A Summer's Tale @ The Hollywood Bowl

Snuggling up against a scenic backdrop

of the Hollywood Hills and Hollywood's

iconic white-letter sign to the northeast,

this hillside-carved, shell-shaped, musical

pilgrimage site and La La Lands signature

landmark has been host to the to the most

celebrated musical geniuses of all time

since its debut in 1922. Its instantly

recognizable bowl-like architecture with

a set of concentric arches, and an
audience area that seats nearly 18.000
music-enthusiasts and picnic-under-the
stars-devotees, the Hollywood Bowl is a
one-of-a-kind venue and the largest
modern amphitheater in the US.

As the glorious Californian sun slowly

makes its way down toward the lushly

green hillside, and the moon appears so

frail in the gradually darkening sky, the
magic of the Bowl sets in: a buzzing

scene kicks back while sipping red wine,

noshing cheese, nibbling fruits, and

snacking out of a picnic basket on

brought along munchies. This is when

the lights go up and the first tunes

resound. Bring your own bottle -- that's

the name of this game and a communal

picnic at the Bowl is a greatly cherished

ritual -- so pop the bottle and experience

how this buzz-loaded musical happening,

song-after-song, transforms into a truly

intoxicating, emotional and magical

summer night's tale.

Huge video screens on each side of the

stage offer a more close-up experience

getting the peeps close to the action,

while colossal speakers will make a

concert to a ultimate goose bumps

experience. Bring your own cushion or

rent one -- for comfy lounging all 

through the night.

Here, you surely won't hear the crickets
chirping away in the grass: ever since its
debut -- in a natural state with a fleet of
makeshift wooden benches and a simple
awning over its stage --  an endless
coming and going of the creme de la
creme, rocking even louder with each
time, became common practice. The
Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles,
Morrissey, Van Morrison, Pink Floyd,
The Doors, Kylie Minogue, Elton John,
Donna Summer, Stevie Wonder, Luciano
Pavarotti, Radiohead, the Jazz legend John
Benson to name but a few, put on some
mind-blowing performances and made
the Hollywood Bowl legendary.

While throwing hundreds of glittering
shows each year, hosting billions of
locals and out-of-towners, and featuring
music legends, this popular venue -- which
is owned by the County of Los Angeles,
is the home of the Hollywood Bowl
Orchestra and the summer domicile of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic -- has undergone
many reconstruction carried out by big
names of the architectural world: Lloyd
Wright, eldest son of Frank Lloyd Wright
and Frank Gehry shaped the Bowl's
structure in the past.

For a very special Hollywood Bowl
experience treat yourself to the box seats
at the garden or terrace levels. The Patina
Group -- the Bowl's restaurant -- will
prepare a meal that will be served right in
your box, near to the stage. A spectacular
firework show lures large Hollywood
crowds each year on the Fourth of July.
Jazz fans round out the summer lineup
during the Playboy Jazz Festival. 

Parking is a bitch! All parking lots at the
Bowl are stack parked and there is no early
exit. Be prepared to wait. Take the bus
instead that drops you off right at the
entrance. Or find a slot in the area and
walk from there.

Kristofer Keith – Hollywood's Desinger De Luxe

While accommodating Hollywood's
illustrious crowd amid innovative and
visually impactful interior designs,
integrating distinct design themes into
the specific characteristics of each
space -- from French country side to
lower Manhattan to an exotic Eastern
oasis to a quaint Italian osteria or an
Art Deco sanctuary -- he gets you
right in the thick of it; the creator
extraordinaire whips up a perfect
backdrop to present fare and drinks
in the proper light through wholly
original design aesthetics, and with
this, influences and redefines the
menus of L.A.'s noblest chefs
through his creative genius,
uncommon approach to design,
and ultimate focus on styles and
conceptualization -- Kristofer Keith
is probably the most powerful,
unparalleled interior designer
Hollywood's, revitalising the 
nightlife and dining scene like
none other!

Let's first shine a light on the
master's origins: While attending shop
classes at school, Keith crafted his
own furniture and art at home. Maybe
it's his mom -- who was a jewelry
designer -- from whom he inherited
the artistic gene. After studying fine
arts at UNC-Charlotte and designing
hair salons, clothing stores and his
first nightclub in 1998, he decided
in 2001 that his talents are better
preserved in Los Angeles, California. 

It has been 11 years by now since he
traded Carolina for California and
founded the ubiquitous hospitality
design firm Spacecraft that has 
conjured up a great number of trend-
setting, cult-favorite and one-of-a-kind
eateries, bars, nightclubs and retail
institutions ever since -- proving that
an elaborately conceptualized ambience
with a good flow makes out of "A place
in Echo Park. The place in Echo Park".

Debuting with Ca Buca and Goa in 2007
many other visually enticing haunts
followed: Delux, Kitchen 24, Te'Kila,
the Bowery and Stout Burgers and Beer
became aesthetic masterpieces and
landmarks nestled in the heart of
Hollywood. The list of projects where he
had his skilled fingers in the pie is
endless as is the diversity of institutions 
he resurrected.

Keith's Spacecraft Group consists of
seven powerful individuals who tackle
five to 10 projects at once. Kris' genius
embraces aside from the personal
creation of all furniture and interior
design, the service being a consultant
and general contractor for all architectural
and construction matters. He additionally
facilitates all of the city's inspections.

While working for Citysearch I was
privileged to meet the creator in person.
A special tour with him started at his
private retreat  -- the Spacecraft Studios
-- the birthplace of all his interior design
and architectural brainchilden. With its
open space bar, a cozy lounge and long
stretches of shelves brimming over with
design books and catalogs it is a truly
fruitful sanctuary for inspiration. A
massive chandelier consisting of a host
of diverse kinds of glass light fixtures
bundled together creates one big light
arrangement and a decisive artisitc
statement.

The tour kicks off with a toast, a snack
and an introductory speech about Keith
himself, his current projects and a brief
insight on the locations we were going
to visit that night.

After popping in at Kitchen 24 for a
savory snack and crispy saldas, our
next stop was Delux -- a swanky Art
Deco palace-alike bar that's going to
set the booze-loving crowd back to
the 20s. Then we stopped by at Osaka
that was yet under construction but was
supposed to blend traditional Japanese
cuisine with Peruvian influences by the
time its doors open. The personal tour
ended at Goa -- an exotic Indian-inspired
nightclub where sultry belly-dancers spice
up the vibe in a setting that is watched
by a massive handcrafted Shiva deity and
decorated with Persian rugs, radiating
candlelight and miles of golden chains
descending from above. 

Pinkies Up! @ Lola's Bar & Lounge

The moment when the sun sets about
moving slowly towards West Hollywood's
horizon, the sleepy stretch where North
Fairfax Ave meets Romaine Street comes
back to (night-)life. Cozily tucked away in
the shadows of luscious trees and neatly
trimmed sidewalk greenery is Lola's --
Hollywood's cocktail Mecca, where
Martini epicures find salvation in their
Promised Land of the Apple Martini --
which btw was invented right here. 

With dedication, perseverance and a
sharp foresight in the cocktail department
restaurateur Loren Dunsworth and her
crew of mixologists extraordinaire made
an overnight success with this supper bar
and lounge that was the first in Tinseltown
to list more then 40 Martinis. From its
opening in 1996 until today -- literally 17
billion Martinis later -- Lola's remains on
Hollywood's cocktail radar matchless.

Step into this coquet microcosm of
swimming-pool-size-Martinis and
succumb to the list of more than 70
sweetish tongue-tingling concoctions --
this is the stuff that boozy dreams are
made of! An open space pool table
area is where laid back scenesters
vie for a spot -- even rubbing elbows
with celebrities at times. Dating couples
while away their time in the thick of a 

sultry atmosphere while snacking on
delectable comfort food and snuggling
on plush couches in intimate nooks
hidden in the dark. A flirtatious crowd
of 30-Somethings swarms around black
wooden tables and over tasty appetizers
while making the main dining room
abuzz with the latest Hollywood buzz.
Patrons get close to the action at the
two bar areas where mixologists conjure
up their latest Martini creations --
shaking it up seven nights a week! First-
come first-serve is Lolas' bar policy.

Being the birthplace of flavored Martinis,
Lola's top mixologists have created a
wide array of diverse Martini creations
and flavors over the past years: From the
classic Dirty to the super-sweet Caramel
Apple to the daring Garlic Mashed Potato,
to the Cantalope, the the Strawberry Fields,
Pear, Chocolate- or Apple-flavored, Lime
Pie or Lemon Drop -- Lola's famous Martini
list leaves nothing to be desired. Do you
dig caffeine and alcohol together? There is
a vodka-enhanced frappuccino-inspired
drink included in their repertoire. Are you
a Cirque du Soleil fan? It's magic comes
right to you in a sugar rimmed glass
containing Saké, Vermouth, ginger and
edible glitter. Every alcoholic masterpiece
arrives beautifully garnished according to
flavor or theme.

Chef Reagan Moore Jr. dishes up a menu
that contains starters like: A spicy avocado
and crab tower with tomato marmalade and
red bell pepper coulis -- here your best bet
is the PMP Martini for a sublime dining
experience; Peppery greens, tangy shrimp,
smooth bleu cheese along with an orange
reduction with tarragon vinaigrette -- opt for
the Clockwork Orange Martini for perfect
indulgence. Or debauch in Lola's staple:
the beloved Mac and Cheese.
Entrées include: A Blue Moon-braised
shrimp and angel hair pasta tossed with
sun-dried tomatoes and tarragon pesto --
goes perfectly with Blue Moon White Ale
Draft. A flaky salmon and roasted root
vegetable medley join up a tomato confit
and white butter and basil sauce. Wash it
down with a What a Pear Martini! Grilled
tenderloin enriched with an ample gamut
of flavors like spinach, caramelized shallots,
drizzled with a blood orange demiglace
satisfies a carnivore's palate. Say cheers
with the Blood Orange Martini.

Happy Hour is from Monday through
Saturday 5:30 pm to 7 pm, and Sunday 4
pm to 7 pm. The kitchen dishes up food
until 2 am daily, but the lounge and bar
scene is abuzz until much later.

945 N Fairfax Avenue

West Hollywood

CA 9046

Paradise Cove Café: The Taste of Malibu

Aiming to preserve a slice of Southern
California beach lifestyle, Bob Morris --
who grew up in Malibu -- opened this
ocean breeze infused café, restaurant
and scenic getaway in 1970's. Tucked
away in idyllic Paradise Cove, near the
romantic Paradise Cove Pier (north of
Malibu, just off Highway 1), this one-of-
a-kind sea-front-dining-and-drinking-
establishment is framed by stunning
bluffs, sea waves crushing on the shore,
fine sand beaches as far as the eye can
see, and swanky boats moored nearby.
Sounds familiar? This multi-room beach
shack served as a backdrop to some
legendary shows and blockbusters like
The OC, Baywatch, The Rockford Files,
American Pie 2 and Beach Blanket
Bingo to name but a few.
Dishing up tasty grub to a laid-back
thong-and-sarong-clad crowd lounging
in spacious booths that line the main
dining area; pouring out booze to crispy
brown surfers and Hawaiian-shirt-
sporting sunny boys hanging out at
a hut-alike Mojito bar that offers (aside
from Caribbean-leaning cocktails) breath-

taking views over the beach and the latest
scores on flat-screen TVs; and serving
coastal specialties to a sun-worshipping
crowd at the waterfront patio right on
the sand -- this legendary oasis is not
only Malibu's landmark but probably the
one and only eatery in La La Land where
you can kick off your sandals, dip your
feet into warm sand while digging in and
getting your Mojito fix in the thick of the
beauty of oceanic scenery ... only a few
steps away from the Pacific.
Out-of-towners, locals, families and
suntanned Malibeauties haunt this ultra-
popular joint, and celeb drop-ins are quite
frequent. A mellow vibe pervades this no-
frills scene while vigorous chit-chat seems
to be ubiquitous. Vintage black-and-white
photos reflecting Malibu's historic
microcosm line the back walls.

As soon as the night rolls in first-daters
and couples gather around the coveted
patio tables to soak up the romantic vibe
while sipping and listening to the lapping
waves. On chilly days heat lamps and a
crackling fireplace indoors heat up
atmosphere. Live music action rocks the
hut every Tuesday and Thursday night, 
and an annual 4th of July celebration
firework show casts sparkling lights over
Malibu's coastal splendor. 

A traditional American breakfast menu
includes 3-egg-omelets that arrive oozing
with Jack and Cheddar cheese. Additional
goodies and topping options (such as rice,
black beans, tomato studded guac, sausage
and shrimp) give this high-protein dish a
special twist. Carrot Cake Waffles are taste-
buds-blowing and Macadamia Coconut
Pancakes are heavenly fluffy -- to live for!
"Serving Fresh Catch of the Day" -- this is 
the lunch and dinner menu's credo.Try the
flavorful Macadamia Coconut Shrimp or dig
into a whole Maine Lobster Pasta tossed in
a rich tomato and garlic sauce. Steamed
Mussels bathed in a savory wine and butter
vinaigrette are finger-licking tender and lush.
Parmesan-crusted Halibut is another specialty
a la maison. "Mile High" is this eatery's sweet
incentive featuring 8 Inch of chocolatey
layers thickly covered with chocolate icing.
Patrons wash it down with a Pineapple Mojito
while watching the setting sun over sparkling
ocean waters.
Avoid weekend waits! Instead come on
weekdays, arrive early or make a reservation.
If there is a wait you will get lobster-shaped
pager that will buzz as soon as your table is
ready. Bon Appétit!