Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by KELSEY McKINNON, ANUSH J. BENLIYAN, and ELIZABETH VARNELL
SAN DIEGO
SoCal Charm at the Refreshed Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
PHOTO: Jessica Sample.
If the intricate lacquered green latticework that adorns the walls at Lilian’s restaurant inside the delightfully redesigned Inn at Rancho Santa Fe looks familiar, it may be because it has become something of a calling card for interior designer and hotelier Steve Hermann (the woven panels also adorn the walls at Hermann’s iconic Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs). The hotel reopens this month, revealing how Hermann (who was also the previous owner) lovingly restored every inch of the 11-acre property and its 85 rooms, suites, and bungalows. The refresh comes just in time to ring in the inn’s 100th anniversary next year — which just goes to show that some things never get old, like a day spent playing golf, riding horses, or exploring this charming enclave just north of San Diego (and don’t miss Amy Meier’s eponymous design shop, which is just a stone’s throw away). 5951 Linea Del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe, 858-221-4000; theinnatrsf.com. K.M.
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DTLA
California’s Contemporary Art Greats Are Brought Together at The Broad
Ed Ruscha. Sunset-Gardner Cross, 1988–89. Acrylic on canvas. 60 x 112 in. The Broad Art Foundation. © Ed Ruscha.
The Broad, happily, is navel-gazing. The museum’s new show, Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog), which runs Nov. 18 through April 7, 2024, is composed entirely of permanent collection works by Los Angeles artists. Given its extensive stockpile of pieces by local talent — both those who were raised here, such as Mark Bradford, Lari Pittman, and Doug Aitken, and those who moved here, including Barbara Kruger, Ed Ruscha, Catherine Opie, and Mike Kelley — this makes for a must-see exhibition. More than 60 paintings, photography, sculpture, and political signage spanning five decades compiled by curators Ed Schad and Jennifer Vanegas Rocha lay bare the complex urban landscape and contradictions of the region and also the way in which the organization’s holdings are evolving post-2020. The show’s title nods to John Baldessari’s 1985 work of a similar name contrasting the city’s grit with its frequent palm-lined beachy depictions. 221 S. Grand Ave., L.A., 213-232-6200; thebroad.org. E.V.
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SAN FRANCISCO
A NorCal Brand with a Mediterranean Sensibility
LEFT: ORERE blazer and HUENE pant, ivory. RIGHT: OMA dress with COSETTE dress, blue stripe.
“We were having dreams of the coasts of Italy, France, and Greece. Of taking a dip in the cool salty ocean, throwing up wet hair, and slipping one of these pieces over sun-kissed shoulders,” says Anna Chiu, evoking the setting and mood informing Kamperett’s first resort collection. Chiu, who cofounded the made-in-San Francisco label known for modern dresses and gowns crafted from impeccable fabrics with Valerie Santillo, said the designers wanted to create silhouettes that lend themselves to everyday wear. As they set about devising a travel-ready wardrobe, they looked to Japanese cottons, linens, and silks for new silhouettes that “could be worn often and with ease.” The result is a poetic assortment of striped or solid maxi dresses, linen sundresses, blazers and pants, and the perfect pocketed shirt dresses. kamperett.com. E.V.
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LA JOLLA
An Emporium to Inspire Your Interiors Game
PHOTO: Andrew Petrich.
Having worked for such storied American fashion and home brands as J. Crew, Coach, West Elm, and Williams Sonoma, veteran retail execs Dave DeMattei (who also currently serves as a consultant to Ken Fulk, Inc in San Francisco) and Patrick Wade have decided to strike out on their own. Mood Indigo, a charming little azure cottage in the pair’s new hometown of La Jolla, offers supremely edited homeware — from furniture and lighting to art from local photographers such as Chad Van Herpe to international talents like Hugo Guinness and Mary Maguire. The space also boasts hard-to-find pieces from Casa Lopez Paris, Juliska, Tensira textiles and Montes Doggett pottery. It’s definitely a mood. 5670 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla, 858-247-7441; moodindigolajolla.com. K.M.
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NAPA VALLEY
Former The French Laundry Chef Flies Solo with Charlie’s
PHOTO: Emma K. Morris.
As a volunteer firefighter for the St. Helena Fire Department, Elliot Bell is no stranger to serving the community. The New Zealand–born, Iowa-bred chef came to California by way of Boston, Seattle, and New York (cutting his teeth at Gramercy Tavern), ultimately settling in Napa Valley, where he spent the last decade of his career at The French Laundry. This fall, after a year-long delay, Bell has opened the doors to his own restaurant, Charlie’s, located in the space that previously belonged to Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. Named after his son, Charlie’s will feature a relaxed, seasonal menu focused on local purveyors including Wolfe Ranch Quail, St. Helena Peach Farm, Regiis Ova Caviar, and locally raised meat from fellow firefighter Johnny White. The fire station, as well as Bell’s home, are just around the corner. Now that’s local. 1327 Railroad Ave., St. Helena; charliesnv.com. A.J.B.
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IN PARTNERSHIP
Jewelry of Incomparable Beauty Awaits as Graff Debuts in Costa Mesa
The jewelry house founded more than half a century ago in London by Laurence Graff has opened a new salon filled with hand-selected gemstones in the South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court. The new space was designed in natural stone, wood, and polished marble and includes a high jewelry room lit with a chandelier inspired by the facets of diamonds. Singular Graff design collections are on display, including the winged Butterfly, posy-shaped Wild Flower, and the freshly tied motif of Tilda’s Bow alongside angular Laurence Graff Signature round diamonds. Also on hand is the house’s six-scent fragrance collection created with globally sourced ingredients and inspired by the storied 302.37-carat Graff Lesedi La Rona, the largest GIA-certified square emerald-cut diamond. The space, Graff’s newest iteration to launch stateside, also houses bridal jewelry and engagement rings as well as high jewelry including unique stones and pieces set with rare diamonds and gemstones created with the house’s trademark stone-led techniques. This precise approach brings out specific features of each gemstone, and highly personalized cutting techniques ensure unique settings ideal for each cut. The house, known for such rarities as the heart-shaped Graff Venus and rectangular Graff Pink, has a full range of stunning sparklers in-store. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-398-8178; graff.com. E.V.
November 2023
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