Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 58, NO. 1
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
JANUARY 2020
La Brea Tar Pits to join neighbors in new look, renovations
IN THIS ISSUE
n Architecture firm selected for master planning HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY 13-20
ARCHITECT MARION WEISS, FAIA, presents renderings of her firm’s response to the Natural History Museums’ request for conceptual approaches to master planning the La Brea Tar Pits in the county’s Hancock Park, just east and north of the Los Angeles County Art Museum. PROFILE on local Reiki practitioner. 17
Park La Brea annual meeting January 12 n Councilman David Ryu is speaker; new gym equipment, elevators on agenda
SAFETY-BOUND at The Grove.
Updates to the gym, elevator issues, and servicing of the audiovisual equipment are among topics to be discussed at the Park LaBrea Residents 22
Association (PLBRA) annual meeting in the activity center theater, 475 S. Curson Ave., Sun., Jan. 12 at noon. Councilman David Ryu will
New playground being installed on Larchmont n Mini play area to be built in city parking lot
NEW LANDSCAPE at Harold Henry Park. 2-12 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
By John Welborne Work is expected to be underway this month for the long-anticipated playground pilot project being installed on a small portion of the surface parking lot on Larchmont Boulevard. Initially conceived by neighborhood associations and supported by Councilmember David Ryu and the staff and board of the city’s Dept. of Recreation and Parks (RAP), the 1,200-square-foot playground for young children
Vacations & Valentines Two special features, Valentines and Vacation Planning, will be highlighted in our February issue. To reserve advertising space, contact Pam Rudy, 323-462-2241, ext. 11.. Deadline is Mon., Jan. 13.
accompanied by parents or guardians is expected to take about four weeks to install. An opening is expected as early as next month. Nearly two years ago, letters supporting the idea came to the city from merchants (the Larchmont Boulevard AssoSee Playground, p 10
be guest speaker. After residents raised a concern that potentially dangerous chemicals were being used by Park La Brea gardeners, management suspended their use, according to the website. Park La Brea management has granted permission for storage space in Garage 6 to be used for garden equipment and supplies. Management has also agreed to allow servicing of the audiovisual equipment in the theater to optimize use by residents. Another hot topic of the Jan. 12 meeting will be discussion of elevator malfunctions. One final element to See Park La Brea, p 4
By John Welborne Last month, completing a one-year international search process, the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHM) announced the selection of architecture firm Weiss / Manfredi to lead a master planning team to re-imagine the Miracle Mile’s La Brea Tar Pits. The firm was selected from among three finalists, all of whom had presented initial concepts to community leaders and stakeholders at an Aug. 26 meeting at the El Rey Theatre. Speaking about their concept, the “architecture, landscape, urbanism” firm’s coSee Museums, p 6
Seeking Vacation & Valentine Tales! Two special features, Valentines and Vacation Planning, will be highlighted in our February issue. Write to us about your trips near and far. And, Valentines, tell us how you met. Send 200 words or less for either subject and photos to suzan@ larchmontchronicle.com. Deadline is Mon., Jan. 13.
Bergin’s is back, taps are open n Full bar, limited hours
By Suzan Filipek Bottoms up! Guinness, craft cocktails, dinner and brunch fare and good cheer are on tap once again at Tom Bergin’s Bar & Restaurant, 840 S. Fairfax Ave. This, its 84th year, sees the neighborhood pub back in business after a rocky few years and eventual shutting of its doors in 2018. It reopened See Bergin’s, p 30 FAMILIAR SHAMROCKS adorn ceiling at Tom Bergin’s.
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
Editorial
Calendar
By John Welborne
Good News: A New Year
2020. It’s a fresh start. Another new year. There is much good news to celebrate in our local neighborhoods. Let’s hope that 2020 also brings good news to celebrate citywide, statewide (San Francisco-based legislators restraining their dictatorial instincts with respect to land-use issues in neighborhoods they neither know nor understand in Southern California) and across the nation and around the world. Locally, The Metro Rail subway extension under Wilshire Boulevard continues its westward progress. In Hancock Park (the actual County park, not the residential neighborhood), talented architects have been selected for a year of master planning for a new and improved Tar Pits Museum and its surrounding landscape. Next door to that, the County Museum of Art is continuing its expansion, adding the David Geffen Galleries — a third new building (to accompany BCAM and the Resnick Pavilion) — that will be elevated to allow more enjoyment of the improved Hancock Park landscape. Adjacent to that, the new Academy Museum is in its finishing stages. There is much good news to celebrate in 2020 — including a familiar place to do so. Tom Bergin’s is back in business! Look for the good news. It’s out there, all around us. Happy New Year, everyone.
Noise and Your Neighbors We all know that there is a lot of construction going on in Hancock Park. With that knowledge comes the understanding that construction means noise. What is undoubtedly an exciting project for you can also be a months’ long headache for your neighbors. So, if you’re planning construction or extensive landscaping that will last more than a day or two, think of your neighbors and: • Let them know you’re planning construction, how long you estimate it will take and what the construction schedule is; • Be sure your contractor knows to limit their crews’ street parking and to be sure to not block driveways or move trash cans; • Provide a phone number that your neighbors can use if there is a problem. Noise abatement is taken seriously by our City and there is a Noise Abatement Ordinance and LAPD Enforcement Team. This ordinance mandates that allowable construction hours are: • Monday through Friday between 7AM to 9 PM • Saturdays and National Holidays between 8AM to 6 PM • Sundays, no construction except by residents. This means that if you are doing any work on your house on Sundays, YOU, the resident, must actually be doing the work (not just supervising and not just being around the house). The text of this ordinance can be found at http://www. lapdonline.org/special_operations_support_division/content_ basic_view/1031 and, as with loud parties, the police can be called if you fail to follow the ordinance. o o o If you’re planning to make any changes to the street visible portion of your house, including hardscaping, and windows, check with our HPOZ Planner Suki Gershenhorn (suki.gershenhorn@lacity.org), before starting. The HPOZ Preservation Plan, which regulates our HPOZ, can be found at http://www.preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park. There is also an online form you can fill out to help speed up the process (http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/initial. screening.checklist). Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System — tinyurl.com/ yyr3unhc — and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323463-5180. Adv.
Wed., Jan. 8 – Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council board meeting, The Ebell, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., 7 p.m. Sun., Jan. 12 – Annual meeting of Park LaBrea Residents Association, PLB theater at noon. Mon., Jan. 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Thurs., Jan. 30 – Delivery of the February issue of the Larchmont Chronicle.
‘What is your New Year’s resolution for 2020?’
That’s the question inquiring photographer Talia Abrahamson asked locals along Larchmont Blvd.
Letters to the Editor ‘Historic Citrus Ave. home quickly demolished’
Considering the blatantly illegal steps that were taken to demolish 361 N. Citrus — actions that were specifically designed to cover up and deceive — I challenge even the most hardened “property libertarian” to find any justification whatsoever in the owners’ actions. While they certainly had the “right” to buy the house, they did not have the right to tear it down in the manner they did. Especially egregious (and emblematic of the owners’ true disregard for both the house and the neighborhood’s historical significance) was the needless destruction of historical artifacts throughout the house. All of which makes the owners’ “teardown” letter especially heartbreaking in its bold-faced, lying cynicism. [See Reuven Gradon letter at tinyurl.com/t89rrms – Ed.] The worst part for me, however, is that the owners will likely face either minor or no legal ramifications that would actually punish them. Just like the city’s pathetic handling of the Larchmont Bungalow case, the Citrus owners will
probably just use the toothless system against itself, via lawsuits and postponements, and pay the meaningless fine in about 10 years, if at all. Or, like in the current case of the unpermitted $30M “mansion” in Bel Air, perhaps there will also be a “361 N Citrus, LLC” that will just declare bankruptcy, making the whole affair — and all the sorrow it has wreaked to an entire community — just a needless exercise in vanity and greed on the part of a single homeowner. Pen Pendleton Wilton Historical District Not saying what the buyers did was not wrong, however, [the] sellers received an above-asking-price buyer that paid $2.3 for a 2,300-squarefoot property, comps do not support that value at all, and this property would have sold (Please turn to page 4)
“To work as hard as I possibly can to get legislation for climate action in the city of Los Angeles.” Polly Estabrook Windsor Square
“I just know that at that crossroads, we want a better, peaceful and enjoyable world.” Eric Etheridge with Delores Hicks Carthay Circle
Write us at letters@larchmontchronicle.com. Include your name, contact information and where you live. We reserve the right to edit for space and grammar.
Larchmont Chronicle Founded in 1963 by Jane Gilman and Dawne P. Goodwin Publisher and Editor John H. Welborne Managing Editor Suzan Filipek Associate Editor Billy Taylor Contributing Editor Jane Gilman Advertising Director Pam Rudy Advertising Sales Caroline Tracy Art Director Tom Hofer Classified and Circulation Manager Rachel Olivier Accounting Jill Miyamoto 606 N. Larchmont Blvd., #103
Los Angeles, CA 90004 323-462-2241 larchmontchronicle.com
2020 Census needs Census Takers
The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring people for temporary positions as Census Takers who will go door-to-door to collect responses in person from households that do not respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail. Anyone interested needs to apply now. Applicants must be 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen and have a valid e-mail address and a social security number. Pay starts at $18.00 per hour in the Los Angeles area. Hours are flexible, and there will be paid training. Learn more information at: tinyurl.com/wcbsbz6
“Eat more healthy.” Chrystal Reed with Huxley Wilshire Park
“My everyday resolution is to feel good. Do I feel good? And can I feel better? That’s it. Simple.” Julia Mish with Alfonso Koreatown
Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
COUNTDOWN TO SUPER TUESDAY
Incumbent, supervisor on 2020 ballot
Super Tuesday is getting closer by the day. The Los Angeles primary election is Tues., March 3. Vote-by-mail ballots must be mailed by Feb. 25, seven days prior to the election, and they also can be dropped off on election day. There are 33 candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot in a city council or school board race, according to City Clerk Holly Wolcott. A writein candidate filing period is Jan. 6 to Feb. 18. In City Council District Four, incumbent David Ryu continues to tally endorsements — which include the mayor, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the County Board of Supervisors and numerous neighborhood activists. Running against him are two candidates who collected sufficient petition signatures to get on the ballot. Nithya Raman is described
SECTION ONE
FESTIVITIES.
12
ON BOOKS, PLACES 5 COUNCIL REPORT 8 POLICE BEAT 8 AROUND THE TOWN 12 HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY 13 SCHOOL NEWS 21 ENTERTAINMENT At the Movies 27 On the Menu 28 Theater Review 30
SECTION TWO VIEW:
Real Estate Libraries, Museums, Home & Garden
CHEVALIER’S BOOKS. 8 HOME GROUND 2 ON PRESERVATION 3 REAL ESTATE SALES 6 LIBRARIES 8 MUSEUM ROW 9 BRIDGE MATTERS 11 HOME & GARDEN 12 PROFESSOR 15 CLASSIFIED ADS 15
on the ballot as a homelessness nonprofit leader, and Sarah Kate Levy is described as a writer and women’s advocate. In City Council District 10 (CD10), Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark RidleyThomas, who is termed out at the County, is running against community leader / attorney Grace Yoo, human rights activist Melvin Snell, community organizer Channing Martinez and Los Angeles City Commissioner Aura Vasquez. Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson, who is being termed out from his City Council seat in CD10, is seeking Mark Ridley-Thomas’ County Board of Supervisors seat in the Second District. Wesson’s certified opponents are Jake Jeong, Holly J. Mitchell, Jorge Nuño, Jan C. Perry, René Lorenzo Rigard and Albert Robles.
The March 3 Super Tuesday election will include primaries for president, all of the state’s 53 congressional seats, 20 of the 40 state Senate seats and all 80 seats in the Assembly. The General Municipal (and Presidential) Election is Tues., Nov. 3.
Local pot shop raided again by LAPD; still open
An unlawful cannabis retailer housed in a unit within the Melrose Gallery and Antiques building at 5635 Melrose Ave. was raided by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) again last month. The business, Melrose Place 25 Cap, has been operating without a license at the intersection of Larchmont Boulevard and Melrose Avenue (Please turn to page 28)
SECTION ONE
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Larchmont openings, closings, leasings, sales By Suzan Filipek and Rachel Olivier A high-end dog grooming facility, a casual facial spa and a surprise are among new businesses coming to Larchmont Boulevard in 2020. Jess Rona Grooming will open its first brick and mortar store in March at 656 N. Larchmont Blvd. (at Melrose). An author and groomer to the stars, Rona also is an actress and comedian when not at her day job. Another newcomer to the boulevard, Face Haus, is coming in the spring, at 129 N. Larchmont, (formerly the north half of Le Petit Greek), company representatives tell us. (See stories on both new businesses on page 18.) Another spot apparently leased (it has a “Leased” sign up, although we weren’t able to determine by press time who is
leasing) is the short-lived former Café Parisien restaurant location at 224 N. Larchmont. Previously announced is the arrival of shoe store Rothy’s at 248 N. Larchmont. Other retail spaces that are for lease along or near Larchmont (listed from north to south) include the former Oinkster eatery, 776 Vine St. At press time, it was learned that (Please turn to page 11)
Miracle Mile 2020
Our year-round guide to lifestyle, entertainment, residential and business news, “Miracle Mile 2020,” will be published with the March issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. To reserve advertising space call 323462-2241, ext. 11. Deadline is Mon., Feb. 10.
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JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
Larchmont Chronicle
Marciano museum closes doors, but remains a neighbor By Suzan Filipek The Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) has gone back to its roots as a quiet, private, if lavish homage to the arts and culture. And, that’s just fine with the neighborhood. “The landmark Scottish Rite Cathedral building, between Lucerne and Plymouth Boulevards, has been a part of Windsor Square since its construction and opening more than 50 years ago,” Chronicle publisher John H. Welborne told the “Larchmont Buzz” last month.
“In its initial decades, it was a showplace for its Masonic owners and was not a bad neighbor. However, in later years, there were a couple of decades when its illegal operation was a nuisance to the community,” Welborne added. “But, subsequent to the Marciano Art Foundation’s purchase and remodeling of the building, the problems of previous decades went away,” said real estate lawyer Welborne, who is also vice-president for planning and land use of the Windsor Square Association.
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The 100,000-squarefoot, steel and travertine building opened in 1961 as a Masonic hall and theater designed by Millard Sheets, who is known for the design of mosaic-embellished Home Savings and Loan buildings throughout the west, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. Co-founders (with their two brothers) of the clothing company Guess, Maurice and Paul Marciano bought the building at 4357 Wilshire Blvd. in 2013, repurposed it and reopened it in 2017 as a contemporary art space that also pays TEMPORARY SHOWS at the Marciano Art Foundation included an tribute to the build- exhibit of works by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. ing’s past. are grateful to the public and with such inspiring artists.” The museum was welcomed the art community for their MAF executives tell the by neighbors and tourists enthusiastic support of this Chronicle that the foundaalike; it was open several days ambitious project and all that tion’s curatorial and related a week for free; and it featured we have accomplished during activities will continue in its permanent installations and the past two and a half years. building, a landmark that temporary shows by signifiIt was truly fulfilling to see MAF was proud to restore and cant artists, including the Chithousands of visitors enjoy the one for which it intends to nese-born activist Ai Weiwei. exhibitions we had the good continue as a good steward in In November, MAF abruptly fortune of putting together the future. closed and laid off its approximately 70 employees involved in the U.S. The relationship in guest services. between the PLBRA and Park In subsequently announc- (Continued from page 1) ing that the closure was per- be discussed will be the cur- La Brea management is an manent, MAF stated in a Dec. tailment of volunteers for Park important one. 6 press release, “The Marciano La Brea activities. Management For more information, visit Art Foundation started as a vi- advised that there were some plbra.org. sion to create a space of free- legal issues and insurance condom, creativity and education cerns when it came to resifor artists and the public... We dents volunteering at Park La (Continued from page 2) Brea management-sponsored for about $100k to 200k less programs and events. had it been sold to an owner Park La Brea, which has occupied home, did they think around 175 garden-style a buyer paying that much for apartment buildings, eighteen a property is not buying it for 13-story towers and 10,000 the land value? Or did they residents in more than 4,200 know?…. Just saying. units, has been called the Mark Farzad largest housing development Los Angeles
Letters
Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
5
‘The Great Silence’ here ended with building closure
I’ve rarely responded well to “video installations” that show at modern art museums. Fortunately, I can be surprised. I recently saw a wonderful and wrenching short film that was, to me, wholly new. It was the high point of my museum visit. And it compelled me to return for a second and third viewing. “The Great Silence” The piece was “The Great Silence” by Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla in collaboration with the writer Ted Chiang. Allora and Calzadilla are, I’ve since learned, an artistic team that has gained much good notice. And Ted Chiang (recently profiled in “The New Yorker” by Joyce Carol Oates) has won all the major awards devoted to science fiction (including four Nebulas and four Hugos). But since these artists weren’t on my cultural radar, I had no expectations to spoil the sense of discovery. I watched, listened, read and felt. Together, the images, sounds and the words (all subtitled, nothing spoken) worked to raise profoundly simple questions. Do we hear what is close to us? Are we oblivious to impending tragedies? Can we understand beings other than ourselves?
On Books and Places by
Bruce Beiderwell Arecibo Observatory The film is set at an extraordinary structure in Puerto Rico’s Rio Abajo Forest: The Arecibo Observatory, a facility of the National Science Foundation. This huge radio telescope provides sophisticated data important to climate scientists, astronomers and physicists. For the purposes of Allora, Calzadilla and Chiang, everything centers on the observatory as a cosmic voice and ear. Arecibo sends signals to the deepest reaches of space and listens for anything another life form might send us in return. Parrot narrator That grandly quixotic undertaking unfolds amidst a population of wild parrots that have long made the forest their home, and it is a parrot that narrates (not through a voice, but through subtitles). The irony is plainly foregrounded: humans are seeking to communicate with presumed be-
ings light years distant and are not listening to a species of vocal learners who live nearby. Sadness falls with the fact that we won’t be neighbors much longer. The parrots, and with them their voices, will soon be part of the Great Silence. There is a genuinely affecting sentimentalism operating here. PARROT is featured in the Allora / Calzadilla / Chiang “The Great Silence.” Allora, CalFoundation, and now — with making your viewing part of zadilla and Chiang don’t ma- its abrupt closing — can only a museum experience in the nipulate or exploit emotions; recommend you Google the neighborhood. they provide grounding for artwork to see it online or That’s all a much smaller emotions and call feelings to order Chiang’s terrific book thing than the death of a speattention. I wanted to encour- of stories, “Exhalation,” at cies, and perhaps less final. age readers of the Larchmont Chevalier’s Books. “The Great While the Marciano Arts FounChronicle to see their power- Silence” appears in that col- dation recently announced ful collaborative work. Unfor- lection, and it reads very well that the Foundation (meaning tunately, the particular view- by itself. But you won’t benefit the building at Wilshire and ing that I so enjoyed isn’t now from the dark room, the reso- Lucerne) will remain closed available; it has disappeared nant sound or the evocative to the public permanently, we more quickly than the parrots. images on the large screen. can hope that the structure Silence at the You’ll miss out on the mood itself will be well maintained Marciano Art Foundation created within a specific space as the Foundation continues I caught “The Great Si- and enriched by that space. to house its private art in its lence” at the Marciano Arts You won’t have the pleasure of private space.
Proven, progressive leadership for LA’s future!
Endorsed by dozens of leaders and organizations you trust: Larry Guzin, President, Los Angeles County Democratic Party Windsor Square Association* Planned Parenthood Advocacy Caroline Labiner Moser, Project L.A. County Action Fund President, Greater Wilshire Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter Neighborhood Council* LA County Federation of Labor Owen Smith, Immediate Past National Organization for President, Greater Wilshire Women – Hollywood Chapter Neighborhood Council* United Firefighters of LA City U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein United Nurses Association U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California/UHCP U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff Los Angeles Police Protective League Hollywood Chamber of Commerce PAC U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu State Senator Ben Allen Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti State Assemblymember Richard Bloom L.A. City Council State Assemblymember President Nury Martinez Miguel Santiago Charlie D’Atri, President, Larchmont Village Partial Listing Neighborhood Association* * Title for identification purposes Cindy Chvatal-Keane, President, Hancock Park only, no organizational Homeowners Association* endorsement implied.
Paid for by David Ryu for City Council 2020 – ID 1410917 777 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 4050, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Additional information is available at ethics.lacity.org
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JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
PRESENTATION by architects Michael Manfredi, FAIA, and Marion Weiss, FAIA, was made to community leaders and stakeholders at the Miracle Mile’s El Rey Theatre in August.
www.windsorsquare.org 157 N. Larchmont Boulevard
New Year’s Resolutions for All New year, new you! Every January brings promises of selfimprovement—exercise more, eat healthier, work smarter, and so on—but why not broaden our scope and think about how we can improve our whole community? Here are a few suggestions:
The Windsor Square Association, an all-volunteer group of residents from 1100 households between Beverly and Wilshire and Van Ness and Arden, works to preserve and enhance our beautiful neighborhood. Join with us! Drop us a line at 325 N. Larchmont Blvd., #158, Los Angeles, CA 90004, or visit our website at windsorsquare.org. ADV.
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• Shop local. We are lucky to have many locally owned businesses on Larchmont and nearby: you can buy books, beauty supplies, toys, stationery, wine and cheese, clothing and other items; get haircuts and beauty treatments; and dine very well, all thanks to our neighborhood merchants. Your patronage will help keep Larchmont vital, which benefits us all. (If you walk or bike there, you can check off that exercise resolution at the same time!) • Plant trees. Nothing else can help clean the air, reduce summer temperatures and add to property values like trees. Add a beautiful shade tree to your front or back yard. If your block has gaps in its parkway trees, contact the Windsor Square Association through windsorsquare.org to obtain a free tree to fill the opening. And be sure to water and maintain your parkway trees — that is the homeowner’s responsibility, and we all benefit from the trees’ beauty. • Lighten your environmental footprint. Do your trash cans and recycling bins fill to the brim every week? Reducing the amount of waste we all generate is one of the best — and easiest — things we can do for the environment. Buy things with minimal packaging (another benefit of shopping locally!), bring your own shopping bags to the farmers’ market or grocery store (mesh shopping bags are readily available at many stores), use reusable containers rather than plastic bags for food storage. Learn how to recycle like a pro at websites such as: recyclecitybycity.com/losangeles/guide, and LACitySan.org. One tip: no pizza boxes or other dirty food containers, please! There are many more ways to make a difference (driving less, using energy-saving light bulbs and appliances, watering responsibly, etc.), but this is a great place to start. • Join in. Sign up for neighborhood clubs or volunteer at local charities or for good causes. Working together on shared interests — or just having fun — is a great way to knit a community together. • And finally, be friendly. Say hello to people you pass on the streets, rather than passing by in awkward silence. Get to know your neighbors, if you don’t already. Windsor Square will be an even nicer place to live — as well as a safer one — if we all look out for each other.
Larchmont Chronicle
WEISS / MANFREDI “Loops and Lenses” concept for the La Brea Tar Pits maintains and restores the existing museum, adds a new building and parking, and maintains Hancock Park open space.
Museums
(Continued from page 1) 325 N. Larchmont Boulevard, #158 Los Angeles, California 90004
founders, Marion Weiss, FAIA, and Michael Manfredi, FAIA, said they and their team “are deeply honored and grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reveal the multiple identities of the Tar Pits, the Museum, and Hancock Park. Our ‘Loops and Lenses’ concept creates new connections between the museum and the park, between science and culture, and envisions the entire site as an unfolding place of discovery.” Lori Bettison-Varga, president and director of NHM, announced the Weiss / Manfredi team’s selection. In an interview with the Larchmont Chronicle, Bettison-Varga explained that “it probably will be another year before we see more detail.” She said the process for the architects and their colleagues, including Los Angeles architect and historic preservation expert Brenda Levin, FAIA, will be to work with NHM on a program of public engagement as a part of planning the evolution of the 13-acre property that includes the world’s only active paleontological research site in a major urban area — as well as the surrounding park spaces and the George C. Page Museum building from 1977. Bettison-Varga told us that the selection of Weiss / Manfredi was the consensus of many different stakeholders. She observed that “highly diverse respondents were uniform in feeling that this team and its proposal provide the best fit,” noting that survey responses, alone, accounted for more than 2,100 opinions about the three proposals being evaluated. She added that the consultants would be embarking upon their work in early 2020.
Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
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Cox, preschool co-founder, Los Angeles native Matthew Knox, WS-HPHS officer By Sondi Sepenuk Penny Cox (born Agnes Ducharme Robillard), co-founder of The Plymouth School, died Dec. 1. She was 87. Penny was born in Los Angeles on Oct. 5, 1932, and she grew up in South Los Angeles on 99th Street. When her family moved to the San Fernando Valley in the 1940s, Penny stayed behind in the “city” with her older sister, LaDonna. “Agnes wanted no part of it,” says her younger brother, Danie. “Not the Valley, not the lack of friends; she told me it might as well be the MOON!” When Danie next saw his sister, she had transformed into a “bright, shiny new ‘Penny,’ and was ‘Penny’ forevermore.” Eventually Penny did wind up in the Valley with the rest of her family, where she attended San Fernando High School. She was an athletic teenager who loved bowling, tennis and acting. After graduating high school, Penny managed a Mexican import shop at the Farmers Market for nearly 10 years. At one point, she served as an assistant buyer at the old Bullocks Wilshire, but she was soon recruited by her neighbor, Darlene Smolen, to help at a summer program for Head Start. That brief stint encouraged Penny to get credentialed in early childhood education, which led to a teaching job in Beverly Hills. Dissatisfied with
the preschool where they were teaching, Penny and Darlene, plus teachers Gayle Smith, Ruth Traub and Sylvia Johnson, decided to open their own preschool. In 1972, the five women opened The Plymouth School in a space in the Wilshire Methodist Church on Plymouth Blvd. In 1992, the non-denominational preschool moved to its current location at Wilshire Presbyterian Church on Oxford Avenue at Third Street. Penny loved watching UCLA football, and her devotion to the Los Angeles Dodgers is legendary. She and her family (husband Jim and sons David and Bobby) spent many days at Dodger Stadium watching her beloved team, as well as walking along the Santa Monica Pier and spending time at the beach. Her favorite vacation destination was the Napili Kai Beach Resort on the island of Maui. Penny is survived by her older and younger brothers, Phillip George Robillard and Danie Lee Robillard; her two children, David and Bobby; six grandchildren, Kristina, Kyle, Colin, Jackson, Carson and Molly; and her longtime partner, Bob Block. She was predeceased by her husband Jim, brother Lowell Kenneth Robillard and sister LaDonna Marie Robillard Svetina. Penny will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the hundreds, if not thou-
sands, of children and families whose lives she influenced, shaped, and inspired through her love and commitment to the youngest members of the Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Mid-Wilshire, Larchmont and Brookside communities and beyond.
Matthew George Knox, a resident of Norton Ave., died Nov. 23 in Los Angeles, after losing his hard-fought battle with cancer. He was 68. Knox was born in London, England. He was educated at London Film School and Le Cordon Bleu. He was a film-
maker, chef and artist. He is survived by his four children from his first marriage: Christopher, William, James and Katharine. And by his wife Diana and son Oliver. Knox was an officer of the Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society.
PLYMOUTH SCHOOL co-founder with her grandchildren.
Honoring Dr. King’s legacy “Fulfilling The Dream,” a concert honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is Sun., Jan. 12 at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave. A Forum for Social Justice
will be at 5 p.m., followed by an organ prelude by John West on the Great Organs at 5:30 p.m., with the event at 6 p.m. The concert will feature the Dr. King Mass Choir. Tickets are $10. Visit fccla.org.
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Larchmont Chronicle
Reflections on a busy year of accomplishments in CD4 What a year it’s been. This past year has been one of my busiest, with the passage of my landmark campaign finance reform package, the building of five new playgrounds and the opening of three new bridge housing and emergency shelters in Council District Four. This year alone, we’ve brought online 172 new units or beds for those experiencing homelessness in the council district, with more than 330 more currently in the works. We know that this alone will not solve the emergency of homelessness. That’s why I have spent the year addressing homelessness from all sides, but three in particular: Building housing for those currently experiencing homelessness; protecting vulnerable tenants and affordable housing; and seeking mental health care reform. That’s why, aside from the 172 new beds and units brought online this year, I pushed a Moderate-Income Housing motion through City Council, to incentivize the development of more housing for Los Angeles’ middle class. It’s why I cointroduced Ellis Act reform, which would change how the City of Los Angeles enforces this state law, allowing for increased renter protections, increased assistance for those evicted, and options to protect affordable housing that’s vulnerable to demolition. Finally, it’s why I support a Right to Counsel fund, giving tenants legal representation and a fair shot when facing evictions. These are just three of the doz-
ens of housing bills and renter protections I have introduced or supported this year. We’ve also moved forward on Grave Disability Reform, a reform I have been pushing alongside the County Board of Supervisors. This would make it easier for first responders to connect chronic homeless who evidence a debilitating mental illness to life-saving treatment and care. At present, first responders are unable to provide aid if an individual declines it — even if that individual is slowly dying on the street. We need to update this law to make aid possible. We also need to expand mental health resources and pro-
Council Report by
David E. Ryu grams that provide care. I also co-introduced a Conservatorship Pilot Program this year. A conservatorship pilot, like one already in place in San Francisco, would allow Los Angeles to care for those too sick to care for themselves — and keep those who are suffering from falling through the cracks.
By John Welborne On the evening of Dec. 19, which was a Thursday “school night” six days before Christmas, passersby on a street in Windsor Square noticed a large, burning cross in the front yard of a neighbor. Such a burning cross would be illegal pursuant to California Penal Code Sec. 11411, if the owner of the property had not given permission to the movie company that was filming a TV episode for Netflix. The reason it was not illegal here, even if frightening to many on Dec. 19, was because the state law specifies that, “Any person who burns or desecrates a cross or other religious symbol, knowing it to be a religious symbol, on the private property of another without authorization for the purpose of terrorizing the owner
BURNING CROSS in a local front yard is disturbing to neighbors.
or occupant of that private property or in reckless disregard of the risk of terrorizing the owner or occupant of that private property … shall be punished by imprisonment…” [Italics added.] The statute doesn’t seem to take into account the impacts on neighbors or passers-by.
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But change starts one person at a time. I have often called homelessness an emergency — and that we need to start acting like it. To that end, I’ve opened up my field offices as homeless donation drop-off centers to help in this fight against homelessness. If you have warm coats, blankets, hygiene kits, or grocery store gift cards, drop them off at my Hollywood or Sherman Oaks field office — we’ll make sure they get to someone in need. It’s just one way we are continuing the work to help address this crisis of homelessness.
Cross burning in home’s front yard in Windsor Square
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This is an emergency — and we need to start acting like it. As a reformer, I think our city can do better to address this crisis by changing the way our city is set up to respond. This year, I also called for a change in our planning process to centralize planning and building of homeless housing within the Mayor’s office and to expedite homeless housing projects in the planning process. We should not be putting life-saving housing through the same planning process we put shopping malls through — it’s time to change how we build these projects from the ground up.
And the movie company that shut down all street parking on the block for several days did not seem to take into account the likelihood of holiday parties and similar seasonal activities at neighbors’ homes. One neighbor, Windsor Square Association president
Larry Guzin, observed prior to the film shoot: “My default is always free expression, but this is an untimely filming if people are triggered to conflate a Windsor Square cross burning film scene in 2019 with the ugly actions of previous property owners from 70 years ago, with their racist covenants. It is politically untimely if it becomes fodder for [State Sen.] Scott Wiener’s goal of retribution against current owners for past actions of others, in his zeal to destroy single-family residential zoning. As such, I would prefer not to have a cross burning scene on a Windsor Square front lawn right now.” And the scene may even get cut before the show — whatever it is — gets on the air later this year!
POLICE BEAT
Lock doors and windows WILSHIRE DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Dave Cordova 213-793-0650 31646@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: @lapdwilshire WILSHIRE DIVISION BURGLARIES: It is unclear what property was stolen from a home on the 600 block of S. Arden Blvd. on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. after a suspect used a brick to smash a rear glass window and entered property, later exiting through the front door. Jewelry and furniture was stolen from inside a home on the 300 block of N. Las Palmas Ave. on Dec. 12 between 5 and 7:30 p.m. after a suspect used a tool to smash a rear door to gain access. OLYMPIC DIVISION ROBBERIES: A woman was robbed at gunpoint while walking near the corner of Maplewood Avenue and Wilton Place on Dec. 5 at 4:14 a.m. A victim was robbed at gun-
OLYMPIC DIVISION
Furnished by Senior Lead Officer Joseph Pelayo 213-793-0709 31762@lapd.lacity.org Twitter: @lapdolympic point while walking near the corner of Beachwood and Beverly boulevards on Dec. 12 at 12:30 a.m. The suspect stole the victim’s backpack and mobile phone before joining with a group of men in two cars idling nearby. BURGLARY: A man was arrested inside a home on the 200 block of S. Windsor Blvd. on Dec. 10 at 12:10 p.m. after the suspect entered the home through an unsecured window, which triggered a police response. THEFT: A package was stolen from a home on the 300 block of S. Norton Ave. on Dec. 4 at 4:21 p.m. A second package was stolen at the same address on Dec. 8 at 8:59 a.m.
Larchmont Chronicle
SECTION ONE
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LARCHMONT PLAYGROUND is being installed at the southern edge of the city property now a surface parking lot. The play area for supervised young children will replace one row of parking spaces, beyond the Boy Scouts and friends in this photo of a flag raising in 2018.
Playground
(Continued from page 1) ciation — LBA), from residents south of Beverly Blvd. (the Windsor Square Association — WSA) and north of Beverly Blvd. (the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association), from the Hancock Park Homeowners Association,
from the HOPE-NET producers of the Taste of Larchmont and from the LBA producers of the Larchmont Family Fair. The LBA’s liaison with the Sunday Farmers’ Market learned that the market organizers “will not object” to the potential loss of the parking spaces to be converted into the small playground.
Larchmont Chronicle
LARCHMONT’S SIDEWALK is to the right in these drawings (with north at the top). Jumping game play areas are at the entrance, at right, and climbing play areas, with mounds and “sprout”-themed climbing structures, are in the western portion of the small space. A secure concrete K-Rail base is below a fence that surrounds the space, whose gate will be locked at night.
The background concerning the playground pilot project was detailed in the April 2018 online “Larchmont Buzz” (tinyurl.com/y7kmesfp) and
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the April 2018 online Larchmont Chronicle (tinyurl.com/ u4zmau4) as well as on the front page of the May 2018 print version of the Chronicle (also available in full at issuu. com/larchmontchronicle/ docs/lc_05_2018). Even more background information is at: windsorsquare.org/playground-pilot. Next to Bella Cures Based upon this almost universally positive response, landscape architects in the city’s RAP got to work on a detailed design process. The resulting playground, which replaces one out of four rows of parking spaces on the lot at 209 N. Larchmont Blvd., next to Bella Cures, will have landscaping as well as areas for child play and seating for supervising adults. Funding Funding for the playground
was initiated by members of the community. At a WSA board of directors meeting in late September, WSA president Larry Guzin presented checks totaling $85,000 to Carolyn Ramsay, executive director of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation. The generous donors include the LBA, the WSA, Ahmet Zappa and others wishing to remain anonymous. A discreet plaque will recognize the donors at the new playground. The balance of the funds (approximately $180,000) have come through RAP monies collected from Quimby Act fees assessed on real estate developments in surrounding areas. Design The playground design, as it has evolved under the leadership of RAP’s lead landscape architect, features multiple colorful spaces for child play. (Please turn to page 11)
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MOUNDS in the new playground will be bright colors including blue, terra cotta red, green and yellow.
PLANTING includes three new trees and various shrubs. A 36-inch box jacaranda will be in the corner, at left. Two 24-inch box palo verdes will be planted near the playground entrance, at right. Seating for accompanying adults is included in the small space. The existing building to the south provides shade.
FUNDING for the playground comes from community contributions and city dollars. Here, Windsor Square Association president Larry Guzin hands $85,000 in donation checks to Carolyn Ramsay, executive director of the nonprofit Los Angeles Parks Foundation, during an association board meeting.
Playground
(Continued from page 10) There is a jumping game near the entrance from the Larchmont sidewalk. Further inside are log balance beams, “sprout”-themed structures for climbing, and low, brightly colored “mounds” for the littlest children. Three new trees, two palo verdes and one jacaranda, will be planted,
Larchmont
(Continued from page 3) Fin Asian Tapas at 5750 Melrose has closed, so its space presumably will be for lease shortly. The space at 5665 Melrose Ave. (Le Petit Marché) is included on real estate listings as available, but the restaurant’s website has no formal statement about its current status. Storefronts at 5630 Melrose Ave. (the building that also is 656 N. Larchmont above) are for rent as well. The former Prudential Real Estate building at 227 to 229 Larchmont Blvd. continues to be available, as is the upstairs of 156 N. Larchmont Blvd. where Pacific Union, then Compass Realty, made significant tenant improvements. Flywheel’s former space at
along with new shrubs. Opening hours will be similar to other city playgrounds, from after dawn to dusk. The playground is lighted, and it will be secured overnight by locking its entrance. Also, the LBA and its security contractor, SSA, will take an active interest in the well being of the playground and its occupants, including the playground’s opening and closing every day. 147 N. Larchmont Blvd. and former clothing store Bonne Chance’s space at 146 N. Larchmont are also available for lease. There are positive rumors about a possible new tenant for the Flywheel space, the Chronicle learned last month. Commercial property that is for sale in the neighborhood includes 5600 Melrose Ave., (formerly Lyman’s Automotive Services, which may already have been sold at press time), a “creative office” building at 5735 Melrose Ave., the Victorian building with office space and a studio at 424 N. Larchmont Blvd., and the building at 215 to 219 N. Larchmont Blvd., where Burger Lounge, Rhodes School of Music and Pickett Fences are tenants.
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Larchmont Chronicle
Assistance League, NGA, LAFD, Ryu, Johnson, Ebell festivities ring out the year
The Holiday season always brings the final meeting of the Assistance League of Los Angeles in the form of a festive luncheon held at the Wilshire Country Club. This year, there was added excitement over the plans for the League’s new home on Sunset Boulevard. Awards were distributed, including for exemplary service over the past year, with one presented to our own Kiel FitzGerald.
Around the Town with
Patty Hill plus members, neighbors and friends dressed in the decade of their choice or donned formal attire for music, magic, champagne, dinner and dancing to the tunes of “Undercover.” “We persevered through Suffrage, The Great Wars and the Great Depression, aiding the causes of women and of the
KIEL FITZGERALD is congratulated by Assistance League past president Lisa Wierwille (right).
Also there Dec. 4 were Flo Fowkes, Yvonne Cazier, Juliet Brumlick, Donna Econn, Barbara Hardesty, and past president Lisa Wierwille. • • • The following evening, Needlework Guild of Hancock Park (NGA) members and their guests also gathered at the Wilshire Country Club to raise funds for NGA’s many charities. The irresistible attraction: gingerbread house decorating. There was piping of icing and application of a cornucopia of candies, plus sticky fingers and cries of “Hey, do you have more of those marshmallow snowmen?” — such as from Marion Plato. Others joining hostesses Carrington Goodman and Lisa Hutchins — and fortifying themselves beforehand with a buffet of lambs chops, polenta and Moscow Mules — were Melanie Boettcher, Michaela Burschinger, Robin Chehrazi, Megan Drynan, Peyton and Stephanie Johnson, Lisa O’Malley, Mary Woodward, Susan Kneafsey, H.J. Paik, Shelagh Callahan and Amanda Peppe. • • • A great historic treasure in our ’hood celebrated its 125th birthday on Dec. 7. Some 300-
EBELL’S LEGACY BALL attendees Tom and Sharon Lawrence Apostle celebrate Ebell’s legacy. Photo by Boone Studios-361
country in countless ways. We evolved through Civil Rights and the Women’s Rights movements. We have been responsible financial planners, charitable givers and dedicated custodians of our legacy,” said Ebell member Sharon Lawrence Apostle just before president Ginger Barnard sliced into a magnificent five-tiered golden cake. There to celebrate were past presidents Kay Balue with husband Ron and Fluff McLean with husband Sandy. Also: Dr. Tom Apostle, Patty Lombard and Bill Simon, Randi and Richard Jones, Suzanne and Hugh Wilton, Toby Horn and Harold Tomin, Laurie Schechter and Patrick Lyden, Caroline and Frank Moser, Olgac Deniz and Andrew Bilgore, Lorraine Spector, Maria and David Wohlmuth, Joyce Davidson, Carolyn Layport, Geri Hurley, Peggy and Steve Davis and Linda and Rod Dean. • • • Wilshire Country Club also played holiday host to firefighters from local City of Los Angeles fire stations on a crisp mid-
NGA MEMBERS Carrington Goodman (left) and Lisa Hutchins greet guests at Gingerbread House Party at Wilshire Country Club.
December Saturday. In appreciation of the men and women serving at Fire Stations 29, 52 and 61, the golf club hosted a lavish barbecue buffet in its north parking lot, with one fire company at a time stopping by. The club’s new chef, Mark Gold (who formerly owned Eva, on Beverly Blvd.), turned out lots of high protein treats from the wood-fired grill, accompanied by all the fixings. • • • The Autry Museum in Griffith Park was the scene of “A Sparkling CD 4 Community Holiday Celebration” given Dec. 18 by Regina Yoon and her husband, Councilmember David Ryu. Lots of neighbors gathered in the museum’s Heritage Hall for refreshments and seasonal camaraderie. Among those seen were Sycamore Square’s Conrad Starr, Tammy Rosato from La Brea Hancock, and Julie Stromberg from Windsor Village. CD 4 staff members were present, including local favorite Renée Weitzer, who has worked for all three recent councilmen, Ferraro, LaBonge and Ryu. At the hosts’ suggestion, many guests brought hygiene care kits, blankets, cold weather clothing, grocery gift cards and other useful items for later distribution to Angelenos experiencing homelessness. • • • The downtown loft of Meg Bates and Scott Johnson was the scene of a holiday party that included numerous former neighbors from our MidWilshire ’hoods. A highlight of the evening was a brief performance by opera singer daughter Zoe Johnson, who grew up in Hancock Park and Larchmont Village. Christopher Allen accompanied her on the piano, and her brother, Max Johnson, in his third of five years of reconstructive plastic surgery residency at Keck Hospital of USC, took a break to attend the party with his family. • • • The December weeks of revelry also featured a grand gala at the Beverly Hilton on Dec. 16. The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) unwrapped its gift to over 600 supporters — performing excerpts from “Swan Lake,” three new groundbreak-
FIREFIGHTERS enjoy holiday barbecue at Wilshire Country Club.
AUTRY MUSEUM’S Heritage Hall was the venue for a Fourth Council District holiday party given for constituents by Regina Yoon and her husband, Councilmember David Ryu.
HOLIDAY PARTY HOSTS Regina Yoon and David Ryu listen to guests.
GREATER WILSHIRE neighbors, from left, Tammy Rosato, Conrad Starr and Julie Stromberg at Yoon / Ryu party.
ing works, and of course, everybody’s favorite, “The Nutcracker.” A lavish dinner of grilled salmon and caramelized onions was followed by a dessert buffet with the dancers. “This is America’s Ballet. We travel all over the world, educating young people about this art form with our many outreach programs,” said principal dancer, James Whiteside. Our own incomparable Misty Copeland, whose work knows no gravity, joined him. Spotted in the crowd were Nigel Lythgoe, David Lim, Rachel Roy, CBS Radio News golden voice Frank
Mottek, Ann and Jim Mulally, Robin Ferracone and Stewart Smith, Sabina and David Nathanson, executive director of ABT Kara Medoff Barnett, artistic director Kevin McKenzie and gala chairs Avery and Andrew Barth. FYI: ABT is back in So Cal on Thurs., March 5 for the World Premiere of “Of Love and Rage” and “Let Me Sing Forevermore” to the tunes of Tony Bennett. Let’s all get a party bus and go to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts! Great way to ring in the New Year. Merry, Merry from the chat!
OPERA SINGER Zoe Johnson gives a brief holiday party performance at the DTLA loft of her parents, Meg Bates and Scott Johnson. Her piano accompanist is Christopher Allen, and her brother, Max Johnson, sits with the baby at right.
Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Author has a high vantage point on health and aging well By Suzan Filipek Patricia Greenberg believes in living life to the fullest, including from the heights of the world’s’ tallest skyscrapers. The nutritionist and author has run 20 marathons and countless half marathons, and in her 50s she took up the sport of tower climbing. Yes, tower climbing, which, unlike rock climbing, is done from the safety of indoors, she tells us. She’s conquered the 86 flights of stairs of the Empire State Building and climbed One World Trade Center in New York. In Los Angeles, she’s scaled the U.S. Bank Tower and the AON Center, and she’s climbed the John Hancock Center in Chicago. She plans to reach the top of the 1,128-foot-tall Hancock skyscraper again in February. “It’s a 96-story climb, it takes about 30 minutes,” she tells us. She trains for the venture on stair networks in Silver Lake and Santa Monica. As we get older it’s important to try new things — within lim-
NEW BOOK shows the author on the cover, running a marathon.
its. She’s not running up the exteriors of skyscrapers, after all, although that too is a sport. “The one thing I always say about aging is, after 50 or 60, we won’t become a major league baseball player or Olympic athlete, but we certainly should try new things.” There are “wonderful events and trips and new foods… if it’s something you want to do, start out on a small scale.”
Besides doing the research and necessary training, check with your doctor, and then go for it, says the Hancock Park resident who, in November, released her fourth book, “Eat Well, Live Well, Age Well.” She draws on her nutritionist background — she has a bachelor of science in nutrition and food science. She also has a degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, and she is a certified sports nutrition and senior fitness trainer. As the “Fitness Gourmet,” she has speaking engagements with groups as well as being a guest expert on national TV and radio programs, where she promotes “bite-size” health and “attainable fitness” suggestions. In the book, she looks at the aging process, our emotions tied to getting older, the challenges of our culture and the impacts of stress. The benefits of sleep and family and friends are heralded by the wife and mother. She recommends decluttering
“EAT WELL” AUTHOR at the top of the Empire State Building, after climbing 86 flights of stairs.
(“clutter causes confusion”), managing your finances and leaving your will and paperwork in order before you take the final step. You’ll feel more relaxed, and your loved ones will thank you long after you’re gone. There are even fashion tips. “Dress well every day… Get rid of any clothes that make you feel old, fat or unattractive. Don’t even wear
them around the house… “Ignore articles about ‘what to wear at 40’ or ‘best haircut at 50.’ If you want to wear a bikini or long hair or a mini skirt… do it.” The 242-page paperback includes the latest research on what we can do to keep ourselves strong as we age. A chubby teen, she peaked later in life only to find that (Please turn to page 19)
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Gala raises Dr. Mannino to join Larchmont Pediatrics funds for New to Larchmont Pediatrics in February 2020 is Dr. charity Courtney Mannino.
AMBASSADORS OF THE FUTURE President Adam Beres (left) and fellow Ambassador Annie Kim with Dr. Eddie Sartin, associate dean, USC Dornsife College of Letters and Arts.
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“An oasis in the city”
Dignitaries and medical and business professionals gathered at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel to raise funds for education at the third annual Ambassadors of the Future charity gala ball. Thrilled with turnout President of the charity foundation, Adam Beres, 19, stated he was thrilled with the turnout. Attending were His Excellency, Laszlo Szabo, Ambassador of Hungary; Dr. Sheila Kar, who received the Women in Philanthropy Award; Dr. Peter Kuhn, director of the Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience at USC, who was the keynote speaker; and Maestro Richard Dowling, concert pianist, who performed. Ambassadors of the Future was founded when then-16year-old Beres reached out to the community by creating an organization that provides scholarships to intellectually gifted, financially disadvantaged students. Currently a student at USC, Beres and his friends raised $40,000 in 2019, and $90,000 in scholarships has been awarded during the past three years. The charity established a $25,000 annual Ambassadors of the Future scholarship at USC and donated $35,000 to the Bognar Family Scholarship, benefitting Education without Borders.
A graduate of UCLA, where she also completed her internship and residency, Mannino attended Brown University in Providence, R.I. as a member of the combined Liberal Medical Education program. She has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology, and she continued on to the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, where she cultivated her interest in pediatrics and medical education. Mannino worked at CedarsSinai Medical Center as a neonatal hospitalist, splitting her time between caring for newborns in the nursery and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She also worked in the NICU’s Infant Progress Clinic, or High Risk FollowUp Clinic. She says she looks forward to also caring for older children and being with a primary care provider at Larchmont Pediatrics, 321 N. Larchmont Blvd. “I am really looking forward to becoming part of the Larchmont community, and meeting the families of the greater Larchmont area. I couldn’t
Dr. Courtney Mannino
be more excited to join Dr. Anderson and Dr. Priest, and start building a long-term foundation at the practice,” she told us. While not at work, Dr. Mannino enjoys spending time with her miniature poodle named Maisy, enjoying the beautiful weather in Southern California, and finding new restaurants and bakeries to enjoy. She grew up in Hartsdale, New York, which is coincidentally near that other Larchmont, in New York. Dr. Neville Anderson, who grew up in Windsor Square, opened her Larchmont Pediatrics practice in her “hometown” in 2014. Visit larchmontpediatric. com.
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JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Larchmont Chronicle
Project Angel Food’s meals can sometimes also save lives
PROJECT ANGEL FOOD tailors meals for clients with congestive heart failure.
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By Rachel Olivier Food as medicine is not a novel concept; food has been used to help ease pain and heal ills for millennia. While Project Angel Food has been tailoring meals for their clients for several years now, they have partnered in a statewide pilot program with the Food is Medicine Coalition, funded by Medi-Cal — which is Medicaid in California — through the California legislature to produce medically tailored meals for people living with congestive heart failure (CHF). In October, Project Angel Food was featured in the “New York Times” for the organization’s new program and the improvement in the lives and wellbeing of the participants. “The program is going really well. Project Angel Food has 162 clients who are either on the program or have completed it,” said executive director Richard Ayoub. Project Angel Food and five sister agencies make up the coalition, including Project Open Hand, Mama’s Kitchen, Ceres Community Project, The Health Trust and Food For Thought. According to Ayoub, the
PILOT PROGRAM includes medically tailored meals and period wellness checks during delivery for 12 weeks.
goal is to prove that medically tailored meals can indeed bring down health care costs. For Project Angel Food, the results have been staggering, said Ayoub. For a person with congestive heart failure, the average readmission rate after 30 days
of discharge is 32 percent. For those participating in the program, however, there has been a significant drop. “We are seeing about a 10 percent readmission rate,” said Ayoub. For more information, visit angelfood.org.
Cultural diversity celebrated at LCS World Fair Larchmont Charter Schools (LCS) hosted their 12th annual World Fair recently at the Hollygrove campus, 815 N. El Centro Ave. The event celebrated all of the diverse cultures at LCS. Activities included games, prizes, a bouncy slide, photo booth, and home-cooked food, as well as special cultural performances from groups ranging from African Drums to Mariachi Teocuitalan. The event was open to the
YOUNG STUDENTS at the school take the stage with traditional dancers.
public and was co-hosted by the office of Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell. “Nowhere does Larchmont’s mission to provide an exceptional education to a truly diverse community come alive more than at our annual World Fair,” said Any Held,
executive director of LCS. “Students and families get to experience all the wonder of this community’s incredibly rich cultural heritage from all acrose the globe — with delicious food, magical music, and crafts and games from the world over.”
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Refresh body, mind, spirit with Reiki, meditation, yogic breathing
In November we began a series of profiles of people who live in the neighborhood. Because January is our “Health and Beauty” issue, we are profiling Hilary Malloy, who grew up locally and has a Reiki and meditation studio on Larchmont Boulevard.
By Rachel Olivier Being healthy is more than eating right and exercising. It can also mean keeping your body, mind and spirit refreshed. A number of ways to do this include meditation, guided visualization, yogic breathing, intuitive healing and Reiki, or sometimes a combination. Lucky for us, there are several practitioners to help with these health approaches along Larchmont Boulevard. A few months ago, I was in need of refreshment for my own spirit, body and mind. I tried out Larchmont Meditate, opened by Hilary Malloy last year. Malloy, who grew up in the neighborhood (her great-
grandparents, grandparents and parents all have lived in Windsor Park and Hancock Park) attended both St. Brendan’s and Marlborough schools before getting her bachelor’s degree in religious history at UCLA. Malloy founded her studio because she wanted to help people the way she had been helped. As a certified Reiki practitioner, yoga instructor, and meditation and intuitive healer, Malloy came to her practice obliquely. She had been an athlete most of her life, and she was a volleyball player at UCLA. For her, yoga had been a form of stretching exercises that she used to supplement her sports conditioning and workouts. Life-changing moment Then she broke her back, and it took a long time to recover from that experience, Malloy said. She doesn’t like to talk about it or dwell on that time in her life, she continued. However, that experience helped in-
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LOCAL PRACTICTIONER uses her experience with yogic breathing, meditation and Reiki to help others.
spire her to open a studio. Malloy had lived in New York and Colorado after college, but once back home in Los Angeles, and after the accident, she needed a way to deal with the pain and discomfort of her back as it healed. So, she went past the stretching exercises and delved into yoga nidra, yin yoga, and restorative yoga. Each of these disciplines emphasizes different aspects of yoga, such as breathing techniques, guided meditation and visualization, Each has poses meant to release muscle tension and ease the body frame. Malloy also learned intuitive healing, or “hands-off” healing, to supplement the yoga and meditation. Reiki, a Japanese “hands-on” healing system, brought her full circle. She decided to complete her certifications in these disciplines and open her own studio located in a small space at the back of Larchmont Traditional Medicine, 435 N. Larchmont Blvd. There she
focuses on therapeutic yoga, healing and restorative yoga for adults. She says many of her clients are trying to find ways to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, physical pain, addiction issues and post traumatic stress disorder. She offers alternative therapies to help deal with those concerns. Currently, she also is working with dr pilates Studio, 418 N. Larchmont Blvd., to provide
group sessions on breathing techniques and meditation. Her “5 at 5” meditation class (five people at 5 p.m., Monday to Friday for 50 minutes) through dr pilates includes both sleep and restorative yoga, guided visualization and Reiki. The dropin rate is $20. Register for the class at drpilatesla.com, or find out more about what Malloy offers at larchmontmeditate.com. Other places along Larchmont offer alternative therapies including: Healing Hands Wellness Center, 414 N. Larchmont Blvd., 323-461-7876, healinghandswc.com. Larchmont Sanctuary Spa, 331 N. Larchmont Blvd., 323466-1028, larchmontsanctuary.com. Larchmont Traditional Medicine, 435 N. Larchmont Blvd., 323-462-4710, ltmla.com. Chandra Scofield, 321 N. Larchmont Blvd., #909, 310923-1314, chandrascofield.com.
STUDIO SPACE for Larchmont Meditate, located at the back of 435 N. Larchmont Blvd.
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Pups will be fashionably groomed Dog groomer Jess Rona — known for fashionably grooming poodles and pups from all walks of life — is opening her first brick and mortar store at 656 N. Larchmont Blvd. this spring. The actress-filmmakerturned-dog-groomer extraordinaire counts Kate Perry among her clients. She recently authored her first book, “Groomed,” and she releases signature “musical slow-mo blowout videos” on social media. “Jess Rona has been grooming dogs for 20 years, and spent the last five years building the Jess Rona Grooming business and brand in her home garage,” her assistant tell us. “Jess has earned her reputa-
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JESS RONA is bringing her signature dog grooming business to Larchmont.
tion as one of the best groomers in L.A., and has been training a tight team to open her first brick and mortar. They are so excited to join the
Larchmont neighborhood this spring!” The grooming business will take over the former Far Corners Antiques & Art space.
Pilates, anyone? Lots to choose from When Joseph Pilates combined yoga, martial arts and other disciplines into an exercise that also helped rehabilitate World War I wounded soldiers, it later impressed modern dancer Martha Graham and members of the New York City Ballet. Who knew it would be all the
rage in 2020? Pilates is the most effective form of exercise for any body type at any level of fitness, according to Pilates with Jenn, 403 N. Larchmont Blvd. That Pilates Place, 564 N. Larchmont, Suite 105, offers classical Pilates in a private setting that is fully equipped.
Britta Morgan, 403 N. Larchmont, mixes up classical with modern fitness based on Pilates moves. Also: Purely Pilates, 403 N. Larchmont; dr pilates, 418 N. Larchmont Blvd.; Align Physical Therapy, 562 N. Larchmont, and a Pilates mat class at YogaWorks, 230 N. Larchmont.
Thank you Larchmont for 19 great years on the Boulevard!
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323-462-1089
Finally, “facials for the people” are coming to Larchmont at 129 N. Larchmont this spring, according to representatives of Face Haus. Stirring a revolution in skin care, the brand does away with the world of stuffy and fussy facials. Its “esthies” (what they call their team of estheticians) will still use top products (Dr. Harold Lancer is the founding consulting physician) and deliver professional services in an open, bright floor plan, and at an affordable price. Launched in 2013, the formula is a hit. Larchmont will be the sixth location in Los Angeles, and 10th Face Haus nationally. Co-founders Karey Burke, Dawn Olmstead and Jennifer Worley are all mothers and executives in the entertainment business, and they know a bit about facials. Prices start at $65; add-ons include the Eye Rise, Necks Generation and Universal-APeel. Visit thefacehaus.com. On the Boulevard Several places on Larchmont offer treatments to relax and enjoy a facial as well as
cutting-edge treatments. Visit their websites for more information. Radiance of Life, 215 N. Larchmont, offers its signature facial as well as more potent age-defense ones to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, radianceoflife.com. DMH Aesthetics, 111 N. Larchmont, has a range of aesthetic treatments combining advances in medicine with non-surgical procedures, dmhaesthetics.com. Larchmont Sanctuary Spa, 331 N. Larchmont, offers its True Transformational Facial on sale on Wednesdays. Its signature Ultimate Vitamin Therapy facial includes stem cells, peptides and vitamins blended in serums, larchmontsanctuaryspa.com. Holistic by Nona, 403 N. Larchmont, has everything from an hour treatment to mini facial for the person on the go as well as several masks to restore a healthy and radaiant look, holisticbynona.com. HydraFacial and microneedling are on an extensive menu at Rebecca Fitzgerald MD, 321 N. Larchmont, rebeccafitzgeraldmd.com.
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Aviator ‘rainbow’ sunglasses launched at Alexander Daas
By Suzan Filipek iHeart Media personality Nina Chantele is the voice on dozens of radio stations nationwide, including AM 570 LA Sports, home of the Dodgers and Clippers, and she’s a local, living in Hancock Park. Recently, Chantele was running by Alexander Daas Opticians, and stopped in to say hello. Alex Feldman, the owner and designer and a secondgeneration optician, had made Chantele a custom pair of sunglasses several years ago. “They chatted about her media background defying the odds in pursuing her dreams, serving as proof that anyone, no matter their background or culture, can achieve anything they want,” Alex’s wife Stephanie Shkolnik told us. Their conversation “led to the two partnering up and launching rainbow-lensed aviator-shaped sunglasses, called CHI-TO-LA, reflective of her journey.” Shkolnik went on to tell us how Chantele had defied the odds of what was the norm in her time. Growing up in a strict Hispanic home, becoming a media personality wasn’t exactly a prescribed career path,” Shkolnik says. Chantele’s career started af-
“After all, I painted my own rainbow and it’s just the beginning of my next chapter.” The CHI-TO-LA aviator with rainbow lenses launched the
RAINBOW LENSES reflect Nina Chantele’s journey.
ter a friend dared the Chicago native to record a demo, which she did. She sent the demo to four Windy City radio stations, which led to her landing her first gig. Soon after, she was invited to Miami and became the “First Lady” of 103.5 The Beat. Just off a media tour as the host for a gala at nonprofit Simply From the Heart, in Chicago, Chantele is empowering men and women alike to realize that there’s no such thing as what “should be” anymore. “If you can dream it, you can do it,” says Chantele.
LENSES were made by dipping them into different color tints.
Greenberg
(Continued from page 13) those around her expected her to “act her age.” She found that a positive mental attitude towards aging and surrounding herself with like-minded people was better than anything she found in a jar. Though she’s tried plenty of beauty potions, and although dyeing grey hairs and good facial products have their place, anti-aging is a myth, she’s discovered. “I only feel better about myself if I am working on my self-esteem, rather than my appearance.”
She shuns sugar and eats tons of fruits and vegetables and lean proteins of fish and eggs. And alcohol has benefits, in moderation (one glass for women, two for men daily), she says. She cites research from the world’s “Blue Zones,” areas with the highest proportions of people who reach age 100. Her new book joins her previous ones: “Scrumptious Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks,” “Soy Desserts” and “The Whole Soy Cookbook.” “Eat Well, Live Well, Age Well” is available on Amazon. Visit thefitnessgourmet.com.
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week of Dec. 23 at Alexander Daas Opticians, 161 N. Larchmont Blvd., as well as at Feldman’s San Francisco Optics and at his partners in Chi-
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cago, Glasses Ltd. The luxury eyewear designer made the unique rainbow lenses by dipping them into different color tints. They retail for $150.
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JANUARY 2020
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Larchmont Chronicle
Grocer’s Gateway makes room for new merchants at Farmers Market By Rachel Olivier A new building has gone up along the south side of the Original Farmers Market at 6333 W. Third St. The new 3,000-square-foot space, Grocer’s Gateway, is making room for three to four more merchants to join the Market this year, including Marilyn’s Seafood Market and Restaurant and Rick’s Produce Market. Already, other new merchants have opened, or will open soon, throughout Farmers Market, from a coffee roaster and pickle purveyor to a cheese shop and olive oil growers and producers. Itty’s Cheese, owned and operated by Mark Hames, sells locally sourced California
ITTY’S CHEESE sells locally sourced provisions.
FARMERS MARKET building site, where some new grocery merchants take occupancy soon.
cheese and provisions. Marilyn’s Seafood Market and Restaurant, originally
from Simi Valley, will not only be fresh fish mongers, but also operate a restaurant that specializes in Mediterranean seafood dishes. Marilyn Siracusa and her family have 30 years of experience as fish sellers and restaurateurs. Rick’s Produce Market is a farmer-owned market featuring locally grown fruits and vegetables out of Fallbrook, Calif. Rick’s Produce has served the greater Los Angeles area for more than 10 years. Brother and sister duo Alexandra and Mike Scholtz bring WildFlora Design to the Farmers Market. WildFlora is an in-house floral design studio and botanical lifestyle shop that specializes in designs that are environmentally inspired and ecologically responsible. Khalid Naitzehou recently took over the Farmers Market Shoe Repair business, a Farmers Market mainstay for more than 80 years. Now called WL Handmade, the old-school shoe cobbler offers shoe maintenance services such as polishing, half- and full-heel replacement, new soles and stretching. Extensive repair of leather wal-
skin
deep by Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald
WL HANDMADE brings bespoke shoes to the Original Farmers Market.
lets, purses and belts is also available. The shop also sells custom-designed and fitted sandals and boots that are Moroccan-inspired and are made onsite by Naitzehou. Green Maya Coffee is a single-origin coffee roaster featuring fair trade and organic coffee beans from Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. The shop roasts on site weekly and sells coffee beans by the bag. Kaylin and Hobbs Pickles, established in Vancouver in 2017, serves New York-style pickles right out of pails. The pickles are gluten free, vegan and kosher and feature flavors such as jalapeño, kosher dill, half sour, horseradish, mustard, spicy dill and honey mustard. Temecula Olive Oil Company, owned and operated by the Curry family, grows olives and produces extra virgin olive oil that is used in a variety of products in their shop. They also have a selection of vinegars and home and bath products. For more information, visit farmersmarketla.com.
Imagine the benefits of a multitude of workouts without the time, energy and sweat expenditure? Hello, CoolTone – the physical equivalent of doing 2,000 sit-ups in 30 minutes! The perfect compliment to Coolsculping, which removes stubborn fat, CoolTone tightens and tones muscles after your CoolSculpting procedure. Here’s how it works: a paddle-like device is placed on your abdomen, thighs or buttocks to emit magnetic energy. That energy prompts thousands of involuntary muscle contractions to strengthen muscle fibers. Four treatments are recommended to see the lean, defined, enviable look of pilates enthusiasts. After each session you’ll experience the rewarding soreness of a great workout. To maintain your sleek new physique, come in for a maintenance session every few months. To kick off your new routine, we’re offering a special: with the purchase of six cycles of CoolsSulpting, receive one complimentary CoolTone treatment (a $500 value). Schedule your appointment today and get started on acquiring the body you’ve only dreamt of. Dr. Rebecca Fitzgerald is a Board Certified Dermatologist located in Larchmont Village with a special focus on anti-aging technology. She is a member of the Botox Cosmetic National Education Faculty and is an international Training Physician for Dermik, the makers of the injectable Sculptra. She is also among a select group of physicians chosen to teach proper injection techniques for Radiesse, the volumizing filler, around the world. Dr. Fitzgerald is an assistant clinical professor at UCLA. Visit online at www.RebeccaFitzgeraldMD. com or call (323) 464-8046 to schedule an appointment. Adv.
Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
JOHN BURROUGHS
YESHIVAT YAVNEH
THIRD STREET
Hello, my name is Zoe Garner and I am an 8th grader at John Burroughs Middle School. Being in 8th grade this year will make it my last year at JB, and though I am sad to go I am determined to make this 20192020 school year as amazing as it can be. I am the school’s selected student reporter for the year and I am so honored and excited to have gotten this opportunity to represent my school! At Burroughs we have a computer science program available for 7th and 8th graders. This program offers a course to students, teaching them about how to use technology to solve problems. They write software to make computers do new things or accomplish tasks more efficiently. This year John Burroughs has received brand new iPads from Verizon Innovative Learning! Verizon has offered us not only the new iPads but also our very own chargers, keyboards and a handy Verizon scrunch bag to carry these items in more conveniently! JB gives us these iPads to assist us with our schoolwork, and we use websites such as Schoology, Study Sync, ST Math, and many more. Our school offers a few different activities that students can participate in. The All Girls Robotics Team is one of those. All Girls Robotics is a club that joins intelligent seventh and eight grade girls together to design robots! Every day except for Tuesdays these 25 girls meet after school to build their own robots that they will use in competition against other schools. In a recent competition the group placed first and advanced to the regional championship.
The month of December at Yavneh brought new programs as well as holiday preparations. The school initiated a new rewards program as part of the #RISE initiative. The program began with the school embarking on a simulated flight—students received boarding passes and “credit cards” to swipe for each good deed done throughout the school year. Prizes are rewarded to students as they complete tasks and kind deeds. The school also hosted several speakers, including one who shared exercises on mindfulness. For Chanukkah, the various grades hosted plays and parties, and middle school students took a trip to a skating rink. We also enjoyed a Chanukkah Bazaar where vendors sold gifts and raised funds for the school.
Happy New Year! On behalf of all of us here at Third Street Elementary, I wish you a magical New Year! December was so much fun at our school. My favorite part was our Winter Family Night’s talent show, where I did a dance performance with my friend Erin Zerden. We have tons of talent at Third Street! Isabella McKenzie won the crowd-pleaser award with her solo song performance. The award for teamwork went to the Little Hearts, an all-girl dance group with Sebin Lee, Ellie Kim, Alina Koo, Lara Park, Ivy Park, Gina Ryu and Grace Song. Pierra Rozen Nowac won the award for most original performance with a Shakespearean monologue, and Skylynn King was crowned the most courageous performer. To celebrate the holidays, many of our classes had winter parties.
By Zoe Garner 8th Grade
BASSIST for Red Hot Chili Peppers describes his time at Fairfax High School in new memoir, “Acid for the Children.”
Memoir details how band met at Fairfax High
Iconic rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist, Flea, published a memoir which chronicles his unconventional childhood, including his years at Fairfax High School. In “Acid for the Children,” Flea (Michael Peter Balzary) takes readers on a tour of his formative years, using jazzinflected prose to describe a gritty Los Angeles in the 1970s and ’80s. It is during this time that a young Flea, looking to escape a turbulent home, found community with other young musicians living on the fringe. In the book, Flea describes how he first met Anthony Kiedis, lead singer for the Chili Peppers, while horsing around in the halls at Fairfax High School. Together with the band’s other founding members Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons, also Fairfax students, the group started the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1982.
ST. BRENDAN
By Olivia Martinez 8th Grade
2020 is here!
There are many fun things coming up not only this year but this month. The month starts off on Jan. 6 when classes resume for the whole school. We have our school mass on the 10th, led by the 5th grade class. To start off the second half of the school year, we are celebrating Cath-
By Shoshana Zisblatt 8th Grade
By Sofia Kirilov 4th Grade
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My class had a holiday feast and we did a Secret Santa Swap. Everyone closed their eyes and drew a name from a hat, selecting the student whose gift they would buy. Everyone got a present, and it was so much fun to try and guess who our Secret Santas were! As you are reading this, I am still on my Winter Break. We come back at school on January 10th, after spending lots of time with family and friends. I love school breaks, but I am also excited for January when my class will take a field trip to the Natural History Museum. The 5th graders will go to Astro Camp, a science and space themed camp where they do everything from ziplining to robotics. This month, our school has its annual silent auction to raise funds for our amazing programs like the science lab and theater. We also have the Coin Drive, another fundraising activity where students bring in spare change and compete to see which class will raise the most money. If a student comes by your house, please consider donating.
olic Schools Week! Each day is filled with many fun activities, all kicked off with a fun assembly with class presentation and raffles to win prizes! On Jan. 26 an open house will be held for parents, students anyone interested in attending to show off the work that has been made so far this year. Monday is Teacher Appreciation Day, Tuesday is Student Appreciation Day, Wednesday is Parent Appreciation Day, and Thursday is Spirit Day! On Friday we have a toy raffle, 8th grade versus faculty volleyball game, and Jersey Day!
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©LC1010
SECTION ONE
We have a unique living room atmosphere Children from newborns to 18-year-olds feel comfortable Saturday Appointments Available
(323) 463-8322 • 321 N. Larchmont Blvd, Suite 809
Registration Opens January 26, 2020 Campus Tours • January 9, 2020 • February 13, 2020
Kindergarten Tea for Prospective Families January 15, 2020 • 10:00am
Open House January 26, 2020 • 11:00am-1:00pm
238 S. Manhattan Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90004 • (213) 382-7401 www.stbrendanschoolla.org
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Larchmont Chronicle
JANUARY 2020
SECTION ONE
Caruso seeks young police cadets for ‘Bound for Blue’ program Retail development company Caruso has partnered with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to create employment and mentorship opportunities for candidates 18 to 21 who are interested in careers as police officers. The new program, Bound for Blue, is working with the LAPD Cadet Program — a community-based crime prevention program that aims to empower youths between ages 13 to 17 — to identify successful candidates who “age out” of the Cadet Program but must wait three years before
THE GROVE is among the Caruso properties that hire LAPD Cadets who are interested in careers as police officers.
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IL F O LEE E M I TH L E EINM AC TH CL MIR IN RA I M
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Open House
Cathedral Chapel School Open House Open House
Archdiocesan & State Academic Decathlon Champions 2017
Cathedral Chapel School Cathedral Chapel School Math Program Chapel School • Kindergarten through 8th grade Cathedral • Honors th Sunday, January 26th, 2020 •, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM PM Sunday, January 2017 11:30 AM - 1:00 WASC & WCEA Sports • Fully Accredited •29CYO th , 2017 •nd11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Sunday, January January 29 Thursday, February 2 • , 8:00 2017 AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Thursday, 30th, 2020 12:00 Noon 4G Internet Access Lunch Program • Schoolwide • Hot nd , 2017 • 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Thursday, February 2 th Sports • Kindergarten • CYOConcern Labthrough 8 Grade Counseling • 36 MAC Computer • Outreach WASC & WCEA • Fully Accredited • Choice Lunch Program th Kindergarten through 8 Grade CYO Sports • • CYO Sports Kindergarten through 8th Grade Spanish Program Extended Day Care Tuesday • • • • School-wide 4G• Internet Access • Outreach Concern Counseling Accredited WASC & WCEA Choice Lunch Program • Fully • Choice Lunch Program Accredited WASC & WCEA • 36 Mac Computer Lab Extended Day Care Until 6:00PM Tours • Fully • iPad Program Junior •High Academic Decathlon • Middle School •Outreach 4G• State-of-the-Art Internet Access Concern Outreach 4G Internet Access • School-wide •Concern Science Lab Junior High Counseling AcademicAvailable Decathlon •Counseling • • School-wide Departmentalized Junior High Instrumental Music Program 36• Mac Computer Lab Program Extended Day 6:00PM Care Until 6:00PM Care Until Computer Lab • Spanish • Extended• •Day • 36•Mac by & Music K-8 iPad Program • Classroom •Art Enrichment After Decathlon School Programs Junior High Academic Decathlon Science Lab Science Lab•Program High Academic • State-of-the-Art • Junior • State-of-the-Art Appointment • Departmentalized Junior High • Instrumental Music Program Program Program • Spanish • Spanish • Classroom Art & Music Program • Young Ninjas USA-Enrichment Classes iPadiPad Program Program • K-8• K-8 Enrichment After •School Programs Enrichment After School Programs • Honors Math Program Plaza Production Dance Classes Departmentalized Junior High High• Young Ninjas • • Departmentalized Junior • Instrumental Music Program USA-Enrichment Classes Art &Art Music Program Testing Dates • Classroom & Music Program • Gymnastics: Grades K-5th • Classroom • Young Ninjas USA-Enrichment Classes Kindergarten Testing Saturday, March 11 , 2017 (by appointment) Math Program • Honors • Honors Math Program Plaza Dance Classes First Grade Testing Saturday,• March 11Production , 2017 at 9:00 AM •
th
Grades 2-8 Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 at 1:30 PM
Testing Dates
Applications available online at cathedralchapelschool.org or in our school office. th, 2017 (by appointment) Kindergarten Testing Saturday, 1190036 755 South CochranMarch Ave., L.A. Cathedral Chapel 755 South Cochran Ave., L.A. 90036 For more information @Cathedral_Chapel_School th, 2017 at 9:00 AM First Grade Testing Saturday, March 11 For Information (323) 938-9976 or cathedralchapelschool.org call (323) 938-9976 or visit Cathedral Chapel School Grades 2-8 Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 at 1:30 PM cathedralchapelschool.org Cathedral Chapel School
Applications available online at cathedralchapelschool.org or in our school office. 755 South Cochran Ave., L.A. 90036 For more information call (323) 938-9976 or visit cathedralchapelschool.org
to become officers and allow them to be well-rounded and more prepared for the force.” LAPD Chief Michel Moore praised the new program. “The department welcomes the leadership of Caruso in providing meaningful job opportunities for promising young people as they continue to prepare for becoming members of LAPD,” Moore said. “This investment promises to pay huge dividends long into the future, ensuring LAPD has well qualified applicants prepared to take on the responsibilities of becoming a member of this department.” So far, five cadets have accepted positions with Caruso, and there are seven cadets in the pipeline, according to a Caruso spokesperson. Bound for Blue accepts cadets on a rolling basis. Once a cadet finishes the LAPD program, he or she is encouraged to apply to a position at a Caruso property, where the cadet will go through the standard interview process before being offered a job.
OAKWOOD SCHOOL
this event, students from the elementary and upper schools will be joined together to celebrate Oakwood spirit. On this night, there will be musical and dance performances, including boys and girls varsity basketball games. For students at Oakwood, this night is one of the best ways to come together as a whole community, especially with this year’s theme, “Better Together.” Lastly, the day after Spirit Night, students from STEAM will work to qualify and train for Horizon Grand Prix, a science program where students create and race hydrogen-powered, remote-controlled cars. Last year, Oakwood’s team dominated the competition by placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, keeping their continuous winning streak.
By Scarlett Saldaña 9th Grade
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they can qualify for full-time police work at the age of 21. Bound for Blue will provide such candidates with handson, real work experience across Caruso’s portfolio of properties, including The Grove. Successful candidates will be assigned an LAPD mentor who will track progress and provide mentorship throughout their employment. Beyond building a pool of future police officer candidates, the program offers hope to children, young adults and their families while building relationships with local law enforcement. “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with LAPD,” said Rick Caruso, founder and CEO of Caruso. “During my time as commissioner of the department, I saw the value of high quality, communityfocused work and what a positive impact it had on those who were able to experience it. My hope is that Bound for Blue will broaden the pool of candidates who want
After a twoweek winter break, Oakwood students will continue their second trimester along with the new year. Then, a few weeks into January, high schoolers will have their semi-formal. Planned and coordinated by students, representatives from Student Council have been working hard to plan this social event, including the middle school dance, taking place at the end of the month. A week after the semi-formal on Jan. 24, Oakwood will have its annual Spirit Night. During
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Co-ed Youth Baseball in Your Neighborhood! Saturdays and Sundays at Pan Pacific Park with Wilshire Warriors Youth Baseball.
Games begin in March. Ages 4-13!
Make friends, breathe fresh air, and get your kids off screen time! Register now at www.wilshirewarriors.com
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HOLLYWOOD SCHOOLHOUSE By Nikhil George 6th Grade
Hello! It’s Nikhil here again. Currently, Hollywood Schoolhouse has been preparing for our big winter festival. This year, we have a Latin American theme. At the event, there will be a raffle to win tickets to concerts from
artists such as Justin Timberlake or Post Malone, a food and drinks bar featuring hot chocolate and tacos, as well as the bright dance floor to show off your moves. Also, there is a photo booth for families to capture
these moments in time. Personally, I am looking forward to getting a warm cup of hot chocolate! This celebration is a wonderful way for HSH families to interact with each other and experience an extraordinary winter occasion. Recently, sixth grade’s history class has just concluded one of our units on Ancient China. So far, sixth grade students have stud-
Larchmont Chronicle
ied Ancient China’s three philosophies, Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism, as well as the Qin and Han dynasties. In class, we discuss our opinions of each of the philosophies and governments, listing their issues and benefits. And in our yearbook elective, we are experimenting with fast shutter speeds and ISOs to match it. Essentially, ISO measures how sensitive a camera is to brightness, and the shutter speed measures the rate that the shutters open and close to expose light. In addition to all of this, students around campus have been rehearsing with their class for the
school’s upcoming winter show. This show is full of festive songs related to winter and holidays. For the production, the sixth grade will be presenting a tap dance number. Song selections include “Snow” from White Christmas, “Magic Moments” by Perry Como, and “Sway With Me” by Michael Bublé. The show will be a great opportunity for parents and families to see what students have been learning in their performance and music classes. Lastly, Hollywood Schoolhouse will be going on a winter break this week! This has been the news for Hollywood Schoolhouse. This is Nikhil signing off!
PILGRIM
groups hosted their own holiday parties, celebrating with Secret Santa. After our three-week winter break, we started the second semester, beginning new exploration classes for all. Our explorations offer great opportunities for students to explore new arts, and see what they might enjoy that they haven’t tried before. Some of the explorations we offer are film, dance, studio art, programming, journalism, theatre, and many more. Currently, I am in Genius Hour, a Shark Tank-like class dedicated to exploring your interests and learning how to create and present products. The holiday season was a blast at Pilgrim.
By Siobhan Schallert 8th Grade Reflecting on the holidays at Pilgrim, our Thanksgiving celebrations were a blast, including an all-school chapel teaching us about gratitude. So was our Winter Carnival, on Dec. 19, where secondary students and faculty picked a charity and sold everything from baked goods, to hand knitted hats. Throughout the week, middle schoolers watched Christmas movies and advisory
Roundup: Kanye West, Rex Orange County, Black Midi By Elijah Small Three new albums for your consideration in 2020. Happy listening!
Jesus is King Kanye West is out with a new album, Jesus is King. West has apparently started taking strides towards religion as a way to find himself, again. To be honest though, I find his new approach to be a little disappointing. The rock gospel album is okay if not compared to West’s previous work like College Dropout and Late Registration. It often sounds like West is just trying to recreate old successes using a big dose of Christanity. And at times, for instance when Kenny G. is playing the saxophone, the result feels forced and a little bit weak. Still, West manages to find a new way to express himself, which is respectable I suppose. Review: 6 out of 10.
Pony This is the third album by 21-year-old English musician
Rex Orange County. First off, let me say that I absolutely love the track “Pluto Projector,” with its big orchestra sound. As far as the rest of the album, it did not blow me away, but it is good. At least two other tracks, “10/10” and “Laser Lights,” are worth a listen. The one big problem I have with this album is its overuse of auto-tune. Still, the result is an inoffensive if simplistic album that is worth a listen. Review: 7 out of 10.
Schlagenheim London-based guitar rock band Black Midi is out with a weird and wonderful album. The sound is freeform and anti-pop, with songs like “BmBmBm” exhibiting an experimental sound, while other songs like “953” sound more like traditional rock. The band’s drummer, Morgan Simpson, is a standout musician — he kills it on almost every song. The music is dense and intense, but I think the result is a beautiful expression of art by a young band. Review: 8 out of 10. Elijah Small is a student at Pilgrim School.
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Goldie’s Youth Sports All-Girls League wraps up season; spring signups to start January 15 Goldie’s Youth Sports AllGirls Basketball League wrapped up its fall season Dec. 15. The league is open to girls ages 6 to 15, and games are played at St. Brendan School,
238 S. Manhattan Place. The next season will be April to June. Registration begins Jan 15 at www.goldiesyouthsports.com. St. Brendan’s Basketball Association serves youth in Han-
cock Park, Windsor Village and Mid-Wilshire neighborhoods. Headed by Abel De Luna and Brendan Malloy, SBBA has been promoting youth basketball for more than a decade.
IMMACULATE HEART
A Catholic, Independent, College Preparatory School For Girls Grades 6-12
TEAMMATES Lauren Ide and Julia Wolf congratulate teammate Chloe Tostado on her game-winning basket for the championship in Division 10-11. Team Patrick and Team Brian were undefeated.
“Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906”
Larchmont Charter Baseball faces rebuilding—and building—in year 2 By Daniel Frankel After the successful launch of Larchmont Charter School (LCS) middle school baseball last spring, the program is ready to keep on building in 2020. For the middle schoolers, that means rebuilding after heavy graduation losses and a coaching transition. Ryan Daniels takes over as head coach from his former Glendale Community College teammate, Scotty Hong, and Daniels will lead the Timberwolves middle schoolers when they start Burbank Players League winter ball play in early January. The team will include returning eighth graders from the Larchmont Charter Lafayette campus, as well as new seventh grade additions from LCS Selma. Last year’s LCS team went 5-5, handing eventual Delphic Junior High League champion Campbell Hall its only loss in a 3-2 decision back in March. In addition to Hong, the Timberwolves lose graduating standout players Jonah Henry, Owen Alberts,
Graham Turner, Charlie Marcus and Devin Aure. Returning players include Reece Frankel, Jesse Corwin and Cody Ellsworth. But the Timberwolves will rely heavily on a seventh-grade class that includes Jackson Eisenhauer, Nathan Severy and Jordan Harris. As the middle school team rebuilds, LCS is also preparing to launch a high school baseball team this spring. Head coaching and player tryout announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
‘Underwater’ day camp at NHM
Children in grades one to four can learn about the underwater life in ponds, rivers and the ocean at a three-day camp, “Underwater Wonderland,” at the Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Wed., Jan. 8 to Fri., Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Extended child care before and after camp will also be available. For more information, visit nhm.org/adventures-nature.
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Larchmont Chronicle
BUCKLEY
MARLBOROUGH
LOS ANGELES HIGH By Kiara Llaguno 10th Grade
By Isabella Argiropoulos 4th Grade
The second semester will begin for all lower, middle and upper school students here at Buckley on Jan. 7. From Jan. 8-10, students in grades 9 to 11 will meet individually for college counseling. The following day is SAT testing for the 11th grade at Hillside Public High School. The school will host an assembly to discuss financial aid and scholarship strategies for students in 9th-12th grade on Jan. 14. This will take place at Campbell Hall. Mon., Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. day, which is a school holiday. On Jan. 25, there will be ISEE testing at select high schools. For those who do not know, ISEE testing is an entrance exam used by many private high schools to measure a potential student’s reasoning and aptitude. Finally, since it’s the beginning of the New Year, Buckley’s robotic team, the Griffitrons, will be back in action. The team starts building their new robot in January. They’ve been hard at work on the design. Once it’s completed and tested, the Griffitrons compete against other school teams in Southern California. They will also go to two tournaments, including one in Hawaii.
This month has been both exciting and stressful for all of us at Marlborough. On December 7th and 14th, the Upper School students took the SAT and the ACT tests, respectively. On Wednesday, December 11th, the 7th and 8th grade took the PSATs. The 9th graders stayed at school to make cookies, while the Upper School had the day off. “Threads”, our all-school dance recital, was presented on December 6th and 7th. Dancers from 7th through 12th grade took part. It consisted of 21 different performances. Many genres of dance were featured throughout, ranging from ballet to hip hop. It was a great experience! Lastly, there are many exciting things surrounding the holiday season. First, on the 19th, there is Winter Fest from 12PM to 3PM. The Fest features games, food and adorable dogs! There is a huge raffle during Winter Fest. Some of the prizes are skincare, makeup, tickets for bowling and Air Pods. It is a fun way to end the semester before winter break from December 20th through January 5th. I hope everyone has a great holiday with their family and friends. Happy Holidays!
Congratulations to senior Karina Warren for winning a full scholarship to Dickinson College on behalf of the Posse Foundation! Karina was chosen for the Posse scholarship for her strong leadership skills and outstanding academic performance. Furthermore, Karina has involved herself in extracurricular activities such as volleyball and Girl Scouts. Karina plans to receive a double major for business and psychology. During her time at Los Angeles High, Karina has used the College Office to her advantage in order to strengthen her role as a student. Also, applause to Roberto Salazar for being invited to a tour at Princeton University! Roberto described the experience as “different” and “unique” since he only started looking into colleges in 11th grade. The college counselor and general staff at Los Angeles High all encourage Roberto to receive more information on colleges and universities, which led him to being interested in receiving a degree in psychology. A big congratulations to both Karina Warren and Roberto Salazar again! Los Angeles High wishes you both the best!
Happy New Year! My name is Isabella Argiropoulos and I would like to tell you about our Page Academy events for the month of January! Classes will start again on Jan. 6 after what I hope was a relaxing (and gift-filled) holiday break for everyone! Page will hold its second quarter Honor Assembly on Jan. 10 – we can’t believe how quickly the year is flying by! This month we will learn about Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader. Page will be closed for classes on the 20th in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (open for daycare only). Beginning on Jan. 21, Page’s Student Council will kickoff the Shoe Drive. We are asking for donations of old shoes (that are
By Avery Gough 8th Grade
IMMACULATE HEART
By Samantha Hutchinson 12th Grade Immaculate Heart students will return this month from their winter break, where they hopefully enjoyed a stressfree three-week vacation after having finished their Cumulative Assessment Period (CAP). Before leaving for Christmas break, we had an amazing Winter Formal for students at the Omni Hotel featuring the theme “Aurora Borealis.” Students enjoyed a nice dinner, dancing, photos, and fun! Also before our break, both the high school and middle school students gathered food items for the annual Adopt-A-Family program, with an amazing turnout of food and presents for those in need. Many students went downtown on an early Saturday morn-
still in good shape) that you don’t wear anymore. The Shoe Drive is in support of funds2orgs, who will distribute the shoes collected to kids in need. The 21st is this year’s “100th Day of School” — a day full of fun activities is planned. All our students are encouraged to come dressed as if they were 100 years old! The costumes are always amazing! This year’s Kid’s Heart Challenge will start on Jan. 30. This is a fun and exciting event where each Page student learns about their heart while helping others by raising money for the American Heart Association. A great cause to ensure the health of our future! We will end the month with what we hope will be a roaring good time — our field trip to Wonder of Dinosaurs on the 31st. We want to wish everyone, and our local community especially, that 2020 will be full of good will, health and happiness! Thank you for your continued support! ing during the holidays to deliver these goods directly to the families. This winter break is the first one where students took their finals before their winter break, whereas they usually happen afterward in January. This now leaves a lot more time for students to relax with their families, prepare for the upcoming semester, and for seniors, work on college applications! Athletes on the winter sports teams, soccer and basketball, will continue to compete over the break, participating in tournaments to prepare for the season. We are all looking forward to the new year with new classes and a fresh start in the semester! Meanwhile, those interested in attending Immaculate Heart are reminded that entrance exams for both the high school and middle school will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, starting at 8:30 a.m., so make sure to be there if you are applying! Happy New Year to all!
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‘Little Women’ uses time warps; ‘1917’ a long walk through Great War
Richard Jewell (10/10): 130 minutes R. Clint Eastwood keeps getting better. Paul Walter Hauser, who gave such a sparkling performance in a small supporting role in “I, Tonya,” gives another captivating one as Jewell. Sam Rockwell knocks it out of the park as his attorney Watson Bryant, Kathy Bates captures the despair of Jewell’s mother, and Jon Hamm is perfectly hateful as a fictional FBI agent. But maybe the most captivating performance is by Olivia Wilde as the sexy reporter Kathy Scruggs, who will do anything for a story (#Me Too be damned!). She is as seductive in this film as any actress extant, and she never comes close to taking off her clothes. This movie really stands as Eastwood v. the FBI and the media and, although Clint clearly means it as a way to show that Richard Jewell was a hero, I can’t help but think he also means it as a metaphor for the way the FBI and the media have treated Donald Trump. Politics aside, though, this is a terrific movie. Oscars for everybody! Little Women (9/10): 135 minutes. PG. The term “chick flick” is generally used as a pejorative, demeaning a film from the outset. There is no doubt that this is a chick flick, but there is nothing in it that deserves demeaning. Written and directed by the talented Greta Gerwig, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, performed by a terrific cast, highlighted by an Oscar-quality performance by Saoirse Ronan as Jo March, it is one of the best of the year. But Gerwig tells the story using time warps, jumping forward and back. One of my favorite films, “Two for the Road” (1967), had time warps
that jumped in and out nonsequentially, but in that film director Stanley Donen handled the changes in a way that was immediately apparent and caused no confusion. The time warps enhanced the charm of the movie. Gerwig’s approach was jumbled, confusing, with no segues, and detracted from an immensely enjoyable film. 1917 (8/10): 130 minutes. R. I’ve seen this same format at least twice before, “A Walk in the Sun” (1945), directed by Lewis Milestone, and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), directed by Steven Spielberg. The format is “soldiers embark on a long walk through battlefields.” There’s a lot of talk among them. Then they have a battle. Then they keep walking. Then there’s the climax. Even though this World War I iteration is too long to tell such a simple story, the production values are very good and director / writer Sam Mendes does keep the tension up, which is quite a task, given its length. There are some scenes, especially of one of the soldiers in a raging river, that are compelling. The Aeronauts (8/10): 103 minutes. PG. Based on the true event of meteorologist James Glashier’s (Eddie Redmayne) record-breaking flight in a balloon in 1962 to a height of 35,000 feet, that’s as far as the “true events” go in this entertaining film. Everything else in it — Glashier’s age, the sex of his partner, his relationship with the Royal Society, etc. — is utter fiction. Shame on filmmakers who use real names to tell a false story. The Two Popes (7/10): 120 minutes. PG-13. While Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) spend a lot of time talking, this is really
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ize Theron gives a captivating performance as Megyn Kelly, At the this is a clumsy, biased attack by political ideologues on Fox Movies News and its “fair and balwith anced” news presentation. DiTony rector Jay Roach doesn’t just Medley tell a story about Roger Ailes’ predatory actions, he inhabits just a grossly speculative bi- the film with fictional characopic about Francis (virtually ters to pile on, like the closetignoring Benedict’s persona ed lesbian Fox News employee and background), trying to Jess Carr (Kate McKinnon), elevate him to sainthood be- whose only role in the movie fore performing any miracles. is to point out how evil she The acting is superb and the thinks Fox News and their perconversations are interesting sonalities are. Margot Robbie (even though nothing like this plays her lesbian lover, Kayla ever happened), but the down- Pospisil, another fictional sides of this controversial Pope character. These characters are totally ignored. It’s dimin- and the opinions they spew ished by a poor recreation of are pure hokum but since real the Sistine Chapel that dulls names are used throughout, Michelangelo’s magnificent the viewer is left with the idea painting. that these characters are real. Cats (3/10): 108 minutes. When directors insert fictional PG. I didn’t like the play, An- characters among real people, drew Lloyd Webber’s least they are foisting a fraud upon melodic, because of the bland the viewing public. music (except for “Memory”), Star Wars: The Rise of Skyso had no anticipation of lik- walker (3/10): 141 minutes. ing the movie. For those who PG-13. In one scene a lead enshrine Elaine Paige’s and character is asked, “Which Betty Buckley’s iconic perfor- way?” He responds, “I have no mances of “Memory,” from the idea; follow me.” That pretty original London and Broad- much sums up this movie. It way casts respectively, Jen- is so disjointed it makes one nifer Hudson’s prelude ren- wonder if it weren’t originally dition is a huge disappoint- much longer and lots got left ment, as is her reprise. There on the cutting room floor, inis a magnificent ballet halfway cluding reasonable segues. It’s through, which is the only got the usual special effects good thing I can say about this (in fact, that’s most of what it film. is) and the absurd story line Bombshell (3/10): Runtime of approximately five people 105 minutes. R. While Charl- taking on what seems like
untold millions. Even a long time ago in a galaxy billions of light years away, the laws of reason would apply and these stories would be too ludicrous to be involving. Exacerbated by exultant music that seems to signal a denouement every five minutes only to go on and on, this is for Star Wars fans only. The Song of Names (3/10): 113 minutes. PG-13. This sounds like a good detective story, but it isn’t. It’s a dark, depressing, tedious story that adds little to the Holocaust genre. Jumanji: The Next Level (1/10): 120 minutes. R. For aficionados and not many others, as this is the latest in a series of Jumanji films that tell stories of people being thrust into video games as characters and they have to play the game. It’s utter nonsense, pure fantasy. The violence is pervasive and wholly unrealistic, and the attempts at humor sophomoric. There was not one second that I enjoyed, the presence of the always-appealing Dwayne Johnson notwithstanding.
Play Legendary Bingo with JLLA
Play Legendary Bingo with the Junior League of Los Angeles at Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, on Thurs., Jan. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. Visit jlla.org for more information.
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Two destinations that offer unique dining experiences The seasons march on, and now that it’s winter, The Music Center’s revolving chef concept restaurant Abernethy’s has said goodbye to Shirley Chung’s Asian fusion and welcomed Chef Jason Fullilove’s modern spin on soul food. The chef and owner of Barbara Jean L.A. and executive chef at The Magic Castle will helm Abernethy’s for three months with his pure flavors of comfort. Our evening might be best told in reverse, because the dessert was hands-down my favorite dish of the night. I rarely get excited by cake, but
the $12 hummingbird cake was divine. The pecan-inflected, crushed pineapple and banana spice cake with cream cheese frosting is super moist, bursting with flavor and not too sweet. A Jamaican specialty named for their national bird, the island sought to boost tourism by disseminating recipes to the States. I don’t know whether that strategy worked, but the cake was adopted in the American South and is now associated with Southern cooking. Continuing our backwards eating journey, our next favorite dish was our last savory
plate. A 10-inch barbecue bonein short rib for $38, with tamarind sauce, saffron-poached apple, chestnut powder and heirloom carrots on pureed fennel, was beautifully presented and achingly tender. The sweet-tart tamarind sauce added complexity, and the whole roasted carrots were shriveled to the point of optimum sweetness. Served concurrently, the $24 pulled pork agnolotti, with charred creamed corn and curried pumpkin, was homey, rather than refined. Although lemon nage (a flavoring broth) was a listed ingredient, it could have used more citrus zing.
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On the Menu by
Helene Seifer Our first three dishes were a $12 skillet cornbread with jalapeno, cheddar, black truffle caviar and Acacia honey — giant, crunchy, buttery and sweet. Then Brussels sprouts. Will someone please remind me that I’m tired of Brussels sprouts? They’re everywhere, and this $14 version didn’t wow. The sprouts themselves were fine, but the accompanying chunks of braised apple and coconut “bacon” didn’t make the dish pop enough to overcome my ennui. Crayfish mac ’n’ cheese, however, as the third dish, surprised. Expecting the $17 dish to be gooey and overly rich, the fontina, parmesan, cheddar and gruyere presented a whisper of cheesiness in a light sauce with crayfish chunks lending flavor and bread crumbs adding crunch to the curly al dente Cavatappi pasta. Washed down with $15 mint juleps, Chef Fullilove’s Southern cooking warmed the cool, cloudy Los Angeles night. Abernethy’s, 220 N. Hope St., The Music Center, 213972-8088. • • • Abernethy’s has both indoor and outdoor dining, but in the evening I prefer the lively indoor space. Cliff’s Edge, a stalwart establishment in Silver Lake, has a heralded plantfilled rustic patio and a mostly ignored indoor area. An al fresco experience seemed the perfect place to meet girlfriends for cocktails, nibbles and conversation. Of course, after each of us ordering “Enter the Dragon,” a spicy $15 mezcal and habanero cocktail, we did more than nibble, starting with $9 parker rolls. Good, but they were basically nice soft rolls, nothing more, nothing less. The $13 pureed corn soup with candied bacon, pickled chanterelles, crab and breadcrumbs was
Pot shop raided (Continued from page 3)
since January 2018. A spokesman for the LAPD Cannabis Support Unit confirmed to the Chronicle that police raided the unlawful location and made four arrests. “A search warrant was served by LAPD Hollywood Area Narcotics at that location Dec. 13; four arrests for misdemeanor violations were made, and 13.5 pounds of cannabis along with $305 in U.S. currency was seized from the premises,” said Det. Pedro Rodriguez. However, the Chronicle con-
more inspired. Corn and bacon is always a winning combo, and the mushrooms and crab and breadcrumbs added depth and textural interest. The $16 harissa carrots on a bed of lebni yogurt was a successful yin yang of hot North African spice and cool creaminess, enhanced with a gremolata (chopped herb condiment) made with the carrot top greens. The $16 charred broccolini with marcona almonds, Calabrian chili, preserved lemon and parmesan, however, did not manage to sing, perhaps because the vegetable was cooked a minute shy of pliable enough to absorb some of the accompanying flavors. The $27 wild mushroom pappardelle with chestnuts, crispy parmesan, charred kale and crème fraiche satisfied my constant need for pasta, but the chestnut and kale were less exciting on the plate than in the description, leaving us with a basic dish of creamy mushroom sauce over carbs. Everything was good enough to warrant a return visit, but the star of the evening was definitely the beautiful outdoor space. Cliff’s Edge, 3626 Sunset Blvd., 323-666-6116. Contact Helene Seifer at onthemenu@larchmontchronicle.com.
JFLA honors Sarah Dusseault, Bruce Whizin
Sarah Dusseault, chair of Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and co-chair of its committee on women and homelessness, and Bruce Whizin of the Whizin Foundation will be honored at a benefit, “Facing Homelessness,” at the Luxe Sunset Blvd. Hotel, 11461 Sunset Blvd., Sat., Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Dusseault previously was chief of staff for Councilman David Ryu. The event, hosted by the Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA), also will raise funds for LAHSA. For more information, and to order tickets, visit jfla.org/ facing-homelessness-benefit. firmed that the retailer was open and operating as usual several days later. The LAPD first raided the unlawful location in the spring of 2019. However, the business continued to operate despite the best efforts of law enforcement — using gasoline tanks and generators to produce electricity after the city cut power to the building. “That location has basically gone through the gamut of our steps, including the search warrant,” Det. Vito Ceccia, head of Cannabis Support Unit, told the Chronicle last September.
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Book shares collected tales of longtime neighborhood deli
By Rachel Olivier In 1931, Benjamin, Joseph and Ruben Canter came to Los Angeles and opened Canter Bros. Delicatessen on what is now Cesar Chavez Boulevard in Boyle Heights, which was then home to a large Jewish population. Over time, however, the neighborhood changed. About 20 years later, the delicatessen migrated to Fairfax Avenue, which was quickly becoming a bustling Jewish community. The deli was renamed Canter’s Fairfax and became a restaurant, bakery, delicatessen and later bar (mustn’t forget The Kibitz Room). The rest is a piece of Los Angeles history that fourthgeneration offspring Alex and Gina Canter have shared in their recently published book “Stories on Rye” about the Los Angeles landmark and family business that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and only closed on Jewish holidays. Apocryphal stories are often told of Hollywood stars and musicians seen at the bar or in the deli. “Stories on Rye” introduces a deeper level to tales of the restaurant. The book has more than 80 years of collected memories that customers, employees and family members have shared with the Canter siblings. Gina Canter said they came up with the idea because often when introducing themselves, people would recognize the “Canter” name, and almost always have a story to share about the restaurant, typically starting with the words, “this one time…” So, a few years ago, the siblings decided to bring all these personal stories together. Gina and Alex had put in their time, along with the rest of the family, waiting tables and working at the restaurant, and they were familiar with their customers and how to reach out to them. To get the stories they were looking for, they developed a two-pronged approach: putting a call out on the deli’s website and also leaving note cards at each table for patrons to fill out. The stories began pouring in, from meeting future spouses, to awkward family meals, mourning over loved ones, to late-night snacks, all taking place beneath the autumn leaf
CANTER BROS. Delicatessen first opened in 1931 in Boyle Heights on what is now Cesar Chavez Boulevard. It moved to its current location on Fairfax Ave. approximately 20 years later and became Canter’s Fairfax. SIBLINGS Alex and Gina Canter, the fourth generation in the Canter family business, produced the book together.
ceiling. Over the course of the three years it took to complete the book, Gina said she and her brother Alex would read some of the stories to their grandfather, Alan Canter, who passed
away last January. It was a way to share the restaurant and their lives with their grandfather and become closer, she continued. The cloth-and-hard back book, besides containing a
sampling of Los Angeles history and four original recipes (the restaurant still offers some of the same dishes that appeared on the original 1931 menu), also has illustrations by Gina Canter. She studied art and design at the University of Michigan and has worked at local contemporary art galleries.
Alex Canter, co-founder of the restaurant online ordering system Ordermark, brought his technological expertise and years of experience in his family’s deli to the project. He was on the 2019 “Forbes” magazine “30 under 30” list. Check out the book on Amazon or visit ginabrookecanter. com/stories-on-rye.
January
MERCHANT of the
MONTH ITTY'S CHEESE STALL 328 - Next to Bar 326
Ma rk Ha me s
Itty’s Cheese carries California-only cheeses, butters and other provisions from small dairies across the state. Owner Mark Hames has made it his mission to offer artisan cheeses, jams and other California-made products you simply won’t find anywhere else than The Original Farmers Market. Visit Itty’s Cheese to take a mini tasting tour and discover their monthly specials.
Your Neighborhood Grocery Store Since 1934. 6333 W. THIRD ST. • LOS ANGELES 323.933.9211 • FARMERSMARKETLA.COM “STORIES ON RYE” shares customers’ memories of Canter’s Fairfax.
90 MINUTES FREE PARKING IN FARMERS MARKET LOTS WITH PURCHASE VALIDATION FROM ITTY’S CHEESE.
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Larchmont Chronicle
Dinner guest never leaves in madcap farce; Swan Lake returns
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circa 1940s, are also attractive, including some great shoes. This is an excellent cast with some star performances: First, kudos to Jim Beaver as White-
side. He’s managed this acerbic character with shades of heart and realism tempering the farce, and his perfect comic timing is impeccable. And all the while maneuvering in an ancient wheel chair. Kudos also to Kay Cole, whose prickly,
Bergin’s
(Continued from page 1) on Dec. 14. Brothers Fran and Dave Castagnetti have reopened the pub, which looks the same as it always has, welcoming visitors to stay and sit awhile under its famed ceiling decorated with signed paper shamrocks. The current menu includes a fried chicken Caesar salad, mac and cheese, fish and chips, burgers, Irish cheddarhoney-sriracha-candied bacon potato wedges and a short rib shepherd’s pie. Initial hours are limited. Dinner is served 5 p.m. to midnight Monday and Thursday, and as late as 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Brunch is served on Sundays beginning at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, next door In the works next door to Bergin’s, developer Christopher Clifford of Colliers International recently submitted an application to the city Planning Dept. for a mixed-use project. It includes 209 units above three levels of garage and 2,653 square feet of commercial space at 800 and 830 S. Fairfax. The properties now have two buildings, each two stories tall, with a total of 40 apartments. “The Miracle Mile community is very pleased to see Bergin’s back in business. We fought to landmark the property so that it could continue as the beloved institution it has been for many generations,” said Ken Hixon, vice president of the Miracle Mile Residential Association. He added, concerning the proposed mixed-use apartment complex: “The adjacent development is grossly out of scale in every sense of the phrase and shows no consideration to the surrounding community.” Some observers suggest that the new project is far off, because the two existing buildings have many renters still living there.
put-upon Nurse Preen garners laughter and sympathy. Hartley Powers is terrific as Whiteside’s secretary Maggie Cutler. And Barry Pearl, as the manic comedian Banjo, is a typhoon unto himself. Tying it all up with a big red bow is director Bruce Kimmel, whose belief in comedic pace is on full display here. As a consequence, this is a non-stop evening of laughter in the theater and a joyous holiday gift. Don’t miss it. Through Sun., Jan. 12, The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., 818-763-5990, thegrouprep.com. 4 Stars • • • It’s been over 20 years since Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake appeared at the Music Center. Bursting onto the classical dance stage, it was a revolutionary re-invention of ballet’s most famous dance fairy tale. Gone are the delicate, demure ballerinas, balancing en pointe, in feather-filled tutus. These male swans are bare-chested, barefoot, wearing chap-like pants. They are aggressive, menacing and their athletic dancing is breathtaking. Directed and choreographed by Bourne, the story he created around these swans has not changed from his original scenario. It still remains a sly swipe at the royal family, although a few generations
ago. The story centers on The Prince (Andrew Monaghan the night I saw it). (Note: this show is double cast.) Forced into a robotic existence, he endures ritualized bathing and dressing rituals, attends formal openings and events ad nauseam including a ballet-withinthe-ballet, a delightful sendup involving a Moth Maiden (Mari Kamata) and evil trolls. He’s pursued by The Girlfriend (Katrina Lydon), a comic foil who is relentlessly inappropriate, and he yearns for the love of his mother the Queen (Nicole Kabera). In despair, he is alone by a lake when a gaggle of swans surround him. He’s mesmerized by their leader, The Swan (Will Bozier), who seeks him out. In a moving pas de deux they flawlessly perform the complex yet powerful choreography. In the second act, The Stranger (also Will Bozier) appears at the royal ball to continue his aggressive interference with the royal family. The inevitably tragic ending is moving and fitting. Enough can’t be said about these graceful, athletic dancers. The elevation in their jumps is stratospheric, especially Bozier. This is powerful dance theater. Through Sun., Jan. 5, Ahmanson Theatre Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213-972-4400, centertheatregroup.org. 5 Stars
Children’s Tea
assorted mini muffins, fresh fruit skewers assorted tea sandwiches Peanut Butter & Jelly • Chicken Salad Mini Cheese Sandwich Milk, Hot Chocolate, Kids Champagne (apple juice with sparkling water)
$19.50 per person
Please Call for Reservations Every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm
All ages welcomed (323) 933-8446 • (323) 933-8440 Frances@dupars-psr.com
In the Original Farmers Market • 3rd & Fairfax Open 24 Hours
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fined to their house for several weeks, in a wheelchair, until his broken leg heals. What’s a famous, acerbic radio wit to do? Take over everyone’s lives, of course. And invite all of his odd friends to visit. And examine several animal species like cockroaches and penguins. Include criminals and movie stars and madcap movie comic, Banjo (said to be inspired by Groucho Marx). Whiteside drives everyone crazy, and runs and ruins everyone’s life, and the laughter is non-stop. But like any good farce, all ends well. There are some excellent production credits: Chris Winfield’s scenic design captures the Midwest solid wood decor perfectly, while leaving enough room for numerous cast members to appear on the set at once. The stylish and accurate costumes by Michael Mullen,
BOGIE’S LIQUOR
Open 7 Days Hours: Open 9 a.m. Close 2 a.m.
5753 Melrose Ave.
Call 323-469-1414
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The Man Who Came To Dinner by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman premiered on Broadway on October 16, 1939 and has received numerous revivals on Broadway and elsewhere. Its most famous reincarnation was the 1942 Hollywood film of the same name starring Monte Wooley, Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante and Mary Wickes. The play was originally written as a vehicle for the authors’ friend Alexander Wolcott. The play takes place at the home of prominent local businessman Ernest Stanley (Doug Haverty) and his wife Daisy Stanley (Laura Wolfe) in Mesalia, a small town in Ohio. The famous radio personality Sheridan Whiteside (Jim Beaver) has been invited to dine with the Stanleys as part of his current tour. Unfortunately, he slips on some ice in front of the Stanley residence and is con-
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HAPPY NEW YEAR, LOS ANGELES! Still fam ily own ed & opera t Our 80t ed! h Year!
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Now Open An Inspired Eatery Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Enjoy an innovative menu of creative and healthy favorites alongside refreshing cocktails and wine. Located on Bow Street, next to See’s Candies. Walk-ins only. Reservations not accepted.
189 THE GROVE DRIVE
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