area newsletter DECEMBER 2017 • SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
20 17
Community News Proposed streetcar in OC would connect Burbank and Glendale
City officials in Glendale are exploring the possibility of building a streetcar line that would connect the city’s Metrolink station with the Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank. The city has hired an engineering firm to undertake a feasibility study for the project, which calls for a single route along Brand Blvd. and Glenoaks Blvd., connecting downtown Glendale with downtown Burbank in the process. The study is expected to take 12-18 months to complete and will cost $450,000. Estimates for the underlying project range between $97 million and $243 million, depending on the involvement of the City of Burbank in the project. The initial feasibility study will only explore parts of the project within Glendale city limits, but leave open an expansion into Burbank. This would not be the first streetcar to run in the area, with the famous Red Car trolley having operated in the Los Angeles area from 1901 to 1953, including the route proposed for the Glendale-Burbank streetcar.
Halo Top opens its first store in the Valley Halo Top Creamery, a company whose low-carb ice cream has garnered a cult following in recent months, has opened its first retail location at the Westfield Topanga mall. Halo Top, which previously only sold its
240-360 calorie pints in grocery stores, began selling a soft-serve variation of their product on November 15, offering patrons 4 ounce servings that only have 90 calories each. Available flavors include Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Strawberry, Birthday Cake, and Peanut Butter Cup. Halo Top was started in 2011 in the kitchen of found¬er Justin Woolverton, with the development of recipes that utilize organic stevia to reduce the amount of carbs and boost the amount of protein. The company recently passed Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs to become the most popular pint in stores.
Apartments to be built near Burbank Metrolink
Developers have announced plans to build an expansive mixed-use project on Front Street, near the Burbank Metrolink station. The development will include three buildings containing 542 apartments and 317 hotel rooms. Amenities include a pool and multiple restaurant spaces. The 10 acre property will include a public park with a synthetic lawn, a children’s playground, and a fitness area.
Community News Small lot homes coming to Valley Village
Developers have announced plans to build a group of small lot homes in Valley Village. Located at 5137-5149 N. Colfax Ave., just south of Magnolia Blvd., the development will include 12 single family residences, each with 3 bedrooms, a 2-car garage, and a rooftop deck. The project will require the demolition of an office building, a restaurant, and a 4-unit residential unit in order to make way for the new construction. No timeline has been announced for the project.
Warner Center development breaks ground Developers are beginning the construction of a residential project at 6041 Variel Avenue, near the intersection of Canoga Ave. and Oxnard St.. The development calls for a seven-story building containing 263 apartments as well as parking for 484 vehicles. The project is being undertaken by Chinese company BCEGI, which is also behind apartment complexes in Marina Del Rey and Westchester. Plans for the Warner Center project
also calls a 12-story office building on the 3 acre site, but no immediate plans for that phase have been announced.
Uber plans to bring flying taxis to LA
Ride sharing pioneer Uber recently announced plans to bring a fly-on-demand rideshare service to the Los Angeles area by 2020. Named UberAir, the service would utilize electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL’s) that would allow passengers to beat ground traffic by flying above it, travelling in four passenger vehicles that will take off and land at 20 rooftop bases around the city. With their proposed vehicles capable of flying 200 mph, the company estimates that a 1 ½ hour commute could be reduced to 30 minutes, for a cost similar what would be charged by highend UberX for the same distance. Proponents of the project claim that short-distance aircraft will reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as offer customers a transportation option that will reduce time spent on the road.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Bar Tribute
Feu Pho Kitchen
Royal Macaron
13817 Ventura Boulevard Sherman Oaks
11310 Ventura Boulevard Studio City
5217 Laurel Canyon Boulevard Valley Village
The options for drinking in the Valley continue to improve with the arrival of Tribute, a cocktailfocused bar. Owners of Te’kila have expanded into the former Stanley’s on Ventura Blvd. to create the full bar. The low-key cocktail lounge has more than 150 types of tequila and specialty margaritas. The tapas menu is focused on Mexican food like enchiladas, tacos and burritos. As the name suggests, the bar plans to pay ‘tribute’ to some of their favorite films, musicians, beers and everything they like about bars through a rotating cocktail menu. Tribute debuted October 20 and opens Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Housed in Braum Real Estate Plaza is one of Studio City’s best Asian Restaurants, Feu Pho Kitchen. The restaurant specializes in Vietnamese noodle soup pho, which comes with beef, chicken or vegetable broths. Other menu items include, springy egg noodles and chicken wings, which are fried and tossed in a tangy, spicy mix of coriander, star anise, Sriracha chipotle and chile vinaigrette. Feu also offers hangar steak, tiger shrimp, and tofu-andmushroom Bun, all served with fresh veggies and herbs, peanuts, crispy onion, and an egg roll. Feu Pho Kitchen is open Monday - Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. and closed Sundays.
Dessert trends continue to rise in the Valley, and now French almond flour cookie sandwiches have been added to that list and have made their debut in Valley Village. Royal Macaron is a sweet shop serving Italian espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, freshsqueezed juice and most importantly, colorful macarons. Chef Serge Zargaryan produces approximately 20 different macarons daily, including pistachio, peanut butter and jelly, and green apple marmalade. Jessica Special, a macaron named after the owner’s daughter, has with maraschino cherries and white chocolate. Macarons cost $2.50 each or $25 for a dozen. Royal Macaron is located in Laurel Plaza shopping center and is open Monday - Sunday from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
MOCA Grand Avenue
LACMA
152 N Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
Anna Maria Maiolino August 4, 2017 - January 22, 2018
Chagall: Fantasies for the Stage July 31, 2017 - January 7, 2018
Anna Maria Maiolino is a contemporary Italian-Brazilian artist whose work takes many forms, from drawings and woodblock prints, to sculpture and perfor¬mance. This exhibition represents the first major museum retrospective of Maiolino’s career and is part of the Pacific Standard Time LA/ LA initiative taking place through¬out southland art institutions.
This exhibition focuses on the work Marc Chagall created for the stage, as well as iconic paintings depicting musicians and lyrical scenes. Of particular note are Chagall’s set and costume designs that haven’t been exhibited since they were originally seen on stage. The exhibition also includes the screening of documentary footage of the original performances.
Annenberg Space for Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars #10, Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION: Cuba Is September 9, 2017 – March 4, 2018 Cuba has long held the fascination of many Americans, and even as travel restrictions have decreased in recent years, few have seen what life is actually like on the island. This exhibit features over 120 photos depicting a wide range of Cuban subjects, as well as an original film documenting how the photographers captured the images.
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