Grainiacs Gather In Santa Monica by Sarah A. Spitz Special to Santa Monica Daily Press Southern California farmers, millers, chefs, pastry makers, brewers, distillers and home bakers are cheering for and building a new movement around locally grown heritage varieties of grain: Red Fife, Sonora, Glenn, Emmer, Spelt, Khorasan, buckwheat,... Read more →

CULTURE WATCH By Sarah A.Spitz EINSTEIN AND THE RABBI Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the start of the Ten Days of Awe that culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  Just in time, Rabbi Naomi Levy has written a new book, “Einstein and the Rabbi: Searching for the Soul,” partly a detective story and partly a... Read more →

Case in point: Halley Feiffer’s new play, now having its west coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. It’s called “A Only it isn’t very funny. It involves a ditzy stand-up comic who never stops talking and a scruffy-looking man who wants only to sit quietly and read his New Yorker. They are inhabiting the shared hospital room of... Read more →

Rated PG-13 106 Minutes Released September 15   You probably know Danny Strong for his acting, having appeared in film and television since the mid 1990’s in shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, Billions and Empire, and in films such as The Hunger Games and Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Strong also co-wrote... Read more →

    The last time I saw actors from the Australian Theatre Company, performing in Sydney, they presented a lively, absorbing version of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” starring Australian-born Cate Blanchett. This time the Los Angeles chapter of this company is presenting the world premiere of “Grey Nomad,” written by... Read more →

Rated R 135 Minutes Released September 8   A classic Stephen King horror story set in a quaint and peaceful New England town is the foundation for the movie It directed by Andres Muschetti. This film is not your average horror story however. I say that I not was truly terrified watching It. Last year’s Lights Out, which played... Read more →

  The film is only an hour long and you’ve probably never heard of many of the people in it. And it has no real “plot.” But you’ll find it to be one of the most joyful films you’ve seen this century. Or ever. It’s called “No Maps On My Taps” and it’s a mini-documentary of a time in the 1930s when black tap... Read more →

    When a young Polish woman left her home country to come to America and build a life, there was no such thing as the Solidarity movement, so she named her restaurant after a city – Warsawa. When a young American daughter took over the restaurant to refresh it and continue the family traditions – she chose Solidarity as... Read more →

  Josh Groban, the internationally renowned singer and actor, makes his first-ever appearance at The Broad Stage, with a benefit performance on September 14 to support The Broad Stage's Arts Education and Community Programs. The ticket you buy helps bring 20,000 students, teachers, families and community members to the Broad Stage for... Read more →

In the early light of day, Randy Ziglar walks or rides his bike to his community garden at Santa Monica’s Main Street Gardens, wearing his long-treasured Millet backpack. Fittingly, Randy moves by his own power from home to garden, for he is dedicated to an ecological way of life that compels him to consider how to live in harmony with... Read more →

Nothing beats the late summer/early fall heat like a refreshing beverage or a cold cocktail under the shade of a poolside umbrella. Santa Monica residents are lucky enough to have a pool close by, as many of the City’s world-class hotels offer day-use passes that allow non-overnight guests to enjoy their pools and other... Read more →

  Perhaps it’s just a reflection of our times, so full of anger and fear, that so many theaters today present plays that feature dysfunctional families or dysfunctional relationships. John Patrick Shanley’s play “The Dreamer Examines His Pillow" is one of those. The play, peopled by three characters in three consecutive... Read more →

Ruskin Group Theatre Co. Ruskin Group Theatre 3000 Airport Ave (310) 397-3244 info@ruskingrouptheatre.com http://www.ruskingrouptheatre.com   The Rainbow Bridge A new comedy by Ron Nelson. Directed by Michael Myers. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Just when Jerry thought he’d moved on from... Read more →

  The weather may be warm but the Farmers Market is bringing the heat in September with their annual Chili Roast. Locals are encouraged to partake in the popular celebration every Saturday at Virginia Avenue Park (2200 Virginia Ave). The chili roaster has been a part of the Santa Monica market for more than a decade and over the... Read more →

  Rated R 94 Minutes Released August 25 Crown Heights is a very powerful movie. It is based on the true story of Colin Warner’s mistaken 21-year imprisonment, and it hits hard because of the straightforward, non-dramatized way in which director Matt Ruskin tells the story. There are no overdrawn emotional scenes, nor is there a... Read more →