Area
Newsletter
August
20 17
Los Angeles
Community News Wilshire Grand officially opens in Downtown LA
Los Angeles has a new tallest building. The Wilshire Grand in downtown Los Angeles has officially opened, altering the skyline with an instantly iconic design. Rising 73 stories above ground, the Wilshire Grand features a spire that reaches above the U.S. Bank Tower, the previously tallest building, to a height of 1,099 feet. In addition to being tall, the Wilshire Grand is also unique for its sailshaped crown that is emblazoned with LED lights. Reportedly inspired by the shape of the Half Dome rock formation in Yosemite, the curved roofline is the first in Los Angeles since the construction of City Hall in 1928. Following a recent rule change that allows skyscrapers to be built without helipads, the Wilshire Grand may lead to a future skyline of inventively designed buildings that don’t include flat roofs.
Netflix expanding production in Hollywood
Streaming video powerhouse Netflix is expanding their production operations in Hollywood, having recently leased an additional 43,000 square feet of space at Sunset Bronson Studios. The company’s LA headquarters were already located in the Icon and Cue buildings at the studio, having moved from Beverly Hills as construction on the building was completed. Expansion of Netflix’s studio space follows the company’s recent announcement that they planned to move $6 billion of production to Southern California in the coming months, in an effort to minimize stress on local talent who would otherwise be forced to live elsewhere for months on end.
WeHo’s Airbnb ban complicates development
The owners of the condo complex at 8500 Sunset Blvd. have modified their plans to comply with West Hollywood’s law prohibiting short-term residential leases. Korman Communities, which just recently acquired the upper floors of the building, had announced that they intended to offer extended-stay hotel units under their AKA banner. However, such an operation would be illegal under WeHo’s anti-Airbnb ordinance, which forbids residential stays of less than 31 days. Subsequently, Korman has indicated that instead they will split their operation into two models, offering both long-term apartment leases, and short-term hotel rentals over one month in duration.
Community News Plan to build park over freeway moves forward
A plan to build a “cap park” over the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles is continuing to move forward. In what might sound like something out of a science fiction film, a group called Friends of Park 101 is advocating the construction of a park that will bridge the canyon caused by the freeway, creating a green public space that could eventually reach from Grand Ave. past Alameda St. The initial phase of their plan calls for a 4
block cap park, between Hill St. and Los Angeles St., connecting the Civic Center to Chinatown. In addition to improving the lifestyle of people who live or work in DTLA, proponents of the project indicate that the park would also provide opportunities for development, as well as increase property values for owners in the area. Similar projects have been proposed for the 101 freeway in Hollywood, the 134 freeway in downtown Glendale, and the 10 freeway in Santa Monica.
LA County to acquire combat helicopters to fight fires
With Southern California in the midst of the summer wildfire season, officials are making longterm plans to shore up the county’s firefighting efforts. LA County’s Board of Supervisors recently approved an agreement to pay $29.4 million to lease two modified military helicopters for a ten year period. The Sikorsky S70i Black Hawk helicopters will have the capability to siphon up to 1,000 gallons of water and drop it on raging wildfires. LA County currently operates a fleet of eight multimission helicopters, but rampant wildfires in recent years caused the Supervisors to re-evaluate their program. Last year’s Sand Fire was particularly destructive, burning 41,000 acres and forcing 20,000 evacuations, during which the county’s two Super Scooper aircraft were unavailable.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Boxwood on the Roof
Doheny Room
Shibumi
1020 N. San Vicente Boulevard West Hollywood
9077 Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood
815 S. Hill Street Downtown LA
This sophisticated, modern lounge and restaurant is situated on The London West Hollywood’s tenth floor rooftop. Boxwood on the Roof offer guests a modern twist on hand-crafted cocktails and cuisine. The restaurant offers food and drink specials just about every night of the week, and there’s also a killer Sunday brunch. Their extensive menu of Crudo, Shared Plates, and Starters includes choices like a Tuna Tartare, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Olive & Hummus. Some mains include Fish & Chips and the Tai Snapper served over shrimp fried rice with Thai curry and coconut sauce. Boxwood on the Roof is open Monday – Sunday, generally from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
If you want to mingle among celebrities, Doheny Room in West Hollywood is for you. The stylish neighborhood bar and lounge has an eclectic menu of multicultural shared plates, decedent desserts and classic craft cocktails. The culinary creations are crafted by Cleo and Katsuya’s Chef Danny Elmaleh. Some of the items on the kitchen menu: Skillet Lobster Poutine, Asian Fried Chicken Slider and Tropical Rice Pudding. The restaurants refined ambiance, makes it a popular destination for after-work dinner parties and private receptions. Doheny Room is open Monday – Saturday from 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. The kitchen is open until 12:30 a.m.
This intimate 40-seat kappo-style restaurant and bar is located in the heart of Downtown LA. Here you can expect an array of fresh fish and prepared beef and pork dishes. Guests enjoy unique and rare selections of beverages paired with seasonal offerings. The chef, who previously worked at Urasawa and L’Orangerie creates the small plates. Dishes include fried monkfish kara-age and rice bowls with mountain vegetables. Shibumi is open Tuesday through Sunday from 6 p.m. until midnight.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
Natural History Museum
Norton Simon Museum
LACMA
900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007
411 W Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91105
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
Butterfly Pavilion March 19 - September 4, 2017
Maven of Modernism: Galka Scheyer in California April 7 - September 25, 2017
Japanese Painting: A Walk in Nature May 13 - September 10, 2017
The Butterfly Pavilion is a seasonal exhibit that showcases hundreds of butterflies and the natural environs where they thrive. Among the butterflies at the museum are subtropical species such as the malachite and the grey cracker, as well as native butterflies such as monarchs, mourning cloaks, and buckeyes. Timed tickets are required for admission to the Butterfly Pavilion, and are available for advance purchase on the NHM website.
Galka Scheyer was an influential art dealer of the first half of the 20th century, responsible for introducing many to the art of Lyonel Feininger, Alexei Jawlensky, Paul Klee and Vasily Kandinsky. This exhibit represents a selection of Scheyer’s personal collection that also includes pieces by László Moholy-Nagy, Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera.
In contrast with a western tradition that often depicts nature as a force to be feared or conquered, the pieces featured in this exhibit often depict the natural world as a place of tranquility. This exhibition includes 24 paintings created by Japanese artists of the 16th to 20th centuries, including work from the Maruyama, Rinpa, and Literati schools.
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