🌱 Bigfoot In L.A. + Taco Bell Cantina Opens + CicLAvia In The Valley

Good morning, everybody! Today, we celebrate National Drink Wine Day. I'm back with your fresh edition of the Los Angeles Patch newsletter. Let's get this Saturday started off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening in town these days. In this issue, you'll find:

• 👮 An update on the shooting we reported yesterday
• 🔥 An auto body shop catching on fire
• 👀 Bigfoot running with a laptop

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Periods of sun. High: 70 Low: 49.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Los Angeles

• 7-Eleven at 1302 E Slauson Ave., $4.26
• 76 at 3070 Glendale Blvd., $4.29
• ARCO at 5301 W Olympic Blvd., $4.29

🍰 Spring Dessert Poll! 🍓
The first day of spring is March 20! Among the things we look forward to in spring are refreshing desserts. Which is your favorite spring dessert? So far, 25% each chose mixed berry buckle, ambrosia salad, fruit tarts, and a write-in: key lime pie.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Los Angeles:

1. Update on yesterday's shooting report: On Thursday, we learned about two Jewish men who were shot in two separate incidents. On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) made an arrest. The suspect is a 28-year-old man with a Riverside address. In an interview, he acknowledged the intentionality of his actions and is said to have a “history of antisemitic and threatening conduct.” (Patch, CNN, Patch)
2. An auto body shop caught fire at 9301 West Venice Boulevard on Thursday evening. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was among the responders, and succeeded in preventing the fire’s spread to other structures — other than “minor fire extension” — and fully extinguishing “heavy fire involving multiple vehicles” and the shop. Investigators are now searching for the cause of the blaze. (LAFD)
3. Bigfoot is in L.A. Well, sort of. A video shows a man in a Bigfoot suit carrying an open laptop and running from a car that just hit a fire hydrant and sheared it off. According to witnesses, this happened on Thursday at Vermont and 3rd. (Street People of Los Angeles)
4. Taco Bell recently opened its first Los Angeles County Cantina restaurant at 6741 Hollywood Boulevard. What is a cantina, you ask? Think of it as an upscale Taco Bell with an alcohol license. It’s a bit of a mix, incorporating yesteryear’s silver screen memorabilia with standing menu kiosks. (Secret Los Angeles)
5. CicLAvia is coming to the Valley on February 26. If you’re a motorist, now’s the time to read on. The plan is to open up “Sherman Way connecting Canoga Park, Winnetka, and Reseda for a 5-mile stretch of open streets.” Full closures will be in effect on Sherman Way between Shoup Avenue and Lindley Way. They begin at 7 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. (CicLAvia)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• The Pico Farmers Market sets up at 2233 Pico Blvd. (8 AM)
• Visit the Used Book Sale at the Central Library (9:30 AM)
• Online Canoga Park Neighborhood Council election candidate Info Session (10 AM)
• Attend an in-person workshop about Coping With Mass Violence at the West Valley Regional Branch Library (2:30 PM)
• Inzo performs at The Fonda Theatre (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Thank you to the Consul General of Turkey, Sinan Kuzum, who dropped by LACoFD’s Tech Ops facility this week. Consul General Kuzum and his staff met with Interim Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone." (Los Angeles County Fire Dept. via Instagram)
• "Thank you to Gary Sinise for visiting with our #LACoFD FS 144 firefighters. We appreciate all the support Gary provides to first responders. The inspection at FS 144 went very well. Gary fit in perfectly for the line-up." (Los Angeles County Fire Department via Facebook)
• "The City of Los Angeles is now accepting applications for Equipment Specialist! Salary $70,616 - $125,948 - Closes: March 2, 2023 - Visit https://governmentjobs.com/car... for more information on this opportunity!" (City of Los Angeles - Jobs via Instagram)
• "LA County offices and libraries will be closed on Monday, February 20, in observance of Presidents Day 🇺🇸" (County of Los Angeles via Instagram)
• "From LA Animal Rescue: !! - Free Spay & Neuter event 2/27/23 !! Space is limited. No proof of income or zip code restrictions. Email: FreeFix4Pets@gmail.com" (Nextdoor)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Los Angeles?

• Median Listing Home Price $1.1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $658
• Median Sold Home Price $885K

Check out more Los Angeles real estate information!

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Featured events:

• Hunker House Black Spaces Pop-up Showroom (February 18)
• Grand Opening Celebration (February 18)
• Hunker House Black Spaces Pop-up Showroom (February 19)
• Celebrating Black Culture in Design (February 23)
• Free Wills vs. Trust Webinar (February 23)
• Wills vs. Trust (February 23)
• Love to Party for Good Enjoy French Treats Enter Creative Writing Contest Win $100 Gift Card (March 4)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Los Angeles Patch newsletter? Contact me at losangeles@patch.com