Aiming High

West Adams is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and at one point, it was one of the wealthiest. With its stunning Victorian and Craftsman architecture, it also was one of the first areas African-Americans fought and won the right to own property, setting a precedent for similar housing covenants around the country and eventually becoming home to well-heeled celebrities, musicians and public figures like Butterfly McQueen, the Mills Brothers, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Marvin Gaye and attorney Johnny Cochran.

But with the construction of the 10 Freeway, the neighborhood was split, homes were torn down and many of the wealthy moved to areas like Baldwin and Beverly Hills. Needless to say, things changed.

But West Adams is still what I’d consider one of L.A.’s last real neighborhoods. We walk each other’s dogs. We keep an eye on each others houses. We look out for each other. There are art galleries, comedy nights and, behind it all, a real sense of community. There’s also what I consider to be one of the best slices in L.A.,
at Delicious Pizza, owned by Mike and Rick Ross of Delicious Vinyl, who also happen to throw one of the area’s best block parties.

But in terms of upscale dining, West Adams has been mostly neglected by outside developers, entrepreneurs and chefs. So the arrival of Daniel Patterson, whose San Francisco restaurant Coi has received three stars from the illustrious Michelin Guide, definitely got the attention of locals and the food community alike.