Pride LA - May 2024

Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Over Playful

Video, Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias

Accents Owner Steven Hanna Reflects on Decades Long Legacy

Mayor Konstantine Anthony Defends Actions Amid Controversy Over Video

By Dolores Quintana

For 37 years, Accents Jewelry has transcended mere commerce, evolving into a vibrant community, a crucible of creativity, and a sanctuary for cherished moments.

Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is facing criticism from conservatives following the circulation of a video showing him being spanked by a drag queen during an event on the weekend of September 10. Anthony has responded that some of his critics are motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the incident was harmless.

In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was

Founder Steven Hanna’s legacy resonates far beyond the store’s physical space, as his commitment to mentoring and nurturing aspiring designers has seeded dreams and shared wisdom spanning decades.

With mixed emotions, the store announced its closure in February. Beloved Accents clientele have until April 30th to acquire exquisite pieces at unbeatable prices as a token of their appreciation.

World Premiere of Documentary Was Screened After 20-Minute Delay

Hanna was born in a nurturing family surrounded by old country relatives. From the age of 12, surfing encapsulated his childhood and in the 60s, he went to college to major in art, all of which laid the groundwork for idealistic values that stayed true to him throughout his life. With his sculpting background, he acquired an apprenticeship position at Venice Lapidary Guild where he learned how to carve wax that would be cast in silver and gold, and to carve the stones that he would set into jewelry designs.

By Dolores Quintana

The premiere of “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setback on Saturday night due to a bomb threat.

Hanna started his own business in 1973 by taking in special order rings, doing craft shows, and wholesaling to boutiques and department stores. He found working alongside other creative minds rewarding, so he proceeded to conceptualize an idea for a communitybased retail store.

“Not that much different from the family of neighbors and friends that gravitated to my home in the canals

Judy Lung, TIFF’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, confirmed to CTV News Toronto via a written statement that the festival was alerted to an investigation “in the vicinity of the red carpet” at Roy

where I lived throughout the 70s,” he said. Hanna started taking business courses at UCLA in the 80s while looking for the right location for a unique retail store that catered to his target market.

jewelry needs … even if it meant going downtown or to my bench workers shop before I opened the store in the morning.”

you about it. There is no reason to involve all of the other people who were not at a public event, not at a government-sponsored event. It

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their support for Mayor Anthony and strongly denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate portrayal of their event for political purposes that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”

Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set to be screened.

Lung stated, “Our standard security measures remained in place during this time, and the screening commenced with a slight delay. To our knowledge, this was a general threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”

“It was interesting in being exposed to the basic principles of business, especially how they related to my personal struggles working with larger companies, and how much of it did not relate with my own values. I found my longtime interest in the philosophies and religions from the east and enlightened authors who integrated ancient wisdom with modern living in the west, to be more relevant to my creative business practices,” he said.

In 1987, Hanna opened Accents Jewelry Design on Main Street near the Venice and Santa Monica boundary line where he featured his work alongside other designers, some of which he knew from his early craft fair circuit and trade shows.

“The unique handmade jewelry, personal services offered and affordable prices kept people coming back,” he said. “I was so passionate about bringing together my purpose and everything I had learned toward establishing relationships and taking care of all their

Three years later, Hanna started a weekly workshop teaching the lost wax jewelry making technique and the workshops have continued to this day. He eventually moved Accents to the corner of Ashland and Main Street in 1993, a location that favored more foot traffic.

With training help from Accents Supervising Manager Johanna Torell, Hanna said they instill in each designer the importance of personal service and community by which Accents is known.

“We all honor the creative apprentice designers that came before them, who are now successful designers,” Hanna said.

“I started recruiting like minded students from my weekly workshop to work as apprentice designers and today my dream has come true as the store

A spokesperson for the Toronto police informed CTV News Toronto that the threat had been conveyed to the festival’s private security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Toronto police and the private

security swept the scene and cleared it within 20 minutes,” noted Constable Victor Kwong. Toronto police also clarified that the threat had a general nature and did not specifically target any individual or entity.

As the store is embarking to close soon, Hanna will deeply miss the sense of community that has surrounded Accents since its inception.

was referring to the Twitter account, now known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which

what happened over the weekend, send me an email. Send me an email. I will talk to

SAMUEL B.

supports six of us jewelry designers,” Hanna said.

Music Legend Light Up Long Beach’s Carpenter Center

This Spring Long Beach’s Carpenter Center is home to mustsee performances this spring with the legendary Broadway star Lucie Arnaz on May 8–9.

Broadway Star Lucie Arnaz

Must-see music legend is singer and actress Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. She commands the Carpenter Center’s cabaret stage on Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9 at 8 p.m. in I Got the Job! Songs From My Musical Past with musical director Ron Abel. Expect the best of Broadway, hilarious behind-the-scenes stories,

They’re Playing Our Song, and more!)

The ultimate mid-week treat, Lucie Arnaz’s two-night run at the Carpenter Center takes place on the Center’s cabaret stage, where you get to take in the fun from cabaret seating never more than 40 feet from the Broadway star. Here’s a tip if you’re new to the Carpenter Center’s cabaret series—add the optional preshow dinner to your order and you can whet your appetite with delicious food, iconic music, and Lucie’s engaging storytelling—all in one fabulous evening.

Don’t miss out on the chance to see the music legend on stage! Grab your tickets at www.carpenterarts.org, then prepare for unforgettable nights as Lucie Arnaz hit all the high notes for Broadway buffs and jazz enthusiasts. The Carpenter Center is located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, minutes from where the 405 and 605 meet. Ample parking is available directly in front of the Center ($10).

Get Tickets to all Carpenter Center events

‘Mannies’ Becoming More Prevalent

THE MUSIC MINUTE

Find Your Perfect Manny Through Mannies of LA

By Susan Payne

Positive male role models are essential for early childhood development in protecting children against barriers that can make transition into adulthood more difficult. While the U.S. is found to have the largest rate of children living in single-parent households, ensuring your children have positive male role models can contribute to a child’s success, morality, social emotional learning and positive outlook.

Whether that be a teacher, neighbor, coach or mentor, more parents are choosing positive male role models to enhance their children’s lives. That’s why educator Michael Lin founded Mannies of LA, a referral agency that connects families with “mannies,” male nannies who serve as positive male role models.

“I wanted to provide families with an alternative option for positive male role models. I noticed in my teaching career, especially in Los Angeles, children had tons of female role models, and there was a lack of positive male role models. Parents would ask me if I could teach their kids sports, or help with their birthday parties, and they saw how important it was to have a balance of both positive people role models,” Lin said.

Mannies, through Mannies of LA, provide a consistent positive male influence and strong emotional bond with children. Undergoing a thorough application, background check and interview process, Lin has curated a network of mannies and works with families to find the perfect manny — one who shares the same interests as your child and meets your needs as a caregiver. Mannies are dedicated to enriching young lives with their vast experiences as teachers, athletes, behavioral therapists,

musicians, artists and entertainers.

“We work one-on-one with families throughout the selection process and determine preferences, needs, budget and schedule, and any special set of skills the family is looking for in a manny. After listening to the parents and understanding what their needs are, I take that into consideration as I pair families with a manny that will engage, teach, influence, work and play with your children,” he said. “My longtime background in education gives me a good sense of what parents are looking for, so while I’m interviewing candidates, I’m also looking for intention and intangible items, the feeling and the way they present themselves.”

As the need for positive male role models grows, and the idea of hiring a male nanny becomes more mainstream, Lin has also grown his network of mannies to ensure the most success in pairing individuals with families, breaking down the negative perception of males working in childcare.

“One of our goals is to break that negative perception down and to show families that male nannies can do the same thing as female nannies. We understand that parents may be on the fence, so we do offer nanny referrals as well,” Lin said.

Mannies of LA has been featured on LATV’s “Get It Girl” and in VoyageLA. To learn more about Mannies of LA and find the perfect manny for your family, visit ManniesofLA.com.

Fun, sun, and nostalgia at Pacific Park on the Pier.

Perhaps you visited as a child or a teenager. Maybe these days you enjoy it with your kids. Or maybe you’ve only seen the fun from a distance. Either way, you’re probably familiar with the iconic presence of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier: the enormous silhouette of the Ferris wheel; the roller coaster emitting screams of delight; and the colorful swoop of the Sea Dragon ride.

Looking directly out on the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Park is an amusement park like no other. Millions of visitors enjoy it each year, and it’s not hard to see why, with a dozen rides, popular Midway arcade games and delicious over-ocean dining—including those classic funnel cakes of course!

And then there’s the weather. Those who live in Santa Monica know we enjoy an average of 280 days of sunshine a year, making this one of the sunniest amusement parks, as well as the only West Coast amusement park directly located on a pier. It’s also the only Los Angeles’ amusement park that you can enter totally free of charge.

Pacific Park’s purpose is to provide an authentic California amusement experience, where guests of all ages play

together in a safe and unrivaled setting. And, over the years, the park has been continually upgraded and improved upon so that the fun never stops.

“We are always looking at new and exciting ways to improve the visitor experience,” says Nathan Smithson, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “This means new rides including Shark Frenzy and the Seaside Swing, games such as Whac-A-Mole, and exciting new food offerings while staying true to guests’ favorites like burgers, hotdogs, and Scoops Icecream & Treats.”

The Park opened in 1996, and having a tight maintenance schedule is important to make sure everything stays in tip-top shape. This includes recently refurbishing the famous ‘Inkie’ octopus that sits above the entranceway welcoming visitors.

Among its many other attractions, the Park is perhaps most famous for its Pacific Wheel—the world’s first and only solarpowered Ferris wheel. Measuring 85 feet, the wheel moves at 2.5 revolutions per minute with intermittent stops to pick up passengers.

Not only does the wheel provide

incredible views of the Southern California coastline and Los Angeles skyline from more than 130 feet above the Pier, but it’s also lit up in the evenings by more than 174,000 energyefficient LED lights. These lights provide spectacular computer-generated visual entertainment and special programming to commemorate holidays and special events.

Pacific Park also boasts the only West Coast steel roller coaster located on a Pier over the Pacific Coastline. Riders are treated to refreshing ocean sprays as they rise to 55 feet in the air, enjoying spectacular views before a thrilling drop and 35 mph ride that circles the park. Another ride, Inkie’s Scrambler, is a 12-car fast-paced ride that performs a series of roundabout moves and

rotations at more than 11 revolutions per minute. And Pacific Plunge is a 44-foot exhilarating tower ride that leaves riders feeling weightless while providing a breathtaking view of the Pacific.

Pacific Park is so iconic it has appeared in over 500 movies and television shows, including Fat Albert, Hannah Montana, Kidsongs, 90210, Bean, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V. All of this makes for the quintessential Southern California experience. So, whether you want to test your skills on the Midway video games, win prizes at the Ring Toss and Water Race, be thrilled on the West Coaster, or make memories of a lifetime, you’ll be taking part in a little bit of SoCal history while you’re at it.

Wise & Healthy Aging Goes Gray on Denim Day

In observance of April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a nonprofit that advances the dignity and quality of life for older adults, wore the color gray on Denim Day, April 24, to shed light on sexual abuse that is chronically underreported and under identified in the aging community.

As an organization, WISE & Healthy Aging started participating in Denim Day, an international campaign designated to protest erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault, in 2018.

Denim Day in Los Angeles was founded in 1999, when a rape conviction was overturned in Italy because the victim was wearing tight jeans that could only be removed by her, which, to the courts, implied consent. Roman Parliamentarians were furious, and coined the term, “jean alibi.” California lawmakers wore jeans on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento in solidarity with the Roman legislators.

“We started wearing gray to help elevate the awareness of older sexual assault survivors, because there are misconceptions — that older people are immune to sexual assault, but that’s not the case. Sexual assault is about power and control, and that makes older people sometimes the target of someone who is trying to assert power and control,” said WISE President and CEO, Molly Davies. Not only did the organization wear denim

in support of Denim Day, but the gray shirts support added awareness of sexual violence among the aging population.

“To us, it helps elevate the voice of older survivors and really, it’s a conversation starter. Participating in this campaign opens the door to raise awareness, it normalizes having those uncomfortable conversations to encourage healing,” Davies said. “Not only do survivors of sexual assault get older, but also sexual assault happens to older adults.”

Sexual violence is one of the many forms of abuse that WISE & Healthy Aging works to eliminate. Through leadership, advocacy and its wide range of innovative services, the organization advances the dignity and quality of life of older adults.

“When you see one form of abuse — financial, neglect, physical, sexual — there’s often more than one occurring at a time. It’s known that one in 10 older adults experience some sort of abuse and when you think about the impact it has on the victim, it should raise concern for all members of the community,” said Miles McNeeley, Vice President of Elder Abuse Prevention at WISE.

A person experiencing elder abuse is three times more likely to die, twice as likely to be hospitalized, and physical and mental health deterioration is greater when abuse is occurring, McNeeley said.

Elder abuse is often not reported, for fear

Support.

of loss of autonomy or decision making, but McNeeley said it is important to report, so a plan of action can be developed.

“Financial abuse or exploitation can be violating and stigmatized by society, it affects people so deeply, so we have support groups in place for older adults to share their experiences and get support,” McNeeley said.

When elder abuse is suspected, it is important to contact the appropriate agency depending on whether the abuse occurred in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or in the home. For more information on how to recognize the signs of abuse and where to report it, go to the Elder Justice Guide at wiseandhealthaging.org.

To investigate abuse, WISE has a team of advocates and a multidisciplinary team in place to review cases and garner solutions, in addition to its Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program that serves as advocates for seniors and adults with disabilities in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

For more information on Wise & Healthy Aging and resources, visit wiseandhealthyaging.org.

But

Local Pianist to Debut Fully-Orchestrated Elton John Tribute

Acclaimed pianist Michael Sobie brings his vision and sound to life with the premiere of ROCKET MAN: A Live Orchestral Experience, debuting May 17th in Santa Monica.

An avid fan of Sir Elton John, Michael has been following the legend’s storied career for over 30 years. Primarily studying classical piano as a child, Michael would read Elton John sheet music to learn the songs after he finished his lesson practice. In fact, he attributes much of his playing style, ability to read chords, excellent sight reading, and love of a good secondary dominant to the Elton library.

Having spent over a decade dreaming of creating a show of this magnitude, he finally found the perfect time to pour his talent and undeniable skillset into a concert that is years in the making.

Developing ROCKET MAN began in 2016. Since then, Michael has performed a 75-minute version of the show in various iterations, including solo at the piano and with an 11-piece rock band. However, he still had the urge to do something bigger.

Writing this show for an orchestra was neither quick nor easy, but a challenge Michael looked forward to tackling and perfecting. Without the original

recordings’ guitars and synths, it was important for Michael to capture the supportive essence of the Elton John band while using more acoustic instruments. To do this, he took on the biggest element of all: updating the classic songs with his own arrangements and orchestrations.

Though he will be assuming the role of the titular Rocket Man that evening, Michael actually prefers to share the spotlight. Joining him onstage will be some of LA’s finest musicians who have collectively recorded and performed with the likes of Hans Zimmer, Stevie Nicks, Barbra Streisand, and, of course, Elton John himself.

Considering the vast catalogue of the rock icon, choosing which songs to include proved overwhelming, so Michael enlisted the help of a very special creative team: his husband’s family. At a reunion, they voted on which songs they wanted Michael to include on the program. Once he added a few of his favorite deeper cuts, the 21-song set list was born and the excitement was in full swing.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Michael began playing almost immediately after his grandparents gifted him a piano on Christmas Day in 1987. Years of dedication and practice led him

on an incredible professional journey that began by touring with Broadway musicals such as Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, Wicked, and Les Miserables. Eventually, he landed in Los Angeles in 2013 where he currently resides. Michael has since gone on to perform worldwide with HBO’s Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience – based on the massively popular television series –alongside the show’s composer, Ramin Djawadi, as keyboardist and assistant conductor for a number of years. In 2019, Djawadi handed Michael the baton

to conduct their fourth international

Additionally, Michael has recorded and conducted soundtracks for television and film. His experience showcases countless performances that live in a wide array of musical settings. Ultimately, Michael reached a point where he wanted to branch out with his own creative passion.

Check out ROCKET MAN: A Live Orchestral Experience one night only, May 17, 8:00pm, at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica. Tickets can be found at rocketmanorchestra.com.

tour.

Get Jokerfied with The People’s Joker Director Vera Drew Interview; Now Playing at the Nuart Theatre

Vera Drew on

Crafting a Trans Supervillain and Creating Comedy Chaos

By Dolores Quintana

The People’s Joker is an explosive queer coming-of-age superhero parody and so much more. I spoke with the co-writer and director of the film, Vera Drew, about knowing when to stop tinkering with a movie, how to craft a trans supervillain, comedy Freemasons, and meeting the mayor of Wichita dressed like a unicorn.

This brilliant and hilarious film is playing at the American Cinematheque until May 9, with a special Q&A on May 3. It will also screen at the Alamo Drafthouse.

The film features cameos from comedy multi-hyphenate Tim Heidecker, award-

winning actor Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford (Netflix’s Big Mouth, Adult Swim’s Teenage Euthanasia), and Scott Aukerman (Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis co-creator and host of the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast), with Vera Drew, Lynn Downey (Amazon Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & The Six), Nathan Faustyn (SADDLED), and Kane Distler, in his film debut.

Dolores Quintana: I’m not going to say that the movie wasn’t funny when I watched it by myself, but it was a different experience when I watched it with a crowd of people.

Vera Drew: I’ve always considered it a movie that should be viewed with a group of people. One of the biggest inspirations from the movie is Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is one of my favorite queer coming-of-age films of all time. But it is also a midnight movie. I think I was really, and it’s a little gauche to say, I was trying to make a midnight movie.

Dolores Quintana: I’ve heard from several artists; some are musicians and directors. But they always say that sometimes, it’s just so hard to stop

tinkering because you’re pursuing that type of perfection of your vision. They said that you might think so, but I could

add this and change that. They also say that your perspective changes over time. Vera Drew: So many of the

conversations in the movie are just based on real-life conversations that I’ve had. I also think that filmmaking in and of itself feels impossible. Making a movie so hard. I think being an artist is a struggle. That makes it hard to stop working on something because I’m a human being making a film. I’m not a spiritual entity making a full actual Universe. I think it’s that you meet your limitations of humanity. You realize how you are not God when you’re making a movie.

Dolores Quintana: I’ve been fascinated with the creation process, where people get the ideas, and how inspiration tells you, “Okay, this would be the best thing to do at this point in the movie. You should just have the hunter-seeker spy machine drop right on this person’s head.” Because that would never happen in real life because, thankfully, those things don’t exist.

Vera Drew: Yet.

Dolores Quintana: That’s right. They don’t exist yet. But that’s been one of my fascinations. But it’s gotta be tough as a creator to do just like hit a wall and think, “Oh, wow, I can’t do that. I can see this in my mind. But how am I going to get there?”

Vera Drew: When Bri LeRose and I were writing the script, I had a movie that I had started writing the year before we wrote The People’s Joker that had a lot of these themes wrapped up in it. When it became a Joker parody, there were even more themes that bubbled to the surface. There was so much we wanted to tell, and it was such a big story because the story is my life story and Bri’s, too. It’s both of us. I love how David Lynch talks about ideas. He gets misinterpreted all the time as being megalomaniacal or rigid about sticking to his original idea. You’ll hear him talk about sticking with that original idea. But he’s right.

Dolores Quintana: That’s one of the funniest things about the film because people just see this happening, and I think their brains are kind of brainwashed by the MCU and the DCEU to expect certain things. When they don’t see them at first, they’re like, huh? But then it becomes funny to them. Because the longer they watch, the more they start to recognize things they already know and accept in superhero films. It makes it easier, in a way, for people to allow the ideas of the

Vera Drew: I’m glad you brought it up like that because putting the trailer out there has been interesting. It was very interesting because it’s a movie where I’ll be scrolling through Twitter. I’ll have one person calling me a genius who made a masterpiece and another saying that I’m a groomer and that I should get sued and financially ruined by Warner Brothers.

I’ll never forget we screened it at a festival in Kansas, which was amazing. It was such a fun experience. I met the mayor of Wichita that day, got a photo op, and was dressed like a unicorn. It was really weird.

But I was outside while the movie was playing, and this older man walked out and was vaping. He recognized me, of course, because he had been watching the film. He said, “I just needed to take a break.” I was like, “Hey, that’s fine.”

Vera Drew: More than anything, it is a love story between Mr. J and Joker the Harlequin, but it’s also a story about mothers and daughters. That’s why I dedicated it to my mom. Really, how do you heal from that kind of dynamic when it is as dysfunctional as what we show in the movie?

Dolores Quintana: I think those are some of the most successful movies. I think there’s a weird viewpoint that

everything has to be very cut and dried in films about structure: first act, second act, third act, arc of the character, blah, blah, blah, blah. And who cares? You’re making your own movie; why don’t you do it your way?

Vera Drew: But then the audience sees it. I can’t tell you how many things in the movie I thought, “That’s too crazy. That’s a crazy specific thing that I’m including that nobody will ever relate to except for me.” But all of those moments—I’ve had the experience of watching them resonate with people, both cis audiences and trans audiences and everybody in between. It’s quite cool.

Dolores Quintana: I don’t think you can make movies with the idea, in my opinion, that you’re going to appeal to certain people. You just have to do what seems right, and people will gravitate towards it.

Vera Drew: I think generally that audiences don’t even necessarily know that that’s what they want. I know audiences are fed up with movies and where mainstream films are at. It’s hard getting people to go to theaters to see indie films because people are so sick of the big mainstream projects. I think the real problem is those movies are dumbed down too much. They’re tested. They do test screenings that change the

Children’s Learning Lab offers exceptional small-group

artistic voice in a million different ways. So, by the time it gets to the public, it’s for nobody. They tried to make it for everybody. So now it’s for nobody. I knew we were throwing a little bit of a Molotov cocktail at something and would be doing it in a way that wouldn’t be for everybody.

Dolores Quintana: You did a great job with that, in particular, framing it within that specific arena. A lot of people are going to be able to vibe with it once they watch it. It’s going to mean something to them whether they are trans, especially if they’re trans or LGBTQ, but I also think some cis people are going to react positively as well because there are many things that they could relate to in it.

Vera Drew: After our very first screening at The Toronto Film Festival, this middle-aged woman came up to me after the screening, and she was crying. So, at first, I thought, “Oh, God, what is this gonna be?” This middle-aged cis woman asked me, “Can I hug you?” I said,” Sure.” We hugged, and she said,” I don’t know how to articulate what I just saw. I feel like I understand how to talk to my daughter more now, having watched this movie tonight.” She has a trans daughter. I never thought that [would happen]; I made the movie to process my complicated relationship with my cis mother. I never thought I’d have a mother of a trans woman come up to me and say, “Thank you for making this.”

I think we live in a time where even if people aren’t queer, their experience is pretty queer. Many people in the States especially feel very left behind right now. I’ll see trans people and queer people all the time say things like, we should be talking about queer joy. Does every piece of queer art need to be trauma porn? I’ve even gotten criticism about how you could make the Joker a trans woman. The Joker is a murderer, and you think that’s going to help trans women? I think I made a movie with a queer villain, and I live in a country where queer people are villainized every single day.

film into their brains.

Shutters on the Beach

As spring unfurls with super blooms and sunsets after 7pm along the California coast, Shutters on the Beach emerges as the most sublime destination for seasonal festivities and fare. While its direct beachfront location brings the soothing hint of ocean breezes, Shutters idyllic setting welcomes those seeking a natural haven from their daily hustle and bustle.

Here’s how you can “spring into summer” on the beach at Shutters: Sunset Hour happens Tuesday through Thursday at Coast Café and Bar, bringing casual beachside charm and a menu that sings of spring harvest. From 3 pm to 6 pm, the Coast Bar becomes a vibrant scene of hotel guests and locals enjoying exquisite cocktails and light, flavorful bites and half off beer and wine and $12 well cocktails. https://resy. com/cities/santa-monica-ca/venues/ coast?seats=2&date=2024-04-26

Aperitivo Night is back in The Living Room, a sophisticated yet welcoming lounge with fireside and al fresco seating. Ideal for enjoying an evening aperitif or a night cap every Wednesday from 6 pm to 10 pm. Engaging Executive Chef Vittorio Lucariello presents his favorite cheese and charcuterie from around the world prepared to your preferences.

Enjoy Live Music in the Living Room evenings from Monday through Saturday.

https://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/ dining/living-room

Don your favorite spring fashion and sunnies for a leisurely afternoon at St. Germain’s Le Jardin in The Courtyard from Friday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Sip refreshing elderflower infused Hugo Spritzes and Lemonade in the Shade in a relaxing garden party setting.

Chef Sean Runyon’s Simply Grilled Menu at 1 Pico Restaurant remains a standout, serving dinner Thursday to Monday from 5:30pm 9:30pm. Its panoramic views and menu blend Californian innovation with global influences, providing a journey that complements its stunning coastal setting.

https://resy.com/cities/ santa-monica-ca/venues/1pico?seats=2&date=2024-04-26

Mother’s Day is just around the corner so plan for May 12 merriment with the woman who gave you life! Reserve early as seating is already limited!

After exploring what’s happening at Shutters, be sure to check out Shutters’ sister property Hotel Casa Del Mar next door. Casa’s lively offerings and additional distinctive dining options ensure that the vibrant spirit of Santa Monica’s two premiere beachfront luxury hotels will provide the finest seaside activity and excitement.