area newsletter JANUARY 2019 • SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
20 19
Community News Redevelopment of Sportsmen’s Lodge approved by city officials
The decision comes… the commission following a 2015 compromise that defeated efforts to have the site named a historic-cultural landmark. Under the agreement, the owners will be permitted to replace the hotel and meeting center with an upscale shopping center, provided that the landscaping retains the rustic look and feel of the original business. The Sportsmen’s Lodge originally opened in the 1880’s as a roadside fishing venue and over the years earned a reputation as a popular Hollywood hangout for stars such as John Wayne, Clark Cable, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis. The redevelopment was put into motion in 2007 when developer Richard Weintraub bought the property for $51 million. Once completed, the renamed Sportsmen’s Landing will feature 37,518 square feet of retail space, 24,251 square feet of restaurants, and a 30,000 square foot health club.
City Council responds to Woolsey fire Following the destructive Woolsey fire, members of the Los Angeles City Council have proposed the formation of a task force that would evaluate the various issues that arose as firefighters battled the blaze. In addition to concerns about
emergency alert systems and evacuation plans, the task force would explore possible changes to building codes and standards and whether or not high-voltage power lines should be shut down during periods of high winds. The Woolsey fire began near Chatsworth in the afternoon of November 8 but quickly spread into Agoura Hills and Malibu and crossed the 101 freeway near Calabasas. By the time the fire had been contained, at least 177 homes had been destroyed.
High speed rail will stop in Burbank
California’s High Speed Rail Authority recently endorsed a plan that would direct the pending train line through Burbank, on its way from Palmdale to Anaheim. The High Speed Rail, which was approved by voters in 2008, is intended to provide an affordable connection between L.A. and San Francisco, transporting passengers in under 3 hours. The segment through Los Angeles county is expected to be completed by 2029.
Community News Officials review housing in Warner Center
Rock star feeds Valley firefighters
In the five years since the City of Los Angeles adopted a plan to promote the development of a dense, transit-centered community in Warner Center, thousands of new apartments have been approved for construction. However, none of those proposed units have been designated for lowincome residents. In Los Angeles, the construction of low-income housing is generally incentivized by allowing developers to build denser buildings than would ordinarily be allowed. Such incentives are less effective in an area that is already zoned for denser development. In response to the lack of housing diversity, city councilmember Bob Blumenfield has submitted a motion for staffers to explore how a more “inclusionary� housing plan could be adopted for the area. However, past efforts by the city to mandate construction of lowincome housing have been invalidated by courts, and a new fee-based system to fund low-income housing has appeared to slow development.
Rock star Dave Grohl has a new side project that doesn’t involve music. The singer/guitarist has been quietly developing a new food enterprise called Backbeat BBQ that previously was only known to friends and eagle-eyed Instagram users. But under that banner, Grohl recently stepped forward to feed some of the firefighters who battled the Woolsey fire. Grohl and his family served the hungry folks at Station 68 in Calabasas and Station 81 in Van Nuys and also announced that they will be participating in a fundraiser for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. It remains to be seen if Grohl will launch Backbeat BBQ as a full-fledged venture or continue only as a charitable pop-up.
Restaurant
Spotlight
Pedalers Fork
Brandywine
Mizlala
23504 Calabasas Road Calabasas
22757 Ventura Boulevard Woodland Hills
4515 Sepulveda Boulevard Sherman Oaks
Offering local organic bites in the heart of Calabasas, Pedalers Fork is a delightful one stop shop that also serves as a full bar, cafĂŠ, and bike boutique all-in-one. With brunch, lunch, and dinner, there are many menu options and seating times to choose from. Stop by midday day for the Rock Shrimp Ceviche tossed in cucumber, radish, grapefruit, chili and sesame. Or venture over for an evening reprieve like their Truffle Pizza or Watkins Ranch Grass Fed Petite Filet with pomme aligot, cabernet sauce, truffle butter, and crispy shallots. Yum!
A mix of Classic French technique and continental flair, Brandywine is a staple of impeccable quality and service nestled in its Woodland Hills community. Start off with their rich in flavor Lobster Medallions topped with cognac and decadent caviar or the Escargot cooked in homemade garlic butter and Pernod. Finish with their take on a French classicthe Brandywine Bouillabaisse a Provencal seafood specialty famed in France. End on a sweet note with any of their in-house made desserts. Bon Appetit!!
Mizlala has taken the Valley culinary scene by storm. With its rich Middle Eastern flavors Owners Danny and Justine Elmaleh are turning out fare that competes with the best that LA has to offer in Fareast cuisine. The menu is share-friendly and the aesthetics very colorful yet chic. The menu is constantly changing with varying styles of hummus to green falafel. Let your taste buds run free at this SFV hotspot.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS in LOS ANGELES
MOCA Grand Avenue
Petersen Automotive Museum
LACMA
221South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012
6060 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
CURRENT EXHIBITION:
One Day at a Time: Manny Farber and Termite Art October 14, 2018 - March 11, 2019
Auto-Didactic: The Juxtapoz School September 29, 2018 - June 2019
3D: Double Vision July 15, 2018 - March 31, 2019
Juxtapoz Magazine, known for featuring “lowbrow” and pop surrealist artists that would otherwise be considered as outside of the mainstream art world, has teamed with the Petersen Auto Museum to create a group show of artists whose work is often inspired by hot rod culture. The exhibit features many car-centric paintings and sculptures, as well as a number of vehicles that converted into moving works of work. The exhibit includes work by Robert Crumb, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Robert Williams.
This exhibition explores the art of stereoscopy, the technique that allows a two-dimensional image to create the illusion that it occupies three dimensions of space. Following the history of the technology from the experimental photographs of the 1830’s to the sophisticated digital films of modern day, the exhibit creates a hands-on experience, allowing viewers to use various devices to view 3-D art from artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Ed Ruscha, and features over 60 photographs, videos, and holographic sculptures.
Manny Farber was an artist and writer who penned a famous essay “White Elephant Art vs. Termite Art,” which celebrated artists who were influenced by their day-to-day lives rather than an ambition to create a singular masterpiece. This exhibition features 23 paintings by Farber as well as pieces by other artists who had similar approaches to their work. Featured artists include blown-glass artist Josiah McElheny, sculptor/florist Maurice Harris, and painter Patricia Patterson, who is Farber’s widow.
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