🪂 Tom Cruise, Costco, and better recycling.

Welcome to your bite-sized Valley update for August 8, 2024.

On Sunday, August 11, Tom Cruise is planning an epic stunt for the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony.

He will rappel down the side of Stade de France, an 80,000-person football stadium, while carrying the Olympic flag.

Then, the ceremony will cut to a pre-recorded video of Tom Cruise jumping out of an airplane over Los Angeles. He’ll skydive and land by the Hollywood sign.

Didn’t he kinda do that in Mission Impossible 5?

This new stunt is meant to symbolize the Olympic journey from Paris to Los Angeles before the 2028 Olympics in LA.

At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tom Cruise was in the next Olympics.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

News

🏘️ LA is leading California in the construction of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). These small units, built on the same property as existing homes, are easier to permit than new apartment buildings and are providing a much-needed increase in available rentals. I’ve seen lots of new ones in North Hollywood this year! [LA Times]

🚆 Metro is falling short of its ambitious transit goals ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Out of 28 new planned stations, 18 will be completed on time, while 10 will be finished after the Games. “When you dig, you never know what you’re going to find,” explained the project director regarding the delays. If only there was someone who could help with this impossible mission. [NBC LA]

⛽️ Costco Gas has reopened in Northridge after closing for repairs. The closure had driven members to the Van Nuys and Pacoima locations in search of Costco’s famously cheap gas. Not to be outdone, the Woodland Hills Costco gas station is now set to close for two months. This raises concerns at In-N-Out, the current record holder of “Is It a Traffic Jam? No, It’s Just a Line.” [Costco]

🌳 A self-sustaining park broke ground in Tarzana. The 1.5-acre park will collect rainwater and be powered by solar. Reseda High School will also use the park as an outdoor classroom to teach students about LA’s conservation efforts. The park is set to open in early 2025. [Patch]

🔌 A crackdown on copper wire theft has led to 80 arrests. For months, thieves have opened street lamps and telecommunications boxes to steal the valuable copper wire inside. This left some residents without power, street lights, or internet service. [LA Times]

Food and Drinks

🍕 Hot Tongue (Silver Lake) pizza pop up. A Bay-area pizza shop is stopping by for one night only, serving Detroit-style square pizzas. Vegan and gluten-free pizza too. The roof of my mouth will certainly be scorched. August 8 from 5 PM to 9 PM.

🥪 Philly Boyz (Sherman Oaks) serving authentic Philly cheese-steaks, wings, and fries from a pop up. Huge stuffed sandwiches and rave reviews. Every day after 7 PM.

☀️ Inn of the Seventh Ray (Topanga Canyon) is LA’s most romantic restaurant. Organic, bio-dynamic, and health-conscious food. All-natural meats and local vegetables. Once a sacred meeting place, then a private artist retreat, and now a serene outdoor restaurant.

Things to Do

🎥 Barbie movie (NoHo) is playing at NoHo Summer Nights in the North Hollywood park. Free movies in the park all summer long. Bring a deck chair or blanket. Who do I talk to about getting hired at beach this summer? August 10 at 8 PM. Free.

🧘 Non-profit counseling and classes (Burbank) at Scribble community center. Weekly tai chi, breathing, and arts classes. Affordable individual, couples, and family therapy. Plus, indie concerts and events. A true community center.

🎺 Live jazz (Downtown LA) on the plaza at LACMA for their summer concert series. Every Friday through September. No tickets needed. Bring a deck chair or blanket for a picnic and enjoy live music outdoors. August 9 at 6 PM. Free.

📕 The Open Book (Northridge) is a new, used, and rare bookstore that reopened in Northridge. Handpicked recommendations and independently owned. Open 10 AM to 7 PM daily.

🎳 Free bowling (Topanga) on National Bowling Day. Buy 1 hour of bowling at Pinstripes and get a free 1 hour bowling gift card. August 10 only.

🎪 Tim McGraw tribute band (Burbank). Electrifying country music band, Vegas McGraw, is coming to Burbank’s Starlight Bowl. Performing hits from McGraw, as well as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis. August 10. $23 per person.

LA By the Numbers

🏡 1 in 4 young adults between the ages of 24 and 35 still live with their parents in California. This is compared to 1 in 10 young adults in the 1990s and 1 in 20 in the 1960s. This number would be higher if my parents had an ADU, not a home-office-gym with a futon. [SF Chronicle]

🧑‍🏭 5.5% is the new unemployment rate in Los Angeles, up from 4.7% in May. Layoffs and more new workers (high school and college graduates) caused the jump. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

Random

⛽️ 7-11 convenience stores around LA will soon get Japanese-style sandwiches and snacks. In Japan, convenience stores serve high-quality pre-made food at cheap prices, popular with tourists and locals. [LA Eater]

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