Granville Is the Updated Deli Food We Need in a Cool Space Now

Posted on by Diversions LA

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The Granville Cafe in West Hollywood is a gorgeous space. It’s open, with an indoor/outdoor aesthetic, filled with sunshine and fresh air, yet blissfully covered from heat and rain. The small restaurant group has four other locations – Glendale, Burbank,  Studio City, and Pasadena.

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The WeHo location is both glamorous and relaxed, with greenery, a patio, and, a sparkling bar area, and an indoor tree.

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House-crafted food made with local and organic ingredients are the key notes here. It’s honestly exciting to get an updated, healthy take on both comfort soup and sandwich fare along with more innovative dishes – in a lovely setting.

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In short, it’s an impressive modern-casual spot with style; meant for relaxing over an excellent coffee or cocktail, as well as ordering a full meal. We sampled a variety of dishes, and all were beautifully presented and crafted.

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Granville stresses their use of hormone-free and antibiotic-free meats and fish, local and organic greens, artisan cheeses and breads, non-GMO veggies and oil, as well as sustainable and organic coffee and espresso. It’s all about quality food in ample portions that are well-presented, and fresh.

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We started by sharing the smoked salmon spread and rye crisps. It was terrific, a creamy blend of dill, horseradish, cream cheese, and salmon of course. Honestly could be a meal in itself.

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My companion had a crisp, plentiful salad with chicken, seasonal berries, gorgonzola, candied pecans, red onion, and a light but sweet caramel vinaigrette.

I opted for the rainbow trout, which was exceptional It’s pan-seared, with a nice, nutty-tasting pepita crust. On the side, I had the preserved lemon & butter pan sauce. It came with “a seasonal organic vegetable,” which for me was a lovely, fresh asparagus. 

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To drink, my companion had what she termed a “really nice, fresh iced tea.” I had the Granville Bloody Mary, crafted with a smooth Purus organic vodka, topped with celery stalk and olive garnish. The mix was tangy but not overwhelming, a good craft drink. 

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Dessert is both inventively presented and extremely good: not overwhelmingly sweet, fresh-tasting, and ample enough to share. We tried the Devil’s Advocate flourless chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting – gluten free; as well as the Berry Patch Shortcake with fresh berries, sweet cream, and silky almond buttermilk biscuits.

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Last but not least, I had a beautifully prepared cappuccino, made with organic espresso.  

Traditional brunch fans will not be disappointed by the menu, either. We saw egg and toast dishes of all kinds.

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Comfort food fans can feast on hearty dishes like the mac n’ cheese, below, with plenty of cheese. Recently sampled at the giving-back charitable event Masters of Taste, it’s delicious. Including veggies with the blissfully cheesey dish is an inspired idea that adds a healthful note of crispness without compromising comfort-food tradition.

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And what would any deli-type menu be without matzoh ball soup? It’s a heady, fragrant mix served at Granville, considerably lower in sodium and so much fresher than many counterparts in town.

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And best of all – the inclusive menu has many vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available.

53034455_1271180213048297_8642418048680067072_nWeekend brunch is served til 2 p.m., cocktails, lunch, and dinner on the daily. So, as the sign says “come as you are” just about any time, for excellent food, a comfortable, stylish setting, and a sleekly modern take on deli and coffeshop fare amplified with a fresh and healthy focus.

Granville is located at 8701 Beverly in WeHo; hours are:

Monday – Wednesday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis, and provided by Granville

Celia Center Arts Festival: Art and Family Fun for a Cause

Posted on by Diversions LA

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Save the date: Friday April 12th and Saturday April 13th, the Celia Center is holding their second annual Arts Festival, Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity: The Voices of the Fostered and Adopted.

The non-profit organization is featuring the work of diverse artists in a wide range of mediums; along with the art exhibition, performances, readings, workshops, children’s activities, and an artist’s panel are all part of the event.

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The artists participating were encouraged to explore their personal experiences as individuals who were adopted and/or in foster care. They’re offering experiences in musical, performance, and visual arts, as well as in the healing arts.

The event will be held at the Highways Performance Space,  a co-presenter of the festival in partnership with Celia Center. The opening reception is scheduled for 6 – 8 p.m. on the 12th. The art exhibition will be viewable through April 28th.

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The LA-based, non-profit Celia Center was founded in 2012 by Jeanette Yoffe, a child therapist with a special focus on adoption and foster care issues. Inspired by her own experiences in the foster care system and through the adoption process, Yoffe also had a strong desire to merge her previous career in the arts as a dancer and actress with her activism.

The center provides workshops, salon support groups, and other events throughout the year, supporting and uniting those who’ve worked their way through adoption and foster care.

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Joffe (left) will be one of the performers at the Celia Center Arts Festival. Other highlights of the weekend event include a writing workshop, and a celebrity book reading for children with track athlete Steven Benedict (right); the opening reception is focused on the CCAF’s visual art group exhibition, curated by Nicole Rademacher (middle image), herself both an artist and an adoptee.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear evening performances at 8 p.m. both nights of Voices from the Past to Present, a 90-minute presentation of narrative, poetry, spoken word, and theater pieces assembled by actor and playwright Brian Stanton; the event will also include Yoffe’s performance from her own play, What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy. The play recounts her experiences in foster care and adoption by a New York Jewish family, a work which inspired Yoffe in her work as a psychotherapist.

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Also featured will be Rock Willk (above), Julayne Lee, and performance artist Kayla Tange; as well as Jerri Allyn, reading a letter written to the biological son that she found. The event will additionally include a reading from Susan Harris O’Connor, writer of a seminal autobiographical book, The Harris Narratives: An Introspective Study of a Trans-racial Adoptee.

A writing arts workshop will also take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Both this workshop, Writing the Unsaid, and the evening performances require purchased ticketing; tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celia-center-arts-festival-2019-tickets-51995221106

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Free programming at the event includes children’s activities such as face painting from 12 noon – 3 p.m. on Saturday; a celebrity book reading at 1 p.m. from professional track and field athlete and Olympic Trials Qualifier Steven Benedict, a former foster child who has run in some of the world’s most prestigious events.

Event goers can expect to experience VR painting with Google Tilt Brush as well. And for ages four and up, there will be a Healing Arts Table for children in foster care and/or adoption and their families. Free for adults will be an artists panel and Q&A moderated by curator and Highways museum director Rebeca Trawick.

For more information, visit https://www.celiacenterartsfestival.org/

Highways Performance Space is located at 1651 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90404

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  • Genie Davis; images provided by Celia Center Arts Festival

Moonlight Forest Weaves Magic Spell

Posted on by Diversions LA

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Moonlight Forest, the Los Angeles County Arboretum’s holiday lights display, is a special and beautiful experience.

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The highly unique use of lush, lit-up fabric “lanterns,” created by artisans from the Sichuan province in China, is truly magical.

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From a distance, the glowing works resemble 3-D stained glass. Some are animatronic like a paddling sea turtle or pandas in a bamboo grove riding a see-saw; all are vividly colored, positioned in a way that makes each of the exhibitions three distinct areas just separate enough to create a true sense of wonder.

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The areas are roughly circular, comprising a nature area with animal figures, a children’s area with whimsical pieces such as happy carrots and smiling quarter moons, and an area devoted to Chinese culture.

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Arguably, the standout is an enormous red and good dragon, its undulating curves reflecting in the lake it is positioned over, seeming to hover on the air, suspended from a dock above the inky water.

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There are many impressive works, including a giant pagoda; a candy-themed tunnel; glowing green plant arches with hovering bees after nectar; a sea-life tunnel with floating fish.

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A replica of the terra-cotta army, found in Xi’an, China is dazzling.

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Up close, it’s astonishing to realize that these vivid works are shaped from illuminated fabric.

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From magenta blossoms to an arch shaped like an octopus, this is a stunning show that is more than just holiday lights – it’s also culturally resonant and offers a look at a delicate art form writ large.

 

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Moonlight Forest runs through January 6. Don’t miss! Tickets at: www.moonlightforest.eventbrite.com

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  • Genie Davis; Photos: Jack Burke

 

Beach Party Time for the Holidays and Any Time

Posted on by Diversions LA

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It might be chilly in Hollywood, Calif., but you can party on the beach in balmy Hollywood, Fla. And you can party in style.

If you’re planning an affordable destination wedding venue, an anniversary, a big birthday bash, or a celebration of any kind – post Art Basel, perhaps? – at Broward Banquet Hall, you’ll find exactly what you need for on-the-beach fun only 20 minutes away from Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

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Located in Hollywood Beach, this banquet hall in Florida has everything you need to create the event you want. Wedding ceremony on the sand, reception party just steps away. Special occasions of any kind go down beautifully at this venue, positioned right on the beach where those warm sea breezes beckon. The hall is a part of the Hollywood Beach Resort Hotel, which means visitors can enjoy a 30% discount on rooms and suites at the hotel, too, for all guests of the party who book the hall.

 

 

 

We loved the fact that the venue takes care of just about every detail – except booking your flight to Florida. Once you’ve done that, then get ready to have a blissfully easy experience. Wedding events are a specialty, from hosting a shower to a large-scale rehearsal dinner, to ceremony and reception. Host, bartender, waitress, security: it’s all taken care of. Photography and videography services can be provided too, if you’d like to document the occasion professionally.  Special dining requests? Outside catering is allowed.

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The carefree planning style the hall offers is matched by its truly luxurious accommodations. A large dance floor includes disco and laser lights; there are projector tables and a 60″ flat screen if you’d like to – show a film – Facebook photos – art images – or take a sweet walk down memory lane. The music sounds great, and you’ll be dancing all night long.

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There’s a comfortable outdoor seating area, smoking area, and a VIP room for the most special guests. To create an elegant vibe all around, the spot also has a red carpet, ropes, and stanchions.

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As relaxed and easy as the staff makes setting up and running an event, there’s plenty of upscale style at the venue that belies the value. Exceptional customizing of lighting in the color of your choice, a bridal dressing room, photography room, and expert table set-up add to the experience: it’s pro all the way, with unpretentious, helpful, and experienced service.

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No matter what kind of event you’re planning – baby shower, bar mitzvah, spring break party, or special birthday, the celebration may be yours, but the space is Broward Banquet Hall all the way. Expansive in size, with superior customer service and those soft white sands right outside the door, this Hollywood Beach spot is close to the airport, the blue Atlantic —  and will end up being close to your heart.  It’s a high recommend for celebratory fun.