Category: Los Angeles

Posted on

Los Angeles Dining Scene 2021 Remains a Foodie’s Paradise

Steven-Taylor-Los-Angeles-Dining-Scene-2021-Remains-a-Foodies-Paradise
Steven Taylor-Los Angeles Dining Scene 2021 Remains a Foodies Paradise

While Los Angeles has always been known as a foodie’s paradise, its trendy and classy restaurants weren’t exempt from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been incredible challenges that brought the industry to a temporary halt in 2020. Something that people from all over the world aren’t used to, most especially foodies situated in L.A, restaurants had to transition to continue their business through online methods of dining. Fortunately, the gradual adjustment to the post-pandemic has brought in the good news that restaurants can accommodate on-site dining. While some had to fully close down due to the economic downfall, new restaurants have opened this 2021—some of which had been long-awaited as they were set to open last year. This list of restaurants thrives in the diverse community of Los Angeles, featuring American, Brazilian, Asian, Mediterranean, and Parisian cuisines made with California’s freshest ingredients.

Caboco

Situated in Los Angeles Arts District is this artsy restaurant that combines the culture of Brazil with the touch of L.A. Brazilian chefs and business partners, Rodrigo Oliviera and Victor Vasconcellos, who aim to express the Brazilian culture with flavor, talent, kindness, and art through their cuisine. “Caboco” is a term used to define the multicultural heritage of Brazilians—hence, this restaurant features a menu that highlights the Manioc root that originally originated from the Amazon region of Brazil. Manioc root is also commonly referred to as cassava, yuca, and tapioca. Their Manioc-inspired dishes include flavors extracted from its roots such as tapioca flour, tucupi, farofa, and yuca fries. To emphasize the Amazonian taste further, fruits and wild vegetables sourced from the region are used in their dishes—including the plant Barbados Gooseberry that is termed as ora-pro-nobis, which translates to “pray for us” in Brazil. Along with their strong-flavored food are Brazil’s classic cocktails and international cocktails mixed with cachaça. 

A restaurant that captivates dinners and passers-by through the interior and exterior designs from various spectacular artists of L.A to match the vibe of the Arts District. In a nutshell, Caboco brings people on a journey that allows them to get a taste of the multicultural Brazilian lifestyle and cuisine.

Winston House

Located in the heart of Venice Boardwalk, Winston House is an intimate supper club owned by Corey McGuire and Jake Matthews. A space that they define as a Home for Music will feature live music from various artists such as Ed Sheeran, Este Haim, Hozier, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Majid Jordan, and many more. The design of this space is a powerhouse that gives off the classic American and Asian atmosphere. In terms of their menu, similar to its design, they brought in the classic American flavors combined with Chinese and Japanese ingredients—popular yet unique dishes such as Chips & Dip with Yuzu Sour Cream, Shrimp Toast with Maple Chili Glaze, Mighty Duck Tacos with Plum Sauce, and Chicken Nuggets with Sansho Salt, and etc. Of course, it doesn’t end with that, they also produced a lobby bar, Winston express, performance room, and mezzanine lounge to cater to a wide range of audiences.

An intricately designed restaurant and bar with live music, Winston House seeks to create a community space for artists and music lovers.

A.O.C Brentwood

A newly opened restaurant in Brentwood—the second location following their spot in West Hollywood, is owned by Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne. As they are both highly experienced chefs and foodies that are passionate about healthy sustainable food, they headline a menu that contains Mediterranean-inspired dishes. To combine their expertise, Caroline includes her finest and indulgent selection of wine while Suzanne brings in her market-driven small plates menu.

With the best tasting and looking dishes in a rustic yet classy restaurant, foodies from Brentwood and other parts of L.A. will surely have a new go-to dining spot to destress with their loved ones.

Bicyclette

A Parisian-inspired restaurant established by Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke emphasizes their cuisine on Paris’s quintessential bistro culture and California’s fresh ingredients. With their numerous experiences from visiting and cooking in France, they create a restaurant that embraces the roots, traditions, and techniques of French cuisine. They bring in their culinary passion along with their trained skills to the L.A. community for an authentic dining experience.

The place offers two dining spaces, Bicyclette Bistro and Bicyclette Restaurant. What’s surprising about this is that Walter Manzke designed the place himself, it features a wood-lined ceiling, wooden furniture, and pistachio-colored walls that exude refreshing energy. Diners will certainly feel as if they are immersed in Paris while having delicious dishes that play with the flavors of Parisian and Californian cuisine.

Posted on

Steven Taylor on Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles
Family-Friendly Activities in Los Angeles

Los Angeles never runs out of beautiful destinations and exciting adventures that suit the likes of various families. With the crisis that the pandemic brought over the past year, providing children with a safe and healthy environment has been the focus of most families. It is also undeniable that the kids missed the normal way of life where they get to freely interact with their friends, roam around in the city, or have escapades in the heart of nature. With various sites back to business in L.A., coming up with family-friendly activities that bursts with adventure will no longer be a problem.

This list of activities highlights unique yet educational activities that are perfect for kids of today’s generation. A time away from the gadgets and a much-needed immersive experience are all they need to recognize the natural beauty that the Earth freely offers.

Go glamping

When planning a getaway with the family, packing the things alone may be fun but it’s undeniable that it is quite exhausting especially when the kids are too busy daydreaming or asking questions about the trip. Going camping means rearranging all the things again while building the actual tent—another task that can get stressful. Nowadays, families would rather just relax and destress without having to worry about all those ruckuses. This is when glamping comes into the picture; experiencing the great outdoors and connecting with nature on a beautiful tent that has already been set up with luxuries and accommodations similar to a hotel room. Unlike going on a camping trip, glamping means not having to stress about finding the perfect location or packing all the basic necessities.

A popular glamping site in Los Angeles is La Boheme Living. It features an urban safari tent experience in a private residence that is just a few miles away from Dodger Stadium. It is already equipped with everything from air-conditioning, comfy bed, wifi, hairdryers, shower with a heater to barbecue facilities and chimineas that can be used at all times. They also have opportunities for biking, hiking, playing tennis that will surely be well-loved and enjoyed by the kids. What makes this place even better is that they can book a personal masseuse once requested—something that most parents would appreciate at the end of a tiring day. Furthermore, the site also stated that they have free-roaming friendly cats, chickens, raccoons, and opossums that love to hang out on the porch. This unique bohemian glamping site is an experience that families will surely look forward to or even look back on when they want to unwind.

Meet the rescue animals at Kfar Saba Urban Farm

Locally rescued animals such as dogs, goats, chickens, tortoises, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, horses, and birds are being taken care of at Kfar Saba Urban Farm in the Winnetka neighborhood of Los Angeles. They provide a private COVID-19 safe tour where families can learn more about each of the animals. The kids would have the opportunity to interact with various animals as they gain knowledge on how to properly take care of or handle them with love and care. Of course, kids are also known to be curious about animals, hence, this is an educational experience that they would surely love and appreciate.

Explore Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden

While Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are located in Arcadia, it’s only less than an hour away from Los Angeles. An earthy destination that is worth traveling to as it features a beautiful 127-acre botanical garden and historical site. The Arboretum Foundation Board and senior staff team established this arboretum with a mission to cultivate natural, horticultural, and historic resources for learning, enjoyment, and inspiration; they also have the vision to serve as a resource for environmental stewardship and education in the sciences and history. The arboretum includes plant collections from all over the world, historical architectural landmarks, wildlife sanctuary, crescent farm, and the Baldwin lake. They also hold activities such as yoga in the garden, sound baths, forest bathing, and other educational exhibitions that would certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Check out SOAR: South Coast Botanic Garden

South Coast Botanic Garden added a new experience that lets people observe the life cycle of butterflies. They have an immersive pavilion that features monarchs and mimics where SOAR guides teach them more about the butterflies. They also make sure that the butterflies are well taken care of by providing them with everything that Western Monarchs love such as the milkweed, which allows them to repopulate the butterflies. In addition, they have a SOAR garden area that contains eggs and caterpillars where people can freely recognize and understand the initial stages of a butterfly. Steven Taylor

Posted on

COVID-19 Impact on Los Angeles Real Estate

Steven Taylor Los Angeles Skyline at night
Steven Taylor Los Angeles Skyline at night

Los Angeles, known as the land of opportunities, is a paradise for real estate investors. As it is the second-largest city in the country that takes pride in its warm weather, diverse culture, and dynamic economy, it comes as no surprise that a number of people have included it in their list of best cities to move into. It remains eye-catching for prospective tenants who are searching for practicality in the so-called land of the rich and famous. With all of these in mind, the competition for real estate investments is certainly high—having a strategy that is aligned with the current pandemic situation is the key to making the right investment that can generate a great long-term return.

Like many other sectors that the COVID-19 pandemic has made an impact on, the real estate market in Los Angeles has also encountered various challenges that continue to exist today. Despite the continuous progress and developments in the business conditions for commercial real estate in Los Angeles over the years, it was not exempted from the domino effect of the pandemic. Delays and shortages in terms of project developments in the sales operation, costs estimates, and values and rates of return of existing real estate were those that had the greatest impact.

The recent survey conducted by NAIOP found that 86.6% of developers faced delays or shortages in construction supplies while some types of deal activities have doubled for office and retail properties over the last year. A decline in the leasing for existing development projects has already dropped by more than half while shortages of both construction supplies and workers were more severe than last year. Considering that the country is slowly adjusting to the post-pandemic era, they reported that all of these have remained unchanged since June 2020.

On the other hand, the recent real estate forecast in Los Angeles has shown signs that it is ready to bounce back in the market. Mastroeni (2021) reported that rental vacancies have increased by 2.5% which meant that rental rates are also down—but only by 0.4%. This may come as good news for real estate investors given the awareness that it may likely be a short-term impact. Given the remote working environment, rental vacancies were expected to rise but as L.A continues to be one of the fastest-growing cities, investors know that this will eventually decrease post-pandemic.

The Los Angeles metro area also stated that they are running on 2.2 months worth of housing inventory but it is important to point out that this is higher than the national average of 1.6 months. This simply means that despite the delays and declines in project developments, L.A can still thrive on its existing value chain while catching up on further investments. On top of that, the increase in the number of both single and multi-family housing permits can also reduce the inventory shortage in the future.

As unemployment rates are still high in Los Angeles—9.9% as of February 2021 and higher than the national average of 6.2%, investors should consider how this affects the longer rental vacancies in the area. However, it should still be noted that L.A always has its reopening plan one way or another which means that more jobs will eventually become available. It would be ideal for investors to have a strategy on how they would approach this as of the moment and in the near future.

Investors should also be aware that unemployment is still relatively high in Los Angeles, which could lead to longer vacancies. As of February 2021, the unemployment rate is 9.9%, a figure that is up 5.6% since the same time last year and is significantly higher than the national average of just 6.2%. Still, as LA prepares to enter the next phase of its reopening plan, odds are that many more jobs will become available and the rate should begin to drop.

With that in mind and the fact that L.A real estate market is not the most affordable in the country, investors should concentrate on the fact that there’s still an abundance of investment opportunities for those who can afford the median price of over 700K. It is also worth noting that some neighborhoods in L.A are much cheaper and completion between buyers is lesser. Flipping houses may come to a halt but this should not prevent real estate investors from focusing their investments on rental properties instead. – Steven Taylor

Posted on

Interview with Steven Taylor, Los Angeles Real Estate Specialist

Though residential real estate may not change quite as dramatically as runway fashions, it nonetheless has cycles and can quickly transform based upon sudden market variations. Navigating these unstable conditions takes knowledge, attention to detail, and not a little intrepidity.

Steven Taylor Los Angeles
Steven Taylor Los Angeles

Numerous factors, from overall economic health to population spatial patterns and demographics to available property characteristics, make for a complex mix that any would-be developers must be willing to handle. The rewards can be significant, both personally and financially. However, failures can be equally dramatic.

Some nonetheless plunge into this uncertain environment, like real estate developers and landlords, working to flip as well as refurbish properties for profit. Not all succeed, but those who do find much wealth in this industry. There is no one road that leads to a successful career as a real estate developer and property owner and landlord. Some industry experience or related knowledge is common, but if property development is your passion, this field is open to those willing to work hard and take chances.

Steven Taylor is one of those who has found great success in this volatile field. A successful and experienced property investor and landlord in the Southern California market, Mr. Taylor has been named as one of the region’s “30 under 30” real estate moguls. He has handled more than $500 million in property transactions and is a Principal at NEME Capitol. He also is the founder of Taylor Equities, a family company that purchases multi-dwelling structures such as apartment buildings.

He knows the real estate industry inside and out and stays current on up-to-the-minute conditions and changes. Such work can be all-consuming, but Mr. Taylor has found a way to keep his real estate work growing even as he concentrates on more personal matters and passions closer to home.

We wanted to learn even more about Steven Taylor Los Angeles real estate specialist, so we were able to ask him a few questions recently. Please see the great responses below:

What was it that inspired you to become a landlord?

The concept of passive income has always been attractive to me. My goal has been and continues to be to create a sufficient passive income on a monthly basis that will support me and my family. Also, one of the benefits of being a Landlord is that you to develop and reposition assets in emerging markets which is always fun.

You have been redeveloping apartments for a long time, how has your business model changed over the years?

Yes, you need to evolve with the market and demands of your residents, but the fundamentals remain the same. Focus on location, appreciation and deprecation.

What do you find to be the most rewarding portions of your career?

Achieving Stabilization. Once a property hits stabilization, meaning that the business plan has worked and the property is performing and its generating positive returns, there is a great sense of accomplishment.

On the other hand, what has been the most challenging project of your career?

The bureaucratic and red tape of the city permitting and approval processes can be very challenging. The inconsistencies between building inspectors and field inspectors can be frustrating and exasperating. I have personally been in several situations where I obtain a permit from the city but then the field inspector wants something entirely different which can put a project on hold until resolved.

In your expert opinion, what do you find works best when it comes to keeping an income property turning a profit?

Managing the revenue side. In my opinion, on the expense side, there are a fairly large number of fixed operational expenses which sort of handle themselves, and the variable expenses can be managed with a good budget and a good team. However, the revenue can be tricky because you constantly need to assess your competition, but if high-occupancy is constantly maintained, the property should turn a profit.

What processes do you have in place that allow you to ensure a redevelopment is running efficiently?

Like most business, real estate ownership and management is all about having the right people in place. We have several systems in place to have real-time intel on property performances, so as weekly and monthly OPEX budgets, weekly and monthly vacancy details, snapshots of expense to income ratios of each property and so on.

I am sure some projects can become stressful quickly, how do you maintain your composure under pressure?

I love what I do. I am constantly thinking about how to improve my business and how to grow my business, but even more so, I believe in work life balance. I think that if you can manage to have balance in your life, then situations that can become stressful quickly can be compartmentalized and handled appropriately.

When you first inspect a property you are interested in, what are your main point of focus?

Typically, location is a top priority in conjunction with some basic metrics like cost per unit and cost per foot. Then I’ll assess the unit conditions and the conditions of the systems of the building so that I can accurate assess the costs associated with modernizing the building.

When it comes to advertising a property, what do you find to be the most effective method?

We use all the traditional advertising channels, such as online media marketing, banners, signs and flyers. Having a well thought out and easy to use leasing website is key.

As the real estate industry changes, what resources allow you to stay up-to-date on trends?

I live and breathe real estate and feel like I have my finger on the pulse, but I read all the local trades on a daily basis as well as national publications like the WSJ.

Millions of people, both women and men, seek a successful equilibrium of their work and home lives. Mr. Taylor seems to have found that balance, one that lets him achieve business goals of creating a steady passive income to support himself and his family as well as meet personal aims of working at something he loves and challenging himself daily. Finding such stable poise is not easy in any industry, but certainly in one as potentially risky as property development and ownership.

No single real estate deal is like any other. Each is unique and brings individual challenges. Even veteran developers must continue to learn and grow if they do not want to get left behind. Professionals such as Mr. Taylor must stay current on every aspect of property acquisition and development, from the cost of modernizing older structures to patterns of urban growth.

Once properties are found, funded, and in hand, developers must focus on planning and acquire all needed permissions, licenses, and permits to move forward with renovation and construction. Entrepreneurs dealing with real estate cannot overlook important details if they want projects to move forward in a timely way. Every day that schedules are not met means money out of the developer’s pocket.

As complicated as this industry sounds, there are particular ways that professionals handle real estate transactions. The bottom line is that successful landlords and property developers such as Mr. Taylor know the industry basics, quickly learn everything they need for each deal, and take care of all aspects to ensure each project is carried out on schedule. Perhaps the most important thing winning real estate developers with flourishing businesses do is carry over the knowledge they gain from each project into successive ventures. They build on top of the firm foundation they already have to create a new, solid enterprise that will last.

Originally published at https://realtybiznews.com on October 19, 2019.

Posted on

Steven Taylor: Los Angeles Is Growing Smaller…and Better

Steven and Natalie Taylor in Los Angeles
Steven and Natalie Taylor in Los Angeles

Don’t be fooled by stories about those mega-mansions dotting exclusive Los Angeles neighborhoods. If you’re thinking of moving to the city, says Steven Taylor of Los Angeles, be prepared for a dash of reality. Not every home in Los Angeles is massively large with Olympic size swimming pools and yards the size of football fields

In fact, the average home size in Los Angeles metro today is actually smaller than the city’s average home just a few years ago.

Across the U.S., the medium-sized home is 2430 square feet. In Los Angeles, new homes typically come in at around 1800 feet. That’s larger than San Francisco’s 1150 sq. ft. homes, yet lags behind cities like San Diego (2728 to 3581 sq. ft.) and Las Vegas (2430 sq. ft.) 

Much of the reason for LA’s smaller square footage, says Steven Taylor Los Angeles, is the densification of LA’s central area. People want to be close to the action, and the central area packs them into increasingly smaller lots and residences. For decades, new residents poured into the city from everywhere. But the growth began to slow down over the past few years. From 2018 to 2019, for example, there was actually a 0.08% decline in population.

Between July 2019 and July 2020, Los Angeles county lost 40,036 residents, the steepest loss of any other California county.

Nonetheless, says Taylor, the city has not lost its luster. Diehard Los Angeles residents still love their professional sports (Lakers and Dodgers), the diverse culture, the unmatched cuisine at the city’s many restaurants. Not least, of course, is what many regard as the best weather in the U.S. When you’re up to your ears in the snow, blizzards, hurricanes and tornados so common in other parts of the nation, LA’s moderate, balmy temperatures begin to look irresistible.

As the nation recovers from COVID, LA’s famous restaurants, night life and world-renowned attractions are springing back into life.

Add to that the lure of Hollywood and the huge film and entertainment industry, and you see why—despite recent losses over taxes and government regulations–the city is the first choice for so many of its residents.  

If you want a home in what is still one of the most desirable cities in the U.S., top Los Angeles real estate pros, like Steve Taylor will tell you tha LA is the place to go! 

Posted on

Steven Taylor – Los Angeles, What Makes it Such a Special Place to Live – An Insider’s View

Los Angeles hike with Steven Taylor and family

Los Angeles isn’t only one of the world’s most popular places to visit on vacation, it is also an exceptional place to live, work, and play. Long time residents, like Los Angeles native, Steven Taylor, say they get the best of all worlds living in LA. From downtown skylines to mountain ranges, bustling restaurants to hole in the wall coffee shops, and business district apartments to family friendly neighborhoods – there is something for everyone. In this article, we’ll share a few reasons Los Angeles is such a special place to live, from an insider’s view.

Los Angeles is truly a melting pot.

LA is truly diverse – it is one of only two cities in the US that does not have a majority population. Los Angeles is full of people from many cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities – its residents hail from over 140 countries and the LA population speaks almost 100 languages. Not only will you find many cultures, but there is a wide variety of neighborhoods and socio-economic communities. You can find people of every religion, belief system, and lifestyle here. Los Angeles’ vast diversity has led to incredible food, art, entertainment, and community scenes, which people come from all over the world to experience.

Los Angeles offers an endless amount of things to do.

If there is one thing that everyone can agree on about Los Angeles, it’s that you’ll never be bored. Steven Taylor Los Angeles native, loves that the LA area has countless activities that he can enjoy with his whole family. Residents who enjoy the outdoors take advantage of more than 80 miles of coastline and beaches, in addition to the plethora of state parks, hiking trails, bike paths, horseback riding, and nearby mountains for skiing and snowboarding.

For residents who are looking for entertainment and educational activities, Los Angeles has hundreds of museums, as well as Zoos and Aquariums. Southern California is also home to theme parks, professional sports arenas, concert venues, and world famous tourist attractions that even the locals can appreciate.

Los Angeles is environmentally progressive.

If you care about your carbon footprint and waste impact, Los Angeles is a great place to live. LA may be known for its layer of smog, but Angelenos are also known for being environmentally conscious. The area has a growing number of energy efficient buildings, and is the number one city in the United State for solar power use. Angelenos are also on top of their waste management and recycling – LA has the highest recycling rate of all big cities in America. While there still may be pollution from all the traffic, Los Angeles is making progress in the right direction to keep our environment safe.

Los Angeles has an exceptional restaurant scene.

Those who live in Los Angeles have access 24 hours to an immense amount of restaurant and dining experiences. Between the bars, restaurants, food trucks, pop-ups, and stands, you can find any type of cuisine at any time of day. LA has become known around the world for it’s dynamic food scene, primarily due to its expansive diversity and culture. If you want to experience why Los Angeles is such a special place to live, Los Angeles native Steven Taylor says there is no better way than to taste the food!

Posted on

Steven Taylor – Moving to Los Angeles? Here’s What You Need to Know

Steven Taylor and the family in Los Angeles
Steven Taylor and the family in Los Angeles

If you’re thinking of moving to Los Angeles, you probably have a lot of questions. Los Angeles is clearly a popular place to live – 3.9 million people currently choose to live in the LA area. But, is it right for you? Before you make any move, you should do some market research. It is important to understand the culture, lifestyle, real estate, and other aspects of a city prior to making a jump. In this article Steven Taylor, Los Angeles Native and real estate professional, answers some of the most common questions people ask him when first moving to Los Angeles.

Who will I meet in Los Angeles?

One of the most beautiful things about Los Angeles is its diversity. LA has always been known as a melting pot, and for good reason. The city has great cultural, ethnic, and experiential diversity. Moving to Los Angeles can expand your horizons – according to the 2019 US census, Southern California residents hail from 180 different countries, and 59.1% of people speak a language other than English. With a population of 3,979,537, LA is home to many different cultures. The city is currently 49% Hispanic, 29% White, 8% Black, and 12% Asian. This diversity contributes to Los Angeles’ epic cultural, art, and food scenes!

In Los Angeles, you will meet people with passion. A large portion of LA residents are transplants, who moved to the west coast to pursue their goals. Everyone has their own reasons for coming to LA, but it has always been a home for big dreamers. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or hoping to become a star, you will meet like-minded people in Los Angeles.

What do people do for work in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is a land full of opportunities. Whether you are looking for a more traditional work lifestyle, hope to work from home, or are pursuing seasonal or gig work in the entertainment industry, there is work for you in LA.

When people think of LA, many of them first think of the entertainment industry. While it’s true that many Angelenos are employed in the world of film and television, some of the most common jobs in LA outside of Hollywood are retail, real estate, tourism, healthcare, and education.

While many people still work 9-6 type office jobs in Los Angeles, a large portion of the population works on flexible schedules. Jobs in entertainment, fashion, hospitality, and other industries provide the opportunity to make your own hours or work an atypical schedule. Los Angeles native, Steven Taylor, says this means you’ll find more people out and about exploring the city during typical weekday “working hours”.

Is the traffic really that bad in Los Angeles?

This quick answer is – yes. Unfortunately, sitting in traffic is part of the reality of living in Los Angeles. How bad is the traffic? That depends on where you are coming from, where you are going, and at what time. While Los Angeles does have public transportation, most people still commute by car. The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased traffic as more people are working from home, but the problem is not completely solved.

There are wonderful rewards that come with living in Los Angeles, so traffic is an annoyance many people are willing to put up with to live here. The best thing you can do is avoid driving on the major highways at peak hours, and take public transportation when you can! No one likes traffic, but Los Angeles native, Stephen Taylor, says it’s worth it to experience all that Los Angeles has to offer its residents.