Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Ribbon Cutting Event on December 2, 2026

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The National Wildlife Federation's #SaveLACougars campaign and The Wildlife Crossing Fund are excited to share details about the historic ribbon-cutting celebrations that are being planned for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing happening on December 2. The event will also mark the launch of a partnership between the National Wildlife Federation and The Wildlife Crossing Fund that will support the long-term research and native habitat restoration needs for the visionary bridge and advance large-scale connectivity efforts around the globe.

The events happening on December 2 include a public celebration at King Gillette Ranch and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing that will be broadcast live. Custom artwork to commemorate this special occasion was created by artist Wilda Lynn Garrett.

When it opens this year, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing will be the largest of its kind in the world. Named #15 of the 50 Most Influential Projects of 2022, alongside the James Webb Telescope and the Human Genome Project, it serves as a global model for urban wildlife conservation and a testament to the visionary, large-scale solutions needed to protect wildlife in the future.

Making the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing a reality involved a multi-agency collaboration led by the National Wildlife Federation, Caltrans, the National Park Service, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, with landscape architecture design led by Rock Design Associates. The project was funded in part through charitable donations from Wallis Annenberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Frank and Joann Randall, and more than 6,000 donors worldwide.

The Wildlife Crossing Fund, first created in 2023 with help from Wallis Annenberg, will continue supporting habitat stewardship on and around the bridge, native plant nursery operations, education and outreach programs, and long-term wildlife research in the Santa Monica Mountains. As construction enters its final stages, the #SaveLACougars campaign and partners plan to host a media project update this fall.

Ribbon-Cutting Event at King Gillette Ranch on 12/2

You can view the official ribbon-cutting ceremony by joining the fun community festival at King Gillette Ranch (26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas), featuring partner exhibits, music, special guests and more. At the festival, you can watch the ribbon-cutting at the wildlife crossing live on a large screen, and cut your own ribbon at a virtual display! Event hours are 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Tickets required for entry. Donation is $10 for guests ages 13 and older and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Ticket donations benefit the National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars campaign. Purchase them at savelacougars.org/ribbon-cutting.

Marmalade Cafe at The Commons at Calabasas to Close Its Doors on Sunday, August 2nd

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Saddened to get word earlier this week that Marmalade Cafe at The Commons at Calabasas will serve its last meal on Sunday, August 2nd. The popular eatery has operated at The Commons since 1998.

Locations in Westlake Village, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, and El Segundo remain open. www.marmaladecafe.com

Jon & Vinny's Now Open in Calabasas

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UPDATE: They opened July 27th. www.janandvinnys.com

Jon & Vinny's is currently hiring for all positions at its new location opening soon at 23538 Calabasas Road in Calabasas, across from Sagebrush Cantina. Call 818-444-6494 or visit jonandvinnys.com/jobs to apply.  Jon & Vinny’s serves California‑Italian comfort food — handmade pastas, wood‑fired pizzas, and produce‑driven dishes — in a casual, diner‑style setting. Jon & Vinny’s was founded by award-winning chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo. 

Cheesesteaks by Matū to Open on Tuesday, July 14 at The Commons at Calabasas

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Cheesesteaks by Matū opens on Tuesday, July 14 at The Commons in Calabasas. The team behind Matū and Matū Kai is bringing its 100% grass‑fed Wagyu Philly Cheesesteak — made with First Light Farms beef, a custom seeded bun, Cooper Sharp cheese, grilled onions, and a long hot pepper — to a casual walk‑up spot next to HiHo Cheeseburger. Each cheesesteak is made to order and served with house‑made chips. Located at 4799 Commons Way, Suite I. They will be open daily from 11:30am–7pm. Learn more at www.matusteak.com.

Signs Are Back Up at Salsa & Beer Mexican Grill & Bar Restaurant in Calabasas

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The Salsa & Beer Mexican Grill “coming soon” signs were up in December 2020 but were subsequently taken down, Finally, 5 1/2 years later, there are new signs up as of today at 4895 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. at the former Coco’s location visible from the 101 south.

With locations in North Hollywood and Van Nuys/Lake Balboa, Salsa & Beer offers authentic Mexican food from the town of Jerez, located in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

The menu includes traditional Mexican combination plates, fajitas, sizzling spicy Molcajete dishes, Spicy Zacatecas Carnitas, Tampiquena Chicken, Carne Asada Encebollada Charbroiled Steak, their “famous” tortas and much more.

Timing of restaurant opening TBA.

More info at www.salsaandbeertogo.com.

2026 Summer Beach Buses in Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas

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The City of Agoura Hills Summer Beach Bus is back for 2026. Runs June 15 to August 7 (except July 3) Monday through Friday from three designated locations to/from Zuma Beach. Service is $2 each way. Exact change required. Open to anyone (not just Agoura Hills residents). www.agourahillscity.gov/beachbus

The City of Thousand Oaks is offering Summer Beach Bus Service in 2026 from June 15 to August 8 (except July 4) to Zuma Beach and Ventura Harbor Beach. Two round trips will be available daily Monday through Thursday to Zuma and Friday/Saturday to Ventura Cove Beach. The fare is $4.00 round trip ($1.00 for seniors ages 65+ and persons with disabilities) cash only and is collected in person at the time of boarding. Students from kindergarten through college can ride the Beach Bus for free. toaks.gov/beachbus

The Calabasas Beach Bus will operate June 15 to August 7, 2026 Monday to Friday to Zuma Beach. Fare is $5 round-trip via the TripShot app. Cash will not be accepted. More details will be available at cityofcalabasas.com/beachbus.

HiHo Cheeseburger to Open on Friday, April 24th, at The Commons at Calabasas

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HiHo Cheeseburger, the only burger restaurant exclusively serving 100% grass-fed and grass-finished Wagyu beef, is set to open this Friday, April 24th, at The Commons at Calabasas.

HiHo’s Wagyu comes exclusively from New Zealand’s First Light Farms, selected for its exceptional flavor, nutritional profile, and regenerative farming practices. Naturally lower in saturated fat and higher in Omega-3s, vitamins, and antioxidants, the beef is non-GMO, certified humane, free of antibiotics and raised without mRNA vaccines.

Burgers are served on an artisanal bun custom-made for HiHo by a local baker. The fries are hand-cut, using only three ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt. In addition, the Calabasas location will offer house-made desserts like Banana Cream Pie N’ a Go-Cup, as well as milkshakes made from scratch using just six clean ingredients. The menu will also feature fried chicken favorites created in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Willie Mae’s Scotch House.

HiHo will share a space with Cheesesteaks by Matū (opening at a later date), which offers an elevated take on the cheesesteak. Each restaurant will feature its own walk-up ordering window, with a casual, open-air layout and shared seating.

Learn more at www.hiho.la. Hours 11:30am to 10pm daily.

KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar® to Open at The Commons at Calabasas on December 17th

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KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar® opens in The Commons at Calabasas tomorrow, December 17th, in the suite between BLVD Steak and Starbucks. KazuNori is a full-service restaurant dedicated to Nozawa style hand rolls, served directly from the chefs’ hands to the guest. First opened in 2014, KazuNori is the first restaurant of its kind, pioneering the concept of a hand roll bar and focusing on serving intentionally simple and intentionally delicious hand rolls. 

Named after celebrated sushi chef Kazunori Nozawa, who introduced the cylindrical-style hand roll to the United States more than 40 years ago, KazuNori serves hand rolls made with the highest quality fish, specially harvested seaweed, house-made sauces, and signature warm rice. KazuNori signature hand rolls include toro, lobster, salmon, yellowtail, and crab, as well as less common options such as uni, ankimo, koika, and yamaimo. 

Hours are Sunday-Thursday: 11:30am to 11pm and Friday-Saturday: 11:30am to 11:30pm.

For more information, visit www.handrollbar.com or follow KazuNori on Instagram.