Michele StuevenA community reunited, hundreds of Pacific Palisades residents, community leaders, business owners, and supporters gathered on Saturday, Aug. 15, to celebrate the grand reopening of Caruso’s Palisades Village, marking a major milestone in the community’s continued recovery following the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
The day kicked off with a blessing from St. Monica’s Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson, followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting led by Caruso Founder and Executive Chairman Rick Caruso, Caruso CEO Corinne Verdery, and Palisades Village business owner Elyse Walker, who welcomed families, tenants, and visitors back to the popular town square that opened its doors at 11 a.m.
Thousands of Pacific Palisades residents, neighbors, and families gathered in the evening for a grand finale celebration that brought together notables across entertainment, music and sports worlds including Anthony Hopkins (former Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, 2000-2001), Kate Hudson, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Ryan Tedder, Pia Toscano, William Ross, Daniel Emmet, Co-Honorary Mayors of Pacific Palisades Ted McGinley and Gigi Rice, with on-screen remarks from Billy and Janice Crystal (co-former Honorary Mayors of Pacific Palisades, 2018-2020), and Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick.
The evening also featured a performance by the 85-piece Hollywood Film Orchestra, conducted by William Ross, presenting a medley ofJohn Williams film scores, alongside the U.S. premiere of Fanfare and March, composed by Anthony Hopkins. Celebrated local Pacific Palisades talent, including a 53-person choir made up of Los Angeles session singers, Palisades Charter High School Choir, students from Village School, Palisades vocalist and composer Samuel Siskind, and Palisades performer Harry Orenstein, rounded out the evening.
Pacific Palisades resident Kate Hudson speaks onstage as Caruso’s Palisades Village celebrates its grand reopening on August 15, 2026, in Pacific Palisades. (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Caruso)
Palisades Village returns to a robust weekly and monthly programming calendar, including a Monday Mahjong Social, Wednesday Kids Club and Farmers Market, weekend live entertainment, and the monthly Cars & Coffee and Giving Tuesday series. More information here. Complimentary parking is available through Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Sierra Madre Playhouse pulls the curtains back on its state-of-the-art movie screen to present Hola Frida!, a family-friendly animated biographical film released in 2024 inspired by the childhood of acclaimed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.
Suitable for viewers ages seven and up, the accessible and visually compelling biopic follows a vibrant, free-spirited young girl in Coyoacán, Mexico, whose world is suddenly challenged by illness and physical limitation. This tender yet bold narrative, directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi, traces how Frida uses imagination, art, and resilience to reclaim her voice and her body.
The animated film, with its lively visual style rooted in cultural detail, evokes Frida’s early life – her discovery of color, nature, and self-expression – even as it acknowledges adversity and transformation. Although grounded in Frida’s true-life story, it uses creative freedom to emphasize themes of difference, creativity, and hope. Hola Frida! also celebrates art as healing and strength as imaginative.
Hola Frida! was adapted from the book ‘Frida, c’est moi’ by Sophie Faucher (text) and Cara Carmina (illustrations). For tickets ($15) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
Hola Frida! Courtesy of Sierra Madre Playhouse