After translating a Nobel Prize winner's work, L.A. author scores with her own story too
Literary translator and author Jennifer Croft translated 2019 Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk’s novel “Flights” from Polish into English. Croft recalls that after the two shared the Booker Prize last year, she began referring to the novel as “our love child.” But Croft’s joke also made a serious point about her role in making a…
Sweet dreams are made of this: How to stay at California's pop-up Nutella hotel
The world’s first Nutella cafe opened in Chicago last May and a New York site followed this fall. Now fans of the popular hazelnut and cocoa spread can stay inside a pop-up Hotella Nutella in California’s Napa Valley — but only for a weekend. Instead of making a reservation, you must submit a 60-second video…
Think your job is tough? Try being the human punching bag for airline passengers
Which is the most stressful job at an airline? Pilot? Flight attendant? Lost-baggage troubleshooter? Chief executive? If you chose one of those positions, I would respectfully disagree. As a flight attendant employed at a legacy carrier for more than 30 years, I’ve had a ringside seat to what customer service agents endure. From where I…
Escapes: How to fight the newest fake travel fee
If someone walked up to you and asked for $5 for no reason, would you hand it over? How about $18? Would you mind terribly leaving that behind? Welcome to your most recent helping of outrage. My name is Catharine Hamm, and I’m lucky to work with a couple of guys who pinch pennies as…
Designer Kathryn Ireland and pals are aiming for 'the Perfect Room'
1/10 Born in England and raised in London and Scotland, Kathryn Ireland arrived in Los Angeles in 1986. Prior to launching her interior design business in the early 1990s, Ireland was an actress, clothing designer and filmmaker. Today she is considered one of the most influential interior and textile designers in the world, and recently…
‘More to win, more to achieve’ with Mercedes says Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton knows the time will one day come for him to set off into the sunset, but for now the five-time world champion says Mercedes and himself still have a lot to achieve. Formula 1’s action will resume next week at Spa with Hamilton heading into the second part of the season with a…
Defense secretary defends Pentagon's contract, disputed by Amazon
SEOUL — U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday he was certain that the awarding of a $10-billion cloud-computing contract to Microsoft instead of Amazon was done fairly. The Pentagon awarded the contract to Microsoft in late October, and Amazon said that there was “unmistakable bias” on the government’s part and that it intended to challenge…
Things to do: 7 L.A., O.C. places to get you into the holiday groove
With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s time to charge into the holiday season. Fashion brands and local shopping centers want to get you in the mood as they celebrate with tree-lighting ceremonies and other festivities. Starting this week, some of your favorite Los Angeles and Orange County retailers will have holiday activities. Here are several to check…
LA Live guide: 20 things to do around Staples Center in DTLA
L.A. Live has replaced Hollywood Boulevard as the bright, bejeweled bellybutton of Los Angeles. What’s your pleasure? High-stakes basketball? Red-carpet concerts? Stunning views? This downtown destination has them all. Maybe I’m biased, but I’d say it now rivals New York’s more-celebrated Times Square for things to do, places to go, celebrities to see. I’ll go…
Garden Calendar: Botanic light shows and serious soil-prep workshops
If you have a plant-related class, garden tour or other event you’d like us to mention, email [email protected] — at least three weeks in advance — and we may include it. Send a high-resolution horizontal photo, if possible, and tell us what we’re seeing and whom to credit. Nov. 14 “Spines, Thorns, Prickles and Beyond”:…