SM PIER — There’s an old photo of a folk singer in a recently published book about the Santa Monica Pier’s history, showing a young woman leaning back in a chair, her ankles crossed mid-air, her face slightly tilted upward, clearly amused.
SECOND STREET — There are reminders every day that Maggie Hall will soon close out a 35-year career with Emeritus College, from the potted white orchid sitting on the conference table, to the bag of freshly-baked cookies on the desk, a gift from a student.
SM BEACH — Nick Steers was apprehensive, concerned that besides 12 hours crammed full of facts about 1930s era Hollywood, early Santa Monica beach culture and Georgian revival architecture, that he would still be stumped.
SM AIRPORT — Linda Sullivan still remembers the day when good friend Griff Hoerner came into her office and announced a plan to create a butterfly garden in Santa Monica.
WOODLAWN CEMETERY — There’s an old childhood picture of Virgil County sitting happily in his grandfather’s hearse, donning an event-appropriate attire of a bowtie and knickerbockers.
OCEAN PARK — The plan for the day was simple, just treat it like any other. And so that is what Mae LaBorde set out to do when she got out of bed one recent morning, going about her regular daily regime, first brushing her teeth, next drinking a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and then making
DOWNTOWN — Her name is Shannon Lee but many might know her as Bruce Lee’s daughter. And she doesn’t really mind that facet of her identity one bit. Yet Lee, 40, is making her own claim to fame in the entertainment industry, founding a new production company — Leeway Media — in July 2008 and celebrat
Isabella Siering hung in the starting position for the 100 meter backstroke event at the Northern German Championship in Hanover, Germany. The 10-year-old was tired.
PCH — Chef Whitney Werner makes his bacon doing more than making bacon. During his 25-plus years in the hospitality industry he has taken a thoroughly unconventional approach to his role as chef that has brought him financial success and praise from his peers.
DOWNTOWN — The last thing you want to say to Christina Perozzi is “Oh, I’m not a beer drinker.” “That, to me, is like throwing down the gauntlet,” Perozzi said as she sipped her Allagash White, an unfiltered Belgian-style brew flavored with coriander and bitter orange peel.
CITYWIDE — Using a simple greeting and granola bar, Ron Hooks attempts to make a connection. “Hey, how are you doing?” Hooks asks as he hands the granola bar to a homeless individual.
PICO BLVD — A small slip of paper sits safely inside David Rolston’s wallet, containing a list of personal dreams he one day hopes to fulfill. A seemingly permanent fixture on that list was the wish that a former social worker and alcoholic would find a way past her substance addiction, fight her wa
