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Here's the average cost of getting hitched in L.A.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

Getting hitched? Get ready to write some hefty checks.The average cost of a wedding nationwide is now $29,000, up about a grand from last year, according to the wedding-planning site Zola.The price hike isn't just because people are in a marryin' mood. It's also because Mean Mr. Inflation is a wedding crasher, boosting prices for everything from gowns to cakes.And average costs will run higher in major metro areas. In Los Angeles, be prepared to shell out nearly $31,000 (and again, that's just an average figure; your Kardashian-style nuptials will run considerably more).Some brides-to-be are responding by sporting a vintage gown rather than something new.Many couples are cutting costs by limiting guest lists, which can run to 150 invitees or more.And some lovebirds are forgoing traditional ceremonies and looking instead for more off-beat knot tyings.Pinterest says searches for "alternative weddings" are up more than 300%, with "underwater weddings" leading the way."This intriguing c...

Disneyland celebrates Black Music Month in June

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

In addition to the Pride Month celebrations, June is also Black Music Month at the Disneyland Resort.Guests visiting the theme parks can enjoy live musical entertainment, specialty food items and more activities that honor Black heritage and culture, theme park officials announced. Disneyland guests take one last ride on Splash Mountain Musical guests will perform songs that cover “genres and decades across the history of Black music” at different locations across the resort every day in June.At Disney California Adventure, park visitors can listen to Black music throughout the decades at the Hollywood Backlot Stage in the evenings. Three bands will rotate at this location throughout the month and will perform songs from artists like Aretha Franklin to Bruno MarsHere is a breakdown of the schedule.Midnight Hour: a performance of legendary 1960s hits from artists such as The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and more (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)Finesse: a group cove...

Benjamin Brookhart Dead after Head-on Collision on West Picture Rocks Road [Tucson, AZ]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

45-Year-Old Man Dead and 31-Year-Old Woman Arrested after Deadly Head-on Crash near Golden Date RoadTUCSON, AZ (June 1, 2023) – Wednesday evening, officers were dispatched in a head-on crash that claimed the life of Benjamin Brookhart.On May 17th, at around 7:00 p.m., a deadly two-vehicle collision occurred in the area of West Picture Rocks Road, just east of Golden Gate Road.According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, a Ford Fusion driven by 31-year-old Jacqueline Klukosky. The Hyundai Accent driven by 45-year-old Brookhart was involved in the incident.Upon investigation, the officers learned that Klukosky was headed east at high speeds and attempted to make a right turn.Consequently, Klukosky turned and crashed head-on with Brookhart. Unfortunately, Brookhart was extremely injured which later led to his death.Meanwhile, Klukosky and her passenger both suffered injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.Moreover, both directions of the roadway were briefly shut...

The Game Awards and Hollywood Bowl Bring Video Visuals to Life 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

The Game Awards (coming this December live from L.A. and across multiple streaming platforms) remain the video game industry’s banner event, bestowing top honors for the biggest titles and best ideas in digital game play. This year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association has joined forces with the awards for a celebration that promises to get fans warmed up with a summer kick-off. A must-go for gamers, The Game Awards 10-Year Concert looks back at a decade of the sights and sounds of video gaming’s most enticing environments, graphics and, of course, music.Led by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the event features music selections and suites from the best known gaming franchises – including classic titles from the past and new titles, too. The scores are played and backdropped with immersive footage to make the crowd feel like they are essentially part of the games themselves. Much like the Bowl’s sing-along events for The Sound of Music and Nightmare Before Christmas, this experienc...

In era of team teardowns, SF Giants have balanced MLB competence with farm rebuild

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

It has taken a while for the first wave of hotshot prospects drafted and developed in the Farhan Zaidi era to arrive at the big league level for the San Francisco Giants.But the kids are getting here now, as Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey and Ryan Walker are already giving the Giants a needed jolt of youth, energy and winning baseball.More prospects seem to be on the way. Left-handed starter Kyle Harrison could come up at any point now. So could outfielder Luis Matos, maybe as soon as Friday. Shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielder Vaun Brown and right-handed pitcher Mason Black are headlining at Double-A Richmond. Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt may fly through the minors.This is what Zaidi has been building towards since taking over as the Giants’ president of baseball operations in the fall of 2018.“It’s exciting to have a number of players who are kind of at the doorstep when it hasn’t really felt like that the last few years,” Zaidi told The Athletic last month. “We’ve had guys that w...

Bicyclist critically injured in Concord collision; police say the driver of the car involved fled the scene

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

Police are searching for the driver of a car that hit a bicyclist in a hit-and-run in Concord on Wednesday night.The 39-year-old male bicyclist was hit at 9:44 p.m. at Willow Pass Road and Diamond Boulevard, police said on social media. He was later transported to a hospital, where he was in critical condition Thursday.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | 4-year-old girl wounded in Oakland shooting Crashes and Disasters | Plea deal in works after Alameda DA dismisses 2 of 3 murder charges against Oakland man Crashes and Disasters | Bay Area man sentenced to federal prison for selling 60 lbs of meth to undercover agent Crashes and Disasters | Oakland hit with class-action lawsuit over ransomware attack Crashes and Disasters | ‘A tragedy any way you look at it’: Vallejo man gets 14 years in harrowing homicide during Dublin home break-in The suspect vehicle appeared to be a black Honda Civic....

Facing groundwater deficit, Phoenix halts new construction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

By Ella Nilsen | CNNArizona officials announced Thursday the state will no longer grant certifications for new developments within the Phoenix area, as groundwater rapidly disappears amid years of water overuse and climate change-driven drought.A new study showed that the groundwater supporting the Phoenix area likely can’t meet additional development demand in the coming century, officials said at a news conference. Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state’s top water officials outlined the results of the study looking at groundwater demand within the Phoenix metro area, which is regulated by a state law that tries to ensure Arizona’s housing developments, businesses and farms are not using more groundwater than is being replaced.The study found that around 4% of the area’s demand for groundwater, close to 4.9 million acre-feet, cannot be met over the next 100 years under current conditions – a huge shortage that will have significant implications for housing developments in the coming years...

Sale closed in Fremont: $1.5 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

4260 Alder Avenue – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 4200 block of Alder Avenue in Fremont was sold on April 28, 2023. The $1,505,000 purchase price works out to $1,180 per square foot. The house, built in 1975, has an interior space of 1,275 square feet. The property features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage. It sits on a 6,090-square-foot lot.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:On Perkins Street, Fremont, in July 2022, a 1,840-square-foot home was sold for $1,675,000, a price per square foot of $910. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In January 2023, a 1,074-square-foot home on Feliz Court in Fremont sold for $915,000, a price per square foot of $852. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,282-square-foot home on the 4300 block of San Juan Avenue in Fremont sold in August 2022, for $1,700,000, a price per square foot of $745. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

San Jose kicks off its summer festival season this weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

The calendar says June — though the weather still seems to be stuck in May — and that means it’s time to kick off San Jose’s festival season this weekend.South First Street in downtown San Jose should be packed Friday and Saturday nights with the return of SubZERO festival — a DIY street fair that brings together artists, dancers and bands. Mighty Mike McGee will emcee the main stage between San Carlos and San Salvador streets, with four bands set to play Friday night and four more Saturday, starting at 6:15 p.m. There’ll be art vendors, food trucks and more music on the Beer Garden Stage at South First and William streets.The first night of SubZERO coincides with the monthly South First Fridays art walk, so you can also explore galleries including the Anno Domini, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Quilts & Textiles. And if the music on stage isn’t your thing, you can pop into the California Theatre, where Symphony San ...

Bill Cosby faces a new sexual assault lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:42:23 GMT

By Cheri Mossburg | CNNBill Cosby is being sued by Victoria Valentino in a new civil lawsuit claiming decades-old allegations of sexual assault, that her attorney shared with CNN and said it was filed in Los Angeles on Thursday.Shortly after meeting Cosby in 1969, Valentino claims she and a friend had dinner with the comedian where they were given pills and later agreed to go to an office with him, according to the filing.“After ingesting the pill, Plaintiff’s head began nodding and she struggled to keep her head up and stay awake. Plaintiff felt nauseated, and her head was spinning. She stated, ‘I want to go home now,’” according to the filing.The lawsuit outlines in graphic detail allegations that Cosby raped Valentino, claiming “Plaintiff was incapable of consent by reason of being drugged by Cosby and physically helpless.”Valentino filed the lawsuit under California’s new law that gives residents a three-year window in which they can file civil sexual assault lawsuits that would...