For many, the devastation created by the Palisades Fire felt like the end of the world. Six months later, most of the fire debris has been removed, but stark reminders of the damage remain, as residents and local governments...
As communities struggle to rebuild and recover from the devastation of the Palisades fire, nature is also in the process of regenerating. When Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopened at the end of May, drivers were met not with bare hillsides...
A pier is a folly, a highway to nowhere. Whether lined with fishermen or filled with the cries and clattering of a roller coaster, whether thick with the aromas of hotdogs and fries or freshly gutted fish, they are...
A beautiful but unwelcome tide of golden blossom is sweeping over the Santa Monica Mountains this year. The late—and light—rainy season has resulted in few native wildflowers but an abundance of mustard, an opportunistic invasive that thrives even in...
The performance at Pine Tree Circle attracted the biggest audience. Everyone was careful to maintain a safe distance but that didn’t stop people from dancing and having a good time. Photo by Saori WallMariachi Tierra Mia brought the soulful joyful sounds of Cinco de Mayo to Topanga on Dos de Mayo—May 2. The traveling performance, organized by the Topanga Community Center, took place at locations throughout Topanga, giving neighbors an opportunity to come together (at a safe social distance of at least six feet) and celebrate.
Photo by Saori WallJames Moriarty, the Topanga Community Center volunteer who drove the band to its different Topanga performance locations, gets into the spirit of the day with a serious hat. Photo by Saori WallThe performance at Pine Tree Circle attracted the biggest audience. Everyone was careful to maintain a safe distance but that didn’t stop people from dancing and having a good time. Photo by Saori WallMariachi Tierra Mia musicians Ivan Alejandro Pena, on guitarro, and Christopher Rubalcava on trumpet,
perform a traditional love ballad. The band performed a range and variety of mariachi music during the canyon
performances, with each of the five musicians showcasing their individual instruments and singing talent. Photo by Saori WallMariachi Tierra Mia stopped at Rosewood, Pine Tree Circle, Cheney Road, and the Top of Topanga. At every stop, people came out of their houses and enjoyed a welcome diversion. Photo by Saori WallMariachi Tierra Mia performs at Rosewood, against a backdrop of spring green. The Cinco de Mayo celebration gave everyone who came out to hear the musicians and participate an opportunity to set aside fears and stress of life in the time of coronavirus, and celebrate not only Cinco de Mayo, but the sense of community that makes life in the canyon special. Photo by Janek Dombrowa