🌱 Hollywood Heights + 2.75” Rain At LAX + LA Times Festival Of Books

Hi there, Los Angeles! It’s National Panda Day; did you know that only an estimated 2,000 are left in the world? I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know that's going on in town. Today's briefing includes...

• 🤝 L.A.’s newest neighborhood
• 🏬 The historic Insurance Exchange Building changed hands
• 🚚 The Claremont School of Theology is coming back

❤️ Loving the Los Angeles Daily? Tell a friend and send them this link, so they can subscribe!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Clouds breaking and cool. High: 62 Low: 50.

Are you a real estate agent in Los Angeles struggling to get leads in the current housing market? It's tough out there, but there is a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. Our exclusive sponsorship in the Los Angeles newsletter can help you do just that. Click here to learn more and discover how you can take your business to the next level today.

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

• Chevron at 6320 Holmes Ave., $4.09
• Kwik Serv at 2600 N Figueroa St., $4.49
• Sinaco Oil at 9930 National Blvd., $4.49

😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it’s unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite? So far, 34.1% love funnel cake, 20.5% look forward to candy apples, 13.3% munch on corndogs, and 6.7% reach for guacamole. 4.4% each either eat cotton candy, tri-tip sandwiches, or cheesecake. Finally, 2.2% each favor guacamole with cheese, fried cheese curds, turkey legs, a deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickle, or pork chop on a stick. The rest stay away from fair food.

📰 Here are the top stories in Los Angeles today:

1. Welcome to L.A.! Hollywood Heights is now a recognized Hollywood Hills neighborhood. Proposed by Councilwoman Nithya Raman and approved by the City Council on Tuesday, the boundaries are “the Hollywood Bowl to the north, Highland Avenue to the east, Outpost Estates to the west, and Franklin Avenue to the south.” Signs will go up shortly at Highland and Camrose, Franklin and Orchid, and other intersections. (Fox)
2. Were you caught up in Wednesday’s traffic snarls? The record-breaking rain — measured as 2.75 inches at LAX — caused flooding, mudslides and downed trees. In Baldwin Hills, several vehicles got caught up in a slide, which resulted in traffic delays on La Brea Avenue. Potholes caused problems on the 71 at Holt Avenue. A Beverly Hills sinkhole “closed northbound Beverly Drive to Coldwater Canyon.” Drainage problems closed four intersections: “Victory Boulevard and Woodley Avenue; Burbank Boulevard and the San Diego (405) Freeway; Burbank and Havenhurst Avenue; and Burbank and Balboa Boulevard.” (Patch)
3. We learned on Tuesday that the AIDS Healthcare Foundation bought the historic Insurance Exchange Building at 318 West 9th Street downtown. Look for a name change to Angel Tower and renovations to create 251 apartments for homeless and low-income residents. No word on an opening day yet. (KTLA)
4. The Claremont School of Theology is coming to Los Angeles! Over the summer, the school will move into its new location at the Westwood United Methodist Church (10497 Wilshire Boulevard). Back in the day, it was on the University of Southern California (USC) campus but moved in 1957 to Claremont. "We see Westwood as a strategic move that allows us to begin to retire debt, expand our online digital offerings, and continue to reach toward our 150th year," the school’s acting president explained. (yahoo!finance)
5. Speaking of USC, the 28th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will come to the campus on April 22 and 23! The FREE event hosts “300 exhibitors and more than 500 authors.” Come to author readings, book signings, educational activities and giveaways. Among the confirmed participants are Meghan Trainor, Stacey Abrams, Max Greenfield, Judy Greer, Tamera Mowry-Housley, and Viet Thanh Nguyen. In addition to books, you can enjoy live music and food trucks. (USC, L.A. Times)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Betsy Smith holds a "Helping Parents Thrive Parenting Their D/HH Children" Webinar (9 AM)
• FREE Dental Screenings, fluoride treatments, and dental hygiene kits for kids at 3721 S. La Brea Avenue (9 AM)
• Narcotics Anonymous hosts a Weekly Meeting at 3800 Stephen M White Drive (7 PM)
• The musical "Shanghai Sonatas" plays at The Wallis (7:30 PM)
• Chamber Music at the Fountain Theatre (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "An update on the 2022–26 Strategic Plan was presented, showcasing our approach for its systemic implementation over the next four years." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "LAPL 150—Our Story is Yours: A Los Angeles Public Library Sesquicentennial Celebration is dedicated to the people of Los Angeles, and celebrates the story of our city through the library’s unique lens." (Los Angeles Public Library via Facebook)
• "Meet us at the Greek Theatre this Sunday for your backstage pass to one of the most famous amphitheaters in the country! 🎟️ 🤩 🙌 See its extensive historic restoration first-hand and the architectural details that weren't visible to the public for decades." (Los Angeles Conservancy via Facebook)
• "The Senate voted 52-42 on Wednesday to confirm former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti to be the next U.S. ambassador to India." (NBC)
• "LA County Parks Spring Jubilee returns to 57 parks starting March 30th! Join us for arts & crafts, family games, egg hunts, entertainment, children's activities & more! 🌸 For more information, please contact your park site directly." (County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation via Facebook)

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

• Median Listing Home Price $1.1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $669
• Median Sold Home Price $900K

Check out more Los Angeles real estate information!

🐶 See adorable adoptable Pets Of The Week in the Los Angeles Area!

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Hollywood Burlesque Festival (March 17)
• Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones - Webinar (March 18)
• What To Do When a Loved One Dies - Webinar Series (March 18)
• Hop to It! Pet Photos With Bunny Returns to Del Amo Fashion Center for Easter (March 19)
• Liddy Clark at The Peppermint Club (March 25)
• 2023 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival (April 1)
• 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