Whole body
Whole body
Danny Boy’s, Love.Life, reader survey, North Arroyo sales, Santa Ynez recs, best à la carte fine dining, Bacari Silver Lake, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Slice of life
The Skinny: First and foremost a slice shop, the new Danny Boy’s in Westwood is the fulfillment of Daniel Holzman’s childhood dream of what an old-school pizza joint should be like — and the follow-up to his popular downtown food hall counter.
The Vibe: Though you order at the counter (grab-and-go salads and sandwiches are also available), this restaurant was designed as a dine-in experience. Neon pizza slice sculptures hang from the ceiling inside the green, red, and white parlor, with natural wood tables and comfortable green metal chairs. A shelf stacked with tomato cans lines the wall behind the cashier, just above a wall of pizza boxes, and a bar stocked with wine and beer for dine-in customers. It’s the ideal mix of sit-down restaurant and casual pizza spot for a neighborhood full of families, college students, and movie-goers on their way to and from important screenings.
The Food: Though it’s hard to veer away from a perfect slice of cheese (or plain) pizza from a true New Yorker, another early favorite is the Sicilian pepperoni. Holzman, who is co-founder of NYC’s Meatball Shop empire, is a fiend about his thin crust pizza (as many a great New York pizzaiolo is), but biting into the fluffy, crispy thick focaccia that composes the Sicilian slice is evocative of the idea that truly great baking is as much a science as it is an art.
A white pie with mushrooms is loaded with garlic confit, gobs of mozzarella, and whole basil leaves, making it more of a gourmet offering than a by-the-slice affair. But that’s the beauty of Danny Boy’s — it’s not quite casual, not unnecessarily formal, either. That refrigerator at the front holds Greek, Caesar, and chef’s salads, as well as bottled soft drinks, though there’s a soda fountain onsite, too. If you have the numbers, ordering a fresh pie and a couple of glasses of wine is the best way to take advantage of the sunny, relaxed space.
The Verdict: Plenty of New York City restaurateurs come to Los Angeles confident they can teach Californians a better way to be. Holzman never did that, instead adapting his own nostalgic ideal of a pizzeria to the current Angeleno dining milieu, keeping his crust, sauce, and cheese ratios intact, but calibrating for the slower, sleepier pace of eating out west. It’s part of why — instead of packing up and heading back east — he’s now on his second location, abiding a keen sense of when to evolve, and what resplendent bounties lay west. –Caitlin White
→ Danny Boy’s (Westwood) • 10889 Lindbrook Dr • Tue-Sun 11a-830p.
LA RESTAURANT LINKS: WeHo tasting menu spot Somni to reopen in November after four-year closure • One of Tijuana’s top taco shops, Tijuanazo, opens in East LA • Shake Shack shutters five LA-area outposts • Osteria Del Fornaio is done in downtown Santa Monica • Going deep with the founder of kombucha brand Sunset Cultures.
WORK • Feedback Loop
Take our survey, please
We kicked off the first FOUND reader survey last week. If you missed it, you can find it here. It should take just a minute or so to complete. As a thank you, we’re offering a couple of annual paid subscriptions (or subscription extensions) and also our sincere gratitude for your commitment to the cause.
In the early days of a startup, feedback can be tricky. Anecdotal reactions can have an outsize effect on mood and direction, if you’re not careful. Somebody casually mentions they heard someone’s sister’s husband isn’t a fan of x feature and all of the sudden you’re questioning your entire existence, wondering if it’s time to get a real job, probably something with a formal annual review process.
So some of the early work is just keeping your head down and doing the work that you set out to do. I’ve read the jacked-up LinkedIn posts about the value of constant user-testing and probing, which makes sense for some businesses, but not exactly for media and definitely not for the media we’re trying to build — or the kind of business that we want to be running. It’s not meant to be for everybody (just you, of course).
But today, we’ve got enough foundation that we’re ready to hear it all. The early results are in, and it’s been extremely edifying to learn about FOUND’s (very accomplished) readers and rewarding to get the feedback (“I literally read every one top to bottom.”) — even the constructive criticism, most of which we’ve registered without existential dread.
Of course we’re going to use some of the responses to sell some fancy luxury advertising (inquiries to sales@itsfoundla.com!), but also to shape the product. Watch this space. And please, dear FOUND reader, fill out our survey. –Josh Albertson
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Mega wellness
Love.Life, a 45,000 square foot mega-facility created by Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey, aims to be a one-stop medical/fitness/wellness shop. Members can do everything from drop in for a power plate class to assess their telomeres. It opened its doors to the public mid-August in El Segundo.
What’s offered: Seemingly everything. The medical staff offers extended bloodwork (from biomarker testing to Grail cancer screenings and hormone panels), bone density Dexa Scans, VO2 max testing, and a host of Eastern medicine modalities like Chinese herbal medicine and cupping. Healing and recovery options include lymphatic drainage suits, acupuncture, PEMF treatments, physical therapy, saunas (both infrared and traditional for higher heat), and of course, a room with sparkling new cold plunges.
Fitness options go way beyond the Pilates reformer (though their machines are top-notch), and include vibrating power plates, an Imoove platform, and a rotating bosu ball for core work. Group classes include meditation and HIIT, while trainers are on-site for customized workouts. And should you work-up an appetite after your pickleball game (they have courts!), the café serves up “ocean bowls” with Blue Majik yogurt, homemade organic mushroom broths, and John’s “Daily Perfect Smoothie.”
How much is it?: At the highest tier, annual fees run $50,000 per for white glove treatment. Lower-level memberships start at $300/month and include access to anything fitness and recovery, along with discounts on services like hyperbaric chambers. And $750/month (perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck) allows one to partake in just about anything at the facility. –Zoe Schaeffer
→ Love.Life (El Segundo) • 740 S Pacific Coast Hwy • Mon-Fri 6a-10p, Sat-Sun 7a-9p.
REAL ESTATE • Sold
Plywood report
Catching up on summer real estate dealings, one closing in the North Arroyo neighborhood of Pasadena caught our eye: architect Lawrence Test’s Plywood House (1475 Scenic Drive), which sold in August for $1.985M after a fast 23 days on the market. California Home + Design has the backstory on the unusual house:
The year was 1949 — the U.S. was well on its way to economic recovery after WWII, but there was still a chronic housing shortage. The now-famous Case Study House program began in response to the need for economical and efficient building solutions in the LA area, but there were other innovative efforts led by architects like Lawrence Test, who designed this residence for a plywood company salesman, Henry Hernly, in Pasadena.
Unlike conventional structures, plywood was set entirely within the redwood post-and-beam structure, using marine-grade plywood for the exterior-facing panels and mahogany, elm and beech instead of conventional plaster on the interior.
Having been under the stewardship of just two owners over almost 60 years, the interior of the home is in remarkable condition (just look at that kitchen!). Below, the link to the listing, along with two more North Arroyo properties that traded this summer — all above initial asking price.
→ 1475 Scenic Dr (North Arroyo, above) • 3BR/2BA, 1737 SF • ‘The House with Plywood Skin’ • Listed: 7/21/24 for $1.64M • Sold 8/13/24 for $1.985M • Agent: Brian Linder, Compass.
→ 1236 Linda Vista Ave (North Arroyo) • 3BR/3.1BA, 3060 SF • updated 1935 Spanish revival house • Listed: 7/19/24 for $2.949M • Sold 4/26/24 for $3.27M • Agent: Teresa Fuller, Compass.
→ 1590 Linda Vista Ave (North Arroyo) • 5BR/5.2BA, 4278 SF • Tuscan villa-inspired residence with lavish grounds • Listed: 5/31/24 for $4.75M • Sold 7/12/24 for $4.85M • Agents: Evangelyn Lin, eXp, and Chelsea Glauber, Clearcap.
LA WORK AND PLAY LINKS: How tennis took over Hollywood (and dealmaking) • Renderings revealed for Habitat, massive mixed-use development in Culver City • In Monrovia, half a house, half a million • Why Fashion Nova bought its massive Beverly Hills office building.
WORK • Thursday Routine
Skin deep
DAHLIA DEVKOTA • founder / CEO • Editrix Wellness
Neighborhood you work/live in: West Hollywood
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’m the founder of a microbiome based skincare company. I teamed up with my sister, a microbiome pioneer who currently runs her lab at Cedars Sinai. We invented a minimalist system for rehabilitating the skin microbiome for both anti-aging and therapeutic uses. A typical day is usually WFH Zoom meetings with my marketing team, manufacturing, my chemist, and my scientists, designers, and social team. My crew spans the globe from NYC to Europe to Hong Kong, but it’s amazing how some days I don’t have to leave my house or even get out of my Pilates clothes!
What’s on the agenda for today?
I just got back from NYC late last night, so my agenda is filled with tons of catch up. Checking in with my manufacturer on a new production run we’re doing this week, speaking with my doctors on clinical trials we’re conducting for a new product launching this year, filming content for social media. The list is long!
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’ll be at our home in Santa Ynez, so we’ll probably be at SY Kitchen with an aperitif at Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos. Bell’s is also a must if you’re in the area.
Any weekend getaways?
When I need a quick getaway from LA, I always head up to Santa Ynez. It feels like you’ve stepped into a different world where time slows way down. Since it’s wine country, the number of independent, boutique vineyards producing interesting wines is plentiful. My personal favorites are Liquid Farm, Stolpman, Dragonette, and Demetria (a visit to their vineyard is a treat). For luxury fashion and gifts, head to SY General Store (they have both a home store and clothing store) — you’ll be blown away by the curated collection. I’m super picky about my coffee, but at Pony Espresso, the lattes get me buzzed and ready to shop.
What was your last great vacation?
I travel so much for work that long vacations where I can really unplug feel rare. A few summers ago I was invited on a friend’s boat and we sailed the Balearic Islands for a few days and then ended the trip renting a house in Comporta, Portugal with a bunch of our friends. (A Comporta rec: Cavalariça, in a former horse stable, is a can’t-miss restaurant.) That was a memorable trip.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
Probably my Max Mara Teddy Coat. I love this one because it’s so light — I hate heavy coats that weigh you down, but it keeps you warm.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Speir Pilates, Andy James at Sally Hershberger for hair color, Nic Flores for a haircut, Tomoko Spa in Beverly Hills for a massage, Gina Marie for facials, and Honest Rituals for a facial buccal massage.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Lantern Room restaurant opens in Monterey Beach Hotel • Watch for bears in South Tahoe • Eight-room boutique Hāmākua Hotel opens on north shore of the Big Island • Six Senses planning Telluride hotel for 2028 debut… and Six Senses are suddenly everywhere • Is Clear still worth it?
CULTURE & LEISURE • Charming
Sophie Ellis Bextor • The Bellwether (Downtown) • Fri @ 8p • GA, $54 per
Clairo • The Fonda Theatre (Hollywood) • Fri @ 830p • balcony center, $313 per
Natalia Lafourcade and Gustavo Dudamel • Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood) • Sat @ 8p • garden, $239 per
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Fine dining, à la carte
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of LA’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@itsfoundla.com.
Citrin (Santa Monica), more affordable alternative to $395 per tasting menu at Melisse, by chef Josiah Citrin