The Argonaut

07/29/2025

The stories about Chez Jay, a beloved Westside restaurant and Santa Monica Historic Landmark as of 2012, are endless. Look back at https://www.argonautnews.com/food_drink/gettin-kicks-for-66-route-66-s-chez-jay-celebrates-66-years/article_6fcbc11e-5986-4fc2-9732-9ec859ad7e0b.html.

07/29/2025

Starting in January with the wildfires and continuing until present day with the ongoing ICE raids, Los Angeles eateries have been at the receiving end of a one-two punch. Like a superhero swooping out of the sky, dineLA Restaurant Week launches this month to help foodies (re)discover what makes LA’s dining scene so special.

Starting in January with the wildfires and continuing until present day with the ongoing ICE raids, Los Angeles eateries have been at the receiving end of a one-two punch. Like

07/28/2025

Her mother and grandmother loved art and often took her to museums. Her dad was creative, too, in music and big-picture thinking. Art has always been part of Rachel Woodbridge’s life, which is how her founding of ARTWELL happened so naturally.

Her mother and grandmother loved art and often took her to museums. Her dad was creative, too, in music and big-picture thinking. Art has always been part of Rachel Woodbridge’s

07/26/2025

Hailing from the Westside, playwright, author and actress Ashley Griffin grew up performing at the Santa Monica Playhouse and produced her first play at age 17. She has gone on to build a Broadway/Off-Broadway career in New York, and she is making her hometown return with the West Coast premiere of her play “The Opposite of Love.”

Hailing from the Westside, playwright, author and actress Ashley Griffin grew up performing at the Santa Monica Playhouse and produced her first play at age 17. She has gone on

07/25/2025

Afrobeat, African jazz and Latin pop are among the music genres featured at this year’s Venice Artbeat Festival. Preview the event at argonautnews.com/arts_and_events/cultural-expression-artbeat-festival-returns-to-venice/article_c206f9e9-e70c-4d57-b0b5-684362695cca.html.

07/24/2025

Renowned psychotherapist Virginia Satir once said individuals should not allow other peoples’ limited perceptions define them. Rick Springfield has definitely embraced that mantra throughout a career dating back roughly six decades since he first plugged in a guitar. Read our interview in this week’s cover story at argonautnews.com/arts_and_events/80s-boy-jessie-s-girl-hitman-rick-springfield-promises-wall-to-wall-hits-during-the/article_40d9aa2c-9bbb-4018-b31e-f9781a57197b.html.

📸: Chris Schmitt

07/23/2025

There has been a rivalry in Los Angeles for more than a century over who invented the French dip sandwich: Philippe the Original or Cole's, Originators of the French Dip, both 1908 eateries that are located roughly 1.4 miles apart.

Yet, only one will remain standing after Aug. 2, when Cole’s, which has been called the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Los Angeles, will close its doors, citing reasons including the pandemic, the recent writers’ and actors’ strikes, rising costs and bureaucracy.

More on this at https://www.argonautnews.com/food_drink/a-fond-farewell-after-117-years-cole-s-french-dip-is-calling-it-quits/article_f71ae70f-5543-4458-b52c-6ea0ff914234.html.

07/22/2025

A Los Angeles family is desperately searching for their father and loved one.

A Los Angeles family is desperately searching for their father and loved one, Rwechungula “Rei” Anyabwile, who they have not heard from in over three weeks. They fear he may

07/18/2025

: When I moved to California from the Dakotas, I was shocked to discover that insurance companies often refused coverage based on ZIP codes or denied legitimate claims. It was disgusting to see how late-stage capitalism had turned people’s catastrophes into opportunities for executives and shareholders to get richer, while loyal policyholders were left holding the bag.

It’s hard for me to believe, but I’ve served on the board of the small yet mighty nonprofit Consumer Watchdog for 40 years. Before I get into my Consumer Watchdog

07/17/2025

Dozens of TV shows, short films and epic movies have explored the four gospels of the Bible and the life of Jesus Christ. Joining pieces like 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ” is Angel Studios’ “Testament.” Read about it at https://www.argonautnews.com/arts_and_events/biblical-storytelling-tv-s-testament-shares-book-of-acts/article_c7f81510-6995-45af-a0b8-23959c5b5884.html.

07/15/2025

“Puppet Up! — Uncensored” is no typical puppet show. Learn more at https://www.argonautnews.com/arts_and_events/puppet-up-brian-henson-brings-improv-hijinks-to-town/article_2e9fc16e-ed74-43a4-ada5-e1a7552675de.html.

07/14/2025

Santa Monica writer, producer, cartoonist and podcast host Andy Cowan has built a career by working on various projects, including writing for shows such as “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” “Third Rock from the Sun” and “The Merv Griffin Show.” His most recent project is his podcast, “The Neurotic Vaccine.”

Recently, Cowan won the 2025 Quill Podcast Award for best comedy podcast for his show.

Santa Monica writer, producer, cartoonist and podcast host Andy Cowan has built a career by working on various projects, including writing for shows such as “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” “Third Rock from