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FRONT RUNNER
Yeah, yeah, yeah! The Beatles wowed America and the Grammys in 1965, winning Best New Artist of 1964 and Best Performance by a Vocal Group for “A Hard Day’s Night.”
Rock ’n’ Gold
FiFty years ago, the Beatles rocked the grammys… and the rolling stones gathered no kudos.
Disclaimer: We, as jaded Angelenos, typically exhibit nonchalance at awards shows. But cue The Recording Academy’s strobe-lit, shredded frontmen belting out hits amidst pyrotechnics (think 1989’s Metallica performance), and composure flies out the window alongside a heap of bras. Known for spotlighting rockers on its bill, the Grammy Awards catapult us from our seats with electric guitar riffs that seem to salute the gods of rock ’n’ roll, baby. Five decades ago, however, things were far tamer. A quartet of squeakyclean entertainers charmed the States with pop-friendly melodies, nabbing Best New Artist and Best Performance by a Vocal Group for then-hit “A Hard Day’s Night” at the 1965 Grammys—then a series of untelevised dinners in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York. The band, known as the Beatles, ruled the music scene—even chalking up indirect wins, like Dave Hassinger’s Best Engineered Recording—Special or Novel Effects Grammy for the album The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles. Eclipsed by the Fab Four was fellow Brit band the Rolling Stones, which
16 la-confidential-magazine.com
received no accolades for its grittier, rock-heavy sound. Mick Jagger and crew were also snubbed during the Grammy–accompanying TV special, The Best on Record, which—surprise—prominently featured the Beatles. Adding salt to the wound, composer Steve Allen went so far as to mention on air, “Sometimes I put on the Rolling Stones just so I can turn them off.” In silent agreement that year was The Recording Academy, who gave Petula Clark’s gentle pop track “Downtown” the coveted Best Rock and Roll Recording Grammy—dismissing not only the Stones, but the divisive sound they produced. Thankfully, the anti-rock sentiment petered out over time. The Academy grew kind to the formerly shunned Stones, presenting them with a modest Lifetime Achievement Award in 1986 for their contributions to the recording industry. And what of their protégés? A whopping 11 awards now comprise the Rock Category in today’s Grammys—opening the floodgates for mosh pits, wagging tongues, and everything in between. LAC
photography by Michael ochs archives/getty iMages
By Kelsey Marrujo
FRONT RUNNER We love Louella: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz dish with the queen of Hollywood gossip, newspaper columnist Louella Parsons, at the 1956 Golden Globe Awards, held at the iconic Cocoanut Grove.
It’s a small screen World Who would have guessed that what began as a modest luncheon at the 20th Century Fox studio would evolve into a star-studded spectacle… and gain a reputation for pooh-poohing the ceremonious decorum associated with industry events like it? Anyone familiar with the history of the Golden Globes wouldn’t be surprised—after all, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association first became associated with defying tradition as early as 1955 by creating a category that recognized—gasp—television. This was groundbreaking for the time—although TV now garners as many critical accolades as movies (True Detective, Scandal, and House of Cards, we’re looking at you), television was still a fledgling medium in the 1950s and hadn’t yet earned the respect of industry bigwigs. The Golden Globes’ first-ever Trailblazer TV Awards were presented in February of 1956. Among the honorees were Lucy and Desi, Dinah Shore, and Fess Parker, who accepted an award for best TV storytelling for Disneyland. The Citizen News called the evening “the best, most successful of all Golden Globe Awards,” and Lucille Ball evoked a colossal laugh from attendees when she exclaimed, “This is a most frightening audience!”
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By Erika Thomas
Worldwide recognition of the small screen, along with Ball’s off-the-cuff comments, weren’t the only ways the Golden Globes were breaking the mold. In 1958 (the first year the show was nationally televised), a cocktail-toting Frank Sinatra (flanked by cohorts Sammy and Dean) crashed the stage, grabbed the microphone, and announced the winners—to the enjoyment of the equally toasted audience. Undeterred by their audacious antics, the Hollywood Foreign Press invited the wisecracking bunch to do it again the following year. Since then, the show has become notorious for unscripted hijinks. Viewers have seen actresses caught in the ladies’ room while their names were announced (Christine Lahti), stars refusing awards (Marlon Brando), nonsensical ramblings during acceptance speeches (Colin Farrell), and colorful, ahem, hand gestures on the red carpet (Elisabeth Moss). The small, virtually unknown awards show that started with only five nomination categories today honors accomplishments in 25 categories (11 in television and 14 in motion pictures). It distinguishes the best in film and television in a way that’s spontaneous, memorable and, yes, even scandalous—but always distinctly Golden Globes. LAC
photography by Jack albin/hulton archive/getty images
In 1956, the Golden Globes dared to fête a new tech InnovatIon: televIsIon.
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contents
December 2014/January 2015
16 // front runner 36 // letter from the editor-in-Chief
38 // letter from the publisher
40 // ... Without Whom
this issue Would not have been possible
42 // the list 91 // invited
style 49 // the À la mod sQuad Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela SkaistLevy talk life post-Juicy Couture—and take us behind the scenes of their new fashion brand.
52 // tinsel toWn For LA-style holiday revelry, only the most decadent accessories will do.
56 // stYle spotliGht La Perla reveals a sexy new shop at South Coast Plaza; Fendi joins forces with Beats by Dre; and more local style news.
58 // partY Girl
60 // la the beautY-ful
128
Producer/NFL team owner/ philanthropist Steve Tisch is donating big bucks to concussion research, treatment, and prevention.
24 la-confidential-magazine.com
More and more prestige beauty brands are being made in LA—some of the industry’s key players explain why.
62 // biG time Musician/new mom Kelly Rowland dishes on her latest gig: timepiece designer for TW Steel.
photography by jessica sample (tisch)
Philanthropist Irena Medavoy spills her go-to pros for awards season party prep.
contents
December 2014/January 2015
67
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is the site of The Music Center’s 50th anniversary gala in December.
52
Sparkling gems and precious metal give evening bags a new brilliance. Faceted floral and pearl embroidered box clutch, Marchesa ($2,495). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com. Crystal feather necklace, Oscar de la Renta ($1,195). 8446 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, 323-653-0200; oscardelarenta.com
67 // MUSIC CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
78 // CARMEN ELECTRIC!
LA’s Music Center is turning 50, and to celebrate, it’s putting on the show of a lifetime… naturally.
British actress Carmen Ejogo gears up for her second turn as Coretta Scott King—this time in Ava DuVernay’s Selma.
70 // CINEMA PARADISO Get to know some of awards season’s biggest contenders at January’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
72// CULTURE SPOTLIGHT A new book chronicles the history of California graphic design; dance, music, and art collide at REDCAT; and more winter cultural happenings.
99
Whether it’s a holiday party or an Industry bash, those in the know celebrate at A.O.C.
26 la-confidential-magazine.com
exclusive preview of this year’s Golden Globe Awards extravaganza.
people 75// GOLDEN BOY Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma gives an
80 // MAÎTRES D’HOTEL Jewelry designer Maya Brenner and her hospitality boss beau Dustin Lancaster collaborate on a new project— Los Feliz’s frst boutique hotel.
82 // LOS AND FOUND Wild star Thomas Sadoski charts where he fnds creative inspiration in his neighborhood of Los Feliz.
86 // JOAILLERIE DE VIVRE
Brooke Shields and her longtime friend Robert Procop unveil a dazzling new fne jewelry collection to beneft LA’s House of Ruth.
photography by alex pitt (dorothy chandler pavilion); andrea bricco (a.o.c.)
culture
contents taste 99 // FÊTE ACCOMPLI When Hollywood’s fnest want to honor a special occasion, award-winning restaurant and wine haven A.O.C. is the venue to beat.
102 // SAY FROMAGE!
December 2014/January 2015 Beige tweed jacket ($1,895) and white button-up with blue pinstripes ($345), Michael Bastian. michaelbastian nyc.com. Denim, Burberry Brit ($275). 9560 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-4500; burberry.com. Navy polka-dot tie, Tommy Hilfiger ($79). 157 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-247-1475; tommy.com. Red pocket square, Alexander Olch ($60). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com
No celebration is complete without frst-class cheese service—LA chefs show us how it’s done.
104 // THE PARTY BOYS Event planners extraordinaire Joachim Splichal and Jeffrey Best chew on how to throw an affair to remember.
Headlining musician Matt Goss takes the stage at Beverly Hills’ new Spaghettini; Fig & Olive prepares for its annual New Year’s Eve bash; and more food news.
features 112 // THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO JOHN
The only thing that comes close to John Legend’s love affair with wife Chrissy Teigen? His love affair with the Grammys.
118 // LADY TOPANGA Supermodel Angela Lindvall rocks vintage-inspired resort looks at her hippie-chic Topanga Canyon home.
128 // GIVE AND LET LIVE From animal rights to medicine and the arts, get to know some of this year’s most powerful LA philanthropists—and the causes that keep them up at night.
138 // SUPER-
MEZCALIFABULISTIC!
The smoky-cool spirit on every connoisseur’s lips this winter: mezcal.
142 // CANNABUSINESS As the marijuana legalization debate sweeps the nation, how do experts think the green rush will grow?
28 la-confidential-magazine.com
112
“[The Grammys] were the single-most important element that made ‘All of Me’ a huge hit,” says 2015 award hopeful John Legend.
photography by frederic auerbach; Styling by Johnathan lawhorne; grooming by debbie gallagher at opuS beauty uSing dior homme; digital technician: carl duquette; digital technician: carl duquette; photo aSSiStance by robin harper; Styling aSSiStance by Zoe Zhou; video: chriS cella
108 // TASTE SPOTLIGHT
BEVERLY HILLS 1.855.44.ZEGNA | ZEGNA.COM
contents 156
The crowning glory of the new RH West Hollywood gallery: a 10,000-square-foot rooftop park.
December 2014/January 2015
haute property 151 // 100 yEARS OF PLENTITUDE No matter what your architectural taste— classic Craftsman, Hollywood Regency, or somewhere in between—there’s a SoCal home to suit it.
154 // HOORAy FOR SANTA FE!
The latest second-home hot spot for Hollywood types? Santa Fe, New Mexico.
abode & beyond 156 // DESTINATION RESTORATION
RH opens its grandest showroom yet, in a 40,000-square-foot space on Melrose Avenue.
158 // MELROSE GOLD
and finally... 168 // MAGNA CUM APPLAUD As awards season approaches, familiarize yourself with the OSO—obligatory standing ovation. CORRECTION: In the Summer 2014 issue of Los Angeles Confdential, a quote was incorrectly attributed to Steven Koblik, president of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (“Made in LA,” p. 114). The quote was actually given by Director of Art Collections Kevin Salatino. We apologize for the error.
ON THE COVER:
John Legend Photography by Frederic Auerbach Styling by Johnathan Lawhorne Jacket ($2,500), shirt ($660), and pin bar ($540), Dior Homme. 315 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-247-8003; dior.com. Pants, Citizens of Humanity ($198). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. Belt, Gucci ($320). 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-3451; gucci.com
30 la-confidential-magazine.com
photography by Mark hug/restoration hardware. on the cover: grooMing by debbie gallagher at opus beauty using dior hoMMe; digital technician: carl duquette; photo assistance by robin harper; styling assistance by Zoe Zhou; video: chris cella
WeHo’s most stylish street is a jackpot of home design inspiration.
, Bulova and Bulova Accutron are registered trademarks. Š 2014 Bulova Corporation. 97B133
Available at Macy’s and macys.com
Making Spirits
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JOIN US ONLINE at la-confdential-magazine.com
We have the inside scoop on Los Angeles’s best parties, holiday pursuits, and more. holiday
WHAT CELEBRITIES WANT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON We match LA’s most famous with potential gift picks.
KUNZITE
Kunzite is often called a woman’s stone. Pure in energy, it is a Stone of Emotion connecting the heart to the mind. The latest collection at Marvel Jewelry of pink Kunzite has been handcrafted by our team of master jewelers. Based in Los Angeles, our vast collection of engagement rings, wedding bands, bracelets, necklaces and earrings excel in quality and craftsmanship.
SEE THE LATEST FROM LAST NIGHT’S EVENTS Couldn’t attend? Browse the newest photos from LA’s most exclusive parties.
wellness
‘TIS THE SEASON TO ZEN OUT Holiday shopping, after-work parties, and never-ending to-do lists? Gift yourself with some of these health and wellness treatments.
INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY CENTER 550 S. Hill St., Suite 940, Los Angeles, CA 90013 www.marveljewelry.com | 213-680-1645
COME FOLLOW US
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAPPYDANCING (GIFTS); CHELSEA LAUREN/GETTY IMAGES AND JASON KING (MARSDEN); IRAVGUSTIN (SPA)
photos
7 9 6 1 M E L R O S E AV E N U E , L O S A N G E L E S 2 4 2 N . R O D E O D R I V E , B E V E R LY H I L L S , L O S A N G E L E S
SPENCER BECK Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor ERIN MAGNER Executive Managing Editor DEBORAH L. MARTIN Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Photo Editor REBECCA SAHN Senior Fashion Editor LAUREN FINNEY Copy Editor WENDIE PECHARSKY Research Editor LESLIE ALEXANDER
ALISON MILLER Group Publisher Associate Publisher VALERIE ROBLES Account Directors GUY BROWN, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE, MIA PIERRE-JACQUES Account Executives ALICIA DRY, JULIA MAZUR Director of Event Planning MELINDA JAGGER Event Marketing Manager ANTHONY ANGELICO Assistant Distribution Relations Manager JENNIFER PALMER Office Manager CAROLYN SCARBROUGH Sales and Marketing Assistant KELSEY MARRUJO
NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Vice President of Creative and Fashion ANN SONG Creative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS ART AND PHOTO
Associate Art Directors ANASTASIA TSIOUTAS CASALIGGI, ALLISON FLEMING, ADRIANA GARCIA, JUAN PARRA, JESSICA SARRO Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVAS Designers AARON BELANDRES, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER, JODIE LOVE, SETH OLENICK, JENNIFER PAGAN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN FASHION
Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editors DAVID FAIRHURST, JULIA STEINER Research Editors JAMES BUSS, JUDY DEYOUNG, AVA WILLIAMS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Director of Editorial Relations MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Executive Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editors ANNA BEN YEHUDA, TRICIA CARR Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KAREN ROSE, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, MURAT OZTASKIN, OUSSAMA ZAHR Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS ADVERTISING SALES
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing NORMAN M. MILLER Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, CLAIRE CARLIN, KATHLEEN FLEMING, VICTORIA HENRY, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK, JIM SMITH Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, MICHELLE CHALA, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, VINCE DUROCHER, IRENA HALL, SARAH HECKLER, CATHERINE KUCHAR, FENDY MESY, MARY RUEGG, ERIN SALINS, LAUREN SHAPIRO, CAROLINE SNECKENBERG, JACKIE VAN METER, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, EMILY BURDETT, BRITTANY CORBETT, DARA HIRSH, KARA KEARNS, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, ELENA SENDOLO, ALEXANDRA WINTER MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Senior Director of Brand Development ROBIN KEARSE Director of Brand Development JOANNA TUCKER Brand Development Managers CHRISTIAMILDA CORREA, JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers KAITLYN RICHERT, CARLY RUSSELL Event Marketing Directors AMY FISCHER, HALEE HARCZYNSKI, LAURA MULLEN, KIMMY WILSON Event Marketing Managers JUDSON BARDWELL, CRISTINA PARRA Event Marketing Coordinator BROOKE BIDDLE Event Marketing Assistant SHANA KAUFMAN ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLIS Assistant Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Production Artists ALISHA DAVIS, MARISSA MAHERAS, DARA RICCI Distribution Manager MATT HEMMERLING Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD FINANCE
Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Finance Directors AUDREY CADY, LISA VASSEUR-MODICA Director of Credit and Collections CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants KATHY SABAROVA, NEIL SHAH, NATASHA WARREN Accounts Payable Coordinator NADINE DEODATT ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Producer ANTHONY PEARSON Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
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JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS F. DELONE (Austin Way), DAWN DUBOIS (Gotham), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)
Managing Partner JANE GALE Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Executive Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS Copyright 2014 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Los Angeles Confidential magazine is published eight times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material, and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Los Angeles Confidential magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at losangelesconfidential@pubservice.com. To distribute Los Angeles Confidential at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemediallc.com. Los Angeles Confidential magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC., a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. T: 310-289-7300 F: 310-289-0444 niche media holdings: 100 Church Street, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10007 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003
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LETTER from the Editor-in-Chief her pointed point-of-view when confronted by her mix of passion, determination… and famous charm. (But mention foie gras on our pages, and you’re in some deep duck doo-doo. Previously not terribly enlightened about such things, I’ve taken to eating less beef these days.) In the annals of my own not-so-terribly philanthropic family, there is one character who stands out. Once upon a time, in a medium-sized Midwestern town, my father’s great-grandmother was something of a local legend. Emma Seabright Helling, the daughter of prosperous German immigrants who had hidden runaway slaves in a secret room in the cellar of their old brick house along the Ohio River, managed to give away every last dime of her inheritance before she died at age 85. As the story goes, on any given day, for the 25 years of her widowhood, a line of tramps, girls in trouble, and men out of work would line up in front of her house, from which she would dole out cash as she deemed appropriate. Her six children couldn’t stop her, and, sadly, after emptying the family coffers, she became for subsequent generations in the family the object of some bitterness and ridicule. I didn’t know my great-greatgrandmother, but I admire her—and have tried to emulate her in some regards. For her, charity literally began at home. At my funeral, I hope there will be as many people who come out and say nice things as there were at Grandma Helling’s final send-off, which made the front page of the paper back in 1940: “500 Friends and Strangers Turn Out to Pay Tribute to a Beloved Local Resident.” Cheers, Grandma.
Tooth-some twosome: Trying to out-smile our October cover star, James Marsden, at the LAC Men’s Issue party (ABOVE) and with “sexy in the city” heartthrob Gilles Marini (RIGHT). BELOW: Toasting the opening of Bev Hills boutique West with my buddy LAC VP of Creative/ Fashion Ann Song and owner James Anderton.
SPENCER BECK Stay up to date with all that’s going on in LA at la-confidential-magazine.com.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA LAUREN (MARSDEN, MARINI); JASON KING (WEST)
AND THE AWARD GOES TO… LYNDA RESNICK. STEVE TISCH. IAN SOMERHALDER. Huh? In this issue, as we join in pre-awards season mania with shout-outs to mega Grammy contender John Legend (see “The Gospel According to John,” page 112) and the Golden Globes’s savvy new president, Theo Kingma (see “Golden Boy,” page 75), among others, let’s toast another kind of LA superstar: the philanthropists who give back… and give back big time. Sound dreary? Hardly. This is “Hollywood,” after all. Sure, you can buy tickets to the Grammys and catch a couple of minutes of Rihanna, but if you really want to see her up close and personal, you could have coughed up a few more dollars to watch her perform at the spectacular amfAR benefit last fall (plus, you got a gourmet dinner and tipsy-table-hopping celebwatching- guilt-free conscience included). In fact, there’s a show-stopping fundraiser in LA just about every week from fall through spring, orchestrated performance pieces nonpareil as befit a city that knows a little something about performing. In “Give and Let Live” (page 128), my dear friend, ex-Hollywood Reporter editor Degen Pener, has worked his peerless Rolodex to dish up LA’s philanthropic A-list. Resnick, Tisch, et al, are terribly busy people, but not too busy to help us help them promote what they really care about. Bravo. This feature is no accident. Amid all the glamour and high-end luxury we tout in our magazines every month, it is a part of our company-wide mission to celebrate the people and causes that go beyond mere self-interest. Our owners, Janie and Jeff Gale, have made their own dedicated philanthropic mission our mission. Janie cares deeply about the environment and animal rights, among other high-minded issues. You can’t help but be swayed to
Arriving in anything else calls into question whether you’ve really arrived. The new Bentley Flying Spur V8. www.BentleyBeverlyHillsEvents.com
BENTLEY BEVERLY HILLS The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2014 Bentley Motors, Inc. Model shown: Flying Spur V8
LETTER from the Publisher 1
Matthew McConaughey accepts the Desert Palm Achievement, Actor, award at last year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala.
ABOVE: Celebrating LAC’s annual
2
Lupita Nyong’o arrives for Fox/ FX’s 2014 Golden Globe Awards Party.
Men’s Issue event with Lisa Lupo, cover star James Marsden, and Munawar Hosain. LEFT: Congratulating Alexandre Desplat for his Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Film Music at the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards with emcee Matthew Morrison and Hamilton CEO Sylvain Dolla.
what a year it has been! We welcomed an exciting new sister title, Austin Way, to our family of magazines in September (howdy, pardner!), and right on its heels, Folio named our CEO, Katherine Nicholls, one of its Top Women in Media and Corporate Visionaries for Niche Media’s innovative work in establishing a strong mission-driven culture. As a portfolio of publications, we exceeded well over 1 billion domestic media impressions above and beyond those generated by our own network, and were broadcast around the world by the global press who attended this year’s annual Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, which we produced here in Los Angeles last month. With 2015 fast approaching, I find myself thinking of New Year’s Eve and its tradition of resolutions, fireworks, and midnight kisses. It’s been 110 years since Times Square first began the now-infamous annual celebration, although in the early days, fireworks rang in midnight rather than today’s 11,875-pound Waterford Crystal ball. The stroke of 12 this year will also signify the 85th anniversary of the first time “Auld Lang Syne” was played at a New Year’s Eve celebration. Guy Lombardo began that tradition in 1929 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, and it has remained the anthem for party revelers ever since. All of this history evokes a great sense of nostalgia for me. Normally one to embrace change, I find myself clinging rather stubbornly to these traditions and the great sense of occasion they create. Perhaps, as the lyrics indicate, it’s just a bit of love for times gone by. However you choose to celebrate, I raise a glass to you, our readers, and thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us. Take a cup of kindness, and I will see you in 2015. Happy New Year!
ALISON MILLER Stay up to date with all that’s going on in LA at la-confidential-magazine.com.
38 LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
3
Musician Pharrell Williams performs onstage during the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.
// this month //
ON MY RADAR Awards season 2015 is officially here! 1) 26th Palm Springs International Film Festival & Awards Gala, January 2–12 2) 72nd Golden Globe Awards, January 11 at The Beverly Hilton Hotel 3) 57th Grammy Awards, February 8 at the Staples Center
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA LAUREN (MARSDEN, DESPLAT); MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES FOR PSIFF (MCCONAUGHEY); GABRIEL OLSEN/GETTY IMAGES (NYONG’O); KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES (WILLIAMS)
AS THE YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE AND WE REFLECT ON 2014, I have to say,
ALEXISBITTAR.COM
West HollyWood West 3rd street
Venice Abbot Kinney
MAlibu lumber yard
degen pener Degen Pener was the culture editor of The Hollywood Reporter and previously, the editor-in-chief of Angeleno magazine. He has covered personalities and home design for such publications as Veranda, Interior Design, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and Glamour. Among those he has profiled are Oprah Winfrey, Richard Avedon, Tom Ford, Drew Barrymore, Vidal Sassoon, and interior designer Michael Smith. He is also the author of The Swing Book, a guide to the swing music revival. In this issue he interviews Los Angeles’s big givers in “Give and Let Live,” page 128. What was the most interesting thing you learned about LA philanthropy? I read recently that there are now 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States, which is a stunning number. There are hundreds of great nonprofits here in Los Angeles, and there are so many of them making a difference without celebrity supporters. It was fun to find some lowerprofile groups that deserve attention! When it comes to charities, what cause is closest to your own heart? Saving endangered species. I was so happy to include the work of the Orangutan Foundation and the Turtle Conservancy. The phrase “habitat loss” sounds so dry. These really are animals’ houses we are talking about, and we are making them homeless. Who is on your “interview bucket list”? Jane Goodall. I respect everything she has done for animals. Among the people you have interviewed, who surprised you the most? Vidal Sassoon. He was one of the smartest, most cultured people I’ve ever met. And he paid me a wonderful compliment on the piece. He said, “I recognized myself.”
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// december 2014/january 2015
scott huver
jessica sample
eric rosen
Entertainment writer Scott Huver’s work has appeared in magazines and websites, including People, TV Guide, InStyle, and hollywood.com. He is a regular contributor to Los Angeles Confidential, and in this issue he covers the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (page 70), interviews Thomas Sadoski (page 82), Kelly Rowland (page 62), and the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Theo Kingma (page 75).
Before starting out on her freelance photography career, Los Angeles–based photographer Jessica Sample was the deputy photo editor for Travel + Leisure, and also contributed photography for the pages. Current clients include Condé Nast Traveller UK, Coastal Living, National Geographic, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and The Hollywood Reporter. For this issue, Sample photographed LA’s philanthropic powerhouses (“Give and Let Live,” page 128).
Eric Rosen lives in Los Angeles and writes about food, wine, travel and adventure. When he is not exploring the Los Angeles dining scene for Los Angeles Confidential, Eric is on assignment discovering new culinary trends and far-flung wine regions from Argentina to Australia, and everywhere in between. Most recently he spent time in New Zealand sipping Sauvignon Blanc. For this issue, he takes us on a tour of restaurants that are reinventing that venerable tradition, the cheese course. (The Dish, page 102).
What makes the Santa Barbara film festival different? It bypasses many of the superfluous trappings of other festivals— overt sponsorships, parties and “scenes” that seem disconnected—to focus on celebrating film and filmmakers. And the local community is engaged, excited, and invested in it, and not just counting the tourism dollars. Did you learn anything new about the Golden Globes while interviewing Theo Kingma? I was surprised to learn that the preparations for the actual broadcast with the hosts begin only about a month before the big night.
How do you get your portrait subjects to relax on set? I smile a lot. I also look young so people aren’t intimidated by me. What was your favorite part of photographing our philanthropic Angelenos for this issue? Discovering that beautiful red-seat theater at the LGBT center. Roland felt right at home sitting there. What is your favorite subject matter to photograph? I love shooting travel because it combines all my favorite things: landscapes, people, and food.
What is your favorite type of cheese? Call me a classicist but I’m a sucker for an Epoisses. It is such a rich, triple-cream French cheese but still has so much flavor. Do you end your meals with a cheese course? I always choose savory over sweet, so lingering over a cheese course is my idea of the perfect way to end a meal. Did you learn anything new in researching this story? I am impressed by the sheer variety of cheeses available to us today, both local and from countries all over the world.
photography by jessica sample (sample)
...without whom this issue would not have been possible
©2014 London Fog
MEN’S | WOMEN’S | KIDS’ | LUGGAGE | ACCESSORIES londonfog.com
the list December 2014/January 2015
Gnell Abracosa
Bode Helm
Kristie Streicher
Susan Downey
Stacey Snider
Dee Ocleppo
David Combes
Ricardo Basta
Sonya Ede
Amy Funke
Beck
Nanci Ryder
Harrison Gray
Ciro Tacinelli
Veronica Toub
Phillip Lee
Hayley Starr
Jillian Cho
Sarah Buscho
Daniela Villegas
Leslie Furuta
Michael Sparks
Jared Stein
Michael Keaton
Erin Doyle
Jared Eng
Jean Dousset
Loc Nguyen
Alan Cruciani
Meryl Hadida
Damien Chazelle
Stephane Bombet
Gina Lamanna
Jennifer Washington
Michaele Simmering
Anna D. Guanche
Michael Magliano
D.J. Gomez
Gareth Kantner
Kimberly Helms
Reed Krakoff
Mary Gardiner
Ashley Streicher
Jennifer Marmon
Johann Pauwen
Curtis Stone
Jake Gyllenhaal
Francisco Gimenez
Jacob Soboroff
Amar Santana
Matt Flinn
Jenn Streicher
Tom Penich
Kobe Bryant
Katheryn Rice
Marina Storm
Gilles Marini
Iggy Azalea
Marc Rigoni
Grant Smillie
Sage Vaughn
Annie & Hannah
Marco Morante
Heather Cie
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Style tastemakers Partners in sublime: Gela Nash-Taylor (left) and Pamela Skaist-Levy wear custom-made boots and rompers from their new line, Pam & Gela.
The À La Mod Squad
LA’s juicy couturiers de force, aiSt-levy And Gela Pamela NaSh-taylor, ceLebrAte A 25yeAr friendship with A new brAnd, A new book-turned-tV show, And A new onLine shop.
photography by scott witter
By Kathryn Drury Wagner
There was a moment, around 2000, when it seemed as if every woman in the country owned a terry-cloth tracksuit. It was a phenomenon sparked by Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, who ignited one of the biggest trends in American fashion—luxury loungewear—with their Juicy Couture line. But the “read my tush” fad ran its course, and the duo parted ways with the brand in 2010. The two 50-something LA natives have been best friends and business partners for 25 years and share the mind-meld rapport you can only forge from being in the trenches together—running empires, slinging kids, and raiding closets. They seem as intertwined as one of the long blonde braids Gela is wearing: Both love vintage shopping and Malibu, and both are active in charities, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Key to the Cure, and Baby 2 Baby. continued on page 50
la-confidential-magazine.com 49
Style tastemakers
clockwise from left:
A look from Pam & Gela’s Spring 2015 collection; a leather jacket bearing the brand name was designed and made by Ade Wood, who formerly created the graphics and packaging at Juicy Couture; The Glitter Plan tells the story of how the duo behind Pam & Gela built the Juicy brand into a global sensation using just $200.
So it’s no surprise that they’ve started another company together, Pam & Gela, featuring their signature buttery fabrics and killer fits. The spring 2014 debut of the company coincided with the launch of the duo’s book on entrepreneurship, the glitter Plan. With that shimmering tome being developed for TV, and the company moving its 15-person team into new offices in Hollywood, Skaist-Levy and Nash-Taylor have once again seized the fashion spotlight. Pam & Gela is “casual
luxury and great basics with a fashion twist,” explains Skaist-Levy. Their “i’m not sorry” muscle tees were a hit with young Hollywood this summer, rocked by Mindy Kaling and Emma Roberts; Jessica Alba and other It girls snapped up the leather track pants. “You can wear them with tennis shoes or dress them up with heels,” says Skaist-Levy. Or perhaps a tie? Nash-Taylor’s husband, musician John Taylor of Duran Duran, “is obsessed. He saw the leather track pants and said, ‘Make those for me!’”
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“The brand is sexy but in that LA-rocker way, very accessible,” says Nash-Taylor. “I hope it’s the modern-day Juicy. I like that easy, uniform way of dressing, where I’m put together but comfortable.” “Pam and Gela define what is now known as a California lifestyle brand,” says Sarah Stewart, head buyer at Maxfield. “They created it by ignoring the conventional norms, such as traditional seasons and color trends, and instead followed their own shared vision. It’s a nod to their
business acumen that they continue to get it right, season after season.” The line is sold by vendors like Shopbop (shopbop.com), but come January, fans can click straight to the source: pamandgela.com will offer Pam & Gela designs, along with vintage both high (Birkin bags) and low (ice cube trays), and other oh-so-cool discoveries. A limited offering of shoes will be available on the website, with the duo hoping to eventually manufacture footwear and handbags. For spring, Pam & Gela
will feature ikat designs along with a lot of leather, fringe, and suede. “We’re obsessed with the perfect dress that can take you from day to night,” says SkaistLevy. “I hate to say ‘boho,’ but it’s that dress that looks good on a million body types, in wearable prints, that you can dress up with the accessories and shoes.” “We have an eclectic sense of style,” adds Skaist-Levy, “but we know we’re on to something with this brand… because our friends come over and steal everything out of our closets!” pamandgela.com LAC
photograph courtesy pam & gela (lookbook)
“we know we’re on to something with this brand… because our friends come over and steal everything out of our closets!” —pamela skaist-levy
AN ICON JUST GOT LARGER
THE NEW NAVITIMER 46 mm
STYLE Accessories METALLICA Bold metals and feminine crystals create the perfect contrast. Dahomar snake link and crystal necklace, Lanvin ($3,990). 260 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-402-0580; lanvin.com. Embellished sleeve with removable leather glove, Rochas (price on request). rochas.com
This season, all ThaT gliTTers in la is indeed silver and gold... photography by bill diodato styling by faye power
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ProP styling by brenda barr for Mark edward inc. Manicure by kiyo okada at garren new york for chanel le Vernis. Model: christina aMbers
TINSEL TOWN
GIVE
ARTFULLY ARMENTA
BEVERLY HILLs 310.550.5900 nEImanmaRcus.com
STYLE Accessories 2
1 GILT TRIP
GLITTERATI
Go for baroque with jewel-encrusted gold adornments.
Dazzling crystals adorn this season’s most party-perfect pieces.
4
PURPLE REIGN
SMART DECO
Make a statement with pops of plum.
Geometric patterns give winter accessories a Gatsby-esque edge.
1. Faceted floral and pearl embroidered box clutch, Marchesa ($2,495). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com. Crystal feather necklace, Oscar de la Renta ($1,195). 8446 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-653-0200; oscardelarenta.com. 2. Green crystal open Horsebit bracelets ($1,650 each) and green crystal closed Horsebit bracelets ($1,350 each), Gucci. 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-3451; gucci.com. Metal and crystal floral minaudière, Ralph Lauren Collection ($4,500). 444 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-281-7200; ralphlauren.com. 3. Small plexi jewel-colored clutch, Elie Saab ($2,500). Neiman Marcus, see above. Alaleone pump, Manolo Blahnik ($1,135). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. 4. Crystal-embellished necklace, Giuseppe Zanotti Design ($1,695). 9536 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-550-5760; giuseppezanottidesign.com. Be Square silver and jet crystal minaudière, Judith Leiber Couture ($4,995). Neiman Marcus, see above
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ProP styling by brenda barr for Mark edward inc.
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STYLE Spotlight La Perla Cristallo Nero Collection bodysuit (price on request).
gifts
THE WRITE STUFF
Ooh la La Perla
shop talk
Hermès is introducing its first writing instrument in time for the holidays. Called the Nautilus, the ballpoint comes in two point widths and two colors; the fountain pen comes in six nib widths and five colors. The pens are complemented by an assortment of writing papers, envelopes, notebooks, and leather goods—including a leather cartridge box that epitomizes the brand’s understated elegance. 434 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2786440; hermes.com
// NEW IN TOWN // 1
Cut-out clutch, $495.
IT’S IN THE BAG
Already beloved for its perfect leather jackets, Vince debuts its first-ever women’s handbag line this season, with an array of understated, minimalist day and night options. Highlights include totes, cross-bodies, and medium-size clutches, perfect for beach-to-Bev Hills days. Playing off the brand’s wildly popular ready-to-wear line, the colors range from bright ocean blue to rhubarb to modern black and white. 112 S. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-2478299; vince.com
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LA PERLA CELEBRATES A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WITH A CHIC NEW LOOK IN THE OC. Lush lingerie brand La Perla has unveiled its first North American new store concept at South Coast Plaza—an occasion that coincides with its 60th anniversary. The revamped store, which is the work of Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi, has überfeminine touches such as a muted color palette and marble, velvet, and gilded metal accents. Fitting rooms have been redone for maximum comfort and privacy, with a discreet service bell for sales help and soft lighting. Completing the intimate experience is a special espace privé, where VIP customers can try on their selections in total privacy. South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-754-7500; laperla.com LAC
// adornments //
Hermès Nautilus writing instrument ($1,650).
This holiday season marks the debut of a new headphones collaboration between Fendi and electronics powerhouse Beats by Dre. Each piece is hand-stitched by Fendi leatherworkers and comes in a variety of colors, such as sunflower, emerald green, and asphalt, for the ultimate in acoustic élan. 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-8888; fendi.com
SMALL WONDERS THE ONLY BAGGAGE YOU NEED to take you into 2015: a brilliant jewel-box clutch.
Alexander McQueen ($1,995). 8379 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-7824983; alexandermcqueen.com
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LISTEN UP!
Diane von Furstenberg ($398). 8407 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-951-1947; dvf.com
LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
Marchesa (price on request). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com
Roger Vivier ($2,250). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-435-0015; rogervivier.com
Chanel (price on request). 125 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-2785505; chanel.com
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LA PERLA (BODYSUIT), HERMÈS (PEN), VINCE (CLUTCH), FENDI (HEADPHONES)
BY LAUREN FINNEY
LAPERLA.COM
SOUTH COAST PLAZA 433 NORTH RODEO DRIVE
STYLE Social Network
Party Girl
Gal-about-town Irena Medavoy Gives it up for awards season. By NadiNe Schiff-RoSeN Irena Medavoy’s pre-Golden Globes party invite (back on for 2016!) has long been considered the entrée to what A-listers refer to as the “Billionaire’s Room” for titans of the industry and superstars alike—picture Elon Musk sipping Veuve Clicquot with Jane Fonda. Married to veteran producer Mike Medavoy (Black Swan, All the King’s Men), the superlative hostess sets the bar for stylish soirées while keeping both Manolos rooted in tradition.
The first step to throwing a perfect party? Finding the perfect outfit. For red-carpet glam, Medavoy visits Monique Lhuillier (8485 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-6551088; moniquelhuillier.com). For something edgier, Tom Ford (346 Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-270-9440; tom ford.com) is her man. “But,” she adds, “he can also do classic. Remember Gwyneth Paltrow wearing his timeless white sheath and cape to the Oscars? Perfection.” And
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then, of course, there’s Michael Kors (108 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-3858350; michaelkors.com). “I count on him for everything in life. He’s a designer who loves women and can dress any figure.” A purist who also honors her SoCal roots, Medavoy maintains her beach-blonde locks with monthly visits to color genius Lorri Goddard at Rossano Ferretti Salon (345 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-598-6780;
lorrigoddardhaircolorist.com). For cuts, Marc Durand at Mèche Salon (8820 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-2788930; mechesalonla.com) softens her layers with tousled precision. Beautifully sculpted brows are another pre-party must; Marlena (she’s so good she only requires one name) at Lukaro Salon (323 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-2538; lukaro.com) is Medavoy’s eyebrow artiste. And when it comes to makeup, she stays loyal to the classically tried and true. “I’m still loving my Chanel Teint Innocence fluid foundation,” she says—especially when it’s applied by her favorite makeup artist, Cecile Do at Neiman Marcus (9700 Wilshire Blvd.,
Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com). Any seasoned hostess knows the secret to a great party is a stress-free vibe. The day before throwing a big party, massage therapist Michael Sladkov (323-3832832) applies Medavoy’s own brand of Tahitian coconut oil all over her body to relax her and make her skin radiant. As for a pre-Globe happy ending? “In this town,” says Medavoy, “parking is everything and Greg Gee of Crystal Valet (323-6630381) is our guy.” He’s the auto savant who makes the trains—or in this case, the Teslas—run on time. And during awards season, that’s a custom that never goes out of style. LAC
photography by scott wittier (medavoy); courtesy of monique LhuiLLier (store interior); tom ford (store exterior)
clockwise from left: Irena Medavoy, the ultimate Hollywood hostess, photographed at her Beverly Crest home; Monique Lhuillier is Medavoy’s go-to for glamorous gala-worthy gowns; she heads to Tom Ford when she wants to do “edgy.”
e s t. 1 8 1 8
ro d e o d r i ve
f i g u e roa st r e e t
we st f i e l d c e n t u ry c i ty
fas h i o n i s l a n d b ro o k s b rot h e rs.c o m
ga r d e n s o n e l pas e o
la jolla
f o ru m s h o p s at ca e sa rs
STYLE You, Even Better contrast, has only banned 11). Malibu, in particular, has become a rookery for beauty start-ups, says Liz Edlich, who with her sister, Rachel, founded Radical Skincare there. Developed with the help of the Edlichs’ plastic surgeon father, the antioxidant-rich line is clinically proven to be 300 percent more potent than products with comparable ingredients, yet safe for those with sensitive skin. Guess founders Paul and Maurice Marciano and former Clarins and Estée Lauder execs are among Radical’s investors. Skincare, the Edlichs note, is one of the West Coast’s biggest investment opportunities—after all, the American cosmetic industry is the largest in the world, with total revenue projected to hit $58.79 billion for 2014. Still, the market in LA is perhaps the world’s most demanding. Persnickety beauties have access to everything, from $1,500 eye creams to top wellness gurus. In LA, we want results—and thanks to science, we’re getting local products that deliver. LAC
get ready for your close-up!
LA the Beauty-ful
a spate of revolutionary new launches is making los angeles ground zero for the global beauty biz. By Kathryn Drury Wagner Just as there’s no crying in baseball, there’s no aging in Los Angeles. It’s not easy to appear fresh and radiant with a sun-drenched climate and equally relentless glare of the media, so SoCal’s trendsetting faces naturally clamor for the latest in cutting-edge skincare. And increasingly, many of those products are being developed not in Paris or New York, but right here in LA. “There are more medi-spas and beauty stores in California than anywhere else,” says Lauren WolkGoldfaden, VP of sales at Goldfaden MD. The brand, which claims to have created the first physician-strength natural skincare products, recently moved operations from Miami to LA. Wolk-Goldfaden explains, “[LA is] key for distribution, but you also have the tastemakers and celebrities here.” Being in the right gifting suite, for example, can make or break a new skincare line. “We’re the mecca for plastic surgery and
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dermatology,” adds Jami Morse Heidegger, the Malibu-based granddaughter of Irving Morse, who started as an apprentice at Kiehl’s and ended up purchasing the company from its founder, John Kiehl. “As the medical aspect advances, so does the skincare.” There’s also a rich network of chemists and manufacturing facilities already in place in LA, making it attractive for start-ups. Heidegger, for instance, just launched Retrouvé, a quartet of highconcentration, ultranourishing elixirs containing ingredients like apple stem cells, which recently debuted at LA’s Apothia by Ron Robinson (8118 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-651-0239; ronrobinson.com). Other hot new LA lines include A-list aesthetician Francesca “Frankie” Paige’s botanical skincare system, FP Skin (already a favorite of her many celebrity clients), and Beautycounter, an organic luxury brand so pure it has banned the use of 1,500 chemicals from its formulations (the US government, by
Beloved by Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba, this powerful, yet hydrating scrub’s results are comparable to those achieved with clinical microdermabrasion. Doctor’s Scrub Advanced, Goldfaden MD ($98). Space NK, Brentwood Country Mart, Santa Monica, 310-451-7284; gold fadenmd.com
Goldie Hawn and Leslie Mann are fans of this potent antiaging elixir, which has been proven to make skin notably firmer and brighter. Advanced Peptide Antioxidant Serum, Radical Skincare ($190). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com
Gwyneth Paltrow called Beautycounter “one of my favorite new lines”—she even sold the brand’s ultrahydrating botanical face oils in her Goop LA pop-up shop this year. Lustro Face Oils, Beautycounter ($64 each). beautycounter.com
photography by shutterstock (model); courtesy of hatch beauty (doctor’s scrub)
SoCal complexions demand the latest in cutting-edge skincare, and, increasingly, local companies are creating products that fill the bill.
Hollywood’s most discerning customers can’t get enough of these homegrown hero products.
Crazy Hours
Š2014 - The Franck Muller Group, All rights reserved
STYLE Time Keeper “There’s noThing wrong wiTh having an accessory ThaT really inspires you To be more bold.” — kelly rowland
The Kelly Rowland Canteen Bracelet Special Edition watch ($650) is the artist’s third design for TW Steel. Available at Feldmar Watch Co., 9000 W. Pico Blvd, LA, 310-274-8016; twsteel.com
Big Time
“There’s nothing wrong with being bold,” says onetime Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, now a chart-topping solo artist as well as a new mother. “And there’s nothing wrong with having an [accessory] that really inspires you to be more bold.” It’s an effect she achieved with the latest special-edition timepiece she designed for TW Steel, the renowned Dutch watchmaker that specializes in oversize timepieces. Her Kelly Rowland Canteen Bracelet Special Edition is distinguished by its sleek PVD-coated steel case and bracelet, complete with a brushed finish for added refinement and stylish rose-gold-colored numbering and indexes. It’s the third signature timepiece Rowland’s crafted for TW Steel—she fell in love with the boldfaced brand after “stealing” one of its timepieces from a pal. “I remember wanting to do a black watch, and we finally got it with this one,” she says. “With the rose-gold elements and the black, I just felt like it would match so many things.”
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With a new album in the works and the birth of her son, Titan, last month, with her husband and manager, Tim Witherspoon, the fleeting nature of time has been on Rowland’s mind as of late. “Time is priceless,” she says. “When you have it, it’s good to know how extremely delicate it is and not take advantage of it.” Having packed so much living into every minute, the 33-year-old singer admits she’s forcing herself to slow down and savor motherhood. “I’m trying to be still because I’m so used to moving all the time—but when I get home, I feel stagnant,” she confessed before the baby’s arrival. “Somebody’s like, ‘You don’t have to work.’ I’m like, ‘Well, I want to!’” Time management, she concedes, is always a challenge. “But somebody gave me a wonderful quote, which is, ‘We make time for the things that we want to make time for.’ And I will never, ever forget that because it’s so true.” For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to la-confidential-magazine.com/ watches. LAC
photography by rahi rezvani (rowland); Carl F. buCherer (watCh)
MultiplatinuM-selling R&B aRtist elly Rowland’s latest watch design foR tw steel is foR MaxiMalists only. By scott huver
www.cesare-paciotti.com
9528 BRIGHTON WAY, BEVERLY HILLS
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
WISHES GRANTED Tis season, delight your sophisticated beloved with distinctive accessories, elegant baubles, and covetable styles from the fnest purveyors of holiday chic.
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1. Wrap yourself in elegance with this iconic yet modern shirtdress by Halston Heritage. Te simple lines and eye-catching design are loosely defned with dual layers, and include a detachable skinny belt. Tis versatile dress will be a favorite as you go from day to night and from season to season. HALSTON HERITAGE, 310.299.8407
2. Tis beautiful black dress from Sandro is the perfect attire for any of your holiday events. Te graceful silhouette is complimented by a luminous and bejeweled sheer top. Te overall look is both refned and sophisticated and can work on a woman of any age. SANDRO, 310.360.4882
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3. A luxury brand that knows how to build a beautiful shoe, BCBGMAXAZRIA has created an inspired and modern stiletto heel that will be the envy of everyone. Precision laser-cut geometric patterns throughout are highlighted by an open toe. Its back zipper closure ensures not only style but also comfort to the most refned woman in Los Angeles. BCBGMAXAZRIA, 310.854.0986
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4. With the Rayure black evening dress, Maje has created a stunning reinvention of a classic. Featuring a cutaway neckline and a ftted waist, this multi-layered look is arranged in layers to create a transparent, elegant style. Structured and feminine, this dress is sure to become a favorite party dress for years to come. MAJE, 310.360.4888
5. Inspired by the movie Mad Max, Demobaza’s Sun Forward Collection pops with an edgy and futuristic take on fashion. Te limited edition popcorn knitted multi-paneled parka jacket features button enclosures for its playful asymmetrical silhouette. Black slouchy pants ofer both form and function to this youthful and energetic ensemble. POLITIX, 310.659.1964
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culture Hottest ticket
clockwise from top left:
photography by Federico Zignan (walt disney concert hall); steve cohn (gershon); Jamie pham (voices of light); copyright ampas (statuette); Jason kempin/getty images For the music center (ebersol)
Music center of the universe
The view from the stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall; Grant Gershon, the artistic director of the LA Master Chorale and the resident conductor of the LA Opera; Il Postino being performed by the LA Opera in 2011; the LA Master Chorale performs the innovative “Voices of Light” in 2014; the Oscar statuette, which was given out at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for 25 years; Placido Domingo in Don Rodrigo at the DCP in 1967; Christine Ebersol performs at The Music Center’s special pre-anniversary party for longtime supporters last April.
This monTh, The music cenTer celebraTes a sTar-sTudded half-cenTury of wowing la audiences wiTh oscars, opera, and musical performances nonpareil. By Michael herren Whenever a grande dame has a golden birthday, hitting the halfcentury mark, expectations effervesce faster than bubbles in Veuve Clicquot. Delicious delicacies? Extravagant entertainment? Jawdropping jewels rescued from bank vaults adorning swanlike necks, complemented by gentlemen who wear black tie with cavalier nonchalance? As well as the requisite live music, gardens of flowers, and general joie de vivre? All of the afore! But when that lady is The Music Center, the grande dame of Grand Avenue (and the legacy of legendary LA grande dame Dorothy “Buff” Chandler), get ready for a no-holds-barred artful extravaganza that reflects the excellence of four of the world’s finest performing arts companies—Center Theatre Group, LA Opera, the LA Phil, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, all resident companies—as well as Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, which highlights significant classical and contemporary dance artists from around the world. Then there’s the Hollywood connection: The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion played host to the Academy Awards no less than 25 times. While The Music Center’s official 50th Anniversary Celebration revved up in October with a civic rededication ceremony and open house, it’s the first weekend in December that marks its star-studded culmination. First, at 7 pm on Saturday, December 6, following a Champagne reception in the lobbies of the Dorothy Chandler continued on page 68
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CultuRe Hottest ticket Golden nuGGets don’t miss these oh-sobrilliant highlights of the Music Center’s golden anniversary season. Center theatre Group Angela Lansbury won a
Pavilion, the proscenium curtain bearing Tony Duquette’s signature starburst will slowly open. The reveal will include an aria by mezzo-soprano Susan Graham; the banquet scene from the opera Nixon in China; Davis Gaines reprising his role in Phantom of the Opera; appearances by Hollywood plenipotentiaries, among them Harry Hamlin, Mario Lopez, and Edward James Olmos; and a symphony of surprises that Renae Williams Niles, The Music Center’s vice president of programming, quite rightly refuses to disclose. “Then they wouldn’t be surprises!” she says. The degree to which the show is not only special but unprecedented is summed up by Stephen D. Rountree, president and CEO of The Music Center, who describes it as a “once-in-a-lifetime collaboration. It’s unlike anything else in Los Angeles, and perhaps even in this country.” Following the 90-minute spectacular comes the soup—or, rather, the black-tie dinner for 1,000 guests, which will be held in a massive tent on The Music Center Plaza. “While the show is about celebrating what takes place at The Music Center, the gala dinner is about celebrating the people who make it happen,” says Williams Niles, adding that long-standing partner Patina Catering is preparing the special three-course menu. Naturally, there will be more surprise performances, and, of course, there will be dancing to follow. And as if that weren’t enough, another, more casual confluence of food and entertainment is planned for the following day, December 7, dubbed Party on the Plaza. The 50th Anniversary Celebration is, however, much bigger than one big weekend, no matter how unparalleled. “This is an opportunity to show the world what The Music Center stands for and to demonstrate what Dorothy Chandler suggested—that the soul of The Music Center is not in what it is, but what it does,” says Rountree. What are some of the highlights and milestones being commemorated and celebrated? LA Phil, lauded as one of the world’s finest orchestras, performs and presents nearly 300 concerts annually, a breadth and depth unrivaled by other orchestras and cultural institutions (it also garnered an Academy Award in
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1974 for The Bolero, a 30-minute short subject). Center Theatre Group has developed and produced Pulitzer Prize-winning plays such as Mark Medoff’s Children of a Lesser God, Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box, and Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, Part One. The Los Angeles Master Chorale’s commitment to innovation is unparalleled, as illustrated by the 42 new works it has commissioned in its 50-year history as well as the 88 pieces it has premiered (57 being world premieres). And the LA Opera, a relatively young opera company, remains ambitious as ever, exemplified by its 2010 world premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino. There’s also The Music Center’s zealous commitment to educational programs, with eye-popping empiricals such as the number of children who have experienced Music Center programs since 1979 (10 million); the number of students with disabilities the Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival has served in its 36 years (200,000); and the number of high school students who have participated in Spotlight, a scholarship and arts training program for SoCal high school students (40,000). Finally, there are the innumerable moments that, while perhaps not of enduring cultural, political, or social value, nevertheless illustrate the power of presentation, the human spirit, and the benefits of being fleet of foot and quick of tongue. During the 46th annual Academy Awards in 1974, just as David Niven prepared to introduce Elizabeth Taylor, a streaker charged across the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Niven’s reaction was to quip that it was likely the only laugh the man would ever get in his life was “by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.” Which does make one wonder… What are those surprises planned for the spectacular and dinner? Tickets for the performance range from $35–$150 each. Tickets to the Gala show, including the performance and the dinner, start at $2,500 and include Party on the Plaza admission. Individual Party on the Plaza tickets are $150. musiccenter.org LAC
La Master ChoraLe There’s a reason why Angelenos fock to the chorale’s performance of handel’s “messiah” each holiday season—its rendition of this enduring classic is simply sublime. december 17 and 21. walt disney Concert hall, 213-9727282; lamc.org
La opera The Figaro Trilogy: The Ghosts of Versailles imagines a ghostly meeting between marie Antoinette and her favorite playwright. february 7–march 1. dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 213-9728001; laopera.org La phiL See beloved music director Gustavo dudamel in action as he leads the orchestra in Antonin dvorák’s “from the New world,” and John Adams’ California-inspired “City Noir.” march 5–8. walt disney Concert hall, 323-850-2000; laphil.com
GLorya KaufMan presents DanCe at the MusiC Center Alvin Ailey American dance Theater returns for its ffth turn in the Glorya kaufman Presents dance series, introducing a program of new works and old favorites—all of which celebrate modern dance and African-American culture. April 15–19. dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 213-972-0711; musiccenter.org —erin magner
photography by ralph crane/the lIFe pIcture collectIon/getty Images (chandler)
Dorothy Chandler and aviation tycoon Donald Douglas Jr. at the opening of what is now the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in December 1964. A portrait of Chandler hangs behind them. right: Lit for dramatic effect, the pavilion glitters against the night sky.
“The ShOw IS A ONCe-IN-ALIfeTIme COLLABOrATION. IT’S uNLIke ANyThING eLSe IN LOS ANGeLeS, ANd PerhAPS eveN The COuNTry.” —stephen d. rountree
Tony for her role as a medium in this revival of Noël Coward’s beloved comedy Blithe Spirit. december 9– January 18. Ahmanson Theatre, 213-972-4444; centertheatregroup.com
cuLTurE Film what to see
BEST OF THE FEST Let these five can’t-miss happenings guide your SBIFF itinerary.
Cinema Paradiso
The SanTa BarBara InTernaTIonal FIlm FeSTIval markS 30 YearS wITh a celeB-packed Show oF ShowS. By Scott Huver For about two weeks every winter, the epicenter of the film industry isn’t Hollywood: it’s about 90 minutes north. In 2015, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival marks its 30th annual celebration of cinema, and just as the region’s luxurious-yet-laid-back vibe has lured show-biz expats and artistic types up the 101, so too has the festival evolved from a smaller-scale community event to a significant, world-class occasion, drawing an elite crowd of actors and filmmakers in the thick of Hollywood awards-hunting to be fêted at its signature, surprisingly intimate events—while also showcasing the works of new generations of film talent looking to break through. A key element in the increasing success and rising profile of SBIFF is Festival Director Roger Durling, largely credited for reinventing it when he came aboard a dozen years ago. Durling had no experience running similar events or working within the film industry, but as an avid cinema connoisseur he’d devoured movies and assiduously attended festivals most of his life. What SBIFF needed, he realized, was “a reason
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for being, a vision and a focus. “The successful film festivals have a very strong sense of identity,” says Durling, citing Sundance, Toronto, and Telluride as examples. “Santa Barbara fell into that category of ‘just another festival’ among hundreds and hundreds across the country.” He initiated crucial change: “The proximity to Hollywood had never been exploited, and also the timing. I nudged the date so it would capitalize on the Academy Award nominations, and I think that definitely shifted its identity.” It also set SBIFF in an off-season for tourism, allowing him to leverage cooperation from hotels and restaurants while bolstering the local economy. “Roger cares so much about the filmmaking experience, about content, about storytelling, and he is so accurate in terms of what the community is looking for,” says SBIFF board chair Jeff Barbakow, a former head of MGM/UA. Today, the festival spotlights movie subgenres reflecting the community’s unique character: surf films, Latino films, environmentally conscious films, social justice films, and educational panels.
Those starry awards nights have also become a big draw, luring luminaries stumping their way towards hoped-for victories at the Academy Awards—last year’s honorees included eventual Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jared Leto; this year frontrunner Michael Keaton has already been booked. SBIFF is known for locking down the major “awards season” players well in advance of their buzz. “Roger has an uncanny ability to see what the [Oscar] nominees may be,” says Paramount’s longtime awards strategist Lea Yardum, who views SBIFF as a key whistle-stop on the road to major trophies. Away from the more klieg-lit evenings, film critic/ SBIFF panel moderator Leonard Maltin says he’s struck by the support and enthusiasm he sees from the local Santa Barbarans. “It seems like the theater’s always full. I’ve been to other festivals where people like the party, but they don’t actually show up for the movies! And Santa Barbara is not that at all.” The Santa Barbara International Film Festival runs from January 27–February 7 in various locations around town. sbiff.org LAC
2. Start each day with breakfast at one of the 8 am screenings of some of the festival’s most exciting films, including several US and worldpremiere titles. 3. Pay tribute to the great Jacques Cousteau, whose family will accept the Attenborough Award for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking on January 28. 4. Attend one of the evening tributes, where film luminaries (like Michael Keaton, on January 31) engage in candid conversations about their careers. 5. At Super Silent Sunday at the Arlington Theatre (February 1), classic silent films are screened with musical accompaniment provided by a 1928 Wonder Morton pipe organ.
A full calendar of events and locations will be announced in midJanuary. sbiff.org
photography by Mark Davis/getty iMages for sbiff (auDience)
On the closing night of the 2014 festival, the film Before Midnight was screened to a full house at the Arlington Theatre.
1. On January 27, take in the 30th anniversary Opening Night Film and Gala with a screening of the buzzed-about film Desert Dancer (above)… and a hip afterparty.
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CULTURE Spotlight A Shrine Auditorium poster for The Who (with Fleetwood Mac) by John Van Hamersveld and Victor Moscoso, 1968.
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books
ACCLAIMED CALARTS PROFESSOR LOUISE SANDHAUS UNVEILS THE FIRST-EVER BOOK DEDICATED TO CALIFORNIA’S GRAPHIC DESIGN HISTORY. BY ERIN MAGNER You could fill an entire library with all of the books dedicated to California’s rich legacy in architecture, furniture design, fine art, and fashion—but when it comes to graphic design, that’s not the case. Enter CalArts graphic design professor Louise Sandhaus, who is the first to attempt to catalog the vast and influential body of work that came out of the Golden State in the 20th century with her new volume, Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots: California & Graphic Design 1936–1986 (Metropolis Books; $55). The book takes readers on a visually rollicking ride, with more than 250 examples of landmark design from makers both well known (Saul Bass, Eames Office)
// exhibition //
and more obscure (Oskar Fischinger, Victor Moscoso). Comprehensive as it may seem, Sandhaus considers her project a work in progress—with the help of her CalArts students, she’s building an online tool that will chronicle the history of California graphic design in even more depth. “While the book captures a swathe of some of the visually ecstatic graphic design produced in California, it’s intended to be a conversation starter, rather than the final word,” says Sandhaus. “With the ‘Making History’ class at CalArts, I hope to work with students to add to this vivid history—much of which has yet to receive the attention it deserves.” LAC
MAKING WAVES
Photographers play a critical role in driving home the effects of climate change—just try not to shudder after seeing a picture of a flood-ravaged city not so different than our own. Four such image makers will be showcased this month in “Sink or Swim: Designing for a Sea Change,” an exhibition curated by writer and KCRW host Frances Anderton. Photos depicting the devastating consequences of rising sea levels hang next to those showing how people are responding to the problem—both a warning and a celebration of human ingenuity at its finest. December 13–May 3, free admission. Annenberg Space for Photography, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Century City, 213-403-3000; annenbergspaceforphotography.com
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A portrait by artist Rachel Berks of choreographer Rashaun Mitchell, who will be performing in LA this month.
LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
The roller coaster once on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, sitting partially submerged in the ocean after Hurricane Sandy.
PHOTOGRAPHY © 2013 BY STEPHEN WILKES (ROLLER COASTER)
Cali-graphic!
As legendary photographer Richard Avedon once said: “We all perform…. It’s a way of telling about ourselves in the hope of being recognized as what we’d like to be.” His sentiment— especially true in the look-at-me age of social media—forms the basis of a collaboration between ex-Merce Cunningham dancer Rashaun Mitchell and The Magnetic Fields singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt at REDCAT this December. In addition to a live score by Merritt and mesmerizing choreography by Mitchell, the piece, dubbed “Performance,” also features an interactive installation by California artist Ali Naschke-Messing. December 4–7, tickets from $25. REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., LA, 213237-2800; redcat.org
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PeoPle View from the Top Showman of the year: Theo Kingma, photographed in his West Hollywood office.
Golden Boy
The go-geTTing new presidenT of The hollywood foreign press AssociATion, Theo ingma, TAlks golden globes, giving bAck, And why TinA fey And Amy poehler geT AwAy wiTh murder. By Scott Huver pHotograpHy By matHew Scott
Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Theo Kingma has some simple but emphatic advice for his future successors on the night of the organization’s splashy, high-profile Golden Globe Awards ceremony: “Don’t be nervous!” Easier said than done, he admits, having had only seven months since his election in June 2013 to prepare for “Hollywood’s party of the year,” an early prognosticator for the awards shows that follow, and a broadcast watched by a TV audience of 21 million people in 2014. “The first 20 minutes, I don’t really remember because I was too nervous that I had to go up [on stage],” chuckles Kingma, a Dutch photojournalist, of his 30 seconds of global fame. “But the moment I was up, it was fine. And then after that, it was just walk around and enjoy… I know now a little bit of the game of putting it together with lots of other members.” Kingma is presiding over a bold new era for the HFPA. At 47, he’s the youngest person to ever hold the post. His election signaled a sea change for the group, breaking a long run of veteran members in their golden years. But Kingma’s no rookie—he has a long, intriguing history embedded in the industry. Born in Amsterdam, he was initially reared in an orphanage until he was adopted, then returned to the Netherlands following the deaths of his parents. He found a job as a projectionist and then worked on film productions, encountering filmmaker Robert Altman on the set of Vincent & Theo. The director conTinued on page 76
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people View from the Top
encouraged Kingma to relocate to Los Angeles—a planned vacation turned into a stay of 25 years—signaling a career shift photographing film and TV talent for publications in his native country, Germany, and Australia. He’s been a member of the HFPA for two decades, including serving as executive secretary and sitting on the board of directors. “We used to have press conferences with Robert Altman, and the first thing he would say to me is, ‘You’re still here?’” chuckles Kingma. Since taking the top post, Kingma has led the HFPA to embrace forward-thinking technologies, including an increased digital initiative and social media presence. He introduced regular roundtable meetings with personalities and potential partners outside the immediate Hollywood sphere, and he took charge of peaceably settling the years-long legal wrangling with Dick Clark Productions over control of the Golden Globes broadcast (DCP had negotiated a long-term contract with NBC, giving the company the right to produce the telecast as long as the ceremony aired on the network. Initially unaware of the negotiation, the HFPA believed DCP had overstepped its authority). “Theo has been a very hands-on person,” says HFPA board member Ali Sar. “When he took over, we had a tough situation. Theo took the lead and managed to bring the litigation to an amicable conclusion for all concerned.” Kingma is pleased that all parties are proceeding as partners in the big evening through 2018. “Just last night, I had a dinner with the new owners of Dick Clark Productions, the people from the Beverly
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Hilton, and the people from NBC, and everybody is ecstatic that part is behind us,” he says. “There are no problems—just situations for which we haven’t found answers yet,” is Kingma’s overall philosophy. Under his leadership, the organization is already hoping to one-up the previous Globes ceremony, the highest rated in a decade. The January 11 gala is set to include a new category for increasingly popular oneseason, one-storyline “limited series” like True Detective and Fargo. George Clooney will take home the Cecil B. DeMille Award for career achievement. (“It is just absolutely amazing that as an actor, producer, director, and writer, he is the one who has been nominated in the most different categories,” marvels Kingma.) And hosting team Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler will return for a third year, booked immediately after 2014’s triumph. “Knowing [who our hosts will be] that long in advance saves a lot of time and effort,” says Kingma, though a recent conversation with the comedy team revealed that they haven’t been stockpiling jokes all year. “They literally wait until after the nominations— they haven’t started yet! We stay completely out of it. They can do whatever they want,” says Kingma, which suits the elite membership—approximately 90 international journalists—perfectly fine. “We really give a lot of freedom to the hosts and presenters. Yes, we do write the show, but if they like to tweak some things, nobody will tell them not to. We do not stop our winners if they want to talk for 45 seconds instead of 30; that’s fine with us, too. It’s a little bit of a looser environment, and we’re very protective of trying to
Theo Kingma’s golden nuggeTs On first becOming a member Of the hfPa:“For somebody who shot photographs for a
teen magazine, that was a huge thing for me— probably also one of the reasons that I’ve stayed here in Los Angeles for 25 years.” the standOut memOry Of his first gOlden glObes bash:“It is very uncomfortable to sit for three hours if you’re 6-foot-4. Since then, I’ve worked on the Golden Globes shows and I’ve never been seated again.” favOrite behind-the-scenes glObes mOment:“There is a waiter at the Beverly Hilton who has been working with us for almost 20 years. He works in the green room, where there’s a tiny little bar, and Mel Gibson once looked at his name tag… The man has the most unfortunate name for us: Oscar! Mel Gibson really, really had some fun with that one.”
photography by mathew scott
Photos of Audrey Hepburn and Jack Lemmon accepting their Golden Globe Awards line the walls at the HFPA offices. right: An array of Theo Kingma’s favorite books.
keep it that way. It’s one of these magical things that make the Golden Globes very special.” Kingma says all energy is focused on delivering a prestigious, but ultimately entertaining, evening. And with expanding programs like the annual Grants Dinner (elevated this year from a luncheon), which has bequeathed $1.9 million to various arts education programs, he’s pleased that the HFPA’s remit is broadening beyond just bestowing trophies. “We are not just Golden Globe voters, but 365 days a year we are working journalists. Every year, we donate a substantial amount of money to more than 50 different charitable groups, we restore films, we help film schools, and we hand out grants and scholarships. So I try to also keep that in the foreground. And of course, the Golden Globes, with its glamour and being the celebration of the year—that’s what gets us the headlines.” LAC
PEOPLE Talent Patrol INSIGHT Next up: Ejogo will be in
Ontario shooting alongside Ethan Hawke in an as-yetunnamed Chet Baker biopic. “I’m going to get to sing again, which is cool!” Favorite stroll:
“The Downtown Art Walk. You can be introduced to a lot of really cool artists.”
CuisiNe sCeNe: “I end up a lot in Japantown and Koreatown because I’m so into Asian cuisine.” early iNspiratioN:
“I grew up not far from the King’s Road [in London] at a time when it was really the epicenter of fashion and culture. And I’m totally grateful for that because I think it defnitely informed me as an artist.”
Carmen Electric!
ScottiSh-NigeriaN SeNSatioN Carmen ejogo breakS out big time StateSide aS coretta Scott kiNg iN Selma. By Juliet izon This holiday season, Carmen Ejogo is set to tackle one of her most complicated and intense roles to date: The Brit-born beauty will be playing Coretta Scott King in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma (with fellow Brit David Oyelowo as Dr. King). Luckily for Ejogo, she’s had a little practice with the taxing part: The actress also played Scott King in the 2001 HBO miniseries Boycott. “I can’t think of many actors who have had the chance to play the same historical character twice at different stages in their life,” Ejogo says. “That felt really interesting to me.” And while there’s no doubt that she was primed to play the character, her casting experience was far from easy. “I was among many other actresses
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whom [director] Ava [DuVernay] had considered, but I was certainly not at the top of that list,” Ejogo says. “I had to fly myself in [to the audition]. This was one of those projects that I knew I just had to fight for because it was going to be worth the fight.” After wowing the casting team with her dedication to the project (“I went as far as getting my hair done like Coretta and wore the right shade of red lipstick,” says the actress, who was able to meet the civil rights figure years earlier while shooting Boycott), the choice was clear, and the role was hers. “I was just overwhelmed to know it was mine,” she recollects. “It’s an incredibly special role for me.” Her costar, Oyelowo, is also enamored of her. “She was the perfect partner for me in this endeavor because she simply would not rest until the scene and situation felt grounded and real,” he says. “Carmen’s secret weapon as an actress is that she has a unique blindness toward her own devastating beauty. She is first and foremost a truth-seeker and a truthteller, so she unwittingly draws you in.” When the film premieres on Christmas Day, it will be Ejogo’s most high-profile piece yet, but the half-Nigerian, half-Scottish actress has been in the limelight steadily since her teens. “I was working fairly young after I was spotted by a modeling agent, which led to a little bit of film work,” she says of her London childhood. While neither of her parents was a performer, Ejogo describes them as artists. “I definitely come from two parents that didn’t really have rules for themselves,” she says. “They were young go-getters in a very honest and authentic way.” And although she is a singer as well as a proficient saxophone player, Ejogo made the decision early in her career to focus on acting and cross the pond for better opportunities. Some plum film roles followed, including Sam Mendes’s Away We Go and the musical Sparkle alongside Whitney Houston. “Now there are a gazillion British actors who come over and work here,” she says. “It wasn’t quite like that when I was first stepping out—and certainly not if you weren’t white. So I feel I was part of that original pioneering group of girls that kind of broke into the American market. And I kept going here and never looked back.” LAC
photography by christian hogstedt
She had a dream: Carmen Ejogo had to fight for the part of Coretta Scott King in the new movie Selma, even going so far as to wear Scott King’s signature shade of lipstick to the audition.
PEOPLE Dynamic Duo Ménage à deux: Power couple Maya Brenner and Dustin Lancaster have made their new Los Feliz home a veritable creative command center.
Maîtres d’Hôtel
Bijoux-turned-home designer Maya Brenner is tricking out her “hot spot” hottie dustin lancaster’s new hotel in los Feliz this winter. There’s no doubt that Los Feliz–based restaurateur Dustin Lancaster’s and fine jewelry designer Maya Brenner’s individual successes are their own doing. The überindustrious pair—both reared by single moms in humble environs—have made it their mission to make LA a little more chic through fantastic food and drink and dainty, elegant jewelry, respectively. But when it comes to their romantic success, they credit a fellow Eastside entrepreneur: handbag designer Clare Vivier. “We did a trunk show together a few years ago and afterward she brought me into L&E Oyster Bar,” says Brenner, 44. It was Lancaster’s new Silver Lake restaurant. “Dustin knows Clare from the neighborhood, and he came up to the table.” Adds Lancaster, 34, “It was [basically] love at first sight— there was a spark that made us instantly take notice.” United, their accomplishments continue to mount. Fifteen years into her eponymous label, Brenner broke into J.Crew after her signature letter earrings and necklaces were selected by creative director Jenna Lyons (the “queen bee,” she says) for a recent fine jewelry launch. And the mother of two weathered a string of website crashes—never mind myriad orders—when her pieces were featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s Mother’s Day episode. Lancaster, meanwhile, has been busy gentrifying LA’s Eastside. The former aspiring actor cut his teeth as a bar manager before opening his wine-centric Bar Covell in 2010. He hasn’t slowed since. “I never envisioned I’d be a restaurateur,” says Lancaster. “I thought I’d have one, and, maybe at some other time, another. I did not think in four years I’d have six or seven!” Indeed, his diverse hot spots also include craft beer bar The Hermosillo, Silver Lake’s El Condor, a forthcoming Sherman Oaks wine bar, and, any minute now, a B&B-meets-boutique hotel called Hotel Covell. That last project has been the most intense. Since opening Bar Covell (named for the Oklahoma street on which he bought his mom a house) on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Feliz, Lancaster longed to transform the five-unit apartment building above it into a
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INSIGHT GUILTY PLEASURES: “She has a drawer of candy next
to the bed—ghetto candy, like Hot Tamales, Lemonheads, Grapeheads,” says Lancaster. “And he loves Del Taco,” adds Brenner. “We’re both really high-low.” EAT AT: “We love going to Rao’s in Hollywood—it’s old
school. And steakhouses like Taylor’s,” says Brenner. PERFECT SATURDAY NIGHT: “Right now it’s going
somewhere other than our neighborhood,” says Lancaster. “Dinner and then getting a hotel room so we can half vacation, half research. It’s like playing hooky.” CAN’T-MISS TV: Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, House of Cards—and The Bachelor, which Lancaster couldn’t help but watch because “Juan Pablo was the biggest train wreck.” WOULD-BE LIFE COACH: Clare Vivier. “She jokes, ‘I got you your man, I got you Steven Alan [boutique], and now I got you J.Crew,’” says Brenner.
hotel “for people with discerning taste”—something the neighborhood lacks. Each Chateau Marmont-esque suite represents a chapter in the life of George Covell (a fictional character whose history grew out of the bar’s name), from an early industrial 1950s NYC apartment to a lover’s flat in Paris. As for Hotel Covell’s tiny details, expect some to be courtesy of the jeweler, who’s adapting her chic state-outline pendants for in-room pillows and stationery. Says Brenner, who also consults for jewelry company Stella & Dot, “It will be a nice way to officially work together, even though we kind of work together every day.” Indeed, both weigh in on each other’s projects—Lancaster, for example, was so sure of the Ellen opportunity, he promised to write Brenner a personal check if she didn’t recoup her investment. Their businesses also work symbiotically. “I send all my friends into his restaurants and he makes them feel special,” she says. “And everybody in his life gets jewelry!” 4626 Hollywood Blvd., LA, 323-660-4300; hotelcovell.com LAC
photography by melissa valladares
By EmErson Patrick
© 2014 EWC Prices may vary by region
GORGEOUS UNLEASHED
26 LOS ANGELES LOCATIONS europeanwax
Visit waxcenter.com to fnd your nearest center.
PEOPLE Native “I feel like I can breathe a little easier [in theaters],” says Thomas Sadoski, pictured here at Skylight Theater in his neighborhood of Los Feliz. right and below: Sadoski believes in supporting mom-andpop operations like Skylight Books on North Vermont, right next door to the theater.
Los and Found
For someone who was reared on the East Coast (plus a stint in Texas) and made his bones as a cutting-edge New York actor in plays by the likes of Lonergan and LaBute, Thomas Sadoski had a refreshingly simpatico attitude toward LA when Hollywood came calling. Careerwise, things have been working out remarkably well for the 38-year-old actor since he and his wife swapped coasts in 2011. A cast member of Aaron Sorkin’s politically charged HBO drama The Newsroom, playing former News Night producer-turned-sometimes-friendly-sometimes-not rival Don Keefer, Sadoski reluctantly sees the third and final season through to a triumphant conclusion. “I’m unapologetically greedy when it comes to learning about the craft that I love from great people,” he says. “I didn’t want it to end.” After a stint in fall’s well-received Keanu Reeves action film John Wick, he next appears to intense effect as Reese Witherspoon’s betrayed husband in Wild, the highly anticipated adaptation of the best-selling memoir by Cheryl Strayed, “one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read,” he says. “I think of that book almost like a spiritual guide to walking the path.” As Sadoski’s own path led him to LA, he managed to find his niche in Los Feliz, a community that caters to his long-standing need for a genuine sense of connection as well as his desire to gain a deeper understanding of the LA ethos. When he discovered Los Feliz, he says, “This place just opened [LA] wide for me.”
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Living in Brooklyn for almost 15 years, you become a creature of your neighborhood. It’s important for you to know who your butcher is, where your fish is coming from, your deli guys, your coffee guys. All these different people become essential, and it provides community and that feeling of home. It was important for me to find something like that here. So much of LA is so spread out that it’s hard to put it all together. But Los Feliz, with all of these beautiful places, the amazing food, and everything, is that nice little oasis here in the middle of LA. “‘Hip’ and ‘hipster-y’ and those sort of adjectives are almost derogatorily thrown around, but I’ve actually found this neighborhood to be populated largely by [artistic] working people: people who have something to say and an interesting way to say it. I’m really inspired by that whole Left Coaster mentality—the very specific way that people on the West Coast handle art, think about art, produce art. I discovered the Skylight Theatre by walking past it—I saw a marquee and said, ‘Oh my God, there’s a theater here right in the middle of the block!’ Finding a theater is an essential part of going to any place that I land because I just feel like I can breathe a little bit easier there. It’s a really young, ambitious theater company that has a really good track record already. I’ve recently CONTINuED ON pAgE 84
photography by molly cranna
STAR OF THE NEWSROOM AND THIS MONTH’S WILD, THOMAS SAdOS FINDS INSpIRATION IN THe eASTSIDe-cHIc STReeTS OF LOS FeLIz. as told to scott Huver
PEOPLE Native Sadoski considers Griffith Observatory to be “the most important place in Los Angeles.” below, from left: Alcove Cafe & Bakery is one of Los Feliz’s favorite meeting places; chocolate chip bread pudding from Alcove.
“‘Hip’ ANd ‘HipsTER-y’ ARE AlmOsT dEROgATORily THROwN AROuNd, BuT i’VE FOuNd THis NEigHBORHOOd TO BE pOpulATEd lARgEly By pEOplE wHO HAVE sOmETHiNg TO sAy ANd AN iNTEREsTiNg wAy TO sAy iT.” —thomas sadoski started dipping my toe into directing theater, and all of the people over there have been really gracious about giving me space and time. It’s a safe spot to try it out, and it gets a lot of really great support. The staff recommendations at [the adjoining] skylight Books are always spot-on. I like an owner-operated, mom-and-pop bookshop—it adds so much to a neighborhood and I think it’s an important thing to support. The gift shop spitfire girl is one of so many cool, eclectic little boutiques where people are putting themselves on the line, putting their own stuff out
there. I want to support owner-operated [businesses], and there are so many of them here in this neighborhood. y-Que trading post is this awesome little store with this sort of Left-Coast take on everything. The store’s an intimidatingly cool place. I got a T-shirt with a fat, old Elvis mug shot on it that is one of the absolute choice pieces of my collection. Weirdly, almost everyone who works at alcove café & Bakery feels like part of the same family, which is really unique to find. The Italian in me knows I’m going to be fed good food, and as much of it as I can eat. There’s a perfect California patio
and it does outdoor movie nights—it’s always doing something creative, which feeds the artist in me. I grew up in Texas, and homestate serves a Frito pie in the bag, which I had not seen since I left Texas. If I’m feeling a little homesick for my childhood, I just roll in there, and I am set. The best fish tacos in Los Angeles are at ricky’s Fish tacos, a taco truck. I immediately made a concerted point upon moving to find the best fish taco I could possibly find in LA: The slaw is nice and crunchy; the hot sauce and salsas it uses are perfect, but it’s all about the batter on the fish. I love the community created at food stalls and taco trucks. Ricky’s has tables set out so you feel welcome to sit and be present with people. For me, griffith observatory is the most important place in Los Angeles. I know that sounds hyperbolic, but I do legitimately mean it. Trying to find a way to limit the light pollution that’s around it so stargazers of all ages have a place to go—it’s essential. And nothing is better in LA than watching the sun set over Santa Monica from the observation deck, and then watching the lights come to life over Southern California. You can look out onto this huge, living, breathing organism that is LA and wonder at the immensity of it and in the next breath walk into the observatory and know how small and wonderfully insignificant it all is in the scheme of things. I want to hear what LA has to say. I want LA to tell me why it is different than other places that I’ve ever been. I want LA to tell me why it thinks differently than New York. I want to understand it. The artists who are doing really cool stuff—the street artists, the graffiti artists, the tag artists—are doing it with such a passion and such a need to express themselves by subverting this idea of what LA is. I think that exists in Los Feliz. LAC
Felicitations From los Feliz! skylight theatre (1816 1⁄2 N. Vermont Ave.,
660-1175; skylightbooks.com) spitFire girl (1939 1⁄2 Hillhurst Ave., 323-912-
1977; spitfregirl.com) y-Que trading post (1770 N. Vermont Ave.,
213-308-2269; yque.com) alcove caFé & Bakery (1929 Hillhurst Ave.,
323-644-0100; alcovecafe.com) homestate (4624 Hollywood Blvd., 323-906-
1122; myhomestate.com) ricky’s Fish tacos (1400 N. Virgil Ave., 323-
906-7290; @RickysFishTacos on Twitter) griFFith oBservatory (2800 E. Observatory Road, 213-473-0800; griffthobs.org)
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photography by DaviD McNew/getty iMages (observatory)
213-761-7061; skylighttheatrecompany.com) skylight Books (1816 N. Vermont Ave, 323-
PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity
Joaillerie de Vivre
Broo e ShieldS and roBert procop’s new-bangled jewelry line is all about giving back… one gem at a time. By Erin MagnEr When Brooke Shields met Robert Procop, it was 1985 and they were barely out of their teens. She was signing copies of her autobiography, On Your Own, at the Beverly Wilshire hotel; he popped in during a break from running his boutique, Diamonds on Rodeo, which he opened during his final year of gemology school. “I started speaking with a woman… it ended up being Brooke’s mom,” recounts Procop. “They came by the store after the signing and she introduced me to Brooke.” That serendipitous encounter led to a 30-year friendship between the New York-based actress and LA-based jewelry designer, one that’s seen them through Broadway stardom and Golden Globe nominations (hers), presidential design commissions and a CEO post at Asprey & Garrard (his). But their respective creative worlds never truly collided until a few years ago, when the
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duo began to conspire on a fine jewelry collection to benefit LA domestic violence nonprofit House of Ruth. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to make jewelry—I never just wanted to be the face of a company,” says Shields. She was particularly inspired by the success of Procop’s 2011 Style of Jolie collection, created in collaboration with Angelina Jolie to benefit the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. “I realized I’ve been spread a little bit thin charity-wise and I wanted to find something I could contribute to, hands-on, and see [something] manifest,” says Shields. With that, Procop introduced her to the team behind House of Ruth, an organization that he’s supported for 25 years. “In high school and college, they would take us down to work with the homeless, and I realized that the people who cOntinued On page 88
photography by gian andrea di Stefano (ShieldS); robert procop (ring)
Queen of hearts: Brooke Shields (left) has parlayed her royal ancestry into a fine jewelry collection to benefit LA nonprofit House of Ruth. Designed in collaboration with Robert Procop, the line includes the 18k white-gold Sugarloaf ring with 65-carat blue topaz and 1-carat white diamonds (below).
PeOPLe spirit of generosity left: Robert Procop worked with Brooke Shields on the Legacy Brooke collection, the sales of which benefit House of Ruth, a charity that builds shelters for homeless and battered women and children. below: The Legacy Brooke Sugarloaf necklace featuring amethysts set in 18k white gold.
Charity register Opportunities to give.
Wishing Well Winter gala
What: Help Make-a-Wish of Greater Los Angeles fulfll the dreams of critically ill children by attending its star-studded winter gala. Wells Fargo, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA and Saban Brands will be honored on the night, joined by Wish kids, their families, and plenty of surprise celebrity guests. When: Wednesday, December 3 Where: Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills Website: la.wish.org
trevorlive
What: Prepare for an unforgettable night of music and comedy supporting The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ kids and teens. Last year’s event drew an A-list crowd that included Fergie, the cast of Glee, and Adam Lambert; expect another illustrious guest list this year, as well as dinner and a silent auction.
— robert procop
needed the most help were the women with children,” says Procop. He became involved with House of Ruth soon after, eventually helping to renovate one shelter, build two more, and buy 12 units of permanent housing for homeless and battered women and children. The organization’s mission and focus on community also struck Shields in a profound way. “I like that House of Ruth has a huge emphasis on accountability and education,” says Shields. “Its programs actually teach these mothers how to stand on their own.” At the same time, the designer and his muse set about gathering inspiration for a jewelry collection, which they later named Legacy Brooke. “I had just come back from charting my genealogy and finding the French component of my ancestry,” says Shields, who learned that she’s a descendant of Louis XIV. “We started playing with heirloom pieces, things I loved from going to the antique jewelry fairs.” Two years, hundreds of sketches, and one soldering lesson for Shields later (“Let’s just say I need a little more work,” the actress laughs), and the pair debuted a suite of 30 rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in late October. Semiprecious stones—namely amethyst, peridot, blue topaz, and tourmaline—in smooth, unfaceted cabochon cuts keep many pieces accessible enough
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for every day, while details like latticework bands reflect the signature Procop panache. “The collection has a majestic quality; it captures this sense of regal sensuality,” says Procop. Shields’ personal favorite pieces include a cuff bracelet that she calls “my version of the Chanel or Verdura cuff” and a lattice cocktail ring. With the proceeds from their endeavor, Procop and Shields hope to build another LA shelter for House of Ruth and bring the charity to New York; Shields is currently scouting locations for the first facility. “The love from Robert, his family and friends has helped change thousands of lives by allowing us to serve and bring real hope to homeless families,” says House of Ruth’s Sister Jennifer Gaeta. “Brooke Shields brings another dimension of support and attention to these women and children.” Yet even when this mission is accomplished, Procop and Shields are planning to continue their partnership. “This is just the beginning, hopefully, of a long relationship and a large collection,” says Shields. “I’ve been around for such a long time, there’s this sense of longevity… that’s what we kept going back to. We want this to withstand the test of time.” The Legacy Brooke collection is available to view by appointment. 310-276-6041; robertprocop.com LAC
Where: Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., LA Website: thetrevorproject.org
art of elysium’s heaven gala
What: Artist Marina Abramovic will create a multisensory spectacle that refects her idea of heaven for this year’s Art of Elysium winter gala. Actress Amber Heard is set to receive the Spirit of Elysium award for her service to the organization, which provides arts programming to disadvantaged children. When: Saturday, January 10 Where: The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., No. 203, Santa Monica Website: theartofelysium.org
musiCares Person of the year
What: One of Grammy weekend’s most highly anticipated happenings, the 25th annual MusiCares gala will honor Bob Dylan as Person of the Year. Artists including Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Jack White, and the Black Keys will be on hand to perform tributes to the folk icon, with proceeds benefting MusiCares’ mission to support musicians in need. When: Friday, February 6 Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., LA Website: musicares.org
photography courtesy of robert procop (procop, necklace)
“The [legacy brooke] collecTion has a majesTic qualiTy; iT capTures This sense of regal sensualiTy.”
When: Sunday, December 7
the art of
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invited
Lights, Camera, hamiLton! Cinema’s off-sCreen heroes take a bow at this year’s star-studded hamilton behind the Camera awards. By Kelsey Marrujo Outwardly, the scene was classic LA: stylish subjects, paparazzi, and a barrage of flashing lights. But those in the limelight at the 8th annual Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards were neither movie stars nor TV personalities—rather, the creative players who toil behind Hollywood’s curtains, summoned onstage by leading luxury timepiece brand Hamilton. Since its eye-catching cameo in ’51s The Frogmen, Hamilton’s watches have stolen the show in more than 400 films, from ’90s fan favorite Men in Black to this year’s buzzed-about blockbuster Interstellar. Hamilton not only contributes to motion pictures
Photo by Chelsea lauren/Getty ImaGes
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Emily Blunt prepares to take the stage as a presenter at the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards.
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INVITED Allen Leech
The Ebell’s elegant ballroom space has been the site of chic entertainment events for 50 years.
J.C. Chandor and Will Arnett
Donald Graham Burt and Michelle Monaghan
John DeLuca, Marc Platt, and Rob Marshall
Daniel Henney
onscreen, but also acknowledges those who work behind the scenes with this yearly awards ceremony—hailing film editors, producers, cinematographers, and more. This year, Los Angeles Confidential teamed with Hamilton for the big show, held at The Ebell of Los Angeles. On hand were Hamilton’s CEO Sylvain Dolla and Los Angeles Confidential’s publisher Alison Miller, who greeted the evening’s presenters and honorees as they made their way from the carpet—tinted orange in the spirit of Hamilton’s signature hue—to the Ebell’s cocktail lounge. Here, guests mingled over Moët USA champagne and hors d’oeuvres like fresh burrata and roasted tomato bruschetta with basil oil. During the ceremony, Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Emily Blunt, and other acclaimed actors took the stage to present awards to honorees like cinematographer Robert Yeoman for his work on
Ido Ostrowsky, Nora Grossman, and Teddy Schwarzman After the show, guests mingled over Keurig coffee and dessert.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 94
Sandra Adair
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA LAUREN/GETTY IMAGES, ARI PERILSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES, MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES, RICH POLK/GETTY IMAGES, CHRIS CARLEY/GETTY IMAGES, SHELLEY NELSON/GETTY IMAGES, ANGELA PAPUGA/GETTY IMAGES, TIM MERRILL/GETTY IMAGES, AND ALYS KENNEY/GETTY IMAGES
Hamilton watches combine the American spirit with the precision of all the latest Swiss technologies, producing a truly innovative design.
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Perfect for a celebration.
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2014 AAA Five Diamond Award and 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award winner. Located at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. 3752 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89158. For reservations, visit mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas or call +1 (888) 881 9578.
INVITED Guests enjoyed Moët Champagne in the Ebell’s open garden as they arrived at the show.
Andy Serkis and Dan Lemmon
Channing Tatum and Steve Carell
Ellar Coltrane, Mario Revolori, and Tony Revolori Matt Reamer and Ariel Gale
Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Actor Matthew Morrison of the hit show Glee emceed the evening. “Honestly, as an actor, I would be nowhere if it wasn’t for directors, cinematographers, [the] props department, costumes, music,” said Morrison. “Those are all the pieces that come together to make any production. So to be here honoring those people is very special for me because, as actors, we would all look stupid if it wasn’t for [them].” “It’s incredible, all the people that have worked in film,” added Patricia Arquette, who presented Sandra Adair the film editing award for acclaimed project Boyhood. “They’ve been unsung for so long and they work so hard … and it’s beautiful that this event celebrates all these people that don’t get that sort of acknowledgment all the time.” Shlomi Haziza of H Studio designed the unique Hamilton award, modeled after the brand’s signature Ventura watch and handed to each honoree by The Bold and the Beautiful actress Sandra Vergara. As presenters took the stage to introduce their respective Robert Yeoman and Sylvain Dolla
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Sandra Vergara
Patricia Arquette
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA LAUREN/GETTY IMAGES, ARI PERILSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES, MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES, RICH POLK/GETTY IMAGES, CHRIS CARLEY/GETTY IMAGES, SHELLEY NELSON/GETTY IMAGES, ANGELA PAPUGA/GETTY IMAGES, TIM MERRILL/GETTY IMAGES, AND ALYS KENNEY/GETTY IMAGES
Matthew Morrison
BEHIND THE CAMERA
Matthew Goode, Alexandre Desplat, and Allen Leech
DJ Keith 2.0
Bennett Miller
honorees, it was clear that strong bonds had developed between the onstage and offstage talent. Simply put by Emily Blunt of Into the Woods producers John DeLuca, Rob Marshall, and Marc Platt: “They are my friends; I love them.” After The Imitation Game star Matthew Goode presented Alexandre Desplat with the award for Lifetime Achievement in Outstanding Film Music, he gushed about the composer’s incomparable work on the film. “The main [musical] theme [of The Imitation Game] is so staggeringly beautiful and emotional that when you watch the film—certainly with the denouement at the end of it—it’s difficult to keep a dry eye in the house.” Following the awards presentation, guests enjoyed coffee from Keurig while DJ Keith 2.0 spun records. Sticks and Stones Floral Design Home and Garden complemented the décor of the ballroom while Luna Gardens Events outfitted the green room for celebrity honorees and presenters. Also supporting the festivities was Frédéric Fekkai, offering hair and makeup touchups for the evening’s talent.
Each year, Hamilton hosts its Behind the Camera Awards, which celebrate the irreplaceable off-screen talent who contribute to the creation of memorable motion pictures. Presented by A-list stars, the awards recognize heavyweights in a number of categories, from Property Master and Visual Effects to Screenwriter and Director, which have been chosen from the collection of films released during the year and/or those presented at the prestigious festivals of Cannes, Toronto, Venice, and the AFI Fest. DIRECTOR
Bennett Miller (Foxcatcher), presented by Steve Carell and Channing Tatum SCREENWRITER
J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year), presented by Will Arnett FILM EDITOR
Sandra Adair (Boyhood), presented by Patricia Arquette BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCERS
Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, and Teddy Schwarzman (The Imitation Game), presented by Allen Leech VISUAL EFFECTS
Dan Lemmon (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), presented by Andy Serkis CINEMATOGRAPHER
Robert Yeoman (The Grand Budapest Hotel), presented by Tony Revolori PROPERTY MASTER
Ellen Freund (Mad Men), presented by Kiernan Shipka PRODUCERS
John DeLuca, Rob Marshall, and Marc Platt (Into the Woods), presented by Emily Blunt PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Donald Graham Burt (Gone Girl), presented by Michelle Monaghan LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN OUTSTANDING FILM MUSIC
Shlomi Haziza
Guests watched the ceremony over an elegant dinner.
Kiernan Shipka and Ellen Freund
Alexandre Desplat (The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Unbroken, Godzilla, and The Monuments Men), presented by Matthew Goode
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INVITED Michael Polish and Kate Bosworth
Sia
Jack Black and Marco Bizzarri
Emmy Rossum
Dianna Agron
Alan Finkelstein and Marg Helgenberger
HAMMER MUSEUM’S GALA IN THE GARDEN
THE WHO’S WHO of the art world descended upon the Hammer Museum for its 12th annual Gala in the Garden with generous support from Bottega Veneta, raising an astounding $2.5 million for the museum’s groundbreaking exhibitions and free public programs. Singer/songwriter Sia performed for luminaries in attendance, including the evening’s
honorees, Mark Bradford and Joni Mitchell, as well as co-chairs Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Danna and Ed Ruscha, and Tomas Maier. Mayor Eric Garcetti commended the Hammer on its creative influence over LA, specifically praising exhibition Made in L.A. and the Arts ReSTORE LA initiative.
The fashion celebration took place at a private residence in West Hollywood, where VIPs were treated to Pommery Champagne and cocktails.
Jordana Brewster and Brad Goreski
Ian Harding, Sasha Pieterse, and Kevin Zegers Moran Atias
DSQUARED2 DEBUTS ON RODEO TO CELEBRATE THE arrival of Dsquared2 in the US, founders Dean and Dan Caten threw a spirited bash in West Hollywood for fans of the international fashion house. The Rodeo Drive boutique is the first of three to grace the US, with Miami and New York showrooms slated for winter openings. Modeling pieces from the designers’ latest collection were Dita von Teese, Alison Brie, Ireland Baldwin, and Jordana Brewster. Paris Hilton
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PHOTOS BY DONATO SARDELLA/GETTY IMAGES, STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES, AND MATTEO PRANDONI/BFANYC. COM (HAMMER ; GETTY IMAGES (DSQUARED2). OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY AFI FEST/MICHAEL KOVAC, AFI FEST/ JASMINE LORD, AFI FEST/DOUG GIFFORD (AFI FEST) ; JASON KING (WEST STORE LAUNCH PARTY)
Elizabeth Banks
Guests enjoyed a poolside view from the Audi Sky Lounge on Opening Night.
Mark Wahlberg
Bob Gazzale, J.C. Chandor, and Jacqueline Lyanga
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain
AFI FEST
Joaquin Phoenix
AFI FEST 2014 hit Hollywood with an Opening Night Gala screening of A Most
Violent Year, drawing forth VIPs like producers Anna Gerby and Neal Dodson, writer/director J.C. Chandor, and stars Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain. The event kicked off a weeklong celebration of global cinema presented by Audi, which also included the premiere of anticipated films The Gambler and Inherent Vice, among others. James Toback and Rupert Wyatt
Victor Valenzuela, Stephanie Sweeney, Kashif Uqdah, and Jesse Morman
WEST STORE LAUNCH PARTY
Kyle Stephens and James Anderton
Anna Borchert and Heather Lee Moss
Clive Kennedy and Janet Elaine Spinks
LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL partnered with WEST for the
grand opening of its Beverly Hills boutique. Owner James Anderton welcomed LAC’s Editor-in-Chief Spencer Beck and VP of Creative and Fashion Ann Song, as well as numerous fashion enthusiasts, to celebrate the debut of the Western-inspired store. Throughout the evening, guests sipped ultra-premium artisanal vodka cocktails provided by Loft & Bear and shopped the selection of handcrafted luxury boots, jewelry, and leather goods. Ariel Kashanchi
Justin Yovino and Duane Barnhard
Melynda Choothesa and Kimberly Yatsko
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THE NEW
The perfect brew for you‌ and visitors, too.
taste this Month: Celebrate! Eat, drink, and make merry: At A.O.C., the formula for a perfect party includes elevated en famille fare like “Ode to Zuni” roasted chicken and a whole lot of fine wine.
Fête Accompli JAMES BEARD HONOREES SUZANNE GOIN AND CAROLINE STYNE’S A.O.C. DELIvERS THE CELEB-RATED GOODS IN A CITY THAT kNOwS HOw TO pARTY. Salut!
photography by andrea bricco
by Jen Jones Donatelli
A would-be opera singer stands up and loudly belts out the “Happy Birthday” song in Italian, turning the rest of the diners on A.O.C.’s twinkling patio into a captive audience. Such a scene might be out of place at another restaurant, but at A.O.C., bold celebrations are de rigueur. It’s just another Wednesday at Suzanne Goin’s small-plates mainstay on West Third Street, which just the night before had played host to a large party for The Hollywood Reporter. Then there was the intimate 42nd birthday party Ryan Murphy hosted for Gwyneth Paltrow just a few weeks earlier. For the 14-person dinner, the restaurant’s upstairs wine room was outfitted with dozens of candles, and Small Masterpiece’s Jason Murakawa was tapped to swap out the usual place settings for centuries-old porcelain dishes and silver. “The porcelain changeover was probably the most unique request we’ve had in awhile,” shares general manager Julie Espinosa. Whether a baby shower, private brunch, rehearsal dinner, or large soirée like DKNY’s 30th anniversary party, A.O.C. prides itself on rising to the (special) occasion—something it wasn’t always able to do in its former location of 10 years. “This is the first time we’ve ever had a private room in any of our restaurants,” says chef-owner Goin, referring to Lucques, Tavern, and The Larder. “The old A.O.C. [location] was more chopped up space-wise, so it was hard to have big parties.” The restaurant switched locations in 2013, moving one mile west down Third Street into the former conTinued on page 100
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taste Vin Incroyable!
otherworldly courtyard is a popular location for parties among the Industry A-list set; the restaurant’s cozy dining room sets the mood for more intimate celebrations; the egg- and prosciutto-topped brioche is made for sharing.
Il Covo space (once inhabited by LA institutions Orso and Joe Allen). Upon hearing that Goin and co-owner/ sommelier Caroline Styne were looking to heavily revamp A.O.C., Il Covo’s Sean MacPherson contacted Styne to see if they’d be up for taking over his space instead. “A lightbulb went off immediately, and I said yes,” recalls Styne. “The space had been such a treasure for so long; I’d been dining in that building since I was a child and always coveted it.” The end result is a more flexible, event-friendly space with three distinct areas: an interior dining room with communal table and bar; a bougainvillea-laced patio dotted with lemon trees and an outdoor fireplace; and the upstairs dining room—decorated wine cellar-style with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling and accessed only by a separate entrance. Some events, like W magazine’s “It Girls” party celebrating stars
such as Diane Kruger and Hailee Steinfeld, fill up the entire space, which has a total capacity of up to 175 people. “It feels like an old Spanish hacienda or someone’s garden in the South of France—[the space] has a very old-world feeling,” says Goin. “There is something very transporting about being here; you feel like you’re somewhere else, and it makes you want to celebrate.” Also contributing to the festive feel is the focus on family-style dining. Goin has long been credited with popularizing the now-ubiquitous “small plates” approach in Los Angeles, which wasn’t so prevalent when the restaurant first opened in 2002. “The original idea was kind of a communal sharing, a way to experience the meal together—the clinking of glasses, passing of plates,” says Goin. “It was all about having a few decadent bites in an era of apps, main
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courses, and desserts.” At the new A.O.C., Goin is marrying that trademark with a new offering: platters suitable for larger groups. Alongside small-plate favorites like bacon-wrapped dates and egg- and prosciutto-topped brioche, diners can now choose from platters like lamb tagine, bone-in monkfish tail, and the “Ode to Zuni” roasted chicken (a nod to the popular San Francisco café). “It’s been so much fun to introduce large-format sharing of food,” says Styne. Another addition is the full liquor license. Since the restaurant is no longer limited to serving just beer and wine, bartender Christiaan Rollich has been able to introduce a menu of nine market cocktails to round out A.O.C.’s alcoholic offerings. “We love seeing [diners] enjoying these platters of beautiful food communally, and on top of that, Caroline’s amazing wines and
Christiaan’s cocktails,” says Espinosa. “Each really layers upon the others to make an amazing night for people.” It’s been a big year for Goin and Styne, who were nominated for “Outstanding Chef” and “Outstanding Restaurateur,” respectively, at the 2014 James Beard awards. Their annual charity fundraiser, L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade, had its “best year ever,” says Goin, attracting 1,500 revelers and raising more than $700,000 for children’s cancer research. Goin is also still riding high from the release of the A.O.C. cookbook, which came out last October. “A lot of the cookbook was about trying to capture the ambience and vibe of the restaurant in the pages, which I think we did,” says Goin. “It’s like my editor said: ‘The book should feel like A.O.C.—you should always feel a little bit drunk.’” 8700 W. Third St., LA, 310-859-9859; aocwine bar.com LAC
Best for a toast: “Always toast with something sparkling and delicious. I love Hugo sparkling rosé from Austria—bright, fresh, slightly savory, and perfect for cocktail hour.” Best to Pair witH Dinner: “A light-bodied Pinot Noir like 2011 Hirsch Vineyards, san andreas fault, sonoma Coast is perfect to pair with an entire meal, as it has a brightness that works with lighter foods and enough body and earthiness to handle full-favored meats and vegetables.” Best for a sPlurge: “Of all of the cult Cabernets available, I would go for 2010 araujo, eisele Vineyard, Cabernet sauvignon, napa Valley. It’s pricey but worth every penny with its elegance, structure, and restrained power.” Best witH Dessert: “I love 2007 Domaine BerthetBondet, Côtes du Jura, Vin de Paille; it’s a blend of Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard that exudes notes of dried fruits and honey with a good dose of acidity to keep the wine’s sweetness in check.”
photography by andrea bricco
clockwise from left: A.O.C.’s
With more than 300 selections on A.O.C.’s carefully curated wine list (all of which are biodynamic, organic, and/ or sustainably produced), making the right choice can be a tall order. We asked sommelier Caroline Styne for her suggestions on the restaurant’s most vivacious bottles of vino that can stand up to any occasion.
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“The cheese course is a bridge between the savory and the sweet courses. It stills time a bit and changes the nature of the meal,” says Kevin Welby of Patina.
Say Fromage!
FOR THE PERFECT CELEBRATION, THERE’S NOTHINg ordinaire ABOuT THE CHEESE PROgRAmS AT THESE premier cru LA RESTAuRANTS. By Eric rosEn
The famous French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin once declared “a dinner that ends without cheese is like a beautiful woman who is missing one eye.” Without offense to the one-eyed beauties of the world, Brillat-Savarin does have a point—a fine meal without a cheese course somehow feels incomplete. Fortunately for Angelenos, some of the best restaurants in town have assembled cheese menus that would make even the most accomplished affineurs envious. Though Patina’s surroundings at the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall Downtown (141 S. Grand Ave., LA, 213-972-3331; patinarestaurant.com) are sleekly contemporary, when it comes to the cheese course here, general manager Kevin Welby’s tastes tend to the classical. “The cheese course is a bridge between the savory
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and sweet courses,” explains Welby. Turning a bit philosophical, he continues, “It’s a way to still time for a bit during the course of the meal—it changes the nature of the meal because it has such a luxurious quality to it.” At any given time, there are around 30 selections on Patina’s cheese menu, ranging from a delicate triple-cream Époisses to a full-bodied Fourme d’Ambert. However, around December and the holidays, Welby has a few special selections on hand. “One of the cheeses I like to bring in December is the Fleur du Maquis from Corsica. It has a wonderful richness, though it is covered with wild herbs and juniper berries—the herbs give it a nice seasonal flavor that complements the sweet, lemony taste of the cheese,” he says. Suzanne Goin, co-owner and executive chef at
A.O.C. (8700 W. Third St., LA, 310-859-9859; aoc winebar.com), also has a particular cheese in mind for this special time of year. She calls Vacherin Mont-d’Or “a big, stinky cheese with woodsy, nutty notes and an unbelievably velvety texture and mouth-feel. “This cheese symbolizes the holidays for me,” she says. But that is just the beginning at A.O.C. This iconic small-plates restaurant and wine bar has a sophisticated but laid-back raison d’être that includes a cheese menu categorized by the animal from which each one is made, as well as a separate “blue” listing. Under the “cow” heading you might find a deliciously oozy Brillat-Savarin (remember him?) from Normandy, while the “sheep” section might include a firm, tart Fiore Sardo from Sardinia. Goin views her cheese selection as a practical geography lesson, saying, “I like offering cheeses from around the world because I find it so interesting to see and taste how different cultures and terroirs show through.” “I still remember tasting Reblochon [an aged semisoft cheese from the French Savoyard Alps] for the first time when I moved to France,” reminisces chef/owner Josiah Citrin of Mélisse (1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-395-0881; melisse.com). “It was this beautiful, raw-milk cheese I had never had before, which I spread on crunchy bread, and that experience stuck with me.” Though his techniques and cuisine have a distinctly more contemporary bent these days, Citrin’s tastes have remained firmly French when it comes to his cheese menu, which is a veritable journey into creamy decadence, the selections changing nightly and arriving aboard a special cheese trolley. What you will find on a given day—and there are usually around 20 choices—will be a well-orchestrated “balance of flavors, animal’s milk, fattiness, richness, creaminess, dryness, pungency, sharpness, and age,” says Citrin. “We pick seasonal things, choosing the cheeses by what is freshest or ripest at a particular time of year.” “Seasonality is the most important aspect of the cheese menu at Bouchon,” avers Thomas Keller Restaurant Group culinary developer Michael Sandoval, who oversees the selection at Bouchon Beverly Hills (235 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-271-9910; bouchonbistro.com/beverlyhills). He also considers the cheese course a chance for an informal, communal moment of the meal. “We place that plate at the center of the table and let the guests pass it around and savor it all together with accompaniments like wildflower honey, dried fruits and nuts, and toasted brioche, all of which let the beautiful cheeses express themselves.” So next time you dine out, heed Brillat-Savarin’s sage advice and take some time to savor some cheese… even if you have to share! LAC
photography © Meredith heuer/getty iMages
taste the Dish
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taste On the town
Revel-utionary! Joachim Splichal (this and Jeffrey Best discuss the art of entertaining on a grand scale as they lunch at Splichal’s Café Pinot. right: Hamachi served with yuzu granité, candied kumquat, manzano chile, shimeji mushrooms, and black sesame purée. photo, left)
The Party Boys
Jeffrey Best and Joachim Splichal know a thing or two about being under pressure, but the A-list-anointed event planner and Patina catering mogul seem to take the high-stress demands of their respective jobs in stride. Take this breezy fall day, for example: Best is set to oversee a 2,000-person Tesla event at Austin City Limits that evening, while Splichal is prepping a breakfast for President Obama to be served the next day. Yet the two have no problem making time to catch up over a leisurely lunch at Splichal’s Café Pinot in Downtown LA—which, with its prime skyline view and dreamy patio, is no stranger to hosting special celebrations. As Best and Splichal enjoy dishes like kohlrabi salad and hamachi with yuzu granité, it’s clear they have a shorthand and rapport achieved through years of close collaboration. For 15 years, Splichal and Best have been working in tandem on events ranging from a Louis Vuitton-sponsored MOCA gala to Bono’s 53rd birthday party (where their staff members had to save the day when the tent almost blew away). “When you’re working with [Leonardo] DiCaprio or Johnny Depp or other big clients, it has to be ‘right,’” says Best. “That’s why we intersect with
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Patina so much—what [Splichal] does on a daily basis is like someone taking a jigsaw puzzle, throwing all the pieces up in the air, and putting them together as art before they hit the ground.” The ever-in-demand duo dissects the “art” of throwing affairs to remember—and dishes up the entertaining trends they see coming down the pike. How has party planning in Los Angeles changed over the last few decades? Joachim Splichal: We’ve moved away from strictly sit-down dinners [toward] more interaction, lots of cocktails, lots of fun. Jeffrey Best: Clients want it to feel like an extension of something at someone’s home, like an extended lounge or living room. It’s not about the finest china or the best silverware anymore. How does that translate to the food? JS: People want interactive food—different stations where they get the flavor of LA: a little Chinese, a little sushi, a little pasta, a little French. JB: It’s a graze. They want to graze over to the sushi, have some caviar, try some dim sum, and eat a delicious hamburger at 2 am. How do you strike a balance between throwing
a lavish party and making it feel casual? JB: The secret is that it needs to feel like an organic environment, rather than premeditated. JS: In the old days, everything was served in silver. Now we use more vessels made from things like reclaimed wood, metal, and plastic. JB: People don’t want a polished piece of granite or marble that’s perfect; they want the crumbled piece with a broken edge that’s got an amazing piece of charcuterie on top of it. What are some other hot party trends? JS: Cocktails are extremely important—it’s all about the cocktail. It really has nothing to do with serving a great Champagne anymore. [Clients] want every party to have themed signature cocktails, developed by a mixologist. JB: We just did a fruits de mer Bloody Mary, filled with crab claws and big jumbo prawns, [colored] red or green depending on the tomato. JS: You have to drink that before 9 am, right? [Laughs] JB: I’ll take it all day. What are some of your go-to hors d’oeuvres? JS: Our chicken and waffles appetizer with continued on page 106
PhotograPhy by andrea bricco
What do Will and Kate, Madonna, and harvey Weinstein have in coMMon? events planners/catering Kings Joachim Splichal and Jeffrey BeSt on speed dial! by Jen Jones Donatelli
taste On the town
Splichal and Best are legendary for orchestrating some of LA’s biggest bashes, from exclusive Golden Globe soirées to the Emmy Governors Ball. right: The garden at Café Pinot is an always-enchanting setting for parties.
Café Pinot’s crispy frog legs.
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worked on in los angeles? Js: [Patina has] done the Emmys for 16 years in a row; at The Governors Ball, 3,800 people sit down and we serve them all in one hour. We have 900 employees, so it’s like an army arriving at the convention center. JB: I’ve been doing Golden Globe events for Harvey Weinstein and Miramax since 1994 as well as Madonna’s Academy Awards party at Guy Oseary’s house. Working on these events every year challenges you to be more creative—you can’t do the same thing over and over. Js: Two years ago, when Prince William and Kate visited, we did a party for 350 people. That was a process: We had 10 tastings and hundreds of hours of discussion, down to the minute details of whether to place the parsley to the left or the right. The Downtown location where we had the party was like a fortress; you couldn’t go in or out. What are the secrets to pulling off a high-profile party? Js: Calmness is the most important thing—the event planner needs to be 100 percent in control. JB: If there’s a real fire, I’ll get excited, but other than that, the party goes on. I remember doing the opening of Ford Models at the Chateau Marmont, right after André Balazs bought it. There must have been 700 or 800 people around the pool; you couldn’t even walk through. God bless her, Eileen Ford walked over to Jack Nicholson and asked him to walk over to the other side of the party. Everyone followed him, and suddenly we had a clear path to get through. Js: We do this every day. [The secret is] doing the next party better than the last. LAC
OccasiOn tO celebrate! Splichal and Best fess up on their favorite secret spots for a celebratory supper. Bestia (2121 E. Seventh Pl., LA, 213-514-5724; bestiala.com): “My boys and I love Ori [Menashe]’s fresh pasta and house-cured meats; I took my son, Nicholas, there recently for his last meal before he headed off to college.” —Splichal Café Pinot (700 W. Fifth St., LA, 213-239-
6500; patinagroup.com/cafepinot): “Café Pinot is an evocative setting to watch the world go by with a great meal. The library, the skyline, and the people are like a new painting every day.” —Best HaBana (2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa; 714-556-
0176): “I recently visited with a group of friends to celebrate Germany’s World Cup win; I love the Cuban sandwich there and how crispy it gets!” —Splichal naPles RistoRante e PizzeRia (1550 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim; 714-776-6200; patinagroup.com/naples): “The ultimate celebration spot for me and my family is Disneyland. I love sitting on the upstairs patio overlooking Downtown Disney; when I’m eating the branzino, I feel like I’m looking over the Amalf Coast.” —Best noBu MaliBu (22706 Pacifc Coast Hwy., Malibu; 310-317-9140; noburestaurants.com/ malibu): “From the design to the service—and, of course, the food—we always consider Nobu Malibu for birthdays and anniversaries.” —Best union (37 E. Union St., Pasadena 626-795-5841; unionpasadena.com): “This is such a great, casual place to dine with friends, and I really enjoy the way chef Bruce [Kalman] uses local produce and offal.” —Splichal
photography by andrea bricco (café pinot); patina restaurant group (frog’s legs)
buttermilk-fried chicken, a soft waffle, and a hint of Vermont maple syrup is the number-one favorite among our guests—it’s the perfect size and packs a lot of flavor all in one bite. Another popular hors d’oeuvre is the Asian-inspired lobster sweet and sour, which is rich, sweet, and tart, capturing a little crunch from the radish. JB: Octopus is a real crowd pleaser. Tartines are always good, with a variety of different toppings. surely you accommodate lots of larger-thanlife food requests. Give us an idea. Js: The opening of The Music Center at the Walt Disney Concert Hall 15 years ago: We did a cold soup that was pea soup on the outer circle, cauliflower soup on the inner circle, with a half-ounce of beluga caviar on top. We had to do 20 kitchen tests to get the consistency right, and then have the waiter run 150 yards to the table to make sure the caviar would float. It was a nightmare—but it worked. JB: I had one party where the client wanted the attendees to cook their own steak cubes on daggers over an open flame. What are some of the grandest events you’ve
TASTE Spotlight // ABOUT TOWN // 1
must-have
VINO TO GO
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL
Famed French crystal
Personal chef Pamela Salzman is known for enticing luminaries such as Rashida Jones and Jenni Kayne with her classic but clean cooking. And now, the rest of us can get in on Salzman’s secret recipes by booking one of her monthly group cooking classes ($80/person)—or a private lesson at home ($95/person; 10-person minimum). December’s theme will be holiday party foods, while January is inspired by the cuisine of Asia just in time for the Chinese New Year (past classes have included specialties like halibut in Thai coconut sauce and black rice salad with edamame). pamelasalzman.com
house Lalique has forged another dynamic partnership, this time with foremost leather goods company Salvatore Ferragamo and wine critic James
new in l.a.
A Groove-able Feast
BEV HILLS’ NEW SPAGHETTINI & THE DAVE KOZ LOUNGE OPENS WITH A RESIDENCY BY MUSICIAN MATT GOSS. BY ERIC ROSEN Seal Beach staple Spaghettini makes the move north with a new Beverly Hills location. Like the original, the focus here is on locally sourced gourmet fare, such as Executive Chef Scott Howard’s dry-aged NY strip with chanterelles, smoked Gouda orzo, and crispy bone marrow in an agrodolce sauce. Food is only half the story, though. Guests will be treated to a roster of nine-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist/ co-owner Dave Koz’s music industry friends. First up is Las Vegas headliner Matt Goss, who will have a residency at the restaurant on the third Thursday of each month. “I’m lucky enough to play all over the world, and I’m a headliner at Caesars Palace, but I live in LA,” says Goss. “I cannot wait to bring some old-Hollywood glamour to Spaghettini & the Dave Koz Lounge.” Viva Los Angeles! 184 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-424-4600; spaghettinibh.com LAC
// cocktails //
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AGAVE MARIA!
Temperatures are dropping, but that’s no reason to stash away your tequila. In fact, though this spirit hails from steamy Mexico, it is also suited to winter cocktails. Explaining the versatility of this potent potable, mixologist and author Marshall Altier says: “Very few
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Suckling. The triumvirate
AULD LANG DIVINE
Fig & Olive brings a taste of Provence to Melrose Place with its annual New Year’s Eve White & Gold Dinner Party. The event kicks off with a fourcourse dinner ($150 per person) followed by a cocktail reception ($100 per person); Champagne bottle service is available. 310-360-9100.
Tequila is the freshest spirit to serve at this year’s holiday parties—Feliz Navidad, indeed.
spirits can satisfy the most finicky fans of more than one category. Tequila Don Julio 1942 is able to toe that line by satisfying the palate of the astute whiskey drinker as well as tequila aficionados.” Case in point, Altier’s 1942 Legendario cocktail. This luscious libation includes an
ounce of Tequila Don Julio 1942, half an ounce of Grand Marnier, and splashes of fresh lime and orange juice. Simply combine the ingredients, shake them well, and serve up with an orange-peel garnish. Keep that recipe on hand, and you’ll be the hit of the holiday party circuit. donjulio.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENISE TRUSCELLO (GOSS); ©GILLES PERNET (LALIQUE)
Matt Goss headlines in BH this season.
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NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS
DIRTY LAUNDRY Dirty Laundry is an underground speakeasy known for its concert afer parties and guest DJ performances by Tom Yorke (Radiohead), Win from Arcade Fire and many more. Live Music and an award winning cocktail lounge makes this bar a must see. 1725 N. Hudson Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028 323.462.6531 info@dirtylaundrybarla.com dirtylaundrybarla.com Photography by Frank Ishman
TALLARICO VODKA Tallarico Vodka ofers a new and distinct favor profle. Its blend of rye and winter wheat combined with a unique distillation process yields a complex vodka with a silky entry and delicate fnish. Tis luxury vodka can be described as smoky, peppery and makes the perfect sipping vodka, as well as an exquisite mixed cocktail. Tallarico Vodka can be purchased at John & Pete’s, Wally’s Wine and Vintage Grocers, among others. Visit: tallaricovodka.com
PHILIPPE CHOW Celebrating our 1- year anniversary, Philippe Chow ofers sexy, trendy, and simply the best Chinese Restaurant in Beverly Hills. Enjoy exceptional culinary experiences, lunch specials, or the very fun Happy Hour this festive season at Philippe Chow. Indulge yourself afer a long day of holiday shopping in the always-elegant Beverly Hills. 8620 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 310.289.3500, philippechowbh.com Twitter: @philippechowbh, Instagram @phillippechowbeverlyhills
AVENTINE TRATTORIA Aventine Trattoria is a modern interpretation of the Italian trattoria experience where old rustic and traditional style are fused with the bounty of artisanal favors and the contagious energy of Hollywood’s youthful spirit. Aventine can eloquently accommodate your holiday party or NYE bash. Come join us for a craf cocktail, quick bite before the theater or night on the town. Ciao e Arrivederci! 1607 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323.500.0969 aventinehollywood.com, Twitter: @AventineLA, Instagram: @AventineHollywood
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A Weekend of Excellence December 5-7, 2014
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All of him! “The Grammys have been great to me... they have been responsible for the success of ‘All of Me’ more than anything outside the song itself,” says John Legend, here rocking a jacket by Hermès ($27,400). 434 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-6440; hermes.com. Shirt, Bottega Veneta ($770). 457 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-858-6533; bottegaveneta.com. Pants, Frame Denim ($200). mrporter.com. Black belt, Alexander Olch ($130). Ron Herman, 8100 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-651-4129; ronherman.com. Velvet high-tops, Tom Ford ($890). 346 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-270-9440
Study hard. Work hard. Love hard. And if you’re music legend John Legend, you might even win another Grammy. by michael ventre photography by frederic auerbach
When the lights are low, the candles are lit, the wine is poured, and romance fills the room like a fragrant breeze, you could do worse with your squeeze than to put on a little John Legend. Because if you do, you can be reasonably certain that however you had hoped the night would end, it will be better than that. Legend has that effect. And in recent months, the potency of his love elixir has intensified with “All of Me,” one of those songs that drifts by at a random cultural moment and sweeps lovers into the ether. Written for his wife, model Chrissy Teigen, it flirted with listeners when released in 2013, but it finally seduced them en masse when Legend performed it live at last year’s Grammy Awards. If the live version of “All of Me”—released in 2014, so it’s eligible—captures another statuette at the 57th Grammys on Sunday, February 8 at Staples Center, that will mark the 10th for Legend. That’s almost unbridled awards love. “The more you know someone, the more you’re inspired by your relationship,” says the 36-year-old Legend of Teigen one particularly frenzied afternoon in which his schedule whisked him from Japan to LA and then over the pond for a European tour. “Also, I grew up just learning what it means to be in love with somebody… because I had never really been in love before. I guess you have to grow enough to be able to write that song with sincerity and authenticity.” Legend had been with Teigen—admired by thousands of others besides her beau, thanks to her fame as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl—for seven years before the two wed in September of 2013 in Lake Como, Italy. The fact that Legend finally decided to give all of him to her after that lengthy courtship might have been the rosebud that eventually bloomed into a hit song. “I love it when songs are authentic and come out of what an artist really wants to say,” says songwriter Toby Gad, who collaborated on “All of Me” with Legend. “I feel the same way about my wife as he does about Chrissy, so we both felt passionately about what we were writing.” While it’s hard to deny his devotion to his spouse, Legend and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences are professional soul mates. “All of Me” is just the most recent progeny of that coupling. “The Grammys have been great to me,” Legend says. “I think the Grammys have been responsible for the success of ‘All of Me’ more than any one thing outside the actual song itself. The Grammys really vaulted that song from a song that was kind of chugging along on the radio but not breaking through in the way we believed it should and could—the Grammys took it from No. 49 on iTunes to No. 3 in one night. It stayed in the top five on iTunes for months after that. That was the single most important element that made ‘All of Me’ a huge hit. I’m grateful to them for that and everything that came before that.” This particular Legend’s given name is John Roger Stephens, of Springfield, Ohio. A poet friend named J. Ivy commented once that he sounded like one of those old-school voices—a little Al Green here, a little Smokey Robinson there, some Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross for seasoning, a little Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis for texture, a Motown-gospel union for extra heart—and started calling
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him Legend. Kanye West, who became a friend and collaborator through his cousin, a classmate of Legend’s at Penn, grabbed onto it and told him, “That should be your stage name.” After a bit of reluctance over even taking a stage name, it soon was. If you look back through his life, Legend was somewhat of a legend even as a kid, singing in his hometown church choir, learning the lessons of gospel music offered by his grandmother, who played piano and organ at services. His grandfather was a pastor and his mother was a choir director; he began playing piano at 4 and singing in the choir at 6. While doing so, he was exposed to the music of gospel stars like Edwin Hawkins, the Winans, Commissioned, and John P. Kee. “I was a very precocious kid, so I was very thirsty for learning,” says Legend, who calls both Los Angeles and New York home. “I wanted to learn the piano. I wanted to study the encyclopedia. I wanted to do everything. I just wanted to soak up a lot of knowledge. “When I was singing in church,” he adds, “people will let you know how they feel pretty quickly. You can feel the energy of the congregation, and you get a sense of whether they like what you’re doing, if you did a good job. That was very tangible to me. It was very addicting too, that feeling of affirmation and love, just feeling the elevation of the spirit and excitement of the crowd.” Legend went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where he performed in an a cappella group and made some friends who today help comprise his very tight inner circle, which uses tony private club Soho House as its unofficial office digs. “I think we all knew in our singing group that he had the most talent and the best voice we ever heard,” recalls Ty Stiklorius, a classmate of Legend’s at Penn who is now co-president of Atom Factory, the company that manages him. “He also had this extreme work ethic where it appeared he never stopped.” For nine years, including his time at Penn, Legend had a part-time job as musical director at the Bethel AME Church
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While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Ivy Leaguer Legend drove hundreds of miles each weekend for his job as musical director at a Scranton church.
in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is about a 125-mile drive. He often drove there for Sunday-morning services after performing late-night gigs in Philadelphia. Even then, his full-throttle schedule caused him to occasionally drop off to sleep in class. “I remember when he graduated and had to leave the church,” Stiklorius says. “The church gave him a send-off. They gave him the key to the city of Scranton, and they had the mayor and a rabbi and people from all different churches there. He was like family to them.” Says the current pastor, Tawan E. Bailey: “John was kind enough to sign his old electric piano, which we are going to auction off in a mortgage-burning drive.” Through connections at Penn and word of mouth, Legend began a rapid-fire musical ascent that saw him play piano on Lauryn Hill’s “Everything Is Everything,” his first appearance on a major label release. He later contributed his voice and piano to a wide array of artists, including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Dilated Peoples, Slum Village, and Kanye, who helped him get a record deal with Sony in 2004, which begat his debut album, Get Lifted. While in LA shooting a music video for his single “Stereo” in 2006, Legend was in his dressing room ironing his clothes—it was a low-budget affair, so no stylist—when Teigen walked in. She claims he was ironing his underwear. He insists he has never ironed his underwear. (“She always embellishes.”) Whatever the truth, a spark flew during that deeply intimate moment when a woman catches a man ironing. But their relationship evolved gradually. “Not right away,” he says of their love. “I’m more cautious than that. I wasn’t like, ‘This is the woman I’m going to marry’ from day one. For me I’m the kind of person who needs to grow into that feeling. It was probably a couple of years in when I could already see us being together forever.”
opposite page: Jacket, Bally ($7,000). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-557-1914; bally.com. Plaid paneled oxford shirt, Fred Perry x Raf Simons ($275). Opening Ceremony, 451 La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-652-1120; openingceremony.us. Striped pants, Gucci ($3,050). 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310278-3451; gucci.com
this page: Jacket ($2,500), white button-up ($660), and monogram pin bar ($540), Dior Homme. 315 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2478003; dior.com. Pants, Citizens of Humanity ($198). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. Black leather belt, Gucci ($320). 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2783451; gucci.com
Stevie Wonder sang at their wedding. They’re discussing kids. They love to cook, entertain friends at home (Stevie sang there once, too) and eat out at some of LA’s more sumptuous Italian restaurants. And aside from the chatty Teigen recently ending (and resurrecting) an active Twitter life after receiving death threats and hateful comments resulting from a remark she made about gun control, life is a beautiful duet for this high-wattage couple. It’s a wonder they have time for each other. Legend is active in several philanthropic endeavors, including education advocacy groups Stand for Children, Teach for America, and the Show Me Campaign, as well as a push for criminal justice reform, including support for the recent Proposition 47 ballot initiative in California. And he launched a film production company three years ago called Get Lifted along with Stiklorius and fellow Penn alum/longtime bud Mike Jackson, which has several projects cooking. One is an adaptation of The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss, which won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 2013. The project, about Alexandre Dumas, the real Count of Monte Cristo, is set up at Sony, with Cary Fukunaga (director of HBO’s True Detective) set to pen the script and direct. “We have weekly phone calls when he’s on the road,” Jackson says of Legend. “When he’s in town, he’s at meetings. It’s a high priority for John. He makes time, whether it’s on Skype or a phone call at 4:30 in the morning. He doesn’t sleep. Whatever he puts his name on he takes very seriously.” Of course, no matter how frenetic a life becomes, there’s always time for a little relaxation and romance… which is why it might behoove John Legend to put on a little John Legend once in a while. LAC
‘Monster’ jacket, Fendi ($4,250). 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-8888; fendi.com
Two-piece suit ($3,550), white shirt ($510), and black tie ($200), Gucci. 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-3451; gucci.com. Plaid pocket square, Alexander Olch ($60). Unionmade at The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., LA, 323-9652248; unionmadegoods.com. Tank MC automatic watch with black leather strap, Cartier ($7,000). 370 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4272; cartier.us Styling by Johnathan Lawhorne Grooming by Debbie Gallagher at Opus Beauty using Dior Homme Digital technician: Carl Duquette Photo assistance by Robin Harper Styling assistance by Zoe Zhou Video: Chris Cella
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“I spend most of my life in work boots and old sweaters. But I appreciate the time to groom and enhance,� says Angela Lindvall, here bedecked in a star embroidered sweater by Marc Jacobs ($1,100). 8400 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-6535100; marcjacobs.com. Maddy brief, Agent Provocateur ($190). 7691 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-6530229; agentprovocateur.com
lady
TOPANGA
Supermodel/mom/environmentaliSt angela lindvall rockS the SeaSon’S high-end reSortwear with down-to-mother-earth living at her farm in topanga. PhotograPhy by tony Duran | styling by martina nilsson
“Self-cAre iS The PATh TO heAliNG The PlANeT. iT GrOwS OuT Of yOu ANd iNTO yOur cOmmuNiTy, ANd TheN yOur ciTy, yOur STATe…”
If ever there was a place that is simultaneously in LA and completely removed from its status-grabbing ecosystem, it’s Topanga, the relatively untouched mountain terrain straddled between the glitzier hoods of Santa Monica and Malibu. It is here that Angela Lindvall, the striking hybrid—supermodel, environmentalist, mother of two—has created the ultimate sanctuary, away from the Botox’d jostling for attention, just beyond its live-oak-dotted hills. “This is my magical place,” says the 35-year-old Missouri-bred blonde from her seven-acre eco-spread. “This is where I raise my kids, where we do yoga classes and have women’s circles. This is my community.” Lindvall moved to Topanga nine years ago during what she calls a “total life meltdown”—a year when her marriage ended and her sister died in a tragic accident. “I went on an inward journey and realized that self-care is the path to healing.” A vital part of that process turned out to be the creation of her solar-powered compound, where Lindvall installed a water filtration system and a yoga studio and planted a small orchard of fruit trees. But far from living in an isolated idyll, Lindvall, the founder of environmental awareness initiative The Collage Foundation, says much of that healing
has come via her hilltop neighbors. “My boys are 9 and 12 now, so they’ll dirt-bike to the neighboring properties, like to Ricky and Andrea Schroder’s place. All of our kids have grown up together. There is a real circle of friends here.” And it’s turned out that this intimate network of like-minded residents has reinvigorated Lindvall’s lifelong passion for the environment and community. “I’m completing my work to become a certified health coach, and the idea is to help women look at their whole lives. We’re such multitaskers. In my industry, women like beauty and fashion, but that can turn into people feeling bad about [how they look]. I want to help change that. It’s about finding wholeness and feeling complete.” Next up for Lindvall? She’s just purchased the property next door, expanding her acreage and ability to test-run new ideas: “I want the [new] outdoor areas to attract bugs and birds and bunnies. I may even get goats,” she says. “I want to build out a really big garden and am thinking maybe that can be my sons’ first job: selling our own produce at a farmers market. Living here, I’m removed from the who’s who and I stay in touch with what’s important. Up here, it’s easy to remember I have an awesome life.” —Alexandria Abramian
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Peony vest ($10,000), skirt ($2,500), and Dior Brooklyn bootie ($1,450), Dior. 309 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-859-4700; dior.com. Necklace, Robert Lee Morris ($695). Jenni Kayne, 614 N. Almont Dr., West Hollywood, 310-8600123; robertleemorris.com opposite page: Iconic wave
flag-print top ($1,725), tribal print shorts ($695), and black suede mules ($1,725), Versace. 248 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-205-3921; versace.com
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opposite page: Sequins blouse,
lace dress, and lace skirt (all price on request), and ankle strap sandal ($2,060), Louis Vuitton. 295 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-8590457; louisvuitton.com
this page: Blossom tank, Fendi
(price on request). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-751-1111; fendi.com
Beauté: Giorgio Armani Fluid Master Primer ($57), Luminous Silk Foundation in #5.75 ($62), Eyes to Kill Mascara in Steel Black ($32), Smooth Silk Lip Pencil in #4 ($30). Nars Duo Eye Shadow in Pandora ($35), Blush in Madly ($30). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., 310-275-4211; saksfifth avenue.com. Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen in Jet Black ($22). YSL Touche Éclat Concealer in #3.5 ($41). Sephora, Beverly Center, 310-657-9670; sephora.com
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opposite page: Dress (price on
request) and blouse (price on request), Miu Miu. 317 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-247-2227; miumiu.com
this page: Crepe couture dress, Valentino ($4,390). 360 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-247-0103; valentino.com. Lari sandals, Alexandre Birman ($1,625). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com
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this page: Silk top ($895)
and silk pants ($940), DSquared2. 461 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-8880117; dsquared2.com. Round reverse choker ($225) and square reverse choker ($225), Jennifer Fisher. Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com opposite page: Sequins blouse (price on request) and lace dress (worn under blouse) (price on request), Louis Vuitton. 295 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-8590457; louisvuitton.com
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The Arts
GIVE & LET LIVE
LYNDA RESNICK, JANE NATHANSON, AND ANN COLGIN The Ladies of LACMA
Here in the City of Angels, the competition to earn your wings is fierce. In the realms of the arts, medicine, human rights, children, and nature, meet the divinely inspired contestants in the holy, high-stakes game of LA philanthropy. BY DEGEN PENER
Lynda Resnick, Jane Nathanson, and Ann Colgin photographed at Resnick’s Beverly Hills home.
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When the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (lacma.org) celebrates its 50th birthday in April, it will do so with 50 incredible birthday presents, all donated by top supporters of the museum. The artworks will be unveiled in conjunction with a benefit party on April 18, followed by a public exhibition of the works. Among those leading the festivities are gala cochairs and LACMA board members Ann Colgin, founder of Napa Valley’s acclaimed Colgin Cellars; Lynda Resnick, the cofounder of Fiji Water and POM Wonderful (she and her husband, Stuart, made possible the museum’s Resnick Pavilion); and marriage and family counselor Jane Nathanson (who, along with her husband, donated $10 million to LACMA in 2008). The birthday comes during a time of ambitious building plans led by LACMA Director Michael Govan, who proposes to construct a $650 million edifice by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. Happy 50th! Lynda Resnick: Well it is an exciting milestone—except if it happens to be your own birthday. Ann Colgin: What we’re doing is encouraging people to give artwork to the museum as promise gifts. Jane Nathanson: The nice thing is that after the 50th anniversary exhibition, the art goes back to the donors. They can live with it as long as they want—until the second they die—and then it will be left to LACMA. What are you all planning to give? LR: I just told Michael [Govan] to come over and pick what he wanted and he did, and then I thought, well, there’s no sculpture represented. So then I said, “Michael, pick a piece of sculpture.” Of course he picked the single-most important thing we have, which is what he should have done and we are thrilled. JN: We will be donating most of our art to LACMA and we are giving some for the 50th anniversary. I really feel that if you are lucky enough to be able to purchase really good art, you are borrowing it, and some day it should be available for the public to see and enjoy and learn from. One of the pieces that will be going to
LACMA for the 50th from my collection is a very early Double Marilyn by Andy Warhol. What should we go see at LACMA now? AC: The Abstraction show “Variations.” We have a contemporary piece by Mary Weatherford that’s currently in the show that’s a promise gift from us to LACMA. LR: If you don’t do anything else, go see the Marsden Hartley show for me. Some have called the Peter Zumthor-proposed building a visionary design, some a black blob. What do you think? AC: The design is incredible. It’s really something that will take LACMA into the next years in a tremendously forward-thinking way. LR: The black is really going to disappear. I don’t know how tall you are, but I don’t think you will ever be looking at it from the top down. You have to remember, you will be looking up at it, and what you will see is glass walls with people and art inside. It’s going to do for our city what Frank Gehry did for Bilbao. When you come to Los Angeles you will be able to do a few other things than have a good plate of food!
Wear your art on your arm. The Hammer Museum has released limited-edition temporary artist tattoos to benefit its Hammer Kids programming. For $100, museum visitors can get a complete set of tattoos by artists Laura Owens, Raymond Pettibon, John Baldessari, Friedrich Kunath The opening-night concert of The Hollywood Bowl (pictured above) every June is not only one of LA’s most enjoyable open-air evenings, but it also raises funds for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education programs. Last year’s event inducted Kristen Chenoweth, The Go-Go’s, and Pink Martini into the Bowl’s Hall of Fame. hollywoodbowl.com
opposite page: photography by jessica sample. this page: photography by mathew imaging (hollywood bowl); afshin shahidi (garcia); courtesy hammer museum (tattoos)
(pictured below), and Dave Muller. hammer.ucla.edu
To ensure that the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood continues its acclaimed programming—2014’s run included a stunning Annette Bening in Ruth Draper’s Monologues—buy a ticket to the theater’s Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser coming up in May. Its upcoming shows include “Switzerland” (March 3-April 12), a commissioned work by Joanna Murray-Smith, about novelist Patricia Highsmith. geffenplayhouse.com Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Jane Fonda took in a performance by Diana Ross at the 2014 annual MOCA gala. The always-boisterous event takes place this year on May 30 and raises funds for the contemporary art programming of the museum, now under the leadership of new director Philippe Vergne. moca.org
power couple
ones to watch One year ago, Cesar Garcia (right) opened The Mistake Room to showcase contemporary artists from around the globe who have never shown before in Los Angeles. “I was spending a lot of time abroad and a lot of work from Asia, the Middle East, and South America was not making it to LA,” says Garcia. In January, the nonprofit space near Downtown opens its fifth show, Abstract paintings by Argentina-born, Guatemala-based Vivian Suter. tmr.la BodyTraffic, founded by New York-trained dancers
gift that gives
parties with purpose
Lillian Barbeito and Tina Berkett in 2007, has won acclaim by commissioning works by inter national composers for its 10-person troupe. The nonprofit company performs at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica February 26 and 27, with a program that includes two West Coast premieres. bodytraffic.com
In recent years, the nonprofit Sacred Fools Theater in Hollywood has seen its original productions go on to be staged at The Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Rep, and the Geffen Playhouse. The memberdriven company (members elect the artistic directors) next mounts a production of There Is a Happiness That Morning Is ( January 23-February 28), a work written almost completely in rhyming couplets about two lecturers of William Blake poetry. 660 N. Heliotrope Dr., LA, 310-281-8337; sacredfools.org
David and Kiki Gindler live in Hancock Park, but they may want to consider buying an apartment Downtown across from The Music Center. Between the two, they sit on at least six boards and committees at the arts complex. Kiki, a retired attorney, is a vice chair of the board of Center Theatre Group and on the Center’s 50thanniversary gala committee. David, an intellectual property lawyer, is the chair of the LA Master Chorale, a vice chair of the board of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and on the board of The Music Center itself. “Our main passion, main hobby, and main everything in our life is the arts,” says Kiki, who is working on a new capital campaign for Center Theatre Group. (“I sometimes joke that I’m an unpaid employee there. I spend a good part of 20 hours a week
working on things for CTG.”) She is also a member of The Blue Ribbon, a committee of 500 women established by Dorothy Chandler in 1968 to support the center. The invite-only group is known for its annual Children’s Festival, which brings 18,000 kids to the center to see live performances. “At some point, you realize it’s not enough to donate money. If you are passionate about supporting the arts, you can give your time and your ability to lead,” says David, who recalls that the first thing he did when he got his driver’s license was to get a subscription to the Phil. Among the performances they are most looking forward to: “The Water Passion” by the LA Master Chorale (April 11–12) and Angela Lansbury in Blithe Spirit at the Ahmanson Theatre (December 9-January 18). musiccenter.org
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Animals/ The Environment
IAN SOMERHALDER
Ian Somerhalder photographed in New York City.
The Nature Boy
The devastation of the Gulf Coast in 2010 from the BP oil spill woke up The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder, a 36-year-old Louisiana native, to the dire effects of mankind on the environment. After volunteering to help clean up contaminated wildlife, he soon started The Ian Somerhalder Foundation (isfoundation.org), dedicated to helping animals and the natural world by inspiring young people. Its activities have ranged from a campaign to reduce the use of plastic straws to helping protect sled dogs in Canada and making emergency medical grants for animals in need. You have 5 million Twitter followers. Is motivating your fans an important part of what you do? Here’s an example: During the Olympics in British Columbia, dog sledding became a big business and then died out after. One company had a few hundred dogs or more, and they decided they needed to get rid of a hundred of them. They slit their throats in the snow. I found out about this and not only did I cry like an infant, I was so mad. We started a petition, [promoted it on Twitter], and so many people signed it that British Columbia changed their animal abuse laws and instituted minimum jail time for offenders. Why did you make it the focus of your foundation to inspire young people? As adults, we live with these filters we’ve created. Young people are the future, and they don’t live within these confines. They are the greatest untapped natural resource in the world. How do you reach these kids? There’s a program we started called the U Factor. It’s a program of youth development, about unlocking the skills and passions of young people. In the beginning of [the program] booklet, kids identify their strengths. Then they think about what they are afraid of, whether it’s domestic violence or food shortages. Then you meld those two things together. And all of a sudden they cease to be afraid and they are ready to do. You’re in the midst of a $5 million campaign to build an animal sanctuary. What are the plans? It will not just act as a home for abandoned, abused, and ostracized animals, but as a base for young people to learn what it is to be compassionate and grateful and have reverence through working with these animals that have been so mistreated. You and your girlfriend [Nikki Reed] are big advocates of adopting pets. How many do you have? Nikki just went to this shelter and there was a cat in a cage [with a sign] that said it was feral. I think it was mislabeled. It’s a miniature Maine coon cat. Her parents were the runts of two litters, and she’s the runt of those two runts. She’s the coolest thing ever. We now have four dogs, three cats, and two horses. How do you fit everything into your schedule? I literally sleep just a couple of hours a night… it’s not healthy to do that. So I built an entire integrated medical clinic in my house. There’s an infrared sauna, a pulse electronic machine that reprograms all your cells, and another machine that shoots pure ozone and oxygen into your veins! What are some easy ways for people to help the environment? Adopt. Go to a shelter and start pulling these animals out of there. Spay and neuter them, and get this population down. As Americans we have this amazing ability to drive better cars. If you have solar panels and an electric car you plug in, guess what, you are driving on sunshine. And don’t run the TV all day for your dog. Dogs don’t need to watch TV.
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“Young people are the future. They are the greatest untapped natural resource in the world.”
gift that gives
parties with purpose
A portion of the proceeds from sales of IWC’s Galapagos Islands edition of its Aquatimer Chronograph watch in rubber-coated stainless steel ($11,100) benefits the Charles Darwin Foundation, which has been working in the Galapagos since 1959 to protect the islands’ unique ecosystem. darwinfoundation.org
Moby performs at Global Green USA’s 11th annual Pre-Oscar Party.
opposite page: photography by © alice + chris photography/cbs Watch!/corbis outline (somerhalder). styling by christopher campbell; grooming by jordan long; suit, Missoni; sWeater, brioni; belt, ErMEnEgildo ZEgna; Watch, HErMès. this page: Frederick m. broWn/getty images For global green (moby)
The Humane Society of the United States celebrated its 60th anniversary last spring with a blowout gala, honoring actor James Cromwell for his lifetime of service to animals; its Impact Award was given to Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the director of Blackfish, the documentary about SeaWorld’s orcas. Its 2015 benefit takes place on May 16. humanesociety.org A green carpet leads the way into Global Green USA’s annual zero-waste Pre-Oscar Party, which raises funds for climate change solutions including green building. In 2014, Moby and The Crystal Method rocked the Avalon in Hollywood. globalgreen.org UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability has honored such names as Al Gore, Lyn Lear, and Lawrence Bender at its An Evening of Environmental Excellence benefit in March, held on the sprawling grounds of the Beverly Hills home of Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker. Proceeds fund education and research, helping further the work of more than 75 faculty. environment.ucla.edu
power couple
how to help
ANIMAL RESCUE Since 2009, Red Bucket Equine Rescue has saved almost 300 horses in Southern California from abandonment and mistreatment. Volunteers can help with ranch and horse care at its Chino Hills sanctuary, or permanently adopt pets like Cohen, a 10-year-old white Arabian, and Harper, a 5-year-old mustang. redbucketrescue.org Hospitality guru Eric Goode, responsible for such chic NYC spots as the Bowery and Maritime Hotels, has another passion: bringing back endangered turtles from the brink of extinction at a (no-visitors) breeding facility in Ojai, where species include the rare ploughshare tortoise. Just 600 of them still exist in
the wild in Madagascar. Become a member for $100 and you get a subscription to its annual turtle magazine. turtleconservancy.org Farm Sanctuary provides a home for abused animals rescued from the factory farming system. Tours are available at its 26-acre shelter ranch in Acton, near the Antelope Valley. Meet Bear, a lamb found in an abandoned barn, and Bruno, a black Jersey steer who was saved after falling out of a transport truck. farmsanctuary.org Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas is to orangutans what Jane Goodall is to chimpanzees. Her LA-based Orangutan Foundation International runs an
IWC, 9490 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-734-0520; iwc.com
Orangutan Care Center in Borneo, where residents include babies orphaned after palm plantation workers shot their mothers. Become a foster parent for one of them for just $100. orangutan.org With 9,000 dogs and cats euthanized in Los Angeles city shelters every year, NK/LA—an initiative formed by a coalition of more than 78 organizations—aspires to make LA a no-kill city by 2017. Led by Best Friends Animal Society, NK/LA runs a pet adoption center in West LA at 1845 Pontius Avenue and funds spay/neuter programs for families who can’t afford the procedures to stem the tide of pet overpopulation. nkla.org
Meredith McCarthy and Tom Ford admit that pillow talk about work is sometimes off limits—due to confidentiality concerns. That’s because the couple is at the forefront of protecting LA’s Santa Monica Bay, but at two different organizations. She’s the director of programs at the environmental protection group Heal the Bay (heal thebay.org); he’s the executive director at the research- and policy-focused The Bay Foundation (santamonicabay.org). Together, they are fighting to preserve the bay’s precious habitat of wetlands and kelp forests and to stop pollution. Last year, Heal the Bay led a successful effort to ban plastic bags in the City of Los Angeles. The Bay Foundation secures and implements millions in grant money to protect beaches, which helps preserve LA’s $12- to 18-billion
coastal tourism economy. Each year, both organizations work to make sure that the billions of gallons of storm and waste water that enter the Bay are safe for people and wildlife. Ford is now overseeing research and searching for grants to address sea level rise and believes that Los Angeles needs to make its built environment more porous so that the city can collect its own rainwater. “Right now, we import our water from hundreds of miles away, while we take the water that falls here naturally and dump it as fast as we can into the ocean,” he says. Among McCarthy’s initiatives is to keep oil drilling out of Santa Monica Bay. The pair, who has two boys under 10, eagerly encourages Angelenos to volunteer, from beach cleanups to wetlands data collection. “There is something for everyone!” says McCarthy.
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Child Welfare Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof photographed at their Mid-Wilshire headquarters.
“I don’t feel bad asking for donations because these kids have nothing. I beg. I plead. I’ve lost any sense of shame in that area.”—Kelly Sawyer Patricof
NORAH WEINSTEIN AND KELLY SAWYER PATRICOF The Kids’ Crusaders
Baby2Baby founders Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof say that in their work distributing diapers and other necessities to low-income children, they have learned to never take anything they have for granted. Families who the organization helps often don’t have a crib for their infant; tots may have a toy but no batteries to make it run; and some moms make do with just one diaper a day. Weinstein, a former litigator and wife of CAA corporate finance head Brian Weinstein, and Sawyer Patricof, a former model and wife of producer Jamie Patricof, started the organization in 2006, and this year the nonprofit (whose board members include Jessica Alba and Nicole Richie) will serve
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80,000 LA children. Its model: collect donations via individuals and corporations and distribute the needed goods via more than 60 partners, including Headstart, Homeboy Industries, children’s hospitals, homeless groups, and domestic violence shelters. This year, Baby2Baby (baby2baby.org) will give away 2 million diapers and thousands of new and gently used shoes, backpacks, strollers, and car seats in the LA area. Why diapers? Norah Weinstein: According to the National Diaper Bank Network, diapers
for one child cost approximately $100 a month. For a family of four living at the federal poverty line—$23,850—if one child is in diapers, that represents 5 percent of their income. Two children in diapers is 10 percent. Kelly Sawyer Patricof: Diapers are a huge necessity. We also hear sometimes of moms who have to get their children two meals a day instead of three. They need that money to buy diapers. One out of three moms has to choose between food and diapers for their children. There are also day-care programs where a mother has to report with either six to eight diapers a day and if you don’t have them, you can’t take your kid to day care and then you can’t go to work. It’s sort of this terrible cycle. You’ve now moved beyond diapers, too, right? KSP: We did a safe sleep initiative after hearing last year from one of our partner organizations of babies sleeping in laundry baskets, in drawers, and sharing beds with their siblings. We heard of one baby sleeping in a bed with siblings who was smothered and died. With help from The Honest Company, we want to give every baby in our program who needs one a crib. How can people help out? KSP: We are very reliant on volunteers, whether individuals or schools or companies that pitch in. We like people to know we have 28 drop-off locations around the city, listed on our website. People can have collection drives at their offices. NW: We have volunteer days Mondays and Wednesdays and need help sorting items and assembling gift bags for specific children. What do you hear from some of the women who’ve been helped? NW: Parents will sometimes say how discouraging it feels to not be able to provide for their family when we give them a crib and diapers and clothing. They feel so much more confident as parents. They feel like they are doing the job they are intended to do. That always makes us very proud. What’s your advice on asking for donations? KSP: Some people are like, “I feel bad asking.” I don’t feel bad asking at all because I’m asking on behalf of these kids who have nothing. I beg. I plead. I’ve lost any sense of shame in that area.
gift that gives
parties with purpose
Twenty-nine percent of California schools offer no arts study. Inner City Arts helps fill that gap. At its Downtown campus, the nonprofit center provides arts education to elementary, middle, The Art of Elysium’s 2014 Heaven Gala.
and high school students. Support the group with the
On January 10, The Art of Elysium will present its annual Heaven Gala at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar. The evening is to be conceived by artist Marina Abramovic, and Amber Heard will be honored for her service to the organization, which works with artists, designers, and musicians to bring creative workshops to children with serious medical conditions. theartofelysium.org The Alliance for Children’s Rights’ annual dinner takes place March 12 at the Beverly Hilton. The event, which last year honored Disney/ ABC’s Anne Sweeney, raises funds for the nonprofit’s work providing free legal help and advocacy for children in poverty and in foster care and for families who adopt out of the foster system. kids-alliance.org
purchase of this Charles Arnoldi lithograph ($850) in a limited edition of 125. inner-cityarts.org
The opening night of the Los Angeles Modernism Show on April 24 benefits P.S. Arts, which partners with schools to provide in-school dance, music, visual arts, and theater instruction all year long. Julie Bowen, designer Kathryn Ireland, and Ted Danson were among those making the scene at last year’s event. psarts.org
how to help
mentoring There are dozens of opportunities to mentor throughout Los Angeles, from the nonprofit Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency (scffaa.org) and homeless youth group Covenant House (covenanthousecalifornia.org) to student mentoring programs The Fulfillment Fund (fulfillment.org), and Big Brothers Big Sisters (bbbsla.org). One organization, Youth Mentoring, takes a distinctive approach, creating groups of 20 mentors and mentees, all of whom support each other in the process. “We find adding this community component makes all the difference,” says Youth Mentoring CEO and founder Tony LoRe, who sold his marketing-systems business 17 years ago to start the group. Most mentees come from high schools in the South Central area of Los Angeles. The commitment: a two-hour session every other week for nine
months, with one-on-one meetings eventually alternating with the group sessions. Youth Mentoring has also partnered with such companies as HBO and Warner Bros. Studios in a way that makes it easy for employees to engage. “We transport the kids every other week to the corporation during lunchtime, and we have our session there,” says LoRe. The program is a success story; kids in Youth Mentoring have a 96 percent graduation rate. “And we draw from schools where the grad rate ranges from 48 to 52 percent,” he says. Youth Mentoring is looking for new mentors to start in January. “It’s a relationship that makes all the difference in a kid’s life. If you give them a mentor, then it essentially wakes up their spirit and then they are more open to all the other help that’s available to them.” youthmentoring.org
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Health Steve Tisch photographed at his Beverly Hills home.
“Hopefully my gift to UCLA will inspire not only other NFL owners, but also other philanthropists.”
STEVE TISCH
Steve Tisch—the top movie producer (Forrest Gump, The Equalizer) and New York Giants co-owner—is getting out ahead of the concussion problems that have hit pro football. His $10 million gift in May to support UCLA’s sports concussion center, now called the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program (neurosurgery.ucla.edu), will support treatment, prevention, and research on brain injuries sustained from contact sports. Tisch, age 65, who also serves on the boards of LACMA and the Geffen Playhouse, is proud that the program, led by UCLA’s Dr. Christopher Giza, particularly focuses on making a difference for young athletes. Why tackle concussions? As an NFL owner, my exposure to that issue in the last couple of years was firsthand—then, having a 14-year-old daughter, who last year experienced a moderate concussion while playing girls lacrosse, hit home on a personal level. Also, I sort of developed a fascination with brainrelated issues since my father passed away nine years ago from brain cancer.
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What are BrainSPORT’s goals? Part of it is to educate coaches, trainers, and even, in some cases, principals at schools not only how to recognize when a student athlete has a concussion, but what to do. Through research, we can hopefully answer questions like, “How safe is it for my 14-year-old son to play football?” Parents then can decide if they are comfortable with their kids playing contact sports. Your family, who started Loews Corp, has been very philanthropically minded. How did they inspire you? My parents and my aunt and uncle were tremendous role models. My family’s commitment goes back decades in New York City. New York University Hospital is called the Tisch Hospital. In the early ’80s, when my family first got involved at NYU, their first gifts were to the School of the Arts, which has been the Tisch School of the Arts for more than 30 years. So that was my first exposure to philanthropy.
THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SAMPLE. OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY IMAGES FOR EJAF (JOHN); COURTESY OF ELYSE WALKER (SNEAKERS)
The Medicine Man
Has anyone else ever encouraged you to give more? During the most critical time of the AIDS crisis, the people whom I looked up to as my mentors were David Geffen, Barry Diller, and Jeffrey Katzenberg. I’ll never forget David asked me to go on the board of AIDS Project Los Angeles. And after about 18 months, I was asked to become the next chairman. I remember The Advocate writing an article about me and I think the headline was “LA’s Hetero Hero.” It just made me feel so good that I was helping as a philanthropist and as a community leader. That was an amazing experience. Do you ever work with a philanthropic advisor? I consult with a gentleman named Jeffrey Stewart [of Walnut Hill Media] on new opportunities. There’s a program he and I are discussing that would be a gift to Tel Aviv University for its film and television school. Any other new areas of interest? I’ve been dating a Brazilian girl, so I’ve become interested in the needs of her community outside São Paulo. But the UCLA program is my focus now. It seems gutsy, as a team owner, to really face the issue of concussions when there seems to be an effort in some quarters to minimize the incidences and impact of brain injuries in the NFL. I don’t know if you just saw the papers, but a young high school athlete had a concussion playing football in the New York suburbs and died. So this is an issue that is not going to go away. I acknowledge that. Hopefully my gift to the UCLA program will inspire not only other NFL owners, but also other philanthropists to look at this problem.
gift that gives
parties with purpose
Sir Elton John performs during the 22nd annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party.
The Elton John Foundation’s Academy Awards Viewing Party can be more fun than attending the Oscars themselves. The 2014 fête drew Lady Gaga, John Waters, and Robert De Niro. The next one takes place February 22 to benefit the HIV/AIDS grant maker. ejaf.org
100 percent of the proceeds of this limited-edition, crocodile-embossed-leather Supra Skytop ($115)—released in October to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Elyse Walker’s famed Pink Party—benefit the Women’s Cancer Program at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. suprafootwear.com
ones to watch
Suzanne Tracht of Jar and Ludo Lefebvre of Trois Mec have been among the chefs who have made the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Taste for a Cure benefit a culinary classic. Over its 19 years, the late-spring event has raised nearly $10 million for research. cancer.ucla.edu On April 24, philanthropist and MS survivor Nancy Davis will throw her 22nd annual Race to Erase MS gala, to raise dollars for its Center Without Walls Program, funding seven of the nation’s top research centers. “Only a third of good research ever gets funding,” says Davis of the need for giving. erasems.org
how to help
EBOLA After such catastrophes as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, there were outpourings of giving. That hasn’t happened yet in the case of the Ebola crisis, which has taken the lives of thousands of West Africans. One Angeleno working to stem the virus (the mortality rate is around 70 percent) is Detroit native Tiffany Persons, a casting director and also the founder of Shine on Sierra Leone. With the help of students from South Central and The Buckley School, her organization got off the ground in 2006 by transforming a roofless three-room school (the roof had been burned by rebels) that was the worst performing in the country into a fully functioning facility that’s now ranked
third out of 736 schools in Sierra Leone. (Part of its program is a set of affirmations, including “I have friends all over the world” and “My teacher loves me.”) Now Shine on Sierra Leone is part of a coalition called the Ebola Survival Fund, working to raise money, distribute sanitation and risk-reduction kits, and also fight the stigma surrounding the disease by spotlighting survivors. “We need help from our global community,” says Persons, who first went to Sierra Leone to make a short documentary, Side by Side (2007), about blood diamonds. “It’s especially crucial to provide community healthcare workers with training in how to care for patients.” shineonsierraleone.org
Just as angel investors are key to innovation in Silicon Valley, medical breakthroughs depend on early investing. Phase One (phaseone foundation.org), as the name connotes, funds phase-one clinical trials for patients with cancer, the first hurdle in gaining FDA approval for promising treatments. “A phase-one trial is the very first time that a trial is done on human beings. It’s a small group of people,” says Alberto Valner, who cofounded the group 15 years ago after surviving advanced testicular cancer. “The initial stages are where the most money is needed in this world.” The foundation supports research into any type of cancer, including less wellknown types; one recent grant led to a vaccine that is in the process of being approved by the FDA for certain kinds of kidney cancer. Another group whose mission is to jump-start research is the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (dslrf.org), which its CEO Heather Ortner calls “an incubator” for breast cancer research. Dr. Love (pictured above) and her team have done key work in understanding the anatomy of milk ducts, where most common types of breast cancer start. “We support our own research and we’ll take on very early projects that are often a little bit riskier than some of the established institutions will take on. We are willing to try anything if it makes sense.”
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Human Rights ROLAND EMMERICH The Advocate
One of the most successful openly gay directors in Hollywood, Roland Emmerich—the man behind Independence Day, The Patriot, and White House Down—sees that even with same-sex marriage rights being granted around the country, young people still face often devastating levels of anti-gay backlash. That’s why he’s a longtime supporter of the youth programs of the Los Angeles LGBT Center (lalgbtcenter.org), which provides shelter, meals, clothing, and education and employment programs to homeless LGBT youth, many of whom were kicked out of their homes by their parents for being who they are. In late 2013, Emmerich, 59, who grew up in Stuttgart, Germany, threw a benefit for the center at his Moroccan-style LA residence, raising $2.9 million. He’s also supported the Legacy Project of Outfest, LA’s gay and lesbian film festival, which preserves films of historical importance to the community, and recently threw a dinner for the Russian punk rock protest group Pussy Riot when they came to town. His next film: Stonewall, a retelling of the riots that gave birth to the modern gay-rights movement. How did you get involved with the center? Well, when you are gay yourself and you live in absolute comfort in a big house in the Hollywood Hills, which is very close to the center, all of a sudden you have to help at some point. I got in contact with them, and now I make a very big donation every year. Why does this cause touch you? There are so many kids out there who are gay and thrown out by their families, and they are on the street. It is sometimes heart-wrenching what they go through. And the center gives them help—including shelter and jobs programs. How bad is the epidemic of gay homeless youth? Forty percent of homeless kids in America are gay. A lot has changed. The majority of Americans believe that gay marriage is an absolute civil right. But when it comes down to people from around the country, people whose parents are religious or for whatever reason, they just throw their kids out… it’s happening every day. Kids also come out much earlier and easier today, so kids as young as 14 or 15 are getting thrown out. You also do a lot of work for kids in Cambodia. I’m really close to this cause called the Cambodian Children’s Fund, run by a friend of mine, Scott Neeson, a former movie studio executive. I met him when we promoted Independence Day all over the world. All of a sudden he quit his job. He sold everything he had. He had a boat, a house, and two sports cars. He lived it up. And one day he moved to Cambodia, where there are these big waste dumps where kids are scavenging to survive, and he’s rescuing them. Is there any advice you give to other donors? What I’m always saying to everybody is, “Don’t give one year to this organization and then one year to that.” That does no good for the organizations. [The groups] have to plan. I make yearly donations. They have to know it’s coming. You should commit pretty much for the rest of your life. LAC
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“Don’t give one year to this organization and then one year to that. You should commit pretty much for the rest of your life.”
Roland Emmerich photographed at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
gift that gives
parties with purpose
Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband, Justin Mikita, have already raised upwards of $600,000 for marriage equality through Tie the Knot, their two-year-old nonprofit that sells limited-edition bow ties. Now they’ve partnered with LA’s LZZR Jewelry on a new bow-tie necklace ($105) in hand-made repurposed bronze. lzzrjewelry.com
Rabbi Meyer H. May, Ron Meyer, Jon Feltheimer, Nicole Avant, Ted Sarandos, Haim Saban, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Janice Prager, and Rabbi Abraham Cooper at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Tribute Dinner last March.
Ron Meyer, Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Haim Saban were among the heavyweights who turned out in March of last year for the Simon Wiesenthal Center Tribute Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire, raising more than $1.6 million for LA’s Museum of Tolerance and for the group’s work fighting anti-Semitism. wiesenthal.com The Human Rights Campaign hasn’t announced how it will follow up snagging Vice President Joe Biden as the keynote speaker at its Los Angeles dinner last year, but it’s set to take place March 14 at the JW Marriott/LA Live and raise needed funds for the group’s fight for civil rights for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. hrc.org
opposite page: photography by jessica sample (emmerich). this page: photography by marissa roth, courtesy simon Wiesenthal center (may); andreW h. Walker/getty images for ermenegildo Zegna (bichir)
With an estimated 50,000 Angelenos lacking shelter, Chrysalis does crucial work helping homeless men and women find jobs through computer training, money management classes, interview preparation, and a transition employment program. Its annual Butterfly Ball in June has featured performances by Gavin Rossdale and Aloe Blacc in past years. changelives.org
how to help
sex trafficking If you think sex trafficking of minors is something that happens mostly in other countries, you’re wrong. Experts estimate that 100,000 kids are sexually exploited for profit in the United States every year. In Los Angeles, the nonprofit Saving Innocence rescues and helps restore the lives of these youth. “The most common age when kids are first exploited is 11, and 100 percent of our girls have also been victimized through child pornography,” says Kim
Biddle, the charity’s founder and executive director. The group runs a sanctuary residence for around 70 kids in Hollywood and is in need of donated goods (clothing, hygiene supplies), volunteers to train for its rescue team, mentors, and help with public relations and social media. “[These children] are in need of a lot of TLC and support to help them heal and have their childhoods back and begin to dream and hope for the future.” savinginnocence.org
one to watch As the ACLU’s Celebrity Ambassador for Immigrant Rights, actor Demian Bichir—who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a Mexican gardener in LA in 2011’s A Better Life—has two important reasons he wants to end mass deportations of undocumented workers. One is the fact that deportations tear families apart. “If your children were born in the US, they can stay in the US, but the parents have to go. But the parents will then do everything they can do to come back to be with their children. It’s crazy and it’s a waste of time and money.” Bichir—who grew up in Mexico and came to the US to further his acting career in his early 20s and now holds dual citizenship—also says it’s a misconception that immigrants from Mexico and Central America are a drain on the economy. “People talk about how important it is to get rid of
this community of undocumented workers because they are taking jobs or they are taking money from the government,” says Bichir. “What I’m trying to do is educate people about the fact that this is a community of hard-working people who make our lives easier every day. It’s a force that keeps the economy going, especially in California.” He’s asking people to tell their elected officials to stop the deportations and to simply talk to the people they interact with every day and learn their stories: “It’s not a good thing that you go to work fearing not coming back to your family. We should not allow that in any society, especially people who work for you, from the cooks to the gardeners to the valet parking guys. It’s not a good thing for LA that so many people who live here live in fear. It’s important that we all know each other.” aclu.org/immigrants-rights
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER LIVINGSTON/TRUNK ARCHIVE
“Every bar in LA is getting into the [mezcal] game. Every conversation is about it,” insists El Silencio honcho Fausto Zapata.
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IFA
ABULISTIC!
MEZCAL: THE POOR MAN’S TEQUILA? NO WAY, JOSÉ. THE SMOKYCOOL OAXACAN SPIRIT HAS DEEP TIES TO LA AND IS BACK IN ESPECTACULAR FASHION IN WATERING HOLES ACROSS THE CITY. By Finn-Olaf Jones
“Just put a few drops in your hands,” says Dustin Shaw, who is tending the long bar at Melrose’s recently opened Gracias Madre restaurant, pouring from a rare bottle of Marca Negra Tobalá mezcal with a sinister hand printed across it. “Rub them together quickly and then smell.” The vapor comes up smoky, complex, the aroma of decadesold agaves from the distant deserts, underground fires flavored by fragrant woods, family recipes that go back to the conquistadors, secret distillations. In short, the stuff smells a lot more interesting than its plain vanilla cousin, tequila. Indeed, as Shaw goes on to explain, “Mezcal is the single-malt scotch to tequila’s whiskey.” If you haven’t noticed, this once exotic drink has been making smoky inroads into Los Angeles. While tequila has exploded into full-menu, $100/shot stratospheres, it’s but a small planet—steamed from a single sugary azul agave varietal—in the mezcal universe, which has some three dozen other agave varietals to choose from. Moreover, tequila is distilled from steamed plants, while the complex taste of mezcal comes from agaves being roasted underground with whatever other ingredients the distiller has up his sleeve. “Fine mezcal, made naturally from 100% agave, is probably the purest, most traditional spirit available on planet earth,” writes Lance Cutler, in his colorful
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FROM LEFT: A farmer strips the leaves off the spiderlike agave plant using a machete. Once the leaves are removed the core of the plant is transported to a facility, where it is quartered and thrown into a volcanic rock-lined pit to ferment; the agave plants grow wild over the scorched earth near Oaxaca, Mexico.
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drinking travelogue, The Tequila Lover’s Guide to Mexico: Everything There Is to Know About Tequila . . . Including How to Get There. “Mezcal smells like history. It tastes like wonder and superstition. It finishes with ancestral connections to the past and mystical visions of the future. Love it or hate it, no one remains ambivalent after tasting it.” There’s certainly little ambivalence about mezcal’s conquest of LA. Head into most trendy restaurants or bars and you’ll find the mezcal menu growing longer as local tastes evolve from just a couple of brands a few years ago to a whole smorgasbord of artisanal concoctions whose portentous names seem derived from magical realism novels: Minoutaurus, Delirio, Siete Misterios, Sacrificio, Ilegal, El Silencio. Just here in Gracias
Madre, some five dozen different brands glitter in eccentrically shaped and labeled bottles on the back bar like Christmas tree ornaments. “It’s not just high-end places like Gracias Madre, Soho House or the Hotel Bel-Air that are carrying it,” says Marcos Tello, a local liquor consultant and proprietor of Liquid Assets. “Even chain restaurants like Killer Shrimp and Frida are picking up the category.” Angelenos aren’t the only ones feeling the love. Mezcalerias—specialized tasting bars—have opened up throughout South America and Europe. Totter into the medieval streets of Paris’ Marais district and you’ll find that the Bar Mezcaleria has become a favorite watering hole for the city’s latest breed of bohemians. “In some hot spots, like South Beach Miami, mezcal is the single-biggest growth category for liquor,” says Tello. There is a Mexican proverb that, translated, says: “For everything bad:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PEDEN & MUNK/TRUNK ARCHIVE
“Mezcal smells like history. It tastes like wonder and superstition. It finishes with ancestral connections to the past and mystical visions of the future.”
around a particularly forbidding agave. Machete is drawn, and in mezcal. For everything good; the same.” However, just a decade ago, some two dozen samurai swings, the organic beast is de-leaved and the saying might as well have been: “For every gringo; just bad mezreduced to a hydrant-sized bullet to be wrung out of the earth and cal.” If you used to think mezcal was some yellow stuff with a worm rolled up to a waiting truck. thrown into it, you were drinking the swill that was being brewed for Morenos hands his machete over so I take a swing at a neighboring tourists and sold in souvenir shops or the occasional liquor store north agave with spectacularly underwhelming result. After half a dozen of the border. “A lot of us were introduced to mezcal when a college chops I’ve managed to partially mangle a single buddy proffered a bottle of urine-colored liquid leaf. A few splatters of raw juice land on my bare and the last one to take a swig had to eat the dead arms, raising burning red welts, and I notice a worm at the bottom,” remembers one of my drinkknowing smile on Moreno’s face; it takes a childing pals. This fake tradition prompted a whole hood of chopping agaves to develop immunity generation of Spring Breakers to wear EAT THE from the juice’s wrath. WORM T-shirts after sojourns in Acapulco and The truckload of agaves is brought down to Puerto Vallarta. town where Pedro Hernandez awaits next to a “The worm and aging thing was pure tourist hand-dug, volcanic rock-lined fire pit. Hernandez is BS,” scoffs Nikki Sunseri, manager of a ninth-generation master mescalero and his waitDowntown’s Las Perlas bar, one of the pioneers ing crew expertly quarters the agaves with axes and in bringing artisanal mezcals to the Southland. tosses them into the pit. A precise mix of oak, mesSome of their bottles, like the rare Los Javis and quite, eucalyptus and pinecones are added to the Vosco, are here only because the owner knows pile, and then the whole smoldering mini-volcano is the families that distill them. “We like whiskey buried in a mound of dirt. here in the US and Mexicans ended up aging This pioneer in the Downtown Three days later, Hernandez and his crew dig mezcal because they were catering to that marup their baked treasures and place them in a ket,” says Sunseri. “Adding the worm was a scene (and in introducing craft mezcals to LA) cement ring where a donkey-powered millstone sham. Most people who love mezcal just drink it offers up over 100 different selections—some pounds it into a pulp, which subsequently gets right away when it’s naturally clear. You lose the of them quite rare. 107 E. 6th St., LA, 213-988poured into waiting vats where the mixture is fervegetative taste of agave once you age it in a 8355; 213nightlife.com/lasperlas mented for five days before being distilled. barrel.”Fair enough, but for those of us raised on At this cool-as-aHernandez is brewing this special concocthe yellow stuff, a reposado (aged in oak for less daiquiri upscale street taco joint (PICTURED ABOVE), tion for a trio of Mexican-American mezcal than a year) or añejo (for more than a year) adds aficionados based in Los Angeles, who have an extra dimension to an already fascinatingly you can down mezcal straight up or in the signature launched their own brand, El Silencio. “Mezcal complex drink. cilantro/watermelon/apple brandy cocktail. 7360 has all the right components… that it’s love at Just avoid mentioning aging and worms in the Beverly Blvd., LA, 323-933-5300; pettycashtaquefirst sight for us Angelenos,” says one of the bars that dot the Spanish colonial streets of ria.com founders, Fausto Zapata, in between a constant Oaxaca, mezcal’s spiritual center and widely This cozy mezcal grotto in stream of e-mails and phone calls at his usual considered the culinary capital of Mexico. They Highland Park is popular with aficionados. table in Guelaguetza, Koreatown’s shrine to take their mezcal as seriously as holy water. “We Oaxacan cuisine. “It’s organic, it’s got a comcan pretty much taste which family makes a cer5922 N. Figueroa Blvd., LA, 323-255-6871; plexity like wine in terms of agave varietals, and tain batch,” says the bartender in Mezcaloteca, a lacuevitabar.com there’s a Latin influence which is in the arteries small batch mezcaleria in the old city center. K-town’s orange-painted of the city. Plus, there’s an oversupply of tequila. Some of the mezcals are so distinct that individshrine to Oaxacan food and drink is a veritable Angelenos are ready for this.” ual bottles have handwritten labels indicating temple to mezcal. Claro. 3014 W. Olympic Blvd., Having been raised on mezcal, Zapata’s pasdate, agave varietal and mode of distillation. LA, 213-427-0608; llovemole.com sion is contagious, leaping across the counter at The bartender shakes each bottle before pouranother downtown bar to show the mixologist ing it to showcase “las perlas,” the bubbles whose The elegant, modern vegan how to best bring out the smoky flavor in a mezcal quantity indicates the mezcal’s alcohol content. restaurant gets inventive with mezcal—including margarita. Although the cognoscenti like their Mezcal is a high art around these parts, part of a popsicles! 8905 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, mezcal neat, it adds a refreshing complexity to local tradition that goes back untold 323-978-2170; graciasmadreweho.com tequila cocktails. generations. At this new, super-cool “When you see mezcal in the context of how it’s Carlos Morenos is part of this tradition. Right Westside saloon (PICTURED BELOW), cocktails are made and how it tastes compared to tequila, it’s now, Morenos stands in an immaculately ironed hard to turn down,” says Zapata. “Every bar in white shirt and pants surveying agave clusters expertly shaken with an impressive array of artiLA is getting into the game. Every conversation is along a spleen-challenging dirt road above the sanal mezcals. 522 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, about it.” dusty village of San Baltazar Guelavila, a few val310-451-0045; thebrilliantshine.com Las Perlas’ Nikki Sunseri agrees. “There’s leys removed from the city of Oaxaca. The agaves something about the spirit of agave and all that are sputnik-sized spiders whose spear-like leaves goes into making it that is endlessly fascinating. curve menacingly across the scorched hills, Californians love their wine and its complexities threatening to impale anyone not treading careand I think they’re finding that mezcal is at least as fully. “The bees indicate the juice is sweet on this intriguing.” I’ll drink to that. LAC one,” says Morenos, examining a small swarm
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by erin Lentz with additionaL reporting by doug brown
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illustration by luke wilson (portrait). opposite page: photography by tom schierlitz/trunk archive (leaf)
California is no longer the only place to have legalized medical marijuana—nearly half of all states have followed suit, with Colorado and Washington serving as bellwethers for recreational use. It may seem like the US is experiencing an end to a prohibition on par with that of alcohol, but just how will the Green Rush grow? And why is it attracting some surprising advocates among doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians, attorneys, and businesspeople?
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eed. Ganja. Marijuana. Pot. During the opening session of the heady 2014 Aspen Ideas Festival held in June of this year, references to the potent plant were the keynote kicker. An intellectual with enviable wit, Atlantic Media Company owner David G. Bradley, delivered an opening monologue that imagined some 250, type-A festival speakers high on Colorado cannabis, enlivening a crowd of CEOs, politicians, doctors, and thinkers with scenarios such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pulling her tempted husband into a car with a reference to her memoir, “We’re making hard choices, Bill.” But all jokes aside, this international platform—which eventually staged a very serious conversation on marijuana between Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Katie Couric—is illustrative of an escalating national debate embracing medical marijuana and its rapid-fire industry growth. And for many close to the cause, weed is no laughing matter, posing hard choices indeed. Pot chatter is pervasive throughout the US, whether at Hollywood dinner parties or on the floor of Congress. In Los Angeles, former talk-show host and celebrity Ricki Lake is producing a new documentary, Weed the People, which follows cancer-stricken children and the use of cannabis as medicine. In Atlanta, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, who was once vocally anti-pot, passionately discusses the benefits of cannabis in his second documentary film, Weed 2: Cannabis Madness. In Nevada, State Senator Tick Segerblom and Congresswoman Dina Titus are championing bills that
favor post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) medical marijuana research and protect the rights of legal users. In Denver, Tripp Keber, founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles, is launching his latest edible product, Dixie One. And just a 20-minute drive from Keber’s new 40,000-square-foot Colorado headquarters, Governor Hickenlooper is repeatedly quoted as stating that we are in the midst of one of the “great social experiments of the 21st century.” On late-night talk shows and in countless political jokes, the dope-fiend stereotype propagandized in the 1936 film Reefer Madness endures, but in fact, pot is big business. The growth of the marijuana industry is predicted to outpace smartphones; a projected $2.34 billion worth of legal weed will be sold in the United States in 2014, according to the book State of Legal Marijuana Markets (2nd Edition) produced by ArcView Market Research. The same report projects a whopping $10.2 billion market by 2018. In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, a milestone ballot that legalized cannabis for medicinal use. Since that time, more than half of all states have either followed suit—in July, New York became the 23rd state to sanction medical marijuana—or taken steps to decriminalize the substance, making possession of a small amount on par with a traffic ticket. And referendums on legal recreational use of marijuana are cropping up on ballots nationwide since Washington State and Colorado voters approved the practice in 2012; Oregon and Alaska voters legalized such use on Election Day in November. While California was indeed the first state to pass a medical marijuana law, it has fallen far behind other states when it comes to licensing and regulating medical marijuana providers. In 2014, two initiatives to regulate medical marijuana fell short. As a result, the burden for regulation
DaviD Rheins Founder of the Marijuana Business Association (MJBA) On Marijuana PrOhibitiOn: “We’ve had the discussion about prohibition. We’ve given it well past its due with 80 years of a war not on drugs, but on people, in a culture where pharmaceuticals are on every other commercial and ad page.” FOunding the Mjba: “We chronicle and promote the industry. The best way to build a sustainable industry is by providing reliable information and the network of experts and folks that every small and start-up business needs. [They] just happen to also have an extra layer of compliance and regulation to contend with.” tax talk: “We’re told we can’t afford to fund teachers in schools, to fx the roads, to clean the air, to develop alternative energy. The reality is that with these extra dollars, we can apportion this in such a way that we can say, ‘Yes, let’s address these social issues.’ I would rather pay a higher tax to fx the economy and reinvigorate these communities and stop the senseless prosecution and the wasted lives of victims of this war on drugs.”
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Lake, who was introduced to a young fan with cancer during her stint on Dancing With the Stars, is filming a documentary with director Abby Epstein. Weed the People follows ill children, including a cancer patient named Sophie, and the results of their use of medical marijuana. Getting Involved: “[Pot] was not something that I did. I looked at it like a gateway drug. I didn’t want to be paranoid, out of it, like a couch potato. I was really turned off to it. But I fell in love with this girl via social media, and I went on this quest for her, to heal her.” Cannabis Curve: “I’m still learning with cannabis—the ratio, the dosing, the CBD versus THC, and what kills the cancer cells and what keeps the bad side effects at bay. But it’s fascinating to me. I want to know more, and I want the public to know more. A whole new world opened up to me, because [before,] I was sheltered and judgmental.” Her Film: “It shows a lot of amazing characters who are all relatable, particularly Tracy and her daughter, Sophie. Baby Sophie [represents] our biggest fear with our own children. And this mother will do anything to get her baby healthy and to keep her from suffering. We have great results from the last scan. Hopefully we will see continued cell death in the tumor.” Proceed with Caution: “There are a lot of people in this industry who take advantage, and that is really scary. There are people selling cannabis oil to desperate families, but you have got to know what you are getting, and you need to test, and that takes money. There are so many advantages, but I think people still need to take a lot of precautions.” Vision Quest: “I would love to be able to prove that cannabis is killing cancer cells. It’s so much better than doing a talk show. We have more than enough people who want to be documented and are willing to tell their stories.”
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Weed 101
as “the most dangerous” drugs “with no currently accepted medical use.”
Reefer Madness
Prior to 1906, the federal government had yet to regulate any psychoactive drug. During that year, Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act, the first legislation that included cannabis among ingredients that had to be noted on a product label. By 1914, the Harrison Act tightened narcotic control, stating that a nonmedical user could not possess cocaine or opiates; with this, the first line was drawn in the sand between medical and recreational drug use. Though alcohol prohibition occurred all at once on the national level, marijuana prohibition was enacted in stages. By the mid-1930s, cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state. It was around this time that Harry Anslinger helmed the newly created Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), a post he held for 32 years. Many allege that Anslinger’s anti-marijuana campaign was fueled by a desire to increase his department’s budget: If he could successfully vilify weed, his bureaucratic power would result in further funding for the FBN. There are also scores of reports that pot prohibition was fueled by big business, a premise referred to as the Hemp Conspiracy Theory. It is reported that the Hearst and DuPont empires felt that hemp would threaten the sales of their woodpulp paper and nylon products, and the theory thus played a major role in campaigns and propaganda against pot in all its forms. Love him or hate him, Anslinger was central to the American public’s perception. He coined the term “Devil’s Weed,” championed such anti-pot propaganda as Reefer Madness (today a cult comedy classic often watched ironically by college students as they get high, along with its musical 2005 parody version), and was instrumental in the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act, which heavily regulated the plant and served to drastically limit doctors’ ability to legally prescribe cannabis. Today, many physicians, including the outspoken Gupta, are realizing that this little green plant could have a huge impact across several medical fields. “This is legitimate medicine,” argues Gupta.
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The preferred scientific term for this lauded and condemned botanical is cannabis, from the Greek word kánabis. It relishes sunlight, is an annual, and can flourish in nearly any environment, thus the slang, weed. According to Martin A. Lee’s book Smoke Signals, most scholars agree that cannabis arrived in our neck of the woods during the 16th century. Ships carrying slaves, explorers, and immigrants were outfitted with rope, sails, and netting made of hemp, while slave passengers also carried seeds for marijuana (hemp’s psychoactive cousin) in their pockets. “Sir Francis Drake, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan all sailed ships equipped with hemp products,” Lee notes. “And in 1619, eight years after colonists first planted hemp in Jamestown, the Virginia assembly passed a law requiring every household in the colony to cultivate the plant because it had so many beneficial uses. Hemp farming and processing played an important role in American history (as evidenced in the name of towns from the Atlantic to the Midwest, Hempstead to Hempfield). Several of our Founding Fathers, in fact, were hemp farmers, including George Washington.” By the 1850s, hemp was the third-largest crop behind tobacco and cotton. As the plant made its way across the globe in many forms—and was ingested via inhaling, tinctures, and medical experiments among varying societal ranks—it gained a particular stronghold in Mexico, where, according to Lee’s research, farmers discovered the power of “Rosa Maria.” During the Mexican Revolution, smoking weed was prevalent in Texas border towns like El Paso, which in 1914 became the first city to ban both the sale and possession of marijuana. Thus, the national debate on this botanical’s potent power began as a murmur, which has since evolved, at times, into a screaming match. Today, though new state laws are being enacted rather quickly, on the federal level, cannabis remains a Schedule I substance, which is defined
Though new state laws are being enacted rather quickly, on the federal level, cannabis remains a Schedule I [most dangerous] substance.
The Little Plant that Could
“I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am doubling down,” proclaimed Gupta in a March CNN column. When asked to explain his 180-degree turn on the benefits of cannabis, he’s quick to explain, “The tipping point was when I started to look at the research coming out of other countries and smaller labs. [When] I started to spend time
film still courtesy of cnn; illustration by luke wilson (portraits)
Ricki Lake Celebrity; producer of Weed the People
of medical marijuana businesses remains with local communities, and many around the state are now deliberating medical cannabis regulations. Conversely, following Colorado and Washington’s lead, The Marijuana Policy Project has filed a committee with the California Secretary of State to support a 2016 ballot initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol in California. Under current California law, possession of an ounce or less of marijuana is a civil infraction similar to a speeding violation. Simply put, we are witnessing an end to a prohibition on par with that of alcohol. As Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, says, “It is the most exciting political change I’ve seen in my lifetime. You almost can’t keep up with the change that’s going on.”
Dr. Sanjay Gupta with Josh Stanley at his family’s booming Colorado grow house, in a still from Gupta’s new documentary, Weed 2.
CONGRESSWOMAN DINA TITUS Nevada, District 1 POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) & POT: “As a member of the veterans committee and the ranking member of the subcommittee on benefits, I began to hear more and more about the potential of medical marijuana for treating PTSD. I am circulating now to get signatures that will go to the US Department of Health and Human Services, asking them to lift the limitations on studying the effects of marijuana. It’s very restrictive now. We need to study it just like any other kind of medicine, or any other kind of drug.”
with patients who were convinced it was helping them, I realized it was a very large group of patients who seemed to be getting objective benefits. And that’s what really started getting me researching it again.” His research led him to Charlotte Figi, the central figure in his provocative film Weed. Charlotte has been plagued with complex seizures—nearly two an hour, at her illness’ peak—since she was an infant, and the film follows a harrowing family journey to save Charlotte’s life after she was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome. Also known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, this rare and catastrophic form of epilepsy was at one point causing Charlotte 300 grand mal seizures a week. As a last resort, the Figi family turned to medical marijuana, pitching Charlotte, then 5 years old, into the center of a national debate as the youngest medical marijuana applicant in Colorado. And though Charlotte’s story has become known across the country, what many may still not fully understand, Gupta explains, is that young patients such as Charlotte are not getting intoxicated. “This isn’t getting them high. [Particular strains of medical marijuana have a] high-CBD concentration; they may become a little bit sedated, like they would with other antiepileptic drugs,” says Gupta. “The biggest misconception is that kids are getting stoned or high or psychoactive.” Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the principal psychoactive component in marijuana, the form of cannabis responsible for euphorias, or highs, whether smoked or ingested via edible products. On the other hand, cannabidiol (CBD) is one of at least 60 active cannabinoids
identified in cannabis, which, when isolated, can have a wide scope of medicinal uses, and does not get patients high like THC. Charlotte was given a very specific, highly concentrated CBD strain cultivated by the Stanley brothers—one of Colorado’s largest marijuana growers—at their Garden of Eden grow house. The six brothers crossbred marijuana with industrial hemp, and the resulting strain, Realm Oil (which Charlotte would ingest under her tongue via an olive oil blend, not as smoke), was renamed by the Stanleys as “Charlotte’s Web.” It was so successful in combating Charlotte’s seizures that families with similar stories have relocated to Colorado in order to legally obtain medical marijuana. Today, 8-year-old Charlotte is reported to have about three to four seizures a month. The Stanleys have since created the Realm of Caring nonprofit, which provides free or low-cost cannabis therapies to families in need. It’s not just celebrity doctors such as Gupta who are championing the potential of medical marijuana. Ed Bernstein, a prominent Las Vegas attorney and television show host, is applying for a dispensary license, with a 33 percent stake in La Casa Verde Operating. As a successful businessman, he sees opportunity, but the impetus for this new venture is his 25-year-old daughter, Dana, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 3. “She’s had about 200 hospital day trips,” explains Bernstein. “She’s had a couple of dozen surgeries. Over the years, she’s had her intestines removed. She is in constant pain, 24/7.” While living in California during high school, Dana applied for a medical marijuana license and discovered the drug
BUDS & BANKING CO-OPS: “I have signed on as a cosponsor to [Colorado Congressman] Ed Perlmutter’s bill that will change the banking laws so that we could have legitimate marijuana businesses operating through bank accounts.”
NEVADA STATE SENATOR TICK SEGERBLOM Author of SB 374, which allowed the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries WHY SENATE BILL 374? “People didn’t have the ability to actually purchase medical marijuana they were entitled to use under the Constitution.” TOURIST TOKES: “Las Vegas is going to be the Amsterdam of the West. Everyone is going to want to have their picture taken in front of a marijuana dispensary.” ALLOCATING TAX REVENUES: “Education. The money first goes to offset administrative costs, then to police costs, then it goes to education.” POLITICS & POT: “Support for medical marijuana is at 90 percent. It’s incredible.”
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HOW CANNABIS CONNECTS: “There are cannabis receptors in the body. So it’s more natural than a lot of drugs, which simply inhibit the transmission of neurons from cell to cell. This binds to something that already exists in the body.” FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: “You are going to have the CBD strains become more in demand as a medicine. It’s harder than people realize to breed these plants up to specific strands of CBD versus THC. But there is going to be higher demand, and it will continue to be very necessary.” ON RECREATIONAL USE: “This is legitimate medicine, and I wouldn’t take it away from people because of the concerns of recreational use.”
KEITH STROUP Founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) SMOKERS’ RIGHTS: “If it’s contraband, nobody is going to require it to be pure. Now we’re beginning to focus on the real consumer issues. A private employer can drug test, and if you test positive for THC, even though there is no indication you were impaired on the job, they can fire you. What they need is an impairment test, not a test that says, ‘Have you smoked in the last six weeks?’” THE DWI DEBATE: “We all agree that we don’t want people driving while impaired. But THC adheres to your fatty tissues, and can be detected days or even weeks after smoking. We’ve got to convince legislators to use science so we test impairment.”
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USE & ABUSE: THE NEXT GENERATION
As the medical benefits of CBD strains are further researched, there’s still considerable apprehension among medical experts (Gupta included), law enforcement, and politicians surrounding marijuana and young users. Now that teens may gain easier access to the drug, potential for abuse and the effects on the young brain are a particular concern. A groundbreaking study published by The Journal of Neuroscience in April is the first to show that frequent use of marijuana is related to major brain changes. Researchers— including experts from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital—conducted MRIs on 40
Tripp Keber at Colorado’s Dixie Elixirs and Edibles.
people: 20 recreational users who smoke an average of 11 joints per week and 20 nonusers. The scientists found that the shapes and sizes of two neural regions essential to motivation and emotion were significantly altered in users. Concerns about marijuana’s negative impact on the growing brain has spurred leaders to create forums, such as the Aspen Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo’s Valley Marijuana Council, to discuss the impact and warn young users of the dangers. Though supportive of the legalization of both medical and recreational pot, during an address to the annual NORML Legal Seminar in Aspen, Sheriff DiSalvo stated, “Marijuana is not a product for brains under construction. The message we are giving students is delay, delay, delay. The longer you delay, the better your chances of not compromising a brain under construction. We want to increase awareness and lower adolescent drug use.” Governor Hickenlooper is in agreement. “We have a moral responsibility to regulate it properly,” he says. “That means making sure kids under 21 don’t get it. But kids think because it’s legal, it’s less dangerous. We are arguing caution.” So just how does the industry tackle potential abuse among young users, and even adults? Certainly there are scores of medical marijuana licenses issued to “patients” who are, in fact, using medical marijuana licenses to simply get high. As with alcohol, or any substance for that matter, abuse is inevitable. When asked
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THEO STROOMER (KEBER); ILLUSTRATION BY LUKE WILSON (PORTRAIT)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA Neurosurgeon; CNN chief medical correspondent
significantly decreased her pain. Now a Nevada resident, it’s become difficult for Dana to obtain marijuana for medicinal use, thus her father’s quest to fight for her rights and open a dispensary. “Medical marijuana has been legal here for a number of years, but there was no way to access it,” he says. “I am very aware of the legislation, and we immediately looked into getting a dispensary here.” Bernstein hopes to open a boutique that features quality medical marijuana, a shop “that has a welcoming environment, that can offer the very best strains scientifically possible. You want to be able to have strains of the highest CBD and a variance of those strains that work well with different medical conditions. We are going to focus on doing research with the strains, with universities, with hospitals. My partners all have the same interests in helping people who suffer.” Both Bernstein and Gupta are quick to point out the harmful side effects of conventional painkillers (in Dana’s case, the opioid Dilaudid). Gupta adds, “The abuse of pain medications is the most tragic thing in our country. Someone dies every 19 minutes from an accidental prescription drug overdose. It’s now the number-one preventable cause of death in the US.” Gupta also notes that epilepsy, pain, and multiple sclerosis are particularly responsive to cannabis-based medicines. Another hot topic in both medical and political circles is the effect of medical marijuana on PTSD. “We are following the trial of marijuana for PTSD among veterans,” says Gupta. “I think the initial research will be promising. Survivors of the Holocaust are being treated for PTSD with cannabis right now. It’s the initial drumbeat and very positive.”
how this will be navigated, most advocates suggest extensive educational outreach. In August, a controversial Colorado public education campaign titled “Don’t Be a Lab Rat” was driven by the Colorado governor’s office. Human-size rat cages were dropped around Denver in an effort to warn teens that Colorado is a testing ground for medical marijuana legalization, and there is still uncertainty involved in relation to pot use and the young brain. Additionally, though Governor Mark Dayton passed legislation allowing medical marijuana in Minnesota, the state’s strict new law bans smoking marijuana and home cultivation, and allows for only two cannabis dispensaries statewide.
The Mighty Edible
“The only thing consistent in this industry is change,” says Tripp Keber. “It’s at hyper speed.” Standing in what will soon be a sleek reception area of his new 40,000-squarefoot headquarters in Denver, the founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs & Edibles has recently been hyped on shows such as 60 Minutes and HBO’s Vice. Keber describes the booming marijuana business as having experienced “hockey stick growth,” from completely flat to straight on up. While leading a tour of his impressive new facility, he candidly explains, “We are not marijuana people. We are businessmen and women who have applied what we have learned professionally to the cannabis space. There has never been a nationally branded line of THCinfused products like Dixie. Our intention is taking this company not only national, but public.” A successful entrepreneur who served in the Reagan administration, Keber has been called the “Gordon Gekko of Ganja.” But nicknames aside, he helms a serious, and seriously lucrative, business, squarely in the spotlight of edible entrepreneurs (the industry is moving so fast that at a recent Las Vegas “cannabusiness” convention, one business proposal was a Domino’s-esque pot delivery service). Founded just four years ago, Keber’s Dixie Elixirs has grown from a 400-square-foot office with two employees who made one product (an orange elixir) to what can only be called a marijuana industrial “mansion” that currently houses some 50 employees and serves as the assembly line and grow house for the more than 40 Dixie THC-infused products and 100 different SKUs. Most cannabis sold in Colorado dispensaries comes in four forms: as the buds of the plant; as liquid extractions meant to be used in vaporizer pens; as edibles, such as gummy candies, chocolates, and sodas; and as salves and lotions for rubbing into sore muscles and joints.
The latest Dixie Elixir? Dixie One, a soda that, unlike most edible products, offers a single, measured 5mg dose of THC. Which raises the question—as the fast-paced edible business booms, how does one properly package and regulate dosage amounts? This growing debate among edible entrepreneurs, marketers, and state legislators was further thrust into the national spotlight when New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd alleged in her “Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude” column back in June, that she, unaware of the potency, accidentally ate too much of a THC-infused candy bar, resulting in a panic-stricken hotel stay in Denver. Commenting on this ( Joe Hodas, Dixie’s chief marketing officer, wrote a reactive op-ed in The Times), Keber says, “Dosing is the single-greatest focus that we should be looking at as an industry. Now you have your average soccer mom from Ohio who may or may not have had a relationship with cannabis in 20-plus years, and [today] cannabis is dramatically different. What was previously 3 or 4 percent is now 23 or 24 percent [THC].” As a potential answer to the growing concern of packaging and marketing dosing amounts, Keber and his team developed Dixie One to eliminate the guesswork: one soda, one dose. Keber touts his new headquarters’ state-of-the-art security, a necessary feature at a time when few banks have been willing to provide accounts and other services to marijuana businesses because of its federal Schedule I classification, so most dispensaries have to conduct business in cash. He notes that two dispensaries in his area had recently been robbed. But his sometimes-risky business also means serious tax revenue—numbers, he opines, that cannot be ignored by the government on both the state and federal level, given the potential funding for education, city infrastructure, additional medical research, and much more. And headway is being made with banking institutions and the marijuana industry, as politicians and banking co-ops are quickly realizing reform is inevitable in regard to banking and buds. In February of this year, Governor Hickenlooper stated that taxes and fees from recreational and medical marijuana sales would be $134 million in the coming fiscal year. And though some may criticize his choice of industry, Keber says, “You cannot argue with taxes and jobs. The revenue reported from April [2014] was up 17 percent from the month before, and up 53 percent since January.” There’s no doubt he believes in the industry’s skyrocketing potential. “You are seeing this real steep growth. Sometimes we feel like we have a tiger by the tail.” LAC
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The Marijuana Policy Project has filed a committee with the California Secretary of State to support a 2016 ballot initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol in California.
Ed Bernstein Las Vegas attorney and talk show host Daughter Dana & Crohn’s Disease: “When she smokes medical marijuana, often times before going to the hospital and going through that cycle with the Dilaudid, it takes the edge off her pain.” Betting on Business: “The law is still unsettled regarding lawyers and doctors and their professional licenses around dispensaries. But legislators in our state are very positive about medical marijuana; the voters certainly are.” Gateway Drug?: “A lot of people don’t understand the medical benefits and have been so brainwashed about marijuana being a gateway drug that under any circumstances they are not in favor of it. In the past, to buy it you had to go underground, dealing with people who are selling cocaine, crack, marijuana, and heroin. Legalizing marijuana will have the opposite result. If you have a legal, safe place to purchase the medical marijuana, then you will not come into contact with the stereotypical pusher.”
Tripp Keber Founder and CEO of Dixie Elixirs and Edibles tie-dyed Businessman: “This is not a fool’s business. You have to be intellectually charged, committed, and funded to succeed, because you can’t go to the bank and get a loan.” A kinder drug?: “There may be two [marijuana-related] deaths in Colorado since January. How many hundreds of alcohol- or opiate-related deaths are there?” Potent Packaging: “We as manufacturers have to set the tone, to make sure that the packaging is not attracting children. Our products are designed to look like a luxury consumer packaged brand.”
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HAute ProPerty A Century of Style Hacienda heaven: This five-bedroom, five-bath Spanish Revival home by architect John Byers was built for $15,000 in 1925 for the son of Santa Monica’s first mayor. It’s now listed for $5.275 million.
100 Years of Plentitude
SpaniSh revival. hollywood regency. Midcentury Modern. For over a century, the architectS oF Shangri-la-la-land have created the hauteSt potpourri oF Surreal eState on earth.
photography © 2014 by richard horne
By Kathy a. McDonalD
Unlike metropolises such as London, New York, or Paris—where entire neighborhoods conform to a certain architectural aesthetic—LA boasts a dizzying array of home styles, often side by side: some traditional (Craftsman and Victorian), some mod (Midcentury Modern) and several that embody the Southern California dream of indoor/outdoor living (romantic 1920s-built haciendas in the Spanish Colonial Revival style are top of mind). As buyers soon discover with even a cursory search, this diversity of residential styles representing all eras, beginning at the turn of the last century, is available at any given time in the LA market. In some ways, real estate agents
must become matchmakers when it comes to introducing buyers to historic homes. “[These] styles tend to suggest a lifestyle,” says Crosby Doe (crosby doe.com) of Crosby Doe Associates. He’s representing the 5,725-square-foot, 1906-built, $2.845 million Bolton/Culbertson House in Pasadena, built by the masters of Arts and Crafts style, Charles and Henry Greene. “Even though they are really contemporary in many ways, the house imposes a lifestyle from 100 years ago,” adds Doe. That lifestyle typically included formal living and dining spaces, kitchens tucked away, and smaller bathrooms and closets than today’s buyers may be accustomed to seeing. continued on page 152
la-confidential-magazine.com 151
This 1939-built, $2.795 million Hollywood Hills residence was designed by John Elgin Woolf in the Hollywood Regency style he made famous. The two-bedroom, two-bath home has curved-glass walls that wrap around the pool and a gated underground five-car garage.
“The [1939] Woolf properTy is chic, super eleganT, and Wonderful To live in, like a piece of arT.” —jeff kohl When it comes to what’s hottest right now, Midcentury Modern residential architecture continues to have its moment. The recent sale of architect John Lautner’s Silvertop took just 20 days despite its roughly $8 million price tag (a record high for Silver Lake). While flavors of the month fly off the MLS, says Doe, there was a time when a John Lautner house couldn’t sell. “Although some styles fall in and out of favor, that doesn’t make them any less important,” he adds. The Bolton/Culbertson House has period details and woodwork throughout that can’t be replicated today. “One of the challenges of
Craftsman houses is that they’re not all-glass houses—there’s an interplay of light and shadow,” explains Doe. Spacious and grand, the house has been meticulously restored. Overall, however, LA is not a city that embraces its architectural past. “In this town, anything that is older than Annette Bening gets torn down. People don’t like to be reminded of aging,” says Jill Galloway of John Aaroe Group (jillgalloway.com). She’s only half kidding. Wide swaths of the city have been replaced with new construction, and zoning rules offer little protection for neighborhood character (witness the boxy
The eight-bedroom, Victorian-style Hiram Higgans mansion (shown here and left), listed for $6.5 million, was designed in 1902 by John C. Austin, whose other commissions include the Shrine Auditorium, Griffith Park Observatory, and LA’s City Hall.
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mansionization of the streets mid-city near the Beverly Center). “Historic preservation is an anomaly,” says Galloway, who specializes in the Hollywood Hills and Hancock Park, where 11 different homeowners’ associations and HPOZ (Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) rules partially protect vintage buildings. “[In Hancock Park and the Hollywood Hills], many of the homes were generational and have been maintained in their original style,” she says of the neighborhood’s bounty of character casas. Galloway points to the architectural integrity, original stained glass, and other handcrafted period details in the 104year old Craftsman in Windsor Square she has listed for $2.41 million. Because the style is so specific and far from a blank canvas, there is a more limited pool of buyers, Galloway finds. The 1902-built Hiram Higgans mansion, a generous-sized Queen Anne Victorian with original woodwork throughout—listed for $6.5 million by Lisa Hutchins of Coldwell Banker Residence Brokerage (coldwellbanker.com)—is another one of Hancock Park’s grand edifices with a notable pedigree (by the Griffith Park Observatory’s architect John C. Austin). The antithesis of the big, modern, formulaic glass box, these period properties often appeal to a buyer who “has a high level of taste,” contends Jeff Kohl, cofounder of The Agency (theagency re.com). He also finds these homes almost always elicit an emotional reaction. Kohl points to a 2,472-square-foot, 1939-built Hollywood Regency-style “jewel box” of a house in the Hollywood Hills full of iconic flourishes by famed architect John Elgin Woolf (his client list was a who’s who of Hollywood’s elite, from Cary Grant to Katharine Hepburn). Listed for $2.795 million, the house “is about an elegant way of living where every room is well thought out,” he says. The Woolf property is atypical; the grounds and pool are extensive, and “the house is chic, super elegant, and wonderful to live in, like a piece of art,” says Kohl. In Santa Monica, where land values are behind many a remodel of older stock, a 1925-built adobe hacienda-style home by John Byers (known as the master of revival adobe construction) stands out for its gracious authenticity. “It was an expensive home when it was built,” says The Agency’s Anna Solomon (solomonpropertygroup.com), who has the $5.275 million listing. Well sited on its oversized lot (even for its day) the house is a piece of history that’s also livable and comfortable. From Venice (where 1,000-square-foot beach cottages circa 1915 are well over a $1 million these days) to old-school Pasadena, there’s a heady mix of choice that goes beyond rubber-stamped, cookie-cutter, 5,000-square-foot glass-and-marble contemporary residences. Crosby Doe concurs, “I’ve been selling houses for 40 years, and I’m excited when I run across something I’ve never seen or has never been for sale. LA has a truly remarkable built inventory.” LAC
photography by don lewis (hollywood regency); Jeff ong (victorian)
haute property a Century of Style
A Sweet Haven Relocate and enjoy the benefts of elegant Nevada living. MandarinOrientalResidencesLasVegas.com | 866.950.2489
This is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, any condominium units in those states where such offers or solicitations cannot be made. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. This condominium project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or familial status. © 2014 CityCenter Land, LLC. The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas (The Residences) are not developed, sponsored, owned, offered or sold by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group or any affliate thereof (MOHG) and MOHG makes no representation, warranty or guaranty of any kind regarding The Residences. The developers and owners of The Residences use the Mandarin Oriental name and trademarks subject to terms of revocable licenses from MOHG which may expire or be terminated.
haute property realty Check
Hooray for Santa Fe!
H’wood for tHe Holidays? tHe industry a+-list decamps for motion-picture-perfect new mexico. By Kathy a. McDonalD
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Santa Fe is arguably the cultural hub of the Rocky Mountains: There are more than 200 galleries, two dozen museums (the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is a legendary gem), The Santa Fe Opera, and renowned local cuisine, ranging from the highbrow (Coyote Café, Joseph’s, and Geronimo) to the Shake Foundation’s crowd-pleasing green chili cheeseburger. Outdoor activities are year-round; in wintertime, the nearby Santa Fe Ski Basin and Taos Ski Valley are less crowded than comparable Western resorts. And if you don’t have your own plane? Flights are super convenient from Los Angeles into Santa Fe or Albuquerque. “Californians who move here want space and the lifestyle of a cultured, sophisticated American West,” says real estate agent Tara Earley of Sotheby’s International Realty Santa Fe (sothebyshomes.com), who along with Nancy Lehrer represents a four-bedroom, five-bath, 7,850-square-foot contemporary Southwestern-style home on more than 27 scenic acres for $3.350 million. The adobe-style exterior leads to an ultracontemporary interior with ash wood floors and wall-wide slider doors to take in the Sangre de Cristo mountain views. “You can get a lot more for your money here than in Los Angeles,” adds Lehrer, who aided film producer/executive Frank Mancuso Jr. and wife Kim’s purchase of a large Santa Fe County ranch. Larger, more substantial properties are within reach as second, third or fourth homes. Ralph Larranaga of Keller Williams
from above:
In River House, on Jane Fonda’s $19.5 million Forked Lightning Ranch, an upstairs gallery holds the owner’s vast collection of books and Navajo rugs. The room was modeled after one at the Santa Fe Public Library and features reclaimed-wood ceiling beams; El Corazon de Sante Fe, a luxury condo complex favored by Hollywood heavy hitters, offers full and fractional owners hotel amenities such as concierge service, pre-arrival grocery shopping, and long-term clothing and equipment storage.
Santa Fe (kw.com), points to his $5.999 million listing (a unique architectural 7,200-square-foot ultramodern home on 13.5 acres) on a high ridge above The Santa Fe Opera House. “The gated community is a Beverly Hills-style neighborhood without the traffic or congestion,” he says. “The values here are really very good,” agrees real estate agent Tim Van Camp of Sotheby’s Santa Fe (knowing santafe.com). There’s also the ability to purchase near-pristine landscapes. Jane Fonda’s 2,300-acre, $19.5 million Forked Lightning Ranch abuts national forest land, and three and a half miles of the trout-filled Pecos
River flow through it. “The ranch offers security, privacy, and seclusion without isolation,” says Mike Swan, broker and owner of the Swan Land Company (swanlandco.com), which is representing Fonda’s one-of-a-kind asset. The Oscar-winning actress chose the site of the 9,585-squarefoot, custom-built, tin-roofed River House—its Spanish Colonial Revival design fits into traditional architectural vernacular but is modern and energy-efficient. Swan explains, “When you’re at the house or on the river, it feels like there’s no one within hundreds of miles, but you’re only 25 minutes from town.” New Mexico, here we come… LAC
photography by Jon Kopaloff/filmmagic (fonda); courtesy of omar colon (el corazon)
Refined with rustic edges, Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the straight-fromCentral-Casting antidote to urban life. Creative types and A-listers often migrate here to refuel their psyches. It’s the chosen getaway for superstar designer Tom Ford, who commissioned starchitect Tadao Ando to build a minimalist compound of concrete forms; the horizon-hugging horse ranch (on 24,000 acres) has a rust-colored palette that melds with the scrub-covered hills. Indeed, the scenic surrounding area is where Hollywood’s elite hide out and enjoy the good life, Western-style: Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones, Shirley MacLaine, and Jane Fonda own notable spreads (both MacLaine and Fonda recently listed their highaltitude hideaways for $18 million and $19.5 million, respectively). And more recent high-profile homebuyers—local buzz cites January Jones—have been seduced by Santa Fe’s temperate climate, crystal-clear air, and the relative affordability of premium real estate. Privacy is certainly a factor, too. “There are no prying eyes and it’s very quiet,” says John Dixon, a veteran real estate agent and sales director of Fairmont Heritage Place, El Corazon de Santa Fe (elcorazon desantafe.com). Situated near the historic Plaza, the luxury condominium complex was Seth MacFarlane’s base during the filming of A Million Ways to Die in the West and offers hotel services for its full and fractional owners. “There are just not a lot of people around,” adds Dixon. However, for a town of 70,000 people, the art, culture (an eclectic mix of Spanish, Native American, and European), and culinary scenes are remarkably robust.
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Abode & beyond Melrose! An antique reproduction of Winged Victory of Samothrace serves as RH West Hollywood’s guardian angel. right, from top: 100-year-old olive trees set a bucolic tone at RH West Hollywood’s 10,000-square-foot rooftop park; the shop includes a Bellocq Organic Tea atelier; Crystal Halo chandeliers are just one of the gallery’s many product exclusives.
Destination RestoRation
RH—foRmeRly known as RestoRation HaRdwaRe—moves to melRose witH a 40,000-squaRe-foot supeRstoRe. By Matt Stewart
156 la-confidential-magazine.com
photography by mark hug/restoration hardware
Behind its imposing 150-foot Melrose Avenue façade— one that harbors a Parisian-style entry courtyard, terraces of lush plantings on the second floor, and a 10,000-square-foot rooftop park featuring a grove of century-old olive trees—the new RH West Hollywood gallery makes a statement as big and bold as the furnishings for which the brand is known. Ben Soleimani, a fourth-generation rug dealer/designer and a longtime Melrose habitué, who has an exclusive rug collection with the brand, introduced Gary Friedman, RH’s CEO and chairman, to the idea of a Melrose location. “My journey with Ben began at Melrose,” Friedman explains. “Though I had five of his rugs in my home, I had never met Ben himself. He moved to LA when he was 18 or 19 years old, built his rug store on Melrose, and has been buying real estate here for more than 20 years. Melrose, because of the way it’s being developed, is a blend of luxury retail and interior design that is very pedestrian-friendly. I don’t think we could have picked a better location.” Award-winning architect Jim Gillam, who has worked with the brand on several other large-scale and historic spaces around the country, designed RH West Hollywood to allow clients to imagine what is possible on a grand scale, while at the same time showcasing pieces in intimate settings that speak to domestic comfort. “We’re trying to create a residential experience that blends retail and art. We include art installations to add a level of drama that inspires people to what might be possible.” To enhance the domestic drama, Friedman and the RH team have added a number of exclusive pieces, including four Cloud sofas by British designer Timothy Oulton and a large selection of one-of-a-kind Balinese coffee tables. RH West Hollywood also contains a Ben Soleimani rug showroom, a Bellocq Organic Tea atelier, and the LA home of RH’s new interior design platform. The piéce de résistance of the Melrose experience is the rooftop garden, which showcases the immediate surroundings as well as unparalleled views of the city and the Hollywood Hills. “We didn’t merely install a roof deck,” Friedman says. “We gave a gift to the city with a rooftop park the likes of which the world has never seen. The building had to be designed to take the weight of these amazing trees; we had to engineer a special drainage system. We also included decomposed granite walkways that make you feel like you’re in the Napa Valley or the South of France.” Friedman and his design team also sourced one very special piece for the roof that all of the city will enjoy. “About a month before we were due to open, I was on a trip with the product and design teams to the Maison & Objet show in Paris,” says Friedman. “In our travels, we found this amazing reproduction of Winged Victory of Samothrace, and it felt so right for the City of Angels. This piece was more than decoration; it had a real relevance. We decided that this statue could be an angel for our rooftop that could look down over LA.” LAC
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abode & beyond The Guide
Siglo Moderno
Siglo Moderno’s private label collection oozes with contemporary cool, but its showroom also boasts a selection of venerable vintage finds.
Melrose Gold
Table Art
When it comes to glittering design shops, Weho’s most famous street offers an embarrassment of riches. By Allyson Rees
Cisco Home Since 1990 Cisco Home has been the go-to source for homeowners and interior designers seeking sustainable, stylish furniture and repurposed finds. Mixing stark midcentury furnishings with plush, California-casual textiles, the brand’s timeless, effortless glamour satisfies varying aesthetics. 8025 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-932-1155; ciscohome.net
Denmark 50 Bringing the best in midcentury Danish Modern design to LA, Denmark 50 dishes up furniture, ceramics, and art. From Poul Henningsen’s innovative light fixtures to Hans Wegner’s Windsor chairs to Nanna Ditzel’s colorful upholstered seating, the Nordic-cool merchandise changes regularly.
7974 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-650-5222; denmark50.com
Jonathan Adler What started with a pottery order from Barneys New York has grown into a multinational lifestyle brand. Known for his glamorous interiors and cheeky ceramics done in matte white, Adler has imbued his Melrose store with items bearing his signature style—think happy colors, Art Deco inspirations, monogrammed accessories, and Slim Aarons portraiture. 8125 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-658-8390; jonathan adler.com
Mansour Modern Deftly combining old-world techniques with contemporary patterns and textures, London-based Mansour
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Under the helm of Creative Director Jorgé L. Cruzata, Siglo Moderno, or “Century Modern” as it is translated from Spanish, offers a curated mix of vintage and contemporary furniture. The brand’s private label, made up of low marble tables, carved wood credenzas, and sculptural lighting, has a masculine, sensual feel, while vintage pieces range from metal lounge chairs to, yes, concrete teddy bears. 8373 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-653-3100; siglomoderno.com
Modern is one of LA’s premier fine-rug galleries, offering rare vintage finds and bespoke pieces. With rugs on display in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and residences, the brand was even awarded the honor of the Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales. 8606 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310-652-9999; mansourmodern.com
Plush Home As the interior designer of the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, Nina Petronzio demonstrates a style that is all about superluxe textiles and old-world furnishings. Her aesthetic is captured in Plush Home, which stocks over-thetop upholstered velvet headboards, carved maple dining tables, and hand-cut crystal chandeliers.
For an exceptionally embellished dinner party, head to Table Art. For over 10 years, the boutique has offered handmade glassware, dinnerware, and linens in addition to custom tablecloths and sterling silver pieces. Classic luxury goods like those from Meissen are mixed with contemporary pieces from names like Scholten & Baijings, creating an edited, yet varied, merchandise mix. 8024 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-653-8278; table artonline.com
Thanks for the Memories This Melrose mainstay is an emporium of 20th-century design, artful objects, and found treasures, curated for over 40 years by proprietors Maddie and David Sadofski. Vintage chess sets and rare Steinway pianos commingle with Art Deco jewelry, making the boutique popular with designers and collectors. 8319 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-852-9407; tftm melrose.com LAC
she’s dreaming of a... Trina Turk talks holiday décor, Cali-style. What’s one of your favorite holiday decorating traditions? Growing up in California, my mother always put out bowls of Satsuma mandarin oranges with the pretty green leaves still attached. The pop of orange in a metallic bowl looks great. How else do you create a festive vibe at home? Hot mulled cider and cranberry juice with spices simmering on the stove creates a delicious holiday scent wafting through the house to welcome your guests. How do you get in the spirit when SoCal is the opposite of a winter wonderland? I love taking a modernist approach with a silver or gold metallic tree and lots of shimmery ornaments. One year in the desert we decorated a barebranched manzanita with tiny silver disco-ball ornaments! 8008 W. Third St., LA, 323651-1382; trinaturk.com
photography courtesy of siglo Moderno (store interior); courtesy of Jonathan skow (turk)
8323 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323-852-1912; plushhome.com
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MALIBU CLOTHES Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, Malibu Clothes ofers the largest selection of the fnest quality men’s clothing. With top brands, in-store tailoring, personal styling, wedding party packages, made-to-measure options, and unbeatable prices, Malibu Clothes is your onestop shop. Come check out Beverly Hills’ best kept secret since 1946. 259 S Beverly Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Follow us on Instagram @malibuclothes Call 310.278.0040 Visit malibuclothesbh.com
FRIDA For over 12 years, FRIDA restaurant has been serving authentic, high quality Mexican cuisine in a relaxed and sophisticated setting. FRIDA ofers from ceviches to tacos and everything in between and an extensive array of top shelf cocktails, utilizing Mexico’s premium tequilas and mezcals. 236 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 Reservations: 310.278.7666 Follow us on Facebook @FRIDAmexicancuisine Visit fridarestaurant.com
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BLO BLOW DRY BAR
FROYO LIFE
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You’re not cheating on your hairdresser. Blo is North America’s Original Blow Dry Bar. Scissors are verboten. Dye, ditto. No cuts, no color: Just WASH BLOW GO. Guests choose from 7 styles featured in the Blo Hair Menu, from the runway inspired “Pillow Talk” to the perpetually high fashion “Go Fish”. Go to blomedry.com for theskinny.
Froyo Life is committed to providing quality frozen desserts in a clean, fun environment. We won’t cut corners to lessen your experience with us. We have a great selection of fresh fruits and dry toppings to compliment our frozen yogurts. Come try our NEW favors...
Created by Vietnamese Master Chef Kimmy Tang, 9021Pho is a unique casual service restaurant that ofers a Vietnamesecentric menu with French infuences and California fair. Chef Kimmy’s dishes are light, clean, and made with only the highest quality ingredients to make 9021Pho deliciously irresistible.
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INVITED Presenting sponsor Bentley Motors showed off its slick Flying Spur V8 before the crowd of VIPs.
Don Julio Tequila refreshed guests throughout the evening with its signature cocktails.
Jai Rodriguez and Chris Donaghue
Jason Harder Michael Heywood and Jonas Bell Pasht James Marsden and Liana Liberato
Gerald McRaney
John Terzian and Brian Toll Carole and Gilles Marini Jonnie Houston, Brooke Troesh, and Mark Houston
LAC MENÕS EVENT ON THE CUSP of the holiday season, Los Angeles
Confidential toasted cover star James Marsden at its annual Men’s Issue celebration, presented by Bentley Motors, at Culver City gallery Unici Casa. Don Julio Tequila provided custom beverages for the evening, as guests enjoyed desserts by Edoughble ready-to-eat cookie dough. Featured guests like John Terzian, Brian Toll, and Jonnie and Mark Houston also came out to fête the issue and support the evening’s charity partner, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Sarah Duque and Jack Guy
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHELSEA LAUREN/GETTY IMAGES AND JASON KING
Lisa Ling
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INVITED Shaun Swanger
Monica Rose
Giancarlo Tallarico and Paul Zahn
Guests admired designs on display from 2013 FIDM Design Lab Live winner Mohamed Salaheldin
COCKTAILS AND COUTURE Phuong Nguyen and Jessica Menda
STYLE SWEPT THROUGH Westfield
Stephanie Koors, Dana Nesen, and Erin Scanlon
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Ismael Castaneda, Ali Jawad, and Ashley Solano
Kit Wallace and Ayda Avedisian
Mary Lopez, Diane Klotz, Katie Hall, Lisa Koochof, and Alice Carrillo
Matt Jefferson, Molly Unger, Shawn Tamjidi, and Brendan Kotler
Elizabeth Reyes and Elizabeth Le
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON KING (COCKTAILS & COUTURE). OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILLY FARRELL/BFA (RH HOLLYWOOD) ; DONATO SARDELLA/GETTY IMAGES (BARNEY’S)
Topanga at “Cocktails and Couture,” an evening of fashion presented by Westfield, Who What Wear, and Los Angeles Confidential in support of Bright Pink. From trend presentations courtesy of Neiman Marcus and celebrity stylist Monica Rose to a showcase of chic Tesla cars and the FIDM Design Lab Live competition—in which five up-and-coming designers competed to create red-carpet gowns—the event offered guests an insiders’ view of this season’s most coveted looks. The Spare Room mixed cocktails using Tallarico Vodka and Selvarey Rum, while Veuve Clicquot and Keurig refreshed attendees with Champagne and coffee as they shopped with the incentive to win a one-night stay at the new SLS Las Vegas hotel.
Camilla Belle and Gary Friedman
January Jones
Edward Lee and Len Schlesinger
Paris and Nicky Hilton
Molly Sims and Vanessa Lachey
Chord Overstreet
RH WEST HOLLYWOOD PARTY
HOTSHOTS OF ARCHITECTURE, design, entertain-
ment, and art collided to celebrate the unveiling of RH West Hollywood, The Gallery on Melrose Avenue. The nearly 40,000-square-foot space features brand-new collections of home furnishings in a unique gallery setting,
which includes a Ben Soleimani rug showroom, a design studio, and a Bellocq Organic Tea atelier. Among those in attendance to marvel at the high-end décor were Mad Men actress January Jones, The Art of Elysium founder Jennifer Howell, and designer/stylist Estee Stanley. Victoria Salisbury
Jaime King
Long-standing partner HOLA created a short film highlighting its philanthropic work in LA, which was screened on the second floor of the flagship.
Tobey Maguire
Philip Lord, Irene Neuwirth, and Simon Doonan
Mark and NJ Goldston
Monique Lhuillier and Tom Bugbee
BARNEYS NEW YORK SUPPORTS HOLA BARNEYS NEW YORK fêted its Beverly Hills flagship’s extensive remodel— and its 20th anniversary in LA—with a jubilant cocktail party for over 1,000 guests. Melanie Griffith, Jennifer Meyer, and Tobey Maguire joined the festivities as local charity Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) arranged an inspiring musical performance by children participating in HOLA’s performing arts and music programs. Barneys New York donated 10 percent of the evening’s purchases to the organization’s initiatives.
Jennifer Meyer
Melanie Griffith
Juan Carlos Obando and Tomoko Ogura
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SWEET HAVEN Relocate and enjoy the benefts of elegant Nevada living at Te Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas. Reside high above Te Strip and well beyond reach. At over 90% sold, now may be your last chance to make your move. MandarinOrientalResidencesLasVegas.com, 866.950.2489
TERRANEA RESORT Terranea Resort presents its 5th Anniversary Holiday Traditions celebrating the spirit of the season. Enjoy festive activities and events, special holiday feasts and exclusive ofers on accommodations, spa, golf, shopping and more. For additional information visit Terranea.com/Traditions 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, 310.265.2800
NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS
KENDAL SHANNON
CANALI
DSQUARED2
Kendal Shannon started her career in Hawaii, working on numerous television shows and features in Hawaii including LOST, Hawaii Five-0, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Just Go With It, and Godzilla. In 2010 she relocated to LA branching out her career to Red Carpets and working with Celebrities.
When picking key pieces for a cold weather wardrobe, go for a combination of style and versatility. Canali proposes a dark blue zip-up sweater in pure cashmere with fur on the inside, geometric knit on the front, and ribbed cufs and bottom.
Te brand made in Italy with Canadian roots inaugurated its American presence with a new store on Rodeo Drive. Spread out over 4,500 square feet and two levels, the store is a fuid and enveloping space with iconic pieces from Dsquared2 men’s, women’s, fragrance and eyewear collections.
Call 323-868-3251, visit kendalshannon.com, or e-mail kendalshannon123@gmail.com Instagram: kendalshannon Twitter: @kendalShannon Photographer: Colin Angus, Model: Sarah DeAnna
261 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310.270.4200, canali.com
461 N. Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310.888.0117 dsquared2.com
PROMOTION
BUBBLEMANIA AND COMPANY Bubblemania and Company has been providing top entertainment for children in Southern California since 1987. We provide educational, entertaining programs on the science and fun of soap bubbles for children of all ages. Our carefully selected and professionally trained “Bubblologists” provide a program that is fexible and age appropriate.
For more information call 310.446.6115 or visit bubblemaniaandcompanyla.com
ROLLING ROBOTS
CITYDOG! CLUB
Home to the original robot game arena where you can choose an all-star robot or create your own robo-worrior to battle in our center ring. Rolling Robots is also a technology workshop for tech geniuses to learn robotics and engineering starting as early as at the age of four. Come in soon for your parties, workshops, camp, and robotic toys and kits.
Offering dog daycare, dog boarding, dog grooming and boutique dog shop, Citydog! Club is for dogs and their humans with a dazzling array of features and amenities in a sleek, modern, fresh environment. Citydog! Club is a safe, healthy and happy experience where fun is unleashed!
10955 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 310.474.0198, RollingRobots.com facebook.com/rollingrobots @RollingRobots
West Los Angeles: 310.477.0364 Culver City: 310.837.8032 or visit citydogclub.com
JUST FOR KIDS TOTS, TEENS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
ZIMMER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Zimmer Children’s Museum - Playing our way to a better world! Voted Best Children’s Museum in 2014 by L.A. Parent readers, the Zimmer Children’s Museum is dedicated to helping young people develop their capacity for creating positive change through interactive learning, creative self-expression and leadership development.
6505 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (323) 761 -8984, www.zimmermuseum.org www.facebook.com/ZimmerMuseum
And FinAlly…
Magna CuM applaud
With the onset of aWards season, get ready to stand up and cheer. that’s an order. By Sam WaSSon
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the praise slathered on 12 Years a Slave had, figuratively speaking, an OSO ring to it. “It’s the most realistic movie ever made about slavery,” I was assured by several people I’m certain weren’t there. “It was so brutal,” others raved. Only later did it occur to me that the screening of 12 Years a Slave I attended was met with a classic OSO, and not—as you might expect to be the case for a film of its intensity—with the OSO’s equal/ opposite, the TOTMOB (too overcome to move or breathe, which, for what it’s worth, my screening of Boyhood was). This is all to say, don’t forget to listen to your body this awards season. It often knows more than your brain. LAC
illustration by daniel o’leary
For years now I’ve noticed an irksome trend in standing ovations: They’re no longer involuntary. A genuine standing ovation is the product of an irrepressible explosion of emotion and awe, a burst of the body, a reflex. We’re tossed in the air. We’re overcome. These days, the standing ovation seems more a formality, like reaching for the bill even when you know you’re not paying; it’s disingenuous, but it’s polite. Try to remember the last time you saw one. I bet it happened deliberately, one person, or row, at a time. First, some guy over there, and then his date. Then the fellow behind them can’t see, so he gets up, and now you’ve got a whole cluster applauding over there, off to that side of the theater, and a moment later, a couple of other clusters here and there are applauding too. And then comes the time when you have to make a choice. As clusters come your way, gaining in size and speed, you ask yourself, Am I going to stand too? (If you don’t, you’ll look petulant. So, most often, you do.) As we near awards season, I think it’s a good idea to give the obligatory standing ovation, or OSO, some consideration. Do we like what we like because it feels good to like it, because we “should” like it, or because we, in fact, really do love it? Simply put, are we applauding them, the artists, or are we applauding ourselves? OSOs are for us. We read the glowing reviews, we bought the coveted ticket, we schlepped to the theater, and we were, by virtue of all that effort, determined to have an important time, so we mark the evening with a standing ovation to prove we did. Last year around this time, I was unpopular for suggesting, perhaps wrongly (but I think rightly), that much of
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Ringo Starr: Casa della Vista, Hollywood, CA Photographed by Danny Clinch, 2014
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