One survey of riders who stopped using Metro found that 12 percent did so because it was too hard to get to and from transit stops.

Original article by Elijah Chiland for Curbed LA.

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The US Bank Tower is on the market

Downtown LA’s U.S. Bank Tower, the second-tallest building west of the Mississippi by a spire, is for sale.

The asking price is reportedly $500 per square foot, or approximately $700 million, says commercial real estate publication Real Estate Finance & Investment, which was the first to report the news.

The seller, Singapore-based OUE Ltd., purchased the tower on the border of the Financial District and Bunker Hill in 2013 for $367.5 million.

Beginning in 2015, OUE performed a $50 million round of upgrades to the building, revamping the building’s Fifth Street frontage, and adding an observation deck, that famed glass slide, and a giant LED screen inside the building’s glass-fronted ground-floor lobby.

“We’ve put a lot of money into it,” Peter Johnston, senior vice president with OUE USA Services Corp., told the Downtown News. Johnston noted that under OUE, the tower has gone from being roughly half empty to almost 85 percent leased.

“I just think we’re interested in testing the market,” said Johnston.

It would be a big test. A recent comparable sale, of Bunker Hill’s One California Plaza, yielded $460 a square foot, for a total of $465 million, notes the News.

Downtown’s office market is on the rise, with vacancy rates for the most in-demand and up-to-date office space dropping to 16.5 percent vacant last quarter compared to 17.6 vacant a year ago, according to the Los Angeles Times. Rental prices for that same type of office space have gone up slightly too.

A large contributor to the heightened demand comes from the increase in new residential projects Downtown and in entertainment and food options in the area, JLL real estate broker and office sales expert Tom Bohlinger told the Times.

“We have a demographic now that loves the urban environment,” Bohlinger said.

Original article by Bianca Barragan for Curbed LA. Featured photo courtesy of LiOrient.

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Larchmont Village has a new all-day restaurant and gourmet market

It took just over two years, but Le Petit Marché is open in Larchmont Village. The new all-day French eatery has all the elements of a walkable neighborhood restaurant, bar, and market with a respectable local cast of coffee, meats, cheeses, bread, pastry, and wine purveyors.

Eater first heard rumblings about Le Petit Marché in 2016, and it turns out the former Larchmont owners Mathew Cape and Spoon Singh were playing the long game. The partners secured the space in the highly popular neighborhood, closed down at the Larchmont last November, hired designer Carolyn Baylon to configure the 3,500 square foot interior and 1,000 square foot patio, and searched for food vendors to fit the vibe.

Le Petit Marché’s chef is LA newcomer, Stephane Liot. His menu is an all-day affair, with breakfast items like smoked fish, along with croque madames and monsieurs. The lunch menu goes for sandwiches, salads, moules-frites, vegan options, and roasted chicken. 

Larchmont and Hancock Park denizens can also pick up foods onsite from Gwen Butcher Shop, Verve Coffee, Lou Wine Shop, Monsieur Marcel for pasta, olive oils, and spices, bread from Michelina, and pastry from La Chouquette. And then there’s the bar.

Featured photo by Original article by Mona Holmes for Eater LA.

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Larchmont Village Neighborhood Considers HPOZ

Photo by Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times. Written by Patricia Lombard for Larchmont Buzz.

Dozens of residents attended the semi-annual meeting of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association at Van Ness Elementary School to learn more about the possibility of placing a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) over the more than 1200 residences in the neighborhood of single and multi-family homes.

LVNA President Charles D’Atri introduced HPOZ Steering committee member Karen Gilman who has been leading the effort to investigate the process with the City as well as gauging the level of interest among residents. Gilman announced that over 1200 letters were mailed to each household asking residents to respond with their interest in learning more about securing an HPOZ to preserve the architectural heritage of the neighborhood. Residents were urged to fill out the survey and either scan it and email it back or mail it back to the association.

Gilman reported that over two years ago, volunteers had started a preliminary survey of residences in the area between Melrose Avenue and Beverly Blvd and between Arden Blvd and Wilton Place,  noting that at the time,  approximately 75 percent of the structures would be considered historic to the period of construction the mid 1920s.

Gilman then introduced Ken Bernstein, Manager and City Planner at Office of Historic Resources, a 12 year veteran of the LA Planning Department, who also worked at the Los Angeles Conservancy prior to the City. Bernstein was invited to present an overview of the how the city’s HPOZs or historic districts work. Gilman said the meeting was being videotaped to make the information available to all interested resident.

According to Bernstein, there are over 21,000 properties in Los Angeles’s 35 historic districts, second only to New York, with 100 historic districts with over 33,000 properties.  He commended the association for the outreach they were doing to residents and the initial survey work they completed which Bernstein said is the first step to designating a historic district. Not every individual property needs to be  historically significant, explained Bernstein. But the collective properties, when taken as a whole,  make the case that the neighborhood has significant, unique character and sense of place that contributes to the sense of character of the city of LA.

Properties in the historic district are reviewed and classified as “contributing” and “non-contributing,” explained Bernstein. Contributing are structures which are from the period of significance and still retain integrity to convey its association with the period.  Non-contributing properties were either built after the period of historic significance or were built during the period but have been so altered that they have lost their integrity. Bernstein explained that if fewer than 60 percent of the properties are contributors, there is a loss of neighborhood coherence. However, he explained that some areas with less than 60 percent contributors have been approved for an HPOZ because it’s “not a really numbers game but rather a qualitative assessment and the survey is the basis for meeting that threshold test. Larchmont Heights has qualified, but there’s been a lot of change,” he added.

The HPOZ review process is limited to the exterior if a property. Unlike the city’s Historic Cultural Monument program which is a more rigorous designation process, the HPOZ looks only at what is visible from the street. The HPOZ is administered by the city in partnership with the local community. There is usually a five member board with a licensed architect; a real estate or construction representative and homeowners or residents of the local community. The appointments are made by different entities in the city. The Cultural Heritage Commission appoints 2 people, the city council member appoints one person and the Mayor’s office  appoints a member. The fifth member is appointed by the board in consultation with the community.  The terms are 4 years and appointees are limited to two terms. Though he noted the city is currently reviewing appointments in some HPOZs where members have served a very long time.

The neighborhood survey will also include historic data on each property which can be very costly and time consuming to assemble. Karen Gilman explained the association is expecting the survey to cost approximately $75,000 to complete using an established historic research firm. The association received a grant for $25,000 from Paramount Studios that will be used for the survey when the decision is made to apply for an HPOZ.

Once approved, each HPOZ then develops a preservation plan that defines the neighborhood and codifies the uniqueness of the neighborhood making sure the historic context of the neighborhood is preserved. The plan provides details about all the various architectural features and serves a guide for residents considering changes or restorations.

Next to address the meeting was CD4 Senior Planning Deputy Emma Howard who said her office usually gets involved when people are having issues.

“We love community self-determination, we love preservation of single family homes because Los Angeles is a city of neighborhoods,” explained Howard.  “There will always be a debate about individual rights versus communal benefits,” said Howard.  “The HPOZ can be a way to keep neighborhood character but it can also be a challenge for individual homeowners. An HPOZ is a big lift, and we want to see that you want to take on that lift.”

Howard told the group of her office’s experience in Brookside where she said she told them to go door to door and sometimes they got two responses.

“This is an opportunity to sit down and decide who we are and if we really want this,” said Howard.

Members of steering committee who had worked on the initial survey of neighborhood discussed the map they created that depicted the large number of properties they thought would be considered contributing structures and the value of considering an HPOZ sooner rather than later as many of the properties have been altered since the survey work started two years ago.  In the interim, the city passed an ordinance allowing for different variation zones for new construction in R-1 residential neighborhoods to control massing and scale but the ordinance doesn’t review demolition or protect architectural features.  Only an HPOZ will provide a review process to protect existing architecture.

In closing the discussion, association president, D’Atri said the association will be waiting to hear back from residents to determine if there is support to proceed with further work to secure an HPOZ and encourage residents to send in their forms.

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Ways to Help Those Affected By SoCal Wildfires

Three wildfires in California have displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed thousands of homes. Here's how you can help, from making a donation to volunteering. (Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

MAKE A DONATION

A number of organizations are helping wildfire victims:

The Red Cross, perhaps the most well-known, is providing both shelter and emotional support for evacuees. You can visit RedCross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.

The United Way of Greater Los Angeles is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief Fund to help those affected by the Southern California fires. They're partnering with United Way of Ventura County.

The Salvation Army Ventura Corps wildfire relief fund is also accepting donations to go toward California wildfire relief.

The California Fire Foundation is a nonprofit that is distributing emergency funds to fire victims through its SAVE program. That includes firefighters distributing prepaid credit cards to help victims in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

Google is helping people make a donation. Donations through Google will be directed through the Center for Disaster Philanthropy — you can read more about that here.

The Entertainment Industry Foundation is raising money through its Fire Relief Fund to help those affected. The organizations that will benefit, but last year they gave to the L.A. Fire Department, L.A. Kitchen, and the Humane Society of Ventura County.

Facebook also has a Crisis Response page for the Woolsey Fire, which includes fundraising through GlobalGiving to help those affected by the fire.

DONATE TO HELP ANIMALS

The Humane Society of Ventura County is accepting animals evacuating from the Hill and Woolsey fires, and they're also looking for support. You can donate to the organization here or purchase needed items through their Amazon Wish List here.

The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation is providing animals shelter from the Woolsey and Hill fires. They're accepting donations through the Noah's Legacy Fund.

The Pasadena Humane Society said it took in 15 dogs, 12 cats, five rabbits, four hamsters and two mice over the course of the weekend. It is accepting donations, up to $3,000 of which will be matched through a gift from the Elizabeth M. Falk Foundation.

OTHER ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

Adopt a pet. The L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control is asking people to go to their nearest animal care center and adopt during this emergency. They note that their Agoura Animal Care Center was evacuated Friday morning, but their other centers remain open.

Help your neighborhood plan for a future disaster. L.A. County has a five-step Neighborhood Action Kit to help you and your neighbors make a plan. They note that, in major disasters, 70 percent of victims are rescued by their neighbors rather than professional responders.

Apply to volunteer with the Humane Society of Ventura County, though they are currently only accepting trained volunteers to help with evacuated animals.

Apply to become a Red Cross volunteer.

Article written by Mike Roe for LAist.

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Today is California’s voter registration deadline

Photo by Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images. Article written by Jenna Chandler & Bianca Barragan for LA Curbed.

To vote in the election, your registration must be postmarked or filed electronically no later than today. To find out if you are already registered to vote, click here.

Here’s where you’ll find everything you need to know about voting on November 6, from when polls are open to how to find your polling place.

When to vote

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, but, if you are waiting in line to vote at 8 p.m. when the polls close, you’re legally allowed to vote. You’re guaranteed time off to vote, so take it! (Under state law, only two hours of it has to be paid).

You can vote early any time between now and November 6 at the Norwalk headquarters of the Los Angeles County Registrar. Nine additional early voting locations will be available the two weekends before Election Day (Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 3-4). Those locations will be posted soon on the county registrar’s website.

How to vote by mail

Voting by mail is still a possibility. The last day to apply for a vote by mail ballot is October 30. (The application must be received by the county registrar by that date.)

Once you’ve filled out your vote by mail ballot, you can drop it off at any polling place on Election Day, or at any one of 150 designated drop-off locations across the county.

If your vote by mail ballot is postmarked on or before November 6 and returned to the county registrar’s office by Friday, November 9, your ballot will be processed and counted. (But please, return your ballot on or by Election Day—don’t push it!)

Where to vote

Your polling place is listed on the back of your sample ballot, but if you’ve misplaced it, don’t worry. This state website lets you plug in your address to find out where you need to go. (If you’re in Los Angeles County, it sends you here.)

If you did not get a sample ballot, make sure you are registered to vote! Check your voter status here.

Get yourself to the polls

If you’re driving, note that parking rules will be “relaxed” within a one-mile radius of every polling location, says Los Angeles Department of Transportation spokesperson Oliver Hou. That means parking meters, time limits, preferential parking districts, and street cleaning can be ignored for one day so you can do your civic duty.

What to do with your phone down while you’re voting

You can use your cell phone at the poll to access your sample ballot, apps, and to reference any notes you might have taken. And yes, if you feel you must, you can also take a ballot selfie. The in-booth photo is now legal in California.

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Finding Fall Around Los Angeles

Photo by Getty Images. Article written by Elijah Chiland via LA Curbed.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Los Angeles has seasons....but autumn doesn’t pass by Southern California entirely, and if you look hard enough, there are places to find glimpses of fall colors in and around LA. Here are a dozen spots where you can admire the picturesque autumnal landscapes. 

1. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

This 86-acre garden in Claremont contains around 2,000 different plants native to California. It also happens to be a terrific place to see leaves of all colors during fall months. General admission is $8 per person.

2. Ice House Canyon

Photo via Jim’s Photos1 via Flickr

With snow in the winter and a small symphony of fall colors in autumn, the Ice House Canyon trail below Mount Baldy is one of the best places to explore all that each of Southern California's seasons have to offer.

3. LA County Arboretum

Photo by @laarboretum via Instagram

Ah, Los Angeles: where you can enjoy fall colors, peacocks, and the house from Fantasy Island all at the same time. The underrated LA County Arboretum has plenty of fall foliage and costs a bit less than the more well known Huntington Gardens nearby.

4. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Photo by Jordan Colley via Flickr

Speaking of which, while the Huntington Gardens in autumn might not pass for upstate New York, it's a great place to see plants and trees you might not associate with the fall months, but nonetheless come into their own throughout the season. These include blooming desert plants and ginkgo trees.

5. Ortega Highway

A drive across the scenic Ortega Highway that leads from the Palm Desert to San Juan Capistrano is a great place to see some fall foliage. As an added bonus, the road is reportedly haunted, making it an appealing Halloween destination as well.

6. Descanso Gardens

Photo by @descansogardens via Instagram

Located in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens has plenty of flora to enjoy, including quite a few plants native to California. The gardens are open every day except Christmas between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Admission is $9.

7. Julian

In Julian, you can find the best of both fall foliage and fall produce. Specifically, the town in northern San Diego County is known for its apples—and apple pie. And what's a cool autumnal day without some good old fashioned apple pie?

8. Lake Arrowhead

Getty Images

The San Bernardino Mountains are chock full of fall vistas, and there are plenty of hikes to explore and towns to visit for those seeking autumn leaves. If you like your fall colors with a tall lager, however, Lake Arrowhead's Oktoberfest is one of the biggest around.

9. Mount Wilson Observatory

Hike to the top or simply drive to the summit of Mount Wilson to see stunning views across Angeles National Forest, including sprinklings of yellow and ochre-colored leaves. Then grab a bite at the Cosmic Cafe or climb up to the telescope where Edwin Hubble made many of his most significant observations about the ever-expanding universe.

10. Idyllwild

The Riverside County town of Idyllwild and nearby Lake Hemet have some tremendous fall foliage, with cottonwoods that turn bright yellow as the summer season comes to an end. Stop by in late November for the town's annual Harvest Festival.

11. Malibu Creek State Park

Getty Images

This state park in the Santa Monica Mountains—populated with valley oak trees and sycamores offers plenty of seasonal color—particularly in tree-filled Tapia Park.

12. Oak Glen

Another destination known for its particularly delicious apples, Oak Glen—located east of San Bernardino—is a great place to see fall colors and do a bit of apple picking while you're at it. To really get in the fall spirit, hit up Snow-Line Orchard and Winery for mini cider donuts and Wilshire Apple Shed for cider.

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Dazzling projections will cover Walt Disney Concert Hall

Rendering by Refik Anadol Studio. Article written by Bianca Barragan for LA Curbed. 

One of the most recognizable buildings in Downtown Los Angeles—the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall—will be used as a canvas later this month.

To celebrate the start of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new season, colorful patterns will be projected onto the metallic surface of the wavy concert hall for a little more than a week, courtesy of artist Refik Anadol.

Forty-two high-powered projectors will work together to create the images that will temporarily transform the concert hall’s iconic exterior nightly (7:30 to 11:30 p.m.) from September 28 to October 6.

It might not look like it, but the patterns come from the LA Phil’s archives.

Anadol took images, audio, and videos from the philharmonic’s archive and transformed the material into data points that he then reinterpreted as colorful and dynamic patterns.

Rendering by Refik Anadol Studio

While designing the concert hall, Gehry had imagined that LA Phil concerts would be projected live onto the building’s metallic exterior, giving Angelenos inside the concert hall and outside the chance to see the philharmonic play.

Anadol has created similar “data sculptures” for the interior of the Disney concert hall in recent years; Anadol also has a piece created with artist Susan Narduli installed at the Metropolis development in South Park.

Rendering by Refik Anadol Studio

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Save the Date: Larchmont Family Fair

Photo by Larcmont Village BID. Article written by Suzan Filipek for Larchmont Chronicle.

Billed as “Main Street U.S.A.” in its premiere year in 1966, the Larchmont Family Fair — sponsored by the Larchmont Boulevard Association and founded by the Larchmont Chronicle — still has its small-town charm.

A spooky haunted house, a talent show for all ages and a children’s Halloween costume contest are among activities at the fair Sun., Oct. 28 from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Larchmont Boulevard. Traffic will be blocked on Larchmont from Beverly Boulevard to First Street.

The haunted house was such a hit last year that it will return, scarier and better than ever, said fair co-chair Vivian Gueler. The haunted house is courtesy of St. Brendan School. Water-on-water Bub-ble Rollers are among the other 20 rides sure to thrill at the 52nd annual event.

New to the fair this year will be a pie-baking contest judged by top-notch celebrity chefs, food writers and/or bakers, added Gueler.

Loveland Carr Properties will oversee the cooking contest, while John Duerler of Hancock Homes Realty will host a pie-throwing event.

Returning to the fair after a years-long hiatus is Third Street Elementary School.

“In 2017 we had roughly 16 schools that took out booths at the fair — both private and public! We anticipate the same or more this year, with Third Street Elementary having committed to a booth, something they haven’t done in the last several years,” Gueler said.

Also back by popular demand is “Larchmont Has Talent.”

Bring your best song or dance, magic act or jokes to an audition on Sun., Oct. 21 between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Coldwell Banker South, 251 N. Larchmont Blvd.

All ages are encouraged to try out.

Selected contestants will perform on stage at the Fair, Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m., for local judges and all to enjoy. Cash prizes will be $500, $250 and $100 for first, second and third place winners, added Gueler and co-chair Betsy Malloy.

The children’s Halloween costume contest, sponsored by Coldwell Banker, starts at 1 p.m.

Foods from around the world will be served: Korean barbecue will be offered by St. Brendan School, an In-N-Out Burger truck will be parked at the site, and local restaurants will be open.

Local schools, churches, temples and other charitable nonprofit organizations are encouraged to participate.

Email Betsy@betsymalloy.com for booth applications. Corporate sponsors can email vgueler@pacifictrustgroup.com.

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Retro L.A. Diners Open All Night

Photo by Getty Images. Article written by Thomas Harlander for Los Angeles Magazine

Some prime spots for a cup of joe and midnight pancakes 

The Original Pantry Cafe

Open 24 hours. The place has literally never not been open since 1924. Swing by any time of the night for a cup of deep black coffee and a burnt-on-the-outside, soggy-on-the-inside (yet somehow perfect) mass of hash browns. 877 S. Figueroa St., downtown.

Norms La Cienega

Photo by @miketurski via Instagram

Open 24 hours. Due to its iconic Googie-style architecture, this particular iteration of the local chain is a classic. Does the coffee even remotely measure up to third-wave standards? Not really! Is it the beverage of choice for a “Screw it, I’m never falling asleep”-type night? Absolutely. 470 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove.

Du-par’s Restaurant & Bakery

Open 24 hours. The perks of coming to a place like this are: 1. You can camp out indefinitely and 2. You can drink an infinite number of coffee refills, so long as you ask nicely (and tip well). Get a stack of hotcakes while you’re here. 6333 W. 3rd St., Fairfax (locations in Studio City and Pasadena too).

The Apple Pan

Photo by @dumb.drunk.donkey via Instagram

Open till midnight on school nights and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Whatever independent movie you’ve just seen at the Nuart deserves to be mulled over for at least an hour—accompanied by a hot cup of coffee and, honestly, probably a burger too. 10801 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles.

101 Coffee Shop

Open till 3 a.m. every night. Decked out with brown leather booths and those oddly comforting midcentury-style stone walls, this should really be your go-to place for diner coffee and reliable late-night breakfast. 6145 Franklin Ave., Hollywood Hills.

House of Pies

Photo by @thatjapaneseactress via Instagram

Open till 2 a.m. school nights and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The last local relic of a once-ubiquitous chain, the place still holds its own as an unpretentious late-night haunt for aspiring writers and the only moderately inebriated. Narrowing down dessert options is gonna be rough, but the peanut butter pie is a failsafe. 1869 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz.

[chasecampen]

The Boring Company pitches a high-speed tunnel to Dodger Stadium

Photo courtesy of LA Dodgers. Article written by Jenna Chandler for LA Curbed. 

First an aerial tram, now an underground, high-speed transit line—that’s the latest proposal for a creative new way to get to Dodger Stadium, and it comes from Elon Musk.

The entrepreneur’s Hawthorne-based company, the Boring Company, announced Wednesday night that it wants to build a subway-like line from Los Feliz or East Hollywood that would ferry Dodger fans to the ballpark in about 4 minutes and at the cost of about $1.

Mayor Eric Garcetti quickly published a Tweet welcoming the idea.

“It’s always exciting to see innovative ideas like the proposed Dugout Loop to Dodgers Stadium that could help ease congestion on our roads and make our most iconic destinations more accessible to everyone,” he wrote.

The mayor’s spokesperson, Alex Comisar, says the Boring Company submitted its proposal to the city on Wednesday. The plan will have to undergo state environmental review, and a public meeting scheduled for August 28 will kick off that process.

It’s an ambitious proposal, but, if ultimately built, the “Dugout Loop” would provide Angelenos with the quickest route to the stadium, which is nestled above the city in a ravine, making it somewhat difficult to access.

A free shuttle operated by Metro, the region’s public transportation agency, provides one of the best routes into the ballpark, but it only departs from Union Station and the trip takes about 25 minutes.

The company plans to use its “loop” machines and technology to build the line. The concept involves transporting passengers in electric-powered, autonomous pods (what the company calls “skates”) that zip through underground tunnels at speeds of 125 to 150 miles per hour.

The “skates” would carry between eight and 16 passengers (far fewer than a subway car) and would be lowered underground from street-level docking stations called “Loop lifts.”

The system is being tested right now in Hawthorne, and Musk has proposed a large Loop network that would run beneath a wide swath of Los Angeles. A stop at Dodger Stadium was already planned as part of that system, but plans for the Dugout Loop were submitted to the city as a standalone project and will be reviewed separately.

For the Dodger Stadium project, the company proposes a single underground tunnel that runs for about 3.5 miles with an eastern terminus at the stadium’s parking lot and a western terminus near one of three Metro Red Line stations, either Vermont Avenue and Sunset in Los Feliz, Vermont and Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, or Vermont and Beverly Boulevard on the border of Rampart Village.

The majority of the line would run beneath Sunset Boulevard, through Silver Lake and Echo Park. In a statement, the Dodgers’ owners said they support the proposal.

[chasecampen]

New app reveals how to access hidden California beaches

Photo by CaliforniaBeaches.com. Original article by Adrian Glick Kudler via LA Curbed.

By state law, every inch of coastline in California is public. It’s getting to the coast that’s the trick. Everyone is allowed on the beach below the mean high tide line (roughly: on the wet sand) and there are supposed to be access points all along the coast so that the public can get to this publicly-owned land.

But…[some] homeowners have gone out of their way to keep outsiders off the beaches. The state has had to spend years and millions fighting these beach hoarders and still there are no access points at all at many legit beaches. The entry points that do exist are hard to find and sometimes misleadingly labeled. There are long stretches of beautiful, public sand out there that just about no one knows about. And so in 2013, beach access expert Jenny Price developed the Our Malibu Beaches app, which has entries for every potential beach access point along Malibu’s coast (the locals hate it!). It’s packed with everything you need to know to use these beaches, from where to park (and which “no parking” signs are probably fake) to which specific houses you can lay your towel down in front of. Here we reveal info on three of the coolest, most obscure spots, but the app has way more—and it’s free on iPhone and Android. Here’s a look inside the app: