• Holy Basil (Santa Monica Blvd, above), neighborhood new-wave Thai darling serving spicy seafood-forward dishes, fresh interpretations of standards, raw bar delights, intel, reserve

• Rustic Canyon (Wilshi…

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→ 4200 Gayle Dr (Tarzana) • 5BR/5BA, 4122 SF house • Ask: $2.29M • 2-story entry w/ decorative glass and wrought iron doors, remodeled kitchen, heated pool/spa, 3-car garage • Annual taxes: $21,839 • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Stephanie Vitacco, Equity Union.

→ 19501 Weeburn Ct (Tar…

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The Skinny: Daisuke Nakazawa, the talented star protege from Jiro Dreams of Sushi opened his first restaurant in New York in 2013, making waves. Thirteen years later, he finally made his West Coast debut, with Sushi Nakazawa, which opened this Spring.

Executive chef Ken Ji and executive sous chef Jeffrey Hunter worked with Nakazaw…

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I don’t make the rules: headscarves are in this summer. When I found this one from cult-favorite bathing suit brand Hunza G, I finally felt ready to join the trend. It’s super lightweight and dries quickly, but what I like most about it is that I don’t have to tie anything. This means there’s no clumsy knot bulging through…

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This week, FOUND subscribers share their answer to the prompt, “What’s your favorite specialty bookstore in LA?”

• Wanted to jump in on this week’s prompt and suggest Sunny’s Bookshop in Tarzana. The space has this stunning gothic aesthetic, plus a flower shop tucked right inside. Their book selection is thoughtfully curated, with female readers in mind, and the mix of dark academia vibes and fresh bouquets is unmatched. Also, it’s an independent mother-daughter-owned shop! Highly recommend.

• I’m a chef who collects cookbooks, and my favorite specialty bookstore is Now Serving, in Chinatown. They’re knowledgeable about the books they sell. I love going to the author events for date night with my wife.

• Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena, by far! It’s got a massive collection of Octavia’s work, and all kinds of books in the genre. Author readings abound, and there’s lots of fun book-related knick-knacks too.

• Skylight Books Art Annex!

• The Library!!!!! Shopping local and supporting small businesses is the only way to go, but you know what’s also a prime move? Staying civically engaged! As a proud card-carrying member of three local library chains, I love the library for the books, the architecture, the history, the resources, and the anthropological people-watching.

Your turn. Email us your Ask FOUND questions for September and everything after: found@itsfoundla.com. We’ll pose the best ones to the FOUND LA readership and make magic happen together.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Sponsor

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YOUR BRAND HERE: 93% of FOUND subscribers recommend products, services, and/or experiences to friends and family. Hit reply or email sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Object

Scarf of the summer

I don’t make the rules: headscarves are in this summer. When I found this one from cult-favorite bathing suit brand Hunza G, I finally felt ready to join the trend. It’s super lightweight and dries quickly, but what I like most about it is that I don’t have to tie anything. This means there’s no clumsy knot bulging through at the nape of my neck. Its shape is chic (very Kennedy-esque) and it comes in a variety of colorways and materials, including an Italian UPF 50+ fabric to protect the scalp from burning. Every time I put it on, I feel like I should be jumping onto a speedboat on the Amalfi Coast, even if I’m just headed to my local farmers market. –Sylvie Florman

→ Shop: Sofia Seersucker Headscarf (Hunza G) • $35 per.

WORK & PLAY LINKS: Hollywood dying? So why are LA’s cinemas roaring back? • RC Outdoor Supply opens first brick-and-mortar retail location in Silver Lake • Who is the Reservoir Horse Girl?

RESTAURANTS • First Word

Dream big

The Skinny: Daisuke Nakazawa, the talented star protege from Jiro Dreams of Sushi opened his first restaurant in New York in 2013, making waves. Thirteen years later, he finally made his West Coast debut, with Sushi Nakazawa, which opened this Spring.

LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Beverly Boulevard’s legendary Swinger’s Diner to open Silver Lake location • Wawa Coffee trading pop-up for permanent in Silver Lake • Chinatown favorite Firstborn introduces set bar menu ($40 per).

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three properties in Tarzana that have come to market in the past 10 days.

→ 4200 Gayle Dr (Tarzana) • 5BR/5BA, 4122 SF house • Ask: $2.29M • 2-story entry w/ decorative glass and wrought iron doors, remodeled kitchen, heated pool/spa, 3-car garage • Annual taxes: $21,839 • Days on market: 7 • Agent: Stephanie Vitacco, Equity Union.

→ 19501 Weeburn Ct (Tarzana) • 4BR/4.1BA, 4486 SF house • Ask: $2.595M • traditional-style w/ 270-degree Valley/mountain views, private pool, recent roof and paint • Annual taxes: $5524 • Days on market: 6 • Agents: Jimmy Rashid & Lisa Gechtman, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

→ 19436 Hatteras St (Tarzana, above) • 7BR/5.1BA, 4705 SF house • Ask: $3.349M • Mediterranean estate behind gates, pool w/ water slide, sports court, media room, circular driveway • Annual taxes: $11,137 • Days on market: 3 • Agents: Dennis Chernov & Steven Ejiofor, Equity Union.

CULTURE & LEISURE • Winning Streak

• Pearl & The Oysters • The Lodge Room (Highland Park) • today @ 8p • GA $32 per

• Pirates v Dodgers • Dodger Stadium (Elysian Park) • Fri @ 710p • Sec 33 FD, Row S $177 per ($42 lowest avail)

• Leagues Cup Quarterfinals - Club America v Columbus Crew • Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson) • Wed @ 945p • Sec 131, Row V $143 per ($85 lowest avail)

GETAWAYS LINKS: Silver Lake’s Hotel Lucile opening date gets pushed back, again • Restaurant boom in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

RESTAURANTS • The Nines

Restaurants, Santa Monica

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best. Paid subscribers access the complete Nines archive, including our favorite restaurants by neighborhood.

• Holy Basil (Santa Monica Blvd, above), neighborhood new-wave Thai darling serving spicy seafood-forward dishes, fresh interpretations of standards, raw bar delights, intel, reserve

Read more

Chef-owners Tyler Burges and Phil Mireles built their new Arts District restaurant Bengara around genshiyaki — a 1,500-year-old Japanese cooking method that uses the radiant heat of an open charcoal hearth — but in a very Californian way. The wasabi isn’t flown in from the Izu Peninsula, but rather grown in Half Moon Bay. The soba noodles are made from scratch; the ume, aged in-house.

Bengara’s approach is best represented by the agedashi tomato.

Read more

The Skinny: Formerly a sleepy motel on Coronado Island’s main drag (across from the iconic Hotel Del Coronado), the 31-room Baby Grand has been remade into one of Southern California’s boldest boutique hotels, a wonderland of jungle foliage, Grecian statues, clamshell beds, mirrored bars, and enough patterned wallpaper to make even m…

Read more

ASK FOUND

FOUND subscribers share their answers to the prompt, “I need a caterer for a casual summer party. Any ideas?”

• Little Hat. Chef Olivia is a local young gun to keep an eye on. She’s a farmers’ market regular, always staying inspired by what’s in season, and a romantic when it comes to bright colors, exciting flavors, and energetic food. And she’s a total nerd that’s down to clown! She takes a holistic approach to hosting, involving wine, tablescapes, music, and play.

• Sara Tane for catering!

• For caterers, I recommend Jodi Taffel, The Bacon Babe.

• I love Touch of Paradise Catering. I’ve been using them for 15 years and they have never let us down! Kai Underhill is so great to work with. Big or small, just contact him!

And, last call on this PROMPT for which we seek your guidance:

• What’s your favorite specialty bookstore in LA?

If we publish your answer, we’ll comp you a 90-day paid subscription to FOUND LA. Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.

WORK • Thursday Routine

Doin’ that rag

JOHN FULTON • writer • The Eastside Rag
Neighborhood you live & work in: Echo Park

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
On a Thursday morning around 7a, I’m one of the first people at Canyon Coffee in Echo Park. I order a cold brew, pop open my laptop, and for the next two hours or so, I’m writing the day’s issue of The Rag.

The Rag is a culture newsletter and community platform — I write updates and commentary for east siders, and also, for anyone interested in the intersection of business, design, food, fashion, and the mediasphere. And then we host events to bring those people together. Today I’m interviewing the great Jen Brill, the creative director of HommeGirls. I get a lot of fashion inspiration at Canyon, and I like working there because there’s great people-watching if I’m feeling stuck. It’ll be your neighbor journaling, a writer taking a meeting, and also, randomly, Lorde. Around nine, it’s time to pack up and head to the office for my nine-to-five in marketing strategy.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Right now, I’m writing questions for an interview with newly announced LA mayoral candidate Nithya Raman. We’re grabbing coffee soon. I’m also putting together the invite list for our first singles event, and in terms of longer-lead projects, I’m starting to conceptualize an audio companion to the newsletter. I’m a little hesitant because everyone has a podcast, but I think it’ll be a fun way to build and expand upon the weekly interviews we do in The Rag. And what we do feels different.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Tonight I’m meeting a friend for drinks at Barra Santos, and this weekend, I’m headed to Sam’s Place. I’ll inevitably be at Clark Street Diner or Honey Hi at some point.

How about a little leisure or culture?
Did I go to Lady Gaga at the Forum? Absolutely. I’m also seeing Pillion and The Moment this week.

Any weekend getaways?
I’m a big Palm Springs guy. I love walking around Old Las Palmas and stopping for a burger and martini at The Heyday (or having a night at Melvyn’s). But I’m hoping to get back to Ojai soon — I haven’t been since the Hotel El Roblar (intel) opened.

What was your last great vacation?
I was in Amsterdam a few months ago and fell hard. If you’re going, don’t miss Café De Klepel, Christiaan Smit, and Twee Prinsen.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I bought a pair of Aaron Levine’s double-pleated pants and I’ve been wearing them everywhere. His sweatshirts are great, too.

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LA WORK & PLAY LINKS: New park under neglected 6th Street Bridge stirs hope, some fear • LA real estate agents hiring brand managers • LA’s hottest neighborhood is… Downtown Burbank? • That art show at that defunct 99 cent store during Frieze? Ripoff for all artists involved • What exactly is going on with the now-canceled LA Jazz Festival? • Hold on to summer for as long as you can.

YOUR BRAND HERE: 93% of FOUND subscribers recommend products, services, and/or experiences to friends and family. Hit reply or email sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three properties around Baldwin Hills/Baldwin Vista that have come to market in the past 50 days.

→ 5129 Brea Crest Dr (View Park/Windsor Hills) • 4BR/2BA, 3103 SF house • Ask: $1.565M • hillside fixer-upper, panoramic views and pool • Annual taxes: $2731 • Days on market: 16 • Agent: Rachel Turner, Coldwell Banker Realty.

→ 4494 Don Milagro Dr (Baldwin Hills Estates) • 3BR/3BA, 1962 SF house • Ask: $1.775M • midcentury rebuild w/ vaulted open-beam ceilings, sculptural fireplace, and pool • Annual taxes: $15,383 • Days on market: 41 • Agent: Charlie Coronado, Compass.

→ 4152 Terraza Dr (Baldwin Vista, above) • 3BR/3BA, 2827 SF house • Ask: $2.7M • unobstructed Downtown views, midcentury details, hardwood and terrazzo floors • Annual taxes: $7785 • Days on market: 49 • Agent: Beita Williams, Compass.

CULTURE & LEISURE • Take a Walk

• San Diego FC at Los Angeles FCl • BMO Stadium (Exposition Park) • Sat @ 730p • Lower 118, Row F $92 per ($64 lowest avail)

• Patton Oswalt and Friends • Largo at the Coronet (Hollywood) • Sun @ 8p • GA $50 per

• Passion Pit • The Bellwether (City West) • Tue @ 8p • GA $48 per

GETAWAYS • San Diego

Grand style

The Skinny: Formerly a sleepy motel on Coronado Island’s main drag (across from the iconic Hotel Del Coronado), the 31-room Baby Grand has been remade into one of Southern California’s boldest boutique hotels, a wonderland of jungle foliage, Grecian statues, clamshell beds, mirrored bars, and enough patterned wallpaper to make even minimalists reconsider. It’s unlike anything else on Coronado Island.

The Scene: Forget finding the hotel’s hidden bar; the real challenge is locating the lobby. From Orange Avenue, you’ll see a sign for the hotel, but following it leads you into what reads less like a check-in area and more like a dreamy jungle nightclub. Palm fronds tower overhead. Fire pits flicker beneath the trees. Pink velour-suited servers weave between tables carrying elaborate cocktails, while stylish 20-somethings pose for photos against waterfalls, a plunge pool, and greenery.

I felt ridiculously out of place rolling my Target suitcase through it all — I changed into a floral dress the moment I unpacked, just so I could fit the upscale tropical vibe. Which, also, is entirely the point. Baby Grand wants to feel discovered rather than announced, and once you finally stumble upon reception behind an unmarked door by the bar), it becomes clear you’ve entered somewhere genuinely novel.

The Rooms: If San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn and the Cosmopolitan in Vegas had a baby, it might be something like Baby Grand. Designed in partnership with Post Company, the studio behind the equally eclectic Lafayette Hotel in San Diego, the rooms are unapologetically maximalist while being undeniably luxurious. Clamshell headboards share space with floral wallpaper, mirrored minibars, golden hangers, dramatic lighting, and robes in shades of hot pink and orange. Bathrooms are nearly as large as bedrooms, with freestanding clawfoot soaking tubs, richly tiled showers big enough for four, separate water closets, and plenty of visual texture everywhere you look.

Also unconventional: the minibar, which takes up an entire corner of the room, stocked not only with premium spirits but also functional wellness elixirs, condoms, and personal massagers. Despite the lively restaurant below, blackout curtains and surprisingly effective soundproofing meant the earplugs placed beside the bed stayed untouched.

The Food: The hotel’s signature Greek restaurant, Night Hawk, features a Mediterranean grotto aesthetic. Guests sink into carved stone booths tucked beneath dense greenery, while servers pour water from silver seashell vessels, and cocktails arrive crowned with layered foams and elaborate garnishes. The Mediterranean-inspired menu ranges from shareable dips and grilled pita to beautifully prepared seafood skewers, whole fish platters, and steaks, including a $190 tomahawk cut.

FOUND Pro: Tucked behind the check-in area and hidden behind an unmarked entrance, the reservation-only bar Fallen Empire is a secret worth keeping (until now!). Inside the dimly lit space, guests squeeze into a handful of tables surrounded by marble, mirrors, and glowing lights, while a sommelier saunters from table to table explaining an extensive Champagne list. Behind the bar, the raw kitchen turns out sashimi, oysters, shrimp cocktail, and shareable bites meant to pair with bubbles. It’s intimate, plush, and just exclusive enough.

Why It’s FOUND: Coronado Island has long been known for its seaside charm over bold design statements. Baby Grand flips the script. It’s over-the-top, whimsical, gorgeously absurd, and completely committed to it all. –Melissa Heckscher

→ Baby Grand (Coronado) • 1315 Orange Ave • Rates from $350/night.

GETAWAYS LINKS: The YouTuber who exposed the LAX people mover • Tracking SFO’s $11 billion capital improvement plan • San Jose-based air taxis move forward.

RESTAURANTS • First Person

Fire walk

Chef-owners Tyler Burges and Phil Mireles built their new Arts District restaurant Bengara around genshiyaki — a 1,500-year-old Japanese cooking method that uses the radiant heat of an open charcoal hearth — but in a very Californian way. The wasabi isn’t flown in from the Izu Peninsula, but rather grown in Half Moon Bay. The soba noodles are made from scratch; the ume, aged in-house.

Bengara’s approach is best represented by the agedashi tomato.

Read more

Gliding through the airy dining room of his modern Jewish deli, Mish, chef Eric Greenspan sidled up to our table like a Baryshnikov-inspired mensch. Holding a plate of golden-brown fried dumplings, he looked over our dish-laden table and exclaimed, “I can’t believe you didn’t order the kreplach!”

Read more

• Los Angeles

• San Francisco

• New York City

• Miami

• London

• Paris

ASK FOUND

Today, three PROMPTS for which we continue to seek your answers:

• What’s your favorite specialty bookstore in LA?

• I need a caterer for a casual summer party. Any ideas?

• What LA store or service do you love to recommend?

If we publish your answer, we’ll comp you a 90-day paid subscription to FOUND LA. Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Sponsor

See where your friends actually eat

Zest is a dining app built on a simple idea: where people actually eat says more than generic star ratings from strangers. Link a credit or debit card (read-only) and every restaurant, bar, and cafe you visit lands on your personal map automatically. That spot in Koreatown you loved a year ago and can’t remember the name of? It’s on there. Follow friends to see their real go-tos, not the places they posted about once. Your dining history becomes your taste profile, and your recommendations start coming from people you trust.

→ Find your next favorite spot with Zest

YOUR BRAND HERE: 93% of FOUND subscribers recommend products, services, and/or experiences to friends and family. Hit reply or email sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.

RESTAURANTS • First Person

Sandwich mensch

Gliding through the airy dining room of his modern Jewish deli, Mish, chef Eric Greenspan sidled up to our table like a Baryshnikov-inspired mensch. Holding a plate of golden-brown fried dumplings, he looked over our dish-laden table and exclaimed, “I can’t believe you didn’t order the kreplach!”

LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Montecito’s Lucky’s Steakhouse opens Arts District edition • Brooklyn bar Animal opens LA outpost, also in Arts District • In Silver Lake, Bobo Thai officially opens, taking over former Bar Moruno space on Sunset Blvd.

WORK • Thursday Routine

Shore thing

JON FARZAM • owner • The Shore Hotel
Neighborhood you work in: Santa Monica
Neighborhood you live in: West LA

It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursday mornings usually start with check-ins across our hotels (Shore Hotel, Ocean View Hotel, and Santa Monica Hotel). I meet with leaders to review operations, ongoing projects, guest feedback, and upcoming initiatives. Since I oversee multiple properties, staying connected with each team helps ensure that we’re delivering a consistent guest experience while keeping long-term projects moving forward.

What’s on the agenda for today?
Today includes a marketing meeting, construction walk-throughs across a few properties, and a check-in on Shoreside, our restaurant at Shore Hotel.

Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I spend a lot of time at Shoreside, whether it’s grabbing lunch with colleagues or hosting meetings. When I’m eating elsewhere in Santa Monica, Fia Steak is always a favorite.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I enjoy early-morning runs through Palisades Park, where you can watch the ocean as the city wakes up. When I have time, I’ll catch a concert at the Hollywood Bowl or listen to live music at Shoreside. When family visits, the Santa Monica Pier is always on the itinerary with my niece and nephew.

Any weekend getaways?
Santa Barbara is an easy favorite. It’s close enough for a spontaneous weekend, but always feels like a true escape. Between the coastline, great restaurants, and wineries like Brave & Maiden, it’s hard to beat.

What was your last great vacation?
My last great trip was to Saint-Tropez and Lake Como. Both incredible for their scenery, food, and culture. In St. Tropez, I loved wandering the old town, enjoying fresh seafood, and spending time at Pampelonne Beach. In Positano, Il San Pietro is an iconic place to stay, and dinner at La Sponda, with its cliffside views, is truly unforgettable.

LA WORK & PLAY LINKS: Is LA’s creative class moving… to the West Side? • SpaceX millionaires are coming for LA homes, market prices.

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three properties in El Sereno that have come to market in the past 30 days.

→ 3975 Barrett Rd (El Sereno) • 3BR/2BA, 1782 SF house • Ask: $1.075M • Built 2003, updated single-story home w/ pergola-covered entry • Annual taxes: $6148 • Days on market: 13 • Agent: Sylvia Ramos, Coldwell Banker.

→ 3711 Collis Ave (El Sereno, above) • 3BR/2BA, 1712 SF house • Ask: $1.198M • 1939 pool house on tree-lined street, recently renovated • Annual taxes: $17,917 • Days on market: 13 • Agents: Tracy Do and Tony Wise, Coldwell Banker.

→ 4240 Barrett Rd (El Sereno) • 5BR/7BA, 3567 SF house • Ask: $2M • 2016-built modern hillside architectural w/ panoramic mountain and valley views • Annual taxes: $13,235 • Days on market: 30 • Agent: Yanzhuo Li, Wetrust Realty.

CULTURE & LEISURE • We aren’t in Missouri anymore

• Rufus Du Sol • The Forum (Inglewood) • Fri @ 730p • Lower 123, Row 10 $150 per ($70 lowest avail)

• Ed Sheeran • SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) • Sat @ 530p • Plaza 431, Row 13, $283 per ($92 lowest avail)

• Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Dodgers • UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium (Elysian Valley) • Mon @ 710p • FD 51, Row K, $118 per ($60 lowest avail)

GOODS & SERVICES • The Nines

Culinary shops, Japanese

The Nines are FOUND’s distilled lists of the best. Paid subscribers access the complete Nines archive, including our favorite restaurants by neighborhood.

• Japanese Knife Imports (Beverly Hills), Jonathon Broida’s vast, obsessive collection of handmade Japanese knives, exceptional knowledge, customer service, and array of tools, one-of-a-kind ceramics, accessories

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RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favorites

Favorite new restaurants that we’ve recently visited.

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RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favorites

Favorite new restaurants that we’ve recently visited.

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RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favorites

Favorite new restaurants that we’ve recently visited.

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RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favorites

Favorite new restaurants that we’ve recently visited.

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RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favourites

Favourite new restaurants we’ve visited recently.

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Paid subscribers, keep your eyes open for links to Summer Reports from our other cities in this week’s newsletter.

RESTAURANTS • FOUND Favorites

Favorite new restaurants that we’ve recently visited.

Read more

I follow executive chef Mark Shoemaker as he tells me how he’s revitalizing the fruit and vegetable gardens at Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt luxury property in St. Helena. “It’s important to have an organic experience out here. I just put on my headphones, listen to Björk, and get to work,” he says. Shoemaker arrived at Alila early last year, and he’s already put his mark on the resort’s culinary program, most notably at the resort’s fine dining restaurant, Violetto.

Violetto offers Napa’s only Italian tasting menu, in both four- and eight-course options. I had the four-course, along with the three enhancements to begin the meal — focaccia, oysters, and caviar gnudi. Our experience began with a vermouth, which I was eager to try. Hours prior, in the garden, my group and I cut several aromatics, including blackberry leaves, basil, and lemon balm, to aid in making the vermouth. (The one we tasted was not our own as once it’s made, it sits for a week).

As for the menu, I’d started with Tenbrick Farm asparagus paired with slices of white and red strawberries, finely chopped ahi tuna, and a pumpernickel crumble which added a nice contrast in texture. Next, housemade Scarpinacci pasta. The shoe-shaped pasta was stuffed with goat cheese and smoked trout, topped with vibrant orange caviar over a neon-green tarragon oil. Third course: line-caught halibut with a prosciutto crumble.

By the time you get there, you won’t need another reminder that Shoemaker spent time cheesemaking on a farm in Washington, as he enthusiastically incorporates cheese into many of his dishes. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get one: The standout of the meal was the fourth course, my dessert, a Humboldt Fog with both shaved truffles and drizzled truffle honey.

Wine pairings are available, and the sommelier will direct you towards several California AVA pairings as well as picks beyond the valley, like a robust Scarpetta Cab Franc from Italy.

The restaurant is housed in an early 20th-century Georgian farmhouse, and the inviting room features several wooden round tables and grayish walls, accented by colorful abstract art provided by ÆRENA Galleries. Like the menu, which changes seasonally, the artwork also rotates. It suits Violetto, the type of place where you’ll want to return, to see and taste the newest creations. –Dyana Lederman

→ Violetto (St. Helena, CA) • 1915 Main St • Wed-Sun 5-9p.

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• Los Angeles

• New York

• San Francisco

• Miami

• London

• Paris

ASK FOUND

FOUND subscribers share their answers to the prompt, “What LA store or service do you love to recommend?”

• Bert’s Garage, La Gondola Shoe Repair, and International Silks & Woolens. These shops have low-key saved my life on more than one occasion over the past few years. Visit any one of them to also get a crash course on hospitality and craft. Bert’s for your car, La Gondola for your shoes, and Int’l S&W for all your cafe curtain needs when opening your first restaurant.

• Schaeffer’s Garment Hotel in Hollywood. Incredible LA-made denim store that kills it. Robert is the man, and has dressed a loyal following for over a decade.

• I think Goodman Packing & Shipping is the secret for anyone who does returns. They have parking, are super friendly, and allow you to drop off pre-paid to any carrier at no cost. Plus it’s a good excuse to treat yourself to a Cream Top at Maru.

We’ve gotten good responses to these prompts, too, but desire yours:

• What’s your favorite specialty bookstore in LA?

• I need a caterer for a casual summer party. Any ideas?

If we publish your answer, we’ll comp you a 90-day paid subscription to FOUND LA. Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com with more answers or questions.

THE NINES • FOUND Sponsor

Zest, hidden gems

Our partners at Zest, a new app that lets you see where your friends actually eat, share their favorite hidden gems across LA. Because Zest is built on real dining history instead of reviews, these are the under-the-radar spots people keep coming back to, not the names with the biggest buzz. Check out the best dishes, get insider tips, and save your favorites in Zest.

• Paisita Cafe (Venice, above), a laid-back Salvadoran cafe off Abbot Kinney spinning vinyl, with strong coffee and house empanadas. Come for the chilaquiles and a chorizo breakfast burrito, minus the Venice crowds

• Marlena (Naples, Long Beach), a Michelin-recognized all-day cafe that flips into a wine-fueled dinner spot after five. The wood-fired pizzas, from a Bestia and Gjusta alum, are the move

• Otafuku (Gardena), a family soba house that treats buckwheat noodles like a science, made in-house daily with flour from Japan. Order the cold seiro, then the unagi tempura

• Milpa Kitchen (Boyle Heights), Deysi Serrano’s Mesoamerican-inspired spot built on corn, beans, and squash. Get the milpa bowl or the cult breakfast burrito, with blue-corn tortillas and a real sense of mission

• Baby Gee (Long Beach), a vintage-divey Retro Row bar with checkered floors and two Spirited Award nods. Most cocktails run under $15, and the burrata pizza is better than any bar snack should be

• P P Pop (Monterey Park), the humble SGV noodle shop that always has a line. Get the beef roll cake, the pork soup dumplings, and the mala beef noodle soup if you can take the heat

• The Conservatory for Coffee, Tea & Cocoa (Culver City), a family roaster since the ‘90s, beans roasted in view and 100-plus loose teas. The Sony lot runs on it. Grab a bag on the way out

• Kouraku (Little Tokyo), the oldest ramen shop in the country, open since 1976 and barely changed since. Come late for katsu curry, tenshin chahan, and a bowl of shoyu ramen. Old-school, cash-friendly

• Mamie (West Hollywood), a tiny counter turning out Italian sandwiches on 72-hour focaccia with imported meats and cheeses. Get the Viale di Parma: prosciutto, fig jam, gorgonzola, and pistachios

YOUR BRAND HERE: 93% of FOUND subscribers recommend products, services, and/or experiences to friends and family. Hit reply or email sales@itsfound.com, and we’ll get to work on your next great sponsorship campaign.

RESTAURANTS • First Person

Blue skies

LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Following 2023 fire, The Tasting Kitchen reopens in Venice Beach with longtime chef Casey Lane • Koreatown’s Hanchic also back from dead, opening inside Jilli space • Mexican-Middle Eastern food moment? Camello opens in East Hollywood • Silver Lake’s Seco team is taking over Fred 62 Sunset Junction rooftop, opening new Lebanese concept • Legendary Fairfax bar The Dime opens new Inglewood location • Nearly half of restaurants included in Jonathan Gold’s Counter Intelligence have closed. What does that mean?

REAL ESTATE • First Mover

Three properties in Ocean Park that have come to market in the past 40 days.

→ 2930 Neilson Way #408 (Ocean Park) • 2BR/2BA, 1456 SF condo • Ask: $2.495M • gated oceanfront complex close to beach, remodeled unit w/ ocean views • Annual taxes: $21,616 • Days on market: 2 • Agents: Tony Maduka and Bryce Lowe, Christie’s International.

→ 2460 Beverley Ave (Ocean Park, above) • 2BR/2BA, 2067 SF house • Ask: $3.75M • cedar-finned design by AD100 architect Kulapat Yantrasast, industrial bi-fold window for ocean breezes • Annual taxes: $23,113 • Days on market: 38 • Agent: Dennis Wong, Sunshine Realty.

→ 2918 4th St (Ocean Park) • 4BR/4BA, 3240 SF house • Ask: $7.5M • architecturally significant property anchored by suspended pool, ~3700 SF of indoor-outdoor living • Annual taxes: $33,293 • Days on market: 37 • Agent: Meredith Schlosser & Bretana Dubin, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

CULTURE & LEISURE • Our Universe

• Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers• UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium (Elysian Valley) • Fri @ 710p • sec 37 FD, row O $224 per ($78 lowest avail)

• BTS • SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) • Tue @ 8p • Loge 423, Row 1 $715 per ($243 lowest avail)

• Chivas Guadalajara at Los Angeles FC • BMO Stadium (Exposition Park) • Wed @ 730p • Section 116, Row P $278 per ($191 lowest avail)

GETAWAYS • Hawaii

Getting wrecked

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Essentials

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Essentials

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