Stocks close higher for the week – Stock markets closed higher again this week despite volatility, which caused major swings each day. By week’s end, markets rebounded for a second week in a row to make up much of the losses suffered in the previous two weeks as stocks moved closer to record highs just one month ago. Most companies reported higher profits for the fourth quarter of 2017 and issued positive guidance–Walmart did not. Their online sales rose less than expected in the fourth quarter, causing the stock to drop about 13%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,309.99, up from last week’s close of 25,219.38. It is up 2.4% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,747.30, up from 2,732.22 last week. It’s up 2.8% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,337.39, up from 7,239.47 last week. It is up 6.3% year-to-date.
Treasury Bond Yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.88%, almost unchanged from 2.86% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.16%, up slightly from 3.13% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates. Mortgage Rates stabilize this week – The February 22, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.40%, up slightly from last week’s 4.38%. The 15-year fixed was 3.85%, up slightly from 3.84% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.65%, slightly up from 3.63% last week. Existing home sales nationwide decline 3.2% in January – The National Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales dropped 3.2% in January from December’s home sales rate. The median price paid for a home in January was 5.8% higher than January 2017, the 71st straight month of year-over-year increases. The number of homes for sale represented a 3.4 month supply, down from 3.6 months last January. Existing home inventory in January was down 9.5% from January 2017. Extremely tight inventory has caused prices to increase and has begun to cause fewer sales. Author, Syd Leibovitch
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Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome.
Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for everyweekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!). This weekend in L.A. (February 23-25) includes Bob Baker Day, Firecracker Festival in Chinatown, Airtalk’s FilmWeek: 2018 Oscar Preview, a Star Party at Griffith Observatory, Dine Out Long Beach Restaurant Week 2.0 and MUCH more. Enjoy! Friday February 23rd, 2018 1. The Urban Chuck Wagon: 100 Years of Food Truck Fare is a new tasting event coming to The Autry this Friday. Come sample dishes representing a century of food trucks and discover the historic flavors of items such as tamales and oyster cocktails, then experience the modern versions of food cart cuisine from contemporary chefs. 2. The Landmark Regent presents two screenings of The Room with Tommy Wiseau in person this Friday. 3. Head to The Madelin Garden in Pasadena for high tea and a performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Happening Friday through Sunday. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 4. Visit Angel City Brewery for a free live taping of the popular podcast Go Fact Yourself quizzes comedians, actors and musicians about topics they claim expertise in. If they slip up, real experts on hand share the actual facts. 5. Caltech Astronomy presents a free stargazing and panel event focused on The Milky Way’s crash course with Andromeda. No reservations are needed, the lecture is 30 minutes long and stargazing lasts 90 minutes. FREE 6. Greenbar Distillery will open up their facility for a tour of their organic distillery. The tour is one hour long and guests will have a chance to learn about the process of spirit making and taste some of the Greenbar portfolio. 7. 4th Fridays on 4th Street activates the “Retro Road” business district in Long Beach on the fourth Friday of every month from 6 to 9 p.m. through extended hours, dining specials, discounted merchandise, pop up shops, art shows, live music, double decker bus rides and more. 8.The world’s first premium cinematic VR chair, Voyager will screen three critically acclaimed short films at the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles from February 19-25. Check for discounted ticketsbefore making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 9. Palm Springs Modernism Week returns February 15-25 to celebrate all things midcentury modern including architecture, art, interior landscape design and vintage culture. 10. QuiltCon 2018 takes over the Pasadena Convention Center from February 22-25 to see over 550 modern quilts on display, shop from specialty vendors and attend workshops and lectures led by experts. Saturday February 24th, 2018 11. It’s Bob Baker Day at the historic Bob Baker Marionette Theater. The day pays homage to the famed puppeteer with a carnival like event featuring live music, entertainment, puppet-making workshops, round-the-clock puppet shows, a pop-up puppet museum and lots more. FREE 12. Meet travel celebs like PBS’ Rick Steves and Samantha Brown, learn how to pack well and decide where to go for your next trip during the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center happening February 24-25. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 13. Stop by the Firecracker Festival in Los Angeles’ Chinatown for two days filled with friendly-competition, carnival games, food trucks and more. 14. Celebrate like it’s 1928 during Venice Arts’ Annual Speakeasy at the Townhouse. The Prohibition-era Speakeasy which dates back to 1915 will feature complimentary whiskey tasting, appetizers and desserts from local restaurants, along with a silent auction, raffle prizes and other surprises. 15. FLAX Project presents “The Dialectic of the Stars,” a free art festival taking place at five iconic venues in Los Angeles in the month of February. The festival will feature stimulating arts events incorporating cinema, music, mobile artworks, a concert of motorcycles, dance and more. This Saturday the event continues at L.A. Dance Project with a screening of The Pit and a performance by Noé Soulier. FREE 16. Milk Bar join forces with fashion label Reformation for a tasty pop-up at their Melrose location. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. swing by Reformation to shop through the sustainable brands collection and snack on Milk Bar’s cookies, truffles, and their new Crack Pie Latte. Customers with a Reformation purchase will also get a free treat so shop away! 17. SAP Chili Cook Off returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia for a tasty competition in the categories of red chili, green chili, salsa, CASI (Chili Appreciation Society) chili, people’s choice, and most tasted. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 18. Playful Los Angeles lifestyle brand ban.do will host a huge warehouse sale on Saturday and Sunday with up to 70% off accessories, shoes, stationery, jewelry, clothing and tons more. Expect over 12K items on sale over the weekend. Their sale also takes place online. 19. One special Saturday every month the Griffith Observatory hosts a free public star party to highlight interest in observing the cosmos. The event is a great chance to try out a variety of telescopes, check out visible objects of our solar system and exchange ideas and knowledge with amateur astronomers. FREE 20. My Valley Pass and The Valley Relics Museum presents the San Fernando Valley Film Tour. Explore the Valley in a comfortable limo bus and check out some of the most iconic filming locations like Marty McFly’s house in Back To The Future to the guitar shop in Wayne’s World. 21. de Plume Gallery presents SHADE, new works by New York Surrealist ClockWork Cros. Over 400 portraits of famous faces wearing sunglasses made of clocks will line the floor to ceiling of the gallery. 22. Second Class Citizens is a new monthly political comedy show featuring underrepresented but hilarious voices happening at the Nerdist School in Los Angeles. 23. NO TASTE FOR BAD TASTE comes to the A+D Architecture and Design Museum in DTLA featuring forty cult objects in lifestyle design selected by forty international figures from the world of arts. These 21st century pieces were designed by or for figures such as Ligne Roset, Fermob, Philippe Starck, Hermés and more. 24. There’s a sample sale hosted by Charlotte Stone at their Platform Pop-Up space this Saturday and Sunday featuring additional brands like VereVerto, loup, Seek Collective, BackBeatRags and Graf + Lantz. 25. The 7th Annual Whittier Area Classic Car Show will feature live music, vendors, food trucks, games, dragsters and some of the coolest cars you’ll see in SoCal. FREE 26. The 27th Annual Alhambra Lunar New Year Celebration takes place this Saturday with a dragon/lion dance, magic show, petting zoo, food booths, a grand drum roll and much more. FREE Sunday February 25th, 2018 27. KPCC in Person Presents Airtalk’s FilmWeek: 2018 Oscar Preview at the Ace Hotel. Larry Mantle and the film critics of KPCC’s AirTalk will convene on the stage to discuss and debate this year’s Oscar nominees for a special taping in front of a live audience. 28. Learn the Olympic sport of curling during this Sunday at the Ice Station in Valencia. DISCOUNTED 29. Dine Out Long Beach Restaurant Week 2.0 will host specially priced prix fixe lunches and dinners at some of the city’s best restaurants. From February 25 through March 3. To launch this seven-day culinary event, there will be a free Chef’s Cooking and Tasting Kick-Off on February 24 from noon to 4 p.m. at Friedmans Home Experience. Stella Artois will be hand to offer complimentary beer samples, while Blue Marble Cocktails will offer some pours of their own. 30. FLAX Project presents “The Dialectic of the Stars,” a free art festival taking place at five iconic venues in Los Angeles in the month of February. The festival will feature stimulating arts events incorporating cinema, music, mobile artworks, a concert of motorcycles, dance and more. This Sunday the event concludes at Zebulon with a screening of Animal Glisse and multiple performances. FREE 31. Take in a few laughs at the end of the weekend at Cool Beans Comedy at the Ice House in Pasadena. FREE 32. There’s a Ferrari Cruise-In happening at the Petersen Automotive Museum this Sunday to celebrate Enzo Ferrari’s birthday. The cruise-in will take place on the 3rd floor of the museum’s parking structure and all cars, trucks, and motorcycles are welcome. Coffee and snacks will be free to all attendees. 33. Friendship Buddies is a weekly stand-up comedy show at the Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park. Come hangout in the back patio, enjoy a cocktail, and LOL to outstanding stand-up comedians in Los Angeles. FREE 34. Free admission at: Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) and Museum of Latin American Art Schedule provided by We Like LA. A new Uber service is launching in Los Angeles today. It’s called Uber Express Pool, and it works by asking pool riders to walk to and from nearby pick-up and drop-off locations. The POOL option already offers lower prices to riders who are willing to share their ride with other passengers. This typically takes a bit longer, as drivers take brief detours to pick up and drop off other riders along the way. Express Pool seeks to streamline that process. Here’s how it works: In the Uber app, Express POOL will appear as an option on the slider next to POOL. Choose Express Pool, then call for a ride. Within a few minutes, the app will assign you a driver and that driver’s ETA, just like with a standard uberX ride. However, the app will also provide you with walking directions to a nearby location where you will meet your driver. When your driver arrives, you’ll get in a car that may or may not contain other Express Pool passengers. When you get close to your destination you’ll be assigned a drop-off point and provided with walking directions from that spot to your final destination. Uber Express Pool Photo: Uber
Ideally, this ride will be faster than your typical POOL ride because the driver is picking up and dropping off passengers stationed along the route. Uber also estimates that an Express Pool rides is 50 percent cheaper, on average, than POOL and as much as 75 percent cheaper than uberX. This is potentially an ideal situation for commuters who regularly rely on ride sharing services to get to and from work, or for people going for a night out who don’t mind a brief walk. It could also potentially alleviate some of POOL’s problems, such as an anecdote published in Motherboard in which a POOL passenger and their driver spent 40 minutes looking for another passenger who was seemingly lost “somewhere between a road closure and his hotel.” The author finally snapped, using the driver’s speakerphone to ask the passenger why he couldn’t just walk to a nearby gas station. Uber first launched this service in San Francisco and Boston in late 2017. The service launches in San Diego, Denver, and L.A. today, while Miami, Philly, and D.C. will get it tomorrow. Of course, there’s another service that already functions very much like Uber Express Pool: the Metro system, where standard fare is always $1.75, with free transfers within two hours. It may not always be as reliable as calling a car, but it’s pretty cheap! Article courtesy of We Like LA. Key index shows inflation picking up – The Labor Department reported on Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% last month. Economists had expected a 0.3% jump. Core CPI, which strips out food and energy as they tend to be more volatile, rose 0.3% in January. Although that was the largest month-over-month increase since last January, the year-over-year increase was just 1.8%. After 10 years of inflation below the target level, this report shows that fears of inflation normalizing may be sound. Low inflation has kept interest rates at historically low levels for a decade. Higher inflation would cause higher interest rates. Bonds and mortgage securities reacted negatively to the report and interest rates rose sharply after the release. The CPI has been so stable for so long, at such low inflation levels, that it’s something we have not been talking about. As inflationary pressure picks up, it is an index we will be paying a lot of attention to.
Stock markets rebound this week – Stocks rebounded from two weeks of steep declines to close the week making up about half of the losses seen in the previous two weeks. Investors, while still fearful of how higher interest rates and labor costs will effect profits, embraced that these factors are a symptom of a more robust economy. They felt that while interest fears are rational, the market oversold and over corrected. Stocks gained about 4.3% for the week, and all major indexes are higher than they were at the start of 2018. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,219.38, up from last week’s close of 24,190.90. It is up 2% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,732.22, up from 2,619.55 last week. It’s up 2.2% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,239.47, up from 6,874.49 last week. It is up 4.9% year-to-date. Treasury Bond Yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.86%, up from 2.83% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.13%, unchanged from 3.14% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates.Mortgage continues to rise – The February 15, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.38%, up from last week’s 4.33%. The 15-year fixed was 3.84%, up from 3.77% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.63%, up from 3.57% last week. Retail sales weak in January – The Commerce Department reported that retail sales unexpectedly decreased 0.3% in January. Economists had expected a 0.2% increase. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, was reported to have increased at a 3.8 percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter. The economy grew at a 2.6 percent pace in the final three months of 2017, and holiday spending in 2017 was 4.9% higher than 2016. After a strong holiday season, the largest decline in retail sales in 11 months took experts by surprise. California home affordability slightly higher in fourth quarter over third quarter of 2017 – The California Association of Realtors released their housing affordability survey for the fourth quarter of 2017. According to the report, 29% of California homeowners could afford to purchase a $550,990 median priced detached home in the fourth quarter of 2017. That was up from 28% in 3rd quarter, but down from 31% in the fourth quarter of 2016. The minimum income required to qualify for a median priced home was $111,260. The payment was $2,780 a month with a 4.17% mortgage. 37% of California households could afford to purchase a condo, or townhouse. It took a minimum income of $90,810 to qualify for a median price of $449,720, with a mortgage payment of $2,270. The Los Angeles region had a higher affordability rate than the state as a whole. 31% of Los Angeles households could afford to purchase a median priced detached home compared to 29% statewide. Interest rates are higher in the first quarter of 2018, so I’d expect affordability to be even lower now. Home sales down in numbers, but prices higher in January – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales in California totaled 388,800 in January on a seasonally adjusted basis. This represented a drop of 7.6% from December’s pace, and a drop of 2.9% from last January. We watch year-over-year because January closings are often much lower than December. The statewide median price paid for a home in California was $527,800, up 7.3% from January 2017. The unsold inventory index rose to a 3.6-month supply from just a 2.5-month supply of activity listings in December. It was 3.7 months in January 2017. Have a great weekend! Syd Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome.
Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!). This weekend in L.A. (February 16-18) includes the Chocolate & Art Show, NBA All-Star events, the Golden Dragon Parade, a Boozy Bake Off, and MUCH more. Enjoy! Friday February 16th, 2018 1. Palm Springs Modernism Week returns February 15-25 to celebrate all things midcentury modern including architecture, art, interior landscape design and vintage culture. 2. The Chocolate & Art Show Los Angeles returns to The Vortex in DTLA on February 16-17, with chocolate fondue, the work of up-and-coming artists & more. 3. The NBA All-star extravaganza is back for another year of fan celebrations, celebrity games and all things basketball. Beginning on February 16, then continuing till February 18, Los Angeles venues including Staples Center and Verizon Up Arena at Los Angeles Convention Center will host a variety of All-Star events, including showcases, games and trainings. 4. Jack Daniel’s has been selling its whiskey since 1866 and this weekend they will bring a pop-up shop to Los Angeles for just three days. From February 16-18, the Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg General Store will offer Angelenos a unique assortment of goods, services and events featuring live music and Southern food from Miss Mary Bobo’s, a Lynchburg institution for over a century. 5. See percussionist Antonio Sanchez performs his critically acclaimed score for Birdman at Royce Hallwhile the movie is projected behind him. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 6. Celebrate the Year of The Dog during a Lunar New Year Celebration at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights. The temple will host Chinese traditional cultural performances and the grounds will be decorated with dog decorations. Happening all weekend. 7. Bootie LA presents a 90’s vs 80’s mashup night at the Echoplex this Friday. 8. The Groundlings Theatre presents their latest main stage show, Sweet Valley Groundlingsperforming this Friday. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 9. The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) continues through February 8-19. Now in its 26th year, the 12-day festival will showcase over 100 new films and the talented artists who created them. 10. Free admission at: Long Beach Museum of Art Saturday February 17th, 2018 11. Celebrate the Year of the Dog during Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place. Enjoy Asian-themed stilt walkers, traditional Korean fan dancers, Chinese music, The Voice’s Katherine Ho as emcee and more. 12. The 119th Golden Dragon Parade and Chinese New Year Festival returns to Los Angeles’ Chinatown with floats, marching bands, entertainers, a culinary stage, artisans & much more. FREE 13. Long Beach Comic Expo, a celebration of comic books and pop culture, returns to Long Beach Convention Center on February 17-18. Check for discount tickets for making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 14. Queen Mary’s ScotsFestival & International Highland Games XXV returns February 17-18 to celebrate 25 years of the annual event with an array of authentic Scottish activities, athletics, dancing, entertainment, drinks and cuisine. Check for discount tickets for making your purchase. DISCOUNTED(via Goldstar) 15. The 40z & Waffles Brunch Series is back for NBA All-Star Weekend. Not your ordinary Sunday Funday, attendees will enjoy brunch, cocktails, a surprise live performance and more at Viva Hollywood. Early-bird tickets are currently $40. 16. The American Youth Symphony celebrates Bernstein’s centennial with a free concert at Royce Hall this Saturday. FREE 17. The J. Paul Getty Museum will host a handful of free events to celebrate the Getty Center’s 20th anniversary, this Saturday and Sunday will host Afro-Cuban percussionist Francisco Aguabella (1925-2010) with two performances featuring Latin jazz standards and Aguabella’s original compositions. The series will run through May 20. FREE 18. The St. Valentine’s Day Speakeasy Party & Pie Fight hosted by Roaring 20’s Street Jams is a throw back extravaganza with music, dance, cocktails, a staged reenactment of the historic St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and one epic pie fight to close out the night. Check for discount tickets for making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 19. Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles will host an opening reception for Geta Brătescu. The Leaps of Aesop, the first Los Angeles solo show focusing on the work of the 92-year-old pioneer of Romanian Conceptualism. FREE 20. There’s a midnight showing of indie flick Once Upon A Superhero at the Hollywood Playhouse theatre. The screening will also have various live entertainment, music, comedy, a 420 market and food vendors. 21. Comedy show that’s BYOB and dog friendley? Yup On Deck Comedy is just that and they’ll be performing at the Nerdist Showroom this Saturday. 22. Long Beach Mardi Gras takes over Shoreline Village with a full day of music, dance, parades, and more. The party is free to attend and guests are encouraged to dress up. FREE 23. See My Neighbor Totoro in 35mm at the Aero Theatre this Saturday. Sunday February 18th, 2018 24. The Great Boozy Bake Off will take place at Angel City Brewery in DTLA this Sunday. The bake off will feature bakers testing their skill at incorporating booze into cupcakes, candies, breads and more. A $2o ticket gets you a sampling of all the contestants creations and all proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There will also be games, a cookie-decorating station and more to be announced. Beer is not included in the ticket price. 25. FLAX Project presents “The Dialectic of the Stars,” a free art festival taking place at five iconic venues in Los Angeles in the month of February. The festival will feature stimulating arts events incorporating cinema, music, mobile artworks, a concert of motorcycles, dance and more. This Friday the event continues at Ford Theatres with installations and performance throughout venue. FREE 26. The New Bad Boys of Magic have got some dirty tricks up their sleeves at Hollywood’s Three Clubs Cocktail Lounge this Sunday. These boys are fresh off of their sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival so expect some magic you’ve never seen before. 27. The Minor Threat art exhibit pays homage to the 80’s straight edge band of the same name with more than a dozen artists and vendors showcasing mixed media work, plus live music. Taking place this Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at 5 Star Bar in Downtown. Tickets are $20 at the door. You can read more background here via LA Taco. 28. L.A. Stories combines writers and musicians to create a story inspired by living in Los Angeles. This music and storytelling show will have performances about the L.A. droughts, celebrities, dating in L.A. moving to L.A. and more. Schedule provided by We Like LA. Stock markets drop over 10% in two weeks – A 10% drop officially is termed “a correction.” This week was a very volatile week for stocks. The markets had the two highest point drops ever this week. There were several reasons experts cited. Some experts feel that stocks were simply overbought and had just risen too high too quickly. Some said that the administration promoting the rise in stocks may have oversold the strength, which is now correcting. Interest rates were also a concern, as higher rates increase borrowing costs to companies. The reason rates are rising is because investors are fearing higher inflation. They feel that the tax cuts basically stimulates the economy at a time when the economy is already quite strong. Usually, tax cuts occur when the economy is slow to try to stimulate it. The budget passing today has also been a concern as it massively increased spending. The increased spending will also stimulate the economy. At a time when unemployment is at a 17 year low and the economy is strong, it is feared that the tax cuts and extra spending will overheat the economy causing inflation, which increases interest rates. Both the extra spending and tax cuts also explode an already high deficit, which will increase the amount of bonds the government will need to sell to fund the deficit spending. This will also drive rates higher. Lastly, Jerome Powell took over Monday as the new Chairman of The Federal Reserve. It is widely felt that Mr. Powell is more adverse to the risk of inflation than Janet Yellen, his predecessor, and plans to increase rates at a quicker pace than Ms. Yellen would have. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 24,190.90, down from last week’s close of 25,520.96. After dropping 5.2% this week and 4.1% last week, it’s now down 2.1% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,619.55, down from 2,762.13 last week. It lost 5.2% this week and 3.9% last week. It’s down 2% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 6,874.49, down from 7,240.95 last week. It dropped 5.1% this week, after falling 3.5% last week. It is down 0.4% year-t- date.
Treasury Bond Yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.83%, almost unchanged from 2.84% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.14%, up from 3.08% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates. Mortgage rates higher this week – The February 8, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.33%, up from last week’s 4.22%. The 15-year fixed was 3.77%, up from 3.68% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.57%, up from 3.53% last week. Author, Syd Leibovitch The intent of this “cheat-sheet” is to denote specific free days in any given month where Los Angeles museums that normally charge an admission waive their entry fees (not including parking).
For this post we’re detailing the month of February, 2018, which includes a special free admission day at LACMA for President’s Day on February 19. As always please keep in mind there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here. Enjoy! [FEB 1] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 1] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 1] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.) [FEB 1] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for March and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix) [FEB 1] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 2] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 2] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 pm) [FEB 2] Long Beach Museum of Art [FEB 6] ] Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 6] Natural History Museum [FEB 6] Page Museum at La Brea Tarpits [FEB 8] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 8] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 8] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.) [FEB 8] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 9] Long Beach Museum of Art [FEB 11] Museum of Latin American Art [FEB 11] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) [FEB 13] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long) [FEB 13] Autry Museum of the American West [FEB 15] Japanese American National Museum (all day) [FEB 15] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 15] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.) [FEB 15] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 16] Long Beach Museum of Art [FEB 18] Museum of Latin American Art [FEB 18] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) [FEB 19] Los Angeles County Museum of Art is free on President’s Day. [FEB 20] Los Angeles County Arboretum [FEB 20] South Coast Botanic Garden [FEB 20] Descanso Gardens [FEB 22] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 22] Skirball Cultural Center [FEB 22] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 22] Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.) [FEB 22] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m,) [FEB 23] Long Beach Museum of Art [FEB 25] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) [FEB 25] Museum of Latin American Art Schedule provided by We Like LA. Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome.
Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!). This weekend in L.A. (February 9-11) includes a Cupid’s Undie Run in Santa Monica, the San Gabriel Lunar Festival, a Broke Hearts Circus at Angel City Brewery, a Reggae Fest at the Queen Mary, and MUCH more. Enjoy! Friday February 9th, 20181. Visit the Skirball Cultural Center this Friday for Open Shabbat, a communal meal, held outdoors, featuring a farm-fresh vegetarian menu. This reimagined version of a Jewish ritual is meant to be a meaningful life practice for all. 2. Celebrate Valentine’s Day early at Cinespia’s special 25th anniversary screening of Poetic Justice at Downtown Los Angeles’ Palace Theater. FREE 3. The 9th Annual Edwardian Ball & World’s Faire returns to the Globe Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday buy the day before that there will be a World’s Faire held. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 4. Greenbar Distillery will open up their facility for a tour of their organic distillery. The tour is one hour long and guests will have a chance to learn about the process of spirit making and taste some of the Greenbar portfolio. NOTE: Guests can get a free distillery tour & tasting with code LAHEART when booking. 5. There’s a one-man, family-friendly adaptation of Charles Dickens Great Expectations at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. Performances will run February 8 through 11. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 6. Head to The Madelin Garden in Pasadena for high tea and a performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 7. The Last Bookstore presents a reading and discussion with Laurie Penny about the Feminist Future. Penny is an award-winning writer, critic, political journalist and author of five non-fiction books. FREE 8. The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) returns to Los Angeles February 8-19. Now in its 26th year, the 12-day festival will showcase over 100 new films and the talented artists who created them. 9. The Groundlings Theatre presents their latest main stage show, Sweet Valley Groundlingsperforming this Friday. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 10. Free admission at: Long Beach Museum of Art Saturday February 10th, 201811. See more than 100 pieces from one of America’s most iconic artists when Something Resembling Truth, a new show focusing on the work of Jasper Johns, opens at The Broad in Downtown Los Angeles on February 10. 12. Cupid’s Undie Run returns to The Victorian in Santa Monica for a “brief” run for a great cause. The event starts at the Victorian in Santa Monica, where you party, run roughly a mile, then party some more. 13. Street Food Cinema presents Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining on the big screen at Downtown Palace Theatre. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 14. The One Love Cali Reggae Fest returns to the Queen Mary in Long Beach February 10-11 for an entire weekend of dancing to your favorite reggae music on Los Angeles’ historic cruise ship. See Nas, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Matisyahu, Yellowman and more. 15. L.A.’s only live animated comedy show Picture This! is back with another free show at The Virgil. FREE 16. The 9th Annual Edwardian Ball takes over the Globe Theatre in DTLA for a whimsical celebration of art, live music, riveting theatre, fashion, literature, ballroom dancing, DJs, circus, and the beloved creations of the late, great author and illustrator Edward Gorey. The 2018 season will focus on Gorey’s story The Raging Tide: or, The Black Doll’s Imbroglio. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 17. Positive Vibes a free Silent Disco YOGA taking place at FIGat7th is an all-day outdoor party that inlcludes disco yoga, sound bath sessions, tarot card readings, Dublab music, vegan food and much more. Attendees can also enjoy temporary tattoos, body painting, DJ sets and a live band curated by Dublab, arts and crafts, vegan food and drink options, a beer garden and lounge area by Spaceland. FREE 18. The L.A. Cookie Con & Sweets Show, at the Anaheim Convention Center February 10-11 features baking demos and workshops, celebrity chefs and special guests, five different stages and hundreds of samples all day. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 19. The San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival taking place in the San Gabriel Mission District will feature a street food fair, a marketplace, carnival games, a chalk art contest, live music, and a kids’ zone. 20. Retro style aficionados can checkout the Vintage Fashion Expo at The Reef in DTLA February 10-11. Shoppers will find clothing, jewelry, and accessories from dozens of dealers. Exhibitors will showcase their vintage couture, period pieces, fine jewelry, and more from the late 18th century through the 20th century. 21. Descanso Gardens invites patrons and newcomers to visit for a day and give back to the community during Community Service Day. FREE 22. Looking for a little free comedy this weekend in NELA? The Frogtown Show is a free monthly comedy show that takes place at Spoke Bicycle Cafe along the L.A. River. Light bites, wine and beer specials will be available for the evening. FREE Sunday February 11th, 201823. FLAX Project presents “The Dialectic of the Stars,” a free art festival taking place at five iconic venues in Los Angeles in the month of February. The festival will feature stimulating arts events incorporating cinema, music, mobile artworks, a concert of motorcycles, dance and more. This Friday the event kicks off at Lloyd Wright’s iconic Sowden House in Los Feliz. FREE 24. Angel City Brewery’s festival for the lovelorn, the Broken Hearts Circus, returns to Downtown Los Angeles for a lively pre-Valentine’s Day bash. Enjoy games from Two Bit Circus, a stilt walker, circus performances from TRIBE, artisan vendors, food and live music. It’s free to attend. FREE 25. Take free dance lessons with Debbie Allen at The Wallis. The famed actress/dancer/choreographer will teach a salsa class this Sunday. FREE 26. Le Salon de Musiques presents a stage free chamber musical experience with champagne and high tea to follow at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 27. The Skirball and LA’s oldest literary arts organization, Beyond Baroque will celebrate it’s fiftieth anniversary with an afternoon of readings and discussion focused on the legacy of writer-activist James Baldwin. Alfre Woodard will host the program, which includes remarks by LA poet laureate Robin Coste Lewis and performances of Baldwin’s work by actor Jussie Smollet. FREE 28. The Seventh Annual Chinese New Year Celebration in Beverly Hills taking place at the Saban Theatre will feature the “Charming Jing-Jin-Ji” variety show with live acrobatics, musical performances and more. 29. Friendship Buddies is a weekly stand-up comedy show at the Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park. Come hangout in the back patio, enjoy a cocktail, and LOL to outstanding stand-up comedians in Los Angeles. FREE 30. Free admission at: Museum of Latin American Art and Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can) Schedule provided by We Like LA. 200,000 new jobs created in January – wages rise at highest pace since 2009 – The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that U.S. employers added 200,000 new jobs in January. That beat experts expectations of 180,000. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. Wages were the highlight of the report, as average hourly wages rose 2.9% compared to one year ago. It was the largest year-over-year increase since 2009. December 2017’s average hourly rate was 2.6% higher than last December, so a 2.9% increase took experts by surprise.
Stocks posted their worst week since January 2016 – After four straight weeks of gains, stocks gave up much of those gains for the year in the first weekly drop for U.S. indexes in 2018. Most of the concern this week centered around the prospects of higher interest rates, which increase borrowing costs for corporations. Key developments were: The administration has begun to institute some tariffs on some goods imported to help U.S. manufacturers. So far it’s mainly solar panels and washing machines, but analysts feel there will be more products added. This was very positive for U.S. companies that make solar panels and washing machines, but is expected to increase the cost of those items to consumers. As more items get added that increases costs of those items, which increases the prospect of higher inflation. Higher inflation leads to higher interest rates. Later in the week Jay Powell, who was confirmed last week as the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve, who is replacing Janet Yellen, made comments which seemed to signal that he will be more hawkish on increasing short term interest rates. Finally, on Friday the January jobs report suggested that wages were beginning to rise at a more healthy rate. That will give people more spending power and also increases the risk of inflation, which will put even more pressure on The Fed to raise rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 25,520.96, down from last week’s close of 26,616.71. After dropping 4.1% this week, it’s still up 3.2% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,762.13, down from 2,872.77 last week. It lost 3.9% this week, but it’s still up 3.3% year to date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,240.95, down from 7,507.77 last week. It dropped 3.5% this week, but it is still up 4.9% year-to-date. Treasury Bond Yields – Bonds reacted negatively to the wage increase in the jobs report on Friday and rates surged for the day, as higher wages lead to higher inflation. It’s possible bond yields will settle a little lower as the numbers digest. Obviously, future months year over wage comparisons will determine if January’s increase is a trend or was just an outlier. The February jobs report will now be highly anticipated by bond investors. The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.84%, up sharply from 2.66% last week. The 10-year reached the highest level since 2014. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.08%, up from 2.91% last week. We watch bond rates because mortgage rates follow bond rates. Mortgage rates higher this week – Although rates are at the highest level in one year, they are still near historic lows. The February 1, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.22%, up from last week’s 4.15%. The 15-year fixed was 3.68%, up from 3.62% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.53%, up from 3.52% last week. Rates were even higher on Friday, so I’d expect them to be slightly higher again next week. This was after the jobs report showed that wages rose 2.9%, year-over-year in January, the fastest pace since 2009. Although it’s healthy for wages to rise they have been very stubborn for several years. While this was good news for the economy, it raises the prospect of inflation which has been very tame. Higher inflation causes interest rates to rise. Author, Syd Leibovitch If you’ve been anxiously awaiting more news about the local outpost of Saved by the Max — the Saved by the Bell-inspired pop-up diner that held Chicagoans in thrall for an entire year — you’re in luck. The official Los Angeles opening date of May 1 has finally been announced, and tickets went on sale Friday, February 2 at 9 a.m.
Though Saved by the Max will look like the sitcom’s The Max diner, with its neon decor, jukebox, and vintage video games, there’s more to this eatery than mere ‘90s nostalgia. Its chef-driven menu was created by Brian Fisher, who helmed the kitchen at Michelin-starred restaurant Schwa in Chicago’s Wicker Park. As in Chi-town, the menu here will offer dishes like the Kelly Kapowski Monte Cristo, A.C. Sliders, the Bayside Burger, the Preppy BLT and Mac & Screech. As we told you last fall, Saved by the Max will be located at the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center at La Brea Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. “First semester” will run through early October, with plans for the pop-up to eventually make its way around the country. Each tickets includes admission and dinner. As Saved by the Max was a smash success in Chicago, reservations are highly encouraged. Walk-ups will be limited. Article by We Like LA. |
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February 2020
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