Thoughts on the watering hole.
Plus a Glendale hammer attack, a 117-year-old restaurant bids adieu, and a cottage by the reservoir.
Happy Monday, everyone. I was in town over the fourth for the first time in years. I kind of thought LA would feel empty, but there were more people here than ever?
In today’s newsletter: thoughts on LA watering holes, a Glendale hammer attack, Balenciaga joins Substack, Ojai’s hot new hotel, a 117-year-old restaurant bids adieu, and a cottage by the reservoir.
Thoughts on the watering hole.
On Saturday night, after basking at a barbecue all afternoon, I hit the one-two punch of Zizou and Seco with some friends. The evening reinforced for me a) the power of a good group, b) the importance of mood lighting, and c) the crucial role of a neighborhood watering hole.
There are certain places you’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know. For entertainment types, it’s places like the Chateau, Tower Bar, and San Vicente Bungalows. On the east side, it’s Seco and Capri Club (plus maybe Soho Warehouse, if you grew up on the west side and require certain mass-produced creature comforts). The success of these places made me think of the downtown clubs of the last century, which also hosted well-dressed patrons in oak-paneled environs and trafficked in an air of plush exclusivity.
Unbeknownst to many, these clubs still exist — the LA Athletic Club and the California Club, among others, occupy historic downtown buildings that honestly seem prime for scenester adoption. Design-wise, they’re catnip for the creative crowd. Functionally, you can work in the lounge, work out in the gym, and meet friends for a martini without leaving the building. I’m scheduling tours of both and will report back, but I’m curious — is a local members club something east siders want in 2025?
🍽️ And now for some table scraps…
A man was arrested for attacking mall-goers with a hammer at the Glendale Galleria. As the less-attractive, less-appealing neighbor to the Americana, the Galleria already has a tough hill to climb. This isn’t helping.
“Anne Hathaway is Your Mother, Mary.” In my early-morning stupor, I read this NY Mag headline as “Anne Hathaway is Oh, Mary.” I’m excited for this A24 movie with Michaela Coel, but imagine Anne doing a limited run as Mary Todd Lincoln….
A 117-year-old restaurant is closing downtown. Cole’s French Dip opened in 1908 and claims to have invented the French dip sandwich. It’ll shut down in August after more than a century in business, so check it out while you can. Much like the LA Athletic Club, this is the kind of place with a vibe only lots and lots of time can create.
There’s a really great new hotel in Ojai. After six long years of construction, the Hotel El Roblar has finally opened on East Ojai Avenue. From hotelier and filmmaker Eric Goode (the guy behind the Bowery Hotel, and also Tiger King) and designed by Studio Shamshiri, the El Roblar offers a boutique-ier, bespoke alternative to the Ojai Valley Inn. The restaurant is by Little Dom’s chef Brandon Boudet (and looks like a great place to spend an evening), so east siders should feel right at home. This is going to pop off in a major way, so book your rooms now.
As a side note here — Studio Shamshiri’s Ramin Shamshiri is married to NBCUniversal entertainment chairman Donna Langley, and I feel like this isn’t talked about enough. That’s all!
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman bought a $7.6mm house in Pasadena. He’s leaving a Studio City spec mansion for a truly great Spanish-style estate, and I’m thrilled for him. Nothing gets me going quite like people developing taste over time.
The Angel is leaving LA. Emily Wilson writes one of the best LA-centric food and restaurant newsletters. She just announced she’s moving to New York this fall, so I’m excited to a) read her dispatches from the east coast and b) see who emerges victorious in the inevitable scuffle to fill the void she leaves here.
I really like the Apple TV+ press release format. It’s consistent with the broader Apple brand in a way that elevates the TV offering and generally feels high-end. Also, I love Jennette McCurdy and I’m very curious about this show.
An anti-woke literary scene is growing in LA. Literary salons are nothing new on the east side. But now, there are options specifically for men who feel alienated by modern culture. What’s “at a glance, your standard collection of Eastside scenesters” is actually…a bunch of weird dudes desperate for a reaction? Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of the attendees at a recent reading declined to share their real names publicly.
Want to live in a Spanish-style cottage by the reservoir? This place could be for you. It’s very charming, and listed for a relatively reasonable $1.49mm — but I’m betting the strategy here is list low and hope for a bidding war. I’d be surprised if this goes for less than $1.8mm. Anyone else want to wager a guess?
That cottage is right across from my favorite 7-Eleven.
The Effie cottage is very cute and the spool is to die for. But I think it's priced fairly, and I don't see a one-bath house on a medium-sized lot going for much more.