Home Care In Pacific Palisades, CA

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — The first major rainstorm of the season pummeled Los Angeles County this week. The Palisades saw nearly nonstop rain since Tuesday night, making way for drier skies ahead for the holiday weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The amount of rain that fell over the last three days in and around the Palisades varied greatly. LA County has two measurement stations near the neighborhood: 2.68 inches of rain fell at Big Rock Mesa, while 4.29 inches fell in Topanga Canyon, according to the LA Department of Public Works.

So far this season, Big Rock Mesa has seen 3.27 inches and Topanga Canyon has seen 5.13 inches, according to Public Works.

Most of LA County’s coastline saw between one and three inches of rain over the last three days. The San Fernando Valley saw between two to five inches of rain while downtown LA saw just under two inches.

Mount Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains logged the most amount of rainfall in the last three days in LA County, with 5.2 inches fallen, according to the NWS.

Find out what's happening in Pacific Palisadeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This recent storm brought a variety of dramatic weather conditions throughout the county, including a parking structure that partially collapsed in Rolling Hills Estates and flooding in North Hollywood that stranded at least one car.

California residents will likely see more intense rain storms throughout the winter season as forecasters predict a strong El Niño weather pattern to hit the state.

The Climate Prediction Center says with 100 percent certainty the strengthening El Niño weather pattern will last through early winter, and has 90 percent certainty that it will last until spring. The agency, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expects the El Niño pattern to bring very rainy conditions to California this winter.

In most El Niño winters, the Golden State tends to be rainier than usual from January to March. In moderate to strong El Niño winters, we normally see a strong southern jet stream and atmospheric rivers during that period.

Following the downpour, Los Angeles County beaches were put under a health advisory as high levels of bacteria are expected for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall.

“Bacteria levels can increase significantly during and after rainstorms, as contaminants within the runoff enters the ocean,” according to the LA County Department of Public Health. “Elevated bacteria levels in ocean water may cause illness, especially in children and the elderly.”

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Amid the ribbons of freeways and endless urban sprawl of Southern California there still remains oases of green — in the form of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms.

And you won't have to travel too far from the Palisades to channel your inner Paul Bunyan. But if you want the experience of cutting your own tree, the Southland's growers encourage you to come early — and this weekend's unofficial start to the holiday season is the perfect time.

If you'd rather save the cutting for someone else, the Los Angeles area has plenty of lots offering pre-cut trees to choose from. Here's a rundown of some of the region's options:

Hagle Tree FarmSomis

Located just off the 101 Freeway in Ventura County, Hagle's farm is filled with rows of Monterey pines, which are native to California. It also offers a wider selection of pre-cut trees shipped from Oregon and Washington. (Opens Nov. 24)

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Chamberlain Choose and CutClaremont

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the family-run Chamberlain farm offers a cut-your-own Christmas tree experience without leaving LA County. (Opens Nov. 25)

Christmas Ranch Tree FarmsThousand Oaks

Now in its second generation of local ownership, Christmas Ranch offers 15 acres of Monterey pines, Aleppo pines and Leyland cypress to choose from. The farm also has additional pre-cut options. (Opens Nov. 24)

Sequoia National ForestSouthern Sierra Nevada

An option for the truly adventurous, the U.S. Forest Service offers a limited selection of permits that allow visitors to choose and cut their own Christmas tree out in the wilderness. At about 200 miles from LA, Sequoia National Forest is the closest option to SoCal. Permits for this year are sold out; if you want to ensure your spot next year make sure to get a permit as soon as they become available next November.

Last year, the median price for trees purchased directly from a grower was about $93, according to PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org. About 26 million live trees were sold last year, compared to 27.4 million in 2018.

A survey by the American Christmas Tree Association, an industry trade group, shows that of the 94 percent of Americans who plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, 23 percent will display a live tree.

Last year, live tree prices increased about 10 percent, largely due to inflation and drought, according to industry experts.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — are expected to translate to slightly higher 2023 Christmas tree prices, according to a report from Country Folks Grower, a business-to-business publication serving fresh market and ornamental crops.

“A lot can happen in a half dozen years that can change the outlook for a Christmas tree crop from one season to the next,” the report said. “Farmers will be facing challenges in the 2023 Christmas tree season brought about by developments over the past several years.”

At any given moment, about 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms across the country.

It typically takes a tree between six and eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating. Large trees — those 7 feet and taller — may be in short supply because sales of smaller trees have been strong in recent years, the report said. Also, people may need to settle for a different species than they’re accustomed to buying.

Chef and restaurateur Jackson Kalb seems to be on a tear as of late, announcing another restaurant today on Instagram. Jemma Pizzeria is a standalone pizza spot opening in the former Roca pizza in Pacific Palisades at the Palisades Village development owned by Rick Caruso.

Jemma Pizzeria will serve personal-sized pies using the same dough and sauce recipes developed for Kalb’s recently opened Hollywood restaurant Jemma. While Kalb hasn’t finalized the exact menu he’ll serve in the Palisades, Jemma Hollywood has a typical margherita, plus a spicy sorpressata variant with honey and Calabrian chiles. Other pies include a cacio e pepe, barbecue chicken, vodka sauce, and chicken pesto. Like his other restaurants, Kalb doesn’t adhere strictly to traditional Italian cuisine and weaves in popular American elements like serving pizza with ranch dressing. Kalb will also serve stacked sandwiches in the style of the ever-popular schiaciatta bread served at places like Venice’s All’Antico Vinaio.

Kalb tells Eater that virtually all of the equipment that Roca left behind is new, which means the switcheroo into Jemma Pizzeria should just take a few weeks. Given the lack of space inside and the small available outdoor seating, the pizzeria will likely be more of a takeout and delivery operation.

And because the space was a quick turnaround, Kalb says he plans to operate Jemma Pizzeria for one year to gauge how business goes and will renew the lease if it proves successful. The new pizzeria will make this a trio of Jemma-branded restaurants for Kalb, including Brentwood’s Jemma di Mare, which opened earlier this year. He also owns Ospi in Venice and his original Jame Enoteca in El Segundo. Kalb operates the restaurant group Memento Mori with his wife Melissa.

Jemma Pizzeria should open in the next few weeks at 1061 N. Swarthmore Avenue, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 with hours from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.

St. Matthew’s Music Guild continues its 39^th season of concerts in Pacific Palisades on Friday, March 8 at 8:00pm with a concert featuring the critically acclaimed Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and violinist Hye-Jin Kim. Kim will be heard in the lyrical Violin Concerto by Gian-Carlo Menotti. The world-premiere of “Tamit and Moar” by New York composer and saxophonist Ethan Helm and music of Florence Price fill out the program. Dwayne S. Milburn conducts.

Known for her musical sensitivity and deeply engaging performances that transport audiences beyond mere technical virtuosity, Hye-Jin Kim has led a versatile career as soloist, recitalist, educator, and chamber musician since her First Prize win at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition at the age of nineteen. She has performed with orchestras throughout the world, including the Philadelphia, BBC, Seoul, Hong Kong and Hannover Chamber orchestras. Recitals have included those at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Salzburg Mirabel Schloss, St. John’s Smith Square and Wigmore Hall, London.

Born in Southern California and now based in New York, composer and saxophonist Ethan Helm works in contemporary jazz, classical and musical theatre genres. “Tamit and Moar” builds on the success of another Music Guild commission, “Dream Walk through Istanbul,” (2019) and honors two central deities, “Grandfather Sun” and “Grandmother Moon” who are central to the creation myths of the Tongva indigenous peoples of Southern California. Helm writes, “Tamit is joyful, adventurous, and sunny, while Moar darkens the landscape with long shadows. Straddling and connecting both personalities is the soprano saxophone soloist whose passages are sometimes notated, sometimes improvised – part storyteller, part wanderer. The creation myths are hundreds of years old but are inspired by the same Southern California landscape that fills my childhood memories: hills, ocean, desert critters, chaparral…” Helm will be the soprano saxophone soloist.

The concert opens with Florence Price’s Andante moderato, an orchestration of the slow movement from her String Quartet in G major

All Music Guild concerts take place at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. Tickets are $45 or Music Guild Season pass. Passes for all remaining subscription concerts are available for as little as $165. A free pre-concert lecture offered by Music Guild president Tom Neenan begins at 7:10pm prior to each concert. For complete information, reserved tickets and season passes visit MusicGuildOnline.org or call (310) 573-7422.

Here's what you need to know about the city of LA's free Christmas tree disposal program.

Patch Staff

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Now that Christmas is over, it's time to clean up from the holiday revelry. Fortunately, Pacific Palisades residents with real Christmas trees won't have to go through much trouble to properly dispose of them.

Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment gives trees a second life by turning them into mulch that's available for free to all residents. You can get your tree picked up curbside or drop it off at designated sites throughout the city.

Residents of multifamily buildings can simply place their trees on the curb during their regular trash collection day.

Other residents have several options for Christmas tree disposal in LA:

Schedule a pickup

Find out what's happening in Pacific Palisadeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents can either call the sanitation department at 800-773-2489, submit a request online or submit a request through MYLA311 to have their Christmas tree picked up curbside.

Residents are instructed to remove all decorations, tinsel and stands from their tree. Ideally, cut your tree into pieces to fit it inside the green bin. If it won't fit in the green bin, you can place it next to the bin.

Flocked and artificial trees can't be recycled. They should be placed in the black bin and will be disposed of at a landfill.

Drop off

Trees can be dropped off Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Jan. 2 and 31 at the following locations:

Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center11950 Lopez Canyon RoadLake View Terrace, CA 91342

Harbor Mulch Facility1400 N. Gaffey StreetSan Pedro, CA 90731

Trees will be accepted at several LA Fire Department stations until Jan. 12:

Fire Station #3108 N. Fremont Avenue, 90012 – Civic Center / Bunker Hill(213) 485-6203

Fire Station #211192 E. 51st Street, 90011 – South Los Angeles(213) 485-6221

Fire Station #2811641 Corbin Avenue, 91326 – Porter Ranch(818) 756-9728

Fire Station #294029 Wilshire Boulevard – 90010 – Hancock Park(213) 485-6229

Fire Station #361005 N. Gaffey Street, 90731 - North San Pedro(310) 548-2836

Fire Station #441410 Cypress Avenue, 90065 – Cypress Park(213) 485-6264

Fire Station #6410811 S. Main Street, 90061 – South Los Angeles(213) 485-6264

Fire Station #651801 E. Century Boulevard, 90002 – Watts(213) 485-6265

Fire Station #779224 Sunland Boulevard, 91352 – Sun Valley(818) 756-8677

Fire Station #8114355 Arminta Street, 91402 - Panorama City(818) 756-8681

Fire Station #885101 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, 91403 – Sherman Oaks(818) 756-8606

Fire Station #944470 Coliseum Street, 90016 - South Los Angeles(213) 485-6294

Fire Station #10623004 Roscoe Boulevard, 91304 – West Hills(818) 756-86064