Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by DAVID NASH and ELIZABETH VARNELL
TWENTYNINE PALMS
Once a Motel, Now a Desert Retreat for Design Lovers
Leave it to Los Angeles interior design visionary Jessica Pell to turn a rundown 1940s roadside motel outside Joshua Tree National Park into a “love letter to the desert.” Just two and a half hours east of L.A. and 10 minutes outside the park’s north entrance, HOTEL WREN is a reflection of the area’s stillness, with its never-ending horizon, ancient rock formations, and starry nights that “recenter me every time I return,” says Pell, who founded her design firm, Manola Studio, in 2011. Located in Twentynine Palms, the 12-room retreat is a mix of old-school motel aesthetic and modern craftsmanship, where “architecture and landscape exist in quiet conversation.” Preserving the property’s original layout, Pell painstakingly restored and preserved as much of its original character as possible while balancing the rustic charm with hand-troweled plaster, custom terra-cotta floors, carved woodwork, and hand-painted tiles. Suite-style guest rooms, with king or queen beds, have been envisioned for ultimate relaxation. Half the suites face the western desert, with bathtubs and private patios opening to the landscape, while the rest offer enclosed patios and showers for a more intimate escape. Each also features a built-in banquette, gas fireplace, Parachute linens, Wonder Valley bath products, and innumerable tiny luxuries to elicit maximum zen. Also conveniently located on-site, Windsong is a well-curated shop that’s ripe with pantry staples, wine, and other provisions, as well as ceramics, textiles, and books to enjoy on your respite from city life. From $275 per night. 6340 El Rey Ave., Twentynine Palms, 760-362-9559; hotelwren29.com. D.N.
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WEST HOLLYWOOD
South of France Style Lands West of Sunset
Airy fitting rooms with the billowing drapes of poolside cabanas paired with herringbone-patterned terra-cotta brick floors are instantly transportive inside Simon Porte JACQUEMUS’ new sun-filled L.A. boutique. Olive trees line the entry and inside the limestone clay stucco-walled space, the Paris-based designer’s second stateside, are custom sofas covered in sunny yellow linen meant to evoke the South of France and the golden tones of the Mediterranean coast. But alongside the ready-to-wear circle skirts, hourglass dresses, angular Salon clutches, and men’s shorts, trousers, and cropped jackets, there are also nods to nearer bathing spots. Venice’s Muscle Beach inspired a health-driven capsule including a yoga mat and water bottle plus jump ropes and barbells designed with the line’s instantly recognizable circle and square imagery. And, in addition to a selection of vintage jewelry, home objets, and a new Timberland collaboration yielding a monochromatic butter-colored boat shoe, there’s a Peggy Sirota snap of David Hockney, the master of L.A. pool paintings. 8804 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323-286-0004; jacquemus.com. E.V.
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L.A.
Fresh from Venice, Jeffrey Gibson’s Color-Drenched Contemplations on Indigeneity
For his debut single-artist museum exhibition in Southern California, an adapted version of JEFFREY GIBSON’s 2024 Venice Biennale presentation at the U.S. Pavilion has been mounted at The Broad. With nearly 30 works, Jeffrey Gibson: The Space in Which to Place Me highlights the Indigenous artist’s unique fusion of rich color, geometric design, and references to historical 19th- and 20th-century American documents and modern music as critiques of social injustices and equity. As a contemplation on Indigeneity and feeling of belonging, Gibson interprets the idea of multiplicity of identity through 10 paintings, seven sculptures, eight flags, three murals, and a single video installation throughout the museum’s first-floor galleries, which have been transformed into seemingly kaleidoscopic environments. “We are proud to be bringing this groundbreaking work to Los Angeles, directly from the Venice Biennale, where for the first time an Indigenous artist represented the United States,” says Joanne Heyler, founding director of The Broad. “And we hope our audiences will be dazzled by the joy they convey and the belief in resilience of community the works represent.” The institution also announced the acquisition of Gibson’s 2024 painting The Returned Male Student Far Too Frequently Goes Back To The Reservation And Falls Into The Old Custom Of Letting His Hair Grow Long, which was part of his show at the 60th Venice Biennale. May 10–Sept. 28. 221 S. Grand Ave., L.A., 213-232-6200; thebroad.org. D.N.
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SANTA BARBARA
This Central Coast Celebration is a Feast for the Senses
Full plates and healthy pours mark the return of the SANTA BARBARA CULINARY EXPERIENCE with a fattened lineup of mouthwatering food and wine happenings all over Santa Barbara County. Uniting the region’s most talented chefs, winemakers, artisans, growers, and hospitality professionals, the weeklong event features signature activities, interactive classes, workshops, excursions, tours, and coveted dining experiences. Presented in collaboration with The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, participants can pull a chair up to the table for an exclusive multicourse dinner with Alice Waters at Bellosguardo prepared by award-winning chefs, including Suzanne Goin (AOC, Caldo Verde), Daisy Ryan (Bells), and Daniel Kim (The Palms). Guests can also immerse themselves in the area’s best vintages at The Grand Wine Tasting at El Presidio de Santa Barbara or spend a day on a farm or vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley sampling produce and meeting the people behind the vines. This year SBCE has expanded its programming to offer an array of family-friendly events like a cauliflower taco–making class for kids. A portion of the event’s proceeds benefits local nonprofit organizations that serve to support the local food system and ensure Santa Barbara’s culinary culture thrives for many generations to come. May 12–18. For ticket and information, visit sbce.events. D.N.
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BEVERLY HILLS
A Beatlemania Exhibition With Paul McCartney Behind the Lens
Get a snapshot of Beatlemania from someone who experienced the frenzied adoration firsthand from behind the velvet ropes and police barricades with Rearview Mirror, an exhibition of rediscovered photographs by Sir Paul McCartney on display at GAGOSIAN BEVERLY HILLS. Showcasing 36 black-and-white and color prints taken between December 1963 and February 1964, the visual record chronicles the first months of widespread pandemonium surrounding the Fab Four that trailed the band for years to come. The show begins with photographs the bass guitarist took in the U.K. (with a 35 mm Pentax camera) expressing a playfulness and innocence that would soon give way to shots of the band being mobbed in Paris and the U.S. Some of the most compelling images include chaotic scenes captured by McCartney through the windows of moving vehicles as he and his bandmates were shuttled between appearances. Each image has been captioned with the precise location and detailed information to set the stage for that particular moment in time. Accompanying the rare and never-before-seen images from McCartney’s personal collection is an installation of ephemera and excerpts of footage by filmmakers Albert and David Maysles (who were allowed to document The Beatles’ first U.S. visit in 1964). Curated by Gagosian’s Joshua Chuang, the show — produced in collaboration with the artist and Griffin Editions — is also an opportunity to acquire signed photographs, issued in small editions, from the iconic performer’s own archive. Can’t buy me love? We beg to differ. April 25–June 21. 456 N. Camden Dr., Beverly Hills; gagosian.com. D.N.
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IN PARTNERSHIP
Sun-Drenched St. John Knits
Timeless knits are having a moment. Six decades of looks created by St. John, worn by women stateside and internationally, established the line as an American sportswear mainstay. Now the heritage label’s archive-influenced knitwear, first created in the early 1960s, is topping St. John’s Pre-Fall 2025 collection, embracing an effortless West Coast lifestyle. Houndstooth and plaids are here, but also crisp white cotton poplin blouses and voluminous skirts. Blocked geometric prints join washed leather meant to evoke a lived-in feel, while sequin-embellished dresses are ideal for entertaining in or a night out.
The California-grown label is known for dressing global leaders and starlets, and also for its striking color palette. True to form, the new collection includes shades of tropical blue, jade, violet, and bubble gum as well as navy and chalk. Neutrals in earth tones from an acorn hue to cinnamon tones join gowns in polished black, ecru, and goldenrod. Also included are pique knit sets, sporty pantsuits, polo dresses, tweeds, and even a short evening dress with an asymmetrical bow, all rereleased pieces from cofounder Marie Gray’s personal archives. 9533 Brighton Way, Beverly Hills, 310-858-1116; stjohnknits.com.
May 2025
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