Category Archives: Featured

Upcoming Conferences

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Between January 14 and 18th, the National Farmers Union (NFU) 2018 Women’s Conference will take place.  Held in San Diego, CA, the theme this year is Women in Leadership.  Given the work women have already put in within the agricultural industry, at this conference the NFU hopes to build on this idea, assisting participants in developing their own future in this area.  In particular, the issues covered will be: business planning, innovative marketing and networking.

The first Freeform Summit will take place in Los Angeles in a few weeks’ time. Scheduled for January 18, this daylong event will comprise panel discussions on: activism, representation in TV, social change and other aspects impacting youth today.  This year the event is going to be instead of its presentation that Freeform would have given at the Television Critics Association press tour.

Next month will see a Las Vegas summit organized by the  Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.  The 2018 D.I.C.E. Summit (#DICE18) event will take place February 20-22, 2018.  Participants will include: video game creators and executives who will benefit from the networking event while hearing from key speakers discuss the theme of the conference – Made Better – which will focus on the biggest trends and ideas in the industry today.

Is LA Smoking?

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Los Angeles will be the first US city to get its own “bank;” a way for marijuana dispensary operators to access banking services.

A few months ago, a proposal was put forward by Herb Wesson (Council President) to create a public Bank of Los Angeles for this purpose in the hope of establishing a working “legal cannabis industry” for the city.  He explained:

“We cannot bury our heads in the sand on the issue of recreational and medical cannabis legalization. Instead we must strive to reasonably regulate the emerging industry while creating opportunities for Angelenos,” adding that the bank could also be used to “finance local entrepreneurs and affordable housing.”

As such, earlier this month, Malibu’s 99 High Tide Collective became the first address to work with under a cannabis business license in the county, leading the way for the region to become “the capital of cannabis.”  As Forbes contributor Debra Borchadt pointed out, even though Colorado was the place that initially resulted in publicity for legal cannabis, from a business perspective it will now likely be California’s market numbers that will put LA on the cannabis map.

LA Makes it to “Top 10 Best City Brands”

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Not that this is the first year for the city of Angels to have made it to the list but still, it is impressive and positive that LA has taken second place in America in Resonance Consultancy’s study. With its perfect climate and revitalized downtown area, Los Angeles is the place to be.

So what makes LA such a great place to live?  There is the cuisine, which Donal Skehan is trying to move away from the reputation the nation has earned over the years of being fast food and unhealthy. In his latest cookbook ‘Eat. Live. Go.  – Fresh Food Fast,’ he transforms the buttery, cholesterol-building popcorn into a superfood with a sprinkling of turmeric, spirulina powder, cayenne pepper and smoked paprika. But it’s not all health-focused.  His main idea is balance:  go for the green shake but don’t forget your lemon tart seems to be his philosophy.

And then there is the environment. The city is most committed to setting and reaching sustainability goals.  One example of this is its electric car-sharing pilot program it has set up in disadvantaged neighborhoods.  It is trying to decrease the carbon footprint of the its more cumbersome, older buildings.  In this venture, the Mayor put in place two acts which were recently passed by the City Council.

Of course when we talk about LA we cannot omit the culture of the city. In particular, Art Los Angeles Contemporary  (ALAC) is, in 2017, welcoming a whole slew of new galleries from throughout Latin America and Asia.  It is anticipated that this will be its  most varied fair yet.  It has already garnered substantial global interest and simultaneously will remain with a unique LA flavor since 27 out of the 62 participants are from the West Coast metropolis, with director Tim Fleming saying it represents a snapshot of LA artistic production.

So LA has a lot to offer. It isn’t perfect but it certainly seems to have something for almost everyone.

Check Out Parachute

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beddingParachute – the direct-to-consumer bedding and home goods startup is attempting to give its customers the opportunity to try out the products before purchasing.  Its high quality goods are manufactured in Italy and sold both online and in its showroom in Venice, California.

Although the firm was launched two years ago, it now has a new hotel 2,200 square foot penthouse hotel.  At this venue, customers are able to try out the sheets. This is because the towels, bedding, mattress pads and more are all used for the customers in the hotel.  Then, if they like what they are using, they have the opportunity to purchase the stuff afterwards.

According to Ariel Kaye the firm’s CEO and founder, they are doing this to provide “an opportunity for our community to engage with Parachute in a new and exciting way. We wanted to create a space that would feel comfortable not only for a group of thirty, but also for a couple looking to relax on vacation and to experience Venice like locals.”

LA Fleet Week

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fleetSan Pedro is the host of LA’s first Fleet Week.  With military ships docking at its port over Labor Day weekend, the public were able to go on a tour of the naval vessels (including the Iowa battleship, Wayne E. Meyer missile destroyer and ship America), checking out some of the 1,500 sailors and military personnel.  There were search-and-rescue demos from the Coast Guard, military aircraft aerial demos and more.

While Fleet Weeks have been popular for many decades in other cities (like New York, San Diego and San Francisco), this is a first for LA, being termed a “new end-of-summer tradition” for one of America’s busiest container ports.  While the Port of LA has hosted Navy Days L.A. for the last ten years which is similar to Fleet Week showcasing Navy and Marine Corps activities, it is not on the same scale as Fleet Week.  Due to efforts from military and civilian agencies which requested an amplification of the festivities, Navy Days was changed to Fleet Week.

Events during the week are free and open to the public, to celebrate sea services that dates back to World War II and has been hailed as a Naval-American tradition.

Happy 235th Birthday LA

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cyclistsAs a way of marking 235 years of Los Angeles, hundreds of proud Los Angeleans retraced the 9-mile route original settlers walked all those years ago from the San Gabriel Mission to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Marching along Mission Road, via Lincoln Park and over the LA River to the LA Plaza Historic District downtown, the participants noted how different the walk was from the one their ancestors engaged in, primarily because they had no idea what they would find on their trail.

This time too, the sound of drums filled the air, “Celebrate Our Heritage Walk and Bike to L.A., and thereafter, a ceremony and presentation were held at the final stop.   In addition, the Marian Procession and Votive Mass engaged in their own celebrations marking the milestone, given that it was named for Mary, Queen of Angels. Open to the public, the festivities were put on by the Queen of Angels Foundation and a Votive Mass was held at 3pm at the Cathedaral of Our Lady of the Angels. Thereafter there was a Grand Marian Procession to Our Lady Queen of Angels Church and the La Placita at Olvera Street. The festivities finished at 5.15 with a blessing.