WHM-Best-of-18-final

WEST HOLLYWOOD MAGAZINE

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Where You Are 

The Star! 

BAJA FRESH 

BEST BUY 

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LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 

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7100 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood 

www.westhollywoodgateway.com

Thank YOU for voting us as best hotel bar in WeHo! 

As a token of our appreciation, we would like to offer you 15% off your Cattle & Claw bill. 

Just mention “WeHo Magazine” to your server and they will apply the promotion. 

Continue to visit Riviera 31 Lounge for weekly entertainment, craft cocktails and bar bites. 

Visit our website to see our full calendar listings including our legendary Jazz Eclectic 

on Monday nights and our new Salsa Night on Wednesday’s. 

SOFITEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS | 8555 BEVERLY BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90048 | 310-278-5444 

WWW.RIVIERA31.COM | WWW.CATTLEANDCLAW.COM 

m 

a g 

SECURITY 

SYSTEmS 

1 

1. CCTV InSTallaTIon 

2. FaCE RECognITIon TERmInal. 

3. aCCESS ConTRol SYSTEmS. 

4. IndooR STaTIon. 

5. SoUnd SYSTEmS 

2 

pRoFESSIonal SERVICES 

pUT oUR SolUTIonS To woRk FoR YoU and YoUR 

FamIlY 

4 

5 

3 (818) 281-3068 

VIdEo SURVEIllanCE SYSTEmS ThaT SUppoRT 

wITh REmoTE InTERnET VIEwIng 

FREE ESTImaTE *

photograph by Jon Viscott 

come celebrate with us. 

thank you WEHO! buy one burger 

receive a second burger half off! 

mention the WHM Best Burger Joint Contest 

(offer valid through November 30th, 2018) 

WEST HOLLYWOOD : 8575 SANTA MONICA BLVD | HOLLYWOOD : 1608 N CAHUENGA BLVD

2018 FALL ISSUE: BEST OF WEHO 

14 20 

BEST OF: DINING 

Wondering where you should be eating 

in West Hollywood? You’re in the 

right place. 

THE BACK STORY: CULT CANTINA 

The building now occupied by Cabo Cantina on 

Sunset Boulevard was built in 1946 and has had 

its share of interesting owners... 

22 

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. 

28 

BEST OF: PET SUPPLIES 

& PET SERVICES 

Here is the definitive list of West Hollywood’s pet 

services and supplies as rated by the community. 

Want to see who made the cut? 

32 

36 

BEST OF: BEAUTY & GROOMING 

What makes for a great salon in West Hollywood? 

A spa, or barber shop? Voters narrowed it down 

and they won’t disappoint. 

BEST OF: FITNESS 

No place takes fitness quite as seriously as West 

Hollywood. Check out the best destinations 

currently shaping our community. 

10 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2018

40 

BEST OF: MEDICAL 

Obsessed with those sagging cheeks? Looking to 

upgrade that beautiful smile? How about some 

new specs? We’ve got you covered. 

48 

BEST OF: NON PROFITS 

As a nonprofit organization, it is important to be 

engaged and relevant to the community that you 

are located in. So who’s doing it best according to 

to the WeHo community? 

46 

BEST OF: FINANCIAL 

Wondering if your local bank branch is amongst 

the favorite in town? Votes are in. It’s maybe the 

perfect time to make a change. 

50 

BEST OF: AND MORE! 

But wait, there’s more! From your local dry 

cleaners and florists to the best cannabis 

dispensaries in WeHo. 

54 

THE BACK STORY: SUNSET TOWER 

Why is Sunset Tower decorated with 

plants, animals and planes? 

11

We Ask 

and Yo 

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Henry E. (Hank) Scott 

Henry@WEHOville.com 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Allana Johnson 

allana@yokcreative.com 

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR 

Doug Stichler 

Doug@WeHoMediaCo.com 

ADVERTISING 

(323) 454-7707 

advertising@westhollywoodmag.net 

FOLLOW US 

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instagram @westhollywoodmagazine 

WHMC, 1138 Hacienda Place, No. 211, 

West Hollywood, CA 90069. 323.454.7707. 


ed, 

u Answered! 

THE BEST OF WEST HOLLY- 

WOOD CHOSEN BY THE EX- 

PERTS – ITS RESIDENTS 

We know it isn’t easy choosing the “best 

of” West Hollywood. And this time 

we’ve made it a bit more difficult by adding 

a lot of new categories to our annual 

“Best Of” survey. 

However, that’s only fair because we in 

West Hollywood have the best of many 

businesses and service providers in 

greater Los Angeles – businesses and 

service providers who are more likely 

than elsewhere to remember your name 

and give you a smile. 

So search this time for the optometrist 

or dentist, or bank branch or dry cleaner 

(to name just a few of the new categories 

you’ll find this year) that you want 

to all out for great service. 

For your reading pleasure in this issue 

we include several stories by Gus Heully, 

a local architect and frequent contributor 

to West Hollywood Magazine 

and WEHOville. 

Gus has a passion for the architecture of 

West Hollywood and the stories behind 

it. He’s the one who found the conclusive 

evidence that the round green building 

on the Sunset Strip was designed 

by famed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. 

In this issue of West Hollywood 

Magazine he’ll tell stories about several 

local buildings that are likely to make 

you see them in a different way. 

And by the way, if you have ideas for 

other categories that we should include 

in next year’s “Best Of” voting, please 

let me know by emailing me at Henry@ 

WEHOville.com. 

By Henry E. (Hank) Scott 

Hank Scott is editor and 

publisher of WEHOville. 

com and West Hollywood 

Magazine. 

13

BEST OF WEHO 

DINING 


Best Burger Joint 

NO. 1 

KITCHEN 24 

8575 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD 

WEST HOLLYWOOD 

WWW.KITCHEN24.INFO/ 

(424) 777-0959 

It’s open 24/7, surrounded by parking 

and staffed with some real charmers. 

And the burgers are delicious. 

Kitchen 24 is a popular hangout both 

for tourists – you’ll see the Aussies 

from the Ramada Inn next door dining 

at 5 a.m. PDT– and for locals – who 

vary by type according to the time of 

day. 

Its menu offers a wide range of burgers. 

There’s the Caprese Turkey Burger, 

made from a house made turkey 

patty with fresh mozzarella, 

pesto 

mayo, spinach and tomato. And there’s 

the Barbecue Smokehouse Burger, constructed 

with angus beef, bacon, cheddar 

and bbq sauce and served with 

beer battered onion rings. Given that 

this is Southern California, there’s 

also the K24 Veggie, with a house made 

vegan patty, organic greens, tomato, 

red onion, pickles and mayo. 

There’s also the eye candy, which 

comes free of charge if you wrangle 

a table on the patio outside. The 

street walkers are quite distracting. 

So much so that you might find yourself 

ignoring the screen on that iPhone 

while you’re munching that burger 

and talking with your bestie. 

NO. 2 

SHAKE SHACK 



WWW.SHAKESHACK.COM/LOCATION/WEST- 

HOLLYWOOD/ 

(323) 488-3010 

NO. 3 

IRV’S BURGER 



WWW.IRVSBURGERS.COM 

(323) 650-2456 

Best Chinese 

Restaurant 

NO. 1 

CHIN CHIN 

8618 SUNSET BOULEVARD 


WWW.CHINCHIN.COM 

(310) 652-1818 

Chin Chin’s story is as engaging as its 

menu. Its website explains that the 

restaurant “made its debut in Los Angeles 

in 1983, introducing dim sum 

and other Chinese favorites prepared 

fresh to order, without adding any 

MSG, and served in a contemporary 

environment with friendly and efficient 

service. 

“For more than 30 years, Chin Chin has 

firmly established itself as one of the 

most iconic restaurant brands in Los 

Angeles, with four locations through- 

16 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2018 2017

out the city and one in the New York- 

New York Hotel and Casino in Las 

Vegas, Nevada.” 

Its menu includes popular traditional 

dishes from across China such as 

sweet and sour pork and General Tso’s 

chicken, Hunan chicken, Mongolian 

beef and Szechuan string beans. 

NO. 2 

KUNG PAO BISTRO 



WWW.KUNGPAOBISTRO.COM 

(323) 848-9888 

NO. 3 

ASAKUMA RICE 

848 NORTH LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.ASAKUMARICE.COM 

(310) 652-7780 

Best 

Mexican 

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 Confit Enchiladas. It has a 

gluten free menu (this is WeHo, after 

all). And the outdoor patio is lovely 

But as attention grabbing as the food is 

the décor and the staff. 

“Each piece of furniture and fixture 

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 

MARIX TEX MEX 

1108 NORTH FLORES STREET 


WWW.MARIXTEXMEX.COM 

(323) 656-8800 

NO. 3 

GUISADOS 



WWW.GUISADOS.CO 

(310) 777-0310 

17

Best Japanese 

Restaurant 

NO. 1 

NORI SUSHI 


WEST HOLLYWOOD 90069 

HTTP://WWW.NORIAZ.COM/ 

(310) 854-6212 

Nori Sushi, which also has locations 

in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz., says 

that it “emphasizes heavily on the art 

of sushi construction” and offers “art 

that you can eat.” 

So art aficionados can enjoy the carefully 

crafted look of their Nori meals 

as well as the taste. 

But if you’re nervous about parking, you 

should know that Nori offers delivery. 

NO. 2 

NICO NICO SHUSHI 



WWW.NIKOSUSHIWEHO.COM/ 

(323) 654-6200 

NO. 3 

NOBU 

903 LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.NOBURESTAURANTS.COM 

(310) 657-5711 

Best Pizza 

NO. 1 

VITO’S PIZZA 

846 LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 

WWW.VITOPIZZA.COM 

(310) 652-6859 

Both the Huffington Post and the L.A. 

Times have called out Vito’s for the 

authentic New York style of its pizza. 

Its menu offers 16 versions. 

Its fans call out Nori Sushi for the 

staff’s service as well as the food. And 

then there are those who say they find 

it easy to find parking, and note that 

it’s dog-friendly. 

18 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2018 2017

Apparently Hallie Berry and Sylvester 

Stallone are among the fans of Vito’s 

pizza. Or maybe their primary attraction 

is to the engaging Vito di Donato, 

the former Jersey boy who is its owner. 

Di Donato ran his pizzeria in Silver 

Lake for a decade before packing up 

and moving to La Cienega, which he 

saw as more accessible. 

Edison Mellor-Goldman, writing a few 

years ago as a then-16-year-old for LA 

Youth, the independent teen newspaper, 

called out another interesting aspect 

of Vito’s. “A friend said something 

about Vito’s that is memorable 

and true: ‘You go out for pizza, and you 

come back with a family’.” 

NO. 2 

FRESH BROTHERS 



WWW.FRESHBROTHERS.COM 

(310) 652-5252 

Best Coffee 

Shop 

NO. 1 

THE BUTCHER, 

THE BAKER, 

THE CAPPUCCINO 

MAKER 

8653 WEST SUNSET BOULEVARD 


WWW.BBCMCAFE.COM 

(310) 360-6900 

Yes, it’s a mouthful. No, not the coffee. 

The coffee shop’s name. That’s why its 

fans call it BBCM. 

As much as its fans rave about the coffee, 

BBCM is more than that. It “offers 

modern California cuisine with European 

influences for breakfast, lunch, 

and dinner. Plus tempting fresh baked 

goods, speciality coffee beverages, 

and, don’t worry, handcrafted cocktails 

and a comprehensive wine list.” 

And there are those patio tables, which 

let you soak up the vibe of the Sunset 

Strip without having to negotiate your 

way through the middle of it. 

NO. 2 

STARBUCKS 



WWW.STARBUCKS.COM 

(310) 659-1856 

NO. 3 

STARBUCKS 



WWW.STARBUCKS.COM 

(858) 472-9420 

NO. 3 

MARCO’S 



WWW.MARCOSWESTHOLLYWOOD.COM 

(323) 650-1060 

19

The Back Story 

ULT CANTIN 


A 

endeavors which included a graphic 

design agency called Source Arts and 

the sale of albums by their improvisational 

psychedelic band YaHoWa13, 

which often performed at the restaurant. 

Father Yod, in his crisp white suits, full 

snowy beard, gleaming Rolls Royce 

and surrounded by young girls, was 

as much a rock star and fashion icon 

as he was a restauranteur and spiritual 

leader. 

The Source Restaurant was sold at the 

end of 1974, at which time The Family 

moved to Hawaii. The inimitable Father 

Yod would die the following year 

(in rock star fashion) crashing a hangglider 

head first into an Oahu beach. 

Today, with every surface of the restaurant 

painted with tromp l’oeil 

tramps and bamboo shoots, little remains 

of the white robed hippies that 

served up sprouts to the likes of Marlon 

Brando and John Lennon. 

WHEN CABO CANTINA 

WAS CULT CANTINA 

- By Gus Heully 

The building now occupied by Cabo 

Cantina on Sunset Boulevard was built 

in 1946 and has had its share of interesting 

owners, Ever wonder what 

other lives it has had? 

Long a restaurant, this spot has offered 

hamburgers, Cajun and Mexican 

food, but is most famous for its life as 

The Source, a restaurant that mixed 

vegetarian cuisine with spirituality, 

psychedelic music and a cult commune. 

The Source Restaurant was opened in 

1969 by Father Yod (aka Jim Baker) patriarch 

of The Source Family. A cultlike 

commune of about 140, The Source 

Family shared a Los Feliz mansion, 

promoted a natural vegetarian diet, 

apparently abstained from drugs and 

alcohol and prepared to create a utopia 

following what was seen (understandably 

in the 1970s) as an inevitable nuclear 

apocalypse. 

A highly charismatic man of varied 

talents, Yod is reported to have been 

a Marine, jiujitsu master, Hollywood 

stuntman and killer. His record includes 

a 1955 justifiable homicide and 

1963 manslaughter conviction; stemming 

from arguments over a dog and 

another man’s wife respectively. 

What is more, The Source was not Father 

Yod’s first health centric restaurant. 

He was responsible for the Aware 

Inn which opened in 1957, making it 

one of the first (if not the first) organic 

restaurants as well as The Old World 

restaurant — famous for its veggie 

burgers. All three restaurants were on 

Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, 

making our city a birthplace of the organic, 

vegetarian and health-food movements. 

But, above the restaurant there once 

existed a low-ceilinged sanctum, a loft 

accessible only by ladder, lined in billowing 

brocade and clouded with incense, 

where Father Yod would meditate 

with his wives. 

Does this room still exist? A secret retreat 

of hippy scented contemplation 

above the sombrero wearing, shot 

slamming sports bar scene below? 

Just the idea of this juxtaposition, surreal 

and secretive, is delicious enough. 

The Source Family had official nonprofit 

religious organization status 

and was financially self-sufficient, 

thanks to the success of 

the restaurant and other business 

21

NIGHT 

B E S T 

O F 

W E H O : DIV E B A R, G A Y 

B A R, 

G O 

G O 

D 

22 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2017 2018

LIFE 

A NC ER 

H O TEL B A R, LIVE PE R F O R M A N C E, 

B A R,

Best Gay 

Bar 

NO. 1 

TRUNKS 



WWW.TRUNKSBAR.COM 

(310) 652-1015 

Best Dive 

Bar 

“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 pretension 

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.” 

NO. 1 

THE BAYOU 



HTTP://WWW.THEBAYOUWEHO.COM/ 

(310) 273-3303 

Let me “bayou” a drink! That would be 

a lovely (and inexpensive) offer at The 

Bayou, where well drinks were only $2 

this summer and still are pretty cheap 

now that we’re into fall. 

The Bayou, whose website calls it 

a “certified dive bar,” also offers a 

crazy fun menu of appetizers to soak 

up some of that alcohol. (Try those 

“Drunk in Love Mac & Cheese Bites.) 

the night goes on, gets friendlier and 

friendlier, which is what a bar night 

out should be is all about. 

NO. 2 

MOTHER LODE 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MOTHERLODEWESTHOLLYWOOD 

(310) 659-9700 

NO. 3 

T R U N K S 



WWW.TRUNKSBAR.COM 

(310) 652-1015 

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. Check out those 1 to 8 

p.m. drink specials. 

NO. 2 

THE BAYOU 



HTTP://WWW.THEBAYOUWEHO.COM/ 

(310) 273-3303 

NO. 3 

THE ABBEY 

692 NORTH ROBERTSON BOULEVARD 


HTTPS://WWW.THEABBEYWEHO.COM/ 

(310) 289-8410 

You won’t find guys here flashing their 

abs (the six-pack of choice involves 

beer). You will find a happy crowd 

jammed into a small space that, as 

24 BEST OF WEST HOLLYWOOD 2018 2017

Best Go Go 

Dancer BAR 

NO. 1 

MICKY’S 



WWW.MICKYS.COM/ 

(310) 657-1176 

Yes, you can stand outside on the sidewalk 

to check out those go go boys at 

Micky’s (although the ones at the back 

of the bar are hard to see), but if you 

really want to experience the crazy 

vibe you’ve got to walk in that door 

and order a drink. 

Micky’s is the landing spot for the latest 

great go go dancers in West Hollywood. 

If you’re a dancer and you 

find yourself on the Micky’s stage, you 

know you have arrived. 

Micky’s also is West Hollywood’s most 

open bar, in the literal sense of the 

word. Its large outdoor patio is packed 

most nights. 

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 

25

Best hotel 

bar 

NO. 1 

RIVIERA 31 - 

SOFITEL 

8555 BEVERLY BOULEVARD 

LOS ANGELES 90048 

WWW.ESTERELRESTAURANT.COM/RIVIERA-31 

(310) 278-5444 

It’s 5,650 miles away. But if you close 

your eyes and relax and sip that Opium 

Sour (which actually is made with gin) 

you can fantasize that you’re sitting in 

a bar on the banks of the real Riviera – 

that one in Paris. Then there are those 

Wednesday Salsa Nights, hosted by 

Gabriella Lopez, which will take you to 

another part of the world. 

If it’s simply been an exhausting day at 

work, consider the apéro, that French 

evening ritual where one gathers with 

friends after work for pre-dinner 

drinks (which can stretch long 

into the night). 

NO. 2 

THE TOWER BAR 

8358 SUNSET BOULEVARD 


WWW.SUNSETTOWERHOTEL. 

COM/RESTAURANTS-AND- 

BAR/TOWER-BAR/ 

(323) 654-7100 

NO. 3 

THE STANDARD 

POOL DECK 



HTTP://WWW.STANDARDHOTELS.COM/LA 

(323) 822-3111 


Best Live 

Performance 

NO. 1 

MICKY’S 



WWW.MICKYS.COM/ 

(310) 657-1176 

Why wouldn’t the bar chosen as having 

the best go go dancers also be chosen as 

the one with the best live performances? 

Micky’s is No. 1 in both categories 

according to Best Of voters. 

The performances are indeed live. This 

isn’t a bar where go go boys shuffle from 

one foot to another, looking bored while 

they wait for that $1 jock strap tip. The 

dancers at Micky’s clearly enjoy what 

they’re doing, and are engaged with 

their audience. 

West Hollywood is where go go dancing 

originated (with female dancers on the 

Sunset Strip). Micky’s keeps that history 

alive with guys. 

NO. 2 

THE TROUBADOUR 



WWW.TROUBADOUR.COM 

NO. 3 

THE COMEDY STORE 



WWW.THECOMEDYSTORE.COM 

(323) 650-6268 

27

PETS & S 


BEST OF WEHO 

UPPLIES 

ERVICES

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”). 

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 

POSH PET CARE 

8218 WEST SUNSET BOULEVARD, WEST 

HOLLYWOOD 

705 NORTH HARPER AVENUE, LOS ANGELES 

WWW.POSHPETCARE.COM 

(323) 655-7674 

NO. 3 

HEALTHY SPOT 




(310) 657-2400 


Best PET 

SUPPLIES 


VETERINARIANS 

NO. 1 

HEALTHY SPOT 




(310) 657-2400 

Healthy Spot says it uses a “mind, body 

and bowl” approach to figure out what 

to offer you and your pet. That means 

making sure that “every stocked product 

contains premium-quality ingredients 

and is procured and manufactured 

safely and ethically.” 

The approach comes from the personal 

experience of Healthy Spot founders 

Andrew Kim and Mark Boonnark, 

whom started the company in 2008 in 

response to the 2007 pet food recalls. 

Andrew had recently adopted his pup 

Maya and found it hard to find a safe 

food option for her. Mark lost his pup 

Biscuit to cancer. 

NO. 1 


ANIMAL HOSPITAL 



WWW.WH-AH.COM 

(310) 275-0055 

“Your pet is our passion,” is the slogan 

of West Hollywood Veterinary Hospital, 

which is owned and operated by 

Dr. Monica Revel. 

There isn’t really a service that the 

hospital doesn’t offer. They include 

an indoor dog park for weekday doggy 

day care and issuance of international 

and domestic health certificates if you 

plan to take your pet on a trip. 

The hospital hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

daily, which makes it easy to get to if 

you’re working a nine-to-five job. 

NO. 2 

URBAN PET 

1128 NORTH LA BREA AVENUE 


HTTP://WWW.THEURBANPET.NET/ 

(323) 952-6088 

NO. 3 

COLLAR & LEASH 



WWW.COLLARANDLEASHLA.COM 

(310) 657-6638 

NO. 2 

FOX COMPANION CARE 

(MOBILE VETERINARY SERVICE) 

FOXCOMPANIONCARE.COM/ 

(310) 854-5933 

NO. 3 

LAUREL PET HOSPITAL 



HTTP://WWW.LAURELPETHOSPITAL.COM/ 

(323) 654-7060 

31

B 

GR 


BEST OF WEHO 

EAUTY& 

EAUTY 

OOMING


BARBERSHOP Best 

NO. 1 

S H O R T Y ’ S 

BARBER SHOP 

755 NORTH FAIRFAX AVENUE 


WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SHORTYSBARBERSHOPLA 

(323) 297-0554 

The name calls to mind an old-fashioned 

barber shop from the 1950s. But 

Shorty’s isn’t so traditional. 

“Traditional barber shops tend to cater 

to mostly male clientele,” Shorty’s 

website says. “But Shorty’s has re-envisioned 

the barber shop as an all-inclusive 

experience whether you’re a 

man or a women, regardless of hair 

texture or style. Looking for color or a 

brazilian blowout? Don’t worry we’ve 

got you covered with specialists in 

these areas too!” 

You don’t need an appointment with 

Shorty’s first come-first serve system. 

Although you can book one with a senior 

stylist if, Shorty’s says, “you’re a 

little old school.” 

NO. 2 

IZZY’S 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/IZZYSBARBERSHOPWEHO 

(323) 848-4442 

NO. 3 

BARCODE 



WWW.BARCODEBARBERSHOP.COM 

(323) 999-5549 

DAY SPA 

NO. 1 

VODA SPA 



WWW.VODASPA.COM 

(323) 654-4411 

“More than a spa. A social club.” That’s 

how Voda Spa describes itself. 

The spa on the West Hollywood’s Eastside 

is that, with a cafe that offers 

breakfast, lunch and dinner and a 

lounge with martinis and speciality 

cocktails. 

And then there are the traditional spa 

services – massages, facials, scrubs 

and waxing. 

Voda calls out its location in WeHo’s 

Russian-speaking community with an 

offer of a “Russian Bear” massage on 

Tuesdays and a “Russian Opulence” facial 

on Thursdays. 


Best HAIR SALON 

NO. 1 

TRUST 



WWW.TRUSTHAIRSALON.COM/ 

310) 859-7447 

The hours are 10 a.m. to midnight 

Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. 

to midnight on weekends. There’s a 

co-ed sauna and pool open every day. 

First-time guests are asked to go to 

Voda Spa’s website to fill out a form to 

speed their admission. 

NO. 2 

GREGORY DYLAN SKINCARE 

AND BEAUTY 

801 LARRABEE STREET, SUITE 11 


WWW.GREGORYDYLANBEAUTY.COM/ 

(310) 467-8186 

NO. 3 

SPARADISE 

8505 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD, SUITE 3 


WWW.SPARADISEWEHO.COM 

(323) 643-9988 

Trust isn’t one of those salons hidden 

away in a large glass building on a 

busy boulevard. No, it inhabits an eye 

catching little building on Santa Monica 

Boulevard -- eye catching both because 

of a small and intimate size and 

the numerous reflective gold plates on 

its exterior. 

Trust offers haircuts for men, women 

and children along with services like 

blow drying, hair extensions and up 

do styling. 

NO. 2 

SALON REPUBLIC 

8000 SUNSET BOULEVARD, B-200 


WWW.SALONREPUBLIC.COM/WEST-HOLLYWOOD/ 

(323) 654-6500 

NO. 3 

SALON BENJAMIN 

8910 MELROSE AVENUE 


WWW.BENJAMINSALON.COM 

(424) 249-3296 

35

BEST OF WEHO 

FITNES 


S

Best GYM 

OR FITNESS STUDIO 

NO. 1 

TRAINING MATE LA 



WWW.TRAININGMATELA.COM 

(323) 380-5492 

Looking for a gym or fitness studio in 

West Hollywood? Who isn’t? And the 

good news is it’s not hard to find 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.) 

NO. 2 

STUDIO 10 FITNESS 

745 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD 


WWW.STUDIO10FIT.COM 

(323) 515-9667 

NO. 2 (IT’S A TIE) 

HARMONY STUDIOS 



WWW.HARMONYSTUDIOSLA.COM 

(323) 822-9584 


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 a 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 times each day that you must 

register for online. 

Schedules for Training Mate’s variety 

of classes are available on its website. 


NO. 2 

JENNY TATE PILATES 

650 LA PEER DRIVE 


WWW.JENNYTATEPILATES.COM 

(310) 564-6070 

NO. 3 

CLAUDIA MARTIN STUDIO 



WWW.CLAUDIAMARTINSTUDIO.COM 

(310) 430-8592 

39

medica 

BEST OF WEHO 


l

Say ahh AHH 

Best DENTAL 

CLINICS 

NO. 1 


HOLISTIC & COSMETIC 

DENTISTRY 

7865 SANTA MONICA BLVD. 


WWW.HOLISTICSMILECARE.COM 

(323) 654-2840 

We all admire a beautiful smile. But 

a smile is about more than projecting 

your happiness to those around you. Research 

has shown that smiling has significant 

mental and physical health 

benefits. Erin Coleman, R.D., L.D., who 

writes about health, has noted the following 

effects: 

The team includes orthodontist Dr. 

Yoram Kohanadeh, anesthesiologist 

Dr. David Khandabi and cosmetic 

dentist Bruce Vafa DDS. 

NO. 2 

VIP DENTAL SPA 



WWW.VIPDENTALSPAS.COM 

(310) 659-0120 

NO. 3 

SUNSET DENTAL STUDIO 

9201 SUNSET BOULEVARD, SUITE 718 


WWW.SUNSETDENTALSTUDIO.COM 

(310) 499-4534 

1. Improved Mood 

2. Lower Blood Pressure 

3. Stress Relief 

4. Better Relationships 

5. Stronger Immune Function 

6. Pain Relief 

7. Longer Life 

In addition to general dentistry procedures 

such as pediatric dentistry, root 

canal work and dental fillings, West Hollywood 

Holistic Cosmetic Dental Center 

offers a wide range of cosmetic dentistry 

services ranging from teeth whitening 

to improving the look of your smile. 


Best Chiropractic 

Centers 

NO. 1 

BACK TO TOTAL 

HEALTH 

1106 NORTH LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD #203 


WWW.BACKTOTOTALHEALTH.COM 

(310) 659-8500 

Cracked your back? Feeling the 

pain from that shoulder press at the 

gym? A chiropractor might be the solution. 

Chiropractic services are just one of 

many offered by Back to Total Health 

Wellness Center. The Center also provides 

acupuncture, massage, and pilates 

for rehabilitation. The services 

can be purchased as part of monthly 

packages at attractive rates. 

“Even though we deal with many different 

types of musculoskeletal related 

problems including sciatica, rotator 

cuff injuries, lower back pain, neck stiffness 

and tightness, headaches, pinched 

nerves etc… many of our patients also 

come to us to stay well adjusted,” says 

the Center. “We offer regular chiropractic 

adjustments to help 

the body’s biomechanics 

function properly 

so you can perform 

a sport or exercise. 

We also provide 

massage therapy 

to ease soreness 

or acupuncture 

to balance the 

body’s 

energy. 

There are many ways to obtain wellness 

at Back to Total Health… be better 

than well!” 

NO. 2 

UNITY HOLISTIC 



WWW.UNITY-HOLISTIC.COM/ 

(310) 888-2582 

NO. 3 

THE HUMBLE ABODE SPA 

519 N. LA CIENEGA BLVD. #9 


WWW.THEHUMBLEABODESPA.COM 

(310) 360-9300 


Acupuncturists 

NO. 1 

BACK TO TOTAL 

HEALTH 

1106 NORTH LA CIENEGA BOULEVARD #203 


WWW.BACKTOTOTALHEALTH.COM 

(310) 659-8500 

When it comes to acupuncture, one of 

many services offered by the Back to 

Total Health Center, you don’t have to 

believe in it to benefit from it. As the 

Center notes on its website: “Acupuncture 

has been used successfully 

to treat animals who do 

not understand or ‘believe’ 

that it will make them better.” 

That includes homo 

sapiens. 

It’s not painful either. 

The needles involved are 

as thin as a human hair. 

They are used on parts of 

the body where they can 

influence internal organs 

or relieve pain. 

And if you’re still feeling pain? There’s 

always massage. 

NO. 2 

OAK TREE HEALERS 

8961 SUNSET BOULEVARD, SUITE 2E 


(310) 365-6855 

WWW.OAKTREEHEALERS.COM 

NO. 3 

UNITY HOLISTIC 



WWW.UNITY-HOLISTIC.COM/ 

(310) 888-2582 

43

Best Plastic 

Surgeon 

NO. 1 

ROGER TSAI, 

MD - PLASTIC & 

RECONSTRUCTIVE 

SURGERY 

9201 W. SUNSET BLVD., SUITE GF-1A 


WWW.DRTSAIPLASTICSURGERY.COM 

(310) 276-1190 

Obsessed with those sagging cheeks? 

How about that skin flap on your neck? 

As we grow older, our bodies change 

faster than our spirits and our minds 

and sometimes don’t really represent 

who we are. 

That’s where doctors like Roger Tsai 

can help. You can start by downloading 

on Dr. Tsai’s website a free guide to 

cosmetic surgery. The website also offers 

detailed instructions about what a 

face lift or other surgery entails. 

involved in competitive swimming 

and tennis as a youth, and continues 

to this day with devoted bodybuilding 

and rigorous exercise. ... Dr. Tsai also 

has an affiliation with the performing 

arts; skilled at playing piano, violin 

and saxophone.” 

NO. 2 

GARY MOTYKIE MD 

(MOTYKIE MED SPA) 

8538 SUNSET BOULEVARD, SUITE 16 


WWW.SUNSETPLAZADENTAL.COM 

(310) 855-2434 

NO. 3 

COSMETIC REJUVENATION 

MEDICAL CENTER 



WWW.CRMCLASER.COM 

(323) 650-9949 

Dr. Tsai clearly has fans. Online reviewers 

make claims like “My boobs 

are all I could have ever dreamed of” 

and “Best plastic surgeon ever! Look 

no further.” 

Dr. Tsai not only promotes health and 

nutrition, he also practices it, his website 

says. “An avid athlete, he was 



Optometrists 

NO. 1 

SVETLANA FISHER, OD 



WWW.SPECSAPPEALONLINE.COM 

(323) 650-0988 

Specs appeal? Doesn’t Dr. Fisher’s 

website url say it all? 

“With a strong emphasis on pathology 

and contact lens wear, Dr. Fisher is a 

very well regarded expert in the field,” 

says that website. “Both her peers and 

patients praise her consultations in 

these areas of optometric care. In addition 

to the medical knowledge, Dr. 

Fisher bring to her practice a solid reputation 

as a warm and caring practitioner. 

She strongly believes in taking 

the time to speak with and understand 

the specific needs of her patients. 

“When asked about her professional 

philosophy, Dr. Fisher says, ‘It has always 

been my goal to offer patients 

the respect they deserve when they 

come into my office.’ Ensuring this attitude 

on an everyday basis, Dr. Fisher 

makes sure that her highly qualified 

staff of managers and opticians offer 

patients nothing but the best in care 

and hospitality. And then there’s that 

“specs appeal.” 

NO. 2 

LA OPTOMETRIC 



WWW.DRROBWELLNESS.COM 

(310) 659-8584 

NO. 3 

BENJAMIN EYE INSTITUTE 

9201 SUNSET BOULEVARD, NO 709 


HTTPS://WWW.BENJAMINEYE.COM/ 

(310) 507-7988 

45

BEST OF WEHO 

FINANCIA 


L 

Best Local 

Bank Branch 

NO. 1 

CHASE 



WWW.CHASE.COM 

(310) 275-3158 

West Hollywood has a population of 

roughly 37,000 people, and it’s home to 

16 bank branches. That’s a branch for 

every 2,312 of us -- meaning banks appear 

to be more popular in WeHo than 

7-Elevens (which do have ATMs, for 

simple banking tasks). 

This branch is one of 5,100 operated 

by Chase in the United States and is 

one of the country’s Big Four banks. It 

has a history going back to 1799, when 

Aaron Burr founded the Manhattan 

Company, one of multiple entities that 

were bought and merged over decades 

to make Chase the big bank it is today. 

The 8951 branch is open from 9 a.m. 

to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It 

is located on the northwest corner of 

Santa Monica and Robertson boulevards 

in the Pavilion’s plaza, which 

means there’s plenty of parking available. 

And after getting some cash in 

your pocket you can always stop at the 

Starbucks next door for a coffee. 

The bank is relatively empty 

of customers during the 

day. And while some customers 

have complained 

on Yelp about slow service, 

others have praised what 

they’ve experienced as a 

quick and helpful response. 

And remember, there’s parking 

available! In West Hollywood that’s 

a factor likely to lure anyone to move 

his or her bank account. 

NO. 2 

WELLS FARGO 



WWW.WELLSFARGO.COM 

(31 0) 855-7140 

NO. 3 

BANK OF AMERICA 



WWW.BANKOFAMERICA.COM 

(424) 204-4941 

47

BEST OF WEHO 

non p 


ofits 

rofitsThey were 

Best non 

profit 

NO. 1 

AIDS HEALTHCARE 

FOUNDATION 

6255 SUNSET BOULEVARD, 21ST FLOOR 


WWW.AIDSHEALTH.ORG 

(323) 860-5200 

AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) is 

a Los Angeles-based global nonprofit 

provider of HIV prevention services, 

testing, and healthcare for HIV patients. 

AHF provides medical care and 

services to more than 600,000 individuals 

in 15 U.S. states and 36 countries 

worldwide. 

That includes residents of Greater Los 

Angeles, for whom AHF offers an array 

of medical services and access to HIV 

medications that otherwise would be 

unavailable to many because of their 

cost. AHF operates the Out of the Closet 

thrift store chain and the AHF Pharmacy. 

AHF got its start in 1987 when activists 

Chris Brownlie, Mina Meyer, Sharon 

Raphael and Michael Weinstein 

worked with others to create the Los 

Angeles AIDS Hospice Committee. 

in planning and negotiating 

the opening of Chris Brownlie Hospice 

on the grounds of the Barlow Respiratory 

Hospital. 

That organization gave rise to the AIDS 

Hospice Foundation and, ultimately, to 

today’s AIDS Healthcare Foundation. 

AHF currently serves 600,407 people 

in 36 countries through global clinics 

offering HIV testing, antiretroviral 

and other HIV/AIDS prevention, and 

treatment services. AHF’s worldwide 

clinics span Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, 

the U.S. and Latin America. 

AHF’s activity in Africa, where the HIV 

epidemic has been especially deadly, 

includes the opening of its first treatment 

center outside the U.S. with the 

establishment in South Africa of a 

clinic in 2002 through a partnership 

with the KwaZulu-Natal Department 

of Health. A second site was opened in 

2008 in Eastern Cape Province. 

NO. 2 

WOOD ELEMENTARY 

970 HAMMOND ST. 


FRIENDS OF WEST HOLLY- 

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FRIENDSOFWESTHOLLY- 

WOODELEMENTARY 

(310) 274-5313 

NO. 3 

PROJECT ANGEL FOOD 

922 VINE ST. 


WWW.ANGELFOOD.ORG 

(323) 845-1800 

49

an 


BEST OF WEHO 

d more! 

51

Exhibitions have included art by innovative 

artists such as David Yarrow, 

Russell Young, Flore, Nick Veasey and 

Mike Dargas. Arts Angeles also exhibits 

the work of established artists such 

as Banksy and Andy Warhol. 

Best Dry 

Cleaners 

NO. 1 

PETER’S MAGNOLIA 

CLEANERS 

8305 SANTA MONICA BLVD 


WWW.PETERSMAGNOLIACLEANERS.COM/ 

(213) 654-1383 

They’ve been at it for more than 50 years, 

so you know Peter’s Magnolia Cleaners 

knows what they’re doing. 

They started out as two separate businesses. 

Peter’s is known in the entertainment 

industry. “We service major movie and 

television studios for their costume 

cleaning requirements. In addition to 

regular dry cleaning and laundry service, 

we specialize in handling vintage 

costumes and delicate fabrics,” the Peter’s 

Magnolia website explains. 

Magnolia Cleaners not only takes care of 

your clothes, but it offers cleaning services 

for “your fine garments but also for 

all your household items, drapes, roman 

shades, window treatments, upholstery, 

carpets, rugs and lamp shades.” 

The two merged in 2001 and still get 

great reviews for their customer service 

and for their pricing. 

NO. 2 

VILLAGE CLEANERS WEST 

HOLLYWOOD 



(323) 654-6811 

NO. 3 

HOLLYWAY CLEANERS 



WWW.HOLLYWAYCLEANERS.COM 

(323) 654-1271 

Best art 

gallery 

NO. 1 

ART ANGELS 

9020 BEVERLY BLVD. 


WWW.ARTANGELS.NET 

(310) 693-5500 

The Angels behind Art Angels are Jacquelin 

Napal and Kat Emery, who 

founded the studio in 2013 and have locations 

in West Hollywood and Miami 

and are planning for more. 

Art Angels works with a team of art specialists 

who help collectors, designers, 

developers and corporations find art appropriate 

to their needs and tastes. 

“We firmly believe that every acquisition 

should be a marriage of aesthetic 

appreciation and wise investment and 

we make it our business to offer both the 

beginner and experienced investor the 

perfect marriage of an enriching and 

sophisticated appreciation of contemporary 

art and the financial satisfaction of 

investment performance.” 

Works from Arts Angeles have been 

shown in an number of locations such as 

the Doheny Room and the SoHo House. 

Art Angels’ contemporary and provocative 

style has attracted collectors from 

around the world. Exhibiting a selection 

of both established and emerging artists, 

Art Angels offer a truly eclectic mix 

for their clientele with an ever growing 

number of innovative artists joining the 

Art Angels family. 

NO. 2 

MORRISON HOTEL GALLERY / 

SUNSET MARQUIS 

1200 ALTA LOMA ROAD 


HTTPS://WWW.MORRISONHOTELGALLERY.COM 

(310) 881-6025 

NO. 3 

LOUIS STERN FINE ARTS 



HTTPS://WWW.LOUISSTERNFINEARTS.COM/ 

(310) 276-0147 


Today it’s still full of customers, but 

it has a staff that assists them quickly 

and efficiently. 

Still, it might take some time to shop there 

because of the variety of products. But 

when you’ve made your selection and 

walk out of the shop, remember Med- 

Men’s advice: Smile. Because it’s legal! 

clients learning the basics of flower 

design in one of our signature classes, 

and sales staff helping customers 

browse our bloom bar to curate their 

custom bouquets,” says Empty Vase’s 

website. 

Babaeean also is proud of the services 

Empty Vase provides for individuals 

and families. 

Best Cannabis 

Dispensaries 

NO. 1 

MEDMEN WEST 

HOLLYWOOD 



WWW.MEDMENSHOP.COM 

(323) 848-7981 

MedMen has shops in California, Nevada 

and New York. Its West Hollywood shop 

stands out for its presentation of cannabis 

in a radically different way. Instead of 

the sort of dark and grungy space maybe 

oldtime cannabis buyers are used to, Med- 

Men WeHo looks like a sleek Apple store. 

That’s part of MedMen’s effort to reposition 

cannabis. Now that recreational cannabis 

can legally be sold in California and 

many other states, MedMen is working 

to education consumers that it’s not a rad 

underground product but something that 

any and all can enjoy for reasons of health 

and well being. 

MedMen’s Santa Monica Boulevard shop 

was one of four that opened in West Hollywood 

right after New Year’s Day this year, 

drawing long lines of customers. 

NO. 2 

ZEN HEALING 



WWW.ZENWEHO.COM 

NO. 3 

LOS ANGELES PATIENTS AND 

CAREGIVERS GROUP (LAPCG) 



HTTPS://WWW.LAMEDICALMARIJUANA.COM/ 

(323) 882-6033 

Best florist 

NO. 1 

EMPTY VASE 

FLORIST 



WWW.EMPTYVASE.COM 

(310) 278-1988 

Saeed Babaeean founded the 

Empty Vase in West Hollywood 

in 1988 as a simple flower 

shop. Over time it has expanded 

and now is known for 

its floral sculpture, its home 

décor work and its event design 

services. Floral Vase also 

offers floral design services for 

beginners. 

“On any given day at the Empty 

Vase, there are metalworkers 

welding custom frames for larger-than-life 

topiaries, event designers 

dreaming up celebrations 

out of a fantasy novel, 

“For decades, we have curated celebrations 

for families, seeing them through 

from the birth of their children to 

their bar mitzvahs, weddings, and everything 

in between. The Empty Vase 

is not just another florist – we are custodians 

of the poetry of flowers, who 

help us share our emotions and celebrate 

the beauty of life.” 

NO. 2 

FLOWERS WHOLESALE 



WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/FLOWERS-WHOLESALE 

(323) 656-3077 

NO. 3 

WEST HOLLYWOOD FLORIST 



HTTP://WWW.WESTHOLLYWOODFLORIST.COM/ 

(323) 656-8833 

53

The Back Story 

sunset to 

Why Is Sunset Tower Decorated 

with Plants, Animals and Planes? 

- By Gus Heully 


wer 

55

their actual construction. Art Deco styling 

soaked up as much exoticism as it 

could, particularly the sensationalized 

and eroticized portrayal of Asia and 

the Middle East in Hollywood films. 

Stepped pyramids, lush foliage, mystic 

animals, stylized nudes and geometric 

arabesques made their way into every 

corner of this designed world. 

Sunset Tower Hotel is renowned for 

the celebrities who have lived or 

stayed there, but ever wonder why it 

has such unusual ornamentation. 

Designed in 1929, the Sunset Tower 

Apartments (as the building originally 

was named) was the tallest apartment 

building in Los Angeles when it 

opened in 1931 and seemed even taller 

because of its perch on Sunset Boulevard 

in the hills. At 8358 Sunset Boulevard 

near Kings, it was built outside 

the Los Angeles city limits to avoid 

that city’s height restrictions. 

Besides its unrivaled views, the tower, 

designed by Los Angeles architect Leland 

A. Bryant, attracted residents 

with modern conveniences. It was the 

first fully electric residential building 

in Los Angeles and advertised an outlet 

for electric shavers in every bathroom. 

Its owners made an unsuccessful effort 

to convert the apartments into 

condominiums in the late 1970s, and it 

was reborn as a luxury hotel in 1985. 

Initially renamed the St. James Club, it 

later became the Argyle. Hotelier Jeff 

Klein acquired it in 2004, renamed it 

the Sunset Tower Hotel and undertook 

a major restoration of the building. 

The building was added to the National 

Register of Historic Places in 1980. Celebrities 

who have stayed at the hotel 

include John Wayne, Howard Hughes, 

Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, Marilyn 

Monroe, Quincy Jones, Roger Moore, 

Truman Capote and Bugsy Siegel. 

Bryant designed the building in the 

Art Deco style, which was still quite 

new in 1929. Developed in the interwar 

years, it was a forward-looking 

style. Its imagery and materials were 

inspired by the industrial machine age 

and new mass production and media 

technologies — especially in theatre 

and film — as opposed to historical 

precedents. 

Those technologies gave people a view 

of the world that, in 1929, was a rare 

luxury. Traveling to Europe or Asia 

was a costly, time-consuming endeavor. 

Still photography and film technology 

were not yet portable or affordable 

for the average person. That being the 

case, exposure to far away places was 

predominantly through exotic set designs 

for film and theatre and through 

books. Film was particularly pertinent 

to those in Los Angeles who not 

only saw the sets in the movies but also 

Sunset Tower was a contemporary of 

some of L.A’.s most treasured examples 

of Art Deco architecture, like the 

Bullocks Wilshire department store, 

the Wiltern Theatre on Wilshire and 

the Eastern Columbia building downtown. 

On close inspection though, Sunset 

Tower may be a more intriguing 

example of the Art Deco style’s inspirations 

than some of those better known 

buildings. 

While little literature exists on Bryant 

or his inspiration for Sunset Tower’s 

ornamentation, the tower’s images 

suggest he was a movie-goer. A film 

like D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” may 

have been his inspiration. 

“Intolerance,” an epic of the silent era, 

spanned a period close to 2,500 years 

and ran three and a half hours. Its 

most famous and ambitious sequence 

was the depiction of ancient Babylon, 

accomplished with gigantic sets filled 

with thousands of extras. The original 

Babylon set was built, full size, on 

a lot where Hollywood and Sunset boulevards 

intersect and the Vista Theatre 

now stands. It was partially recreated, 

for better or worse, with the film’s signature 

rearing elephants at the Hollywood 

and Highland complex. More 

important than the huge sets was the 

image of a faraway place brought to 

the screen and streets of L.A. 

Bryant likely saw this set both in person 

and on screen and many of the decorative 

elements on Sunset Tower have 

distinct similarities to the Babylon set. 


Flourishes of foliage, 

foreign animals 

and stacked pagodas 

pepper the entire building. 

Starting at the bottom, the 

front face on Sunset Boulevard 

has a large relief above 

the main entry. Stacked pagodas 

rise out of ocean waves and pierce 

swirls of cloud and wind. A zeppelin 

breaks through a cloud bank 

on the left side and a modern ship 

(possibly a German U-Boat) enters 

from the right. Fighter planes dive 

from above, completing the most mechanical 

of the tower’s images. 

On its back side, near the entrance to 

the parking garage, gates and bars are 

made to look like the grilles of cars, 

complete with headlights. 

One tier up, a bundle of wheat flanked 

by stags, curling leaves, small goats, 

stars and tiered towers face Sunset 

in a horizontal plaster frieze. On the 

east and west sides, splaying foliage 

and layered towers are punctuated 

by goats and centrally by a large elephant, 

the style of which is very reminiscent 

of those in the Babylon sets. 

The main trunk of the building is 

mostly unadorned, with chevronpatterned 

opaque glass breaking up 

curved corners of floor-to-ceiling windows. 

At the tower’s top, the ornamentation 

is the same on the structure’s front 

and back. Front and center are a male 

and female figure (some guess Adam 

and Eve) each with a hand on a gargoyle-like 

figure between them — a 

creature that could be Bryant’s take on 

a mythic Babylonian god. To each side, 

ram-headed creatures with air-like 

wings and spiraling serpent bodies 

keep watch. Their bodies created with 

the same curling leaf and cloud shape 

used elsewhere. The east and west 

sides of the building at this level feature 

the same ram-headed creatures 

and a single, centered female figure. 

The next band up belongs to the birds. 

Eagles nest among flowers and vines 

of grapes. To the sides, peacocks perch 

on sinewy vines framed by palm-like 

fronds. The east and west sides of the 

building still have peacocks, but longlegged 

cranes stand in for the palms. 

A narrow band of small palm trees, 

pineapple poufs and stylized birds 

ring the next step of the crown. At the 

top-most band, a ringed planet, surrounded 

by starlight, floats between a 

sun and 

moon. Sunset 

Tower’s ziggurat-like tower is topped 

with a large layered pagoda. 

Sunset Tower, with its decoration 

more figural than abstract, is an excellent 

example of the ability of the 

Art Deco style to knead together architecture, 

film, ancient history and the 

most advanced technology of the day. 

The design motifs used on Sunset 

Tower are multiple levels of disconnection 

and interpretation from their 

source material — a frieze made from 

a film of a set designed to reflect a historic 

era thousands of years old. But, 

that the material travelled so far and 

could be seen at all (thanks to the latest 

film technologies) made what 

would have otherwise been historic 

decoration part of an extremely modern 

turn in design. 

57

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