It’s now very much a celebrity tradition to hit up In-N-Out after awards shows, with actor Paul Giamatti caught this Sunday eating at the Westwood fast-food restaurant wearing his tuxedo and placing the enormous Golden Globe award right at the table. The location makes sense given its proximity to the Beverly Hills Hilton, where the awards show has been held since 1961.
A passerby on X caught Giamatti looking at his phone with a tray full of burgers and french fries in a post that has since gone viral. Several fun comments ensued on the platform, though the most clever ones asked whether he was enjoying his burger with a bottle of 1961 Cheval Blanc, a reference to his iconic character Miles from the film Sideways. Alas, Giamatti, a man of the people, was just having some soda with his burger.
Primo’s closes in Westwood
Primo’s Donuts announced on Instagram that it closed its Westwood store on Friday, January 5, citing high rent, the growing unhoused population in the area, and “engagements with the State of California and city of Los Angeles” as reasons for closure. “Despite our earnest efforts, we fell short in generating sufficient sales to sustain the business,” wrote the shop. Primo’s, which took over the longtime doughnut shop Stan’s Donuts back in September 2021, will continue to operate stores on Sawtelle Boulevard and at Topanga Social in Woodland Hills.
The New York Times recommends Pasadena
The New York Times travel section rounded up 52 places to visit this year around the world and number 40 on the list was Pasadena, recommended for its natural beauty and transit-friendliness. The piece also suggested Eater LA 2023 Restaurant of the Year Bar Chelou and modern Cantonese restaurant Colette.
Echo Park switcheroo
The Mohawk Bend space on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park is flipping into wood-fired pizza spot Pitfire, according to observers on Reddit. Commenters noted that the gentrified area is quickly becoming a place for chains instead of independent operators. On the upside, at least Pitfire Pizza is locally-owned with nine outlets around Southern California.
Arson outside a Garden Grove restaurant
At around 2 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, an unidentified individual threw a Molotov cocktail into a vehicle parked outside the soon-to-open Vietnamese chicken wing restaurant Mama Hieu’s. Police say the car caught fire and that the suspect may have been hurt as well, according to ABC-7 news; authorities say there isn’t enough evidence to call the incident a hate crime. Mama Hieu’s has set up a SpotFund to help support a replacement for the family car.