Phanny’s Bringing “The South Bay’s Best Breakfast Burrito” To El Segundo

Posted on October 30, 2024 by toddrickallen

If you look carefully at the shopping center located on the corner of Sepulveda and El Segundo Blvd. in El Segundo, you’ll notice a small window poster announcing that one of the spaces at 150 Pacific Coast Highway is being leased by Phanny’s. You could be forgiven for not having heard of Phanny’s before. Phanny’s is an old-school Redondo Beach neighborhood spot serving what some have called the “The South Bay’s Best Breakfast Burrito“. Check out their extensive menu of burritos at their Redondo Beach location to get an idea of what may be coming. I’m told they’re planning on opening soon, possibly in a month, depending on permits.

The Splatter Studio Bringing Art, Beer, Wine To Downtown Santa Monica

Posted on October 25, 2024 by toddrickallen

Los Angeles’ first branch of Atlanta’s immersive art experience, The Splatter Studio, is coming soon to 321 Santa Monica Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica, previously home to Dragon Herbs (and long ago home of Hooters). Billing themselves as “a contemporary action painting studio”, the idea here, as I understand it, is to create art by splattering it Jackson Pollock-style across a canvas (and each other?) as a social event and “stress reliever”. Why am I covering this since I normally write about restaurants? Because according to the window paper and website, this location will also carry beer and wine to enhance your artistic and social experience.

Wake And Late Coming To MDR

Posted on October 21, 2024 by toddrickallen

Epic breakfast burritos are heading to Marina del Rey… There’s window paper up on one of the spaces in the Waterside Marina del Rey Shopping Center announcing the arrival of Wake and Late. Wake and Late has four other locations across LA (with another in the works for Santa Monica) and is known for their breakfast burritos, “rip & dip bagels”, and coffee. The promised Santa Monica branch of Wake and Late has languished for nearly three years. I hope they have better luck with this location.

CPK Disappears from Brentwood

Posted on October 18, 2024 by toddrickallen

The two second floor restaurants in Brentwood Gardens Plaza, at 11677 San Vicente Blvd, have always been a bit problematic. I’ve long wondered if perhaps it is due to the fact that they’re not street-level. The space currently operated by Ospi has been through a number of excellent iterations over the years. But the other space has been home to California Pizza Kitchen for a very long time. Sadly, that chapter has come to a close. Readers have been letting me know that CPK has vacated the space. While there are still many locations around, this location was dear for many as it was their first encounter with the revolutionary California Cuisine brand that invented “The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza“.

The Lineup at Venice’s New Colony…

Posted on October 15, 2024 by toddrickallen

As signs recently went up at Venice’s new “smart kitchen” The Colony at 401 Lincoln Blvd (previously home to a large encampment) readers have been excitedly asking me what would be on offer. Here’s a partial list of what I know so far: Crumbl, Kakkoi, Main Chick, Goop Kitchen, Muy Thai, Good Steak, Behold Burger, Sweet Rose, Culture Crush, Xenia, and Jennie’s House. You’ll notice that this list is very similar to The Colony on Santa Monica Blvd. You’re welcome.

California Smash Coming To El Segundo

Posted on October 11, 2024 by toddrickallen

Congratulations Good People of El Segundo, a new entertainment complex is heading your way! There’s major construction happening at 811 N. Nash St. announcing the arrival of California Smash. Billing itself as “The Ultimate Pickleball And Social Club”, California Smash will offer, in addition to pickleball courts, a DJ and dancefloor and “full-service bar and restaurant, serving up a delectable array of drinks and dishes to fuel your passion for play and socializing”. While they clearly have a lot of work to do, they’re aiming for an opening this year.

OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival This Sunday

Posted on October 8, 2024 by toddrickallen

This from my inbox:

“OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival returns to the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Sun. Oct. 13 to celebrate the sea and raise awareness for Heal the Bay to help keep our local ocean and beaches clean! This beloved ocean-inspired tasting event features the city’s top chefs and restaurants and their favorite underwater ingredients! Attendees will enjoy seafood tastings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live music, oyster-shucking competitions, and more fun in the sun!”

General admission (Little Fish) is $85 and gets you access to seafood and drinks tastings. VIP admission (Big Fish) is $165 and gets the tastings as well as early entry, access to a lounge, and exclusive tastings and cocktails. I’m told tickets are selling out so you might want to move quickly. Oh, and “yacht rock attire” is encouraged.

Ghirardelli Set To Make Santa Monica Sweeter Soon…

Posted on October 4, 2024 by toddrickallen

Paper has gone up on the space at 1541 Ocean Ave ste 105 in Santa Monica proclaiming that famous San Francisco chocolatier Ghirardelli is moving in. Obviously, the shop is super close to The Pier and will cater to tourists, as it does in San Francisco, New York, and Hollywood. According to their website, Ghirardelli has been making quality chocolate for nearly two hundred years, thereby making it the “longest continually operating chocolatier in America”. They’re aiming for a Winter 2024 opening.

(Thanks Frank!)

Kreation Coming To Malibu

Posted on October 1, 2024 by toddrickallen

Congratulations Good People of Malibu, healthy juices are heading your way! There’s a banner on the front of the Montana Ave branch of cleanse experts Kreation announcing an upcoming branch in Malibu Village, at 3836 Cross Creek Rd. According to the banner, this will be their 24th branch.

Toddrickallen

The Westside at Its Finest

Monthly Archives: October 2024