Sierra Spirit’s Songs are Stories First
LOS ANGELES — I had the chance to hear Indigenous artist Sierra Spirit perform live June 11 at The Airliner, a small bar and bar-top venue where independent musicians and the fans devoted to them pack into the same dim, blue-lit room. By the time she stepped up to the microphone — glitter streaked like […]
Pasadena to Host “Cuban Music in Exile: A Centennial Celebration” Honoring Composer Aurelio de la Vega
“Cuban Music in Exile: A Centennial Celebration” marks the 100th anniversary of composer Aurelio de la Vega and includes the world premiere of Yalil Guerra’s Symphony for Strings No. 2. Pasadena, California — RYCY Productions proudly announces Cuban Music in Exile: A Centennial Celebration, an upcoming concert presented by the Guerra String Orchestra under the direction of composer […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday, March 6th, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. Supreme Court allows California schools to out trans students On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious parents who challenged California state policies barring public-school teachers from outing trans students to their parents. California […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday, February 27th, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. LAUSD Superintendent on leave after FBI raids home & office This Wednesday, the FBI raided the Los Angeles Unified School District’s headquarters as well as the San Pedro home of its superintendent, Alberto M. Carvalho. The […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday, February 20th, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. Lake Tahoe avalanche is the deadliest in modern California history Eight skiers were killed by an avalanche near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday. A group of 15 skiers, including four guides, were near the end of a […]
Places to Stay: The Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
By J.C. Thomas New Orleans is one of the world’s most enticing vacation destinations thanks to its totally unique heritage and culture. Formative years as a French, and briefly Spanish, colony shaped the sights and sounds of the city so profoundly that it seems any sense of generic Anglo-American-ness simply cannot, will not, take root. […]
2026 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
You didn’t forget that Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, did you? While there are always last-minute flowers and chocolates available, we suggest choosing one of these thoughtful and unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your sweetheart. (All prices, details and availability are subject to change.) Glass Coin of Ephesos Brooch $78 from the Getty […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday, February 6th, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. Hundreds arrested in Los Angeles human trafficking crackdown The Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force announced that a statewide crackdown on human trafficking conducted throughout the last week of January resulted in more than 600 […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday January 23rd, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. San Francisco expands free childcare program Mayor of San Francisco Daniel Lurie announced this week that the city will offer free childcare to families earning less than $230,000. Families earning up to $310,000 will receive a […]
Places to Stay: Hotel St. Pierre, New Orleans, Louisiana
By J.C. Thomas There are some vacation destinations for which any decent hotel will do. You just need a clean, comfortable room in a convenient location. New Orleans, especially the French Quarter, is not one of those destinations. This is a singular place of magic and idiosyncrasy, where anything bland or unremarkable simply will not […]
Weekly Roundup for Friday January 16th, 2026
A roundup of the top stories in California this week, plus links to some good reads for your weekend. Registration for LA28 Olympics tickets has started Registration opened this week for the LA28 Olympics ticket draw. Register online at tickets.la28.org by March 18, 2026, for the opportunity to purchase tickets during the LA and OKC […]
Museum Monday: Moab Giants, Moab, Utah
As a popular southwest tourist destination, Moab, Utah, is best known for its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Its red-rock desert landscape, cut through by the Colorado River, is also a spectacular playground for all kinds of outdoor adventures such as mountain biking, off-roading and thrilling jet boat rides. But there’s a whole […]