A Glimmer of Hope in LA

The heroic work of all of the firefighters has led to significant containment of the two main fires in Los Angeles County, and that coupled with a break from the Santa Ana winds has given us all a glimmer of hope. The levels of grief for the people who lost their lives, and the people who remain missing cannot be expressed in words. The devastation to the impacted neighborhoods is beyond comprehension. So many houses, businesses, schools and landmarks were reduced to rubble, and many areas are no longer recognizable. Yet the resilience of everyone impacted is inspirational and a lesson in humility in the face of unthinkable loss. While it will be a long time before things are back to something close to normal, because of the sheer scale of this devastation, the people of LA County are resilient and optimistic about the future. 

The Firefighters, Police & National Guard are the Angels of Los Angeles

I am in a state of awe about the dedication of the LA Fire Department, LAPD and the National Guard in their heroic bid to fight the fires in Los Angeles County. Mexico and Canada have also sent teams to fight the fires, and so have many fire departments throughout California and out of state. The firefighters are working grueling 24 hour shifts to ensure the safety of our residents, and many are getting injured in the process. There simply are no words to express our profound gratitude to the people who answer their calling to protect citizens. I marvel at their work as they comfort traumatized people, put out the blazes and even take time to sift through the rubble to help people find precious mementos. These efforts are extraordinary, and in the City of Angels, these people are the true angels.

UNITED WE STAND IN LA

This is day 7, and while the fire fighters have been doing heroic work fighting all of the wildfires in LA, we are all concerned about the potential damage that could occur when the next Santa Ana wind event starts. We remain under a red flag warning through Wednesday, and we all pray that it will not stoke the flames. 

Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, who is a proud lifelong Angeleno, wrote a beautiful poem about our wonderful city. Her poem, Smoldering Dawn, can be heard here and here. Pray for LA.

And the Fires Rage On

It is difficult to express the extent of my sorrow as parts of Los Angeles and LA County are reduced to rubble. Each night when I go to sleep I wonder if I will awaken to an evacuation order, and if the fires have spread even further. Part of what makes all of this feel so apocalyptic is not just that the main fires (in Pacific Palisades and Altadena) keep growing, but that new fires are constantly popping up. The Santa Ana winds continue to be a driving force that is spreading these fires, and the drought conditions, and lack of rain, have provided the perfect conditions for this firestorm. 

As a native Californian, earthquakes and wildfires are part of the world in which I live, but I have never seen anything that comes even close to the scale of these devastating wildfires. New evacuation orders have been issued reaching parts of the San Fernando Valley, and UCLA and Brentwood have been told to prepare for evacuation. I am impressed by the swift evacuation orders because keeping people and animals safe should always be a priority, but I also mourn the lives lost and the lovely neighborhoods (houses and businesses) that have perished. As I watch the news, and view online videos that document the destruction, I witness houses and businesses that meant a lot to me disappear into flames. Melted metal, rubble and glowing embers remain. The images look less like evidence of a catastrophic colossal scale fire, and more like pictures of the bombed out remains of a world war. There really are no words to express the level of devastation and loss Angelenos are experiencing, and sadly these fires continue to burn. Please send your good thoughts and prayers to everyone being impacted by these devastating fires.

The Devastating Los Angeles Area Fires

I am sure that all of you have seen news coverage of the apocalyptic fires simultaneously ravaging many areas in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. While my neighborhood has thus far been spared, I can tell you that the devastating effects are impacting everyone in the vicinity. Some people have lost their lives, many people have lost their homes, their businesses, their jobs and their favorite places to frequent. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and dreams have been shattered. The Santa Ana winds have been unrelenting, and they have been carrying live embers great distances- resulting in further devastation. Many people have lost everything, and while things can be replaced that doesn't change the fact that they are displaced, frightened and in shock. Please send your warm thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by these catastrophic fires.

BabyCakes NYC on Larchmont Boulevard in Los Angeles!

I have a sweet tooth, and always have-- therefore when the wildly popular BabyCakes NYC opened up a bakery on Larchmont Blvd. I was thrilled. This is especially dangerous since I live in this neighborhood! Larchmont Village is a small hidden gem in Los Angeles that is nestled in the Hancock Park/Windsor Square residential area, and it is filled with lovely boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops. I will do a feature on Larchmont before too long since there are also numerous beauty destinations here (Larchmont Beauty, Malin + Goetz & Diptych), but while it is a wildly popular hangout for local residents, people seem to be coming from all over to delight in this amazing neighborhood shopping district, as well as watching celebrities shop and dine in their native habitat. Larchmont used to be one of LA's best kept secrets, but it would seem that the secret is out!

BabyCakes NYC is an iconic NYC bakery that features the most delectable baked goods that are refined sugar-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and their products are vegan and kosher. You might think that this means that their products are flavor-free, but their cupcakes, donuts, and cookies (to name but a few of their treasures) are among the best that I have ever tried! Among the things that they are famous for are their scrumptiously delicious donuts that are moist and exceedingly flavorful! You don't have to adhere to a special diet to love and savor these tasty treats, but for those among you who are vegan, kosher, or gluten-free-- you will be astounded by their amazing baked goods. Among my favorites are their donuts, and I can honestly say without hesitation that these are my very favorite donuts of all time. If you find yourself visiting Los Angeles, then you owe it to yourself to try BabyCakes NYC.

BabyCakes NYC 236 North Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004 (Unaffiliated link).

They also have a bakery in NYC and Orlando, Florida.