Jessica Koslow

Whiskey is Anna Axster and Wendelin von Schroder’s drink of choice, and when they decided to make their own brand to sell, they knew exactly what they wanted to put in the bottle.

“We knew how we liked to consume whiskey,” von Schroder said. “It needed to be something that worked well, neat and with a rock in it. It should not water down too quickly and has enough character and backbone that it will stand up to other ingredients in a cocktail.”

As cousins and business partners in the music and film world for more than a decade, the two women already knew that they loved working — and worked well — together. When the film and music worlds came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, they looked at each other and made a quick decision: Step away from work and pivot to try to make whiskey for people like them. . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

Upon entering the Los Angeles Ninja Academy, guests are greeted by the Mega Wall, Triple Salmon Ladder, Pipe Coaster, Spider Wall, and Devil Steps, obstacles that may look familiar from the reality TV show, “American Ninja Warrior.” The 7,000-square-foot facility filled with black and red obstacles on Jefferson Boulevard in the Del Rey section of Culver City is the first ninja warrior training facility in Los Angeles. Owner Madelyn Scarpulla is hoping to turn the West Coast into a hotspot for ninja warrior training.

“On the East Coast, ninja warrior is popular as a sport for kids,” said Scarpulla, who traveled hours with her son from her home in New York to train at ninja warrior gyms before opening her own in New York City. “Kids compete in the World Ninja League, which is prominent in New England and the Northeast and is growing in the Southeast. My goal is to bring awareness to the sport for kids and adults and to help grow the league.” . . .

Read the full article at Playa Vista Magazine.

Check out who Lovin’ Life readers voted Best of Lovin’ Life 2024. I wrote short bits for the winners.

Read the entire issue.

When esthetician Kiana Dotson arrived at Suite 110 ready to see clients on Aug. 3 at Marina del Rey’s Phenix Salon Suites, she was greeted with a notice from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department instructing all businesses to vacate five days later.

“It was heartbreaking,” shared Dotson, a single mother and owner of Waxing in Harmony who was the first to arrive at Phenix. She immediately texted her co-workers about the unexpected news.

“I had been there for almost 10 years,” she said. “I started my business there; it was like my second baby. We were all good and loyal tenants. We paid our rent weekly, and it was disheartening to be treated like that after being there for so long.” . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.

Check out who Chandler Arizonan readers voted Best of Chandler 2024. I wrote short bits for 39 of the winners.

Read the entire issue.

The High Notes, Pasadena Chorale’s middle school choir, is holding auditions for soprano and alto voices for its second season. Last year’s inaugural choir consisted of 30 singers from eight different middle schools in the Pasadena area.

According to choir director Jeffrey Bernstein, The High Notes offers a unique and special opportunity for students. First, the kids get to know other kids from other schools, broadening their exposure to students across town who they do not see every day but with whom they may have a lot in common. Second, this coming year, the students will range from sixth to 10th grade because they allowed the eighth graders to remain in the program (and some of those eighth graders are now 10th graders).

“The way our choir bridges the ages is unusual and fruitful,” Bernstein said, who founded Pasadena Chorale, a 90-voice community chorus in Pasadena, in 2009.  . . .

Read the full article at Pasadena Weekly.

In celebration of its 140 years of serving the Pasadena public, the Pasadena Public Library (PPL) is collecting library stories from the community.

The online prompts read, “Tell us why you love the Pasadena Public Library,” and “What is your favorite memory at Pasadena Public Library?” People are asked to submit a photo with their story. It can be of the person, a drawing, a letter, or anything that relates to the story.

“We have received several outstanding stories already and are eager to receive as many as the community would like to supply us with,” Tim McDonald, library director, said. “It would be a full-circle accomplishment if we were to receive 140 stories to celebrate 140 years.” . . .

Read the full article at Pasadena Weekly.

Check out who the DTLA News readers voted Best of DTLA 2024. I wrote short bits about each of the 106 winners.

Read the entire issue at DTLA News.

Check out who the Star readers voted Best of Glendale 2024. I wrote short bits about each of the 95 winners.

Read the entire issue at Glendale Star.

Rediscover Center’s executive director Jonathan Markowitz Bijur is a professional tinkerer. When asked to expand on this passion, the Yale University graduate explains the three areas in which he likes to tinker.

“I tinker with my sourdough pizza dough every Friday night when I make pizzas for my kids,” he started. “I tinker with the programs that I teach. I am always learning. Tinkering is part of my professional DNA, and I have helped to make it part of Rediscover’s organizational DNA. And then I tinker with stuff, like I am unafraid to take apart a piece of furniture or my KitchenAid mixer when something’s rattling. It is a satisfying experience.” . . .

Read the full article at The Argonaut.