by Dennis Richardson | Jun 3, 2022
With warmer weather comes summer brunches! LAVO Ristorante, which opened on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip this past spring, is expanding their hours and introducing brunch and lunch menus later this month at the stunning 250-seat restaurant. Featuring a fully retractable rooftop for optimal daytime, alfresco dining, the restaurant is expected to pull in large crowds for their new offerings, which simply can’t be ignored.
Kicking off on Saturday, June 18th, LAVO Ristorante’s new brunch menu includes Southern Italian twists on classics, such as a Zucchini Blossom Torta, Nizzarda Salad with grilled tuna and baby lettuces, and a Prime Burger with burrata and Calabrian chili passata. Refreshing brunch cocktails, coffee service from Lamill, and playful touches like custom latte art and a tableside Sfogliatelle Cart with fresh squeezed juices and Italian pastries round out the sunlit dining experience. Brunch will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-2pm. Reservations open Saturday, June 4th.
On Monday, June 20th, LAVO Ristorante will begin a lunch service, Monday through Friday, from 11am-2pm. With the introduction of lunch, LAVO Ristorante will now be open 7 days a week and offer a new three course, prix-fixe lunch menu ($31.50) which reflects a lighter, pared down version of the restaurant’s robust dinner menu. Selections include seasonally-inspired salads, whole grain wood-fired pizzas, house made pasta specialties, fresh seafood such as Grilled Branzino and Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, and decadent desserts. Reservations for lunch open Tuesday, June 7th. A la carte options are also available for both lunch and brunch.
It’s going to be a long summer, which means you’ve got plenty of opportunities to come back and try out all the new offerings. Reservations can be made here.
by Dennis Richardson | Jun 3, 2022
Summer shopping season is in full swing, and if there’s anything to make a shopping frenzy inescapable, it’s Wolf & Badger. Los Angeles is especially in for a special treat, as the platform brings a traditional shopping experience to the West Coast.
That’s right – the global platform for over 1,800+ independent designers that provides an effortless way to shop sustainably and ethically-produced pieces, is making its way to the West Coast with the opening of its first LA store, and its second US location, on June 3rd!
Wolf & Badger has become a go-to for stylish consumers and celebrities alike, who value quality, uniqueness and authenticity. This new single-level West Hollywood store, which occupies 1,600 square feet on Melrose Avenue, will allow LA customers to shop the platform’s array of sustainably and ethically-produced jewelry, fashion, accessories, homeware and beauty products in-person — for the first time ever. The space will also play host to a series of ongoing activations, including workshops, product launches and styling events.
The store’s design itself is of balanced restraint, drawing inspiration from W&B’s London and NYC flagship stores while reflecting the uplifting mood of LA. Greenery fills the space, offering a sense of calm, while the store’s open layout and minimalistic design lends full attention to their selection of brands that showcase the finest talent from around the world. W&B’s core values of ethics and sustainability are at the heart of the store. Tables, countertops and millwork have been created utilizing recycled post-industrial waste materials from Durat Palace and Plasticiet, while cork and natural wool fibers have also been utilized in the bespoke furniture items installed throughout the space, including benches and sofas.
This opening follows a year of tremendous online growth in the US, with sales surpassing $100M. What’s more, W&B has delivered a 100%+ compound annual growth rate from 2017-2021 and continues to see YoY sales growth in the high double digits.
About Wolf & Badger
Wolf & Badger is a B-corp certified global platform for independent designers that provides an effortless way to shop sustainably and ethically-produced jewelry, fashion, accessories, homeware and beauty. Founded in 2010 by brothers, George and Henry Graham, Wolf &Badger aims to foster a community for local brands, who produce in small batches, to create a more human-centered approach to retail. W&B emphasizes the creators, the stories behind products and their uniqueness, rather than framing products around trends. The site is home to over 1,800 independent brands and the retailer’s unique model offers innovative online and offline creative spaces to showcase the finest talent from around the world; customers can follow the journey of an item and even interact with its creator through in-store events. The platform also offers informative and truthful editorial, highlighting the reasons why they work with the brands they do, and why they offer the products they offer. W&B is beloved by consumers and celebrities alike, counting Gigi & Bella Hadid, Elsa Hosk, Leona Lewis, Madelyn Cline and more as supporters.
by Joe Winkler | Jun 3, 2022
As the state of California enters its third year of a drought, the driest on record, Southern California homeowners are hearing more and more about the need to conserve water and the threat of water restrictions. The increased temperatures and lack of rainfall plague the state and keep communities on alert about state guidelines and what to do to protect their property’s landscaping. This is especially true for HOAs as they make ongoing decisions about maintaining community common areas and deciding how to adapt to the warmer months ahead.
The Driving Force Behind California Drought Guidelines
Effective June 1, 2022, a large portion of Southern California will be affected by drought restrictions when it comes to landscaping irrigation. The affected area spans a population of approximately six million people and will apply to various areas in Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties. This unprecedented decision from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is the first step to best managing areas that largely depend on water from the drought-ravaged State Water Project which has left some reservoirs in Southern California with a limited supply of water.
In past administrations, restriction guidelines have been decided statewide by the governor. However, currently, the state government’s plan is to leave water allocations and restrictions up to water wholesalers to determine a path forward. The action plan currently in place for the initial round of affected areas involves restricting outdoor water usage to one day a week or facing fines for noncompliance. Larger cutbacks may occur where there’s a higher need for irrigation for areas like the Imperial Valley which could affect Inland Empire property management and their communities, among others.
Most Affected Areas
As a baseline, imported water that comes in from Northwest California is referred to as “SWP” water. SWP stands for “State Water Project” and is a series of canals and reservoirs that transport water from as far north as Lake Oroville, located north of Sacramento, and delivers water to the farmland of the Central Valley and ends in Southern California.
The SWP provides about 30% of the water used in Southern California regions, although some water agencies use more than others. The emergency measures to “reduce non-essential water use” in certain areas require cities and smaller water suppliers that rely on water from the Metropolitan Water District and more specifically from the SWP to start restricting outdoor watering to one day a week or to find other ways to cut usage to a new monthly allocation limit.
Ultimately, the state of California and the water districts need to ensure there will be sufficient water to irrigate crops that our state relies upon to supply much of the rest of the country with foods that only grow in our climate. These crops have a large impact on the state’s gross domestic product and are imperative to our economy.
Inland areas with hotter temperatures are the first to be affected by the new regulations. Due to cooler temperatures and moisture produced by the ocean, along with more robust local supplies coastal areas have not been as impacted as heavily yet. The upcoming drought restrictions will affect those who live in water districts that rely on SWP water, which include whole or parts of:
- LA Department of Water and Power
- Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
- Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
- Inland Empire Utilities Agency
- Calleguas Municipal Water District
- Three Valleys Municipal Water District
Many think the state’s water system is one large, interconnected pipeline. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. These affected areas don’t have sufficient well water or other tangible sources to make up for the lack of water. For instance, these agencies don’t have a connection to the other major source of imported water from the Colorado River. So, where does the water come from?
Where Water in Southern California Is Sourced
Southern California uses multiple sources of water, the five main sources are well water, imported water from northwestern California, water from northeastern California, water imported water from the Colorado River, and recycled water. Many water districts use water from various sources; however, some depend on certain sources more than others.
Water that comes from the Colorado River starts its journey to Southern California from Lake Havasu at the Parker Dam. This water starts as far northeast as the Rocky Mountains and flows through Utah, Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, etc. The endpoint is Lake Mathews near Corona; although, some is channeled to San Diego. As noted above, water from the western Sierra Mountains comes via the SWP, and water from the Owens Valley comes into Los Angeles via the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Water is also sourced from local rainfall that is recharged into the aquifer to be pumped from local wells to supply a significant amount. Commercial and HOA landscaping can use recycled water where the infrastructure exists.
Metropolitan Water District of Orange County is the largest wholesaler in the Orange County region and receives most of its water supply from ground wells; approximately 35% from imported water supplies not including SWP water. The water collected from this system is mainly from rain and snowpack melted off from local mountains that flows west toward the ocean filling the underground aquifer along the way. Many areas of the Inland Empire do not have as robust ground well supplies but they are more closely connected to the Colorado River Aqueduct and house the storage reservoirs for this resource.
Southern California is no stranger to drought, and HOAs that are proactive can feel better prepared if and when restrictions are enforced. By being strategic with drought-sensitive landscaping and maintaining ongoing communication with homeowners regarding new, albeit temporary, regulations or restrictions, they can help keep communities looking beautiful and property values intact.
Author: Joe Winkler
Joe Winkler, CMCA is an accomplished and creative marketing executive with proven success in marketing projects, public relations, operations and sales with over 10 years of professional community management experience. As President for HOA management company, Keystone, Joe is responsible for overseeing the firm’s daily operations.
Sources:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-26/drought-order-limits-outdoor-watering-souther-california
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8553.pdf
https://abc7.com/southern-california-water-restrictions-drought-mwd/11798774/
Cover Photo by Pixabay from Pixels.
by Dennis Richardson | Jun 2, 2022
If you’ve been set on getting your summer body before things warm up, you’d be glad to know that there’s also a brand out there to help accentuate that body! Recently, SET Active, welcomed their 4th birthday with Uncle Paulie’s, including a 3-day celebration and a collaborative, limited-edition sandwich. Some guests also went home with special goodie bags!
The cult-favorite athleisure brand continues elevating everyday essentials through fashion-meets-function apparel, and a shared love for all things movement, as shown by their latest release to further celebrate their birthday. In a true celebration of this one-of-a-kind community, SET Active has curated an exclusive drop to bring back three fan-favorite styles and an exclusive accessory you just can’t leave the party without snagging.
The lineup includes the Jay Top, The Box X Bra, and Circle Logo Sweat, and three archived color-ways — Twilight, Crush & Palm. The SET Active 4th Birthday Collection will also include a trucker hat featuring the brand’s original circle logo from 2017 for some added festive flair.
Launched in 2017 by social media maven, Lindsey Carter, SET Active is powered by a uniquely true connection with their customers and commitment to delivering exactly what she wants. Incredibly, community feedback has driven all innovation, product developments and launches over the last four years, spelling great success for the brand.
Known for drops that sell out within hours, this capsule will be no exception. The SET Active 4th Birthday Collection is LIVE NOW and can be purchased at SetActive.co.
