Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow!
HOLIDAY SPIRIT abounds throughout Greater Wilshire this month. Above, opening night festivities at The Grove on Nov. 13 included entertainment, fireworks and a visit from Santa. Snow is forecast nightly at the shopping mecca now through Dec. 31.
Real snow on Larchmont this month;
skiing is nearby; festive shops old and new; adio Le Petit Greek
BING CROSBY, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen introduce the Irving Berlin song, “Snow” (tinyurl.com/mwn8d4wd) in the 1954 film, “White Christmas.”
Larchmont Village will be getting in the spirit of Michael Curtiz’s 1954 film “White Christmas” multiple times this December, as there will be “Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow…” on the Boulevard!
The famous Irving Berlin “Snow” song, featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, can be heard at numerous Internet links, including tinyurl.com/mwn8d4wd. The movie is available on Netflix and other streaming services.
Back here in Los Angeles, and on the Boulevard, on Sat., Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tailwaggers, 147 N. Larchmont Blvd., invites the neighborhood to its “Santa Paws” event. There will be holiday vendor booths with complimentary pet treats, gift bags for the first 100 customers, photo opportunities with Santa Paws and Mrs. Paws, discounts at the store and… the Tailwaggers parking lot will be transformed into a winter wonderland of real snow!
Eight days later, Give a Gift to Santa when the Wilshire Rotary Club will be calling all kids and snow lovers to the Page Academy parking lot at 565 N. Larchmont Blvd. On Sun., Dec. 10, from noon to 5 p.m., that space will be full of snow. Again, real snow! Kids and visitors can sled, play, drink hot cocoa and apple cider and enjoy other goodies.
Santa will be at Page School to visit with children and, in an effort to collect more toys for the Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center, the jolly man will be accepting gifts rather than giving them. The Rotary event, “Give a Gift to Santa,” is free to anyone who brings a present. A small fee will be charged for non-gift toting participants, so that Rotary can purchase more toys.
SNOW falls at The Grove nightly through the end of the year.
There also are opportunities to enjoy “snow” every night through the end of the year at The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr., at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, an additional snowfall will take place at 6 p.m.
In the mountains
For locals wanting a taste of snow in its natural environment, a three-hour drive will bring you to Santa’s Village in Skyforest. A day in the village lets you visit with Santa, take a ride on the Northwoods express train, ice skate and more. Visit skyparksantavillage.com for more info.
Skiers will be happy to know that the Mt. Baldy ski resort is open every Saturday and Sunday this winter from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for tubing, snow play, snowboarding and, of course, skiing. Purchase tickets in advance online at mtbaldyresort.com.
Festive Larchmont
On the Boulevard, festive decor will bring holiday cheer to the neighborhood as usual this time of year. To add to the decorations, the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA) and the Larchmont Village Business Improvement District (LVBID) will be debuting a holiday-themed Instagram Wall on Sat., Dec. 2, from noon until 5 p.m.
The wall and some small Christmas trees will be installed near the Rotary Clock at the city surface parking lot. The wall is for passersby to take free, festive photos throughout the holiday season. LBA board members told us they plan to provide refreshments on the 2nd, and the event also may feature musical performances by students from the Rhodes School of Music.
Promoting an afternoon of fun, DU/ER, 129 N. Larchmont Blvd., is hosting a community paint night Fri., Dec 15, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Led by local artist Chloe Glueck, participants will paint together with store-provided supplies. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.
New stores
New shops are now open, or are opening soon, on the Boulevard — in time for holiday diners and shoppers to enjoy.
TRIPLE BERRY CAKE from Sweet Lady Jane.
Sweet Lady Jane at 203 N. Larchmont Blvd. plans to open in the first weeks of December. Michael Williamson, store supervisor for the location, told us that Sweet Lady Jane is very excited to be in this area because of the sense of community Larchmont Boulevard radiates. “The neighbors have been so warm and welcoming,” he said.
For now, Williamson told us, the specialty dessert shop will focus on highlighting classic fan favorites and debuting some recently launched cake designs. There is a wide array of treats, like the store’s famous Triple Berry Cake and a chocolate mousse and vanilla cream cake called The Beverly.
The store also will have a variety of new retail goods. Said Williamson, “We aim to be your partner in party planning in this next era of Sweet Lady Jane, and we can’t wait to have everyone along for the ride.”
SHOPPERS explore the Boulevard’s new Sichuan Superette, Suá.
Suá, the Sichuan Superette at 144 N. Larchmont Blvd., opened in mid-November, and co-owner Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth of Windsor Square told us, “This is my passion. I love being here.”
Suá carries flavorful prepared foods made from the owners’ families’ recipes and from cultural recipes that have what Liu Hjelmeseth calls, “a California sensibility.” Suá also highlights Asian-founded products in the sleek, contemporary store.
COOKBOOK COUNTER, right near the front door, is a source of sandwiches and much more.
Cookbook Market at 310 N. Larchmont Blvd. is officially open for business. The clean, white, open decor is a perfect backdrop for the colorful produce, foods and products the new neighborhood market has on display.
General Manager Dani Stefanos told us the café, with its outdoor dining area, “has been a fun experience so far!” Stefanos went on to say, “We are thrilled to be in the neighborhood and love the Larchmont community.”
PATIO diners sample selections from the Cookbook Market café menu.
Nora Houndalas confirmed to us in late November that Larchmont stalwart Le Petit Greek is closing. The restaurant’s last day will be Dec. 31.
She told us: “While it was a very difficult decision for us to leave Larchmont, it is time for our curtain call. We have been here for 35 years and seven months and are the oldest restaurant on Larchmont. We still live in the neighborhood. I am sure you will see us regularly having our morning coffee and shopping on Larchmont.”
Houndalas also shared with us that their traditional Greek food will continue to be available nearby, and she told us who will be moving into Le Petit Greek’s longtime space on the Boulevard.
The Houndalas family, not long ago, designed and constructed a take-out facility on the south side of Third Street, at Harper Avenue, in Beverly Grove. Nora Houndalas told us they are opening Greek Eats on January 6, 2024, where they will continue to “share our family recipes with our customers.” The address is 8236 W. Third St., online at: www.greekeatsla.com.
Houndalas said, “We are happy about who is coming into our space. We are leaving you with an excellent new restaurant by Phil Rosenthal who is also a neighborhood resident and can be seen on Netflix, ‘Somebody Feed Phil.’ He told us that his partner in the restaurant will be Nancy Silverton [another local – Ed.] and that it will be a deli named after his father, Max.”
The Chronicle understands that remodeling of the space at 127 N. Larchmont Blvd. will commence around April 1.
Category: News