Venues

A peek at the planned structure Rendering: © 2008 Museum Associates/Lacma

Local philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick gave the Los Angeles County Museum of Art $55 million at the beginning of this week. The majority of the donation ($45 million) will go to Phase 2 of Lacma’s ongoing "Transformation," a project dedicated to making upgrades to the museum. The remainder of the endowment will be in gifts of art valued at $10 million. In honor of the Resnicks' contribution, Lacma will name a new building—slated to open in 2010—the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion.

Event space at the new single-story, glass and stone structure has yet to be defined or announced; the building is intended to house special exhibitions, retail outlets, restaurants, and education space. Resnick Pavilion’s exterior will be a combination of glass and travertine marble, and its interior galleries will be laid out in a flexible open-plan style that can accommodate multiple exhibitions. The building will be situated north of the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, which opened in February 2008, and will feature glass roof and ceiling elements to provide natural light.

The new Renzo Zecchetto-designed facility Photo: Michael Rey, Intersection Studio

Santa Monica College got a new performing arts center earlier this month—the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage—thanks to a $10 million endowment from the philanthropic couple. The $45 million facility includes a 499-seat theater, 99-seat rehearsal hall, stage with a variable proscenium, four dressing rooms, an orchestra shell and lift, live broadcasting capability, and multiple camera locations throughout.

The 70,000-square-foot building and exterior was designed by Renzo Zecchetto with outdoor gardens, perimeter landscaping, and a lobby with stone floors and wood-paneled walls. Angstrom Lighting provided and installed all of the high-end stage lighting equipment.

At Sunset's modern interior, designed by Henrik Hendricksen Photo: Courtesy of Sterling Davis Photo

The Event Division is now handling booking for At Sunset, a 3,000-square-foot home off the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The spacious event venue has a modern interior and a panoramic views of Los Angeles from its three balconies and picture windows.

Designed by Henrik Hendricksen, At Sunset offers amenities such as a high-end sound system, nine plasma TVs, a chef’s kitchen with Viking appliances, an in-wall aquarium, a Zen garden, an outdoor Jacuzzi and fire pit, and a bilevel screening room with space for 25.

Hamasaku Photo: Frawley Photo

Owner Toshi Kihara has opened a sister restaurant to his 10-year-old Hamasaku. The new space on Melrose stands at the former Ma Maison location, where he started his career alongside Wolfgang Puck more than 25 years ago. The space was most recently the short-lived Kumo restaurant, and has transformed to Hamasaku Melrose, still serving Japanese fare.

Though the space has not changed its look from the Kumo days—white walls, tables and bars, and dark blue floors—some visual elements are new. Art pieces, a silent vertical waterfall, and Murano-glass bubble chandeliers are sporadically placed alongside five plasma screens showing animated colorful images of the four seasons.

A golden chandelier at 24K Photo: Courtesy of 24K Lounge

It was born as Belly, remade into iCandy, most recently known as Seven, and transformed into 24K Lounge this past weekend. The new lounge is decorated entirely in a gold, apropos of the venue’s name. Gold paint containing real gold flakes covers the walls, and additional decor accents include burled walnut, golden chandeliers, and a honey-hued backlit onyx bar with wood-paneled walls.

Under the new ownership of Noah Silverman and Shoe String Entertainment, the space has an intimate feel. There is an elevated V.I.P. section for 20 equipped with a mini-refrigerator, video monitor, and a small private dance floor.

The main dining room at Tokyo Table Rendering: Courtesy of Kamiya Design

Dream Dining, parent company of Tokyo Table, is opening its third location of the restaurant tomorrow in Irvine. The latest edition of Tokyo Table features two private dining rooms for eight and 12. The main dining room features dark woods, deep leather booths, and ambient lighting from a large geometric lighting fixture in the center of the room. A wooden screen interwoven with pine, bamboo, and plum tree branches separates the bar from the main dining room.

The bar—which serves fresh-fruit sake cocktails and shochu—holds 25 and has decor elements including a chandelier created from 68 sake bottles. Outdoor dining is available with a patio that holds 18. Full buyouts of the venue are available. The main room holds 102, and the space holds a total of 147 indoors. The original location on restaurant row opened in January 2007, and Dream Dining has more plans to expand around Southern California.

The dining patio at Apple Photo: BizBash

Under the co-ownership of Allison Melnick, Robin Antin, and Bryan Ogden, Apple Restaurant and Lounge is now open in West Hollywood—complete with a red apple-shaped disco ball over the downstairs lounge. The new space has multiple areas for events and separate entrances for the lounge and restaurant.

The 125-seat restaurant features decor in earth tones, dark-wood floors, a water wall behind the bar, and reclaimed barn-wood walls. Outdoor dining is available, as is a semi-enclosed cabana for 16 on a patio along Robertson Boulevard. The patio features recycled-aluminum shutter-like awnings that shelter a long, curving high-backed banquette and a second water wall.

A peek at the planned Lawry's Carvery Rendering: Courtesy of Valerio Architects

As L.A. Live continues to open in phases, here's a preview of two of the new restaurants on the slate: Lawry's Carvery, scheduled to open in December 2008, and Trader Vic's scheduled to open in 2009.

Lawry's Carvery will be a casual space that features a dining room, brushed stainless steel exhibition kitchen, blond and chocolate woods, and a sidewalk patio. The restaurant will serve signature items such as its roasted prime rib.

Heat Photo: Courtesy of Heat Ultra Lounge

The newly opened Anaheim GardenWalk—close to the Anaheim Convention Center—has added new club Heat Ultra Lounge to its growing list of venues. The space, designed by Nikko Hendi, features deep red, slate gray, and dark wood tones. Decor includes natural elements like trees, plus three crystal chandeliers. 

Heat spans more than 10,000 square feet, with two distinct areas for entertaining that can be combined to accommodate 900 guests.

Sashi's lounge area Photo: WireImage

Manhattan Beach welcomed its newest Japanese restaurant and lounge last week with the opening of Sashi Sushi & Sake Lounge, located in the Metlox Plaza. Designed by KAA Design Group, Sashi has a contemporary Asian look with wood walls and a granite bar backed by fuchsia lighting. The space has a dining room along and a lounge area for a total event capacity of 185.