Big Ray’s Drive-In

From friendly service to generous portions to amazing taste Big Ray’s Drive-In is a local favorite everyone must try. The food is freshly prepared, simple, and delicious. Try their classic waffles with fresh fruit to start and then stay to enjoy one of their top-notch burgers. The drive-in is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

Address: 2624 Alondra Blvd Compton, Ca 90221

The Green Olive

To start everyone needs to try the green spicy potatoes. Or the falafel plate. And make sure to get the extra green sauce. This Mediterranean restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes that includes specialty kabobs, falafels, and homemade hummus. Plus, the staff is very attentive. The Green Olive is open Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It opens Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m.

Address: 855 W Victoria St Compton, Ca 90220

Alma’s Cookies and Company

There are some places that make food quality a top priority and Alma’s Cookies and Company is one of them. The food is cooked to perfection and every item on their daily lunch specials is a must-try. Don’t forget to try one of their creamy cheesecakes afterward. They are open 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Address: 312 W Compton Blvd Ste 102 and 103 Compton, Ca 90220  

Sunshine’s Chinese and Korean BBQ

From the moment you walk into this Korean BBQ spot, you will feel right at home. Its staff is friendly and their service is exceptional. From short ribs to kimchi to shrimp fried rice everything on the menu will feel like a home-cooked meal. The restaurant is peon from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Address: 2706 E Alondra Blvd Compton, Ca 90221

Mom’s Burgers

These will be some of the best Cheeseburgers you will try. All the burgers have a fresh homemade feel. There is limited seating, but the ambiance is still cozy with old school music playing while you wait for your food. Mom’s Burgers is a staple of Compton that must be visited. They are open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spring is finally here and with the new season comes the traditional cleaning that goes along with it. As we look forward to the sunny days it is time to let go of the warm blankets and bring in the fresh comforters.

Here are the few Spring cleaning tips you should tackle around the house as the flowers begin to bloom.  

Add Nature

The best way to add the Spring feel into your home is by bringing plants and flowers into it. Air our those winter vibes and create a fresh aroma of blooming flowers and fresh plants. Put away your old table centerpieces and replace them with flowers to brighten up every your living room, dining room, and even nightstand.

Clean up indoor paint

Unless your walls need a fresh coat of paint, go through them with a sponge and freshen up the paint on your doors and cabinets. Take a deeper look and spot the smudges and dust that builds up in these areas. An easy run through will freshen the paint in the house and reduce the need for a new paint job.

Add some Color

It’s Spring. And with the new season comes a new set of colors. Although this year has brought us dark and bold tones, don’t be afraid to add those bright yellows and greens into the mix. Think comforters, couch pillows or just some flowers around the house. Spring days bring a bright sun that brightens up your day, so make your home have the same effect.

Clean under the heavy stuff

It took time and lot of energy to put the fridge where it currently stands, the oven in its place, and the dresser in its corner. It’s understandable not to want to move them again. Though, there is dust and trash that can slip into these areas. This is not an every day clean, but it is a chore that should be done every few months to prevent bad build up over time.

Mattress and Bedding

Refresh mattress by vacuuming and laying it on its side to fully air itself out. Replace the current sheets you have to give the bed a fresh new feel. It might be a good time to

You might know that the real estate market is always changing, but what might not be so obvious is that the rules of the market change with it. The strategy you had to buy a home in 2017 might not work so great this year. Every year it becomes a whole new real estate world. To prepare, here are four tips for buying a home this year.

 

Prepare for some Competition

Last year stats showed that 23% of homebuyers paid in ALL-CASH. This can be a problem for many people because all cash buyers don’t have to secure financing and appeal to sellers more. One way to combat those competitions this year is to write a personal letter about you and your family. This is an effective way to win over a seller instead of having them sell to an all-cash buyer who might tear down the home.

 

Don’t Always Trust what you see Online

Just as you might be skeptical about those emails claiming you have one a random contest you must also treat online real estate offers the same way. If an online real estate offer seems too good to be true, asks for personal information such as social security, or have a listing agent that is out of the country consider these scenarios all to be red flags.

 

Don’t fall into Home Staging Tricks  

More and more sellers are using some variation of home staging to visually enhance their home. From hanging wall art to adding furniture to decluttering every room home staging should not deteriorate you from observing the basic needs of a home. Keep an eye out for water leaks and other damages a home may have whether pleasing to look at or not.  

 

Don’t overlook a Fixer-upper

There is a lot more competition for those houses that are move-in ready, so it might not be a bad idea to reconsider those that might need a few tweaks. An advantage of these homes is that you can usually offer a lower price for them and use your savings to renovate things to your liking. Another added bonus is that there will be less competition for these homes.

If you are on the fence about taking the plunge and buying a home or continuing with your comfortable renting, there are some things you need to consider. Home Buying has gotten a bad rap in recent years due to the mortgage crisis and economic meltdown. This is no longer the case as it has steadily been on the climb once again. Many real estate experts statistics show rents increasing at a much faster pace than home prices. If you still need more convincing to buy a home as opposed to renting, take a look at these 7 reasons why home buying is the way to go.

Customization

Whatever your vision is for your place, you have the freedom to do it. If you want to add a new room or knock down a wall, owning your home gives you the freedom to do it. If you rent, then this means losing out on your security deposit and possibly other financial consequences.

You can build a second income

Owning your home means you can take in a renter in a spare bedroom or rent out your driveway if you live in a busy city. Whatever the case may be, you have the ability to find ways to monetize your home.

No unexpected landlord notices

When you rent, a landlord can randomly sell their property forcing you to leave or use the property for their convenience, not yours. Landlords can decide to rent to someone else without reason. As a homeowner, this is not a problem.

You are in charge

Some landlords take their time to fix air vents, dishwashers, or other repairs that your apartment may need. Owning a home means you’re in charge, so no waiting for someone else to get these things done.

A fixed mortgage can’t go up

Mortgage rates have not been this low for years and signing up for a 15 or 30-year fixed mortgage means that your rate does not go up even if everything else around you does. Rent can go up at any moment’s notice and has been increasing rapidly in recent years.

Tax Deductions

Tax season is around the corner, and if you become a homeowner, you can take advantage of many tax benefits. Deductions can include mortgage interest payments, eligible expenses, and many energy-efficient improvements.

You build equity over time

When you buy a home, every dollar that you pay towards your principal represents a dollar of equity (actual ownership of the property.) Renters do not own any equity and pay equal or higher cost without a return on investment.

Inglewood’s $2.6-billion stadium broke ground 14 months ago just before Jared Goff was set to start his first game and anticipation filled fans and residents alike in hopes for a bright future.

Fast-forward to present day and just a little over a year later and the skeleton of the stadium is now starting to take its shape and the Rams have seemed to found their form.

If you take a trip down to the site you can make out where the end zones will be and where the seats fans will occupy will lie.

Construction crews have removed more than six million cubic yards of dirt to date. More than two million hours of labor have been completed by workers to date. In fact, the only day you did not see someone out on site working was during the recent holidays.

The 298-acre lot is coming along smoothly and is expected to be the home for the Rams and Chargers in 2020. Once completed, the stadium is set to host the Super Bowl in 2022, the college football championship game in 2023, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics.

In a years time, the site is no longer a giant hole with a pile of dirt, it is starting to look like a stadium and although 2020 might seem like a long time away, according to the LA Times Chief Operating Officer of the Rams says time can move fast, just as the Rams.

From waterfront fireworks to bar-hopping to music festival here are the five best ways to ring in the new year in LA.

1 Grand Park

Grand Park and The Music Centre are teaming up this year to bring N.Y.E.L.A, a free outdoor dance party. The event will feature two stages of live music, a high-tech 3D video countdown, and interactive motion graphics.

Location: 200 North Grand Ave, Los Angeles

 

2 Universal Studios

Come down to Universal Studios for their first-ever NYE celebration, EVE. The event will feature three party hubs that include Latin music, EDM, and pop. Ticket admission to the park will grant access to EVE.

Location: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City

 

3 NYE At the Waterfront

The Downtown Long Beach Alliance will present NYE at the Waterfront from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The event will have DJs, a magician, stilt walkers, Tribal Fire belly dancers and face-painting for kids.

Location: Rainbow Harbor (200 Aquarium Way), Long Beach

 

4 Hermosa Beach NYE celebration

The annual Hermosa NYE celebration will take place on the pier plaza and have two ball drops. For those who want to celebrate an early ball drop experience the pier will have one at 9 p.m. for the new year in New York City. The second ball drop will be at midnight local time. Bring the whole family and countdown the new year at the pier.

Location: 1 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach

 

5 Prohibition NYE

This 1920-themed NYE party is set in Downtown Los Angeles Union Station. Twenties attire is encouraged and a dress-code is enforced to enter. Come down and celebrate the new years while sipping on your favorite cocktail. The event will also feature a 60-foot custom ball drop.

Location: Union Station (800 N Alameda St), Los Angeles

1 Dark Colors

You can never go wrong with an all-white interior, but experts say that 2018 will be a year of dark and bold colors. Sherwin-Williams color of the year is Oceanside and Pantone named its color of the year Ultra-violet. These along with other bold colors are going to be favorites to paint around the home.

2 Metallic

Having metallic items has become the new must-have trend hitting homes next year. The industrial touch added to the home is a favorite amongst consumers. Layering your metals will give it an extra effect.

3 Natural Materials

2018 will have a strong interior design push towards eco-conscious items that are made from sustainable materials. Plants and other natural materials are part of the growing minimalist trend we can expect to see.

4 Black over Brass

Black fixtures according to home design experts will take the place of the brass objects at home. Black goes with everything and is much easier to clean than light brass fixtures. The black fixtures will mesh well with the dark color trend of the new year.

5 Wood Flooring

For years red-toned wood flooring has been the go-to choice, but lately, its popularity has been fading. The new lighter-toned wood flooring is increasing in popularity and will be a favorite amongst consumers in the new year because the lighter-hued woods brighten spaces and hide imperfections.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and the thought of turkey, stuffing and pie is roaming around everyone’s mind. To go along with this deliciousness take a look at five family-friendly ways to enjoy the holiday around the city.

Annual Senior Thanksgiving Hoedown

The city of Compton will be hosting its annual Senior Thanksgiving Hoedown. The event will feature line dancing, Bar-B-Que, Raffle Prizes, Photo booth, and promises to be lots of fun!!! Tickets are $13 per person/payable by check or money order only.

For more info: Call 310-605-5688

When: Friday, November 17, 2017

Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Where: Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center, 301 North Tamarind Ave, Compton, CA, 90220

4th Annual Compton Thanksgiving Free Community Dinner

The city will be hosting its 4th Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner. The Event is free and open to the public on a first come first serve basis. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a meal with the rest of the community and make sure you arrive early.

When: Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Time: 12:00PM – 4:00PM

Where: Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center, 301 North Tamarind Ave, Compton, CA, 90220

We Give Thanks Community Luncheon

The We Give Thanks Community Luncheon is hosted by the city of Compton as a way to bring the community together. The event will be featuring free meals for the first 100 participants, it is on a first come first serve basis. There will also be music, a guest speaker, and giveaways.

When: Saturday, November 25, 2017

Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Where: Burrell-MacDonald Park, 2516 W Alondra Blvd, Compton, CA, 90220

Veterans Thanksgiving Appreciation Dinner

Veterans Advocacy Group of America is hosting Veterans Thanksgiving Appreciation Dinner. Veterans and their families are invited to attend a Thanksgiving Celebration to show appreciation to veterans and those currently serving in the United States Military. Dinner is free for all veterans and their families. This will be a buffet service with servers. However, space is limited and will be reserved on a first come first serve basis, so make sure to RSVP to save your seat. Entertainment will be provided at the event for your enjoyment.

Those interested in donating any items or volunteering, please email info@vaga.us or visit www.vaga.us

When: Tuesday, November 21, 2017 @ 2:30PM

Where: Bob Hope Patriotic Hall 1816 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

To RSVP please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/veterans-thanksgiving-appreciation-dinner-tickets-39565885629?aff=es2

Underground Thanksgiving Eve at The Continental Club

The Continental Club is hosting Their Underground Thanksgiving Eve event. Featuring entertainment by Underground Jazz Wednesday’s Band. There will be Complimentary Mini Cupcakes courtesy of BIG MAN BAKES. Locals can enjoy $5 beers, wines & signature cocktails from 9 – 11 PM. Reservation are complementary and tickets are free with RSVP.

When: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 9PM – 2AM

Where: The Continental club 116 W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

To RSVP please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/underground-thanksgiving-eve-at-the-continental-club-tickets-39751556977?aff=es2

Put your hand up if you can guess where most people start their home search. You win if your answer is “online”—turns out, more than 90% of buyers scroll through hundreds of listings on a mobile device or laptop, clicking only on the ones that grab their attention.

So if you’re listing your home for sale, your goal is to make it a “thumb-stopper”—the listing that makes a buyer slow down, take a good look and read about how fabulous it is. The secret is to make sure that the photos showcasing your home are up to the task. Here are nine tips from the pros that will help you set up a picture-perfect house, and snap the best shots possible.

1. Tour your own house like a buyer

Before grabbing your camera and tripod, walk around your house and imagine how it looks to people who don’t live there, advises Buddy Mountcastle, a real estate photographer in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

“I don’t ever walk into a house with my equipment ready to shoot pictures,” Mountcastle says. “I ask the homeowners for a tour, so I can capture the passion and emotion of the house.”

Assess each room from a variety of angles. Keep in mind you’re not photographing your home; you’re photographing a prospective buyer’s home, adds Mike Small, a Phoenix, AZ, real estate photographer whose website features a “Wall of Shame”—disastrous home photos that probably scared buyers away.

Good photos will reveal every little detail, he says, so it’s important to show off your home’s best features, while minimizing its flaws.

“If you can see it, the camera will also pick it up,” warns Small, who offers a checklist, so homeowners can prepare their property to be camera-ready.

2. Choose the best day and time to shoot

Yes, photographing your home’s exterior on a partly cloudy day will minimize shadows in your shots. But Small believes a bright blue sky packs a substantially bigger punch, especially if you live in a location where you’re trying to sell the weather as well as the home.

When it comes to what time of day to shoot, you might be tempted to shoot exteriors in that sweet spot just as dusk is falling; twilight shoots can highlight your property’s stunning landscaping and make the home look bright and inviting. But they’re a bit more complicated to get right, because they’re dictated by what the sun is doing on that particular day.

“If the sun sets at 6:30, twilight will start about 6:40 and be over in 20 minutes,” Small explains.

So if you’re an amateur photographer, it’s better to leave twilight shoots to the pros and stick to shooting your home during a more predictable window of time.

“I try to schedule so that the sun is shining in the front of the home, so ideally, I’d shoot east-facing homes in the morning,” says Small.

Pro tip: If you’re shooting with a smartphone (although we really, really recommend using a high-quality digital camera) use the high dynamic range (HDR) setting to capture greater detail without having to use additional lights.

3. Make a clean sweep outside

Before snapping a single frame outside, clear away anything that detracts from your curb appeal, Mountcastle suggests.

“This is the ultimate first impression everybody gets about your house,” he says. “You don’t need perfect grass, but you want your yard to look nice and neat, with your bushes and trees trimmed.”

Hide the trash cans, garden hoses, and kids’ toys, and remove cars and bikes from the driveway so they’re not in the photos.

“Clean up after your pets, and pull out any dead things from your garden,” Small adds. “Lots of people have empty flowerpots everywhere; fill them up with something to add some color.”

Set up your patio umbrella and outdoor dining area. Have a pool or a hot tub? Turn on pool lights, water features, and spa bubbles.

4. Undo that ‘lived-in’ look

Sure, your busy family lives in the house. But it doesn’t have to look that way in your photos. Excess furniture and knickknacks distract from your home’s features, Small says—plus, they don’t photograph well. So lose the magazine piles, remote controls, framed photos, books, and stray shoes. Clean off the front of your fridge so your images don’t capture every school note, magnet, and shopping list. And keep the toilet lid down!

“I don’t think you can declutter enough. Once you think you’ve decluttered, go back and do it again,” Small says. “You can’t neglect the toiletries on the bathroom counter, the toaster and five appliances on the kitchen counter. You don’t want the message to be, ‘Look at how much stuff this counter holds!’”

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