Cold plunge
Cold plunge
Bridgetown Roti, best bookstores, Venice listings, Inn of the Seventh Ray, Jimena Brows, Bleachers tix, run time, Ojai, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Person
That’s a wrap
The first time I had Bridgetown Roti, I was strategizing my move to LA from Brooklyn. I picked up a channa and sweet potato roti with an order of sweet spiced plantains from chef Rashida Holmes’s temporary Arts District commissary, and brought them back to my Airbnb. Both dishes were layered with spice, tang, heat, and color. I often ate roti at Trinidadian joints back in Bed-Stuy, but I had never had it quite like Bridgetown Roti’s, which felt uniquely Californian.
After I’d settled into my new life in Los Angeles, I struggled to find reliable Caribbean spots to satisfy the cravings I’d built up in Brooklyn. I ran into Bridgetown Roti again at a winery’s vintage release party, where I fell in love with an oxtail-and-peppers patty, but Holmes still didn’t have a dedicated home for her cooking.
Then, this summer, after years of pop-ups and stints at Smorgasburg, Holmes finally opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood. The bright pink, blue, green, and yellow color scheme is resolutely vivid, just like her food.
When I visited last week, I had a ginger beer infused with sorrel, a green curry shrimp roti slicked with an addictive pineapple-habanero hot sauce, and a side of callaloo with mixed peppers and coconut dashi. The latter was more vibrant than the creamier versions I recall fondly — and frankly, much better. In addition to a handful of other rotis and patties (the oxtail-and-peppers gets prime billing) there are also wings, fish cakes, cucumber salad, and a macaroni and cheese pie on the menu.
At 2:45p on a scorchingly hot Monday, the restaurant was almost full. The heat wave turnout goes to show: Angelenos are starving for Bridgetown Roti as much as I am. –Emily Wilson
→ Bridgetown Roti (East Hollywood) • 858 N Vermont Ave • Wed-Mon 11a-8p.
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Renowned Tokyo sushi counter Udatsu Sushi opened LA branch yesterday above Rokusho in Hollywood • Former Bestia chef opening new Echo Park taqueria Bar A Ti in former Kushiba space next week • Koreatown’s Intercrew reopened yesterday following closure for refresh • Superba Food + Bread plans Calabasas outpost for early ‘25 • How the humble michelada became a booming side hustle.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale listings that came to market in Venice this past week:
→ 644 Brooks Ave (Venice, above) • 4BR/5.1BA, 5310 SF • Ask: $4.25M • recently built minimalist retreat west of Lincoln with backyard pool • Days on market: 4 • Agent: William Passavia, Compass • Open house Sunday, 2-5p.
→ 417 Venice Way (Venice) • 4BR/3.1BA, 3154 SF • Ask: $3.295M • light-filled house between Abbot Kinney and the beach with rooftop deck • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Sam Araghi and Rodabeh Behdad, Compass.
→ 637 Vernon Ave (Venice) • 2BR/3BA, 2100 SF • Ask: $2.495M • cozy wood-filled house with stand-alone studio in back • Days on market: 9 • Agent: Stace Valnes, Create.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Press reset
NOUSHA SALIMI • celebrity skincare expert and facial rejuvenation artist • Rejuvenate with Nousha
Neighborhood you work in: Beverly Hills and Malibu
Neighborhood you live in: Point Dume, Malibu
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Typically Tuesdays are my days in the office, so can we switch it up? [Ed.: Yes!] I’m at the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group. You’ll find me in the back office getting ready with Dr. Layke, Dr. Danielpour, Nurse Natalie, and the rest of our team. Other days, I’m likely at Café La Plage in Malibu in the morning with my team, savoring a latte with almond milk and honey, and planning out various projects. I also try to fit in a class at Good Point Pilates. Then I get ready for a day of house calls with clients.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Arts and entertainment are passions of mine, from music to film. In between clients and working on The RESET oil, I’m developing and writing a movie script with my friend Katie Elmore, an Emmy-nominated writer/director/producer. It’s about the dynamic of a mother-daughter relationship, and follows them on their healing journey as they face their pasts. It’ll be in production by the end of the year. After that, I’m meeting with an incredibly talented musician for a songwriting session for her next (secret) EP.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I am going to the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga with my husband tonight. They have such healthy food options and their bread is out of this world. During the day, I literally run on SunLife smoothies. Their Glow juice is a skincare must-have! I also can’t wait to go to Petit Trois this weekend for the most amazing chocolate soufflé, and I’m also dreaming of Giorgio Baldi pasta this week.
How about a little leisure or culture?
We love going to live music at Trancas Park in Malibu, where they host free concerts every Friday during the summer. It’s such a beautiful experience. Music is a big part of my family’s life — it brings us so much joy and connection. Every Sunday we go to the Malibu Farmers’ Market with the whole family.
Any weekend getaways?
Our favorite is Ojai, to bring the kids horseback riding, soak in some spa treatments, and of course experience all the incredible shopping. We are also celebrating my birthday this year in the cutest home ever in Joshua Tree — I can’t wait!
What was your last great vacation?
I just got back from SHA Wellness in Cancun. I went with a close friend, and we had such an amazing experience. The treatments they offer are mindblowing and restored me. I came back just feeling so refreshed and relaxed — quite an adjustment, coming back to the chaos of two young kids running around the house. My favorite recent family vacation was to Costa Careyes in Mexico. We stayed at 3 Casas and it just blew me away.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I cannot go without my new Higher Dose infrared sauna and cold plunge tank. We use them every day. The combo is so amazing for my health and stress levels. It’s become my favorite daily routine.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Obsessed with Jimena Brows. I’ve just learned that a good eyebrow can really make everything better. My favorite little shop in Malibu is Abierto. They have an amazingly curated collection of everything from skincare to candles, to my favorite little crystal mushroom lamps.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Anticipated new hotel Thompson Palm Springs taking reservations starting Sept 30 • Wine country turns to Valdiguié production • Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel shuttered indefinitely as of Dec 2 • United plans to add free Starlink wifi across entire fleet • Virgin planning new Clubhouse Lounge at LAX’s TBIT at LAX to open early next year • Comparing this season’s ski pass offerings from Epic, Ikon, et al • This year’s World’s 50 Best Hotels list.
WORK • Routines
Running commentary
In Tuesday’s FOUND NY Routine, writer Mary Morris shares her workout regimen, which is also a work regimen: “In the afternoon, I’m headed to the pool. I try to go three or four times a week. When I swim, I’m working in my head. I’ve resolved a lot of plot points during a swim.”
It's a relatable sentiment, and a reminder that often, the best work products originate outside of the workplace. Since I started working primarily from my home office in 2017, I’ve regularly snuck a midday run into my workday. It’s a luxury, for sure. But it works!
Pre-pandemic, those runs were a bit of a stolen escape during free blocks on the calendar. But shifting attitudes toward workplace flexibility have made it easier to step away, and bringing a start-up to life cemented it as a Routine.
For best results: no headphones, no agenda. Freed from the tethers of laptops and desktops, the most pressing issues rise to the surface, like high-beat-per-minute dreams.
I’ve recently increased my mileage, which pushed some of my longer runs to the edges of the day. What I’ve gained in race-readiness, I’ve lost in subconscious strategy and grievance-burying sessions.
Also, Mondays are rest days, which means this morning I had to step out to walk the dog in order to extract this piece from stone. Time to start cross-training. –Josh Albertson
P.S. We’ve got a little survey withdrawal, so let’s keep it going.
LA WORK AND PLAY LINKS: Four ways yesterday’s rate cut could impact the LA housing market • Digital art college Gnomon moves campus to North Hollywood • Counter-trend watch: Bosses are faxing and Gen Z workers are hyping their corporate desk jobs.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Cheap Seats
Bleachers • The Greek Theatre (Griffith Park) • Sat @ 8p • section A, $166 per
Patton Oswalt and Friends • Largo at the Coronet (West Hollywood) • Sun @ 7:30p • $35 per
Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals • Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood) • Tue @ 7p • terrace 3, $231 per
ASK FOUND
Four FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we’re seeking intel:
Where are you excited about dining this fall?
What’s your favorite women’s boutique in Los Angeles?
Which spa are you booking to escape the chaos of the season?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com.
GOODS & SERVICES • The Nines
Bookstores
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of LA’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundla.com.
The Last Bookstore (DTLA), winding brick wonderland of new and used books and vinyl