Year in Review 2024: News

January 11

• Following a pre-holiday increase in reports of burglaries, Los Angeles Police Department West LA Burglary Detectives hosted two communitywide town halls via Zoom—explaining on January 3 that 12 suspects had been arrested in connection with some of the incidents. “In the last few weeks, we here at LAPD have arrested seven South American burglary crew suspects,” LAPD Detective Robert Hoebink said. “Our fellow agency partners have arrested another five—that’s Beverly Hills and Glendale.”

January 25

• A tradition started in the Palisadian-Post in 1954 and published since, parents Usman and Lauren Nabi welcomed the first baby born to a Palisadian family in 2024 on January 2 at 7:01 a.m. Asher Nabi is the couple’s third child, after Aiden and Noah. The contest will return in 2025—for those who have a baby near the beginning of the year, email the date and time to mypost@palipost.com to be considered.

February 8

• As the first month of 2024 came to an end, Caruso’s Palisades Village prepared for a couple of tenant changes. FRAME and Cuyana closed their stores, while Golden Goose and Cult Gaia opened in their place in May and July, respectively. Other changes in the development in 2024 included Bonjour Fête relocating from near Swarthmore to near the Park, taking over the space where Flannel closed. AERIN opened its first West Coast location on October 17 in the space Bonjour Fête vacated.
• Approximately 40 individuals volunteered early morning January 24 to help conduct the annual Homeless Count in Pacific Palisades. In data reported July 25, PPTFH’s count results saw a total of 16 individuals experiencing homelessness, 43 vehicles—comprised of 25 cars, 12 vans and six RVs—and three tents, or makeshift shelters. In 2023, PPTFH reported a total of 11 individuals, 35 vehicles and two tents. The count will return to Los Angeles in January 2025. To volunteer for the Palisades count, which will take place on January 23 at 5 a.m., visit count.lahsa.org/pages/volunteer-registration.

March 14

• During its meeting on February 28, Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Design Review voted unanimously to support amended proposed plans to renovate the interior and exterior building of a forthcoming Equinox. The Pacific Palisades location—which will be at 17383 Sunset Boulevard in a space previously occupied by Bay Club—is slated to open before the end of 2024.

March 28

• The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering hosted an online community meeting March 14 to discuss the Potrero Canyon Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge project—the first in a series of public outreach meetings to gather input on plans and disseminate relevant information. The project includes the development of a bridge that would connect Will Rogers State Beach to George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon. The next meeting will take place in spring or summer 2025. For residents who want to stay informed as the project progresses, additional information can be found at potrerocanyonpedbridge.org. The project email address—which is where questions and comments may be sent—is potrerocanyonpedbridge@lacity.org.

May 9

• A treasured tradition in Pacific Palisades, community members age 90 and above gathered for the return of the in-person Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club 90th Birthday Club Celebration—“The Winner’s Circle”—on Saturday, May 4. “We are thrilled to be back meeting in person, as we did food drop-offs for a few years due to protecting against the spread of Covid,” PPWC shared in a statement. “We have had this tradition since 1996.”
• Efforts were underway to keep Santa Monica Canyon eatery Patrick’s Roadhouse open—including a GoFundMe. Owner Anthony Fischler told the Post the restaurant has been in business for over 50 years, serving customers from the Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu and all over the world. “We became a part of the community over decades,” Fischler said. “It became an icon … not just in the area, but all over Los Angeles. It’s listed as one of the things to do when you visit LA.” In an update posted via GoFundMe on October 29, longtime customer Kurt Benjamin, who launched the fundraiser, wrote that funds would be returned to donors on November 12 if an “acceptable lease” was not in place.

May 23

• Pacific Palisades Community Council hosted a special meeting on May 20 regarding the Tramonto landslide and proposed “largescale development” of four homes in Castellammare, ultimately voting in support of urging the city of Los Angeles to require an environmental impact report for the project. The PPCC Board reported in a background summary that it learned about the proposed construction of four homes over 12 existing lots along the 17500 blocks of Tramonto and Revello drives at the top of the Tramonto landslide, ranging from 2,619 square feet to 7,695 square feet. Although they were on the agenda for a December 3 Planning and Land Use Management Committee of the Los Angeles City Council hearing, the homes were not discussed due to a loss of quorum. The case is slated to head to a full City Council meeting in January 2025, according to Castellammare Mesa Home Owners Association. In a letter ahead of the December 3 PLUM hearing, Councilmember Traci Park recommended the project “be remanded back to the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission to ensure the proposed project be reviewed with the benefit of a new CEQA clearance.”

June 13

• As the sun slowly sank into the sea Thursday evening, June 6, Palisades Charter High School faculty and administrators bid a fond farewell to the Class of 2024 in the school’s graduation ceremony on the football field, where 750-plus seniors were handed diplomas during a commencement themed by hope and optimism for the future.
• Representatives from area nonprofit community organizations gathered on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, at Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club for the annual Grant Awards Night, where the 2024 grant recipients were revealed and congratulated. “Through various fundraising endeavors, the PPWC members raise funds which are then awarded to a variety of nonprofit community organizations in the Palisades,” according to the event program. “Each year the grant fund distribution is decided upon by PPWC members. Each member of the club has an impact on our community via her vote.”
• While Cinque Terre West closed its Monument Street restaurant and wine bar effective June 23, Palisadians do not have to search far to enjoy Chef Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni’s food, as DELIzioso Cinque remains open. “After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision not to renew our lease and will therefore be closing the doors of Cinque Terre West on June 23,” Gianba and Marlo Vinzoni wrote in an email to restaurant patrons sent May 31.

June 27

• Pacific Palisades Community Council elected its slate of officers for the 2024-25 term, which began on July 1. Elected by board acclamation on Thursday, June 13, Sue Kohl is leading PPCC as president, Quentin Fleming is vice-president, Jenny Li continued as treasurer and Beth Holden-Garland continued as secretary. Maryam Zar is now PPCC chair emeritus, taking over for David Card. Following a two-week voting period that ended August 30, PPCC then announced its newly elected area and at-large representatives. JoAnna Rodriguez is representing Area One, Steve Cron for Area Two, Julia Nilsen for Area Three, Karen Ridgley for Area Four, Kimberly Bloom for Area Five, Lorie Cudzil for Area Six, Sharon Kilbride for Area Seven, Andrew Wolfberg for Area Eight and Chris Spitz as at-large.

July 11

• Palisadians gathered along the route for the 76th annual Fourth of July parade, a community tradition presented by Palisades Americanism Parade Association. This year’s parade led with a theme of “Happy Days in the Palisades,” which was entered into the parade theme contest by longtime Palisadians Dean Grinsfelder and Vicky Collison, and selected by PAPA. Former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, actor and author Steve Guttenberg served as this year’s grand marshal for Fourth of July festivities, while lifelong Palisadian Rich Wilken took on the role of parade marshal.

August 8

• Pacific Palisades received a total of 31.38 inches during its most recent rain year—measured from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024—according to Craig Weston, who has recorded the rain and temperature from The Huntington since 2014. “The highlight of this ‘rain year’ was the deluge of rain that fell in February, which totaled a stunning 15.6 inches for the month alone,” Weston said. “This figure surpassed the previous record recorded downtown in 1998 of 13.68 inches of rain for February. The Palisades almost broke the all-time record of rain for any month downtown, which occurred in December of 1889 when 15.8 inches fell. 4.52 inches fell on February 4 alone, a huge daily total.”

September 12

• Theatre Palisades celebrated the four shows of its 2023-24 season during the annual meeting and awards show on Sunday, August 11. During the meeting portion of the evening, Theatre Palisades President Phil Bartolf reported that the theater is in a “renaissance,” that the prior season “surpassed expectations” with “solid audience” attendance.

October 10

• The city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved a proposed restroom renovation project at Palisades Recreation Center—including commitment of funds to complete it—during its board meeting on Thursday morning, October 3. Staff recommended the board “approve the scope of work and the total budget of the Palisades Recreation Center Restroom Renovation Project,” read the report.

October 24

• The office of Councilmember Traci Park and city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks hosted their first Pacific Palisades Dog Park Community Engagement meeting on Monday evening, October 21, at Palisades Branch Library—sharing details of the proposed space and responding to questions from stakeholders. Pacific Palisades Field Deputy for CD 11 Michael Amster began the meeting by speaking on the decades-long history of the dog park, inviting Pacific Palisades Dog Park Working Group members Carol Ross, Lynn Miller and Leslie Campbell up to talk on their involvement in bringing the park to fruition.

November 28

• Pacific Palisades Community Council announced its four award winners for 2024 during the Thursday, November 14, board meeting. Cindi Young has been named Citizen of the Year, while Leslie Campbell and Carlos Rodriguez are this year’s Golden Sparkplugs. Pride of the Palisades—a discretionary distinction that is bestowed in “exceptional circumstances,” determined by the Awards Selection Committee—is Thomas Hathaway.

December 12

• Casa Nostra Ristorante is set to close its Highlands location at 1515 Palisades Drive, effective December 31. “This wonderful hidden restaurant in the hills has been a cherished place for countless memories for us all,” read an emailed statement from Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, which reported the news of the restaurant’s closing. “Birthdays, school fundraisers, anniversary celebrations and too many to mention.” Owner Giovanni Zappone’s Sunset Boulevard and Westlake Village locations will remain open.
• Ho!Ho!Ho! returned to Simon Meadow on Saturday, December 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. for its 75th year. Santa Claus and his team have visited Pacific Palisades each holiday season during Ho!Ho!Ho! since December 1949.