Category Archives: CULTURE + HAPPENINGS

More Trees And Micro Forests, Please

December 5, 2021

With the generous funding and support of Wells Fargo, the Los Angeles Parks Foundation (www.laparksfoundation.org) is planting twelve 24-inch box tress – six Tipuana tipu trees and six Quercus lobata trees – at LA’s Devonshire Arleta Park in Pacoima and this is a beautiful thing.

The Devonshire Arleta Park Installation is part of the Los Angeles Park Foundation’s Park Forest initiative, which adds micro forests to city parks throughout Los Angeles to combat the urban heat island effect, close the climate gap, and grow the urban canopy.

LA Parks Foundation’s Executive Director Carolyn Ramsay conceptualized the micro forests for LA Parks with the hope that it will inspire other cities throughout the U.S.A to take similar action. This activation is incredibly timely given the urgent need to combat the national heat crisis, especially given the disproportionate effects of heat on low-income communities.

Planting trees is one of the most important investments we can make in our communities and this initiative is both an environmental justice and a climate action program. Park Forests help offset carbon footprints, improve air quality, cool surface temperatures, and educate the public about climate change. Park Forests help grow the urban canopy and provide new shade coverage in high-need urban neighborhoods, which experience hotter temperatures. Park Forests also foster native wildlife habitats and restore fire damage in communities affected by recent wildfires.

The Devonshire Arleta Park planting follows on the heels of LA Parks Foundation’s installation of seven other micro park forests at Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights district, Lemon Grove Park in Hollywood, Mar Vista Recreation Center, the Miyiwaki Forest at Bette Davis Picnic Area, Robert Burns Park Forest, 29 Canary Island Pines in Griffith Park, and Ross Snyder Recreation Center in South LA.

Los Angeles Parks Foundation hopes to plant thousands of new trees citywide, including 10 park forests a year, for Angelenos and visitors alike to enjoy, including two more forests by the end of 2021.

The Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s mission is to enhance, expand, preserve, and promote public recreation, parks, and open space for the diverse people of Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.laparksfoundation.org

Rooftop Cinema Club Sleighs Into The Holiday Season

November 17, 2021

Rooftop Cinema Club is excited to debut their merry & bright December holiday programming for Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA & The Drive-Up at Santa Monica Airport! Treat yourself all season long & indulge in your favorite holiday films under the stars. Make sure to book your ticket before the clock on 2021 strikes twelve. Guests will have their last chance to experience The Drive-Up at Santa Monica Airport – the venue will take its final bow December 31st.  Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA will close out the season on December 19th with a final screening of Elf.

As we snuggle up for sweater weather, The Drive-Up is merging lanes. No longer do guests have to choose between a VIP Lawn Box seat or cozying up in their car – as the temperature drops, RCC is heating things up by bringing the two together, introducing a PREMIER drive-in ticket option, featuring front section parking and a decked out, fully-furnished Lawn Box in front of each vehicle complete with deckchairs, wireless headphones and side tables. Better yet, each PREMIER ticket includes a 46oz popcorn to share. Guests will also be able to book classic drive-in tickets at the rear section of the cinema, including a dedicated tailgating space for each vehicle.

‘Tis the season for giving! Give the gift of great film with a voucher redeemable at any of RCC’s venues across the US. Continuing to spread holiday cheer, Rooftop Cinema Club is also giving back. Throughout the month of December, RCC has partnered with PATH, and will be hosting a blanket and sock drive at both LA venues, encouraging guests to bring items to donate. When purchasing tickets online, RCC is also offering guests the option to add a dollar donation – a donation they will match at the end of the month.

As for the kiddos, tell them they’ll be sure to land a spot on Santa’s “Nice List” by stopping by RCC’s Kids Club, featuring hosted crafts every Saturday morning at The Drive-Up during daytime screenings for Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! & The Polar Express. And the excitement doesn’t stop there – The Drive-Up will also have an inflatable bounce castle house onsite on select Saturdays for the little ones to burn off some holiday cheer.

Cool New Things From The BARNSDALL ART PARK FOUNDATION

November 2, 2021

22 LA Artists, Architects, and Designers Dedicate their Creativity to the Inaugural Fundraiser
The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation announces the Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop Exhibition and Auction, which will be on view from November 13 to December 4, 2021 at the contemporary art gallery, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles (1110 Mateo Street, Los Angeles). This creative fundraising initiative will support the goal to plant 40 new olive trees at Barnsdall Art Park and maintain the health and overall condition of the site’s 463 existing olive trees. The group exhibition will feature original “Barnsdall Olive Wood” objects created by 22 renowned LA artists, designers, architects, and landscape architects nominated by the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation’s Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop Committee and selected by the Barnsdall Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Earlier this year, the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation partnered with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation to revitalize Barnsdall Art Park’s historic 130-year-old olive grove, which was established in the 1890s. The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation contributed $25,000 to the Los Angeles Parks Foundation’s Adopt-a-Park program, and that grant funded the horticultural survey and forensic analysis of the olive grove, the repair and improvement of its irrigation system, the careful pruning of 400 olive trees, the removal of 20 existing olive tree stumps, and the development of a comprehensive strategy for planting additional olive trees at the park.



The Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop was established by the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation to transform pruned and saved olive wood limbs from the trees in Barnsdall Art Park into creative new objects. From November 13 to December 4, those extraordinary items will be on exhibit at Luis De Jesus Los Angeles.

Beginning November 13, the public may view the group exhibition during the gallery’s normal business hours. (Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 6 pm and Saturday 10 am – 6 pm.) A public opening reception will be held at Luis De Jesus Los Angeles on November 13 from 3 to 7 pm.



The exhibited olive wood objects will also be sold via an online fundraising auction. The net profit from each acquired piece will be divided between the creator of that item and the Barnsdall Olive Grove Fund. The individuals who provide the winning bids for the one of a kind olive wood creations will become members of the Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop Collectors Circle, which will include a special preview of the objects made for the future editions of this annual group exhibition and auction.

The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation is honored and grateful that the following 22 talented individuals and organizations have dedicated their creativity and valuable time to the inaugural Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop Exhibition and Auction.

Tanya Aguiñiga
Kelly Akashi
Jamie Bush + Co.
Cayetano Ferrer
Janna Ireland
Matt Johnson
JPW3
Killspencer: Spencer Nikosey
Galia Linn
Nancy Monk
Kori Newkirk
Offerman Woodshop: Sarah Watlington
Sev’s Wood Crafts: Katherine Pakradouni
Sev’s Wood Crafts: Sev Pakradouni
Brendan Ravenhill
Aili Schmeltz
Azadeh Shladovsky
Emily Sudd
Terremoto: David Godshall
Welcome Projects: Laurel Conseulo Broughton
wrk-shp: Airi Isoda and Ryan Upton
Rosha Yaghmai

Working together to achieve the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation’s fundraising mission will help amplify the beauty and integrity of this treasured landscape, improve the air quality of the East Hollywood community, support the City of Los Angeles’ goal to plant 90,000 new trees as part of L.A.’s Green New Deal, and contribute to a spirit of collective healing, which is vital during these challenging times.

For more information about the Barnsdall Olive Wood Workshop Exhibition and Auction, please visit: www.barnsdall.org/olive-wood-workshop

Bring a Sommelier Right To Your Doorstep with this New Los Angeles-based Wine Club

October 27, 2021

Buying and selecting the right wine is a daunting task to many. But with wine being such a pivotal addition to so many occasions in our social lives (host gifts, birthday presents, dinner parties, park picnics…the list goes on!), relying solely on your personal preference, a well-branded label or what you’ve “heard” is good, can put a lot of pressure on a simple task.

To avoid uncertainty, or worse, ending in disappointment, we suggest signing up for the new female-founded, sommelier-led wine club, SALUTAY, giving you the opportunity to try new wines from small producers around the world, learn about what makes their wine unique and the best part, it is delivered right to your door.

SALUTAY, which launched last week, is a quarterly wine club started by sommelier, Taylor Grant, who comes from years of experience at some of the best hospitality groups in Los Angeles with accolades such as Food & Wine’s Sommelier of the Year and roles as Sommelier at Osteria Mozza, Wine Director for Scopa Italian Roots, Old Lightning, Dama and Dudley Market.

The subscription-based wine club features small production wines with a focus on minimal intervention, organics, and sustainability from regions around the world. This approach allows Grant to share wines she has found (and loved) throughout her career and forge new relationships with up-and-coming winemakers, enthusiasts and collectors alike. For members, this means always staying in the know, exploring interesting varieties and further developing their palette.

SALUTAY’s members can choose from three-tier options that reflect their personality and lifestyle, while also considering their taste for adventurousness when it comes to wine!

The tiers include:

  • Cin-Cin – for the adventurous type – always off the beaten path | 6 bottles for $165 quarterly ($55 per month)
  • Kan Pai – mix of classic wines + new finds | 6 bottles for $165 quarterly ($55 per month)
  • Prost – unique & rare- for the budding collector | 6 bottles for $240 quarterly ($80 per month) or 12 bottles for $477 quarterly ($159 per month)

Each wine club shipment, members receive corresponding info cards with tasting profiles and pairing suggestions to help them learn and grow in their own wine adventure.

Those looking to take their wine knowledge to the next level can opt for their additional offerings including: Virtual Tastings, At Home Tastings and Private Cellar Services – which include an on-call sommelier, competitive retail pricing, concierge services and more.

I don’t know about you but we are diving right into our next wine adventure with SALUTAY!

Website: www.salutay.la
IG: @salutay.la

VEGAN, CRUELTY-FREE, CLEAN SKINCARE, PACIFICA HITS THE ROAD AND LA, YOU’RE INVITED!

September 29, 2021

This looks so fun, we hope to see you there!

Pacifica Beauty’s –  the 100% cruelty-free and vegan brand –  Fluff It Up Truck hitting the streets of Los Angeles on Friday, October 1.

We would love to meet you there for this official debut of the adorably pink and fluffy mobile. Pacifica has partnered with Studs at its Melrose location, the cult-favorite piercing studio, where the mobile will be parked all day from 11 AM and 6 PM.

The day will be jam packed with sampling and gifts from Pacifica’s newest launches, cocktails from Cann, discounts for piercings and jewelry at Studs, cotton candy, and more. 

If we don’t see you on October 1, Pacifica’s Fluff It Up Mobile will be traveling through the streets of Los Angeles and can be found in front of Carrera Cafe on Melrose through October 3. How fun!!