Best of WeHo Issue

WEST HOLLYWOOD MAGAZINE

THE ONLY THING 

THAT’S BEEN 

IMPORTED IS YOU 

That vacation you’ve earned begins at Andaz West Hollywood. 

Here you’ll find that your personal style is celebrated in an 

environment infused with the character of West Hollywood. 

Discover spaces that immerse you into the vibrant West Hollywood 

culture overlooking the iconic Sunset Strip and Los Angeles skyline. 

Indulge in sweet and savory dishes reflective of the region and 

crafted by our local chefs. Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, local calls, 

nightly wine hour and in-room snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. 

BOOK YOUR STAY AT WEST HOLLYWOOD.ANDAZ.HYATT.COM 

The Andaz ® trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. © 2017 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

2017 FALL ISSUE: BEST OF WEHO 

BEST WEHO RESTAURANTS: 

CRITIC’S PICKS–BY JAMES TIPPER 

The best isn’t always the hardest reservation, 

nor is it always the most expensive. However, 

there is one criteria that seems to unite all great 

22 26 

restaurants: graciousness. 

BEST OF: DINING 

Wondering where you should be eating in 

West Hollywood? You’re in the right place. 

30 36 

42 

BEST OF: PET SUPPLIES 

& PET SERVICES 

Here is the deinitive list of West Hollywood’s pet 

services and supplies as rated by the community. 

Want to see who made the cut? 

BEST OF BEAUTY: 

CRITICS CHOICES 

What should I wear to my reunion? My hair 

is trashed from swimming all summer - what 

should I do? My nails have been so brittle lately, 

what’s your opinion on gels? 

BEST OF: NIGHTLIFE 

West Hollywood has perfected the art 

of going out and there’s always a party 

happening in this city-within-a-city. 

46 

BEST OF: BEAUTY 

What makes for a great salon in West Hollywood? 

A spa, or barber shop? Voters narrowed it down 

and they won’t disappoint. 

50 

BEST OF: FITNESS 

No place takes itness quite as seriously as West 

Hollywood. Check out the best destinations 

currently shaping our community. 

56 

FIVE BEST BASIC EXERCISES 

Five best exercises to do in the Gym? FIVE?!!! How 

to do this when I live at THE GYM? Will my other 

favorite exercises ind out and shun me? 

62 

THE BEST OF WEHO? YES. BUT WHAT’S 

BEST ABOUT WEST HOLLYWOOD? 

What is best about WeHo as a place to live? We reached 

out to a selection of local residents for their answers.

WEST HOLLYWOOD MAGAZINE 

Votes are in! 

By Henry E. (Hank) Scott 

Hank Scott is editor and 

publisher of WEHOville. 

com and West Hollywood 

Magazine. 

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Henry E. (Hank) Scott 

henry@westhollywoodmag.net 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Allana Johnson 

allana@yokcreative.com 

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR 

Doug Stichler 

Doug@WeHoMediaCo.com 

ADVERTISING 

(323) 454-7707 

advertising@westhollywoodmag.net 

FOLLOW US 

westhollywoodmag.net 

facebook.com/westhollywoodmag.net 

instagram @westhollywoodmagazine 

THE BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD? 

WE ASKED OUR READERS TO MAKE 

SOME TOUGH CHOICES. 

Why the Best of West Hollywood? 

For one thing, I wanted to ind out what 

I’m missing. Like most people, I tend to 

dine at the same couple of restaurants, 

workout at just one WeHo gym and, 

when I had a dog, I visited the same veterinarian 

and food store. Thankfully, 

being that I’m a bald guy, I no longer 

have to search for a barber shop. 

We igured our readers might have the 

same desire. So we went to WEHOville. 

com, our sister publication, to put a 

ballot online. We asked you what the 

“Best Of” is in several categories. And 

you answered! 

Given that this is our irst “Best Of” issue 

(it will be back every year) we limited 

the number of categories to some of 

the most popular types of businesses in 

West Hollywood. However, in the Fall of 

next year, you’ll have even more categories 

to choose from. 

James Tipper is the man when it comes 

to restaurant reviews. Tipper is a rock 

critic turned food writer (and also a novelist 

and recording artist – what they 

call a man of many talents.) In addition 

to writing for us, he writes for L.A. 

Weekly. More information about Tipper’s 

fascinating career is available at 

www.jamestipper.com 

We also turned to Maxine Tatlonghari, 

a beauty entrepreneur and lifestyle 

blogger based in West Hollywood, to 

get her answers to some questions. 

What should I wear to my reunion? 

My hair is trashed from swimming all 

summer - what should I do? My nails 

have been so brittle lately, what’s your 

opinion on gels? Maxine provides expert 

answers as to what to do and 

where to go to make that happen. You 

can learn more about what she’s up to 

by visiting vanitygirlhollywood.com 

Finally, we asked some of our more 

cosmopolitan residents – Tom Kiely, 

Nadia Sutton, Marquita Thomas and 

Sam Borelli – what’s best about West 

Hollywood overall? I think you’ll enjoy 

reading why they like living here. 

WHMC, 1138 Hacienda Place, No. 211, 

West Hollywood, CA 90069. 323.454.7707. 

For this issue we also reached out to a 

couple of experts to get their take on the 

best restaurants in West Hollywood and 

the best providers of beauty services 

and products. 

20 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2017 

21

GOLDEN SQUARES OF CARAMELIZED 

RICE THAT STAGE THE SILKEN LUMPS 

wagyu. All can be topped with housemade 

steak sauce, trule butter or... 

wait for it…bacon jam. And yes, bacon 

jam is as good as it sounds. As if that 

wasn’t enough, the chops are plated 

beside a whole roasted clove of garlic 

that you can squeeze over the meat to 

make then even more sticky sweet. 

OF TUNA PERFECTLY. 

All the usual steakhouse sides are accounted 

for, along with a not-to-miss 

tableside Caesar, a remarkable and 

gooey onion soup gratinée and a Wine 

Spectator award-winning cellar. As of 

this summer, bison, ostrich and Colorado 

lamb T-bones have joined the 

BOA STEAKHOUSE 

9200 SUNSET BOULEVARD, (310) 278-2050 

list of chops. Evidently, BOA intends to 

keep serving unique and high-quality 

You may see other stars, too, breezing 

Beverly Hills gets Mastro’s. West Holly- 

haunches instead of sitting on it. 

up the stairs to the cozy loft to nosh on 

wood gets BOA. That is a deal that any 

the house-made agedashi tofu, the best 

WeHo agent would have made with- 

in town. For those who are not under 

out blinking, but the way BOA came to 

JINPACHI 

8711 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD AT 

WESTBOURNE, (310) 358-9134 

Chef Hirotaka Fujita maintains this 

small neighborhood sushi bar with 

warmth and just enough quiet dignity 

to let you know that you are somewhere 

serious, somewhere in the know. 

The ish is buttery, cut masterfully 

and as fresh as you are likely to ind. 

The menu tends to be a few dollars 

more than its competitors and leans 

towards the traditional. 

The California penchant for 

heavily sauced and lash fried 

rolls is kept to a minimum here. 

The one notable exception is the 

spicy tuna on crispy rice. Since 

this now ubiquitous dish appeared 

on the scene in the late 

90’s, it has been clumsily recreated 

in many sushi bars that clearly 

regard it as obligatory. But at Jinpachi, 

this dish may be the star: paperthin 

slices of jalapeño and a drizzle 

of chili sauce adorn golden squares of 

caramelized rice that stage the silken 

lumps of tuna perfectly. 

contract with a major studio, try the 

sushi moriawase featuring a chef’s 

choice of eight pieces of nigiri and a 

maki roll. It’s a good value, and gives 

customers a great overview of a chef 

who works hard to bring you a higher 

level of quality. 

Needless to say, the omakase here is 

sublime. 

rest at Doheny Road and Sunset wasn’t 

a product of such assertive tradecraft. 

In fact, it’s journey was hardly a 

Cinderella story. 

In its early days, BOA spent a few uneventful 

years at the Grafton Hotel 

on Sunset, unable to ind its footing. 

Yet just like an auditioning 

starlet who knows they have “it,” 

BOA didn’t give up. It went bigger. 

In 2009, BOA moved to a 14,000 square 

foot wonderland of outdoor patios and 

plush booths a mile down the road. 

Ready for their close-up, it wasn’t long 

before A-listers started rolling down 

Doheny Road to valet their sedans at 

what had suddenly become a celeb 

magnet. Elsewhere in town that 

could mean a host desk that throws 

more shade than a icus tree, but 

at BOA they always make sure you 

feel like a star, too. 

Inside, a selection of prime 

Omaha beef awaits: Massive tomahawks, 

bone-in rib eyes, a “40 

day” dry aged New York strip 

and well-marbled American 

ROSALINE 

8479 MELROSE AVENUE, (323) 297-9500 

It’s loud, so there’s that. Go with 

friends. You’ve been warned. It’s no 

date spot. Rosaline is a constant party, 

a permanent vacation, and food wise, 

a revelatory night out. 

Chef Ricardo Zarate, one of thirteen 

siblings, went from a tin roof 

hovel in Lima, Peru, to the top of 

the culinary world with help from 

his favorite ingredient: passion. He 

brought Peru to L.A. with Picca and 

DTLA’s Mo-Chica, and he’s not done 

with you yet. 

At Rosaline, Creole rhythms thrum 

from the rafters of the bohemian 

space; luffy green plants quiver with 

the energy beneath broad skylights. 

Plates of ceviche are whisked to tables, 

the chunks of halibut and curls of 

crispy calamari dressed in a “leche de 

tigre” spiked with yuzu and aji amarillo 

chilis. 

The paella here is the must order, 

fried up with pancetta, la chang sausage, 

prawns and a hint of bagoong – a 

Filipino fermented ish paste that 

makes the oicial amount of countries 

represented in the dish an even four. 

It’s mixed tableside, the rice coming 

away from the side of the screaming 

hot skillet and crisping up to chewy 

perfection like a Korean bibimbap. 

Desserts are no afterthought. Case 

in point: the expert crust on the 

sour plum crostata with purple corn 

spread, fermented umeboshi plums 

and ice cream made with chancaca – a 

molasses rich unreined sugar. 

Rosaline is exactly the kind of restaurant 

that veriies how living in such a 

diverse and vibrant city can be such a 

privilege and how food can be good for 

the soul. 

James Tipper is a restaurant critic and novelist. 

He started his career in the San Francisco 

Bay area and has been a resident of West Hollywood 

for over twenty years. His column, 

“The Digest,” was a staple in WEHOville, 

and he is now a contributing food writer for 

LA Weekly. 

24 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2017 25

HERE ARE THIS BEAUTY EXPERT’S WEHO CHOICES 

MAXINE TATLONGHARI 

AS A BEAUTY ENTREPRENEUR AND AN L.A. 

LIFESTYLE BLOGGER BASED IN WEST HOL- 

LYWOOD, I GET ASKED FOR RECOMMENDA- 

TIONS AND REFERRALS EVERY DAY. WHAT 

SHOULD I WEAR TO MY REUNION? MY HAIR 

IS TRASHED FROM SWIMMING ALL SUM- 

MER - WHAT SHOULD I DO? MY NAILS HAVE 

BEEN SO BRITTLE LATELY, WHAT’S YOUR 

OPINION ON GELS? FOLLOWING, PLEASE 

FIND MY NINE CURRENT WEST HOLLYWOOD 

(AND ADJACENT) FAVES. YOU WILL FIND 

A MIX OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND 

MANY PLACES THAT OFFER UP BOTH! 

moved her salon to a bigger location on 

Melrose, and I’m travelling a little less 

these days but I still love to go to Makeup 

Mandy’s for party lashes prior to an 

event. Party lashes $25. Organic spray 

tans start at $65. Eyelash extensions 

start at $325. 

Makeup Mandy 

MakeupMandy.com 

8441 Melrose Avenue 

(310) 858-1970 

2. BELLAMI BEAUTY BAR 

3. ROYCE MITCHELL AT 

MARCO PELUSI 

You can choose to install and style 

your clip-ins at the Bellami Beauty Bar, 

but I like to saunter right across the 

street and head over to Royce at Marco 

Pelusi’s Salon and have him work his 

magic. A former dancer and makeup 

artist trained in London, Royce understands 

how to deliver sexy glamour. 

His clip-in installation services start 

at $75 and include a blow dry, iron 

styling and inish. 

Looking for Beauty 

IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES 

1. MAKEUP MANDY 

Dubbed the “Eyelash Bar to the Stars,” 

this is the irst stop in my WeHo beauty 

tour. Owner Amanda Jacobelis used 

to have her storefront right up the 

street where I live, and I was addicted 

to going there to get a spray tan and 

eyelash extensions prior to a vacation 

(expert tip: a tan and eyelash extensions 

drastically cut down your morning 

routine while on vacation). She 

For my everyday beauty look, I’m 

addicted to a good blow out because 

I envy a tousled, beachy wave … that 

effortless done/undone look. But when 

I really want to amp up the va va voom 

factor, I turn to my favorite Burciaga 

Blends Bellami clip in hair extensions. 

While most people are relegated 

to shopping online, those of us in West 

Hollywood can walk into their pink 

jewel of a store located right on Robertson 

and shop for extensions in person. 

Burciaga Blends Bellami clip in hair 

extensions $239. 

Bellami Beauty Bar 

https://www.bellamihair.com 

645 North Robertson Boulevard 

(424) 284-8044 

Marco Pelusi Salon 

https://marcopelusi.com/ 


(310) 967-0999 

4 . MAC COSMETICS ON MELROSE 

When it comes to product and color 

options, I love MAC Cosmetics. I used 

to go to the Robertson PRO store all the 

time, so how happy was I when they 

relocated it so close to my home? It’s 

totally walking distance for me, which 

can be kind of dangerous to be honest. 

They offer makeup services as well, 

and one of my favorite beauty hacks is 

to buy $30 worth of product and see if 

anyone is available to do my eyes only. 

I ind that I’m usually able to igure 

out the rest of my face as long as my 

eyes are done. My favorite artists are 

Rasheena, Lindrel and Jamie, but 

they are all pretty great. Full beauty 

makeup starts at $60. Focus Feature 

only $30 plus product based on artist 

availability. 

MAC Cosmetics 

http://www.maccosmetics.com/ 


(310) 659-9161 


27

5. KINARA RED CARPET FACIAL 

On a recent episode of “Watch What 

Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, he 

asked the gorgeous Halle Berry how 

she maintains her position as one of 

the most beautiful women in Hollywood 

year after year. Her answer was 

Kinara’s Red Carpet Facial system, 

which she uses regularly. Well, this 

recent plug must have driven droves 

to their site, because it is temporarily 

sold out. But fret not - you can still preorder. 

This product was designed for 

those who may not be able to make it 

into celebrity facialist Olga Lorencin’s 

Robertson studio. For you glow-getters, 

take the Red Carpet challenge. 

Use the product every day for two 

weeks and then drop down to the recommended 

weekly usage. Kinara Red 

Carpet in a Box $105. Kinara Red Carpet 

Facial Service $180. 

Olga Lorencin Skincare 

OlgaLorencinSkincare.com 


(310) 657-9188 

6. SHAPEHOUSE 

Another secret to achieving a red 

carpet glow is to get in a good sweat. 

Spin? Sure. Bootcamp? Uh huh. But 

what about a place you can relax, 

watch Netlix and sweat? A lot. Enter 

the urban sweat lodge by entrepreneur 

Sophie Cliché, who is originally 

from France. Regular sessions promote 

weight loss, glowing skin, better 

sleep and what we Angelenos all need 

— stress relief. This is a fun, relaxing 

thing to do with friends. I was introduced 

to Shapehouse by Jamie Adler 

of Phyllis Morris Originals. It’s located 

right next door to the Bellami Beauty 

Bar (and across the street from Marco 

Pelusi) so you can see that WeHo has a 

lot of beauty offerings right on Robertson 

Boulevard, $50 for a Single Sweat. 

Packages and memberships are also 

available. 

ShapeHouse 

http://www.theshapehouse.com/ 


(855) 567-2346 

7. CAN CAN ORGANIC HAND & 

FOOT PARLEUR 

My love affair with all things French 

continues, with a trip to this WeHo adjacent 

nail parlor. The charming decor 

and commitment to the cleanest high 

quality products and lovely, pampering 

service are just three reasons I love 

it so much. The main reason is that its 

organic gel manicures have helped my 

nails grow long and strong in a way 

that nail salons simply haven’t. This 

is a perfect girls day out. I was introduced 

to it by one of favorite beauty inluencers, 

Jennifer Chan. Manicures 

start at $30. 

Can Can Organic Hand & Foot Parleur 

CanCanParleur.com 

731 1/2 North La Brea Avenue 

(323) 954-6900 

8. SALON SOCIETY 

I ind one of the fastest ways to feel 

pampered is to get a professional blowout. 

It’s really hard to get that salon 

look yourself, no matter what tools and 

products you use. When I saw a billboard 

for a salon that offered unlimited 

blowouts in a membership format 

over a year ago, I was intrigued. I’ve 

been going to Salon Society for over 

a year now, and “unlimited” roughly 

translates to twice a week, which 

is perfect for me. For men, they also 

offer unlimited haircuts. The salon 

has a modern, industrial feel with lots 

of dark wood, and the staff is stellar. 

The Social (unlimited blowouts) starts 

at $120 a month. The Sophisticate 

(unlimited men’s haircuts) starts at 

$80 a month. 

Society Salon 

http://www.societysalons.com/ 


(323) 655-4555 

9. UNTAMED INSTINCTS 

I met Tanya onset during a calendar 

shoot and saw her whip out 12 pinup 

girl hairstyles all by herself. Since 

then, I’ve been going to her for cut 

and color and styling for events like 

the Pride Parade and beauty shows 

such as PhamExpo and more. She 

also does beautiful unicorn hair for 

more adventurous types in search 

of pink, blue, silver and millennial 

lights of fancy. I tend to keep it pretty 

tame with ombre browns and caramel, 

but when I went blonde - I 

went to Tanya. She used to be 

located at the Salon Republic 

WeHo and just recently 

moved to the brand new 

Hollywood location. Cut 

& color starting at $225. 

Maxine Tatlonghari is 

the award-winning innovator 

and WeHo inluencer 

behind the Vanity Girl 

Hollywood brand, bringing 

you the original Hollywood 

lighted mirror. She chronicles 

her beauty boss life in The Vanity 

Girl Diaries, with a focus on 

lifestyle, beauty, 

WeHo and philanthropy. 

She was a TrendScout 

for the prestigious Cosmoprof NA 2017 

beauty trade show and can be found on IG 

@VanityGirlHollywood. 


29

Dinning 

BEST OF WEHO 

VOTES 

are 

in 

30 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2017

NO. 2 

CHIN CHIN 

8618 SUNSET BOULEVARD 

WEST HOLLYWOOD 

WWW.CHINCHIN.COM 

(310) 652-1818 

NO. 3 

ASAKUMA RICE 

848 NORTH LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.ASAKUMARICE.COM 

(310) 652-7780 

But as attention grabbing as the food is 

the décor and the staff. 

“Each piece of furniture and ixture is 

custom-made in Mexico and hanging 

on the walls is contemporary Mexican 

inspired artwork,” it notes on its website. 

Tortilla Republic’s website doesn’t 

call out its servers, but you’ll notice 

and appreciate them as much for their 

looks as their service. 

NO. 2 

Best Burger Joint 

NO. 1 

IRV’S BURGERS 

7998 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD 


WWW.IRVSBURGERS.COM 

(323) 650-2456 

Irv’s is a West Hollywood institution. 

It opened 67 years ago at 8289 Santa 

Monica Boulevard and has moved 

around a bit since then. Now the Hong 

family, which bought it in 2000, operates 

it at 7998 Santa Monica Boulevard 

near North Laurel. 

While writing for the L.A. Weekly 

Johnathan Gold, today the noted L.A. 

Times food critic, called out Irv’s for 

its hand-cut French fries and double 

cheeseburgers, pastrami sandwiches 

and Denver omelets, onion rings and 

tuna melts. 

But as delicious as the food is, Gold 

noted that part of Irv’s appeal is Sonia 

Hong, the restaurant’s owner, who he 

described as “just totally, manically 

nice.” Yes, after a couple of visits Sonia 

will recognize you and likely scrawl 

one of her happy faces or baby drawings 

on your takeout bag. 

Irv’s is open Monday through Friday 

from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays 

from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sundays 

Hong and her mother take a well-deserved 

rest. 

NO. 2 

FIVE GUYS 



WWW.FIVEGUYS.COM 

(310) 289-1175 

NO. 2 (IT’S A TIE) 

SHAKE SHACK 



WWW.SHAKESHACK.COM/LOCATION/WEST- 

HOLLYWOOD/ 

(323) 488-3010 

Best Chinese 

Restaurant 

NO. 1 

KUNG PAO BISTRO 



WWW.KUNGPAOBISTRO.COM 

(323) 848-9888 

The home of the “Robot Chicken,” Kung 

Pao, which has been around 2001, 

specializes in traditional Chinese 

and Taiwanese dishes but manages to 

incorporate some Japanese, Singaporean 

and American touches. 

It was one of the irst Asian restaurants 

to only use Angus steak for its beef 

dishes. And in only uses Paciic North 

and South American white shrimp. All 

of its vegetables are sourced fresh and 

never frozen. 

And that “Robot Chicken”? The 

creators of that eponymous comedy TV 

series named it after a Kung Pao dish 

after eating there. 

Kung Pao is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 

p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, from 

11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and 

from noon to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays. 

BestMexican 

Restaurant 

NO. 1 

TORTILLA REPUBLIC 

616 NORTH ROBERTSON BOULEVARD 

WEST HOLLYWOOD, 

WWW.TORTILLAREPUBLIC.COM 

(310) 657-9888 

Yes, it’s the food — contemporary Mexican 

cuisine Tortilla Republic boasts 

signature dishes like Tacos de Jicama 

and Duck Conit Enchiladas. It has a 

gluten free menu (this is WeHo, after 

all). And the outdoor patio is lovely. 

MARIX TEX MEX 

1108 NORTH FLORES STREET 


WWW.MARIXTEXMEX.COM 

(323) 656-8800 

NO. 3 

GUISADOS 



WWW.GUISADOS.CO 

(310) 777-0310 


Best Japanese 

Restaurant 

NO. 1 

OMI SUSHI 

Omi! Oh my! A sushi restaurant with 

a happy hour! (That means it’s a sushi 

restaurant whose owners totally get 

West Hollywood). 

NO. 2 

JINPACHI 



(310) 358-9134 


Best Pizza 

NO. 1 

MARCO’S 



WWW.MARCOSWESTHOLLYWOOD.COM 

(323) 650-1060 

Marco and his beloved “mama,” Franca 

Cappani, opened a small trattoria 

and pizzeria in West Hollywood 

in 1993. Marco’s later made a small 

move across Havenhurst, with the restaurant 

now anchoring the southwest 

corner of Santa Monica Boulevard 

and Havenhurst, with room for outdoor 

dining. 

The menu was inspired by Marco’s 

mother, a native of Italy who had 

worked at several Italian restaurants. 

Pizzas with pancetta and pepperoni and 

the Pizza Mama (white pizza with pesto, 

chicken and mozzarella) airm its Italian 

heritage. And then there are dishes 

like Pasta and Fagioli soup, Penne alla 

Arrabbiata and Frutti di Mara. And if 

a woman with an Italian last name like 

“Stefani” (irst name Gwen) eats there, 

you know it’s Italiano. 

Marco’s is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

seven days a week. 

NO. 2 

FRESH BROTHERS 



WWW.FRESHBROTHERS.COM 

(310) 652-5252 

NO. 3 

VITO’S PIZZA 

846 LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.VITOPIZZA.COM 

(310) 652-6859 

Best Coffee 

Shop 

NO. 1 

VERVE COFFEE 

ROASTERS 

8925 MELROSE AVENUE 


WWW.VERVECOFFEE.COM 

(310) 385-9605 

Yes, Verve stands out for its coffee. But 

it’s also notable for its design. Commune 

Design is responsible for that, 

and it includes a white oak herringbone 

loor with long copper counter. 

There’s also a patio outside. You’ll ind 

those tables and chairs occupied by attractive 

people who, depending on the 

time of day, are conducting business 

meetings, just catching up or on dates. 

The coffee? Espresso drinks and pourover 

coffees as well as cold brews. 

Verve also offers probiotic drinks and 

cold-pressed juices. 

Verve is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

NO. 2 

URTH CAFFE 

8565 MELROSE AVENUE 


WWW.URTHCAFFE.COM 

(310) 659-0628 

NO. 3 

DIALOG CAFÉ 

8766 HOLLOWAY DRIVE 


WWW.DIALOG-CAFE.COM/ 

(310) 289-1630 


STARBUCKS 



WWW.STARBUCKS.COM 

(310) 659-1856 

Omi has been around since 2011 and 

bills itself as “Asian fusion,” which is 

a way to explain the Las Vegas Roll and 

the Crazy California Roll. 

NOBU 


LOS ANGELES 

WWW.NOBURESTAURANTS.COM 

(310) 657-5711 

In addition to its great sushi, it’s 

known as a place to take a date (hint: 

the prices are very reasonable). And 

it is a gathering spot for those in its 

immediate neighborhood. 

Omi Sushi is open Saturdays from 4 to 

10 p.m., Sundays from 4 to 9:30 p.m., 

and Mondays through Fridays from 

11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 


ightLife 

BEST OF WEHO 


Best Gay 

Bar 

Best Go Go 

Dancer 

NO. 1 

TRUNKS 



WWW.TRUNKSBAR.COM 

(310) 652-1015 

NO. 1 

MICKY’S 



WWW.MICKYS.COM/ 

(310) 657-1176 

Best Dive 

Bar 

NO. 1 

MOTHER LODE 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MOTHERLODEWESTHOLLYWOOD 

(310) 659-9700 

The word “mother lode” means something 

of great value. In West Hollywood, 

where good ole fashioned dive 

bars are scarce, Mother Lode is that. 

Tucked between the very precious 

P.U.M.P., owned by reality TV celeb 

Lisa Vanderpump, and the foreverunder-construction 

space where the 

restaurant Bottega Louie is opening 

(some day), is this bar that offers cheap 

drinks, a chance to play pool and some 

outdoor areas for smoking. The interior 

is, uh, rough. And dark. And very 

charming for those of us into that sort 

of venue. 

And if you’re looking for an early 

drink, or a late one, Mother Lode is 

the place, with operating hours from 3 

p.m. to 2 a.m. 

NO. 2 

F U B A R 



(323) 654-0396 


GOLD COAST 



(323) 656-4879 

NO. 3 

T R U N K S 

8809 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD. 


WWW.TRUNKSBAR.COM 

(310) 652-1015 

“Where the spirits are high and the 

prices are low!” That’s Trunk’s slogan, 

and it pretty much says it all. You’re 

not going to encounter much pretention 

or fabulousness at this gay bar, 

which proudly is open to all. “Gay, 

straight, curious – who gives a hell?” 

it proclaims. 

This gayborhood bar “is here for the 

pool tables, sports on the multiple TVs 

and the all-day well-drink specials.” 

Trunks also caters to the early drinking 

crowd. It’s open from 1 p.m. to 2 

p.m. every day but Sunday, when it 

opens at noon. 

NO. 2 

R E V O LV E R 

8851 CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE 2, 


HTTP://WWW.REVOLVERWEHO.COM/ 

(310) 694-0430 

NO. 3 

FLAMING SADDLES 



HTTP://FLAMINGSADDLES.COM/WEHO/ 

(310) 855-7501 

If you’re not sure about the quality of 

the go go dancers at Micky’s, you can 

stand outside on the sidewalk most 

nights and see a bit of what you’re 

missing. You’ll see why Micky’s was 

voted No. 1. 

And it’s not just what you see on the 

irst loor. Micky’s has a second loor 

bar where there are occasional performances 

scheduled. And of course 

there’s that patio where you can cruise 

the street walkers while enjoying 

a drink. 

Micky’s also has a variety of regular 

events such as “Showgirls” drag 

night, the times for which are listed on 

its website. 

Micky’s is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

Monday through Thursday and on 

Sunday. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s 

open until 4 a.m. 

NO. 2 

FLAMING SADDLES 

8811 SANTA MONICA BLVD, 


HTTP://FLAMINGSADDLES.COM/WEHO/ 

(310) 855-7501 

NO. 3 

F U B A R 



(323) 654-0396 


Best Hotel 

Bar 

NO. 1 

SKYBAR - 

MONDRIAN 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SKYBARLA 

(323) 848-6025 

If you wonder why it’s called the Skybar, 

just look above you. Then look down 

in front of you at the glamorous pool, 

and inally look straight ahead at the 

amazing view of West Hollywood and 

Los Angeles beneath you. 

The Skybar is reserved for hotel guests 

until 1 p.m. daily. After that it’s open 

until 2 a.m. to all who want to sip 

drinks, splash in the pool and listen to 

the variety of music spun by its D.J.s. 

It’s also host to lots of special events, so 

make sure to check in by telephone 

or online before you show up. 

NO. 2 

SUNSET MARQUIS 

1200 ALTA ROMA ROAD 


WWW.SUNSETMARQUIS.COM 

(310) 657-1333 

NO. 3 

MARDI AT PALI- 

H O U S E 

8465 HOLLOWAY DRIVE 


WWW.MARDIRESTAURANT.COM/ 

(323) 656-4020 

Best Live 

Performance 

NO. 1 

T H E 

TROUBADOUR 



WWW.TROUBADOUR.COM 

The Troubadour opened in 1957 

and became a rock institution with 

performances in the early years by Bob 

Dylan, The Byrds, Buffalo Springield, 

Elton John and the list goes on and on. 

If you wonder whether it’s worth a visit, 

consider that in 2013 Billboard named 

it one of ive “must play” venues for 

musicians. Rolling Stone in 2013 named 

it the second-best rock club in America. 

Its online list of performances, which 

cover most days of very month, show 

that quite a few future events already 

are sold out. 

Hours of speciic events can be found at 

Troubadour’s website. 

NO. 2 

M I C K Y ’ S 



WWW.MICKYS.COM/ 

(310) 657-1176 

NO. 3 

THE COMEDY STORE 



WWW.THECOMEDYSTORE.COM 

(323) 650-6268 


41

et 

BEST OF WEHO 

Supplies 

Services 

I 

VOTED 


Best Pet 

Supplies 

Best Pet Boarding 

NO. 1 

POSH PET CARE 

8218 WEST SUNSET BOULEVARD, 


WWW.POSHPETCARE.COM 

(323) 655-7674 

The votes came from the pet owners 

(in West Hollywood we call them 

“guardians, not the pets. But a large 

majority voted Posh Pet Care their 

place of choice when it comes to leaving 

the pooch in someone else’s hands 

while working or traveling. There are 

two locations, one to the north and one 

to the south of West Hollywood. 

Posh Pet Care is open every day of the year 

(holidays included) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

NO. 2 

HEALTHY SPOT 



WWW.HEALTHYSPOT.COM 

(310) 657-2400 

NO. 3 


ANIMAL HOSPITAL 



WWW.WH-AH.COM 

(310) 275-0055 

Best Pet 

Groomer 

NO. 1 

ROCK STAR 

ROVERS 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ROCKSTARROVER/ 

(323) 656-7625 

Whose Rover isn’t a rock star? And 

where would you go if you wanted 

your Rover to be treated like one (and 

to get a faux hawk)? Rock Star Rover 

is called out on Yelp for its “stylists,” 

which suggests it adds some glam to 

dog grooming. 

And cats? Of course. 

Rock Star Rovers is open Wednesdays 

and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

and on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 

and Mondays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

NO. 2 

ANGIE’S POOCH PAWLOR 


LOS ANGELES 

WWW.GROOMERLOSANGELES.COM/ 

(424) 274-7999 

NO. 3 

NO. 1 

COLLAR & LEASH 



WWW.COLLARANDLEASHLA.COM 

(310) 657-6638 

Collar & Leash says it’s all about “keeping 

your furry friends happy.” It’s part 

of a locally owned chain of stores that 

offer pet supplies as well as various 

pet services. 

With products such as “Chicken Soup 

for the Pet Lovers Soul,” “Holistic Select” 

pet food and “Natural Planet 

Organics,” clearly understands its 

West Hollywood market. Collar 

& Leash also offers a wide variety 

of toys and grooming supplies. 

A squeaky toy for your dog? 

A feather toy for your cat? You’ll 

ind it there. 

Collar & Leash is open 9 a.m. to 

9 p.m. every day. 

NO. 2 

TAILWAGGERS 

801 NORTH FAIRFAX AVENUE 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.TAILWAGGERSPETS.COM/BLOG/ 

(323) 658-2222 

NO. 3 

PETCO 

508 NORTH DOHENY DRIVE 


HTTPS://STORES.PETCO.COM/CA/WESTHOLLYWOOD/ 

(310) 275-6012 

Best Veterinarians 

NO. 1 

LAUREL PET 

HOSPITAL 



HTTP://WWW.LAURELPETHOSPITAL.COM/ 

(323) 654-7060 

Laurel Pet Hospital is a West 

Hollywood institution. Dr. Lee Caslyn 

bought it in 1971 from Dr. Philip Olson, 

who had been running it since 1946. 

It remains housed in the Pet Hospital 

building that was erected in 1948. 

Today Caslyn sons, both veterinarians, 

oversee the day-to-day operation of 

Laurel Pet Hospital. Its staff includes 

four specialists and it has advanced 

equipment for procedures such as 

laser surgery and digital radiography. 

NO. 2 

VCA TLC ANIMAL HOSPITAL 



HTTPS://VCAHOSPITALS.COM 

(310) 859-4852 

NO. 3 


ANIMAL HOSPITAL 



WWW.WH-AH.COM 

(310) 275-0055 

HEALTHY SPOT 



WWW.HEALTHYSPOT.COM 

(310) 657-2400 


Beauty 

Grooming 

BEST OF WEHO

Best Hair Salon 

NO. 1 

BLADES 

801 LARRABEE STREET, NO. 1 


WWW.BLADESFORHAIR.COM 

(310) 659-6693 

Cut, colors and everything in between. 

That’s Blades. Looking for a “retro 

rock star hair cut”? Blades has it. A 

buzz cut? Of course. And there’s a variety 

of color treatments for both women 

and men. 

Best Barbershop Best Day 

Spa 

NO. 1 

18/8 



WWW.EIGHTEENEIGHT.COM 

(310) 598-2228 

You might call it a barber shop. 18/8 

would call itself a men’s salon and sees 

itself as having reinvented the traditional 

barbershop. Its name comes 

from the obscure tale of Harry Brearley 

in 1913 learning that if he produced 

a mix that contained 18% chromium 

and 8% nickel with steel, it would keep 

it from rusting. “What was ordinary 

became extraordinary,” says 18/8. 

It’s about more than haircuts. 18/8 

offers face treatments, nail treatments, 

coloring services and shaves. It is open 

Mondays through Wednesdays from 

10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursdays 

through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

NO. 2 

BARCODE 



WWW.BARCODEBARBERSHOP.COM 

(323) 999-5549 

NO. 3 

SHORTY’S BARBER SHOP 

755 NORTH FAIRFAX AVENUE 


WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SHORTYSBARBERSHOPLA 

(323) 297-0554 

NO. 1 

GREGORY DYLAN 

SKINCARE AND 

BEAUTY 

801 LARRABEE STREET, SUITE 11 


WWW.GREGORYDYLANBEAUTY.COM/ 

(310) 467-8186 

This isn’t the irst time Gregory Dylan 

has won a “Best Of” contest. Consider 

that it was deemed “Best of LA” by CBS 

Los Angeles a few years back. 

Dylan offers a variety of facial treatments 

as well as waxing. For example, 

there’s the “Couture Facial,” which Dylan 

describes as a “fusion of traditional European 

cleansing and massage techniques 

partnered with modern methods of exfoliation 

and replenishment.” The price is 

$145. And then there’s the “Grand Prix,” 

which offers “ultrasonic cleansing, exfoliation, 

L.E.D. therapy, custom serums 

and masks and an eye-spy cocktail 

are topped off with a radiance inducing 

oxygen infusion treatment.” It’s 75 

minutes for $250, about what you’d pay 

for a really good psychotherapist. 

Call ahead to book an appointment. 

NO. 2 

V O D A S P A 



WWW.VODASPA.COM 

(323) 654-4411 

NO. 3 

THE GENDARMERIE 

BOUTIQUE AND SPA 

9069 NEMO STREET 


WWW.THEGENDARMERIE.COM 

(310) 858-9009 

Blades is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 

from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 

from 9:30 a.m. to 4;30 p.m. on Saturdays. 

NO. 2 

1 8 / 8 



WWW.EIGHTEENEIGHT.COM 

(310) 598-2228 

NO. 3 

LOFT 647 

647 NORTH ROBERTSON BOULEVARD 


WWW.LOFT647.COM 

(424) 335-0322 


BEST OF WEHO 

itness 


NO. 2 

JENNY TATE PILATES 

650 LA PEER DRIVE 


WWW.JENNYTATEPILATES.COM 

(310) 564-6070 

Best Gym 

or Fitness Studio 

NO. 3 

COTRONE PILATES 


LOS ANGELES 

WWW.COTRONEFITNESS.COM 

(213) 445-8114 

NO. 1 

TRAINING MATE LA 



WWW.TRAININGMATELA.COM 

(323) 380-5492 

Looking for a gym or itness studio in 

West Hollywood? Who isn’t? And the 

good news is it’s not hard to ind one. 

But what’s the best? 

Training Mate got its start in 2009 in 

Sydney, Australia. Founder Luke Milton 

drew on his professional rugby 

background and the power of positivity 

to work with his clients. In 

2013, he brought Training Mate to the 

United States. 

Training Mate offers circuit-based, 

45-minute high intensity interval 

training. You mix it up as no class is 

the same. 

“It’s become a community - a place 

where you can meet new mates and 

feel at home away from home - all 

while getting amazing physical results,” 

says Training Mates (and by 

the way, “mates” means buddies in the 

Land of Oz.) 

Schedules for Training Mate’s variety 

of classes are available on its website. 

NO. 2 

BRICK 



HTTPS://BRICK.FIT 

(323) 315-0700 


STUDIO 10 FITNESS 

745 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD 


WWW.STUDIO10FIT.COM 

(323) 515-9667 

Best 

Pilates 

NO. 1 

HARMONY 

STUDIOS 



WWW.HARMONYSTUDIOSLA.COM 

(323) 822-9584 

At Harmony Studios it’s all about 

Pilates, a form of exercise developed 

by Joseph Pilates nearly a century ago 

that focuses on core muscles, your abs, 

your back and your butt. Think of 

it as very physically active philosophy 

class where you learn the 

correct use of muscles, joints, 

and breath during basic life 

movement. 

Harmony offers a variety 

of classes at different ties 

each day that you must 

register for online. 


53

Best 

Supplement Store 

NO. 1 

N101 



WWW.N101.COM 

(424) 288-4785 

Getting it is about more than exercise. 

That’s where places like N101 come in. 

The name stands for “nutrition 101” 

which is what N101 offers with a wide 

variety of vitamins, herbs, sports nutrition, 

health supplements and natural 

beauty and skincare products. 

You don’t have to be a bulked-up bodybuilder 

to ind N101 helpful. “We cater 

to athletes, weekend warriors, health 

nuts and anyone who is interested in 

leading a healthy lifestyle,” it says. 

NO. 2 

HUM NUTRITION 



WWW.HUMNUTRITION.COM 

(888) 647-8880 

Best Yoga 

Studio 

NO. 1 

XCCELERATION 

STATION 



HTTP://WWW.THEXCCELERATIONSTATION.COM/ 

(323) 310-0550 

Xcceleration offers what it calls the 

“new physics of itness.” Its T-X-S 

platform focuses on your body 

and your state of mind. Inside 

8440 Santa Monica 

it has two studios. One is 

named “Ground Level,” 

home to its “Power Plate” 

station, and upstairs is 

“Cloud Level,” home to “Xccelerate 

your Mind and 

Life” training sessions sessions 

as well as “BioDensity” 

and stretching classes. 

A list of classes including 

prices and times is available 

on its website. 

NO. 2 

A U R AY O G A 

8608-A SUNSET BOULEVARD 


HTTPS://WWW.AURAWORKOUT.COM/ 

(323) 570-0570 


YOGA VIBE 



WWW.YOGAVIBELA.COM 

(323) 498-5333 


BODY ENERGY CLUB 



WWW.BODYENERGYCLUBUSA.COM 

(310) 860-6431 


MONTE COX: 

HERE’S HOW THIS WEST HOLLYWOOD TR AINER 

RECOMMENDS GETTING A GRIP ON A FULL BODY WORKOUT 


57

BREATH. 

BREATH DEEP. 

Five best exercises to do in 

the Gym? FIVE?!!! How to do 

this when I live at THE GYM? 

Will my other favorite exercises 

ind out and shun me? 

Breathe. Breathe 

deep. OK. You 

can do this in a 

fair, smart way. 

All kidding aside, this is a 

hard question to answer because 

it can be answered in 

many ways. It all depends 

on your goals and skill level. 

So here is how I’m going to 

answer this: I’m going to hit 

all the muscles that we want 

to hit and choose exercises I 

think all men should know 

how to do. I am going with 

the classic exercises that 

are simple to explain, giving 

you moves that don’t necessarily 

require supervision. 

This is a full body workout, 

so we will start with the 

largest muscles in the body 

then move to the smaller 

muscles. The smaller muscles 

help, the larger muscles 

when you start to fatigue, so 

you won’t start with them, 

you will end with them. 

PULL-UPS 

Pull-ups are one of my favorite 

exercises to the disdain 

of many of my clients. 

I feel like every man 

should be able to do pullups, 

it’s an excellent test of 

true strength and a good 

look. People have always 

talked to me after seeing 

me do pull-ups, so it’s also 

a great way to meet dudes. 

I irst wanted to learn pullups 

when I started in the 

gym at about 18 because I 

thought it looked cool, but 

also I wanted to have 

the body strength to 

grab 

something 

of 

and pull myself 

up in case 

emergency. 

When I was young, 

I was kind of full of 

myself and rude, so I always 

wanted to be ready if 

my mouth got me in trouble 

and I got pushed. I know it 

would have been easier just 

to decide not to be an ass, but 

I wasn’t there yet. 

There are a ton of great pullup 

variations, but we are 

going to go with the “king” 

(and arguably the hardest), 

the wide grip pull-up. You 

use the grip that places your 

hands at the widest grip that 

slopes down, like a wide grip 

lat pulldown. I want you to 

learn how to do a straight 

pull-up, not like in crossire 

where you kind of jerk 

up and down and move forward 

and backward to hit 

max reps. That has its place. 

But I want you to learn the 

basics, so drop all the way 

down and bring yourself up 

so that you are face to face 

with the bar. If you are just 

starting out and cannot do 

this, use the assisted pull-up 

machine in your gym and 

build your strength there. 

If you don’t have an assisted 

machine but want to build 

strength, pull up a bench or 

a stand and stand on it. Then 

jump up to the top position 

and lower yourself back to 

the stand. Repeat. This will 

build basic strength and a 

wider back. 

BENCH PRESS 

You have probably done this 

or are doing it, but let’s have a 

look at how it’s going for you. 

GRIP: You can do the grip at 

differing widths, but I like 

to go classic, at the bottom 

of the movement your arms 

and chest should look like two 

perfect L’s. DEPTH: For regular 

strength and size training 

you should be dropping 

the bar to about an inch above 

your chest; if you aren’t going 

that low, I suggest lowering 

the weight you are using 

and building your strength 

with this goal. You can work 

your way back up to your old 

weight and then beyond. 

BACK SQUAT 

Back squat just means using 

a free weight bar situated on 

your traps (on your back, between 

your shoulders) for 

the exercise. I like to use the 

Smith machine or a cage, 

but you can use one of the 

pre-set weight bars and row 

to press overhead then bring 

it down on your traps. This 

is not my favorite way to recommend 

doing it as it can 

jeopardize the shoulders as 

you go behind your head if 

you are not careful. So be 

careful. 

STANCE: Keep your feet 

shoulder width to slightly 

wider than shoulder width. 

You can go wider; you can 

also go more narrow de- 


59

THE BEST OF WEHO? YES. 

BUT WHAT ABOUT 

West Hollywood 


WeHo is my home 

WARM, WELCOMING, AND ENCOURAGING OF ECLECTIC CREATIVITY 

PHOTO COURTESY OF TANJA HEFFNER 

AS ILLUSTRATED IN THIS IS- 

SUE OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 

MAGAZINE, RESIDENTS OF 

AND VISITORS TO WEST HOL- 

LYWOOD HAVE TAKEN THE 

TIME THE CHOOSE THE “BEST 

OF” LOCAL BUSINESSES IN A 

VARIETY OF CATEGORIES. 

TOM KIELY 

Kiely is the relatively new CEO of Visit 

West Hollywood, the organization that 

informs the world about what West 

Hollywood has to offer and why it’s 

worth a visit. He moved here late last 

year with his husband, Farid, from 

San Francisco. What does he see as 

what’s best about West Hollywood? 

• Really love the welcoming attitude 

of our residents to all who visit. This 

positive, welcoming attitude certainly 

complements our efforts at VWH to 

attract visitors to our city. 

But what is the “best of” West Hollywood 

itself? What is best about WeHo 

as a place to live? Most of us have lived 

elsewhere at one point in our lives. So 

why have we chosen to live, and stay, 

in West Hollywood? We reached out 

a selection of local residents for their 

answers, which we share on the pages 

that follow. 

• Farid and I both feel really comfortable 

in West Hollywood. No matter 

where we go, we like the relaxed feeling 

of the city and its residents. We 

always run into someone we know! 

• West Hollywood is compact, and we 

try to walk everywhere. Our friends 

that visit never realize how compact 

and walkable the city is and how 

much there is to see and do here. 

PHOTO COURTESY CLEM ONOJEGHUO 

PHOTO COURTESY OF LILY-LVNATIKK 

• Professionally, I have felt very welcomed 

here, whether it be from the 

local hotel and business community, 

to the City Council and even my colleagues 

at VWH. That’s not always the 

case when you move to other cities. 


They have all been very supportive of 

VWH and me, which is super helpful. 

· And inally…. that glorious sunshine! 

Not to say anything bad about the 

beautiful city of San Francisco from 

where we relocated, but Farid and I 

both missed the sunny, warm weather 

that southern California, and particularly 

West Hollywood offers. 

MARQUITA THOMAS 

Marquita Thomas is the executive director 

of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian 

Chamber and a marketing strategist 

whose experience has included 

hosting Ebony Pyramid’s “Black, Gay 

and Lesbian Cruise to the Bahamas;” 

Girls in the Night’s “Femme-Nomenal 

Weekend,” and the United Lesbian of 

African Descent (ULOAH)’s “Sistahfest 

Retreat” and promoting the annual 

Dinah Shore Lesbian Weekend in Palm 

Springs. Thomas is a native of South 

Carolina. 

The best of West Hollywood for me the 

effort the city makes to ensure voices 

are heard - not only is the City council 

accessible, there are advisory boards 

and commissions to address practically 

every public concern. 

What I also love about West Hollywood 

is you do not have to go far to 

enjoy the newest hot spot as West Hollywood 

and its inluencers make the 

city prime real estate when opening a 

new venue. 

SAM BORELLI 

Who doesn’t know Sam Borelli? 

Borelli is a consultant with experience 

in the entertainment, nonproit, hospitality 

and healthcare industries. He 

describes himself on his website as “the 

quintessential behind the scenes guy.” 

Borelli is known for his past work with 

a variety of LGBT organizations including 

The Trevor Project and Christopher 

Street West, where he dramatically 

increased sponsorship revenue 

for its annual L.A. Pride parade. 

He was appointed to the West Hollywood 

Public Safety Commission in 

2003 and served until 2013. In July 

2015, he was appointed to the West 

Hollywood Human Services Commission. 

Among the other places he has 

lived is Boston, where he attended Boston 

College. 

What do I love about West Hollywood? 

Community. Sure, I can go on about 

walkability, variety in restaurants, 

shops and entertainment, but one of 

the things that I love most about West 

Hollywood is the sense of community. 

I’ve had the privilege of serving irst 

as a member of the Public Safety Commission, 

and now as Human Services 

Commissioner, and I can say, unequivocally, 

this community rallies together 

and supports each other in especially 

the most vulnerable moments. 

Sure there are times when folks can 

be at odds over a policy, a new development, 

or their basic vision of the city. However, 

in some of the most signiicant moments, this city 

comes together. A few examples: 

In 2002, when Trev Broudy was viciously beaten 

and forever changed, the greater West Hollywood 

community came together to bring more attention 

to hate crimes and how to protect ourselves from 

future incidents. 

West Hollywood was among the irst cities to produce 

an annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, 

and each year more and more come out to honor 

those lost to anti-trans violence. 

I have witnessed numerous occasions where a 

spouse/partner passed away and the city has rallied 

around the surviving partner to help weather the 

storm. This happened/happens during the worst 

of the AIDS crisis, in the aging Russian community, 

as well as with people that just go about their daily 

lives and don’t actively participate in city governance 

or functions. 

Which brings me to our outstanding social services. 

I constantly say that social services are the heart 

and soul of West Hollywood. We are often labeled 

a well-to-do community, and in many ways we are. 

However, we also have thousands, from all walks 

of life, who live below the federal poverty line. And 

many live paycheck to paycheck. Some West Hollywood 

residents live with hunger and/or food insecurity 

or other challenges but are often reluctant 

to take advantage of the programs in which the city 

provides for free. 

We have an amazing array of social services that 

can be accessed by those who live or work in West 

Hollywood. From childcare to senior support, from 

addiction to HIV/AIDS related services, legal to mental 

health care, domestic violence to inancial help, 

nutrition to housing assistance, West Hollywood 

is there to support those who may need short term 

and/or continuous support. 

To me, this is community and one of the main 

reasons that I love West Hollywood. 


67

fabulousness 

JOIE DE VIVRE 

“WEHO IS JOIE DE VIVRE. WEHO IS MY LOVE. I AM WEHO. 

WEHO IS MY HOME. I COULD NOT IMAGINE LIVING 

ANYWHERE ELSE”. 

NADIA SUTTON 

It’s hard to miss Nadia Sutton, given 

her vibrant red hair and her beautiful 

French accent. Sutton was born in Brussels, 

lived in Israel, hitchhiked through 

Europe and studied theater in Paris before 

moving to Southern Spain. She left 

there for London, where she lived for 

12 years. Sutton came to Los Angeles in 

1980, to continue her acting career. And 

in 1989 she co-founded PAWS LA, dedicated 

to help seniors and people living 

with AIDS/HIV keep their beloved animal 

companions 

I came to L.A. from London in 1980 and 

lived in Hollywood. As a gay woman I 

was instinctively drawn towards West 

Hollywood (that was even before we 

became incorporated) because I felt that 

was where my tribe was. In the early 

80s I helped manage a small antique 

store on Santa Monica Boulevard east of 

Fairfax and enjoyed dancing the night 

away at Studio One, 

Then AIDS happened. The people who 

were my chosen family were getting 

sick. I was losing the people I loved the 

most. So I got involved with ACT UP. We 

were mobilizing in West Hollywood. 

We were meeting at WeHo Auditorium 

every week for the Hay Ride with 

about 300 people with AIDS and their 

friends. Together we cried, we loved, we 

laughed, we fought for our rights and 

marched through the streets of West 

68 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2017 69 

Hollywood 

We would share our time between holding 

our loved ones in our arms in hospital 

beds and marching on the streets and 

then ending up at the French Market.

Oh yes it was at the French Market in 1988, over their lousy coffee, that 

my friend Stan Owns and I decided to create PAWS LA to help our friends 

living with AIDS/HIV keep their beloved pets by providing pet food, veterinary 

services, dog walking and so on, 

And by the way by that time I had moved to WEST Hollywood! 

THROUGH THE YEARS WE CONTINUED TO STAND FOR 

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR THE LGBT COMMUNITY, FOR WOMEN’S 

RIGHTS, FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS, FOR ALL HUMAN RIGHTS. 

OUR LEADERS AND ALL OF US STAND UP NOT ONLY FOR 

OUR OWN RIGHTS IN WEHO BUT FOR RIGHTS ACROSS THE 

COUNTRY, ACROSS THE WORLD. WE ARE A SMALL CITY 

WITH A BIG HEART. 

We love and celebrate our diversity. Our LGBT residents and Russian residents 

live side by side and have learned to appreciate one other. Through the 

years we have gathered at our famous intersection of San Vicente and Santa 

Monica boulevards to demand these rights, to demand marriage equality 

and then to celebrate our victory with great jubilation. We have celebrated 

and honored our transgender community and celebrated our Russian community 

with festivals. 

In my WeHo my LGBT community has always been able to walk through our 

streets holding hands and kissing and feel safe and not judged 

Yes, we often deal with meaningful issues but we do not take ourselves 

seriously. Whatever we do we do it with panaché and a sense of whimsy. 

And boy do we love to play. For any reason – be it gay Pride, a Russian festival, 

Halloween or just going out for brunch (nobody does brunch better than we 

do). Flirting with each other as we shop on a Saturday at Pavilions or Trader 

Joes or walkinh our dogs (yes even our doggies strut with attitude). We manage 

to show our joie de vivre and fabulousness.

A Website Exploring the Gay Frontier of 

Greater Los Angeles 

*News 

*Happenings 

*Health 

*Fitness 

*GTV 

www.GaylifeLA.com

Best of WeHo Issue

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?