The new W Hollywood Hotel & Residences is about a month from being open. I wrote about it for Dwell back in June (and rode out an earthquake during that tour). Last week, I got to sneak inside with some of the architects.
The highlight on the rooftop pool deck is definitely these cool cabanas by Daly Genik.
And, of course, the view. Hollywood for the holidays.
I got to check out some stuff inside, too, like a few of the rooms and the lobby bar.
The rooms closer to the Boulevard are better. This is the unbelievable view from one of the VIP suites.
But I was most fascinated watching these guys hang the Swarovski chandelier.
It kinda looks beautiful just like this, don’t you think?
We’ll be having a de LaB there when it opens next month, so be sure to sign up for our mailing list! More photos here.
What is it about pie this summer? First there was PieLab, the incredible space designed by a team at Project M in Greensboro, Alabama, where folks from all over town can commiserate over a slice of Key Lime and a cup of coffee. Then, when I interviewed Good Foodie Evan Kleiman for Dwell, she mentioned she was embarking upon a Pie-a-Day project, baking it in the morning and taking it with her wherever she happened to go (I bet she’s got a nifty portable pie safe). Sure enough, a few weeks later, she’s made upwards of 18 pies. And out of pure coincidence, when I finally—after eight years in LA, shoot me—made it over to her restaurant Angeli Caffe for dinner Sunday, we got the last piece of Pie #16: Double Crust Apple Pie. They even threw in the vanilla gelato for free.
I am actually not the pie maker in our household; that honor is bestowed upon a man who not only makes excellent apple pies, but makes them with the appropriate Apple logo. But I do have a little something pie-like I like to make this time of year. It’s not sweet—I’ll take savory any day—but it does have a crust, fruit and many, many fans. And it’s perfect to make this week, as the heirlooms start to show their shiny dimpled cheeks at the farmers market.
Tomato Pie
6 tomatoes; any kind really, but I like using Japanese or heirlooms
1 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped basil
2 cups mayonnaise
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Pie crust for two 12-inch crusts; homemade, with lard and butter is the best, but you can also use store-bought
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You can make this recipe as two regular-sized pies but I find that people really like to have their own individual pies (they stay together better, plus they’re so darn cute). Divide the pie crust into 24 balls and roll them out so they’re the size of a small tortilla. Don’t worry if the edges are rough and messy. Drape and tuck these into two muffin tins to make two dozen mini pie crusts. Prick the bottoms three times with a fork, and put them in the oven until they’re golden brown.
Meanwhile, heat a large saucepan of water on high. When it’s boiling, drop the tomatoes in for 10 seconds, just long enough to split the skins. Set aside, and when cool enough, peel and very coarsely chop.
Divide the tomato mixture between the baked pie crusts, and top each with green onions and basil. Combine the mayonnaise and cheese and spread on top of each pie (it should be level with the top of the muffin tin). Salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly to set. Run a knife around the outsides and gently lift out. Serve immediately, or the next morning, cold, for breakfast. Makes two dozen mini-pies or two regular pies.
Adapted from a beautiful cookbook we grew up cooking out of from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Hollyhocks and Radishes.
On this bittersweet morning—I just walked by the Grammy Museum where the staff was placing a memoriam outside and preparing for big crowds—the show must go on, and we’ll all do our best to make Michael proud (one look at Neverland Ranch would confirm he was an avid fan of home design). After writing over at Dwell.com about many of the speakers, exhibitions and events for the last six weeks or so, I’ll be liveblogging the Dwell on Design conference at Dwell.com today. If you’re here, come say hi. We can reminisce about our favorite Michael Jackson song.
Your assumptions are correct: I love things that look cool, sound cool, taste cool, and are illegal in some states.
On a scorching May afternoon when I was not only reading about cool things but also trying to keep cool by working in the coolest room in the house, with my face pressed to the cool hardwood floor, I received a link from my friend Sarah Rich, an editor at Dwell: Architecturally-significant ice cream sandwiches with flavors named things like Frank Behry and Neutrapolitan. I leapt from my sweaty pool on the floor and rejoiced! It was a trifecta.
Not only did the ladies who owned this hot pink-and-silver truck slapped with magnetic headshots of architects love ice cream and design as much as I, they had paired it beautifully with wordplay. If we we didn’t end up being best friends, we certainly would make great nemeses.
But things went smoothly from there, as ice cream-related friendships often do. And a few weeks ago, atop the funny lump of a hill that holds the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hollyhock House, as the sun barely set over a gloomy Los Angeles, as intrepid drinkers clinked rosés plucked by Silverlake Wine, Gelatobaby met Coolhaus. All archi-puns aside, Natasha Case and Freya Estreller have the foundations down for a good sandwich: built-to-order, on soft cookies, with the option of an edible rice paper wrapper. It was love at first Mintimalism bite. I also somehow walked away from this meeting with a free six-pack of toilet paper. Which was good, because we were running out.
But this frozen fairy tale does not end there, my friends. Thanks to my fellow friend-of-cold Sarah Rich, and the folks at Dwell, this encounter quiescently ripened into a full-fledged quest to discover the next master of architecture, ice cream and wit. If you, like me, felt the puns welling up from deep within your inner vat of design knowledge, then you, too, can churn out Coolhaus’ next architecturally-significant flavor over at Dwell’sSweetest Contest Ever.
For the contest winner, there are just desserts. Coolhaus will be serving the best-named sandwich at Dwell on Design’s A Night at the Movies on June 27, the same night you’ll get to see a film by Eric Bricker—who I interviewed for Dwell, and who actually went to my same high school, go Longhorns!—about the most important architectural photographer on the planet, Julius Shulman. Of course, I’m not eligible to win, but I’d like to hope that someone out there has already submitted the most appropriate one: Orange Julius Shulman. Orange sherbet between two fluffy vanilla cookies, served on a contact sheet.
Until then, I encourage you to spread the word about the wonders of Coolhaus as well as this rather delicious parlour game. If you need any licks of inspiration, they’re only a Tweet away.
If you're coming to town (or even if you live here), check out my Guide to LA for Dwell, 27 of my favorite places in the city. Also, a downtown dining guide to new, design-savvy restaurants, and Saturday in Silver Lake, a guide to my neighborhood.
DnA: Design and Architecture
Tune in to DnA: Design & Architecture, the KCRW show hosted by Frances Anderton on the third Tuesday of every month, where I'm an associate producer. For local design events, check out the DnA calendar.
GOOD Design
An initiative funded in part by Knight Pulse, GOOD Design asks designers to create solutions to urban problems proposed by city leaders. Events have been held with Los Angeles, Art Center, CEOs for Cities and San Francisco, and New York.
de LaB
Design East of La Brea is a monthly party I co-host with Haily Zaki and Marissa Gluck. Almost always east of La Brea. Learn more about past de Labs and sign up for our monthly newsletter.
With Gelatobaby
The web and social media experience With Gelatobaby is a new way to cover live events. This collaboration with Citizen Scholar has covered events at the Academy of Art and AIGA.
