We Know Weho

This week, we realize everything old is new again. We have had to reimagine and it seems that nostalgia serves a bigger purpose than just a feel good situation.  It’s actually informed the way we reimagine some old faves. Join host and producer Tracy Paaso and guest-host-in-residence Maxine Tatlonghari (her words, not ours) in this week’s episode of We Know WeHo.

THE ANDAZ

The Drive In. Matt Ojinaga, the director of Sales, Events and Marketing at the Andaz joins the girls and shares three ways that Andaz has reinvented its offerings. We start with the drive-in.  Simply drive your car in and gather up to 3 of your friends and for $56.25 you can experience a drive-in movie as never before. The menu has evolved from simple popcorn nights to full-on charcuterie packages complete with branded Pashmina scarves. Get your tickets here.

Barber Shop Vibes. It appears that personal services are once again open in LA, but just in case, Andaz has partnered with fellow Sunset Stripper Barcode Barbershop to offer haircuts on the Terrace. 

Poolside Dining. Tracy and Maxine love a rooftop.  They love love a rooftop with a view and the Andaz does NOT disappoint.  The Andaz offers 4 intimate social distanced tables with 2 seatings complete with heaters.  Book your table here.

For more staycation ideas in West Hollywood click here.

FOOD & FASHION:

Strings of Life. Remember pigs in a blanket? Savory little hot dogs in a flaky pastry...  Well, in true WeHo fashion, celebrity chefs offer their elevated take on the humble party favorite. The outdoor area is so cute - all bright, sunny, yellow socially distanced vibes.  Menu. 

Taco Tuesday. This day is practically a holiday in WeHo. Tracy headed down the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Hayworth and caught an outdoor grill at Employees Only offering up carne asada.  Next door neighbor Tacos Tu Madre was bursting at the seams with taco aficionados on the same night.

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

More Pilates on a Rooftop?  Maxine’s outdoor Pilates obsession continues with the discovery of this new option Spier Pilates on Santa Monica Blvd. The ability to sanitize the handles (and perhaps even bring your own) brings the customizable experience to the next level.

Manis and Pedis please?  So for those of you experiencing hangnails and hobbit feet, some of our favorite nail salons are reopening.  Let us know in the comments below how your favorite neighborhood nail salon is faring.

PrideStride.  Where does Tracy find the time to vision and launch an entire 5K movement bringing togethr 34 cities (and counting) across the country in celebration of National Coming Out Day?  We’re not sure but make sure to sign up for the amazing event and get some cool SWAG and share your coming out story in the comments below.

We don’t know about you, but we are a little tired of hearing “pivot” in every Zoom meeting we attend. We propose ...Reimagine.  Webster says, “to imagine again or anew; especially : to form a new conception of : re-create.”  Join us as Tracy and Maxine explore some reimaginings in this week’s episode of We Know WeHo.

Football Season:  The Rams faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in the sports venue marvel known as SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.  AS the stadium must remain fanless due to C19,  we answer the burning question, where can a WeHoian catch a game?  We suggest Rocco’s, State Social House, The Belmont, hi tops, Barney’s Beanery and the girls’ fave .. 40 Love.

Outdoor Dining:   Speaking of Barney’s Beanery, Tracy is kind of in love with their new outdoor space.  She’s also crushing on Norah, Strings of Life and Weho adjacent, Carlitos Gardel on Melrose. It’s no secret that these reimagined outdoor extensions make her very happy indeed.

Pozole.  Po-what? As we head into the final stretch of dineL.A., Maxine and Tracy chat about their pick on the Gracias Madres menu.  GM’s  vegetarian version features corn, chickpea, carrots, cabbage, tortilla chips and cashew cream.  We want to sit in the garden, sip on a bespoke margarita for an idyllic Melrose afternoon.

Amazon Pop Up:  Maxine is a self professed Amazon junkie, and this soon-to-open pop up on Melrose will offer a fresh twist for those ready to take their obsession IRL.  We’ve heard it will be “A themed selection of top brands, frequently updated and presented to you by Amazon." 8551 Melrose

Sunday Funday:  Sadly, the Santa Monica bar crawl won’t be the same as Rage closes its doors after 40 years serving the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you for all the fun times, Rage.

As we brace ourselves for a triple digit heat wave this Labor Day weekend, here is a recap of this week’s episode of We Know WeHo, complete with ideas on how to escape the heat, explore new restaurants and support local.  We call that  a win, win, win.

Poolside

Tracy and guest host Maxine (back for another round) met in a WeHo pool the summer of 2016 (that’s a story for another day).  Suffice it to say these two mermaids love a good pool.  Here are three ways to get your splash on if you don’t happen to have a pool in your backyard or apartment complex:

Resort Pass: Daycations for mermaids and mermen and mer-nonbinaries. Book your favorite sun lounger or cabana through this app at your fave local hotel like the Andaz, Sunset Tower, La Peer and more. https://www.resortpass.com/

Swimply: Craving something a bit more private? This app and website was pitched as the “airbnb for swimming pools” on ABC’s shark tank.  Some pools even offer bbq’s and allow you to social distance with your quarantine squad. https://swimply.com/

Hotel Staycation:  Ready to go all in and decadently book a room? Many of our hotels are offering California residents special rates as summering in Europe is not an option at the moment.  https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/offer/california-residents.

dine L.A.

It’s baack! Enjoy two weeks of adventuresome dining experiences across Los Angeles. The program kicked off a couple of days ago and will run through September 18.

Conservatory: Maxine has always loved the vibe, food and drinks at this design gem of an outdoor space.  Her choices:  Truffle Croquettes (calabrian chili aioli, parmigiano-reggiano) / Maine Diver Scallops (corn emulsion, truffle essence, english peas) / Chocolate Mousse (chantilly cream, berries) $45 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/1818

Tower Bar:  Tracy is a fan of this iconic Sunset Strip spot. Try:  Beet Salad (arugula, toasted pecans, goat cheese, orange vinaigrette) / Tower Burger (8 oz beef patty, port onions, arugula, special sauce, toasted brioche and a side of fries) / Famous Tower Bar Cookies $35 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/3024 (Pro Tip: Pair with the aforementioned Resort Pass for a pool & lunch day for bougie date idea.)

Locanda Veneta: Neither of the ladies have been to Third Street Village spot yet, but it’s no secret that Maxine is currently obsessed with all things Italian. Burrata Caprese (fresh basil, virgin olive oil) / Risotto Zafferano con Gamberi (saffron simmered rice, arugula and large prawns) / Chocolate Biscotti $25 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/3523

Amarone: The Italian owner behind the intimate romantic eatery up on Sunset worked with Tara and her department at City Hall to create a charming backyard feel to the parking lot pop-up.  What’s truly inspiring is the way that he helped his neighbor Ta-Ke Sushi out to bring both of their outdoor spaces to life.

Welcome to the 20th episode of We Know Weho.  This week, Produce and Host Tracy Paaso is joined by Guest Host Maxine Tatlonghari stepping in for Lauren as they chat with the Doyenne of the West Hollywood Design District, Jamie Adler.  Jamie is a long-time West Hollywood business owner with a true love for the Creative City.

She was the first guest on We Know Weho and it seemed only fitting to bring her back and see how things have evolved since those early days of the pandemic.  Jamie's philosophy is "adventurous with total safety".  She shares some great insider tips on how we can get out safely, as our businesses pivot and navigate the pandemic.

Tara Punzone, vegan extraordinaire Chef and Owner of Pura Vita and Pura Vita Pizzeria in West Hollywood joins We Know Weho to talk about her two innovative dining concepts that have come to life in West Hollywood over the past two years - including a new business opening for the pizzeria that was funded by a $50,000 kickstarted campaign that opened smack dab in the middle of this unprecedented year.

Chef Tara is an Italian American from New York, who has thrived on a vegan diet for over 30 years. Her passion for healthy southern Italian food has been evolving since her childhood when she made the decision to adopt a vegan lifestyle. It was then Tara began converting all of her family's traditional dishes to vegan versions of the same, without compromise.

For the past 20 years Chef Tara has worked alongside many inspirational chefs, honing her skills and running several of New York City and Los Angeles’ fine dining vegan restaurants.

Pura Vita in West Hollywood, is the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the USA! At Pura Vita we have created a unique dining experience that has the ambiance of a New York City wine bar with a traditional menu reflecting the best of Southern Italy.  We pride ourselves on using the best organic, sustainable, clean, plant-based ingredients.

Show Notes & Links:

Pura Vita Vegan https://puravitalosangeles.com/

Pura Vita Pizzeria  https://puravitapizzeria.com/

Pura Vita Instagram @puravita_la |  @puravitapizzeria

Las Palmas pop up at EP&LP https://www.eplosangeles.com/las-palmas

E.P. & L.P. https://www.eplosangeles.com/

The Ivy http://theivyrestaurants.com/

Lauren Weiniger is the founder and CEO of Safely Health, an integrated marketplace platform focused on sexual health. Prior to founding Safely, Lauren was on the founding team of TAU Investment Management, an impact-focused PE fund based in NYC. She also previously founded GrowthCity, and oversaw a portfolio of healthcare startups for Abraxis Bioscience, which was acquired by Celgene for $2.3B. Prior to that, Lauren led projects at the Grameen Foundation focused on alleviating extreme poverty in Argentina.

An MBA graduate of Oxford University, Lauren serves as an adviser to several companies from start-up through growth, including Glow Concept, WinkyLux, GTV, and MashandGrape. Lauren is a founding member of Dreamers//Doers, an ambassador to Breakout, and a member of Summit Series and Milken Young Leaders Circle.

Safely is a healthcare marketplace platform focused on sexual health. Their debut product, The Safely App, lets people share their verified STD status with potential partners. It's also the fastest and least expensive way to get tested for STDs, backed by a national network of leading labs and physicians. Users can import their STD results from any doctor, clinic, or lab for free, or skip the doctor's visit and book a full STD panel using insurance for just $99 out of pocket.

Now Safely is adding COVID-19 testing and verification, to help get people back to dating and more.   More than an App, Safely is a Movement: A coalition of influential supporters on a mission to disrupt the spread of STDs in our lifetime.

Show Notes & LInks:

Safely App https://safely.me/

Tacos Tu Madre 

40 Love

Jon & Vinny's

Summer Social Club pop up at Employees Only

Crudo e Nudo pop up

Norah's

Bludso's | Black Restaurant Week 

Doque Spa

Barbertruck

Sunset Marquis

1 Hotel West Hollywood

The Mermaid Inn NYC

This week John Erickson, local West Hollywood resident with life-long activism and advocacy from an early age joins We Know Weho to discuss his (first-time) candidacy run for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council.

Erickson first planted roots in West Hollywood in 2010. While completing his Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University in American Religious History, he was selected as an intern for the West Hollywood City Council and moved into the city. The internship set him on a path to connect decades of work for social and economic justice with his passion for public service. After the internship, Erickson went on to become Council Deputy to former Councilmember Abbe Land and then the City’s Community Affairs Technician where he worked directly with West Hollywood residents, civic leaders, and organizations across Southern California. At City Hall, Erickson advanced policies and programs to increase awareness around LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, the environment, and civic engagement. While at City Hall, served as the President of West Hollywood Municipal Employees (WEHOME) American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local Union No. 3339, AFL-CIO. He learned to bring residents and local businesses together so that City Hall works for everyone, to take forward-thinking policies from white paper to law, and to provide exceptional constituent services.  Currently, Erickson is the Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, a Planning Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, and President of the Board for the ACLU of Southern California.

Show Notes & Links:

John Erickson https://erickson4weho.com/

Hollywood Food Coalition https://hofoco.org/

SOVA https://www.jfsla.org/SOVA

Jone’s  https://joneshollywood.com/

Salt’s Cure Breakfast  https://www.breakfastbysaltscure.com/

Madison & Park Coffee https://www.instagram.com/madisonandparkcoffee/?hl=en

Astro Burger http://www.astroburger.com/

Fred Segal (the real Fred Segal on Sunset) https://www.fredsegal.com/

Mauro’s Cafe http://mauroscafe.com/#ad-image-2

Pace Joint https://pacejoint.com/

Harold’s Chicken Shack https://www.haroldschickenla.com/

Cavatina at the Sunset Marquis https://sunsetmarquis.com/cavatina-restaurant/

Pink Taco https://pinktaco.com/

Carrie’s Pilates outdoor studio on La Brea  https://www.carriespilatesplus.com/

Harmony Pilates  https://harmonystudiospilates.com/

Annie Lennox https://www.annielennox.com/

Capitol Drugs https://capitoldrugs.com/locations/west-hollywood/

Pampered Hands https://pampered-hands.com/

West Hollywood City Council Meeting 

This week local artist, Katie Bright, joins We Know Weho to talk about her art projects in West Hollywood and her favorite neighborhood places to grab a bite to eat or a sweet treat.

With  almost  20  years  of  experience  as  an  artist  and  designer,  Katie  created  the  Welcome  to  the  Brightside Agency.  The  company  works  with  a  melting  pot  of  creative’s  in  all  spectrums  of  the  arts  to  deliver  unique projects,  wallpaper,  murals,  books,  illustrations,  and  installations.  Imagination  and  production  show  no  limits.

Recently with  an  invitation  to  design  two  mural  artworks  for  Pasadena  Showcase  House,  August,  2020,  Katie devised a new company,The Digs Collection. Digs is short for diggings, both words slang for home.  Clients include Kimpton La Peer Hotel, The West Hollywood Design District, The City of West Hollywood, Disney, Sesame Street, The Magic Castle, Yamashiro, The Farmer Daughter Hotel, and many more.

Show Notes & Links:

Katie Bright http://www.welcometothebrightside.com/

Katie Bright - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/welcometothebrightside/

Katie Bright - Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/katiebrightbrig/

Soosh at La Peer Hotel https://www.ubereats.com/los-angeles/food-delivery/soosh/HKNJtQ3zRSW5GkOnYs0n9Q?ps=1

Kimpton La Peer Hotel https://www.lapeerhotel.com/

Ruam Mitr Thai https://sweetladyjane.com/

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

Sweet Lady Jane https://sweetladyjane.com/

Homewerk - a drag show comedy 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homewerk-a-drag-and-comedy-show-tickets-110855513826?aff=ebdssbeditorialcollection

Brits in LA http://britsinla.blogspot.com/

I Martin Bicycles https://www.helenscycles.com/about/i.-martin-bicycles-beverly-grove-pg288.htm

Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/

Calma Cannabis Dispensary https://calmawesthollywood.com/

The We Know Weho team is making the rounds and getting to know the candidates who are in the running for City Council seats this upcoming November and interview Noemi Torres in this week's episode.

Noemi is dedicated to helping lift people out of poverty and out of homelessness and has volunteered with Project Angel Food for sixteen years as well as the Downtown Women’s Center, RED EYE, and the Skid Row Carnival of Love.  She also served on the board of Ascencia, a local organization that has provided services and affordable housing to homeless individuals and families since 2006.

In 2014, Noemi became involved in the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board, supporting women’s rights, pay equity, and advocacy for women. In 2017, she was appointed to the Public Facilities Commission by West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath.

Because of her volunteer work and advocacy with numerous community organizations, Noemi was named Woman of the Year in 2017 by Congressman Adam Schiff.  

La Boheme is the hot topic in this week's Food and Fashion segment with the entire town talking about the new charming outdoor patio that has been constructed in the valet lot and a happy hour that serves amazing bites for a great value all 7 days a week starting at 5pm!  There is also a review of the newly opened GGet (Go Get Em Tiger) coffee shop on the corner of Harper and Santa Monica as Tracy gives her food critic review of the breakfast burrito and the tasty flaky creamy Bun Bun.  

In Health & Wellness Lauren and Noemi compare notes on their favorite West Hollywood IV Drip locations Hydration Room and Nergy Boost.  And they all discuss their thoughts on an outdoor hair salon concept and find out where you can get an outdoor pedicure!  

Show Links:

Noemi Torres https://noemi4weho.com/

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

Downtown Women’s Center https://downtownwomenscenter.org/

Emerge California https://ca.emergeamerica.org/

Asencia https://www.ascenciaca.org/

The Den https://www.thedenonsunset.com/

La Boheme West Hollywood  http://www.globaldiningca.com/laboheme/

Go Get Em Tiger (Gget)  https://gget.com/locations/

Hydration Room https://thehydrationroom.com/locations/west-hollywood/

Hamburger Mary’s https://www.hamburgermarys.com/weho/

This week Marco Pelusi who is an award-winning celebrity hair color artist, authority, educator, and salon owner joins Tracy and Lauren on We Know Weho. Marco is globally recognized as a leading Haircolor Authority, renowned Platform Artist & Educator, Salon Owner, and fashion-forward Celebrity Haircolorist. Fifteen years ago, he opened Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in the heart of the ultra-chic West Hollywood Design District on Robertson Boulevard. There, he and his talented staff of seasoned Hollywood hair stylists continue to offer world-class hair fashion to numerous celebrities and trendsetters.  Marco’s luxurious, spa-like salon is the premier retailer of the Marco® Collagen Color Guard® HairCare System, the first and only complete collagen-based system developed for color- and chemically-treated hair.  Marco is currently offering 15% off products as well as customized hair color kits and tutorials for color application.

Marco has been a long time member of the West Hollywood Design District Business Improvement Board and won the John Chase Art & Design Award at the 2016 West Hollywood Creative Business Awards.  Marco share's his favorites about West Hollywood including the fabulously designed Kimpton La Peer Hotel, Craig's Restaurant, Tortilla Republic, Bossa Nova, the Assembly coffee shop and Marco's restaurant.  

In Food and Fashion this week, Lauren shares her favorites to celebrate National Mac & Cheese Day with Bludso's at the top of the list but Kitchen 24, Joan's on Third, and Slab with a definite thumbs up and worth a try!  Bravo Toast has plans to open up in the early fall on Doheny and Tracy shares her outdoor patio dining social distancing experience at Gracias Madre.  Lots of new patio spaces to learn about that are popping up at West Hollywood restaurants including La Boheme, The Den on Sunset, and Eveleigh.

This week, all fitness is closed as of July 13th but Lauren is keeping an eye out for outdoor workout experiences and crossing her fingers for F45 workouts in West Hollywood Park.  Another fitness business will be popping up in the former LASC space that is all about rolling (foam rollers).

Follow us on instagram @weknoweho and subscribe weekly on Apple, Spotify and Google podcasts!

Links:

Marco Pelusi https://marcopelusi.com/

Marco Pelusi Instagram @marcopelusi

Marco Pelusi Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marcopelusistudio/

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

West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce https://www.wehochamber.com/

Kimpton La Peer Hotel West Hollywood https://www.lapeerhotel.com/

Pressed Juicery https://pressedjuicery.com/