EXPLORING
West Hollywood TRENDS IN FASHION, DESIGN AND FOOD OFTEN BEGIN IN L.A., AND MANY OF THOSE INNOVATIONS CAN BE TRACED TO THE PIONEERING COMMUNITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD.
➺For a municipality measuring less than two square miles and with fewer than 35,000 residents, West
Hollywood wields enormous influence over the L.A. lifestyle. With a number of world-class art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, nightclubs and theaters, it’s a frequent destination for locals and tourists alike. After dark, this iconic stretch of Sunset Boulevard between Doheny Drive and Crescent Heights Avenue becomes the hottest stretch of asphalt in L.A. County. The club scene here rocks with many legendary establishments. The Roxy, the Whisky a Go-Go and the Viper Room have a long history of hosting performances from rock ‘n’ roll’s finest. Other Sunset Strip nightclubs include Rock & Reilly’s and newer 1 OAK. The Comedy Store continues to showcase the leading names in stand-up as well as emerging stars. During the day, boutiques such as beloved Book Soup draw traffic. Hotels are an integral part of the Sunset Strip scene. Chateau Marmont, a glorious and notorious celebrity hangout throughout the decades, remains a discreet local getaway. Skybar, at the style-conscious Mondrian, retains its aura of exclusivity. At the Sunset Tower Hotel, Bugsy Siegel’s former suite has been converted into the Tower Bar.
Sunset Plaza
Sunset Plaza, between La Cienega and San Vicente boulevards on Sunset Boulevard, is a
collection of tony shops and bistros with an international flavor and free parking, a novelty in this neighborhood. This is the city’s Euro Zone, where you’re apt to hear more French and Italian than Valley Girl. For up-to-the-minute fashion, check out the collections at Zadig & Voltaire or either of the two H. Lorenzo shops. Pamper yourself with a facial and massage at Ole Henriksen Face/Body Spa, a blowout at Drybar or a makeover at Blushington.
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue has become virtually synonymous with trendiness, and new expressions in fashion, art and food continue to percolate up and down this street with multiple personalities. One stretch of Melrose, east of Fairfax Avenue, has an eclectic mix of indie boutiques, cafes and coffeehouses interspersed with tattoo parlors and vintage shops. Stores such as Wasteland have wild facades and vibrant signage that add energy to the scene. Farther west, Melrose becomes très sophistiqué, showcasing upscale tastes at Ron Herman, Kelly Wearstler, TenOverSix and Vivienne Westwood. Just off Melrose
is the quiet, fashionable three-block street of Melrose Place, where Bentleys line up for chic salons such as Frédéric Fekkai and cutting-edge boutiques such as the Row, Monique Lhuillier and Isabel Marant.
West Hollywood Design District Melrose Avenue’s massive Pacific Design Center is the hub of L.A.’s flourishing art, fashion and design district, formerly known as the Avenues, which runs along the pedestrian-friendly retail corridors of Melrose and Beverly and Robertson boulevards. The complex itself—monolithic blue, green and red buildings designed by celebrated architect Cesar Pelli—is itself noteworthy, and its 1.2 million square feet house more than 130 showrooms catering to professional designers and luxury homeowners. PDC is also home to a satellite of downtown’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and a stylish Wolfgang Puck eatery, Red Seven.
Beverly + West 3rd
Beverly Boulevard and West 3rd Street are major east-west streets running through West Hollywood, filled with trendy restau-
FROM LEFT: DALE BERMAN; MONICA NOUWENS. OPPOSITE: SARAH HADLEY
Sunset Strip
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