My Neighborhood

Great Point Lighthouse

Up Among the Stars

THE HOLLYWOOD Hills rise like cresting green waves, looking down majestically on the city of Los Angeles to the south and the San Fernando Valley to the north. “It’s a slice of tranquility that’s still very close to the hustle and bustle of the nation’s second-largest city,” says Robert Kovacik, an awardwinning NBC News Los Angeles anchor-reporter who has called the Hills home since 1991.

Kovacik lives in the part of the Hills known as Celebrity Row. “It is truly the perfect spot in all of Los Angeles,” he says of the enclave in Upper Nichols Canyon. “You are minutes from the city; you are minutes from the Valley. Being on the top of Mulholland Drive is not only picturesque, but it’s also remarkably family oriented. There’s a reason celebrities are attracted to the area: Not only are they close to the studios, but they are also afforded a great deal of privacy.” —Lisa Rosen

Canyon Country Store Homes in the Hollywood Hills Hollywood Bowl

Robert Kovacik

VIEW FROM THE TOP

A weekend off from work means a hike, and Kovacik’s favorite is the Trebek Open Space (2500 Nichols Canyon Rd., 323.221.9944), 62 acres of land donated to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy by the late, great Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. “It has the best hiking trails for you, your dog, your horse, or your bike,” says Kovacik. “I know those trails so well, I can read the paper and hike at the same time. God bless Alex Trebek; he was such a generous man. At the top of it is the most magnificent view of Los Angeles. I take everyone who comes and visits from the East Coast. It’s heaven.”

CANYON COUNTRY

After his hike, Kovacik heads to the Canyon Country Store (2108 Laurel Canyon Blvd., 323.654.8091), beloved for its hippie vibe. “Find Lily at the coffee cart and you will have one of the best lattes you ever had,” he advises. “Get one of their great sandwiches, sit at the picnic tables with Jim Morrison’s house in the background, see your neighbors, and share the gossip of the hood. Laurel Canyon is not only steeped in music and culture, but there is such a creative force up there.”

TALKING SHOP

The Hills are residential, so most shopping and dining requires a quick trip down the road. “On the Valley side, Maxwell Dog (11986 Ventura Blvd., 818.505.8411) has all your pet needs and special pet gifts, from bowls to collars to toys,” he says. Not far away, “there’s a great shop for women’s gifts called Hoity Toity (4381 Tujunga Ave., 818.766.2503), which is just the way it sounds.” Owner-designer Ann Booth Luly specializes in ornately detailed handmade clothing and bags inspired by bygone eras.

FISH AND FIRE

Heading down the Hollywood side, one of Kovacik’s favorite spots is Connie and Ted’s (8171 Santa Monica Blvd., 323.848.2722). “It’s like you’ve jumped into a seafood shack on Cape Cod. Order lobster rolls. On a weekend, I’ll sit at the bar, watch the football games, eat their homemade bread and crackers with housesmoked seafood dips— everything is phenomenal.”

For splendid sounds on a summer night, don’t miss the Hollywood Bowl

(2301 N. Highland Ave., 323.850.2000). “Make friends with the right neighbors and you can hear the music coming over the hillside. You’ll see the gorgeous city lights, and you may see fireworks at the end of a performance.”

Connie and Ted’s

TENNIS COURT ESTATE | Beverly Hills | $22,950,000 Approx. 1.5 acres surround this multi-building, gated compound composed of a Paul Williams grand Traditional main house, 2 guest houses, recreation building with bowling alley and billiards lounge, jogging track and putting green. Interiors are beautifully tuned to the current design themes of 'comfortable luxur y' and focus on natural sunlight washing across the gorgeous deeply hewn hardwood floors, rich earth-toned wall colors and endless sets of French doors that open to the outdoors. Web # 22192171.

ARCHITECTUR AL MASTERPIECE | Bel-Air | $13 ,000,000 Designed by noted architect Patrick J. Killen, AIA, this beautiful home offers captivating views of the Stone Canyon Reser voir from ever y room. Walls of glass and high ceilings create a voluminous interior living space that seamlessly transitions to outdoor amenities such as a 73-foot infinity saltwater pool/spa, fire pit, grassy yard and BBQ area. Web # 22167511. MID-CENTURY ESTATE | Beverly Hills | $9,750,000 This Mid-Centur y architectural estate echoes original style and glamour upgraded for today's more modernized lifestyle. Extremely private and behind a motorized gate, discover a tranquil sanctuar y replete with well-manicured landscaping along the path to the front door. Verdant grounds surround this estate imparting beautiful green garden views from ever y room. Web # 22175123.

Ernie Carswell | O: 3 10 . 3 4 5 .7 5 0 0 | er nie.carswell@elliman.com

TROUSDALE CONTEMPOR ARY | Beverly Hills | $42,000,000 Reimagined and designed by the acclaimed Studio Shamsiri, the four-year remodel invites you into a meticulously restored Riviera retreat. Captivating views and contemporar y refinements collide in this lavish, European-style gem where each finish builds elegantly upon the next. This 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom home was designed for distinction, combining expert craftsmanship with an upscale eclectic aesthetic. Web # 22162631. Dena Luciano, O: 310.600.3848, dena.luciano@elliman.com

BRENTWOOD PARK MASTERPIECE | Brentwood | $21,000,000 Ideally positioned on a sprawling lot set high above the street, this custom-built estate showcases cohesive design elements blending rustic textures and organic materials. The blend of classic traditional and contemporar y design evokes feelings of warmth and understated elegance. The exterior grounds are equally captivating, featuring lush green landscape and a picturesque resort-style pool. Web # 22142355. Marcy Roth, O: 310.539.3000, marcy.roth@elliman.com, Fredrik Eklund, O: 212.727.6158, feklund@elliman.com

WORLD-FAMOUS OCEANFRONT ESTATE | Carpinteria | $36,500,000 Designed by architect Barr y Berkus, this approx. 9,086sf beachfront estate is built atop a knoll on the famed Padaro Lane and offers direct access to the coastline. Featuring approx. 66ft of prime ocean frontage and located on the original site of Major ''Max'' Fleischman's 1920s polo beach cabin, this site is regarded by many to be the absolute pinnacle of beachfront locations. Web # 222208. Jason Streatfeild, O: 805.617.4180, jason.streatfeild@elliman.com

AWARD-WINNING BEACH HOME | Newport Beach | $11,900,000 Awarded ‘Best Media Room’ at CEDIA’s 2010 Global Awards, this custom home with cutting-edge technology invites you through the front gate into a Balinese style light-filled courtyard. An open-concept gourmet kitchen, bar and great room with motorized pocket doors blend as one with wide coastal views spilling out to the expansive yard with an infinity-edge spa. Web # NP22176915. Lori Michelle Marks, O: 310.595.3888, M: 949.230.4023, lori.michelle@elliman.com

DOUBLE BLUFF-TOP ESTATE | Laguna Beach | $24,995,000 Sited on a rare double bluff-top homesite in the guard-gated Three Arch Bay, this custom home offers one the best living environments in Laguna Beach. A dramatic promontor y setting is secluded behind a custom entr y gate and features a circular drive, park-like grounds and a spacious courtyard. Wraparound decks lead to the bedrock, where a private saltwater pool is replenished naturally with the tide. Web # LG22132261. Andy Stravos, O: 949.290.0139, M: 949.290.0139, andy.stravos@elliman.com THE ERNST LUBITSCH ESTATE | Bel Air | $17,950,000 Rich in Los Angeles histor y, this 7-bedroom, 8-bathroom compound has hosted kings, presidents, dignitaries and Holly wood royalty alike. Set on just over 1 acre, the sprawling estate features an elegant private drive, multiple indoor entertaining areas, a massive swimming pool, vegetable gardens, expansive outdoor loggias and more. Web # 22166811. Josh Flagg, O: 310.819.3410, josh.flagg@elliman.com

LITTLE HOLMBY TR ADITIONAL | Westwood | $6,995,000 This statuesque Traditional estate, with a nod to Paul Williams, offers gracious living spaces that transport you to peaceful times of a bygone era. Sited on a slightly elevated corner lot, this property offers tree-top views in the incomparable Little Holmby neighborhood. Large light-filled rooms with hardwood floors, fireplaces and high ceilings create a wonderful flow throughout the property. Web # 22186813. Sarah Blanchard, O: 310.849.9809, sarah.blanchard@elliman.com SEASIDE TR ANQUILITY | Santa Monica | $5,195,000 Encompassing 4-bedrooms, 4-bathrooms, and approx. 2,900sf, this rare offering situated along the historic Santa Monica Gold Coast embodies the essence of California living with sweeping views and endless possibilities. Fit for entertaining, or simply enjoying the seaside lifestyle, oceanfront terraces on ever y floor graciously add to the home’s sense of tranquility. Web # 22150029. David Solomon, O: 310.279.7759, ds@elliman.com, Anna Solomon, O: 310.866.9306, anna.solomon@elliman.com