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los angeles confidential 2014, issue 3 may/june
ROBIN WRIGHT Serial Thriller
Meet Hollywood’s New leadiNg ladies! robin wright
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F ront Runners House proud! In 1939, the fabled “Harvey Girls” preside over Union Station’s Art Deco-meets-Native American-themed Harvey House restaurant, designed by architect Mary Colter.
A Perfect Union 75 YEARS AGO, A LONE WOMAN ARCHITECT MADE HER MARK ON LA’S LEGENDARY UNION STATION. BY ERIKA THOMAS
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE LOS ANGELES RAILROAD HERITAGE FOUNDATION
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awdy, outspoken, and often delegating from beneath her trademark wide-brimmed Stetson, the architect Mary Colter (1869-1958) earned a name for herself during an era when females were virtually absent from the industry. Seven of her buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places at Grand Canyon National Park, but her most glamorous contribution may have been the Harvey House restaurant at Los Angeles’s Union Station, which turns 75 this month. Hired as an interior decorator by Kansas-based restaurateur Fred Harvey in 1902, Colter was promoted to head architect, designing 21 of the 84 upscale Harvey House restaurants along the Santa Fe Railway by 1939. While her contemporaries borrowed from European architecture, Colter was the first to merge design with indigenous surroundings. Her signature became her use of Native American motifs, known today in architectural circles as “National Park Service Rustic.” In the case of Harvey House at Union Station, Colter mixed her Southwestern style with opulent Art Deco accents, resulting in floral-patterned leather booths, a giant U-shaped bar, and a glossy brown and red tiled floor made to resemble a Navajo rug. Adding to the restaurant’s progressive power was legendary service by the “Harvey Girls,” who were paid generous salaries along with room and board and other rites of passage previously available only to men. Thousands of women answered an ad that called for “Young women 18-30 years of age, good character, attractive, and intelligent,” and ventured west in search of independence. To commemorate Union Station’s 75th anniversary, a screening of the documentary The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound will take place inside the original Colter-designed Harvey House. Although the restaurant has been closed since 1967, Mary Colter’s architectural legacy can still be experienced through walking tours and private events. Katrina Parks, producer of the documentary, says, “Something that’s apparent is the abundance of creative freedom [Colter] was given during her years with the Harvey Company. She was truly inspired by other cultures—and that’s what sets her work apart.” LAC
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May/June 2014
18 Front Runners 32 From the Editor-In-Chief 34 From the Publisher 36 ...Without Whom This Issue Would Not Have Been Possible 39 Invited 58 The List
People 62 Marianne Faithful New-Age guru and congressional candidate Marianne Williamson gets down and spiritual about her battle to rep LA’s tony 33rd District.
66 Networking It Under the Dome star Rachelle Lefevre reprises her role on CBS’s runaway hit series.
68 Life’s a Beach SM-born fashionista-turned restaurateur Yunnie Kim Morena has a love affair with her hometown.
72 Who’s the Girlboss?
74 Get Downtown! Downtown power players Carol Schatz, Barbara Jacobs, and Bert Dezzutti compare notes on the rebirth of LA’s hottest ’hood.
78 The Butterfly Effect Celebrating its 30th year of helping LA’s homeless, Chrysalis throws a bigger-thanever Butterfly Ball in June.
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122 The XX Factor
Hollywood’s new breed of alpha gals—like Oscar-winning Frozen co-director Jennifer Lee—are taking Tinseltown by storm. ILLUSTRATION PHOTOGRAPHY BY BY TK; ELISABETH CARENBY TK
With her new book, online retail trailblazer Sophia Amoruso gives us a lesson in digital mogul-dom.
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May/June 2014 Culture 84 Cinema X-Otica Italian bad boy Francesco Vezzoli waxes artistic on the work in his new MOCA retrospective.
86 How the East Has Won Art Basel in Hong Kong showcases the rising global influence of Asian art.
Taste 90 Bird in Paradise LA’s smart set is lunching at the city’s latest hidden power spot: David Myers’ Hinoki & the Bird.
94 Twelve O’Clock Salut! Three LA mixologists serve up their favorite midday cocktails; plus, a trio of chefs who are reimagining Jewish deli dishes.
96 Tea and Ecstasy From Pasadena to the Palisades, afternoon tea gets a sexy SoCal spin.
98 The Queens of Third Street Joan’s on Third’s Joan McNamara and Fonuts’ Waylynn Lucas chat about Mid-City’s rocketing lunch scene.
Treasures 102 Classic Act Eco-fashion pioneer Eileen Fisher celebrates her brand’s 30th anniversary and a new store on Robertson.
104 Glaze of Glory
90 Bird in Paradise David Myers’ Hinoki & the Bird offers up lunchtime luxuries like coconut-curried mussels with sausage and cauliflower.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SAMPLE
Master ceramicist Adam Silverman reveals what’s next for his much-adored Atwater Pottery studio.
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N E I M A N M A R C U S - S A K S F I F T H AV E N U E
May/June 2014 116 Queen of Aces
Robin Wright approaches philanthropy as fiercely as she does her Golden Globe-winning gig on House of Cards.
106 Heads of Statement New men’s jewelry line Cult 925 shines in silver, while three new shoe launches get a foothold in LA.
Jersey draped-cowl tunic, Donna Karan ($1,995). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-549-1053; donnakaran.com. Jewelry, Wright’s own
108 Home Chic Home Under-the-radar lifestyle boutique Chay is a one-stop shop for summer entertaining.
112 Hour Power Versace Timepieces President Kari Allen recounts her keys to success in the world of watchmaking.
114 Cellar’s Market Caudalie opens its first West Coast Vinotherapie Spa on Abbot Kinney; Freeze 24-7’s newest skin serums are warm-weather saviors.
Features 116 Queen of Aces House of Cards star Robin Wright opens up about her complicated role as icy Claire Underwood—and her red-hot romance with fiancé Ben Foster.
122 The XX Factor Meet seven alpha females-turned-Hollywood players who are transforming the entertainment industry one mega-hit at a time.
134 Boss Nova When it comes to fashion, sharp silhouettes and stark neutrals will be dominating corner offices around LA this summer.
Women are becoming increasingly savvy watch collectors—and the world’s top timepiece brands are taking notice.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW ECCLES
142 Pieces de Résistance
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309 North Rodeo Drive 310.859.4700 South Coast Plaza 714.549.4700
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148 Shangri-LaLa Land
The best LA homes seamlessly meld chic interiors with Arcadian exteriors.
Abode and Beyond 153 Charmed Living Natasha Baradaran debuts a brilliant furniture collection akin to jewelry for the home.
148 Shangri-LaLa Land At LA’s grandest estates, lush landscaping takes center stage.
150 Star-Spangled Manors Does a famous name on the deed increase a home’s value?
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Refresh your space at boutiques helmed by LA’s top interior designers.
And Finally... 156 Painting the Town Gray Sorry, pretty young things—older women are Hollywood’s hottest commodities.
ON THE COVER: Robin Wright Photography by Andrew Eccles Styling by Emma Pritchard Set design by Adrian Crabbs Makeup by Dean Flanigan Hair by Tricia Sawyer Manicure by Myrdith LeonMcCormack using Dior Vernis at Factory Downtown Dress, Tom Ford ($3,370). 346 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-270-9440
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK SINGER
Haute Property
154 Pro Shops
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SPENCER BECK Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor ERIN MAGNER Executive Managing Editor DEBORAH L. MARTIN Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Photo Editor REBECCA SAHN Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON Senior Fashion Editor LAUREN FINNEY Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Research Editor LESLIE ALEXANDER
ALISON MILLER Group Publisher Associate Publisher VALERIE ROBLES Account Directors TIFFANY CAREY, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE Account Executives ALICIA DRY Director of Event Marketing MELINDA JAGGER Event Marketing Manager ANTHONY ANGELICO Assistant Distribution 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 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 Designers GIL FONTIMAYOR, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors JODIE LOVE, SETH OLENICK, JENNIFER PAGAN Associate Photo Editor KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER Photo Producer KIMBERLY RIORDAN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN Fashion Editor FAYE POWER
FASHION
Associate Fashion Editor ALEXANDRIA GEISLER Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO
COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy Editors DAVID FAIRHURST, NICOLE LANCTOT, DALENE ROVENSTINE, JULIA STEINER Research Editors JUDY DEYOUNG, MURAT OZTASKIN, AVA WILLIAMS
EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Editorial Relations Manager MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Managing Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editor APRIL WALLOGA Social Media and E-Newsletter Editor ANNA BEN YEHUDA Senior Managing Editors DANINE ALATI, KEN RIVADENEIRA, JILL SIERACKI
Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, KAREN ROSE, JOHN VILANOVA
Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS
ADVERTISING SALES
Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing NORMAN M. MILLER Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, CLAIRE CARLIN, KATHLEEN FLEMING, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, GRACE NAPOLITANO, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, JUDSON BARDWELL, MICHELLE CHALA, THOMAS CHILLEMI, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, VINCE DUROCHER, DINA FRIEDMAN, SARAH HECKLER, VICTORIA HENRY, FENDY MESY, MARY RUEGG, LAUREN SHAPIRO, JIM SMITH, CAROLINE SNECKENBERG, KACIE TURPENEN, JACKIE VAN METER, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH, GABRIELLA ZURROW National Sales Coordinator HOWARD COSTA Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, EMILY BURDETT, CRISTINA CABIELLES, BRITTANY CORBETT, OLIVIA DAVIS, JAMIE HILDEBRANDT, DARA HIRSH, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, MARISA RANDALL, ALEXANDRA WINTER
MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Vice President of Integrated Marketing EMILY MCLINTOCK Director of Integrated Marketing ROBIN KEARSE Integrated Marketing Manager JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers CHRISTOPHER HARDGROVE, DANIELLE MORRIS Event Marketing Directors AMY FISCHER, HALEE HARCZYNSKI, JOANNA TUCKER Event Marketing Managers CHRISTIAMILDA CORREA, MONIKA KOWALCZYK, LAURA MULLEN, CRISTINA PARRA Event Marketing Coordinator ANI GAFKA 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 Managers BARBARA SHALE, BLUE UYEDA Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS 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 Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG Financial Analyst AUDREY CADY Credit and Collections Manager CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants CHRISTINA LESCAY, NEIL SHAH, NATASHA WARREN
ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Media Developer MICHAEL KWAN Digital Media Specialist ANTHONY PEARSON Desktop Administrator ZACHARY CUMMO Infrastructure Administrator MOHAMMED HANNAN Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
J.P. ANDERSON (Michigan Avenue), ANDREA BENNETT (Vegas), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), ERIN LENTZ (Aspen Peak), LISA PIERPONT (Boston Common), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), ELIZABETH E. THORP (Capitol File), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons)
PUBLISHERS
JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), LOUIS DELONE (Austin Way), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), KATHERINE NICHOLLS (Gotham), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR President and Chief Operating Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE 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 (Founder, Jason Binn), a company of The Greenspun Corporation. LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL: 8530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90211 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 THE GREENSPUN CORPORATION: 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074 T: 702-259-4023 F: 702-383-1089
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FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Cheers, Hollywood! Toasting the Oscars at LA Confidential’s Spring issue bash at the SLS Hotel with (FROM TOP) John Curtis-Michael and James Morelli; Alison Miller and Jeremy Piven; and cover star and Best Supporting Actor winner Jared Leto.
Doing the Strip with my favorite new chef, Herringbone at the Mondrian’s super-charming Brian Malarkey.
Hollywood. Back in olden times, there were damsels aplenty on the back lots of MGM, Warner Bros., and Columbia Pictures but nary a handful of women executives in the front offices. Silent film star Mary Pickford, a cofounder of United Artists, was the rare exception. Some moguls, in fact, such as our beloved Walt Disney, were marginally misogynistic. In an infamous note to one would-be female animator in 1938, the Walt Disney Company made it very clear that women animators were not welcome in their “wonderful world.” Imagine how surprised Mr. Disney would be to learn that today the company’s first female director, Jennifer Lee, has won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her glittering animated film Frozen (see “The XX Factor,” page 122). It took a half-century since Walt’s demise for a woman to grab the keys to the Magic Kingdom, but it was worth the wait. Actresses during the heyday of the studio system had it marginally better. If you could fend off the advances of mogul-wolves such as Jack Warner and Harry Cohn, there was steady work, decent wages, and a huge support system of fellow players, set designers, makeup artists, wardrobers, and the like. And in the case of a few smart, tough-minded stars such as Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and Olivia de Havilland, women not only thrived but also dominated their studio masters. Cave feminam! Miss de Havilland, the last of the golden-era stars (she will celebrate her 98th birthday at her home in Paris this July), famously fought the studio system and won. She sued Warner Bros. in 1943 when, after completing her seven-year contract, her bosses refused to release her, adding a six-month penalty for the times she was suspended for rejecting roles. The Supreme Court of California ruled in her favor, and the “De Havilland Law” forever forth freed artists from their Hollywood overlords. Despite the well-deserved accolades for her portrayal of the demure Miss Melanie in Gone With the Wind, I’ve always thought there was quite a bit of Scarlett in the real-life Olivia. Women may not dominate Hollywood today, but it’s a closer race. Modern-day moguls such as Nancy Dubuc (Lifetime) and Amy Pascal (Sony) are racking up awards and giving big boys such as Bob Iger and Harvey Weinstein a run for their money. Moreover, women such as Netflix’s Cindy Holland (see page 128), like female TV pioneer Lucille Ball 60 years before, are reinventing the very definition of entertainment. Women continue to endure Stay up to date with all that’s and thrive… and revolutionize. going on in LA at Even in Tinseltown. la-confidential-magazine.com. Sixteen years ago, I serendipitously shared a shuttle-bus ride at Honolulu Airport with our cover star Robin Wright and her then-husband Sean Penn, who bummed a cigarette from me. At the time, Ms. Wright Penn appeared more the bedraggled mom-wife-adjunct of her famous movie-star husband than a glamorous A-list actress in her own right. Oh how times change. Today, at age 48, no husband or little kids in tow, Robin Wright has reinvented herself as a bona-fide superstar for her role as Claire Underwood in the much-ballyhooed Netflix game changer House of Cards (see “Queen of Aces,” page 116). Yes, women have always ruled the world… and now, increasingly, brandishing their scepters, a little realm called Hollywood as well.
SPENCER BECK
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA BLANCHARD/GETTY IMAGES (SPRING PARTY); IMEH AKPANUDOSEN (MALARKEY)
Women rule the world. But they didn’t always rule
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
At the grand opening of Faith & Flower with David Bernahl, Robert Vargas, Cindy Troesh, Rob Weakley, and Stephane Bombet.
At our pre-Oscars party with cover star/Academy Award winner Jared Leto and Associate Publisher Valerie Robles.
ABOVE: Honoring LA’s contemporary art community with Ruby Lerner, president of Creative Capital. LEFT: Celebrating CalArts’ new John Baldessari Art Studio Building with the legendary artist himself.
As we embark on this, our first fully dedicated women’s issue, I reflect on my own experience as a woman here in the 21st century. The biological sign for female is that of a circle placed over a small cross. It is the same as the symbol for Venus, a stylized representation of the goddess Venus’s hand mirror. I wonder, were we cast into a role that emphasizes physical beauty from the very start? Despite the many statistics that highlight pervasive gender gaps in compensation and opportunity, women are achieving a tremendous level of success while yielding significant influence globally. We are far from just pretty faces. In fact, leading from the corner office in industries previously dominated by men, women experienced a record-breaking year on the 2014 Forbes Billionaires List, trending up by 25 percent year over year. It is predicted that over the next decade, women will control two-thirds of all consumer spending Stay up to date with all that’s in the US and will be the beneficiagoing on in LA at ries of the largest transference of la-confidential-magazine.com. wealth in our history. Successful careers, smart investments, and double inheritances from both parents and spouses (we do live longer than our male counterparts), indicate that women today will be more financially empowered than any other previous generation. That’s a game-changing “she-conomy” no one can ignore. This month, we profile a few of LA’s most astonishing women and their staggering accomplishments, contributions, and triumphs. Our cover star, Robin Wright (page 116), is a trailblazer in her own right as the first actress to ever win a Golden Globe for an online-only TV series (House of Cards). Robin inspires us with her talent and activism, and we look forward to celebrating her many successes alongside those of the other fabulous women featured in the issue later this month. Perhaps Chanel had it all wrong—no matter the age, these women are a trifecta of gorgeous, charming, and irresistible!
ALISON MILLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH BLANCHARD (LETO); REZA ALLAH-BAKSHI (LERNER); TOMAS MUSCIONICO (BALDESSARI)
“You can be gorgeous at 30, charming at 40, and irresistible for the rest of your life.”—Coco Chanel
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...WITHOUT WHOM THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE MAY/JUNE 2014
Finn-Olaf Jones A former financial analyst, Finn-Olaf Jones’s journalism career began when Forbes picked up his musings about a climb up Aconcagua in the Andes. Today, Jones also contributes to Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler. For LAC, he profiles spiritual guru-turned-congressional candidate Marianne Williamson (page 62). What were you surprised to learn about Marianne? Like my wife, underneath all that
mid-Atlantic polish there’s a perfect Texas accent. Where do you go to get in touch with your inner om? The Backbone Trail above the Pacific Palisades, especially at night.
Allyson Rees Allyson Rees is a journalist who has contributed to Fodor’s, InStyle, and O, The Oprah Magazine. This month, she interviews interior designer Natasha Baradaran about her first furniture collection (page 153). What’s one trend in fashion that you’ve seen morph into a home design trend?
Phoebe Philo’s minimalist direction for Céline has definitely made an impact. There is a return to a starker, more-restrained space.
Where’s your dream shoot location?
I’d love to shoot at the site of James Turrell’s installation Second Meeting (1989). He creates these incredible meditative experiences, and his work always moves me. Which LA location should get more exposure? Barnsdall Art Park. The pan-
oramic view is incredible, not to mention the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House, art gallery, and Friday-night wine tastings they host in the summer. It’s a hidden gem.
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who’s ever flown Virgin America knows why.
Scott Huver Journalist Scott Huver has written for People, InStyle, TV Guide, NBC, and Fandango. For this issue, he spotlights the new crop of power gals who are changing the face of the entertainment industry (page 122). Who is one woman you find inspiring?
Oprah Winfrey, for her ability to connect so intimately with anyone who comes her way. Which fictional power woman would you like to take charge in LA? Princess
Leia Organa. Any woman who can lead a rebellion, smack-talk imperial leaders, and tame a bad-boy smuggler’s heart seems well-suited to tackle the City of Angels.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAISE SCEMAMA (DICKERSON)
Amy Dickerson Amy Dickerson is an editorial and commercial photographer who shoots for a wide array of clients, from Sony Music to Garden & Gun. A regular contributor to The New York Times and Anthology, she enjoys hiking in the canyons, drinking Pinot Noir, and reading Joan Didion. This month, she captures Marianne Williamson in Santa Monica (page 62).
If you could redecorate one place in LA, what would it be? LAX Terminal 3—anyone
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Jared Leto
Invit ed
THE MONTH’S PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS AND SMARTEST PARTIES
30 Seconds T to Gold DAYS BEFORE JOINING H’WOOD’S EXALTED FAMILY OF OSCAR WINNERS, JARED LETO HOSTS LAC’S PRE-AWARDS COCKTAIL PARTY IN BEVERLY HILLS.
he windshield-pounding rain in LA dampened neither the spirit nor the expertly tousled tresses of March/April cover star Jared Leto as he hosted Los Angeles Confidential’s pre-awards party at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills on February 28, 2014. Leto—whose poignant role in this year’s widely hailed Dallas Buyers Club earned him an Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Critics’ Choice Award, to name a few—shared his special evening with high-profile supporters including Thirty Seconds to Mars producer Steve Lillywhite, Oscarwinning producer Brian Grazer, and Entourage continued on page 40
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INVITED
Brian Grazer and Veronica Smiley Steve Lillywhite, Jared Leto, and Lee Trink
Natalie Myers, Jessica Blafer, Lana Petrovic, Sarah Akbary Sam Nazarian, Terry Byrne, Terry O’Neill, and Sam Bakhshandehpour
Aida Takyrbasheva, Daniel Lee, Emina Cunmulaj, and Aimee Bakhshandehpour
Rory Bruer
Smashbox Cosmetics created camera-ready looks on guests using samples of its latest award-winning palettes.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH BLANCHARD/GETTY IMAGES; PAUL REDMOND/GETTY IMAGES; EMMA ROSENBLATT
John Kolaski, Dave Osokow, Jarrett Tomback, and Andrew Adams
continued from page 39 and Mr. Selfridge star Jeremy Piven. The reception also recognized renowned photographer Terry O’Neill’s partnership with the SLS Las Vegas Hotel—set to launch Labor Day weekend—by adorning the Albert Foyer and Ballroom with the artist’s iconic celebrity portraits. An intimate group of attendees indulged in Moët & Chandon Champagne, cocktails by Belvedere Vodka, Evian water, and delicate hors d’oeuvres by distinguished chef Jose Andrés, receiving bags of Smashbox cosmetics upon departure.
Jeremy Piven
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Guests enjoyed Sweet Little Screwdrivers courtesy of Belvedere Vodka.
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CHRONOMAT 44
INVITED Derek Davies, Blanca Edeza, Josephine Tataryan, and Ian Firestone
Paul DeMaio and Charlie Choukair
Kim Refanidis and Alfred Movsessian
Bill Coveny, Dan Knapp, and Fisher Pence
Canali Spring/Summer Collection Launch Canali’s SS14 collection was on display, offering a variety of classic stripes and textures.
LAC partnered with global luxury men’s fashion brand Canali for an exclusive in-store launch of its spring/summer 2014 collection. Local tastemakers, media, philanthropists, and business leaders gathered alongside host Patrick Warburton to preview the new designs at the Canali boutique in Beverly Hills. In doing so, they supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which received 15 percent of the proceeds from each purchase.
Lainie Strouse, Dore Charbonneau, and Cathy Warburton
PHOTOGRAPHY BY REZA ALLAH-BAKHSHI
Perrey Reeves and Patrick Warburton
John Stamos and Robert Morse Beth Behrs and Jonathan Kite
Shannon Campbell and Ashley Campbell performed a country grassroots tribute to father Glen Campbell during the program.
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Andrew Rannells
A Night at Sardi’s
Notables of theater, music, television, and film met at The Beverly Hilton for the 22nd annual A Night At Sardi’s, an upbeat musical revue featuring famous numbers from Broadway hits. Starring John Stamos, Andrew Rannells, and more celebrities, the show directly benefited the Alzheimer’s Association and its mission to provide care, support, and research for victims of the disease. Celebrity ambassadors, including the cast of the Emmynominated Big Bang Theory and singer Glen Campbell and his family, received recognition for their ongoing efforts to advance the cause.
Briana Cuoco and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting
Lizzy Caplan and Caitlin FitzGerald
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX BERLINER/ GETTY IMAGES
Ben Feldman, Bob Newhart, and Sarah Rafferty
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INVITED Cate Blanchett Brie Larson
David O. Russell and Melissa Leo Bruce Dern
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Oprah Winfrey
Now in its 29th year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival offered 11 days of highly praised films, tributes, and symposiums, attracting more than 75,000 movie buffs Downtown. Among this year’s honored A-listers were David O. Russell with the Outstanding Director Award; Cate Blanchett with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award; Robert Redford with the American Riviera Award; Oprah Winfrey with the Montecito Award; Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio with the Cinema Vanguard Award; and Bruce Dern with the Modern Master Award.
Robert Redford and Roger Durling
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK DAVIS AND REBECCA SAPP
Michael B. Jordan
Fans filled Santa Barbara’s historic Arlington Theatre for Oprah Winfrey’s tribute.
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio 44
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INVITED
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Benefit
Katharine McPhee
Colin Farrell
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, designed to raise awareness and provide care for those afflicted with the disease, fêted what would have been its namesake’s 82nd birthday with an art auction fundraiser at the Wilding Cran Gallery in Downtown LA. Local artists and photographers donated works on which charity-minded guests could bid; Aileen Getty matched 100 percent of the proceeds generated. Colin Farrell hosted the evening, which also featured performances by Katharine McPhee and Elizabeth Taylor’s grandson, Rhys Tivey.
Local designer Colton Dane’s fall ready-towear looks were featured in LAFC’s exhibition.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
Anthony Cran and Naomi Wilding
Rhys Tivey
Joel Goldman and Aileen Getty
Andrea Fiuczynski
Tamar Braxton
Christina Milian
LA Fashion Week
Project Runway alum Michael Costello wowed the crowd with his cutting-edge designs.
Designer Michael Vensel showed off minimalist pieces created from natural materials.
The whirlwind of runway shows, seminars, and design installations known as Fashion Week hit LA for a fortnight in March, kicking off with Style Fashion Week at LA Live, a days-long event featuring the latest from fashion icon Betsey Johnson and Beyoncé favorite Michael Costello. Uptown, The Grove held beauty and fashion consultancy Simply Stylist’s Brand Experience in the Park, offering style showcases, pampering sessions, and mini crash courses in fashion and beauty. Concept Los Angeles took part in the festivities with a series of five runway shows at Mack Sennett Studios while the Los Angeles Fashion Council presented various collections from designers like Katherine Kidd and Stella Proseyn in showroom format at its LA headquarters.
Sarah Boyd and Catt Sadler
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROCHELLE BRODIN/GETTY IMAGES, CECI MARISCAL PRODUCED BY GRID AGENCY, AND FELIX SALZMAN, XAVIER COLLIN/CELEBRITY MONITOR & JONATHAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Puria Keshmiri and Tim Mendelson
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Advertising copyright © 2014 ALOR International LTD. All designs copyright © ALOR International LTD.
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Tim Allen and Owen Wilson
Mark Goldstein and NJ Falk Goldstein
Guests took in MOCA’s powerful Mike Kelley retrospective during cocktail hour.
Pharrell Williams and Jane Fonda
Philippe Vergne and Ryan Seacrest
MOCA Gala
Violinist Julio Cuba and saxophonist Florencio Cruz took the stage to close the evening’s celebrations.
Rene Navarrette and Chloë Sevigny
Katy Perry
Maurice Marciano
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Dita Von Teese, Joy Venturini Bianchi, and Liz Goldwyn
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BUCKNER GETTY IMAGES FOR MOCA, JONATHAN LEBSON/GETTY IMAGES FOR MOCA, DONATO SARDELLA GETTY IMAGES FOR MOCA, AND JOHN SCIULLI GETTY IMAGES FOR MOCA
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) held its 35th anniversary gala at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA to celebrate the appointment of new director Philippe Vergne as well as a much-anticipated exhibition honoring late LA artist Mike Kelley. The reception, presented by Louis Vuitton and chaired by Maurice Marciano, Lilly Tartikoff Karatz, and Eli Broad, featured a surprise performance by Diana Ross and drew more than 850 international guests—ultimately raising a total of $2.4 million to support the museum’s operations.
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INVITED Kiernan Shipka
Olivia Munn
Elisabeth Röhm and Michael Wilkinson
Ike Barinholtz and Mindy Kaling
Costume Designers Guild Awards
Hollywood heavyweights amassed for the 16th Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Beverly Hilton to honor Amy Adams the creatives who brought the year’s most acclaimed films to life. Those recognized included five-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams, recipient of the Lacoste Spotlight Award; acclaimed writer, producer, and director Judd Apatow, who collected the Distinguished Collaborator Award; Emmy-winning costume designer April Ferry, there to accept the Honorary Career Achievement Award; and longtime member of the Costume Designers Guild Local 892 Sharon Day, who took home the 2014 Costume Designers Guild Distinguished Service Award.
Petra Nemcova and India Hicks
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES
Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington
Raquel Welch
Lily Collins Tom Sturridge and Sienna Miller
Greta Gerwig
Chanel Pre-Oscars Dinner
Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley
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Chanel and Charles Finch hosted a coterie of Hollywood’s most influential entertainers for their sixth annual pre-Oscars dinner. The posh supper took place at Madeo in Beverly Hills, offering guests a menu of artichoke salad, branzino, and classic tiramisu as they toasted fashion and film. VIP guests included Anne Hathaway, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Crystal Renn, all of whom modeled Chanel’s spring/summer 2014 ready-to-wear collection.
Lisa Love, Charles Finch, and Anne Hathaway
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEKS KOCEV/BFANYC.COM; BILLY FARRELL/BFANYC.COM
Eve Hewson and Emilia Clarke
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INTO THE DREAM
SPIRIT OF LIBERTY
AUTOMATIC SWISS MADE
INVITED
Sia
Walter Robb, Jerry Brown, Wayne Pacelle, and Jennifer Fearing
Nathaniel Buzolic, Torrey DeVitto, and Lucien Laviscount
George Newbern and Bellamy Young
Gabriela Cowperthwaite and Kate Mara
The Humane Society’s 60th Anniversary Gala
The Humane Society of the United States celebrated several decades of lifesaving work for animals at its 60th anniversary gala. Proceeds benefited campaigns to end euthanasia of adoptable pets in the US and improve the living conditions of factory farm animals. The program, which featured a special performance by Golden Globe and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Sia, also also included an appearance by Humane Generation Award winner Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries), who continues to utilize his megastar platform to advocate for animal welfare.
Matt Lanter
Isabel Lucas
Colbie Caillat Kesha
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES FOR HSUS
Carrie Preston and James Cromwell
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INVITED Lauded as one of the most haunting love stories ever told, the play revolves around a housewife who falls for a married stranger.
Alan Brodie and Emma Rice
Brief Encounter Opening Night
Jai Rodriguez
Frances Fisher, Caption will Marc go Cherry, here tk. Annette McLaughlin, and Michael Feinstein
Acclaimed production Noël Coward’s Brief Encounter came to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for a special engagement, attracting celebrity guests Nigel Lythgoe, Frances Fisher, and Marc Cherry on its opening night. The performance used segments from Noël Coward’s original stage play Still Life and the screenplay of Brief Encounter to transport the audience back to an age of romance on the silver screen.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY IMEH AKPANUDOSEN
Nigel Lythgoe
Patricia Kelley
Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, and Ryan Rottman
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Hollywood’s famed red carpet went green the night of February 26th for environmental organization Global Green USA’s annual pre-Oscars bash, drawing eco-conscious celebrities and local activists to the Avalon Hollywood for a plant-based dinner by Akasha Restaurant. The zerowaste event included an auction to fundraise for Global Green USA’s sustainability initiatives, an electric performance by award-winning musician Moby, and a DJ set by dynamic duo The Crystal Method.
Malin Akerman Moby
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES
Mary Luevano, Luke Perry, and Rob Steinberg
Global Green USA’s Pre-Oscars Party
Sebastian Copeland, Maggie Grace, and Matt Petersen
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INVITED
Dr. Jill Biden
Chad Griffin and Paris Barclay
Antonio Villaraigosa
Human Rights Campaign Gala
Vice President Joe Biden
Justin Mikita and Jesse Tyler Ferguson Reid Scott
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY AP IMAGES/JOSH EDELSON
The Human Rights Campaign— the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization in the US—hosted its 2014 Los Angeles Gala at the JW Marriott LA Live Hotel. Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by Dr. Jill Biden, delivered the keynote address, as special guests such as Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Reid Scott, and Meredith Baxter looked on. HRC President Chad Griffin also addressed the crowd, thanking them for helping make 2013 “the most successful year in the LGBT movement.”
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T he List may/june 2014
Amy Pascal
Adele Dazeem
Daniella Pavicic
Katharine James
Ilana Kugel
Sofie Lejejs
Tatia Pilieva
Shamim Momin
Cheyann Benedict
Kathryn Kimmel
Katie Lovick
Donna Gallup
Robin Baum
Zara Dramov
Liz Forkin Bohannon
Brooke Williamson
Heather Long
Carla Bruni
Ashley Ross
Ameeta Pradhan
Barbara Hall
Alexandra Lasky
Lizzie Mandler
Dierdre Roffoni
Cate Blanchett
Stephanie Northen
Katherine Miles
Amber Tarshis
Alicia Dill
Kippy Miller
Emmy Chang
Lisa Nickerson
Caroline Gogolak
Katie Warner Johnson
Sally Spencer
Cassandra Huysentruyt Grey
Sarah Carragher
Jenna Fagnan
Joan Behnke
Ashley Eckenweiler
Sarah Coddington
Morgan Kibby
Judy Polley
Marianne Kehoe
Jasmine Yarbrough
Patti Pao
Nicky Kinnaird
Tamie Ingham
Ellen Page
Alex Gilbert
Keri Putnam
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The Divine Ms. W: Spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson is hoping to bring ethics back to politics—starting with LA’s ritzy 33rd District.
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Superlatives
PEOPLE, CULTURE, TASTE, TREASURES
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Marianne Faithful! NEW-AGE GURU MARIANNE WILLIAMSON IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. SHE WANTS YOUR VOTE… AND YOUR SOUL. BY FINN-OLAF JONES
A
What’s more, the slate of contenders that has since emerged, notably s the sun settles over the Pacific, only the sound of mellow guitar music can be heard above the crashing of waves beneath a beach Wendy Greuel and Ted Lieu, are about as relatively charismatic and house pyloned on a particularly pricey stretch of Malibu. A particu- inspiring as your typical B-list party functionaries at a time when “profeslarly pricey group of some 150 people have paid $500 apiece to be jammed sional politician” is practically a swearword. When Mraz is done with his set, Williamson gets up to speak, her buff shoulder to cashmered shoulder in the living room. Among them, actresses Marcia Cross and Frances Fisher sway to coffee-house-singer-turned- body (one of her best sellers was A Course in Weight Loss) framed in a simple, Grammy-sensation Jason Mraz as he croons, “You can relyyyy on me,” tight black dress with a white geometric design going through it like lightning. She rails against corporate participation in the political system, the backed against the flat-screen TV next to the fireplace. But the star of the night is sitting in the first row, her long dark hair bopping rise of special interests, and the 1-percenters. “In 1783 we got rid of the arisas she nods along. Despite the high-wattage crowd, everyone, including tocracy in America,” she announces at her speech’s conclusion. “It’s time Mraz, is keeping their eye on her—when she nods to the music, they nod. for us to repudiate an aristocratic system again.” The crowd erupts into wild applause that seems slightly surreal given Although she still identifies herself as Jewish, she’s that this group would be first in line were the guilbecome such an icon of Christian-leaning spirituality lotine to be set up amidst the Bentleys and Beemers in this country—with best-selling books about spiriparked outside. tual salvation and the values of “The Christ”—that “If the system goes down, we all go down,” you almost expect a halo to appear over her head. It Williamson later says, sipping herbal tea in the also doesn’t hurt that, at 61, she still carries those lounge of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Even in this gleaming, natural, Ivory Snow girl looks that stood out on The New York Times best-selling author’s photos —MARIANNE WILLIAMSON intimate setting she is ethereally serene, yet very passionate about her political views—leaning forfor years, like the cheerleader in the computer club’s ward, patting my arm, eyes drilling into mine. “So yearbook shot. Marianne Williamson is running for Congress in the 33rd District, liter- many things have happened for the past few years that make every serious ally the “Left Coast”—it encompasses the city’s toniest progressive person want to step up and think about the future of this country,” she says. “I’ve done book deals and speaking contracts. I understand the high neighborhoods lining the Pacific, from Malibu down to Palos Verdes (with a stray finger reaching into Beverly Hills and Hancock Park). Come the June side of capitalism,” Williamson continues. “If you’re in the club, then 3 open primary, Williamson needs to be one of the top two vote getters in there’s no better place to be in the club than here [in the US]. But the order to appear on the final ballot on November 4. And anyone who might inequalities of this country need to be addressed at a fundamental level…. want to belittle her Independent run should remember that she has spent a Both our government and our financial system need to reclaim their ethigood part of the last three decades rousing readers and crowds such as this cal centers, or this country will not endure.” If anyone knows what that club is like, it’s this woman from Houston, who with her serene presence, subdued passion, and a 1960s eloquence rivaling that of her political hero, Bobby Kennedy. Also, there’s the possibility that by way of temp office jobs in New York post-college and a bit of youthful even God wants her to win. By some miracle, District 33’s congressional fix- partying (“Yes, I did inhale,” she freely admits, “but probably not more than ture for nearly 40 years, Henry Waxman, who was considered unbeatable, was typical of the times I grew up in”), came across the 1,000-plus page tome suddenly decided to retire a few weeks after Williamson entered the race. (“I A Course in Miracles, supposedly dictated by Jesus to psychologist Helen didn’t have any idea he was going to do that when I decided to run,” Schucman. The book inspired Williamson to write A Return to Love: Williamson later said. “At least not consciously.”) continued on page 64
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY DICKERSON
“This New-Age label is just used to trivialize people, but I’m not a dilettante.”
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VIEW FROM THE TOP
Williamson gets spiritual with longtime fan Oprah Winfrey on OWN network’s Super Soul Sunday.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARIANNE Let the celebs come to her… *on her star-studded school days: “At Pomona College my roommate was [Flashdance superproducer] Lynda Obst. But what’s perhaps more interesting is I went to high school in Houston with Randy Quaid, [Star Trek: The Next Generation actor] Brent Spiner, and [The West Wing cocreator] Thomas David Schlamme.”
*on officiating Elizabeth Taylor’s 1991 wedding to Larry Fortensky at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch: “She called and asked me to do it. But remember, given all the times she was married, she asked a lot of people.”
*on the misattribution of her most famous quote to Nelson Mandela (“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure”): “As honored as I would be had President Mandela quoted my words, he simply didn’t. It’s from my book Return to Love. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m gratified that the paragraph has come to mean so much to so many people.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL TIGHE (MRAZ, BURNETT); GEORGE BURNS-HARPO INC. (WINFREY)
continued from page 63 Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, which in 1992 became an Oprah Winfrey favorite, spent 39 weeks on The New York Times best-seller list, and catapulted the then-40year-old author into the vanguard of the mainstream self-help movement. She has since written nine more self-help books, which together have sold more than 3 million copies. Despite her success and fame, her two-bedroom apartment in Brentwood is striking for its lack of ostentation. She is a single mom of a 23-year-old daughter, India, who is currently studying in London. This is not a woman who has been lost in what she calls “woo-woo land.” “This New-Age label is just used to trivialize people, including me,” she notes. “But I have not been a dilettante when it comes to spirituality, and I’m not a dilettante when it comes to politics, either.” Exhibit A in this regard would have to be her 1997 book, Healing the Soul of America, 344 pages of detailed discussion and analysis of the issues that have become the political hot buttons of our time. Exhibit B is that Williamson is not just handing her candidacy to the “Good Vibrations” set. Among her staff is political samurai John Shallman, who oversaw Wendy Greuel’s last race for mayor, as well as Joe Trippi, who helped snatch the congressional seat BELOW: Jason Mraz for Janice Hahn during 2011’s brutal special congressional election for serenades Williamson District 36. Williamson has also already raised almost $500,000—and and her campaign backers in Malibu; even though several million dollars will be required to win, she has yet Williamson with to tap the fortunes of her deep-pocketed spiritual followers (more than supporters Mark Burnett and Roma 400,000 on Facebook and 200,000 on Twitter), who sprawl all the way to Downey. the East Coast and beyond. And despite some rather radical-sounding platforms (“My primary interest would be to support a constitutional amendment outlawing the undue influence of money in politics.”), her vision transcends political views, and indeed even spiritual ones. Take District 33 resident Zachary Treadwell, a former Republican who is now a Williamson advisor and fundraiser. “The US Congress, complete with its whopping 9 percent approval rating, has been disengaged from the democratic process for too long now,” he says. “If it takes a new perspective of thought to create a new and needed discourse, I am all for it.” Treadwell, who describes himself as a “nonpracticing agnostic,” doesn’t own so much as an incense burner. Not that Williamson’s New-Age aura is necessarily as big a political drag as many pundits have suggested, especially given the unique characteristics of the area she wants to represent. “I’ve been told that if I want to be taken seriously as a candidate, I’ve got to stop having all these yoga fundraisers,” Williamson says with a smile. “But this is District 33! If everyone who owns a yoga mat votes for me, we win.” LAC
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Majordomo! CBS is giving cable a run for its money with monster-hit series Under the Dome— thanks in part to Rachelle Lefevre’s no-holds-barred performance.
as well as independent and feature films including Twilight and Barney’s Version—Lefevre, 35, is today playing the lead in CBS’s 13-episode series, which is equal parts science fiction, psychological thriller, and study in human behavior. The show, which is based on (but not altogether true to) Stephen King’s 2009 book, follows the peoLife-changing ple of Chester’s Mill after a mysterious purchase: Vintage dome descends on their town, cutting them Chloé boots. “I bought off from the outside world. Inside the them at Decades Two in LA on Melrose. It’s so dome, the residents struggle with mainshallow, but it’s true. taining life as they know it while the I love those boots. hamlet’s more nefarious neighbors duke it They’re here on set out in a Machiavellian power struggle. with me in Wilmington, “The most horrifying thing [about the North Carolina, and I just wore them all over show] is realizing what your neighbor is Europe—I’m obsessed.” capable of,” says Lefevre. “The writers Table for one: really want to come out swinging in the “I really like to eat first episode as we lose two major characalone. I’ll take myself ters, and I like that for our show; that feels on dates with a book.” more like a cable choice. I hope that netStaycation: work TV-cable divide will continue to “I’m way more of an diminish in terms of the risks people are Eastsider than I am a Westsider, but willing to take.” I will happily lose a “Rachelle is a beautiful, caring, and day to Abbot Kinney committed actress,” says Mike Vogel, in Venice.” Lefevre’s costar and love interest Dale “Barbie” Barbara on Under the Dome. “She’s got a razor-sharp wit outdone only by her intellect.” Born to an English teacher father and psychologist mother in Montreal, Lefevre trained in the Sanford Meisner method of acting and had aspirations of going to his Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. But Hollywood intervened in 2005 when Lefevre was cast in the Fox pilot, Life on a Stick, and had to move SMALL-SCREEN STAR/INDUSTRY DARLING RACHELLE west for filming. “People talked about it like New LEFEVRE COMES BACK WITH A BANG THIS SEASON IN THE York was where you went to cultivate your talent and CBS/STEPHEN KING COLLAB UNDER THE DOME. BY JILL SIERACKI LA was where you went to be a star,” says the actress, who has recently been linked to a star of another stripe—Top Chef ’s Chris Crary, the chef de cuisine at y challenge is trying to convince people that my best work is ahead Whist Restaurant at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica. And with Under the Dome, last summer’s number-one series, which averaged of me and I can do more than I’ve done,” says actress Rachelle Lefevre, who starting June 30, reprises her role as intrepid journal- more than 10 million viewers each week, it looks like Lefevre is one step closer ist Julia Shumway on CBS’s sci-fi drama Under the Dome—an all-time ratings to superstardom. “When I think about playing a lead role versus a supporting role, it’s not that I value one more than the other; it’s that I’d rather play the lead smash for the network. With more than a decade’s worth of experience in roles of rising acclaim— because then I’ll be working more,” says Lefevre. “I want to be central to the including two short-lived television series, What About Brian and A Gifted Man, storytelling process—that’s where I want to be every day.” LAC
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“M 66
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN HILL
Networking It
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Life’s a Beach SANTA MONICA GIRLABOUT-TOWN-TURNEDRESTAURATEUR YUNNIE KIM MORENA EXPLAINS HER OBSESSION WITH THE SM LIFESTYLE. AS TOLD TO JEN JONES DONATELLI
For Yunnie Kim Morena, the Santa Monica Pier isn’t just a colorful place where Cirque trapeze artists, sugarhyped children, and tourists intermix—it’s almost a second home. After spending her youth helping her family run SM Pier Seafood, Morena took a detour through high fashion, opening four stores at Fred Segal Santa Monica. But last year she returned to take over the restaurant and reimagine it as a chic, East Coast–inspired seafood shack. Fittingly, Morena renamed the restaurant The Albright, for a type of nautical knot. “It signifies joining two generations together,” she explains. As she embarks on this new endeavor, Morena, 36, took a moment to reflect on the city she’s called home all her life—and the landmarks that make it special.
M
y parents opened SM Pier Seafood back in 1977—in old episodes of Three’s Company, you can see the characters walking by the restaurant. My grandmother used to fry 150 shrimp in tempura batter every day; this was before sushi and Asian fusion food got really trendy, and people would be lining up to try it. Some of my first and fondest memories are of accompanying her to the Santa Monica Farmers Market; it’s the place where I first
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learned about fresh produce and fell in love with food. My dialogue with the vendors started at a young age because my Korean-born grandma didn’t speak English, and it continues today when I take my son to the market every week to browse for The Albright. Some of our favorite vendors include Harry’s Berries and Gloria’s Produce. I also love the Farmers Market because it’s one of the only things in Santa Monica that is still in the same location, exactly where it was 30 years ago. Going to Station 26 (the lifeguard station at Ocean Park Beach) is another thing that brings me back to those early days. Growing up, it was the meeting place; all of the “cool” kids went there to hang out. Now my family often picnics there with sandwiches and smoothies from Santa Monica Farms, or I’ll go solo with my beach cruiser just to take a moment for myself. So much of who I am was inspired by the surf/skate culture I grew up with in old-school Santa Monica, and that scene is still very much alive at this vibrant outpost. Supporting Santa Monica’s small businesses has always been really important to me; it’s continued on page 70
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY DICKERSON
Pier-fection! Yunnie Kim Morena (LEFT) swapped Fred Segal for fresh seafood when she took over her family’s 37-year-old restaurant on the historic Santa Monica Pier (BELOW) .
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NATIVE CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Morena and her mother, Hae Ju Kim, reimagined The Albright with a chic New England twist; Hotel Casa Del Mar is a romantic refuge for the entrepreneur and her husband; many of The Albright’s ingredients are sourced at the Santa Monica Farmers Market.
“Even though I’ve traveled quite a bit, everything I ever wanted was right here—wrapped up in one little town.”
SHORE THINGS! Santa Monica Farmers Market (310-458-8712; smgov.net/ portals/farmersmarket/)
—YUNNIE KIM MORENA
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without having to travel east of Barrington. How many other beach towns have boutiques that carry Valentino and Costume National? In 2012, [part of] the Fred Segal building got sold, and around that time my mother told me that she was ready to retire. I went to my husband and told him I felt like the timing was meant to be [for us to take over the restaurant]. All of the stars were aligned, and we reopened as The Albright in January of this year. We’re so thankful for the success we’ve experienced so far, and it’s only getting better. I’ll be calling on my fashion background to do merchandising and help create more of a lifestyle brand for the restaurant. Recently we acquired the license to do a “Popeye the Sailor Man”–themed clothing collection. Since the character was based on a real man who used to hang out on the Pier, we thought that was the perfect place to start. There is a certain pride you take on as a native; I joke with my husband that he should run for mayor of Santa Monica. We have so much love for this city. It’s accessible to so many different things: the beach, fine dining, and ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Even though I’ve traveled quite a bit, everything I ever wanted was right here—wrapped up in one little town. LAC
Santa Monica Farms (2015 Main St.; 310-396-4069) Café Bolívar (1741 Ocean Park; 310-581-2344; cafebolivar.com) Giorgio Baldi (114 W. Channel Road; 310-573-1660; giorgiobaldi.us) Casa Del Mar (1910 Ocean Way; 310-581-5533; hotelcasadelmar.com) Savannah (706 Montana Ave.; 310-458-2095; savannahsantamonica.com) Weathervane For Women (1209 Montana Ave.; 310-393-5344; weathervaneforwomen.com) The Albright (258 Santa Monica Pier; 310-394-9683; thealbright.com)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY DICKERSON (MORENA); LISA ROMEREIN (CASA DEL MAR)
continued from page 68 ingrained in me since I grew up in a family-owned business. One of my favorites is Café Bolívar. It offers original homemade food and is known for its arepas (which are like Venezuelan corn tortillas on steroids). I spent many days here with my laptop, a yerba mate latte, and an arepa, finetuning all the details of The Albright. It’s my “office away from the office.” For date nights, my husband [Greg Morena, CFO of streetwear/media brand The Hundreds] and I head to Giorgio Baldi or Casa Del Mar. Casa Del Mar has extra-special meaning for us; in fact, we spent both our first night of being engaged and our first night as a married couple there. It’s always been our spot for cocktails and staycations. My love for food is rivaled only by my love for fashion—and Santa Monica has both in spades. Only here can you see everything from the highest-end designer clothing to people rocking cutoffs and Birkenstocks. My own first retail job was at a Montana Avenue boutique called And Apple Pie, and though that store (and many others) have come and gone since then, I still find myself perusing the street for fashion inspiration. Stores like Savannah and Weathervane For Women are my guilty pleasures; I love being able to get a beautiful designer handbag or dress
Station 26 (Ocean Park Beach, 2600 Barnard Way; 310-394-3261; smgov.net/ portals/beach/)
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Who’s the Girlboss? ONLINE RETAIL MEGAMOGUL SOPHIA AMORUSO OF NASTY GAL SEGUES FROM READY-TO-WEAR TO MUST-READ WITH A NEW BOOK THIS MONTH. BY ERIN MAGNER
Online fashion honcho Sophia Amoruso (FAR LEFT) is spilling her secrets to dot-com success in a hot-off-thepresses memoir (LEFT).
“If I can be a beacon of hope for women to branch out, I’m happy to be that.”
O
n the inside of her right arm, Sophia Amoruso has a tattoo that reads “1%.” It doesn’t mean what you think it would, given that she’s the founder, CEO, and creative director of Nasty Gal (nastygal.com), the fastest-growing US retailer of 2012, according to Inc. magazine (not to mention the most lusted-after fashion brand today among 20-something trendsetters). Rather, as the 30-year-old tech marvel explains in her just-debuted book, #GIRLBOSS, this particular bit of ink pays homage to a group of outlaw bikers who exist on the fringes of society—an ethos that resonates with Amoruso, whose ascent to the top was paved with fast-food jobs, anticapitalist leanings, and dumpsterscrounged breakfasts rather than Ivy League degrees and deans’ lists. Hers is a story that makes business editors drool, and in fact, it’s been told countless times in recent years. (The short version: After dropping out of community college, the Sacramento native started an eBay vintage store—then, through savvy social media marketing, personalized service, and an eye for what’s next, grew it into a $100 million business.)
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But these reports have never truly told all, which is why Amoruso was inspired to turn her legendary tale into a book. “There’s so much that made me capable of achieving what I have, and I wanted to be able to control that story and tell it completely in my own voice,” says Amoruso, who, with micro bangs, perpetually red lips, and an enviable arsenal of platform shoes rivaled only by funk singer Betty Davis (whose 1975 Nasty Gal album inspired the site’s name), is a natural poster child for her brand’s achingly cool fan base. “If you look at my Instagram page, the responses always [include comments like,] ‘I want to do what you’ve done!’ These girls want to kick ass and accomplish great things, and I think I can help with this book.” Part memoir, part career handbook, #GIRLBOSS sprinkles Amoruso’s story with business tips for the digital age, from online networking to dealing with investors. “Technology has given people a platform to become entrepreneurs in a way that wouldn’t have been possible in the past,” says the author, who originally recruited her rabid customer base using MySpace. She also affirms that her story has a feminist element—even though, as the head of a largely female-driven empire, she admits she hasn’t had to deal with much discrimination in the workplace. “If I can be a beacon of hope for women to branch out, do their own thing, and not take shit from anyone, I’m happy to be that,” she says. Clearly, there’s some magic to the Amoruso method. In the past year, Nasty Gal has launched its own private-label fashion line and moved its 200 SoCal employees into a new 50,000-square-foot Barbara Bestor – designed HQ in DTLA. And before 2014 is out, Amoruso has plans to open the label’s first brick-and-mortar shop in LA (“I’m excited about the ways we can bring technology into the stores,” she says). In other words, the kind of achievements that 1% dreams are made of. LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA CASOLARI (AMORUSO)
—SOPHIA AMORUSO
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THE ARBITERS
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DTLA’s landscape is being transformed by new luxury housing, restaurants, and retail; Joseph Young’s futuristic Triforium sculpture is a symbolic counterpoint to the 86-year-old City Hall; a mural enlivens a Quonset hut in the burgeoning Arts District.
Get Downtown! CAROL SCHATZ is the first woman to serve as president and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, an organization founded in 1924. A central figure in championing Downtown’s revitalization, she is considered to be a patron saint for developers and retailers in the district. BARBARA JACOBS wears many hats, among them owner of Barbara Jacobs Events and grande dame of Downtown hot spot The Edison. She works closely with Kinetescape head Andrew Meieran to develop cutting-edge venues in the Downtown area, including the soon-to-bereopened Clifton’s Cafeteria. BERT DEZZUTTI is senior vice president, western region, for Brookfield Office Properties, the company behind the new retail/food megacomplex FIGat7th.
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T
he Edison is one of those spaces that feels as if some top Hollywood production designers got together around a huge cement cauldron, tossed in some Gatsby, scads of leftover machinery, and furniture from William Randolph Hearst’s attic, stirred it all up, and unveiled something from a dream. While Andrew Meieran’s popular bar-restaurant qualifies as commercial real estate eye candy, it also represents something far more important for Downtown Los Angeles: a spectacular example of adaptive reuse. The Edison used to be a waterlogged dump. Now it’s a palace. And so it was the perfect place for a recent summit of three individuals who love Downtown like you love uncrowded freeways: Carol Schatz, president and CEO of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District and the Central City Association of Los Angeles; Bert Dezzutti, senior vice president, western region, for Brookfield Office Properties; and Barbara Jacobs, president of worldwide business development and special events for Kinetescape, Inc., which owns and runs The Edison. The discussion involved all things Downtown, especially adaptive reuse. The three are swooning over developments in the area, brought about in some part by the current trend of taking some old structures—like the Higgins Building, built in 1910, which housed the power plant that is now The Edison, for instance—and sprucing them up for commercial and residential use. continued on page 76
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES (SKYLINE); LAPL PHOTO COLLECTION (CITY HALL); MELISSA VALLADARES (QUONSET HUT)
AS DOWNTOWN EXPLODES INTO BOOMTOWN, THREE DTLA-ERS OF NOTE GIVE THE 213 ON LA’S MOST DYNAMIC “NEW” ’HOOD. BY MICHAEL VENTRE
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“I feel we have gone well past critical mass, and nothing can stop this explosion now.” —CAROL SCHATZ
continued from page 74 Is there a renaissance going on Downtown? Carol Schatz: Downtown in 1990 was 9 to 5—you drove in, you drove out. It was dark. In many cases it was blighted. In many places it was dirty and uncomfortable. I would say the change is transformational and revolutionary. It’s now 24/7 Downtown. We have 53,000 people living down here. We have a vibrant nightlife. Bert Dezzutti: There was a time historically when Downtown LA was the center of Los Angeles. The suburban sprawl and the car caused that to end. I think it is reclaiming what it once had, and it’s reinventing itself at the same time. Barbara Jacobs: It’s also environmental. People don’t want to be stuck in cars. CS: If I had to point to one thing that changed the face of Downtown, it was an ordinance that was passed by the City Council in June of 1999. The adaptive reuse ordinance made it easier for developers to convert old office buildings built before 1974 to housing. We knew we could never fill them up again, certainly [not] with Fortune 500 companies. You can’t bring life to a downtown area unless you have people living down there, because they use supermarkets, dry cleaners, and they want to walk their dogs at night. How did you create awareness? BD: What’s really happened here is word of mouth. It’s organic. The authenticity of this rebirth Downtown is being driven by people actually experiencing it—living, working, and playing here, and talking to others about it. Has the Metro helped? BD: It is only increasing in importance to Downtown LA because we’re the hub to all transportation. We’ve got a line under construction going to Santa Monica. CS: Many of the [Downtown] residents, if they have a car, they have one car. BJ: I was just at a meeting in which five couples said, “We sold our
second car.” Because you rarely need it. Twenty percent of my staff uses the Metro. That line to Santa Monica will make a huge, huge difference. Our guests use it. We’re getting more and more Hollywood parties that would only go to Hollywood and Beverly Hills because of the Metro. Downtown used to be known just as a home for artists. Has the population grown beyond that? BJ: It has changed. I’m seeing business people, whole families are moving down here. People are having their babies and staying here. CS: We do a demographic survey every two years. The surveys [show] more and more people are living and working Downtown. I think that number is going to increase. BD: If you come into one of our office buildings at 601 South Figueroa Street and look at the people in the lobby, they’re 24 to 32, and 20 to 30 percent of them are living Downtown. There are literally thousands of them. They all want this lifestyle experience. It’s the hottest residential market for a developer in Southern California. The demand is just off the charts. How is the new FIGat7th retail/ food development important? BD: We felt there was a demand for retail and food, and we thought we’d better get on this. One of Carol’s surveys came out and asked, “What do you want?” And the answer was “Target.” So we went to Target. It’s a pioneer. Target said, “Absolutely.” And then food came. The food people got it. There’s an old adage in retail: Food follows fashion. It has flipped, at least for Downtown LA. Fashion follows food! How has Downtown become more family-friendly? CS: One of the first things we felt we needed to do was provide educational options that would give people a reason to stay Downtown. Quite frankly, some of the public school options would not have been acceptable to a lot of our residents. So we helped a group of parents create a charter school in the South Park area
just east of [the Staples Center]. And over a five-year period we probably contributed $88 million to keeping Downtown safe and clean. I think that has had a remarkable impact on giving families the feeling of safety. BJ: I’m going to give you the more emotional answer: When the first baby was born in this building, we all went crazy. We put a picture of her in the lobby, and we called her the Downtown Baby. That family moved very quickly. Now this building—this 13-story, 135 residential-unit building—has babies. And they’re not moving away. The advent of green space Downtown speaks volumes. What are you looking forward to? CS: One word: more. We have 5,000 units primarily of rental housing in the area right now. We have 13,000 more units being planned. If this economy holds, a very good portion will be built. We have huge investment by multinational companies. Every sector of the market—retail, commercial, hospitality, entertainment, residential—they’re all exploding. Whereas I used to be really nervous about having reached critical mass, [when] anything could have knocked us off our foundation— I feel we have gone well past critical mass, and nothing can stop this explosion now. BD: You’re seeing investment from the Chinese, you’re seeing it from the Korean community, it’s now hitting on all cylinders. The last component to come is office. We have the law firms, the financial firms, the consulting firms. What we don’t have in a significant concentration are nontraditional uses—creative, technology. We’ve got fashion on the outside; let’s bring it inside. I believe those things are coming. BJ: I hope that we keep it interesting Downtown. The one thing about Downtown Los Angeles is that it’s not Beverly Hills and it’s not Pasadena and it’s not Santa Monica. There are interesting people in the arts and business. We are thoughtful in our choices Downtown and I hope we continue to be! LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA VALLADARES
THE ARBITERS
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
The Butterfly Effect CELEBRATING ITS ANNUAL BUTTERFLY BALL IN JUNE, CHRYSALIS MARKS 30 YEARS HELPING LA’S UNDERPRIVILEGED TAKE WING AND SOAR. BY MICHAEL VENTRE
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“Our clients need to feel like they have support in society… that people are not done with them.” —JOSH LIEBERMAN
FROM TOP: Russell Simmons, Rebecca Gayheart Dane, and Eric Dane at the 2013 Butterfly Ball; Chrysalis volunteer Keith Bandoske teaches money management basics to clients.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL MCKELVEY (SIMMONS)
I
f you’re lucky enough to acquire a ticket to the Butterfly Ball—at $1,000 a pop, they go like orchestra seats for The Book of Mormon —you will be joining the fight against homelessness at a gorgeous private home in an exclusive cranny of the city along with red-carpet royalty and other industry-related heavies, with seared steaks and to-die-for desserts and enough live entertainment from top-tier talent to qualify for the suffix “-palooza.” The juxtaposition of the cause and the event may seem incongruous in another context, but the Butterfly Ball is the annual fundraiser for Chrysalis, a nonprofit celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Chrysalis helps the homeless, but not in the traditional soup-kitchen-and-shelter way. The goal at Chrysalis is self-sufficiency, so the organization helps homeless and low-income individuals train for jobs and keep them. And the Butterfly Ball—the 13th edition is set for June 7 at the Mandeville Canyon estate of Chrysalis Chairman of the Board Hayward J. Kaiser and wife Susan Harris—hauls in enough money in both ticket revenue and contributions to help keep the operation running in high gear. “It’s fun,” notes Donna Langley, one of the event’s cochairs and a previous honoree. “But I think people come away feeling like their money has gone to good use and that they’ve done something good for the community.” The Butterfly Ball is the brainchild of actress Rebecca Gayheart Dane, who says she came to Chrysalis years ago, at a time in her life when she was doing some “soul searching” and needed a cause in which to get involved. “While I was there, it came that time of the month when the payroll was due and they couldn’t come up with the money,” she explains. “They came to me and said, ‘Can you come up with an idea for an event?’ For me it was like Fundraising For Dummies. But they said, ‘We know you can do it, Rebecca.’” With the help of some friends, Dane created the Butterfly Ball, which over the years has attracted such high-wattage attendees as Vince Vaughn, Olivia Wilde, Katey Sagal, Dave Grohl, Brett continued on page 80
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
FROM LEFT:
John Dillon Award recipient Johnny Gutierrez being honored onstage by his daughter at the 2013 Chrysalis Butterfly Ball; Chrysalis President and CEO Mark Loranger with honoree Josh Lieberman, his wife, Maryann, and their children.
Charity Regist er OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE.
RACE TO ERASE MS GALA What: After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993, philanthropist Nancy Davis founded Race to Erase MS to provide treatment, research, and ultimately a cure for the disease. The annual gala will begin with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner and live entertainment; last year’s attendees included Kelly Osbourne, Elton John, and Neil Patrick Harris. When: Friday, May 2
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Where: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Century City Website: erasems.org
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through the Chrysalis program, says President and CEO Mark Loranger. “Last year 1,500 got outside employment and another 500 worked within the Chrysalis enterprises,” he says. Some of the organization’s success can be attributed to the work of people like Josh Lieberman, a longtime CAA agent who has been volunteering with Chrysalis for about eight years and was honored by the organization in 2013. He counsels clients on how to prepare for interviews, suggesting what to say (and what not to say) and giving them pep talks. “They need to feel like they have support in society… that people are not done with them,” he explains. The instinct that keeps bringing Lieberman back is the same one that keeps bringing donors back to the Butterfly Ball. “What’s wonderful,” Dane says, “is that when I get people involved, they get really involved. When we get somebody on board, they’re not on board for one year, they’re on board for many.” LAC
What: For the seventh year, actor and comedian George Lopez will host a celebrity golf tournament to help underprivileged children, adults, and military families access education and health care. 2013’s participants included Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Cedric the Entertainer, and Sarah Hyland of Modern Family. Ticketholders will attend a banquet, awards ceremony, and auction. When: Monday, May 5
Where: Lakeside Golf Club, 4500 Lakeside Dr., Burbank Website: thelopezfoundation.org
SUPER SATURDAY
What: The Hamptons’ most glamorous shopping party is coming to LA. Hosted by Molly Sims and Rachel Zoe, the sale will feature half-price designer clothing, accessories, and more to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. When: Saturday, May 17 Where: The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., No. 203, Santa Monica Website: ocrf.org
continued on page 82
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL MCKELVEY (GUTIERREZ); MICHAEL BUCKNER/GETTY IMAGES FOR CHRYSALIS (LORANGER)
continued from page 78 Ratner, Mary J. Blige, and many others. Balthazar and Rosetta Getty are confirmed for this year’s event honoring Jim Berk and Jeff Skoll of Participant Media and Jay Sures of United Talent Agency, while regulars Russell Simmons, L.L. Cool J., Lea Michele, and Molly Sims are expected as well. Seth MacFarlane has served as master of ceremonies four times; one year he even jumped into the swimming pool with his clothes on in exchange for a $50,000 donation to Chrysalis. (Shhh, this year’s MC is a surprise.) Dane reports that the inaugural event—held at Ron Burkle’s house after Dane sweetly badgered him into offering the use of his property—raised $400,000, and by contrast, last year’s brought in $1.4 million. Invariably the biggest hit of any Butterfly Ball is the appearance and heartfelt speech from the individual who wins that year’s John Dillon Award, given to someone whose success story is especially compelling. Last year it went to 53-year-old Johnny Gutierrez, a former drug dealer and user with a veritable LACMA’s worth of body art, who spent 21 of his first 43 years behind bars. With the help of Chrysalis, Gutierrez turned his life around and reunited with his estranged daughter. He now works as a counselor and is pursuing a master’s degree. Gutierrez describes his appearance at last year’s ball as “up until now the high point of my life.” He says Chrysalis has an uncanny ability to connect with people. “I went there with such low self-esteem. I didn’t think anybody would hire me. Their personal care treated me like I was a human being and someone they believed in.” Every year nearly 4,000 new clients come
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
continued from page 80
TASTE OF THE NATION LOS ANGELES
Who, What, Care! FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE STARS REBECCA ROTHSTEIN WANTS YOUR MONEY FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.
What: Taste of the Nation brings together LA’s top restaurants, bars, and breweries to help eradicate childhood hunger in the US. Among this year’s participating chefs are Tony Esnault (Church & State), Mette Williams (Culina), and C.J. Jacobson (Girasol). Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, California Association of Food Banks, and California Food Policy Advocates. When: Sunday, June 1 Where: Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City Website: ce.strength.org/losangeles
BY MICHAEL VENTRE
R
ebecca Rothstein is money, in both übercool, Swingers-style parlance and in actual greenback stacking. She is a Los Angelesbased private wealth advisor for Merrill Lynch with almost unparalleled acumen and access— ask Barron’s; she was on that mag’s list of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in America for six consecutive years through 2012. She pals around with Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, but not in a “Look at me, I’m backstage!” kind of way. And Rothstein has been just as successful in her efforts to support Teen Cancer America (teencanceramerica.org)—an outgrowth of the Teen Cancer Trust, which has long been a passion of the rock duo. We sat down with Rothstein to discuss her involvement with the charity and the impact it’s had on her life. How did you get involved in Teen Cancer America? About four or five years ago, Jordan Kaplan (of Douglas Emmett) asked me if I would help him do a fundraiser for the UCLA Early Childhood Partial Hospitalization for Autism. I asked my dear friend Roger Daltrey, “Would you mind singing at this event to raise money for autism?” And he said, “Not at all, Rebecca. Happy to help you.” At the end of the event—where we raised a million dollars—I asked Roger, “What can we do for you?” He said, “I always wanted to have the Teen Cancer Trust come to America.” Why is there a need for teen cancer support? If you are a baby, and you’re sick, your parents
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BEASTLY BALL rush you immediately to the pediatrician. If you’re an adult and you’re not feeling well, you know it. When you’re a teenager and you tell your parents, “Mom, my leg’s bothering me,” or “My shoulder’s hurting me,” your parents don’t immediately rush you to an oncologist. In many cases, the diagnosis for teenagers comes late because they have growing pains, they complain a lot, and they’re just a pain in the ass. When you are a teenager and you’re sick, in almost every hospital in America, you sit with an older person in a room with you or with babies. So we are dedicated to carving out special locations inside hospitals where we put teenagers together both as inpatients and outpatients. How successful have you been? We’re currently in discussion with 33 of the biggest hospitals in the country. We expect to be in 50 to 60 hospitals within the next three years. We’re at the forefront of something that will make a national presence. With your position, do you feel you are uniquely qualified to help Teen Cancer? Only in the sense that I know a lot of people. When you advise people, you’re careful not to ask them for donations. But we’ve been involved with enough people that we now get phone calls. How do you do it all? We have an unbelievably powerful board and we all donate our time. I literally spend 15 to 20 hours a week on this—for no other reason than it’s touched my heart. LAC
What: The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association is celebrating the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ new Rainforest of Americas habitat with an after-hours party. Guests will experience a special zoo tour, dancing, dining, and a silent auction. Ticket sales help fund plant and animal exhibits, species conservation, capital projects, education, and community outreach programs. When: Saturday, June 14 Where: Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr., LA Website: lazoo.org/beastlyball
A+D MUSEUM GALA
What: The Architecture and Design Museum’s 13th annual gala fundraiser celebrates California beach communities, a source of continual inspiration for artists, designers, and architects. Actor Boise Thomas will return as emcee and host a sun and surf–themed silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the museum, fostering its ever-expanding calendar of events and increasing attendance. When: Saturday, June 28 Where: Variety Building, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., LA Website: aplusd.org/celebrate-2014
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Culture
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Cinema X-Otica H
ollywood, the doctor is in. Not the sleek and shiny Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who promises to keep his work beautifully superficial; the Malibu rehab rejuvenator who pledges to go for the deep, healing burn; or the Brentwood life-coach-cum-yoga-guru who espouses physical and spiritual flexibility to view the big picture. It’s Francesco Vezzoli, the Italian contemporary multimedia practitioner who, through August 11, will take center stage in “Cinema Vezzoli” at MOCA’s Grand Avenue mother ship. This is the 43-year-old artist’s first solo show on the West Coast as well as one-third of “The Trinity,” a series of
three Vezzoli exhibitions that stretch from last year’s “Galleria Vezzoli” at the National Museum of XXI Century Arts (MAXXI) in Rome, to the here and now at MOCA, to “The Church of Vezzoli” later this year at New York’s MoMA PS1. Since the beginning of his career, following studies at the prestigious Central Saint Martins School of Art in London, the Milan-based Vezzoli has examined the cinematic corpus— analyzing, decoding, and deconstructing movies, the dream machine behind them, and the supporting circulatory system of celebrity, all to question their impact on mainstream culture and the public imagination. To do so, his
media have ranged from tapestry and sculpture to paintings and works on paper. But Vezzoli is perhaps best known for his videos. Sensationally irreverent, erudite, often wildly amusing pieces that raise eyebrows and drop jaws while drawing on everything from high culture to kitsch, they often bear attenuated titles like Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula, The Kiss (Let’s Play Dynasty), and La Dolce Vita (Jeu de Paume, Je t’aime! Advertisement for an Exhibition That Will Never Open). They’re often created in collaboration with a catalog of marquee actors (Cate Blanchett, Courtney Love, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Sharon Stone... the list
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GUY FERRANDIS, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST, © THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, LOS ANGELES, GIFT OF THE ARTIST
THIS MONTH, MOCA AND CONTROVERSIAL ITALIAN ARTIST FRANCESCO VEZZOLI TURN THE MUSEUM INTO A MOVIE PALACE… FOR ADULTS ONLY. BY MICHAEL HERREN
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OPPOSITE PAGE:
Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman in Greed, The New Fragrance by Francesco Vezzoli, 2009. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Milla Jovovich in Trailer for a Remake of Gore Vidal’s Caligula, 2005; Eva Mendes in La Dolce Vita (Jeu De Paume, Je t’aime! Advertisement for an Exhibition That Will Never Open), 2009; Francesco Vezzoli.
“[At age 8] I knew Studio 54 represented the epicenter of culture and lifestyle, and I was enthralled by it.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHIAS VRIENS , COURTESY OF TATE MODERN, LONDON AND THE SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION NEW YORK (JOVOVICH); PASQUALE ABBATTISTA, COURTESY PRADA COLLECTION, MILAN (MENDES), COURTESY OF MOCA (VEZZOLI)
—FRANCESCO VEZZOLI
stretches on), directors such as Roman Polanski, and cultural arbiters and critics the likes of the late Gore Vidal and Bernard-Henri Lévy. In Trailer, for example, Imperial Rome at its most decadent and orgiastic is relocated to the house and grounds of a pillared palace that would look at home in the Hollywood Hills—although neighbors might complain about Helen Mirren leading two comely nude slaves by leashes around the property while calling out “Caligula!” “I’ve never talked to an agent in my life,” says Vezzoli, explaining that his first celebrity casting—the former Italian pop singer and game show host Iva Zanicchi in 1997’s OK, The Praz is Right!—came about from a simple, old-fashioned letter in which he introduced himself, described the project, and requested her participation. That video and its positive reception in turn led to projects with other European divas such as Valentina Cortese and Marisa Berenson, and Vezzoli’s supernova was soon born.
“London was new, challenging, even violent culturally, so afterward I turned to Italian cinema—Visconti, De Sica, Fellini—as a kind of familiar lifesaver,” says Vezzoli, whose celluloid connection stretches back to his early childhood. “My mother remembers that when I was 5 years old, I was obsessed with Magnificent Obsession,” remembers the artist, adding that, according to his grandmother, by age 8 the boy from Brescia had become equally enamored with Studio 54, which, like his videos decades later, would combine cultures high and low and cover them with a veneer of glamour and celebrity that masked a less perennially gilded reality. “I knew it represented the epicenter of culture and lifestyle, and I was enthralled by it,” he says. It was, in fact, Vezzoli’s first video, OK, The Praz is Right!, that introduced Alma Ruiz, the senior MOCA curator helming “Cinema Vezzoli,” to the artist’s work. In it, she saw attributes common in Vezzoli’s art: a northern Italian
sensibility based in a refined, highly cultured vibe alongside a “torrent of cross references and fragmentation”; a fascination with and focus on powerful, well-known women who, although famous, “aren’t public about their private lives”; embroidery, “a literal through line through his work, no pun intended;” and Vezzoli’s incorporation of, well, Vezzoli into his work, “be that presence extremely subtle, which is his norm, or more central,” Ruiz clarifies. Like a movie, “Cinema Vezzoli” builds in spectacle. Galleries are dedicated to the female figure in film and movie posters, 45 minutes of video play in a specially constructed theatrical environment, and an entirely new work is on view. “He discussed the piece with me in January,” says Ruiz, “then wrote to say he might change his mind.” That, after all, is showbiz. “Cinema Vezzoli” will be on display April 27
through August 11 at MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., LA, 213-626-6222; moca.org LAC
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ART FULL
Untitled, 2013, by Wu Jian’an, from Beijing/New York-based Chambers Fine Art, one of the first US galleries to promote Chinese contemporary artists.
How the East Has Won IT’S A NEW CULTURAL REVOLUTION AS ART BASEL HONG KONG 2 TAKES ASIA BY STORM. BY SUE HOSTETLER
“The highlight is exposing new audiences to the depth of work from the broader Asian region, and being part of that experience of discovery.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND CHAMBERS FINE ART
I
n just a few short years, Hong Kong has been transformed from a city that many considered a cultural desert to the fourth-largest global market for contemporary art, according to Artprice, an art market information source. More than $130 million of work was sold in 2013, partially due to record-setting auctions and the rise of billionaire art collectors in China. As recently as 2008, there were no major art fairs in Asia, but the visionaries behind the powerful Art Basel shows in nearly 30 participants at the end of the week, a unique element of ABHK that Switzerland and Miami Beach helped push the cultural revolution forward is not seen at other fairs. Much preshow buzz has surrounded the funky Irish gallery Mother’s Tankstation and its presentation of the work of Sydney-based last year when they debuted Art Basel in the former British protectorate. Asia’s second annual art fair—which opens Thursday, May 15, and fea- artist Noel McKenna, whose figurative pieces contemplate the human conditures a slate of 245 of the world’s most-influential galleries from 39 tion and make him one to watch in Discoveries. Also creating excitement is the Encounters sector—featuring large-scale countries—will help add even more international credibility and exposure to sculptural and installation pieces—being curated by the Asian art market. “Every fair has its own mission and Japan’s highly regarded Yuko Hasegawa of the vision,” says show director Magnus Renfrew, “and Art Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. “Last year Basel in Hong Kong aspires to provide a fair for Asia of Yuko’s selection spurred a compelling discourse global stature and the highest quality while retaining its around contrasting generational and cultural unique regional flavor. Hong Kong has long been approaches to artistic practices,” says Renfrew. “I regarded as the portal connecting the East and the West. have every confidence that her program this year will It is a major financial hub and as such is designed to allow again present ambitious works that act as conversation for very professional and efficient transactions.” points throughout the exhibition halls.” This year’s show will be marked by a continuation of the And one of Miami’s most beloved events—the Film strong programming that is a hallmark of the two other sector—will debut in Hong Kong this year, developed Art Basel shows, but will offer new elements sure to draw by Chinese multimedia artist and curator Li Zhenhua collectors from Los Angeles and beyond. The Discoveries and hosted in partnership with the Hong Kong Arts sector, which is dedicated to solo and two-person exhibiCentre. It is collaborations with local institutions such tions by emerging artists, is shaping up to be particularly exceptional. A $25,000 prize will be awarded to one of continued on page 88 —MAGNUS RENFREW
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ART FULL
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT:
continued from page 86 as these that help Art Basel recognize, support, and promote the exploding contemporary art scene in Hong Kong. Also spurring the boom: The government is pouring billions of dollars into developing a cultural district in West Kowloon, while the new M+—an ambitious Herzog & de Meuron–designed world-class museum slated for completion in 2017—further illustrates Hong Kong’s commitment to its future support of the visual arts. But maybe the most significant indicator is the number of respected western galleries like Gagosian, White Cube, and Lehmann Maupin that have opened Hong Kong outposts over the last few years. These dealers, along with influential homegrown stalwarts such as 10 Chancery Lane, Galerie Ora-Ora, and Pearl Lam, are instrumental in developing and nurturing the careers of artists and collections in the region. According to Renfrew, these relationships with the local galleries and institutions (including Asia Art Archive, Para/Site, the Asia Society, and Spring Workshop) are imperative to ABHK as they create a show “grounded in the city.” “We want to promote long-term arts infrastructure development and encourage associated programming across the city,” says Renfrew. “The growth of Hong Kong’s museum sector and contemporary arts education will truly impact the larger discourse in the city, and that is something that we aim—through long-term partnerships—to cultivate.” The fair’s impact and thematic reach is sure to be much broader than just the Asian region. One needs to look no further than the talks planned as part of the Conversations and Salon programs. A discussion titled the “Global Art World/Making Biennials” will feature luminaries Juliana Engberg, artistic director of the 2014 Biennale of Sydney and artistic director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; Eungie Joo, curator of the 2015 Sharjah Biennial; and Jessica Morgan, artistic director of the 10th Gwangju Biennale and The Daskalopoulos Curator, International Art at Tate Modern, London. The seminar will be moderated by Hou Hanru, artistic director at Maxxi Museum in Rome. “This is a conversation that has real international relevancy, reflecting the transitional reality of today’s art world,” explains Renfrew. Programming such as this, coupled with a rapidly maturing Asian art market and the resurgence of Chinese art exhibitions across the US, and especially in California, will undoubtedly help draw record numbers of highly informed collectors to the fair this month. With so much anticipation building around the fair, what does Renfrew
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most look forward to? “The highlight is exposing new audiences to the depth of work from the broader Asian region, and being part of that experience of discovery when collectors come to know artists they have not yet seen… or when curators have an opportunity to join in dialogue with artists whose work they have long followed.” Art Basel in Hong Kong takes place May 15 through 18; visit artbasel.com/hong-kong. LAC
THE LA-HK CONNECTION Local art insiders give the scoop on the fair. Susanne Vielmetter, founder of Los Angeles Projects Gallery: “I am excited about the Asian audience’s response to contemporary art from the US. I am confident that Art Basel Hong Kong will connect the two art scenes more.” Scott Stover, president of Global Art Development: “Each year I go to Asia there is a significant increase in the
number of local collectors with an evident increase in connoisseurship.” Kulapat Yantrasast, architect of the new David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles: “The mixing of Asian traditional values, current political beliefs, vibrant contemporary cultures, and the larger global contemporary art market has produced vibrant, dynamic, and strong messages in art.”
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ART BASEL (2013 SHOW, RENFREW); COURTESY OF GALERIE ORA-ORA, HONG KONG AND BEIJING (PENG WEI)
Embroidery Series (Clothing) by Peng Wei, 2003-2012, which looks like a traditional Chinese robe, but is actually a contemporary expression of the age-old Chinese technique of ink painting; visitors in the foyer of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for ABHK 2013; Magnus Renfrew, show director of Art Basel in Hong Kong.
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THIS ISSUE: AFTERNOON DELIGHT
West meets east: Suits mingle with Japanese patchwork quilts in Hinoki & the Bird’s alwayspacked outdoor dining room. BELOW: Coconutcurried mussels with sausage and cauliflower.
Bird in Paradise S
ince it’s tucked inside a posh Century City condominium complex, it’s almost a rite of passage to get lost when trying to find Hinoki & the Bird. (Even most GPS devices are stumped when it comes to tracking down this restaurant.) But once inside, chef and restaurateur David Myers’ latest offering—which, since lunch service began last year, has quietly become the entertainment industry’s go-to afternoon hot spot—one is rewarded with an overwhelming sense of place. Think aromatic yuzu citrus plants, Japanese patchwork quilts draped over banquettes, and a calminducing, nature-centric indoor/outdoor layout. Welcome to Myers’ modern version of Pacific dreaming, where California glamour and Asian Zen meet. “[This concept] was born of my travels throughout Asia—my head and heart were in exploration of the food along the Silk Road,” explains Myers, best known locally for Comme Ça and the now-defunct, once-Michelin-starred Sona. Myers likens the overall vision to a fable, and if the first year of business is any indication, this is just the first of many chapters. The restaurant was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants of 2013, attracting star patrons like Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Chelsea Handler.
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General manager Nick Moore says the restaurant now hits capacity (150 guests) daily during lunch; much of the draw stems from its close proximity to agencies CAA, ICM, and UTA as well as its subterranean, off-the-beaten-path setting. “It’s kind of got that who’s-who feeling,” says Moore. “When people are entertaining clients, I think they like to have the feeling they’re somewhere special, showing them this hidden secret.” Yet Hinoki & the Bird eschews the formality one might expect from a power-lunching den. Servers wear Japanese denim instead of shirts and ties, and there is nary a white tablecloth in sight. “A lot of us [agents] go to the same restaurants over and over again, and there are some places in Beverly Hills that make you feel like, ‘Wow, where am I in the pecking order today?’” says regular Hans Schiff, a CAA agent who represents Gordon Ramsay and Bear Grylls. “This is a much more egalitarian room and friendly vibe.” That friendly vibe also translates to the food, much of which is designed for sharing via small plates. It’s an intentional departure from Myers’ former continued on page 92
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SAMPLE
COME LUNCHTIME, POWER HUSTLERS AND WANDERLUSTERS ARE FLOCKING TO DAVID MYERS’ ASIAN/CALI-INSPIRED OVER-THE-TOP UNDER-THE-RADAR HINOKI & THE BIRD. BY JEN JONES DONATELLI
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continued from page 90 Sona, known for its lavish nine-course tasting menu. Yet his fine-dining roots are still apparent—Myers cites former employer Charlie Trotter as one of his influences in Hinoki & the Bird’s cuisine. “He always brought a great Japanese minimalist angle to things, which was odd because he’d never been to Japan. I thought that was incredible,” says Myers. Unlike his mentor, however, journeys to Japan—and beyond—have had a major influence on Myers and his concept. The word “hinoki” is a nod to the Japanese cedar tree that serves as the “roots” of the restaurant, while “the bird leaves the tree and comes back”—an analogy for the culinary team’s frequent travels. For instance, before opening, Myers and his staff took research trips to Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand, and Executive Chef Kuniko Yagi took a yearlong unpaid sabbatical to study under Japan’s fine-dining chefs. The end result is reflected in the eclectic menu, with dishes like caramel-braised Kurobuta pork belly and miso-marinated skirt steak. Ultimately, the restaurant is an exercise in exploration for Myers, a self-described —NICK MOORE nomad who goes by the Instagram handle @gypsychef, and Yagi, whose upcoming foodie travel destinations include Bali and Sri Lanka. “Being that [the West Coast] is sort of the gateway to Asia, we strive for that perfect mix of Asian sensibility with exotic notes and impeccable California ingredients,” says Myers. “At the end of the day, Hinoki & the Bird has been a really great way to translate my fondness for the foods and flavors I’ve experienced throughout Asia—coupled with a location that is spectacular.” 10 Century Dr., LA,
“When people are entertaining clients, they like to feel… they are showing them this hidden secret.”
310-552-1200; hinokiandthebird.com LAC
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WHAT TO ORDER Stop and smell the hinoki! Named one of Jonathan Gold’s “10 Best Dishes of 2013,” the hinoki-scented black cod provides a feast for all the senses. “You see the smoke and fire on the plate and you experience the smell as it’s brought to the table,” says chef Kuniko Yagi, who learned the technique in Kyoto, Japan. “Hinoki trees are used to make shrines, so the sheets we burn on top of the fish represent our presentation of Japanese culture.” Other best-selling dishes include the lobster roll, chili crab toast, and beef tartare, and there’s also a popular lunch-only noodle menu. Oh, and for dessert? Miso donuts with honey caramel, please.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SAMPLE
FROM ABOVE: Executive Chef Kuniko Yagi (LEFT) spent a year studying with Japan’s culinary shoguns; chili crab toast with spicy cucumber and coriander.
Covered by an asymmetrical wood trellis and separated from the restaurant by a wall of expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the serene outdoor space provides a welcome dose of serenity for the restaurant’s busy professional clientele. “People request the patio, especially the little island in the center,” says general manager Nick Moore. Those who prefer a more social dining experience can convene indoors at the copper-sheathed communal table (which has a great view of the open kitchen).
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NOSH SPICE Young chefs around LA are reinventing one of the world’s great comfort cuisines—Jewish deli food. BY ERIC ROSEN
Not your grandpa’s schmear: At Plan Check Fairfax, smoked salmon “pastrami” is nestled beneath squid-ink cream cheese and an everything bagel chip.
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Amanda
Gunderson exalts the Paloma as the perfect midday drink; at Bestia, the low-proof Pimm’s Cup is now a popular lunchtime quaff.
Twelve O’Clock Salut! CANCEL THOSE AFTERNOON MEETINGS, THE LUNCHTIME COCKTAIL IS COMING BACK INTO FASHION. BY MATTHEW STEWART
F
or some, drinking on a weekday conjures up images of Mickey Rourke in Barfly, teetering on a stool in the murky light of midday. But as most LA mixologists will agree, there is a happy medium between a three-martini lunch and a ho-hum iced tea with lemon. “Having a cocktail [during the day] is a chance to be social and help close a deal,” says Amanda Gunderson, who has been behind numerous legendary local bars (Eveleigh, Rivera, Sadie) and is now director of mixology for Congenial Spirits. For this kind of pre-happy hour indulgence, Gunderson recommends ordering a Paloma—a light sip made with simple syrup, lime, grapefruit, and tequila. “I think that agave spirits and Los Angeles go hand in hand… and I like to infuse the syrup with basil,” she says. Botanicals have been trending for the last several years, but are now being created in less-potent blends, perfect for daytime. Karen Grill of hot DTLA restaurant Bestia (2121 Seventh Pl., LA, —AMANDA GUNDERSON 213-514-5724; bestiala.com) says: “The movement in cocktails right now is toward low-alcohol [spirits]. This is allowing people to have a drink at lunch.” Grill has put her own twist on the classic Pimm’s Cup with fresh fruit, mint, and cucumber. “Because Pimm’s is a wine-based spirit, it’s low in alcohol,” she says. Cocktail doyenne Lindsay Nader of Elysium Craft Cocktail Services suggests taking a continental approach to afternoon imbibing. “There was a drink that I had on the menu at Pour Vous called Eau de Chambéry, [made from] vermouth and maraschino cherry liqueur and [stirred] with a lemon twist,” she says. “It is beautiful and low-proof. Introducing older European ways of drinking to Americans is a mission I’ve been on for awhile.” Bon aperitif! LAC
“Having a cocktail [during the day] is a chance to be social and help close a deal.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DYLAN + JENI (SALMON); ANTHONY NEX (GUNDERSON); WUTZWHAT PHOTOGRAPHY (BESTIA); EUGENE LEE (PIMMS CUP)
HE MIGHT BE FROM BUENOS AIRES, but chef Ernesto Uchimura has a soft spot for deli dishes, as evidenced by the signature item at his second Plan Check location (351 N. Fairfax Ave., LA, 310-2886500; plancheck.com), just a stone’s throw from Canter’s Deli. The chemistry-crazed cuisine artist smokes up hot salmon “pastrami” and serves it as a filet with squid-“inky” cream cheese, borage, and an everything bagel chip. “Eating classic deli food is great because it’s approachable and familiar and usually is served up with a lot of personality,” says Uchimura. Former Top Chef contender Alex Reznik recently opened Ditmas Kitchen & Cocktails in the Orthodox-dense Pico-Robertson neighborhood (8731 W. Pico Blvd., LA, 310-271-9300; ditmasla.com). Here, the sable fish comes with Russian banana potato, fennel, and a dose of citrus in the form of pomelo; and as you bite into the Shalom Burger with tomato marmalade, spicy mustard, pickled veggies, and wild arugula, you might just think it could be the answer to peace in the Middle East. The new El Ñosh truck (elnosh.com) takes a southof-the-border spin with a menu of hybrid Latin-Jewish classics created by chef Eric Greenspan and restaurateur Robert Treviño. Think yucca latkes with mango crema and a mole brisket burrito with carrot tzimmes and crushed peanuts. Oy vey… olé!
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Tea and Ecstasy THE ENGLISH HIGH TEA GETS AN INTOXICATING LA TWIST. BY ERIC ROSEN
Stone Canyon Road, LA, 310-472-1211; dorchester collection.com) provides a storybook backdrop for afternoon tea, chef Wolfgang Puck’s menu displays his signature flair. You won’t find just plain cucumber sandwiches here. Instead, they come with Japanese cucumber and herb cream cheese on pain de mie as well as more exotic options like Jidori chicken liver mousse with pear rosemary butter. (Save room for the slightly risqué, lighterthan-air Grand Marnier cream puffs.) A hop and a skip from Stone Canyon is the Getty Villa and its “Tea by the Sea.” Available on Thursdays and Saturdays in the Founder’s Room, it pays homage to the Villa’s erstwhile Tea Room, which was one of LA’s hottest spots for ladies who lunch from the ’70s through the ’90s (17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades, 310-440-7300; getty.edu). The signature petit four is a carrot cake, based on a recipe by Jean Garrett, the wife of the museum’s first director. After all, what could be more raffiné-à la-LA than touring treasures of antiquity (and the Villa’s meticulously manicured Roman-inspired gardens) and discussing them over tea afterward?
The Hotel Bel-Air jazzes up its tea service (SHOWN) with booze-infused cream puffs and other decadent Wolfgang Puck creations.
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lthough afternoon tea has become ensconced—make that en-sconed—in a patrician patina of dainty delicacies and white-glove service, this most aristocratic of mealtime mores was actually the brainchild of the iconoclastic 19th-century seventh Duchess of Bedford. To cope with her postprandial lull, she decided to indulge in a spot of tea and a snack with friends. Before long, what was once an edible insurrection became an upper-class institution; teatime was the highlight of ladies’ social calendars. Like the creator of afternoon tea, Angelenos have taken this midday affair and made it their own. The Peninsula Beverly Hills (9882 S. Santa
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Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-551-2888; beverly hills.peninsula.com) hosts its afternoon tea service in the refined setting of The Living Room, with velvet divans, flickering fireplaces, and a glimmering crystal chandelier overhead. Though you will find typical small bites like egg salad with watercress on marble bread and fresh strawberries with handwhipped cream, the hotel’s flagship Imperial Tea includes a glass of Nicolas Feuillatte bubbly, a savory caviar cake, and a Peninsula pageboy-inspired “cap cake” to take home. Tea with a kick! Of course, there are also 18 loose-leaf teas to choose from, including a velvety-rich Tahitian vanilla black variety. While the old-school Hotel Bel-Air (701
The Langham Huntington’s namesake in London serves one of the world’s most refined “teas” in its stunning Palm Court, of course, but Angelenos can get a taste of luxury at its historic sister property in Pasadena (1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, 626-568-3900; pasadena.langham hotels.com). On June 1, the hotel will debut its quarterly “Imagine Tea,” a kid-friendly experience featuring junior performers from Hollywood’s Magic Castle (Proceeds benefit local children’s charities.) For a truly LA take on tea service, Tres by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel is the way to go (465 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-247-0400; slshotels.com/ beverlyhills). Not only are there 10 different teas, including the fragrant house blend made with golden jasmine blossoms, but the accompanying bites include bagel and lox cones drizzled with dill crème fraiche and a helping of salmon roe, and feather-light Chinese bao buns. Afternoon tea has come a long way since the Duchess of Bedford poured her first cup. And though she might not have envisioned smoked salmon cones or flutes of rosé Champagne, she probably would have approved. LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PORNCHAI MITTONGTARE
Afternoon tea has come a long way since the Duchess of Bedford poured her first cup.
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ON THE TOWN
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Joan
LADIES WHO LUNCH When: A rare rainy early-spring day Where: Retro-mod The Churchill on Third Street Time: High noon
McNamara and Waylynn Lucas share Third Street success stories and one of The Churchill’s renowned wood-fired pizzas; for their entree, the ladies tucked into cured salmon tartare with cucumber jalapeño salsa, kumquats, and potato chips, paired with a La Flora cocktail; The Churchill’s signature Harvest Old-Fashioned.
The Queens of Third Street GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE… LUNCH! RESTAURATEURS JOAN MCNAMARA AND WAYLYNN LUCAS EXPLAIN HOW THEY TURNED THIRD STREET INTO LA’S CAPITAL OF LUNCHDOM. BY JEN JONES DONATELLI PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA SAMPLE
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sk anyone who’s ever tried to park there—Third Street is one hot ’hood. And few know that better than entrepreneurs Waylynn Lucas and Joan McNamara, whose crave-able culinary offerings are a big reason Angelenos frequent the district. On this particular Wednesday, the two are holding court at hipster-chic The Churchill (8384 W. Third St., LA, 323-655-8384; the-churchill.com), where they’ve come to discuss all things Third Street and do the “ladies who lunch” thing over salmon tartare, wood-fired pizza, and prosciutto pear salad. Call it a meeting of the old guard and the new: McNamara’s perennially packed Joan’s on Third (8350 W. Third St., LA, 323-655-2285; joanson third.com) has been a fashionable destination for everyone from André Leon Talley to Nicole Kidman for the last 15 years, while Lucas left behind her role as pastry chef at The Bazaar and Patina just three years ago to co-helm Fonuts (8104 W. Third St., LA, 323-592-3075; fonuts.com)—a Third Street bakery that’s helped donuts surpass cupcakes as the sugary craze du jour. Their common thread? A love of Third Street and all it has to offer. What inspired you to open your business on Third Street? Joan McNamara: I first started a small catering company here in 1995
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and, three years later, it became what’s now known as Joan’s on Third [a gourmet marketplace/deli/catering business]. The block was very quiet at the time; there was really nothing here. It’s been amazing to see the growth over the last 15 years. Waylynn Lucas: I don’t think anyone could think of West Third and not think of Joan’s. It’s just one of those places; she was one of the first people [to start the trend] on Third Street. For Fonuts, we were drawn to Third Street because it’s one of the few places in LA that feels like a community and a neighborhood. It’s definitely a special place. How have you seen the street evolve during your time here? JM: I remember when The Grove was about to open [in 2002], thinking, Oh, no, they’ll have bulldozers. We even formed a Third Street organization to evaluate whether it was something we really wanted. But ultimately, it has brought us so much business. And the growth hasn’t only been in food—a lot of it has been in [retail] with places like OK, which is brilliant and so beautifully edited. WL: Having the Beverly Center on one end and The Grove on the other sort of bookends this street and brings so much attention to it. It’s nice to continued on page 100
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ON THE TOWN
Third-worldy: Joan McNamara (LEFT) and Waylynn Lucas love that Third Street exists as a cozy counterpoint to the mega sprawl all around them. BELOW: The Churchill is known for its extensive list of handmade signature cocktails; The Churchill’s Tuscan kale salad with Midnight Moon goat cheese, currants, and market veggies.
continued from page 98 have these two bigger, sort of corporate monstrosities and then you have this street with these small, boutique-y shops like Satine and Polkadots & Moonbeams. That speaks to LA and the neighborhood and the people, and that’s what makes it so fun. What are some of the trends of the last few years? WL: It’s been great to see the rise in popularity of Robata Jinya and Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria; they’ve both helped build up [the culinary presence] and made it spread all the way down to Son of a Gun. The arrival of Magnolia Bakery was also a big deal. JM: We’ve also seen several juice bars open up and do well [such as Clover and Juice Served Here]. Joan’s on Third was named one of the top 25 “Power Lunch Spots of 2014” by The Hollywood Reporter, and Waylynn, you had your own recent turn in the spotlight on Bravo’s Eat, Drink, Love. Is there a high industry quotient at your places? WL: It’s LA, so naturally you’ll always get [high-profile] actors, writers, and directors. People sit with their coffee and write screenplays or study lines. It’s been so fun for me because there are actresses and actors I love from New Girl, Sons of Anarchy, and Modern Family who come in—and you share that nerdy little moment of “I love what you do, and you love what I do.” Sofia Vergara was plugging Fonuts on the red carpet at the SAG Awards! JM: After Usher came in, I started watching The Voice—you suddenly feel connected in some way. [Figure skater] Evan Lysacek comes in all the time, and after he won his gold medal, we made a big fuss. But usually, we give celebrities
WHO’S ON THIRD? Where to grab the tastiest grub in Mid-City… Let McNamara and Lucas lead the way: The Churchill (8384 W. Third St., LA, 323-655-8384; the-churchill.com): “I love having lunch at The Churchill; my top pick is the wood-roasted Brussels sprouts.”—McNamara The Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya (8420 W. Third St., West Hollywood, 323-782-9536; katsu-yagroup.com/izakaya): “I go there all the time for sushi; my favorite dish is the crispy rice.”—McNamara Olio Wood Fired Pizzeria (8075 W. Third St., No. 100, LA, 323-9309490; pizzeriaolio.com): “Olio is amazing! It’s this hidden gem; people don’t know about it.”—Lucas Robata Jinya (8050 W. Third St., LA, 323-653-8877; jinya-la.com): “The bento box is the best deal in LA; it’s my go-to, easy takeaway favorite.”—Lucas Son of a Gun (8370 W. Third St., LA, 323-782-9033; sonofagunrestaurant.com): “I’ve been quoted in numerous publications as saying I would throw my mother down a flight of stairs for their linguini and clams. It’s that good.”—Lucas
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“We give celebrities the same amount of attention as anyone else.” —WAYLYNN LUCAS
the same amount of attention as anyone else. What are some of your own favorite spots? WL: One of my lunch staples is La Scala. Its chopped salad is an institution! I’m also obsessed with the miso mochi dessert at Hinoki & The Bird. JM: There are so many places opening all of the time that I try to go somewhere new every time I go out. The one I keep coming back to is Mozza—whatever Nancy [Silverton] does, it’s always amazingly special, consistent, and delicious. I also love MB Post. WL: Mozza brings a tear to my eye. For the same reasons Joan’s on Third is what it is: the ambiance, service, and food. I eat there almost every week. The fun extends long past lunch at both of your spots. What are some of your customers’ favorite “afternoon delights?” WL: People crave an iced coffee and Fonut pick-me-up. Our staple Fonuts are the strawberry buttermilk, chocolate hazelnut, and banana chocolate. JM: Salt and Straw ice cream out of Portland is a big new thing for us. I’ve been dying to do raspberry floats. Lately I’ve been practicing making floats at home, taking Orangina and putting it over vanilla ice cream. And it looks like both of you will soon have new locations? JM: In late February we finally got the okay to go ahead with our planned second location in Studio City—it’s in an old post office. The space really spoke to me. We’re also looking to expand to the Westside. WL: We do want to open another location, but we really want to find [the right spot]; when the bakery on Third came about, it was that perfect serendipitous moment. I’m grateful to be part of [Third]—it’s a place where regardless of whether your business is hip, trendy, old school, new school, modern, or vintage, we do it with love and the community embraces us all. LAC
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reasures STYLE SETTER
Classic Act EILEEN FISHER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH A NEW LA STORE AND AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE CHIC. BY ADRIENNE GAFFNEY
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ew fashion lines have principled thinking more ingrained in their corporate ethos than Eileen Fisher. This month, Robertson Boulevard will become home to Fisher’s latest store, marking 30 years since the former interior and graphic designer first set up shop. Her secret to success: creating gorgeous, simply constructed pieces while running a company focused on sustainability and social consciousness. “Simplicity is at the core of the design idea I planted as a seed all those years ago—a collective of simple shapes that work together in many ways,” says Fisher. “The intention is to give women the pieces to put themselves together easily and joyfully so they can focus on life.” While initiatives like Green Eileen, a line of stores stocking only used Eileen Fisher pieces, and #SheDocs, an online documentary film festival sponsored by the company, have made waves recently, a commitment to ethical living is literally woven into the line’s fabrics. “Sustainability starts with design,” says Fisher. “When we select fabrics and yarns, we are making choices about better farming practices,
greener dyes, and innovative production, building an eco collection that accounts for more than 25 percent of our line. Business has the power to make a difference and can be a movement around social change.” The new LA store will embody Fisher’s concept of effortlessly elegant dressing with an updated veneer. “This store provides a continually evolving, dynamic space,” explains Rebecca Perrin, co-chief creative officer. She adds that it will “bring to life a more edgy, modern attitude and sense of cultivated discovery” by showcasing the new Fisher Project Spring collection—one that is still identifiably Eileen Fisher, but with unexpected elements like cropped silhouettes, sheer fabrics, and backless styles. “Women long to experience the magic that happens when you put on a garment that has been pared to its essence,” says Fisher. “I want Eileen Fisher to be known for clothes you don’t have to overthink… that feel amazing every time you reach for them.” 113 S. Robertson Blvd., LA, no phone at press time; eileenfisher.com LAC
OPPOSITE PAGE:
As she celebrates her line’s 30th year, Eileen Fisher says, “Simplicity is at the core of the design idea I planted as a seed all those years ago.” THIS PAGE, FROM LEFT: Handmade Ethiopian clutch ($180); scoop-neck tank ($178) and organic bandhini-print skirt ($198).
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ONLY IN LA
Untitled, 2014, by Adam Silverman.
Glaze of Glory L
ong before the luxury craft movement descended upon every lush lifestyle boutique in town, there was Adam Silverman. In 2002, the Rhode Island School of Design–trained architect and cofounder of streetwear brand X-Large debuted Atwater Pottery—a studio that allowed him to indulge his passion for the visceral art of ceramics, one that he’d been harboring ever since he was a teenager growing up in New England. Silverman quickly amassed a cult following for his fiercely textured pots, which seemingly echo the gritty concrete of LA’s urban landscape. Since 2008, he’s been fabricating them from Heath Ceramics’ LA outpost, where he held court as studio director; this month, however, he’s opening a separate workshop where he can devote more time to Atwater Pottery projects. In other words, expect to see more one-of-a-kind works like the one pictured, currently for sale at LA’s Edward Cella Art + Architecture ($2,500). “The pots are records of the process they’ve
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been through,” says Silverman, whose porous pieces are created via a labor-intensive routine of glazing, firing, grinding, and reglazing, all in an effort to build up coarse layers of color. Each one can take up to six months to create—sometimes more. “Some pots go to shows, come back a year later, and then I do more to them so they change again,” says Silverman. Atwater Pottery’s other works include a tableware collaboration with Trois Mec restaurant; projects for interior designers such as Commune and Studio Sofield; a joint exhibition with Japanese botanical designer Kohei Oda (now on view at Venice’s Chariots on Fire); and a West Hollywood public art project, which will be installed in a new mixed-use building on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2015. Says Silverman: “If you drew circles of craft, art, and design and overlapped them, that little spot in the middle is where I operate.” Edward
Cella Art + Architecture, 6018 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 323-525-0053; atwaterpottery.com LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW POST
MASTER POTTER NONPAREIL ADAM SILVERMAN REFIRES UP HIS EXPERIMENTAL ATWATER POTTERY STUDIO. BY ERIN MAGNER
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Š2012 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. 12-ADV-12221
STYLE SPOTLIGHT
Shoe-Ins LA takes a step in the right direction with a trio of can’t-miss shoe debuts.
Tod’s new J.P. Club is a private space offering men’s shoe and bag customization.
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Handcrafted 4-inch-long Fleur de Lys cross and chain in 925 sterling silver ($3,800).
Heads of Statement SWISS CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CALI COOL IN CULT925’S STERLING SILVER JEWELRY. “ONLY NATURE IS PERFECT,” says JP Di Lenardo (), known worldwide for his Di Lenardo & Co. fine jewelry and watches. His obsession with the natural world helped fuel his newest jewelry line, Cult925 (cult925.com), which is exclusively carried by suitmaker-to-the-stars David August (3140 Airway Ave., Costa Mesa, 714-545-7848; davidaugustinc.com). Says David August founder David Heil: “Cult925 raises the bar in every area—it’s fresh, raw, strong, intricate, and extremely beautiful.” Sterling silver—combined with characteristic Swiss artistry and attention to detail, including a labor-intensive molding process by which a realistic patina is produced—allows Di Lenardo the freedom to show off the “nitty gritty” of his pieces. The line came about organically, and Di Lenardo was reluctant to do it at first. “I had an exhibition of skull jewelry in my store [in Switzerland],” says Di Lenardo. “My friends kept asking me if I was selling them because they wanted to buy.” He now counts rock stars among his many fans… along with the highpowered husbands of the “housewives” who rock the OC. LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAFFA-DIEMARKE.DE (FLEUR DE LYS)
As tempting as it is to spend the entire SoCal summer barefoot, there are bound to be a few occasions for which you’ll need a killer pair of shoes. For starters, look to Palisades retail visionary Elyse Walker, who is dramatically expanding her Elyse Walker Los Angeles shoe line this season (15306 Antioch St., Pacific Palisades, 310-2308882; forwardforward.com). Styles will range from espadrilles and heels to fringe boots and booties. Also bowing in June is sleek Italian brand Carlo Pazolini’s first West Coast stand-alone store (Beverly Center, LA, 310-735-9926; carlopazolini.com). The summer collections are in the spirit of a luxurious Mediterranean getaway. And Tod’s has introduced a new J.P. Club at its LA flagship—the only location in the US to sell its J.P. Tod’s Sartorial line (333 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-285-0591; tods.com). Here, men will be able to get the full bespoke treatment on shoes and bags, including personalization.
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SECRET CITY
Home Chic Home OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK BOUTIQUE CHAY IS THE ONE-STOP SHOP-TIL’-YOU-DROP FOR YOUR NEXT SOIRÉE. BY MOLLY CREEDEN
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BERL
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hay is the kind of place you go if you want to get a truly unique hostess gift… or throw an envy-inducing dinner party of your own. A smart, light-filled sliver of a store, the boutique, owned by 38-year-old New York transplant Chay Wike, is a quiet trove of thoughtfully executed home items, clothing, and accessories, none too fussy or yelping for fanfare. Situated opposite Fire Station 61 on the other side of West Third Street— about a mile east of the main artery of boutiques and see-and-be-seen brunch spots—Chay flips the “location, location, location” wisdom on its head. “I wanted to stand out a little,” says Wike, who opened the store in September 2012 and plans to debut a second space in Downtown LA this month. “I wanted to be in an area where there wasn’t anything yet—I feel like people need that. And I like being off the beaten path,” she adds. “I try to curate gems, and I wanted [the shop] to become a little gem.” continued on page 110
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© 2014 CHLOE WINES, LIVERMORE, CA
MEET
C A P TU R E YOU R B E AUTI FU L M O M E NT 2013 PINOT GRIGIO VA L DA D I G E D.O.C . I TA LY
2012 RED NO. 249
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Chay Wike’s two home-and-fashion shops are curated to reflect their owner’s “dream lifestyle” (RIGHT); the Third Street shop harbors a host of design collaborations with local artisans as well as Wike’s own line of lush clothing and accessories (BELOW).
continued from page 108 The elegant, yet craft-driven wares lining the shelves include light linen-blend Brahms Mount throws, marble trivets from Brooklyn’s Fort Standard, and sleek brass bowls by 400-year-old Swedish metals company Skultuna. An eponymous line of clothing—elevated silk loungewear, cashmere jumpsuits, and sweet crêpe de chine dresses—rounds out the domestic-chic mix. (“Basics,” explains Wike. “I’m not really interested in trends. I feel like things that are well designed are always relevant.”) An artfully curated collection of cookbooks and a half-kitchen in the back of the space, designed for hosting food- and fashion-focused customer events, segued into an online space this spring, where a blog called Butter (chaybutter.com) focuses on kitchen visits and tastemakers’ go-to recipes. “I’ve got kids, so I cook a lot, I’m at home a lot, and I wanted to curate a store that was filled with all of the things that I use in my life —it’s my lifestyle, that’s the concept of the store,” Wike says. “My dream lifestyle,” she clarifies, smiling. “My house is a little messier than the store.”
A former actress and wine saleswoman, Wike was always interested in design, but the passion wasn’t fully realized until she moved to Los Angeles with her musician husband and started spending more time at home with her two daughters. “Everywhere I go I’m just like, ‘How did they make this?’” she says, gesturing to her seat. “‘Did they attach the arm with a screw?’ I’m just so interested in how everything is made and that’s why I want to make things with different people.” Recent collaborations include tea towels designed with LA-based artist Wendy Polish and delicate charm earrings and necklaces conceived with local jewelry designer Kathleen Whitaker. Tea and fragrance partnerships are also on the way (with Wilwand Teas and Persephone, respectively). Wike’s second space will open in an equally clandestine location—the sixth floor of the Orpheum building, opposite Downtown’s new Ace Hotel. The 3,500-square-foot loft (shared with architect Lindon Schultz, with whom Wike has collaborated on a table) will act as an appointment-only showroom and allow her to expand on furniture ideas —CHAY WIKE and host other designers. “I’d really love to bring some New York designers out here who don’t want a store but want a presence,” she notes. But in the end, her stores’ biggest inspiration lies closer to home. “The local sensibility feels earthy and modern; we spend a lot of time outside, which inspires a connection between the earth and our simple, day-to-day needs,” she says. “Los Angeles feels very creative at the moment… it’s definitely an exciting time.” 5812 W. Third St., LA, 323-938-1885; chayonline.com LAC
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BERL
“I like being off the beaten path. I wanted the shop to become a little gem.”
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TIME KEEPER
Hour Power KARI ALLEN, ONE OF THE FEW FEMALE EXECS IN THE WATCH BIZ, IS CHANGING THE GAME AT VERSACE TIMEPIECES. BY ROBERTA NAAS
T
he global watch industry has long been dominated by men; only in the past few decades have women begun taking on leadership roles. One such pioneer is Kari Allen, president of Versace Timepieces in America and the Caribbean, who has helped raise the formerly boutiqueonly brand to new heights by positioning Versace as a power player in national specialty and jewelry retail stores. “Versace is widely recognized as a leader in luxury and renowned for its classic elegance in the world of glamour and fashion,” says Allen of Versace, which recently unveiled
several new lines at watch mega-convention Baselworld. “The evolution of the Versace style is demonstrated in the perfect balance between the classical and modern. It is this combination of Italian style and Swissmade precision and innovation that attracted me to [the brand].” Before taking the helm at Versace Timepieces two years ago, Allen held influential posts at Gucci, Boucheron, Charriol, TAG Heuer, and Damiani, among others. Here, the bicoastal executive gives an overview of “time” from the top. What are the keys to your success at Versace and in the industry? I look at things from a practical business standpoint. I love the business of watches more than the watches themselves. I can sell a dream, but when you get to the marketing side, it’s about nuts and bolts. What are the most exciting elements of the Versace watches being released this spring? Our new energetic colors for the women’s Spring watch collections of Vanity and Vanitas— turquoise, purple, orange, and yellow—perfectly convey the spirit that animates Versace. My personal favorite from the collection is the new V-Signature watch, [which features a] Medusa head on the dial and Greca pattern on the bezel and bracelet. The watch is mounted on a leather bracelet, and the narrow top part can be slipped out of the wider section for a more traditional style and fit—so it is two watches in one. As an executive, wife, and mother, how do you manage your time? Women are multitaskers by our very natures; it is our strength, and this is what makes us valuable to companies. We know how to see many sides and how to handle multiple issues at one time. The challenge is to remain in the moment and keep an eye on time so it doesn’t get away from us. When you work this hard, you’d better love what you do, but it isn’t always easy—especially as a working mom. Family is what really makes life important. You have to make the effort to be present… because you don’t get a redo! For more watch features and expanded coverage go to la-confidentialmagazine.com/watches. LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY BERL
Kari Allen’s shrewd leadership has changed the face of Versace timepieces (LEFT); Versace’s vibrant Spring collection blends Swiss technical rigor with Italian flair (BELOW).
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GOOD TIMES
Morongo is more than just a hot spot to gamble, it’s a place to meet your friends and unwind. Enjoy Sage Spa for an unparalleled experience that will yield relaxation and rejuvenation. From our soothing Swedish Massage to our gentle Jojoba Body Polish, your body will always feel pampered and satisfed. Indulge in our vast salon menu, offering meticulous manicures, pedicures and a full service hair salon. Afterwards, spend some time playing in the casino, then enjoy a delicious dinner in one of Morongo’s many restaurants. Go to morongocasinoresort.com to select your special offers and book your stay now. Morongo, less than 90 minutes from wherever you are.
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Cellar’s Market BORDEAUX MEETS THE BEACH AT CAUDALIE’S NEW VENICE SPA AND SHOP. BY ERIN MAGNER
G
jelina and Axe aren’t the only places on Abbot Kinney to reap the benefits of a good glass of wine. French luxury skincare brand Caudalie—which derives its antioxidantrich active ingredients from Bordeaux grapes and vines—has opened its first West Coast Vinotherapie Spa on the booming Venice thoroughfare. The premier cru: a 1,000-squarefoot treatment area offering hourlong restorative facials, massages, mani-pedis, and body treatments, including the soothing and smoothing, only-in-LA Crushed Cabernet Scrub & Treatment ($95). Those in a rush can create a customized blend of said scrub to take home as well as partake in ten-minute facials and hand massages at the Beauty Barrel Bar. The full range of Caudalie’s all-natural yet luxurious potions are also on offer—several of which are exclusive to the boutique (think beachside staples like sunscreen and tinted moisturizer). “It took us two years to find the right location in Los Angeles,” says Mathilde Thomas, who launched Caudalie with husband Bertrand in 1995. “Here on Abbot Kinney, there is this special vibe that is very European.” C’est la vie, Napa Valley! 1416 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310-450-3560; us.caudalie.com LAC
Freeze 24-7’s latest launches target SoCal’s biggest summer skin woes. Don’t let their names fool you—Freeze 24-7’s two newest skin serums are red-hot additions to any LA dweller’s warm-weather skin arsenal. The SkinBlizzard Intensive Hydrating Facial Serum ($95) is a featherweight fix for even the most sun-parched skin, packed with a proprietary moisturize balance complex, a stabilized form of retinol, and nourishing grape seed oil. And for those with dark spots from more prolonged UV worship, there’s the IceSerum Advanced Brightening Facial Serum ($95)—a potent product that uses white strawberry extract to help reduce hyper-pigmentation. “I always tell my clients that the skin is the body’s first line of defense against the environment,” says Inas Warren, national sales, education, and events specialist for Freeze 24-7 North America. “Your skin needs to maintain the perfect level of moisture and natural oils, so as the weather changes, so should your skin regimen.” Bloomingdale’s, Westfield Century City, 310-772-2100; freeze247.com Freeze 24-7’s new SkinBlizzard Intensive Hydrating Facial Serum is an antidote to dry desert heat.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURE JOLIET (CAUDALIE)
The Beauty Barrel Bar at Caudalie’s new Venice spa offers mini-treatments; longer facials and body scrubs are offered in a calming private room.
ARCTIC THRILLS
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the greek theatre
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Music under the stars at the awardwinning Greek Theatre is the perfect way to enjoy a summer evening. Don’t miss multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Sarah McLachlan when she performs on June 28, hot off the heels of her latest release Shine On.
Attend the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival June 11-19 at L.A. LIVE and experience red carpet premieres, master classes, live music, outdoor screenings and much more. With a diverse slate of over 200 feature flms, shorts and music videos, representing more than 30 countries, the Los Angeles Film Festival is a celebration of flm, set in the entertainment capital of the world. Passes are on sale now and individual tickets go on sale May 20.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
“My character on House of Cards is Lady Macbeth to Francis’s Richard III. If there’s a barrier, the barrier simply needs to be removed,” says Wright, here sheathed in a white gown by Yigal Azrouël (price on request). Intermix, 400 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-623-1619; intermixonline.com. Jewelry, Wright’s own
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QUEEN OF ACES On the heels of her Golden Globe win, ROBIN WRIGHT talks about her career, her causes, her kids, her fiancé… and the diva-licious role on HOUSE OF CARDS that’s made her a new kind of Hollywood royalty.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
BY ELIZABETH E. THORP PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW ECCLES STYLING BY EMMA PRITCHARD
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obin Wright defies the stereotypical arc of over-40 women in Hollywood. With the second season of buzzy Netflix series House of Cards; a John le Carré movie called A Most Wanted Man, starring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, which premiered to acclaim at Sundance; and a wedding on the horizon, the recent Golden Globe– winning actress is enjoying a 30-year career peak. “Working with Robin is most satisfying,” says Kevin Spacey, Wright’s costar on House of Cards. “She’s sharp, funny, always searching for the unusual angle into a scene or an emotion; and she’s most deserving of all the praise that has come her way for her creation of Claire Underwood.” LAC spoke with Wright amidst the flurry of awards season. Congratulations on that Golden Globe win! I mean, four nominations for the show: best show, best actor for Kevin [Spacey], best actress for you, and best supporting actor for Corey Stoll. Oh yes, Corey! And a best show nomination, too! That’s Beau [Willimon], the show runner and creator. He got snubbed at the Emmys, so he deserved that. I’ve lived in DC for 21 years and have done some political work. I feel this is the most realistic show about Washington—minus the super-evil plotting, maybe. Take the evil plotting away, you think? Be more specific. Tell me what is implausible in the evil scheming of Francis Underwood. I don’t know. The death of Corey’s character, Peter Russo? [Laughs] Oh, I see. A little too mafia? Yes, exactly, like Frank wiping the steering wheel of fingerprints after the murder—it was a little Sopranos. What else? We spoke to a senior person in the Obama administration at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last spring, and he said everything is accurate in this show—[except] you’d never get an education bill passed that fast! Did he think reporters sleeping with sources and members of Congress was factual? Oh yeah… DC is more corrupt than Hollywood. It really is. It’s more sleazy than Hollywood… how much infidelity goes on. Well, they say that DC is Hollywood for ugly people! Who are the women sitting over there waiting to talk to you? They work for an organization in eastern Congo. Is that a charity you’re involved with?
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Yes, it’s called the Enough Project (enoughproject.org), based in DC, with John Prendergast. He was the African advisor for [President] Clinton for four years. I met him through a movie I was going to do, playing a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières, and he was my advisor on the film. He helped me go to Senegal and Tanzania for research, and then he turned me on to the crisis in the Congo. I kind of became the spokesperson for the Raise Hope for Congo campaign [of the Enough Project, a group focused on ending crimes against humanity]. I went to the Congo two years ago and met with survivors. Then we made a documentary [called Blood in the Mobile], and I spoke in front of Congress. [Shortly after this interview, Wright earned the distinction of being named Goodwill Ambassador for a Congolese women’s rights organization, Women’s Synergy for Victims of Sexual Violence.] Addressing Congress must have been intense. It scared the shit out of me…. You know, it’s selling used cars—that’s what it’s like trying to push legislation. Depending on the day, it’s what’s important on that day. You know how quickly they cut funds when we have a crisis, an economic crisis—or when we have a government shutdown. You’re also involved with an alcohol and antihazing organization, The Gordie Foundation. I think this is so important, especially now that I have children entering middle school. Statistics are higher than ever now. There are key universities—University of Colorado, Boulder, is one of the worst—for drinking incidents. The organization is basically just educating kids; we did a documentary on this called Haze. The story of Gordie is that he was a freshman at Boulder; he was a promising football player, an honor student. He was being initiated into his fraternity, where they force you to drink. Hard liquor? Yes, but they do it in a hose, a mix of cheap whiskey, beer, vodka, whatever. You cannot allow kids to sleep it off or “pass out.” We have to educate kids that they need to keep initiates awake, sitting up, and give them water. Even if they’re throwing it up. Never let friends sleep. When Gordie passed out, he was on a couch facedown, and they took a Sharpie and wrote [derogatory terms] on his face and body. Gordie was left on the couch of a fraternity house to sleep it off for 10 hours before he was found dead the next morning; no one had called for help. That’s unbelievable. His poor mother… So what she did is put all her efforts and money into this organization to educate the kids.
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“ DC I S MOR E
COR RU P T T H A N HOL LY WOOD. I T’ S MOR E SL E A Z Y T H A N HOL LY WOOD.”
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“ ROBIN IS
ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR THE UNUSUAL ANGLE INTO A SCENE OR AN EMOTION; SHE DESERV ES A LL THE PR A ISE TH AT H AS COME HER WAY FOR HER CREATION OF CLAIRE UNDERWOOD.”
— K EV I N SPACE Y
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She made key chain bottle openers that have the steps you need to do, the signs to look for, then to call 911. In the House of Cards trailer for season two, it was just you, filmed in black and white, alone, smoking in slow motion. Sort of glamorizes smoking… but it was a great trailer. I love your character Claire Underwood’s efficiency and icy-cold demeanor. Really and truly, she is utilitarian and gets things done. If there’s a barrier, the barrier simply needs to be removed. It’s so Machiavellian. I’m Lady Macbeth to Francis’s Richard III. And [Executive Producer] David Fincher said to me, “This is not TV, this is live stream. This is the future, and I’m going to be shepherding it.” He just kept saying, “Trust me.” He wooed me while we were in Stockholm shooting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I told him, “I have to get paid, and I want to be able to develop the character.” Are you surprised how Netflix has blown up and all of the innovative new programming it is developing? Yes. I just read an article that called it “digital escalation.” And it all started with House of Cards. Everyone’s talking about the hair. You make me want to cut my hair. Will you keep it short? For Claire, definitely. She’s a short-hair gal. But I like it, too. I can’t imagine having long hair anymore; it’s weird. I had long hair my whole life. Now, I get very cut-happy…. My fiancé [actor Ben Foster] hides his buzzers from me. I’ll snip a little here, a little there. Congratulations on your engagement. When are you getting married? I don’t know. We haven’t talked about a date. Everyone else is talking about a date, especially my daughter Dylan. She wants me to go get the dress and all that. They’re very excited. Are your kids in the business? They’re 22 and 20, and they’re going to be in entertainment in some capacity. Dylan is modeling right now because she wants to make money, but she’s a writer. I think she’ll write and direct. She just got the new Gap campaign gig. I think Dylan looks like you in The Princess Bride. No, I don’t think so. She’s so beautiful. I was awkward when I was younger. I had a pug nose; my face totally changed with pregnancy…. Dylan never had my pug nose; she has this beautiful Roman nose. She has a cross between her dad’s and my nose. Her dad [Sean Penn] has a prominent nose. You seem very grounded. Is it difficult for you to play such a diva on House of Cards? The only note that David Fincher ever gave me when
we started the show was to be still. People were suggesting I base the character on Hillary Clinton or other strong women personas, and I didn’t want to do that. When we shot the first couple of scenes, David would come over to me and say, “Don’t move. Don’t move. Claire is a bust.” Now when I have the Claire clothes, the Claire hair, and say the Claire words, it just clicks. I’m completely and totally still [except with Kevin]. We’re so goofy. In between takes, we’re very goofy. We giggle a lot. How did you meet your fiancé? I met him years ago; he’s an actor. He’s in Lone Survivor with Mark Wahlberg about the Navy Seals. I’d always loved his work. Then I was in a movie he produced called Rampart and he was on the set every day, since he was also an actor, so we became friends. Cut to a year later when the movie comes out. We’re at the premiere. We had already seen it, so he said, “Do you want to go to the party early and hang out until the screening is over?” And that was it. We’ve been together ever since. How does an up-and-coming younger actor muster the courage to ask Robin Wright out on a date? Can I tell you something? That was the first date I had ever been on in my life. I had never been on a real date. I find that hard to believe… Generally, in this industry, you meet someone on a movie, and he becomes your boyfriend. I had [just] one boyfriend before I got married and had kids…. I had never been asked on a date before. Ben and I hung out at the premiere party, talking all night and having a great time. Finally he said, “Would you like to go to a poetry reading with me tomorrow night?” I went. At the reading we were moved by the same lines, and all of a sudden, he took my hand, and I got that rush. Butterflies. I thought, I’m an old hag; I thought that was over. [Laughs] What a lovely surprise. We just work. We’re a great team. He’s from Iowa. I’m 14 years older. Nobody blinks an eye when the man is 14 years older, but I’m a “cougar” because I’m with somebody younger. I’m pretty sure that’s the last thing people would say about you. His mother was so funny. She said, “Are you kidding me?” about our age difference. Ben has always hung out with older people. When he was 9, he wasn’t with the neighborhood kids skateboarding or playing cowboys and Indians. Ben was with the 89-year-old man next door. He loved talking to him. He’d walk him down to the general store to get him his Old Spice or whatever. He’s more grown up than me in so many ways; he’s an old soul. LAC
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XX FACTOR Women have long dominated the back lots of Tinseltown. But the front offices? Today, alpha females are giving the Industry’s leading men a run for their almighty dollar: helming studios, creating sitcoms (and netcoms), and even directing for… Disney! Is Hollywood finally going XX-rated? Meet some of the town’s hottest (read: powerful) commodities… BY SCOTT HUVER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELISABETH CAREN STYLING BY STACEY KALCHMAN
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THE
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THE TELEVISIONARY
BELA BAJARIA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
Executive Vice President, Universal Television
Dress, Stella McCartney ($2,180). 8821 Beverly Blvd., LA, 310-273-7051; stella mccartney.com. Pumps, Jimmy Choo ($750). 240 Via Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-860-9045; jimmychoo.com Hair and makeup by Garen for Exclusive Artists using Kanebo Sensai
“I like where creative meets business,” says NBCUniversal’s television production head Bela Bajaria, an admitted lover of multitasking who divides her duties between cultivating fresh series concepts, then arranging marriages with ideal network partners. “The job is so fun because we get to work with great creative voices,” she says. “Really sitting with the talent and saying, ‘We can go to all these [networks] now, and if you have an idea you love, let’s find the right home for your vision.’” Tasked with rebuilding and rebranding Uni’s TV arm in 2011 after it had been folded into the NBC network, Bajaria needed to quickly convince Hollywood she was out to deliver series to outlets beyond the Peacock. “There was definitely skepticism over, ‘Will you really sell shows to other places?’” she says. “We absolutely love [NBC], and we want to provide them with a big hit… but it really is about having a diverse portfolio and looking at all of these different channels.” Sealing the deal by placing Mindy Kaling’s sitcom, The Mindy Project, on Fox in her first year on the job, she says, “was really the planting-the-flag moment, because that was the thing that showed people that we were going to do it, versus telling them.” Today a mix of Bajaria-shepherded programming airs across the dial, including NBC stalwarts like Grimm, Parks and Recreation, and Parenthood, the breakout Fox comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and A&E’s horror hit Bates Motel, building brands within brands. Bajaria, a former Miss India USA who emigrated from London with her family when she was 8, says her task-juggling bent was built in. “I think that’s still my skill set: I like to put a lot of pieces together and really help shepherd something through,” she says. “My mom will say, ‘Look at you—you have three kids and you do all this.’ I always say to her, ‘Exactly—I do what you do!’ I think it’s very much in the gene pool, and yeah, I like multitasking. I always like the one extra thing on my plate.”
ON POWER: “My job is fun and challenging, and I take it very seriously, but it’s not my life. For me, power is internal strength… confidence.”
Photographed on the Universal Studios backlot, Universal City.
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THE ICEBREAKER
JENNIFER LEE Co-Director, Frozen
Screenwriter and animation director Jennifer Lee has been on a direct path to Disney since childhood. “I drew all the time, but I didn’t realize that I was drawing stories,” she says of her early artistic efforts. She tried her hand at writing prose, “but it wasn’t fitting. And then I realized: I’m a visual storyteller.” Lee, 42, eventually ditched a decade-long art director stint in publishing in favor of film school. “I knew that there were stories brewing, but I also lived my life,” she says, experiencing marriage, divorce, and single motherhood. “By living life a bit—real world, not imaginary world—stories inspired me a lot.” Ultimately, her lively yet emotionally grounded sensibilities (“Give me the messiest character—I don’t care how many mistakes they make; if they’re warm, I’ll go anywhere with them”) caught Disney’s eye. Her Wreck-It Ralph writing prompted the breakthrough offer to co-direct Frozen, making her the first animation writer elevated to helm a feature, not to mention Disney’s first female director. “I was very nervous at first: Would I have something to contribute that was enough?” says Lee. Her approach—giving animators insight into the characters’ emotional journeys—resonated with her co-director Chris Buck. “I felt I could come at it purely from story,” says Buck, a Disney veteran, whose other credits include The Little Mermaid and Tarzan. A billion-plus box-office dollars and armloads of trophies—including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature—later, Lee reflects on her inadvertent glass-ceiling shattering: “[My success] made me realize that there’s a need for more women in creative positions.” Next up: Lee’s eager to craft something wholly original, leaning toward the sci-fi genre she adores (“Not just okay sci-fi—I want to do something amazing!”) and maybe live action (“Disney’s a big place, so there may be opportunities”). “It’s that feeling of the blank page,” she says, “and knowing, in a wonderful way, I can do anything right now.”
ON POWER: “The minute you feel powerful is the minute you lose all power! I still have the days where everything falls apart. But what I appreciate is I’m in a position where people say, ‘Just create.’”
“My success made me realize there’s a need for more women in creative positions.” —JENNIFER LEE
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Dress, Dolce & Gabbana ($1,775). 312 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-888-8701; dolcegabbana.com. Earrings ($6,250) and necklace ($635), Samira 13. 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-6521313; samira13.com Hair by Christina Buzas for ABTP.com. Makeup by Christina Henry using Chanel BeautĂŠ Photographed at The Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank.
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Top, ALC ($645). Intermix, 110 Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-860-0113; intermixonline.com. Pant, Escada ($750). 9502 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-271-0034; escada.com. Hampton cable necklace, David Yurman ($2,950). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-444-1080; davidyurman.com
ON MARY JO (LEFT):
ON MARYANN: Sweater, Tom Ford ($3,370). 346 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-270-9440. Pro Bardot cropped jeans, DL 1961 ($178). Bloomingdale’s, Westfield Century City, 310-772-2100; bloomingdales. com. Hoop earrings, Samira 13 ($235). 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1313; samira13.com. Pink sapphire and diamond pendant necklace, Kimberly McDonald ($5,775). 8590 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-8540890; kimberlymcdonald.com. Ring, Brandon’s own
Hair by Christina Buzas for ABTP.com Makeup by Christina Henry using Chanel Beauté Photographed at Bad Robot Productions, Santa Monica.
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THE CUTTING EDGE
MARY JO MARKEY & MARYANN BRANDON Film Editors
“A lesson to all of us: If you can make people laugh, then they want you around.”
As editors putting together mega-producer/director J.J. Abrams’ forays into the fantastic, Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon have worked on each of his TV series and as a duo cut each of his blockbuster feature films: Mission Impossible 3, Super 8, and two Star Trek movies. Already a relatively rare breed as female film editors—and even more unique in their work on seemingly boy-skewing blockbusters—they’ve informed the pop-storytelling sensibilities of a genre-loving generation (and have had a blast doing it). “I cut the first hour of TV that [Abrams] ever directed,” says Markey. “I can’t say enough how much fun it is to work with him.” Brandon remembers how her initial reluctance to take on the long hours and lower pay grade of TV editing were wiped away when her first meeting was little more than laughter and one-liners with Abrams. “I thought, ‘Okay, he’s never going to hire me,’” she says. “Which is a lesson to all of us: If you can make people laugh, then they want you around.” With an equally adept approach to widescreen-style action sequences and intimate character moments, both work prolifically separately and together, with and without Abrams (solo credits include Markey’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Brandon’s How to Train Your Dragon). “A lot of what we do is almost creating a scene that doesn’t exist from footage,” says Markey. “You need a moment, so you go through and find a little piece of this and a little piece of that to create something you didn’t really have in the first place.” They particularly value how Abrams trusts their creative instincts, says Brandon: “You can go, ‘Hey, I think we should just take this bit out and put what happens 60 minutes in at the beginning.’ And he will just join you in an idea and go down a road.” No strangers to reinterpreting icons, they’ll next edit Star Wars: Episode VII, where Brandon says the filmmaking team is “very dedicated to honoring what Star Wars is, as well as bringing it forward into the future of what the franchise will be.” They’re just not sure yet if they’ll be using the “arcane” but signature scene-transitioning wipes from George Lucas’s original films. “I can’t tell you how many people have asked me if we’re going to use those wipes,” laughs Markey. “And I have no idea!”
ON POWER: “If you are coming up with really creative problem-solving solutions, at that point your stock rises.” —MARY JO MARKEY
—MARYANN BRANDON
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THE INTERNET EXPLORER
CINDY HOLLAND
Growing up in small-town, pre-cable-revolution Nebraska, Cindy Holland’s lifeline to the indie, foreign, and documentary movies she loved was the sole art house theater 20 miles away from home. “I had such a passion for those films, and ultimately what led me to Netflix was an equal passion to have [today’s] kids see those films too, regardless of how far they live from the theater,” says Holland, age 44, who joined the innovative online streaming and disc delivery service in 2002. “I really believed that at some point the Internet would be a way to free those kinds of projects for more widespread distribution.” Today, Holland leads Netflix’s reinvention of the way TV series are delivered and devoured, creating original fare in genre niches Netflix’s algorithms suggest have enthusiastic audiences. The results—with high-buzz, critically acclaimed productions like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and the revived Arrested Development unveiled in full seasons for insta-binge-viewing—have been no less than revolutionary. House of Cards’ A-list Hollywood patina in particular—the first online-only series to receive a Primetime Emmy nomination—made it clear, she says, “that we weren’t creating webisodes for the Internet; that this was really premium content.” For Holland—an avid cyclist, who for several years has completed a charity ride from San Francisco to LA benefiting AIDS/LifeCycle—the trek to success has led to a diverse slate of series ahead, including a family thriller from the creators of Damages and a sci-fi opus from the Wachowskis and Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski. “We have an engineering mentality: We’ll look at any aspect of any business that we go into and we’ll see if there’s a better way to do it,” she says.
ON POWER: “Power is about position... the ability to influence what happens.”
“We’ll look at any aspect of any business that we go into and see if there’s a better way to do it.” —CINDY HOLLAND
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW MACPHERSON FOR NETFLIX
Vice President of Original Content, Netflix
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Photographed at Siren Studios, Hollywood.
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“I’d seen a couple of writers who’d become a brand and thought, that’s what you need to do in order to have creative control.” —MELISSA ROSENBERG
Dress, Max Mara ($675). 451 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-385-9343; maxmara.com. Earrings ($150) and bangles ($125 each), Alexis Bittar. Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com. Limitedediton Waverly ring, David Yurman ($3,900). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-444-1080; david yurman.com. Studs and sunglasses, Rosenberg’s own. Hair and makeup by Garen for Exclusive Artists using Kanebo Sensai
THE WRITE STUFF
MELISSA ROSENBERG
Screenwriter/Producer
“It’s the longest overnight success story in the history of the world,” laughs Melissa Rosenberg of the winding path that led her to pen the screenplays for the billion-dollar-plusgrossing Twilight franchise. “After a 20-yada-yada-year career, I’ve learned that every single little step leads to the other one.” When her statuesque six-foot frame made dreams of becoming a dancer/choreographer unlikely, Rosenberg learned new moves: Her writing for TV series such as The O.C. and the first Step Up film paved the way to adapt Stephanie Meyer’s hotly devoured vampiric YA novels into five films. “It was utterly surreal,” says the 51-year-old writer of her ringside seat at the most frenzied pop-culture phenomena of the decade. “You go to the premiere, and it’s this massive, crazy, wonderful thing with this incredible energy. And the next day you wake up, and you still put on your dog-hair-covered fleece and sit there facing a blank page.” Simultaneously, she took home a Peabody Award for her even darker work on Dexter’s early seasons. Aware of how easily dismissed even the most successful Hollywood scribes can be, she shrewdly hired a publicist to help capitalize on her creative cred. “I’d seen a couple of writers who’d become a brand and I thought, that’s what you need to do in order to have creative control.” Now Rosenberg, who’s married to TV director Lev. L. Spiro, is executive producing Marvel Studios’ Netflix series adaptation of acclaimed comic book Alias, featuring ex-crime fighter-turned-P.I. Jessica Jones (“a really complex, interesting female superhero—and a damaged, flawed character at that”). She admits a “corny” fondness for bootstrap-raising protagonists. “My favorite theme in all storytelling is to dream big and make your dreams happen,” she says. “And that’s certainly been my experience in life. I know how rare it is.”
ON POWER: “The most incredible gift is when a young girl comes up to me and says, ‘When I grow up I want to be a screenwriter.’ She knows she is looking at someone who has done it. She knows it’s possible.”
Photographed at The Walt Disney Studios, Burbank.
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THE ‘DALLAS’ CHEERLEADER
ROBBIE BRENNER
President of Production, Relativity Media The best part of Robbie Brenner’s job: “Being able to say, ‘I was watching the news, and I saw this great story that would make a great movie. How can I put those pieces together?’ It’s like you have your own canvas that you can paint on every day.” Brenner, age 42, has shepherded a diverse array of films (Immortals, Limitless, Catfish, Don Jon), but none resonated more for her than Dallas Buyers Club. After she graduated from NYU film school, one of Brenner’s first friendships formed in LA was with screenwriter Craig Borten, who’d been toiling to bring maverick AIDS patient Ron Woodroof’s story to the screen. “It was just a movie that got under my skin and stuck with me,” she says of spending 15 years attempting to realize the film. Her perseverance was rewarded with six Academy Award nominations for the film, including a Best Picture nod and wins for stars Matthew McConaughey (Best Actor) and Jared Leto (Best Supporting Actor). “It’s been the most rewarding and hard… and exhilarating experience.” A nine-year stint during Miramax Films’ heyday—“the greatest boot camp”—taught her, “You have to just be really, really passionate about what you do,” she says. “You have to will things into existence.” Upcoming projects include Casey Affleck’s next, as-yet-untitled directorial effort, which she calls “sort of like The Blind Side meets The Fighter”; a new adaptation of the comic book hero The Crow; the sci-fi adventure Earth to Echo; and a third collaboration with author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me. Ultimately, Brenner says her professional triumph provided an important personal lesson at home, where she and her husband, finance VP Aaron Sanor, have two daughters—Isabella, 9, and India, 5. “It’s great that my children can see that it doesn’t matter how you finish,” she adds, “but if you commit to doing something and you believe in it, then you’ve got to see it through—no matter how many times you get knocked down and are told that it can’t happen.”
“If you commit to doing something you’ve got to see it through, no matter how many times you get knocked down.” —ROBBIE BRENNER
ON POWER: “Having been nominated for an Academy Award, yes, people look at me differently. But I don’t feel any more powerful. I just feel like it’s going to give me a platform to actually do and say the things and create the art and work with the people that I want to in my life.”
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Silk and lace blouse ($1,100) and lace pencil skirt ($1,295), Dolce & Gabbana. 312 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-888-8701; dolcegabbana.com. Black opal and diamond earrings ($14,300) and geode and diamond ring ($6,725), Kimberly McDonald. 8590 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-854-0890; kimberlymcdonald.com. Pumps, Manolo Blahnik ($595). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-5505900; neimanmarcus.com. Ankle bracelet, Brenner’s own. Hair and makeup by Amberlee Schoneweis Photographed at Relativity Media headquarters, Beverly Hills.
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BN BOSS NOVA
It’s a new season and a new attitude for LA’s women on top.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT ASCROFT STYLING BY LAUREN FINNEY AND FAYE POWER
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ON SHELBY (LEFT): Dress ($3,045) and belt ($990), Lanvin. 260 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-402-0580; lanvin.com. 18k yellow-gold and rock crystal caged earrings, Verdura ($8,000). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com. 18k yellow-gold Celtic dunes ring, H. Stern ($3,200). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com. Pumps, Aquazzura ($595). Intermix, 400 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-623-1619; intermixonline.com. ON ERIKA: Dress, Oscar de la Renta ($1,790). 8446 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-653-0200; oscardelarenta.com. 18k white-gold Fulfillment round diamond earrings, Hearts on Fire (price on request). Chong Hing Jewelers, 956 N. Hill St., LA, 213-680-4799; chonghing.com. 18k white-gold and PerlĂŠe diamond motif ring, Van Cleef & Arpels ($15,250). 300 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-1161; vancleefarpels.com. Pumps, Dolce & Gabbana ($598). 312 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-888-8701; dolcegabbana.com
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OPPOSITE PAGE: ON ERIKA (LEFT): Dress, Emporio Armani ($1,175). 9533 Brighton Way, LA, 310-271-7790; armani.com. 18k rose-gold Perlée diamond earrings ($24,000) and 18k rose-gold Perlée ring ($2,600), Van Cleef & Arpels. 300 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-1161; vancleefarpels.com. 18k pink-gold double-coil Serpenti watch with diamonds, Bulgari ($38,400). 401 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-858-9216; bulgari.com. Bag, Dolce & Gabbana ($3,295). 312 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-888-8701; dolcegabbana.com. ON SHELBY: Dress, Bottega Veneta ($2,250). 8445 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-782-4970; bottegaveneta.com. Sterling silver medium Atlas hoop earrings, Tiffany & Co. (price on request). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-540-5330; tiffany.com. Porsche Design P’9982 Smartphone by BlackBerry, Porsche Design ($1,990). 236 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-205-0095; porsche-design.com
Dress, Bottega Veneta ($2,650). 18k rose-gold bangle ($23,500) and 18k rose-gold bracelet ($44,700), Pomellato. 320 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-858-1300; pomellato.com. Bag, Dolce & Gabbana ($2,895). THIS PAGE:
SEE ABOVE .
SEE ABOVE
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THIS PAGE: Vest, Donna Karan New York ($1,495). Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com. 18k yellow-gold Perlée diamond motif earrings ($14,500) and 18k yellow-gold Perlée diamond motif ring ($14,850), Van Cleef & Arpels. 300 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-1161; vancleef arpels.com. Bracelet, Vita Fede ($675). Intermix, 110 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-8600113; intermixonline.com OPPOSITE PAGE: ON ERIKA (LEFT): Jacket, Gucci ($4,500). 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-3451; gucci.com. Tank, Donna Karan New York ($595). SEE ABOVE. Trouser, Hugo Boss ($295). Beverly Center, LA, 310-657-0011; hugoboss.com. Bag Valextra ($3,990). Barneys New York, The Grove, LA, 323-761-5255; barneys.com. ON SHELBY: Dress (worn as top), Donna Karan New York ($995). SEE ABOVE. Skirt, Stella McCartney ($2,185). 8823 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-273-7051; stella mccartney.com. 18K white-gold Fleurette diamond earrings, Van Cleef & Arpels ($25,400). 300 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-1161; vancleef arpels.com. Star Classique lady automatic watch, Montblanc ($5,400). Beverly Center, LA, 310-854-0049; montblanc.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
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THIS PAGE: Pumps, Manolo Blahnik ($835). Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com OPPOSITE PAGE:
Jacket ($3,900) and pant ($1,250), Dior. 309 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-859-4700; dior.com. Shirt, Burberry London ($325). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-556-8110; burberry.com. 18k white-gold Fulfillment round diamond earrings, Hearts on Fire (price on request). Chong Hing Jewelers, 956 N. Hill St., LA, 213-623-3645; heartsonfire.com. iPad case, Smythson ($635). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; smythson.com
Set Design by Sergio Esteves for utopianyc.com Makeup by Tracy Crystal of Next Artists using Chanel Assistant to Tracy Crystal: Shain Kish Hair by Julien Farel of Next Artists for Julien Farel Haircare Hair Assistants: Mark Anthony and Amanda Troisi for Julien Farel Haircare Manicure by Myrdith Leon-McCormack using Dior Vernis at Factory Downtown Models: Erika P. & Shelby C. at New York Model Management
BEAUTÉ ON ERIKA THROUGHOUT: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in Beige 10 ($45), Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in No. 30 ($58), Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Passion ($35), Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Lotus ($30), Automatic Liquid Liner ($34), Inimitable Mascara in Noir ($30), and Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Brun Naturel ($29). Chanel, 400 N. Rodeo Dr., 310-278-5500; chanel.com. Moroccanoil Hair Treatment ($43). moroccanoil.com BEAUTÉ ON SHELBY THROUGHOUT:
Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation ($57), Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in No. 60 ($58), Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Pirate ($35), Automatic Liquid Liner ($34), Powder Blush in Emotion ($43), Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir ($30), and Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in Brun Cendre ($29). Chanel, SEE ABOVE . Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Medium ($22). moroccanoil.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TK; ILLUSTRATION BY TK
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piecesde résistance At this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, luxury watchmakers unveiled models combining beauty and power—for women only!
BY ROBERTA NAAS
‘‘ The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Ceramic watch ($105,000) houses the specially designed caliber CRMA2, a skeletonized automatic high-performance movement. The watch is crafted in gold and scratch-resistant, high-tech ATZ ceramic. 222 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-285-9898; richardmille.com
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ver the past several years, women have been getting notoriously sophisticated about watchmaking culture…. There is no question [they] have knowledge about even the most technical aspects,” says timepiece titan Richard Mille, who has dubbed 2014 the Year of the Woman. While he has been creating women’s watches for almost a decade, this year Mille concentrated on producing larger sizes using high-tech materials—an approach that resonates with the female clientele at his two US boutiques, including the one in Los Angeles. Of course, Mille isn’t the only brand focusing on the fairer sex. An appreciation for female watch enthusiasts and their depth of expertise was pervasive at January’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva. Although some companies seemed caught off guard by it, many are responding with a new realm of women’s watches that includes automatic and mechanical pieces with complications such as chronographs, skeletons, calendars, moon phase indicators, and more. Take Richard Mille’s latest timepieces, for example: The RM 19-01 Tourbillon Natalie Portman bears a diamond spider motif that supports its tourbillon bridges and winding barrels, while the avant-garde RM 07-01 houses a skeletonized automatic movement with specially made titanium bridges. It’s also crafted in the advanced ATZ ceramic, a tenacious composite of alumina and zirconia. Says Mille, “All of our ladies’ watches have a distinctly glamorous side in addition to being extremely technical.”
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Cartier’s Les Indomptables de Cartier brooch watch (price on request) features a green enamel dial with a crocodile scale motif and enamel leaves. The crocodile, which can be removed from the timepiece and worn as a brooch, is made of 18k gold and brilliantcut diamonds and boasts emerald eyes. It is part of a limited edition of 50 numbered pieces. Available by appointment only. 370 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2754272; cartier.us
OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY YOUENN BOSHER; THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINCENT WULVERYCK/CARTIER
Fashion First Unlike watchmaking for men, in which a design concept starts in the luxury field and trickles down to the fashion arena, the women’s watch boom has its origins in the fashion world, where midpriced brands such as Michael Kors and Michele have taken the women’s market by storm. Sales of women’s fashion watches in the $300 to $500 price range were up 11 percent in 2013. In a “trickle up” effect, a pioneering group of luxury fashion and jewelry brands finally started paying attention to this market a few years ago. This year Chanel launched its J12 Flying Tourbillon, with a tourbillon movement developed for the brand by renowned manufacturer APRP. Similarly, in 2011 Dior unveiled the Inverse Caliber—a movement that lets the rotor be seen on the dial side and allows for stunning decorative elements— and housed it in the brand’s much-coveted Dior VIII collection, while Van Cleef & Arpels launched its Poetic Complications line of retrograde watches and repeater watches for women in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Noticing these brands’ success with high-end complex watches geared toward women, haute horology companies have begun taking action. “We owe it to women to be as true to them as we are to men with our high watch making,” says Xavier Nolot, CEO of Audemars Piguet NA, which currently produces strong pieces for women in its Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections. Next year the brand promises to unveil a line created expressly for women. “It used to be easy to take a shortcut for women and just offer
beautiful timepieces, but that is not enough anymore. Women are in places of power, and they demand a watch that makes a powerful statement on their wrist.” Vacheron Constantin’s artistic director, Christian Selmoni, concurs. “The challenge we face as an industry is giving women the perfect blend of beauty and technology,” he says. “It is not good enough to put a mechanical movement inside a watch; we need to push to develop new looks for this new frontier.” Of the 16 watch companies exhibiting at SIHH last year, Vacheron Constantin was the only one to unveil women’s watches exclusively, including artistic masterpieces with enamel dials and mechanical movements. This year the company continues that feminine focus with the Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements collection, celebrating the decorative arts. Exemplars of fine watchmaking, these timepieces feature open-worked calibers, as well as cases and dials showcasing the arts of guilloche, enamel, engraving, gem setting, and more. Each piece in the series houses the brand’s ultraslim (1.64mm) Calibre 1003, consisting of a lacework of meticulously engraved wheel trains visible in the center of the watch dial and through the caseback. The series includes pieces bearing Indian, Ottoman, French, and Chinese-inspired motifs. At the same time that Vacheron Constantin began unveiling women’s watches, so did Jaeger-LeCoultre. About two years ago, the brand released Rendez-Vous, its special collection for women, which was focused on the
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Night & Day model, with an updated moon-phase indicator and a mechanical movement. After meeting with a positive response, the company expanded the collection to include a celestial model, a tourbillon, and more. This year it introduces a perpetual-calendar version and the Rendez-Vous Date, with the 27.5mm Calibre 966, one of the smallest mechanical movements on the market. “While we have a long history of making watches for women, this was different,” says Philippe Bonay, president of JaegerLeCoultre North America. “We had to create all-new cases just for women, as opposed to shrinking something down from the men’s collections. Especially in the high-end segment of watches, there is an entire culture of women who know exactly what they want, who see the watch as a horological piece. While they still want beauty and precious materials, they also want a movement that makes a statement.”
Art + Style The rush to create watches for women isn’t only about new launches. Brands that have long designed for this market, such as Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Piaget, and Roger Dubuis, are recognizing the need to step up their games. “We are known for our very feminine style,” says Larry Boland, president of Piaget. “But women, especially in the boardroom, want a complex watch that makes a statement on their wrists.” This year, in its Altiplano and Limelight lines, Piaget unveiled several new mechanical watches for women that are at once elegant and technically impressive. The Limelight Blooming Rose watch features four diamond-adorned rose petals encasing a center dial. With a simple touch, the upper case swivels and four more petals appear, surrounding the dial in full bloom. This year Cartier is focusing on versatility, which plays a key role in its Métiers d’Art collection. First released in 2013, the series features artistic dials and overlaid sculptures, each of which can be removed from the case and worn as a brooch. The latest models include a watch with a gold and diamond crocodile on top of a striking green enamel dial; another, with a removable flamingo, emulates a piece made for the Duchess of Windsor in
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Christophe Claret’s Margot mechanical watch ($315,000) functions via an ingenious mechanism that plays the game “He loves me, he loves me not.” Each time the wearer presses the pusher, a single petal or a pair of petals randomly falls off the flower, disappearing beneath the dial. (There is also a non-diamond version for $199,500.) Westime Beverly Hills, 254 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-271-0000; christopheclaret.com. F.P. Journe’s new quartzpowered Elegante ($11,400) stops displaying time after lying flat for 30 seconds, but is awakened with motion to automatically readjust the clock. 8608 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-294-8585; fpjourne.com. With a white mother-ofpearl dial under an open-worked 18k gold plate that is set with half pearls, Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Fabuleux Ornements 9906 Ottoman Architecture watch ($147,600) houses an ultraslim (1.64mm thin) manual Calibre 1003 skeletonized movement. Available in late fall by appointment. 365 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-598-2026; vacheron-constantin.com
FROM LEFT:
1940 by Cartier’s famed designer Jeanne Toussaint. In addition, the brand worked with actual rose petals in the design of its marquetry parrot timepiece. All of these diverse watches house mechanical movements and offer unparalleled artistry that proved to be a high point at SIHH.
Independence = Ingenuity Independent watchmakers are also answering the call to action from women, with some very unusual responses. Christophe Claret, famed for his ultramechanical chiming watches that allow the wearer to play poker, roulette, and other games, this year unveils his first complicated women’s timepiece. Called Margot, the limited-edition mechanical watch has a daisy dial inspired by the whimsical act of plucking petals while reciting “He loves me, he loves me not.” With the press of a pusher at 2, a single petal or a pair of petals randomly falls off the flower, disappearing beneath the natural mother-of-pearl dial until the answer appears in French calligraphy at 4. Adding to the charm is the melodic chime that resonates in typical Claret style with each press. In a different vein, F.P. Journe—easily one of the most traditional watchmakers of our time, focusing on handmade mechanical movements and heritage-inspired complexities—unveils its first women’s watch line this year. Making the milestone even more intriguing, the series includes Journe’s first quartz-powered watch. “We can’t close our eyes to the fact
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are not ‘‘Women afraid to buy
expensive watches for themselves anymore.’’
—RUDY CHAVEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MORVAN ALAIN-NENCIOLI GILBERT © SIHH 2014 (SIGN, BAUME & MERCIER); ,VITTORIO ZUNINO CELOTTO/GETTY (DUBUIS)
Piaget’s Limelight Blooming Rose watch ($46,900) features diamond-adorned rose petals that open from four to eight petals with a touch of the case. Available this fall. South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-361-2020; piaget.com. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Perpetual Calendar watch ($49,800) is powered by the mechanical Calibre 868 automatic movement, which takes into account all unequal lengths of months and requires no adjustment until March 1, 2100. 9490 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-734-0525; jaeger-lecoultre.com
that quartz exists and that some women like the ease of a quartz watch,” explains Pierre Halimi Lacharlotte, general manager of F.P. Journe in America. “But Journe would not have been able to build a quartz watch unless it had complications and unusual abilities. It had to be something different, something beautiful and dedicated just to women.” Called Elegante, the line offers a unique feature: When the watch lies flat for more than 30 minutes, it stops displaying the time, but when picked up again, it automatically moves to the proper time in the quickest way possible, forward or backward. “There is a sort of whimsical, dreamy appeal to a watch that goes to sleep but can wake up on touch,” says Lacharlotte. Eight years of research and development went into the piece, and thanks to Journe’s tireless commitment to precision, it houses two movements—one for seconds and one for hours and minutes—which also maximizes battery life. Yet this electromechanical marvel is still thin and, as its name suggests, elegant. “Women are not afraid to buy expensive watches for themselves anymore,” says Rudy Chavez, president of Baume & Mercier, North America, which currently offers a strong core line for women in its Linea collection of watches with interchangeable straps and plans to unveil an entirely new collection this fall. As part of that line’s ongoing research and development, the brand held focus groups internationally with women to determine their needs. “They want watches that reflect the fact that they are independent thinkers,” says Chavez, “professionals who appreciate good looks and the power behind those looks. They want to celebrate their success. A watch is something they can look at and recall the reason they bought it.” LAC For more watch coverage, go to la-confidential-magazine.com/watches.
FROM TOP: Iconic watchmaker Roger Dubuis at his SIHH booth, where he unveiled his Velvet Haute Joaillerie watch (price on request). Traditional Jewelers, 203 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-721-9010; roger dubuis.com; SIHH 2014 welcomed 12,500 guests to its 30,000-square-meter exhibition space featuring 16 exhibitors and two very special exhibitions; Baume & Mercier offers its Linea collection of women’s timepieces with interchangeable bands.
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Haute Property NEWS, STARS AND TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE
Shangri-LaLa Land? THE GARDEN OF EDEN HAS NOTHING ON LA’S LUXURIOUSLY LANDSCAPED PROPERTIES. BY KATHY A. MCDONALD
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here’s a reason curb appeal is a real estate maxim: A home’s exterior can woo and intoxicate. And although no agent would list a house solely on the merits of its flowering shrubbery and sculpted trees, many would argue that a verdant garden can help sell a property. “As with falling in love with a person, if the outside of a house is really attractive, the buyers
are in love with it before they walk in the door,” says Gary Gold (soldbygold.net), executive vice president at Hilton & Hyland. The most appealing landscaping feels organic rather than fabricated, as indeed it must be in LA’s semiarid climate. And when garden and house interconnect ideally, the result can be magical, contends Gold, who is representing,
along with associate Marcie Hartley, such a paradigm in Santa Monica: a $12.75 million, two-home compound replete with a meandering creek and azalea-filled Japanese garden. What’s the key to inspired garden design? According to landscape architect Jeffrey Gordon Smith (jgsdesigns.com), whose work can be found from Napa to San Diego, it’s about
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK SINGER
Paradise found: This eight-bedroom Asianinspired two-home compound in Santa Monica showcases its own lily-pad-strewn stream as well as lushly planted flowers and native grasses.
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TOP TO BOTTOM: The $43 million Doheny estate
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK SINGER (DOHENY ESTATE); LANE GERBER INTERACTIVE (JOSHUA TREE)
boasts an Arcadian expanse of flame trees, prize roses, and other rare flora; indigenous boulders are part of this striking Joshua Tree home’s interior and exterior design.
understanding as much as possible about a site—its spirit, in a way. “Architecture is fairly static once it’s done, whereas landscape is dynamic and constantly changing,” he says. In Southern California’s temperate climate, the array of options is extraordinary, from lush tropical foliage (palms, bromeliads, and ferns) to drought-resistant plants like succulents, native sage, and ornamental feather grasses. The parklike 3.63 acres of the late William H. Doheny estate in Bel-Air, listed for $43 million by Hilton & Hyland, illustrate this range. In addition to the 10,000-square-foot, high-style Hollywood Regency manse built in 1963, the carefully tended hilltop was the love affair of Doheny’s late wife, Onnalee, and is a botanist’s paradise of towering exotic palms, flame trees, colorful camellias, lush greenery, and a hillside covered in daylilies, irises, and roses. “It’s an iconic, important piece of land in old Bel-Air— the lower part of East Gate—and it was among the first estates developed,” explains listing agent Judy Feder, v ice president at Hilton & Hyland (hiltonhyland.com). On the other hand, a total lack of landscaping can also make a bold statement—especially in the most drought-prone corners of SoCal. In Joshua Tree, a three-bedroom, threeand-a-half-bath house by architect Ken Kellogg (with its own interior waterfall) is integrated completely into its high-desert setting of massive
“If the outside of a house is really attractive, the buyers are in love with it before they walk in the door.” —GARY GOLD boulders. Listed at $3 million, the 4,643-squarefoot house appears to have grown mushroomlike out of the rocks. “It’s the ultimate expression of the idea of organic architecture,” explains Chris Menrad, real estate agent, HK Lane, Palm Springs (hklane.com). Not every property can push the design envelope so dramatically. However, creating a compelling landscape that frames a house imaginatively has a tangible effect on buyers. Says Menrad, “I always think people make up their mind if they’re going to buy a house as they’re turning the doorknob; landscaping is a huge part of that and very important.” LAC
GREEN SCENES Southern California’s most beautiful public gardens were once private domains. Today, they’re exotic gems in an increasingly dense and subdivided cityscape. Greystone Mansion’s formal English gardens have served as the backdrop for countless films and TV shows. 905 Loma Vista Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-285-6830; greystonemansion.org The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens boast more than 14,000 exotic plant varieties across 120 acres. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 626-4052100; huntington.org Open for tours by appointment, the charming Virginia Robinson Gardens are part of the first estate built in Beverly Hills. 1008 Elden Way, Beverly Hills, 310-550-2087; robinsongardens.org
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PRIME REAL ESTATE
Star-Spangled Manors W
hile LA’s star tours are a treat for tourists, when it comes to buying in, does a famous resident help sell a house? Provenance may appear to be king in LA, as a celebrity link drives up a home’s market visibility and generates interest— sometimes too much interest. When Mariah Carey and hubby Nick Cannon listed their Bel-Air manse, the media attention was so pervasive, they de-listed the sprawling traditional within four days—but not before the world had a peek into her white and beige diva-scale bathroom and at his half-court-size indoor basketball court. There’s no question that a star’s home always makes for a compelling story. Few can resist peering into one of the nine bedrooms and tricked-out gym at Madonna’s 1.25-acre Beverly Hills estate (it sold in 2013 for a reported $19.5 million) or gawking at the ABOVE: Liz Taylor’s Bel-Air late Elizabeth Taylor’s lavender-colored liv- home sold and closed in just 19 days. RIGHT: Madonna’s ing room with its museum-quality collection 1.25-acre Bev Hills estate of Impressionist paintings by van Gogh and fetched $19.5M last year. Pissarro (the house, which was listed at $8.6 million, sold in 2011; the final sale price was not disclosed). Robert Pattinson’s gated Spanish Revivalstyle mansion in Los Feliz generated much buzz for its beamed and stenciled ceilings, gorgeous grounds, and tiled interiors; it sold earlier this year for $6.375 million (sans the perennial camped-out squad of paparazzi) after five months on the market. Whether a celebrity’s name above a property title ups its value, however, is open to debate. “Typically, no one pays more for a home just because a wellknown personality lived there,” says David Mossler (mossler properties.com) of Teles Properties, who is experienced in buying and selling architectural properties as well as landmark estates. “But a real movie star like Elizabeth Taylor is a rarer breed,” adds Mossler, who represented Taylor’s estate in Bel-Air. Taylor’s traditionally styled
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home’s history and its prime location combined for a quick sale and closing in 19 days after multiple offers. “It was a true home where her family and friends gathered and it had not been on the market for over 30 years,” explains Mossler. The private location and city views were contributing features, he adds. “Although a lot of people will come to see a house if it was owned by celebrity, if they love the house, they will buy it, but not because someone they admire owned it,” says Beverly Hills–based real estate agent Jade Mills of Jade Mills Worldwide, Coldwell Banker Previews International (jademills estates.com). A famous seller is “a great way to get people in,” advises Mills, who carefully vets prospective buyers (another crucial aspect of the celebrity-home real estate sale) to ensure they are qualified buyers—able to afford the home, rather than just looky-loos. Mills represents the legendary family compound of Bob and Dolores Hope, which sits on 5.16 acres of quintessential “old Hollywood” in the heart of Toluca Lake. Complete with a singlehole golf course—naturally, as Hope was a famed amateur duffer—there is a two-bedroom guesthouse in addition to the 14,876-square-foot main Bob Hope’s famous John Lautner–designed house with indoor pool. On pad in Palm Springs the market for $27.5 million, (LEFT) and his sprawling Toluca Lake estate the 1950s-era gated estate is (BELOW) are both for sale. one of the few left in Toluca Lake that has not been subdivided or remodeled. And it’s just a putt-putt from several big studios, of course… a rarity in LA today. Hope’s soaring John Lautner –designed house above Palm Springs is also available for a cool $34 million, down from the original price of $50 million. Even after the famed owner is long gone, visitors and fans seek out the celebrity connection, says Mills. She reflects ruefully, “Star Maps never forgets.” LAC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES (TAYLOR); GEORGE PIMENTEL/GETTY IMAGES (MADONNA); © PROEHL STUDIOS/CORBIS (PALM SPRINGS ESTATE); COURTESY OF JADE MILLS AND DREW FENTON, LISTING AGENTS (TOLUCA LAKE ESTATE)
IN LA, GEORGE WASHINGTON DIDN’T SLEEP ANYWHERE—BUT LOTS OF CELEBS DID, AND THEIR HOMES FETCH TOP DOLLAR. BY KATHY A. MCDONALD
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MIRANDA COSGROVE WANTS TO KEEP DOLPHINS SINGING DOLPHINS USE SOUND TO FIND FOOD, TO COMMUNICATE AND LIVE. But dolphins and their song could be blown away by seismic blasts a hundred thousand times louder than a jet engine. It could hurt and kill tens of thousands of dolphins. Join Miranda and help save the dolphins.
oceana.org/dolphinsong
Miranda Cosgrove swims with Atlantic spotted dolphins off Bimini, Bahamas. Š Tim Calver
Abode & Beyond
DIVINE DESIGNERS
Natasha Baradaran’s solid brass Pari pendant light ($14,975) takes inspiration from faceted gems.
Charmed Living NATASHA BARADARAN DAZZLES WITH HER NEW JEWELRY-INSPIRED INTERIORS LINE. BY ALLYSON REES
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA VALLADARES
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nterior designer Natasha Baradaran likens her new luxury furniture collection to “jewelry for the home”—like the kind worn by elegantly dressed women. “They have a very simple, high-quality look and then they’ll have an incredible bracelet or earring that just sets them apart,” she explains. This idea was the starting point for her 10-piece collection of case goods, upholstery, and lighting sculptures featuring muted color palettes, rich metallic finishes, and organic shapes, available at Jean de Merry in West Hollywood. Although the collection is the designer’s first foray into furniture design, she’s no newbie. After a term at renowned hospitality firm Wilson and Associates, Baradaran, 41, launched her own namesake firm in 2000. Since then, the LA native has worked on residential projects for Kate Hudson and director Bryan Singer, designed Santa Monica offices for a British private equity firm, and managed historical preservation projects in London and the Lake District of Italy.
Italy—Milan in particular—has always been Baradaran’s second home. During visits to the city to see her mother, a boutique jewelry designer, Baradaran pulls inspiration for both her interiors and furniture designs. “You see things that are beautiful, that are inspired by fashion, but they’re not trendy,” she says. For Baradaran, functionality in design is just as important as timelessness and beauty, and she admits that some of her furniture pieces were created to fill a void in the market. Baradaran cites her new cuff console ($14,700)—a slim eggshell and gold table with circular cutouts—as the type of piece that has continually been a challenge to source for projects. “As a designer, it’s always been very difficult for me to find a narrow piece that also gives you a lot of bang for your buck,” she explains. “It’s this kind of eye candy. These pieces are showstopping conversation starters. They add a unique touch of whimsy to a room.” Jean de Merry, 8417 Melrose Pl., West
Hollywood, 323-655-9193; jeandemerry.com LAC
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ADOBE & BEYOND guide Kelly Wearstler’s WeHo shop is “ground zero” for the designer’s mod-chic lifestyle.
Pro Shops TOP DECORATORS-TURNED-RETAILERS ARE LA’S DOMESTIC VISIONARIES. BY ALLYSON REES
Hollyhock
Matters of Space
After years working as an interior designer, Isabelle Dahlin opened Dekor as a place to showcase her eclectic globetrotter style. Offering a mix of ethnic influences from her Swedish upbringing as well as her travels throughout Africa and Europe, Dekor is popular with Echo Park’s bohemian clientele. Don’t miss the shop’s whimsical wooden swings. 2145 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 213-375-7627; dekorla.com
Suzanne Rheinstein’s Hollyhock, a local favorite for over 20 years, features antique furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, William Yeoward crystal, and handengraved stationery. Known for its industry-insider book signings and art exhibits, the store also houses Rheinstein’s signature Hollyhock Home Collection. 927 N. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-777-0100; hollyhockinc.com
Part retail space, part showroom, Matters of Space is the creative brainchild of interior designers PJ Roden and Katerina Gabbro. Their Highland Park boutique stocks the brand’s Cali-cool custom furniture—think marble and walnut dining tables, rustic rope floor lamps, and Tibetan lamb Thonet armchairs—along with colorful woven jewelry, ceramics, and candles. 5005 York Blvd., LA, 323-7433267; mattersofspace.com
Hallworth
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Jasper
With inspiration ranging from the industrial to the organic, designer Jane Hallworth’s namesake boutique is a warm, intimate emporium of mid-century Americana mixed with old-world charm. Metal multi-drawer cases, antique bow-back Windsor chairs, and vintage toy Model-Ts have a utilitarian, albeit glamorous feel. 767 1⁄2 N. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-855-1152; hallworth.us
Designer Michael Smith studied at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and worked under legendary antiques dealer Gep Durenberger, so it’s no surprise Jasper has a historic feel. The boutique mixes Smith’s pieces from artisans like Collier Webb, James Duncan, and Robert Kime with his own collection. 8525 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310-315-3028; michaelsmithinc.com
Harbinger
Kelly Wearstler
From Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat, the residential designers behind famed Lucas Studio, Harbinger is all about “trendresistant” pieces. Classics like Loro Piana’s plush fabrics and Coleen & Company’s low-line tables are mixed with bolder statement styles, including Sheila Bridges floral wallpaper, Sister Parish’s fearless accessories, and the duo’s custom designs. 752 N. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-858-6884; harbingerla.com
Opened in 2012, Kelly Wearstler’s WeHo flagship offers the multitalented designer’s American-mod aesthetic in a complete sensory experience. Stocked with furniture, luxury gifts, vintage books, sculpture, and found art from Wearstler’s travels abroad, the store is also home to ready-to-wear fashions and antique-inspired jewelry. 8440 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323-895-7880; kellywearstler.com
NK Shop Design partners Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe have been fusing their respective backgrounds in hospitality and retail design since 2004. The duo’s NK Shop combines Moroccan ottomans, mid-century cubist sculpture, and hand-painted benches with NK’s private collection of modern upholstered sofas, oak coffee tables, and industrial-inspired lighting. 7221 Beverly Blvd., LA, 323-9549300; nickeykehoe.com
Rose Tarlow Interior designer Rose Tarlow has been a local fixture since she opened her first antiques shop in 1976. Her empire expanded to include textiles, old world–inspired furniture, and museum-quality objects. Head to her Melrose House flagship for timeless, sophisticated pieces with a touch of Southern California charm. 8540 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-6512202; rosetarlow.com LAC
COLOR THEORY Designer Tobi Tobin schools us in summer’s hottest home trend.
What’s the latest craze? As the fashion and interior design worlds merge, color blocking has made a huge impact. How do we use color blocking? Choose a “grounded wall” (the area with the most impact in a room) and paint it a contrasting color or texture. What about those wary of using too much color? Include bright colors with coffee-table books, art, small objects, and flowers. 8601 Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-289-0951; tobitobin.com BELOW:
Pieces from Tobin’s Vintage Collection at her store on Sunset.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOBI TOBIN (TOBIN, SHOP)
Dekor
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JANUARY JONES IS SCARED OF GREAT WHITE SHARKS
And you should be scared for great white sharks, too. Healthy oceans need sharks, but there may only be a few hundred adult Pacifc great whites left. Join January and Oceana in the fght to save them.
www.oceana.org/scaredforgreatwhites
and Finally ... Painting the Town Gray SILVER SCREEN? YOU BET. OLDER WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD ARE GIVING MILLENNIAL STARLETS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. BY NADINE SCHIFF-ROSEN
Cheers!
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ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL O’LEARY
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oldie Hawn as Elise Elliot in The First Wives Club once famously said, “There are only three ages for women in Hollywood: babe, district attorney, and Driving Miss Daisy.” Hollywood’s box office has traditionally been co-opted by action heroes that stoke the raging fever of adolescent boys, but today, it’s not just the kids who are all right. Age still matters, but not so much. Consider this year’s awards shows: Eighty percent of female nominees were older than 50, among them Judi Dench (79), Meryl Streep (64), Emma Thompson (55), and June Squibb (a spry 84). So when did the industry start disregarding the 39-plus-year expiration date on women? As in any business, follow the money. According to the Motion Picture Association, 55 percent of all movie tickets in this country are purchased by females who naturally want to see themselves represented on-screen. Women—specifically women of a certain age—aren’t interested in Darth Vader’s heavy breathing. Instead, they want to see Alec Baldwin flirt with Meryl Streep within an inch of his life, ruing the day he ever gave her up for a miniskirted bimbo. Somewhere between being replaced and hormonal replacement, it got cooler to be older. Let’s face it: Science has made gazing through the looking glass at middle age a tad easier. Just a little filler, a Zumba class, a spray tan, and a positive attitude, and women no longer have to sit on the sidelines feeling bad about their necks. And there’s a certain freedom that comes with age. Dame Helen Mirren claims getting naked in front of the camera has gotten easier as she’s gotten older. The 68-year-old actress, who’s gone the “full monty” several times throughout her career, insists that wrinkly, full-on nudity is liberating—not humiliating. These days, age no longer gets you blackballed from your daughter’s sorority (or at least looking like a member). Kyra Sedgwick, 48, walked the red carpet last year rocking an orange gown and a strategically placed cutout at her waist to expose her family tattoo. Ditto, sneak a peek at the numbers etched near Penélope Cruz’s ankle, or the sun circle Julianna Margulies proudly wears on her toned arm as an accessory to her plunging neckline. And what about the Gray Panthers? Who would have thought that becoming a silver fox is something that younger women would aspire to? Celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Lady Gaga started the faux-gray-hair trend, and this year, models at the Dior and Chanel shows slinked their way down runways, their hair countless shades of silver. In major hair salons across the country, 20-something women are following suit, asking to have gray washed in, not out. Gray hair is regarded as a feminist statement celebrating uniqueness; a way to send a message that says, “I am my own person,” to the fashion police and anyone else sitting in judgment. So let the reprogramming on aging begin. Lose the two-sided tape, the trout lips, and the heavy makeup too. The latest beauty secret is that maturity is hot, and women don’t want to be airbrushed back to an image of their former selves any longer. Does Mrs. Lincoln (Sally Field) really want to be Gidget or the Flying Nun all over again? As Cate Blanchett said in her Oscar acceptance speech, women’s movies are no longer niche movies. Older women have powered their way into the mainstream, dominating cinema screens, winning awards, garnering box-office receipts, and showing the millennials how it’s done: Combine a triple threat of wisdom, talent, and patience to hone your craft. Add a good moisturizer. Take a deep breath. Then stand on your mark and show that real is really in. Yes. Really. LAC
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