Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by CATHERINE BIGELOW, DAVID NASH, and S. IRENE VIRBILA
 |
SAN FRANCISCO
This Exhibition of Matisse’s Most Iconic Graphic Work Is a Cut Above
Remaining mostly chairbound and bedridden following surgery for intestinal cancer in 1941, 74-year-old Henri Matisse proved immobility was no match for his artistic genius when he began creating colorful collages cut from paper. For the next two years, with the help of assistants, he worked arranging these decoupaged collages — often referred to as the “cut-outs” — while isolated in the South of France during the war. What initially were intended to become covers for the modernist Parisian art magazine Verve became a limited-edition art book titled Jazz. Published in 1947 by Tériade, the artist’s portfolio included 20 color prints accompanied by handwritten notes by Matisse that chronicled the entire creative process. Considered to be his most important graphic artwork, the pochoirs depict themes related to the circus and theater, from horses and ringmasters to trapeze artists and swimmers. Now these works can be viewed all together at the de YOUNG MUSEUM’s exhibition Matisse’s ‘Jazz’ Unbound alongside other works on paper by the artist from the institution’s collection. Take this rare opportunity to see the result of what Matisse referred to as “drawing with scissors.” Jan. 25–Jul. 6. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr., S.F., 415-750-3600; famsf.org. D.N.
|
SAN DIEGO
An Historic SoCal Getaway Launches Residential-Style Bungalows
Following the completion of its $26 million restoration in 2023, THE LAFAYETTE HOTEL & CLUB in San Diego reopened as an “all-encompassing immersive oasis” in the city’s burgeoning North Park neighborhood. Designed by Brooklyn-based Post Company, the hotel returned to its roots as a hub for entertainment and socializing for locals and visitors alike. Originally opened by entrepreneur Larry Imig as his eponymous Imig Manor in 1946, the luxury property welcomed Bob Hope as its first celebrity guest and soon solidified itself as an escape for Hollywood’s top stars during the 1940s and ’50s — eventually taking its own star turn four decades later as a film set for Top Gun in 1986. Now the Lafayette has unveiled its spacious new two-, three-, and four-bedroom Bungalows offering residential-style accommodations that include fully equipped retro-inspired kitchens, separate dining rooms, generously sized living rooms, unique bedrooms, and dedicated private outdoor spaces. Guest amenities onsite include the 1940s-inspired Beginner’s Diner serving “American hero dishes” all day; the Lobby Bar set beneath a glass atrium and anchored by a central statue of Atlas; an Oaxacan-style restaurant and bar, Quixote, highlighting Mexican cuisine and mezcal; an outdoor pool and the Pool Bar that evoke the glamorous Amalfi Coast of the 1980s; a game room featuring The Gutter, a two-lane bowling alley; and Lou Lou’s Jungle Room, a reimagined supper club and live music venue. After checking in, you may be hard-pressed to find a reason to leave. Bungalows from $700. 2223 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, 619-296-2101; lafayettehotelsd.com. D.N.
|
NEWPORT BEACH
RH Unveils a New Gallery With Coastline Views
High style and laid-back living just became more accessible in Orange County with the opening of RH NEWPORT BEACH — the venerable brand’s latest gallery at Fashion Island. With its blurred-line ethos that incorporates home, hospitality, and retail in an indoor-outdoor atmosphere, the 97,000-square-foot emporium was conceptualized by chairman and CEO Gary Friedman as a transparent four-level contemporary structure imbued with natural light and fresh air. Expansive glass-and-steel French doors open to a vibrant garden courtyard complete with two impressive 16-foot waterfalls and terraces, as well as a walking path composed of bluestone pavers, decomposed granite, and 100-year-old heritage olive trees, creating a seemingly expansive ecosystem. One level up, a classical arrangement of rooms showcases an array of RH interiors along with one-of-a-kind artifacts and antiques, and introduces guests to RH Modern, the brand’s largest assortment of modern furnishings, textiles, and décor that pay homage to 20th-century modernism. The second level is dedicated to its outdoor collections, including those dreamed up by world-renowned designers. The third level features the first-ever dedicated Waterworks showroom within a gallery setting, while also housing RH’s design offices. Heading up the grand staircase, guests reach the rooftop and the 260-seat restaurant, RH Ocean Grill, and two adjacent wine bars — all with sweeping views of the California coastline from within a breathtaking skylit garden atrium highlighted by shimmering chandeliers, more olive trees, and a central fountain. And with RH MONTECITO’s opening at The Gallery at the Old Firehouse last month, as well as RH INTERIOR DESIGN PALM DESERT, design inspiration is just a stone’s throw away. Come for the furnishings, stay for the Fried Chicken Sando and a Rosé Spritz. 1101 Newport Beach Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-760-9232; rh.com. D.N.
|
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Somni Returns, Reviving Its Modernist Tasting Menu
A breathtakingly ambitious and highly exclusive restaurant just opened on a quiet street in WeHo. Four years in the making, Somni (“dream” in Catalan) is the long-nurtured project of chef Aitor Zabala. It is also very much sui generis, a 14-seat restaurant in the tasting menu–only format that earned the chef two Michelin stars the first time out, in the SDL hotel under the aegis of Spanish chef José Andrés. That space had just 14 seats, too, in a secret back room. The new Somni unfurls like a blossom opening in the light of a garden courtyard shaded by towering maple trees. The dining room’s curved white oak chef’s counter faces a long table where the team bends over plates, teasing each element into position. It could so easily be, and yet Somni doesn’t feel at all pretentious. Think magical country house where a crazy genie chef and his helpers are turning out extremely polished cuisine that’s as delicious as it is cutting edge. Take the dashi caviar bite, a 1-inch-high fish-shaped meringue flavored with dashi and topped with smoked butter cream and caviar — lots of caviar — framed with violet rosemary flower petals. Each bite is full-throttle, irresistible — and just one of the first in a masterfully orchestrated meal. That said, at $495 per person before beverage, tax, and tip, Somni is most decidedly a special occasion experience for the very few. If you come with friends, you can reserve the private dining room for six. This, at last, is the chef’s dream. Open Wed.–Sun., dinner only. Reserve through OpenTable. 9045 Nemo St., L.A.; somnirestaurant.com. S.I.V.
|
MONTECITO
A Brooklyn Brand Pops Up on California’s Coast
Eight years after its inception, Brooklyn-based womenswear brand MERLETTE has opened its very first brick-and-mortar within The Post, the latest retail and dining destination developed by David Fishbein and Joseph Miller of lifestyle real estate group Runyon. Founded by Marina Cortbawi in 2016, Merlette’s new outpost will operate as a “long-term pop-up” through this spring and offers an immersive introduction to the brand that counts as fans Vanessa Hudgens, Jemima Kirke, and Julia Berolzheimer. Set in a welcoming courtyard and framed by blooming wisteria, the boutique was designed in collaboration with Netherlands-based designer Paul Somers and Merlette’s CEO, Ivo Lamers, to evoke the label’s ethos of empowered femininity and effortless elegance. “We’re excited to bring our brand to life in a space that feels true to our values,” says Cortbawi. “Montecito, with its serene beaches, lush gardens, and relaxed pace, perfectly embodies the essence of Merlette.” Apart from its ready-to-wear collections, the shop will also include fine jewelry, artisanal homewares, and products from personal care and wellness brand Poetica. 1801 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara; merlettenyc.com. D.N.
|
IN PARTNERSHIP
Design and Art Powerhouse Galleries Converge at Fort Mason
The gray-day doldrums of January are once again electrified with the 11th edition of FOG DESIGN+ART FAIR. Set on the waterfront at Fort Mason Center, this cultural confab of contemporary art and design always delivers the dazzle. On January 22, the Preview Gala — a swanky yet bohemian fête — benefits the arts and education programs of SFMOMA. And this year, FOG is thrilled to introduce its inaugural Fair Director, former SFMOMA Events leader Sydney Blumenkranz. The 2025 fair features 59 international gallerists (including AGO Projects, Marian Goodman, Berggruen, Hauser & Wirth, Galerie Maria Wettergren) as well as FOG MRKT, a curated installation featuring artisanal items by local retailers. During the fair are daily FOG Talks, a smart series starring leading designers, artists, and thinkers in conversation. Also returning this year is FOG Focus, a second pavilion dedicated to celebrating emerging and underrepresented artists. Technically, FOG is a four-day show and sale, but it also coincides within SF Art Week, a sprawling citywide showcase encompassing gallery openings, museum exhibitions, and artful pop-ups that attract a global coterie of dealers, patrons, and cultural leaders who foster connections amid the worlds of art and design as they celebrate the vast creative community of San Francisco. Jan. 23–26. Piers 2 and 3, Fort Mason Center, S.F.; fogfair.com. C.B.
January 2025
Discover more Top 5 news.