People

Landworth / DeBolske have a building partnership with a view
Architects Philip DeBolske and Lisa Landworth have transformed homes in Miracle Mile, Hancock Park and throughout the city and beyond. They’ve also created new homes from the ground up, often for repeat clients. “For a lot of clients, we’ve become the family architect,” notes Landworth. ADUs (accessory dwelling units) have become increasingly popular since zoning […]

George Epstein, 95; he was a winner at poker, and at life
I met George Epstein in 2013 when he was teaching his favorite game to a crowded room of poker players at the Claude Pepper Senior Center. He also taught engineering courses at UCLA and for NASA, and he developed military defense systems for the Air Force, Navy and Army. But on this day his poker […]

Favorite pieces find new life at Alakazam Upholstery & Drapery
Rosie Fortunat has had her share of challenges. First there was the dot-com crash in the 2000s, and then, more recently, the pandemic struck. But luckily for us, both times she rose from the ashes at her Alakazam Upholstery & Drapery. As head of the firm, she carries bundles of fabric and textile samples to […]

Women find solace sharing memories of mothers they miss
“Milestone events are hard,” admits Breanne Metcalf, founder of The Betsey Network, a new peer-to-peer conversation group that helps women grieving their mothers find solace among other women in similar situations. Milestones such as: “When I met my husband, Patrick; our marriage; having our baby.” Metcalf continues, “But it’s the little moments I miss the […]

Neighborhood activities show signs of a return to normal
In-person events are coming back. Life is getting closer to “normal.” For example, Chevalier’s Books hosted — in person, at its Larchmont store on March 7 — some puppets and humans from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater (BBMT). The puppets gave a short performance as part of introducing the new book, “Enchanted Strings: Bob Baker […]

Crafty COVID crochet projects and adventures in Etsy selling
If anyone had told me that I might end up selling handmade products online, I would not have believed that person. Yet, here I am in my Larchmont home, selling a variety of hand-crocheted items on Etsy — and enjoying it. Crocheting was a craft my grandma taught me as a child. I was left-handed […]