A new gallery, sparkling jewels and creative shops galore make the City of Angels shine this holiday season.
Beyond the Streets’ new home in the Fairfax District boasts a unique collection of street art and graffiti PHOTO: BY YUBO DONG OF OFSTUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
STREET APPEAL
Enjoy art with a twist at the new home of global arts movement Beyond the Streets. Located in the Fairfax District, the gallery’s unique collection of street art and graffiti celebrates contemporary and up-and-coming artists who push boundaries. “I’d like to think of Beyond the Streets as an important advocate for preserving American history, a cultural archaeologist, if you will,” says founder Roger Gastman. “Graffiti and street art is embedded in the fabric of American history and has spawned so many subcultures and movements within itself. It’s important to not let that be overlooked and forgotten.” In addition to a gift shop, the creative new cultural hub offers community events and rotating exhibits—such as a special December retrospective on a game-changing hip-hop group. beyondthestreets.com–Maren Miller
Wrensilva’s debut L.A. showroom features reimagined classic stereo record consoles. PHOTO: COURTESY OF WRENSILVA
OFF THE RECORD
Since 2016, Wrensilva has produced reimagined classic stereo record consoles hand-built in San Diego, but the brand just opened a debut L.A. showroom in West Hollywood’s Design District. “We wanted more of our customers and design partners to get a chance to see and hear a Wrensilva for themselves, especially in the music industry where we’ve had such a positive response,” says chief design officer Debra Salyer on the natural expansion into L.A. “A lot of the beauty of listening to music out loud together at home got lost in the digital sea change, and we felt like we could bring it back for that modern listener at a level of both design and build quality.” The elegant showroom—which showcases consoles from the ultimate M1 to The Standard—embodies Wrensilva’s design philosophy. Describes Studio Collective principal designer Christian Schulz, “Like a record collection, the space is tactile, designed to be touched.” wrensilva.com–Ally Winer
Artist Amanda Charchian teamed up with Ex Nihilo on Idle Hour, a new fragrance that captures the essence of Los Angeles PHOTO: BY AMANDA CHARCHIAN
FRAGRANCE FIX
L.A.- and Paris-based artist Amanda Charchian has collaborated with French fragrance brand Ex Nihilo on Idle Hour, a brand-new scent that captures the essence of the City of Angels. Available at the brand’s L.A. and Paris boutiques, the perfume’s notes of pink pepper, ylang-ylang, orris and cedarwood evoke the city’s relaxed, laissezfaire attitude. “In part, it alludes to the idea of memory occupying a space where time and space collapse,” says Charchian. “Or time spent not doing much, moments of stillness. This is something I feel Los Angeles offers beautifully. Especially during that dusty, hazy magic hour at the end of the day before night falls.” In addition to helping create the scent, Charchian designed the packaging and shot the campaign. “Scent so easily transports you to another space [and] time because the olfactory bulbs in your brain connect to the limbic system,” she says. “Smell lives on nostalgia.” us.ex-nihilo-paris.com–Laura Eckstein Jones
Sonia Boyajian’s fine jewelry collection features boldly designed rings made from gold and precious gems. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
BLING RINGS
Known for her whimsical ceramics and bold jewelry, Sonia Boyajian has been serving up artistic pieces to the creative set since she founded her line 20 years ago. The L.A. native’s latest launch—a fine jewelry collection of birthstone rings made with 22K yellow and 18K white gold, and precious gems such as emeralds, sapphires and diamonds—continues that tradition. “They are statement pieces that look both modern and ancient, full of color, with whimsical elements of design,” says Boyajian of the adjustable unisex rings, designed to be eye-catching and comfortable. “I love the idea of using something really precious and creating a design that makes the jewelry an everyday piece to wear, like a second skin.” soniabstyle.com–LEJ
Beyond Yoga recently opened its first store in Santa Monica PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Hit The Scene jumpsuit in Clove Brown Heather PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
NAMASTE, L.A.!
After a successful pop-up at The Grove, L.A.-based Beyond Yoga has opened its first retail location in Santa Monica. “Not only is [Santa Monica] one of the most iconic areas of Los Angeles, it attracts a mix of local and visiting consumers [and is] home to many of our team members and our most loyal customers,” says Michelle Wahler, co-founder and CEO of Beyond Yoga. Recently acquired by Levi Strauss & Co., the inclusive brand offers buttery soft and uber-comfortable workoutwear and lifestyle gear for men, women and kids, all of which is available at the 4,000-square-foot boutique. “We offer inclusive sizing from XXS to 4X and we never retouch a person’s body or change the shape of a body in our campaign images,” Wahler shares. “We want to celebrate all body types and make sure everyone feels great the moment they put their Beyond Yoga on.” This winter, look out for new velvet pieces in Celestial Blue and Forest Green, and a cozy boucle pullover “that gives a pillowy fabric with cashmere-like softness,” according to Wahler. Sign us up! beyondyoga.com–LEJ
Located at Malibu Village, Pretend Plants & Flowers’ pop-up has been extended through the spring. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
HIDDEN TREASURES
“The world of Pretend Plants & Flowers is vivid and opulent and fresh and quirky,” says co-founder Ezra Wood, who opened Pretend Malibu—a popup shop at Malibu Village that brings his creative brand agency and floral styling studio to life—earlier this year. “We uniquely blend rarified luxury and underground ‘art school’ influence.” Wood, an L.A. native and fourth-generation florist, has worked in the fashion and beauty worlds, styling friend Chloë Sevigny—and creating the florals for her wedding—and was the cofounder of cult fragrance brand Régime des Fleurs. Now, he’s applied his good taste to the store’s stellar curation. Featuring flowers; fine art; fragrance; fine jewelry; and decor by Nate Lowman, Gregory Parkinson, Simone Rocha and many more, the creative destination—that recently announced an extension to at least the spring—is a one-stop shop for everything inspiring and beautiful, including go-to holiday gift s from Darius Jewels, Taffin Fragrance and Shun Kumagai. When asked what’s next, Wood speaks to building on the brand’s current momentum. “I see our company continuing to service more fabulous clients,” he says, “enhancing and beautifying various aspects of their lives in ways that bring joy to them and their community.” pretendplantsandflowers.com–LEJ
Experience The Class’ popular workout at its new Santa Monica studio PHOTO: BY SAM FROST
HEAD OF THE CLASS
A mindfulness workout beloved by celebrities from Alicia Keys to Jennifer Aniston, The Class now has a home in Santa Monica. By combining Pilates, yoga, meditation and dance cardio, The Class’ cathartic workouts that launched in 2013 target the body and soul. After the success of its New York and digital studios and classes regularly held in L.A., The Class sought a West Coast space that reflected its brand. Design elements are centered on the lunar phases and crystals, while reflecting the L.A. landscape, culture and community. “Our signature method borrows from yoga in spirit, a rock concert in energy and boot camp in grit,” says co-CEO Natalie Kuhn. In addition to the signature class—in which students repeat one move per song—the studio will host events, workshops and mini retreats. theclass.com–Mara Dumitru
The Hollywood Roosevelt revamped its historic Cinegrill Theater PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT
IT’S SHOWTIME!
Behind a hidden bookcase in The Hollywood Roosevelt awaits its revamped Cinegrill Theater. “The original Cinegrill Theater helped put The Hollywood Roosevelt on the map as an epicenter for A-list actors and entertainers to convene, create and indulge,” says hotel managing director Don Jacinto of the cabaret that opened in 1936 and hosted stars from Marilyn Monroe to Humphrey Bogart. “When guests enter the secret space—an intimate theater that recalls Hollywood’s Golden Age with a gilded stage flanked by tiers of velvet tufted seating—they feel like they’re being let in on a fabulous secret.” While sampling modernized supper club dishes, attendees can enjoy comedy shows, burlesque performances or Classic Cinema Nights screenings—such as Rebel Without a Cause, playing Dec. 7, and It’s a Wonderful Life Dec. 14. thehollywoodroosevelt.com–Camryn Wilneff
Sample The Fleur Room’s cocktails like the Casa De Clase in its sultry West Hollywood space. PHOTO: BY AVABLU IMAGES
Sample The Fleur Room’s cocktails like the Casa De Clase in its sultry West Hollywood space. PHOTO: BY ASHLEY RANDALL
DECADENT DRINKS
While Tao Group Hospitality’s The Fleur Room in New York is perfect for an after-work drink, the West Hollywood branch of the reservations-only cocktail lounge serves up stellar cocktails late into the night. “Tao Group Hospitality’s beverage director, Craig Schoettler (Alinea, The Aviary), focused on whimsical creations that incorporate fresh juices; homemade syrups and infusions; and dramatic details, such as vapors and dry-ice presentations,” says VP of West Coast operations Brendan McManus of concoctions like the Cotton Cloud 9, made with cotton candy, and the English Olive Branch, with olive oil-infused gin. Enjoy libations in The Fleur Room Los Angeles’ lavish atmosphere exuding Hollywood grandeur created by Venice-based Tara Bean Designs—complete with pleated blue wallcovering, an oversize gold flower disco ball and original artwork by L.A.'s Kenny Scharf. Says McManus, “It really added to the space’s overall maximalist design.” taogroup.com–Jasmin Rosemberg
Photography by:
