These work plan items include Fine Art Acquisition, Festival Beverly Hills, Artwalk, Concerts on Canon Performer Selection Criteria, Developer-Owned Art, Inspect Developer-Owned Art, Art Acquisition, Arts Education and Programming for the World Cup and Olympics. 

Earlier this year, City Council revised the process for commissions with discretionary responsibilities, which includes the Arts and Culture Commission, as a way to align their work plans with the city’s priorities. The process now involves presenting proposed commission work plans alongside the council’s priorities, allowing the city manager to make recommendations and have the council provide direction and feedback. Following input from City Council, liaisons will meet with commission chairs in June/July to convey priorities, commissions will work with staff to execute the work plans and liaisons will conduct progress check-ins in December/January. 

Following the conclusion of that discussion, Assistant Director of Community Services Patty Acuna provided an update on Yayoi Kusama’s Hymn of Life: Tulips sculpture and flower restoration project. The City Council recently approved the deaccession and destruction of the artwork. The decision came as a requirement to allow for the agreement with the New York Botanical Garden to continue. 

The sculpture, which was installed in Beverly Gardens Park in 2007 as Kusama’s first U.S. public art commission, sustained irreparable damage by 2012 from weather and public interaction. This prompted the Arts and Culture Commission to recommend refabrication of the sculpture in stainless steel, which City Council approved in 2019. In the same year, City Council approved loaning the original Kusama sculpture to the New York Botanical Garden for the “Kusama’s Cosmic NATURE” exhibit for 2020. After delays in refabrication due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of the foundry that was in charge of that process, the sculpture eventually was taken into the hands of The Big New foundry. Currently, the artwork is undergoing the final stages of refabrication before approval by Kusama’s representatives.

City Council, at its Aug. 5 meeting, approved the deaccession of the artwork as required by the Fine Art Ordinance in order to destroy the piece and authenticate the newly installed artwork for the New York Botanical Gardens.

Finally, the commission debriefed the recent Great Elephant Art Migration installation, which was held at Beverly Gardens Park in the month of July. Commissioners expressed their joy for the exhibit, praised the quick turnaround time for the installation and gave “kudos” to the Great Elephant Art Migration team. 

“If we had turned it away and not had that, it would have been a terrific loss to the city. I don’t think we’ve had a more successful event than that,” said Commissioner Maralee Beck about the Great Elephant Art Migration. 

According to Matthew Brown, the city’s recreation services manager, a majority of the elephant sculptures have been sold. Funds from the sale of the elephants will go toward causes that protect biodiversity and support the coexistence of humans and animals. Brown said that the Great Elephant Art Migration team is currently getting a slew of inquiries from the public and is pending a decision on what comes next.    

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Guests—including members of Blackfeet Nation, Maasai warriors and leaders in art, philanthropy, local politics, and  entertainment—cheered as the last elephant convoy made its way through The Wallis’ Eva and Marc Stern Arrival Court. The elephants arrived draped in blankets made by Indian designer Vikram Goyal as part of his “Wrapped in History” curation for the event’s blanketing ceremony. 

“In many cultures around the world, we honor wisdom and genius, if you will, with blankets,” said Cristina Mormorunni, co-founder and director of conservationist group INDIGENOUS LED. “This blanketing ceremony is really special because it’s bringing together Indigenous artistry and culture and ceremony with some of the most incredible fashion houses on the planet.”

Their artistic journey, formally called “The Great Elephant Migration,” symbolizes coexistence between humans and wildlife and amplifying Indigenous knowledge. The elephants started their journey in Newport, Rhode Island and finished in Beverly Hills, with stops along the way in both major cities, like New York, and tribal lands, including the Blackfeet Nation’s Buffalo Spirit Hills Ranch in Montana.  

Each sculpture is based on a real-life elephant roaming the Nilgiri Hills in Southern India. Made from the heat-loving, invasive plant species Lantana camara, each elephant is meticulously handcrafted by a community of 200 Indigenous Adivasi artisans making up The Real Elephant Collective, who live with and know the wild animals personally. 

Like the matriarchal structure of elephant herds, The Great Elephant Migration has its own “matriarchs,” a coalition of women championing coexistence between humans and wildlife. The ceremony was joined by some of the elephants’ notable matriarchs, including Kristin Davis, Ami Vitale, and Edith McBean.  

When it came to choosing where the elephants’ 5,000-mile-long journey would end, the exhibition’s co-founder, Ruth Ganesh, was keen on Wallis Annenberg because of her eponymous wildlife overpass over the U.S. 101 freeway.

The elephant convoy, before it reached Beverly Hills, made a penultimate stop at the crossing to honor its significant contributions to conservation infrastructure.

“The Wildlife Overpass is the biggest example in the world right now of human-wildlife coexistence and what this project stands for,” Ganesh told the Courier. The crossing is a long stretch of vegetated overpass designed to facilitate the safe crossing of wildlife. 

“When we pitched to Beverly Hills [City] Council, there was nothing but warmth … nothing but warmth and a sense of solidarity with what we were doing,” said Ganesh. “Sharona [Nazarian] and Mary [Wells] are both kind of matriarchs, so I felt that resonated with them, and then of course, John [Mirisch], Craig [Corman] and Lester [Friedman].”

Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian joined her fellow councilmembers in celebrating the end of the elephants’ cross-country trek.

“We’re standing on a stage that champions creativity every day, the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts … this is truly a gem in our city, and we’re so proud,” said Nazarian. “From July 1 to August 1, Beverly Gardens Park will transform into a space of beauty, storytelling, and environmental awareness. It’s a public art with purpose, and we are so incredibly proud to host this in Beverly Hills and in this most iconic location.” 

The program concluded with The Perfect World Foundation presenting Wallis Annenberg with its International Conservation Award, which was accepted by her son, Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, on her behalf.  

“This award tonight will honor Wallis Annenberg and her great efforts in creating the wildlife crossing that will see the reconnection of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills to allow wildlife, like mountain lions, to move freely,” said Ganesh.  

The post The Great Elephant Migration Arrives in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

“You Look Simply Outrageous in That Car!”

That proclamation, from the driver of one of the ubiquitous open-air tour buses on Santa Monica Boulevard, greeted me as he pulled up alongside. “Well, who wouldn’t?” I responded. Forget Ozempic and a trip to the salon. Competition for attention is tough in Beverly Hills, where the people, shops and—yes cars—are known for their glamour. But if you want to stand out above the rest, try driving one of these… a McLaren GT. And it doesn’t hurt to opt for this crazy electric blue number that we were lucky enough to test out for a few days.

We were quite simply impossible to miss, even on a rare cloudy weekend in Southern California.

Aside from its whip-smart super car looks, the McLaren GT is the real deal: a top speed of 203 mph; a carbon fiber chassis; a Launch control button that, when activated from a standing start, might just rearrange your internal organs. Price: $204,990. Yes, pricy. But one drive and you, too will think, “Hmmmm, worth it!”

Of course, none of this automotive prowess should ever be experienced on the streets of well-mannered Beverly Hills. I feel obligated to say that since this beast made me think twice about being a responsible driver. But you wouldn’t want to let all this talent go to waste. That’s why the McLaren GT begs to be slogged on a racetrack.

This brings up another curious point. How many cars come standard with a “track” setting on the center console? This beauty does. The track mode setting disables the dynamic safety features like skid control. All the better to slide around a racetrack’s tight corners and truly experience the GT’s extraordinary acceleration and dreamy taut handling.

But here’s the plot twist. The McLaren GT is shockingly comfortable in both the driver’s and passenger’s seats. It’s also roomy inside. Really. And there’s a frunk (front trunk) and a rear hatch. Plenty of room for a weekend getaway’s worth of luggage. The drive mode dials on the center console allow for your choice of comfort, track and sport. And each one really does behave differently. It’s like a bag of Skittles. You’ll want to try them all.

During a weekend driving around Beverly Hills, we felt at once, incredibly safe and exhilarated. I’m happy to report that none of the city’s famous police officers had to take time away from their rounds to lock me up for misbehaving or impound my pretty blue wheels! But I confess that I was constantly secretly compelled to be naughty, egged on by the siren song of that resonant engine.

Trying out the McLaren on the famously windy hills north of the city was another adventure. Avoiding the myriad cavernous potholes – no easy feat – I made Mulholland my little test track. The McLaren’s go-cart-like honed steering is other-worldly. Just the slightest pull on the wheel is enough to point the car to follow Mulholland’s rapid-fire S curves.

And then there’s the McLaren’s g-force-inducing acceleration, coupled with the brut wonderful engine sound of the car’s V8 engine. Certainly no one needs power at the ready like this. But it sure is fun. I had a wicked little run on the 10 Freeway, which was a bit intimidating. Not because the McLaren GT wanted to gallop. Oh no, it was because the car sits a mere few inches above the tarmac, so low as to almost disappear. While gunning at freeway speeds, surrounded by sky-scraper-tall SUVs and even taller semi-trucks, it was a tad disconcerting to thread the lanes, hoping no one would step on me. I shudder to think how invisible this fun-sized racer would have been in a more muted color.

Back up on Mulholland, where ironically, I felt safer, I don’t think the smile left my lips for the entire stretch between Coldwater Canyon and Beverly Glen. If you saw a turquoise blue blur rush by last week, it was likely me. Sorry!

What a car!  

The post My Electric-Blue California Super Car Weekend in Beverly Hills appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

A 15-foot-tall Airedale Terrier robotically sculpted out of resin, towered over guests as they arrived and mingled on grass-inspired carpeting dotted with daisy sculptures. Staff wore floral brooches and carried trays of fruity cocktails and Champagne. 

The immersive springtime fantasy transformation of the space was an interpretation of Tyler, The Creator’s House Codes, a nod to the recurring motif and the artist’s visual universe. Other standout décor props included a mid-air propeller plane and a soap box derby car constructed from a Louis Vuitton trunk, covered in the Craggy Monogram, hand-drawn by the artist, in shades of chocolate, vanilla and patisserie pastels. 

Upstairs, music from DJ Blondie Beach entertained the crowd watching artisans hand paint logos on a monogrammed hard-sided trunk.

L.A. Laker Jarred Vanderbilt, donning a pair of shades from William’s first collection, bought a sweater and admired accessories from trunks and bags to hats. “I came to look at this dope collection!” he told the Courier. “Tyler, The Creator, and Pharrell did an amazing job. I wanted to come and see it in person and give support.”

The collection brings together the signature preppy aesthetic of Tyler, The Creator—who most recently composed the soundtrack for the Fall-Winter 2022 Men’s Show, and Louis Vuitton, along with Williams’ signature elegant approach.

In a statement, Williams said, “This collaboration is unique to Louis Vuitton because it’s a natural extension of our LVERS philosophy, building on our network of incredible artists and creatives. There are so many elements specific to Tyler built into these pieces, and it’s been inspiring to see him hone in on his craft and collaborate with him for this Spring collection.”

Currently on display at the Rodeo store, the collection includes chunky gold jewelry, leather goods, sports-inspired pieces such as Sac Golf and a mini cross-body golf bag, ready-to-wear from aviator to varsity jackets, knitwear, denim, raincoats, and shoes including loafers, along with a traveling chess board.

Guests explored the colorful parklike setting of this unique to Beverly Hills activation, while enjoying tray-passed bites including some of Tyler, The Creator’s favorite comfort foods such as Tater Tots topped with caviar, cheeseburgers, fries, waffles and donuts.

“My main focus was making things I would wear all the time,” said Tyler, The Creator in a statement released by Louis Vuitton. “I dress the same in a meeting as I do a performance or grocery store trip, so hand drawing the monogram felt like the perfect balance to me. The chessboard is one of the greatest things I’ve made and is definitely my favorite thing from the collection.”

Celebrity attendees included Donald Glover, Barry Keoghan, Steven Yeun, Jaden Smith, Peso Pluma, Julez Smith Jr., Cam Hicks, Paul Downs, Lionel Boyce, A$AP Nast, Travis Bennett and many more. 

Filmmaker Andrew Panay, last seen seated next to Beyonce at the Louis Vuitton Paris show in February, told the Courier, “I love the brand and have been a fan for as long as I can afford it! All joking aside, I love Pharrell and I think the work is spectacular. They walk a fine line between edge and elegance. For men, the fact that they are getting into this brand is really special. It was incredibly emotional to watch someone like him transcend into a different world—from being a musician.”

Panay who works with some of the world’s largest brands from T-Mobile, Microsoft and Google and was responsible for three Super Bowl commercials this year, along with hit films such as “Wedding Crashers” and “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” was also gaining creative inspiration from the color palettes and displays. “I will probably shop more and get a few fun pieces. There is a lot happening tonight.” 

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We celebrate our bustling retail with this curated list of designer must-haves that will take you through the holiday season and beyond. From pumpkin spice-hued items fitting for a family Thanksgiving gathering to products festooned in the festive colors of the holiday season. And from the latest warm and cozy products to help you hunker down at home during precious moments of respite to all-out sparkles for a spectacular New Year’s Eve.

Emerald City

1. Alluring and enchanting, Bode’s shimmering “Siren” gown is aptly named. $4,000 at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., 310-275-4211 and saksfifthavenue.com
2. The “Palm Angels Keon” jacket by Moncler would make even Midas gold with envy. $2,200 at Moncler, 340 N. Rodeo Drive, 424-354-4562 and moncler.com
3. Van Cleef & Arpels 18-carat yellow gold ring with its delicate ribbon of emeralds is like gift wrapping for your finger. $13,600 at Van Cleef & Arpels, 300 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-276-1161 and vancleefandarpels.com
4. Called the “heir” to previous generations of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar chronographs, the “527OP Grand Complications” retains the elegance of its predecessors, with its concave bezel, gold markers and distinguished billiard-green dial. Price on request at Patek Philippe-Gearys Rodeo Drive, 360 N. Rodeo Drive, #2, 310-887-4250 and gearys.com/patekphilippe
5. These stunning sculptural Ferragamo sandals belong in a museum, along with the Italian designer’s other shoes. Better yet, they belong on your feet. $2,200 at Ferragamo, 357 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-273-9990 and ferragamo.com
6. Around the holidays, these evergreen-hued, crystal tumblers from Baccarat look the part but don’t pigeonhole them. They’re ready for their close-up year round. $600 (set of two) at Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., 310-550-5900 and neimanmarcus.com 

Holly Go Lightly

1. Part of the latest Lock collection by Tiffany & Co., these 18-carat yellow gold and round brilliant diamond hoops will secure a place in your heart. $6,900 at Tiffany & Co.,
   210 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-273-8880 and tiffany.com
2. This season why not swap those Loubie red bottoms for a Christian Louboutin red patent leather purse? $1,390 at Christian Louboutin, 477 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-652-5700 and
   us.christianlouboutin.com
3. You’ll look as if you were poured into this laminated metallic strapless dress from Dolce & Gabbana. It’s undeniably hot just like liquid gold. $2,745 at Dolce & Gabbana,
   248 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-888-8701 and boutique.dolcegabbana.com
4. Spruce up your holiday decor with this ruby red crystal Baccarat Christmas tree and bring a little sparkle to the festivities. $400 at Gearys, 351 N. Beverly Drive,
   310-273-4741 and gearys.com
5. Made of sumptuous metallic gold leather, these RH jewelry boxes hint at the treasures they hold inside. $100 at RH Modern, 8772 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, 424-281-1326 and rh.com
6. You could wear these Gucci crimson velvet wide-leg pants on a red-eye flight to see the family. But throw on a pair of heels and a silk blouse and presto, you’re ready to party. $1,800 at Gucci, 347 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-278-3451 and gucci.com

Starry Nights

1. Forget clay, this Star of David dreidel from Gearys is made of crystal and will add an elegant spin to your Hannukah holiday spread. $45 at Gearys, 351 N. Beverly Drive, 310-273-4741 and
   gearys.com
2. Sequins on sequins—this Badgley Mischka dress, with its flower applique and hidden boned bodice, sparkles on overdrive. $550 at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd.,
   310-275-4211 and saksfifthavenue.com
3. “The Princess Necklace” by Harry Winston is dripping with white diamonds, cushion-cut sapphires and icy aquamarines, totaling a whopping 186.22 carats. It was inspired by a piece commissioned for a young royal princess in 1977. Price on request at Harry Winston, 310 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-271-8554 and harrywinston.com 
4. With an ultra-lightweight aluminum Dior and Rimowa carry-on suitcase, the fashionable frequent flier can rush to any gate in style. $4,400 at Dior, 309 N. Rodeo Drive,
   310-859-4700 and dior.com 
5. The curved banana heels on these silver Tory Burch Mary Janes give the otherwise youthful shoe a grownup, modern look. $358 at Tory Burch, 366 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-274-2394 and
   toryburch.com
6. Because there’s never enough room in the fridge when you’re throwing a bash, chill the bubbly in this chic silver Crate & Barrel beverage tub (which also comes in gold and rose gold). $120 at Crate & Barrel, 438 N. Beverly Drive, 310-247-1700 and crateandbarrel.com

Spice Route

1. Classic suede loafers by Gucci get the pumpkin spice treatment in this autumn hue, but they also come in black and dark brown leather for the less fashion-forward gentleman. $920 at Gucci, 347 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-278-3451 and gucci.com
2. The Rolex Lady-Datejust, famously worn by Grace Kelly, gets a revamp in the latest model. It now comes in the watchmaker’s signature Everose gold with a chocolate dial and diamonds. $41,900 at Gearys Rolex Boutique, 360 N. Rodeo Drive, #1, 310-887-4200 and rolexboutique-rodeodrive.com
3. In shades of brown, rust and gold, the multicolor embroidered “Mon Tresor” Fendi bucket bag is reminiscent of the changing fall foliage. $1,950 at Fendi, 201 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-623-3420 and fendi.com 
4. Italian designer Gianpaolo Pagni reimagined the 1974 book “Species of Spaces” by French writer Georges Perec for this Hermès Merino wool and cashmere blanket. Perfect if you’re of the homebody species and your space is curled up on the couch in front of the TV. $14,300 at Hermès, 434 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-278-6440 and hermes.com
5. The Montblanc “Patron of Art Homage to Albert Limited Edition 888” fountain pen honors Prince Albert and his legendary romance with Queen Victoria. Its solid 18-carat gold skeleton overlay is inspired by the Crystal Palace, which Albert built and the color is a tribute to the tartan that Albert had created himself for Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The cap ring bears the engraving of “Albert” and their wedding date just like a wedding band. $9,300 at Montblanc, 8500 Beverly Blvd., #757, 310-854-0049 and
   montblanc.com
6. A drawstring waistband comes in handy after holiday binging, but these cashmere Louis Vuitton joggers are stylish as well as comfy. $2,590 at Louis Vuitton, 295 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-859-0457 and us.louisvuitton.com

Warm and Fuzzies

1. If you’re going to disappear into a hoodie, shouldn’t it be this luxe version from Louis Vuitton? It’s made of plush cotton toweling in a gorgeous shade of teal and is embellished with the brand’s iconic monogram motif. $2,750 at Louis Vuitton, 295 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-859-0457 and us.louisvuitton.com
2. What’s a family game night without an epic game of Clue? This version from Detroit watchmaker Shinola reimagines the old-school mansion as a creepy hotel and comes with hand-illustrated character cards. $395 at Gearys, 351 N. Beverly Drive, 310-273-4741 and gearys.com
3. Adorable. Do we really have to say any more about this fleece teddy bear jumpsuit from The North Face? OK, it also comes in a hoodie version and both styles are available in baby pink. $80 at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., 310-275-4211 and saksfifthavenue.com
4. After a night of kicking up your heels on the dance floor, you’ll want to kick off your shoes and slip on these shearling Brunello Cucinelli slippers. $1,595 at Brunello Cucinelli, 220 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-724-8118 and brunellocucinelli.com
5. Add a touch of warmth to any room with these decorative amber and smoke-colored glass bottles by Polspotten. $340 (set of 4) at Neiman Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., 310-550-5900 and neimanmarcus.com 
6. Elevate your pizza game with this portable wood-fired pizza oven from Solo Stove. It comes with everything you need for wood burning, as well as a propane option and a Cordierite pizza stone for the nights you’re too tired to fire it up. $500 at Nordstrom, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., 424-204-1177 and nordstrom.com

Toast of the Town

1. These timeless, Art Deco “Radiator” hoop earrings by David Webb are made of 18-carat gold and platinum, ornamented with black enamel and brilliant cut diamonds. $36,500 at David Webb, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., 310-858-8006 and davidwebb.com
2. This ornate lambskin purse by Dior brings new meaning to the phrase “clutching your pearls”—in a good way. The style is also available in six other shades from sky blue to seashell pink. $6,600 at Dior, 309 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-859-4700 and dior.com
3. Move over, James Bond! This Saint Laurent single-breasted tuxedo jacket with satin lapels will leave the ladies shaken and stirred. $4,590 at Saint Laurent, 469 N. Rodeo Drive,
   310-271-4110 and ysl.com
4. Former dancing queens will steal the scene in these crystal-studded platforms from Prada. $2,150 at Prada, 343 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-278-8661 and prada.com
5. From designer Pamella Roland’s Anniversary Collection, this party dress, topped with Champagne-colored sequins at the bodice and fading to cascading tiers of black tulle, says celebration. $4,995 at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., 310-275-4211 and saksfifthavenue.com
6. If Prince Charming were to have left his slipper on the steps of the castle, it would belong to this pair of velvet tassel loafers by Tom Ford. $1,490 at Tom Ford, 346 N. Rodeo Drive, 310-270-9440 and tomford.com  

The post Must-Haves for the Holidays appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

I did just that last week. I hopped behind the wheel of a new electric Mercedes-Benz EQS, got onto the Santa Monica Freeway, activated a divine heated/massaging seat, and handed the driving power over to the car while I blithely watched a YouTube video about tulips in the Netherlands. I didn’t die, and I’m here to write about it.

We’ve all been experiencing various levels of autonomous driving in our own cars for decades. Cruise Control was the first piece of the puzzle. That technology now seems quaint compared to much more recent advances that allow vehicles to stay in step with traffic, change lanes, and park our cars, all without driver input. If you own a Tesla or another luxury car that offers these assisted driving features, you are familiar with these perks. But even they are somewhat passé, as these systems are under the umbrella of Level 2 autonomy and require that our hands remain on the steering wheel at all times and our eyes stay fixed to the road.

What I experienced in that Mercedes-Benz on the 10 Freeway—with my feet not touching the pedals, my hands not touching the steering wheel, and my eyes glued to a generously sized hi-res video screen (and not facing the windshield)—was the next step in what will one day have us completely riding as passengers in our own vehicles. Welcome to Level 3 autonomy, which promises, under the right conditions, hands-free and feet-free steering, braking and accelerating.

For now, Mercedes-Benz is the only carmaker authorized in the U.S. to sell Level 3 autonomous features on its passenger vehicles. By the end of this year, Mercedes will offer California and Nevada drivers its proprietary autonomous driving system it calls Drive Pilot. Just push a button on the steering wheel and the system takes over. You can now take your eyes off the road. Yikes!

Drive Pilot hardware will be optional equipment on the 2024 Mercedes EQS (electric) sedans and the S-Class (gas version sedans.) Other models may include the option next year. An annual $2,500 subscription will activate Drive Pilot. 

Of course, the program’s disclaimers are littered with caveats and warnings. But basically, under the right conditions—for now, this means that on certain California and Nevada freeways with clearly marked lane dividers, in dry and clear weather, and at speeds that are currently limited to 40 mph—the Mercedes-Benz will fully take over driving duties. You can read, watch a movie, or browse the internet in traffic. You can’t—like some Tesla owners who think otherwise and have met with doom—fall asleep or be otherwise out-of-it so as to not be ready to quickly resume driving responsibilities should an emergency or change in traffic/road conditions occur. At over 40 mph, the Level 2 system will engage, which requires a driver’s attention and hands on the steering wheel.

A camera mounted in the Mercedes video gauge cluster behind the steering wheel pays attention to eye movement and will notice if you nod off. In that case, the seat belt will vibrate and tug at you, bells will go off, and lights will flash. In other words, catnaps are a no-no.

Though Level 3 autonomy is new to the U.S., Mercedes-Benz has offered it as an option in Germany for about a year, with no deaths or accidents. A Mercedes spokesman declined to reveal how many vehicles on Germany’s highways are equipped with the technology.

As I rode along, passenger-like, in the driver’s seat of the Mercedes EQS in spotty traffic moving east approaching Downtown L.A., a Jeep in the lane to my left drifted uncomfortably close to my lane. I waited for the Drive Pilot to sense it and move to the right or at least brake to let the Jeep move in front of me. 

There was a car in the lane to my right, and my vehicle had little wiggle room. Luckily, the Jeep driver realized he was moving into my lane and corrected his steering. I don’t know what would have happened if the Jeep guy had not realized his mistake. I didn’t sense that the Mercedes braked or moved a bit more to the right in my lane, so…

And there was a second incident where I felt concerned. Traffic was now moving at around 60 mph, and so the car was operating in Level 2 capacity. My hands were on the steering wheel, but my feet were not on the pedals. Traffic ahead was slowing and I felt we were traveling too fast for the stopped traffic ahead. 

I waited for the brakes to apply automatically, but it didn’t seem to be coming in time for me to not sweat it. A bit shy of panicking, I applied the brakes and overrode the assisted driving system. The Mercedes engineer sitting shotgun assured me that the car would have applied the brakes and all would have been fine, but for my comfort level, it was a bit too close for comfort.

Of course, it could be that I was hyper-aware. Or hyper-concerned. I mean, I was sitting in a moving vehicle with a video playing, the extraordinarily adept massaging seat doing its thing, and the car acting as boss tooling down a crowded freeway. Maybe those two moments in an otherwise uneventful drive through Los Angeles traffic were nothing to worry about because this cutting-edge technology works. I’m eager to try it again! 

Tara Weingarten is an award-winning journalist who wrote a decade-long weekly car review column in Newsweek and was Editor-in-Chief of VroomGirls, a popular automotive-focused website for women. Her work covering food, wine, spirits and travel, has appeared in Fortune, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Wine Spectator, Los Angeles Magazine, Variety and GQ.

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Magnus is like no other and the same goes for his cars.  And those cars!  As you can see, they are unlike others that you’ve seen on the road as they bear his character (and what a character) and his DNA. He truly is one of a kind and he has the wheels to prove it.

At more than 150 miles mostly north of London, about 30 miles north of Birmingham and about 40 miles east of Manchester, Sheffied is an area of northern England perhaps best known for steel. Stainless steel and cutlery, specifically, brought renown to the area. Coal also was big business there, at least for a while. Born in this area in the middle of the 1960s, Walker seemed destined to be some type of rocker. One of his earliest business forays was creating a rocker’s clothing brand, Serious, but he never lost his childhood fascination with Porsche cars. Out of this crucible of steel, coal, rock and fashion arose Walker, one of the most well-known Porsche collectors and builders of the iconic brand, focusing mostly on 911s. It almost seems like he was predestined to work with metal in some way but few would have foreseen the sleek, fast metal missiles which were to come, much less the transition from a gritty town in northern England to the rather posh life in Los Angeles – that chapter began in the mid-1980s.

Many people got to know the US version of Magnus (who became an American citizen in 2019) from the documentary, “Urban Outlaw” a decade ago. The film’s director, Tamir Moscovici, came up with the moniker. A man who would look good in a rock band (he was with both punk rock and heavy metal bands and he does play electric guitar) or, with his long hair and long beard and his ubiquitous Bowler hat, as a character actor, he decided to throw his lot in with those in the Porsche business. His work has become legendary. 

Walker has been featured in TedX talks and innumerable television and radio interviews. He has an impressive number of Hot Wheels cars in his signature line at Mattel (over 25 so far) and currently has an exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum. The exhibit in the Museum’s “Legends of the Vault Gallery” features ten of Magnuis’s outlaw Porsche cars as well as some special objects he has selected. It runs through Jan. 31, 2023. Highlights include Walker’s Porsche 924 Carrera GT, a Porsche art car and his famous red, white, and blue Porsche “277” as well as several others.

Here is some additional information about what you will see in the exhibit: 

• 1965 Porsche 911 

This is a very early example of Porsche’s iconic sportscar–it is the 310th 911 ever made. 

• 1976 Porsche 930 Turbo 

This is the first Turbo sold in the USA as documented by The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. 

• 1967 Porsche 911 SRT 

An R-inspired sport-purpose build commenced in 2010, this car appears in Urban Outlaw painted in primer with a black hood and orange bumper. This is the first Porsche 911 ever to bear hand-stamped louvers on the front fenders.

• 1971 Porsche 911 T #277 

The most famous Magnus Walker car, “277” started its life as a gold 911 T before Walker bought it at the Pomona Swap Meet in 1999 and transformed it into his signature street race car.

• 1973 Porsche 914 

This stock 1.7-liter 914, decorated thanks to a few cans of spray paint and a creative mind and made without photoshop or computer graphics. 

• 1978 Porsche 911 SC Hot Rod 

The budget-build, sport-purpose hot rod shows that a sport- purpose streetable 911 built on a budget can be an exciting, capable track car. 

• 1980 Porsche 924 CARRERA GT 

One of just 406 built. 

• 1990 Porsche 964 

Completed in 2015, this is Walker’s most performance-oriented build to date. 

• 1995 Porsche 993 RS Look 

A model Walker often described as “the Cadillac of 911s” 

• 2004 Porsche 996 GT3 

Often quoted as saying “we need both air and water to survive,” Walker took his own advice and purchased his first water-cooled 911 in 2016. The 2004 Porsche 996.2 GT3 is one of Walker’s all-time favorite Porsche cars that he has ever owned. 

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. www.Petersen.org  

The post Magnus Walker: LA’s Own Urban Outlaw appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The showroom is one of many Brand Experience locations that INDI EV hopes to open nationwide. Visitors can chat with sales representatives or peek inside one of the company’s vehicles, which come equipped with two massive screens ready to be used as a video game console, TV screen, or work on a computer.

Like any car dealership, visitors can take an INDI EV car for a test drive or reserve one for purchase (they start at about $45,000). For those who aren’t brave enough to get behind the wheel, the storefront also offers a virtual reality driving simulation.

The showroom is also available for businesses to host community events. It’s all part of the company’s mission to support innovation and collaboration.

“We want this space to be more than just a storefront,” said Bobby Buschell, an associate manager of marketing for INDI EV. “We want this to be a community space and somewhere that people can gather and meet new people.” 

“I can tell you that this is absolutely going to be the best home for INDI EV,” Bosse said to the crowd. “What we love about having you here is you’re visionary. You think towards the future. That’s what Beverly Hills is.” 

After the ceremony, Bosse and the Council took a tour of the showroom and studio. Bosse expressed admiration for the company’s commitment to uplifting technology and new creators.

“It’s been so exciting that INDI EV chose Beverly Hills for their flagship,” said Bosse. “What makes it so unique and different is that they’ve created an experiential space where people can come and get involved and take the spirit of the future.” 

In addition to the traditional showroom, INDI EV offers a “Creator Studio” for content creators involved with its brand ambassador program. The space, located on the second floor, hosts a state-of-the-art editing bay, Instagram-friendly lighting, and a wall of backdrops and ring lights perfect for filming the next big Tik Tok. 

INDI EV has partnered with Twitch live-streamers, Instagram influencers, Tik Tok personalities, and YouTube content creators to be “Indie Innovators” who promote the vehicles and their technology. Anyone involved with the program can use the creative space for their projects.

“Brands like this are really important, and to creators like me,” said Ella Rosa, a musician who attended the event. “I want to make music and content for INDI EV.” The space is what INDI EV hopes will be an invaluable resource for artists and car lovers alike.

“The idea was to give people the information that they’d get at a traditional showroom, but also give them a hands-on experience and exposure to the technology behind the car that makes it so unique,” Buschell said. 

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Festivities began at 9:30 a.m. with a 50-car rally that made its way through the city before settling along Rodeo Drive with dozens of other rare automobiles. Many makes and models were on view, but the official featured class of car this year was Rolls-Royce. The Concours lasted until 4 p.m.

The “Best in Show” award went to the 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT owned by Ken and Dale Roth. The Mayor’s Award for “Most Elegant” went to the 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 Zagato owned by David Sydorick. A full list of winners is available at
www.beverlyhillscourier.com.

Prior to the rally, Mayor Lili Bosse presented an official proclamation on behalf of the City Council honoring Concours d’Elegance co-founder Bruce Meyer, “a renowned collector of vintage automobiles, motorcycles and historic winning race cars from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to Indy to the Bonneville Salt Flats,” Bosse said.

The proclamation cited Meyer’s past role as the Founding Chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum and the contributions made by his family to the community.

“Now, therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Beverly Hills, do hereby thank Bruce Meyer for his incredible contributions to the City of Beverly Hills,” Bosse read from the proclamation.

Many of the vehicles came courtesy of the event’s sponsors, such as Rolls-Royce and the Peterson Automotive Museum. Other cars belonged to collectors with a passion for restoring and maintaining vintage autos.

Matt Winter, a Beverly Hills resident and designer, is only the third owner of the resplendent red 1957 Porsche Speedster he showed at the Concours. When he bought the car in 2020 after 20 years of pining for one, he made “some minor tweaks” to restore the car to its period-correct state.

“I’ve been enjoying it ever since,” Winter told the Courier, himself wearing period-appropriate attire for a 1950s motorist.

Winter estimates that he has built and repaired 35 cars since he was 15, but says the Speedster is the “top of the collection.”

“The car is 100% original, it’s all numbers matching, it’s been a California car since the day it was shipped from New York,” he said. “I have all the paperwork from the day that it was purchased.”

While Winter would not disclose the amount he paid for the road machine, he estimates its current worth at $800,000.

Earl Rubenstein readily shared that he paid $1,200 for his custom 1935 Packard Super 8 Dual-Cowl Phaeton Dietrich, which was virtually every cent in his and his wife’s bank account in 1963 (save for $50). The original owners, Dorothy Boss and her late husband John, drove the car on their wedding day in 1935. While other prospective buyers had offered more than double what Rubenstein paid, Dorothy told the architect that she could “tell you’re going to do the right thing by this car.”

Six months later, Rubenstein returned to Dorothy’s house in the Palisades with the newly-restored Packard and offered her the keys.

“She says, ‘No, it’s your car, you drive me,'” he recounted to the Courier. “She got in the car, and she was so emotional, tears were coming down to see this engine like it was when she and her husband bought the car.”

But at its core, in addition to celebrating cars and luxury, the event celebrated fathers – and family, more broadly.

“It was great,” said Wes Thomas, who marked his seventh-or-so time going to the Concours with his teenage son, Cole. “It’s a nice way to spend a little bit of time.”

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Visions of the future (as conceptualized in books, movies, and television shows, in any case) are often divided into either post-apocalyptic dystopias or Shangri-las of cutting-edge technological conveniences. When it comes to the vehicles of tomorrow, they have almost always fallen into the latter category, with predictions of personal space planes and gravity-defying hovercrafts.

While there are a few “flying cars” and “automatic drones” being proposed, we aren’t quite there yet. For one, we seem to still have enough trouble with the two-dimensional world of forward, back, left, right – without adding the third (up and down). 

And to that end, a host of automakers are incorporating technologies in their current fleets that would have seemed unimaginable only a decade ago. Here we take a look at the latest advances in safety, efficiency, communication, navigation, and emergency services to aid us in our 2D world.

We’re familiar with the term “Driver Assistance,” which can be anything from warning the driver of a mechanical issue to controlling the car when the driver apparently is making a mistake. Many cars now offer (at least as an option) lane-keeping assistance and are programmed to keep the car between the lane markers. Some have a little difficulty with that task when the roads are wet or especially when there’s snow, but they generally do a good job. The new all-electric Hummer EV offers GM’s “Super Cruise,” a self-driving mode that even changes lanes upon the driver’s command with a touch of a button.

“Active Cruise Control” not only allows the driver to pick a speed but also to select the space the driver wants to leave behind the car in front. These devices can keep the car at a set speed, whether going uphill or down, and also slow the car to a complete stop and then resume when the traffic starts moving again. Many new cars offer this feature, including the ground-breaking Mercedes-Benz EQS.

Automatic braking is often included as part of the driver assistance network, but it has a special place on the list, as many car makers offer this option, and sometimes it’s even standard. If the vehicle senses that the differential between the speed of one’s car and the speed of another object (a fixed object or even another moving car), it can audibly warn the driver and also can apply the brakes, either softly or very swiftly, depending upon the level of urgency it senses. These systems can help make “rear-enders” a thing of the past and enable insurance companies to offer a discount to drivers whose cars have such systems in place. The new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, a 660+ horsepower six-speed stormer, has this feature (and many more).

But of all the new Driver Assistance developments “Safe-Assist” systems might be the most exciting and underrated. Monitors at the back of the car warn drivers when opening the door is unsafe due to approaching traffic, including a nearby cyclist. Some cars flash the lights in the driver’s side mirror quickly, and some initially disable the interior door handle, so the driver has to pull the handle twice to get the door to open (presumably to signal the driver to check the mirror to find out why it didn’t open the first time). The high-performance all-electric, exotic Audi RS e-tron GT offers the flashing mirror lights and the temporary door release disconnection.

The latest cars now employ multiple cameras (the new Hummer EV has enough to offer 18 different camera views) and computer systems that “stitch” the images together to give any number of options, including a “blimp shot,” as if viewing the car from a blimp hovering above. It allows for much safer backing up, parking and pulling out into traffic, especially on those cars which have “cross-traffic warnings,” which alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the left or right front of the car or the back. The Hummer’s cameras are perhaps the most numerous, in part because two of them are below the truck, to be sure that any obstacle a driver is about to go over is not too tall (and those underbody cameras have their own remote-controlled washing system).

As far as navigation is concerned, it’s hard to believe that “OnStar” was introduced by General Motors in 1996. GM touts it as the industry’s first built-in system of “telematics” (monitoring vehicles using GPS engineering and on-board computerization to show the vehicle’s location and movement on a computerized map). It was designed to provide both an automatic crash notification and security system. When a car’s airbags deploy, the built-in OnStar module immediately connects to an Advisor who relays the information to emergency responders. That same system can allow the OnStar operator (once given permission by the police) to locate and then to slow down or even stop a car, a terrific service for recovering stolen cars without the need for high-speed chases.

 Automakers have for years now accepted that the age of the smartphone is here to stay, and they have continued to expand technologies to make it easier and safer for drivers to use them with less distraction. For example, Google’s Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay app mirroring and phone integration systems, which allow you to transfer navigation routes from phone to car and stream music through the car’s audio system, are now widely standard (in fact it’s easier to find new cars with this tech than without it). But both Google and Apple continue to expand capabilities on these platforms. The latest version of Android Auto will feature “Fast Pairing,” which wirelesssly syncs phone and car with a single tap. The new BMW iX EV will be among the first to debut this feature. Apple introduced its upgrades to its CarPlay iOS earlier this year, and among them is a function called “Driving Focus” mode that reduces notifications while the app is active or when it senses that you are driving. 

Phones may have replaced cameras, wallets, and maps, and soon keys will be a thing of the past. Many car manufacturers now include the ability to lock, unlock, and even charge electric cars and other features, which allows drivers to use their phones for tasks which previously required being in the car and using a physical key. The technology is quickly advancing. With secure authentication offered with Bluetooth connectivity, automakers like Ford and Hyundai are using complex encryption tech to further boost security. One day soon car owners will be able to grant access to others to enter vehicles to retrieve items or give permission to drive, then rescind after the tasks are completed–all from across town or the globe with no keys required to change hands.

While notions of intergalactic travel and teleportation still remain firmly in our collective imaginations, the practical necessity of getting from point A to point B is in fact becoming easier and safer. Who knows what the future holds? One thing is certain, with the continued merger of cars and tech, it’s definitely something to look forward to.

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The once vacant storefront windows at 445 N. Canon Drive debuted a new art exhibit on Dec. 2 with seven paintings hanging by American contemporary artist Kevin HEES. The windows display works from his latest MUSIC! series, which pays homage to musical genres, tempos, and rhythms. HEES’ work is known for his use of colorful circles, geometric shapes, and his signature circle and three lines of marks that represent the number seven, symbolic of the ingredients for life and art.

The temporary installation is part of the “Visions of the Future” program, a collaborative effort between the Next Beverly Hills Committee and the city’s Arts and Culture and Human Relations Commissions that is intended to activate public spaces with vibrant, visual pop-up art experiences. This is the second installment of the pop-up, which is expected to be on display to the public for one month. In 2020, his work appeared in shows at the Wynn Fine Art Gallery in Palm Beach and he contributed to the Norton Museum of Art’s 80th anniversary art auction with Sotheby’s. This is the artist’s first public showing on the West Coast.

“I believe that music has the power to guide you home,” HEES told the Courier. “Not your home on the outside, but your home on the inside, what I refer to as the silence center. That is the place where you hold your energy, your clarity, your growth, your insight, your freedom, your power, and your creativity. No matter where I am in the world or what’s going on in my life, good or bad, if I put my headset on and listen to my music, I can always find my way home. And that’s actually what this show is about.”

Each piece has its own color scheme, incorporating words like “Opera,” “House,” or “Pop,” with quotes that inspired HEES like Shakespeare’s “If music be the food of love, play on.”

“So, there’s lots of quotes and lots of thoughts and lots of ideas about music and how music effects the human experience,” he told the Courier. “I’m inspired by all kinds of music. You’ll see on these paintings they say gospel, disco, rock, country–it’s a celebration of all music. Even the universe has a hum.”

HEES came to his career as a painter by way of photography. HEES began his career as a painter, makeup artist, photographer, brand consultant, and producer working with brands like Ralph Lauren, BELK, STILA, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty and E! Entertainment. He has photographed household names such as Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Annie Lennox, and Christina Aguilera. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013, painting became the centerpiece of his life. However, it wasn’t until the end of 2019 that it became his professional focus and personal outlet.

The two artists who inspired the body of work MUSIC! were American singer-songwriter, Stevie Nicks, known for her work on Fleetwood Mac and American actor and singer, Steve Kazee, known for his Tony Award winning role as Guy in the musical “Once.”

While HEES doesn’t play the guitar, his guitar, named Stevie, features prominently in his paintings. The guitar was purchased as a gift for Kazee, who HEES was planning to photograph a few years ago. “Then the shoot didn’t happen, and so I brought the guitar to Palm Springs and then I photographed the guitar,” HEES told the Courier. “And it became the beginning of what is now the music project.”

“I took the guitar and I put it in the paintings as a way to join the two projects together: my photography and my painting,” he said.

His next exhibit, titled the Cage, will be, in part, a performance art piece with seven paintings. The cage features a 60-foot-long wall of fencing with three paintings hung on both sides, and a 10-foot high and 12-foot wide cage coming out in the center, forming a T. HEES himself will be inside the cage, painting the seventh 6×7 foot piece of the series, on an already primed, prepped, and painted canvas.

“The Cage is about the situation that caused me to stop shooting as a photographer,” HEES told the Courier. “I went through a really bad lawsuit where it became very clear to me, based on this experience, that I had no rights over my work. So, I have tried to try to turn that dark experience into a positive statement about standing up, stepping forward, and speaking out.”

“The only thing that I’ll do in the cage is the writing. and all the pastel work where I can write I don’t have to have water,” he added. “Turn your pain into power, that’s the kind of messaging.”

To learn more about HEES, visit https://heesart.com/.

Visions of the Future Showcases Artist Kevin HEES appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

]]> https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/21/electrifying-your-holiday-wish-list/ Sun, 21 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000 https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/21/electrifying-your-holiday-wish-list/ "May you live in interesting times." Based on your age and where you went to school, that phrase can mean several different things. But it's used here to reflect that we are on the cusp of a new age, a time when "electric car" or even "hybrid" doesn't mean "counterculture" or "eco-freak" or any of the many slightly pejorative connections which these cars may have had in the past.

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The Courier’s Fine Autos Contributor Tim Lappen is the Fine Autos Editor for Haute Living, Haute Time, Haute Residence and Haute Auto and a partner in a Century City law firm, where he chairs his firm’s Family Office Group and the Luxury Home Group. He can be reached at TLappen@gmail.com, and his website is www.LifeInTheFastLane.org.

“May you live in interesting times.” Based on your age and where you went to school, that phrase can mean several different things. But it’s used here to reflect that we are on the cusp of a new age, a time when “electric car” or even “hybrid” doesn’t mean “counterculture” or “eco-freak” or any of the many slightly pejorative connections which these cars may have had in the past. Today’s offerings include hyper-luxury and ultra-sophisticated options which can meet, and even exceed, what the best of the “normal” ICE (internal-combustion engine) choices can provide.

This piece covers some of the newest and most-sophisticated cars around and includes several vehicles which are fully–or partially–motivated by electricity. And note they come from a disparate group of manufacturers worthy of a United Nations meeting: America, England, Italy and Germany. And, when you consider from where some of their major components were sourced, even more nations are at the party.

Here are six of the latest and greatest worthy of your consideration. And to make things easier for you, most of these cars have Westside showrooms so you easily can stop by and see them for yourself.

Lucid Air – Lucid is a relatively new entry to the car world. Originally a battery-manufacturing firm, it morphed into a car company and, most recently, had a public offering. Based in Newark (Northern California), this firm decided that having the first vehicle be a luxury version, called the “Air,” was the way to go. Four variants have been announced–the Air Pure, the Air Touring, the Air Grand Touring and the Air Dream–and their base prices range from just over $77,000 to about $170,000. With a projected range (depending on battery, body size, etc.) of up to a whopping 520 miles, they aim to make “range anxiety” a thing of the past. Lucid opened a sales office on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills to show the world that they, indeed, had a real car for the real world. The electric motor can produce up to 1,111 horsepower (not a typo) and can move one model of this luxury car from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds (yes, that’s quick!) on up to a top speed of a reported 186 mph. (Put that in your hemp pipe and smoke it!) Battery charging has been improved, too, so you can add about 300 miles of driving with a high-speed charger in about 20 minutes. (Note that, with electric cars, range, performance, charging speed and other metrics can vary depending upon a variety of issues, including choice of battery, temperature, driving conditions and type of charger used.) The Lucid Air definitely is a four-door sedan worth checking out.

McLaren Speedtail – The McLaren brand, as an automotive manufacturing company, only dates back some 30-plus years, but they were involved with the industry long before that. New Zealander Bruce McLaren started his eponymous company in 1963 as a racing team. In the mid-1980s, McLaren Cars (later McLaren Automotive) was formed and that led (to the delight of hypercar aficionados everywhere) to the 1990 creation of the F1, a supercar that sold for close to $1 million (back when that was a lot of money for a car) and which today can fetch in the $20 million range. A few McLaren supercars have shown up since (here’s looking at you, P1 and Senna), but the Speedtail is considered the worthy mantle-wearer to the F1’s crown. A hypercar with both gasoline and electric motors to get it going, it boasts a total of 1,036 horsepower (!) and has the street cred to back it up. With 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, the top speed is 250 mph, all at a price of over $2 million. Just a glance at the extremely-long rear tail and the fully covered front wheels gives you an idea that this is a car going places, and quickly. While some of the other cars in this article are a little more about Point A-to-Point B driving, perhaps even spiritedly, the Speedtail is about Point A to anywhere with lightning speed and razor-sharp handling.

Cadillac LYRIQ – This definitely isn’t your father’s–or anyone else’s–Cadillac as it’s not yet available, but it will be soon–an all-electric Cadillac four-door crossover starting with the 2023 model year (though deliveries are scheduled to commence during the first half of 2022). Reservations opened in September and sold out in 10 minutes! Why? Well, it’s great looking, has a ton of special features and people (finally) are loving (or at least are accepting) fully-electric cars. The specs–a Cadillac-estimated 340 horsepower and a Cadillac-estimated over 300 miles of range with a full charge. With high-speed DC fast charging for properly equipped public stations, owners can add an estimated 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes of charging time and with home charging, it offers a segment-leading 52 miles of range per hour of charge. Special features? Here’s a teaser: Available Super Cruise, the industry’s first true hands-free driver-assistance technology for compatible roads; a brilliant 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display with the ability to emit over 1 billion colors; Cadillac’s next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system; Slim-line LED headlamps with choreographed lighting sequence; and an AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system with headrest speakers. Sound good? Get to your local Cadillac dealer.

Maserati MC20 – Many of us have seen the two and four-door Maseratis around town, mostly the Quattroportes, Ghiblis and Levantes. However, the far rarer MC20 is right at home with its supercar competition. Developed with a mid-engine twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 developing 621 horsepower, 530 pound-feet of torque, the MC20 knocks off 0-60 in under 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph. A hand-built production supercar, it gets its name from “Maserati Corse,” which means “Maserati Racing” in Italian. Twenty have been built so far and deliveries are scheduled to start right around the date you’re reading this. Pricing starts at $212,000, but the typical U.S. buyer adds the carbon fiber package and a few other options, bringing the average sales price to about $275,000. So far, the most popular color combination is the launch color, which is Bianco Audauce (“Bold White”), a special matte warm white with a blue mica iridescent sheen, which gives the car the look of a marble when sun hits it.

Mercedes-Maybach S580 – You may recall the Maybach (pronounced “My-bach”) name from when, in 2002, Mercedes decided to create an upmarket sub-brand, perhaps to compete with the BMW/ Rolls-Royce family of vehicles. However, that foray was not overly successful and production stopped a few years later. Then, a few years ago, Mercedes brought back the name (it’s the last name of William Maybach, Mercedes’ chief designer in the early years), and the model profiled here is the Mercedes-Maybach S580, a high-end S-class (and they also are offering a Mercedes-Maybach GLS, a very high-end SUV). With a price starting at $184,900, it’s certainly near the top of the S-class sedan price range, but the creature comforts available on this car – fully-reclining rear seats, wine refrigerator, crystal goblets, etc. – put it in a class by itself. Its closest competitor would be a rolling palace. As expected, it drives like a dream, rides like a cloud, and coddles the occupants.

Ferrari Purosangue – Last but certainly not least (and certainly not yet here), this latest offering from Maranello is so new that it’s really little more than a well-leaked secret. There’s no official photo or drawing, and the only available pictures are ones created by artists (and we can’t use those here). The company’s leadership was famous for saying that Ferrari never would create an SUV, but time changes (and pronouncements sometimes pass with their proclaimers). The luxury-SUV segment of the industry has been a huge success for Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, so it seemed inevitable that Ferrari would join this rolling party at some point. The rumor is that the Ferrari Purosangue (which literally means “pure blood” but colloquially means “thoroughbred”) will arrive late in 2022 or in 2023 with a price in the mid-$300,000s. It presumably will be an all-wheel drive SUV (as most of today’s SUVs are) with a front-engine, possibly with a hybrid component but likely to have a Ferrari V8 or even V12 to motivate it (and also to provide a soundtrack that Ferraristis have come to know and love). That’s all we have so far, but at least you now know that it’s coming to a driveway near you.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this little sojourn into the land of luxury and exotica. If you hurry, you may be able to have your holiday dream delivered on time to enjoy it for the New Year.

Photos courtesy of Lucid Motors, McLaren Automotive, Cadillac/General Motors, Maserati North America, and Mercedes-Benz USA

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]]> https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/18/home-design-in-style/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 12:22:00 +0000 https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/18/home-design-in-style/ During the last 18 months our world has changed: jobs, families and the way in which we use our homes.

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]]> During the last 18 months our world has changed: jobs, families and the way in which we use our homes. Upgrading and expanding our residences has taken on new meaning, as homes became offices. Kitchens now have added importance, as have outdoor areas, for socially distant gatherings. While other businesses have slowed down, interior designers have never been in higher demand. 

The Courier spoke to some of the world’s best known interior design experts who make sure the homes of Tom Ford, Courtney Cox and the Kardashian clan are Architectural Digest ready. We asked about trends they are excited about and advice as to the most important rooms to invest in now.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

British-born interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard has graced the covers of every major home décor-design magazine and is internationally known for jet-set clients and chic boutique hotels from Palm Springs to Mexico. Currently working on homes for Tommy Hilfiger, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Ellen Pompeo–all while finishing the Four Seasons Residences Los Angeles–the “A.D.100” and Elle Décor “A-List” designer just launched a new collection with The Shade Store.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice that you can give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

I think it’s very important for a client to really think about what they want and need from their homes today. After spending almost 18 months at home, we have learned what our spaces mean to us and how we use them. A dining room, for example, may now function as an office, the kitchen as a Zoom studio, etc. So, when thinking about upgrading to a bigger home or even extending the one you’re in, think about how you want to use the spaces, and do you really need to expand to cover all your needs or just rethink the spaces you have?

Can one space function as two; do you need specific rooms to function in different ways than the way they did traditionally or do traditionally functioning rooms now have multi-function and need to be easily transformable? These are all questions to ask yourself before moving to a bigger space as that bigger space may not actually really be needed.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

Comfort is the recipe for modern luxury. It is our ultimate pleasure. Comfortable furniture, sheets, towels, rugs, all the basic luxuries that delight all the senses. Don’t just buy for looks, but for ultimate personal comfort levels that make you happy.

What do you believe to be the most important area of the home for resale value?

Without a doubt: the kitchen. The primary bathroom and primary bedroom are all crucial selling points too. They are the areas we imagine ourselves living in. They are the fantasy areas that create the biggest emotional response in most of us.

What has been new and exciting for you in home interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

The return to color and pattern is a strong trend. People are embracing joy in their interiors; they want freshness and they want it to feel exciting. Colored, painted walls and specialized finishes like lacquer are becoming commonplace, and the use of wallpaper is very fashionable. It’s the easiest way to add personality to your spaces and create individual stylish interiors. Be bold, decorate with abandon, never follow trends, instead make them!

Tracie Butler

Since opening her design firm in 2001, native Angeleno Tracie Butler has traveled the world designing homes, and even restaurants for Hollywood’s top talent including Eva Longoria. Butler studied architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she came to appreciate art. She is currently working on homes in the flats of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu, London (through drawings and Zoom calls), along with a private unit in the Fairmont Century Plaza’s new residential towers.

What’s new and exciting in interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

Things are getting better in L.A., and it feels positive. All my young clients in their 20s are obsessed with bringing nature into their homes right now. They can’t have enough plants. They’re in every corner and on every piece of furniture–even hanging from racks in the kitchen. It makes it feel homey. I’ve even done digital flowers on wall coverings. Those ’70’s built-in planters in entryways are even coming back, along with hanging ferns in macramé holders.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice that you give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

Be patient. Orders that used to take a few hours now take a few months. We present a client with a plan, but when it’s time to place the order, items have been discontinued, or won’t be in stock for a year. Ninety percent of my goods are from Europe, and we can’t get what we want or have to wait. Italy was hit the hardest and they make so many of our fabrics, textiles, and chandeliers! But I tell my clients, ‘It will get done, it will be flawless and will increase the value of your property.’

What is the most important area of the home for resale value?

Raise the ceilings –it gets people’s attention. Though the kitchen and great room are paramount because families are spending so much time at home. Equally important are bars and movie theatres. There is a huge resurgence of home entertaining.

Don’t forget the entryway. I feel like it sets the tone of your whole house, and you can’t neglect it. You want people to come in and immediately get that emotional connection. I always try to do a beautiful entry no matter what the size or ceiling height; it’s really good for resale. So many people spend their money in the other rooms, but the immediate impact and value is equally important.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

My number one request is for cozy and comfortable spaces. Number two is setting up stylish home offices that look good for Instagram and Zoom. Interesting wallpaper or a space where they can film in front of a beautiful backdrop are frequent requests. Clients are buying virtual backdrops, but I say let’s just do the real thing so you can live in it and enjoy it.

Outside they all want really amazing landscaping so they feel comfortable having guests in the backyard. Indoor-outdoor living space with a fireplace and outdoor kitchens are great additions but done in a way where they are connected to the houses–not removed. Out by the pool is a no-no. If they don’t have a loggia, and there is no place to create it, we build a pergola.

Ryan Saghian

Ryan Saghian is a recognized talent leading a new wave of millennial designers. He has become a social media sensation with his raw, but at the same time, refined sensibilities. His fluency in vintage Hollywood styles can be seen at his flagship showroom, Ryan Saghian Home on Robertson Boulevard. Since opening in 2016, he has introduced a line of couture furniture, wall coverings, dinnerware, a luxury rug collection and most recently a tile collection in partnership with DOMVS Surfaces. His work has been featured in Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Vogue, House Beautiful, Robb Report and Traditional Home.

What’s new and exciting in interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

For decades people have used paint to alter a room’s mood and vibe. You can transform a room just by changing the color and texture of the walls. Right now, I am seeing a huge trend with plastered walls and my personal favorite is Roman Clay by Portola paints. They have taken the classic Venetian plaster concept and made it moodier and more organic.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice you give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

Most people tell you to go brighter and lighter to make the space look more expansive, but I do the opposite. I think that darker walls and darker furniture give an element of mystery, and the room starts to feel like it’s bigger than it actually is.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

In Los Angeles, it’s outdoor living spaces. I cannot tell you how many clients called me for outdoor furniture and accessories, so they can take advantage of the California weather! Additionally, people started caring much more about their bedrooms rather than focusing on areas most seen by guests.

What do you believe to be the most important area of the home for resale value?

The kitchen: hands down! Specifically, appliances. An upgraded kitchen with all the bells and whistles available from leading manufacturers is a major plus. Aesthetics can always be tweaked with minimal cost, but appliances are a major investment. When a home offers the state of the art, it’s a major selling point.

Kathy Ireland

Kathy Ireland graced the covers of hundreds of glossy magazines as an international supermodel long before she opened her global design business in 1993. Her solely owned company began at the family kitchen table and is now the highest-ranking woman-owned licensing business in American history.

She is the youngest person to be elected to the Licensing International Hall of Fame, and the IHFRA, International Home Furnishings Representatives Association, is bestowing the prestigious Icon Award on the designer.

What’s new and exciting in home interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

We’re seeing major shifts in how furniture is scaled for the way people are living today. More than ever before, rooms must be multi-purpose. Our job is to help families and parents designate specific family and work areas.

We’re seeing exciting color palettes with Pantone’s colors of the year in 2021 from the brilliant Illuminating Yellow to the complimentary and calming Ultimate Grey. Another perfect example of a relaxing tone is Benjamin Moore’s color of the year for 2022, October Mist.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice that you give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

Determine your own personal style. For me, that is always the starting place with every client. Be inspired by your travels–what do you remember from a trip? Was it a warm leather chair? A crisp white flokati rug?

Please, test your paint color before you commit! Put samples on your walls. Understand how the light will impact it. Do you have high ceilings? That will make a difference. We all know the colors that make us feel calm or stress us. Be flexible. If you love a dining room table for 12 and you don’t have room for it, expand or change your space. Or live with the usual table for six and clear out some furniture.

Anything we can do to make our homes feel bigger will be increasingly important, as 70 percent of our population will be living in smaller spaces by 2050. One vital design principle is an ancient tradition–find an area rug design that you love and make it your color palette. For example, if it’s blue, we know that metallics and whites will be complimentary. Another maxim in the design industry: shiny, fat, tall and matte. Make sure that a room includes an element of each something shiny and eye-catching, hefty and centered, tall and room expanding, and calming matte.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

The word we keep coming back to is balance! Having special places in the home for family time, work, school for the kids, eating and relaxation is critical. Decorators may put together a beautiful space, though designers will ensure that it is functional for your family’s needs. We bring comfortable, functional, stylish and fun products and interiors to our customers’ homes–from our Home and Garden collections with Twin Star, to our Home and Office collections with Bestar Bush Furniture.

What is the most important area of the home for resale value?

Remodels, renovations, and simple upgrades that won’t break the bank can make such a significant difference and bring recaptured value to our homes. Colorful window treatments, coordinated throw pillows, and fresh door and cabinet hardware will give an entirely different look on a very reasonable budget and without days of effort. Recently we turned a non-descript, dated kitchen into the epitome of European Country luxury, for less than $25,000. There are always ways to bring in a fresh style that will increase value, while utilizing and repurposing functional pieces.

Trip Haenisch

Trip Haenisch is an award-winning interior designer and author. He is known for combining refined aesthetics with a laid-back twist. The internationally acclaimed Haenisch designs have appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Vogue and The New York Times, along with numerous coffee table books. His work has landed him in the coveted “A.D.100 List” and he was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “25 most influential Los Angeles-based interior designers.” His famous clients include Courteney Cox, Laura Dern, Molly Sims, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan, Netflix exec. Scott Stuber and William Morris Endeavor Co-CEO Patrick Whitesell.

What’s new and exciting in interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

For me, trends are less interesting than the idea of timelessness. But I’ve been called a lot in the past couple of years to help executives who are redoing rooms for an office and Zoom meetings. Texture is more important to me than color and pattern. Now there’s an increasing number of textural and sculptural furniture available. I’m also seeing more of a maximalist approach to design.

I started doing development spec projects–one that is about to be sold on two acres in Malibu, and a project for producers Mary and Kathryn Bowen, who built a beautiful Spanish-style home. This is normally not my thing, but I was able to lighten it up with blonde floors.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice you give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

For me making something pretty is not the challenge. What’s more challenging is creating a home with spaces that function. Nothing is worse. Why spend so much money on a room that no one goes into? Clients need to think about how they live. Are you missing something? What would solve that lack? Maybe it’s an outdoor area with a fire pit and a water element. Upgrading materials like floors can be expensive, but that is something you might choose to do. I started using a Sydney Harbor paint with a live component in it that creates this magical depth and looks so much better than standard paint. You could upgrade an entire room just by doing that.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

A kitchen is really important to people. Individuals with bad kitchens don’t really experience home life as fully as they’d like to. For example, I have a really small house and kitchen, but I cut out a part of my wall and put in a counter that opens up to my living room. Now entertaining is so much more fun for me and my guests.

I remember going into Betsy Bloomingdale’s home years ago. She had an incredible house, but the kitchen was an afterthought. In those days, the only people in the kitchen were the staff. Now a gorgeous, exposed kitchen flowing into a family room is what we want. Homes are so open right now, but you also need a place to break away and have some privacy like a ‘man cave.’ Not to generalize, but women want their homes to be beautiful and functional, while for men, technology and comfort are critical. I frequently hear comments like ‘I just want a comfortable chair with my TV, talk to my wife about everything else.’

What is the most important area of the home for resale value?

Kitchens can turn potential buyers off if they’re not functional and appealing. I think resale value will be high if your home is welcoming. When a buyer walks in, they get a visceral reaction to the aesthetic. You appeal to the senses with music playing, scented candles, seeing a fire going. You want a visitor to feel like all they need to move in is their toothbrush. The primary bedroom is also very important, along with the bathroom and closets. I’ve seen beautiful homes, but a tiny closet can kill a sale quicker than anything.

Sienna Oosterhouse

Sienna Oosterhouse, who counts Tom Ford among her long-time clients, is a widely known Los Angeles-based interior designer whose inspiration is architecture. The Michigan native worked alongside Brad Dunning where she honed her technical skills. She works with clients throughout the U.S. and is currently immersed in projects in Beverly Hills, Palm Springs, Hancock Park and Montecito.

What’s new and exciting in home interior design? Any new inventions or trending ideas for a refresh of the home?

It has been a pleasure to see people really using their homes, finding ways to improve their personal environment. Many of my clients are doing remodels that had been put on the back burner for years. Rooms have become multifunctional, much more so then ever before. Everything from pizza ovens to pottery wheels are the new norm.

What’s a pertinent piece of advice you give a client wanting to upgrade or enlarge their surroundings at this time?

Make sure you have all your materials planned and secured. Supply is lower than usual, and shipping times have increased greatly. You don’t want to be stuck with a job half done because you don’t have the shower valve! You will have less chance for delays if you shop locally.

Since we are spending so much time at home, what brings people the most pleasure?

It can be many things for different kinds of people. Cooking (and especially baking) has become very popular. Home gyms, golf simulators and even good old dance parties are now in our homes. A good music system is key. Sonos works well. Privacy is important too. Being able to get away from the outside world and be with your own family.

What is the most important area of the home for resale value?

That’s hard! The kitchen, bathrooms, storage, location, natural light are all crucial, but the kitchen ranks pretty high for most people. I do believe you will get more out of the sale with an updated kitchen over other upgrades in the home.

The Final Word from a Local Expert

We also checked with Rayni Williams, owner of The Beverly Hills Estates and one of the region’s most acclaimed real estate professionals. Rayni and her partner, Branden Williams, have not only sold more than $8.6 billion in real estate, they represent a world-famous clientele as trusted advisors. Rayni summed up for the Courier her thoughts on what impacts a home’s value the most. “There are three major elements to a home that are the most important: the kitchen, family room and the primary closet,” she said. For the latter, “Dual closets are key, and in the primary bath dual water closets and sinks in the same area with a large, shared shower is what most couples want.”

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]]> https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/01/shooshani-project-honored-with-architectural-award/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:02:00 +0000 https://beverlyhillscourier.com/2021/11/01/shooshani-project-honored-with-architectural-award/ Beverly Hills resident and former Planning Commissioner Joe Shooshani and architect Michele Saee of Saee Studio received the Innovation and Technology in the Built Environment Award at the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) Architectural Awards on Oct. 26.

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Beverly Hills resident and former Planning Commissioner Joe Shooshani and architect Michele Saee of Saee Studio received the Innovation and Technology in the Built Environment Award at the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) Architectural Awards on Oct. 26. They received the honor for “The Sphere on Sunset” project in West Hollywood, which is in the permitting process, with construction to commence soon.

This marks the second major award for The Sphere on Sunset, which has already been honored by DNA Paris. The L.A. Architectural Awards are one of the most well-respected architectural events in Southern California, designed to celebrate and embrace innovative design standards. This year’s event was held under the stars at The Beverly Hilton and honored Frank Gehry.

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I was lucky enough to have a pre-opening private preview of the newest exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum, an incredible display of over 20 screen-used vehicles from many James Bond 007 films over the past six decades.  I have to say that, especially after viewing the seriously thrashed Aston Martin DBS from “Quantum of Solace” and then taking in the beauty of the Aston Martin DB10 (a model only made for the Bond film “Spectre”), the experience left me both shaken and stirred.  (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

First, an admission – I love the James Bond stories and started reading them not that long after Ian Fleming started creating them in the early 1950s. Bond was like Superman to me but, of course, the cars were far better. The stories were fantastical, for sure, but the special effects of the films – well, the opening credits alone were worth the price of admission.

But even with today’s computer-generated images (“CGI”), some of the best effects come from at least some of the scenes being generated IRL (in real life).  And the newest Petersen exhibit shows us some pretty amazing vehicles, which mostly were created solely so that they could be used in (and often destroyed by) the making of the movie.

The Museum’s exhibit, which is being billed as “The Largest Official Bond Car Display!” is entitled “Bond In Motion.”  It is the official collection of original James Bond vehicles and is produced in collaboration with EON Production and the Ian Fleming Foundation. It is scheduled to run through October 20, 2022. Museum visitors can experience the exhibit without any extra charge over and above their entrance ticket.

And what a terrific assemblage of special vehicles it is (no surprise there). Most of the cars are Aston Martins (again, not a shocker) with a smattering of others, like a few BMW cars and bikes, plus a Jaguar which was driven by the bad guy (“Zao”) in “Die Another Day,” in the incredible chase scene across a frozen lake. Luckily (especially for the audience), both Bond’s Aston and Zao’s cars had special weaponry, like rockets, a Gatling gun and more. There was one very special trick –Bond’s Aston featured a disappearing technique that allowed the car to become invisible as long as the option was enabled.  Who wouldn’t want that on occasion?

A big part of what makes this exhibit so special is that each vehicle (there are also some motorcycles, boats, submersibles and those flying machines that enabled 007 to engage in all of those chases and escapes) is accompanied by a repeating loop of film in which the vehicle was seen. These terrific visual components help even those of us who were and are big fans remember how the vehicle was used in the movie.  It’s a great feature and makes the exhibit really interesting.

Of course, no article about the Bond cars would be complete without a big mention of the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which made its debut in the movie “Goldfinger.” The unprecedented gadgetry includes gun barrels which could be used after flipping down the front turn-signal indicators, a three-way revolving license place, a smokescreen generator, an oil slick creation device and a bullet shield behind the rear window. The main attraction in this car–and the feature which ushered in major trickery and cleverness in the Bond franchise –was the ejection seat which, when one flipped open the gearshift knob and hit the button, launched the passenger into the wild blue yonder.

Want to see the latest and greatest Bond vehicles?  The 25th film in the James Bond franchise, “No Time To Die,” is now showing. 

The Petersen Museum is right on the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax Boulevards, literally across the street from the just-opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

Here are some of the many vehicles featured in this special exhibit but the show is so grand that only a part of the exhibit could be showcased here. 

All photos by ted7

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The Courier’s Fine Autos Contributor, Tim Lappen, also is the Fine Autos Editor for Haute Living, Haute Time, Haute Residence and Haute Auto magazines and online and a partner in a Century City law firm, where he chairs his firm’s Family Office Group and the Luxury Home Group. He can be reached at TLappen@gmail.com and his website is www.LifeInTheFastLane.org.

Someone once said, “It’s better to be lucky than smart.” That may not have been the most intelligent phrase ever uttered but it came to mind when the Fates smiled on me and I had the chance to drive two of McLaren’s wonderful creations, about a week apart, So, like a good Angeleno, I decided to ask McLaren if I also could cover a third McLaren, which wasn’t yet in production, but which did exist as a full-fledged rolling exhibit.  

To take a step back–McLaren is a supercar company founded by a famous New Zealander, Bruce McLaren, who was an accomplished racer in the 1960s. He won his first Formula One race at the age of 22, the youngest winner ever at that time. He founded the car company soon thereafter. From 1992 – 1998 the company built 106 cars called an “F1,” which was the fastest production car of its time (over 240 mph) and was sold for a then unheard-of price of over $800,000. They have now obtained legendary (even cult) status as one variant sold for close to $20,000,000.

Fast forward to 2010, when McLaren became a car manufacturing company in its own right. Over the winding, high-speed and banked road of the past ten years, McLaren has created some of the most desired cars on the planet. 

This piece is about two of those successes (and the third one not out yet, but with pre-orders predicting success). Luckily, I recently had the pleasure of experiencing all three – driving two (the GT and the 720S Spider) for a week each in the area around my home and, of course, through Beverly Hills. I attended the press launch of the third (the Elva) at a luxury home which had just hit the market in . . . Beverly Hills.  I see a pattern developing here.

The McLaren GT

The first of the cars we’ll discuss today is the GT, the most “usable” of the McLarens in that it is designed to accommodate passengers and luggage for grand-touring ride out of town and even across the country. The concept was to reimagine what had mostly been a rather heavy car used for touring, a two-door of some length and heft which helped it smooth out the road’s imperfections. McLaren’s guiding principle was to create a commodious supercar (as “oxymoronic” as that may sound), with the power and agility to hang with the best of them and yet allow the driver and passenger to arrive after a long drive feeling fairly refreshed and happier for the experience. How did they do that?

Well, first off, McLaren knew that the suspension would be key and, given that McLaren built a solid reputation on suspension engineering, they were up to the task. The McLaren “Proactive Damping Control” suspension analyzes the road conditions and adapts rapidly so as to provide the GT with the ride which this car requires. Secondly, like all recent McLarens, the center cockpit is a “MonoCell II T” carbon-fiber tub (chassis), which results in a huge weight savings and provides exceptional rigidity (non-flexing) to the center of the car. Add to that the increased ride height, to allow better ground clearance and more room for the suspension to travel and thereby absorb whatever the road throws at it.

At under 3,400 pounds the GT is well below the weight of most grand touring cars, yet it doesn’t scrimp on power. Its twin-turbo V8 pumps out about 620 HP and does it with 465 lb. ft. of torque so that’s good enough to hit the top speed of over 200 MPH after running 0-60 MPH in about 3.2 seconds. Yes, this is a car that can turn in blistering performance while coddling the occupants . . . and their luggage.  

Pity that my time with the car didn’t allow a jaunt from L.A. to S.F. or a road trip of epic proportions in a blast to New York. However, I truly enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the GT and I have no doubt that either of those experiences would have been great fun and allowed me to prove McLaren’s marketing tag line about the GT: “Time for what you love, space for what you need.”  While not as radical as some of the other McLarens I’ve driven (I am looking at you, Napier Green 675LT), it wasn’t designed to be. This is a touring car, as noted, so it’s meant to provide a comfortable ride with a sound that is pleasant but not disruptive, yet the McLaren DNA was ever-present, and I mean that in a good way.  Pricing starts at about $210,000.

The McLaren 720S Spider

Aside from the GT, McLaren creates cars under three other main banners – the “Sports Series”, the “Super Series” and the “Ultimate Series”. The 720S coupe and Spider and the 765LT (for “long tail”) are the only models in the Super Series. More powerful than the GT and the Sports Series of cars, the 720S Spider relies on a V8 twin-turbo motor boasting 720 HP and 568 lb. ft. of torque, which motivates this fast drop-top to a 2.9 second 0-60 launch on the way to a 212 MPH top speed (slightly slower with the top down).

With a dry weight of under 3,000 pounds, this truly is a svelte car, which is apparent when pushed through the canyons and up through the twisties. And that is what this car is all about–great comfort and fun with the top down on a sunny day, when out for a cruise, then startling quickness which seems to come out of nowhere to propel the car faster and faster, which then can be reined in on demand with excellent brakes.

Not sure you want the top up or down during the drive?  It needs only eleven seconds to go from up to down or vice-versa, it also can be done while underway (up to about 30 MPH) so changing your mind often is allowed. 

Also, the car is a stunner with the top up or down, especially as the roof cantrails (the length of metal supporting the outer edge of the roof) are visible whether the top is up or town, and they’re now even glazed so you can see through them.  There’s no lack of visibility when driving this car in either configuration.

Driving impressions?  WOW!  This car is English but it’s a plate full of Huevos Rancheros. The speed is one thing, but the feeling of that speed can be quite another and, as with other super-quick McLarens I’ve driven, it feels even faster than it is (not that 0-60 in under three seconds isn’t quite rapid, in and of itself). This car felt like I was wearing it, so amazingly responsive with just the right soundtrack coming from the tail.  It was a wonderful experience, my favorite McLaren yet (I’ve driven most of the other models, other than the F1, P1 and Senna). What’s not to like? Pricing starts at about $315,000.

The McLaren Elva

Finally, but certainly not least, is the Elva, a beautifully designed car born of the wind and, along with the McLaren Speedtail and the Senna, a member of the elite McLaren “Ultimate Series”. (“Elva” means “she goes” in French and was the name of the company which made Bruce McLaren’s open-top racers in the 1960s.) The Elva uses the wind for interesting purposes, even channeling it through and below the hood and then back up in front of the cockpit to create an air dam of sorts, obviating the need for a windshield. It’s about as close as you can get to the feeling of riding a high-performance motorcycle while seated next to a passenger.   

Utilizing the newly anointed Active Air Management System (“AAMS”), the airflow is directed up and over the cabin to provide an unusually un-turbulent calm for the driver and passenger. McLaren describes it as providing all of the adrenaline without any of the distraction. Unfortunately, the car shown at the launch was not available to drive, but  I will take their word for it as everything I’ve read about McLaren’s promises have come to fruition.

I haven’t even heard the motor yet –a V8 with 804HP and over 590 lb. ft. of torque–but it boasts a new exhaust system, utilizing four pipes (two pointing higher than the other two), with each pair given a different tuning to provide a harmonious symphony compared to other McLarens. I hope that they release it as part of a mixtape. When fitted into the Elva, the lightest road-going McLaren yet (not formally announced but said to be less than the McLaren Senna, which weighs about 2,650 pounds!), the Elva is reported to hit 125MPH in about 6.7 seconds (which used to be a rare performance time for 0-60MPH!).  

I hope to update this article with driving impressions but until then, I will have to dream about the Elva like the rest of you.  And, did I mention, production is limited to only 249 units and the pricing in the range of $1,700,000.

There’s a certain trait which I think is woven into the DNA of McLarens–they all feel faster to me than they are, and as they are very quick in their own rights, that feeling is highly addictive. If the “thrill of high-performance motoring” is something that you likewise crave, I commend you to try out one of their models, which run from the lower $200,000s on up into the multiple millions (for the cars currently being made–some older McLarens can be way more expensive than that).  To me, the nicest thing about McLarens is that I never want to give them back at the end of my allotted time. “Yes, I know that I promised but that’s before I had so much fun.” Besides, my trips through Beverly Hills were so limited by quarantine-related regulations, mostly picking up take-out food and a few in-person meetings, I think that they should let me have the GT and 720S back for do-overs, plus give me the Elva, once the quarantine is over and I can make proper use of the cars.  Until then, you and I will have to make do with what we have. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about these machines as much as I enjoyed driving and then writing about them. 

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When life as we knew it came to a screeching halt in March, Mariel Haenn figured out a new way of working. 

Haenn and her partner Rob Zangardi have created iconic style images for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani, Hailee Steinfeld, Cara Delevingne, Ciara, Rachel McAdams and Lily Collins, among others. 

For J Lo alone, the duo styled campaigns this year for Versace, Coach and Guess; her acclaimed film role in “Hustlers” and Super Bowl halftime performance, which garnered 100 million viewers. They collaborated with Donatella Versace on Lopez’s studded leather bodysuit, chaps and pink skirt, and did the wardrobe for the entire halftime show. The feat involved 230 costumes in six minutes. 

The skill at transforming clients into fashion icons has earned Haenn and Zangardi a spot on the Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious “25 Most Powerful Stylists” list for several years in a row. In March, the publication named them one of “Hollywood’s Top 10 Power Stylists of the Decade.” 

Haenn told the Courier that although life now is different, the show must go on. 

“We have clients that were supposed to be on worldwide press tours. Lily Collins is doing a show for Netflix about fashion called ‘Emily in Paris.’ We were all super excited to be doing the press junket. But, now she’s doing it via Zoom. So, that’s a letdown. But, it’s part of the reality we all are adjusting to,” said Haenn. 

The red carpet is what Mikiel Benyamin misses most during the pandemic. 

The 26-year-old stylist, who also goes by Maikeeb, is known for his high-fashion streetwear aesthetic. The trade press has fawned on him as a wunderkind and for good reason. When he moved to the U.S. from his native Egypt at age 11, he spoke more Arabic than English. By his early twenties, he was working with Cardi B, gaining instant acclaim for her “Bodak Yellow” video. 

“Right now, we have a situation where there is definitely no glam in the red-carpet sort of way. But we have shifted to digital. When premieres take place or when one of my girls have movies or TV that they’re doing, the promotion has all shifted online,” Benyamin told the Courier. 

Awards shows–a fashion mainstay of the fall and winter–remain uncertain. 

“A few music awards shows are on the books, and other shows have been pushed back. I don’t think anyone knows yet how the big shows are going to proceed,” said Haenn. 

The Sept. 21 virtual presentation of the Emmy’s met with mixed notices but did score a few hits, fashion-wise. 

“It was really nice to see the ladies and gents who decided to keep the usual glam of the night. Tracey Ellis Ross, Zendaya, and Regina King we some of my favorites and I’m also proud to call their stylists friends. Not all decided to go for the glam, but it was also nice to see people’s family and home as the backdrop of the evening,” added Haenn. 

She noted that production in general is picking up, albeit in a limited manner. 

“We’ve shot a few music videos, shot a few campaigns. Everyone needs to get tests and wear a mask,” she said. 

Some superstar clients continue to work steadily, with small crews and no live audience. Other clients are appearing on TV from home, so their “look” must focus on the waist, up. 

“Oversized blazers and shoulders and shirts are trending, but that’s not the best for doing waist up. So, I’m finding interesting tops and beautiful earrings for my clients’ press junkets. I said to one of them that earrings are the new shoes, because now that is what’s completing the outfit,” said Haenn. 

She is fitting her clients in a socially distanced manner, as well. 

“We’re doing Zoom fittings, or dropping off racks of clothes, then the client will mark where they have to be adjusted. We pick them back up to do alterations. It’s a remote way of styling,” said Haenn. 

Overall, she finds that mindfulness is the mantra of the moment. 

“I think the feeling with all stylists and their clients is that no one wants to be too over the top,” said Haenn. “Not too glam. We’re keeping in mind what’s going on in the world. Everyone is also more aware of how much they’re consuming and how much they spend. When we do a shoot now, instead of me, my partner and assistants, the production size is much smaller. Fewer people are involved, with less contact.” 

“Fashion goes on,” she said. “But, it’s much more important to acquire items that will stand the test of time now. You want to have good pieces in your closet. You don’t want to buy anything too trendy.” 

Haenn added, “Imagine if you bought a bunch of trendy things at the beginning of the year. You’d have nowhere to wear them now.” 

Benyamin says his clients don’t want to be seen as partying these days anyway. 

“My clients don’t want to be associated with anything irresponsible or unsafe. The paparazzi still follow them around constantly. Every one of my girls wears masks, even if just picking up coffee,” he said. 

Of course, celebrities can set fashion trends even when simply picking up coffee. And online sites that follow celebrities in their day-to-day life have surged during the pandemic. 

“Social media is the only way to see what people are wearing when there are no red carpets or live events. It’s all about Instagram right now. It can set immediate trends,” said Benyamin. 

Hot at the moment, he notes, are quilted gold chain bags by Bottega Veneta and South of France summer looks from Jacquemus, the fashion label with prints that recall classic French cinema. 

“Jacquemus designs are always so anticipated. His mini bags have been just recreated this season. Instead of all leather, they are using new shapes and fabrics that will be extremely popular,” said Benyamin. 

And, this season’s statement pieces come in small packages. 

“Louis Vuitton has just come out with a special jewelry piece in earrings and small chain necklaces. It’s called the LV Volt. Everyone who is a top tier girl is wearing it on Insta,” said Benyamin. 

He defines “top tier” as Kylie Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, plus his own clients, actress-singer and “Hustlers” co-star Keke Palmer and actress Bella Thorne. 

“Something else that just came out is another must. MCM thigh-high boots. Mary J. Blige just wore them in New York, and they made a really big splash,” said Benyamin. 

For her part, Haenn is always on the lookout for up and coming designers. 

“That’s how we keep our clients on the cutting edge. Sally La Pointe is a favorite. She does polished business dress-up and also casual clothes. Her color palette is incredible. She’s a good fit for Jennifer Lopez because she does full monochromatic looks,” said Haenn. 

For this fall, Haenn says suiting is popular, with different silhouettes. 

“Suits with flair using typical fall materials, but a little bit more shine are big. Bulky sweaters and oversize are also happening this fall. And everyone has gotten so good with faux fur,” said Haenn. 

Both Haenn and Benyamin always have their eye on legacy brands that reinvent themselves creatively. 

“Some brands are incorporating a style and aesthetic that is way trendier than what they were previously known for. Look at Coach. It maybe isn’t on everybody’s list of hot brands, but it’s important to pay attention to things that aren’t what we expect,” noted Haenn. 

“Stuart Vevers (Executive Creative Director) at Coach has launched the ( Jean-Michel) Basquiat collaboration. They did a really good job. The pieces are classic. Stuart did an amazing job incorporating Basquiat, whose work as an artist was so incredibly well-known. And their coats and outerwear are so luxurious,” said Haenn. 

For Benyamin’s clients, wearing vintage is one of the biggest trends in the last six months. 

“The top tier girls that I style are really into vintage Chanel right now. Chanel swimwear. Chanel tops, two-piece mini dresses. Vintage Dior is also huge, especially anything from the John Galliano era,” said Benyamin. 

“What is so cool now is that the biggest classics are making a revival. In the last six months, Dior saddle bags, any color, have made the biggest comeback. They were a classic of their time, and the brand is reproducing them,” said Benyamin. 

Dior’s kidney-shaped Saddle Bag was the IT-girl accessory in the early 2000’s thanks to Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Sex and the City” character Carrie Bradshaw. Interest resurged after Beyoncé was spotted wearing one a few years ago. Dior decided to bring back the bags in 2018. 

“Gucci has also gone in a very specific direction, as has Balenciaga,” said Haenn. They have both figured out a more streetwear look. It’s all about coming out with a hot new bag, T-shirts or sunglasses. They’ve found ways to stay modern.”

Both Haenn and Benyamin felt bittersweet about New York Fashion Week, which was held virtually last week. “The virus happened in the midst of them creating these collections. It was interesting to see who stuck to more casual wear, because people are staying at home,” said Haenn.

“If you’re in this business, you go to Fashion Week. 

Normally, my girls would all be in the front row. It’s always good to see the designers we’ve worked with for years, and talk about our favorite looks, said Benyamin. 

Instead, he caught up virtually, taking in shows by Christian Siriano, Christian Cowan, (a Cardi B favorite) and MONSE (the luxury label founded by the Creative Directors at Oscar de la Renta). 

“Traveling to Fashion Week, especially to Milan or Paris, was always such a fun part of this business. But, in a blink of an eye, it was taken away,” said Benyamin. 

“We have adapted, though. There have been some red carpets in Europe, but they’re quiet. Only select people fly in. Everything else is online,” he added. 

“Everybody’s fashion needs are so different right now,” observed Haenn. “But the truth is, everyone is still going to be interested in designers and what they are showing in their next collection. People will always look to fashion as a way of escaping the fact we’re unable to dress up and go many places right now.” 

The post Fashion Forward appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The plan filed this week on June 29 will now take the site into the next 100 years. 

One Beverly Hills integrates the existing two hotels with a new, 42 all-suite ultra- luxury hotel with 37 residences; two residential buildings with 303 residences; a four-story pavilion with boutiques and casual dining replacing the garage along Santa Monica Boulevard. It also includes 10 acres of open space, of which 4.5 acres will consist of publicly accessible botanical gardens, sculpture gardens and pathways. An additional 3.5 acres of gardens and pathways are available for residents and hotel guests. 

The plan also includes enhancements to the Beverly Hilton entrance, pool, and conference facilities. 

“It will offer life changing experiences,” said Beny Alagem, CEO of Alagem Capital Group and owner of both the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. He is developing One Beverly Hills with Cain International, the privately held real estate investment firm that purchased a stake in both hotels two years ago.

Alagem and key members of his executive team spoke at length to the Courier about One Beverly Hills and its many innovative details. It’s a story that is first and foremost about Alagem’s long-held vision for the site. 

“I bought the Beverly Hilton in 2003 and our dream was to integrate the property, but I was not able to do that,” he told the Courier. 

Indeed, the 9900 Wilshire property has for decades been a separate parcel from Alagem’s. In recent years, the Beverly Hills City Council has approved residential and hotel development on both lots. In 2016, then-owner of 9900 Wilshire, China’s Dalian Wanda Group, obtained City approval for two residential towers and a hotel. But soon thereafter, Chinese government pressure forced Wanda to unravel its global real estate empire. 

Alagem purchased the one-time rival site in 2018. 

“In 2019, we added the gas station. Now we have 17.5 acres together, which is incredible to have in an urban area like ours, especially in Beverly Hills. The vision is truly to integrate the two pieces of property and bring them to the same way they were historically, all together,” he noted. 

At the turn of the 20th century, the tract that is now the dynamic corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards was farmland. In the early 1920s, it housed a nursery that supplied the palm trees and other vegetation that eventually created the City landscape. 

“We’re transforming the old gateway into Beverly Hills into something exceptional. Something beautiful with iconic gardens and lots of residential and also integrating technology into living spaces that was engineered much before the pandemic hit us,” Alagem told the Courier. 

An intensive selection process led to the choice of Pritzker Prize-winning London- based Sir Norman Foster as the architect of One Beverly Hills.

“This 17.5 acres is deserving of top-notch architecture, so we held a competition amongst ten architects from around the world. We spent four months with all of them. I visited their locations. It was amazing to see Foster + Partners, with 1500 architects working under one roof,” said Alagem. 

The portfolio of Foster + Partners includes the ring-shaped Apple Park, Apple Inc.’s headquarters in Cupertino; 30 St. Mary Axe in London, known informally as “The Gherkin;” the Hearst Headquarters in New York City and the Art of the Americas Wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. 

Fusing Architecture and Landscape 

Sir Norman Foster describes One Beverly Hills as a “fusion of architecture and landscape.” The site’s origins, he said, provide a deep connection that informed the decision in the master plan to devote so much acreage to sustainable gardens. 

Celebrated local landscape architect Mark Rios has created and will oversee the garden design. 

“Our landscape architect is a resident of the City and an incredible person,” said Alagem. 

In many ways, the entire One Beverly Hills project is a paean to the natural beauty and lifestyle of California in general and Beverly Hills in particular. Nowhere is that more evident than in the nine Rios-designed botanical gardens. The distinct zones will include native and cultivated plants, water features and a sculpture garden, along with more than one mile of public pathways and trails. 

As pointed out by Alagem Capital Group Consultant David Nelson, “The whole concept of an urban oasis goes back more than 100 years to [Beverly Hills master planner] Wilbur Cook’s vision of a garden city.” 

Public access to One Beverly Hills and its gardens is one of the more unique features of the plan. The previously utilitarian Merv Griffin Way separating the two main parcels will be “covered up” by a landscaped platform. The resulting pedestrian-friendly expanse will connect the project’s major components, providing usable space that previously didn’t exist. 

Plans call for a new stoplight at Merv Griffin Way and Santa Monica Boulevard, which will also see the addition of a third westbound lane. And the Wilshire Boulevard entrance to Merv Griffin Way will be realigned to Whittier Drive, all in an effort to improve the congestion that often plagues the Wilshire/Santa Monica intersection. 

“We are building a whole carpet of greenery on the property. The architecture is extremely elegant, delicate and it creates a greenery that comes from the ground all the way to the balconies, blending in with the greenery of the [Los Angeles Country Club] golf course,” said Alagem, describing an aerial view of the project. 

Clearly, the two residential towers of One Beverly Hills are the most striking landmarks of that aerial view. Located near the southwesterly property line, the buildings feature curved, receding forms and soft edges marked by white balconies. The taller of the two is the 32-story Santa Monica Building, housing 162 units. It is located nearest to Century City in the site’s southwesterly most corner. The 28-story Garden Building holds 141 units. 

Technology and Design 

“We wanted to emphasize healthy living, capturing views and great weather from morning to sunset. No building like this exists here,” said Alagem. 

The use of the latest (and in some cases prescient) technology is another touchstone. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, project designs incorporated electrostatic filtration and dedicated ultra-pure filtered air for each residence; a reverse osmosis filtered water system; keyless and proximity-sensing doorways; and pre-call and touchless elevator controls via mobile apps. Sustainability goals include LEED1 Platinum and WELL2 certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and the International WELL Building Institute, respectively.

“Sustainability in building also means, ‘how do we achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions?’ Those 600 trees we will plant will eliminate a lot of carbon dioxide,” noted Alagem Capital Group Vice President David Alagem. 

Greywater irrigation systems, green rooftops, electric vehicle charging stations and recycled, low embodied carbon and low toxicity materials are additional features. 

Conservation efforts aside, perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the towers is the view between them. 

“Normally, if you look at buildings anywhere in an urban area, the distance is probably 50 to 70 feet. Ours are 200 feet apart. They were purposely designed so that wherever you are, you will see these beautiful view corridors,” noted Alagem. 

The two residential towers stand some 170 feet away from another major component of One Beverly Hills, a new ultra-luxury hotel and residences. Connected to the towers by the covered Merv Griffin Way, the hotel will feature 42 all-suite luxury rooms, 37 residences and a fine dining restaurant. 

The 10-story hotel will sit near the northwest corner of the site, along Wilshire Boulevard. But it will be set back 60 feet, behind a landscape of trees and a public sculpture garden. 

Hilton Enhancements 

The iconic Beverly Hilton will also undergo some renovations as part of the One Beverly Hills plan. The existing parking structure at Merv Griffin Way and Santa Monica Boulevard will be razed to build a four-story building open to the public. It will include boutiques and a casual dining pavilion open to the gardens. 

Additionally, the existing Conference Center will be rebuilt on Wilshire Boulevard. The new structure will feature tiered terraces and will also be recessed from the road. It will include a new restaurant with outdoor space and lobby bar. Upgrades are also planned for the International Ballroom, the hotel pool and cabanas, and the arrival driveway and motor court. 

The Road Ahead 

Alagem Capital Group President Ted Kahan sees One Beverly Hills as “a chance to keep the Beverly Hills brand alive and fresh.” 

He points to ongoing transformations of Century City, Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles. “Rodeo Drive was very innovative when it started. But it’s been here for over 50 years,” said Kahan. 

“Of course, there is fear of change. There always is,” he added. 

Alagem is no stranger to the vicissitudes of public opinion. His selling points now for One Beverly Hills are multifold. 

First of all, the entirety of the project (including new underground parking) falls within the limits of the already entitled 1.375 million square feet. A proposed new Overlay Specific Plan will adhere to the overall approved density and land uses the Specific Plans allow. 

“We are not asking for one additional square foot of building. We are taking and just moving the pieces. It is very important to understand that this property went through an environmental impact report, the City officials know it very well. Both properties went through extensive studies the last 10 years, so there is nothing missing,” said Alagem. 

In addition to thousands of construction and new full-time jobs, Alagem’s team cites estimates from real estate economics experts regarding the project’s fiscal impact over the next 30 years. Those projections include some $27 billion in local spending; $2.3 billion in total taxes and fees; plus $79 million in new revenue for schools. That’s much more, in fact, than previous development plans under separate ownership of the main lots would have rendered. 

In essence, the whole is now greater than the sum of its parts. 

“The project is also committed to make a significant contribution to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and to work with the City to assure the production of affordable units in Beverly Hills,” said Kahan. 

Alagem adds: “When I acquired the [Beverly Hilton] hotel, it was important to bring it back to the sense of luxury that it used to have. We invested $85 million and renovated every corner of the hotel. We completed this in 2007. In 2008, we got approval for 110 units of residential on our property and a 170-room hotel. The Waldorf Astoria 

opened in 2017. This month we celebrate three years since we opened. It’s been an incredible success for the City and for us. I think we are also the largest taxpayer in the City,” said Alagem. 

In terms of a timetable for One Beverly Hills, Alagem won’t venture a guess. But, he’s invested years in the site before. 

He’s no doubt willing to do it once again. 

Additional reporting by Lisa Bloch 

The post One Beverly Hills Launches Application Process appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In this issue, the Courier is pleased to present the third of a four-part series by Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA and John Lambert Pearson, ASLA. Rios is founder and Creative Director of RCH Studios, a multidisciplinary design practice based in Los Angeles. Rios launched the firm in 1985 with a singular vision: to imagine, design, and build complete environments. Under his leadership, RCH Studios has gained renown for its groundbreaking, multidisciplinary approach to commissions. John Lambert Pearson is Senior Project Designer at RCH Studios. He is known for combining his extensive horticultural expertise with an avid interest in the social and cultural factors of design to realize his client’s visions. In a recent collaboration on a significant residential landscape project, Rios and Pearson recognized that they had much to share with urban dwellers about how to shape their home gardens. This piece and others in the series convey their passion for the power of gardens and provide expert tips in transforming home gardens into beautiful and uplifting sanctuaries. 

“Omnia mirari etiam tritissima” was the motto of Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who formalized binomial nomenclature, the way we classify all living organisms using Latin names. We will get back to Carl in a bit, but for now we would like to focus on his motto, which means “find wonder in everything, even the most commonplace.” It is our job as landscape architects to help people find the wonder in the garden, and often that is achieved through vast shapes and colors of plant material. Yet, plants remain a mysterious and intimidating presence to many who have heard complicated Latin names like Eschscholzia, Syzygium, and Zantedeschia. We would like to help you understand that these Latin names tell a story about the specimens they identify, and that by learning these secret meanings, the world of plants will become infinitely more enchanting.
When you see the name of a plant at a nursery or botanical garden, you will often notice two names are given. The first is typically the common name, shown in standard text. Common names can be helpful, however they may only present a simple view of the plant and may be used to describe other species as well. The second is the Latin name, also known as the botanical or scientific name, and is in italics. It is the Latin name that holds the hidden tale about the plant’s origin, form, color, or growth habit. 

If you find Latin names too complicated to decipher, consider that Catnip (Nepeta cataria) was once called Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatus pedunculatis – “Nepeta with flowers in an interrupted pedunculated spike.” Fortunately, in 1753 Carl Linnaeus found these descriptive plant names far too long to memorize and developed the system of binomial nomenclature, in which two words are used to concisely describe a living organism. The first name is the genus or generic epithet. The genus is a collection of plants that is further qualified by the species name or specific epithet and is always capitalized. 

Chances are if you live in Southern California and know even a little about flowers and trees, you are already using Latin names and you might not even realize it! Agave, Ceanothus, Jacaranda, and Camellia are all botanical names we have come to use as common names. Learning Latin names can be slow at first, just like any foreign language. With a new language we start with something simple like “Hello. What is your name?” It is the same when learning the language of plants. You start by learning parts of words, like that “heli” means sun and “anthus” means flower. These fractured pieces eventually merge to reveal the reasoning behind the plant’s name, unlocking their story. 

We believe that culture proliferates via storytelling and we would like to ask you to become a storyteller. We would like to challenge you to learn the meaning behind the names of the plants in your backyard as ammunition for your next dinner party (read: Zoom happy hour). Delight your friends with a botanical story, make someone else take an interest in plants. Here are two that come to mind: 

The Toyon, a glistening dark green California native shrub, gets its Latin name, Heteromeles arbutifolia, from “hetero” meaning “different” and “malus” meaning “apple”, in reference to its tiny, red, apple- like fruits. The plant’s bright red berries and toothed leaves earned it the names California Christmas Berry and California Holly. When Harvey H. Wilcox purchased land in California, the hills were ablaze with the fruit of the California Holly, leading him to name his property “Hollywood.” The allure of the fiery crimson fruit was so great that the state of California had to ban collecting Toyon branches for Christmas in the 1920s. These days we rarely notice the “Holly” in Hollywood, but it is the flamboyant Toyon that we have to thank for the name. 

Bougainvillea spectabilis, commonly known by its scientific name, is named after French Navy admiral Louis Antoine de Bougainville, who circled the globe in 1763. But that is not the whole story. Philibert Commerçon, Bougainville’s botanist, was accompanied by an unrecognizable man on their voyage to Rio de Janeiro. Commerçon suffered a leg injury on this trip, and in his place, his mysterious partner ventured out into the jungle and returned with a new plant – Bougainvillea. It was later discovered that this man was in fact a young woman in disguise. Her name was Jeanne Baret and she was Commerçon’s lover and botanical assistant. At the time, women were banned from French navy ships and from studying botany altogether, and Baret had defied both to bring us the magnificent Bougainvillea in its kaleidoscope of colors. 

If when recounting your florid tales, you balk for fear of pronouncing the Latin name, rest assured that Latin is a dead language. Who is going to correct you? There is no definite way to pronounce plant names, but a good rule of thumb is to pronounce every letter you see in the name phonetically. Say it any way you want, just say it with conviction, say it powerfully. Just go for it. Try to learn the Latin name of every plant you come across. Plants are all around us – the more you look, the more you see. Each plant has a spirit and something to offer. It can be as simple as color, size, scent, shape, or even a personal association or memory. No matter what the reason, let us remember Linnaeus’ goal – to find wonder in everything, even the most commonplace. 

The post Plant Names Are Long, But Full of Spirit appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In this issue, the Courier is pleased to present the second of a four- part series by Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA and John Lambert Pearson, ASLA. Rios is founder and Creative Director of RCH Studios, a multi-disciplinary design practice based in Los Angeles. Rios launched the firm in 1985 with a singular vision: to imagine, design, and build complete environments. Under his leadership, RCH Studios has gained renown for its groundbreaking, multidisciplinary approach to commissions. John Lambert Pearson is Senior Project Designer at RCH Studios. He is known for combining his extensive horticultural expertise with an avid interest in the social and cultural factors of design to realize his client’s visions. In a recent collaboration on a significant residential landscape project, Rios and Pearson recognized that they had much to share with urban dwellers about how to shape their home gardens. This piece and those that follow will convey their passion for the power of gardens and provide expert tips in transforming home gardens into beautiful and uplifting sanctuaries. 

Thank you for your email. I am not working the afternoon of Friday 5/29. I’m busy in my garden. I will respond to your message when I return on Monday. Thank you. In the current pandemic, much is uncertain, and things may feel generally unsettled. We have an inherent desire to control our surroundings and gardens are an easy place to shape and connect with the earth. While we are minimizing our time in public and maximizing our time at home, we started thinking about the many health benefits of the home garden. The home garden can be an amazing asset to your well-being and you don’t have to go any further than your backyard to reap the rewards. Studies in environmental psychology show that there is a tangible and measurable link between human access to the natural world and reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression. Scientists have found that exposure to nature increases wellness, productivity, and creativity. 

People who spend time in the garden report stronger feelings of meaningfulness in their lives and are more likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines. There is a long list of tasks when caring for a garden and they all come with a gratifying feeling of accomplishment when completed: digging, weeding, mulching, pruning, dead- heading, harvesting, sharing. 

Several people from our office have utilized this time to propagate vegetable gardens, echoing the great Victory Gardens grown during the food shortages that accompanied World War II. Growing crops at home reduces trips to the grocery store and can make us feel empowered. Consuming vegetables you grow yourself can improve your health by reducing your exposure to fertilizers and pesticides. Vegetables that ripen in the home garden have more nutrients than those bought at the supermarket, which are often picked early for shipping. Increasing your vegetable intake can also have long term health advantages that vitamins and supplements cannot provide. 

When you are looking to sow a productive garden of your own, the best advice is to start by finding the sunniest spot in your garden, ideally receiving six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Please remember that your vegetable garden does not necessarily have to be in your backyard. We know some incredible homes that have converted their thirsty front lawns into beautiful and productive plots. 

We are constantly reminded of Michael Pollan’s mantra for healthy eating, “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” If vegetables are your goal, a raised planter will produce the highest yield and the extra height will reduce any strain from having to bend fully to the ground. Make sure you use good soil and think about what you would like to grow in your garden. We asked our friend Natalie what she had planted in her garden this year and she reported back: broccoli raab, flamboyant French breakfast radishes, Charentais melons, Thumbelina baby ball carrots, Iona petit peas, and Jade green bush beans, all grown from seed she ordered online. It’s truly up to you, the world is your oyster mushroom. 

Pests may be a problem, so chicken wire should be installed beneath the planter to prevent any unwanted vermin from entering below and mesh netting may be necessary over your plants if you find squirrels or birds are stripping your crops bare. Within a few months you will be able to enjoy the fruits (more likely vegetables) of your labor. 

If your kids are tired of being indoors, invite them to help with the garden. Outdoor spaces are vital parts of childhood development. Here they can learn about experimentation, farming, environmental impact, and our connection to the land at an early age. Gardens are places to be adventurous, try new things, get messy, and make mistakes. Here we can teach children that things do not always have to be perfect. Certain plants will flourish and others will flounder, but we can always take delight in trying again next year. Promise us you will plant something you have never tasted before – gardens are an opportunity to explore the culinary delights the world has to offer through food you’ve grown in your own backyard. 

Your garden can influence the lives of people outside of your family. It can become a medium for generosity if you choose. There is nothing more charming than presenting a friend with an armful of cut flowers, a pie made from fruit you picked, or a glass of freshly squeezed lemonade on a hot summer day. Your yard can also be a gift to your neighborhood. Your garden is your face to your community, your first impression that can impart something on others whether it happens to be beauty, novelty, or an emotional reaction. Whether you like it or not, you are helping create a place and it certainly will be a benevolent and generous one. 

Re: your last email 

The garden is looking great. I should have a bunch of lemons and tomatoes to share when we can get back into the office. Will trade for carrots, spinach, or snow peas. 

The post Mind Body and Soil – Improving Your Life Through the Garden appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

In this issue, the Courier is pleased to present the first of a multi-part series by Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA and John Lambert Pearson, ASLA. Rios is founder and Creative Director of RCH Studios, a multi-disciplinary design practice based in Los Angeles. Rios launched the firm in 1985 with a singular vision: to imagine, design, and build complete environments. Under his leadership, RCH Studios has become renown for its groundbreaking, multidisciplinary approach to commissions. John Lambert Pearson is Senior Project Designer at RCH Studios. He is known for combining his extensive horticultural expertise with an avid interest in the social and cultural factors of design to realize his client’s visions. In a recent collaboration on a significant residential landscape project, Rios and Pearson recognized that they had much to share with urban dwellers about how to shape their home gardens. This piece and those that follow will convey their passion for the power of gardens and provide expert tips in transforming home gardens into beautiful and uplifting sanctuaries. 

If you’re working from home like we are these days, you likely are wondering why you’re stuck taking conference calls at your computer when you would much rather be sitting outside enjoying a cappuccino. Now that our connection to nature has been limited mostly to our homes due to COVID-19, many people are rediscovering an asset they may have been overlooking for years – their GARDENS. Houses get remodeled every ten years or so, but you also need to remember to refresh your garden. 

How would you rate your current relationship with your yard? 

If things are looking rocky, proverbial or otherwise, it may be time to remodel your garden. Ask yourself, what purpose is your yard serving? We use our gardens like we would any other room in the house. They are private, useful, hopefully attractive, and serve our needs by making our lives more peaceful, more balanced, and provide a great place for social distancing. Gardens are proven to ameliorate our mood and even our health. There is something magical about watering plants and watching them grow. Gardens are places for relaxation, meditation, play, entertainment. Everything that happens in a garden should be enjoyable. 

Happiness in the garden comes from finding a design that adds as much beauty as possible while at the same time eliminating as many problems or irritations as you can manage. If you find yourself more troubled than entertained by your garden, it may be time to reassess and redesign. DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED. Transforming your garden can be as easy or as onerous as you want to make it. There are no set rules, no mysterious “must-dos,” no lawmaker who will appear out of the sky to admonish you for not following what is expected of you. 

Here are seven steps to remodeling your garden: 

1) What is your garden’s purpose for being? 

A garden is an expression of its owner’s imagination and fantasies. Take a long look at your garden and analyze what you really want from it, disengaged from whatever you have been told constitutes a garden. What is this place really all about? What is the story of your garden? 

2) Evaluate your place. 

What do you have that is great in your garden? If you have a favorite spot in your yard, this is a good place to start. What do you like about it? A certain tree, a view, a place you like to relax, a spot of sun in between the canopy. These simple scenes can be more than enough to help focus a garden design. Keep the good, edit the superfluous. 

3) Dream big. 

Your garden needs a topic sentence. What could this garden be? A safe haven for your family, a space for entertaining, a vision from your past, a secret fantasy? Perhaps there is a theme that defines your garden. Once you have made a decision, write down one sentence that holistically describes your dream garden. 

4) Watch carefully. 

Evaluate your microclimate. Stand in your garden at several different points of the day and utilize all your senses. Listen for sounds, observe sun and shade patterns, take note of any birds or butterflies that visit. How much room do you actually have? Our goal here is to fit your dream into an actual place. 

5) Learn about plants. 

Visit a nursery (note that many have moved online already). Take a walk in your neighborhood and take pictures of plants you like and think about why you like them. 

Buy a book – “Sunset Western Garden” or “California Native Plants for the Garden” are two great places to start when selecting plants. If you are intimidated by plants, we’ll help you to get over your fear, but we need another article for that – stay tuned. 

6) Build it. 

If you can manage, build your garden yourself. You may need to involve a gardener, landscape contractor, or a landscape architect if your vision requires more complex interventions. Regardless of the route you take, make sure you build or plant a portion of the garden so you can claim it for your own. 

7) Accessorize. 

Bring objects you love into your garden. Just as you would bring beautiful flowers from your garden into your home, bring something you cherish outside. A chair, a bowl, an artifact with a story attached to it. Personalize this space to make it uniquely yours. 

Now that you have moved your way through our seven steps you may assume you are done. But gardens take time. Part of the allure of a garden is watching it mature and mellow in its age. Take in the beauty of the garden in front of you and continue to care for it as it sprouts and evolves. Gardening can become a daily meditation; it is a humble practice that brings us “down- to-earth” and links us to the land. Reconnect with your new garden, and a year from now, come back and take this quiz. 

How do you feel about your garden now? 

The post What Does Your Garden Want To Be When It Grows Up? appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Family-owned Anawalt Lumber on Robertson Boulevard – with sister locations in Santa Monica, Malibu and Hollywood, is about to open a new store in the Pacific Palisades. The brand has taken over the old Norris Hardware on Sunset, which will debut the end of May. 

Anawalt President, Rolondo Robles started with the company during the recession of 2009 and has never witnessed such a home-bound boom. “The new traffic is caused by ‘safer at home’ customers,” he told the Courier. While they still have professionals and handymen who shop there for lumber and paint, the new surge for computerized paint matching and potted plants has been caused by stir-crazy locals. “People want fertilizer, plant food and housewares from cleaner to gloves and lots of paint.” 

The store opens at 6:30 a.m. in most locations, so try to arrive early if you want to avoid lines. And, even more surprising than opening a new location during a pandemic, they are hiring at all locations. 

Another family-owned business, Pioneer Hardware on North Crescent Drive has been a staple in Beverly Hills since 1926, and just might be the oldest family-owned business in the area. Owner Jeff Tilem grew up in Beverly Hills and his father used to be the mayor. 

Manager Ryan Hudson has worked for the company for 10 years and has seen products fly off the shelves in waves. First, it was lots of cleaning supplies to kill the coronavirus. “We had to become overnight experts,” Hudson told the Courier. “The first wave included disinfectants such as Lysol, Clorox Bleach, paper towels, hand sanitizer and more gloves than in our 100-year-history.” That quickly moved to regular cleaning supplies such as Windex. 

Paint supplies has seen a large uptick in demand followed by gardening supplies such as seeds for vegetables and herbs. “We had to start carrying four to five different potting soils just to keep up,” said Hudson. 

Pioneer carries a little bit of everything, but about a month ago, cookware such as pots, pans and baking tins started to disappear. “There are a lot of restaurants in Beverly Hills, but now our locals were at home so they needed a quart pan, muffin tin and frying pans,” said Hudson. 

Oddly enough, the hardware store has had a slow-down with people buying tools, “Most of those require some sort of skill or prior knowledge,” he said. “Not everyone is comfortable mounting a TV on a wall but they are ok to put a flower in a pot or bake a cake.” 

Prior to the pandemic, the main sales came from standard hardware supplies, but according to Hudson, “I’ve been in retail for a long time and this is the quickest shift in business I’ve ever seen.” 

ACE Hardware on Bundy Drive is also experiencing daily lines around the block. Manager Joe Jurado recommends arriving first thing in the morning between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. during the week. Online ordering and curbside pick-up are also available. 

“The biggest surge has been with landscaping products from flowers for the yard, hanging baskets with lots of color and bark,” said Jurado. Also, kiddie pools and play sandboxes. “We are selling fake sand by the pallet,” he said. 

Jurado also confirmed that the grilling department and charcoal sales have gone through the roof but paint is the number one item. “Every color of the rainbow – whatever they can get their hands on. We have been selling five-gallon containers,” he said. 

According to management at Sherwin Williams on Westwood Boulevard, sales are continually brisk but there has been a spike in sales of soothing neutral paint colors in greys and whites. 

International color experts, British paint and wallpaper brand Farrow & Ball has a two-story flagship on La Cienega in the design quarter. The space was originally constructed to be a gathering place for the design community with a top floor lounge and roof deck. The showroom features an interactive customer experience through a 3D magnetic display system. 

With over 132 titles like Elephant’s Breath to Dead Salmon, the typical neutral swatches don’t stand a chance here. Currently, the brand is only available online, with free shipping, but the full range of paints and wallpapers, plus accessories are available at www.farrow-ball.com. 

The dark blue hues such as “Scotch Blue, Hague Blue, Inchyra Blue or Stiffkey Blue are always popular, particularly in these times as blues are calming and relaxing,” according to a company spokesperson. Some of the client projects don’t just include walls but creating a statement ceiling or patterned floors to upcycling garden planters and furniture with a fresh coat of paint. 

Even if you’ve combed the internet for chic new furnishings and accessories, sometimes there is nothing like a simple, clean coat of paint to further spruce up your surroundings. 

If you want to take your home improvement project a step further, international interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland just launched a digital design concierge service The Perfect Room. The platform offers design consultations and services from small projects to complete rooms or whole house packages, from renown designers Jeffrey Alan Marks, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Bunny Williams, Jeffrey Bilhuber, and Rachel Ashwell. Prices start at $175. https://theperfectroom.com/ 

The post Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement On the Rise appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Whether you are in need of a new mattress or simply want to invest in good linens and accessories to feel like you are on a stay- cation in a posh hotel, here are a few ideas from luxe to affordable. While these stores are currently not open to the public, you can still purchase online and if you must wait to try the merchandise first-hand for your boudoir, visit them all when our City reopens for business. 

Gary Trudell creates custom beds for a celebrity clientele and five-star hotels. He has collaborated on a line with top designer to the stars Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Trudell, who owns Custom Comfort on Beverly Boulevard, shared his tips with the Courier on how to look for the perfect mattress even during a quarantined pandemic. 

“There may not be a more important time in our lives to get a good and healthy night’s sleep,” said Trudell. “Sleep strengthens our immune system which may, in turn, decrease the chance of getting sick.” 

Here is Trudell’s advice for buying a mattress, which also applies for online ordering. First, be sure the mattress is made with a lot of natural cotton, as cotton is breathable, healthier, and more durable than synthetics. Over 95 percent of the mattresses being sold in the United States are made with petrochemical polyurethane foam that emit off-gases, which cause allergy issues and tend to [make the buyer] sleep hot. Second, there is no “one size fits all,” and each mattress should be fitted to your predominant sleeping position. Support is the ability of the mattress to equalize pressure and distribute your body weight all the way across the mattress.

Third, make sure your mattress is double-sided and hand tufted. Natural materials are the comfort layers and the coils are your support, which controls the firmness or softness of your mattress. Hand-tufting on the top and bottom pre-compresses the coil and natural materials together, which allows the coil to provide proper support. Having a double-sided mattress is healthier, more supportive, and longer lasting. 

Once you find the perfect mattress, it’s time to begin layering. Scandia Home on Beverly Drive is known for its European-style heirloom bedding and fine goose down-filled products. Best sellers include the all-down featherbed, which sits atop the mattress. “It’s like sleeping on a cloud,” said longtime store manager Kim Gregory. It’s important to invest in a good mattress pad to protect your investment and the new ThermaBalance Tencel has been a hot seller. “So many of my clients sleep hot so to have a mattress pad that is moisture-wicking and cooling is why they are loving it,” said Gregory. 

The company also sells down-alternatives in every price range. Other best-selling items include the top-of-the-line St. Petersburg collection crafted from the finest Siberian down and covered in German silk Damask, and the new bed linens from Adriana Percale and Courtrai Linen handwoven in Italy. 

Hästens has made its reputation with all-natural beds that include exotic materials such as horse-tail hair, that range in price from the tens of thousands of dollars up to the six-figure mark. The Swedish manufacturer, dating back to 1852, has an outpost on Beverly Drive. It carries a range of lifestyle accessories that won’t put a dent in the pocketbook. The brand has recently redesigned its PJs, famous robes and down boots as part of a “Quarantine Package” that also includes a sleep mask and lavender bag. Prices range from $10 to $480. For those who still want to splurge, the company is launching a new bed soon with celebrity designer Ferris Rafauli called the “Grand Vividus.” 

A dream-team collaboration between top fashion brand Madewell and Parachute bedding has resulted in a line so stylish it might even work for a Zoom meeting. The range includes stitched duvet covers for less than a few hundred dollars to striped pajama shirts, shorts, and even a denim doggie bed. 

If you happen to be in the process of decorating a nursery or child’s room, Naturepedic on Robertson Boulevard makes all organic cotton crib mattresses, called the “Breathable Ultra” (starting at $390), and accessories as well as 400 thread count sheets for all sizes of beds. 

Also, on Robertson, E. Braun & Co. offers formal crisp linens and impeccable embroidery on bedding sets. If you want a uniformed look from the comforter and pillows to the throw, look no further than their collections with dozens of styles and textures from Madagascar to Montecito. 

Another tried-and-true classic on Rodeo Drive, Frette (since 1860), carries a bespoke line of cotton percales to poplins and sateens to sumptuous silks and cashmeres. It specializes in “the fibre, the finish and the feel” from duvet to Euro Shams. Be sure to check out their new virtual styling studio. 

For the finishing touch to your new bedroom, add a home spritz, diffuser or candle selection from the earthy Nest collection which you can find at Geary’s on Beverly Drive. 

And, for those looking to be comfortable and stylish, plus give back to the COVID-19 essential workers such as healthcare officials, grocers and teachers, Sant and Abel have launched their “Buy One, Give One Hero Packages” gifting luxury sleepwear to loved ones on the frontlines when using code “Heroes” at checkout. https://santandabel.com/ 

The post Create a Bedroom Oasis During the COVID-19 Crisis appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

The Prospect lies behind a red and black Regency style door and is a true 24-room fantasy hideaway. Every accommodation is named after stars that once lived in the area from Vivienne Leigh to Judy Garland, Brando and Bacall. 

“You are in real old Hollywood,” said Bullard, who has been named one of the world’s top 100 designers by Architectural Digest and is a permanent fixture on Elle Decor’s A-List. “Everybody lived in and around here, so we gave each room a star with a little bit of flavor from that person, 

but mostly it’s a nod to a movie they starred in. The Greta Garbo room is a nod to “Mata Hari” which she won the Oscar for just down the street in the Chinese Theater.” 

The 1938 property, owned by PRG Hospitality Group, was once an apartment building and sits just above Hollywood Boulevard near iconic Musso & Franks and the Dolby Theater where the Oscar ceremonies are now held. Whitley Heights was founded in 1919 and was the first celebrity compound in Los Angeles. Cecil B. DeMille has his studio nearby and Bullard knows a great deal about this area. The prolific designer – who counts Cher, Ellen Pompeo and the Kardashians as clients, still owns a home in the area where Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson and William Faulkner once lived. “On my little cul-de-sac we had Barbara Stanwick, Cole Porter, Tyrone Power and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,” he said. 

The nearby apartment buildings were once homes to Marilyn Monroe and James Dean to name a few. “All of that flavor informed what was to happen here,” said Bullard. “We wanted to capture that by working off the architecture and Hollywood Regency style and playing off the fact that this is really the place where the celebrity community exploded.” 

“I wanted to make the place fanciful and I wanted to give it some old school Hollywood, to touch on where we are but make it quirky,” he said in the lobby dotted with gold metal palm tree statues custom made in the South of France. “I’m honoring the great designers of that period Billy Hanes, Tony Duquette and a bit of Elsie de Wolfe and Dorothy Draper. Everything here is taken from that era, the palm trees and faux bamboo furniture.” 

“Can you imagine this in a year?” Bullard is pointing to the central courtyard patio with a giant anchor palm tree shooting through the sky near surrounding buildings and budding foliage. “I insisted that we keep those palms trees because they are such an integral part of Hollywood and such a moment for the space,” confirmed Bullard. “We had the landscapers do a completely crazy lush garden. This whole thing will soon be covered in greenery with beautiful antique lanterns.” 

One can just imagine lounging during the summer with a glass of rose reading a script. The back part of the property holds a few larger rooms and one has a secret garden. 

“Sense of place to me is the most important element for a boutique hotel. The reason why you go there is you want to know where you are and experience it,” he added. 

Bullard has done just that with rooms paying homage to the golden era of Tinseltown greats. “This hotel was all about capturing old Hollywood and that vibe and feeling like you’re in the midst of it all. You know that actors and struggling writers have lived in these buildings. Madonna used to live in the top floor of the Montecito building across the street with her brother Christopher,” he said. 

“It’s had an amazing history and still creating an amazing history,” added Bullard. During the opening weekend, some of the cast and team from the multiple Oscar- winning film “Parasite” stayed at the hotel. “I loved Parasite,” said Bullard who is a member of the Academy. “It’s brilliant, twisted and quirky.” 

Everything in the rooms was copied from the original including the old-fashioned telephones. “We’ve gone completely camp and bananas, but I didn’t want things that felt cheesy.” 

Filled with old black and white film studio stills, the team spent an entire year on e-Bay scouring for old artifacts and memorabilia such as the vintage “Hollywood Reporter” magazines that have been framed. The original art was sourced at flea markets and mostly French 40s impressionist and cubist collages. 

What you will also find in the rooms consists of four-poster beds flanking Bullard’s wallpaper collection aptly titled the Hollywood Palm Collection. Each room has a large marble bathroom and dressing areas, but the hidden fitted closet mini-bars are a stand-out personal touch. And according to Bullard, “Carpet is having a renaissance.” So, he decided to just go for it with kitschy- cool wall-to-wall zebra and leopard prints. “Normally, I’m not a carpet person but in the right use, it can create a real addition to the design. With the upstairs rooms, it made sense for the noise level.” 

Five of the rooms at the Prospect, including the Cary Grant room, have kitchenettes for the long-term guests. They already have a ten-day booking from a DJ who is working nearby. “There are no boutique hotels in this area,” said Bullard. “There is a big W and The Roosevelt nearby.” 

While they don’t have a restaurant, you can have breakfast in the lobby delivered every morning from Tartine bakery. When you need to venture out, the hotel also has a partnership with the NeueHouse and the Hudson Brothers who own many cool clubs and restaurants in the area from No Vacancy to Dirty Laundry. 

With the sexy, sophisticated, old school vibe, you just might want to order-in. “Many rooms have vintage items and for me to make each room feel different, we sourced a lot in Palm Springs and some of the old vintage stores in Silver Lake. We bought vintage lamps, side tables, coffee tables but each room is completely different and a collected vibe. I think you can only do this in a boutique hotel,” confirmed Bullard. “Hotels, particularity boutique hotels, have to have an air of fantasy and if you can give them some sex appeal too, you have a winning ticket.” 

Up next for Bullard, who has recently designed The Hotel California in Santa Barbara, The Sands in Indian Wells and Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach – to name a few, is a Paso Robles boutique hotel. He is also putting the finishing touches on the Four Seasons Residences just behind the Doheny property, which will be ready in June. “It’s very modern all my walls in the lobby are floor to ceiling back-lit onyx. The furniture is a mix of mid-century and designer pieces. 

It’s a completely different look and vibe. I like to change everything up,” he confirmed. The residences will take over a whole city block with 65 units, ranging from $5 to $70 million for the penthouse. 

Bullard, who now resides behind the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, has his own Martyn Lawrence Bullard Atelier– a lifestyle shop under his office space on Melrose that sells all of his exclusive fabrics and furniture to the public and trade. The store also showcases some rare finds in the wallpaper and fabric genres from new talent around the globe from Palms Springs to Johannesburg. “I love that I have it here in West Hollywood. It’s the hub of everything,” he says. 

The award-winning designer also has a new lighting line coming out at Highpoint, North Carolina in October. “I love doing lighting it’s the finishing jewelry to a room. It’s like putting your earrings on,” he said. “It also creates the ambiance for everything, and it can make or break a space.” 

According to Bullard, the biggest mistake people make when decorating a home or even just a room is not installing a dimmer switch. “It’s that 20 bucks that you really should have spent!” 

The post Martyn Lawrence Bullard Puts His Stamp on Hollywood History appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Cynthia Greenwald is a Los Angeles-based art advisor. She works with individuals and businesses looking to build an art collection. Cynthia is also the Chair of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Advisory Council for the Arts. 

Over the past 20 years, art fairs have taken off as the place to buy and sell – as well as learn about – art. Over a three-to-five day period, an art fair provides you with an opportunity to visit a variety of galleries from all over the world. Most art fairs feature programs such as artist talks and panel discussions that provide a great opportunity to learn more about art. In many cities, local galleries and cultural institutions will feature events and programming in coordination with an art fair. 

There is no debating that art fairs have changed the way people buy and sell art. According to the Art Basel and UBS Art Market Report 2019, art fair sales reached $16.5 billion in 2018. Art dealers reported that 46 percent of their sales came from art fairs, up from less than 30 percent in 2010. 

Seeing art at an art fair is a different experience from viewing a piece in a gallery. At many galleries, a show features work from a single artist. In contrast, in their art fair booth, galleries will show the breadth of the artists they represent. This means you will have an opportunity to see works by far more artists than you would in an afternoon of gallery hopping. In addition to the galleries, art fairs often feature site-specific installations and display special projects. For example, this February for Frieze Los Angeles, artist Tavares Strachan will create an 18-foot-long neon sculpture that reads Sometimes Lies Are Prettier: 

Art fairs typically have a focus on a particular period, such as contemporary art. Certain art fairs will center around a specific type of art such as photography or prints. A relatively new market entrant is the affordable-themed art fair, featuring works by artists at an accessible price point. 

An art fair may also provide you with an opportunity to see and purchase a piece of art that would not be available at the gallery. That’s because if the artist is in between exhibitions, the gallery will bring a recent work the artist made in the studio to the fair. 

For dealers and galleries, art fairs provide them with entry into a market where they do not have a physical presence. It is an opportunity to build relationships with collectors who may never have heard of their gallery, much less visited it. Often times you will have a better chance of meeting the dealer who owns the gallery at an art fair than you would if you walked into the gallery. 

Art Fair History 

The world’s first art fair, the Venice Biennial, debuted in 1895 and is still going strong 125 years later. And it was an art fair, the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art, better known as the Armory Show, which introduced modern art to the United States. Works by Matisse, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Picasso, on display for the first time in the United States, shocked and surprised visitors who were used to traditional, representational art. 

The Modern Art Fair 

Expo Chicago, which started as Art Chicago in 1980, is probably the oldest of the U.S. art fairs still in operation. The art fair that has had the most significant impact on the U.S. art market is Art Basel Miami. Art Basel, a highly successful, well-regarded Swiss art fair launched its Miami edition in 2002. Art Basel Miami takes places each December with more than 70,000 people attending, including many of Los Angeles’ leading collectors. 

Another art world trend is for smaller, satellite art fairs to run at the same time as a major one. For example, this past December, there were about a dozen secondary art fairs taking place in Miami at the same time as Art Basel. 

Los Angeles Lineup 

Fortunately, you no longer need to travel to attend a leading art fair. This February, Los Angeles is hosting a number of art fairs. Here’s the 2020 lineup: 

LA Art Show, February 5-9: Started in 1995, this is the granddaddy of all Los Angeles art fairs. In addition to contemporary and modern art, this year’s fair features dedicated exhibit space for Asian ink paintings and luxury jewelry and accessories. https://laartshow.com. 

Frieze Los Angeles, February 13-16: Like Art Basel, London-based Frieze is an international art fair operation. This is its second year in Los Angeles and the emphasis is on contemporary art. https://frieze.com/fairs/frieze-los-angeles 

Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC) February 14 – 16: After several years in Santa Monica, ALAC is moving to the Hollywood Athletic Club. Exhibitors are primarily Los Angeles galleries though some larger, international galleries also participate. https://artlosangelesfair.com 

Felix Art Fair, February 13 – 17: It is also the second year for the Felix Art Fair. It takes place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, home of artist David Hockney’s famous pool mural. www.felixfair.com 

StARTup Los Angeles, February 14-16: In addition to Los Angeles, StARTup hosts art fairs in San Francisco and Houston. StARTup exhibitors are emerging artists, rather than galleries. www.startupartfair.com 

Art Fair Approach 

The more established art fairs take place in large venues such as hotel ballrooms, exhibit halls and convention centers. Smaller art fairs are often located in a cluster of hotel rooms. So rather than visiting booths, you will go to individual hotel rooms like the upcoming Felix Fair. Here in Los Angeles, one of our newest fairs Frieze Los Angeles takes place at a movie studio backlot! 

Art Fair Preparation 

With long aisles to navigate and many booths to visit, it is easy to get fair fatigue. You will get the most out of your visit with a bit of planning. That’s particularly important if you want to attend as many of the overlapping mid-February art fairs as possible. After attending dozens of art fairs, here’s what I recommend. 

· Visit the art fair’s website to see which galleries are exhibiting. You can also buy tickets for the art fair online. Why waste time waiting in line at the art fair? 

· Take advantage of the related lectures and program around the art fair. They are a great way to learn something new about art. 

· If you are in a buying mood, it pays to either attend the opening night event or purchase a VIP pass with exclusive preview hours. That way you’ll have early access to the exhibit booths. 

· Bring paper and pen and wear comfortable shoes. 

· When you walk through the entrance, pick up the fair program and find the floor map. Mark the galleries you know that you’ll want to see and go to those first while you’re still fresh. 

· Take breaks. There is always a place to purchase food and drinks without leaving the fair. 

· Do not be afraid to ask questions. Dealers want to tell you about the artist they represent. Add your name to the gallery mailing list so that you’ll know about upcoming exhibitions. 

· There may be some room for negotiation on the final day of the fair. Often dealers would prefer to make a sale rather than incur the cost of shipping the piece back to the gallery. Just do not expect to get a deal on a piece by a well-known artist that way. 

You should view an art fair as an opportunity to broaden your knowledge of art and expand your circle of collectors, curators and dealers. And most importantly, have fun. 

The post An Art Advisor’s Guide to Art Fairs appeared first on Beverly Hills Courier.

Rios’ reputation, of course, precedes him. Formally trained in both architecture and landscape architecture, he founded his practice in 1985 with the vision to imagine, design, and build complete environments. The firm has developed an international reputation for its groundbreaking multidisciplinary approach. Rios’ eclectic interests, innate curiosity, and ability to see things from multiple perspectives propelled the firm beyond the borders of architecture and landscape architecture to incorporate interior design, graphic design, product design, branding, and urban planning. 

The firm has a focus on collaboration across disciplines, with colleages free to draw from different design influences. The firm’s client list includes private individuals, entertainment studios, commercial developers, cultural and educational institutions, city agencies, retail and restaurant establishments. 

Recent fires have brought to light a new normal for communities in Southern California. The greater frequency of fires, as well as the proximity to homes as with last month’s Getty Fire and the 2017 Skirball Fire is eye opening. The planning and design of our cities and communities must understand and address resiliency to these potential dangers. Terms like fuel ladders have become as important in design as energy efficiency and water savings. There is new and important relationship between plants and fire protection in the wild urban interface, the zone where neighborhoods meet the natural environment of canyons and woodlands. This area is increasingly impacted by the cycles of fires that dot the State during the Fall and Winter and the mudslides that can later follow. 

Beverly Hills represents a rich cultural and ecological landscape. The City, once a desert oasis, is now known as the Garden City for its lush greenness, magnificent street trees, and botanical diversity. After Beverly Hills was incorporated in 1914, it grew tremendously, and so did the landscape, transforming from a desert into the fantasy that exists today. The nurseries in the area bourgeoned, a testament to gardens and how they make people feel. The greenness of the gardens provide a verdant backdrop for a thriving community. Its tree canopy creates a green umbrella that benefits the City. This urban forest provides visual interest for streets and gardens and its overstory establishes a unique microclimate. Clearly, Beverly Hills is a place that loves landscapes and curating those landscapes into something very special. 

Plants are extremely important to being fire-wise, especially in what is known as the defensible space surrounding homes in residential areas. This area is defined in numerous resources available through The Los Angeles County Fire Department, but is essentially a series of zones that successively ripple out from a structure. Each zone dictates strategies about plant placement, size, and height as well as characteristics like water retention capacity and oil and resin content. 

The ecological DNA of Southern California provides clues about what performs best in all kinds of environmental conditions. Many of the native plants that thrive here are not only ideal for fire protection, but they also create biodiverse habitats and food sources for creatures including birds and other pollinators. There are native plants that are drought tolerant and lush with beautiful form and leaves, appealing to the goals for beauty and sustainability and helping to establish the idea that cacti are not the only way to be drought tolerant. Malephora luteola, or yellow ice plant is a vibrant green ground- cover with yellow flowers. Myrica californica, or Pacific wax myrtle, is a native shrub with glossy leaves that can grow beautifully into a screen or hedge. The funny-faced monkey flower, diplacus longiflorus, is another distinctive flowering shrub for a lush native garden. 

Non-native trees with high oil and resin content, including cypress, eucalyptus, and pine, are often selected because of their fast growth and low water needs, but they provide dangerous fuel for wildfires in their leaves and bark. Instead, they are best replaced by native trees that are more suitable for our ecology and wildlife. Quercus agrifolia, also known as the coast live oak or California live oak, has a wide and dense canopy. Its waxy, thick leaves grow densely so as to prevent astray embers from reaching the understory below. Even in a fire, they may scorch, but are rarely destroyed and can sprout new growth after a fire. Quercus douglasii, or blue oak, is another such hardy and incredibly resilient native tree. 

Many may ask, what about the palm trees? The iconic palm lines streets and boulevards and defines the skyline throughout Beverly Hills. With proper distance from structures as well as correct maintenance, including removing fibrous material, dead fronds, and skirts of dead thatch, the palm can serve fire-prone areas responsibly. 

Plant maintenance is key. The most helpful action for fire prevention is ensuring proper care of plants and trees in gardens and next to structures for both access and protection. Regular pruning of dead branches and fronds, trimming plants beneath trees, removing dry leaves, and cutting back branches from any structure all provide the first step in fire safety. 

The beautiful hills are in the most jeopardy. Fire moves breathtakingly quick in the canyons that adjoin residential areas. In the Bel Air Fire of 1961, the fast-spreading fire destroyed 500 homes and prompted the brush clearance laws and fire design guidelines that are in place today.

An indigenous CA landscape typology, whether used in a formal alee or in a naturalized landscape, is equally at home in Beverly Hills as it is in more remote areas of Coastal Southern California. And in both the formal and the expressive arrangement, fires don’t care about the form, which allows for the design of multiple experiences in the characteristic landscape of Beverly Hills.

Finding beauty in the native historical landscape as it can be magnificently curated for Beverly Hills is incredibly important to resilience. Drought tolerance and fire resistance can coexist with beauty in a landscape through the selection and arrangement of native plants. 

The same ideas that define stunning, native residential gardens can be applied in creating the gardens, parks, and streetscapes that make our cities vibrant, walkable, and green. And the native plants that thrive on the hills above can also frame beautiful gardens in the flats that inspire users and visitors with their natural splendor. Beverly Hills is filled with architecturally significant buildings and rich gardens and streets with wonderful and diverse trees. In the amazing environments that are already constructed and those planned for the future, one thing is clear: there is an incredible future for Beverly Hills. The visionary homeowners and business owners are dedicated to a responsible future, one that recognizes the rich heritage of place and the value of the garden. 

Mark’s favorite plants to consider: 

• Madrone, Arbutus menziesii
• Western redbud, Cercis occidentalis • New Zealand Christmas tree, Metrosideros excelsus
• California live oak, Quercus agrifolia • Blue oak, Quercus douglasii
• Agave, Agave victoriae-reginae
• Monkey flower, Mimulus longiflorus (Diplacus longiflorus)
• Red hot poker, Kniphofia uvaria
• Dwarf karo, Pittosporum crassifolium, • Mock orange, Pittosporum tobira
• Pomegranate, Punica granatum
• Firethorn, Pyracantha
• Evergreen currant, Ribes viburnifolium 

• Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans • Potato vine, Solanum jasminoides • Honeysuckle, Tecomaria capensis • Wild ginger, Asarum caudatum
• Santa Barbara daisy, Erigeron karvinskianus
• California poppy, Eschscholzia californica
• Creeping red fescue, Festuca rubra
• Giant turf lily, Liriope gigantea
• Sedums, Sedum brevifolium and Sedum confusum
• Periwinkle, Vinca major
• Bush morning glory, Convolvulus cneorum 

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