Mountain Town Big Bear Lake Is Latest to Defy Coronavirus Stay-at-Home Orders

Officials for the alpine city of Big Bear, in the idyllic San Bernardino Mountains due east of Los Angeles, say that they will no longer enforce the statewide stay at home order from governor Gavin Newsom. Per the LA Times, reps for the region will no longer be “communicating or enforcing” the coronavirus guidelines, adding that “businesses and residents should take responsibility for their own actions.”

Because of its rural nature and low outbreak rate, Big Bear has been better insulated during the coronavirus pandemic than other areas of the state, though it is far from the first to defy government orders to comply. Riverside County has also refused to enforce some of Newsom’s mandates, though Big Bear is the first community within San Bernardino County to publicly announce that it will not comply. In Los Angeles County, Pasadena city officials were told in no uncertain terms that they would not be allowed to reopen ahead of the county, as Big Bear has done.

And in other news:

— Burgerlords reopens Thursday in Highland Park. The restaurant will move to an all-vegan menu of burgers, fries, shakes, and tofu pastrami. Hours are noon to 6 p.m.

— Demitasse is also reopening, this time in Little Tokyo, for all those coffee and pastry needs. Reopening day is tomorrow, with free drip black coffee on deck. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

— Alvin Cailan is back in Los Angeles, selling meats from the former Chego space at Far East Plaza in Chinatown. He’s also got a cookbook coming out called Amboy.

— The folks from Severance Wine Bar on Melrose have a new side project called French Water up and running now on Tock. The champagne bar leans into bottles and glasses of French champagne as well as oysters, caviar, and more.

— Factory Kitchen, Brera, and Sixth + Mill all reopen in the Arts District this Thursday, keeping limited to-go hours Thursday through Saturday. The family-style at-home meals run $49 per person (or $39 for Sixth + Mill).

— The Cassell’s team is now doing burgers and other food truck fare from a rig parked at the Rancho Park golf course in West LA. Green grass, golf balls, and burgers all summer long.