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I kept hearing from my friends living in LA that the city is not what it used to be. Many of them were moving away or wanted to. The LA Times published a story about how the entertainment industry has shrunk due to the movie-going public’s lack of appetite for well-written, deep-story movies, now replaced with superhero blockbusters. So, industry people were fleeing, leaving apartment buildings vacant and restaurants and stores shuttered across town.  

I have been considering a move back to LA, where my son is convinced life would be better for us, well, at least for him, based on his teen peers who live there telling him how they enjoy a care-free life of short school days followed by hanging out at the beach, surfing and scoping girls. So, I spent my annual week-long trip to LA this summer examining what life is like now in the city and what the prospects would be if I returned. It’s been nearly eight years since I left, and a lot has changed. 

First Impressions: A Different LA 

 It was 5 pm when my son and I arrived at LAX. We stowed our bags where we were staying at a friend’s house in WeHo, and we headed out for a few necessities and dinner. Our first stop was CVS on Santa Monica Blvd, where we had to walk a block around the store and up a urine-stained staircase because the garage entrance was closed, which I learned from the clerk was to prevent theft. Inside, most of the products we wanted were behind locked glass cases, which the clerk explained was due to rampant shoplifting. Already I was seeing a less hospitable LA than even a year ago, when I had been hopeful about the city’s rebound from the pandemic.  

 Onto dinner, we went to WeHo Bistro, one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. It’s always been an affordable mid-scale restaurant with a French-inspired menu and a pleasant server staff. My son wanted a steak, and since it was vacation, which qualifies as a “special occasion,” I obliged him, but I was shocked to see how the prices had escalated since our last visit. Our dinner for two was well over $100, and that was without any adult drinks. Upon returning to my friend’s house, she told me she had been officially “86’d” from the restaurant along with her husband, after a traumatizing incident when a sassy fellow patron yelled out that she was being a “bitchy Karen” when she informed the waiter that he had given her someone else’s check.  I hate the fact that people use “Karen” to stereotype people who stereotype people, and now I have lost my good feelings about this restaurant. Shame.  

 Parking Wars and Cold Stares: Welcome to Runyon Canyon 

 On our first morning in LA, I woke up early to hike Runyon Canyon, my go-to exercise-and-people-watching hike. I noticed all the streets where I used to park were now permit-only, so I circled 10 minutes searching for a spot. I finally found a just-big-enough spot on a residential street, where a muscley giant, about 6’5, in a black tank top and skimpy shorts was walking a French bulldog. I turned my wheels to the curb, knowing otherwise I would get a ticket, and I checked to make sure my fender was within the red markings of the curb, knowing otherwise, I would get a ticket.  I scanned the signpost, with no fewer than five placards regarding the days and hours I could park there. Stopping was not permitted certain hours on weekdays, but otherwise for two hours I could park there, between 8 am and 8 pm, unless I had a permit, in which case I would be exempted those times, except during rush hour and on Tuesdays between 11 and 2 PM, when there was street sweeping, and beyond the sign there was no parking at all. Got it!  

As I exited the car the guy in the tank top made eye contact with me. I gave him a friendly nod, a smile, and a cheery “Good morning,” to which he responded with a glare. I thought to myself, perhaps he’s angry that hikers are parking in his neighborhood, or maybe he’s just having a bad day, or maybe he’s just leery of strangers greeting him. I wouldn’t let one unfriendly stare take the spring from my step. I was in sunny LA, on a beautiful morning. Onward and upward.  

I proceeded up the steep Vista Boulevard to the trailhead. A man in a front of an apartment building was spraying the entryway with a hose. I heard him holler a spirited, “Hello!” I turned, smiled and responded with, “Good morning!” He looked at me oddly and then began speaking Spanish into the speaker phone in the palm of his hand, which I had not noticed. A bit embarrassed, I continued walking. As I came face-to-face with a few other hikers descending the street, I took the hint from my previous interactions with strangers, and I kept my pleasantries to myself. 

As I ascended the paved fire road up Runyon Canyon, a vertical incline that attracts an array of fitness enthusiasts dressed in the latest barely-there designer athletic wear and their dogs, I activated the Voice Memo feature of my iPhone and began to dictate the narrative for this blog. At first, I worried that talking aloud to myself might appear weird, but I realized that everyone was wearing earphones, and no one could hear me, or cared what I was saying, anyway.  

Friendly Faces—From Out of Town 

To test my theory of Angeleno’s aloofness, I struck up a conversation with a gentleman who appeared to be in his late 60s, large belly, shirtless, with his sparse white hair whipped up high on top of his head. His dusty running shoes slid on the gravelly surface as he held tightly to the safety rail along the cliff. Behind him, I also struggled to get my footing on the infamous downhill steps. It was a treacherous but favored part of the hike, because of the site of an expanse of chain-link fence famously decorated with hundreds of rusting padlocks left by hikers to mark the apex of their journey, like flags planted atop Everest. 

Spaced about 3- to 4-feet apart and comprised of huge wood beams held down by rebar, the steps that once gave hikers terra firma on the backside of the trail were now deeply grooved from decades of hiking boots wearing them down, and the depth of the steps had lengthened to nearly hip-height.  

“Almost halfway,” I said cheering on my fellow trepidatious hiker.  

“My daughter would kill me if she knew I was doing this. I broke my leg five months ago,” he said huffing from the exertion. 

I congratulated him on his bravery for being on such a technical trail so soon after recovering from his injury. After a few minutes of chatting, he told me he was visiting from Massachusetts.  

“My daughter worked in LA for years as a television producer, but she couldn’t stand the people anymore and she left. Moved to Oregon,” he said. “But she got me hooked. I love it here, so I come back on my own to visit.”  

Figures, the one friendly and talkative person I ran into was from out of town.  

A Sobering View from on High 

As I marched on, I reached one of the scenic overlooks of the hike. I caught my breath and scanned the panorama of the city. In front of me was a vast brown blanket in the sky, enshrouding the skyscrapers of downtown LA. I couldn’t see my old work building on Wilshire Blvd in Miricle Mile, which I usually was able to make out from this perch. After decades of progress in cleaning up its air, the nasty particulate matter known as smog had made a comeback. In fact, in 2024, despite Californian drastic clean-air rules, Greater Los Angeles earned the dubious distinction of the smoggiest region the nation and got an F grade for air quality from the American Lung Association.  

Los Angeles was not the city I used to know. I missed the old LA. Was it still here, just covered in a layer of haze? Were the people so battered from the pandemic and the economic downturn that friendliness and hospitality were a thing of the past? 

Where was the vibrant city, brimming with opportunity and excitement that defined my life there from the late 90s to 2016? Has LA’s time passed?  

Dr. Dyer and the Question of Expectation 

One of my favorite spiritual teachers, the late Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, told a story in his book The Power of Intention about a woman he met walking on the beach. Upon learning that Dr. Dyer previously lived in a city where she planned to move, she asked him what the people were like. He asked her, “What are the people like where you used to live?” She bemoaned that they were snobby and standoffish. To her chagrin, he replied, “You’ll find the same thing there.” He then explained his philosophy that people find the experiences they expect in life. While I have the upmost respect for Dr. Dyer, on this point, I believe he was wrong.  

When I moved to Virginia, a few of my first encounters took me aback. Like at Bank of America where I went to get some documents notarized. I was greeted with smiles by multiple people before I got to the counter. I wondered what was up. A woman in what I can only describe as an overall dress — a denim bib with buckles at the shoulders and cinched at the waist with a long, wide Unbreakable-Kimmy-Schmidt style skirt, chatted with me in line.  

She had kinked hair that looked like a perm I had in the 80s. My first thought was, “What are you wearing? What have you done to your hair?”  

She told me about her sister who was planning a vacation with her kids in West Virginia, where they hiked in the mountains and refreshed themselves in swimming holes. She was, as Southerners might say, as sweet as pie. I realized she was quite lovely.  

This initial experience, sans the bunker garb and 80s coif, was repeated throughout my first months of living in Virginia, until these interactions gradually ceased to surprise me. Dr. Dyer was wrong. I expected unacquainted people to ignore me or be indifferent toward me, like strangers did in LA, but they were friendly, outgoing, and neighborly.  

Now back in LA, was I expecting too much from people? Were people worse than they used to be in LA? Was LA a city that was drying up and becoming a desert where dreams died, or was it something different that I needed to open my eyes wider to see? I dedicated the remainder of my summer vacation in LA to answering this question for myself.  

Cinespia: An LA Tradition That Stands the Test of Time 

There are very few institutions that last in LA. The Stinking Rose, a restaurant specializing in garlic dishes, was a landmark on La Cienega Boulevard forever, but now it’s boarded up. The same goes for all the .99-Cent stores. Gone, out of business. So many landmark restaurants, shops and attractions were no more after the pandemic.  

But one unique LA attraction I am thrilled to say has made it to 21 years is Cinespia, the premiere outdoor movie night of movie nights. A tradition for me and my family each year has been a July 4th screening, and this year’s event did not disappoint. My son had never seen Rocky, a quintessential Americana movie of self-determination and personal triumph, and a timeless love story.  

The event was packed, and despite our late arrival we were welcomed by fellow movie-goers on the lawn to squeeze in a spot front and center with our blanket, low-back chairs of approved height, and picnic basket. It was an enthusiastic crowd, some decked out in red-white-and blue for the holiday, singing along as the DJ spun 70’s tunes, dined al fresco illuminated by flickering e-votives, and mellowing out as the smell of weed wafted through the air. To my delight, my son was enrapt by Rocky. He smiled and laughed as Rocky awkwardly courted the shy Adriene, turning to me to state, “Cringe,” and he grimaced when Rocky took hard punches, and he cheered with the crowd as Rocky ascended the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was a quintessential LA evening – great cinema, shared with a truly appreciative film auteur audience, outdoors on a mild summer night, shown in an only-in-LA venue of a Hollywood Forever Cemetery, projected on Rudolf Valentino’s mausoleum. Cinespia remains one of the best LA experiences, which emerged from the pandemic unscathed.  

The Good, the Better, and the Best: Rediscovering LA’s Charm  

 On a high from Cinespia, I began to reminisce about what I loved about LA during my 18 years as an Angeleno, and I opened my mind and eyes to what’s still good and what’s new that’s good in LA. Here’s my list.  

 One improvement was lighter traffic than in the pre-COVID era and the plethora of electric cars on the road. With gas prices verging on $6 per gallon, I was happy to be behind the wheel of the new Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring Plug-in Hybrid SUV as my ride for the week. Despite a busy schedule of zipping across the city, I didn’t go to the gas station once.  And I was pleased to find that EV infrastructure across LA is ubiquitous. The condo complex where I stayed featured Loop chargers mounted on pylons between every four parking spots. 

While some restaurants faded away, others shined. One of my beloved hot spots in Beverly Hills, Il Fornaio, was recently fabulously remodeled, though thankfully they still served my favorite pasta entree, spaghetti di farro, a ricotta cheese and noodle dish with lemon zest. Mwah!    

In WeHo, the world’s most famous gay bar, The Abbey is still going strong, with curiously strong drinks, like the $20 froze (frozen Rosé wine with a kick) cocktail that may or may not have intoxicated my drinking buddy to the point he left the establishment and ended up asleep in the back of a parked BMW with no recollection of how he got there.  

Junior Cookies is a new addition to Santa Monica Blvd., where patrons can lounge on oversized sofas in front of the bakery to people-watch while they nosh on extravagant and exotic cookies, like the Thia Tea Cookie, Banana Pudding Cookie, or the decadent Triple Chocolate Brownie Cookie Cup. 

One of the most Hollywood-centric things to do in LA is tour the Academy Museum, where cinema is celebrated in grand style, featuring exhibits of great films, like The Godfather, including set recreations, costume displays, and interviews with the filmmakers; replays of history-making Oscar acceptance speeches; screenings in the state-of-the-art David Geffen Theatre; and the Oscar Experience, in which visitors take the stage to an adoring virtual audience of fans to accept an actual statuette, all captured on video as a souvenir.   

The Beach: LA’s Timeless Treasure 

One of the things I miss most about living in LA is the beach. The beach is the beach, it’s the best free attraction on the coast, and save a few closures due to drifting medical waste or storm surge, at least, the sand and surf are essentially never-changing. Santa Monica Pier and the beach remain free to wander and note the quality of the people.  

The iconic carousel at the pier has been around since 1916, and the elegantly carved, mesmerizing, if not creepy, horses, a rabbit and a goat, continue to entertain visitors of all ages who can ride for the mere price of $3. Another fixture just off the pier since 1946, Hot Dog on a Stick, got a facelift in 2022, but the expensive ($6.79) batter-dipped hot dogs remain the same classic beach-side treat, but beware the looming seagulls eager to snatch your lunch, even if it’s in your hand.  

Toward Venice, Muscle Beach, sporting beefing bodybuilders pumping up for tourists, is always an attraction, and the climbing ropes and swinging rings are free for all. For bargain shoppers, there are cheap sunglasses, resort wear, caricatures, and sage for a deal from vendors camped along the bike path that goes from Malibu to Manhattan Beach. At Perry’s, you can rent bikes for $10 per hour, $35 per day, or $40 hourly for an e-bike.  

After more than 25 years of beach-going in Santa Monica, my base camp is Lifeguard Station 26, where daily ($14-$20) or hourly ($1 per hour) parking is easy to find, decent restrooms are conveniently located off the bike path, and a lifeguard is on duty sunrise to sunset. Note: Our beach party found out how important the lifeguard is when three of the four teenagers in our group, all strong swimmers, were caught in a riptide and had to be rescued! 

Ready for a Comeback? 

After a week of reliving LA life in 2024, I came to the conclusion that perhaps Dr. Dyer was right after all. We see what we want to see in situations, people, and cities.  

Did I live in LA during its heyday, from the late 90s to just before the pandemic? Are the abandoned office buildings and shuttered restaurants a temporary state? Will the industry have a successful reboot, like The Bourne Ultimatum and The Godfather Part II, which were unquestionably better than the original? Will Hollywood avoid being canceled, with the right PR pitch and timing? 

There are enough good things about LA still to make it desirable, but will it return to the way it was, or might it come back bigger and better? The only way to see what will happen is to keep coming back, and so I will. 

These terrific Christmas gifts under your tree are sure to bring joy to all ages

It ain’t heavy, it’s my blanket

Give the sleepyhead on your list a sound night of slumber with the latest trend in sleep – a weighted  Tranquility blanket. This affordable weighted blanket, available at retailers such as Walmart, uses deep touch pressure to help promote calm and comfortable slumber. Available in weights from 12lbs to 20lbs, $49.98 to $64.97.

Brush up

Giving a personal care item for a gift can be tricky, especially if the recipient didn’t specifically ask for that cellulite eliminator, but you can’t go wrong with the BESTEK M-Care Electric Toothbrush ($49.99). This FDA-certified high-tech dental cleaning instrument features wireless charging and vibrates up to 31000 times per minute to remove gum plaque from teeth gently and fast, and it comes with a two-in-one travel case and charger.

That’s the rub

There’s only one thing better than a massage; a massage in your own home.  Soothe, the Uber of traveling massage therapists, will send a pair of strong hands with a mobile massage table, sheets, lotions, oils and music to your doorstep in 60 minutes with the tap of an app. Indulge someone special on your gift list with a Soothe gift card, and throw in some Soothe bath salts (3-pack, $30) to make the experience complete. Fees vary based on level of therapist experience and service. Not available in all areas.

Do you hear what I hear?

Audiophiles will tune in and turn on with the Mixcder E7 active noise cancelling Bluetooth 5.0 headphones ($39.99-$59.99), featuring deep bass and a built-in microphone. Normally costing hundreds of dollars, these technologically advanced headphones charge up in minutes for three hours of playtime, delivering premium HD sound for a price that will be music to your ears. Available in Sunset Orange, Mint Green and Black.

Helmet head

Those who cycle together stick together, and now they can hear each other, with Sena’s R1 Smart Cycling helmet ($129). This technologically advanced yet easy-to-use protective headgear features built-in speakers and a microphone, allowing bikers to listen and communicate on the road, up to four riders, using group intercom. Whether riding for fun or training for the big race, this helmet offers comfort and security that will put a rider at ease, and maybe even in the lead. Available in Electric Tangerine, Ice Blue and Black Onyx.

Warm home, warm heart

Make the homebody on your list feel cozier and smarter this season, with a Honeywell T9 Thermostat ($199). This sleek connected device uses Smart Room Sensors to save energy by detecting motion and adjusting HVAC settings to avoid heating and cooling vacant rooms. It can be controlled using a customizable touch screen or the Honeywell Home app, which can be programmed to learn schedules and establish geofencing, so that the temperature is just right by the time you arrive home.  

Like oil and water

If au naturel is a look and feel the lady on your list favors, she will love ODE Skincare collection. With a philosophy that Olive Oil Does Everything, ODE products are infused with the green gold goodness of certified organic olive oil, full of polyphenol antioxidants and naturally-occurring squalene, blended with plant-based essential oils, fruit oils, fruit seed oils, and plant extracts, in formulas designed to cleanse, hydrate, and moisturize the face or dewy, glowing skin. The line is comprised of the Olive Water Face & Eye Cleanser ($36); Oasis Hydrating Tonic ($38); Olive & Citrus Daily Moisturizer ($54); Olive Creambalm Intensive Moisturizer ($60); and Orchard Alchemy Antioxidant Face Oil ($65).

Sock it to me

If anyone on your gift list has a fetish for performance socks with cool designs and styles, they’ll love Runderwear ($15-$20) the front runner in this hot new category of sports gear. The line features a range of unisex double layer anti-blister socks that will give even the hardest core runner comfort for miles and knock their you-know-whats-off.

Six awesome gifts that will make graduates want to toss their caps

Commencement is a time of celebration, whether your grad is going on to middle school, high school, college, or the world. Mark this rite of passage with a gift that stays with them for the years ahead.

A great, long ride

It will be a long summer, so give your grad a longboard that will carry them forward, down the street, or across the quad. The RazorX Longboard Electric Skateboard ($199.99, ages 9 and up) features a 37.5-long, 5-ply bamboo deck and custom, reverse kingpin trucks for smooth traveling at speeds up to 10 mph, powered by 125-watt, geared, rear-wheel-drive motor, and operated by a handheld digital remote control. Way cooler than walking, and less hassle than locking up a bike, your board can be picked up and carried with you when you’re done riding. It makes getting to college algebra fun! Be sure to observe all regulations regarding use of skateboards on campus.

Sound at your command

Whether your grad is a Wi-Fi aficionado, binge watcher, movie buff or a gaming fan, the Polk Command Bar ($249.95) will give their AV system a resoundingly smart make over. The Alexa-compatible sound bar can play and control music across multiple Amazon devices and be integrated into a television speaker set up and works with 4K and HD TVs, with built-in dual HDMI 2.0b inputs to ensure 4K HDR content looks great; or the bar can stand alone to deliver outstanding sound, activated by voice or remote control. The smart speaker features Bluetooth capability, modes for ideal music and movie listening, and the ability to adjust voice levels so that the user can customize their superior sound experience. A sub-woofer component adds even more depth for a full surround sound experience.

Big good wolf

Your grad is growing up, but you never outgrow your favorite blankie. Give them the comfort of a cuddly cover to snuggle up with on the couch, in their college dorm, or keep them warm in their first apartment. The Thermarest Argo ($89.95) throw blanket is filled with lightweight eraLoft insulation that is water-resistant and luxuriously soft, to keep them cozy and warm wherever they go. Its cinch cord at the bottom edge cinches around feet to keep out drafts, and stuffed into its own pillow pouch, it’s perfect for taking along on road trips. Comes in Tomato red or Wolf Print.

Grade-A shades

Grads will hear a lot of platitudes as they head onto the next leg of life’s journey, like, “May the wind always be at your back,” and, “May the sun shine warm upon your face…” But for those times when the glare is a bit too bright, they can look cool, and truly be cool, wearing Sunski sunglasses, the eyewear brand that is not just great for its winning styles and excellent fit but also because they are fairly priced and made from recycled materials and are 100-percent sustainable. Sunskis shield peepers from harsh rays with looks for the beach, sporting, outdoors adventure and everyday life, and even mini frames for kids. ($58-$98, kids $38).

Can you noise cancel me now?

Your grad can block out annoying college roommate, or they’re annoying squabbling brother and sister, or simply indulge in an immersive stereo experience with the MIxCder E9 ($69.99) noise canceling headphones. These premium-yet-affordable over-the-ear Hi-Fi stereo headphones won’t break the bank but will give your grad rich tones for their tunes to enjoy privately. They feature Bluetooth connectivity for wireless use, Active Noise Canceling technology, 30-hour battery life, foldable design, built-in microphone and an included airplane adapter for listening on the fly.

Just-in-case case

Every grad knows that the school of hard knocks teaches life’s best lessons, but that doesn’t mean your phone needs to suffer slings and arrows, or scratches and dents, which is guaranteed not to happen if you keep it in a Pelican GO case ($39.95). This tank-of-a-phone-case seals out water, dirt, snow, and dust and is constructed so heavy-duty that it’s the preferred protector for divers, firefighters, police and military. It can also hold credit cards, keys and other personal items and can tag along on a backpack by a carabiner or hang from a tent hook by its handle.

Must-haves for your next adventure

Get down tonight

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s time to get down. Really good down. Every outdoors aficionado knows that not all down-filled puffy jackets or sleeping bags offer the same warmth, wearability and durability. The difference is the quality of the down. ALLIED Feather & Down insulation is the industry gold standard, with superior loft and a proprietary multi-wash cleaning and drying process for freshness and allergen-free comfort. Their down is also certified as sourced ethically and responsibly. Look for ALLIED Feather & Down in top-rated outerwear and sleeping bag brands like Slumberjack, Helly Hansen, and The North Face.

Puffed up

Cuddling up by the campfire or huddled in a camp chair for a chilly soccer game, the Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket ($159) provides a comfortable layer of warmth that goes anywhere. This all-purpose throw blanket, made with the same technical materials found in premium sleeping bags, comes in bright colors and patterns, including the latest design, a collaboration between artist and outdoor adventurer Stickfort and camping gear companies Rumpl and Yakima, is a beautifully printed blanket inspired by the Pacific Northwest sunset. A portion of the proceeds will directly benefit the environmental preservation non-profit group Friends of the Columbia River Gorge.

Lock and ride

Most cyclists love their bikes, but they don’t love lugging around a heavy, bulky bike lock for securing their wheels when they park. The lightweight but sturdy Otto DesignWorks Ottolock ($55 and up) is a tough, smash-proof cinch lock that is compact enough to tuck one into a pocket or seat bag. They unlock using a resettable, three-number combination, so there’s no key to keep track of—perfect for a stop by the brewery at the end of a ride.

Boom tunes

Remember the boom boxes of yester-yore, balanced on a shoulder and pumping out tunes people could hear a block away? The go-anywhere compact bottle-sized BoomBottle MM ($129.99) has captured that grand, satisfying surround-sound acoustics of the famed traveling stereo with its two 12W speakers and two 45mm passive radiators, providing a full-range of crisp highs and deep bass tones, all situated in an IP67 rated dust and waterproof enclosure. This rugged, waterproof wireless speaker can travel anywhere, and it even has a MagicMount magnetic base to keep it stuck to metal surfaces. Available at Costco and other retailers.

Soft hands, warm hearth

Out in the wilderness, catching dinner, chopping wood, and building a bonfire, your hands can get dry, rough and sore. Take along Lansinoh’s HPA® Lanolin Minis and apply soothing salve to hands, lips, heels and any exposed skin that needs protection from the elements. Originally developed as a nipple cream for nursing moms, this ointment is 100 percent natural, containing just a single ingredient, HPA Lanolin, providing a barrier layer that hydrates skin without perfumes or other harmful additives. A three-pack of .25-ounce minis is $10.99, available at CVS and Walmart.  

Eyewear for life

Good eye wear is more than a fashion statement, but who says you can’t look stylish while shielding your peepers from glare? Sunski sunglasses, the recycled plastic eyewear that supports the environment with every pair sold, are ideal for the beach, the mountain, or anywhere the sun shines. Sunski’s polarized lenses protect her eyes from harmful rays, and they stay put thanks to a fit for active lifestyles. Designed by San Francisco surfer dudes and tree huggers, Sunski frames, are quality crafted from industrial scraps and guaranteed forever.  Available at sunski.com. $55-$68, kids frames ($38) also available.

Best foot forward

As Del Griffith expressed so eloquently, nothing’s worse than when your dogs barking. Whether you’re pounding the pavement, hiking through the woods, or standing in a stream in waders all day, your feet will thank you if slip Sof Sole insoles into your footwear. Freshen up the insoles of an old favorite pair of boots or give new life to your worn-out trail running shoes with the Sof Sole Airr Insoles ($27.99), for all-day comfort of a COOLMAX moisture-wicking top-cover and the and shock-absorbing relief of Polymer Gel that your puppies will love.

Patch it up

A great down jacket will last for a decade or more, but accidents happen, and that’s why there’s NOSO Puffy Patches. Fix up those tears and snags in your favorite outerwear with this permanent rip-stop nylon fixer that will seal up holes in your coat, backpack, sleeping bag, tent or other gear with just the sun or a clothes dryer to activate the adhesive. They come in six colors and 13 shapes that are so fun and stylish, you might just want to stick them on for fashion. $14.95 for a pack of 3.

Eat, love, tell

Pack a picnic basket that will tantalize your taste buds, with True Story Foods, purveyors of ethically sourced meats that are wholesome and delicious. Every meat-loving and health-conscious foodie will find something tasty to chew on, like organic apple & wildflower honey chicken sausages, organic grass-fed beef hot dogs, or organic bacon and tenderloin from Non-GMO fresh pork. The culinary carnivore on your list can enjoy premium flavor every day in a brown-bag lunch, with sliced deli cuts like black forest ham, oven roasted turkey breast or uncured Italian dry salame.

The weather is hot, the pool is cool, the kids are out of school. Here’s what you need indoors and outdoors, for fun in the sun and summer entertaining.

Glide through summer

Cruise through the neighborhood, head to the pool, or coast over to your BFF’s house, and arrive like a rock star on the Razor Hovertrax DLX 2.0. This ultimate Nirvana-on-wheels hoverboard features a self-balancing deck that makes it easy to mount and maneuver, and the anti-slip rubber traction platform lets you stay in control for a smooth and easy ride. The exotic finishes and multi-color LED lights will make your entrance memorable, and the 60-minute extended-life battery will keep you going for the long haul. The powerful but silent motor can move you at up to 9 miles per hour, and the shatter-resistant polymer frame and fender bumper keeps your board looking sweet ride after ride.

Mighty bike

The bike paths beckon over summer break, and the serious cycling kid will love power peddling through the neighborhood or catching some air on an Islabike, the Rolls Royce of specialized bikes for young riders.

This high-end brand of bikes, created by renowned British bicycle designer Isla Rowntree, respects the young rider with quality construction and attention to detail never before seen in a child’s bike line – down to the option of the child’s name embossed on the frame.

Built as light as possible and ergonomically sized for children’s bodies, Islabikes fit and feel right for kids. As youngsters in their formative years hone their skills, the Isla design gives them the advantages of a high-performance bike, preparing them for the next level of competitive riding, or recreational cycling at its finest.

Cool for the pool

Summer is for lounging, and for hanging at the pool or lake, so why not combine the two with the Airhead Sun Comfort Cool Suede Zero Gravity Lounge. This upright floating lounge allows you to feel weightless as you relax in a comfortable position for reading, tanning or checking out the views, while you keep cool with a beverage in the convenient drink holder. String up the lounger through the molded rope holder and tether yourself to docks, buoys, boats or other loungers. Available in three vibrant colors of sapphire, line and raspberry.

Cookies that complete you

Kids at camp compare care packages, so make sure your little camper has snacks that rule. Load ‘em up with an assortment of cookie goodies from Complete Cookie by Lenny & Larry’s. These freshly-baked protein packed cookies are vegan-friendly, non-GMO and free of soy/dairy to appease a wide array of dietary needs and come in a variety of flavors like the scrumptious Double Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and more! Their new 2oz cookies with 8 grams of protein & 5 grams of fiber is the perfect size to satisfy hunger and give them the energy to paddled across the lake.

Fat is where it’s at

Headed out for a day of summer sporting? Power up with FBOMB’s all-natural macadamia nut butters, with plenty of energizing good fat, which is what the “F” stands for. Each 1-ounce snack pack is a handy squeezable pouch of deliciously creamy, low-sugar nut butter with nut bits, all gluten-free, non-GMO, vegetarian, keto- and paleo-friendly. Available in three flavors: Macadamia with Coconut, Macadamia with Sea Salt, Macadamia Pecan with Sea SaltSalted Chocolate Macadamia.

Ferociously good snacks

Sleep in on the lazy days of summer and let the kids make their own breakfast, or snacks, with Kodiak Cakes, exclusively at Target. The brand known for their protein-enhanced Flapjack & Waffle mix offers a wide range of whole-grain protein-packed breakfast treats and snacks in self-contained cups with powdered ingredients that can be stirred up with a little water or milk and microwaved for a mini-meal or muffin in about a minute. Flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Cup, Blueberry Muffin, Homestead Cornbread, Buttermilk & Maple Flapjacks.

Get Jaded

Entertaining indoors or outdoors, a summer scented candle adds an ambiance to your gathering. The fresh, sweet aromas of the Jaded Candle collection will elevate any space, with clean, refreshing fragrances. Jaded candles are handmade from 100-percent pure soy and contain no additives, chemicals or colors. The natural ingredients ensure a healthy, soothing aroma for any occasion, in seasonal scents including Himalayan Bamboo, Hydrangea, Island Hibiscus.

Chem-free pest control

When the summer months arrive, so do insects. Keep them out of your home and away from your family naturally with EarthKind’s Stay Away fast-acting pest repellent products. In the form of sachet-like pouches doused in botanical oils that humans find pleasant smelling, but bugs hate, these products ward off all kinds of pests, from mice and spiders to ants. The pouches are powerfully effective yet contain no poisons or toxic baits, and can be used anywhere indoors, in kitchens, pantries, closets and basements. Sold at Target.

Slimsation everyday pants, to wear wherever you are

There are a lot of crop pants out there, but SlimSation pants by Multiples are not your garden-variety pants. This slimming pant, as the name implies, is designed to slim your figure, and make you look your sensational best.

The pants feature a flexible tummy control panel that smooths and holds in the tummy, thighs and rear. SlimSation states you can drop one size instantly and look and feel 10 pounds lighter wearing their Spanx-on-the-outside pants (obligatory disclaimer: Slimsation is not associated with the actual Spanx brand). The Bottom line (pun intended) is, with a $69 price tag (prices vary depending on style), you might expect something more from these pants, and in my estimation, they deliver. 

They have a slightly higher waistline, which helps reduce tummy bulge and the dreaded muffin top of low rise waistbands. They hug the body like Lycra leggings, but because the fabric is heavier and thicker, the wearer feels more contained rather than exposed.

SlimSation pants come in many styles, from walking shorts and skirts, capris and crops, to ankle-length pants and jean styles, including the skinny Boyfriend Crop, Knit Ankle Legging, Lace Print Crop Legging and styles in solid colors and patterns. The brand also carries a number of figure-flattering tops, such as tanks and knit tops that hang longer at the bottom to cover the tummy and are flowy rather than clingy.

The line was designed by fashion designer John Bourgeois, who endeavored to create the perfect fitting pant that would be a woman’s essential staple piece to wear and enjoy every day, for business or casual looks. After extensive wear-testing, and re-designing, he designed the SlimSation collection, using fabrics that are comfortable and move with you while having a slimming effect, without compromising style.

SlimSation apparel can be found with hundreds of specialty retailers across the United States.

Glad to be a puddin’ head when it comes to the world’s most delicious pots de crème

My cousin used to call people Puddin’ Head if they were dorks. Well, I’m glad to be a puddin’ head, if that means eating Petit Pot gourmet puddings every day, and every night.

These amazingly delicious French-chef-made concoctions come in tiny little baby-food-like jars, but don’t let the understated presentation steer you away from tasting these beyond-scrumptious puddings, made from simple ingredients, like milk, eggs, salt and sugar.

I sampled three varieties: dark chocolate pot de crème, lemon curd pot de crème, and the the Riz Au Lait rice pudding, and I can’t get enough, of any of them. okay, so you might not lose weight indulging in these delicious, decadent French custards, but the indulgence is totally worth the calories; and you can make yourself feel better knowing that the ingredients are certified organic, non-GMO and gluten-free, and these delicious French puddings are produced in the good ol’ USA, in South San Francisco.

These adorable tiny pots can be a special treat in your lunch tote, or an after-dinner delight, or shell them out into decorative dishes and pretend you made it yourself, and your dinner guests will talk about your incredible dessert for weeks.

How to use a foam roller to relieve muscle stress and soreness

Dr. Michelle Beamer, PT, DPT, Cert MDT, ASTYM, Rapid Rehabilitation guides me through my roller routine.

When we hear the term DIY, we usually think of home improvement, but in an age when insurance coverage is uncertain and responsibility for one’s own health care is more important than ever, it is empowering to know there are many things we can do at home to take care of ourselves.  Recently I discovered a physical therapy tool that I now use daily to maintain the progress I made in therapy sessions.

Everyone likes a massage, and now you can do it for yourself with a number of tools designed for self-massage. The most common of these are foam rollers, which can be used for a variety of applications that can release muscle tension, stretch tense areas and rub out sore spots.

Manipulating your body on a foam roller gives you a sense of control over what muscles need the most work and how much pressure to apply.

A company named OPTP makes a wide variety of these rollers. They have rollers of different density and firmness, different textures, sizes, links, and even an assortment of colors and patterns. For just about every musculoskeletal ailment, they make a roller for that.

My roller of choice Pro-Roller soft style, which runs $22.50 to $36. Since I am a bit of a light weight when it comes to “no-pain, no-gain,” I prefer a softer consistency roller which I find more comfortable, particularly on my neck and back where I have chronic soreness and stiffness.

Rollers come in a variety of firmnesses, textures, sizes and shapes.

The soft compression of this roller works well on tight and rigid areas and is ideal for lying supine. In this position I use the roll like a weight bench, using light dumbbells to do chest flies; or I edge up to the top of the roll to do neck extensions.

For these exercises I lie with the roll in the middle of my back, cushioning my spine. This is also a great position to do core exercises where I lift one arm off of the floor and raise the opposite leg, holding that pose while balancing to keep the roll in place.

A terrific feature of foam rollers is that they are easy to use, relatively inexpensive, easy to store —  hidden away under a bed or desk, and you can conveniently use a roller several times a day without a lot of set up, to get in a little relief or relaxation when needed, even at work, if you have the space and privacy where you can lie down on a floor.

Rollers can be used to perform core exercises for balance and strengthening.

For those people who like to have someone walk on their back to crack it, rollers let you achieve this same effect using your own weight against the roller, and if that is not enough pressure you can apply force as you roll. When I first began rolling, my back would crack frequently; then, as I rolled more often, the cracking diminished, as my alignment improved.

There are plenty of online videos and articles about roller exercises, though I would advise getting a baseline program from a professional physical therapist who can tell you if there’s any contraindications with your particular condition. My physical therapist provided me with an illustrated printout of base exercises which I have built upon, and already within six weeks I have seen measurable improvements of 30 and 40 percent in my flexibility and range-of-motion in my problem areas. Clearly, I am on a roll.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the Internet of Things in the baby carriage.

After Baby Gigl, the smart baby bottle that notified caregivers via an app of the quantity of nutrition babies received and detected bubbles that could cause colic, now there’s Nanit, the “Tesla” of baby monitors and the first video monitor which can measure sleep and evaluate how well the baby is sleeping— without a wearable device.

Going beyond mere surveillance, Nanit provides comprehensive reports that measure a baby’s sleep behavior throughout the night. Since it launched, Nanit has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, BabyCenter, and The Today Show. In December 2016, Business Insider included Nanit in its “Best startups to launch in 2016” list.

The creators say Nanit is the most advanced baby monitor ever created, using cutting-edge computer vision technology to deliver scientifically-backed insights designed to help babies and entire families sleep better.

Nanit features a mobile app experience that allows parents and caregivers to share important information with each other via Nanit’s private social feed. Other key features include an easy set-up floor stand, a night light, a “white noise” maker, six nature soundtracks, a fully integrated cable management system, sound/motion notifications, and HD surveillance of the nursery.

Nanit is designed to help new mothers (and fathers) for whom baby’s sleep is as elusive as those sheep jumping over the fence.  It might even help those weary parents get a few extra winks too.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/qASwMefxodM

Nanit costs $279, not including an additional monthly subscription fee for analytics.