COUNTYWIDE — The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has received a report of an influenza A (H1N1)-associated death of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby from the South Bay area. Although influenza activity in Los Angeles County has been on the decline, it is still widespread and will continue at least through March, public... Read more →

When you switch to a Paleo or grain-free lifestyle, your kitchen essentials will be in need of a big overhaul. Revamping your entire kitchen can be a bit daunting, but if you get organized and do a clean sweep and replace, you’ll have less waste and more ease in your new way of cooking. • Step 1: Know what you use most and make it... Read more →

Santa Monica businesses are vying for your affection. Folks are being encouraged to log on and vote for their most loved local business as part of the Buy Local Campaign, which encourages people to shop in town instead of traveling to neighboring cities, which wastes gas and does not funnel tax dollars back into the community. The... Read more →

LIVE IN SANTA MONICA: Megan Mullally and Seth Rudetsky are all about Broadway. (Photo courtesy Kurt Sneddon) Rudetsky Santa Monica is bursting at the cultural seams! On the musical front, if you’re a Broadway baby and fan of TV sitcoms, The Broad Stage has an irresistible two-fer for you. Multiple Emmy Award-winning Megan... Read more →

ARTFUL: Drew Cameron created this self portrait using paper made from uniforms. (Image courtesy Drew Cameron) NEW ROADS — When viewed completely detached from context, the papers hanging on the walls over at the current New Roads School’s art exhibit are calming. Light green poster-sized papers sit next to lighter green papers.... Read more →

ALONE ON STAGE: George Regout in Adam Rapp's ‘Nocturne.’ (Photo courtesy Ute Ville) George Regout, identified in the play as The Son, killed his sister when he was 17 years old. She was 9. The play is “Nocturne,” Adam Rapp’s poignant drama about the effects of the accidental death of the little girl on her big brother and... Read more →

PLAYING ALONG: Violinist Christine Wu on set during Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky 2’ music video shoot at Laurel Canyon Stages on Jan. 7. (Photo courtesy Adrian Sidney/Picturegroup) DOWNTOWN — Santa Monica resident Christine Wu is becoming one of Hollywood’s most in-demand musicians. Her most recent collaboration went viral and... Read more →

SAINT JOHN’S — Actress Kate Beckinsale helped Saint John’s Health Center raise cash for a new yoga program at the hospital. On Thursday, Beckinsale, along with celebrity yoga instructor Mandy Ingber and 80 other attendees, did some yoga to support the new program, which is meant to help patients undergoing breast cancer treatment at... Read more →

Chewing the fat is multi-meaningful if you find yourself at a butcher’s counter with the right crowd. “It’s pork belly,” says Eddy Shin, owner and butcher at A Cut Above Butcher Shop on Santa Monica Boulevard, as he hands a glistening piece of fat to myself and Jason Wise, a filmmaker who is currently directing a documentary about... Read more →

BOND: Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan may be the city’s first family of food. (Photo courtesy Emily Hart Roth) CITYWIDE — Less than 10 years ago, Josh Loeb was making dinners for friends in his parent’s Santa Monica home. He’d never met Zoe Nathan, and the city had fewer renowned restaurants. Last month, Nathan and Loeb had their... Read more →