Southern California’s Jump Into Red Tier Leads to Busy Indoor Venues

As LA officials moved the nation’s largest county into the more relaxed red-tier, loosening requirements for dining indoors for millions of people, neighborhood areas Orange and San Bernardino counties also moved out of the most restricted purple tier into the red on Sunday. The LA Times reports that restaurants have sustained brisk business due to the loosened guidelines, with “solid business” at places like Costa Mesa’s Social restaurant. Orange County supervisor Lisa Bartlett said increased vaccinations, lower hospitalization rates, and reduced ICU bed rates are reasons to think Southern California might have “the upper hand” against COVID-19, though she said mask-wearing, hand-washing, and distancing are still important.

Neighboring San Diego, Riverside, and Ventura counties will likely reach the red tier later this week.

In other news:

• Singer Dolly Parton becomes immortalized in a colorful new mural dedicated to frontline workers at Costa Mesa bar Strut Bar & Club, reports ABC 7 News
• Conde Nast Traveler says Los Angeles has some of the best outdoor dining in the world, crediting places like Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano, Little Coyote in Long Beach, Addison in San Diego, and Bell’s in Los Alamos. Of course, some of those restaurants are a hefty drive outside of LA proper.
• David Myers is serving a $2,000 burger as part of an effort to raise funds for Covenant House, a non-profit helping youth experiencing homelessness. The pricey burger at Myers’ Adrift Burger Bar in Venice, comes served inside a $200,000 Bentley, which the burger eater can drive for the day. [Forbes]
• SF Gate wonders, as Disneyland keeps getting more expensive and prohibitive for Southern California locals with the temporary loss of its annual passes, when will it become an experience for only the privileged?
• Flaco owner Steve Livigni says the carnitas shop’s sister bar will open some time later this year: