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Top-tier real estate developers are investing billions

By Steven Rosenthal Commercial real estate activity in the Miracle Mile continues at a feverish pace. Major developer Jerry H. Snyder has long been involved in Miracle Mile projects. Lately, developers Michael Hackman and Rossano De Cotiis also have taken big stakes in the area.

J.H. Snyder Company, the development firm of Jerry Snyder, is situated in the Miracle Mile and is one of the top 100 development firms in the United States, according to Snyder. Its current project at the company’s Museum Square was just changed from a planned commercial tower into a 20-story residential complex on Curson Avenue.

“Los Angeles needs residential,” Snyder says. Looking into the future, as Snyder puts it: “My favorite project is my next project.”

Across Wilshire Boulevard from Museum Square, and originally a Snyder creation, Wilshire Courtyard, at 5700 and 5750 Wilshire, has

WILSHIRE COURTYARD, originally developed by Jerry Snyder, has just been purchased by developer Rossano De Cotiis’ Onni Group from Vancouver, Canada.

changed hands again. The allure of the Miracle Mile captured the attention of Rossano De Cotiis, President of Onni Group in Vancouver, Canada, and a major investor in Los Angeles real estate, mostly in Downtown. Onni purchased the Wilshire Courtyard from owner Tishman Speyer to further expand Onni’s global footprint. Onni paid $623 million for the complex.

Another landmark and icon, CBS Television City, has changed hands, and new owner Hackman Capital Partners

plans on transforming the aging studio lot into a stateof-the-art production community. That deal is valued at $750 million.

Snyder and the Mile Snyder’s retail, residential and office development company and his construction company have created and helped finance a number of the historic properties in the Miracle Mile including the CalFed building and the Miracle Mile’s neighborhood Ralphs Grocery.

He has been successful, as Snyder puts it, because

his company is “quick on its turns.” and says his buildings are “environmentally friendly.”

Snyder chooses architects who are in touch with the newest materials and technology for both his office and residential projects. “My buildings don’t leak,” he proudly says and adds that they have LEED “green building certifications.”

To design his new residential complex, he chose MVE + Partners’ Carl McLarand, AIA, the same architect who designed the Wilshire Courtyard.

Snyder knows the importance of working closely with communities and neighborhood activists when planning and building a new project.

JERRY SNYDER is the longtime leading real estate developer in the Miracle Mile.

His Ralphs Grocery and Office Depot projects have specially constructed “streetscaping,” which Snyder says is a “mark on the Miracle Mile.”

Snyder credits the Miracle (Please turn to page 28)

Town & Country developers embark upon EIR As explained to Park LaBrea Residents Association members at their Jan 13 annual meeting, a revised project

— for the site of the former Kmart — is being processed through the City Planning (Please turn to page 28)

Kramer + Dresben Estate Planning · Trust Administration · Probate 5858 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 205, Los Angeles, CA 90036  323–964–7100  323–964–7107 REVISED PROJECT for Town and Country stores and apartments has the approximately 350 new dwelling units in an eightstory building rather than in a tower of 20 stories or more. Third Street is at the top of the rendering. This and other slides were shown at the Park LaBrea Residents Association meeting.

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2019 a year of progress for museums in the Mile and Metro in the Mile Famous musems evolving in Miracle Mile

By Suzan Filipek Museum Row on the Miracle Mile will take you into the wonders of film and art as never before, when its newest member — the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (AMMP) — readies to open at the end of the year.

Visitors will be immersed in the magic and dreamscape of cinema at the $388 million museum under construction at the site of the former May Copany at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. Museum officials announced opening exhibitions in December.

“We’ve been thrilled by the response to our exhibition plans now that we’ve offered a glimpse into the immersive environments at the heart of the Academy Museum,” museum Director Kerry Brougher, told us via email last month.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone on this journey through the history, art, and science of the movies when the Academy Museum opens in late 2019.”

MIRACLE MILE

Published by the Larchmont Chronicle 323-462-2241

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The annual edition is delivered to residents, businesses and employees in the greater Miracle Mile area. It also is delivered to residents in Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Fremont Place, Park LaBrea and Larchmont Village, bringing the total readership to 100,000.

COVER PHOTO of Miracle Mile from Fairfax by Bill Devlin Photography.

E. CLEM WILSON Building, circa 1935, is at the northeast corner of Wilshire and La Brea. Metro’s La Brea subway station will be across the street. Photo: USC Digital Library, Los Angeles Examiner Collection.

The 300,000-square foot, six-story museum will include 50,000 square feet of gallery space devoted to the past, present and future of film.

(Please turn to page 10)

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Subway stations at both ends of the Mile

By John Welborne Metro will take you to the wonders of Miracle Mile faster than ever when the first phase of the Purple Line Extension opens to San Vicente Blvd., with stops

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IN THE PHOTO: 1 - Academy Museum of Motion Pictures; 2 - LACMA; 3 - La Brea Tar Pits Museum; 4 - Craft Contemporary Museum; 5 - Petersen Automotive Museum; 6 - Metro Fairfax Station construction yard.

at La Brea and at Fairfax, in 2023. The 3.9-mile extension west from Western Ave. has been in process since 2014.

The further extension to Beverly Hills and Century City is planned to be operational in 2025, and the final extension, through Westwood and to the Veterans Administration property west of the 405 Freeway, is planned to open in 2026.

The new Wilshire / La Brea station will be on the northwest corner of that intersection. The Wilshire / Fairfax station will be where the present construction yard is located, on S. Orange Grove Ave., next to the Petersen Automotive Museum and across Wilshire Boulevard from LACMA and the new Academy Museum.

The actual tunneling is being done by two “tunnel boring machines” (TBMs) launched under Wilshire Blvd. at La Brea Ave. in the fall of 2018. One TBM is now just east of Muirfield Road; the other is just passing Fremont Place.

When the full extension is completed in 2026, expected travel time from Downtown to Westwood is 23 minutes.

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Larchmont Chronicle

Steve Kramer a ‘Trailblazer’ for Miracle Mile Chamber

By Jane Gilman “Smart, trustworthy, innovative, fun and romantic,” are some of the accolades Stephen Kramer received at the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce Trailblazer Awards Luncheon Jan. 10 at The Ebell of Los Angeles.

Elected officials and community members praised the longtime chamber president for his leadership in revitalizing the chamber and for his role in the resurgence of the Miracle Mile business community.

Among those present to laud Kramer for his service were City Attorney Mike Feuer and City Controller Ron Galperin. Mayor Garcetti recorded and sent a video message in tribute to Kramer, and several other elected officials sent staff members bearing certificates and proclamations.

Others speaking throughout

JANE GILMAN, winner of the inaugural Trailblazer Award last year, made the presentation.

TRAILBLAZER AWARD winner Stephen Kramer was saluted for revitalizing the Miracle Mile.

the delicious Ebell luncheon from executive chef Dan Cincis included Mark Panatier of the A. F. Gilmore Co. and Original Farmers Market; Ryan Hawley of The Grove; Dave Linden, onetime chamber executive; Ken Hixon with the Miracle Mile Residential Association; Lyn MacEwen Cohen of the Miracle Mile Civ-

ic Coalition; and yours truly, last year’s awardee at the first of the now-annual Trailblazer Luncheons.

Kramer, a lawyer and Wilshire Park resident, also was cited for his support of the Craft & Folk Art Museum and his involvement in launching TarFest, an arts and music program.

INSPIRE HUMANITY THROUGH TRUTH LOS ANGELES MUSEUM OF THE HOLOCAUST Open seven days a week Admission always free 100 The Grove Drive Los Angeles, CA 90036 www.lamoth.org 323.651.3704

CARUSO general manager of the West Los Angeles region, Ryan Hawley, spoke.

AT T E N D E E S numbered about 100, including LAPD Wilshire Division Sgt. A.J. Kirby, Lyn MacEwen Cohen, honoree Steve Kramer and Wally Marks.

Photo by Jane Gilman

History of Mercury Insurance and its local presence

By Talia Abrahamson The three-story, gray office building at 4484 Wilshire Boulevard with the Mercury Insurance sign might look unremarkable from the outside. But, it houses a rich history of Mercury Insurance’s presence in the local community and its founder, George Joseph, who is now the United States’ oldest billionaire.

Joseph was born in 1921 to Lebanese immigrants in West Virginia. He served in the Air Force during World War II and was later admitted to Harvard on the G.I. Bill. He graduated after three years in 1949 with majors in math and physics and began working for Occidental Life Insurance Company a few months later.

“All my life, all of my work has been in insurance since I graduated from college. I just liked the mathematics, and mathematics is very much involved in our business,” Joseph said in an interview with the Chronicle last month.

Eventually he quit Occidental Life Insurance Company, convinced that he could provide a novel system of insurance based on flexible factors to create fair rates for a variety of drivers.

“George Joseph was a visionary, and the thing about George is that he was determined,” said Windsor Square resident Judge James Kaddo, a fellow member of the local Lebanese community. “He saw a need, and he saw that he could fulfill the need, but like all entrepreneurs, he didn’t have the financial backing to go against the other companies.”

In 1961, after raising $2 (Please turn to page 18)

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free for members and children 17 and under

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Petersen Automotive Museum marks 25 years on the Mile

By Billy Taylor This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Petersen Automotive Museum, located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard.

To celebrate, the museum is hosting events all year long.

Brief history The Petersen Automotive Museum first opened to the public on June 9, 1994 on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire in a building that previously housed the department store Seibu. The museum’s benefactors, Margie and Robert E. Petersen, had a dream to showcase automotive culture from around the world while continuing to celebrate Southern California’s rich history of automotive innovation, competition and design.

The Miracle Mile’s skyline was forever changed when, in 2015, more than 300 sec-

tions of silvery steel ribbons were assembled to form a dramatic contrast to the building’s “hot rod red” exterior as, perhaps, the most visible part of a 13-month, $125 million renovation to the then nearly two-decade old museum. The result was 95,000 square feet of exhibit space on three floors devoted to the history, industry and art of the automobile.

Anniversary events Kicking off its 25th-anniversary celebration, the Petersen Museum paraded some of Hollywood’s most famous cars past Los Angeles landmarks on President’s Day, Feb. 18, including the “Little Miss Sunshine” Volkswagen bus and the James Bond XK-R car from “Die Another Day.” Starting at Playa Vista, the cars cruised through Venice along Ocean Avenue to San

1957 FERRARI, called the winningest Ferrari road racer of all time, is on display as part of the “Winning Numbers” exhibition.

Book your event here.

E S TA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 3 6 , T H E E L R E Y I S A N O R I G I N A L A R T D E C O T H E AT R E IN THE THE HEART OF THE MIRACLE MILE, ONE OF LOS ANGELES’ PRESERVED ART DECO DISTRICTS.

H O S T Y O U R N E X T C O R P O R AT E E V E N T, A F T E R PA R T Y, A W A R D S S H O W, R E C E P T I O N , F I L M / T V S H O O T, O R F U N D R A I S E R AT T H E H I S TO R I C E L R E Y T H E AT R E .

BAILEY NAKANO DIRECTOR OF SALES BNAKANO@AEGPRESENTS.COM 7 6 0. 2 0 1 .7 8 1 7

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PRESIDENT’S DAY parade is suitably led by a Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton, which belonged to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Vicente Boulevard, across the Sunset Strip and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, then they paraded south to the Petersen Museum parking garage, where the iconic vehicles were displayed for parade-visitors to get a closer look.

Winning Numbers The museum’s newest exhibit, which opened Feb. 23, is from the collection of Petersen Founding Chairman Bruce Meyer. “Winning Numbers: The First, The Fastest, The Famous,” features 10 groundbreaking racecars, each with a unique story of triumph and victory, including dragsters and road racers.

Running through Jan. 19,

2020, the “Winning Numbers” exhibit represents the first installment of the three-part “California Collecting” exhibit series, which will focus on three prominent collections belonging to the region’s most revered enthusiasts.

Bruce Meyer Affectionately known as the “car guy’s car guy,” Meyer is internationally recognized for his passion for all things automotive. He was a close friend and neighbor of Petersen Publishing founder Robert Petersen when he and “Pete” hatched the idea for the Petersen Automotive Museum in 1992 — officially opening its doors to the public in 1994.

Twenty-five years later, Meyer remains one of the museum’s biggest supporters.

“Bruce Meyer is perhaps one of the most influential ‘car guys’ in the world, and there is no better collection than his to kick off our 25th anniversary,” said Petersen Automotive Museum executive director Terry Karges. “He epitomizes true automotive passion, sharing his knowledge, fervor and immense love for the motorsports hobby with the next generation of enthusiasts.”

Looking forward, Petersen will welcome its most celebrated exhibit of the year on May 4 with a dystopian-movie (Please turn to page 29)

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New arrivals bring Ice Age to life — really — at the La Brea Tar Pits

By Kristin Friedrich The science-in-real-time experience at La Brea Tar Pits has always co-starred extraordinary fossils found along Wilshire Boulevard, and a transparent look — inside and outside — at how those fossils are discovered and prepared.

There’s also a timely story here, looming amid the sabertoothed cats and giant sloths: since Ice Age plants and animals lived during our planet’s last major episode of global warming, we can use the Tar Pits as a model for how California might fare with current, human-caused climate change.

The museum wants this story of climate change to help bridge our past and present, to be accessible to broad audiences — boot camp fitness buff, dog walker, out-oftowner, or the little kid who just wants to roll down the museum’s grassy slopes.

As the Miracle Mile continues to develop as one of L.A.’s premier cultural districts, drawing more Angelenos and tourists, the Tar Pits Museum is finding ways to tell this story with emerging technologies and new partnerships. Case in point: For the first time since the museum opened in 1977, the visitor experience

EDUCATORS Val Hatcher (center/hat) and Noel Nicholas with a young visitor at the La Brea Tar Pits.

has drastically changed with the installation “Mammoths and Mastodons at La Brea Tar Pits.”

Based on a traveling exhibit organized by Chicago’s Field Museum, there are new supersized models and hands-on interactives that describe these extraordinary Ice Age animals.

There’s a new energy in the galleries too, as iconic La Brea fossils stand next to replicas of what these animals looked like in life. This visitor experience is further enhanced with Excavator Tours, daily screenings of the 3-D film “Titans of the Ice Age,” and performances of “Ice Age Encounters,” which feature a roaring, lifesized saber-toothed cat.

In the coming months, the

Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (which includes the La Brea Tar Pits) is partnering on two augmented reality (AR) projects at the Tar Pits. One pilots a digital “Perceptoscope,” and the other is a collaboration with USC to design AR experiences that not only entertain, but also engage visitors in the scientific process of looking for evidence and making hypotheses. The $2 million projects are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

“Certain scientific concepts, like the nature of geologic time, have historically been difficult for people to wrap their minds around,” said Emily Lindsey, assistant curator

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THE NEW “Mammoths and Mastodons” installation includes super-sized models of several Ice Age animals.

and excavation site director at La Brea Tar Pits. “These partnerships allow us to explore ways that new technologies can help people understand and connect with these concepts more fully.”

The museum is preparing to install sturdy contraptions around the park that will be used by visitors as a high-tech portal to the Ice Age. With the support of another NSF grant, the museum has partnered with Perceptoscope founder Ben Sax, whose new type of AR viewing kiosks (reminiscent of the coin-operated binocular viewers found in national parks) offer interactive, immersive media to visitors of all ages. Visitors might see 3-D video animations of

mammoths or 10,000-yearold saber-toothed cats walking through present-day Hancock Park. They might also get an up-close view of recent discoveries by scientists, because the technology allows Sax to combine the digital scans of fossil finds and use the device to bring them to life. People can look into the Perceptoscope and marvel at a fossil uncovered recently from a pit located a few yards away from where they stand.

“The Tar Pits are one of the most beloved public spaces in all of the city,” said Sax. “They also have a real story to tell.”

Kristin Friedrich is director of communications, Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County.

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Photography by Ted7

Larchmont Chronicle

Learn more at petersen.org/never-lift 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90036 A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

In the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery Presented by

Exhibition Supported by

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Museums

(Continued from page 3) “Grand master of Japanese animation,” Hayao Miyazaki, will be featured in the museum’s inaugural temporary exhibit. In collaboration with the filmmaker’s Studio Ghibli in Japan, the exhibit will be his first U.S. retrospective.

Miyazaki’s full body of work will be on display, and his animated fantasy films, including “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro,” will be screened.

“Regeneration: Black Cinema 1900-1970” will follow in the fall of 2020. The exhibit will highlight the visual culture of Black cinema from its early days to just beyond the Civil Rights movement.

Where Dreams Are Made The museum’s opening long-term exhibit, “Where Dreams Are Made: A Journey Inside the Movies,” will occupy 30,000 square feet on two floors of the Saban Building.

This exhibit begins with “Making of: The Wizard of Oz” in the Spielberg Family Gallery located in the Grand Lobby.

The film’s script, production drawings and Dorothy’s ruby slippers will be on display.

The glittering gold-leaf mosaic tile Saban Building has been expanded and renovated.

The former May Co. opened in

VIEW from Fairfax Ave. of the Academy Museum. Saban Building is on the right; roof deck of sphere to the north has views of the Hollywood Hills. ©Renzo Piano Building Workshop/©A.M.P.A.S./ Images from L’Autre Image.

NEARING COMPLETION at Fairfax and Wilshire is the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ rooftop dome.

Photo by Joshua White, JWPictures/©Academy Museum Foundation

1939. (The Streamline Moderne façade was designated a city Historic-Cultural Monument in 1992.)

The renovation included obtaining material from the original manufacturer in Venice, Italy, for the building’s iconic gold cylinder on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire.

The Saban is adjacent to a new sphere-shaped building, designed by Pritzker Prizewinning architect Renzo Piano with Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The sphere includes the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the glass-domed, rooftop Dolby Family Terrace with sweeping views of the city and the Hollywood Hills.

Daily screenings as well as previews, openings and events

will be held inside the Geffen, while a more intimate 288seat Ted Mann theater will also screen Saturday morning matinees for children in the Saban Building. Both will feature live performances, lectures and more.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., academymuseum.org LACMA thinks outside the box - and up and over Another bold architectural change in the works is Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s sweeping proposal to build a gallery above Wilshire Boulevard.

If approved, the new building and overall museum renova-

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SCREEN SHOT shows an imaginative glimpse inside the 1,000seat e en heater.

tion will debut in 2023. LACMA plans to house its permanent collection in the new building — now a slimmer version of the previous concept for the Peter Zumthor-designed project. Construction is set to start at the end of the year, while fundraising continues.

Museum officials have reached $560 million of their

$650 million fundraising campaign target, and completion of the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is imminent.

The County of Los Angeles is expected to pay $125 million after completion of the final EIR

by Eyestone Environmental.

The report’s drafting began in 2016, and a public review (Please turn to page 12)

Need help?

Mike Feuer, LA City Attorney, and Mehrnoosh, your local NEIGHBORHOOD PROSECUTOR of four years. 213-973-2220 mehrnoosh.zahiri@lacity.org www.lacityattorney.org @CityAttorneyLA

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VIEW FROM rove r. o proposed os Angeles olocaust useu avilion.

Rendering by Belzberg Architects

LACMA PROPOSES a new building across Wilshire Blvd. Facing west, La Brea Tar Pits are seen on the right.

Photo: Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner / The Boundary

Museums

(Continued from page 10) period followed. The Final EIR will address questions raised, and comments received, during the public review period, including traffic, seismic and other concerns.

During construction of the new building, rotating exhi-

bitions will be shown in the Resnick Pavilion and Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) buildings.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., lacma.org.

La Brea Tar Pits Museum Read about high-tech portals and other new means to

visit the Ice Age on page 8.

Craft Contemporary The 53-year-old museum rolled out a new name in early 2019, Craft Contemporary.

Under the direction of executive director Suzanne Isken, the museum has strengthened its focus on contemporary art made with craft media, tech-

MIRAI will screen March 2 at the Japan Foundation. Free screenings are ever second and ourth ednesda .

niques and processes.

A new website will launch this spring, and two public programs will examine the museum’s history.

Isken will lead a conversation on the history and legacy

of the Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) since its founding in 1965. She will be joined by former CAFAM archivist Joan Benedetti and independent curator Jo Lauria.

Craft Contemporary, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., cafam.org.

Petersen Automotive Museum See the update on the 25th year celebration at the Petersen Automotive Museum on page 6.

Museum of the Holocaust Plans are underway to build a pavilion at the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust on Grove Drive, south of the existing museum in Pan Pacific Park. The pavilion will expand the footprint of the existing museum.

Hagy Belzberg designed the (Please turn to page 22)

A VIRTUAL REALITY l is on view at the Los Angeles useu o the olocaust.

CRAFT CONTEMPORARY o ers a creative elco ing to visitors. Photo: Symrin Chawla

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Miracle Mile community rallies to fight crime; help wanted

By Billy Taylor A Miracle Mile neighborhood watch program was launched in March 2018 led by a group of local residents motivated to make the community safer and more resilient. These residents have worked to establish a sustainable program, but now volunteers are needed, they say.

“This is a movement — a change — in community policing designed to be sustainable and encompass many different things,” said Mile resident Kari Garcia last month while sitting in the Starbucks on Wilshire Boulevard. The Chronicle met with Garcia and LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Perry Jones to talk about the community’s initial response to an old concept: a neighborhood watch program.

Neighborhood Watch The program officially launched at the March 2018

WILSHIRE BEAUTY store manager Shinobu Fukumoto (right) talks with Kari Garcia (center) and A enior ead fficer err ones.

Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA) meeting. Garcia and a small group of residents including Kelly Perkins, Aliza Durand, Thao Tran and

Seth Reed were determined to establish a program that was simple, sustainable and designed for busy neighbors.

The residents introduced a

THE MIRACLE MILE CIVIC COALITION 8758 Venice Boulevard • Los Angeles, California 90034

We’ve gone underground … preparing for the future.

2023 – sooner than we think. ◊◊◊ In the spirit of cooperation and love of the Mile

Miracle Mile Civic Coalition Partners in Preparedness with First-In Fire Foundation

©LC0319

always at the ready

plan to establish block captains and a three-step watch program. Since then, Garcia has met with a long list of community leaders, law enforcement officers and policy makers to push the program.

“All of this is not because I had a near-home-invasion, it’s not because they went for my car, or because suspects came just feet away from my child’s head,” said Garcia of her motivation to spearhead the new watch program. (Although all of this did happen to Garcia.)

“It’s because it’s the right thing to do for the community. But it is dependant on everybody getting involved.”

Working together Longtime Miracle Mile SLO Perry Jones supports the program and says it empowers his officers to get a lot more accomplished.

“It opens up a line of communication between the community and the police department. Due to the fact that residents are in the neighborhood more than we are, they observe a lot more crime,” explains Jones.

Consider this: The Wilshire Division LAPD responds to over 1,000 calls per week.

With limited police resources, Jones says that the community can greatly benefit from a resident trained in a watch program because he or she is able to give officers much better information: “They are proactive, looking for things that we need. They send us photos and license plate numbers. Half of the case is worked-up before we even catch the bad guy.”

Jones says that he is encouraged by the direction of things in the Miracle Mile: “Sure, times have changed and you can’t leave packages on your doorstep, but the Miracle Mile is a great place to live, we just need to stay diligent.”

Not just crime According to Garcia, the Mile’s watch program is designed to build a safer and

more resilient community.

“To be more resilient,” she explains, “means that your community can better survive things like crime and natural disasters through organization with your neighbors.”

As an example, Kerry notes how the new watch program aided residents in February during a power outage that impacted a majority of the neighborhood. “I was able to communicate with block captains, and residents on my street, about when the power would be back on. Basically, I was able to provide information at a time when other resources were down.”

Speaking of block captains, Garcia says that she has identified roughly 55 blocks in the Miracle Mile, and she has 30 block captain volunteers.

“The program is working great, but we don’t have enough volunteers,” says Garcia. “We need more block captains to participate.”

Volunteer patrol On the topic of volunteers, in the coming months residents might notice a BMW i3 slowly cruising the streets.

That’s because the LAPD is rebooting a volunteer community patrol program. These volunteers will patrol in areas impacted the most by property crimes, and they will be tasked with keeping an eye out for unusual behavior as well as other tasks like traffic control.

Wilshire Division patrol volunteers include Miracle Mile residents Greg Jones and Craig Mieritz. Both men told the Chronicle that they were motivated to volunteer to improve the local community.

Jones said that he was burglarized multiple times; and Mieritz said that he wanted to do more than just complain on social media.

Get involved On the morning that I met with Garcia and SLO Jones, they were taking the watch program to businesses on Wilshire Boulevard.

If criminals are attracted to an area’s shopping district for “smash and grab” opportunities, it makes the nearby community a target as well.

“Ultimately, this program is to help organize people to be good neighbors. And that means incorporating local businesses,” said Garcia.

“Get off NextDoor, and figure out how you can help out your neighbor,” she concludes.

Miracle Mile residents interested in volunteering as a block captain should attend the March 16 MMRA annual meeting where Garcia will update residents on the progress of the watch program.

Visit miraclemilela.com for more information.

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next stop: the future.

Mammoths, mastodons, sloths, bison and more! A treasure trove of fossils have been discovered as we tunnel, and there are still more being unearthed.

Section 1 of the Purple Line Extension Transit Project is digging up the past to bring you the future.

Visit metro.net/purple to learn more about the nine-mile subway extension between downtown LA and the Westside.

contact us 213.922.6934 purplelineext@metro.net metro.net/purple @purplelineext

To get construction notices via email, go to metro.net/purple and sign up to stay connected.

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CELEBRATING 85 YEAR H ISTORY OF THE FARMERS MARKET It’s difficult to imagine our neighborhood as it stood 85 years ago. The Fairfax District was largely open fields and pastureland. And the corner of 3rd Street & Fairfax Avenue was nothing more than a dusty parking lot.

But it was here in July of 1934, that a group of 18 local farmers gathered to sell their wares to the public. The Farmers Market was born. And it soon began expanding along with the neighborhood.

As the Market quickly grew to worldwide acclaim, the diversity of merchants expanded to include restaurants, retail shops, butchers, bakers, community services and more.

Third & Fairfax has always been a popular neighborhood gathering place—especially for gathering the finest groceries!

Today, The Original Farmers Market is the centerpiece of the neighborhood, home to over 100 grocers, restaurants and specialty merchants. Yet it still maintains all its charm and values from the early days. In fact, many of the businesses remain family-owned and operated, just as they have been for generations. Proving that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

According to our world-famous Clock Tower, it’s time to celebrate our anniversary. (85 years!)

T HE CITY’S BEST GROCERIES Our neighborhood is blessed to have some of the finest grocers in Los Angeles. From butchers, bakers, a fish monger, a spice shop--to a European grocery market and more—each Market grocer is a true artisan and culinary expert.

Fine food enthusiasts and acclaimed chefs have long known Our butchers offer the finest meats, the reputation for quality the poultry and seafood anywhere— grocers of Farmers Market have even prepared items ready to grill. maintained for generations. As opposed to a traditional supermarket experience, each of our Farmers Market grocers is an independent business—singularly focused on his or her specialty. You can be assured you are getting only the finest handselected items, the best advice and the best service anywhere in the city because they are truly invested in this neighborhood and their customers.

HOME DELIVERY While The Original Farmers Market may appear to be frozen in time, we are responsive to the changing needs of today’s busy lifestyles.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with mercato.com to bring the best in Farmers Market groceries and prepared foods delivered directly to you.

Your groceries will be hand-selected and prepared by the Market’s very own artisan grocers, then packed up and delivered to your door with just a few clicks on your keyboard.

Our dedicated, family-owned produce merchants ensure you always have the ripest seasonal offerings, hand-chosen for freshness and quality.

Visit FarmersMarketLA.com or Mercato.com. and receive $10 OFF your first order of $20 or more by using the Promo Code: FARMERSMKT10

Larchmont Chronicle

Miracle Mile 2019 17

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

RS AT THIRD & FAIRFAX R ESTAURANTS & EATERIES If you’re looking to take your taste buds on an international culinary adventure, simply head over to The Original Farmers Market.

With over 40 restaurants to choose from, you can eat your way through all four corners of the globe by simply turning a few corners! Nearly every continent is represented, including North and South American cuisine, South Pacific and Asian delights, Middle Eastern and European fare ... many choices, from gourmet the menu of options reads like an So meals to grab-and-go snacks. atlas of food! We also have two on-site beer & wine bars for your enjoyment.

&EVENTS

2019 ACTIVITIES

30TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION: Saturday & Sunday, March 2 & 3, All Day & Fat Tuesday, March 5, 6-9pm: L.A.’s favorite Mardi Gras celebration features Cajun and Zydeco bands galore, down home Southern cookin’, the Mutti Gras Pet Parade, bead throwing and much more.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION: Sunday, March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with traditional Irish food and live music. Magee's Kitchen will be serving their famous corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. Green Beer and imported Irish beers will be on tap from E.B.'s and Bar 326.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC AT THE MARKET: May 31-August 30, 7–9pm: Free concert performances every Friday on the West Patio featuring L.A.’s best musicians.

25TH ANNUAL GILMORE HERITAGE AUTO SHOW: Saturday, June 1, 11am-5pm: Nearly 100 breathtaking American classics are on display throughout the Market; everything from customs, hot rods, trucks and more! This year's show pays tribute to American Muscle Cars.

Plus, there is nothing like dining in the Market’s bustling al fresco atmosphere. With all the people-watching opportunities at every turn, a meal at the Market is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds!

TASTE OF FARMERS MARKET:

Tuesday, July 23, 5-9pm: For one evening only, our merchants take you on a strolling gastronomic and shopping adventure throughout the Market, letting you enjoy delicious food and live music. Ticket info will be available on farmersmarketla.com in June.

METROPOLITAN FASHION WEEK COSTUME DESIGNERS COM P ETITI O N : T hu rsd a y,

The irresistible al fresco environment provides the prefect backdrop for a delicious meal—breakfast, lunch and dinner.

R ETAIL SHOPS & SERVICES With all this talk about food, its easy to forget that The Original Farmers Market is a true town “village”, complete with a convenient post office, shoe repair store, a host of fashion shops and boutiques, cell phone repair, a newsstand, a key maker and more. The list goes on and on ... just like your to-do list!

September 26, 6:30pm: Join us as Metropolitan Fashion Week hosts the opening ceremony to its annual costume designer's competition in the Farmers Market Plaza. Our trolley tracks will transform into a fashion show runway, and you, the audience, will pick the winning design!

FALL FESTIVAL: Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13, All Day: A favorite event since 1934, Fall Festival features a bounty of live music, a petting zoo, arts & crafts for kids, world famous pie-eating contests and more!

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES:

December 18-24: The Market is decked out in Yuletide finery to welcome the season. Celebrate the holidays with music, arts & crafts, variety shows, Dickensian carolers and more.

The Market embodies true one-stop shopping, where you can not only get all your errands completed easily, you can do so while enjoying a mini getaway without ever leaving the neighborhood. You can even stroll the Market with a glass of beer or wine at your side. What supermarket or mall will let you do that?

HANUKKAH CELEBRATION: Sunday, December 22, 2:30-5:30pm: Celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant Lego menorah, music and arts and crafts.

Schedule is subject to change

85 YEARS•19 34-2019

6333 W. THIRD ST. • LOS ANGELES • 323.933.9211 /FARMERSMARKETLA Insta

An official USPS Post Office makes shipping and mailing a breeze.

The Market is home to L.A.’s oldest toy shop: Kip’s Toyland.

— JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST FOR UPDATES —

VISIT FARMERSMARKETLA.COM

18 Miracle Mile 2019

Mercury Ins.

(Continued from page 4) million in capital to jumpstart his new auto insurance company, Joseph founded Mercury Insurance. He had amassed the needed funds from around the Los Angeles community.

“We did that by first getting an approval from the state’s Insurance Department to raise the capital, and then we did a lot of mailings, and we had a lot of meetings. We contacted people, and we had some help from a financial brokerage company. I don’t recall the name of it now, but it was a small broker. All local,” Joseph said.

He established the company from his house outside of Hancock Park with six employees and 90 agents. He opened his first office at 5455 Wilshire Boulevard, at the corner of Wilshire and Cochran Avenue, in the Miracle Mile. Mercury Insurance sold its first policy on April 1, 1962.

GEORGE JOSEPH

In 1964, Joseph moved into his home in Hancock Park.

“I always wanted to live in Hancock Park, from the time I came to Los Angeles. The beauty of the streets and the homes and trees and everything about it was unusual,” Joseph said.

Since then, the company has expanded throughout California and into 10 additional states. The company now has over 4,500 employees and

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Larchmont Chronicle

more than 7,000 independent agents. It has branched out from strictly offering auto insurance to include home insurance, renters insurance and business insurance, among others, and its market value is approximately $3 billion.

Its corporate headquarters and principal executive offices are located near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rossmore Avenue in the Park Mile.

“There was a vacant lot there, and I wanted to build a building,” Joseph said.

Mercury Casualty bought the property in 1983 from the now-defunct American Savings Association, formerly known as the American Savings and Loan Association, a victim of the S&L crisis of the late 1980s. After three years of construction, the current 36,000-square-foot office building on Wilshire Boulevard was occupied by Mercury General in December 1986.

“It’s a great place to have an

MERCURY INSURANCE’S headquarters building opened on Wilshire Boulevard in 1986.

Photo by Talia Abrahamson

office. It’s right on Wilshire, and a lot of our employees live in the area, and it’s convenient for them,” VP of Advertising and Public Relations Erik Thompson said.

The building currently houses about 150 employees, and the company leases remaining office space. The home offices of the subsidiary insurance companies and the information technology

center are located in Brea, California, where there are an additional 2,000 employees.

The company keeps this Park Mile Wilshire location as its headquarters in part because Joseph, at 97 and still active as the Chairman of the Board of the Mercury General Corporation, comes into the office every day.

“I just monitor what’s going on in the company. Give advice.

Talk to people who want to talk to me,” Joseph said.

With Joseph as a local resident, as well as many employees within the headquarters, the company is conscious of working within the mainly residential neighborhoods of Hancock Park and Fremont Place.

“Mercury Insurance and its founder, George Joseph, have been good neighbors for those of us who live in Fremont Place,” president of the Fremont Place Association Cam Davis said. “Recently, at the tender age of 97, Mr. Joseph personally attended our homeowners’ meeting. He agreed that we could restore a landscaped sidewalk on Mercury’s property in connection with an improvement the company needs to make to service their policyholders in the event of a catastrophic earthquake.”

Mercury Insurance interacts with the larger Los Angeles community through various community service initiatives.

Representatives attend Habitat for Humanity events for Southern California residents, host packing parties for overseas troops, support public service messages –– for example the “Don’t text and drive” initiative –– and sponsor the Kings and Dodgers.

“At the time, insurance was this kind of one-size-fits-all car insurance. None of the companies really took into account driving record, location and all of these factors that have an impact on the risk of loss and on your risk of getting into an accident.

Mr. Joseph was really a pioneer when it came to that and really set up the way modern day insurance is handled today,” said company spokesman Thompson.

Talia Abrahamson is a junior at Marlborough School.

Larchmont Chronicle

Miracle Mile 2019 19

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

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Our upgraded Premium Signature homes include quartz countertops, gorgeous parquet wood floors, central a/c, and washers and dryers. Alternatively, the Garden Townhome has the feel of a private cottage or bungalow, and often opens onto a grassy courtyard.

Literally across the street from The Grove and LACMA, we are in the heart of the city.

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20 Miracle Mile 2019

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Park La Brea: vibrant dwellings at heart of Miracle Mile

By Rachel Olivier At the heart of the Miracle Mile on 155 acres of land, from Third to Sixth streets and from Fairfax to Cochran avenues, sits Park La Brea, a collection of 4,248 apartment units in buildings that have been part of Los Angeles history for more than 70 years.

The complex is at the center of shopping at places like the Original Farmers Market and The Grove, museums such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, as well as schools, parks, bars, restaurants and other venues. It is an historic residential area in Los Angeles, and it is the largest apartment complex west of the Mississippi.

History The townhouses were designed by Leonard Schultz & Son with associate architect Earl T. Heitschmidt in 1941, and the residential towers were designed in 1948 by Leonard Schultz Associates, with consulting architects Stanton and Kaufmann, partly in response to the post-World War II housing shortage.

There are 26 two-story garden blocks in an octagon pattern and 18 12-story towers.

TOWER 47 as it stands today in Park La Brea.

RENDERING of one of the 18 towers during construction.

In 1950s, an article in “Arts & Architecture” magazine praised Park La Brea for its unique modern design, where towers were built with wings to help provide expansive views, and garden apartments had patios and a shared backyard.

Updates and amenities The complex has been updated and renovated regularly since then. Units range from studios to four-bedroom apartments, some of which are pet friendly. In addition, there are two pools, a café, barbecue and picnic areas, a fitness and activity center, tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, landscaped parks, jogging tracks, and a theater for the use of the 10,000-plus residents. Activi-

ties at the complex range from theater productions to music nights and recitals to outdoor movie nights. There are also special activities such as National Night Out, a chess club, writers’ circle, community garden, and more.

Residents association This past January, the Park LaBrea Residents Association (PLBRA) had its 31st annual meeting, overseen by president Bernie Clinch, vice president Kenna Marshall and secretary-treasurer Col. Donald Harris.

The association not only advocates for the tenants, but also helps keep them in the loop about ongoing development in the neighborhood, and it also makes sure com-

LANDSCAPED PARK at Park La Brea.

munication happens between tenants and management, and that the activities are being updated to meet residents’ needs. Major advocacy activities in the past year included facilitating a town hall meet-

ing between residents and top Park La Brea management, joining management in fighting against prohibited Airbnb renters within the complex and helping with the popular (Please turn to page 31)

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Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile 2019 21

What will you do with the money you save?

Californians save an average of $660 with Mercury.

Contact us today for a fast, free quote!

MercuryInsurance.com Savings info based on 2018 CA Dept. of Insurance rate comparison profile 38B. Individual savings may vary.

22 Miracle Mile 2019

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Colorful and charitable year at Pink’s

BLUE AND GOLD: A new color scheme at Pink’s hails the Rams going to the Super Bowl.

What a year for Pink’s! In the past 12 months, the 79-yearold hot dog stand on La Brea Ave. has had color changes and other excitement unlike any Pink’s year in recent memory. Pink’s just recently turned blue and gold when the Rams headed to the Super Bowl. Last fall, Pink’s turned

blue for the Dodgers. In March, the City of Los Angeles announced the naming of “Pink’s Square” (the Melrose and La Brea intersection), and the Square was dedicated in October. At every event, the Pink family created a hot dog special to raise funds for charities. “Hot dog!”

DIGNITARIES (from left) Tom LaBonge, Patt Morrison, Paul Koretz, Mike Feuer and Zev Yaroslavsky salute Gloria, Beverly and Richard Pink preceding “Pink’s Square” dedication.

Thanks, L.A., for 88 Terrific Years!

PINK’S SHOWS LOVE for the Los Angeles Rams prior to Super Bowl LIII last month.

the Nazi death camp Majdanek in Poland seven decades later.

Because of the high cost of the technology involved in the making of the film, tickets are $15. Most everything else at the museum is always free.

Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, 100 The Grove Dr., lamoth.org.

Celebrate Our 88th Anniversary

on March 5th

with 88¢ Special Dishes!

www.elcoyotecafe.com Follow Us On

7312 Beverly Blvd. 323-939-2255

©LC0319

We r!

Cate

BLUE: Beverly Pink, her sisterin-law Gloria, and her brother Richard celebrate the Dodgers in the World Series.

Voted Miracle Mile’s Favorite Neighborhood Bar ting Celebra ! s 14 Year

(Continued from page 12) original 32,000-square-foot museum that opened in 2010, and has produced the initial drawings for the planned new pavilion.

The new pavilion is aimed to help welcome an increase in visitors, many of whom are students.

Last year, a record 62,000 adults and children, including 20,000 students, visited the site, a 20 percent increase from the year before.

©LC1118

Little Bar 757 S. La Brea Ave at 8th St. 323.937.9210

Museums

Virtual reality Viewers can don an audiovisual headset to take a tour through a concentration camp with a Holocaust survivor to see “The Last Goodbye,” a new virtual reality, award-winning 17-minute film.

Produced by USC Shoah Foundation, the film’s host Pinchas Gutter was the only member of his family of four to have survived the Holocaust.

Viewers virtually visit the site with Gutter as he travels in life-sized projections through the railway car, gas chamber, shower room and barracks of

Japan Foundation This year’s Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Film, “Mirai,” will screen Sat., March 2 at 1 p.m. at the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.

Free. Director Mamoru Hosoda’s magical soaring adventure is for the whole family.

Free film screenings are every second and fourth Wednesday in the JFLA auditorium.

Lunchtime yoga and meditation as well as exhibits are also offered at the center.

Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., jflalc.org.

Korean Cultural Center Free movies are screened monthly at the Korean Cultural Center.

“Keys to the Heart” screens Thurs., Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

Check the website for upcoming films, as well as exhibits and performances.

Korean Cultural Center, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., kccla.org.

Farewell Zimmer After almost 30 years of artsbased learning experiences with a bent toward social justice, the Zimmer Children’s Museum has moved from the Miracle Mile vicinity in the Jewish Federation building to a new rooftop home at Santa Monica Place.

Renamed the Cayton Children’s Museum by ShareWell, the museum has expanded from 14,000 to 21,000 square feet at the new location near the EXPO line and the Santa Monica Pier.

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32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile 2019 23

24 Miracle Mile 2019

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32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Miracle Mile now has a restaurant for almost any appetite

By Helene Seifer It wasn’t that long ago that the Miracle Mile food profile consisted mainly of Johnie’s Coffee Shop, a handful of mediocre Indian restaurants,

and, of course, El Coyote. Now options abound for followers of the flavor arts. Let’s examine some classics and some relative newcomers to the Miracle Mile table.

RESTAURANT & BAKERY

From Breakfast

If Mexican is your cuisine of choice, the Mile has a number of options. The aforementioned El Coyote opened in 1931 and holds the record for old school Mexican in the Mile, serving comforting plates of refried beans and chicken enchiladas smothered in melted cheese and ranchera sauce alongside wicked Margaritas. Just a scant block away Petty Cash is the polar opposite — cool graffiti covers one wall, pulsing music fills the space, a cacophony of voices creates a din, and all the while diners happily munch on grilled octopus or pork belly tacos. Candela is an event venue and popular restaurant with great deals for the eating public: $1 Tacos on Wednesdays and Happy Hour all other nights. Other Mexican options in the ’hood are Mercado for shrimp taquitos and meltingly soft carnitas and Escuela Taqueria for branzino tacos and chicken tinga burritos.

El Coyote Café, 7312 Beverly Blvd. 323-939-2255. Petty Cash, 7360 Beverly Blvd. 323933-5300. Candela, 831 S. La Brea. 323-936-0533. Mercado, 7910 W, 3rd St. 323-944-0947.

Escuela Taqueria, 7615 Beverly Blvd. 323-932-6178.

The Petersen Automotive

… to Lunch

Museum’s remodel brought an upscale Italian to the Mile, Drago Ristorante. Another offering from the Drago brothers, a true dynasty of Italian cooking in Los Angeles, Drago is hidden behind those metallic silver ribbons that wrap the red museum, but its newly opened patio with firepit, along with its exceptional pasta, is ample reason to find the restaurant. New to the neighborhood, Supremo Ristorante, is a sparsely-decorated space featuring moderately priced Italian classics, such as spaghetti carbonara and tiramisu.

Drago Ristorante, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., 323-800-2244.

Supremo Ristorante, 901 S. La Brea., 323-852-3192.

Another restaurant that’s hidden in plain sight is Commerson, whose ground-floor façade, next to Lassens Natural Foods, is unremarkable. The well-executed menu survived star-chef Sascha Lyon leaving and still has an eclectic food array, including a wonderful shrimp and chorizo burger, and Commerson offers Happy Hour six days a week. And they offer bottomless mimosas at brunch! Across the street are two neighborhood faves: Met Her At A Bar, which, contrary to expectations, is a coffee bar

with Belgian waffles and more; and Rascal, a full service restaurant which bills itself as “the neighborhood hang,” and actually lives up to it. Come here for a spicy fried chicken sandwich, a cold brew, and the daily Happy Hour.

Commerson, 788 S. La Brea., 323-813-3000. Met Her At A Bar, 759 S. La Brea., 323847-5013. Rascal, 801 S. La Brea., 323-933-3229.

Another place for a brew or two is the Miracle Mile’s first brewery, 6th & La Brea Brewery & Restaurant. They brew their ales, lagers, IPAs, and stouts on site in gleaming stainless steel tanks, which form a backdrop to the pub’s convivial hubbub. Multiple flat screens are tuned to various sporting events. Elevated pub grub, such as short rib fries, crispy brussels sprouts and Wagyu beef burgers, is served inside and on the dogfriendly patio. Recently, they added cans called Crowlers as a carry-away option. Breweries had only been allowed to sell for consumption on the premises, but they sued the state for the right to offer beer to go — and won. 6th & La Brea Brewery & Restaurant, 600 S. La Brea., 323-998-8565.

If one’s taste in libations (Please turn to page 26)

… to Dinner

… Fresh Ingredients is the Key! YOU CAN COUNT ON DU-PAR’S TO TREAT YOU WELL!

Take our bakery goods home to enjoy!

In the Original Farmers Market • 3rd and Fairfax • Open 24 Hours • (323) 933-8446

Larchmont Chronicle

Miracle Mile 2019 25

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

A 79-year Miracle on Melrose salutes its great neighbor, Wilshire Boulevard’s 89-year-old

Miracle Mile

(so named just ten years prior to Paul and Betty Pink opening Pink's on La Brea Avenue in 1939).

We serve over 35 varieties of delicious, mouth-watering Hot Dogs and over 12 varieties of colossal Hamburgers.

Seating for 80 guests plus free parking.

— At Pink's Square — the corner of La Brea & Melrose Visit us at: WWW.PINKSHOLLYWOOD.COM

Follow us!

@theofficialpinkshotdogs

@pinkshotdogs

#pinkshotdogs

@ pinkshotdogs

For information contact: CateringByPinks@gmail.com

©LC0319

er t a C We

26 Miracle Mile 2019

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Andre’s Italian Restaurant — a comforting neighborhood classic

By Julia Stier It’s hard to believe that a “small” plate of spaghetti the size of my face could be so reasonably priced. Or so delicious. But that’s what Andre’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria is all about. Nestled between the Whole Foods and the

News Stand off of Third St., Andre’s (6332 W. Third St.) is the ultimate hotspot for cheap and cheerful — but it won’t be for long. Despite its dedication to serving the community authentic and affordable Italian-American cuisine, Andre’s will be closing its doors once

the proposed construction of a new residential and commercial complex, replacing the former KMart shopping center, commences. Recently, General Manager Aron Celnik and patrons of Andre’s reflected on the impact the restaurant has had on their

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mont Chronicle went into print. Chef Andre has since stepped down from running the show, but General Manager Celnik says Andre still checks in. “Andre came by, he took a look, made sure everything was OK. Stuck his finger here, tasted that, moved here, moved there, and then he said, ‘Aron, everything looks good. I’m going.’”

Affordably good In addition to its flavorful dishes, the restaurant also quickly became known for its affordable prices. Celnik cites this as the restaurant’s main pull, even today. “[People] come to Andre’s first and foremost because they’ve heard (Please turn to page 27)

Restaurants

bundt cake and torta Cubanas.

Great news for those crushing on great breads: the La Brea Bakery is collaborating with founder Nancy Silverton on special edition breads to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary. Enjoy them at the La Brea Bakery Café, with its retail bread operation and charming eatery.

Fiona, 339 N. Fairfax Ave., 323-852-3210. The Sycamore Kitchen, 143 S. La Brea., 323939-0151. La Brea Bakery, 468 S. La Brea., 323-939-6813.

The Original Farmer’s Market at Third and Fairfax recently added new food stalls, such as Neal Fraser’s Fritzi Coop for fried chicken and Blaze Pizza. Now the Market has added grocery delivery service — so your Huntington Meats sausages and gourmet cheeses from Monsieur Marcel can be enjoyed without fighting for a parking spot. Just across Fairfax, one of Sawtelle’s most acclaimed Ramen joints opened an outpost. Tsujita & Co. Noodle Production brings rich pork ramen and tsukemen (dipping noodles) to a mainly take-out crowd.

Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St., 323-9339211. Tsujita & Co. Noodle Production, 109 N. Fairfax.

Ave., 323-591-0470.

(Continued from page 24)

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lives, and the many reasons why you should enjoy it while you still can.

Cordon Bleu graduate Andre’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria was cooked up by chef Dominic Andreone (Andre), now 96. A native of Northern Italy, Andreone studied at renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris, France, before immigrating to the United States. With his first restaurant, Andre’s of Beverly Hills — which opened in 1959 and has since closed — Chef Andre served Italian staples, which became known as “continental cuisine.” He then went on to open the Andre’s on Third St. in 1963 — the same year the Larch-

runs more toward the grape than the grain, then the new Kass Wine Bar & Restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Christophe Eme, is the perfect place. The wine list skews French, and the Gallic menu includes charcuterie, farro and oxtail.

Kass Wine Bar & Restaurant, 320 S. La Brea., 323-4132299.

If carb-loading is your preferred style and baked goods delight you, a must-try new restaurant is Fiona on Fairfax, doors from the now-shuttered Plan Check. Former Gjelina pastry chef Nicole Rucker’s recently opened all-day restaurant starts the day with 2-inch-thick artisanal toasts slathered with the likes of black and gold sesame paste or yogurt, chutney and curry leaves, or sweet potato pancakes with pickled fresno chiles and lardons. Dinner brings roasted pork shoulder with spaetzel or Vietnamese beef stew. And always, pies, pies, pies! Another pastry-chef driven spot is the now-classic The Sycamore Kitchen, where baker extraordinaire Karen Hatfield turns out the likes of almond brioche French toast, brown butter carrot

Deli opens in Dominguez building Chicago-based delicatessen Eleven City Diner last month opened a west coast location in the Miracle Mile at 5400 Wilshire Blvd.

This modern revival of the classic Jewish deli serves favorites like braided challah, matzo-ball soup and corned beef sandwiches in addition to more Eleven City Diner traditional diner options like omelets and hamburgers. Owner Brad Rubin took over the 6,000 square foot space in the historic Dominguez-Wilshire building that previously housed the Express Restaurant and Club.

Growing up in Chicago, Rubin says that he “was raised on old school diners,” which gave him an insatiable taste and respect for deli-style food.

Eleven City is open daily. Visit elevencityla.com.

Larchmont Chronicle

made inside its walls, it’s hard to believe that Andre’s won’t be here much longer. Stroup summarizes the feelings of many when he says, “It’s simple, but it’s good, and it’s an amazing place. I just can’t fathom it not being here anymore.”

However, Celnik assures that Andre’s will remain in its

DAILY SPECIALS and pizza are up on the menu board.

Andre’s

(Continued from page 26) our reputation as being a reasonably priced restaurant.”

With prices as low as $3 for a large minestrone soup, to $10 for chicken parmigiana with a side of spaghetti or ravioli, and a cup of gelato for just $3 (they have 12 flavors to choose from) one could easily piece together a three-course meal for under $20.

However, Andre’s is more than just the affordable meals it serves. It is hailed for its friendly service and welcoming, casual atmosphere.

“Comfort,” “home,” and “family” are words that regulars and first-timers alike often use when describing Andre’s.

Stephen Stroup, a social worker who lives in West Hollywood, has been heading to Andre’s regularly for so long, he can’t remember when he first started dining here. “It’s my place to come in the evening if I really want to have a very good meal, at a very good price, and to be really comfortable.” He speaks warmly of the employees and of Celnik, praising everyone’s kind and welcoming nature. “It’s almost like a home away from home.”

“That’s Italian!”

Jenny Robbins sensed the familial atmosphere on her very first visit, noting how many patrons were greeted by name. “It very much has that

Miracle Mile 2019 27

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Italian kind of spirit of welcoming strangers into your house, and being familiar with them, and treating them like they’re a part of your own family,” she observes.

For many people, the restaurant holds a place in their childhood memories.

Gloria Trasvina, a patron of the restaurant for nearly 35 years, says eating at Andre’s reminds her of her own family’s frequent visits. “It just brings back memories of when we were young,” she says.

Same with Jeff Gold, who grew up dining at the restaurant. “It feels a little bit like home, like family, friends, comfort food. The food is comfort, but the memories are even more comfort.”

The Andre’s test Sitting with his long-time friend Perry Cooper — who has been coming to Andre’s for 49 years – Gold recounts how they used to put their girlfriends through the “Andre’s test.”

“After you’re dating somebody a few times, you take them to Andre’s to see how they respond,” Gold laughs.

He explains that if they turned their nose up at it, the relationship wasn’t going to last.

General Manager Celnik especially feels a sense of family at Andre’s. “Working with Andre has been the biggest blessing in my life. He’s become a second father to me.”

With so many memories

current location until at least the end of 2019.

Canoga Park But this is not the end. Celnik says that a sister restaurant, Grandi Italiani, is slated to open this month in Canoga Park. While he’s still keeping many details under wraps, he does share that there will be certain nods to Andre’s in this

new restaurant. “Grandi Italiani means ‘great Italian,’ and I consider Andre to be one of those great Italians,” Celnik shares. “I hope he’s honored by the fact that so many people care about him. They love him as deeply as I do, and they wish to see the Andre’s legacy continuing, and we’re certainly going to try to do that.”

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New Magic Shop inside!

CUSTOMERS line up cafeteria style at the popular Andre’s Italian Restaurant, opened by Chef Andreone in 1963.

28 Miracle Mile 2019

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Civic Coalition is laying low till the Metro… then, parades!

By Suzan Filipek Subway construction under Wilshire Boulevard is moving ahead, underground, boldly building a transit line extension to help ease traffic congestion above ground.

It is a multi-billion-dollar project of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MRA or Metro).

It is also a noble effort, and one that has not gone unnoticed by the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition (MMCC).

“We can’t do a lot until MTA’s done,” which is why the group is following the MTA’s lead: “It’s going underground,” said MMCC President Wally Marks.

The 33-year old MMCC organization cares for the Miracle Mile’s safety, landscape and more. Members hold an annual safety summit in the fall and work to beautify the area’s median with leafy trees and landscape.

A lot of what the group also does involves “getting everyone in the room to talk about the bigger issues.” “Everyone” includes museum officials, business and property owners and residents. Other stakeholders are Park La Brea, the largest apartment complex in the West, the Original Farmers Market and The Grove.

The MMCC was formed 33 years ago this April.

“The purpose of the group really was to spur a spirit of cooperation among all the key players,” MMCC founder Lyn

VV

WILSHIRE BLVD. MEDIANS were installed by the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition.

Photo by Tom Hofer

MacEwen Cohen told us in an earlier interview.

Through its history, the Coalition has championed expanding first responder relationships. MMCC has organized safety summit meetings. Unifying the police, fire and community has taken on a keener focus since 9-11.

Previous safety summits concerned emergency preparedness and homeland security and extreme weather.

Events have included senior FBI officials among speakers.

The Coalition brought local museums and high-rise office and apartment buildings together in the safety summits.

The MMCC was instrumental in the creation of Museum Row, as well as in the installation of islands landscaped with palm trees along Wilshire

Blvd. in the Mile.

Subway construction removed 82 trees and 62 agave plants — many were relocated — but Metro promised to replace the trees when the subway opens in 2023.

When Metro removed the trees, mostly along the median strips on Wilshire Blvd., from Fairfax Ave. to La Brea, it was agreed that twice as many would be returned.

“We are the public’s double check” on that, said Marks.

“It’s not just a promise, it’s in writing.”

Town & Country (Continued from page 2)

Department and now includes preparation of a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

The full EIR was one of the demands expressed by neighbors earlier last year. The project’s developers, Holland Partner Group (for the residential units) and Regency Centers (for the retail component) previously intended to utilize a shorter environmental review process, but they now agree to have the full EIR prepared.

Developers

(Continued from page 2) Mile Civic Coalition (MMCC), of which he is vice president, with leading the effort for street landscaping, and he particularly commends MMCC president, Lyn MacEwen Cohen, for her philanthropy and Miracle Mile advocacy.

VV

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Wilshire Boulevard. Of LACMA’s building over and above Wilshire, Marks says, “It’s a big deal.”

“What we’re really focused on is our front yard… We’re limited by what we can do.”

Limited but not stopped.

After all, 2023 is just around the corner, and then? There will be parades with the museums, like the old days, he said.

(In the 1980s and early 1990s an International Festival of Masks was held in the fall.)

“It’s something to look forward to,” said Marks.

“[The project] is now planned as a mid-rise with a focus on open space, community gathering options, more landscaping and greenery, and community-serving retail.”

The EIR will study the project whose primary change is having been lowered in height (from more than 20 stories to eight stories). The new project also has changed setbacks and building materials.

The project “is now planned

as a mid-rise with a focus on open space, community gathering options, more landscaping and greenery, and community-serving retail,” said developer spokesperson Dagny Akeyson earlier this year.

Completion of the EIR process may take until sometime next year. In the meantime, the developer has stressed its intention to work collaboratively with neighbors . . . and also to work with the beloved Andre’s Restaurant to allow it to operate as long as possible.

[See story on Page 26.]

Snyder also singles out Wally Marks and his family, who own several classic properties on the Mile and also are, as Snyder puts it, “community-smart.” Snyder says that Marks has been diligent in giving Snyder an ear to neighborhood residents to assure that what Snyder is designing and building meets the needs of the community and improves the quality of the environment.

Hackman and TV City Another real estate titan, CEO Michael Hackman of Hackman Capital Partners, recently purchased CBS Television City’s legendary production facility including sound stages and studios that have hosted classic TV fare ranging from “All in the Family” to “The Late Late Show” for more than half a century.

“The Price is Right” will still use the studio facilities for another five years, according to the deal, and CBS International also will be located in a complex on the lot. Hackman also will have the rights to use the Television City trademark, part of the terms that make the deal worth the three-quarter-billion-dollar price.

De Cotiis and Onni With its origins in Canada, Onni Group today has a number of varied projects, many not far from Onni Group’s head office in Vancouver. The Group has created a variety of residential, commercial, and rental projects throughout Canada and across the U.S. Locally, Onni has projects in Santa Monica, Hollywood and Downtown, including its ownership and planned redevelopment of Times-Mirror Square.

“Our strategy has always been relatively simple: to design and build properties that clearly meet the needs of the market … then throw in a little extra,” says company president Rossano De Cotiis, according to Onni’s marketing spokesperson. However, what Onni plans to do with the more than a million square feet at Wilshire Courtyard is still under wraps.

“It’s phenomenal seeing the Miracle Mile development over the past 15 years,” says Stephen Kramer, Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce president. “It didn’t happen overnight,” he says, and adds, of the properties, that “they keep on changing hands, and the prices keep going up.”

©LC0319

65

He said that, while “it was horrible to see trees torn up… several of the trees did not get destroyed.” Luckily some clusters of the median’s palms have been transplanted to the LAPD Wilshire Division.

Marks, who is on the board of the Craft Contemporary, is also staying in touch with the museums, including the newest member, the Academy Museum, set to open at the end of this year.

And, he’s watching the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s plans to build across

CBS TELEVISION CITY has been purchased by developer Michael Hackman’s Hackman Capital Partners.

Larchmont Chronicle

The following list of restaurants in and around the Miracle Mile area is not exhaustive, but it does cover a major portion of the community. All are in ZIP Code 90036 unless noted. If you have additions or corrections, please write to tips@larchmontchronicle. com.

6th & La Brea 600 S. La Brea Ave. 323-998-8565 6thlabrea.com Apollonia’s Pizzeria 5176 Wilshire Blvd.

323-937-2823 apolloniaspizzeria.com Black Dog Coffee 5657 Wilshire Blvd.

323-933-1976 blackdogcoffee.com Busby’s East 5364 Wilshire Blvd.

323-823-4890 busbysla.com

Escuela Taqueria 7615 Beverly Blvd.

323-932-6178 escuelataqueria.com

Restaurant Directory Rascal Restaurant 801 S. La Brea Ave. 323-933-3229 rascalla.com

Fiona 339 N. Fairfax Ave 323-852-3210 fionabakeryla.com

Odys + Penelope 127 S. La Brea Ave. 323-939-1033 odysandpenelope.com

Five Guys Burgers and Fries 5550 Wilshire Blvd., #101D 323-939-2360 fiveguys.com

Ono Hawaiian BBQ 5550 Wilshire Blvd.

323-525-1688 onohawaiianbbq.com

Genwa Korean BBQ 5115 Wilshire Blvd.

323-549-0760 genwakoreanbbq.com

Original Farmer’s Market 6333 W. Third St. 323-933-9211 farmersmarketla.com

India’s Tandoori 5468 Wilshire Blvd.

323-936-2050 indiastandoori.net

Commerson 788 S. La Brea Ave. 323-813-3000 commersonrestaurant.com

Isa Japanese Restaurant 916 S. La Brea Ave. 323-879-9536 isajapanese.com

The Counter 5779 Wilshire Blvd.

323-932-8900 thecounterburger.com

Jinya Ramen Bar 5168 Wilshire Blvd.

323-954-6477 jinya-ramenbar.com

Drago Ristorante 6060 Wilshire Blvd.

323-800-2244 dragoristorante.com

Kass Wine Bar & Restaurant 320 S. La Brea Ave. 323-413-2299

El Diner 5515 Wilshire Blvd.

323-931-1281 eldinerla.com

pettycashtaqueria.com

Mixt Greens 5757 Wilshire Blvd.

415-296-8009 mixt.com

International House of Pancakes 5655 Wilshire Blvd.

323-297-4467 ihop.com

El Coyote 7312 Beverly Blvd.

323-939-2255 elcoyotecafe.com

Milk Jar Cookies 5466 Wilshire Blvd.

323-634-9800 milkjarcookies.com

Fatburger 5001 Wilshire Blvd., #103 323-939-9593 fatburger.com

Candela La Brea 831 S. La Brea Ave. 323-936-0533 candelalabrea.com

Einstein Bros. Bagels 5550 Wilshire Blvd.

323-330-9501 einsteinbros.com

Miracle Mile 2019 29

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

La Brea Bakery Café 468 S. La Brea Ave. 323-939-6813 labreabakery.com Mercado 7910 W, 3rd St. 323-944-0947 cocinasycalaveras.com Met Her at a Bar 759 S. La Brea Ave. 323-847-5013 metheratabar.com

Petty Cash 7360 Beverly Blvd. sdfsdf 323-933-5300

Ray’s and Stark Bar at LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd.

323-857-6180 raysandstarkbar.com République 624 S. La Brea Ave. 310-362-6115 republiquela.com

Supremo Ristorante 901 S. La Brea Ave. 323-852-3192 The Sycamore Kitchen 143 S. La Brea Ave. 323-939-0151 thesycamorekitchen.com Trejo’s Tacos 1048 S. La Brea Ave. 323-938-8226 trejostacos.com Tsujita & Co. 109 N. Fairfax 323-591-0470

The Roof on Wilshire 6317 Wilshire Blvd.

323-852-6002 theroofonwilshire.com

Wirtshaus 345 N. La Brea Ave. 323-931-9291 wirtshausla.com

Spare Tire Kitchen 5370 Wilshire Blvd.

323-823-4890 sparetirepub.com

Yuko Kitchen 5484 Wilshire Blvd.

323-933-4020 yukokitchen.com

CIM GROUP celebrates the distinct and diverse architecture that is a hallmark of the Miracle Mile community.

Petersen

(Continued from 6) theme, in partnership with ComicCon. Organizers say the exhibit will be a “blockbuster event” for the museum.

“Classic Futures: Hollywood Envi- 1951 CHRYSLER Camera Car once sions Tomorrow” owned by billionaire movie mogul Howwill feature vehicles ard Hughes was in the President’s Day parade. used in cinema to depict a dystopian future. Think of movies like “Mad Max” and “TRON.” More details in the months ahead.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $16 for general admission, $14 for seniors and $11 for children ages 4 to 17. For more information, visit petersen.org.

4700 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010 www.cimgroup.com

30 Miracle Mile 2019

Residential Associations

Below is a list of residential groups, including contact information, located in and around the Miracle Mile.

323-653-6254 Boundaries: Wilshire to Rosewood, La Cienega to La Brea, excluding Park La Brea.

Beverly Grove Homeowners Association Stan Brent, president 6404 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1618 323-929-2499 Boundaries: La Cienega to Fairfax, Wilshire to Third.

Carthay Circle Neighborhood Association carthaycircle.org Carlos Bermudez, president 323-939-9694 info@carthaycircle.org Boundaries: Wilshire to Olympic between Fairfax and La Cienega.

The following list of apartment buildings in and around the Miracle Mile area is not exhaustive, but it does cover a major portion of the community. These places are where we could find a contact telephone number and/or website to verify information.

There are many more apartment communities in the Miracle Mile area than listed here, but not all have vacancies or contact information listed for them.

Call the numbers listed for information on units available to rent. However, these numbers sometimes change.

Some communities also have their own websites, while others are available online on information sites such as apartmentfinder.com, rent. com, rentcafe.com and forrent.com. All are ZIP code 90036 unless noted. If you have additions or corrections, please write to tips@larchmontchronicle.com.

Avalon Wilshire 5115 Wilshire Blvd.

323-330-1168 avaloncommunities.com

La Brea-Hancock Homeowners’ Association

labreahancock.com Tammy Rosato, president Cathy Roberts, secretary crmaison@gmail.com Boundaries: Wilshire to Third, Sycamore to Citrus.

Miracle Mile Residential Association miraclemilela.com James O’Sullivan, president info@miraclemilela.com Boundaries: Wilshire to San Vicente, Fairfax to La Brea. Or see a map of the boundaries on the website.

Park LaBrea Residents Association plbra.org Bernie Clinch, president Kenna Marshall, vice president Donald Harris, secretary / treasurer Park LaBrea Residents Assoc.

401 S. Burnside Ave. 323-934-1177 plbra@ca.rr.com Sycamore Square Neighborhood Association sycamoresquare.org Conrad Starr, president Joshua Kirchmer, secretary

info@sycamoresquare.org Boundaries: Wilshire to Olympic, La Brea to Citrus.

Information of interest to residents is also available from: Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce miraclemilechamber.org Stephen W. Kramer, president 5858 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 205 Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-964-5454 info@miraclemilechamber.org

Miracle Mile Apartments

Boulevard on Wilshire 5353 Wilshire Blvd.

323-937-7001 liveboulevard.com

Curson Apartments 315-323 N. Curson Ave. 323-655-6972 cursonapts.com

Brighton Villas 318 S. Detroit St. 844-244-9994

The El Rey Apartments 660 S. Cloverdale Ave. 323-243-1365 urbanlaliving.com/the-el-rey

Broadcast Center Apartments 7660 Beverly Blvd.

323-602-0248 broadcastcenterapts.com Burnside Villas 649 S. Burnside Ave. No phone number available Carthay Circle Apts.

6209-6225 Olympic Blvd., 90048 323-936-3793 Cochran Apartments 657–665 S. Cochran Ave. No phone number available.

Cochran Avenue Apartments 442 S. Cochran Ave. 323-939-5944 cochranavenue.com Cochran Island Apartments 342 S. Cochran Ave. 323-932-0450 Cochran House 740 S. Cochran Ave. 844-782-0223

Essex at Miracle Mile 400 S. Detroit St. 866-815-4656 essexapartmenthomes.com HPG Miracle Mile 616 S. Burnside Ave. 844-822-0394 Linda Manor Apartments 456 S. Cochran Ave. 310-430-2973 Masselin Park West 5700 6th St. 323-934-1600 masselinparkwestapts.com Micropolitan at Urban Lights 739 S. Ogden Dr. 323-319-5844 micropolitanco.com/urbanlights Museum Terrace 600 S. Curson Ave. 323-745-1251 museumterraceapts.com Oakwood Miracle Mile 5659 W. 8th St. 323-931-5659 oakwood.com

Tiffany Court 616 Masselin Ave. 323-937-5737 essexapartmenthomes.com Wilshire Embassy Apts.

5805 W. 8th St. 323-933-6020 wilshireembassy.com Wilshire La Brea 5900 Wilshire Blvd.

866-993-3520 essexapartmenthomes.com 109 N. Sycamore Ave. 323-886-9400 162/164 N. Detroit St. 323-230-0087 detroitla.com 328 S. Cloverdale Ave. 310-899-9580 rentcwp.com

ART DECO details are incorporated in the architecture of several buildings in the Miracle Mile. Above, a detail of the new apartment complex, The Mansfield.

632 S. Cloverdale Ave. 310-933-4191 pacificlistings.com 756 Ridgeley Dr. 323-545-6195 ridgeleyapts.com

5880-5882 W. 8th St. 310-425-9070

5550 Wilshire Blvd.

323-645-9418 5550wilshire.com

6300 W. Olympic 90048 844-245-0405

Blvd.,

5600 Wilshire Blvd.

866-812-6011 essexapartmenthomes.com

6526 W. Olympic Blvd., 90048 310-425-9070

Palazzo Communities 6220 W. 3rd St. 323-677-5843 palazzoatthegrove.com Palm Court Apts.

740 S. Burnside Ave. 323-930-2564 Park La Brea 6200 W. 3rd St. 323-549-5400 parklabrea.com The Preston 630 S. Masselin Ave. 323-965-1253 theprestonapts.com Redwood Urban 630 Hauser Blvd.

323-938-5653 Ridgeley Apartments 649 Ridgeley Dr. 213-258-9609

In Miracle Mile Exquisite Floral Arrangements & Plants for Every Occasion!

323-937-7100 5310 West 8th Street www.urbanflorist.net

©LC0314

Beverly Wilshire Homes Association beverlywilshirehomes.com Diana Plotkin, president

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Larchmont Chronicle

Miracle Mile 2019 31

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

Directory of Elected Officials

Sen. Dianne Feinstein 11111 Santa Monica Blvd.

Ste. 915, 310-914-7300 feinstein.senate.gov Sen. Kamala Harris 11845 W. Olympic Blvd.

Ste. 1250W 310-231-4494 harris.senate.gov

213-481-1425 gomez.house.gov

310-450-0041 a50.asmdc.org

Rep. Karen Bass 37th District 4929 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 650 323-965-1422 bass.house.gov

Assemblymember Miguel Santiago 53rd District 320 W. 4th St., #1050, 213-620-4646 a53.asmdc.org

Gov. Gavin Newsom State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 916-445-2841 gov.ca.gov

Rep. Adam Schiff 28th District 5500 Hollywood Blvd., Ste. #416 323-315-5555 schiff.house.gov Rep. Ted Lieu 33rd District 5055 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 310 323-651-1040 lieu.house.gov Rep. Jimmy Gomez 34th District 350 S. Bixel St., #120

State Senator Ben Allen 26th District 2512 Artesia Blvd., #320 Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-318-6994 sd26.senate.ca.gov Assemblymember Richard Bloom 50th District 2800 28th St., Ste. 105 Santa Monica, CA 90405

County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl 500 W. Temple St., #821 213-974-3333 supervisorkuehl.com Councilman David Ryu 4th District 200 N. Spring St., Rm. 425 213-473-7004 davidryu.lacity.org Councilman Paul Koretz 5th District 200 N. Spring St., Rm. 440 213-473-7005 councilmemberpaulkoretz.com

School Directory

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Cathedral Chapel School 755 S. Cochran Ave. Ph: 323-938-9976 Principal: Tina Kipp Grades: K to 8, 277 students cathedralchapelschool.org Hancock Park Elementary 408 S. Fairfax Ave. Ph: 323-935-5272 Principal: Ashley Parker Grades: TK to 5, 800 students hancockparkschool.com Wilshire Crest Elementary 5241 W. Olympic Blvd.

Ph: 323-938-5291 Principal: Gayle Robinson Grades: PK to 5, 165 students wce-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com MIDDLE SCHOOLS Fusion Miracle Mile 5757 Wilshire Blvd.

Promenade One 323-692-0603

Principal: Katheryn Nguyen Grades: 6 to 12 fusionacademy.com

John Burroughs 600 S. McCadden Pl. Ph: 323-549-5000 Principal: Steve Martinez Grades: 6 to 8, estimated at 1,800 students burroughsms.org New Los Angeles Charter 1919 S. Burnside Ave. 323-939-6400 Principal: Daryl Brook Grades: 6 to 8, 300 students. newlosangeles.org HIGH SCHOOLS Girls Academic Leadership Academy 1067 West Blvd.

Ph: 323-900-4532 Principal: Elizabeth Hicks Grades: 6 to 12, 600 students. galacademy.org

Miracle Mile Real Estate Sales*

Fairfax High, Visual Arts Magnet, Police Academy Magnet 7850 Melrose Ave. Ph: 323-370-1200 Principal: Kenneth Adiekweh Grades: 9 to 12, 1,850 students fairfaxhs.org Los Angeles High 4650 W. Olympic Blvd.

Ph: 323-900-2700 Principal: Travis Brandy Grades: 9 to 12, 1,600 students lahigh.org

THIS HOME at 826 S. Spaulding Ave., sold for $1,665,000 in August 2018.

Single-family homes 826 S. Spaulding Ave. 935 S. Ogden Dr. 843 Hauser Blvd.

908 Ridgeley Dr. 929 S. Dunsmuir Ave.

$ 1,665,000 1,650,000 1,483,058 1,280,000 1,275,000

Condominiums 600 Ridgeley Dr., #PH1 733 S. Ogden Dr., #302 750 S. Spaulding Ave., #322 750 S. Spaulding Ave., #336 750 S. Spaulding Ave., #129 750 S. Spaulding Ave., #327 724 S. Stanley Ave., #3

$ 885,000 852,500 840,000 738,500 711,000 705,000 675,000

*Last six months.

Looking for an organic mattress?

ABOVE, STUDENTS in the playground at Hancock Park Elementary School, one of several schools in the Miracle Mile.

Park La Brea

(Continued from page 20) outdoor movie showings and a dozen other favorite programs for residents.

Col. Harris also let us know about activities happening this year, including a free magic show for children who live in Park La Brea. It will be put on by Alfonso the Great from the Magic Castle in April.

In April and May, residents and their guests will be able to

view this year’s Academy Awardwinning movies on Thursday evenings in the theater.

Residents and neighbors alike can participate in the semi-yearly electronic and hazardous waste clean up sponsored by PLBRA Sat., May 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. One of the drop-off locations will be at the activity center at 475 S. Curson Ave. The other drop-off point will be behind the gatehouse east of Hauser Boulevard.

mattresses bedding linens

5979 W 3rd Street . Near The Grove . 323-255-7668 . www.goodnightnaturals.com

32 Miracle Mile 2019

Larchmont Chronicle

32ND ANNUAL EDITION

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