I get nervous when a restaurant I like makes a drastic expansion
Doubling the seating may require doubling the kitchen size or not
and probably demands a staff expansion – but by how much
Restaurateurs who get those answers wrong find themselves with slow service
When I first went to Jame on Main Street in El Segundo
it was obvious that some expansion was in order
The restaurant was instantly popular despite the fact that the interior was tiny
I watched for news they had moved to a larger location
Instead they obtained the premises on either sides of their little space
more than tripling the indoor seating even though they also added a bar
Both of those moves turned out to be smart
because even with the vastly larger seating space
they have one of the harder to get reservations in the South Bay
they haven’t tried to increase the menu selections on the same scale
though there are a few more items than when they opened in 2018
The core is still the handmade pastas that put Jackson and Melissa Kalb’s food on the map
with a selection of small plate items and four large entrees – chicken parmesan
but all our conceptually similar to what they have already demonstrated they know how to do
the service was efficient and at times almost too fast
a starter of flash-fried brussels sprouts with an herbal vinaigrette had barely arrived when the main courses arrived
We temporarily ignored the chicken Parmesan because the sprouts were superb and would be much less appetizing once they were cold
Our server apologized for the error in timing from the kitchen
but on our second visit something similar happened
That was unfortunate because the starters here were really worth savoring
and umami butter because it was the way Southern Italians would start a meal
If you have a table of people who are sharing
it’s worthwhile to set a baseline for the more complicated items
basically a plate of large croutons topped with cucumber slices
get a plate of slightly smoky grilled tentacles with roasted potatoes
which is enlivened with small pickled peppers and a garnish of mint and cilantro leaves
It’s fancier than you’d find at a fisherman’s café in Sicily
Many are named after famed Los Angeles chefs
and I asked a server whether the honorees get a royalty when somebody orders one
since the Melissa Kalb is named after the restaurant’s co-owner of the restaurant
and lime juice was flavorful and refreshing
a tiki-style rum drink that used a pu-erh tea orgeat and baking spices to achieve a magnificent complexity that encourages slow sipping.
with every bit as much thought put into their balance of elements
The only mixed drink I didn’t think much of was the Rob Gentile
an old fashioned that was infused with extra smoke at the table using a blowtorch
I’ll ask for something made with good malt scotch
the chicken parmesan was such a hit on our first visit that we ordered it again
The gigantic cutlet was fried with a crisp exterior but quite tender
topped with a long-simmered sauce that had just a tiny bit of chili heat along with herbal notes
We were lucky to be able to snag the last order of squid ink bavette
an item they apparently only make in a small quantity each evening
get this – the ink adds more color than flavor to the pasta
but the rock shrimp ragu with a dash of serrano heat and fresh cheese topped with herbed breadcrumbs is superb
Some other pastas have sauces that are more subtle
As with all of the pastas the texture was perfect
but even by pomodoro sauce standards the sauce was mild and had little fruitiness
That may have been a consequence of ordering it in late winter – I suspect that when the summer tomatoes are in
Luckily the person who ordered it had selected the option of meatballs on the side
and every bite with those perked things up
The outstanding item of both meals was the pork shank that had been roasted with a lambrusco-mustard glaze
which was served over potato puree with a reduced au jus
Combining a sweet lambrusco with mustard and caramelizing that sauce on the meat created a warm
aromatic crust that had just the touch of herbal spiciness
I was looking for any leftover bits of ciabatta to get the last of the sauce
This and any pasta or a couple of starters would be a magnificent meal for two
We finished with a Meyer lemon pie (good) and a bread pudding that was even better
Some bread puddings are really custards with some bread added
but this one is the crisp-topped style topped with ice cream and butterscotch
I enjoy the traditional New Orleans style with rum sauce rather than butterscotch
Dinner with drinks averaged out to about $70 per person
not at all unreasonable for cooking of this caliber in a nice environment
Jame has managed the trick of expansion without compromising on an intimate and personal dining experience
and other restaurateurs must envy them.
Jame is at 241 Main Street in El Segundo. Kitchen opens daily 11 a.m., Close 9 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 9:30 p.m. Fri. -Sat. Bar open later. Small parking lot and structure or street parking. Noise level moderate to loud depending on area of room. Some vegetarian items. Reservations recommended, (310) 648-8554. EatJame.com
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It’s estimated that Los Angeles County could lose approximately $4.6 billion in GDP because of the January fires
“Inside the Issues” host Amrit Singh speaks with LA County assessor Jeff Prang on property tax relief options for LA fire victims and the latest on the county’s recovery efforts.
discusses Democratic strategies and tactics as the opposition party during President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office
Connect with L'Oréal in your location
is proud to announce its corporate office in El Segundo
Youth to the People and SkinBetter Science brands
has been awarded two LEED Platinum Certifications in addition to WELL Certification at the Platinum Level
the highest distinction for sustainability
innovation and advancing human health and well-being in building design and operations
This achievement marks the first time a L’Oréal building has received three platinum certifications in sustainability and occupant health
underscoring the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and employee well-being
administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)
and policies to ensure they support the health and well-being of occupants
L’Oréal is the first beauty company in the corporate category to achieve WELL Platinum certification
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system
recognizes buildings that support environmental sustainability
L’Oréal achieved platinum certification for LEED ID+C (Interior Design and Construction)
followed by LEED EBOM for Interiors (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance)
Demonstrating the commitment of the team at L’Oréal’s office in El Segundo to sustainable performance operating within an interior space
the LEED EBOM recognition is for existing interiors that have already been through the initial LEED process of creating a strong sustainable framework.
"Achieving multiple LEED and WELL Platinum certifications at our El Segundo site is a testament to our commitment to pioneering sustainable and people-centric workplaces
These prestigious distinctions reflect our belief that environmental responsibility and employee well-being are intrinsically linked,” said Marissa Pagnani McGowan
“We are incredibly proud of this accomplishment and grateful to LEED and WELL for giving us frameworks to pursue our ambitious site-level sustainability goals."
L’Oréal has created a healthy and supportive workplace and implemented a wide range of sustainable strategies including:
“The work of innovative building projects like L’Oréal’s West Coast office is a fundamental driving force in transforming the way our buildings are built
designed and operated,” said Peter Templeton
“Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions
reducing operating costs and conserving resources while prioritizing sustainable practices and human health
we are increasing the number of green buildings and getting closer to USGBC’s goal to outpace conventional buildings
while being environmentally and socially responsible and improving quality of life for generations to come.”
“Congratulations to L'Oréal for achieving WELL Certification at the Platinum level for its El Segundo office in California
exemplifying the pinnacle of social sustainability and workplace well-being,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon
“We applaud L’Oréal for implementing WELL programs and strategies to craft a collaborative
This achievement serves as a testament to L’Oréal's commitment to integrating sustainability and well-being into all aspects of its operations
About L'Oréal USA
L'Oréal USA is the largest subsidiary of the L'Oréal Group
Through its management of over 35 iconic beauty brands
L’Oréal USA has generated more than $10 billion in sales annually
Products are available across all distribution channels including hair salons
L’Oréal USA’s commitment to growth is generated through sustainable innovation and driven by the company’s L’Oréal for the Future ambition which demonstrates sustainable development across the Group’s value chain
The company is headquartered in New York City
manufacturing and distribution facilities across 16 states
About the International WELL Building Institute
Katherine Burns | [email protected]
By Karen Dybis | March 25
headquarters that will serve as the home base for the brand as it seeks to boost its presence in the U.S
The El Segundo office held a grand-opening ceremony March 10 with local officials and top watch experts
getting an early peek at Wolf’s 2025 collections
The day ended with a Leaders in Conversation panel on anticipated watch trends
Wolf CEO Simon Wolf says El Segundo is geographically ideal as the brand’s U.S
and is close to Los Angeles International Airport
making it easy for its 15 North and South American representatives to travel to visit clients and retailers
The El Segundo office also includes a team of employees who focus on design
office plays a crucial role in working with retail partners across the Americas,” Simon Wolf says
“These include the watch and jewelry retailers that have been so much a part of Wolf’s growth from the very beginning of Wolf’s expansion decades ago into America to department stores
market is showing keen interest in heirloom-quality storage solutions
and clients want storage that complements their fine jewelry and watches
“With more consumers investing in jewelry and watches for both personal enjoyment and as an asset
there is a greater need for expertly designed cases
and winders to store and protect those investments,” Simon Wolf says
“As Wolf expands into the U.S.
there is a drive to deepen partnership with retailers and designers who share Wolf’s commitment to quality and heritage,” he adds
“Jewelers and watch retailers want to offer a luxury product that perfectly pairs with the luxury nature of their products.”
Simon Wolf says the brand has noticed consumers also want luxury storage because it is beautiful
Luxury home accessories like jewelry boxes and watch winders are functional as well as design statements
long-lasting products made of sustainable materials rather than disposable or mass-market options,” Simon Wolf says
“Gen Z are increasingly demanding transparency from brands they buy from
and Wolf is on track to satisfy that demand.”
The building at 1222 East Grand Avenue was constructed in 1952
One highlight is its bow-truss exposed ceiling
which makes the open floor plan feel even more spacious
it includes a showroom for hosting partners
and designers to present Wolf’s latest collections and also features a great event space
Founded in 1834, Wolf is headquartered in the United Kingdom with additional offices in Hong Kong to support its global operations
WOLF continues to innovate in jewelry and watch storage while preserving the design excellence that has defined us for nearly 200 years,” Simon Wolf says
By Rob Bates May 05
By Annie Davidson Watson May 05
By Brittany Siminitz May 05
By Karen Dybis May 05
2025 © RX USA. Use of this website is subject to terms of use.
A vacant industrial property in El Segundo's Smoky Hollow district is slated for redevelopment with housing, per a newly published environmental report.
Griffin Capital
the applicant behind the proposed project at 1521 E
is seeking city approvals for the construction of a three-to-six-story building containing 323 studio
Plans also call for a 490-car garage in a six-level standalone structure
would open onto Kansas Street to the west with two outdoor courtyards
Other amenities would include roof decks on the second and fourth floors
as well as 9,000 square feet of indoor recreation areas
Grand Avenue is expected to commence in 2026 and occur over a roughly 28-month period
Housing was not the first thought of Griffin Capital when it came to redeveloping this property. The El Segundo-based firm previously proposed the construction of an office campus at 1521 Grand, as well as on a neighboring industrial site to the south
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she has thrown up when the stench from Los Angeles’ nearby sewage plant overwhelms her El Segundo apartment
she says she often deals with a dull headache or burning eyes
Kcehowski was hopeful the facility’s response would be swift and that her community would suffer the stinky mess for only a few days — or at worst a few weeks
the noxious odors and elevated hydrogen sulfide emissions persist
despite repeated complaints and appeals to the city of Los Angeles
air quality regulators and local officials
Although she’s lived in El Segundo with her daughter since the early 2000s
she now wonders if her only recourse is to move
“You’ve had three years to take care of this issue
Tamara Kcehowski is frustrated by smells emanating from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant
She said the smells have been sickening and continue now more than three years later
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) Hyperion — the largest wastewater treatment facility west of the Rockies — sprawls across 200 acres of oceanfront Los Angeles and sits just outside the city limits of El Segundo
and 29 other cities — including El Segundo — flush a quarter-billion gallons of wastewater into Hyperion’s treatment tanks
While most people are blissfully ignorant of their wastewater’s journey after showering or using the toilet
it’s become an unpleasant fact of life for many El Segundo residents
Many complain the city of Los Angeles has ignored their plight and has failed to make needed changes to limit
They worry their concerns will always be outweighed by the sanitation needs of millions
“There’s no question it’s worse than it ever has been
at least going back to the early ’90s when it was really bad,” said El Segundo Mayor Drew Boyles
is taking this matter as seriously as they should.”
the facility has slowly addressed a laundry list of needed improvements in the aftermath of the July 2021 spill
some of which have dramatically improved odors
but reflect a spirit of partnership for the surrounding community.”
In the three years before the July 2021 spill
residents complained fewer than 150 times about odors around Hyperion
But in the three months after the spill — which officials found was likely caused by equipment failures, operational missteps and staffing issues — more than 2,500 odor complaints flooded regulators
Although community concern peaked in those initial months
Hyperion continues to be barraged by odor complaints
which routinely reach into the hundreds each month
but both lower and longer-term exposure can also cause health symptoms
particularly for the respiratory and nervous systems
Sanitation and AQMD officials reported last month that Hyperion had successfully met all the mandated conditions — but members of the air quality hearing board were not convinced the problem had been resolved
“Everything that is being done is not getting rid of the odors,” Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta
“The problem still remains — the odors are still affecting the public in such a negative way
a South Coast AQMD air quality inspector testified that there were no remaining shortcomings related to the abatement order
he said that during his recent visits to El Segundo there “are pockets that I can consistently detect odors in the community.”
The board members voted unanimously to extend oversight of Hyperion through at least next August
instead of terminating the abatement order in January
Boyles said he was in “disbelief” that the board even considered lifting the abatement order
but was glad it stood by his city’s concerns
After the spill, Hyperion officials admitted that there were several shortcomings and repairs were needed. L.A. has since spent an estimated $114 million on improvements, including placing new covers on a tank that AQMD officials found to be a principal source of odors, Shelton said. The plant has also enhanced employee training, implemented an air monitoring system along its perimeter
increased neighborhood checks for odors and
hired environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay to improve community relations
An external review of the plant after the spill called for 33 immediate fixes, of which about 85% have been completed, the city has reported
But Shelton emphasized that an odor-free plant handling millions of gallons of sewage a day is not realistic
and though Hyperion continues to put concentrated effort into minimizing odors
odors are a part of work at any wastewater treatment plant
and the presence of odors does not always mean there is a problem to remedy or changes to implement,” Shelton said in a statement
“Hyperion continues to work with the community on this issue.”
which indicate a discharge of air contaminants causing odors traced back to Hyperion
Officials have also issued some violations tied to hydrogen sulfide emissions
While Hyperion historically tested for the colorless toxic gas in certain scenarios
it was only in May 2022 — after months of complaints and violations — that Hyperion began consistently monitoring for hydrogen sulfide along its eastern border with El Segundo neighborhoods
Since then, there have been several occasions when levels of the compound have spiked above 30 parts per billion on average for an hour — California’s standard for acute risk from hydrogen sulfide
Such high levels were recorded three times in 2022
four times in 2023 and once in February of this year
In one instance from June 2023, hydrogen sulfide reached a one-hour average of 64 ppb — more than double California’s standard — when Hyperion operators had turned off pollution control devices
Shelton noted that during several of the other spikes
there were issues at the plant or heightened winds that likely influenced the hydrogen sulfide measurements
Shelton noted that “Hyperion is consistently well below” the 30 ppb level
In recent months, the monitors have regularly recorded the gas at much lower levels
The state of California considers a long-term average of 7 ppb
For those residents who say they smell the gas regularly
“I’m concerned with a 1 [ppb] every single day for 365 days a year,” Kcehowski said
“What is this doing for us for this length of time?”
Tamara Kcehowski walks through her El Segundo neighborhood, which has been dealing with foul odors from the nearby Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) Funding an unglamorous jobHyperion has been in operation since 1925, and underwent its last major upgrade in the 1990s
it has been instrumental in transforming Los Angeles County beaches from a potential health hazard to a worldwide tourist destination
But even with such an important — albeit unglamorous — role in keeping Santa Monica Bay clean for humans and sealife
accessing the necessary funds for Hyperion’s upkeep has been a challenge
author of the book “Sand Rush,” which chronicles the history of L.A.’s coast
nobody wants to spend a cent on it,” Devienne said
“So investment in those things only happened when things get really
state or federal oversight — often in the form of lawsuits — has been the only surefire way to enact necessary change at the plant
That history again played out this year. A settlement with the U.S
Environmental Protection Agency required L.A
to invest $20 million into improvements at the plant
that deal focused only on water quality issues — not emissions or air quality
the increases are expected to more than double a typical single-family home’s bimonthly sewer fee
“The project lists are long, but they have been working really hard lifting up the odor control projects, to support the city [of El Segundo] to be better neighbors,” said Meredith McCarthy, senior director of community outreach for Heal the Bay
The last few months of improvements have addressed the most urgent issues and what McCarthy called low-hanging fruit, but she said the facility’s maintenance backlog remains “pretty spectacular” and continued investment is needed, especially if Hyperion is going to play its important role in the city’s aggressive shift to recycled water over the next decade.
While McCarthy is hopeful the plant is now on the right path, she knows it doesn’t change the last few years of suffering felt by many El Segundo residents.
Although overall complaints have decreased, Boyles insists that its not because foul odors are no longer an issue.
“Our residents are so fatigued by this matter,” Boyles said. “People are getting worn down. ... We cannot give up on them.”
Chuck Espinoza, who lives not far from the plant, is among those who have given up. He was submitting odor complaints most days of the month soon after the spill, when he and his family for the first time started suffering from headaches and burning eyes. But the multi-step complaint process eventually felt like a pointless time-suck.
“No change, wasted effort and it’s all for nothing,” Espinoza, 51, said. “Giving up for me has been the best thing for my sanity.”
Before the spill, he estimated that his neighborhood smelled funky once a week. But after July 2021 it’s been at least three to four times a week, he said, and he described the recent odors as more chemical.
“I don’t think we even know what we’re being exposed to,” Espinoza said. He said he worries about long-term effects, including for his children, but he said he feels “completely powerless to even address what those are.”
But for some residents, Hyperion hasn’t changed much about life in the industry-surrounded city.
Chuck Nicolai, who lives only a few houses from Espinoza, said he and his wife haven’t noticed any dramatic changes or issues since the spill. When he bought his house in the mid-1980s, Nicolai remembers a horrible smell from the plant. But since it modernized in the 1990s, he said he can’t complain.
He considers it a part of life in El Segundo, similar to dealing with fumes from the nearby Chevron plant or the constant noise from the airport.
“It’s SoCal coastal, the best climate in the world,” Nicolai, 79, said. “You live here, you get used to the jets and Hyperion.”
Grace Toohey is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news for the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Sentinel and the Advocate in Baton Rouge. Toohey is a Maryland native and proud Terp.
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The Chevron Fire Department sent equipment and personnel (from the El Segundo
stations) to protect Chevron assets and support the Los Angeles Fire Department
When wildfires broke out in Los Angeles County in January 2025, firefighters from across the state and beyond answered the call to protect people, homes and businesses. Among them were brave firefighters from the Chevron Fire Department (CFD) based in El Segundo
El Segundo Fire Chief Leroy Diekmann has been part of Chevron’s firefighting team for 25 years
his team’s work is all about keeping people safe
confined space entries and overall safety for the refinery in El Segundo and the people who work there,” he explained
“We assist with whatever the call is
and we help out within the community when we can.”
Chevron Fire Department personnel in El Segundo
“The team stayed there on site for four days
and provided fire protection,” said Diekmann
the fire didn’t reach the terminal.”
The department worked with the Los Angeles Fire Department
meals and hydration to firefighters on the front lines
also provided support and supplies to the front lines
Chevron facilities—including those in San Ramon
as well as Chevron’s headquarters in Houston
Texas—coordinated efforts to help people affected by the fires
Chevron sent thousands of N95 masks to El Segundo for distribution in the community
helping protect residents from smoke and air pollution that lingered even after the fires were contained
The Chevron Fire Department provided logistical support
meals and hydration to frontline firefighters during the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County
the department has responded to other incidents in the state
including the Vistra Energy fire in Moss Landing and the Martinez Refining Company fire in Martinez
Chevron announced a total contribution of $1 million to support relief efforts in California
The funds will be distributed to three organizations:
Chevron will match qualifying donations made by company employees and retirees to wildfire relief efforts
and it will provide financial contributions to organizations where its employees volunteer
“Chevron’s legacy in California dates back more than 145 years,” said Mike Wirth
“We are heartbroken by the devastation in Los Angeles
inspired by the bravery of first responders and stand committed to assisting with relief and recovery efforts throughout greater Los Angeles County.”
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© 2001 – 2025 Chevron Corporation
The LA Kings returned to the ice for practice today
following four days off for the NHL’s holiday break
Following the 3-1 loss in Washington on December 22
the Kings went their separate ways for an extended break
with one extra day on the front end and the opportunity to practice on the backend coming out
A rarity for a team that has played games on December 23 and December 27 in each of the past two seasons
They were scheduled to do the same in 2021-22
but both games wound up being rescheduled for February
in the Olympic break that ultimately was not realized for the aforementioned tournament
The last time the Kings had even one of those days off
The NHL used to schedule games on December 26 and dating back at least to the 2004-05 lockout
there wasn’t a single season in which the Kings had that type of relief
with a lot of travel and ton of games in total
coming off of a seven-game trip which ranked among the longest in recent memory
That feels like the bar for an acceptable trip
as noted in the analysis article after the Washington game
Eight of 14 points is not an incredible trip but it’s not a poor one either
The regulation losses were both tightly contested
3-1 defeats against the number one and number two teams in the Eastern Conference by points
The loss in Washington was a good performance with an unlucky turnout
“It was a pretty good trip,” Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller said
“We would have liked points out of the [Washington game]
We’ve played 21 road games now and six exhibition games on the road
we’ve spent some time on the road.”
No team in the NHL has played more games on the road as of this writing
combined with a full slate of exhibition games away from home and the Kings have certainly had their travel over the first three-plus months of the season
with a pair of five-game roadtrips that will certainly test the fortitude of the group
the Kings will have played 31 of their 41 away games
with nothing more than a single three-game trip over the final three months of the regular season
the Kings aren’t setting any NHL records for road performance
providing the foundation for a 10-2-1 mark at home
which has paved the way to 43 points in the standings and a .632 points percentage in total
heading into a five-game homestand that begins tomorrow afternoon against the Edmonton Oilers
in a rematch of last season’s playoff series
we’re proud of the effort and all-in-all
not a terrible roadtrip,” defenseman Mikey Anderson added
“Nice to feel good about the way we’ve been playing going into the break and try to carry that over [against Edmonton].”
the Kings returned to the ice as a full group for their first practice day since December 16 in Pittsburgh
The Kings opted to prioritize energy over on-ice practices at the tail-end of their trip
giving the bulk of the group off-ice workouts in Philadelphia and Nashville
Today was the first time the Kings have practiced at home since December 6
the two biggest names to watch for were Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore
Danault missed the trip finale in Washington while Moore missed the final five games of the trip with an upper-body injury
Neither situations were ever thought to be longer term
Danault was on the ice with the group today
while Moore was joined by forward Trevor Lewis skating on their own before practice today in non-contact jerseys
Good signs of progression for both players
as the Kings slowly but surely approach a full roster
beyond both players being back on the ice earlier today
here’s how we saw the Kings align –
that just leaves defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Arthur Kaliyev to account for
The latter is concluding his conditioning loan with the AHL’s Ontario Reign and should be set to return to the NHL roster shortly
Kaliyev has one assist and one shootout goal
from four games played with the Ontario Reign
who resume their post-holiday schedule tonight in San Diego
all signs have his recovery process going according to schedule
but he has still not progressed to an on-ice with the team capacity
The Kings are home for the next five games
so we’ll keep tabs on Doughty and see how he progresses
which the Kings will be required to do when he concludes his loan
a corresponding roster move would need to be made
Moore is included in that number and is eligible for injured reserve
They could assign forward Andre Lee without waivers or pursue another avenue
with Kaliyev’s loan set to come to a close
Was not able to make today’s practice with my travel
so stick taps to LAKI contributors Jared Shafran and Jesse Cohen for providing updates from the ground at Toyota Sports Performance Center
I’ll be back for tomorrow’s game against the Oilers and from there on out
Sharing a post-practice interview with Jim Hiller below
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LA Kings President Luc Robitaille announced today that the Kings and Rob Blake have "mutually agreed" to part ways
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On "LA Times Today": California's national forests are on the chopping block — quite literally — as the Trump administration ramps up timber production.
Plus, 50 years ago, the fall of Saigon brought the Vietnam War to an end and started a whole new political force in Southern California.
And finally, we've had fires, droughts and earthquakes. But there's another natural danger lurking that you might not even see.
New Boeing Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said during a recent earnings call that the aerospace giant was considering shedding assets outside of the company’s core commercial aviation and defense businesses, adding that Boeing was better off “doing less and doing it better than doing more and not doing it well.”
Business
Elon Musk’s announcement that he’s moving SpaceX headquarters to Texas could present a blow to Hawthorne and the Southern California space economy that it helped to revive
But any asset sale is not expected to encompass Boeing’s satellite manufacturing operations in El Segundo
which include a 1-million-square-foot plant with several thousand workers it acquired in 2000 with its purchase of Hughes Electronics Corp.’s space and communications business
but there’s no reason for Boeing to get out anytime soon,” said Marco Caceres
noting the continuing demand for the large satellites made at the facility despite changes in the industry
Shedding parts of it space business would be a landmark decision for Boeing
which has deep ties to the space program in Southern California — where it has built rockets
the X-37 space plane and components for the space station
Ortberg’s comments come amid manufacturing concerns over its key 737 commercial jet program and a machinists strike that is estimated to be costing $50 million a day
Boeing raised $21 billion in a stock sale this week to shore up its balance sheet
Boeing also has been the target of multiple whistleblower lawsuits that have alleged lax safety and manufacturing practices that resulted in quality-control issues
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Boeing was considering selling parts of its space business last week
A Boeing spokesperson said the company “doesn’t comment on market rumors or speculation.”
which provide fast and secure communications for the U.S
Caceres said manufacturing large satellites remains lucrative for now
though the trend has been for networks of thousands of smaller satellites
such as SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network
“It’s still a good business but it’s going to be diminished
mega-constellation systems that are the future,” he said
In 2018, Boeing acquired a maker of small satellites called Millennium Space Systems, which also is based in El Segundo and whose operations have been partially integrated with the company’s existing plant. The company has received U.S. defense contracts for satellites to detect new threats such as hypersonic missiles
Other Boeing space businesses in the region expected to survive any restructuring include Spectrolab
a Sylmar subsidiary that makes solar cells for satellites and other space applications
Boeing also is expected to continue its participation in the Space Launch System
that NASA plans to use to send astronauts back to the moon
The clearest choice for a possible sale or program closure
is the Starliner capsule built to service the International Space Station with crews and supplies
The spacecraft was manufactured at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and launches from nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Boeing was awarded a $4.6-billion contract in 2014 to develop the craft and has been hit with some $1.5 billion in cost overruns, but the vehicle has yet to be certified
SpaceX was awarded a smaller contract to develop a crewed capsule
based on its existing Cargo Dragon capsule
and that craft has made more than a dozen trips to the station
In a blow to Boeing, NASA decided in August to have SpaceX return two astronauts brought to the space station by Starliner in June after the capsule developed propulsion problems while docking on its third test flight
Although the Starliner returned remotely in September
NASA and Boeing are still investigating what went wrong
Also seen as expendable is Boeing’s participation in the United Launch Alliance, a joint venture it formed in 2006. It claims a perfect mission success rate in more than 150 military and commercial launches. ULA is based in Denver and launches from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
The venture introduced its new Vulcan Centaur rocket this year, which is partly reusable and lowers launch costs to about $110 million. It is more powerful than its SpaceX competitor, the Falcon 9, but that rocket has a fully reusable booster and flight costs starting at less than $70 million.
The space industry has been rife with speculation about who might acquire ULA — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company has been rumored as a possible buyer — but no deal has emerged, possibly because the price is too high, said Laura Forczyk, executive director of space industry consulting firm Astralytical.
Although the business is not as strong as it used to be, ULA’s reliability, a shortage of launch vehicles and the new rocket’s technical advances means it can still attract business, she said, adding: “There’s just so much demand for launch services.”
Laurence Darmiento covers finance, insurance, aerospace and dealmakers in Southern California for the Los Angeles Times. He joined the paper in 2015 as an assistant business editor and has overseen finance, real estate and Washington business coverage. Previously he had been the managing editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal and was a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News and other outlets. A New York native, he is an alumnus of Cornell University.
He’ll enter his freshman year as one of the most highly touted baseball players in the nation
He has grown to 6-foot-3 and plays third base and pitches
The younger Lappe said he also might try to play soccer in his first year of high school
Louis Lappe (29 CA) shows some easy pop; turns & burns for a 2B the other way that backspun. Comes off so well; huge potential & lift. @PGSelectFest alum. #Houston1000 @California_PG pic.twitter.com/Km28XyHAlz
He just returned from a tournament in Houston
where he hit .667 and his fastball reached 86 mph
THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!A walk-off to win the #LLWS Championship 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aVZVvIKIwi
Lappe was 12 years old when he and his El Segundo teammates gained national fame after his walk-off home run in the World Series final. Now the players are reaching high school age.
Harvard-Westlake coach Jared Halpert said he received a phone call Sunday morning from Ted Lappe telling him Louis had been accepted and would enroll.
“I didn’t scream, but I definitely fist-pumped,” Halpert said. “We are thrilled. He’s going to be a major contributor to Harvard-Westlake and the community.”
Lappe was also considering Harvard-Westlake rival Loyola, which will be getting Brody Brooks, Max Keldorf, Quinn Boehle and Finley Green from the El Segundo Little League team.
Harvard-Westlake has been on fire in producing top baseball players, with pitchers Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty and outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong among the alumni in the majors.
Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has been honored seven times by the California Prep Sportswriters Assn. for best prep sports column.
High School Sports
The Oilers bowed out of the postseason, due in large part to the contributions of a dynamic duo of freshmen for the Eagles in point guard Sofia Rozell and forward Avery Pintens.
Rozell matched the game-high total with 24 points, weaving through traffic and earning nine attempts from the foul line. She scored 21 points by halftime, when the second-seeded Eagles held a 37-19 lead.
Pintens made her mark with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals. She stretched the floor with a trio of three-pointers for El Segundo (19-11).
“They’ve been playing with each other since fifth grade together, so it’s a blessing to have both of them on the court at the same time,” El Segundo coach Terrence Wilson said. “It helps out with everybody else on the court, as well. We get easy opportunities for the others because of them.”
Both teams had a plan to keep the ball out of the hands of difference-makers, although neither really checked that box. Huntington Beach coach Russell McClurg said he felt the Oilers were “a step behind” on defense and did not stop the Eagles’ best players from dribbling with their dominant hand.
“I’m sitting there going, ‘Everyone’s going left,’” McClurg said. “Their two freshmen, those are the players that you’ve got to stop, and we game planned for that. We struggled so bad defensively. We just didn’t get it done tonight. It’s frustrating.”
Hoang had six field goals after the break, including both of her three-pointers, as the Oilers attempted to mount a comeback.
Emma Miyai and Hoang both connected on threes from the left wing within a span of just over a minute, cutting the deficit to 58-51 with 2:50 remaining — the closest the score had been since the first quarter.
Sports
The Chargers score three early goals en route to a 4-1 triumph over the visiting Musketeers on Saturday in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 boys’ soccer playoffs
The Eagles made good on a second-chance opportunity about a minute later
Pintens polishing it off with a three to restore the double-digit advantage
El Segundo will play host to Culver City in the quarterfinals on Wednesday
Wilson said the Eagles have matched the deepest postseason run in program history
El Segundo made its most recent quarterfinals appearance in the Division 3A bracket in 2019
making three shots from distance to propel her to that total
who transferred to Huntington Beach (17-13) from Edison this season
Cameron Kim had four points and two steals
and Traci Ann Mori distributed four assists
and we had a great year with three returning kids
Taylor was a great addition — let’s say that’s four
Huntington Beach finished fifth in the Sunset League
but it notched a signature win with a second-half upset at Corona del Mar
which shared the league championship with Los Alamitos and Fountain Valley
CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs
Also in the CIF Southern Section girls’ basketball playoffs:
Sage Hill 35: Kamdyn Klamberg paced the Lightning with 15 points against the top-seeded Knights on Saturday to begin pool play in the Open Division
Amalia Holguin added 11 points for Sage Hill (19-9)
which will remain on the road to face fourth-seeded Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (26-1) on Wednesday and fifth-seeded Torrance Bishop Montgomery (21-4) on Saturday
Ontario Christian improved to 25-1 overall
Marina 33: Anaya Rivera had a team-best 10 points for the visiting Vikings on Saturday in the second round of the Division 2A playoffs
Maria Tejeda added seven points and two steals for Marina (18-12)
Marina coach Daniel Roussel said leading scorer Rylee Bradley left the game in the first quarter due to a dislocated shoulder
Fountain Valley 34: The fourth-seeded Barons dropped a second-round road contest in the Division 2A bracket on Saturday
Fountain Valley (19-10) had a three-game winning streak snapped
Corona del Mar 27: Sophomore center Tess Oldenburg had 19 points
seven blocks and four steals to guide the visiting Cowboys past the Sea Kings on Saturday in the second round of the Division 2A playoffs
Third-seeded Chino (21-5) plays host to Oak Hills (17-11) in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday
Corona del Mar (18-11) was eliminated from the postseason by Chino for the second year in a row
Pacifica Christian Orange County 36: The top-seeded Tritons dropped a close game on the road on Saturday in the second round of the Division 3AA playoffs
Zetta Faasua had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead Chaparral (16-10)
which plays at Downey (16-14) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday
Vivian Villagrana had 14 points to lead Pacifica Christian (13-15)
and Angie Martinez contributed 10 rebounds and six blocks
Laguna Beach 29: Kate Cheng scored 13 points
but it wasn’t enough for the Breakers against the top-seeded Rebels on Saturday in a Division 4AA playoff game in Anaheim
Fiona McCormick added eight points and Lilly Alvarado chipped in with six points for Laguna Beach (20-10). The Breakers were the Pacific Hills League champions.
Costa Mesa 42, Capistrano Valley Christian 21: Leilani Quero led all scorers with 16 points, as the fourth-seeded Mustangs advanced to the Division 5AA quarterfinals with a road win on Saturday.
Aaliyah Terry added seven points for Costa Mesa (14-14), which will be home to face Ojai Nordhoff on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Yanelly Martinez and Ariana Mendoza each had six points.
Costa Mesa returns to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019, when it lost at Montclair 41-31 in the same division.
Jurupa Valley Patriot 44, Los Amigos 33: Kimberly Nunez had a team-high 12 points for the visiting Lobos on Saturday in the second round of the Division 5AA playoffs.
Sophia Boyer scored seven points, Mandy Le produced six points, and Pearl Johnson added four points for Los Amigos (13-10), which was the second-place team in the Grove League.
Andrew Turner is a sports reporter for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Pilot in October 2016, he covered prep sports as a freelancer for the Orange County Register for four years. His work also has been used by the Associated Press and California Rubber Hockey Magazine. While attending Long Beach State, he wrote for the college newspaper, The Daily 49er. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history. (714) 966-4611
News
the plight of Inglewood’s small businesses
Phanny’s, which serves some of the South Bay’s more popular breakfast burritos in a bustling Redondo Beach restaurant, is expanding to a second location in El Segundo
The roving Westside reporter saw a sign at El Segundo’s North Village Shopping Center at 150 Pacific Coast Highway on a covered window
saying the expansion might be open within a month
The new location in El Segundo is just a few miles south of Los Angeles International Airport
making Phanny’s an excellent breakfast-and-flight combination for travelers
the restaurant served a larger fast-food menu of burgers and hot dogs before honing in on breakfast burritos
took Phanny’s over around 2015 and has been introducing innovations such as a high-end espresso machine for coffee drinks
Expanding to El Segundo could signal a wider reach for the beloved South Bay burrito brand
With the arrival of Intuit Dome last month, Inglewood’s third major event venue alongside SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum
one would expect the businesses in the area to be thriving with the thousands of people visiting daily
including Karolyn Plummer of Sweet Red Peach
says that his sales dropped due to ongoing construction
Business owners have appealed to the city of Inglewood for help
The Inglewood mayor’s office released a statement responding to concerns
saying that it will try to address traffic and construction issues that have prevented locals and visitors from frequenting the small businesses
TrendingCommercialLos AngelesAStarwood surrenders another El Segundo office complex to lendersBuyers Beacon
3Edgewood buy majority of $485M debt on Pacific Corporate Towers
A joint venture between Starwood Capital and Artisan Ventures has surrendered a 1.6 million-square-foot office complex in El Segundo to lenders after falling behind on nearly $500 million in debt
Buyers Beacon Capital Partners and 3Edgewood acquired an unspecified majority stake on the $484.8 million of unpaid debt on the asset
After completing a deed-in-lieu agreement on Aug
Beacon and 3Edgewood converted their debt position into equity
a source familiar with the matter told TRD
The partnership did not specify how much it paid for the property
the source said the price was at a significant discount to the loan balance
The transfer comes just months after the partnership lost a 257,000-square-foot office complex next door
a collection of three office buildings located at 100
The property is partially leased to coworking firm WeWork
which signed a lease for three floors at the complex in 2018
Boston-based Beacon Capital owns Pacific Concourse, a 162,000-square-foot office complex, also in El Segundo, which it acquired in a $43 million deal in 2018
SIGN UPIn March, Starwood and Artisan were reportedly in “active negotiations” with its original lender Morgan Stanley over approximately $600 million in debt on the Pacific Coast Highway property
the complex was reportedly half empty and valued at less than $400 million
The property’s most recent valuation represents a sharp drop from the $605.5 million that Starwood paid in 2017
The El Segundo transfer adds to a series of losses for Starwood. In July, Starwood and Artisan lost the property next door at 1960 East Grand Avenue. Aside from the office building on the Grand Avenue site, the partnership also planned to build a 94,000-square-foot office property in an adjacent parking lot. Lender MetLife Investment Management acquired the asset in July
paying $72.8 million in a foreclosure sale
Starwood and Artisan owed $83.9 million under a roughly $85 million mortgage from 2020
Starwood also recently surrendered three office towers in Oakland
New York-based Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm run by CEO Barry Sternlicht
Artisan Ventures is an investment firm based in Santa Monica and run by Collin Komae and Mark Laderman
it's never too early to start looking at next year's NFL Draft
if you're like me and want to get an early jump on learning some of the names that could be NFL difference makers in the future
let's walk through some players and get to know them
Looking ahead, the Los Angeles Chargers currently have six picks
with their own seventh-rounder having been traded to the Tennessee Titans before the 2024 season for safety Elijah Molden
Let's take a look at some directions that they could go
A year after getting a stud running back in Omarion Hampton
I’m assuming the Chargers are going to get an extension done with star left tackle Slater
looks to be a group that will be addressed
Trey Pipkins and Zion Johnson will both be free agents in 2026
who teammate and 2025 first round pick Armand Membou pointed to as a player primed to step up as a leader on the Mizzou offensive line
#Mizzou offensive lineman Armand Membou on Cayden Green and what he expects to see from him next season:@CoMoSports pic.twitter.com/wGsiByQhvx
The Chargers will almost certainly be looking to add a cornerback or two in the 2026 NFL Draft
DJ Harvey is transferring from San Jose State to USC
where he’ll have a big opportunity to perform on a more national stage
Harvey had four interceptions and seven PBUs
You can never have too many difference makers on defense
Trey Moore is a high-motor player off the edge that’s capable of dropping into coverage while also showing great bend and flexibility to get to the quarterback
2025 could be a year that sees him take yet another step forward in production for one of the top teams in college football
Trey Moore embarrassed the LT and, almost got home. pic.twitter.com/z3ztzhYWbl
The Oklahoma transfer is looking for a new opportunity at LSU
up there with OSU for one of the best wide receiver factories in college football
The only knock on Anderson has been his lack of ability to stay on the field
I could absolutely see the Chargers trying to add another big body (6-foot-4 220 lbs range) with deep speed to the wide receiver room
Elliot Washington continuously gets love for his competitor spirit
If you’re taking a player late in the draft
he’s drawing a lot of rave reviews through the spring
and will look to translate it to the field in 2025
— Enjoy free coverage of the Chargers from Los Angeles Chargers on SI —
ESPN's fun facts reveal why Chargers' Omarion Hampton could destroy AFC West
Los Angeles Chargers hit for 'redundant' showing in 2025 NFL draft
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Chargers wasted no time announcing a massive undrafted free-agent class
Chargers get props for making one of the best value picks of 2025 NFL draft
JON HELMKAMPJon Helmkamp is an NFL and college football writer with experience as an NFL and college analyst. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he has always had a passion for west coast football.
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Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates
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The 38 Best Tacos in Los Angeles
The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors
The Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles
Everything to eat before or after you fly out of Los Angeles's massive airport
Here's a list of restaurants to try within a 15-minute driving radius of the airport
from casual Pakistani market eats to an all-day hangout making some of the area’s best barbecue
What’s changed this update: In this edition
we remove In-N-Out (kind of goes without saying right?)
including Inglewood red-sauce joint Sunday Gravy
It’s all about Pakistani treats like earthy lamb biryani at Zam Zam
topped with herbs and sliced onion; nihari (a Delhi-style stew); chicken karahi; and dal tadka — swipe up the last vestiges of curry with puffy
blistered garlic naan pulled fresh from the oven
and also a comfortable sit-down area for those who have time to linger before or after their flights
The 21 Best Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles
Where to Order Incredible Indian and South Asian Food
El Segundo’s Jame Enoteca sits in a corner strip mall only three miles away from the airport
Hop over for the homemade pastas like the arugula pappardelle or the creamy scarpinocc stuffed with braised beef cheek
and 12-year-old balsamic vinegar; add-ons like a charred octopus starter or seasonal panzanella salad complete the picture
The restaurant comes from chef Jackson Kalb
whose Italian restaurant Ospi has become a beloved staple on the Westside
Jame happily offers the same attention to flavor detail
19 Fantastic Salads Worth Ordering in Los Angeles
20 Best dineLA Restaurant Week Dinners to Try
El Segundo’s mellow Slice and Pint offers some of Los Angeles’s best (and perhaps most unlikely) New York-style pizza
alongside a slew of locally made brews that offer a citrus-y IPA pop for before or after a long flight
and a convincing Italian chopped salad seal the deal
which is surprisingly picturesque — think string lights and gingham-print-covered picnic tables
19 South Bay Restaurants to Explore While Social Distancing in LA
There’s no better destination for Nayarit-style seafood in Los Angeles than Coni’Seafood
which also happens to be a stone’s throw from LAX in Inglewood
Connie Cassio helms the ship at this family-operated joint
which is recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand
a grilled snook served with caramelized onions
The Best Places to Eat Near Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium
It’s important to be straightforward about one thing: Food is the secondary attraction at Westchester’s food hall Proud Bird
there’s barbecue sold under the Bludso’s name
which is good enough if not quite as good as the original
But the reason most parents are here is not the food court and its mercilessly long single line (only the bar counter takes orders for each stall) — it’s the massive playground right outside its doors
Regulars know to have someone wait to order food while the kids let out some energy on the jungle gym before eating
The Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles
Looking for the ever-popular birria de res nearby the airport
Birrieria Gomez parks a truck not too far away in Lennox
sauce-laden quesabirria tacos and a side of rich consomé
Those not in the quesataco mood can go for filling quesadillas
all of which come with a near-neon-red sheen from dips in the warm
The truck also advertises its food as keto-friendly
which is a “Welcome to Los Angeles” sign if there ever was one
14 Busy Stops to Dive Into LA’s Enduring Birria Scene
The Fat Boy at the Original Rinaldi’s Deli and Cafe might be one of Los Angeles’s best sandwiches
and mozzarella (it’s probably better for after a long flight than before one)
The menu does have plenty of options for grab-and-go fare
from leafy green salads to classic Italian subs
as well as any bag of chips your heart desires
Expect a no-frills interior with a few tables
With the blue checkered tablecloths and kitschy decor
Aliki’s Greek Taverna has all the makings of a great neighborhood Greek eatery
There are gyros (lamb and beef or chicken)
spaghetti doused in brown butter and garlic and then topped with a small snowfall of Parmesan cheese
As the only official Somali restaurant in Los Angeles
this halal restaurant in Inglewood has some highlights
like slow-roasted lamb or stir-fry goat served with basmati rice and a simple salad (those going for a lighter meal can order the roasted salmon or tilapia)
Breakfast dishes in the morning are mainly composed of anjero
a pancake-like bread that’s prominent in Somali cuisine
Owned by Top Chef winner Brooke Williamson and her husband Nick Roberts
Playa Provisions is an easygoing stop for all-day fare
starting with breakfast in the morning and extending into the night with dinner and cocktails
The restaurant is actually four concepts in one
with dishes like a crispy fish sandwich and a patty melt
Dockside offers evening bites like steamed mussels
16 Stunning Waterfront Restaurants to Relish in Los Angeles
17 Spots to Sip Cocktails in the Los Angeles Area
Caravan Swim Club at the Hotel June has a lovely outdoor area around the pool and a kitchen that slings everything from oysters and crudo to Baja-inspired dishes
Try the cheesy squash blossom quesadilla; pozole verde
Weekend brunch adds dishes like a quintessential breakfast burrito and agave-drenched French toast; a kids’ menu includes a miniature version of the quesadilla and irresistible churros and caramel sauce
London comes to Los Angeles with the arrival of Tomat
a Westchester restaurant from husband and wife team Harry Posner and Natalie Dial
blending British dishes with Los Angeles’s bounty of produce as well as Persian flavors from his own upbringing
The influences can be seen in dishes like smoky barbaric bread with roasted tomato butter and a fesenjān-inspired roast duck
and pastries alongside coffee and tea; on nice nights
make sure to grab a seat (and a blanket) on the rooftop terrace for cocktails and plane-spotting
The all-day hours are ideal if you’re trying to kill time before or after an airport arrival
The Best Restaurants to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Los Angeles
Ayara Thai is a staple of the greater Westchester area
While known for its broad menu of Thai dishes like lip-puckering papaya salad
the spot also takes some departures with dishes like baby back ribs
Don’t miss the affordable lunch sets served from 11 a.m
daily — the regular set comes with one small plate
and a non-alcoholic beverage for $20; the premium set kicks it up with the same plate combination plus beer
This is a place to spend some leisurely time before a flight — or while waiting out traffic
15 Awesome LA Spots for Thai Takeout and Delivery
Everything is priced reasonably at this family-run spot in Inglewood
Mutiara Food and Market’s South Asian menu spans Thai
and can amply satisfy both vegans and omnivores
is Mutiara’s specialty and shouldn’t be missed
a pan-fried bread stuffed with ground chicken and heady spices
The Best Soul and Southern Food Restaurants in Los Angeles
bone-in chicken tandoor gleaming that familiar shade of red; the vegan thali plate
expect to be surrounded by stucco walls painted in a muted terracotta shade
The Wood has a bit of something for everyone
This Inglewood restaurant and bar always has a game on to watch
and potato salad while sipping on an ice-cold beer or Moscow mule
the Wood offers discounts on drinks and food during happy hour
or finish with a tray of crispy Tater Tots
The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles
Carnitas El Artista is a standby for outstanding carnitas
Owner Gustavo Chavez prepares the meat in the early hours of the morning
First-timers should get a two or three-taco plate
served Michoacán-style with rice and beans
A trip to LAX is just a good excuse to make a detour to Abdoulaye Balde and Yaw Marcus Johnson’s West African-Californian restaurant Two Hommés. A refresh from AfriCali cookbook author and designer Kiana Moju has brought new life into the space with bright walls and imported light fixtures from Ghana
Balde and Johnson describe the restaurant as “Afrocentric,” serving a menu of dishes like jollof rice
and root beer-braised short ribs with whipped yams
Save space for the plantain sticky cake or a sweet potato churro for dessert
A dose of homey Italian American cooking is essential before or after sitting in airport traffic
operated by brother and sister duo Sol and Ghazi Bashirian
has gained a cult following for its preparation of classic East Coast red sauce dishes like spaghetti and meatballs
paired with one of Los Angeles’s best Caesar salads
Grab a glass of wine from the tight selection
and let any memory of the airport slowly dissipate between bites of pasta
Mattel has just signed a multi-year lease for a 60,000-square-foot facility in El Segundo that will serve as its new studio operations hub
producing ad spots and marketing materials for the company’s toys and games
The property is located on Continental Development’s Continental Park campus
and the studio ops team will move into their new digs before the year is up
Commercial finance SVP David Traughber says this is part of Mattel’s ongoing plan to replace some of its existing offices with new spaces and amenities that are a better fit with the company’s design capabilities and entertainment needs
Its latest real estate holding most recently housed a magazine publisher
but an aerospace firm working with NASA on the Apollo space program was a tenant before that
Mattel purchased a foreclosed three-story office building near its HQ in El Segundo’s Continental Grand Plaza business district for US$59.2 million
The toyco is currently in the process of converting this 168,000-square-foot property into a design center where new Hot Wheels vehicles and Barbie dolls will be developed
This is just some random content to show the different layouts possible
when the club couldn't capitalize on the Minnesota Timberwolves missing 40 triple tries to extend their first round playoff series beyond an eventual 103-96 Game 5 Minnesota victory
More Los Angeles Lakers News: Paul Pierce Says Lakers Need to Move on From LeBron James
21-time All-Star power forward LeBron James
who often looked completely fatigued in fourth quarters of the Timberwolves series
has a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26
decline it and agree to a longer-term deal
decline it and enter unrestricted free agency
The latest intel from Shams Charania of ESPN
has James suiting up for at least a record-extending 23rd NBA season next year
after a second straight five-game first round exit
Shams just said he expects LeBron James to play another season pic.twitter.com/hRGhxdTAtU
who emerged as one of first-year head coach JJ Redick's five preferred players as the series progressed
has a $15.4 million player option of his own for next year
who by the end of the series was a healthy scratch
It's clear that the Lakers intend to prioritize adding wing defenders and at least one rim-rolling center to pair with their newest superstar
What kinds of franchise-altering moves they'll employ to do that remain to be seen
More Los Angeles Lakers News: LeBron James Won't Convince Luka Doncic to Stay With Lakers
the five-time All-NBA First Team guard (who won't add a sixth All-NBA Team to his resume this year after missing 32 regular season games) can agree to a massive four-year
$229 million contract extension — or a three-year
$165 million extension with a player option for the third year — on August 2
Doncic could hit unrestricted free agency as soon as 2026
team president Rob Pelinka and Redick were spotted departing L.A
restaurant Craig's recently after what appears to be have been a private meeting
Luka, JJ, and Rob were seen leaving dinner together last night in LA…Looks like they were discussing some sort of business 👀(via HollywoodFamous323/TT) pic.twitter.com/YnZ0M05B8g
The nature of their conversation has yet to be divulged
is now the team's most important player
supplanting the 40-year-old James by default
The club's future depends on his buy-in
Lakers' Bronny James Drops Major Hint at When LeBron James Will Retire
JJ Redick Sends Strong Message to Lakers After Minnesota Playoff Series Loss
Rob Pelinka Talks Lakers' Offseason Priority Other Than Big Man
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves Waste No Time Taking Shots At Lakers
Western Conference Executive Compares Lakers' Austin Reaves to Undrafted Hall of Famer
For the latest Los Angeles Lakers news and notes, stay glued to Los Angeles Lakers On SI.
Print Within a two-month span
Keith Puckett was visited or stopped twice by El Segundo police officers
One encounter was a visit to the 46-year-old Black man’s El Segundo home in the early morning hours by a cadre of cops
and another was an evening traffic stop by an individual officer
These two incidents in 2021 are at the heart of a racial profiling and unlawful detention lawsuit filed Thursday by attorneys representing Puckett against the city of El Segundo
compensatory damages and an injunction barring the city from engaging in unconstitutional conduct
The plaintiff also asks that El Segundo adopt appropriate policies and training to avoid such conduct in the future
insidious conduct that Black people and people of color have to contend with every day.”
The city issued a statement: “The City of El Segundo is committed to treating everybody fairly
sexual identity or alleged involvement in criminal activity.”
A police investigation on May 4 and city human resources investigation on April 22
into Puckett’s allegations found no wrongdoing
Puckett is an active community member and has worked as a parent volunteer
volunteer crossing guard and lunchtime security support member
El Segundo released nearly 20 minutes of dashcam and bodycam video of each incident.
The first incident took place on Jan. 21, 2021, outside Puckett’s home shortly after midnight when police questioned him about a car driven by a friend of Puckett that was registered with stolen plates.
Hollywood Inc.
The film, which grew out of Black Lives Matter protests last summer, shines a light on the coastal community’s intolerant past
Eventually, the officer explained to Puckett’s friend that there probably was a clerical error regarding his plates that needed to be cleared up with the DMV promptly, according to the footage.
“The Jan. 21 incident deeply disturbed Mr. Puckett,” the lawsuit states. “He couldn’t get back to sleep that night and had to take the next day off work.”
The second incident took place on March 14 when Puckett was stopped because an officer noticed his license plate light was not working.
Video and a subsequent photo taken by Puckett appear to show a working light and visible license plate.
The officer asked Puckett for his name and personal details.
Puckett accused the officer of pulling him over solely because of his race.
Shortly after running his information, the officer thanked Puckett for his cooperation and wished him a good night, according to video provided by the city.
“For the second time in two months, Mr. Puckett was deeply distressed and unable to sleep, and he had to take the next day off work,” the lawsuit said. Although Puckett has not been pulled over since, he said he fears more racial profiling.
But the city said in a statement that the videos showed that in “both instances the officers conducted themselves in professional and respectful manner.”
Still, Puckett filed complaints with the chief of police and city manager, without a resolution, according to the lawsuit.
Chevron and other oil firms have been sued by California
which alleges that their production and refining operations have caused billions in damage
Puckett emailed then-City Manager Scott Mitnick
Puckett met with Mitnick to further discuss what happened and spoke about the incidents at a City Council meeting on March 16, 2021.
An email to Mitnick, who is now the town manager of Moraga in Northern California, was not answered.
Before the lawsuit, Puckett’s legal team said, he entered into 11 agreements with the city regarding policing, anti-bias training and treatment of Black residents within the city in an effort to avoid a lawsuit.
The city said it treated Puckett’s claims “seriously” and hired an outside firm to investigate.
The city said it agreed to all but one policy change, which was to “deprioritize stops regarding obscured license plates.”
“The City of El Segundo is not willing to agree to discontinue practices when doing so would adversely impact public safety at a time of rising concerns about crime,” the city said.
Puckett’s lawyer Blas said the lawsuit “is a final effort to hold the city accountable for its unlawful conduct and to compel it to end racial profiling by the ESPD.”
Andrew J. Campa is a member of the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times, having previously covered the Eastside and San Gabriel Valley. Before, he worked at several medium and small daily newspapers and has covered education, sports and general news. He’s a proud University of Alabama (#RollTide), Cal State Fullerton and Pasadena City College alumnus.
WOLF
the renowned European luxury brand first established in 1834
recently celebrated another milestone as they opened their beautiful new headquarters in El Segundo
CA – WOLF’s new El Segundo headquarters
The grand opening seamlessly merged timelessness — showcasing exquisite designs of their latest collection — to some Y2K star power with Vertical Horizon’s lead singer and avid watch collector Matt Scannell being one of the speakers of the panel Leaders in Conversation
along with stars of the luxury watch world
and journalist/panel moderator Oren Hartov
the biggest stars of the night were the intricately crafted jewelry boxes
and more… which took center stage in this new office/showroom
From sleek designs to unique collaborations with innovative designers like Bea Bongiasca to intricate detailing like embossed fine leather and walnut wood veneers
WOLF continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in luxury craftsmanship
This is how the brand has become known as a leader in its space
invited guests were able to wander through the new space to get a sneak preview of the 2025 collection
CA – Matt Scannell and Lauren Goldenberg chat at WOLF’s grand opening for their El Segundo headquarters
The new showroom marks an exciting expansion into the US market for the venerated 190-year-old brand
And the city of El Segundo was excited as well to be the home base for the Americas (their other headquarters are located in the UK and Hong Kong)
The grand opening ceremony ribbon cutting was facilitated by Mayor Chris Pimentel
along with members from the local Chamber of Commerce
CA – Leaders in Conversation panel at WOLF’s grand opening for their El Segundo headquarters
“What a great day in LA — Mayor Pimentel cutting the ribbon on our new Americas headquarters in El Segundo
and friends of WOLF to tour our new showroom and offices and giving them an exclusive preview of what’s coming in 2025,” Simon Wolf
“Ending the evening with a fantastic discussion about watches with our wonderful panel was the perfect way to celebrate this milestone.”
The evening was capped off with the US debut of WOLF’s acclaimed Leaders in Conversation series
The conversation dove into the latest watch trends for 2025
what to expect at next month’s Watches & Wonders in Geneva
a Q&A was held for the audience of press
and watch enthusiasts… many of whom know each well
CA – WOLF’s grand opening for their El Segundo headquarters
Guests also enjoyed an open bar and hors d’oeuvres served throughout the evening
Attendees were invited to check out the first floor of the new space
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the world's first universal operating system for flight
is proud to announce the expansion of its operations with a new facility in El Segundo
This additional light industrial facility triples its integration and testing footprint
and marks a significant milestone as Skyryse moves closer to certification and first deliveries of Skyryse One™
The new facility will support Skyryse's expanding team and operations
enhancing its ability to expand SkyOS to other aircraft
but also accelerate the path to certification and delivery of Skyryse One
This expansion underscores Skyryse's commitment to transforming the future of aviation
making flight safer and more accessible for everyone
"Expanding our footprint in El Segundo is another critical step towards the certification and commercialization of Skyryse One," said Mark Groden
"This new facility will enable us to continue pushing the boundaries of aviation technology and bring our mission of making flight simpler and safer for everyone closer to reality."
highlighting the supportive business environment and strategic location
"Skyryse's decision to grow in El Segundo reaffirms our city's status as a hub for innovation
and the most important five square miles in Southern California," said Mayor Boyles
"We are thrilled to support Skyryse in their journey and look forward to their continued success and growth."
Skyryse's new facility in El Segundo is set to become a center of excellence for aviation technology
driving forward the company's mission to revolutionize flight
Skyryse is well-positioned to achieve its goals and continue its path towards becoming a leader in the aviation industry
To learn more about SkyOS, Skyryse One, and to see the latest career opportunities, please visit the Skyryse website
the company simplifying flight through the world's first universal flight operating system
today announced that United States Marine Corps Lieutenant..
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It’s no secret that pickleball has Angelenos in a total craze
But a pickleball social club coming to El Segundo later this year may take the phenomenon to a whole new level
Dubbed California Smash Pickleball and Social Club
the club intends to be equal parts pickleball and social club
fusing competition with play in an all-indoor converted warehouse facility
“Pickleball is a connector of people,” Founder Brett Drogmund
who discovered the sport during the pandemic
pickleball brought back this frequency of your body
It brought back the ability to be competitive and to feel good and be social and be active
They want to find something and that’s what pickleball is.”
Drogmund is also the founder and executive producer of Skyscraper Productions
a full-service ad agency and production company
He has a history in both animation and documentary film production
Recognizing consumer demands for entertainment
California Smash is Drogmund’s latest venture in what he likes to refer to as a string of creative projects
“I didn’t want to open just a gym where people came in and worked out and sweat and left,” he said
“That’s not what I wanted to offer the community
I wanted to offer the community the ability to connect.”
California Smash will boast 10 courts with live music playing
It will also feature a spacious dance floor and full-service bar and restaurant
with the ability for players to have food and alcohol delivered directly to their courts
The club signed a 30 year lease on the 25,000-square-foot building just last month and is currently in the process of undergoing design buildouts valued at roughly $6 million
Drogmund said he was inspired by the way Topgolf – which opened a location in El Segundo in 2022 – bridges entertainment and sports
and likewise wants California Smash to be accessible for players of all levels and ages
ranging from $40 to $80 depending on the time of day
as will be paddles and balls for an additional charge
California Smash is planning to offer designated kids’ programs and coaching lessons for people new to the sport
Drogmund said he will also tap into his production background to bring unique elements to the courts by playing with things such as lighting and projectors
“I’m always creating the idea of what the building looks like during the day and what it looks like at night,” he said
“It will be two completely different fields.”
He added that he is trying to make the club fun for everyone
whether someone is looking for some friendly competition or to have a drink and dance
A DJ will be playing at the club and a soon-to-be-announced former Los Angeles Chargers player will be the host of California Smash’s very own podcast series
which will record on location and discuss a wide array of sports topics
In addition to the pickleball and eatery offerings
California Smash is currently in discussions with activewear companies to fill a portion of retail space available
The club will feature its own branded apparel for sale
an executive managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle Inc
who helped Drogmund find California Smash its first ever location
He’s got incredible ideas and when things are ready to roll
California Smash was keen on making its home indoors
an executive managing director at Newmark Group Inc
said that while conversions like tennis courts or turf to pickleball are common
converting an industrial warehouse to house pickleball is quite rare
I don’t think it’s a trend,” Bloodgood said
“I think we will continue to see it in isolated locations
Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport – having grown to 13.6 million players in 2023
jumping 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and nearly 224% in four years since 2020 – according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association 2024 U.S
But alongside its rising popularity are also a number of complaints
namely unneighborly objections citing noise as a major community disruptor
Indoor courts may be the answer to meeting consumer demand and approaching new development in a non-abrasive manner
“I think it will continue to be popular for the long haul and continue to grow simply because it’s so playable,” Bloodgood said on the sport
Drogmund said the conversion process has been relatively easy and could open a door of possibilities for Los Angeles-based developers hoping too to capitalize on the growing trend
And in a dense manufacturing pocket of Los Angeles County
California Smash’s opening has exciting implications for the city of El Segundo at large
El Segundo Councilmember Lance Giroux said 98% of the city’s revenue comes from businesses
we’ve always been a very business-friendly city,” he said
“We’re always trying to figure out what the newest thing or the latest thing is and be able to accommodate space for it
Giroux said El Segundo currently has eight pickleball courts which are busy from open to close
With California Smash more than doubling the number of courts
it will allow more residents to play the game and improve the sport’s accessibility
Drogmund said he hopes California Smash will reignite the work-play balance of El Segundo by staying open late and being open on the weekends
“One of the things we were missing as a city was recreation,” Giroux said
noting the city’s heavy industrial presence
“Any time we have a creative business that comes here
That’s really the major piece of why we would support something like this
because it’s only going to do good things for us
it makes us more of a drawing card for other businesses that are trying to accomplish the same types of things
And we’re always looking to help those companies find homes in our city.”
“It really just folds right into the transition of the city of El Segundo when it used to just be a town and the vast majority of the tenants decades ago were the defense industry,” Horwitz added
“Now there’re so many creative uses in El Segundo and vibrant businesses and startups and this just folds right into that.”
California Smash is interested in opening additional locations after seeing how the El Segundo outpost fares
“Pickleball is still in its total infancy,” Drogmund said
“Ninety percent of the people are just playing on converted tennis courts or playing at a public park
so they haven’t been given this higher-end experience
I think there’s a lot of opportunity in Southern California for us to open more locations
I hate saying ‘proof of concept’ because I strongly believe that it’s going to be successful
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Starwood Capital and Artisan Ventures offloaded a 1.6M SF office campus in El Segundo
A deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure was completed Aug
after which the debt was converted to equity
according to a person with knowledge of the transaction
There was a $484.8M balance on the senior loan and an undisclosed amount of mezzanine debt on the property as well
The exact price that Beacon and 3Edgewood paid is unclear
but the property was acquired at “a significant discount to the loan balance,” the source told Bisnow
Starwood and Artisan bought the PCT in 2017 for just over $611M
In 2019, a joint venture of Starwood Capital and Artisan Realty refinanced the property with a senior mortgage from Morgan Stanley for about $500M
The details of the total debt package remain unclear
but Starwood was seeking five years of interest-only financing totaling $624.25M at the time
In 2023, PCT ownership was reportedly in talks with Morgan Stanley about the loan
as the value of the building had changed dramatically in the years since the loan was issued
The new owners of PCT plan to undertake a significant repositioning of the property
3Edgewood is an Arizona-based real estate investment firm led by Robert Sarver, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team, that has been targeting office assets in a turbulent time for the asset class
Last year, 3Edgewood purchased a 2.2M SF mixed-use campus with office space in the Dallas area for $580M
it teamed up with Parkway to buy almost 3M SF of office across seven buildings in two Houston campuses
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I was reading about the difficulty of introducing new cuisines to America and came across the term “food neophobia.” On an evolutionary level this makes sense – a plant you’ve never eaten before might be poisonous
so it makes sense to stick with things you know
The downside is you might ignore a food source in times when your usual crops are unavailable
The extreme example is from medieval Iceland
when a volcanic eruption destroyed the barley that European colonists depended on
but those immigrants came from a part of Norway where there were many poisonous varieties
The Icelanders refused to eat the mushrooms and died amid plenty
seek places to enjoy novel and cross-cultural combinations
It’s a conundrum for thoughtful restaurateurs – which clientele should they aim for
Canton Low Chinese Restaurant in El Segundo opened in 1975
The Chinese lanterns and red neon visible from the street lead you to expect old-school
even stodgy renditions of Americanized Cantonese dishes
That may have been the case when they opened
back when Hunan and Sichuan cuisine were just becoming available in the US
with Cantonese items one element among many
or moo goo gai pan will get the comfort food they seek
while the more cosmopolitan will seek the more exotic
with some broccoli and carrots added – was an American classic well made
Our only complaint was the broccoli was in very large pieces and should have been chopped finer
flavorful and not greasy with plenty of meat and vegetables
We were less thrilled with the chicken chow mein
which is offered with a choice of crispy or soft noodles
not soft and flexible enough to easily separate for individual plating and not crisp enough to easily break
This may have been partly because they were drowned in sauce half as much would have been plenty to flavor the mix of meat and vegetables that arrived atop the noodle cake
The Sichuan-style items were generally more successful
Chicken in Yu Hsiang sauce was offered from one to five on the spiciness scale
Their medium would have been regarded as mild in a Monterey Park Sichuan restaurant
but there was still a good balance of vinegar
The twice-cooked pork was even better though it didn’t taste traditional – perhaps there was some five-spice seasoning along with the soy sauce
but something added a subtle hint of anise and clove
but I’d get this again so I could try to figure it out
We had someone who is very picky about Chinese food at our table on one visit
and she eyed the kung pao chicken with a practiced eye as it arrived
“They didn’t toast the peanuts in oil,” she announced disapprovingly before even trying it
because those peanuts that go into the wok first are part of the aroma and flavor balance
If she hadn’t mentioned that I might have wondered why this rendition of the Sichuan favorite lacked a certain something
A few wines are available by the bottle or glass
as there are often only two people working the room while also handling takeout orders
everything we ordered did arrive hot and fresh from the wok
Canton Low doesn’t dazzle with innovation or go for a deep dive into any regional cuisine
serving items that will be enjoyed by traditionalists and culinary modernists alike
Canton Low is at 433 Main Street in El Segundo
The Chargers have officially moved into their brand new dazzling and state-of-the-art facility in El Segundo.
The 150,000 square-foot headquarters are simply first class and include pristine practice fields, a player lounge and even a golf simulator.
Here is everything you need to know about the :
Square Footage - 150,000 (14-plus acres of land)
The Chargers brand new practice facility in El Segundo features a 42-foot LED video board, state-of-the-art media center, two story team meeting room and a dining area highlighted by a Chargers themed pizza oven helmed by Wolfgang Puck Catering.
The Exterior of The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
Chargers Walk of Fame at The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The lobby of The Bolt is photographed on Monday, July 8, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The lobby of The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The lobby of The Bolt is photographed on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The Cafeteria at The Bolt is photographed on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The team auditorium of The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The Press Conference Room of The Bolt is photographed on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
Weight Room of The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The Foyer of The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
Exterior at The Bolt is photographed on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in El Segundo, CA.
The Bolt features a three-story LED board that is 42 feet tall and greets staff and visitors in the lobby upon arrival. The new facility also includes a two-story auditorium that will serve as the team meeting room.
The first dedicated NFL team training facility and headquarters constructed in Los Angeles,The Bolt's extraordinary design, technological prowess, prime location and dynamic event space place the building squarely at the intersection of entertainment and professional sports.
The Chargers unveiled their Walk of Fame on Monday at the team's new facility in El Segundo
The Los Angeles Chargers will host a public "open house" of the team's new training facility – The Bolt – the weekend of Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14.
The Los Angeles Chargers today announced the team's public practice schedule for 2024 Training Camp at The Bolt. All public practices are free of charge and will be held at the team's new El Segundo-based training facility – The Bolt – located in the heart of Los Angeles' South Bay on One Chargers Way.
The space at the Chargers new facility will be 9,000 square feet and offer picturesque views of multiple practice fields
Over 250 Samsung LED displays installed throughout team training rooms, lounges, meeting areas and gathering spaces will help players, coaches and staff prepare for the upcoming football season
Wolfgang Puck Catering proudly announces an exciting partnership with the Los Angeles Chargers in conjunction with the opening-WO of their groundbreaking new El Segundo practice facility. Slated to open summer 2024 in the heart of Los Angeles' South Bay community, the facility provides a unique collaborative opportunity that signals an unparalleled fusion of culinary excellence and sports innovation, promising an elevated dining experience for players, staff and guests alike.
The 145,000 square foot space is a dynamic, state-of-the-art performance center and office for players, coaches, and staff, but it will be equally as exciting for fans and partners as well, including a roof-top hospitality club, full eSports gaming and content studios, and a 3,100 square foot media center.
The Los Angeles Chargers announced that the team has reached an agreement with Continental Development Corporation and Mar Ventures, Inc. to construct its new corporate headquarters and training facility on a 14-acre site in El Segundo, CA.
The company, headquartered in El Segundo, is planning to move its studio operations to a recently renovated 60,000-square-foot building by 2025. Mattel signed a multiyear contract to lease the office space at 831 S. Douglas St.
The building, located near Mattel’s current headquarters on Continental Boulevard, includes studios the company will use to shoot photos and videos to promote its products, as well as a patio that has fire pits and barbecue and kitchen areas. The building is close to other amenities including restaurants, an upscale athletic club, hotels and stores. For the last 30 years, Mattel has housed its studio operations on its campus, which includes multiple buildings.
Mattel, Lego and other toy companies are targeting a growing number of adults who are buying toys for themselves.
The real estate deal is part of Mattel’s efforts to revamp its office space as the company aims to bolster productivity and creativity in the workplace along with attracting new employees. As workers start returning to the office after the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are trying to make the office more attractive for employees who have been accustomed to working remotely.
The industrial building, part of Continental Development Corp.’s Continental Park campus, was recently transformed to include a studio production area to meet Mattel’s creative needs.
“Employers have strived to provide reasons for their employees to want to come back into the office and interact with their peers, said Bob Tarnofsky, executive vice president of real estate at Continental Development. “The amenities that they provide are far greater than what we saw typically pre-COVID.”
As employers rethink the future of work, it’s not uncommon for businesses to sign shorter-term leases, Tarnofsky said. Mattel, however, signed a long-term lease. He declined to say how much Mattel paid for the lease and how long it lasts.
“We are embarking on a significant interior modernization of our headquarters building at 333 Continental Boulevard, infused with the same design principles and inspired by office modernization efforts at Mattel offices around the globe,” David Traughber, Mattel’s senior vice president of finance and head of global real estate, said in a statement.
The buildings that currently house Mattel’s studio operations and design center are leased facilities the company will be vacating.
As of December 2023, Mattel had approximately 33,000 workers in more than 35 countries worldwide, according to the company’s annual report. The company has roughly 2,000 workers in El Segundo and offers its employees a hybrid work environment.
After more than two years of construction, the Los Angeles Chargers have moved into a new training facility and headquarters campus in El Segundo
The complex, known as "The Bolt," spans approximately 14 acres near the intersection of El Segundo Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. The 150,000-square-foot facility was developed for the Chargers by Continental Development Corporation and Mar Ventures, Inc. on land that was once part of Raytheon's South Bay campus
It includes three natural grass practice fields
Gensler Sports designed the complex
which also includes a parking lot and seating for spectators
“Today is the culmination of almost three years of visionary collaborative efforts and we’re amped up to officially welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to El Segundo,” said El Segundo Mayor Drew Boyles
“This world-class facility represents more than a new home for the Chargers
it’s also a symbol of our City’s commitment to innovation
and promoting economic development across industries
Further solidifying El Segundo as the most important five square miles economically in Southern California and the premier training ground for professional athletes.”
which has long touted the roster of Fortune 500 companies which have offices in city limits
now bills itself as the only city in the United States which is home to the headquarters and practice facilities for NBA
the Lakers and the Kings also call the city home
The Chargers are not the only professional sports franchise building out a new home in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles Rams, which share SoFi Stadium with the Chargers, is setting up a new headquarters and practice facility in Warner Center
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Step into the world of Incentify
the El Segundo-based innovator turning the headache of managing tax credits and incentives into a walk in the park
this trailblazing company is reshaping how businesses approach what was once a daunting bureaucratic challenge
Incentify’s platform is revolutionizing the industry by helping businesses discover and effectively manage a share of the estimated $1.2 trillion in tax credits and incentives that often go unclaimed each year
This critical service not only simplifies the process but also ensures that companies can more easily access and leverage these financial opportunities to fuel their growth and sustainability initiatives
Recently, Incentify reached a new milestone by securing $9.5 million Series A funding led by Innovent Capital Group
This significant investment underscores the market’s confidence in their innovative approach and supports their mission to expand their technological capabilities and market reach
their efforts are set to make tax incentives more accessible to a broader spectrum of businesses
This is especially vital in today’s economy
where optimizing financial strategies is crucial for business resilience and growth
Incentify's success story from El Segundo is not just about financial gains but also about empowering companies with the tools to turn complex financial engagements into strategic advantages
Stay tuned for more from LA’s vibrant tech scene
Let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible
Download the dot.LA App
a new blockchain designed to prioritize real people over bots
And the question still lingers: How much privacy are we willing to trade for convenience
Meanwhile, Lyft is rolling out the red carpet, or perhaps a comfortable seat cushion, for LA’s senior citizens. The rideshare giant just launched Lyft Silver in Los Angeles
offering older adults personalized support
It's a savvy play into an often-overlooked demographic
combining technology and empathy to serve a growing market of tech-savvy seniors
Will Lyft’s new approach give them an edge in LA’s competitive rideshare market
and maybe text your grandma… she just might become Lyft’s latest power user
LA might feel a little quieter this weekend
the city is busy making moves that could shape the future of travel
This June, the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station will officially open
finally linking Metro's C and K Lines to a new ground hub near the airport
It marks the first real rail connection to LAX in the airport’s history
a major step for a city that has long been synonymous with gridlock
While the fully Automated People Mover system connecting the station to the terminals is still under construction and expected to open in 2026
the launch of the transit center is a critical piece of LA’s broader infrastructure upgrade ahead of the 2028 Olympics
Even if most travelers will still rely on cars or rideshares for now
it is a sign that even the most car-centric corners of the city are starting to shift
a local aerospace startup is aiming to transform air travel altogether and just got a major boost
JetZero, a stealthy aviation company based in Long Beach, announced a new investment from United Airlines to advance its radical new aircraft design: the blended wing body
JetZero’s blended design integrates the wings and fuselage into a single structure
reducing aerodynamic drag and dramatically improving fuel efficiency
United's investment is more than just financial support
It is a strategic bet on JetZero’s vision for cutting long-haul flight emissions in half
a critical goal as the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonize
JetZero plans to have its first full-scale prototype flying by 2027
it could set a new blueprint for the next generation of commercial aircraft
it is another reminder that some of the boldest ideas shaping the future of mobility are being built right here in our own backyard
and a city learning to move a little differently
and just enough quiet to hear the next wave of innovation humming through the city
we’re watching more driverless cars roll in
and a $100K climate challenge call for startups
Amazon-owned Zoox just announced that its futuristic
steering wheel–less robotaxis are heading to Los Angeles
The company has begun mapping the city as it gears up to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service
These aren’t retrofitted Teslas; they’re bidirectional vehicles built specifically for autonomy
It’s Zoox’s first major push beyond Northern California and Las Vegas
and it's a signal that LA is being positioned as a proving ground for next-gen transportation
Zoox is hoping to help LA reimagine what mobility looks like without a human behind the wheel
👀 More on that here:Zoox’s LA Expansion
Instagram just announced “Blend,” a new feature that creates a private Reels feed curated for you and a friend based on your shared interests
but with more memes and fewer breakup ballads
Blend could change how creators build community and how content spreads in smaller
🔥 LACI Launches the LA Resilient Rebuilding Cup
100 days after the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through parts of LA, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is launching a new initiative: the LA Resilient Rebuilding Cup
It’s a pitch competition aimed at finding startup solutions to help LA rebuild stronger and greener
Up to $100,000 in prizes and piloting funds are up for grabs
Finalists will pitch live on July 10 in Downtown LA
and selected winners will get the opportunity to bring their technologies to fire-affected communities
Startups have until May 30 to apply. 📍 Apply here
Print After going dark in the early days of the pandemic
a former ArcLight theater in El Segundo will reopen with a new owner and name Monday as a luxury cinema intended to pry movie viewers off their couches at home
CinemaWest Beach Cities will have 16 screens and a Pink’s Hot Dogs restaurant that will serve alcohol and also be open to non-moviegoers
It will be the 18th location for CinemaWest
Calif.-based theater chain that operates cineplexes in California and Idaho
and a flagship location for the company “on par with private screening rooms at major studios,” owner Dave Corkill said
CinemaWest Beach Cities will be the first theater to open in Los Angeles County in 2025 and one of only a handful that may open this year
With moviegoing habits scrambled in the age of streaming
movie theaters have lost some of their luster as anchor tenants at shopping malls and other commercial centers
is banking on the theater being a key draw at Continental Park
a 100-acre commercial development with 3 million square feet of office space
CinemaWest Beach Cities
will have a Pink’s Hot Dogs restaurant and bar with a separate entrance for non-moviegoers
(CinemaWest) “I don’t believe that a movie theater is the key to attracting office tenants,” landlord Richard Lundquist said
“but I do feel that the movie theater attracts restaurants
There is also a theater with an expansive screen format called ScreenX, a multi-projection system with a 270-degree field of view that extends the image across the main screen onto the theater’s right- and left-side walls to immerse the audience in the movie.
The permanent closure comes after a year of shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also has a giant-screen theater with Dolby Atmos surround sound.
Pink’s, a well-known Los Angeles restaurant in the Fairfax district, will open a branch at the theater serving hot dogs, hamburgers and milkshakes. It will also have a full bar.
ArcLight launched in 2002 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood with a pioneering luxury experience that has since become more mainstream. ArcLight had 11 locations, including six in the Los Angeles area, which closed in March 2020 as theaters were ordered shut for the pandemic.
ArcLight announced in April 2021 that it would not reopen its theaters.
The CinemaWest theater opening is a bright spot in a rough period for the movie business. L.A.’s film production community recently finished an unsettling year as 2024 saw the second-lowest level of production in Los Angeles ever, according to the nonprofit agency FilmLA. It topped only 2020, the year of pandemic-related shutdowns.
Roger Vincent covers commercial real estate for the Los Angeles Times.
No one was injured by the collapse of the $1 billion-plus satellite that happened over a weekend, but it could have been fatal if workers were present, Garriott claims.
The incident highlighted a raft of safety violations that were ignored by management, according to a whistleblower lawsuit that was recently transferred to federal court in Los Angeles.
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spent July 4 aboard the International Space Station as NASA and Boeing officials try to figure out what’s wrong with Starliner’s thrusters
the veteran Boeing employee alleges that his employer retaliated against him for speaking out about problems he saw at Boeing and Millennium Space Systems
a Boeing defense contractor that makes small satellites
“I will say that this case is not just a case of retaliation,” said Leonard Sansanowicz
“The larger issues that we’re talking about are public safety
workplace safety and what’s being done with taxpayer dollars.”
Boeing has denied the allegations in court papers
The lawsuits come as the Arlington, Va.-based aerospace giant’s new chief executive, Kelly Ortberg, grapples with a strike by its machinists union and ongoing controversies over its manufacturing and safety practices — including how it treats employee whistleblowers who have alleged quality control and other problems
outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun admitted at a Senate hearing that whistleblowers have faced retaliation — saying “I know it happens” — with Boeing promising to take steps to fix the problem
a professor of history with a focus on aviation at the University of Nevada
“The punches just keep landing one after the other.”
Boeing acquired Millennium Space Systems in 2018 for an undisclosed amount
a technician who has worked at Boeing since 1997
when a supervisor at other Boeing operations in El Segundo asked him and others to sign off that work on a government contract had been completed
he said was derided by another manager for not being a “team player,” demoted and denied other work opportunities despite prior positive performance reviews
After taking a leave from Boeing for several years to work for the Cabinet Makers
he returned to work in 2022 at Boeing and Millennium while also serving as a union steward
He alleges that he made a series of safety complaints that lead to threats and retaliation against him
including one over thermal testing that was being done on equipment on nights and weekends
accused of creating a hostile work environment and barred from work areas
alleging in a separate whistleblower lawsuit that she was collateral damage to her husband’s efforts to stem “pay to play” nepotism at the company
She claims that after her husband filed a complaint in 2022 that a Boeing manager purchased a $10-million propellant system from a company owned by a family friend and then hired the owner’s child
she was falsely accused of making a bad purchase of welding materials
Garriott and Moonitz continue to work at the company
who represents both plaintiffs in the lawsuits
Several managers also are defendants in the litigation
The lawsuits allege the stress of the retaliation has caused the couple to separate several times since their 2021 marriage
Boeing successfully moved to have the lawsuits
originally filed in April in Los Angeles County Superior Court
arguing that they involved federal labor issues
Sansanowicz said the company’s procedural advantages in federal court include the requirement for a unanimous verdict in the cases
The plaintiffs are seeking to have the cases returned to state court
Space Force contract valued at up to $414 million to build eight satellites capable of detecting advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles
recently left and a successor has yet to be named
Millennium is part of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security unit, which saw the departure last month of its CEO, Ted Colbert. That followed challenges that included the ill-fated mission to ferry two astronauts up to the International Space Station on its new Starliner spacecraft
After launching in June following repeated delays
the capsule returned remotely and uncrewed due to problems with its propulsion system
The mishap was particularly embarrassing since NASA decided to have Elon Musk’s Hawthorne rival SpaceX bring the astronauts back to Earth in February
Boeing is also continuing to suffer fallout from the crashes of two of its 737 Max 8 planes several years ago, and more recently the blowout of a door plug last January on an Alaska Airlines flight to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County. Investigators found the plug on the 737 Max 9 aircraft was missing four bolts.
Attorney Tim Loranger, who is representing passengers on the flight who have sued Boeing, said the allegations in the Los Angeles lawsuits are consistent with union testimony at recent National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the door-plug blowout.
“Boeing’s culture does not value employees’ involvement in safety issues, in issues related to quality assurance and they feel sort of isolated — and that really speaks very loudly to why it is that these problems are happening,” he alleged.
A new generation of defense innovators emerges in El Segundo
The first thing you notice in El Segundo is how serene it is
as I take in the quiet charm of its Main Street
my mind is still withdrawing from the rattle-banging anarchy I left behind moments ago
planes landing at or departing from Los Angeles International Airport screamed overhead
A sea of red brake lights flashed commuter frustration
One hell-bent driver darted across three lanes—no
considering the public church directory posted by the Kiwanis Club in the middle of the main intersection (15 churches are listed)
It dawns on me that maybe the highway exit was really a time machine
the Wright Brothers invented powered flight in Kitty Hawk
but it was in California in the decades that followed that aviation soared
and Douglas—just about all the names that became industry giants in aviation and then later in defense and aerospace—began here
spider-legged flying saucer plopped down in the heart of LAX—one also gets the feeling that the utopian aerospace avant-garde of the 1950s has aged into the sclerotic bureaucracy of an outdated mega-state machine
We are more than a century past the days when Donald Douglas founded his aircraft startup in the back of a barbershop on Pico Boulevard
only one commercial aircraft maker remains in America—Boeing—and the wheels and doors are flying off
But something young and adventurous is stirring again in El Segundo: Southern California aerospace engineering might be coming back to life
and prospective employees have heard the call to pay homage to the glorious past
The number of new startups in the Gundo may reach only the twenties—more mature companies tally higher—but no matter
The beacon signal is sweeping the horizon and reflecting its call off the skies
“The Gundo is the purest expression of American confidence.”
practically no one in tech wanted to work in defense
let alone do anything involving atoms instead of bytes
it wasn’t just a bad career move; it was sacrilegious
the equivalent of working for Dow Chemical during the Vietnam War
(Recall Google’s employees revolting in 2018 against their managers over a contract with the Pentagon called Project Maven.) But now
young engineers are flying in from around the country and cold-knocking on workshop doors to get a chance to join a garage startup chasing the forgotten dreams of a space-faring civilization
Some industry people note that the world has become a more dangerous place
A Zeitgeist flip starts with a question: Since when did anybody start calling this area the Gundo
an old-fashioned diner just off Main Street
Big-band jazz from the 1940s streams in the background on a radio
and 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzles—made from Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers—have been solved
Locals in flannel shirts debate how far they can get on the I-10 on a single tank of gas
Aromas of burnt coffee and hash browns on the griddle mix in the air
the 24-year-old founder of Rainmaker Technologies
His company flies drones high into the clouds in order to seed them with tiny particles that make it rain more in dry places
the self-described cult leader (he says it only half in jest) who coined the name “The Gundo” and sent it viral on the Internet
I’m here to talk shop because my venture fund
was the first to invest in Doricko’s company
talking with Doricko always leads to further meditations on the state of the world
he comes through the front door of Wendy’s Place with a devilish grin
sporting a fluorescent yellow safety jersey (the kind that is used to find guys buried in rubble)
and a lion’s-mane mullet last seen on construction sites in 1985
“How are you?” the waitress asks Doricko as soon as he’s seated in the booth
“I’m blessed,” he says—his standard response to small-talk greetings
but the faint touch of the holy makes people pause and smile
After winning one of Peter Thiel’s fellowship grants for innovators with no college degree
Doricko expressed his gratitude in similar terms on social media: “I hope to use this to serve Jesus Christ
and Rainmaker’s mission to make Earth habitable.”
suntanned blonde in her fifties walks through the front door at Wendy’s and recognizes Doricko
She’s lived in El Segundo for 28 years and wants to sell her house and move to Florida
She thinks that Doricko and some of the other startup founders should buy it
she might get stoned for walking around with a MAGA hat on
Doricko and his friends are determined to turn California
‘The Story of Tonight,’ in the musical Hamilton
you have all the revolutionaries meeting in a bar
talking about their ideas and how they’re going to win the revolution
I view the Gundo as analogous to ‘The Story of Tonight.’ Here
there are like-minded people who are pro-America
who want to see a radically different and revolutionary future
that Florence or Milan did during the 1400s: a tight
small walkable place with surreal opportunities and brilliant people
all of them trying to totally change the shape and direction of the world
the necessary rebellion is bringing hardware into the world.”
It would take a hard heart not to feel the allure of the revolutionary spirit
Investment from venture capital funds has poured into defense startups over the last three years—more than $100 billion
launched its $500 million American Dynamism Fund
dedicated to backing companies that will “build for America” and restore its industrial base
and Anduril has inspired the next generation of startups and investors to seek fame and fortunes in hardware
The out-of-whack cost ratio seen on today’s battlefields suggests a real opportunity
and startups think that they can build success cheaper
$5,000 to make a single 155-millimeter artillery shell; it costs Russia $600
The Houthis are launching unsophisticated drones to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea; the missiles that our navy fires to take out those drones cost $2.1 million apiece
Think also of the cheap spy balloon that China floated over the U.S
it could not be shot down with guns but required $500,000-a-pop Sidewinder missiles
is not rich enough to protect itself and its interests at these prices
The shadow that China casts over Taiwan has raised a sense of urgency in the effort to build critical technologies like semiconductors at home
Covid shortages have also revealed the fragility of relying on shipping components from Asia
But even so—and though these are all strong reasons—they do not fully account for the Gundo
Such factors can explain an uptick in business in Virginia Beach just as well
so why the sudden beating of the patriotic heart south of LAX among the young
“It’s hard to put in a bottle the absolute passion and dedication everybody has here to rebuilding America and American industry,” Isaiah Taylor says
a firm trying to make oil and gas by way of nuclear power
but there’s an undercurrent beneath all of it
We hate the fact that America doesn’t build things anymore
It comes out in different ways for different people
but it’s a shared conviction that we must build things again.”
“We are so back” is a common refrain heard in the Gundo
we ball.” The phrases get posted on social media or are spoken as celebratory statements
as if a tiny win for a startup—the announcement of a new contract
say—represents the turning of the tide for a nation
But the defiance is a response to America’s economic history over the last 50 years
in which stagnation and decline have shadowed the building of hard
Reversing this waning of American industrial creativity is at the heart of the Gundo culture
The fight to reverse stagnation comes in many forms
the engineers building the future in Southern California were bespectacled men wearing white
short-sleeved button-down shirts with black ties
with yellow slide rules protruding from their shirt pockets
and reigning ideologies of the ruling establishment in America
What was once the counterculture—the graybeard poets
and political activists of the 1950s and 1960s—has now become the ruling elite
the journalists—all tend to be faithful these days to what were once the bohemian
minority views and ideals of the earlier era
Just think of the purple-haired DEI czar in human resources or the tenured professor sporting a Palestinian keffiyeh
these “rebels” expect conformity to their pessimistic worldview of living less assertively under the shadow of vast impersonal forces
It assumes that only governments and political movements
have the power to save us from (to mention a few things that this worldview despises) overpopulation
An antidote to this conformist establishmentarian- ism is to build right at the edge of science fiction
and even God—and preferably to do it in the Gundo
“There is a natural pendulum swing,” Doricko tells me
And my cohort have been told for our whole lives
You will not see any meaningful technological progress in your lifetime
You will eat bugs.’ A lot of the Gundo is about bringing together high-agency
assertive guys who are rebelling against the narrative we’ve been fed for so long.”
Reversing America’s decline requires a hearty breakfast
Doricko orders coffee and three sides of bacon
it looks as though a whole supermarket-size package of bacon has been sizzled crisp and tossed onto a plate
Rainmaker’s headquarters contains many of the items that one would expect to find in a frontier garage startup: lab equipment
prototype drones and a wind tunnel to test them
and—a beloved staple for many young men in the startup game—mattresses tossed onto the floor
I notice an enlarged photograph of a 1950s military unit tasked with modifying the weather
Placed on a desk in front of computer monitors
one comes across a symbolic motherlode: a bench press and a ten-foot-tall American flag hanging on the wall
Doricko cohosted a defense-tech hackathon in this space
despite being about the size of a Jiffy Lube garage
managed to pack in about 200 people for the event
Organized by a gang from a handful of organizations—8VC
Apollo Defense—they had 100 or so hackers fly in from New York
and even Canada to take part in a 24-hour event where people could show off their talent to build
They also squeezed in another 100 startup mentors and Defense Department officials
trying to get in,” Anish Goel explains later
Goel is one of the hackathon’s organizers and a sophomore studying applied math at Caltech
“We had investors pretending to be builders try to get in
So many people showed up that we had to establish a point-of-entry ID verification process.” Goel and his team had put on a defense-tech hackathon just four months earlier in New York
in November—but only 50 people came to that
it’s very old-school; people are much older
everyone is on ZYN nicotine pouches—you’re criticized if you’re moving too slow
You wouldn’t expect a guy who builds a rocket propulsion system also to be the guy talking about how it’s important to have kids when you’re 20 or to be capable of lifting 400 pounds.”
managed to slip past Goel’s security into the hackathon
It was his first weekend after moving to Santa Monica to get more involved with the Gundo community
exciting blend of startup culture and defense tech
The mayor of El Segundo gave a speech to open it
He said that if you’re an innovator trying to find a way to deliver groceries ten times faster
We want people who are going to make a difference.” One company that Bartholomew invested in was based in Washington
the owners were so impressed that they decided to relocate to the Gundo
There is a rough but moving self-assurance to these young men (and it’s mostly men driving these startups)
As my plane takes off and climbs out over the Pacific
I can see the rectangle of the Gundo out my window
Its Craftsman bungalows and well-manicured lawns look precious and hemmed in by the smoke-belching Chevron refinery to the south
and the Scattergood steam plant to the west
with its orange and white smokestacks puffing vapor over one of the most glorious beaches in all of America
where the Gundo bros meet on Friday nights to burn wooden pallets in a bonfire as the oil tankers offshore blink their lights in silence
Does it have a chance to survive the colossal forces sapping California of its vitality: the debt
and the bureaucratic barbarism of the state’s dysfunctional
Don’t they know that history is determined by forces beyond their control
I fear that the Gundo may be California’s last gasp of creative energy
“We’re just a couple kids in El Segundo,” says Taylor
“But it’s always a small group of people that make history
It was decisions that individuals made that led to America’s decline
I call Doricko to ask him about the five-bedroom house that the blond lady at Wendy’s Place was trying to sell him
He and some Gundo friends are finding a way to structure the loans and rent payments to cover the mortgage
“It would certainly facilitate more of the frat-house accusations,” he says
Why does he think that a small group of people in a small town can change history
Michael Gibson is a cofounder of the 1517 Fund
Top Photo: One of the “Gundo brothers” who gather around bonfires on Friday nights
Augustus Doricko is the 24-year-old founder of Rainmaker Technologies
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Chicago-based Stotan Industrial has opened an office in El Segundo
marking the firm’s entry into the Los Angeles market
“This is a very exciting time for Stotan,” Dan Fogarty
chief investment officer and principal at Stotan
“This expansion to Los Angeles represents a pivotal moment in the company’s growth and underscores our dedication to delivering outstanding results for clients nationwide,” he added
who has been appointed vice president and market officer of California
is leading the firm’s West Coast investments
Salt Lake City and Southern California markets
McPhee joins Stotan after nearly eight years with Overton Moore Properties where
entitlements and leasing across the Inland Empire
he grew the firm’s development pipeline by 6 million square feet
sourcing 325 acres across 11 properties in Nevada and Utah since entering those markets in 2021
“The West Coast continues to offer a stable environment for investment,” McPhee said in a statement
“I am looking forward to growing Stotan’s footprint across this dynamic industrial market.”
is a private investment firm specializing in the acquisition and development of industrial assets in high-growth markets critical to the U.S
With a portfolio of projects valued at over $300 million
Stotan has launched projects in five states
including a 493,000-square-foot industrial park in San Antonio
a 530,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Elkton
and a 100,000-square-foot industrial building in Chicago
Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab). Leave empty if the image is purely decorative.
Print After El Segundo gave up a four-run lead on a Curacao grand slam
it was 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning
Except this game was on the biggest stage in amateur baseball: the Little League Baseball World Series championship
just get on base and let your teammates do the rest,” then 12-year-old Louis Lappe recalled thinking as he walked to the plate
The first pitch was an outside curveball, the second was right down the middle. Then, the pitcher missed his spot and Lappe took advantage. A loud clunk and the crowd roared as the ball sailed above the field and over the fence for a walk-off home run to seal the championship win.
“We weren’t nervous because we had learned how to face adversity,” El Segundo manager Danny Boehle said of the moment. “These kids don’t have that bone in their body. They were made for that moment. They weren’t nervous at all, they knew we could come back.”
Sports
Louis Lappe hit a walk-off home run in the sixth inning to power El Segundo to a 6-5 win over Curaçao in the Little League World Series championship game
El Segundo Little League All-Stars made history last August by edging Curacao 6-5 in the Little League World Series championship game in Williamsport
El Segundo had to win five consecutive elimination games to become the first team from California to secure the world title since Huntington Beach Ocean View in 2011
Nearly a year later, Little League is more popular than ever in El Segundo and the star of the championship team is still getting adjusted to the impact of the team’s unlikely run to a world championship
Lappe’s walk-off homer was a moment every young baseball player dreams of — hitting a game-winning home run — and makes someone a hometown hero
“They knew they were the best in the world
but I think it will really hit them like it has the adults later in life when they have kids and understand family and understand how big this really is,” Boehle said
“It means so much more to not only the families and El Segundo
had similar feelings while sitting alongside the families of their son’s teammates during the championship game
“It was the experience itself and the relationships that grew on this journey,” Narahara said
The boys got to meet kids from all over the world and that experience will always mean something special to them
I don’t think they will fully comprehend their achievement until they’re much older
but we have a different perspective of enjoying the little things
the El Segundo players didn’t even try to sleep
recounting the highs and lows of the game until they finally fell asleep in the early hours of the morning
“Being from California, champions are big here,” Boehle said, “Just look at the Dodgers or Lakers … they call it the city of champions. Being from California and being from this tiny town in Southern California, everyone was behind us.”
Boehle said the most special moment came when the team was recognized in front of 60,000 fans at the USC-Stanford football game at the Coliseum in September. After the second quarter, a video was shown of Lappe’s walk-off home run and the team’s victory celebration, triggering a standing ovation.
“That’s the most emotional I got because you realize you’re touching fans that don’t even realize who you are, but because you’re from L.A. and because you’re a champion and because you represented California, they were all-in,” Boehle said. “That to me was pretty special.”
The win also meant a lot for the city, which has a history of success in baseball from the high school level to producing current MLB players such as the St. Louis Cardinals’ Lars Nootbaar, whom every kid in El Segundo looks up to, according to Ted Lappe. Since El Segundo Little League started in 1954, this was the first team in its district and section to make it to state and win it all.
The Little League championship resonates for all Angelenos because El Segundo is part of the loose federation of Greater L.A. And at times like these, the federation coheres.
“That to me was one of the greatest parts of winning this thing was people who had no idea [Brett Field, named for Hall of Famer George Brett] existed in their town, but they knew what we just accomplished meant so much to this town,” Boehle said. “You’ll probably never see it again. It’s usually one special group of kids, special coaches, special families and the town realized that.”
The impact of the championship is reflected in registration for Little League in El Segundo, which has grown significantly since the World Series win. Last year, El Segundo Little League had roughly 420 players with 39 teams, while this year it had 450 players across 42 teams, according to Jamin Griffiths, El Segundo Little League president. Griffiths estimates that this year is the highest numbers the league has ever had, with the last decade usually having between 370 and 400 participants.
Lappe’s celebrity status continued after the team’s homecoming. It’s mostly confined to El Segundo in the form of kids walking up to say hi or following him around at Little League games, but every once in a while he’ll get recognized elsewhere.
“He is going to be an icon the rest of his life in this town, “ Boehle said. “Everyone knows who he is. Everyone is asking about him — high school, colleges … that’s who he is, he’s humble. Whether he is a celebrity or not that’s not going to stop his work ethic or stop him from being who he is. When you are on that stage, there’s nothing bigger on TV in that week of August. Everyone is watching. What he did will go down in history.”
Despite his fame and historic play, Lappe doesn’t want to just be remembered for that moment. It’s a good memory, but he hopes to have a long baseball career. He is playing for the Braves Baseball Academy this season, but he is mostly just enjoying his summer like any other kid: riding bikes and meeting friends at In-N-Out.
Soon he will take a break as his travel ball season closes.
Lappe’s parents have made sure he stays grounded through all the attention — chores and school work are still part of his routine. He loves baseball, but it’s not his whole life. Soccer and basketball are fun, too. He will go down in El Segundo baseball history, but he’s also still just Lou.
“He has been good about staying true to himself,” Ted Lappe said. “The attention afterwards was fast and furious and fun to experience but nothing’s going to be completely the same. Still, not too much has changed besides the fact that an achievement was accomplished. He’s still the same kid that has loved baseball since he was 5 years old.”
Marissa Kraus was a 2024 reporting intern for Sports at the Los Angeles Times. The Columbia, Mo., native graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studied journalism. She has previously worked for the Daily Nebraskan, Denver Post, Omaha World-Herald and the Nebraska Golf Assn. Kraus is also a proud member of the Sports Journalism Institute class of 2022 and has had work recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Midwest Broadcast Journalist Assn.
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TrendingCommercialLos AngelesA“Barbie” originator Mattel leases 60K sf in El Segundo Deal follows purchase of a 168K sf office building next to its El Segundo HQ
which originated the intellectual property behind the movie “Barbie,” will relocate its studio operations to offices in El Segundo
The local company inked a lease for 60,000 square feet at Continental Development’s Continental Park campus at 831 South Douglas Street, the Los Angeles Business Journal reported
The building will serve as a new hub for Mattel studio operations
The firm plans to move out of its current studio offices at an undisclosed location by next year
The new offices in Continental Park are roughly the same size as the current location
“This lease is part of our push to modernize our real estate by replacing long-term prior spaces with new ones that better fit our design capabilities
entertainment needs and other growth for years to come,” David Traughber
senior vice president of commercial finance for Mattel
Brett Racanelli and Michael Condon of Cushman & Wakefield represented Mattel in the leasing deal
Mattel owns the intellectual property behind last year’s hit comedy “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling
The firm is working on other films based on Mattel toys
including a Hot Wheels movie to be produced by J.J
a Masters of the Universe film and a Monsters High film
The Continental Park lease represents the company’s second office deal of the year. This summer, Mattel bought the Grand + Nash office campus at 2160 East Grand Avenue, next to its El Segundo headquarters, for $59 million, or $351 per square foot
The toymaker will use the 168,000-square-foot building for a design center
SIGN UPIn January, SteelWave and Barings surrendered the building to a lender after facing $53.1 million in troubled debt tied to the property
Mattel headquarters are at 333 Continental Boulevard
a 325,000-square-foot building the publicly traded company has owned since 1989
The El Segundo market has fared better than some other office markets in Los Angeles County
long known fas home to many companies in the aerospace industry
The building Mattel leased was once home to a company doing work for NASA’s Apollo program before becoming offices for a magazine publisher
Mattel was a tenant at Continental Park four decades ago
“We now see in addition to aerospace and defense legacy firms … we now see media
tech and entertainment firms regularly making the decision to call El Segundo their home,” Tarnofsky told the newspaper
“With the unfortunate flight out of downtown Los Angeles … the submarkets of El Segundo and of Century City have been the beneficiaries.”
Clarification: Previous story implied the new location for Mattel studios was an expansion or addition
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The World Surf League (WSL) headquarters has found a new home
In late September, we reported the WSL was on the move after putting its former Santa Monica headquarters up for sale with a price tag of $14,150,000
Business must be good because the new digs are quite an upgrade
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The Registry announced the move in the story above and captioned the post:
“World Surf League to Move to New 16,300 SQFT Headquarters in El Segundo.”
According to the story
the WSL is moving into a 16,324-square-foot sublease at 2201 Rosecrans Avenue in El Segundo
“With El Segundo fast becoming the epicenter of LA sports as major sports leagues and teams move to the area
the location aligns with WSL’s vision of building its platform as the global home of competitive surfing.”
Michael Shuken of commercial real estate company Savills said:
“The WSL was also seeking to consolidate its two previous spaces and upgrade its office environment into a single unified workplace
We surveyed multiple options in the Los Angeles area and expanded our search into the South Bay
We located a state-of-the-art opportunity that checked all the boxes for the WSL in terms of size
It’s also less than a five-minute drive to the beach.”
According to the building's website:
located along Rosecrans Avenue in El Segundo CA.
offers unrivaled Class “A” office space minutes from some of Southern California’s most pristine beaches
The area offers a wide variety of dining and retail options and is located just 10 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport.”
“The WSL is relocating its HQ to a newly renovated space in the South Bay
and the new space should be ready by the end of November.”
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Los Angeles
Here’s how to see them.Candy Cane Lane stays illuminated through December 23
There are undoubtedly dozens of festive neighborhoods in the U.S
that dub themselves “Candy Cane Lane” this time of year—and there are at least two in L.A
But it’s Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, a cul-de-sac at the end of East Acacia Avenue, that most deserves your attention. For three quarters of a century, roughly two dozen homes just south of LAX deck out their lawns, roofs, trees and just about any other exposed surface with Christmas lights and inflatables
The homeowners at Candy Cane Lane go all out—so much so that the neighborhood inspired last year’s Eddie Murphy-starring film of the same name
there are plenty of Angelenos who want to partake in the illuminated revelry
so the City of El Segundo has taken some steps to manage the crowds
from December 14 to December 23 between 5 and 11pm
Acacia Avenue is closed to car traffic nightly east of Center Street
and the intersecting stretch of California Street is closed too
you’ll find shuttle service on the weekend to help alleviate the parking situation
The free shuttle runs Friday through Sunday from 4:30 to 10pm
with service between Recreation Park (401 Sheldon St) and Sycamore Park
it helps cover the homeowners’ electric bills and benefits a handful of charities
Our videographer Danny Carranza—whose photos are scattered across this story—recently visited the area and found light-up displays filled with model trains or inspired by Star Wars alongside homemade hot chocolate and holiday music
(He visited on a Monday and found plenty of parking in the area
in case you were wondering.) Check out more of Danny’s photos below
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worked at the college and was suspected of shooting a fellow employee around 10 p.m
Monday at the SMC Center for Media & Design
according to a news release from the Santa Monica Police Department
Officers from the Hawthorne Police Department located the suspect’s vehicle near El Segundo and Aviation boulevards around 3 p.m Tuesday and
despite intervention efforts by crisis negotiators with the Hawthorne Police Department
Durrell was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
he was arrested for alleged assault with a deadly weapon
his only convictions were for misdemeanor property crimes
according to the Santa Monica Police Department
An investigation into the events leading up to his death is ongoing
but the department does not believe there are additional suspects
The victim of Monday night’s shooting remained hospitalized in critical condition on Tuesday evening
“I am so proud of our detectives who worked tirelessly throughout the night in collaboration with our partners at the Santa Monica College Police Department to identify and locate the suspect in this tragic incident,” Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista said in a statement
“Our officers’ commitment to the safety of the Santa Monica community is evident and remains paramount.”
Monday’s shooting took place at a satellite campus on Stewart Street that also is home to public radio station KCRW
all Santa Monica College campuses were closed as Kathryn E
urged community members to take advantage of free counseling resources provided by the school
“As we try to make sense of this horrific act of workplace violence
the safety of our community is our primary focus,” said Johnnie Adams
chief of police for the Santa Monica Community College District
“We are deeply grateful to SMCPD personnel and all our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to apprehend the suspect.”
Clara Harter is a breaking news reporter at the Los Angeles Times
she covered politics and education for the L.A
she published a series on fentanyl addiction that won a first-place investigative journalism award from the L.A
Harter majored in political science and Middle Eastern studies at Columbia University
Richard Winton is an investigative crime writer for the Los Angeles Times and part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2011. Known as @lacrimes on Twitter, during almost 30 years at The Times he also has been part of the breaking news staff that won Pulitzers in 1998, 2004 and 2016.
Photographs: Drone: Courtesy of Neros; Helios: Courtesy of Picogrid; All Others: Getty Images.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveFor over two years
dozens of young men have gathered with a singular mission: to save America
by building the next generation of great tech companies
They call what they are building real shit—not like what the software engineers make up north
these men have a taste for the tangible: They spend their workdays toiling in labs and manufacturing lines
their nights sleeping on couches and bunk beds
Some are making drones to try to control the weather
Others are building nuclear reactors and military weaponry designed to fight China
where the saltwater-tinged air thrums with steady plane traffic and oil refineries sweep across the shoreline
these founders have settled on a place where they can act as faithful foot soldiers of American industry as well as bold incubators upending Silicon Valley’s status quo
“We’re pollinating different ideas,” Augustus Doricko
the founder and CEO of the cloud-seeding company Rainmaker
which raised $6.3 million from venture capitalists in May
“We’re sick of nihilism and goofy software products.” Behind him
hangs an American flag the size of a dumpster
Opposite is a life-size poster of Jesus Christ smiling benevolently onto a bench press below
“Gundo is for hard tech what Florence was for art during the Renaissance.”
(You can sometimes catch VCs wandering the warehouse-lined back alleys in hopes of snagging a meeting with an entrepreneur
So feverish is the financial frenzy that Gundo founders often joke about renting a double-decker bus
Zane Mountcastle meets with members of the United States Military
But the founders are adamant that their city
it is ideologically opposed to what they consider the soft and comfortable world of the Bay Area and the lightweight commodities it now largely produces: corporate subscription software and trivial consumer applications
“This is not San Francisco lite or San Francisco plus a little bit of hardware,” says Zane Mountcastle
the straight-talking CEO of the defense technology company Picogrid
“It’s a different world from San Francisco and it has a completely different mindset.” Mountcastle
who first started working in the Bay Area city of Livermore
saw that only a few years ago Silicon Valley had little appetite for companies that aid the military
El Segundo is a factory town with a laid-back temperament
The city is home to less than 20,000 people and has deep manufacturing roots: Nearly three quarters of its land is dedicated to industrial uses
and aerospace manufacturers like Boeing and Lockheed Martin
It is imbued with Californian nostalgia: Patrons sip beer on bar patios alongside their dogs and the occasional parrot
the downtown streets are flanked with retro diners and vintage record shops
The founders in El Segundo have settled on an expansive terrain in which to express sentiments that might chafe otherwise progressive sensibilities
They have an outsize respect for their country and men in uniform
and dark T-shirts with company emblems embroidered on their breast pockets
the founders often trek to the Central Valley to launch drones into the airspace
they can be found drinking Singapore slings at the Purple Orchid tiki lounge
he led our small group in prayer and read aloud from a passage in Hebrews
Froh invited me into Valar Atomics’ cigar lounge
where actual cigars can’t be smoked due to a permitting issue with the building
We sat in enormous leather armchairs beside a small table stacked with cigars sealed in Ziploc bags
On the wall hung four large classical paintings depicting Columbus discovering America
the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Froh told me that God needed businessmen just as much as he needed missionaries
and that God had put him on this earth to build a nuclear energy company
“A lot of people are seeing the societal value of religion,” he said
During the three days that I visited companies in The Gundo
I saw three women and spoke to one: the wife of an employee at Valar Atomics who attended the Bible study along with her two young children
She had moved to a house near the beach with her husband three weeks earlier
When I asked if she was meeting many nice people
she laughed and said that she was too busy taking care of her children to leave the house
I asked a founder in The Gundo why he thought there were so few women
claiming that this line of inquiry is “a little boring
It muddies the story and it distracts from our core mission of trying to save the West.” Then he mentioned Katherine Boyle
a partner at the influential venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz who helped spearhead the defense tech movement
think of themselves as serious people who do not take themselves seriously
is in contrast to those in Silicon Valley: unserious people who take themselves extremely seriously
Just about every company in The Gundo has a huge American flag in its office
but the biggest—an object of envy among all the Gundo founders—is on the wall of Olaf Hichwa and Soren Monroe-Anderson’s 15,000-square-foot drone factory
He dropped out of the Rochester Institute of Technology computer engineering program his sophomore year to build drones
Hichwa showcased his company’s product: a wickedly fast drone that he maneuvered to terrifying heights above my head
he showed me a video of Ukrainian soldiers detonating a bomb
the drones belie their potent capabilities: They are deceptively flimsy
and that left behind are going to be the industries that actually create value…defense is one of those.”
Neros founders Olaf Hichwa and Soren Monroe-Anderson
When I asked Froh if he supported Trump in the 2020 election
he told me he couldn’t remember who he voted for
the voluble and charismatic founder and CEO of Dirac—an “anti-software software company” that generates assembly instructions for industrial manufacturers—told me that Trump was early to the idea that China would someday figure as the United States’ greatest threat
the threat of the “Great Red Dragon” weighs heavy on Aronshtein’s mind
“China wants to see the West and our way of life and democracy collapse,” he says
“People need to understand that their way of life is in danger
and no one is coming to save them.” The El Segundo founders live in a world that is neatly ordered between heroes and villains
a world in which military might is a moral obligation rather than a national necessity
“Having an adversary is very interesting,” says Aronshtein
Sometimes it seems that the El Segundo founders are acting out a studied caricature of nostalgic Americana
where they frequently post about smoking cigarettes
At least some part of the scene is pure performance
You have to make it cool,” says Cameron Schiller
the cofounder and CEO of the aerospace manufacturer Rangeview
“We’re trying to bring more young people into manufacturing.”
He recently tricked out his office with a set of concert speakers which he plans to use at office parties
Rangeview’s office is tastefully decorated
its lab lit with purple and orange mood lighting
and a photo of Rangeview employees with Aaron Paul
the actor who plays Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad
Paul and the employees are all dressed in matching lab coats
Schiller tells me that the actor wandered in off the street one day
who had accompanied me to Schiller’s office
The founders sometimes have private discussions about whether they are posting too much on X
“We don’t want this to be a fad,” says Aronshtein
that the Gundo scene seems a little contrived
“Maybe we just really like America,” he says
being patriotic is like asking me if I love my mom
I don’t know why we in the US have such a hard time with that.” The tobacco products
“whether or not there’s a spotlight on us.”
Taylor and I were having breakfast at a diner in The Gundo
He had been up late the night before at the Purple Orchid with some of the guys
they had climbed into Doricko’s utility van to get Cane’s chicken
and someone began to sing the national anthem
He showed me a video on his phone: There they were
their faces lit by the orange embers of their cigarettes burning in the dark
(“O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave!”) The song ended and they yipped into the night
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