PART THREE: CRAFTSMANSHIP
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GJUSTA
Craftsmanship is an abstract idea that takes many concrete forms.
A mysterious tailor who still works a loom by hand and buries clothes underground to achieve a raffish, decades-old look. A bakery and sandwich shop where you’ll happily wait in the hour-long line. Complexly engraved gunmetal Rolexes.
Spoiler alert: today, it means all those things.
Because each of those experiences can be found within Uncommon Adventures, a new series spotlighting under-the-radar happenings around Los Angeles.
Remember to take a picture. It’ll last longer.
MADE WORN
Upon entering the MadeWorn courtyard — where artwork pokes out of knee-high wheat stalks, soft music plays in the background and incense burns — your vibrations calm. You’ll then be greeted by Blaine Haverson, a gentle giant of a tailor who makes clothes the old-fashioned way, using hard-wearing materials and then literally beating them up — with his hands, feet, tools, dirt — to achieve an otherworldly, raffish look that would be as at home in the 1850s as it is today.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GJUSTA
GJUSTA
Chef Travis Lett is best known for Gjelina, aka patient zero for the farm-to-table movement in L.A. His new spot, Gjusta, is set in a warehouse and feels like a factory of food. Baklava croissants sell out quickly and the smoked fish is the most delicate and complex you’ll find. And that’s before you even get to the part of the counter where they pile roasted and cured meats three fingers high atop heavy-duty baguettes. The line is always long for good reason — it’s bucket-list delicious.
THE LEXUS LC 500
FROM OUR PARTNER
Before you hop around town to check in on some of the city’s most talented craftsman, you’re going to want a car to match. Enter the first-ever Lexus LC 500, which we recently christened “far and away the sexiest Lexus ever built.” Born in a factory though it may be, the LC 500 was built with an obsessive, artisan-esque attention to detail, from the single piece of chrome trim they hand-apply to the roofline of every LC to their unrivaled pickiness with materials. To wit: only 5% of the leather on earth meets their scrupulous in-house standards for available semi-aniline leather. The result is a car you’ll be thrilled to step out of, no matter the occasion.
HUCKLEBERRY LTD.
Jason Hoehn designs jewelry for the Kanyes and Beckhams of the world. But don’t be intimidated: his hand-engraved rings, necklaces and bracelets are as approachable as they are unique. A few years ago, he began a series of wildly complex gunmetal Rolexes that he releases one month at a time. The waitlist is long, but well worth it if you have the means.
Good design is an abstract idea that takes many concrete forms.
Casual suits made from sumptuous Japanese slub cotton. One of L.A.’s most coveted collections of vintage furniture. The house-cum-museum where The Dude met Jackie Treehorn.
Spoiler alert: today, it means all those things.
Design never looked this good.
LOST EXPLORER
Hidden in a warehouse between Abbott Kinney and Main Street sits Lost Explorer, makers of snazzy, weatherproof travel gear and a uniquely Californian line of casual suits. Made of Japanese slub cotton dyed in spring hues, these three-piece numbers are smart, casual and sufficiently lightweight for summer. They also make a small-batch Mezcal (which you have to ask for) as well as balms and lotions ideal for our dry climate.
OBSOLETE GALLERY
Driving up Washington Boulevard, you could easily pass Obsolete Gallery. But stop in this strange and beautiful oasis curated by Ray Azoulay, and you’ll find an assortment of rare furniture — some commissioned and custom-built, some sourced from vintage collections. He is also a dealer for renowned artists like Ethan Murrow and Adam Dix, whose works can be found throughout the tranquil space.
THE LEXUS LC 500
FROM OUR PARTNER
For a day of design-minded pursuits, you’re going to need a ride that looks the part. Enter the first-ever Lexus LC 500, which we recently christened “far and away the sexiest Lexus ever built.” This is no ordinary two-door sport coupe. Notice the elegant flourishes throughout: the chrome-plated moldings, the taillamps that contain 80 individual LEDs and evoke the look of a jet’s afterburners. Given the level of innovation, it’s no surprise the LC began as a concept car. But unlike the vast majority of concepts, this one has actually achieved production. And what you’re left with is a car uniquely engineered for the future of driving.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ELIZABETH DANIELS
LAUTNER HOUSE
The fashionable real-estate investor James Goldstein recently gifted his Beverly Crest home to LACMA. It was designed by famed architect John Lautner, and is probably most recognizable as the home of adult-video mogul Jackie Treehorn in The Big Lebowski. LACMA will be doing tours of the home in the near future, but you’ll need to be a member of LACMA to find out about them.
Performance is an abstract word that takes many concrete forms.
A mountain biker rocketing down a treacherous trail. A professional trainer whipping clients into shape. A pro surfer navigating the face of a massive wave.
Spoiler alert: today, it means all those things.
Performance never looked so good.
RAPHA
Rapha makes cycling gear that combines modern tech with a vintage look — think classic French fits meets quick-dry, lightweight materials. Their summer event on the last weekend of July includes morning rides along the beach, a trek through Topanga and the Santa Monica Mountains, master classes, photography workshops and parties.
SPORTS ACADEMY
They say practice makes perfect. And to get perfect practice, you need to venture to Sports Academy, a 96,000-square-foot facility that plays home to NBA- and NFL-level trainers. Along with a team of physical therapists and nutritionists, they can help you and your family hone your skills and recover wisely. They also offer Close Quarters Defense, the hand-to-hand combat technique used by the Navy SEALs, which will teach you how to dial your focus in high-stress situations.
THE LEXUS LC 500
FROM OUR PARTNER
For a day of high-performance pursuits, you’re gonna need a ride that looks the part. Enter the first-ever LC 500, which we recently christened “far and away the sexiest Lexus ever built.” Beyond the impressive résumé (5.0-liter V8, 471 horsepower, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds), the LC 500 is bringing actual, real innovation in the performance department. The 10-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission is an industry first from a luxury carmaker, the naturally aspirated engine (which few competitors offer) produces a unique, aggressive engine note, and the driver can toggle between multiple drive modes to accommodate driving conditions. One of them is called Sport S+. Without saying too much, do try to find a road suited for Sport S+. You will not regret it.
MANSA VIDA
Manhattan Beach may have a nice, big waves to practice on, but you’re going to have to wait your turn. Time for a surf safari a la Mansa Vida, a travel company that’ll send you to obscure breaks and bowls alongside pro surfers, skaters and skiers. They’ll hook you up with the tips and custom gear you need to catch a tube in any conditions.
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