Design minded
LEENA CULHANE • owner, Force of Nature • co-owner, Crudo e Nudo
WORK • Thursday Routine
LEENA CULHANE • owner, Force of Nature • co-owner, Crudo e Nudo
Neighborhood you work in: Venice & Santa Monica
Neighborhood you live in: Santa Monica
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Force of Nature doesn’t open until 4p so I don’t have to start thinking about the evening there or programming until about 10 or 11a. I’m early to rise and try to get in a workout first thing, mostly as a way to organize my brain. Right now, I’m really into Lagree but I’m also lucky that both my businesses and my home are in the same neighborhood of the West Side and so I can walk out my door early or take a break at work midday and get in a walk or a swim on the beach. After that, it’s a second coffee, emails, tastings, admin, or design work for either Force of Nature or my other business, Crudo e Nudo.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Right now I’m working on putting a round of merch I just made for Force of Nature on my website. I love the whole process, from choosing the materials to designing what goes on them, to taking photos of friends repping! I love wearing merch from other businesses I love to support as well. It’s like instant serotonin, to put on a shirt with your friend’s project on it, and go about your day.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m celebrating a birthday tonight with martinis at The Galley. I used to work there in my twenties and it’s right around the corner from my house. I love how time stops there and I just fall into these amazing memories of working there, celebrating there, getting into deep conversations in a booth lit by Christmas lights. What’s not to love?
How about a little leisure or culture?
I was a musician in my former life, and my favorite venue to catch a show is Hotel Cafe. My favorite Sunday beach hang is Staircase Beach in Malibu and I love that it’s chill, surfable, and dog-friendly.
Any weekend getaways?
Two of my close friends live in Ojai, and I love to go visit them for the weekend and hike, lay in the sunshine, and down-regulate just outside of town. We hike Cozy Dell Canyon, grab drinks at Radio Roma, order the blackberry chicken at Rory’s Place and the orange blossom ice cream from Ojai Ice Cream, stay at The Capri, and catch a show from FolkYEAH! at the Ojai Valley Women’s Center.
For a long weekend (at least four days), I love to drive to Valle de Guadalupe and ride horses on my friend Marty’s ranch. She’s got over a hundred acres and takes me out to help her herd cattle.
What was your last great vacation?
Greece! I mostly hopped around these little towns and stayed in the fishermen cottages on the water, but in Milos I splurged for two nights on the D3 Milos, and it was breathtaking. Getting my rental car up the final hill on a cobblestone street (read: sidewalk) had me end up leaving the car in its spot for the remainder of my time there, but it was great because I was a short walk into town (and some incredible restaurants). I took the bus down the hill and would swim and walk from beach to beach.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I love my Aventon Pace 4 electric bike. I used to be a hater on electric bikes in general, but at the time I was living at the top of the hill and the hill at the end of a 16-hour day was preventing me from wanting to take my bike. I went to try an electric one in the parking lot behind the shop and I was immediately hooked. I now live at sea level but still take the bike almost everywhere I go daily, because the radius isn’t that far and I love experiencing the world on a bike. I put a milk crate on the back for my dog, and he’s pretty happy about it, too. Pro tip: get a SUPER good lock. Pro-pro tip: Make sure you register the lock.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I’ll tell you a class I love that feels like the ultimate service to self — Olivia Otten’s restorative yoga class at Open in Venice. She is masterful. The real deal. Incredible brain, incredible heart, incredible playlists.
Where are you donating your time or money?
Big fan of Seatrees.
Photo: Ashley Randall