Pacific Palisades Teen Talent Contest, April 2019
A standing-room-only crowd packed the house in Mercer Hall at Palisades Charter High School for the 60th annual Pacific Palisades Teen Contest. Fourteen contestants gave it their all to earn the top two places in this year’s competition, showing off talents that ranged from singing to filmmaking and dance.
The show was hosted by Palisades Charter High School senior Cole Suárez and 2018 Teen Talent Contest winner Valentina Silardi, with pre-show and halftime performances by Fancy Feet Dance Studios. ed McGinley, Cindy Simon, Andi Wagner and Marissa Hermer lended their eyes for talent and judged this year’s contest.
Hunter Barnett and Juliet Burks, both singers who attend Palisades Charter High School, were crowned the winners, each taking home a $1,000 cash scholarship, tickets to the Renaissance Faire and free food at Palisades Garden Cafe for a year. Barnett and Burks will represent the Palisades at various events throughout the year.
Sponsored by: Palisadian-Post, The Optimist Club Pacific Palisades, Palisades Charter High School Leadership, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Palisades Garden Cafe and Cathie Wishnick Scholarship Fund
Lighting, rentals and decor by: Special Event Djz and Serendipity Event and Floral Design Studio
Refreshments/snacks by: This Girl Walks Into A Bar, Hello Honey and Ralphs
Special thanks to: Pali High Leadership and Laney Chao, Cheri Smith, Chris Barton and Palisades Charter High School
Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee, February 2019
More then 100 elementary-school children in first through fifth grade who live in or go to school in Pacific Palisades participated in the eight annual Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee, the Pali Bee, which took place this year in Gilbert Hall at Palisades Charter High School.
For the second year in a row, Palisades Charter Elementary School Principal Gary Saunders hosted the bee.
This year’s competition—split into two portions: a written and an oral exam—featured an array of challenging words, including “xylem” and “hippopotamus.” Honorary Co-Mayors Janice and Billy Crystal attended the afternoon session to congratulate 2019 winners.
Sponsored by: Palisadian-Post, Amalfi Estates and Groza Learning Center
Lighting and rentals by: Palisades Charter High School
Refreshments by: Hello Honey andGeneral Porpoise
Entertainment by: Academy of Technology, Art and Music (ATAM)
Pacific Palisades Teen Talent Contest, April 2018
A standing-room-only crowd packed the house in Mercer Hall at Palisades Charter High School for the 59th annual Pacific Palisades Teen Contest. Fifteen contestants gave it their all to earn the top two places in this year’s competition, showing off talents that ranged from singing to filmmaking and stand-up comedy.
The show was hosted by Palisades Charter High School senior Adam Toubian, with pre-show and halftime performances by Fancy Feet Dance Studios. Wyatt Bridges, Bennett Kogon and Marki Costello lended their eyes for talent and judged this year’s contest.
Valentina Silardi and Taylor Schonbuch, both singer/songwriters who performed original pieces, were crowned the winners, each taking home a $1,000 cash scholarship, tickets to Candytopia and Renaissance Faire, and free food at Palisades Garden Café for a year. Silardi and Schonbuch will represent the Palisades at various events throughout the year, including the Fourth of July Parade.
Sponsored by: Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, Cheryel Kanan, Ann Vogel, Lee Calvery & Sara Clark, and American Legion Post #283
Lighting, rentals and decor by: Special Event Djz and Serendipity flowers
Refreshments/snacks by: This Girl Walks Into A Bar and Hello Honey
Special thanks to: Pali High Leadership and Laney Chao, Cheri Smith, Rocky Montz, and Palisades Charter High School
Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee, February 2018
More then 100 elementary-school children in first through fifth grade who live in or go to school in Pacific Palisades participated in the seventh annual Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee, The Pali Bee, which took place this year in Gilbert Hall at Palisades Charter High School.
This year’s competition—split into two portions: a written and an oral exam—featured an array of challenging words, including “esophagus” and “colloquial.”
For the afternoon crowd, which featured third through fifth graders, Pacific Palisades Honorary Co-Mayors Billy and Janice Crystal, as well as Councilmember Mike Bonin took the stage to hand out awards.
Sponsored by: Palisadian-Post and Academic Achievers
Lighting and Rentals by: Palisades Charter High School
Refreshments by: Tallula’s, Hello Honey and Estate Coffee
Entertainment by: Academy of Technology, Art and Music (ATAM)
Blast Off to Summer
Over 1800 people of all ages came out to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Palisades for the Palisadian-Post’s 2nd Annual “Blast Off to Summer” Block Party. Ambiance AV came out for another year to spin music live while W.I. Simonson sponsored the event and had their stunning GL SUV and S Coupe on display for the day. MTB Event Rentals decked out Antioch and Swarthmore with rentals fit for a true summer block party while over 30 summer schools, camps and unique companies were present to share their businesses with the community. Food trucks galore lined the streets as performances by Rocky Duwani, Twinkle Time and aerial acts by Studio K filled the day with entertainment. Critter Squad, Bubble Mania and Beachy Cream Ice Cream were all on hand to quench our sweet tooths and our kid inside. See you again next year for music, science, crafts and education.
Sponsored by: W.I. Simonson
Sound and Engineering by: Ambience AV
Rentals by: MTB Event Rentals
Performances by: Twinkle Time, Rocky Dawuni and Studio K
Special Appearances by: LAPD and Firestation 69, Critter Squad, BubbleMania and Beachy Cream Ice Cream
Speaker Series
The Palisadian-Post’s debut Speaker Series event featuring Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries drew a crowd of more than 300 people to a local school gymnasium that was completely re-imagined with a lively town hall vibe. Guests arrived in style via a red carpet provided by Events by Fabulous and were treated to music and a light show courtesy of Ambiance AV. The event was catered by one of Homeboy Industries’ social enterprises, Homegirl Café, which provided complimentary quesadillas, chips and salsa and other hors d’oeuvres and beverages prior to Boyle’s presentation.
Sound and lighting by: Ambiance AV
Refreshments by: Homegirl Catering
Red carpet by: Events by Fabulous
Photos: Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Pop-Up Gallery
The Palisadian-Post with the assistance of Enchanted Rentals and Ooks of Hazard transformed an old printing warehouse into a lively art gallery for a one-night pop-up event to showcase local artists in addition to offering local wine and food tastings.
Music by: Ooks of Hazzard
Rentals by: Enchanted
Refreshments by: Pali Wine Co. and local Palisades Restaurants
Photos: Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
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