San Fernando Valley_February 2018

area newsletter FEBRUARY 2018 • SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

20 18

Community News Plans announced for Orange Line station development

The Los Angeles Planning Commission has released plans to develop five Orange Line stations through its Transit Neighborhood Plan, namely the areas surrounding the Sherman Way, Reseda, Sepulveda, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood stations. Although the specifics vary based on the location, the plans largely call for the development of corridors that incorporate mass transit into the neighboring communities, improving the mobility of citizens and increasing the livability of the city. Of particular importance are the development of the Sepulveda/Van Nuys corridors, which will be linked through the plan, and the North Hollywood station, which connects the Orange Line with the Red Line subway line. The Transit Neighborhood Plan is expected to undergo an environmental review process in 2018, with implementation beginning in 2019.

Universal City Hilton seeks to expand The owners of the Universal City Hilton have filed plans to expand the iconic hotel, adding an additional 15-story tower. Upon completion, the structure would add 365 rooms to the hotel’s capacity, bringing the total number of guest rooms to 860. The plan is not without its challenges, as NBCUniversal, which owns the adjacent Universal Studios theme park, has objected to the size of the expansion. The contract between the hoteliers and

NBCUniversal requires that the media company approve any development, so further negotiations will be required

before going forward. Ironically, it’s Universal’s popular Harry Potter exhibit that has spurred the hotel to expand its accommodations.

Du-Par’s closes in the Valley

The Du-Par’s location in Studio City has closed. The classic diner, which was located on Ventura Blvd. since 1948, continues to operate its original location at the Original Farmer’s Market in L.A. and on Lake Avenue in Pasadena. The owners indicate that they hope to reopen in the Valley in the future.

Community News Valley company scores topselling toy

location into a mixed-use retail and residential complex. The project will include 70,000 square feet of commercial space, 200 hotel rooms, and approximately 1,000 residential units. Plans are in their earliest stages, with noise and traffic studies pending, but the developers anticipate that construction will be complete by 2020.

L.A. housing valuation highest in U.S. Van Nuys-based MGA Entertainment was a big winner this past holiday season. According to market research experts, the company’s “L.O.L. Surprise Tots” was the year’s best-selling toy as of November, with expectations that the success would continue through the Christmas shopping season. The toys are small plastic dolls that are sold blindly in opaque plastic balls, perfectly capitalizing on the current ‘unboxing’ trend, where kids post and watch videos on YouTube of popular products being unwrapped. This is not MGA’s first experience with trendy toy, having reached worldwide popularity with the Bratz dolls in 2004.

Former IKEA site to be redeveloped

The owners of Burbank Town Center announced that they will be redeveloping the former IKEA

Analysts recently announced that the value of Los Angeles’ residences grew 5.7% last year, to a total of $2.7 trillion, the highest valuation in the country. According to a report released by Zillow, New York City ranked a close second, with a value of $2.6 trillion, an increase of 7.9% over the previous year. L.A. and New York far outpace the rest of the country as the only cities with a valuation over $1 billion. Overall, the U.S. housing market gained 6.5% in 2017, to a valuation of $31.8 trillion. Some experts indicate that home prices are unlikely to continue rising at this rate with inventory increasing and investors seeing the effect of new federal tax laws.

Restaurant

Spotlight

Lum Ka Naad

The Stand

Dough Girl

17644 Ventura Boulevard Encino

17000 Ventura Boulevard Encino

16851 Victory Boulevard Van Nuys

“Lum-Ka-Naad” is the phrase used in Northern Thailand for delicious food. The Valley restaurant prepares Northern and Southern Thai specialty dishes. The menu here is broken down into categories such as noodles and “from the grill.” Popular dishes here: the Southern Thai fish curry “tai pla,” which is spicy and made with smoked fish fortified by a fermented fish paste and bamboo shoots. Also on the menu is khao soy, a curry with egg noodle and chicken drumstick. The Thai restaurant has its original locatin in Northridge and a second location in Encino. Lum Ka Naad is open seven days a week, typically from 11 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. with extended weekend hours Friday and Saturday.

The Stand gives a fresh spin on American classics. This place was named one of the ten best restaurants in Encino by LA Weekly.

Currently there are five locations of The Stand, with the first established in Encino. The restaurant is priced to satisfy a wide range of needs and meal occasions all with exceptional value. Here you will find hotdogs and sausages, burgers and chicken enriched by various toppings, breads, sides and drinks. Some popular items on the menu: the Three Pigs, composed of bratwurst, bacon tomato jam and a housecured porchetta. Also on the menu, a French Onion Soup burger which tastes like a classic soup but eats like a French dip sandwich. The casual dining spot serves lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

On the very edge of Encino you’ll find this pizza place. The slices here are all New York thin and designed with original recipes that will leave you with a mouth-watering experience.

Their pies will hijack your taste buds without hijacking your wallet. Here, the seasonal winter pie comes with alfredo white sauce, ricotta, spinach, and corn; their Mobster pizza is spread with lobster tail bisque sauce and chunks of tiger shrimp. For those pizza lovers, there’s also an animal style pie which comes with A Thousand-Island base, french fries, and American cheddar. The street-casual restaurant has graffiti art and decals decorating its walls and counters—bringing a positive energy and a creative flare to the neighborhood. Dough Girl is open Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.

SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES

Natural History Museum

LACMA

Annenberg Space for Photography

900 Exposition Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90007

5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036

CURRENT EXHIBITION:

CURRENT EXHIBITION:

Tattoo November 19, 2017 – April 15, 2018

Painted in Mexico, 1700–1790: Pinxit Mexici November 19, 2017–March 18, 2018

Cuba Is September 9, 2017 – March 4, 2018

This exhibition focuses on Mexican paintings of the 18th century, a time that featured major stylistic advances as Mexican artists often sought to distinguish themselves from the European counterparts. LACMA has gathered over 100 works to display, including paintings that were previously unpublished, or were restored for the exhibition.

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.

Demonstrating 5,000 years of history, the Natural History Museum’s exhibition displays the cross-cultural impact of body art through the years and around the world. Featuring historic samples of tattoo art and the equipment used to create it, the museum also brings the experience into the present with a series of tattoo artists offering their services on-site during the exhibition.

2000 Avenue of the Stars #10, Los Angeles, CA 90067 CURRENT EXHIBITION:

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