Los Angeles Dining Scene 2021 Remains a Foodie’s Paradise

 

Steven Taylor-Los Angeles Dining Scene 2021 Remains a Foodies Paradise

While Los Angeles has always been known as a foodie’s paradise, its trendy and classy restaurants weren’t exempt from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been incredible challenges that brought the industry to a temporary halt in 2020. Something that people from all over the world aren’t used to, most especially foodies situated in L.A, restaurants had to transition to continue their business through online methods of dining. Fortunately, the gradual adjustment to the post-pandemic has brought in the good news that restaurants can accommodate on-site dining. While some had to fully close down due to the economic downfall, new restaurants have opened this 2021—some of which had been long-awaited as they were set to open last year. This list of restaurants thrives in the diverse community of Los Angeles, featuring American, Brazilian, Asian, Mediterranean, and Parisian cuisines made with California’s freshest ingredients.

 

Caboco

 

Situated in Los Angeles Arts District is this artsy restaurant that combines the culture of Brazil with the touch of L.A. Brazilian chefs and business partners, Rodrigo Oliviera and Victor Vasconcellos, who aim to express the Brazilian culture with flavor, talent, kindness, and art through their cuisine. “Caboco” is a term used to define the multicultural heritage of Brazilians—hence, this restaurant features a menu that highlights the Manioc root that originally originated from the Amazon region of Brazil. Manioc root is also commonly referred to as cassava, yuca, and tapioca. Their Manioc-inspired dishes include flavors extracted from its roots such as tapioca flour, tucupi, farofa, and yuca fries. To emphasize the Amazonian taste further, fruits and wild vegetables sourced from the region are used in their dishes—including the plant Barbados Gooseberry that is termed as ora-pro-nobis, which translates to “pray for us” in Brazil. Along with their strong-flavored food are Brazil’s classic cocktails and international cocktails mixed with cachaça. 

 

A restaurant that captivates dinners and passers-by through the interior and exterior designs from various spectacular artists of L.A to match the vibe of the Arts District. In a nutshell, Caboco brings people on a journey that allows them to get a taste of the multicultural Brazilian lifestyle and cuisine.

 

Winston House

 

Located in the heart of Venice Boardwalk, Winston House is an intimate supper club owned by Corey McGuire and Jake Matthews. A space that they define as a Home for Music will feature live music from various artists such as Ed Sheeran, Este Haim, Hozier, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Majid Jordan, and many more. The design of this space is a powerhouse that gives off the classic American and Asian atmosphere. In terms of their menu, similar to its design, they brought in the classic American flavors combined with Chinese and Japanese ingredients—popular yet unique dishes such as Chips & Dip with Yuzu Sour Cream, Shrimp Toast with Maple Chili Glaze, Mighty Duck Tacos with Plum Sauce, and Chicken Nuggets with Sansho Salt, and etc. Of course, it doesn’t end with that, they also produced a lobby bar, Winston express, performance room, and mezzanine lounge to cater to a wide range of audiences.

 

An intricately designed restaurant and bar with live music, Winston House seeks to create a community space for artists and music lovers.

 

A.O.C Brentwood

 

A newly opened restaurant in Brentwood—the second location following their spot in West Hollywood, is owned by Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne. As they are both highly experienced chefs and foodies that are passionate about healthy sustainable food, they headline a menu that contains Mediterranean-inspired dishes. To combine their expertise, Caroline includes her finest and indulgent selection of wine while Suzanne brings in her market-driven small plates menu.

 

With the best tasting and looking dishes in a rustic yet classy restaurant, foodies from Brentwood and other parts of L.A. will surely have a new go-to dining spot to destress with their loved ones.

 

Bicyclette

 

A Parisian-inspired restaurant established by Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke emphasizes their cuisine on Paris’s quintessential bistro culture and California’s fresh ingredients. With their numerous experiences from visiting and cooking in France, they create a restaurant that embraces the roots, traditions, and techniques of French cuisine. They bring in their culinary passion along with their trained skills to the L.A. community for an authentic dining experience.

 

The place offers two dining spaces, Bicyclette Bistro and Bicyclette Restaurant. What’s surprising about this is that Walter Manzke designed the place himself, it features a wood-lined ceiling, wooden furniture, and pistachio-colored walls that exude refreshing energy. Diners will certainly feel as if they are immersed in Paris while having delicious dishes that play with the flavors of Parisian and Californian cuisine.

 

 

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on September 28, 2021.

Top 7 Reasons To Love Los Angeles

 

Steven Taylor L.A. , CA

When thinking about Los Angeles, the most stereotypical things come into mind. There are labels for everything, for its people, cultures, attractions, and cuisines. There are also social norms that lead people to assume how “L.A.” it is—like the sunny weather, beaches full of laidback surfers or health nuts, and the streets with rich celebrities or eye-catching models. While it also sounds too good to be true, those are undeniably accurate; and while that is the case, L.A. is not just “typical” because it’s actually full of atypical elements and characters that make it soulful—making it the best city to live in. Here is a list of the top seven reasons to love Los Angeles.

 

Warm weather

Almost everyone raves about the perfect weather in Los Angeles. With a temperature that typically varies from 15°C to 30°C year-round, people don’t have to worry about reaching past freezing temperatures as compared to other cities in the country. The idea of summer in L.A. is like a normal concept for its community. They can do about everything under the sun or hang by the parks and beaches at any time of the day.

 

Beaches

Along with the warm temperatures, Los Angeles is also filled with beaches that are easily accessible. Its beaches are not only gorgeous but also beaming with energy. Venice Beach is full of excitement, Santa Monica State Beach never gets boring, Carbon Beach is the area of the ultra-wealthy, while Malibu Beach is the best place to relax or surf. Those are just the well-recognized beaches but there are a lot more that’s worth the visit. Indeed, even L.A.’s beaches are beaming with diversity—something that its community is already used to witnessing.

 

Food

Los Angeles has always been known as a foodie’s paradise. It is home to one of the most sensational restaurants in the country. The trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants are either born in this area or eventually put up a branch in this area. The food scene is simply glorious that people can find any kind of cuisine—from Thai Town to Little Armenia to Koreatown to Little Tokyo to Little Ethiopia. The array of international cuisine makes it exciting while the typical Western cuisine is always within reach. Furthermore, the restaurant scene is replete with eccentricity as it can go from food trucks to 5-star restaurants. Just like how Eater L.A. puts it into a nutshell, “At its core, the city’s far-flung neighborhoods, cultures, and flavors coalesce into an array of culinary boundary-bending restaurants that make it the most compelling place to dine in America.”

 

Diversity

Los Angeles is also the home to different cultures, norms, and lifestyles. Because it is more populous than the 42 other individual states, it is not surprising how diversity best describes the city. According to recent demographics, it is “home to people from over 140 countries who speak 224 languages” with Ethnic communities like Koreatown, Chinatown, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, and Little Tokyo—showing how multilingual and cultural Los Angeles is. Imagine being in a place where people are surrounded by various ethnicities and languages—there’s just so much to learn and experience.

 

Individuality

While Los Angeles is widely recognized for the neighborhood of Hollywood, it’s not just about the rich and famous flocking the area. Even though that is common, the city has always been a place where you could never really define people in a single nutshell. There are celebrities who casually walk the streets, hippies who march to the beat of their own drum, vegans who inspire others through their way of life, aspiring artists who go for every opportunity, and the laidbacks who give off the typical L.A. vibe.

 

Arts and Culture

Los Angeles is the city of the arts and culture—a city of dreamers. People tend to relocate here given that there is an abundance of opportunities to make it big financially or artistically. It is overflowing with talent that continually encourages people to work hard, think creatively, and live independently. It has too many to offer that living in this city feels like living multiple identities because it’s that exciting to pursue everything in between.

 

Events and Activities

Los Angeles is as soulful as it can get. There are a number of events that take place every week, from festivals, to exhibits, to parades, to fairs, to shows. It is impossible to run out of things to see or do in a city that is boasting of talents and unique characters. While on the way to a destination, it’s normal to bump into a thrilling event full of food, live music, and other performances that would most likely lead to a change of plans. – Steven Taylor

 

Originally published at https://www.reddit.com.

Steven Taylor on Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

 

Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

Los Angeles never runs out of beautiful destinations and exciting adventures that suit the likes of various families. With the crisis that the pandemic brought over the past year, providing children with a safe and healthy environment has been the focus of most families. It is also undeniable that the kids missed the normal way of life where they get to freely interact with their friends, roam around in the city, or have escapades in the heart of nature. With various sites back to business in L.A., coming up with family-friendly activities that bursts with adventure will no longer be a problem.

 

This list of activities highlights unique yet educational activities that are perfect for kids of today’s generation. A time away from the gadgets and a much-needed immersive experience are all they need to recognize the natural beauty that the Earth freely offers.

 

Go glamping

When planning a getaway with the family, packing the things alone may be fun but it’s undeniable that it is quite exhausting especially when the kids are too busy daydreaming or asking questions about the trip. Going camping means rearranging all the things again while building the actual tent—another task that can get stressful. Nowadays, families would rather just relax and destress without having to worry about all those ruckuses. This is when glamping comes into the picture; experiencing the great outdoors and connecting with nature on a beautiful tent that has already been set up with luxuries and accommodations similar to a hotel room. Unlike going on a camping trip, glamping means not having to stress about finding the perfect location or packing all the basic necessities.

 

A popular glamping site in Los Angeles is La Boheme Living. It features an urban safari tent experience in a private residence that is just a few miles away from Dodger Stadium. It is already equipped with everything from air-conditioning, comfy bed, wifi, hairdryers, shower with a heater to barbecue facilities and chimineas that can be used at all times. They also have opportunities for biking, hiking, playing tennis that will surely be well-loved and enjoyed by the kids. What makes this place even better is that they can book a personal masseuse once requested—something that most parents would appreciate at the end of a tiring day. Furthermore, the site also stated that they have free-roaming friendly cats, chickens, raccoons, and opossums that love to hang out on the porch. This unique bohemian glamping site is an experience that families will surely look forward to or even look back on when they want to unwind.

 

Meet the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm

Locally rescued animals such as dogs, goats, chickens, tortoises, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, horses, and birds are being taken care of at Kfar Saba Urban Farm in the Winnetka neighborhood of Los Angeles. They provide a private COVID-19 safe tour where families can learn more about each of the animals. The kids would have the opportunity to interact with various animals as they gain knowledge on how to properly take care of or handle them with love and care. Of course, kids are also known to be curious about animals, hence, this is an educational experience that they would surely love and appreciate.

 

Explore Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

While Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are located in Arcadia, it’s only less than an hour away from Los Angeles. An earthy destination that is worth traveling to as it features a beautiful 127-acre botanical garden and historical site. The Arboretum Foundation Board and senior staff team established this arboretum with a mission to cultivate natural, horticultural, and historic resources for learning, enjoyment, and inspiration; they also have the vision to serve as a resource for environmental stewardship and education in the sciences and history. The arboretum includes plant collections from all over the world, historical architectural landmarks, wildlife sanctuary, crescent farm, and the Baldwin lake. They also hold activities such as yoga in the garden, sound baths, forest bathing, and other educational exhibitions that would certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages.

 

Check out SOAR: South Coast Botanic Garden

South Coast Botanic Garden added a new experience that lets people observe the life cycle of butterflies. They have an immersive pavilion that features monarchs and mimics where SOAR guides teach them more about the butterflies. They also make sure that the butterflies are well taken care of by providing them with everything that Western Monarchs love such as the milkweed, which allows them to repopulate the butterflies. In addition, they have a SOAR garden area that contains eggs and caterpillars where people can freely recognize and understand the initial stages of a butterfly. . Steven Taylor

 

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on September 21, 2021.

Exploring Downtown Los Angeles in 2021

 

Steven Taylor LA skyline

Los Angeles is one of the most well-known cities in the world. The majority probably have an idea of it—the abundance of beaches, theme parks, nightlife, the warm weather, walk of fame, and of course, Hollywood. If anything, it sounds too good to be true but when people travel or move to Los Angeles, they quickly realize how precise those assumptions are. Living here may sound like a dream which is why it has constantly been one of the fastest-growing cities in California since 2010. Moreover, the nicknames for this city aligns with its raw elements—“City of Angels” because Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish, “City of Flowers and Sunshine” for its warm and sunny weather, “The Big Orange” due to the fact that the fruit thrives in warm climates, “Tinseltown” because of the embodiment of Hollywood, and “La-La Land” for the first letters of Los Angeles.

 

People often move here to pursue a career in the center of the rich and famous or simply to revel in a bustling city of diverse culture. The word “boredom” doesn’t exist in this city as there are many things to see and do—that even locals still revel in the beauty of this city. A walk around downtown Los Angeles is already a tour in and of itself. Here are some of the best spots that lead to a whole new adventure.

 

Grand Park

Across the City Hall of Los Angeles situates the Grand Park. This is the perfect place to unwind and relax at any time of the week as it hosts a number of performances and community events that are interesting to watch or be a part of. It gives a sense of play and romance which makes it an ideal place for both couples and families. While it is dog-friendly, another great thing about it is that dogs have their own gated dog park where they can play without being tied to their leash. Indeed, with its fountains, picnic lawns, nooks, and neon pink benches, gathering in this area can never get boring.

 

Union Station

Los Angeles Union Station was built in 1939 and is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. It has been regarded as “the last of the great railway train stations.” It also features halls, courtyards, and buildings rich in history that are a joy to wander around in despite the influx of passengers. With its signature Mission Moderne style, marble tiles, faux-wood beamed ceilings, and art decorations, it easily became one of L.A’s architectural gems.

 

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Another one of L.A’s architectural gems is Walt Disney Concert Hall. This striking building represents the unique character and creative nature of Los Angeles. Aside from the fact that it holds one of the best acoustics, this place boasts The Library of Congress/Ira Gershwin Gallery, The Blue Ribbon Garden, The W.M Keck Foundation Children’s Amphitheater, REDCAT, Patina, and LA PHIL Store. It also has self-guided audio and guided tours where people could go in-depth into its history. Walt Disney Concert Hall has also been one of the go-to places for private events and events as it has both outdoor and indoor spaces that can cater to more than thousands of guests.

 

Grand Central Market

Recognized as Downtown Los Angeles’s food court, Grand Place Market consists of different cuisines that would certainly fit the budget yet satisfy the taste buds. This has existed for decades but it’s still widely visited by people from all corners of L.A. Trendy eateries such as Eggslut, Belcampo, Wexler’s Deli, and PBJ.LA are those that are usually packed but other eateries such as Sarita’s Pupuseria and China Cafe are also worth the try. Given that the city is famous among foodies, Grand Central Market is a must-visit.

 

Angels Flight

Featured in the movie La La Land, Angel’s Flight is a fun cable railway ride built on an inclined surface. It was built in the early 1900s as a tourist attraction and a means for people to avoid the steepest streets of Downtown L.A. In addition, Angels Flight was designated as the 4th Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in August 1962 and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 2000. Riding this short train ride feels like a step back in time—it gives a unique experience that every local and tourist would regard as a practical yet beautiful way of appreciating the Los Angeles culture and lifestyle. 

COVID-19 Impact on Los Angeles Real Estate

 

Steven Taylor Los Angeles Skyline at night

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Los Angeles, known as the land of opportunities, is a paradise for real estate investors. As it is the second-largest city in the country that takes pride in its warm weather, diverse culture, and dynamic economy, it comes as no surprise that a number of people have included it in their list of best cities to move into. It remains eye-catching for prospective tenants who are searching for practicality in the so-called land of the rich and famous. With all of these in mind, the competition for real estate investments is certainly high-having a strategy that is aligned with the current pandemic situation is the key to making the right investment that can generate a great long-term return.

Like many other sectors that the COVID-19 pandemic has made an impact on, the real estate market in Los Angeles has also encountered various challenges that continue to exist today. Despite the continuous progress and developments in the business conditions for commercial real estate in Los Angeles over the years, it was not exempted from the domino effect of the pandemic. Delays and shortages in terms of project developments in the sales operation, costs estimates, and values and rates of return of existing real estate were those that had the greatest impact.

The recent survey conducted by NAIOP found that 86.6% of developers faced delays or shortages in construction supplies while some types of deal activities have doubled for office and retail properties over the last year. A decline in the leasing for existing development projects has already dropped by more than half while shortages of both construction supplies and workers were more severe than last year. Considering that the country is slowly adjusting to the post-pandemic era, they reported that all of these have remained unchanged since June 2020.

On the other hand, the recent real estate forecast in Los Angeles has shown signs that it is ready to bounce back in the market. Mastroeni (2021) reported that rental vacancies have increased by 2.5% which meant that rental rates are also down-but only by 0.4%. This may come as good news for real estate investors given the awareness that it may likely be a short-term impact. Given the remote working environment, rental vacancies were expected to rise but as L.A continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities, investors know that this will eventually decrease post-pandemic.

The Los Angeles metro area also stated that they are running on 2.2 months worth of housing inventory but it is important to point out that this is higher than the national average of 1.6 months. This simply means that despite the delays and declines in project developments, L.A can still thrive on its existing value chain while catching up on further investments. On top of that, the increase in the number of both single and multi-family housing permits can also reduce the inventory shortage in the future.

As unemployment rates are still high in Los Angeles-9.9% as of February 2021 and higher than the national average of 6.2%, investors should consider how this affects the longer rental vacancies in the area. However, it should still be noted that L.A always has its reopening plan one way or another which means that more jobs will eventually become available. It would be ideal for investors to have a strategy on how they would approach this as of the moment and in the near future.

Investors should also be aware that unemployment is still relatively high in Los Angeles, which could lead to longer vacancies. As of February 2021, the unemployment rate is 9.9%, a figure that is up 5.6% since the same time last year and is significantly higher than the national average of just 6.2%. Still, as LA prepares to enter the next phase of its reopening plan, odds are that many more jobs will become available and the rate should begin to drop.

With that in mind and the fact that L.A real estate market is not the most affordable in the country, investors should concentrate on the fact that there’s still an abundance of investment opportunities for those who can afford the median price of over 700K. It is also worth noting that some neighborhoods in L.A are much cheaper and completion between buyers is lesser. Flipping houses may come to a halt but this should not prevent real estate investors from focusing their investments on rental properties instead. — Steven Taylor

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Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on September 14, 2021.