For Pacific Palisades attorney and freelance writer Paul Morantz 1978 was looking to be the best of years. And yet, at 32, 1978 was almost his last. In February, Paul’s teleplay “Deadman’s Curve,” based on the lives of surf singers Jan and Dean, aired as a TV movie. It was a big success and Paul’s future was filled with plans of... Read more →

ICE at Santa Monica (File photo) Lace up your skates and head Downtown this Friday for the 2013 opening of ICE at Santa Monica. The annual ice rink installation, located at the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue, will be open from 2 p.m. to midnight. It is $12 per person to skate, and rentals are available at no additional... Read more →

SMMUSD physical fitness results by grade level. (Source: California Department of Education) SMMUSD HDQTRS — The number of healthy fifth graders has increased districtwide over the last three years, but unfortunately so has the number of at-risk ninth graders, according to a statewide report released earlier this week. Santa... Read more →

Chef Tom Hugenberger of the Library Ale House with his roasted beet salad. (Photo courtesy Ken Plotin) MAIN STREET — Taking over a celebrated eatery still in good standing is a great way for a restaurateur to avoid the many stumbling blocks that doom new establishments. They already have a legion of loyal customers to provide a... Read more →

taking a load off: A homeless man rests on the Third Street Promenade, a popular hangout. (File photo) REED PARK — Police found Diana Priester’s body on Lincoln Boulevard near the German American Club at the end of August. She’d been living on the streets again, drinking again. When a homeless person dies on the streets of... Read more →

The American Heart Association’s Heart & Stroke Walk is headed to the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event will kick off 8:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony, followed by a 9 a.m. 5-kilometer walk and run. There is no fee to participate, though fundraising for the association is encouraged. Every year in Los Angeles County... Read more →

PLAYERS: Mather Zickel and Alison Pill in Jeffrey Hatcher's world premiere adaptation of 'Wait Until Dark' at the Geffen Playhouse. (Photo courtesy Michael Lamont) If you’re a fan of film noir, you’ll love (as I did) “Wait Until Dark” at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. Frederick Knott wrote the original play, which premiered... Read more →

DiFusco Having seen and been blown away by “Tracers,” the powerful play by John DiFusco about Vietnam, I couldn’t wait to experience DiFusco’s follow up, “The Long Way Home: Reflections on the ‘Tracers’ Journey.” Accompanied by singer/percussionist Al. Keith, DiFusco tells the story of his experiences in the war, his... Read more →

FIGHTERs: Velilla Go, 77, (right) and Lawrence Rouse practice Cane-Fu at WISE & Healthy Aging Center on Tuesday. (Daniel Archuleta daniela@smdp.com) DOWNTOWN — It’s Tuesday afternoon in the Ken Edwards Center and dozens of seniors are choking one another. Justina Ozoigbo, 62, grips 66-year-old Lidia Palma’s neck. Palma... Read more →

The Samohi Theatre program is welcoming back all alumni for a Nov. 9, 7 p.m. celebration of the organization’s rich history. The first annual Alumni Night will feature a special performance of “Noises Off,” a play-within-a-play comedy featuring inside jokes for the theater enthusiast. “Noises Off” will also show Nov. 8, 15 and 16... Read more →