Malibu

High on a steep, terraced mountainside in Malibu, with a spectacular view of the Pacific, perches the largest and probably the only commercial planting of loquats in the United States. A pome fruit related to apples and pears, the loquat is one of the great pleasures of spring in Southern California. It has firm but juicy flesh with the texture of cantaloupe and a sweet-tart flavor evoking cherry. The irony is that it is so well-adapted and common as a backyard tree that there's little local demand for the fruit.

Known for the great variety of the roles he plays, Leonardo DiCaprio now is trying his hand at Malibu beach house landlord. He has listed this Cape Cod-inspired home for $75,000 a month for a long-term tenant or $150,000 a month for leases of less than six months. His Malibu Colony compound was recently remodeled and features a four-bedroom main house on the ocean side, a two-bedroom guest house and a detached loft with gym. There is a beach-front deck, a fire pit, gardens and lawn on the less-than-half-acre lot. DiCaprio, 37, whose blockbuster hits include "Titanic" (1997)

The California Coastal Commission on Thursday rejected a controversial proposal by U2 guitarist the Edge to build five mansions on a rugged ridgeline above Malibu that is home to mountain lions and native chaparral. The 8-4 vote was the culmination of what has become a closely watched property rights battle between the musician, whose real name is David Evans, and the agency that regulates development along the California coastline. "In 38 years of this commission's existence, this is one of the three worst projects that I've seen in terms of environmental devastation," Peter Douglas, the agency's executive director, said in an interview after the vote.

High on a steep, terraced mountainside in Malibu, with a spectacular view of the Pacific, perches the largest and probably the only commercial planting of loquats in the United States. A pome fruit related to apples and pears, the loquat is one of the great pleasures of spring in Southern California. It has firm but juicy flesh with the texture of cantaloupe and a sweet-tart flavor evoking cherry. The irony is that it is so well-adapted and common as a backyard tree that there's little local demand for the fruit.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials were considering using a station in Malibu as a temporary replacement for a conservation camp on Mt. Gleason that was destroyed last summer by the devastating Station fire. But when residents of the beachfront city realized that the camp would be staffed by prison inmates, they began organizing to stop it. They succeeded Wednesday, when Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman announced that he would look elsewhere. FOR THE RECORD: Malibu: A Jan. 22 editorial said that residents of the city of Malibu blocked a proposed fire station staffed by prison inmates.

Location: 5757 Trancas Canyon Road, Malibu 90265 Asking price: $9,495,000 Lot previously sold for: $525,000 in 1998 Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one half-bath in about 4,100 square feet in the main house; two bedrooms, two bathrooms and one half-bath in 4,000 square feet in the studio; two bedrooms, one bathroom in 1,200 square feet in the guesthouse. Additional features: Sub-Zero refrigerator, Miele dishwashers, Thermador ovens, 145-inch drop-down screen and projector in media room, elevator in main residence, three-car garage, two-car carport.

Poured-concrete walls, skylights and automated clerestory windows give an atrium feel to this restored contemporary in Malibu. Built in 1963, the house was originally created for Italian artist Rico Lebrun by Thornton Abell. The Los Angeles architect was recognized for his work in the Case Study House program, which designed models for low-cost modern housing after World War II. But the house was far from its '60s condition when it was bought by the current owners. "It took a year and a half to renovate the back part of the house," says Sandy Mastomonaco, who owns the home with her husband, John.

Malibu residents are fighting a proposal to use a local fire station as quarters for prison inmate firefighters who need a new home after the Station fire burned through their camp in the Angeles National Forest. Los Angeles County Fire Department officials are looking at the Malibu facility as a temporary replacement after an inmate firefighter camp atop Mt. Gleason was destroyed last summer by the largest brush fire in Los Angeles County history. The blaze killed two county firefighters who were defending the camp.

Pacific Coast Highway is many things to the tens of thousands of people who traverse it daily. For the day trippers who park on the shoulder and haul their coolers across the roadway, it's the route to some of the best beaches around. For the "Z drivers" — commuters who take the canyon roads west over the mountains to PCH en route to Los Angeles — it's the quickest way to work. For the cyclists who ride along the shoulder, it's a workout and a rush. For the 13,000 people who call Malibu home, PCH is their main street and the only route through town.

Al Martinez's June 13 column calls Eris the goddess of strife and that's OK because strife is synonymous with discord. However, he leaves out the key word "mischief." My Greek mythology book called Eris the goddess of mischief and discord. This newfound knowledge when I was a teenager was a glorious revelation. Mischief adds a little levity to the title--her mischievousness led to discord (look it up). Malibu will be much better off with Eris as a logo. Dolphins are much overused and the overexposure isn't good for them.

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives are seeking to question Christopher A. Benton, the son of Pepperdine University President Andrew K. Benton, in connection with the death of a Malibu woman almost two weeks ago. The body of 25-year-old graphic designer Katie Wilkins was found in her parents' garage on West Moon Shadows Drive by her brother, Steve, the evening of April 28. Det. Tim O'Quinn of the sheriff's homicide bureau said Wilkins apparently...

An environmental crusader known as "Mr. Malibu" has apologized to Pepperdine University and retracted accusations that the school is to blame for effluent flowing down Marie Canyon Creek and into the Pacific Ocean. In exchange, the university has agreed to drop a lawsuit against activist Cary ONeal that alleged libel and "invasion of privacy by placing person in a false light in public eye. " In two videos he posted online, ONeal claimed that a foamy substance pooling on a Malibu beach was sewage released by Pepperdine.

Actors Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have put their Malibu beach house back on the market, chopping $3.5 million from last year to price it at $11.2 million. The Balinese-inspired home faces sand dunes and the ocean. The 4,300-square-foot house, built in 1978 and renovated in 2005, is entered through a gated courtyard. Features include a screening room, a bar, a gym, an office and a detached guest house. The master suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and a beachfront balcony for a total of four bedrooms and 41/2 bathrooms.

A long-running takeover bid for Malibu toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. took a turn toward conciliation with the Los Angeles investment management firm that wants to buy it. After fending off an unsolicited takeover bid from Oaktree Capital Management, Jakks agreed to give the management firm detailed financial information about the company, setting the stage for another bid. But a sale of Jakks, one of the nation's largest makers of action figures,...

Music producer Terry Lewis and his wife, Indira, have listed their Malibu estate for sale at $4.5 million. The one-acre property includes a Spanish-style house, open and covered patios, a sports court, a swimming pool with a spa and gardens. The 6,710-square-foot open-plan home, built in 2001, includes a media room, five bedrooms and 51/2 bathrooms. The ocean-view master suite features a sitting area and two walk-in closets. Lewis is part of a songwriting and production team with Jimmy Jam. The Grammy-winning Jam and Lewis have produced hits for singers including Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.

Will somebody come clean about those soap-like bubbles in Malibu's tiny Marie Canyon Creek? A legal battle between an environmental crusader and Pepperdine University is raising questions about a frothy cascade of storm water that periodically spills over a beach lined with celebrity homes and into the Pacific Ocean. Videographer Cary ONeal, who blogs as "Mr. Malibu," insists that the runoff is tainted by a sewage treatment plant that serves the university and a housing tract next door, and that the school should be held to task for it. Pepperdine officials dispute that and have gone to court to prevent ONeal's accusation and home-made videos of the sudsy flow from going viral.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Michael Balzary, known as Flea, has listed a newly built Malibu house for sale at $4,795,000. Designed by Marmol Radziner, the contemporary indoor-outdoor home has a cement floor and ocean and canyon views. There are three bedrooms, three bathrooms and an office in more than 3,000 square feet. Outdoor amenities on the gated 2.4-acre site include a free-form swimming pool. Flea, 48, is a founding member of the Grammy-winning band, which has released nine studio albums since it formed in 1983 and has sold more than 65 million copies worldwide.

It was like a scene out of a sci-fi movie: A behemoth threatens an innocent town from atop a cliff, shrugging off all capture attempts. Only this real-life besieger was a 116-ton boulder, which gave indications in February 1979 that it might plunge onto Pacific Coast Highway and possibly squash a BMW or two, if not some beachfront architecture. The innocent town was Malibu, so naturally elements of show biz were involved. It was movie producer/ writer Robert Radnitz who led a campaign lobbying Caltrans to bring the big rock down from its 186-foot-high perch.

Actors Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott have listed their house in Malibu for sale at $2.675 million. The recently renovated 2,300-square-foot house sits on 1.73 acres covered in native plants and fruit trees. The single-story home, built in the 1960s, features 100-year-old French oak floors, three bedrooms and 21/2 bathrooms. Custom-built sliding doors lead outside to multiple decks and sitting areas. There is a chicken coop and a small horse corral. Spelling, 38, played Donna Martin in "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990-2000)

Actor Dan Cortese and his wife, DeeDee, have sold their house in Malibu for $2.6 million. The Mediterranean-style home, built in 1997, is in a gated community on more than three-quarters of an acre. The 6,322-square-foot house has a sweeping staircase entry, five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The actor, 44, starred in the TV series "Rock Me, Baby" (2003-04) and "Veronica's Closet" (1997-2000) and appeared in the 1995 season of "Melrose Place. " He hosted "Money Hungry" (2010)