A tree near Ocampo and Alma Real Drive following rain in August 2023. Photo by Craig Weston
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
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, a self-described “weather enthusiast,” 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.”
The month of February began with two storms in Pacific Palisades—which brought more than 10 inches of rain to the area. By Sunday afternoon, February 4, Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency in eight Southern California counties, including Los Angeles.
The bigger storm, described as a “slow-moving atmospheric river,” which began Sunday, February 4, brought 7.89 inches of rain to the Palisades by Tuesday evening, February 6, at 5 p.m., Weston reported at the time.
Storms that began Saturday, February 17, brought 2.73 inches of rain as of Tuesday morning, February 20, according to Weston.
In addition to February’s rain, Tropical Storm Hilary brought 3.88 inches of rain measured August 20 through 21, 2023, from The Huntington. Weston called the storm—the first tropical storm to hit Southern California since 1939—a “very rare event.” At its peak, Hilary was reported to be a category 4 hurricane, bringing rain and wind to the Baja California Peninsula before making its way to the Southwestern United States.
The previous rain year—July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023—the Palisades received 31.51 inches. For two years in a row, the total “far surpassed the normal average rainfall,” Weston reported.
“The LA Almanac measures a ‘rain year’ for Los Angeles as the amount of rain that falls between July 1 through June 30 of the following year,” Weston explained. “Usually the rain total you hear reported on the news is coming from a station located in Downtown Los Angeles.”
Rain totals can widely vary, Weston continued, depending on if it’s being measured in Malibu, Inglewood or other parts of the county.
“The Almanac says that Downtown Los Angeles, on average, receives 14.25 inches of rain,” Weston said.
The large rain totals that the Palisades has seen recently are partly the result of an El Niño weather pattern, according to Weston.
“An El Niño pattern is an unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean,” he said. “Currently, there is an 85% chance that a La Niña pattern will emerge this next rain year, possibly bringing drier weather to Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades.”
Prior to the 2022-24 season, the Palisades received 13.34 inches of rain between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. The season before that, the Palisades received a “paltry 4.47 inches of rain” from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, according to Weston.
When it comes to temperature, the highest reading Weston recorded in the Palisades in 2023 was 90 degrees on October 5. In 2024 so far, the highest temperature as of July 23 was January 28 at 82 degrees.
The lowest temperature recorded by Weston in 2023 was February 16 at 37 degrees, while in 2024 so far, it was 39 degrees on January 9.
The Los Angeles Police Department West LA Area Crime & Community Intelligence Center released a community alert on Thursday, August 1, regarding a series of residential burglaries in the area.
The department distributed a flyer, providing details of a series of burglaries that have occurred between July 24 and July 31, on Pacific Palisades’ Alcima Avenue, as well as Manning Avenue, Club Drive, Kentfield Avenue and Overland Avenue. The suspects have taken designer purses, jewelry and money, according to the community alert.
The flyer shows a vehicle that has been associated with the string of burglaries. LAPD said the suspects are known to drive a black Chevrolet Suburban LT with dark tinted windows.
“During the commission of each burglary, two suspects—who are described as male Black, wearing dark clothing, masks, gloves, carrying backpacks and a handheld radio—are known to climb over victims’ rear fence and/or wall to gain entry into the rear yard,” LAPD explained in the flyer. “Suspects then smash a glass partition of the rear door and ransack the residence, looking for jewelry, purses and U.S. currency.”
LAPD reported the suspects then flee the area the same way they entered, leaving in the suspected vehicle. On two occasions, the vehicle has been “cold plated,” meaning the suspects used a stolen license plate from a similar looking vehicle.
“Please keep an eye out for suspicious activity,” LAPD Senior Lead Officer for Pacific Palisades Brian Espin wrote. “If you see a crime occurring, call the police immediately. If you see this or a similar vehicle hanging around the street, let your neighbors know to be visible and keep an eye out for each other.”
If you have information regarding the suspects, contact West Los Angeles Burglary Detective Carlos Carrillo at 213-216-5308 or email 39483@lapd.online.
The Will Rogers Ranch Foundation will host a free public event on Sunday, August 11, beginning at 12 p.m. to celebrate 80 years of Will Rogers State Historic Park.
Festivities are set to include a polo match, tours of the historic house, and children’s games and activities, “saluting the 1940s,” according to the event flyer. The Children’s Booth will have “Will Rogers for President” pin-making, a scavenger hunt, sack races and photo opportunities with a pony. The House Tour will feature a “rare” look at Betty Rogers’ sunroom-office.
The Los Angeles Jitterbugs are set to join the festivities at 1:15 p.m., offering swing music demonstrations and dance lessons until 3:15 p.m. The dancing will be followed by a visit from actress Deborah Moore, “as she portrays Betty’s signing of the park deed hosted by historian Randy Young,” the event flyer read.
The event will conclude around 4:30 p.m. with cake and singing happy birthday.
“Come in your best 1940s attire and help us celebrate on Sunday, August 11,” according to the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation.
By the 1930s, the park’s namesake, Will Rogers, became known as one of Hollywood’s most popular and highest paid actors—and “America’s most beloved citizen,” according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation website.
“From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to world-wide fame as a columnist, ‘cowboy philosopher,’ aviation enthusiast, philanthropist, radio personality and movie star,” according to the website. “During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, Will Rogers owned about 359 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as … Pacific Palisades.”
The ranch became a space for Rogers, his family and friends to enjoy. His 31-room ranch house still holds his memorabilia and things he owned up until his death in 1935.
The house has a corresponding neighboring guest house, stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course and riding trails. His wife, Betty, donated the ranch to California State Parks in 1944, and it became a state historic park.
Attendees are asked to pay for parking, but entry to the event is free. The event will take place at Will Rogers State Historic Park, located at 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road.
For more information, visit willrogersranchfoundation.org.
Heal the Bay issued its 34th annual Beach Report Card in June, which includes data for beaches in Pacific Palisades.
During Summer (measured April 2023 through October 2023) and Winter (November 2023 through March 2024), Will Rogers State Beach, which is monitored at Pulga Canyon storm drain, received grades of A and B, respectively. Bel-Air Bay Club received an A and A.
Temescal Canyon received an A for the Summer, with no grade accounted for in the Winter. The Santa Monica Canyon site received a D and F.
For Wet Weather (April 2023 through March 2024), the Pulga Canyon storm drain received a B and the Santa Monica Canyon site received an F grade, while Temescal Canyon and Bel-Air Bay Club were graded A+.
Heal the Bay introduced the Beach Report Card over 30 years ago as a “pivotal public health tool designed to safeguard beachgoers,” according to the organization. Heal the Bay evaluates water quality by analyzing bacteria pollution of approximately 700 beaches—stretching from Tijuana through Washington—and assigns A through F letter grades to beaches, based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean, as measured by different health agencies.
“These bacteria themselves are not harmful, but their presence indicates contamination by fecal matter that may contain dangerous pathogens,” according to Heal the Bay. “Fecal pollution is of particular concern because even a single exposure can result in illness.”
Topanga Beach at creek mouth received an F for Summer Dry Grade, D for Winter Dry Grade and F for its Wet Weather Grade. It previously made the “Beach Bummer” list in 2019-20, which accounts for the most polluted beaches in the state based on levels of harmful bacteria in the water.
This year, two Los Angeles County beaches made the list—Santa Monica Pier and Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach—after receiving F grades across the board. Heal the Bay categorized the two as “persistent Beach Bummers” for maintaining their “unfortunate” record of poor water quality and making the list since 2013.
“Santa Monica Pier, which ranks third on the Beach Bummer list, faces ongoing challenges to improve water quality despite recent upgrades, including stormwater capture systems,” according to Heal the Bay. “The pier’s consistent appearance on the Beach Bummer list indicates ongoing challenges in controlling sources of pollution.”
Heal the Bay encouraged beach users to consult the Beach Report Card to assess potential health risks before entering these bodies of water, and advised beachgoers to avoid ocean water near storm drains and river outlets, and all ocean contact for at least three days following significant rainfall.
“Avoiding water at beaches with poor grades reduces the risk of exposure not only to harmful bacteria, but also to other pollutants,” according to the organization.
According to Heal the Bay, 12 beaches earned a spot on the Honor Roll List this year—an improvement from two the year prior, but “significantly lower than the typical” 30 to 50 beaches. To make the Honor Roll, a beach must be monitored weekly all year and receive an A+ for all seasons and weather conditions.
No LA County Beaches made the Honor Roll list. Of the 12, nine are in Orange County, two are in San Diego County and one is in Ventura County.
For more information, including the full Beach Report Card and River Report Card, visit healthebay.org. For weekly grades, visit beachreportcard.org.
The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Kerry Tani, a member of Third Act SoCal, a group of volunteers over 60 dedicated to preserving and protecting our climate and democracy.
Many of us are thinking of upgrading our homes to make them more energy efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. Switching to abundant clean energy sources will reduce our reliance on fossil energy, eliminate pollution, and support the health of our families and communities.
Regardless of where you are in your clean energy journey, consider taking advantage of these resources when researching your options.
Your Neighbors
As you look around your neighborhood, you may notice that more and more homes are drawing energy from rooftop solar panels.
Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist for the Nature Conservancy, uses the term “solar contagion” to describe what happens after a homeowner installs solar panels: Owners of nearby houses are more likely to install them too.
If you’re thinking about getting solar panels, community members who have already installed them are an invaluable resource on selecting an installer, getting required permits and approvals, and learning how much energy you can save.
Financial Incentives
In 2022, Congress passed and President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act. Some people call the historic IRA “Biden’s Big Climate Bill” because it contains nearly $400 billion in climate-related programs.
The IRA includes benefits to businesses and consumers. Experts agree that transitioning from our current energy system to a modern clean energy economy will be expensive at first, but they also point out that people will face much lower energy bills and benefit from a far cleaner, healthier environment.
This is the largest investment ever in addressing climate change. A substantial portion of that investment is available in the form of federal tax credits to individuals who invest in a wide variety of energy efficiency projects, such as installing an energy-efficient heating and cooling system, water heater, battery system, solar panels, insulation and air sealing, electrical system upgrades, and more in their own home. Clean vehicles are also eligible for tax credits.
Qualifying for the IRA tax credits may seem to be complicated. To help you take advantage of these federal tax credits, Third Act SoCal, a volunteer organization, has prepared easy-to-read information sheets that explain how individuals can take advantage of the IRA federal tax credits when making several home improvements.
The information sheets describe who is eligible for the credits, the amount of tax credit available to eligible taxpayers, the forms required to claim the credit and the types of products that meet energy-efficiency requirements.
Everyone benefits and saves money when more of our community members switch to clean energy whenever they can.
The information sheets are available on the Third Act SoCal website: thirdact.org/socal/2024/05/17/save-money-save-the-planet.
Geesh! I am a senior now and finding affordable housing is impossible! This city needs more senior support, this contributes to much of the homeless problem.
Football
Pali football is going 10-0.
Coffee
Coffee shop in Knolls anyone?
Olympics
Watching Miles Partain, Dolphin alum and UCLA Bruin, on TV in beach volleyball vs Italy next to the Eiffel Tower and they just won the first set. Winner goes to quarterfinals and announcer just listed all Dolphin volleyball Olympic greats. GO USA.
Rodents
According to the Humane Society website, the methods that “seem to be the least inhumane” way to control unwanted rodents is to use “strong snap traps (the traditional wood and metal kind, not the plastic kind).” Please do not use rat poison and instead consider opting for a service that sets the traps and will monitor them until the issue is resolved. There is a risk of secondary poisoning to pets, owls and other birds who might ingest these rodents. I have had several rats stagger onto my property as a result of a nearby neighbor using rat poison. If the rat ended up in my backyard without my knowledge it could have easily been ingested by my dog and created a potential medical emergency.
Got something to say? Call 310-454-1321 or email 2cents@palipost.com and get those kudos or concerns off your chest. Names will not be used.
1200 El Hito Circle, July 15 at 1:30 a.m. Three suspects entered victim’s unlocked vehicle parked on his driveway. Suspects removed garage door opener, opened garage and removed miscellaneous property valued at $1,250.
17900 Seabreeze Drive, July 18 at 1 p.m. Two suspects in gray Volkswagen TI SUV smashed rear door, entered, ransacked and possibly removed property. Witness (neighbor) observed the suspects fleeing.
600 Erskine Drive, July 19 at 2 p.m. Suspects smashed rear door, entered, ransacked and removed jewelry valued at $210,000.
Burglary/Theft From Motor Vehicle
11900 Gorham Avenue, July 18 at 4 p.m. Wallet taken.
15700 Bowdoin Street, July 18 at 3 p.m. Wallet and sunglasses taken.
A note from LAPD Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin, sent on Friday, August 2: “I’m sure you have noticed in the last couple days, there have been a small group of First Amendment Auditors roaming the downtown streets of the Palisades. These individuals will sometimes cover their faces with masks and walk around recording people trying to bait them into some sort of confrontation. These individuals are knowledgeable of the right to record on public property and what they are allowed to do on public space. They will even say things just to get a reaction from people (that is their right to freedom of speech). I monitored the group from a distance the other day to make sure our community members did not get involved with the group. My suggestion is to ignore these individuals, and do not engage in any confrontation or discussion with them. Once they see they are not getting any reaction from us, they will move on to another area.”
Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations conducted a “capture” operation for a lost, uninjured male hiker on Sunday, August 4, around 11 a.m. near 20800 Entrada Road in Topanga State Park, according to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
“Due to the precarious location of the hiker, it is safer to conduct a capture (the rescuer is lowered and safely attaches the hiker) versus a standard hoist operation,” Stewart wrote. “Air Ops will then transport the patient to a helispot to meet ground-based firefighters so they can assist the hiker in returning to his transport.”
The rescue call was originally received at 10:17 a.m.
—SARAH SHMERLING
YMCA Family Fun Day | Simon Meadow
Palisades-Malibu YMCA will host a Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 10, from 12 to 4 p.m. at Simon Meadow.
“Get ready for a day of bonding, making memories and enjoying a wide range of fun-filled activities,” read a flyer.
Festivities will include face painting, family sports, painting, and arts and crafts. Family Fun Days are free to attend.
“Bring your picnic blankets and enjoy the Y’s beautiful Simon Meadow, Winding Way and The Palisades Path,” Program Director Isai Elias wrote.
For more information, visit ymcala.org or call 310-454-5591.
—SARAH SHMERLING
PPDC Events | Pacific Palisades
Pacific Palisades Democratic Club will be hosting a Political Musical Satire at a home in the Alphabet Streets on August 17 at 3 p.m., as well as the opening of an election headquarters at the Third Street Promenade on August 22.
The Political Musical Satire event will feature TV writer and “sought-after speaker” David Misch. Tickets are available for $25 for PPDC members and $35 for non-members.
The 2024 Westside Democratic HQ is set to kickoff on August 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. with a watch party for Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
For more information, visit palidems.org.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Summer Luau | Castellammare
Gladstones will host a summer luau on Saturday, August 10, from 2 to 8 p.m., featuring “traditional Hawaiian food, tropical beverages, live hula performances, fire dancing, Hawaiian music and a live music set by the Royal Rats,” according to a press release.
No tickets or purchases are required to attend the event, which will take place on the public deck. Attendees are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts and “Aloha attire” to receive a ticket for food, beverage or ice cream.
“Our summer luau is a perfect way for people to come out to the beach and enjoy the summer with great festive food, entertainment and a stunning backdrop,” said Jim Harris, chef partner and co-owner, Gladstones Legacy Group, in a statement. “We are looking forward to sharing this unique experience with our community.”
For more information, visit gladstones.com.
—SARAH SHMERLING
Author Event | Santa Monica
The “Till Death Do Us Part” book tour will make a stop at Zibby’s Bookshop, owned and operated by Palisadian Zibby Owens, and located at 1113 Montana Avenue, on Friday, August 16, from 6 to 7 p.m.
“Till Death Do Us Part,” billed as a “high-stakes thriller,” will be published on August 13. The book’s author, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, will be in conversation with Eliza Jane Brazier during the stop.
“Set against the backdrop of Napa Valley vineyards, this is a sumptuous, deeply atmospheric novel about the sacrifices women make for their families and how we all have secrets that we bury—though the lengths Laurie’s characters go to in order to keep theirs hidden can be deadly,” read a statement about the book.
The event will include a discussion, Q&A and book signing. For more information, visit zibbymedia.com.
Authors With Ties to Pacific Palisades Have Recently Published Books
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Recent books by authors with ties to Pacific Palisades cover everything from memories of the ’50s to a memoir about caring for one’s aging father. From children to adults, these books offer something for every aged reader.
“Jimmy Dunne Says”
By Jimmy Dunne
Songwriter, screenwriter/producer of television series, entrepreneur, Palisadian Citizen of the Year and author Jimmy Dunne recently published a collection of his column, “Jimmy Dunne Says: 47 Short Stories That Are Sure to Make You Laugh, Cry—and Think.”
The column—an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says”—has been published in the Palisadian-Post since it launched in August 2021.
“‘Jimmy Dunne Says’ is a collection of author Jimmy Dunne’s best bite-sized stories that Americans everywhere are spreading and sharing,” read the book description. “These stories are heartfelt, smart and thought-provoking, and some will have you absolutely belly-laughing.”
Column topics have ranged from new fatherhood to the importance of family and friends, celebrating local events, down-sizing the family home, and slowing down to take it all in—some of which have gone viral online, amassing hundreds of thousands of comments and 35,000-plus shares.
“One thing is for sure,” the description concluded. “They’ll remind you how truly blessed you are—to be alive right now, with so much possibility knocking on your amazing door.”
Marquez Knolls resident Zibby Owens—founder and CEO of Zibby Media, which includes publishing house Zibby Books, online magazine Zibby Mag, Zibby’s Book Club and more, and owner of Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica—is the author of recently published novel “Blank.”
“A wife, mother and frustrated writer faces an impossible deadline for turning her life around in a hilarious debut novel about family, friendship, success and exhilarating self-(re)discovery,” read a synopsis of the book.
Fortyish-year-old Pippa Jones is a “former literary sensation” with a fear that “she will be a one-hit wonder.” With a looming deadline of five days left to finish her currently blank book, Jones follows a “brilliantly original idea.”
“From the courtyards of posh Beverly Hills hotels and Malibu mega-mansions to Brentwood and Santa Monica bookstores, Pippa races against time—in her used Volvo—and discovers more about her career, marriage, family, friends and herself than she ever could have dreamed up,” the synopsis concluded.
Author Cambria Gordon—a Palisadian for more than three decades—wrote “Trajectory,” a historical fiction novel geared toward young adults.
“The stirring and dramatic story of one young woman who must find a way to overcome her deepest fears in order to unlock the secret that will help America and the Allies to victory as World War II rages on,” read a synopsis of the book.
When it came to creating the main character, Eleanor, the Riviera resident said she hopes that readers are able to see themselves on the page: “Even if the characters lived 80 years ago.” The story is crafted around the previously unknown role women mathematicians played during World War II.”
“Seventeen-year-old Eleanor is nothing like her hero Eleanor Roosevelt,” read the synopsis. “She is timid and all together uncertain that she has much to offer the world … when a chance encounter proves her to be a one-in-a-generation math whiz—a fact she has worked hard all her life to hide—Eleanor gets recruited by the U.S. Army and entrusted with the ultimate challenge: to fine-tune a top-secret weapon that will help America defeat its enemies and secure the world’s freedom.”
Longtime Palisadian Steve Guttenberg—who most recently served as grand marshal of the town’s Fourth of July festivities—pivoted from his work to take care of his father following a kidney failure diagnosis about six years ago, which he shared through a memoir: “Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero.”
“Steve dropped everything—put his career and life on hold … including moving back to the West Coast from New York City so he could be closer to tend to his father,” read a statement about the book, “ultimately becoming one of his father’s caregivers—a task he took on with his sister.”
Guttenberg—a former honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades and known for roles in films like “Diner,” “Police Academy” and “Short Circuit—became a trained dialysis technician so he could treat his dad at his home, driving back and forth between the Palisades and Arizona each week.
“During this journey, which is two-fold—physically (he drove about 800 miles roundtrip) and emotionally—Steve wrote a book, almost like a journal,” the statement continued. “The book chronicles his life as an adolescent in New York/Long Island, his road to Hollywood and his latest role, caretaker to his father, his hero.”
“Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet”
By Sheila Morovati
Environmental activist Sheila Morovati—founder of Habits of Waste and Crayon Collection—wrote “Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet” to share “her expertise and passion for sustainable living.”
The Highlands resident aimed to offer “readers practical and actionable strategies to make a positive impact on the planet,” according to a statement. The book follows her journey creating Crayon Collection and Habits of Waste, exploring “the impact and motivation” behind her “desire to mitigate the impact of waste.”
“I believe that everyone can make a difference, regardless of how big or small their actions are,” Morovati wrote. “People regularly asked me how I was able to create so much change. This book is the story of how I did it, and how you can too.”
The book offers “sustainable action” items, like switching to eight plant-based meals per week, opting for reusable ware, and using or repurposing materials already available.
Music, plant-based lifestyle, solar power, rescue animals, a trip to an island on a boat … all fit into one children’s book: “Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” is written by Palisadian Nancy Leiviska and Stefan “Redfoo” Gordy.
Both authors are well known for their work in the music industry: Gordy for being part of international pop duo LMFAO (“Party Rock Anthem,” “Sexy and I Know It”) and Leiviska as “a pioneer in the music video world.” Leiviska has lived in the Palisades since 1976, and Gordy graduated from Palisades Charter High School and played sports in the community.
“Lil Redfoo’s Ridiculous Adventure” follows Momfoo and Lil’ Redfoo—characters inspired by their likeness. Lil’ Redfoo wakes up from a “ridiculous” dream where the two of them head off to Dogalina Island—inspired by Catalina Island. There are QR codes placed in the book, which, when scanned, play Gordy’s song “Let’s Get Ridiculous”—which is also the inspiration for the title of the book.
“We pledge to always include music, plant-based lifestyle, animals and plenty of fun to share with your children,” the authors said in a statement. “Thank you for taking the time to read to your children.”
“Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime” and “With Or Without Camel: Reporting from India, Atlantis, the Santa Barbara jail … ”
By Stewart Slavin
Palisades High School alum Stewart Slavin, who graduated with the Class of 1964, wrote not one, but two books that were published in 2024: “Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime” and “With Or Without Camel: Reporting from India, Atlantis, the Santa Barbara jail … ”
Slavin—who retired after a 40-year career in journalism, covering the Asia-Pacific region as a foreign correspondent in addition to other places as a reporter and editor—said that he wondered what to do next, but knew that he had to keep writing.
“‘Memory-Go-Round: Ride of a Lifetime’ is a compilation of short stories I have written, along with photos, many involving the Palisades of the 1950s through the ’70s,” Slavin said of the book. “I found myself drawn to the memories I had growing up, and the people and places that had fascinated me. I dove into newspaper archives to discover even more tales of the past.”
It includes “mini histories and personality profiles of Hollywood stars,” restaurants (including The Hot Dog Show and House of Lee), music, events and more.
“With Or Without Camel” covers Slavin’s two-decade-plus career with a wire service, United Press International.
“Reporters and foreign correspondents are supposed to report the news, not wind up in the headlines themselves,” Slavin wrote, “but that’s exactly what happened to me … ”
Now residing in Asheville, North Carolina, Slavin grew up in Rustic Canyon and was editor of Pali High’s newspaper, Tideline. He then attended UCLA and UC Santa Barbara before his career as a journalist.
Getty Villa Museum and Classical Theatre of Harlem will present the world premiere of “Memnon,” beginning in September, with tickets now on sale.
Classical Theatre of Harlem is an American theater company that tells stories “through the lens of the African diaspora,” according to Getty Villa. The organization combines original adaptations, music and dance to present classics of world literature and contemporary works.
“With bold, vivid language and gripping dramatic conflict, ‘Memnon’ tells the tale of an Ethiopian king who journeys to the city of Troy to fight alongside the Trojans in their darkest hour,” according to Getty Villa. “This epic story, from the ancient Greek legend of the fall of Troy, has been overlooked for over a millennium, until now.”
Classical Theatre of Harlem previously performed a virtual rendition of “Memnon” in 2022 as part of the Getty Villa Museum’s Theater Lab Program.
“Memnon” is directed by Associate Artistic Director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem Carl Cofield and written by Will Power.
“I’m delighted to partner again with Will Power to bring this remarkable story to the forefront of our mythology,” Cofield said in a statement. “This is exactly the type of work that inspires me. Stories that force us to ask big questions and interrogate inherited folklore.”
The cast includes Eric Berryman in the title role of Memnon, Jennifer Mogbock as Helen and Daniel Molina as Polydamas/Antilochus. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
“Memnon” features choreography by EMERGE125 Executive Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher, set design by Riw Rakkulchon, costumes by Celeste Jennings, lighting design by Brandon Baruch, original composition and sound design by David R. Molina, and projection design by Yee Eun Nam.
“We are thrilled to welcome the esteemed Classical Theatre of Harlem to the Getty Villa for their first major West Coast theatrical production as part of our annual outdoor theater program,” Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the Getty Museum Timothy Potts said in a statement. “The Villa’s theater program bridges the past and the present, showcasing the continuing relevance of classical dramas to modern day audiences. The world premiere of ‘Memnon’ this September is a must-see for all.”
Performances of “Memnon” will run Thursdays through Saturdays, September 5 through September 28, at 8 p.m. Previews of the show will run August 29 through August 31 at 8 p.m.
American Sign Language interpreted performances will take place on September 19 and 26.
Tickets for the show are available and on sale. Thursday night performances are $45, or $40 for students and seniors; Friday night performances are $50, and Saturday night performances are $55. Student and senior discounts are only available for Thursday night performances.
Ticket prices for the preview shows are $30.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit getty.edu/visit/cal/performances.html or call 310-440-7300.
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