This Weekend’s Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up Is the Distraction LA Needs

Hello Kitty is the takeover we need right now

Who couldn’t use a little whimsy in their day right about now? Thankfully, greater Los Angeles has been getting a heavy dose of Hello Kitty lately, with a cafe pop-up going down last weekend in Torrance and another coming up in Valencia, says LA Magazine.

The Japanese company’s far-reaching brand is washing ashore on Saturday at the Valencia Town Center, working food from a truck from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., one day only. That means long lines of adoring fans after Hello Kitty-themed baked goods like mini cakes and specialty coffee. If you need a Hello Kitty fix yourself, you might want to think about getting in line now, basically — or head to Irvine for their ongoing one-year cafe pop-up in Orange County.

A loss for Rao’s

The longtime owner of the Rao’s brand, one Frank Pellegrino Sr., has passed away. The beloved man behind the Harlem original (with outlets in Los Angeles as well as Las Vegas) had been battling cancer.

Signage goes up in Silver Lake

Things are coming together for Maré in Silver Lake, with the Eric Greenspan restaurant putting up signage just the other day. They’ve got a fresh coat of paint as well (though the interior remains all papered over) with most folks agreeing the place is just a matter of weeks away now.

Old school servers to know

Zagat has gone out of their way to shine a light on some of the hardest-working (and longest-tenured) folks in the hospitality business, with this great list of OG servers around town. Get out and enjoy your favorite longtime haunt.

Burritos La Palma expands to Orange County in a big way

It’s brick and mortar restaurant time for Burritos La Palma, the El Monte original known for their awesomely simple burritos. The company is pushing into a legit storefront in Santa Ana, says OC Weekly, with plans to be able to ramp up production on their tortillas from there while still serving up those fantastic burritos.

Party at the Nest

There’s a big Night Market happening at the Nest at WP24 atop The Ritz Carlton, Los Angeles at L.A. Live. The Year of the Rooster shindig runs Friday night only, and includes a $48 buy-in that delivers a cocktail plus unlimited food from a handful of stations up on the roof.

Doughnuts get their due

Don’t freak out now, but it’s officially strawberry doughnut season at Glendora’s The Donut Man. The glazed creations are an incredible hit (and have been for many years), so you’d better plan accordingly if you’re going to try to get some for yourself this season.