TOUR DE FEAST — Instagram is a dangerous app. After scrolling through my usual feed full of sunsets, selfies, cats, and concerts I stopped after coming across a particular picture of a bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg and a glazed donut as the bun. By definition a burger with a donut bun is called a Luther Burger. Legend has it that it... Read more →

The 38th annual Festival of the Chariots, a Hare Krishna celebration commemorating Indian Lord Jagannatha, will take place locally on Sunday, Aug. 3. Dating back thousands of years to Jagannatha Puri, India, the Festival of the Chariots honors Indian history and culture while offering a free feast, entertainment and exhibits for the public.... Read more →

The competition is brewing. East Coast cult classic Dunkin' Donuts is moving to12th Street and Wilshire Boulevard with hopes of opening by early September. But only one block east sits Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, one block south lies a Starbucks and a few minutes away is the local donut shop, DK's Donuts. Each sells coffee and pastries. Can so... Read more →

PALISADES PARK — A pilot ordinance that restricts group exercise in the parks is a success to some and a bust to others, according to a report from City Hall released on Thursday. There’s been a notable reduction in the amount of commercial fitness training in the parks and grass has grown back in the areas where the training is... Read more →

SMC - Students at Santa Monica College, who are perhaps already on the younger end of the generation spectrum, are already focused on helping those even younger with the volunteer group Generation of the Future. The organization, founded by Santa Monica College student Trae Smith, helps and inspires young students from the ages of 4 to 15 to... Read more →

VIRGINIA AVE — Virginia Avenue Park is growing into its role as a regional attraction with residents countywide discovering the benefits of the new library, revitalized park and popular farmers market. Several organizations that use the park said a series of changes to the immediate area has changed the personality of the park's... Read more →

Good food, good wine, good company, the rolling hills of Burgundy and tranquility. That's what we found aboard the barge l'Impressioniste as we slowly cruised the historic Burgundy Canal in Eastern France. Unlike cruises on board ocean-going ships with hundreds or even thousands of passengers, a cruise on a European Waterways (EW) barge is... Read more →

My first experience in Venice involved waiting on a dock for a water taxi to pick me up from the Venice Airport and being extremely aware that I didn't know a word of Italian. Worse yet, I had no idea how to act like I knew what I was doing. Thankfully, the vaporetto (my first Italian word!) soon arrived and hurdle number one was crossed. I... Read more →

LONG AGO — To give a sense of how hot the civic auditorium issue was for Santa Monicans a century ago, here are the headlines and sub-headlines for a single Los Angeles Times article in July of 1914: “DECAPITATED BY MURDERER” “Woman Mangled With Ax; Police Hunt Husband” “Marriage License, Torn Up, Found Near Body” “Voters... Read more →

PICO BLVD — A century of tradition is currently on display at St. Anne's Church and Shrine. For 102 years, the congregation has celebrated the Novena, a multi-day celebration honoring the church's namesake. Members of the church are currently in the middle of the nine-day event and they will mark its conclusion with a pair of public... Read more →

SM PIER - If you listen to The Cayucas it's hard to imagine them playing anywhere but on a pier. The beachy indie-pop band will co-headline the third installment of the Twilight Concert Series, which starts at 7 p.m. on the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday night. The concert series is free to the public and in it's 30th year. The Cayucas, a... Read more →

Relay for Life will hold its annual 24-hour fundraiser July 26-27 at Santa Monica College. During the event, teams organize to walk continuously for the entire 24 hours around a track. During the walk, special events are held to honor cancer survivors, victims and as additional fundraisers. Teams solicit sponsorships prior to beginning the... Read more →

Barnyard Madness with the Three Pigs is a zany 1940s Country and Western romp and toe-tapping, finger-snapping musical comedy that follows the romantic antics and show business aspirations of the singing McPig Sisters and their wolverine admirers, proving once and for all that true friendship does not depend on size, color, background,... Read more →

U.R. Art Music Festival Series is hosting its second summer music performances on Sunday, July 20 at the Bergamot Station Art Center. Three DJ friends - Rob Garza, member of “Thievery Corporation”, Philip Jung of the electronic group “M.A.N.D.Y.” and John Wander of “Roam Music” - created the event to showcase music groups,... Read more →

Before entering a traditional ramen house there is a certain level of etiquette that should be understood. Speed is the name of the game. Once you are served your brim- ming bowl of soup it's time to go to town otherwise the noodles lose their intended consistency and you've now disrespected the kitchen and disgraced your family... Read more →