The Sacred Garden, Lola Tash

There is no other restaurant that better captures all that is primal, all of the revelry humankind can summon, all the pleasure that one can feel, than the JW Steakhouse at the Marriott Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. Yes, right by LAX. Don’t be fooled by its secret location. This is one of the best finds in the city. It’s not only a steakhouse inside of a hotel near one of the world’s busiest airports, but one of the greatest steakhouses you will experience anywhere. It seems like an unexpected spot, but the LAX Marriott is beautiful, turning this restaurant into a surprising delight. It lives up to every expectation.

Executive Chef Victor Miguel has every cut of beef imaginable, and he brings out the highest quality that would make any steakhouse jealous, even the world-famous Peter Luger.

Their starters are delectable. You can opt for Duck Leg Confit, Old Skool Crab Cakes, Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Ahi Tuna Crudo, the Blue Prawn “Cocktail” (with black garlic emulsion), or Roasted Bone Marrow. The JW has an extensive menu, and every single dish is made to delicious perfection. Serious eats, all locally sourced steaks, and fresh fish. The creative steakhouse menu and award-winning Wine Spectator wine list allow for a fine dining experience amid an exciting open-kitchen atmosphere.

Open for over 15 years, JW Steakhouse restaurant has built a strong reputation on big taste and bold flavors, earning it rave reviews from locals and travelers alike. Comfortable and relaxed seating, inviting, top-of-the-line service, and great vibes create an excellent upscale dining experience.

The selection of their steaks is vast, and their preparation is flawless - from the Porterhouse to the boneless ribeye to the New York strip. If you’re looking to indulge, the surf and turf with an entire lobster tail and an eight-ounce sirloin is a must. The rack of lamb is top-notch, cooked to perfection. Every bite is more delicious than the next. The seafood selection includes Pan Roasted Sea Bass and a West Coast Bouillabaisse with tomato saffron broth. It’s one of the tastiest dishes on the menu.

The JW’s wine list is extensive, incredibly varied, and reasonably priced, making it a wine lover’s dream. JW’s certified sommelier, who is on hand at request, has curated a wine list that has some 93-point plus rated wines. You can find the ideal match for any meal.

At the recommendation of Executive Chef Victor Miguel, an Old Fashioned pairs perfectly with your main course. Even if you’re not a whiskey drinker, this well-crafted cocktail is as flavorsome as the display is creative. One sweet and smoky sip will invigorate your taste buds, making every bite of your meal that much more enticing.

What’s more impressive are the vegetarian and vegan options. Not only can it be challenging to find tasty green alternatives at most restaurants, but you would imagine coming across that a steakhouse would be near impossible. Not here. The JW Steakhouse will make a plant lover out of a meat-eater any day.

The Baby Root Vegetable Salad, the Heirloom Tomato Tartare with citrus kissed avocado, pickled mango, and fromage blanc spuma, the Vegetable Pot Pie, Hearts of Palm Ceviche (a personal favorite), and Roasted Baby Pumpkin are all fantastic picks.

The location of the JW Steakhouse is quite appropriate for this experience. You don’t have to be traveling anywhere, but stopping here, will take you places you could only dream of.

Words by Sari Cohen

PASSION FOR BEAUTY

Not long ago, Laura took a leap of faith and opened Fix Me Up in Burbank, California. The medical spa and salon specialize in high-end quality aesthetic, cosmetic, and beauty treatments that are also not going to break a bank. Grigoryan and her team of experts offer a wide range of services that include everything from injectables and lasers to facials and micro blading, and much more.

Fix Me Up Medical Spa is a safe and sterile establishment that is following CDC guidelines and state restrictions to ensure a safe and successful visit for all their clients.

It is a one stop shop for all your cosmetic and beauty needs, founded on the idea that the highest quality care be provided in a beautiful environment. At Fix Me Up, everyone is very detail oriented. Their range of skin, body, and beauty treatments target client’s individual needs and concerns. Their experienced injectors, beauticians and estheticians ensure that every treatment is customized according to the client’s individual needs.

Laura Grigoryan is the founder and injector at Fix Me Up. Her passion for art and beauty excels in everything she offers to her clients. Laura has years of business experience and extensive educational background. In her earlier years she studied Biology and Psychology at UCSD, and at the same time she ran a very successful business. Shortly after that she obtained her 2nd bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) because she always knew that cosmetic nursing was her destined route, her passion, and her dream. Laura’s background in biology, art, and nursing in addition with her passion for beauty is the perfect combination for an expert cosmetic injector. She recently received her MSN degree and has started a NP (Nurse practitioner) program. She has a unique ability to see every client’s beauty secret and bring into the surface what will enhance that individual beauty in everyone who she treats at Fix Me Up.

Fix Me Up – what a powerful name for the med spa, how did you come up with this name?

One day I was sitting at a restaurant with one of my friends and we were thinking about a location for a spa, and I thought how fun would it be to name it Fix Me Up. As the time passed, four years later I became a nurse and an injector which led me to establish my business model, which brings every client a smile to their face, while enhancing their beauty and confidence.

How did you start your business?

Growing up I always wanted to be a plastic surgeon, that was my dream, but as the industry changed, I realized that many non-invasive procedures work wonders, with less risk and solid results. I made the decision to become a nurse practitioner and continue to be an injector so I could still follow my passion creating opportunities for people to look and feel beautiful, avoiding going under the surgical procedures.

What is the concept of your medical spa?

The true essence of my spa is tranquility, relaxation, and rejuvenation. I chose pink colors because they have calming effects, and when a client steps into the spa environment, they feel at peace, not as nervous and it doesn’t feel like they are about to undergo a procedure in a doctor’s office. It brings a feeling of peace and relaxation.

Laura Grigoryan – the Supergirl, aka Beauty Guru and master injector took over Burbank by storm.

What is your most popular procedure?

Full face fix. I am a true believer in facial balancing and customizing each procedure according to the client’s needs. The face fix is my most popular procedure which allows me to customize a Filler Treatment for all my patients starting from anywhere from three syringes to six syringes, allowing to fully balance the face and harmonize all the features in a subtle manner.

We specialize in injectables, full facial balancing-liquid rhinoplasty, and our signature ‘Lip Fix’ created by me. I also love fillers. It allows me to contour the face, eliminate the unwanted shadows, and highlight the beauty of features. The non-surgical rhinoplasty, ‘The Nose Fix,’ has made me emotional because of my patients’ reactions looking at their before and after pictures.

What do you recommend for a first-time patient/client? What is the most important tip?

I highly recommend asking as many questions as possible, learning about the procedures, and allowing me not only to inject but also to educate and build trust. Trusting your injector and the healing process is crucial. And I always make sure that my clients are comfortable and aware of the procedures they undertake.

Let’s talk about trends. What are the beauty trends of today?

Beauty trends are more natural fillers, skin remodeling lasers like the morpheus8. We are seeing more and more clients accepting the fact that they may need to dissolve and redo a lip or cheek and more clients starting to focus on the quality or their natural skin.

Who are your clients?

We have a wide range of clients, I would say they are mainly in their 30’s and ranging from as young as 18 (TikTok generation) all the way to the more mature clients who are mothers and grandmothers, so we do have a wide range of demographic.

Pink Med Spa – so feminine and beautiful, who designed your spa? What’s behind the idea of the interior?

It’s inspired by the positive image of the Barbie dolls, and the shades of pink. The Spa is designed by me with the intention to represent the fact that we have choices, and that the power of beauty allows us to explore our limitless potential.

You offer training, one-on-one master classes, tell us about that…

I came up with Text Me Up Academy for the purpose to offer new injectors and doctors advancement in their techniques, or just polish up their expertise. The reason why I practice one on one is because when I studied different techniques, I was anxious to learn all the details, all the ins and outs. I asked a lot of questions, which helped me advance and gain my expertise. I always focus on tips and tricks that I developed using my own techniques, with my own knowledge and intuition, as well as the ability to execute great results, and that is what I bring to my clients. I am not just about the basics; I bring real knowledge and real expertise to the table and this knowledge makes me stand out from the rest.

Social media is a very important tool we offer to make you as a professional injector to grow professionally or as a business owner going forward. I would also love to offer a course on how to run your own medical spa or be a medical spa professional. With my special courses on social media, I have grown my own followers to 25K followers within a year. I also offer a little training manual that has all the main topics about the training with all the important details included. I strive to bring my students maximum knowledge, so when they are ready to go on their own, they are equipped with all the tips and tricks to succeed on their own.

What does your med spa offer that makes you stand out from any other spa in your demographic?

We are a one stop shop medical spa, although we are known for fillers, we also offer Botox, Laser hair removal, Facials, IV therapy, Teeth whitening, Spray tanning, Cosmetic tattoo, Eyebrow threading and Hair treatments. When clients come in a little early, they have 20 minutes to get their teeth whitened, and as we all know time is so valuable, and we are known for offering these extra accommodations to our clients.

The first company I started FlipBook Frenzy in 2013, which is a photo booth company used by all the Hollywood Elite for their over-the-top events. FlipBook Frenzy was featured on an episode of “Rob and Chyna” on E!”

What sets us apart is the dedication and positive customer service we provide to our clients. There is so much love behind what we do, and it isn’t just a business for us, it is our way of creating positive and fun moments that last a lifetime. We are also very much involved in giving back. We have been a part of many charity events such as “The American Heart association”, “Micah’s Voice”, “Combsgiving” and “Ishine, A Project of Chai Lifeline”. In other words, we care, we promote love and dedication.

Tell us about your vision and your goals for the next few years…

At the Fix Me Up we strive to constantly grow and bring new advanced services, procedures, and excellent results. Currently I am the only injector, but I strive to train my team and bring more injectors on board to accommodate our clients with the best possible service and accommodations.

Fix Me Up Medical Spa 2407 W. Burbank Blvd, Burbank, California 1-(818) 238-9850 https://www.fixmeupla.com

Words by Elle Taylor

Remember the famous saying, “Follow your dreams?” But what happens when a dream is following you?

Sacred

Knowledge

Icame from Ukraine 18 years ago and immediately ended up in the very center of the Universe - New York City. That's how I envisioned the "Big Apple." Coming from a small city in Ukraine, I was situated in a noisy "anthill," and it seemed to me like I was "Alice" entering "Wonderland" - when you don't quite understand what is happening around you, but you like it.

After a few months in New York City, I became a Ukrainian language instructor and a member of the American Screen Actors Guild, teaching actors to speak Ukrainian language for television. My side hustle was makeup artistry, working with fashion models and publications, and meeting interesting personalities from all walks of life.

As the years passed and my jobs changed, one thing remained the same - my love for tarot cards. I bought my very first tarot deck in 2004. I have always been fascinated with esoteric studies, "the secret knowledge," and I always believed in the famous phrase: "all accidents are not accidental." Everything that is meant to happen will happen.

My collection of tarot cards and esoteric books began to grow, the year 2020 arrived, and the entire world fell into depression. As COVID-19 covered the entire planet, we all adopted a new way of life, and suddenly I lost my dad. It was shocking and unbearably painful. At that moment, I realized how precious life is and how valuable time is. Everything is timing. Days turn into seconds and years into minutes, and if you don't create your life right now, it will never happen. I realized then how priceless it is to do what you love.

It was in this painful moment, during the restricted conditions of the "COVID life," that I decided to explore my favorite hobby of many years. It became my salvation and medicine for my pain.

I quit my corporate job and devoted myself entirely to creating my own unique tarot deck. My passion and my book started to grow. I began following my dream, or more like my dream became my reality. I put all my knowledge into this project, and with the help of a talented artist, Sofiya Evdokimova, I combined modern and classical meanings of tarot archetypes in one unique deck.

Every day I dove deeper and deeper into the world of images and symbols, creating one tarot card after another. I recorded and shared my daily progress on my Instagram handle, @Kozak.nyc. The more I shared meaning and images of my project development, the more curious followers I accumulated from all over the world.

At some point, I realized that I could no longer imagine my life without the daily creativity that this project brought me. Each new discovery developed into my evening ritual, and my book started to take form. This book entails all of my knowledge of the Tarot Arcanas, based on the date of birth, which helps predict the likely upcoming events of our lives so we can plan things accordingly. This book is a unique tool for a successful life and important events. Feedback and positive reviews helped me with my writing, confirming the accuracy of the work of the Tarot Arcanas.

Working with tarot cards is a deep analysis of the details of any situation in life and subtle work with human subconsciousness. It's getting in touch with your intuition and getting to know yourself. Tarot knowledge is not associated in any way with crystal ball fortune-tellers from the fables and tales.

World-famous psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung believed that the Tarot Arcanas help you connect with your unconscious mind and find answers to your questions. The symbols on the tarot cards, when combined, create various combinations, describing the personality of a person and the events taking place in their life. Each Major Arcana of the tarot represents archetypes - various patterns of behavior and characteristics of a person. That is a structural element of the collective unconscious.

I say, do not be afraid of the tarot cards' predictions. This is not your life sentence but the most likely scenario in your life. Also, it is not necessary to look at the future using tarot cards or your date of birth; you can simply effectively analyze current events in your life.

Tarot Arcanas are a unique intermediary between you and your subconscious, your intuition, and the Universe. It's energy, and it's getting in touch with yourself.

An experienced tarot numerologist helps to objectively analyze your current life situation or a relationship, reminding you or confirming your fears and worries and giving you helpful advice or direction on what you need to work on. A tarot numerologist will supplement your idea of what is happening or offer you important information about upcoming events in your life that you did not know about or were afraid to admit to yourself. This information will help you choose the most appropriate behavior to achieve the desired result. Tarot numerological prediction by date of birth is an excellent personal guide to your life, a friendly warning of possible obstacles in a particular period of your life.

Our date of birth is not just about a birthday party, cakes, and presents. It's a unique source of information that can expose your character, habits, lessons you will learn during your life, and the most successful career opportunities for you. It can also show you what you can expect from your partner in life. It can accurately predict the likely events of each month and each year of your life, opening an opportunity for you to plan accordingly, gifting you with a successful outcome.

It's like magic, but without actual magic.

Big Dreams, Bold Choices

Charlotte Louise Spencer and Alex Sorian Brown

Trevor: White Shirt: Greg Lauren (Saks Fifth Avenue) Vest: Hugo Boss (Saks Fifth Avenue) Charlotte: Blazer Dress: Alexander McQueen (Saks Fifth Avenue) Boots: Dr. Marten’s Alex: Tank: Zara Blazer: Alexander McQueen

Charlotte Louise Spencer and Alex Sorian Brown star in “Evan Wood,” a film that examines the intricacies of life, love, family dynamics, substance abuse, and mental health. Along with “Riverdale” actor Trevor Stines, the trio commands the screen with powerful performances that walk the line between grief and hope.

Spencer, who plays Rachel Wood in the film, fell in love with performing at the age of three. She produced and co-wrote the movie with Alejandro Lopez. Lopez helped the Leeds-born beauty turn her short story into a full-length feature. “I really wanted to share a story with the world about family trauma, focusing specifically on the families of victims who suffer from substance abuse. I believed there were not enough stories being told from the family’s perspective,” Spencer tells INLOVE. “Unfortunately, substance abuse does not stop with the addicts but has a domino effect on everyone in that person’s life.”

The choice to cast Alex Sorian Brown in the title role of Evan Wood (Rachel’s brother) was an easy one for Spencer. As siblings, the pair’s onscreen chemistry is undeniable. “I initially met Alex at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and built a friendship with him,” Spencer recalls. “As I was writing ‘Evan Wood,’ I found myself writing Evan’s lines in Alex’s voice, and all I could picture in my mind was him. I think this is because we have such a close friendship, we are almost like siblings in real life. I asked him to read for the role, and my vision came to life.”

Stines initially read for the role of Rachel’s boyfriend, Mike, but instead landed the part of Josh, adding dimensions to a character so intriguing that it makes you question everything about first love. Spencer and Brown didn’t know Stines until they filmed “Evan Wood,” but say his easy-going nature and dry sense of humor blended seamlessly with theirs, and it was like they had known each other forever.

Added to the mix is veteran actor Jere Burns, who, after reading the script, happily took on the role of Rachel’s college professor/mentor, Timothy Phillips. Finally, rounding out their core team is director Niki Byrne. As a first-time feature writer, Spencer’s choice to run with a female-helmed film makes a powerful statement beyond what you see on screen.

“The industry is continually evolving and moving in the right direction when it comes to female-led projects, but not fast enough,” says Spencer. “Only 23 percent of Oscars this year were awarded to women, the worst number since 2018,” she points out. “I was lucky enough to work with an incredible team of women on ‘Evan Wood.’ Every department was led by a woman, and I was so incredibly proud of that. I was able to give many women an opportunity to be the head of a department on their first feature film, and I know this will just be the beginning of an incredible career for each and every one of them.”

Brown recalls the moment on set when he knew what they were making was magical. “The first day we arrived at Lake Arrowhead, we rushed straight to makeup and then shot the scene where Rachel and Evan are having their first heartto-heart while going for a walk in the forest,” Brown tells INLOVE. “That was a single tracking shot for a 5-minute scene, and we had to do it in three takes because it was getting dark. When we did our third take, Niki looked at us, and she said, ‘So… we got it.’ She was sure but shocked. Somehow we were able to do it, and the entire scene made it into the movie with no cuts.”

For Spencer, it was about proving to herself that she could do something she never thought she would do. In the process, she found a love for writing and producing that she never knew she had.

While “Evan Wood” is the culmination of their hard work, both Spencer and Brown fell in love with creating long before this project ever took shape.

“As a kid, I remember watching Disney movies and performing scenes for my parents and other family members,” Brown reflects. “I’d even ask my cousin to dress me up so I could perform. My passion for performing grew stronger as I grew older, and I started taking dance lessons and acting in school plays. I grew up in Spain, and every summer, we’d put Alex: Blazer: Alexander McQueen Charlotte: Alexander McQueen