2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Studio City International Holdings Limited (NYSE: MSC) a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai today announces that it will release its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2025 on Thursday This press release contains forward-looking statements These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Studio City International Holdings Limited (the “Company”) may also make forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement (i) changes in the gaming market and visitations in Macau (iii) capital and credit market volatility (v) risks associated with the implementation of the amended Macau gaming law by the Macau government (vi) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations results of operations and financial condition forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions Further information regarding these and other risks uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information About Studio City International Holdings Limited The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com The Company is majority owned by Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited a company with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: MLCO) For the investment community, please contact: Jeanny Kim Senior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy Leung Executive Director, Corporate Communications Tel: +852 3151 3765 Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com A new jacket potato restaurant in Studio City Venice— It’s all about the noodles at Noods, a former food truck that opened a permanent location in Venice in mid-April Try one of the pre-made creations like the Noodsalad with greens or the Mexicana with a birria base and garlic pepper Diners can also build their own noodle bowls with a choice of ramen noodles Downtown— Downtown LA has a new destination for coffee, breakfast bites, and daytime eating with the arrival of Sandcouch Cafe The menu spans dishes like bagel sandwiches and pastries are also on hand if looking for something quick Studio City— British-style jacket potatoes, which are loaded baked potatoes, have landed in Studio City with the opening of a permanent location of LA Spud Guys LA Spud Guys operated carts in Los Angeles the restaurant serves jacket potatoes loaded with toppings like garlic butter Koreatown— Croissants get cubed at Le Kream a new dessert cafe that opened in Koreatown on March 8 block-shaped croissants are available in flavors like tiramisu Coffee and tea drinks are also on offer to wash it all down Westwood— Spicy malatang restaurant Zhangliang Malatang has landed in West LA with a new location in Westwood. The restaurant offers a build-your-own hotpot set up, with meats, noodles, vegetables, and more. At the end, choose a spice level for the hotpot, which is priced by the pound. 1834 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The shooting occurred around 11 p.m. in a residential area near the 3900 block of Kentucky Drive, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed Saturday. The 39-year-old victim had just parked her car when two unidentified gunmen approached on foot and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Paramedics took the woman to a hospital, where she is listed as stable. The LAPD spokesperson did not confirm how many times the woman was shot, or where the bullets struck her. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are unclear, and it is unknown if the incident was gang-related, the spokesperson said. No further information was immediately available. World & Nation California Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Studio City International Holdings Limited (NYSE: MSC) (“Studio City” or the “Company”) today reported its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31 Total operating revenues for the fourth quarter of 2024 were US$152.9 million compared with total operating revenues of US$141.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The increase was primarily attributable to the continued recovery in inbound tourism in Macau during the fourth quarter of 2024 which led to an increase in revenue from casino contract and higher non-gaming revenues Studio City Casino generated gross gaming revenues of US$321.8 million and US$294.8 million for the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023 Studio City Casino has strategically repositioned itself to focus on the premium mass and mass segments and VIP rolling chip operations at Studio City Casino were transferred to City of Dreams in late October 2024 Studio City Casino’s rolling chip volume was US$165.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 versus US$566.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The rolling chip win rate was 3.48% in the fourth quarter of 2024 versus 1.86% in the fourth quarter of 2023 The expected rolling chip win rate range is 2.85%-3.15% Mass market table games drop increased to US$891.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with US$864.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The mass market table games hold percentage was 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with 30.0% in the fourth quarter of 2023 Gaming machine handle for the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$888.9 million compared with US$778.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The gaming machine win rate was 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023 Revenue from casino contract was US$63.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with US$57.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 Revenue from casino contract is net of gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino which are deducted by Melco Resorts (Macau) Limited the gaming operator of the Studio City Casino (the “Gaming Operator”) Total gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino deducted from gross gaming revenues were US$258.2 million and US$237.8 million in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total non-gaming revenues at Studio City for the fourth quarter of 2024 were US$89.3 million compared with US$84.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$3.1 million compared with US$13.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 Studio City generated Adjusted EBITDA(1) of US$56.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with US$64.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The change was mainly attributable to higher operating costs despite the increase in revenue from casino contract and higher non-gaming revenues Net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited for the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$27.7 million compared with US$18.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 The net loss attributable to participation interest was US$2.6 million and US$1.8 million in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total net non-operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 were US$33.3 million which mainly included interest expense of US$32.4 million Depreciation and amortization costs of US$52.8 million were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 of which US$0.8 million was related to the amortization expense for the land use right The Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City for the three months ended December 31 2024 referred to in the earnings release of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (“Melco”) dated February 27 2025 (“Melco’s Earnings Release”) was US$24.5 million more than the Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release The Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release includes certain intercompany charges that are not included in the Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City contained in Melco’s Earnings Release fees and shared service charges billed between the Company and its subsidiaries and certain subsidiaries of Melco Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City included in Melco’s Earnings Release does not reflect certain gaming concession related costs and certain intercompany costs related to the table games operations at Studio City Casino Financial Position and Capital Expenditures Total cash and bank balances as of December 31 2024 aggregated to US$127.8 million (December 31 including US$0.1 million of restricted cash (December 31 net of unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue premiums at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$2.16 billion (December 31 a reduction of approximately US$12 million net was primarily as a result of the repurchases of the Studio City Finance Limited 6.00% senior notes due 2025 during the fourth quarter of 2024 Studio City Company Limited entered into a senior secured revolving credit facilities agreement in aggregate amount of HK$1,945,000,000 (equivalent to US$250 million) for a term of five years (the “2029 Studio City Senior Secured Credit Facility”) the terms of an existing senior secured credit facilities in an amount of HK$234 million (equivalent to US$30 million) were amended to be in line with the 2029 Studio City Senior Secured Credit Facility with the maturity date being extended to August 29 HK$1.0 million (equivalent to US$0.1 million) was drawn under these credit facilities as of December 31 Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2024 were US$25.6 million Studio City International Holdings Limited reported total operating revenues of US$639.1 million compared with US$445.5 million in the prior year The increase in total operating revenues was primarily attributable to the continued recovery in inbound tourism in Macau in 2024 and the ramp up of operations following the opening of Studio City Phase 2 starting in April 2023 Operating income for 2024 was US$38.1 million compared with operating loss of US$29.0 million for 2023 Studio City generated Adjusted EBITDA of US$245.3 million for the year ended December 31 The change in Adjusted EBITDA was mainly attributable to higher revenue from casino contract and non-gaming revenues partially offset by higher operating costs Net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited for 2024 was US$96.7 million The net loss attributable to participation interest for 2024 was US$9.1 million About Studio City International Holdings Limited The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com For the investment community, please contact:Jeanny KimSenior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate CommunicationsTel: +852 3151 3765Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Studio City International Holdings Limited (NYSE: MSC) (“Studio City” or the “Company”) today announces that the Company’s subsidiary Studio City Company Limited (“Studio City Company”) has entered into a senior credit facilities agreement with a syndicate of banks (the “2024 Credit Facilities Agreement”) Under the terms of the 2024 Credit Facilities Agreement lenders have made available to Studio City Company HK$1.945 billion (equivalent to approximately US$250.0 million) in revolving credit facilities for a term of five years (the “Senior Revolving Facility”) The Credit Facility Agreement also provides an option to increase the commitments under the Senior Revolving Facility in an amount not exceeding US$100 million for Studio City Company to incur further indebtedness under the Senior Revolving Facility subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions The Senior Revolving Facility is secured and is supported by a guarantee from the Company Studio City Investments Limited and each subsidiary of Studio City Company The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Senior Revolving Facility to refinance outstanding indebtedness and for general corporate and working capital purposes Studio City Company has also entered into an amendment and restatement agreement in relation to the senior secured term loan and revolving facilities agreement dated March 15 2021 (as amended and restated from time to time and currently representing HK$234.0 million of committed facilities) (the “Existing Credit Facilities”) to align certain terms of the Existing Credit Facilities with the terms of the 2024 Credit Facilities Agreement (i) the pace of recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on our business (ii) risks associated with the amended Macau gaming law and its implementation by the Macau government (iii) changes in the gaming market and visitations in Macau (vii) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations and (viii) our future business development The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com For the investment community, please contact:Jeanny KimSenior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate CommunicationsTel: +852 3151 3765Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Despite the long-promised death of print, around 500,000 hand-picked books, half the number Spencer has in warehouses, are arriving at what will be his fourth store. The Studio City location will open Dec. 12 for customers enrolled in a membership program, and the grand opening is set for Dec. 14. Spencer, 49, admits that this location came about by pure chance. “Years ago, my wife wanted me to see a table on sale at Designer Views, a store which sells custom and imported furniture, fountains and botanic sculptures,” he says, gesturing toward metal Trojan horses, large pyramid candles and a life-size sculpture of a motorbike made of twisted vines. Spencer’s wife, Jenna, saw that Designers View was subleasing part of its space on Lankershim Boulevard. Spencer struck a deal for 10,000 square feet and agreed to sell some Designers View items on consignment. “Everything is for sale here except the shelves,” he says. Books and large landscape decorations might seem an unlikely pairing, but unexpected design is always part of Spencer’s plans. “We always want something different,” he says. “We don’t like to repeat ourselves. This will be a wabi-sabi, minimal vibe. We’ll have nature sounds on the speakers more than rock music, and maybe some water fountains.” The store climbed onto “must-see” lists and became a shooting location for television shows and movies such as “Gone Girl,” yet Spencer found himself increasingly stuck in the two warehouses out of town, sorting the books that “arrived all day, every day” from donors as well as estate and library sales. “Not that I wasn’t grateful, but it was so time-consuming,” he says with a sigh. “I created the downtown store, set it in motion, but I just haven’t been able to be there to supervise and add my two cents, so it feels less under my control. To me that now belongs more to the people and the staff there. It has a life of its own, and that’s a unique honor. It’s amazing.” Entertainment & Arts The Natural History Museum, NBCUniversal, ArtCenter, Caltech and an affordable housing project make our year-end list. See what other architecture projects changed the SoCal landscape. After a short time living in Oregon and opening a store in Bend, Spencer returned to Southern California. In 2021, he and Jenna opened Lost Books in Montrose, a store that is as much a plant paradise as it is a place for browsing the printed word. Skull-Face Books & Vinyl in Honolulu, where he has family roots, followed in 2022, but he had no plans for another store — until recently. “Barnes & Noble are opening new stores, and BookTok has pushed sales. The desire of Gen Z to have physical media is part of it too,” he says, admitting that he thought he would go out of business during the pandemic. “Then my wife came up with the idea of curated bundles of books,” he says. “We were one of the first places to do that, at least that I know of, and within a week or two we had 2,000 orders that kept us afloat.” Jeremy Horton carries a box of books as the Studio City store prepares to open. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Moving around the new store in his wheelchair, Spencer says they have a four-year sublease to see how things work out, but he’s clearly excited to talk about his ambitions. A little office with large windows is going to be soundproofed and turned into a recording/podcast studio, and a rare books room will be open by appointment. The parking lot, he says, will be used for storage, inventory sorting and events (such as flea markets and $1 sales) and maybe a reading garden. “We also get a lot of ephemera — postcards, pamphlets, letters, magazines — and we have 100 boxes of that. We’re looking to get that out to sell here, and downtown. It’s really unique, fun stuff.” A decade after the death of Salvation Mountain creator Leonard Knight, friends gather to pay tribute and plot how to protect the artwork, which sits on public land. In the longer term, Spencer wants to move into publishing, but as opening day approaches, he’s simply excited to get back on the store floor, meet readers and be a daily part of what has been created here. “Selling books is not a way to get rich. You have to really love it,” he says. “You work hard, but it’s worth it because people love books. It also offers endless creativity, if you want. Selling books by itself can be boring for me, but I like creating a space, an experience.” Television Hollywood Inc. Music Print Weary Los Angeles firefighters were dispatched to fight two new blazes that erupted Wednesday night — a fast-growing brush fire that prompted chaotic evacuations near the Hollywood Hills and a structure fire in Studio City Coverage of the fires ravaging Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Pasadena, including stories about the devastation, issues firefighters faced and the weather. Then shortly before 9 p.m., the LAFD responded to a call for a structure fire at a four-story home at 3656 N. Sunswept Drive in Studio City. Aerial footage captured by KTLA-TV showed firefighting crews blasting water at burning structures situated on winding hillside roads with lots of surrounding vegetation in Studio City. More than 50 firefighters had knocked down that fire by 10 p.m., according to the LAFD. The Palisades fire has burned more than 17,000 acres and 1,000 structures while five people have died in the Eaton fire At least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders firefighters had some success in getting a handle on the Sunset fire thanks in part to the nearby Hollywood Reservoir which allowed helicopters to rapidly replenish water for aerial drops The eastern perimeter of the fire was “holding well” at around 8:30 p.m. thanks to a fire road and the work of ground crews, according to a statement from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department And active flames were extinguished at the heel of the fire while smoldering continued within the interior Helicopters are focusing their efforts on the southwestern side of the blaze where fire activity is most intense blasting the city’s handling of the wildfires Smoke filled the air and water trickled down the hilly streets as crowds gathered at police lines to catch a glimpse of a retreating fire One police officer described the evacuation process as chaotic stood on his front porch just a few hundred yards from the active fire “A friend lost his house this morning in Altadena and I figured I would stay until the last minute,” he said His home of 11 years sits next to Runyon Canyon. Around 4:30 p.m., he saw a nearby fire on the news and stepped outside to a heavy smell of smoke. When the mandatory evacuation notice came shortly thereafter, his wife, daughter and son-in-law quickly packed and left. It took them two hours amid the chaos to drive to Glendale, but Potts stayed and got out his hose. He packed up his truck with essentials and started spraying his house and yard. A firefighter sprays water on the Sunset fire along Vista Street. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) For a while, no help arrived. “Right as I was about to throw in the towel, two helicopters came,” he said. They dropped water and he saw a white cloud of steam that sent embers flying. He kept hosing: “I could see progress from the helicopters.” Up the hill, some firefighters stood watch as others walked hundreds of yards above with chain saws and garden tools, cutting a fire line near the peak of Runyon Canyon. Their flashlights swung left to right as about a dozen men walked single-file across the hilltop. “It’s a miracle that no homes burned here,” one firefighter said. Hours earlier, the flames had approached the mansions that line North Curson Avenue. By 10:30 p.m., they were barely visible on the distant hillside. “These are really nice houses up here,” one firefighter said to another as they watched a helicopter fly by to drop water. Firefighters and residents alike credited the efficient water-dropping with stemming the blaze. The nearby reservoir allowed for frequent trips, a firefighter said. By 10:30, the water drops were happening around every 10 minutes. An evacuation zone was established between the 101 Freeway and Laurel Canyon and between Mulholland Drive and Hollywood Boulevard An evacuation zone was established for the area between the 101 Freeway on the east and Laurel Canyon on the west and between Mulholland Drive on the north and Hollywood Boulevard on the south An evacuation advisory was issued to a wider swath of Hollywood Boulevard south to Sunset Boulevard and west to Coldwater Canyon Drive A shelter for those fleeing the flames was set up at Pan Pacific Recreation Center Meanwhile, more than 2,000 buildings have burned and at least five people are dead in wildfires burning across L.A. County, making this one of the most destructive firestorms to hit the region in memory Fire officials have acknowledged they were overwhelmed by the size and speed of the fires. Winds that drove the fires Tuesday have slowed somewhat, but officials said the danger is still high. 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 Terry Castleman is a data reporter on the Fast Break Desk covering breaking news. In 2020, he was named alongside his colleagues as a Pulitzer Prize finalist in explanatory reporting. Previously, he worked at the New York Times and volunteered as a first responder for refugees arriving on the shores of Lesvos. Sports Climate & Environment A single-story commercial building north of the Los Angeles River in Studio City is set to make way for affordable housing via the Mayor's Executive Directive 1, according to a new application to the Planning Department The proposed development by Thomas Beadel calls for the construction of a new five-story building featuring 102 two-bedroom apartments without on-site parking Findings included with the project's entitlement application indicate that the proposed apartments would be restricted to rent by moderate-, low-, and very low-income households the project would be eligible for density bonus incentives permitting a larger structure than allowed by zoning rules Stockton Architects is designing the contemporary low-rise structure Beadel and Stockton Architects are working on ED1 projects in neighborhoods across Los Angeles, including projects in North Hollywood, Sawtelle, and Mar Vista Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram / Bluesky Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr and housing.lacounty.gov California's 2024 state income limits Click here for additional affordable housing resources ShareSaveCommentLifestyle DiningArtelice Patisserie Finds A Beautiful Sweet Spot In Studio CityByAndy Wang Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Andy Wang is a Los Angeles-based writer who covers food and nightlife.Follow AuthorFeb 07 03:44pm ESTShareSaveCommentArtelice Patisserie makes some of the finest croissants in Los Angeles Artelice Patisserie the Los Angeles pastry sensation founded by brothers Farid and Saaed Azarang in 2017 is now slinging its top-tier croissants (including fruit-forward seasonal options) features signature items like head pastry chef Farid’s plain croissants as well as elaborate single-serving cakes like the roche (hazelnut mousse house-made praline combined with soft caramel and hazelnut sponge) Other standouts include what’s known as the exotic cake (pistachio sponge with a tropical-fruit mousse of mango banana and passion fruit) and a cruffin with pieces of mango and passion fruit cream This is very much a modern French pastry shop Like at its other locations in West Los Angeles and Burbank Artelice’s Studio City store is showcasing the pastry-making artistry flavor combinations and mathematical precision that’s earned the Azarangs a devoted fan base along with catering gigs like the Grammys (Before Farid graduated from Le Cordon Bleu he had trained to be an industrial engineer has a background in mechanical engineering.) Artelice was also responsible for the croissants (filled with vanilla cream and topped with Valrhona chocolate sauce by chef Sean MacDonald) at Burgette an excellent Parisian-style burger bistro that unfortunately closed in Santa Monica last month Guests who are looking for bigger celebratory items at Artelice can pre-order whole cakes (like the round and strikingly red Valentino cake) that feed more than six people Or get a macaron tree with more than a dozen flavor options including raspberry sea salt caramel and milk chocolate Earl Grey Artelice is clearly upping the ante for luxurious bakeries in Studio City Show-stopping individual-sized cakes are made with precision at Artelice And Artelice is part of an extensive Studio City dining makeover mostly on or just off of Ventura Boulevard Newcomers include busy locations of East Coast-inspired sandwich shops Uncle Paulie’s and Ggiata (right by Prince St the Yeastie Boys bagel truck and the Sunday farmers market on Ventura Place) wagyu shawarma specialist Avi Cue (next to KazuNori) and rival shawarma slinger Big Daddy’s Shawarma has become a buzzworthy gathering place for breakfast It helps that the signature tomato-forward L.A topped with local burrata that’s purposefully served cold Nothing mentioned so far qualifies as fine dining but Studio City has long had pricey sushi spots (most notably Asanebo) that have been fueled by visits from locals who’ve made serious TV-syndication money What’s nice about Artelice is that it straddles the line between a high-end experience and an everyday destination You can come here for some of the most over-the-top pastries in Los Angeles But you’ll also do great at this patisserie if you just want a box of plain croissants today reported its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2024 Total operating revenues for the third quarter of 2024 were US$174.6 million compared with total operating revenues of US$137.6 million in the third quarter of 2023 The increase was primarily attributable to the continued recovery in inbound tourism in Macau during the third quarter of 2024 and the ramp up of operations following the opening of Studio City Phase 2 in April 2023 Studio City Casino generated gross gaming revenues of US$335.5 million and US$256.3 million for the third quarters of 2024 and 2023 Studio City Casino’s rolling chip volume was US$494.8 million in the third quarter of 2024 versus US$713.6 million in the third quarter of 2023 The rolling chip win rate was 5.57% in the third quarter of 2024 versus 1.78% in the third quarter of 2023 Mass market table games drop increased to US$912.9 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared with US$809.1 million in the third quarter of 2023 The mass market table games hold percentage was 30.7% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with 27.5% in the third quarter of 2023 Gaming machine handle for the third quarter of 2024 was US$853.0 million compared with US$673.9 million in the third quarter of 2023 The gaming machine win rate was 3.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with 3.2% in the third quarter of 2023 Revenue from casino contract was US$67.3 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared with revenue from casino contract of US$48.6 million for the third quarter of 2023 Total gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino deducted from gross gaming revenues were US$268.1 million and US$207.7 million in the third quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total non-gaming revenues at Studio City for the third quarter of 2024 were US$107.3 million compared with US$89.0 million for the third quarter of 2023 Operating income for the third quarter of 2024 was US$16.0 million compared with operating income of US$3.2 million in the third quarter of 2023 Studio City generated Adjusted EBITDA(1) of US$68.2 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$56.3 million in the third quarter of 2023 The change was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue from casino contract and higher non-gaming revenues Net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited for the third quarter of 2024 was US$21.0 million compared with net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited of US$28.4 million in the third quarter of 2023 The net loss attributable to participation interest was US$2.0 million and US$2.7 million in the third quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total net non-operating expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were US$36.4 million which mainly included interest expense of US$32.8 million Depreciation and amortization costs of US$51.8 million were recorded in the third quarter of 2024 The Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City for the three months ended September 30 2024 referred to in the earnings release of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (“Melco”) dated November 5 2024 (“Melco’s earnings release”) was US$24.7 million more than the Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release The Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release includes certain intercompany charges that are not included in the Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City contained in Melco’s earnings release Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City included in Melco’s earnings release does not reflect certain gaming concession related costs and certain intercompany costs related to the table games operations at Studio City Casino Total cash and bank balances as of September 30 2024 aggregated to US$113.3 million (December 31 at the end of the third quarter of 2024 was US$2.18 billion (December 31 a reduction of approximately US$60 million net was primarily as a result of the repurchases of the Studio City Finance Limited 6.00% senior notes due 2025 during the quarter Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2024 were US$14.1 million The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com For the investment community, please contact:Jeanny KimSenior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate CommunicationsTel: +852 3151 3765Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com The four-storey home at North Sunswept Drive caught fire at about 20:52(PST) on Wednesday Flames engulfed the property as firefighters sought to contain the fire's spread Follow all the latest developments from LA on our live page. ShareSaveWatch: Rihanna's baby bump and suits galore from 2025 Met Gala red carpetThe theme for this year's event was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," the first since 2003 to focus exclusively on menswear. 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Fire destroys historic US church with ties to MLKThe Clayborn Temple in Memphis, Tennessee, was the organising centre for Martin Luther King Jr's final campaign in 1968. Will Canada's newly-elected PM agree to meet Trump?As the polls closed in Canada, Mark Carney told the BBC there's a partnership to be had with the US, but it will be "on our terms". Watch: How Canada's election night unfoldedAn unprecedented win and a message to Trump - a look at how Mark Carney's Liberal Party claimed victory. Watch: Moment Liberal supporters cheer projected Canadian election winCarney supporters erupted into cheers as the party was projected to form a government, reports our correspondent. Watch: Trump's first 100 days… in just 2 minutesClashes, cuts and dozens of executive orders - how the US president's second term is off to a whirlwind start. Watch: Crew survives after powerboat goes airborne and crashesThe race team told BBC News that both drivers were treated, released, and are recovering well, though still sore. The 'Trump effect' and other things to watch for as Canada votesThe BBC's Lyse Doucet breaks down the key issues weighing on voters' minds as Canadians cast their ballots. Watch: What do Americans make of the Canadian election?The BBC asked people in Washington DC if they follow Canadian politics and about the future of US-Canada relations. Reeves: There is a deal to be done with the USChancellor Rachel Reeves speaks to the BBC ahead of talks with her US counterpart in Washington on Friday. What do Canadians really care about (beyond Trump)The BBC asked voters across the country what issues are most important to them ahead of Monday's election. 2025 at 6:14 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The shooting was reported at 11:10 p.m Friday at 3944 Kentucky Drive and Lankershim Boulevard CA — A woman was hospitalized Saturday after she was shot by assailants who followed her home in Studio City had just parked her vehicle when she was approached by two suspects who had followed her in a silver sedan according to the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Division The suspects fired several shots at the woman before fleeing the scene The woman suffered a gunshot wound to her left leg and was taken to a hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics with stable vital signs The suspects were described as men wearing black clothing and black masks 2025 at 12:22 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This map shows the Sunswept Fire perimeter and nearby spot fires as of 11 p.m CA — A large house fire caused a home to collapse down a Studio City Hillside spreading the blaze to nearby vegetation and buildings Wednesday night at a four-story home in the 3,600 block of Sunswept Drive The flames caused the stilts supporting the hillside home to collapse sending an avalanche of burning timber down the ravine. Firefighters were able to extinguish the house fire but multiple other buildings and nearby brush caught fire It was immediately clear how many neighboring buildings burned Residents near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive and Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City were initially warned to prepare for evacuation evacuation orders were not issued as of 11 p.m Wednesday as crews appeared to get the upper hand on the spot fires Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Over 50 firefighters extinguished the Sunswept Fire with no injuries reported The fire extended into the surrounding vegetation created small spot fires and caused some damage to exposed buildings entertainment pros Brian Loucks and Cedering Fox have called this Studio City home their own welcoming a slew of A-listers from Keith Urban to the "Grey's Anatomy" crew Photo : Todd Goodman for Sotheby’s International Realty This vibrant Los Angeles pad has seen its share of glamorous parties filled with celebrity guests thanks to the popular music and literary events hosted by its longtime owners this charming midcentury-modern treasure is hitting the market for the first time in almost 30 years the house belonged to the late William Roberts the mastermind behind The Donna Reed Show and a screenwriter for The Magnificent Seven LATEST: Miley Cyrus' 'Flowers' LA San Fernando Valley Mansion Sold for $5 Million. Nestled at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac on nearly half an acre in Studio City’s Fryman Canyon neighborhood—where George Clooney recently sold his estate for $14.5 million to Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey—this two-story home features five bedrooms and four bathrooms across about 3,700 square feet showcasing bold colors and fun patterns throughout One standout space is the lively green living/piano room which has hosted their “Living Room Series” and “WordTheatre” events featuring big names from music The dining area shines with a custom wet bar cleverly tucked behind closet doors while the sunny yellow kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances and a cozy breakfast nook that opens up to an outdoor dining terrace There’s also a den/library lined with bookshelves and large windows that overlook a sculpture garden and stunning canyon views the primary suite includes a small office area The outdoor space is beautifully landscaped and a shimmering blue-tiled pool surrounded by a sundeck there’s a separate sound studio and office This stunning midcentury-modern home in Studio City once a gathering place for A-list celebrities offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of Hollywood history the property is a true testament to the creativity of its owners featuring iconic events and notable guests Nestled in the coveted Fryman Canyon neighborhood this residence offers an extraordinary living experience : " + response.yes_percentage + "% (" + response.yes_votes + " votes) : " + response.no_percentage + "% (" + response.no_votes + " votes) 2025 7:50AM GMTStream Southern California's News Leader and Original Shows 24/7LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- At least 27 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds The Palisades Fire, burning in the Pacific Palisades, and the Eaton Fire have forced thousands to evacuate and destroyed more than 12,000 structures 5:42 PMWildfires burning in SoCal: Numbers at a glanceHere are all the current wildfires burning in Southern California at a glance 2:15 PM GMTStudio City couple recounts escaping fire that destroyed homesA couple recounts the moment they saw their Studio City home go up in flames in a fire that damaged other homes The fire happened at a four-story residence on Sunswept Drive City of Pasadena issues unsafe water alertThe city of Pasadena has issued an unsafe water alert The city's water system in the Eaton Fire evacuation areas could possibly have debris and elevated turbidity Residents are being asked not to drink tap water and to drink bottled water only "Bottled water should be used for all drinking (including baby formula and juice) and food preparation until further notice," the city's alert said "This also applies to pets and domestic animals." The city is also urging people not to try to treat the water themselves or letting water stand will not make the water safe Pasadena Water and Power will inform residents the water is safe to use again you can call Pasadena Water and Power's 24-hour emergency line at 626-744-4138 SpaceX to provide free Starlink terminals to wildfire areasElon Musk posted to his X account saying that SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in the Los Angeles area as soon as Thursday morning Santa Monica evacuation orders expandedAll areas of Santa Monica north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street are under a mandatory evacuation order An evacuation order for areas north of San Vicente Boulevard were previously issued due to the Palisades Fire today reported its unaudited financial results for the second quarter of 2024 Total operating revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were US$161.5 million compared with total operating revenues of US$115.2 million in the second quarter of 2023 The increase was primarily attributable to the continued recovery in inbound tourism in Macau during the second quarter of 2024 Studio City Casino generated gross gaming revenues of US$339.3 million and US$214.5 million for the second quarters of 2024 and 2023 Studio City Casino’s rolling chip volume was US$813.0 million in the second quarter of 2024 versus US$789.5 million in the second quarter of 2023 The rolling chip win rate was 2.97% in the second quarter of 2024 versus 1.43% in the second quarter of 2023 Mass market table games drop increased to US$955.6 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared with US$716.6 million in the second quarter of 2023 The mass market table games hold percentage was 30.1% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with 25.5% in the second quarter of 2023 Gaming machine handle for the second quarter of 2024 was US$842.4 million compared with US$595.4 million in the second quarter of 2023 The gaming machine win rate was 3.3% in the second quarter of 2024 compared with 3.4% in the second quarter of 2023 Revenue from casino contract was US$62.1 million for the second quarter of 2024 compared with revenue from casino contract of US$31.2 million for the second quarter of 2023 Total gaming taxes and the costs incurred in connection with the on-going operation of the Studio City Casino deducted from gross gaming revenues were US$277.2 million and US$183.3 million in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total non-gaming revenues at Studio City for the second quarter of 2024 were US$99.4 million compared with US$84.0 million for the second quarter of 2023 Operating income for the second quarter of 2024 was US$3.0 million compared with operating loss of US$18.7 million in the second quarter of 2023 Studio City generated Adjusted EBITDA(1) of US$54.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared with Adjusted EBITDA of US$29.1 million in the second quarter of 2023 Net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited for the second quarter of 2024 was US$33.4 million compared with net loss attributable to Studio City International Holdings Limited of US$48.5 million in the second quarter of 2023 The net loss attributable to participation interest was US$3.1 million and US$4.6 million in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023 Total net non-operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$34.9 million which mainly included interest expense of US$33.6 million Depreciation and amortization costs of US$50.3 million were recorded in the second quarter of 2024 The Adjusted EBITDA for Studio City for the three months ended June 30 2024 referred to in the earnings release of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (“Melco”) dated August 13 2024 (“Melco’s earnings release”) was US$25.0 million more than the Adjusted EBITDA of Studio City contained in this press release Total cash and bank balances as of June 30 2024 aggregated to US$186.1 million (December 31 at the end of the second quarter of 2024 was US$2.23 billion (December 31 a reduction of US$100 million primarily as a result of the cash tender offer for the 6.000% senior notes due 2025 issued by Studio City Finance Limited compared to the total debt balance as of March 31 Capital expenditures for the second quarter of 2024 were US$14.3 million The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MSC), is a world-class integrated resort located in Cotai, Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.studiocity-macau.com For the investment community, please contact:Jeanny KimSenior Vice President, Group TreasurerTel: +852 2598 3698Email: jeannykim@melco-resorts.com For media enquiries, please contact: Chimmy LeungExecutive Director, Corporate CommunicationsTel: +852 31513765Email: chimmyleung@melco-resorts.com Her focus is on polling and California politics including the 2024 election and pro-Palestine protests at U.S Martha joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent and had previously freelanced at The Sun She is a graduate of Durham University and did her NCTJ at News Associates You can get in touch with Martha by emailing m.mchardy@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A dramatic video has surfaced showing a Studio City home collapsing into flames as wildfires tear through the area are currently engulfing much of Los Angeles Santa Ana winds rapidly sap moisture from vegetation any spark—whether from downed power lines machinery or natural events such as lightning—can ignite an inferno with containment efforts significantly hindered by the winds' ferocity at least 5 people have died as a result of the wildfires authorities said in a press conference Wednesday At least 2,000 structures have been destroyed across the city A large house fire erupted in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on Wednesday night Video footage of a live broadcast of the fire showed the four-story house collapse as flames engulfed the structure WATCH: Building collapses during new fire in Studio City, Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/wPD7gw2pZR LAFD reported the fire on the 3000 block of North Sunswept Drive at 8:52 p.m. saying the residence was "well involved in fire with exposures and vegetation." The fire reportedly engulfed the home and spread to the nearby brush and jumped to neighboring houses Firefighters quickly shifted to a defensive strategy to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further into the surrounding vegetation The flames consumed the stilts supporting the home prompting crews to act swiftly with water hoses to extinguish them who brought the fire under control within two hours No injuries were reported in the immediate aftermath of the incident The fire took place shortly after another blaze was reported on the other side of the mountains in Hollywood Hills The wildfires began on Tuesday around 11 a.m when fire broke out in the Santa Monica mountains The exact cause is still under investigation but it is believed they are being fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions after low rainfall this season and hours later the authorities reported that it had spread to 2,900 acres At least seven fires have occurred in Los Angeles Those include the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades which has already burned through more than 15,800 acres which is raging inland close to Pasadena across 10,600 acres in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles That has affected 855 acres but is now 10 percent contained the Lidia Fire began on Wednesday in Acton and was at nearly 350 acres with 40 percent containment was quickly brought under control on Wednesday was fully contained on Wednesday after spreading across 15 acres and destroying 2 structures The Sunset fire burned across 60 acres in the Hollywood hills on Wednesday night The wildfires have prompted the mandatory evacuation of more than 130,000 people so far Evacuation orders are currently in place in Pasadena Los Angeles Fire Department said: "Over 50 firefighters extinguished the fire with no injuries reported created small spot fires and caused some (extent not known at this time) damage to exposed buildings." told KTLA: "We did just have the winds pick up again so we are seeing some ember casting from that four-story structure and we're trying to keep it out of the brush right now." Firefighters and other emergency workers continue battling the major fires burning in and around Los Angeles and assisting in evacuation efforts While the potent winds driving the fires to rapidly escalate were expected to die down by Thursday night the initial causes of all the blazes remain under investigation Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all 2024 at 4:19 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Sprouts Farmers Market will open its Studio City location Friday at 7 a.m CA — Grocery chain Sprouts Farmers Market on Friday will open its newest Los Angeles location with a celebration that includes an offer of 20 percent of grocery orders which specializes in organic and healthy foods and fresh produce will open its Studio City location Friday at 7 a.m A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 6:45 a.m The store is located just off the 101 Freeway at 11315 Ventura Blvd. Sprouts has several events planned throughout the weekend to celebrate the grand opening: Shoppers who text “STUDIO” to 777-688 can receive 20% off their purchase over the grand opening weekend with redemptions limited to two per day per account “I am pleased to welcome Sprouts Farmers Market to Council District 4 my team and I have focused on improving access to healthy living options– from expanding public park space to investing in sustainable public transportation– and I’m so glad that our new neighborhood Sprouts shares this value by bringing healthy grocery options and new permanent jobs to our community," Councilmember Nithya Raman said in a statement “We look forward to the positive impact they will have here in Studio City and beyond.” The store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. More information is available on the Sprouts website. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The popular Italian American chain from Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo just opened its fifth location in Studio City Nearly a decade after the first Jon & Vinny’s debuted on Fairfax, the team behind the popular Italian American restaurant chain opened its fifth location in Studio City on August 14 The newest outlet on Moorpark Street took two and a half years to develop and is open daily serving breakfast and Helen Johannesen aim to replicate the ambience and buzz of the original while offering something different that excites the local community “Does the neighborhood want us there or not There will always be people that don’t want you somewhere but what does the majority say?” says Shook The combination of encouragement from neighbors and staff who live in the Valley confirmed to the trio that they were moving into the right location the owners borrowed design elements from the other locations like light wood furnishings and soft lighting Shook says that he wants customers to innately know they are in a Jon & Vinny’s no matter their location What sets Studio City apart is its full liquor license and bar; only wine and beer are served at the other outposts Bar reservations are unavailable to encourage people to casually drop in for a drink or bite Johannesen’s bar menu is based on classic cocktails but with a Jon & Vinny twist “[We’re] trying to strike the perfect balance that our food does so well,” Johannesen says It’s translating that over into the cocktail program.” The menu features two takes on a Negroni one served on the rocks and another poured tableside High-end spirits will be available by the glass “We want to make drinks that we would make for friends at home or that we like to drink,” Johannesen says that’s what feels good and that’s what Jon & Vinny’s is all about.” In addition to cocktails Johannesen oversees wine and beer offerings The food menu at the Studio City restaurant is purposefully the same as the other outlets Shook says that the consistency is meant to avoid misleading diners who look forward to a specific dish “How disappointed would you be if you showed up to your local Jon & Vinny’s that just opened in your neighborhood and it didn’t have your dish?” he says the restaurant serves Anson Mills polenta with olive oil and Parmigiano Reggiano and a breakfast pizza with potatoes and a fried egg The lunch and dinner menus focus on house-made pasta and larger proteins like chicken Parmesan and red wine-marinated sirloin steak Some of the bestsellers include margherita pizza and a gem lettuce salad with Calabrian chile dressing and Italian rainbow cookies are available for dessert The Studio City location offers a kids menu with spaghetti plus a seating arrangement designed to accommodate families inside and on the patio and Johannesen still reverberate with excitement The Studio City location will bring new merch inspired by local movie studios that Shook is looking forward to while Dotolo hopes more people will come out for breakfast which she sees as a manifestation of how the trio collaborates they’re grateful for the initial response from the community and for the opportunity to become a new neighborhood restaurant “I didn’t realize how many people this location resonates with,” Johannesen says “There’s this really amazing moment for us to serve a community here.” Jon & Vinny’s Studio City is located at 11334 Moorpark Street Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Los Angeles straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Los Angeles without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Los Angeles I got an early look at the shop before it has its grand opening on Saturday The Valley outpost came about because the Last Bookstore’s lease was nearly up on its warehouse in Northridge where over a half a million books were stored so the team needed a new base of operations which serves as both storage and retail But the Last Bookstore’s magic lies in the way it’s always combined immaculate vibes and aesthetics with real substance and a love of reading—and the result is getting people into bookstores Owner Josh Spencer and his wife, Jenna, also have a “little sister” bookstore in idyllic Montrose, Lost Books which has a smaller footprint but is an equally enchanting shop that you enter through a plant-lined tunnel Real birdsong—there’s an actual cage with live birds—provides the soundtrack as you browse the labyrinth of bookshelves That makes the Last Bookstore Studio City the couple’s third L.A Located on an unassuming block—its neighbors are a McDonald’s and a Catholic church—near the border of Studio City the 10,000-foot space technically belongs to Designers Views a furniture and landscaping sculpture store that still has another location right across the street Interspersed throughout the Last Bookstore Studio City are some of Designers Views’ large-scale decor items—botanical sculptures huge potted trees and more—that can be purchased When I visited on the first day of the soft opening the employees were still hard at work stocking shelves and arranging decor The front room has a curated selection of new books: bestsellers celebrity memoirs and quite a few books about mythology and you’ll find high bowstring truss ceilings exposed brick and tons of used books organized into hyper-specific categories music books by genre and literary criticism alternative graphic novels and—this one made me smile—shelves devoted purely to Jane Austen fan fiction (from which I snagged Lost in Austen a “create-your-own Jane Austen adventure”). the Last Bookstore Studio City offers a much more Zen and laid-back shopping experience than you’ll find at its Downtown counterpart It’s going for a “reading garden” vibe according to the store’s Instagram account I caught up with owner Josh Spencer to ask his thoughts before this weekend’s grand opening: What's the experience you want shoppers to have at this new location?The same as all our locations: wonder and joy But also a sense of peace and relaxation at this one What makes this a “Last Bookstore,” as opposed to Lost Books in Montrose Is it a matter of square footage?Lost Books is primarily my wife This Studio City store has its own style but is a fusion of both of us and yes it is large like the Last Bookstore Downtown It will also be the hub for all of our inventory receiving We’ll both be working at this store often Why are you excited about opening in the Valley in particular?We’re excited to provide a great bookstore for those who aren’t up for the trek Downtown and all that entails so this is more our neighborhood these days than DTLA How does it feel having played a role in getting people excited about independent bookstores and physical media again since you first opened the Last Bookstore Since I opened the first Last Bookstore and we became known around the world I’ve seen an explosion of new independent stores globally with an emphasis on distinctive design and personality in the bookstore experience It’s been very gratifying to be at the forefront of that new wave of experiential bookstores since the more corporate style faded away The Last Bookstore Studio City is located at 4437 Lankershim Blvd. It officially opens to the public this Saturday, December 14. Visit the store on Instagram at @lastbookstorestudiocity for more information. Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram spotify About us Contact us Time Out magazine and a sturdy massage table commanded the space glowing from LED lights that lined its base sculpted robot arms promised a unique spa experience I was about to get a transformative butt massage by an AI-powered masseuse Aescape sparked a media frenzy when it debuted in New York in August at a handful of Equinox gyms Aescape will open its robotic arms for business Friday at Pause I slipped into specialized compression wear that the Aescape company provided for optimal friction; no oil is required for this massage I selected my playlist on a touch screen (beach house to start I quickly forgot about the overhead depth sensors and surrounding robotics and drifted into calm And although I longed for the intimacy of a human masseuse I found it to be a surprisingly decent session The Aescape massage table (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) First four high-resolution infrared sensors took a 3D scan of my body from above mapping 1.2 million data points — every curve and asymmetric point on my frame much to my chagrin — so Aescape could pinpoint where I was on the table and better target my specific body parts Then its hulking robot arms reached up and around my torso Aescape has heated “hands,” which look like giant pads with touch points on their undersides They’re modeled after the way a massage therapist uses their body parts as tools kneading with the blade of the hand at one point then pressing or rolling with the heel of the palm so Aescape kneaded slowly and deliberately around my scapula at first then applied light rolling pressure along my spine It didn’t feel exactly like a human hand; but surprisingly the experience mirrored that of a sophisticated massage chair in horizontal — not as effective as an actual person but still providing much-needed relief in key areas The Aescape massage is totally customizable You dictate the kind you want — I chose “total back and glutes,” but “upper and mid-back focus” and “lower back glutes and hamstrings focus” were also offerings You can also use the touch screen to control the intensity of your massage as it’s underway As a solution, Litman imagined a “fully automated, customizable massage experience,” with the goal of “bringing personalized wellness robotics to the masses,” as the Aescape company describes its mission Litman founded the robotics company in 2017 and by November 2023 it had $85 million in funding from technology The Aescape massage table’s padded face cradle and user touch screen (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) “The intent was to build a product that addressed the needs of people like myself who struggled with getting the specific massages that their body needed — whether that’s because of a lack of therapist availability a lack of consistency among therapists or just the desire for a very personalized experience,” Litman said in an interview “So what we’ve built is something that caters remarkably well to all three of those needs It’s accessible in many ways: It’s easily booked it’s usable by people who wouldn’t otherwise be comfortable getting a massage [by a human] and it puts you in control allowing you to get the specific massage you want at that moment in time.” AI masseuses don’t need breaks to rest their hands “It can operate 24 hours a day,” Litman said hours when you’re unlikely to find a masseuse available.” Software engineers offer frequent updates to the Aescape tables on the types of massages available or the music you can listen to A holiday playlist was added just this week Aescape is not cheap: $60 for half an hour Aescape knows where your body parts are located in space so as to target the areas you’ve selected for your massage But the feature allowing it to intuit areas of tension that need massaging hasn’t been rolled out yet Aerial sensors take a 3D scan of your body so the massage robot knows where to target your aches and pains (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) “It will continue to learn from all the massages that we give “and allow for people to get a much more customized Times reporter Deborah Vankin after her robot massage (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) As a massage junkie I prefer the warmth and responsiveness of human touch I had run stairs the day before for exercise and my glutes were sore The robot masseuse kneaded my butt in just the right spots and even relieved shoulder tightness from hours of typing at my desk it didn’t interrupt my massage with chitchat Deborah Vankin is a Features writer for the Los Angeles Times covering the $6-trillion world of Wellness from a California perspective. Travel & Experiences Lifestyle 2025 at 10:20 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock)STUDIO CITY CA — Crews extinguished a house fire that spread to multiple homes Wednesday night in Studio City The fire consumed the four-story home before spreading to neighboring homes and nearby brush More than 50 firefighters knocked down the blaze which created small spot fires and caused some damage to exposed buildings Residents near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Mulholland Drive as well as Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City were initially advised to prepare for a potential evacuation City News Service contributed to this report Sylvio Martins Century City all-white gelato shop at the Century City mall is a great spot for a quick midday treat Ice Cream Dessert Beverly Grove Ecco un poco is a small gelato shop in Beverly Grove with a short menu of (delicious) flavors Studio City This Rome transplant (with locations in Beverly Hills and Studio City) stocks over 60 gelato flavors and you’ll want to sample as many as possible 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 2025 at 1:08 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Known for its organic food choices and celebrity clientele Erewhon turned grocery shopping into a trendy activity CA — Luxury supermarket chain Erewhon is expanding its Los Angeles footprint by opening three new stores Known for its organic food choices and celebrity clientele the chain turned grocery shopping into a trendy activity The Glendale store will be Erewhon's third location in the San Fernando Valley The luxury grocery store is set to open near the end of 2025 The company will also open a store in West Hollywood in the summer and a store in Manhattan beach in March, according to the Los Angeles Times. After relocating its central kitchen to a larger space the company said it has the capacity to expand around Southern California “We see 2025 as the beginning of Erewhon 2.0 — a wave of expansion for us,” chief executive Tony Antoci told the Times Read more from the Los Angeles Times: ‘Erewhon 2.0’ is coming with three new locations opening in 2025 ShareSaveCommentLifestyle DiningGet A ‘Sand Coffee’ At A New Middle Eastern Coffee Shop In Studio CityByChelsea Frank 06:03pm EDTShareSaveCommentYala brings a modern twist to ancient Middle Eastern coffee practices Yala Coffee has officially opened its doors in Studio City bringing a taste of the Middle East to this vibrant Los Angeles neighborhood Despite having no formal background in the culinary or hospitality industries husband-and-wife owners Zain and Marissa Shammas are taking traditional coffee brewing methods and infusing them with a modern flair Zain, a film director, and Marissa, a former esthetician, are channeling their creativity and passion for coffee, hospitality and time-honored techniques into Yala Coffee using hot sand to brew coffee with rich and authentic flavors "Yallah" is a common slang term across many Middle Eastern cultures meaning something like "let's go!" or "hurry up!" in Arabic Embracing their mission to modernize traditional Middle Eastern practices they decided to "LA-ify" the name by altering the spelling signaling their intention to not change or claim these techniques "We're making this our own," Zain tells me over an Iced Yala Latte—house made cardamom cream top brown sugar syrup and coffee grounds and their signature hot Evil Eye—sand coffee They also deliberately chose a word that resonates across many Middle Eastern countries creating a sense of inclusivity and community Their goal was to make the shop a welcoming space for the valley's diverse Middle Eastern population—whether Turkish “I’m a first generation American and we wanted to create a new kind of coffee shop highlighting Middle Eastern flavors,” says Zain who describes himself as a “Mediterranean and Middle Eastern mutt” with family ties to Armenia He and Marissa saw a gap in the market for this sort of coffee house and wanted to infuse that cultural blend into the every aspect of the shop—from design to flavors to practices “Every [Middle Eastern country] claims their version of this coffee and it’s cool because I have all of that in me from Matcha to Masala Chai to Marrakesh Mint she was captivated by the way her husband’s extended family brewed coffee whether through videos of family trips or watching Zain’s mother prepare coffee at home she and Zain decided four years ago to bring this unique coffee experience to Los Angeles Marissa took it upon herself to learn the craft hiring a professional barista and diving into what she playfully calls "barista bootcamp," transforming herself into an expert in coffee making Marissa Shammas painted the space herself using a limewash [sand coffee is made] in a wok on the street that’s filled with sand on an open flame and obviously we couldn’t do that here,” Zain laughs this technique involves brewing coffee in a small long-handled brass or copper pot called a cezve which is partially buried in hot sand over a flame or burner that conducts heat through the sand and brew the coffee Cold water and sometimes sugar is added to the cezve during the brew removing it and then returning it to the hot sand which preserves the rich flavor and prevents bitterness The grounds remain at the bottom of the cup the sand instead sits neatly carved into the countertop beautifully on display in their modern and warm minimalist setting that feels more like a relaxing monastery than a coffee shop relaxing and minimal with intentional Middle Eastern decor items Their menu also features traditional flavors like cardamom but it’s the inventive twists that truly stand out the Everything Bagel Za'atar Cheese Danish—a must-try that perfectly blends classic and contemporary elements The Everything Bagel Za'atar Cheese Danish Yala Coffee is more than just a café; it’s a heartfelt fusion of tradition and innovation bringing a taste of Middle East and its hospitality to the San Fernando Valley Whether you’re drawn to the ancient brewing methods or the relaxing atmosphere Yala Coffee is located at 11824 Ventura Blvd CA 91604 and is open every day from 8 AM to 3 PM Words: Rebecca Hardy Attraction is part of Studio City’s $1.3bn phase two expansion Scenario, the award-winning design and fabrication firm, has revealed details of its work on the highly anticipated indoor water park expansion at Studio City in Macau The $1.3 billion phase two expansion also includes two luxury hotel towers – Epic Tower and W Macau – Studio City It follows the award-winning phase one outdoor water park which opened in 2021 Scenario served as a turnkey show contractor for the indoor water park phase two project Its scope included concept refinement The space-travel-themed indoor Melco Water Park includes retail The total space of both outdoor and indoor is approximately 26,000 square meters and a unique Oblivion Pool which extends into the outdoor space the comfortable climate-controlled space includes an intense water roller coaster Guests can also enjoy the Starlight Rapids tube ride and Rockwall Fall which offers a memorable combination of rock climbing and platform diving A spokesperson from the World Waterpark Association’s 2023 Leading Edge Awards comments: “The space travel themed attractions integrate seamlessly with the building interior even cleverly extending outside the building envelope matching the look and feel of the theme and architecture.” Scenario recently attended IAAPA Expo Asia, which took place from 28 to 30 May 2024 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The firm held a party for partners and friends at the Novotel with Park Associates Last year, Scenario announced that Scenario Asia had entered a strategic partnership agreement with Mint This agreement enables the firms to pursue Saudi-based megaprojects Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan includes an aim to develop some of the world’s most innovative and spectacular IP entertainment venues Get the latest attractions industry news direct to your inbox More from this author Visit author's website Blooloop is taking climate action and is now B Corp Certified speed and the best experience on this site