April unemployment rate lowest since 2000 – The Department of Labor Statistics reported that U.S. employers added 164,000 new jobs in April. That was a little below the 190,000 that analysts expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.9%, an 18-year low.The unemployment rate has steady declined from its peak of 10% in 2009. Average hourly wages grew just 2.6% from April 2017. This was the most anticipated part of the report. Wage growth has been stagnant, which is unexpected. Usually when the unemployment rate drops there is more competition for workers and wages rise. That has not happened at the rate expected over the last 9 years. In January, wages finally began showing signs of rising when year-over-year wage growth came in at 2.9%, which surpassed analysts. Interest rates began to rise because experts felt that higher wages would give people more spending power and lead to higher inflation. Higher inflation causes interest rates to rise. Stocks slipped because higher wages raise corporate labor costs, and higher interest rates raise their borrowing costs, which lowers profits. It is beginning to appear that January’s wage gain of 2.9% may have been an atypical result, as February and March numbers showed that wages grew 2.7% and April is now back to a 2.6% year-over-year wage gain.
Stocks end week mixed in another turbulent week of trading –Despite a rally on Friday, where the DOW gained 332 points, stocks finished the week mixed. Companies reported strong third quarter earnings, but gave more cautious guidance on future profit increases. Companies expressed more caution because of increased costs of steel and aluminum due to tariffs, increased energy costs (oil prices have increased dramatically), higher interest rates and borrowing costs, and higher wages and labor costs. Friday’s jobs report revealed that wage increases are back to the levels we saw in 2016 and 2017, and not the wage increase levels we had seen at the beginning of 2018, which investors feel will lower pressure on interest rates increases. Stocks rose sharply on Friday after the jobs report was released. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 24,262.51, down from last week’s close of 24,311.19. It is down 1.8% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,663.42, almost unchanged from 2,669.91 last week. It’s down 0.4% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 7,209.62, up from 7,119.80 last week. It is up 4.4% year-to-date. Treasury Bond yields higher this week – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 2.95% almost unchanged from 2.96% last week.The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 3.12%, slightly down from 3.14% last week. Mortgage Rates slightly lower this week – The May 3, 2018 Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate average was 4.55%, down slightly from last week’s 4.58%. The 15-year fixed was 4.03%, almost unchanged from 4.02% last week. The 5-year ARM was 3.69%, down from 3.74% last week. Rates were slightly lower on Friday, so next week’s rates could be slightly lower. California’s GDP figures makes it the worlds fifth largest economy – Data released by the Commerce Department showed that California’s GDP exceeded $2.7 trillion in 2017. Only the United States, China, Japan, and Germany surpassed the economic output of California. Author, Syd Leibovitch
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Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome.
Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!). This week weekend, from Friday, May 4 to Saturday, May 6, features VRLA, Urban Death spring edition, Free Comic Book Day, Eat|See|Hear, Taco Madness, Masters of Taste, Concert in the Dome and MUCH more. Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week! Friday May 4th, 20181. VRLA: A New Reality comes to the Los Angeles Convention Center’s South Hall on May 4-5 for the ultimate experience with the next generation of immersive and transformative technology. As the world’s largest virtual reality expo you’ll meet a thriving community of developers, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and more. 2. Urban Death: Spring, a haunted theater attraction, is coming to Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group in North Hollywood this Friday. Urban Death have terrorized audiences in L.A. for over a decade. Expect a completely new experience of inexplicable horrors and unfathomable monstrosities for this spring edition. 3. The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Clueless takes over the Rockwell in Los Feliz with Broadway style performances in an intimate cabaret setting. Happening Thursday and throughout the weekend. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 4. Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. May’s edition celebrates the 10th anniversary of the free program. FREE 5. Royce’s Arcade located in Chatsworth houses over 100 arcade games. On Fridays through Sundays they open their doors for unlimited gaming for $5 per person. 6. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays. 7. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of The Montalban in Hollywood and LEVEL in DTLA with multiple screenings this week that include I, Tonya, The Big Lebowski, Back to the Future and more. 8. Effervescence is a showcase of the finest Champagne and sparkling wines, taking place at four great Los Angeles venues — Republique, the Kimpton La Peer Hotel, Avalon Hollywood, and Kali — from May 3-5. 9. The bi-annual Matisse Footwear warehouse sale will have highly coveted styles at 80% below retail, with prices starting at $10. Happening May 3-5 in El Segundo. 10. Happy Place has found a new home at LA Live’s Event Deck, opening on April 26 and running through May 27 the very Instagram friendly experience will feature a giant pot of gold and indoor confetti dome, a bath tub filled with rubber duckies and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 11. Visit the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, a majestic Mediterranean masterpiece built in 1915 and designed by distinguished architect Reginald Davis Johnson, from April 22-May 20. The tours have been going strong since 1948, it’s also one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the country. 12. Amy Herzog’s Belleville continues its first-ever Los Angeles run at the Pasadena Playhouse this week. The play stars Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect, True Blood) and Thomas Sadoski (Life in Pieces, The Newsroom) in a production that Entertainment Weekly calls a “shocking thrill ride that will leave you breathless.” Show runs until May 13. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 13. There’s a Sichuan Summit at the Million Dollar Theatre as part of the L.A. Times Food Bowl showcasing chefs from Los Angeles that include Hip Hot, Meizhou Dongpo and Sichuan Impression. Yu’s Family Kitchen from Chengdu China will also make an appearance. The event will feature cooking demos, a panel led by L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold and a family style dinner the following day. 14. May 4 is Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You!), a worldwide celebration that various businesses take part in. The Short Stop will have guests dancing to cosmic tunes, drinking themed drinks, part taking in Star Wars happy hour trivia, and costumes are encouraged for free admission. 15. First Fridays return to the Natural History Museum this Friday. The event will explore “L.A. Backstory” with NHMLA History Department, there will be a discussion on architecture and design and live music provided by Homeshake and Earth Helen Brown. 16. The Tony and Olivier Award-nominated musical Blues in the Night brings its show stopping production to The Wallis now until May 20. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 17. Step inside The Museum of Illusions in Hollywood and find yourself in a classic painting, part of a cartoon, part of current events, inside movies and much more. Highlights include watching the Titanic go down, “climbing” a sheer cliff and other eye popping visuals. Happening all week. (DISCOUNTED)via Goldstar 18. Free admission at: Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.), Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 pm) and Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m to 5 p.m.) Saturday May 5th, 201819. Cinco de Mayo is this Saturday! We rounded up some of the best food and drink deals as well as parties happening all over Los Angeles in this week’s Tasty Tuesday News Bites. 20. Free Comic Book Day is back on May 5! Occurring every year on the first Saturday of May, it’s an international comic book celebration during which comic book shops give away comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who visits their shops. 21. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Despicable Me at North Hollywood Recreation Center. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 22. If you have a passion for tacos, head to Hecho in LA: Taco Madness at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles. Savor the city’s best tacos, listen to great music, drink micheladas, and try the best local craft L.A. beer. This event is brought to you by L.A. Taco and I LOVE MICHELADAS produced by SUAVICREMA. 23. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of I, Tonya at Poinsettia Rec Park in West Hollywood and Get Out at LA State Historic Park in Los Angeles. Check for discounted ticketsbefore making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 24. Silver Lake’s Los Angeles County Store, where everything is hand-made in the Los Angeles area will celebrate it’s four year anniversary with a party. Festivities include refreshments and a pop-up shop featuring from Plume and Pulp stationery, We Felt Things felted monsters and plants, Marly Beyer art prints, Lady Angeles balms, and Sanctuary Ceramics. 25. The 13th Annual Freestyle Festival on May 5 at The Queen Mary include MC Hammer, Jody Watley, The Jets, The Sugarhill Gang and many more with genres including R&B, hip-hop, rap and ska. 26. Bid farewell to Kidspace Museum’s butterfly season during its Grand Butterfly Celebration on May 5-6. Learn about butterflies and how support their life cycle, mold a butterfly puddler out of clay, paint butterfly scenes en plain air & make a butterfly stick kite that you can wave at the 2 p.m. show with a live DJ. 27. Bowling for Rhinos returns to the Jewel City Bowl in Glendale for their annual bowling fundraiser thrown by the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) and aims to raise money and support for endangered rhino species. Last year’s event was the most successful on record, so now AAZK is hoping to surpass their previous fundraising goal! 28. ROW DTLA teams up with Unique Markets for several Unique L.A. mini markets to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The shopping event will feature a monthly rotation of hand-picked local artists, designers, and emerging brands. 29. Downward Grog presents Brewery Yoga this Saturday at Indie Brewing Company. 30. Museum of Selfies opens on April 1 and will run till May 31 with 10 interactive exhibits that welcomes visitors to take a closer look into the cultural phenomenon. The curators of the Glendale museum have also collected an array of Instagram-inspired art as well as an Iron Throne made of selfie sticks for guests to enjoy. 31. There’s a Cinco De MONICA Block Party happening this Saturday with table service at Gramercy, food trucks, a full bar, lifesize jenga, cornhole, live Mariachi and cover bands, DJs, tequila tasting and more. 32. Old Pasadena Historic Walking Tours are hosted by trained docents who will lead guests through the neighborhood highlighting unusual architectural details, old alleyways, and historic signs that make Old Pasadena special. Sunday May 6th, 201833. The Masters of Taste food and drink festival returns to the Pasadena Rose Bowl this Sunday for the ultimate spread of delicious food and drink all for a good cause. Proceeds go directly to the Union Station Homeless Services in Pasadena. This one-day mouthwatering festival will feature culinary delights, sweets, and beverages from over 40 master chefs and restaurants, as well as handcrafted cocktails from master mixologists. Use promo code WELIKELA18 to get $15 off ticket purchase. Check for discounted tickets while supplies last before making your purchase. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar 34. Mount Wilson Observatory launches its second season of special concerts inside its historic 100-inch telescope dome at Concert in the Dome. There will be two musical performances: one at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m. A reception for the artists will follow each performance. 35. Vegfest 2018, the all-vegan festival will feature 100+ vegan speakers and 50+ vegan food trucks and booths. Admission is free for all attendees and will include a vegan international food court, live music, kids activities, animal adoptions and an eco-marketplace. 36. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood brings back their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre this week with a screening of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Choose to just watch the movie or purchase a three course dinner package before hand. There will be concession style snacks and cocktails for sale as well. 37. Le Salon de Musiques presents a stage free chamber musical experience with champagne and high tea to follow at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar) 38. Stories Of is a female-identified story telling event featuring live performances, DJ sets, a market place and more. Taking place at The Regent in DTLA this edition of Stories Of will focus on the topic of jealously featuring stories from Garbage front woman Shirley Manson, comedian Aparna Nancherla aa well as founders and activists of empowerment. 39. Speak Easy Yoga is a brand-new series curated especially for Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown on Sundays through the end of May. Do a down dog and namaste to music from the 1920s. If you follow your yoga session with Indigo’s Bootlegger Brunch, it will include one complimentary beverage with purchase of a brunch entrée. 40. Visit Tujunga Village for the first-ever Springtime in the Village Wine & Jazz Festival and Street Faire. The event, taking place outside classic Italian restaurant and jazz club Vitello’s, is a great opportunity to taste over 100 wines, meet the winemakers, sample bites and enjoy live music. 41. Free admission at: Museum of Latin American Art and Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can). Schedule provided by We Like LA. Need stuff to do this month in Los Angeles? We looked ahead on our calendar to focus in on some of the best events happening in May around Los Angeles that you should probably have on your radar. After all, better to get your tickets now than wait till the last minute and find out your favorite event is sold out.
May 2018 event highlights include Free Comic Book Day, Fiesta Hermosa, Whedon Con, LA Times Food Bowl Night Market, the California Strawberry Festival, a Bug Fair at NHM, Lebowski Fest, and much more. The complete rundown starts after the jump. Enjoy! 1. VRLA Expo (May 4-5)A New Reality: VRLA comes to the Los Angeles Convention Center’s South Hall on May 4-5 for the ultimate experience with the next generation of immersive and transformative technology. -> More information 2. Free Comic Book Day Returns! (May 5)Free Comic Book Day is back on May 5! Occurring every year on the first Saturday of May, it’s an international comic book celebration during which comic book shops give away comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who visits their shops. -> More information 3. The 13th Annual Freestyle Festival at The Queen Mary (May 5)Performers at the 13th Annual Freestyle Festival on May 5 at The Queen Mary include MC Hammer, Jody Watley, The Jets, The Sugarhill Gang and many more with genres including R&B, hip-hop, rap and ska. -> More information – Discount tickets 4. Grand Butterfly Celebration at Kidspace Museum (May 5-6)Bid farewell to Kidspace Museum’s butterfly season during its Grand Butterfly Celebration on May 5-6. Learn about butterflies and how support their life cycle, mold a butterfly puddler out of clay, paint butterfly scenes en plain air and make a butterfly stick kite that you can wave at the 2 p.m. show with a live DJ. -> More information 5. Masters of Taste Food Festival at the Pasadena Rose Bowl (May 6)Prepare your forks, spoons, and straws! The Masters of Taste food and drink festival is returning to the Pasadena Rose Bowl on May 6 for the ultimate spread of delicious food and drink, and all for a great cause. Note that you can get $15 off tickets to Masters of Taste tickets using promo code WELIKELA18 -> More information 6. Springtime in the Village Wine & Jazz Festival and Street Faire (May 6)The Springtime in the Village Wine & Jazz Festival and Street Faire comes to Vitello’s on Tujunga Avenue on May 6 for an opportunity to taste over 100 wines and goodies in the sunshine. -> More information 7. Jurassic Park 25th Anniversary Celebration at Universal Studios (May 11-12)Immerse yourself in a day (or two!) of all things Jurassic Park during Universal Studios’ 25th anniversary celebration of the dinosaur blockbuster on May 11-12. Enjoy special exhibits, interactive photo ops, a fan costume show, a screening of the film and more. -> More information 8. Echo Park Craft Fair’s Spring Edition at Mack Sennett Studios (May 11-13)The Echo Park Craft Fair, an eclectic two-day craft fair, features over 120 artists with various ceramic, jewelry, clothing, woodworking and textile design booths. -> More information 9. RuPaul’s DragCon Los Angeles 2018 (May 11-13)RuPaul’s DragCon offers three days of art, pop culture and all things drag when returns to Los Angeles from May 11-13! Hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center, visitors can check out vendors, panel discussions, screenings, autograph and photo ops, lip sync contests, and make-up and styling workshops for men and women. -> More information 10. East LA Comicbook, Art and Pop-Culture Expo (May 12)Piggybacking off the success of last year’s East LA Comic-Con, the newly renamed East L.A. Comicbook, Art and Pop-Culture Expo is a free event featuring collectibles, comic creators, cosplay, and more.-> More information 11. Pop-Up Magazine’s Spring Edition at The Theatre at Ace Hotel (May 12)Stop by Pop-Up Magazine’s Spring Edition at The Theatre at Ace Hotel for a night of jaw-dropping, scandalous, funny and sometimes endearing stories during this unique storytelling experience. -> More information 12. LA Times Food Bowl Night Market (May 16-20)Night Market, part of the LA Times Food Bowl, features dozens of restaurants and food trucks selling food for purchase, plus an assortment of DJ’d music and entertainment, taking place in Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park. -> More information 13. Uncorked Wine Festival: LA Vintner’s Market at the Skirball Center (May 18-20)Visit the Skirball Center on May 18 for Uncorked Wine Festival, an evening of wine, food and live music. Sample more than 50 wines from family-owned and operated wineries from top wine regions around the world. Enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres and appetizers to pair with your wines. -> More information 14. A Night of Electronic Music at Union Station (May 18)A FREE Night of Electronic Music at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles featuring Rival Consoles, underground mainstay John Tejada (Kompakt) and Tottie (Dublab) in collaboration with Decibel Festival. -> More information 15. WhedonCon 2018, May 18-20 at Warner Center in Woodland Hills (May 18-20)Highlights for the 3-day Joss Whedon-inspired convention, WhedonCon in Woodland Hills, include Fan Friday, Supernatural Saturday and Super Sunday. -> More information 16. L.A. LIVE Block Party (May 19)The L.A. LIVE Block Party will feature a pop-up marketplace with over 40 local vendors plus live music and food and drink specials from participating restaurants. -> More information 17. 35th Annual California Strawberry Festival (May 19-20)The 35th Annual California Strawberry Festival returns to Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard on May 19-20 for a weekend-long event packed with everything a strawberry lover could want. -> More information 18. The Bug Fair at the Natural History Museum (May 19-20)Come greet your bug-eyed friends during the Bug Fair at NHMLA. Highlights include exotic bug collections, bug-created products, bug chefs and nature walks. -> More information 19. LitFest Pasadena (May 19-20)7th Annual LitFest Pasadena, hosted within the Pasadena Playhouse District, is a literary-focused festival that’s FREE for all ages. The event features workshops, panels, readings and more! -> More information 20. Six L.A. Museums Will Be Free on ‘Museums of The Arroyo Day’ 2018 (May 20)On May 21 six area museums and historical homes will open their doors free of charge for Museums of the Arroyo Day. The list includes the Gamble House, Heritage Square, the Los Angeles Police Museum, the Lummis Home and Garden, the Pasadena Museum of History, and The Autry’s Historic Southwest Museum Mt. Washington Campus. -> More information 21. Cuban American Music Festival 2018 at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (May 20)Enjoy a day of Cuban culture when La Plaza de Cultura y Artes hosts the Cuban American Music Festival on May 20, with four musical acts, dancing, local Cuban artists, and Cuban food and drink, takes place at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown L.A. -> More information 22. L.A. Mag’s Burgers, Bourbon + Beer in Santa Monica (May 23)Los Angeles magazine’s Burgers, Bourbon + Beer promises a sophisticated yet delicious, evening at The Victorian, featuring guessed it, juicy burgers and aged bourbons. -> More information 23. The 7th Annual Taste of Boyle Heights (May 24)The 7th Annual Taste of Boyle Heights, an annual community fundraiser, features live music and cuisine from local East L.A. establishments, vendors and more. -> More information 24. Lebowski Fest Los Angeles 2018 at The Wiltern & Fountain Bowl (May 25-26)Lebowski Fest celebrates the iconic Coen Brothers movie with live performances, special guests, themed parties, a screening of the film and more. There will be a movie screening at The Wiltern on May 25 plus a bowling part at Fountain Bowl on May 26 for Leboswki Fest 2018! -> More information 25. 45th Annual Topanga Days Country Fair From (May 26-28)The 45th Annual Topanga Days Country Fair from May 26-2 will feature various country fair games and competitions, live entertainment, food, and more for guests of all ages. -> More information 26. Fiesta Hermosa is Back (May 26-28)Fiesta Hermosa, a FREE annual event, will feature local vendors, 18 different food offerings, beer gardens, games and live music in Downtown Hermosa Beach. -> More information Schedule provided by We Like LA. |
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February 2020
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