BARNSDALL
Historic center returns with a grand celebration and full arts program. Page 2
TURNING 90
Original Farmers Market celebrates a milestone with music and pop-ups. Page 6
DANCING
Two decades of dance will be celebrated at The Music Center Sat., Aug. 24. Page 7
By Suzan Filipek
Local homeowner groups voiced their approval of the mayor’s recent revamping of her Executive Directive 1 (ED1) to protect single-family neighborhoods.
Issued shortly after she came to office in December 2022, ED1 was set in motion to expedite review of 100 percent affordable housing projects to help curb the city’s homelessness crisis.
Unfortunately, the directive unleashed a spate of loopholes that allowed developers to build projects not in character with the neighborhoods.
Local homeowners soon “learned the directive needed guidelines,” according to the Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHOA), one of many groups appealing to the mayor.
While the directive was modified last year, more was needed.
According to a July 9 email from the Miracle Mile Residential Association, “the Directive caused developers to propose out-of-scale projects, without setbacks, side and backyards or greenery, and warrens of apartments with less footage per person than permitted in State prisons —
some even without windows in bedrooms! It also permitted rent-controlled tenants to be evicted, virtually overnight, and the destruction of existing affordable housing. The directive needed effective, humane guidelines.”
Luckily, that scenario changed last month, when Mayor Bass revised ED1 again with the new guidelines that took effect immediately.
“This latest update addresses nearly all the concerns raised by United Neighbors, a coalition of neighborhood groups advocating for better housing solutions for communities,” the HPHOA said in its July 3 email to homeowners following the revision.
Hundreds of communities and neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles are part of the United Neighbors coalition and helped get the word out on what kinds of amendments were needed, the local homeowner group added.
The latest revision will protect single-family neighborhoods, Historic Preservation Overlay Zones and Historic Districts in their entirety, as well as rent control units. It also prevents the “bait and switch” tactic used by developers to convert spaces such as recreation,
community or fitness rooms into market-rate units at a later time. Instead, these spaces will have to be provided as covenanted affordable units like the rest of the project.
The new guidelines limit projects to no more than five density bonus incentives and one waiver, consistent with state law. Projects in residential neighborhoods seeking expedited review on ED1 can add 33 feet or three stories. They must also have a rear yard setback of 8 feet with a side yard setback of 5 feet. Additional setbacks are required for buildings seeking a height increase of three stories or more.
In addition, the new rules require the City Planning Department to, within 45 days, create a public dashboard of projects seeking City Planning approval under this directive.
Unfortunately, existing ED 1 projects are not affected by the new revision. “We will have to fight against them individually,” the HPHOA said. Concerns in Larchmont
Not everyone was as optimistic.
“While this revision of ED1 is extremely helpful to some neighborhoods in Los Angeles, any new benefits for our Larchmont neighborhood
are limited and several of our most pressing concerns remain,” local resident Sam Uretsky wrote.
“One change we can take a good deal of credit for is that our advocacy was very instrumental in stopping ‘bait and switch’ tactics,” he added in a July 3 email.
Uretsky’s concerns include the fact that height bonuses on Upper Larchmont remain vulnerable at 78 feet or six stories, the setback minimums of 8 feet for rear yards and 5 feet for side yards are not enough, and parking has
not been addressed.
As it stands, “100 percent affordable housing built within a half-mile of a Major Transit Stop (MTS) is not required to provide parking. All of Upper Larchmont is affected by one intersection, Melrose and Gower, deemed an MTS by the City... We continue to dispute its validity,” Uretsky added.
“The best case scenario coming out of this revised directive… was [that] the combined constraints on developers... may make it less profitable to build ED1 projects” in the first place.
By Nona Sue Friedman Barnsdall
Arts, which includes the adult arts center and the junior arts center and gallery, is a creative treasure trove situated high on Olive Hill. Its closure during
It’s Landmark Awards season again!
The Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society will present on Sat., Aug. 3 its annual Landmark Awards for historic properties — residential and commercial — which are of architectural or historic significance in the community or in the boundaries of historic Rancho LaBrea. This year the awards went to two properties: 553 S. Windsor Blvd. and 119 N. Larchmont Blvd.
The winners are...
The 553 S. Windsor Blvd. home was built in 1914 by the design and construction firm The Milwaukee Building Company, operated by Mendel Meyer and Gabriel Holler (who would later change the firm to become Meyer and Holler, best known as the architects of Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard). Their clients Mr. John F. and Mrs. Nellie Powers, who had moved to Los Angeles to invest in real estate, and later became the owners of the minor league Los Angeles Angels baseball team.
Described as a “Palatial Dwelling of the English Manor Type,” the house was an early Tudor, a hybrid of Craftsman and Tudor design. It combined brick and half
by Brian Curran
timbering, but utilized simple and solid detailing more typical of Craftsman than the studied and delicate carving and architectural elements of later Tudors. Among the home’s most notable features are its massive doorway, which sits beneath an exceptionally wide brick archway and opens into an expansive hall with a monumental bifurcated staircase.
The house’s recent history was featured in the Wall Street Journal article entitled, “This Los Angeles Love Story Begins Inside a Rundown Tudor Revival.” It described the chance meeting of Bradley and Roger Perry at the house during an estate sale in 2013.
The couple soon fell in love and moved into the house, surviving a grueling six-year restoration, and now share the property with their two children.
The other award-winner is Larchmont Jewelers, scheduled to open this month at 119
N. Larchmont Blvd. — one of the few historic buildings on Larchmont Boulevard which retains its original façade. Built in 1923 on the west side of Larchmont Boulevard near the corner of First Street, the building was designed by architect High Barton Saunders for owner Albert B. Stephens. Designed in what has been described as “commercial vernacular,” the property was to have ground floor storefronts with five apartments above. There was originally a three-car garage building in the rear.
The Larchmont façade was faced in brick, with two large plate glass windows flanking a central door with a fan light above. The second floor continued the symmetry with evenly matched windows, Juliette balconies and arches. While the color, storefront designs and window treat-
ments changed over time and tenants, the overall historic façade remained unchanged when David Lee of Hing Wa Lee Jewelers decided to open his third retail store at the location (see story Section 1, Page 1).
Local preservationist James Dastoli, concerned that the historic façade would be lost in the renovations, submitted an application for Historic Cultural Monument designa-
tion, which the building was awarded earlier this year.
To Dastoli’s delight and that of the community, Mr. Lee embraced the recognition of the building as historic and proposed a design which preserves the historic façade while adapting the building to its new use as a destination jewelry and watch emporium. Congratulations to the winners for being chosen this year’s Landmark Awards recipients!
By Nona Sue Friedman
CicLAvia closes streets for a day to cars, creating a “pop-up park.” CicLAvia’s 54th creation is a route named “Meet the Hollywoods” on Sun., Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During this Metro-sponsored free event, bike, skate, blade or walk along Santa Monica Boulevard, starting at San Vicente Boulevard, head north on Highland Avenue, then travel east on Hollywood Boulevard until the route’s end at Hillhurst Avenue. Join the fun at any point.
This route allows participants to explore the Hollywoods — West Hollywood, Hollywood and East Hollywood — with people-powered modes of
transportation.
Along the way, there are five hubs (where you must dismount and walk) to refill your water bottle for free, participate in a family friendly activity, learn about local civic organizations, get a basic bike repair or grab some food. Occasionally there is music or a performance as well.
Along the more than 6 1/2 miles of asphalt, explore local businesses and see architectural gems up close. It’s a great way to learn about a new neighborhood or explore a familiar one from a different vantage point.
More information can be found at ciclavia.org.
By Monica Corcoran Harel
It was 1997. “Men in Black” topped the box office, and Lilith Fair was the new Lollapalooza. On Lillian Way in Hancock Park, another defining moment would change history forever: “A few of us dragged our barbecues into the street for the 4th of July and grilled hot dogs for each other,” recalls resident Evan Corday, now a mom of twin teen boys.
Twenty-seven years later, the annual Fourth of July Block Party attracts hundreds of locals, a taco vendor, fire trucks, bouncers, a bike parade and face painters. Local businesses help underwrite
the event.
Corday, along with a trusty cohort of Lillian Way neighbors like me, have kept this traditional celebration alive every year — even during COVID-19. (In 2020, a handful of us, wearing masks, gathered to eat cupcakes at a safe distance from each other.)
This year, the tight team of organizers, including Jordana Brown, Edward Didlock, Michelle Newell, Alden Oreck, Jeffrey Yates and Jessica DiCicco, came together in May at Corday’s dining room table to restore the block party to its former, pre-pandemic glory. The street, a block west of Ross-
the spectacle at the nearby Wilshire Country Club.
“We need community now more than ever,” says Lillian Way resident and block party co-planner Meaghan Curcio, who festooned her lawn with dozens of flags and hosted friends. Clearly, locals agreed: At 5 p.m. that day, dozens of families arrived to check in and let their kids taste independence. (“Go play!” said a chorus of parents.) The street was blocked off to cars — thanks to city permits — so it was a safe zone reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Kids savored their freedom too. They dashed off to an inflated obstacle course, as adults feasted on carnitas tacos at rented tables and chairs. Around 7 p.m., it was time for the bike parade, musical chairs and a water balloon toss. This year, a watermelon-eating contest rivaled the Olympics in competitiveness. “I might barf,” moaned one dad.
For the first time ever, local businesses pitched in to add financial support. After the sun set, the party shuffled to the end of the block for fireworks. “I can’t wait until next year,” one kid whispered to another
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By Dinah Yorkin
With climate change making the Los Angeles heat more unbearable than ever, a new activity to fill these long summer days has risen in prominence: seeing movies in revival theaters.
Dotted all across the city, revival theaters are exactly what they sound like: they screen classic, under-appreciated or forgotten films, essentially “reviving” them. As large corporate theaters seem to be full of endless sequels, never-ending trailers and audiences that can’t put their phones away, it seems that the allure of seeing films in those theaters has waned.
However, that glamor has been renewed in revival theaters: they always feature a visually, dramatically or stylistically captivating film; there are very few trailers or none at all; and employees at these theaters are not at all daunted by the prospect of kicking someone out for checking his or her phone. Moreover, tickets are much more affordable.
This renaissance has certainly been aided by new technology, specifically
the app Letterboxd. Letterboxd allows its users to log and review each film they see and connect with other film lovers. In the past year, Letterboxd’s popularity has grown exponentially, with filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann joining the app. This popularity has helped to spawn a resurgence of film fanatics — or film appreciators, at the very least — that have begun to frequent revival theaters in increased numbers.
With plenty of revival theaters available, the one I find myself at the most is not a theater at all, but an organization called the American Cinematheque, which plays in three theaters across Los Angeles: the newly renovated Egyptian Theatre at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., a theater in the Los Feliz Theater at 1822 N. Vermont Ave. and the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 1328 Montana Ave. With three theaters available to the organization, their dai-
ly programming, combined with their summer festivals such as “Bleak Week” (featuring grim films like “Make Way for Tomorrow” and “Sorcerer”) and “Ultra Cinematheque 70 Fest” (featuring 70mm prints of a wide range of films from “The Remains of the Day” to “Inception”), ensures that, any day of the week, you can find a film that will strike your fancy.
Not heralded for its fantastic design, New Beverly Cinema (owned by Quentin Tarantino) at 7615 Beverly Blvd. is heralded (at least by me) for its fantastic lineup of films. From cult classics like “Harold and Maude” to pulpy thrillers like “Race with the Devil” to Tarantino’s own beloved movies, the New Beverly is a fantastic place with great vibes to pass summer nights. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the Academy Museum at 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Its two theaters play
far fewer films than the New Beverly and the American Cinematheque. Also, with screenings of films like “Rebel Without a Cause” or “The Red Shoes,” the films they play are less eclectic but still powerful. However, the true draw of the Academy Museum is the two state-of-the-art theaters, which feature plush seats and excellent sightlines. Unfortunately, the one drawback is that no snacks are allowed. For a perfect summer night, my friends and I grab a bite to eat at a classic diner, such as Swingers Diner, the Clark Street Diner or Fred 62 (which is coincidentally and conveniently right across the street from the Los Feliz Theater, which plays classic films in Theater 1), before heading out to one of the many revival theaters across Los Angeles. For a complete list of programming in each revival theater, visit revivalhubla. com.
By Nona Sue Friedman
The Original Farmers Market turned 90 in July and held a party on July 18.
The Market, at 6333 W. Third St., took the opportunity to honor this milestone with its first Night Market.
The evening commenced with a dynamic DJ and drummer team, Ricky Rocks, spinning 90s tunes in the plaza, inspiring the crowd to dance and sing. While energized onlookers watched the DJ, other visitors strolled the plaza shopping for wares, such as jewelry, retro-inspired clothing and beautifully knit flowers, from online vendors. Of course, delicious food was readily available.
This Night Market pop-up honors the Markets’ tradition and history of celebrating Los Angeles’s diverse small businesses and vibrant culture. Here’s to another 90 years!
By Suzan Filipek
Enjoy the sounds of summer at two free music series underway at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Hear jazz on Fridays beginning at 6 p.m. on the Smidt Welcome Plaza. The 33rd annual program kicked off in May. Upcoming, Joshua White Quintet plays Aug. 2. Clayton Cameron Sextet performs Aug. 9, followed by 6 Beats Apart on Aug. 16 and Benn Clatworthy & System 6 on Aug. 23.
The Latin Sounds program features Central and South American Indigenous and modern music from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and Los Angeles. The concerts are Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater on the Sixth Street side of the LACMA campus.
Las Chikas take the stage on Aug. 3. Nobresil performs Aug. 10, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca on Aug. 17 and Luis Conte Band on Aug. 24. Son Mayor performs Aug. 31.
Visitors can enjoy open seating and picnicking on the grounds for both programs. Food and beverage options are available.
Admission to the museum
buildings is free to Los Angeles County residents with valid IDs Monday to Friday, after 5 p.m. For Los Angeles County youth 17 and under, admission is free at all times. The buildings are open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and are closed on Wednesdays.
The jazz series continues through October. Latin Sounds ends in September. For more information, visit lacma.org.
Salsa, reggae and hip-hop fire up summer nights on the Market Plaza at the Original Farmers Market on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., through Aug. 29.
Raul Val and his Texas Blues Rock Trio rock the night Aug. 8. Larry O. Williams & Friends bring smooth jazz and serious funk on Aug. 15, followed by Jahgun & The Justifyah Band’s blend of reggae, hiphop and world beat on Aug. 22. Sangre Nueva serves up some salsa on Aug. 29.
For more information, visit farmersmarketla.com.
The Farmers Market is at 6333 W. Third St.
By Dinah Yorkin
Be sure to swing by the Music Center’s Dance DTLA Birthday Bash on Sat., Aug. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m., on the Jerry Moss Plaza at 135 N. Grand Ave. to celebrate 20 years of Dance DTLA.
Three Los Angeles-based DJs will usher partygoers through a journey of dance and highlight genres from past Dance DTLAs. Dance instructors will be on hand during the three-hour club under the stars. A champagne toast will start the night, and in between dances, cakes and other light fare will be served.
Tickets for the celebration are $60 and can be purchased at musiccenter.org/birthday. All proceeds go to The Music Center’s free and low-cost programs.
Swing by Gloria Molina Grand Park at 200 N. Grand Ave. on Sun., Aug. 18, or Sun., Sept. 15, from 3 to 8 p.m. for a night of dance, music, cocktails and food trucks. Local DJs will spin tunes and partygoers can enjoy the vibrant artistic scene of Los Angeles as they picnic at the park. The event is free. Visit grandparkla.org for more information.
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Brush up on your Shakespeare, grab a picnic blanket and then head over to the dell at the top of the Old Los Angeles Zoo at 4801 Griffith Park Dr. for a free night of Shakespeare under the stars. Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays until Sun., Sept. 1, with an immersive prologue beginning at 6 p.m. and the performance beginning at 7 p.m.
Having put on free performances of Shakespeare since 2003, the Independent Shake-
speare Co. is performing “As You Like It” this year. With songs inspired by the 1930s singer Al Bowlly, a prologue that allows the audience to interact with the cast, and Norton Avenue resident Jack Lancaster as Orlando, to go or not to go — there really is no question!
See “Around the Town,” Section 1, Page 4, to read more about Lancaster. Although the event is free, registration is required. Visit iscla.org/festival-2024.
By Casey Russell Summer of Sloths continues at the La Brea Tar Pits through Tues., Sept. 3. Learn about these slow-moving mammals at your own pace or with guided tours.
Don’t miss Sloths Summer Night, Fri., July 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. With free admission to
the museum and a chance to meet a living tree sloth, courtesy of the Wildlife Learning Center, this will be a night to remember. Tar Bar will be selling cold drinks, and food trucks will be close by so that visitors can picnic while listening to tunes presented by Mike C. Music.
By Casey Russell
A little-known perk of being the proud owner of a Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) library card (in good standing) is a program called Discover & Go.
Available to Los Angeles residents 18 and older, the program enables participants to reserve free tickets for each participating Explore L.A. museum and attraction.
Library card holders can log on to lapl.org, click on services and programs and choose “Explore L.A.” to reserve passes.
Participating institutions include: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Aquarium of the Pacific, The Broad, California Botanic Garden, Chinese American Museum,
Recording Academy Grammy Museum L.A. Live, Hammer Museum, Japanese American National Museum, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, LA Galaxy, LA Opera, LA Plaza de Cultura Y Artes, Los Angeles Conservancy, Los Angeles Zoo, The Museum of Jurassic Technology, Museum of Tolerance, Natural History Museum and Skirball Cultural Center.
This ongoing program allows card holders to reserve the first come, first served passes up to three months in advance. Some participating institutions give family passes; others offer tickets for individuals.
For more information or to take advantage of the free opportunities, visit lapl.org.
There will be Excavator Tours of the Fossil Lab, where you can watch paleontologists at work and peruse historic excavation sites and Project 23, where live excavations can be viewed. These tours are offered at 1 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 and 1 p.m. weekends.
Experience the museum’s 15-minute show, “Ice Age Encounters,” for $6 per person (in addition to admission), Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Admission to the museum
is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, $7 for children 3-12 and free for
children 2 and under. Visit tarpits.org for more information.
By Dinah Yorkin
Embrace your creative side and learn a fun new skill in a series of workshops this summer at the Craft Contemporary at 5814 Wilshire Blvd.
“Open Clay Time,” which is an opportunity for participants to experiment with air dry clay, is every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. through Sept. 6. With no RSVP required, participants can be inspired by works on view and will learn simple techniques to bring their ideas to fruition. Admission is the price of a museum ticket plus $7 for materials.
Make Korean ceramic Jesa plates on Thurs., Aug. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. These plates are used during traditional ceremonies. Participants will learn how to craft them by hand and decorate them with painted underglaze imagery.
Make sure to slather on some sunblock and stop by the free River Fest on Sun., Aug. 11, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the scenic Los Angeles State Historic Park at 1245 N. Spring St.
The Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) is hosting River Fest, a celebration of the Los Angeles River and its rich history and culture. The open-air and free community-based festival will feature interactive environmental activities, a variety of food trucks and a wide range of local artists and their work. Live performances, a visual art gallery and a marketplace will be facilitated by the artists.
Debuting this year is the Lewis Lounge, a tribute to FoLAR founder and poet Lewis MacAdams. All poetry submissions will be displayed, with some read live during a curated poetry jam, hosted by Mike “The Poet” Sonksen. The event is free; registration is required. Visit folar.org/riverfest to secure your spot.
Tickets are $12. Learn to craft masks inspired by traditional mask-making practices in Mexico on Sun., Aug. 11, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Participants will create symbolic masks using cardboard, paper and other materials. Tickets are required for the event and cost $10.
Registration is required for the Jesa plate workshop and mask-making workshop. Visit craftcontemporary.org/ programs.
What better time than the dog days of summer for a lazy, luscious brunch? Sitting on a sun-sparkled patio or in a climate-controlled lounge, loading up on some version of sweet carbs or fluffy eggs (or both), sipping a mimosa or anything else that will make you fall into a deep siesta as soon as you return home … If that’s not perfection, what is?
Luckily for us, there are ample nearby options for splendid summer weekend brunches. Here are four to try.
Lemon Grove, a rooftop restaurant at the Aster Hotel, has both a lovely indoor space with tables and a bar and an outdoor area with retractable shade. There is also a lounge area and bar with more direct views of the Hollywood skyline. Be forewarned that the hotel’s front door is kept locked to discourage random Hollywood denizens from entering, and to date there is no signage directing visitors to enter through the garage.
Most importantly, though, the brunch was wonderful.
My $19 rolled French omelet with Boursin and spinach was beautifully cooked; the accompanying roasted potatoes had wonderfully crispy bits. My husband’s $22 salm-
on Benedict was spectacular. Generous pieces of lightly smoked salmon were bathed in a lemony hollandaise over English muffins. $16 cocktails were delightful. The Bloody Mary was well-seasoned, but the star drink of the morning was a gorgeous take on a gin and tonic made with lavender-infused gin, elderflower liqueur and tonic water. The only brunch hiccup was that the $15 cinnamon buns were grossly underbaked, but they promptly took them off our bill. Other options include $20 bananas Foster pancakes, $18 biscuits and gravy and $26 fried chicken and waffles.
Lemon Grove, 1717 Vine St., 6th floor of Aster Hotel, 323-962-1717.
Another hotel brunch option, this one at street level, is The Bar at Short Stories Hotel. A lovely patio just off the lobby provides a relaxing respite from the bustle of Fairfax Avenue just steps away. There is limited shade, so on stifling days, try their adjacent room with tables and bar seating. A DJ provides a mellow music backdrop.
Brunch entrees include a $16 broccolini and cheddar omelet, $15 waffle with berries and maple syrup, and a $20 cheeseburger with fried
egg. Smoked salmon toast ($14) makes a flavorful light meal. Sturdy Danish-style bread is spread with dill cream cheese and topped with lox, thin-sliced cucumbers and sprinkles of everything-but-the-bagel spice. French toast with grilled peaches and puddles of vanilla custard ($17) is a sweet and creamy choice. A $6 side of wild mushrooms and spinach added an umami-laden, satisfyingly salty counterpoint to the rich French toast. There is a full bar, but they lean toward the typical brunch beverages. A $22 Bloody Mary, made table-side with house-made rosemary-infused vodka, is topped with a green olive, a cornichon and a rasher of bacon. $30 bottomless mimosas come in three juice choices: orange, pomegranate or passion fruit.
The Bar at Short Stories Hotel, 115 S. Fairfax Ave., 323-937-3930.
Superba Food + Bread has a lovely indoor restaurant, but ask to be seated in their beautiful courtyard, where lush plantings and umbrellas offer shade. Given that bread is in their name, all their bakery items are particularly worthy, from an $11 warm cinnamon bun redolent with orange zest to $17 croissant French toast with candied pecans and vanilla crème fraîche. The extensive menu includes: a $22 “big boy” breakfast of eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast and kale; $21 eggs Benedict with roasted tomatoes and smoked hollandaise; $19 chilaquiles with fried eggs, salsa verde, charred poblano peppers and cotija cheese; $25.50 salmon bowl with roasted vegetables; and $29 garlic-rubbed half chicken.
Superba Food + Bread, 6530 Sunset Blvd., 323-364-9844. Also in Venice and Pasadena. There are only a few outside tables at Salt’s Cure, so count on sitting inside their rustic, wood-lined restaurant with floor-to-ceiling open windows. Known for their oatmeal griddle cakes, we ordered the $10 plate as a side to share — two large pancakes awash in cinnamon butter were sweet, chewy, robust and wonderful. We each
also ordered their $15 SoCal breakfast: two eggs (we chose scrambled), sourdough toast and half an avocado. The eggs were fluffy and buttery with an intensely eggy flavor — possibly the best scrambled eggs I’ve tasted. The toast was delicious, and the avocado perfectly ripe. Simple things done simply right.
Their Bloody Mary is house-made from heirloom tomatoes, cooked with spices and pickle juice. It was seasoned perfectly, with just the right amount of heat. They have other interesting cocktail options including a mixture of bourbon and beet juice and a chamomile-infused gin blended with cucumber and basil.
Other brunch options include biscuits and gravy with sunny-side up eggs and pork sausage ($17), a pork chop with apple sauce and braised greens ($36) and a plate with two sausages, bacon rashers, eggs and oatmeal griddle cakes ($23).
Salt’s Cure, 1155 Highland Ave., 323-380-7148. Their breakfast- and lunch-only restaurant, Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, is located at 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, and in Brentwood and New York City.
Sorry / Not Sorry (9/10): 98 minutes. NR. Streaming and available everywhere you can rent / buy movies. Louis C.K. was an immensely successful comedian / producer whose perversion was masturbating in front of women. It was a not-so-closely-held secret until it became a scandal. He made a 35mm film in 2017 called “I Love You Daddy” that was so disgusting it wasn’t released. Although I saw it, I did not write a review because the scandal broke almost immediately after my viewing, and I thought it would not see the light of day.
This illuminating documentary is based on the New York Times article “Louis C.K. is Accused by 5 Women of Sexual Misconduct” by Melena Ryzlik, Cara Buckley and Jodi Kantor and is directed by Caroline Suh and Cara Mones.
Up-and-coming comediennes Jen Kirkman and Megan Koestler are interviewed at length about their experiences, which shattered their lives. Also interviewed, Dana Min Goodman and Julia Willow were two female emerging comics whom he invited to his room where he
asked if he could masturbate in front of them. When they were stunned into silence, he took off his clothes and, naked, did it. Their promising careers virtually died aborning as a result of this experience, and they explain why.
These stories are shocking, but equally shocking are the hypocritical people who defend Louis C.K. and diminish the women making the accusations, like Jon Stewart, Bill Maher (“There’s a litany of things that are a lot worse than [masturbating] in front of a few people.”), Dave Chappelle and Luis J Gomez (“What did he do, he [masturbated] in front of a few women…who hasn’t?”).
The film concludes with Louis C.K.’s comeback and a few comments from people like Michael Ian Black, a comedian, who asks “How do we welcome people back and how do we not welcome people back?”
Louis C.K.’s victims have some comments about his comeback, too. This important film highlights the sordid underbelly of show business.
Joe Pickett (8/10): Two-season series of 10 50-minute
episodes each, streaming on Paramount+. TV-14. Based on C.J. Box novels about a game warden, Joe Pickett (Michael Dornan) and his wife, Marybeth (Julianna Gill), and their children. In the opening season, Pickett is new to the job, and the story includes flashbacks to explain his character. Joe is up against some bad characters who do everything to thwart his efforts to clean things up, all the while putting his family in dire danger. The scenery is beautiful, and
By Dinah Yorkin
Stop by the showing of the documentary “Edo Avant Garde” on Sat., Aug. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Japan Foundation at 5700 Wilshire Blvd.
In conjunction with the art exhibition “Inspired by Edo,” the showing will begin with an introduction by Linda Hoaglund, the film’s director and exhibit’s program director.
“Edo Avant Garde,” made in 2019, explores Japanese art during the Edo era (16031868). In that time, artists sought to bring the natural world and creatures to life. To animate trees, puppies, waves and more, they incorporated asymmetry, abstraction and empty space.
Hoaglund explored these techniques — which greatly influenced modern art in the West — by filming close-guarded art pieces in museums and private collections.
Cinematography by award-winning Norimichi Kasamatsu and an original soundtrack by Shoko Nagai are also featured in the film. Admission is free, but registration is required.
The exhibit “Inspired by
the tension builds to a crescendo.
Fly Me to the Moon (7/10): 132 minutes. PG-13. I was inclined not to like this, mainly due to its star, Channing Tatum, who is of the Kevin Costner school of acting — a good-looking guy who just recites his lines and hits his marks. So I was surprised to find that, while frivolous, it was entertaining.
It seems to be germinated from a documentary made by writer / producer Craig Titley’s “Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?” (2001), in which Titley postulated that the entire moon landing was a big scam telecast from a studio, and presented evidence to document the theory.
Although Titley’s film is uncredited, in this iteration, directed by Greg Berlan-
ti from a script by Keenan Flynn, Rose Gilroy and Bill Kirstein (multiple writers, generally a bad sign), Cole Davis (Tatum) is Apollo 11’s launch director. Foisted upon him by a White House PR guy, Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), is marketing whiz Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), who is an aggressive overachiever with a mysterious past.
This is a rom-com, so there is a romantic attraction between Kelly and Cole, even though he fights her throughout the film. The best performance in the film is by Harrelson as the typical political dirty tricks guy.
Even though — like most undisciplined movies today — it goes on too long, it’s enjoyable, and there are some impressive special effects.
Cinematographer receives honors
Crescenzo Notarile, a longtime Windsor Square resident, was inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Class of 2024 in July.
The director of photography has also won a Peabody Award for his cinematography in the “Star Trek” universe, having photographed “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Discovery.”
An Emmy Award winner, Notarile has worked on a wide range of projects, most recently on the Netflix series “Your Honor” with Bryan Cranston.
Notarile was featured in the Larchmont Chronicle’s May 2022 issue, in the article “Notarile’s commute takes him to galaxies far, far away” (tinyurl. com/534nkwb3).
Art exhibition and soiree August 9
Stop by an exhibition and soiree at TAG Gallery, at 5458 Wilshire Blvd., on Fri., Aug. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. The artHYPE and SHE IS HOPE LA event will feature a collection of diverse works. Tickets are free and can be reserved at tinyurl.com/2vbzmpna.
I wanted to review “Finist, The Brave Falcon” for this column, but, of course, that is impossible. The play, which was once financed by the Russian government and won Russia’s equivalent of a Tony award, is banned for “justifying” terrorism. Its author, Svetlana Petriychuk, and director, Zhenya Berkovich, both in their 30s, have been sentenced to six-year prison terms on terrorism charges.
Since Russia’s Ukraine invasion, a steady stream of intellectuals, artists, writers, and journalists have been arrested on a variety of terrorism, treason and “foreign agent” charges, eliminating any dissent or critique.
There are other ways of silencing cultural critics and observers.
Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida used his veto to eliminate all of the state’s $32 million arts funding. Our own Gavin Newsom planned a 58 percent cut in statewide arts funding, which would have had a serious impact on the nearly 850,000 arts-related jobs statewide. Only after a vigorous campaign by arts advocates did the legislature restore 75 percent of the cuts. Since 2018, state general fund support for the arts has
averaged 67 cents (67 cents!) per person per year. With the cut, California drops from 36th to 45th in state arts funding. There are half as many 99-seat theaters in Los Angeles as there were eight years ago. COVID-19, Assembly Bill 5, inflation, and changes in the tax code on charitable deductions all have played a part. The big arts entities will manage. It’s the marginal venues, where voices struggle to be heard and seeds of resistance are planted that are being shuttered.
Which leads me to pornography — which is not something I usually write about!
However you may feel about the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” document, just five pages into the foreword, “the proposal stakes out an uncompromising position that porn should be banned, porn producers and distributors should be sent to prison, and tech companies that circulate it should be shut down” (MSNBC 7/12/24). But nowhere is “porn” defined. In 1964, Justice Potter Stewart threw up his hands with his “I know it when I see it” opinion, deciding that Louis Malle’s film, “The Lovers,” was not pornographic, despite a graphic (for the times) sex scene.
But what about the recently closed, full-bore cross-dressing “Psycho Beach Party” at the Matrix Theatre (a sort of “Gidget” meets John Waters meets “Mommie, Dearest”)? It was a romp and a hoot, and very gay, and…? What about “Strange Loop” at the Ahmanson last month? Vulgar, perhaps, but porn?
Or even the Will Geer’s delightful Wendy’s Peter Pan, Ellen Geer’s more politically correct take on J.M. Barrie’s play (through Oct. 4; 310455-3723). Does having the energetic Gabbi Beauvais play Peter (women usually do play the part) violate gender norms for impressionable youth?
Who decides?
This is the issue implicit in the revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s The Substance of Fire, at the Ruskin Group Theater in Santa Monica through Sept. 1 (310-397-3244). Isaac (Rob Morrow) is the patriarch of a boutique publishing house
What to watch for
“Clue,” the board game-based mystery, is at the Ahmanson through Aug. 25; 213-628-2772; centertheatregroup.org
Agatha Christie’s “Murder After Hours” runs at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood from Aug. 2 through Sept. 8; thegrouprep.com or 818-763-5990.
The Independent Shakespeare Company presents “As You Like It” at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park through Sept. 1; iscla.org, or 818-710-6306.
who battles for the right to publish high-quality books that nobody buys. His three adult children band together to take the company from him, leaving him isolated in the face of “progress.” The play, one of Baitz’s earliest, is uneven at best. Mr. Morrow and Marcia Cross, as a social worker looking in on Isaac, have a great scene together in Act II, which only renders the rest of the play less memorable. But still the issue is there:
who decides what gets published or produced or banned? The state? The economy? The Heritage Foudation?
If you think I am being dramatic, remember that Will Geer and his wife, Herta Ware (parents of Ellen), began giving performances in Topanga in the 1950s to help out writers and artists whose careers were ruined by blacklists and Communist witch hunts. Don’t say it can’t happen here. It already has.
Make sure that your confidence is all good and boosted, and then head over to Chevalier’s Books at 133 N. Larchmont Blvd. for two speed dating events in August. After partnering with Love in LA for the first event in late July, Chevalier’s will once again partner with them
to help run the next two. The first speed dating event was a surprise sell out. Dates have not yet been announced for August, but one will be for a 40-plus age group, and the other will be for queer-identifying people. Tickets are $30. Registration is required. Visit chevaliersbooks.com.
By Jane Gilman
The performance of the Filipino opera “Karim and Jasmin” at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in June featured local resident Edwin Raquel. He had a lead role in the opera as the general, and his wife, Dr. Lani Raquel, played a priestess.
Written and composed by Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz, the opera blends song, dance and storytelling and is performed by a cast of 30, including several internationally known singers. Edwin was
approached to take the role in January, and rehearsals began in April. A repeat performance of the opera is being planned. Singing has always been Edwin Raquel’s avocation, dating back to his roles in school musicals and the TransAmerica chorus, which performed concerts four times a year. Years later, Raquel starred as Capt. Von Trapp in a stage version of “The Sound of Music.” He took on this role in addition to his real-life responsibilities as the chief actuary for Sun
America.
Edwin now is the owner of Gr8 Care, a post-acute rehabilitation center. He and his wife, an OB-GYN doctor, moved 31 years ago to Fremont Place, where they raised their four daughters. Dr. Raquel is a member of the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors. At their wedding 31 years ago, they sang their wedding vows. Today, Edwin continues his love of music by singing at weddings and other occasions for friends.
FAIRFAX LIBRARY
Teens, Adults & Seniors
Fun and relaxation with watercolors: Embark on an artistic journey led by artist and illustrator Roxsy Lin. Unlock your inner artist on Sat., Aug. 10, at noon.
Kids
Thor’s reptile family: Enjoy hands-on entertainment and education with live anthropods, amphibians and reptiles of all sizes. Go on safari around the world Tues., Aug. 6, at 4 p.m.
All ages
Book sale: Browse used books every Wednesday, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. All sales support the library branch.
FREMONT LIBRARY
Kids
Light up firefly craft: Make your own illuminated firefly with an LED light bulb, lithium battery and copper tape Tues., July 30, at 4 p.m.
Live music with the Ben Band: Come listen to Ben Urwant perform family-friendly songs about animals from Australia. The wacky musical entertainment takes place Wed., July 31, at 2 p.m.
MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Kids
LA Zoo goes to the library: Learn the importance of pollination with a story and craft from the Los Angeles Zoo on Wed., Aug. 7, at 11:30 a.m.
Teens
Outdoor games: Giant Jenga, Connect Four and more on the lawn, Thurs., Aug. 8, at 4 p.m.
Adults
First Friday book club:
Discuss “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See on Fri., Aug. 2, at 1 p.m. The title for September is “End of Story,” by AJ Finn.
Pickling workshop: Learn about fermentation and vinegar pickling you can do at home on Sat., Aug. 3, at 1 p.m.
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 5:30 p.m., every Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m.
WILSHIRE LIBRARY
Kids
LEGO day: BuildUp for Kids is bringing hundreds of LEGO bricks to build and create on Tues., July 30, at 3 p.m. Storytime with Bailey and
FAIRFAX
161 S. Gardner St. 323-936-6191
JOHN C. FREMONT 6121 Melrose Ave. 323-962-3521
MEMORIAL
4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 323-938-2732
WILSHIRE
149 N. St. Andrews Pl. 323-957-4550
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.
the LA Kings ice crew: Join LA Kings ice crew and meet their mascot, Bailey, for a special reading of “B is for Bailey” on Thurs., Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. All ages Dog parade: Register your dog in advance to participate in a parade through and around the library and compete in the best dressed or best trick contest on Thurs., Aug. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles is hosting a series of events to fill these long, hot summer days and nights. Put on your dancing shoes and stop by three cocktail events in historical locations – the Roosevelt Hotel on Thurs., July 25, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Queen Mary Bar on Tues., Aug. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. and the Hotel Figueroa on Wed., Aug. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Participants will experience live dance music, cocktails and lively conversation in classic Los Angeles locales. Boat ride is July 27 Put on some bug spray, sunblock and a baseball cap, and go on a swan boat ride and tour of Echo Park on Sat., July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Led by a guide from the Echo Park Historical Society, the ride will include communing with the park’s wildlife, such as geese, turtles and fish, and learning about the history and importance of Echo Park. Tickets are $30.
For more information and to register, visit artdecola.org/ events-calendar.
By Casey Russell Television reporter
and journalist Robert Penfold of Fremont Place was honored with The Order of Australia in 2021. But, because the pandemic was in full swing when the award was announced, ceremonies were delayed. Penfold just recently traveled to the country of his birth to receive the great honor in person.
The Order of Australia was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 and is the main way Australians “recognize the achievements which benefit or bring honor to the Australian community,” according to the Order of Australia Handbook.
Penfold was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his long career in journalism and, in particular, for his role as the United States correspondent for Australia’s main television outlet, the Nine Network.
During his time with the
Nine Network, Penfold covered such events as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Gulf War and Nelson Mandela being freed from prison.
He and his wife, Shar, traveled to Sydney and joined other recipients at Government House, where awardees
were presented the prestigious award by the governor.
The Penfolds moved from Australia to Los Angeles in 1985, when the reporter was appointed as the U.S. correspondent for the Nine Network. They lived on Lucerne Boulevard, where their first child was born. When Penfold was posted in Europe, the family left Los Angeles for several years. They returned in 1997 (as a family of five) when the journalist was appointed senior Nine Network U.S. correspondent and bureau chief.
By Dinah Yorkin
Author and historian Paul Haddad has a new book where he tells the stories of Phineas Banning, Harry Chandler, Harrison Gray Otis, Henry Huntington, William Mulholland and Moses Sherman. Haddad posits that these were the six key players behind the growth of Los Angeles at the start of the 20th century.
The new book is “Inventing Paradise: The Power Brokers Who Created the Dream of Los Angeles.”
Through research and storytelling, the book chronicles the growth of the city from a violent, dusty and desolate pueblo in 1870, with very little change since its founding in 1781, to its incredible growth by 1930, when the city had a population of 1.2 million and went from 29 square miles to 489, which is roughly the size it is today.
Haddad believes the visionaries at the helm of this growth were a “Gilded Age-reared oligarchy” and “voracious capitalists.” He depicts them as complex, as are their contributions to the city’s monumental growth.
Harrison Gray Otis became involved with the Los Angeles Times in 1882 and had full control as publisher of the
paper in 1886. His son-in-law, Harry Chandler, was the next publisher and was a powerful real estate investor. He helped to fund the Los Angeles Coliseum, Biltmore Hotel and much more.
Haddad writes not only of Chandler’s influence on the build-up of Los Angeles, but also of his and others’ involvement in discussions of eugenics.
Descendants of Harry Chandler who have lived in the Larchmont Chronicle distribution area include his son, Norman, who also was the Los Angeles Times publisher. He and his wife, Dorothy Buffum Chandler, lived on Lorraine
Boulevard in Windsor Square. At a later point in the life of their son, also Times publisher, Otis Chandler, he lived in Hancock Park, as did their grandson — Harry Chandler’s namesake, Harry B. Chandler. That contemporary Harry Chandler is chair of RiverLA, a nonprofit helping to transform the Los Angeles River.
William Mulholland was an engineer responsible for the aqueduct that provided the
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Penfold retired from the Nine Network two years ago and currently serves as the Global Media Relations Manager for Meridian Rapid Defense Group. “He’s not a foreign correspondent anymore, so he’s here, which is nice,” said Shar Penfold.
ROBBERY: A suspect armed with a handgun approached a victim and demanded property. The suspect took the property and fled the scene on the 500 block of South Hudson Avenue on July 5.
BURGLARIES: A suspect used a code to enter a business, found keys to the safe, opened the safe and fled with money on the 200 block of North Larchmont Boulevard on July 3.
A suspect gained access to a victim’s garage, then removed property and fled the location on the 300 block of North Highland Avenue on July 1.
WILSHIRE DIVISION
(these officers are interim)
Furnished by
Senior Lead Officer
Andrew Jones
Text: (213) 793-0782
41719@lapd.online
Senior Lead Officer
Ryan Ty
Text: (213) 590-5407
37555@lapd.online
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer
Daniel Chavez
213-793-0709
36304@lapd.online
Instagram: @olympic_slo1
suspects. Property was taken from the 400 block of South Las Palmas Avenue.
BURGLARY FROM A
VEHICLE: A suspect smashed the victim’s vehicle window and ransacked the auto on the 400 block of South McCadden Place on July 14.
Detroit Street on July 1, a 2024 Trek e-bike was taken from the 400 block of North Rossmore Avenue on July 4, and a 2018 Kia Sol was taken from the 100 block of South Mansfield Avenue on July 10.
OLYMPIC DIVISION
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT: Domestic violence between a suspect and a victim broke out. The encounter started with a verbal argument and escalated to physical injury on July 3 on the 600 block of North Beachwood Drive.
any property was taken on July 11 on the 500 block of North Gramercy Place.
GRAND THEFT AUTO: A car parked on the street on the 5100 block of Clinton Street was stolen on July 10.
A suspect entered a side gate, then a rear kitchen door, to enter a home on July 1. The victim was home and, out of fear, escorted the suspect out of the home. The suspect fled with property to a neighbor’s home and then left the area on the 200 block of South Alta Vista Boulevard. Suspects smashed the rear glass door to gain entrance to a victim’s home on July 6. The perpetrators took property and fled the 300 block of South Orange Drive.
GRAND THEFT AUTO:
Three vehicles were stolen this month; a 2023 Nissan Altima from the 100 block of South
A locked and secured residence was entered July 14 by
BURGLARIES: A suspect broke a rear window of a home, ransacked the interior and fled on July 4 on the 800 block of Third Avenue. A suspect entered a victim’s apartment while the victim was asleep. It is unknown if
A NOTE FROM SLO: New to the neighborhood, SLO Daniel Chavez reminds residents that even with the high temperatures, lock and secure doors and windows when you leave your home. Burglaries are in issue. Also, if you are going out of town for a few days, inform your neighbors and ask them to keep an eye on your home and collect any mail or packages from the porch. And finally, please be aware of your surroundings and who is driving through the neighborhood.
By Nona Sue Friedman
Capt. Rachel Rodriguez is the newest command staff member at the Olympic Community Police Station.
Rodriguez is a second-generation officer with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) who began her career with LAPD in 2005. Her father retired from the force about five years ago, and her brother currently works as an officer as well. “LAPD is in my blood,” she says.
She started her second tour of duty with Olympic Division in June. Her first was in 2012 as a vice officer. When asked how she feels being back at the station, the smiling and happy captain said, “Being at Olympic has been a
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water to raise Los Angeles’s population from 250,000 to 2.5 million but whose repu-
blessing… everyone wants to work toward a common goal of increasing safety… positive community programming and making the local area a place to live, work and enjoy.”
tation was destroyed when at least 431 people died when the St. Francis Dam collapsed. Henry Huntington’s and Moses Sherman’s trolley systems utilized extortion-type practices to expand, according to Haddad.
The author lists the costs of building a “paradise” in a single half-century: rampant car dependency, environmental problems and systemic inequities. These are costs that are felt today, he says.
Over the years, she has been a patrol officer, on a criminal surveillance team and a field training officer, to name just a few positions. In 2022, she served as executive officer to then Chief of Police Michel Moore and, in 2023, was promoted to captain.
She earned her bachelor of arts in political science, bachelor of science in criminal justice and master’s degree of science in criminal justice — all from Cal. State Long Beach.
What’s her favorite part of being an LAPD officer? “I find the greatest joy in developing the next generation of LAPD personnel so that we can continue the good work done daily and strengthen the bonds that we share with so many.” She can be reached at 37455@lapd.online.
While arguing that Los Angeles was not a product of manifest destiny but of the ardent manifestations and ambitions of six men, “Inventing Paradise” still recounts Los Angeles’ rich and complicated history, as well as its dark side, and how the city was willed into existence by (according to Haddad) these six tycoons. Published by the Santa Monica Press, the 404-page non-fiction book became available on June 18.
What makes a stew? Usually it starts with browning onions and garlic in a pot with some root vegetables thrown in for texture. A meat may be incorporated, or perhaps fish or crustaceans. Add a splash of wine, more spices to taste and the most important ingredient of all — time.
The word “stew” is simple, monosyllabic, easy to pronounce. It lands with a thud, heavier than the heartiest goulash. Its synonyms, on the other hand, couldn’t be more different. Like a lineup of oddball cousins, each is a jumble of letters and sounds whose meanings evoke a flurry of confusion, medley and mixture.
“Gallimaufry,” meaning “assortment” or “jumble,” is the descendant of a French medley dish. It’s unclear what exactly a 16th-century
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COVID-19 was an opportunity for the city-owned property to have some much-needed repairs. Now, four long years later, it’s fully open, again. And they had a party to celebrate!
The much anticipated and festive event on July 20 included a ribbon cutting ceremony, performances, tours of the newly renovated studios, guided art programs, refreshments and ice cream and an opening reception in Barnsdall Junior Arts Center’s Gallery.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez addressed the crowd saying how grateful he is that Barnsdall again is open and available to the people of the City of Los Angeles.
To commemorate its 25th anniversary, the House of Lebanon (HOL), at 4800 Wilshire Blvd. in Brookside, is seeking young artists to submit designs before Sat., Aug. 24 for a tile-making contest.
To be eligible, participants must be under 18 and of Lebanese descent. The design must be a six-inch square featuring bright colors in any medium. Participants are encouraged to highlight Lebanese culture. Forty artists will be picked to paint their designs onto tiles at the HOL.
Of the 40, 24 tiles will be placed on a commemorative bench to celebrate the HOL’s 25th anniversary.
Art work can be submitted to community.houseoflebanon.com/tiles-of-heritage.
galimafrée recipe consisted of. It may have been similar to a hash or ragout; a sauce of mustard, ginger and vinegar; or, according to one source, a stew of carp. This irresistible tangle of a word, which may have originated from the Old French “galer” (or “to have a good time”), is a quick trick to spice up a sentence.
Further afield, “salmagundi” is primarily known as a cold dish of chopped meat, seafood, eggs and vegetables, described as “the British answer to salad Niçoise.” The name in fact originates from the same root as “salad,” the Proto-Indo-European “sal,” or “salt.” Its flamboyant latter syllables may come from the Latin “condire” — “to season.” In 1761, the word began to transcend its culinary origins, and today you can have a “salmagundi” — a mixture
Barnsdall, located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd., first opened in 1946. It has become a premiere art center in Los Angeles dedicated to providing affordable art programs that educate and enrich the community. The center has classes for kids, teens and adults that include ceramics, life drawing, collage, jewelry and drawing. And that’s just the beginning.
In addition to being a creative haven, the area has a lush green lawn where Friday night wine tastings occur through Aug. 30, as well as a forest-feel with the multiple pine trees throughout the hilltop. The land and its buildings, including the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Hollyhock House, were donated to the city in 1927 by Aline Barnsdall to be an active arts center.
In-studio classes begin Tues., Sept. 10 and run through Sun., Nov. 2 for kids and adults. Registration is required and starts August 10 at linktr.ee/DCABarnsdallArtsCenter.
Mara Fisher
of any kind — without even breaking out your cutting board.
“Smorgasbord” and “jambalaya” are more delicious culinary collages whose “mixed up” definitions expand beyond the dining table. “Farrago,” from the Latin “far,” or “grain,” was a blend of grains for animal feed before losing its material sense, simply becoming “a confused mixture.”
“Hodgepodge,” from the Old French “hocher,” or “to shake,” was a word for stew or
soup whose meaning became more general in the early 15th century. And the Spanish “olla podrida” — translating not-so-appetizingly to “rotten pot” — is a savory concoction of beans, pork, vegetables and spices. When kept on the proverbial stove for too long, “olla podrida” forms an etymological “reduction” — “olio,” a word for “a miscellaneous collection.”
The French translation of “olla podrida” may sound familiar. Beginning in the early 1600s, the French “pot-pourri” was a meat and vegetable stew, morphing in 1749 to name the sachets of fragrant dried flowers, herbs and spices used today to scent powder rooms and drawers of unmentionables. Its figurative sense — “a miscellaneous collec-
tion” — evolved a century later.
Me-Stew
But where does the humble “stew” come from? Tracing back to the Old French “estuver,” meaning “to have a hot bath,” its origins are more about the soaking of bodies than beans. One wonders whether Shel Silverstein had the same idea when he wrote the poem “Me-Stew,” from his 1974 compilation “Where the Sidewalk Ends”: I have nothing to put in my stew, you see, Not a bone or a bean or a black-eyed pea, So I’ll just climb in the pot to see
If I can make a stew out of me.
‘Til next month’s lexical brew, adieu!
