Media City Groove
Media City/Burbank l news l entertainment l features l opinion l and whatever sparks interest
Cloudy skies and, yes, light rain, in Burbank today. Early, around 1 a.m., I heard raindrops gently tapping on the roof. A welcome surprise. While out walking later at around 10 a.m., lots of clouds in the sky and drizzle — so heavy, I had to pop open my umbrella! Weather watchers say the chance of rain today, 20-percent with the possibility of isolated showers. The temperatures are cool, but pleasant. Mostly in the 60s — high could reach the 70s.
Lately, some colorful recycle bins have been popping up around Burbank. It’s another campaign designed to encourage people to recycle and gives them some new places to dispose of bottles and cans. The campaign was launched this summer, in late July. “It was paid for with funds we had accrued through the State bottles and can program,” according to Amy Hammes over at the Burbank Recycle Center. Hammes says there are now 16 new recycle bins “… they are placed at City parks and other sites.” Oh, and Hayes & CO Printing... Read More →
Clouds, sunshine, and mild temperatures on this Labor Day. Not the rocking, sunny, sizzling hot Labor Day we have come to expect in Burbank and the rest of the Southland. Not really beach weather, but great for kicking back at home or taking a casual stroll through a Burbank neighborhood. The high today only in the mid-to-upper 70s. The patchy clouds and early morning fog expected to hang around for at least one more day. Daytime temperatures expected to rise into the 80s and possibly the 90s during the rest... Read More →
Burbank Police revealed today that four people were arrested during a very busy DUI checkpoint operation at Hollywood Way and Tulare Avenue in the Media City, last Saturday. Nearly a thousand vehicles passed through the checkpoint between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to a Burbank PD news release. Here are the official results. 997 vehicles passed through the checkpoint 817 drivers were screened for signs of driving under the influence Four drivers were arrested for driving under the influence 6 drivers were detained for the administration of... Read More →
Summer is back in full swing. Another hot day in Burbank. The temperature rose quickly this morning. Before 10 a.m. it was into the 80s. Some weather predictions are saying mid-to-upper 90s for the high in the Media City on this Monday. However, it feels like we’re headed for triple digits — so take precautions to stay cool.
National Night Out returns to the popular Chandler Walk/Bike Path in Burbank tonight. The annual nationwide celebration promotes neighborhood camaraderie and strives to strengthen the ties between law enforcement and the community. In the past, National Night Out has drawn crowds to the Chandler Bike Path. However in 2014, the event was moved to the parking lot of the Burbank Police headquarters. Many, including some City Hall officials, felt National Night Out needed to be back at the bike path — a favorite community gathering site.... Read More →
The Burbank Walmart Supercenter opens tomorrow morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony and some presentations. The festivities get underway at 7:30 a.m., followed by “presentations of $12,500 in grants from Walmart to local community groups including $5,000 for the Burbank Temporary Aid Center and $2,500 each for the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank & Greater East Valley, the Burbank Police Foundation and the Burbank Community YMCA,” according to a news release. The Supercenter is at 1301 North Victory Place. It took months to convert approximately 143,000 square feet... Read More →
Burbank hits 111 before cooling trend kicks in. Yesterday, was for a huge record breaker. The temperature blasted through the record of 106 set on that date, back in 2008, before noon. Like the rest of the Southland, the Media City continued to sizzle in the first major heat wave of the year. The Burbank temperature would peak at over 110 degrees on the first day of summer. The high temperature at Burbank was 111. This broke old record of 106 in 2008, and tied the max... Read More →
Burbank breaks another heat record on first day of summer. The temperature has been rising since sunrise in Burbank. Before 9 .a.m. it was in the 90s. An hour or so later, the Media City smashed another record with a temperature of 107, according to the National Weather Service. Yes, it will probably get even hotter before the sun sets! BUR reached 107F at 1019 am. Record was 106F set 2008. Temp still rising. Hydrate, find a cool spot, check on neighbors/pets. #LAheat#cawx — NWS Los... Read More →
Burbank breaks 43 year-old heat record during heat wave. Yesterday, the thermometer kept rising in the Media City. When it hit 106 we thought that was going to be it. However, the temperature continue to climb until it hit a record 109, according to the National Weather Service. That breaks a record of 104 set on that day back in 1973. Records were broken in other Southland cities as well. Don’t turn off the A/C, the heat is not about to let up yet. Today is supposed to be... Read More →
It’s not going to be easy to stay cool on Father’s Day. The Southland is going to sizzle today. The thermometer hit 80 before 9 a.m. in Burbank this morning. A good indicator it’s going to be scorcher. Weather watchers say the Media City will be one of many SoCal places, which will fry in triple digits before the sun goes down. The heat wave will continue through Tuesday. Some relief predicted on Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning through Monday at... Read More →
Burbank Wood Ranch restaurant opens today. They’re firing up the grill at this much-anticipated eatery in Downtown Burbank for dinner. It’s located at 110 North 1st Street — the old Elephant Bar site. “As a Burbank native, I am excited to return home and bring our award-winning dining experience to this community,”said General Manager Michael Gallagher in a news release. “We look forward to meeting our neighbors and being a part of many summer barbeques to come.” Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill is known for its high-quality smoked and grilled dishes.... Read More →
The converting of the old Great Indoors site into a new Walmart Supercenter is nearly complete in Burbank’s Empire Center. “We currently project opening in June,” according to Delia Garcia, Director of Communications for Walmart. After months of controversy, the remodeling has been steady and uneventful. The Walmart Supercenter will be around 143, 000 square feet and Garcia says it”will offer our Burbank customers the convenience of one-stop shopping for affordable groceries and a broad assortment of general merchandise.” A news release claims Walmart will be filling “approximately 300”... Read More →
Burbank is getting a serious dose of April showers. It started last Thursday afternoon with showers steady enough to force many Burbankers to bring out the umbrellas and cold weather gear. Yesterday began with some cloudy threatening skies in the morning, which soon opened up to deliver rain off and on most of the day. Stormy weather is in the forecast through the weekend and into next week, with a chance of thunderstorms and heavy rain later today. We could get up to a half an inch of rain. The... Read More →
Hiring officially got underway yesterday for the most anticipated restaurant in B-town — the Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill. For months now, extensive renovations have been underway at the old location of the Elephant Bar, 110 North First Street, across from the Islands Restaurant at East Orange Grove and First Street. A while back, Alejandro Benes, a partner in the Wood Ranch restaurants, told Media City Groove the target opening was June 2016 and it appears the new eatery is right on schedule. This will be... Read More →
The new Smart & Final Extra! is open for business in Burbank. Smart & Final kicked off a soft opening on March 23 at 3830 West Verdugo Avenue. The warehouse, grocery, and discount chain is hoping it has the winning formula to make the location profitable. A couple of different supermarkets have occupied the space just in the past couple of years. Back in December of 2014, it was an Albertson’s market– but then the parent company sold it and more than a hundred others to Haggen,... Read More →
Tuesday, March 29 — Behind the scenes at “Downton Abbey” at the Buena Vista Library , 300 North Buena Vista Street, begins 7 p.m. tonight. English actress, comedy writer, and author, Diz White, will take the audience on a colorful , amusing, and visual journey of Cotswolds, an area in south central England, where she has a cottage. Also White will include the filming locations for the popular PBS drama, “Downton Abbey,” and her experience meeting the cast. White is the author of several books... Read More →
This Palm Sunday is the first full day of spring, too. Burbank folks woke up to fog and low clouds this morning, however, that is expected to burn off — giving way to some sunshine later on. Weather watchers are predicting the high today to be in the mid-70s for the Media City.
A serial burglary suspect who allegedly struck several times in Magnolia Park and Burbank Village sections of the Media City is behind bars tonight. Burbank Police announced late today the arrest of 28 year-old Hakob Torosyan of Glendale. Torosyan is being held without bail and is due to appear in a Burbank court Tuesday, March 15, on 14 counts of commercial burglary, according to a Burbank Police news release. Burbank and Glendale Police started working together on the investigation when they realized a thief with a “similar modus operandi” was committing crimes... Read More →
Lookout for traffic jams, delays, and changes in the Media City. President Barack Obama is coming to B-town today for an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at Warner Bros. Studios. The Burbank Police sent out a traffic advisory this morning and recommends you avoid the following areas: There will be hard closures at intersections in both directions on Hollywood Way from San Fernando Boulevard to Olive Avenue from 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. and from 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. There will be a complete closure with no... Read More →
Shout out to Burbank’s Porto’s for topping one of the most prestigious lists around. The wonderfully tasty desserts and other food items on the menu got Porto’s ranked number one on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US for 2016. These “businesses that rank so highly in the Yelp community’s opinion that they have earned the status of must try within this lifetime, ” according to the Yelp blog. A well deserved honor for our Porto’s — only negative — with this new-found fame the
A campaign is underway to open a new Trader Joe’s market in Burbank. It has gained traction in the neighborhood around the failed Fresh & Easy market at 1615 West Verdugo Avenue. For several weeks, there has been a call to action, for a new Trader Joe’s, posted on the front of that building. The notice is shown below. No doubt there are many fans of Trader Joe’s specialty items, extensive selection of prepared salads, assortment of frozen foods along with fresh veggies, fruits, and flowers. Another plus... Read More →
