For the first time, Jackass has added new cast-members for one of their movies. Rachel Wolfson, who has a background in comedy, got a message from practically out of the blue from Johnny Knoxville asking if she’d like to join the cast for Jackass Forever. Wolfson jumped at the chance to become the first woman to be in the cast of Jackass and, smash-cut, there’s Wolfson in a movie, licking a taser and, later, getting stabbed in the face by a scorpion.
So what’s it like to be the new person (and a woman) in a Jackass movie? Wolfson spoke with us recently to tell us all about it.
I always get weird talking about Jackass because these movies make me very anxious…
Oh, are you all right?
The question is are you okay?
Physically, I am okay.
This is the first Jackass movie where they’ve added new cast members. So how does the word get out? How does that get to you?
You know, it was a complete surprise. I remember in 2019, I noticed that Johnny Knoxville was liking a bunch of my content on Instagram, my jokes and my memes. And then not too long after that, I got a direct message from Johnny Knoxville, which when I first got it, I couldn’t believe it. I thought I was being pranked. And he was like, “Hey, do you want to hop on a call with me? I want to ask you something.” So I got on the phone with him and he said that they were doing some kind of anniversary special. So at first, I didn’t even know it was a movie. And he asked if I would be interested, and I was like, yes. Whatever Johnny Knoxville asked of me, I was like, “I am interested.”
If Johnny Knoxville called me, which he’s not going to, but if he did, I don’t think I’d have the same answer you did.
Well, for me, it just seems like a no-brainer. I mean, I grew up watching Jackass. And I’ve always been a fan of the franchise, and obviously, Johnny Knoxville and all those guys. So, for me, it was like, “Of course I want to meet you and Jeff Tremaine.” And so we had a meeting not too long after that. It was like, “Hey, do you want to come play with us?” That’s when they told me they were shooting the movie. But it’s still at that point I was nervous because I didn’t know what they wanted with me. But I just knew that I couldn’t pass up on this opportunity.
It’s human nature anytime someone notable “likes” something on social media you start thinking, oh, maybe they’re taking an interest in some of my work. And that’s mostly never the case. But this time it actually happened.
Right. It’s the modern-day getting discovered on the street. But you’re right. I mean, I’ve had plenty of experiences in the past where famous people liked my stuff and that was the end of the interaction. I mean, this was truly like, oh, this person notices me. They’re liking what I’m doing. It’s not weird or creepy. They’re genuinely liking my jokes. What are the odds?
So once you get this offer, there’s no soul-searching? Maybe thinking this could be very dangerous?
I mean, there were all of those thoughts. It was two things can be true: What am I doing? Am I going to get hurt? And also, I don’t care. I need to find out.
So how do you find out what you’re doing? Is it just like it is in the movies where he announces it and that’s when you find out? Or are you told before?
You don’t really find out what you’re doing until that moment. I mean, there are certain scenes that they might ask right before you do them, “Are you comfortable with this?” And I just wanted to always come from a place of yes. I told myself before I did Jackass that I was going to say yes to pretty much whatever they asked, as long as it wasn’t butt stuff. But I didn’t think they wanted that. And also that I wasn’t going to cry on site.
How many waivers from the good folks at Viacom do you have to sign before you’re allowed to do this movie?
I mean, there was definitely paperwork, for sure. But it’s like the standard paperwork that I feel like other movies do, you know?
I feel there’s more of a chance in this of you getting hurt than in something else?
I feel like if I’m going to be on a set with dangerous things, I want to be on the Jackass set because it seems like they know what they’re doing.
So, you licked electricity.
Yes.
What does that feel like? I assume bad.
Yeah. I mean, it’s definitely uncomfortable. Imagine sticking your tongue into a socket.
I can’t. I can’t do it. I don’t know how you do this.
I mean, I was so nervous because, I mean, anytime you see the guys on set get tased, they seem to be in a lot of pain. And I had never really experienced anything with a taser before. So it was very uncomfortable. It was a very uncomfortable feeling.
You let a scorpion sting you in the face.
Yes.
They are evil-looking creatures.
I haven’t had much experience with scorpions before. That may come as a surprise to you, but my dad did get stung in the toe by a scorpion growing up and I think this one came back for revenge.
Did he lose his toe?
My dad kept his toe, but he had to go to the hospital and get a shot.
Is this like a scorpion that’s not quite as poisonous as another scorpion? Is it like snakes where some are more deadly than others?
I don’t know much about scorpions, but they used two different kinds on set. And one’s definitely more painful than the other.
You did both?
Yes. I’m not really sure what made it more painful, if it was the bark or the bite. But know that if you see a small scorpion, it is not less painful than the big ones. Size does not matter. Also, there’s always a handler and also medics on set in case I happen to be allergic. They had someone who had access to medical care.
Is there more you did we will see in the eventual longer version?
Oh yeah. There’s a lot of stuff that you guys didn’t get to see that will be in 4.5 and I’m very excited for that to come out as well.
Can you give a preview of one?
Oh, no. I know I can’t. Just because I don’t think I’m necessarily allowed to. But they got so much good content for this movie, that 4.5 will be such a great movie as well.
Well, one spoiler is you are still alive. We know that.
Yes. I’m physically still alive. Did you watch the whole thing or did you look away?
I looked away. I’m fine with the stunts. But the stuff involving male body parts, and that can go on for so long, I had to look away at times.
I told my dad and mom to bring a puke bucket.
‘Jackass Forever’ opens this week in theaters. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.
I only have one Zoom meeting a week, and I find myself facing screen fatigue. I can only imagine the challenges that teachers have been continuously facing during this pandemic—overcoming tech issues, keeping the attention of multiple students from a distance, establishing a stimulating educational environment in a literally sense-less virtual space—all this with little help, and oftentimes even less appreciation.
But then again they don’t do it for the praise, they do it out of a genuine calling to help develop young minds. They certainly don’t do it for the pay.
Still, one group of students found the most heartfelt way to surprise their teacher, and it’s a powerful reminder of why education providers should get a “thank you” during this time.
At first, the teacher thinks that none of his students have their cameras on in order to be “cool.”
“Is that the new cool thing to do-not turn your camera on?” he innocently asks during an online class. “I’ve heard that in some classes, nobody turns their camera on, including the instructor.”
Clearly not this instructor. He’s the only one whose face is visible in a sea of Zoom squares.
Trying to laugh it off, he can’t help but ask, “Seriously is it my fault that you have your cameras off?” he’s met with an awkward silence.
Finally, someone speaks up. A student says, “Dr. Brown, we actually kind of wanted to do something.”
The cameras turn on, and instead of faces, the screen is flooding with handwritten notes of gratitude for Dr. Brown.
One of the most visible messages says, “thank you for making a difference every day.”
Moved, Dr. Brown says, “Oh, you guys…you’re gonna make me cry.” And he does.
The video inspired other people to share their own similar stories.
One person wrote, “During the early days of remote learning, I heard my daughter’s history teacher trying everything in his power to just get the kids to respond to him saying “good morning, how are you?” Just….silence. Even if he’d call on them individually. All the cameras were off, despite him all but begging them to turn them on. And this was a teacher they LOVED during normal times…Teachers don’t have it easy even on normal days…I can’t imagine how hard it was trying to pivot to remote, then hybrid, then in-person….then remote….”
Another person added, “My husband is a teacher…Every day, he fights for his kids. Every day. He works longer hours than I do – even though my shifts are ten hours a day – and even as parents yell at him, the administration refuses to provide curriculum and instead gives busywork, and the pandemic makes it all but impossible to keep kids engaged, he keeps trying to give his kids the kindness, empathy, and understanding they deserve. Teachers are doing their utmost right now. Please, be kind to them.”
It’s hard out there right now, for everyone. But little acts of kindness like this really do make a difference. Here’s to a win for human connection.
As Brian Cox continues to promote his memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, the Succession star has been spilling all of the tea about his lengthy career in Hollywood. This time around, the actor talked to Vanity Fair about his time filming the 2004 sword and sandals epic, Troy. Cox played the Greek king Agamemnon alongside Brad Pitt‘s mythical hero, Achilles. However, despite being a seasoned actor, Cox could not get over how gorgeous Pitt looked in person. Cox made it a point to note that he’s heterosexual, but damn, if he couldn’t stop himself from marveling at Pitt’s smoldering looks.
“Brad walked on set and my jaw was down because he was so stunningly beautiful,” added the smitten Laurence Olivier award winner.
In fact, like with a metalhead appreciating Beethoven, Pitt’s hotness apparently transcended Cox’s sexual orientation.
“I’m straight but I thought, ‘Wow, my God! This guy is stunning,’” the “Manhunter” actor added of his bromantic feelings. “What chance does one have on the screen against this beautiful, beautiful man?”
While Cox couldn’t stop drooling over Pitt, there’s one (former) Hollywood heartthrob who definitely didn’t get the same reaction: Johnny Depp. Back in October, an excerpt from his memoir dropped in which Cox shared his opinion of the actor who adorned many a teen girl’s bedroom walls in the ’80s and ’90s.
“Personable though I’m sure he is, is so overblown, so overrated,” Cox writes in his memoir. “I mean, Edward Scissorhands. Let’s face it, if you come on with hands like that and pale, scarred-face make-up, you don’t have to do anything. And he didn’t. And subsequently, he’s done even less.”
The Washington Wizards are in a tricky spot with Bradley Beal currently out with a wrist injury, his future uncertain, and the team sitting on the outside looking in on the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture. With that in mind, the team reportedly have their eyes on a making a deal at the deadline to upgrade and make some sort of second half push.
Per Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Washington is interested in Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis, and there’s chatter around the league that Beal — who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season — would like to play with Sabonis. The Pacers are reportedly looking for a similar price to what the Orlando Magic got for sending Nikola Vucevic to the Chicago Bulls last season, which was two first-round picks, a former lottery pick still on his rookie contract in Wendell Carter Jr., and salary filler in Otto Porter Jr.
It’s easy to see why the Wizards would target Sabonis. Were he to end up with the Wizards, he’d give Beal the caliber of running mate that he really hasn’t had since John Wall’s injury issues began to mount up, save for the stretch he played alongside Russell Westbrook. While the team would presumably have to move on from some of its frontcourt talent — Thomas Bryant, Daniel Gafford, Montrezl Harrell, etc. — to make a move happen, Sabonis’ scoring and playmaking should fit in nicely.
If you had told me 20 years ago that the two main members of The Roots would be executive producers on a Disney animated series, I’m not totally sure I would have believed you. But here we are in 2022, with Black Thought and Questlove working on “Rise Up, Sing Out,” a musical series looking to inspire and empower children with uplifting messages and cultural affirmations. Variety reports the series will be streaming starting today on Disney Plus with the first episode also airing on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.
Not only do Quest and Thought produce the series and the music in it (naturally), but they will also appear in it in adorable animated form offering themes of “diversity, inclusion, kindness, and self-expression.” Disney produced the show to address a growing demand for children’s entertainment that would help parents teach kids respect for each others’ differences in an increasingly diverse world. In a statement, The Roots’ frontmen tackled those issues head-on:
The ‘Rise Up, Sing Out’ shorts touch on a lot of real-world issues, especially for young Black kids, that just weren’t talked about when we were growing up. The beautiful thing about these shorts is that not only are they going to provide young kids the proper language to talk to their friends and family about some of the things that might be bothering them, but it’s also going to give parents the tools on how to respond.
We feel this is the perfect moment and the perfect time for us to put this project out into the world to plant a seed about kindness that will hopefully have a lasting impact for generations to come.
In addition, on Friday, February 4, Walt Disney Records will release the music from the series to streaming. It looks like the future is in good hands — who would’ve thought those hands would belong to The Roots?
Craig Robinson, known for his outspoken comedic roles inBrooklyn 99 and The Office, is returning to star in his own TV show, Killing It, which is set to premiere this year on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform.
The official synopsis describes Killing It as a comedy about “class, capitalism, and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream. And also about hunting really big snakes.” Nothing goes hand-in-hand like snakes and America, right? The trailer shows Robinson lounging in a fancy robe on the deck of a lavish, beach-front hotel room, where he describes his wild life to his house cleaner.
Killing It is created by Brooklyn 99 producers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici, who said the following about the new series:
We love all the ambitious, challenging, thematically-rich series that populate the current peak-TV landscape. We also love jokes. So, we tried to make a show that could deliver both. We wanted Killing It to explore America’s quasi-religious obsession with entrepreneurship and wealth, and we also wanted it to be funny. Really, really funny. Plus, we wanted it to have big snakes. It’s a daunting creative balancing act, but lucky for us, we were writing for Craig Robinson, aka the most likable man in the world. His hilarious, effortlessly charming performance grounds even the wildest comic moments in something deeply human and relatable.
Shovel Knight is an indie darling. The 2014 platformer quickly rose to prominence when it released thanks to it being a fantastic homage to many classic NES games and an example of how a Kickstarter-funded indie game can succeed. Before Shovel Knight, crowdfunded games weren’t quite as common as they are today. Now, Kickstarter and other crowdfunding websites are where many indie developers go to seek out funding.
With so much success on the platform, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Yacht Club Games, the developers of Shovel Knight, are once again turning to Kickstarter to fund their newest game, Mina the Hollower. It also shouldn’t be a surprise to find out that the Kickstarter campaign for Mina the Hollower has already met its goal of $311,503.
Phew! Today certainly was a big news day for the Yacht Club Games crew. It’s been difficult to keep all this cool stuff a secret!
Want a recap of everything mentioned in our Presents? Check out today’s blog post to get up to speed.
— Yacht Club Games – Mina on Kickstarter (@YachtClubGames) February 1, 2022
“You play as Mina, a whip-wielding Hollower and visionary inventor,” Yacht Club Games says of the game. “She receives a troubling letter from Baron Lionel, her longtime patron and the overseer of Tenebrous Isle. Mina’s advances in Spark Technology brought power to the Isle for the first time many years ago, ushering in newfound prosperity for its citizens. But now, the Spark Generators have gone out, and foul play is suspected.”
Sticking to what Yacht Club has been best at so far, the game is currently taking form of a Castlevania/Link’s Awakening style of game. Of course, we expect plenty of originality in the game to help it stand out and feel like its own title. All of this is what Shovel Knight did so well eight years ago: take established mechanics, spin them into something unique, and make a fun game out of it. With that kind of pedigree, it’s no surprise to see people getting behind Mina the Hollower so early.
Slowthai had one of the defining moments of his career so far (at least in the eyes of American TV viewers) when he joined Mura Masa on The Tonight Show in February 2020 to perform “Deal Wiv It.” During the performance, Slowthai took advantage of the whole set and even stood on Jimmy Fallon’s desk, making for some memorable television. Now, for fans who haven’t been able to forget that appearance, they’ll get the chance to see Slowthai live, as he just announced a handful of April concert dates in North America for the “Antisocial Roadshow” tour.
Performing live certainly isn’t Slowthai’s least favorite part of his job, as he revealed last February that he’s actually not too keen on recording, saying, “I hate getting in the booth. I love writing, and I love doing it over and over again. But then when it comes to the time to laying it down, I’m like, ‘Laugh.’ Yeah, I don’t know. I’m not hitting it the way… Because in my head, we all have that thing where we see it and hear it one way, and then you’re not delivering it, but then you’re self-critical, so you’re being extra critical. And then everyone would be like, ‘That’s the hardest thing ever!’ And you’re like, ‘I can do it better.’ So it will be like every song is a thousand takes.”
Check out the full list of dates below.
04/08 — New York, New York @ Webster Hall
04/09 — Chicago, IL @ Metro
04/10 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
04/14 — Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
04/15 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/21 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
04/22 — Indio, CA @ Coachella
04/27 — Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
04/30 — Boston, MA @ Royale
Los Angeles is one of the best food cities in America (NYers, your skepticism is noted but unfounded — learn how to make a taco and we’ll talk). So if you’re visiting the city this Super Bowl LVI weekend, lucky you! The eclectic, dynamic local scene is so full of options you could stick to one type of food (Mexican, perhaps?) and still only scratch that surface of amazing must-visit restaurants, hole in the walls, stands, or food trucks available to you.
Settling on what to eat in LA is never easy and asking a random stranger “what’s good?” isn’t always successful, considering LA is the largest and most populous city on the West Coast and its residents are often transplants. Luckily for you, I was born and raised here so I’m not just a random stranger. I’m a true Angeleno who also happens to write about food every day of the week. And I want you to have the best experience in Los Angeles you could possibly have — so I put together a guide of the most quintessential dining experiences for any Super Bowl visitors.
You could pick any one of these at random (or try and hit them all!) and you’ll be guaranteed a meal you won’t forget that also reflects what makes the LA food scene (and the city itself) so unique and special. These picks say something about who we are, culturally, and what our city values. They also feature incredible flavors in the hands of deeply skilled chefs. Let’s dive in!
There isn’t a reason to eat tacos just once during your LA visit. Get tacos multiple times per day — it’s never a bad time to have a taco or two. But if for some reason you only have time for one taco spot in all of LA, you have to have a taco from a street vendor. I promise you it’s not an experience you want to miss.
Don’t worry about food-borne illness or sanitary conditions — I’ve heard all sorts of excuses for why people are afraid of eating LA street tacos, none of them are valid. You know that great weather everyone always talks about? Eating tacos outside is what we do here, stop being a baby — food-borne illness has never stopped anyone from eating at Chipotle and it shouldn’t stop you from eating food made by street vendors. (Also, food by street vendors is cooked incredibly hot and fast, which kills foodborne illness; it’s the heat-lamp-warmed food that gets you.)
Each taco from Angel’s Tijuana Tacos is made to order on homemade tortillas with your choice of meat, salsa, cilantro and onions, and guacamole. The tacos are juicy and all that flavor is soaked up by the homemade and hand-pressed tortillas making each bite absolute perfection. Seriously, this place is an institution.
Angel’s sets up shop in Eagle Rock near a Target parking lot. Eagle Rock is a hot spot for great coffee shops, bars, and that 2010’s LA hipster vibe.
The Essential Order:
When a street taco situation rolls up with a giant spit roasting al pastor, you have to order the al pastor tacos. It’s Angel’s signature and the number one taco spot for al pastor in the city. When in Rome!
It was hard to choose a single ramen spot in Los Angeles. We’re a bit spoiled for options here and certain restaurants do certain broths better than others, so “best” varies based on what exactly you’re looking for. But for the quintessential LA experience, we’re going to have to suggest Little Tokyo’s Daikokuya.
There is just something so comforting about Daikokuya’s signature tonkotsu broth, it’s the perfect remedy to an unseasonably cold LA day (which happens, we swear).
Because of the pandemic, Daikokuya now features outside dining via a dining space in a converted parking space — sounds weird, perhaps, but it actually adds a lot of character to the vibe. There is something special about pulling up a table in the middle of bustling Little Tokyo surrounded by midcentury skyscrapers while you slurp ramen and munch on tempura.
The Essential Order:
The restaurant’s namesake Daikoku Ramen. It’s a must, the bowl features tonkotsu broth with Daikokuya’s own soy sauce blend with the most tender pork belly chasu you’ve ever had, a marinated egg, and a simple mix of bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and fragrant green onions.
Many a Daikokuya fan swears by the Koterri version of the Daikoku, which uses soup extracted from the back fat, resulting in a richer flavor. I haven’t had it so I can’t speak to it personally, but consider it if you’re looking for something heartier. [I love everything “extra fat” and it’s far too fatty for me. Stick to the OG. — ed]
The broth in the OG is sumptuous and flavorful and the noddles are silky with the right amount of bite and soak up the flavor wonderfully. If you’re really digging on the noodles, give the Spicy Miso Ramen a try, which features thicker noodles and comes with the Kotteri stock.
SUGARFISH is one of the most popular and visible sushi restaurants in the highly populated landscape of great LA sushi residents, and that’s for good reason. It’s some of the best tasting sushi in the city and will melt in your mouth like a sugar cube dissolving on your tongue.
The presentation (even when ordering to-go) and quality are top tier here, the fish is noticeably fresh and the highly curated menu is easy to order from and fairly priced, for the quality you get.
There are several SUGARFISH across LA but if you’re visiting for the first time you might as well hit the one on Sunset. You’ll be walking distance from other LA staples like Musso & Frank Grill, the TCL Chinese Theater, Amoeba Records, and other photo-worthy landmarks.
The Essential Order:
The Trust Me lunch special will get you edamame, tuna sashimi, albacore sushi, salmon sushi, a toro hand roll (a SUGARFISH staple), Japanese Yellowtail sushi, Hirame, and a Blue and Dungeness crab hand roll.
Los Angeles is absolutely obsessed with Nashville-style hot chicken. From Dave’s Hot Chicken to Main Chick, a great hot chicken spot can be found in just about every neighborhood from the densest city centers to the sprawling suburbs. And each one of those restaurants has Howlin’ Ray’s to thank for paving the way.
Started by Chef Johnny Ray Zone and his wife Amanda Chapman in 2015, Howlin’ Rays is so popular that pre-pandemic it wasn’t unusual to wait in a line for three hours just to get your hands on an order. Thankfully, that’s not a problem these days — now you simply order in advance through Postmates for either pickup or delivery, which gets some deliciously hot chicken in your hands in as quick as an hour to an hour and a half.
If you’re going to eat at one hot chicken restaurant in Los Angeles, start here. You can hit one of the others on your next trip!
NOTE: This is a messy eat, so don’t order this if you’re chilling in a park somewhere. Instead, eat it at one of the tables in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza (where Howlin’ Rays is located) and then go shopping at the nearby shops when you’re done — you’ll need some Boba tea to cool down your taste buds.
The Essential Order:
Howlin’ Rays chicken options include a boneless breast (the Skinny Jimmy, my personal fav), tenders, wings, or a chicken sandwich with 6 different levels of heat. Assuming you’re going to eat at Howlin’ Rays just once, I’d say you have to grab the Luis Style Sando Medium Plus or Hot style.
The sandwich features a boneless breast filet, comeback sauce, pickles, and cheddar cheese on a toasted bun. The flavors meld together beautifully, the whole thing melts in your mouth and is good enough to make you drool.
Settling on a good Korean BBQ spot in Los Angeles is a bit like choosing a ramen or burrito spot, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for an all you can eat situation, Parks isn’t your spot — for that, try Hae Jang Chon, you won’t be disappointed — but if you’re looking for high-quality fresh meats and an atmosphere that won’t leave your clothes smelling smokey, Parks is the jam.
Yes, it’s a little on the pricier side, but the sourcing is exceptional with beautifully marbled cuts of meat (they even have a butcher shop!). Park’s gets crowded, so expect to be packed in close, but the restaurant moves fast. It’ll likely move faster than you want it to as you scramble for a reason to stay a little longer and order more food.
Park’s is located right in the heart of Koreatown where you’ll be surrounded by great bars, stores, crowded streets, and more things to do than you’ll have time for in a single weekend.
The Essential Order:
Go with a lot of friends so that you can order as much as possible, but since you’re at Park’s, you’re going to have to get Park’s Gal-Bi. It’s the restaurant’s signature.
Given there are three options on this list that are Mexican food, it’s clearly very difficult to encapsulate the Los Angeles Mexican food scene in a single restaurant, and it’s even harder to do with a single burrito.
In Los Angeles, there is a burrito for every mood but if I had to suggest one that always delivers and never disappoints, it’s going to have to be the Al & Bea’s Special. This is the sort of burrito that is so bursting with flavor that your first bite will literally stop you in your tracks and force you to take in the moment.
To partake in this immense pleasure, take a trip to the east side of LA (the real east side, not what transplants call the east side) to Boyle Heights and hit up Al & Bea’s. There isn’t much to do for a tourist in the general area, so eat your burrito at the outdoor tables, outside at your car, or take a walk to nearby Hollenbeck Park and chill there. You could also hop in your car (or Uber) and head to Grand Park in downtown, where you’ll be a few blocks away from Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and the Arts District. Who says LA isn’t walkable?
The Essential Order:
The Al & Bea’s Special. The burrito features beans, shredded beef, rice, cheese, lettuce, green chili (which is for some reason orange while it’s hot), and guacamole. It’s the best paper-wrapped burrito you’ll eat all weekend, I promise you.
El Tepeyac isn’t a trendy burrito spot, it’s not busy at all hours of the day with LA’s young hip celebrity/ celebrity-adjacent socialites, it’s not near any must-visit clubs, bars, or parks. Instead, it’s tucked away in Boyle Heights, and full of locals who have been frequenting the tiny cafe for generations. That’s usually a good sign.
What El Tepeyac doesn’t have in flash, it makes up for with flavor. This is the most authentically “LA burrito” experience you can hope to find in the city. No cap.
The Essential Order:
The Hollenbeck Burrito. It features seared pork, rice, beans, guacamole, red chili, and smothered in chili verde sauce, with melted cheese sprinkled on top. It’s a wet burrito you’ll need a knife and fork to eat and is big enough to share with an entire table. Which gives you an opportunity to eat the taquitos.
Beloved by strict LA vegans and flexitarians alike, Sage Bistro and Brewery has a little something for everyone. From smoothies and desserts to nutritious veggie bowls, classic LA avocado toast, and Super Bowl worthy sides, Sage has few specialties but an extensive people-pleasing menu. This is the place to go to live out that health-focused hippie retreat-visiting LA lifestyle that people love to satirize the city for. It’s a real thing, you will meet people who know Jared Leto, talk about crystals, and (to their credit!) look years younger than their actual age.
The plates at Sage are always wonderfully balanced with fresh ingredients that pack the flavor and pair perfectly with the bistro’s own in-house kombucha and beverages. There are several Sage Bistro’s scattered throughout LA, I’d suggest you eat at the Echo Park or Culver City locations to be nearest to the action in the city.
The Essential Order:
Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings for the table with smashed avocado toast (because you’re in LA) and a BBQ pulled pork jackfruit sandwich with an Orange Creamsicle Kombucha. It’s the most LA meal you’ll ever eat.
If you’ve been to LA but haven’t visited the Urth Caffé can you really say you’ve been to LA? Probably not. Urth Caffé isn’t the best coffee you’ll find in the city but it’s pretty damn good and the Downtown LA Arts District location is a must-visit for the location alone.
The Urth Caffé isn’t a grab-and-go coffee shop, so only go here if you intend to sit down, take in the surroundings, and slow slip your fresh prepared beverage. Whether you’re a hard espresso fan, prefer sweet matcha tea, or want to keep things creamy and rich with a cappuccino, Urth Caffé will keep you well supplied and offers vegan-friendly breakfast foods and baked goods, as well as classic LA staples like Huevos Rancheros burritos and yogurt bowls.
The Essential Order:
Honestly, we could do a whole deep dive on the Urth Caffê menu, but you can’t go wrong with the espresso macchiato, the red tea bebero, or the Mocha Mint for those hotter days.
If you’re for some reason trying to stay out of a car for as long as possible while visiting (you do realize you’re in LA right?) you could just hit up the Grand Central Market for all of your meals. Even before its recent renovation — which brought a lot of hip new eateries to the space — this food court has been a staple of good authentic Los Angeles food.
Whether you’re feeling Japanese cuisine, fresh bread loaves, BBQ, fancy peanut butter and jam sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, fresh fruit, chicken sandwiches, or ice cream, the Grand Central Market has it all under one roof. LA isn’t known for its sense of community (it exists, but not really for tourists) but the Grand Central market will give you a good idea of all the different types of food the city prides itself on.
Last week, Col3trane dropped off his luxurious vibe and first single of the year, “Bag” featuring Lucky Daye, and he partnered with Brandon Blackwood to do it. To help celebrate, the UK R&B star and Uproxx are giving one lucky fan the opportunity to score one of Brandon Blackwood’s most coveted and popular handbags.
“Bag” is the follow-up to Col3trane’s 2021 track “Californication.” Both songs are expected to live on his debut album Lush Life.
“‘Bag’ is about giving everything you can to someone,” the rising singer unveiled. “Material and emotional, and it still is not enough. I wrote this song with Lucky and Camper on Lucky’s birthday around October 2020. I sat on it for a while, made a lot of different versions and ended up going back in on it with Camper about a year later. He laid all the keys and bells pads in about 3 hours, solos and all. Bridge included. Watching him do that was crazy.”
Check out the official rules for the giveaway here.
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