# Hot Spidey Vibes *Spidey opening weekend, LA28 hits 12 million, and Blind Butcher lands on Melrose.* **Section:** Newsletters **Tags:** Newsletters **Reading time:** 1 min VIBES - THURSDAY, JULY 30TH 2026 Friday Eve in Los Angeles. Spidey suits up, LA28 sells out, and Melrose gets a new steakhouse. ## NATIONAL - [NASA's Curiosity discovers a field of martian polygons](https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/nasas-curiosity-discovers-a-field-of-martian-polygons/) - [DoorDash is building its own drone delivery business](https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/29/doordash-is-building-its-own-drone-delivery-business/) - [OpenAI (ChatGPT) hits the one billion user mark](https://thenextweb.com/news/chatgpt-1-billion-weekly-active-users-openai-target) - [Microsoft says cash will keep flowing from AI, shares rise](https://www.reuters.com/business/microsoft-tops-quarterly-cloud-growth-estimates-easing-spending-concerns-2026-07-29/) - [New GTA 6 gameplay could be teased next month](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-gta-6-info-coming-soon-it-seems/) ## LOCAL - [New details on George Lucas' passion project, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art](https://abc7.com/post/new-details-george-lucas-passion-project-museum-narrative-art/19587073/) - [2028 Olympics ticket registration hits twelve million](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/olympics/2028-los-angeles/2028-olympics-ticket-registration/3923308/) - [Burbank Film Fest honors Jay Leno, declares 'Jay Leno Day'](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jay-leno-burbank-film-fest-honor-awards-chatter-podcast-1236655439/) - [The best Airbnbs in Los Angeles to live like the stars](https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/hotels/best-airbnbs-in-los-angeles) - [Flying this summer? Make sure that you have your REAL ID](https://ktla.com/news/why-flying-without-a-compliant-id-may-cost-you-and-how-to-know-if-you-have-one/) ## FUN - [Two meteor showers to peak this week in SoCal, tonight and tomorrow](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/keep-eye-out-two-stellar-meteor-showers-peak-this-week-southern-delta-aquariids-alpha-capricornids-180989215/) - [Art on Ocean: Palisades Park Arts Festival is next Saturday, August 8th in Santa Monica](https://art-on-ocean.com/santamonica) - [Dine LA Restaurant Week returns August 14th through 28th](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela) - [Getty's Garden Concerts for Kids starts this weekend at the Getty Center](https://www.getty.edu/whats-on/garden-concerts-for-kids/) - [SoCal Fun Guide: July 30th through August 5th](https://heysocal.com/2026/07/29/fun-things-to-do-in-socal-july-30-aug-5/) FROM LAST ISSUE: [The US Open of Surfing continues through the weekend in Huntington Beach](https://www.usopenofsurfing.com/) ## HEY CUTIE It's Friday Eve, and we have almost made it through another hot one here in LA. But honestly — not as hot as you all, because I know each of you crushed this week. That energy carries right into the weekend. There are a lot of Good Vibes happening around the city over the next few days, so make sure you check the homepage for what's going on near you. And if you are looking for a way to cool off and celebrate making it through the week, opening weekend for Spider-Man: Brand New Day is here. Half of LA is going to be in a theater this weekend, join them. Wyatt ## 4-DAY FORECAST - LA THURSDAY 88°/67° FOG THEN SUNNY · FRIDAY 92°/70° SUNNY · SATURDAY 94°/68° SUNNY · SUNDAY 90°/68° SUNNY Patchy morning fog and low clouds burn off by midday Thursday, then a sunny and hot stretch settles in. Highs push into the low 90s Friday and peak in the mid 90s inland Saturday before easing a touch on Sunday. The coast stays roughly ten degrees cooler with a light afternoon sea breeze. ## QUOTE OF THE DAY > Always stick to what makes you weird, odd, strange, different. That's your source of power Robert Greene ## ON THIS DAY 1932: The X Summer Olympics opened in Los Angeles at the Memorial Coliseum, the first Games to feature an Olympic Village and a three-tier victory podium. Thirty-seven nations competed across two weeks, with the Rose Bowl serving as a second venue in a celebration that returned the Games to American soil for the first time since 1904. ## TRIVIA With the exception of the 2028 Summer Olympics, how many times has the Summer Olympics been held in Los Angeles? ANSWER AT THE BOTTOM ↓ ## TRIVIA ANSWER Twice In 1932 and 1984. LA28 makes it three in 2028. ## EATS ### SPONSORED: WE CURATE THE HEART OF BRANDS Curations is a Los Angeles-based creative and marketing agency that helps brands find their voice, tell their story, and connect with the people who matter most. From strategy to storytelling, we work with founders, startups, and established names who refuse to be forgettable. BROUGHT TO YOU BY: CURATIONS ### MELROSE: Blind Butcher Opens Its First LA Table Chef Coskun Abik has brought Blind Butcher to Melrose Avenue, expanding the San Francisco concept to Los Angeles for the first time. The menu carries the signatures of the original: hand-cut prime steaks, fresh seafood, and California produce. Abik also runs Ophelia in Los Gatos and built a following on the Northern California culinary scene before making the move south. [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/blindbutcher) · [RESERVE](https://www.opentable.com/r/tba-los-angeles) ### VENICE: San Damián Brings the Pacific to the Westside Esdras Ochoa and the team behind Damian in the Arts District have opened San Damián in Venice, carrying the restaurant's Pacific Coast philosophy to the Westside. The menu runs the Sinaloa-to-Baja corridor: seafood close to the fire, raw preparations built on crushed ice, and citrus-forward crudo in the Baja-California tradition. The program traces a coastline that, as the restaurant puts it, has never cared much for borders. Reserve ahead or take your chances at the bar for two. [WEBSITE](https://damianrestaurants.com/san-damian/) · [MENU](https://damianrestaurants.com/san-damian/#menu) · [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/sandamianla/) ### ARTS DISTRICT: CineOpera Opens with a 170-Inch Screen and an Italian-Latin Menu Muy Salsa Hospitality has transformed the former LA Cha Cha Chá rooftop on E 3rd Street into CineOpera, an all-day restaurant and cocktail bar built around a 170-inch LED movie screen. Chef Francisco Moran, raised in Watts and Koreatown, built the menu around Diego Maradona's years playing for Napoli, blending housemade pastas and schiacciata sandwiches with Latin flavors. Santa Canela pastries anchor the morning counter, and an on-site bottle shop lets diners open wine at the table for a ten-dollar corkage. The room is open Wednesday through Sunday with no reservations required. [WEBSITE](https://www.cineopera.com/) · [MENU](https://www.cineopera.com/menu) · [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/cineopera.la/) ## MORE EATS - **PALISADES VILLAGE** Chef Tim Hollingsworth and the h.wood Group open Alphabet Bar & Grill at Palisades Village on August 15, as the shopping center marks its post-fire reopening ([LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE](https://lamag.com/food/exclusive-the-h-wood-group-and-chef-tim-hollingsworth-will-open-alphabet-bar-grill-at-carusos-palisades-village/)) - **DINE LA** Dine LA Restaurant Week returns in two weeks, running from August 14th through 28th ([DISCOVER LOS ANGELES](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela)) ## COMMUNITY ### SANTA MONICA: Art on Ocean Returns to Palisades Park Art on Ocean returns to Palisades Park on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Saturday, August 8, bringing a full day of open-air fine arts above Santa Monica State Beach. The festival spotlights original work from established and emerging artists in one of the most scenic public venues on the coast. It is a reminder that summer in LA still runs on neighborhood culture as much as major events. [LEARN MORE](https://art-on-ocean.com/santamonica) ### LOS ANGELES: LA28 Ticket Registration Climbs to 12 Million Ticket registration for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games has climbed to 12 million, up 5 million since February, making this the largest early demand signal in Olympic history. LA28's current Visa presale runs through Friday for selected cardholders, while fans who do not get a slot are automatically entered into Drop 2 from August 10 to 20, with selection emails expected August 6 and 7. Organizers also say the official verified resale network launches in 2027 and are urging fans to avoid unofficial resale markets until then. Paralympic ticket sales are expected to open next year. [READ MORE](https://www.presstelegram.com/2026/07/29/la28-olympic-tickets-registration-climbs-to-12-million/) ## MORE COMMUNITY - **SATURDAY** A free reggaetón festival takes over Pershing Square in DTLA on August 1, featuring DeLaGhetto, Ken-Y, Frankie J, and Angel y Khriz ([CALO NEWS](https://www.calonews.com/news/entertainment/free-reggaet-n-festival-in-downtown-la/article_f6543260-4365-48cc-8c13-a143b34f100a.html)) - **HEATWAVE** Southland to face dangerous heat after a brief break ([OURWEEKLY LOS ANGELES](https://www.ourweekly.com/2026/07/28/southland-to-face-dangerous-heat-after-brief-break/)) ## DEVELOPMENT ### HYDE PARK: Developer Pivots to Affordable Housing on Crenshaw Los Angeles-based developer Eleos has revised plans for a vacant lot at 7715 South Crenshaw Boulevard, replacing a mixed-income proposal with 187 fully income-restricted apartments. The updated program reserves 148 units for low-income households and 38 for moderate-income residents, with one market-rate manager's unit and 4,936 square feet of ground-floor retail. Kevin Tsai Architecture is designing the podium-style building, which carries the same massing from the 2025 proposal. Eleos is developing several larger affordable projects across South Los Angeles. [VIEW THE PROJECT](https://la.urbanize.city/post/developer-pivots-affordable-housing-7715-crenshaw-blvd-hyde-park) ### SUN VALLEY: Ninety-Three Family-Sized Apartments Approved for Glenoaks Boulevard A four-story, 93-unit apartment building has been approved for a five-lot site at 8465 North Glenoaks Boulevard in Sun Valley. The building centers on larger units, with 58 two-bedrooms and seven three-bedrooms alongside studios and one-bedrooms, targeting families in a part of the Valley where large-unit inventory is limited. Nineteen of the apartments are reserved as affordable housing for 55 years, split between low-income and very-low-income tiers. Unigraphics is the project architect for applicant Glenoaks Hills Rentals Inc. [VIEW PLAN](https://layimby.com/2026/07/family-sized-apartments-lead-93-unit-development-at-8465-north-glenoaks-boulevard-sun-valley.html) ## MORE DEVELOPMENT - **CARSON** 351 townhomes take shape in Carson ([URBANIZE LOS ANGELES](https://la.urbanize.city/post/351-townhomes-take-shape-carson)) ## BUSINESS ### LOS ANGELES TOURISM: LA's Visitor Economy Generated $42.6 Billion in Business Sales Last Year New data from Los Angeles Tourism and Tourism Economics confirms that visitors generated $42.6 billion in total business sales across the region in 2025, supporting more than 530,000 jobs in the Visitor Industry throughout LA County. That works out to $118 million in economic activity every single day, with visitor tax revenues contributing $305 million to the City's General Fund and saving the average LA County household approximately $1,000 in annual taxes. The report drops at a pivotal moment, with FIFA World Cup 26 already underway this summer and the city building toward Super Bowl LXI and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For a city that already ranks among the world's top tourism destinations, the data makes one thing clear: welcoming visitors is one of the best businesses LA has ever run. [READ THE FULL REPORT](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/visitors-to-los-angeles-generated-426-billion-in-business-sales-and-supported-more-than-530000-jobs) ### DOORDASH: DoorDash Taps WME to Build Its Hollywood Play DoorDash has named WME as its entertainment agency of record, bringing the agency's Entertainment Marketing & Advisory group in to help the delivery platform deepen its relationships across Hollywood. The move is part of a wider push by consumer brands to go beyond traditional advertising and into content that earns its own audience. WME's cultural marketing roster already includes The LEGO Group, Visa, and McDonald's, and the partnership puts DoorDash at the table for entertainment collaborations built around the moments people actually pay attention to. [READ MORE](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/doordash-hires-wme-entertainment-agency-of-record-1236656130/) ## MORE BUSINESS - **ACADEMY** Lynette Howell Taylor reelected Academy president for a second term, the first under new ex officio board rules ([THEWRAP](https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/awards/lynette-howell-taylor-academy-president-reelected/)) - **VENICE BEACH** Soho House to open a Venice Beach location in Summer 2027 ([SANTA MONICA DAILY PRESS](https://www.smdp.com/soho-house-to-open-venice-beach-location-in-summer-2027/)) - **PASADENA** NASA awards innovation grants to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and UCLA ([NASA NEWS](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-2026-innovative-technology-concepts/)) ## ENTERTAINMENT ### SPIDER-MAN: Brand New Day Is Tracking for a Historic Opening Weekend Spider-Man: Brand New Day is projecting one of the largest opening weekends in box office history this Friday through Sunday, with analysts tracking numbers that could rank second all-time. Tom Holland returns in a film that has already drawn the strongest critical response the franchise has seen in years, following its Los Angeles premiere earlier this week. Large-format screens are expected to drive significant volume, continuing the premium format run that powered The Odyssey's record-setting IMAX numbers. Tickets are on sale now at theaters citywide. [PREVIEW THE WEEKEND](https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-preview-spider-man-brand-new-day-could-potentially-score-second-biggest-opening-weekend-of-all-time/) ## MORE ENTERTAINMENT - **CREATORS** Comcast taps a social media reality series to tout Xfinity as a tool for creators and influencers ([VARIETY](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/comcast-social-media-reality-series-xfinity-creators-1236823046/)) ## SPORTS ### LA RAMS: The Rams Are Going All In for 2026. Vegas Believes Them. Los Angeles heads into the 2026 NFL season as the +550 Super Bowl favorite after one of the most aggressive offseasons in recent memory. The Rams traded for Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and arguably the best player in the league, while landing All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and locking him in on a four-year, $124 million extension. Add Matthew Stafford signed through 2027 at $55 million and a rebuilt secondary, and this is a team that came one NFC Championship heartbreak short last year and has since removed almost every reason for concern. The win total sits at 11.5 and the direction is clear. [READ MORE](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/los-angeles-rams-over-under-win-total) ## MORE SPORTS - **SHOHEI** Shohei Ohtani's injury begins to worry the Dodgers and could alter their plans ([MARCA](https://www.marca.com/en/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/2026/07/30/shohei-ohtani-s-injury-begins-to-worry-dodgers-and-could-alter-their-plans.html)) - **ANGELS** A look at key Angels prospects ahead of the trade deadline ([MLB](https://www.mlb.com/news/checking-in-on-angels-prospects-ahead-of-2026-trade-deadline)) GOOD VIBES ONLY - LOS ANGELES --- Curated by Wyatt Stephens · Published 2026-07-30 Source: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-07-30-thursday-30th-july-2026 Cite as: CurationsLA, "Hot Spidey Vibes", https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-07-30-thursday-30th-july-2026 (published 2026-07-30). License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Structured manifest: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-07-30-thursday-30th-july-2026/manifest.json