BEVERLY HILLS—Amber Rose, 42, is suing a members-only social club in Beverly Hills called Gravitas. Rose is a world-famous model, TV personality, and author who claims she sustained injuries at Gravitas during an incident that took place on New Year’s Eve in 2024. Gravitas is an exclusive, members-only dining and social club known for its celebrity clientele.

Rose claims that a large holiday ornament, suspended above her booth, detached and fell on her head, rendering her momentarily unconscious. She is seeking damages for medical care, rehabilitation, lost income, and pain and suffering. Rose filed the lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County.

Rose argues that the oversized ornament posed a significant safety risk due to improper design, and believes it should have had a secondary restraint to prevent it from falling. She claims to have sustained lasting injuries including a concussion, vertigo, memory and concentration issues, neck pain, headaches, and emotional distress.

Gravitas, along with its operator Moxie Restaurant Ventures and design company Celios Designs, are named as defendants in the suit. None of the parties have publicly commented on the situation.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—On July 29, the Santa Monica Police Department announced three new officers had been sworn in at a ceremony that occurred on July 22.

The names of these new officers are Officer Evan Malerba, Officer Kimberly Lopez, and Officer Sina Sadeghi.

The SMPD is excited to welcome the new officers and to serve their community as they improve their skills.

By Daniel Diquinzio

PACIFIC PALISADES—Alphabet Bar & Grill, a Los Angeles upscale restaurant, will be reopening its doors in Palisades Village next month. This will be the first time the restaurant reopened since the Palisades Fire in January 2025.

Alphabet Bar & Grill is an h.wood Group neighborhood-focused grill rooted in classic Americana dining. Luxury hospitality company, the h.wood Group has partnered with James Beard Award-winning Chef Timothy Hollingsworth to bring the Palisades neighborhood fresh meals in a shopping and dining center hub. Inspired by the iconic Alphabet Streets of the Palisades, the restaurant will focus on offering high-quality comfort food and craft cocktails in a warm and familiar setting.

“Alphabet Bar & Grill takes its name from the historic Alphabet Streets, one of the Palisades’ most beloved enclaves, and honors that spirit of progress while breathing new life into Palisades Village. By uniting the h.wood Group’s signature approach to hospitality with Tim’s culinary vision, we partnered with Caruso to create a welcoming, sophisticated, and intimate space where friends and neighbors can come together once again,” Co-founders of the h.wood Group John Terzian and Brian Toll said in a statement.

In regard to the atmosphere of the restaurant, to amplify the upscale Americana dining experience, Adean Studios’ Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar created a warm-toned, welcoming, and modern restaurant environment. Some of the modern amenities that Nafisi-Movaghar included in her design were green marble counters, gold brass touches, and linen-dressed tables. 

There is a plethora of meals and drinks that Alphabet Bar & Grill will offer; luckily for customers, Chef Hollingsworth made it his mission to incorporate local ingredients. Local produce from the Palisades Village farmers market will be in classic dishes such as rotisserie chicken, seasonal favorites, and indulgent desserts.

“For me, cooking has always been about how we take care of the people we love,” Chef Hollingsworth said in a statement. “With Alphabet, I wanted to bring that personal philosophy to the Palisades, blending thoughtfully sourced ingredients with comforting, classic dishes that become weekly staples.”

Alphabet Bar & Grill will be located at 1033 North Swarthmore Avenue, formerly known as Hank’s, and will open its doors on August 15 in conjunction with the reopening of the Palisades Village. Alphabet Bar & Grill will be open for lunch and dinner; the specific operating hours have not been determined thus far. 

By Ryley Metten

MALIBU—At 1:27 p.m. on July 29, the National Weather Service Station for Los Angeles and Oxnard issued a High Surf Advisory for beaches along the Malibu Coast through 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 2. These conditions include powerful waves, predicted to reach 3 to 5 feet.

Waves can drag swimmers and surfers into the ocean and can cause inexperienced people to drown.  If a small boat is taken out in these conditions, it could capsize near the beach.  These waves can also knock people off rocks and jetties.

Other hazards will also occur including debris that can end up in the water, beach erosion, and sneaker waves. Residents should take the following steps when going to the beach by avoiding the water. If it is necessary to enter the water, they should ask lifeguards for information about the conditions in the water and stay close to lifeguard towers with an on-duty lifeguard.

Children should not be allowed to enter the water or play near the water unless adults are nearby to supervise them. A coastal flooding report from is in effect from 5 p.m. July 29 through 3 a.m. on August 1.

By Daniel Diquinzio

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On Tuesday, July 28, deputies with the Los Angeles Police Department Hollywood Division were conducted a welfare check at Wilcox Apartments located at 1929 Wilcox Avenue at Cahuenga Boulevard. The apartment manager let authorities inside who found three deceased adult males with gunshot wounds. The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division secured a search warrant to process the scene. No suspect(s) in the case have been announced. There is no indication that a weapon was found at the scene or a motive for the shooting. The identities of the victims have not been released. Authorities believe the incident is targeted and there is no threat to the public. The Wilcox Apartments is a gated community around five miles south of Hollywood Hills near the Hollywood Walk of Fame. By Sharon

MALIBU—On July 28, news began to circulate regarding IBM Technology acquiring HRL Laboratories LLC. HRL is a private company that was jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors (GM). They are a pioneer in quantum dot technology; allowing the capture and manipulation of single electrons.

On July 23, both HRL and IBM issued press releases announcing the signing agreement to purchase HRL Laboratories from Boeing and GM.  According to the HRL press release,

“Boeing and GM celebrate the achievements of HRL’s talented employees as they embark on this new journey.”

IBM also is enthusiastic about the new venture.

“IBM Research is building the future of computing. Now with HRL on our team, we’re excited to see what we can build together.”

IBM is acquiring HRL in its entirety. HRL is headquartered at 3011 Malibu Canyon Road, in Malibu and had three other southern California offices in Calabasas, Camarillo, and one located at; 1545 26^th Street in Santa Monica.  This juncture also includes the Armonk, NY location.

IBM fellow and Director of Research, Jay Gambetta, issued the following statement.

“The HRL team will help IBM push even farther forward toward the frontiers of quantum innovation.  This talented group of researchers brings a broad portfolio of technologies that will strengthen IBM’s long-term plans to deliver useful quantum computing to the world, bringing together advances across quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum networking to enable the applications of the future.”

HRL Chief Executive Officer, Rob Vasquez stated that; “IBM is the natural next chapter for what we have built at HRL, where our team has dedicated years to exploring paths to how the future quantum computers could be built at scales that today seem impossible.

“We now look forward to leveraging IBM’s industry leadership and working alongside their world-class talent on fundamental infrastructure to take this vision forward. Additionally, our cutting-edge physical and information science innovations will combine with their advanced research capabilities to deliver an unmatched suite of technology solutions for our commercial and government customers,” Vasquez continued.

Canyon News reached out to the media contact listed for IBM, Erin Angelini, to ask how this new venture will affect existing employees; if IBM will also be hiring new employees, and if so, in what field(s). CN has not heard back in time for print.

By Sharon

HOLLYWOOD HILLS—On July 29, it was announced that Oscar-nominated costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorleac died on July 23. The French designer passed away at his Hollywood Hills home at the age of 83. He died of natural causes a family spokesperson indicated to the The Hollywood Reporter.

He was born in Toulon, France and got his career started in the United States in 1977. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Costume for his work in the 1980 film “Somewhere in Time.” Other films that Dorleac worked on included “Battlestar Galactica,” “The Killing Time,” “Heart and Souls,” “The Only Thrill,” “Leave it to Beaver” and “In Enemy Hands.”

He earned a total of 11 Emmy nominations during his career winning twice for “Battlestar Galactica” in 1978. His work has been highlighted worldwide including in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He wrote the novel “Abracabra Alakazama” in 2005 and book “The Naked Truth: An Irreverent Chronicle of Delirious Escapades” in 2015, which talked about the glamour of Hollywood in the 80s.

Dorleac leaves behind his spouse Gilberto Mello of 41 years, whom he met in Rio de Janeiro.

By Danny Jones

SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, July 28, the city of Santa Monica announced that Appian Way reopened Tuesday to vehicle traffic days ahead of schedule, restoring the primary access route to the main Pier parking lots.

As part of the Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project, Appian Way was anticipated to remain closed for up to eight days while crews demolished a portion of the existing Pier Bridge over the roadway. As a result of the innovative alternative construction approach, demolition was completed significantly ahead of schedule, allowing the roadway to reopen after just one day.

Construction for the Pier Bridge Project continues. A few reminders:

-Access to Parking Lot 1 North from Appian Way or PCH
-Additional parking is available at Beach Lot 4 South, Beach Lot 3 North and Parking Structure 8
-Pedestrian access to the Pier and Ocean Front Walk remains open

Rather than using the saw-cutting method employed in other areas of the bridge, the contractor utilized two hydraulic breakers to complete demolition in this section. This approach substantially accelerated construction activities while maintaining safety, allowing crews to restore access much sooner than originally anticipated.

The Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project will continue to improve the safety, accessibility and long-term reliability of this historic gateway while maintaining access to the Pier and its businesses. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2028, in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Santa Monica is replacing the iconic Santa Monica Pier Bridge, which serves as the only vehicular and a key pedestrian connection between Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Pier.

Originally constructed in 1939, the 86-year-old bridge no longer meets modern structural or seismic standards. To improve long-term safety, access, and mobility, the city is moving forward with a federally funded replacement project that will deliver a new, seismically sound structure with improved features, including a 15-foot-wide sidewalk to enhance the experience for pedestrians and bicyclists.

To learn about the latest updates on the project, visit www.santamonica.gov/pierbridge.

By Danny Jones

LOS FELIZ—On Tuesday, July 28, the Los Angeles Fire Department had to rescue an animal that was stuck in a pipe. The incident was reported at 9:15 a.m. at 1834 N. Winona Blvd. An initial fire company found a small animal stuck in an 8 inch by 10-inch pipe, approximately 7 feet deep. The incident was upgraded to a technical rescue, and the small animal rescue team was dispatched.

Approximately 26 LAFD personnel were dispatched, and the animal was extricated approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes after the 911 call.

The Gas Company, Department of Transportation, Department of Water and Power were also notified. The situation leading up to how the animal became stuck is unknown at this time. No additional details about the incident have been disclosed to the public.

The pipe hole where the dog fell into was covered on Tuesday by officials.

By Danny Jones

BEL AIR—On July 28, a semi-truck blew out a tire along Sepulveda Pass crossing all lanes of traffic before going down the embankment. The carpool lane and two left lanes of traffic were completely blocked causing detours through Beverly Glen on I-405. An eyewitness captured video of a newer model white Mercedes-Benz SUV in a chase on 405. Reports indicate the vehicle was reported as stolen from the Laguna area. The suspects were reportedly armed and dangerous. Initial reports indicate the chase originated in the Metro area. Two suspects inside the vehicle were seen wearing ski masks. On July 26, a crash on Freeway 405 near Sepulveda Boulevard shut down two lanes of traffic. The California Highway Patrol reported that the incident occurred at 1:40 a.m. The crash caused sparks that ignited a small brush fire. Ash and smokes billowed over the freeway. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire expediently. Caltrans resumed repaving work from July 24 thru July 27. Key 101/405 connections and ramps were completely closed to thru traffic. Speed limits for the work zone dropped to 55 mph. Motorists were encouraged to use designated detours as roadwork resumes. By Sharon