Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by DAVID NASH
BEVERLY HILLS
L.A.’s Leading Dance Company Reinterprets Romeo & Juliet with a Tech-y Twist
Celebrated choreographer Benjamin Millepied brings Shakespeare into the 21st century with the L.A. DANCE PROJECT’s limited-engagement performance of Romeo + Juliet Suite at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Dance, cinema, and theater combine to reinterpret the tragic tale of star-crossed lovers by setting the young protagonists in an urban setting where their hope for a future together is thwarted from the very start. In his twist on Sergei Prokofiev’s classic, Millepied’s version transcends physical existence to incorporate a projection system in which tableaux are broadcast in real time from around the theater and dancers are filmed live as they seemingly leap from the stage onto the screen. Each of the four performances will feature a different cast that celebrates the diversity of romantic relationships between two people. Founded in 2012 by Millepied, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, the contemporary dance company supports the art form across Los Angeles and around the world. Oct. 10–12. 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills; ladanceproject.org.
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LOS ANGELES
Diane von Fürstenberg Sashays Into the Skirball Cultural Center
Born in Brussels, Belgium, in 1946 to a Romanian émigré father and a mother who survived the Holocaust, Diane Halfin would later say her mother’s greatest teaching was “fear is not an option.” Halfin went on to have a storied career as fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. Spanning her marriage to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg in 1969, the first appearance of her iconic jersey wrap dress in 1974, a 13-year tenure as chairwoman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and the philanthropic work she does alongside her second husband, media mogul Barry Diller, DIANE VON FÜRSTENBERG: WOMAN BEFORE FASHION tells the whole story with its U.S. debut at the Skirball Cultural Center. The retrospective exhibition features more than 60 garments pulled from the DvF archives, fabric swatches, artwork, media, and other ephemera that highlight the 77-year-old designer’s journey.
Organized in four sections, the multidisciplinary show opens with a display of von Fürstenberg’s wrap dresses paired with archival pieces from designers like Donna Karan, Madeleine Vionnet, and Sonia Rykiel. The next part centers on her bold designs, including a look at her art-inspired collaborations and how her clothing became a symbol of the women’s rights movement in the 1970s. The third section chronicles how, at just 26 years old, the designer launched her brand and has remained a household name for six decades. The exhibition concludes with “WeAr(e)Able Stories,” a tribute to her global advocacy for human rights and gender equality. October 17, 2024–Aug. 31, 2025. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., 310-440-4500; skirball.org.
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GUERNEVILLE
With Two New Spa Cottages, This Cabin-Style Resort Just Went Full Zen
Set along the Russian River, about an hour-and-a-half north of San Francisco in picturesque western Sonoma County, Guerneville is one of the region’s most popular vacation destinations, and for good reason. The former logging community’s proximity to wineries and the Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve — as well as its public beach access that allows for fishing, swimming, and rafting — offer a little something for everyone. And now one of the town’s most beloved retreats, the 22-acre DAWN RANCH, has just debuted two new Spa Cottages on the idyllic property. With a mix of rustic charm and contemporary styling, each bespoke cottage offers an outdoor redwood ofuro-style soaking tub, a private enclosed patio with a firepit, a spacious living room with a wet bar and powder room, and a double-sided gas fireplace separating the living room and king bedroom. Guests can further relax by strolling along the riverfront, in the apple orchard, and through the meadow, or take part in activities like scent making, flower pressing, and bird watching. If doing absolutely nothing is more your speed, enjoy any number of customized spa experiences that require very little movement. Nightly rates for the Spa Cottages start around $470. 16467 California-116, Guerneville; dawnranch.com.
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BAY AREA
Restorative Dishes Are on the Menu at RH’s NorCal Galleries
Although a visit to one of Northern California’s RH Galleries might whet your appetite for design, a reservation at one of its restaurants will surely quell any hunger pangs. First introduced at the recently opened Palo Alto outpost, the lifestyle brand has now unveiled its new menus at its restaurants in San Francisco, Marin, and Yountville. The first major culinary update since opening its inaugural eatery in 2015, this tasty reinvention offers unique takes on classic dishes for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Kick-start your day with an Italian Benedict composed of San Daniele prosciutto and a parmesan hollandaise on charred ciabatta or the “impossibly thin” Swedish pancakes topped with Vermont maple syrup. The Chinese chicken salad — with grilled chicken, Napa cabbage, carrots, fried wontons, and a delicious sesame soy mustard vinaigrette — and an order of the crispy artichokes will become lunchtime favorites. For dinner, mini lobster rolls with caviar are the ideal gateway to a whole grilled branzino. But loyal patrons can rest assured knowing that two of the biggest crowd-pleasers — the RH burger and the fried chicken sandwich — still appear on all three menus. 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; 590 20th St., S.F.; 1750 Redwood Hwy., Corte Madera; 6725 Washington St., Yountville; rh.com.
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PACIFIC PALISADES
A Polo Tournament of Champions Where Champagne Reins Supreme
Mallets will swing, divots will be stomped, and corks will pop with the return of the VEUVE CLICQUOT POLO CLASSIC on Saturday, October 5. After a two-year absence, the highly anticipated event gallops back onto the field of Will Rogers State Historic Park (which the venerable Champagne House will transform into its own stunning Sun Club). Complete with decor inspired by the South of France, Instagram-ready vignettes, and well-stocked champagne bars pouring newly released RICH and RICH Rosé — as well as blended cuveés perfect for sipping on ice during a sun-drenched afternoon — guests have the opportunity to mingle with ponies, players, and other A-list spectators (past attendees have included Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, and Michael B. Jordan). Watch the action up close on the Picnic Lawn and graze on offerings from popular L.A. food trucks curated by Smorgasburg or enjoy a more genteel afternoon with a gourmet lunch and elevated open seating at the aptly named Garden Party. Either way, you’ll have an ideal vantage point from which to take in all the action as acclaimed polo player Nacho Figueras leads Team Veuve Clicquot against Team Will Rogers for an unforgettable match. Single ticket prices start at $275 with group packages from $1,500. veuveclicquot.com.
October 2024
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