Redirected: My LA to Z

My LA to Z: Shane West

Interviewed by Virginia Isaad — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Photograph by Angelo Kritikos

The Sayers Club

When I come back to catch up with friends and celebrate and have drinks I usually go there. It’s a really mellow lounge that plays great music. Friends of mine own it and run it, and with my group of friends it’s kind of our Cheers.

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Beachwood Canyon Trail

It’s all attached to the equestrian center near the Hollywood sign. It’s more for horses but people hike there as well. I’ve lived in the Sunset-Gower area for five or six years and it’s one of the places I discovered over time. I like finding things off beaten paths. I’m pretty white, so I’m not really a beach person; my outdoor activities are more running and hiking.

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Guitar Center

My dad was a musician when I was growing up so we always like to check out the Guitar Center on Sunset. It’s a classic spot with history and it’s where I got my first guitar. We always go there and doodle around on five or six different guitars for an hour-and-a-half and then leave without buying anything.

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The Troubadour

It’s a great venue, which I played at a couple of times with my old band [Jonny Was]. It’s a classic venue and it’s my favorite to play at. From a musician’s standpoint the sound on stage is second to none. It’s just a classic spot that has stood out over time.

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ArcLight Cinemas

I go there all the time. I’m a big movie junkie so I’ll pull a two or three movies type-of-day there. The seats are incredibly comfortable and there’s not really a bad seat in the house. They serve better food there than your traditional theater fare and for some of the movies, that are 21 and over, you can actually have a beer in the thearer. It’s very 2012—what all theaters should aspire to be.

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Amoeba Music

It’s probably the best CD, vinyl, DVD store I’ve ever been to and it’s certainly massive. In my free time I spend hours listening to music and buying music and DVDs. I am still the type of guy that buys movies and CDs. I’m a purist in the way that I love to have the artwork for the music and the DVD case for the movie, it’s just something I don’t think will ever go away for me.

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Mohawk Bend

It’s my new favorite spot. It’s a great restaurant and bar with a lot of mixology drinks and different kinds of food. It’s very experimental and it’s kinda fun but what stands out to me are the drinks and the ambience. It’s funny because I went on a date there once and I found out that one of the drinks there was called the Darby Crash. I did a movie called What We do Is Secret, where I played a guy named Darby Crash who is actually the lead singer of a band called The Germs. I ordered the drink and it wasn’t bad, not at all.

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Yuca’s

To me, it’s the best taco in L.A and where I get my Mexican food fix. It’s basic burritos and tacos but they do it with a sense of flare. I found it through an article about top ten taco places in L.A. and I think it ranked third but for me, it’s ranked first.

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Katsuya

The one off of Ventura in the valley, not the TMZ-soaked one on Hollywood Boulevard. I stay away from that one. I used to live in the Valley and it was the spot to go to. It’s small and they don’t take reservations, which is great and terrible at the same time, but it also means you can walk in and get served immediately. The crab roll is outstanding. I can’t not have that when I go there.

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Solar de Cahuenga

I’m a foodie and especially a breakfast foodie and this is my favorite breakfast spot. Their coffee is phenomenal and they also make savory and sweet crepes. I usually get the Sunny Path crepe, which is chicken with Dijon mustard sauce and mushrooms. I also get a peanut butter and jelly one and I won’t eat it right away, I’ll save it and eat it later. I think I was one of the first customers about six years ago.

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Confederacy Boutique

It’s across the street from Yuca’s. It’s a great little boutique store for men’s designer clothes. They have wonderful suits, dress shirts, and shoes and jackets. A friend of mine is one of the owners and I went for the opening event and loved it. They have great leather jackets.

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Pace Restaurant

It’s a wonderful restaurant that has phenomenal wine and amazing salmon and pizza. It’s a great date spot for sure but it’s also just a great place to go to with friends. It’s off of Laurel Canyon so it’s got beautiful views and it feels like you’re isolated with the mountains and trees. It can very romantic and it can be very relaxing and I’ve never been disappointed there.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (1) sbe.com/thesayersclub/, (2) wikipedia.org, (3)guitarcenter.com/Hollywood, (4) troubadour.com, (5)facebook.com/ArclightCinemas, (6) facebook.com/amoeba, (7) http://mohawk.la/, (8) facebook.com/pages/Yucas-Restaurants/216545296089, (9) facebook.com/KatsuyaBySBE, (10)solardecahuenga.com, (11)twitter.com/ConfederacyBTQ, (12) facebook.com/pacerestaurant

My LA to Z: Tim Heidecker

Interviewed by Greg Boss — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:58:00 GMT

Animal

The guys who run it catered my wedding. It was one off the few times that people said that the food was good at a wedding. They really didn’t disappoint when they moved from catering. At Animal I usually get the rabbit.

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Commonwealth Canyon Dr., Griffith Park

I have dogs and a really regular big activity for us is to go hiking. Coming from the East Coast it was such a cool thing to be living in a city where in five minutes you can be in nature. It’s just like a really adult thing to do, except we break the law and take the dogs off the leash. My wife and I and our friends were doing it almost every day and we kind of ran out of things to talk about, so we turned it into a lecture series where everyone has to contribute and teach something to the group. It’s funny, but at the same time exciting.

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Atwater Village Farmers Market

This has become a type of Sunday ritual that we’ve gotten into. You can almost get everything there—a good lunch, fish, produce, bread. You kind of feel like you live in a small town for a while.

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The Museum of Jurassic Technology

It’s my favorite place to take friends or people who are visiting L.A. for the first time. I never give them any introduction or warning. I took my sister there and she was walking around for 20 minutes before she burst out laughing, and that was when she got that it was a joke. It’s this idea of a museum about museums, and it’s so smart and unique. There probably aren’t many places like it in the world.

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The Magic Castle

Over the past couple of years I’ve been going a lot. A friend of mine became a member and that’s a game changer. We don’t go to dinner or make it a big night out anymore; we’ll go for a drink or two and to see one show. We do still wear suits though, because it’s practically the only place we have to dress up anymore. You really feel special seeing magic up close.

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Viet Noodle Bar

I live five blocks from here and could eat the pho everyday. The people who run it are super nice. If there’s ever a meeting I need to have or lunch with Eric, that’s where we go. It’s our Cheers.

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Scoops

Best ice cream around. You feel like you’re doing something really healthy. It’s all dairy-free and fresh, but at the same time you know your eating a big honking scoop of sugar.

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Neptune’s Net

It’s way up PCH right past Malibu. You order at the counter, get a big thing of fried shrimp or whatever. We’ll go there on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, take our friends and just watch the ocean. It’s a great destination to combine with going to the beach. The only problem is there are all the bikers on Harleys, but I think it’s kind of cool and just adds to the aesthetics of the place.

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Boo’s Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies

It’s a new place with perfect cheesesteak: they import Amoroso’s rolls from Philly. It’s terrible for you and you feel like shit afterwards, but it is so good in your mouth.

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Canele

The best breakfast in L.A. I’m hesitant to recommend it because it’ll start getting too crowded. One of the women who runs it is married to a guy in The Wire. So as an added benefit, you get The Wire vibe.

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The Satellite

There’s an old Neil Hamburger show there, it’s the only show I ever go to, and it’s the best comedy show in L.A. It’s at a rock club so everyone is drinking, and sometimes feels more like a rock show than a comedy show, which can be hard for the performers, but it’s fun. I did something last night, and me and John Berry got in a fight on stage and people thought it was real. I hurt my shoulder. If you were there that’s the only time you’ll see it, and that’s the kind of place this is.

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The Cinefamily

This is a great little theater and the guys put on amazing movies that you can’t see anywhere else. People need to go out and see challenging movies sometimes. Usually I only really want to go to the theater to see the big blockbuster and see as many explosions as possible, but I hope people can go out and support the Cinefamily. I saw The Trip here and it’s so hard to understand and so dry. If I was at home chances are I would have paused it a hundred times to look at my phone. Being in the theater forces you to support the arts. Go.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (0) giandhi.com, (1) tonightfordinner.tumblr.com, (2) clarkblog.typepad.com, (3) flickr.com/djjewelz, (4) ilovedeleon.blogspot.com, (5) flickr.com/popculturegeek, (6) exilekiss.blogspot.com, (7) thewanderist.com, (8) flickr.com/DavidJones, (9) boosphillycheesesteak.com, (10) canele-la.com, (11)facebook.com/thesatellite, (12) nytola-emilysgreatadventure.blogspot.com

My LA to Z: Destructo

Interviewed by Andrew Cho — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:58:00 GMT

Electronic music producer and founder of cutting-edge EDM event company HARD, Destructo (ne Gary Richards) is the man behind this Saturday’s Day of the Dead, which will feature big-name acts such as Justice, Diplo, Knife Party, and Tommy Trash. In the meantime, he fills us in on his favorite clubs, diners, and surf spots

Dan Tana’s

Back in high school, my dad, who worked in the music industry, and I would go to Dan Tana’s because all the industry people went there. I still go there every Sunday. I like to go to places where I feel comfortable. It’s got a cool scene and the food’s really good. You have to get the mozzarella marinara, a big glop of fried cheese.

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Pulse Recording Studio

I prefer to work with analog rather than software, so I tend to produce techno here. It’s a great spot, with tons of people working all the time. It’s got five to seven rooms, with a really cool atmosphere.

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Viper Room

I don’t think too many people still think about the Viper Room, but it’s got a unique history. I remember seeing Stone Temple Pilots there. It’s a good place to get a drink. I’ve done a couple DJ events there, too. I really like the vibe, and it’s close to my pad, which is also nice.

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Nicholas Canyon Beach

I started surfing after graduating from high school in the early ‘90s. I was friends with these guys who lived out in Malibu. They showed me this spot, and I loved it because the waves run to the left. I’m better at boarding on my left side than on my right.

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The 3 Clubs

All the actual nightclubs in L.A. revolve around bottle service and people asking, “Is Paris Hilton going to be there?” I don’t really want to go anywhere where she’s going to be. When I go to the 3 Clubs, I don’t hear dance music. They put on lounge or rock, something different. It’s a dark and proper club.

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Beverly Hills Hotel

The Fountain Coffee Room’s diner counter is a bit hidden from the rest of Beverly Hills. It’s a cool little Sunday spot. I usually come with the wife and kids. I get corned beef hash and then we hit the hotel pool.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): pulserecordings.com, (1) lostangelesblog.wordpress.com, (2) pulserecords.com, (3) facebook.com/theviperroom, (4) lamountains.com/parks, (5) meetup.com, (6) beverlyhillshotel.com

My LA to Z: John C. Reilly

By Chris Nichols — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:28:00 GMT

Independent Shakespeare Company

They do free plays all summer long in Griffith Park. It’s set up near the old zoo and there were 2,500 people sitting in the grass from all different economic backgrounds. It’s really fun and alive as opposed to some [performances of] Shakespeare, which is like taking medicine. I was really inspired and wanted to run away with them and join the circus.

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7 Seas

My favorite fish tacos are at 7 Seas in Silver Lake. It’s a little blue and white kiosk. They have a proper restaurant but the taco hut is where you wanna go. They’re the best in L.A. proper. They’re just fantastic: fried fish with cabbage and their own spicy salsa. It’s great.

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Casa Del Mar

The best hotel in L.A. It’s one of the only hotels that’s on the ocean. Despite our reputation of beach culture, there are only 4 or 5 that are on the water. They did a beautiful restoration of the hotel and the 1920s pool. It’s a really great place to have a business lunch on the westside. There’s a beautiful open room with windows looking out on the ocean and if you’re going to spend the cash, it’s got all the things I look for in a hotel.

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Theatricum Botanicum

It was built by Will Geer and has operated since the 1950s. It’s this amazing place where they do live theater outdoors in a beautiful, wooded amphitheater. I’ve played music there and it’s a really magical setting. I’m attracted to things in L.A. that are very site specific.

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Westward Beach

Westward Beach is tucked against this big rock. They use it for photo shoots and you’ll recognize the rock. It separates Zuma from Point Dume. It’s very easy to get to but people see Zuma and there’s a giant parking lot. Most people don’t make the effort, but it’s very accessible yet tucked away at the same time.

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Viet Noodle Bar

The best chicken noodle soup I’ve ever had. I go there three times a week. I get the sea shot, which is pressed sugar cane, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper served in a shot glass. It makes you feel good.

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The Troubadour

The Troubadour is great, depending on the band that’s playing. If you get a chance to see your favorite you’re very up close to the band. I’ve seen some very transcendent shows there.

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Las Piedras

It's ten minutes north of Zuma Beach. It’s a bit of a climb but it doesn’t have the killer staircase of El Matador State Beach. It’s carved out of the cliff and it’s a protected cove. If I was looking for a totally isolated beach during the week, Las Piedras would be a little bit of paradise.

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Nethercutt Collection

The best collections of rare cars in the world, in an incredible setting. They also have automated musical instruments and phonographs and nickelodeons and player piano-type contraptions. You can’t believe what they were able to make in the 1800s. One thing plays five violins on a Lazy Susan. Different bows move in and out as it moves around. That’s very cool, and very unique to L.A.

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ALSO: See John C. Reilly's three favorite places to catch folk rock music in L.A.

Photographs courtesy (in order): celebritywonder.ugo.com, (1) facebook.com/indyshakes, (2) yelp.com/DavidH, (3) hotelcasadelmar.com, (4) facebook.com/theatricum, (5) 100thingstodoinla.blogspot.com, (6) archives.quarrygirl.com, (7) blogs.kcrw.com, (8) s621.photobucket.com, (9) flickr.com/kansassebastian

My LA to Z: Terrance Zdunich

Interviewed by Marielle Wakim — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:52:00 GMT

California Institute of Abnormal Arts

The CIA is this bizarre freak show of a museum where they have shrunken heads and old carnie props. You can go there and have a drink and check out the artifacts, but aside from thinking the aesthetic there is really cool, it’s got a bit of a personal history for me: we had one of our first performances of Repo! The Genetic Opera there.

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The Tonga Hut

It’s basically a little dive bar in north Hollywood that is Tiki themed. There are these big, wooden Easter Island structures, and they’ve got a real jukebox as opposed to one of these Internet ones. It’s like you’re walking into a David Lynch film every time you go.

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The Museum of Death

It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Some person has accumulated all these bizarre elements from famous murder scenes or paintings that serial killers have created. It’s definitely not for the slight of stomach, but there’s a real tongue in cheek quality to the whole thing.

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The Vista Theatre

The Vista is one of those vintage single screen cinemas. It’s been there forever, and it looks like you’re seeing a piece of history. They screen regular films there, but they also screen cult movies—they’ve been showing Repo! there at midnight, kind of like The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

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The La Brea Tar Pits

I used to go there as a kid because of the museum, which is basically a wooly mammoth graveyard. There’s something strange and weirdly L.A. about it that will always resonate with me.

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Halloweentown

Halloweentown is a year-round Halloween store that’s a very spooky experience. They have all sorts of cool artwork and your standard costumes, but they also have knick-knacks and t-shirts. You can find anything that’s horror or Halloween themed there. They even do gallery openings for horror themed artists.

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Dark Delicacies

It’s a horror and cult bookstore. They do a lot of signings—if there’s a new horror book or film coming out, authors and directors and actors will be there. Steve Niles does stuff there regularly. I think Rob Zombie has even done signings there. To my knowledge, it’s the only real horror/cult bookstore in Los Angeles.

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Hyaena Gallery

This place specializes in strange occult and horror themed artwork. The owner finds stuff from all over the world, and every two weeks, he does an opening featuring a new artist. He has artwork by John Wayne Gacy on the walls. What’s funny is that the owner is the nicest, friendliest, funniest guy—he just happens to collect serial killer artwork.

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Travel Town

Travel Town is this little known place that is definitely worth exploring. It’s like an old train and railroad cemetery: there are all these odd cabooses and metal wheels, like you’re walking onto a strange set. There are also a bunch of antique trains and train cars.

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The Bourgeois Pig

It’s probably more hipster than everything else on my list, but it’s great for people watching. It’s blue and they have cool chandeliers everywhere. And it’s in the middle of Hollywood, so there’s always something to look at. The coffee is good, but it’s more about the atmosphere.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (0) themoltingcomic.com, (1) blog.seranarose.com, (2) 15minutesoffama.com, (3) terrysdiary.com, (4) vintagecinemas.com, (5) katiethebloglady.com, (6) artslant.com, (7) horrorfilms101.blogspot.com, (8) myspace.com, (9) rwongphoto.com, (10) hauteliving.com

My LA to Z: Diego Klattenhoff

Interviewed by Shayna Rose Arnold — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Photograph by Marc Cartwright

The Dresden

I know it’s very hip and cool and kind of touristy, but I live over in Los Feliz, so I’ve been there many, many nights. It’s a great spot to go hang out, see some really cool music and chat. It reminds me of an old school place from when men were brought up to be gentlemen. I’ve been known to drink gallons of beer so I’m kind of cutting back on that these days.

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Yuca’s

I’m not a hugely fancy guy, but we just got lunch from Yuca’s, a go-to spot for locals around here.

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Terroni

It’s a restaurant from Toronto. I lived there for about seven years and it’s an institution up there. I’ve been [to the L.A. one] a few times and had some really nice dinners. I’m not very picky—the pizza is really good there and the pasta is fantastic. It’s very simple but very tasty.

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The Alcove

We just had a baby and we’ve been living on take-out these days. I know everyone goes there to sit outside and look at each other—it’s kind of like the Ivy—but we live just a couple blocks away. The red velvet cake is a definite recommendation. They have really good salads over there.

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Wilson & Harding Golf Courses

We’ve got two great golf courses and I can see many afternoons being spent over there. I will definitely play a few rounds. I’m not a great golfer by any means, but I enjoy getting out there.

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Runyon Canyon

I usually take friends from out of town up to Runyon Canyon and show them all the locals. It’s like the Ivy—everybody gets dressed up to go on a quote-unquote hike to check each other out. It’s pretty funny, but there are beautiful views there. I also try to keep it really local. There are some great places in Silver Lake, all these old stairs and I like to run up and down them and get a great workout.

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Malibu

There’s a lot of beautiful beaches. Going makes me think of the first time I came here and saw all the palm tree-lined streets. There’s a beach that we found just behind the colony in Malibu that’s really tucked away and quiet.

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Mulholland

There’s something about driving around Mulholland at night and seeing all the lights of the city. I first did that when I was down from Toronto—I did a pilot maybe nine years ago—and it was amazing. Geographically, it’s so different from Toronto. You come down here and it’s 80- 85-degrees and then you drive around at night and you can look out over the city and imagine what’s out there.

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The Old Place

It’s just kind of tucked away, like you’re in a small town. I would have loved to be around there in the ‘70s, just cruising. We got there right when they stopped serving and we were so hungry and people were sitting there eating—it was torture. The food looked fantastic. We haven’t been able to make it back there with the baby but we will.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (0) poptower.com, (1) thedresden.com, (2) yucasla.com, (3) terroni.com, (4) alcovecafe.com, (5) golf.lacity.org, (6) jasoninhollywood.com, (7) flickr.com/tensaibuta, (8) flickr.com/jeroen020, (9) fleuropean.com

My LA to Z: Anne Heche

Interviewed by Greg Boss — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:46:00 GMT

Bonhams and Butterfields Auction Gallery

This is a really fun thing, which people don’t really know about in L.A. They do at least one auction a month. They’ll do 20th century books and manuscripts, memorabilia, rugs, furniture... They fill up an entire warehouse of beautiful items to look at that you would never necessarily see in one room. It’s just really fun to go in and browse and look. You never see collections like that in one place ever.

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Pasadena Antique Mall

There’s an antique mall on Green St. in Pasadena, which is a really fun place to explore. There are about 50 vendors in one building. We took my son on a mission to go find a treasure chest, and he waited a whole year and we finally found one. It's an antique bookcase that had glass doors and now it’s filled with stones and all the things he’s collected from our experiences.

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Scoops Ice Cream

Scoops has the best ice cream in Los Angeles. The guy has refused to do any advertising; he is all about word of mouth. He makes six flavors a day and serves them until they’re done. Things you would never imagine go into his flavors, it really is an art he has perfected. 'Brown Bread' is one of the best things I have ever tasted.

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Mohawk General Store/Amsterdam Modern

They have everything from clothes to incense to old-fashioned spray bottles. Even if you need a pair of socks, they’re cool. Great leather. Unique shop. They’ll also import a vintage chair from Amsterdam—one of a kind things that you’ll never find anywhere else.

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Pickett Fences

I like going to Picket Fences on Larchmont. They always have something that’s really fun and funky. You can always find a fun gift for guys or girls. If you’re ever wondering, “what the heck do I get that person” and want to bring them something fun that’s not a bottle of wine—this is your go-to spot.

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Linus Bikes

Oh man that’s the shop. They have the really fun kind of European baby seats, in bright green, and instead of the baby staring at your back the baby gets to sit right up on front on the handle bars. They have beautiful bicycle baskets and canvas bags for the back of their gorgeous old-school bikes.

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Gjelina

The pizzas are nuts. They kind of do them according to what’s fresh at the markets. And they have a takeout joint next door because they got so popular. It’s great, especially if you want to do a drive down to the beach and have a picnic. You can definitely have a romantic moment.

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Le Petit Greek

If you’re going to have a lunch on Larchmont, this is the place to go.

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Sunset Junction

The junction is terrific. There’s the Cheese Store of Silver Lake with delicious wine and gorgeous cheese. There’s Gillyflowers at the corner, and Café Stella, a fantastic French bistro to have a steak and a nice glass of red wine.

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Farmers' Markets

My kids and I love going to farmers' markets. Usually we go to either the Larchmont Farmers' Market, or the Silver Lake Farmers' Market. You can always get fresh, beautiful food and every market has its own special thing. On Tuesday’s we’ll go to the one in Culver City for Kettle Corn.

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Los Angeles Tennis Club

I play a lot of tennis. I play at LATC, an old-school tennis club in Hancock Park. It was built in the '20s; they used to have some major competitions there. It’s just a gorgeous, old, neighborhood kind of club. I got tired of doing yoga. Forget this Downward Dog, let’s do something else.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (1) bonhams.com, (2) pasadenaantiquecenter.com, (3) facebook.com/scoops, (4) mohawkgeneralstore.tumblr.com, (5) pickettfences.com, (6) linusbike.com, (7) corkandrind.blogspot.com, (8) potatomato.com, (9) guestofaguest.com, (10) morganmoore.typepad.com, (11)usta.com

My LA to Z: Jeff Goldblum

By Chris Nichols — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Lexington Social House

I have this jazz band called the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and we’ve been playing at the Lexington Social House. It’s a nice place on Vine Street and you can sit and have a nice dinner or drop in and have a drink. People get up and sing spontaneously and have a little hootenanny.

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Capitol Records

I was on Glee and we recorded at Capitol Records. Brian Stokes Mitchell and I went over there and recorded an extended version of You’re The Top and we did that little duet and recorded in those rooms where Frank Sinatra and The Beatles did, and that’s a spectacular place, a beautiful thing. I love it. When they light that building up it makes me feel bright and delightful and warm. They have old black and white photographs in the halls and it’s goosechilling!

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Blu Jam Café

Blu Jam Café is a nice place and the food is very good. It’s very personal and I really like it. They have dinner but I do like the breakfast there. Three’s some unusual things—[co-owner and chef Kamil Majer] does this kind of encrusted French toast that sometimes he just sends over with vanilla sauce and, oh boy, it’s sinfully delicious.

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Shaeffers Garment Hotel

A hidden jewel. It’s a whimsical name, but it specializes in a couple of articles of clothing that they make for you. One is jeans, and he’ll also fix your old jeans and tailor them to you and make jeans for you with some high-quality Japanese selvage denim. I’m just learning an appreciation and what Shaffer loves about this denim. My whole denim life has upgraded itself.

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House of Hats

This guy Gunner Foxx at House of Hats is a real artist. You can go in the back and see Gunner at work. My father used to take us around and see people making fudge and I love watching people make stuff. Gunner’s family made hats for movies. I was in there once and I don’t want to drop names, but Bob Dylan came in. He has these dogs and these broken down, atmospheric couches and he’s playing guitar in there and I’ve gotten two hats made by him.

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Hollywood Bowl

Our group played the Hollywood Bowl once and I do have an affection for that historical, wonderful place. It’s spectacular. When I was there, geez, I saw Chick Corea come in backstage and was starstruck to see the brilliant musicians. I was doing some announcing for the Playboy Jazz Festival and Christina Aguilera was backstage and I asked what she was going to sing and she sang it in my ear and it was delightful and goes in my golden book of memories.

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ArcLight Cinemas

I like to go to the ArcLight. Remember when they first put commercials before movies and everybody would boo and hiss? At ArcLight they don’t have commercials. I’m always very encouraging to the ushers before the show. I always clap; they all seem very good.

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Barkev’s Shoe Services

It’s a very nice shoe repair shop that I like. This guy Raffi is very special and he’ll re-do your shoes, he’ll repair your luggage… He’s an artist and rather brilliant and very kind. He just came back from vacation and gave me some candies. The work he does on your shoes is a revelation. I’ve supplied my own costumes and collaborated with designers and I get very passionate and very obsessive about these things.

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Salt’s Cure

I like Salt’s Cure. Take a look at that, that’s an interesting and unusual place. It’s smallish and authentic with a couple of wonderful chefs. There’s one guy from the Hungry Cat and the food is really simple but sophisticated and delicious, and you can watch them make it. The people behind it are soulful.

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Douglas Fir

The owner always has his latest assortment of what he’s bought and might recommend. They have pants and shirts and it’s a curated kind of a thing. The owner is British and very delightful and he’ll visit with you about clothes and he’s just great.

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Hugo’s Restaurant

I keep getting the breakfast salad at Hugo’s. It’s a combination of hot and cold with crispy greens and garlic and ginger and eggs. I substitute quinoa for the turmeric rice and I like it.

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The Roxy Theatre

I remember going to the Roxy and seeing Gil Scott-Heron perform. The night I was there Stevie Wonder got up and played the drums.

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Café Gratitude

I find myself at Café Gratitude on Larchmont. They are half vegan and half raw, although I’ve been to places that get a whole cow in every week and I’m of both minds, so I’ve enjoyed both things. Every dish has names like “I Am grateful” or “I Am Radiant” and there’s nothing like “I Am Slothful” or “I Am Doomed.” It’s very positive.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (1) Lexingtonsocialhouse.com, (2) Wikipedia.org, (3) blujamcafe.com, (4) schaeffersgarmenthotel.com, (5) gunnerfoxx.com, (6) hollywoodbowl.com, (7) Flickr/pinkfish_13, (9) fforfood.blogspot.com, (10) facebook.com, (11) hugosrestaurant.com, (12)preservationnation.org, (13) cafegratitudela.com

My LA to Z: Flying Lotus

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 00:36:00 GMT

Turntable Lab

This is a small boutique record shop and I love their CD collection. They get mix CDs from artists that I might have overlooked. I can go in there and get dope mix tapes of a bunch of people I’ve heard about. I can do it all in one swoop over there. I like that.

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Poo-Bah Records

This is probably the best. The staff there really gives a f---. Everyone who works there is really involved in the music scene, too. It’s a very community-driven record store. I think they’re definitely the best place around to get vinyl. I never make it over to that side of town. If I go, it’s only for that.

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Lyon Recreation Center at USC

I go to the gym three days a week at USC. I lift weights. It’s actually a really amazing facility. They have everything there: a beautiful track and a weight room that’s great—the machines are really good. I’ve definitely gained more muscle mass working out at that gym than working out at the gym I was at previously. It’s $10 every time or you can get the pass and it’s cheaper.

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The Cinefamily

I’m a member. Anytime they have something cool scheduled I try to go down there and see it on the big screen. More than anything I love being there with all the people who love cinema. It’s so awesome. I know everyone there is involved or wants to be involved in the film business, but it’s still a really cool place for the young people. It’s like the Low End Theory for people who watch movies.

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Piano Bar

I’m not a big music venue guy—I’ll just go wherever the person I want to hear is playing. But I’ll go to Piano Bar lot to hear what jazz is happening.

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Family

This place is pretty new. I got a great graphic novel from this little bookstore. It’s all art books and stuff, or artists sketch books.

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Odd Future Pop-Up Shop

Obviously I go here and hang out with the Odd Future boys for a minute.

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Jitlada

I shouldn’t even be putting this in print. Man, whenever I go there the goddamn spot is so full! I try to get something different every time because there’s so much stuff. I love panang curry. I’m into spicy.

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Dantes Fried Chicken Truck

I love this truck but they’re never around anymore. They’re only here and there. I get to have it maybe once a year, but it’s so good.

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Taco Zone Truck

After a show at Low End Theory I try not to go eat, but sometimes it can’t be helped. And at that hour you’re pretty much only going to get tacos. I go to Taco Zone—that truck is really good. Everyone loves to go there.

Photographs courtesy (in order): (1) turntablelab.com, (2) poobah.com, (3) afproducts.com, (4) cinefamily.org, (5) yelp/joon h., (7) oddfuture.com, (8) jitladala.com, (9) blog.stylesight.com, (10), eatingla.blogspot.com

My LA to Z: Anthony Skordi

Interviewed by Greg Boss — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 22:08:00 GMT

Aroma Coffee & Tea Company

If you ever lose me, this is where you’ll find me. I get texts from my friends saying, “Are you in your office?” and they’re referring to Aroma. I’m over there two or three times a week and I don’t even live on that side of the hill. Recently I’ve been going for chocolate cake, but I’ve been dying to try the cherry rhubarb pie. I’m just concerned that it’s not sweet enough for my sweet tooth.

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The Great Greek

I love their meze. With this you get a wide experience of what it means to eat Greek. Meze is 20 dishes brought out for you, small dishes but bigger than Spanish tapas. Greeks have bigger eyes than the Spanish, and therefore bigger stomachs. In Cyprus, in Greece, we still have time to sit down and make a meal an event, to take a couple hours to eat. There are always different dishes on the table.

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Paintball USA Ventura

I’ve got tickets to go paintballing for my birthday. We were supposed to go to Six Flags originally but I was slammed with Onassis, so instead we’re going paintballing. I’ve been laser tagging before with my nephew for his birthday, but never paintballing, so I’m pretty excited. I’ve heard it stings.

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Astro Burger

I love my hamburgers. Astro Burger is my favorite and is a step above all the others. If I was short on time and had to choose between the regular fast food places, it would be between Farmer Boys in the Inland Empire—they have a wicked avocado burger—or Carl’s Jr. I do like In-N-Out, but they’re not all over the place like Carl’s.

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Baby Blues

I love their ribs. Memphis Queen Ribs. They’re not loaded with sauce, they don’t need sauce. You touch them with your fork and they just melt off the bone. They have five or six different sauces you can choose from and their corn bread is to die for. I’ve worked in Houston before with Vanessa Redgrave and you’d think you’d have the best ribs and cornbread in Houston, but I tried Baby Blues' and they blew my mind. I’ve had ribs all over the states and nothing compares.

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The Ivy

I like their china. I really like their china.

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Kings Road Cafe

Kings does an awesome coffee if you need a turbo boost. If you want to get to the moon before any Apollo mission I suggest you have one of their coffees. Keep away from naked flames situations, that’s what kind of coffee it is.

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Hollywood Hills

L.A. is so wonderful, it’s home to me. You can go to so many places for a view and I love my views; Lookout Mountain in Laurel Canyon, or Nichols Canyon, or up Mulholland. You’ll feel as if you’re out of L.A. while still being in L.A.

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The Dome at the ArcLight

I’m the kind of guy who likes to have the tickets ahead of time, particularly when it’s for a special friend of mine. I love the ArcLight, especially the dome. I saw The Kings Speech in the dome, and that experience is unlike any you’ll find anywhere else. At first I saw The Kings Speech on my computer with one of those “for your consideration only” copies. The two can’t be compared.

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Macys

I do like Hugo Boss, Prada, Buffalo, etc., but usually I’m an out-and-out Levis 527 kind of guy. I used to love wearing Diesel jeans. But for me the question is do I buy a $150 pair of jeans or do I go to Macy’s and buy a $40 pair, or two pairs, and they always fit perfectly.

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Stella Adler Theatre

I love the feel of the place. It feels very traditional. Plus we’ve been in constant four-hour rehearsals, so if I didn’t love the place that’d be a problem.

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North of Santa Monica

If I had a choice of where to live in Los Angeles it would be up in Pacific Palisades or Malibu, but no further north than that. If I’m still alive after press night, I’ll look into that.

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Photographs courtesy (in order): (0) imdb.com, (1) aromacoffeeandtea.com, (2) greatgreek.com, (3) paintballusa.org (4) psycho-gourmet.blogspot.com, (5) flickr.com/kelly bone, (6) flickr.com/muy yum, (7) facebook.com/kingsroadcafe, (8) flickr.com/superfamous , (9) flickr.com/jessica watkins dewinter , (10) flickr.com/jumbledpile, (11) facebook.com/stellaadler, (12) flickr.com/JMR_photography