lc real estate 04 2020

HOME GROUND

AROUND TOWN

Page 2

Real Estate On

BEEZWAX

Meeting with the architect of the Japanese Pavilion, “a jewel box.”

Page 5

Annual gala raised funds to purchase new clothing and linens for bevy of local charities.

the Menu, Museums Home & Garden

We could all use a good laugh right about now.

See Beezwax.

Page 15

VIEW

Section 2

LARCHMONT CHRONICLE

APRIL 2020

HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • GREATER WILSHIRE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT

356 S Hudson Ave| Hancock Park | $19,000,000 SOLD. Represented Buyer. 9Bd / 11 baths, 2 story entry, formal liv rm, pool, private & gated.

Lisa Hutchins 323.460.7626 CalRE #01018644

835 S. Longwood Ave. | Brookside | $2,750,000 Perfect home in coveted Brookside! Impeccably maintained 4Bd + 3.5Ba. 835SLongwood.com Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

109 S Kilkea Dr | Miracle Mile | $1,899,999 IN ESCROW. Charming courtyard Spanish w/ 3 bed, 2 ba’s + converted garage to office & wonderful gardens.

$100,000 Price Reduction! First time on the market in nearly 50 years. 3Bed/2Bath, pool & spa.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

Sandy Boeck 323.860.4240 CalRE #01005153

147 S Poinsettia Pl. | Miracle Mile | $1,599,000

825 S. Muirfield Rd | Hancock Park | $1,825,000

Charming courtyard Spanish style home. 3Bd/2Baths, step-down liv rm, hrdwd flrs, lots of light & fireplace.

316 Rossmore Ave #100 | Hancock Park | $1,499,000 Exclusive, full-service Country Club Manor. Bright 3+2 Architectural. 316Rossmore.com

Maria Gomez | Rick Llanos 213.705.1603 | 323.810.0828 CalRE #0126447 | #01123101

Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

243 N. Norton Ave | Windsor Square | $2,249,000

444 S. Sycamore Ave. | Hancock Park | $2,150,000

Exceptional opportunity in prime Windsor Square location! Large lot. 4+3. 243Norton.com Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

COMING SOON. 1928 Art Deco delight. 3Bd + 3Ba + pool. 3rd St Elementary. 444Sycamore.com

531 N Rossmore PH B | Hancock Park | $1,739,000 Contemporary penthouse near Larchmont Village. 3,090 sq.ft. 531Rossmore.com Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

202 N Gower St | Hancock Park | $1,729,000 IN ESCROW. Charming 3+2.5 Spanish just one block from Larchmont Village. 202Gower.com Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

449 N Highland Ave| Hancock Park | $7,995/MO Beautiful restored Spanish full of character w/ 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, gourmet kitchen & pool.

Rick Llanos 323.810.0828 CalRE #01123101

620 N Cahuenga Blvd| Hancock Park | $6,500/MO FOR LEASE in 3rd St. Elementary near Larchmont & LA Tennis Club. 4Bd+3Ba. 620Cahuenga.com Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

Loveland Carr Group 323.460.7606 CalRE #01467820, #0888374

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated wi th Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. CalDRE #: 00616212

2

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Hancock Park NGA rocks the boat for charity at its nautically themed gala

With the 2020 census just around the corner, NGA Hancock Park members, supporters, merrymakers and generous bidders packed the Wilshire Country Club Feb. 22 for the annual gala benefitting the local chapter of the Needlepoint Guild of America.

The organization, beloved in the area, purchases new clothing, linens, school uniforms and personal care items for Aviva, Alexandria House, Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, Operation School Bell, and Family Services at Hollygrove. (Wow! That’s not just a mouthful, that’s a lot of work.)

The theme of the dinner/dance was “Anchors Aweigh!” which inspired attendees to wear stripes galore. There was a Gilligan, Thurston Howell III and his wife, Lovey; Julie, the cruise director, and the ship’s doctor from “The Love Boat;” cruise ship guests, captains, first mates, pirates who shouldered parrots, mermaids, fishermen and lifeguards. NGA member Robin Chehrazi scoured the high seas for nautical décor and hydrangeas. She and her crew decked out the Club in navy and white

Around the Town with

Patty Hill stripes with pops of yellow and magenta. There were fabulous auction items arranged among nets, shells, boats and other kitsch. While yacht rock played in the background, Wilshire Country Club’s new chef, Mark Gold, and his crew served a gourmet dinner after which Olivia Kazanjian and her husband, Steve, conducted the live auction with flair and pizzazz. The event’s sponsorship effort, led by Kiel FitzGerald and Megan Derry, combined with proceeds from the auction, resulted in over $107,000.

There to celebrate were Shar and Robert Penfold, Marilyn and John Wells, Marta and Tarek Adra, Gillian and John Wagner, Dina and George Phillips, Marion and George Plato, Lisa and Mark Hutchins, Mary Loftus and Bruce Terris, Donna and Greg Econn, Jan Daley and Steven Sauer, Isabel Mayfield

NGA PRESIDENT Beverly Brown and Caroline Chiles.

SAILOR GALS Pam Levine and Mary Loftus.

“CAPTAIN” George Plato and “first mate” Marion.

and Caroline Kreckler, Mary and Bernie Jaworski, Stefanie and Michael Sourapas, Alex Dionne, Danielle Avazian Reyes, Michele Weiss, Liza Ameen, Peggy and Steve Davis and

their daughter Hanna, Sondi Sepenuk, Michele McMullin, Jennifer and Warren Rissier, Stephanie and Dave Johnson, Marnie Owens, Dee Dee Myers and Todd Purdum, Pavlina Mos-

kalykova and Matthew Solo, Romaine Orthwein and Dave Gutterman, Lindsay Phillips and Logan Herr, Jennifer and Mark Kim, Susan and Sean Kneafsey, (Please turn to page 3)

SAILING MATES Jennifer and Mark Kim.

SAILING THE HIGH SEAS are Jason Brown, Danielle Reyes, Jennifer and Warren Rissier.

SHIP SHAPE Olivia and Steve Kazanjian.

Expert exceptional Service. Exceptional EXPERT SERVICE. results Results.

IN ESCROW NEW LISTING 301 S. LUCERNE

new listing IN ESCROW

IN ESCROW

$2,995,000

6059 SCENIC DR.

636 N. GRAMERCY

2 BED +2 bATH | $829,000

3 BED + 4 bATH |3300 $1,095,000 LARISSA | SILVERLAKE

BEACHWOOD CANYON

5 BED+ 4 BATH | $1,995,000

LARCHMONT ADJACENT

COMING SOON

SOLD

$899,000

850 N. HUDSON #206

4 BED+2 bA total| call for price

2 BED+ 2 BATH| $635,000 358 N. VAN NESS | LARCHMONT

7 BED+ 5.5 BATH | $7,200,000

PRICE

PENTHOUSE #B | 4+5 | $1,995,000

315 E. 8TH ST. #901

1612 CIMARRON MID CITY | DUPLEX

4 BED + 3 BATH 531 N. ROSSMORE | HANCOCK PARK

NEW sold in 1 week IN ESCROW

3 BED+ 2 BATH | $1,195,000

SOLD sold over asking

WINDSOR SQUARE

DOWNTOWN LA

LARCHMONT ADJACANT

3 BED+ 3.5 BATH | $2,332,272

www.coregroupla.com DRE #01819365

2 BED + 2PARK BATH 418 N. MANSFIELD | HANCOCK

4 BED+ 3.5 BATH | $3,250,000

Pete Buonocore

DRE #01279107

323.762.2561

pete@coregroupla.com

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

Around the Town

CRUISE directors Lacy and Tomy Drissi.

NGA photos by Pam Levine

3

VIRTUAL MENTORS AT IMAGINE LA:

Donations matched through April 3

(Continued from page 2)

Kathleen and Will Macomber, Helen and Eddie Fincher, Susan Downey and David Franklin, Laura and Craig Collins, Janna and Jim Harris, Kathleen and Robert Barnes, Juliet and John Brumlick, June Bilgore with son Andrew and his wife, Deniz Olgac, Yumie and James Lee (ever the patient saint), Kiel FitzGerald’s husband, Jeff Reuben, and NGA’s President Beverly Brown and her husband, Jason.

What a great party! Congrats NGA for a whopping success.

And that’s the chat!

SECTION TWO

ENJOYING the NGA gala at Wilshire Country Club are Will and Kathleen Macomber.

LAST GASP for dining out included a beautiful Italian buffet served by Chef Calogero Drago at a Drago Ristorante event on March 11.

Life will return to normal, eventually, and events, parties and galas will be on social calendars once more. Meanwhile, events are being postponed, some as late as the fall as other priorities take precedence.

Family Emergency Fund Windsor Village resident and Imagine LA’s CEO Jill Govan Bauman said the nonprofit is growing its Family Emergency Investment Fund (FEIF) by seeking to raise $150,000 by

April 24.

Through April 3, donations up to $50,000 will be matched

by Karisma Foundation to help families pay rent and buy groceries. Visit imaginela.org.

The group also has pivoted to a Virtual Mentorship Program for the duration of COVID-19 with an online application, phone interview and live webinar training.

“We currently have a backlog of family members who are

mentor-ready, especially boys ages 10-15,” said Brian Rosenbaum, director of community engagement.

“If you have 6-8 hours a month, a heart full of compassion and an open mind, you can mentor a family that has overcome homelessness and is eager to build relationships, skills, and confidence with you.”

Visit action.imaginela.org/ mentor_overview

INTERIOR VIEW of the construction of the new Audrey Irmas Pavilion at Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

Photo by Gary Leonard, March 18, 2020

4

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

Dodger Stadium is a state of mind with Dodger Dogs among the staples

It always seems odd to me to think of Dodger Stadium as old or new. By turns it seems either, neither, or both.

What’s old about it can be most easily explained by dates and points of comparison.

Dodger Stadium opened April 10, 1962. Only Wrigley Field in Chicago and Boston’s Fenway Park are older. San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, a close contemporary, seems a distant memory. And Houston’s Astrodome went from the “eighth wonder of the world” to dismal, empty wreck within the 58 years the ballpark in Chavez Ravine has been around.

What’s new can be described in part by features. Dodger Stadium has stayed in place, but it has not stood still. Major renovations — seating, facilities, video and high definition displays — have unfolded at a fairly regular pace (in this century, most notably 2005, 2012 to 2014, 2019 to now).

On Books and Places by

Bruce Beiderwell Dodger Dogs and a good view And of course the old and the new can be seen as a mash-up. Dodger Stadium does not cling to the charm of inconveniences, eccentricities and bad food. Rather, it trusts that a few stable basics, like the great view, Dodger Dogs and real grass, can be maintained amidst full service restaurants, improved seating and luxury boxes.

But still, there is something about the age of Dodger Stadium that escapes anything like an accounting of dates and features. That’s because the stadium exists not merely as a place, but as a state of

Read e-books at libraries, Chevalier’s is delivering Los Angeles Public Library has closed Central Library and all 72 branches, including our local John C. Fremont, Fairfax, Memorial and Wilshire branch libraries.

While the library is closed, no late fines will be assessed for overdue items, and patrons can return materials when libraries reopen with no penalty.

Librarians will remain available to provide assistance through telephone reference (213-228-7272) as well as the web-based services, “Ask a Librarian” and

“Book a Librarian.”

Digital services include e-books, audiobooks, streaming TV, movie and music services, classes and digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. Visit lapl.org.

Chevalier’s Books Chevalier’s Books, at 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., has closed until a tentative reopening on Sun., April 19. Meanwhile, see their “staff picks” of books, and Larchmont locals can request books online for door-to-door deliveries.

Visit chevaliersbooks.com.

mind — one created around a notion of “the National Pastime” that struggles in the current moment to sustain itself as a national pastime.

Big league baseball was from the outset promoted as a pastoral game in an urban setting. In an industrial world operating by crank, pivot and screw, baseball offered a contest without a clock. Cement and steel surrounded a green field of play. Owners of the clubs knew their selling points with a paying public and rigorously fended off unwanted actualities. Players were tied to clubs. Clubs were tied to territories. And color lines were not to be crossed.

Move from Brooklyn Progress has broken some of the worst aspects of the old marketing model. But marketing doesn’t reflect progress so much as it reflects change,

a neutral phenomenon. The move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles signaled a fundamental shift away from the established urban identity. Dodger Stadium wasn’t nestled in a neighborhood. Its success would depend on fans driving to the game, listening to the game on radio, watching the game on television, and now buying Dodger merchandise online.

Even attending the game live has become an experience largely focused on a giant high-definition screen — and attendant enticements — as much as on the field of play.

It’s not a bad thing to be entertained in varied ways. The patient rhythms and pace of baseball may simply not meet the desires of today’s audience.

But those rhythms and pace still have resonance that cuts against the prevailing trends.

Two baseball novels of the

past decade evoke a pure and romantic notion of the game — along with an appreciation for the craft, discipline and experience to play it well — in order to explore who we are and where we’re going. Both are written with a consummate skill that befits their themes.

The 2020 season was to open March 26. But now we don’t know when baseball will resume. But it certainly will.

I suggest, before your next visit to Dodger Stadium, you read Chad Harbach’s “The Art of Fielding” (2011) and Gish Jen’s “The Resisters.” These richly rewarding and beautiful books give substance to the oft-quoted line by Jacques Barzun: “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Perhaps, too, we’d better read books like those written

by Harbach and Jen.

Local student competes in Shakespeare competition

By Cynthia Lay Each year, the EnglishSpeaking Union sponsors the National Shakespeare Competition, inviting local Los Angeles high schools to participate. This competition gives the students an opportunity to develop communication skills and an appreciation for language. Because the semi-finals have been held at Marlborough School for over 25 years, this event is special to our neighborhood. This year, Hollywood High and Marlborough sent students to the semi-finals that took place Feb. 22. While 15 students competed, only six were selected for the finals.

One of them was Marlborough

FINALIST Cordelia Reynolds of Marlborough School.

junior, Cordelia Reynolds.

The finals took place Mar. 1 at the Shakespeare Club in Pasadena. Each contestant performed a sonnet, monologue and cold reading. Ms. Reynolds portrayed Ophelia from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” capturing

the turmoil and emotion of the character. However, it was Rosalind Jewett, coached by Chon Lee of Santa Monica High School, who won the competition and will go on to the finals in New York City, date to be determined when COVID-19 travel restrictions have lifted.

Jewitt performed Helena from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

After the performance, I spoke with Reynolds, a resident of Hancock Park, who said, “It was a beautiful experience, and I cannot wait for the next one.”

More information about the National Shakespeare Competition can be found at esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition.

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

5

‘Art is the Client:’ LACMA, the wrecking ball, and a surviving jewel box

Four buildings at LACMA face the percussion hammer, wrecking ball or computer-controlled hydraulic jack — perhaps all three — but not quite yet. Remediation began earlier this year, removing asbestos and other materials, preparing for Los Angeles’ farewell to William L. Pereira’s three 1965 pavilions and the Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer wing. Replacing them will be a design by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, hotly contested by its critics.

Remaining as part of the reimagined museum will be two recent Renzo Piano buildings, along with the Pavilion for Japanese Art, opened in 1988, designed by Bruce Goff (who died in 1982) and finished by his associate Bart Prince — a jewel box, as far as I am concerned.

The pavilion was brought into existence by LACMA benefactor Joe Price, now in his 90s, a great character and passionate collector of Japanese paintings and other objects from the Edo Period (1603-1867).

“Remember,” Price repeatedly told his architects, “the art is the client.”

Home Ground by

Paula Panich

a protégé of Wright’s, and a connoisseur of Japanese art too, was introduced into the mix, and Goff designed a house for Joe and Etsuko Price in Oklahoma. The couple’s Japanese art collection, according to Prince, grew into what was likely the largest outside of Japan. Joe wanted a museum of his own.

Several sites around the country were considered and rejected. But Rusty Powell, LACMA’s admired director (1980-1992) was enthusiastic, and Joe and Etsuko were enthused about Los Angeles and its cultural ties with Japan.

Los Angeles was a fit for their

INTERIOR of the Pavilion for Japanese Art.

collection, a fit for Goff, who designed the Pavilion, a fit for LACMA (a $5 million donation for the building helped, too), and a fit for the Prices, who asked Bart Prince to design their new home in Corona del Mar, where they live today.

And the renovations of the Pavilion? Bart Prince, who saw Goff’s work to completion and was the architect of record,

EXTERIOR of the Pavilion for Japanese Art.

was not consulted. The results await those of us in love with the building.

I always felt as if I were walking into a place that enveloped one in cut-silk velvet.

Part of that feeling was from the diffused, rich light in the building made possible from translucent panels called Kalwall, according to Prince. The subdued light brought to mind that masterpiece treatise on

Japanese aesthetics, “In Praise of Shadows,” by Tanazaki.

Plenty of Japanese art remains with the couple. Interestingly, the Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Tokyo bought 190 Edo-era paintings from Joe and Etsuko Price. The homecoming of the works will be celebrated with an exhibition there from Sat., Sept. 19 to Sun., Dec. 20, 2020.

So many stories.

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

What You Need to Know

Public Health is urging everyone to take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19.

How is it spread?

ARCHITECT Bart Prince.

Photo by Paula Panich

The Pavilion for Japanese Art closed two years ago for renovations, and I wondered what Bart Prince could tell me about it. I sent a quickly answered email and headed my trusty Volvo for a 12-minute ride east from my house to architect Prince’s home and studio, known since 1984 to almost all of Albuquerque, fans and critics alike, as “the spaceship.” The building rises above the one-story mostly adobe houses in its neighborhood like a house in a dream.

Bart Prince is a tall, amiable and witty man, whose imaginative, if not wild, architecture is known throughout the world. As the architect who was responsible for realizing the Pavilion for Japanese Art, what could he tell me about the renovations?

Bart Prince is a great storyteller, and the story of how the Pavilion came to sit at the edge of the Tar Pits is a fascinating one. The Price fortune is based on the family’s oil pipeline and chemical firm; Joe’s aesthetic was educated and honed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a collector of Japanese woodcut prints, who designed the 19-story Price Tower in Bartlesville, Okla. Bruce Goff,

Close personal contact, such as caring for an infected person

Through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes

The novel coronavirus is a new type of virus that recently started making people sick.

It started in mainland China but is now infecting people around the world including those here in Los Angeles.

What are the symptoms?

Fever

Cough

Difficulty Breathing

What can I do to protect myself and others from respiratory infections like COVID-19?

• Everyone particularly those who are 65 and over, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women should avoid any non-essential travel, public gathering, or places where large groups of people congregate.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Limit close contact with people who are sick.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

03/13/20 Infographic (English)

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).

• Use facemasks only if you are sick or have been instructed to do so by your health care provider.

• Get a flu shot to prevent influenza if you have not done so this season.

6

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

Real Estate Sales

SOLD: This home at 110 S. Martel Ave. in the Miracle Mile North HPOZ was sold in late February for $2,895,000.

Single-family homes

PALMER’S OAK, Jurupa, Calif., is among Windsor Village archeologist’s many projects.

Archeologist speaks for earth’s oldest oak

By Helene Seifer 13,000 years ago, when the Tar Pit ooze was swallowing Ice Age mammoths, an unassuming little Palmer’s Oak, growing just south of what is now Fontana, cloned itself. Every time a forest fire attacked one of its limbs, the burnt branch would sprout a clone stem, thus insuring it would live forever — unless threatened by encroaching civilization.

With a 1,300-home development planned for the area, UCLA-trained archeologist Dr. Gary Stickel is worried.

“It is believed that there’s a natural cistern under the tree,” he posits. This would explain how this particular oak received enough water to survive the dry climate while the rest of the grove did not. He continues, “We don’t understand how extensive that support system is.

Bulldozers can shake that

out of alignment… If we had a proper study [of the oak’s underground support], who could object to that?”

The Hurunga, or Jurupa Oak, as it’s named for a oncenearby town inhabited by the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians / Kizh Nation, is considered sacred by Native Americans. Oaks, in general, are thought to be medicine trees, imbued with spiritual powers. That this particular oak is the third-oldest living organism on the planet makes it really important.

That it represents a lasting remnant of Kizh (pronounced “Keech”) Nation culture and history, it’s doubly so to the tribe. That’s why Stickel got involved.

The Windsor Village archeologist was hired by the tribe to take up the tree’s cause.

And the tree definitely needed some help with P.R. Unlike the towering redwoods, which

are impossible to ignore, the Jurupa Oak isn’t much to look at. It doesn’t even look like an oak. “It looks like a big bush,” Stickel admits. Only four feet high, the oak overcompensates with its girth. The 70 clusters of cloned stems cover 2,000 square feet.

After contacting city and county representatives and the project developer, Richland Communities, Stickel feels left in the dark. Richland claims that they’ll give the oak wide berth, but Stickel and the Kizh hope they can get approval to use ground-penetrating radar to see if the cistern theory is correct and better understand what the tree needs to survive for thousands of years more.

“The Kizh are not against development, but they want to preserve, as well,” Stickel explains. “The tribe would like (Please turn to page 9)

What Lies Beyond The Door?

Many of my sales in 2018 & 2019 were “off-market” or “pocket listings.” As more homes are bought and sold under the radar, it pays to know who has this information. I have many such properties in my pocket.

Be in the know and contact me!

JILL GALLOWAY Estates Director, Sunset Strip 323.842.1980 jill@jillgalloway.com jillgalloway.com DRE01357870

Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice.

365 S. Hudson Ave. 214 S. Van Ness Ave. 316 N. Edinburgh Ave. 110 S. Martel Ave. 935 S. Burnside Ave. 626 N. Vista St. 128 S. Formosa Ave. 438 N. Crescent Heights Blvd.

326 N. Plymouth Blvd.

151 S. Kilkea Dr. 590 N. Cahuenga Blvd.

439 N. Kilkea Dr. 1155 Alvira St. 4715 Wilshire Blvd.

454 N. Detroit St. 1339 Meadowbrook Ave. 1143 S. Highland Ave. 522 N. Wilton Pl. 672 N. Gramercy Pl.

Condominiums

5019 Maplewood Ave., #105 603 N. Plymouth Blvd.

5057 Maplewood Ave., #102 6151 Orange St., #203 3810 Wilshire Blvd., #809 3810 Wilshire Blvd., #402

$19,000,000 3,840,185 3,500,000 3,100,000 2,885,300 2,710,000 2,550,000 2,500,000 2,310,000 1,999,999 1,900,000 1,865,000 1,800,000 1,623,000 1,450,400 1,374,500 1,191,310 950,000 930,000 $1,040,000 832,000 795,000 462,000 455,000 450,000

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

7

1970s turn 50 as Conservancy honors its annual awardees

By Suzan Filipek The Los Angeles Conservancy will celebrate the 1970-era’s Golden Anniversary at its annual Preservation Awards Luncheon.

The event, which was scheduled for April 24, has been postponed due to cautionary measures taken during the COVID-19 outbreak.

A new date will be announced soon, when it is safe to do so, according to Conservancy President Linda Dishman on the group’s website.

As part of the Conservancy’s year-long “’70s Turn 50 Initiative,” the 39th annual luncheon will be held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, 404 S. Figueroa St. Built in 1976, and designed

by Atlanta-based architect John Portman, the iconic hotel is considered the largest in the city. With towers set in a futuristic design, the Westin Bonaventure was a vision of the future with pedestrian skywalks high above the city streets and features a revolving cocktail lounge with 360-degree views on the 35th floor.

The Conservancy will celebrate the ’70s Late-Modern era golden anniversary all year long once it is safe to do so.

Meanwhile, all tours and programs are cancelled or postponed until it is safe to resume. Check the website for updates: laconservancy.org.

Award winners This year’s Preservation Award winners include Gardner Street Women’s Bridge Housing Center, recipient of the highest honor, the Chair Award.

The former library opened in March 1959 at 1403 N. Gardner St. as the West Hollywood Branch, later renamed the Will & Ariel Durant Library.

It was closed when a larger branch was built nearby, and it sat unused for years.

The Mid-Century Modern building in Councilman David Ryu’s district was converted into the city’s seventh bridge homeless shelter under the city’s “A Bridge Home,” $20 million program to open

CHAIR AWARD goes to the Gardner Street Women’s Bridge Housing Center.

Photo by Erik Van Breene/L.A.C.

emergency homeless shelters.

Opened on Sept. 10, 2019, it serves as temporary housing for 30 women. The site includes beds, a kitchen, dining area and common spaces with couches and books, a courtyard and garden.

On-site services for the residents include mental health counseling, classes, and job and life skills training.

Old Hollywood glamour is in full form at Project Award winner Formosa Café, 7156 Santa Monica Blvd. The restaurant and bar recently undid an earlier “modern” makeover that drew a public outcry.

Back is the original 1904 red trolley, confirmed to be the oldest surviving Pacific Electric red car vehicle in existence, as well as an ornate bar from Chinatown that was installed to help tell the story of Chinese American contributions from Hollywood’s Golden Era. Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner were among the stars who dined and danced here after the Formosa opened in 1939.

NoMad Los Angeles was recognized for rehabilitiating the original headquarters of the Bank of Italy (later Bank of America), now a five-star hotel and restaurant at Olive and Seventh streets in DTLA. Other Project Award winners are: County of Los Ange-

les Dept. of Recreation and Parks Cultural Resource Assessment, Glendale Historical Society, Robert Frost Auditorium at Culver City

OLD HOLLYWOOD glamour is back at the Formosa Café.

Photo by Maxim Shapovalov

High School and Warner Music Group Headquarters, located in a renovated 1912 Ford Model T factory and showroom in the DTLA Arts

District.

Beverly Gardens Park in Beverly Hills will be awarded the Royce Neuschatz Award for Historic Landscapes.

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8

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Larchmont Chronicle

Historic preservation protects affordable neighborhoods

Looking for things to do during the recent coronavirus pandemic lockdown that fell upon the city mid-March, I came upon the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent study entitled “Preservation Positive Los Angeles.” The study was released at one of the final gatherings of the season, on March 5, at the 1928 Art Decostyle gem, the Trust Building in downtown. According to its executive summary, the study aims to provide “an in-depth look at historic preservation within L.A. and how historic places directly contribute to the overall livability of the city.”

“Preservation Positive Los Angeles” could not have arrived at a more significant time, as heightened pressure for more housing and density has often cast historic preservation in the NIMBY camp, a hindrance to development and benefitting only the well-off. The argument that the study lays out is that, in reality, data draw a much different picture. Historic preservation, it aims to prove, “plays a positive role in promoting stable neighborhoods, protecting existing affordable housing, and meeting new housing and creative office needs.”

With more than 80 percent of existing buildings in Los Angeles more than 50 years old, it is a surprise to learn that only 6.2 percent of them are deemed historic and that only 2.8 percent of historic resources have some form of protection in the form of Historic Preservation Overlay

On Preservation by

Brian Curran

Zones (HPOZs), Historic Cultural Monument designation or National Register listing. In fact, Los Angeles lags behind other large cities with regard to designation of historic buildings. Excluding historic resources, about 93.8 percent of the area’s parcels are available for entrepreneurs’ review and potential development.

Affordable housing It is the study’s examination of the benefits of HPOZs with regards to affordable housing, however, that is truly the highlight of the document. The city’s affordable housing crisis and its effect on the homeless epidemic make the protection of historic rent-controlled housing a necessity. Most of Los Angeles’ renters (58 percent) live in housing built before 1960, and only 43 percent of all rentals are rent controlled. Misuse of the Ellis Act has caused the loss of nearly 26,000 rent-controlled units in less than 20 years, at the same time as housing has become more expensive. Los Angeles ranks third among the most rent-burdened cities, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

Preservation, the study says, is affordable housing. Los

Angeles has 35 HPOZs that hold 5 percent of the city’s stock of rent controlled units.

HPOZs have been among the best tools available to protect affordable housing. In our local area, it could be mistaken that HPOZs are mainly made up of single-family residences. However, city-wide, 69 percent of all units in historic districts are multi-family housing. HPOZs hold greater shares of affordable housing per capita than the rest of the city with 51 percent of rental units in historic districts affordable for low-income two-person households and 23 percent for low-income households of four people.

Such districts also have higher percentages of families making under $25,000 a year. These figures have encouraged residential longevity, with HPOZs accounting for 5 percent of all the long-term residents in the city. Los Angeles’ HPOZs have also proven to be some of the city’s most stable neighborhoods at the same time being among the most ethnically, racially and economically diverse populations compared to Los Angeles as a whole.

“Preservation Positive Los Angeles” also covers subjects such as adding density, investing in historic properties, preservation as a cost-effective way to develop office space, and environmental sustainability and much more. My favorite section is the proposal to redevelop all of the city’s 675 strip malls to create anywhere from

TRANSCEND™ SURESET by

60,000 to 80,000 apartments built above ground floor commercial space. “Preservation Positive Los Angeles” is a document that is well presented and wonderfully illustrated, well worth your time to read as our HPOZs and historic resources face looming challenges with more so-called “housing” legislation on the horizon such as Assembly Bill (AB) NEW 47-PAGE REPORT shows how pres1279, AB 725, and ervation positively affects housing, affordSenate Bill 920 ability, sustainability and economics.

(Senator Scott ed documents can be found on Wiener’s latest repackaging of the Los Angeles Conservancy his three failed attempts) com- website: www.laconservancy. ing down the pike. The Con- org/study-preservation-posiservancy’s study and associat- tive-los-angeles.

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Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

9

Trying times: Those who survive are strangely stronger

By Ron Salisbury As someone whose first memories of the restaurant business date back to 1933 (yes, among those “first” snapshot memories I fondly include El Cholo), who lived through all of the ups and downs that make up the rich tapestry of life, and who until last Monday, at the age of 87, was still thrilled to wake up each morning knowing the wonderful challenges of running restaurants lay before me — I suddenly found myself unemployed for the first time.

This is an extremely difficult time. Actually the worst in my memory. But I began to reflect on other times that were also quite challenging, and perhaps my sharing and having survived them actually made me stronger for the experiences, will help us all realize that this too will pass... and in time we again will grow and benefit from it.

I was born in the Great Depression. I believe onefourth of our population was without work. I learned a very early important lesson by what my parents created at the little Mexican restaurant in a converted California bungalow on the outskirts of Los Angeles — that serving

RON SALISBURY in 2018.

the highest quality product for only 65 cents would create long lines down the sidewalk on Western Avenue waiting to get in every night but Monday (we were closed).

In later years my dad, as he viewed society, would be prone to comment, “We need another Depression” and, as difficult as that sounded, I knew what he was referring to. And one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was how that time molded them with its inherent values that they passed on to me.

In 1943 my dad was inducted into the Army for World War ll. El Cholo closed even before that as my parents were unable to get the highly rationed products that El Cholo required and, rather than settle, they closed and lived off very meager savings. As my dad would never buy anything unless he could pay cash, their expenses were manageable.

Three years after the war, we

reopened to the same long lines.

In 1994 we again closed for 10 days due to the Rodney King riots that devastated the city. They started at Normandie and 111th street with burning of buildings and looting. They rapidly spread north and stopped at Pico and Western, a block and a half from El Cholo, then skipped to Olympic, only a block and a half to our north, miraculously sparing us. As there was a curfew starting at 6 p.m. each night, I would sit all day in my car in the parking lot waiting to fight off looters with who-knowswhat until the curfew, only to return the next morning hoping to see El Cholo still standing. It was!

I can only guess as to why we were spared. Some say that we always treated all of our guests equally and the community remembered that. I’d like to think that was right.

One of the best days of my life was the day we reopened once again to a clientele made up of a cross section of our city.

I had lunch that day with my friend George Raveling, the African-American basketball coach at USC. Then, of course, the trauma

that was caused by 9/11 shook this nation as nothing else could. We closed that day, but the spirit of national pride that sprung instantly from that event tested our nation, and most of us are old enough to remember the great surge of pride and coming together that resulted from that terrible day.

All of these were terrible times that caused incredible suffering and loss.

If there is a lesson to me, having experienced first hand all of these extremely difficult moments that tried

us to our virtual limits, it is that those of us who survived are, strangely, for the most, stronger for them. We also crazily have a deeper appreciation, that we might never have enjoyed, about what we refer to as the important things in life.

Former Windsor Square resident Ron Salisbury runs his family-owned El Cholo restaurants: elcholo.com/ourhistory. This essay was sent to a few of his friends on March 23, and he has allowed the Larchmont Chronicle to share it.

Palmer’s Oak

Dume in Malibu.

Or his discovery of a sun stone, a rudimentary sundial, in the San Gabriel Mountains. Perhaps he’s most excited about his latest find: He believes he has found the lost palace of Odysseus. Archeologists have searched the Greek island of Ithaca, where it’s purported to be, but Stickel believes lands shifted over time and Kefalonia is the palace’s island.

As declared in the line of dialogue he provided when working as archeological consultant on “Raiders of the Lost Ark” — “They’re digging in the wrong place.”

(Continued from page 6) to see at least 45 acres around it preserved as a nature reserve and learning center for children — about the tree and about the Kizh.”

The Jurupa oak is one example of Stickel’s many causes since retiring from UCLA, where he taught archeology and anthropology. Ask the septuagenarian what he’s been up to, and he delights in regaling the listener about the time he found an intact spearhead from the ancient Clovis culture while working with the Chumash to protect Point

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10

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Filipino ribs and flavorful eggs are good takeout alternatives

It’s odd eating in the era of COVID-19. As of this writing, restaurants have been advised to switch to takeout or delivery only. This won’t be an easy transition for many of our finer establishments — Providence’s Steelhead trout with black truffles, nettles and celery root doesn’t pack and carry as easily as Bludso’s slab of ribs. I worry that in this time of uncertainty restaurants will be forced to close entirely, many of them permanently. (Providence has closed for now; Bludso’s is open for takeout and delivery, as are the two restaurants reviewed below.) Please make an effort to support the places you love that are offering takeout. Have a dish or two (plus wine!) delivered weekly to enjoy at home.

Do your part to keep them alive.

Before the takeout dictum, I ventured into the world to

meet a friend for breakfast at Bluestone Lane. I had hardly noticed this New York based, Australian-inspired, café chain before, but they’re all over the place. There are seven in the Los Angeles area alone, including one on La Brea, and where we went, Third Street.

In a former flower store, this airy space pays homage to its past with hanging plants, exterior flower murals by artist Madeline Simson, and fresh bouquets for sale from their takeout window. For a place that extols the virtues of Australian-style coffee and professes to being “committed to changing people’s perceptions of coffee,” I found that my Americano was bitter and acidic. I far preferred the gratis shot of immune strengthening tea, which I assume was a nod to these coronavirus times.

Celebrated chef continues to serve pastry daily

Chef Margarita Manzke, République, 624 South La Brea Ave., was named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist in the “Outstanding Pastry Chef” category in February.

Manzke, who opened République with husband Chef Walter Manzke in 2014, has been named a semi-finalist annually ever since 2015, and she has been named a nominee every year since 2017.

This year, due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the James Beard Founda-

tion has postponed the naming of nominees as well as accompanying awards.

While République, like other restaurants, has taken a hit because of the closures of all essential businesses, it remains open for delivery and takeout from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the restaurant’s menu is also available through GrubHub. In addition, they are offering pantry items and fresh produce a la carte. The menu changes daily. Visit republiquela.com.

On the Menu by

Helene Seifer The food, however, was splendid. Each Bluestone Lane location has a slightly different menu — presumably tailored to meet the needs of the neighborhood. I don’t exactly know why a spiced cauliflower sandwich with hummus, raisins and baby kale, $13, or green baked eggs with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and chimichurri, $14, reflects the Third Street vibe, nor why La Brea’s avocado toast features chili flakes but Third Street’s does not, but I was all in. My friend ordered the Big Brekkie, a $17 plate for the undecided, combining one slice of avocado toast with one kale and baked mushroom toast, both topped with poached eggs, bacon on the side. This

generously-sized breakfast was healthy, flavorful, and beautiful to boot — the eggs sporting the brightest yelloworange yolks I’ve ever seen.

So, too, the fried eggs in the $14 red baked eggs screamed sunshine, even on what was a rather gloomy, drizzly day.

Cooked in a cast iron skillet, these eggs floated in a slightly spicy, Italian-seasoned chunky tomato, zucchini, and bell pepper sauce, with melted feta and microgreens. Use the accompanying thick crunchy-crusted toast to scoop up every last bit.

Bluestone Lane. 8100 W. 3rd St. 718-374-6858.

A tiny spot on the edge of the known universe (aka a dull industrial block in Angelino Heights), The Park’s Finest BBQ is home to barbequed meats with a Filipino twist.

Completely devoid of charm, this unlikely spot relies on taste alone to lure patrons inside. It mostly succeeds. Avoiding the usual Filipino dishes of sisig (crunchy random pork bits) or adobo (pork or chicken cooked in vinegar and ground pepper),

The Park’s Finest concentrates on grilled meats in vinegary and fruity marinades and sauces. Try the $16.50 pork riblets or Mama Leah’s coconut beef, also $16.50. Here tender top round chunks swim in a complex and delicious coconut, vinegar, chili, and fish sauce.

Noel’s smoked Gouda mac drowned the macaroni in oozy cheesiness for $10. Sprinkled with panko crumbs, it was very rich and ultimately one-note.

We only ordered the $6 veggie medley because we wanted something green and this was one of the only options. Shockingly, this was delicious. Sautéed squashes and bell peppers were heightened with Park’s “proprietary spice mix,” which elevated what could have been a complete afterthought to a thoroughly enjoyable dish that perfectly complemented the other flavors.

The Park’s Finest BBQ. 1267 W.Temple St. 213-4812800.

Contact Helene at onthemenu@larchmontchronicle.com

Takeout, delivery, creativity put food on the table during COVID-19 isolation

By Helene Seifer The other day last month I attempted to do my grocery shopping before work. Not so long ago, it was perfectly reasonable to expect that one could run into the store, grab a package of chicken breasts and a bag of Brussels sprouts, pay and go in

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short order. Not so in these times of COVID-19 panic. There was a gigantic line at Ralphs as shoppers were let in a few at a time.

Trader Joe’s, too, had a wait, as did Whole Foods and another Trader Joe’s. Mercifully, Target had no line and few people inside. It also was completely devoid of poultry and meat. After work, I tried again at Ralph’s. No line. No crowds. No protein. How are people managing to eat?

Resourceful neighbors “We do a lot of Postmates,” explains Lizzie Blatt. She and her husband, Steve, are mindful of supporting small restau-

rants, so they have been using delivery services regularly.

“We’ve ordered Indian, lots of Chinese. We got vegan burgers from Honeybee Burgers. Each time we order a lot, so we get two days’ worth of food.”

Grocery stores are often out of popular items, so Blatt finds herself thinking creatively.

“You just kind of adapt. You open up the fridge and see what you’ve got.” When she planned to cook spanakopita, the Arden Blvd. resident found she was lacking the main ingredients: filo dough and spinach.

(Please turn to page 11)

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Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Takeout

(Continued from page 10) “I literally used puff pastry and lambs lettuce instead — and it was delicious!” She also points out that, “Suddenly it’s good to be old. If you’re over 60 there are special hours at the markets.”

Home garden Jim and Janna Harris are taking a different approach to meal planning. “Jim is furiously planting in the garden.”

Although it will be weeks before their crop provides sustenance, Janna is looking forward to a steady supply of fresh vegetables. Her freezer is also wellstocked, and she’s trying something new. “I’ve ordered a box of meat, chicken and a little bit of seafood from Butcher Box. It’s supposed to come in 10 days.”

The Harrises also placed an Instacart order for Pavilions, but their delivery schedule was backed up a week. “I’m trying to conserve food and not let anything spoil. One night I made broccoli stir-fry. The next night I made broccoli quiche.”

Food shippers A boxed-food shipment is a supply route that Stephanie Gershowitz also recommends.

She and her husband, Jordan, recently moved to the Fairfax District from New York, where they first tried some of Butcher Box’s various assortments of hormone-free meats.

“I spent about $130 for 20 por-

RESTAURANT & COCKTAILS

HOUNDALAS FAMILY continues to serve classic Greek specialties to its loyal customers at Le Petit Greek.

LE PETIT GREEK, a local favorite, is open for pick up.

tions worth of chicken and beef.” For organic vegetables, she’s trying another fresh food shipper, Farm Fresh to You. Gershowitz also noticed that the in-store experience has changed as we’re adjusting to the new normal. “When I went to the store a week ago it was a mob scene. Now it feels very calm.”

A family to feed As soon as schools started shutting down, Julie Stromberg hopped into action, stocking up on canned goods and farmers’ market fruits and vegetables.

With two school-age children who need to be homeschooled in the interim, an infant, and full-time jobs, she and her husband, Winston, have their hands full.

Being well-organized is their only hope. Lacking a giant

Lunch & Dinner Every Day of the Year

freezer and extra refrigerator to preserve extra food, Stromberg supplements with coolers and long-acting ice packs that stay cold for four days. She also cooks for multiple meals. “We’ve been making a lot of soups in the crockpot. You can make a lot of it and freeze some for later.” And the Windsor Village pescatarian’s love of gardening is serving double-duty as a future food source and a fun activity with which to occupy her children.

“We’ve got a lot of zucchini and cauliflower and other types of vegetables that you can make real meals out of.”

For times when the Strombergs crave vegan meals with minimal prep, she recommends the packaged meal component service Purple Carrot. She also expressed her desire to support local restaurants. “Burger Lounge, Village Pizzeria, Osteria Mozza. We ordered from Sugarfish. I went to Erin McKenna’s Bakery — I love them!” After all, in these stressful times, we shouldn’t forget dessert!

In speaking with our neighbors about these trying times, it was clear that resourcefulness and attitude are key. “I want to do my bit of not entering the

panic mode,” declares Lizzie Blatt. “Emptying the shelves — it’s ridiculous! We’ll make do.”

Meal and food sources Here are some resources for sourcing food and meal delivery so we can all make do, as well as a list of many of our Larchmont restaurants that are open for pickup or delivery.

For boxes of foods shipped directly to you, try Butcherbox.com for beef, pork, chicken, and some fish and seafood, and farmfreshtoyou.com for organic vegetables, purplecarrot.com for pre-measured vegan meal components and easy-to-follow recipes.

Most people use Instacart. com for grocery deliveries. To order restaurant meal delivery, try one of these popular services: Grubhub.com, Doordash. com, Postmates.com, Seamless.com, Trycaviar.com, or Ubereats.com.

As of this writing, the Larchmont area restaurants that are open for pickup and/or delivery are: Le Petit Greek 323-464-5160 lepetitgreek.com; Larchmont Wine, Spirits & Cheese 323856-8699 larchmontvillagewine. com; Louise’s Trattoria 323-9629510 louises.com; Lemonade

11

323-464-0700 lemonadela.com; Tacos Tu Madre (323) 499-1143 tacostumadre.com; Muraya 323-856-0369; Cat & Fiddle 323468-3800; Burger Lounge 323462-2310 burgerlounge.com; Go Get Em Tiger 323-543-4321 gget.com; Erin McKenna’s Bakery 855-462-2292 erinmckennasbakery.com; Salt & Straw 323-466-0485 saltandstraw.com; Kiku 323-464-1323; Peet’s Coffee 323-978-1003 peets.com; Groundwork 323-843-4920 groundworkcoffee.com; Sam’s Bagels 323-469-1249; Sweetfin 323-465-6040 sweetfin.com; Le Pain Quotidien 323-461-7701 lepainquotidien.com; Kreation 844-553-2673 kreationjuice. com; Jamba Juice 323-378-5720 Jamba.com; Chipotle Mexican Grill 323-978-2047 chipotle.com; Good Goose Café 323-378-5272 goodgoosecafe.com; Coffee + Food Larchmont Café 323.9623390 coffeeplusfood.wordpress. com; Osteria Mamma 323-2847060 osteriamamma.com; Marino 323-466-8812 marinorestaurant.com and Astroburger 323-469-1924 astroburger.com.

Further afield, several restaurants at The Grove (thegrovela. com) are available for takeout and delivery, including Dominique Ansel Bakery, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Sprinkles Cupcakes, The Cheesecake Factory (maybe) and Umami Burger.

Special kudos to The Grove’s La Piazza restaurant for giving free takeaway meals to first responders, doctors and nurses while supplies last.

Many choices of groceries and prepared meals are available at the Original Farmers Market. See story on pages 12 and 13 of this section.

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12

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Original Farmers Market has groceries, prepared foods, free parking, delivery

By John Welborne While Los Angeles goes into lockdown mode to help slow the spread of COVID-19, some essential businesses remain open, including the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. Third St. Patrons are invited to take advantage of free parking while visiting the Farmers Market. Many favorite food stalls remain open, and shoppers also may purchase prepared meals. Fresh fish, poultry, meat, produce and other

NEW MARKET HOURS.

essential items are available, including a wide selection of items at Monsieur Marcel. The Farmers Market post office and newsstand also remain open.

Shoppers who stay at home can get items delivered.

Hours (as of press time) are Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit farmersmarketla.com and farmersmarketla.com/delivery.

KAYLIN & HOBBS PICKLES just opened in February, and their products are still available. Scott Kaylin is at left.

POULTRY pre-orders are ready for pick-up on table at left.

FRESH FISH remains on sale.

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Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

13

MEATS FROM MARCONDA.

TAKE-AWAY VARIETY at the Original Farmers Market still includes favorite ice creams, doughnuts and pizza.

FRESH PRODUCE is a staple at the Original Farmers Market.

SAFE DISTANCES are maintained by conscientious shoppers, here at Magee’s.

MAGEE’S KITCHEN features a wide variety of dinners-to-go including roast turkey, corned beef, enchiladas and more.

14

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

Aggressive bidding on misshapen hands, from Chicago Bridge ♠ T9754 ♥ void ♦7 ♣ AQT9875

7-5-1 with only six HCP; how do you open? While you are considering that, here is your partner’s hand:

♠ AKJ ♥ AKT94 ♦ J974 ♣K

In first seat I opened 4C! Sure, I have a five card major

Bridge Matters by

Grand Slam your response to my 4C opening bid? You have 19 HCP. While the singleton King might not be worth 3 HCP normally, when it’s in partner’s suit it is highly valuable. My partner in this game was a former partner with whom I had played a lot in the past, but not together for several years. Her motto was/

North ♠ AKJ ♥ AKT94 ♦ J942 ♣K West ♠ Q86 ♥ Q852 ♦ KT53 ♣ 63

East ♠ 32 ♥ J763 ♦ AQ86 ♣ J42

South ♠ T9754 ♥ void ♦7 ♣ AQT9875

I asked two of my expert partners how they would bid the South hand in first seat.

LEARN ABOUT Hayden the Metro Mammoth — a juvenile discovered during excavation for the Metro Purple Line subway extension under Wilshire Boulevard — at nhmlac.org. Above, Dr. Emily Lindsey, assistant curator at the La Brea Tar Pits, and Dr. Chris Thacker, curator emerita, ichthyology, at NHM.

through multi-media presentations and videos. Access it at nhmlac.org/connects.

For car enthusiasts, the Petersen Automotive Museum is streaming live tours of the museum’s famous vault during the temporary closure. Each live-stream session is themed.

The next scheduled sessions are a pre-war-themed tour Fri., April 3 at 11 a.m. and a full vault tour Sat., April 4 at 11 a.m.

In addition to the tour, the Petersen is offering free online educational programming for students during the closure. Visit petersen.org.

April is normally when the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust (LAMOTH) has its Yom HaShoah event, otherwise known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, however, LAMOTH is now holding the event online Sun., April 19,

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See art, visit area museums, virtually Just because museums are closed doesn’t mean patrons can’t still experience a stroll through them virtually, and from the comfort of their homes. Following are some of the virtual experiences that museums have lined up for their online visitors.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures does not officially open until this coming December; however, pieces from the museum’s collection are on view on the website. In addition, visitors can sign up for a weekly emailed newsletter. Or, to follow the museum on social media to take greater advantage of some updates, such as curated lists of films, go to academymuseum.org.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art has used the shutdown as a chance to update and redesign its homepage with new things to “watch, listen, learn, read, and browse” at home. Included are short films from the exhibitions, online courses, lectures and teaching resources, articles to browse, and — of course — artworks from the art collections. Visit lacma.org to get started.

La Brea Tar Pits on Museum Row allows visitors to view dinosaur fossils and digs and watch past and upcoming interviews with curators, such as when Hayden, a juvenile mammoth, was discovered during the dig under Wilshire Boulevard for the Metro subway. Visitors also can learn about Los Angeles history

is, “There is game or slam in every hand,” so I always had to be careful in bidding with her. Not surprisingly, she jumped to 6C! I got a club lead which I took with the singleton King and immediately discarded my singleton diamond on the Ace of hearts, trumped a diamond to my hand, pulled trump and finessed the spade Queen, making seven. Here are the four hands:

where it will be available to view anytime. In addition, the museum also has an online archive and research catalog.

You can access the information at lamoth.org.

Further abroad The bright spot about accessing museums online is that you are not limited by geography. You can visit almost anywhere from the comfort of home.

Other museums with virtual portals for online visitors include the Getty Center at getty.edu/resources, The Broad at thebroad.org/stayconnected-broad-home, and the California Science Center at californiasciencecenter.org/ stuck-at-home-science.

One said he’d pass and the other said she’d open 1C, neither of which would lead to slam. Frankly, I don’t know how anybody could pass this hand and one shouldn’t be mesmerized by a miserably weak five card major when they have as strong a seven card minor as this, but opening 1C with only six HCP is really misleading partner.

Moral: it often pays to be aggressive, and we both were on this hand. Try to choose the bid that best describes your hand to partner and that’s what the 4C opening bid did. It told her I had a long, strong minor suit with gaps, a misshapen hand and not enough HCP to open at the one level. She took it from there. Having an established partnership allows you to use your instinct and knowledge of your partner to take chances like she did here, jumping to slam with all those losing diamonds.

Grand Slam is the nom de plume for an author of a bestselling book on bridge, an ACBL accredited director and a Silver Life Master.

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and only seven clubs, but the club suit is compelling. I didn’t want them to find possible hearts/diamonds fits, so wanted to take bidding space away from them. We might miss out on a spade fit, but a hand with a seven card suit and a four card suit is generally worth a four level opening if it is short in HCP and this one has a five card suit to go along with the seven card suit, so the level, four, is clear if you ignore the five spades and open your far superior club suit.

Now the big problem. Put yourself in responder’s seat and forget what you know about opener’s hand. What’s

© LC 0717

Here’s a hand I picked up in a Chicago Bridge game sitting in first seat:

Larchmont Chronicle

APRIL 2020

SECTION TWO

15

Now a symbol of Easter, the bunny once was a pagan sacrifice Where do we get the Easter “bunny”? wonders Geoffrey Miller.

The Easter bunny comes to us from ancient Germany, where in pagan times, the hare (along with the chicken), was the most fertile of their animals, and were therefore highly featured in spring fertility sacrifices to ensure bountiful crops. The rabbit is also a nocturnal animal and is thereby associated with the moon and its cycles. With the advent of Christianity and Easter (the annual date of which depends on the moon), the bunny was kept as a symbol of Easter

ProfessorKnowIt-All Bill Bentley

along with its partner in fertility, the chicken — and its eggs.

• • • Why does the term “hack” refer to a cab driver or a person who is unskilled at a particular task? asks Bob Anderson.

The original “hackney” was an ordinary riding horse,

as opposed to a draft or war horse. From the 14th century on, it also applied to any horse kept by a stable for hire.

When horses began pulling carriages for hire, they were dubbed hackney cabs and eventually the name was transferred to the driver as well.

The negative connotation of the word stems from the hack writer for hire, who usually turns out way more quantity than quality.

• • • Why is the “third time the charm”? queries Laurie Lindblatt.

The word charm is from the

Latin carmen, which was originally a song, then a chanted incantation like those of the witches in “Macbeth:” “Cool it with a baboon’s blood / Then the charm is firm and good.”

These magical incantations of wizards and witches most always required a repetition of three chantings to release the full power of the spell or charm.

• • • How come a false lead is called a “red herring”? ponders Jim Field.

Herring was always a staple of the island-dwelling English, and, in non-refrigerated times,

Spring arrives on schedule at these local gardens Coronavirus has not delayed the coming of spring at all, and some outdoor spaces remain open to visitors, even while others have closed, classes and events have been canceled or postponed, and all indoor venues and shops are now shuttered.

The Garden Conservancy had planned to include Hancock Park in its Los Angeles Open Days this month, but is making adjustments to the schedule as the pandemic evolves. Visit gardenconservancy.org to keep

up with the changes.

The Los Angeles Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., invites visitors to enjoy the blossoms and wildlife, but visitors must purchase their tickets online prior to arrival. Visit arboretum.org for updates.

The kitchens for Descanso Gardens, 1518 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, are open and available for pickup and delivery, while the gardens remain closed until further notice. Visit descansogardens.org.

Huntington Library, 1151

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Oxford Rd., San Marino, plans to open again Wed., April 15.

Visit huntington.org.

Theodore Payne Foundation, 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley, remains open for those gardeners who are landscaping during self-quarantine. The Payne Foundation, which celebrates 60 years this year, offers contactfree purchases of plants, seeds and other gardening items to help keep the foundation going during the quarantine, or consider making a donation. Visit theodorepayne.org.

The Native Plant Garden

Tour went virtual last month, but you can see the highlights at nativeplantgardentour.org.

The Pasadena Showcase House of Design has been postponed to Sun., June 7 to Sun., June 28. Visit pasadenashowcase.org.

Finally, the Friends of Robinson Gardens announced that their 2020 garden tour and showcase house extravaganza, “City of Angels,” at the Virginia Robinson Gardens, 1008 Elden Way, will be postponed until this autumn. Check back at robinsongardens.org.

was always cured in salt. This process gave the flesh a strong reddish color and even a stronger odor. Because of this olfactory objectification, English hunters used red herrings to train their dogs to follow a scent. And if someone (like a fugitive) who was pursued by dogs, could drop a red herring on his trail and then double back, the dogs would follow the “red herring” left by the red herring.

Professor Know-It-All is the nom de plume of Bill Bentley, who invites readers to try and stump him. Send your questions to willbent@prodigy.net.

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Although LA Animal Services is closed to the public due to COVID-19, orphaned and abandoned animals are being accepted and help is needed more than ever. If you can foster or adopt a pet, visit laanimalservices.com/adopt to set up a visit. According to the World Health Organization, there has been no evidence that pets become ill with COVID-19 or that they spread it to other animals, including people.

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