Our people, properties, and ideas are buzzworthy.

FEATURED

JAN 03, 2023

Hotels

Why the Vinyl District is Hollywood’s Coolest New Neighborhood to Visit

Hollywood is getting a revamp thanks to the Vinyl District, an emerging neighborhood filled with restaurants, bars, hotels and spaces loved by locals and visitors alike.  Hollywood is beginning to have a bit of a makeover, a resurgence if you will, among the cool kids of LA who’ve discovered the dichotomy of Hollywood’s gritty streets and its glamorous history. And now the Vinyl District has now transformed into an uber-cool paradise for city dwellers and in-the-know visitors – and I got to experience it all.

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Residential

Restaurants & Nightlife

FEATURED

JAN 31, 2023

Restaurants & Nightlife

Where to Eat and Drink in Los Angeles Right Now

Already one of the hottest tickets in town, there’s not much more to say about chef Evan Funke’s outsized ode to Roman cuisine than what’s already out in the ether. To recap: the pizzas and pastas are all world-class. But not enough has been spoken of the cocktail menu here. The $18 selections leverage a variety of bitter-forward modifiers not often seen in high-bar drinking dens, let alone restaurant bars.

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FEATURED

JAN 30, 2023

Hotels

The Detail Guide on Tommie Hollywood Hotel

Tommie Hollywood Hotel provides guests with an unforgettable experience. The hotel offers something for everybody with its unique location, modern facilities, and lavish amenities. Enjoy warm hospitality from our staff and experience a luxurious stay like no other at Tommie Hollywood hotel.

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FEATURED

NOV 26, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

The Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles This Winter

The long-awaited French-inspired brasserie from chef Lincoln Carson and Ten Five Hospitality, located at the Thompson Hotel in Hollywood’s Vinyl District, is earning rave reviews — both for its fare and its flair. Designed in collaboration with Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and Creative Director Bernadette Blanc, the 6,000 square-foot brasserie blends traditional elements of Parisian design with a modern California airiness.



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FEATURED

NOV 04, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Stylish Hotels and Culinary Delights Revitalize Hollywood's Vinyl District

Not too long ago in Los Angeles the only reason for turning off Sunset Boulevard onto Wilcox Avenue was to look for parking before hitting the Cat & Fiddle Pub. No longer. The area has been transformed with new boutique hotels and culinary hotspots anchored around the intersection of Wilcox and Selma avenues.

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FEATURED

NOV 02, 2022

Hotels

California's Newest and Most Iconic Luxury Hotels and Experiences

After implementing concierge robots and the first ever NFT exhibit in a hotel, Dream Hollywood, a luxury lifestyle boutique hotel in the Vinyl District continues to cement its role as a leader in technological innovation with its new Social Club membership. Designed for the modern luxury traveler, the VIP membership is purchased as an NFT in the form of a limited-edition, original Perry Cooper artwork, which grants access to different benefits and luxury offerings. Members also receive a complimentary one-night stay in a luxury suite, discounts on hotel rooms and poolside cabanas, including all event spaces, including Tao Group’s LA venues.

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FEATURED

OCT 25, 2022

Hotels

This One-mile Neighborhood in Los Angeles Is Making Hollywood Cool Again

Neighborhoods are said to go through life cycles — from growth to stability, decline, and then revitalization. Hollywood, California, is well into its revitalization stage.

Thanks to a slew of new openings, and revivals of old favorites, the neighborhood is having a real moment. And nowhere is that more evident than the “Vinyl District,” a smaller enclave between Hollywood and Sunset boulevards. It’s a destination worth re-exploration, thanks to palpable energy that harkens back to the neighborhood’s golden era, celebrating the music and entertainment industry that began there nearly a hundred years ago.



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FEATURED

OCT 13, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

L.A'.s Vinyl District Has Been Transformed With New Hotels and Restaurants

Ten Five Hospitality gave one of Hollywood’s most historic neighborhoods a makeover and now the Vinyl District has become one of the most popular hotspots in the City of Angels. Right outside of the main tourist district, the Vinyl District is meant to offer a “fresh perspective” on the culture and history of the music and entertainment industry in Hollywood with new hotels and dining places. The hospitality company, Ten Five, has invested a large amount of resources in order to develop three hotels, three dining concepts, two rooftop bars and an events space.

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FEATURED

SEP 17, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Hollywood's Latest Hotspot For the Fashion Set

There are many fashion-forward historic hotspots in Hollywood—far beyond Rodeo Drive or Melrose Avenue. Fashion and Los Angeles has a special synergy—it’s where celebrities strut their style, whether it’s the Oscars red carpet or simply getting out of their cars, snapped by the paparazzi. But besides shopping destinations like The Grove, or Robertson Boulevard, where do fashionistas go after a long day of boutique hopping? One new rooftop bar is being put on the map as a go-to fashion hotspot, right in the heart of Hollywood. Bar Lis is a bar, lounge and nightclub on the rooftop of the Thompson Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, and brings a bit of French flair to the star-studded strip.



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FEATURED

AUG 15, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

The 12 Best Rooftop Bars in Los Angeles

The Highlight Room:

After sundown, the rooftop pool area of The Highlight Room turns into a dance floor, so you can sip on drinks and boogie the night away. Glowing review: “It’s a cute place next to a swimming pool with a great, unblocked view of the Hollywood sign.”



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FEATURED

AUG 12, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

The 20 Best Italian Restaurants in Los Angeles

From Thai Town to Little Ethiopia, Los Angeles is one of the most dynamic and diverse culinary cities in the country. That said, though New York City is known for its endless amount of top-notch Italian food, Los Angeles is also home to some of the most amazing hand-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and refreshing antipasto. Whether you’re looking for a fancy and romantic dinner spot to celebrate amore or a more classic and laid-back Italian joint, Los Angeles is full of variety when it comes to Italian cuisine. Since Los Angeles is so saturated with great (and not so great) restaurants, knowing which spots are actually worth the time and money can be a bit overwhelming. From the coast of Santa Monica to the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, there are several amazing restaurants scattered across town. That said, we’re here to help narrow down your options with this list of the best Italian places in L.A.

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FEATURED

AUG 03, 2022

Hotels

How NFT's Could Revolutionize Hotel Stays

At the Dream Hotel in Hollywood, California, the energy of the lobby is electric, -literally-, thanks to an eye-popping gallery of NFT artworks that adorn the walls. As one of the first places in the world to display an NFT art gallery, done in partnership with The Crypt Gallery of New York, The Dream is taking the model of a static hotel art program and turning it on its head. More than half of the hotel lobby is occupied by various-sized LED frames, each offering a cornucopia of continuously churning digital art. Every artwork has a QR code, which takes viewers to an NFT marketplace. There they can buy the artwork, store it in their digital wallet, and display it on their own devices. For those not in the know about non-fungible tokens, The Dream’s gallery also educates visitors on how NFTs work.



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FEATURED

AUG 2, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Everywhere You Need to Eat in LA Right Now

Just like bumper-to-bumper traffic, LA’s dining scene is back in full force. The industry has been through hell and back over the last two years, deftly working around staffing shortages, shipping delays, and other pandemic chaos. Now free from (some of) those restrictions, local chefs and restaurateurs are eager to show diners what they’ve been experimenting with and where they’ve been finding inspiration.



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FEATURED

JULY 17, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

9 Tequila Cocktails for Summer That Aren’t Margaritas “LA Edition”

Raise Your Glass With Your Crew at These LA Hot Spots

Tequila is having a moment right now, and we’re here for it. This once cringe-worthy liquor has been elevated to a drink worth sipping on. With more premium brands producing stellar tequila, it is rightfully settling in on the top shelf. Say goodbye to the days of sipping overly sweet and sour margaritas and say hello to a refined and smooth spirit that deserves some serious savoring. Here are nine tequila cocktails to try in LA this summer. Best Tequila Cocktails



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FEATURED

JUNE 23, 2022

Hotels

The Thompson Hollywood Is Where Off-Duty A-Listers Go To Let Loose

Nestled in the heart of Hollywood, The Thompson is where you should go to take a starring role in the centre of the LA action. A stone’s throw from the Sunset Strip, the hotel boasts sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills from its rooftop. At the in-house Bar Lis, you might even get to party with some of the names listed on the nearby Walk of Fame, too. The hotel’s architecture has a modernist feel, with floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the California sunshine. Here, Tara Bernerd & Partners – the design studio behind the interiors at The Rosewood and The Hari – combine natural textures with vivid splashes of colourful art. The result is cool, chic and contemporary, but with retro touches that draw from the city’s ’70s heyday.

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FEATURED

JUNE 21, 2022

Hotels

The Vogue Editors’ Guide to Los Angeles

Like that other famous city, Los Angeles is always a good idea. (After all, that line was popularized by a legendary Hollywood production.) Planning a trip out west, however, can feel quite daunting; there are over 100 neighborhoods—each with their own must-see lists—within the city limits. Not to worry; we polled our staff for the very best of where to stay, eat, shop, and visit to get you in a La La Land state of mind.

Here, the Vogue editors’ guide to Los Angeles.

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FEATURED

JUNE 03, 2022

Hotels

Tommie Hollywood Fits Right Into the California Fold

A hallmark of Tommie is small but charming guest rooms. In the Hollywood outpost that means an exercise in efficiency throughout the 212 accommodations. Floor-to-ceiling glazing has a see-and-be-seen dynamic toward the city below, while a colorful graphic blocking scheme gives the bathrooms a distinct look. (Seven roomier one-bedroom suites with 12-foot-high ceilings are located on the hotel’s top floor.)



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FEATURED

MAY 24, 2022

Hotels

How Tommie Hollywood Became the New “It” Hotel in Los Angeles

Though it’s flanked on all sides by giants of hospitality, Tommie Hollywood has quickly transitioned from newcomer hotel to L.A. hotspot in the span of a few months. With both a signature restaurant from acclaimed chef Wes Avila at Ka’teen, and the rambunctious rooftop Desert 5 Spot — a Western-inspired retro lounge with a personality all its own — this property feels more like a small collective than a formal guesthouse. But despite their emphasis on food and beverage, don’t underestimate the high-aesthetic rooms here, either.



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FEATURED

MAY 20, 2022

Hotels

The Restaurants, Hotels, and Art Spaces Making Hollywood Vibrant Again

Hollywood—the iconic, beating heart of Los Angeles, home to Capitol Records Tower and the Oscars—is undergoing a major transformation. For decades, the epicenter of Tinseltown had lost its mid-century sheen, with many unfortunate urban realities converging around the intersection of Hollywood and Highland and its surrounding streets. Many a tourist heading to Hollywood to walk the Walk of Fame or Grauman’s Chinese Theater since the 1980s may have been surprised by the seediness of the famed neighborhood.



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FEATURED

MAY 12, 2022

Hotels

Best Hollywood Hotels

Hollywood hotels offer tourists the perfect opportunity to get an inside glimpse of Los Angeles’ iconic film industry. The neighborhood is home to legendary attractions like the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and TCL Chinese Theatre—but there’s also some locally-approved dining and nightlife in the area as well.

Wander just beyond this pocked of LA and you’ll find the glamorous Hollywood Hills, where there are plenty of hiking trails that offer panoramic views of the city below, as well as the famed eponymous sign and the Griffith Observatory. While it may not be a location you repeatedly visit in LA, it’s a great starting point for first-time visitors and sightseers. When booking your hotel consider how much space you want in an accommodation and where you want to be relative to nearby landmarks. With that in mind, we’ve chosen the best places to stay based on customer reviews, rates, customer service, location, amenities, and more. See below for the best hotels in Hollywood for your next trip to La La Land.



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FEATURED

APRIL 25, 2022

Hotels

Checking In: L.A. Hotels-From New Boutique Stays to Iconic Favorites

L.A. hotels are a reflection of our diversity and dynamism as a city. The historic ones, from Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood to The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to the The Figueroa Hotel in downtown (read about its latest art resident here), capture our glamour and culture, while the new ones evoke fresh perspective and creative panache.

Yes, there are no-frills, mid and upscale properties everywhere, usually favored by business travelers and family vacationers, but new experiential stays keep the industry vital. These hotel hot spots celebrate L.A.’s mystique as a travel destination, and provide novel social scenes for locals, as well. After two years-plus dealing with Covid-19 lockdowns, travel restrictions and overall uncertainty, this part of the hospitality sector was as hard hit as any, but it’s proven it can endure.



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FEATURED

APRIL 21, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Review: At buzzy Mother Wolf, does the Hollywood power scene overshadow the Roman pastas?

Malia Obama floats through the mobbed bar area at Mother Wolf, then disappears behind the opaque glass of a discreet side door. The gossip reaches our table: Michelle Obama and Beyoncé are dining in the back room. We suddenly see the signs everywhere. Straight-faced Secret Service types are roaming among booths, pressing on their earpieces. The Beyoncé obsessive at my table spies her bodyguard a few yards away.



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FEATURED

APRIL 21, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

DESERT 5 SPOT | A Taste of the Desert in Hollywood

Inspired by 1970s Palm Springs and vintage Western adventure, Desert 5 Spot comes as a welcome addition to Hollywood nightlife, complete with live music and a sprawling view of the Hollywood Hills and Downtown L.A. The Ten Five Hospitality-operated rooftop lounge sits atop the new tommie Hollywood hotel, which places authenticity, originality and convenience top of mind.



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FEATURED

APRIL 13, 2022

Hotels

The Most Beautiful New Hotels In Los Angeles

Thompson Hollywood is the cool kid in school, anchored by one of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the city and a thoughtful design — think West Coast modern, old-school Hollywood glamour and custom French Riviera chic merging as one — by renowned London-based interior architecture studio Tara Bernerd & Partners. Guests will discover a welcoming trellis-covered walkway leading to double Crittal Doors upon arrival, as well as a lobby decorated with a mixture of both mid-century and contemporary pieces.



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FEATURED

MARCH 29, 2022

Hotels

JC Stays: The Thompson Hollywood, Los Angeles

Hollywood’s iconic street corners have seen the birth of a million dreams — and broken hearts. And it’s that heritage which continues to tempt visitors to the city, even if these days some parts are more seedy than glamorous. But the debut of Hyatt’s luxury Thompson brand has brought something quite new to the neighbourhood.



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FEATURED

MARCH 29, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Thompson Hollywood x Bar Lis

When it comes to the hospitality business, every establishment has its crowning jewel. And if you have ever had the pleasure of paying a visit to Thompson Hollywood, you would have undoubtedly discovered theirs: The sexy speakeasy Bar Lis — an immersive snapshot of classic Hollywood glamour. Fitted with plush cushioned chairs, crystal tables and brushed gold trimmings, Bar Lis oozes luxury with a Gatsby-esque aesthetic. Both warm and inviting yet sophisticated and elegant, the perfect ambience is created to enjoy a night of escapism laced with world class jazz music.



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FEATURED

MARCH 21, 2022

Hotels

Luxurious Thompson Hotel is the Hottest Place to Stay in Hollywood

The place to be! For people looking for a luxurious stay while in Los Angeles the Thompson Hotel brand and chain provides a one-of-a-kind experience. “The Thompson Hotels brand is an award-winning boutique lifestyle hospitality brand with a collection of stunning, dynamic properties. Each urban and resort Thompson Hotels locations offer a carefully layered environment that molds into its surrounding community,” the website for the hotel chain details. “Guests are provided tailored stays with connections to world-class culinary offerings, arts and entertainment, and groundbreaking design.”

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FEATURED

MARCH 18, 2022

Residential

Another Modular High-Rise in the Works for Downtown L.A.

A prolific Los Angeles-based real estate development firm with a penchant for modular construction has designs on another project in Downtown.

Bolour Associates, a Beverly Hills-based firm which finances and develops projects, announced last week that it had provided a $11.5-million loan for the acquisition of an industrial site at the southeast corner of 12th and Olive streets in the South Park neighborhood. Existing improvements – including brick warehouses dating to the early 20th century and surface parking – are slated to be razed to make way for a new multifamily residential complex.

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FEATURED

MARCH 16, 2022

Hotels

Relevant Moves Ahead on Plan for Morrison Hotel Makeover in DTLA

The rundown Morrison Hotel of the Doors’ fame may soon break on through to the other side.

Los Angeles city planners have released a draft environmental impact report on the Morrison Project, a plan to restore the century-old Downtown hotel featured on one of the band’s album covers as the linchpin for a new hotel tower and residential high-rise complex with shops and restaurants, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.

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FEATURED

MARCH 14, 2022

Hotels

Morrison Hotel project targets 2024 completion date

After more than six years in the planning stages, a proposal to revive and expand the historic Morrison Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles continues to inch forward.

Last week, the Planning Department published a draft environmental impact report for the Morrison Project, which calls for restoring the more than century-old building at Pico Boulevard and Hope Street as the centerpiece of a new high-rise hotel and residential complex. Relevant Group, the developer behind the project, intends to convert the longtime SRO apartment building back into a hotel and then construct a new 15-story, 190-foot-tall expansion to the east, creating a hotel with a total of 444 guest rooms. Additionally, plans call for the construction of a 25-story, 325-foot-tall high-rise on a site located directly north of the Morrison featuring 136 residential units atop ground-floor retail and restaurant space. Parking for 222 vehicles would be located in three levels below the new construction.

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FEATURED

MARCH 09, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Hollywood’s Vinyl District Is a New Hub of Design and Culinary Creativity

Los Angeles never seems to lose its allure. But when it comes to Hollywood, it’s been a beat since the Hollywood elite actually went to Hollywood, so when Brad Pitt patronized a top L.A. chef’s glamorous new Martin Brudnizki–designed restaurant, it was as if Pitt had singlehandedly christened the neighborhood. Until recently, Hollywood has been known mostly as a place tourists go to party—and see stars’ Walk of Fame handprints—when visiting Los Angeles. Most would agree it wasn’t exactly bursting with aesthetic inspiration or much of a place to hang out in daylight hours. But things have changed, and 2021 proved a major energetic turning point. In less than six months, Hollywood has been reborn as a true design destination (not to mention culinary mecca), thanks to a brand-new neighborhood branded the Vinyl District for its rich musical history.



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FEATURED

MARCH 08, 2022

Hotels

The Five Most Stylish New Hotels in Los Angeles

Want a break without leaving town? You’re in luck. A stellar set of design-forward hotels have opened in L.A., offering small havens of peace during what now seems like a durably turbulent time.

Here, our picks for the best new (and newish) in-town stays. Book one for the weekend, turn off your phone and settle in for a worthy break.

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FEATURED

FEB 03, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Here’s How An Editor Spends A Weekend in Los Angeles

As a former Californian who’s left her roots for New York, I long for sunny days on the West Coast more often than not. Don’t get me wrong, I love New York with all my heart—but a few times per year, I need to escape back to ‘shitty heaven’ (NYC is often nick-named ‘fun hell’) for a little rest and relaxation. That’s why I pack my bags and head for Los Angeles quarterly. Sun, sand, stars … the city of stars as they say. There’s just something about it and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’ll start with the fantastic weather (and also the food scene is *drool* inducing). Let me take you through a typical few days with me traveling to Southern California and tell you where I stay, dine, and even play. Keep reading for more!



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FEATURED

FEB 02, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

The 25 Best Rooftops in Los Angeles to Enjoy a Cocktail and a View

Raise a glass in the shadow of the Hollywood Hills at these glamorous Los Angeles rooftop bars.

Los Angeles is internationally renowned for its iconic entertainment scene, diverse cuisine, and sublime weather–so why not combine all three of these assets into one of the most enjoyed pastimes for Angelenos and visitors alike at a trendy rooftop bar? Anyone can feel on top of the world at these top spots scattered across La La Land, each of which offers sweeping views of the cityscape, stunning sunsets over the ocean (and sometimes both at the same time), while also crafting curated cocktails and serving succulent, world-class food.

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FEATURED

JAN 17, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

The Best Things To Do In LA And SoCal This Week: Jan. 17 - 20

“I’m excited about cooking in Hollywood — it’s a much later crowd,” says Evan Funke, the L.A. native and pasta maestro behind Venice’s popular Felix Trattoria, who just opened Mother Wolf on Wilcox Avenue. The tighter focus on Roman cooking is very different from that of Felix, which Funke sees as “Italy’s greatest hits.” Just a few days after Mother Wolf opened at New Year’s, Felix regulars like Jeffrey Katzenberg were already stopping by to pay homage to the pasta pro.

Next to the buzzy new Thompson Hotel on Wilcox, the restaurant has taken over the ground floor of the Hollywood Citizen-News building, a sprawling space with a 1931 art deco tiled exterior that you’ve probably passed by a million times without realizing that the historic newspaper offices were just sitting there waiting for their moment to shine as a restaurant.

 



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FEATURED

JAN 15, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Vinyl District, the Hottest Neighborhood in L.A. Right Now

Over the decades, Hollywood has had its share of efforts at revitalization. Front and center was the massive Hollywood & Highland shopping center (opened in 2001), which didn’t exactly turn the area into a hip hood; the mall is now in the midst of a $100 million makeover and will be relaunched as Ovation Hollywood. The neighborhood also faced a tough time during the pandemic, with tourism largely disappearing in 2020.



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FEATURED

JAN 14, 2022

Residential

Modular Apartment Building in DTLA Receives Planning Commission Approval

At its meeting yesterday, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted to approve plans from Relevant Group to redevelop a surface parking lot at 3rd and Spring Streets in Downtown with a modular apartment tower.

The project, which happens to be the surprise winner of our “Best New Project of 2021,” poll, calls for the construction of a 15-story building that would feature 331 one- and two-bedroom dwellings, ranging from 422 to 870 square feet in size, above 6,350 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 37 parking stalls in a single basement level.

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FEATURED

JAN 12, 2022

Restaurants & Nightlife

Felix’s Evan Funke Opens Mother Wolf in Hollywood

“I’m excited about cooking in Hollywood — it’s a much later crowd,” says Evan Funke, the L.A. native and pasta maestro behind Venice’s popular Felix Trattoria, who just opened Mother Wolf on Wilcox Avenue. The tighter focus on Roman cooking is very different from that of Felix, which Funke sees as “Italy’s greatest hits.” Just a few days after Mother Wolf opened at New Year’s, Felix regulars like Jeffrey Katzenberg were already stopping by to pay homage to the pasta pro.

Next to the buzzy new Thompson Hotel on Wilcox, the restaurant has taken over the ground floor of the Hollywood Citizen-News building, a sprawling space with a 1931 art deco tiled exterior that you’ve probably passed by a million times without realizing that the historic newspaper offices were just sitting there waiting for their moment to shine as a restaurant.

 



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FEATURED

JAN 05, 2022

Hotels

California Dreamin’: Why Los Angeles is Back and Better Than Ever

Since US borders reopened, British travellers have been heading back to California in search of winter sun and a much-missed dose of West Coast glamour.

LA is thriving in spite of the pandemic, with a host of hot hotels, highly delicious restaurants and intriguing new attractions launching since Brits were last allowed to visit. Here are our favourites.

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FEATURED

DEC 31, 2021

Residential

Here Are L.A.'s Best Projects of 2021

Over the past month, we broke in our new polling feature by asking you, faithful Urbanize readers, to vote on the best projects we covered in 2021. They ranged from things as small as complete street makeovers to the type of skyline-altering mega-projects that populate our Instagram profiles. With the end of the year now just hours away, the polls are closed, and the results are decided.

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FEATURED

DEC 21, 2021

Restaurants & Nightlife

Grandmaster Recorders Is Hollywood’s Most Glam New Restaurant and Nightspot

One of Hollywood’s most exciting new openings is Grandmaster Recorders, a former recording studio that combines 50 years of musical history into a cocktail lounge, a rooftop bar and an expansive Italian restaurant. The Botanical Hospitality Group nightspot incorporates memorabilia from the legendary space that hosted the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Kanye West, David Bowie and many more.



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FEATURED

DEC 15, 2021

Restaurants & Nightlife

7 Openings That Prove Hollywood's Vinyl District Is the City’s Hottest New Neighborhood

Like so many of us, Hollywood took pandemic shutdowns as an opportunity to reinvent itself, shedding its former reputation as a gimmicky, overtouristed neighborhood and emerging in recent months as a thriving center, with an abundance of exciting new restaurants, hotels, and nightlife options. A section of the neighborhood even earned a new name: the Vinyl District is marked by Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard on the north and south, and by Schrader Boulevard and Vine Street on the west and east, and seeks to honor the neighborhood’s iconic history while inviting a new wave of artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to play and stay in the area.



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FEATURED

DEC 07, 2021

Restaurants & Nightlife

Hollywood’s New Ka’teen Captures the Essence of the Mexican Coast

Is there a hotter dining neighborhood in greater Los Angeles than Hollywood right now? From old school revitalizations to new tenants in sky-high hotels, the area is hopping with life and lush with possibility. The energy of the area’s dining scene is perhaps nowhere more powerfully felt than the new Ka’teen, a garden-like oasis just off Selma Avenue where legendary LA chef Wes Avila is ready to ply his trade.



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FEATURED

DEC 01, 2021

Hotels

Tommie Hollywood Hotel Opens in Los Angeles

Joining the JdV by Hyatt Brand, the 212-Room Hotel Debuts in Hollywood with a Dining Concept from Chef Wes Avila, Desert 5 Spot Rooftop and More

 

Hyatt Hotels Corporation [NYSE: H] and Relevant Group today announced the opening of tommie Hollywood, a lifestyle hotel located in the heart of Hollywood near Sunset Boulevard.

tommie Hollywood offers 212 guestrooms across nine floors and more than 15,000 square feet of dynamic food and beverage space including KA’TEEN, the hotel’s feature restaurant by celebrated chef Wes Avila, and Desert 5 Spot, a 7,000-square-foot rooftop pool and lounge. This highly anticipated project is owned by Relevant Group in collaboration with Steinberg Hart for architecture and interior design from Studio Collective with Ten Five Hospitality managing food and beverage operations.



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FEATURED

DEC 01, 2021

Hotels

Tommie Hollywood

Hyatt Hotels Corporation [NYSE: H] and Relevant Group today announced the opening of tommie Hollywood, a lifestyle hotel located in the heart of Hollywood near Sunset Boulevard. The property joins the JdV by Hyatt brand and appeals to the modern spirited traveler looking for authenticity, originality, and convenience. tommie Hollywood offers 212 guestrooms across nine floors and more than 15,000 square feet of dynamic food and beverage space including KA’TEEN, the hotel’s feature restaurant by celebrated chef Wes Avila, and Desert 5 Spot, a 7,000-square-foot rooftop pool and lounge. This highly anticipated project is owned by Relevant Group in collaboration with Steinberg Hart for architecture and interior design from Studio Collective with Ten Five Hospitality managing food and beverage operations.



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FEATURED

NOV 29, 2021

Residential

Relevant Group Re-envisions Residential Tower on Slim Slice of DTLA

Relevant Group has a new vision for a parcel on Olive Street in Downtown Los Angeles.

The developer filed plans last week for a 19-story modular building with 329 apartments on a slim mid-block property at 845 S. Olive Street, according to Urbanize.

The development site is owned by Beverly Hills-based Heart Olive, LLC. The firm proposed a 29-story tower there in 2016 and secured approvals for that project in 2019.

Relevant Group’s proposal is entirely new in design. Heart Olive’s tapped Togawa Smith Martin to design their project. It featured a low-rise podium structure with the 29-story tower on one end.

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FEATURED

AUG 26, 2021

Hotels

Rendering vs. Reality: Hollywood's Thompson Hotel

Five years after demolishing a small commercial building at 1523 N. Wilcox Avenue in HollywoodRelevant Group has completed construction of its new Thompson Hotel.

The 11-story building, operated by Hyatt Hotels Corporation, features 190 guest rooms – including 16 suites – as well as a new restaurant by chef Lincoln Carson and Bar Lis, a rooftop lounge with a swimming pool.

Steinberg Hart led the design team for the roughly 115-foot-tall concrete-frame building, which also included RCVA and interior design firm Tara Bernerd & Partners.  The building’s design is described as drawing from the West Coast Modernist movement, incorporating timber, custom terrazzo, onyx, and other finishes.

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FEATURED

MAY 12, 2021

Residential

Big Developer Gears Up For New Modular Play

Developer Relevant Group established itself in Hollywood with hotel and hospitality projects like the Dream Hotel, but it has now turned its sights to a modular multifamily housing development in Downtown LA.

The roughly 330-unit project would rise on a parking lot at Third and Spring streets, with 37 of the units designated very-low-income housing; the 2020 income limit for a very-low-income family of two is approximately $45K. The 15-story building’s average unit will measure 500 SF.



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FEATURED

APR 19, 2021

Residential

Relevant Group Eyes 331-unit Apartment Project in DTLA

Relevant Group has gotten a key approval to build the first of two modular apartment towers planned for Downtown Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved plans by the Hollywood-based developer to construct a 331-unit apartment building at 121 W. 3rd St., according to Urbanize L.A.

The 15-story building would replace a parking lot at 3rd and Spring streets. The U-shaped building would wrap around a landscaped courtyard and be topped by a gym and swimming pool nearly 200 feet above the sidewalk.

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FEATURED

APR 19, 2021

Residential

331-unit Apartment and New Retail to Replace DTLA Parking Lot

Relevant Group has proposed a 15-story, mixed-use development for 121 West 3rd Street in Downtown Los Angeles, currently a surface parking lot near the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market.

Plans call for 331 rental apartments, 37 of which would be reserved for very low income households. There would be 266 one-bedroom and 65 two-bedroom residences, ranging from approximately 387 to 805 square feet. Most apartments would also boast private, 50-square-foot balconies.

A single-level underground garage would house 37 vehicle parking spaces, tenant storage and 45 bicycle parking stalls. Meantime, the ground floor would incorporate 6,350 square feet of restaurant or retail space, divided into three units fronting South Spring Street. A spacious residential lobby, mailroom and leasing office would hug the corner, and there would be secured storage for an additional 120 bicycles.

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FEATURED

April 19, 2021

Residential

Relevant Group Plans 331-unit Apartment in Downtown LA

Relevant Group has filed plans for a 331-unit apartment building in Downtown Los Angeles, the firm’s first new project in over a year. The development will include prefab construction.

The 15-story property would rise on what is now a parking lot at 121 W. 3rd Street, according to Urbanize.

Relevant’s U-shaped building would include a courtyard area in the center, according to the report. Plans include 6,350 square feet of ground floor retail and 37 parking spaces in one underground level. Gensler is designing the project.

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FEATURED

April 17, 2021

Residential

Modular Apartments Proposed For 121 West 3rd Street, Downtown Los Angeles

An application has been submitted to the Los Angeles Planning Commission, proposing the development of a new apartment complex at 121 West 3rd Street, Downtown Los Angeles. The project proposal includes the construction of a fifteen-story apartment building with modular apartments replacing an on-site parking lot. The development requires the approval of Density Bonus Incentives to permit increased height and floor area, as well as a reduction in required automobile parking.

Los Angeles-based firm, Relevant Group, is the project developer. Gensler is managing the design concept and construction.

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FEATURED

April 16, 2021

Residential

15-story Modular Apartment Building Planned in DTLA

A surface parking lot near an under-construction subway station in Downtown Los Angeles could be redeveloped with multifamily housing, according to an application recently submitted to the Planning Department.

Relevant Group, a Los Angeles-based firm with a penchant for new hotels in Hollywood, is seeking entitlements for the construction of a 15-story building at the northeast corner of 3rd and Spring Streets.  Plans call for a total of 331 one- and two-bedroom dwellings, ranging from 422 to 870 square feet in size.  The housing would be located above 6,350 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 37 parking stalls in a single basement level.

The proposed development would require the approval of density bonus incentives to permit increased height and floor area, as well as a reduction in required automobile parking.  In exchange, Relevant would set aside 37 of the apartments as deed-restricted affordable housing at the very low-income level.

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FEATURED

SEP 24, 2020

Restaurants & Nightlife

Evan Funke Opens a Rome-Inspired Pizzeria in Hollywood This Weekend

The entirely outdoor residency is a collaboration between Funke and Relevant Hospitality, the group behind Dream Hollywood and neighboring restaurant TAO, and the idea isn’t simply to provide a stage for or awareness of Roman-style cooking. Its aim is also to provide more stability for restaurant workers during a tumultuous and unprecedented era in the industry, as well as give back: Every month, a portion of Fingers Crossed’s profits will get donated to a new nonprofit such as the Independent Restaurant Coalition or Black Lives Matter.

“We can’t travel, and I miss my friends in Rome so Fingers Crossed is a way to stay connected and pay homage to the extraordinary traditional cooking of The Eternal City,” Funke says in a news release. “This partnership with Relevant has presented an important opportunity and responsibility to support our hospitality community in Los Angeles.”

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FEATURED

SEP 21, 2020

Hotels

New Look for Downtown’s Morrison Hotel Development

SHoP Architects redesigns the hotel and residential complex.

Hollywood-based developer Relevant Group has retooled its plans to revamp the historic Morrison Hotel as the centerpiece of mixed-use, high-rise complex.

The Morrison, built in 1914 at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Hope Street, was made famous in the 1970s by The Doors, which used the four-story building as the cover art for its album Morrison Hotel.

Relevant Group, under a proposal which was first unveiled in 2016, is seeking to convert the longtime SRO apartment building back into a hotel. The more than century-old building, combined with 15-story, 190-foot-tall expansion on to an adjoining property, would include approximately 444 guest rooms.

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FEATURED

MAY 12, 2020

Hotels

Proposed Modular Housing Complex in Hollywood to Face City Planning Commission

Apartments and retail to replace a surface parking lot.

 

A proposal to redevelop a surface parking lot in Hollywood with mixed-income housing is scheduled to face the Los Angeles City Planning Commission at a hearing this week.

The project would rise from a narrow site at 1601-1647 N. Las Palmas Avenue, which is currently improved as a surface parking lot.  Relevant Group, which is seeking entitlements for the property, proposes the construction of a seven-story building containing 202 apartments and approximately 14,200 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.  The mix of one- and two-bedroom dwellings would include 69 units of restricted low-income housing, making the project eligible for streamlined permitting via SB 35.

Relevant Group, best known for its collection of hotel developments in Hollywood, has recently ventured into the construction of modular apartment buildings, including affordable housing complexes in Downtown and South Los Angeles.

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FEATURED

MAR 04, 2020

Residential

Rendering Revealed for Modular Supportive Housing Planned in South L.A.

Plans call for 87 residential units.

 

Relevant Group, the developer behind the project, filed an entitlement application with the City of Los Angeles in December 2019, and is proceeding as a “Streamlined Infill Project” per the framework established by SB 35.

This is Relevant Group’s third modular supportive housing project, following similar developments in Westlake and Downtown which were recently approved by the City Planning Commission.  The developer is best known for its hotels, including the DreamThompson, and Tommie hotels in Hollywood, and the upcoming renovations of the Hotel Barclay and Morrison Hotel in Downtown.

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FEATURED

DEC 13, 2019

Hotels

Relevant Group Scores $61M refi on Dream Hollywood

The developer is seeking to transform that area, with plans for 3 more independently-branded hotels and a converted event space.

Relevant Group has landed $61 million in refinancing on its Dream Hollywood hotel, amid the local developer’s ongoing expansion of its hotel portfolio in that neighborhood.

Wells Fargo provided the debt on the 178-key hotel at 6417 Selma Avenue. The loan package includes the 139,000-square-foot hotel and its adjacent Tao restaurant and Avenue nightclub.

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FEATURED

FEB 19, 2019

Hotels

Construction Continues on Hollywood’s Thompson Hotel

The Sunset Blvd-adjacent project has received a $63M construction loan.

Construction is in full swing for the Thompson Hotel in Hollywood, with an updated design and a new loan to boot.

Los Angeles-based developer Relevant Group has secured a $63-million loan from Calmwater Capital for continued construction of the project. This marks the second time the two companies have worked together, following Relevant’s early repayment of a loan for the Dream Hotel, which opened in 2016.

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FEATURED

FEB 01, 2019

Restaurants & Nightlife

Relevant Group Wants to Transform Landmark Citizen News Building in Hollywood

The local development firm will add restaurant, event space to 37K sf property

Relevant Group is adding a restaurant and event space to its assemblage of hotel projects in Hollywood.

The local real estate development firm is planning an adaptive reuse of the 36,600-square-foot landmark Citizen News building as a restaurant and event space, according to Curbed. The 88-year-old former newspaper headquarters at 1545-1551 N. Wilcox Avenue is sandwiched between its Tommie Hotel and Thompson Hollywood projects.

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FEATURED

NOV 27, 2018

Hotels

Hollywood’s Tommie Hotel Begins its Vertical Climb

The eight-story hotel is located between Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards.

Another tower crane has been raised between Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, as Relevant Group continues to add to its growing hotel district.

The latest project, a Tommie Hotel, is now rising on a former surface parking lot at 6516 W. Selma Avenue.  Plans call for an eight-story building featuring 212 guest rooms atop ground-floor retail space and basement parking.

The contemporary mid-rise structure is being designed by Steinberg Hart, and will feature amenity decks at the roof and podium levels.  Renderings also show an active alleyway running along the eastern property line, a similar feature to the nearby Dream Hollywood hotel.

Just around the corner of 1523 Wilcox Avenue, Relevant Group is also in the midst of construction on a 10-story, 200-room Thompson Hotel.  The Los Angeles-based firm is also planning an eight-story Tao Hotel at the corner of Selma and Wilcox.

Elsewhere in the region, Relevant has announced plans to renovate the historic Morrison Hotel in Downtown’s South Park neighborhood and construct a new tower on an adjacent property.

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FEATURED

SEP 18, 2018

Hotels

Living the Dream: The Dream Hotel in Hollywood

The Dream Hotel is a dream of a destination, and it’s right here in Hollywood. With exciting dining options from the elegant Asian cuisine at Tao to the rooftop experience of the Highlight Room, this is a staycation waiting to happen.

Dream Hotels are located around the world and throughout the U.S., including New York City and Thailand. But the Hollywood iteration, which opened in July, is both welcoming and sleek, a true urban resort containing all the glamour of Hollywood itself. Guests enjoy a rooftop pool, an exciting exterior profile with color changing lights, and modernist interior design. The hotel’s 178 rooms are spacious at 300-500-square-feet, airy, and many feature balconies, and all have luxurious king beds. Suite options range from the expansive 1750-square-foot Presidential to ample King Studio Suites. From the bedside-iPad to C.O. Bigelow soaps and shampoos, guests have every feature they could want in a stellar location that’s a destination in and of itself. Other luxury touches include free high-speed Wi-fi, a trainer-designed 24-hour gym, house cars, and on-demand hair and makeup services.

Even if you don’t stay the night, you can get your gourmet-on here. The casual but cool Luchini is a pizza parlor and brew pub in one. Enjoy a perfect slice of cheese, pepperoni, or white pizza, or try the perfect-for-Hollywood Dr. Mona, a vegan dish that features a cauliflower-chia seed crust, hand-crushed tomato sauce, fresh dairy-free pesto, veggies, and vegan cheese. Serving ‘til late at night, it’s the perfect spot for a post-club bite.

Beauty & Essex, from chef Chris Santos is entered through an actual but highly upscale pawn shop, giving a taste of old-school Hollywood flavor to this vast and elegant dining spot that sparkles with golden color. Guests enjoy an extensive raw bar with favorites such as salmon and avocado ceviche; toast dishes, indulgent sliders such as a lobster BLT, and main dishes such as chili-dusted scallops, and grilled double cut lamb chop. The lush chocolate pot de crème is a must-have dessert.

When diners step into Tao, they’ll find they’ve entered a temple of both food and design. The design elements include stone columns and a 20-foot statue of goddess Quan-Yin with tables placed on wide steps that dramatically lead to it. Soft red lights arch from the ceiling; the many-armed goddess is a vision in blue, set as if up on a stage – a perfect metaphor for the Hollywood experience. Dim sum, poke, sushi, and rice and noodle dishes are joined by main courses divided into categories of The Sea, The Land, and The Sky. The Sea is deep with delightful dishes such as black pepper efu lobster noodles; The Land features beef dishes among its selections, such as filet mignon “Tokyo style;” Szechuan crispy duck is among the offerings from The Sky.

The pool is a great place for breakfast and a swim or craft cocktails at night. The rooftop Highlight Room has it all, including a stunning view of LA that stretches from Hollywood to downtown. By day, the pool area is an enclave for hotel guests only, and the Highlight Room is busy serving up dishes such as acai bowls and a rich croquet madame with gruyere cheese. But from 6 pm on, it’s open to the public to enjoy dishes such as Hamachi crudo while sipping the aptly named View to a Chill – Ketel One vodka, Giffard Apricot Liqueur, Campo Viejo Cava, and fresh orange juice – served up with an actual view.

In short, the Hollywood Dream Hotel is a true taste of elegance, fantasy, glamour, and excitement – everything that Hollywood is all about – served up in a setting where relaxation and luxury converge in style. Now there’s something to dream about.

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FEATURED

SEP 15, 2018

Restaurants & Nightlife

Audi Celebrates the 69th Emmys with this Years’ Emmy Nominees at The Highlight Room

Last night, Audi, the official automotive partner and vehicle provider of the 69th Emmy Awards, hosted its renowned pre-Emmy event to kick off Emmys weekend and celebrate outstanding talent in television with an exclusive red carpet and rooftop celebration at The Highlight Room at Dream Hollywood. Attendees included Emmy nominees Milo Ventimiglia (Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series, This Is Us), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Lead Actress Nominee, Veep), Tony Hale (Supporting Actor Nominee, Veep), Kate Dennis (Outstanding Director Nominee, The Handmaid’s Tale), Kathryn Hahn(Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series, Transparent), and Jean-Marc Vallée (Outstanding Director and Outstanding Limited Series Nominee, Big Little Lies). The 2018 Audi R8 made a special red carpet appearance, while VIPs including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kathryn Hahn, Tessa Thompson, Justin Hartley and Ricky Whittle were chauffeured in 2018 Audi vehicles to the exclusive celebration. In addition, the 2018 Audi Q7 will chauffer nominees and presenters to the Emmy Awards on Sunday, September 17th.

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FEATURED

AUG 24, 2018

Hotels

Relevant Group Adds to Plan to Transform Morrison Hotel

The project will include 473 hotel rooms and 100 resi units for the property named after the Doors frontman.

Relevant Group’s plans to redevelop the 104-year-old Morrison Hotel in South Park just got bigger.

The Hollywood-based real estate investment company wants to develop a 12-story building next to the existing hotel, which it will redevelop. The company filed plans with the city Monday, which calls for the new building rising on what is now a parking lot at Hope Street and West Pico Boulevard, Urbanize reported.

The project would include 100 residential units and 473 hotel rooms. The initial overhaul plans announced in August called for 245 hotel rooms. In total, the project will be 388,000 square feet.

At the time, the Downtown News reported that the hotel would charge $300 per night for a room. The Morrison Hotel has historically been a single-room occupancy establishment, offering low-price lodging on a long-term basis. Managing Partner Grant King told the News it would be an “ode” to Doors frontman Jim Morrison, whose band took a photo at the hotel for the cover of their 1970 album Morrison Hotel there.

The project is one of many delivering hotel rooms to Downtown. Relevant Group gives the project a 2020 opening date on its website. [Urbanize] — Dennis Lynch

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FEATURED

JUL 17, 2018

Restaurants & Nightlife

The Manchester United Team Took Over the Highlight Room with Adidas Football for an Unbelievable Evening

On the back of the victory with LA Galaxy in the first game of Manchester United’s pre-season tour, adidas Football and Manchester United brought together entertainment stars from film, music and American sports in an exclusive event at The Highlight Room, Hollywood’s newest rooftop party venue. The event was attended by the United squad, adidas Football’s Tango Squad and a host of U.S. athletes and influencers, including Jamie Foxx, Emily Ratajkowski and music artist Designer. In a true showing of adidas Football’s latest mantra, from stadium to street, guests were treated to a live performance from LA based hip hop artist YG and DJ sets by ESTA and A$AP Lou. Manchester United’s midfielder, Jesse Lingard, commented: ‘Only adidas can bring together such a star studded event. Clearly the focus for us is on football with a busy schedule of games coming up but the event has given us a great opportunity to soak up being in LA and meet so many famous faces.’ United will continue their pre-season tour on 20th July when they face MLS club Real Salt Lake City, before taking on Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

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FEATURED

JUN 06, 2018

Restaurants & Nightlife

Avenue Wins 2018 HD Nightlife Award

“The winners and finalists of the inaugural HD Nightlife Awards, who were celebrated in March at Marquee Las Vegas, took nightlife to a new level with spaces that are sultry, fun, intriguing, and above all, places that embrace the communal spirit of hospitality.” Hospitality Design awards specific venues across the world for different categories for sectors of hospitality. Avenue won the HD Nightlife Award for best Nightclub, Bar, or Lounge.

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FEATURED

MAR 27, 2018

Hotels

Hollywood’s Tommie Hotel Breaks Ground

Eight-story, 212-room hotel rising near Selma and Wilcox.

First signs emerged last month when protective fencing appeared at 6516-6526 W. Selma Avenue, but now it’s official: construction is underway for Hollywood’s Tommie Hotel.

The project, which comes from Relevant Group, will consist of an eight-story edifice featuring 212 guest rooms, ground-floor retail space, and an underground parking garage.

The mid-rise building is being designed by Steinberg Hart with amenity decks at the roof and podium levels.

Relevant Group is already into vertical construction at a 10-story, 200-room Thompson Hotel at a nearby site on Wilcox Avenue.

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FEATURED

FEB 13, 2018

Hotels

Rockwell Group Designs an “Urban Resort” in the Heart of Los Angeles

THE DREAM HOLLYWOOD HOTEL AND ITS FIVE NIGHTCLUBS AND RESTAURANTS ARE SPREAD ACROSS AN ENTIRE CITY BLOCK.

With Rockwell Group’s newly opened Dream Hollywood Hotel and its five nightclubs and restaurants spread across an entire city block, partner Shawn Sullivan likes to think of the complex as an “urban resort.” Between the Highlight Room, Beauty & Essex, and Avenue lounges; TAO Asian Bistro; and Luchini Pizzeria & Bar, he says, “It really feels like a new immersive playground for the city that invites both guests and locals to stay and linger; you can just move from one venue to the next.” It’s an unexpected perk in a city where parking and traffic are endless struggles.

Some of these venues opened earlier iterations in New York, and have now been translated for an L.A. sensibility. Whereas the New York versions span the Lower East Side to the Meatpacking District to Midtown, linked by subway lines and taxicabs, they’ve been condensed in L.A. into a single-destination complex centered on a slate alleyway wedged between brick buildings, an homage to New York City’s pedestrian-oriented experience. “The public esplanade allows us to accommodate multiple drop-offs and walk-ups, and not congest the streets,” says Sullivan.

And in response to L.A.’s climate (and undoubtedly its earlier last call of 2:00 a.m.), the venues have been modified to take greater advantage of sunlight. Each space is equipped with flexible features that allow both daytime and nighttime uses: sliding doors, terraces, and fully operable windows. In an update from its older New York counterpart, Hollywood’s Avenue nightclub contains a fixed translucent roof courtyard with a fully retractable center and easily movable furniture and plants, so that the dance floor can double as a banquet space during the day. And in the Highlight Room, the motorized pool floor can rise to the level of the pool deck, increasing the square footage of dry floor space whenever needed.

The Dream hotel itself reflects L.A.’s Modernist indoor-outdoor legacy with floor-to-ceiling operable glass in the lobby, where the airy double-height foyer brims with plants and patches of real grass growing between the white-stone floor tiles. Upstairs in the 178 guest rooms, Modernist wooden furniture commingles with abstract art dotting the walls. In some of the rooms, if you squint, you can make out the pattern of headlights lined bumper to bumper along the 405—perhaps the most quintessentially L.A. feature of all.

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FEATURED

NOV 06, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

TAO Group Revitalizes Hollywood with Restaurants and Nightclubs

With five properties under Tao Group’s cool canopy and a dream hotel above, Hollywood is having an unexpected resurgence.

The brainchild of four guys who summered in the Hamptons— Noah Tepperberg, Jason Strauss, Richard Wolf, and Marc Packer—Tao Group is one of the country’s premier restaurant and nightlife companies, with a portfolio that includes the biggest revenue drivers in both New York City and Las Vegas. But it’s the group’s new property in Los Angeles that is getting a whole lot of buzz right now. It’s located in what was once a less-than-appealing part of Hollywood—the corner of Selma Avenue and North Cahuenga Boulevard—but Tao Group and its partners at Dream Hotels had a long-term vision to build a community buzzing with nightlife and restaurants, and that is just what they have done. “It’s important to put Hollywood back on the map,” says Ayo Akinsete, general manager of Dream Hollywood, “making it one of LA’s staple neighborhoods, similar to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and other iconic LA locations.”

The 150,000-square-foot property, almost as big as a block of midtown Manhattan, is a new cornerstone for Tao Group, featuring the 300-seat Asian eatery Tao Los Angeles; a rooftop restaurant called the Highlight Room, with a lounge, pool, grill, and views all the way to the Hollywood sign; Beauty & Essex, a flexible dining space with a vintage pawn shop; a nightclub called Avenue—all designed by the award-winning Rockwell Group—as well as Luchini Pizzeria & Bar, designed by Studio Collective, for late-night eating, located conveniently near Avenue. All of the venues are accessible from a pebblestone street created to make the Tao world feel quite intimate, and it does. Ideally for Tao Group, guests will book rooms at the Dream Hollywood—whose interiors, designed by the Rockwell Group, pay homage to the city’s iconic Midcentury Modern architecture—and never have to leave the property, much like an experience in Las Vegas.

Los Angeles is undoubtedly in the midst of a major hotel resurgence, but Hollywood has not been considered a desirable location for a long time. According to Tepperberg, however, “We are always very methodical whenever we decide to expand, especially into a new market. In regards to LA, we were waiting for the right opportunity to present itself, but until now, it hadn’t felt right. This block allowed us to bring multiple brands of ours to the LA market at one time.” The project represents nothing less than the rebirth of what had been a run-down neighborhood rife with drug dealers and the homeless. Tao Group has been known for revitalizing neighborhoods, and it was essential to the company to find an area where it could work its magic. “We are always up for a challenge,” says Tepperberg, “even if we’re faced with a location in a neighborhood that requires us to create a new geographic trend.”

The number of new visitors that Tao Group is bringing to Hollywood weekly is astounding: Nearly 3,500 people enter and exit the property between Thursday and Sunday every week. That is hospitality gold. “Our crowds are always a mix,” Tepperberg explains. “Whether an actor, DJ, or performer, it’s all about curating the best scene. We’re seeing thousands of repeat guests coming to our venues on a weekly basis. It’s exciting to see that the LA market is embracing what we’ve created.”

“Dream Hollywood is truly unlike anything this city has ever seen,” notes Jay Stein, chief executive officer of Dream Hotel Group, “setting a new standard for hospitality and becoming a hotbed for creativity, culture, and entertainment. The Gunnar Peterson Gym at Dream Hollywood provides guests with a one-of-a-kind wellness experience, curated by the elite celebrity trainer. It is also home to Lipps, the eponymous West Coast venture of One Management founder Scott Lipps, which will represent top models, celebrities, and other Hollywood influencers.”

So what’s next in Tao Group’s expansion plans? A new boutique hotel in Manhattan. “Moxy Times Square is similar to Tao in Los Angeles in that it encompasses a few different concepts under one roof,” says Tepperberg. “However, for Moxy Times Square, we’re introducing a unique collection of venues with entirely new concepts exclusive to this project. We collaborated with Lightstone, one of the largest and most diversified privately held real estate companies in the United States, to develop these venues, which will each assume its own distinct atmosphere. From the beginning, we knew that this would be a different kind of project for us—we focused on attitude rather than exclusivity for these properties. And in part, it’s about the experiences to be had.”

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FEATURED

OCT 23, 2017

Hotels

This Hotel Pool Magically Disappears With The Push Of A Button

“It’s the first one in the US, period.”

I’m talking to Ayo Akinsete, general manager of the new Dream Hollywood hotel in Los Angeles, and he’s discussing his hotel’s pool. According to Akinsete, this rooftop oasis holds a secret: With the press of a button, it completely disappears. 


The system, which was designed by a Canadian company called Akvo Spiralift, uses a series of large pistons to slowly raise the floor of the pool until it is level with the surrounding deck. The process takes about 10 minutes, and requires just a single operator holding down a button “while he listens to a podcast.” As Akinsete mentioned, the Dream Hollywood, which opened in July, is the first location of any sort to feature this system in the US (a claim confirmed by the manufacturer). 

“I was just searching around on YouTube with Richard Heyman, partner at the hotel’s developer Relevant Group, and we saw one on a residential home,” Akinsete says. “We saw the pool transform into a flat surface with the surface coming up on these pistons and the water dispersing underneath it. We though that it would be a great idea to put that into the hotel.”

Of course, the Akvo Spiralift system isn’t just a fun trick: It has the potential to be a real money-maker. According to Akinsete, the system cost the hotel about $250,000 to install—a relatively modest amount in the grand scheme of high-end hotel operations. For that money, the hotel gained the ability to turn its rooftop venue, called The Highlight Room, into a flexible event space that can add or reduce floor space without relying on traditional pool-coverage techniques such as tenting. which can cost tens of thousands of dollars per event while requiring a large amount of equipment, manpower, and planning.

When the pool is raised, the 11,000-square-foot venue reclaims about 1,000 square-feet of open space, allowing it to raise its capacity from roughly 500 to 700 people. It also allows the venue to utilize large-scale installations that can’t fit on a floorpan that otherwise features narrow spaces that creep around a pool.

“This allows us to do all sorts of events that would be impossible,”Akinsete says. “We’re going to crane a car up there soon with our partners at Lincoln to have an event and a concert up there.”

It also results in countless bewildered guests, who may go off for a drink, only to return to find the swimming pool has vanished. “It’s always a wow moment and you can see their eyes just bulge up,” Akinsete says.

According to Akinsete, the most common question the hotel gets from guests who witness this transformation is simple: “Where the heck did the water go?” His answer: “It just stays underneath.”



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FEATURED

AUG 31, 2017

Hotels

Morrison Hotel Could Get A 12-Story Tower

The more-than-a-century-old Morrison Hotel in DTLA is about to be completely transformed by The Relevant Group. The firm plans to add a 12-story building to the existing one at 1246 South Hope St. The $110M project will have a total of 245 rooms with upgrades to the existing four-story structure, the LA Downtown News reports. Amenities include an 8,230 SF rooftop deck with a swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant. There would also be 24K SF of public space at street level. Construction could start at the beginning of next year with a projected delivery date of 2020.

The Relevant Group is also behind the new Dream Hotel Hollywood that opened last month.

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FEATURED

AUG 29, 2017

Hotels

$110-Million Development Unveiled at DTLA’s Morrison Hotel

Relevant Group has revised its plans to reactivate South Park’s 103-year-old Morrison Hotel to include the construction of a new 12-story building on an adjacent parking lot, according to the Downtown News.

The $110-million project, which first emerged last year, also calls for rehabilitating the 103-year-old original Morrison building, which is located at the northeast corner of Pico Boulevard and Hope Street.  A full build out of the project would generated 245 hotel rooms, as well as ancillary functions such as a roof deck, a swimming pool and a 24,000-square-foot public plaza.

In many ways, the project takes cues from another Relevant project: the newly finished Dream Hollywood.  That hotel, located near the intersection of Selma Avenue and Cahuenga Boulevard, converted an existing alley to a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with restaurant space and outdoor seating.

This is the first Downtown project for Relevant, which is also behind the ongoing Thompson Hotel development in Hollywood.  Completion of the Morrison is expected in 2020.



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FEATURED

AUG 29, 2017

Hotels

Big Plans for Morrison Hotel

$110 Million South Park Effort Includes New 12-Story Building

DTLA – In November, developer the Relevant Group announced plans to transform the Morrison Hotel in South Park. The project is moving forward, as last week Relevant revealed new details — including the creation of a 12-story building — and said it intends to start construction in early 2018.

 

Relevant Group Managing Partner Grant King said the 103-year-old building at 1246 S. Hope St. will become a 245-room luxury hotel with the new building and upgrades to the existing four-story structure. He said the project is budgeted at $110 million.

The Morrison Hotel is intended to complement large hotels opening near the Convention Center such as the Park Hyatt at Oceanwide Plaza, King said.

“We’re not competing on size and scale, but there’s a niche we think we can fit into,” he said. “People want more of a lifestyle boutique feel in the area.”

The hotel is famous for appearing on the cover of The Doors’ 1970 record Morrison Hotel. King said the building would be designed as an “ode” to the band’s frontman, Jim Morrison. The idea, he added, is to avoid kitsch and instead feature an understated approach.

Renderings show a new 12-story building behind the existing hotel structure. Amenities would include an 8,230-square-foot roof deck with a pool, bar and restaurant. Plans also call for 24,000 square feet of public space at street level. Designs show a patio with trees and tables.

King expects to charge nightly rates of more than $300.

The Relevant Group, whose projects include the Dream Hotel in Hollywood that opened in July, has not yet selected an operator. The project’s food and beverage program are also yet to be determined.

The hotel was built in 1914 and operated for most of the 20th century. It served as low-income housing before becoming vacant in 2008.

King said that the Relevant Group was drawn to the project by the activity in South Park and at L.A. Live. He added that the hotel is being done with a planned overhaul of the Los Angeles Convention Center in mind.

The hotel is expected to open in 2020, King said.

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FEATURED

AUG 29, 2017

Hotels

Relevant Group Reveals its $110M Plan for the Morrison Hotel in DTLA

Hotel developer the Relevant Group is not waiting (waiting, waiting, waiting) for the sun to start developing the Morrison Hotel site into a $110 million hotel project.

The developer behind Hollywood’s Dream Hotel and the under-construction Thompson Hotel told the Los Angeles Downtown News Tuesday that it plans to redevelop the 103-year-old building at 1246 S. Hope Street — where The Doors shot the cover of their 1970 record Morrison Hotel — into a 12-story, 245-key luxury hotel.

Relevant Group’s Grant King told the News the hotel would be an “ode” to the band’s frontman, Jim Morrison.

Amenities at the South Park hotel would include an 8,230-square-foot roof deck with a pool, bar and restaurant, accompanied by 24,000 square feet of public space at street level. Renderings show the new building would be set behind the existing hotel structure on an adjacent parking lot.

The new structure would charge more than $300 a night — a far cry from the original 1914 hotel, which served more as a low-income housing complex.

Relevant Group announced plans of their first Downtown development in November. The developer expects to break ground as early as 2018. The hotel is expected to open in 2020. [DT News] — Natalie Hoberman

Correction: An earlier version of this story said the original hotel would be demolished. It will be redeveloped, according to relevant group. 

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FEATURED

AUG 16, 2017

Hotels

The Dream Hollywood To Anchor L.A.’S Meatpacking District

The $110-million project from Relevant Group aims to be the start of a trendy entertainment zone in Hollywood, which is set to see $300 million in development.

The new Dream Hollywood, a $110-million hotel development from Relevant Group in Hollywood is aiming to be the start of the city’s next cool entertainment hub. The property pans an entire city block, and includes five restaurants and a nightclub, operated by TAO Group. Including the hotel, the developer has a total of $300 million planned for the immediate surrounding area, and plans to bring another hotel and 15 other dining options to the area to create what they call L.A.’s version of the Meatpacking District in New York. Other planned projects include in Hollywood include Thompson Hollywood, Tommie Hotel, TAO Hotel and Citizen News Building. We sat down with Grant King of the Relevant Group for an exclusive interview.



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FEATURED

AUG 11, 2017

Hotels

Hollywood Hotel Area to be Modeled After NYC’s Meatpacking District

The developer of Los Angeles’ new Dream Hollywood lifestyle hotel and a handful of adjacent food and beverage outlets will add as many four more hotels to the project, which is being modeled after New York’s Meatpacking District.

The Hollywood district, which is being built by Los Angeles-based Relevant Group, is slated to add a 200-room Thompson hotel, a 212-room Tommie hotel and a 114-room hotel branded by nightclub operator Tao Group in 2019. The Thompson and Tommie brands are owned by Two Roads Hospitality.

The block-long project will also have as many as 15 restaurants, bars and lounges.

Relevant Group opened the 178-room Dream Hollywood last month.

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FEATURED

JUL 17, 2017

Hotels

Hotel Complex Is A Dream for Hollywood Jobs

When one thinks about the visionaries who made Hollywood what it is today, there are a lot of candidates to consider: Sid Grauman who dreamed up the picture palaces and movie premieres, C.E. Toberman, who built most of the grand buildings on Hollywood Blvd. and made the Hollywood Bowl a reality, the Chandler family and their associates who put the huge Hollywood Sign on Mt. Lee, Johnny Grant, who built the Hollywood Walk of Fame into an international icon – the list could go on and on.

And in fact, the list continues to grow. Last week, the long-awaited Dream Hotel opened its doors – the culmination of a 10-year dream by Richard Heyman and Grant King of the Relevant Group. These two gentlemen looked at a very nondescript stretch of Selma Avenue just west of Cahuenga and imagined something no one else saw – a thriving entertainment complex.

Their original vision was to convert an old industrial building into a hotel and to activate the adjacent derelict alley with restaurants. Over the years, that vision grew. They now envision up to four hotels within a two-block area. This is a case study in “place-making” if ever there was one. The two partners envision a vibrant neighborhood something akin to the Meat Packing District in New York. Looking at what they have already created, we can only imagine what another three hotels might do for that neighborhood.

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FEATURED

JUL 08, 2017

Hotels

With Retractable Pool and Tao Restaurant, Flashy Dream Hotel Anchors New Hollywood Revival

From top to bottom, the futuristic-looking Dream Hotel tries hard to live up to its name.

The centerpiece of a $110-million hospitality complex, it features a front lobby and bar that will open entirely onto the street — providing a new way to enjoy an indoor-outdoor experience in Southern California.

On the rooftop, it has a pool for daytime lounging that in the evening can be converted into a dance floor at the flick of a switch.

“It’s an integrated urban resort,” said Dream developer Richard Heyman, who helped build the House of Blues nightclub that invigorated the Sunset Strip in the 1990s.

And there are four restaurants where patrons can choose to dine, including the first West Coast outpost of Asian-themed Tao, one of highest-grossing restaurant groups in the country.

Now, after a decade-long odyssey to market, the slim nine-story tower is expected to open next week.

But it’s hoped that the boutique lodging with 178 rooms will be more than just the latest entrant in a hot Hollywood market, where two other high-end hotels are expected to open this year.

The idea is that it will be a cornerstone of a new zone of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops similar to Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District, where an old urban industrial district has become an upscale neighborhood flush with restaurants, shops and hotels.

Already, the once-neglected neighborhood southwest of the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street has seen stylish boutiques and gluten-free restaurants edge out tattoo parlors and dive bars in recent years.

Now, with billions of dollars’ worth of new development complete or underway on nearby Vine, the blocks around the Dream Hotel at Cahuenga Boulevard and Selma Avenue are seeing a wave of investment targeting locals out for good time and out-of-towners trying to avoid Hollywood’s most touristy haunts.

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FEATURED

MAR 30, 2017

Hotels

Hollywood’s Thompson Hotel Gets Underway

One year after clearing away a small commercial building at 1523 Wilcox Avenue, Los Angeles-based real estate developer Relevant Group has officially broken ground on Hollywood’s Thompson Hotel.

The 11-story building, located mid-block between Selma Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, will feature 200 guest rooms in addition to a swimming pool, a rootop deck and multiple food-and-beverage venues.

RCVA is designing the mid-rise structure, which diverges sharply from earlier renderings by the Rockwell Group.  Steinberg Architects is serving as the project’s executive architect, while interior design is being handled by Tara Bernerd & Partners.

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FEATURED

MAR 20, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

Tao Group Throws an L.A. Block Party to Celebrate New Openings

TAO Group, along with real estate developers Richard Heyman and Grant King of Relevant Group, celebrated the highly-anticipated TAO, Beauty & Essex restaurant, Avenue, and Luchini LA Grand Opening with an exclusive invite-only block party. Katie Holmes, Cindy Crawford, Orlando Bloom and Hailey Baldwin were among the Hollywood elite who came out to celebrate TAO Group’s Los Angeles debut. Spotted at Avenue, Cindy Crawford and hubby Randy Gerber enjoyed a fun night out, while DJ Khaled took the stage for a surprise DJ set. Orlando Bloom was also seen at the nightclub with a group of friends, while Draya Michele was seen dancing it up at a table with gal pals. Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross arrived together looking more in love than ever at Beauty & Essex restaurant. The inseparable couple weren’t afraid to show their affection for one another as Evan was spotted giving her a sweet kiss on the cheek. Jamie Chung, who was sporting an Elizabeth and James bag, was all smiles with husband Bryan Greenberg and were seen enjoying sweets at the Beauty & Essex restaurant dessert bar. Meanwhile at TAO Asian Bistro, Hailey Baldwin dazzled in a sparkly number showing off major leg. Enjoying late night slices of pizza at Luchini, were Michael Bay and Owen Wilson, who both kept a low profile throughout the evening. Eiza Gonzalez was seen rocking a Diesel jacket and Vice Camuto clutch while Adelaide Kane was spotted in a Rachel Zoe dress, Alice + Olivia clutch and Vince Camuto shoes. Taking the stage for a surprise special performance were NAS, Busta Rhymes and Anderson Paak while Ross One, DJ Cassidy, Chantel Jeffries, Chris Masterson, and Devin Lucien manned the decks throughout the evening. Tyga made an appearance with pal Scott Disick along with other notable guests including: G-Eazy, Zoe Saldana, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nicole Scherzinger, and more. Guests enjoyed Poke Wonton Tacos, Petit Imperial Wagyu Sliders and Grilled Cheese, Smoked Bacon & Tomato Soup Dumplings from Chef Chris Santos of Beauty & Essex and Chef Ralph Scamardella of TAO Asian Bistro and imbibed on Tao-Tinis and Emerald Gimlets specialty cocktails. Avenue will officially open its doors on Tuesday, March 21. TAO Asian Bistro, Beauty & Essex and Luchini Pizzeria & Bar will open to the public in early April. Dream Hollywood will open separately and later this spring with a new dining and nightlife concept from TAO Group called The Highlight Room, a rooftop lounge, pool and grill atop of the hotel. TAO Group will exclusively manage all of Dream Hollywood’s food and beverage operations, marking their first West Coast venture.
Photo Credit: Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for TAO



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FEATURED

MAR 20, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

TAO, Beauty & Essex, Avenue, & Luchini are Coming to LA!

Los Angeles – Drawing some of Hollywood’s biggest names, TAO Group, along with real estate developers Richard Heyman and Grant King of Relevant Group, celebrated the highly-anticipated TAOBeauty & Essex restaurantAvenue, and Luchini LA Grand Opening with an exclusive invite-only block party. Katie Holmes, Cindy Crawford, Orlando Bloom and Hailey Baldwin were among the Hollywood elite who came out to celebrate TAO Group’s Los Angeles debut.

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FEATURED

MAR 20, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

Inside Avenue, a Grand Estate Nightclub Opening in Hollywood

New York City’s hot late night lounge opens tomorrow in Hollywood

It’s not every day that a hot new club opens in Hollywood, but the Tao Group brings one of their most reliable nightlife concepts, Avenue, to the heart of Tinseltown starting tomorrow evening. A celebrity-riddled place in New York City already, the Hollywood outlet is sure to bring in the same kind of A-list clientele as the Manhattan original, with a David Rockwell-designed space that spans a mere 4,000 square feet just outside the new Dream Hotel project.

Not massive, but just enough room to unleash some unabashed revelry. The place looks like a “grand estate frozen in time,” with plenty of custom design points and a lounge-style seating array. Expect world-class DJs spinning beats while the drink offerings are classic club-style booze: bottles and easy mixers. And when you get hungry, just pop over to Alvin Cailan’s pizza joint, Luchini, for slices and more. Tao, Beauty & Essex, and rooftop pool bar The Highlight Room will join Avenue for a NYC-style free for all in Hollywood.



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FEATURED

MAR 18, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

The Latest Addition to Hollywood Hotspots

Thursday is apparently the new Friday! Last night TAO opened up its latest hospitality projects in Hollywood with the highly-anticipated openings of TAO Asian Bistro, Beauty & Essex, Avenue and Luchini Pizzeria & Bar on N. Cahuenga!

As far as the new venture, it’s the brain child of TAO Group, along with real estate developers Richard Heyman and Grant King of Relevant Group, and Dream Hotel Group. The exclusive invite-only block party was located in the heart of Hollywood, the 150,000-square foot project will occupied nearly a full city block on Selma Avenue and N. Cahuenga Boulevard adjacent to the Dream Hollywood Hotel.

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FEATURED

MAR 08, 2017

Restaurants & Nightlife

Captains of the U.S. Nightlife Industry Unite Behind TAO LA Opening

After 15 years of dominating New York and Las Vegas restaurants and nightlife, the TAO Group officially planted their flag in L.A. on Thursday night, simultaneously opening a complex of four venues.

The searchlights surrounding an entire block in Hollywood were visible as far away as Hancock Park, some three miles away.

The complex, adjacent to the soon-to-opened Dream Hotel, will overwhelm insatiable Hollywood nightlife appetites of upscale trendsetters and social chiefs of the media and entertainment industries.

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FEATURED

DEC 22, 2016

Hotels

Hollywood’s Tommie Hotel Coming to Selma Avenue

Environmental documents published by the Los Angeles Department City Planning offers up details about a new Hollywood hotel planned by local developer Five Chairs.

The proposed development, which is referred to as a Tommie Hotel, would rise from an approximately half-acre property at 6516-6526 W. Selma Avenue, replacing a surface parking lot.  Plans call for an eight-story, 95-foot tall building, featuring 212 guest room above a ground-level lounge and an underground parking garage.  Guests would also have access to on-site amenities such, including a rooftop pool and amenity deck

Steinberg Architects has designed the mid-rise structure with a grid-like window pattern and a facade of metal panels.  A ground-level paseo along the eastern side of the building would both provide separation from the adjacent Mama Shelter hotel and access to an internal courtyard.

Construction of the mixed-use development would occur over approximately 23 months.  An initial study identifies a groundbreaking date in the first quarter of 2017, and a completion date by the fourth quarter of 2018.

Five Chairs, through its parent company Hollywood International Regional Center, is behind a number of hotel proposals throughout neighborhood, including the recently-finished Dream Hollywood and the delayed Thompson Hotel along Wilcox Avenue.

The company had previously attempted to develop a Tommie Hotel a short distance south on Cahuenga Boulevard.

Tommie is billed as a micro-lifestyle hotel brand operated by Two Roads Hospitality.

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FEATURED

NOV 09, 2016

Hotels

Downtown LA’s Old Morrison Hotel Poised for a Fancy Makeover

The South Park hotel was made famous by The Doors’ 1970 album cover

In 1970, the Morrison Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles was immortalized by The Doors album of the same name. On the album’s cover, the band was photographed through the window of the lobby with the hotel’s painted signage serving as the album title.

Now plans are in the works to restore the 102-year-old building at 1246 South Hope Street, in Downtown LA’s South Park neighborhood. It has sat vacant for the past eight years; before 2008, it served as low-income housing.

Urbanize LA reports that developer Hollywood International Regional Center wants to reopen it with 80 hotel rooms, ground level retail space, a fitness center, and lounge, with construction scheduled to start before the end of 2017.

Even though it’s been empty for a number of years, the redevelopment would constitute a loss of low income units, so the developer would be on the hook to either build affordable units off-site or pay a fee “equivalent to site acquisition plus 80% of construction costs.” According to Urbanize LA, if the developer chooses to build low income housing off-site, it would assist the Skid Row Housing Trust in building a five-story, 111-unit project at 401 East 7th Street.

Hollywood International Regional Center is taking on the revitalization project, adding the Morrison to their other two hotel projects in the works, the upcoming Dream and Thompson hotels in Hollywood.

So if that  Doors photo had been taken in the next few years, instead of in 1970, when the seedy joint charged $2.50, it’d look a lot different. In the near-future scenario, the Lizard King and company might find themselves seated in a Chipotle, a shared office space, or any number of modern retail ventures that have become synonymous with DTLA developments.



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FEATURED

AUG 24, 2015

Hotels

Hollywood’s New Hotel Boom in N.Y. and L.A.: “Upscale, Not Uppity”

LOS ANGELES

After years of false starts, Hollywood (and downtown L.A.) are fully coming into their own, with new boutique hotels as the latest push. Following decades of Hollywood’s renaissance promise — since the Les Deux Cafe years of the ’90s — the number of new branded lifestyle hotels being planned now nearly rival the number of clubs and may prove to be savvier social centers for the neighborhood as well as for guests.

“I’ve always thought the redevelopment of Hollywood was just a matter of time,” notes Brendan McNamara, senior vp marketing at Hampshire Hotels, which is erecting the 10-story, 179-room Dream Hotel (6417 Selma Ave.) just down the street from Mama Shelter. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the Dream has been in the works for five years; it broke ground in late 2014 and plans to open in May 2016. The first Dream, on 55th and Broadway in New York, is a favorite of Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio. The new location will take advantage of the California climate: Glass penthouse walls will fold open, while lobby walls will collapse to open ground-floor food-and-beverage venues to the street. “This [will] create a new social hive,” says McNamara. “We want to create a neighborhood out of this.”

Luxury brand Thompson Hotels’ spinoff, Tommie Hollywood, a new micro lifestyle brand aimed at millennials, is debuting early next year in New York City and also will be breaking ground on Cahuenga south of Sunset Boulevard. The 10-story, 200-room establishment will be Thompson’s first new-build hotel; it will include a restaurant and bar, and the penthouse level will include an outdoor pool with a deck, another restaurant and a fitness center.

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Benjamin WilsonNews