Displaced Families Are Reshaping Los Angeles’ Housing Market on the Westside Home sales and prices across Los Angeles surged in the first quarter of 2025 as thousands of residents displaced by January’s devastating wildfires scrambled to find new housing according to a report released Thursday by Douglas Elliman Fueled by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires which destroyed homes and forced roughly 13,000 families to relocate real estate activity soared in many neighborhoods Total home sales across the city’s Westside climbed 25.2% year-over-year Some of the most dramatic spikes were seen in areas adjacent to the burn zones Santa Monica and Venice saw single-family home sales more than double while West Hollywood and Century City reported gains exceeding 80% Inventory increased 47.7% citywide as more homeowners and developers rushed to take advantage of rising prices Those prices didn’t disappoint: The median sales price in the Westside region climbed 7.7% to nearly $2 million up 12.4% to a record-high median of $1.18 million Luxury condos rose 26% to a median of $3.9 million bolstered by the delivery of high-end new developments selling for as much as $4.7 million Brentwood led the city in price acceleration with the median price of a single-family home reaching $5.1 million Although some of the market’s momentum is expected to taper as the wildfire crisis stabilizes experts say L.A.’s Westside remains highly competitive especially in areas with newer construction and walkable amenities kids are invited to make magic as they journey into the fun-filled is celebrating one year of business this spring... Health Officials Urge Residents to Get Vaccinated Amid Rising Infections  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has declared.. Each station offers access to COVID-19 antigen test kits A public meeting to discuss the proposal and gather community feedback is scheduled for May 8 Santa Monica is preparing.. While algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks have occurred this particular bloom has reportedly impacted more animals than in recent.. well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers .. Federal prosecutors said the defendants submitted false claims following the devastating January 2025 wildfire Three people have been charged in.. A catalog of programs and classes has opened for Summer at Crossroads an immersive experience for students to continue to.. Support Services Lead to Reduction in Frequent Emergency Calls A collaborative effort between the Santa Monica Fire Department and Wise&Healthy.. No injuries reported after unexpected landing in Pacific Palisades On Friday a Cessna 172  that was unable to complete its.. IBEW Teams Up with LADWP to Advance Gender Equity in Public Utilities The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.. and automated rulesets California Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced.. Man Accused of Driving 104 MPH in Fatal Malibu Crash  Fraser Michael Bohm FILM REVIEWTHE ACCOUNTANT 2Rated R124 MinutesReleased April 25th   I’m impressed with The Accountant 2 Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Santa Monica and the surrounding areas Junior Cookies has developed a loyal following in West Hollywood for its fresh Many teachers and parents hear this question daily when it comes to schooling: “When am I ever going to use.. Made with ❤️ by ENKI Tech Caught on Camera: Intoxicated Suspects Punch Restaurant’s Property The front window at the Queen Violet restaurant was shattered late last Thursday night in what staff described as an act of late-night vandalism Surveillance footage captured two intoxicated individuals damaging the storefront around 11 p.m. according to a statement from the restaurant The restaurant posted their camera footage to their Instagram account on Friday: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJKVu2Ny9Og/ The footage shows the suspects tampering with potted plants outside the restaurant before one of them punched through the glass window in an act that the restaurant described as being “just for fun.” No injuries were reported during the incident the restaurant said it is now focused on repairing the damage and resuming regular operations Queen Violet staff expressed gratitude to their neighbors who witnessed the act and promptly contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department The restaurant asked anyone who might have any information about the vandalism to message them and Now a Pool  A sleek new addition to West Hollywood’s fitness.. Political Theater Meets Brunch Crowd in Weekend WeHo Showdown Brandon Straka’s “American Restoration Tour” protest and rally was held in.. Eight-Lot Mulholland Estate Includes a 1950s Ranch Home 31 Acres A sprawling canyon estate in the Beverly Hills Post Office.. Displaced Families Are Reshaping Los Angeles’ Housing Market on the Westside Home sales and prices across Los Angeles surged in.. the Couple Parts Ways and Prepares to Sell Their Family Estate Actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba and.. The Oscar-Winning Actor Says His Love for His Children Remains Unwavering Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro has publicly voiced.. and Go: WeHo Adds Mobile Meter Payment Feature The City of West Hollywood has introduced a new “Text.. A Whimsical Adventure for Families and Fantasy Fans This Weekend Families and fantasy fans alike are invited to embrace.. Investigation of Burglary Attempt at Pico-Robertson Bakery Underway Authorities are searching for four suspects who attempted to burglarize a West.. Students Mark Somber Anniversary With a Film UCPD Responds in Force On the first anniversary of the attack on the.. and Tlayudas Await It’s almost time for the holiday that isn’t celebrated in.. DIY Pizza and Craft Beer Collab Coming to Santa Monica Place Food lovers are invited to roll up their sleeves.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas Political Theater Meets Brunch Crowd in Weekend WeHo Showdown Brandon Straka’s “American Restoration Tour” protest and rally was held in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills in an attempt to convince liberal residents to register as Republicans and embrace MAGA viewpoints there was more going during the confrontation between the protesters and counterprotesters that day.  the “Walk Away” march was met by a spirited counterprotest who had to withdraw from consideration to become the Trump administration’s Attorney General due to the scandal of allegations of child sex trafficking It has recently come to light that a family member of Straka was in the crowd taking photos of counterprotesters faces Journalist Jonathan Green posted video from the protest on social media Fun fact:Brandon has his dad, Dan Straka, planted in the crowd at protests so that he can photograph people’s faces and stalk them https://t.co/fr3pxzW5KL pic.twitter.com/LMIsrCC0xZ was seen photographing counterprotesters in the video Several demonstrators had his cell phone placed very close to their faces and were photographed despite indicating that they did not wish to be photographed who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump following his conviction on a misdemeanor charge related to the January 6 Capitol riot has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with the events in Washington The West Hollywood demonstration played out in contrast to the surrounding neighborhood’s weekend routine locals continued brunching on patios and enjoying drag performances Caught on Camera: Intoxicated Suspects Punch Restaurant’s Property The front window at the Queen Violet restaurant was shattered late last.. The proposed initiative is a power grab from the City that will give the keys to the city to greedy developers who are salivating at the idea of building expensive units without any supervision from the Planning Commission or any feedback from residents Developers are asking Council members for payback after financially supporting their campaigns THIS IS SIMPLY OUTRAGEOUS AND IT WILL DESTROY WEST HOLLYWOOD WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE PROCESS This can’t happen in a progressive city that prides itself on championing civic participation Talent, glamour, charisma, sensuality. So many things come to mind when we think of her. The one and only Marilyn Monroe. With her undeniable beauty and meteoric rise to fame becoming part of pop culture mythology and a true icon of contemporary history View this post on Instagram Barney’s Beanery quickly became a go-to spot in its new home drawing in Hollywood legends like Clara Bow she ordered her favorite: a comforting bowl of chili several sources have confirmed that Monroe was a regular often slipping away during the filming of Some Like It Hot (makes sense…) Used to pay for a chili order that cost just $2 Barney’s Beanery continues to serve up its beloved chili to this day making it a must-visit for anyone who appreciates classic dishes with a fiery kick and a touch of Hollywood legend A sleek new addition to West Hollywood’s fitness and lifestyle scene is set to make waves later this month known for blending luxury design with high-energy workouts will unveil the neighborhood’s only private outdoor pool deck as part of its West Hollywood location has already generated buzz in the community it will distinguish the West Hollywood gym from John Reed’s 46 other locations around the globe While the fitness brand’s flagship opened in Downtown Los Angeles in 2016 the West Hollywood club will be the first to offer a pool experience said in an interview with Los Angeles Magazine,“We couldn’t be more excited to unveil this new offering at our vibrant West Hollywood JOHN REED location As the only outdoor pool in WeHo and the first of its kind this will give our members an unparalleled exclusive experience adding a new level of luxury and relaxation to their daily workout.” John Reed has built a global following for its immersive workout environments which pair high-end equipment with curated music The West Hollywood facility will continue that tradition with an additional dose of resort-style flair thanks to its poolside component the gym offers a full roster of custom fitness classes and training programs aiming to appeal to fitness enthusiasts looking for more than just a treadmill and a weight rack Investigation Underway After Intruder Breaches Star’s Property An unnamed man was arrested Monday after driving his vehicle through the front.. Print Supporters of President Trump and counterprotesters converged in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills on Sunday in a small but raucous confrontation that included a performance from a pro-Trump punk rock star and remarks from a disgraced former congressman At a rally aimed at encouraging voters to leave the Democratic Party Matt Gaetz portrayed the Republican Party as “patriotic and joyful” while denigrating the opposition as “angry and lonely.” “They are the movement that allowed this great state to burn,” Gaetz said “They are the movement that turned what was paradise over to the homeless and illegal aliens.” who now hosts a political news show from San Diego had stepped down from his congressional seat after Trump nominated him to be the nation’s attorney general The nomination sparked controversy because Gaetz was previously under investigation by the Department of Justice for allegations of child sex trafficking Matt Gaetz spoke Sunday at a Beverly Hills rally that aimed to persuade Democrats to drop their party registration and join Republicans (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Gaetz ultimately withdrew himself from consideration for the attorney general post the House Ethics Committee reported that it had found evidence that he abused drugs and paid for sex His scandal-ridden history went unmentioned at the rally Sunday where he beckoned those disaffected with the left to join Republicans “If you come to our side,” he told a few hundred attendees “we will welcome you with a patriotic embrace.” dubbed the “American Restoration Tour,” was largely peaceful with the exception of a small fight and an arrest Private security guards tackled a man who appeared to be wearing a kilt and yelling He was seen being handcuffed by police officers as Trump supporters chanted “U.S.A.” One person was arrested at the rally on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon although it was unclear whether it was the same individual as the one who was apparently detained by officers No additional details were available Sunday evening The rally was held in Beverly Gardens Park, a lush green space that runs parallel to Santa Monica Boulevard and has been the site of frequent demonstrations in support of Trump. Although much of the affluent Westside skews liberal, Beverly Hills is home to neighborhoods that repeatedly voted for Trump. Politics Former President Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the race for the White House on Wednesday. Shiva Bagheri, the organizer of some pro-Trump gatherings there in 2020, told the crowd that she fled Iran because of the effect of “radical Islam” on the nation. Bagheri said she voted for President Obama, but the “bubble was popped” because he gave “boatloads of cash to Iran.” A common thread of the roughly two-hour rally were speakers such as Bagheri: former liberals who felt disenfranchised by the Democratic Party and became full-throated Trump supporters. Actress Natalie Beisner, who voted for Hillary Clinton and Obama, said the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns made her rethink her political views. Beisner said that due to the shutdowns, she lost two jobs and her grandmother died alone, while at the same time, protesters prompted by the death of George Floyd could gather en masse. When she raised such concerns, Beisner said, she was called racist and selfish. “These people refused to acknowledge that I might have an honest reason for disagreeing with them. There was no conversation,” she said. “So I walked away from the Democrat Party because for the first time in my life, I connected my suffering directly to Democrat policies.” Before the rally, which was organized by the creator of the #WalkAway social media campaign encouraging voters to leave the Democratic Party, Trump supporters gathered in the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in West Hollywood to march into Beverly Hills. As diners along Santa Monica Boulevard brunched on patios and took in a drag queen performance, several dozen pro-Trump marchers chanted, “Walk away from hate.” Anti-Trump protesters and members of the #WalkAway movement confronted one another Sunday in West Hollywood. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) A slightly larger number of counterprotesters had gathered nearby, yelling, “No KKK! No fascist USA! No Trump!” A West Hollywood resident who went by the name Anniejump came with a loud speaker and pink bandannas. She called the group “bigots” who came to the community of West Hollywood “to attack queers.” “Anybody who doesn’t like fascists wants them out of town,” Anniejump said. But the LGBTQ+ community is not monolithic in its political views. Hunter Gibson, a 29-year-old gay man, told The Times that he felt that in places such as West Hollywood, “if you don’t think a certain way, you’re ostracized.” Conservative groups, he said, were more open to dialogue. At the rally, several speakers focused on the transgender community. After the event, Brandon Straka, a gay man and the founder of the #WalkAway campaign behind Sunday’s event, expressed concern about transitioning by underage people. Brandon Straka, the founder of #WalkAway, marches in West Hollywood on Sunday as part of a campaign to persuade Democrats to join the Republican Party. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) Straka was pardoned by Trump in January after being convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. “I think you can be pro-transgender and also recognize that there’s a culture that’s too permissive, that’s turning people into permanent victims, especially people who are not actually transgender,” he said in an interview. Cherie Currie, the former lead singer of the Runaways, sang “Cherry Bomb” at the rally. The 1976 song was a subversive celebration of female sexuality and rejection of the patriarchy by an all-female band. Currie has since become a supporter of the Gays Against Groomers movement. Lila Seidman is a reporter focused on California wildlife and the outdoors for the Los Angeles Times. Since joining The Times in 2020, she has investigated mental health policy and jumped on breaking news. A native Angeleno, Seidman holds a bachelor’s degree from Reed College and a master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Seema Mehta is a veteran political writer who covers national and state politics, including the 2026 gubernatorial race. Since starting at Los Angeles Times in 1998, she has covered multiple presidential, state and local races. In 2019, she completed a Knight-Wallace fellowship at the University of Michigan. California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The LASD West Hollywood Station provides law enforcement services for the City of West Hollywood and the unincorporated Universal CityWalk https://youtu.be/LofU0m8OsJ4 Every second counts during an emergency response emergency vehicles rely on drivers to do their part and clear the… See the most recent messages from LASD - West Hollywood Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff, powered by Nixle Sign up to receive messages by email & text message visitor parking permits will no longer be available at the West Hollywood Sheriff Station Visitor permits may be acquired at the Kings Road Garage or online through the City’s Permit-by-Plate self-service portal To report any other crime activity, contact the West Hollywood Station at (310) 855-8850 (Tips are not received directly by the West Hollywood Station Do not use this for emergency situations.) Tipsters now have the option of texting us tips through their cell phone The process is completely secure and anonymous and is a very effective and efficient means of safely communicating with us in today’s world 1 – Text “TIPLA” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) 2 – Upon reception of a tipster’s first incoming message the system will auto-reply with a confirmation containing their unique Tip ID 4 – All follow-up tips and even your replies from the application are written under the original parent record and shown threaded and date/time stamped in the narrative The session may be terminated by the tipster texting STOP into the system at any time or by you manually selecting the “Terminate Thread” button from within the application Click here for the West Hollywood City Map that shows our jurisdiction within the city Find a nearby policing agency based on address. Our station is also responsible for the Federal Building located at 11000 Wilshire Boulevard Note: Routine law enforcement conducted by the Federal Protective Police To obtain a Restraining Order in the West Hollywood Station area peace officers can obtain emergency protective orders (only valid until the victim can apply for a restraining order from the local court) For more information, go to the Court Services Division; click here. You report crime by calling 911 if it is an emergency, contact your local Sheriff's Station or police department, or remain anonymous by calling Los Angeles-Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org 3 ways to provide anonymous tips to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: Text “TIPLA” plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) Upon reception of a tipster’s first incoming message All follow-up tips and even your replies from the application are written under the original parent record and shown threaded and date/time stamped in the narrative All phone lines are encrypted and no phone calls are ever recorded Tips are then sent onto LA Crime Stoppers for further evaluation By guaranteeing a caller’s anonymity Crime Stoppers allows the caller to provide information without fear of retaliation By offering cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest or criminal filing the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities allow the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time but also provides a secure means for the coordinator to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface Click HERE to submit a tip The primary Mission of Parking Enforcement Detail (PED) is to ensure the residents of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County are provided with expeditious vehicle movement to help alleviate parking congestion improve the availability of parking choices and to assist the communities in addressing all parking related matters apportion scarce parking spaces for all legitimate vehicles by insuring those who violate parking regulations are properly addressed through the California Vehicle Codes (CVC) the Los Angeles County Vehicle Codes (LACoVC) and other various municipal codes Each Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station has a Parking Enforcement unit Please visit the Stations page to find your local Sheriff's Station Station Locations Please visit the LA county Sheriff's Department Pay by web site Pay by web For more street services in LA County please report your problem here: Public Works Los Angeles County To contact the proper Sheriff's station for your parking concerns and to send an email request for service; first determine who services your address by entering the area location address and click the "Find" button. The 22-year-old film school graduate, who works as a receptionist at the Ross Stores buying office in downtown Los Angeles, said that for most of those applications, she never heard back — not even a rejection. When she did land follow-up interviews, she was almost always ghosted afterward. “I knew that I wouldn’t be a famous screenwriter or anything straight out of college,” said Hernandez, who graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2024. But she thought she’d at least be qualified for an entry-level film industry job. “It shouldn’t be this hard,” she kept thinking. Movies Hollywood’s crew members reflect on a 2024 marked by production slowdowns mental health struggles and sacrifices as they brace for a fragile recovery Studios scrambling to cut costs amid the turbulence were quick to slash low-level positions that historically got rookies in the door. “You almost feel cursed,” said Ryan Gimeson, who graduated from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in 2023, in the early days of the writers’ strike. And while screenwriting has always been a competitive field, industry veterans attested that the conditions have rarely ever been harsher for young writers. “In the past 40 years of doing this, this is the most disruptive I’ve ever seen it,” said Tom Nunan, founder of Bull’s Eye Entertainment and a lecturer in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Television As reality TV takes a hit amid a slowdown in Hollywood production crew members lament the loss of jobs to “runaway production,” cutbacks and consolidation The landscape is especially dry in television writing, according to a jobs report released last month by the Writers Guild of America. TV writing roles dropped 42% in the 2023-2024 season that coincided with the strikes, the report said. About a third of those cuts were to lower-level appointments. It’s a far cry from the TV business Liz Alper broke into 15 years ago. Alper, an L.A.-based writer-producer and co-founder of the fair worker treatment movement #PayUpHollywood, came up in the early 2010s, when opportunities in scripted television were still plentiful. The CW, for instance, was putting out three original one-hour shows a night, or about 18 to 21 original pieces of programming a week, Alper said. That translated to anywhere between 100 and 200 staff writer slots. Hollywood Inc. The TV station group aims to make the network more compatible with its local newscasts the rise of streaming has essentially done the opposite — poaching cable subscribers edging out episodic programming with bingeable on-demand series and cutting writing jobs in the process The job scarcity has driven those in entry-level positions to stay there longer than they used to. A 2021 #PayUpHollywood survey found that most support staffers were in their late twenties, several years older than they were on average a decade ago. Without those employees moving up and creating vacancies, recent graduates have nowhere to come in. “I think if you have a job, it feels like you’ve got one of the lifeboats on the Titanic, and you’re not willing to give up the seat,” Alper said. After strikes by actors and writers last year Los Angeles’ entertainment economy is struggling to stage a comeback as production activity employment and box office revenue are down The entertainment job market has also suffered from the ongoing exodus of productions from California where costs are high and tax incentives are low Meanwhile, young creatives are questioning whether L.A. is the place to launch their careers. In 2024, soundstage occupancy levels decreased to 63%, down from 69% the year before. The number of on-stage shoot days for 2023 also declined, according to a new report. Peter Gerard. (Robert Hanashiro / For The Times) Peter Gerard, 24, moved to L.A. from Maryland two years ago to pursue TV writing. After graduating with a data science degree from the University of Maryland, he sensed it was his last chance to chase his dream. Within weeks of arriving in L.A. in April 2023, he landed a handful of job interviews and even felt hopeful about a few. “I came moments before disaster, and I had no idea,” he said. In the days before the Writers Guild of America called on members to strike, the creators of hit shows, including ‘Shrinking,’ ‘The Last of Us’ and more, gathered to discuss the state of the industry. During the slowdown, Gerard filled his time by working on independent films, attending writing classes and building his portfolio. He was fine without a full-time gig, he said, figuring L.A. would work its magic on him eventually. Such “cosmic choreography” touched writer-producer Jill Goldsmith nearly 30 years ago, she said, when she left her job as a public defender in Chicago to pursue TV writing. After seven trying months in L.A., her luck turned when she met “NYPD Blue” co-creator David Milch in line at a Santa Monica chocolate shop. Goldsmith sent him a script, the show bought it and she got her first credit in 1998. Goldsmith, a lecturer in the UCLA MFA program in the School of Theater, Film and Television, said she tells her students such opportunities only come when they meet fate halfway. But hearing veteran writers mourn their lost jobs and L.A.’s bygone glory led Gerard to question his own bid for success. “I felt sorry for them, but it also made me realize, like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of people who want to do this, and a lot of them are much further along than me, with nothing to show for it,’” he said. Film and TV writers of varying experience levels are struggling to find work after the Hollywood strikes amid an ongoing industry contraction. Lore Olivera. (Robert Hanashiro / For The Times) As the youngest staff writer in her current writers’ room, Lore V. Olivera, 26, has gotten used to her senior counterparts waxing nostalgic about the “good old times.” “I think they’re definitely romanticizing a bit,” she said, “but there is some truth in there.” Olivera landed her first staff writer job in 2023, a year after graduating from Stanford University. The process was straightforward: her reps cold-emailed her samples to a showrunner, he liked them, she interviewed and got the job. But Olivera said such success stories are rare. “I was ridiculously lucky,” she said. Still, getting staffed is no finish line, she added, just a 20-week pause on the panic of finding the next gig. What does a TV writer do? How do you become one? How do you move up? How much money can you make? The L.A. Times is explaining the entertainment industry — here’s what you need to know about being a TV writer. Olivera is also the only staff writer in her current room, with all her colleagues holding higher titles like editor or producer. It’s a natural consequence, she said, of showrunners facing pressure to fill limited positions with heavy-hitters already proven capable of creating hits. Olivera said she knows not every 26-year-old was getting hired a few decades ago, but even her elder peers agreed the industry has lost a former air of possibility. “It’s definitely a slap in the face when you get here and you’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s going to be a few miserable years, and then I might not even make it,’” Olivera said. “Not even because I’m good or bad... but just because the industry is so dead and so afraid of taking chances.’” Entertainment & Arts a wondrous mythology has emerged about Los Angeles in cultural circles who graduated from Chapman’s Dodge college in 2023 But the industry hasn’t given them anywhere to put it Instead, studios are pouring money into remakes, the 24-year old said, even as consumers have displayed their appetite for original material. “I hope that we move into an era of film where it’s new, fresh ideas and new perspectives and having an open mind to the voice of our generation,” Gillams said. Until then, the filmmaker said she’ll continue to create work for herself. During the strikes, Gillams and a production team with no budget made the short film “Sincero,” which won the audience award for short documentary at the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival. As she continues the search for a distributor for the doc, she already has another project in the works. Director Joe Burke and longtime collaborator Oliver Cooper make microbudget indies. Their new one, ‘Burt,’ doesn’t have a distributor yet, just tons of heart. Weary from the “black hole” of job applications, Hernandez said she, too, is focused on bringing her own work to life. In an ideal world, that leads to a film festival or two, maybe even agency representation. But mostly, what drives her is pride in the work itself. “If I’m successful in my mind,” said Hernandez, “I’m content with that.” Business Print Betsy Martinez couldn’t stop smiling as she checked TikTok for updates The day before, she had posted a video in which she danced with a skeleton to Lady Gaga’s “Zombieboy,” just as the singer had done a few days before at Coachella Lady Gaga’s official TikTok account engaged with her video “I woke up this morning to people commenting like Gaga reposted and commented’ and all this stuff,” Martinez said Having Lady Gaga interact with her video embodies the spirit that drove Martinez and her wife to open Fan Girl Cafe in November 2023 and the type of energy that has inhabited the locale’s four walls going back to its nearly 20 years as two of L.A.’s premier music clubs The coffee shop sits on Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Boulevard and is tucked in the back of a small shopping center next to a nail salon and a deli The inspiration for the photo-covered wall came from Martinez’s work in concert photography, with many of the pieces in the shop bearing her credit. As a teen, Jefri Lindo trekked across L.A. on buses looking for work. He was brewing a future as the co-owner of Ülëw Coffee and Juice. She first got into the world of music photography while growing up as a punk- and ska-loving teenager in Orange County and Riverside County who frequented Warped Tour and chronicled her experiences in zines. Martinez stepped away from concert photography as she got older but stayed in the music world, working as a server and bartender at venues across Southern California — while pursuing screenwriting on the side. When her film dreams “didn’t pan out,” she went back to music photography, launching her own blog, “Fan Girl L.A.,” in 2020. That dream was crushed too with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) But as every screenwriter knows — when one scene ends, another begins. Originally from the Coyoacán borough of Mexico City, the Fan Girl co-owner studied chemical engineering and moved to the Central Coast city of Santa Maria to work in a food safety lab in 2016. Image We reached out to the people in Halsey’s universe who have seen her through the process of creating the Summaeverythang Community Center and are helping make it happen. She grew up in a “very, very musical family” who constantly threw on the music of English-language acts such as the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Abba and Chicago, in addition to the legends and contemporaries of Mexican music. “Mexico City has one of the biggest fan bases in the world for music,” Temblador said. “Everyone is a fangirl there, so that’s like part of every person in Mexico City.” The 33-year-old said that while living in Santa Maria she missed going to concerts, like she had for decades in her hometown. To alleviate that longing, she frequently visited Los Angeles to catch shows. It was that shared love of music that set things into motion for Martinez and Temblador when they met on Bumble in 2020. “I was in West Hollywood and Cynthia was in the Central Coast, but because of what was going on in the world, I think it was meant to be because I would never would have met someone that far away,” said Martinez, whose work was indefinitely on hold at the time. “It kind of all just worked out for us to make it work.” The couple spent a lot of time hanging out at coffee shops in L.A. — as Temblador worked remotely — and they began to notice that a lot of cafes were lacking something. Lifestyle is attracting lines of people who want to commemorate moments in a tangible way [coffee shops] used to be more of a vibe and an atmosphere,” Martinez said “It kind of started making me think it would be really cool to have a place [like that].” Those were the first seeds of Fan Girl Cafe but the vision grew bigger as the duo wanted to create a “different scene” in West Hollywood that wasn’t centered on drinking alcohol They quickly realized finding a location was an uphill battle in West Hollywood especially since they had no additional financial backing outside of their own savings The cafe’s current location was the first space they eyed while on their real estate hunt in 2021 and something about the space — besides its affordability — kept calling Martinez back to it the couple put down their first payment and began the hard work of remodeling ‘A Kiss across the Ocean: Transatlantic Intimacies of British Post-Punk and US Latinidad’ has connected author Richard T Rodríguez with fellow admirers of the genre With the help of family and friends, they painted walls, hung photos and crafted a stage and benches. Their renovation included two themed restrooms: a bright-pink one that plays Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” on loop and a second dark-colored one featuring collages of historic women artists. After facing setbacks in construction due to Tropical Storm Hilary in August 2023 What Martinez and her wife didn’t know at the time of purchasing the space was its storied musical history dating to the 1960s (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) From 1961 to 1973 it was home to P.J.’s It hosted famous acts such as Kool & the Gang and the Flying Burrito Brothers The venue later became the Starwood nightclub from 1973 to 1981 It wasn’t until two patrons — including a member of Bauhaus — reminisced on their days at the Starwood that the couple discovered what their coffee shop once was they learned that the former club’s punk stage was located where their register now stands “Knowing that Mötley Crüe and the Go-Go’s played where we extract our coffee .. it’s just like such energy,” Temblador said Mötley Crüe performed its first concert as a band at the Starwood Other big-time names that played there include Van Halen Realizing that artists whose photos hung in the cafe had performed in the very same location decades prior felt like connecting the dots for Martinez Maybe that’s why I kept coming back to this place,” she said Music What transpired in rowdy clubs 30 years ago is capturing the interest of scholars “It’s like cosmic energy,” Temblador chimed in The couple looks to commemorate the Starwood in small ways like naming a food item or drink after the nightclub or setting up a QR code in the shop that leads to an informational website They also hope to have a gallery night to display old photos show archival reviews and play recordings of bands that played the venue (L.A. Times Archives) “Sometimes people now just walk in and go straight to the little merch table,” Martinez said. “As [people] check out, they grab a few stickers and it helps sales. And then when we get new things in, I’ll tag the company that it’s from, and I think they appreciate that and they’re excited.” For now, the couple is working out the kinks of running a coffee shop with no previous management experience and learning to balance the business and the personal. But one thing holding it all together is the joy and community that has formed around the love of music and an appreciation for a good cup of coffee. “It was just important to have a true community space, and I think that’s what we’ve built here. We’ve seen strangers become friends,” Martinez said. “There’s really no pressure when you come in here. It’s a place you can go on a date, you can go with your friends or you can go alone. And I think everyone feels comfortable here.” the Los Angeles Times vertical that explores Latino culture and identity He previously worked at The Times as a reporter with the Fast Break team a member of the 2022-23 Los Angeles Times Fellowship class as an editorial assistant and intern with Arts and Entertainment and at the Houston Chronicle as a features intern County native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he majored in history and minored in journalism the West Hollywood bakery known for its hand-decorated is opening a second location on Santa Monica’s Main Street Construction is already underway at 2726 Main St. with signage in the window promising a Spring/Summer 2025 opening The expansion marks a new chapter for founder Halil Sevis who opened the original Junior Cookies in April 2022 at 8703 Santa Monica Blvd “We’ve signed our lease in Santa Monica and are just waiting on plan checks,” Sevis told WeHo Times in a December interview The bakery specializes in decorated cookie cups and stuffed cookies Salted Almond Chocolate Chip (plant-based and gluten-friendly) and a Nutella-stuffed signature called the “Not-So-Junior” Cookie The cookies are made to order throughout the day including the *Oreo Confetti Cheesecake Cookie* by reality TV star Heather Dubrow Sevis credits the success of the business to his close-knit family who help with everything from recipe development to day-to-day operations Junior Cookies rose to prominence through food delivery apps during the early days of the pandemic eventually ranking among Uber Eats’ top 1% in the U.S Sevis told WeHoTimes that he’s eyeing future locations in Culver City “We’re expanding with our family,” he said and we want to keep Junior Cookies a family affair.” The 2,091-square-foot condo occupies the second floor of a 1972-built structure and features sweeping ocean views A beachfront condominium in.. the Gondoliers have clinched the top spot in their league and will look.. Firefighters from both departments worked together to inspect the aircraft for potential damage A small aircraft made an emergency landing.. Open houses for the property are scheduled to begin May 6 A rare stretch of undeveloped property along the Venice.. well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers .. The grandmother’s injuries were not life-threatening A woman was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing her grandmother during a domestic.. Roll out the … robots.  An afterschool learning center for robotics and STEM is hosting weekly camps this summer designed.. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and events in Venice and the surrounding areas The 38 Best Tacos in Los Angeles The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors The Best Places to Eat Near Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, According to an Eater Editor Where to eat right now around the City of Angels Though the local dining scene has endured tremendous challenges in recent years the city’s spirit of breaking ground and exploring new cuisines and forms continues every month we narrow the field to those places that are drawing the most excitement focusing largely on restaurants that have only been open for six months or less When an Eater editor visits a new restaurant we share insider tips on what to expect and what’s worth ordering as well New this update: Santa Monica California Italian restaurant Cosetta cult-favorite South Korean dessert shop Cafe Knotted Chinatown’s new-school Chinese American restaurant Firstborn chef Mei Lin’s fine dining destination 88 Club and Mar Vista’s Beethoven Market have been added this month For even more of an insider’s perspective on how to eat well in Los Angeles, pick up our guidebook: The Eater Guide to Los Angeles. For restaurants that have established themselves as one of the city’s best, check out Eater LA’s Essential 38 Pasjoli chef Dave Beran has returned to a tasting menu-only format with Seline a spiritual successor to his previous Michelin-starred restaurant Dialogue Beran acknowledges Seline as the more complete fully thought-out effort that Dialogue helped establish a former chef de cuisine of Alinea and executive chef of Next tailors the ingredient mix to seasonal California offerings 14-course journey that includes roast squash and caviar-topped coffee custard sauce for dessert brooding room offers pops of color from controversial artist David Choe while the fully open kitchen lets one watch the action from start to finish The Best Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Los Angeles Prolific South Bay chef David LeFevre and protege Alice Mai have finally opened their California Mediterranean restaurant Attagirl in the former Dia de Campo space in Hermosa Beach serving an expansive array of modern mezze Themed around the kinds of foods chefs like to eat every day of the week expect puffy focaccia rounds and plush pita scooping up spicy whipped feta or charred cucumber tzatziki Spaghetti alle vongole or spinach rigatoni will help scratch the pasta itch while most folks will opt for a variety of wood-grilled skewers like wild Mexican shrimp or rosemary-marinated beef tenderloin boisterous dining room segmented between tables all meant to accommodate a dedicated Hermosa crowd who have descended in droves since day one Korean dessert cafe and cream doughnut specialist Cafe Knotted has landed in the U.S for the first time with a location at the Westfield Century City Cafe Knotted serves a full lineup of its signature cream doughnuts in flavors like strawberries and cream Knotted offers a mega-thick gluten-free chocolate chip cookie and cream-topped lattes in flavors like chestnut tiramisu former two-Michelin-star restaurant Somni has opened in a new West Hollywood location under chef Aitor Zabala Somni occupies a cloistered set of buildings just north of Santa Monica Boulevard serving precise Spanish-inflected modernist tasting menus to a rounded duet of countertops The high-ceiling space acts as a theater of sorts to Zabala’s kitchen crew assembling dashi meringue fish topped with Astrea caviar or escabeche mussels dressed with borage flowers Expect every flavorful turn to be delightful especially for the sky-high $495 price that will inevitably feel justified after experiencing perhaps the most innovative meal in Los Angeles from tight little sports cars to adorable animated characters and this latest bakery that opened in late January is no exception Espresso &’s name is all forgiven once one takes a bite of the plush mou bread shaped like cubes and often stuffed with sweet and savory ingredients There’s one topped with frosting and flavored with cinnamon while the next one is cut into two squares and filled with garlicky pork slices The buttery French toast comes piping hot on a little cast iron skillet and a drizzle of honey provides the ideal sweet finish a wide array of coffee and matcha options are available to pair with the carb fest Given its popularity on social media already and the product has sold out well before its scheduled closing time So be prepared to wait for one of the hottest bakeries in Southern California The team behind Michelin-starred Kali just opened Koast a casual seafood spot along Melrose Avenue chef Kevin Meehan and Drew Langley continue their longtime partnership with their first new restaurant in nine years offering East Coast classics like chowder and fries tossed in Old Bay alongside a dry-aged cheeseburger Meehan hopes to offer a casual weeknight spot for neighbors to come in for a glass of wine and some clams or go all out with caviar and Champagne The main dining room leans into minimalism with rich blue banquettes balanced by medium-hued wood tables and concrete floors One of LA’s best Korean barbecue restaurants has moved into new digs on Western Avenue in Koreatown leaving behind its tight space on Olympic Boulevard The restaurant specializes in gopchang (pig’s intestines) and daechang (marinated beef intestines) alongside a lineup of high-quality cuts like rib-eye cap and marinated galbi The best way to try the house-specialty intestines is in the Chang Combo Get Into the Guts of LA Dining With 19 Delectable Offal Dishes Sri Lankan restaurant Kurrypinch has settled into a new location on Hollywood Boulevard This is the third iteration of Shaheen Ghazaly’s cult-favorite restaurant which previously operated out of locations in Van Nuys and Tarzana Ghazaly cooks his version of popular street food kottu roti (chopped roti with scrambled egg and curry seasonings) lamprais (basmati rice with eggplant and potato curry wrapped in banana leaves) and string hoppers (rice flour strands stir-fried with eggs Pair the dishes with a Sri Lankan take on a michelada with tamarind juice or an aligetapera drink with avocados is making her mark on Highland Park’s pastry scene with her new bakery Santa Canela which is right next door to vinyl bar Gold Line serves a lineup of Mexico City and LA-inspired treats like concha croissants bringing her own twists on classic pastries like kouign-amann with cajeta Santa Canela also serves a potato soyrizo croissant and a cured beef and kale chimichurri focaccia sandwich topped with fried chile güero The mid-century leaning interior was designed by Studio Lena’s Lena Kohl and features striking marble countertops and rich wood cabinets City Expands Nightlife Safety Outreach and Renews Focus on Supporting Survivors In a show of solidarity with survivors of sexual assault the City of West Hollywood will participate in Denim Day on Wednesday joining cities worldwide in raising awareness about rape The annual observance originated from a 1999 court case in Italy in which a rape conviction was overturned on the basis that the victim’s jeans were too tight The ruling sparked public outrage and led to the creation of Denim Day by the nonprofit Peace Over Violence which launched the campaign as a symbolic protest against sexual violence and misconceptions about consent city officials are encouraging residents to wear denim as a public statement of support for survivors West Hollywood staff and public safety officers from the Sheriff’s Station will also participate by donning denim and gathering for a commemorative photo The event is organized annually by the Community Safety Department as part of the city’s broader commitment to education and advocacy Denim Day coincides with National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month during which the city continues to spotlight its Only Yes Means Yes campaign Initially launched in 2016 and expanded in 2021 the initiative promotes consent education and nightlife safety through signage Community members are encouraged to share support using hashtags #DenimDay the city partnered with the Safer WeHo Coalition for a pop-up event on April 25 in the Rainbow District all while reinforcing messages about consent and personal safety in nightlife spaces West Hollywood has expanded its nightlife safety measures becoming the first city in California to mandate Bystander Intervention Training for alcohol-serving establishments led to a training program developed in collaboration with the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Santa Monica focused on recognizing and preventing drug-facilitated sexual assault the city has partnered with the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s WeHo Life program to distribute drink-spiking test strips across local bars and clubs more than 36,000 test strips were delivered to 39 businesses and organizations further supporting the city’s harm-reduction efforts National statistics underscore the urgency of these efforts According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Residents in need of assistance are urged to contact support organizations offering confidential and non-judgmental services: the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station is available 24/7 at (310) 855-8850 For more information on city-led prevention programs and personal safety tips, visit weho.org/publicsafety will need six to nine months and 27,000 dump trucks of dirt to fill in the excavated site Entitlements for the planned mixed-use Melrose Triangle development in West Hollywood, California, have expired, and no development has been proposed to replace them — effectively canceling the project, according to a report presented by city staff to the West Hollywood City Council last month 350,000-square-foot development with 80 apartment units the only work that has been done at the site is excavation for a parking garage The city of West Hollywood has instructed the developer to backfill the hole in a timely manner — a process estimated to require 27,000 dump trucks worth of dirt the Melrose Triangle project team from Charles Co held three community meetings to update locals and interested parties about the upcoming project and the team estimates that it will take between six and nine months to fill the hole depending on weather and the availability of fill materials The team states on its website that market conditions do not permit the Melrose Triangle project to move forward at this time The hole at the Melrose Triangle site, excavated in 2021, is an estimated 270,000 cubic feet in size, said Adrian Gallo, associate planner for West Hollywood, during the city council meeting. In 2024, the site’s drainage system failed, temporarily creating a pool of standing water dubbed the “WeHo Swamp” by locals, according to KTLA5 In response to the city council’s concerns Gallo stated that the infill would not be sourced from debris from California’s recent wildfires and that all infill would be tested for possible contaminants “It’s deeply disappointing to have waited this long on a project only to be left with no project and significant challenges in how we move forward,” said West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers during the meeting “There is nothing ideal about enforcing 27,000 truckloads of dirt — but the hole itself created its own issues with water retention Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Bozzuto and Cardinal Group highlighted the strategies that drive value during a recent webinar Subscribe to Multifamily Dive for top news The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines