We Know Weho

Website:  TheBarberDenLa.com | Circa33Barbershop.com 

Instagram: @thebarberdenla | @circa33barbershop

Guest:  Jordan Halem

PODCAST 

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Listen and hear how this native Alaskan began his visual display and merchandise career and then moved to West Hollywood to make a splash in the much larger Los Angeles market working in special events that lead him to creating his own business in 2005, Oh Mannequin and All Things Visual.  Chadmichael Morrisette has created window displays for boutiques throughout West Hollywood and Los Angeles, including some that created quite a stir and caught the attention of CNN!

Chadmichael talks with We Know WeHo about the history of the display window and the "street art" that used to draw customers into the stores.  He shares where he gets his inspiration from, and his favorite window displays in West Hollywood and the US.  With over 2,000 mannequins in his collection, including an original "Emmy"from the Mannequin movie (starring Andrew McCarthy & Kim Cattrall), Chadmichael Morrisette is living a real-life dream like the movie as his displays are truly amazing art installations. 

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  www.ohmannequin.com

Instagram: @ohmannequin

Chadmichael Morrisette

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Website:  Dialogcafe.la 

Instagram: @dialogcafe

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Instagram: @we_know_where_to_go (coming soon)

Host:  @TLP_Style

Email:  weknowweho@gmail.com

Donate to our Fundraiser to Support Small Businesses

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Fruitloots is a gay owned and operated e-commerce gifting marketplace based in West Hollywood.  It is owned by best friends and Chief Fruits, David Cruz and Allan Nugyen.  Fruitloots offers a whimsical and elevated approach on the curated gift box.  You can select from curated boxes to fit the gift giving occasion, or create your own unique selection of items to fill a box.  They also offer a marketplace where individual products like candles and games and joyful holiday items such as peppermint marshmallows and winter snow globes.   You can celebrate PRIDE 365 days a year with the curated PRIDE boxes with a percentage of the proceeds from PRIDE boxes going to non-profit Camp Lightbulb that helps send LGBTQ+ youth to a summer camp experience.   Fruitloots' mission is to support LGBTQ+, POC, women and "Allies" by sourcing products on their site from vendors and entrepreneurs from these communities.  

David & Allan will also create a custom Fruitloot box for corporations or special events.  The entire site is 30% off now for the holidays, after that, use promo code FRUITFRIEND for 15% off any order!

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  Fruitloots.com

Instagram: @heyfruitloots

David Cruz @lovedavidcruz

Allan Nugyen @ermygerd

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

Email:  WeKnowWeho@gmail.com

Show Notes:

Did you know many cities, including West Hollywood, have an official Poet Laureate?  We Know WeHo talks to the Official Poet Laureate of West Hollywood - Brian Sonia-Wallace.  Listen to find out what it means to hold that position and Brian's official duties whilst he is in this role.  Be sure to check out the Tuesday night open mic for poets, musicians, artists as well as a quarterly poetry SLAM competition being hosted at Micky's West Hollywood.   

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  briansoniawallace.com 

Instagram: @rentpoet

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

Guest Co-Host:  @johnericksonwh 

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Website:  Pinkdot.com

Instagram: @pinkdot | @jeffthe420chef_official

SPONSORS

B2V Salon  www.b2vsalon.com

Steve Lococo @steve.lococo

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Many restaurants offer avocado toast on their menus, but “Bravo Toast” has carved out a niche in the restaurant space by offering mainly assorted toasts.  There are a few secrets to a great toast, the first being the actual toast that is locally sourced from Bub and Grandma’s Bread.  However, their savory burrata is flown in daily from an undisclosed cheese vendor in New York City.  Bravo Toast is located at 632 1/2 Doheny Drive and is open Tuesday - Sunday from 8:00am - 4:00pm.  

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  Bravotoast.com

Instagram: @bravo.toast

SPONSORS

B2V Salon  www.b2vsalon.com

@b2vsalon

David Stanko @thedavidstanko 

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Ben Johnson

Beverly Hills Pride  

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

West Hollywood is kicking off their inaugural Pride celebration the weekend of June 3, 4 and 5th with WEHO PRIDE!   Cherry Bomb Weho was founded by Alison Freed to be able to give women and gender expansive folks the space space and home base they deserve in the great city of West Hollywood.  In this Pride Spotlight, Tracy talks to founder Alison and Shantilly, the Brand Manager & Social Media Manger for Cherry Bomb. 

"Los Angeles is in dire need of a safe space and a home base for women & gender expansive folks. Enter: Cherry Bomb - A bar, cafe, restaurant, event space, and music venue founded, owned, and operated by women and gender expansive folks, for women and gender expansive folks. Above all, we are a safe space for ALL women- cis women, trans women, gay women, straight women, black women, asian women & for non-binary folks and gender nonconforming humans. This is the space where you will be surrounded by like-minded humans. Cherry Bomb will be located in the heart of West Hollywood with an entirely female and gender expansive executive and operational team. This space is intended to inspire, uplift, and highlight our community in all different areas ranging from art, music, culinary, dance, poetry, and much more. Cherry Bomb will be the ideal spot for everything: Dining with friends, grabbing a cup of coffee, happy hour after work, dancing on the weekends… you name it! We intend to have exciting happenings almost every night to foster a true sense of diverse community. These events will include live musical performances, art nights, DJ sets, movie screenings, LGBTQ+ events, and much more."

Cherry Bomb took ten years to come to fruition and has recently had several overwhelmingly successful events in WeHo and will be taking over the Hotel Ziggy for WeHo Pride weekend on June 3, 4, & 5th.  We recommend booking a room for the weekend at Hotel Ziggy and having access to all the amazing events.  Click here to purchase single event tickets for Cherry Bomb events at the Hotel Ziggy.  Don't wait, they are going fast and will SELL OUT!   Thank you to the Hotel Ziggy on Sunset for letting us use your sound studio for this podcast recording!

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  Cherrybombweho.com

Instagram: @cherrybombweho | @alisondjf | @shantilly_t

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

This week We Know WeHo talks to Maggie Jackson, a Los Angeles-based parenting and lifestyle expert.  Maggie is also a TV host, and journalist known for her fun and relatable tips for modern moms, including recipes, self-care, fashion, and everything mommy-baby related. She has been featured in MOTHER magazine and frequently appears on KTLA Morning news with her practical advice and entertaining product reviews for young families.

Maggie shares her insights with Tracy and Felicia (a soon to be new mom) about kid friendly places in West Hollywood.  You will find that there is something for all ages to be found in West Hollywood by listening to this episode.

The food section takes a twist as well, with recommendations in the WeHo Adjacent locations of Tulum and NYC.  Felicia shares the neighboring fitness businesses on her block where LIV Weho has opened its doors, and Maxine talks to David Stanko from B2V Salon about summer highlights in the Beauty Spotlight.

GUEST RESOURCES

Website:  maggiehjackson.com

Instagram: @maggiehjackson

SPONSORS

B2V Salon  www.b2vsalon.com  | @b2vsalon

David Stanko @thedavidstanko

PODCAST

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

Host:  @TLP_Style

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Season Three of We Know WeHo kicks off with a new co-host as Tracy welcomes local West Hollywood business owner - Felicia Terwilliger.  Felicia is the owner of a newly opened infrared sauna studio called Liv located on 7918 Santa Monica Blvd.  Mikey Consbruck has moved back to Nebraska, but V Wine Room remains open for your sipping pleasure, and he will continue to be part of the monthly We Know Vino bonus episode all about wine.

This week's guest is not only an artist, but also in the business of art.  K Ryan Henisey is a local West Hollywood resident and the founder of the soon to open artist management company and gallery-store, Artlounge Collective. Ryan recently won a Public Art Grant from the City of West Hollywood Arts Division to continue the iconic legacy of WeHo Jesus as originated by the late Kevin Lee Light. He serves as president of one of LA's longest lived artist-run organizations, TAG, or The Artists Gallery where Resurrecting Weho Jesus is showing currently.  Ryan's Artlounge Collective is curating regular exhibits at the Mondrian West Hollywood featuring local artists, on display to the public in the hotel lobby.

RESOURCES

Website:  kryanhenisey.com | taggallery.net | artlounge.co 

Instagram: @kryanhenisey | @taggallery | @artloungecollective 

Resurrecting Weho Jesus:   kryanhenisey.com/the-hollywood-coming

Guest interview begins at 20 minute mark approximately

SPONSORS

B2V Salon  www.b2vsalon.com  | @b2vsalon

David Stanko @thedavidstanko

PODCAST 

Website:  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram: @weknowweho_official

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

Do you have a sweet tooth and love desserts?  Then this episode is for you!  Better Than Sex is an all desserts restaurant located on the Melrose Corridor many consider to be West Hollywood (although the official zip code is designated Los Angeles).  Little did we know this West Coast only location of Better Than Sex is situated in what is known as "Cavity Corner" with close neighbors Winchell's Donuts & Milk Bar.  

Patricia Catallo and her husband Alan fell in love with everything about this exclusively dessert restaurant concept on a trip to Key West from Miami.  They brought the concept out West after saying 'YES" to a franchising opportunity and were approved for a prime spot on Melrose Avenue.  The menu will make most blush with tongue and cheek named desserts like the "Peanut Butter Perversion", the "Kinky Key Lime Pie", and the "Pop My Cherry" one year anniversary special on the menu through May 9th.  

We are excited to announce the We Know WeHo podcast, is now entering our third season and changes are afoot as Tracy bids farewell to co-host Mikey Consbruck as he has moved back home to Nebraska to fulfill his life's journey.  V Wine Room is staying open for many years to come, and Mikey will continue on as co-host on We Know Vino with Tracy.  Follow us on Instagram @weknowweho_official for upcoming monthly wine events! i

RESOURCES:

Website www.betterthansexdesserts.com/location/los-angeles/

Instagram @betterthansexLA

Guest Interview at 35 minute mark of episode

SPONSORS:

B2V Salon 

Instagram @b2vsalon | @thedavidstanko | @thevanitygirldiaries

PODCAST:

Website  anchor.fm/weknowweho

Instagram @weKnowWeho_official

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Check out this episode of We Know Vino and hear highlights of the wines tasted at the Garagiste Festival in Solvang.  A "Garagiste" wine maker produces less than 2,000 cases a year of wine. (Fun Wine Fact: One barrel of wine makes 24 cases).  Many of these wines are not available for purchase outside of the label's wine club or tasting facility.  Find out which wines Mikey tasted that he is bringing into V Wine Room in West Hollywood for your tasting pleasure.  Here are a few of the wines Mikey tasted:

Here is the comprehensive list of winemakers who poured at the Solvang Garagiste event.  

SAVE THE DATE for the Los Angeles Garagiste event on July 22nd & 23rd, 2022.

We Know Vino is a monthly bonus podcast from the We Know WeHo podcast all about wine!  

Resources:

Garagiste Festival

Instagram @garagistefestival

The We Know WeHo team is joined by Steve Lococo, Master Stylist and Co-Owner of B2V Salon in West Hollywood to talk about how your face shape determines the best hair style for you to wear.  In addition to face shape, Steve tells Maxine (Vanity Girl Hollywood) and Tracy (Sporty Spice) that lifestyle as well as hair management and styling (dry natural or blowing it dry at home) makes an impact on the best hair style to match your unique hair personality.  Face shape analysis is the same for both men and women, and you will want to listen for a few popular celebrities' face shapes and recommended hair styles.

Schedule a free consultation with a stylist at B2V to learn their advice on the best cut for your face shape by calling the salon at 310.777.0345 or emailing B2Vsalon@yahoo.com with a current picture.  

You can find Steve at the B2V Salon in West Hollywood.

Website www.b2vsalon.com

Instagram @theb2vsalon | @stevelococo

Website: www.cakeandart.com

Instagram: @cakeandart

SPONSORS:

B2v Salon @b2Vsalon

David Stanko @thedavidstanko

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

The We Know WeHo team brings you a special edition podcast as a follow up to the January We Know Vino podcast episode.  Mikey Consbruck, owner of V Wine Room takes his co-host Tracy through a live Rhone tasting.  Mike has an incredible lineup of four white varietals and three red varietals...and a cheese pairing!  You can try all of these wines and the cheeses at V Wine Room in West Hollywood, so come on down and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite wine.  You can join the February 5th tasting event at V Wine Room by emailing weknowweho@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Show Notes:

From the We Know WeHo podcast team, a monthly special edition podcast episode all about wine! This is the time of year for new white and rosė releases and Mikey Consbruck, owner of V Wine Room,  is excited about the Grenache Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Viognier varietals that will be starting to hit the market in February.  He shares with Tracy his recent trip up to Santa Barbara Wine Country and some amazing wines he tasted from winemaker Sonja Magdevski including her Clementine Carter Grenache Blanc and a new cool climate Spanish Garnacha (Grenache).  Mikey also fell in love with a rosė he tasted at Demetria with watermelon tasting notes.  Tracy ask Mikey's picks for Rhone specific wine clubs to join and he recommends Tensley, Four Brothers and Larner Vineyards.

With so much wine and so little time, we leave you with Mikeys rule of thumb - “Just drink what you like...”

V Wine Room has 85 wines by the glass and offers 20% on bottles to go.  Insider tip:  ask your V Wine Room server to pair your wine with the perfect cheese and you can order to cheese & meat to go for an at- home wine and cheese pairing. 

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

We Know WeHo kicks off 2022 with a mind-expanding conversation with renowned cosmic channel ELIZABETH APRIL, also known as EA, who lives in (and loves) West Hollywood!  EA is a gifted thought leader who is a clairvoyant, truth seeker, intuitive psychic, paradigm shifter, and best-selling author.  Her ongoing mission is to help humanity awaken by expanding their mind to the infinite possibilities the universe has to offer.  Listen to what EA has to share with Tracy & Mikey about her story, the work she does, the Hollywood Portal, Aliens in WeHo, and her favorite spots to Eat Shop & Play in West Hollywood! 

(Elizabeth April interview at 15 minutes)

Guest Resources:

Sponsors:

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

The second episode of We Know Vino from the We Know WeHo team featuring Mikey Consbruck from V Wine Room begins by continuing the conversation about Santa Barbara County wines.  Hear about two exquisite estate wineries that Mikey visited and their unique tasting experience and wine varietals.  Tracy gets a little education on Beaujolais that is one of Mikey's seasonal wine picks that also include cooler climate Syrah, Tennant, Nebbiolo, Chateauneuf du Pape and fuller body heavier whites like Grenache Blanc and Viognier labels. 

With NYE approaching, there are so many bubbly choices from French Champagne & Cremant, Spanish Cava, Italian Lambrusco, and California Sparkling Wine to fill your glass for a toast at midnight.

V Wine Room has 85 wines by the glass and offers 20% on bottles to go.  Insider tip:  pull up a seat at the bar and order a glass of Tennant & the Santa Barbara Nebulite  

With so much wine and so little time, we leave you with Mikeys rule of thumb - “Just drink what you like”

V Wine Room https://www.vwineroom.com/

Instagram @weknowweho_official

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

This week, We Know WeHo is joined by Dr. Sargon Lazarof who just opened a new flagship location in the heart of West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip.  Dr. Lazarof is a Los Angeles native and is a cosmic dentistry and dental implant specialist and is particularly adept at oral surgery and the placement of dental implants.  He invented the Ultratooth™ Immediate Tooth Replacement System more than 30 years ago — the only FDA-cleared treatment that provides full dental implant functionality at the time of placement.  Sargon Dental also offers bone grafting, full mouth reconstruction, TMJ treatment, and for people with low bone volume, sinus lift. Individuals can also undergo cosmetic dentistry, including crowns and bridges, teeth whitening, and veneers.

Website: https://www.sargondental.com/

Instagram:  @sargondental | @theultratooth

Show Notes & LInks:

West Hollywood City Council Meeting Agenda Packet (item 4.a)

This week We Know WeHo gets their namaste on with newly opened Shiva Yoga Practice founder and owner, Garth Hewitt, as this week's featured guest.  Garth is a Teacher Trainer, Yoga Therapist, Certified Yogaworks Teacher, Certified Dharma Yoga Teacher, and has led Classes, Workshops, Retreats, and Teacher Trainings, in Los Angeles, and around the world.  Garth taught for several years at the original Yogaworks in Santa Monica and at Exhale in Venice.  Garth is the creator of the Shiva Yoga® style of yoga where the classes focus on setting intentions, practicing gratitude, finding balance and quieting the mind.

Garth is also the owner of the Mama Kuka™ yoga props company, founder of the YogaSphere® and the Yogi Pro Kit and progressive yoga strap system, and the Director of the Shiva Yoga® Practice online yoga studio and platform that offers virtual and on-demand classes.

Website:  https://shivayogapractice.com/ 

Instagram:  @shivayogapractice

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

This week’s episode features Steve Lococo, a master stylist and owner of B2V Salon in West Hollywood.  He is one of West Hollywood’s legacy businesses after beginning his salon adventures in 1985 on Santa Monica Blvd.   This episode begins with a little nostalgia as Steve recounts the days of the Tropicana Hotel and the train that ran through the center of the city right down the middle of Santa Monica Blvd.

B2V is situated in an old bungalow setting and adapted well to pivot their services after three different mandated closures from the State and La County impacting salon businesses.  In addition to creating a serene outdoor salon on the deck, Steve and his team are offering a number of express services in addition to the full salon treatment experience.

Our two hosts particularly enjoy talking to Steve about their hair care given their love of the poolside lounging and sunny ocean swims.  Steve has some great tips for Tracy’s curly blonde hair and Maxine’s dark brunette that can have a brassy tendency with too much time in the sun.  Give this episode a listen and you may learn a tip or two for your own coiffed look.

Website:  https://b2vsalon.com/

Instagram:  @b2vsalon

(B2V segment can be found at the 20 minute mark)

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

This week's episode features long-time West Hollywood resident, CJ Russo, who is a director, producer and writer of documentary films.  She is no stranger to the film festival arena, with six short films playing at Outfest over the years, and winning an award for the Best Documentary Short with her film "Straight Down the Aisle" - confessions of lesbian bridesmaids.  CJ's most recent project, Lady Buds, is her first feature documentary film that is making an appearance at Outfest 2021 (Los Angeles' LGBTQ Film Festival) before it lights the worldwide film festival circuit on fire.   

"Lady Buds is a feature documentary that tells the story of six courageous women who come out of the shadows of the cannabis underground to enter the newly legal market. With deep-pocketed corporations taking over the industry, these trailblazers risk everything to make their American Dream come true in the very market they helped create."

Lady Buds kicked off its film festival screening schedule with a world premiere at the Canadian Hot Docs Film Festival earlier this year and Angelinos have the opportunity to catch a viewing at a very special sneak peek showing at Outfest on Friday, August 20th.

Felicia Carbajal, one of the women featured in Lady Buds, also joins the We Know WeHo interview and brings her perspective as an activist in the LatinX, LGBTQ+ and cannabis communities to the conversation.  Felicia provides insight about the gay history of cannabis and how queer activists were a big reason for the legalization of this industry and her personal involvement in providing cannabis to Bay Area AIDS patients in the 1990's.

(Guest Interview begins at 10:25)

Website:  www.ladybudsmovie.com

Instagram:  @lady.buds

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Bikes and wine, proves to be the perfect summer combination for this week's We Know WeHo episode!  Bikes and Hikes LA is a West Hollywood-based company that offers a wide variety of daily outdoor LA biking and hiking tours, corporate group activities, and private tours all over Los Angeles. It is easy to see why they are consistently rated as the #1 Outdoor Activity Operator in LA with their popular "LA in a Day" bike tour and two choices to hike to the top of the Hollywood Sign - with the full experience hike taking 2.5 hours or the express hike at 1.5 hours.   General Manager, Jason Bowers, also runs Bike Shop LA out of the same location.  This shop sells new and used bikes, kids bikes, electric bikes, and their expert mechanics perform bike repairs and tuneups.   You don't have to be a tourist to discover LA on a bike or foot, local residents can use code WEHO20 for 20% of a tour.  Insider tip:  consider opting for the electronic bike upgrade for your tour of LA!

Website:  www.bikesandhikesla.com | www.bikeshopla.com

Instagram: @bikesandhikesla | @bikeshopla

Bikes & Hikes LA - 29:32

Mikey Consbruck from V Wine Bar rounds out this Tour de France episode with a few of his favorite summer sipping picks that include a light white from Portugal, a traditional rosé from Provence, a Gavi from Italy, and five different Rieslings from Germany.  His red picks are a local Syrah and Grenache from California that can be served either room temperature or chilled - and our host adds her favorite, Lambrusco to the list!  Monday and Thursday is happy hour all day at V Wine Room and you can enjoy a glass of the house Rosé or Grenache for $6 every Tuesday and Wednesday.  If you live in the area and want to pop by and pick up a bottle to go to enjoy poolside or at your favorite Hollywood Bowl summer concert enjoy 20% off your purchase at V Wine Room. 

Summer Sipping Picks from V Wine Room - 16:30

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Website: https://www.doguespa.net/

Instagram: @doguespa | @joshandsnow

Show Notes & Links:

Don't miss out on the "Passport to Pride Offer" for travelers who choose to stay at one of these gay-friendly hotels who will receive the third night free, plus 20% off in-room massage service from Soothe!  Guests have access to all four hotels' pools and amenities and can take advantage of the hotels' complimentary house bikes to bounce between properties.  Staycation and vacation travelers can check out the newly renovated rooftops at Montrose and Le Parc Suites and enjoy a day at the pool, a yoga flow class and a sunset cocktail with the "Rooftop Rendezvous" summer promotional package.  

Resources

Website:  https://www.westhollywoodhotels.com/our-collection

Instagram: @montrosewesthollywood | @leparcsuites | @chamberlainweho | @graftononsunset

Show Notes & Links:

It is June and that means it is Pride Month, especially in West Hollywood!  We Know WeHo is celebrating by featuring LGBTQ businesses.  This week we are excited to talk to Todd Barnes who is the General Manager of the Abbey.

The Abbey was founded by David Cooley in 1991 and got its start as a small coffee shop.  Over the past 30 years the Abbey has grown to become a West Hollywood institution, home of the Gay Walk of Fame, Elizabeth Taylor’s favorite pub, and a community center. A favorite of celebrities, locals and tourists alike, there is no better place to meet old friends, make new ones, enjoy a generous 10-ounce martini, eat a delicious meal and just kick back and have fun.  Insider tip: the bakery inside has delicious sweets and the key lime pie and ding dong are not to be missed!

Todd Barnes has been the General Manager at The Abbey for almost 15 years.  Over the last decade, Todd has carried out operations for some of the largest events, fundraisers and celebratory occasions at The Abbey, helping create memorable moments for the LGBTQ community and the City of West Hollywood.

Show Notes & Links:

Season two of We Know WeHo kicks off featuring a brand new business this week in the guest spotlight!  Farm Cup Coffee opened last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Lindesy Horvath!  

In 2017, founders Tony and Emerson took their very first trip as a couple to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. While they were there, they passed by a VW camper outfitted as a mobile coffee shop. They didn't pay too much attention to it at the time, but it planted the seed to what would become Farm Cup Coffee.

The name Farm Cup Coffee came from the sustainable idea of farm-to-table food. Ethical food-sourcing has become essential to a sustainable future, so why not translate that to one of the most consumed beverages in the world?  They focus on organic single origin coffee directly sourced from the farm owners so you know exactly where your coffee comes from. The coffee is roasted at source when possible to ensure the farmers receive the highest profit for their craft. 

Show Notes & Links:

This week's featured guest on We Know WeHo is the incredible Marianne Williamson who is a bestselling author, non-profit and political activist, and spiritual thought leader.  Marianne has deep roots to West Hollywood with the incredible work she was was doing with the community during the AIDS crisis.  This work organically lead to Project Angel Food, a non-profit that Williamson founded that has delivered more than 13 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989.

Marianne Williamson is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A quote from the mega best seller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.

Show Notes and Links:

West Hollywood has a new hotel on The Sunset Strip!  Located at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Olive Drive, Pendry West Hollywood features multiple food and beverage concepts helmed by acclaimed Chef Wolfgang Puck, a rooftop pool and bar, a multi-purpose live entertainment venue, a screening room, bowling alley, spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as a curated art collection.

The Britely, LA's newest members social club is located within the walls of the new Pendry with its own elevator entrance to a private rooftop bar and lounge and cavernous member space located below.  The  first  Pendry Residences West Hollywood by Montage Hotels  &  Resorts is located just across the courtyard driveway and features spacious floorplans and terraces with exclusive residential amenities such as a private rooftop pool, fitness center, private lounge and wine room, and dedicated staff delivering exceptional hospitality, including catering and in-residence dining by Chef Wolfgang Puck.

David Hoffman is the General  Manager of Pendry West Hollywood and Pendry Residences West Hollywood by Montage Hotels & Resorts, which opened April 2021.  Mr. Hoffman has been a part of the Montage International team for over 17 years and has served in leadership roles opening several Montage International properties  including Montage  Kapalua Bay, Montage Beverly Hills and Montage Laguna Beach.  Most recently, he served as the general manager of Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, which he opened in 2017.  

Show Notes & Links:

This week We Know WeHo is joined by husband and wife team Esther and Blaine Vess who very recently launched a premium nonalcoholic sparkling wine called Semblance.  It is made from Chardonnay grapes from Monterey County and goes through the standard winemaking process, but the alcohol is removed before bottling it.  Esther and Blaine created to give people a great-tasting alternative to alcohol and help people fit in when other people are drinking alcohol.  Next in the line up is a nonalcoholic sparkling rosé that may arrive in time for summer sipping!  You can order Semblance online and be sure to reach out if you want to pour it at your bar or restaurant.

Show Notes & Links:

The celebration of Women's History Month continues as Chef Dakota Weiss joins the We Know WeHo team as our featured guest.   Chef Dakota has literally cooked her away across America after having graduated from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.  She got her start at Santa Fe's legendary Coyote Café, did a brief stint at Dallas' Mansion on Turtle Creek and then headed to Atlanta to study with world-class French Chef Bruno at Menard Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead where she became Chef de Cuisine for the Sarasota private Ritz-Carlton Beach Club.   

Los Angeles foodies went wild when Dakota transferred out to Jer-ne at the Ritz-Carlton in Marina Del Rey, and Angeleno magazine named her "Best New Chef" in 2006.  She then found herself in the heart of West Hollywood at the Executive Chef at the Sunset Tower's Hollywood A-list dining room on.  Chef Dakota helped open Parc in Philadelphia and returned to her California roots reopen Santa Monica's Shangri-LA as their executive chef.  She served as the executive chef for Nine-Thirty restaurant and The Backyard at the W Westwood and was the executive chef and owner of Estrella, a rock and roll bohemian restaurant on The Sunset Strip.   

Sweetfin, an all-raw fish casual dining restaurant is her newest venture.  Sweetfin is a healthful, chef-driven, California inspired poké and plant based bowl concept that uses local produce, sustainable fish, and innovative ingredients.  Their entire menu is gluten free and all of their menu items are made in-house, from scratch, daily.  Sweetfin was founded in Santa Monica, CA in 2015 and has eleven locations servicing Southern California.  Check out the latest collaboration with Los Angeles celebrity fitness trainer, Lacey Stone, and order a Protein Power Bowl, a Brain Booster or Immunity Bowl.

Chef Dakota competed as a chef-testant on Top Chef Texas and at one time served her own brand of innovative gourmet popcorn at Dakota's POP Parlor.  (Insider tip - try the white chocolate, matcha, coconut and sesame seed gourmet MATCHA POPCORN at Sweetfin!)

Show Notes & Links:

This week's episode is a follow up to last week's conversation with Shannon Morton from Black Women Lead as the team talks to Nick Meyer.  Nick Meyer is the Director of Operations at the Umbrella Hospitality Company that has a portfolio of several unique and trendy cocktail establishments in Los Angeles:  Melrose Umbrella Company, LONO Hollywood and The Corner Door.  Hear how quickly the team pivoted to offer to-go cocktails to their customers to adapt and how quickly a new endeavor, Umbrella Taco Co., came to life early on in the March 2020 shutdown.

The Melrose Umbrella Company knows it is all about community, and supporting each other and those in need.  Their Cocktails for Cause program, supported by EJ Gallo, features two to-go cocktails offered the month of February to help support the community programs at Black Women Lead.  The art on Blacker the Berry, from a local young queer Black artist can be purchased separately and tiki lovers will definitely want to put an order in for the second offering - the Chief Lapu Lapu tiki cocktail kit.

This week's episode is all about cocktails, community and magical COVID pivots. Enjoy and make sure to purchase art or order up some cocktails if you are near to West Hollywood! 

Show Notes & Links:

This week local activist Shannon Morton, founder of Black Women Lead, joins the We Know WeHo team to share all the incredible service projects she is heading up through her non-profit organization that was founded last year in the month of June.  Shannon's efforts are deeply rooted and all about helping the community and those in need.  Black Women Lead give away 600 hot meals a week and 800 bags of groceries through the Black Women Lead Brown Bag program.  After a trip to skid row downtown LA, Shannon saw a need for hygiene supplies and has recently started a Black Women Lead hygiene kit that is handed out in a backpack to those in need.  

For the month of February, she has teamed up local bar owners at Melrose Umbrella Company to create a cocktail, Blacker the Berry, with a label created by a young Black queer artist.  EJ Gallo is donating $1 for every cocktail to go sold and Melrose Umbrella Company is matching the donation.  

Listen to hear Shannon's list of local Black owned businesses near West Hollywood and of course, a few favorite places to eat, shop and play in WeHo.

Showlinks & Notes:

This week's episode features Girl Boss, Xixi Yang, who is an award-winning entertainment  journalist and the founder of XYZ Media. She is the creator and host of  "Pop News Edition", a show aimed to give viewers an in-depth, global look at some of the biggest pop culture stories around the world. As the first and only Asian-American woman to anchor “Live From the Red Carpet” solo from the Oscars and Grammys, XiXi has  brought millions of viewers around the world live coverage through the Associated Press. She put her bilingual skills to use for a global audience by conducting interviews and delivering live hits in both English and Mandarin.  Since 2016, XiXi has been an entertainment contributor to CNN and HLN, discussing pop culture and social issues on “CNN News room”, “Morning Express”, “On the Story”, and more. She has served as a spokesperson for  various Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Verizon, Macy’s, BeautyCon, and more. XiXi has been invited as an honorary speaker at various universities and schools, including Compton High School and Yale.

XiXi shares with the We Know WeHo hosts her Re-Invest in Main Street initiative to support other women entrepreneurs affected by C-19, how she took a big leap and started her own media company in 2020, her collaboration with BH Cosmetics with her Lunar New Year Collection that just hit #1 with Ulta, the upcoming Chinese New Year and her thoughts on Bling Empire.

Show Notes & Links:

This week’s guest, Janet Fitzgerald, was in the thick of the first wave of notable instructors who were teaching these sold-out jammed packed indoor cycling classes.  Janet was the owner of the beautiful zen Body and Soul Workout that sat above the Ramada Hotel for ten years where locals would sweat next to celebrities whilst Janet lead them on a spiritual soulful musical journey as they peered down on Santa Monica Blvd through the serene Japanese grass that lined the windows of this sweat sanctuary.

In 2010, Janet left Los Angeles for another “soul” located on the East Coast - SoulCycle.   Janet shares with Tracy an insider view of her story, but more importantly how her personal journey correlates to her role as the Senior Training Officer of the company where she has trained over 400 instructors as the big yellow wheel emerged and created the second big wave of indoor cycling that swept across the country with over 99 studios.

The fitness business has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and it seems we still have a long wait for packed indoor group classes to resume (at least here in California) as outdoor classes are being held in pop-up locations.  Janet gets real with Tracy about the impact on her and her fellow instructors and employees, and shares her optimism about the company’s future with a newly appointed CEO.  Janet relocated to Los Angeles for the winter months where she continues to teach inspiration, hope, and healing one pedal stroke at a time.

Check out Janet’s SoulyCycle classes at the Century City Mall and Santa Monica Promenade outdoor locations.  You might also want to give a listen to her podcast “Witch and Famous” that is the inspiration behind a spiritual transformation media project in the works.

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

This week's special guest spotlight is on Lien Ta, the c0-owner of All Day Baby, a feel-good restaurant with the soul of a diner located in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.  She is a founding member & committee lead of RE:Her, a charitable organization for women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles, created by women who own restaurants in Los Angeles, in response to how COVID-19 has impacted the businesses and communities. 

You will hear all about an incredible event Lien has put together, 10 Days RE:Her, an inaugural food festival launching on Jan. 21, 2021 where women-owned restaurants all over Los Angeles unite to offer unique collaborations with other female chefs, thematic menus, one-on-one conversations among female industry leaders, and much more.  You will want to join in for these 10 special days to illuminate, celebrate and uplift the sisterhood of restaurateurs in LA to save her restaurants.  We Know Weho Inside Tip:  check out the amazing chef collaborations happening that are sure to create new flavor palettes and the line up of virtual events - and our favorite a cheese tasting collaboration with four women-owned cheese shops!! 

As a small business owner affected by the pandemic, Lien was recently featured, alongside LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, in a video aired at the Democratic National Convention. She is the subject of "Becoming a Restaurateur," a Simon & Schuster publication by author Patric Kuh. She was a fellowship recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s inaugural class of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program in 2017.

Lien's first restaurant was a fun little restaurant in Koreatown called Here’s Looking At You, suffered an indefinite closure on July 12, 2020, on the eve of the restaurant's fourth anniversary, due to the impact of COVID-19.  All Day Baby was open for just three and a half months before the mandated closure on March 16, 2020 in response to the novel coronavirus. Today, with over 60 employees furloughed, it is open for takeout and delivery with a small team and limited hours.

Be sure to check out the RE:HER offerings from All Day Baby! 

Guest Lien Ta Show Links:

Show Notes & Links:

Health & Wellness Links:

This week's guest is Carrie Minter who is a total girl boss as the founder of Carries Pilates Plus.   She has been certified in Pilates for more than ten years, and in 2013 opened Carrie’s Pilates Plus. In addition to curating a highly qualified and caring group of instructors, Carrie’s helps clients of all ages transform their self-image and bodies via exercise and nutrition education. Carrie’s own bright, optimistic and cheery spirit can be felt throughout the studio as she aims to create a fun community of people who want to work hard.

Her classes are high-energy and leave people sweaty and sore from the high-intensity programming. She also wants to make sure it feels like a party and her instructors create a vibe that is fun, entertaining and will make your core and booty shake like nothing else.

Carrie has been a health and fitness advocate since her teens. A model at fifteen, she has worked with top designers including Valentino and Versace, and graced the covers and pages of Seventeen Magazine, FHM, Esquire, Maxim and Playboy.

Show Notes & Links:

Jordan Ogron has a very impressive history in the local hospitality scene including his GM position at Bestia DTLA.

Tesse Restaurant located at 8500 Sunset Blvd is a dream come true for Jordan Orgron who teamed up with industry veteran Bill Chait and Chef Raphael Francois to realize his dream of owning his own restaurant.

Although Chef Raphael uses the word “simple” to explain his food, and doesn’t want to do Michelin Star food anymore, the cuisine at Tesse is undoubtedly due a Michelin star (or two) in Tracy and Maxine’s opinion.  They agree with Jordan that the dish that most surprises the palette is the Bucatini with Bone Marrow, Chef Raphael’s take on a carbonara that is the number one selling dish that put Tesse on the map.

That blue neon key is the sign for Boutellier Wines  unique wine store concept from Jordan with a focus on wines you can’t find elsewhere.  Jordan drops the interesting data point on wine consumer behavior that approximately 97% on all wine sold is $15 or less a bottle.  Boutellier’s selection varies from $15 all the way up to very exclusive finds with a price tag to match.  The wine shop is open from Wednesday to Saturday 12pm - 8pm and Sundays from 12pm - 6pm.  Tesse Cafe that served as a bodega concept in the initial pivot also carries a selection of bottles from Boutellier with “focused shelves” of $20, $30 and $40 bottles of mixed sparkling, white, rose and red.

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Food:  Bossa Nova, The Butcher’s Daughter, Found Oyster, JAR, Katana, Mel’s Drive In, Otus Thai Kitchen, Pura Vita, Ruam Mitr, Sushi Tama, Tess, Whole Foods

Drinks: Boutellier Wine Shop, Employee’s Only

Burger Challenge:  Shake Shack

Guest Picks:  Moreno’s, Employee’s Only, Tock

Fashion:  Polka Dots & Moonbeams

Things to Do:  Regarding Her, Stranger Things Drive In

Health & Wellness:  Cedars-Sinai blood drive, Health House, Pressed Juicery, Rollbar @ La Peer rooftop

COVID Resources:  Exer Urgent Care, The Doctor

Arts:  Weho Arts

WeHoVille Best of WeHoville 2020 Winners

As we get ready to kiss 2020 goodbye, the ladies share a love for yummy treats and bubbles. Their guest this week is Michael “Mikey” Consbruck, owner of V Wine Room West Hollywood, the City’s only bona fide wine tasting room.

Warning, this week’s episode is super juicy and clocks in at 1 hour and 25 minutes.  As we all settle into another mandatory stay-at-home order, pour yourself a glass of wine and settle into this week’s podcast.

Mikey opened up V Wine Room in February of 2013 that is a 1930’s library themed speak easy serving unique wine varietals in a historic space that Charlie Chaplin originated as an actors studio and then served as a library in the then unincorporated Los Angeles County town of  “Sherman” from 1929-1941.  (Sherman is now the fabulously incorporated city known as West Hollywood.)

Mikey’s vision was to bring boutique California wine producers who produce less than 2,500 cases of wine or less for the year to the public.  V Wine Room acts as an extension of these wineries, as many do not have their own tasting rooms and rely on their wine clubs almost exclusively for sale.  Over the past seven years, he has expanded to find unique blends and labels from different continents and the “old world”.

If you mask up and pop in, Mikey and his team of wine docents are sure to guide you into something unique based on your palette and are offering 20% off.  V Wine Room is open until 10pm on December 31st, don’t forget to pick up the makings for your own cheese board with a wide selection of cheese, meat, olives, flatbread, specialty jams and a soy candle made by Mikey’s husband.  As with many businesses, COVID has brought several layers of a business pivot for V Wine Room and you can help them into 2021 by contributing to their GoFundMe campaign.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE:

New Year’s Eve Plans Quarantine Style: Boa, Cavatina, Cecconi, Cobblestone Goods, Craig’s, Eveleigh, Gelson’s, Katana; Madre, Margot, Mauro’s Restaurant, Noah’s, Petrossian, Pura Vita

Cocktails & More:  WeHo Night Market by Employee’s Only, John & Pete’s, Trader Joe’s, V Wine Room (duh)

The Great Steak Off:  Carlito’s Gardel, Fresh Corn Grill, Lala’s, Boa

Burger Challenge:  Astro Burger, Belcampo, Dialog Cafe, Hi Ho Burger

Onion Rings:  Astro Burger, Connie & Ted’s

Grab & Go:  Alfred’s, La Boheme,

Sweet Tings: Fresh Corn Grill; Le Salon de The

Iced Tea:  Tess, Tocaya Organica, Alfred’s

Donating/Resell Clothing:  Out of the Closet, Poshmark, Real Real

Giving Back:  Blood Drive at Cedars Sinai

Covid Testing & Resources:  Barney’s Beanery (outdoor testing), Cedars Sinai, The Doctor, The Solution

Staying Fit:  Health House, Megaformer Studio, F45, Pealton App

Adam Krell and his partner Anthony created AK² Candles (AK Squared) after ordering a simple DIY candle making kit early in quarantine that turned into a candle-making hobby with gifting friends and family their unique creations. The candles are hand-poured in West Hollywood using custom scents and fragrances and feature names inspired by the streets of WeHo. From scents inspired by Lexington, San Vicente, La Peer, and so much more, the 100% all-natural soy candles are made from American-grown soybeans and carefully mixed with luxury scents from the Wooden Wick Co. out of Laguna Beach, California.

AK² Candles can be found on Etsy and through their Instagram (@candlesbyaksquared) and are fun gifts year-round for your friends who live in West Hollywood. You can use the code WKWH10 for 10% off in their Etsy shop(valid through 2/1/21).

HEALTH & WELLNESS

You do not want to miss Tracy’s conversation with this week’s second guest, Kiana Reeves, who is the Chief Brand Officer at Foria Wellness. Mathew Gerson launched Foria in 2013 with their first product, Pleasure, and promptly gained notoriety for what became known as the original “weed lube,” effectively creating the category for cannabis in sexual wellness. In addition to enhanced pleasure, Foria’s products can be used to alleviate symptoms of endometriosis, vaginismus, other pelvic and genital pain conditions, provide relief of menstrual and menopausal challenges, and support overall wellness through tonics, lubes, bath salts, suppositories and more.

As much as you may think you know about cannabis, cannabinoids, the body’s endocannabinoid system, and CBD you are sure to learn a thing or two as a broad scope of topics are covered by Tracy and Kiana to help demystify the stigmas around the plant and its ancient use in healing remedies. For a deep dive, head to the blog their website that is highly educational and covers all the topics their products support.

Tracy of course, ventured down to check out the very uniquely shaped “The Quickie”, Foria’s pop-up on Rose Avenue in Venice at the location where the business was founded. Foria Wellness products can be found online and are also carried by West Hollywood dispensaries including Artist Tree, Calma and MedMen. The Quickie pop-up is open Thursday – Sunday through the end of December from 3pm – 8pm.  Insider tip: the drive West is worth it as The Quickie is on the same block as American Beauty’s Win-Dow for a memorable cheeseburger to go.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

This week the We Know Weho team is joined by arguably the King of Sunset Strip, Sol Yamini Sol is the CEO of Pink Dot and has owned and operated the company since 2004. PinkDot is a household name which has been around since 1987. PinkDot is the pioneer of grocery and liquor on demand delivery known for delivering  groceries, liquor and food in about 30 minutes all over Los Angeles with its flagship store on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.  Pink Dot is infamous for their iconic signature delivery fleet of pink and blue polka-dotted, propeller-topped Volkswagen Beetle  and has appeared in several movies and television shows, including HBO's Entourage and the location on Sunset Strip is where Jimmy Fallon and Kobe Bryant did a beer run in 1999.

Sol is very active in the community and is on the board of the sunset strip business improvement district (BID).He was also awarded 4 cannabis licences by the city of West Hollywood through their very competitive application process when they opened up the city to expand cannabis businesses after the California law went into effect for legalization in November 2016 through prop 64.  Sol serves as the Chair of the Cannabis Council formed by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and is the secretary of AURA - the Adult Use Retailers Association of West Hollywood.

Sol has a long-running partnership with Postmates that has recently entered a new phase with three adorable wheeled robots rolling down the streets of West Hollywood to deliver your Pink Dot order.  Sol is a big supporter of local businesses and carriers their items on the Pink Dot menu for delivery including Nonna's Empanadas, cupcakes from Cake & Art, Gelato Festival gelato, Zooie's Cookies, and macaroons from Chef Josette who delivers her famous fresh baked Normandie Bakery baguette's daily to Sol's team for their homemade sandwiches.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

This week on We Know Weho we are joined by special guest Alison Martino.  Alison is a native Los Angeles-based television producer, documentarian, columnist for Los Angeles Magazine and lifelong resident of the city. Her zeal for history and lifelong penchant for collecting has resulted in one of the largest collections of restaurant memorabilia, photographs, postcards, and matchbooks.

Martino’s affection for old Hollywood and her hometown’s architecture led her to create the wildly popular Vintage Los Angeles (VLA)— an ever growing photo-centric Facebook page dedicated to highlighting L.A.’s physical transformation during the 20th Century, as well as its history as the center of the entertainment industry and community.

Martino is also an advocate for historic preservation of the architecture that makes Los Angeles and its surrounding communities like West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica unique, and for the buildings that are iconic representations of the entertainment industry. She worked to bring back the original Chasen’s Chili, has helped to preserve the original caricatures on the walls of The Palm Restaurant and save vintage signs on the Sunset Strip.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Rachel Richardson, is the founder of Lovely in LA.  She’s been called many things:  influencer, blogger, brand strategist, fit model, creative director and trend forecaster. In short, she’s the secret weapon that brands call upon to engage the powerful 20 billion dollar plus/curvy market.  She helps brands navigate the bridge between plus and standard style while inspiring and equipping her audience to look and feel their absolute best. Founded in 2012, Lovely in LA is a source of chic sophistication and style inspiration for fashionistas of all shapes and sizes. This inclusive approach to all things stylish is incredibly important in a community like West Hollywood especially at a time like this. She’s also very “ in the know” and often the go-to resource for Maxine when trying to figure out what to wear or where to go. And most importantly, Rachel calls West Hollywood home

Mentioned in this Week’s Episode:  This includes picks from our guest Rachel, Tracy, Maxine and of course, Lola’s List!  Following are almost 40 things to see, do and shop in WeHo and beyond. Take a listen to the podcast for the inside scoop.

Food:  BBCM, Carla’s Cafe, Cara Hotel (WeHo adj), Cecconi, Craig’s, Found Oyster (WeHo adj) Harriet’s Rooftop, The Edition, Employees Only, La Peer Hotel, Madre, Olivetta, Petit Ermitage, Ponsonby Rd Cafe, Starbuck’s (peppermint hot chocolate is here), Tess  Pro Tip:  Many of these spots are also very Instagrammable

Health, Wellness & Fitness:  Dr. Refresh, MYX Fitness, Peloton app, Yoga at Petit Ermitage, Mount Olympus “hikes”, long walks up Doheny toward the Bird streets, The Doctor, The Solution

Home: CB2, Hollywood Glam Furniture James Perse Home on Robertson, West Hollywood Design District

CA Road Trips: Death Valley, Palm Springs, Zion

Pets:  Dog park, Healthy Spot

And just in time for the holidays … shopping:  Amazon Pop Up "Unwrap Change" between Amazon Handmade and Dove Chocolate featuring 16 women owned businesses including Los Angeles Based Hereafter and Huntington Beach sister team Wunderkid Art , Belcampo Meats, Book Soup, Candles by AK Squared (a hyper local company, their candles are named after WeHo streets!), Temecula Olive Oil, WeHo Gift Guide by the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.  Make sure to check out last week’s episode for even more shopping!

Candle Delirium

Marisabel Bazan https://marisabelbazan.com/

Lady M https://www.ladym.com/

Sweet Lady Jane https://sweetladyjane.com/

Cake Monkey https://www.cakemonkey.com/

Bottega Louie https://www.bottegalouie.com/pages/west-hollywood-updated

Gelato Festival https://www.gelatofestival.store/

Joan’s on Third https://joansonthird.com/

Violet Grey https://www.violetgrey.com/

Book Soup https://www.booksoup.com/

Mystery Pier Books http://www.mysterypierbooks.com/

John & Pete’s http://www.johnandpetes.com/

Sweetzer Cellars https://www.sweetzercellars.com/

Pleasure Chest https://thepleasurechest.com/store-locations/los-angeles

Empty Vase https://emptyvase.com/

The RealReal https://www.therealreal.com/

Atacama Home https://atacamahome.com/

James Perse Robertson House https://www.jamesperse.com/furniture/flagship-store/robertson

Hollywood Glam Furniture https://www.hollywoodglamfurniture.com/

LA Food Bank https://www.lafoodbank.org/

LBGT Center Senior Pantry https://lalgbtcenter.org/

Project Angel Food https://www.angelfood.org/

Meals on Wheels https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

APLA https://aplahealth.org/

American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/

Usbg Foundation https://www.usbgfoundation.org/

Craig’s La - https://craigs.la/

Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream -https://craigsvegan.com/

Goldbelly - https://www.goldbelly.com/craigs/the-boys-chocolate-pizza-3-pack

West Hollywood Design District https://www.westhollywooddesigndistrict.com/

Prince Pizza (West Hollywood) http://princestreetpizzanyc.com/

Night & Market http://www.nightmarketsong.com/nm-weho-1

Pace Joint https://pacejoint.com/

Madre https://madrerestaurants.com/madre-west-hollywood/

Covenant House - Virtual Sleep Out fundraiser

https://www.sleepout.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=840

Farmer’s Market the Grove - PJ drive at Huntington Meats http://huntingtonmeats.com/

This week, WeHo felt like a block party. People flew their flags, danced in the streets and honked their horns from the westside to the eastside of the City.  And anchoring the eastside, Tom Sopit of Employees Only joins the show to share how the sexy speakeasy has fared in the pandemic.

About Tom

Los Angeles native Tom Sopit has extensive management experience in the food & beverage and hospitality industries. Currently, Tom is the Managing Partner at Employees Only located in West Hollywood. Before Employees Only, Tom focused on the creative and operational development of new projects at Houston Hospitality,  a nightlife group that owns and operates some of the largest bars in Los Angeles. Before that, he served as the Director of Marketing for Singha North America — a conglomerate based out of Bangkok, Thailand. At SNA, Tom forged a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers, nurtured relationships with Manchester United, and oversaw various activations across the country at events like Art Basel and Sundance. During this period, Tom also built and led a team of over 30 employees and managed 150 distributors throughout the country.

As we all eagerly await the presidential election results, the girls sit down with Nick Rimedio, General Manager of the West Hollywood Design District jewel known as La Peer Hotel.

About Nick

Nick is a seasoned hospitality veteran, who brings twenty-five years of industry experience as the General Manager of La Peer Hotel, which is located in the Design District of West Hollywood.  Since its opening in January 2018, La Peer has garnered several major awards from publications such as Condenast and Travel & Leisure, and is West Hollywood’s only starred hotel by Forbes Travel, securing a Four Star Award for both 2020 and 2021 in addition to a AAA Four Diamond.

In his role at La Peer Hotel, he oversees all hotel activities, including personnel, operations, guest relations, sales, and business development. Previous positions include hotel manager at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, hotel manager at Avalon Beverly Hill, director of food and beverage at Carmel Valley Ranch, and general manager for the late iconic chef Charlie Trotter at his restaurant at the Palazzo Las Vegas as well as assistant general manager in Chicago.

All the Pop Ups:

GBK Brand Bar:  Awards season is a festive time in West Hollywood with all of the parties and glamming, and a luxurious Gift Lounge is not to be missed. GBK Productions and La Peer came together to offer a truly unique retail experience.  Fun facts: Tracy just bought her favorite new flannel there and Maxine launched her e-commerce biz with GBK years ago.

James Peterson Henry Art: James is an Australian painter whose work is heavily influenced by Cubism, African Art and Australian Aboriginal Art. In the organic way that Nick constructs the hotel’s pop-ups, James and Nick met on property while James was a server at Viale Ristorante (now closed).

Olivetta: This pop up restaurant has been a must-visit since it opened, with its sexy poolside and rooftop dining options.  What we didn’t realize is that a considerable amount of the pre-opening preparations took place at the LaPeer. Olivetta is extending its residency through May 2021 and have added Tuesday nights to the line up.

Congrats to the Dodgers for winning the world series for the first time since 1988.  Did you catch the game at one of your favorite WeHo sports bars? This week, we head into Halloween and yes … we will sorely miss our Halloween Festival on Santa Monica Blvd. However, show your pumpkin-carving skills with a visit to the Pumpkin Patch at Beverly Center.

This week the girls welcome Chris Santos, Founder of Dr. Refresh on Melrose Place.  This wellness oasis has only been open 19 days, but make sure to have a listen to the podcast to learn about Chris and his business on the bleeding edge of fitness, wellness, anti-aging and beauty.  He has been dedicated to health and fitness all of his life as a triathlete, martial artist, and wellness / biohacking enthusiast.

Eat & Drink Week: We head into the final days of Eat + Drink Week (Nov 1) and Maxine’s pick is Cavatina at Sunset Marquis. You have to cross a bridge across a koi pond and it feels like Hawaii.  It will be even more enchanting when the holiday lights make their appearance shortly.

Sweet Treats: Tracy scoured the neighborhood and her picks for some tasty treats are Cake Monkey, Pitchoun, Gelson’s, and Conservatory (for the spooky drinks too!).  However, it is the macarons for Maxine as she waits for Bottega Louie to open their doors in early November.

Lisa’s Back: The block at SM between Robertson & San Vicente appears to be alive again with Pump, Tom Tom and its expanded patio offering Vanderpump Rules realness to fans of all the shows.

Time to Vote:  We don’t think we need to remind you how important your voice is right now, and for a little extra incentive Uncle Paulie’s Deli, Lauren’s fave, will give you buy-one-get-one free when you come in with an “I Voted” sticker. Uber is also offering some deal specials if you need a ride to the ballot box or polls.

Robertson House:  James Perse proves they are much more than high end t-shirts and sweats on Robertson next to the Ivy.  This fully immersive experience will showcase their furniture collection and accessories including sheets, towels, antiques, cashmere throws and more.

This week, Tracy and Maxine welcome Tom Kiely, CEO of Visit West Hollywood, to the show this week to talk about tourism to the Creative City. We explore how the pandemic has been the mother of (re)invention through the eyes of the man who has the primary responsibility of having tourists swipe right on WeHo when thinking about their next vacay .. or staycay.

Asking Tom to pick his favorite WeHo spots is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. But this week - here are some of his nominees:

The Den: This lively restaurant on the Sunset Strip is the neighborhood bar to people from all over the world.  With the best ingredients and energetic atmosphere found only on the strip, Tom’s menu picks are the burger and the chicken sandwich. The outdoor patio is a must-dine.

The Pendry: Tom, Tracy and Maxine are all excited to see The Pendry open its doors to visitors and locals alike.  Self described as Polished Comfort. Modern Edge - this new luxury offering will boast two Wolfgang Puck restaurants (he’s baaaaacckkkk) and beautiful artful environments.

Zinque:  WeHo boasts an 87 walk score (very walkable!) and Tom often walks to work.  He likes to grab a coffee from this Melrose outdoor bistro serving French fare such as charcuterie platters, open-faced sandwiches & quiches.  The girls like it for a glass of afterwork rose.

Gracias Madre:  Born out of love for Mother Earth and reverence for all mothers, this beautiful space features traditional plant-based Mexican cuisine. Upon first taste, Tom couldn’t believe it was veggie based (the jackfruit really does taste like pull-pork!).  The last influencer event Maxine attended was held in the photogenic outdoor courtyard.

West Hollywood Eat and Drink Week is back on the heels of DineLA for it’s second year running  starting next week on October 23rd running through November 1st.  Diners can find great dine-in, take out or delivery deals at their favorite West Hollywood places to dine such as Boa, Cecconi’s, Cavatina, Eveleigh, Katana and even Shake Shack.

If you feel like getting your namaste on outdoors, the newly opened Sweat Yoga located in the Sprouts building is offering rooftop classes in the morning and late evenings with a gorgeous view extending in all directions across West Hollywood.

La Cienega appears to be attracting the likes of businesses looking for flagship locations not only in the US but also as a footprint for West Coast operations.  Dries Van Noten opened its doors last week at the former Opening Ceremony location at 451 N. La Cienega filling over 8,500 sq feet with a retail experience that is unlike any other with an art and performance space vibe.  West Hollywood will have a third woman’s space joining The Wing and Allbright with Chief selecting 714 La Cienega Blvd as the second city location for C-level and rising women VP’s looking for a place to network.  The club will occupy a huge 14,259 sq foot space and bring some life to the very listless Los Angeles side of the LCDQ.

Lauren is a native New Yorker and right off the bat her pick for best NY pizza goes to Joe's Pizza's location at 8539 Sunset Blvd, with a very simply put endorsement from Lauren, "If you don't like Joe's PIzza...there's something wrong with you..".

Just a little east on Melrose, family owned and run Black Bird Pizza Shop is Lauren's pick if you are in the mood for Chicago-style deep dish pizza.  The two are in total agreement about the breakfast pizza from Jon & Vinny's on Fairfax with the fried egg on top - a true art and mark of a refined pizza maker according to these two experts.

Lauren's surprise pick is the local West Hollywood Domino's on La Cienega with a strong vouch coming from Keith Kaplan for the deep dish topped with pepperoni, black olives and jalapenos and light sauce.  She is not conflicted in the least bit about this very speedy delivery pick with a tip to download the app for ease of ordering and tracking your order to collect a free pizza for every six ordered.

Tracy throws in her favorite "calorie worthy" pizzas from Pace Joint and local famous Chef Nancy Silverton's Pizzeria Mozza, but Lauren's top pick and front runner is awarded to.......  Prime Pizza 

NEIGHBORHOOD:

We get caught up with what's going on in the neighborhood on Lauren's walking jaunts for a Melrose Place update that Nordstrom Local is open but next door flashy instagram favorite neighbor, Glossier, has closed its doors on their flagship retail location.
The Naughty Pig on sunset has expanded and partnered with some cool food concepts to offer its patrons food that you wouldn't think you would get in a sports bar.  They are offering something for not only the sports fan, but also food fans that are not diehard sports fans with culinary pop-ups from Frogstown Gourmet Tacos, Soosh, K-24 and the Bad Jew.

Although the infamous Halloween Parade is cancelled this year, C19 can't stop Halloween in Weho and local events are starting to pop up as The Rainbow is first out of the gate with a Halloween Costume Party on October 28th.

Save Our Stages is doing a benefit concert to help raise funds for live venues that are not getting financial assistance from the federal government and pegged to be the last to open due to the pandemic. SAVE THE DATE for October 16 - 18th for this fundraising event to help benefit participating local West Hollywood live music venues, the Troubadour and Whisky A Go Go, featuring a range of artists including Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, Jason Mraz, Little Big Town, Dave Matthews Band, Reba McEntire, Demi Lovato and more.

Welcome to the Suite Life. As featured co-host Maxine Tatlonghari extends her residency, she and host Tracy Passo podcast for the first time on location at Andaz West Hollywood.  The GM Matt generously offered to have the girls in to see the drive-in set up first hand, spend a bit of time at the pool after work during this triple digit heatwave and podcast from the Tutti Frutti Suite aka Little Richard’s Room (he was a resident for 20+ years) at the former Riot Hyatt. It’s amazing how “work from home” takes on a whole new meaning when high atop Sunset Blvd with sweeping views - staycation style.

NEIGHBORHOOD FEATURE:

Custom Comfort:  The girls welcomed Co-Owner Gary Trudell to talk all things mattress/sleep/rejuvenation. As a community leader (and lover) of the West Hollywood District, Gary shares helpful mattress-shopping tips for our listeners as well as his insider pics for some of his favorite neighborhood spots.  You may remember that Tracy and Maxine shared some sleep tips at the end of Episode 22, and a good mattress was key to optimum zzzzs. Gary and his team offer private appointments and concierge-level service to help you find the exact fit for your needs.

Amazon Pop Up: The first iteration of the concept store features the latest from Samsung and a peek at Amazon’s new furniture line called Rivet. We’re excited to see what other brands they bring to life in future activations right across the street from Urth cafe. 8551 Melrose.

The Drive In. Matt Ojinaga, the director of Sales, Events and Marketing at the Andaz joins the girls and shares three ways that Andaz has reinvented its offerings. We start with the drive-in.  Simply drive your car in and gather up to 3 of your friends and for $56.25 you can experience a drive-in movie as never before. The menu has evolved from simple popcorn nights to full-on charcuterie packages complete with branded Pashmina scarves. Get your tickets here.

Barber Shop Vibes. It appears that personal services are once again open in LA, but just in case, Andaz has partnered with fellow Sunset Stripper Barcode Barbershop to offer haircuts on the Terrace. 

Poolside Dining. Tracy and Maxine love a rooftop.  They love love a rooftop with a view and the Andaz does NOT disappoint.  The Andaz offers 4 intimate social distanced tables with 2 seatings complete with heaters.  Book your table here.

For more staycation ideas in West Hollywood click here.

FOOD & FASHION:

Strings of Life. Remember pigs in a blanket? Savory little hot dogs in a flaky pastry...  Well, in true WeHo fashion, celebrity chefs offer their elevated take on the humble party favorite. The outdoor area is so cute - all bright, sunny, yellow socially distanced vibes.  Menu. 

Taco Tuesday. This day is practically a holiday in WeHo. Tracy headed down the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Hayworth and caught an outdoor grill at Employees Only offering up carne asada.  Next door neighbor Tacos Tu Madre was bursting at the seams with taco aficionados on the same night.

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

More Pilates on a Rooftop?  Maxine’s outdoor Pilates obsession continues with the discovery of this new option Spier Pilates on Santa Monica Blvd. The ability to sanitize the handles (and perhaps even bring your own) brings the customizable experience to the next level.

Manis and Pedis please?  So for those of you experiencing hangnails and hobbit feet, some of our favorite nail salons are reopening.  Let us know in the comments below how your favorite neighborhood nail salon is faring.

PrideStride.  Where does Tracy find the time to vision and launch an entire 5K movement bringing togethr 34 cities (and counting) across the country in celebration of National Coming Out Day?  We’re not sure but make sure to sign up for the amazing event and get some cool SWAG and share your coming out story in the comments below.

Football Season:  The Rams faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in the sports venue marvel known as SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.  AS the stadium must remain fanless due to C19,  we answer the burning question, where can a WeHoian catch a game?  We suggest Rocco’s, State Social House, The Belmont, hi tops, Barney’s Beanery and the girls’ fave .. 40 Love.

Outdoor Dining:   Speaking of Barney’s Beanery, Tracy is kind of in love with their new outdoor space.  She’s also crushing on Norah, Strings of Life and Weho adjacent, Carlitos Gardel on Melrose. It’s no secret that these reimagined outdoor extensions make her very happy indeed.

Pozole.  Po-what? As we head into the final stretch of dineL.A., Maxine and Tracy chat about their pick on the Gracias Madres menu.  GM’s  vegetarian version features corn, chickpea, carrots, cabbage, tortilla chips and cashew cream.  We want to sit in the garden, sip on a bespoke margarita for an idyllic Melrose afternoon.

Amazon Pop Up:  Maxine is a self professed Amazon junkie, and this soon-to-open pop up on Melrose will offer a fresh twist for those ready to take their obsession IRL.  We’ve heard it will be “A themed selection of top brands, frequently updated and presented to you by Amazon." 8551 Melrose

Sunday Funday:  Sadly, the Santa Monica bar crawl won’t be the same as Rage closes its doors after 40 years serving the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you for all the fun times, Rage.

Tracy and guest host Maxine (back for another round) met in a WeHo pool the summer of 2016 (that’s a story for another day).  Suffice it to say these two mermaids love a good pool.  Here are three ways to get your splash on if you don’t happen to have a pool in your backyard or apartment complex:

Resort Pass: Daycations for mermaids and mermen and mer-nonbinaries. Book your favorite sun lounger or cabana through this app at your fave local hotel like the Andaz, Sunset Tower, La Peer and more. https://www.resortpass.com/

Swimply: Craving something a bit more private? This app and website was pitched as the “airbnb for swimming pools” on ABC’s shark tank.  Some pools even offer bbq’s and allow you to social distance with your quarantine squad. https://swimply.com/

Hotel Staycation:  Ready to go all in and decadently book a room? Many of our hotels are offering California residents special rates as summering in Europe is not an option at the moment.  https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/offer/california-residents.

dine L.A.

It’s baack! Enjoy two weeks of adventuresome dining experiences across Los Angeles. The program kicked off a couple of days ago and will run through September 18.

Conservatory: Maxine has always loved the vibe, food and drinks at this design gem of an outdoor space.  Her choices:  Truffle Croquettes (calabrian chili aioli, parmigiano-reggiano) / Maine Diver Scallops (corn emulsion, truffle essence, english peas) / Chocolate Mousse (chantilly cream, berries) $45 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/1818

Tower Bar:  Tracy is a fan of this iconic Sunset Strip spot. Try:  Beet Salad (arugula, toasted pecans, goat cheese, orange vinaigrette) / Tower Burger (8 oz beef patty, port onions, arugula, special sauce, toasted brioche and a side of fries) / Famous Tower Bar Cookies $35 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/3024 (Pro Tip: Pair with the aforementioned Resort Pass for a pool & lunch day for bougie date idea.)

Locanda Veneta: Neither of the ladies have been to Third Street Village spot yet, but it’s no secret that Maxine is currently obsessed with all things Italian. Burrata Caprese (fresh basil, virgin olive oil) / Risotto Zafferano con Gamberi (saffron simmered rice, arugula and large prawns) / Chocolate Biscotti $25 https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela/restaurant/3523

Amarone: The Italian owner behind the intimate romantic eatery up on Sunset worked with Tara and her department at City Hall to create a charming backyard feel to the parking lot pop-up.  What’s truly inspiring is the way that he helped his neighbor Ta-Ke Sushi out to bring both of their outdoor spaces to life.

Pura Vita Vegan https://puravitalosangeles.com/

Pura Vita Pizzeria  https://puravitapizzeria.com/

Pura Vita Instagram @puravita_la |  @puravitapizzeria

Las Palmas pop up at EP&LP https://www.eplosangeles.com/las-palmas

E.P. & L.P. https://www.eplosangeles.com/

The Ivy http://theivyrestaurants.com/

Safely App https://safely.me/

Tacos Tu Madre 

40 Love

Jon & Vinny's

Summer Social Club pop up at Employees Only

Crudo e Nudo pop up

Norah's

Bludso's | Black Restaurant Week 

Doque Spa

Barbertruck

Sunset Marquis

1 Hotel West Hollywood

The Mermaid Inn NYC

This week John Erickson, local West Hollywood resident with life-long activism and advocacy from an early age joins We Know Weho to discuss his (first-time) candidacy run for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council.

Erickson first planted roots in West Hollywood in 2010. While completing his Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University in American Religious History, he was selected as an intern for the West Hollywood City Council and moved into the city. The internship set him on a path to connect decades of work for social and economic justice with his passion for public service. After the internship, Erickson went on to become Council Deputy to former Councilmember Abbe Land and then the City’s Community Affairs Technician where he worked directly with West Hollywood residents, civic leaders, and organizations across Southern California. At City Hall, Erickson advanced policies and programs to increase awareness around LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, the environment, and civic engagement. While at City Hall, served as the President of West Hollywood Municipal Employees (WEHOME) American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local Union No. 3339, AFL-CIO. He learned to bring residents and local businesses together so that City Hall works for everyone, to take forward-thinking policies from white paper to law, and to provide exceptional constituent services.  Currently, Erickson is the Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, a Planning Commissioner for the City of West Hollywood, and President of the Board for the ACLU of Southern California.

Show Notes & Links:

John Erickson https://erickson4weho.com/

Hollywood Food Coalition https://hofoco.org/

SOVA https://www.jfsla.org/SOVA

Jone’s  https://joneshollywood.com/

Salt’s Cure Breakfast  https://www.breakfastbysaltscure.com/

Madison & Park Coffee https://www.instagram.com/madisonandparkcoffee/?hl=en

Astro Burger http://www.astroburger.com/

Fred Segal (the real Fred Segal on Sunset) https://www.fredsegal.com/

Mauro’s Cafe http://mauroscafe.com/#ad-image-2

Pace Joint https://pacejoint.com/

Harold’s Chicken Shack https://www.haroldschickenla.com/

Cavatina at the Sunset Marquis https://sunsetmarquis.com/cavatina-restaurant/

Pink Taco https://pinktaco.com/

Carrie’s Pilates outdoor studio on La Brea  https://www.carriespilatesplus.com/

Harmony Pilates  https://harmonystudiospilates.com/

Annie Lennox https://www.annielennox.com/

Capitol Drugs https://capitoldrugs.com/locations/west-hollywood/

Pampered Hands https://pampered-hands.com/

West Hollywood City Council Meeting 

This week local artist, Katie Bright, joins We Know Weho to talk about her art projects in West Hollywood and her favorite neighborhood places to grab a bite to eat or a sweet treat.

With  almost  20  years  of  experience  as  an  artist  and  designer,  Katie  created  the  Welcome  to  the  Brightside Agency.  The  company  works  with  a  melting  pot  of  creative’s  in  all  spectrums  of  the  arts  to  deliver  unique projects,  wallpaper,  murals,  books,  illustrations,  and  installations.  Imagination  and  production  show  no  limits.

Recently with  an  invitation  to  design  two  mural  artworks  for  Pasadena  Showcase  House,  August,  2020,  Katie devised a new company,The Digs Collection. Digs is short for diggings, both words slang for home.  Clients include Kimpton La Peer Hotel, The West Hollywood Design District, The City of West Hollywood, Disney, Sesame Street, The Magic Castle, Yamashiro, The Farmer Daughter Hotel, and many more.

Show Notes & Links:

Katie Bright http://www.welcometothebrightside.com/

Katie Bright - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/welcometothebrightside/

Katie Bright - Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/katiebrightbrig/

Soosh at La Peer Hotel https://www.ubereats.com/los-angeles/food-delivery/soosh/HKNJtQ3zRSW5GkOnYs0n9Q?ps=1

Kimpton La Peer Hotel https://www.lapeerhotel.com/

Ruam Mitr Thai https://sweetladyjane.com/

Cake Monkey https://www.cakemonkey.com/

Sweet Lady Jane https://sweetladyjane.com/

Homewerk - a drag show comedy 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homewerk-a-drag-and-comedy-show-tickets-110855513826?aff=ebdssbeditorialcollection

Brits in LA http://britsinla.blogspot.com/

I Martin Bicycles https://www.helenscycles.com/about/i.-martin-bicycles-beverly-grove-pg288.htm

Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/

Calma Cannabis Dispensary https://calmawesthollywood.com/

Noemi is dedicated to helping lift people out of poverty and out of homelessness and has volunteered with Project Angel Food for sixteen years as well as the Downtown Women’s Center, RED EYE, and the Skid Row Carnival of Love.  She also served on the board of Ascencia, a local organization that has provided services and affordable housing to homeless individuals and families since 2006.

In 2014, Noemi became involved in the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board, supporting women’s rights, pay equity, and advocacy for women. In 2017, she was appointed to the Public Facilities Commission by West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath.

Because of her volunteer work and advocacy with numerous community organizations, Noemi was named Woman of the Year in 2017 by Congressman Adam Schiff.  

La Boheme is the hot topic in this week's Food and Fashion segment with the entire town talking about the new charming outdoor patio that has been constructed in the valet lot and a happy hour that serves amazing bites for a great value all 7 days a week starting at 5pm!  There is also a review of the newly opened GGet (Go Get Em Tiger) coffee shop on the corner of Harper and Santa Monica as Tracy gives her food critic review of the breakfast burrito and the tasty flaky creamy Bun Bun.  

In Health & Wellness Lauren and Noemi compare notes on their favorite West Hollywood IV Drip locations Hydration Room and Nergy Boost.  And they all discuss their thoughts on an outdoor hair salon concept and find out where you can get an outdoor pedicure!  

Show Links:

Noemi Torres https://noemi4weho.com/

Project Angel Food https://www.angelfood.org/

Downtown Women’s Center https://downtownwomenscenter.org/

Emerge California https://ca.emergeamerica.org/

Asencia https://www.ascenciaca.org/

The Den https://www.thedenonsunset.com/

La Boheme West Hollywood  http://www.globaldiningca.com/laboheme/

Go Get Em Tiger (Gget)  https://gget.com/locations/

Hydration Room https://thehydrationroom.com/locations/west-hollywood/

Hamburger Mary’s https://www.hamburgermarys.com/weho/

This week Marco Pelusi who is an award-winning celebrity hair color artist, authority, educator, and salon owner joins Tracy and Lauren on We Know Weho. Marco is globally recognized as a leading Haircolor Authority, renowned Platform Artist & Educator, Salon Owner, and fashion-forward Celebrity Haircolorist. Fifteen years ago, he opened Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in the heart of the ultra-chic West Hollywood Design District on Robertson Boulevard. There, he and his talented staff of seasoned Hollywood hair stylists continue to offer world-class hair fashion to numerous celebrities and trendsetters.  Marco’s luxurious, spa-like salon is the premier retailer of the Marco® Collagen Color Guard® HairCare System, the first and only complete collagen-based system developed for color- and chemically-treated hair.  Marco is currently offering 15% off products as well as customized hair color kits and tutorials for color application.

Marco has been a long time member of the West Hollywood Design District Business Improvement Board and won the John Chase Art & Design Award at the 2016 West Hollywood Creative Business Awards.  Marco share's his favorites about West Hollywood including the fabulously designed Kimpton La Peer Hotel, Craig's Restaurant, Tortilla Republic, Bossa Nova, the Assembly coffee shop and Marco's restaurant.  

In Food and Fashion this week, Lauren shares her favorites to celebrate National Mac & Cheese Day with Bludso's at the top of the list but Kitchen 24, Joan's on Third, and Slab with a definite thumbs up and worth a try!  Bravo Toast has plans to open up in the early fall on Doheny and Tracy shares her outdoor patio dining social distancing experience at Gracias Madre.  Lots of new patio spaces to learn about that are popping up at West Hollywood restaurants including La Boheme, The Den on Sunset, and Eveleigh.

This week, all fitness is closed as of July 13th but Lauren is keeping an eye out for outdoor workout experiences and crossing her fingers for F45 workouts in West Hollywood Park.  Another fitness business will be popping up in the former LASC space that is all about rolling (foam rollers).

Follow us on instagram @weknoweho and subscribe weekly on Apple, Spotify and Google podcasts!

Links:

Marco Pelusi https://marcopelusi.com/

Marco Pelusi Instagram @marcopelusi

Marco Pelusi Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marcopelusistudio/

West Hollywood Design District https://www.westhollywooddesigndistrict.com/

West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce https://www.wehochamber.com/

Kimpton La Peer Hotel West Hollywood https://www.lapeerhotel.com/

Pressed Juicery https://pressedjuicery.com/

This week Maxine Tatlonghari aka "Vanity Girl Hollywood" joins We Know Weho to share about her quarantine experience , her favorite West Hollywood spots and what she misses most.  She is a local beauty influence and blogger who is regularly featured on the West Hollywood Travel and Tourism blog with her food, fashion and wellness tips.  Maxine shares with us how she has helped to pivot annual event fundraisers at the American Lung Association as well as an update on the "Men Wear Turquoise, Too" campaign for COVID-19 research.

SHOW NOTES & LINKS:

Maxine Tatlonghari Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/thevanitygirldiaries/?hl=en

Visit West Hollywood articles: https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/stories/author/maxine-tatlonghari

American Lung Association - Men Wear Turquoise, Too 

Keith Kaplan Ambassador Campaign https://www.kindest.com/campaign/iwt-keith-kaplan

Alex Bazley https://www.kindest.com/campaign/iwt--alex-bazley

Captain Ed Ramirez https://www.kindest.com/campaign/iwt-edward-ramirez

Deadline:  July 14th

WeHo Chamber https://www.wehochamber.com/

Peloton App: https://www.onepeloton.com/app

Mango App (learn a language)  https://mangolanguages.com/

Strings of Life https://www.sol-losangeles.com/

Cecconi's West Hollywood https://www.cecconiswesthollywood.com/

Gelato Festival https://www.gelatofestival.store/classes/

JK Zen https://www.gelatofestival.store/classes/

Carrie’s Pilates https://www.gelatofestival.store/classes/

Harmony Pilates https://harmonystudiospilates.com/

Club Pilates https://www.clubpilates.com/location/weho

DP Hue Root Color: https://www.amazon.com/dpHUE-Root-Touch-Up-Dark-Blonde/dp/B07YDBFKJ3/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=dpHUE&qid=1594233002&sr=8-3

Tania Untamed Instinct:  http://www.untamedinstincts.com/

Dustin Michael B2V https://www.instagram.com/dustinmichaelmorris/?hl=en

Sepi Shyne join us this week to discuss her platform for the upcoming West Hollywood City Council race in November.  Sepi is a West Hollywood resident who is business law attorney and a small business owner of a Reiki practice and has been a long-time advocate for women's rights.  Her activism career over the past 20 years includes fighting for LGBTQ rights locally and across the nation.  When the COVID crisis hit, Sepi cofounded the community group "Weho Neighbors Helping Neighbors" to help assistance local residents.  

Lauren and Tracy have lots to share this week including more new outdoor patio concepts that are popping up, 4th of July BBQ boxes galore from your favorite West Hollywood restaurants, Soulcycle and Drybar are open and the carwash burrito has some fierce competition from the Dialogue Cafe after last week's breakfast trek! 

What we don't know about Weho, this week's guest sure does!  Henry Scott, publisher and editor of Wehoville, joins Tracy and Lauren.  This week's neighborhood section is packed full of discussions about the city covering everything from the West Hollywood Park, City Council, landlords and how to engage local renters who make up 68% of the population.

In the Weekly Do Good, a special thank you and shout out is given to local businesses who participated in the march on Sunday by handing out water, juice, pizza and masks:  Pura Vita, Sprouts, Pressed Juicery, Fresh Brothers and Rounderbum.  Be sure to check out Henry's favorite local coffee shop - Miss Melbourne! 

LANCE BASS joins us this week and gives us the scoop on what is going on at Rocco's West Hollywood as things are starting to open up around town. Lance shares with us several of his new endeavors including a mobile bubbly bar, Bubble Tap, and new mixer line "Just Add X" and an upcoming music festival VirginFest.  Give a listen to find out his favorite places to grab a bite in West Hollywood including his favorite dish at Craig's.    Lauren has lots to report in food with all the places she has been ordering takeout from including a birthday cake from Gelato Festival, chicken from Totem Poultry,  BBQ galore from Bludso's and deli sandwiches and meats from Uncle Paulie's.

Follow Chef Jeff on instagram @jeffthe420chef  or find him online at https://www.jeffthe420chef.com/ and https://www.freeleafcannabis.com/

This week West Hollywood's own Jon D'Amico from Rock 'n Walk Tours joins us in the neighborhood segment to give us a rundown of what is happening on the Sunset Strip.  Hear his five star food reviews including Dialog Cafe and his favorite Chinese food from Formosa.  Jon's tour of the Sunset Strip is ranked #1 on Trip Advisor, check it out and book a tour!  https://rocknwalktours.com/

Lauren and Tracy share updates on restaurant openings including Fresh Corn Grill, Greenblatt's Deli, and Sushi Park.  Find out where you can get weekend Memorial Day food kits from Nice Guy (pizza), SLAB (mixed bbq box of meat), and lobster roll kits from Cousins Main.  Hear retail opening updates including Atacama Home, Book Soup, Brick and Mortar and Remedy Place for health and wellness.  Lauren gives an update on the City Council meeting from May 18th including a very special swearing in ceremony from Jane Fonda of our new mayor Linsdey P Horvath.  

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day is this week's topic in the Food segment.  Lauren and Tracy talk about their top favorite breakfast burritos including Conservatory, Tacos Tu Madre and Santa Palm carwash as well as the waffles from Dialog Cafe and caviar from Petrossian.  If you are cooking at home for your four-legged furry pal, Lauren shares an important tip about important nutrients you need to ensure you are adding available from Just Food For Dogs.   Don't miss this week's guest featured in the Neighborhood segment from infamous Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip.  You can pick up your favorite rock n roll beer to go including Iron Maiden,  Metallica and Megadeath with food to go..and make sure to include a Lemmy (Jack & coke) with your order!  You can contribute to the Rainbow employee relief Gofundme at https://www.gofundme.com/f/1z07qvn2qo.Sign the petition for federal assistance for small venues like the Rainbow being fought by the National Independent Venue Association https://www.nivassoc.org/take-action