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Ever since the rise of seaside resorts and the arrival of the railways in the late 1900s, Devon has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Famed for its fantastic beaches, Landscape World Heritage Sites and quaint villages and towns, Devon is a great holiday destination for the whole family.

Holiday cottage specialists Blue Chip Holidays have compiled a list of their top days out for the whole family to enjoy in Devon.

The English Riviera – Torquay, Paignton and Brixham

This string of family friendly seaside resorts host an array of attractions to explore and places to stay on the east coast of Devon. Steeped in maritime history and surrounded by stunning coastlines and countryside, the English Riviera’s main hubs of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham are the perfect starting points to explore the area.

The English Riviera has an array of top quality attractions including underground caverns, world-class zoos, waterparks and unique marine aviaries. Whether you want to discover the history and heritage of the area, relax on the beach or try your hand at water sports, the English Riviera has it all.

Dartmoor National Park

Situated in the heart of Devon, Dartmoor National Park is home to ancient landscapes, stunning views, wooded valleys and rugged open spaces ideal for those who like the great outdoors.

Spanning 368 square miles, Dartmoor is an ideal location for walkers and cyclists looking for wide open spaces to explore, while those who want something a bit different can learn about the art of sculpting at the Sculpture School in North Tawton, explore vintage fairground rides at the Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre or walk around the medieval monastery Buckfast Abbey.

Lundy Island

Situated 12 miles off the west coast of Devon, Lundy Island is a totally unique experience and is perfect for those who like wildlife. Due to its unique combination of environmental conditions with rugged cliffs on the west and a sheltered and calm east coast, Lundy Island provides shelter and sanctuary to migrating birds including Puffins, Skylarks and Pied wagtails.

With some 140 different bird species recorded each year, Lundy Island is a great destination for birdwatchers, while the sea is home to an array of marine wildlife such as Grey seals, Dolphins, whales and jellyfish.

Tourists can visit the island via ferry which runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from March through to October.

Watermouth Castle

Built in 1825, Watermouth Castle is now one of the top attractions in Devon and houses an array of underground tunnels and fortifications to explore, relics from Victorian times to discover and a variety of amusements to enjoy.

See what life was like in Victorian times as you walk through various exhibits with artefacts from the past, or explore the castle dungeon featuring craft shops from a bygone age, the Hall of Mirror and vintage arcade machines.

Watermouth Castle also features a 9-hole crazy golf course, adventure playground and a fantastic water show featuring music, water and lights in perfect synchronisation.

With an array of things to explore, rides to enjoy and with great views of the Devon countryside, Watermouth Castle is a great day out for the whole family.

The North Devon Surf School

A holiday in Devon would not be complete without experiencing some of the great water sports available on the coastline. Sailing, wind surfing and swimming are some of the more popular beach activities, but surfing what Devon is known for.

Awarded a Centre of Excellence by Surfing England, the North Devon Surf School has a purpose built facility located on Westward Ho! Beach on the west coast of Devon and specialises in surfing and paddleboard lessons. Whatever your skill level, the dedicated staff provide training for those who are looking to learn to surfers who want to improve their technique.

The facilities include heated changing rooms, hot showers, a surf shop and café, as well as a large collection of boards and wetsuits for hire. Whether you want to learn, practise or improve your surfing technique, the North Devon Surf School is well worth checking out.

Homes in the San Fernando Valley are selling like the opposite of hotcakes lately.

In February, buyers purchased just 266 single-family houses in the entire region, according to a new report from the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. That’s the lowest number of sales recorded in any month since the organization began keeping track in 1985. It’s also the first time fewer than 300 houses in the area have sold during an entire month-long period.

Adding condos into the mix only brings up that total slightly—to 374 sales, down nearly 14 percent since a year ago.

Those low sale figures came in spite of a significant drop in prices. February’s median sale price for single-family homes was $657,000, down a whopping 6.1 percent since February 2018, and more than $50,000 below the area’s record-high price of $708,000, set in May of last year.

That’s only the third time home prices in the Valley have dropped year-over-year since the end of the Great Recession.

Condos sellers fared slightly better; February’s median sale price of $420,000 was up 2.4 percent since the same time last year.

The association’s CEO, Tim Johnson, says these unimpressive sale numbers leave buyers with some “interesting choices to make,” particularly given that mortgage interest rates (which can impact the size of a buyer’s monthly payments) have stayed relatively low in the early months of 2019.

In a statement, Johnson says that prices are still high enough to keep many would-be buyers out of the market, but that home shoppers may find that “sellers are more agreeable,” given the state of the area’s real estate market.

That’s because the drop in overall sales coincides with an increase in the total number of homes available for buyers to choose from. Last month, 1,186 homes and condos were listed for sale; that’s nearly a 24 percent uptick since February 2018.

Still, inventory in the region is downright minuscule compared to historical levels.

In August 2003, when the number of home sales peaked in the area, 1,780 condos and single-family houses changed hands. If every single unit listed in the Valley found a buyer in February, it wouldn’t have been enough to match that total.

Across all of Southern California, the real estate market has slowed since summer, when all-time price records fell month after month. At the beginning of the year, many experts predicted that trend would continue throughout 2019.

Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are seen out and about almost daily in Hollywood right now, donning polyester slacks and shaggy do's as they film scenes for Quentin Tarantino’s new film about the Manson family, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But pics of Margot Robbie — in long frosted hair, mini dresses and go-go boots — seem to be getting the most attention online of late, and not just because of her own beauty and celebrity. The I, Tonya star plays Sharon Tate, the beautiful starlet who was murdered by stabbing while pregnant in the L.A. home she shared with husband Roman Polanksi, all at the command of cult leader Charles Manson.

Forty-nine years after her death, Tate remains a captivating Hollywood icon for her fashion, her demeanor, her roles and, of course, her tragic death, which came way too soon. Those enthralled with her image eagerly await Tarantino's film, but it's not the only Tate impersonation we’ll see next year. Hilary Duff reportedly is starring in another film about the model-actress called The Haunting of Sharon Tate (though Tate’s younger sister, Debra, has called the latter movie "tacky” in interviews).

Married in a mini

Courtesy Julien's Auctions

At Julien's Auction House in Beverly Hills, more famous figures' belongings have been featured, but few inspire the kind of excitement that Tate's — which becomes available today — has. There is an enduring fascination with the actress and a hunger for insight into who she was that may never cease. The auction house’s latest offerings are sure to satisfy it.

The Dallas-born actress, who was seen on TV shows such as Mister Ed and The Beverly Hillbillies before her breakout role in Valley of the Dolls (1967), wasn't necessarily known for her acting as much as she was her looks, but she had a presence and charisma that translated to the screen like few actresses did. From her modish eye makeup to her glamorous hair and her sexy frocks, her image represented the best of late-'60s style. Her wedding look to Roman Polanski on her 25th birthday was something to behold: an Edwardian-inspired, high-necked minidress she made herself, complemented by flowers in her lush tresses. The dress is just one of many minis up for auction.

Sharon's short dresses

Courtesy Julien's Auctions

Vintage collectors have a lot of dresses to drool over: a silk dress worn by Tate in the 1968 documentary The New Cinema; a black lace Christian Dior mini worn by the star at the London premiere of her husband’s 1966 film Cul-de-Sac; Tate’s Golden Globes gown from 1968; the ivory mini dress she wore to wed Polanski; and a groovy green knit Betsey Johnson for Paraphernalia mini. Other items for auction include a chocolate mink from Fuhrman’s Beverly Hills and even some of her iconic black Revlon eyeliner in black and white, and a Maybelline eyebrow pencil, each estimated to sell for $300 to $500 (obviously of value as a collectible, not for use).

Exhibitions of Tate (and Cher designer Bob Mackie estate sale) auction items at Julien's Auctions on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Standard Oil Building Beverly Hills, 257 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. Free and open to the public. Bid on items online at juliensauctions.com.

Source: https://www.laweekly.com/arts/own-a-piece-of-sharon-tates-iconic-60s-chic-10066777

In Los Angeles, you don’t need a passport to sample the finest foodstuffs China, El Salvador, or Armenia have to offer. Here are some destinations that will spice up your pantry.

This Latino supermarket chain is nearly a dozen strong and serves as a larder for home cooks from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. With hot-food counters dispensing fried pork parts; indigenous herbs likes epazote, verdolaga, and pipicha; ají peppers from Peru; and Mexican frozen fruits, home doesn’t feel that far away. Various locations.

In addition to marinated meats (for Korean barbecue), fresh seafood (for soups and stews), and an extensive selection of banchan (colorful side dishes), H Mart is a one-stop shop for the latest trends taking Seoul by storm, especially when it comes to snacks, cartoon- themed candies, and classic Korean dishes packaged in dehydrated, just-add-hot- water-to-enjoy form. Various locations.

This hidden eden tucked in an industrial area east of Chinatown is a Thai version of Restaurant Depot and Smart & Final rolled into one, providing access to some amazing Asian products—everything from fragrant curry pastes to springy rice noodles. Take home some freshly made som tum (papaya salad) from the food stall outside. 1100 N. Main St., Chinatown.

Since 1993 the Fermanian family’s popular mini-chain has served as a convenient portal to Middle Eastern ingredients (particularly those from Armenia). It also offers outrageous deals on everyday produce. Don’t shy away from Lebanese olive oils, Bulgarian feta, Iranian mortadella, Saudi Arabian cordials, and Moroccan sardines.

RELATED: Our 2018 Food Lovers Guide

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Let’s address this right from the start— it’ll surprise no one to learn that Mozart the female teen pop prodigy is a different person altogether from the legendary Austrian classical composer. One is 18 years old, the other is of the 18th century. Still, when we recently received an email with the heading “Mozart Smashes the Patriarchy,” we did a double take.

We’re half-kidding, of course. What is not a joke is just how many impressive achievements the L.A.-based artist has squeezed into her 18 years. The ball was rolling early; from the age of 5, Mozart was touring the world with her family, soaking in music from all over the globe.

Raise your hand – or fluke – if you’ve been to Alaska. Now raise your hand if you hated it. (I guarantee no one is raising their hand because it’s impossible!) I’ve never been to a place on earth that more people in agreement over. Seriously. Everybody loves Alaska – myself now being included.

My parents and Tommy and I just embarked on a week long cruise through Alaska and it truly was the trip of a lifetime. I have never in my life seen a place so naturally stunning that it’s actually difficult to comprehend.

Now. I’ve always been honest about the fact that I’m not one for venturing too far out of city limits – the great outdoors is not exactly within my comfort zone. I’m not a camper, not even a glamper for that matter, but I knew Alaska was just one of those places in the world I needed to see. IRL.

Sure we saw a lot of the Alaskan great outdoors by way of a fancy boat – Silversea Cruises to be exact – but give me some credit, I am taking baby steps here! But thanks to said fancy boat, we were able to visit 5 cities within one week on our journey – Anchorage, Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan. Each city offered something new and had its own unique charm, and I am grateful to have seen so much. I’ll have to come back for a moose sighting as well as a Northern Lights show, but I figure those are both great excuses to do so.

Here’s a little of what we saw along our journey through the great Alaskan territory:

FIRST STOP: ANCHORAGE

This is the city we flew into to begin our journey. It’s Alaska’s largest city and is home to most of the state’s population. I will leave the guide to Anchorage up to my friend Courtney Halverson, who gave me all the recommendations I needed while I was there. That included The Bubbly Mermaid – a champagne and oyster bar and arguably one of the cutest establishments on the planet.

If you’re interested, Courtney’s guide to Alaska is awesome, you can – and should – read it HERE.

TRAINRIDE TO SEWARD

The train had a glass ceiling, so we got to take in all the sights from all the angles on our 5 hour journey from Anchorage to Seward where our boat was docked.

SECOND STOP: JUNEAU

There are a lot of cruise ships that go through Alaska as it turns out. A lot. When we docked at our first actual boat stop in Juneau I was stunned by the size of some of these boats that carried upwards of 3k people. It made me insanely grateful to be traveling on a Silversea ship, that carried just 300 passengers. Silversea did an excellent job of providing all kinds of “excursions” for us to hop on in each port. In Juneau – Alaska’s capital that also happens to be land locked – we opted to go whale watching, since oddly enough none of us had actually ever seen a whale!

The whale watching was easily my favorite part of the entire trip, for obvious reasons. I am a huge animal lover, I have to fight back tears when I see dogs, so you can only imagine what it was like for me to see whales in the wild. Humpback whales are usually what you’ll see this time of year in Alaska, they’re here to eat their hearts out before they head south to warmer waters in Hawaii for the winter.

[That Alaskan King Crab tho… next time you’re in Juneau be sure to stop by Tracy’s King Crab Shack!]

THIRD STOP: SKAGWAY

It was an absolutely stunning day in Skagway when we docked, we’re talking like 65 degrees and sunny. I was once again pretty predictable when it came to selecting our excursion; anything to do with animals, especially horses, you know I’ll want in on it. So I dragged my mom (kidding she loves horses too) on an Alaskan trail ride while my step dad and Tommy went on a photo adventure around the Chilkoot Pass.

The actual town of Skagway is a total crack up, it literally looks like it did 100 years ago. The stores of course just offer very different goods these days. It looks a lot like an old western town and it definitely has it’s charm. If you make it over that way be sure to stop in at Olivia’s and order the King Crab nachos.

FOURTH STOP: SITKA

Sitka was easily all of our favorite stop. It was absolutely beautiful, the landscape was so unique, so breathtaking, PLUS one of my favorite movies, The Proposal, happened to be filmed here. So there’s that.

My mom and I decided to take a zodiac boat tour around the islands, and while I was a it terrified being in that little boat zooming around so fast, what we saw that I day I will literally never forget. I was blown away by the amount of sea otters and bald eagles, and to top it all of we got about 20-30 ft away from a humpback whale. (The video is on my Insta Stories “Alaska” highlight if you want to see it!)

The boys had a blast fly fishing for the first time. Salmon were A PLENTY so there was a lot to be caught – which they of course released back. They were lucky enough to actually see bears in the wild while they were out there as well. Me and my mom had to visit The Fortress of the Bear to get our bear sighting. (I highly recommend visiting the Fortress of the Bear if you’re in Sitka; it’s a bear rescue and rehabilitation center, and it was such a cool experience. They’d just gotten two baby bear sisters the day before we visited, they’d sadly just lost their mom but at least they’re in good hands.)

LAST STOP: KETCHIKAN

Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and while I sadly did not have any salmon in Ketchikan, we did fly over some in our float plane.

The four of us all opted to take our first float plane ride through the famed Misty Fjords to meet up with a boat in the middle of if that would take us back to the city. It was a 25 minute flight, I was mildly terrified, but I am so glad I got to see Alaska’s beautiful rainforest and terrain from that high up – and it was such a gorgeous day on top of it.

The boat ride back was a total trip as well, it was a picturesque ride and about 10 minutes before we got back to the dock we’d spotted some humpbacks out in the distance putting on a full on show for us – breaching, tale slaps and all! It was INCREDIBLE. We were told you don’t really see humpbacks breach in Alaska, so I guess we were some of the lucky ones. (Again, you can see a video of what we saw on my Insta Story highlight!)

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If you have the opportunity to visit Alaska. Do it. It was honest to god the trip of a lifetime. To be immersed in such pristine and borderline untouched nature… it’s a feeling I’ve never had and I’m so glad I got to experience it. Seeing Alaska by way of cruise was a great way to do it; you can see quite a bit in a very short amount of time. If you have the funds, definitely go with a smaller ship like Silversea, it really does make a difference, and this ship went above and beyond to make every single passenger happy.

I am personally dying to go back and stick around a bit longer in each city, but for now, this was a great start.

[Hubbard Glacier]

[We saw TONS of bald eagles!]

[just ‘cuz it’s pretty.]

[Exactly what I think of when I think of Alaska.]

This past Saturday, Los Angeles County officials broke ground on an expansive makeover of Earvin Magic Johnson Park in Willowbrook.

The first phase of the project, designed by landscape architecture firm AHBE, will involve the construction of a new community events center, an outdoor pavilion, a splash pad, children's play areas, and improved lithing, walking paths and parking lots.  L.A. County also intends to divert water from nearby Compton Creek to fill in a man-made lake at the center of the park and create 30 acres of wetlands.

Phase one, budgeted at $70 million, is on pace for completion in 2020.

The complete master plan, which will transform all 120 acres of the park, is expected to be built out over a period of 18 years.  Total project costs are estimated at $135 million.  At completion, the park will be expanded onto an adjacent property along 126th street that previously was improved with public housing. 

Both the housing and the park were built on a site that once served as oil storage, prior to soil remediation.

“It’s a significant stretch because it’s an opportunity for us, it’s an opportunity for young players to grow and establish themselves, with LeBron out, with Rondo out,” veteran center Tyson Chandler said. “It gives other guys an opportunity to step up so when those guys come back we can be in the rhythm, guys can be feeling good about what they’re doing out there. But we’ve got to take advantage of it.”

With construction well underway on North Hollywood’s NoHo West mall-turned-mixed-use-development, The Real Deal reports that Trader Joe’s has leased 15,900 square feet in the retail portion of the forthcoming multi-building project.

A grocery store was always planned for the complex, along with 642 apartments, up to 60 restaurants and shops, a gym, and movie theater.

The NoHo West project rises on the 25-acre site of the Laurel Plaza shopping center. The Macy’s that once served as the heart of the retail center closed in late 2016. The building is set to be converted into office space.

Other buildings on the site have been cleared away. In their place, developers Merlone Geier Partners and GPI Companies plan several buildings clustered around a main road through the project, which will be dotted with pedestrian plazas. About two acres of open space is also planned.

Work on NoHo West began in April 2017. The development is expected to be complete this fall.

It’s one of a handful of large-scale developments already in the works in the Valley, and it’s not the only revamp of a one-time retail center.

In Burbank, plans are in motion to raze the old Ikea in Burbank Town Center, replace it with over 700 apartments, and rehab the rest of the mall. In Warner Center, developer are working on a makeover of the Promenade mall that would including hundreds of housing units plus open space.