Nine Reasons to Stay in the Heart of Los Angeles
NINE REASONS TO STAY IN THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES February 27, 2018 When you hear the mention of Beverly Hills, you might think of shopping on Rodeo Drive first—Pretty Woman references included. Indeed, upscale shopping is a great draw to this sophisticated city, but the reasons to visit do not stop here. With its central location, warm climate, beautiful parks, acclaimed hotels, fine dining, health and wellness offerings and storied past, the city is the destination of choice in Southern California. Beverly Hills is located in Los Angeles County, which—with upwards of 10 million residents—is the most populous county in the United States. It’s home to more than a quarter of California’s population and is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the country. Long lauded as the entertainment capital of the world, it is also a cultural mecca that houses more than a hundred museums. In the…
CBS Los Angeles: Best Botanical Gardens in Los Angeles
BEST BOTANICAL GARDENS IN LOS ANGELES February 25, 2018 The vibrant and diverse flora of Southern California can be seen all over this vast expanse we called the Southland. Just look around you. However, with that in mind and to get a glimpse and a feel for this wonderful vegetation from our region and those of other places all in one well-groomed outpost, check out five of the finest botanical gardens in and around Los Angeles. Virginia Robinson Gardens 1008 Elden Way Beverly Hills, CA 90210 (310) 550-2087 www.robinsongardens.org Part of the parcel of land where Beverly Hills’ first lady Virginia Robinson once lived, her gardens dating back to 1911 are now managed by Los Angeles County and can only be toured by making a reservation in advance of your visit. That said, it’s worth the trouble to do just that for a chance to get to know this astounding…
Behind the Scenes Tour at Virginia Robinson Gardens
Docent Chuck Tellalian led an exclusive “Behind the Scenes” Tour of the first estate of Beverly Hills on Saturday, January 27, 2018. For the first-of-its-kind tour, guests were invited behind closed doors to hear about and experience what life was like with Harry and Virginia Robinson and how Virginia entertained friends at her elegant one-storied turn of the 20th-century mini-mansion. Chuck had four wonderful docents: Tom O’Connor, Kathleen Campbell, Tina Varjian, and Betty Rodriguez Goldstein who were assigned to various portions of the tour where they each shared fascinating stories and history. The guests gathered in the Loggia where Chuck began with introductions and a brief history of how Virginia and Harry met and how they decided to develop their Beverly Hills estate on the hill in 1911. From there, the tour started in the 1955 themed kitchen with a history of the decor and household help that resided at…
Spotlight on David Bronstein
Each month we will spotlight a volunteer, staff member, donor or sponsor of Virginia Robinson Gardens (VRG)—those that have made an impact on the organization. We want to let you, the reader, know a little bit about these wonderful people and corporations that give so much to the Virginia Robinson Gardens and community, and what they do that is so impactful. This month, we feature David Bronstein, a dedicated docent at Virginia Robinson Gardens, whom we would happily clone if we could! Those who have toured the estate with David know how his boundless enthusiasm for the gardens shines through in his world-class storytelling. We were intrigued to know more about how David came to discover the estate and gardens which brings him such joy. We asked David some questions to give you the reader, insight into what has inspired him: 1. How did you first learn about VRG and what…
Wright on Exhibit Lecture
Noted architectural historian Kathryn Smith gave an outstanding lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright on January 25th, 2018 at Virginia Robinson Gardens. The presentation was based on her book Wright on Exhibit: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Exhibitions. A historic preservation consultant, author and lecturer, Kathryn has written many books on Wright’s architecture, in particular on Taliesin, Taliesin West, Hollyhock House and Olive Hill. In 2001, she was awarded the prestigious Wright Spirit Award in the Professional Category from the Building Conservancy. Born in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright is famous for the home Fallingwater, finished in 1937 and located in Pennsylvania. His second most well-known building, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, was started in 1943, and it opened in 1959, shortly after his death. Wright was prolific and very active even into his 80’s. Kathryn remarked, “He is extremely well known in American history not only because of these great…