We Know Weho

This week, the ladies sat down for a treat with WeHo based influencer, blogger and brand strategist Rachel Richardson of Lovely in LA.  “I never leave the village,” says Rachel. While that’s not entirely true (she has true wanderlust and has become quite the California road trip girl), her love for all things West Hollywood is clear from the interview. Pour yourself a glass of rose and settle in for a nice long Overheard in WeHo convo.

Rachel Richardson, is the founder of Lovely in LA.  She’s been called many things:  influencer, blogger, brand strategist, fit model, creative director and trend forecaster. In short, she’s the secret weapon that brands call upon to engage the powerful 20 billion dollar plus/curvy market.  She helps brands navigate the bridge between plus and standard style while inspiring and equipping her audience to look and feel their absolute best. Founded in 2012, Lovely in LA is a source of chic sophistication and style inspiration for fashionistas of all shapes and sizes. This inclusive approach to all things stylish is incredibly important in a community like West Hollywood especially at a time like this. She’s also very “ in the know” and often the go-to resource for Maxine when trying to figure out what to wear or where to go. And most importantly, Rachel calls West Hollywood home

Mentioned in this Week’s Episode:  This includes picks from our guest Rachel, Tracy, Maxine and of course, Lola’s List!  Following are almost 40 things to see, do and shop in WeHo and beyond. Take a listen to the podcast for the inside scoop.

Food:  BBCM, Carla’s Cafe, Cara Hotel (WeHo adj), Cecconi, Craig’s, Found Oyster (WeHo adj) Harriet’s Rooftop, The Edition, Employees Only, La Peer Hotel, Madre, Olivetta, Petit Ermitage, Ponsonby Rd Cafe, Starbuck’s (peppermint hot chocolate is here), Tess  Pro Tip:  Many of these spots are also very Instagrammable

Health, Wellness & Fitness:  Dr. Refresh, MYX Fitness, Peloton app, Yoga at Petit Ermitage, Mount Olympus “hikes”, long walks up Doheny toward the Bird streets, The Doctor, The Solution

Home: CB2, Hollywood Glam Furniture James Perse Home on Robertson, West Hollywood Design District

CA Road Trips: Death Valley, Palm Springs, Zion

Pets:  Dog park, Healthy Spot

And just in time for the holidays … shopping:  Amazon Pop Up "Unwrap Change" between Amazon Handmade and Dove Chocolate featuring 16 women owned businesses including Los Angeles Based Hereafter and Huntington Beach sister team Wunderkid Art , Belcampo Meats, Book Soup, Candles by AK Squared (a hyper local company, their candles are named after WeHo streets!), Temecula Olive Oil, WeHo Gift Guide by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  Make sure to check out last week’s episode for even more shopping!

Today's special episode focuses on Small Business Saturday and how to support local businesses as part of American Express annual event with a feature on local business owner Anthony Carro of Candle Delirium.  The We Know Weho team also has a special reminder to give to your favorite non-profit for Giving Tuesday and are joined by local artist Marisabel Bazan who has created a unique collection of butterfly holiday ornaments with proceeds going to help Panamanian children in need.  Don't miss the once a year Black Friday sale at Candle Delirium of 15% off online or in store purchases.  Marisabel is also offering beautiful hand painted scarves for Black Friday on her website and instagram.

SHOW LINKS:

Candle Delirium

Marisabel Bazan https://marisabelbazan.com/

Lady M https://www.ladym.com/

Sweet Lady Jane https://sweetladyjane.com/

Cake Monkey https://www.cakemonkey.com/

Bottega Louie https://www.bottegalouie.com/pages/west-hollywood-updated

Gelato Festival https://www.gelatofestival.store/

Joan’s on Third https://joansonthird.com/

Violet Grey https://www.violetgrey.com/

Book Soup https://www.booksoup.com/

Mystery Pier Books http://www.mysterypierbooks.com/

John & Pete’s http://www.johnandpetes.com/

Sweetzer Cellars https://www.sweetzercellars.com/

Pleasure Chest https://thepleasurechest.com/store-locations/los-angeles

Empty Vase https://emptyvase.com/

The RealReal https://www.therealreal.com/

Atacama Home https://atacamahome.com/

James Perse Robertson House https://www.jamesperse.com/furniture/flagship-store/robertson

Hollywood Glam Furniture https://www.hollywoodglamfurniture.com/

LA Food Bank https://www.lafoodbank.org/

LBGT Center Senior Pantry https://lalgbtcenter.org/

Project Angel Food https://www.angelfood.org/

Meals on Wheels https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

APLA https://aplahealth.org/

American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/

Usbg Foundation https://www.usbgfoundation.org/

" A little over nine years ago, Craig Susser opened Craig's LA in the West Hollywood Design District on infamous Melrose Avenue.  Craig's made a splash back then, and the restaurant is just as notable today.

Craig's is called a modern throw back and has proven to be the restaurant hotspot: as Zagat coined it, “a sure celeb hang.. Formerly at Dan Tana’s, Craig Susser opened his own American restaurant, perfecting a high-end, comfort food menu that keeps new and loyal customers returning again and again.

Episode Links:

Craig’s La - https://craigs.la/

Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream -https://craigsvegan.com/

Goldbelly - https://www.goldbelly.com/craigs/the-boys-chocolate-pizza-3-pack

West Hollywood Design District https://www.westhollywooddesigndistrict.com/

Prince Pizza (West Hollywood) http://princestreetpizzanyc.com/

Night & Market http://www.nightmarketsong.com/nm-weho-1

Pace Joint https://pacejoint.com/

Madre https://madrerestaurants.com/madre-west-hollywood/

Covenant House - Virtual Sleep Out fundraiser

https://www.sleepout.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=840

Farmer’s Market the Grove - PJ drive at Huntington Meats http://huntingtonmeats.com/

This week, WeHo felt like a block party. People flew their flags, danced in the streets and honked their horns from the westside to the eastside of the City.  And anchoring the eastside, Tom Sopit of Employees Only joins the show to share how the sexy speakeasy has fared in the pandemic.

About Tom

Los Angeles native Tom Sopit has extensive management experience in the food & beverage and hospitality industries. Currently, Tom is the Managing Partner at Employees Only located in West Hollywood. Before Employees Only, Tom focused on the creative and operational development of new projects at Houston Hospitality,  a nightlife group that owns and operates some of the largest bars in Los Angeles. Before that, he served as the Director of Marketing for Singha North America — a conglomerate based out of Bangkok, Thailand. At SNA, Tom forged a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers, nurtured relationships with Manchester United, and oversaw various activations across the country at events like Art Basel and Sundance. During this period, Tom also built and led a team of over 30 employees and managed 150 distributors throughout the country.

As we all eagerly await the presidential election results, the girls sit down with Nick Rimedio, General Manager of the West Hollywood Design District jewel known as La Peer Hotel.

About Nick

Nick is a seasoned hospitality veteran, who brings twenty-five years of industry experience as the General Manager of La Peer Hotel, which is located in the Design District of West Hollywood.  Since its opening in January 2018, La Peer has garnered several major awards from publications such as Condenast and Travel & Leisure, and is West Hollywood’s only starred hotel by Forbes Travel, securing a Four Star Award for both 2020 and 2021 in addition to a AAA Four Diamond.

In his role at La Peer Hotel, he oversees all hotel activities, including personnel, operations, guest relations, sales, and business development. Previous positions include hotel manager at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, hotel manager at Avalon Beverly Hill, director of food and beverage at Carmel Valley Ranch, and general manager for the late iconic chef Charlie Trotter at his restaurant at the Palazzo Las Vegas as well as assistant general manager in Chicago.

All the Pop Ups:

GBK Brand Bar:  Awards season is a festive time in West Hollywood with all of the parties and glamming, and a luxurious Gift Lounge is not to be missed. GBK Productions and La Peer came together to offer a truly unique retail experience.  Fun facts: Tracy just bought her favorite new flannel there and Maxine launched her e-commerce biz with GBK years ago.

James Peterson Henry Art: James is an Australian painter whose work is heavily influenced by Cubism, African Art and Australian Aboriginal Art. In the organic way that Nick constructs the hotel’s pop-ups, James and Nick met on property while James was a server at Viale Ristorante (now closed).

Olivetta: This pop up restaurant has been a must-visit since it opened, with its sexy poolside and rooftop dining options.  What we didn’t realize is that a considerable amount of the pre-opening preparations took place at the LaPeer. Olivetta is extending its residency through May 2021 and have added Tuesday nights to the line up.

Congrats to the Dodgers for winning the world series for the first time since 1988.  Did you catch the game at one of your favorite WeHo sports bars? This week, we head into Halloween and yes … we will sorely miss our Halloween Festival on Santa Monica Blvd. However, show your pumpkin-carving skills with a visit to the Pumpkin Patch at Beverly Center.

This week the girls welcome Chris Santos, Founder of Dr. Refresh on Melrose Place.  This wellness oasis has only been open 19 days, but make sure to have a listen to the podcast to learn about Chris and his business on the bleeding edge of fitness, wellness, anti-aging and beauty.  He has been dedicated to health and fitness all of his life as a triathlete, martial artist, and wellness / biohacking enthusiast.

Eat & Drink Week: We head into the final days of Eat + Drink Week (Nov 1) and Maxine’s pick is Cavatina at Sunset Marquis. You have to cross a bridge across a koi pond and it feels like Hawaii.  It will be even more enchanting when the holiday lights make their appearance shortly.

Sweet Treats: Tracy scoured the neighborhood and her picks for some tasty treats are Cake Monkey, Pitchoun, Gelson’s, and Conservatory (for the spooky drinks too!).  However, it is the macarons for Maxine as she waits for Bottega Louie to open their doors in early November.

Lisa’s Back: The block at SM between Robertson & San Vicente appears to be alive again with Pump, Tom Tom and its expanded patio offering Vanderpump Rules realness to fans of all the shows.

Time to Vote:  We don’t think we need to remind you how important your voice is right now, and for a little extra incentive Uncle Paulie’s Deli, Lauren’s fave, will give you buy-one-get-one free when you come in with an “I Voted” sticker. Uber is also offering some deal specials if you need a ride to the ballot box or polls.

Robertson House:  James Perse proves they are much more than high end t-shirts and sweats on Robertson next to the Ivy.  This fully immersive experience will showcase their furniture collection and accessories including sheets, towels, antiques, cashmere throws and more.

This week We Know Weho kicks off the Food & Fashion segment with an overview of West Hollywood Eat and Drink Week kicks off on October 23rd with an impressive list of local restaurants that are offering specials including a rooftop patio dining experience at the secretly exclusive Petit Ermitage.  

If you are a BBQ fan, you will want to take notes on the review from We Know Weho on Bludsoe's and the variety of savory proteins available for take out, delivery or curbside pickup. With the closing of Tortilla Republic, Tracy is elated to share the opening of famed chef Enrique Olvera's restaurant, Damian, in the Arts District downtown who brings his cooking talents from Pujol in Mexico City that has been featured on Netflix Chef's Table series.  Menu items she can recommend from her culinary excursions to his two NYC restaurants include the gaucamole, ceviche and the hibiscus meringue. 

This week's guest feature is the one and only Larry Block from Blockparty Weho who is also on the ballot as a candidate for the upcoming West Hollywood City Council election.  Larry is a 35 year West Hollywood resident who has owned a few shops in West Hollywood since 1985 after his move West from New York. Larry has been a long time city advocate and has served as the Chairman of the Public Facilities Commission from 2019-2020 and the Chairman of the Disability Advisory Board from 2013-2014.  

He has been active in local city issues including founding the term limit initiative and CrossSafeWeho, which led to the crosswalk updates.   It was his idea to create the West Hollywood Green City Awards,  and he founded the Disability Health Fair that brings free flu shots to residents each year. When Covid hit, Larry utilized his sourcing talents to acquire hard to find masks and led the masks for residents program.  

The BlockParty, his "mini gay department store", is celebrating its eleven year business anniversary on October 24th and was the winner of the 2019 Creative City Best Weho Attraction Award bestowed by the Chamber of Commerce. 

Be sure to check out the list of upcoming list of movies at the Andaz Drive-In for Halloween, and the huge pink spider dangling from the room of Pretty Little Things on Melrose Avenue is worth a walk or drive-by for your West Hollywood Halloween plans.

This week, Tracy and Maxine welcome Tom Kiely, CEO of Visit West Hollywood, to the show this week to talk about tourism to the Creative City. We explore how the pandemic has been the mother of (re)invention through the eyes of the man who has the primary responsibility of having tourists swipe right on WeHo when thinking about their next vacay .. or staycay.

Asking Tom to pick his favorite WeHo spots is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. But this week - here are some of his nominees:

The Den: This lively restaurant on the Sunset Strip is the neighborhood bar to people from all over the world.  With the best ingredients and energetic atmosphere found only on the strip, Tom’s menu picks are the burger and the chicken sandwich. The outdoor patio is a must-dine.

The Pendry: Tom, Tracy and Maxine are all excited to see The Pendry open its doors to visitors and locals alike.  Self described as Polished Comfort. Modern Edge - this new luxury offering will boast two Wolfgang Puck restaurants (he’s baaaaacckkkk) and beautiful artful environments.

Zinque:  WeHo boasts an 87 walk score (very walkable!) and Tom often walks to work.  He likes to grab a coffee from this Melrose outdoor bistro serving French fare such as charcuterie platters, open-faced sandwiches & quiches.  The girls like it for a glass of afterwork rose.

Gracias Madre:  Born out of love for Mother Earth and reverence for all mothers, this beautiful space features traditional plant-based Mexican cuisine. Upon first taste, Tom couldn’t believe it was veggie based (the jackfruit really does taste like pull-pork!).  The last influencer event Maxine attended was held in the photogenic outdoor courtyard.

West Hollywood Eat and Drink Week is back on the heels of DineLA for it’s second year running  starting next week on October 23rd running through November 1st.  Diners can find great dine-in, take out or delivery deals at their favorite West Hollywood places to dine such as Boa, Cecconi’s, Cavatina, Eveleigh, Katana and even Shake Shack.

If you feel like getting your namaste on outdoors, the newly opened Sweat Yoga located in the Sprouts building is offering rooftop classes in the morning and late evenings with a gorgeous view extending in all directions across West Hollywood.

La Cienega appears to be attracting the likes of businesses looking for flagship locations not only in the US but also as a footprint for West Coast operations.  Dries Van Noten opened its doors last week at the former Opening Ceremony location at 451 N. La Cienega filling over 8,500 sq feet with a retail experience that is unlike any other with an art and performance space vibe.  West Hollywood will have a third woman’s space joining The Wing and Allbright with Chief selecting 714 La Cienega Blvd as the second city location for C-level and rising women VP’s looking for a place to network.  The club will occupy a huge 14,259 sq foot space and bring some life to the very listless Los Angeles side of the LCDQ.

It's October and the beginning of Fall season in between the seasonal heat waves, and the hosts of We Know Weho ask if there any weather that isn't pizza weather?  Pizza is a thing, a big thing, even in West Hollywood where all the options under the sun are available including gluten-free and cauliflower crusts.  October is, after all, National Pizza Month and Lauren is back on the mic and in the co-host seat this week with Tracy to give us the complete run down of her favorite cheesy pies.

Lauren is a native New Yorker and right off the bat her pick for best NY pizza goes to Joe's Pizza's location at 8539 Sunset Blvd, with a very simply put endorsement from Lauren, "If you don't like Joe's PIzza...there's something wrong with you..".

Just a little east on Melrose, family owned and run Black Bird Pizza Shop is Lauren's pick if you are in the mood for Chicago-style deep dish pizza.  The two are in total agreement about the breakfast pizza from Jon & Vinny's on Fairfax with the fried egg on top - a true art and mark of a refined pizza maker according to these two experts.

Lauren's surprise pick is the local West Hollywood Domino's on La Cienega with a strong vouch coming from Keith Kaplan for the deep dish topped with pepperoni, black olives and jalapenos and light sauce.  She is not conflicted in the least bit about this very speedy delivery pick with a tip to download the app for ease of ordering and tracking your order to collect a free pizza for every six ordered.

Tracy throws in her favorite "calorie worthy" pizzas from Pace Joint and local famous Chef Nancy Silverton's Pizzeria Mozza, but Lauren's top pick and front runner is awarded to.......  Prime Pizza 

NEIGHBORHOOD:

We get caught up with what's going on in the neighborhood on Lauren's walking jaunts for a Melrose Place update that Nordstrom Local is open but next door flashy instagram favorite neighbor, Glossier, has closed its doors on their flagship retail location.

Although the infamous Halloween Parade is cancelled this year, C19 can't stop Halloween in Weho and local events are starting to pop up as The Rainbow is first out of the gate with a Halloween Costume Party on October 28th.

Save Our Stages is doing a benefit concert to help raise funds for live venues that are not getting financial assistance from the federal government and pegged to be the last to open due to the pandemic. SAVE THE DATE for October 16 - 18th for this fundraising event to help benefit participating local West Hollywood live music venues, the Troubadour and Whisky A Go Go, featuring a range of artists including Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, Jason Mraz, Little Big Town, Dave Matthews Band, Reba McEntire, Demi Lovato and more.

Welcome to the Suite Life. As featured co-host Maxine Tatlonghari extends her residency, she and host Tracy Passo podcast for the first time on location at Andaz West Hollywood.  The GM Matt generously offered to have the girls in to see the drive-in set up first hand, spend a bit of time at the pool after work during this triple digit heatwave and podcast from the Tutti Frutti Suite aka Little Richard’s Room (he was a resident for 20+ years) at the former Riot Hyatt. It’s amazing how “work from home” takes on a whole new meaning when high atop Sunset Blvd with sweeping views - staycation style.

NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURE:

Custom Comfort:  The girls welcomed Co-Owner Gary Trudell to talk all things mattress/sleep/rejuvenation. As a community leader (and lover) of the West Hollywood District, Gary shares helpful mattress-shopping tips for our listeners as well as his insider pics for some of his favorite neighborhood spots.  You may remember that Tracy and Maxine shared some sleep tips at the end of Episode 22, and a good mattress was key to optimum zzzzs. Gary and his team offer private appointments and concierge-level service to help you find the exact fit for your needs.

Amazon Pop Up: The first iteration of the concept store features the latest from Samsung and a peek at Amazon’s new furniture line called Rivet. We’re excited to see what other brands they bring to life in future activations right across the street from Urth cafe. 8551 Melrose.