LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio The name: Somerville refers to Hotel Somerville a focal point for the Black jazz scene on Central Avenue in the 1930s and 40s The location: The trio had already collaborated on Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen a casual coffee shop that is now in five locations across the city they aim to create a space for the South L.A The menu: The food pays homage to the dishes served at Hotel Somerville The motivation: "I just wanted to be able to dress up hang out and eat good in my neighborhood," says Rae "Ajay and Yonnie extended that basic desire into the visionary dreamy destination that is Somerville.” “When we opened the original Hilltop [on Slauson]” said Hagos We made the decision to put in the heart of the community that made us who we are today.” With Somerville The economy: With so many restaurants closing But Relan said they developed a certain level of resilience opening the five locations of Hilltop Coffee “We have confidence in our abilities and know what we're capable of,” he added and cocktails in a mahogany bar outfitted with a grand piano on November 22 the full-service restaurant will offer American food with cocktails As South LA natives who live in the surrounding area, Hagos and Relan have been looking at View Park for some time. Relan and Hagos found their future restaurant in a vacant 5,000-square-foot space almost a decade ago but focused all efforts on being independent coffee operators in corporate coffee-heavy South LA “We passed on this Slauson space in 2015,” says Relan “We’re from here but didn’t know if we would ever open anything here.” The area developed due to traveling Black musicians who were prohibited from entering LA’s white-owned bars and clubs “We became obsessed with these spaces and ideas,” Relan says “Hilltop was a step in that direction for us We wanted to create a 2020s version of that era We wanted to look forward while celebrating the progress in between.” To accomplish that, the GVO Hospitality duo tapped Bootsy Bellows designer John Sofio from Built, Inc. who placed mahogany throughout the Art Deco-style room The space also features white oak flooring and a grand piano on the modestly sized stage They also brought on chef Geter Atienza (previously at Bouchon Bakery in New York and Broken Spanish) who also designed the menu at Lost Rooftop and wagyu strip loin with classic steak sauce options They’ve shied away from standard soul food like the macaroni and cheese or the fried chicken and caviar sliders Dessert options include a dark chocolate torte and a no-bake cheesecake with black olive marmalade Though South LA is stacked with casual options, full-service dining is mostly centered around places like Harold & Belle’s in Jefferson Park, the District by GS and Post & Beam in Leimert Park, and Jon & Vinny’s on Slauson which opened in 2021 around the corner from Somerville As dwellers in one of South LA’s oldest Black neighborhoods View Park residents have long yearned for less casual options that keep them from driving to adjacent areas for a full-service meal Starting November 22, Somerville will operate from Wednesday to Sunday “Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills…Thanks to all who came to support this first weekend!,” wrote Rae. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) The “Insecure” creator called the new restaurant an homage to Black South Central L.A. with a fantastic ambiance and delicious food and cocktails. Rae’s friends and peers, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Yvonne Orji, Robin Thede, and Lil Rel Howery, attended the launch. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) Cover photo: Issa Rae Opens New ‘Somerville’ Restaurant in South Central L.A./Photo credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images By clicking Submit, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Because of Them We Can (BOTWC) is the Internet’s most inspiring site of Black History and Excellence celebrating all things positive about the culture the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with new zoning rules for the unincorporated communities located in the Westside and the South Bay which could accommodate the development of nearly 11,000 new homes The Westside Area Plan, includes eight unincorporated areas - Ladera Heights The new regulations do not impact zoning Marina del Rey or unincorporated West Los Angeles which are governed by its own specific plan and under federal jurisdiction Gilmore Island is being annexed into the City of Los Angeles to facilitate the Television City redevelopment while hillside areas and open spaces like the Ballona Wetlands and Franklin Canyon remain largely unchanged New zoning regulations are spurred by the 2021-2029 Hosing Element which requires the rezoning or redesignation of multiple properties in the Westside by 2025 to accommodate up to 5,548 new homes While 62 sites would receive new land use designations much of the proposed growth would be accommodated by redevelopment of 10 opportunity sites identified in the plan In Ladera Heights and View Park/Windsor Hills located in West Fox Hills (also known as Alsace or unincorporated Del Rey) includes a stretch of parcels along the west side of Centinela Avenue to the north of Jefferson Boulevard. Located directly across the street from the Playa Vista development this corridor is pitched as an extension of the development pattern to the south calling for mixed-use residential buildings to replace commercial structures The South Bay Area Plan, includes neighborhoods such as Alondra Park/El Camino Village, Del Aire, Hawthorne Island, La Rambla, Lennox, West Carson the updated South Bay plan stems from the 2021-2029 Housing Element and will require the redesignation of 94 properties to accommodate a potential 5,361 residential units The final plan is remains substantially the same as what was first rolled out to the community in 2023 targeting certain commercial corridors and neighborhoods near transit stops for additional density This includes the stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard in the Lennox neighborhood which sits to the north of the C Line and the I-105 Freeway the west side of Crenshaw Boulevard to the north of El Camino Community College the west side of Inglewood Boulevard in Wiseburn and on the parcels surrounding Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in West Carson a more modest transition from single-family zoning to R2 Zone is proposed in the Del Aire area which sits immediately to the south of Metro's Aviation/LAX Station The vote by the Board of Supervisors certifies the environmental impact reports for both plans and directs County Counsel to begin preparing a final ordinance for adoption at a future date Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Threads / Instagram / Bluesky Sylvio Martins Dulan’s is an LA soul food institution with three locations around South LA. Our favorite of the bunch is their recently renovated flagship on Crenshaw, which has a big dining room ideal for a group lunch or dinner before a show at SoFi. The walls at this casual counter-service spot are lined with framed photos of Joe Biden, Janet Jackson, and various A-listers who’ve dropped by over its three decades in business. Inglewood with two locations in Inglewood (and one in Crenshaw) Southern Fried Chicken Mid-City West African Latin Two Hommés is a West African fusion restaurant in Inglewood that serves food you'll want to eat every week on rotation Sylvio moved to LA over a decade ago and still misses his exit on the 10 He came to us as a freelancer and wrote so many guides that we gave him a job Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Los Angeles straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Los Angeles without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Los Angeles Stock up on farmers’ market goodies, sip on pours from Inglewood’s 1010 Wine & Events and listen to a DJ spin tunes during this pop-up market in View Park-Windsor Hills which highlights Black farmers and entrepreneurs Though initially planned as both a Black History Month and four-year anniversary event this edition of Prosperity Market has since pivoted to a wildfire benefit event; attendees are encouraged to bring gift cards that will be sent to impacted families Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram spotify About us Contact us Time Out magazine Show Search Search Query Submit Search Don't Miss Filters Close filters Neighborhood All Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Central-Alameda Downtown L.A Harvard Heights Inglewood Mid-Wilshire Pasadena View Park-Windsor Hills West Adams Filter all Bakery Southern Desserts American Soul Food Californian More Less Price It was a predictable post-dinner refrain growing up, stated matter-of-factly by my mother, Southern grandmother or aunts, as though they were prescribing themselves dessert. The assertion was made regardless of the meal we’d just eaten, whether it was a simple weeknight dinner or a generous spread at a holiday gathering. The necessity of dessert — nothing too heavy, just a taste of something sweet — never waned. Now I find myself doing the same thing, searching for the ideal treat that will perfectly round out my meal. In those moments, I gravitate to the classic Southern desserts I was raised on: cinnamon-swirled Sock-It-To-Me cake, crumbly 7-Up poundcake with a delicate lemon-lime glaze, peach cobbler and sweet potato pie with flaky, buttery crusts that prove just as delicious as the filling. Thankfully, Los Angeles has plenty of Black-owned dessert shops ready to curb my craving. On South Central Avenue, a landmark bakery now in its third generation of family ownership represents the largest manufacturer of sweet potato pie on the West Coast. In View Park-Windsor Hills, another family-run spot specializing in sweet and savory pies proudly serves the neighborhood they’ve called home for years. The Black-led sweets scene is also expanding with fresh bakeries that bring new influences, including a French-inspired cookie shop in West Adams and a hip-hop-themed sticky bun pop-up at Smorgasburg L.A. Here are 10 Black-owned spots to visit next time you need something sweet to complete your meal: Food Subscribe for unlimited access Site Map 2024 at 1:41 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Issa Rae arrives at the Oscars on Sunday (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)LOS ANGELES — Actress Issa Rae has opened a new restaurant in Los Angeles The “Insecure” star last week announced the opening of Somerville at 4437 W in the Slauson Corridor of View Park-Windsor Hills describing the eatery in an Instragram post as “an ode to the classic artistic past of Black South Central L.A.” The menu features steakhouse classics as well as standouts such as fried chicken and caviar sliders Rae’s previous ventures into the world of food and beverages include launching Hilltop Kitchen + Coffee, also in Los Angeles, and the Procecco brand Viarae, according to KTLA Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A new Black-owned restaurant in South Central LA honors the vibrant Black jazz scene of the 1940s A new Black-owned restaurant in South Central Los Angeles is honoring the vibrant Harlem Renaissance-inspired culture that defined the area in the 1940s Somerville, a full-service restaurant Actress and media mogul Issa Rae took to Instagram on Nov 25 to celebrate the restaurant’s launch and how it serves as an “ode to the classic artistic past of Black South Central L.A.” “Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills. The genius GVO Gentlemen said, how about a restaurant?” Rae shared in her caption. Founded by Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen owners Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan, the loungey restaurant is located in the same View Park-Windsor Hills retail complex as their original cafe. With Issa Rae being a partner in Hilltop she was happy to be among the first to experience Somerville The location holds special significance for Hagos and Relan two South LA natives who initially passed on the opportunity to acquire the 5,000-square-foot space in 2015 they chose to focus on launching their Black-owned coffee company to compete in the area’s coffee-centric market “We’re from here but didn’t know if we would ever open anything here,” Relan told Eater Los Angeles Now after opening Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen locations throughout the Southland and Lost Rooftop Cocktail + Taco Bar in Downtown LA Ralen and Hagos have opened their first-ever full-service restaurant right in their hometown “We could have been anywhere in the city, but we’re here with you…. on Slauson,” they captioned an Instagram announcement. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Somerville (@somerville.slauson) the business partners drew inspiration from Los Angeles history focusing on Historic South-Central’s vibrant culture from 1921 to 1956 This era thrived thanks to traveling Black musicians who were barred from performing in white-owned bars and clubs The scene revolved around the iconic Dunbar Hotel (originally named Hotel Somerville which inspired the restaurant’s name) and the bustling jazz venues along Central Avenue “We became obsessed with these spaces and ideas,” Relan said known for his work at New York’s Bouchon Bakery and Broken Spanish the menu features dishes like scallop crudo Guests can pair these offerings with a selection of sparkling Somerville is open Wednesday through Sunday from 6 p.m RELATED CONTENT: British Fashion Council To Honor Issa Rae With 2024 Pandora Leader Of Change Award (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=24e71e69-bdd4-4314-afdd-ea9f235a7f72&cid=2b3b1cf8-11b9-409d-a906-ab6746c50467'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "24e71e69-bdd4-4314-afdd-ea9f235a7f72" }).render("75f1c40501c14cedaee92e2a80cf112c"); }); Issa Rae is no stranger to breaking barriers and setting trends. From redefining storytelling on screen with Insecure to building an empire that spans media she’s proven time and time again that her talents know no bounds. Now, the multi-hyphenate powerhouse is adding “restaurateur” to her already impressive resume with the debut of Somerville a progressive American dining experience that’s as vibrant and dynamic as the South Central Los Angeles community it celebrates Nestled in the heart of View Park-Windsor Hills the restaurant is a love letter to the rich cultural tapestry of Black South Central L.A. offering patrons an elevated yet approachable space to indulge in fine dining while soaking in the area’s artistic and historic roots Somerville is more than just a restaurant — it’s a cultural hub crafted with Rae’s signature authenticity and flair alongside her business partners Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) The menu at Somerville features an array of dishes that capture the bold and savory essence of California cuisine. Offerings include the Somerville burger, pan-seared Ora King salmon, and Mary’s organic roasted chicken. First-course options such as duck confit and scallop crudo, along with an assortment of steaks, charcuterie boards, cocktails, and sparkling wines, provide a comprehensive dining experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Somerville (@somerville.slauson) This latest venture adds to Rae’s growing list of entrepreneurial achievements a management company dedicated to supporting women and minority writers a community-focused café with multiple locations across Los Angeles Somerville operates from Wednesday through Sunday with reservations available through OpenTable. The 38 Best Tacos in Los Angeles The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles, According to Eater Editors The Hottest New Restaurants in Los Angeles South LA covers a wide swath of Southern California The area — which is larger than Manhattan — includes 24 cities and five unincorporated neighborhoods that represent a bustling cultural cross-section of Los Angeles along with a stunning restaurant in View Park-Windsor Hills and everything in between so it’s possible to dine well on dozens of different cuisines within these vibrant communities Here are the best places to drink and dine in greater South LA Huntington Park’s Guajillo Restaurant is a family-owned business that takes pride in its chilaquiles eat the chilaquiles on the premises (a no-frills but completely comfortable dining room) while still piping hot Leave room for the fiery red chili pork burrito — it’s a glorious dish A post shared by Carmen // DC food // NOVA food (@eatwellwithcarmen) the conversation typically veers toward spots north of the 10 Freeway a restaurant close to heart for many Watts locals deserves full consideration for its towering burgers served in a traditional style or with toppings like griddled pastrami The Willowbrook restaurant opened in 1939 and remains family-owned and operated 20 Classic Los Angeles Restaurants Every Angeleno Must Try After debuting a revamped counter space inside Mercado La Paloma in 2023 chef Gilberto Cetina has extra room to prepare his ever-popular ceviches which earned one Michelin star in 2024 (the first market-located restaurant of its kind to do so in Los Angeles) has casual counter-ordering during the day and tasting menu reservations on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m Don’t be deterred by the shabby exterior at World Seafood Fish Market The restaurant fell under new management in 2023 with a vast seafood selection that uses catfish and red snapper — all are well-seasoned and grilled or deep-fried It’s a casual takeout joint that serves hot foods and fresh seafood that diners can make for themselves at home A post shared by World Seafoods (@worldseafoodla) Pepper’s bold dining room features bright orange and yellow walls one might think they were in the Caribbean the Jamaican-Belizean flavors channel the region with curry Take the spread to go or chow down over floral patterned tablecloths on the spot A post shared by Peppers Jamaican Belizean Cuisine (@peppers.express) Flavor Table serves up friendly vibes and easy daytime fare The restaurant’s breakfast combinations are enough to sate two and come with options such as Louisiana hot links or smoked ham steak; the massive buttermilk pancakes are supremely satisfying Grab a plate to go or eat inside the simply adorned dining room Harold & Belle’s still prepares traditional Louisiana favorites to a large and loyal local clientele This spot is one of Los Angeles’s longest-operating Black-owned restaurants and fills up regularly The bustling indoor dining room is flanked by a full bar and some television screens for languid weekend meals The Best Creole and Cajun Restaurants in Los Angeles The Best Soul and Southern Food Restaurants in Los Angeles Gwen Vance recently moved her bake shop from Inglewood to Hyde Park The longtime business still makes mini pecan plus a compelling cake menu to consider for special occasions (or just any time a slice of cake feels in order) Sign up for Vance’s email list to stay on top of her Southern-style dinners prepared weekly for pick-up Woody’s Bar-B-Que has operated throughout South LA The family still uses brick ovens with oak wood for the hot links and arguably some of the city’s best potato salad This place makes for an easy family-style meal to go The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Los Angeles 11 Delicious Takeout and Delivery Spots in Crenshaw Earle’s Grill is a South LA institution with outdoor seating and a rapid ordering process that includes beef or vegan dogs who founded the hot dog cart in 1986 with his brother Cary Duane appears to be de-facto face of the shop in lively social media videos that show him and family members serving up some of Los Angeles’s finest hot dogs The Best Affordable Restaurants in Los Angeles Los Angeles's 18 Most Iconic Restaurant Dishes One of the most beloved East LA taco spots, Asadero Chikali opened a prime location a few blocks east of Inglewood’s new Intuit Dome in 2024 the company worked out of a trailer by 2017 and buttery soft flour tortillas to help contain mouthwatering guisados like carne con chile Every order comes with up to 10 different kinds of salsa and toppings to customize each taco versatile menu should please just about anyone especially someone keen on finding top-notch tacos in South LA The Wood is one of Inglewood’s most popular hangouts with plenty of outdoor seating and large-screen televisions Diners are welcome to come in to watch their favorite sports teams and listen to the occasional live music performances Can’t-miss sides include the buttery cornbread muffins Owner Jonathan DeVeaux is the perfect host who can talk anyone into ordering an extra plate The Best Places to Eat Near Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium It’s often challenging to secure a table at Somerville the newish restaurant from Hilltop Coffee owners Ajay Relan and Yonnie Hagos the room is a stunning display of design with style that evokes the 1940s Los Angeles jazz scene Chef Geter Atienza’s menu hits are the Parker house rolls and wagyu strip loin with classic steak sauces enjoy the live jazz from the central stage Best Los Angeles Restaurants for Your Wedding Day The Best Splurge-Worthy Restaurants in Los Angeles Carnitas El Artista owner Gustavo Chavez is a third-generation carnitas specialist who starts preparing pounds of juicy meat in the early morning hours especially the carne en su jugo made in tomatillo salsa verde or the classic carnitas platter with beans and rice by 1 p.m.) before the most popular cuts of meat are sold out Where to Eat Around Los Angeles International Airport but Banadir Somali has been going strong for more than a decade The restaurant prepares halal meats that are marinated and a bright and spicy bas bas sauce made with basil The small dining room has less than a dozen wooden tables topped with patterned blue tablecloths Find metered public parking across the street There’s a reason why people hang out in front of Country Style Jamaican Restaurant — they’re patiently waiting for their order at the popular Inglewood restaurant that serves things like escovitch fish The food’s flavors pack a mighty punch; be sure to wash it all down with some ginger beer This place is primarily for to-go orders that are prepared on the spot 17 Irresistibly Spicy Dishes in Los Angeles Chefs Marcus Yaw and Abdoulaye Balde moved into the former Comfort L.A space and opened Two Hommés blocks away from SoFi Stadium in 2021 The restaurant completed a stunning 2024 interior revamp and added some new offerings that always incorporate their signature Los Angeles meets West African flavors and Senegalese smoked lamb shoulder egg rolls with caramelized plantains and cabbage This cozy brother-and-sister-owned restaurant offers straightforward Italian American fare in a bright space formerly operated by their father Chef Sol Bashirian slings dishes like cheesy garlic bread and chicken Milanesa served with lemony arugula salad This is a spot that attracts friends and families who consume every bite Chefs Keith Corbin and Daniel Patterson like to keep things fresh at their always-bustling West Adams restaurant The two frequently introduce new dishes to accompany Alta’s longtime favorites — think black-eyed pea fritters and a hearty grilled fish dolloped with West African yassa sauce The sleek barside interior is only narrowly bested by the vibey outdoor patio 20 Restaurants for Big Groups and Parties in Los Angeles The 38 Essential Restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Taco Mell’s Jermelle Henderson and Bleu Kitchen’s Calvin Johnson opened Court Cafe in 2019 The menu combines their unique approach to food and drink that resonate in South LA and a colorful mimosa flight to accompany the spread features wooden tables and chairs with television vantage points from all corners A post shared by The Court Cafe (@thecourtcafe_inc) The Best Brunch Destinations in Los Angeles 16 Most Important Los Angeles Restaurant Openings in 2019 All Beverly Grove Beverly Hills Downtown L.A Glassell Park Los Feliz Santa Monica Toluca Lake View Park-Windsor Hills Category all American Italian Soul Food New American More Less Price That’s changing with the opening of Somerville, a swanky spot on Slauson Avenue from partners Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan of GVO Hospitality, behind five locations of Hilltop Coffee (including one just next door) and Lost, a Mexico City-inspired rooftop in downtown. With modern continental cuisine and a full cocktail menu with live bands that take the stage every night, the space brings the supper club model to a South L.A. neighborhood steeped in Black history. The immersive lounge pays homage to Central Avenue, a once-thriving thoroughfare that, for decades, served as the heartbeat of L.A.’s Black community with a strip of jazz and blues clubs that brought big-name musicians such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday to their stages. The restaurant is named after Hotel Somerville, a former mainstay on the avenue that’s since been converted into Dunbar Hotel, a senior living center. “We wanted to create our version of what that era might have been,” said Relan. Since Somerville launched last November, it’s not uncommon to see clusters of guests draped in stylish furs and beaded gowns idling near the Slauson and Overhill intersection, hoping to snag a seat at what’s quickly become one of the city’s toughest reservations. The lounge belongs to a growing supper club scene in Los Angeles, one that spans a long-running showcase in Los Feliz, a Glassell Park sandwich shop that flips to an evening jazz club and a clandestine wine bar in Highland Park. Here are eight L.A. supper clubs to visit next time you’re craving dinner alongside a live show. An Orange County developer is once again attempting to build a new condominium complex in the unincorporated community of View Park-Windsor Hills the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a mitigated negative declaration for the View at Overhill a proposed development near the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Overhill Drive. Plans called for the construction of a five-story 65-foot-tall building on a currently vacant lot when a legal challenge from the United Homeowner's Association successfully appealed the County's approval of the project to a Los ANgeles Superior Court Judge. The ruling on the project found that the mitigated negative declaration adopted by the County failed to consider potential impacts to traffic congestion in the surrounding neighborhood and thus overturned the approval of the View at Overhill to comply with a court order issued in October 2019 the County has initiated an environmental impact report specifically intended to address both traffic and circulation surrounding the approximately 1.8-acre development site A timeline is not stated in the environmental documents published by Los Angeles County. County records list the project applicant as the Garden Grove-based entity Peak Capital Investments, LLC. Previous public presentations have linked development firm the Bedford Group and architecture firm Michael Luna & Associates to the project. Brant Cox, Sylvio Martins & Cathy Park California 90043">.css-56eu0z{width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;line-height:1em;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray100);vertical-align:middle;fill:currentColor;}4437 W Slauson Ave View Park you won’t want to be the least decked-out one there for a classy night of drinking champagne and tapping your dress shoes to jazzy R&B covers you’ll be on full display with comfort food that’s as dressed up as you are like the fried chicken sliders with caviar crème fraîche How to get into Somerville.css-a52oel{min-height:auto;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-4);}.css-orc1vi{font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-standard);font-weight:400;margin:var(--chakra-space-0);padding:var(--chakra-space-0);font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.6;font-style:normal;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-6);}Turn on Opentable notifications and wait it out like the rest of us (cancellations do happen) The live band stops at 9:45pm so try to get in as early as possible for the full experience 8.0Muse 108 W Channel Rd Los Angeles French Santa Monica This intimate French spot in Santa Monica is the kind of place where putting on a fancy outfit feels like meeting the moment You’ll eat nouveau French food like crackly brioche and roasted beets topped with a wavy beet crisp and chat up the eccentric chef who touches each table before night’s end This is all while the Palisades old guard strut in with diamond broaches and vintage Hermès bags there’s no such thing as being overdressed California 90048">8899 Beverly Blvd West Hollywood Italian West Hollywood Stella is what we refer to as a “Capital R” restaurant if you’re heading to this swanky Italian spot in West Hollywood don’t be afraid to throw on a designer dress or your best blazer beforehand Stella is a scene (expect plenty of famous people to walk by) but one where the hoopla feels warranted because the food is fantastic Think regionally-specific dishes you don’t often see on LA menus: octopus-stuffed tortellini en brodo a Sicilian ricotta cake with chocolate and pistachio How to get into StellaChase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers can unlock access to primetime reservations on OpenTable through the Visa Dining Collection. Find exclusive bookings here Access exclusive reservations with your sapphire reserve card California 90405">2803 Main St Santa Monica American Unlike its more casual sibling Pasjoli (and calling Pasjoli casual is a stretch) dinner at Santa Monica's Seline is the kind of splashy experience that demands a little dressing up and you might as well put as much thought into your outfit as the kitchen does the cerebral dishes at this high-end tasting menu spot you’ll be served seasonal ingredients presented in eye-grabby ways like geoduck liver crackers served on metallic orbs and wilted watercress salads roasted inside whole pumpkins There also aren’t too many places in laidback Santa Monica to wear your favorite pair of designer heels CA 90210">9785 S Santa Monica Blvd Beverly Hills Beverly Hills and potentially a few Oscar nominees sitting in the dining room a meal at La Dolce Vita is an event—or at least an event worth busting out the nicest outfit in your closet You could show up to this restored Old Hollywood spot in Beverly Hills wearing a designer slip dress or a three-piece suit and still feel like you could’ve gone bigger 9.0Damian Mexican Arts District This fine dining Mexican spot in the Arts District comes from the same chef as Pujol in Mexico City service that moves like a choreographed dance and an intimate setting that feels like you’re eating inside a botanical garden from the future If there ever was a place to wear that mesh blouse you bought in Rio and have been too scared to wear it since 7.3Gucci Osteria N/Naka Japanese Culver City How to get into N/NakaN/Naka releases a week's worth of online reservations a month in advance every Sunday at 10am We'd also suggest emailing to ask about any openings from last-minute cancellations Cicada Club Downtown LA This reservation-only Downtown supper club looks like you accidentally slipped into a black hole and landed in 1920s Manhattan people unironically dressed in flapper outfits and a dance floor that gets started early and never stops but nobody really cares when you’re able to role-play Daisy Buchanan all night 8.0Lucky's Malibu 3835 Cross Creek Rd Ste 18 Malibu Malibu A nice change-up from the various surf and turf spots you'll find along the Malibu coastline this fancy spot inside the Country Mart comes to us from SoCal’s other A-Lister commune and though you probably won’t spot Oprah and Meghan Markle here the well-heeled crowd still arrives to impress Locals sip martinis and intentionally place their hands so everyone can see their jewelry Modern-day socialites making grand entrances Lucky’s is more than just a people-watching sideshow though—the mostly meat-and-potatoes menu is good 8.0Spago Lawry's The Prime Rib 100 N LA Cienega Blvd Beverly Hills Steaks Lawry’s is one of those places where you’ll see a booth filled with a family wearing t-shirts and cargo shorts and turn a corner to find a room full of three-piece tuxedos and evening gowns With spinning salads and shining golden carts of prime rib on wheels this Beverly Hills original is one of the most entertaining meals in town The more all-in you go on the unabashed cheesiness 8.5Chi Spacca Hancock Park Being someone who lives a well-balanced lifestyle is a good thing but only if you toss in a night of complete excess now and then So go to Chi Spacca—the meat-centric restaurant at Melrose and Highland where excess isn’t just encouraged The same can be said for showing up in a suit jacket and expensive jeans Your week of clean eating can start the next day How to get into Chi SpaccaChase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers can unlock access to primetime reservations on OpenTable through the Visa Dining Collection. Find exclusive bookings here The Royce Steakhouse Pasadena The Royce is a very fancy steakhouse in Pasadena where you go to impress extremely important people in a room that feels like the top-deck restaurant of the Titanic. It's the kind of place where old money goes to feel young again, so you might as well put on your Sunday best and go play the part for a few hours. As one might expect, steaks should be the focus here, but it would be a mistake not to have at least one order of crab cakes for the table. 14 places in LA where you can drink martinis and judge other people in peace. We’re breaking down LA's best options for poolside dining. Sylvio moved to LA over a decade ago and still misses his exit on the 10. He came to us as a freelancer and wrote so many guides that we gave him a job. Cathy is a California native who left her job in tech to eat for a living. She believes every meal should end with something sweet (it’s science). Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article Print A magnitude 2.8 earthquake was reported Tuesday at 8:19 a.m Pacific time in Los Angeles’ View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood The earthquake‘s epicenter was 7.1 miles beneath the intersection of Overland Drive and Northridge Drive there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby An average of 59 earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.0 and 3.0 occur per year in the Greater Los Angeles area according to a recent three-year data sample Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions. Quakebot is a software application developed by the Los Angeles Times to report the latest earthquakes as fast as possible. It is maintained by The Times’ Data and Graphics Department. Learn more by reading our list of frequently asked questions. California Brant Cox & Sylvio Martins Seeing big-name artists at giant venues can be fun. But sometimes it's great to experience live music in a setting where you can actually see the faces of the people on stage. Fortunately, LA is full of great bars and restaurants where you can do just that. From old-school steakhouses to swanky, subterranean cocktail bars, here are the best places to eat and drink while listening to live music. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal flashy restaurant with dates in cocktail dresses and a months-long waitlist but the live jazz band is what breathes life into this upscale American spot on Slauson There’s a small stage in the center of this spacious mahogany-clad restaurant where musicians can play riffs on the grand piano or pull a Bridgerton and cover R&B songs from the past decade Just make sure to book your reservation before the live music wraps at 9:45 PlayUnmute1642 Beer And Wine Wine Bar Echo Park This bar on the edge of Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown has minimal signage out front but you'll hear a live band playing from the sidewalk on most nights it's a swing jazz quartet and other times it's a ragtime pianist playing in a candlelit corner but it's always a perfectly moody evening with a great beer and wine selection and put those thousands of dollars you spent on improv classes to use by listening California 90048">9077 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood You can head to Andy’s and eat food if you like The menu is mostly clubby snacks like crispy calamari and chicken tenders and you’ll have to make a reservation between 5pm-8:30pm (when the vibe is dead inside) Come after 9:30pm instead and use this place for what it actually is: a fantastic live music venue but don't let that deter you: walk-ins are encouraged (with no cover charge) and everybody crowds around the rectangular bar to watch whoever is playing Don’t be surprised when a tiny dance floor forms post-dinner spot that doesn’t involve the full-on club experience Andy’s is a fun place to end a night in Weho 8.0Baked Potato Club Studio City The Georgian Bar Kibitz Room Fairfax 7.3Tower Bar Tramp Stamp Granny’s 1638 N Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles Hollywood Walking into Tramp Stamp Granny’s in Hollywood is like walking into the most insane high school theater cast party of all time Here you’ll find bartenders belting Celine Dion and pouring shots and every single person singing Seasons of Love in unison This rowdy piano bar is the kind of place you peek your head into because you hear noise from the sidewalk and wake up the next morning with a text from an unknown number asking if you’re still on for the Dear Evan Hansen matinee Townhouse Venice Venice Harvard & Stone Desert 5 Spot Pip's On La Brea The Continental Club Good Times At Davey Wayne's 1611 N El Centro Ave Los Angeles El Cid Silver Lake Club Tee Gee Atwater Village 7.7Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill & Jazz 2930 Beverly Glen Cir Los Angeles Bel Air 6.8Delilah 7969 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood How to get into DelilahChase Sapphire Reserve® cardmembers can unlock access to primetime reservations on OpenTable through the Visa Dining Collection. Find exclusive bookings here 8.0Carlitos Gardel Argentinian Beverly Grove 7.0The Dresden Los Feliz Our thoughts on the most exclusive restaurants in Los Angeles and advice on how to book a table Holiday Closures Friends of the View Park Library a volunteer-run organization that supports the library and library events Friends of the View Park Library provides the following services to support the library View Park Bebe Moore Campbell Library serves the residents of View Park-Windsor Hills an unincorporated area west of the City of Los Angeles View Park Library was founded in 1940 and was housed in a leased facility located at 5400 S. Harcourt Avenue. The library moved across the street to its present location in 1977 and features a mural by artist Frank Matranga the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved changing the library name in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell On September 29, 2017 the library reopened after undergoing an 18-month, $1.38 million renovation. The renovation made room for additional public computers and seating as well as three more murals, and art on display from the Golden State Mutual Art Collection A monthly list of noteworthy titles selected by our Collection Development Services team See More Booklists Check out what's happening at LA County Library this month Read More LA County Library announces the 43 annual Bookmark contest for grades K-12 Read More Read More Read More County of Los Angeles Many of our libraries offer enhanced resources, computers, and online services to support your homework needs. Check with your local library Have you walked into a library and wished you could check out more books than you could possibly carry Check out a Kindle Paperwhite at participating libraries with a collection of titles that you are sure to enjoy Each Kindle has been loaded with expert-selected books You don’t need internet access - all the books are pre-loaded onto the Kindle so you are ready to read Click on the library to view list of genres available Laptops in this kiosk can be checked out by customers with a LA County Library card in good standing The laptop is due back in the kiosk before the library closes on the same day it is checked out If you do not return the laptop to the kiosk on the same day you check it out your library account will be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop When you check out a laptop from this kiosk you agree to use it within the library only If you remove the laptop from the library you may held criminally responsible for theft of the laptop and/or be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop You are responsible for the laptop and you agree that you will reimburse the LA County Library for any damages if the laptop is damaged If you check out a laptop and it is damaged you will give it to library staff immediately You must save to a removable storage device (such as a USB drive) since your work will not be saved to the laptop beyond your current checkout LA County Library will not be held responsible for any damage or loss of data or media due to any cause while you are using a laptop from this kiosk you must adhere to the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy Laptops are available at the following libraries: A C Bilbrew Library Artesia Library Culver City Julian Dixon Library Clifton M Brakensiek Library East Los Angeles Library El Camino Real Library La Mirada Library La Puente Library Leland R Weaver Library Manhattan Beach Library Paramount Library Quartz Hill Library Sorensen Library South El Monte Library South Whittier Library Temple City Library View Park Bebe Moore Campbell Library Walnut Library West Hollywood Library Willowbrook Library The Consumer Health Information Program assists the public with medical research by providing information from reliable sources. Customers are invited to use the Norwalk Library collection which consists of books and online databases related to health topics We also provide individualized research services nor are the materials we provide a substitute for a professional medical opinion We can provide you with information on topics such as: Location: Norwalk Library Email: chips@library.lacounty.gov Health Databases * Health & Fitness eBooks and Audiobooks * The first three years of a child's life lay the foundation for learning Get the tools and resources you need to give your child the best possible start Citizenship-in-a-Bag contains: Checkout or place a hold on a Citizenship-in-a-Bag toolkit Thank you for sharing your photos with Catalina PhotoShare a community history project of LA County Library Your photos will be reviewed and if they meet the criteria they will be added to the Catalina PhotoShare online collection please contact: digitalprojects@library.lacounty.gov The Californiana Collection is in closed stacks at the Norwalk Library located at 12350 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650. The Californiana Collection consists of over 24,000 books and over 200 magazine and newspaper titles in paper and on microfilm as well as a collection of state documents including state and county budgets. The goal of this collection is to present a complete picture of the history, culture, environment and artistic expression of the people of California and to some extent, the western United States. Deputies responded to the 3800 block of Crestway Drive around 10:20 a.m., according to bulletins from the Sheriff’s Department. The shooting victim, whose name was not released, was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. Sheriff’s investigators are asking for members of the public with information about the crime to contact the department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who would prefer to remain anonymous may call (800) 222-8477. View Park-Windsor Hills is an unincorporated area of South L.A. David Zahniser covers Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. The students learned about plants and the cycle of butterflies The preschool encourages their students ages 2-6 years old to develop a real love of learning Oak Tree Learning Center is a preschool that is not using the standard pencil-to-paper or memorization style of learning. Their project based teaching style is giving their students a more meaningful learning experience “One of the central things to Oak Tree schools is that we use a curriculum called meaningful assessment ready experiences for pre-k; or we call it made for pre-k,” said Jennifer Carter executive director and owner of Oak Tree Learning Center in View Park-Windsor Hills and in San Bernardino. “We create meaningful experiences so that everything that they do has an impact.” Each month the students have a project where they learn about themes that impact society. In January they learn about Dr in preparation for MLK Day. In February they learn about Black History. In March they work on Women’s History Month projects. In April they work on projects for Earth Day where they learn about plants and the cycle of butterflies. They prepare songs and poems in May for their graduation event. They learn about diversity in September and Hispanic Heritage in October “We want our kids to understand that it’s not about just doing worksheets,” Carter said. “It’s learning things that are applicable to life and it empowers you to do so much beyond.” Interacting with classmates is very important for the students as children two and three years old start to learn the concepts of sharing and potty training. They learn important social and emotional skills so that they learn how to work with others Students ages four and five years old participate in Oak Tree’s School Readiness program which provides a strong foundation of learning as the children prepare to enter elementary school The View Park-Windsor Hills school has a predominantly Black class and it is in a predominantly Black community so Black history and Black cultural themes are common. Carter’s goal is to normalize Black history and Black culture for the students opposed to focusing on it only during Black History Month “When we talk about Black people on a regular basis it feels Afrocentric,” Carter said. “But we’re just talking about regular people who do great things These are people who are important figures for our children to learn about. We don’t necessarily emphasize it as Black. We emphasize it as important. And because they’re Black then the children make that internal connection. Then they don’t see themselves as being segregated or somehow separated from the mainstream narrative.” Carter also builds a strong sense of local community in her students as they use local businesses as learning experiences “We went to different Black-owned businesses and how it connects to what we do at our center,” she said. “We went to Malik Books (Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and Westfield Culver City) and he (Malik Muhammad) talked about Black-centered books that children can read. We went to Kutula by Africana (View Park-Windsor Hills) and they showed us how to put head wraps on children. So we try as much as possible to have a symbiotic relationship so that kids can see themselves in the community and then the community can see itself in what we’re doing here.” the students do learning activities in 45-minute sessions and then they have breaks where they can play indoors and outdoors “We don’t sit still writing all day long,” Carter said. “There’s a lot time when the kids go outside and play. We want them to build social and emotional skills.” Oak Tree Learning Center is developing an infant center for children as young as six months old Carter has also launched a YouTube channel where she shares her teaching techniques with parents. These videos can be used to enrich a student’s learning experience at home Oak Tree Learning Center View Park-Windsor Hills is located at 4416 W. Slauson Avenue. Contact them at (323) 815-1093, and visit their website at www.oaktreelearningcenter.com The affluent neighborhood of View Park between Crenshaw and La Brea see the potential historic designation as a way to preserve the architectural integrity of the neighborhood and to improve property values but when the Supreme Court lifted covenants that barred non-white owners monied black professionals started moving in Is wanting to preserve the current cultural identity of View Park okay What are the pros and cons of putting View Park on the National Register of Historic Places Stream PBS SoCal and your favorite PBS programs to your TV and devices wherever Celebrate AAPI Month on PBS SoCal all May with exclusive programs Find full episodes and educational games from Curious George Support PBS SoCal and watch full seasons of your favorite shows County found wide gaps in life expectancy across major racial and ethnic groups demonstrating the profound impact of these social determinants of health 12 years longer than the life expectancy of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) and Blacks Latinos have the second-highest life expectancy despite facing worse socioeconomic barriers. life expectancy in Los Angeles also differs based on social and environmental factors that shape longevity and quality of life for Angelenos The following comparison of two areas in South Los Angeles exposes a more nuanced representation of the factors contributing to life expectancy. County, West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert and View Park-Windsor Hills are two neighboring areas in South Los Angeles with large Black and Latino populations and similar household sizes according to 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Both areas have an average household size of just under 3 people and 86% of their respective populations identifies as Black or Latino Despite their geographic proximity and demographic similarities, Portrait of L.A County reports that life expectancy in the two areas differs by more than 4 years with View Park-Windsor Hills’ life expectancy averaging 83 years while West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert’s life expectancy rests at 79 Some of the major determinants that may contribute to this gap include income and educational attainment levels View Park-Windsor Hills has a median household income of $85,974 — more than double that of West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert ($39,947) A similar gap in college graduation rates exists between these two communities Over half of View Park-Windsor Hills residents have a bachelor's degree or higher level of education compared to just 21% of residents in West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert. Disparities in life expectancy within these two areas can’t be explained by any one factor the cumulative impact of these socioeconomic and environmental factors in View-Park Windsor Hills and West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert chip away at the residents’ potential to live much longer and healthier lives. County identifies several key social determinants of health that if addressed properly would help reduce the disparities we see in life expectancy Public officials have long advocated that interventions directed to individuals such as programs to promote individual lifestyle changes or direct health services have limited effectiveness for closing gaps in life expectancy absent of changes in the social and economic conditions within communities like clean air and water systems and policies that support better health such as greater economic security access to transportation and affordable housing could significantly reduce gaps in life expectancy The interrelated and inequitable nature of these health determinants highlights the importance of working to improve health outcomes across multiple policy areas. A life expectancy of 82 years is a fantastic average there are still glaring health inequities across major racial/ethnic groups and communities in Los Angeles County Continuing to invest in programs that improve social determinants of health will help close these gaps and create a healthier The Association between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States 2001 – 2014. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2016. A Portrait of Los Angeles County. Measure of America. 2017 et al. Childhood obesity and proximity to urban parks and recreational resources: a longitudinal cohort study. Health & Place PBS SoCal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.Tax ID: 95-2211661 Aristos is a Newsweek science and health reporter with the London He is particularly focused on archaeology and paleontology although he has covered a wide variety of topics ranging from astronomy and mental health Aristos joined Newsweek in 2018 from IBTimes UK and had previously worked at The World Weekly He is a graduate of the University of Nottingham and City University You can get in touch with Aristos by emailing a.georgiou@newsweek.com. Languages: English either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content A 3.7 magnitude earthquake has struck California around 7 miles southwest of the center of Los Angeles The quake struck around midnight local time about 1 mile south of View Park-Windsor Hills It could reportedly be felt in different parts of the Los Angeles Area People living in the area who felt the quake took to social media describing their experience Twitter user @karlamera said: "I felt the quake First there was light rattling around the apartment and it got stronger and stronger M3.7 #earthquake (#sismo) strikes 12 km SW of Los Angeles (#California) 11 min ago. Updated map of its effects: pic.twitter.com/mpxAbfM2Ke Others said that the impact of the quake felt stronger than the figure given "It felt waaay stronger than that!" Said Twitter user @gsanta27 user @PK81660157 said: "I live in south central and it felt like something slammed into the house at first." and it felt way stronger than that," said @ThePeachChef According to the City of Los Angeles earthquake website there have been 26 earthquakes above magnitude 1 in the last 24 hours The event in View Park-Windsor Hills is the strongest a seismologist and Professor of Geophysics at Cal Poly Pomona said that the location and mechanism of the earthquake appears to be consistent with the Newport-Inglewood Fault System which struck at a depth of 7.4 miles according to the USGS was preceded by a magnitude 2.1 foreshock in almost the same location around 15 hours earlier The Newport-Inglewood fault stretches for around 47 miles from Culver City through Inglewood to Newport Beach where it moves into the Pacific and connects with the Rose Canyon fault system It has long been considered one of the most dangerous in Southern California because it sits below some of the region's most heavily populated areas it was responsible for the second most deadly earthquake in the history of California The Long Beach earthquake struck on March 10 1933 with a magnitude of 6.4 with the epicenter located along a southern section of the fault The quake caused widespread damage and resulted in the deaths of around 120 people Scientists think that an earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater along the Newport-Inglewood fault could do significant damage to some parts of Los Angeles perhaps more so than one striking along the infamous San Andreas fault it's probably the fastest-moving big earthquake that you're going to have locally," Jones said "A 7 on the Newport-Inglewood is going to do a lot more damage than an 8 on the San Andreas especially for Los Angeles," seismologist Lucy Jones Lucy Jones Center for Science & Society The headline of this article has been updated The article has been updated to include additional information on the earthquake the faults in the area and historical information on earthquakes in the region Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all nicknamed "Black Beverly Hills," success is common for African AmericansA local family shares their experience living in the area and their perceptions of success The Los Angeles hilltop neighborhoods of Baldwin Hills make up one of the most affluent predominantly African-American enclaves in the nation leading some to call it the "Black Beverly Hills." We explore this community and perceptions of Black success through the Burnett family.BALDWIN HILLS (KABC) -- Success is typical among the residents in the predominantly African-American neighborhoods of Baldwin Hills Many of the homes are valued upwards of $2 million leading some to call it the "Black Beverly Hills." But this label paints a distorted image of a community that's proud of its own history and identity "I'm pretty sure it wasn't somebody African American that labeled it," said Baldwin Hills resident Denise Burnett a former school principal and rising director at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA They didn't have a silver spoon in their mouth It wasn't given to them or inherited it a dentist who grew up in neighboring South Los Angeles This story is part of "Our America: Living While Black," a five-part ABC Owned Television Stations docuseries. Find all episodes on your streaming device, including FireTV, Roku, Apple TV and Android TV "We always knew that there were more affluent Black people that lived in the Baldwin Hills area So as kids we always wanted to be there," said Dr According to local real estate agent Roland Harris African Americans settled in the area because historically they were not allowed to purchase homes in other affluent areas LEARN MORE: Explore the Equity Report "It's just a really great community," said Harris a lot of times people would not sell to them in affluent neighborhoods A lot of successful African Americans chose this neighborhood because it's a very beautiful neighborhood "Our America": Living While Black - Racism and Inequality Resources Find sweet and savory pies of all stripes at Crustees in View Park-Windsor Hills Since 2014, the shop garnered a strong reputation for its line of sweet and savory baked goods. While the business is best known for its pot pies — flaky, rich, and sized for one person to indulge maximally — no pastry lover should miss the peach cobbler. “That peach cobbler, my mother’s been making it for over 30 years. It was required at every party,” says co-owner Steven Washington. Her cobbler, it turns out, is the dish that the entire business is built upon. Crustees’ succinct menu spotlights single-serving pies, as well as bowls of turkey and chicken chili and gumbo, and desserts like banana pudding and pound cake. Pot pies and chili were added to the menu for the same reason Sharon started selling her cobblers to the public in the first place — people love her recipes. “They’re what my mother has been making since I’ve known,” says Steven. “They’re household favorites that everyone we know has given her flowers for.” The shop’s three varieties of chicken pot pie (classic, curry, and Buffalo, like the chicken wing sauce) are big sellers, as are the white chicken chili and classic chili. The seafood gumbo is proving popular, too, with its shrimp and crab, plus sausage and chicken. The shepherd’s pie, made with lamb and turkey, has the traditional mashed potato top and a pie crust bottom, for a best-of-both-worlds bite. The sweet potato pie balances its warming spices and sits in the same tender, toasty crust. The owners are good-natured but not forthcoming about their baking secrets. “Might be a little bit of technique involved,” says Steven. “It’s the Crustees way.” The Crustees way doesn’t stop at tender, flaky pastry. The owners try to convey a sense of warmth through their cooking and community outreach. The only menu item not made in-house is the pound cake, which is baked by Catrina Smith, a South LA resident who started her own small business last year. “We wanted to give back because we started with wholesaling,” Steven says. Smith got her start in much the same way as Sharon: baking for friends and family who encouraged her to make a business of it. “I’ve been baking these cakes just for family,” says Smith. “People told me, ‘You should sell these cakes,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, okay.’” Though she usually waved away the suggestion, Smith’s husband, Patrick Smith, turned out to be an effective hype man, as well as a loyal Crustees customer. On one visit to the shop, Patrick talked up her desserts to Steven’s father and Sharon’s husband, Carl, who is also an owner of Crustees. “Mr. Carl said, ‘Have her give me a call.’” Catrina currently bakes three to five pound cakes a week for Crustees while she strategizes the next steps for her business. Even with the popularity of the Slauson store, Crustees continues to sell its wares wholesale at Jim’s Fallbrook Market in Woodland Hills, Jayde’s Market in Bel Air, Handy Market in Burbank, and Bob’s Market in Santa Monica during the holidays. Crustees is also active at farmers markets, currently vending at Playa Vista, Beverly Hills, Larchmont, and Hollywood Park in Inglewood. The Washingtons keeps up with the markets so that “every part of LA can get some of Crustees,” says Steven. While it made financial sense for Sharon to keep her day job as a legal secretary during Crustees’s start-up era, she hasn’t seen the need to step away yet, even after the business name change, menu expansion, and brick-and-mortar location. “She’s organized and disciplined,” says Steven. “She kind of thrives in this.” In November 2023, Crustees celebrated five years in the neighborhood with a massive gathering. The celebration quickly became a block party. The Washingtons were heartened to see the community come out to celebrate their milestone. “They’re helpful and nice and great,” says Jason Johnson, an employee at a nearby dessert joint, the Snoball Shop, of the Crustees team. But a restaurant is nothing without excellent food. “The chili pot pie is my favorite,” he says. “It tastes like homemade, like your mama made it.” Crustees, located at 4442 W. Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. One day in the early 2000s, Professor Darnell Hunt was walking his dog in his picturesque Baldwin Vista neighborhood in South Los Angeles. “This car came up and was moving really slowly, like kind of checking out the front of the house. And this guy stuck his head out the window. He said, ‘Hey, I used to live there.’ And I looked at him and recognized him. It was Lenny Kravitz. I said, ‘Yeah, I know you did,’” Hunt recalls. “He goes, ‘Do you mind if I take a look around?’ And we invited him in and he hung out in our house for about an hour, just telling us all these stories about growing up in the house and the whole bit.” This has led neighborhoods in the Baldwin Hills — a collection of affluent wealthy and middle-class areas including Baldwin Hills Estates, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Vista, and especially View Park — to be known as “The Black Beverly Hills.” The rolling hills in South Los Angeles that now hosts these neighborhoods were once part of the Rancho La Cienega o Paso de la Tijera, eventually owned by the randy, wily 19th century L.A. pioneer Elias “Lucky” Baldwin. In the early 20th century, these lawless, uninhabited hills were best known for the rough and tumble oil derricks that punctured the land, and conflicts between various syndicates to control the oil fields. With its reputation as a dump site for a notorious murder, peat fires, and a narcotics ring meet-up place, the area appears to have had a wild side. However, this did not deter developers. During the boom time of the 1920s, they began to eye the hills, which offered panoramic views and perfect placement between Los Angeles proper, Santa Monica, and the South Bay. In 1927, the Los Angeles Times reported on the development of the new neighborhood of View Park: Some of the first homes in Baldwin Hills, which came to be known as View Park, consisted of nine- to 11-room homes in Spanish and English styles, purchased, according to developers, by “manufacturers, professors and financiers.” After the Olympics, all traces of the village were quickly removed, and more permanent structures came to dominate the Baldwin Hills. Developers, including the Los Angeles Investment Company and the Baldwin Hills Company, began to develop homes on the hill. So many doctors moved into the neighborhoods that it became known as “Pill Hill.” The completion of the towering 19-acre Baldwin Hills Reservoir in 1951 only accelerated development, with many young families, professors and business owners moving into the sprawling one-story ranch and modern homes proliferating in the hills. Laurie Coleman Kelson has fond memories of growing up in View Park and Baldwin Hills Vista in the 1950s and ‘60s. “Even the weather was so beautiful. I'm sure it still is, but we always had your prevailing afternoon wind where you really didn't need air conditioning,” she recalls. “Neighbors took care of neighbors, cared about one another.” The almost exclusively white neighborhoods in the Baldwin Hills slowly began to change in the 1950s, after the Supreme Court struck down the enforcement of racially restrictive covenants in 1948. This enabled prosperous Black families — forced to live in areas primarily surrounding Central Avenue — to move into neighborhoods with amenities and opportunities they had until recently been denied. “We first were in View Park and that was one of the first neighborhoods to become integrated. And that was in the early '50s,” Kelson recalls. “The first Black family moved into my street and it was the jazz pianist Art Tatum and his wife… And we as children thought this was fabulous. We’d sit on the curb and listen to him practice.” Soon, predatory real estate agents were convincing white homeowners it was time to leave the neighborhood before their property value plummeted due to their new Black neighbors. “Unfortunately, a lot of realtors made it their business to go around,” Kelson says. “And I remember my parents were sort of horrified by them saying, ‘Your house is not going to be worth much. We'll list it and we'll get you out of here soon.’” However, Kelson’s parents redoubled their commitment to the Baldwin Hills. In 1961 when she was 13, her family moved into a bigger home in Baldwin Hills Vista, with breathtaking views of the Baldwin Hills Dam. Though Kelson felt no tension at the multi-racial, demographically shifting Dorsey High School, there were some white Baldwin Hills neighbors who made their displeasure known. In a 1962 letter to the editor in the Los Angeles Times, a white resident in Baldwin Hills sniffed dismissively that Black people “wanted to be white.” The following week, L.A. resident Anne Thompson issued a passionate rebuttal, explaining that Black Angelenos of means were escaping neighborhoods where they faced lack of police protection, woefully unequal public services, and inadequate schools. “This my dear lady, is why we move into ‘white neighborhoods,’” she wrote. Black "mothers have the same aspirations for their offspring as Caucasian mothers — the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — in the best possible environment, with the very best preparation for adult life possible.” That same year, the NAACP announced it was picketing the Baldwin Hills School after 15 Black children in the neighborhood were denied admission because the principal claimed they didn’t have “the necessary transfer forms." In the midst of this transition, tragedy struck. On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 14, 1963, the Baldwin Hills Dam burst, sending a wave of water cascading through the hills. Debris flowed into the celebrated Village Green community in the flatlands below. Sixty-four homes in the Baldwin Hills were destroyed, five people killed, and others injured. “The president had been assassinated in November. And then on Dec. 14, the dam broke. So, it was sort of like my little world of Baldwin, my world was just falling apart,” Kelson, whose family home survived, recalls. “People were devastated. Many homes gone, many flooded.” But the people of the Baldwin Hills built their neighborhoods back relatively quickly, recovering from the catastrophe. Hunt believes this tipping point was accelerated after the Watts uprising in 1965. “Watts, which was miles away, was evidently too close for comfort for a lot of the white people who were living in these areas, and they started moving further west,” he says. According to the Los Angeles Times, by 1971, 4,000 of View Park’s 5,795 residents had moved out of the neighborhood. David McNeill, longtime View Park resident, and his family moved to the neighborhood in the 1970s. “A lot of athletes were moving in and living there,” he recalls. “My father finished his master's degree in business administration, and they were on their way up the hill.” For McNeill it was an idyllic place to grow up. The abandoned Baldwin Hills Dam site (now part of the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area) was also a popular place for neighborhood kids. “We'd go, and that was awesome. You'd go there at night. It was just dead and creepy and huge and open space and you're like, ‘Wow,’” he recalls. Residents up the hill, many who sent their children to private schools, were part of numerous Black civic organizations. There were social clubs like The Links, which hosted the premiere Black debutante balls in the city, the leadership organization Jack and Jill, and fraternities like Alpha Phi Alpha. McNeill recalls numerous transplants from Louisiana, known as the “LA, LA” folks. Baldwin Hills was visited by tragedy yet again in July 1985, when a fire destroyed 47 homes in the neighborhood. In 1994, Darnell Hunt and his wife, both young professors starting their academic careers at USC, were in search of a family home. “My wife and I, we wanted to be near or in a Black community. We didn't want to be distant from a Black community,” he recalls. Many children, including David McNeill, who grew up in the neighborhood in the 1970s and ‘80s, came back to Baldwin Hills after college and young adulthood to raise their own families. According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2000, of the around 45,000 people who lived in Baldwin Hills, View Park, Windsor Hills and Ladera Heights, 76% were Black, 9% were Latino and 6% were white. But those living in the hills still battled racism and racist policies from recent decades. In 2001, neighborhood residents banded together to cancel plans for a power plant in the hills, which was seen by many as a form of environmental racism. For decades, economic racism has forced many residents of the Baldwin Hills to go west to shop and eat out. Residents hope the $2.1 billion Crenshaw-LAX Light Rail Project, which will bring high-quality transit to the area, will also bring new amenities and development to South L.A. There are also efforts to preserve the Black history of the Crenshaw District with Destination Crenshaw, projected to be a 1.1-mile outdoor museum running along the new Crenshaw line. This new focus on the area, along with rising housing prices, has led to a hot real estate market in the Baldwin Hills. “It is on fire. It's crazy on fire. I mean, you can't get in there for less than $1.2 million,” says realtor Katrina Manning, who has sold in the area for 18 years. “And I mean, when I talk about $1.2, I mean the houses that were built back in the '60s and the '70s with no work. I mean a lot of those houses still look like retro with the mirrors, carpet, and all of that stuff.” Manning has seen an increase in white buyers, many who have young families, leading to shifting demographics. Many Black residents are getting older and finding they can sell homes purchased for $20,000 decades ago for over $1 million. “Back during the day, a lot of affluent African Americans bought their homes there,” Manning says. “And now they're all old. And so, a lot of them are dying. And some of the kids... a lot of kids went back east to go to Howard University. And a lot of them didn't want to come back to California.” Manning points to the Baldwin Hills many positive attributes; its abundance of outdoor recreation, beautiful views, and nearness to SoFi Stadium and the Forum for its increasing popularity. Hunt, who now lives in Baldwin Hill’s Estates, echoes many of the same points, adding: But the Baldwin Hills, like much of South Los Angeles, face a new challenge, as more and more non-Black residents move into the area. David McNeill has noticed the shift in his neighborhood over the past few years. “I don't see the teenage kids. I see a lot of babies. Most of the babies are the new generation of Baldwin Hills residents. Just don't look like me. So, I sit in my window watching, drinking coffee. “People want to call it gentrification,” he says. “That's just a lightning word that people like to use, whether it's media or Facebook. It's like pick a word that's going to get people excited. I call it the G word, but it's not. There's no gentrification happening. It's always been a beautiful neighborhood with upper class people making lots of good money and sending their kids to private school. How do you gentrify a neighborhood like that?” Gina Fields, the Chair of the Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Council, worries that the area’s Black Angelenos who can live within a majority Black community has shrunk. As a sociologist, Hunt sees the legacy of Baldwin Hills as one that is continuing to evolve. “You have to strike a balance between creating opportunities for development in the area and at the same time protecting smaller businesses that can't compete on equal footing for rent and so forth. So, I think that's kind of the lesson. I mean, for me, it could be a very interesting case study in whether or not gentrification, which is inevitable in this region, can proceed in a way that doesn't destroy the fabric of the community.” For longtime resident David McNeill, the Baldwin Hills are simply home — a place where he says he still rides his bike and walks in his neighborhood on warm summer evenings “hearing the sounds and smelling the food that’s cooking in the kitchens.” While sitting on a park bench in the hills, McNeill explains contentedly, "I can see myself. This is my L.A. … My little neighborhood.” Print Phaedra Battle was just a 19-year-old college student heading out to watch a new Eddie Murphy movie when a car slammed into hers at Slauson and La Brea avenues More than three decades later, her mother, Francine Battle, 83, watched with a rush of emotion footage of the gruesome Windsor Hills crash that left five people The tragedy happened in the same spot where her daughter was fatally injured in 1987 The losses are piling up at an alarming rate. With the pandemic came a surge of motor vehicle deaths, abetted by an upswing in reckless behavior. Nearly 43,000 people died in crashes in 2021 — a 10.5% increase from the year before. And the trend doesn’t show signs of letting up. A nurse has been arrested on vehicular manslaughter charges in the crash that killed five people An estimated 9,560 people died in crashes in the first three months of this year in the U.S., according to preliminary data released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s equivalent to a death every 13 minutes. “When everyday life came to a halt in March 2020, risky behaviors skyrocketed, and traffic fatalities spiked,” said Steve Cliff, administrator of the NHTSA. “We’d hoped these trends were limited to 2020, but sadly they aren’t.” Deadly collisions began to shoot up during the pandemic, just as roads emptied out. People who were socially isolated and faced uncertainty became more reckless behind the wheel, speeding and drinking more, data show. “It’s almost like people forgot common-sense traffic safety rules out there,” said Doug Shoupe, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Assn. “And they, unfortunately, became more risky, not only speeding but distracted driving, engaging in even dangerous driving behaviors like street racing and street takeovers.” There have been 48 crashes alone at La Brea and Slauson since last year. Speed caused about a third of those collisions. And yet it hasn’t been considered the most deadly intersection in Los Angeles County. That grim distinction belongs to where Rosecrans Avenue and the 710 Freeway meet; there were seven fatal crashes there between 2011 and 2021, according to state data. A preliminary examination of that data does not reveal how many people died in those crashes. Authorities say Nicole Lorraine Linton, a 37-year-old registered nurse who had been working at Kaiser Permanente’s West Los Angeles Medical Center, was speeding at more than 90 mph when she careened through a red light at Slauson and slammed into multiple vehicles. The crash killed pregnant 23-year-old Asherey Ryan and her boy, posthumously named Armani, who was barely a month from his due date. It also killed Ryan’s 11-month-old son, Alonzo Quintero; her boyfriend, Reynold Lester; and best friends Nathesia Lewis, 43, and Lynette Noble, 38. Friends and colleagues are struggling to come to grips with how the woman they knew as a consummate professional and kind caregiver could be involved in such a horrific chain of events American cities have been building roads to accommodate greater speeds Six-lane arterial roads like the one Linton raced through can encourage drivers to blow past speed limits executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Assn. said the Windsor Hills crash that took multiple lives might not have been so severe had the road been designed with more impediments toward picking up tremendous speed “If there had been a more forgiving infrastructure this crash may not have been so severe because the speed wouldn’t have been as big of an issue,” he said The crash occurred near one of L.A. County’s most affluent Black enclaves, View Park-Windsor Hills. Residents of the largely Black unincorporated neighborhood have long asked for more speed bumps, stoplights and other measures to reduce speeding and unsafe driving. “If a neighborhood that is financially blessed as we are can’t get the resources to protect our streets, I can’t imagine how other people in South L.A. are feeling and how they can be protected,” said Leon Blum, a View Park-Windsor Hills resident. Darryl Grayson, president of the area’s United Homeowners Assn. II, put it more bluntly: “They placate us by saying, ‘We are working on it, we are working on it.’ Piecemeal things get done, but nothing near what’s required to save lives. ... This is the tip of the iceberg where Slauson and La Brea happened.” The rise in fatal crashes during the pandemic surprised academics who expected less traffic to improve safety. But wide-open, relatively empty streets only seemed to encourage speeding and other dangerous behavior. Activists want to push the city to carve out more street space for cyclists and pedestrians But many drivers fear more congestion with loss of lanes Violations for speeding in excess of 100 mph soared during the pandemic the California Highway Patrol nearly doubled from the previous year the amount of tickets it issued the number fell but remained far above pre-pandemic levels Neighbors say Windsor Hills’ Angeles Vista Boulevard has become a cut-through street to get from Crenshaw Boulevard to Slauson Avenue. A broad, palm-lined thoroughfare, it’s also one of the hilly neighborhood’s main arteries. Takeovers, street racing and games of chicken occur regularly, residents say, and it has spilled out into surrounding streets. “People are frightened. I’ve heard people talk about post-traumatic stress syndrome just from driving down Slauson and La Brea,” Grayson said. Two years ago, a speeding car crashed into a preschool not far from the intersection. The car struck the gate of the Center for Enriched Education and landed in a classroom where children under 5 are usually napping or in circle time. Fortunately, the school was on winter break. “It’s not like this incident is the first incident. This has been going on for years, yet nothing has been done,” said Pamela Wiley, the school’s owner. L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell represents the area along with Compton, Gardena, Culver City, Hawthorne and El Segundo. Her district has the highest rates of vehicle fatalities in Los Angeles County; 749 people died in collisions last year. Mitchell, who took over her seat just as the pandemic was starting, said one of the first calls she got from a constituent was about traffic safety. In Windsor Hills, she has been working with the county’s Department of Public Works on 20 specific requests to add in speed bumps and do other things to reduce the danger. She expects many of the measures to be in place by the end of the year. Could better street design -- fewer traffic lanes, more protection for cyclists, dedicated bus lanes -- have prevented the Windsor Hills crash? Mitchell is also working to prioritize intersections and other locations to address traffic safety. Offer Grembek, a safety researcher at UC Berkeley, said U.S. infrastructure was built for cars to get to places quickly. Speeds weren’t set to prevent people from dying. Drivers largely set the speeds on most streets under rules that base speed limits on the flow of traffic. And the whole infrastructure relied on the notion that people would follow the rules. “The strategy has proven not too effective. And it has positioned the U.S. probably two or three decades behind in terms of traffic safety behind many of the European countries that went the other way,” he said. Nancy Munoz said she proudly moved into her three-bedroom Tudor-style house on Angeles Vista Boulevard in View Park-Windsor Hills nine years ago. Three weeks later, as she was making dinner in her kitchen, a loud screech startled her. “The sound of the impact. It was a dull, strong sound. I know it in my sleep,” said the 53-year-old nurse. A speeding driver had lost control and careened into the palm tree in front of her house. Neighbors rushed out, she recalled: “They told me this is the way we meet each other around here. This happens all the time.” Since then, she has seen at least 10 accidents within two blocks of her home, including one in 2017 in which a driver slammed his two-door Mercedes into a tree. His screams awoke Munoz. He was trapped inside the burning car. Harried neighbors tried to free him, but the flames engulfed the vehicle and he died. The charred palm tree is still standing, and Munoz now leaves a fire extinguisher by the front door — just in case. Rachel Uranga covers immigration for the Los Angeles Times. She previously reported for the Los Angeles Business Journal, Reuters in Mexico City and Southern California News Group, where she later served on its editorial board. Show Search Search Query Submit Search Don't Miss Carlos López Estrada is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker from Mexico City “Blindspotting,” premiered opening night at Sundance 2018 and was subsequently released by Lionsgate Entertainment Carlos was nominated by the DGA for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director “Summertime,” premiered opening night of Sundance 2020 and was released theatrically the following year “Raya and the Last Dragon,” was released by Disney in March of 2021 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Carlos directed an episode of FX and Marvel’s “Legion.” He began his career directing music videos for musicians like Billie Eilish he won a Latin Grammy for an animated music video he directed for Mexican artists Jesse & Joy He is currently developing an animated feature documentary set to release in 2023 as well as the live-action adaptation of Disney’s “Robin Hood.”Poetic is a collective of Los Angeles-based poets and artists from various communities aligned in the values of storytelling The collective was founded by Carlos López Estrada F.A.M. South L.A. (()=>{const e=document.getElementById("yt-img-9AOaRW9N-lE");e&&e.addEventListener("load",(t=>{t.target.naturalWidth<=120&&(e.parentNode.children[0].srcset=e.parentNode.children[1].srcset=e.src)}),{once:!0})})() Directed by Carlos López Estrada How Post & Beam, the successful black-owned South L.A. restaurant, stayed in local hands Let the record show: For Ozzie Juarez the hustle is creativity in L.A. 13 historical sites that made Central Avenue the cultural lifeline of South L.A. Climate & Environment Print Longtime residents of View Park have a thinly veiled code for the signs of change they see in their upscale neighborhood: “joggers” .. “It’s like an alien sighting,” says Karen Martin who grew up in this hilltop community framed by La Brea Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard And for some longtime residents who cherish View Park as a symbol of African American success and a stronghold of black culture SIGN UP for the free Essential California daily newsletter >> stunning views and movie star quality homes have for decades fought any proposal that they thought threatened their neighborhood’s special qualities — including its solid sense of African American identity Now a move that strikes many as an accolade — an effort to put View Park on the National Register of Historic Places — has blown up into a particularly contentious fight Some residents covet this honor for a community whose proud past is part of what makes it feel like home Others fear that the designation is a ploy to lure in white buyers who can no longer afford to turn up their noses at black neighborhoods now that Westside real estate has gone through the roof practically radiates community pride — but opposes the historic designation finally worked her way up to an area some call the “Black Beverly Hills.” When she moved into her 4,000-square-foot Mid-century Modern on a spacious corner lot the woman who sponsored her as a teenage debutante proclaimed: “You have arrived.” she and a friend stood on her new neighbor’s patio feeling like Huxtables as they basked in the downtown skyscrapers’ evening glow she was speaking not just for herself but for African Americans more generally View Park was largely white into the 1960s Then the Supreme Court lifted covenants that barred nonwhite homeowners and the first wave of prosperous black families — lawyers doctors and businesspeople — began to integrate the neighborhood At a time when places such as Brentwood and Bel-Air made it clear that blacks were not welcome and dance/choreographer Debbie Allen flocked to View Park Actress Loretta Devine and former Lakers star Michael Cooper still call it home this unincorporated neighborhood of 1,700 custom homes is 84% African American constitutes the West Coast’s highest concentration of black affluence Half of View Park’s residents have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and the tract that contains most of the neighborhood had an average family income of $90,000 — tens of thousands of dollars above the countrywide average for white families and 21/2 the median income among Los Angeles County blacks Some residents say that it’s because individuals and blacks as a group had to work so hard to win a place atop this hill that they fight so hard to maintain its character When urban planners decided to build low-income apartment buildings at the bottom of the hill Residents blocked an effort to put restrooms in the local park because of fears that they would attract nuisances Some have resisted the Crenshaw-LAX light-rail line out of concern that it will bring new people to the base of their quiet domain One group of residents says that it is this same concern of outsiders moving in and altering the cultural and architectural character of View Park that inspired them to band together as the View Park Conservancy and nominate their neighborhood as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places That federal designation could come with property tax credits for new homeowners who maintain a property’s historic characteristics and limited federal protection from development projects National Register historian Paul Lusignan said Many residents say they welcome any change that makes their homes more valuable accuse outside developers and house flippers of trying to snap up the homes of residents who have run into financial problems is to use the historic designation as a marketing tool to attract a new — and largely white — crop of buyers to View Park’s historic homes that often sell for hundreds of thousands less than those with comparable features a few miles west “Somebody found a gold mine and they are trying to milk it,” says musician Reggie A “Seniors happen to be the predominate demographic here and they are also the easiest to get rid of.” one of the conservancy’s co-founders and a licensed real estate agent did nothing to allay such concerns by posting a few of his thoughts about View Park in an online forum and to be seen as a friendly face,” he said in the 2013 post I’m thinking of having my wife bake some of her amazing cookies .. and mention that I’d be interested in buying their homes.” As Kahle sat under the vaulted ceiling of his 1920s Spanish home his voice cracked and tears rimmed his eyes as he described the joy of uncovering the neighborhood’s rich history over the last two years But his body stiffened when discussing the online post “I definitely understand the concerns that people would feel after reading some of those things,” he said adding that he does not intend to do anything that would hurt the neighborhood View Park is hardly alone in its identity crisis working-class neighborhoods that have been strongholds for blacks are becoming increasingly diverse as people shun suburbs for the convenience of city living an associate professor of urban policy at The New School in Manhattan the trend has skipped many more prosperous African American neighborhoods where buyers as well as sellers continue to be predominantly black including the recession’s lingering effect on African Americans and Los Angeles’ raging real estate market could well make places such as View Park an exception adjustable interest loans that subprime lenders dangled before them to refinance their homes Some used the equity in their homes as a down payment on other middle-class dreams such as business ventures private schooling and investment properties Some fell behind on payments and their homes ended up in foreclosure This occurred much more frequently in black communities a professor of urban planning at Columbia University and author of “There Goes the ‘Hood: Views of Gentrification From the Ground Up.” blacks are denied home loans at twice the rate of whites flippers and non-African American buyers will grab those foreclosed properties These and other forces have contributed to an overall drop in Los Angeles’ black population from 17% in the 1970s and 1980s to 9.6% in 2010 says that he understands why some of his View Park neighbors are sensitive to the arrival of new white residents — including those joggers and dog walkers This is yet another invasion by another group coming in to destroy both the culture the lifestyle and the economic continuity of our area.” But conservancy co-founder Andre Gaines says his group’s roster of 476 members shows it has the backing of the community It took the group less than a year to hit its fundraising goal of $100,000 will pay for the firm Architectural Resources Group to complete the documentation needed for the National Register nomination The firm recently sent out two white women carrying laptops and cameras to go house-to-house gathering information A few angry residents hurled expletives from their cars but that’s not uncommon,” said Katie Horak opponents have passed out fliers calling attention to a website The home page offers this warning: “Historic preservation has been transformed into a real estate gimmick to start the gentrification process.” In a Facebook discussion of the controversy one opponent warned the conservancy that “View Park will not be colonized The conservancy hired security for its next fundraising event the resident who considered her move to View Park as her moment of arrival carries a three-ring binder bulging with battles that View Park residents had to fight over the decades One page features posters of films that were shot there including “Ray,” “Love and Basketball,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and “Something New.” the films tell the distinctly African American stories View Park residents on all sides of the historic designation debate say that such stories make them proud and protective of the place they call home “You make the black people disappear and its breaks the legacy for the next group who earned their way back to this community,” Williams said Every place needs new life and new blood.” angel.jennings@latimes.com Times staff writer Sandra Poindexter contributed to this report Boyle Heights residents force a fresh start on Mariachi Plaza project Lost in translation: Hip nickname for South L.A. leaves some feeling lonely L.A. suit accusing Wells Fargo of predatory mortgage lending practices is dismissed While many Black people are being priced out of their own neighborhoods The Consolidated Board of Realtists is educating locals on how to become home buyers in this expensive real estate market Purchasing a home in a Black community in the Los Angeles area can cost over $1 million. Recently a renovated house just south of Vernon Avenue and about a block north of Crenshaw High School was on the market for $1.25 million. A renovated house in Leimert Park Boulevard was listed at $1.05 million. It’s become typical to see prices close to those amounts president of the Consolidated Board of Realtists (Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers which was established in 1947 by African-American real estate professionals as an alternative for African-Americans who were excluded from the National Association of Realtors) says that the housing market in Culver City and other places of the city have become too expensive for many people in Los Angeles “Since they can’t get into those places and they want to be close to the freeway and they know that these properties in our areas: Leimert Park Baldwin Hills and Windsor hills; they know that homes in these areas are very nice and are built just as nice as those homes in those other areas,” he said. “And with the proximity to downtown and other business centers “You have people next door in Culver City who are paying $4,000-$5,000 just in rent. They come here and buy a home in a comparable area; actually a better area when you’re talking about the homes in the Baldwin Hills and Windsor Hills areas that have views. They can pay the same amount to own a home the price for houses goes up to the point where Black people living in those communities can no longer afford to buy homes in those neighborhoods. Over time those neighborhoods could potentially shift from being predominantly Black to being mixed and eventually becoming predominantly White neighborhoods and it can be viewed as simple economics. Not only are people from outside areas seeing the value of homes in Black communities “There are a lot of investors out here who are buying these homes and they’re increasing the price point for their profits,” Jackson said. “To them it’s just capitalism at its best. They buy low and sell high.” Many Black people who are working to combat gentrification have pointed out that Black sellers are a part of the problem “A lot of the listing agents get these properties and our people allow them,” Jackson said. “When I say our people I’m talking about Black people. Someone dies in the family; someone was in a reverse mortgage and none of the family members are equipped enough to take on the loan; then they can’t afford to fix up the house to get the profits. They’ll sell the house in its present state.” Investors who can afford to renovate the home then step in and they reap huge profits while selling the home has been working with Black people to help them become home buyers and they have also worked with politicians to combat the negative aspects of gentrification but we call it displacement,” Jackson said. “We fight for democracy in housing. One of the biggest problems that we have is the lack of financial literacy in the area of housing.” The Consolidated Board of Realtists holds workshops that educate people on real estate “There are many Black people in the neighborhood who still own homes,” Jackson said. “Getting to them before they give the homes to those investors “A lot of the properties that are being sold originated through probates. When our people own a home if their affairs aren’t in order when they die the house goes to the state. If you have a proper will and a proper trust you can pass the home along without having the taxation and the state involved in it.” The Consolidated Board of Realtists also holds workshops for first-time home buyers and they have a House Then a Car program that is designed for younger adults. Jackson pointed out that 1.7 million Black millennials make over $100,000 a year and are mortgage ready “Well those individuals for some reason have been buying cars instead of homes,” he said. “So they are able to buy homes but due to a lack of education about the home buying process For more information about The Consolidated Board of Realtists, visit www.consolidatedboardofrealtist.com ShareSaveCommentLifestyle ArtsSupervsn Studios Calls On Community To Open Its First Flagship In Los AngelesByCassell Ferere Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Cassell Ferere founded PAGE magazine covering circularity in menswear.Follow AuthorJun 06 11:41am EDTShareSaveCommentAleali May [left in Los Angeles street culture and the View Park neighborhood community Supervsn Studios recently opened its first flagship store on Slauson Avenue where founder and creative Gavin “Mizzle” Mathieu grew up marked a moment for the brand that is representing its founding city with its new retail address at 4440 W 2023: In Los Angeles street culture and the View Park neighborhood community More Studios recently opened its first flagship store on Slauson Avenue Supervsn Slauson celebrated in association with Amazon Music’s Rap Rotation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and city certification on behalf of the office of Mayor Karen Bass; a certificate Office of Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas of the 28th District recognizing the district presented by Marqueece Harris- Dawson Marqueece Harris-Dawson presents Gavin Mathieu with a Los Angeles city certification: June 3 More In Los Angeles street culture and the View Park neighborhood community but from establishments instrumental to the community a View Park Legend and owner of multiple addresses surrounding the new Supervsn store has been around long enough to see the View Park area host a plethora of Black entertainers “I carefully look for the positive younger businesses and the budding energy that they bring to make their dreams come true I have mentored a lot of young entrepreneurs and even family members who have businesses here that are very successful.” Shaw has been an incubator of community and those with tremendous talent These included many Laker players who played at The Kia Forum in the nearby neighborhood of Inglewood during the 80s and 90s and even the late Tina Turner would frequent a womenswear retail space owned by Shaw “The next 10 to 15 years will bring about great commercial and residential development and brands like Supervsn will be a part of that generational story of growth,” sharing her outlook on the success she has already created the foundation for Aleali May at the Supervsn Slauson opening; June 3 2023: In Los Angeles street culture and the View .. “Carolyn Shaw has been providing clothes for Black celebrities of View Park and Windsor Hills for over 50 years,” noted Supervsn founder Mathieu “She shared that she would really love to have another clothing store join her on Slauson – the rest was history Carolyn is a living legend in the neighborhood and she has tirelessly helped so many of the local businesses find their footing in the community.” Gavin Mathieu established Supervsn Studios in 2019 after launching the 400 brand and tour merchandise with Compton rapper YG while his journey dates back to his teens when he discovered his design niche specifically the surrounding Crenshaw District area Mathieu's older brother would befriend a local rapper named Dom Kennedy over their mutual interest in music Mathieu screen printed t-shirts for other local acts like PacDiv who would perform in those shirts later that evening at parties and shows The effort to dress these emerging music artist was the foundational movement that spawned modern LA streetwear and common threads among peer creatives Mathieu would begin throwing parties at age 20 organizing events called 'Just Be Cool,' leading up to opening his first gallery space on Fairfax Avenue Mathieu would host shows for local artists His YOUth gallery was an incubator for talent from all over and was the location where Nipsey Hussle would host his “Proud 2 Pay” pop-up campaign for his aptly titled Crenshaw album Mathieu would work with Nipsey Hussle early in his endeavors to get into fashion with a line called "Grams and Gold" that was the catalyst for The Marathon Clothing line Mathieu initially met Nipsey Hussle through music manager Jonny Snipes traveling on tour as he created merchandise under his Supervsn company at the time. Mathieu founded the Supervsn Studios name under the importance of “health” and “energy” as a creative aiming to double down on his community where notable celebrities from the 80s and 90s once resided His family has paved the way for him with retail acumen in the wine and spirits industry in Los Angeles specifically in the Slauson area and its surroundings A dedicated space in the Supervsn Slauson for collaborations and art Co-Founder of Noah Clothing and owner of Dream Awake Design The two filled the space with custom furniture “Consulting on the design with Gavin and the Supervsn team was really fun and aren’t afraid to add an element of the surreal to the design,” says Bailey-Babenzien framed with classic mid-century modern touches I’m excited to see how it will continuously transform as they exhibit new concepts and ideas It’s a place where you can always expect the unexpected The 1200-square-foot retail space carries cultural artifacts like coffee table books from B Magazine to South Central is Mecca titles The “Studio Gallery” space in the second half of the store features rotating installations from different brand collaborations and community programming led by The STUDIO Foundation mimicking the essence of his former YOUth gallery an extension of fashion apparel and accessories within the Pacsun marketplace dedicated proceeds from each collaboration fund internship and mentorship programs through empowering organizations 10 Summers Supervsn Studios is also featured in the new 2023 rendition of White Men Can’t Jump designing the basketball jerseys and the court in the film Mathieu has also worked with brands like Microsoft Supervsn Studios and Mathieu's involvement and passion in the community is inspiring the next generation of creatives through clothing sailing through an ever-evolving journey for him and his team at Supervsn Studios The View Park-Windsor Hills cafe opens today As of today, the historic View Park-Windsor Hill neighborhood has a new daytime cafe. Barbara Jean and chef Jason Fullilove, and Parlor owners Ajay Relan and Yonnie Hagos opened Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen and the trio wants to be more than just another breakfast and lunch spot The partners are poised to launch a movement within the neighborhood: To bring more locally-owned dining options to the South LA neighborhood of View Park-Windsor Hill Relan and Hagos were disappointed with the limited number of independent dining and coffee options south of the 10 Freeway That observation inspired Relan and Hagos to partner with Fullilove and create something close to home as Hagos was born and raised blocks away from Hilltop we noticed a whole pocket of the city that’s mainly chain restaurants,” said Ajay “We pride ourselves of being young and people of color that grew up here The partners don’t see their neighbors as competition Venice has prime eating destinations on every block my aunt got her first job from Purcell Keeling (Simply Wholesome’s owner).” Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen. 4427 W. Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA owner of Cultural Interiors on Slauson Avenue This View Park-Windsor Hills store features furniture The story behind Cultural Interiors is as much as a travel story as it is an interior design story. Ladera Heights resident Gail Hawkins loves the cultural experiences that she gets from traveling around the world so she opened a store to share those experiences with people in her community “I wanted to have a store where I could bring in pieces of culture from all over the world,” she said. “And everybody likes to have a nice home. So I thought about educating people about different cultures by bringing pieces from those different cultures into your home. I thought that bringing African pieces and bringing those pieces into your home would help us understand different peoples’ culture.” just east Overhill Drive. The store features furniture and jewelry. Hawkins started collecting pieces when she was a high school student traveling around the United States “Those pieces that I brought back with me really reminded me of the places that I had been,” she said. “It lets me relive the pleasurable trips that I’ve had.” Hawkins uses the cultural items that she sells to encourage people to travel more “It encourages people who receive items to go and see the places that the pieces come from,” she said When Hawkins travels nationally and internationally she makes it a point to shop at Black-owned stores I always search out a Black store to see what they carry to see what people like,” she said. “It’s very interesting. I found Black-owned shops in New Orleans and I was just totally blown away. They had book stores. There were two brothers who had a bath and body store. I was pleasantly shocked. And when I go to Atlanta I always go away from downtown and I look for the Black-owned stores. The number of African Americans who are opening stores in Atlanta is just amazing. And Toronto is amazing when it comes to African art because so many Africans move there. That’s one of my favorite cities to go to. Canada is a very interesting place when you look at African influence.” The items from Cultural Interiors can really turn a house into a home “These items can spice up your place,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes we get into a rut and you just need a touch of color. Adding it to a wall can enhance your space.” Over the years Hawkins has formed a good following of loyal customers “I have people who come in all the time and say ‘I bought a piece from you 10 years ago and everybody loves it,’” she said Hawkins also promotes health and wellness in the store and skin products. Recently she held a sound bath event on Instagram Live “It helps relax and energize you,” she said Hawkins hosts live events at Cultural Interiors Cultural Interiors is located at 4421 W. Slauson Avenue. They are open Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Contact them at (323) 292-1500. Visit their website at www.culturalinteriors.com and follow them on social media. 2023 at 9:46 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The man was found dead Wednesday near the 5200 block of South Fairfax Avenue in the Baldwin Hills CA — A man who was found dead due to blunt force trauma near the Baldwin Hills oil field this week has been identified by authorities Wednesday to the 5200 block of South Fairfax Avenue in unincorporated View Park-Windsor Hills located south of Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area is dominated by oil wells and bounded by La Cienega Boulevard and La Brea Avenue The man was identified Thursday as Andrew Perez Authorities said he died from blunt force trauma The investigation into Perez's death is ongoing Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 800-222-TIPS City News Service contributed to this report Nikko Duren View Park-Windsor Hills A health food store/restaurant in View Park-Windsor Hills with perpetual lines Simply Wholesome is a good place anytime of day for a snack or meal Bakery/Cafe Southern Hilltop is a very good daytime cafe in View Park-Windsor Hills that serves excellent coffee and grain bowls Jamaican This Jamaican spot on Centinela is a popular place for takeout dinner and lunch in Inglewood - for good reason Nikko is a born-and-raised Californian who enjoys finishing off the table bread Simply Wholesome survived the Rodney King riots and then some If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy Simply Wholesome owner Percell Keeling figured out what his restaurant means to the View Park/Windsor Hills community in 1992 On a late spring day — a day that would go down in history as the start to the Rodney King riots — Keeling prepared to close after receiving some unusual phone calls from volunteers offering to stand guard over the store on the east side of Slauson Avenue and Overhill Drive Rioters were burning businesses after cops were acquitted for beating Rodney King and rumors were spreading quickly about which business was next a van pulled up and a man entered the store to ask for water “Is this a black-owned business?” Keeling nodded and sped away with a raised fist in the air and a group of men motioned toward Keeling with the same black solidarity sign Keeling later learned that they were planning to burn the entire shopping center down because most businesses were not black-owned They decided to spare it after looking Keeling in the eye In the following week, a disproportionate number of Korean and non-black businesses were looted and gutted by fires during the riots. Some businesses with black owners were also casualties of the events. In the chaos of that historic week, Keeling’s business remained untouched among the hundreds of buildings that were damaged in the surrounding blocks “That’s when I realized that people were loving who we are,” says Keeling “I treat people the way I want to be treated People knew that I hired their son or their cousin They know we’re for real and that we love the community.” It’s impossible to miss the chromatic dark-green exterior and massive steeple and old-school chill-out music envelop diners in a comfortable vibe It’s a low-profile counter-service restaurant but it’s also a bit of a tropical paradise in Windsor Hills customers drink smoothies like the Trinidadian Peanut Punch or munch on the Jamaican patty: a hot and savory turnover filled with shrimp and crab Many stick around to hang out with familiar faces Local live bands grace the sunny patio on Saturdays at noon and you never know when the likes of Stevie Wonder or Bobby Brown will drop in unannounced to sing a song or two These famous patrons visit Simply Wholesome for the same reason everyone else does: to connect with the community while eating delicious food but Keeling and general manager Apryl Sims insist that Simply Wholesome’s menu focuses on healthy food with a Caribbean spin that appeals to both omnivores and vegans “One thing that’s unique about Simply Wholesome is there are a wide range of people,” says Sims It was 1981, and Keeling had a problem to solve. As an avid runner and health-advocate, he became tired of driving outside his community in Windsor Hills for a nourishing meal. At the time, Keeling was working as a Jack LaLanne consultant selling protein drinks Keeling previously tried his hand at real estate and worked at a liquor store where he was robbed on his first day at work. With this minimal experience, it took several years to get Simply Wholesome off the ground. It finally opened in 1984, where Hall's Krispy Krunchy Chicken presently resides 16 years later, Keeling’s landlord threatened to double the rent or evict him. So he looked across the street and realized he could take over the abandoned 1950s Wich Stand. Keeling bought the building just as the Los Angeles Conservancy stepped in to preserve the landmark Simply Wholesome’s present location opened there in December 1995 and didn’t want to be in a position where someone else determined my livelihood,” says Keeling “[At the original location] I did everything right I was fortunate that my move kept me on the same block.” Another reason that Simply Wholesome thrives: it’s adamant about differentiating itself with good food “I get really irritated when others interview me and feel the need to single out a successful restaurant in the black community,” Keeling explains would you ask me how it would feel to be a black owner They don’t ask the Asians and Latinos how it feels to have a biz in the black community we always seem to be singled out as a black biz But this is simply a health food restaurant.” Keeling’s staff of 34 range from family and friends to people figuring out a new path or recently released from prison The long-time regular customers feel welcome especially with gentrification looming fast and furious Sims believes the restaurant provides a safe and welcoming space for the community amidst all the change “Simply Wholesome is a bastion with goodness oozing out I’m very passionate about having this opportunity to do something I love and continue Percell’s legacy.” Sims connection with the store started in 1996 she started picking up garbage from the floor and cleaning dirty tables She ventured into sweeping the floor and even tidying the bathroom both Sims and Keeling are fixtures at the front of house They hug regular customers and greet them by their first names a 64-year-old neighbor that helps reestablish those newly out of prison eats breakfast at Simply Wholesome every day “There’s a lack of businesses you can come to and feel at home,” he says Sims and Keeling are concerned about rapid changes to the neighborhood countless businesses and residents moved out of the neighborhood — most not by choice But Keeling has noticed something else recently: private real estate tours labeling the neighborhood as “an oasis in the desert.” Many new Windsor Hills’ business owners do not live in the neighborhood “I feel like my grandchildren won’t be [able to live] on the street my parents worked so hard to build,” she says CEO of By Human Design Craig Davis grew up in the neighborhood and feels a personal connection to Simply Wholesome; now he sells natural beauty products in the store attached to the restaurant Davis believes Simply Wholesome’s reach goes beyond Windsor Hills providing healthy choices in a neighborhood that doesn’t have good options,” he says “I remember when the Wich Stand would serve you on the side of your car in 1970s Now the community has evolved and the ethnic canvas is going to continue to change significantly And you’ve got a generation of kids and adults that grew up on this food.” Davis goes on to say that he believes the neighbors who grew up here will continue to come back regardless of where they end up in the larger Los Angeles area patiently waiting while chatting with their neighbor A white person’s upbringing in Los Angeles is different from a black person’s upbringing in Los Angeles Even if both grew up in affluent neighborhoods which is considered an affluent black neighborhood but I was one of the first round of kids who were bused to make schools more integrated I was in the fourth grade—maybe ’78 or ’79 I was in one of three busloads of black kids from different areas—we made up less than a third of the school It’s not that I didn’t want to be bused—I dug the idea of checking out different areas No one was mean to us—it was clearly just strange for them that we were there but I still had to audition for Boyz N the Hood “This guy named John Singleton is directing this movie.” And she says “No!” Maybe if I’d spent more time there I read five or six lines for the casting director I just wanted to see if you could be ghetto.” Everybody’s idea of me was Brenda from 227—a shy girl who one day will come out of her shell All of us who worked on Boyz N the Hood were excited to be part of a story that was told from our point of view It’s been 20 years since that movie came out People will tweet me the lines from the film I think the reason it resonated was that it was a POV shared not just by people who lived in South-Central but by people across the world who lived in neighborhoods like South-Central There’s a scene in the movie in which some bad cops are roughing up these teenagers—who are not bad kids—just because of the color of their skin and the neighborhood they’re in there were some neighborhoods that wouldn’t even call the cops for help it would end up being a worse situation than what was already existing I’ve been in cars with some of my black male friends in the ’90s when cops pulled us over and the first thing my friends would do is roll down the window and stick their hands out—before the cops said anything “Don’t accidentally shoot me and say that I had something in my hands!” my feeling about the LAPD still remained stuck in that era But that’s changed as I’ve spent time with the officers who help us make the series realistic These people are putting their lives on the line for people they don’t know The LAPD has worked hard to clean itself up Thelma Golden will celebrate Lauren Halsey and U.K.-based singer Griff will take the stage featured A-list designers and Otis College standouts who earned scholarships for innovation in Fashion Design lawyers say Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe showed injuries consistent with a dog attack and plan to present a case against Chloe a German Shepherd who was re-homed by the owner's of the house where the cop's body was found in a snowbank Magazine’s takeaways on five notable topics from President Donald Trump’s first 100 days of his second term consumers are stocking up on household items and bites from THEBlvd and Hinoki & the Bird In the chichi Los Angeles suburb of View Park-Windsor Hills residents welcomed news of the royal engagement – but took it all in their stride Tiffini Reese beamed when told that a local woman was going to wed Prince Harry and in so doing shine a light on an area of Los Angeles known as the black Beverly Hills. “Oh, that’s so sweet! I’m so happy for them.” Reese hesitated, then confessed. “I’ve no idea who that is. Is that the one with the red hair?” Read moreLike many people in View Park-Windsor Hills on Monday whose engagement to the prince was announced hours earlier Tiffini Reese.Markle’s mother lived in the green-painted house across the street – a two-bedroom Spanish colonial style bungalow with a front yard of succulents and cacti – and the street was filling with photographers and camera crews injecting some drama into early morning suburbia “If this makes things more hectic traffic-wise it’ll suck for joggers but it’ll be cool for those who want to be in front of cameras,” said Reese In View Park-Windsor Hills – a neighbourhood of mostly large houses with lawns where the only sound in early morning besides traffic is sprinklers – residents welcomed news of the engagement It’s always beautiful when two people get together with dog.Who is Meghan Markle?Meghan Markle is an American actor best known for her role in the hit series Suits the editor-in-chief of my lifestyle brand the Tig She has also campaigned for humanitarian causes.The 36-year-old grew up in Los Angeles She studied at a girls’ Roman Catholic college there before attending Northwestern University She is the daughter of a clinical therapist and a TV lighting designer Markle has written about her mixed heritage but the pair were divorced in 2013. Since news of her relationship with Prince Harry broke in 2016 she has closed her blog and given an interview in which she described the couple as “really happy and in love” I’ve never defined myself by my relationship.” She will become a duchess or princess when the couple wed.","image":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e5588d2ce1a681eb63ec49b05687bc424a1a7f8a/0_247_3400_3399/3400.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8850073c00d2edd616ac15dabe16098f","credit":"Photograph: Picture Perfect/REX/Shutterstock/Rex Features"}">ProfileWho is Meghan Markle?ShowWho is Meghan Markle She has also campaigned for humanitarian causes Since news of her relationship with Prince Harry broke in 2016 I’ve never defined myself by my relationship.” She will become a duchess or princess when the couple wed Photograph: Picture Perfect/REX/Shutterstock/Rex FeaturesWas this helpful?Thank you for your feedback.He had not known Prince Harry “I think they’re a respectable family,” he said View Park-Windsor Hills is one of the wealthiest primarily African American areas in the US and like the rest of LA is used to celebrity The singer Ray Charles and the film-maker Charles Burnett grew up here The median price of a View Park home is $771,000 and the area was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places a clinical therapist turned yoga instructor a lighting director who worked on the TV show Married with Children She attended Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse a private primary which also taught Elizabeth Taylor and Judy Garland and later the all-girls Catholic Immaculate Heart high school Markle was briefly married to a film producer Without A Trace and Castle before landing her role in Suits but for former neighbours it was enough to match a British prince and any amount of pomp at a ceremony next spring likely to be conducted by Justin Welby some felt it was the royal family that had lucked out in getting to exhibit a modern “For us as African Americans we’re excited to see this happen If anybody is going to step out and do something different a university teaching professor out walking her Rhodesian Ridgeback “All the neighbours were texting this morning – ‘Have your heard the news’,” said Beard “I think we feel sorry for Doria – she’ll probably get bombarded.” She often met Markle’s mother while she walked her own dogs laughed at the notion of the prince’s bride being “hood” but wondered about the response in the UK Some shrugged off the engagement as an abstraction who pushed a shopping trolley filled with recyclables through the neighbourhood The 1920s subdivision of View Park earned its nickname the "Black Beverly Hills" by becoming one of the largest wealthiest and most architecturally distinct Black neighborhoods in Los Angeles it was added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its ethnic heritage and architectural integrity But it owes its significance to a complicated racial history anyone not of the Caucasian race was forbidden from owning or occupying properties in View Park due to racial deed restrictions After this practice was outlawed by the Supreme Court in 1948 affluent Black families began to move into the neighborhood following an onslaught of racial antagonism and violence — and eventual white flight — the Black population of View Park outnumbered the white population nine to one subdivided and built by the Los Angeles Investment Company (LAIC) from the 1920s to the 1950s LAIC was formed at the turn of the century to purchase and subdivide land and design Though its original directors were indicted for overspeculation and fraud in 1913 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the continuation of LAIC under new direction President of the National Bank of California; L.A Times publisher: Harry Chandler; real estate lawyer President of the Title Insurance and Trust Company the new directors were posed to carry out the largest of LAIC's endeavors: a contract to purchase lands in the Baldwin Hills After years of negotiations and refinancing LAIC obtained the lands and began subdividing what would become View Park in 1924 under the direction of its new President Plans for View Park aligned with the projected interests of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce These agencies publicized their beliefs that homogenous subdivisions with deed restrictions would prevent decline in property values Suggested restrictions included both aesthetic and racial characteristics LAIC selected the beautiful hilltop site of their Baldwin Hills property for the development of a fully improved white-only subdivision in accordance with these beliefs By widening Crenshaw and Slauson Boulevards paving the streets and lining them with sidewalks fully-improved neighborhood; by establishing wide lot frontages (60 to 100 feet on average) and minimum home prices ($7,500 and up) LAIC ensured an upper-class population; and by providing model homes and an Architectural Review Board LAIC ensured cohesive and distinctly residential architectural character throughout LAIC established a homogenous community by celebrating Los Angeles' colonial past with the design of the neighborhood Spanish and Mission Revival architecture echoed the structures built by Spanish colonizers in their conquest of California ornamental beamed ceilings and wrought iron balconies The homes were given names like "The Barcelona" and "The Peyolas" to support this vision View Park was said to contain sites like those that may be "found in the "better home" district in Barcelona The identities of African and Indigenous Mexican and American populations who founded and helped build Los Angeles were hidden behind Spanish Revival aesthetics and rhetoric Perhaps the most influential restriction was LAIC's requirement that all properties have deed restrictions to prevent anyone "not of the Caucasian race," considered "detrimental influences," from owning or occupying the land The Supreme Court supported this practice in their decision in the 1919 LAIC case against Alfred Gary an African American man who had purchased a home in one of LAIC's restricted subdivisions The court ruled that although the Fourteenth Amendment protected Black ownership of property it did not prevent developers from restricting the Black occupation of property through deed restrictions With the Establishment of the National Housing Act in 1934 View Park became the first subdivision in Southern California to receive insurance from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) FHA insurance provided homeowners with long-term amortized mortgages and developers with financial incentives and protection against homeowner loan defaulting As Richard Rothstein outlines in "The Color of Law," these offerings of security were only made available to white persons and to developers for properties with racial deed restrictions in place View Park was insured as a national example of the kind of property expected to experience sustained values due to its homogenous racial composition and cohesive residential aesthetics racialized housing inequalities are pervasive During the decade of View Park's greatest demographic shift (1960 to 1970) median property values increased by only 30% compared with the city average of 54% Census data white neighborhoods appreciated $200,000 more on average from 1980 to 2015 compared with non-white neighborhoods As white people are priced out of appreciated neighborhoods demand grows in those like View Park that have not experienced commensurate spikes in property values the Black population of View Park dropped from 85% to 78% suggesting that residents' fears of gentrification are not unfounded The "Reuben Ingold Park" at the northwest edge of View Park is named for the racist real estate developer behind its development Despite the successful transformation of View Park into the "Black Beverly Hills," its racist past lingers in the fine print "Los Angeles Investment Company" in History of the Law Firm of O'Melveny & Myers "The Increasing Effect of Neighborhood Racial Composition on Housing Values Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect that the case that struck down the enforcement of racially restrictive covenants in property deeds was Shelley v Kraemer (1948) and not Plessy v Ferguson (1896) owner of Loc Lov Salon have collaborated to open a salon/events space The salon has an Afro-centric environment while they create artistic hair designs View Park-Windsor Hills is now the home to one of the best loc salons in the nation. Loc Lov an award-winning hair salon specializing in natural hair care and elegant loc artistry was named one of the top three loc salons in the country by Essence and the magazine featured their Washington D.C Loc Lov owner Salih Watts opened his second salon in South Los Angeles just east of Overhill Drive. The designs that are coming out of his salon are just as much art as they are hairstyles “Locs have become a thing that is more versatile than we’ve ever understood locs to be in the past,” he said. “We’ve worn locs in braids and just down. But with the new generation and just stylistically overall people are wanting looks that they’ve seen in the magazines. So they want colors For several years the natural hair movement has become more popular as many Black people are choosing hairstyles that are more associated with African-American culture “We’ve made a shift in America towards natural hair especially for Black women,” Watts said. “That shift is happening everywhere Los Angeles included. Black men are also jumping on the bandwagon getting into wearing longer and more natural hairstyles instead of just cornrows and two-string twists many Black people have been discouraged from wearing natural hairstyles in the workplace and in some cases they were denied employment. But that should not be an issue any longer in California “California is the first state to implement a law that make it illegal for any job to discriminate against natural hair including locs,” Watts said. “It’s unfortunate that we’re in a space where a law has to be created around allowing Black people to wear their hair as it naturally is. Now California is one of the safest places to be as it relates to hairstyles and feeling secure in going to work and not feeling like something is going to happen because of how you wear your hair.” The decor in Loc Lov creates an Afro-centric environment that feels more like a cultural space and Watts made it a point to open his shop in a Black neighborhood “I’m originally from Philadelphia a very Black place historically,” he said. “So this is what I am used to. The spaces I feel most comfortable in have expressions of Blackness especially when it comes to businesses. And we’re a Black-owned business. So I want people to feel comfortable. I want people to feel like we are a part of the community and that we support the community. The things that are connected to the community are also connected to us and are important to us.” Loc Lov’s grand opening event in October of 2019 featured Black music and Black art and the public has appreciated this salon’s presence in the community I really appreciate that you all are here,’” Watts said. “The response has been really amazing.” Loc Lov LA is open Tuesday through Sunday. It is located at 4434 Slauson Avenue. Visit their website at www.loclov.com and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Stay updated on community events that will be held at the salon Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker and View Heights are all a part of the Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood Council South Los Angeles residents are familiar with the well known neighborhoods in the area. Most will easily recognize Baldwin Hills and Windsor Hills. But many locals have not heard of Park Mesa Heights. That is even true for people who live in that community. a photograph of Grilled Fraiche’s sign was posted on the L.A calling the restaurant’s location on Slauson Ave “Park Mesa Heights.” Many people who commented on the photograph said that they had never heard the area called by that name. Most locals would more than likely know the area as Hyde Park and we never called it that,” commented one person they love to make up names these days,” another person replied realtor at Smith Moore Estates on Crenshaw Blvd is a long-time resident of the greater Crenshaw area of South Los Angeles. He said that he knew certain names of some neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles but was unaware that certain areas had name changes. said that the group has been given awards for its dedication and commitment to their community. While the awards acknowledge them as View Heights some community members were unaware that the identifying name for their community was Park Mesa Heights Los Angeles neighborhoods can be defined by zip codes the city passed a citywide system of independent neighborhood councils whose names are chosen by its residents. This was done to increase community engagement with city government “An organization called HOPE (Hyde Park Organizational Partnership for Empowerment) got together when the neighborhood councils were being formed and thought that it would be beneficial if the communities of Hyde Park and View Heights got together instead of being their own separate neighborhood councils,” said Kahllid Al-Alim Park Mesa Heights Neighborhood Council president. “Instead of just having a Hyde Park neighborhood council and somebody doing a View Heights one and an Angeles Mesa one we decided to just collaborate with all three communities.” and View Heights are still their own neighborhoods and Park Mesa Heights is the neighborhood council that presides over those areas. The neighborhoods are so close to each other that an issue that affects one of them typically affects all of them. The confusion of the community names may be because many people are not as involved in community politics as others “I think that where people really get confused is that they are not really familiar with the neighborhood council system as a whole,” Al-Alim said. “They are not familiar with Park Mesa Heights as a community council.” Al-Alim is working to get more community involvement with the neighborhood council which would give people more of an understanding about what Park Mesa Heights is. The challenge that he has is to bridge the communication gap between older and younger people “Some folks use technology and some folks don’t,” he said. “Some people take emails and some don’t. Some people use Twitter and Facebook. Some people still read the community newspapers but a lot of people don’t. We have to be conscious of that generational gap.” http://joinlapd.com/ http://joinlafd.org/ Contact Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation With a soul food-inspired New American menu this View Park-Windsor Hills dining destination is the most interesting opening to hit this stretch of Slauson in a long Run by Hilltop Coffee’s Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan (along with celebrity investor Issa Rae) complete with first-rate cocktails by Steen Bojsen-Møller formerly of Downtown’s Spring Street Bar comforting collard green lasagna and caviar-topped fried chicken sliders Just be aware the kitchen is still working out some kinks; I didn’t love the sous vide preparation on my steak which rendered the meat slightly spongy and overcooked It's also worth nothing that Somerville is mostly booked on the weekends through the ed of May—though you cross your fingers for a last-minute cancellation or stop in for drinks at the bar Welcome Mickeymickey@disney.comManage MyDisney AccountLog Out700-gallon sewage spill enters Ballona Creek prompting beach closure in Marina del ReyCity News ServiceSunday 2022A sewage discharge in the View Park-Windsor Hills area was making its way into Ballona Creek and resulted in a beach closure in Marina del Rey for the weekend.MARINA DEL REY (CNS) -- A sewage discharge in the View Park-Windsor Hills area was making its way into Ballona Creek and resulted in a beach closure in Marina del Rey for the weekend The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health posted signs advising the public of the beach closure 100 yards in each direction from where the creek drains into the ocean Public health officials said they learned about 1 p.m Saturday that 1,200 gallons of sewage was discharged onto the street near 4545 W About 500 gallons was recovered but another 700 gallons got into the storm drain a strike team confirmed there was a flow in Centinela Creek that would wind up in the ocean It will be at least Wednesday before the beach could reopen That is because the department is unable to submit water samples to its lab until Monday and it takes two consecutive satisfactory samples to reopen the beach Information on beach conditions is available at 1-800-525-5662 or online at www.PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach Actress Issa Rae has collaborated with Airbnb to host a home in South Los Angeles during Super Bowl weekend for guests to experience her favorite part of the city, according to Livingetc The apartment is located in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhoods with Inglewood The guests will be pampered with taco catering to enjoy while they watch the game and be able to hang out by the pool Guests can take advantage of relaxing by the pool and taking in the panoramic view of the Hollywood Hills during the day or at night The outdoor space holds numerous types of lounge chairs and a couch to get the most out of your stay.