Playa del Rey business owners Jane St. John (REMAX) and Felicia St. Denis (Flowers by Felicia) are teaming up next month for their 21st Annual Toy & Animal Shelter Drive! Donations of new, unwrapped toys for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and animal shelter supplies (treats, toys, beds etc) can be dropped off at Triangle Park (Waterview and Trask) in PdR on December 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. After you deliver the gifts, stick around to enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with your neighbors!

Come to the Book Jewel in Westchester for an author's event for the book "Tree." "Tree" is a novel about a tree written from a unique point of view: the protagonist is a tree. "Tree" uses magical realism as a key to access the interrelated emotional realities of the many species that share one pristine valley in Topanga, California. Grass, birds, other trees and animals come to life on the pages, while one 19th century Mexican woman and one 20th century school boy, hearts opened by grief and loneliness, come to know one California live oak whose 229 years span the evolution of four human civilizations, Chumash, Spanish/Mexican, Yankee and new money Hollywood, which each leave their mark upon the landscape and upon Tree. The author's obsessive botanical, scientific and historical research give substance to a world that feels both as real as last weekend's dust on hiking boots and as mind altering as a fully fledged mystical experience. You'll never see Mexican spranglegrass the same way again. Take a journey into the heart of the woods where every plant shines "Tree" will change how you see nature. Consider Academy Award nominated actress Kristen Stewart's thoughts on "Tree," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq6aaGA5JYA

Loyola Marymount University's "Global Conversation Series" continues on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and actor, producer, director, and author Joe Manganiello from the hit series “True Blood” and blockbuster movie “Spider-Man." The free event is open to the community at LMU Playa Vista Campus, 12105 E Waterfront Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90094. Pre-registration is required: https://www.lmu.edu/global-conversations/joemanganiello/registration/ The event includes a networking reception and light brunch at 11 a.m. The "Global Conversations" program runs from noon to 2 p.m., beginning with a screening of Manganiello's episode of the acclaimed PBS series, "Finding Your Roots." A powerful discussion between Professor Gates and Manganiello will follow, covering the topics of identity, family, and the critical challenges facing America today. More information about the speakers and details about the event, including directions and parking, can be found here: https://www.lmu.edu/global-conversations/joemanganiello/

Join us for LMU’s Innovation Symposium: Shaping the ClimateTech Transformation, where visionaries unite to explore the impact of technology and innovation's role in shaping a sustainable future. AGENDA: Keynote: Harnessing Technology for Climate Action. Clément Cid, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Mitico, explores how cutting-edge technology can combat climate change through innovative carbon capture solutions, exploring the challenges and opportunities in driving sustainable progress and achieving carbon neutrality. Panel 1: Innovations in ClimateTech: Bridging Technology and Sustainability Panel 2: AI and ClimateTech: Innovations and Impact Panel 3: The Business of ClimateTech: Opportunities and Challenges Key Panelists joining us: CJ Kim, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCLA Clément Cid, Co-Founder and CEO, Mitico Eric Lee, President, Aligned Climate Capitol Rajit Gadh, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science Sourav Roy, Vice President, Speridian Technologies Scott "Will" Wollack, Vice President of Operations, Caelux Corporation Vandana (Ana) Mangal, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, LMU College of Business Administration WHEN: March 21, 2025. 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. WHERE: LMU Playa Vista Campus, 12105 W. Waterfront Drive, Playa Vista. MORE INFO: For full agenda, panelist bios and registration, click […]