Valley Bureau And Air Operations responded to an injured hiker in distress down below Mulholland Drive in Beverly Crest on a remote hiking trail.According to the LAFD website alert page the hiker was suffering from an isolated leg injury LAFD ground and air resources coordinated to extract the stranded hiker on a 46-foot downslope The hiker was transported to an area hospital by LAFD Air Operation The current condition of the patient is unknown 2025LAPD said a man was taken away from the scene in an ambulance though it's not clear how the incidents are related.SHERMAN OAKS LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A robbery was reported at a jewelry store inside the Westfield Fashion Square Mall in Sherman Oaks on Thursday Los Angeles police said four men in dark hoodies smashed glass counters at the store and snatched an unknown amount of jewelry shortly after noon They reportedly fled the scene in a gray/silver Audi A6 with a yellow covering over the license plates according to Officer Drake Madison of the LAPD Media Relations Division Madison said a man was pepper-sprayed during the incident He was taken away from the scene in an ambulance City News Service contributed to this report Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More a treehouse stood in a Sherman Oaks neighborhood It was built by an ex-producer of “The Simpson’s.” The treehouse was a beloved attraction for family and neighbors that was affectionately dubbed Boney Island during Halloween Polizzi started creating the Boney Island Halloween display in 1997 The event attracted hundreds of visitors each year He and fellow “Simpsons” producer Michael Mahan added the treehouse to the display a few years later.  “We just kept adding walls here and there until it became a nice little structure I’m from New Orleans and pretty sociable down there And so I was always trying to do something to get the neighbors to come out and hang out That’s why I did the Halloween display,” Polizzi explained “We were a victim of our own success because it got so crowded we had to hire traffic control One neighbor across the street always hated it and constantly calling the police and complaining and then called the city on the tree house.” Polizzi’s neighbor told the city that he was running a business in the treehouse And it was just seven years of banging your head against the wall and nothing ever happened structural engineering drawings,” Polizzi said.  All of those things would have cost Polizzi tens of thousands of dollars He decided it was time for the treehouse to come down Polizzi explained that “the city wins” on this issue It just seems like you’d be able to soften the permitting for something like this But I just never could get guidance from building and safety And the average citizen just has to give up,” he said.  Polizzi says he does not have any plans to rebuild the treehouse at this time Watch "LA Times Today" at 8 and 11 p.m Monday through Friday on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News app Daisy Margarita Bar goes for Mexican Norteño vibes and celebrated barman Max Reis’s obsession with margaritas Over the last four months, the Mírate crew has been revamping the shuttered Sherman bar on the corner of Ventura and Van Nuys Boulevards into two neighboring projects. The Daisy Margarita Bar opens on April 17 as a restaurant and stylish cocktail spot that focuses on margaritas from award-winning bartender Max Reis and partner Matt Egan It’s the first of two places to open in Sherman Oaks and chef Alan Sanz put together something unique for Los Angeles: a Norteño cantina-inspired restaurant and bar The team will debut the intimate Gilbert Perez Bar on the top floor in late May “Daisy [which translates to “margarita” in Spanish] is inspired by a Norteño cantina,” says Sanz who previously worked with Reis at Gracias Madre but each region has its own Norteño personality as a regional bar that serves food I played around with ingredients for Daisy.” Sanz’s menu at Daisy includes a crudo with oysters a Caesar salad topped with hemp seed crumbs and duck carnitas tamal using heirloom corn masa and half chicken with cauliflower puree and coconut rice and tres leches desserts round out the menu Reis, whose cocktail obsessions ushered Mírate into a coveted North America’s 50 Best Bars slot is taking a less precious approach at Daisy “I’ve been doing these science cocktails since Gracias Madre,” says Reis “I would spend hours making super complex flavor profiles and people would ask for a watermelon margarita let’s just use all of this science background to make flavored margaritas.” Reis continues to curate sustainable Mexican spirits without chemical additives with a very good classic version as well as renditions using sour apple and mangoneada Reis composed a salsa (margarita) bar with a frozen guacamole variety and a Baja Slaw margarita mixing private batch Mal Bien x Mírate Espadin with purple cabbage They’ll also serve the classics with slight twists Daisy Margarita Bar occupies the former home of the Sherman, a building that’s been around since the mid-1900s. It’s blocks away from popular restaurant Anajak Thai and casual watering hole Mr. Furley’s Bar. Egan worked with Adean Studios and upcycled the infrastructure and wood paneling and new color to create a vaquero-style interior for Daisy It seats 100 total guests with a 20-seat bar The Daisy Margarita Bar is open daily from 5 p.m Kent Kasper of Sherman Oaks with shelter partner Carlos Martinez  The threat of wildfire is still very real for residents of Sherman Oaks where residents are closely watching for notification of an evacuation Community members regularly stop by the shelter to check in and see what’s available Kent Kasper is one of the many community members who stopped by the shelter to offer help In his professional life he is an acting coach so of course he took the time to offer a quick lesson to our Red Cross volunteers working there a true sense of community is often what emerges we have the privilege of witnessing this generosity firsthand and directly from the individuals we serve  Each time it rekindles our passion to be helpers in times of greatest need Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today There is an on-going investigation with ACTS and LAPD Major Crimes to determine if Mr. Villanueva is responsible for the spree of connected arson fires around December 17. Including the 4700 block of Kester Avenue for a carport fire that exposed the adjacent apartment complex and destroyed four parked vehicles, the 4600 block of Columbus Street for a structure fire, and the 15000 block of Ventura Boulevard for a commercial building fire, or any other incidents. Anyone with additional information is urged to call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org  Sylvio Martins Donna Jean is a vegan Italian spot in Sherman Oaks (with another location in San Diego) that deserves extra credit for making its plant-based ricotta in-house and fermenting its pizza dough for three days. Vegans with the urge to devour a cheesy pizza will find peace here, and non-vegans will find a useful spot for casual, tasty weeknight dinners. Marina Del Rey Planta Cocina is the Westside’s best option for a fancy vegan dinner Vegan Silver Lake Hot Tongue Pizza is a solid vegan pizza shop in a Silver Lake strip mall West Hollywood Crossroads is one of those rare sit-down vegan restaurants that’s generally worth your time and money Sylvio moved to LA over a decade ago and still misses his exit on the 10 He came to us as a freelancer and wrote so many guides that we gave him a job If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Los Angeles is no stranger to restaurant openings whether splashy openings in iconic buildings helmed by big-name chefs or a pop-up leaping into a permanent space Consider this monthly rundown a go-to guide for the newest and boldest debuts across the Southland It’s a departure from the steakhouse format with a Rio de Janeiro-style “fusion” menu and grilled branzino with shrimp enchiladas The interior makes diners feel like they’re on a Brazilian beach and a ring of rattan poolside modular sofas and chairs at the center of the room Round out evenings here with a bottle from the international wine and beer list Zach Pollack, the restaurateur behind now-closed restaurants Alimento and Cosa Buona, has opened his latest project in Santa Monica Pollack’s new California Italian restaurant is serving puffy-crusted wood-fired pizzas topped with soppressata and peppers Smaller bites include a tin of Fishwives Cantabrian anchovies Pollack emphasizes that Cosetta is a family-friendly restaurant that’s happy to accommodate dietary needs offering a flexible menu with gluten-free Milanese and plenty of vegan options a casual fried chicken sandwich spot in Silver Lake the menu is inspired by Lin’s experiences in Hong Kong Find dishes like sesame prawn toast topped with dollops of sweet and sour sauce and hot mustard aioli One of South Korea’s most popular dessert cafes, Cafe Knotted, landed in the U.S. for the first time with a location at the Westfield Century City The cafe is best known for its cream doughnuts which are available in flavors like fresh strawberry find a full lineup of the popular doughnuts alongside croissants and cream-topped lattes in flavors like chestnut tiramisu The team behind Beverly Hills wagyu restaurant Matu (stylized as matū) opened its sister restaurant Matu Kai on April 6 in Brentwood all of the meat at Matu Kai comes from New Zealand’s First Light Farms Much of the menu at Matu Kai is similar to Matu including its focus on set meals that start with a rich 24-hour bone broth Dishes that are exclusive to the new restaurant include steak brochettes brushed with harissa spice wagyu meatballs that could compete with any Italian restaurant in town While this may be Kettl’s first location in Los Angeles its teas have been served in the city for years at restaurants and coffee shops including Tsubaki and Mandarin Coffee Shop At Doto, Jared Dowling, also the chef of the stylish Edgemar in Santa Monica introduced California izakaya fare in the former Jewel space as of April 11 The restaurant is an all-day affair with miso arctic char bento boxes and breakfast burritos from morning to evening Dowling leans on his three-and-a-half years spent with Yess chef Junya Yamasaki at London’s Koya Noodle Bar to employ Japanese flavors and techniques on peak-season produce Edgemar architect and investor Thomas Greek is Dowling’s partner at the restaurant On April 12, one of Los Angeles’s most popular street taco stands opened its first permanent location in Anaheim. Angel’s Tijuana Tacos maintains a ubiquitous presence throughout Southern California who opened the first location of the taco stand outside of North Hollywood’s John’s Market in 2018 Angel’s traditional taqueria menu bears all of the favorites with aguas frescas all packed with the diner’s choice of proteins like pollo And it’s less than 10 miles away from Disneyland Sanz took inspiration from Mexican Norteño cantinas for his menu with aguachiles and oysters plus a unique salsa bar where a compelling savory cocktail variety (order the Salsa Verde) could earn another nod on the coveted Best Bar list One of China’s most popular tea shop chains, Chagee, has opened its first U.S. location at Westfield Century City. Chagee was founded in 2017 in China’s Yunnan Province and has since expanded to over 6,400 locations worldwide The chain is best known for its fresh-brewed and milk teas served in ornate cups that would look at home in a Dior fine china collection alongside pastries like a jasmine tea-infused cruffin The tea at Chagee is prepared by team members using special AI-powered machinery to ensure a consistent brew every time A plane crash near the Sepulveda Dam avoided tragedy with both occupants walking away safely On November 14, 2024, at 7:08AM the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to reports of a downed plane in the 15000 block of W Burbank Blvd in Sherman Oaks Firefighters located a small, older Cessna plane, upside down, in a dirt area near the Sepulveda Dam was charred from a previous grass fire but there was no fire from the plane crash had already safely exited the aircraft prior to LAFD arrival.  After being assessed by LAFD firefighter/paramedics, both patients, suffering only minor injuries, declined transport to the hospital. The incident was transitioned to the team of agencies which will handle the crash investigation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board Unrelated to this incident but located only a short distance away a large rubbish fire next to the 405 Freeway put off a dark smoke plume Firefighters worked from both the freeway and the street level to knock down the fire with no damage to structures and no injuries reported PHOTOS Next door to the former headquarters of the Sunkist Grower's Cooperative in Sherman Oaks, completion nears for a mixed-use apartment complex from IMT Capital Citrus Commons replaced surface parking lots surrounding the former Sunkist building a brutalist structure which is being retained as offices The new construction creates a total of 249 studio and two-bedroom apartments above 27,000 square feet of retail space (much of which will be occupied by a Trader Joe's) Plans also call for more than 1,100 parking spaces to serve residents and commercial tenants A condition of approval set by the City of Los Angeles will require IMT to rent 25 apartments to eligible moderate-income households According to a project website, the apartments at Citrus Commons range from 530 to 1,240 square feet in size Residents would have access to amenities including a fitness center and a swimming pool Designed by Johnson Fain the new four- and five-story buildings are clad in stucco and wood panels Approximately 3.5 acres of walking paths and publicly accessible green spaces such as a small park next to the Los Angeles River help to break of the development site IMT Residential, which is based out of Sherman Oaks, is also developing a similar mixed-use project featuring 325 apartments and 44,000 square feet of retail space at Sepulveda Boulevard and Camarillo Street Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram / Bluesky Print Moments after an emphatic two-handed jam in the closing seconds that sealed Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s 68-61 upset of Harvard-Westlake on Friday night in Studio City turned toward his teammates and screamed at the top of his lungs It was a deserving victory cry for the fifth-seeded Knights (26-6), who avenged two defeats to the Wolverines — The Times’ top-ranked team — including a heartbreaking three-point loss in the Mission League tournament final this month “I’m really proud of these guys,” Notre Dame coach Matt Sargeant said “We had a strategy that worked in the second half of the last game and we executed it tonight Notre Dame Sherman Oaks’ Zachary White dunks in the second half of Friday’s Open Division playoff game against Harvard-Westlake on Friday (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Stokes finished with 24 points and Zachary White added 23 as Notre Dame improved to 4-0 in Pool A to clinch a berth in the Southern Section Open Division final at Toyota Arena on March 1 The Knights have a bye in the final round of pool play Tuesday Harvard-Westlake dropped to 2-1 and hosts No and the best the Wolverines can finish is second Nikolas Khamenia nearly willed Harvard-Westlake (29-2) to victory but even his 31 points were not enough for the Wolverines who had their 20-game winning streak ended by a familiar foe that on this night was the hungrier team “We wanted to start fast in the first quarter tonight and play the whole game,” said White whose team led 33-29 at halftime and 47-43 after three quarters “Never did I think we had it won until the last second.” Joe Sterling had 10 points and Isaiah Carroll had eight for Harvard-Westlake which pulled to within 66-61 with 16 seconds left on Khamenia’s driving layup The Wolverines tried to steal the inbounds pass but Stokes sneaked behind the defense and dunked to clinch it “I’m coaching to play in these kind of games,” Sargeant said “Yes the Mission League tournament is tough but there’s no better preparation for the playoffs.” Harvard-Westlake had not tasted defeat since a 61-49 loss to Provo (Utah) Timpview on Dec Also on Friday, second-seeded Eastvale Roosevelt edged No. 6 Sierra Canyon 65-64 to remain unbeaten in Pool B. It can secure a spot in the championship game with a win over third-seeded St. John Bosco on Tuesday. High School Sports Brayden Burries makes two free throws with 12.2 seconds left to lift Eastvale Roosevelt to a 65-64 win over Sierra Canyon in the Open Division playoffs. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map 2025 at 11:38 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Patch has you covered this Easter with egg hunts and ideal brunch locations near you CA — Whether you're celebrating Easter Sunday with family Sherman Oaks has several brunch options to consider While some restaurants will be closed for the holiday on April 20 there are plenty of family-friendly activities going on in the San Fernando Valley leading up to and on Easter Here are the eateries serving brunch on April 20 this year: Gus's BBQ - Porter Ranch Humble Bee Bakery & Cafe - Northridge Odyssey — Granada Hills El Torito - Northridge Buenos Aires Grill — Northridge Petit Trois Le Valley — Sherman Oaks Deux Bistro — Woodland Hills Pinstripes - Topanga Hugo's Restaurant — Studio City The Front Yard — Studio City Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. In a statement, the department identified the man as 42-year-old Ricardo Villanueva of Van Nuys. Villanueva, who was taken into custody Wednesday after a traffic stop, was booked on suspicion of arson of a structure and arson of personal property. He remains in jail in lieu of a $230,000 bail. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the fires occurred between Oct. 19 and 21. The first fire was reported near the intersection of Colbath Avenue and Ventura Boulevard during the late hours of Oct. 19. Someone had set trash on fire, according to the Fire Department. The following day, firefighters were called to extinguish a blaze near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Kester Street. Details of that fire were not immediately available. Then, between 1 and 2 a.m. on Oct. 21, the Fire Department said it responded to eight fires on Moorpark Street and Ventura Boulevard between Tyrone and Colbath avenues. The department said five vehicles, two dumpster bins and the side of a building were set on fire. The vehicles included a Jeep, a pickup truck and several sedans. The side of a building occupied by the business ABA Signs suffered extensive damage. The owners could not immediately be reached for comment. California A person was found dead Thursday when firefighters were called to put out a tree fire behind an apartment building in South Los Angeles A photo of the suspect released by the Fire Department showed a man wearing dark clothing a baseball hat and a backpack using what appeared to be an accelerant to set fire to a trash can in an alley in the 13800 block of Hartsook Street Police and fire officials did not say what day that fire occurred police officers were conducting a traffic stop when they noticed that Villanueva was wanted by detectives in connection with the fires Fire officials said arson and police investigators are looking at whether the man may be also responsible for suspected arson fires in the Sherman Oaks area earlier this week, including at an apartment complex where authorities say five vehicles in a carport were destroyed and two apartment units were damaged. Ruben Vives is a general assignment reporter for the Los Angeles Times. A native of Guatemala, he got his start in journalism by writing for The Times’ Homicide Report in 2007. He helped uncover the financial corruption in the city of Bell that led to criminal charges against eight city officials. The 2010 investigative series won the Pulitzer Prize for public service and other prestigious awards. Climate & Environment World & Nation “We never have time to fix the patches,” said Dayvon Ross, football coach for the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies. “There’s more dirt than grass for sure.” The sandlot-like multipurpose field for SOCES, a public magnet school in the San Fernando Valley, is home to its football team. The school, however, is more known for performance arts than sports. Just four years after the football program temporarily shuttered, SOCES is 8-0 and sits atop the 8-man City Section standings — a turnaround from the 4-6 record it tallied last year in its return. With the City Section playoffs on the horizon, the roster is 22 players strong, requiring each Knight who takes the field to suit up on offense and defense. Sherman Oaks CES quarterback and safety King Burns rushed for three touchdowns and passes for two scores in a win Friday. (Benjamin Royer / For The Times) “It’s hard work,” said King Burns, a senior quarterback and safety who had 120 yards and three touchdowns rushing while passing for 102 yards and two scores in a win over East Valley on Friday night. “We learn our positions and it pays off on the field. We are ready to go out there at all times.” One of the 22 at the root of the Knights’ undefeated campaign is junior Daniel Truong, a 5-foot-6 running back and linebacker who tallied a prolific 1,058 yards, 14 touchdowns and 42 tackles through seven games. He sat out the season finale against East Valley as he recovers from a back injury in hopes of playing in the postseason. He ran for more than 1,300 yards last season, his first playing football. Now at 16, his rise as one of the state’s best 8-man running backs has offered him not only opportunities to play in front of college programs, but also the freedom to grow socially. “I was a kid hanging out by myself and just doing nothing,” said Truong, who recently competed at UCLA and USC football camps against 11-man opponents. “It feels amazing because I got to get close to other people. Now, they’re my brothers. I hang out with them every day.” Ross, a former NFL hopeful who once competed for roster spots on the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, said most of his players had zero experience before joining the team. Truong, second in the state in rushing yards among 8-man teams, according to MaxPreps, is no different. Sherman Oaks CES running back and safety Daniel Truong is a team leader with his work ethic on and off the field. (Benjamin Royer / For The Times) The Knights’ second-year coach added that Truong has learned the ins and outs of football by going beyond practice to improve. Ross said Truong even texts him on weekends after games, sharing videos of his performance in drills and asking for advice on how to improve. “I knew that he was going to be something special — from his will to work,” Ross said. “The kid never gets tired. He never complains.” Ross chuckled while showing a picture of Truong in a Hawaiian T-shirt and bragged moments later about his running back crushing his record deadlift in the weight room. Ross directs practice with high expectations but keeps the energy lighthearted with kids of all ages roaming the practice grounds after school. Football never was something Ross imagined he would coach. But now, two years into leading this team, he’s all in. Ross put $20,000 into the program for new equipment and uniforms and even explored paying for a new field. “When I interviewed here and saw these guys, they wanted a program so bad,” he said. “The kids bought in. Last year, we went 4-6, and I kind of had a bitter taste in my mouth. “I’m like, ‘Ah, man, maybe I shouldn’t be doing this.’ But then, in the offseason, these kids were committed every day, coming to practice sore.” Sherman Oaks CES coach Dayvon Ross helped restart the 8-man football program last year and has the Knights unbeaten this season. (Benjamin Royer / For The Times) He added that he sees his students’ potential as limitless — and hopes it will translate to college football Saturdays in the future. The players’ buy-in convinced Ross that SOCES was a job worth competing and staying for. With more fans — and students — coming to games, Truong said the encouragement places winning at the forefront of the team now more than before the season. “It’s been awesome that people are coming out to support us,” he said. “It means a lot. It helps us want to win.” LAPD said officers were in pursuit of a stolen tow truck in the area of Sawtelle and Santa Monica The slow-moving chase traveled north on Sepulveda and Skirball ending on Ventura Boulevard near Sepulveda Boulevard just before 2 p.m The suspect got out of the car and talked with officers for a while before they finally arrested him Print The weathered white banner is attached to a fence The banner honors a 2005 championship team — called the Dodgers The banner lists the 12 players on the team For the thousands of kids who play youth baseball at Sherman Oaks and elsewhere every year a pitcher who grew up in Los Angeles will start a World Series game for the Dodgers Flaherty is the Dodgers’ Game 1 starter Friday at Dodger Stadium about 17 miles from Sherman Oaks Little League Flaherty follows Hall of Famer Don Drysdale whose childhood home was about three miles from the Sherman Oaks fields made World Series starts for the Dodgers in 1959 Flaherty was not overly sentimental in explaining what starting Game 1 for his hometown team means to him Giancarlo Stanton, the New York Yankees’ slugger, played at Notre Dame High, one mile from Sherman Oaks Little League. In 2014, during his time with the Miami Marlins, he said all his childhood friends would ask him the same question: When are you coming home, to the Dodgers? The Yankees also signed pitcher Gerrit Cole as a free agent in 2019 Cole, who grew up in Orange County and spurned bids from the Dodgers and Angels is the Yankees’ starting pitcher in Game 1 It would be overly dramatic to say Flaherty was destined to pitch for the Dodgers However, on the day the Dodgers traded for Flaherty in July, his mother, Eileen, posted a picture on Instagram: Jack as a toddler dressed in a Dodgers romper and an oversize Dodgers cap On the outside of the snack shack at Sherman Oaks Little League a plaque honors “the incredible volunteers who have put out countless hours to help create an amazing place for our children.” One of the honorees: Eileen Flaherty When it came time for Little League Night at Dodger Stadium “It felt like it was always against the Giants [Barry] Bonds would just get booed left and right Even Bonds said that. In 2005, the same year Flaherty and his Little League teammates won that banner, this is what Bonds said: “Dodger Stadium is the best show I ever go to in all of baseball. They say, ‘Barry sucks’ louder than anybody out there. And you know what?. . . You’ve got to have some serious talent to have 53,000 people saying you suck.” The Dodgers made the move in the right direction in acquiring Jack Flaherty, a local kid who is experiencing a career rebirth, Bill Plaschke writes. Mark Hartman, the coach of that Little League championship team, said Flaherty was a jovial kid off the field, but never on it. “He’s always been very intense, with a passion for baseball,” Hartman said. “From 7 years old, at that age, he almost intimidated adults, because he was so intense. He had this aura about him.” Flaherty said some of his Little League teammates were in the crowd for the National League championship series. He counts them among his circle of family members and close friends who can relieve any pressure by changing the subject to the NFL and college football. “It feels like you’re 15 years old again,” he said. Doug Urbach, whose son Tyler played with Flaherty at Harvard-Westlake High, said he and Eileen Flaherty shared carpool duties until the boys were old enough to drive. Urbach said he was surprised and touched when, while battling lymphoma in 2019, Flaherty wrote his name on the ‘Stand Up to Cancer” cards distributed to players and shown on national television. (Urbach said his cancer treatment was successful.) Hartman’s son, Jack, played with Flaherty on that Little League championship team. Hartman said Jack even lived with the Flahertys for a while one summer. So, of course, Jack Hartman is 100% behind Jack Flaherty in this World Series. Except, well, not quite 100%. Jack Hartman played college ball at the University of Pennsylvania. One of his teammates: Jake Cousins, now a reliever for the Yankees. Bill Shaikin, a California Sportswriter of the Year honoree, covers baseball and sports business for the Los Angeles Times. Dodgers Print An epic treehouse that has stood in Sherman Oaks for 24 years now teeters on the brink of destruction after the city of L.A “The Simpsons” producer Rick Polizzi built the treehouse in his front yard as a playhouse for his daughters He says it’s become a quirky local landmark loved by the neighborhood children and visited by celebrities such as Halle Berry But the city says it runs afoul of building permit requirements and has pursued criminal charges against him Polizzi has fought to keep the three-story structure standing spending more than $50,000 on legal fees and zoning permits Polizzi is preparing to tear it down rather than spend thousands more defending it in court Polizzi says he built the tree house for his daughters more than two decades ago but has battled the city for years over the structure. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times) News of the tree house’s imminent demolition has been met with public outcry; more than 6,000 people have signed a petition to try to save it that [demolition] is what’s going to happen,” Polizzi told The Times “I’m not spending another $30,000 in court for a silly tree house Polizzi, a three-time Emmy Award-winning producer, built the structure with the help of fellow “Simpsons” producer Michael Mahan. Polizzi said it quickly became a favorite gathering spot in Sherman Oaks and, on Halloween, attracted thousands of visitors as part of an annual Boney Island display Many of its fans are now speaking up to try to save it “In all the deep sadness we have felt in the city plagues by fires and fears, you can’t let this beautiful magical tree house, which brings so many people insane amounts of joy, stay?” wrote actor Missi Pyle in an Instagram post addressed to City Councilmember Nithya Raman Raman said her office had worked hard with Polizzi and city departments in the past to try to save “this beloved staple of the Sherman Oaks community.” “Our goal has always been to find a pathway to preserve the Treehouse which has brought so much joy to neighbors and our office is willing to continue that work in cooperation with Mr Polizzi,” the council member said in a statement shared with The Times The quirky structure is sandwiched among three gum trees and features a secret door and rope-and-pulley system for hoisting up supplies The tree house was part of a Halloween celebration that drew massive crowds (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times) The L.A Department of Building and Safety filed a code enforcement violation against Polizzi in 2017 on account of the tree house lacking building permits The city then filed misdemeanor charges against him in 2020 which he has been trying to get dismissed ever since A spokesperson for the Department of Building and Safety did not respond to a list of questions on how the structure could be brought into compliance noting only that the case is with the city attorney’s office Hydee Feldstein Soto did not respond to a request for comment The tree house has been featured in television shows “America’s Got Talent” and “Treehouse Masters” as well as in a Make-a-Wish Foundation advertisement Its fantastical design inspired an episode of “The Simpsons” where the animated family rebuilds their backyard playhouse after a fire Mayor Eric Garcetti and his daughter have visited the tree-top hang Polizzi says he’s ready to give up the fight A scrapbook commemorates the tree house (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times) After a pretrial conference went poorly this month Polizzi said he lacks the financial and emotional stamina to battle the city with no guarantee of prevailing at his upcoming March trial “It [pretrial] was just kind of infuriating We didn’t get to have our say on anything,” he said “The city attorney said they’re not dropping the criminal case It’s either get all these permits or tear it down completely.” is dismayed by how the situation has unfolded “It’s an iconic structure in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood that’s going to be gone for no reason other than bureaucracy run wild,” he said Gosney said he had worked closely with Polizzi to try to bring the structure into compliance with city building codes a process that he says has proved to be a Herculean task They were able to secure zoning permits in 2023 but have since found it impossible to secure building permits from the Department of Building and Safety given the stark differences between a tree house built for outdoor play and a single-family residence built for indoor dwelling Americans With Disabilities Act compliance and all this stuff that is just kind of absurd,” said Gosney and it’s an existing tree house that has been there for almost 30 years.” Polizzi said he was willing to pursue the building permit process but balked at the fact that it would cost him thousands of dollars to have an architect draw up designs for a structure he had already built He ultimately never submitted a building permit application The tree house sits among three gum trees and has three stories (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times) He did submit an application to the Department of Building and Safety for a waiver from the building permit requirement in April 2024 Polizzi said the city paid little attention to his tree house for the first 16 years of its existence until a neighbor complained about the massive crowds the Halloween events were attracting in 2017 Polizzi said to avoid complaints about crowds, he relocated the Boney Island spectacle to Griffith Park and later to the Museum of Natural History, where it currently serves as an annual fundraising event. He maintains that the tree house is structurally sound and secured from potential intruders or squatters with multiple locking gates. “We’ve never had any problems in 24 years,” he said. “We didn’t lose a single shingle in the last windstorm we had with all the fires.” Gosney, the attorney, said there are two pathways to saving the tree house — the city attorney’s office could drop the case, or the Department of Building and Safety could approve the building permit waiver. “The whole thing is absurd,” he said. “It is literally just a tree house. Let’s use some common sense.” Clara Harter is a breaking news reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered politics and education for the L.A. Daily News. While at the Daily News, she published a series on fentanyl addiction that won a first-place investigative journalism award from the L.A. Press Club. Harter majored in political science and Middle Eastern studies at Columbia University. She loves surfing and, when not reporting, can most likely be found in the ocean. LOS ANGELES — A motorist driving north on the southbound side of the San Diego (405) Freeway in Sherman Oaks slammed head-on into another vehicle Tuesday leaving the wrong-way driver dead and two other people injured while forcing a hourslong closure of most freeway lanes that caused a torturous rush hour for thousands of commuters California Highway Patrol officers responded at 4:06 a.m Tuesday to the southbound 405 Freeway near the Valley Vista Boulevard exit CHP Officer Sergio Garcia told City News Service A CHP spokesman at the scene told reporters the driver was initially reported driving the wrong way in the southbound carpool lane near the Getty Center The driver ultimately slammed into another vehicle head-on and multiple other cars were also involved in the wreck The wrong-way driver was pronounced dead at the scene with officials saying only it was a man believed to be in his 30s The driver of the vehicle he struck was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with critical injuries but he was alert and talking to officers and paramedics One other person was evaluated at the scene but declined further medical treatment according to Mark McLean of the Los Angeles Fire Department sparking "Euphoria" return rumors For fans keeping tabs on the on-again, off-again romance between heartthrob Jacob Elordi and influencer Olivia Jade Giannulli, Saturday night delivered a sweet confirmation. The pair were finally spotted together, enjoying a cozy dinner at the popular Anajak Thai restaurant in Sherman Oaks While both stars tend to keep their relationship relatively private It definitively puts to rest any recent speculation of a split proving that their connection remains strong But this casual dinner date has ignited more than just relationship confirmations among fans The timing of the sighting has set the rumor mill churning particularly for those eagerly awaiting the return of HBO's gritty teen drama who delivers a powerful and often unsettling performance as the complex character Nate Jacobs in the series is a crucial part of the show's ensemble With "Euphoria" Season 3 currently in production – filming began in early 2025 – fans are naturally curious about the availability of its key players Directly southeast of the I-405/US-101 interchange in Sherman Oaks, wood framing continues to take shape above the concrete podium of IMT Residential's for Via Avanti apartments Located on a five-acre property at 4815-4827 N. Sepulveda Boulevard the project consists of interconnected six-story buildings that will feature 325 apartments approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space A leasing website advertises a mix of one- and two-bedroom floor plans ranging from 589 to 1,513 square feet in size KFA Architecture is designing the mixed-use complex which will have Tuscan-style architecture and open onto Sepulveda Boulevard with a landscaped plaza The site's interior would be split into a network of private and publicly-accessible open spaces to break up the large property Plans also call for amenities such as a swimming pool Although IMT acquired the project site in July 2019 for $58 million attempts to develop the property date back 20 years Originally known as Il Villagio Toscano the project was first envisioned as a larger complex featuring over 500 apartments but was gradually pared down to its current size over a long approval process IMT Residential, in addition to Via Avanti, is currently in the midst of construction at a 249-unit apartment complex on land surrounding the former headquarters of the Sunkist Growers Cooperative That building will have a new Trader Joe's location to anchor its ground floor 2024 at 4:03 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The next three Trader Joe's to open in Southern California will be in Sherman Oaks followed by Northridge and a newly announced Tarzana location (Shutterstock CA — As Trader Joe's expands across California in the upcoming year the company is laser-focused on the San Fernando Valley where there are three new openings in the works The next three Trader Joe's to open in Southern California will be in Sherman Oaks followed by Northridge and a newly announced Tarzana location Public Relations Manager Nakia Rohde told Patch Thursday The Monrovia-based local favorite doesn't yet have opening dates for the three new locations the chain did announce plans to open eight Southern California stores within the next year The new locations planned for the San Fernando Valley are: In May, the Monrovia-based chain announced rapid expansion plans, with two dozen new grocery stores, including eight in Southern California the chain has opened a store in nearby South Pasadena and Canyon Country In the wake of Southern California’s wildfires Augustine’s founding partner David Gibbs shares his story of loss and recovery After a kitchen fire tore through the Augustine Wine Bar in May 2023 founding partner David Gibbs walked through the property to survey the damage and much of the structure was damaged by smoke The bottles that didn’t break had labels covered in soot it was covered with corks that had burst from their vessels Most of Augustine’s prized vintage wine collection which Gibbs had collected for decades as a touring musician It was a devastating sight for the Sherman Oaks wine bar But Gibbs knew the popular spot would eventually make its return I knew we would rebuild and reopen,” he said destroyed thousands of residential and commercial structures Gibbs is quick to focus on wildfire survivors and minimize his own experience “What they went through was so much worse than Augustine,” says Gibbs “Their loss dwarfs what I went through as I can’t even imagine losing everything you own.” But Gibbs has the lesson of hindsight through fire The facade of the building was still standing in the aftermath of the fire while the rear lounge suffered from smoke damage Gibbs and his team were able to survey the damage for just four hours the insurance company and landlord immediately locked the property restricting any access until four months after the fire Gibbs waited for the insurance company to determine how the fire started and who would pay for it the rooms and [remaining] wine bottles were exposed to rain I learned how to let go of physical things,” says Gibbs He was also devastated for his staff. Gibbs cites challenges by most restaurants during the early pandemic, especially as a bar. When bars were allowed to reopen in 2021 Augustine eventually picked up and had its most successful period ever everyone on staff was forced to find new jobs while Augustine was being rebuilt As contractors took care of the plumbing and structural repair He was determined to salvage the marble bar Any art and decor that wasn’t melted he put in new picture frames Expensive wine glasses covered in soot and rainwater were carefully cleaned and sanitized Gibbs and the team even rewired the original lightbulbs and restore everything that wasn’t beyond salvaging,” says Gibbs During the recovery, Gibbs was able to step away from Augustine. As a touring musician for over 30 years, he joined Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello during music festival season in the summer of 2024 While feeling discouraged by the slow rebuild process Gibbs credits time on the road and his family’s support to keep going As the reopening date approached, Gibbs brought back sommelier Silvia Gallo, who opened the original Sushi Note with Gibbs in 2018 He also re-recruited chef Miguel Gonzalez who left Augustine to work as the chef de cuisine of Downtown LA’s 71Above He also credits John Harris with ample hands-on assistance and new partner Nick Caballero with reopening Augustine “Getting the old team back together was an important piece to me I am fortunate that so many came back,” says Gibbs Though Augustine has reopened, Gibbs says operations remain a challenge. Many Los Angeles restaurants reported a significant slowdown after the wildfires. For the wine bar’s official 10th anniversary on February 18 When asked which bottles he misses the most I picked up bottles while on tour in the 1980s and 1990s drink the good stuff.’ Don’t wait for that special occasion It was a sleepless night for many as a new wildfire Evacuation warnings had police officers waking up people in Sherman Oaks and winds early Thursday could increase the fire danger in the area We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview 2025 at 7:53 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}If you want someone else to make the snacks or serve the beer several sports bars in Los Angeles are primed for the handoff CA — The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the Kansas City Chiefs for the big game in New Orleans on Sunday and it's not too early to scout the best places to watch here in Sherman Oaks If you want someone else to make the snacks or serve the beer but you’ll want to get to your favorite spot earlier Here are some area sports bars with enough screens that you won’t miss a play: This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. As perhaps the only member of the Los Angeles rabbinic community born in Milan, Italy, Rabbi Mendel Lipskier of the Chabad of Sherman Oaks is leading a committed life. True to his Chabad roots, he spent his youth traveling the globe, delivering teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe that were as new as tomorrow to his audience. In 1996 Rabbi Lipskier and Shterna, his wife of two years, moved to Southern California to serve as an assistant rabbi and assistant rebbetzin at Chabad of Sherman Oaks. When he settled in Dnipro, “the community was just restarting.” With the arrival of a Jewish teacher, “everybody was hungry for Judaism,” he said, stretching out hungry. “So all day, teaching, teaching, teaching. I was there almost a year.” Looking back on his time there, “it was so sad,” he said, “to see how Communism had eradicated Judaism. People were so pure. They were eager to learn. It was amazing.” Back then, the U.S. government was distributing butter and all manner of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They were looking for trusted organizations that won’t siphon off the money, and Chabad was one of them. “All the locals had great respect for the Jewish community because they were getting humanitarian aid through the Jewish community … it was a very positive experience.” Lipskier retains strong links to Dnipro, Ukraine. His sister and her husband are the Chabad emissaries, the rabbi and rebbetzin based in Dnipro. With the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine coming up, he has returned to Ukraine a few times and noted that “life there has been very difficult since the war began.” His job, he said, was to assist with everything. “I am the administrator, and I focus on whatever is needed.” Chabad of Sherman Oaks has five rabbis and rebbetzins, and every Shabbat there are two services, Sephardic and Chabad. The outgoing Rabbi Lipskier said the best part of his job is “seeing families and young people advance in their practice. I love meeting new people.” Addressing changes he’s seen since 1996, the rabbi said, “People are searching for more connection. I have noticed Reform and Conservative congregations becoming more traditional, less political, more spiritual, more Jewish practice.” “People are looking for truth,” he said. “They are fed up with shallowness in their lives. They want depth, authenticity.” A “combination of many factors” have driven attitudinal changes.  “In general, there is more spiritual awareness, mental health awareness. People want to be more grounded, aligned, as they say. They want to connect.” Yet sadly, he said, most Jews are not affiliated – yet. “That is our mission – for Chabad especially.” With a laugh he said, “We say every moving Jew is a target … We go door-knocking, businesses and homes,” the rabbi said. “We just let people know we are here … We have yeshiva boys come, every Friday and holiday times. We go door-to-door.” This is how their mission works: “Step 1, we remind persons they are Jewish. They may have forgotten. If they know it already, we ask them to do one more good deed, one more mitzvah.” “If there is a mezuzah, you can assume so. Otherwise, you guess. We just go door-to-door. I have not had any hostility – Jews or non-Jews. Just ‘No, thank you.’ Very pleasant. I actually find that in L.A. culture, people aren’t so into knowing their neighbors as much as the East Coast.” After noting that aloneness is far more common than before, especially among the young, Rabbi Lipskier explained how he attempts to reverse their thinking: “No. 1, there is a God in the world who loves them and cares for them. No. 2, life is good. Bad things can happen, but that doesn’t make life bad. The world is inherently good. “That was a great call of The Rebbe – bring positive thinking into a world that always is broadcasting negative, negative.” Jewish Journal: What are your main takeaways from The Rebbe? Rabbi Lipskier: Three points — the triangle of Torah. Torah is one. Any part of Torah is one, Torah is truth and Torah is life, which means any topic in Torah has to be interconnected to all other topics and everything must be applied to daily living. The takeaway is not to sit on your laurels, but saying how will today be better than yesterday. J.J.: Is there anything you wish you had done differently in your life? RL: Studied more Torah with people. Spent more time teaching. RL: Yes. Personally, to finish the entire Talmud. And to hopefully build a stronger learning center, and a pre-school. As voting for the U.S. elections in the 39th World Zionist Congress nears conclusion—voting closes May 4—American Zionist Movement (AZM) Executive Director Herbert Block said there were few barriers of entry to voting in what Jewish leaders are describing as a consequential election. We are here today because Jewish fathers and mothers wanted more than happiness from their children. The bipartisan group includes Los Angeles representatives, Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Ted Lieu (D-West LA). Speaking ill of someone once most likely leads to a second time. And hearing gossip, just like the flu, is contagious. Print The Lewis brothers are contributors in the Sherman Oaks Notre Dame basketball program And they are proud of their connection to UCLA basketball Hall of Famers Ann and David Meyers Nolin received the Hunter Greene Award for Black Excellence Both have top grade-point averages and want to be doctors like their father They find ways to be valuable participants in many school activities away from basketball “Mark and Nolin are the ideal that every student athlete should aspire to be and that every coach wants in their program,” coach Matt Sargeant said talented players that excel in the classroom and exhibit quality character traits at all times and in all interactions with all people Their bond is a joy to be around and their enthusiasm for the game and for life inspires me on a daily basis.” … The future looks bright for sophomore running back Edward Rivera of South East He’s the nephew of former All-City running back Robert Lewis and finished the season with 1,843 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns The City Section and Southern Section cross-country finals will be held Saturday morning at Pierce College and Mt. San Antonio College, respectively. Then teams and individuals will move on to the state championships Nov. 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno. … Brayden Burries of Eastvale Roosevelt began his senior season on Thursday with a 47-point performance against Orange Vista The retirement of football coach Lorenzo Hernandez at Garfield after 24 years as head coach takes away one of the City Section’s most experienced coaches. He developed the program into a top-10 team season after season. 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. Print 1 As the final seconds ticked off the clock and with the victory secured Sierra Canyon forward Maximo Adams leaped and rejected a shot by Sherman Oaks Notre Dame guard NaVorro Bowman Jr The play exemplified the Trailblazers’ defensive intensity all game — a collective effort that produced a 63-54 victory in the prime-time matchup of Saturday’s Trinity-Mission League Showcase at the Intuit Dome featured seven schools in The Times’ Top 25 rankings and the finale had the most at stake with both squads looking to earn a bye and two days off in the Mission League tournament Gavin Hightower scored 21 points before fouling out with 1:01 left and earned most valuable player honors Adams added 18 points for Sierra Canyon (20-4 Sierra Canyon’s Bryce Cofield grabs a rebound while teammate Maximo Adams boxes out against Notre Dame’s Zach White at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) “We’re excited we were able to get the win and having the extra time off is huge because we’ll probably see that team again and this gives us a couple days in the gym to clean up our mistakes,” said Hightower “It’s a blessing to play in an arena like this It’s all about being confident and having fun but honestly we need the rest because we go hard every day in practice.” Bryce Cofield finished with 15 points for Sierra Canyon “We’re used to playing on big stages in front of lots of fans You get the nerves out of your system in the first few minutes Tyran Stokes led the fifth-ranked Knights (20-5 5-2) with 23 points and Bowman added eight The teams likely will meet again in the league tournament semifinals Tuesday Harvard-Westlake and St Francis players battle for a rebound during the Wolverines’ win at the Intuit Dome Isaiah Carroll scored 22 points and Nikolas Khamenia added 18 points as Harvard-Westlake (25-1 0-7) to stay undefeated in Mission League play and secure the top seed in the league tournament the Wolverines’ lead was only 26-24 at halftime after a half-court heave by St Francis guard DeLon Grant rattled in at the buzzer Harvard-Westlake has won 16 straight games since its loss to Provo (Utah) Timpview on Dec Ryan Smith of St. Francis made this shot at Intuit Dome last week. pic.twitter.com/Pf9Fwn1uCl Ryan Smith of St. Francis made a shot from beyond half court. Campbell Hall guard Isaiah Johnson shoots a jumper during a 70-67 upset of Brentwood at the Intuit Dome on Saturday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Isaiah Johnson scored 39 points, making five of six free throws in the final 33 seconds, and was selected MVP as the Vikings (16-8, 4-2) handed No. 20 Brentwood its first Gold Coast League loss. The Vikings clung to a one-point lead at halftime and it was tied 50-50 through three quarters. A steal and layup by AJ Okoh gave Brentwood its last lead, 64-63, with 2:40 left. The Eagles (23-4, 6-1) can clinch the league title Monday with a home victory over Windward. Gavin Dean-Moss goes airborne for a scoop shot in St. John Bosco’s Trinity League win over Mater Dei at the Intuit Dome. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Brandon McCoy Jr. netted 20 points, including four of his team’s six slam dunks, and Chris Komin added 15 points to earn MVP for the No. 3 Braves (23-4, 7-2) who stayed atop the Trinity League with one game to go. “It felt good,” said Komin, who had a four-point play and three-point play back to back in the third quarter. “My teammates were putting up shots and they were falling.” Demarcus Henry led the No. 8 Monarchs (19-7, 5-3), who are fourth in the league and wrap up the regular season on the road at Santa Margarita and Orange Lutheran. “This means a lot because we lost to them twice in the regular season last year,” McCoy added. “We’re taking it game by game. We’re not thinking about seedings. We feel confident but we’ve got another huge game coming up.” The Braves ended the game on an 8-0 run to avenge their 62-59 road loss on Jan. 10 when they were without McCoy. They travel to third-place JSerra on Tuesday night. Crespi forward Peyton White drives to the basket around Alemany’s Bourgeois Tshilobo at the Intuit Dome. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Peyton White scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Jayden Xu added eight points for the No. 13 Celts (19-7, 4-3), who clinched fourth place in the Mission League and earned a bye into the quarterfinals. White was the MVP. Senior forward Marc Cherfan scored 12 points and Bourgeois Tshilobo added eight for the Warriors (20-7, 3-4), who host last-place St. Francis on Sunday afternoon. Jack Jeffery makes a layup for two of his 18 points in Loyola’s victory over Chaminade at the Intuit Dome on Feb. 1, 2025. Steve Galluzzo / For The Times (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Quincy Watson hit six three-pointers in the first half, finished with 23 points and earned MVP for the Cubs (18-10, 2-5), who outscored Chaminade 24-6 in the fourth quarter. Jack Jeffery added 18 points for Loyola. The teams will play again Sunday in the first round of the Mission League tournament. “Playing the first game of the day definitely helped because we had 30 minutes to shoot, get the depth perception and adapt to the big court,” said Watson, a junior point guard. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s hard to beat the same team two days in a row, but we have some momentum and tomorrow we’ll be playing in our gym.” Senior guard Jonas Thurman scored 18 points, Brycen Butler had 14 and Koby Nichols had 12 for the Eagles (18-9, 1-6). Travel & Experiences Freshman Keira Luderer hit two home runs in a comeback win over Sierra Canyon in the Knights’ Mission League opener on Thursday. Freshman Molly Coppola hit a walk-off home run against the Trailblazers. Luderer’s twin sister, Kelsey, is hitting .452. There’s also Haley Maldonado with a .469 average and outfielder Jackie Morales batting .521 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. Pitcher Alyssa Lusk also is gaining experience in a backup role. Coach Justin Siegel is convinced as these freshmen gain experience, the Knights will become a top team in Southern California. Notre Dame is 13-3. … The track and field season continues Saturday with the Orange County championships at Mission Viejo, the Santa Monica Invitational and the Simi Valley Invitational. This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com. Print Phelan Bucknor of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High had a career day at the plate on Wednesday He had six hits and five RBIs by the end of the fifth inning in a 24-3 Mission League win over host Chaminade the leadoff hitter who came into the game with a .421 average he hit a two-run home run over Chaminade’s short right-field fence driving in two runs during a nine-run rally In his final plate appearance in the seventh Notre Dame entered the week struggling with a 2-7 record and 0-2 mark in the Mission League Francis 0: Josh Stonehouse hit a two-run home run and Justin Kim Jonah Sidel and Mikey Martinez combined for the shutout to help Crespi improve to 9-0 who struck out on Tuesday in the bottom of the seventh with the tying run at third in an 8-7 loss came through on Wednesday with an RBI single in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie for the Wolverines Bishop Alemany 3: The Cubs improved to 3-1 in the Mission League Wyatt Clougherty had four hits and three RBIs and Walter Urbon and James Dell’Amico each had two hits and two RBIs Adan Viner tied the score for El Camino Real with a two-out RBI single in bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings then the Royals won it in the bottom of the ninth on a squeeze by Joey Hernandez Kaeden Riepl threw eight innings for Cleveland Joshua Pearlstein went four for four to lead Cleveland Luke Howe struck out six with no walks in 5 2/3 innings for El Camino Real Granada Hills 1: Luis Zaragosa struck out seven walked none and threw a four-hitter for the Chancellors Christopher Vasconez and Vicente Martinez contributed doubles Taft 1: Allen Olmos struck out eight with no walks in the West Valley League win for Birmingham (7-2 which will be playing in next week’s Boras Classic in Orange County Banning 2: Anthony Solis threw a complete game Carson 6: Sophomore Adrian Rodriguez went four for four to lead Narbonne Murrieta Valley 0: The Monarchs (7-0) received six shutout innings from Landon Gordon to stay unbeaten Elk Grove Franklin 0: The Lancers (7-1) won in Las Vegas Hamilton Friedberg had a home run and three RBIs and Josiah Hartshorn and Tristan Ramos also homered Gary Morse didn’t allow any hits in five innings Marina 1: Four pitchers combined on a four-hitter for the No Trent Grindlinger homered and Trevor Goldenetz had a triple and single Tesoro 6: Evan Skinner drove in three runs and Jordan Vogel had three hits for the 12-0 Apaches Canyon Country Canyon 6: Landon Hu and Mikey Murr each had two hits and Carter Friedrichsen finished with three RBIs in the Foothill League win Valencia 1: Kaleb Haag threw six scoreless innings in the Foothill League win for Saugus Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day 2: Jack Champlin threw five innings for the win in Las Vegas Carlos Barajas and Micah Tagiuam each had RBI doubles Camarillo 0: Dustin Dunwoody struck out eight with no walks in six scoreless innings Hart 6: Tyler Starling homered and Colton Mellinger had two doubles for the Chargers Moorpark 1: Sophomore Evan Rodriguez had two doubles and three RBIs and Kyle Casey struck out seven in six innings to lead the Pioneers Palmdale 0: Chris Lozano threw a five-inning perfect game for Quartz Hill JSerra 4: Noah Johnson and Garret Rodriguez each had two hits for Cypress Blake Bowen hit a two-run home run for JSerra Santa Margarita 1: Sophomore Logan Hoppie picked up the save West Torrance 0: The Mustangs are 9-2 and 3-0 in the Bay League Freshman Kekoa Delatori threw five scoreless innings Edison 3: Sutton Deninno had the walk-off single in the seventh for Los Alamitos Tristan Dalzell struck out eight with no walks in 5 1/3 innings for the Griffins Newport Harbor baseball edged rival CdM 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel today, earning its 2nd BOTB win of the week. Senior catcher Lucas Perez, left, had 7th inning double and scored GW run. Soph pitcher Keaton Anderson, right, earned 1st varsity win. @AndrewTurnerTCN @NHHSTars_BSB pic.twitter.com/ITbRV9h1Jg Newport Harbor 1, Corona del Mar 0: A run in the seventh inning gave Newport Harbor the victory. Keaton Anderson threw six scoreless innings in the win. Stevie Jones struck out six with no walks for Corona del Mar. Louisville 3, Newbury Park 0: Kelsey Vitalis struck out eight and Lily Rodriguez went three for three to lead Louisville. Granada Hills Kennedy 9, Highland 4: Melaney Velasco had three hits and four RBIs for the Golden Cougars. Oaks Christian 4, Simi Valley 3: Gio Otani hit a walk-off home run for Oaks Christian. Trystyn Crutcher had a two-run home run. Print With the noise volume rising in a sold out Sherman Oaks Notre Dame gym as the home fans sensed a possible comeback Isaiah Carroll took a pass from Nikolas Khamenia on the baseline and calmly made a three-pointer with 2:51 left Friday night quieting the crowd and letting everyone know Harvard-Westlake wasn’t going to surrender its lead “Isaiah was huge,” Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said Khamenia and Joe Sterling each finished with 18 points as the Wolverines won 73-63 to improve to 22-1 overall and 4-0 in the Mission League Isaiah Carroll ends the half for Harvard-Westlake scoring his 15th points. Wolverines 41-25 over Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/1h3fMi0rCh Carroll made four threes and delivered repeatedly when Notre Dame (18-4 3-1) had to devote defensive attention to Khamenia “I have some incredible dudes around me,” Carroll said “My job is to take advantage of the opportunities.” Tyran Stokes of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame gets a dunk against Harvard-Westlake (Craig Weston) Tyran Stokes led Notre Dame with 26 points and helped lead a Knights comeback from a 23-point second-half deficit The lead was down to nine points when Carroll made his baseline three Complete domination by Harvard-Westlake. 29-7 lead over Notre Dame after one quarter. pic.twitter.com/jV3NJiq8Ac Harvard-Westlake could not have played better defense in the first quarter to help open a 29-7 lead. The Wolverines challenged every shot and moved the ball around to get every player involved. Notre Dame coach Matt Sargeant called two timeouts, but the momentum never changed. Hurting the Knights was another injury to Lino Mark, who scored 24 points earlier this week. He started Friday but was pulled. “That was Harvard-Westlake basketball defending, locked in and moving the ball,” Rebibo said. Said Carroll: “We’ve been talking about this game for a couple weeks. We were getting stops.” Without Mark’s explosiveness and quickness, Notre Dame lacked the ability to unleash a fast break, and the Wolverines’ half-court defense was exceptional. Harvard-Westlake is the two-time defending state champion but was supposed to face more challenges after losing several key players to graduation. Instead, backup players from last season, such as Carroll, have stepped forward. “It’s testament to our guys,” Rebibo said. “They get better.” The win puts Harvard-Westlake in the driver’s seat for a No. 1 seed for the Mission League tournament scheduled to begin Feb. 2. Harvard-Westlake still faces a test from an improving Sierra Canyon on Tuesday. Print Less than two minutes into the game against Los Alamitos on Wednesday night Sherman Oaks Notre Dame coach Matt Sargeant went into full Dan Hurley mode calling a timeout and benching four of his starters with his team trailing 7-2 his team trailed by three points and Zachary White was fuming not only because he couldn’t find his missing jersey at home but because Sargeant was dissatisfied with his effort Zachary White has intervened for Notre Dame. 8 points in second quarter. 34-31 Notre Dame over Los Alamitos. pic.twitter.com/cHmnkJv00m “I was mad,” White said. “He said I wasn’t playing hard, so I wanted to prove him wrong.” White proceeded to score five consecutive baskets in the second quarter to help Notre Dame obliterate the No. 10-ranked team in Southern California with a 31-9 surge. By the game’s conclusion, Notre Dame had won 100-69, leaving little doubt that the Knights, St. John Bosco, Harvard-Westlake and Eastvale Roosevelt are four teams that have separated themselves from the rest of the top teams early this season. And Notre Dame (5-0) is still awaiting the return of Tyran Stokes, its All-American junior transfer student recovering from a wrist injury. He’s practicing but probably won’t be available to play until later this month. Lino Mark scored 24 points and Josiah Nance had 22 points. White finished with 12 points and nine rebounds and planned to search for his jersey. Samori Guyness had 19 points for Los Alamitos (3-2). Loyola 69, Downey 54: Quincy Watson finished with 20 points for Loyola. Bishop Alemany 46, Arcadia 41: Freshman Houston Rolle had 11 points for Alemany. Westlake 56, Crespi 52: Austin Maziasz led the Warriors’ upset with 19 points. Peyton White had 26 points for Crespi. Heritage Christian 68, Bishop Montgomery 56: Dillan Shaw and Tae Simmons each scored 23 points and Dominic Loehle added 19 points for 6-0 Heritage Christian. Mira Costa 71, Cajon 52: The Mustangs (8-0) received 14 points from Eneasi Piuleini. Crossroads 82, Venice 49: EJ Vernon returned to scored 31 points and get 10 rebounds for Crossroads. Viewpoint 63, St. Genevieve 23: Wesley Waddles had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Viewpoint. Tesoro 66, Churchie 56: Nathan Draper had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Tesoro. AGBU 71, Mesrobian 54: Isaiah Bennett had 30 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for 9-0 AGBU. Malibu 78, Pilgrim 72: Dylan Goosen had 36 points in the overtime win. Ventura 70, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 43: Kailee Staniland scored 29 points for Ventura. Freshman Hamiley Arenas had 29 points for Notre Dame. 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Los Angeles Located in a former Chinese restaurant (you can spot it by the entrance’s unique circular archway) this vegan Cal-Italian restaurant in Sherman Oaks comes by way of San Diego The pizzas and pastas here make for top-notch plant-based comfort food but there are a few healthier options like the “really good” salad made with roasted garlic vinaigrette and shaved housemade mozzarella you’ll want to drink the sunflower seed-based garlic butter which comes with Donna Jean’s house bread and you can’t go wrong with any of the desserts which use coconut cream for that oh-so-dreamy dollop of whipped cream on top you’ll find much of the same savory items a tofu scramble and a Just Egg frittata that comes fully loaded with fresh veggies Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagramspotifyAbout us Contact us Time Out magazine Print Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is loving late-night basketball in Las Vegas The unbeaten Knights (12-0) advanced to the Platinum Division championship game of the Tarkanian Classic opening a 20-point lead before prevailing over Layton Christian (Utah) 73-60 on Friday night Notre Dame will face Eastvale Roosevelt (10-1) for the championship Saturday at 4:30 p.m Tyran Stokes continued his impressive play with a 29-point 10-rebound performance after a 30-point effort on Thursday Eastvale Roosevelt 78, Redondo Union 74: Brayden Burries and Myles Walker each scored 18 points in the win. Roosevelt had a 45-32 halftime lead before handing Redondo Union (9-1) its first defeat. Hudson Mayes had 22 points and Chris Sanders scored 20 points for Redondo Union. Crespi 76, St. Anthony 56: The Celts (8-4) picked up a quality nonleague win, with Peyton White scoring 26 points, Isaiah Barnes 16, Carter Barnes 14 and Malakai Perrantes 13. La Habra 70, Sonora 45: The Highlanders are 13-1 after a strong performance from Jaedon Anderson, who made a school-record nine threes en route to a 32-point effort. Anaheim Canyon 91, Costa Mesa 41: Brandon Benjamin had 31 points for Canyon. Grant 67, Viewpoint 66: In only its second game of the season, the Lancers (2-0) served notice they figure to reach the City Section Open Division playoffs. Aeneas Grullon scored 26 points for Viewpoint (9-3). Wizdom Burnes, who scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds for Grant, made a shot at the buzzer for the win. Champ Merrill led Grant with 24 points. Harvard-Westlake 74, Fairfax 33: Joe Sterling had 21 points and Cole Holden 14 points for the Wolverines. Chatsworth 66, West Albany (Ore.) 56: The Chancellors improved to 7-1 in Oregon. Alijah Arenas had 24 points. Golden Valley 60, Gardena 45: Alex Villego had 25 points for Golden Valley. Legacy Christian 78, Crescenta Valley 71: Vaughn Zargarian had 41 points for Crescenta Valley. Heritage Christian 81, Valencia 40: Tae Simmons had 22 points and Dillan Shaw 19 for 11-0 Heritage Christian. Palisades 55, El Camino Real 54: Jack Levey made a shot at the buzzer to give Palisades the victory. Ontario Christian 73, Maryland Bullis 65: Kaleena Smith had 26 points and nine assists for unbeaten Ontario Christian (14-0), which will play in the Nike TOC final against Archbishop Mitty from San José in a game that will decide No. 1 in California and maybe No. 1 in the nation in girls basketball. Archbishop Mitty defeated Mater Dei 59-42 in the other semifinal. Sierra Canyon 69, Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) 56: Jerzy Robinson led the unbeaten Trailblazers with 30 points. Birmingham 65, Mt. Diablo 50: Lili Martinez had 20 points and Zoee Mitchell 16 for the Patriots. St. Joseph 85, Valencia 84: Freshman Kamilia Basyrova scored a school-record 40 points for Valencia. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least two suspects are in custody after a terrifying home invasion robbery Monday night in Sherman Oaks Police say three armed suspects broke into a home around 9 p.m while a woman was taking a shower at the time It's not clear what if anything they stole from the home Undercover investigators had apparently already been tracking the suspects and with help from an LAPD helicopter followed them to a neighborhood in Compton in the area of 152nd Street and Maie Avenue before attempting the arrest One suspect was seen running from officers through a neighborhood and onto a school property before eventually being taken into custody Police were continuing to look for additional suspects A second burglary was also reported in the Sherman Oaks area Monday night in a neighborhood near the Fashion Square mall 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 Eater editors recommend the tightly wrapped Lebanese bread at Furnsaj the Valley’s diverse and growing culinary scene celebrates a variety of tastes The vastness can be intimidating — and has far too much to offer for one single map — so here are just some of the San Fernando Valley’s many great places to eat Rebecca Roland grew up in the San Fernando Valley native and has spent countless hours dining in the neighborhoods that make up the region her favorite neighborhood spot will always be Poquito Mas Matthew Kang grew up in nearby Glendale but continues to trek to the San Fernando Valley regularly to visit his dentist which means a pastrami sandwich from Brent’s or a shawarma wrap from Furn Saj will usually follow a teeth cleaning Mona Holmes eventually ventured further away from her Altadena childhood home to explore Los Angeles She stumbled into the now-closed Four ‘N 20 in Sherman Oaks for a slice of classic apple pie and bought an album on cassette from Licorice Pizza She’ll always wait for a table at the Burbank Bob’s Big Boy Chef Aviad Yalin’s spit-roasted wagyu beef shawarma pop-up now has a permanent home in Studio City The wagyu shawarma sandwich is the main attraction Avi Cue’s small but impressive menu also offers loaded shawarma fries and ground wagyu-filled arayes Any gluten-intolerant diners can order shawarma over a a bed of refreshing Reservations are encouraged at this supper club where food, music, and libations come together for a fully immersive evening Chef Oscar Torres blends Latin influences and flavors with Los Angeles’s local produce and ingredients Complement the meal with a “smokin’ Old Fashioned” or a glass of wine from the exceptionally curated wine list Nightly live music is mixed by 18-time Grammy winner Manny Marroquin It’s Manhattan Season - Here’s Where to Drink One in LA This February 19 Award-Worthy Cocktail Spots in Los Angeles With over 68 years of continuous operation this family-owned Mexican restaurant is now run by third-generation restaurateur Christy Vega who has added an extensive patio to the iconic dining room with red leather booths and dim lighting Pair one of the restaurant’s many margarita options with favorites like albondigas Fun fact: Casa Vega was immortalized in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood The 20 Best LA Restaurants That Are Open on Monday Nights 18 Restaurants to Spot Celebrities in Los Angeles a fire broke out in the kitchen at Augustine Wine Bar leaving Sherman Oaks locals to wonder if the celebrated wine bar would return Augustine finally did in late December 2024 and it’s as great as ever with the same rustic neighborhood charm and a still outstanding by-the-glass and bottle list This year marks the 10th anniversary of Augustine’s opening Order a Chenin blanc and raise a glass to the return of this beloved local wine bar A post shared by Augustine Wine Bar (@augustinewinebar) San Fernando Valley's Essential Restaurants for those who aren’t able to go over the Hollywood Hills 14 Essential Omakase Feasts in Los Angeles Order any of the classic flavors or specialty offerings like rosemary sea salt and everything jalapeño cheddar and be on the lookout for any test batch flavors or daily specials Enjoy bagels simply with cream cheese or make into a custom sandwich Washing it all down with a glass of orange juice never hurts 15 Destinations for Supreme Bagel Satisfaction in Los Angeles Jeff Strauss of Highland Park sandwich shop Jeff’s Table revamped the Bar at Oyster House into a food and drink destination for locals and industry folks alike Strauss’s playful menu blends Japanese flavors and Los Angeles staples with his Jewish heritage; staple dishes on the ever-changing menu include the matzo ball ramen A post shared by OyBar (@oybarla) Osteria La Buca opened a second outlet in 2020 with a modern touch that distinguishes it from its Larchmont sister spot with slightly more room and day-to-night hours without interruption The time-tested menu still has the favorites of cacio e pepe arancini 20 Restaurants for Big Groups and Parties in Los Angeles Anajak Thai has been the object of tremendous media attention for good reason. Chef (and conceptual artist) Justin Pichetrungsi took over his father’s decades-old Sherman Oaks restaurant; kept its quirky weathered interior adorned with artwork; and installed one of the best wine lists on the West Coast The younger Pichetrunsgi adjusted the menu with top-quality seafood and dry-aged fish fillets dressed with nam jim sauce and kept popular dishes like the pad kee mao The results are one of the most popular San Fernando Valley restaurants especially on its Thai Taco Tuesdays when lines can extend to the dozens Stop by this Sherman Oaks takeout window run by husband-and-wife duo chef Uzi Wizman and Gal Ben-Goya to experience bourekas: flaky Sephardic pastries stuffed with savory or sweet fillings Regulars know to call ahead to pre-order and avoid waiting in line Don’t miss grabbing secret menu items like the pinukim and za’atar bourekas stuffed with truffle egg salad The Best Affordable Restaurants in Los Angeles Given that Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran, it’s no surprise that the city is rich with superlative Persian restaurants. With another location in Thousand Oaks, Sadaf in Encino is arguably the best Iranian spot the Valley has to offer serving an immense kebab plates filled with fluffy basmati rice or “eggplant delight,” as it’s called on the menu 13 Los Angeles Restaurants and Bars With Live Music Where to Eat Around Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village Bypass the bevy of sushi restaurants on Ventura Boulevard and drive further west to this Woodland Hills gem for an omakase from chef-owner Mark Okuda The $200 omakase menu is worth the splurge and includes seasonal Japanese fish which pair nicely with any of the restaurant’s high-end sakes and Champagnes Those craving Brothers Sushi but unable to make it to the Valley can find new expansions in Santa Monica and Culver City Longtime Valley residents will remember the Villa an expansive restaurant and events space on the corner of Ventura and San Feliciano the children of the original owners have taken over the restaurant transforming it into the Mediterranean-inspired Casaléna complete with a statement chandelier overhead and oversized art on the walls is complemented by a verdant outdoor patio The menu blends Mediterranean and Italian influences with dishes like stracciatella with spicy honey and pistachio A separate menu is available at the bar with casual bites like a crispy chicken sandwich The Best Restaurants to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Los Angeles The 97-year-old burger cook and namesake man behind this Van Nuys beef and bun legend first opened this restaurant in 1965 Though Elwell no longer operates the griddle regularly the kitchen still turns out some of the tastiest and most modestly priced burger meals in the Valley Elwell’s age and the ongoing mystery of how he manages to keep this busy roadside stand going are reasons enough to make the trip out 16 Great Places to Order Takeout and Delivery in the San Fernando Valley Finding a great taco spot accommodating those who don’t eat meat can be difficult This vegan Mexican restaurant offers all the standard taqueria options including tacos Order a massive burrito stuffed with jackfruit carnitas or vegan chicharron The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Los Angeles Gluten-free baking often has a reputation for not being able to stand up to its gluten-filled counterparts but that’s not the case at Modern Bread and Bagel: The entirely gluten-free shop offers cafe classics including bagel sandwiches (try the loaded pastrami-crusted salmon sandwich on a superseed bagel) The latke tots are a side not to be missed Modern Bread has a second location in Santa Monica A post shared by Modern Bread & Bagel (@modernbreadandbagel) It’s all about the retro vibes at Cupid’s in Winnetka roller-skating carhops deliver hot dogs (the classic Cupid chili dogs and Reuben-style hot dogs are popular) from a small kitchen to waiting fans diners can settle for the few round tables outside the stand to eat their dogs on the spot or grab a few to take home Cupid’s offers a plant-based sausage as well 15 Great LA Chili Dogs For Those Comfort Food Needs this family-owned restaurant has been serving authentic Thai cuisine for 30 years (The crispy rice salad is an absolute must-order on every visit.) An unfussy dining room and friendly A post shared by Sri Siam Café (@srisiamcafe) Cavaretta’s has been known for its excellent Italian sandwiches since opening in 1959 The deli and market serve a full menu of subs Expect the crew to spread plenty of extra mustard and mayo on every sandwich 10 No-Reservation-Required Spots in the West Valley North Hollywood’s Cilantro Mexican Grill makes what may be the best meat burrito in the entire city Tucked into a quiet corner of a busy gas station this place draws dozens upon dozens of lunchtime diners eager to enjoy the craftsmanship of chef Adolfo Perez a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with a corporate cheffing background who is now making his dream come true Burritos come packed with meats like carne asada or barbacoa Chef Danny Ly’s contemporary Vietnamese restaurant in Panorama City is home to one of the best Vietnamese sandwiches in the Valley. The bánh mì đặc biệt is made wonderfully rich with a generous swipe of pate and an abundant layer of mayonnaise on top wood-paneled dining room makes for a homey dine-in experience A post shared by MD Signs & Printing (@mdsigns_printing) Brent’s has been a staple in the Northridge neighborhood since opening in 1967 The celebrated black pastrami Reuben is reason enough to make the drive but don’t stop ordering there: Try the latke and blintz sampler for traditional deli fare or add in an order of knishes for a filling side The place — marked by a charmingly vintage dining room — has become popular enough that mornings can result in long waits 20 Iconic LA Dishes Still Available For Delivery and Takeout part hidden restaurant located in a Northridge strip mall this Sri Lankan specialist turns out some of the Valley’s most flavorful food Premil and Koshalie Jayasinghe took over a Mexican restaurant that had been open for the prior 15 years the Jayasinghes introduced Sri Lankan favorites like roti and lamprais — a banana leaf-wrapped sampler of “takeout food” that includes meat curry Longtime regulars can be comforted in knowing that Mexican dishes like huevos rancheros and carne asada remain on the menu making this Sri Lankan-Mexican restaurant one of the most unique places to eat in the Valley The 21 Best Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Los Angeles outstanding Cajun food can be found in the Valley at Les Sisters the restaurant is known for its Southern-style cooking and don’t forget to add in orders of biscuits The no-frills dining room has several tables flanking its walls A post shared by Les Sisters' Southern Kitchen (@lessisters2014) The Best Creole and Cajun Restaurants in Los Angeles Chatsworth may just be home to one of LA’s best wine bars right now the former wine director at Michelin-starred Mélisse he hoped to bring the neighborhood a bar that would feel at home in a fine dining restaurant with a curated wine list and bites to pair offering a weekly list of about 10 bottles by the glass plus six more on a constantly changing chalk menu Canto VI offers a select menu of classic cocktails and spirits A focus of Canto VI is its personalized service so don’t be afraid to ask for guidance or a half glass of wine instead of the full Head to Furnsaj for the freshly baked mana’ish a Lebanese flatbread available with toppings including za’atar The kitchen also features a set of shawarma towers featuring highly-seasoned beef and chicken perfect for piling onto plates and enjoying with the restaurant’s tangy saj bread — a thin unleavened bread baked on a domed oven or metal griddle Those who want to skip the building can just get shawarma or ground luleh beef in saj wraps stuffed with garlic and fresh tomatoes for an easy meal on the go 19 Essential Meat Dishes to Try in Los Angeles and fresh tomatoes for an easy meal on the go.