Fans of the Peanuts cartoon, rejoice! There is a place where statues of Charlie Brown and his friends stand on the streets, Charles M. Schulz, the creator, has a museum, and Snoopy operates an ice-skating rink. Located in Sonoma County, just over an hour’s drive from San Francisco, Santa Rosa is small and charming enough to melt away city stress, yet big and busy enough to offer hours of family fun and adventure. . . .
Read the entire article at Lovin’ Life Tucson.
Pronounced aa-vuh-luh Beach, this charming town of a population of about 1,365 is located in San Luis Obispo (SLO to locals) and is best known for its mineral hot springs and fun outdoor activities, like hiking, biking and stand-up paddle boarding. The few hours’ drive north from L.A. on the 101 is dotted with expansive vistas and coastal cities such as Malibu, Ventura and Santa Barbara. Some call it the Land of Ahhs, which is what tourists say when they spot a whale or sea otter, sip a fine glass of wine at sunset, and kick off their shoes at a cliffside cottage with panoramic ocean views. It is just a hop, skip and a jump to this heavenly corner of the Central Coast, where it is warmer and sunnier than other beaches for three reasons: It faces south, the 600-foot elevation of Point San Luis shields it from winds, and the surrounding mountains also push out the fog and create what is known as the “Avila bubble effect.” . . .
Read the entire article at Lovin’ Life Tucson.
It is the prettiest place on Pacific Avenue between Washington and Venice boulevards in Venice. It’s also the only business on the long and narrow beachside strand. What used to be Sal’s Deli & Market and a vegan pop-up called XMarket is now home to the third LA location of Alana’s Coffee Roasters and its cohabitator, The VB Grab & Go, which is the second spot for Chef D Brandon Walker’s The MV Grab & Go.
As its promotion points out, the new establishment carries on the legacy of these two beloved businesses: “Two Mar Vista Legends. New Turf. Same Fire.”
Open just over a month, the new space has already found its footing in the neighborhood. On a summer Tuesday morning around 10 a.m., colleagues were meeting, pals were chatting, and a handful of remote workers were staring at, and sometimes typing on, their computers and phones. Strollers were being pushed around, and commuters were popping in for their morning brew. . . .
Read the entire article at The Argonaut.
Some people say it’s old news, while others are just noticing. DTLA is experiencing a much-needed revitalization as Los Angeles prepares for the NBA All-Star 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026, Super Bowl LXI, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games—and the thousands of visitors who will be arriving in this city ready to taste all its culinary treasures.
Below is a list of eateries that are top-notch at prepping product, perfecting flavor, and plumping bellies.
Bottega Louie is more than a restaurant; it is a gourmet market, patisserie and café. Known for its open kitchen and lively atmosphere, the eatery is Yelp’s most reviewed restaurant. After browsing the pizza, pasta, salads, small plates, and entrees options on the menu, stroll over to the patisserie to salivate over mouth-watering fruit tarts and beautifully packaged macaron boxes. . . .
Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.
Tima Bell was born in New York City and raised part-time in Venice Beach. Growing up, the Venice locals referred to the last block of Washington Boulevard, which has always been a lively area peppered with restaurants and shops, as Washington Square. About two years ago, when the space on the block between Doobi’s Smoke Shop and Fat Sal’s Deli became vacant, Bell began hatching a plan to bring New York-style pizza to his beloved beach community.
“You can’t get a good New York-style slice of pizza anywhere on the Westside, so that was part of the driver and also something we’re very passionate about,” said Bell’s partner, Alessandro Nicolaci of Playbook Advisors, about opening this new venture, Washington Square Pizza, at the beach.
“We thought, what can we do that is family friendly and helps us build the community of Washington Boulevard, aka Washington Square, back up.” Nicolaci and Playbook Advisors will handle the operations of Washington Square Pizza, which will open to the public on June 26. . . .
Read the entire article at The Argonaut.
Lady Gaga loves the book, and so does Jennifer Aniston and Chris Pine. Author Deborah Davis’ three rescue dogs, Bellissima (Bella), Bootsie and Daisy, really love the book. “The Art of Canine Cuisine” is a vet-approved cookbook for foodies and their furry friends. It is 100-plus pages of recipes, food and dog photography, stories of rescued dogs, and histories of dog breeds. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from sales are donated to dog rescue and support charities.
Davis dedicated the book to her dad, a world traveler with a passion for food and dogs. An early retiree in his 30s, her father led the family on global adventures across Europe and South America, where Davis was exposed to different cultures and their creative meals. Her entire family loved to cook, and during her formative years Davis grew to love and learn about cooking by watching them.
When Davis settled in the United States to launch her career in the entertainment industry — she now lives in Santa Monica — she began to foster dogs. Davis can count at least 20 rescue dogs for whom she has found homes, including her own home. . . .
Read the entire article at The Argonaut.
L.A.-based hip-hop and theatre artist Tsiambwom “T” Akuchu is a master of his own movements and, as “Market Demographics,” his show at Highways Performance Space and Gallery in Santa Monica on June 13 and 14, proved, of choreographic direction for others as well. The almost two-hour performance, including a short intermission and pause, was divided into three acts and nine sections, ranging from solo to duet to group pieces.
Akuchu, who is on the faculty at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) teaching street dance, enlisted fellow faculty and other CSULB-affiliated students to form his six-man ensemble: Cristian Barreto, Sammy Macias, Ricky Medina, Danzel Thompson-Stout, and Fabian Zuniga. Each brought his own unique A-game to the stage, which shined within the group and in solo situations when they were given the spotlight. . . .
Read the entire article at LA Dance Chronicle.
Although it could be considered a supercentenarian — Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) was founded in 1880, which makes it 145 years old — LAAC shows no signs of slowing down. As DTLA revitalizes, so does the iconic Beaux-Arts building on W. Seventh Street and its programming, community-building events and fitness.
On a recent tour with Director of Marketing Ricky Sanchez, each space was viewed and described, from the Invention bar, which acts as the club’s social hub, to the newer Famous Players café and restaurant, which offers breakfast, brunch and lunch, and will serve dinner starting in September. This is the first time the space has operated as a restaurant in 20 years.
“The two biggest sources of new members are people looking to co-work and work out,” said Sanchez.
. . .
Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.
It’s not often a dance fan can view a live krump session. Some happen after hours. Others pop off in parking lots or parks and are frequented only by those in the know. On Thursday, June 5, 2025, attendees of the Second Annual Hip-Hop Block Party at the Grammy Museum in DTLA had the pleasure of viewing two live sessions, one on the Ray Charles Terrace and the other in the Clive Davis Theater.
Throughout the night, the top four floors of the museum were buzzing with what Schyler O’Neal, Manager of Education & Community Engagement, called activations. There was a schedule posted in the entry and handed out to folks listing each activation and when and where it would happen. Poetry open mics, fashion shows, podcasts, a jam session, DJ sets, and trivia game sessions were all on the program. . . .
Read the entire article at LA Dance Chronicle.
John Smith only knew two things before he moved to Austin 17 years ago: It was the state capital of Texas, and it was home to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which now operates 44 movie houses across the United States, including one, since 2019, at The Bloc in DTLA.
Smith, the marketing director for West Coast locations, has worked at Alamo Drafthouse for 11 years. Although it is not a prerequisite to love movies to work at Alamo, every employee does; the question “what is your favorite movie” often comes up in interviews.
“Not to be judgy,” Smith assured, “but most folks are engaged by the question.” . . .
Read the entire article at LA Downtown News.
Jessica Koslow 