Laura Moeller Aicklen and Ryan Aicklen. Laura Moeller Aicklen and Ryan Aicklen have long bonded over a shared love of coffee and a desire to nurture warm, welcoming environments: their passion traces its roots back to the very beginnings of their relationship.      After meeting for the first time at West Hollywood’s Roger Room, a small, atmospheric cocktail bar known for its understated, intimate vibe, the couple felt an instant connection, and from there, their worlds blend

Julia and Richard Lombari, longtime Pacific Palisades residents. When Richard Lombari returned to California from Miami in 2019, it was for one reason that mattered most – family. He wanted to be close to his two adult daughters and become a part of a community that had always felt like home. Shortly after COVID hit, he was hired to lead a real estate company in the South Bay, a role that allowed him to stabilize a business while also beginning to rebuild his own sense of com

Sending Valentines to family and friends has been a longtime tradition. While we all adore the gifts from friends, family, and lovers, very few people know about the actual history of Valentine’s Day. The holiday comes from the Roman festival of Lupercalia, once held in mid-February.     The festival, which celebrated the coming of Spring, was basically a giant matchmaking party. At the end of the fifth century, it was not Christian enough for Pope Gelasius I, who replaced Lu

Roth’s Market was a popular place to shop in the Pico Neighborhood. Above, customers wait for the grand opening of the new market. The Santa Monica History Museum (SMHM) has recently opened Food & Family: African American and Intercultural Traditions in Santa Monica . It is an exhibition that highlights how everyday cooking and shared meals helped shape Santa Monica’s cultural identity throughout the 20th century.     Food & Family traces the evolution of African American an

Enjoy mouthwatering seafood and more at the Huntley Hotel's popular Penthouse restaurant. February, with Valentine’s Day right in the middle, reminds us of romance. The holiday dates back to an ancient Roman fertility celebration called Lupercalia. Regardless of its past, February 14 celebrates romantic and platonic amore.     There are plenty of romantic restaurants in Santa Monica. Here are a couple that combine food and views in memorable ways. Love is in the air, 18 stori