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Morning Briefing: Diners And Dodgers
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Good morning, L.A.
In addition to the Dodgers heading to the World Series, L.A. has another reason to celebrate: the Fairfax District’s beloved Swingers Diner is reopening.
Before closing in April, the 27-year-old restaurant served standard greasy spoon fare, with some vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options thrown in. More than that, though, it was a fixture in the city’s late-night scene throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, when buzzed 20-somethings went scrounging for the closest patty melt or french toast after then-trendy Hollywood clubs let out at 2 a.m.
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As the story goes in 2020, though, Swingers had to close their doors to ensure everyone’s safety during the pandemic. A Go Fund Me page was set up to help employees through the closure, but it wasn’t clear whether the restaurant would open again.
Yesterday, that question was settled. Diner staff confirmed the news on Instagram, writing: “You don’t need to hold your breath, it’s true — we’re reopening!! Can’t nobody hold us down! … It’s the start of a new chapter in Swingers’ life, and it’s going to be bad ass. We cannot wait to see you all!!!!!!”
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, October 20
Mike Roe covers Secretary of California Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly’s weekly press conference, where he's expected to provide an update on theme park guidelines, sports guidelines, and announce details on interventions from the state to help with COVID-19 in Southern California.
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Outside spending in the LAUSD board races has topped $14.8 million, officially shattering a record for independent expenditures — and there are still more than two weeks until election day. Kyle Stokes has the story.
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The Past 24 Hours In LA
Money Matters: South Bay city officials are helping to facilitate the renting of rooms from seniors on fixed incomes to those without homes. The iconic Mid-Century Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs is on the market for $25 million.
Health And Safety: Community members in South L.A. came together to advocate for resources for BIPOC survivors of domestic and sexual violence. LAUSD students and their families can get a flu shot at several district campuses through the end of the month. Gov. Newsom announced details on the state's COVID-19 vaccine plan, while emphasizing that vaccinations won't be widely available until sometime in 2021.
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The Good News: The Dodgers beat the Braves in the NLCS and are headed to the World Series. Amid all the restaurant closures, a bit of good news: Swingers Diner will reopen — possibly as soon as Nov. 1.
Election 2020: Authorities are investigating a fire that damaged an L.A. County ballot drop box in Baldwin Park. Yesterday was the deadline to register online to vote in the Nov. 3 election. (You can still register if you missed this deadline, but you'll have to do it in-person.)
Here’s What To Do: Explore the health benefits of tea and the majesty of mezcal, learn about the upcoming election at a KPCC/LAist cram session, attend drive-in screenings of a new Stevie Nicks concert film, and more in this week’s best online and IRL events. Check out our spooktacular Halloween event list.
Photo Of The Day
Julio Urias, #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrates after closing out the team's 4-3 victory against the Atlanta Braves in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series.
(Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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