IAMNOTASTALKER

September 23, 2019September 27, 2019

My Guide to Palm Springs – Restaurants

As I’ve mentioned many times on this blog, I am in no way a foodie, preferring chicken strips and ranch dressing to foie gras and jus. My Guide to Palm Springs – Restaurants will reflect that. Here you’ll find the best of the best comfort food, down home cooking, delis, and cafés, with a few fine dining options thrown in. If you are looking for a more epicurean experience while visiting the area, I defer to my friend Molly of Almost Makes Perfect. You can check out her desert recommendations here. (From what I’ve heard from others who are of the gourmand variety, Cork & Fork, Farm, and Workshop Kitchen + Bar are the best foodie spots in town and Wilma & Frieda is the place for homemade baked goods, which, being diabetic, I don’t eat.) For my list, I based my dollar rating on The New York Times restaurant key and grouped the eateries from least to most expensive. A few of the spots are seasonal (in other words, closed during Palm Springs’ hot summer months, typically from June through September) and are denoted as such next to their address. So without further ado, bon appétit!

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1. Keedy’s Fountain & Grill ($) 73633 CA-111, Palm Desert – The Coachella Valley’s best greasy spoon and the kind of place that serves breakfast all day, Keedy’s has long been a family favorite. Somewhat of a hidden gem (despite the fact that it has been in operation at the same spot since 1957!), I am always flabbergasted when locals have never heard of it. Open for breakfast and lunch (and always packed to the gills), we typically hit this place up in the morning. I prefer the basics (poached eggs and sausage patties), but Keedy’s is most loved for its pancakes, which are often described as “the best in town.” The ‘50s atmosphere is great here, too. And despite being constantly crowded, Keedy’s is run like a well-oiled machine, so the wait times are never terrible.

2. Bobby’s Detroit Coney Island ($) 79630 CA-111, La Quinta (seasonal, closed for the month of August) – My family’s other favorite greasy spoon, this spot serves up great breakfasts, though my preferred dish is Nancy’s Crispy Chicken Salad, topped by chicken strips that I would have bet money were homemade on the premises but apparently are not. (The creamy garlic dressing – a secret family recipe – is crafted inhouse daily, however.) The hot dogs here are also out of this world and the service is insanely friendly. My mom and I popped in once for a late lunch around 1:45 p.m., not realizing the restaurant closes at 2. We were welcomed right in, served a fabulous meal and it wasn’t until they starting locking up when we headed to the door that we realized our gaffe. Though we apologized, our server would have none of it, thanking us profusely for coming in. Bobby’s is a gem!

3. The Sandwich Spot ($) 276 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – Tucked away and tiny, one can easily walk right by this spot without realizing it is there, which is a true shame because it serves up some of the best sandwiches in the valley! With an extensive menu of over 24 hoagie offerings (each of them fabulous!), my favorite thing about this eatery is that any choice can be made as a salad, so it’s diabetic-friendly for me! (I’d be remiss if I did not give an honorable mention to TKB Deli & Bakery here. I don’t love the place, but everyone else I know does. In fact, I think I might be the only person in the Coachella Valley who is not a fan. The restaurant is so beloved that it secured the Number 1 spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2018. I think the homemade bread is what sets it apart. Being diabetic, I typically don’t eat bread on sandwiches and, sadly, without it, the offerings at TKB are seriously lacking, IMO. That is, thankfully, not the case at The Sandwich Spot.)

4. Sunnylands Café ($) 37977 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage (seasonal) – This is my favorite spot to grab a quick bite whenever the GC and I are in the area running errands. The salads here are great and inexpensive, but the real draw is the ambiance. Overlooking Sunnylands Gardens, this place has views for days! If you eat here and have a few moments, be sure to explore both the attached museum (admission is free and exhibits change regularly) and the surrounding landscape. It is all spectacular! And if you’re architecturally inclined, book a tour of the historic Sunnylands estate, former home of philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenburg and a stomping ground of countless U.S. presidents.

5. Luscious Lorraine’s ($) 73910 CA-111 Suite F, Palm Desert – Vegan, gluten-free and, paleo friends – this is the spot for you! Specialized offerings for every kind of dietary restriction (there’s even a pregnancy-prep menu!), this place is health-minded, but incredibly good. As I’ve mentioned before, my family has pretty disparate dietary needs, but that’s never a problem at Lorraine’s. From lentil mushroom patties to macro nutrient bowls to tempeh sandwiches, there’s something for everyone here, no matter what ails you! (Photo below via the Luscious Lorraine’s website.)

6. La Quinta Baking Company ($$) 78395 CA-111, La Quinta – My mom’s pick for the best breakfast in town, La Quinta Baking Company is quaint, intimate and charming. And while not a big breakfast person myself, I have to say the spread here is exceptional. The baked goods (all homemade, as is most of what is served on the premises) stretch as far as the eye can see in the front case and the omelets (with American cheese melted on top!) are revelations! Truth be told everything is good here and the restaurant is picturesque both inside and out, especially the front patio. It’s like a little slice of Europe right in the desert.

7. Eureka! ($$) 74985 CA-111, Indian Wells – Another of my mom’s picks, she has a particular affinity for the hamburgers at this place. Eureka! is famous for them, no doubt. I am not a burger person myself, but the salads here are excellent, especially the cobb. The eatery also offers great drinks and appetizers, as well as full blown meals. In fact, whenever the Grim Cheaper doesn’t feel like cooking and suggests take-out, Eureka! is my first request.

8. Sherman’s Deli & Bakery ($$) 401 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs – The club here (which I order non-stacked, the bacon extra crispy, with added cheddar and avocado, sans bread) is hands-down one of the best.sandwiches.anywhere. Sherman’s has countless offerings, though, including salads, pastas and pretty much anything else you could ever hope to order. You almost need a full day to go through the menu! And you honestly can’t go wrong with a selection. Sherman’s is a true Palm Springs landmark! The deli also boasts a sister location in Palm Desert (which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!), but I prefer the original.

9. Manhattan in the Desert ($$) 2665 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs – My other favorite area deli, Manhattan in the Desert truly is like a little slice of the Big Apple right here in PS! I’m partial to the turkey, bacon, cheddar and avocado sandwich (and yes, it’s great even without bread), but this is another spot where you can’t go wrong with a selection. All sandwiches are “mile high,” stacked to perfection and served with a free sampling of delicious pickled goods.

10. King’s Highway ($$) 701 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – I rarely eat carbs or breakfast, but when I am craving both, this is the spot I head. King’s Highway at the Ace Hotel serves up some of the best avocado toast in the world! The place seems to change up the dish on the reg (currently it’s served with confit tomato, onion sprouts, crispy shallots and a soft-boiled egg), but each variety I’ve had has been nothing short of spectacular. The GC finds the rest of the menu a little odd (I’m a creature of habit and have only ever ordered the avo toast), but all the others I’ve taken here really enjoyed it. A reimagined Denny’s, the ambiance is pretty cool, too.

11. The Old Spaghetti Factory ($$) 71743 CA-111, Rancho Mirage – For me, this one is all about the décor, though the food is excellent, too. Walking through the doors of The Old Spaghetti Factory in Rancho Mirage is like stepping onto a highly stylized movie set. Towering red tufted booths, crystal chandeliers, wood-beamed ceilings (there’s even a vintage trolley car!), the place feels more like the Beast’s castle from Beauty and the Beast than a restaurant. Fantastical, whimsical, and oh-so-much fun, there’s truly no other spot like it in the desert.

12. Murph’s Gaslight ($$) 79860 Ave 42, Bermuda Dunes – This place may be a little rough around the edges, but it cooks up some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever had! The plastic dining ware it’s served on? Well, that’s just part of the charm – as are the questionably-colored gravy and ubiquitous canned fruit/sponge cake dessert. It’s all about the chicken here and trust me, it’s fantastic! Friends who I’ve brought to Murph’s undoubtedly say, “This is just like my [insert relative who hails from the south] used to make!” And it’s served bottomless, family-style with mashed potatoes, corn bread, veggies, biscuits, salad, and dessert included. Dining here is a true experience. And yep, Murph’s has a full bar with champagne, as pictured below. Fried chicken and champagne? That’s pretty much my perfect meal.

13. The Pink Cabana ($$$) 44985 Province Way, Indian Wells – Hands-down the Coachella Valley’s prettiest restaurant, The Pink Cabana is a designer’s dreamland! All soft blushes and subtle greens with incredible tilework, the newcomer (it opened in 2018) is gorgeous! And the food is fabulous to boot! Go for the Instagram opportunities, stay for the chicken tacos (my fave menu item)!

14. Bella Vita ($$$) 74970 Country Club Dr, Palm Desert – This is the site of one of my and the GC’s favorite Coachella Valley meals. Fairly close to where we used to live, we wound up here unexpectedly during a particularly disastrous anniversary. I can’t remember the circumstances now (as is the case with most things that initially seem disastrous), but our initial plans somehow got ruined and we found ourselves at Bella Vita last minute. I was in the worst mood, the kind nothing nor no one can get me out of. And then I walked through the front doors into one of the most warm and inviting spaces I’d ever visited, the scent of homemade Italian food promptly hitting my senses, and by the time we sat down and that first sip of bubbly hit my lips, I was immediately transformed. The night turned out being one of our best anniversaries ever – all thanks to Bella Vita!

15. Piero’s PizzaVino ($$$) 73722 El Paseo #1, Palm Desert – Florence-born Piero Pierattoni is behind numerous desert eateries, each one more fabulous than the last! (Several will be included in my upcoming Guide to Palm Springs – Cocktails thanks to their excellent happy hours.) This casual spot serves up authentic Italian food (all culled from generations-old family recipes straight from Italy), but is best known for its traditional Neapolitan Pizza, which is perfectly airy, crisp and cheesy! I typically go for the more diabetic-friendly pancetta-wrapped asparagus and grilled artichokes, though truth be told we’ve never had a bad meal here. Piero is often on hand to chat with patrons and, let me tell you, the guy is a character! There’s nothing better than grabbing a drink at the bar and listening to him regale guests with tales of his beloved native country.

16. Armando’s Dakota Bar and Grill ($$$) (73260 El Paseo, Palm Desert) – My pick for the best Mexican food in the desert and I’m not alone in that assessment. Pretty much everyone who comes to the area makes it a point to eat at Armando’s. A Palm Desert staple since 2001, the offerings here are exceptional, the service friendly and the margaritas strong (so strong, in fact, the restaurant limits patrons to two per visit!). The front patio, overlooking the shops on El Paseo, is an especially idyllic spot during more temperate months.

17. Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant ($$$$) 78164 52nd Avenue, La Quinta (seasonal) – Fine dining at its, well, finest, Arnold Palmer’s (opened by the golf great in 2004) serves up some of the desert’s best food. And the ambiance is priceless. With huge rear and side patios, mountain views, a club-like interior, unique mementos on display (including one of The King’s four Masters jackets), and even a putting green where patrons can hit balls, it’s also one of the area’s prettiest and most unique spots. You can’t go wrong with a meal here. (For the record, I’m partial to the crab cakes.)

18. Lavender Bistro ($$$$) 78073 Calle Barcelona, La Quinta (seasonal) – The food here is excellent, some of the best I’ve had in the desert (the mushroom soup is a can’t miss!), but this spot’s real claim to fame is its courtyard. Central, sprawling, decked out in shades of purple, and adorned with about a million twinkle lights, the space made me gasp aloud the first time I saw it. It is a magical little fairyland that the photo below really does not do justice to. As such – and very deservedly so – Lavender Bistro is regularly named Palm Springs’ most romantic restaurant by just about every publication out there.

19. Misaki Sushi & Grill ($$$$) 46600 Washington Street, #1, La Quinta – This hard-to-find spot (it’s hidden away behind a Trader Joe’s) is hands-down the Coachella Valley’s best sushi restaurant. And I would know, I’ve been dragged to pretty much all of them! While not a sushi fan myself, both the GC and my best friend, Robin, are. The two were devastated when their favorite desert spot, Gyoro Gyoro, closed in 2018 and promptly went on a quest to find another local place up to par. That quest ended as soon as they landed at Misaki. It’s been our go-to spot ever since. During their first visit, they ordered the dish below and it was so intricately plated, Robin commented that he was shocked a miniature train circling the sashimi hadn’t been included. And yes, it apparently tasted just as good as it looked!

20. Cunard’s Sandbar ($$$$) 78120 Calle Tampico, La Quinta (seasonal) – Don’t make the same mistake the GC and I did by judging a book by its cover with this one. Rather dumpy from the outside, we assumed Cunard’s Sandbar was a dive bar and avoided it the first few years we lived here. It was not until my friend Kim touted the place’s virtues on Facebook that I realized it was actually a restaurant. We decided to give it a whirl shortly thereafter and haven’t looked back since!

Sandbar is Old School Italian at its finest! In fact, it reminds me a lot of my beloved Vitello’s before it was completely revamped. Dimly lit, cozy and intimate, the restaurant even has quite a few celebrity fans including Gena Rowlands who dines on the premises so regularly she has her own table! Though the food is good, it’s really the ambiance and retro vibe that set this place apart. Sandbar is tiny and typically packed, so reservations are recommended.

21. Zin American Bistro ($$$$) 198 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – My and the GC’s favorite Palm Springs restaurant! When we stayed at the nearby Korakia Pensione for a week, we ate at Zin every. single. night. Though other eateries were recommended to us, we found ourselves returning night after night, craving one of the place’s delectable dishes. There’s literally nothing I’ve tried here that I didn’t absolutely love, but some of the standouts include the Wild Mushroom Truffle Soup, Vegetable Tartar, Fresh Burrata salad, Carpaccio, and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. The nice part about Zin is that you can overindulge in a decadent meal or keep it extremely healthy and, either way, it will be delicious!

Bonus – Tiffany’s Sweet Spot (79410 CA-111 Suite 101, La Quinta) – Craving dessert? Do not pass go, do not collect $200, head straight to Tiffany’s Sweet Spot in La Quinta! While this place is not a restaurant, I felt compelled to include it on my list for those wanting a a to-go treat. The tiny walk-up bakery, situated in a strip mall, serves cupcakes that are on par with Magnolia Bakery in New York (the best cupcakes in the world, IMO). Over 20 varieties are available each day and all are made to order. Each flavor can also be purchased gluten free and I actually think the gf samplings are better than the regular. This is my neighborhood’s go-to spot when anyone on the street is celebrating a birthday. Favorites include the Triple Chocolate, Salted Caramel Mocha, and Tres Leches.

Be sure to check out the other posts in My Guide to Palm Springs series about the desert’s best coffee houses, hotels, bars and places to see/things to do. And, as always, for more stalking fun, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

September 20, 2019September 18, 2019

A Filming Location Tour of “Schitt’s Creek”

I’m interrupting My Guide to Palm Springs to bring you a very special guest post about Schitt’s Creek’s filming locations penned by my BFF Nat. I’ve dragged Nat out on many a stalking adventure throughout our long friendship, but it was not until she recently fell in love with the Pop TV series Schitt’s Creek that she was inspired to to do some location hunting of her very own! After a ton of research and cyberstalking (of which she hardly needed any help from me!), she flew over 2,500 miles (boyfriend in tow) from her hometown of San Francisco to Toronto, where the show is filmed and where her friend Devi lives, to see the sites in person! Upon returning, she graciously offered to do a guest post for me which I immediately took her up on! So take it away Nat!

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I’ve known Lindsay Blake for over 30 years. And since we’ve known each other, I can say her enthusiasm for anything is contagious. Busy Phillips, in her book, which Lindsay so kindly loaned me, talks about “sparkly humans” for whom the world opens up to. That is Lindsay. So I’ve found myself on numerous stalking trips with her, in the most random of places, talking to the most random people, and find myself forwarding her filming location addresses and taking pictures of locations for her. [Editor’s note – some of those pictures can be seen here and here!]

It wasn’t until I found myself utterly enthralled with the Roses and their town of Schitt’s Creek that I myself became obsessed with tracking down the locations that so frame the background of their plight and transformations.

For those of you who haven’t watched the Emmy-nominated show (Best Comedy Series; Lead Actor Comedy Series, Eugene Levy; Lead Actress Comedy Series, Catherine O’Hara; and Contemporary Costumes), the town itself is a character. A character for which the leads show such disdain before falling in love with it, you can’t help adoring it yourself. I became determined to make the trip to the Toronto outskirts to track down some key locations and am blessed that Lindsay trusted me with her blog to make a guest post.

1. The Rosebud Motel (308385 Hockley Road, Orangeville) – The motel, where the Roses find themselves stranded after they are literally sent packing from their mansion, is even more depressing in person than the on-set interiors modeled after it.

The sign in front of the property bears the name “Hockley Retreat Centre.” However, the URL listed, “prse.ca,” takes you to The Athletic Institute Website, and articles about Schitt’s Creek filming cite that the location is actually a private residence.

Either way, the locale seems to be mostly abandoned and its interiors more fitting for a horror movie set, than a even a Schitt’s Creek motel.

Though the property seems to have found it’s calling as a filming location, as it has also appeared in The Umbrella Academy.

Coincidentally, the former Beverly Park estate (50 Beverly Park Way, Beverly Hills) of Lisa Vanderpump, of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules fame, is used in an establishing shot of the Rose family estate from which they are dislodged in the series’ pilot. [Editor’s note – sadly the mansion was destroyed by a fire in 2017 and no longer stands, but you can see a past aerial view of it below.]

2. Monte Carlo Inn (705 Applewood Crescent, Vaughn, Ontario) – One of the Schitt’s Creek episodes that had me giggling most was Season Four, Episode 8: “The Jazzaguy,” when Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire) tries to cheer up David (Dan Levy) by taking him to a spa. Unbeknownst to David, Stevie tells the spa it is their honeymoon, so they can get a deal and some added perks. Of course, hilarity ensues when David and Stevie are subjected to the hotel’s over-the-top celebration of their nuptials. While this was our first stop on our tour, it was the last location I found during my research. The front fountain and the bathtub in the middle of the room made the hunt a breeze, as I figured the hotel would be on the route from Toronto to other filming locations from the show. The Monte Carlo Inn, where filming took place, is just one hotel of a popular Canadian chain. Not knowing it was an omnipresent Canadian franchise, when I described the hotel to Devi as being a place where people would have affairs during a work conference or trade show with its cheesy Greco-Roman architecture and middle of the room bathtubs, being familiar with the chain, she laughed and agreed.

The hotel did not share my excitement for tracing the footsteps of David and Stevie, most not remembering filming had taken place there until I played them some clips and they exclaimed “Oh yeah, I do remember that.”

How excited was I when I asked if we could see the room and they obliged.

The first thing I did was run to the bathtub so I could stand on the edge à la Stevie. How I wished there were some cheesy honeymoon decorations adorning the room!

The restaurant was also used in the episode.

We even were able to sit in the chair Stevie and David dined from though it turned out the loveseat was not in the dining room but rather something the set designers had moved from the lobby.

3. The Blouse Barn (159 Main Street, Unionville) – While the location of David’s first job in Schitt’s Creek, The Blouse Barn, was not high on my stalking list, as it does not feature prominently in the series, my Canadian friend said we should hit it up because the town of Unionville is adorable. It did not disappoint. Without even seeing The Blouse Barn, the trip to Unionville itself would have been worthwhile. The town is as picturesque as Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A., with its brick buildings, well-manicured and planted flower beds and a quaint train track running through. The Blouse Barn is actually a branch of Crock A Doodle, a paint-your-own-pottery studio. I did not get any photos of the inside, as there was a children’s birthday party going on at the time of our visit and I didn’t want to make any parents uncomfortable.

Unionville is also where the pilot of Gilmore Girls was shot, so expect a blog post on Miss Patty’s Dance Studio soon. Let’s just say, I wanted to break into the train depot and pirouette! [Editor’s note – Yay! Can’t wait for that post!]

4. Ted’s Veterinary Clinic (6342 Main Street, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario) – For a show that has been nominated for an Emmy, the residents and employees of the businesses who occupy the actual filming locations could not be any more nonplussed. Nowhere was that more evident than at Ted’s Veterinary Clinic, which is really Thicketwood Veterinary Hospital.

As we pulled into the adorable town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, I declared to my BF that if he walked in and asked to see Ted, I would buy him dinner. He gleefully complied and the vet techs replied, “There is no Ted here.” When we followed up with mention of Schitt’s Creek they responded, “Oh yeah, they used the outside of our office for a scene, but we haven’t seen it.” I was agog. I watch almost every movie filmed in San Francisco because I love seeing the familiar sights in a new light and watching the characters interact with the city. How could these people have not watched ONE scene that spotlighted their own place of employment?!? [Editor’s note – Welcome to my world, Nat! I ask myself that same question regularly!]

5. Café Tropical, Bob’s Garage and Rose Apothecary (Concession 3 Road and Highway 47, Goodwood) – Knowing that Café Tropical, Bob’s Garage and Rose Apothecary all meet at one intersection, I was most excited about the filming locations in Goodwood. I could imagine David crossing the street from the apothecary to Café Tropical to peruse the vast menu for lunch.

Café Tropical is in reality a private residence. You can see Bob’s Garage in the background.

Bob’s Garage also appeared to be a private residence.

I was beyond excited to see the fresh paint sign on Bob’s Garage as the owners reclaimed their residence from filming.

Rose Apothecary is a Romni Wools location and the staff was unpacking their wares, which they had recently returned to the store as filming of Season Six had just wrapped up a couple days before we arrived.

How I wanted to lip-sync “You’re Simply the Best” to my BF (which he is!) but the ladies working at the store were so unfriendly and unwelcoming, we took some photos and quickly left.

I apologize for the bad quality of the interior photo. As I said, the ladies unpacking the store could not have been more unwelcoming.

The interior of the store is as charming as Rose Apothecary; the goods they sell at Romni Woods, not so much! I wanted so badly to buy just one thing as a souvenir, but could not justify it, as everything reminded me of what one would find as they were cleaning out their dead grandmother’s house. Let’s just say, anyone under 70 probably isn’t Romni Woods’ target market.

6. Roland Schitt’s House (4130 Concession 3 Road, Goodwood) – I could almost smell the enchilada sauce cooking and hear David and Moira yelling “Fold in the cheese!” as Roland’s house looks exactly like it does on screen.

I was beyond ecstatic to see the chains for the “Schitt Family” sign hanging from the front porch.

7. Schitt’s Creek Town Hall (4289 Front St., Goodwood) – Just down the street from downtown Schitt’s Creek and Roland’s house is Schitt’s Creek Town Hall, which is the actual Goodwood Town Hall. You could practically hear the Jazzagirls harmonizing from the front steps.

Good luck to the cast and crew of Schitt’s Creek at Sunday’s Emmy Awards! A special thank you to my friend Devi, a Toronto native, who showed us around, tolerated my quest for everything Schitt’s Creek and even though she hasn’t seen one episode of the show, drove us out to the Rosebud Motel. And as Lindsay says, “Until next time, Happy Stalking!”

[Editor’s note – Thank you so much, Nat, for this fabulous post and that intro, which made me tear up! I’m so glad my love of stalking has rubbed off on you! Though I’ve never seen an episode of Schitt’s Creek, either, you’ve inspired me to start watching!]

September 18, 2019September 27, 2019

My Guide to Palm Springs – Coffee

My love of coffee knows no bounds! So I have, of course, visited pretty much every café the Coachella Valley has to offer. Of that group, there are a few standouts. Read on for my list of the very best spots to grab a cup of joe in the desert. As was the case with my hotel recommendations, this guide is not limited to Palm Springs, but encompasses all area cities including Indian Wells, Indio and Palm Desert.

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1. Ristretto (500 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – This spot gets the award for my favorite downtown Palm Springs café. Formally known as “Ristretto, for Coffee Lovers,” the establishment serves up the very best java in the desert (in my opinion, at least). From iced lattes to americanos, you can’t go wrong with an espresso order here. The ambiance is pretty stellar, too. Situated on the ground floor of The Five Hundred building, a landmark property originally built in 1968 to house Alan Ladd Hardware, the contemporary surroundings are gorgeous and so very Palm Springs! (Be sure to check out the fabulous fountain in the main lobby!) Ristretto (Italian for “narrow,” the name refers to a short espresso pull) also offers baked goods, salads and sandwiches, as well as mobile ordering for those pressed (see what I did there? Winking smile ) for time.

2. Old Town Coffee Company (78100 Main Street, La Quinta) – You won’t find a prettier spot to grab a cappuccino in all of the desert! Old Town Coffee Company, in the heart of picturesque Old Town La Quinta, features stunning views of the neighboring adobe buildings, mountain peaks in the distance, and towering palm trees dotting the premises. Add that to the fact that the place serves up some heavenly lattes and there’s nothing more you could desire – except for maybe some baked goods and Old Town Coffee’s homemade muffins and scones can’t be beat! The café’s motto, “It’s where good friends meet for great coffee,” couldn’t be truer. I always take visitors here for a cup or two and have countless fond memories of lounging on the eatery’s expansive patio with loved ones. The bistro even counts Kevin Bacon as a fan! The actor spent several hours here soaking up the ambiance one sunny Saturday morning in 2017.

3. Ernest Coffee (1101 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – This place touts itself as the only independent coffee house in Palm Springs to serve Stumptown java. But there’s so much more to be had here! With cheeky décor, bright airy windows showcasing bustling Palm Canyon Drive, a banana-leaf-mural-adorned patio, and plenty of comfy spots to lounge, Ernest Coffee is a must-visit. And it’s historic! Situated in the building that once housed Don the Beachcomber (originally opened in 1953), the café is named in honor of the landmark tiki restaurant’s founder, Ernest Gantt, aka “Donn Beach.” The site even retains some of the Beachcomber’s original kitschy detailing, like the bright orange tiki torches that tower above the front door. Besides fine roasts, Ernest also serves wine, beer and champagne (yaaaaaas!), as well as finger foods. And it has a celebrity following, too! I first learned about it thanks to Abigail Spencer who posted about it in an Instagram story in early 2017.

4. IW Coffee (74995 CA-111, Indian Wells) – Easily the desert’s most Instagrammable café (that coffee sign, amirite?), this spot also serves up a great cup of joe. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to grab a drink and settle in for the afternoon, as evidenced by the always-occupied tables. Started by one of the former owners of Old Town Coffee Company, the eatery serves up similarly scrumptious muffins and scones, a well as sandwiches and salads. Bonus – there is a sister location in Palm Desert.

5. Starbucks Reserve (110 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs) – I had never heard of Starbucks Reserve until this place opened in late 2017. Featuring exclusive drinks (my first ever Reserve sampling is below!), counter seating, and striking décor, the Reserve locations are described as being “coffee theatre.” And the one in downtown Palm Springs truly is! With a sleek, contemporary interior, the design boasts nods to the desert surroundings via a huge air plant display that serves as a focal point. It is also one of the biggest outposts of the chain I’ve ever come across – so large, it feels like three regular stores could fit inside it! Despite being insanely crowded at all hours (it is the only Starbucks in downtown Palm Springs), wait times are surprisingly not all that terrible and mobile ordering is also offered. If it were up to me, though, I’d linger in line and soak up all the beauty the café has to offer.

6. Il Sogno (73375 El Paseo, Palm Desert) – This place is best known for its extensive array of homemade goods, which are decadent, gorgeous and delectable to say the least. But it also serves up a perfect pour of java, not to mention great European Old Country-style lunches, including incredible soups of the day! Per owner Mirjana Ilic, who is always on-hand to answer any and all questions about her exquisite fare, everything served is artfully crafted on the premises daily. Originally founded in 1990 in the Pacific Palisades (where The Wall Street Journal deemed it one of the two best restaurants in all of Los Angeles), it moved to Palm Desert’s exclusive El Paseo shopping district in 2009. The quaint front patio is the perfect spot to enjoy one of the desert’s many sunny afternoons, iced latte and baked good in hand, of course. Be forewarned, the insanely charming Zagat-rated eatery is pricey. Il Sogno (“the dream” in Italian) is worth every penny, though.

7. Vintage Coffee House (49990 Jefferson Street, Indio) – A strip mall with a grocery store as its anchor tenant may seem an unlikely place to find some of the best java in the Coachella Valley, but that is the case with Vintage Coffee House. Known for being one of the only cafés in the area with bulletproof coffee on the menu, all of its offerings are actually fabulous. The eatery is adorable to boot and the service stellar, with some of the friendliest baristas I’ve ever encountered. Even Sylvester Stallone is a fan! Vintage is also situated in extremely close proximity to the Coachella concert grounds, so if you are in town for any of the festivals, this is the spot to grab your daily joe!

8. Koffi (515 North Palm Canyon, Palm Springs) – Java at this spot is roasted in-house, so it’s no surprise that Koffi repeatedly lands on Palm Springs Life’s “Best of the Best” list. It’s most notable feature, though, besides the stellar coffee, is the adjacent garden where you can enjoy it. The lush oasis, dotted with small tables and boasting incredible mountain views, serves as the center of The Corridor complex and is one of my favorite sites in the entire valley. Tranquil and serene, even when bustling with people, there’s no more idyllic venue to sip a cuppa and savor the city’s ever-present sun. Though Koffi has three sister locations (all worth visiting), The Corridor outpost is, obviously, the one to see.

Don’t forget to check out the other posts in My Guide to Palm Springs series about the desert’s best hotels, restaurants, bars and places to see/things to do. And, as always, for more stalking fun, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

September 13, 2019September 27, 2019

My Guide to Palm Springs – Hotels

Today’s post is loooooong overdue. For ages now, I’ve been talking about putting together a guide to Palm Springs. Having lived in the desert for over six years, regularly playing a tourist in my own town, has given me quite an insider’s knowledge of the area. Who better to share that knowledge with than my fellow stalkers? As was the case with My Guide to L.A., this list is not geared toward filming locations (though there will be a few mentioned), but will instead catalog non-filming-related recommendations of places to stay, eat, drink, grab coffee, and see/shop/play while in town. The guide also won’t be limited to Palm Springs proper but will cover most Coachella Valley cities including Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and La Quinta. First up are my picks for the best area hotels!

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Thankfully, there is no shortage of extraordinary properties to book while visiting the desert. And I have checked in to quite a few of them during my tenure here. For the purposes of this post, I will only be listing hotels where I have actually stayed or spent considerable time. For a pricing key, I chose a random Friday in October (at the start of Palm Springs’ high season – rates are much cheaper in the summer) to base the nightly costs at my recommended lodgings. Those rates (which include all taxes and fees) are posted next to each property name and the hotels are listed in order from lowest to highest price. And now, without further ado, I present My Guide to Palm Springs Hotels!

1. Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa ($234) 44400 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells – I spent a birthday here a couple of years back with my parents and the Grim Cheaper and we all absolutely loved it! We are quite a disparate group when it comes to dietary needs and pickiness and our favorite part about the hotel was the many onsite restaurants (there are five, serving such diverse fare as pizza and sushi). During our stay, we’d meet with my parents each night in The Place, the resort’s central cocktail lounge, for an aperitif, then go our separate ways to grab takeout from whatever restaurant struck our fancy, bringing our choices back to The Place to all dine together. We spent three nights at the hotel and were never bored with our food choices once! The other amenities, including an onsite coffee bar, a spa (where I bought the softest sweatshirt), a pool with a sand beach, a massive lagoon, tennis courts, and a gym, were also bar none. All in all, a great hotel experience!

2. Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa ($235) 45000 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells – A gorgeous 215-room resort spread out over 11 manicured acres. Designed to resemble a Tuscan villa, there’s no reason to leave this place after checking in. With 3 pools (one is adults-only!), a 12,000-square-foot spa, 24-hour room service, access to 2 golf courses, a restaurant, a bar, a fitness center, a fabulous gift shop, and gardens throughout, the Four Diamond-property has everything you’ll need and then some, all while retaining the feel of a boutique hotel. While the interiors and amenities are great, it is the grounds that make this spot so special. Miramonte Indian Wells truly is an oasis in the desert. And it’s a filming location, as well, having appeared on both The Real Housewives of Orange County and Flavor of Love!

3. Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa ($254) 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage – Another area property with countless amenities, Omni Rancho Las Palmas features a golf course, 4 restaurants, a spa, a whopping 240 acres of land, and 3 pools, one of which, Splashtopia, is its real claim to fame. The 2-acre onsite water park is made complete with a lazy river, 2 water slides, and a man-made beach! Not something you ordinarily find at a hotel. The property also has the best gift shop I’ve ever visited! And it is situated directly across the street from The River at Rancho Mirage, a massive outdoor shopping/dining destination. Needless to say, Omni Rancho Las Palmas is another spot you never need to leave after checking in. It’s also something of a pop culture landmark! It was there that Ray Pruit (Jamie Walters) infamously pushed Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) down the stairs on Beverly Hills, 90210!

4. Hotel Paseo ($297) 45400 Larkspur Lane, Palm Desert – While this spot is obviously gorgeous, has amenities galore and countless Instagram opportunities (like the “California” wall below), Hotel Paseo really is all about location, location, location! Situated in the heart of Palm Desert’s exclusive El Paseo shopping district, the lodging is steps from countless boutiques – everything from Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Kate Spade to Anthropologie, Banana Republic and Loft. Staples like Apple and Sephora are also there. Hotel Paseo itself features unique art, a restaurant, a pool, a pool bar, a putting green, a gym, a spa and a café that serves Starbucks coffee. Could you ask for anything more?

5. Hyatt Regency Indian Wells ($318) 44600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells – Three words for you – adults-only pool! This spot was a favorite escape of mine and the GC in the early days of our relationship, back when I was teaching, the Oasis Adult Pool providing a much-needed respite from youngins. In a rare turn, the Oasis, which you can see a photo of here, is actually nicer than the hotel’s main pool, featuring its own bar/café, luxury cabanas, grassy expanses, a perimeter of palm trees, and stunning views. The rest of the Hyatt isn’t too shabby either, with four restaurants (in addition to the Oasis Pool Bar), a spa, a fitness center, a total of seven pools (!), a kids’ camp, pet accommodations, mountain views, lagoons, pathways, a golf course, and 45 gorgeous landscaped acres.

6. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa ($353) 74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert – One of my absolute favorite area lodgings, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is truly a unique property, the majority of it surrounded by huge lakes which guests can tour via manned gondolas. Heading to one of the hotel’s nine (!) onsite restaurants on a boat truly is a unique experience. Though the resort is massive, with 884 rooms and 450 acres (and a Starbucks!), it still manages to be warm and friendly. Even if you don’t book a stay there, I highly recommend popping by for a visit and taking a boat tour because the JW truly is a sight to behold! And it has a major film location connection. It was there that Jessie Spano’s (Elizabeth Berkley) dad got married in the Season 3 episodes of Saved by the Bell titled “Palm Springs Weekend: Part I” and “Palm Springs Weekend: Part II.”

7. Triada Palm Springs ($353) 640 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – This Mediterranean-style property oozes Old Hollywood charm and, in fact, has many ties to the Tinseltown of yore. Formerly The Ambassador Hotel, the lodging counts such stars as Lana Turner, Tyrone Power, Jimmy Durante, Esther Williams, Howard Hughes, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton as one-time guests. Dating back to the 1920s, the picturesque site has had several different iterations over the years, but was finally revamped by Marriott in 2014 and today is one of Palm Springs’ most fabulous destinations. It’s pretty much my family’s go-to spot for a staycation. Though it looks small from the outside, Triada is actually quite sprawling with an onsite restaurant, two bars, three pools, a gym, and 56 rooms. The hotel bills itself on being “exactly like nothing else” and it definitely delivers on that promise.

8. La Quinta Resort & Club ($374) 49499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta – My family and I first booked a stay at this spot in 2010 (as I blogged about here) and have since come back more times than I can count. It is one of our favorite desert locations. Though I am not a fan of the recent remodel (like at all!), the resort is still no doubt a very special, very historic place. Initially built in 1926, the Hacienda-like retreat existed before La Quinta was incorporated. In fact, the city was named after the hotel – one of only two West Coast municipalities with that claim to fame. (The other is Beverly Hills.) Long a playground for the rich and famous (Frank Capra wrote It’s a Wonderful Life there!), the property, part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection, boasts 796 rooms, most of which are standalone casitas situated around lush courtyards with pools. The hotel is massive – featuring 23 tennis courts, 4 restaurants, 41 pools, 53 Jacuzzis, 6 boutiques, and 5 golf courses – yet it feels insanely intimate and private. The resort is a gem and truly one of a kind.

9. Two Bunch Palms ($379) 67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, Desert Hot Springs – Situated north of the 10 Freeway in Desert Hot Springs, this one is a bit out of the way and far removed from most desert attractions, but don’t let that dissuade you from making a reservation. It is the place to stay if you truly want to get away from it all. The tucked-away oasis, which rumor has it once served as a hide-out for Al Capone, has long been a celebrity haven thanks to its remoteness, exclusivity, stunning grounds, and fabulous spa. Everyone from Julia Roberts to Neil Diamond has checked in. Boasting 70 rooms and bungalows, a grotto, two mineral pools, a lap pool, a gym, 77 acres of land (all of them lush!), a lagoon, a 3,000-square-foot yoga dome, and a farm-to-table restaurant, the wellness hotel feels more like a tropical getaway than a desert retreat. It’s also a filming location, having appeared in everything from The Bachelor to The Player, as I chronicled here.

10. The Riviera Palm Springs ($406) 1600 North Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – You want a true Palm Springs experience, you say? Head straight to The Riviera! Originally opened in 1959, the lodging, built in the shape of a spoke wheel, was the stomping ground of Old Hollywood heavies Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Desi Arnaz, Sonny Bono, Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elvis Presley. The property is such an area landmark, it was even featured in the 1963 comedy Palm Springs Weekend! Reimagined first in 2008 and then again in 2016, The Riviera now offers the best in modern accommodations while still retaining a retro vibe. Easily one of the prettiest spots I’ve ever visited, the hotel, all soft greens, blushes and light blues, is an Instagrammer’s dream! With 398 rooms, six restaurants (!), a central pool, a spa (with a Watsu pool), 24 acres of manicured grounds, and its close proximity to downtown Palm Springs, you won’t regret booking a stay here. (Special thanks to my friend Kim for the photo below.)

11. The Chateau at Lake La Quinta ($411) 78120 Caleo Bay Drive, La Quinta – This hidden gem (most locals don’t even know it’s there!) sits perched overlooking the 25-acre man-made Lake La Quinta. The boutique lodging is small (there are only 24 rooms), but is not short on amenities, which include an onsite restaurant, a sprawling lawn, a patio strung with lights and a fire pit, a pool, and a jacuzzi. All rooms boast a patio or balcony facing the water and guests are greeted with a glass of champagne upon checking in (yaaaaassss!). The idyllic site, voted “Best of the Best” boutique hotel in La Quinta by Palm Springs Life magazine this year, is frequently completely booked out for weddings and events (especially on weekends), so if you want to stay there, be sure to make a reservation far in advance.

12. Sands Hotel & Spa ($449) 44985 Province Way, Indian Wells – Every square inch of this hotel has been styled to within an inch of its life – but in the best way possible! Sands is, simply put, gorgeous. A relative newcomer (formerly a rather dumpy timeshare, it opened last year after a lengthy renovation and expansion), this spot has become my absolute favorite local lodging. And it definitely gets the award for the area’s most Instagrammable hotel, thanks to the efforts of designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard. Outfitted in subtle greys and greens with blush accents, Sands is #décorgoals! The quaint lodging has an onsite restaurant (The Pink Cabana – it’s gorgeous, too!), a pool, cabanas that are free for guests to utilize, daybeds, an incredible spa (it literally looks like the inside of Jeannie’s bottle!), and 46 rooms. The neighboring Nest restaurant (which is a must-visit spot – it will be included in the upcoming My Guide to Palm Springs – Restaurants post) can get a little lively at night, so if you are seeking quiet, ask to be placed far removed from the eatery.

13. Kimpton Rowan Hotel ($499) 100 West Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs) – Modern, sleek, and situated right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs there’s not much more you can ask for when it comes to area hotels. This spot was built from the ground up in 2017, with serious attention to detail. The hotel couldn’t be any more PS, with its Mid-Century modern accents, if it tried. Standing at 7 stories, it is the tallest building in the city. It offers 153 rooms, a rooftop pool and restaurant, a lobby bar, a Mediterranean café, a gym, 270-degree views of the city, free bicycle rentals, and a nightly social hour with free wine and finger foods. (Not to mention serious bookshelf goals, amirite?) If you want to channel your inner Don Draper, this is the spot to do it.

14. Avalon Hotel and Bungalows ($523/night, 2-night minimum) (415 South Belardo Road, Palm Springs) – Another boutique hotel situated steps from downtown Palm Springs, the Avalon is a designer’s dream. Initially built in 1933 as the Estrella Inn, it was given an Old Hollywood Regency-style revamp in 2001 thanks to owner/interior designer Kelly Wearstler. Favoring a yellow aesthetic, the retro vibe has been done to perfection here. Pretty and polished, the hotel is somehow also warm and inviting. One look at the plush chaises and you’ll want to plunk down and never get up. Though seemingly small, the 3.5-acre site boasts 3 pools, an on-site restaurant, a spa, gardens, thirteen bungalows, and event space. And it’s a filming location! The Avalon is where Justin Bobby famously gave longtime on-again/off-again girlfriend Audrina Patridge a ring on the Season 4 finale of The Hills.

15. Ingleside Inn ($545) 200 West Ramon Road, Palm Springs – This hotel holds a very special place in my heart. It was there that the GC and I got engaged back in 2009. Regardless of that fact, though, I would still love the Ingleside Inn. The intimate hotel is secluded, tranquil and serene. Boasting amenities like a 24-hour pool and an onsite restaurant/bar with nightly dancing, the 30-room property still manages to be a quiet little haven. As such, celebrities have flocked to it, including Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston who spent three days there following their 2000 wedding. Along with Two Bunch Palms, this is a place to truly get away from it all. Since getting engaged, the GC and I have returned to the inn on several occasions and each time counts as one of my best hotel experiences. I can’t recommend the Ingleside more.

16. Korakia Pensione ($595/night, 2-night minimum) 257 South Patencio Road, Palm Springs – This hotel is nothing short of magical! The GC and I checked into the Moroccan-themed property for a two-night visit to celebrate our anniversary a few years back and wound up staying a full week! Each morning, we woke up and decided we just didn’t want to leave. The hotel has that effect. With vistas galore, tucked-away corners, two serene pools, lantern-strewn walkways, cobbled paths and foliage aplenty, beauty is literally at every turn. Essentially a bed and breakfast, morning meals are served on the picturesque front patio and afternoon tea is offered in the charming lobby. Old movies are also shown each evening al fresco, projected onto one of the Korakia’s courtyard walls, guests lounging on nearby pillows and bean bags to watch. It was there that the GC first saw The Wizard of Oz! The pensione offers one of the most unique hotel experiences you’ll come across, not just in Palm Springs, but anywhere.

17. The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage ($610) 68900 Frank Sinatra Drive, Rancho Mirage – Newly renovated in 2014, The Ritz in Rancho Mirage is one of the desert’s premier properties. Sitting atop a 650-foot bluff, the views of the surrounding area are unparalleled – as are the service and the amenities. There are three restaurants onsite (made-to-order sushi is even served at the pool!), a spa, two swimming pools, and countless expanses overlooking the Coachella Valley. They say you get what you pay for and a stay at the Ritz is definitely a luxury experience. Though I much preferred the look of the place before the remodel, the hotel is still undeniably beautiful. And it has a ton of Tinseltown ties! Not only did Trista and Ryan from The Bachelorette tie the knot there in a televised ceremony, but everyone from Katharine McPhee to Kym Johnson to Ryan Seacrest has checked in.

18. Parker Palm Springs ($740/night, 2-night minimum) 4200 East Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs – A former Holiday Inn, this spot is now one of Palm Springs’ most exclusive lodgings. The Mid-Century site is eclectic in all the right ways thanks to designer Jonathan Adler who gave the space a $27-million overhaul in 2003. Unique décor is at every turn here (the “drugs” sign in the lobby is an Instagram favorite). While vintage in theme, this is is definitely not your mom’s hotel! Featuring four pools, a lemonade stand, a golf course, a spa with 21 treatment rooms, croquet courts, two restaurants, two tennis courts, 13 shaded acres, and 144 rooms, the Parker has all of the amenities of a major resort, but still retains its intimacy. Perhaps that’s why celebs have flocked to it over the years. It was there that Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie famously stayed – at opposite ends of the property, per their publicist – while shooting their “Domestic Bliss” cover story for W Magazine in 2005. And the Parker is also a filming location, having popped up in a Season 1 episode of The Comeback. Though the most expensive hotel on my list, I’ve literally never heard one bad thing about this place! Everyone I know who has stayed there counts it as an absolute favorite.

For those wishing to rent a private house rather than book a hotel, look no further than Oranj Palm Vacation Homes! As a surprise for my 40th birthday, my family leased a residence through the company and it was absolutely heavenly! The Aqua House (below) was well-appointed (there literally wasn’t one thing we needed that wasn’t supplied), decorated to Mid-Century Modern perfection, and completely comfortable. It was the ideal spot for our group of eight to relax, play, cook and imbibe. The rest of Oranj’s inventory is just as spectacular. The company is highly responsive and manages their properties insanely well. I couldn’t recommend them more.

Be sure to check out the other posts in My Guide to Palm Springs series about the desert’s best restaurants, coffee houses, bars and places to see/things to do. And, as always, for more stalking fun, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

September 11, 2019August 10, 2020

Lacy Street Production Center from “Stitchers”

They say the third time’s the charm, but I attempted to stalk today’s location on no less than ten different occasions before finally being successful! Lacy Street Production Center, the exterior of which portrayed the site of a rave in an episode of Stitchers, is an actual working studio and, unfortunately, each time I showed up for a look-see, production trucks were parked over every square inch of the place, blocking all views of it from the street. So I was thrilled to arrive on a recent Wednesday morning and find the complex free of any and all freighters, meaning I could finally snap some photos. Considering the number of man-hours put into it, this stalk was truly a labor of love!

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It is at Lacy Street Production Center that Kristen Clark (Emma Ishta) and her team investigate the death of a young woman in the Season 1 episode of Stitchers titled “Friends in Low Places.”

One look at the rusted-out smokestack visible in the episode and I was smitten! I had never seen anything like it in Los Angeles and promptly got started trying to identify it. Thankfully, the Seeing Stars website did the legwork for me, chronicling all of Stitchers Season 1 locales, including Lacy Street Production Center, aka the site of the “Friends in Low Places” rave.

The conglomeration of buildings that today makes up Lacy Street Production Center originally served as the home of the Talbert-Whitmore Co., a window shade manufacturer that later became known as Columbia Mills. Initially constructed in 1908, the complex was expanded multiple times over the years as Talbert-Whitmore grew, eventually developing into the largest window shade factory on the West Coast. You can see an image of the plant from its early days here.

I could find absolutely no provenance regarding the American Wrecking Company signage so prominently splayed across the complex’s central structure – not via old building permits, newspaper.com archives or historic resources surveys. I am guessing it is leftover from a shoot, quite possibly an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise. But more on that in a bit.

In 1982, the 9-building, 2-acre site was transformed into a de facto movie studio thanks to producer Barney Rosenzweig who was looking for a permanent spot to shoot his new TV series, Cagney & Lacey. The former Talbert-Whitmore warehouse fit the bill perfectly, thanks to the vast open spaces it provided, perfect for building sets, not to mention the low rental rates, much less than those of an actual studio. The show called Lacy Street Production Center home for its full six-year run. When it wrapped, the complex’s owners, Don Randles and Jim Knight, began leasing the space out to other productions.

It proved so popular that when Rosenzweig came back to Randles and Knight a couple of years after Cagney & Lacey went off the air in the hopes of renting out the facility for his new series The Trials of Rosie O’Neill, he was told it had already been booked by another show, Alien Nation. Lacy Street Production Center has continued to be booked regularly ever since, serving as the home to such productions as Catch Me If You Can, L.A. Confidential and Seabiscuit.

Shooting in a converted warehouse does have its drawbacks, though. As author Bob Fisher stated in a 1987 American Cinematographer article about Cagney & Lacey, “The Lacy Street studio does impose some production limitations. There are low ceilings with no room for scaffolds, comparatively small sets with immovable walls, pillars in the middle of rooms and large air conditioning ducts that add to the ambience but present some considerable obstacles to the director of photography who has to light in a comparatively cramped space.” Still, there’s nothing quite like the authentic urban aura it provides. Though not actually abandoned, it definitely has that feel. As Peggy Archer said in a 2007 LAist article documenting Lacy Street’s dilapidation over the years, “Of course, the reason movies, TV and commercials keep shooting here although it’s about to fall over is that the place looks really. f*cking. cool.”

When Lacy Street Production Center came on the market in 2015, there were talks of razing several buildings, gutting interiors, and transforming it into a large-scale mixed-use development. Commercial production company Buck Design eventually stepped in, purchasing the 90,000-square-foot complex for $20 million in August 2017. Thankfully, the firm decided to continue to operate the site as a studio, going to great pains to bring it up to code, all while keeping intact all of the rough elements that make it so insanely shootable. You can check out what the interior looks like post-rehab here.

Lacy Street Production Center is nothing if not picturesque – especially with the blue skies of Los Angeles serving as its backdrop.

The complex is just begging to be photographed, particularly my beloved smokestack which can be found in the center’s main parking lot, very visible from the street (well, at least when film trucks aren’t blocking it from view, anyway).

The vast majority of productions that film on the premises make use of Lacy Street’s interior, building sets in the sprawling empty rooms. A few, like Stitchers, have utilized the outside, though.

The center masks as the Recovery House Youth Shelter in the 1991 horror flick Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.

That same year, the building situated just west of the smokestack portrayed a chop shop in Out for Justice.

That structure is pictured below.

Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) has a showdown with a terrorist in Lacy Street Production Center’s front courtyard in the Season 1 episode of 24 titled “3:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.,” which aired in 2001.

The property portrayed the Detroit lair of a group of Reptilians seeking to destroy humanity in the Season 3 episode of Star Trek: Enterprise titled “Carpenter Street,” which aired in 2003. In the episode, the “American Wrecking Company” signage is very visible. As I mentioned earlier, I could find no information regarding a business by that name ever operating in Los Angeles, so I am thinking the painted words may have been set dressing installed for the shoot that Lacy Street’s owners decided to leave intact post-filming. Who knows, though.

Several portions of Justin Timberlake’s 2016 “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” music video were lensed at the studio.

That same year, it served as the abandoned mental health hospital where Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) was held prisoner in the Season 6 episode of Rizzoli & Isles titled “Hide and Seek.”

Lacy Street Production Center is also the site of a huge shootout at the end of the Season 10 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles titled “Better Angels,” which aired in 2019.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Big THANK YOU to the Seeing Stars website for identifying this location.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: Lacy Street Production Center, from the “Friends in Low Places” episode of Stitchers, is located at 2630 Lacy Street in Lincoln Heights.

September 9, 2019September 8, 2019

The Georgian Hotel from “BH90210”

While I was initially on the fence as to my feelings regarding BH90210, I have to say the meta-revival has really grown on me. Though I did not particularly love the pilot, by episode 4, I was absolutely enthralled and am so saddened that Season 1 will be coming to a close this week. And it’s not just the nostalgia factor that is hooking me. The show is really well done and really funny. Can I hear it for a Season 2, please?!? One thing about the production that I cannot get behind is the fact that none of it is shot in L.A. In a perplexingly move, Fox chose to shoot the reboot of one of the most famous series about Los Angeles in Vancouver of all places! Sacrilege, I know! BH90210 doesn’t even really make use of SoCal establishing shots. So I was thrilled to finally see a local spot, Santa Monica’s The Georgian Hotel, pop up as the exterior of the private club Jason Priestley belongs to in episode 4. I actually stalked the locale years ago, but never blogged about it. Figuring now was the perfect time to do so, I scanned through my extensive photo library to look for my pics of it, but couldn’t find them anywhere. So I called upon my friend Brian, of the Celebrity Net Worth website, who lives in L.A., to stalk the property on my behalf the next time he was in the area. Incredibly, he obliged the following day! Thank you, Brian!

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The Art Deco masterpiece that is The Georgian Hotel was commissioned by judge Harry J. Borde, owner of the neighboring Hotel Windermere which was originally established by his mother, Rosamund, on Ocean Avenue in 1909. (That site has long since been demolished.) As Santa Monica grew in popularity with vacationers, Borde decided to build a second, adjacent lodging, figuring it would also be profitable. Ground broke on his new project in 1931. Designed by architect Eugene Durfee at a cost of $500,000, the striking Georgian opened to the public in 1933.

At its inception, the 8-story hotel, commonly referred to as “The Lady,” boasted such modern amenities as a beauty parlor, a formal dining room, a barber shop, and, per a 1933 newspaper ad, “electrically-equipped kitchens.” Rates started at $40 a night. Oh, how times have changed! Today, rooms at The Georgian run about $300 on the low end.

The Georgian became a celebrity haven from the outset. Not only did the beach provide more temperate climates than other areas of L.A., but hidden in the hotel’s basement was a speakeasy. Some of the stars who frequented the place during its early days, whether to illegally imbibe or just relax, include Charlie Chaplin, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Bugsy Siegel, Al Capone, and Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle.

The lodging has gone through several renovations and transformations throughout its 86-year existence. It even served as an upscale apartment building in the ‘60s, housing the likes of Rose Kennedy, who summered onsite.

Today, the property offers 84 rooms (28 of which are suites), turn-down service, complimentary Wi-Fi (a rarity in L.A.), 24-hour room service (yes, please!), a gym, views of Palisades Park and the Pacific Ocean, the alfresco Veranda Restaurant, a business center, and event space. What happened to the basement speakeasy, you ask? Per the hotel’s website, it is being re-opened as Nineteen33 Underground Kitchen & Bar in the very near future.

Thanks to its exclusivity, The Georgian remains a celebrity enclave today, with such luminaries as Matthew Perry, Al Pacino, Tim Robbins, Matt LeBlanc, Robert Downey Jr., Ron Yerxa, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Claire Danes, Nicolas Cage, Oliver Stone, Robert De Niro, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Charlie Webber all known to stop by.

On BH90210, The Georgian masks as the private club Jason Priestley belongs to (and is a founding member of), where the cast regularly hangs out. It’s kind of like the modern-day Peach Pit. Oddly, while the club has appeared in every episode from “The Pitch” on, typically only the interior is shown. The Georgian did not pop up until episode 4, “The Table Read.” The two establishing shots featured are below. The very same images were also used in episode 5, “Picture’s Up.”

Only the exterior of The Georgian is utilized on BH90210. The Interior of Jason’s club is nothing more than a set created at North Shore Studios in Vancouver, where the series is lensed.

Said set actually reminds me a lot of the Beverly Hills Beach Club set from the CW’s 2008 90210 reboot, which you can see images of here.

BH90210 is not the only production to feature The Georgian. Det. Dave Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Det. Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (David Soul) chase down a hit man there in the Season 4 episode of Starsky & Hutch titled “Ninety Pounds of Trouble,” which aired in 1979. As you can see, the hotel looked very different – and much less colorful – then.

The following year, it popped up in an establishing shot of the Los Angeles hotel where con man Harley Dexter (Vincent Baggetta) stayed in the Season 4 episode of Charlie’s Angels titled “Three for the Money.”

Chili Palmer (John Travolta) heads to The Georgian to track down Ray ‘Bones’ Barboni (Dennis Farina) and retrieve his stolen “black leather jacket, fingertip length, like the one Pacino wore in Serpico” in Get Shorty.

In the 1995 classic, The Georgian is said to be located in Miami. It is not very hard to see how it got pegged for the role, being that it does have a very Florida look and feel to it.

Lucia DeLury (Lisa Kudrow) and Bill Truitt (Martin Donovan) also check in to The Georgian while visiting Los Angeles in the 1997 comedy The Opposite of Sex.

Big THANK YOU to my friend Brian, from Celebrity Net Worth, for stalking this location for me and taking all of the photos that appear in this post. Smile

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: The Georgian Hotel, aka Jason Priestley’s private club on BH90210, is located at 1415 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. You can visit the property’s official website here.

September 4, 2019April 13, 2020

The Union Theological Seminary Rotunda from “The Ice Storm”

Locations have been making impressions on me for ages, long before I even knew stalking was a thing. Case in point – way back in 1997 while watching The Ice Storm, I became fixated on the ornate stone staircase Libbets Casey (Katie Holmes) walked down in an early scene. Even though I only saw the movie once, those stairs were ingrained in my head. So when I started location hunting years later, I, of course, put some time into searching for them. Though I knew they had to be in New York or Connecticut, where the bulk of The Ice Storm was shot, I came up empty. Then, shortly before my April 2016 trip to the Big Apple, I saw the stairs pop up in an episode of White Collar and decided to revisit the hunt. Once again, I was unsuccessful. So I called in my friend Owen for an assist. And while I had yet to send him screen captures of the steps, he miraculously wrote me back in a matter of minutes saying he had come across a mention on the White Collar TV Live Journal site that noted the show did some filming at Union Theological Seminary in Morningside Heights, which he thought might be the spot I was seeking. One look at photos told me it was! I also quickly gleaned that while the school is closed to the public, it is available for special events. So I wrote to an events coordinator on staff, explained my fascination with the staircase, and asked if I might be able to tour it while in NYC. I was thrilled to receive a response shortly thereafter with a date and time to show up!

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As my tour guide explained, the staircase used in The Ice Storm is known as The Rotunda in real life. It is situated in the John Crosby Brown Memorial Tower, just beyond the campus’ main entrance.

Situated at the corner of West 120th Street and Broadway, the sprawling English Gothic-style campus is actually Union Theological Seminary’s third location. The Christian school, which educates those wishing to lead a life dedicated to the church, was initially established in a small building in Lower Manhattan in January 1836. With space for only a scant thirty pupils, it was not long before the need for a new, larger facility arose. Union Theological Seminary first re-located to Lenox Hill in 1884, but by the 1890s that site had been outgrown as well. So in 1904, a 36-lot plot of land in Morningside Heights was secured for a new school location. Architects Francis Richmond Allen and Charles Collens were tapped to design it. Construction began in 1908 and was completed in 1910.

As professor emeritus Daniel Johnson Fleming said of the new campus, “The Directors of the Seminary had as one of their aims that the very buildings should become an element in the education of those who live and study within its walls.”

I’d say Allen and Collens certainly delivered on that goal.

The Rotunda, constructed of marble and featuring a vaulted ceiling with rosette detailing, is literally breathtaking.

The three-story vestibule, which serves as Union Theological Seminary’s entrance hall, boasts fan tracery ornamentation that culminates in a central point showcasing the shields of the University of Edinburgh, the University of Cambridge, the City of Geneva, and the Westminster Assembly.

As I explained in my email plea for a tour, “I have to admit that I did not even like the movie The Ice Storm. But I took one look at Katie Holmes walking down the curved staircase and thought it was one of the most beautiful spaces I had ever seen.”

In person it was even more striking!

I literally couldn’t stop taking photos of the grand space.

It is not at all hard to see how The Rotunda wound up onscreen.

Because Union Theological Seminary itself is such a prolific film star, I decided it best to just focus on The Rotunda’s many onscreen cameos for this particular post.

I’ll cover the school as a whole in a future article.

It is on The Rotunda stairwell that Paul Hood (Tobey Maguire) attempts to make a connection with Libbets over the writings of Dostoyevsky at the beginning of The Ice Storm. Hauntingly beautiful, it is no surprise that the space stayed with me all these years.

As I mentioned, The Rotunda also popped up in an episode of White Collar. In Season 3’s “Upper West Side Story,” which aired in 2012, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) walk down the staircase while investigating a case at what is said to be Manhattan Prep.

Our tour guide was kind enough to fill me in on several of The Rotunda’s other cameos.

Claire (Mimi Rogers) walks through The Rotunda with her sister, Rose Morgan (Barbra Streisand), on the way to her wedding ceremony in the 1996 dramedy The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Detectives Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) descend the staircase and walk through the halls of Union Theological Seminary, which is standing in for The Crestborne School, while investigating a former teacher in the Season 2 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit titled “Abuse.” The episode, which aired in 2001, features a very young Hayden Panettiere in a guest role.

Interestingly, Benson and Stabler briefly revisit The Rotunda (the bottom level of it is visible behind them in the cap below) in another episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that guest-starred Hayden Panettiere – Season 6’s “Hooked,” which aired in 2005.

The duo once again heads to Union Theological while investigating the murder of a student at the fictional Morewood School in the Season 10 episode of SVU titled “Hothouse,” which aired in 2009.

Katherine Ann Watson (Julia Roberts) is told by President Jocelyn Carr (Marian Seldes) that she has gotten complaints regarding her teaching methods while in The Rotunda in 2003’s Mona Lisa Smile.

Max Carrigan (Joe Anderson) and his friends slide down the bannister of The Rotunda stairs in the 2007 musical Across the Universe.

In 2010, The Rotunda popped up very briefly in the Season 4 episode of Gossip Girl titled “Goodbye, Columbia,” in the scene in which Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) talks with her minions about the teaching assistant job she is hoping to land.

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Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) closed a case in the grand space in the Season 3 episode of Blue Bloods titled “Higher Education,” which aired in 2012.

The Rotunda appeared in the pilot episode of Masters of Sex, which aired in 2013, as the spot where Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) registers for classes at what is supposedly Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Jason McCord (Evan Roe) gets into a fistfight with a fellow student in The Rotunda in the Season 1 episode of Madam Secretary titled “The Ninth Circle,” which aired in 2015.

Beck (Elizabeth Lail) talked to Professor Paul Leahy (Reg Rogers) on The Rotunda staircase before class in the Season 1 episode of You titled “The Last Nice Guy in New York,” which aired in 2018.

And Abe Weissman (Tony Shalhoub) chased Simon (Michael Countryman) up The Rotunda stairs, supposedly located at Columbia University, in the Season 3 episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel titled “Marvelous Radio,” which aired in 2019.

Big THANK YOU to my friend Owen for tracking down this location! For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: Union Theological Seminary is located at 3041 Broadway in Morningside Heights. You can visit the school’s official website here. The Rotunda, from The Ice Storm, can be found just past the main entrance. Please keep in mind that the seminary is closed to the public and that I was only able to see it via a pre-arranged tour.

September 2, 2019September 8, 2019

Happy Labor Day!

I would like to wish a happy Labor Day to all of my fellow stalkers. I am taking today off, but will be back on Wednesday with a whole new location!

August 30, 2019August 29, 2019

Mayfield Senior School from “All About Steve”

Stalkings can come about from the most random of situations. Many, many moons ago, I joined a grief group (long story) where I met a woman who worked at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena. During one of our sessions, she happened to mention that filming took place on the campus regularly and my ears immediately perked up. After the meeting, I, of course, approached her to pick her brain about the school’s cinematic history and she wound up inviting me for a tour. Though I never took her up on her offer, I did pop by for an impromptu visit one Saturday afternoon several years later. My friend happened to be on site at the time and welcomed me to poke around. Because it was the weekend, all of the buildings were locked up, but I did get to see the exteriors – and they were fabulous! The place somehow went straight to the back of my mind afterwards, though, and stayed there until earlier this summer when I spotted it while scanning through All About Steve making screen captures for this post. Thrilled over the discovery, I dug up my old photos of the school and decided to finally sit down and write about it.

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Mayfield School, as it was initially known, was founded in 1931 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus on a small campus located at 405 South Euclid Avenue in Pasadena. It was the city’s first private Catholic learning institution, serving students in grades Pre-K through 12 (though boys were only accepted at the primary levels).

By 1950, Mayfield’s enrollment had grown such that more space was needed and it was decided that the facility would split into an upper school and a lower school. The lower, comprising grades K-8, would remain at the Euclid site. For the upper levels, 9-12, a new location was secured thanks to Dr. Charles and Vera Strub who gifted the Society of the Holy Child Jesus with a 1917 mansion situated about two miles away.

Originally known as the Marshall-Eagle House, the striking Italianate Beaux Arts estate was designed by Frederick L. Roehrig (who also gave us the Stimson House from House II: The Second Story, the Andrew McNally House from Kingdom Come, the Lincoln Clark House from Little Black Book, and the Rindge House from The Brasher Doubloon) for oil tycoon E.J. Marshall. Today, it goes by the moniker “Strub Hall” in honor of its generous benefactors. Though transformed from private residence into a campus building, much of the original detailing miraculously remains intact, with the ground floor living spaces repurposed into a chapel, conference room and student activities area. You can check out some photos of the interior here.

The sprawling eight-acre campus boasts five additional buildings, including a gym and a music studio, as well as a courtyard, a meditation garden and a grotto.

It is not at all hard to see how the gorgeous site wound up onscreen.

In All About Steve, Mayfield poses as the supposed Sacramento-area The Youngstrum School, where Mary Horowitz (Sandra Bullock) attends a career day event and speaks about her job as a cruciverbalist. The exterior of Strub Hall . . .

. . . as well as the interior of the school’s auditorium appeared in the movie.

All About Steve is hardly the only production to feature Mayfield. In fact, the property is one of Pasadena’s most popular filming locations – and that’s saying a lot considering the city’s prominence onscreen. There are far too many cameos to chronicle fully here, but what follows are some of the highlights.

Mayfield portrays Valley View Sanitorium, where Dr. David Banner (Bill Bixby) becomes an unwitting patient, in the Season 2 episode of The Incredible Hulk titled “The Quiet Room,” which aired in 1979.

In one brief scene from the 1992 favorite The Cutting Edge, Strub Hall stands in for the Albertville, France chateau where Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) and Doug Dorsey (DB Sweeney) stay while in town for the Olympics. It is in the foyer of the building that Kate tells Doug she is retiring from skating. From what I’ve gleaned, virtually all of the movie was shot in Toronto, so I am unsure how this short bit came to be lensed in Pasadena. I am guessing it must have been a pick-up shot captured after principal photography wrapped.

Bishop (Robert Redford) tracks down Liz (Mary McDonnell) teaching music at Strub Hall in 1992’s Sneakers.

Mayfield pops up as the T. Carter Foundation, where Easy Rawlins (Denzel Washington) goes “all the way to the top” by visiting the richest man in town, Todd Carter (Terry Kinney), in the 1995 drama Devil in a Blue Dress.

In the 1996 comedy The Nutty Professor, Strub Hall serves as the office of Dean Richmond (Larry Miller).

That same year, it portrayed the hospital where Matilda (Mara Wilson) was born in Matilda.

John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) lives there in the 1997 action flick The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Strub Hall was used for interior scenes involving the Potsdam Conference in the 2006 drama The Good German.

It plays Paris’ Chateau Parc des Chanteraines, where Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) attends an Interpol anti-terrorist seminar, in the Season 4 episode of NCIS titled “Trojan Horse” which aired in 2007.

Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) is summoned there to discuss his affair in the 2008 thriller State of Play.

On the series Switched at Birth, which started airing in 2011, Mayfield masquerades as the supposed Kansas City-area Buckner Hall, where Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano) attends school.

Mayfield pops up as Bridget Donovan’s (Kerris Dorsey) high school during the third season of Ray Donovan, which kicked off in 2015.

And currently, Mayfield stands in for Atlas Academy on Marvel’s Runaways.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: Mayfield Senior School, from All About Steve, is located at 500 Bellefontaine Street in Pasadena. Please remember that it is a working school and not open to the public.

August 28, 2019August 27, 2019

The Sharper Image from “When Harry Met Sally”

Movies don’t typically surprise me, as far as locations go. But When Harry Met Sally has me absolutely shocked as of late! Ever since first seeing the romcom when it debuted back in 1989, I had been under the impression that it was lensed entirely in New York. The city is so woven into the fabric of the film – it is practically a character in the story! – that I couldn’t imagine even one frame of it being shot elsewhere. That all changed in 2016, though, when I contacted a crew member regarding a locale from a different production – the crab restaurant from A Few Good Men. As I chronicled in this post, said crew member not only informed me that the eatery I was looking for was in the San Pedro area, but that it had also appeared in When Harry Met Sally! Gobsmacked, I immediately started researching the matter further and discovered several more WHMS sites in Los Angeles, one of which being The Sharper Image where Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) karaoked with Harry Burns (Billy Crystal). Sadly, it’s no longer in business, but I figured it was still blog-worthy nonetheless.

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As has long been documented online, the exterior of The Sharper Image store at 4 West 57th Street in New York (which today houses an Ermenegildo Zegna boutique) was shown in an establishing shot at the top of the When Harry Met Sally karaoke scene. I had always assumed interior footage had been shot there, as well.

During my deep dive into the film’s L.A. locations, though, I was stopped in my tracks by a comment from a man named Colin Stone on the On the Set of New York’s When Harry Met Sally page who stated, “The interior scene of The Sharper Image was actually filmed at the Los Angeles (Wilshire and Grand) store.” A quick Google search for further information on the shop yielded absolutely nothing, which told me it was long since out of business. So I hopped over to Newspapers.com in the hopes of pinpointing its exact former address and found several ads (like the one below from 1986) noting its location as 601 Wilshire Boulevard, right on the corner of Wilshire and Grand, as Colin had said. (Also noted? The fact that it was a non-smoking store! Were people honestly allowed to smoke in retail shops back then??? I certainly don’t remember that as a kid!)

I ran out to stalk it shortly thereafter. At the time (July 2018), the site housed a print shop named LA Grafix.

Per Google Street View, it sits vacant today.

But back in the ‘80s, it was home to the mecca of all-things-yuppie, The Sharper Image. It was there that Harry and Sally headed to find a housewarming gift for their respective BFFs, Jess (Bruno Kirby) and Marie (Carrie Fisher). While shopping, the two test out a “singing machine” with a duet of “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top” and, in the process, run into Harry’s ex-wife, Helen Hillson (Harley Jane Kozak), and her new boyfriend, Ira Stone (Kevin Rooney), thereby setting Harry on a downward spiral. Quite a lot of the interior is shown in the scene (which you can watch here). Sadly though, other than the store seeming quite large (which goes against it being located in New York City), there really aren’t any identifying factors like doors or windows visible which would have helped me verify its use in the film. So I, of course, went straight to the source and tracked down Colin! As it turns out, he couldn’t have been nicer or more informative! Currently, he is a professional relaxation therapist and composer, but during The Sharper Image’s early days, he worked in the DTLA store creating health and fitness products, which is how he knew of its big-screen cameo.

I am absolutely kicking myself now for not having ventured inside LA Grafix during my stalk. I (wrongly) assumed that due to the passage of thirty years and the change in occupancy, the space would no longer look anything like it did onscreen. But as Colin wrote in his email, “I popped over to the location maybe 4 years ago and saw that it was a printing place (it was a Saturday and it was closed, but still in business then) and I was totally surprised and amazed to look in the windows and see they still had all the grey and burgundy fixtures, counters, displays, slatwall, everything, still intact from the TSI days!” Talk about a fail on my part!

I did manage to dig up some interior images of the place from a past real estate listing which corroborate Colin’s observations. As you can see, some of The Sharper Image’s grey slatwall, visible in When Harry Met Sally, was held over when the store closed.

There’s some more of it pictured below, though it is no longer grey.

The Sharper Image’s decorative triangular ceiling lining was retained by LA Grafix, as well.

You can also make some of it out here.

The Wilshire & Grand Sharper Image, which was the fifth of the company’s brick and mortar stores, opened its doors on November 12th, 1984. Founder Richard Thalheimer chose the location in a rather unconventional way. As he told the Los Angeles Times, “I just stand on street corners and count the number of people who walk by wearing suits and ties.” Though he looked at spots in Westwood, Beverly Hills and Century City, the corner of Wilshire and Grand fit the bill for his SoCal venture. As the article states, “There among the skyscrapers, he figured, were throngs of young professionals with a potential soft spot for gold-plated dumbbells, sculptured pillows designed to look like Porsche and BMW cars, guns that fire pulses of infrared light and even tummy exercisers, among other things.” Colin said the methodology was backed by the “San Franciscan logic that people shop where they work,” which turned out not to be the case in L.A. At least, not at the time. Today, DTLA is a bustling live/work community, but in the ‘80s, ‘90s, and even the early 2000s, the city virtually cleared out as soon as offices closed. And on weekends, it was practically a ghost town. Not exactly a fertile environment for retail. The downtown Sharper Image was apparently the lowest-performing in the entire chain. Per Colin’s recollection, the store closed in late 1992/early 1993, though the other outposts in Sherman Oaks and Beverly Hills remained open for a time. The company filed for bankruptcy in February 2008 and by the end of that same year, all of its retail stores had, sadly, closed, truly marking the end of an era.

Huge THANK YOU to Colin Stone for identifying this location and providing so much of the intel that appears in this post.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: The Sharper Image from When Harry Met Sally was formerly located at 601 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. The space is currently vacant, but was home to the print shop LA Grafix when I stalked it last year.