Spotlight

Dolly Parton was more than a country music legend; she was a universal beacon of love, wit, and boundless generosity. The beautiful, singular, epic, inspirational icon died on August 25 at age 80. Rising from a one-room cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains, she used her towering talent to build a bridge straight to the hearts of millions. With a guitar in hand, a brilliant smile, and a signature sparkle, she spent over six decades rewriting the rules of superstardom while staying completely true to her roots.

She won 11 Grammy Awards and three Emmy Awards as well as nominations for two Oscars, six Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. She logged 25 number one Billboard country singles, 44 career top 10 country albums (a record for any artist), and 110 career-charted singles over 40 years. Through her Imagination Library, she gifted millions of books to children worldwide, creating a lifeline of literacy and hope. She created jobs and lifted communities without ever losing her signature humility or sharp, self-deprecating humor.

Dolly possessed a rare, magical ability to unite people across generations and divides. She loved fiercely, lived authentically, and refused to judge others. Though the music world is quieter now, her legacy will shine forever in the children who read because of her, the artists inspired by her, and the millions who found joy in her songs. Thank you, Dolly, for the music, the laughter, and the light. We will always love you.

Dolly Rebecca Parton | January 19, 1946–August 25, 2026

Live music returns to Santa Monica’s shoreline September 26–27 with the inaugural Ocean Way Festival, a two-day celebration produced by Goldenvoice, known for Coachella and Stagecoach. Taking place on the sand between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street, the festival will bring together music, food, wellness, design and beach culture. 

The festival’s two-stage lineup spans rock, soul, indie, electronic and more. Saturday’s lineup is led by The Killers, with Jack White, Sublime, Alvvays, SG Lewis and more. Sunday shifts toward a more soulful sound, with GRAMMY-winning Best New Artist Olivia Dean headlining alongside Khruangbin, Durand Jones & The Indications, Hiatus Kaiyote, Poolside and more. 

With the Santa Monica Pier framing the main stage, the festival is designed as an all-ages, day-into-night experience, with five acts on the main stage each day and a second stage offering a more intimate setting. The grounds will also include shaded and seating areas, food and beverage vendors, and spaces for audiences to gather on the beach. 

Ocean Way Festival is part of Santa Monica’s broader effort to bring cultural events to its beachfront. The city selected Goldenvoice to develop the festival as part of its cultural programming.

The Metro E Line, Big Blue Bus, shuttles, bike valet and micromobility options offer alternatives for getting there. Ocean Way Festival takes place September 26–27 at 2030 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica.

For more, click here.

San Laurel is one of Chef José Andrés’ flagship restaurants inside the Conrad Los Angeles and it is a stunner to behold. With earthy tones, natural wood finishes and floor to ceiling windows and a patio that have a reach-out-and-touch-it view of the silvery curves of Frank Gehry’s gleaming Disney Hall, it is an elegant and welcoming space. The menu from this Michelin-starred chef combines Andres’ forward-thinking approach to Spanish cuisine with the gorgeous produce found at local SoCal farmers’ markets.  We found it to be the perfect respite to refresh over lunch during a day of visiting DTLA’s most iconic cultural institutions along Grand Avenue.

The menus change with the seasons but it’s always worth indulging in the pre-fixe that offers an array of tastes at a good value. We started with the Pan con Tomate (ripe tomatoes rubbed onto toasted bread) as an add-on we couldn’t resist – perfection. The starters that arrived for sharing included Peruvian scallops (with green seed-tomatillo vinaigrette, grapes and cilantro), hiramasa crudo (with basil-cucumber “caviar”, pickled blueberries, chili herb oil and lime) and truly delectable croquetas de cangrejo – creamy jumbo lump crab fritters with tartar sauce that we could have eaten all day long.

For our mains, we chose the grilled lubina (sea bass) ala donostiarra with a sizzling herb oil and pollo fritto with a bright cucumber salad and goji berries.

For more, click here.

There’s something delicious happening on the Westside, and I had the chance to get a sneak peek — and more importantly, a sneak taste — before the doors officially open.

Matilda, a beautiful new California bakery with a European accent and a touch of Spanish flair, is getting ready to open in mid-September near the Santa Monica Airport, right next door to The Cloverfield, one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants.

Sean Martin, the brains behind The Cloverfield, is behind this new project, named Matilda after his daughter. The result is a gorgeous, airy bakery that feels completely at home in Santa Monica. High ceilings, exposed wood beams, glass-block walls, soft green tones and plenty of natural light give the room a relaxed California feeling.

The pastry program is led by Chef François PIED, using beautiful French butter and French flour to create pastries with those incredible crisp, flaky layers you want from a great European bakery.

We were lucky enough to taste our way through some of what’s coming. The Passion-Guava Danish immediately caught my eye, along with the savory Shakshuka Cup, filled with tomato, béchamel, a runny egg and herbs. The Sicilian Tile, made with Bianco DiNapoli tomatoes, is like a beautifully laminated pastry meeting a great tomato tart.

There are rows of golden croissants, baguettes, beautifully baked breads and Matilda’s Five Ingredient Sandwich Bread, too. Everything looks handmade, most importantly, tastes as good as it looks.

For more, click here.