Castanea Sicilian Cafe: Bringing the Sweetness of Sicily to Venice Beach
Santa Monica Nears Agreement to Host Olympic Volleyball, Although It Could Cost City $12M
Officials Are Optimistic About Recouping Much of This Through Reimbursements if the Games Are
Successful
Santa Monica is nearing an agreement to host beach volleyball during the 2028 Summer Olympics, bringing the sport back to its birthplace.
City officials are close to finalizing negotiations with LA28, the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, despite concerns about potential financial losses.
Hosting beach volleyball could cost the city more than $12 million, according to a city report, though officials are optimistic about recouping much of this through reimbursements if the Games are successful.
“We think we are very close to addressing all the outstanding issues,” Santa Monica City Manager David White told the Los Angeles Times, ahead of a City Council meeting scheduled for October 8, where public comment will be heard. White noted that the timing is appropriate to present the potential agreement to the council, which must weigh the benefits of direct involvement against financial risks.
Despite the financial risks, Santa Monica officials emphasize the potential cultural and economic benefits of hosting Olympic events.
The city has been in negotiations with LA28 to host the sport’s Olympic events at a temporary 12,000-seat stadium on the sand near the Santa Monica Pier. However, challenges remain. The City Council must decide whether to move forward with signing a Games Agreement that outlines Santa Monica’s responsibilities for municipal services and venue logistics, among other duties.
The agreement also notes that LA28 will reimburse the city for certain costs, although the exact amounts remain uncertain.
Santa Monica has a rich history with beach volleyball, which first emerged on
its shores in the 1940s.
A variation of sand volleyball first occurred on Santa Monica beaches, with the first beach volleyball tournament taking place in 1947 and the first circuit launched in the 1950s, involving hundreds of players on California beaches, according to the Paris 2024 Olympic website.
The sport made its 1996 Olympic
debut at the Atlanta Games. The U.S. and Brazil have stood out as strong Olympic contenders in the sport, with a shared 24 medals (10 golds) from a potential of just 42. In the 2020 Tokyo games, gold medalist volleyball players were U.S. player Alexandra Klineman for women’s and Anders Berntsen Mol of Norway for men’s.
Wild Fork Foods: The Next Household Name for Protein
By Susan Payne
Wild Fork Foods, a modern-day meat and seafood market, is changing the way people shop for and eat protein.
Carrying more than 700 products, including 450+ meat and seafood in its stores, Wild Fork Foods seizes flavor and cuts waste using a blast freeze method to preserve food quality, extend shelf life and reduce food waste.
Organic, grass fed, free range, all natural, pasture raised, sustainably farmraised and wild caught protein can be found on the shelves, blast frozen and vacuum sealed for an easy, modern protein shopping experience.
“Frozen food allows us to offer the lowest prices on meat without compromising quality and carry the widest selection of protein in the market,” said Paras Tulsiani, regional director for
Wild Fork Foods operations in California.
On average, Wild Fork Foods sells product nearly 20% less than a traditional grocery store and offers more selection because of its blast freezing technique.
Wild Fork Foods carries Wagyu, Iberico and Berkshire pork, Black Angus, a variety of chicken, poultry and seafood and more in its many Los Angeles locations.
“The more you carry, the more you’re at risk of losing, but we don’t have that problem. We preserve quality, have an assortment of product and extended shelf life. We’re a destination for protein, meat and seafood, where you can find great quality and a variety of product that is unmatched,” Tulsiani said.
Walking into Wild Fork Food locations, customers can experience a team of associates who go the extra mile — not just greeting but offering samples and
Google Is Opening a Store on Third Street Promenade
The Silicon Valley Giant Is the First to Announce Its Occupancy in Keller Since a Multi-MillionDollar Restoration
Began
By Zach Armstrong
Within months, Google phones, smartwatches, home accessories, and other items will be sold from the iconic Keller Building at the corner of Third Street and Broadway in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. This will be one of the only Google Stores in the country and the first in Southern California.
The corporation’s retail outposts are typically creatively-designed spaces
which display a wide variety of products and exclusive branded merchandise for sale, an event space for programs and educational workshops, and onsite experts for support such as Pixel phone repairs. Other IRL Google stores are located in Boston, New York City, Mountain View, CA, along with another imminent shop set for Oakbrook, IL.
Google becomes the first business to announce its occupancy in Keller since Festival Real Estate, a California-based property management company that purchased the structure in 2021, initiated a multi-million-dollar restoration of the structure. Once completed, the revitalized spot will offer ground level spaces of 6,552 sq ft and up to 22,000 sq ft on three levels for retailers and restaurants, along with a rooftop bar and dining venue with ocean views.
The Silicon Valley tech behemoth’s upcoming store replaces Cult, a oncepopular eatery that formerly occupied the space until earlier this year when the restaurant shuttered its doors. According to an Instagram post by the business, the decision to close was due to a decline in business and “public safety concerns.”
“Recent developments in the
neighborhood have unfortunately made it increasingly challenging to maintain an economically feasible and enjoyable environment,” the eatery’s social media post stated.
Despite Cult’s foreboding about the atmosphere of the Third Street Promenade, a range of prominent
corporate brands and internationallyexpanding franchises have established retail locations at the shopping district in recent months: bookstore giant Barnes & Noble, Chinese retailer MINISO, Taiwanese craft milk tea shop Odd One Out.
‘A Must-See’: Light in the Piazza Comes to Broad Stage for One Night Musical
By Susan Payne
An intimate story of contemporary and timeless romance produced by the Musical Theatre Guild is coming to the Broad Stage in Santa Monica for a one-night only, semistaged reading at the end of September, launching the first of many performances for the guild’s 2024-2025 season.
“The Light in the Piazza” is a Tonyaward winning lush, sophisticated and classical musical about a mother and daughter discovering their true selves while visiting Florence, inspired by the 1962 romantic comedy film and novel by Elizabeth Spencer.
While sightseeing in Florence, daughter Clara Johnson (Valerie Larsen) loses her hat in a sudden wind gust. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli (Gabriel Navarro), a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This begins The Light in the Piazza, a story of Clara and Fabrizio falling in love. However, with love, comes unforeseen complications.
“Certain problems ensue, and we learn more about those difficulties and the intimacies of the families. It’s a very moving story that’s told quite well. One of the great things about this score is that although it’s very modern in its way, it also harkens back to a time when Broadway melodies were soaring — like Richard
Rodgers, or Leonard Bernstein writing in West Side Story,” said Brad Ellis, the director of music for The Light in the Piazza.
As this one-night performance is set for the end of September, Ellis, who played the quiet teacher/piano accompanist in the Fox television show “Glee,” encourages all to attend for the musical’s complexity, unpredictability and romantic draw sung by a cast of Musical Theatre Guild members with a wealth of expertise.
“This is your chance to see an absolutely expert cast, performing a musically rich and unique storyline. It doesn’t follow traditional romantic expectations. Because of the complexity of the situation, which I can’t reveal, you’re not sure exactly what it is you want to have happen. When you finally understand what should happen, that brings us to tremendous conclusion,” Ellis said.
Ten Musical Theatre Guild members are cast for this performance on Sept. 29: Margaret Johnson (Kim Huber); Clara Johnson (Valerie Larsen); Fabrizio Naccarelli (Gabriel Navarro); Franca Naccarelli (Tal Fox); Guiseppe Naccarelli (Will Collyer); and Signor Naccarelli (Robert Yacko); Signora Naccarelli (Eydie Alyson) and Roy Johnson (Brent Shindele). Music and lyrics are by Adam Guettel.
“This show is beautiful and it’s famously complex to put together. What’s terrific
about Musical Theatre Guild is the depth of experience of these Broadway performers who really can dig into this material and get it right, even for one night,” Ellis added. “For musical theatre fans, and for those who aren’t the deepest musical theatre fans, it’s a must-see.”
Musical Theatre Guild comprises musical theatre artists in the Los Angeles area that produce staged concert readings of Broadway’s forgotten gems and
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providing recommendations on different cuts and solutions for pairing and cooking the meat.
“It’s an all-encompassing experience, we hire people that are passionate about food and that love providing great customer service — at times, something that is lacking at traditional stores,” Tulsiani said. “We also educate customers on the stigma surrounding frozen food.”
Most people enjoy their meat and proteins fresh, but when the product is going bad, typical grocers marinade the meat to extend its shelf life or slow freeze the products with marked down prices.
“When you blast freeze, it has the complete opposite effect that slow freezing has — it’s less damaging to the product, allows the product to thaw faster and helps the meat retain its flavor and nutrients,” Tulsiani said.
Although the meat comes vacuum sealed, Wild Fork Foods’ method of blast freezing enables faster thawing. Something you buy inside the store can be thawed, cooked and thoroughly enjoyed the same day.
On top of a vast selection of protein products, Wild Fork Foods carries a line
undiscovered treasures. Members represent over 60 Broadway shows, 79 Broadway National Tours, countless regional products, cast recordings and more.
Get your tickets to “The Light in the Piazza” on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, Eli and Edythe Broad Stage (1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401) here: musicaltheatreguild.com/show/the-lightin-the-piazza.
of pastas, fruit, vegetables, desserts and appetizers, to pair with your protein. The modern day meat and seafood market sources meat ethically — every product is free from 100 commonly found ingredients that do not meet Wild Fork Foods’ high quality standards.
“Most of our beef comes from Colorado and Nebraska — two states renowned for high quality beef. Pork comes from Iowa, in fact, Iowa has generations of families that built strong family farms raising hogs, processing and production. We source the products where they are meant to be sourced from, and that extends to some of the ready-made meals and appetizers that we carry,” Tulsiani said.
Within an eight mile radius of its locations, Wild Fork Foods offers deliveries and a membership program for delivery.
“Whether you are shopping online or in stores, you are a priority for us and it’s a pleasure to serve you. We appreciate our customers because we learn as much from them as they do from us,” Tulsiani said. For more information, visit WildForkFoods.com.
Fact-Checking Election-Season Windbaggery
SMa.r.t.
Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow
Claim: The state is requiring Santa Monica to build 9,000 apartments.
Answer: Partially true, partially false.
Santa Monica has a pretty big housing problem. Originally, the city was told to plan for 8,895 new homes by 2029, but it might actually need to build between 30,000 and 33,000 to hit the affordable housing goals set by the state. This is due to the city’s “inclusionary housing model,” which says developers have to include Below Market Rate units along with market-rate homes. The idea is that profits from the expensive homes help fund the affordable ones.
There are two types of housing projects: one focuses only on affordable units funded by the government, and the other mixes affordable and marketrate homes. The catch is that federal and state funding only covers about 3% to 7% of costs, so cities like Santa Monica can’t just rely on government help for affordable housing.
While Santa Monica has built enough market-rate homes to exceed the requirements, it’s falling severely short on affordable units. The state requires that 69% of new homes be affordable, but the city has only managed about 18.5%. That means Santa Monica would need to build a lot more market-rate homes to meet the state’s affordable housing goals for the city, way more than originally planned (just for this planning cycle, which ends in 2029, with a new one to follow), and shocking to folks who haven’t been following Sacramento’s housing regulations recently.
(Data from Marc Verville)
Claim: Rent control can be eliminated by City Council.
any changes or getting rid of rent control on their own.
To change or remove rent control, there’s a significant hurdle: it requires a citywide vote. This means the City Council can’t make independent decisions on this issue. While they can adjust certain details of the rent control regulations, their power is limited. They can’t eliminate the fundamental principles set by the 1979 Rent Control Law without voter approval.
In essence, rent control in Santa Monica is a deeply embedded policy within the city’s legal framework. Its strong ties to the voter-approved charter make it very difficult to change. Any major adjustments or removal of this policy would need the backing of the public, emphasizing the restricted authority of the City Council in this matter.
Claims that “Rent control is on the ballot” are a bit misleading. The upcoming election will focus on Proposition 33, which proposes changes to the CostaHawkins Rental Housing Act. If it passes, cities like Santa Monica could expand rent control to cover more properties, including single-family homes and newer apartments. This proposition has stirred up mixed reactions and shaken up traditional political alliances.
Claim: City Council’s failure to comply with state housing requirements has allowed developers to construct skyscrapers in the city.
Answer: Mostly false.
There’s some confusion about the taller buildings popping up in Santa Monica. Most of these developments aren’t because of the “Builder’s Remedy,” which lets developers sidestep local zoning rules if a city doesn’t meet housing deadlines.
In late 2022, many Builder’s Remedy applications were submitted in Santa Monica, mainly by WS Communities (WSC). The City of Santa Monica reached a court settlement with WS Communities, which resulted in the withdrawal of 12 out of 14 Builder’s Remedy projects that had been submitted. This settlement, announced in October
in our city.
However, the story doesn’t end there. After this settlement, almost all of the actual tall building projects that were subsequently submitted for permits utilized height increases allowed by state law. These state regulations include provisions for increased height and a variety of incentives that enable developers to build larger structures than local zoning typically allows, and have nothing to do with Builders Remedy.
Claim: School enrollment is declining, while budgets and construction are increasing.
Answer: True.
Santa Monica’s School District is seeing a drop in student enrollment, going from about 11,300 in 2014 to around 8,600 today—a nearly 25% decline. Projections show more declines ahead, which could hurt state funding tied to attendance.
construction efforts haven’t focused on sustainable design, and poor maintenance and accountability have lead to higher operating costs and vulnerability to climate change.
The district is now wrestling with the fallout from past blunders, including neglected facilities, lackluster administrative practices, and a tendency to favor demolition over preservation. This has set a rocky foundation for any future advancements. In a whirlwind of construction, nearly every building on the high school campus has been torn down and rebuilt, save for the historic Barnum Auditorium, which stands proud due to its landmark status. Now, the English Building is the last vestige of the original campus. Unfortunately, recent
Financially, the district is struggling with a pension shortfall and has become extremely dependent on bond measures. Nearly $900 million has already been earmarked or spent on upgrades and construction (not including double that amount in projected interest), and a new bond measure (QS) on the November 2024 ballot is seeking another $495 million (again, with about double that in projected interest). This dependency on bonds has been likened to an addiction, raising red flags about the district’s long-term financial health, especially as fewer families are moving into the area. The city’s focus on building small, nonfamily-friendly apartments is driving away families, contributing to the decline in student enrollment.
(Data from Mario Fonda-Bonardi) Daniel Jansenson, Architect, Building and Fire Life Safety Commission Santa Monica Architects for a Responsible Tomorrow Dan Jansenson, Architect & Building and Fire-Life Safety Commission; Robert H. Taylor AIA, Architect; Thane Roberts, Architect; Mario Fonda-Bonardi AIA, Architect; Samuel Tolkin Architect & Planning Commissioner; Michael Jolly, AIR-CRE; Marie Standing, Resident; Jack Hillbrand AIA, Architect
Castanea Sicilian Cafe: Bringing the Sweetness of Sicily to Venice Beach
THE CAFE
Welcome to Castanea Sicilian Cafe: “Il dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing” arrived at Venice Beach! Our cafe invites you to step away from the rush of daily life, whether it’s through a sip of our freshly brewed Italian coffee or a bite of our pastries, savory & gelato. The concept was founded by Nando & Rose, a couple with Sicilian roots, and it was designed to be a testament to the rich flavors and culinary traditions of the Italian island Sicily. Step into our inviting space and discover a slice of paradise or just order it to your home with our delivery & catering services.
OUR STORY
If you create something the world has never seen before, there’s probably a pretty interesting story behind it. This is ours.
We are Nando & Rose, a married couple & the founders of Castanea Sicilian Cafe. Both of us have Sicilian roots & we were lucky to have spent every summer on this beautiful Island.
A typical Sicilian lightheartedness, delicious traditional food & the Italian coffee culture is what we grew up with & what we both cherish a lot.
The idea of a cafe emerged from the
desire to preserve our precious heritage by sharing it. We want to make it accessible to all those who need a little break from everyday life & want to immerse themselves in the world of Sicilian enjoyment & the ideal of “il dolce far niente - the sweetness of doing nothing.”
With a lot of love & dedication we blended our affinity for coffee, food & Sicilian culture into an ambiance of warmth & hospitality.
Castanea means chestnut in Latin. Our name goes back to the oldest chestnut tree
in the world, “Il castagno dei cento cavalli”. It is located on the volcano Etna in Sicily and its size and shape have been a place of rest and shelter for centuries from visitors to the island to a legend of a princess and her 100 horsemen who needed protection from a sudden storm, which is the legend where the tree got its name.
Today, we proudly present our unique cafe to Venice Beach. Now our dream has become reality & we are catering to fulfill yours!
Recipient of the 2024 Southern California News Group Readers’ Choice Award, The Watermark at Beverly Hills offers boutique-style Assisted Living and inspiring opportunities around every corner. Every day is a new adventure. From extraordinary amenities, award winning adult education, to exciting excursions — the choices are endless.
How will you choose to spend your days? Call 424-512-7129 today to schedule your private tour.
Pacific Park’s Famous Pacific Wheel Just
Got a Fun (and Educational) New Upgrade
Riding the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park just got even more enjoyable. Now, along with the incredible views of the Pacific coastline, riders will get fun map installations showing exactly what they’re looking at.
Imagine sitting at the very top of the Pacific Wheel with the city and the coast stretched out below you. As you gaze at the sights you wonder, “What is that island over there? Where is the Hollywood sign? What is that amazing building?”
Pacific Park has created a fun way to answer these questions. As part of a new creative project, the Park has installed specially illustrated, artist-designed maps around the inside rim of each of the Pacific Wheel’s gondolas. Now, all guests can get ride-enhancing information on what they’re looking at once they’re at the top of the Ferris wheel.
Of course, these are not just any old maps. To create something unique and reflect Los Angeles’ colorful creativity, Pacific Park collaborated with Chepe Daniel Báez, a renowned graphic artist based in Mexico City. Daniel Báez gorgeous illustrative ‘maps’ show all the landmarks and points of interest surrounding Pacific Park, including Point Dune, Malibu, Getty Museum, the Hollywood sign, the original Muscle Beach, the Pacific Coast Highway, and of course the Santa Monica Pier.
Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, said his team was thrilled with the collaboration.
“Daniel Báez’s award-winning graphic design expertise made him the ideal choice for this unique gondola mapping project. Now, when guests ride the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel, they’ll not only enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the stunning landscape but also have reference points to some of Los Angeles’ most iconic and popular landmarks.”
The Pacific Park team came up with the idea for the gondola maps in 2018, but it wasn’t until 2023 that the project was put into action. Then, the process for completing the project was meticulous.
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Daniel Báez made multiple drafts of the drawings and visited Pacific Park several times. Each time, the design team would print out the drafts, ride the Pacific Wheel, and discuss changes that could be made to enhance guests’ experience. Once the images were completed, large-format print specialists Verve Printing transferred them to durable ‘wraps’ and installed them inside the rim of the gondolas.
Daniel Báez says he wanted to make the images as accurate as possible, but still with a good amount of abstraction. “There are so many historic things you can see from the Pacific Wheel, and the idea was to make them really stand out so visitors can play a little game trying to locate them all.”
The artist spent several months in LA during the Pacific Park project, staying with part of his mother’s family. He says his favorite part of the trip was exploring Santa Monica and all the landmarks he needed to represent. “I had a ton of fun drawing a part of the city that I love walking through and exploring, always with perfect weather.” Recognized as a Latin American Young Talent by the Latin American Design Festival in Lima, Peru, Daniel Báez also loved being able to leave his footprint in such a historic part of California. “Getting to ride the Ferris wheel while honing every iteration was the coolest way to have meetings,” he adds.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is open daily and features 12 thrilling rides, including the West Coaster and the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel. Visit pacpark.com for more details.
Distribution Business Systems Analyst, Lead (Job ME096): Implement, monitor, maintain & improve Warehouse Control System & Warehouse Management System; work with other system leads to integrate with WMS. May telecommute in US. Domestic travel required approximately 20% of time.
Salary:
$140,018 - $154,560 per yr.
Mail resume and ref job code: Personalized Beauty Discovery, Inc., Attn: Yvonne/Recruiting, 903 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
MONICA COLLEGE
Photo by Ed Gandara