Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 61, NO. 11
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
Larchmont Family Fair comes to town Oct. 29 n Costume contest, talent show and rides are at the Fair
SHOPPING & DINING GUIDE 13-24
WRESTLING — it’s all in the family. 29
NOVEMBER 2023
By Casey Russell The Larchmont Family Fair comes to the Boulevard Sun., Oct. 29, from noon to 5 p.m. This year’s “Fun for Everyone” theme seems appropriate, as the lineup includes a wide variety of entertainment, food and fun. Visitors will be able to peruse the many booths set up along the Boulevard and can sample Fair fare including funnel cakes, sushi, bao bao, Hawaiian chicken, Mexican food, hot dogs and more from the food court, which will be set up in the Larchmont city parking lot by the Clock Tower. Those wishing to imbibe can stop by the beer garden — featured for the first time at last year’s Family Fair — for American lager, IPA or Tangerine Blond brews from the
M Special Brewing company. Adjoining the beer garden (but outside the fence!) will be a stage set up for performers and contests. Students from Sophie Dance will start off the entertainment at noon followed by a Children’s Costume Contest at 12:30 p.m. Winners from each age category will receive medals, and See Family Fair, P 2
NEIGHBORS (over age 21) caught up with one another inside the beer garden picket fence at the 2022 Family Fair. The popular feature is returning this year.
FAIR ORGANIZERS, LBA members and kids are ready for the Larchmont Family Fair. Back row (left to right): Vivian Gueler, John Winther, Melissa Farwell and Sharon Sweeney. Front row; Nikka Gueler, Idris Blaine, Scotland Blaine, Phoebe Stump and Violet Lee Gurkins.
Mayor Bass and VIPs discuss homelessness at Ebell Club
GHOSTS and more in the neighborhood. 32
By John Welborne Windsor Square neighbors Mayor Karen Bass and Sarah Dusseault were joined on the Ebell Club dais by Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), at an early morning symposium on Oct. 4. The event was organized
by Windsor Village neighbor Jill Bauman and Dusseault. Data expert Janey Rountree, executive director of the California Policy Lab at UCLA, helped set the agenda by reviewing current data on the homeless in Los Angeles. Dusseault is the co-chair of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness, and See Mayor, P 12
SUGAR PLUM fairies 2-6 rehearse steps.
SARAH DUSSEAULT (speaking), Mayor Karen Bass and Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum discuss the pathway forward in dealing with homelessness in Los Angeles.
For information on advertising in the paper, please call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
Neighborhoods under threat, say homeowners
Mailing permit:
n Hancock Park takes the lead in raising the alarm By Suzan Filipek Los Angeles’ residential, treelined streets have long been a treasured part of our city. But, according to local homeowners groups, those streets are under threat by a state-mandated City of Los
Holidays and Museums
Light up your holidays with the Larchmont Chronicle. The holidays and local museums are featured in the December issue. Advertising deadline is Thurs., Nov. 9. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11.
Angeles rezoning plan that would allow construction of four- to five-story buildings next to single-family homes. Under its draft plan, the city is proposing to accommodate construction on a 1.4-million-parcel “inventory See Zoning, P 33 Right: CHANGES IN ZONING — that will significantly alter the historic residential character of Mid-Wilshire neighborhoods — are included in the City Planning Department’s current draft of a revised Housing Element proposed as part of the General Plan of the City of Los Angeles. Map courtesy of United Neighbors
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
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Editorial By John Welborne
Thanks
As Thanksgiving approaches, there are many things for which to be thankful. For those of us who live in the Mid-Wilshire parts of Los Angeles, there are many individual volunteers who deserve our appreciation. The annual Larchmont Family Fair is produced by volunteer members of the Larchmont Boulevard Association, along with many other nonprofit community organizations that have booths at the Fair. Volunteer board members of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association and other neighbors have undertaken the work of shutting down illegal “party houses.” Throughout the Greater Wilshire and Mid City West Neighborhood Council areas, there are volunteer elected representatives contributing their time for the maintenance and improvements of our community. The long list can go on: neighborhood and homeowner associations, Rotary and other service clubs, chambers of commerce like Miracle Mile’s, community police advisory boards — you name it. The spirit of voluntarism has long been a prominent feature of American society — written about often since the time of Alexis de Tocqueville. We all should give thanks to our neighbors who are so generous with their time. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving! DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF HANCOCK PARK
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HANCOCK PARK HOME Est. OWNERS ASSOCIATION 1948
137 N. LARCHMONT BLVD. LOS ANGELES 90004 www.HancockPark.org
Thanks for Joining Us at the Annual Meeting! The Association held its Annual Meeting on Monday, October 16 via Zoom. Over 100 residents joined the meeting, and we thank everyone who attended. HPHOA President, Cindy Chvatal-Keane, opened the meeting and introduced our Board Members and Guest speakers. Council Member Katy Yaroslavsky spoke next about the concerns she, the city and all of us have for our citizens’ security in light of the recent events in Israel. The Association had prepared a number of pointed questions for the Council Member on issues and concerns important to our residents. These included: 1) How can we get better coordination among City Departments to address basic needs like making sure we are prepared for the aftermath of the coming winter storms — i.e., power outages, flooding and downed tree limbs? 2) Why, with all the millions and millions of dollars that have poured into the City, has the City not made a dent in providing beds for the unhoused? 3) Why is there no funding in the budget to fix our streets and sidewalks? And, finally, 4) Why doesn’t the City or State mandate that developers add a greater percentage of affordable housing units to be built instead of the current 10% or less which will never fix our “affordable housing” needs? You can visit our website for more details. Next, Assembly Member Rick Zbur spoke about legislation addressing mental health, homelessness and the environment that he’s sponsored and is working on. The LAPD Wilshire Division’s Captain Sonia Monico spoke about the resources being put to work to enhance safety and security, and the private security services (SSA, ADT and Magen AM) shared measures they’ve been taking to provide our neighborhood greater coverage and security. Resident Ben Goldfarb gave a presentation on emergency preparedness and C.E.R.T. training for our neighborhood. More information on how to be part of that effort will be available on our website. Finally, we heard from the Association’s committee chairs about Trees, Land Use and Zoning, Security, Block Captains, Infrastructure and Historic Preservation. The Annual Meeting also is where half of the HPHOA Board of Directors is elected. The members elected to join the incumbents were: Martin Beck, Greg Glasser, Nancy Dolan, Susan Grossman, William Newby, Tim Paulson, Deborah Trainer, Jon Vein and James Wolf. There always is a lot to do on behalf of the community, and there are many efforts underway to improve all areas of life in Hancock Park. We welcome volunteers to help with our work. Again, see our website for more specific information about all these initiatives and other efforts. A recording of the meeting is available on the website, hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org. Adv.
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NOVEMBER 2023
Calendar Sun., Oct. 29 — Larchmont Family Fair, noon to 5 p.m. on the Boulevard. Tues., Oct. 31 — Halloween. Sun., Nov. 5 — Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Tues., Nov. 7 — Election day. Wed., Nov. 8 — Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Ebell of Los Angeles at 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., greaterwilshire.org. Fri., Nov. 10 — Veterans Day observed. Tues., Nov. 14 — Mid City West Neighborhood Council board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Pan Pacific Park Senior
Letters to the Editor Missing Ratkovich RIP Wayne, you will be missed. [“Ratkovich is focusing on homelessness,” July 2023. The Windsor Square resident and prominent developer died Sept. 24. See obituary on page 34.] André F. Bueno Koreatown Congrats, Marcel duo Félicitations à vous deux! Very cute backstory. [“Monsieur Marcel turns 30? Mais oui!,” Sept. 2023.] Christina Bernstein Marina del Rey Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.
Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin .
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Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Assistant Editor Casey Russell Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Staff Writers Talia Abrahamson Helene Seifer Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Circulation Manager Nona Sue Friedman Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103
Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
‘What are your plans for Thanksgiving?’ That’s the question inquiring photographer Casey Russell asked locals.
Center, 141 S. Gardner St., midcitywest.org. Thurs., Nov. 23 — Thanksgiving Day. Thurs., Nov. 30 — Delivery of the December issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.
Family Fair
(Continued from Page 1) candy will be given out to all participants. “Larchmont’s Got Talent” contestants will entertain onlookers starting at 2 p.m., while they compete for cash prizes ($200 for 3rd place, $300 for 2nd place and $500 for 1st place)! Black Canyon Band performs classic rock throughout the day and will close the day’s entertainments. Of course, the Boulevard will be filled with the traditional inflated slides, bouncers and more — including obstacle course inflatables. Fair-goers can enjoy these and can try their skills on a rock climbing wall or can get a stomach-dropping sensation on a bungee apparatus. Bob Baker Marionettes, children’s music performers and a roaming fairy will bring smiles to the faces of the younger crowd. For the first time this year, several farmers’ market vendors will make an appearance at the Fair. Visitors can buy seasonal fruits and veggies at booths set up around the food court in the city parking lot. To make room for the day of fun festivities, the Boulevard will be closed to traffic from First Street to Beverly Boulevard, beginning at 5 a.m. and will stay closed until 7 p.m. The Fair has been produced by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) since 1967. Not only does it bring the neighborhood together for a fun, fall day, it also serves as a fundraiser to help the LBA pay for the Boulevard’s upkeep, holiday decorations and more. Food, beverages and rides will necessitate payment, but admission and entertainment are free.
“We usually cook with friends. But this might be a good year to volunteer because there’s so much going on in the world.” Asher and Lynn Collins Windsor Village
“We are sticking around town and having a few family and friends over. It will be our son’s second Thanksgiving.” Charles, Tracy and Benni Jordan Windsor Square
“We are going to gather together with friends and family and have the most delicious meal ever — it will be cooked by my dad. We’ll have a sweet and tangy turkey and a pumpkin pie!” Stella and Jill Coppola Windsor Village
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SOLID ROCKET MOTORS move north on Figueroa Street early in the morning on Oct. 11.
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VIEW FROM THE REAR as the rocket motors near their temporary storage area at the California Science Center.
Space shuttle solid rocket motors arrive with dawn’s early light By John Welborne Early in the morning of Oct. 11, Figueroa Street near Exposition Park was closed to traffic, other than two giant truck-trailers, each loaded with a 116-foot-long solid rocket motor (SRM), and accompanying vehicles. The
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MEDICAL MAVENS.
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AROUND THE TOWN 6 SHOPPING & DINING GUIDE 13 On the Menu 16 SCHOOL NEWS 26 TIPS ON PARENTING 27 YOUTH SPORTS 29
SECTION TWO VIEW:
Real Estate Entertainment, Museums Home & Garden
RESCUERS.
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ON PRESERVATION 2 REAL ESTATE SALES 4 ENTERTAINMENT Movies 8 Theater 9 MUSEUMS 12 LIBRARIES 13 POLICE BEAT 14 BEEZWAX 15 WORD CAFÉ 15
slow trip up Figueroa was the final leg of an all-night movement, between Mojave and southern Downtown Los Angeles. Not long from now, additional components of the giant “stack” of boosters and fuel tank and oth-
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er structures will be attached permanently to the Space Shuttle Endeavor as it stands, ready for lift-off, within a 20-story building now being built as a part of the California Science Center’s new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Chair Billie Greer The Chronicle had an early-morning sidewalk conversation with long-serving board chair of Exposition Park and the California Science Center, Billie C. Greer (first appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2010 and reappointed by gov-
ernors Brown and Newsom). Greer told us, “I am just so excited to see the movement of these amazing structures, the motors.” Asked if she had watched the space shuttle when it arrived in Los Angeles in 2012 (Please turn to Page 30)
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Insurance agent celebrates 10 years on Larchmont Boulevard By Casey Russell As of this November, State Farm Insurance agent Leisha Willis will have been serving the Larchmont community for a decade. Located at 500 N. Larchmont Blvd., Willis’ business has grown a lot since she first opened her doors. Willis loves being on the Boulevard. “It feels like home,” she says. The small business owner enjoys knowing her clients personally, and they appreciate having a local agent in the neighborhood. Just this summer, Wil-
lis expanded her business to include four states: California, Arizona, Oregon and Nevada. She finds this exciting and sees it as a way to keep things fresh and to keep her skills sharp. “It’s a nice way to accommodate clients here who have properties in other states,” she said. The Mid-Wilshire resident has been very involved in the Larchmont community ever since she started doing business here. She served on the board of the Larchmont Boulevard Association for eight years and took on a board offi-
LEISHA WILLIS
cer role for some of that time. Willis continues to support Boulevard events, and this year, her office is one of the
sponsors for the Larchmont Family Fair’s stage. It was announced three years ago that Willis’ longtime office space at 500 N. Larchmont Blvd., along with the building next to it, would be razed and replaced with a five-story residential building with 21 multi-family dwelling units. Willis told us there are no indications that the project is moving forward anytime soon. She assured us that, if and when plans do move forward, she plans to relocate somewhere on the Boulevard.
Willis is very proud of her agency’s accomplishments. “I’ve been blessed with some of the best customers and team members that I can imagine,” she told us. Currently, Willis has two fully licensed agents in her employ. The agency has been honored with numerous awards including being named a Chairman’s Circle Agency, which places her business in the top 5 percent of State Farm Agencies nationwide. Congratulations to this longtime Boulevard businesswoman.
Connelly to launch new ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ By Suzan Filipek Michael Connelly will sign copies of his latest novel, “Resurrection Walk,” on its publication day, Tues., Nov. 7, here in Los Angeles. The book launch will take place beginning at 6 p.m. at The Ebell of Los Angeles, 741 S. Lucerne Blvd. The $35 ticket price for the event, sponsored by Chevalier’s Books on Larchmont Boulevard, covers the cost of one book, including tax and event ticketing costs. The new book is the latest in the author’s “Lincoln Lawyer” series, which features both lawyer Mickey Haller and retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch. Connelly is the author of 38 previous novels, including multiple New York Times bestsellers. His books,
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Premium Noble, Douglas & Nordmann Firs, Wreaths and Garlands DELIVERY AVAILABLE
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Net proceeds from the Christmas Tree Lot go to the Rotary International Foundation and the Wilshire Rotary Foundation to benefit Rotary Service Projects in our community and around the world. For more information visit www.rotary.org or www.wilshirerotary.org
which also include the Harry Bosch and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He also is the executive producer of three television series: “Bosch,” “Bosch: Legacy” and “The Lincoln Lawyer.” For more information, visit chevaliersbooks.com.
MICHAEL CONNELLY. Photo by Mark DeLong Photography
Unhoused students tell their stories at Ebell on Nov. 2
By Casey Russell Hear inspiring first-person accounts from unhoused college and university students at the Ebell of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., Thurs. Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. This most recent in the Stories from the Frontline series will feature Sam Prater, founder of Los Angeles Room & Board. Prater and his organization have created 160 units of housing for students in need. David Ambroz, a national poverty and welfare
expert recognized by President Obama and a former chair of the city of Los Angeles Planning Commission, will also speak. Actress and activist Shanola Hampton will emcee the event. Stories from the Frontline is a housing advocacy initiative of the John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation. It serves as a platform to raise awareness and give voice to formerly homeless individuals. To reserve tickets, visit tinyurl.com/mr3bkzm2.
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NOVEMBER 2023
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NOVEMBER 2023
Festivities raise funds; photographer and architect honored El Cholo Restaurant and Children’s Chain of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles came together to celebrate a 100th birthday at a festive and colorful fundraiser Oct. 2 at none other than the original El Cholo on Western Avenue. Children’s Chain member and longtime denizen of Hancock Park, Carlotta Brant Keely, described by others in the group as a “spark plug” who gets things done, welcomed celebrants and thanked the guests for the years of support they have given the organization, one of 24 Asso-
Around the Town with
Sondi Toll Sepenuk ciate & Affiliates groups that support the hospital. Attendee and past Children’s Chain president Neville Anderson has been a part of the group for 15 years. “I love that this organization is women from all over Los Angeles who get to give back to a wonderful
CHLA SUPPORTERS at the El Cholo event include (from left) Betsy Anderson, Dr. Neville Anderson and Bonnie McClure. RON SALISBURY, third generation family member of the El Cholo owners, welcomes guests of Children’s Chain of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. At right is Chain member Carlotta Keely. In the background is a photograph of Salisbury‘s father, George.
organization that does so much for the community.” That giving includes staging children’s fashion shows, hosting small fundraisers, cooking demonstrations and luncheons to help raise money for their beloved cause. Keely was especially grateful to her committee that helped organize the event, which included every woman in the room wearing a traditional Mexican flower corona. When El Cholo owner and host Ron Salisbury decided to raise funds for pediatric cancer research at local charities Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Children’s Hospital of Orange County (where he lives) — in honor of his fami-
ly’s restaurant’s century mark — Children’s Chain became a perfect partner. Salisbury’s wife Darlene was a former member of Children’s Chain, so the stars aligned. “For our 100th anniversary, I looked at my son and said, “let’s raise $1 million for children’s charities in Los Angeles,” recalled Salisbury.
“We’re still working on it, but we know over our next hundred years, we want to keep raising money for charities.” Salisbury also told an emotional story about his grandparents, Alejandro and Rosa Borquez, the founders of El Cholo (originally called Sonora Cafe in 1923), who came to Los Angeles from Arizona Territory (yes, it wasn’t even a state yet). “This is the result of the American dream and I can’t describe the life (Please turn to Page 7)
SALUTING CENTENARIAN institutions CHLA (founded in 1901) and El Cholo are, clockwise from left: Lilly Boyd, Cindy MacPherson, Mimi Techentin, Meg Jenkins, Jennifer Fain, Evan Jenkins, Bill Fain, Elizabeth LaBombard, Warren Techentin and John LaBombard.
Larchmont Chronicle
LOCALS (from left) Sloan Fowkes, Connie McCreight and Flo Fowkes enjoy the festive party atmosphere on the patio at El Cholo.
Around the Town (Continued from Page 6)
it’s given me.” The guests were treated to several of the restaurant’s 100-year-old recipes, including their famous green corn tamales, plus chicken fajitas, enchiladas, rice, beans and margaritas. A five-piece mariachi band provided the lively background music. Donors to the event included Thomas Blumenthal, the Davi Family, the Fowkes Family, Lisa Prince, Kelly and Rick Rielly, the Hasbrouck Family and Caroline Keck. ••• The sweet sounds of a three-piece jazz band floated through the night air during The Center in Hollywood “Jazzed for Community” annual fundraiser on Oct. 12. Billed as “Wine, Cheese & Jazz Under the Stars,” the courtyard was transformed into an oasis of twinkling lights, music and finger foods that warmed the tummies of the community supporters. Guests nibbled on an end-
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MARIACHIS pose with El Cholo’s Ron Salisbury and Alma Corona.
less table of cheeses, dips, charcuterie, breads and fruits, while others chose to indulge in barbecue chicken and gouda sandwiches, chili-rubbed chicken, spicy curried couscous and basil pesto pasta. The fundraiser, which raised nearly $40,000, benefited The Center’s Community Wellness Program, which offers hospitality,
wellness and a safe space for the unhoused neighbors of Hollywood. During the daytime, unhoused members of the community can visit the Center for a free cup of coffee (provided by Go Get ’Em Tiger), get their mail (more than 500 unhoused people receive mail at The Center), receive mental, physical and substance abuse services, or even join their neighbors in
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THE CENTER in Hollywood is transitioning its leadership from Nathan Sheets (right), to Alex Sato (left).
JAZZED FOR COMMUNITY was the theme of the fundraising event on the patio of The Center in Hollywood.
karaoke. “Our small organization gives the unhoused a place to go in the day,” said departing Executive Director Nathan Sheets. “It gives people a sense of belonging and purpose while they are waiting for housing. People can come and just ‘be.’ As simple as that sounds, it’s a hard thing for unhoused people to find in
Los Angeles.” Alex Sato, who is serving as interim director, summed it up in five words: “Our goal is ending isolation.” ••• Larchmont Chronicle founder Jane Gilman talked about old and new times with former and current staff from the newspaper last month at a small lunch she hosted at the (Please turn to Page 8)
You are cordially invited to the
WINDSOR SQUARE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL TOWN HALL MEETING
Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. Ebell Club of Los Angeles 743 S. Lucerne Boulevard (at Wilshire) (parking lot entrance on Eighth Street)
• Review of WSA Activities in 2023 • CD 13 Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez • Public Safety • Emergency Preparedness HOSPITAL SUPPORTERS, from left, are Carl Anderson, Kristen Tostado, Rick Llanos, Nellie Llanos Kilroy and Bea Wallace.
• Land Use Issues • Block Captain Matters • Other Community Concerns • Squeaky Wheel Award
Refreshments will be served EL CHOLO fans enjoying the patio while supporting Children’s Hospital are, from left, Edie Frere, Susana Funsten, and Pat Benner.
©LC1123
• 2023-2024 Directors
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JANE GILMAN entertained some former and current Larchmont Chronicle staff for lunch. Left to right: Libby Motika, Diana Rosen, Amy Ulmer, Lucy Roman, Pam Rudy, Suzan Filipek with Jane Gilman, seated center.
Around the Town (Continued from Page 7)
Wilshire Country Club. Her guests were Libby Motika, Diana Rosen, Amy Ulmer, Lucy Roman, Pam Rudy and Suzan Filipek. ••• What a great gathering took place Oct. 11 in the Crys-
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
tal Ballroom of the landmark Beverly Hills Hotel. There, more than 250 guests gathered to celebrate the legacy of legendary architect Paul R. Williams, FAIA, and the official launch of the Paul R. Williams Scholarship and Education Fund. Locals attending included Windsor Square’s Amy
Forbes and John and Martha Welborne, FAIA, honoree Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA (also of Windsor Square) and other locals including actor Angela Bassett and banker Paul C. Hudson. Hudson and his sister, Karen E. Hudson — the executive director of the new fund — are grandchildren of the legendary architect, among whose many works was the renovation, beginning in the late 1940s, of the Beverly Hills Hotel, including the iconic signage and other memorable design elements throughout the property. The event was hosted in partnership with the hotel. The theme of the evening was “Strollin’ on the Avenue,” and the party celebrated Los Angeles’ historic Central Avenue, which served as the cultural, social, and commercial hub of the city’s Black community from the 1920s through the 1950s. Wren T. Brown, actor, director and founder and producing artistic director of the Ebony Repertory Theatre, served as an amazing master of ceremonies and also as a glib and informed narrator for fascinating large-screen images of Central Avenue. The evening also featured a vocal performance by Emmy and Tony Award-winning performer Keith David, accompanied by a live jazz quartet. The menu also was a celebration of familiar cuisine, including fried okra on the heirloom tomato salad, a main course of southern fried chicken breasts with sweet potato gratin, braised collard greens and, of course, cornbread. The brown butter peach cobbler sundae was topped with brown sugar cotton candy! The gala celebration included presentation of the first-ever Paul R. Williams
PAUL R. WILLIAMS, FAIA, architectural legacy is celebrated in the Crystal Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel by, from left: Angela Bassett, Karen Hudson, Gabrielle Bullock, Paul Hudson and Amy Forbes.
Awards. Architect Philip G. Freelon, FAIA, was honored with The Torchbearer Award posthumously for his contributions to architecture, including designing the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History & Culture. Nnenna Freelon, the Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf. Karen Hudson also announced the creation of a new award in Philip G. Freelon’s name, which will be presented next year.
Architect, diversity champion and Windsor Square resident (and recent Larchmont Chronicle Woman of Larchmont) Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, received the One Who Dares Award for her decades of social impact while breaking new ground for Black women in architecture. Bullock serves as principal and director of global diversity for the architecture firm Perkins & Will. A final tribute was to real estate broker and architectural historian Jeffrey Hyland, (Please turn to Page 11)
BOOM BOOM ROOM celebrants in New York from Los Angeles included Kate and Odom Stamps, he the granduncle of bat mitzvah honoree Frederica Brodsky.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Las Madrinas turns 90 with another ($5M!) endowment pledge
HANCOCK PARK / LARCHMONT area members are (top row, left to right) Miranda Payne, Cindy MacPherson and Anne Bessant, and (bottom row, left to right) Edith Frère, Sally Keller and Photos by Nick Boswell Photography Diane Hawley.
Chief Scientific Officer, Vice President and Director Dr. Pat Levitt. He told of discovery models incorporating zebrafish that led to gene mutations in treating a child with a rare cancer. “That was funded by philanthropy. It was not funded by a grant or an insurance company,” Dr. Levitt said. “Much of your philanthropy goes to supporting new faculty who are working to take risks.” He introduced Dr. Jessica Schwartzman and Dr. Sahana Nagabhushan Kalburgi, who spoke of groundbreaking work in autism and thanked the members for their sup-
port. “EEG – electrical signals in the brain — allows us to detect depression and autism in kids who can’t tell us what they’re feeling,” said Dr. Schwartzman. She added that young women working in science are rare, “but we are able to do so because of people like you.” Through EEG and an “eye tracking” device, “we can detect [autism] much earlier than 2 years old,” Dr. Kalburgi said. “It’s amazing to see what has happened from so long ago when we started our autism endowment,” Las Madrinas President Kathryne
PAST PRESIDENTS: (Top row, left to right) Katherine Thompson (Los Angeles), Kathryne Garland (Pacific Palisades), Katherine Hult (San Marino), Diane Hawley (Los Angeles), Marcie Newby (Los Angeles), Sarah Cox (Los Angeles), Kristin Harrison (Pasadena), Kelly Rouse (Oceanside, formerly of Pasadena) and Elizabeth Shoemaker (Los Angeles). (Bottom row, left to right) Ann Barrett (Pasadena), Margaret Galbraith (San Marino), Katherine Darnell (Pasadena), Sally Keller (Los Angeles), Elayne Techentin (Pasadena) and Catherine Pherson (Los Angeles).
Halverson Garland told the group. A look back Las Madrinas was founded during the Great Depression when the Convalescent Home of Childrens Hospital, now known as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, had been left bankrupt when a local bank failed. A group of 65 women formed Las Madrinas, Spanish for “The Godmothers,” to raise funds for the hospital. They held an inaugural charity ball in December 1933. It was hailed as a success, with more than 1,000 guests in attendance. The charity ball became an annual event, and six years later the members of Las Madrinas agreed the dance should raise money to support the hospital while honoring the daughters of families who had made significant contributions to the community. Since then, the Las Madrinas Ball, held each year in December, has honored more than 2,500 families and their daughters and raised $60 million in contributions. Since 1980, Las Madrinas has endowed nine research programs. “Godmothers play a really important role in the development of children… [laying] a strong foundation for that child to flourish,” Dr. Levitt said at the luncheon. While a godmother may help one child, Las Madrinas has helped untold numbers of children and their families and continues to do by supporting discoveries in medicine and science. CHLA has been named the best children’s hospital in the state and among the best in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll.
skin
deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald My neck and chest seem to be aging faster than my face. What’s going on? I’ve long said, “Treat the skin on your neck and decolletage like extensions of your face.” It’s not that they’re aging more quickly, it’s just that it’s common to be vigilant about about protecting our facial skin and less so other areas. Now what to do about it? You’ve heard of microneedling and perhaps radiofrequency energy as well? Add to these innovations greater practitioner control and enter Lutronic Genius. The “genius” feature of adjustable depths means we can address texture, scars and laxity on the face, as well as more areas than ever before - including arms, stretch marks, and of course your neck and chest. When we remodel collagen at varying levels we achieve greater lifting and tightening. I’m talking the kind of results that make the before and after photos elicit, “Oh. My. God,” responses! We recommend two to three treatments for optimal results. Expect to begin to see changes in as few as three weeks. And did we mention only about 24 hours of downtime? Contact our office to schedule your consultation and get ready to welcome a more uniform youthful appearance – head to toe.
Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD.com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointAdv. ment.
Ecclesia Gnostica Gnostic Christian Church Bishop Dr. Stephan Hoeller Sunday Eucharist Eucharist 11:00am 11am Sunday Eucharist 8:30pm 8 pm Lectures • Fridays • 8• pm Wednesday Eucharist Lectures • Fridays 8pm 307
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By Suzan Filipek Las Madrinas, the oldest philanthropic auxiliary of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), celebrated its 90th birthday last month. Don’t let its age fool you. The group continues to fund innovative programs, including its most recent: a $5 million pledge to support the Las Madrinas Chair and Endowment in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics headed by Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt. The funds will support the medical and psychosocial aspects of children’s and adolescents’ developmental and behavioral problems, including autism, ADHD and learning disorders. The gift was announced at the group’s annual fall meeting and luncheon, Oct. 4 at the Saban Research Institute at CHLA. More than 70 members dined on chicken and an arugula and cranberry salad. Pink and orange flower arrangements decorated the tables in the courtyard where members heard about how their support has led to new discoveries that are often not possible with traditional government funding. While the National Institutes of Health provide sustaining support, Las Madrinas’ philanthropy lays the foundation that has led to grants in the multi-millions and developments in pediatric imaging, genetic testing and new cancer drugs, said Saban
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
11
Around the Town (Continued from Page 8)
who posthumously was honored with The Advocate Award for his unwavering efforts to preserve historic Los Angeles residences. Lori Hyland, chair of Hilton & Hyland, accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf. Proceeds of the event will support the Paul R. Williams Scholarship and Education Fund, launched earlier this year to inspire, support, and celebrate young people pursuing careers in architecture. Learn more at: thepaulrwilliamscollection.com. ••• Lots of friends of the late Suzanne and Fred Rheinstein were in New York on Oct. 14 for the bat mitzvah of Frederica Brodsky, the middle daughter of Alexander and Kate Rheinstein Brodsky. Among Angelenos seen at Temple Emanuel on Fifth Avenue and later at a glittery party at the Boom Boom Room atop the Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District were Suzanne’s brother Odom Stamps and his wife, Kate, Elizabeth Fain LaBombard, Evan and Meg Fain Jenkins and their three children and Ian and Elizabeth Parks Kibbey and their son, Turner. Also in New York for the weekend
SILVERLAKE Conservatory of Music golden key is held by honoree and occasional Larchmont Chronicle photographer Gary Leonard while certificate from Mayor Bass is held by Gary’s son, David. Photo by Damian Dovarganes
celebration were Jennifer and Bill Fain and Fred‘s other daughter, Linda Rheinstein. ••• Also on Oct. 14, a large crowd turned out to honor iconic Los Angeles photographer Gary Leonard at a benefit to support the Silverlake Conservatory of Music (SCM). The organization was founded in 2001 by longtime friends and musicians Michael “Flea” Balzary and Keith “Tree” Barry. Confronting cutbacks to arts education programming throughout Los Angeles public schools, the two enlisted the help of their friend Peter Weiss and founded SCM to fill
that void and bring music education to the community. Gary Leonard is renowned as the unofficial photographer of Los Angeles. He has been photographing Los Angeles for 40 years. He first made a name for himself by recording images of the punk clubs and nightlife of Los Angeles. Daily, he ventures forth into the city, armed with cameras and his eye for the beautiful, ironic, and iconic. The native Angeleno’s work is featured in several books and, occasionally, in the Larchmont Chronicle. His photographs also appear in journals around the world. Not surprisingly, his friends
GIANT CROWD supporting Silverlake Conservatory of Music salutes honoree Gary Leonard. Photo by Gary Leonard
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS surround friend Gary Leonard with guitarist John Frusciante holding a 1991 photo (by David Leonard) of the same five men. Photo by Damian Dovarganes
include many musicians, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were there to celebrate Gary and his fans at the fundraiser. Son
David Leonard was there, too, helping with the presentation to his photographer father. (Please turn to Page 12)
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12 SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Mayor Bass
(Continued from Page 1) she moderated the discussion between Bass and Adams Kellum. In response to Dusseault’s first question to the mayor about her experiences on this subject since becoming mayor, Bass used her Inside Safe program as an example of an approach to cutting red tape associated with federal housing voucher programs. She noted that Inside Safe has, in the past nine months, resulted in about 17,000 people in the city moving from the street to interim housing. Adams Kellum was introspective about problems with government and nonprofit organizations not being
as successful as desired in addressing homelessness. She observed that efforts to address the problem are quite scattered, and she said that is one explanation of why progress has been insufficient. She said that Inside Safe, however, was an example of turning more of a laser focus to a specific issue and addressing that successfully. Inside Safe addresses the humanitarian crisis of people on the city’s streets and is a critical first step toward moving people to permanent housing. Because many in the audience were homeless service providers, there was an active question and comment session before the program wrapped up.
Richard T. Chung, DDS
ATTENDEES at the Ebell event had many questions for the panelists.
Windsor Square conductor given prestigious award
By Casey Russell Windsor Square resident James Conlon has received Austria’s Cross of Honor for
Cosmetic, Implant & General Dentistry Member of the American & California Dental Associations. USC Graduate.
Most insurances accepted. Appointments recommended. New patients and emergencies welcome!
SUZANNE ISKEN, at left, accepts commendations from (left to right) Rody López, Corinna Cotsen and Wally Marks III.
Around the Town (Continued from Page 11) 321 N. Larchmont Blvd. #424, Los Angeles 90004
323.461.3786
••• Wilshire Boulevard’s Craft Contemporary Museum was packed on Saturday, October 21, as about 300 people made their way into the museum to honor departing executive director Suzanne Isken while simultaneously celebrating and fundraising for the museum. The benefit featured Mediterranean tapas, a stocked bar and plenty of handcrafted art pieces up for bids during the event’s silent auction. The museum
LARCHMONT LOCALS and Craft Contemporary Museum supporters Chava Danielson (left) and Christopher Tandon, who said that he loves “that this museum exists.”
Science and Art. He has been the music director of the Los Angeles Opera since 2006 and has conducted many European opera companies during the course of his more than 50-year career. Throughout the last three decades, Conlon has worked to bring light to the repertoire of composers suppressed by the Nazi regime. His efforts have led to the formation of the OREL Foundation (a
website for music lovers), the recording of silenced composers’ works and a recent TEDx Talk. Conlon has received four Grammy awards for recordings of LA Opera productions. He has also been recognized by the Opera News, the American Liszt Society, the Music Institute of Chicago and the New York Public Library. The Austrian award was first instituted in 1955.
was established in 1965. Party guests were able to stroll throughout the museum’s three floors, discovering art pieces by both established and emerging artists. The mission of the museum is to “reveal the potential of craft to educate, captivate, provoke and empower.” On a stage, incoming executive director Rody Lopez was joined by museum trustees Corinna Cotsen and Wally Marks III in presenting commendations to Isken
celebrating her 12 years of leading the museum. Larchmont locals Chava Danielson and Christopher Tandon were there to support Christopher’s partner, artist Aubrey Longly-Cook, who donated a needlepoint piece to the silent auction. “I love that this museum exists,” said Tandon. “It reaches out to a young generation of textile and other artists and shows that craft is an art.” And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
Larchmont Boulevard is back and buzzing with activity By Casey Russell Five years ago, this newspaper was reporting nearly 25 percent vacancy in Larchmont Boulevard retail storefronts. Those days are past! Recognizing that most of Larchmont Boulevard’s restaurants and shops are now open, the Chronicle is focusing on shopping as well as dining in our annual guide this year. There are wonderful new businesses joining the beloved longstanding estab-
lishments that have helped make the neighborhood special for so many years. For a long time, visitors to the southern end of the Boulevard saw more construction activity than quaint shops. And, because the pandemic put pressure on a lot of businesses, there have been many changes happening on Larchmont Boulevard for the past couple of years. Part of that is because, in 2018, the Lipson Building
located at 124-148 N. Larchmont Blvd. was sold. By the end of 2020, when the new owners were ready to commence construction, the Lipson Building’s longtime tenants found themselves in need of new homes. To name a few, Landis Gifts & Stationery relocated to 584 N. Larchmont Blvd., Ste. B.; Chevalier’s opened at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd.; and Lipson Plumbing moved to 606 N. Larchmont Blvd.
The Boulevard is back! And now the Boulevard is back! Most storefronts are filled, and all but a few are officially up and running. The vibrant feel that greeted visitors for years has returned in force. This gem of an area is again bustling. It now has a myriad of options for baked goods, frozen treats, skin care products, clothing, coffee and more. Bettola di Terroni opened (in October), and Suá Superette, Sweet Lady Jane,
13
Cookbook and Larchmont Jewelers are set to open soon. Two new tenants rounding out the former Lipson, now Larchmont Mercantile, building’s storefronts are Aesop, a luxury cosmetics and skin care retailer, and Catbird, a fine jewelry store. Both are slated to open in 2024. Please enjoy the centerfold map we have included as a special addition to this month’s Shopping and Dining Guide.
14 SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Aha! moment during pandemic inspires cookbook by Silverton
CHEF / AUTHOR Nancy Silverton in her element.
Photo by Anne Fishbein
By Helene Seifer For Proust, a delicious Madeleine cookie launched his acclaimed book, “In Search of Lost Time.” For Nancy Silverton, an excellent peanut butter cookie sent her on a baking journey that filled the lost time of the pandemic. At the start of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Silverton noticed all the social media posts of people learning how to make sourdough bread, but at that point, “It didn’t occur to me that I needed something to latch onto in order to give those days and months some validity.” Flash forward to January 2021: her partner, the writer Michael Krikorian, is in the habit of bringing home a cookie, usually chocolate chip, oatmeal or peanut butter, from bakeries around town in order to find the best one. On one particular occasion,
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he brought home a peanut butter cookie from Friends & Family, an East Hollywood breakfast and lunch place from baker Roxana Jullapat and chef Daniel Mattern. Silverton tried it. “It was chewy and tasted “THE COOKIE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE” like peanut butter. It had a rounded edge get a good crust, but I was — just what this type of cook- determined to perfect it.” ie needs. A great cookie.” She She added creamed corn. “So pauses. “It was better than gross, the texture.” She gratmine.” ed the corn with a Japanese That touched a nerve. “I’m grater, using the solid piecvery competitive,” admits the es. Still not what she wanted. chef and co-owner of Pizzeria Then she decided to keep the Mozza, Mozza2Go, chi SPAC- corn milk that fell away when CA, the Michelin-starred grating the kernels. “I heated Osteria Mozza and the the milk, like heating corn co-founder of La Brea Bak- starch. It made a pudding. I ery and the late Campanile. folded it back into the batter.” “I had fairly recently done a And voila! Moist cornbread blurb for Roxana’s cookbook that tasted like corn. Slath— she had worked for me at ered with spiced honey butter, Campanile — and so I had it is the perfect version she her recipe.” sought. Challenge accepted. SilIn some cases she found exverton set about baking the isting versions of baked goods best, most peanut-butteriest she thought were already cookie in the universe. After perfect and included those tasting and analyzing and try- recipes in the book, such as a ing different tweaks, she put Kentucky Butter Cake recipe a divot in the center of the that was the 1964 Pillsbury cookie, filled it with pure pea- Bake-off winner and the oatnut butter … and topped it meal cookie recipe from with toasted peanuts. “It’s the Republique’s pastry chef and ultimate peanut butter cook- owner Margarita Manzke. ie. It’s a cookie that thinks it’s Silverton warns that the a tart.” long recipes might look That was the Windsor daunting, but that’s because Square resident’s “Aha” mo- they include detailed instrucment. Tasting Jullapat’s cookie tions so even the novice home led Silverton to work her way baker can understand exactly through classic baked goods what’s expected. “I set people during the remainder of the up for success,” she assures, pandemic, perfecting them adding that a good place for as she went, resulting in the beginners to start is the bapublication this month of her nana bread recipe. “It’s super 11th cookbook, “The Cook- simple with large slices of baie That Changed My Life and nanas on top.” She specifies More Than 100 Other Classic baking it in a square brownie Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and pan to get more whole banana Pies That Will Change Yours.” flavor per piece. In perfecting the recipes, The baking frenzy that Silverton emphasizes, “I re- led to the creation of this ally tried to explore all the cookbook wasn’t the only possibilities, not some cra- life-changing “Aha” moment zy version. Pound cake is for the James Beard Foundastill pound cake. Is it moist tion’s Outstanding Chef. An enough?” Likewise, she earlier one started her culinotes, carrot cake should nary career itself. taste of carrots. The secret? As a freshman at Sonoma Use roasted carrots as well as State University aiming for a grated ones. career in law like her father, The most transformed reci- Silverton hatched a plan to pe in the book, says Silverton, meet a cute fellow student is the cornbread. “It should who was in charge of the vegtaste like corn. I already had etarian food selections in the been using a cast iron pan to (Please turn to Page 22)
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Eat your vegetables — as crunchy salads or spicy Indian fare A healthy newcomer to the neighborhood, Alfalfa highlights crunchy and fresh produce in its salads and wraps. Even their breakfast burritos have the snap of red peppers in the mix. In an unlikely origin story, the restaurant was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, by four high school buddies who had tired of their post-college corporate jobs. Brainstorming sessions about what great idea they could leverage into a new ca-
reer always ground to a halt when they got hungry and confronted the lack of healthy lunch options in their hometown. In a true lightbulb moment, the friends realized they’d discovered a need in their community that they could fill. Did Andrew Arrospide, Dan Londono, Dan Sobsey and Ben Sobsey know anything about cooking or running a restaurant? No, but they knew they wanted to create something
On the Menu by
Helene Seifer
simple, healthy and locally sourced that tasted great: salads. Alfalfa began as a stand at a farmer’s market, then a pop-
It’s your choice… Dine indoors or al fresco
on our Outdoor Patio And don’t forget our Famous Margaritas!
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up in a local diner. Soon they took over the diner permanently and opened a second location in Jersey City. Andrew Arrospide had spent time in California and wanted to return, so when an opportunity arose to open in Santa Monica, he led the expansion. The Larchmont area struck Arrospide as a perfect fit, and so the fourth location opened in September. A bright, airy space with a few tables and an open area with bench seating, patrons order at the counter whether they are taking out or eating in. There are 10 salads on the regular menu and a couple of seasonal salads, ranging from $11.45 to $14.95. All salads begin with the crisp house mix of butter lettuce, romaine and shredded kale, then layered with a variety of veggies, fruit, seeds, nuts and proteins. Some are vegan, many vegetarian, most are gluten-free. We had the $13.45 Wild Harvest salad with sweet potatoes, wild rice, goat cheese, quinoa chickpea bites, apples and almonds over greens with champagne vinaigrette and a hot sauce drizzle. It was a very satisfying and tasty combination: a sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy and perfectly proportioned ratio of lettuces to added ingredients. The Peruvian chicken salad featured chopped spiced chicken thighs, queso fresco, black beans, corn, grape tomatoes, tortilla chips and avocado tomatillo salsa, $14.95. It was a filling, flavorful salad. Any salad can be made into a wrap. They have build-your-ownsalad options, as well, starting at $9.95. Open from breakfast
through early dinner, Alfalfa serves two breakfast burritos all day; one with chorizo for $13.45, one without, $10.95. They each have scrambled eggs, potato hash, Mexican cheeses, onions and red peppers, and they are served with red and green salsas on the side for dipping. I enjoyed the chorizo version and appreciated that the densely packed burritos held their shape while being devoured, unlike wetter, looser burritos that tend to disintegrate during consumption. It made a great hand sandwich. Rounding out the menu are $9 chicken bone broth, coffee and tea drinks, ginger turmeric lemonade and the pièce de résistance: homemade gluten-free doughnuts — because completely healthy eating only goes so far! The $3.50 doughnuts all have the same cake base, but there are four to six icing flavors, including lavender and citrus thyme, along with Nutella cinnamon sugar doughnut holes, three for $2.50. Alfalfa, 5570 Melrose Ave. (at N. Beachwood Dr.), 323-450-9250. Free garage parking; enter from Beachwood. On a recent day trip with friends to Artesia to visit Little India, we oohed and aahed over gold jangly earrings and tried on embroidered Kurtis (typical Indian outfits of dresses over pants). When we got peckish, we had a delightful lunch at Udupi Palace, a South Indian vegetarian restaurant specializing in thin rice and lentil flour flatbreads called dosas. Highly seasoned and wonderful to share, dish(Please turn to Page 22)
Halloween dog is a ‘Scream’ Ghosts and goblins get hungry too, which is why Pink’s is offering a new Halloween Scream Hot Dog at a screaming bargain of $9.99! It includes a 12-inch jalapeño dog topped with jalapeño jack pepper cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, grilled onions, bacon and ja-
lapeños. “It is so spicy it will make you scream,” Richard Pink, President of Pink’s Hot Dogs, tells us. The special Halloween dog will be on the menu until midnight on Halloween. Pink’s Hot Dogs is at 709 N. La Brea Ave.
We proudly feature: H Diestel Farm Free Range Turkeys H Heirloom Organic Turkeys, Petite Turkeys, Organic Whole Turkeys H Harvest Gold brand chicken sausages for your stuffing, necks, wings & drumsticks, bone-in and boneless breasts. ©LC1123
H Pheasant, Duck, Quail, Geese, and Guinea & Cornish Hens!
HALLOWEEN SCREAM will be on the menu til midnight on Halloween.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
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Enjoy trying many of the new eateries on the Boulevard and beyond Here is a sampling of the CHIPOTLE numerous dining options 301 N. Larchmont Blvd. available in and around our 323-978-2047 neighborhood. The Original chipotle.com Farmers Market is located at Daily 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6333 W. Third St. The Grove COOKBOOK is next door at 189 The Grove 310 N. Larchmont Blvd. Dr. cookbookla.com If a favorite eatery has Coming soon. been overlooked, please let ERIN MCKENNA’S us know at info@larchmonBAKERY tchronicle.com.
On the Boulevard ASTROBURGER
5601 Melrose Ave. 323-469-1924 astroburger.com Mon. to Sat. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
BACIO DI LATTE 141 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-380-5503 baciodilatte.us Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat.,Sun. 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
BOBA THE GREAT 142 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-645-7086 Mon. to Thurs. noon to 8:30 p.m.; Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sun. 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
BRICKS AND SCONES 403 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-463-0811 bricksandscones.menufy.com Mon. to Sat. 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
BURGER LOUNGE
LEMONADE
KALI RESTAURANT
626 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-464-0700 lemonadela.com Daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
5722 Melrose Ave. 323-871-4160 kalirestaurant.com Wed. to Sun. 6 to 9:30 p.m.
KIKU
LEVAIN BAKERY
246 N. Larchmont Blvd. 425-556-9600 236 N. Larchmont Blvd. kikusushi.com 855-462-2292 erinmckennasbakery.com Mon. to Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m Sun. to Thurs. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and 5 to 8:30 p.m.; Sat, Sun. 5 Fri, Sat. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 8 p.m.
GO GET EM TIGER
230 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-543-4321 gget.com Daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
GOOD GOOSE CAFÉ 5210 Beverly Blvd. 323-378-5272 goodgoosecafe.com Mon. 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Tues. to Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m, 4:30 to 9 p.m.
GREAT WHITE 244 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-745-5059 greatwhitevenice.com Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
GROUNDWORK 150 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-843-4920 groundworkcoffee.com Daily 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HOLEY GRAIL DONUTS 217 N. Larchmont Blvd. 148 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-462-2310 213-598-9774 burgerlounge.com holeygraildonuts.com Sun. to Thurs. 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 10 Mon. to Wed. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thurs. to Sun. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. p.m. CAFÉ GRATITUDE
lepetitgreek.com Wed. to Sun. noon to 3 p.m.; Tues. to Sat. 5 to 9 p.m.; Sun. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
123 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-745-0407 jenis.com Daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
KREATION JUICE 121 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-848-4714 kreationjuice.com Daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
NOAH’S BAGELS
LARCHMONT VILLAGE WINE, SPIRITS & CHEESE 223 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-856-8699 larchmontvillagewine.com Mon. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN
127 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-464-5160
232 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-962-9510 louises.com Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 125 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-856-0369 Daily noon to 9 p.m.
225 N. Larchmont Blvd. terroni.com Coming soon.
LE PETIT GREEK
LOUISE’S TRATTORIA
MURAYA
LA BETTOLA DI TERRONI
113 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-461-7701 lepainquotidien.com Daily 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
227 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-576-5895 levainbakery.com Daily 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
250 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-466-2924 noahs.com Daily 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
OSTERIA MAMMA
5732 Melrose Ave. 323-284-7060 osteriamamma.com Mon. to Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun. 5 to 9:45 p.m.
PEET’S COFFEE 124 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-978-1003 peets.com Mon. to Fri. 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Sat, Sun. 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PRESSED JUICERY 201 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-464-5800 pressed.com Daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
SALT & STRAW 240 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-466-0485 saltandstraw.com Daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
SAM’S BAGELS 154 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-469-1249 Mon. to Sat. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
STARBUCKS 206 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-469-1081 starbucks.com Mon. to Fri. 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat, Sun. 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SUÁ 144 N. Larchmont Blvd. suasuperette.com Coming soon.
SWEET LADY JANE 203 N. Larchmont Blvd. sweetladyjane.com Coming soon.
SWEETFIN 135 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-465-6040 sweetfin.com Daily 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
TONCHIN LA 5665 Melrose Ave. 323-380-6072 Mon. to Fri. 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Sat. noon to 10 p.m.; Sun. noon to 9 p.m.
(Please turn to Page 20)
JAMBA
122 N. Larchmont Blvd. 639 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-378-5720 323-580-6383 jamba.com cafegratitude.com Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat, Sun. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. JENI’S ICE CREAM
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SECTION ONE
Larchmont
NOVEMBER 2023
Melrose Avenue Condominium
Tacos Tu Madre Jess Rona
Sugar 23 Cafe Gratitude Silver Nitrate (Weisshaar)
Shop Ezra vacant King Dental Rosenfeld & Bueno CPAs
Junior League of Los Angeles Lemonade
Royal Thai Consulate Geenral
Ellis Wong, DDS TwinFold Capital
vacant SSR Services 606 office bldg
Larchmont Chronicle
Clinton Street Polam Believe
Larchmont Dental Associates
Sarah Finn
Hollywoodland Realty Landis Gifts & Stationery Larchmont Buzz Awe Spa
Page Academy
Beaumont Co. Rise Management 531 527 523 Muto-Little Costume Larchmoyne apartments Maquette
Wilshire Rotary lot Meditation Garden Center Align Physical Therapy Massucco Warner Interior Design WRiTE BRAiN Books 544 Flood Magazine 536 530 Scott Sedita Acting Studios 522 Ultimate DX 512 Future apartments
Hancock Homes Real Estate
Leisha Willis - State Farm
Rosewood Avenue
Dr. Arthur Kezian 439 Larchmont Medidate & Yoga 429 Larchmont Aesthetic Dentistry
Romi Cortier Design Larchmont Village Square
Larchmont Cleaners Dentistry for Children and Adults Bricks & Scones private parking lot
Kasimoff Piano Company Businesses shown in boldface have helped support publication of this depiction of “What’s on the Boulevard.” Please send corrections or additions to info@larchmontchronicle.com
Larchmont Sanctuary Spa Larchmont Medical Building and parking structure UPS store Larchmont Optometrics Chipotle
Mel Miyamoto & Associates Shape House Larchmont Village Vet Studio AR&D Architects Gessler Aesthetics Larchmont Village Florist
Healing Hands Wellness Center Yousen Plumbing & Heating
Geller Dentistry 346 340
The Barking Lot Bespoke Beauty Brands
Larchmont Animal Clinic Cookbook Market & Cafe Ritz Dry Cleaning
Beverly Boulevard
Chronicle....
NOVEMBER 2023
Beverly Boulevard Noah’s Bagels
Coldwell Banker
Rothy’s Kiku Sushi
Great White Salt & Straw
Wells Fargo Bank
Malin + Goetz Erin McKenna Shopaholic Louise’s Trattoria
Levain Bakery
Go Get Em Tiger
Center for Yoga
La Bettola di Terroni
Newsstand
Larchmont Village Wine Spirits & Cheese
Rite Aid
Faherty
City Parking Structure
Burger Lounge
The Shade Store
Rhodes School of Music Radiance of Life
FedEx
Larchmont Beauty Center
City Parking Lot
Starbucks
Sunday & Wednesday Farmers Market
Flicka Diptyque Law Offices of Linda Cukier
Bellacures Sweet Lady Jane Pressed Juicery Alexander Daas Opticians
Metropolitan Holding Company Blue Mercury Sturdy
US Bank
Sam’s Bagels Beyond Yoga
Tailwaggers
Groundwork
Holey Grail Donuts
Res Ipsa
Velvet Suá Superette
The Scent Room
BACIO di LATTE
Boba the Great
Corridor
Topdrawer
Clark Street Larchmont
Midland
Wittmore
Larchmont Mercantile upstairs offices
Larchmont Mail Shop
Credo Beauty
Sweetfin Chevalier’s Books Village Pizzeria
Flannel
Skin Laundry Hidden Jeans
Duer
Le Petit Greek
Aesop (Spring 2024?)
Muraya Sushi
Shorthand
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Catbird (early 2024?)
Library Kreation
Peet’s Coffee
Village Heights
Larchmont Jewelers
Jamba Juice
A Silver Lining
thirteen lune
Le Pain Quotidien
Keller Williams Realty
DMH Aesthetics Buck Mason
Bank of America
Chase Bank
First Street
SECTION ONE
19
20 SECTION ONE
Dining Guide
(Continued from Page 17)
VILLAGE PIZZERIA 131 N. Larchmont Blvd. 323-465-5566 villagepizzala.com Tues. to Sun. noon to 9 p.m.
The Original Farmers Market & The Grove
Sun. to Thurs. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
MONSIEUR MARCEL Farmers Market 323-939-7792 mrmarcel.com Daily 11 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
PAMPAS GRILL Farmers Market 323-931-1928 pampas-grill.com Daily 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
8412 W. 3rd St. 323-852-0642 berris.la Daily 11 a.m. to 4 a.m.
BLACK DOG COFFEE
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY
ALL ABOUT THE BREAD 7111 Melrose Ave. 323-930-8989 allaboutthebread.com Daily 11 a.m to 9 p.m.
ANARKALI INDIAN RESTAURANT
The Grove 7013 Melrose Ave. 323-634-0511 323-934-6488 Mon. to Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 10 anarkaliindianrestaurant.com p.m.; Fri. 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun. 10 Fri., Sat. 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. a.m. to 10 p.m.
DU-PAR’S
ANGELINI ALIMENTARI ANGELINI OSTERIA
Farmers Market 7313 - 7321 Beverly Blvd. 323-933-8446 323-297-0070 dupars.net angelinirestaurantgroup.com Sun. to Thurs. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Daily noon to 3:30 p.m, 5 to 10 Fri., Sat. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. p.m.
EDO BITES
ANTICO NUOVO
The Grove 4653 Beverly Blvd. 323-879-9507 323-510-3093 edobites.us anticonuovo-la.com Mon. to Thurs. noon to 9 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 Daily 5:30 to 10 p.m. p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. APOLLONIA’S
THE GUMBO POT
PIZZERIA
THE COUNTER
5779 Wilshire Blvd. 323-932-8900 thecounterburger.com Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DR. SANDWICH
Farmers Market 323-954-0088 marmaladecafe.com
Sun. to Thurs. 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Fri, Sat. 7 a.m. to 4 a.m.
BERRI’S CAFÉ
fiveguys.com Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
GIGI’S 904 N. Sycamore Ave. gigis.la Daily 5 to 10 p.m.
DRESDEN ROOM
6001 Melrose Ave. 323-466-8812 marinorestaurant.com Mon. to Fri. noon to 2 p.m., 5 to 10 p.m.; Sat. 5 to 10 p.m.
MARIO’S PERUVIAN
HOT WINGS CAFÉ
MERCADO
INDIA’S TANDOORI
MET HER AT A BAR
5786 Melrose Ave. 3357 Wilshire Blvd. 323-466-4181 213-385-7275 mariosperuvianseafood.com thehmsbounty.com Sun. to Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 8 Mon. to Thurs. noon to p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 midnight; Fri. to Sun. noon to p.m. 1 a.m. 7910 W. Third St. 7011 Melrose Ave. 323-944-0947 323-930-1233 cocinasycalaveras.com/Mercado hotwingscafe.net Tues., Wed. 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to Thurs. 5 to 10 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 4 11:30 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to to 10 p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 9 midnight; Sun. noon to 11 p.m. p.m.
INTI PERUVIAN RESTAURANT
1760 Vermont Ave. 5870 Melrose Ave. 323-665-4294 323-962-2027 thedresden.com intirestaurantla.com Wed. to Sat. 5 to 10 p.m.; Sun. Daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 5 to 9 p.m.
THE EDMON
MARINO RISTORANTE
HMS BOUNTY
7475 Beverly Blvd. 5468 Wilshire Blvd. 424-501-0099 323-936-2050 drsandwich.com indiastandoori.net Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9:30 Daily 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES
759 S. La Brea Ave. 323-847-5013 metheratabar.com Mon. to Fri. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sat, Sun. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MET HIM AT A BAR 801 S. La Brea Ave. 323-852-3321 methimatabar.com Mon. to Thurs. 4 to 10 p.m.; Fri. 4 to 11 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5168 Melrose Ave. THE MEXICAN 323-645-5225 VILLAGE theedmon.com 5655 Wilshire Blvd. 3668 Beverly Blvd. Mon. to Thurs. 4 p.m. to 12:30 323-297-4467 213-385-0479 a.m.; Fri., Sat. 4 p.m. to 1:30 ihop.com themexicanvillage.com a.m. Sun. to Thurs. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Tues. to Thurs. 5 to 11 p.m.; Fri. Fri, Sat. 7 a.m. to midnight EINSTEIN BROS. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sat. 5 p.m. to ISA JAPANESE 2 a.m. BAGELS 916 S. La Brea Ave. 5550 Wilshire Blvd. MIZLALA 323-879-9536 323-330-9501 7007 W. Romaine St., #103 isajapanese.com einsteinbros.com 323-347-6292 Mon. to Fri. 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sun. to Thurs noon to 11 p.m.; mizlala.com/sycamore Sat, Sun. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fri, Sat. noon to midnight Daily 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
5176 Wilshire Blvd. Farmers Market 323-937-2823 323-933-0358 apolloniaspizzeria.com thegumbopotsla.com Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 6 Wed. to Sun. noon to 2:30 p.m, EL CHOLO p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 5 to 8 p.m. 1121 S. Western Ave. p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. BADMAASH 323-734-2773 418 N. Fairfax Ave. elcholo.com MAGEE’S KITCHEN 213-281-5185 Daily 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Farmers Market badmaashla.com 323-938-4127 EL COYOTE CAFÉ Sun. to Wed. noon to 10 p.m.; mageeskitchen.com 7312 Beverly Blvd. Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thurs. to Sat. noon to 11 p.m. 323-939-2255 Sat. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun. 10 elcoyotecafe.com BAGEL BROKER a.m. to 7 p.m. Wed., Thurs, Sun. noon to 9 p.m.; 7825 Beverly Blvd. Fri, Sat. noon to 10 p.m. LA PIAZZA 323-931-1258 The Grove bagelbroker.com ESCO’S PIZZA 323-933-5050 Mon. to Sat. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 615 N. La Brea Ave. lapiazzathegrove.com Sun. 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. 323-592-3042 Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10:30 escos.co BCD TOFU p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 3575 Wilshire Blvd. Sat. 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sun. p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 213-382-6677 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. bcdtofuhouse.com
MARMALADE CAFE
Sun. to Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 10 757 S. La Brea Ave. p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 11 littlebarlounge.com Mon. to Fri. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; p.m. Sat. 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Sun. 10 FABIOLUS CUCINA a.m. to 2 a.m. 6270 Sunset Blvd.
5657 Wilshire Blvd. 323-467-2882 M GRILL 3832 Wilshire Blvd. 323-933-1976 fabiolus.com 213-389-2770 blackdogcoffee.com Tues. to Sat. 5 to 9 p.m.; Sun. 4 m-grill.com Mon. to Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; to 8 p.m. Mon. to Thurs. 5:30 to 9 p.m.; Sat, Sun. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. FIVE GUYS Fri, Sat. 4 to 9:30 p.m.; Sun. 4 BLUDSO’S BAR + QUE 5550 Wilshire Blvd. to 8:30 p.m. 609 N. La Brea Ave. 323-939-2360
ALMA 323-931-2583 SINGAPORE’S The Grove barandque.com BANANA LEAF 323-879-9596 Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Farmers Market alma.mx CANTER’S DELI 323-933-4627 Sun. to Thurs. 11:30 a.m. to 10 419 N. Fairfax Ave. singaporesbananaleaf.com p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 11 323-651-2030 Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; p.m. cantersdeli.com Fri., Sat. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. BAR VERDE Open 24 hours everyday. Beyond the The Grove THE CAT & FIDDLE 323-900-1610 Boulevard PUB AND RESTAURANT nordstrom.com ALFALFA 742 N. Highland Ave. Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; 5570 Melrose Ave. 323-468-3800 Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun. 323-450-9250 thecatandfiddle.com 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. eatalfalfa.com BLUE RIBBON SUSHI Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon. to Fri. noon to 10 p.m.; Sat, Sun. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat., Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. BAR & GRILL The Grove 323-352-9300 brsushigrove.com Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Mon. to Thurs. noon to 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
ESCUELA TAQUERIA 7450 Beverly Blvd. 323-932-6178 escuela-taqueria.com
JON & VINNY’S 412 N. Fairfax Ave. 323-334-3369 jonandvinnys.com Daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
LAWRY’S THE PRIME RIB
MO’S HOUSE OF AXE 611 S. Western Ave. 213-908-0808 moshouseofaxe.com Thurs. 5 p.m. to midnight.; Fri. 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sat. 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
MOTHER TONGUE 100 N. La Cienega Blvd. 960 N. La Brea Ave., 4th Fl. 310-652-2827 213-319-7850 lawrysonline.com hellomothertongue.com Mon. to Thurs. 5 to 9:30 p.m.; Fri. 5 to 10 p.m.; Sat. 4 to 10 Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; p.m.; Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m, Sun., Wed., Thurs. 6 to 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 6 to 10 p.m. 4 to 9:30 p.m. LUCIFER’S PIZZA
MUSSO AND FRANK
7123 Melrose Ave. GRILL 323-424-4230 6667 Hollywood Blvd. luciferspizza.com 323-467-7788 Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 mussoandfrank.com p.m.; Fri, Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tues. to Sat. 5 to 11 p.m.; Sun. 4 to 10 p.m. LITTLE BAR
Larchmont Chronicle
ONO HAWAIIAN BBQ 5550 Wilshire Blvd. 323-525-1688 onohawaiianbbq.com Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri., Sat. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
OSTERIA LA BUCA 5210 Melrose Ave. 323-462-1900 osterialabuca.com Daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, 5 to 10:30 p.m.
OSTERIA MOZZA 6602 Melrose Ave. 323-297-0100 osteriamozza.com Sun. 5 to 9 p.m.; Mon. to Thurs. 5:30 to 9 p.m.; Fri. 5:30 to 10 p.m., Sat. 5 to 10 p.m.
PAPA CRISTO’S 2771 W. Pico Blvd. 323-737-2970 papacristos.com Wed. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
PETIT TROIS 718 N. Highland Ave. 323-468-8916 petittrois.com Daily noon to 10 p.m.
PETROSSIAN 321 N. Robertson Blvd. 310-271-6300 petrossianrestaurants.com Thurs. to Sun. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PETTY CASH 7360 Beverly Blvd. 323-933-5300 pettycashtaqueria.com Tues. to Thurs. 5 to 10 p.m.; Fri. 5 to 11 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
PINK’S HOT DOGS 709 N. La Brea Ave. 323-931-4223 pinkshollywood.com Sun. to Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to midnight.; Fri, Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.
PIZZERIA MOZZA 641 N. Highland Ave. 323-297-0101 la.pizzeriamozza.com Sun. to Thurs. 5 to 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 5 to 10 p.m.
PLANT POWER 776 Vine St. 323-471-1550 plantpowerfastfood.com Sun. to Thurs. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
PROVIDENCE 5955 Melrose Ave. 323-460-4170 providencela.com Tues. to Fri. 5:45 to 9:15 p.m.; Sat. 5:30 to 9:15 p.m.
RAMEN MELROSE 5784 Melrose Ave. 323-645-7766 ramenmelrose.com Mon. to Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Sun. noon to 3 a.m.
RAY’S AND STARK BAR AT LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd. 323-857-6180
NOVEMBER 2023
patinagroup.com Mon., Tues., Thurs. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat., Sun. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
RÉPUBLIQUE 624 S. La Brea Ave. 310-362-6115 republiquela.com Café: Daily 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Restaurant: Tues. to Fri. 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Sat. 5 to 10 p.m.
ROCCO’S PIZZA 6335 Wilshire Blvd. 323-655-0058 roccospizza.la Mon. 4 to 9 p.m.; Tues. to Sun. noon to 9 p.m.
SAKE HOUSE MIRO 809 S. La Brea Ave. 323-939-7075 sakehousemiro.com Daily 4 to midnight.
SIGHTGLASS 7051 Willoughby Ave. 323-763-8588 sightglasscoffee.com
Daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
SECTION ONE
Daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
STAR OF INDIA
TATSU RAMEN
730 Vine St. 323-939-6815 starofindiala.com Mon. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, 5 to 10:30 p.m.; Sat. noon to 10:30 p.m.; Sun. 11:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
7111 Melrose Ave. 323-879-9332 tatsuramen.com Sun. to Wed. 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Thurs. to Sat. 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
SUPREMO RISTORANTE 901 S. La Brea Ave. 323-852-3192 supremoristorante.com Sun. to Thurs. noon to 10 p.m.; Fri., Sat. noon to 11 p.m.
SYCAMORE KITCHEN 143 S. La Brea Ave. 323-957-4682 thesycamorekitchen.com Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat., Sun. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
TARTINE 911 N. Sycamore Ave. 323-552-6054 tartinebakery.com
TAYLOR’S STEAKHOUSE 3361 W. Eighth St. 213-382-8449 taylorssteakhouse.com Daily 4 to 10 p.m.
TEHRANRO GRILL 414 S. Western Ave. 213-259-4111 tehranro.com Sun. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
TERE’S MEXICAN GRILL 5870 Melrose Ave. 323-468-9345 teresmexicangrill.com Mon. to Sat. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
21
TSURI SUSHI 7015 Melrose Ave. 323-935-1517 tsurionmelrose.com Mon. to Thurs. 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Fri. 5:30 to 11 p.m.; Sat. 4 to 11 p.m.; Sun. 4 to 10 p.m.
WIRTSHAUS 345 N. La Brea Ave. 323-931-9291 wirtshausla.com Mon. to Wed. 4 to 10:30 p.m.; Thurs. 4 to 11 p.m.; Fri., Sat. 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
YUKO KITCHEN 5484 Wilshire Blvd. 323-933-4020 yukokitchen.com Mon. to Sat. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ZINC 8607 Melrose Ave. 323-438-9835 zinccafe.com Daily 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
22 SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Nothing’s fishy at vegan Niku Nashi Sushi, located inside APB
By Jim Kalin I like restaurants, but I love concepts, and if they’re unique, even better. This might be one of the most unique places in Los Angeles for dining, or if you want to just grab a cocktail and relax at the bar with a date or friends. First, there’s the name, or names: Niku Nashi Sushi and APB. Niku Nashi (which translates to “no meat”) refers to the kitchen and food, and it is the North Poinsettia Place side entrance where the quaint and shaded sidewalk dining area is accessed at lunchtime. APB, which stands for A Plant Bar, is a separate business and the space Niku Nashi has a permanent residency inside. APB refers to the lounge and liquid libations and is the main dinner and nighttime entrance on bustling Melrose Avenue for both entities. Here’s the part of the concept I had to work through: I’m not vegan. I like using a steak knife. I cook a capon on Thanksgiving Day (it’s a Slovenian tradition), and when I eat gumbo, it’s imperative that it contains authentic Cajun andouille sausage. I also love sushi — raw fish, the real stuff. So I was less than enthusiastic upon learning that Niku Nashi Sushi was anything but that. Most of the main ingredients have never been near an ocean. It’s 100 percent plantbased vegan sushi. And it’s incredible. Chef Niko Zaragoza and his partner Brad Saltzman don’t have the monopoly on vegan sushi in Los Angeles, but what makes this concept distinctive is their partnership with APB. It’s vegan-certified alco-
PLANT and latticework interior of APB, which houses Niku Nashi Sushi. Photo: Rob Stark
hol only behind the bar. This harmonious collaboration of two separate business identities provides one of the most unique dining experiences you’ll find anywhere. Award-winning bartender-turned-cocktail-architect Julian Cox, recently named executive director of beverages at MGM Resorts in Las Vegas, created a completely vegan cocktail menu for APB, which includes vegan wines and beers. There is even a selection of specialty dry libations — mocktails — for those who don’t drink alcohol. Cox implements fresh fruit juices squeezed daily on the premises, exotic spices and flavored bitters in his creations: The Lychee Martini, a concoction of vanilla-flavored vodka, coconut rum, pineapple and lychee ($12); the Vegan Margarita featuring blue agave tequila with a tajin and lime rim ($12); and the Sukiyaki Western Django, a snappy blend of rye whiskey, turmeric, orgeat syrup, citrus, passionfruit and the Japanese chili spice togarashi ($14). Cox has tailored other lo-
Ristorante
Celebrating 40 years! Host your private or company party here in our beautiful patio. Tent and heaters for winter arriving under the century-old olive tree.
Catering Available
cal establishments’ cocktail menus, including The Hideaway, a Mexican steak house on Rodeo Drive, and Fanny’s, which is inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. But his creations at APB are more than cocktails; they’re an adventure. So how about the other side of this concept, the vegan sushi? Anything vegetable-based, including rice and seaweed, that’s found at standard sushi restaurants, is used at Niku Nashi. But it’s the fish that’s missing, and that’s okay. Vegan no-salmon is created from marinated carrot. The texture and appearance mirror salmon, and it tastes superb, especially in a roll. Thinly sliced king oyster mushrooms are also a fish substitute. At Niku Nashi, the
Silverton
(Continued from Page 14) food service center in her dorm. She approached him about a job, mentioning her love of cooking (she didn’t know how to cook) and her vegetarianism (she had become a vegetarian the day before.) He hired her, and somewhere along the line she was struck with the “Aha!” thunderbolt and realized that she really did love cooking. She dropped out of university her senior year, attended culinary school at Cordon Bleu London in 1977 and began working in restaurant kitchens. When offered a job on the pastry side, she discovered her love of baking and furthered her pastry arts
LYCHEE martini and dragon roll at Niku Nashi Sushi inside APB.
Photo: Vincent Madero
Niku Nashi, 7302 Melrose Ave., 323-433-4400.
knowledge with stints at the École Lenôtre Culinary Institute in Paris. Expert in savory as well as sweet, Silverton admits, “Baking is my comfort zone. I’m most comfortable with a rolling pin.” And, we should add, that rolling pin should be the kind
without handles, for better control. “The Cookie That Changed My Life and More Than 100 Other Classic Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and Pies That Will Change Yours” by Nancy Silverton, with Carolynn Carreño. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, November 14, 2023.
On the Menu
resist taking photos of ourselves with the giant dosa. We also shared South Indian thali, $16.95, a house specialty. A feast on its own, the dish included chapati (also known as roti, a slightly stretchy flatbread) and papadum (a large round cracker). It is served with spicy dips, two types of dal (seasoned lentils,) raita (cucumber and yogurt,) payasam (milky grain pudding), poriyal (fried vegetables) and rice. We also indulged in a wonderful spicy vegetable curry, $14.95. Cauliflower, potatoes and other mixed vegetables are simmered in a fragrant coconut and tomato sauce and served with assorted Indian breads and rice. We didn’t think we three would possibly finish everything we ordered, but we did. It was that good. Udupi Palace, 18635 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia, 562860-1950.
(Continued from Page 16) es here never topped $17, so we indulged in a panoply of tastes. We opted for the $15.95 paper dosa, a huge and especially crispy version, here rolled into a 3-foot-long cone. Served with three sauces, one breaks off a piece, dips and enjoys. A dish worthy of Instagram fame, we couldn’t
BOGIE’S LIQUOR
Enjoy Marino’s food in your home. We’ll come to you. Pick up, drop off, or full catering.
We are here for you!
email: sal@marinorestaurant.com
©LC1123
323-466-8812 • www.marinorestaurant.com 6001 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Open 7 Days
Hours: Open 10 a.m. Close 2 a.m.
5753 Melrose Ave.
Call 323-469-1414
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We wish you all a happy holiday season and a great 2024! The Marino Family
stories to the ceiling beams and skylights. Live plants are suspended throughout the space from the latticework and ceiling beams. If dining in an enchanted semi-urban garden appeals, this is your place. For vegans, this will become a favorite haunt. For non-vegans and sushi lovers concerned about eating raw fish from our declining and contaminated oceans, isn’t vegan sushi a logical alternative?
no-tuna tastes like tuna, the no-shrimp tastes like shrimp, and the no-Snozzberry tastes like Snozzberry (just kidding). The menu is extensive, and they were voted “Best Vegan Sushi in Los Angeles” by Modern Luxury Angeleno magazine. I’m a sucker for brick walls, especially old ones, and if there’s a faded ghost sign teasing through, I’m hooked. APB’s interior is pure Downtown brick warehouse with an overlay of white garden latticework that reaches three
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
23
L.A.'s Top Dogs since 1939
N O I T A C O SAME L nd e g e L d oo w y l l o H A 9! 3 9 1 e c Sin
Still fam ily own ed & opera ted!
Our Famous Classic Chili Cheese Dog (Where it all started back in 1939!) We serve more than 40 varieties of delicious, mouth-watering Hot Dogs and more than 12 varieties of colossal Hamburgers At "Pink's Square" — the corner of La Brea & Melrose Visit us at: WWW.PINKSHOLLYWOOD.COM
We ! @theofficialpinkshotdogs @pinkshotdogs #pinkshotdogs @ pinkshotdogs CaterContact: CateringbyPinks@gmail.com or (310) 741-5352
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24 SECTION ONE
NOVEMBER 2023
Larchmont Chronicle
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
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26 SECTION ONE NEW COVENANT ACADEMY By Sue Jung Park 11th Grade
Every year, New Covenant Academy hosts a canned food drive and donates the collected items to local shelters and to those in need. In the morning, students line up to donate a variety of goods, including green beans, Spam, soup and other non-perishable foods. NCA also holds an annual Thanksgiving luncheon for all parents and teachers. From student performances to a meaningful message, it’s always a heartwarming and memorable event. The elementary Huskies had fun on their field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. From going through the corn maze to choosing their own pumpkin to take home, this was definitely a memorable experience for the kids! The girls’ volleyball team, boys’ soccer team and the cross-country team have ended their seasons off strong. Go Huskies!
PAGE ACADEMY
By Isabella Argiropoulos 8th Grade O c t o b e r has been full of events. We showed our support for Bullying Prevention by wearing blue, the Los Angeles Fire Department
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
gave us a special presentation for Fire Safety Month, report cards went out and we held our Honor Roll Assembly. Additionally, many of our students, staff and family members showed us their special talents after a very tasty spaghetti dinner! Our annual Red Ribbon Week events are in full swing. They will end with our Fall Festival on Oct. 27 with Halloween costumes, a super scary haunted house hosted by our Student Council, games and treats galore! Our annual fundraiser — a Mexican dinner, silent basket auction and movie night — will be held on Nov. 10. Right before we go on break for Thanksgiving, we will host our annual Thanksgiving Potluck Feast on Nov. 17, which always features mouthwatering and delectable dishes from around the world!
OAKWOOD
By Charlotte Zabel 11th Grade This month at Oakwood is a busy one. Our fall sports are off to the races, with home and away games at least once a week. We’re hopeful all teams will make it to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs! The high school play, “The Clean House,” closed auditions. The cast is now receiving Portuguese language and dialect lessons from a coach in order to enhance the essence of the play.
Girls’ varsity tennis has already qualified for CIF and our progressive reform club, OSPR, heard a riveting panel of Oakwood parents and writers. They spoke to students about the end of the writers’ strike. PSATs have just gotten underway. Many sophomores are quite scared for their first time taking it — especially with the new online model! We’re looking forward to hosting AlzLA on campus for a fundraiser in honor of November being Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and we are ecstatic with the progress our AIDS Walk team has made.
MELROSE ELEMENTARY By Franklin Raghaven 5th Grade
Melrose Elementary 4th and 5th graders are currently very occupied with the school play, “Finding Nemo.” Rehearsals are happening now and we can all hear people rehearsing songs on the yard at recess and lunch. I talked to Melrose’s principal, Mr. Needleman, about upcoming events. If you want to start at a new elementary school, Melrose is accepting applications until Nov. 17. Grab your popcorn because we’re also having a family movie night in November. A Genius Hour is being done by our 5th grade students… Trust me — one hour 2 days a week for for 6 weeks is not enough for kids to be geniuses and use their imagination to create dynamic
projects. The 5th graders will also be pretty occupied making hand turkeys with their kindergarten buddies. I don’t know about you but I’m definitely looking forward to Thanksgiving break!
choices. Upper schoolers will also have the opportunity to compete in the American Mathematics Competition — Go Buckley!
MARLBOROUGH
The Thanksgiving holiday season is upon us. It brings us a time of inner reflection and appreciation of family, friends, loved ones and community. I so enjoy this time of year and reconnecting with everyone. However, before the Thanksgiving break, there’s a busy line-up of fall sports games including football and volleyball games with the girls’ and boys’ high school teams. Also our golf and tennis matches will be wrapping up their seasons this month. Our winter sports will soon have tryouts. “The Nutcracker” is still in rehearsals, and our theater department has been diligently rehearsing Shakespeare’s comedy of “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” which will be performed this month. The robotics team has done well in the last two competitions. It has another one this month. In our art gallery, the Wall Five show remains until the first week of November. Additionally, our campus is buzzing with admissions open house tours. If interested, visit www.campbellhall.org.
By Avery Gough 12th Grade
The fall months are very busy at Marlborough! In October, there were little moments throughout the month to help build morale, including a Surprise Snack provided by the parents of each grade, who brought sweet treats like Levain cookies to the students. Seniors have been working with their college counselors to prepare essays and strategize about schools. We have had campus visits from numerous admissions officers. The Athletics Department had a small celebration for the seniors to recognize their hard work. There will be a larger ceremony on Nov. 14, when all fall athletes will be recognized for the sports that practice off campus, including tennis, cross country and golf. Marlborough’s annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day will take place on Nov. 16. Students can bring grandparents, or those close to them, to meet their teachers, see the campus, and learn about the fall curriculum. After having a week off to celebrate Thanksgiving and relax, class will resume on Nov. 27.
THE BUCKLEY SCHOOL By Max Terr 10th Grade
School is in full swing here at The Buckley School. The Lower School will be focusing on learning about diversity and families of different backgrounds, offering a number of opportunities to learn and teach about family heritage. Diversity-focused clubs are also being offered to lower school kids so they, too, can have more meaningful conversations about gender, religion, identity, ethnicity and more. Middle School students will be prioritizing Halloween and their spooky celebration, while joining in the costume competition held for the whole school. 9th grade kids will be taking a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance to learn more about history and the tragedy of the Holocaust. The 10th and 11th grades will be focusing on taking the PSAT, while seniors are prioritizing college application submissions. A few students will even be giving early decisions to their top
CAMPBELL HALL
By Claire “Cal” Lesher 11th Grade
CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION By Griffin Miller 5th Grade
Trick or Treat!!! From the annual school parade to fun treats and games, Halloween is always so amazing at The Center For Early Education. It is one of the few times in the year when kindergarten to 6th grade students gather together and all have fun on the field. Parents, guardians, grandparents and special friends are all invited to watch each grade present their colorful and creative costumes. There’s a huge range, from Thor to Barbie to anime characters. Many kids make very detailed homemade costumes that are always so cool and fun to see. The teachers also get dressed up, and it’s always exciting to see what they are going to be. Halloween is probably the most awaited day of the whole school year because of all the fun activities to do in class. Each classroom has a mini-party, with treats, projects and games provided by our parents. These activities are always so fun that kids talk about how great they are all year. Have a fun and safe Halloween, and don’t forget to brush your teeth A LOT!
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Tools to help kids honor and manage their messy feelings By Casey Russell It’s almost Thanksgiving — the time of year that many of us take some time to reflect on that which we’re thankful for and to foster our sense of gratitude. I love that there’s a holiday that encourages us to do this. Numerous studies have shown that feelings of gratitude actually improve our health, cultivate more positive emotions and strengthen our relationships. But what about the other sentiments that we humans experience — the ones we are often not encouraged to feel or to show? Perhaps our messy feelings deserve some attention and acknowledgement, too. Kids especially benefit from learning to acknowledge and to find ways to deal with their messier emotions. Most of us have seen a rage-filled toddler, a frustrated 8-year-old and an angry teen. These emotions aren’t wrong or bad. They are human. We, as parents, can give our kids tools that will help them weather the notso-fun feelings. Talking and listening Giving kids the vocabulary to talk about their emotions is very helpful. Naming an emotion can be empowering, and having someone acknowledge that emotion
(without condemning it), often has a calming effect. It’s nice when someone takes the time to simply listen. We can also teach our kids techniques to regulate themselves. We can ask little ones where they feel icky and encourage them to stretch that part of their bodies. We can encourage our children to draw a picture of how angry they are. We can help little ones take balloon breaths to fill up their bellies, hold it in the balloon and then let all the air go slowly. Tools for releasing tension Some kids may need a “mush” spot where they can safely go to hit or jump on pillows. Many children benefit from jumping on a mini-trampoline or on an old mattress; others, from running around the yard. Older kids can go for a jog, bounce a ball or listen to favorite songs. These physical and rhythmic activities help release tension and, as a bonus, can give our kids a pop of endorphins that will help them feel better. Not everyone experiences emotions in the same place in his or her body. For those who feel anger and frustration in their mouths and chests, screaming into a pillow can be a great way to get that urge
Tips on Parenting by
Casey Russell to shout out. Kids that want to bite something can be given a rubber necklace they can clench their teeth on. But sometimes, the thing your child needs most, is a big hug. Hugs are powerful. They can act as a released drain plug that allows big feelings to dissipate. Recognizing the signs It’s good to recognize when your child is becoming dysregulated. When we see tensions starting to rise, we can ask ourselves a few questions and then act on them: Is my child tired? When was the last time she had a healthy snack? Has she had any water lately? Is the noise level or the brightness in here overstimulating? Sometimes taking a simple step can reverse a rising storm. Eventually our kids can begin to recognize rising tensions in themselves and can take steps to regulate their own emotions. Lessening the storms We all feel mad, frustrated and annoyed at times. But
there’s a lot we can do to lessen the severity and frequency of some of our more unpleasant feelings before they even happen. How can we set our kids up to feel regulated most of the time? We can make sure they get enough sleep. We can make sure they are getting healthy foods and drinking water. We can work to make them feel safe and we can teach calming tools through example. When we ourselves are frustrated or angry, we can let our children see us practicing deep breathing — “I’m feeling frustrated right now, so I need a pause to take some deep breaths.” We can practice yoga and meditation in front of our kids. After a rough day, we can play calming music and sit quietly for a little while with our eyes closed. Before sleep, we can make visualization a part of our child’s life by telling him a “story” starring himself. “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful green meadow. A young boy named Charlie was walking through it one day when he saw a sweet puppy asleep in the grass…” The key is to make the story peaceful, full of sensory details and to bring in elements that your child is interested in (for my
daughter, it’s horses). And, of course, we can encourage our kids to take a few moments during the day to think about what they’re thankful for. After all, there is a reason gratitude is the one emotion that has its own holiday.
WREATHS will also be available at the tree lot.
Christmas trees are the new pumpkins on Black Friday By Nona Sue Friedman The Wilshire Rotary Club will open its Christmas tree lot on Fri., Nov. 24, also known as Black Friday, at 568 N. Larchmont Blvd. The lot will be filled with hundreds of fir trees of the noble, Douglas and Nordmann varieties. Wreaths and garlands will also be for sale. The lot will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Sat., Dec. 23.
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Alexandria House’s $4 million capital campaign is underway n Escrow has closed on Craftsman-style houses
By Suzan Filipek Alexandria House — a transitional home for women and children — recently became the proud owner of the two homes from which it has operated for the past 27 years. Now, all it has to do is pay back a loan. A capital campaign is underway to raise the funds to repay a generous friend who loaned Alexandria House $4 million to purchase the green and canary yellow Craftsman houses on the 400 block of South Alexandria Avenue. The homes’ former owners, the Immaculate Heart Community, “have a long and deep relationship” with Alexandria House and a commitment to social justice, which is why they silently reached out when they were ready to sell, said Michele Richards, Alexandria development director. Built in 1911 and 1920, respectively, the two-story homes feature ornate molding and rich wood paneling. They are the last two single-family homes in an area dotted with multi-story complexes. But it’s not the decor or the architecture that is most special here. “When people come and see what we do, it’s pretty compelling,” Richards said. Everything from shelter and food to financial literacy and childcare is offered at the two homes — plus at an adja-
cent apartment building and another site with low-income housing — with palpable results, advocates say. GivingTuesday While giving is Alexandria House’s middle name, you can be sure the welcome mat will be out for GivingTuesday, an annual celebration of generosity on Tues., Nov. 28. Food drives, which take place yearround, will be upped during the holidays. You can also come see for yourself, as tours are offered of the two homes. Like to cook? The Top Chef culinary program allows you to whip up a meal in the center’s kitchen and have a seat at the communal dinner. Or you can prepare it at home and deliver to the site or purchase meals from a restaurant in time to pass the salt. About 10 families live in the two homes. More women and children live in the 39 units in the Kenmore Apartments, also owned by Alexandria House and located on Kenmore Avenue behind the two houses. The Kenmore site, purchased in 2022, was the Immaculate Heart sisters’ retirement home; Phase 2 of the renovation project is underway, and the final phase, which includes deferred maintenance and a new roof, is expected to be finished this summer, said Executive Director Marissa Espinosa. Alexandria House is also the service provider for residents of low-income apartments in the 500 block of Alexandria.
DINNER is a communal event most nights at Alexandria House.
Childcare and teen programs, which have grown exponentially in recent years, are offered, as is Start-up Sisterhood LA, which helps budding entrepreneurs on their road to success. Donations matter Alexandria House is largely privately funded, as government money is mostly funneled into larger organizations, Alexandria founder Sister Judy Vaughan explained. Residents at Alexandria House typically stay two years, though most are ready to leave much sooner. The lack of affordable housing is a roadblock for those who are ready to move out, she said. Many return long after they have left to join in the communal dinners, a bustling time at the shelter. Some are even monthly donors. “We receive hundreds of calls a month for shelter, housing, food, legal aid, child-
care, domestic violence help, jobs and many other services people in our community need,” Richards told us. “While we are unable to offer the needed services to each
person who calls, we share information and referrals to other agencies with a caring ear. Together, with our allies, we are helping those in need.” Visit alexandriahouse.org.
THE WILLOWS
This week is also the week of the student council elections. I’m running for secretary, and I’m super nervous. Almost half my class was running for president, so it’s going to be a close vote. Everyone dressed up in blazers to try and look nice while they were doing their speeches. I can’t wait to see everybody’s Halloween costumes. I won’t spoil what mine is, but let’s just say it requires a lot of face paint. The preschoolers on our campus do a parade around the school every year, and they’re so cute! Happy fall!
By Birdie Reynolds 8th Grade After recovering from our Halloween festivities with a late start day, November kicks off a fun filled month for Willows! We have events like our annual Book Fair and Grandparents and Special Friends day. Our book fair is on Nov. 4 and is run by Kate Rao and Stephanie Vahedi. It has been a staple of our community for as long as I can remember, and I’m so excited to go this year. One of the events at our Book Fair is the book fair play, directed by Liza Monjauze. The play this year is “The Lorax,” and we are all excited to see this come to The Willows’ stage. On Nov. 17 we have Grandparents and Special Friends day, where kids bring favorite aunts, uncles, grandparents or a friend close to their family. I’m bringing my uncle, and I know that we will both have so much fun spending time exploring The Willows.
HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE By Penny Yoon 6th Grade
This week, my class and I are going to Yosemite National Park for an outdoor education trip. I’ve been to sleepaway camps before, but this one is extra special because it’s one of my last at HSH. It’s going to be a six-and-ahalf-hour ride, but honestly, it’s worth it. Our class has a weird habit of breaking out into spontaneous musicals whenever we have long bus rides. It’s a lot of fun, and my friends and I have been debating what song we will be singing this time.
IMMACULATE HEART By Emme Lay 12th Grade
Students have had an eventful transition into fall! The high school recently celebrated Hispanic / Latinx Heritage Month. In honor of the month, the library was decorated with images of important cultural figures, and a school-wide celebration featured foods from more than five different Latin American countries. Students performed cultural dances and “milagros” crafts — small figures used as offerings to ask for a miracle or to show graditude — were facilitated by the school’s Latinas Unidas club. The 50th Annual WALK, a three-week fundraiser led by students, also recently took place. The actual WALK on Oct. 20 was a day for participants to enjoy a day of exercise by walking nearly five miles through the Los Feliz neighborhood. It was followed by a hot dog lunch. The school is also proud of several competitive achievements. Senior debater Ava Wegmann-Gatarz was a finalist at the Jack Howe Memorial Tournament in Long Beach, the Varsity Volleyball team won the Whittier Cardinal Classic and the Freshman / Sophomore Cross-country team won first place at the Bell Jeff Invitationals. Go Pandas!
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NOVEMBER 2023
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This wrestler is fit and won’t miss his Thanksgiving meal USA Wrestling is this country’s national governing body for the sport of wrestling, which, with the possible exception of athletics (“track and field”), is recognized as the world’s oldest competitive sport. USA Wrestling says that, “guided by the Olympic Spirit,” it exists to provide “quality opportunities for its members to achieve their full human and athletic potential.” USA Wrestling’s 2023 Senior Team won the World Freestyle Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, in September, with four Americans winning individual gold medals. ’84 Olympics Never before has this country dominated international wrestling as it does now. There was that one bright moment in 1984 — the Los Angeles Olympics — when seven American wrestlers won gold medals, but those games were boycotted by the Eastern Block countries, which at the time ruled international wrestling. This recent world domination by the U.S. correlates directly with Living the Dream, a privately funded organization established in 2009 that awards monetary prizes for gold, silver and bronze medals in international wrestling. At present,
PILGRIM SCHOOL By Allison Pak 10th Grade
Our junior kindergartners through 5th grade students recently spent a whole day at the park. Outdoor Education Day has become a Pilgrim School tradition for years now. Students spend the day exploring nature, doing science experiments, hiking, and taking classes in art and music. Students like to read under the tree and have a picnic with friends. Secondary students at Pilgrim had their annual trips week and it was so much fun! Pilgrim’s 6th and 7th graders got to attend a surf camp in San Diego. They did archery, climbed high walls, did a beach cleanup, surfed and participated in a castle-building competition. Grades 8 and 9 went to Washington, D.C. to experience the learning and history that the city offers. They visited the Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, the White House, Smithsonian Museums and the Colonial Williamsburg Museum. Our 10th and 11th graders went to Boston and New York for college tours and visited Brown University, Emerson College, Northeastern, NYU, Stevens Institute and the New School. They also explored Times Square and had a slice or two of pizza.
Youth Sports by
Jim Kalin an American Olympic gold medalist in wrestling receives $250,000 from the nonprofit. Family roots Wrestling prowess begins much earlier, though. Windsor Square resident Nelson LaBombard, a ninth grader enrolled at Harvard Westlake, is on that school’s Wolverine wrestling team. He’s been wrestling for almost four years, having started with the Beat the Streets Los Angeles program. Nelson’s wrestling lineage goes back much further than four years, though. His father, John LaBombard, competed for the University of Pennsylvania and was teammates with Brandon Slay, gold medalist wrestler in freestyle at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Nelson’s grandfather, Jack LaBombard, wrestled for Cortland State and was a revered coach at Queensbury High School in upstate New York. Jack LaBombard also is an inductee into the NationSeniors remained on campus for a week of college applications, essays, and practice interviews.
THIRD STREET
By Benjamin Dias Reino 5th Grade Hello everyone! I have some exciting news! Third Street Elementary is planning on having a massive field trip to Seoul, South Korea, over Thanksgiving break! Made possible by way of a grant from LAUSD, 25 students in 5th grade are going to have the chance to attend the week-long trip. We will be learning about Korean culture, eating Korean food and visiting museums, schools and libraries. The same grant is being used to send 5th graders to Astro Camp later this year. The mindfulness program that our school has set up is going very well! Teachers, students and administrators are all taking part in the program. If you’re going to the Larchmont Family Fair, be sure to check out Third Street Elementary’s booth! Kids are going to be extra crazy this month because of how much candy they are going to have at Halloween. But then, we’ll have the Thanksgiving break and that means turkey, yams and other delicious foods!
JUNKYARD DOGS teammate Nelson LaBombard and coach Gary Bairos between matches at a local wrestling tournament.
HARVARD WESTLAKE wrestler Nelson LaBombard (in red) breaks down an opponent.
al Wrestling Hall of Fame (NWHOF), New York Chapter. “Nelson has wrestling in his DNA,” laughed his father. Gary Bairos Two years ago, Nelson joined Gary Bairos’ Junkyard Dogs wrestling club, which provides practice and competition off season for local wrestlers. The club’s purpose is to support and build a strong wrestling program at Harvard Westlake and provide an opportunity for kids to wrestle year-round. Bairos was an All American wrestler at Arizona State, and he once was the head wrestling coach at Harvard Westlake. He left high school coaching to pursue other interests, including as an actor, director and producer. He currently is producing a documentary, “No Girls Allowed,” about Tricia Sanders, a four-time world champion in wrestling and the first female ever inducted as a Distinguished Member
into the NWHOF. Bairos also has returned to Harvard Westlake, where he now is the junior high coach for the seventh and eighth grades. The head coach is Junior Amazan, and that’s who coaches Nelson LaBombard during the wrestling season. Weight Extreme weight management is often part of wrestling, which means missed meals and dehydration a day or two leading up to a competition. “I don’t encourage my wrestlers to lose weight,” said Bairos. “I tell them to learn how to wrestle first, and beginners especially should not worry about the scale.” Nelson LaBombard competes at 145 pounds but won’t be missing Thanksgiving Day turkey. “He’ll wrestle at his natural body weight,” said Nelson’s father, John. “In the morning, he weighs 143, so 145 likely
will be the weight he wrestles.” “I just try to get them as fit as possible,” said Bairos. For Nelson, neither his cardio nor his weight have ever been a challenge, and one reason might be because he runs cross-country in the fall. He’ll also play golf this spring, once the wrestling season is over. “Nelson is extremely athletic,” said Bairos. “He has a high ceiling for improvement.” California Our state is one of the best states in the U.S. when it comes to high school wrestling, but that doesn’t include the Los Angeles area. Few high schools in greater Los Angeles have wrestling teams. But that’s changing, and local wrestlers like Nelson LaBombard are at the forefront of the shift. “Nelson is a P.O.W.,” said his father. “A Prisoner of Wrestling.”
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
BILLIE GREER serves as chair of the Exposition Park and California Science Center board of directors. Here, she is accompanying the solid rocket motors up Figueroa.
Space Shuttle (Continued from Page 3)
and was driven slowly over a 12-mile route from the airport to Exposition Park, Greer told us, “I did! It was one of the most exciting events that I have attended. I was there at LAX when it landed, and it brought a tear into my eyes. It was so exciting.” Last chance Dec. 31 The technically challenging feat of moving, lifting and assembling each of the space shuttle components has never been done outside of a NASA facility. Because of the construction, Dec. 31, 2023, will be the last chance to see Endeavour on exhibit for several years — until the Oschin Air and Space Center opens to the public. In the meantime, multiple other galleries, special exhibitions and iMax movies will be available at the Science Center, one of the largest
SAMUEL OSCHIN AIR AND SPACE CENTER rendering shows the 20-story structure to be built around the re-assembled Space Shuttle Endeavour “stack” of components, ready for lift-off.
such centers in the nation. Go for Stack The roughly six-month “Go for Stack” process began in July with the installation of the Solid Rocket Booster Aft Skirts on the floor of the new building. Next, the SRMs that arrived on Oct. 11, plus the forward assemblies that go on top of the SRMs, will be stacked to form the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). The SRMs comprise the largest part of the SRBs. During the space shuttle program, twin 15-story reusable SRBs would work with the space shuttle main engine to ignite and produce more than six million pounds of thrust — the majority of what was needed to lift a shuttle off the launch pad. After burnout, the SRBs would be jettisoned
into the ocean to be recovered, refurbished and reused. SRM flights Components of the two SRMs that arrived in Exposition Park in October flew on a combined 81 space shuttle flights and 32 static tests, dating back to STS-5 in 1982. The last use of a component was for STS-133, the final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery in 2011. October’s exciting activity will be followed by the move and lift of the External Tank, ET-94 — the last flight-qualified external tank in existence. It was donated to the Science Center by NASA and has been stored outside at the Science Center since 2016. Once all of those other components are in the stack, Space Shuttle Endeavour will be added —
moved and lifted into place by a large crane for the vehicle’s intricate mating with the rest of the space shuttle stack. Once finished, Endeavour and its components-at-launch will be in a vertical configuration towering 200 feet tall. With all of those parts final-
ly in place, contractor Matt Construction will complete the ZGF Architects-designed walls, roof and interior of the building. Visit Endeavor through Dec. 31 at the California Science Center, 700 Exposition Blvd.
Help make nights cozier for needy children with ALLA
By Nona Sue Friedman The Assistance League of Los Angeles (ALLA) is sponsoring “Sweet dreams and cozy nights,” an event to make blankets and supply stuffed animals for children in need. One part of the event, a family day of service, takes place Sat., Nov. 4. Volunteers of all ages will have the opportunity to make 625 blankets that are put together without sewing. There are two time slots, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Sign up at tinyurl. com/5he3j2wz. No experience necessary. If you can’t make the in-person event, ALLA also wants to provide 625 new stuffed animals by Nov. 4. They have created an Amazon wish list at tinyurl. com/4tmht7c2. Soft and
cuddly items provide comfort for the children served by ALLA at Foster Children’s Resource Center, Preschool Learning Center and Operation School Bell. Lastly, ALLA is accepting donations of any size at tinyurl.com/33jmzmjh for this endeavor. ALLA has been helping underserved children for over a century. It was created in 1919 by Anne Banning and Ada Laughlin, both residents of Hancock Park. If you are interested in learning more about joining ALLA and the many ways you can help the community, reach out to Kai Tramiel, senior director of membership and communication, at ktramiel@assistance-leaguela.org or 323-545-4847.
Woman’s Club screens ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ Oct. 28
Upcoming Winter Session Dates Session Dates
Member Registration
General Registration
November 1 - November 30
October 23
October 25
December 1 - December 23
November 27
November 29
ANDERSON MUNGER FAMILY YMCA . 4301 W. THIRD STREET . LOS ANGELES . CA 90020
By Suzan Filipek Watch the 1920 silent classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” at the historic Woman’s Club of Hollywood, 1749 N. La Brea Ave., on Sat., Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The first American full-length horror film features John Barrymore, often hailed as “The Great Profile,” in a dual role that showcases his exceptional acting prowess. The film will be accompanied with live music performed by Cliff Retallick. Barrymore, a matinee idol at the time, delivers a tour de force performance. His contortions during the trans-
formation from handsome Dr. Jekyll into the bent-over, hideously ugly Mr. Hyde remain haunting even after all these years. Martha Mansfield is the leading lady in this chilling Victorian melodrama. The Oct. 28 showing is a presentation of Retroformat Silent Films. In addition to its public film screenings, Retroformat showcases free silent movie screenings with live music and discussion for public schools. Retroformat also maintains a growing online archive for members of rare silent films with original music.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Student awarded four-year high school scholarship
By Casey Russell Hancock Park seventh grader Elili Flore has been awarded a Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship for the class of 2028. The award from the Institute for Educational Advancement is a four-year high school scholarship for gifted learners. Flore currently attends Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood. Recipients of the award receive more than $200,000 to cover tuition for high school or education programs that can help them to meet their personal potentials.
The application process for the award is rigorous. Interested seventh graders complete essays and work samples and provide transcripts and letters of recommendation. Applicants are also required to achieve the highest level on the nation’s standardized tests. Only 27 students were awarded this year’s scholarships out of 51 finalists. The scholarship program began in 2002 and is one of the nation’s few high school scholarship programs that is based solely on merit.
Immaculate Heart ‘playday’ is Nov. 4 All interested seventh and eighth grade girls are invited to Immaculate Heart School’s 35th annual Academic Playday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 4, at the school, 5515 Franklin Ave. Visitors can meet teachers and students and take cam-
pus tours around the school’s garden-like setting. Fun-filled workshops are also planned. Open House Weekend is Sat., Dec. 2, for the middle school and Sun., Dec. 3, for the high school. Visit immaculateheart.org for more information.
LARCHMONT CHARTER HG@SELMA
barbeque all over the field. Delicious! While the younger kids ran around on the obstacle course and playground, others got their faces painted or waited in line for some ice cream. The sunny weather made it an even better experience and it was a wonderful way to kick off the school year!
By Rocco Djokaj 4th Grade
Larchmont Charter School is in the midst of its annual Giving Drive. The school collects donations from the parents, friends and family members who want to help our school. Money that is collected allows us to keep the enrichments classes like art, garden, music and P.E. Oh, and remember, it also helps support the teachers! The annual giving drive is a very important factor for our charter school. So don’t forget to remind your parents, friends and family members to donate at development@larchmontcharter.org.
TURNING POINT
Lochlann O’Connell 8th Grade For the first time since the Covid shutdown, Turning Point School celebrated the return to classes with their Back-To-School Picnic! The annual event brought our entire community together, on campus, to have fun and catch up with people we hadn’t seen all summer. This year the picnic was held on a Friday afternoon instead of a Sunday, which allowed more kids to go, as it was held right after school ended. There were games such as corn hole, fantastic food,and mingling with parents, teachers and friends. You could smell the smoky
ST. JAMES
By Hailey Lee and Kingston Smith 5th Grade
Last weekend, we went on our annual school trip to El Capitan. A few of the major highlights were sharing dinner with friends and family and getting to know our classmates better. We also hiked up a steep mountain and saw a stunning view at the top. We even had a great time playing at the beach! This annual family trip was very fun and allowed us to build community within our school. There are many things to look forward to in the month of November. School elections will be held and 6th grade students get the opportunity to campaign and run for student council positions. There will also be a terrific book fair. Lastly, Grandparents and Special Friends Day is also on the horizon. This is a wonderful event during which students get to have their grandparents or special friends come to campus and share their love of learning. November will definitely be a fun-filled month!
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31
Smash your pumpkin at Pan Pacific Park Nov. 5
By Nona Sue Friedman Looking to find a way to repurpose your pumpkin after Halloween? This year, take it to The Great Pumpkin Bash, where the theme is smash it, don’t trash it. It’s a fun, free, costume-optional event to smash and compost pumpkins. Swing by Pan Pacific Park, 7600 Beverly Blvd., on Sun., Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to smashing your pumpkins, there a plethora of opportunities to learn about eco-friendly practices
in the community. The park will be filled with giveaways such as compost kitchen pails, trees from City Plants and pumpkin-themed snacks — while they last. Gardening and composting workshops will be offered as well as hourly raffles for rain barrels and compost worm bins, free minor bike repairs and kids’ face painting. The event is sponsored by Los Angeles City Council District 5 and the Bureau of Public Works. More information is at tinyurl.com/28n62s9r.
ST. BRENDAN
In November we will continue the fun with a middle school mixer. It will take place in the gym and will have games and food. Parents will get to learn more about the middle school program.
By Harry Jannone Kim 8th Grade Halloween is a big event at St. Brendan. During October the 8th graders made fabulous papier-mâché pumpkins for their kindergarten little buddies and gave it to them on Halloween. The Haunted House is on the 28th. It was made and decorated by the 7th and 8th graders and will be spooky and fun. On Halloween all students get to wear costumes. During the Halloween Parade, the 8th grade will judge students’ costumes. A couple of students from each class will win a bag of candy. Students will also get to watch the 8th graders’ Halloween plays and the Monster Mash.
CHRIST THE KING By Zoe Griswold and Anjella Guiza 7th Grade
The month of October was filled with lots of fun activities! Our transitional kindergarten through 2nd grade students went on a field trip to see a live production of “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty,” performed by the Nine O’ Clock Players, at the
FLYER ANNOUNCES Great Pumpkin Bash.
The
Assistance League Theatre. They had a ton of fun! We had our annual spella-thon and students did an incredible job memorizing their spelling words for this fundraising event. Volleyball and football athletes are practicing every week and participating in games against other schools. Our Academic Decathlon team members meet every Monday in preparation for the competition, which will be held in March 2024. This month, students received their progress reports and parent / teacher conferences took place. All students participated in the Great Earthquake Shakeout on Oct. 19 and practiced how to act in a time of emergency. On Halloween, students will dress in their spooky and fun costumes and show them off at our Halloween parade and festival. Wishing our readers a happy Halloween from CKS!
32 SECTION ONE
NOVEMBER 2023
Larchmont Chronicle
Neighborhood house decorations show Halloween spirit Fall has arrived, and local neighborhoods are getting in the spirit of the season. Here’s a sampling of 2023’s Halloween-decorated houses on the following streets:
Windsor Boulevard, Irving Boulevard, Lucerne Boulevard, Beachwood Drive, Van Ness Avenue, Rimpau Boulevard and Plymouth Boulevard.
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
33
Hancock Park hears from elected officials at annual meeting
By Suzan Filipek Affordable housing to sidewalk repair were among topics discussed at the annual Hancock Park Homeowners Association meeting on Oct. 16. City Councilperson Katy Yaroslavsky assured members at the Zoom meeting that she is working to protect single-family residential neighborhoods from multi-family, high-rise developments. As the city is looking to build more housing, Yaroslavsky said she “has been talking to [the Planning Dept.]… and they understood when I spoke to them last week to put all of the [new housing] on the commercial corriders.” But, she warned the HOHOA members, that “the state has taken away a lot of [the city’s] land use authority. The landscape has changed a lot in the
last decade. “Cities weren’t doing their fair share [of building housing]. They [the state] took away a lot from us.” Yaroslavsky was referring to the city’s state-mandated Housing Element in the General Plan, which is being revised to create new zoning for thousands of new housing units in the coming years. Next addressing homelessness, she said building interim housing is paramount, especially in Council District Five, as it is the only district among the 15 in the city that has none. Preventing homelessness in the first place is key, she added. This can be accomplished by helping people stay in their homes, by avoiding evictions by providing subsidies and loans and more affordable housing. CD5 has about 1,300 homeless
City of Los Angeles Obligations to the State of California during the 2021-2029 Housing Cycle
REZONE land to accommodate … Aiming to CONSTRUCT …
UNITS
DEADLINE
255,432
by February 2025
456,643*
by October 2029
* Includes the potential construction of 202,153 units available under existing zoning, plus the 255,432 units through rezoning, with 186,721 units of the total to be designated lower-income.
Zoning
(Continued from Page 1) of potential sites,” from which the City Planning Department says it will choose a much smaller number of properties to rezone to help deal with a housing shortage. The inventory includes parcels on residential streets and commercial corridors, according to the Planning Dept.’s draft “Plan to House LA” — the city’s title for the state-mandated housing element of the city’s General Plan. That mandate, planned for 2021 to 2029, requires zoning capacity for an additional 255,432 housing units to be part of City of Los Angeles-adopted law by February 2025. Target locations The draft housing element includes a “Candidate Sites Inventory” in its Appendix 4.7. According to an email to the Chronicle from a City Planning Dept. spokesman, “This list was always intended to serve as an inventory of potential sites for rezoning consideration and not a final list of sites that would be rezoned.” But neighborhood groups are on high alert. “It’s baffling,” Cindy Chvatal-Keane, Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHOA) president, said of the housing plan.
Larchmont Village Neighborhood, Sycamore Square, La Brea Hancock, Brookside Neighborhoods most likely impacted in our area include the areas of the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association north of Beverly Boulevard plus Sycamore Square, La Brea Hancock and Brookside — areas which are identified as Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC). “Wouldn’t it be better to build [high-rise buildings] along La Brea [than on residential streets]?,” asks Chvatal-Keane. “If you’re not okay with the fact that a four- to six-story building can be built next to your house, you need to tell your elected official,” Chvatal added. “We don’t want to be at the mercy of developers.” The HPHOA has joined the Miracle Mile Residential and Windsor Square associations in an email campaign telling their members to “Act Now! Save Our Neighborhoods!” to encourage residents to write their elected officials. The local neighborhood groups have joined forces with United Neighbors, a statewide coalition of renters, homeowners and community organizations that seeks “equitable and fair housing for all, and the right for all residents to come together to find thoughtful and effective solutions,” Chvatal-Keane told us.
individuals, she estimated. HPHOA President Cindy Chvatal-Keane asked why only 10 percent of a new development is required to have affordable housing, in exchange for a density bonus. “Why is the state requiring more affordable units but only 10 percent? We are ripe for developers coming in and putting up large buildings and the state never moves on that.” State Assemblyman Rick Zbur, who also attended the meeting, agreed that the number of affordable housing units required per building is too low. But if it’s too high, say at 30 percent, it doesn’t make financial sense for the developer, even with a density bonus. Many developers choose not to do affordable housing at all, he added. Chvatal-Keane asked Yaroslavsky why she voted recently in
favor of allowing a seven-story, 200-unit apartment building on a residential street in Sherman Oaks. Staff had approved the project because of a loophole, which the mayor later closed. Yaroslavsky explained that the city attorney warned the council that, if the development were denied its permit after the developer had received approval, it could result in a costly lawsuit for the city. “The penalties are massive,” Yaroslavsky explained. Infrastructure When Yaroslavsky was asked how she will coordinate city departments to address longterm problems, she said, “All we can do is cajole and be annoying, and we’re getting very good at being annoying.” She was referring to flooding on local streets that occurred last winter, when the city Dept. of Sanitation didn’t show up.
Yaroslavsky said the various city departments are under-staffed, a problem left over from a hiring freeze during COVID-19, and communication is complex among the various city departments. She is working to improve sidewalk repairs, she said, adding it is woefully underfunded — partially because of costly ADA requirements — and there is unfortunately a seven-year wait for repair. “It’s insane,” she said. Discretionary funds are also not fairly distributed. Yaroslavsky said her district receives $50,000 while Councilman Kevin DeLeon’s district receives $14 million, for instance. “It’s frustrating,” said Chvatal-Keane. “Our streets are a wreck. Yet there are millions and millions of [city] dollars.” (Please turn to Page 34)
Chvatal-Keane has met with members of the state legislature, city council and the city’s planning department subsequent to the city unveiling the housing plan in 2021. All along, she said, she has been “giving [the city] the benefit of the doubt and expecting they’ll follow through… take action… and that hasn’t happened.” “Our fear is that they’re not listening, and once the new map comes out, they’re not going to change this,” she said. An updated map and draft of the housing element are expected later this fall to include updating the Density Bonus and TOC programs and allow more housing near transit. Had you heard? Planning Dept. officials say there has been community outreach by hosting public webinars, offering office hours and attending stakeholder meetings. However, many local residents say they have heard
about this issue only recently. “The rezoning program is still in the initial phase, and there will be many more opportunities for the public to provide feedback as the program develops,” the Planning spokesman said. “In the Larchmont area, email notifications for events have been provided to neighborhood councils, everyone who participated in the housing element update and all subscribers to program updates. We appreciate all Angelenos weighing in.” To get updates, visit: tinyurl.com/mr7abc4t While the city is required to develop and adopt a rezoning program to accommodate the additional 255,432 housing units by February 2025, “Within the 2021-2029 housing cycle, the City is obligated to plan for the construction of 456,643 units, including 184,721 units designated as lower-income housing units, the Planning representative added. United Neighbors
A few years ago, Chvatal-Keane joined Sherman Oaks residents Maria and Jeffrey Kalban and others to form United Neighbors when proposed Senate Bills 9 and 10 were being promoted in Sacramento. (The two bills, which passed and went into effect in Jan. 2022, allow increased density on single-family lots. They also allow developments of up to 10 units on parcels in areas near transit.) Now United Neighbors has moved its focus to the city’s latest zoning efforts which threaten not only single-family neighborhoods but the entire city, Chvatal-Keane told us. Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Wilshire Park, Windsor Village and other city Historic Preservation Overlay Zones are left untouched by the plan. “But we are all one city. We are all impacted,” said Chvatal-Keane. View the Plan to House LA at planning.lacity.org/plans-policies/housing-element.
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34 SECTION ONE
Hancock Park
(Continued from Page 33) Besides street repair, the area needs street light repair, tree trimming and other work, she said. Yaroslavsky said she would push for more discretionary funds for her district when budget talks begin next year. Security Capt. Sonia Monico of the LAPD Wilshire Division said robbery is down 25 percent in Hancock Park, though there’s been an increase in burglaries from 15 in 2022 to 34, so far, this year. The burglaries often occur in late afternoon or evening when people go out to dinner, she said.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
She encouraged residents to alert neighbors when going out of town, to buy alarms with video recording and to hire a security company. She also suggested turning on lights and locking doors. HPHOA board members gave reports on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the civilian volunteer training program that prepares residents in times of disasters, and the Block Captain program. Board members also gave reports on: the area’s tree canopy, which averages 39 new trees a year; the Highland Avenue median; security; development and other neighborhood issues. Finally, members elected the new directors.
Windsor Square Association annual meeting is Nov. 15
Councilman Hugo SotoMartinez will be guest speaker at the Windsor Square Association annual Town Hall meeting on Wed., Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Ebell Club of Los Angeles, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. The agenda will also include public safety, emergency preparedness, land use issues and block captain matters. The Squeaky Wheel Award will be bestowed upon a worthy resident at the meeting, which will also include election of the 2023-2024 board of directors.
LVNA to discuss housing at Nov. 14 semi-annual meeting By Suzan Filipek The city’s Housing Element to add a proposed inventory of 1.4 million new housing units will be discussed at the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association semi-annual community meeting on Tues., Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Cindy Chvatal-Keane, a member of United Neighbors — a statewide coalition of residential groups — will speak on the proposed plan. She is also the president of the Hancock Park Homeowners Assoc. A briefing on developments
on Larchmont Boulevard, north of Beverly Boulevard, and ongoing efforts to get ahead of the city’s zoning revisions with a neighborhood-developed plan will also be discussed, LVNA President Charlie D’Atri and Secretary Karen Gilman told us. The meeting is also expected to include a report from Council District 13 and public safety and crime prevention reports from LAPD Wilshire and Olympic senior lead officers. To join the meeting, contact lvna90004@gmail.com.
W
ayne Ratkovich, a longtime local resident and Los Angeles-based real estate developer who dedicated his career to improving the quality of urban life in his beloved Los Angeles, died September 24, 2023. He was 82 years old. The cause of death was complications from an aortic aneurysm. From the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley to the skyscrapers of downtown and from the coastline of Playa Vista to San Pedro, Ratkovich shaped Los Angeles for the better. Ratkovich and his family lived in homes in Windsor Square, then Hancock Park, then Windsor Square again. He is survived by his wife JoAnn, son Milan and daughters Anna and Lindsay and five grandchildren. Throughout his career, Ratkovich had an uncanny ability to identify opportunities that others overlooked. He often saw the future in a piece of the past, even if others ignored it. Ratkovich is credited with reimagining numerous landmark projects, including 18 historic buildings throughout the Los Angeles area, starting with his redevelopment of the James Oviatt Building in downtown Los Angeles – the project that put The Ratkovich Company (TRC) on the map. Ratkovich’s passion for taking on bold redevelopments lives on in his last project, West Harbor, which is re-envisioning and reimagining the Los Angeles waterfront. Ratkovich spent five years as an industrial real estate developer until an opportunity to buy the 12-story Oviatt Building came across his desk in 1977. The building was owned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and it was being priced at about $5 per square foot, on the assumption that the new owner would want to demolish the structure and operate the property more profitably as a parking lot – which says something about the state of downtown Los Angeles in the late 1970s. Instead of tearing it down, Ratkovich’s underwriting and analysis determined the building should be renovated. His company also was pushed in that direction because the city designated the building a Historic-Cultural Monument. Ratkovich chose to embrace the designation and market the Oviatt Building’s historic status. That proved to be a hit with tenants, including the successful Rex, Il Risto-
rante, which occupied the former men’s haberdashery on the ground floor. As Ratkovich said in 2020, “The experience with the Oviatt changed forever my role as a developer. I no longer had interest in factories and warehouses. I realized that my little company could make a positive difference in the city, and it was something I wanted to continue to do.” Among other notable projects Ratkovich steered is the historic Pellissier Building and adjoining Wiltern Theatre at Wilshire and Western. The theater — which opened as the flagship showpiece movie house for Warner Bros. Entertainment — had become decrepit by the late 1970s. The work of preservationists including the Los Angeles Conservancy saved the property from the wrecking ball until Ratkovich could purchase it in 1981. After a four-year renovation, the Wiltern reopened with a run of shows performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, followed by a major Tom Petty concert a few months later. Today, the Wiltern remains one of L.A.’s most significant performance venues. “The greatest thing Wayne did is shine a bright light on historic buildings in Downtown and beyond,” said Linda Dishman, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “He was a pioneer in transforming underutilized buildings into places people wanted to go, including the Oviatt, Fine Arts and Wiltern. He was not only a champion of preservation in Los Angeles but also as a Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He was a towering figure and will be greatly missed.” Many of TRC’s buildings were honored with top awards by the Conservancy. Seeing a blueprint for success and driven by a new passion for transforming core urban developments, TRC would go on to reimagine several landmark projects throughout the Los Angeles area, including The Fine Arts
Building, Chapman Market and 5900 Wilshire, a 30-story office tower across from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as well as a 40-acre mixeduse development, “The Alhambra,” in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley. TRC’s latest project is a 42-acre site on the Los Angeles waterfront in San Pedro called West Harbor, which Ratkovich coined a “festival-style” dining and entertainment destination. In one of his last visionary deals, Ratkovich helped convince the iconic Hollywood restaurant Yamashiro to open its first-ever satellite location at that property. Of one of his firm’s most notable urban developments, The Bloc — a dramatic transformation of the former Macy’s Plaza in the heart of downtown Los Angeles — Ratkovich said he saw a way to truly integrate this formerly closed-off, fortress-like complex into its downtown neighborhood, creating the first direct underground connection of a private community to a subway station and allowing The Bloc’s tenants and visitors to seamlessly connect with the Metro transit system. Ratkovich is also responsible for the Hercules Campus in Playa Vista, an 11-building complex of historic former Hughes Aircraft Company structures that now counts Google as its main tenant. Howard Hughes and his team of engineers devised and assembled the Hughes H-4 Hercules — better known as the “Spruce Goose” — in the largest of those buildings. It was the largest airplane ever built at that time. Wayne Ratkovich was born on May 29, 1941, in Los Angeles. When Ratkovich was 10, his father saved up enough money to buy five acres of land in Hacienda Heights, moving the family to a farm where they grew lemons and avocados and raised chickens. Later, his father bought a four-unit apartment complex and moved the family into it, while seeing his investment grow. Understanding the work and sac-
rifice that his father endured to make these purchases caused Wayne to make investing in land the “through line of [his] career,” as Ratkovich said in 2021. After graduating from La Puente High School, Ratkovich attended UCLA. Upon graduating from UCLA in 1963, Ratkovich took a job as a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker. Ratkovich married JoAnn Calkins on August 19, 1967. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1967-1971. In 2011, the Urban Land Institute named Ratkovich a Life Trustee, an honor given to just 15 members in the 80-year history of the 35,000-member organization. Ratkovich was formerly a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Global Board of Directors, as well as a Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust. Ratkovich received the Distinguished Businessperson Award from the USC Architectural Guild and the Design Advocate Developer Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In addition, Ratkovich was presented this year with the Rotary Club of Los Angeles’ Distinguished Citizen Award that recognizes an Angeleno who embodies Rotary’s motto of “service above self.” “Wayne Ratkovich was known for big real estate developments, but his heart and passion for the people of Los Angeles was even bigger,” said Father Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, who grew up in Windsor Square. “He was more than a supporter — Wayne was a guiding light and a true role model for what a civic leader should be, and we were lucky to have him as a board member who rolled up his sleeves and helped us implement the physical expansion of Homeboy across Los Angeles. He was one of a kind, and he will be truly missed.” In addition to his service on the Homeboy Industries Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Ratkovich is a past president of the Jonathan Club, where he instituted a series of programs aimed at addressing Los Angeles’ homeless crisis. He was a founding board member of the Downtown Women’s Center and the founding board chair of the Wende Museum in Culver City. Additionally, Ratkovich gave the American Contemporary Ballet its start in Los Angeles, and he was a co-chair of California Hospital Medical Center’s capital campaign.
Adv .
Wayne Ratkovich, Real Estate Developer Who Revitalized Los Angeles, Dies at 82
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION ONE
35
36 SECTION ONE
NOVEMBER 2023
Larchmont Chronicle
PRESERVATION
What does the city’s new housing plan mean for our historic districts?
Page 2
ENTERTAINMENT
MUSEUMS
Nine O’Clock Players opens its 95th season with “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty.”
New regime starts at Craft Contemporary and new exhibits open. Page 12
Page 11
Real Estate Entertainment, Museums, Libraries, Home & Garden
VIEW
Section 2
LARCHMONT CHRONICLE
NOVEMBER 2023
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Lisa Hutchins 323.216.6938 CalRE #01018644
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1451 S. Genesee| Miracle Mile | $7,600/MO LEASED. Ultra charming 1920’s Spanish home with all the modern upgrades. 4 Beds / 3 baths.
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Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101
COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM Hancock Park 323.464.9272 | 251 N Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004 ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. CalRE #00616212
2 SECTION TWO
NOVEMBER 2023
Larchmont Chronicle
City’s Housing Element threatens our historic districts In October the governor signed 56 new housing bills in an effort to address California’s housing crisis. The majority of these only continue to chip away at the issue through making construction a little bit easier here, offering an incentive there, or by enacting greater tenant protections, all in the elusive pursuit of bringing the cost of housing down. In a statement of overheated triumph, Sen. Scott Wiener declared, “The era of saying no to housing is coming to an end. We’ve been planting seeds for years to get California to a brighter housing future, and today we’re continuing strongly down that path.” Flood of development While there may be truth to these sentiments, Wiener knows that the real silver bullet he is seeking that will supposedly unleash a flood of development lies in widespread upzoning and the dismantling of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). While kneecapping CEQA may be in the power of the state, upzoning in Los Angeles remains, for now, the purview of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. In the midst of the pandemic, the department dutifully laid the groundwork for major chang-
es in the city’s zoning, while complying with and surpassing the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) in the city’s recent Housing Element revision. Luckily for the department, most if not all of its public hearings were held online, aided by the use of opaque maps and statements of strident social justice language, and the changes passed with little notice. Housing Element For preservationists such as myself, the Housing Element was of little interest until alarming aspects of the plan became clearer as advocates, such as Fran Offenhauser of Hollywood Heritage, began to point out that the Housing Element maps indicated upzoning large areas of Hollywood Boulevard — including parcels occupied by historic theaters such as Grauman’s Chinese — even before the plan was approved. This conflict was most recently highlighted in presentations by Cindy Chvatal-Keane and Cathy Roberts before the Greater Wilshire Land Use Committee and the GWNC Board on behalf of United Neighbors, a coalition of neighborhood residential groups throughout California. Their presentation, besides
On Preservation by
Brian Curran
highlighting the shocking chasm by a factor of five between the number of units RHNA requires and those suggested by the planning department, also displayed a series of maps which showed areas in La Brea Hancock, Sycamore Square, Brookside and Larchmont as targeted for expanded use of the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) mechanism, which allows for greater densities close to identified transit corridors. While the draft Housing Element excludes Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs) and Historic Cultural Monuments (HCMs) from consideration for development, it does not exclude National or California Register districts or SurveyLA identified districts. This means that, if enacted, the cottages of La Brea Hancock, the historic houses of Sycamore Square and the terraces of Brookside could make way for high density development. As it stands now,
the city continues to ban the creation of new HPOZs, interpreting state law SB330’s prohibition of “subjective design standards” to include Preservations Plans, which govern development in HPOZs. As I have stated in other articles, this has led to a surge in the preparation of applications MAJOR DENSIFICATION following tearfor National Regis- downs of houses is what is proposed for ter status for those residences in the LVNA community north would-be HPOZs in of Beverly Boulevard. an effort to at least Map courtesy of United Neighbors be covered as historic resources for the purposes not given such assurances. His of CEQA. recent motion, which proposes While the majority of the changes to the “Public Facilisuggested changes to zon- ties Zone” zoning and land use ing will require an updated designations applied to many Wilshire Community Plan to city-owned properties to ease be put into place, expanded the construction of affordable TOC zones could potentially be housing, could potentially affect much easier to adjust through single-family neighborhoods the increase in transit service. and historic districts if those are While Mayor Bass “believes not specifically removed from that many single-family-home consideration. neighborhoods … should reWithout resolute support main off-limits for greater from our elected city repredensity,” and Councilmember sentatives, we and our historic Katy Yaroslavsky stated at a neighborhoods remain at the recent GWNC Board meeting, mercy of the cold maps and “I don’t support upzoning sin- hard numbers of the Housing gle-family neighborhoods,” CD Element and the Planning De13’s Hugo Soto-Martinez has partment staff.
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
Explore consulate general homes on tour Nov. 4
This year’s annual Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society (WSHPHS) home tour, “A Very Special Interior Tour of Rarely Seen Consulate General Homes,” will also feature other stately neighborhood residences. The tour will take place Sat., Nov. 4, from noon to 4 p.m. Hancock Park and Windsor Square have a number of historic homes, including
11 consulate general homes. While not all of these will be included in the day’s tour, the event will be a rare opportunity — one that hasn’t been attempted by the WSHPHS since 1976. Lunch, refreshments (including Prosecco) and a silent auction will be included in the day, and proceeds will go to the greening and improving of spaces in the area.
BEVERLY FAIRFAX Historic District residents gathered to celebrate their neighborhood.
Beverly Fairfax celebrates
(and to Melrose Ave. on GeneBy John Welborne A colorful assemblage of see and Spaulding avenues). At this year’s event, Counpeople, animals and balloons was the scene on Oct. 8 at cilmember Katy Yaroslavsky the annual block party that and daughter Yael made an celebrates the Save Beverly appearance to salute the celeFairfax victory in having its brants. Nora Wyman and Dale neighborhood added to the Kendall made remarks, and evNational Register of Historic eryone had fun (and consumed a lot of Halloween candy!) Places in 2018. The Beverly Fairfax Historic District collection of Spanish Colonial Revival, Late Chateauesque, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Monterey Revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne residences — both multi- and single-family — is approximately Fairfax Ave. east to Gardner St. and Beverly Blvd. north to HALLOWEEN evidently was on the minds of Rosewood Ave. Beverly Fairfax celebrants.
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Tickets for the Consulate Home Tour are $85 for non-members and $65 for members. For tickets, visit wshphs.com or purchase them on tour day at Fourth Street and Windsor Boulevard. Other WSHPHS events include a holiday party on Tues., Dec. 12, and a high tea in January at the Woman’s Club of Hollywood.
4 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Expansion will enable Project Angel Food to serve more clients By Casey Russell Project Angel Food is moving forward with plans for its new facility. While retaining and renovating its 922 Vine St. location, the nonprofit has obtained the property just across Barton Avenue, at 960 Vine St., and current home of a mini-mall that includes Cactus Tacos and El Rancho Super Market. Honoring the project’s lead donor, the entire two-building facility has been dubbed “The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Campus.” The new space will allow the nonprofit to triple the amount of food it prepares for the many critically ill Angelenos who benefit from the organization’s medically tailored meals. Demolition of the 960 Vine St. location is planned to begin in 2025, or early 2026, depending on how quickly the permitting process moves. The new building will be two stories. It will include a
roof deck, which will house an herb garden and solar panels and also will feature spaces for volunteers and staff to take breaks. Volunteers will, most likely, maintain the garden, but staffers also see it as a perfect place for local school groups to come and be of service. When asked if clients will be able to participate in garden upkeep, Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub told us most are too ill to participate in that way. “If [clients] are on-site, the garden will be a beautiful place to gather for some fresh air and stillness,” said Ayoub. Demo kitchen On the first floor of the new building, there will be a demo kitchen for client education. According to Ayoub, Project Angel Food has had great success bringing clients, staff chefs, a nutrition team, board members and others together to have advisory sessions and share a meal.
PROJECT ANGEL FOOD kitchen staff members have the assistance of Mayor Karen Bass (at right) when preparing their 16 millionth meal in April of 2023.
RENDERING of the Project Angel Food buildings. Existing is at right, new is at left.
The first level of the building will also allow space for meetings, school and community groups, large numbers of volunteers and donor gatherings. It will also be a place that interested Angelenos can visit to see how they can become involved. The new building will also provide more space for volunteers, allow the nutrition and client services departments to expand and be a home for a research and policy institute the organization is establishing. The expansion will create more than 300 construction jobs between now and the estimated completion date in 2027. Additionally, the expansion will allow Project Angel Food to hire approximately 60 more staff members, bringing its current employee count up to 150.
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But it did not just provide food. Volunteers provided smiles, hugs and connection. Today, the nonprofit serves thousands of people living with all types of illnesses.
SOLD: This home at 216 N. Arden Blvd. in Windsor Square sold for $2,500,000 in September.
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Project Angel Food was founded in 1989 by author Marianne Williamson. It began as a way to get nutritious meals to people living with HIV / AIDS.
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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. License Number 01991628, 01527235, 1527365.
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
5
TVC 2050 Specific Plan now available and debates continue
AIA/LA fundraiser to be at new headquarters Nov. 30
By Casey Russell The American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter (AIA/LA) will hold its annual Design Awards Ceremony Thurs., Nov. 30, from 5:30 to 11 p.m. The event serves as the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year and will honor the 2023 Design Award winners, Next LA winners and board of director’s honorees. Having recently relocated its headquarters from the nearby Wiltern Building to West Adams — the historic neighborhood just a bit south of our Mid-Wilshire communities — AIA/LA will hold its fundraiser at its new home, a former bank building at 4450 W. Adams Blvd., at the corner
of Victoria Avenue. The large new space also will house the group’s new nonprofit, Architecture for Communities Los Angeles (ACLA). The new organization encourages local students to learn about architecture. The new facilities that ACLA and AIA/LA are sharing will enable AIA/LA to expand its offerings and continue providing programming for advocacy, sustainability and professional development. The Los Angeles chapter is one of the three largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects — a group representing the professional interests of architects since 1857. For tickets, visit tinyurl. com/2p85fscm.
GILMORE ADOBE behind the Original Farmers Market loaned its garden for an Oct. 1 discussion with opponents of the current version of the TVC 2050 project, which would be built right behind the trees and low buildings in the background of the photo.
TVC 2050 proposal is challenged by Neighbors for Responsible Development leaders Shelley Wagers (left) and Danielle Peters.
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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate.
ARCHITECTURE finds a home in this historic bank building on West Adams Blvd. Image courtesy of Clay Holden Architects
By John Welborne Opponents who contest the Hackman Capital Partners proposal to significantly increase the development of the former CBS Television City site gathered behind the historic Gilmore Adobe to discuss their concerns on Sun., Oct. 1. The Hackman team then held another of its open houses at Television City on Sun. Oct. 22, after the Chronicle press deadline. The focus of the most current debate is the draft Specific Plan that had been sought for more than a year and that was officially distributed by the Planning Department only on Oct. 13, following the discovery by project opponents in August — in response to a public records request — that the Planning Dept. possessed the draft document all that time. The opponents, Neighbors for Responsible TVC Development, have this website: fixtvc.org. The developer’s site is: tvcstudios.com.
6 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Marat’s ‘Nutcracker’ to feature local as Sugar Plum Fairy By Casey Russell Students, staff and parents at the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet are hard at work preparing for this year’s performances of “The Nutcracker.” The classical ballet school was established in 2001 by Windsor Square residents Marat and Pamela Daukayev. Marat danced with Russia’s Kirov Ballet for 20 years and was a principal dancer. He and Pamela have created one of the largest and most eminent ballet schools in Los Angeles. When we visited the school’s
expansive facilities on the second floor of the highrise at 3435 Wilshire Blvd. recently, the level of professionalism was clear. Marat and the other teachers expect dedication and focus. But, as Valerie Weiss, parent to one of this year’s five teens dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, told us, “It’s a warm, loving, nurturing environment.” Weiss appreciates that the school fosters such a caring atmosphere while rigorously teaching dancers the best technique. One young Windsor Square resident, Grace Tankenson,
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has been learning in the Marat atmosphere since she was 3. This year, the junior at Immaculate Heart will dance the Sugar Plum Fairy role during the Saturday afternoon performance. Said Tankensen, “I’ve grown up here at Marat, seeing others play the role. Now I get to do it with my dance family. It’s like a dream come true.” Some other locals in this year’s performances are: Annabel Cury of La Brea Hancock, Lola Vernetti of St. Andrews Square and Reece and Tate Clossey of Windsor Square. Touring the school and seeing all the activity going on to prepare, it’s apparent that it takes a village to make the show happen each year. “The production costs around $300,000 to produce,” executive director Pamela Daukayev told us. Funds are raised through ticket sales, donations and fundraisers. But money isn’t all that’s required. Parents are a big part of the reason the shows are so successful. Grace’s mother, Mandy Tankenson, has served as the school’s volunteer production coordinator for several years. Her older daughter, Amelia, also performed many times in “The Nutcracker.” There’s a whole crew of parents backstage, working to get performers where they need to be, assist with quick changes and take care of all the odds and ends that are necessary to make performances run
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SUGAR PLUM FAIRIES: Annabell Johnson, Natalie Moon, Grace Tankenson, Wynter Ross and Maya Ozawa-Minoff take a rehearsal break.
LEVEL ONE dancers rehearse, guided by teacher Wendy Quinn and dancer Annabel Cury.
smoothly. Some dancers’ fathers participate as Dancing Dads in the show’s party scene. Other past and present parents are already working tirelessly to ensure that more than 400 of the 6,000-strong collection of costumes the school owns (most from Russia and Japan) are mended and adjusted to fit each of this year’s 106 per-
formers to perfection. (Many dancers play three to four roles.) “The parents get very involved,” said the executive director. She continued, “We couldn’t do it without them.” The Daukayevs believe the arts are a sacred profession. Many of Marat’s students do end up going on to dance professionally, and they are (Please turn to Page 10)
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
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8 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
A blatant miscarriage of justice
A SKYSCRAPER VIEW is featured in American Contemporary Ballet’s “Nutcracker.” Photo: Victor Demarchelier
This ‘Nutcracker’ leaps 300 feet above the city skyline
By Suzan Filipek “The Nutcracker Suite” by the American Contemporary Ballet (ACB) is among the seasonal performances set to warm up the holidays. Also sure to be tugging at our heart strings this season will be Marat Daukayev’s more traditional version, featuring locals who will dance the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy and other roles. (See story starting on page 6.) Snow globe high above Known for its unusual staging, the ACB holiday ballet is set to live music in a DTLA skyscraper with sweeping views of the city skyline. It’s described as a mysterious fantasy snow globe 300 feet above the city lights. ACB’s immersive one-hour take on the holiday favorite features the joyful dance that audiences expect and much more of what they don’t. The company is mum on the details but promises a live
performance of Tchaikovsky’s transcendent score, swirling snowflakes and many surprises in this show for all ages. “We present world-class classical and contemporary ballet in extraordinary stagings unlike any other, some semi-immersive, several of which are centered around holiday events,” ACB’s communications manager and Miracle Mile resident Amy Jones told us. Director Lincoln Jones also calls the Miracle Mile home. “‘The Nutcracker Suite’ is truly magical and has become such a family favorite that we’ve doubled our performances several times since its premiere and still cannot keep up with ticket demand,” Amy Jones said. The ACB “Nutcracker Suite” performances are Sat., Nov. 25, to Sun., Dec. 24, at Two California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Avenue, 28th Floor. Tickets are $85 to $125 at acbdances.com.
The Burial (3/10), 126 minutes, R. At first glance, this is a pleasing, feel-good story — about Jerry O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), a white businessman who owned funeral homes and sold insurance, who sues Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp), a white Canadian centi-millionaire businessman who ran a huge company with 15,000 employees and operated 1,115 funeral homes. The lawsuit was for breach of contract for $5 million. O’Keefe replaces his white attorney with charismatic Black personal injury lawyer Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx), who immediately ups the claim to $100 million. This dispute between two white men is contested by two Black attorneys opposing one another in front of a Black judge and a predominantly Black jury in Mississippi. Because the facts are against him, the only card Gary has to play is the race card, and he plays it constantly. There were things about the film that deeply troubled me as a lawyer, so I investigated this case, of which I previously had never heard. What I found was astonishing. One of the many distressing things about the film is that the Black judge allows the admission of “evidence” that has no relevance to a breach of contract litiga-
At the Movies with
Tony Medley tion, such as evidence about Loewen’s character and the value of his yacht. Despite that, an undertaker friend of mine who worked in competition with Loewen, said he was unlikeable but not corrupt, so there was no basis for a plaintiff to be awarded punitive damages, which are rarely, if ever, awarded in breach of contract cases. Spoiler alert: The $500 million final award was so outrageously inequitable that it should never have been allowed to stand. However, because Mississippi law required anyone appealing a judgment to post a bond equal to 125 percent of the huge award, Loewen (and virtually no one) could afford that kind of money to file an appeal, so he was stuck with the verdict. Ultimately, because the amount was so huge and the plaintiffs worried they might suffer in a Loewen company bankruptcy, the parties ultimately settled for $175 million. Afterwards, Sir Robert Jennings, Queen’s Counsel and Professor of Law at the University of Cambridge, England, was asked to write an opinion of the case concerning a reparation claim against the United States, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) treaty, arising from the proceedings. This is an excerpt from his 22-page opinion:
‘It makes no difference that the manifest injustice in this case results from the verdict of a common law jury (a majority verdict of 11 votes out the twelve). (Transcript at 573233, 5811-12.) It is clear that in the present case the origin of the manifest injustice was in effect created by a gross abuse of the system by plaintiffs’ leading counsel, which if not quite aided and abetted by presiding
Judge, was at least tolerated and totally uncontrolled by the Judge, even though he knew very well the game that was being played in his court. “There were so many occasions when the Judge ought to have stopped plaintiffs’ counsel; and occasions when he certainly ought to have warned the jury against counsel’s methods. Whatever the reasons for the Judge’s silences, and some of his curious utterances, the result was a remarkable travesty of justice. “Moreover, the Judge’s observation that counsel was playing the “race card,” shows that the Judge was wholly aware of what was happening in his court (Transcript at 359597). There are cases where bias, though wrongful, is relatively innocent because it is of the kind stemming from ignorance. “This case was different. (Please turn to Page 11)
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[This month, our movie reviewer — a lawyer and decades-long member of the California Bar — turns his focus on a single movie. – Ed.]
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
9
Three entertaining plays to take our minds off of everything Sometimes, a play is just a play, and that’s a good thing. We need a night out to take our minds off the world right now. The three plays below are all entertaining, though each left me less than satisfied. The Los Angeles premiere of Anna Ouyang Moench’s Birds of North America, at the Odyssey until Sun., Nov. 19, is a touching play that traces a decade in the relationship between a bird-watching dad (Arye Gross) and searchingto-find-herself adult daughter (Jacqueline Misaye). The story unfolds over various seasons in various years (although the set stubbornly refuses to molt), and all the tropes are hit: daughter can’t find a job until she goes all right-wing corporate, alienating her leftwing dad, who is a research scientist whose work never pays off. There is mom’s cancer, boyfriend One’s instability, boyfriend Two’s daughter from a previous marriage, dad’s temper, etc., etc. The decade is covered in 10 scenes that feel like John Cheever short stories, and perhaps would have been more effective as prose read in quiet contemplation. 310-477-2055; odysseytheatre.com. Unlike the limited autumnal
setting at the Odyssey, The Engagement Party, at the Geffen through Sun., Nov. 5, features a full-bore, two-story Park Avenue mansion (that revolves!), occupied by WASP-y Katherine (Bella Heathcote) and her Jewish fiancé, Josh (Jonah Platt), who, in the classic tradition of Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby,” makes it from a humble background to Wall Street Master of the Universe. Since the play is set in 2007, I assume the playwright, Samuel Baum, is implying that more than one bubble is about to burst. And it does. The couple has invited her parents and his friends (an odd mix) to celebrate their engagement. The centerpiece is a $300,000 engagement ring, which is a symbol either of Josh’s love or his insecurity. In the manner of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (Mr. Baum picks his templates well), people get drunk and secrets are revealed (which to spill would spoil the script’s scant tension). In the course of dinner, Katherine’s rock goes missing, friends who are not as wealthy get accused, and the WASP pater familias (pace Ibsen, et al) is revealed to have feet of clay. That a ring this size slips into the crack of the couple’s Danish modern dining table,
Theater Review by
Louis Fantasia only to be found by the repentant Josh as he cleans up later, beggars belief, even for an engaging soufflé. 310-208-2028; geffenplayhouse.org. A Noise Within presents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream through Sun., Nov. 12. The production is part of the company’s “Balancing Act” season. As co-directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Elliott-Rodriguez note, “When we start off [in Athens], there’s a great deal of conflict, everything is out of whack. As the characters come together in the forest, they — and we — get to see everything in a whole new way and be changed by it. The characters, and even the forest itself, find a kind of alignment. They learn to get along and live with one another… the stakes are high and great transformations happen.” I wish I had seen some of that transformation on stage. The play starts in an Orwellian/Beckettian Athens/
Luckman Theatre 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles 90032
Friday, December 8 at 7pm Saturday, December 9 at 2pm and 7pm Sunday, December 10 at 11.30am and 4.30pm
What to watch for
“Inherit the Wind” plays at the Pasadena Playhouse through Sun., Nov. 26. Alfred Molina and John Douglas Thompson star. 626-356-7529; pasadenaplayhouse.org The world premiere of “SHE” by Marlow Wyatt is at Anteus through Mon., Nov. 20. Camille Ariana Spirlin plays the title role; 818-506-1983 or antaeus.org. L.A. Opera brings Rossini’s sprightly “Barber of Seville” to town from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, through Sun., Nov. 12. 213-972-8001; laopera.org. London and travels through a Vivienne Westwood steampunk forest, but never finds its own balance (especially in the verse speaking). For scheduling reasons, I saw the play on its last preview and will assume things balanced out over the run. 626-356– 3100; anoisewithin.org.
Finally, the Los Angeles theater community lost a true pioneer with the passing of actress / director Shirley Jo Finney, who was long associated with the Fountain Theater, as well as noted for her work in regional theater and TV and as a superb teacher and mentor. A real loss.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater to kick off its 60th with a party Dancing cakes, prancing candy and, of course, puppets will be featured at Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s 60th birthday kickoff this month as part of a year-long celebration. The birthday festivities begin with a party on Sat., Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Birthday-themed shows will be offered on both Nov. 18 and Sun., Nov. 19. Attractions include fan fa-
vorite numbers from throughout the past six decades, plus a “Marionette Palooza” show and musical performances, such as “Unpopable” [sic] playing a balloon bass guitar. A balloon art workshop, birthday cake treats and a DJ will add to the extravaganza. Get party tickets and more information at bobbakermarionettetheater.com. The theater is at 4949 York Blvd., Highland Park.
For tickets and information please scan the QR code or visit:
www.maratdaukayev.com
10 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
MARAT and other teachers look on while the corps de ballet dancers rehearse.
NUTCRACKER PRINCE Zarek King leaping during practice.
COSTUME TEAM: Seiko Kuriyayashi, Yuko Wood and Madoka Ozawa-Minoff in the room where numerous alterations are made.
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all encouraged to let their bodies be a vehicle of expression when they dance. Pamela Daukayev told us, “People identify with things
October to purchase tickets. Performances of The Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker will take place at the Luckman Theatre at Cal State LA, 5151 State University Dr., Fri., Dec. 8 through Sun., Dec. 10.
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[that dancers] show or express. You want to fully feel — not only for yourself, but also for the audience.” To experience these young artists performing this year’s “Nutcracker,” visit maratdaukayev.com in late
© LC0922
Marat
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
11
Nine O’Clock Players ready to enchant families with new show
By Casey Russell The Nine O’Clock Players will open its 95th year entertaining families with a production of “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty: The Legend of Briar-Rose.” Opening day is Sun., Oct 29, at 2 p.m. This season, the award-winning Assistance League of Los Angeles’ producers are joined by two former Disney Imagineers — from that company’s parks and resorts creative arm. Chris Runco and Chris Kelly both recently retired from the Walt Disney Company and, as new member volunteers, are working hard on the set design and on set coordination. Said Kelly, “Not only has Chris Runco created a beautiful environment for the cast, his background in special effects and storytelling design holds some special surprises for the guests.” New fog machines have been bought, and this production will have numerous special effects. “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty,” like all Assistance League productions, will joyfully teach life lessons for today’s youth through magical music, characters that make audiences laugh and interesting story twists. Annually, the Players
CAST MEMBERS in rehearsal for “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty: The Legend of Briar-Rose.” Photos by: Yvette Marie Jones
host more than 17,000 Los Angeles-area children. School field trip groups, special needs students and low-income families are welcomed at no- or low-cost to experience the magic of live theater. All performances will be held at the historic Assis-
tance League Theatre located at 1367 N. St. Andrews Place. After opening day, performances will be Sundays, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, also at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 323-545-6153 or visit nineoclockplayers.com or brownpapertickets.com.
FORMER IMAGINEER Chris Runco (left) works on the set for the palace scene with scenic artist volunteer Alex Papoban.
At the Movies
tionally stirring up racial and nationalistic bias against Canada and Canadians; possibly one must suppose because he had decided that this was the way he might win the case and harvest absurdly and outrageously inflated damages.” Professor Jennings’ entire scathing 22-page opinion may
be read here: tinyurl.com/ 46fy3s95. A film about this case would have been more appropriate had the story been told from the point of view of how Loewen and his company were destroyed by a flawed system of civil justice and a devious attorney. But that would have
(Continued from Page 8)
The jury might have been to some extent unaware of how they were being manipulated. But so far as the court was concerned, both the Judge and counsel knew perfectly well that counsel was inten-
made co-producer Foxx unable to make lawyer Gary look like a hero. This judgment has been widely criticized, but you’d never know it from this film that whitewashes, indeed extols, a case that should be universally condemned for its blatant miscarriage of justice.
12 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
Open house attendees learn more about Tar Pits Master Plan
INFORMATION STATIONS at the Sept. 30 open house were in front of the George C. Page Museum that will be preserved and restored as part of the La Brea Tar Pits Master Plan.
Adrian Scott Fine named to succeed Linda Dishman at LA Conservancy
Adrian Scott Fine has been picked to head the Los Angeles Conservancy. He has overseen the organization’s advocacy, outreach and revitalization efforts since 2010. He will succeed Linda Dishman as president and CEO of the Conservancy. She is retiring from the
organization after 31 years of leadership. She will be honored on Sun., Nov. 5, beginning at 5 p.m., at a cocktails and hors d’oeuvre reception followed by a sponsor dinner at Vibiana, one of the Los Angeles landmarks she helped save. Visit tinyurl.com/2h3rt2vw
By John Welborne In a two-hour period in front of the George C. Page Museum in Hancock Park, on Saturday morning, Sept. 30, about three score neighbors and other interested people looked at illustrations, spoke with the author about her draft environmental impact report (EIR), and chatted with representatives of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. All were there because the draft EIR for the project, “La Brea Tar Pits Loops and Lenses, Master Plan and Concept Design,” was released on Sept. 11, and interested parties were asked to comment by Oct. 26. For more information about the project, visit tarpits.org/ reimagine.
DETAIL OF “Beautiful Mountain” by Carolyn Castaño, who mixes watercolors with colonial travelogues and other motifs. The painting is part of the new exhibit at the Craft Contemporary.
Craft Contemporary has new leadership; new exhibits open
By Suzan Filipek Soon after Rody N. López took over the post as executive director at the Craft Contemporary, he oversaw the opening of three new exhibitions. All three were the product of Suzanne Isken, the longtime head of the museum who López replaced after Isken announced her plans to retire in May. López recalls meeting Isken in 2008 when he was a Getty intern and she was the education director at the Museum of Contemporary Art. After a tour, she took the interns to lunch. “She opened our eyes. That was a wonderful experience.” He has ambitious plans for upcoming exhibits, which include incorporating the textile tradition of his native Guatemala and his love of ceramics. (He even wrote a book on the subject: “Living with Clay: California Ceramics Collections.”) But to start, he plans for a low-key approach. “I want to observe and ab-
NEW HEAD of the Craft Contemporary, Rody López. Hector Islas Photography
sorb as much as possible. I’m meeting with all of the staff, who are an amazing asset to the organization.” Joseph Coriaty, chair of the search committee, wrote in an announcement last month, “We are thrilled to welcome Rody to the museum — he brings with him a keen understanding of art and the nonprofit landscape… I’d also like to thank Suzanne for her extraordinary leadership for the past 12 years, under (Please turn to Page 14)
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
13
LIBRARY CALENDAR
Attend a Día de los Muertos workshop and learn about robots Story time: Listen to stories every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Kids Rock painting: Design and paint your own rock for Día de los Muertos on Thurs., Nov. 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. Limited to 12 participants. Register at jcfrmt@lapl.org. All ages Book Sale: Browse used books Fri., Nov. 3, and Sat., Nov. 4, from noon to 4 p.m. All sales support the library branch. MEMORIAL LIBRARY CREATE AUTUMN-THEMED Toddlers art at the library this month. Story time in the park: Bring a blanket and listen to to use measuring tools, cooking stories and sing songs in Me- equipment and read a recipe on morial Park each Wednesday Mon., Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. at 10:30 a.m. Kids & Teens Kids Drop-in tutoring with Autumn art: Use seasonal Steve: Need a refresher on items to make an array of fallthemed art on Sat., Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. LIBRARIES CrEATive plate: Learn how
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Run, walk, shop at Race for Rescues at Rose Bowl
Animal lovers of all ages can run, walk, shop and adopt at Race for The Rescues on Sat., Nov. 4, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The event — aimed to help save the lives of homeless dogs, cats, horses and farm animals in Southern California — is a fundraiser where 100 percent of the net proceeds go to local animal welfare organizations, Delilah Loud, tell us. The longtime Larchmont Village resident is spokesperson for the group. The Rescue Train’s largest annual fundraising event began in 2005 and has raised more than $5.5 million to benefit 50 animal nonprofits to date. This day of family fun includes a 5K run/walk (with or without their dog) and a 1K dog walk. There is also a virtual “couch potato” race for those that would like to donate from the comfort of their home. Participants can join as individuals or start a
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team. Every pre-registered racer gets an official Race for The Rescues T-shirt, finisher’s medal and the chance to win fundraising prizes. Dogs and cats will be available for adoption from Pasadena Humane. Visit racefortherescues.org.
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by Tim Mason. If you want to read ahead, December’s discussion will be about “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. All ages Chess club: Play chess or learn how each Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Book sale: Support your library by purchasing your next favorite read every Tuesday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and every Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m. WILSHIRE LIBRARY Kids, Tweens & Teens Henna tattoos: Artist Manjushree Nomulwar will create temporary henna tattoos on Thurs., Nov. 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. She will also discuss the history and artistry of henna. Adults Book making: Learn how to make a softcover, handstitched mini-book to use as a journal or planner on Sat., Nov. 4, from 1 to 3 pm. Advance registration required; call 323-957-4550.
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some academics? Anyone in grades kindergarten to 12 is welcome to stop by every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. for one-on-one assistance with any subject. Reading to the rescue: Love dogs? Take this opportunity to read to a therapy dog on Wed., Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. Teens Robots: See how robots and animatronic creatures are assembled with expert Paul Thompson on Thurs., Nov. 2, at 4 p.m. Zine making: Express yourself by making your own mini-magazine on Thurs., Nov. 30, at 4 p.m. Adults B.Y.O. needle arts: Work on needlecrafts while sitting with others, Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. Art class: Paint and color every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Book club: Meet on Fri., Nov. 3, at 1 p.m., to discuss “The Nightingale Affair”
HOURS Mon. and Wed., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs. noon to 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Libraries will be closed Fri., Nov. 10 and Sat., Nov. 11 for Veterans Day; Thurs., Nov. 23 and Fri., Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving.
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FAIRFAX LIBRARY Toddlers Story time: Sing songs and listen to stories at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Kids Story time with STAR volunteer: Every Monday at 3 p.m. listen to STAR volunteer Kathy read stories. Adults Walk-in tutoring: Every Wednesday, at 4:30 p.m., come for help with searching the internet, job resumes, applications and filling out forms. All ages LEGO Club: The library provides the LEGOs, you create the structure,s Thurs., Nov. 21, at 4 p.m. Book Sale: Browse used books every Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. All sales support the library branch. FREMONT LIBRARY Babies & Toddlers
14 SECTION TWO
Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
POLICE BEAT
Car thieves are out and about; retailers also need to be alert
OLYMPIC DIVISION Auto theft continues to rise with Kias and Hyundais both being high-demand cars for thieves, according to Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo. To help combat this increase in crime, Olympic Community Police Station auto detectives are giving away free steering wheel locks to residents. Pick one up at the detective front desk at the station, 1130 S. Vermont Ave. ROBBERIES: Two robberies were reported. One was with a firearm at the Subway at 3939 Wilshire Blvd. Another occurred at 7-Eleven at 473 N. Western Ave., and the robber used pepper spray.
WILSHIRE DIVISION Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Dave Cordova is out on sick leave. His interim replacement is SLO Hebel Rodriguez at 213-793-0715, 35738@ lapd.online. BURGLARIES: There were multiple home burglaries in the beginning of October. The first burglary occurred on Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. at South Orange Drive near Eighth Street. Next, a home on the 700 block of South Longwood Avenue was burglarized at 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 6. Two homes were invaded on Oct. 6., the first at 4 p.m. on June Street, south of Beverly Boulevard and the second
happened at 8:40 p.m. on the 400 block of South Citrus Avenue. Another home was broken into on the 500 block of North Citrus Avenue on Oct. 7 at noon. Lastly, a home on the 100 block of North Citrus Avenue was burglarized on Oct. 10 at 10:30 p.m. THEFTS: Two robberies occurred on the 300 block of South Detroit Street. The first happened on Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. and the second at 1:15 p.m. on Oct 11. GRAND THEFT AUTOS: A car was stolen from the 600 block of North Sycamore Avenue on Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. Another was taken near the corner of Larchmont Boule-
(Continued from Page 12) which the museum has grown immeasurably.” López has held numerous administrative positions at museums and nonprofits. Most recently, he was director of development and communications for QueensCare and QueensCare Health Centers. He also served in the development department at Para Los Niños, a comprehensive social services organization. His posts at the Long Beach Museum of Art and the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona include curating exhibits and spearheading
fundraisers. He has a master of fine arts in exhibition design from Cal State Fullerton and a bachelor of arts from Pomona College. On exhibit The three new exhibitions that opened at the Craft Contemporary soon after López started his new position on Sept. 25 are: Carolyn Castaño, “Cumanday-Beautiful Mountain,” which looks at the disappearing glaciers in Columbia; Linda Sibio, “Economics of Suffering, Part IV,” which considers the worldwide financial crisis that peaked from 2007-2010; and “Chirk” by Margaret Griffith, which
takes a look at the gates in front of late-13th-century Chirk Castle in Wales, built to keep the Welsh under English rule. They are on exhibit through Jan. 7, 2024. While Isken has several exhibits on schedule at the museum for months to come, López has ideas in the wings and is planning on hiring a chief curator in the new year. “I’m so excited to build upon what [Isken] has created here, and she truly has transformed this institution,” he said. Craft Contemporary is at 5814 Wilshire Blvd. Visit craftcontemporary.org.
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Party house permits are suspended for 120 days
By Nona Sue Friedman After receiving two citations from the Los Angeles Police Department, a party house at 300 N. Plymouth Blvd. has been quiet and party-free for the last month. That’s a relief to the surrounding neighbors who have endured raucous and illegal parties held at the site for months. The North Plymouth Coalition (NPC), created to stop unlawful activity at the home, said, “NPC is committed to continue our fight until the owners and property manager are completely shut down.” In addition to support from multiple neighborhood organizations as well as the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, Senator Maria Elena Durazo’s office and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur’s office, the coalition also received unanimous support from the Greater
By Nona Sue Friedman With the upcoming holidays, you may be leaving town. Unfortunately, that is what a burglar is looking for — an unoccupied home. Try to make it hard for thieves to enter your home. Here are some tips from the Los Angeles Police Department to prevent your home from being burglarized. Make your home look occupied. Leave a car in the driveway, turn lights on
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Wilshire Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee. The committee passed a motion on Oct. 11 to halt the issuance of any permits for that location for the next 120 days. With that motion in place, Councilman Hugo SotoMartínez’s office is able to reach out to local agencies, such as the Los Angeles Dept. of Building and Safety, and urge them not to issue any permits for that location. NPC commented that “The help from these offices has been invaluable and we are extremely grateful they are committed to continuing their support until the book is closed on 300 N. Plymouth Blvd.” Halloween is around the corner and a member of the NPC said the property manager, Errol Webber, posted a call out on his Instagram to have a party at the house on Halloween.
Keep your house safe while you’re away for the holidays
before leaving or have a timer turn lights on and off while you are away, or even keep a radio on to give the impression that someone is there. Keep all your doors and windows locked. Side gates should also be locked. Arrange with the US Post Office to cease delivery of mail and don’t order items that will arrive while you are out of town. Arrange for a friend or neighbor to check your porch for any miscellaneous fliers.
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
SECTION TWO
15
‘Odonymological’ journey on Larchmont and in Hancock Park A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a browser-based game with a simple premise. “Name SF Streets,” created by designer and public transit activist Chris Arvin, challenges users to identify all of San Francisco’s street names from memory. A map of the city without its streets labeled offers a visual aid, and a sidebar in the game’s interface displays your “score,” which is the percentage of the city’s total mileage you’ve named thus far. Having lived in the City by the Bay for a few years while in my 20s, I breezed through the first 25 percent of the city’s streets quite easily. Once I plumbed the furthest reaches of my mental map, I began throwing out hopeful contenders that fall under the usual conventions used for city street naming — colleges, U.S. states, trees, European capitals. My score creeped up to a meager 35 percent. The exercise made me wonder about the origins of the names of streets we traverse on a daily basis, often without a second thought. The study of road names itself has a name: odonymy, from the Ancient Greek hodós, meaning “road,” and ónuma, or “name.” Road names follow a two-part format — first an individual word known as the “specific” (like Larchmont), followed by an indicator of the type of street, called the “generic” (like Boulevard, for example). The Boulevard — specifically the Larchmont Chronicle headquarters — is where I decided to embark on an “odonymological” journey of my own. Walking south on Larchmont — named after Larchmont, New York, which was a center of movie-mak-
ing in the early 1920s — I reach Beverly Boulevard, another appellation inspired by an East Coast locale. The boulevard was designated in connection to developer Burton Green’s Beverly Hills, founded in 1906. Green’s inspiration for the title of his idyllic new enclave was Beverly Farms, Massachusettes, where he read that Standard Oil scion John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was summering that year. Ida Hancock Ross Turning right on Beverly, I walk three blocks westward and turn right on Rossmore Avenue, which traces its origins to Ida Hancock Ross. Born Ida Haraszthy, Ross was the daughter of Hungarian aristocrats who arrived in California in 1849. In 1863, at the age of 20, Ida married Major Henry Hancock, a native of New Hampshire who, three years prior, had orchestrated a deal that landed him ownership of Rancho La Brea. The vast 4,439-acre land grant comprised present-day Hollywood, parts of West Hollywood and Miracle Mile, including the La Brea Tar Pits. This was in the years when the late Pleistocene fossils at the Tar Pits were thought to be nothing more than the bones of livestock or other animals roaming the area that had become mired in the property’s thick, inky deposits. When Henry died in 1883, Ida became the steward of Rancho La Brea, and she made a fortune leasing out portions of the property for oil drilling. She married Judge Erskine Mayo Ross in 1909 and took on his surname for the remainder of her life, which would only be four
Word Café by
Mara Fisher short years. Ida’s son with Henry, George Allan Hancock, would go on to found the eponymous Hancock Park neighborhood in 1919. The first street he christened in the development was a treelined avenue to be named for the late, great Ida Hancock Ross — Rossmore. Named for Tongva village Heading north on Rossmore, I walk one block and make a left turn onto a stretch of Rosewood Avenue lined with crepe myrtle trees thick with pink blooms. Further along this unassuming neighborhood block is a link to Los Angeles’ Indigenous history: the southernmost point of Cahuenga Boulevard. Named
for the Tongva village “Kawee’nga” that once thrived in the southeastern San Fernando Valley, Cahuenga as we know it today traces an ancient footpath that once connected the Los Angeles Basin to the village through the Santa Monica Mountains. In the Tongva language — the original language of Los Angeles — “Kawee’nga” translates to “place of the fox.” I continue north on Cahuenga for a few blocks, eventually exiting the charming pocket of residences at the northeastern corner of Hancock Park. From there I turn right onto Melrose Avenue, cruising along to reach my next destination: Vine Street. Hollywood In an age when the region had more citrus groves than it did star power, devout Kansas prohibitionists Harvey and Daeida Wilcox (Wilcox Avenue nearby honors the
couple’s legacy) arrived in sunny Los Angeles and, in 1887, purchased the 120-acre parcel they would call “Hollywood.” They designated one of the streets in the tract “Weyse Avenue” after Otto Günther Weyse, who partnered with Harvey Wilcox and developer Ivar (sound familiar?) Weid to build the ambitious Hotel Hollywood. After the failure of the hotel project, the road was relabeled “Vine Street,” in 1894, after the grapevines growing along the street just north of present-day Santa Monica Boulevard. As I cross the intersection past Vine and continue east to return to Larchmont, I pass restaurants, shops, apartment buildings and offices, as well as more street signs — Arden Boulevard, Lucerne Boulevard and El Centro Avenue. Though the vineyards and orchards are long gone, clues of the city’s early landscape and the figures that shaped it are always within view.
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Larchmont Chronicle
NOVEMBER 2023
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