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FRONT RUNNER Runway model: Feminist aviation icon Amelia Earhart (middle), actress Fay Wray, and Douglas Fairbanks smile for the Hollywood press at the opening of the 10th Olympic Games in August 1932 in Los Angeles.
Aero-dynAmic!
Daring, controversial, and years ahead of her time, American aviatrix Amelia Earhart would receive unprecedented fame for her accomplishments in the air and on the ground, blazing trails for women everywhere. Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. She helped established the first international women’s flying club (“The NinetyNines”), authored two books, and spearheaded countless charitable and educational projects for women. Her looks and style were so influential, she appeared on the cover of Vogue in 1932. Earhart would find her calling in 1920 while visiting her parents in California. An afternoon at an air show in Long Beach would prompt her to take her first flying lesson. Soon she purchased her first plane—a yellow Kinner Airster—earned her National Aeronautic Association license, and set an unofficial 14,000-foot altitude record for women. In 1931 Earhart married publisher George Palmer Putnam, who’d taken on the role of her publicist. When Putnam accepted a job as an executive at Paramount Pictures in 1935, they moved from Connecticut to Los Angeles and emerged as
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LA’s power couple du jour. Earhart worked tirelessly to keep her name in the headlines through appearances, product endorsements, sponsorships (Lucky Strike cigarettes and Beech-Nut chewing gum), and speaking engagements, earning $2,400 per week—$30,000 per week by today’s standards. Two years later, in 1937, Amelia, 39, announced her efforts to become the first woman to fly around the world, saying, “I have one good flight left in my system.” Sadly, it would be her last. On July 2, 1937, while attempting to land her $80,000 Lockheed Electra on an island in the South Pacific, the aircraft likely plunged into the ocean. Despite a two-year search, neither the plane nor Earhart’s remains would ever be recovered. Amelia Mary Earhart was pronounced dead in Los Angeles Superior Court on January 5, 1939. She’d shared her reasons for the treacherous flight with Putnam, saying, “Please know I am quite aware of the hazards.... I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others.” LAC
photography © bettmann/corbis
With her move to LA in 1935, AviAtion Legend AmeliA eArhArt begAn her fAtefuL “journey Around the WorLd” 80 yeArs Ago. By Erika Thomas
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FRONT RUNNER Star power: Director Nicholas Ray (left) and actor James Dean discuss a scene from 1955’s youth-gone-wild classic Rebel Without a Cause, which was filmed on the grounds of the Griffith Park Observatory.
Astro-NomicAl!
In 1912, philanthropist, industrialist, and astronomy buff Griffith J. Griffith bequeathed $100,000 to the city of Los Angeles to build a public observatory. He commissioned starchitects John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley for the job (Austin had also designed the Shrine Auditorium, NBC Radio City, and Los Angeles City Hall). Situated at Mount Hollywood’s highest vista, the opulent observatory would include a refracting telescope with a 12-inch lens, a giant pendulum, and a state-of-the-art motion picture theater. As the Griffith Observatory’s director, Dr. E.C. Krupp, tells it: “The inaugural opening, which took place on the evening of May 14, 1935, was a grand gala—men were dressed in tuxedoes, women in elegant gowns, and everyone convened in the planetarium to view the very first star show.” Glamorous architecture and magnificent city views helped the planetarium catch on quickly, and Hollywood found it particularly appealing.
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“The Observatory’s motion picture career is unprecedented. There’ve been more than 400 productions [filmed] here, not including commercials. It ought to have its own star on Hollywood Boulevard!” exclaims Krupp. And although the observatory would make movie history in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause, its career had started years before, appearing in 1935’s The Phantom Empire starring Gene Autry. Even so, says Krupp, “Rebel remains, by far, the most famous movie ever made here. The idea of teenagers lost in a modern world was a metaphor for the cosmos, so [the observatory] was far more than just a backdrop.” Today, Griffith Observatory is home to the world-renowned Samuel Oschin Planetarium, the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater, and an extensive collection of astronomy-related artifacts. And that famous rotunda has been seen in so many pictures—The Terminator, Jurassic Park, and Transformers, among others—that it’s become a star in its own right. LAC
photography by Michael ochs archives/getty iMages
The opening of Griffith ObservatOry eighT decades ago This monTh broughT The ciTy of angels a liTTle closer To heaven. By Erika Thomas
ShopFashionIsland.com
Š The Irvine Company LLC, 2015. All Rights Reserved. Fashion Island is a registered trademark of Irvine Company. Tom Ford Handbag, Brunello Cucinelli Outft / Necklace and Christian Louboutin Heels from Neiman Marcus. SautÊed Salmon with Brussel Sprouts and Farro / Wine from Mariposa in Neiman Marcus.
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FEMININE and F L AV O R F U L Over 200 shops and restaurants on the coast.
contents
May/June 2015
39
Donatella Versace, pictured here with Lady Gaga, has been a powerful force at Versace since its launch in 1978.
8 // front runner 28 // letter From the Editor-in-Chief
30 // Letter from the publisher
32 // ... Without Whom
This Issue Would Not Have Been possible
34 // the list 75 // invited
style 39 // DONATELLA É MOBILE
Artistic director, hotel mogul, biz whiz, media provocateur—is there anything the all-powerful Donatella Versace can’t do?
42 // 2015: A FASHION ODYSSEY
This summer, space-age accessories will take you to infinity and beyond.
44 // STYLE SPOTLIGHT
Kendall Jenner links up with Calvin Klein; Tadashi Shoji unveils a sprucedup shop at South Coast Plaza; and more fashion news.
46 // NETWORK IT!
Rachel Roy takes a stand for women’s empowerment with a new design collab. Journalist and entrepreneur Elizabeth Chambers opens the door to her charmed LA life and style.
50 // SHINING STARS
Today’s high-tech luminous watches have come a long way from their dark beginnings.
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photography by Rahi Rezvani
48 // SWEET HOME LA
contents
May/June 2015
81
At The District, Hannah An is reinterpreting traditional Vietnamese dishes like canh chua—tamarindmarinated black cod served in a tomato herb broth.
48
Elizabeth Chambers isn’t just chief correspondent for the Human Rights Foundation—she also knows how to throw a killer LA dinner party.
culture
people
55 // THY MAGIC
65 // THE LADY AND
What’s up for Disneyland’s diamond anniversary? Only the most dazzling celebration SoCal’s seen this year.
After a season fans would rather forget, can LA Lakers boss Jeanie Buss turn the team’s fortunes around?
58 // BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
68 // GAME CHANGER
For her first LA museum exhibition, artist Mary Reid Kelley gives “the feminine myth” a whole new meaning.
He may be best known as Theon on Game of Thrones, but Alfie Allen is only just beginning to make his mark on Hollywood.
60 // LIGHTS, CAMERA, LA!
70 // TEEN PLAYER
62 // CULTURE SPOTLIGHT
72 // MAY DAY!
Once a second-rate player, the LA Film Fest has become an indie force to be reckoned with.
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A visit to Disneyland for its 60th birthday calls for dinner at the Carthay Circle Restaurant, one of the resort’s most over-the-top, glam restaurants.
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Dwell on Design returns to the West Coast; LA Pride celebrates 45 years; and more of the best things to do this month.
THE CHAMPS
She’s conquered media, fashion, music, and philanthropy… so what’s next for YouTube titan Bethany Mota? With its second annual Super Saturday LA shopping event, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund is aiming to strike out an under-recognized killer.
photography by john russo (chambers); jessica sample (restaurant)
KINGDOM COME!
contents
May/June 2015
Top, Honor, ($995). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com. Pants ($995) and shoes ($1,055), Stella McCartney. 8823 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-273-7501; stellamccartney.com. Acetate sunglasses, Fendi, ($465). 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-8888; fendi.com. Trix ring in 24k gold-plated brass with pavé Swarovski crystal, Vita Fede, ($225). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com
taste 81 // LA VIE EN VIETNAM Crustacean alum Hannah An has broken from her family’s FrenchVietnamese empire to create a fresh take on her native cuisine.
84 // ON A ROLL LA chefs are reinventing the Vietnamese spring roll—from pork to crab to sweet potatoes—one ingredient at a time.
86 // PHO-MIDABLE! Chefs Kimmy Tang and Chloe Tran map out where to get a taste of Saigon in SoCal.
90 // TASTE SPOTLIGHT DTLA’s newest Asian sensation; Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams welcomes its frst storefront; and more local dining picks.
features 94 // TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY
It’s an end of an era as Mad Men winds down, but for Christina Hendricks, the future is set to be crazier than ever.
From music and art to entertainment and philanthropy, these intergenerational power duos prove that women rule LA in many milieus.
110 // BELLE EPIC When it comes to summer fashion, minimalism is far from mundane.
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“I feel like Joan did a lot of growing, and I hope I learned from that,” says Christina Hendricks, who looks back on her defining role—and forward to her future.
photography by tony duran
102 // LEADING LADIES
contents 121
Power agent Joyce Rey is repping LA’s priciest listing—a palatial, $195 million villa owned by entrepreneur Jeff Greene.
May/June 2015
haute property 121 // LADIES HOME JOURNAL LA’s XX-genomed real estate experts explain why women are increasingly dominating the industry.
124 // SURF & TURF Maui, Miami, Malibu—grab an oceanfront home in one of these lovely locales before they’re gone.
126 // READY, GET FIT, GO! The central coast’s newest vacation draw is its ever-growing roster of wellness-focused resorts.
abode & beyond 133 // BEACHY KEEN
In Beach House Happy, design expert Antonia van der Meer explores the magic of a seaside dwelling.
134 // LIFE’S A BEACH Decorate your oceanfront abode with the help of these LA décor shops.
and finally… 144 // CHECK MATES The fnal frontier of feminism: deciding who picks up the tab on a date.
Christina Hendricks Photography by Tony Duran Styling by by Lawren Sample for Crosby Carter Management Makeup by Beau Nelson at The Wall Group using L’Oréal Paris Hair by Mara Roszak /L’Oréal Paris Celebrity Hair Stylist Locations/locationlibrary.com/nancy Dress, Max Mara, ($995). 451 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-385-9343; maxmara.com. Lia stone choker in 24k gold-plated brass with onyx natural stone, Vita Fede, ($1,550). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-5505900; neimanmarcus.com
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photography by Marc angeles (villa)
ON THE COVER:
JOIN US ONLINE at la-confdential-magazine.com We have the inside scoop on Los Angeles’s best parties, pursuits, dining, and more. pursuits
WHERE’S LA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL WOMEN GO ON VACATION Take some travel inspiration from the city’s A-list women.
photos
SEE THE LATEST FROM LAST NIGHT’S EVENTS Couldn’t attend? Browse the newest photos from LA’s most exclusive parties.
SUMMER GRILLING TIPS FROM THE PROS We turned to the experts for advice on how to cook the ultimate summer dishes.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY HAVESEEN (PURSUITS); ARI PERILSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES (PHOTOS); KOSS13 (DINE)
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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 Senior Fashion Editor fayE POwER Copy Editor wENDIE PEchaRSky Research Editor LESLIE aLExaNDER
aLISON MILLER Group Publisher Associate Publisher VaLERIE RObLES Account Directors NORMa MONtaLVO, DEVON MOORE, MIa PIERRE-JacquES Account Executives JuLIa MazuR, RILEy O’NEILL Event Marketing Manager kELSEy MaRRuJO Distribution Relations Manager JENNIfER PaLMER Office Manager caROLyN ScaRbROugh Sales Assistant kRIStINE guEVaRRa
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Associate Fashion Editor caSEy tRuDEau Assistant Fashion Editors cONNOR chILDERS, LISa fERRaNDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JuLIEt IzON CoPY and researCh
Copy and Research Manager wENDIE PEchaRSky Copy Editors DaVID faIRhuRSt, JOhaNNa MattSSON, JuLIa StEINER Research Editors JaMES buSS, JuDy DEyOuNg, kaREN MccREE, aVa wILLIaMS editorial oPerations
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Account Directors SuSaN abRaMS, MIchELE aDDISON, cLaIRE caRLIN, MIchELLE chaLa, kathLEEN fLEMINg, VIctORIa hENRy, kaREN LEVINE, MEREDIth MERRILL, JEffREy NIchOLSON, ShaNNON PaStuSzak, JIM SMIth, JESSIca zIVkOVItch Account Executives SuSaNa aRagON, LauREN bROgNa, MORgaN cLIffORD, JaNELLE DRIScOLL, VINcE DuROchER, IRENa haLL, SaMaNtha haRRIS, SaRah hEckLER, cathERINE kuchaR, fENDy MESy, MaRy RuEgg, ERIN SaLINS, JackIE VaN MEtER Sales Support and Development EMMa bEhRINgER, aNa bLagOJEVIc, bRIttaNy cORbEtt, ERIN gLEaSON, DaRa hIRSh, EMERy hOLtON, kaRa kEaRNS, MIchELLE MaSS, NIchOLE MauRER, RuE McbRIDE, ELIzabEth MItchELL, StEPhEN OStROwSkI, MIchELLE PEtRILLO, aLExaNDRa wINtER MarKeting, ProMotions, and PubliC relations
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LaNa bERNStEIN Senior Director of Brand Development RObIN kEaRSE Director of Brand Development JOaNNa tuckER Brand Development Managers kRIStIN baRNES, JIMMy kONtOMaNOLIS Director of Creative Services ScOtt RObSON Promotions Art Designers kaItLyN RIchERt, caRLy RuSSELL Event Marketing Directors aMy fISchER, haLEE haRczyNSkI, LauRa MuLLEN, kIMMy wILSON Event Marketing Managers cRIStINa PaRRa, aShLEy VEhSLagE Event Marketing Coordinators bROOkE bIDDLE, bLaIR gOttfRIED Event Marketing Assistant ShaNa kaufMaN advertising ProduCtion
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Managing Partner JaNE gaLE Chairman and Director of Photography JEff gaLE Chief Operating Officer MaRIa bLONDEaux Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOhN P. kuShNIR Chief Executive Officer kathERINE NIchOLLS Copyright 2015 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Los Angeles Confidential magazine is published eight times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material, and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Los Angeles Confidential magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at losangelesconfidential@pubservice.com. To distribute Los Angeles Confidential at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemediallc.com. Los Angeles Confidential magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC., a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. 8530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90211 T: 310-289-7300 F: 310-289-0444 niche m edia holdings: 711 Third Avenue, Suite 501, New York, NY 10017 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003
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LETTER from the Editor-in-Chief
FROM LEFT: Checking out the gem dandies with Event Marketing Manager Kelsey Marrujo and Publisher Alison Miller at the new Todd Reed boutique in Venice; toasting LA’s “culturati club” with artist Alexander
STRONG WOMEN. You can’t live with them; you can’t live without them. They’ve always been around,
from Helen of Troy to Helen Gurley Brown. In former times, however, there was oft a man lurking in the background (or the bedroom): mentoring, sponsoring, promoting (whether Homer’s Paris or David Brown). Behind every woman was a man, whether she liked it or not. These days, behind every woman is another woman! And another! Women may generally lag in pay behind their male counterparts—and there are a few professions where men still dominate (the tech industry is a prime example)—but the tide of estrogen has turned and a testosterone-fueled Western world will soon be a thing of the past. To note: Today, 51.3 percent of private wealth in the US is controlled by women. Eighty percent of all buying decisions worldwide are made by women. And about that salary discrepancy? Things even out at the very top. Forty-one
Remembrance of strong women past. Four generations at my grandmother’s christening in 1912 (FROM LEFT): Margaret McIlhenny Knox (1834-1914), Gertrude Main (Spencer) (1912-2011), Edith Horner Main (1884-1982), and Kate Mason Knox Horner (1855-1951).
percent of Americans making over $500,000 per year are… women. Guys, cave feminam! The trickle-down effect will surely happen! There’s icing on the cake for all of us: Women are statistically more philanthropic than men. They’ve always been the caregivers, haven’t they? In this issue, we celebrate a particularly strong variety of the XX-genomed species: the LA woman. In this year’s version of our annual “Women of Influence” (“Leading Ladies,” page 102), our roundup of the brightest and buzziest (and, yes, most giving) gals in town, we take a generational approach, extolling a special sorority of older-younger/mother-daughter/mentor-mentee female relationships that are turning LA’s “old boys club” into the “new girls network.” From the most powerful female duo in the classical music world to a mother/daughter team of art-world visionaries to a third and fourth generation of activists heaven-bent on changing the world, meet the ladies who hardly have time to “lunch.” Cobb salad to go, please. I like strong women. And thank God, because I have had no choice. My first boss in publishing was a woman of note. (I was not only the copy editor, but for three years I was conscripted to carry her bags to New York’s Penn Station every night at whatever hour she wanted to leave. The “HR generation” has it so easy today.) At my current post, the owner, CEO, editorial director, and publisher are women. Love them all; none to be trifled with. In my own family tree, women have always ruled the roost. My mother’s greatgrandmother, Kate Mason Knox Horner,
although she never wrote a novel or painted a great picture, was a formidable presence in her day. As a child of 8 in Gettysburg during that infamous battle, she was hidden in a wood bin on the family farm/mill to escape the attentions of rogue Confederate soldiers. As a young woman, her husband, a Kansas cattle rancher whom she met by letter and followed west, dropped dead at 39, leaving her with three small children whom she shipped back east (as well as all of her prize horses, none of which, having been foaled in flat-as-apancake Kansas, would traverse over the gently rolling hills of Pennsylvania and had to be sold for a loss). In 1951, at age 96, ensconced with cane and silver tray in her bedroom of the property she single-handedly kept thriving for the 62 years of her widowhood, the window ajar as it was 365 days of the year to catch the “west wind,” she finally took her last breath. Resilient… My favorite story of my mother’s great-grandmother has a softer side. Every year, during the first snowfall, this otherwise-stern Victorian character would take a leftover swatch of fine black velvet sent to her from Paris years earlier to be made into a dress, and, leading her grandchildren and great-grandchildren by the hand, would go out to catch snowflakes, one at a time, which could be examined and admired on the pristine black cloth for their intricate delicacy. Women: power and beauty.
SPENCER BECK
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA ROSENBLATT (MARRUJO); JASON KING (SONG)
Yulish and Los Angeles Confidential VP of Creative/Fashion Ann Song at “LAC Celebrates the Arts” at Palihouse West Hollywood.
The Americana at Brand 220 Americana Way, Glendale, CA • 818.244.5647 South Coast Plaza 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA • 714.556.7808
Letter from the Publisher // this month //
on my radar
1 Supporting the Los Angeles LGBT Center at Canali Beverly Hills with Jack Lorenz, Bobby Bennett, Brent Bolthouse, Madonna Cacciatore, and Valerie Robles. below: Toasting Todd Reed’s new Venice boutique with Lily Wilson and the jeweler himself.
through Joan’s winding climb to the top, a slippery staircase marked by sexism, marginalization, and ultimately, opportunity. Despite the show’s pro-feminist perspective, the cultural impact of Mad Men and other think pieces like it still leave us searching for basic equal rights a half-century later. Women make up over half of the current US workforce, yet only earn 77 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. While Mad Men may remind us of how far feminism has come, it’s also a reflection of how much further it has to go, especially in the area of equal pay. I am fortunate to work for a company that values its employees equally, and is largely led by strong, talented women. Each spring, here and in all of our 11 cities around the country, we pay tribute to powerful women who make a significant impact in our communities. It is truly our honor to celebrate these outstanding women, whose political, economic, and social contributions are making history. Mad Men, I will miss you desperately, but I’m happy to be leaving ’60s gender roles behind us. Happy spring to all of you! Cheers,
alison miller
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2
Looking forward to some spring shopping at the annual luxury watch and jewelry shows in Las Vegas—The Couture Show (May 28-June 1) and JCK (May 29-June 1). 1. RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur, Richard Mille ($1,090,000). 222 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310285-9898; richardmille.com 2. Clé de Cartier in white gold with diamond case and bracelet, Cartier ($122,000). Bellusso Jewelers at The Palazzo Hotel, Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, 702-6502988; bellussojewelers.com
PhotograPhy by Jason King (CanaLi), Emma rosEnbLatt (toDD rEED).
For this, our annual “Women of Influence” issue, it occurred to me how serendipitous it is to feature the lovely and talented Christina Hendricks on our cover. Known widely for her portrayal as ’60s office manager-turned-ad-agency-partner Joan Holloway in the series Mad Men, her character epitomizes the triumphs and challenges of women during an era of often unflinching male privilege. While Mad Men is most frequently thought of as a series focused on the protagonist, advertising executive Don Draper ( Jon Hamm), it is equally defined by—and at times eclipsed by—its female story lines. Joan, Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), and Betty ( January Jones) represent trailblazers (even if unwittingly), exploring the subtle conflicts of women’s roles in the workplace and at home during a period of shifting roles. Matthew Weiner, the show’s producer, director, and writer, brilliantly chronicled this contentious barrierbreaking push-pull of social norms as experienced
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bode helm One of the most sought-after fashion photographers working today, Bode Helm’s pictures have appeared in publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Elle. He is best known for his highly polished, uniquely vibrant ad campaigns and his exquisitely styled photographs of the fashion scene, all of which carry a deceptive air of sensuality and ease. His images often reveal the intense and primal relationship between the subject and the camera and are so intimate and raw, some blush without noticing. In this issue he turns his lens on LA’s “Leading Ladies,” (page 102). What was your favorite thing about photographing our 2015 Women of Influence? Meeting these beautiful, high-spirited women and hearing their fascinating stories. What do you do to get your subjects to relax on set? I tell them how great they look! What is the strangest thing that has happened while on set? I was shooting a swimsuit calendar in Costa Rica and a guy was so busy looking at the models he drove off a cliff. Don’t worry, he was fine!
32 la-confidential-magazine.com
// may/June 2015
scott huver
kathy mcdonald
degen pener
Entertainment writer Scott Huver’s work has appeared in magazines and websites including People, TV Guide, InStyle, and hollywood.com. He is a regular contributor to Los Angeles Confidential and this issue he interviews our cover star, Christina Hendricks, on page 94.
Los Angeles–based Kathy McDonald’s beat is the intersection of Hollywood and lifestyle. She covers the luxury residential real estate market for this magazine and is a longtime contributor to Variety. In this issue she examines the role of women in the Los Angeles real estate scene, in “Ladies Home Journal,” on page 121
Degen Pener was the culture editor of The Hollywood Reporter and served as editor-in-chief of Angeleno magazine. His work has appeared in publications such as Veranda, Interior Design, The New York Times, and Glamour. In this issue he profiles women who are making a difference in Los Angeles, in “Leading Ladies,” page 102.
Did you discover anything new while reporting this story? A good percentage of LA’s top agents are women and compete at the highest levels. What makes the LA real estate market different than other major cities? LA’s celebrity residents result in an extreme focus on deals, properties, and neighborhoods not seen in other parts of the country. The variety of residential architecture is astounding. What is the most surprising thing you have seen in a home for sale in the LA market? I’m stunned that some sellers don’t stage or declutter their homes—evidently, they don’t have to.
Did you learn anything surprising while reporting this story? I was struck by how much people who are related can have similar qualities. The interest in giving back, being creative, and finding out what the new new is, those things were consistent between moms and daughters and even aunts and nieces. Who are the “women of influence” in your life? My mom taught me to be kind and to stay positive. Her best advice when dealing with a difficult person: “Remember you have to deal with this person for a limited time. They have to deal with themselves their whole lives.” And my former boss at New York Magazine, Jeannette Walls, taught me how to be fierce and stand my ground as a writer.
What was the most surprising thing you learned about Christina Hendricks? I’ve always found Christina to be savvy and charming. I learned, after her long gypsy existence, just how at home she’s gotten in LA over the years. Any funny moments during the interview that didn’t make it into the story? The house where we shot was so authentically ’60s-themed, I would’ve sworn it was kept that way solely for photo shoots, but I discovered it was someone’s actual home. The owner was terribly disappointed that he couldn’t be there in person for Christina’s shoot. What is your biggest achievement as a writer so far? As of 2015: making a living doing something I love for 20 years!
photography by Jeff Kirshbaum (mcdonald)
...without whom this issue would not have been possible
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the list May/June 2015
Lisa Odenweller
Tatjana Schuck
Amy Wakeland
Nya Shaheed
Ariel Connaway
Elizabeth VanderVeer
Jennifer Cohen
Julia Cohen
Anne Botica Reilly
Christina Bryant
Willow Bay
Elysha Boyd
Tara Martin
Victoria Del Rico
Katey Brunini
Pink
Chloe Perrin
Cheryl Saban
Hillary Clinton
Benita Shun
Sarah Potempa
Jeneva Bell
Erica Kletzky
Alexandra Shabtai
Mallika Chopra
Natassia Trinh
Anne Elcon
Lena Dunham
Rita Wilson
Gorjana Reidel
Rhocelli Pascual
Hana Kim
Lara Gillman
Maria Shriver
Courtney Palmer
Arianna Zenon
Samie Falvey
Liseanne Frankfurt
Jen Egan
Dana Gills
Monique Moore
Pamela Barish
Aja Brown
Andraya Howard
Christen DeLaney
Lisa Bush
Ashleigh Lew
McKenzie Westmore
Chelsea Hagler
Shonda Rhimes
Suzanne Yax
Laurie Greene
34  la-confidential-magazine.com
BEAUTY shouldn’t require animal testing. Support the Humane Cosmetics Act.
Jenna Dewan Tatum for
humanesociety.org/HCA
Photo by Don Flood | Hair by Derek Williams for The Wall Group | Makeup by Sarah Sullivan for Margaret Maldonado Agency
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style tastemaker
Donatella è Mobile
photography by rahi rezvani
She overSeeS a dozen collectionS and an ever-expanding luxury empire. aS She celebrateS the big 6-0, iS Donatella Versace the moSt powerful woman in the faShion world? By Bryn Kenny
Bold standard: Donatella Versace embodies the fearless attitude of the women who love her brands—Madonna and Jennifer Lopez among them.
Since taking over the helm of Versace nearly two decades ago, Donatella Versace has built a brand that is as synonymous with Italian glamour and luxury as it is with American pop culture. From Jennifer Lopez’s provocative 2000 Grammys dress to the myriad celebrities—most recently, Madonna—who have posed for the brand’s ad campaigns, Versace is constantly finding ways to get people talking. “Icons have always been a part of the Versace DNA, whether it is the iconic figures of mythological times or today’s icons on the red carpet, and Madonna is one of the true icons of Versace—it is the fourth time she has appeared in our campaigns,” says Versace, who turned 60 in May. “Today she is as brave, fearless, and uncompromising as ever. She is such a powerful presence. I wanted the campaign to be very stripped back to let her true character shine through.” Bold women—not unlike Versace herself—have long made up the core of the brand, and this spirit is alive and well in the Spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection, which features midriffbaring tops, floor-length skirts with up-to-there slits, and mod laser-cut minidresses in sorbet-on-acid pops of color and graphic black and white. To complement the collection, there are two new reinterpretations of the Signature and Palazzo continued on page 40
la-confidential-magazine.com 39
style tastemaker
clockwise from left:
A look from Versace’s Spring 2015 collection; Versace fits a model before a recent runway show; L. Signature bag with small square lasercuts ($3,795).
handbags, the L.Signature bag and the L.Palazzo bag. The former features laser-cut leather lined with transparent PVC as well as gold Medusa medallion accents, while the slightly less structured L.Palazzo also features laser-cut styling and a single Medusa accent. Each of the new styles is available in shades of soft pink and light blue as well as classic white and black. “I wanted Spring 2015 to feel like hitting the refresh button—everything is vivid and precise,” says Versace of her inspiration, adding that the bags were created with a sense of playfulness that will
resonate with her core customer. “The bags are light, refreshing, and fun, because strong and powerful women can love frivolity too, right?” Absolutely. And really, this juxtaposition between power and play, between the sophisticated severity of black and the pure optimism of powder pink, has long been Versace’s forte. It’s an unabashedly confident, no-holds-barred approach to design that translates well with LA women, including those walking the red carpet. “For me, they are more than just celebrities, they are our friends,” says Versace of the many actresses, models,
40 la-confidential-magazine.com
and socialites who worship her brand. “The perfect red-carpet moment is when we can create a unique Atelier Versace gown that lets the individual’s power and beauty shine.” Now there will be even more reasons to look to Versace for a showstopping look—white-hot designer Anthony Vaccarello recently came on as the creative director of sister label Versus Versace. Versace says she has followed Vaccarello’s career for some time. “As soon as I met him, I realized he was the one,” says Versace. “He gets it. I love his fresh
energy and innovation.” Versace adds that the Versus line is particularly close to her heart, as it was originally created by her late brother, Gianni. “It was the label Gianni created for me to capture the rebellious soul of Versace,” she says. “It has always been about youth and energy, and the best way to keep true to its origins is to encourage new talents in global fashion.” Looking forward, Versace is keeping busy with her many duties as artistic director of the house, from overseeing the direction of each collection to envisioning the design of the
Versace boutiques and Palazzo Versace hotels to mapping out the future strategy of the brand. It’s all in a day’s work for the petite powerhouse. “I love the variety of my work, from the first conversations about a new season through the design process to the show itself, and then afterwards, the campaigns and the product hitting stores,” she says. “I am obsessed with the future—to me, the past is boring. I couldn’t imagine a job where I did the same thing every day.” 248 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2053921; versace.com LAC
photography courtesy of Versace (runway); rahi rezVani (donatella Versace)
“StRoNg aND poweRful womeN caN love fRivolity too, RigHt?” —donatella versace
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2015: A FASHION ODYSSEY
THIS SUMMER, BLAST INTO THE FUTURE WITH SPACE-AGE AdORNMENTS. photography by jeff crawford styling by faye power
SOLAR FLAIR High-shine handbags make a big bang. Caged top ($4,500) and skirt ($3,900), Fendi. 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-276-8888; fendi. com. Metalized clutch, Chanel ($3,800). 400 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-5500; chanel.com. Carmen clutch, Jimmy Choo ($1,395). 240 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-860-9045; jimmychoo.com
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ProP Styling by ElizabEth oSbornE for hallEy rESourcES. hair and MakEuP by JESSi buttErfiEld for ExcluSivE artiStS MgMt uSing chanEl and altErna hair carE. ModEl: alina l for PartS ModElS
STYLE Accessories
2
1 ON THE PULSAR
DEEP SPACE DIVINE
Metallic leathers eclipse basic beige this season.
For otherworldly élan, opt for an orb-shaped evening bag.
3
4 COSMIC RAYS
DARK MATTER
Radiate style with prismatic extras.
Noirish caged booties give off Blade Runner vibes.
1. Sunrise sandal, Aquazzura ($945). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com. 2. Melone handbag, Bulgari ($7,150). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-751-7833; bulgari.com. 3. Powerstone minaudière, Diane von Furstenberg ($398). 8407 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-951-1947; dvf.com. 4. Large square laser-cut bootie, Versace ($2,525). 248 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-205-3921; versace.com
la-confidential-magazine.com 43
STYLE Spotlight
trends
GO WEST
Leather tote bag, Theory ($745).
From fringe to denim to gingham prints, there’s no question that dude ranch-inspired fashion is big for summer. And thanks to seven-month-
Kendall Jenner smolders with fellow model Simon Nessman in a #mycalvins campaign photo.
old Beverly Hills boutique West, you don’t have to head to Santa Fe to score the real deal. Owner world’s best artisanal
Women looking for timely style rather than flash-in-the-pan trends have long turned to Theory, and the brand’s Pre-Fall 2015 accessories collection underscores why. Its everchic bags are crafted in finely constructed Italian materials, such as suede, while a footwear collection features a timeless flat espadrille produced in Spain and a strappy stacked heel made near Milan—both perfect styles for A-list LA outings. 8428 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-782-0163; theory.com
makers for boots, belts,
CALVIN KLEIN JEANS GETS A LEG UP FROM LA’S SUPERMODEL DU JOUR. BY LISA FERRANDINO
jewelry, and leather goods, most of which are exclusive to the shop. Case in point: Anderton’s
Leading American fashion studio Calvin Klein has been at the forefront of style since it debuted in 1968. Now, creative director Kevin Carrigan is attracting a new generation of tastemakers with his latest collection: Calvin Klein Jeans #mycalvins Denim Series, with a global campaign fronted by LA-born supermodel and social media star Kendall Jenner. The series, which debuted at Opening Ceremony exclusively, is a limited-edition, logo-driven collection that brings urban and athletic edge to a timeless brand. It features a cropped “Calvin” logo on streetwear-inspired sweatshirts and tees, which Carrigan describes as “essentials for an active, youthful lifestyle like Kendall’s.” Other pieces in the men’s and women’s collections include denim shorts and jackets, jogger sweatpants, and unisex accessories—obsession-worthy, indeed. Opening Ceremony, 451 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1120; openingceremony.us LAC
// fab five //
PEEP SHOW
Gucci ($895). Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com
44
Texas’ Stallion Boot Company, which has previously created kicks for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Celine, and Dior. This season’s rodeo-star-meets-rockgod offering is equally fit for both runway and red carpet. 9528 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-470-9063; westbh.com
Beloved SoCal eveningwear designer Tadashi Shoji has news worth toasting this month—the opening of his newly remodeled South Coast Plaza flagship. The sleek new shop boasts a giant digital wall, its very own “runway,” and glass louvers that can be moved to create private VIP shopping areas. We’re popping the Champagne already. South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-438-0056; tadashishoji.com
ABOVE:
Blue caiman crocodile Zorro Gallegos boots, Stallion Boot Company for West ($1,995).
Seductive cutouts reinvent the power pump.
Tabitha Simmons ($895). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com
LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
ongoing collab with
A SHO THING
Christian Louboutin ($1,195). Neiman Jimmy Choo ($925). 240 Via Rodeo Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-860-9045; Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com jimmychoo.com
Casadei ($920). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; casadei.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALASDAIR MCLELLAN (CALVIN KLEIN)
Cool in Calvins
James Anderton taps the
collabs
CARRY ON!
Freak Cruiser Flying Carrousel-Tourbillon. 7-Day power reserve. Manual winding manufacture movement. Patented ÂŤ Dual Ulysse Âť escapement in silicium. Available in 18ct rose gold or white gold. U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M
STYLE Giving Back Rachel Roy wants to inspire the next generation of girls, including her own daughters, Ava (right), who is wearing the t-shirt Roy designed in conjunction with Step Up Women’s Network, and Tallulah.
Network It!
“We’re responsible for our life, but we can [live] it in a really beautiful way; we can design it,” says fashion powerhouse Rachel Roy. It’s just a casual Tuesday afternoon—she’s sipping coffee on a chic white swing couch hanging in the foyer of her artfully adorned Sherman Oaks home—but even so, the California-born designer is poised, perfectly polished, and exudes a palpable sense of contentment with the life she’s designed for herself. As the founder of a veritable empire comprised of a luxury fashion label and a wildly successful secondary line for Macy’s, Roy, 41, is the true embodiment of what her latest women’s empowerment campaign, Self Rule, is all about: celebrating individuality and living life on your own terms. Driven by her philanthropic passion and desire to inspire the next generation of women—including her two daughters, Ava, 15, and Tallulah, 6—Roy designed a T-shirt in conjunction with Step Up Women’s Network, with the net proceeds helping to sustain the Los Angeles–based nonprofit’s mentoring programs
for girls in under-resourced communities. The shirt, Roy says, serves as a visual reminder of her Self Rule message. “The flag represents strength,” she says of the design, which has the words “Self Rule” emblazoned across it. “Sometimes we feel like we’re not part of anything. In this country, we’re all part of America and what it stands for: freedom.” Roy also enlisted influential women, including socialite Olivia Palermo, celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, and FEED Projects’ Lauren Bush Lauren to share their bits of wisdom through social media. “I think any time you can get your story out immediately and feel like you have a voice, it’s another step in owning your power,” says Roy on how social media empowers women. “[Rachel is] a really good example of someone who’s following her dream,” says Jenni Luke, CEO of Step Up Women’s Network. “Not only [is she] following it —rachel roy for herself, but [she’s also] giving back in the process. She’s a fantastic role model.” rachelroy.com LAC
“I think any time you can get your story out, it’s another step in owning your power.”
46 la-confidential-magazine.com
photography by shelby goldstein
This May, LA fashion fixture Rachel Roy and Step Up Women’s Network are celebrating girl power…one T-shirt at a time. By Jessica Estrada
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STYLE Social Network
clockwise from left: Elizabeth Chambers shows her unabashed love for LA by frequenting such city staples as The Way We Wore, where she scooped up a vintage “post-baby” dress by Carolina Herrera, and the Four Seasons Los Angeles, which has “the best turkey bacon and English breakfast tea in town.”
Journalist/entrepreneur/hostess extraordinaire elizabeth Chambers reveals where she satisfies her style (and sugar) Cravings in her adopted hometown. By EmErson Patrick
As an Angeleno for over a decade—and the wife of an LA native, actor Armie Hammer—Elizabeth Chambers’ local address book is a juicy one. When she’s not jetting to newsworthy corners of the globe as the chief correspondent for the Human Rights Foundation, Chambers also runs the delectable Bird Bakery in San Antonio, Texas (opening soon in Dallas), and hosts frequent dinner parties in her Los Feliz home.
The Texas native “lives” at McCall’s Meat & Fish Co. (2117 Hillhurst Ave., LA, 323-667-0674; mccallsmeat andfish.com), where she buys excellent steak, fish, and ribs to feed her beau’s “big grilling kick.” And, she says, “I would put their walnut whoopee pies up against anything.” She takes meetings at the Four Seasons Los Angeles (300 S. Doheny Dr., LA, 310-273-2222; fourseasons.com) because “they have the best turkey bacon and
48 la-confidential-magazine.com
English breakfast tea in town.” The ice cream–obsessed mom of a 6-month-old daughter, Harper, is “a Sweet Rose Creamery girl—the pistachio saffron rose [flavor] is ridiculous” (225 26th St., Santa Monica, 310-260-2663; sweetrosecreamery.com). Chambers balances her sugar sprees with “an amazing [workout] class called GST Body by Anna Rahe (7562 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-895-9993; gstbodyla.
com). If I need to whip things into shape quickly, that and The Bar Method (8416 W. Third St., West Hollywood, 323-651-2226; barmethod.com) are my absolute favorites.” She gets “unbelievable” bovine stem cell facials at Carasoin Day Spa (120 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-8550105; carasoin.com). “I’m very passionate about stem cell and oxygen facials—they bring your skin back to life.” And for camera-ready blowouts and brows, Chambers heads to Mèche (8820 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-278-8930; mechesalonla.com).
The journalist’s fashion go-tos include Isabel Marant (8454 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-651-1493; isabel marant.com) and The Way We Wore (334 S. La Brea Ave., LA, 323-937-0878; thewaywewore.com), where she recently found the perfect structured-but-flowy post-baby dress (vintage Carolina Herrera, no less). And, says Chambers, “I spend so much time in paper stores, [especially] Landis Stationery (138 N. Larchmont Blvd., LA, 323-465-7003; landisstationery.com). I love making paper invitations—it feels like a time warp!” LAC
photography by john russo (chambers); Don riDDle images (four seasons)
Sweet Home LA
STYLE Time Honored
SHINING STARS
LUMINOUS TIMEPIECES ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE NIGHTTIME READING A SNAP, BUT THE STORY OF LUMINOSITY HAS BEEN A LONG—AND SOMETIMES DARK!—ONE. BY ROBERTA NAAS Creating a watch that glows in the dark sounds simple enough, but perfecting this technology has taken more than a century—sometimes with disastrous results. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, watchmakers attempted to add shine to their creations by crushing shimmering shells and iridescent volcanic materials and then painting them onto the dials. The first real possibility for true luminescence did not come until the early 20th century in response to Marie and Pierre Curie’s discovery of radium, but that sometimes-deadly practice was short-lived (see sidebar, page 52). This spurred the development of new photoluminescent paints that absorbed energy from external light sources in the UV spectrum and reemitted it over CONTINUED ON PAGE 52
50 LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
STYlE Time Honored Companies Continue to strive to find new and different ways to give watChes their ultraChiC glow.
Women painted radium-lighted watches and instruments for the U.S. Radium Corp. circa 1917.
You Glow, Girl!
A group of trailblazing women known as the radium Girls turned tragedy into a crusade to help protect their fellow watchindustry workers. In the early 1920s, luminous timepieces were all the rage. At that time, radium was hand-painted onto watch dials by women working at U.S. Radium in Orange, NJ, and other manufacturers. It became a common practice for workers to lick the tips of their paintbrushes to keep their points razor-sharp. For fun, some of the girls would paint their fngernails and teeth or run the luminescent paint through their hair. Unbeknownst to these women, they were ingesting from a few hundred to a few thousand “microcuries” of radium each year (one-tenth of a microcurie is considered to be the maximum safe exposure). Most went on to suffer illnesses of the mouth and jaw, and many died as a result. It is said that U.S. Radium and other companies issued statements saying that the women were dying due to illnesses caused by X-ray machines, or from other diseases such as syphilis. Finally, in the late 1920s, a group of women led by Grace Fryer, a former dial painter for U.S. Radium, retained a lawyer willing to take their case to court against the powerful company.They became known as the Radium Girls. Their brave fght not only won them fnancial compensation from U.S. Radium, but also—and more importantly—catapulted workplace safety regulations around radioactive materials into the headlines. Marie Curie, who died in 1934 as a result of working with the radium she discovered, was quoted as saying, “I would be only too happy to give any aid that I could. There is absolutely no means of destroying the substance once it enters the human body.” Eventually, the factory sites were shut down and new laws were enacted to protect workers from radiation and other industrial dangers. One of the last Radium Girls, Mae Keane, who died in March 2014 at the age of above: From Clerc, the Hydroscaph H1 Chronometer ($6,300) is a dive watch, water-
resistant to 500 meters. It features an exclusive patented bezel that is rotated and locked by the crown, antireflective sapphire crystal, Super-LumiNova hands, and 3-D markers. David Orgell, 262 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-273-6660; clercwatches.com
52 la-confidential-magazine.com
107, told National Public Radio that her survival was due to her refusal to lick her brushes because she couldn’t stand the gritty taste of the material. She left after only a few days on the job; that decision saved her life. –R.S.
photography © 2015 rutgers, the state university of new Jersey (radium girls)
a period of time, creating a legal—and safe—lumen. Then, in the 1990s, a nonradioactive substance called Super-LumiNova made its debut. The strontium aluminate material enables the watch numerals, markers, hands, and other dial accents to glow blue, green, or even red-orange, depending on the mixes used. Over the past two decades, the material has advanced due to a great deal of research and development, and it’s currently the market leader for luminous watch dials. There are other luminescent materials on the market as well, used by a handful of brands for dive and pilot watches. MB-Microtec is a major developer and supplier of a tritium-based material called gaseous tritium light source (GTLS), wherein radioactive material is encapsulated inside tiny glass tubes placed together to offer a brightness that can be as much as 10 times greater than applied Super-LumiNova. (It is worth noting that GTLS is forbidden in certain countries.) Super-LumiNova begins to dim after a short time, whereas tritium capsules will not dim for about 15 to 20 years. Additionally, while Super-LumiNova needs to be exposed to a light source to regenerate its power, the capsules are permanently luminescent during their lifetime. Of course, companies continue to strive to find new and different ways to give watches their ultrachic glow—but for now, these methods continue to shine brightest… and safest! For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to la-confidentialmagazine.com/watches. LAC
FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL 800 606 6090 WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, 00 800 4969 1770 INTERNATIONAL, OR YOUR TRAVEL SPECIALIST OR VISIT MORGANSHOTELGROUP.COM 1100 WEST AVENUE MIAMI BEACH FL 33139
culture Hottest ticket Bling fling: In honor of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary, the park’s iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle will be swathed in a special “diamond” exterior.
Thy Magic KingdoM coMe!
Celebrating its diamond jubilee this month, DisneylanD is not just for kids’ stuff.
photography by Mark Willard
By Michael herren
When a grande dame turns 60 years old in Southern California, the celebration is often a private affair, with the pop of Dom Pérignon postponed until after the emergency elective surgery. Not so for Disneyland, which, in characteristic fashion, chooses to sing its birthday praises loud, light its six decades proud, and generally raise the celestial roof over Anaheim’s Magic Kingdom in its entirety. Although Walt himself actually opened his namesake property on July 17, 1955, his corporate progeny can’t wait to get the party started. And so—presto-chango!—the Disney magicians have sprinkled fairy dust to turn the calendar forward to Memorial Day weekend, the start of the lucrative summer season, in order to inaugurate the open-ended Diamond Celebration that might well continue for a year or longer. How does Mickey look after a dawn-to-dawn bender? Now’s your chance to see. As with past Disneyland happenings, the party will kick-start with a 24-hour
launch, in this case Friday to Saturday, May 22–23, 6 am-6 am. There is much to celebrate, and to commemorate. Not only is Disneyland the House of Mouse’s original theme park. Not only have over 700 million visitors crossed its threshold. Not only was it the prototype for five subsequent Disney parks spanning three continents (with nearly 3 billion customers served!), and not only is it Orange County’s single-largest employer with over 26,000 on the payroll. Disneyland is also the progenitor of the entire theme-park industry. The vision was bold, its realization bolder, and without an expiration date, so long as it was periodically reimagined. As Disney said on the park’s opening day, “Disneyland will never be completed… as long as there is imagination left in the world.” What, then, have Disney creatives such as Steve Davison, Walt Disney Imagineering’s vice president in continued on page 56
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CulTure Hottest Ticket “From telling stories in the sky to painting the night with light, guests will be immersed in innovation, enchanted by wonderFul narratives, and reminded oF the incredible legacy oF walt disney.” —john addis charge of parades and spectaculars, and John Addis, Disneyland’s senior show director, cooked up in their magical cauldron? Three nighttime jaw-droppers are front and center. The “Paint the Night” parade fills Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. with over 1.5 million LED lights, features floats themed from the company’s animated hits, more than 70 performers in lighted costumes that pulse and glow to music, and (of course) a cavalcade of familiar Disney characters. “Disneyland Forever” puts added sparkle in the resort’s tradition of eye-popping fireworks displays, thanks to the largest use of projection mapping— which uses the façades of attractions such as the Matterhorn as dramatic backdrops—in Disney history. And the pièce de résistance: “World of Color—Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney,” which tells the history of Walt Disney, his dream
of Disneyland, and its realization via lasers, nearly 1,200 colored fountains, a submersible platform bigger than a football field, and cohost Neil Patrick Harris (who hopefully will use his own magic to conjure his hosting experience at the Tony telecast, not the Academy Awards). “From telling stories in the sky to painting the night with light, guests will be immersed in innovation, enchanted by wonderful narratives, and reminded of the incredible legacy of Walt Disney,” says Addis. Additionally, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland and the Carthay Circle Theatre in California Adventure Park will be swathed with special “diamond” exteriors. But lest one worry that it’s all too much of too much, a blinding display of multifaceted bling, fear not. At 60, an icon of a certain age can carry off major karats with appropriate aplomb. disneyland.com LAC
Award-winning Executive Chef Andrew Sutton presides over swanky Carthay Circle restaurant, housed in a replica of the movie palace in which Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937.
DisneylanD of luxury? VIP digs take theme-parking up a notch.
While the Magic Kingdom conjures many images, Lucullan luxury isn’t among them. But a certain sybaritism is eminently possible—no spell required. First, check into the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. An homage to Arts & Crafts style, the Grand Californian is by far the most luxurious of the resort’s three hotels. It has its own private entrance to California Adventure Park, and the Mandara Spa proves a boon to muscles taxed from the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Stay in one of the four signature suites, particularly the Arcadia or El Capitan (with views of the grounds and park), and select club-level service, which includes “personalized vacation planning services.” (Hot tip: Book a VIP Tour. It’s fully customizable, with a four-hour minimum, a maximum of 10 guests, and a modest $75 per hour.) If you can, make members of Club 33 your new BFFs and stick to them like cotton candy. Conceived by Walt in 1967, the private club is discretely located at 33 Royal Street in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. Members pay annual dues upwards of $12,000 for an array of perks that include access to the club’s dining rooms and lounge, the parks, the presidential car on the Disney railroad, and that most coveted access of all: to the rides, without queues. Though you may be tempted to have Dole Whip for lunch, head instead to the Carthay Circle restaurant. Housed on the second foor of a Spanish Revival building based on the movie palace in which Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in 1937, the restaurant serves farm-fresh food as interpreted by award-winning Executive Chef Andrew Sutton (formerly of Napa Valley’s legendary Auberge du Soleil).
the menus are delectably different. Opt for “The Vintner’s Table” prix fxe with a fight of wine. Because the restaurant has 35 sommeliers—the most certifed wine experts under one roof anywhere in the US— you can be assured the vino selections will do Bacchus proud. For further decompression, go where Disney’s top brass do: Ariel’s Grotto and Cove Bar at Disney California Adventure. “It’s a beautiful location overlooking the Think happy thoughts! Standing by a plan of the yet-to-open Disneyland in 1954, Walt Disney chats with some of his Imagineers.
Paradise Bay lagoon that’s breathtaking,” says Steve Davison, VP of parades and spectaculars. And Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel is “a fun little oasis,” says senior show director John Addis. “It feels like you’re having your own private adventure.” Save the teacup ride for the kids.
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photography by Earl thEisEn/gEtty imagEs (disnEy)
Then, eat dinner(s) at Napa Rose. While the cuisine is also under the toque of chef Sutton and the sustainable fare conceptually similar to Carthay Circle,
culture Art Full
Beauty and the Beast
For her First museum show in LA, Artist Mary reid elley reimAgines mythoLogy From A womAn’s point oF view. By Allyson Rees Upon first viewing Mary Reid Kelley’s video, The Thong of Dionysus, it’s hard to believe the artist was inspired by Picasso, but take a second look at the black and white sets, bug-eyed characters, and cartoonish elements, and you’ll start to detect hints of the Spanish master’s Guernica. “Picasso said: ‘Great artists don’t borrow, they steal,’” jokes Reid Kelly, 35. The Thong of Dionysus is the final work in a trilogy that includes her Priapus Agonistes (2013) and Swinburne’s Pasiphae (2014)—which, along with portraits of its recurring characters, will be on display at the Hammer Museum starting May 23. Exploring the Greek myth of the Minotaur, Reid Kelley’s The Thong of Dionysus depicts the monster as half-woman rather than man, and like Picasso, she uses the mythical creature to explore sadness, loneliness, and vulnerability. “There’s not enough opportunities for women to be the monster in stories, so I wanted to adapt this Minotaur as a monstrous exaggeration of the self,” she explains. “The pitiful, self-destructive self is eternal. You can see it in Greek drama, and you can see it today in social media.” A graduate of Yale University School of Art, Reid Kelley often portrays the women who history ignored. “You’ve got major female characters of myth and literature, but we know so little about what women’s actual lives were like in the
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ancient world,” she says. That gap allows Reid Kelley the freedom to invent and reinvent her characters. In the trilogy, the female Minotaur and supporting characters have a ’90s beach flavor; Dionysus wears socks and sandals, a visor, and a status watch, and the Minotaur’s mother is adapted into the classic femme fatale—think Pamela Anderson and Bo Derek—complete with braided wig. According to Reid Kelley, the disparity between women’s portrayal in media and art and their reality still exists today. “Even if an artist or writer could tell a perfect, true story about a woman, would that make the world a better place for women?” she wonders. “I doubt it, because true stories have been told and people still suffer. Any change that art is capable of is made on a very small scale, and I accept that.” One thing is for sure—The Thong of Dionysus will change the way viewers perceive the age-old myth of the Minotaur. “[It’s] providing a familiar entry point for visitors, but leading them to question the stories that are handed down from generation to generation,” says Hammer curator Emily Gonzalez-Jarrett. “There is something deeper going on that the viewer can deconstruct to reveal many layers of meaning.” “Hammer Projects: Mary Reid Kelley” runs from May 23-September 27. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 310443-7000; hammer.ucla.edu LAC
photography courtesy of the artists, fredericks & freiser gallery, New york, susaNNe Vielmetter los aNgeles projects, aNd pilar corrias, loNdoN
Bull’s eye! Artist Mary Reid Kelley’s video trilogy, in which she collaborated with her husband, Patrick Kelley, has been a hit with viewers and critics alike. The third installment of her ancient-meetsmodern-day take on the Greek myth of the Minotaur debuts at the Hammer Museum in May.
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CULTURE Film POSTER IMPRESSIONISM
It’s no easy task to capture the rela tionship between Los Angeles and flm Lily Tomlin—who stars in Grandma by writer/director Paul Weitz—will be honored on the opening night of June’s LA Film Festival. below: Trailblazing female producer Gale Anne Hurd will also receive an award at this year’s festival.
in a single image, but for the second year in a row, LAFF has engaged a gifted local artist to craft its evocative poster—and is furthering his work in the process. After launching its L.A. Film Fest
Lights, Camera, La!
No time for CaNNes? Pas de Problème. this JuNe, La hosts a worLd-CLass fiLm festivaL of its owN. By scott huver
Art Program last year, in which the event’s poster was designed by the legendary Ed Ruscha, LAFF tapped rising star Noah Davis to create its 2015 image (pictured). Davis’ com mission, L.A. Nights, refects “the
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showcasing artists who have unique and diverse voices.” By focusing on bringing fresh, new talent together with the industry establishment and a slew of cinephiles, LAFF experienced an astounding uptick in quality, attendance, and profile. It now draws about 90,000 attendees (up from a high of 19,000 in its formative years) to its home “campus,” L.A. Live, where an increasing number of the films are snatched up for theatrical distribution. Respected film journalist Elvis Mitchell serves as curator of the film roster—which includes a subset of LA-centric movies—and hosts live events where, says Allain, he “is
really brilliant at digging into the psyches” of diverse success stories like Spike Jonze, Maya Rudolph, and Danny Elfman. Master classes and Grammy Museum events offer further luster for the local crowd, adds Allain. Among the highlights of this year’s festival: Icon Lily Tomlin, star of writer-director Paul Weitz’s openingnight film, Grandma, will be honored with the Spirit of Independence Award; groundbreaking female producer Gale Anne Hurd will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award; and acclaimed filmmaker Rodrigo García (Last Days in the Desert) will serve as guest director and join all the fest’s feature directors at its annual community-building Filmmakers Retreat in Palm Springs. “You feel that you’re in the midst of a festival now,” says Allain. “What we’ve done really successfully is deliver A-list talent and emerging filmmakers to the moviegoing public.” June 10–18; lafilmfest.com LAC
promise and glamour of Hollywood,” says Festival Director Stephanie Allain. Davis, whose canvases fre quently feature imagery infuenced by black Hollywood from the ’20s through the ’70s, found inspiration from a photo in an online archive. “There was this picture of LA in the ’70s with a light show like a sprawling cityscape,” the artist says, “and I was like, Oh, that’s perfect.” Davis also operates The Under ground Museum, a West Adams/ Crenshawarea alternative exhibition space for upandcoming artists, which will beneft from LAFF’s May 6 art auc tion event, “LA Nights: Celebrating the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival and Resident Artist Noah Davis.” “Because the space is in danger of closing its doors, and because Noah’s so beloved, we asked a bunch of artists to donate some pieces that we could auction off to keep the doors open,” says Allain. In cinema humanitas!
PhotograPhy Courtesy of Wireimage and film indePendent (Grandma, Poster); steve granitz/Wireimage (hurd)
From Park City to Cannes, Telluride to Toronto and beyond, film festivals have been in full flower. But only in the last few years has the world capital of the film industry hosted a festival of its own that’s finally worthy of its fabled locale. Now in its 21st year, the L.A. Film Fest has evolved dramatically from its earliest incarnations, when it proved difficult to stir up excitement for its indie fare amid the jaded Hollywood crowd. After the festival was acquired in 2001 by Film Independent—the organization dedicated to shining a spotlight on artist-driven films that bestows the Independent Spirit Awards—LAFF began to morph into a world-class showcase for cutting-edge, up-andcoming filmmakers. “I just felt that I wanted to step into the festival and give it personality,” says Festival Director Stephanie Allain. “It did suffer from the fact that you couldn’t say what the identity of the festival was. We adopted the same mission statement as Film Independent, which is about
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LA nAtive Jillian Ezra is reinventing the home movie with A cinemAtic twist. By Erin MagnEr Isn’t it ironic that as technology progresses, we’re relegating more and more valuable moments to unreliable phone cameras? Enter Jillian Ezra, who left a high-powered finance job to launch a production company that’s bringing home videos back to their former glory (and then some). “Most families have professional photographers take their pictures each year, but these videos are different,” says Ezra. “They’re just a slice of everyday life, shot and edited and colored so they look like a short film.” Her team can document everything from a day in a new baby’s life to a legacy film celebrating an aging family member. According to Ezra’s first client (her cousin), the result is worth the investment. “She said it was the greatest gift anyone could ever give her,” says the filmmaker. “It was her son, bottled at age 4, and she could relive that experience for the rest of her life.” ezraproductions.com LAC
// design //
Start building your summer playlist by checking out the must-see artists at LA’s upcoming music festivals. LA Philharmonic’s Next on Grand: Contemporary Americans festival showcases the music of American composers, performers, and choreographers—both established (Philip Glass) and in-the-making (LA’s experimental Calder Quartet, above). Expect six world premieres and two West Coast premieres during its run from May 19–June 14 (laphil.com). The 37th annual Playboy Jazz Festival (June 13-14) will feature legends Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter (hollywood bowl.com). Finally, make the most of warmer nights with indie music, art, and panoramic views of the city at The Getty Center’s Saturdays Off the 405, kicking off with a performance by Cathedrals on May 16 (getty.edu). —Stephanie Centeno
E EyE lovE, 1968
harnEss thE sun, 1967
X givE a damn, 1968
for ElEanor, 1964
lOud & PrOud In response to the one-year anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, LA paved the way with the world’s frst Pride parade to commemorate the LGBT fght for equality. Forty-fve years later, West Hollywood continues the tradition with LA Pride, a three-day festival that is sure to attract hundreds of thousands for live performances by top musical guests, community events, celebrity guest appearances, art, and, of course, the over-the-top Pride Parade down Santa Monica Boulevard. June 12 –14, 2015; lapride.org—C.H.
HOMe, CHIC HOMe
The largesT design evenT in america, Dwell on Design, celebrates its 10th anniversary at the los angeles Convention Center this year. The three-day exhibition and conference features the best modern home goods and hundreds of design industry experts available for free consultations. The event focuses on four core content tracks— design for humankind, smart Tech, resiliency, and energy 360—and visitors will be able to shop at the exclusive dwell pop-up shop and walk through prefab homes and stunning landscapes. May 29–31; dwellondesign.com—S.C.
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LA-CoNFIdeNTIAL-MAGAzINe.CoM
Revelers carry a rainbow flag at the annual LA Pride Parade.
photography by autumn de Wilde (Calder); arthur evans, Courtesy of the tang museum at skidmore College (Corita)
As a contemporary of Andy Warhol, Sister Corita Kent (1918-1986) created a body of silk screen prints and appropriated images that shrewdly commented on the era’s politics and culture. The former nun, who taught at Immaculate Heart College, is now being honored at the Pasadena Museum of California Art in “Someday Is Now: The Art of Corita Kent.” The show spans more than 30 years and is the frst major museum survey of the local legend’s work. June 14–November 1; pmcaonline.org —Charlotte Hughes
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people View from the Top Like father, like daughter? “My dad [the late Jerry Buss] would never make a bad deal for the other party. That’s noble and that’s integrity. That’s what I strive to be,” says Jeanie Buss, here ensconced in her memorabilia-filled El Segundo office.
The Lady and The Champs
photography by aaron smith
Champions? The Lakers? Jeanie Buss, The reigning queen of The CourT of La, is deTermined To bring The Lakers’ sLam-dunk days of gLory baCk To The sTapLes CenTer. pLay baLL! By Michael Ventre Did you hear the one about the businesswoman who runs one of the most successful sports franchises in the world, is involved in a bicoastal relationship with arguably the greatest professional basketball coach ever, who once lived in an estate built by Hollywood icons Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, and who took classes to become a stand-up comedian? If Los Angeles Lakers doyenne Jeanie Buss opened with that one, she’d hear massive crickets. Everybody’s heard it all before, except perhaps for her secret desire to be the next Amy Schumer. Sort of. “I didn’t want to become a stand-up comedian,” she explains as to why she took classes. “I just wanted to make myself a little bit more entertaining. For example, when I speak to the Rotary Club, my message is much easier to remember if I make you laugh at the same time. That was my goal.” Jeanie, 53, is one of six children of the late Dr. Jerry Buss, who bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 from the cantankerous Jack Kent Cooke and set the franchise on a staggeringly successful course. Not only did Jerry Buss’s Lakers go on to win 10 championships during his reign, but he established the zeitgeist for the ’80s and beyond with the Laker Girls, Hollywood royalty at courtside, and Mount Rushmore-worthy stars on the floor. Because the NBA only recognizes one governor, Jerry, who died in 2013, passed that authority on to Jeanie. While brother Jim technically runs the basketball side, Jeanie has control of the entire ship, meaning she could conceivably give her brother the hook if she finds his act less than entertaining. For the last three seasons, the Lakers have been all pratfalls and pies in the face, which is why Jeanie is deadly serious these days. While she carries on a cross-country romance with Phil Jackson—Jeanie and the current president of the Knicks spend about one week a month together during the season, and she alternates between his digs in Playa del Rey and hers in Manhattan Beach—there is the task of returning her franchise to the days when heading up the Lakers meant hoisting championship trophies and waving from parade floats. continued on page 66
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“I’m hopIng our fans know that we are movIng In a dIrectIon to brIng Lakers basketbaLL back to where It shouLd be.” —jeanie buss “True fans of the team know you can’t win every year,” she says. “What they want to see is steps going in a direction, that you’re not just spinning your wheels, that you’re not just bringing in a new coach every 18 months, that you’re building toward something so that they can see a logical progression. “That’s what I’m hoping our fans know about this organization,” she adds, “that we are moving in a direction to bring Lakers basketball back to where it should be.” Buss has has no shortage of supporters. Linda Rambis, her best friend and closest business associate since 1978, says the influence of Jeanie’s father is noticeable. “Obviously you can never have the same charisma or successes he had because he had a pretty outstanding run,” Rambis says. “He was very calculated in how he did things and he always had reasons and explanations. He wasn’t impulsive or random. He did things sequentially. He was a math expert. I think she does that, too. She’s very measured. She has plans and sticks to them.” Jeanie recalls an example years ago of her father making good on the contract Chris Evert signed for World Team Tennis after the league went bankrupt, even though he didn’t have to. “He would never make a deal that was knowingly bad for the other party,” she explains, “because he knew that would someday come back at you. He would always put himself in the other party’s shoes. That’s noble and that’s integrity. That’s what I strive to be.” Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks,
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who has known Buss since he came into the NBA in 2000—after she had already been serving for some time as an alternate at board of governor meetings—is impressed with her fair-mindedness. “The most important thing she does,” he explains, “is understand the difference between what’s good for the Lakers versus what’s good for the NBA. Most owners won’t even consider what’s better for the league. Jeanie is always considerate of the small markets.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver recalls Jeanie was instrumental in making a deal during the league’s last collective bargaining talks. “During those discussions,” he says, “she was always particularly focused on the extended NBA family and the impact of collective bargaining—not just on the owners, players, and fans, but on the many thousands of team and arena employees who are fundamental to the operation and success of the league.” When she and Rambis are not attending Lakers games together or shows at the Hermosa Comedy and Magic Club, Jeanie tends to her beloved 13-year-old diabetic Maltese, alternately named Princess and Cujo, depending on whether she or Jackson is addressing her. And while the basketball cognoscenti might believe that someday seeing the currently woeful Lakers and Knicks in the NBA Finals is akin to spotting Kanye and Kim taking Uber to Costco, Jeanie wants in on that joke. “If we play each other in the playoffs,” she says of Jackson, “that means we’ve both been successful.” LACC
clockwise from top left: Prized Lakers mementos fill Jeanie Buss’s office; Jeanie and her father, Jerry Buss, in 2006, when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; Jeanie and Shaquille O’Neal pose with his framed jersey at the Staples Center in 2013.
courtside with jeanie buss! idol worship: “the only person I’ve ever asked for an autograph is tiger woods. It was so exciting to see somebody dominate and be as fantastic as he was.” KoBE MoMENT: “when I frst met him [in 1996]
on the day of his press conference at the forum, [team publicist] John black said, ‘will you have lunch with our new guy, the three of us?’ we sat in the forum club. when the waiter came to take our order, kobe asked him, ‘do you speak spanish?’ and the waiter said, ‘Yes.’ kobe said, ‘I’m going to learn spanish when I’m here.’ usually it’s like, ‘I’m gonna buy a car or live at the beach.’ he was [already] challenging himself at that age.” FAVoriTE ChAMpioNship: “probably the frst one [in 1980], because we weren’t supposed to win. kareem [abdul-Jabbar] was hurt. they left him home. magic [Johnson] went out and played the most amazing game. here’s this kid who had no fear.”
photography by aaron smith (trophies); Copyright 2006 nbae by andrew d. bernstein/nbae/getty images (walk of fame); Copyright 2013 nbae by andrew d. bernstein/nbae via getty images (o’neal)
PeoPle View from the Top
PEOPLE Talent Patrol
Game Changer
“I’ve always enjoyed performing to some degree, and I don’t mind being the center of attention,” laughs Alfie Allen in his charming London brogue. He was certainly born into the right family: Father Keith is a well-known comedian and mother Alison Owen is one of the UK’s most prodigious film producers, responsible for blockbusters like Saving Mr. Banks and The Other Boleyn Girl. Allen is also the younger sibling of singer Lily Allen, who has even penned a tune about her kid brother’s formerly laissez-faire attitude (best line: “Get off your lazy arse/Alfie, please use your brain.”). But little brother, now 29, has certainly grown up. As Theon Greyjoy on HBO’s massive hit Game of Thrones, he has weathered everything from crucifixion to castration. “It’s been physically demanding and emotionally challenging at the same time,” Allen says. “Inevitably, with anything that you’re attached to for a long period, you’re going to learn a lot about your craft. I’ve definitely done that because there have been so many drastic changes to the character.” A little hisINSIGHT tory: Theon was born the son of a wealthy Top Nosh: “I don’t mind a quick visit lord, but in a recent season he was kidnapped down to Chateau Marmont. The spaghetti and tortured to the point of forgetting his Bolognese there is a favorite. And Café own identity. Now called “Reek,” he is the Gratitude is always nice… and healthy!” mostly mute manservant to his captor, Fave Nabe: “I lived in Beachwood the diabolical and scheming Ramsay Snow. Canyon for a few months—that was great. Luckily for real-life Allen, who was also I like the old-Hollywood vibe there. But born into royalty of a sort, his path to success Venice is one of my LA love affairs.” has been far less hazardous. Following spoiler alerT: “I can tell you that, boarding school in Portsmouth, England, at the end of this season, there is some form Allen enrolled in a theater studies program of light [for Theon]. It’s not too bright, but at Hampstead Fine Arts College. After landthere is something.” ing a role in Agent Cody Banks 2, a film his uncle, Kevin Allen, directed, Allen found himself at a crossroads. “At school, they told me that I could choose to do the movie or continue with theater studies, so I chose the movie. And I think it was a wise choice,” he says, with characteristic English understatement. The hardships Theon faces on the show obviously call for an actor with great emotional range, and, initially, Allen thought landing a part was beyond his abilities. “I was watching [the HBO show] The Wire, which I thought was the best TV show I had ever watched, when I got the audition,” he recollects. “So to be involved with the same people that were making that... it just didn’t compute. But I didn’t really put any pressure on myself and just did the best I could,” he admits. “Thankfully, it was good enough!” And it is due to his success on Thrones that Hollywood is taking notice of Allen’s considerable talent. These days, it’s not unusual for him to be in London one day and Los Angeles the next for auditions or projects. “I love the weather here,” he says. “What a cliché thing for an Englishman to say! But you have everything here at your fingertips; it’s pretty amazing.” LAC
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Continental divide and conquer: Crossing the pond to make a big splash in Hollywood, Brit boy Allen says of his starring role in Thrones: “I just did the best I could. Thankfully, it was good enough!”
photography by ari michelson
Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen is making a big-time play for Hollywood. By Juliet izon
PEOPLE It Girl INSIGHT Great escape: “I love Manhattan Beach. You don’t really feel like you’re in the city.” cause celebre: “At the end of the day, I really want to use my voice to help people in diffcult situations. That’s what I’ve always tried to inspire in my viewers—to not let bullying affect them.”
Now treNdiNG: “My sister and I love Urth Caffé! It’s super popular but very good. I always get their chicken quesadillas with guacamole—they’re my favorite.”
Teen Player
With h’Wood and the White house on speed dial, music/beauty/fashion/youtube supernova Bethany Mota is la’s tech star du jour. By Juliet izon Bethany Mota has over 2 million Twitter followers and over 4 million on Instagram. In the past year she has released a top-five single, “Need You Right Now,” competed on Dancing with the Stars, interviewed President Obama, and launched her own clothing line in conjunction with teen fashion behemoth Aeropostale. Oh, and she’s not even 20 years old. So who is this wunderkind and what’s her secret? One word: YouTube. Mota is the poster child for a new type of celebrity: those who have gained fans and stardom not through the traditional roads of acting or music (though she’s adept at those as well), but through low-budget, single-camera, confessional-style videos on the Internet. To date, her channel on YouTube
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has garnered over 8 million subscribers, most of whom tune in to see Mota wax knowledgeably about style, makeup, hair, and food. What sets the dimpled brunette apart from the thousands of other “vloggers” online is, to borrow a more traditional Hollywood term, she has “It.” Mota’s online persona is both approachable and admirable: She’s the sort of teen whose closet everyone wants to raid, but also the girl who parents wish their child would befriend. There is an honesty to all of her videos that is not often seen in our era of “reality” television. But to the self-confessed shy girl, her fame is still shocking. The younger daughter of an electrician and a stay-at-home mom, her foray into YouTube began when the then-13-year-old was cyberbullied, leading her to retreat into the safety of her bedroom in Los Banos, in central California. “I really let it take a hit to my self-esteem,” she says. “I was homeschooled, so it was easy for me to kind of shut myself out.” Scrolling through YouTube videos became a welcome distraction: “I didn’t have to focus on the negativity in my life,” she says. “I felt like no one really understood me, so I decided to make my own videos. Suddenly, I felt like I had a voice again.” Within a matter of months, brands were contacting the teenager to feature their products within her videos. Soon she was organizing “meetups” with fans, who often wait hours to snap selfies with their idol. “YouTube and online media really build this link between people around the world,” she says. Her considerable influence with the millennial generation is one of the reasons she was approached to interview President Obama. “At first, I didn’t really believe that it was going to happen. I just couldn’t accept that it would be a reality,” she laughs. “It was great because we got a lot of the younger generation interested in politics and what’s going on in the world.” Now with her recent move to Los Angeles, Mota is ready to tackle more than just the Internet. “I really want to get more into music. I want to try more of an acoustic, raw style and start writing things,” she says. “Out of everything that I do, the common factor is that it all allows me to create. I just really want to be able to challenge myself and my mind.” LAC
photography by Scott Witter; Styling by angel terrazaS; makeup by kip zachary for cloutier remix; hair by gui Schoedler for excluSive artiStS management uSing r+co hair care. photographed at the garland hotel, north hollyWood; thegarland.com
Mota-vation! Bethany Mota’s YouTube videos propelled her to teen stardom, and now she wants to use that fan base to tackle tough subjects like politics and bullying.
Super Troopers: Ovarian Cancer Research Fund CEO/President Audra Moran, along with longtime OCRF supporters/fashion experts Joe Zee and Rob Younkers, will be in LA for the second annual Super Saturday shopping extravaganza this May.
May Day!
On Super Saturday thiS mOnth, StarS turn Out and pOny up fOr the “Other” big wOmen’S cauSe célèbre. by kathryn drury wagner Blending the thrill of a shopping spree with the satisfaction of philanthropy, Super Saturday has evolved into the mother of all sample sales. The event transforms Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar into a posh oasis of luxury shopping, beauty treatments, family activities, and gourmet food—all to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Super Saturday originally began in the Hamptons, New York, in 1998, when Liz Tilberis—the glamorous and influential editor of Harper’s Bazaar and president of the OCRF—was fighting the disease that would claim her life a year later. Tilberis’ dear friend, designer Donna Karan, offered to help raise research money; she pulled clothes out of her own closet, and they had what may have been the chicest tag sale ever. The Hamptons fundraiser has become a must-attend event, bringing in $3.5 million in 2014. Last year also marked the fashion fête’s debut on the West Coast. “Super Saturday has always been such a staple of the Hamptons,” says fashion editor Joe Zee, who, along with his design professor partner Rob Younkers, hosted a session
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of their Stitched Fashion Camp for young attendees of the inaugural Super Saturday LA. “To be able to contribute to such an important cause while allowing everyone to shop for the things they love is a win-win.” “We wanted to take a really cool event and give it an LA flavor,” adds Audra Moran, OCRF’s president and CEO. “We raised $600,000 last year in LA. Our goal this year is to hit the million mark!” Because it’s a relatively rare form of cancer, ovarian cancer research is chronically underfunded. The survival rate is low, and ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death for women. It causes more deaths than all other gynecologic cancers combined. “Because the symptoms, like bloating, can be vague, by the time women get to the doctor, it’s late-stage cancer,” says Moran. “Some of the research we’re supporting has shown the cancer may, in fact, start in the fallopian tubes.” OCRF has invested nearly $60 million in research over the past 20 years, and Moran says that 87 cents of every dollar raised goes to OCRF’s
THIS PAGE: PHOTOGrAPHy by SETH OlEnIck. OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGrAPHy by lISA rOSE (ScHrEIbEr); cOurTESy OvArIAn cAncEr rESEArcH funD (SIMS); EMIlEy ScHwEIcH (rAncIc)
PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity
Charity register
“LA hAs A cuLture of voLunteerism, And it is A fAshion-forwArd city, so the concept of getting designers together is A good fit.” —molly sims programs: 94 percent to fund research and 6 percent to support other related programs, such as Woman to Woman, a peer support system. Two of LA’s most stylish doyennes—stylist and designer Rachel Zoe and actress and model Molly Sims, along with their husbands—cohosted the event last year and will do so again this year, on May 16. The duo has been friends for a decade and both are active in the New York event as well. “It’s important to support ovarian cancer research because we don’t have a cure; we don’t even have the tools for early detection,” says Zoe. “And who doesn’t like shopping for a good cause?” Says Sims, “The vibe is one of the best things about [Super Saturday]. I just love the frenzy of women getting together at a sample sale and literally trying on things in front of each other. LA has a culture of volunteerism, and it is a fashionforward city,” she says, “so the concept of getting designers together is a good fit.” Los Angeles brands participating this year include Trina Turk, Michael Stars, and Mikoh
swimwear, which join other sponsors, including SoulCycle and Estée Lauder. Hollywood restaurant Asa Meza will fuel shoppers with Asian/ Latino fare. Last year, the LA event drew celebrities like Giuliana Rancic, Liev Schreiber, and golfing great Amy Alcott. Says Sherry Jacobson, one of the chairs for the OCRF: “It’s a great audience—a high-profile audience.” And it’s an audience determined to make a real difference. The challenge, says Moran, is that “cancer is always changing. In the future, we may see it as a type of cell, rather than organspecific. We are constantly raising awareness for the need to fund research. We have to be nimble enough to support the scientists who are the best and the brightest.” Super Saturday takes place 12–5 pm on May 16. Tickets are $150 for general admission. A $250 VIP ticket comes with 11 am access, a VIP area, preferred parking, and a package concierge service. Children ages 5 and under are free; tickets for children ages 6 to 16 are $50. supersaturday.ocrf.org LAC
Opportunities to give.
K.A.M.P AT THE HAMMER MUSEUM Support the Museum’s Hammer Kids programming by attending this annual fundraising event. Renowned LA artists, including Andrea Bowers and Sam Falls, will lead 20 hands-on kids’ workshops while celebrity guests read their favorite children’s books. When: Sunday, May 17 Where: Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., LA Contact: hammer.ucla.edu/kamp/
PEdAl on THE PiER This ffth annual event from The Harold Robinson Foundation raises money for recreational programs for needy children. The Santa Monica Pier will provide a breathtaking view of the Pacifc as participants pedal their stationary bikes and dance to tunes from DJs and other musical guests. When: Sunday, May 31 Where: Santa Monica Pier Contact: pedalonthepier.haroldrobinson foundation.org
CHRYSAliS BUTTERFlY BAll The 14th annual Butterfy Ball will bring together over 650 guests to beneft Chrysalis’ effort to help individuals out of poverty and homelessness. This year’s honorees include DreamWorks Studios CEO Michael Wright and flm producer Will Packer. Expect live entertainment—past performers have included Gavin Rossdale and Karmin. When: Saturday, June 6 Where: Private Mandeville Canyon estate Contact: changelives.org/butterfy
iMAginE TEA The Langham Huntington has partnered with the Junior Program of the Academy of Magical Arts for an afternoon benefting child and family services agency Five Acres. The Imagine Tea will feature entertainment by junior performers from the famed Magic Castle, along with kid-approved sandwiches, teas, and whimsical desserts. When: Sunday, June 7 Where: The Langham Huntington, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena Contact: langhamhotels.com
TASTE oF THE nATion loS AngElES Help Share Our Strength end childhood hunger in the US by supporting the No Kid Hungry campaign. Its signature tasting event showcases LA’s best restaurants, bars, and craft breweries. Proceeds will beneft the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the California Association of Food Banks, as well as organizations that work to reform food policy. When: Sunday, June 7 clockwise from left:
Liev Schreiber, Molly Sims, Rachel Zoe, and Bill and Giuliana Rancic all brought kids to partake in Super Saturday’s many family-friendly activities.
Where: Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City Contact: ce.strength.org/losangeles
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invited Adrian Grenier and Sarah Elizabeth Ippel
Green Is the new Black PhotograPhy by tracey Landworth
LA pLedges to sAve its shores with A LittLe inspirAtion from ConservAtion internAtionAL. By Kelsey Marrujo
Considering the hazy future of our natural wealth, denizens of California are turning to eco-friendly experts for counsel. Enter Conservation International, a legion of 900 individuals from 30 countries dedicated to helping shape and preserve a more productive planet. This year, the org’s annual LA dinner and cocktail reception featured a preview of Disney Nature’s upcoming film Monkey Kingdom, as well as a lineup of speakers, including special
visitor His Excellency President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, who shed light on the effects of climate change and cultivated a more unified front against habits that can prove detrimental to our ecosystems. Those in attendance also toasted activist Mark Feldman, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his environmental efforts. continued on page 76
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INVITED Skip Brittenham
Melanie Lynskey with Jason and Nancy Ritter, Leila Parma Ritter, and Tyler and Carly Ritter
Peter Seligmann and Mark Feldman
Santa Monica Airport’s Hangar 8 transformed into a decadent dining space for the evening’s program. For every ticket sold during the opening weekend of Monkey Kingdom, Disney pledged to make a contribution to Conservation International.
Marlowe Early and Gillian Wynn
Peter Seligmann
Nancy Ritter
Peter Seligmann and Anote Tong
Stefan Weitz, Lisa Wilson, and Tyler Kelley with Kiley and Steven Taslitz
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THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACEY LANDWORTH. OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES FOR SPORTS SPECTACULAR (SPORTS SPECTACULAR LUNCHEON); STEVE MEIERS AND ANDREW NOEL (BILLABONG)
Dr. M. Sanjayan
// who wore what //
PRINTS UNLEASHED LATER, SOLIDS! THE CITY’S TRENDSETTERS SHOWED OFF BOLD PATTERNS AND COLORS AT BILLABONG’S “A BIKINI
Maria Joao with Jordana and Isabella Brewster
Jen Widerstrom
KINDA LIFE” EVENT, IN HONOR Tonya Winfield and Sharon Hernandez
SPORTS SPECTACULAR LUNCHEON
OF THE BRAND’S SUMMER 2015 COLLECTION DEBUT.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SPORTS SPECTACULAR , which aims to connect
world-class athletes with medical experts to ensure healthier futures, held its annual Sports Spectacular Luncheon to celebrate the cause and thank supporters. The event, which attracted celebrity advocates Jordana Brewster and AnnaLynne McCord, featured a Michael Kors Spring 2015 collection runway show and benefited Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Kyra Santoro, Amanda Li-Paige, and Julia Friedman Pieces from Billabong’s summer collection.
Jacey Duprie
Jeremy, Deanne, Mark, and Jacqueline Lebowitz
Katherine Schwarzenegger
A model shows off a piece from Michael Kors’ Spring 2015 line.
Olivia Lopez
Raquel and Roxy Flores Georgie, Michael, and Beth Moskowitz
Marta Pozzan
Sheryl Luke
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INVITED Alex Newell
Joe Lewis and Yara Martinez
Amy Landecker and Michaela Watkins Murray Bartlett and Daniel Franzese Portia de Rossi
Channing Tatum Christopher Sean, Freddie Smith, and Guy Wilson
Leilani Dowding and Anthony Watson
GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS STARS POPULATED The Beverly Hilton for the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards this year, hosted by comedian Tig Notaro. The soirée recognized various media for their truthful representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community—specifically honoring Kerry Washington, who accepted the Vanguard Award from presenter Ellen DeGeneres, and director Roland Emmerich, who received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award from Channing Tatum.
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Kerry Washington
THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES FOR GLAAD (GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS). OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA ROSENBLATT (TODD REED); COURTESY OF DELEÓN AND DON KANG (THE MISTAKE ROOM GALA)
Ellen and Betty DeGeneres
Alisun Franson and Niki Azevedo Danny Maldonado, Ilene Krisher, Todd Reed, and Lily Wilson
Elizabeth Nettles and Dominic Sinesio
David Phillips, Megan Robles, and Jake Herod
LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL TOASTS TODD REED LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL joined sustainable fine jeweler Todd Reed for an exclusive cocktail party at its chic new boutique on buzzy Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. The event, supported
by Absolut Elyx vodka, gave guests the opportunity to browse the brand’s latest contemporary collection while enjoying refreshments and entertainment by musician Dominic Sinesio.
Todd Reed uses raw diamonds and recycled materials to create his one-of-a-kind pieces.
Jennifer Fabian and Menashe Nahum
THE MISTAKE ROOM GALA Zhu Jia, Clara Kim, and Rita Gonzalez
Cesar Garcia, Isaac Julien, and Jesse Williams
NONPROFIT CULTURAL INSTITUTION The Mistake
Kevin Boyle and Appolos Coleman
Room held its first-ever fundraising gala this year at Creative Artists Agency’s Century City headquarters, gathering a crowd of collectors, artists, and cultural influencers. Maintaining its tradition of honoring visionaries with global impact, the event spotlighted philanthropist Francesca von Habsburg, founder and chairman of Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, and British artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien.
Isaac Julien, Aryn Drake-Lee Williams, and Joeonna Bellorado-Samuels
Anne Ellegood, Franklin Sirmans, and Laura Fried
Suné Woods and Numa Perrier
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taste southeast asia Major!
La Vie en Vietnam
RestauRant scion HannaH an goes West HollyWood WitH tHe debut of HeR glam Rockin’ the District. by Jen Jones Donatelli
photography by jessica sample
It’s fitting that a massive communal table repurposed from a 280-year-old hand-carved Vietnamese door serves as the centerpiece of The District; after all, owner Hannah An envisions the recently opened restaurant as a gateway to the traditional Vietnamese foods of yore. “On my last trip to Vietnam, I traveled off the beaten path and tried so many great traditional dishes that most restaurants don’t make anymore,” says An. “I thought, Wouldn’t it be great to marry these flavors and herbs with the amazing proteins and vegetables of California? It was kind of perfect.” An’s epiphany was enough to inspire her to leave her family’s successful business, House of An, and start her own solo venture. The leap was a significant one—An had essentially grown up in the kitchen of her family’s first restaurant, San Francisco’s Thanh Long, and since 1991 had been an integral part of running the six House of An restaurants (including Crustacean and Tiato in Los Angeles). “Crustacean is a 40-year-old brand, and everyone knows it, but with a new brand, [diners] are more open to trying new things,” says An, 50,
of her choice to go solo. “While Crustacean offers more of a FrenchVietnamese/Euro-Asian flavor, [The District] serves Vietnamese comfort food and dishes I developed using the traditional, authentic flavors of Vietnam.” Among those dishes are banh beo (steamed rice cakes with mung beans and shrimp); cha ca (turmeric-crusted Chilean sea bass atop rice vermicelli noodles); and canh chua (a sweet-and-sour black cod in tamarind sauce). Careful attention is paid to making sure the dishes are all-natural, with no artificial flavors, sugar, or MSG added; pho selections are instead sweetened with bone broth, anise, and radishes. That approach also translates to the cocktail program. David Shoham, beverage director, favors fresh juices and organic agave over artificial sugars and syrups and makes many of the bitters and tinctures in-house. (But that’s where the “PC” part ends—the drinks have names like Face Down in Saigon, Love You Long Time, and Hot Asian.) Shoham also makes an effort to incorporate Vietnamese flavors, using lemongrass-infused vodka continued on page 82
Sea and be seen! The District’s black cod dish, canh chua, marinated in tamarind and served in a tomato herb broth with sweet and sour vegetables, is a favorite of the restaurant’s buzzy clientele.
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taste
What to order clockwise from left:
Hannah An, who left the family business to start her own food empire, is offering authentic Vietnamese fare made with American flair; Edison bulbs hang from the ceiling at The District, a nod to the signature lanterns of Hoi An, a city in Vietnam; bo luc lac filet mignon.
anything half-baked. She worked closely with designer Kenneth Ussenko to realize her vision, which included capturing the various districts of Vietnam in a visual sense. (For instance, the oversize Edison bulb lamps in the downstairs dining room are a nod to the lanterns permeating Hoi An, while the dark wood accents and white onyx bar upstairs recall Vietnam’s French Colonial era.) “[An] is literally an expert in all areas,” says Randy Allison, assistant GM and events director. “I’m learning things from her daily.” Allison adds that An keeps with her at all times a top-secret notebook containing recipes that she’s cultivated over the years. “It’s like her bible,” shares Allison. “Hannah has been carrying these recipes around with her
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“HannaH Has [a secret] book of recipes. sHe keeps it under lock and key.” — randy allison
until she was able to create her own space in LA—they’re all her own creations, so she keeps it under lock and key.” That element of discretion may be a carryover from House of An; after all, Crustacean is famed for its “secret kitchen” (to which only immediate family members and longtime staff have access). “There are certain spices and herbs that I won’t teach all of my chefs,” admits An. “It’s important to keep the integrity of the dish.” While some of The District’s dishes are rooted in family recipes, An is quick to
distinguish her new offerings. “Growing up in Vietnam, I learned so much from my grandmother and my mother—how to make pho, cook fish, work with clay pots—but I have the benefit of having also grown up in America,” says An, who moved to the States from her native Vietnam at the age of 11. “I’m able to take those recipes and enhance them with my own interpretation; The District marries the best of both worlds.” 8722 W. Third St., LA, 310-278-2345; thedistrictbyha.com LAC
Best taBles in the house Not surprisingly, the restaurant’s “hottest” gathering places are the outdoor fre pits on the East and West patios. “Each circular table seats six, with a glass partition around the fre,” says assistant GM Randy Allison. “With the overhead lanterns, it’s really beautiful.” He adds that the communal “dragon table” (named for its hand-carved dragon design) is also a popular draw, seating up to 14 people.
photography by jessica sample
and chili agave in the Hot Asian, and Kaffir lime leaf tincture and guava agave in the Guava Rita. “Hannah’s bringing traditional Vietnamese [fare] but with an American twist, and I’m trying to do the same with the cocktails,” explains Shoham, who hails from Nikita Malibu. The District debuted with a soft opening in February, though one wouldn’t have guessed it wasn’t yet fullblown: In its first few weeks, the restaurant averaged 40 to 75 walk-in guests per night and hosted large-scale events like Indiewire’s post-Sundance party, a Hidden Beach fête for Grammy nominee Angie Fisher, and a preOscar party for TheWrap, attended by nominees like Patricia Arquette and Richard Linklater. The ambitious ramp-up seems typical for An, who doesn’t appear to do
Inspired by the Vietnamese city of Da Nang, The District’s wok lobster has been a runaway hit—featuring a half lobster wok-cooked in garlic-lime sauce over An’s signature noodles (above). “People have fallen in love with Hannah’s noodles, which have a different texture than traditional Vietnamese noodles,” says assistant GM Randy Allison. “They’re all handmade and come out fresh and al dente; if they’re not cooked perfectly, they don’t leave the kitchen.” Other must-try dishes? Don’t miss the crab and uni noodles and bo luc lac flet mignon.
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Vegan-namese! At Manhattan Beach’s popular Little Sister, the bi chay cuon roll, filled with sweet potato, jicama and Vietnamese herbs, is a hit with LA’s healthy set.
On a Roll
Is there anythIng more refreshIng than a taste of sprIng— VIetnamese–style? By Eric rosEn It may look simple, but the story of the Vietnamese spring roll is a tad bit complicated. Some speculate it came to Vietnam from China a millennium ago during periodic conquests, while others believe the dish actually originated in Vietnam. Whatever its pedigree, though, the trait that sets Vietnam’s rolls apart from those of other countries is the wrapping. Instead of a dough made from wheat and egg, Vietnam’s versions use rice flour with tapioca starch. That dainty sheath—translucent and doughy in fresh spring rolls and perfectly crispy when fried to make imperial rolls—hints at the delicacies it contains. From pork to shrimp, taro to wood ear mushrooms, there’s more to these morsels than the cabbage or sprouts you’d find in a Chinese egg roll. With such healthy, palate-pleasing potential, it’s no wonder that Vietnamese rolls have enjoyed a delicious diversification and can now be found on menus across the world—especially here in LA, which boasts one of the world’s great expat Vietnamese communities. The An family came to California in the wake of the Vietnam War, settling first in San Francisco before making their way to LA to open what is probably the city’s best-known Vietnamese eatery, Crustacean (9646 S. Santa Monica
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Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-205-8990; houseofan.com). “I like to put my twist on the traditional spring rolls by mixing up the ingredients,” says chef (and family matriarch) Helene An. “For example, we have a beef summer roll made with fresh herbs like tiato and ginh zoi, fresh vegetables, and rice noodles—all rolled with thinly sliced, grilled New York strip steak.” An recommends eating the spring roll by “wrapping it in a tiato leaf and a butter lettuce leaf… with our garlic lime or bean sauce drizzled on top.” The other crowd pleasers here are the crispy chicken rolls made with organic chicken, earthy black mushrooms, jicama for a little crunch, and vermicelli, all wrapped in rice paper, flash-fried, and served with a tongue-teasing lemon-chili oil. LA’s newest Vietnamese restaurant, Little Sister (1131 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310-545-2642; little sistermb.com), serves a trio of rice-paper roll options. The imperial roll goes all out with a meaty mixture of shrimp, crab, and pork, with taro root, glass noodles, roasted peanuts, chili-lime sauce, and a side of fresh lettuce, mint, and cilantro. The grilled pork spring roll is wrapped in an almost transparently thin sheet of rice paper and is stuffed with red-leaf lettuce, mint, carrot, and cucumber, with a side of crushed peanuts and chiles to taste. LA’s veggie set, meanwhile, can enjoy the bi chay cuon roll, which is filled with sweet potato, jicama, egg, rice noodles, and a house mixture of Vietnamese herbs along with a sweet/savory coconut peanut sauce. In Culver City, East Borough (9810 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310-596-8266; east-borough.com) is a truly modern Vietnamese canteen, serving updated classics and contemporary creations. They do rolls a bit differently; the imperial rolls here consist of fried spiced pork encased in a taro shell that has been deep-fried for a perfect crunch. A heaping side of fresh herbs and a dipping bowl of pungent nuoc mam fermented fish sauce provide just the right sweet counterpoint to the savory meat and herbaceous greens. In a more classic vein, Westside Vietnamese mainstay Phorage (3300 Overland Ave., LA, 310-876-0910; phorage la.com) is known for its locally sourced Asian favorites, including several types of rolls. “Our imperial roll is made with pork and served with seasoned fish sauce, while the fresh spring rolls consist of pork and shrimp,” says chefowner Perry Cheung. “For both styles of roll, we offer a vegetarian take consisting of wok-fried cabbage, mushroom, mung-bean noodles, carrots, and crispy tofu. “We serve the imperial roll with seasoned fish sauce, or seasoned soy sauce with the vegetarian version,” adds Cheung, while he crafts a “house-made vegetarian sauce made from fresh-roasted peanuts” for the spring rolls that provides a creamy accent. As for how to eat them, Cheung says, “Our imperial rolls come with lettuce, noodles, and fresh mint. I usually tell people to wrap it up and dip it in the sauce, but people tend to eat all the rolls before spending the time to mix and match their fixings.” With all that divine simplicity, can you blame them for being a bit impatient? LAC
photography by Matt arMendariz
taste the Dish!
Š2015 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. 14-ADV-15941
taste On the town
Two chefs are deTermined To puT saigon back on The socal culinary map. sushi, whaT? by jen jones donatelli
From soup to noodles: Lunching at Phorage, chefs Chloe Tran (left) and Kimmy Tang discuss the sudden heat of Vietnamese cuisine in LA. below: Phorage’s Washugyu beef, made with American Wagyu steak and beef brisket.
What sets Vietnamese cuisine apart from other Southeast Asian cuisines? Chloe Tran: A lot of times, you’ll find that Southeast Asian foods like Malaysian or Thai get cooked down a lot, and the vegetables lose their essence. With Vietnamese food, the freshness and fresh produce make it very unique. Kimmy Tang: I believe there’s more balance—Chinese cuisine can be heavier with oils, and Thai cuisine has more coconut and stronger flavors. Pairing French and Vietnamese cuisines is a given, but are there any other cuisines that make for great Vietnamese fusion? CT: I’d love to see more Mexican-Vietnamese fusion. Last year, for Cinco de Mayo, East Borough did a pop-up with Free Range LA; we took over a Mexican menu using Vietnamese flavors, and it was seamless. Spice is a big factor for both cuisines, and they share common ingredients across the board, such as cilantro, chili, and cucumber. Also, in both cuisines, many dishes are finished with citrus, and grilled meats are another commonality. Each of you is known for your own creative take on Vietnamese food. What would you consider your signature dish? CT: Our pho baguette, a banh mi pho dish that started in our Costa Mesa location. It’s like a French dip, with the ingredients of pho bo on a French baguette. At first, people are kind of “yay or nay” on it, but once they try it, they realize it’s genius. KT: Our fresh rolls have become very popular; I use jicama instead of vermicelli, which adds a lot of crunch and sweetness. Another really unique dish is the crispy fish with spicy aioli—it’s a carryover from [my former restaurant] Michelia. Lots of people say they don’t eat mayonnaise, but when they order this, they can’t stop eating it. What’s your process for coming up with new and inventive dishes? KT: It happens every day; the ingredients talk to me, and say, Continued on page 86
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photography by jessica sample
pho-midable!
Where fashion and flavor intersect, you’ll find 9021Pho entrepreneur Kimmy Tang (various locations; 9021pho.com). Tang’s chef coat wardrobe comes in just about every color, providing a fitting complement to her creative brand of Vietnamese cuisine (which has now expanded to five locations). “I have a different chef’s coat for every day of the week,” Tang tells Chloe Tran over lunch at Phorage, a rustic-cool Vietnamese cafe in West LA. Tran is no stranger to fashionable eats herself—her stylish East Borough concept first gained a following as a Costa Mesa sandwich shop, then caught the eye of Superba Food + Bread’s Paul Hibler, who partnered with Tran to open a larger Culver City location last January (9810 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310-596-8266; east-borough.com). Today Tang and Tran are noshing on crispy pork imperial rolls, Berkshire pork banh mi, and Washugyu beef pho. Conversation topics? The art of making good pho (Tran believes the biggest tip-off is how clear the liquid is, since it’s all about “skimming out the impurities”), Vietnam’s trendy tourism status, and LA’s own bubbling-haute Vietnamese dining scene.
taste On the town “Get me! Get me!” Just yesterday, I took our pepper mignon dish that typically has black pepper sauce and switched it up with pomegranate chia sauce. I got the idea from Middle Eastern dishes I’d tried while living in Romania for two years after closing Michelia—Middle Eastern food is quite popular there. ct: You do let the ingredients talk to you. There are so many local ingredients in Southern California that are special; [LA chefs] can drive just 30 miles south to Westminster and get awesome Asian herbs you’ve never heard of before. I’m constantly looking at cookbooks to remind me of ingredients I may have forgotten about; two of my recent favorites are Jamie Oliver’s Comfort Food and The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food. Now that Vietnam has become a popular tourist destination, has that reignited curiosity about the cuisine? ct: From speaking with my guests, I’m pretty shocked at how many people have visited Vietnam—a decade ago, it wasn’t that hot. Kt: It’s becoming a destination; every week I talk to customers and they say, “Kimmy, I’m going to Vietnam.” People love the country, and the food is very good. ct: I hear the food is changing a lot. Kt: The last time I was there in 2008, I visited Saigon,
Dalat, and Nha Trang. There are lots of Korean restaurants over there now, and there’s also been a rise in upscale restaurants. ct: It’s good to see that level of Vietnamese food out there for people to have access to; in fact, I think there could be even more [upscale choices] in Southern California. Little Sister is a great example of that [locally]—it feels like an awesome wine bar with perfect mood lighting and $1,000 chairs! What’s your take on the Vietnamese dining scene in la right now? Kt: Los Angeles is a melting pot. If you go to Alhambra or Rosemead, you’ll find more traditional Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese restaurants; [on the Westside], there’s more of what I call “nouveau Vietnamese,” or more refined, lighter cuisine. There’s definitely still a lot of room for growth. ct: I haven’t been in LA very long, but I can speak to Orange County. The core [of the OC Vietnamese dining scene] is in Garden Grove and Westminster, or what’s called Little Saigon. There are mom-and-pop shops that have been around for decades because they’re institutions—they’ve got their craft down. Phorage is another relatively new kid on the block here in la, having taken over roy choi’s old chego space. What do you admire about their approach? Kt: I really like the communal dining table in the center of the restaurant—it’s very true to the culture in
Asia, especially in Hong Kong and Vietnam. ct: For me, its pho is spot-on—the broth is delicious; they have it just right. A lot of times when you go to a typical hole-in-the-wall place, there’s a definite lack of depth in the soup, and it can be watered down. In Phorage’s case, they accomplish a complex amount of flavor without being overly heavy. What’s up next for each of your restaurants? ct: At East Borough, we’re taking a lot of winter dishes and replacing them with spring-friendly items; although I’m really proud of our menu right now, so I’m not going to do a full-menu flip. Kt: In the near future, you’ll see lots of 9021Pho [locations] pop up in major cities outside LA—my partner is scouting places in New York, Boston, and Las Vegas. Locally, we’re doing 20-person food and wine pairings every month, with a menu that I will personally cook; it’s a pop-up that rotates around our different locations. It’s all about adding a twist and making [our offerings] more fun and unique! LAC
Va-Va-Va-Vietnam! Tang and Tran give it up for good Vietnamese. Blossom
(various locations; blossomrestaurant.com): “A more casual café with very classic standard dishes like pho and rice plates—it’s always busy!” –Tran Hai Nam saigoN
The industrial-chic dining room at Phorage in West LA. left: Phorage’s Berkshire pork banh mi, made with shoulder and pork belly and served with cucumbers, cilantro, craft pickles, and mayo.
(1425 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra, 626-300-8079): “Every time I go to the San Gabriel Valley, my ritual is to go to the 168 Market next door and stop here for delicious banh cuon.” –Tang little sister
(1131 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310-5652096; littlesistermb.com): “The banh xeo pork belly and papaya salad dishes are the best; the papaya salad has cured duck in it, which is a unique spin on how it’s usually served.” –Tran Nem NuoNg NiNH Hoa
(9016 Mission Dr., Rosemead, 626-286-3370): “Very traditional Vietnamese, with amazing pork and fsh sauces.” –Tang PHorage
(3300 Overland Ave., LA, 310-876-0910; phorage la.com): “I’m a big fan of their watermelon green tea and the crispy pork imperial rolls.” –Tang (2700 Colorado Ave. 190, Santa Monica, 310-8665228; tiato.com): “I really admire what they’re doing with Southern California-[sourced] ingredients.” –Tran tHe District
(8722 W. Third St., LA, 310-278-2345; thedistrict byha.com): “I haven’t been to The District yet, but I think they understand that there’s a market for high-end Vietnamese in LA!”—Tran
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photography by jessica sample
tiato
Our ocean’s hidden treasures, the nurseries and homes of life in the ocean, are in trouble. Scientists say they need to be protected. Please help. Go to oceana.org/ hiddentreasures or text OCEAN to 50555 to donate $10.
TasTe spotlight entertaining
status roe
LA’s fAvorite sweets spot debuts A new Line of Luxury chocoLAte, just in time for summer ceLebrAtions. By Eric rosEn
Lolli and Pops has quickly become an edible empire, thanks to the ever-changing spread of sodas and sweets—including all manner of vegan and gluten-free treats—sold in its nostalgic shops, including one in Glendale (with more coming to SoCal soon). Now, however, the brand is embarking on a delicious new path with the launch of its line of artisanal chocolate bars, perfectly timed for Father’s Day, graduations, and wedding season. Like the boutiques themselves, which boast handwritten chalkboard specials and nattily dressed soda fountain attendants, these new bars combine a sense of familiarity with whimsy. Flavors include 33 percent Cacao “Gimme S’more,” and “Luscious Red Velvet,” as well as the darker 54 percent Cacao “Savory Sea Salt.” Other indulgent options: artsy boxed truffles or the signature “Topp’d” chocolate bars (above), coated in candy, cookies, nuts, and more. Glendale Galleria, 818-546-1813; lolliandpops.com LAC
//one to watch //
scoop-la!
Cult fave creamery Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has opened its frst West Coast “scoop shop” in Los Feliz. The modernistinspired space serves up the brand’s artisanal favors, including a wheatgrass, pear, and vinho verde sorbet unique to the LA shop. Founder Jeni Britton Bauer has also unveiled a new Colors collection for summer, with options including ultramarine blue, Persian orange, and cadmium yellow. 1954 Hillhurst Ave., LA, 323-928-2668; jenis.com
safe sipping
Puzzling over what to get the dad who has everything for Father’s Day? Consider one of Steak & Whisky’s 10 new whisky lockers—not only does $500 rent a private liquor cabinet for a year when you buy $500 worth of liquor from S & W, but it also entitles its owner to a 40 percent discount on the steakhouse’s inventory of over 80 hard-to-fnd international whiskies. 117 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, 310318-5555; steakandwhisky.com
viva vietnam!
Chef Shawn Pham (far left) might be an LA native, but he looked to his Vietnamese heritage—as well as his training in the kitchens of Sona and The French Laundry—for the opening of Simbal in a discreet corner of Downtown’s Little Tokyo. Pham’s menu provides a playful take on Southeast Asia’s traditional cuisine, with colorful twists like fried black century egg with sliced pork and basil and chili jam mussels with tamarind, lemongrass, and a Chinese donut. 319 E. Second St., Ste. 202, LA, 213-626-0244; simbalrestaurant.com
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photography courtesy of Lanewood studio (steaK); © heads above water (simbaL)
Sugar High
just desserts
Every Angeleno knows that, when it comes to throwing a party, it’s all about location, location, location. That’s why LA-based sustainable fine-foods purveyor Kolikof Caviar & Salmon has launched a bespoke offering that brings a decadent caviar spread anywhere the party host wants it to be. The catered experience includes customized displays— think intricate ice carvings or a specially designed surfboard— with an array of choices from Kolikof’s hand-selected range of caviar, all of which is personally inspected by owner Jim Miller to ensure quality and peak seasonality. Carefully trained caviar professionals are on hand to serve and answer any questions guests may have as they enjoy the briny bounty on blini cones and pancakes. kolikof.com
THE FIGHTING IN HELMAND PROVINCE KILLED BRANDON LADNER HERE.
It may not look like a war zone, but more veterans will die at home today than in our combat missions abroad. Brandon made it home. Then ended his life in his living room. 22 vets are lost to suicide each day. Be the backup they need. Enlist at Mission22.com.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS
OLIVER PEOPLES Oliver Peoples has partnered with Byredo on a collaboration inspired by the idea of the joint perception of senses. Byredo’s master perfumer viewed Los Angeles through colored lenses that he translated into a multi-faceted fragrance. The result is two original products — a Byredo sunglass and a custom blended ‘Oliver Peoples’ fragrance — that both embody LA.
TURKEY RANKED AMONG TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN 2015 Travelers are unearthing the millennia of secrets that make Turkey the sixth-most visited tourism destination in the world; with 41 million visitors in 2014 discovering Istanbul and UNESCO World Heritage Göreme National Park – listed among top destinations in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards.
THE RITZ-CARLTON, LAGUNA NIGUEL Perched atop a bluff with panoramic views of the Pacific, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel continues to redefine guest experiences by creating distinctive, unforgettable and epic memories. With a reimagined personality and playful approach to luxury, the resort captivates guests from the moment of arrival with its awe-inspiring location. 949.240.2000, RitzCarlton.com/LagunaEpicMemories
For more information, visit OliverPeoples.com
goturkeytourism.com, turkishairlines.com
LUXE LIGHT AND HOME
TENNIS CHANNEL
2015 LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL
Luxe is an exclusive lighting and accessories brand specializing in signature collections for elegant interiors. Noted by tastemakers and design devotees for outstanding quality and understated glamour, every Luxe piece is hand crafted with the finest materials and exceptional attention to detail.
Tennis Channel has round-the-clock coverage of the French Open, the world’s greatest clay court tournament, May 24 – June 7. Network analysts Martina Navratilova and Jim Courier, among others, will cover the two-week Parisian event as the action heats up for tennis’ top players like 2014 champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova.
The 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival returns to L.A. LIVE June 10-18 featuring a line-up of American and international cinema that embraces diversity, innovation and unique perspectives. Gain access to one-of-a-kind events and Master Classes and discover emerging online and TV content.
3400 Medford Street, Los Angeles, CA 90063 323.227.9207; luxelightandhome.com
See the line-up and buy passes at LAFilmFest.com.
“There’s none of the ego or grandiosity that Joan has. She’s one of us,” says Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner of Christina Hendricks, here timelessly attired in a black dress by Max Mara ($995). 451 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-385-9343; maxmara.com. Lia stone choker, Vita Fede ($1,550). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com
Truly, Madly, deeply Just Like You, Christina hendriC s is experiencing some separation anxietY as Mad Men ends, But she’s readY For her next red-hot awakening. By Scott Huver PHotoGrAPHy By tony durAn
Just when Christina Hendricks had gotten a comfortable bit of distance from Joan Holloway Harris, her fictional alter ego is walking that walk—you know the one— back into her life one more time. It’s been a year since—on set, at least—Hendricks parted company with the Titiantressed 1960s-era office manager-turned-agency partner that brought saucy, sharp-tongued retorts, glass-ceiling suffering, and, of course, a simmering, retro-style sex appeal to every episode of AMC’s Mad Men—the series that both redefined the socially seismic era it chronicled through the lens of Madison Avenue advertising and defined the current Golden Age of Television, where creator-driven, nontraditional network fare examining flawed, all-too-real protagonists reigns. But with the show having just aired its final seven episodes amid the attendant hoopla afforded what many considered one of the best TV series ever, Joan has returned front and center to the life of the actress who played her, undoing all those months of emotional moving on—both the show and her role, she admits, don’t make it easy to bid farewell. “It’s sort of like when you finally get over a breakup, and then they come back and they want to go out on a date again, and you’re like, Wait a minute—I got over you!” laughs Hendricks, who just turned 40, her red hair now lightened several shades from Joan’s eye-catching red to a soft strawberry blonde. “No, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.” But she has moved forward. “Yeah, I’ve been able to work on several things since then,” she says with a hint of understatement. After leading man Jon Hamm, Hendricks is most certainly the series’ biggest breakout star, commanding media attention, amassing five Emmy nominations, and garnering great reviews for her work in films like Drive, completed between seasons. To no one’s surprise, she’s had an array of intriguing, enviable projects of late: Lost River, Ryan Gosling’s neonoir directorial debut; the upcoming Dark Places, an adaptation of the Gillian Flynn novel opposite Charlize Theron; and Roadies, Cameron Crowe’s rock ’n’ roll comedy series for Showtime. It helped that Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner crafted an end point for Joan that gave Hendricks a pleasant sense of closure. “I was happy with her story—very, very much,” says Hendricks. “I didn’t know if it was possible to be happy, because saying goodbye was just going to be too difficult. But I was really, really pleased, and...” She suddenly sighs wistfully, glancing around the sunny patio of a seriously sixtied-out Hancock Park manse, perfect both for her photo shoot and as a spot where Joan might have settled down if LA were her speed. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve said goodbye. As I watch the last episode, maybe that will happen. It’s a very weird sensation. I just always have taken it for granted. Like, I still get to go back in six months and play her again. But not this time.” It was a singular role: Joan inevitably came to embody all the pluses and minuses that an obviously very smart, obviously very sexy woman of her particular era
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this page: Jacket ($2,990) and trousers ($795), Max Mara. 451 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-385-9343; maxmara. com. Acetate sunglasses, Fendi, ($465). 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2768888; fendi.com opposite page: Dress, Max Mara ($995). 451 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-385-9343; maxmara.com. Lia stone choker, Vita Fede ($1,550). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-5505900; neimanmarcus.com
“I don’t think I’ve said goodbye. As I watch the last episode, maybe that will happen.”
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this page: Dress, BCBG ($568). 443 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-275-3024; bcbg.com. Acetate sunglasses, Fendi ($465). 355 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2768888; fendi.com. Trix ring, Vita Fede ($225). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus.com opposite page: Jumpsuit ($4,865) and shoes ($1,055), Stella McCartney. 8823 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-273-7051; stella mccartney.com. Belt, Etro, ($470). 9501 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-2482855; etro.com
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“I’m a girl’s girl. I’m a guy’s girl, too—I’ve got lots of guy friends, but my girlfriends are really, really important to me. I really respect women.”
both embraced and battled against, much of which still felt very real and relevant for today’s times, and she was quickly labeled an “icon”—a status that bled over to Hendricks herself, also celebrated for her own standout qualities. “That word is such a strange word—it’s a big word,” she muses. “I do think that Joan was different from other characters we’ve seen before. And I suppose when I think of an icon, I think of an image along with a feeling that you get from something. You say ‘Joan’ and you think of something very, very quickly.” Pondering the character’s overwhelmingly positive place in viewers’ hearts, Hendricks “realized it was this resilience and this confidence that she had. It’s like hanging around a friend who has those qualities: You admire them.” Joan, she reveals, scared her at the start. The period looks and wardrobe didn’t totally faze her—“I remember us talking about my hairdo and Matt saying, because I didn’t like my hair, ‘Don’t worry—I’m never going to let you look stupid.’ Cut to that hair for eight years. Not that I felt stupid, but he never changed my hair!” But Joan did. “I thought, Who is this person? Gosh, she’s bossy, she’s a know-it-all, she’s critical. And then after several conversations, Matt said: ‘She truly thinks she knows best, and if she can give that wisdom to someone else, then she’s being helpful.’ And I thought, Okay—I can work with that. And then I just started to love the snarky stuff that she would say. Even in the beginning, I loved the weird lines: Joan saying to Peggy, ‘Your sandwich makes me sad. Let’s go out to lunch.’ That’s such a mean thing to say to someone—but it was so fun to do!” “She’s capable of doing so many different things, but so subtly that no two takes are ever the same,” says John Slattery, who as Roger Sterling, Joan’s early-series boss/ lover/baby daddy, has probably shared the most screen time with Hendricks, as well as having directed her in his debut film, God’s Pocket. “She’s interested in a lot of things, which I think makes someone interesting. She’s interested in the city she lives in, in food and design, and all kinds of things. She’s got a great sense of humor; she has strong opinions. She’s someone I like hanging around with—and then I’ve had the pleasure of directing her, and you can see a whole other side of somebody, the way they conduct themselves professionally.” While Hendricks’ own innate appeal to the masculine population is a given in any context, she’s also cultivated a massive and passionate female following, bolstered by her straight-shooting public persona and philanthropic support of projects like Santa Monica’s Rape Treatment Center. “I love [that I have a female following] because I’m a girl’s girl,” she beams. “I’m a guy’s girl, too—I’ve got lots of guy friends, but my girlfriends are really important to me. And there must be something about that being important in my life that I project that into my characters without even knowing it. I really respect women, and so to receive it back is awesome.” “She is extremely honest about her opinions, but what it really is, is she’s so self-effacing,” says Weiner of Hendricks’ charms. “There’s just none of the ego or
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grandiosity that Joan has—you just don’t get it with her. She’s kind of a homebody and watches reality TV and reads books, but—I hate to say it—she’s one of us. She’s just like a regular person… but she plays Superman during the day.” Perhaps best of all, Mad Men provided Hendricks with a home after a lengthy gypsy existence: The daughter of a psychologist and a British-born US Forest Service employee, she moved frequently from state to state as her father’s job dictated (she still feels the sting of a particularly painful, alienating uprooting from Idaho to Virginia, leading her to seek solace in theater). Her early New York-based modeling career had her frequently flitting around the globe before she finally came to Los Angeles to test the acting waters, where TV work on series like ER and Firefly ultimately landed her the Mad Men gig—and her first seriously stable home base in years. “I was on Mad Men longer than I had lived anywhere before Los Angeles, so it was really comforting to me,” she says. Now that her husband, actor Geoffrey Arend (another gift from Mad Men: They were introduced during the first season by his friend and her costar Vincent Kartheiser), has been shooting his series, Madam Secretary, in New York, “We are finally doing the back-and-forth thing,” she says, feeling fortunate that his previous series, Body of Proof, filmed in LA. “He watched the whole [Mad Men] thing grow. He was at the first wrap party with me. So I love that he was there that whole time, because he really understands the adventure and journey.” Hendricks admits she was more than a little reluctant to embark on a new journey, particularly on television and particularly so close to the end of Mad Men. “I was scared to do another series,” she admits. “I knew I wanted to do another series if I found the right one, but I thought, How am I ever going to find something that I’m going to be this excited about?” Quickly, though, Crowe’s hotly anticipated Roadies pilot script found its way to her, and within its pages she found… not Joan. “I’m the head roadie and a little more rough around the edges than Joan would have been. [She] doesn’t try to use her feminine wiles and doesn’t try to flirt her way into situations and things. She’s a very, very different kind of girl.” Still caught up in the embrace of Mad Men, Hendricks appears sanguine, knowing now that she will, in fact, be able move forward when the show eases its hold on her again. So what’s left to achieve? “Everything’s left,” she declares enthusiastically. “But I also don’t have a checklist, because that’s not how things have gone so far. [I’ll] sort of know it when I see it.” Thus Joan has, in fact, shared her wisdom with Christina, in the same way she hoped to impress her philosophies on the steno pool. “I’d like to think that I walked away learning to embrace things as they come and to learn from my mistakes and grow. I felt like Joan did a lot of growing, and I hope that I learned from that. Only time will tell.” LAC
“Everything’s [left to achieve]. I don’t have a checklist, because that’s not how things have gone so far. I’ll know it when I see it.”
Top, Honor ($995). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com. Pants, Stella McCartney ($995). 8823 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-273-7051; stellamccartney.com Photography by Tony Duran/ tonyduran.net Styling by Lawren Sample for Crosby Carter Management Makeup by Beau Nelson at The Wall Group using L’Oréal Paris Hair by Mara Roszak /L’Oréal Paris Celebrity Hair Stylist Video by Nardeep Khurmi Location Credit: Sources Locations/locationlibrary. com/nancy
on eldon: Leather jacket, Sandro ($1,045). 310 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-281-0083; us.sandroparis.com. Top, Bibhu Mohapatra ($690). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com. Earrings, Jennifer Fisher ($230). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. Booties, Greymer ($455). greymer.it. Pants, bracelet, and ring, Eldon’s own. on bello: Jacket, Burberry London ($1,150). 301 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-550-4500; burberry.com. Rose-cut diamond Star Burst earrings, Samira 13 ($1,450). 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1313; samira13.com. Top, pants, and rings, Bello’s own
Glazed ceramic mushroom stool (right), Lee Hun Chung, 2012.
The Cause Celebs
Kathy Eldon & Maria BEllo
Leading Ladies In the City of Angels, a new kind of power couple is on the ascendancy. Meet the ladies who do not lunch: alpha mothers and daughters, mentors and mentees, who are ruling with enlightened nepotism over the lofty realms of Hollywood, fashion, food, philanthropy, and the arts. Brava! by Degen Pener photography by BoDe Helm photographed at gallery Seomi, loS angeleS
Maria Bello, one of Hollywood’s gutsiest actresses—from her charitable work in post-earthquake Haiti to discussing her bisexuality in her just-published first book— says one person absolutely blows her away with her commitment to causes: Kathy Eldon. “Kathy and I have so much in common in terms of our activism,” says Bello of the author and producer who has dedicated her life to telling stories that mainstream media sometimes ignores. In 1997, Eldon edited the best-selling The Journey Is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon, selections from her late son Dan’s diaries, which documented his inspiring life as a photojournalist until he was stoned to death by a mob in Somalia in 1993. Since then, Eldon cofounded the Creative Visions Foundation, a nonprofit that incubates films and projects by creative artists, including 2014’s Food Chains—executive produced by Eva Longoria—which chronicles abusive conditions among California farm laborers.
“WE nEEd to oWn thE laBEls that sEt us frEE, and gEt rid of thE laBEls that don’t.” —maria Bello “We get together Hollywood superstars with extraordinary producers and directors to ignite social change,” says Eldon, whose memoir, In the Heart of Life, was published in 2013 and who met Bello in Malibu five years ago. Family has inspired Bello’s boldness, too. In a 2013 New York Times essay, the actress— known for her Golden Globe-nominated performance in A History of Violence and her recent role in McFarland USA—revealed that she is in a relationship with a woman. Her 14-year-old son’s response to the news inspired the title for Bello’s new book of essays, Whatever … Love Is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves, which seeks to broaden the meaning of the word “partner” to encompass many people, including friends, family, and mentors like Eldon, who helped Bello to find her authentic voice as a writer. Says Bello: “We need to own the labels—with sexuality, with religion, with everything—that set us free, and get rid of the labels that don’t.” la-confidential-magazine.com 103
The Foodie and the Fashionista
SuSan & Erin FEnigEr
on susan: Blazer, Calvin Klein
($129).Macy’s, Beverly Center, LA, 310-854-6655; macys.com. Top, Equipment ($218). 8459 Melrose Pl., LA, 323-330-8889; equipmentfr.com. Jeans, Erin Feniger for Rialto Jean Project ($245). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. Pearl necklace, Samira 13 ($790). 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1313; samira13.com. Sneakers, Converse ($45). converse.com. Chain necklace, stylist’s own. Head wrap, glasses, earrings, bracelets, and watch, Susan’s own. on erin: Blazer, Helmut Lang ($595). Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com. Denim top, Erin Feniger for Rialto Jean Project ($325). Barneys New York, 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-276-4400; barneys.com. Pants, Helmut Lang ($360). Intermix, 110 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-860-0113; intermix online.com. Diamond necklace and pumps, Erin’s own Bada assemblage 140929-0501,02, glazed ceramic stool in gray-blue powdered celadon (right), Lee Hun Chung, 2014.
What could possibly be the bond between one of LA’s most famous female chefs and her 37-year-old niece who makes paint-splattered jeans? Both Susan Feniger—cofounder of Santa Monica’s acclaimed Border Grill—and her fashion designer niece Erin take creative inspiration from the street. Just two years ago, Erin founded the Rialto Jean Project line, selling hand-painted vintage jeans (Oprah Winfrey wore a pair on a recent cover of O, The Oprah Magazine) and jackets, all inspired by seeing a female artist in Venice with “the perfect beach hair and these baggy jeans with paint all over them,” says Erin. The designer paints every piece herself (find them at Barneys New York and Nordstrom), with a portion of sales funding children’s art programs, including one at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Erin has even created custom aprons for her aunt, 62, who recently co-opened a fifth Border Grill in Las Vegas and runs her own Mud Hen Tavern in LA’s growing arts district near the intersection of Santa Monica and Highland. “I love walking through food markets around the world and seeing all the colors,” says Susan. She and her niece—they come from a family in the steel business in Toledo, Ohio—have a sweetly teasing rapport. “I didn’t know you were gay!” jokes Erin when Susan mentions her longtime position on the board of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Susan has also served for 24 years on the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation. But Erin turns serious when she talks about her aunt’s support: “Everybody kind of looked at me like I’d lost my mind when I started this company. Susan taught me to listen to what makes me tick.”
“SuSan taught mE a lot about not bEing inFluEncEd by SomEbody tElling mE what i should bE doing.”—Erin Feniger
The Classical Acts
Deborah Borda & Meghan Martineau
on borda: Earrings, (price on request), 18k pavé and rose-cut diamond bangle ($8,865) and 14k rose-gold, pavé diamond, Australian pearl, and bezeled diamond ring ($5,200), Samira 13. 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1313; samira13.com. Aura pendant necklace, Pamela Love ($215). Broken English, Brentwood Country Mart, Santa Monica, 310-458-2724; brokenenglishjewelry.com. Jacket, dress, and heels, Borda’s own. on martineau: One-of-a-kind 18k white-gold, black rhodium, zebra opal, and diamond wire cuff ($10,575) and one-of-a-kind 18k yellow-gold, white geode, and diamond ring ($7,000), Kimberly McDonald. Kimberly McDonald. 8590 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-854-0890; kimberlymcdonald.com. Dress, Martineau’s own
From the Glitter 2014-15, mother-of-pearl inlaid on wood chair, upholstered in black cowhide, Kang Myung Sun, 2014.
She’s far and away one of the most powerful women in the world of classical music and LA has her—Deborah Borda. Ever since the former executive director of the New York Philharmonic came out west in 2000 to be president and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, she has taken the orchestra to stunning heights. The onetime violinist, 65, has overseen the completion of Walt Disney Concert Hall and the construction of a new shell for the Hollywood Bowl. She presides over the biggest budget of any US orchestra ($115 million) and hired global sensation Gustavo Dudamel as principal conductor. “We live by two watchwords: innovation and excellence,” says Borda. “The template is creating a thrilling mixture of the Yo Yo Mas of the world and the people who are up-and-coming.” Borda also has found time to nurture talent from within, notably artistic administrator Meghan Martineau. Just 10 years ago, Martineau was an intern in the development department. Now 30, she has risen to her current high-ranking post, overseeing all classical programming at the Bowl, such as putting together Dudamel’s first Carmina Burana in Los Angeles this summer and working on special projects, including casting operas at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Borda recalls that former LA Phil music director Esa-Pekka Salonen noticed Martineau’s keen artistic taste years back, telling her “you’ve got a really special prize,” says Borda. “And it was Esa-Pekka who tipped me off to Gustavo, so I paid attention.” For her part, Martineau praises Borda for creating a truly creative atmosphere at the Phil—“We are talking about music all the time”—and encouraging plenty of back and forth. When the two recently differed on the choice of a pianist for a major concert, Martineau’s aesthetic arguments won the day. “Not only was it a great decision, but this pianist is turning into a real superstar,” says Borda. Not unlike Martineau herself.
“We live by two watchwords: innovation and excellence.” —Deborah Borda la-confidential-magazine.com 105
The “Healraisers”
BarBara, NaNcy & DaNa Davis Call them the $135 million fundraising dream team, all members of one family: LA’s beloved Davises. Since 1977, matriarch Barbara, 84, has raised nearly $100 million for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the nonprofit she and her late mogul husband, Marvin, started after their then-7-year-old daughter, Dana, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. Known for her graciousness and tenacity (“Everybody says ‘uncle’ to my mom,” jokes daughter Nancy), Barbara throws one of the town’s most star-studded and long-standing galas, the biennial Carousel Ball, whose recent humanitarian honorees include George Clooney and Magic Johnson. Nancy, 57, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1991, is just as gifted at getting Hollywood to give. Her annual Race to Erase MS gala has brought in more than $32 million since 1999 to fund research and treatment and to encourage doctors to share information through its Center Without Walls program. “Our idea was to get doctors from the seven major research centers together and never to duplicate research,” says Nancy. Now Dana, 46, is officially involved in the family’s commitment to cures. In January, she became interim director of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. She also reveals that, in addition to diabetes, she was diagnosed with MS three years ago. “I’m representing the entire family in all of our diseases,” jokes Dana. Both she and her sister are in good health, thanks to enormous strides in the last two decades. “Eleven drugs are on the market now that weren’t on the market when Nancy was first diagnosed. I’ve personally been able to use two of them,” says Dana. “How often do you get the opportunity to thank a family member for something so incredible?” Beams Barbara: “Let me tell you, my girls are amazing.” on barbara: Clothing and
accessories, Barbara’s own. on nancy: Clothing and accessories, Nancy’s own. on dana: Coat, Paul Smith ($695). 8221 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-951-4800; paulsmith.co.uk. Top, pant, jewelry, and shoes, Dana’s own
from left: Carved concrete and
ceramic bench, 2009, and glazed ceramic double macaron stool with charcoal dots, 2012, both, Lee Hun Chung.
“How ofteN Do you get tHe opportuNity to tHaNk a family memBer for sometHiNg so iNcreDiBle?”—Dana Davis
The Absolutely Fashionable
ROSETTE & ESTER DELUG Mother and daughter Rosette and Ester Delug both have that rare, genius way of knowing what’s next. Rosette, 65, is a board member of the Hammer Museum and one of LA’s most dynamic art collectors, known for her discerning eye, fashion sense that’s “badass,” according to daughter Ester, and love of life (don’t be surprised to see her at an art opening carrying a flask of tequila). Her Beverly Hills house feels like a small museum, with almost every wall hung “salon style,” as Rosette puts it, with works by both emerging artists and established names, many of whom Rosette started to collect before others took notice. “They’re not always hung the right way according to museum people. Curators tell me, ‘Let them breathe.’ But I like a representation of where art is right now,” says the Turkey-born Rosette, who moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Rosette recalls rearing Ester— her daughter with ex-husband Sam Delug, a telecommunications entrepreneur—to love the arts, as a kid dragging her “to operas and museums. I thought all that imprinting would be great.” It was. Ester, 30, has until recently been the creative director of LA-based jewelry brand Jacquie Aiche—worn by such Hollywood names as Rihanna and Charlize Theron. Now, with valuable business-side experience under her belt, she’s set to relaunch her own jewelry company, Little Rooms, this fall (“I was really young when I started it eight years ago,” says Ester) and will expand the industrial-chic line with accessories and unisex pieces. Rosette enthuses that her daughter inspires her “in every way”— from turning her on to artists before they hit it big (like art star Mark Ryden years ago) to new musicians and fashion trends. “But,” says Ester to her mom, “I certainly get that from you.”
“I RAISED MY DAUGHTER TO LOVE THE ARTS. I THOUGHT ALL THAT IMPRINTING WOULD BE GREAT.” —Rosette Delug
ON ROSETTE: Dress, Vince ($395).
Nordstrom, The Grove, LA, 323-930-2230; nordstrom.com. Dress, Sandro ($470) (worn under patterned dress). 310 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-281-0083, 310-281-0083; us.sandro-paris. com. Cuff, Noir ($365). Samira 13, 8661 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310-652-1313; samira13.com. Ring and shoes, Rosette’s own. ON ESTER: Fringe jacket, Brunello Cucinelli ($2,880). 220 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-724-8118; brunellocucinelli.com. Peplum top, McQ ($395). Intermix, 110 N. Robertson Blvd., LA, 310-860-0113; intermix online.com. Neuer shoes, Paul Smith ($965). 8221 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-951-4800; paulsmith.co.uk. Ring and pants, Ester’s own Glazed ceramic mushroom stool, Lee Hun Chung, 2012.
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on foxley: Blazer, Sandro ($545). 310 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-2810083; us.sandro-paris.com. One-of-a-kind 18k yellow-gold, quartz, and diamond pendant necklace, Kimberly McDonald ($4,440). 8590 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-854-0890; kimberly mcdonald.com. Top, pants, earrings, and pumps, Foxley’s own. on lloyd estrin: Blazer, The Row ($1,690). 8440 Melrose Pl., LA, 310-853-1900; the row.com. Top, Paul Smith ($275). 8221 Melrose Ave., LA, 323-951-4800; paulsmith.co.uk. Skirt, Donna Karan New York ($1,495). South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-549-1053; donna karan.com. 18k yellow-gold, 5.72-carat Csarite, .5-carat pink sapphire, and .10-carat diamond Becca earrings ($14,800) and 18k yellow-gold, 3-carat Csarite, and 1.45-carat diamond Snowflake pendant on South Sea pearl necklace ($28,000), Csarite by Erica Courtney. 6380 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 323-938-2373; ericacourtney.com Watch and rings, Lloyd Estrin’s own
Trans-14-006, bench covered in cherry, black, white, and blue silk, Bahk Jong Sun, 2014.
The Hyper-Activists
ZoË LLoyd FoxLey & Mary LLoyd estrin More people should be doing philanthropy the way Zoë Lloyd Foxley and her mother, Mary Lloyd Estrin, do it. They are strategic. They do their research. They believe that turning the world into a more just place means identifying and funding dynamic social-change agents. “We find those leaders who have a vision for their communities and we support them long term — understanding that deep structural changes do not happen quickly or easily,” says Lloyd Estrin, a former photographer, who is the human rights and economic justice program officer of the General Service Foundation, started by her grandparents 69 years ago. Her focus: economic hardship in LA and nationally. “No one should work full-time yet live in poverty,” says Lloyd Estrin, who is also board president of the antinuclear weapons nonprofit Ploughshares Fund. Her daughter Zoë, 36, is the board chair of another family nonprofit, the John M. Lloyd Foundation (named after Mary’s brother, John, who died from AIDS in the early 1990s). The foundation’s current goal—developed after two years of research on how to be effective funders in the area—is to transform LA’s criminal justice system, which currently incarcerates some 18,000 to 20,000 people on any given day, many of them traumatized juveniles. “Change means reforming harsh sentencing policies to be focused on potential rather than punishment. In addition, there are huge inequities that exist in how laws are applied and to whom,” says Foxley. Uniting mother and daughter is the belief that family foundations should not be “a private pot of dollars to spend however we want,” says Lloyd Estrin. “Our foundations are purposed for the public good. We take that mission seriously.”
“Foundations shouLd not be a private pot oF doLLars to spend however we want. our Foundations are purposed For the pubLic good.”— Mary Lloyd Estrin
The Patron Saints
Ruth & Rebecca bloom Los Angeles’ art world wouldn’t be quite the powerful cultural community it is without the Blooms. Ruth, 70, is a guiding force at the Hammer Museum; she’s served for six years on the board of the globally acclaimed arts institution known for incubating the careers of bold new artists. As an adventurous art collector (along with her husband, entertainment attorney Jake Bloom), a former gallerist, and a former MOCA board member, Ruth’s presence is felt everywhere at the museum, from helping underwrite shows and mentoring younger board members to, lately, advising on the focus of the Hammer’s collections. Her own collecting strategy? “Jake and I want work that we don’t really understand or that we can learn from. That’s why a lot of art that we have lasts through the years,” says Ruth, whose current enthusiasms include the surrealist paintings of Melora Kuhn and the video works by Icelandic performance artist Ragnar Kjartansson. “My mom,” says daughter Rebecca, “has always said that artists are the philosophers of our time. You can see the culture through their eyes.” Rebecca, 40, is equally knitted into LA’s creative class. The author of three novels with a fourth on the way (her latest, Eat, Drink, and Be Married, centers on four friends at a wedding in Lake Tahoe), Rebecca serves on the board of nonproft art space LAXART, another local institution treasured for supporting young artists. She’s been key in helping raise funds for a much larger new home for LAXART in Hollywood, where it recently opened in a former recording studio. “She inspires me by her hard work,” says Ruth of her daughter. “When I was chair of the Venice Family Clinic art walk, she was out there at age 6 helping me tape up the bid sheets.” Adds Rebecca, who lives just a few blocks from her mom in Venice: “Giving back is not just about money. It’s about putting your labor in and making something happen.” LAC
“my mom has always said that aRtists aRe the philosopheRs of ouR time. you can see the cultuRe thRough theiR eyes.” —Rebecca Bloom
on ruth: Clothes and jewelry, Ruth’s own. on rebecca:
Dress, Karen Millen ($360). Bloomingdale’s, Beverly Center, LA, 310-360-2700; bloomingdales.com. Rings, Rebecca’s own
Trans-14-007, bench covered in cherry, black, and yellow silk, Bahk Jong Sun, 2014. above: Studies Into the Past (Rock), Laurent Grasso, 2013. Styling by Stacey Kalchman Hair by Jonathan Hanousek for Exclusive Artists Management using Kevin Murphy Hair Care and Gui Schoedler for Exclusive Artists Management using Oribe Hair Care and T3 Micro Makeup by Blondie for Exclusive Artists
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Belle ePic
For the bold-Fashioned and the beautiFul, monumental is the new bare minimum. photography by renĂŠ & radka styling by martina nilsson
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opposite page: Sleeveless
embroidered dress, Gucci ($5,000). 347 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-278-3451; gucci.com. Button-down shirt, Brunello Cucinelli ($1,380). 220 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-724-8118; brunellocucinelli. com. Nina flat, Vince ($350). American Rag Cie, 150 S. La Brea Ave., LA, 323-935-3154; americanrag.com this page: Cady romper, Versace ($3,625). 248 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-205-3921; versace.com. Charli pant, Diane von Furstenberg ($328). The Grove, LA, 323-792-2258; dvf. com. Ella earrings, Vita Fede ($540). Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-550-5900; neimanmarcus. com. Flats, Alexandre Birman ($545). Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-275-4211; saks.com
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AND
GALA 2015
PRESENT
haute property Girlz n the hood! Women on top: Joyce Rey, of Coldwell Banker Previews International, is repping LA’s highestpriced listing, a Mediterranean-style manse on 25 acres in Beverly Hills. Asking price? A jaw-dropping $195 million.
photography by Unlimited Style real eState photography // marc angeleS
Ladies Home JournaL In LA, women ruLe the roosts. LIterALLy. meet the reIgnIng queens of LA’s hIgh-end surreAL estAte scene. By Kathy a. McDonalD
Stereotypes abound when it comes to female real estate agents. Remember Annette Bening’s memorable character in American Beauty? She was a lacquered, well-coiffed doll who dressed to the nines, ambitious with a touch of edge. (“I will sell this house today,” was her memorable mantra.) Fictional clichés aside, LA’s highly competitive real estate market demands substance behind manicured appearances. Like their male counterparts, women who stand out in Los Angeles’s luxury residential real estate are experts at negotiation, navigating the document-heavy escrow process and, ultimately, closing deals. Gone are the days—if they ever existed—when the business wasn’t allconsuming. “The myth is that there’s flexibility; if you’re good, you’re doing real estate 24/7,” says Sotheby’s Leslie Kavanaugh (lesliekavanaugh.com).
Real estate wasn’t Kavanaugh’s first profession. She worked in property development and interior design before obtaining her license. A circuitous career path is not uncommon. Tami Pardee of Pardee Properties (pardee properties.com) once worked for Sharon Stone. “She was a mentor and really tough. She didn’t believe in the word no,” recalls Pardee, whose 44-person company had more than $417 million in sales in 2014. Unlike other business realms, real estate is one where women can—and do—compete on the same level with men, says Pardee. (And they’re paid via commission, rather than salary, so there’s no gender bias in compensation.) In fact, LA’s highest-priced listing—a $195 million, 53,000-square-foot, Med iter ranean-style villa on 25 acres at the top of Beverly Hills—is continued on pAge 122
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haute property Joyce Rey (inset, left) and colleague Stacy Gottula are hoping this 53,000-square-foot hilltop palazzo—complete with an ornate front hall—will fetch a record-breaking $195 million.
As one of LA’s top agents, Joyce Rey reps many of LA’s landmark properties, such as the $39 million Samuel Goldwyn estate.
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they want clients to get what they want,” she believes. Deedee Howard, partner at The Agency (theagency re.com), contends that agents “are either caretakers or salespeople, or both.” Women tend to favor the care taking aspect, while men are more about the hard sell, says the 28year real estate veteran. But for her, there’s one absolute: “I specialize in my clients.” Several have been with her for her entire career. She advanced without mentors or contacts, initially accruing clients through open houses and cold calls. Today’s agents must also have a global mindset, says Valerie Fitzgerald of Coldwell Banker Previews International’s Valerie Fitzgerald Group (valerie
fitzgerald.com). Recent trips abroad have enhanced her international outreach. “California real estate is still a good buy,” insists Fitzgerald, pointing to a $14.94 million sexy contemporary with dropdead views on Beverly Crest that she’s representing. When she got into the business more than 23 years ago, agents worked just their own neighborhoods. “Real estate was not really considered a profession,” she remembers. Obviously, that’s changed, and Fitzgerald has consistently sought to up her game: She’s worked with a business coach for 14 years and found inspiration from tomes like Jack Canfield’s the success principles: how to get from Where you are to Where you Want to be, which gave her the confidence to “think big.” A confirmed multitasker, Fitzgerald has also written a real estate business book of her own, heart & sold: how to survive and thrive in Real estate. “There’s no right or wrong way [to sell]. It’s about consistency,” she says, though she admits that women may be less egodriven and reactive than their male counterparts. The complexities of finalizing deals challenges all agents. As Leslie Kavanaugh explains, when issues come up in escrow, ”You have to have good relationships with the other agents. We’re all prob lem solvers and we’re all here to help people and make things happen together.” It’s a sorority that requires due diligence and finesse—a sisterhood of enviable returns. LAC
“California real estate is still a good buy,” insists agent Valerie Fitzgerald, pointing to this sexy Beverly Crest contemporary with panoramic views that’s going for $14.94 million.
photography by Unlimited Style real eState photography/ marc angeleS (interior)
represented by Coldwell Banker Previews Inter national’s Joyce Rey (joycerey.com) and her colleague Stacy Gottula. Rey is also handling the sale of the legendary Samuel Goldwyn estate in Beverly Hills for $39 million. Pardee specializes in Venice, where buyers from the hightech scene have launched prices up to the $900 to $1,000persquarefoot range (she recently listed a fourbedroom, threestory contemporary on Linnie Canal for $5 million). Low inventory also con tributes to the tighter market. Female real estate agents may have an advantage: the “E” or emotional factor, says Pardee. “Women want people to be happy;
“Women Want people to be happy; they Want clients to get What they Want.”—tami pardee
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THE DE NIRO TEAM. YOUR NYC SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE. RAPHAEL DE NIRO Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker O: 212.460.0655 | deniroteam@elliman.com
575 MADISON AVENUE, NY, NY 10022. 212.891.7000 | © 2015 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS ARE DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.
haute property realty Check
Surf & Turf
This summer’s primo oceanfronT properTies? caTch The wave from malibu To maui To miami! By Kathy a. McDonalD
Who isn’t entranced by sea breezes and ocean views? Beachfront digs can be full-time residences, second homes, or investment properties—but no matter their use, the bottom line is they’re expensive. In Malibu, current pricing can top $4,250 per square foot depending on the swath of sand (Billionaire’s Beach earned its moniker due to its high-net-worth residents). Preferred out-of-town options for Los Angeles’ high-end buyers—Maui for the sporty set, Miami Beach for art lovers—combine ease of access, beachfront living, and exotic coastal cultures. “Malibu is now a destination,” says Jennifer Chrisman, founding partner of Partners Trust Malibu (themalibu life.com). No longer a sleepy beach town, the city has evolved into a buzzing entertainment industry hangout that attracts international buyers. (The area’s unconfirmed highest-priced deal to date was an un-MLS-listed $75-million sale of a 9.5-acre Encinal Bluffs compound to an anonymous Russian buyer.) New restaurants (Nobu Malibu and Mastro’s) and improved shopping (Malibu Beach House, Lanvin, and Intermix) have energized the city’s entertainment options. As a second or vacation- home market, Malibu’s appeal is global. “We have a very strong summer rental market,” notes Chrisman. Monthly oceanside rentals range from $45,000 to $200,000 in the peak summer season; investors are attracted to the almost-guaranteed income. Chrisman is repping Farrah Fawcett’s former beach house on Malibu Road, ideally situated on the deepest section of the beach, leasing for $150,000 per month in July and August. Malibu’s luxury residential real estate inventory is so limited and building restrictions so omnipresent, most amenities (pool, tennis court) can’t be replicated under current restrictions:
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hence the upward-trending prices. “Malibu’s prices are always high,” says real estate agent Jennice Ann Tronciale of Sotheby’s (sothebys.com). Her $12.995 million listing is a bit of rarity: a complete makeover (down to the studs) of an oceanfront multilevel on La Costa Beach (21660pch.com). It’s now thoroughly contemporary, with 3,000 square feet of sleek interiors and glass walls facing the sea. The turnkey property suggests buyers need only bring their swimsuits. The effortless beachy lifestyle is most sought after in cities where downtime is so precious. On the western coast of Maui, Hawaii, the Montage Residences Kapalua Bay are proving an ideal getaway for Southern California buyers. “The residences incorporate the really unique natural environment and are oriented towards the outdoors, maximizing views,” explains Tina Necrason, vice president of residential for Montage Hotels & Resorts (montageresidences kapaluabay.com). Overlooking the emerald-green waters of scenic Kapalua Bay, the 54 Montage residences can be purchased fully furnished; they range from 2,700 to 4,000 square feet, and pricing tops out at just over $8 million. The four-bedroom option is proving most popular, notes Necrason, reflecting the trend towards extended multigenerational families vacationing together. The resort’s diversions are almost endless, from hiking West Maui’s mountains to spa visits to virtually every water sport. “When it comes to second homes, people have their spot they are very loyal to,” says Erika Alm, principal at the real estate firm PowerPlay Destination Properties, which oversees sales of the Makai Collection at Kaanapali Beach, Maui’s Honua Kai Resort & Spa (makaicollection.com). “They develop a strong affinity to a
from top:
The late Farrah Fawcett’s Malibu Road beach house (above, center), situated on an expansive stretch of sand, is leasable for July and August for a breathtaking $150,000 per month; an open-air living/ dining room at the Montage Residences Kapalua Bay on West Maui; the LA art crowd is grabbing up high-end digs, like those at the Shore Club (middle building), in hotter than ever Miami.
place over time.” For LA visitors (and buyers), Maui is an easy step into a tropical climate. Priced from $3 to $3.8 million, the Makai Collection is the quintessential beachfront option, with see-through glass balcony walls, smart home automation (unusual for Maui), and open-plan kitchens with designer finishes. What holds true for Maui—no change of currency is required for a journey yielding a vibrant multicultural beach destination—is doubled down in Miami Beach, where prime oceanfront properties are selling like mad. (Art maestro Larry Gagosian reportedly bought into the high-profile, 18-story Faena House, an almost immediate sellout, despite its north-of-
$3,000-per-square-foot price.) “The high-end submarket of Miami Beach is [suddenly] attracting Angelenos and other high-net-worth buyers because Miami has become a global destination,” explains Horacio LeDon, president of Douglas Elliman development marketing, Florida and California. These luxury plays are in high demand, adds LeDon, whose firm is repping the 75 tony residences at South Beach’s Shore Club (thenew shoreclub.com), which will have expansive ocean-facing terraces when they’re completed in 2017. He adds, “These buyers will snap up good properties as quickly as we can roll them out.” Surf’s up and checkbooks are out. LAC
long weekend
Star trekking! The Sky Ranch Fitness program at Santa Barbara’s beachfront Bacara Resort & Spa offers celebs and mere mortals alike forest treks, plein air picnics, wellness workouts, and nutritional counseling designed to improve body and mind.
Ready, Get Fit, Go!
For certain members of the private-jet set, the idea of a lazy holiday is as dated as a Jimmy Buffett song. As an increasing number of hotels and resorts add wellness to their menus of amenities, guests are beginning to trade hanging by the pool for hikes in the woods, all-day drinking sessions for yoga classes, and gluttonous five-course tasting menus for green juice and quinoa. And many of these five-star fitness retreats are cropping up along California’s own Central Coast. Why the Central Coast? “It’s just such a gorgeous setting,” says Stuart Gildred, creator of Sky Ranch Fitness at Santa Barbara’s beachfront Bacara Resort & Spa (skyranchfitness.com)—cooler than SoCal but warmer than NorCal, with miles of jaw-dropping hiking trails, great surf beaches, and so on. “We’ve only had two rainy days in the last year; it’s remarkable.” It’s also allowed Gildred to hold his outdoor retreats year-round since launching in early 2014. Those retreats include ample hiking and plein air picnics on
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Gildred’s 1,300-acre property, which is a short drive from Bacara. The four- to six-day Sky Ranch experience attracts everyone from elite athletes to couch potatoes and the occasional celeb—Julia Louis Dreyfus and Mario Lopez are just a few who have taken part—and guests spend their days trekking through oak forests, sampling fitness classes at Bacara’s gym, taking notes at personalgrowth lectures, and learning about nutrition while dining at some of Santa Barbara’s top restaurants. “Our guests want to feel like they’re on vacation, but they’re also making healthy choices,” says Gildred, who conceived the idea for Sky Ranch Fitness after rehabilitating from a motorcycle accident at another SoCal destination resort. Just a few miles down the coast, the idyllic Belmond El Encanto (belmond.com) this year introduced “Spring into Fitness,” a one-on-one wellness-coaching program in partnership with Nora Tobin, contributing editor of Shape continued on page 128
photography by Jim bartsch
A spAte of new And re-fAbbed CentrAl CoAst getAwAys offers unbridled luxury with A heAlthy dose of wellness. By Erin MagnEr
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South Coast Plaza in Costa Meza 1641 W. Sunfower Ave. 714-444-4834
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lonG Weekend Good SportS! Want some fancy fitness during your hedonistic hotel stay? Check out these Central Coast resorts with once-in-alifetime mind and body classes à la carte.
Don’t let Belmond El Encanto’s laid-back looks fool you—the Santa Barbara hotel is home to a high-powered new fitness program led by celebrity trainer Nora Tobin.
four seasons resort the biltmore
magazine and a Santa Barbara local. Each guest’s itinerary is built around one of four elemental themes—earth, fire, wind, or water—and all include two on-site workouts and either an off-site active adventure or a nutrition consultation. “Reverting back to the bare essentials of nature really augments the whole experience,” says Tobin. “Each day is different and tailored to the guest’s preferences and goals. Those looking for a high-intensity workout
Golf fanatics can commune with one another and improve their games at three-day, three-night golf schools offered monthly at Pebble Beach Resort.
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might be inclined to choose fire, while those looking for tranquility and restoration might choose water, which includes kayaking or stand-up paddling at the shorefront, followed by a hydrating spa treatment.” And farther north at Pebble Beach Resort (pebble beach.com), those who might have once spent their vacation playing a few leisurely rounds—followed by a few rounds at the bar—are now privy to the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, which opened in January 2014. With a robotic swing trainer, a 3-D motion-capture system, and a computerized putting-stroke evaluation (among many other futuristic bells and whistles), wannabe Arnold Palmers can train like the master never could, with intense three-day, three-night golf schools held monthly throughout the summer. In the future, expect to see wellness take even higher priority with both travelers and hotels. “More and more people—especially from Southern California—are looking for a retreat to recharge, unplug, and refresh themselves,” says Tobin. “[Wellness vacations] are a chance for guests to refocus their energy and enjoy a beautiful resort at the same time.” “Everybody can benefit from a jump-start,” adds Gildred. “If you’ve let your health slide, this is the perfect way to get your mind refocused on it. If you don’t have your health, nothing else matters.” Not even a hammock, a cocktail, and blue skies. LAC
the alisal guest ranch and resort See the Santa Ynez Valley like the pro cyclists do by joining one of the ranch’s daily guided bike excursions—from a gentle beginner’s ride to a 32-mile mountain trek that climbs to 3,200 feet. (alisal.com)
ojai valley inn & spa After a morning yoga or Pilates class, recharge your muscles and mind in the resort’s new Somadome personal meditation pod. Choose from eight soundtracks created for healing, focus, and more, and then surrender to the effect of the pod’s colored LED light therapy and revitalizing microcrystalline tiles. (ojairesort.com)
photography by Macduff EvErton (El Encanto); tgo (pEbblE bEach); courtEsy of four sEasons (four sEasons); courtEsy of alisal guEst ranch and rEsort (alisal guEst ranch); courtEsy ojai vallEy inn and spa (ojai vallEy)
FOR CERTAIn mEmBERS OF ThE PRIVATE-jET SET, ThE IDEA OF A LAzY hOLIDAY IS AS DATED AS A jImmY BuFFETT SOng.
In between wine tours and massages at this Santa Barbara luxury oasis, work on your beach volleyball skills with two-time Olympian Todd Rogers, or take a surfng lesson with world champion shredder Tom Curren. (fourseasons.com/santabarbara)
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Summer Essentials EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED FOR A SUPER HOT SEASON
SUNTEGRITY SKINCARE Suntegrity is a non-toxic, mineral sun care line made in the USA. It is a cruelty free, vegan sun care line that is non-irritating, clinically tested and dermatologist recommended. UV Chemical-Free Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreens are available in: tinted, untinted, scented and unscented versions. In addition to offering healthy sunscreens, Suntegrity has a Natural Self Tanner infused with organic shea and mango seed butter and botanical extracts of goji, acai, mangosteen and noni. All products are Paraben, Phthalate and Mineral Oil Free! For more information, please visit SuntegitySkincare.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - @suntegrity
MINT SWIM Mint-Swim is an upscale swim-wear brand designed and owned by business entrepreneur Draya Michele. The brand is aimed to make the everyday women feel confident yet classy. Not only is Mint Swim the exemplar of sexy stylish and bang on trend, but the suits are tailored to give away just enough, without baring all. In 2015, the Mint Swim brand will vastly expand, offering plus sizes and children’s swim-wear. For more information, visit Mint-Swim.com.
CAM JEWELRY Each piece of CAM Jewelry by LA based installation artist Christen Delaney is “wearable sculpture”, influenced by symbols found in geometry and numerology. The Pioneertown Pendant is set in solid 14k Yellow Gold and faceted with upside-down Onyx stones that are believed to offer assistance towards mastering one’s destiny. 3943 Tivoli Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90066 612.770.5899 Cam-Jewelry.com Instagram: @c_a_mjewelry #camjewelry Twitter: @camjewlery Facebook: facebook.com/CAM-Jewelry
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Summer Essentials EVERYTHING YOU’LL NEED FOR A SUPER HOT SEASON
Go ahead, be fabulous. Just protect yourself.
BELL Bell is a contemporary womenswear line that captures the beauty and femininity of real women through vibrant prints, clean cuts and immaculate construction. Collections are designed for a real woman’s lifestyle, with lightweight pieces that are 100% cotton, machine washable, and made in America. Bell is available for women and girls ages 2-7. Available at Bloomingdale’s in Century City, Sherman Oaks, Newport Beach, Santa Monica, San Diego, Costa Mesa, and Bloomingdales.com. Website: AliciaBell.com Instagram: @AllTingsBell
LOU.EARL The most competitive new brand on the market was founded by 38 year old footwear designer and developer, Laura Unruh. LOU.EARL provides modern luxury footwear for women. The fine collection of leather shoes retail at $275-$350. Spring 2015 styles are available in boutiques and online at www.louearlshoes.com. Pasadena, CA 626.203.1541 www.louearlshoes.com www.instagram.com/louearl www.facebook.com/louearlfootwear
When you’re out in the sun be sure to protect your skin. Shade, sunscreen, and a cover-up can go a long way to helping your natural beauty shine through.
Go with your own glow™ SkinCancer.org
©2008-2015 The Skin Cancer Foundation Campaign created in cooperation with Laughlin Constable, laughlin.com
JOIN US for the 2015 Women’s Leadership Conference
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abode & beyond Going Coastal!
Beachy keen
In her new CalIfornIa-dreamy Coffee-table tome, Beach house happy, AntoniA vAn der Meer explaIns why “sandy ChIC” Is anythIng but shabby. By Allyson Rees
photography by david tsay, from beach house happy: The Joy of living by The waTer, time home entertainment, inc., 2015
“People often claim they feel better by the water,” says Antonia van der Meer, former editor-in-chief of Coastal Living and author of the new book Beach House Happy: The Joy of Living by the Water (Oxmoor House). “It’s very restorative, and that was the whole point of the book. I liked the idea of finding out the inherent things in a beach house that lead to joy and well-being.” For van der Meer, those elements include a rich history and family togetherness. She grew up on the shores of Connecticut in a beach house she now calls her own and was inspired by the eclectic homes she featured regularly in Coastal Living. “I love looking at the water; it makes you feel calm and centered,” she says. Beach House Happy traverses California and beyond, exploring the architectural and design elements that can create the perfect seaside
living space. For SoCal-area beach houses, it’s all about the element of surprise, illustrated most vividly in a colorful, funky Venice cottage and a jaw-dropping glass mansion in San Clemente. “LA homes are very unique; that’s what’s fun about them,” says van der Meer. “[It’s] one of those places where people can really have an outdoor life.” Other highlights include a house located in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico, with a sense of balance achieved through quiet, uncluttered design; a farmhouse on Michigan’s Walloon Lake, with a bright color palette that gives an instant jolt of joy; and a Maine cabin that practically rises out of a stone beach, where the closeness to nature is what brings contentment. “Being near the water breaks down those barriers between indoor and outdoor life,” says van der Meer. “It helps open us up to nature.” LAC
Buena vista! The airy living room of this San Clemente beach house features low-slung furniture that won’t impede the dazzling view. A staircase resembling the backbone of a whale adds a dramatic visual flourish.
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abode & beyond The guide
Avenue boutique also has an expert in-house design team. 1311A Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 310-451-5154; roomsandgardens.com Room at tHe BeaCH
With the motto “Surround yourself with beauty and you will see the world in beauty,” owner Elizabeth Lamont helps customers create the ultimate Malibu home. Her curated collection consists of Pine Cone Hill linens, Dash & Albert nautical-stripe rugs, and a starfish tabletop collection. 3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310-456-9777; roomatthebeachmalibu.com
Beach house-ready pieces from RH’s indoor/outdoor furniture collection fill the store’s expansive rooftop garden.
Life’s a Beach
Calypso Home
A little bit bohemian, a little bit European, Calypso St. Barth’s Maison & Décor collection is all about resort living. Moroccan wedding poufs share the floor with woven jute rugs, teak
benches, and vintage linen sheets for a glamorous, artsy offering fit for the Côte d’Azur. 225 26th St., Santa Monica, 310-587-0703; calypsostbarth.com RaCHel asHwell sHaBBy CHiC
Twenty-five-year interior design veteran Rachel Ashwell invented “shabby chic” and built her empire on it. In her Montana Avenue flagship, shoppers will find her signature aesthetic: heirloom-quality furniture, vintage floral textiles, and Italian glass chandeliers, along with oceanside essentials, including hurricane candles; oversize white chairs, loveseats, and sofas; and matelassé cotton throws. 1013 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 310-394-1975; shabbychic.com
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What are some classic beach-house elements? i always think white foors are really beautiful. if it
RH
With its muted, sun-bleached color palettes and vintage Belgian linen upholstery, RH offers everything needed for an eternal summer. Headquartered in Northern California, the aesthetic is a bit more bay than beach, but the collection of indoor/ outdoor furniture is ideal for waterfront homes from Corona del Mar to Carpinteria. 8564 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310-652-0323; restoration hardware.com Rooms & GaRdens
Known for its Californiacoastal aesthetic, Rooms & Gardens is a summer house mecca. Offering everything from crisp white sofas to alpaca throw blankets to small details like one-of-akind shells, the Montana
For style that’s more surfboards and serapes than sand dollars and sea glass, head to Surfing Cowboys. Specializing in iconic Midcentury Modern design—think John Keal and Knoll—the store also stocks cool, one-of-a-kind finds like a pair of bristlecone pine tree lamps sculpted by the wind. 12553 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista, 310-915-6611; surfingcowboys.com tumBleweed & dandelion
An Abbot Kinney staple, interior designer Lizzie McGraw opened Tumbleweed & Dandelion in 1997. Known for her approachable DIY techniques and knack for reclaiming everyday, found items, McGraw’s heavenly store sells beach house-inspired furniture, textiles, accessories, and artwork, all out of a precious bungalow. 1502 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310-450-4310; tumbleweed anddandelion.com LAC
glossy foor, or if you want a more beach-shack vibe, then white, wide-plank wood foors would be fantastic. How can homeowners create the beach-house feel without being too kitschy? incorporate oil paintings, maybe of a beach or the ocean, but then frame them in a more modern way—in a lucite frame, for instance. What about city dwellers who want a beach-house vibe? play with different elements. once i used a very modern heather gray cashmere sofa, but then paired it with a bunch of items from cisco home, like rustic lighting and pillows. it was a fantastic marriage of luxe, modern, and cozy. ryanwhite designs.com
photography courtesy of restoration hardware (roof garden)
By Allyson Rees
Walk through Bountiful’s English garden gates and immediately escape to the beaches of Brittany or Brighton. Owner Sue Balmforth fills the store with vintage white wicker chairs, nautical-stripe linens, and wire baskets stacked to the brim with seashells. A treasure trove of old-world artifacts, Bountiful’s collection will keep you browsing for hours. 1335 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310-450-3620; bountifulhome.com
Interior designer Ryan White schools us on surfside living 101.
is a modern home, a white
suRfinG CowBoys
For coastal living large, these shops are the shore thing.
Bountiful
Sea Change
INVITED Joseph Varet and Esther Kim Varet
Sonya and Josh Roth
Darren and Candice Romanelli Marika Kielland and Jonathon Komack Martin
Karyn Lovegrove and Liane Weintraub
LA>< ART UNGALA
INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT CONTEMPORARY art space
LA><ART held its 10th annual Ungala at Lucy’s El Adobe Café in Hollywood. Presiding over the soirée was LA><ART Founder and Director Lauri Firstenberg, who presented a grant—supported by the organization’s new partner, Woven Accents—of $10,000 to LA-based painter Noah Davis.
Roberta Cummings and Clea Shearer
Claire Block
Phillipe Vergne and Sylvia Chivaratanond
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Charlie Pohlad and Joe Dickie
Noah Davis
Robert Russell and Lisa Edelstein
THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEFANIE KEENAN. OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON KING (CANALI); GETTY IMAGES (BROADWAY IN HOLLYWOOD). OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES (DAVID YURMAN & LA CLIPPERS); DAVID CROTTY/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM (NOVIS)
JB Bogulski and Lauri Firstenberg
Fiona Canning and Bobby Bennett
Brent Bolthouse and Alex Shabtai
Janell Martin and Rachel Moore
Rudolf Melikoff, Stephen Maguire, and Greg Bailey
CANALI SUPPORTS LA LGBT CENTER LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL teamed with menswear
brand Canali for an evening of fashion to benefit the Los Angeles LGBT Center. At the event, hosted by Brent Bolthouse, guests enjoyed cocktails by Absolut Elyx while 15 percent of proceeds from all purchases were donated to the Center’s upcoming An Evening with Women Gala. Stephanie Drake and Andrew Toth
Jack Lorenz, Madonna Cacciatore, and Stuart Powell
James DuMont
Hal Linden
Tamara Tunie and Adina Porter
Rory O’Malley
Heather Hitchens and Charlotte St. Martin
BROADWAY IN HOLLYWOOD STRAYING FROM ITS New York headquarters, the
Tony Awards flew west to host a cocktail party in honor of LA’s Broadway babies. Held at the Sunset Tower’s Penthouse Suite, the glamorous evening brought together hot shots like Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing.
Nikki M. James
Barry Sloane
Richard M. Sherman and Elizabeth Sherman
Daisy Eagan
LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
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INVITED Partygoers got an exclusive preview of The Faceted Metal Collection’s bracelets, rings, and necklaces.
// who wore what //
DAY-TO-NIGHT DRESSES CELEBRITY ATTENDEES OF NOVIS’ 2015 READY-TOWEAR COLLECTION LAUNCH ROCKED FUNCTIONAL FROCKS FROM MASTERMIND JORDANA
Daniel Vansaggio, Michelle Portugali, and Luigi Irauzqui
WARMFLASH, WHICH COULD IMPRESS AT A CHIC, DAYTIME FOR A NIGHT DOWNTOWN. Busy Philipps
Doc Rivers
DAVID YURMAN LAUNCHES THE FACETED METAL COLLECTION
Sara Hackett and Chelsea Redick
J.J. REDICK of the Los Angeles Clippers, along with his wife, Chelsea, hosted the launch of The Faceted Metal Collection by David Yurman at the brand’s Beverly Hills boutique. The unveiling brought forth Redick’s fellow NBA stars—Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford, among them—while a portion of sales from the night went to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Blake Griffin, Ekpe Udoh, and Jamal Crawford
Rose McIver
Gillian Jacobs
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Guests tried on the brand’s timepieces as they fêted its launch.
Matt Barnes and J.J. Redick
THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY GETTY IMAGES (DAVID YURMAN AND LA CLIPPERS), DAVID CROTTY/PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM (NOVIS). OPPOSITE PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONATO SARDELLA/WIREIMAGE
BRUNCH OR BE DRESSED UP
Brenda Vaccaro
Teresa Palmer and Jaime King
Aimee Song
Frederic Tcheng
Nikki Pennie and Ahna O’Reilly
Britt Robertson
Bar Paly
DIOR AND I LA PREMIERE ACCLAIMED FASHION BRAND Dior and music
distributors The Orchard joined forces for the Los Angeles premiere of Dior and I, a film by Frédéric Tcheng that offers viewers a behindthe-scenes look at the creation
Steve Tisch and Katia Francesconi
of Raf Simons’ first couture collection as Dior’s new artistic director. Notables in attendance included Jaime King, Chiara Ferragni, and Katherine Schwarzenegger, all of whom were clad in Dior for the occasion.
Sebastian and Alicia Roche
Halston Sage
Iddo Goldberg and Ashley Madekwe
Maika Monroe
LA-CONFIDENTIAL-MAGAZINE.COM
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FITNESS KITCHEN SHAPE-UP
SUPERFOOD COCONUT ACAI BOWL
Ready for the beach? No? Let us help! FITNESS KITCHEN delivers delicious, nutritious cuisine. Indulge in a CUSTOM MEAL PLAN, order A LA CARTE, or try the FITNESS KITCHEN FOR EARTHBAR selection now available at Earthbarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West Hollywood and Brentwood locations. FITNESS KITCHEN CATERING can even serve your summer-solstice feast!
Ingredients & Instructions: blend 1 packet frozen acai puree (3.5 oz), 1/2 cup ZICO Natural Coconut Water and 1/3 cup strawberry protein powder. Top with 2 tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut, 1 tbsp. goji berries, and 1/4 cup your favorite fresh berries.
FitnessKitchenLA.com Facebook: ftnesskitchenla Instagram: @ftnesskitchenla Twitter: @ftkitchenla
Recipe compliments of elisejoanftness.com FB, Instagram, Pinterest, & Twitter: @ZICOcoconut Pick up ZICO at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, or Target
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
YOGA AT YOUR SERVICE
YOGAWORKS YOGA STUDIOS At YogaWorks, we believe yoga is for everybody. Our wide variety of yoga and mindful fitness classes include everything from vinyasa flow and Iyengar, to Pilates, BarWorks and more. And, since we've trained over 10,000 teachers, including some of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most world-renowned yogis, you know you'll get the highest quality instruction every time you step through our doors. For a free week of unlimited YogaWorks classes at our studios in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and New York please go to yogaworks.com/laconfidential Website: yogaworks.com Facebook: facebook.com/YogaWorks Twitter: twitter.com/yogaworks Instagram: @yogaworks
YOGAWORKS DESTINATION TRAININGS Immerse yourself in yoga, travel the world, and make lifelong friends in stunning locations such as Bali, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Greece, Peru, France, Italy and Nicaragua. Whether you want to teach yoga or simply deepen your practice, YogaWorks destination teacher trainings allow you to travel to an exotic location for an enriching cultural experience while you complete your 200-hour training. To see a full list of destinations for aspiring yoga teachers or adventurous yogis looking to take the their practice to the next level go to www.yogaworks.com/destinations. Website: yogaworks.com Facebook: facebook.com/YogaWorks Twitter: twitter.com/yogaworks Instagram: @yogaworks
ALL BOUND UP? COME UNWIND ~ URBAN YOGA PALM SPRINGS Kristin Olson's Urban Yoga Center Palm Springs Visit us UrbanYoga.org 458 S. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs 92262 760.320.7702 Like us at facebook.com/ urbanyogacenterpalmsprings
AWAKENED WARRIOR TEACHER TRAINING The Awakened Warrior Yoga Teacher Training is a 200 and 500 hour course that is recognized by Yoga Alliance. Our trainings are intimate and small in class size; allowing for plenty of personalized attention and better comprehension of the powerful lessons shared. 70 participants have graduated from this course and have gone to teach yoga throughout the world. www.Mastery.Yoga 818.668.7654
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Inspired Interiors OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR IDEAL HOME
HSTUDIO HStudio is known worldwide for elegant artwork and is one of the foremost manufacturers of high-end furniture. For over 25 years, we have been constantly reinventing what it means to enhance your space. Everything is made right here in Los Angeles and displayed at our two local showrooms. We offer luxury furniture, sculptures, accessories and custom designs you will not find anywhere else. Clients include retail showrooms, interior designers and consumers for residential and commercial projects. Choose from a wide selection of fabrics, leather, patterns, textures and exclusive acrylic colors for indoor and outdoor applications. 700 W. Olympic Blvd, Downtown Los Angeles 8421 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood hstudio.com 800.242.8992
E. BRAUN & CO
ROBERTA ROLLER RABBIT
It is the finishing touches that can make a room special. Such details are not lost at E. Braun & Co. Choose from their many designs and create your own private world. Explains Liz Barbatelli, fine linens are an investment in good design, they are something in which you can luxuriate every day! Come on in and visit our new store and showroomâ&#x20AC;Ś
A resort-inspired lifestyle brand offering products including clothing for men, women, and children as well as accessories and home furnishing. Each garment is hand printed by local artisans, who create one of a kind styles through a traditional block printing process. Welcome to a world of colors and prints.
457 N. Robertson Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90048 310.273.4320 EBraunBeverlyHills.com Facebook.com/ebraunlosangeles
Fashion Island 401 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 p. 949.718.0195 robertarollerrabbit.com
TOSCANOVA
CHEF SCIANDRI OFFERS NEW AND INNOVATIVE SPECIALS WITH A MODERN APPROACH TO CLASSIC DISHES. SERVING LUNCH & DINNER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK - HAPPY HOUR: HALF-PRICE DRINKS The Commons
Westfield Century City
4799 Commons Way, Ste A, Calabasas, CA 91302 818.225.0499
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067 310.551.0499
Happy Hour Calabasas Sunday - Thursday 3pm to Close Friday & Saturday 3pm-7pm calabasas.toscanova.com
Happy Hour Century City Sunday - Thursday 3pm to Close Friday & Saturday 4pm - 8pm centurycity.toscanova.com
MY MOM DIDN’T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. TODAY’S LUNG CANCER PATIENTS DO.
Photo Credit: Kevin Lynch
Today, we are on the brink of real breakthroughs in lung cancer research and there are signifi cantly improved treatment options.
And yet, more than 30% of all lung cancer patients still don’t know about the therapies, specialists, and clinical trials available to them. Tony Goldwyn Stand Up To Cancer Ambassador
Lung cancer is a formidable foe, but we are fi nding new ways to fi ght it. Please visit SU2C.org/LungCancer for questions to ask your health care professional and to learn about options that may be right for you.
SU2C.org/LungCancer
Stand Up To Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Twenty years ago, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had very few places to turn, and lost a diffi cult struggle.
And FinAlly... May/June 2015
CheCk Mates
In the battle of the sexes, Is he who pIcks up the check really the wInner? By Sam WaSSon This, as I have come to understand it, is good and necessary. (By the way, how do gay couples do this?) Early on, when there is still so much that is unknown, both parties need some reassurance that they’re basically coming from the same place, even if that place is an obsolete custom we should have abandoned long ago. It’s like your high school grammar teacher said: You have to play by the rules before you can break them. LA women, I am finding, are slower to break this particular rule than the women of New York. I don’t necessarily blame them. The Hollywood man is famously insecure; after all, insecurity, and ensuing displays of lavishness and grandeur, is an ancient aspect of our local industry. (New York is not like ours, a gold rush town.) Hesitance on the part of the LA woman to pick up the tab might be a compensatory gesture, a preemptive accommodation to her date’s unspoken anxiety, i.e., “If I allow him to allow me to pay, he’ll feel weak and threatened.” I don’t know. But I, for one, would relish that threat. LAC
photography by daniel o’leary
When I’m out on a date, I just want to see a good fight for the check. That’s all. Well, no, actually, that’s not totally true. Every once in a while, I would like her, the woman, to win the fight. I want to see her leap for her purse and yank the bill from the waiter. I will protest—it’s polite—but I want her to push me aside, throw down her card, and insist in a voice louder than mine, “No, it’s done! It’s over.” I would love that. But it rarely happens. It would seem to be a truth universally acknowledged that neither side would be acting as a responsible feminist to let the other side pay too often. But why is it then that my male friends insist they never let a woman pay and my women friends insist no one “lets” them do anything? Personally, I love when a woman buys me dinner. Isn’t that what the women’s movement was all about? Having the means to pick up a check, use her date for sex, and then never call him again (so to speak)? The early dates are another thing entirely. They follow their own set of rules, and one of those rules is: The man pays.
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