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  t’s that time again – but who needs a written warning when you already have the alarm percussively blowing up outside your window? You’ve no doubt heard the fireworks already, even though Independence Day is still weeks away. It almost seems like they’ve just kept going straight through from last year. But LA doesn’t wait for an excuse to indulge in some light pyromania. The Dodgers won? Light some fireworks. The Dodgers lost? Light some fireworks. And the closer we get to the 4th, the more frequent (and bombastic) these amateur displays become. Now, a disturbing revelation regarding January’s nightmarish wildfires is bringing heightened tension to the fireworks Los Angeles citizens so adore. Fireworks at the Root of the Palisades Fire Photo credit: Adam Berman Will we ever definitively know what sparked the Palisades Fire at the beginning of January? It’s inspired plenty of speculation, with one of the more popular theories being that it all started with a...

  Featured image credit: 29 Palms Inn Official Site In the community of 29 Palms, an authentic desert experience doesn’t necessarily mean roughing it. This truth is artfully illustrated by the historic 29 Palms Inn, a community staple that has been serving visitors to the area since opening in 1928. At just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Joshua Tree National Park HQ & Oasis Visitor Center, and directly bordering the magnificent Oasis of Mara, it offers an authentic way to connect with the Mojave Desert without leaving your comfort zone.  A Standard 29 Palms Inn Welcome     Like a series of desert flowers blooming amidst the thorny cacti of the Mojave, the 29 Palms Inn greets travelers with pastel-painted facades of adobe, a welcoming respite from the harsh desert conditions. Pulling up to the arrangement of tiny sanctuaries introduces an unusual sensation at once novel and familiar. It’s the perfect platform for catching the e...

  It was September 2018 when California’s Governor at the time, Jerry Brown, signed SB721, the California Balcony Inspection Law. A similar law, SB326, applicable to condominiums, followed in 2019. So, why are we talking about these laws now? Because we’re just about six months away from the inspection deadline! If you’re a multi-unit property owner or you own a condo, it’s time to get acquainted with this law so you can make sure you’re compliant before accruing any costly fines.  The California Balcony Inspection Law Was Inspired by Tragedy Photo credit: Envato Before 2019, California law didn’t focus any specific attention on balconies, porches, decks, and the like. That all changed in 2015. The collapse of a balcony in Berkeley resulted in the deaths of six people, leaving another seven individuals injured. It seemed like a loss that could have been prevented. Thus, lawmakers were inspired to draft the California balcony inspection law, SB721, whi...

  Featured image credit: City of La Cañada Flintridge Perched in the rustic foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, La Cañada Flintridge (frequently shortened to La Cañada by the locals) is a city beloved by those who want seclusion without giving up the conveniences of the city. You can feel like you’re in a wooded resort in La Cañada, even though you’re still firmly in Los Angeles County. Considering a move? We’ve collected all your must-know information right here in our Neighborhood Watch. So, before you start perusing the active La Cañada homes for sale, get the details here!  The Sprawling City of La Cañada Flintridge Photo credit: Doc Searls With the 2020 census reporting just 20,573 residents, La Cañada isn’t a very densely populated city, though part of this is due to its rugged foothill terrain. In the periods when the land belonged to Spain and then Mexico, the city’s name was established as Rancho La Cañada, with the Spanish word cañada m...

  Featured image credit: MONA Glendale When Blade Runner hit theaters in June 1982, it introduced us to a portrait of LA’s dystopian future, a constant barrage of polluted rain plummeting into percussive refinery fires. And, at street level, neon as far as the eye could see. Though modern LA can at times echo the film’s art deco dystopia, they got the abundance of neon dead wrong. Fortunately, Glendale’s non-profit Museum of Neon Art is keeping the dream aglow with its vast collection of electric and kinetic curiosities. And, of course, wall-to-wall neon radiance.   An Impressive Collection of Neon Artifacts Photo credit: MONA Glendale You might want to pop on some vintage 1980s Ray-Ban Wayfarers before stepping through the curtain of the Museum of Neon Art. You could find the welcoming glow overwhelming. The admittedly tiny gallery is adorned with all manner of neon memorabilia: art, historic photos, and, of course, plenty of vintage signs. A...

  The designer numbers Elton John and Madonna among his patrons. Featured image credit: Peter Lai Designs & Asian Village We’ve sung the praises of Little Tokyo on this blog before, so don’t take this as any kind of disrespect. But if you’re looking for something truly unique, you may want to peer beyond the surface-level Little Tokyo shops to a hidden pearl that you won’t find anywhere else. Lodged between Little Tokyo and the Arts District, Peter Lai’s Asian Village is, in some ways, the closest you’ll get to an authentic Japanese or Chinese experience in LA. And in other ways, it’s unlike anywhere else in the world.  A Vision Transcending Cultures Photo credit: Peter Lai Designs & Asian Village With an illustrious three-decade career as a visionary designer and fashion trailblazer, Peter Lai seems like he descended from the stars. But he was actually born in Hong Kong in 1951 into a family of costumers working in theater, television, an...

  Featured image credit: Friends of Big Bear Valley It’s estimated that around 100,000 people flock to the mountainous resort town of Big Bear every year. Yet, your best chance of seeing the most illustrious seasonal residents is by staying glued to your computer. That’s because no one in Big Bear is as popular as the renowned bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow. Since 2017, the power couple have been the stars of a live camera situated at their nest allowing the world to watch each season as they struggle to bring new eagle fledglings into the world. It can be an emotional watch. Yet, each autumn, as Jackie and Shadow return to their stomping grounds, thousands upon thousands tune in to witness their latest 8-month chapter unfold.  Update – June 2025: And just like that, the Jackie and Shadow show is more or less concluded for the season. Both of their eaglets, eventually dubbed Sunny and Gizmo, successfully fledged by early June. Sunny was first, fol...

  It even hides a lost highway beneath its sparkling waves. Featured image credit: CraigCarter400 In the 1920s, Egyptomania was gripping the United States, Los Angeles notwithstanding. You can still see it in the architectural flourishes of the Egyptian and Vista Theaters . It’s easier to miss that LA actually has its very own pyramid, though the looming rock edifice has nothing to do with Egypt and everything to do with the area’s transit history. It still stands dominion to this day over Pyramid Lake California (not to be confused with Nevada’s landmark of the same name); a 1,360-acre manmade lake achieving depths of 700 feet, not to mention serving as a somewhat obscure recreation area.  Where is Pyramid Lake?    You may have caught glimpses of Pyramid Lake California while returning from San Francisco on the 5, just west of the freeway as you blow through Tejon Pass. But it’s not a site that you just casually stumble upon which is...

  n commercial real estate, what you see in front of you only gives you a glimpse of the full story. It’s enough to keep even the most seasoned investors on their toes. And while there are plenty of unpleasant surprises that a commercial real estate agent can help you avoid, you can also occasionally find a beneficial one. Shadow inventory could fit snugly into either category. On the one hand, it gives investors a valuable, although clandestine, opportunity, often with less competition than an officially listed property. On the other hand, it creates an uncertain portrait of the real estate market. But is shadow inventory right for you as an investor? Here’s what to keep in mind. What Defines Shadow Inventory? Photo credit: Envato As a term, shadow inventory isn’t exactly broad, but it does encompass a number of loosely related scenarios. The common denominator? Properties that are strategically held from the market for heightened control and, in many cases...