Crayon Collection participated in Palisades Americanism Parade Association’s Fourth of July event at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, hosting a booth with arts and crafts.

“We loved spending the evening with Councilmember Traci Park’s team as well as students from Pali High,” read information shared by the organization. “The Fourth of July is a major tradition for our beautiful community, and although this year looked different than years past, the same joy and community was present. We were so glad to connect with everyone and to all the kiddos who dropped by and colored jumbo coloring sheets, which were all about resilience and hope for Pacific Palisades.”

As part of a pre-college entrepreneurship program at USC, 16-year-old Palisadian James Reinstein met with Rick Caruso to “learn firsthand how companies are built.”

“After seeing Caruso’s leadership in rebuilding parts of the Palisades and his reputation for creating spaces that prioritize community over commerce, James decided to approach him in person,” read information shared about the meeting. “To his surprise, Caruso readily agreed to an interview. Their discussion quickly moved beyond balance sheets and business plans. Caruso emphasized that his success was never solely about constructing profitable shopping centers, but about designing environments where people feel connected.”

Palisades Dolphin Strong—co-founded by Palisades Charter High School alumni Larry Goldberg and Scott Berger—hosted a benefit concert on July 20 at the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club to launch its support efforts for fire recovery and local business.

“The event brought together celebrities, community leaders, musicians and over 250 supporters for a night of inspiration and action,” according to event organizers.

The event was emceed by Palisadian and Honorary Town Sheriff Sam Laganà.

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Getty Villa Museum and Troubadour Theater Company will present performances of “Oedipus the King, Mama!” between September 4 and 27.

“In this production of the classic story of Oedipus, LA’s beloved Troubadour Theater Company gets Sophocles’ King Oedipus ‘All Shook Up’ with the musical stylings of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley,” read information from Getty. “In ‘Oedipus the King, Mama!’ plot twists and pelvic thrusts are plentiful, and a live band accompanies the salacious story. Fighting to find out the ugly truth, Oedipus gives in to ‘Suspicious Minds’ and digs deep into his past … only to find a forbidden future—and the meaning of blind ambition.”

The show marks the 19th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production and the third production of Troubadour Theater Company at the space. The company has three decades of history—including 16 years of collaborating with Getty.

“It is special to have such a long-time collaborator and company from Los Angeles bring their talents to the Palisades community for what will undoubtedly be an entertaining show,” said Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle director of the Getty Museum.

The production was previously part of the Villa’s 2009 Theater Lab series, according to Getty. It is adapted and directed by Troubadour Theater Company Artistic Director Matt Walker.

The cast includes Walker as Oedipus, Cloie Taylor as Shepherd, Beth Kennedy as Jocasta, Rick Batalla as Creon, Mike Sulprizio as Teiresias, Steven Booth as Young Oedipus, Suzanne Jolie Narbonne as Ismene/Chorus, Lara Lafferty as Antigone/Chorus, Philip McNiven as Messenger and Katie Malia as Sphinx attendant.

“We’re so thankful for our long-time artistic collaboration with the Getty,” Walker said. “They truly support artists and always bring out the best in us. ‘Oedipus the King, Mama!’ has a gifted cast of 10 actors who sing, dance, clown and improvise their way through an 80-minute-romp—as well as a live band and brilliant designers who are transforming the Villa into Graceland West.”

Previous co-productions between the company and Getty include “LIZASTRATA” in 2021 and “Haunted House Party” in 2016.

Performances will take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway. An American Sign Language-interpreted performance will take place September 18. There are previews August 28 to 30.

Tickets are on sale now. Thursday night performances are $45, or $40 for students and seniors. Friday night is $50 and Saturday night $55.

By NISSARA SHAH | Intern

Palisadian and former Honorary Mayor Martin Short will star in the upcoming fifth season of “Only Murders in the Building,” which will begin airing on Tuesday, September 9.

The first three episodes will be released on premiere day, with the remaining episodes released weekly every Tuesday on Hulu and Disney+.

Short will return to his original role as Oliver Putnam, one of three podcast members and a struggling theater director. Season five will pick up on the mysterious death of Lester, the doorman at the Arconia apartment building.

Charles-Haden Savage, played by Steve Martin, and Mabel Mora, played by Selena Gomez—the other two members of the podcasting trio—join Oliver in investigating the case. As they explore unexpected corners of New York City, suspense builds and brand new characters add to the mystery.

The television series is directed by John Hoffman and co-written with Martin. The show is produced by 20th Television, a subsidiary of Disney.

Short has also starred in comedy films such as “Three Amigos” (1986) and “Father of the Bride” (1991).

Several original cast members from previous seasons are returning to their roles: Michael Cyril Creighton returns as Howard, Jackie Hoffman is back as Uma and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams.

The series will also feature new cast members, including Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Jermaine Fowler, Christoph Waltz, Keegan-Michael Key and Beanie Feldstein.

Filming began around March of this year and wrapped in June. Production took place across New York City’s Upper West Side. The season is expected to conclude November 4.

The series is full of “twists, suspense and humor,” according to Hulu: “The season will balance grim discoveries and comic misadventures.”

By DAILA HARINCK | Intern

After graduating from Palisades Charter High School, Todd Lawrence set off to see the world, visiting 22 countries before eventually settling in Taiwan, where he has lived for over three decades.

He learned of the fire raging in Pacific Palisades in January through anxious phone calls with his parents. They eventually learned that their family home remained standing, though they were displaced with it requiring “extensive remediation.”

When Lawrence flew back and saw the damage firsthand, something stood out to him: Amid the rubble and destruction, their Chase bank vault had stayed intact.

“Bank vaults are made with modular panels, protecting them in fires and disasters,” Lawrence explained. It was this realization that ultimately launched the idea for his latest endeavor, Custom Home Vaults.

According to the company’s website, Lawrence set out to “utilize modular paneling to convert standard shipping containers into fully secure, concealed bank vaults for residential use.” These bank-grade, walk-in vaults are designed to store everything—from jewelry and family heirlooms to sports memorabilia—discreetly and seamlessly within the home’s architecture.

Unlike his previous business venture, Whisky Vault—which was primarily with collectors in mind—Custom Home Vaults is aimed at everyday families looking to protect items.

“Pacific Palisades will rebuild,” Lawrence said. “And this time, security will be  built into the home to withstand the unimaginable. This isn’t just a product. It’s personal.”

The vaults use the same panelized steel and insulation found in commercial-grade safes, but with an emphasis on customization and design. A vault can be fully customized—from its size and color to the type of wood. Lawrence works with interior designers to ensure it blends into a home’s existing floor plan and aesthetic.

Beyond design, the vaults are crafted to offer long-term protection, created with “integrated fire resistance.” A Custom Home Vault is built to withstand 1,000-degree fires for extended periods of time, Lawrence said.

Additionally, the high-density composite concrete panels and one-and-a-half-ton, bank-grade vault door further reinforce.

Security and privacy are the brand’s core values, which is why the delivery and installation process is private.

“Even the neighborhood won’t know you just dropped a 20-ton, UL-certified vault into your floor plan,” Lawrence said.

The vaults are built entirely offsite and brought to the customer’s home in a shipping container, meaning the size and layout is kept entirely discreet.

Lawrence said he understands that home security is not just about safeguarding items—it is about ensuring peace of mind for customers in an uncertain world.

The memory of seeing the Palisades, his hometown, in ashes drives his mission forward. That is also why he has made sure that part of all sales will be donated to one of four charities that focus on “rebuilding after the devastating wildfires,” including California Community Foundation, American Red Cross, Direct Relief and Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

For more information, visit customhomevaults.com.

By DAVID GRINSFELDER | Contributing Writer

Being elbowed in the rib cage by a Vietnamese grandmother was not on my bucket list when I set off for the Land of the Ascending Dragon, but just 36 hours after departing from JFK, I was going toe-to-toe with a diminutive Hanoian lady as we jockeyed for position in the buffet line. What I initially took as a personal affront was the first of many lessons I would learn about Vietnamese culture that fascinated and intrigued me.

We were competing for the last two bach tuôc giòn (crispy octopus) that evening. That savory dish came with a side of anthropology: Vietnam is a high-contact, low personal space culture compared to Western norms.

In a nation with 100 million people and eight times the population density of the United States, crowds are the norm. Streets, shops, buses and buffet lines brim with bodies. Navigating them requires a kind of physical assertiveness that first feels aggressive, until you realize that everyone is doing it.

Moreover, older people—especially grandmothers (bà)—occupy a place of respect and seniority in Vietnamese life. It’s not unusual for them to confidently stake their space since their social status will usually shield them from younger challengers. No surprise that our confrontation at the buffet caught the ire of every Vietnamese person in the vicinity.

A brief aside: I traveled to Vietnam as a delegate with a New York-based foreign affairs organization called Network 20/20. Our mission through the Entrepreneurial Diplomacy Program was to conduct on-the-ground research to gain a holistic understanding of the country, where it stands in the comprehensive strategic relationship with the United States and how the country navigates its balancing act between China and the U.S.

We took four to five meetings per day, moved between cities frequently and did all of this while wearing suits in the interminable heat. Naturally, our need for daily morning stimulation went beyond just the jet lag we experienced upon arrival.

As fate would have it, I stumbled upon the optimal elixir: Vietnamese coffee. As the world’s second-largest coffee exporter (trailing only Brazil), the crown jewel of its coffee fleet is the Robusta bean—more earthy than arabica beans and almost twice as caffeinated.

I quickly realized that the national beverage, Cà phê sữa đá (iced coffee with condensed milk), is a guilty pleasure on the lips and a diuretic sledgehammer in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s so powerful that most cafes only serve it in cups that are three-quarters or half full. I’m not a consistent coffee drinker, but a few sips were enough to prove that Vietnamese coffee should not be underestimated.

The strength of the coffee paved the way for the next realization I had about Vietnam: Everyone—and I mean everyone—embodies an industriousness that Americans would recognize and applaud.

Thanks to its agrarian heritage, economic reforms and familiar obligations, the people of Vietnam today are regarded as some of the most hardworking of any society. Almost everyone with whom we spoke worked a full-time job and also found ways to make money on the side, such as fixing motorcycles or selling trinkets.

And the best part about their industriousness? You can see it. Although our research trip was complete with behind-the-scenes tours of traditional garment manufacturing and value-added manufacturing plants, what I found most interesting was watching the entrepreneurial spirit of average Vietnamese people on the street.

In the city of Can Tho, the heart of the Mekong Delta region (known as the “Rice Bowl” of Vietnam), I saw an older gentleman operating his makeshift barbershop—a plastic chair, a barber’s kit and mirror nailed to a tree on the sidewalk.

Kids in Da Nang earn pocket money guarding beach bags for tourists. In Ho Chi Minh City, freelance xe ôm (motorbike taxi drivers) operate in a quasi-legal gray area whisking people around the city, earning significantly more than they make at a traditional factory job.

I loved that in Vietnam, life truly happens on the street. The sidewalks are stuffed with street vendors selling banh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches), often contending with the omnipresent plastic stools supporting outdoor cafe patrons.

While street performers are not as prevalent as they might be in other countries, somebody has usually hooked up a microphone to a speaker for the ubiquitous karaoke that is a cornerstone of Vietnamese society. It’s an amalgamation of chaos and energy, but I think anyone would enjoy a stroll through the sea of people that is a Vietnamese sidewalk.

In just 10 days, the scenes of shared humanity I observed in Vietnam dismantled my assumptions, delighted my senses and forced me to adjust my pace physically and mentally. There’s a pulse to the country that’s hard to put into words. It’s observable, but almost more something you can feel.

The rhythm of life driven by grit and family creates a collective energy that transcends the individual, and an unspoken understanding that Vietnam is as a crossroads of immense opportunity.

David Grinsfelder is a graduate of Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019). He currently lives in New York and is writing a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. The Grinsfelders have been Highlands residents since 1989.