Larchmont Chronicle

Community News

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, House Demolished

‘Historic Citrus Ave. house quickly demolished’ This is so sad and infuriating! Having been in the home many times, I can attest that it had been lovingly and professionally maintained and was NOT a teardown. In fact, there had been recent upgrades to the plumbing, etc. The deceptive way [the buyers] went about it is […]

City clarifies reasons for relocation of tree wells

In the November 2019 issue, the Larchmont Chronicle reported on the loss of two healthy and mature ficus trees, as well as the relocation of their tree wells, once located in front of the Rite Aid store’s sign on Larchmont Boulevard. The story resonated with residents and policymakers alike. “Your article about the placement of […]

St. James’ Church shines light on Stories from the Frontline

Angela Sanchez was 16, a junior in high school, when she and her father experienced homelessness. The memories are sharp: it was the beginning of the 2008 recession, one week shy of Thanksgiving. The Sheriff’s officers stood in the doorway of her family’s home, red eviction notice in hand, asking, “What are you still doing […]

Reaction to demolition is vitriolic

The reaction throughout Los Angeles to the sudden Oct. 23 demolition of the historic Tudor home located since 1927 at 361 N. Citrus Ave., at Oakwood Ave. just west of Hancock Park, has been tremendous — and often vitriolic. The Larchmont Chronicle has received letters and online comments, some of which are in this issue, […]

What's Entertaining

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays on Blvd.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas along Larchmont Boulevard. From the red bows that have popped up along the north end of Larchmont to the trees at the Wilshire Rotary tree lot, to the Holiday Open House last week, it’s clear that the holidays have arrived in full force. Wilshire Rotary tree lot […]

Marat ‘Nutcracker’ comes to life this holiday season

A Sugar Plum Fairy, waltzing snowflakes and toy soldiers are among holiday favorites in Marat Daukayev Ballet Theatre’s magical performance of “The Nutcracker.” More than 150 dancers, many from our neighborhoods, will twirl and leap in seven shows this month at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive on the Cal State University […]

On Books and Places: 1919, a big year in Los Angeles

As readers of the Larchmont Chronicle know, many institutions and places around the neighborhood have celebrated a centenary in 2019. Just last month, John Welborne called attention to several, including Musso & Frank Grill, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Wilshire Country Club. John’s point was that the region’s growing sense of itself, its relief […]

Peppermint and eggnog: coffee flavors of winter

Without the arrival of snow typical to other areas, one of the surest ways to mark the change of seasons in Los Angeles is by indulging in one of the winter-themed drinks popping up on menu boards at all of our favorite coffee shops. It’s time for the Pumpkin Spice Lattes to make room for […]

Who's Doing What

Around the Town: High Tea, Sheba gala, ‘Gutsy Women,’ history events and BBBS Big Bash

“Meow, my little pretties — come have a purr-fectly good time.” And, so, more than 70 ladies descended upon the most ‘terrifying’ and beautiful “fur-midable” Las Palmas home of Margo O’Connell for her haunted High Tea Oct. 19. Her porcelain Buddhas were outfitted in black masks and skullcaps topped with kitty ears. The sculptures surrounding […]

Girls Academy serves breakfast and much more

GALA, Girls Academic Leadership Academy, held its first annual pancake breakfast fund raiser Nov. 16 at the school’s Olympic and West boulevards campus. The event marked the first time the Academy has reached out to the surrounding community (of Brookside and Longwood Highlands), and the results were impressive, local resident Caroline Tracy told us. Attendees came […]

March 3 Super Tuesday elections: New procedures, new voters

Every four years there is a new batch of teenagers eligible to vote in the local and primary elections. But on March 3, all voters in Los Angeles County will be approaching new ballot boxes for the first time. They will be voting in local and primary elections. The Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) […]

Let holiday spending spill over into helping others: Toy and gift drives

During the holiday season it’s easy to get into the habit of gift buying, whether for family and friends or for yourself. So, it might be a good time to let some of that spending spill over into purchasing holiday cheer for others less fortunate. Read on for some local charities that are conducting toy […]

Real Estate News

Real Estate Sales for October

Single-family homes 344 S. Rimpau Blvd. 540 S. Rossmore Ave. 535 S. Norton Ave. 451 N. Mansfield Ave. 907 S. Windsor Blvd. 122 N. Arden Blvd. 233 S. Larchmont Blvd. 932 S. Gramercy Dr. 863 S. Gramercy Pl. 4950 Elmwood Ave. $13,750,000 7,500,000 2,800,000 2,395,000 2,102,500 1,910,000 1,550,000 1,410,000 1,225,000 1,050,000 Condominiums 307 N. Orange […]

The Behymer Family in Hancock Park, Brookside and Windsor Square

In last month’s Larchmont Chronicle, Larchmont Blvd. resident John Donley suggested that Chronicle readers might enjoy seeing periodic profiles of “someone in the neighborhood in which we’d get to know that person….” In this issue, because 1919 is the centennial of the founding of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, we are profiling a local family […]

On Preservation: Tragedy on Citrus tells of loss of ‘memory, continuity and identity’

Few names in the recent memory of our neighborhood have fallen further into ignominy than that of Reuven Gradon, who through mendacious flattery and lies purchased the Tudor gem of a home formerly located at 361 N. Citrus Avenue and then promptly carried out its demolition. He also made the decision to forego the statutory […]

Larchmont Charter football has bounce-back season, fundraising

The Larchmont Charter School (LCS) middle school football program finished its Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics (FIYA) League schedule 3-4, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. However, under the direction of second-year coach Avery Watts, the team of LCS eighth graders showed marked improvement, competing in the seven-on-seven middle-school league. That improvement starts with actual […]