In good local foodie news, Porta Via, an original restaurant and longtime cornerstone of Palisades Village, following the devastating Palisades Fire that forced the restaurant to temporarily close in January 2025, will reopen August 15th.

Our friends at Wife and the Somm, a true dining gem with a wonderful wine list in Glassell Park, are prepping to give guests a reason to brave the heat and go out for a fine wine and dine experience.

Circle Bar on Main Street, one of Santa Monica’s most iconic dive bar dance clubs, is back.

Ronnie James Dio supported several causes during his lifetime; gastric cancer wasn’t on the radar until it took him. Grief over his passing manifested in donations that ultimately created the Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund. On May 31st at the grounds of the Autry Museum, the Rock for Ronnie concert in the park was enjoyed. This charity has provided over $2 million to research programs that have developed new testing protocols to detect gastric cancer through saliva and/or

The coat is ready. The dreams are big. The music is unforgettable. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is beloved for its bursting with energy, humor, and being one of Broadway's most beloved scores. This Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic follows Joseph's extraordinary journey from dreamer to hero. Featuring fan favorite songs, vibrant storytelling, and a dazzling array of colors, Joseph is a feel-good musical adventure for audiences of all ages. Make sure

It’s mid-June in Los Angeles and that means June gloom lifts and Dances With Films (DWF) has come back to the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. The plucky indie festival with the peculiar name, which runs June 18-28, “was created at a time when the Park City, Utah “dance”—aka Sundance—had so many satellite festivals swirling around it,” quips DWF co-founder Leslee Scallon. “We thought it would be funny to be the summer film festival called Dances With Films.” Twenty nine yea

Palmdale’s signature High Desert Beer and Wine Festival will return for its fourth annual outing, Saturday, June 20th at the Palmdale Amphitheater.

Sometimes you just have to be in the know to be aware of where the hotspots are in town. That is exactly the case with Très L.A. Bistro & Café at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

Culinary Host Chef Neal Fraser and Event Producer Shelby Russell proudly present the inaugural Hollywood on the Coast Food & Wine taking place on Saturday, June 13 at the iconic Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. Conceived as a premier, one-night-only strolling culinary celebration at the intersection of entertainment, culinary artistry, and philanthropy, Hollywood on the Coast Food & Wine will host 750 distinguished guests from across the entertainment ind

Founded by John and Jane Sungkamee back in 2000 on Westwood Boulevard, Emporium Thai has grown from a neighborhood eatery into a cornerstone of Los Angeles’ Thai dining scene, earning both a stellar reputation and widespread recognition. The restaurant holds Thai SELECT certification from the Royal Thai Government, has been named among the Top 100 Best Thai Restaurants in the United States, and at the heart of Emporium Thai’s enduring success is the Sungkamee family, whose st

Summer fun officially kicks off with the return of Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG), back for Year 14 on Sunday, June 28th at Catch One nightclub where more than 100 of L.A.'s top bartenders will make cocktails and showcase their artistic talents, with proceeds donated to Hollywood Fringe Festival. Since its inception, ABTG has raised more than $250,000 for arts-based nonprofits in L.A. and across the country. “I am consistently in awe of the level of imagination and execution of

Axel Arevalo created the image titled Friday Family Film Night to fuel this year’s San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF). Now in its 33rd year, the festival had much to celebrate! The AMC 20 Mission Valley was the location where films, art exhibitions, and music came together in a recipe for immersion. Arte Latino had several spaces where artists invited viewers to participate in their vision. Sonido Latino had musical artists performing throughout the five days of the festi

A longtime neighborhood staple, Porta Via Beverly Hills, has announced it will relocate and reopen at 184 N. Cañon Drive in summer 2026, following a fire that destroyed its original location on Christmas morning 2025. Founded in 1994 as a humble breakfast and lunch café at 424 N. Cañon Drive, Porta Via expanded over 31 years into a 4,000-square-foot restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, a full bar, and private event space. The new location, just three blocks south,

Los Angeles’ premier outdoor luxury food and beverage festival, Masters of Taste , proudly announces the return of its highly anticipated eighth annual event, taking place on Sunday, April 19. Once again on the field of the iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl Stadium. One hundred percent of the proceeds will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services , a non-profit organization providing over 50 years of homeless services and housing for thousands of neighbors. Masters of Ta

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Wife and the Somm in Glassell Park. It’s a cozy yet elegant eatery that, as I’ve said before, delights on many levels. The husband and wife duo of Christy and Chris Lucchese, the wife and the sommelier, liken their culinary creations and impressive wine list as a love letter to food, wine and warm hospitality. And now Sundays are truly fun days in the San Gabriel Valley as they’re offering Sunday Brunch. Sunday Brunch at Wife and the

A desire to take my better half out for dinner and a show led us to one of San Diego's historic properties, The Lafayette Hotel , the only U.S. hotel constructed during World War II, built in 1946, and housing Lou Lou’s Jungle Room . The latest iteration of the nightclub on the Lafayette Hotel property launched in 2024 and has been a hit with San Diego audiences. We were pleased with the relaxed, upscale experience and enjoyed the show by Gilbert Castellanos & The New Latin

Much to my surprise, after 25 years there is no more Hollywood & Highland complex anymore as it has now been rebranded as Ovation Hollywood. Opened in 2001, it’s going to take a lot for locals to get used to the new name. Likewise, the touted launch of La Popular Hollywood , a Mexican take on high-end dining and drinking, might take some getting used to when folks realize it falls short of being an impressive Mexico City transplant in the heart of L.A. La Popular comes cour

Although not the first people to tattoo their bodies, we use the Polynesian root Tautau for our use of the word tattoo here in the U.S. The oldest tattoos found were on a mummy in the Alps, dated to be over 5,000 years old! There have been various reasons for many populations to use the human body as a canvas. The world has grown smaller because of our ability to reach all corners of the globe and recorded history while we are sitting on the couch. Because of this, we have th

The popular Off the Hook Santa Monica Seafood Festival is returning to the iconic Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, October 19 to celebrate...

If you’re looking for a memorable weekend morning, make your way to the La Cañada Flintridge area, which is home to Descanso Gardens—150...