April 2026
Multimedia art space
Gemini G.E.L. celebrates its 60th anniversary with a new exhibit, which includes “Figure 7,” by Jasper Johns, right.
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On the Boulevard LUNAversary marks one year. In attendence are Ann Loveland and John Duerler.
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By A.R. Johnstone Windsor Square residents
Dena Bloom and Robert Klyman hosted two meet and greets with candidates running for the State Senate race of District 26: Juan Camacho and Sara Hernandez.
The first event was with Camacho, whose family immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico when he was a child. He is running for the vacated seat by Maria Durazo, who is not seeking reelection. Camacho’s platform is based upon “fighting” the Trump Administration, building affordable housing, creating access to affordable healthcare, advocating rights of LGBTQ people—the same promises that most candidates in California articulate on the campaign trail.
Camacho was introduced by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who enthusiastically endorsed the candidate for the open seat. Dena Bloom facilitated a conversation with Camacho on issues ranging from Senate Bill 79 to immigration. He said he would have voted yes on SB79, however, he did say he would
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ASSEMBLYMEMBER
for
CANIDATE Sara Hernandez spoke with neighbors in Windsor Square.
By Nona Sue Friedman
In 1926, seven men decided to found a temple that would serve the needs of Jews in Hollywood and Temple Israel of Hollywood was born. With its location in Hollywood proper, it’s no wonder that five of the original creators were prominent in the film industry. According to the TIOH website, “The congregation began to take shape with a special character—Jewish intellectuals with political and social awareness and close ties with the Hollywood artistic community.” One hundred years later this month, the temple still has that reputation.
According to Zach Lasker, TIOH’s executive director, “The initial group laid the seeds and the synagogue blossomed.”
The temple first bought a church on Ivar Street in 1930 with funds raised at a Monster Midnight Show held at the Pantages Theater. About 20 years later they moved to their current location at 7300 Hollywood Blvd. In 1957, TIOH bought Hillside Memorial Park and later added a mortuary that now serves the greater Jewish community throughout the region. Lask-
er said, “We take care of all life cycle moments, from cradle to grave.” Elizabeth Taylor’s conversion to Judaism and later, one of her weddings, took place here in 1959. As did Al Jolson’s funeral in 1950.
The artistic and socially active nature of the temple has brought many interesting figures over the years. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke from the same pulpit that’s still in the sanctuary today just days after Malcolm X was assassinated. Sammy Davis Jr. gave the lecture “Why I Am a Jew” in the same spot. Israel’s former Prime Minister Golda Meir was honored at a gala; later Congressman Adam Schiff spoke at a gala—and the list goes on.
The Hollywood figures that have helped raise funds — some of which have also been members—include Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, George Burns with Gracie Allen, Ann Miller, Shirley MacLaine, Judy Garland, Marta Kaufman, and Matthew Weiner.
TIOH has three schools that in total educate 550 to 600 students annually, according to Lasker. Their nursery school, Bay-Nimoy Early
Childhood Center, received a generous donation from and is dedicated to Leonard Nimoy and his wife, Susan Bay. For the past 30 years, Temple Israel has hosted a festive Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and live music as well as toys, clothes, and necessities to give away for those in need. Lasker stated, “Part of our responsibility is (Please turn to Page 6)
No, it wasn’t your imagination. Larchmont Boulevard was closed to cars Feb. 22 for the first ever Larchmont Lunar New Year Community Celebration. The holiday took place Feb. 17, marking the start of the year of the Fire Horse, which in Chinese tradition symbolizes independence, innovation, and significant change. The community wanted to celebrate, so the street was blocked off, the shopping tents pitched, the families numerous, and the lions on the prowl! Revelers up and down the street could sample Asian cuisine, clothing, games, and books, or participate in crafts at over 40 booths that were designed to bring awareness to Asian cultures and history.
The jam-packed street performance schedule for the day included a dulcimer player, a lion dance, kung fu demonstrations, and a children’s fashion show. The lion dance (similar to a dragon dance) was performed by the Lau Martial Club, a seventh-generation, family-owned martial arts club. The 2,000-year-old tradition brought dozens of onlookers toward the stage. After the performance, the lions hit the pavement, where merrymakers followed them
up and down the street helping the lions to chase away bad luck and usher in prosperity.
It was clear that adults and children were having a grand old time as they gobbled up snow cones, crafted one-of-akind art pieces, and squealed with delight (and a bit of trepidation) at the sight of the bold and colorful lions wandering the street.
The event was supported, organized, and brought to life by Suá Supérette owner Stephanie Hjelmeseth and her partner Jing Gao; American Born Chinese Foundation founders Bonnie Yi Hyde and her husband, Brett Glatman; and the office of CD13 Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez.
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El Coyote Mexican Restaurant on Beverly Boulevard celebrated its 95th anniversary March 5. Diners and regulars flocked to the location for 95-cent enchiladas and tacos, a mariachi band, a bit of birthday cake, and plenty of good vibes. The restaurant has been an L.A. staple since
1931, with customers returning again and again for cheese enchiladas, rice and beans, chicken and beef tacos, sizzling fajitas, friendly waitstaff and of course their famous and perfectly strong margaritas. The iconic landmark has been featured in movies and television shows throughout the decades, including Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and MTVs docudrama “The Hills.”
Owner Margie Christoffersen represents the third generation of her family to maintain the Los Angeles hotspot, after her aunt and uncle and her parents before her.
Marcella Kerwin, a reg-
ular, said, “El Coyote has a way of making everyone feel like family—a place where so many of us have shared meals, laughter, and memories. We are so lucky to have it in our community.”
We at the Larchmont Chronicle look forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary in five years. In the meantime, L.A., there are plenty of tacos to go around!
See you at the Coyote!
SOLD: This home at 268 N. Norton Ave. in Windsor Square sold for $2.29 million in February.
Single-family homes
138 S. Hudson Pl.
By Jack Brownlee
Volunteers gathered under the fruit trees in Beachwood Canyon, armed with fruit pickers and gathering baskets. Organized by Hollywood Orchard, they went out in the morning with empty hands and returned with nearly half a ton of excess fruit, which was promptly boxed and donated to food-charity groups across the city.
THIRTY-THREE BOXES of fruit were gathered by Hollywood Orchard and donated to charities.
Photo: Hollywood Orchard
topics such as recycled water usage and composting.
$6,600,000 900 S. Ridgeley Dr.
S. Sycamore Ave.
S. Wilton Pl.
$2,510,000
$2,480,000
$2,300,000 268 S. Norton Ave.
Condominiums
$2,290,000
901 S. Gramercy Dr., #205 $889,200
326 Westminster Ave., #304 $870,000
Maplewood Ave., #106 $755,000
W. Olympic Blvd., #5 $747,500 818 S. Lucerne Blvd., #205 $625,000
733 S. Manhattan Pl., #401 $619,900
358 S. Gramercy Pl., #306 $612,000
532 N. Rossmore Ave., #406 $522,000 533 S. St. Andrews Pl., #420 $520,000
647 Wilcox Ave., #2G $500,000
533 S. St. Andrews Pl., #416 $413,000
525 N. Sycamore Ave., #326 $405,000
*Sale prices for February.
Hollywood Orchard is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Bill and Tamara Pullman, longtime residents of Beachwood Canyon. After seeing how much produce falls off fruit trees and sits rotting in peoples’ yards, the Pullmans rallied their community and asked homeowners if they could harvest the excess fruit while it was still ripe. Fifteen years later, Hollywood Orchard has become an organization that not only donates fruit products to local charities, but educates Angelenos with the hopes of a greener, more environmentally conscious Los Angeles.
“It’s all about building community,” said Tom Amandes, Hollywood Orchard board member. “We build community among the people who actually do the picking, and then we have a kitchen crew that works on amazing recipes.” Fruit picks consist of two crews: one crew which picks the fruit and one crew which processes it, packing most of them up for donations while turning a small portion into preserves
and other goods to sell. Sales help fund the Orchard.
Aside from their fruit-picking events, Hollywood Orchard hosts Farmers’ Circle events, where the organization brings in experts to educate neighbors on environmental and agricultural
The Orchard also works closely with nearby Cheremoya Avenue Elementary School, taking students to the trees and showing them how the harvest works. “It was amazing because so many of these kids are city kids,” said Amandes. “A lot of them were like, ‘Wow, so fruit just kind of grows on these trees and then you can pick it?’ and it’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s how it works!’” Upcoming Orchard events include a Farmers’ Circle on Sat., April 25, and a Memorial Day Paint ‘n’ Sip event on Mon., May 25. For more information visit hollywoodorchard.org.
By Helene Seifer
It’s easy to drive by Gemini G.E.L. without noticing it, but that would be a mistake. The simple façade covers a true Los Angeles art gem. Not only is it the longest-running contemporary gallery and art publishing house in the city, but it is also a working studio for some of the most prominent names in art. On any given day over the last six decades, art luminaries such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Julie Mehretu, Richard Diebenkorn, Tacita Dean, and Ed Ruscha could be found there working with master printers to create complex limited-edition fine art lithographs, etchings, silkscreens, mezzotints, woodcuts, and sculptures. Frank Gehry, with whom the studio worked on several prints, designed the building addition they needed when it was time to expand in 1976.
To date, Gemini G.E.L. has worked with nearly 80 artists—and not just anyone with a portfolio can work in their studios. Beginning with
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to take care of our Hollywood neighbors.”
Big Sunday, a local nonprofit that has a constant rotation of ways to give back to the community, grew from the temple’s annual day of community service.
These are just a couple of the happenings that occupy a very robust calendar of events.
How is TIOH going to celebrate its 100 years?
The synagogue is creating an endowment to pave the way for the next 100 years. When the Chronicle spoke with Lasker, they had just raised $10 million. The key to this fund is to not touch the principal and use only the interest for annual needs. Lasker said, “It’s the gift that keeps on
RICHARD SERRA forcing ink through a mesh screen with his feet.
© 1998 Sidney B. Felsen
their very first artist, the late Josef Albers, artists must be invited.
Gemini G.E.L. was founded in 1966 by Stanley Grinstein and Sidney B. Felsen. Their daughters Suzanne Felsen and Ayn Grinstein are co-directors and co-owners with Ayn Grinstein’s sister Ellen Grinstein and Sidney Felsen’s widow, Joni Weyle Felsen.
“Working with an artist is a huge commitment,” stated Ayn Grinstein. Suzanne Felsen added, “It’s a yearslong discussion to try to find someone different. I
giving.” TIOH will be reaching out to its congregants to further fund the endowment. Lasker hopes the centennial gala they are hosting Thu., Dec. 3, will be a celebration of the success of the endowment campaign.
Other ways they are celebrating the past 100 years is with a coffee table book being compiled by a congregant. It’s due to be completed this summer. And a special mezuzah, a small parchment scroll placed in a case and affixed to a doorpost, is being designed by artist Amy Golant, who spent some time at TIOH as a child.
And, come July 1, TIOH will be ushering in a new senior rabbi, Mark Miller. This will be his third pulpit.
Lasker has been with TIOH
like to follow an artist for a long time, see their trajectory.”
“People think we’re in the back printing money, but it’s like making a movie. It needs a team,” said Grinstein. The team includes four etchers, two lithographers, two silkscreen printers, and four experts in quality control.
Grinstein summarized, “It’s time consuming!”
The gallery’s current exhibit, “Impressions of Los Angeles: 60 years of Printmaking at Gemini G.E.L,” is the first of a two-part series celebrating their milestone anniversary.
Curated by published Western print afficionado Susan Dackerman, an art history lecturer at UCLA, the exhibit is divided into themes that reflect upon the city through many artists’ Gemini G.E.L. works, including Hockney’s prints “Sun” and “Mist,” Ruscha’s “Pico and Sepulveda,” and Robert Rauschenberg’s “L.A. Uncovered #2.”
Mehretu has been working with Gemini G.E.L. on four five-layer aquatint etchings for the last three-and-a-half
for five years. When asked what he likes about the temple he said, “I had fallen head over heels in love with the community as a creative, safe, inclusive, and holy space. The vibrant nature of this community drove me to want to work here.”
years. Gemini’s master printers have been working with Serra for 52 years, publishing 362 print editions with him.
Unlike most other art publishers, Gemini G.E.L. will “work with an artist to figure out a way to get what they need and want,” explained Felsen.
“At first Richard Serra did not want to do prints because they had to be protected behind glass. So, we invented a technique for texture, which could be displayed without glass. An oil stick bar goes through a meat grinder. After that it goes into an industrial mixer and is mixed with etching ink and silica. The material is then hand applied. The prints can often take a total of two to three months to dry.”
“Once Robert Rauschenberg pushed us to do the most important print ever, ‘Inner Man,’” said Grinstein. He had X-rays taken of his body, resulting in six plates that he wanted to use in his work. Grinstein noted, “There was no press that big, No paper that big. So, we had to make that.”
Front page photo: Al Jolson’s funeral held at Temple Israel of Hollywood Oct. 26, 1950, the congregation’s largest event. An estimated 22,000 people crowded the streets surrounded the synagogue to pay their respects.
Emme Feldsher Goldberg 6th Grade
March was another exciting month, highlighted by our school’s celebration of Purim.
To celebrate, we fulfill the mitzvah of Matanot
La’Evyonim, caring for those in need. This year, our students donated and assembled hygiene kits for the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (jfsla.org). The 6th-grade students also read from the Megillah, a Hebrew scroll recounting the story of Purim, and performed a Purim Spiel. We also had a 6th-grade poetry slam where each of us wrote an original poem and shared it with fellow students and parents.
G.E.L. stands for Graphic Editions Limited. No one knows what the “Gemini” part means. “The space program was big in the sixties, so maybe…?” pondered Felsen.
A fitting idea, since the artistic collaborations emanating from the studio reach for the stars.
Front page photo: Jasper Johns’ “Figure 7.” © 1969 Jasper Johns and Gemini G.E.L. LLC.
“Impressions of Los Angeles: 60 Years of Printmaking at Gemini G.E.L.” is on view through Fri., May 1. Gemini G.E.L., 8365 Melrose Ave., geminigel.com; 323-6510513.
The 2nd grade has been studying tide pools and took a field trip to the Leo Cabrillo; 1st grade is raising six chickens; 5th grade learned about the American Revolution as students explored the stories of important women. The 6th grade is deep into rehearsals for our school production of “Peter Pan.” We recently had our first rehersal with Duffy the Dog, as Nana—a real scene stealer!
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By Helene Seifer
Last year the Larchmont Chronicle reported on some classic April Fools’ Day jokes, including perhaps the best one of all: In 1957 the BBC showed a Swiss family happily harvesting a bumper crop of spaghetti from their pasta orchard. People around the world fell for it.
In addition to the spaghetti trees, in 1965 the BBC announced they were testing new Smell-O-Vision technology. Thousands of people reported that it worked! Then, in 1980, the BBC notified their audience that Big Ben was going digital and its clock hands, now useless, would be given away to the first four callers. They were inundated with calls!
The German newspaper Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung revealed in 1935 that a pineapple-shaped water tower in Hawaii actually held pineapple juice that was directly piped into the homes of employees of the Dole pineapple company. Who needs water when you have free fruit juice?
Swedish National Television aired a special in 1962 to explain scientifically how tying a stocking in front of the TV would allow viewers to see the programs in color—and many viewers tried it!
The French newspaper Le Parisien claimed in 1986 that plans were underway to move the Eiffel Tower to Disneyland Paris. We’re still waiting.
In a fit of patriotism, Taco Bell announced in 1996 it was reducing the nation’s debt by buying the Liberty Bell and renaming it “The Taco Liberty Bell.”
ESPN reported in 2016 an exciting new Olympic sport that combined brains and brawn: chess boxing! Not to be outdone, the Olympics Committee itself announced the following year the upcoming inclusion of the sport
Photo © Robert Couse-Baker, Wikimedia Commons
synchronized napping.
Expedia offered deals on time travel vacation packages in 2018. Even though the biggest time jump was just crossing the International Date Line, the next year people believed they could purchase a Home Depot do-ityourself time machine kit.
Food and snack companies, which offer outlandish products IRL, such as pumpkin-spice this and flaming-hot that and seasonal, sriracha-flavored candy canes, have gone to extremes with fake offerings on the first day of April. In 2016 Doritos announced they were selling silent chips to eliminate the dreaded crunching sounds perpetrated by snackers in movie theaters. Oreos introduced clear cookies in 2018. Did you see them? Although it would be a strange snack, people believed H&M in 2019 when they claimed to be stocking up on new edible clothing.
KFC and Burger King were on the same wavelength on April Fools’ Day 2017 when they respectively announced chicken-flavored and Whopper-flavored toothpastes. The burger chain told another “whopper” the following year with an ad for burger-scented shampoo.
Defenseless animals have frequently been dragged into the April joke scene. Austra-
By Jack Brownlee
Dozens of people met March 14 at Wilshire Green Park in Miracle Mile for Operation Sparkle, the annual beautification project coordinated by the Miracle Mile Residential Association. After mingling over coffee and donuts, participants spread down Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax Avenue and La Brea Avenue with trash bags and pickers, brooms, and dustpans.
MMRA Vice President Samantha Friedland is the driving force behind the yearly event. “It gets the community out and together for a good common cause,” said Friedland. “I would love for this to be a citywide event rather than just focusing on Miracle Mile. How amazing would it be if it could be in all different neighborhoods?”
The heat picked up as the morning progressed, but the community cleaners continued up and down Wilshire, filling countless trash bags. “I feel that this is a fabulous historical neighborhood and we need to put some pride into it, to clean it up, to make it more livable,” said MMRA Board Member Paula Yerman. She continued, “I’m tired of seeing trash cans that have overflowed on the street. It has a dead feeling to it, and we want [the area] to come alive.”
While several of the partici-
lia, in 2013, warned tourists to avoid the Drop Bears, koala-like creatures that randomly plopped out of trees. Various news outlets over the years have reported flying dogs, talking dogs, invisible dogs, an invisible bird, and a cat meow translator.
At the end of the day, who among us hasn’t fallen for at least one April Fools’ joke at some point in our lives?
The best response to the embarrassment of being a fool might be to jump into BMW’s 2013 model Invisible Car and drive away!
pants were longtime members of the MMRA, many other local residents, like Cora and Matt, turned out after seeing one of the signs posted around the area. “I volunteered in Altadena last weekend building some of the houses that were burned down, and I felt so good after. I felt so alive,” said Cora. “I feel like it’s good to get out and just be a part of a community,” Matt added.
Operation Sparkle culminated outside the El Rey Theatre with brief speeches by community leaders. Thao Tran, business development deputy for City Council District 5, highlighted upcoming community events such as the debut of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries in April and the opening of several
King Hernandez 8th Grade
On March 7, the Gold and Silver Academic Decathlon teams competed in the Junior High Academic Decathlon hosted at St. Mary’s Academy.
Several students earned impressive placements: Francis Benico placed first overall in English and will advance to Nationals, Xander Bugay earned second place in Science, Jaxon Chan Lopez received second place in Fine Arts, and Grace Espinoza placed third in
new Metro D Line Stations May 8. LAPD officers spoke of the area’s low crime rate compared to the rest of Los Angeles and educated community members on ways to keep crime low.
Refreshments were free for all participants, with breakfast coming from SK’s Donuts, tacos from El Cartel Mexican cafe, and coffee from Starbucks. Participants also received free admission to LACMA’s Geffen Galleries when they open to the public on May 3, as well as skincare products from Kiehl’s. “[The MMRA] did a wonderful job organizing,” said local resident Forrest. “Businesses here have donated things, which I think is wonderful. It’s a great way for businesses to be recognized.”
Religion.
Students also participated in new learning experiences, including the Vikings Mock Trial, where students practiced presenting arguments and working as a team. Third, 4th, and 5th grade students enjoyed a special field trip to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a live performance of the German Opera Tales highlighting Hansel and Gretel, Das Rheingold, and The Abduction from the Seraglio.
As Easter approaches, students look forward to Easter break and a special Easter egg hunt for TK and kindergarten students, complete with a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny.
Growing up in an Indian household, I was introduced to spices early. There’s a common misconception that spice simply means spicy, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Cinnamon and cloves bring warmth. Turmeric and cumin bring earthiness. Each spice is layered thoughtfully to build flavor in tiny percentages that leave a mighty impression.
And while we’re on the topic of breaking stereotypes, bringing spice into desserts has always made me feel a bit like a renegade.
I had the pleasure of living in Mumbai for a couple of years just before the pandemic, and the aromatic headiness of cardamom always transports me right back there. Often used in chai and Indian sweets, it’s one of those ingredients that lingers in the air as much as on the palate. In recent years I’ve found myself experimenting with it more and more in Western desserts—and this month’s recipe is a perfect example.
Now, I’ll admit something: I’ve always found tarts a bit labor intensive. There’s the pastry, the chilling, the rolling, the pre-baking. It can all feel like rather a lot of faff for a humble dessert.
Then I came across a wonderfully simple method from writer and chef Alison Roman. Instead of traditional pastry, she makes a dough that’s closer in texture to Play-Doh,
by Jai Dattani
pressed straight into the tart tin. No rolling. No chilling. No blind baking. It’s the sort of clever shortcut that makes you wonder why you ever did it the other way.
This month’s recipe is loosely inspired by her blueberry cornmeal tart, but with raspberries and a generous perfume of cardamom.
Raspberry tart
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F.
Lightly crush five to seven cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle. Remove the green husks and give the black seeds another bash until you have roughly half a teaspoon of ground cardamom. You can use the pre-ground variety if you must, but freshly crushed cardamom has a vibrancy that’s hard to match.
In a bowl, combine 200 grams of flour, 50 grams (1/4 cup) of cornmeal, 75 grams (1/3 cup) of sugar, one teaspoon of baking powder, the ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt.
Melt one and a half sticks of butter and stir in two tablespoons of honey. Pour this into the dry ingredients and mix until you have a crumbly dough. It won’t quite hold together but should feel more pliable than streusel.
Set aside about one-third of the mixture. Press the
remaining dough into a nineinch loose-bottom tart pan. This takes a few minutes, but using the bottom of a measuring cup helps flatten the base and push the dough neatly up the sides. Trim any excess from the edges and pop the tart shell into the fridge while you prepare the filling.
In another bowl, combine 225 grams (1 3/4 cups) of fresh or frozen raspberries, two tablespoons of cornstarch or flour, 50 grams (1/4 cup) of sugar, and the juice of half a lemon.
Then add my secret ingredient: one teaspoon of orange blossom water. It’s a brilliant addition anytime you’re baking with fruit. Somehow it makes fruit taste… fruitier. You can find it locally at
Cookbook on Larchmont, and a single bottle will last you ages. If you can’t track it down, the zest of half a lemon or orange works beautifully as well.
Tumble the fruit mixture into the tart shell, then crumble the remaining dough over the top like a streusel. It won’t fully cover the tart and that’s perfectly fine.
Bake for about 50 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the raspberries are bubbling beneath the crust.
Allow the tart to cool for at least 90 minutes before removing the sides of the pan. (I usually place the tart on an upturned bowl to slide the ring off.) I leave the base in place and simply cut slices
from it when serving.
It’s lovely served with a dollop of whipped cream or a spoonful of crème fraîche.
I hope you give this one a go and share it with friends and loved ones—ideally on a warm Los Angeles evening, and perhaps with a chilled glass of rosé wine.
I’ll see you next month.
It’s been one year since LUNA made waves as the newest neighborhood association to form in the area. To mark the momentous occasion, the group threw a LUNAversary potluck breakfast March 1 in the parking lot of Hancock Homes. The morning event featured a plethora of home-baked treats and plenty of coffee to keep attendees caffeinated. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez stopped by to give the group a plaque commemorating their oneyear anniversary.
Elsie Louk has been a member since LUNA’s inception and finds it’s a good way
to get to know people in the area. “We don’t have kids or a dog and this is a great way to meet people while also contributing to the community with aligned goals for the neighborhood,” Louk said.
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With most of March in the rearview mirror, a wave goodbye to the last of Girl Scout cookies! All their wonderful flavors and calls to support their efforts are finished for this year. See you next year, young entrepreneurs!
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After electricity to the town clock and irrigation system were finally fixed after being absent for about one-year, new plants have been placed and are in bloom. Romi Cortier, president of Larchmont Boulevard Association, “has a vision for color, which I love,”
said Lisa B. of B. Virgo Designs and Landscaping, who designed the area.
Cortier and Lisa have been working hand in hand to get
Chef Evan Funke is a meticulous chef whose handmade pasta-based culinary vision explores Italian regional traditions. He first came to acclaim in 2013 with the now defunct Bucato, in the Helms Bakery Building, later resurfacing in 2017 at Felix in Venice. His empire has since expanded to Mother Wolf in Hollywood, Funke in Beverly Hills, and restaurants in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Miami, all featuring his signature al dente pasta perfection.
Mother Wolf, which offers a delicious homage to the dishes of Rome, was an impossible reservation to get when it opened in 2022 despite the enormity of the 150-seat dining room. Things have calmed down since, although it was completely packed on a recent Monday evening, so reservations are still advised. There’s also the new, adjacent, clublike Bar Avola, serving small Italian bites, which is a wildly popular option.
The restaurant is exquisite-
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the beds planted. Each donated a crepe myrtle tree that will bloom with hot pink flowers. The beds are filled with as many native options as possible, according to Lisa.
The last element needed to finish the beds is boulders. The LBA is looking for donations. Zelle donations to larchmontspecial@gmail.com to help.
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Interior construction has begun at Go Greek at 148 N. Larchmont Blvd. One of the workers at the site revealed they anticipate being open in about one month. One can almost taste it. Get ready for froyo on the Boulevard in May!
by Helene Seifer
ly elegant, with plush pink banquettes, regular table seating, bar seating, antiqued mirrors inlaid in wooden columns, large bistro chandeliers with multiple arms with charming round bulbs, and a scattering of greenery. The service is exceptional; professional and attentive without being stuffy. Servers wear crisp white jackets, fill water glasses promptly, and fold napkins neatly when a guest gets up from the table. It’s a white tablecloth restaurant without any white tablecloths. We felt pampered. My husband and I had wanted a special dinner for us and our daughter, who was visiting from New York, and we got one.
Our cocktails were quite good: an ice-cold dirty martini, sugar-rimmed lemon drop, and a perfectly bittersweet
CONSTRUCTION IS MOVING forward
negroni. The sommelier introduced himself, and I ordered a food-friendly glass of Sicilian red. Dishes we ordered were properly coursed out, starting with chicory Caesar salad. A mountain of mixed chicories in a vinegary anchovy dressing, showered with a flurry of Pecorino Romano cheese was terrific and satisfyingly crunchy.
The ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms that followed might be the best I’ve ever eaten. Five large blossoms sported a delicate, crackly coating and contained highly seasoned ricotta filling. These are a must-order, as were the South Pacific blue prawns. Succulent, large, garlicky head-on prawns rested in a puddle of green garlic salsa verde so good we took the leftover sauce to-go to sop up with bread at home.
It would be a crime not to order pasta from the twice James Beard-nominated chef and handmade pasta master, so even though branzino with
(Continued from Page 2) have collaborated more closely with the legislature to see how it could work better in areas like Windsor Square. Camacho feels that we must do better at providing healthcare to all Angelenos. When asked how he would propose to pay for the increased costs of healthcare and other programs the answers were somewhat vague, other than stating that we will have to raise taxes.
He was adamant that he would not be supportive of a change to Proposition 13 and that any proposed wealth tax would have to be thought through as to not have high earners leave the state.
spinach and pine nuts and ribeye cap with french fries and arugula called to us, we went for two pasta dishes— and we were not disappointed. Spaghetti all’ arrabiata was beautifully al dente with the requisite fiery tomato sauce. Cacio e pepe, a simple Roman staple traditionally made with only pasta, cracked black pepper, Pecorino Romano, and a few spoonfuls of pasta water, was creamy, peppery, and cheesy, with a toothsome bite. The savory sauce completely coated the tonnarelli’s fat, squared pasta strands. Favoloso!
Full, but not ready to leave the lovely meal behind quite yet, we shared a velvety tiramisu. Espresso-and-marsala-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone, and Madagascar chocolate dust hit all the right dessert notes.
We will definitely be back.
Mother Wolf; 1545 Wilcox Ave.; in the former Hollywood Citizen News building; 323515-1077; motherwolfla.com.
Camacho genuinely feels he wants to make Los Angeles and California a better place to live, although he’ll have to act fast as he will be taking on a role that will require instant action and solutions.
The following weekend the second of the candidates, Sara Hernandez, spoke. Hernandez has been a schoolteacher, volunteer at a nonprofit, and a land use attorney at DLA Piper. She grew up in Salinas and has called Los Angeles home for the last couple of decades. She stated her goals were for affordable housing, transparency, better communication with constituents, and clean and safer streets.
When asked how she would have voted on SB79, she too
said she would have voted “yes,” with a caveat. An interesting point that came out of the Q&A was there are certain cities that got “carve outs” for neighborhoods in their districts—our state senator at the time did not request those carve outs for our neighborhoods. She said she would have.
Hernandez’s experience as a land use and real estate attorney would seem to be very useful in respect to the housing dilemma that the city faces. Again, the issue for most voters is that promises are made on the campaign trail, but when reality sets in, the bureaucracy and special interests play a major role in what can be accomplished.
Jeffrey Bernard, in case you didn’t remember, was the longtime (1976–1997) columnist for the London “Spectator,” and a “charming drunk,” as his 1997 obituary put it. His column, “Low Life,” focused on the Runyonesque characters who inhabited London’s Soho district when it was a much seedier, but more colorful, place than it is today. To call his drinking habits “charming” is an understatement. He would often be so hungover that he would miss his deadline, and his publishers would replace his column with the notice “Jeffrey Bernard is unwell.” This later became the title of a hit play by Keith Waterhouse (based on Bernard’s columns) starring Peter O’Toole. (A film version of the Old Vic production is available on YouTube.)
I mention this bit of journalistic trivia only because your columnist had been unwell,
not from any binge-related “lost weekend” but from the stomach bug that seems to be making the rounds, and thus missed covering two shows (see below) that I was very much interested in.
I did get to see Part II: Dragon Mama, the second of Sara Porkalob’s “Dragon Cycle” plays at the Geffen Playhouse’s smaller theater, through Sun., April 12. Developed at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre, the production puts the energetic Ms. Porkalob on a bare platform stage with a single chair (and very sophisticated light and sound design support) to narrate the second chapter in her family saga.
Like “Part I: Dragon Lady,” “Dragon Mama” is about the Filipina American Porkalob women finding (and surviving) their path: first her gangster-adjacent, cabaret-singing grandmother, and
Review by Louis Fantasia
here her own mother, Sara Porkalob Jr., who struggles with identity, her family, and her inner demons, until she breaks free, moves to Alaska to work on a fishing boat, finds true love, and is reunited with her daughter, who will be the focus of part three. Certainly Porkalob’s family is interesting, but as Tolstoy wrote, every family is unique in its misery. What justifies coming back to the theater for a second helping (and I assume, a third) is Porkalob’s dynamic, colorful, and, yes, charming portrayals of her cast of characters. She switches effortlessly from mother to brother to boss to lover, daughter, and more, giving each character a clean delineation and a clear background.
Everybody gets a fair hearing; people’s failings are accepted as the price of living; and surviving and thriving is cause for celebration, which the audience obviously shares. Did the evening strike me more as test drive for an HBO comedy special than a play? Yes, but, more and more, that seems where play “development” is headed, so, I guess, nothing wrong there. It’s still a touching tale of family misfits told with wry humor, tough love, and, above all, compassion. Jeffrey Bernard would have approved. 310-208-2028; geffenplayhouse.org.
What to watch for
I missed Rogue Machine’s L.A. premiere of Fairview, at the Matrix through Sun., April 19. Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, the 2019 Pulitzer Prize winner is directed by Oz Scott, whose directorial work is rarely seen on L.A. stages. 323-852-1445;
roguemachinetheatre.org. Also missed was Elmer Rice’s 1923 play The Adding Machine, which gets a revival at The Actors’ Gang (through Sat., April 18). When Mr. Zero, after 25 years on the job as an accountant, asks for a raise, he is replaced by an adding machine. Sound familiar? Theactorsgang.com.
L.A. Opera brings Falstaff, Verdi’s comic masterpiece based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor,” to the Music Center, Sat., April 18, to Sun., May 10. 213-9728001; LAOpera.org.
English by Sanaz Toossi and directed by Knud Adams plays at the Wallis from Sun., April 4, to Sun., April 26. The quietly powerful play about four Iranian adults preparing for an English language exam is perhaps even more relevant now than when it earned its Pulitzer in 2023. 310-7464000; thewallis.org.
By Sondi Toll Sepenuk
L.A.’s oldest Irish bar, Tom Bergin’s celebrated 90 years of keeping the neighborhood “refreshed.”
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day bash at the historic 1936 venue was another one for the ages. On March 17, die-hards
showed up at 6 a.m. for a traditional Irish breakfast, with choices of corned beef hash, brussels sprouts, smashed potatoes, honey mustard and scrambled eggs, or the Bergin’s Slam, featuring sliced corned beef, crispy mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs.
By noon, every table was packed both inside and out.
The 98-degree heat was no joke, but the die-hards weren’t bothered. If you were lucky enough to have found a seat at one of the picnic tables outside, the revelers enjoyed music, an Irish lunch, a live bagpiper, Guinness beer, green beer, Irish coffees (yes, even in the heat—these crazy people!!) and a new addition to this year’s menu of libations: pickle beer! By 4 p.m. the line out front stretched from the Bergin’s entrance all the way to 8th Street, everyone wanting a piece of the St. Patrick’s Day action in the city’s place to be.
The extravaganza was celebrated by city officials and neighborhood leaders with
BROTHERS AND OWNERS
David and Francis Castagnetti on stage with CD5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky. several commendations to the historic institution, including by Council District 5 Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Jennifer Hull from Mayor Karen Bass’ office, and Michelle Persoff from State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan’s office. The commendations were presented to owners and brothers Francis and David Castagnetti, who thanked everyone who worked so hard to keep Bergin’s open through both good and hard times. With the soon-to-be-opened La Brea/Wilshire and Fairfax/
Last month opened with a total lunar eclipse.
In the early hours of March 3, visible over northeast Asia, northwestern North America, and the central Pacific Ocean, the moon passed into the Earth’s umbral shadow, reaching its totality at 3:04 a.m. Pacific Time.
When the ancients saw the dimmed full moon, they suspected the worst—that the watchful orb was being devoured whole by wild beasts or that it portended some other ill fate. The Mesopotamians believed the lunar eclipse signaled an imminent attack on their king by seven demons. Armed with the astronomical know-how to predict eclipses, they would install a surrogate leader in the days leading up to the event to bear the brunt and leave the true king unscathed. While the decoy didn’t hold any true power, he was treated well, though
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Wilshire D Line Metro stations, Yaroslavsky said, “this stretch of Wilshire is becoming one of the most active cultural corridors in the city …it means more people, more activity, more energy in this neighborhood, small business foot traffic coming back in a really big way…and Metro is already planning a rail line to connect this area to LAX, to West Hollywood, and the Hollywood Bowl. Places like Tom Bergin’s are rooting this community in place, making itself continue to feel like home for all of us…so cheers to 90 years and sláinte to the next 90!”
Spotted throwing back a pint or two or three of Guinness beer were Eileen Lanza, the Lancaster family, the Houlihan family, Ellie Goralnick and Laura Browder, Ed De La Torres, Tom Lockyer and Catherine Mann.
PAGE ACADEMY
Naya Savodivker 6th Grade Happy Spring! Page Academy welcomed the season with several exciting activities.
We kicked things off with Read
once the eclipse passed he was swiftly disposed of, likely by poisoning.
In astrology, when the moon is obscured we’re said to be thrown into chaos. The moon, our mother, is missing. Our world shattered, we regress into our earliest memories of fear and abandonment, our amygdalar neurons firing as we flail, drowning, pawing around in the dark for something stable to hold onto...or perhaps just get three parking tickets in the span of a week.
The etymology agrees. “Eclipse” originates from the Greek “ékleipsis” ( κλειψις), meaning “an abandonment,” from the words “ek” (out) and “leipein” (to leave), the latter arriving from the Proto-Indo-European “leikw.”
The term was used to describe the sporadic darkening of the moon at least as far back as the 5th century B.C., when Greek philosopher Anaxagoras correctly theorized the mechanism behind the celestial phenomenon.
Say you were to “abandon” the letter “c” in “eclipse” and replace it with an “l”? “Ellipse,” the word for a set of points in a plane defined by two fixed points (think of a stretched circle), arrives from the same root as “eclipse”— the aforementioned “leikw,” meaning “to leave”—so called because the shape falls short of being a perfect circle. To confuse things further, the word entered astronomical parlance in 1604, when German astronomer Johannes Kepler concluded that all planets in our solar system move around the sun in an
Across America Day, where older students read to younger students while everyone enjoyed wearing their favorite pajamas. On March 7, our community came together for the Bloom Event, spending the day installing new planters and revitalizing our school garden. We wrapped up the month with fun Easter activities, including a special visit from the Easter Bunny and an exciting egg hunt before spring break.
“elliptical” orbit.
Drop that last “e” from “ellipse” and add an “is.” The “ellipsis,” the formal name for three consecutive periods used in text, is a stand-in for “left out” words, also arriving from “leikw” and first named as a grammatical device in the 1560s. Used in place of a period at the end of a sentence, the ellipsis might build suspense or allude to something yet to come. It stands in as a typographic eyeroll or awkward silence, or a “typing awareness indicator,” a three-dot torture device seemingly designed only to taunt you as you wait for a response to that “What are we?” text. (And you deserve it if you skipped on asking in person. But I digress...)
A more distant relative borne from the root “leikw” is the word “eleven,” which pairs it with the Gothic word
meaning “one,” eventually developing into the Old English “enleofan,” meaning “one left” (over ten). The next integer up, “twelve,” pairs the Proto-Germanic word for— you guessed it—”two” with “leikw” to form the Old English “twelf,” meaning “two left” (over ten). The train stops there though, as the rest of the numbers in sequence up through 19 use a single-digit number in conjunction with “teen,” from the Old English “tene,” or “ten.”
Another jog around the Earth
At 5 a.m. on March 3, the blood-red phantasm of the moon shifted fully out of the veil of darkness. Tracing the path of its elliptical orbit, the lunar orb reentered its perpetual cycle of leaving and returning, the balance here on Earth restored. For now...
By Nona Sue Friedman
The marionettes from Bob Baker Marionette Theater are hitting the road and heading to Indio, California, to take the stage at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Yes, that’s right, Fridays April 10 and 17 the marionettes will be on the same stage as Sabrina Carpenter, Nine Inch Noize, Devo, Foster the People, and a slew of other musical acts.
With regards to Coachella, MJ Thompson, BBMT’s director of communications, wrote in an email, “You can expect special guests and surprises! Our performance is focused on bringing JOY to all who watch it!”
Also happening in April is the 12th Annual Bob Baker Day. The birthday celebration of the theater’s namesake creator takes place Sun., April 13, at the L.A. State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park will
Students took a walking field trip to Chevalier’s Books and hosted our on-campus Scholastic Book Fair, celebrated Earth Day by planting in our garden, and enjoyed our annual International Day.
be taken over by BBMT with three stages, puppet performances, strolling clowns, music, and art activities. It’s a colorful, festive celebration. Admission is free, but registration at bobbakerday.com is required. A $25 donation is suggested.
More on the horizon from this little theater is their first new show in 40 years. “Choo Choo Revue” is coming to the theater, at 4949 York Blvd. in Highland Park, on Sun., May 17. One hundred puppets were created for this performance, the first show in the theater’s history not created by Bob Baker himself. The legacy of Bob Baker continues despite his physical absence.
The storyline takes the au-
dience on a fantastical train ride through magical lands, where they will meet curious passengers who have whimsical adventures. The audience will meet Auntler the knitting moose and watch a musical band of cicadas jam in their mountain home.
If you need a fix of puppets now, “Hooray LA!” is performing at the theater through Sun., May 3. This show spotlights various areas of the City of Angels, from Chinatown to Venice Beach.
Visit bobbakermarionettetheater.com for tickets and information about a multitude of other events for kids and adults alike.
Since 1975, Coldwell Banker Realty has had the privilege of serving Larchmont and the greater Hancock Park community from a place we proudly called home. For nearly five decades, our office was not simply a location on a map, but a familiar presence — a place where neighbors stopped in, conversations began, and relationships were built over time.
As communities evolve, so too must the way businesses operate. With that in mind, we are sharing that our office located at 251 N Larchmont Blvd will be closing. We understand this may feel like the end of an era, and we acknowledge the sense of loss that can accompany the closing of a place that has long been part of the local landscape.
While our physical footprint is changing, our service is not. Our agents will now be serving Larchmont and the greater Hancock Park community from our new office located at 444 N Larchmont Blvd, Ste 100.
What has not changed — and will not change — is our connection to this community.
Coldwell Banker Realty remains deeply invested in Larchmont and Hancock Park through the agents who live here, raise families here, volunteer here, and continue to serve this market every day. While our presence is transitioning to a new space, it will continue to be defined by people — trusted professionals whose knowledge of these streets, homes, and histories cannot be replicated.
Real estate is ultimately about stewardship. It is about guiding people through meaningful moments and honoring the character of the neighborhoods we serve. Our agents will continue to do just that, with the same care, discretion, and local expertise that this community has come to expect.
We are grateful for the trust placed in us over the past fifty years, and we remain committed to earning that trust in the years ahead. Larchmont and Hancock Park have shaped who we are as a company, and it is our sincere hope that we continue to be worthy of this community’s confidence — today and well into the future.