Looking to reboot the New Year’s health resolution that you abandoned January 2nd? You’re in luck… This Saturday, April 26th at 1:00pm at the Williams-Sonoma (1600 Montana Ave.) in Santa Monica, “blendaholic” and Vitamix guru Tess Masters will be on hand to give demos of the surprising array of vegan and gluten-free recipes (not just juices) from her new book The Blender Girl, which she will also be signing. Until then, check out her popular blog and find recipes here.
Having completed its relocation from Westwood Blvd., Taha Hookah Lounge and Café opened over the weekend in its new digs at 12340 Santa Monica Blvd. (near Bundy) in West LA. As well as the smoky treats implied by the name, Taha will also be serving a menu of casual Middle Eastern and is open until 4:00am. Check out their Yelp page here.
Here’s what I know for certain: The Laemmle Theater at 1332 Second Street in Santa Monica is about to undergo a (long overdue) remodel and the gussied-up new picture house will contain a restaurant just inside the lobby. Here’s what I’m less sure of: I’m told by theater staff that the new restaurant will be named La Dolce Vita as indicated by the rendering of the new building below. La Dolce Vita would be a fitting name as it is a nod to the famous Fellini film, however the staff told me the new restaurant would be French influenced. Hmmm… Since it seems highly implausible that a French restaurant would be called La Dolce Vita, I’m afraid we’ll just have to wait for more details. The theater will close down in mid-May and plans on re-opening in December.
I just noticed that the outpost of Yummy Cupcakes at 220 26th St. in Brentwood/Santa Monica, across from the Brentwood Country Mart has closed down and is boarded over to make room for a branch of the designer swimwear store Everything But Water. If you can’t bear the thought of living without their signature cupcake in a jar, find other locations and read more here.
Have you been wondering what’s been going on at the Avco Center at 10850 Wilshire in Westwood? The space has been undergoing a major renovation to transform it into the luxury iPic Theater. The new complex will include a brand new “artisanal” restaurant, Tanzy. Described as “fresh market Italian”, you can expect an opening about a week after the official opening of the theater on May 2nd. Until then, read more about the Scottsdale-based restaurant here.
It’s been many incarnations over the years, but the 17th St. Cafe/Jack’s on Montana/On Montana space at 1610 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica is about to transform again. The most recent, On Montana will be closing down on July 1st to make way for a brand new Italian restaurant/cheese bar named Formaggio. Brought to you by the people behind Pecorino in Brentwood, they are hoping for a September 1st opening, but this is Santa Monica after all…
A bit farther afield than usual, I got a chance to take a look inside the highly anticipated upcoming Santa Barbara Public Market that’s been under construction for… well, almost forever. Located on the corner of West Victoria and Chapala in Santa Barbara, SBPM looks like it will live up to its comparison to San Francisco’s Ferry Building. The new public market will open any minute (I’m told “Friends and Family” could begin this weekend), and consist of a multitude of individual artisanal food stalls, groceries, and even a brewery including Belcampo Meat Company, Santa Monica Seafood, and local favorite Crazy Good Bread Company. Your staycation just got a whole lot more interesting…
The iconic Veranda at the Georgian Hotel at 1415 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica is currently getting a remodel. The gussied-up porch is looking to make its debut in about a week according to hotel staff. But whereas in the past it was for hotel guests only, the new space will serve the public, officially making it one of the loveliest places in LA to have a drink with an ocean view.
I recently noticed an ABC application in the window of the corner space at 9400 S. Santa Monica Blvd. (corner of Canon) announcing an “off sale beer and wine” store. Looks like the applicant, Wine Societe, will be opening a tony new oenophilic palace by the name of Héritage Fine Wines. Not much information out there yet, but judging by the choice location, I wouldn’t exactly expect to see many bottles of Ernest & Julio…
Maya Japanese Food has closed down in the little strip mall on the corner of Yale and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica. Going into the space is a brand new venture, which I’m told will be named Mahi Mahi Seafood. Expect a menu of grilled fish and an opening sometime this month.
Long-standing purveyors of Middle Eastern food, Falafel King has closed its doors in the tired and dated food court in the Third Street Promenade between Arizona and Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica (1315 3rd St. Promenade). In other news, the food court may not be so tired and dated for long… A new sign has gone up promising a much-needed redo to the space.
Construction is underway and an ABC application is posted on what will become a new restaurant, The Detour at 12473 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, right next to The Corner Door. While there isn’t a lot of information out there yet and no word on an opening date, you can read more about the parent company, Great Dane Catering and Events here.
Paper has covered the windows and an ABC application is posted in the window of what will soon be a brand new “eating place”, Hunt + Gather going into the revamped but long-vacant space at 507 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 102 in Downtown Santa Monica. There’s not much that I can seem to track down on this place yet but I’ll keep watching…
Back in January, I told you about the notices in the window announcing the development of the vacant star-crossed Fraiche space at 312 Wilshire Blvd. into an outpost of iPad-friendly, customizable restaurant chain Stacked: Food Well Built. Well, it appears that things may have changed… The Stacked announcements and permits have all been taken down and the “For Lease” signs are once again prominent. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Last year, the space became available after plans for a mysterious Chinese restaurant fell through. Could it be bad feng shui?
Back in December, signs went up on the space at 2161B El Segundo Blvd. next to Farmer Boys in the old fire station announcing an outpost of Long Beach’s Toppings Custom Fired Pizza. Looks like things have changed. Instead, a brand new venture The Ugly Pie Company is taking over the space. This will be their first restaurant with their eyes on eventual expansion. Look for a menu of custom pizza ready in 90 seconds, salads, Lavazza Coffee, and eventually beer and wine. They are shooting for an April 1st opening and you can check out a YouTube video explaining the company here.
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Signs recently went up in the papered-over window of the space that used to house Jewels by Kurt at 408 Wilshire Blvd. announcing a brand-new venture is taking over, Goji Juice + Vitamins. Can’t seem to find much out there yet on this place, but the window announcement promises a menu of “organic, fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, healthy food, supplements, and more.” As always, I’ll keep watching…
Added bonus for dedicated readers: Normally I take great pains to make sure there are no traces of me in my photos, but by carefully studying the admittedly grainy photo taken late last night, you can tell that apparently I raise my left little finger while photographing…
Long-standing Indian restaurant Gate of India at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. has closed down and appears to be a total mess inside due to a recent February fire, according to the Santa Monica Mirror. In a further stroke of bad luck, the City of Santa Monica has closed the building due to structural damage and has posted on the door a “limited entry” notice making it a misdemeanor to occupy the building. Next-door neighbors Stout and Bar Pintxo remain open. No word on if they plan on re-opening but I’ll keep my eye on it…
It was only about two years ago that 360 Café opened next to the Jose Eber Salon at 360 N. Camden in Beverly Hills. The diminutive coffee shop recently closed down and is getting a redo as well as a new name: Nespa Cafe. Look for an opening in “about 10 days”, according to staff.
Back in November of last year, I told you about the legal problems going on at the space that used to house defunct sports bar South at 3001 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. Earlier in 2013, it was reported that the space was to give way to a new restaurant, The Huntley Kitchen & Bar. Well, apparently plans have fallen through. Signs went up last week announcing that the space is once again back up for lease. As always, I’ll keep my eye on it…
Construction is underway and an ABC application recently went up on the corner space at 2827 Pico Blvd. (corner of Yorkshire) in Santa Monica that used to house ill-fated The Joker dive bar announcing an upcoming new venture, Brixton Restaurant. Not much information out there yet and no known opening date, but I’ll keep my eye on it…
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