LOS ANGELES
where GUESTBOOK
LOS ANGELES
GuestBook_Cover_Splits.indd 1
12/22/15 6:44 PM
WELCOME TO LOS ANGELES
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 2
12/11/15 1:40 PM
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 1
12/11/15 1:39 PM
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 4
12/11/15 1:39 PM
BURBERRY DOLCE & GABBANA FENDI GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI GUCCI HUGO BOSS JIMMY CHOO LOUIS VUITTON MONTBLANC OMEGA PRADA SAINT LAURENT SALVATORE FERRAGAMO TIFFANY & CO. VERSACE COLLECTION Z ZEGNA
.
. MACY’S . XXI FOREVER
.
BLOOMINGDALE’S APPLE H&M UNIQLO
BEVERLY BOULEVARD & LA CIENEGA
FREE WI-FI
.
/BEVERLYCENTER
.
. LOS ANGELES CA
BEVERLYCENTER.COM @BEVERLYCENTER
.
/BEVERLYCENTER
.
/BEVERLYCENTER
欢迎光临
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 5
12/11/15 1:39 PM
L.a. essence 28 eyes in the sky L.A. from above Local photographers look to drones for a fresh perspective on familiar sights. By krista simmons
36 renaissance man
ryan seacrest The L.A.-based superstar shares his thoughts on giving back, finding his style and imagining life after American Idol. By suzanne ennis
38 next-gen fusion cuisine without borders
Top L.A. chefs combine flavors from around the globe to delicious effect. By ROGER GRODY
46 green is the new black conscientious style
Homegrown style-setters weave social and eco-responsibility into the fabric of their brands. By Samantha Durbin
52 how yoga went hollywood the dawn of the craze
If you’ve mastered downward- facing dog, you may owe thanks to Tinseltown.
56 air and space THE sheats- goldstein residence A Lautner masterpiece evolves under the stewardship of its design-minded owner. By roger grody
64 lenses & lipstick
smashbox in focus The photography and cosmetics pioneer is a chip off the Max Factor block. By joseph LeMOYNE
By stacie stukin
68 WOMAN on a mission
CHELSEA HANDLER The comedian, author, host and producer sounds off. By JESSICA RADLOFF
COVER and opening spread: the broad, edwin santiago. this page, from left: courtesy ryan seacrest enterprises; jj trinidad/skyecam; dishes from cassia, rick poon
contents
6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 6
12/17/15 12:23 PM
Villeret Collection
www.blancpain.com
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 7
12/11/15 1:39 PM
contents
12 FIRST LOOK
must-see SPOTS Get glimpses of the city-defining destinations that captivate locals and visitors alike.
70 NEIGHBORHOODS CITY GUIDES Los Angeles County comprises many cities and communities, from Santa Monica to the San Gabriel Valley to Malibu to the South Bay.
79 SPENDING TIME SHOPPING
95 CHOW TIME DINING
80 LOOK BOOK See what’s in store at some of the area’s finest retailers.
82 RETAIL DETAILS Here’s a look at the region’s major shopping destinations and a selection of stores, boutiques and galleries.
Hungry? Check out our guide to the best restaurants in the county.
111 PLAY TIME aTTRACTIONS Get out! The best things to do and see in L.A.: studio tours, theme parks, the arts, sports, nightlife and more.
»explore L.a. with the City Guides by Where Traveler APP
from left: courtesy ariel gordon; Tom Ferguson; Brian Bowen Smith/Netflix
l.a. essentialS
8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 8
12/15/15 4:12 PM
T:10 in S:9 in
A sia Chow
9500 Wilshire Boulevard 310-858-8006
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 9
12/11/15 1:39 PM
T:10 in
S:9 in
Boldly Created. Boldly Worn.
2,,
where GUESTBOOK
los angeles
OSKA 9693 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310 271 2806
On the Web: socalpulse.com publisher Jeff Levy EDITOR Suzanne Ennis ART DIRECTOR Carol Wakano
beverlyhills.oska.com OSKA 13 Douglas Alley Pasadena, CA 91103 626 432 1729 pasadena.oska.com
PRODUCTION ARTIST Diana Gonzalez Contributing designer Heidi Schwindt ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Gillian Glover
contributing WRITERS
Samantha Durbin, Roger Grody, Joseph LeMoyne, Jessica Radloff, Krista Simmons, Stacie Stukin contributing photographers
Dale Berman, Angela DeCenzo, Dhrumil Desai, Benjamin Ginsberg, Sarah Hadley, Matt Hartman, Dave Lauridsen, Edwin Santiago, Ashok Sinha, Lisa Romerein, Christopher Ian Smith, Ian White Senior ACCOUNT MANAGER
Jessica Levin Poff ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Richard Blankley, Kerry Brewer, Heather Heintz, Julie Hoffman, Joanna McLean Stickel, Heather Price BUSINESS MANAGER Leanne Killian Riggar CIRCULATION and special events MANAGER Danielle PRoduction manager Dawn Kiko Cheng WEB EDITOR Christina Xenos Marketing Manager Anna Ciric
Riffenburg
Administration
Lisa Kelley, Amina Karwa, Laura Okey vice president of national sales WEST COAST NATIONAL SALES
Rick Mollineaux 202.463.4550
Tiffany Reinhold 714.813.6600
MVP CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER honorary president
Haines Wilkerson Ted Levy
3679 Motor Ave., Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90034 Phone: 310.280.2880 Fax: 310.280.2890 EMAIL ADVERTISING Jeff.Levy@SoCalMedia.com Editorial Suzanne.Ennis@SoCalMedia.com Art Art@SoCalMedia.com Production Ads@SoCalMedia.com Circulation Danielle.Riffenburgh@SoCalMedia.com Where GuestBook® publishes editions for the following U.S. cities and regions: Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Florida Gold Coast (Fort Lauderdale & Palm Beach), Fort Worth, Hawai‘i Island (the Big Island), Houston, Jacksonville/St. Augustine/Amelia Island, Kansas City, Kaua‘i, Los Angeles, Maui, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Northern Arizona, O‘ahu, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Philadelphia, Reno/Lake Tahoe, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/The Eastside/Tacoma, Southwest Florida (Naples), Tampa Bay, Tucson, Virginia, Washington D.C. Copyright© 2016 by Southern California Media Group. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions therein. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.
Beverly Hills / Chicago / Edina / Healdsburg / Mill Valley / New York Pasadena / Seattle / Calgary / Vancouver / Shanghai / Sydney London / Paris / Munich
Printed in the United States. Circulation audited by Alliance for Audited Media.
(((( Get the buzz with the city guides by where traveler APP
))))
1 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 10
12/17/15 12:24 PM
2,,
s s
contRIBUTORS ROGER GRODY
• Next-Gen Fusion, page 38, and Air and Space, page 56 Pasadena-based Roger Grody writes for Westways, Unique Homes and GuestBook’s sister magazines, Where and Performances. The former city planner and adventurous gourmet likes to connect food with its context, whether at a locals-only bistro in Paris’ 6th arrondissement or in downtown Los Angeles, where you might find him at an off-the-radar sushi bar or hunting down a taco truck. As passionate about design as he is about food, Grody also documents L.A.’s architecture on our pages, as well as for publications including Hemispheres and Fodor’s travel guides.
Samantha durbin
JESSICA RADLOFF
• Woman on a Mission, page 68 When not on the celebrity beat as Glamour’s West Coast entertainment correspondent, Jessica Radloff regularly appears on Access Hollywood and CBS’ The Talk and contributes Q&As to Where Los Angeles magazine. She’s a big fan of those rare L.A. days without traffic, the bison burger and sweet-potato fries at the Counter, and everything at Stella Barra Pizzeria and Sushi Yu & Mi.
s s
roger grody, vladimir perlovich; stacie stukin, dylan + Jeni
s s
• Green Is the New Black, page 46 Samantha Durbin is a passionate wordsmith and world traveler who covers lifestyle topics for outlets such as Real Simple, PureWow and Zagat. She lives in Venice, where you can spot her biking to yoga class and walking her French bulldog by the beach.
krista simmons
• Eyes in the Sky, page 28 Native Angeleno Krista Simmons is a food and travel writer who has appeared as a judge on Knife Fight and Top Chef Masters. Her work shooting and documenting culinary culture for the likes of Travel + Leisure and Departures takes her all over the world, but she finds that nothing beats the view of L.A. when flying home after a long stint on the road.
ss STACIE STUKIN • How Yoga Went Hollywood, page 52 Stacie Stukin is a Los Angeles native who has been practicing yoga for more than 20 years and writing about it for nearly as long. She is the West Coast editor of Naturally, Danny Seo and author of Alabama Stitch Book with Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, and her work has appeared in, among other publications, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Robb Report, Yoga Journal and W magazine.
W H E R E G U E S T B OO K 1 1
0C2-011_TOC_GBLA16.indd 11
12/15/15 4:13 PM
first look
FROM ICONIC BEACHES TO WORLD-CLASS ARTS VENUES TO CUTTING-EDGE BOUTIQUES, LOS ANGELES HAS IT ALL. WE CHERRY-PICK THE TOP ATTRACTIONS FROM THE COUNTY’S DIVERSE BOUNTY.
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 12
12/11/15 1:54 PM
The Beaches
Perhaps the city’s biggest draw, Los Angeles’ celebrated coastline stretches from the Malibu/Ventura County border down to Long Beach, with 25 miles of beautiful county beaches. Along the way, you’ll find volleyball players, windsurfers, stand-up paddleboarders, swimmers and beachcombers enjoying the sun. Just off the sand, you can hop on a bike path in Venice Beach, also home to the world-famous boardwalk, and cruise to Santa Monica State Beach. There, a historic attraction-packed pier (best taken in atop Pacific Park’s iconic Ferris wheel at night), and the Annenberg Community Beach House beyond it, offer hours of entertainment. In the South Bay, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach occupy an idyllic niche.
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 13
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 13
12/11/15 1:54 PM
Griffith Observatory
The iconic Griffith Observatory is not only a frequent film location and a monument to public astronomy, it’s also one of the best places in the city to take in expansive views of the L.A. Basin all the way up to the celestial sphere. Visitors can tour the grounds, explore the universe at the stateof-the-art Samuel Oschin Planetarium Theater and search the sky via telescope at a public “star party,” held monthly. The dome-topped observatory is the main draw of the 4,210-acre Griffith Park, which is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, a merry-goround, the Autry Museum of the American West, Travel Town, pony rides, the Greek Theatre and a 53-mile network of popular L.A., 213.473.0800, griffithobs.org
Ocean Front Walk
Venice Beach’s world-famous Ocean Front Walk is a mileand-a-half-long concrete boardwalk stretching from Rose Avenue to the Venice Pier. Prime people-watching territory, it’s packed with quirky street performers (think break-dancers and mimes), greased bodybuilders fresh from Muscle Beach, souvenir hawkers, inline skaters and tourists gawking at the scene. Eateries and shops line the path, and basketball and handball courts host spirited games just off the sand. For a more conventional beach experience, just steps away is one of L.A.’s prettiest stretches of beach, featuring volleyball nets, a bike path and wide swaths of sand.
previous spread: jj trinidad/skyecam. From top: Dhrumil desai; Angela DeCenzo
hiking trails. 2800 E. Observatory Road,
1 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 14
12/17/15 12:25 PM
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 15
12/11/15 1:54 PM
Getty Center & Getty Villa
Two of the county’s cultural crown jewels are the Getty Center and the Getty Villa, the J. Paul Getty Museum’s two venues. They rank among the most prominent features of L.A.’s arts and culture landscape. Perched atop a hill in Brentwood and accessible via tram, the Getty Center is a modernist, sive views; light-filled, travertine-clad buildings; and a Central Garden reminiscent of a labyrinth. Its collections feature European paintings, drawings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts and European and American photographs, which are regularly complemented by exciting temporary exhibitions. The coastal Getty Villa is modeled after a Julius Caesar-era house and bedecked with classical architectural details and Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities. Visitors also enjoy café dining and performances in the villa’s outdoor classical theater. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A., 310.440.7300; Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades, 310.440.7300, getty.edu
FROM LEFT: CHRISTOPHER IAN SMITH; COURTESY THE GETTY CENTER
Richard Meier-designed complex featuring expan-
16 WH ER E G U ESTBOOK
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 16
12/11/15 1:54 PM
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 17
12/11/15 1:54 PM
Rodeo Drive
The legendary three-block stretch of Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive is where the world’s most exclusive luxury brands, elegantly dressed shoppers and camera-wielding sightseers converge. Saint Laurent, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo are just a few of the esteemed fashion houses that call the celebrated street home. Stroll up the cobblestoned Via Rodeo to visit Versace, Tiffany & Co. and Galerie Michael in the European-inspired Two Rodeo shopping complex. But first, pause at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way to admire the 14-foot-tall Robert Graham sculpture Torso, the centerpiece of the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style. The south end of Rodeo is bookended by the Beverly Wilshire hotel, of Pretty Woman fame. Rodeo Drive between Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, Beverly Hills, 323.769.3600, rodeodrive-bh.com
Third Street Promenade & Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica doesn’t offer only beachside bliss; its shopping Third Street Promenade comprises three city blocks where street performers and vendors ply their trades while visitors and locals filter in and out of bars, restaurants, theaters and trendy stores. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the city’s famous farmers market intersects the promenade at Arizona Avenue. Anchoring the complex at Broadway is Santa Monica Place, an open-air shopping center that boasts Bloomingdale’s, dozens of upscale boutiques, a new ArcLight Cinemas, a rooftop Dining Deck and much more. Third Street Promenade, 3rd Street from Broadway to Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310.393.8355, downtownsm.com; Santa Monica Place, 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 310.260.8333, santamonicaplace.com
This page: Dale Berman (2). opposite: Sarah Hadley
centers are destinations in their own right. The pedestrian-only
1 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 18
12/15/15 4:25 PM
Walt Disney Concert Hall
There’s no mistaking downtown’s Frank Gehrydesigned Walt Disney Concert Hall, which makes a vivid sensory impact even before you’ve stepped inside. Completed in 2003, the stainless-steel-clad, soaring curvilinear building strikes a dazzling pose against the city’s blue skies and adds a contemporary element to the Music Center complex, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and also includes the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Of course, music is the hall’s raison d’être, and, accordingly, its hardwood-paneled main auditorium is an acoustically sophisticated complement to the iconic exterior, as well as to the talents of the resident orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and its vibrant conductor, Gustavo Dudamel. 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 323.850.2000, laphil.com
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 19
12/11/15 1:54 PM
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The largest art museum in the western United States, LACMA has been providing L.A. with cultural
context
for
more
than 50 years. The museum houses 120,000 works, from Edo-period paintings in the Pavilion for Japanese Art to a sculpture by Richard Serra in the 60,000-square-foot Broad Contemporary Art Museum. In 2010, the Renzo Piano-designed Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion was added to the 20-acre campus to host exciting special exhibitions and showcase more of LACMA’s permanent collection. After you’ve perused the galleries, catch a matinee of a classic Hollywood film in the Bing Theater, or head outdoors to visit Chris Burden’s installation Urban Light and Michael Heizer’s Levitated Mass, which consists of a 340-ton granable “slot” built on the Resnick North Lawn. 5905 Wilshire Blvd.,
L.A.,
lacma.org
323.857.6000,
Dave Lauridsen
ite megalith perched atop a pass-
2 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 20
12/15/15 4:25 PM
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 21
12/11/15 1:54 PM
Universal Studios Hollywood & Universal CityWalk
Both an amusement park and the world’s largest working movie studio, Universal Studios Hollywood is the only place in Los Angeles where you can soar through the sky with Harry Potter and enter the animated world of the Simpsons’ Springfield in the same afternoon. The studio’s legendary tour guides you through recognizable movie and TV sets, scares you with director Peter Jackson’s King Kong 360 3-D and thrills you with the new Fast & Furious—Supercharged finale. Other attractions include Despicable Me Minion Mayhem 3-D and the adjacent Super Silly Fun Land, as well as Jurassic Park—the Ride. Everybody’s talking about the arrival of the eagerly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. At adjacent open-air destination Universal CityWalk, enjoy shopping, dining, a cinema (with an impressive Imax screen), several nightlife destinations and iFly Hollywood, where you can partake in a little indoor skydiving. It’s small wonder the two attractions are among the city’s most popular entertainment destinations. Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 818.622.3801, universalstudioshollywood.com;
The Grove & Farmers Market
The picturesque Grove is one of the most pleasant places to while away an afternoon in the city. The open-air shopping and entertainment center, located at the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and West 3rd Street, boasts a Pacific Theatres cinema, quaint cobblestone streets, free concerts, a dancing fountain and an extensive selection of dining spots and boutiques that entice locals and visitors alike. Favorite shops include American Girl Place, Apple, Barneys New York, Sephora, Topshop Topman and Vince. Refuel at eateries including Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, Morels French Steakhouse and La Piazza. Or hop on the electric trolley to the Original Farmers Market, an L.A. institution dating back to 1934 that’s packed with more than 100 stalls, boutiques and restaurants, including the classic 24-hour diner Du-par’s. The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A., 323.900.8080, thegrovela.com; Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.933.9211, farmersmarketla.com
from Top: © 2015 Universal Studios Hollywood, All Rights Reserved; Dale Berman
Universal CityWalk, 818.622.4455, citywalkhollywood.com
2 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 22
12/15/15 4:26 PM
The Softest Most Comfy Sheets in the World! WOVEN IN ITALY, OUR EXCLUSIVE SILK/COT TON BLEND IS AVAILABLE ONLY AT BET WEEN THE SHEETS
South Coast Plaza 3333 Bear St., 2nd Level
Newport Beach 377 E. Coast Hwy.
Del Mar Flower Hill Mall
West Hollywood 370 N. Robertson Blvd.
Palm Desert El Paseo Village
(7i4) 557-9999
(949) 640-9999
(858) 847-3300
(3i0) 854-000i
(760) 779-8500
www.BetweenTheSheetsInc.com
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 23
12/11/15 1:54 PM
The Huntington
San Marino’s Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens has long been a cultural touchstone for Southern California, revered for its lush gardens, rare-book holdings and blue-chip paintings. The new Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center welcomes guests to the grounds, which boast more than a dozen themed gardens, 15,000 plant varieties and an extensive collection of cacti across 120 landscaped acres. The on-site art collection is equally impressive, housed E. Huntington and wife Arabella) and the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art. Thomas Lawrence’s Pinkie and Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy are two beloved holdings. Bookworms will want to peruse the Huntington Library, home to more than 7 million manuscripts, rare books, photographs, historical prints and other works, including one of 11 surviving copies of Gutenberg’s Bible printed on vellum. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 626.405.2100, huntington.org
Lisa Romerein
mainly in the beaux-arts-style Huntington Art Gallery (former residence of the center’s founders, railroad magnate Henry
2 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 24
12/15/15 4:27 PM
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 25
12/11/15 1:54 PM
T h e U lT i m aT e S h o p p i n g e x p e r i e n c e
SoUTh coaST plaza
250 BoUTiQUeS, 30 reSTaUranTS anD SegerSTrom cenTer For The arTS
40624_16_GuestbookLA_Tourism_SPR_FNL.indd 1-2 012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 26
12/11/15 1:54 PM
anthropologie · Berluti · Bottega Veneta · Brioni · Burberry · canali · cartier · céline · chanel · charlotte olympia · coach Dior · Dolce & gabbana · Fendi · gucci · intermix · iWc · Jimmy choo · John Varvatos · lanvin · louis Vuitton · maje moncler · The north Face · prada · roger Vivier · rolex · Salvatore Ferragamo · Sandro · Sephora · Stuart Weitzman · Sur la Table Tiffany & co. · Tod’s · Tory Burch · Tumi · Uniqlo · Vacheron constantin · Valentino · West elm · Williams-Sonoma · zara anQi by house of an · The capital grille · Din Tai Fung · holsteins Shakes and Buns · marché moderne Saks Fifth avenue · Bloomingdale’s · nordstrom · macy’s partial listing
San Diego FWY (405) at Bristol St., costa mesa, ca
012-027_FIRST-LOOK_GBLA16.indd 27
SoUThcoaSTplaza.com 800.782.8888
10/1/15 2:16 12/11/15 1:54 PM PM
Eyes
2 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 28
12/16/15 10:52 AM
in the sky
Drones are revolutionizing aerial Photography—and changing how we see los angeles. by krista simmons
Flying into LAX, one can’t help but marvel at the sprawling metropolis below. Capturing that bird’s-eye view is a new hobby for many amateur photographers, thanks to the arrival of affordable drones (also known as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs), but professionals have been fine-tuning their craft for years—and have the powerful, even poetic, images to show for it. Among the local creatives using drones to get new angles on Los Angeles are the filmmakers and aviators at L.A. Drones; Scott McFarlane, filmmaker and owner of video production company smFilms; and JJ Trinidad, aerial cinematographer and founder of Skyecam. For Trinidad, Los Angeles is the ideal place to fly. “L.A. is amazing. Because of the strong winds we have here, you can do dynamic soaring without any motor power and go 50 to 60 miles per hour,” he says. “It’s a real thrill.” Here are some images that translate that thrill to the page and reveal a little-seen side of the City of Angels.
los angeles sprawl peeks out of the cloud cover. photo by l.a. drones
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 29
12/16/15 10:52 AM
Hollywood Boulevard Many Angeleno drivers fantasize about hovering over the city’s streets, especially during rush hour. UAvs offer a broader perspective of our palm-treelined roads, turning traffic into dreamlike images. photo by JJ Trinidad/Skyecam
a manse in malibu not everyone can afford a massive home in the hills complete with a helicopter pad, but professional aerial cinematographers and even UAV hobbyists can get a helicopter’s perspective. the prospect of a million or more drones in the sky worries aviation officials, wh0 say that UAVs can pose a danger to aircraft if not operated responsibly. photo by l.a. drones
3 0 WHERE GUESTBOOK
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 30
12/15/15 5:45 PM
the hollywood sign Though nothing can replace the thrill of hiking to the iconic Hollywood sign in Griffith Park, this overhead perspective is one that can be achieved by these small, lightweight aircraft. Currently, drones for personal use must weigh under 55 pounds and fly below 400 feet so as to avoid interfering with airspace. photo by JJ Trinidad/Skyecam
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 31
12/15/15 5:45 PM
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 32
12/17/15 1:33 PM
downtown los angeles The popularity of drone photography has shot up almost as quickly as the coolness factor of Downtown L.A. has. But in such uncharted territory, the FAA is scrambling to find a way to license and register drone operators. commercial videographers need a pilot’s license and exemption to fly, though many of them have been doing without for years. photo by l.a. drones
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 33
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 33
12/17/15 1:34 PM
THE MANHATTAN BEACH PIER AERIAL VIEWS USED TO REQUIRE CUSTOM-BUILT MACHINES CHOPPED TOGETHER BY AERIAL-PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS. BUT NOW, AFFORDABLE, PREFAB DRONES ARE MAKING IT EASIER TO CAPTURE IMAGES, BOOSTING THE PRODUCTION VALUE OF PROJECTS WITH MINIMAL EFFORT AND DEMOCRATIZING USE OF THE CRAFT. STILL, THE HAND OF A GOOD PILOT AND PHOTOGRAPHER CAN BE SEEN IN ARTISTIC IMAGES LIKE THIS ONE. PHOTO BY SCOTT MCFARLANE
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 34
12/11/15 3:02 PM
the Long Beach Marina This image was shot from Skyecam’s custom-built quadcopters, which fly using preprogrammed flight paths, allowing the photographer to focus on composing artistic shots instead of flying. the cost of equipment-loaded, custom-built UAvs used by professional aerial cinematographers can easily climb to $100,000 or more. photo by jJ Trinidad/Skyecam
power plant The perspective shifts entirely at this Power Plant in El Segundo. What can sometimes be seen as an eyesore when riding bikes along the beach is transformed into part of the patchwork of the city. photo by l.a. drones
WHERE GUES T BOOK 3 5
028-035_PHOTO_ESSAY_GBLA16.indd 35
12/15/15 5:46 PM
Q&A
Renaissance Man Radio and television host, producer, tech investor, clothing-line founder, skin-care entrepreneur, philanthropist— Ryan Seacrest is the ultimate multihyphenate and, quite possibly, the hardest-working man in showbiz. The end of American Idol means he’s one job down, but we’re not worried about this Los Angeles-based, internationally beloved superstar. Something tells us he’s just warming up. BY SUZANNE ENNIS
036-037_QA_GBLA16.indd 36
12/16/15 3:32 PM
THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE: COURTESY RYAN SEACREST ENTERPRISES
I
f you ever think you’re too busy, take a moment to consider Ryan Seacrest. His Emmy-winning Ryan Seacrest Productions produces hit shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians. He hosts Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, radio programs “American Top 40” and “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” E! network’s Live From the Red Carpet and the iHeartRadio Music Awards, and he’s signed on to host NBC’s latenight coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The menswear line he founded, Ryan Seacrest Distinction, is carried nationally at Macy’s. He’s chairman of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which brings broadcast-media centers called “Seacrest Studios” to pediatric hospitals (see the inset photo); a board member of LACMA; and an investor in various media and tech companies. Meanwhile, he’s launching a men’s skin-care line, and, oh, he’s been busy hosting a little show called American Idol. Seriously—the 41-year-old could make just about anybody feel lazy by comparison. Fortunately for us, he took time out of his jam-packed schedule to answer a few questions, share a few fashion tips and even recommend dishes at his favorite L.A. restaurant. We’ll have what he’s having.
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
I am so proud of Seacrest Studios, and specifically the new studio located inside the Children’s National Main Atrium at the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Children’s Medicine in Washington, D.C. Helping kids
Bond to Frank Sinatra. Those guys always looked great in a suit. But for my personal style, it was an evolution. When I was first starting out, I was just happy to be able to afford a suit. But I realized that finding a best look and having the right fit was key. And wearing the right suit could make me feel better and look better. It gave me confidence, and I developed my own take on that classic Hollywood look. What’s your favorite restaurant?
and families explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media to both heal and educate is empowering. What motivates your charitable work?
I believe that I personally have a responsibility to do it, and it is all of our job to give back in any way we can. It is a part of who we are as human beings, living here in our world today, thinking about this generation and the next. It is important for young people to figure out their passions and follow dreams and continue to pass that on, contributing to their success and future and society. One of the best parts about having such a big extended family and working with so many amazing people here and across the country is I have the means, the resources and the contacts to ask others to be engaged in this process with me. And once they get involved, they are hooked. Tell us about your clothing collection.
Distinction by Ryan Seacrest is currently dominated by tailored clothing and accessories, from
suits and jackets to tuxedos, dress shirts, ties and cuff links. We have expanded into incredible outerwear, knits and other categories and don’t plan on stopping there. It has been an amazing trajectory and learning curve, and we have been successful launching a full range into the market, which has been so well-received in a short period of time. What inspired you to launch it?
I am not a designer, and certainly don’t think I am, but I do spend a good amount of time on camera, on the red carpet and in wardrobe. I have had the incredible fortune of seeing and learning from the best, including Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, who both taught me and showed me a lot and encouraged me to take on the venture of creating a collection. I know what works for me, and I saw the opportunity to help curate an integrated collection for guys that has quality, details and design elements at an accessible level. How would you describe your personal style?
I am certainly inspired by the old Hollywood classics—from James
In Los Angeles, my favorite spot is Bouchon Bistro. I appreciate greatquality ingredients and the time and attention to detail and service. I am a friend of chef Keller, and he just does it right. It is very comfortable—I [even] have my favorite table. What do you order there?
I have to say that my favorite dish is probably the fried chicken. On a lighter note, salmon, and nothing beats their Sunday brunch. How do you feel about the American Idol chapter of your life closing?
It’s frankly hard to imagine my life without it, as American Idol has been a part of my life for so long. While helping others chase and fulfill their own dreams, it helped some of my own dreams come true. The incredible team we worked with for the past 15 years has performed Herculean efforts to create, produce and sustain this groundbreaking show format. We have spent so much time together—the producers, judges and crew—and it was a truly remarkable journey. We really had a great time.
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 37
036-037_QA_GBLA16.indd 37
12/16/15 3:08 PM
BY ROGER GRODY
3 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 38
FUSION
NEXT GEN AS LOS ANGELES CONTINUES TO CELEBRATE ITS EVER-INCREASING DIVERSITY, CHEFS EXPERIMENT WITH MENUS THAT UNABASHEDLY BEND BORDERS.
12/11/15 2:53 PM
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 39
12/11/15 2:53 PM
helmed the dearly missed Spice Table. The menu at Cassia is inspired by Southeast Asia, primarily Singapore and Vietnam, where Ng’s and his wife’s families are from. “It’s a very personal menu because it combines the food of my heritage but also has influences from my professional experiences, having worked in French, Italian and California-Mediterranean restaurants,” he explains. This establishment features several distinct spaces, including a lounge, private dining room and wood grill— cooking over wood accommodates Ng’s passion for simple preparations—decorated with vintage Vietnamese birdcages. The overall look of the place is modern, combining raw wood and concrete, but retains the soul of a bustling Montparnasse brasserie. Ng, who cooked refined French cuisine with heavyweight chefs Roland Passot at San Francisco’s La Folie and Daniel Boulud at Daniel in New York, is able to apply all of that classical technique he learned to the flavors of Southeast Asia. At Cassia, therefore, you might
Neighborhoods in L.A. are remarkably porous, and those blurred lines result in cross-cultural experimentation that has become L.A.’s culinary signature.
previous spread: a feast of indian-inspired flavors at sambar from top: the dining room at the district by hannah an; whole grilled sea bass at cassia
find a traditional French pot-au-feu, but with a broth in the spirit of a Vietnamese pho, while escargots are prepared with lemongrass-infused butter. Among his signature dishes, passed down from the Spice Table, are kaya toast, a soulful Singaporean street food with coconut jam and a slow-cooked egg, and an exotic jellyfish salad with chicken, crispy rice and sesame-bacon dressing. “Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly Vietnamese, meshes well with French cuisine for one obvious reason: colonization,” says Ng, who certainly doesn’t romanticize that era. “There was some delicious food that came out of this sordid period.” Like any good brasserie, Cassia offers impressive platters from the raw bar, as well as a charcuterie selection that includes Singaporean candied pork, Vietnamese meatloaf and Sichuan lamb ham. Snow-crab claws are offered, but so are steak frites with Phú Quoc island peppercorn sauce and whole grilled sea bass with turmeric, dill and lime. For dessert, there are riffs on classic French pastries, beignets and a seductive coffee pudding. “Understanding the soul of a cuisine is the greatest challenge,” says Ng, who insists a chef needs to do more than simply introduce a single ingredient or tech-
previous page: Jesus Banuelos. from top: courtesy the district by hannah an; rick poon. Oppposite: dylan + jeni
A
couple of decades ago, Los Angeles chefs began experimenting with bold cross-cultural menus, combining the best elements of disparate cuisines. The movement, which usually involved Pacific Rim influences, was generally known as “fusion.” That term has since fallen out of favor with contemporary chefs, but the passion for combining eclectic elements from contrasting cuisines has only picked up steam. L.A., a bona fide capital of the Pacific Rim, is a natural place to see a variety of Asian cuisines popping up in kitchens of professional chefs of all backgrounds. Given the region’s Mexican heritage, it’s also no surprise to find chefs combining traditional flavors from Mexico with those from other countries, including Italy and France. Unlike ethnic enclaves in some older American cities, where borders remain intractable, neighborhoods in L.A. are remarkably porous, and those blurred lines result in cross-cultural experimentation that has become L.A.’s culinary signature. A prime example: Chef Roy Choi, a Korean-American who grew up on streets dominated by Latin cuisines, launched his Kogi truck in 2008, and its Korean-inspired tacos are an iconic Angeleno dish. Japanese and French are inherently compatible cuisines, both bringing distinctive techniques and aesthetics to the table. This combination is now taken for granted at French restaurants around the world, and chef Josef Centeno takes it one step further. At his refined Orsa & Winston downtown, Centeno combines various European traditions—predominantly French, Italian and Spanish—with Japanese and occasionally other Asian cuisines to create unique, contemporary American fare. On his daily changing tasting menu, you may encounter risotto made with prized Koshihikari rice that is laced with uni and topped with a clam espuma, or dry-aged Chinese-inspired duck with cherry mostarda. Cassia is part of the burgeoning dining empire of restaurateurs Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, the couple responsible for Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry Bakery & Café, Sweet Rose Creamery, Esters and Milo & Olive. Ensconced in a historical art deco building in downtown Santa Monica, Cassia combines the concept of a French brasserie with the flavors of Southeast Asia, courtesy of immensely talented chef Bryant Ng, who most recently
4 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 40
12/16/15 11:47 AM
nique to make this kind of cross-cultural cooking work. “Trying to incorporate multiple culinary influences requires a lot of self-editing and discipline,” he says, adding that the final compositions need to respect the represented cultures. When it comes to a modern interpretation of Vietnamese cuisine, the An family—consisting of matriarch Helene and her five daughters—is the closest thing L.A. has to royalty, and the District by Hannah An is its latest achievement. The family dynasty began in San Francisco, where Hannah’s grandmother opened the family’s first restaurant, followed by the original Crustacean. The Beverly Hills edition of Crustacean, with its glass-covered, koi-filled stream meandering through the dining room, is a perennial celebrity hangout that’s also welcoming to civilians. After her sisters opened restaurants in Orange County and Santa Monica, Hannah, who was pursuing a career in engineering, returned to the family business. Last year, it was her turn to create a new restaurant concept, debuting the District in a two-level building near CedarsSinai hospital that fuses colonial charm with modern sophistication. The District is Hannah An’s very personalized interpretation of her native cuisine, a restaurant where classic Vietnamese dishes are created with high-quality, seasonal California ingredients and where influences from France, Spain, China and Japan remind diners of Vietnam’s complex culinary history. The menu celebrates the five elements of Vietnamese cuisine—spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet—in dishes that are inspired by both street vendors and French-trained Vietnamese chefs. One can start with a pork-belly bánh mì or a bone-marrow dish that features elements of French onion soup before moving on to a signature dish of noodles with crab and uni, Vietnamese braised short ribs or coriander-crusted lamb with mint pesto. Like Hannah An, chef Shawn Pham took a circuitous journey to opening his own restaurant. As a chef, Pham worked in some of the top kitchens in California: the French Laundry, Craft and the Bazaar by José Andrés. Eager to explore his Vietnamese heritage, the chef, who was born and raised in America, spent several years in Ho Chi Minh City, immersing himself in Vietnamese culture and cuisine. When he returned to L.A., Pham opened a restaurant that reflected his multiple personalities as a chef. Little Tokyo’s Simbal combines the best of Ho Chi Minh City’s food
CHEF RAY GARCIA ADDS SOME KICK TO HIS CAMPECHANA VERDE AT B.S. TAQUERIA, DOWNTOWN.
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 41
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 41
12/11/15 2:53 PM
“There are, undoubtedly, many immigrant populations all over the U.S. but very few cities with L.A.’s breadth and diversity.”
4 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 42
12/11/15 2:53 PM
from top: dan collopy; Jesus Banuelos. opposite: rick poon
stalls with sophisticated Western technique and Pham’s playful attitude. The creative chef plays fast and loose with international borders, suiting L.A.’s cultural sensibilities and generating excitement. Pham proves that sweetbreads, an ingredient long associated with staid Continental restaurants, can be brought to life with Asian flavors. At Simbal, they’re served crispy with a fish-sauce glaze and plated with pickled Chinese mustard greens. Pham deconstructs a Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich into a salad inspired by an Italian panzanella and presents mussels with chili jam and Chinese doughnuts. His short-rib potpie with beef tendon, a nod to the beef stew called bò kho that he grew up eating, is seasoned with lemongrass and annatto. Other attractions at Simbal are a 14-seat kitchen-view counter that hosts monthly guest-chef pop-ups, as well as a full bar with an extensive inventory of whiskey, bourbon, tequila and mezcal. Biodynamic wines and local craft beers are also on offer, and mixologist Brandyn Tepper complements Pham’s cusine by incorporating intriguing Asian ingredients like Thai basil syrup and lemongrass into his creative cocktails. The potential for Indian cuisine to withstand contemporary, progressive treatments has long been underestimated. Downtown’s Badmaash, a contemporary Indian gastropub, has advanced the cause. There, cross-cultural items like chicken tikka poutine and cheddar-stuffed naan that mimics an American grilled cheese sandwich demonstrate Indian cuisine’s versatility. Recently, chef/restaurateur Akasha Richmond, whose restaurant Akasha helped establish downtown Culver City as a dining destination, unveiled Sambar just steps from her original establishment. The pioneering Richmond has devised a fun, approachable cuisine at Sambar, which applies Indian concepts to familiar American foods. Under the menu heading “New Wave Masala” are various Indian treatments to iconic, allAmerican dishes, including masala-spiced chicken wings and a lamb burger topped with preserved tomato chutney instead of ketchup. The innovative chef even combines Indian and Mexican concepts in her “truck stop goat tacos,” in which paneer, chili-lime slaw, tomatoonion chutney and pickled jalapeños are layered on corn rotis that resemble Mexican tortillas. For her sevpuri, a ubiquitous stuffed-bread snack in India, Richmond substitutes California avocado for the typical potato filling. Conversely, she gives the beet-and-
goat-cheese salad, a staple on contemporary American menus, an Indian makeover at Sambar by using paneer as a cheese and dressing it with a turmeric-oil-lime vinaigrette. On Sambar’s lunch menu, Richmond even offers a “Chindian” bowl, an homage to the small Chinese community in India. A true fusion dish, it combines shrimp stir-fry with cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, long beans, puffed rice and tamarind sauce. Richmond first visited India many years ago, when she was studying yoga, and when she moved into an ashram in L.A., she began incorporating ingredients with healing properties (e.g., turmeric and ginger) into Western dishes. “The menu at Sambar was inspired by years of studying Indian cuisine and eating Indian food all over the world,” she says. The unconventional, celebrity-favored chef is also inspired by the city of L.A. itself, where she has lived for 35 years. “We have real ethnic communities in L.A., which gives us all kinds of great restaurants, incredible street food and the opportunity to experience authentic dishes from different cultures,” she says. “I like to approach my own city like I would if I were traveling,” adds Richmond, who refers to her cuisine at Sambar as “Indian-inspired and reimagined through a California lens.” At Little Sister, a bastion of Asian eclecticism that debuted in Manhattan Beach and recently expanded to downtown L.A., executive chef/partner Tin Vuong demonstrates the diversity of Asian cooking on a menu that simply ignores international borders. Vuong is classically trained but grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, where hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese bánh mì shops line Valley Boulevard alongside glitzy Hong Kong dim-sum palaces. “Nowhere else in the world, in my opinion, has better food than the San Gabriel Valley,” says Vuong, whose menu features “626 Provisions,” a special section that pays tribute to his old stamping grounds. “Little Sister Downtown is the restaurant I’ve always dreamed of opening,” he says. “My grandparents fled Vietnam during the fall of Saigon and have passed along a wealth of knowledge about Southeast Asian cuisine,” says Vuong, who draws on that and his San Gabriel Valley upbringing for inspiration. The young chef is remarkably fluent in a dozen or more cuisines represented on his menu. Signature dishes include deep-fried Balinese meatballs with banana ketchup (a Filipino condiment), and an okra curry celebrating the exotic cuisine of Myanmar (Burma). “I find the
opposite: chef bryant ng and Sous Chef Tracey Harada prepare platters of seafood at cassia. this page, from top: ma la beef tartare at little sister; the Bangalore Blues cocktail at sambar
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 43
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 43
12/16/15 11:48 AM
and bánh mì salad at simbal in little tokyo opposite: a smattering of small dishes at e.p. & l.p.
Case in point is Garcia’s clever transformation of an unadorned slice of pan dulce, a morning staple in L.A.’s Mexican-American neighborhoods, into something with extravagant French undertones at Broken Spanish. Standing in for a slice of brioche, the pan dulce is slathered with a thin coating of foie-gras butter and dusted with piloncillo (brown sugar) for a memorable experience. Garcia takes queso fundido—a dish akin to jalapeñospiked, microwave-melted Velveeta that’s served in some neighborhood Mexican joints—and laces it with bacalao and roasted tomatoes, making the dish feel more grounded in the Iberian Peninsula than the Yucatán Peninsula. And the chef’s seasonal creamed corn, enriched with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, heated with manzano peppers and dusted with Parmesan, is a rich blend of European and Asian elements that wouldn’t seem too out of place in a classic American steakhouse. Garcia’s menus borrow from different continents yet still honor his Mexican heritage. At B.S. Taqueria, his tacos feature some of the same toppings Mario Batali might put on his pizzas at Mozza, from mushrooms and garlic to clams and lardo. “Los Angeles is a great place to eat and operate restaurants because of its diversity,” says Garcia. “Dishes like the clam-and-lardo taco are examples of how we integrate ingredients and techniques from other cooking styles into traditional Mexican favorites like the taco,” a culinary approach he likes to call “cross-pollination.” The imaginations of all of these chefs are consistently fueled by the cultural diversity of L.A., the most important ingredient of all. “Immigrants define Los Angeles as a great food city,” says Cassia’s Ng. “Driving from neighborhood to neighborhood, you can experience a culinary landscape that takes you not only from country to country, but regions within those countries,” he explains. “There are, undoubtedly, many immigrant populations all over the U.S. but very few cities with L.A.’s breadth and diversity.” Fellow chef Garcia—he grew up in the same city at about the same time but viewed it from a totally different cultural perspective—concurs with Ng’s assertion. “In a single-mile radius in L.A., you have instant access to a dozen different cultures’ cuisines and ingredients, all at your fingertips,” he says. Clearly, both Garcia and Ng, along with the other outstanding Angeleno chefs deft in the art of cross-pollination, work wonders with their hometown’s own special sauce.
heads above water (2). opposite: cory critser
this page: the dining room
word ‘fusion’ to be implied,” says Vuong, who explains, “Southeast Asian food is already fused with influences from other cultures. At Little Sister, we just aim to present authentic dishes with classic French technique and modern plating.” Its proximity to Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam makes the Land Down Under even more of a Pacific Rim culinary melting pot than L.A., and Aussie entrepreneurs Grant Smillie and David Combes bring exotic cross-cultural concepts to E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood. A musical inspiration—E.P. (“extended play”) is the second-story dining room, and L.P. (“long play”) is the sprawling rooftop lounge—comes naturally, considering Smillie’s status as a globe-trotting DJ and investors who include a member of the band Swedish House Mafia. The chef at this hipster hangout is Louis Tikaram, whose heritage includes Fijian, Indian and Chinese and who is himself a product of Australia’s underappreciated culinary diversity. The young Lakers fan honed his skills at one of Sydney’s most exclusive Japanese restaurants and rose to prominence as executive chef at Longrain, a trendsetting Southeast Asian-influenced eatery in the same city. A signature dish at E.P. & L.P. is nama “sea pearls,” a version of one of the first things Tikaram cooked in Fiji with his grandmother, who inspired his passion for cooking. Nama, a salty seaweed, is served ceviche-style with coconut milk, lime and chilies. Other intriguing starters include wood-grilled baby green-lipped abalone on the half shell with curry paste and aromatic Thai seasonings, and a hot-and-sour wagyu beef tartare served with cassava and rice crackers. Bar snacks like Southeast Asian chicken wings pair well with exotic beverages consumed at L.P., such as boozy boba-pearl cocktails and “Pump Up the Jam,” served in a wildlooking vessel shared by four. The art of fusion, or whatever we should be calling it now, is hardly limited to Asian cuisines. In downtown L.A., innovative young chef Ray Garcia infuses Mexican cuisine with clever cross-cultural nuances at Broken Spanish, as well as at a more casual venue called B.S. Taqueria. Garcia’s menus reflect the vision of a native Angeleno chef who appreciates his Mexican-American heritage but has been influenced by diverse cultures and cuisines simply by growing up in multicultural L.A. As a result, myriad flavors find their way onto a menu that may be grounded in traditional Mexican cooking but is not constrained by it.
4 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 44
12/16/15 11:48 AM
PHOTO CREDIT GOTHAM BOOK 5.5/9PT
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 45
038-045_DINING FEATURE_GBLA16.indd 45
12/11/15 2:53 PM
green is the new black in l.a., social and eco-responsibility are the height of style.
By sa m a n t h a d u r b i n
When it comes to fashion, Los Angeles-
based designers span the spectrum from luxuryminded (the Pasadena-based Mulleavy sisters behind Rodarte) to trendsetting (stylist and fashion designer Rachel Zoe) to comfort-oriented (T-shirt and basics doyen James Perse). Local beauty brands are similarly diverse in their objectives and aesthetics. But whatever their bent, increasingly, members of this creative set share a commitment to responsible and mindful business practices. With daily reminders of global warming, repressive workplaces and growing oceanic gyres made of trash, style purveyors are evolving the local manufacturing industry for the better, for the future. Some of these green business solutions are tried and true—recycling fabrics, conserving energy, natural sourcing— and some are innovations, either technologically or ideologically. Meet six eco-advocating style and beauty leaders to watch and wear. 4 6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 46
12/16/15 11:07 AM
PHOTO CREDIT GOTHAM BOOK 5.5/9PT
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 47
THE VINTAGE-INSPIRED DAWN DRESS BY CHRISTY DAWN. OPPOSITE: THE MARIANA DRESS BY REFORMATION
12/11/15 2:07 PM
RE/DONE Premium-denim manufacturing and L.A. go hand-in-hand; it was only a matter of time before eco-thinking denim brands began popping up. In 2014, a couple of fashion veterans sought to appeal to customers who wanted something curated and exclusive, as well as to build a company with ethical business practices. Convinced that shoppers could have it all, the co-founders of Re/Done, Jamie Mazur and Sean Barron, started repurposing a heritage brand in the form of a perennial closet basic: Levi’s jeans. The process starts when the Re/Done designers select the cream of the crop of used Levi’s jeans from rag houses that carry vintage jeans from the 1950s to the ’90s. At Re/Done’s L.A. manufacturing facility, these raw goods are washed, taken apart and tailored into modern fits like the highwaisted High Rise, currently a top seller. Re/Done taps into women’s passion for vintage denim,
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 48
opening page: courtesy reformation. previous page: Misha Taylor. this page: courtesy re/done. opposite, from left: courtesy apolis; Misha Taylor; courtesy osea
Christy Dawn Though Christy Dawn Petersen doesn’t try to be on-trend, her business of making vintage-inspired dresses from deadstock fabrics feels so “right now.” After having the DIY idea to update a couple of vintage dresses in her closet, she hit a sweet spot two years ago with women who love vintage clothing but know the trials of the hunt—awkward fits, stale fabrics, stains and other irreversible signs of longtime wear. With the help of a pattern maker and seamstress, Petersen tweaked the pleating here and added ruffles there, resulting in the launch of an online business selling simply designed, expertly made “upcycled” dresses. Petersen soon gained a cult following. Fans like Taylor Swift and Brooklyn Decker appreciate her pared-down pretty dresses, which, Petersen says, “show off the body without necessarily showing the body.” Petersen’s aesthetic—manifested in dresses ranging from the one-size-fits-most Dawn dress to the sassy Arrow— is rooted in styles of yore that are effortless and timeless. Think California cool fused with Parisian confidence. Because her fabrics are from dead stock—leftover fabrics supplied by clothing manufacturers—Petersen doesn’t know what solid or print she’ll stumble upon or how many yards will be available. As a result, like a rare vintage find, each dress is made in limited quantities (the website notes how many of each are left). Last year, Christy Dawn opened on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, where you can try on nearly every dress style, ranging from 1920s silk and lace to a swinging 1960s minidress. Made-to-order bridal dresses have joined the repertoire, and Petersen is experimenting with separates. Watch for charming tops and onesies joining her flutter of dresses soon.
12/16/15 11:09 AM
doing away with the legwork of finding vintage pairs and then having to tailor them. The uniqueness of each pair furthers the premium experience. The brand is primarily e-commerce-based, but in L.A., customers can find a selection of Re/Done jeans at Just One Eye, on Romaine Street, as well as at Barneys New York in Beverly Hills and at the Grove. The vibe is individuality, and the mandate is sustainability. “On average, it takes 2,600 gallons of water to make a pair of jeans—it takes less than 50 gallons, or the equivalent of two washes at home, to make ours,” says Barron, adding, “The sustainability of our product extends beyond our water consumption. We have been responsible for diverting over 20,000 pairs of jeans that would have ended up in landfills, thereby reducing air and groundwater pollution. We manufacture our products in downtown Los Angeles. By keeping our operation local, we reduce our carbon footprint and stimulate our economy.” Re/Done recently partnered with Levi’s, a union that sanctions its business and allows both brands to evolve. This is the first time Levi’s has licensed its name for customization of its vintage product, and the revolutionary old guard collaborating with the new is certainly an indication that clothing manufacturing is evolving. OSEA OSEA founder and formulator Jenefer Palmer knows no other way to live than ecologically responsibly. As she puts it, “I was green when green was just a color.” Coming from a lineage of health-minded oceanside dwellers (her grandmother was one of the country’s first female chiropractors), Palmer was raised respecting the environment and, especially, the ocean. A career in the healing arts led Palmer to a business trip in Buenos Aires, where a bout of jet lag brought her very close
to the star ingredient in OSEA’s skin-care line: algae. After experiencing a revitalizing algae bath, her aroused curiosity led her to El Fin del Mundo, or “the end of the world”—the southernmost point of South America. After learning about the healing benefits of algae found in the local seaweed, Palmer began experimenting with skin-care formulas. Since Palmer’s discovery, she has built a family-operated business ahead of the natural skin-care game. While some companies just started omitting parabens from their ingredient lists, OSEA didn’t use them in the first place. OSEA was, after all, the first company to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (an initiative to replace dicey ingredients with safer alternatives) in 2002. OSEA has always avoided synthetic fragrances, genetically modified ingredients, petrochemicals and sulfates. Every December, Palmer heads south to a 200,000-acre private reserve to help harvest the USDA-certified organic seaweed used in OSEA’s offerings. The seaweed algae, along with other naturally derived ingredients like aloe vera and Dead Sea salt, is whipped into products mindfully packaged and shipped to customers; recycled glass bottles and shipping materials are devoid of unnecessary outer boxes and plastic-sleeve packaging waste. Customers can also purchase products at several L.A.-area spas, such as Spa Montage in Beverly Hills, and at select retailers, including Fred Segal at LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal. OSEA is an acronym for ocean, sun, earth, atmosphere. We all want firm, moisturized skin, and this company proves that it is attainable with the simple offerings our precious Earth already provides us.
OPPOSITE: RE/DONE JEANS, REFASHIONED FROM VINTAGE LEVI’S ABOVE, FROM LEFT: APOLIS: COMMON GALLERY, DOWNTOWN; DEAD-STOCK FABRIC DESTINED FOR CHRISTY DAWN DRESSES; ALGAE-DERIVED PRODUCTS BY MALIBU-BASED OSEA
APOLIS In 2004, brothers Shea and Raan Parton started their menswear label, Apolis, with an acute awareness for social
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 4 9
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 49
12/11/15 2:07 PM
a dress from her collaboration with reformation. opposite: assorted jewelry by ariel gordon, including Love Knot and signet Rings, Diamond Dust Rope Earrings and a Star Struck Bracelet
change. They envisioned a company that reimagined the way people bought and sold goods. The Partons wanted to set a higher standard for the supply chain that both empowers communities within developing countries and creates the best products in every category—no small feat. The Market Bag is an example of their mission. Apolis teamed with Saidpur Enterprises, an already-established cooperative in Bangladesh that employs mothers of malnourished children to produce jute handicrafts. The cooperative also provides literacy classes and nutritional training for these artisan mothers. Apolis works with Saidpur Enterprises to produce its Market Bag, which is handmade in Bangladesh using native golden jute fiber and is finished in Apolis’ downtown L.A. manufacturing facility. This is Apolis’ “advocacy through industry” notion put into motion. Apolis offers two product categories on its website and in its retail space, Apolis: Common Gallery, in downtown’s Arts District. The first is travel-minded products the Parton brothers have sourced from artisans, like classic Italian leather oxfords handmade in Portugal in a family-operated factory. The second is products that empower “global citizens,”
including the Market Bag and a luxurious baby-alpaca-wool blanket hand-loomed at a 35-person Peruvian co-op. Apolis’ efforts earned it a Benefit Corporation certification in 2012, connecting it with a network of like-minded companies that use their businesses for the greater good. And it recently launched an initiative through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo to support a Mexican glassblowing studio by collaborating with it to create a glassware collection. Browsing Apolis’ handsome artisanal goods, knowing that by making a purchase, you, too, can support craft ownership near and far, makes you think: Why wouldn’t I? Reformation If a woman wanted to rebuild her wardrobe with eco conscious fashion, her go-to (save for accessories) would be Reformation, which has an L.A. brick-and-mortar on Melrose Avenue. If a woman wanted to be a mindful bride, she could choose from an elegant (and affordable) bridal collection in smarter fabrics, for both herself and her bridesmaids. Circa 2009, Beverly Hills-born fashion entrepreneur Yael Aflalo had a successful label called Ya-Ya. But she wanted
eddy lane. opposite: courtesy ariel gordon
jeanne damas models
5 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 50
12/16/15 11:14 AM
a bigger part in helping to reduce apparel-industry waste. Today, a 35,000-square-foot sewing factory in L.A. represents that bigger part, where Reformation’s entire sketchingto-shipping operation happens under one roof. Its catchphrase is “We make killer clothes that don’t kill the environment,” and its designs range from tomboy tees to knockout cocktail dresses. Reformation sources its materials three ways: repurposing vintage clothing, dead-stock fabric and sustainable fibers such as Lenzing Viscose, a fiber spun from tree pulp. Reformation also educates and encourages customers to join the eco-movement. Its “RefRecycling” program makes donating used clothing seamless. With every online purchase, it provides a shipping label you can put on the reusable box after packing it with any unwanted clothes. Your castoffs are sent back to Reformation headquarters, where savvy designers can refashion them, reminding us of the nostalgic idiom “What’s old is new again.” ARIEL GORDON When Ariel Gordon decided to pursue jewelry design seven years ago, she went full immersion, attending a jewelrymaking program at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco. As someone who had never designed anything before, she wanted to learn everything about the craft because she wanted to develop her own voice and, as she puts it, “have accountability for how my jewelry is made.” At school, she had a visceral response to descriptions of the toxic and exhausting work conditions attached to mining for metals and stones. When she started her business, she vowed to do business only with vendors with responsible business practices, use conflict-free stones whenever possible and manufacture only in Los Angeles, her home base, where she could make sure her staff was paid fair wages. Gordon describes her collection, which customers can find at area boutiques such as Fred Segal in Santa Monica and OK on West 3rd Street, as “refined and elevated jewelry you can wear every day.” Her pieces are handmade using 14-karat gold and sterling silver set with diamonds and semiprecious stones—versatile designs favored by celebrities including Jessica Alba and Olivia Wilde. Gordon believes that costume jewelry has its (fun) place in a woman’s wardrobe, but her pieces have an heirloom quality designed to stand the test of time. This idea feeds into a larger “quality over quantity” approach that’s inherently sustainable and the opposite of fast fashion. When you have fewer material objects, and you hold onto them longer, you put less waste back into your environment. That’s a big idea coming from such small, sparkly things.
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 5 1
46-051_FASHION_GBLA16.indd 51
12/11/15 2:07 PM
HOW YOGA WENT
Hollywood
Y
OUR NATIONAL INFATUATION WITH YOGA HAS ROOTS IN THE TINSELTOWN OF YORE. BY STACIE STUKIN OGA IN LOS ANGELES HAS
long been as ubiquitous as the palm trees that line the streets. Demi, Jennifer and Gwyneth practice yoga, as do NBA superstars. But yoga in America wasn’t always associated with a virtuous path of clean living. Its evolution into the national pastime it is today began during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s true that plenty of early-20th century serious thinkers and intellectuals explored yoga as a spiritual pursuit, but for a long time, the general public perceived it as an occult endeavor whereby Indian fakirs partook in sideshow antics like lying across beds of nails and stopping their hearts. But by the early 1940s, attitudes began to change. According to Robert Love, author of The Great Oom: The Improbable Birth of Yoga in America, the rise of Hollywood and its gossip columnists coincided with increased interest in yoga, precisely because boldface names like Mae West, Greta
Garbo, Cole Porter and Maureen O’Sullivan were reported to be practicing yoga to help them stay fit, calm and glamorous. And what better place to sit in a lotus pose than L.A., a destination that had long had a fringe subculture that attracted seekers of spiritual enlightenment and health. Yoga’s social acceptability was further validated by a group of expatriates who fled prewar Europe for personal freedom and pacifist goals. Among those were novelist Aldous Huxley and his wife Maria, whose circle of friends included novelist and screenwriter Christopher Isherwood, Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard and Garbo. Anita Loos, a prolific screenwriter and Hollywood raconteur whose credits included Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, was close with the group (though not as seduced by the new yoga craze). In her memoir, Kiss Hollywood Goodbye, she recalls a weekend picnic during which J. Krishnamurti, an Indian spiritual leader, showed up with ladies in saris. Garbo, Loos wrote, “wore a sloppy pair of men’s trousers”; Chaplin and Isherwood “looked like pixies on a spree”; and Goddard,
MARILYN MONROE PRACTICING YOGA IN 1948
5 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
052-055_HISTORY_GBLA16.indd 52
12/16/15 3:23 PM
052-055_HISTORY_GBLA16.indd 53
12/16/15 3:23 PM
‘M
arilyn Monroe’s latest kick is Yogi (sic), not the
“as always looked savagely romantic ... in a Mexican peasant outfit with colored yarn woven into her braids.” Huxley, she recalled—noting his tall stature—“might have been the giant from some second-rate circus.” As entertaining as Loos’ observations were, they also depicted a close-knit group that was bound by an interest in Eastern spirituality, meditation, healthful eating and yoga philosophy. The times were ripe for this type of soul-searching in Hollywood and beyond. In her The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America, author Stefanie Syman explains that the escalation of WWII made spirituality an attractive pursuit. In order to promote pacifism and peace in the world, you had to find peace within yourself. To that end, many in the Hollywood community followed Isherwood and Huxley to the Vedanta Temple near Ivar Avenue to hear the teachings of an Indian national named Swami Prabhavananda. Garbo lunched at the temple. W. Somerset Maugham and director George Cukor visited, too, and asked the guru to advise them about the screenplay based on Maugham’s novel The Razor’s Edge—the story of a traumatized WWI pilot who goes on a spiritual quest to India (a character many believe was based on Isherwood). Huxley and Isherwood may have helped lay the groundwork for the acceptance of yoga in Hollywood, but it was the arrival of another expatriate—a petite Russian woman who wore saffron-colored saris—who inspired interest in hatha yoga, a more physical effort similar to the kind of yoga commonly practiced today. Indra Devi arrived in 1947, opened a yoga studio on Sunset Boulevard and brought with her Indian bona fides—she had traveled throughout India, become a famous Indian-cinema actress and was the only woman ever to have studied yoga with Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is considered the founder of modern hatha yoga. She had even met Gandhi. Her aristocratic
052-055_HISTORY_GBLA16.indd 54
12/11/15 3:07 PM
PREVIOUS SPREAD AND opposite: JOHN KOBAL FOUNDATION/getty images
philosophy, just the exercises. To improve her legs, she says.’
background and ability to travel in elite circles (she was friendly with Huxley) made her yoga studio on Sunset Boulevard a hub for actresses who wanted physical benefits from yoga but who weren’t getting them at the Vedanta Temple. “There was and is a tremendous amount of anxiety in Hollywood that has always made L.A. a city that chases youth and vigor,” explains Michelle Goldberg, author of The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West. “Devi framed her yoga specifically to appeal to those women and offered them a way to be calm, relaxed and stay fit.” One of Devi’s biggest boosters was Gloria Swanson, who was having a career renaissance with the success of the Billy Wilder film Sunset Boulevard and continued to look youthful well into her 50s. She touted yoga as her secret and, in 1953, helped Devi launch her first book, Forever Young, Forever Healthy, with a party at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. In his syndicated column, Walter Winchell declared: “Gloria Swanson’s latest kick—introducing her yoga to socialites.” Swanson’s photo later appeared in the Los Angeles Times, and the caption read: “Vacationing in ancient Rome, actress Gloria Swanson supplies a touch of the ancient East by engaging in a difficult yoga exercise. She says she does the Hindu exercises to keep herself relaxed and in perfect physical condition.” Garbo took Devi’s classes when she was in L.A. Jennifer Jones signed up, too. It wasn’t long before articles started appearing regularly in the women’s pages of newspapers and magazines, like the 1958 The American Weekly piece headlined “Stand on Your Head.” The article featured a photo of Devi’s student Olivia de Havilland in a headstand accompanied by the quote, “I don’t know much about the philosophy, but I do know that the exercises make me feel 5 years old. And I’m disgustingly healthy. I remember the
first day I actually stood on my head. It gave me such a sense of power! I felt that if I could do that, I could do anything. Yoga gives you great confidence in yourself.” Perhaps some of the most famous images of celebrity yoga posers were those of Marilyn Monroe, whose pictures, seen here, were taken in the late 1940s. Winchell reported in 1956, “Marilyn Monroe’s latest kick is Yogi (sic), not the philosophy, just the exercises. To improve her legs, she says.” Even Gary Cooper got into the act and told L.A. syndicated columnist Lydia Land, who reported on the beauty secrets of the stars, that he liked yoga for relaxation. By the late 1950s, the health benefits of yoga had been endorsed by celebrities and beauty seekers alike—Devi had even created a yoga program for Elizabeth Arden spas—and there was no stopping the proliferation of yoga. Love reported that even first lady Eleanor Roosevelt acknowledged she practiced yoga in the White House, and classes started popping up at YWCAs and YMCAs across the country. Today, some yoga teachers have become as famous as the celebrities they teach, and yoga appears on fitness schedules all over the country in a variety of forms—power, flow, hot, restorative and even laughter yoga. It’s fair to posit that the mainstreaming of this ancient Hindu practice got its start right here in prewar L.A. Who could have guessed that a small subculture would spawn an ever-growing national business in which 15 million Americans spend upward of $10 million annually on yoga products? Even the National Institutes of Health funds studies exploring yoga’s health benefits, and yoga pants have become acceptable daytime attire. But maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised: Yoga’s successful assimilation into our culture is a familiar American immigration story. Namaste.
MARILYN MONROE IN A SHOULDER STAND. THE SCREEN STAR INCORPORATED YOGA INTO HER DAILY FITNESS REGIMEN.
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 55
052-055_HISTORY_GBLA16.indd 55
12/17/15 12:27 PM
AIR 056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 56
12/11/15 6:49 PM
MIDCENTURY-MODERN ARCHITECT JOHN LAUTNER EXPRESSED LOS ANGELES LIKE NOBODY ELSE, AND HIS SHEATS-GOLDSTEIN RESIDENCE HAS TIMELESS SEX APPEAL.
Scattered amid L.A.’s foothills, overlooking subdivisions and shopping malls, is a wealth of world-class residential architecture from the last century by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler. Of the many midcentury masters L.A. attracted, though, none seemed to capture its spirit better than John Lautner. For convincing evidence of that assertion, look no further than the Sheats-Goldstein residence. BY ROG E R G RODY P H OTOG R AP H S BY TO M FE RG U SO N
AND SPACE 056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 57
12/11/15 6:49 PM
5 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 58
12/11/15 6:49 PM
In the late 1930s, John Lautner, an apprentice of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, arrived in Los Angeles to oversee construction of some of his mentor’s houses. Ironically, Lautner’s relationship with the city was hardly love at first sight—one of his early descriptions included the phrase “indescribable ugliness.” Fortunately, the Michigan native soon found plenty of inspiration in Greater L.A.’s rugged hillsides and oceanfront bluffs, and he began creating concrete-and-glass structures from a modest studio on Hollywood Boulevard. Unlike those of the mass-production subdivisions that proliferated in post-World War II Southern California, Lautner’s designs were aesthetically inspiring and technologically advanced and ultimately established him in the pantheon of Los Angeles’ greatest architects. The most famous of Lautner’s L.A. projects may be the Malin residence, more commonly known as the “Chemosphere,” which rises above the Hollywood Hills like a levitating flying saucer. Although the home (acquired by arts-book publisher Benedikt Taschen in 1998 and lovingly restored) is extraordinary, the Sheats-Goldstein house, now under the stewardship of owner James Goldstein, is arguably quintessential Lautner—and quintessential L.A. Situated on a cliff’s edge—a Lautner hallmark—the SheatsGoldstein residence perches 400 feet above Benedict Canyon, just outside Beverly Hills. The location affords stunning views of the city and, on a clear day, the ocean. Alan Hess, author of the authoritative The Architecture of John Lautner (Rizzoli, 2000), lauds Lautner’s response to the site. “The way the house balances a completely private oasis with a magnificent connection to the city of Los Angeles is one of its best design features,” he says.
The house’s most striking feature is an angular, coffered concrete ceiling that soars above a triangular living room and shades an adjoining outdoor pool. The structure is a testament to the architect’s mastery of concrete, not simply employed as a structural element, but as an art medium. In that concrete canopy, light pierces through 750 tiny skylights fashioned out of drinking glasses, and, throughout the house, walls of windows open electronically to connect the home with the natural environment. This hillside home was constructed in 1963 for the family of Dr. Paul Sheats and had two subsequent owners before Goldstein purchased it in 1972. Goldstein, a gracious, softspoken multimillionaire who’s a fixture courtside at NBA games and front-row at fashion shows, is frequently described as an enigma, known for dodging inquiries about how he made his fortune. He’d been house hunting for two years before he encountered this property. He paid just $185,000. Goldstein had been a Wright fan since childhood, exposed to much of the luminary’s work in his native Wisconsin, and has been a conscientious custodian of a home designed by a Wright protégé. “The house was in horrendous condition, but I could see the great design,” says Goldstein, who says it wasn’t until the late ’70s that he began resuscitating the house in earnest. “From that point until now, there has been construction on the property every single day,” says the owner, who seems to thrive living on an eternal construction site. Goldstein’s architect for the remodel was Lautner himself— a gesture that demonstrates the homeowner’s genuine respect for both the man and his art. When Goldstein reached out to the sexagenarian architect, demand for the latter’s designs was in a temporary lull, so he was none too busy to accept the
PREVIOUS SPREAD: THE VIEW FROM THE SHEATSGOLDSTEIN RESIDENCE ABOVE: THE MAIN LIVING SPACE AND POOL DECK ABOVE LEFT: XAVIER VEILHAN’S HOMAGE TO LAUTNER AT THE HOME’S ENTRANCE BELOW LEFT: THE HOME’S POOL AND SIGNATURE CONCRETE CANOPY
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 5 9
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 59
12/16/15 11:33 AM
BELOW: THE HOME’S OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN AND DINING AREA, FEATURING A TABLE DESIGNED BY LAUTNER
commission. After Lautner’s death, Goldstein continued to tweak the design with Duncan Nicholson, a Lautner associate who passed away last year. Virtually everything in the home has been updated, from the new art deco-inspired driveway gate to the installation of a waterfall cascading into an expanded koi pond near the entrance. But while many attempts to renovate or modernize landmark homes result in the integrity of their designs being compromised, this effort has been successful, thanks to a dedicated owner and the participation of the original architect. “We were always on the same wavelength,” Goldstein says of Lautner, adding, “He never had an ego problem and was very receptive to my ideas.” As Golstein explains it, he oftentimes assumed the de facto role of architect, thanks to Lautner’s deference. To the owner’s credit, the home’s added bells and whistles, such as new skylights and automation of
some of the original ones, reinforce, rather than detract from, Lautner’s ideal of a continuum between the man-made structure and its natural surroundings. Moreover, Lautner probably relished the opportunity to add some high-end finishes to a home that was originally built on a very tight budget for the Sheats family. The collaboration with Goldstein gave the renowned architect an opportunity to see his concepts realized to their full potential, once the green shag carpeting, plywood and Formica were stripped away.
The two men, unlikely collaborators with little obviously in common besides their Midwestern heritage, made dramatic improvements to the iconic, oft-photographed living room, which bleeds out onto a pool deck. The glass wall separating the two spaces was originally interrupted with metal mullions, which detracted from the architect’s intent to integrate them. Goldstein and Lautner installed frameless, seamless glass and retrofitted the pool—formerly lined with ordinary plaster and bordered by Mexican tile—into one of the city’s earliest infinity pools. The railing around the deck was removed to reinforce the illusion of floating in air above the L.A. skyline. In the living room, Goldstein tore out the dated carpeting, removed the black, white and green paint masking the signature concrete ceiling and reupholstered the built-in furniture. He then added modern furniture consistent with Lautner’s original concepts and later retrofitted the rock-clad fireplace to give it a sleek minimalist design. “I never liked that original fireplace but never said anything to John,” says Goldstein. “Many years later, I mentioned to his assistant that I never understood why it was there,” he recounts. Referring to the Sheats family, Lautner’s response was, “I had to do it. ... It’s what the owners wanted,” says Goldstein. In the adjoining dining room, Goldstein enlisted Lautner to design a new dining table, an extraordinary piece of built-in furniture. Its thick beveled glass top rests on two concrete pedestals with the same angular characteristics as the house itself, a theme played out in everything from the signature roofline to bathroom fixtures and wall sconces. In the kitchen, small by current luxury-home standards, Goldstein and Lautner replaced the original Formica countertop with a stylish concrete-and-steel form and installed an automated skylight through which light pours into the space. In order to maximize the size of that skylight, a structural beam would either have to be repositioned or partially exposed when the skylight was fully retracted. Goldstein chose to keep the beam in place, and by giving it a glossy, stainless-steel finish, it was transformed from a strictly functional element into an artistic expression. Goldstein combined two small rooms and eliminated a bathroom to create a media room that is dominated by a massive Edward Ruscha painting, a piece from the artist’s acclaimed street-map series. Its gray tones and L.A. orientation seem particularly fitting for this home, as does the massive built-in chaise for viewing it and the movie screen that descends in front of the canvas. A remaining bathroom has been transformed from a study in Formica to a rosy, marble-clad retreat with a triangular sink and a glass ceiling that retracts entirely. A flight of African-hardwood steps leads to the master suite and a host of surprises. Here, floor-to-ceiling glass walls
6 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 60
12/16/15 11:36 AM
retract from a corner of the room, suddenly exposing anyone standing on that promontory to the outdoors, with the canyon below and jetliner views all around. In the master bath, Goldstein embedded a hidden scale in a wood floor inlaid with marble. And with a tap of a foot before an angular glass sink that’s mounted on an equally transparent wall, a wood deck on the other side of the glass partition pulls back, revealing a burbling hot tub. This is a relatively secluded space, so both indoor and outdoor showers are provided. The master suite also includes three windows offering an underwater view of the swimming pool, originally installed so Dr. Sheats and his wife could keep an eye on their kids. Goldstein long envisioned the placement of a “skyspace” designed by artist James Turrell, the land-and-space vision-
ary, on the property. Meetings were convened when Lautner was still alive, but municipal regulations slowed the process. In 2004, Nicholson and Goldstein were finally successful in installing Turrell’s Above Horizon on the verdant hillside below the main structure. The concrete form is punctuated by window-like openings in the sides and roof, while 5,000 hidden LED lights bathe the interior in rotating colors. “The only thing John and I ever disagreed on was landscaping,” says Goldstein, who explains, “I wanted to leave the Midwest, but he was still married to it.” Lautner was opposed to tropical landscaping, but Goldstein prevailed and brought on Eric Nagelmann, who has been involved with the site for 30 years. “The landscaping started as a small project adjacent to the house,” says Goldstein, whose
ABOVE: BUILT-IN, LAUTNER-DESIGNED FURNITURE AND A CUSTOM-MADE WOOL RUG IN THE MAIN LIVING SPACE
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 61
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 61
12/11/15 6:49 PM
PHOTO CREDIT GOTHAM BOOK 5.5/9PT
6 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 62
12/11/15 6:49 PM
first priority was to screen out views of neighboring homes with lush landscaping along the driveway. The project grew to encompass the entire site, which was expanded when the owner purchased an adjoining property, the Lautner-designed Concannon residence, in the 1990s. The Concannon residence received far less attention and acclaim than the Sheats project, and, according to Goldstein, Lautner gave him his blessing to demolish it. A blue-and-green concrete tennis court with some extraordinary city views now stands on that home’s former footprint. “I received some criticism for tearing it down, but I don’t feel guilty,” says Goldstein. In 2005, he began work on a private entertainment center on some of that newly obtained acreage. Guests enter the entertainment complex by descending a flight of stairs, arriving in a glitzy private nightclub with spectacular city views. Banquettes feature metallic-sheened upholstery, cocktail tables are angular—Lautner-inspired concrete forms with stainless-steel tops—and an LED screen covers an entire wall. A long bar is a sleek study in formed concrete, something that Lautner, who pioneered innovative uses of that material, would surely have appreciated. “The concepts of John Lautner have been applied here,” insists Goldstein, who adds, “The intent was to do it as John would have done it.” The dance floor is stainless steel, inspired by some European nightclubs, according to Goldstein, who has little regard for the L.A. club scene. Undeterred from creating his version of the ultimate nightclub, construction proceeds on an outdoor bar and dining area, and future plans include a rotating dance
circa 1964. A recent portrait of the homeowner in an ornately detailed red jacket, painted by L.A. artist Biagio Black, punctuates one spare concrete wall, but nothing here detracts from the role of L.A. itself, on display through panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. Lautner surely would have appreciated this view, too. After Lautner’s death in 1994, celebrities began treating his projects like works of fine art, collecting them as they would paintings by Warhol or Pollock. Hollywood took notice, too: The Sheats-Goldstein residence has served as a backdrop in The Big Lebowski, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Bandits, among other films and videos. Lautner aficionado and real estate expert Jan Eric Horn, who sold Lautner’s Wolff house in the Hollywood Hills not once, but twice, suggests, “If the Sheats-Goldstein house were to be on the market today, I would expect it to sell for somewhere in the $35 million range.” Horn, now executive director of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty’s architectural division in San Diego, also notes that the scarcity of Lautner homes, relative to those designed by contemporaries Neutra and Schindler, also drives up prices. “There is no architect who is gaining more stature in Southern California than Lautner as each day passes,” says Horn. “His works are that of an extraordinary talent who leaves a lasting impression upon anyone interested in great design.” Today, a polished-stainless-steel abstract interpretation of Lautner by French sculptor Xavier Veilhan, reflecting the architect’s actual height and girth, stands sentinel at the entrance to the Sheats-Goldstein residence. Lautner may have had reservations about his adopted city of Los Angeles, but one senses that James Goldstein—through his very persona and the home he cherishes—is intent on celebrating the city as eloquently as the architect himself.
Above: A MODEL OF THE SHEATS-GOLDSTEIN RESIDENCE, WHICH CONTINUES TO EVOLVE OPPOSITE: THE MASTER BEDROOM AND THE HOME’S CLIFFSIDE SETTING
“The concepts of John Lautner have been applied here,” insists Goldstein, who adds, “The intent was to do it as John would have done it.” floor with sweeping views. Already completed is a VIP room that doubles as a library. Goldstein’s ultimate vision for the entertainment facility is far from being fully realized, but the center has already hosted some events, including a birthday party for Rihanna. Although he plans a relatively limited calendar of events, Goldstein concedes that some neighbors have concerns. The Playboy Mansion may be just down the canyon in Holmby Hills, but homeowners in these rarefied residential enclaves are generally intolerant of excessive traffic and noise. Adjacent to the nightclub is Goldstein’s personal office, where a formed concrete credenza is lined with celebrity memorabilia ranging from a signed Clippers basketball to a photo of a young Goldstein dancing with Jayne Mansfield
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 63
056-063_HOME_GBLA16.indd 63
12/16/15 4:03 PM
Opposite: smashbox cosmetics’ photo filter powder foundation this page: the smashbox studios team in action
6 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
064-067_INDUSTRY_GBLA16.indd 64
12/16/15 3:06 PM
lenses & lipstick The legacy of Hollywood legend Max Factor lives on through Smashbox studios and smashbox cosmetics. by joseph L e Moyne
The name Maksymilian Faktorowicz may be unfamiliar, but it belongs to a visionary responsible for some of the most famous faces in Hollywood history. Faktorowicz was none other than Max Factor, the cosmetics-company patriarch and original motion-picture makeup artist who ensured that Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis would radiate in black-and-white splendor. Today, the Factor family legacy continues in a Los Angeles photography and makeup empire whose name is synonymous with glamour, innovation and celebrity: Smashbox.
064-067_INDUSTRY_GBLA16.indd 65
12/16/15 2:00 PM
this page, from top: smashbox co-founder davis factor; one of smashbox cosmetics’ groundbreaking primers
In a hip industrial corner of Culver City, “the heart of screenland,” Faktorowicz’s great-grandson Davis Factor runs Smashbox Studios, a premier facility where worldclass photographers create brand visuals and images for magazines, ad campaigns and music and entertainment projects. A renowned photographer, Davis founded the studios with his brother, Dean, in 1990. At that time, even though L.A. was the center of the movie industry, most celebrity studio shoots were on the East Coast. “If I can’t find a studio, it means nobody else can, either,” Davis frequently complained, prompting him to launch the company that originally occupied a 3,000-squarefoot space in Santa Monica. Smashbox filled a void in the fashion- and celebrityphotography industry from the moment it opened. The first booking was Fabrizio Ferri’s shoot of Cindy Crawford for L.A. Style magazine, and soon, says Davis, the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Michel Comte, Wayne Maser and Helmut Newton were regulars. Demand was so great that the small company turned away 250 bookings in its first year. To accommodate that demand, Smashbox moved to its current 25,000-square-foot campus, with multiple studio spaces, in 1993. A few years after the move, with the studio business booming, Davis decided to meet another unfulfilled need in the industry: makeup that not only held up through a shoot, but also made the models’ skin look and feel great. Much like the way his great-grandfather invented flexible greasepaint in 1914 to replace cakey stage makeup, and then “Pan-Cake” makeup in 1935 to bring the first foundation to the everyday woman, Davis worked with a former Max Factor employee to develop a silicone-based primer for the skin—one of the first on the market—that revolutionized makeup application in the studio as well as on the street. That product was the now-iconic Photo Finish Foundation Primer, and building on its success, Davis, Dean and their team launched Smashbox Cosmetics, now one of the hottest makeup brands in America. “The studio is the heartbeat of the cosmetics. Without the studio, that other stuff doesn’t exist,” says Davis, who remains passionate about his work behind the camera. “Smashbox” itself refers to an antique accordion-style camera, and, in terms of marketing and promotion, every Smashbox makeup product has a name (e.g., “Camera Ready,” “Photo Finish”) and/or design (a bronzer is imprinted with the image of a shutter lens) that harkens back to the studio. While some brands use slick packaging to compensate for mediocre products, Davis says, “we like to keep our packaging as sleek and minimalist
as possible,” focusing more on functionality and ease of application. However, for special projects, Smashbox does team up with acclaimed artists such as portraitist/ Instagrammer extraordinaire Donald Robertson for a line of lipsticks and Spanish painter Yago Hortal (known for vibrantly colored abstracts with a sense of fluidity) for a limited-edition holiday collection last year. Smashbox Cosmetics proves that makeup was embedded in the brothers’ DNA. “Everything we know today about cosmetics was created by him,” Davis says of his great-grandfather, who, he added, coined the very term “makeup,” as well as “platinum blonde.” Even the signature eye coloring on Pete the Pup, the dog in Hal Roach’s iconic Our Gang series, was a product of Faktorowicz’s makeup skills. When Max Factor passed away in 1938, his son Francis took his name, and Max Factor Jr. carried on the business, inventing the first mascara wand and retail stick concealer. The brand was sold in 1976, and the Hollywood Museum is now housed in the historic building on Highland Avenue where Marilyn Monroe became a blonde and Lucille Ball a redhead. The Smashbox cosmetics brand was acquired by the Estée Lauder Companies in 2010. Estée Lauder was selected from several suitors because of Davis’ deep trust in John Demsey, Lauder group president, who oversees a family of beauty-product brands that includes La Mer, Tom Ford Beauty and Jo Malone London, along with Smashbox. “I know how hard a corporate environment can be, so I wanted to work with somebody I loved and who loved me,” says Davis. His brother, Dean, left the family cosmetics business shortly after the Estée Lauder acquisition, but Davis Factor continues to serve as the company’s senior vice president of global creative out of the Smashbox Studios headquarters in Culver City and is hands-on with every aspect of the business. “I created, cultivated and grew this brand with my brother and Lori,” he says, referring to Smashbox Cosmetics global pro lead artist Lori Taylor (known as “LT” at the company), who’s been with the brand for 15 years and travels the world promoting and demonstrating the brand’s products. Meanwhile, Smashbox’s visionary photo studios are thriving, too. They recently received a $5 million makeover by Gensler, the architectural firm whose projects include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the 121-story Shanghai Tower. With seven state-ofthe-art studios ranging from 1,640 to 5,100 square feet of versatile space, Smashbox Studios is where the world’s best celebrity photographers capture images of
6 6 W HERE GUESTBOOK
064-067_INDUSTRY_GBLA16.indd 66
12/16/15 12:39 PM
all photos courtesy smashbox
famous faces for magazines like Vanity Fair and People. These studios—names like “Lightbox,” “Blackbox” and “Skybox” suggest the sources of light and resulting moods—are equipped with plush lounges lined with rotating gallery art, makeup rooms with adjustable LED lighting, and comfortable shower-equipped restrooms. A studio named “Flashbox” is tricked out with an elaborate system of strobe lighting, and several full-service soundstages are also available on-site for video or movie production. This scope and quality of amenities, rare in the industry, keep top talent returning again and again. A sampling of bookings from the past year includes photographer Mark Seliger’s work with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube for a Rolling Stone cover story, an artfully nude Sharon Stone captured by Mark Abrahams for Harper’s Bazaar, Jordan Hughes’ images of Taylor Swift for NME and Esquire’s playful Nigel Parry-snapped shots of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Iconic advertising produced at Smashbox includes Mario Testino’s glamorous black and white shoot of Gisele Bündchen for a Stuart Weitzman commercial that aired during the 2015 MTV Awards, a production whose presenters are annually freshened up by Smashbox’s own makeup artists. Harrison Ford was photographed for a Star Wars promotion and Daniel Craig for a James Bond-related shoot on a single day last year, which is not the least bit atypical. Along with legendary actors and supermodels, giraffes and black bears occasionally walk through the doors. Smashbox Studios also offers a café/lounge, doubling as a library, that’s fashionably furnished with midcentury-modern pieces. “I want you to come here and feel comfortable, like you’re at home,” says Davis, who says the constant parade of celebrities rarely leaves him starstruck anymore. “It affects me only in the sense that I know clients are happy here,” he says. The Culver City complex is also a popular venue for some of L.A.’s most compelling private events, such as the 13th-anniversary party for edgy Nylon magazine, Red Bull’s Carnival Holiday Party and A Time for Heroes festival for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The work of fine-art photographers from around the globe is regularly showcased at Smashbox, too. Recent exhibits include Andrew Eccles’ images of the Alvin Ailey dancers and a series by New Zealand photographer Ho Hai Tran that captures abandoned Pizza Hut restaurants being repurposed into dim-sum palaces and houses of worship. Davis Factor, who lists his three great passions as
art, helping people and money, has leveraged all of this success for good. “Money’s only important because if I don’t have any, I can’t do my art to help people,” says the photographer, who was honored with a Visionary Award by ETTA, an L.A.-based nonprofit that assists developmentally disabled adults and their families. Smashbox’s laboratories do not engage in animal testing, and despite glamorous admirers like Kim Kardashian and Charlize Theron, the label is high-end but not exclusive. “We’re a brand that relates to every age, and we want to be the makeup for everybody,” says Davis. Reflecting on her involvement in artistic and strategic marketing decisions, extensive travel and interaction with A-list celebrities, Taylor says, “There aren’t too many jobs where you get to be super-creative and influence an industry.” For his part, Davis Factor doesn’t expect his employees to remain at Smashbox forever, and he respects anybody’s entrepreneurial instincts. “I encourage people to take this place and use it as a foundation to build their own dreams,” he says. There is already a lavish Smashbox Cosmetics store at a mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but Davis envisions a fun, interactive concept store in metropolitan L.A. to debut sometime in 2016. On the studio front, he is eager to replicate the success of Smashbox Studios in London and other major cities around the globe. For now, Smashbox—a study of faces from both sides of the camera—is a true L.A. story. In addition to his bloodline, Davis Factor shares Maksymilian Faktorowicz’s keen insight into the power of celebrity, the foundation upon which this city was built.
from top: smashbox studios’ art-filled café/lounge; smashbox x donald robertson limited-edition lipstick; smashbox global pro lead artist lori taylor
W HERE GUESTBOOK 67
064-067_INDUSTRY_GBLA16.indd 67
12/16/15 12:37 PM
Q&A
Woman on a Mission Chelsea Handler is brash and fearless—and, lately, she’s been on a tear.
Of the four topics you cover for Chelsea Does [drugs, marriage, Silicon Valley and racism], which fascinated you the most?
I love drugs—those are fun— so I thought, “We should do something with that!” Nobody ever does [drugs], really, on camera. ... The marriage one was the most surprising because I didn’t realize how intimate it was
going to be, and it’s really personal and vulnerable. Is anything off-limits for you?
No, I mean ... I try not to talk about children too much or my friends’ children. I try not to incriminate people who have children. [Laughs] Audiences will see you in a different light after they watch Chelsea Does. What do you hope they take away?
You can’t get away from growing up, so this was an exercise in growing up. It was, like, “Maybe I am going to calm down at a certain point, and maybe I’m not going to be as obnoxious all the time.” To put yourself out there [for me, is like] a different kind of nudity. What’s “private Chelsea” like, compared to your public persona?
I think I’m very transparent. I always assume everyone knows [everything] about me, because I’ve never hidden anything, but I think people who watch the documentary will see a difference in the person they saw hosting [Chelsea Lately]. Do you enjoy interviewing your celebrity friends, or is it more fun to interview strangers?
It’s fun and easier when you know them [on a personal level], but then you get protective of them also. I started as such an outsider. … Then you become the ultimate insider, [and] you think, “Well, now I can’t make fun of these people!” Which celebrity made you the most nervous to interview?
Oh, there have been a few. Sometimes you’ll notice your lip is quivering during an interview, and you’re thinking, “Oh, no, what is going on?!” Miley Cyrus actually made me nervous the first time I met her because she’s so open that it made me feel like I was a fraud. I thought, “Am I fake?” [Laughs] How do you avoid burnout?
Honestly, I did burn out, and that’s why I needed to take a year off. I needed it badly, and I traveled and went all over the world. I was just so dehydrated [before]. ... Once you start working, you get wrapped up in it, especially when you’re inspired, but I needed to get reinspired and water my brain. What do you wish you could tell your younger self?
The most important thing is to experience every possible thing you can. For my personality type,
it’s important to remember it’s not about accepting an invite to every party going on, but sometimes it’s equally important to stay in your hotel room in a beautiful city and order room service if that’s what you want to do. Experience every end of the spectrum. Visit a city three times and have completely different experiences just to make sure you’re not sucked into doing the same things repeatedly. What is L.A. to you, and why does it suit you so well?
L.A. to me is luxury and comfort. You can have space to live in, you can have a backyard, and you can go outside every single day. It’s exactly what I hoped it would be when I was a little girl. When I was a little girl, I thought, “When I grow up, I’m going to buy a house in Bel-Air and play tennis and be an adult and have dogs,” and I did it. It’s exactly what I thought it would be. What are your must-haves in L.A.?
Sushi. There are so many great sushi spots in L.A. I would never be able to live without Blue Plate Oysterette by the beach [in Santa Monica]. And the palm trees. Even though they’re not really native to L.A., you just look at a palm tree and it’s paradise.
BRIAN BOWEN SMITH/NETFLIX
I
F CHELSEA HANDLER knows anything, it’s that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Yet, if you were a successful talk-show host (Chelsea Lately on E!), stand-up comedian and New York Times best-selling author, why would you want to? For obvious reasons, says the 41-year-old. “It’s scary to take a leap of faith, but I’d rather do that than do the same thing over and over.” The leap in question involves hosting a four-part documentary-style series, Chelsea Does, and a talk show for millennials, both set to premiere on Netflix this year. Together they reveal a whole new side of Chelsea Handler. “I’m not saving the world, so [I’ll] at least try to be interesting!” she says. Handler may not claim to be an expert in everything, but when it comes to being interesting—well, she has that one down pat.
BY JESSICA RADLOFF
68 WH ER E G U ESTBOOK
068-069_QA2_GBLA16.indd 68
12/11/15 3:20 PM
“It’s scary to take a leap of faith, but I’d rather do that than do the same thing over and over.”
068-069_QA2_GBLA16.indd 69
12/11/15 3:20 PM
Neighborhoods
BEVERLY HILLS For more than a century, Beverly Hills has been synonymous with glamour. Burberry, Saint Laurent and a refreshed Salvatore Ferragamo flagship recently joined grandes dames such as Cartier and Chanel on Rodeo Drive. Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard anchor the retail district’s south end. Old-school celebrities descend from manses north of Sunset Boulevard or in adjacent Bel-Air and Holmby Hills to dine with their agents at the Polo Lounge or Bouchon, and they get their cultural fix at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Neighboring Westwood is home to UCLA and the Geffen Playhouse, while to the south, Culver City offers a hip arts district and dining scene, plus access to downtown via Metro’s expanding Expo light-rail line.
Downtown Downtown is on the rise. Stylish new shops and restaurants are opening daily, and the new Broad museum draws crowds to a stretch of Grand Avenue already boasting the Music Center (home to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum), Grand Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Staples Center-adjacent L.A. Live, featuring Microsoft Theater, Club Nokia and the Grammy Museum, and the Figat7th complex offer dining, shopping and entertainment. Culturally rich Olvera Street, Chinatown and Little Tokyo, as well as the jewelry, flower, art and fashion districts, are other draws. The Expo Line connects downtown to Exposition Park, where the space shuttle Endeavour is on display at the California Science Center.
Malibu Miles of L.A.’s most picturesque beaches (Zuma and Surfrider, to name just two) and impressive beachfront homes dominate Malibu’s rugged coast. Pacific Coast Highway is lined with restaurants such as Mastro’s Ocean Club and Nobu Malibu, both of which command spectacular coastal views and serve some of L.A.’s finest fare. The ’Bu is also a shopper’s playground, boasting such destinations as Malibu Country Mart, with Cali-chic shops including Curve, Madison and Chrome Hearts, and the adjacent Malibu Lumber Yard, home to Intermix and Maxfield. Both the wild spaces and the shopping centers are ripe for spotting celebrities. Also enticing are the nearby bohemian enclave of Topanga and tony Pacific Palisades, home of Will Rogers State Historic Park and the splendid architecture, art and gardens of the Getty Villa, the Getty Center’s sister venue.
LONG BEACH & SAN PEDRO Some 22 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach’s busy harbor is the permanent home of the Queen Mary, now a floating— supposedly haunted—hotel, event and dining destination. Among other attractions are the worldclass Aquarium of the Pacific, the Long Beach Performing Arts Center and the Pike Outlets. Lively dining and nightlife spots beckon along Pine Avenue and 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, while vintage shops pack East 4th Street’s “Retro Row.” In neighboring San Pedro, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium at windsurfer-friendly Cabrillo Beach offers hands-on attractions, Ports O’ Call Village features shops and restaurants, and the decommissioned USS Iowa welcomes museumgoers aboard at the Port of Los Angeles.
From left: courtesy beverly hills cvb; ashok sinha; Edwin Santiago; christopher ian smith
Los Angeles County comprises MANY cities and communities. HERE ARE THE MOST VISITED.
70 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 70
12/16/15 12:42 PM
A Los AngeLes originAL... since 1934 L.A.’s FAVORITE sHOPPING & DINING DEsTINATION For over 82 years, The Original Farmers Market has delivered exceptional shopping, fresh food and fond memories to locals and visitors alike. This bustling “must-see” landmark features an ecletic mix of over 100 specialty shops, artisan grocers, and world-class restaurants in an al-fresco setting. Open daily.
6333 W. Third ST. • LoS AngeLeS • 323.933.9211 • fArmerSmArkeTLA.com #fArmerSmArkeTLA Insta
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 71
12/17/15 3:44 PM
VENICE Muscle Beach and Ocean Front Walk remain two of Venice’s top tourist attractions, but just a few blocks inland is Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where style-savvy locals and crowds of visitors-in-the-know shop and dine. Here, alongside quaint bungalows and contemporary lofts, independently owned boutiques such as Tortoise General Store and Heist mix with highend chains such as Vince and Rag & Bone, plus trendy restaurants that include Gjelina, Salt Air and the Tasting Kitchen. Nearby Rose Avenue is coming up, too, thanks to hot dining spots like Rose CaféRestaurant and a gaggle of boutiques (nearby Google Los Angeles probably doesn’t hurt). Along Main Street, which parallels the beach and extends into Santa Monica, are more dining, drinking and retail destinations, including style-setting III Luxury Collective.
SANTA MONICA Santa Monica’s 3.5 miles of world-famous coastline are a shopper’s, diner’s and surfer’s paradise. Draws include Santa Monica Pier, with its attractionpacked Pacific Park, as well as the Annenberg Community Beach House and its historic Marion Davies Guest House. Inland, enjoy upscale shopping and dining on swanky Montana Avenue and laidback Main Street. More boutiques and eateries, plus your favorite trendy chains, populate downtown’s Third Street Promenade, whose three-block pedestrian stretch terminates at the openair Santa Monica Place shopping center and its new ArcLight Cinemas. For dining and nightlife, hot destinations include Blue Plate Oysterette and Red O near the pier, and Ox & Son on Montana.
SILVER LAKE & LOS FELIZ These enclaves east of Hollywood draw the hip, young creative set to their indie boutiques, dive bars, music clubs and market-driven cafés (Sqirl and Moby’s new vegan spot, Little Pine, for example). Sunset Junction, where you’ll find Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea and a smattering of charming boutiques, is Silver Lake’s epicenter of cool. A similarly eclectic vibe reverberates along Vermont and Hillhurst avenues in neighboring Los Feliz, where Little Dom’s and 24-hour diner Fred 62 serve casual eats. To the north, Griffith Park offers miles of trails, Travel Town, the L.A. Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Autry Museum, the Greek Theatre and the iconic Griffith Observatory. Design lovers can appreciate the array of midcentury-modern homes by renowned architects Richard Neutra and Frank Lloyd Wright.
WEST HOLLYWOOD Design, fashion, dining, nightlife—West Hollywood has it all. Marc by Marc Jacobs and new Rebecca Minkoff are favorites on Melrose Avenue, while Irene Neuwirth, Zimmermann, the Apartment by the Line and the Row are newer additions to Melrose Place. To the south, West 3rd Street hosts indie boutiques and cafés. Nearby, the Grove and the adjacent Farmers Market comprise an all-in-one dining, shopping and entertainment destination. The Pacific Design Center at San Vicente Boulevard and Melrose Avenue anchors the showroom-packed West Hollywood Design District, bounded by Beverly Boulevard to the south. To the north, the fabled Sunset Strip buzzes after dark with clubs, bars and restaurants including notable newcomers Roku, Maia and Estrella.
FROM LEFT: dale berman; N. Wheeler; edwin santiago; matt hartman
Neighborhoods
7 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 72
12/16/15 4:00 PM
OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAY TONA
rolex
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 73
oyster perpetual, cosmograph and daytona are trademarks.
12/17/15 3:54 PM
PASADENA The city of Pasadena brims with cultural attractions. Art lovers can visit local institutions such as the Norton Simon Museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art and the USC Pacific Asia Museum, and families can get hands-on at the Kidspace Children’s Museum. The annual Tournament of Roses is a huge draw, and the historic Arts and Crafts-style Gamble House is an architectural highlight. The Rose Bowl Flea Market lures treasure hunters, and the science-minded can tour Caltech, as well as NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge. Downtown, historic Old Pasadena bustles with dining spots and chic boutiques such as Cop. Copine and Finn + Willow in the burgeoning One Colorado shopping complex. In nearby San Marino, the Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens encompasses 120 acres.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Nicknamed “Valley of the Stars,” the San Fernando Valley is home to the top names in the entertainment industry. Because the biggest film studios in the county are here, it’s more Hollywood than Hollywood itself. Free TV audience tickets and backlot tours at studios including Warner Bros. offer a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry. Universal CityWalk and the adjacent Universal Studios Hollywood draw visitors with tours, thrill rides, restaurants, nightclubs, novelty stores and other attractions. Charming shopping and trendy dining options abound in downtown Burbank, vintage haven Magnolia Park, Toluca Lake, North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District and along Ventura Boulevard in Studio City.
HOLLYWOOD There’s hardly a block of Tinseltown that hasn’t been photographed and splashed across a movie screen, which is why visitors arrive en masse. They flock to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and restored movie theaters such as El Capitan Theatre and TCL Chinese Theatre to get a piece of the (lights, camera,) action. Hollywood & Highland provides even more opportunities to tap into the Hollywood experience past and present, offering shopping and dining, plus the Dolby Theatre, site of the Academy Awards. Meanwhile, locals hit the club scene along Hollywood and Cahuenga boulevards, enjoy new releases at ArcLight Cinemas and take in live music alfresco at the beloved Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. discover more by picking up where los angeles magazine and downloading the WHERE traveler city guide app
South Bay Miles of waves, white sand and an oceanfront bike/pedestrian path beckon surfers, volleyball players and other fitness buffs to Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, where laidback, seaside charm meets big-city style. Stylish boutiques such as Cami and Wright’s in Manhattan and Gum Tree in Hermosa entice discerning shoppers. Top-notch restaurants include Little Sister, the Strand House, Love & Salt and M.B. Post in Manhattan, and a lively bar and club scene near Hermosa and Redondo’s piers keeps the “Beach Cities” humming at night. Farther south, Terranea Resort and Trump National Golf Club perch on Palos Verdes Peninsula’s rugged ocean bluffs. The Point in El Segundo is new, offering prime retail and dining in the shadow of LAX.
From left: ian white; edwin santiago; courtesy la phil; benjamin ginsberg
Neighborhoods
74 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 74
12/16/15 1:16 PM
DeBeth
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 75 DeBethune_DB25QP_10x10in.indd 1
12/17/15 3:55 PM 12.11.15 18:05
15_2177_LAX_AD_WhereGuest2Pg_FNL3.indd 070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 76 1
12/17/15 3:56 PM
070-077_NEIGHBORHOODS_GBLA16.indd 77
11/13/15 3:57 4:33 PM PM 12/17/15
SHOP DINE REL A X … M AKE MEMORIES
NORDSTROM • BARNEYS NEW YORK • TOPSHOP TOPMAN • AMERICAN GIRL PLACE • APPLE • HONEST BEAUTY • NIKE THE GROVE • SEPHORA MICHAEL KORS • COACH • ANTHROPOLOGIE • J.CREW MENS SHOP • UGG ® AUSTRALIA • BARNES & NOBLE • VINCE • M·A·C COSMETICS THE WHISPER RESTAURANT • UMAMI BURGER • SPRINKLES CUPCAKES • LA PIAZZA RISTORANTE ITALIANO • BLUE RIBBON SUSHI BAR & GRILL MORE STORES AND RESTAURANTS OPENING IN 2016 FA R M E R ’ S M A R K E T A D J A C E N T 1 8 9 T H E G R O V E D R I V E • L O S A N G E L E S , C A L I F O R N I A 90 036 • 32 3 -90 0 -80 80 • T H E G R O V E L A .C O M
078-079_SHOPPING OPENER_GBLA16.indd 78
12/11/15 3:30 PM
spending time
THE HELMUT LANG FLAGSHIP STORE IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, COURTESY HELMUT LANG
SHOPPING WHAT SEDUCES HOLLYWOOD SEDUCES THE WORLD—A FACT NOT LOST ON INTERNATIONAL FASHION HOUSES. ACCORDINGLY, DESIGNERS TO THE STARS POSITION THEIR BOUTIQUES ACROSS LOS ANGELES’ TONIEST SHOPPING DISTRICTS, FROM RODEO DRIVE TO MELROSE PLACE AND BEYOND. THE GLOBAL INFLUENCE OF THE COUNTY’S HOMEGROWN BRANDS COMPLETES THE L.A. STORY.
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 7 9
078-079_SHOPPING OPENER_GBLA16.indd 79
12/11/15 3:30 PM
Look book From eclectic West Hollywood to chic Beverly Hills, there’s something for every shopper in Los Angeles’ retail bounty.
GarretT leight California optical
Anine Bing
to d d r e e d E lisab e th we i n stock
alch e m y wo r ks Esquivel
curve westime
The sleek new West 3rd Street flagship store from Danish-born designer, model and blogger Anine Bing complements her refined bohemian designs. Look for leather pants, knit sweaters, rockin’ booties and sharp accessories like this ontrend wool and suede wide-brim hat. 323.424.3165, aninebing.com If you came to L.A. in search of an anaconda surfboard or statement piece like the snakeskin bucket bag pictured here, make your first stop the opulent West Hollywood boutique of Elisabeth Weinstock, an accessories and home designer specializing in exotic skins. 323.655.3000, elisabethweinstock.com Like the Vern lace-up boot shown here, shoe designer George Esquivel’s design studio-turnedstore on West 3rd Street evokes the quiet luxury of made-to-order style. Celebrities, musicians and shoe lovers alike appreciate the handcrafted footwear’s unexpected details. 714.670.2200, esquivelshoes.com Are you the Vixen, the Intellectual or the Eccentric? Find out at Curve on Robertson Boulevard, where personal stylists and an inspiring selection of international and local designs— including fine jewelry by L.A.-based Arik Kastan, whose cigar band is pictured here—await. 310.360.8008, shopcurve.com Between its three local stores, the family-owned watch and jewelry retailer Westime carries 40 brands of covetable timepieces, including Breitling, Zenith, Bulgari and Harry Winston. A selection of new Omegas, including the Speedmaster Moonwatch Anniversary Limited Series model pictured here, is special to the West Hollywood location. 310.289.0808, westime.com
80 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
080-081_LOOKBOOK_GBLA16.indd 80
12/16/15 1:18 PM
Elyse Walker’s ready-to-wear collection, ThePerfext, includes plenty of fringe (case in point: this jacket), clean-lined outerwear and cashmere sweaters, all of which fit right in with the racks of well-appointed designer clothing and accessories in her eponymous Pacific Palisades store. 310.230.8882, elysewalker.com When referring to his women’s Starburst Collection, jewelry designer David Yurman says, “It’s about excitement, the feeling you get when you see fireworks.” The pictured Starburst pendant necklace with diamonds and rubellite tourmaline, available at the designer’s Beverly Hills boutique, will no doubt excite any woman. 310.888.8618, davidyurman.com
DAV I D Y U R M A N
Escape the Melrose bustle at Eric Buterbaugh Florals, where the florist to the stars has created a cornucopia of blooming pleasures. The conceptual art deco boutique features an art gallery with rotating floral-themed exhibitions as well as Buterbaugh’s floral-inspired collection of unisex fragrances, which includes the delicate and clean Fragile Violet seen here. 323.651.9844, ebflorals.com “Looking sexy and feeling comfortable” is a Stuart Weitzman hallmark, and his Beverly Hills shoe shop carries an unparalleled collection of timeless and eye-catching styles. Favorites include the best-selling 5050 over-the-knee boot and the sky-high Nudist sandal, a limited-edition version of which is pictured here. 310.860.9600, stuartweitzman.com A looking-glass facade welcomes luxury-frame seekers to Cutler and Gross in West Hollywood—the iconic British eyewear brand’s second American store. Count on finding distinguished specs and glamorous sunglasses, like the Mai Tai style here. Try on some vintage styles for fun. And you can always go with a smart pair made especially for you. 424.777.0496, cutlerandgross.com
E LY S E WA L K E R
CUTLER AND GROSS
S T UA R T W E I T Z M A N
E R I C B U T E R B AU G H FLOR AL S
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 8 1
080-081_LOOKBOOK_GBLA16.indd 81
12/11/15 4:00 PM
SHOPPING SHOPPING DESTINATIONS
THE VILLAGE AT WESTFIELD TOPANGA
SHOPPING INSIDE AND OUT In L.A. County, many shopping centers are not mere malls: They’re indoor-outdoor retail, dining and entertainment oases. The Grove and the Americana at Brand, for example, bring coveted brands like Apple and Kiehl's together with alfresco cafés, a trolley and a dancing fountain. Malibu Country Mart and adjacent Malibu Lumber Yard are popular celeb hangouts, with a children’s play area alongside upscale boutiques like Madison and Curve. The Point gathers insider-y L.A. restaurants and shops around a grassy plaza in the South Bay, and the Village at Westfield Topanga draws locals and visitors alike with trendy stores, outdoor events and amenities like a weekly farmers market. Meanwhile, Westfield Century City is in the midst of an $800 million-plus renovation that includes a flagship Nordstrom, the West Coast's first Eataly and tree-shaded paths and plazas.
H THE AMERICANA AT BRANDCL9000006279 The Americana, from the creators of The Grove and inspired by a 1930s downtown, comprises some 40 retailers, more than a dozen restaurants and the 18-screen Pacific Theatres. Notable offerings include Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak and David Yurman, Lacoste and Tory Burch boutiques. 889 Americana Way, Glendale, 818.637.8982, americanaatbrand.com H BEVERLY CENTERCL0000022205 A top Southern California fashion destination, Beverly Center features more than 100 specialty boutiques, including luxury retailers Gucci, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo; contemporary brands Halston Heritage, Sandro and Maje; and trendy favorites Uniqlo and H&M. Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s anchor the center. 8500 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 310.854.0070, beverlycenter.com BRENTWOOD COUNTRY MART The collection of cool boutiques at this barn-styled shopping center draws celebs who live in nearby mansions. Among winning picks are delicate jewelry at Broken English, unique dresses at Calypso St. Barth and denim at Unionmade. 225 26th St., Santa Monica, brentwoodcountrymart.com H CITADEL OUTLETSCL904031 The Citadel, in a former factory inspired by an ornate Assyrian palace, is the only outlet center in L.A. Its 130 premium stores include Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Nike, Levi's, Ann Taylor, Coach and Kate Spade New York, offering 30 to 70 percent off retail prices. 100 Citadel Drive, L.A., 323.888.1724, citadeloutlets.com
H THE GROVECL0000022207 Inspired by a grand old downtown, complete with a trolley and central fountain, this wildly popular outdoor center has more than 50 shops including Topshop Topman, Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Paige and Vince, plus some 10 restaurants and a cinema. Historic Farmers Market is adjacent. 189 The Grove Drive, L.A., 323.900.8080, thegrovela.com HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND Home of the Dolby Theatre and the Academy Awards, this Tinseltown-themed retail, dining and entertainment center features high-tech bowling, restaurants, a nightclub, state-of-the-art cinemas and dozens of specialty shops including Louis Vuitton and Sephora. 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.467.6412, hollywoodandhighland.com MALIBU COUNTRY MARTCL9000006282 New shops are constantly being added to the list of around 40 boutique tenants at this longtime shopping favorite. Pick up boots at Bed/ Stu, shades at Oliver Peoples, swimwear at Letarte and rock ’n’ roll jewelry at Chrome Hearts. 3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.456.7300, malibucountrymart.com MALIBU LUMBER YARD0133 This small collection of upscale retailers is adjacent to Malibu Country Mart and includes Alice + Olivia, Maxfield, J.Crew, Lorna Jane, Vilebrequin and Alexis Bittar. 3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, themalibulumberyard.com ONE COLORADO0133 A top Old Pasadena destination, One Colorado offers a charming
shopping and dining experience amid a collection of 17 historic buildings featuring cobblestone walkways and wrought-iron details. Equally beguiling is its mix of retailers, which includes OSKA, Finn + Willow and Cop. Copine. 41 Hugus Alley, Old Pasadena, 626.564.1066, onecolorado.com ONTARIO MILLS With 1.7 million square feet, Ontario Mills is California’s largest outletshopping destination. Among its 200-plus stores are Polo Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger Company Store, as well as anchors Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Nordstrom Rack and Neiman Marcus Last Call—plus a 30-screen cineplex. 1 Mills Circle, Ontario, 909.484.8300, ontariomills.com THE POINTC0000022215 This new South Bay shopping center features on-trend retailers including Planet Blue, Prana and Madewell; top L.A. eateries such as Mendocino Farms and Superba Food + Bread; and fitness studio SoulCycle. It's all centered around a pretty outdoor plaza. 1850 S. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo, 310.414.5280, thepointsb.com SANTA MONICA PLACECL9000006920 A glittering three-level, open-air center anchors Third Street Promenade. The growing list of upscale retailers includes a Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and some 50 specialty boutiques, such as Nike and Aesop. The rooftop Dining Deck features a food court, restaurants and a gourmet marketplace, and ArcLight Cinemas is a new draw. 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 310.260.8333, santamonicaplace.com
H STARRED LISTINGS ARE FEATURED GUESTBOOK ADVERTISERS. 8 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 82
12/16/15 12:26 PM
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 83
12/11/15 4:11 PM
H WESTFIELD AT LAXCL0000022215 Travelers flying out of LAX can enjoy some of L.A.’s top retail and dining, curated by Westfield, in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, as well as in Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 6. Shopping and dining options include Fred Segal, La Brea Bakery, MAC Cosmetics, Porsche Design, Rock & Brews, SeaLegs Wine Bar, Spanx, Tumi and Wolfgang Puck. 380 World Way, L.A., 310.646.1770, westfieldatlax.com
A MINI M.A.C. BAG BY REBECCA MINKOFF
H SOUTH COAST PLAZACL0000022212 International destination South Coast Plaza is a mecca of designer retail, from more affordable stores—Tory Burch, Lacoste, J.Crew—to some of the most exclusive brands: Gucci, Hermès and Balenciaga, to name a few. Amenities include personal shopper/stylist services. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888, southcoastplaza.com SUNSET PLAZACL0000022212 “Chic” is the word at this upscale row of designer boutiques, sidewalk cafés and specialty shops. Browse high-end stores such as Calleen Cordero, H. Lorenzo and Wildfox, then get pampered at Ole Henriksen Face/Body spa, Eden by Eden Sassoon and Jessica Nail Clinic. 8600-8700 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.2622, sunsetplaza.com THIRD STREET PROMENADECL0000022203 The cobblestone pedestrian-only shopping zone spans three blocks, from Broadway to Wilshire Boulevard. Watch street artists performing with all
manner of talents, dine at a street-side restaurant and shop in stores including Zara, Anthropologie, Nasty Gal and Sephora. 1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, 310.393.8355, downtownsm.com H TWO RODEOCL0000022214 In the heart of Beverly Hills’ worldrenowned shopping district is Two Rodeo, an ensemble of restaurants and boutiques offering distinctive dining, fine wares and haute fashion. Luxury brands include Lanvin, Versace, Tiffany & Co. and Jimmy Choo. 9480 Dayton Way, Beverly Hills, 310.247.7040, 2rodeo.com THE VILLAGE AT WESTFIELD TOPANGAC0000022215 This gorgeous open-air lifestyle destination directly across the street from Westfield Topanga shopping center (with trolley service connecting the two) offers trendy shops, restaurants with alfresco dining, a fullservice gym, a spa, a yoga studio, a weekly farmers market, a children’s
H WESTFIELD CENTURY CITYC0000022215 This pleasant open-air mall—already a fashion and dining destination, thanks to stores like Tiffany & Co. and Bloomingdale’s—is open for business while undergoing an $800 million redevelopment (set to open in phases in late 2016 and early 2017) that includes Nordstrom’s three-level L.A. flagship store, the first West Coast Eataly and 8 acres of manicured outdoor space featuring a new outdoor dining district. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A., 310.277.3898, westfieldtravelcollection.com WEST HOLLYWOOD DESIGN DISTRICT The epicenter of the West Coast’s design industry, this lively district boasts more than 1.5 million square feet of showrooms, shops and galleries. More than 15 art galleries, 100 antique and contemporary furniture stores, 25 restaurants and cafés, and 30 high-end fashion and lifestyle boutiques line the boulevards. Melrose Avenue and Robertson and Beverly boulevards, West Hollywood, westhollywooddesigndistrict.com
SHOPS + BOUTIQUES
A + RCL9000006283 Design products at A + R are functional, artful and heavy on wit. Owned by former film editor Andy Griffith and fashion journalist Rose Apodaca
(hence “A plus R”), the store offers internationally sourced home products, gifts and objets d’art, often high concept and always superstylish. 171 S. La Brea Ave., L.A., 323.692.0086, aplusrstore.com H ABUNDANCECL0000022217 This feminine, upscale boutique for women size 12 and up carries classic clothing with flair. Citron, Astarte and Tianello are among the featured designers. For dressy occasions, look for gowns and eveningwear from brands such as Damianou and Tadashi. 13604 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 818.990.6128, abundanceplussizes.com ALEXIS BITTAR Alexis Bittar’s jewelry designs always make a splash, whether the statement is colorful and whimsical or minimal and practical. Two boutiques, opened simultaneously in L.A., illustrate his dichotomous design sense. Also find his designs at the Malibu Lumber Yard. 8383 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.951.9803; 1612 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.452.6901. alexisbittar.com ACNE STUDIOS The arrival of this cult-favorite Swedish retailer in downtown L.A.’s historic Eastern Columbia Building— the brand’s largest store—signaled a retail renaissance along Broadway. Find accessories, denim staples and experimental fashions for men and women, plus an in-store Il Caffè coffee bar. 855 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.243.0960, acnestudios.com AMERICAN RAG CIE This legendary one-stop shop outfits men and women in complete L.A.chic ensembles. Clothing ranges from a carefully chosen vintage section to premium Levi’s Made & Crafted to the cult-favorite Japanese label Comme des Garçons Play. The wide range of designer denim, shoes, bags and sunglasses can be mesmerizing. Adjoining Maison Midi features French
COURTESY REBECCA MINKOFF
play area and much more. 6250 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818.594.8732, westfield.com
8 4 WH ER E G U ESTBOO K
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 84
12/16/15 12:30 PM
L.A. STYLE OUTLET SAVINGS
Coach Michael Kors Kate Spade TUMI Hugo Boss A| X Disney Tommy Hilfiger Nike Levis
There is a style that is uniquely Los Angeles. Effortless, defined by this place where dreams come true and trends are born. Find Your L.A. Style at Citadel Outlets. A truly World Class shopping experience, with over 130 stores full of big brand style and fashion-conscious savings. It’s so L.A.— and only minutes from downtown.
CitadelOutlets.com I-5 at Atlantic Blvd. exit.
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 85
12/11/15 4:11 PM
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 86
12/11/15 4:11 PM
ROBIN’S JEAN TAKE FLIGHT AT THE BEVERLY CENTER
P
remium denim brand Robin’s Jean has opened its eighth flagship store in Los Angeles at the Beverly Center, Southern California’s premier fashion destination mall.This is the brand’s third flagship store in Southern California, joining the Beverly Hills location which opened in 2011 and Laguna Beach which debuted in 2013. The ambiance of the stores encapsulate Robin’s cool biker-chic aesthetic which is enhanced by vintage signage and decor that reflects the style of each region. In true Robin’s Jean fashion, the 1,600 sq. foot Beverly Center space showcases a collection of highend jeans, jackets, tops, hats, accessories and footwear for men, women and kids. In addition to the edgy and stylish brand, the store includes a selection of well-edit-
ed mix of avant-garde designer pieces. Designer Robin Chretien founded the brand in Los Angeles in 2005 to express his vision and passion for denim. In just ten years, he has built the brand of his dreams. Each pair of jeans is made with incredible attention to detail and craftsmanship. In addition to the hand-crafted denim, each store is envisioned and designed by Chretien. Today, Robin’s Jean is sought after by a cult-like following of celebrities, fashion stylists, and urban-trendsetters whose work and play blend effortlessly. COMING TO AMERICA Robin arrived in Los Angeles in 1996. His skills and talent caught the eye of the city’s premier denim com-
panies in la. At a time when most denim was designed around basic styles, Robin’s attention to fabrics, washes and detail made him a rising star. He became known as the man with the Midas touch and it was’t long before his reputation began to soar. THE ESSENCE OF ROBIN’S JEAN Symbolized by gold wings, Robin’s Jean captures Robin’s dream of freedom and flight. “Wearing a pair of Robin’s Jean makes you feel alive, free, spontaneous, and able to do anything you put your heart and soul into,” says Robin. g Experience Robin’s Jean at one of the 10 locations. For more information visit robinsjean.com.
THE DENIM PIONEER. THE VISIONARY. THE FATHER. THE LEADER. Robin loves living in America. He is fascinated with the Amerian Indian, the warrior spirit and the fight for freedom. A lover at heart, his soul lives for the freedom of the open road and the big sky. His passion for motorcycles, vintage cars and old school cinema beame the omtivation for the new brand.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 87
12/11/15 4:11 PM
CHARLOTTE OLYMPIACL0000022222 Watch the red carpet closely and you’ll notice the shoe-savviest of celebrities stepping out in vertiginous pumps with distinctive spiderweb-stamped soles. Thanks to its 1,250-squarefoot Beverly Hills boutique, you can find all of Charlotte Olympia Dellal’s shoe and handbag collections in one glamorous spot. 474 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.276.1111, charlotteolympia.com
KJAER WEIS COSMETICS, AVAILABLE AT VIOLET GREY ON MELROSE PLACE
home decor, furniture and gift items, plus a café that’s perfect for a postshopping repast. 150 S. La Brea Ave., L.A., 323.935.3154, amrag.com THE APARTMENT BY THE LINE New York-based online retail store the Line chose Melrose Place for its second offline home. Designed as an elegant residence, the shop’s rooms offer chic fashion and home, beauty and art goods such as Sophie Buhai jewelry and beautiful textiles from the store’s home-goods label, Tenfold. 8463 Melrose Place, second floor, L.A., 323.746.5056, theline.com AUDEMARS PIGUET This three-level boutique displays the full range of venerable Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet’s timepiece collection, including the Royal Oak, Millenary and Royal Oak Offshore lines. Visitors can also discover a watchmaker corner, learn about the creation of Audemars Piguet watches through a “virtual manufacture” experience and relax with a beverage
in the top-level lounge. 254 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.247.8181, audemarspiguet.com BROKEN ENGLISHCL9000006286 This gem boasts jewelry from cuttingedge designers including Colette, Anita Ko and Spinelli Kilcollin, as well as one-of-a-kind vintage finds. Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., Santa Monica, 310.458.2724, brokenenglishjewelry.com BURNING TORCH The L.A.-based lifestyle brand known for its bohemian-luxe clothes and accessories looks right at home in its new flagship boutique on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Find washedleather jackets and cozy cashmere alongside antique and vintage home goods. 1227 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.399.1920, burningtorchinc.com CHARIOTS ON FIRE Embracing “modern as an attitude rather than a style,” this lovely spe-
CLARE V. Clare Vivier’s Silver Lake flagship boutique and newer Santa Monica and Melrose Avenue outposts feature her line of brightly colored, minimalist handbags, accessories and gadget cases, made locally since 2008, plus a small selection of soft T-shirts, jewelry and other lifestyle items. 3339 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., 323.665.2476; 1318A Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 310.395.3079; 619 N. Croft Ave., West Hollywood, 323.592.3115, clarev.com H CLOTHES HEAVEN Specializing in new and gently worn designer resale merchandise, Clothes Heaven offers pieces from such highend names as Gucci, Chanel, Versace and Prada. Savvy stylists contribute to a fun, high-energy and personalized shopping experience. 111 E. Union St., Pasadena, 626.440.0929, clothesheaven.com H COP. COPINE This chic boutique in Old Pasadena’s One Colorado shopping complex brings a piece of Paris to L.A. Shop the cult-favorite French brand’s effortless-yet-cool designs for women. Its garments are
made with such attention to quality that only a limited number of each piece is produced. 12 Douglas Alley, Pasadena, 626.796.1985, cop-copineus.com CURVE Discover inspiring new clothing lines in Curve’s well-curated collection. Creations by local designers hang alongside such international favorites as Carven and Giada Forte. The airy Robertson boutique and newer Malibu Country Mart location are favorites with starlets and well-heeled locals alike. 154 N. Robertson Blvd., L.A., 310.360.8008; 3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.456.9944, shopcurve.com DECADESCL0000022229 Decades is a fashion shrine where everything is for sale. Even designer junkies get tired of their clothes, and they bring them to this boutique. Find the best of vintage and recent years’ styles, from Chanel earrings to Hermès bags to Yves Saint Laurent dresses. 8214 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.655.1960, decadesinc.com EGGYCL0000333537 There’s a fine line between cute and cutesy; luckily, children’s boutique Eggy skews to the former. Owner Jenny An selects pieces that look like teeny versions of clothing a kid’s hip parents might wear: peplum tops and bubble shorts for girls, and army jackets and blazers for boys. 8365 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.658.8882, shopeggy.com FRED SEGALCL0000022234 From its locations on Melrose Avenue and in Santa Monica, what may be L.A.’s most famous store (it dates back to 1960) has spawned myriad international trends, and has now gone global with expansion to Japan. Also find a Fred Segal in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal. 8118 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood; 420 Broadway, Santa Monica, fredsegal.com
COURTESY KJAER WEIS
cialty shop boasts jewelry by Polly Wales and Marion Vidal, sculptures by Utopia & Utility and much more. Looking for a made-in-L.A. gift? Many makers and artists represented here are locals. 1342 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.3088, chariotsonfire.com
8 8 WH ER E G U ESTBOO K
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 88
12/16/15 12:32 PM
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 89
12/11/15 4:11 PM
A TENFOLD SOAPSTONE TRAY, AVAILABLE AT THE APARTMENT BY THE LINE ON MELROSE PLACE
GARDE “Gift shop” seems too pedestrian a label for Garde, which exudes an earthy sophistication and gallerylike air. Yet each item here, including diamond-flecked Nancy Newberg jewelry, copper Tom Dixon coffeepots and Michael Verheyden marble home goods, is perfect for giving and getting. 7418 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.424.4667, gardeshop.com
for its pared-down, elegant aesthetic, debuted in the West Hollywood Design District last year. The sunny space houses the women’s ready-to-wear collection, footwear and the brand’s cult-favorite signature fragrances. The original Brentwood store carries the men’s collection, too. 8808 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310.623.1900; 13038 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, 310.587.9271, helmutlang.com
GUM TREECL9000006294 Housed in a quaint, bright bungalow, this boutique is as refreshing as a sea breeze. In addition to an adjoining café and tons of beachy housewares is a pitch-perfect selection of accessories including Zoe Chicco earrings and Chan Luu scarves. Adorable Gum Tree Kids is just up the street at 323 Pier Ave. 238 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, 310.376.8744, gumtreela.com
H. LORENZOL0000022236 Two stores on Sunset offer one of L.A.’s most comprehensive shopping experiences while maintaining a boutique atmosphere. At the women’s location, you'll find designs by Issey Miyake and Plein Sud. At the men’s, find Damir Doma and Hood by Air. A third location, on Robertson, carries merchandise for both men and women. 8660 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.659.1432; 8646 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.7039; 474 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.0064, hlorenzo.com
HELMUT LANGCL0000333553 The new U.S. flagship of Helmut Lang, the fashion brand renowned
H HUBLOT The luxury watch brand sells its high-end timepieces at this contemporary Swiss-designed boutique, including the limited-edition Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Beverly Hills and the Big Bang Vino in collaboration with Kobe Bryant. Head to the high-tech shop and browse its watches, displayed impressively in holographic rotating towers. 9470 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310.550.0595, hublot.com JENNI KAYNE Fans of contemporary designer and L.A. native Kayne include Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and MaryKate Olsen. Crisp silhouettes and a dash of edgy details characterize her clothing. The boutiques also carry other picks from the designer, including accessories and shoes, such as her signature mules and D'Orsay flats. 614 N. Almont Drive, West Hollywood, 310.860.0123; Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., Santa Monica, 424.268.4765, jennikayne.com JUST ONE EYE This “future concept store” brings together creative minds from the worlds of fashion, art and design to create an ultra-luxe retail experience in an art deco Hollywood building once home to Howard Hughes’ headquarters. International designers, artists and brands represented include Alexandre Vauthier, Re/Done, the Row, Jitrois, Nobuyoshi Araki and Damien Hirst. 7000 Romaine St., L.A., 323.969.9129, justoneeye.com
KELLY WEARSTLER In this flagship boutique from the renowned designer, find fine lifestyle products, luxury goods, furniture, curiosities, statement-making jewelry, vintage books and one-of-a-kind and bespoke designs from Wearstler’s own collections. 8440 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.895.7880, kellywearstler.com H KING BABY STUDIO An on-site jewelry factory (available for tours) in a cool industrial space featuring reclaimed Venice Pier planks makes a trip to this boutique no ordinary shopping experience. Here, skilled craftsmen create a variety of sterling-silver jewelry designs that have been worn by celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna. 1621 12th St., Santa Monica, 310.828.4438; 8590 Sunset Blvd., Suite 8.2, West Hollywood, 310.439.5939, kingbaby.com THE KOOPLESCL0000022243 This contemporary French fashion house's luxe, marble-lined West Coast flagship on Robertson Boulevard delights fans of its streamlined mensand womenswear. A second store is in Santa Monica Place. 100 S. Robertson Blvd., L.A., 424.335.0041; 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 310.434.1000, thekooples.com LE LABO The parfumerie’s hand-blended fragrances, developed from essences from Grasse, France, enjoy a cult following; now you can enjoy finding your signature scent. Black and white labels on the brand’s candles, lotions and perfumes share the boutique’s apothecarychic aesthetic. 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.581.2233; 8385 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.782.0411, lelabofragrances.com LOST & FOUND6 The beloved Hollywood store (actually six little storefronts under one roof) has expanded to Santa Monica.
COURTESY THE LINE
HUSET43 Gain a fresh perspective on Scandinavian design at Venice’s Huset. The sunny, modern shop showcases a range of furniture, home decor and kitchenware—brightly printed Almedahls tea towels, Swedese Ivy shelving—plus an array of kids’ items and bohemian clothing. 1316½ Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 424.268.4213, huset-shop.com
9 0 WH ER E G U ESTBOO K
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 90
12/16/15 12:34 PM
Find artisanal, globally inspired home goods and women’s fashions (including such earthy-luxe brands as Raquel Allegra and Nili Lotan), plus clothes for men and kids. 6320 Yucca St., Hollywood, 323.856.5872; 2230 Main St., Santa Monica, 310.450.9565; 2000 Main St., Santa Monica, 310.450.9782, lostandfoundshop.com MAXFIELDCL0000022249 Asked to pick his favorite stores in the world, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld named the exclusive Maxfield, a Melrose Avenue standout with a newer outpost in Malibu. This boutique is a legend, hosting names such as Céline, Saint Laurent and Libertine. 8825 Melrose Ave., L.A., 310.274.8800; Malibu Lumber Yard, 3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.270.9009, maxfieldla.com MOHAWK GENERAL STORE Find your own artsy look at this hip line of stores, where gems include Mansur Gavriel bags and Rachel Comey shoes. Men can shop for clothing from top-tier and emerging designers at the guys’ store, a stone’s throw from the Silver Lake women’s shop. 4011 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, 323.669.1601; 4017 W. Sunset Blvd., 323.669.1602 (men’s); 26 Smith Alley, Pasadena, 626.440.1603, mohawkgeneralstore.com H MTM SPECIAL OPS WATCHES Worn by such celebrities as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, MTM’s high-fashion military tactical watches integrate cutting-edge design and precise American technology. Designed, developed, engineered and assembled in L.A., these sophisticated timepieces add edge to any lifestyle. 1225 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 800.284.9487, specialopswatch.com NEIL LANE JEWELRYCL9000006297 All that glitters is gold, white gold, platinum or even diamond pavé
at Neil Lane Jewelry. The upscale jeweler most often cited on awardsceremony red carpets showcases celeb-worthy stunners at his flagship boutique off Melrose Place. 708 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.275.5015, neillanejewelry.com OKCL9000007022 Owner Larry Schaffer’s love of modern and Japanese design shines in a diverse but aesthetically harmonious assortment of ceramics, tableware, jewelry, art books and more. Some great finds: Gabriela Artigas Infinite Tusk earrings and Comme des Garçons wallets. 8303 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.653.3501; 1716 Silverlake Blvd., Silver Lake, 323.666.1868, okthestore.com OPENING CEREMONYCL9000006298 Taking its name and mission statement from the Olympics’ opening ceremony, this store showcases both American and international clothing designers. Lines include Rodarte, Acne Studios and Proenza Schouler. Sister store the Little House of Accessories is next door. 451 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.1120, openingceremony.us
Designer Resale at its Finest! Chanel, Hermès, LV, Prada, Gucci, Louboutin, Escada & more!
Clothes Heaven
Since 1983 111 E. Union St. Old Pasadena 626.440.0929 clothesheaven.com
H OSKACL0000333708 Minimalist shapes meet choice materials in the signature designs of this Germany-based womenswear company, with two area locations serving the modern L.A. woman. The OSKA look is understated and elegant, featuring easy, flattering cuts, an earthy palette and casual, fashionable comfort, all with a unique flair. 13 Douglas Alley, Pasadena, 626.432.1729, pasadena.oska.com; 9693 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.271.2806, beverlyhills.oska.com POKETO This cheerful shop has a flagship in downtown’s Arts District and an outpost in Koreatown’s the Line Hotel. Find such art- and design-driven wares as Hasami porcelain mugs, Aark watches and limited-edition vinyl art-
13604 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 818.990.6128 AbundancePlusSizes.com The only upscale boutique in greater Los Angeles for women size 12 and up. From comfortable to casual or dressy—classic to funky & fun. Abundance has it all!
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 91
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 91
12/17/15 3:59 PM
Original Works of Native American Indian Jewelry and Art
ist wallets. 820 E. 3rd St., downtown, 213.537.0751; the Line Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 213.381.7411, ext. 3076, poketo.com H PYRRHA This celebrity-favored boutique offers a collection of handcrafted jewelry cast from from wax impressions from the Victorian era, plus one-of-a-kind pieces rich in symbolism and inspiration. The whitewashed space is decorated with a mix of vintage and contemporary furniture and accessories. 8315 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.424.4807, pyrrha.com
Visitors from around the world seek out Taos Indian Trading Co. for unique, quality jewelry, pottery, sculptures, paintings and a variety of other artifacts representing 57 tribes.
Mon-Fri 11am-7pm Sat 11am-4pm
310.395.3652
403 Santa Monica Blvd. TaosIndianTrading.com
EVERYDAY IS ROSES
Taos_GBLA15_v1.indd 1
Grab your bestie, a cocktail, and a little culture.
Photographed at Magnolia House
REBECCA MINKOFFCL0035 The SoCal-raised, New York-based designer pairs her cool handbags, accessories, footwear, apparel and new athleisure line with smart technology (like interactive touch screens in the dressing rooms) at her West Hollywood boutique. Also find a shop-alongside-shop that serves as brother Uri Minkoff’s first flagship for his men’s accessories. 8335 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.451.7414, rebeccaminkoff.com
7/9/15 12:26 PM
visitpasadena.com
H ROBIN’S JEANCL0000333553 With a celebrity clientele that includes Alicia Keys and Kim Kardashian, Robin’s Jean combines comfort and sex appeal. Its collections, such as the Marilyn, pay homage to oldschool cinema chic with flattering cuts, unique washes and intricate details. Also featured are leather jackets and clothing for men and kids. 313 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.786.7813; Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd., L.A., robinsjean.com RON HERMANCL0000022256 This minichain’s three local outposts offer a snapshot of casual, chic style. Browse for fetching dresses by Equipment and Sundry, men’s denim from J Brand and Ron Herman Denim and jewelry by Carbon & Hyde and Khai Khai. 8100 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.651.4129; 11677 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, 310.207.0927;
3900 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.317.6705, ronherman.com THE ROWCL9000400166 Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen chose the upscale Melrose Place as the location for their high-end brand’s first boutique. Shop the designers’ relaxed and timelessly elegant ready-to-wear, handbags and eyewear in a space that feels like a Cali-cool home. 8440 Melrose Place, L.A., 310.853.1900, therow.com SATINE BOUTIQUECL0000022257 This is one sweet boutique, with sexy and funky fashions by European designers not often seen in L.A. stores. Well-chosen pieces from Kenzo and Vanessa Bruno are present, as are the season’s most coveted shoes, including styles by Modern Vice. 8134 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.655.2142; 1508 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.6218, satineboutique.com STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES Botanical perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis’ fragrances are crafted in-house from purely organic, wild-crafted, biodynamic and hydro-distilled essences. Visit her jewel-like boutique to select a scent from the intoxicating collection, which includes a line inspired by the signs of the zodiac. 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.314.1505, siperfumes.com H TAOS INDIAN TRADING CO. These fourth-generation Native American art dealers have amassed arts and crafts from artisans representing more than 57 tribes in North America. Nothing is mass-produced or commonly available—the store carries only one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings, rugs and sculptures. 403 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.395.3652, taosindiantradingco.com TENOVERSIXCL9000006313 Merchandise here is focused almost exclusively on those special little extras:
9 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 92
12/16/15 12:36 PM
shoes, handbags, scarves, lingerie, hats, jewelry and just about any other adornment you can imagine. The boutique stocks pieces from some 70 independent and emerging designers including Marlow Goods and Sechung. 8425 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.330.9355, tenover6.com VIOLET GREYCL0000022234 This petite boutique boasts hardto-find skin-care, hair-care and cosmetic lines, including RMS Beauty, Kjaer Weis, Rodin and T3, handpicked and rigorously tested by Hollywood’s top makeup artists, experts and influencers. 8452 Melrose Place, L.A., 323.782.9700, violetgrey.com H WESTIMECL0000022266 Westime specializes in top-of-theline timepieces and offers a range of classic mechanical watches, including rare and limited-edition styles. Luxury brands offered include Bell & Ross, Harry Winston and Breitling. Its West Hollywood location employs a full-time watchmaker. 3832 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.456.2555; 8569 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.289.0808; 216 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.888.8880, westime.com WITTMORE It’s a good time to be a fashionable man in Los Angeles. Witness: Wittmore, an online menswear retailer known for its global brands that now has two local brick-and-mortar shops. Levi’s Vintage Clothing, Reigning Champ and Outerknown are just a few of the some three dozen top-notch lines stocked. 8236 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.782.9791; the Yards at One Santa Fe, 300 S. Santa Fe Ave., Suite 10, downtown, 213.626.0780, shopwittmore.com
GALLERIES
BLUM & POE CL0000022267 Within the walls of the Culver City Arts District’s original settler and flagship gallery, you may find works by the likes of art-scene all-stars Sam Du-
rant, Sharon Lockhart, Jim Shaw and Takashi Murakami. The gallery celebrates art rather than entombs it and is famed for its festive openings. 2727 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.836.2062, blumandpoe.com COHEN GALLERYCL0000022279 The Cohen Gallery, specializing in vintage and contemporary photography (and photo-based art) from the Americas and Europe, opened in 1992. Proprietor Stephen Cohen also founded Artfairs Inc., which stages major fairs around the country including Photo L.A. 7354 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.937.5525, stephencohengallery.com DE RE GALLERY De Re Gallery founder Steph Sebbag deftly intermingles promising emerging and midcareer contemporary artists from Europe, New York and Los Angeles with established masters at his West Hollywood Design District gallery. 8920 Melrose Ave., L.A., 310.205.7959, deregallery.com GAGOSIAN GALLERYCL0000022271 The Los Angeles Times calls the venerated Gagosian Gallery, designed by architect Richard Meier, “a Mt. Olympus of the Los Angeles art world.” Blue-chip artists include Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly and Ed Ruscha. 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.271.9400, gagosian.com H GALERIE MICHAELCL0000022272 Galerie Michael specializes in European paintings, drawings and original prints from the 17th century to the present, including works by Marc Chagall, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Joan Miró. The gallery also carries works by significant painters of the Barbizon school. 224 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.273.3377, galeriemichael.com
FOR MORE TO EXPLORE, SEE WHERE LOS
Cop. Copine U.S. is more than just another fashion brand; it is simply one woman’s vision. As a physician/surgeon, entrepreneur, humanitarian, artist and a visionary with a heart, the founder behind Cop. Copine U.S., Dr. Lillie Mosaddegh has always expressed herself differently than the average physician. She believes a woman can be great at her profession without compromising her expression of self; whether through fashion or the gentleness of her spirit. As a dedicated customer of Cop. Copine for nearly 15 years, she knew that if Cop. Copine could make her happy given all of her lifestyle demands, it could make other U.S. women happy as well. Cop. Copine US is simply a piece of Paris in U.S. Cop. Copine takes pride in giving women unmatched quality in a Parisian design at prices that do not insult a woman's intelligence. This brand is all about attention to detail, in creating pieces that will stand the test of time, and it makes it easy to build a wardrobe over time. Cop. Copine does not discriminate against age, women of all ages can find great pieces to complement their unique lifestyle! 352 Sutter St. San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 989-9035
12 Douglas Alley Pasadena,CA 91103 (626) 796-1985
ANGELES MAGAZINE AND DOWNLOAD THE CITY GUIDES BY WHERE TRAVELER APP
www.Cop-CopineUS.com
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 9 3
082-093_SHOPPING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 93
12/16/15 12:40 PM
Excite Your Meat-a-ball-ism
raosla.com - 1006 Seward Street - 323-962-7267 Las Vegas
094-095_CHOWTIME OPENER_GBLA16.indd 94
Formerly the Hollywood Canteen Los Angeles
NewYork
12/11/15 4:14 PM
chow time
SMOKED FOIE GRAS ON BRIOCHE AT BESTIA, PHOTO BY SIERRA PRESCOTT
DINING L.A.’S DINING SCENE, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING IN THE WORLD, OFFERS CALIFORNIA, ETHNIC AND GLOBAL CUISINES. SINCE THE CITY IS THE CENTER OF POPULAR CULTURE IN AMERICA, ITS DINING SCENE REFLECTS THE MOST CURRENT TRENDS.
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 95
094-095_CHOWTIME OPENER_GBLA16.indd 95
12/11/15 4:14 PM
DINING
OUTSIDE IS IN In L.A., alfresco dining is possible all year long, and as a result, each new restaurant that opens seems to be competing for the title of prettiest patio. With a multitude of picturesque options to choose from, here are some of the city’s top spots to enjoy your meal en plein air, under twinkling lights or the shade of a tree. At Nobu Malibu, the progressive sushi of chef Nobu Matsuhisa is paired with stunning sunset views from an oceanfront deck. On Beverly Boulevard, Terrine’s festive California-brasserie vibe is best experienced in the fountain-laden courtyard anchored by a massive tree (above). At downtown’s Redbird, chef Neal Fraser’s cuisine is served in a courtyard dining room whose entire roof retracts, revealing the historic Cathedral of St. Vibiana. And at both its 3rd Street and Santa Monica locations, the Little Door’s romantic patios are the perfect place to enjoy fine French-Moroccan fare.
Angelini OsteriaCL00321 Italian. Neither elegant nor romantic, this is nonetheless one of L.A.’s premier Italian restaurants. Chef/ owner Gino Angelini demonstrates remarkable range and finesse, from sea-salt-crusted whole branzino to the heavenly lasagna in béchamel sauce, whose receipe he inherited from his grandmother. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su). 7313 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.297.0070, angeliniosteria.com A.O.C.CL0000022114 Mediterranean. Explore a Mediterranean-inspired menu at the eatery that pioneered two L.A. culinary trends: the small-plates format and the wine bar. Chef/owner Suzanne Goin offers addictive bacon-wrapped, Parmesan-stuffed dates and an excellent selection of cheeses and cured meats from a charcuterie bar. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 8700 W. 3rd St., L.A., 310.859.9859, aocwinebar.com the district by hannah anCL9000006247 Vietnamese. One of the celebrated An sisters—her family introduced Crustacean—celebrates her Vietnamese heritage with a cuisine that reflects authenticity while incorporating California sensibilities. Enjoy dishes like turmeric-crusted sea bass and lobster with noodles, as well as cocktails infused with Southeast Asian flavors. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 8722 W. 3rd St., L.A., 310.278.2345, thedistrictbyha.com Cecconi’sCL9000006247 Italian. This London-based restaurant caters to the well-heeled who
schmooze over Bellinis and cicchetti (small plates). Pastas including a beautiful agnolotti del plin and seafood such as grilled octopus with capers are well-executed. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 8764 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 310.432.2000, cecconiswesthollywood.com GustoCL9000400885 Italian. Chef Victor Casanova’s intimate neighborhood ristorante has a look and feel reminiscent of his native Bronx. Dishes such as polpette (pork meatballs) plated over chilled, whipped ricotta; charred baby octopus; and fresh-made pastas deserve praise. L (M-F), D (nightly). 8432 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.782.1778, gusto-la.com Ink.CL9000400886 American. Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio showcases daring, cerebral molecular gastronomy at his first restaurant. Create your own tasting menu or explore the constantly changing à la carte small plates. D (nightly). 8360 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.651.5866, mvink.com JarCL0000022151 American. Chef Suzanne Tracht presents an L.A. take on traditional, comforting American fare in a chic interpretation of an old-school chophouse. Diners might begin with crab deviled eggs before moving on to the signature pot roast. D (Tu-Su). 8225 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.655.6566, thejar.com The Little DoorCL9006257 French. For fine French-Moroccan cuisine served in a romantic atmosphere, the Little Door is the reservation ne plus ultra. At the West
3rd Street original, dine under the stars or by a crackling fireplace in one of the intimate dining areas. A location across from the Brentwood Country Mart boasts several private rooms, intimate alcoves and a main dining room featuring a retractable roof. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su in Santa Monica only). 8164 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.951.1210; 246 26th St., Santa Monica, 310.310.8064, thelittledoor.com LucquesCL0000022160 Mediterranean. Lauded chef/owner Suzanne Goin delivers the next generation of Cal-Med cuisine, which includes dishes such as grilled club steak for two with “potatoes parisienne.” Nowhere do vegetables taste as good! L (Tu-Sa), D (nightly). 8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.6277, lucques.com Pistola0400885 Italian. The newer sister restaurant to Victor Casanova’s excellent Gusto down the street gives classic Italian steakhouse fare a modern twist. Enjoy classic dishes such as shrimp scampi and veal parmigiana in an elegant, two-story space with a sleek, 1950s-New York feel. D (nightly). 8022 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.951.9800, pistola-la.com ProvidenceCL0000022181 Seafood. At this elegant restaurant, chef/owner Michael Cimarusti transforms sustainably caught seafood from the world’s most pristine waters into inventive dishes such as black bass with Oregon matsutake mushrooms. Outstanding cocktails complement Michelin-recognized cuisine. L (F), D (nightly). 5955 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.460.4170, providencela.com
ryan tanaka
Beverly Boulevard/3rd Street/Melrose Avenue
H Starred listings are featured GuestBook advertisers. 9 6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 96
12/16/15 2:14 PM
SON OF A GUNCL0000333513 Seafood. Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, the meat-loving chefs at Animal, turn to the sea for inspiration. They cook up small shareable plates such as hamachi with galbi vinaigrette and Pink Lady apples, miniature lobster rolls and shrimp-toast sandwiches with Sriracha-spiked mayo in a nautically themed space. L, D (daily). 8370 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.782.9033, sonofagunrestaurant.com TERRINE California. Comfortable, elevated California brasserie fare (moules frites, pizza with truffle cheese and sage) from chef Kris Morningstar. The patio, which is dominated by a magnificent tree and dotted with sparkling lights, is as romantic as they come. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 8265 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 323.746.5130, terrinela.com
BEVERLY HILLS THE BLVD46 CL0032C1 L0000022131 American. Enjoy all-day dining in an elegant dining room or a lively alfresco seating area overlooking Rodeo Drive. The lounge boasts an 18-foot illuminated onyx bar and a backlit wine display featuring more than 1,000 bottles. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Beverly Wilshire hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.385.3901, theblvdrestaurant.com BOUCHONCL9000006246 French. The Bouchon bistros from chef Thomas Keller (the French Laundry, Per Se) are popular for their good looks and superbly executed cuisine. One might begin with salmon rillettes followed by steak frites. Don’t forget oysters from the raw bar or a TKO (Thomas Keller Oreo) from Bouchon Bakery, downstairs. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 235 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.271.9910, bouchonbistro.com CRUSTACEANCL002301 Vietnamese. A glass-covered koifilled stream meanders under the bar
at this Cal-Vietnamese eatery, and diners indulge in items from a “secret kitchen” in which only the owners’ family members and select longtime staff members are allowed. The garlic noodles are a signature, and celebrity sightings are common. L (M-F), D (nightly). 9646 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.205.8990, houseofan.com CULINACL9000007069 Italian. A contemporary take on regional Italian cuisine is the theme at Culina. The modern design includes a sleek crudo bar. Don’t miss the lavish, buffet-style Sunday brunch, with dim sum, carving and omelet stations and more. B, L (M-Sa); D (nightly); Br (Su). Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, 300 S. Doheny Drive, L.A., 310.860.4000, culinarestaurant.com CUTCL0000022131 Steak. A collaboration between Getty Center architect Richard Meier and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, Cut is the place to savor genuine wagyu beef steaks or dry-aged Nebraska beef. Puck’s menu is short on nostalgia but long on flavor. D (M-Sa). Beverly Wilshire hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.276.8500, wolfgangpuck.com H MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSECL0000022161 Steak. Mastro’s serves USDA Prime steaks in an atmosphere as sizzling as its 400-degree plates. Look for the 2-foot-tall seafoodtower appetizer, sides such as lobster mashed potatoes and a melt-inyour-mouth warm butter cake for dessert. D (nightly). 246 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.888.8782; 2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 805.418.1811, mastrosrestaurants.com MAUDE California. Last year, L.A. Weekly named this intimate 25-seater from Curtis Stone, the Aussie celebrity chef with a strong classical background,
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 9 7
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 97
12/17/15 1:26 PM
Brentwood KatsuyaCL0000022153 Japanese. Sushi chef Katsuya Uechi turns out exotic delicacies in sultry spaces by designer Philippe Starck. From its signature cocktails to kingcrab legs cooked over the robata grill, Katsuya is never boring. Find additional locations in downtown’s L.A. Live and at the Americana at Brand in Glendale. L (varies by location), D (nightly). 11777 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, 310.207.8744; 6300 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.871.8777, katsuyarestaurant.com
hamachi at otium
“best restaurant in Los Angeles.” Every month, Stone breaks new ground, creating a nine-course prix-fixe menu that revolves around a different seasonal ingredient. D (Tu-Sa). 212 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.859.3418, mauderestaurant.com MR ChowCL0000022161 Chinese. This L.A. edition of scene-y restaurants in New York and London offers authentic Beijing cuisine. Beverly Hills: L (M-F), D (nightly). Malibu: D (nightly). 344 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.278.9911; Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Road, 18A, Malibu, 310.456.7600, mrchow.com Scarpetta Italian. Scott Conant’s much-lauded NYC-based concept is replicated at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel. Conant is deservedly famous for dishes such as duck and foie-gras ravioli, as well as a simple, unbeatable spaghetti with tomato and basil. D (M-Sa). Montage Beverly Hills, 225 N. Cañon
Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.860.7970, montagehotels.com/beverlyhills/ dining/scarpetta SpagoCL0000022190 California. More than 30 years on, Wolfgang Puck’s flagship restaurant is still among L.A.’s best restaurants. In a modern dining room, enjoy refined service and a daily changing menu that may include dishes like veal Wiener schnitzel or spicy tuna tartare. Glimpse some of the 30,000-plus wine bottles on offer in a glass-ensconced “wine wall.” L (Tu-Sa), D (nightly). 176 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.385.0880, wolfgangpuck.com UrasawaCL0000022195 Japanese. If you’re serious about sushi, make a date to sit at the cypress bar of Urasawa. Here, you’ll be treated to an incredible omakase dinner that features the freshest, most artfully presented sushi, sashimi and shabushabu dishes. Reservation required. D (Tu-Sa). 218 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.247.8939
TavernCL9000006270 California. Chef Suzanne Goin’s third L.A. restaurant explores rustic Cal-Med fare in chic environs, including a popular indoor patio. The frequently changing menu might include “the devil’s chicken” with potatoes, braised leeks and mustard breadcrumbs, or grilled hanger steak frites with béarnaise and arugula salad. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood, 310.806.6464, tavernla.com
Culver City Lukshon Pan-Asian. Sang Yoon, creator of one of L.A.’s best burgers at Father’s Office, changed directions by opening this slick Southeast Asian eatery with a selection of craft beers and a Far East-inspired cocktail program. The crispy whole market fish is not to be missed. L (Tu-F), D (TuSa). 3239 Helms Ave., Culver City, 310.202.6808, lukshon.com
Sambar900627 Indian. Chef/restaurateur Akasha Richmond, whose eponymous restaurant helped establish downtown Culver City as a dining destination, now has this restaurant just steps away from Akasha. The fun, approachable cuisine here applies Indian concepts to familiar American foods (think masala-spiced chicken wings, or sevpuri with California-avocado filling),
as well as to cocktails, which include ingredients like turmeric-infused gin. L (M-F), D (nightly). 9531 Culver Blvd., Culver City, 310.558.8800, sambarcc.com
Downtown badmaash9000006267 Indian. This newer contemporary Indian gastropub proves the versatile cuisine’s potential to withstand contemporary, progressive treatments. Dine on cross-cultural items like chicken tikka poutine, sweet-yam tots, Punjabi fish-fry and cheddarstuffed naan that mimics an American grilled cheese sandwich in the spot’s bright, DEX-Studio designed interior. L (M-F), D (nightly). 108 W. 2nd St., downtown, 213.221.7466, badmaashla.com Bäco MercatCL9000400890 Eclectic. Chef Josef Centeno draws international praise for his uniquely inspired creations. His bäco, a flatbread sandwich filled with ingredients such as oxtail hash or crispy shrimp, is a signature dish. Other selections include spicy hamachi crudo. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 408 S. Main St., downtown, 213.687.8808, bacomercat.com BESTIA Italian. Tucked into an old factory in the burgeoning downtown Arts District, Bestia is one of the city’s toughest-to-get reservations. Chef Ori Menashe, a Gino Angelini protégé, cooks with an assertive rustic style and is known for his handmade pastas. Menashe’s wife, pastry chef Genevieve Gergis, turns out treats such as a chocolate-budino tart and mascarpone rice pudding. D (nightly). 2121 E. 7th Place, downtown, 213.514.5724, bestiala.com Bottega LouieCL9000006245 Italian. This palatial Italian restaurant, decked out in minimalist white marble, is a hip, noisy hall where young professionals and downtown hipsters convene over brick-
michelle park
9 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 98
12/17/15 12:29 PM
THE FINEST PRIME STEAKS • THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD • EXQUISITE WINES GENUINE SERVICE • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT 7 NIGHTS A WEEK • PRIVATE DINING
Beverly Hills • Thousand Oaks • Malibu •
246 NORTH CANON DR.
•
310.888.8782
2087 EAST THOUSAND OAKS BLVD.
18412 PACIFIC COAST HWY.
•
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 99
MastrosRestaurants •
805.418.1811
310.454.4357
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: 3 Locations in SCOTTSDALE, AZ LAS VEGAS, NV NEWPORT BEACH, CA COSTA MESA, CA CHICAGO, IL NEW YORK, NY WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.MastrosRestaurants.com •
•
PALM DESERT, CA
@MastrosOfficial
12/11/15 4:26 PM
THE PATIO AT REDBIRD, DOWNTOWN
oven-cooked pizzas and share small plates of portobello fries. Don’t miss the patisserie’s macarons. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 700 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.802.1470, bottegalouie.com BROKEN SPANISH Mexican. The upscale sister of B.S. Taqueria (see below), this “modern Mexican” restaurant near L.A. Live serves classically trained chef Ray Garcia’s innovative twists on traditional dishes, such as duck with sesame, mole and persimmon. D (nightly). 1050 S. Flower St., downtown, 213.749.1460, brokenspanish.com B.S. TAQUERIA 000006267 Mexican. The casual, colorful setting at this Ray Garcia-helmed spot offers the right vibe for lemon-pepper chicken chicharrones or clam-andlardo tacos. For dessert, order the churros with chile de arbol-chocolate sauce. L (M-F), D (nightly). 514 W. 7th St., downtown, 213.622.3744, bstaqueria.com
FAITH & FLOWER California. Art deco splendor meets modern farm-to-table dining at this newer downtown entry. An eclectic menu of wood-fired proteins and a raw bar is offered amid a sumptuous setting in the WaterMarke Tower. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 705 W. 9th St., downtown, 213.239.0642, faithandflowerla.com FOGO DE CHÃOCL002361 Steak. The city’s best churrascaria is arguably this restaurant with locations in Beverly Hills and downtown. Guests are treated to an endless procession of meats carved right onto their plates. L (M-F, Su), D (nightly). 133 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.289.7755; 800 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 213.228.4300, fogodechao.com H L.A. PRIME Steak. City views and dry-aged steaks at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites’ 35th-floor restaurant are sure to impress out-of-towners
H MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSECL0000022197 Steak. The upscale steakhouse chain’s clubby ambiance is paired with a show-and-tell menu and huge portions. Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills: D (nightly). Downtown, Burbank: L (M-F), D (nightly). 735 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 213.553.4566; SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, 435 S. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.246.1501; 6250 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, 818.703.7272; the Pinnacle, 3400 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, 818.238.0424, mortons.com ORSA & WINSTON Eclectic. Chef/owner Josef Centeno draws on Japanese and Italian traditions at his third restaurant. Diners can select a six-course tasting menu, a 10-course omakase menu or a “super omakase” menu of more than 20 courses. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Sa). 122 W. 4th St., downtown, 213.687.0300, orsaandwinston.com OTIUM9000006267 California. French Laundry alum Timothy Hollingsworth helms this modern restaurant adjacent to the Broad museum, preparing rustic, market-driven cuisine such as kalequinoa salad with feta, and pork belly with caramelized onions, egg, rice and bok choy. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su), Br (Sa-Su). 222 S. Hope St., downtown, 213.935.8500, otiumla.com PATINACL0000022178 French. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is a lovely composition of impressive classical-music offerings and
fine dining at its in-house restaurant. Patina might be the best game in town when it comes to game dishes, which are a frequent presence on the menu. D (Tu-Su). 141 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.3331, patinarestaurant.com POT Korean. Roy Choi’s buzzy restaurant in the hip Line Hotel features his exuberant interpretations of Korean classics such as mammoth-size shareable hot pots and barbecued meats. D (W-Sa). 3515 Wilshire Blvd., downtown, 213.368.3030, eatatpot.com REDBIRD American. Acclaimed chef Neal Fraser’s contemporary American cuisine is offered in the rectory of the former Cathedral of St. Vibiana, making Redbird both a cultural and a culinary landmark. Rack of red wattle pork and chicken potpie are part of an intriguing menu. An updated Spanish baroque decor and retro-inspired cocktails complete the scene. L (M-F), D (nightly). 114 E. 2nd St., downtown, 213.788.1191, redbird.la SIMBAL9000006267 Pan-Asian. Chef Shawn Pham’s (the French Laundry, Craft, the Bazaar by José Andrés) first restaurant draws from his Vietnamese heritage. The tricky-to-find spot (it’s tucked into the side of Little Tokyo Mall) offers a cuisine that combines the best of Ho Chi Minh City’s food stalls with sophisticated technique and Pham’s playful attitude. Don’t miss mixologist Brandyn Tepper’s creative cocktails. D (Tu-Sa). 319 E. 2nd St., Suite 202, downtown, 213.626.0244, simbalrestaurant.com WP24CL9000007076 Pan-Asian. From its 24th-floor roost, WP24 proves that Wolfgang Puck, who pioneered Asian fusion, still has the goods. The restaurant offers one of downtown’s best skyline views. Highlights include Singapore-style chili prawns and steamed bao buns
DYLAN + JENI
and dinner dates. Classic sides and starters (oysters, prawn cocktail) fill out executive chef Andreas Nieto’s American surf-and-turf menu boasting aged, USDA-certified Prime beef from Chicago, as well as lamb and veal chops and fresh fish and shellfish. D (nightly). The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, 404 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 213.624.1000, thebonaventure.com
1 0 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 100
12/16/15 12:13 PM
The Bay Area’s highly acclaimed
is bringing a unique fine dining experience to Pasadena
www.alexanderssteakhouse.com 111 North Los Robles Avenue Pasadena, CA 626.486.1111 Cupertino | San Francisco
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 101
| Palo Alto | Mountain View | Taipei
12/11/15 4:26 PM
JON & VINNY’S Italian. Family-friendly Italian diner from chefs/owners Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun) has it all: pastries, pizza, pasta (made in-house) and meat entrees like marinara-braised meatballs and Niman Ranch skirt steak. Takeout and delivery are also available. B, L, D (daily). 412 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A., 323.334.3369, jonandvinnys.com
GUAVA CAKE AT SIMBAL
filled with pork belly. Restaurant/ lounge concept Nest at WP24 is adjacent. Dining room, D (Tu-Sa). Nest, D (nightly). The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown, 213.743.8824, wolfgangpuck.com
HOLLYWOOD BIRCH American. The newer Cahuenga Corridor spot from chef Brendan Collins (Waterloo & City) is one of the neighborhood’s top dining destinations, serving a seasonally driven menu (the rabbit baklava with dates, white beans, pistachio and carrots is just one standout) in a whitewashed, clean-lined space. L (TuF), D (nightly). 1634 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, 323.960.3369, birchlosangeles.com CHI SPACCA Italian. At the latest addition to the Mozza complex, owned by Nancy Silverton, Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, expect a family-style, beefcentric menu. The meat portions are
mammoth, most notably a 50-ounce bistecca fiorentina that takes nearly an hour to cook and can stuff a party of four. D (nightly). 6610 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.297.1133, chispacca.com CLEOL90078 Mediterranean. This busy meze bar is a high point of the Hollywood dining scene. Chef Danny Elmaleh’s nouveau Middle Eastern small plates include kebabs of lamb, chicken, shrimp and beef; various flatbreads; and crispy Brussels sprouts. Cocktails are expensive but irresistible. D (nightly). The Redbury, 1717 Vine St., Hollywood, 323.962.1711, cleorestaurant.com THE HUNGRY CATCL0000333563 Seafood. East Coast fare—crab cake Benedict, a Maine lobster roll— is offered in hip little spots. The Santa Monica restaurant has an ocean view. Cocktails are among the best in town. Hollywood: L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). Santa Monica: D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 1535 N. Vine St., Hollywood,
OSTERIA MOZZACL0000022174 Italian. Famed L.A.-based chef Nancy Silverton teamed up with Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich on Mozza’s group of contemporary Italian restaurants. Osteria Mozza is a more sophisticated dining room in which to experience the repertoire of these great transcontinental talents. D (nightly). 6602 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.297.0100, osteriamozza.com PIZZERIA MOZZACL0000333473 Italian. The more relaxed sibling of Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali’s Mozza, Pizzeria Mozza features pizzas with Mediterranean ingredients, cheeses and salumi plates and rustic daily specials. L, D (daily). 641 N. Highland Ave., L.A., 323.297.0101, pizzeriamozza.com H RAO’S Italian. It feels like it’s Christmas every day at this home-style Neapolitan restaurant in Hollywood. Step inside the dark wooded interior to experience East Coast Italian at its best, complete with a room that re-creates the Rao’s Manhattan location. Or opt to dine alfresco on the delightful outdoor patio. D (Tu-Su). 1006 Seward St., Hollywood, 323.962.7267, raosla.com TROIS MEC Eclectic. The holy foodie triumvirate of Ludo Lefebvre (LudoBites), Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook helms
one of the city’s hottest restaurants in a 24-seat former pizzeria. Diners must purchase advance tickets via the restaurant’s website to enjoy Lefebvre’s prix-fixe, five-course meal, which changes often. D (MF). 716 N. Highland Ave., L.A., troismec.com
LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD/ RESTAURANT ROW THE BAZAAR BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS Spanish. Star chef José Andrés brings a whimsical set of Spanishstyle dining experiences to the SLS Hotel. Cuisine ranges from rustic fare to the experimental, contemporary creations that have made Spain a culinary leader. Tasting room Saam offers a lavish 20-plus-course prixfixe menu. Dining room, D (nightly). Saam, D (Th-Sa). SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.246.5555, thebazaar.com E.P. & L.P.CL0000022162 Pan-Asian. This culinary concept finds chef Louis Tikaram serving up contemporary Southeast Asian dishes that draw from his Fijian-Chinese heritage and Australian roots. The multilevel “Asian eating house and rooftop” consists of a rooftop deck that offers Asian-inspired street food and cocktails; a private bar, also on the roof; and an indoor dining room, where you’ll find a menu of shareable dishes. D (nightly). 603 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.855.9955, eplosangeles.com MATSUHISACL0000022162 Japanese. Superchef Nobu Matsuhisa’s modest, but highly acclaimed, original restaurant turns out perfectly prepared sushi and incorporates luxurious Western ingredients and Latin American spices. Lamb chops with miso-anticucho sauce is just one of his dazzling creations. L (MF), D (nightly). 129 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.659.9639, nobumatsuhisa.com
HEADS ABOVE WATER
323.462.2155; 100 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica, 310.459.3337, thehungrycat.com
1 0 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 102
12/16/15 12:14 PM
NOBUCL9000006261 Japanese. The glitzy restaurant of Nobu Matsuhisa attracts celebrities as well as serious foodies. An extensive menu of traditional and avantgarde sushi includes many dishes with beguiling Peruvian accents. Sakes and omakase feasts result in soaring tabs, but the cuisine measures up. West Hollywood: D (nightly). Malibu: L, D (daily); B (F-Su). 903 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.657.5711; Nobu Malibu, 22706 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 310.317.9140, noburestaurants.com
bles Ave., Pasadena, 626.486.1111, alexanderssteakhouse.com H ARROYO CHOP HOUSE0000333530 Steak. Find USDA Prime and wagyu beef, aged and hand-cut daily, plus fresh seafood, foie gras and classic steakhouse sides at this handsome Craftsman-inspired, woodclad steakhouse from the Smith Brothers. The Pasadena favorite is popular for business and specialoccasion dinners and after-work cocktails. D (nightly). 536 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena, 626.577.7463, arroyochophouse.com
MALIBU DUKE’S MALIBUCL0000022134 Seafood. Named after the father of international surfing, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, this oceanfront restaurant captures the spirit of aloha. Not to be outshone by the spectacular views is the cuisine, which features fresh fish and tropical cocktails. L (M-Sa), D (nightly), Br (Su). Closed for lunch Mondays between Labor Day and Memorial Day. 21150 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 310.317.0777, dukesmalibu.com
H PARKWAY GRILLCL0000333530 California. This sophisticated dining room, with its barrel roof and exposed beams, offers some of Pasadena’s best meals. The innovative seasonal menu includes whole gingerfried catfish, brick-oven-baked cambozola-pear flatbread, lamb chops, seafood and salads featuring produce from an on-site organic garden. L (M-F), D (nightly). 510 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena, 626.795.1001, theparkwaygrill.com
H MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUB CL0000022134 Steak. At this on-the-waterfront eatery—the views are pure Malibu— starters such as ahi tuna tartare, lobster cocktail and caviar are followed by fresh fish, whole Maine lobster or expertly prepared steaks. Such sides as lobster mashed potatoes and Alaskan king crab black truffle gnocchi are legendary. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 18412 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 310.454.4357, mastrosrestaurants.com
H SECOCL0000333530 American. Enjoy New American cuisine, including wood-oven roast chicken, salads, seafood and pizza, plus wine, beer and cocktails, in this newer addition to the Smith Brothers restaurant family. Dine in the contemporary dining room or on the outdoor patio, which features an inviting fire pit. L, D (daily). 140 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, 626.449.9900, seconewamerican.com
PASADENA H ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE Steak. This luxurious interpretation of the classic American steakhouse incorporates Asian influences. The restaurant boasts an extensive wine list and a menu starring certified Angus beef and one of L.A.’s widest selections of domestic and imported wagyu. D (nightly). 111 N. Los Ro-
H SMITTY’S GRILL American. Soul-warming comfortfood classics and a great selection of wines by the glass round out the menu at this popular spot. Daily seafood specials, barbecued babyback ribs, iron-skillet cornbread and homemade chicken potpie are favorites. L (M-F), D (nightly). 110 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, 626.792.9999, smittysgrill.com
WHEN YOUR NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...
SO ARE WE!
Half Price Happenings! MONDAY
1/2 Off Wines by the Bottle
TUESDAY
1/2 Off Draft Beers
WEDNESDAY
1/2 Off Wines by the Glass
THURSDAY
1/2 Off Specialty Martinis
2015 E. PARK PLACE | EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245 | (310) 335-9288 IN PLAZA EL SEGUNDO | ACROSS FROM WHOLE FOODS MARKET
WWW.SALTCREEKGRILLE.COM W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 1 0 3
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 103
12/16/15 12:15 PM
Rustic CanyonCL9000006265 California. Discover boutique wines while sampling small plates of market-driven, Cal-Med dishes at this wine bar and seasonal kitchen from restaurateurs Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan. Executive chef Jeremy Fox (of the former Ubuntu in Napa) has breathed new life into the venue. A homemade charcuterie board and clam pozole are just a couple examples of winners on its regularly changing menu. D (nightly). 1119 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.393.7050, rusticcanyonwinebar.com
UNION0000333530 Italian. Chef Bruce Kalman’s seasonally driven, Californian interpretation of northern Italian cuisine results in such simple but exquisite starters as stracciatella with roasted garlic and crostini. Save room for equally unforgettable pasta dishes, including a squid-ink garganelli with lobster, fennel, Meyer lemon and truffle butter, and mains such as lingcod with celery-root puree, sunchokes, maitake mushrooms and brown butter. D (nightly). 37 E. Union St., Pasadena, 626.795.5841, unionpasadena.com
Santa Monica CassiaCL0000022163 Eclectic. Part of restaurateurs Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan’s burgeoning dining empire, this bustling Southeast Asian-inspired brasserie finds chef Bryant Ng (Spice Table) serving dishes like jellyfish salad and escargots with lemongrass-infused butter in a 1930s art deco building. D (nightly). 1314 7th St., Santa Monica, 310.393.6699, cassiala.com
MélisseCL0000022163 French. At Mélisse, consistently among L.A.’s highest-rated restaurants, chef/owner Josiah Citrin executes a sophisticated modern French menu filled with luxe ingredients. Start with a bit of tender wagyu beef tartare flavored with a smoked tomato emulsion before superb game dishes and selections from a nonpareil cheese cart. D (Tu-Sa). 1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.395.0881, melisse.com red oCL0000022163 Mexican. Rick Bayless, one of America’s leading authorities on Mexican cuisine, is consulting chef at these sexy, scene-y eateries. Many of his thoughtful dishes are grounded in tradition, such as classic albacore ceviche, braised short-rib enchiladas and cochinita pibil. Pair with a signature Red O margarita. D (nightly). 1541 Ocean Ave., Suite 120, Santa Monica, 310.458.1600; 8155 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.5009, redorestaurant.com
M.B. PostCL0000333507 American. David LeFevre, a Charlie Trotter protégé, left formal Water Grill to open this laid-back eatery with intelligently conceived small plates at reasonable prices. The “Eat Your Vegetables” menu makes green beans and Brussels sprouts look downright tantalizing, and the truffle-honey fried chicken arrives with kohlrabi slaw. L (F-Su), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 1142 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.5405, eatmbpost.com
South Bay Fishing With dynamite Seafood. Chef David LeFevre’s eatery has the nostalgic ambiance of a beachfront cottage, and the menu is loaded with East Coast inspirations as well as some innovative dishes. Among the old-school options are New England-style clam chowder and Maryland blue-crab cakes. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 1148 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310.893.6299, eatfwd.com
The Strand HouseCL0000333505 American. This restaurant serves awesome ocean views and sophisticated cuisine by talented young executive chef Greg Hozinsky. Foie gras and charcuterie precede dishes such as branzino with black-truffle risotto. Salted-caramel doughnuts end the meal with a bang. L (Tu-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.7470, thestrandhousemb.com
Little sister Pan-Asian. Chef Tin Vuong brings sophisticated accents to Southeast Asian cuisine with signatures like deep-fried Balinese meatballs with banana ketchup, Myanmar okra curry and salt-and-pepper lobster. M.B.: L (F-Su), D (nightly). Downtown: B, L, D (daily). 1131 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.2096, littlesistermb.com; 523 W. 7th St., downtown, 213.628.3146, littlesisterla.com
Valley GIRASOL California. Against a stunning Gulla Jonsdottir-designed backdrop, “hyperseasonal” California fare takes center stage. Former Top Chef contestant C.J. Jacobson serves hamachi with white fir and wild sorrel; whole crispy red snapper—served head on, naturally—makes a splash. D (nightly), Br (Su). 11334 Moorpark St., Studio City, 818.924.2323, girasolrestaurant.com
Courtesy Little Sister
little sister downtown
ValentinoCL0000022196 Italian. For more than 40 years, Piero Selvaggio has maintained his flagship’s status as a pre-eminent temple of Italian gastronomy. A telephonebook-sized wine list—often cited as America’s best—is supported by a cellar containing more than 100,000 bottles. L (F), D (M-Sa). 3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.829.4313, valentinosantamonica.com
LOVE & SALT California. Dine on creative CalItalian fare (e.g., duck-egg pizza, and whole roasted pig head) paired with wine from an impressive list in this South Bay spot from Guy and Sylvie Gabriele with executive chef Michael Fiorelli. Chef de cuisine/ pastry chef Rebecca Merhej’s desserts are divine. D (nightly), Br (SaSu). 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310.545.5252, loveandsaltla.com
1 0 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 104
12/17/15 12:30 PM
12.07_T
L.A.’S PREMIER RESTAURANTS INNOVATIVE DINING GROUP
9200 Sunset Blvd. / West Hollywood / 310.278.2050 101 Santa Moncia Blvd. / Santa Monica / 310.899.4466 boasteak.com
Pasadena
/
Santa Monica
/
Newport Beach
sushiroku.com
8439 W. Sunset Blvd. / West Hollywood katanala.com
12.07_Trio_Where-Guestbk_AD_v1.indd 1 96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 105
12/8/15 8:06 PM 12/11/15 4:27 PM
NIGHT + MARKETCL9000400897 Thai. For authentic Thai food, head to either the WeHo or Silver Lake location (the latter is Night + Market Song) of this hip spot from L.A.-native chef Kris Yenbamroong. WeHo: L (Tu-Th), D (Tu-Su). Silver Lake: L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 9043 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.275.9724; 3322 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., 323.665.5899, nightmarketsong.com PETROSSIANCL90004 French. Highlights at this temple of caviar include caviar-and-roe-topped blinis and vanilla panna cotta with espresso “caviar.” An on-site boutique offers caviar, smoked fish, chocolates and wines. L (daily), D (M-Sa), Br (Sa-Su). 321 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.271.6300, petrossian.com
THE CAZUELA COCKTAIL AT BROKEN SPANISH
SADDLE PEAK LODGECL0000022184 American. Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, this huntinglodge-themed spot is a study in romantic rusticity, with moose heads overlooking candlelit tables. The menu focuses on game dishes such as seared New Zealand elk tenderloin or braised buffalo short ribs. D (nightly), Br (Su). 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, 818.222.3888, saddlepeaklodge.com
VENICE GJELINACL9000006250 California. Under the direction of chef Travis Lett, servers in T-shirts and newsboy caps deliver seasonal Cal-Med small plates and pizzas to chic Westsiders. B (M-F); L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.450.1429, gjelina.com SUPERBA SNACK BARCL9000400895 Italian. At Paul Hibler’s casual pastaria (a Venice staple), housemade noodles are given the utmost atten-
tion, occasionally smoked and infused for maximum flavor. The wine and beer lists are also carefully considered. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 533 Rose Ave., Venice, 310.399.6400, superbasnackbar.com THE TASTING KITCHENCL0000333516 Eclectic. Foodies flock to this loud but lovely dining room for a daily changing menu of innovative but unpretentious cuisine: cured meats, artisan cheeses, vegetables, seafood and pastas like maltagliati with duck ragu. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.392.6644, thetastingkitchen.com
WEST HOLLYWOOD/ MIDTOWN EVELEIGHCL9000400897 American. With a menu chockablock with farm-fresh veggies and meats served in a country-chic space, Eveleigh projects an image of cool rusticity. The kitchen endeavors to use housemade ingredients in both its dishes and cocktails. L (M-F),
RAY’S & STARK BARCL0000333512 Mediterranean. This restaurant/ cocktail bar is almost too good to be hidden in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art campus. Small and large plates, wood-fired pizzas and salads capitalize on the restaurant’s garden, located on the campus, as well as local farms. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6180, raysandstarkbar.com RÉPUBLIQUE American. Classically trained chef/ owner Walter Manzke offers his take on bistro classics in a cavernous space that blends rustic Provençal touches with a slick hipster vibe. Manzke’s wife, Margarita, helms the exceptional pastry menu. Café, B, L (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Bistro, D (M-Sa). 624 S. La Brea Ave., L.A., 310.362.6115, republiquela.com H ROKUCL9040897 Japanese. This new Sunset Strip hot spot from the team behind Sushi
Roku presents elevated teppanyaki (e.g., A-5 Japanese wagyu and Santa Barbara spot prawns) prepared by utensil-juggling chefs at interactive grill tables, as well as sushi, omakase offerings and an extensive selection of Japanese whiskeys. L (M-F), D (nightly). 9201 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.278.2060, innovativedining.com/restaurants/roku
WESTSIDE CRAFTCL0000022129 American. New York chef Tom Colicchio of TV’s Top Chef brings his signature concept to L.A. Craft delivers a contemporary American à la carte menu, with hearty mains and fun, shareable dishes including roasted octopus and diver scallops with vermouth butter. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 10100 Constellation Blvd., L.A., 310.279.4180, craftrestaurant.com HINOKI & THE BIRD Eclectic. Enjoy Japanese and Southeast Asian flavors in a decidedly hip environment inside luxury residential tower the Century. The lobster roll is infused with green curry and accented with Thai basil, while an entrée of black cod is scented with the smoke of the namesake hinoki wood. L (M-F), D (Tu-Sa). 10 Century Drive, L.A., 310.552.1200, hinokiandthebird.com SOTTOCL9000400899 Italian. Chefs and co-owners Zach Pollack and Steve Samson dish up beautifully executed rustic trattoria specialties and soft, chewy Neapolitan pizzas cooked in an eightton wood-burning oven. Intriguing housemade pastas might include squid-ink mafaldine with burrata and breadcrumbs. D (nightly). 9575 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.277.0210, sottorestaurant.com
FOR MORE TO EXPLORE, SEE WHERE LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE AND DOWNLOAD THE CITY GUIDES BY WHERE TRAVELER APP
DYLAN + JENI
D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 8752 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A., 424.239.1630, theeveleigh.com
1 0 6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
96-106_DINING LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 106
12/16/15 12:42 PM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
L.A. PRIME
MENU HIGHLIGHTS Starters Pan-roasted bone marrow Baked Blue Point oysters Rockefeller Blue fin tuna tartare Side Dishes Crispy Brussels sprout Heirloom fingerling gratin Vermont white mac and cheese
Located on the 35th floor of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, the award-winning L.A. Prime invites diners to experience a culinary adventure in a relaxed atmosphere with refined service. Known for its innovative and edgy cuisine, L.A. Prime offers wet-aged prime beef steaks, as well as beautiful lamb chops, veal Oscar and fresh fish and shellfish. Dishes are enhanced with local produce and paired with wines from an award-winning list recognized by Wine Spectator. Our award-winning culinary team of chefs have created a masterful menu of artfully presented dishes made with fresh ingredients to please the palate. Stars wink through floor-to-ceiling windows as diners sit back, relax and enjoy all that downtown has to offer. D (nightly).
Steaks Bone-in Delmonico rib-eye 22 oz Primal-cut New York strip 14 oz Bone-in filet mignon 14 oz Composed Entrees 3-pound Maine lobster Double-thick-cut Niman Ranch pork chop Grilled free-range Colorado lamb chops Seared Mano de Leon jumbo scallop Pan-roasted wild king salmon Chilean sea bass SautĂŠed shrimp scampi King oyster mushroom
404 S. Figueroa St., downtown
213.624.1000 thebonaventure.com
107-109_DINING SPOTLIGHT_GBLA16.indd 107
12/11/15 4:28 PM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ARROYO CHOP HOUSE
PARKWAY GRILL
The Smith Brothers’ modern take on the classic American steakhouse, Arroyo Chop House, serves USDA Prime Beef and the highest quality Wagyu steak exclusively. This strikingly handsome restaurant, inspired by the Arts and Crafts architectural style for which Pasadena is famous, is clad in rich mahogany, and the cozy booths are bathed in seductive light. The prime steaks are aged and hand-cut daily and perfectly seared in a 500-degree broiler. The restaurant also offers live Maine lobster, fresh seafood, Alaskan king crab legs, fresh oysters and shrimp. Complement your meal with a bottle from the award-winning wine list (Wine Spectator “Best of” Award of Excellence) or enjoy one of the many premium single-malt scotches. Reservations suggested. Piano music nightly. D (nightly).
The Smith Brothers’ trend-setter in innovative regional American cuisine, Parkway Grill specializes in a seasonal, market-driven approach to cooking that incorporates diverse influences and classic French technique. It has been acclaimed as one of America’s top tables by Gourmet magazine and one of the top 35 most popular restaurants in Southern California by Zagat. Throughout its over 30 years, Parkway Grill has showcased an intriguing array of dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Demonstrating the ultimate commitment to fresh produce, Parkway Grill planted its own organic vegetable and herb garden behind the restaurant, which continues to thrive in the heart of Pasadena 25 years later. Recipient of the Wine Spectator “ Best of” Award of Excellence, the wine list features selections from many of California’s finest small producers. Reservations suggested. Piano music Monday through Saturday evenings. L (M–F), D (nightly).
536 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena
510 S. Arroyo Pkwy., Pasadena
626.577.7463
626.795.1001
arroyochophouse.com
theparkwaygrill.com
107-109_DINING SPOTLIGHT_GBLA16.indd 108
12/11/15 4:28 PM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
SECO
SMITTY’S GRILL
Enjoy fine New American cuisine, a vibrant, contemporary environment and complimentary valet parking at Seco, the Smith Brothers’ newest restaurant. James Beard Foundation Award-nominated chef Mark Peel created the diverse menu, which features such tantalizing dishes as wood ovenroasted chicken, wood-fired pizzas, steak frites and salads, all composed of seasonal and sustainable ingredients and accented with fresh herbs and spices. Cozy up to the fire pit on the outdoor patio, or dine in the atmospheric modern dining room. Guests seeking a lively atmosphere will find it at the bar and lounge, where fine wine, craft beer and signature cocktails are served alongside a bar menu during the daily social hour. Recommended as “Great for Lunch” and “Outdoor Dining” by OpenTable voters, this new spot offers something to everyone. L, D (daily).
With Smitty’s Grill, the Smith Brothers bring you American comfort food at its best. Set in a clubby grill atmosphere with vintage photos depicting Hollywood glamour, Smitty’s offers familiar all-American dishes. “Smitty’s is a fine place in which to rediscover a cuisine that many of us have forgotten: our own. It is truly America the scrumptious,” says Merrill Schindler of Zagat. The menu features iron-skillet cornbread, filet mignon, homemade chicken pot pie, rattlesnake BBQ baby back ribs, Smitty’s famous meatloaf and more. The dining experience also features a stocked top-shelf bar and an extensive, award-winning wine list (Wine Spectator Award of Excellence). Reservations suggested. L (M–F), D (nightly).
140 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena
110 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena
626.449.9900
626.792.9999
seconewamerican.com
smittysgrill.com
107-109_DINING SPOTLIGHT_GBLA16.indd 109
12/11/15 4:28 PM
©2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. 14-ADV-15835
110-111_ATTRACTIONS OPENER_GBLA16.indd 110
12/11/15 4:30 PM
play time
THE PETERSEN MUSEUM’S RACY NEW FACADE, COURTESY PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
ATTRACTIONS THEME PARKS, STUDIO TOURS, RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, MUSEUMS, CONCERT HALLS, STARGAZING AND SPOTS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST: THEY’RE ALL HERE.
W H E R E G U E S T B O O K 1 1 1
110-111_ATTRACTIONS OPENER_GBLA16.indd 111
12/11/15 4:30 PM
ATTRACTIONS
ISN’T IT GRAND Downtown’s Grand Avenue continued its transformation into Los Angeles’ arts epicenter with last fall’s opening of the Broad contemporary-art museum next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, across from the Colburn School and kitty-corner from the Museum of Contemporary Art. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the $140 million building boasts an innovative “veil and vault” structure housing nearly 2,000 pieces from the Broad Art Foundation and the personal collections of philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. Artworks by the likes of Takashi Murakami, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha and Barbara Kruger are displayed across two floors of gallery space, and a visible vault filled with works not on display or loan hovers midway in the building. A shop, lush outdoor plaza and Otium restaurant, helmed by French Laundry alum Timothy Hollingsworth, round out the must-visit complex.
AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST The museum in Griffith Park, named for performer Gene Autry, presents exhibitions and programs that explore the stories of cultures and examine how their interaction has affected the history of the American West. It also houses one of the top U.S. collections of Native American materials. 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A., 323.667.2000, theautry.org H CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUMCL0000022308 The mission of this institution is to research, collect, preserve and interpret for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African-Americans, with an emphasis on California and the western United States. The permanent collection includes works ranging from traditional African wood masks to modern and contemporary compositions by artists such as Noah Purifoy and Sargent Claude Johnson. 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, L.A., 213.744.7432, caamuseum.org H CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER Embark on a journey of discovery as you explore over 150 interactive exhibits in the hands-on museum’s galleries, including Ecosystems—a free
permanent gallery featuring live animals, seven immersive exhibits and a 188,000-gallon kelp tank. Complete your visit by seeing Space Shuttle Endeavour up close in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion, the spacecraft’s permanent home. 700 Exposition Park Drive, Exposition Park, L.A., 323.724.3623, californiasciencecenter.org
DODGER STADIUMC Since 1962, more than 125 million fans have watched the Los Angeles Dodgers play baseball at Dodger Stadium. Spectators are awed by a breathtaking view of downtown, green, treelined Elysian hills and the San Gabriel Mountains. Guided tours available. 1000 Elysian Park Ave., downtown, 866.363.4377, ladodgers.com
DESCANSO GARDENS Collections include coast live oaks, roses, an award-winning camellia garden and Oak Woodland, Center Circle and Ancient Forest gardens. Enjoy family-friendly festivals, performances, classes and activities for children, and explore the renovated Boddy House estate and the Sturt Haaga Gallery. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 818.949.4200, descansogardens.org
EL PUEBLO DE LOS ANGELES El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is the oldest section of Los Angeles, with 27 historic buildings clustered around an old plaza. Olvera Street (Alameda Street between Main and Los Angeles streets) is a festive open-air Mexican marketplace with restaurants and shops. 125 Paseo de la Plaza, downtown, 213.628.1274, elpueblo.lacity.org
DISNEYLAND “The happiest place on Earth” is home to Mickey Mouse and eight fantastic “lands.” Highlights include Alice in Wonderland, Space Mountain, new Star Wars-themed attractions, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Splash Mountain and a fireworks show that somehow always outdoes itself. 1313 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com
GRAND CENTRAL MARKET See and taste L.A.’s international influences at downtown’s oldest and largest open-air market, in business since 1917. Some 40 merchants offer delicacies from around the world, including pupusas and pizza. The continually evolving market has had a recent influx of foodie-centric vendors, such as Bombo, Ramen Hood and Wexler’s Deli. 317 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.624.2378, grandcentralmarket.com
DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Disneyland’s state-themed counterpart offers lands based on Hollywood, beach culture and the Gold Rush. The “World of Color” is a spectacular water, light and sound attraction. Other highlights include Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, California Screamin’ and the Pixar-film-inspired Cars Land. 1313 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.781.4565, disneyland.com
GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY The most visited public observatory in the world reopened in 2006 after a $93 million renovation. The Big Picture is the largest (150 feet long and 20 feet high!) astronomically accurate image ever produced; the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater seats 200. 2800 E. Observatory Road, L.A., 213.473.0800, griffithobservatory.org
IWAN BAAN
ATTRACTIONS H AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFICCL0000022306 Journey through sunny Southern California and Baja, the frigid waters of the north Pacific and the colorful reefs of the tropical Pacific, and meet more than 11,000 marine animals at this world-class aquarium. Touch sharks, rays and sea jellies, and meet penguins, sea otters and sea lions. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 562.590.3100, aquariumofpacific.org
H STARRED LISTINGS ARE FEATURED GUESTBOOK ADVERTISERS. 1 1 2 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 112
12/16/15 12:48 PM
Griffith Park With more than 4,210 acres of natural terrain and landscaped parkland, Griffith Park is the country’s largest municipal park. Highlights include the iconic Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Autry Museum of the American West, Travel Town, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Greek Theatre, hiking trails and horseback riding. 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, L.A., 323.913.4688, laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk h hollywood museum In the historic Max Factor Building, just steps from the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Museum houses 10,000 authentic showbiz treasures that showcase a century of Hollywood’s entertainment industry. Don’t miss Max Factor’s makeup rooms, where Marilyn Monroe became a blonde and Lucille Ball a redhead. 1660 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.464.7776, thehollywoodmuseum.com Hollywood Walk of Fame Terrazzo and brass stars line the sidewalks and offer a history of the Hollywood entertainment industry, honoring those who have made significant contributions in radio, television, motion pictures, recording and live performance. Quentin Tarantino and Kathy Bates are among the 2016 honorees. Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, and Vine Street from Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, 323.469.8311, hollywoodchamber.net h hornblower cruises & events Elevate your next dining experience by taking a cruise aboard a Hornblower yacht. Sip Champagne, dine, dance, relax on the sun deck and take in beautiful marina views. Choose from dinner and Champagne brunch options. Private charters are also available. Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, 310.301.9900, hornblower.com
L.A. County Arboretum & Botanic Garden The 127-acre site represents a diverse world of plant life and is known for its peafowl, which roam the grounds and perch in trees. “Lucky” Baldwin’s historic Queen Anne Cottage is a highlight of the Arboretum’s walking tour. 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, 626.821.3222, arboretum.org L.A. LiveCL0000333415 L.A. Live is a bustling sports, dining and entertainment center. Staples Center hosts sporting events and concerts, and Microsoft Theater and Club Nokia feature pop acts. You’ll also find bowling alley Lucky Strike Lanes and music and Grammy Award history at the Grammy Museum. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown, 213.763.5483, lalive.com h LOS ANGELES ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS The L.A. Zoo is home to more than 1,100 animals, many of them endangered, living among immersive habitats and lush gardens that will transport you all over the globe. Enjoy live presentations and shows, a kids’ play park, the interactive California Condor Rescue Zone, a beautiful carousel with hand-carved animals and more. Ticket proceeds help protect endangered and vulnerable species. 5333 Zoo Drive, L.A., 323.644.4200, lazoo.org h Museum of ToleranceCL0000022332 The Museum of Tolerance hosts powerful exhibits on the Holocaust and such subjects as human rights, intolerance, immigration and family. Exhibitions include Anne, about the life and legacy of Anne Frank. Simon Wiesenthal Plaza, 9786 W. Pico Blvd., L.A., 310.772.2506, museumoftolerance.com Music Center Four of the city’s most revered performing-arts venues are here: the Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chan-
Explore 113 lush acres with more than 1,100 animals, a kids’ play park, Safari Shuttle and gorgeous carousel. All conveniently located in Griffith Park, where the I-5 and 134 FWYs meet. Plan your adventure today at LAZoo.org/WhereLA.
Open daily, 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Closed December 25.
11/11/2015 Los Angeles Zoo File prep: Miss Cecilia
Pub: WHERE Guestbook See and Experience Color: CMYK PMS: None 10,000 Authentic Showbiz Bleed: non Treasures Trim: 1/4 page Live: 4.125"x 4.25" Showcasing 100 years of Hollywood! “#1 Hollywood Tourist Attraction” –LA Weekly
“One of LA’s Top 10 Museums” –LA Tourism and Convention Board
“Certificate of Excellence” –Trip Advisor
www.TheHollywoodMuseum.com 1660 N Highland Ave. at Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Open Wednesday - Sunday • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 323-464-7776
Hollywood Museum_1-4sq_v4.indd 1
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 113
323-336-2596
W H E R E G U E S T B O O 10/1/14 K 1 12:52 3 PM
12/16/15 2:25 PM
GRAMMY MUSEUM® AT L.A. LIVE
AN INTERACTIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE Dynamic Exhibits, Educational Programming, Family Friendly Environment, Behind the Scenes Access For more information visit www.grammymuseum.org GRAMMY Museum® and the Museum logo are registered trademarks of The Recording Academy® and are used under license.
DON’T MISS THE BOAT! CRUISE NEWPORT BEACH & MARINA DEL REY Dinner, Champagne Brunch and Summer Sunset Cocktail Cruises
HORNBLOWER.COM • 855-594-7226 MARINA DEL REY • NEWPORT BEACH • LONG BEACH • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • BERKELEY • NEW YORK
dler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Resident companies present theater and opera and philharmonic and choral music. A free audio tour of the concert hall is available, as are tours of all of the venues. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.7211, musiccenter.org H NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY00022308 The largest natural and historical museum in the western United States safeguards more than 35 million diverse specimens and artifacts. The historic building holds the largest collection of gold in the U.S., a kidfriendly Discovery Center and a Dinosaur Hall. 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, L.A., 213.763.3466, nhm.org H THE ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET What started in the summer of 1934 as a farmers market with produce sold from truck tailgates has become an L.A. institution, with more than 100 restaurants; produce, gourmet grocery and retail stalls; international gift shops; and even a couple of bars. 6333 W. 3rd St., L.A., 323.933.9211, farmersmarketla.com H PARAMOUNT PICTURES STUDIO TOUR Go behind the scenes with an intimate two-hour tour of this iconic Hollywood studio. Explore over a century of Hollywood history, and witness some in the making. Tours are offered seven days a week. VIP and After Dark options are also available. Reservation recommended. 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, 323.956.3499 thestudiosatparamount.com PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM Newly renovated museum houses some 150 vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles and features permanent and rotating exhibits on display. Additions include 25 new galleries, Forza Motorsports Racing Experience and Disney/
Pixar Cars Mechanical Institute. 6060 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.930.2277, petersen.org QUEEN MARY Guided and self-guided tours allow a view of the historic (and allegedly haunted) hotel and ocean liner, which is permanently berthed in Long Beach Harbor. Enjoy a meal, shop and even spend the night in an original stateroom. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 877.342.0738, queenmary.com RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM Galleries and media provide highlights of Ronald Wilson Reagan’s life, from childhood to the opening of the library and museum that bear his name. The Air Force One Pavilion houses the world’s only “flying White House” available for public viewing. 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, 800.410.8354, reaganfoundation.org H SAN DIEGO ZOO It’s world-famous for a reason. Visitors can get up close and personal with more than 4,000 creatures from nearly every corner of the world. Animals, both well-known and unfamiliar, live in habitats rich with features and activities (such as the Elephant Odyssey and Australian Outback exhibits). The zoo, a landmark San Diego attraction, is a longtime leader in animal care and wildlife conservation. 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park, 619.231.1515, sandiegozoo.org H SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK The Serengeti is thousands of miles away, but the 1,800-acre Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park) lets visitors experience a safari here. More than 375 species roam the extensive exhibits, designed to resemble natural habitats like savannas, forests and lakes. Guided and self-guided tours bring animal adventurers safely close to elephants, giraffes, gorillas, lions, antelopes,
1 1 4 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 114
12/16/15 12:50 PM
zebras, rhinos and more. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760.747.8702, sdzsafaripark.org SAN FERNANDO MISSIONCL0000022343 The 17th of California’s 21 missions, Mission San Fernando Rey de España, was founded in 1797 and first produced soap and cloth; gold was purportedly found there years before California’s Gold Rush. The museum, archives and gardens are open to the public daily. 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd., Mission Hills, 818.361.0186, missiontour.org/sanfernando SAN GABRIEL MISSIONCL0000022344 The Franciscan padres who founded the mission in 1771 nurtured crops of grapes, oranges, pears, peaches and figs; the mission has been called “the Mother of Agriculture in California.” Officially Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, its stone, brick and mortar bell tower is distinguished from those of other missions, which are adobe. 427 S. Junipero Serra Drive, San Gabriel, 626.457.3035, sangabrielmissionchurch.org SANTA ANITA PARKCL0000022345 Box-ticket holders at the historic horse track have included Fred Astaire, Walt Disney and Cecil B. DeMille. Old Hollywood elegance lives on at its clubs, which have a dress code and require an entry fee. Race season is from December to April. 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, 626.574.7223, santaanita.com SANTA CATALINA ISLANDCL0000022311 Snorkel, kayak, take a zip-line tour or explore the west side of this 21-mile-long island where buffalo run wild. Enjoy the ocean air, dine at seaside cafés, browse the shops and get pampered at Island Spa Catalina. The island, which is 22 miles south-southwest of downtown Los Angeles, can be reached by ferries and helicopters departing from Long Beach and San Pedro. 310.510.1520, catalinachamber.com
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA Flowers bloom on the hillsides here year-round, and the climate and topography help create a diversity of vegetation that provides the habitat for 50 mammal, 400 bird and nearly a score of reptile and amphibian species. It’s a great place for hikers, horseback riders and bird-watchers. 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, 805.370.2301, nps.gov/samo SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN This popular theme park has 18 roller coasters, including Green Lantern: First Flight and Twisted Colossus, an update of the iconic wooden roller coaster. Revamped giant looping roller coaster Revolution is set to debut this year. The Hurricane Harbor water park, open seasonally, is adjacent. 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia, 661.255.4111, sixflags.com/magicmountain
There’s always something new to see and learn at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Touch sharks. Feed lorikeet birds. Watch penguins play. Over 11,000 animals await you. 562.590.3100 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802
SONY PICTURES STUDIOSCL0000022348 Sony Pictures Studios celebrates Hollywood’s glory days and offers an insider’s view of a working motionpicture studio. As guides lead a walking tour through the studio lot, they illuminate the film and TV production process and share tales of Hollywood legends. 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, 310.244.8687, sonypicturesstudiostours.com STAPLES CENTERCL0000022349 This state-of-the-art sports arena is home to beloved L.A. teams: The Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks and the Los Angeles Kings all play here. The venue also hosts concerts by music’s biggest touring acts, such as Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 213.742.7340, staplescenter.com H STARLINE TOURSCL9000006387 Hollywood’s largest celebrity tour company offers its famous Movie
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 115
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 115
12/16/15 12:53 PM
We’re celebrating our
Best. Birthday. Ever. And you’re invited!
©
sandiegozoo100.org
WhereLAGuestBook_SDZoo_2015.indd 1
1 1 6 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
WhereLAGuestBook_SDZSafariPark_2015.indd 1
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 116
11/2/15
Stars’ Homes tours throughout the day. Its broad repertoire also includes sightseeing tours to movie locations, beaches, theme parks and San Diego. The CitySightseeing doubledecker hop-on, hop-off tour has 70 stops around L.A. 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 800.959.3131, starlinetours.com
Experience gives you a private guided tour through a prop warehouse, working movie sets and soundstages and allows you to skip lines for attractions. Entertainment promenade Universal CityWalk is adjacent. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 818.622.3801, universalstudioshollywood.com
TCL CHINESE THEATRE Built by master showman Sid Grauman, the theater—opened in 1927, declared a historical landmark in 1968 and recently renovated—is still a popular location for celebritypacked studio premieres. The concrete handprints and footprints in the forecourt have immortalized some of Hollywood’s brightest stars. 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.461.3331, tclchinesetheatres.com
H WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR HOLLYWOODCL0000022353 Guests are transported on electric carts for a three-hour excursion through the studio responsible for such classics as Casablanca and TV shows including The Big Bang Theory and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The tour changes daily, based on where the action is. 3400 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, 818.972.8687, wbtour.com
PERFORMING ARTS
H TMZ CELEBRITY TOUR The popular Hollywood tour takes passengers to celebrity hot spots where stars eat, drink and get into trouble. The tour regularly encounters celebrities who are happy 4:04 PM to interact with guests. Recently spotted stars include Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Ben Affleck. Tours daily. 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 855.486.9868, tmztour.com
AHMANSON THEATRECL0000022282 One of the four main venues that make up the Music Center, the Ahmanson is at the theatrical forefront locally and nationally, regularly hosting engagements of Tony Award-winning shows and world premieres. Highlights in 2016 include An Act of God and Grey Gardens. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772, centertheatregroup.org
UNIVERSAL CITYWALKCL0000022351 The dining and shopping promenade adjacent to Universal Studios features more than 65 entertainment-themed restaurants, clubs, shops and movie theaters. Enjoy massive pasta dishes at Buca di Beppo, or see a film on a floor-to-ceiling Imax screen at the AMC theater. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 818.622.4455, citywalkhollywood.com
THE BROAD STAGEC Santa Monica College’s state-of-theart theater features several monthly shows of dance, theater, voice, chamber music or film productions. Visitors might see a performance of contemporary dance or one of Shakespeare’s plays. A 99-seat theater, the Edye, features more experimental works. 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, 310.434.3200, thebroadstage.com
H UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOODCL0000022350 The world’s biggest motion-picture/ TV studio features rides, shows and a behind-the-scenes studio tour. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction is all the buzz. The VIP
DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION The largest venue at the Music Center downtown is the 3,100-seat home of Los Angeles Opera and Dance at the Music Center. L.A. Opera, directed by Plácido Domingo, offers half a
11/2/15 4:05 PM
12/16/15 12:54 PM
dozen major productions yearly. Dance at the Music Center hosts such companies as American Ballet Theatre. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.7211, musiccenter.org
campus. The Taper landed early productions of such landmarks as Zoot Suit and Angels in America. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772, centertheatregroup.org
GEFFEN PLAYHOUSECL0000022285 Constructed in 1929, the building that houses the Geffen Playhouse was one of Westwood’s first 12 structures. Not only do Sam Shepard and David Mamet launch plays here, but artistic director Randall Arney also has ties to superb American actors. 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, 310.208.5454, geffenplayhouse.com
MICROSOFT THEATER The 7,100-seat venue is a centerpiece of downtown’s emerging L.A. Live, a mammoth sports, dining and entertainment destination. On the schedule at the theater are music, dance and comedy acts, as well as awards and family shows. No seat is farther than 210 feet from the stage. 777 Chick Hearn Court, downtown, 213.763.6030, microsofttheater.com
GREEK THEATRECL0000022286 Built in 1929, the Greek Theatre is part of the 3,000-acre Griffith Park. The site of this 5,700-seat outdoor amphitheater was chosen after a soprano revealed the quality of the outdoor bowl’s acoustics. The April-throughOctober schedule has offered headliners such as Grouplove and Sam Smith. 2700 N. Vermont Ave., L.A., lagreektheatre.com HOLLYWOOD BOWLCL0000022287 The largest outdoor venue in the country, with 18,000 seats, offers music under the stars from spring through fall. A packed summer season features pop, jazz and rock groups, plus soloists and orchestras including the resident Los Angeles Philharmonic. Boxes in the orchestra seats have tables for picnicking. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.850.2000, hollywoodbowl.com KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRECL0000022288 The Culver City sibling of the Ahmanson Theatre and the Mark Taper Forum fulfills the Center Theatre Group’s twin dreams for a Westside venue and a place to premiere adventurous works. 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772, centertheatregroup.org MARK TAPER FORUMCL0000022290 Since 1967, the Mark Taper Forum has been the socially conscious sibling on downtown’s Music Center
PANTAGES THEATRECL0000022291 The Pantages is the Southern California flagship for the Nederlander Organization and its local presenting arm. Broadway imports such as The Lion King and Wicked have enjoyed runs of up to two years here. Offerings this year include The Illusionists and Kinky Boots. 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770, hollywoodpantages.com 000022293 H THE WALLIS ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Aka “the Wallis,” this venue transformed the historic Beverly Hills Post Office into the Lovelace Studio Theater, a theater school, a café and a gift shop. The 500-seat Goldsmith Theater is housed in a second state-ofthe-art facility. 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.746.4000, thewallis.org WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL The Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, which opened in 2003, is one of the city’s most important performing-arts venues and architectural highlights. The $273 million, stainless-steel facility is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and nearly a dozen music series. Tours are offered daily. 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 323.850.2000, laphil.com
SECRETS AND CELEBRITY HOT SPOTS!
(855)-4TMZ-TOUR TMZTOUR.COM SEE THE REAL HOLLYWOOD!
The Fun Starts Here!
80
!
MOvIe stars hOM
es
tOur
!
! MULTILINGUAL COMMENTARY
The Original
Over 70 stops
Other tOurs Include: • Movie Locations Tour – LA • Grand City Tour of LA • Beach Tours / Night Tours
• Tours to all major Southern California attractions ls • Pick-up from 250 select Hote
Secrets & Celebrity Hotspots
LA’s Premiere Tour Company
Tel: 1-800-959-3131 • 1-323-463-3333
•
www.starlinetours.com
MAIN STARLINE TERMINAL IS AT TCL CHINESE THEATRE, 6925 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD SANTA MONICA OFFICE IS ON SANTA MONICA PIER ANAHEIM TERMINAL IS AT M3 LIVE, 2232 S. HARBOR BLVD., ANAHEIM 92802
WH ER E G U ESTBOOK 117
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 117
12/17/15 1:20 PM
THE ARTS DELIVERED.
IN BEVERLY HILLS
Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, California, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (“The Wallis”) brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music, performed by many of the world’s most talented and sought-after artists. With eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles, and its notability as the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis offers original and revered works from across the US and around the globe.
For more information visit thewallis.org
CONNECT WITH US:
310.746.4000 | TheWallis.org
9390 N SANTA MONICA BLVD, BEVERLY HILLS CA
THE BROAD L.A.’s exciting new contemporary-art museum, built by philanthropists and longtime art collectors Eli and Edythe Broad, contains nearly 2,000 works of postwar and contemporary art housed inside a mesmerizing “veil and vault” structure downtown. 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.232.6200, thebroad.org GETTY CENTERCL0000022297 The magnificent, travertine-clad art institution welcomes more than a million visitors to its hilltop campus each year. It houses stunning collections of paintings, drawings, antiquities, photographs and decorative arts, as well as a beautiful Richard Meierdesigned Central Garden with city views. The Getty Center hosts performances, films, lectures and conferences. 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A., 310.440.7300, getty.edu GETTY VILLACL0000022298 The original site of the J. Paul Getty Museum, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is dedicated to the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria and houses 1,200 antiquities. Modeled after an ancient country home in Herculaneum, Italy, it offers reinterpretations of classical theater in its Villa Theater Lab. 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu, 310.440.7300, getty.edu H GRAMMY MUSEUM AT L.A. LIVE Explore 160-plus musical genres, pretend to be a rock star, see artifacts such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” jacket, learn to produce and record in the interactive In the Studio exhibit and more at this 30,000-square-foot museum in downtown’s L.A. Live entertainment district that celebrates the power of music. The second-floor Clive Davis Theater has played host to artists including Ringo Starr and Taylor Swift. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite A245, downtown, 213.765.6800, grammymuseum.org
HAMMER MUSEUMCL000002229 The prestigious permanent collection of Impressionist, post-Impressionist and European Old Master paintings is housed alongside critically acclaimed temporary exhibitions and contemporary Hammer Projects by emerging international artists. The Billy Wilder Theater is the venue for public programs and UCLA Film & Television Archive screenings. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood, 310.443.7000, hammer.ucla.edu
© TRACIE SPENCE PHOTOGRAPHY
VISUAL ARTS
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS, AND BOTANICAL GARDENSCL0000022300 More than a dozen gardens amid 120 acres of rolling lawns include the recently renovated Japanese Garden, Children’s Garden and century-old Rose Garden. Find Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy in the renovated gallery. Library treasures include the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and a Gutenberg Bible. A new visitors center, which boasts a larger store, a café and an orientation gallery, welcomes guests. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 626.405.2100, huntington.org LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ARTCL0000022301 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the West Coast’s most comprehensive museum, housing European masterpieces, an extensive collection of American art and a pavilion for Japanese art. An effort to expand the campus has resulted in the Broad Contemporary Art Museum and the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pavilion. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000, lacma.org MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Committed to the collection, presentation and interpretation of work produced since 1940, MOCA holds some 6,800 objects in all visual media. MOCA Grand Avenue, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is a gem combining pyramids, cubes
1 1 8 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 118
12/16/15 12:57 PM
expopa
Join us at Exposition Park, the crossroads of the Los Angeles community!
Š TRACIE SPENCE PHOTOGRAPHY
California Science Center Embark on a journey of discovery as you explore over 150 interactive exhibits in our galleries, including Ecosystems—a free permanent gallery featuring live animals, seven immersive exhibits and a 188,000-gallon kelp tank. Complete your visit by seeing Space Shuttle Endeavour in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion. See the orbiter up close, and discover the science behind this amazing vehicle. Admission to permanent exhibits is FREE. (Excluding IMAX and special paid exhibitions.) We are located in beautiful Exposition Park, just south of Downtown Los Angeles.
700 Exposition Park Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037 323.SCIENCE (724.3623) californiasciencecenter.org
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Discover 4.5 billion years of history under one roof at the largest natural history museum in the Western United States. NHM features grand mammal dioramas, rare dinosaur fossils, a spectacular gem hall and exhibits of pre-Columbian and California history. Explore natural landscapes of Africa and North America, a rainforest, distant cultures of the Aztec, Inca and Maya, and tour new permanent exhibits such as Age of Mammals and the Dinosaur Hall, one of the best dinosaur exhibits in the world. Each week find activities for children, families and adults that inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural worlds. 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 213.763.DINO (3466) nhm.org
California African American Museum African American art, history and culture meet and come alive! Enjoy the visual experience of contemporary art and historical exhibitions and participate in discussions, workshops and programs for all ages. Exhibitions include Hard Edged: Geometrical Abstraction and Beyond, Toward Freedom, Coloring Independently: 1940s African American Film Stills From the Collection of the California African American Museum, The African American Journey West, and CAAM Courtyard Series: Metaphors - Charles Dickson. CAAM hosts live performances during the program Target Sundays on the second Sunday of each month. Located in Exposition Park, the state funded institution is always FREE! At CAAM you can interpret yesterday, explore today, and envision the future! Find CAAM on Facebook and Twitter, #CAAMinLA. 600 State Drive Los Angeles, CA 90037 213.744.7432 caamuseum.org
112-121_ATTRACTIONS expopark.indd 3 LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 119
12/11/15 11/30/15 4:34 5:33 PM
PERCHCL0000333562 Atop downtown’s soaring Pershing Square Building sits aptly named Perch, a glass-ensconced rooftop lounge with uninterrupted views of the city. The trilevel restaurant and bar offers French cuisine plus live entertainment, including DJs and burlesque and cabaret acts, on various nights. 448 S. Hill St., downtown, 213.802.1770, perchla.com
THE DR. J COCKTAIL AT BREAK ROOM 86
and cylinders with uncommon materials. MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., downtown; MOCA Gallery at Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 213.626.6222, moca.org NORTON SIMON MUSEUMCL0000022304 The Pasadena landmark houses a prestigious collection of European paintings, sculptures and works on paper, including masterpieces by Raphael, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Also on view is a celebrated collection of sculpture from South and Southeast Asia. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 626.449.6840, nortonsimon.org
NIGHTLIFE AVALON0000022356 This recently renovated dance club and concert venue at the corner of Hollywood and Vine has a state-ofthe-art sound system and a storied past: It hosted the Beatles’ first West
Coast performance. Upstairs is the more intimate lounge Bardot. 1735 Vine St., Hollywood, 323.462.8900, avalonhollywood.com BAR MARMONTCL0000022356 Columbia Pictures founder Harry Cohn once said, “If you must get into trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” The perpetual hot spot and dimly lit VIP playground is outfitted in richly colored wood, Chinese lanterns and signature butterflies on the ceiling. 8171 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.650.0575, chateaumarmont.com BREAK ROOM 8600007758 From the Houston brothers (creators of some of L.A.’s hottest bars, including La Descarga, Good Times at Davey Wayne’s and No Vacancy) comes this ’80s-style bar inside Koreatown’s Line Hotel with karaoke suites, guest djs and live entertainment. (Break dancing? Moonwalking? Check and check.) 630 S. Ardmore Ave., L.A., 213.368.3056, breakroom86.com
SEVEN GRANDL0000333562 This whiskey bar and lounge boasts hunting-club decor, a seasonal cocktail list, live jazz and blues and an “international wall of whisk(e)y” with selections sourced from around the globe. Intimate Bar Jackalope, featuring more than 120 premium whiskeys, is in a backroom. 515 W. 7th St., second floor, downtown, 213.614.0736, sevengrandbars.com SKYBARCL0000022363 The beautiful, open-air bar at the Mondrian L.A. remains as chic today as when it opened. The bougainvillea-covered exterior hovers over the pool. Inside, it’s all white and wood with panoramas of the city. Evening reservations are required. 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.848.6025, mondrianhotel.com THE STANDARDCL0000022364 In downtown L.A. is a rooftop playground that includes water beds by the pool, a dance floor and endless surfaces for lounging. Every clear night promises a crowd; the summer daytime scene is so L.A. The Sunset Strip location also offers a poolside scene, plus live entertainment and exclusive Saturday night disco par-
ties in its “secret” nightclub, Mmhmmm. 550 S. Flower St., downtown, 213.892.8080; 8300 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.650.9090, standardhotel.com £10 If the Hollywood club scene leaves you longing for a night more civilized, then ring £10 (that’s “10 pound”) at the Montage Beverly Hills. The reservation-only spot nestled above Scarpetta restaurant serves single-malt Scotch whisky from the Macallan presented in Lalique crystal glasses. 225 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.906.7218, montagebeverlyhills. com/beverly-hills-bar.php THE TROUBADOURCL9000006384 The legendary rock club that once saw a pre-electric Bob Dylan circa 1964 and Elton John making his stateside debut is now host to alternative and emerging bands, as well as established acts who come to preview new material. 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.276.1158, troubadour.com UPSTAIRS9000006385 Sip cocktails poolside, enjoy live entertainment and take in stunning city views atop Ace Hotel, in the historic United Artists Building. The bar is a favorite spot of the increasingly hip crowd flocking to downtown’s revived Broadway Theater District. 929 S. Broadway, downtown, 213.623.3233, acehotel.com/losangeles THE VARNISHCL9000006385 Tucked behind Cole’s diner, the Varnish is a tiny, speakeasy-style bar that prides itself on its purist approach to classic cocktails. Its Prohibition-era and pre-Prohibition-era drinks are painstakingly crafted. 118 E. 6th St., downtown, 213.622.9999, 213nightlife.com/thevarnish
FOR MORE TO EXPLORE, SEE WHERE LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE AND DOWNLOAD THE CITY GUIDES BY WHERE TRAVELER APP
DYLAN + JENI
LA DESCARGACL9000007758 Sipping a daiquiri in this rum bar, styled as if it were plucked from midcentury Havana, couldn’t be more chic. A jazz band and dancer entertain the crowd; an open-air cigar lounge is hidden in back. 1159 Western Ave., Hollywood, 323.466.1324, ladescargala.com
1 2 0 W H E R E G U E S T B O O K
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 120
12/16/15 1:01 PM
112-121_ATTRACTIONS LISTINGS_GBLA16.indd 121
12/11/15 4:34 PM
PARTING SHOT
Peekaboo
THE MANHATTAN BEACH PIER / PHOTO BY BENJAMIN GINSBERG
122 WH ER E G U ESTBOOK
122_C3_PARTING SHOT_GBLA16.indd 122
12/11/15 4:35 PM
122_C3_PARTING SHOT_GBLA16.indd 3
12/11/15 6:53 PM
hublot.com
GuestBook_Cover_Splits.indd 4
Big Bang Gold White Diamonds. 18K red gold chronograph, adorned with diamonds. White rubber strap.
12/22/15 6:44 PM