Bike Week LA

Westwood Village has been making strides to become a more bicycle-friendly community throughout the past year with the addition of new bike lanes, and this week you may have noticed an increase in bicycle traffic in Westwood. The reason behind this increase is the celebration of National Bike Week in Los Angeles County. You may have had colleagues, friends, or even yourself, who participated in Bike to Work Day today. If you did not realize that today was Bike to Work Day, don't despair. There is one final opportunity to get in on the National Bike Week festivities in Los Angeles tomorrow evening at the Bike Night at Union Station.

Metro's Bike Night at Union Station begins tomorrow at 5:30 PM and lasts until 8:30 PM. Celebrate and network with other Los Angeles-area cyclists, and take advantage of the food, music, crafts, contests and more! Music will be provided by local band The Lions, and giveaways include bike reflectors, t-shirts, patch kits and tap cards. The party will take place in the Old Ticketing Room at the station.

After the party at Union Station ends, there will be an after party at Angel City Brewery. Entry into the brewery is guaranteed with a Bike Night wristband, as long as you head over between 8:30 and 9. However, once you're in, you can enjoy specials the rest of the evening, as you socialize with fellow bike enthusiasts!

From your apartment home at Palazzo Westwood Village, it is about a 34 minute commute to Union Station, without traffic. However, if you work downtown, head over to the party after the workday is over! 

In other Metro news, more information about a new bike-sharing program is reported to be released next month! According to Los Angeles Daily News, this program will make 1,090 bikes available throughout 65 stations. The project aims to launch next spring. There are also plans to expand the number of bike hubs, which act as parking lots for bikes.

Do you regularly commute to work on your bicycle? How do you think Westwood can become more bike-friendly in the future? Share you thoughts with us on the Palazzo Westwood Village Facebook and Twitter pages! 

Additional sources consulted:
Metro
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

What to Do on Mother's Day

Hopefully, this is not new information to you, but Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10! If your mom is indecisive about what she wants or you feel like you have bought her everything you possibly could throughout Mother's Days past, we have some ideas to inspire you! 

Brunch
Let's face it, you can never go wrong with a great meal! Moms are usually pretty content when they don't have to cook for themselves, but when you add a mimosa to the mix, even better! Check out the brunch lineup at Gracias Madre, which includes a habanero-infused Mexican Mimosa! According to Time Out Los Angeles, Moms will receive a complimentary Karma Chamomilian cocktail! Gracias Madre is a quick 15-minute drive from your apartment home at Palazzo Westwood Village.

If Mexican food isn't Mom's favorite type of cuisine, consider Tanzy Westwood! On Sunday, all moms will receive a rose with their meal and will be entered to win a 24-karat gold rose! Treat Mom to red velvet pancakes or Dungeness crab, in addition to Tanzy's regular brunch options! How's this for convenience - Tanzy is just a 5-minute walk away from the apartments!

Events
Head to Room 5 Lounge on Sunday for where L.A. and Helix Collective will partner with Opera on Tap Los Angeles for a special holiday show from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. The evening will be an eclectic mix of poetry, music and storytelling, complete with pizza and drinks! 

If Mom is an art fan, head over to LACMA where Paul McCarthy will host a talk and reception in regards to skateboard decks he recently painted for the Skatesian charity project.

If Mom loves to "LOL," take her to the StandUp! For Girls Real Girl foundation benefit show at the Hollywood Improv. Performers include Sarah Silverman, Jessica St. Clair, Retta and more. The evening also includes cocktails and a silent auction.

Where are your favorite places to treat Mom in Westwood? Share your plans and ideas for Mother's Day in Westwood with us on Palazzo Westwood Village's Facebook and Twitter pages. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Sources consulted:
Time Out Los Angeles
LAist

Vegan Beer & Food Festival

Vegan diets have spread across the country, but many consider California the capital of the diet. For those of you who do not consume animal products, and even for those who do, there is an exciting festival coming up to celebrate vegans - the Vegan Beer & Food Festival! 2015 will be the sixth year for this event, which offers some of the best vegan bites and brews! 

This year's festival will be held on May 16 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. Guests of the festival will have a selection of more than 100 beers from 50 breweries, and food from more than 40 food trucks, restaurants and vendors at their fingertips! Brewers include Ace Cider, Beach City Bell's, Dr. Jekyll's, Lagunitas, New Belgium and many, many more. Food that will be on site includes Anthem Vegan, Grilled Cheese Truck, Life is Sweet Bakeshop, The Rabbit Hole Cafe and more! To view the full list of food and beer that will be available, click here.

If the food and beer selection is not enough to convince you, there is also a stellar live music lineup. Participating artists include Jamestown Revival, The White Buffalo, The Drowning Men, Petty Cash, Joel Jerome and Lucy & La Mer! 

What are some things you should try at the event? LAist recommends Real Food Daily's "fauxnut," comparable to the cronut; Suncafe's chili fries; and Clean South's fried "chicken." To view all of their recommendations, click here. 

If you are interested in attending the event, tickets can be purchased online or the day of the event. Tickets are between $50 and $80. Please note, food is not included in the ticket price. If you are interested in buying tickets online, click here.

From Palazzo Westwood Village apartment homes to Rose Bowl Stadium, it is approximately a 45-minute drive, via the 405 and Hwy. 134 E. If you love vegan food and beer, it would make a fun day trip to take with friends!

Have you ever attended a vegan beer or food festival? What vendors do you look forward to trying at this festival? Share your thoughts on Palazzo Westwood Village's Facebook and Twitter pages!

Celebrate LACMA's 50th Anniversary

If you have never been to Los Angeles County Museum of Art (better known as LACMA), or even if you have, this weekend is your opportunity to visit this LA cultural staple for free! Take advantage of the opportunity to visit the museum's Miracle Mile campus for a day of art, culture and enjoyment!

This special event includes free admission to all of the museum's exhibits, including the new 50 for 50: Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA's Anniversary. This exhibit includes the gifts received by the museum from all over the world for its 50th anniversary. Some notable artwork that was donated to LACMA for the exhibit include Taddeo Gaddi's "Crucifixion with the Madonna and Saint John the Evangelist," Edgar Degas' "At the Cafe Concert: The Song of the Dog" and "Portrait of a Gentleman," a marble bust by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini.

The day also includes 50 self-guided activities from various parts of the Miracle Mile campus. While you do need tickets for the 50 for 50 exhibit, tickets are still free of charge. Another aspect of the day is a concert at the Bing Theater.

If you're interested in attending, the LACMA's hours on Sunday are from 10 AM to 7 PM. Remember, as you walk through the museum, you may take pictures, but it is asked that you refrain from using flash photography. If you would like a more personalized experience, you can download the museum's app! 

LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. It is approximately a 25-minute from Palazzo Westwood Village apartment homes. The drive will be well worth it for the chance to see such rare works of art. 

If you have visited LACMA in the past, what are your favorite exhibits? If you have never visited the museum before, do you plan on taking advantage of this weekend's free day? Share your thoughts with us on Palazzo Westwood Village's Facebook and Twitter pages!

Sources consulted:
LACMA
LA Times
Time Out Los Angeles

Brokechella 2015

You've probably been seeing a ton of posts on social media and stories in the news about Coachella, but every year on the second weekend of the music festival, something happens a little closer to home  - Brokechella! 

Brokechella began as a community arts and culture event from cARTel, which at one point in time was held in a black box theater right here in Westwood. The festival of comedians, bands, and artists kept growing each year. When organizers realized that it kept falling on the second weekend of Coachella, they changed the name to Brokechella, as tickets were only $5! 

Brokechella 2015 takes place this Saturday, April 18, at Sante Fe Studios in downtown Los Angeles. Also known as "a music fest for the rest of us," this is the 5th year for the event. While tickets are no longer $5, it's still a very affordable event, with this year's tickets ranging between $15 and $25. Online tickets are already sold out.

Who can you look forward to seeing at one of the event's four stages? Musical acts include: OYLS, Smoke Season, Hex Cougar, Anabot, and more. Stand-up comedians performing at the festival include Even Cassidy, Kyle Shire and Myke Wright, among others. To view the full line-up of performers, click here.

You can even bring your pooch along to certain areas of the festival. Yes, that's right, Puppychella is an event! Please note, there are rules and regulations to bringing along Fido to Puppychella, including registering them with the festival. For full rules, click here.

Are you interested in volunteering at the event? People are needed to assist with set-up, event execution and clean-up throughout the weekend. If you are able to donate your time, you can sign up through the Volunteer Form.

The festival is easily accessible from Palazzo Westwood Village apartment homes by taking I-10 for about 15 miles.

Will you be among the crowd at Coachella or Brokechella this weekend? Either way, both are a great way to check out live music!

Sources consulted:
Time Out Los Angeles
Brokechella

5 Can’t-Miss Upcoming Events

The upcoming weeks are filled with exciting things to do around LA. For UCLA students who need a study break or if you just need to get out of the house, all of these events, ranging from celebrity appearances to yummy food and musical performances, will entice you. There is something here for everyone happening in Los Angeles in the next few weeks. All of these events and festivals are within 30 minutes drive of the Palazzo Westwood Village apartment homes.

Kinfolks Soulfood Festival

The Kinfolks Soul Food Festival has has only grown since its inception in 2007. Bobby Brown, Salt and Pepa, Stephanie Mills and El Debarge will be making appearances at the festival. This year they will be holding competitions for the best soul food recipes, as well as appearances by award winning chefs, Chef Auntie Fee, Chef Robert Roberts and Chef Amadeus. Don’t miss out on this mouthwatering experience! April 11th at Exposition Park.

Mental Head Circus

Take in the modern-day Vaudeville circus show from small tables while contortionists twist themselves and aerialists perform feats so amazing that you won’t believe your own eyes. April 11th and 12th at King King in Hollywood.

Great Horror Campout Movie Night

If you didn’t have the opportunity to see this horror classic when it was in theaters, now is your chance! This screening of the Exorcist under the stars will include, prizes and giveaways, monsters, photo opportunities and merchandise available for purchase. Don’t miss out on the chance to see this classic horror flick at an old, abandoned zoo. This movie may not be suitable for children. Friday April 17th at Griffith Park Old Zoo.

Brokechella

For the 5th anniversary of Brokechella, they aren’t skimping out on the fun. With 4 stages worth of musical performances plus a comedy stage, giant Jenga, art galleries and ‘puppychella’, this is not something you want to miss. If you’re too broke for that other music festival, this is most certainly the place for you. Saturday April 18 at 590 Santa Fe Avenue.

LA Times Festival of Books

Bibliophiles rejoice! The Festival of Books has returned this year and is bigger than ever. Appearances from Billy Idol, Keegan Allen, Kate Mulgrew and musical performances by The Trojan Men, Trio Ellas and Ren Martinez. And stick around after hours for some extra events that you won’t want to miss! April 18th and 19th on the University of Southern California’s campus.

Get Melt: Celebrate Grilled Cheese Month in LA

Did you know that April is National Grilled Cheese Month? As if you needed yet another excuse to indulge in one of America's favorite nostalgia foods, you're certainly in the right city to celebrate the occasion. 

Whether grilled cheese sandwiches bring you back to your childhood or you need an excuse to check out that restaurant you've been pining to try, we thought we'd share some of the top grilled cheese spots with our residents. In fact, CBS - Los Angeles compiled a great list of some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches in the area, which we thought we'd pass along:

Food+Lab
7253 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 851-7120
www.foodlab-la.com

Known for their three-cheese blend, Food+Lab in West Hollywood features a grilled cheese sandwich with raclette, tallegio and case gruyere.

The Melt
Various Locations
themelt.com

With two locations in LA, The Melt is perhaps the best known grilled cheese chain in the area. You can even use their website to order online. Their expansive menu features breakfast options, kids' selections, and its signature sandwich: Pepper jack and jalapeño cheeses on sourdough bread. 

Grilled Cheese Truck
(323) 522-3418
www.thegrilledcheesetruck.com

If you're looking for a down and dirty grilled cheese experience, follow mobile food truck, the Grilled Cheese Truck. However, you'll have to keep tabs on their whereabouts on social media if you want to find them! Their menu features simple grilled cheeses or more adventures combinations like the Buffalo Chicken Melt and the Cheesy Mac and Rib. And of course, don't forget your side of tater tots!

Of course, you don't necessarily need to leave your great apartment in Westwood in order to celebrate grilled cheese month. Here's a recipe for a bleu cheese and pear sandwich that our staff found -- it sounded so good, we couldn't help but share it.

From the LA Times: 

Grilled Blue Cheese and Pear Sandwich:

Love blue cheese? For a slight twist on the comforting classic, put crumbled blue cheese between slices of raisin brioche, along with thinly sliced pear. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is soft and oozing, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. If you have enough self-restraint to keep from eating the sandwich over the stove (I totally understand if you don't), plate your creation, drizzled with a little chestnut honey. Grilled cheese never looked so good.

Could you think of a better way to put your gourmet kitchen to good use?