Latest news with #BillyCrystal
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
My advice to people who want to write a romance novel? Don't get dumped before you finish it
There is one incredibly important way that the shiny romantic comedy genre differs from the cold and grimy indignities of reality, and it explains the global love affair (pun sadly intended) with the form: the happy ever after. It's obviously not the only difference between reality and romcoms – for example, romantic comedies seem to believe that most women run failed cupcake bakeries, that you can fall in love with someone you hate with a fiery passion, and that most people keep their bras on during sex – but the happy ever after is the defining contrast. For those unfamiliar, the 'happy ever after' is the defining trope of romance narratives over books, TV and film, which posits the insane ideal that once the movie's (brief) romantic conflict has been resolved, the couple in question will be in love together, forever. It's also implied that such is the transformative power of that love, that most of their other problems (failed cupcake bakery, family farm being sold, gangrenous leg) fade into the background as a result. The happy ever after is given to us in a climactic and usually iconic scene that often involves running: Billy Crystal sprinting through the streets of New York to declare his love for Meg Ryan before the ball drops, Hugh Grant driving down one-way London streets to interrupt the press conference to declare his love for Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston inexplicably getting off the plane for David Schwimmer. These scenes have to be huge and dramatic because they have to make us believe that love has overcome all obstacles. It's this certainty that makes romance narratives so compelling – in an uncertain hell-world, at least we can disappear into a make-believe universe where we know love will always triumph. In the real world, obviously love does exist – but we don't get the comforting finality of the credits, which tell us that, for these characters, they will be happily in love forever. We get all the uncertainty of being a disgusting real person who needs antibiotics for their rotting leg wound and a prenup. All the best romantic comedies have a big happy ever after ending – which is why it was so annoying when the only thing left to write in my romcom was the climactic ending, and I got unceremoniously broken up with, out of the blue. There's nothing like having your belongings put into storage, sleeping on your mum and dad's couch and applying for one-bedroom apartments for you and your dog to really make you believe that not only is a happy ever after a myth but that love might actually be a lie. There's a unique humiliation in jumping on a Zoom call with your publisher and explaining that you can't meet your delivery deadline because you're too heartbroken to write the scene that's meant to encapsulate the feeling of being in love. There's nothing like accidentally writing a happy every after scene so unintentionally depressing that you briefly consider rewriting the rest of the novel to become a sad literary tale about Irish teens who never learned how to be happy and enjoy having emotionally ambiguous sex. It's one thing to break my heart, but making me miss my deadlines is unforgivable. I didn't like this limitation I'd discovered in myself – after all, an author's job is to imagine things, so surely I could imagine the idea of being in love, even if I didn't feel or believe in it any more. Literary fiction authors use their imagination to invent a world where it isn't weird for university lecturers to date their students all the time! Sport memoir writers imagine a world where people care about cricket, and cookbook authors like to imagine that people read all the stuff before the recipe. Fantasy authors imagine things that don't exist all the time too – dragons, magic, a world before the invention of toilets that doesn't stink and suck – so surely I could use the awesome powers of my creativity to imagine two boys falling in love and having a climactic smooch? But unfortunately, I found myself stuck on the precipice of an imaginary happy ever after, bitterly wishing I'd written another book about old people solving quaint village murders instead. Ultimately what helped me write my happy ever after was the same delusion that helped me recover from heartbreak and go out and fall head over heels in love again: turning my rock bottom breakup depression into a necessary part of the narrative. When I realised that you can't get a happy ever after in a romance book without earning it first through trial and pain. You need to have your rock bottom scene for there to even be a romcom in the first place – Bridget Jones drunk and crashing out about being 'old' and alone in her apartment – before she can have her big moment of snogging Mr Darcy in the street with no pants on. Instead of bashing my head against my final scene, I went back and rewrote the beginning of the book, where my character was sad and alone and hopeless – this time with added feeling. That made me remember what fuels our love of a happy ever after romance story – it's the hope that this moment of sadness will one day end and everything will work out again. All I needed to do was remember that to write a good end to my book, only a little bit late. The gangrenous leg will heal. In order to justify that big climactic moment of happiness, we had to go through the sadness first – a good lesson for anyone writing a romance book, or recovering from a heartbreak. Patrick Lenton is a writer. His novel, In Spite of You, comes out 1 August 2025
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary Actor, 77, Unrecognizable 36 Years After 'When Harry Met Sally'
Legendary Actor, 77, Unrecognizable 36 Years After 'When Harry Met Sally' originally appeared on Parade. Billy Crystalwas unrecognizable in new photos 36 years after starring in When Harry Met Sally alongside . Earlier this week, the legendary actor, 77, was spotted while out and about in New York City in pictures obtained by the Daily Mail. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 For the outing, Crystal donned a black long-sleeved shirt, gray pants, white sneakers and a black hat. He accessorized with a pair of sunglasses while carrying a grocery bag in each hand. Crystal's facial hair and natural gray locks made him look unlike his character, Harry Burns, in the beloved 1989 addition to When Harry Met Sally, Crystal is known for appearing in the TV series Soap, voicing Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, and starring in City Slickers (1991), Forget Paris (1995), Analyze This (1999) and more films. Crystal and Ryan reunited in January for a Hellmann's commercial in which they reprised their characters at Katz's Deli—the setting of the iconic scene where Sally proves that women can fake pleasure during intimacy. At the end, actress was the one who said, "I'll have what she's having." Next: Legendary Actor, 77, Unrecognizable 36 Years After 'When Harry Met Sally' first appeared on Parade on Jul 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hollywood A-lister is unrecognizable at 77 after reunion with fan favorite co-star... can you guess who he is?
A Hollywood A-lister who has become a national treasure was unrecognizable when he was glimpsed grocery shopping in New York City this week. The 77-year-old shot to fame as a pioneering gay character on a 1970s sitcom, then made his movie debut in a flop directed by a legendary stand-up comic. In the 1980s, he starred on one of the most famous TV shows of all time and established himself as a leading man in a string of beloved big screen comedies. Down the decades, his film roles have ranged from the sidekick in a hit animated children's franchise to a supporting character from Shakespeare. Earlier this year, he enjoyed an onstage reunion with a fan-favorite co-star of his while presenting at an awards show he previously hosted. Can you guess who he is? He is none other than Billy Crystal, who presented best picture at this year's Oscars with Meg Ryan, his leading lady in the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.... Billy got his start as a stand-up comic in 1970s New York and even filmed a sketch for the inaugural episode of what became Saturday Night Live in 1975, though his contribution wound up on the cutting room floor. His ship came in when he landed the role of Jodie Dallas on the sitcom Soap in 1977, playing one of the first openly gay regular characters on an American TV show. One year later, he made his movie debut as a pregnant man in Rabbit Test, a wacky comedy that turned out to be the only film ever directed by Joan Rivers. Although Rabbit Test flopped, his career went from strength to strength as his own stardom grew thanks to his work as a stand-up comic. He hosted Saturday Night Live twice in 1984 and wound up a regular member of the cast that year, but his individual fame soon took him to greater heights that eclipsed his notoriety from the show. In 1987 he had a memorable supporting role in The Princess Bride, and acted with Danny DeVito in the latter's directorial debut Throw Momma from the Train. Two years later he become a bona fide Hollywood leading man by playing opposite Meg Ryan in the blockbuster romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Nora Ephron. He is none other than Billy Crystal, who presented best picture at the Oscars this year with Meg Ryan, his leading lady in the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.... His successful movie career continued through the 1990s with comedies like City Slickers and Father's Day, and even a cameo as one of the gravediggers in the Kenneth Branagh film adaptation of Hamlet. During that decade, he also directed himself in the dramedy Mr. Saturday Night about a stand-up comic and the romantic comedy Forget Paris opposite Debra Winger. Also during the 1990s, he began his celebrated run as host of the Oscars, a position he filled nine times between 1990 and his final run in 2012. In the 2000s he reached a new generation of fans as the voice of Mike, the second banana to John Goodman's Sulley in Pixar's Monsters, Inc. franchise. Billy has continued working in recent years, adapting Mr. Saturday Night into a Broadway musical that he starred in himself in 2022. He and Meg delighted fans by appearing side by side at the Oscars this year, presenting best picture to Sean Baker's comedy Anora.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
How Hollywood hangout has become apocalyptic ghost town of crumbling mansions & burnt supercars 6 months after wildfires
Along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, which was shut for months after the fires ravished LA, the view is still one of total devastation… and one Hollywood star knows who is to blame APOCALYPSE NOW How Hollywood hangout has become apocalyptic ghost town of crumbling mansions & burnt supercars 6 months after wildfires Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S known as a glamorous neighbourhood where millionaire movie stars live it up in luxury mansions and tourists flock to the beach all year round. But driving down The Pacific Coast Highway, six months on from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Malibu feels more like a post-apocalyptic ghost town. 17 The devastating LA wildfires claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes Credit: EPA 17 A strip of high-end boutiques visited by celebrities in the Pacific Palisades are still rubble after the destructive LA fires in January Credit: The US Sun 17 Piles of debris, damaged buildings and a burnt Porsche litter the coastal road Credit: The US Sun Along the scenic coastal road, which was shut for months after the fires ravished LA, the view is still one of total devastation. Damaged structures and piles of debris are all that is left of many of the high end buildings and a burnt Porsche, along with various other vehicles, lie abandoned on the side of the road. The devastating fires, which broke out on January 7 and raged for three weeks, claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes - including those belonging to celebrities such as Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal. Standing at the site of Paris Hilton's former Malibu beach house, the huge impact is clearly visible. All that remains is a section of the home's foundations, part of a wall and two doors with weeds now growing around the concrete. It feels as though it will be a long time before Malibu is back to being a magnet for visitors and bustling with big names. But less than 10 miles away in the Pacific Palisades, one of the neighbourhoods hardest hit by the inferno, residents remain optimistic and are hard at work rebuilding their community. It was home to many Hollywood stars, including Anna Faris, Miles Teller, Anthony Hopkins and Adam Brody, whose properties burnt to the ground. Months on, the neighbourhood is only open to residents, construction workers and members of the media. It still looks like the set of a war movie after the fire destroyed more than 6,000 structures, including homes, businesses, and community landmarks. How Hollywood hotspot has become apocalyptic ghost town of crumbling mansions & charred supercars 6 months after wildfires ravaged LA 17 17 The Sun's Katy Forrester talks with Dennis Quaid, who has been vocal about the City's response to the disaster, slamming Mayor Karen Bass Credit: The US Sun The historic Starbucks building, which was 100 years old and commissioned in 1924, is in ruins with the remaining walls still covered in black smoke damage. Firefighter controversy Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid, famous for his roles in The Parent Trap and The Substance, has several friends who lost their homes, including his agent, and has been vocal about the City's response to the disaster, slamming Mayor Karen Bass for her failure to "hit the ground running" as the fires raged. He compared the state of the affluent neighbourhood to the early 20th Century, before studio expansions in the area prompted a building boom. As we stood close to the rubble in the town centre, he told The Sun: 'Right now, looking at it, it's almost like it was in 1907. 'It's beginning [the rebuild]. There are a lot of lots for sale publicly, which I think is a good thing. 'It's a tragedy for people who have lost [everything] but the community needs to come back. 'There is a ray of hope I think. We're as strong as ever. The City just needs to get out of the way.' Quaid was in the area to greet billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso who has announced plans to invest. 17 We paid a visit to Paris Hilton's former Malibu beach house to survey the damage Credit: AFP 17 Paris Hilton's beachside home in Malibu before the fire Credit: BackGrid 17 All that remains of the star's home is the foundations, part of a wall and two doors Credit: The US Sun 17 Paris heartbreakingly showed off the damage to her home earlier this year Credit: Instagram He hired private firefighters to save his shopping centre which is one of the only large buildings to remain intact. But his actions sparked controversy, with some saying private crews draw resources away from public firefighters. Quaid thinks he did the right thing. 'He had his own fire department here because he wanted to take pressure off the City in case there ever was a fire so they could handle it,' he said. 'This is a guy who thinks of things.' He also insisted it's 'not just movie people' who lost their homes, adding: 'I know they're considered rich people and all that but these are also people with mortgages, and they've been under hardship. 'And all the people who supported the community; the store owners, small businesses, gardeners, it's had its impact.' Caruso, who lost the Los Angeles Mayor's race in 2022, is reportedly investing around $50million to rebuild and upgrade the area. Rebuilding from ground zero Despite the backlash he has previously faced, he was met with positivity from residents this month as he announced that Palisades Village will reopen in mid-2026. He told The Sun: 'We've got construction starting now, we're bringing everything back. 'We're rebuilding inside of all the stores, the restaurants, the apartments are all getting redone, we're going to rocking and rolling within a year. 'You did have tourists in the summer time because people were visiting Malibu, the beach, and whatnot, and they will come back, they just need a place to go. And that's what we need to do, give them that.' The tragedy also affected the area of Altadena in east Los Angeles, where a fire burnt for more than 20 days. Asked if there is any hope for the other areas, Caruso said: 'Absolutely. That's what I think is really important about this announcement because what's happening here, it will happen in Malibu, it will happen in Altadena. 17 Anthony Hopkins' mansion was burned to the ground in the blaze Credit: AFP 17 The star's beautiful home stood on the cliffs Credit: BackGrid 17 Sir Anthony bought the four bed mansion back in 2021 Credit: The Mega Agency 'When a retailer says, 'I'm willing to invest in a community that has basically been devastated' that means they believe it's coming back. 'Malibu is open this summer. The highway is open. Go support those businesses, the beaches are as beautiful as ever.' During this year's holiday season, the Palisades Village will bring back its annual Christmas tree lighting and Menorah celebration so the community can reunite. Caruso will also reconstruct the public park and fund the revitalisation of the streetscapes, including the sidewalks. Corinne Verdery, CEO of Caruso's business, said the announcement "reinforces our long-term commitment to the Palisades.' She explained, 'Our goal is to restore Palisades Village and the surrounding area as a vibrant and welcoming destination once again for residents, workers, and visitors – a place that reflects our community's resilience and optimism for the future." Fashion designer and business owner Elyse Walker tragically lost her original store after 25 years to the fires but is rebuilding her flagship. She said: 'I opened the first elysewalker location in the Pacific Palisades because I saw the huge opportunity to bring fashion retail to the area. 'I knew that I wanted a store to feel like a home base within the community. 'More than a store, it was where friends and family got together to connect, celebrate, and of course, shop, elysewalker Pacific Palisades epitomized that. 'Re-opening in the Palisades and moving to the Village is incredibly exciting and important as we focus our efforts on rebuilding and supporting this incredibly strong and resilient community.' 17 Adam Brody and Leighton Meester's home in the Pacific Palisades is cleared and ready to rebuild after the LA fires Credit: The US Sun 17 Mel Gibson's home and cars were consumed by flames Credit: The Mega Agency Five years of misery Over in Malibu, it's likely to take a lot longer to get things moving, while local police are still trying to protect the community from squatters. Jeff Schmucker, senior superintendent with Santa Barbara-based Clear Construction, spoke to The Sun as he was working on site. Despite Caruso's optimism, Schmucker feels it could be up to five years until Malibu is thriving once again, as he believes only 50 per cent of homeowners will rebuild, while the rest will sell their lots. He told The Sun: 'We're already submitting plans to build but I don't know how fast that process will be. We've got seven maybe eight houses signed up now. Malibu is open this summer. The highway is open. Go support those businesses, the beaches are as beautiful as ever. Rick Caruso 'We'll start the first one by October, as soon as we get permits we'll start. It would take anywhere between a year and a half to three years depending on the size.' It can take up to 18 months to just get a building permit in Los Angeles, which home owners are pushing to be reduced as many are refusing to wait years to return. Asked if he's seen any construction work in Malibu so far, he said, 'Nobody's even started yet. I saw one going up in the Palisades and that guy had just built. 'As soon as it burnt down they just resubmitted the exact same plans that they'd just finished.' 17 Quaid was in the area to greet billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso who has announced plans to invest Credit: The US Sun 17 Despite Joel Auiz's business not burning down, he says it's been a huge struggle with the Pacific Coast Highway being closed for months Credit: The US Sun 17 Palisades Village will reopen in mid-2026 as it still tries to come to terms with the damage Credit: The US Sun He said many of the residents were underinsured and are being left thousands of dollars out of pocket. Many of the iconic restaurants and cafes in Malibu remain closed, while some have burnt down completely and will not reopen. But there are still a few local owners who are pushing forward and are adamant business will one day be booming again. Joel Auiz is the owner of The Country Kitchen on Pacific Coast Highway, which has been a popular spot for four decades. £200k loss He said despite the business not burning down, there was a lot of damage and with the Pacific Coast Highway being closed for months it's been a huge struggle. 'When I saw the situation 11 days after the fires there was no electricity and I had to throw everything away,' he said. 'We reopened in March but business has been down about 60 per cent. It got better this past weekend when the PCH reopened but it's slow. 'Hopefully things get better. I don't know how long it's going to take to rebuild, everyone has to get new permits, septic tanks, so many things. 'I hope tourists do show up this summer, people from other states and other countries help a lot. We've already lost more than $200,000, we were closed for 50 days. 'It's sad to see the destruction and the lives lost. To rebuild all this is going to take a while. But thank God we are still here, it could be worse. 'We are grateful and ready to serve people. Our breakfast burritos, we serve those all day, the burgers are good, good sandwiches, homemade salsas as well.' While all of the communities affected by the wildfires have a long road ahead, it's clear so many do not want to give up hope. But they can't bring life back to some of the most beautiful areas of the city alone. The message is clear; they need help from the City, investors with big pockets, and they need tourists to take a chance on them.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How Hollywood hangout has become apocalyptic ghost town of crumbling mansions & burnt supercars 6 months after wildfires
IT'S known as a glamorous neighbourhood where millionaire movie stars live it up in luxury mansions and tourists flock to the beach all year round. But driving down The Pacific Coast Highway, six months on from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Malibu feels more like a post-apocalyptic ghost town. 17 17 Along the scenic coastal road, which was shut for months after the fires ravished LA, the view is still one of total devastation. Damaged structures and piles of debris are all that is left of many of the high end buildings and a burnt Porsche, along with various other vehicles, lie abandoned on the side of the road. The devastating fires, which broke out on January 7 and raged for three weeks, claimed dozens of lives and destroyed thousands of homes - including those belonging to celebrities such as Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal. Standing at the site of Paris Hilton's former Malibu beach house, the huge impact is clearly visible. All that remains is a section of the home's foundations, part of a wall and two doors with weeds now growing around the concrete. It feels as though it will be a long time before Malibu is back to being a magnet for visitors and bustling with big names. But less than 10 miles away in the Pacific Palisades, one of the neighbourhoods hardest hit by the inferno, residents remain optimistic and are hard at work rebuilding their community. It was home to many Hollywood stars, including Anna Faris, Miles Teller, Anthony Hopkins and Adam Brody, whose properties burnt to the ground. Months on, the neighbourhood is only open to residents, construction workers and members of the media. It still looks like the set of a war movie after the fire destroyed more than 6,000 structures, including homes, businesses, and community landmarks. 17 17 The historic Starbucks building, which was 100 years old and commissioned in 1924, is in ruins with the remaining walls still covered in black smoke damage. Firefighter controversy Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid, famous for his roles in The Parent Trap and The Substance, has several friends who lost their homes, including his agent, and has been vocal about the City's response to the disaster, slamming Mayor Karen Bass for her failure to "hit the ground running" as the fires raged. He compared the state of the affluent neighbourhood to the early 20th Century, before studio expansions in the area prompted a building boom. As we stood close to the rubble in the town centre, he told The Sun: 'Right now, looking at it, it's almost like it was in 1907. 'It's beginning [the rebuild]. There are a lot of lots for sale publicly, which I think is a good thing. 'It's a tragedy for people who have lost [everything] but the community needs to come back. 'There is a ray of hope I think. We're as strong as ever. The City just needs to get out of the way.' Quaid was in the area to greet billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso who has announced plans to invest. 17 17 17 He hired private firefighters to save his shopping centre which is one of the only large buildings to remain intact. But his actions sparked controversy, with some saying private crews draw resources away from public firefighters. Quaid thinks he did the right thing. 'He had his own fire department here because he wanted to take pressure off the City in case there ever was a fire so they could handle it,' he said. 'This is a guy who thinks of things.' He also insisted it's 'not just movie people' who lost their homes, adding: 'I know they're considered rich people and all that but these are also people with mortgages, and they've been under hardship. 'And all the people who supported the community; the store owners, small businesses, gardeners, it's had its impact.' Caruso, who lost the Los Angeles Mayor's race in 2022, is reportedly investing around $50million to rebuild and upgrade the area. Rebuilding from ground zero Despite the backlash he has previously faced, he was met with positivity from residents this month as he announced that Palisades Village will reopen in mid-2026. He told The Sun: 'We've got construction starting now, we're bringing everything back. 'We're rebuilding inside of all the stores, the restaurants, the apartments are all getting redone, we're going to rocking and rolling within a year. 'You did have tourists in the summer time because people were visiting Malibu, the beach, and whatnot, and they will come back, they just need a place to go. And that's what we need to do, give them that.' The tragedy also affected the area of Altadena in east Los Angeles, where a fire burnt for more than 20 days. Asked if there is any hope for the other areas, Caruso said: 'Absolutely. That's what I think is really important about this announcement because what's happening here, it will happen in Malibu, it will happen in Altadena. 17 17 'When a retailer says, 'I'm willing to invest in a community that has basically been devastated' that means they believe it's coming back. 'Malibu is open this summer. The highway is open. Go support those businesses, the beaches are as beautiful as ever.' During this year's holiday season, the Palisades Village will bring back its annual Christmas tree lighting and Menorah celebration so the community can reunite. Caruso will also reconstruct the public park and fund the revitalisation of the streetscapes, including the sidewalks. Corinne Verdery, CEO of Caruso's business, said the announcement "reinforces our long-term commitment to the Palisades.' She explained, 'Our goal is to restore Palisades Village and the surrounding area as a vibrant and welcoming destination once again for residents, workers, and visitors – a place that reflects our community's resilience and optimism for the future." Fashion designer and business owner Elyse Walker tragically lost her original store after 25 years to the fires but is rebuilding her flagship. She said: 'I opened the first elysewalker location in the Pacific Palisades because I saw the huge opportunity to bring fashion retail to the area. 'I knew that I wanted a store to feel like a home base within the community. 'More than a store, it was where friends and family got together to connect, celebrate, and of course, shop, elysewalker Pacific Palisades epitomized that. 'Re-opening in the Palisades and moving to the Village is incredibly exciting and important as we focus our efforts on rebuilding and supporting this incredibly strong and resilient community.' 17 17 Five years of misery Over in Malibu, it's likely to take a lot longer to get things moving, while local police are still trying to protect the community from squatters. Jeff Schmucker, senior superintendent with Santa Barbara-based Clear Construction, spoke to The Sun as he was working on site. Despite Caruso's optimism, Schmucker feels it could be up to five years until Malibu is thriving once again, as he believes only 50 per cent of homeowners will rebuild, while the rest will sell their lots. He told The Sun: 'We're already submitting plans to build but I don't know how fast that process will be. We've got seven maybe eight houses signed up now. Malibu is open this summer. The highway is open. Go support those businesses, the beaches are as beautiful as ever. Rick Caruso 'We'll start the first one by October, as soon as we get permits we'll start. It would take anywhere between a year and a half to three years depending on the size.' It can take up to 18 months to just get a building permit in Los Angeles, which home owners are pushing to be reduced as many are refusing to wait years to return. Asked if he's seen any construction work in Malibu so far, he said, 'Nobody's even started yet. I saw one going up in the Palisades and that guy had just built. 'As soon as it burnt down they just resubmitted the exact same plans that they'd just finished.' 17 17 17 He said many of the residents were underinsured and are being left thousands of dollars out of pocket. Many of the iconic restaurants and cafes in Malibu remain closed, while some have burnt down completely and will not reopen. But there are still a few local owners who are pushing forward and are adamant business will one day be booming again. Joel Auiz is the owner of The Country Kitchen on Pacific Coast Highway, which has been a popular spot for four decades. £200k loss He said despite the business not burning down, there was a lot of damage and with the Pacific Coast Highway being closed for months it's been a huge struggle. 'When I saw the situation 11 days after the fires there was no electricity and I had to throw everything away,' he said. 'We reopened in March but business has been down about 60 per cent. It got better this past weekend when the PCH reopened but it's slow. 'Hopefully things get better. I don't know how long it's going to take to rebuild, everyone has to get new permits, septic tanks, so many things. 'I hope tourists do show up this summer, people from other states and other countries help a lot. We've already lost more than $200,000, we were closed for 50 days. 'It's sad to see the destruction and the lives lost. To rebuild all this is going to take a while. But thank God we are still here, it could be worse. 'We are grateful and ready to serve people. Our breakfast burritos, we serve those all day, the burgers are good, good sandwiches, homemade salsas as well.' While all of the communities affected by the wildfires have a long road ahead, it's clear so many do not want to give up hope. But they can't bring life back to some of the most beautiful areas of the city alone. The message is clear; they need help from the City, investors with big pockets, and they need tourists to take a chance on them.
