Closing out our LA interview series is Moscow-born, New York City-raised Stacy Gueraseva, a vegan writer of non-fiction and author of the book Def Jam, Inc. We got her take on her new home and the wealth of vegan options the city has to offer. Read on!

What do you do in LA?

Freelance write, edit and partake in creative endeavors; go exploring with my boyfriend Travis (who is also vegan) for food, adventure, and fun.

How long have you lived there?
Seven months.

We miss you in Brooklyn. What do you like most about LA?
The voluminous, ubiquitous hills that hug this city, dotted at night with the lights of all the homes that have been carved into them. Gives everything a real storybook look, which as a creative person inspires me and makes me feel like I’m in that old HBO promo.  Also, the insane amount of vegan options, the fact that I can live in a detached house with a backyard for the price of a NYC studio, the views from Mulholland Drive, and the general (sometimes unintentional) kitschiness of it all.  And KCRW.

AGH! I’m still kicking myself—I literally forgot about KCRW until we were driving the rental back. I spent the whole week playing music on my iPhone. What do you think is most lacking in LA?
Decent places to eat after 10PM.

Although, truth be told, our part of Brooklyn isn’t stellar in that category. Now then, former Brooklynite, does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽
I’ll tell you a secret: It’s possible to get places in LA without driving.

Get out. Most memorable, life-altering, fucked up, or just funny experience to date in LA?
Getting into a fender-bender was pretty fucked-up. Life-altering was meeting my boyfriend here, falling in love, and now being together here in LA.

Awwwww. Best celebrity sighting you’ve had?
Harry Hamlin’s leathery skin and Lisa Rinna’s giant lips strolling together at the Studio City Farmer’s Market.

Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?
Mohawk Bend in Echo Park. Get the Buffalo Cauliflower

We did! Devine. Vegan/veg restaurant?

Ugh, how can I possibly boil it down to just ONE? I’ll name 3: Seed in Venice for the burgers; Shojin in Downtown for their dragon rolls; Flore Vegan for their tuna melts.

Oh, nice—all three of those are new to us. Best place for tacos in town?
Sage Organic in Silver Lake makes amazing root vegetable tacos.

Bar?
I don’t drink, but Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood is great at making non-alcoholic versions of their mixed drinks. And they have free comedy on Friday nights.

Coffee shop?
Beachwood Cafe in Beachwood Canyon is full of atmosphere, random celebs and tasty soy lattes.

Oh, it looks so cute. Museum/gallery?
Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. Just about the most magical, otherworldly museum experience you will have. Unexpectedly romantic too. Don’t miss the rooftop with their bird menagerie.

People keep bringing that place up. We’ll have to check it out. It sounds nuts. Movie theater?
The Vista in Echo Park. Leg room longer than your legs, great sound and screen, fun old school LA vibe, and tickets are only $9.50!

I don’t know, man. My legs are pretty long. Shop?
The Grove is fun for that upscaley outdoor mall experience, while Abbott Kiney is fun for unique smaller labels, and Magnolia Ave in Burbank has the best vintage shopping.

Hiking spot?
Fryman Canyon—no lions there.

Beach?
Huntington Dog Beach.

Oh, shit. Owen would love that. Song, movie, or show that best captures LA?
“Free Fallin” by Tom Petty.

Spot on. Tourist trap that’s worth the trappings?
The revolving bar at the top of the Westin hotel in Downtown LA.

Advice to those considering making the move?
Research the neighborhood thoroughly in terms of proximity to major highways and walkability, because driving will sometimes inhibit your desire to travel far, so you better really love where you live.

Seems to be the LA mantra. Finally—not that this is a bi-coastal battle of the metropolises…but, kinda, it is—what would you say to all the LA-haters in NYC?
What’s to hate, people? We got amazing food, culture, city and nature co-existing, tons of great music, the mysticism of the desert and the ocean, sick views, and a city that pumps with constant ambition while being buffered by a certain mellowness that makes people generally less jaded and cynical.

Well-said! What are you, a writer or something?

Keep up with Stacy’s writings on her site + be sure to check out her book, Def Jam Inc.,  a book that traces the rise of Def Jam Records from a college dorm room to a multi-million dollar business. 

Next up in our LA interview series, Santa-Monica-based creative pro, Sara Francis. In addition to playing host to two of the most charming felines we’ve ever met (shout-out to Baby + Monkey—what up?), Sara was one of our best go-to sources for all things LA when we were there. We thought we’d share the wealth and give you her thoughts on exploratory LA, the (hopefully) soon-to-be-built-out subway system, and get a bevy of recommendations on where to eat + drink in the City of Angels.

What do you do in LA?
When I’m not seeing friends, exploring the city, singing in the shower, and dancing on bars, I’m managing projects for a digital creative agency.

Nice. How long have you lived there?
A whopping 8 years June 1st!

I’m doing that thing where you raise the roof, but you can’t see. What do you like most about LA?
That you can do almost anything outside any time of year. You can drive a short distance, walk up a hill, and not see a building for as far as you can see. You can find snow when it’s sunny at the beach and the snows stay on the mountains well into June. You can explore urban wastelands and random hidden gems. The fact that the city is so spread out actually leaves a lot of room for a lot to explore. I’ve lived here 8 years and I still feel like I’ve only started to scratch the surface of all the things there are to discover.

Wow. Very cool way to look at that. What do you think is most lacking in LA though?
LA has fewer natural spontaneous ways of congregating. In comparison to NY, where you feel community on the subway even if you never speak to another soul, the events in LA that are supposed to bring people together are still somewhat alienating. People stick to the groups they came with and it’s a harder place to organically meet people.

Huh. Yeah, I could see that. Inevitable car question—does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽
You want to make sure you live near where you work. I love my car but if I was in it for more than 20 minutes a day, I might feel differently. My suggestion, get a book on tape and then you become well read while you drive! Or better yet, I use the few times that I need to drive across town to connect with friends and family who I don’t talk to often. Also, Los Angeles is currently building a Metro Line that actually goes somewhere! LA actually has a subway/train system…what? The Expo Line which currently dead ends in Culver City is actively being built out to Santa Monica and will be complete in 2015!

That’s awesome. Where do you live in LA?
Santa Monica on the Venice border. The West Side of LA.

How would you describe the neighborhood?
Santa Monica is the big sister to Venice. It’s married and has kids where as Venice is still playing the field. I spend my time pretty equally in both places—though my house is technically in Santa Monica it’s on the south side of the city. The West Side also encompasses West LA and Marina Del Rey, all of which have the reputation of being laid back, a little slower, and generally a beach town.

Yes, we have to say—we loved your neck of the woods. Most memorable, life-altering, fucked up, or just funny experience to date in LA?
Most of my memorable, life altering, fucked up experiences relate to dating in LA but if you wanted me to go into my entire history of dating in LA that would take too long. Let’s just stick to: finding out a man that I went on a couple dates with turned out to be a gay porn star, and leave it at that.

Oh, well…um….. Best celebrity sighting you’ve had?
I’ve had a few but my favorite and most embarrassing for me was at Katsuya for a going away party when Patrick Dempsey came over to our table because the person he was with knew someone at our table. I promptly threw all the sushi aside, lunged across the table and introduced myself. There was no way that I wasn’t going to meet McDreamy/Loverboy. Runners up: Jeff Goldblum playing jazz piano and Keanu Reeves.

Wait, you saw Jeff Goldblum playing Keanu Reeves? Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?
The Tasting Kitchen in Abbot Kinney. You should eat EVERYTHING there, both for dinner and brunch. For brunch you should drink the High Noon (a concentrated citrus cocktail that you pour a light Belgian beer into) and in the evening either the Noisy Beau (named after a local who mills about Venice), The Dukes of Hazard or just ask them to recommend something. Then you should go back the next day and eat more. The bar tenders are great, I suggest sitting at the communal tables or at the bar to get the best flavor and to do some people watching of the locals. Runners up include A-Frame, Next Door by Josie, and The Old Place, which is an awesome post-hike spot up in the mountains (pictured to the right). The Old Place is also connected to a local wine tasting room and has the only wood fire grill in LA County. For a stupidly expensive meal—The Bazaar at the SLS Hotel.

Must. Go back. Vegan/veg restaurant?
Cafe Gratitude. Get the dish called “I am Fortified.” Get it with the brown rice and the pesto! Veggie Grill is great too though—you can get fast food vegan in this town.

Best place for tacos in town?
Tacos Por Favor. HANDS DOWN! Not sure about the Vegan tacos but the Carne Asada is to die for!

No, they had THREE vegan tacos. They were so good. Thanks for that recommendation. Favorite bar?
Since it’s walking distance from my house and because it’s awesome, I can’t ignore The Daily Pint. “The Pint,” as it’s better known, has one of the largest Scotch and whiskey menus in the whole city of Los Angeles. It also has shuffleboard and pool as well as usually quite an interesting mix of people. Other favorites are Seventy 7 in Culver City, Seven Grand, Bigfoot West for the Bourberry, The Otherroom, Villains Tavern, Thirsty Crow. OVERARCHING THEME = Whiskey.

Excellent. Coffee shop?
Some mix of Coffee Bean, Intelligentsia, Ground Work and the Toms store. I know, but you can’t really find Toms shoes in your size at the Toms store so you should just go there for coffee and get your Toms at Whole Foods.

I felt like I was in some kind of coffee temple when they served me at Intelligentsia. And yeah, shoes in a grocery store? Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Museum/gallery?
LACMA, The Getty (mostly the outside), The Huntington Botanical Gardens (embarrassingly I haven’t been but it’s a must see!!), Bergamot Station Galleries.

LACMA FTW. Movie theater?
Landmark on Pico. Some of the theaters have couches!

I would totally fall asleep. Shop?
In no particular order: Rose Bowl Flea Market/Swap Meet: Every second Sunday of the month for anything and everything that you could think of ever, furniture, clothes, she-ra action figures, reclaimed wood, etc. Whole Foods for Toms Shoes, see above. Santa Monica Promenade when you really just need to go to the Gap to get some underwear and T-shirts. The Juicy Leaf for succulents and home accouterments.  Melrose Toy Shops—Kid Robot, Toy Art Gallery. Unique LA—All kinds of stuff a couple times a year.

Hiking spot?
For a half day affair for the serious head clearing and amazing views hike to the highest point of the Santa Monica Mountains (don’t worry you don’t start at sea level): Sandstone Peak. Awesome for sunset but bring a flashlight for the way down. For a workout in an hour flat, easy to do after work in the summers when it’s light later: Temescal Canyon. Somewhere in between where you want a nice hike on a weekend, some interesting ruins, a waterfall but don’t want to lose the whole day: Solstice Canyon.

Yeah, we loved Solstice. Beach?
I only go to the beach to sit and read, if I’m going in the water it’s with a surfboard and a wet suit! I do wear that wet suit all year round though if that tells you something about the temperature.

Song, movie, or show that best captures LA?
Do i have to pick just one?! LA Story is a timeless satire on many stereotypes of LA that are still extremely relevant. Sunset Boulevard for the romantic old hollywood feel. A lot of places in LA still feel Swingers because it encapsulates the reason most people move here. Mullholland Drive because there are some dark, strange corners of this town. Music: Death Cab for Cutie’s “Grapevine Fires” always pops into my head when I’m headed to the sierras through “The Grapevine” (move here; you’ll know what that means). Also their song “405” is a winner.

Nice. Tourist trap that’s worth the trappings?
Hollywood Forever Cemetery; Studio Lot Tour (Fox, Warner, Sony are my favorites); Santa Monica Pier; Dodger Stadium.

Thoughts on the whole inescapable retro, mid-century aesthetic in LA?
LOVE IT. Used to think that strip mall after strip mall looked the same but now i notice all the nuances. Driving down any given street you can see 100 different vintage motel signs or auto body shop signs. Though the city is young comparatively speaking, the lack of weather keeps it frozen in time. Any given block of this city has a story to tell.

Totally frozen in time. Well-put. Advice to those considering making the move?
Try to let go of what you expect and don’t compare everything to NYC. It’s not NYC. Don’t take LA too seriously. There are frustrations with traffic and especially if you’re moving here to be an actor….let the sunshine help you loosen up. If you hold on too tight, you’ll move back within a year. Oh and we call road construction Carmageddon, get over it.

Got it. Finally—not that this is a bi-coastal battle of the metropolises…but, kinda, it is—what would you say to all the LA-haters in NYC?
If you’re an LA hater, stay there. We don’t want you. If you are open…come stay for a week. Nuff said.

High five!

Continuing with our LA interviews, we now sit down with Ella Tabasky. Pictured here in front of the steps of city hall protesting the Keystone XL, Ella’s a long-time fundraiser for environmental non-profits and, as it happens, wife of yesterday’s interviewee, Josh Jackson. She gives us the low-down on what brought her to LA for a second tour of duty.

What do you do in LA?
I’m a fundraiser for an international environmental nonprofit.

How long have you lived there?
Two years (this time—4 years total).

What do you like most about LA?
The proximity to all kinds of nature, fresh and local fruits and veggies, the relaxed vibe.

What do you think is most lacking in LA?
Public parks! Pocket parks in walking distance are rare in my ‘hood.

Ah, New York’s got you on that. Does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽
Yes! But you do get used it it.

Fair enough. Where do you live in LA?
Koreatown.

How would you describe the neighborhood?
HUGE! It’s just very unique with lots of things open all hours. And it’s close to public transportation and some lovely neighborhoods like Larchmont Village. One thing that may surprise you—more Latinos live in Ktown than Koreans.

I only knew that because Josh told us yesterday. Most memorable, life-altering, fucked up, or just funny experience to date in LA?
Getting hit by a car as I crossed a crosswalk at 9AM on New Year’s Day. I had the right of way too. The little Korean lady didn’t speak any english!

Oh, that’s not good. On to more positive things—best celebrity sighting you’ve had?
I don’t pay attention and generally miss them. After all, they are normal people, too. Or maybe I’m just too cool for school to give a shit.

Whaaaaaaaat? Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?
Mohawk Bend or Golden Road Brewery. Eat the Able Farmin’ pizza at Mohawk and there are just too many great things to list at Golden Road.

Yeah, we LOVED Mohawk Bend. Vegan/veg restaurant?
Cafe Gratitude. I like the I am Humble, despite hating the affirmations.

Best place for tacos in town?
Malo—the soyrizo ones are possibly vegan, but aren’t all that inspiring. I hear Hugos Tacos has good vegan tacos but I’ve never been.

Bar?
I have a sweet spot for dive bars, so Frank and Hanks or Sheddy’s. No fancy cocktails at either. Just simple, laid back vibe and interesting people. And a shout out to my local haunt, Beer Belly. I can walk there and they have a great beer selection
(duh). The food is good, should you want a big beer belly of your own.

Mmmmm. Beer. Coffee shop?
Paper or Plastik. Vegan-friendly and a super Brooklyn vibe!

I like Brooklyn. Museum/gallery?
LACMA. You hit the nail on the head by going to see Kubrick.

Movie theater?
ArcLight for new movies. Expensive but worth it! If you really want to have some fun, go to Cinefamily or the New Beverly.

Shop?
Poketo in downtown LA—awesome shop with unique goods and local designers.

Hiking spot…and seriously, are we gonna get eaten by mountain lions?
No, you will not get eaten by mountain lions. I really enjoy the greenery and waterfalls at Big Santa Anita Canyon.

Looks purdy. Beach?
I like Will Rogers State Beach. I haven’t been to El Matador State Beach but that is most definitely my next beach trip. Looks gorgeous!

Yeah, we were hoping to get there too but never made it out. Song, movie, or show that best captures LA?
Hmmm. Anything by Elliott Smith, The Kinks—“Celluloid Heroes” or The Decemberists, “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”.

Tourist trap that’s worth the trappings?
Hollywood Sign/Griffith Observatory. It is also a trip to go down Hollywood Boulevard or the Sunset Strip at least once.

Advice to those considering making the move to LA?
Don’t listen to the east side vs west side hype. Plan to live as close to where you work as possible…unless you like two plus hour round trip commutes.

Got it. Finally—not that this is a bi-coastal battle of the metropolises…but, kinda, it is—what would you say to all the LA-haters in NYC?
Honestly, there is no comparing the two cities. They are both different and amazing in their own ways. Give LA a chance before you judge!

Done!
Malo kitchen photo by Johnny Dycus.

Onward and upward with our series this week interviewing friends who’ve made the move westward to the golden sunset of a city that is Los Angeles. Today, we speak with Josh Jackson, student, sports fanatic, and, in our opinion, excellent writer, with the hopes of putting a keen eye on the wealth of outdoor activities in Los Angeles, whether we’re likely to be eaten by mountain lions if we move there, and what it’s like to live in Koreatown.

What do you do in LA?
I go to grad school at USC. I’m almost finished with that, and will work from home after. Mostly because of my school schedule, I’ve been something of a hermit, socially speaking, but I do occasionally go out to places like bookstores and movie theaters and theater theaters (um, like, three times a year, or so?), and I run trails here, and for awhile I was surfing once a week. But that was hard, and I wasn’t getting any better because I didn’t have time to try more often than once a week, and most of those sessions were spent re-figuring out what I’d figured out at the end of the last session.

Alright then. How long have you lived there?
A little more than a year-and-a-half. This is my second “tour,” as I also lived in Southern California for three years about a decade ago.

What do you like most about LA?
I’m going to say, “the weather,” and everybody is going to think, “my god, that is sad. The best thing about the city is the weather?”

That’s fine, go ahead and have that reaction. Then spend just two minutes thinking about how much the weather can actually impact your mood and your day.

So, “the weather.”

That weather is not fucking around. What do you think is most lacking in LA?
Hmm… It’s a huge and diverse place. I think you can find just about anything you want. We have had a hard time finding a banh mi that will please Ella, I guess. She can’t NOT compare each one to Hanco’s.

Also, um, fresh water. We do not have a lot of fresh water. That’s something I wrestle with, conscience-wise. I am able to silence myself with my radical new showering techniques, which I’ll only discuss in-person and off-the-record.

Oh, we’ve got a ‘special’ blog for that kind of thing. Does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽
Actually, I don’t! Ella and I share a car, and that was our plan moving out here. We knew I’d be spending a lot of time on campus and that it would be pretty much the only place I would need to be, so we found an apartment accessible to mass transit. There are also a lot of easily and pleasurably walkable neighborhoods in L.A. The key, if you don’t want to drive around all the time, is to live in your own, shrunk-down version of the city. Pick a neighborhood that has everything you want, don’t be afraid to be the only pedestrian on the sidewalk, and start loving life!

Interesting. So, where do you live in LA?
Koreatown.

And how would you describe the neighborhood?
Central, diverse (it’s not just Koreans!), more happening than I need, mostly friendly, and a parking cluster-cuss. (We have a spot in our building, thank heavens.)

Most memorable, life-altering, fucked up, or just funny experience to date in LA?
When I first started trail-running out here, I saw three coyotes over the course of a couple weeks. I’m used to them now—see them all the time. But when I first got here, I thought that was a real trip, especially because I would tell everybody and nobody would care. They’d be like, ‘Oh, yeah? That happens. There’s a lot of coyotes around.’

THEY SOUND LIKE ASSHOLES. Best celebrity sighting you’ve had?
I sat next to Bob Odenkirk at Peet’s for a really long time last year. That was pretty cool. When I lived here in the aughts, I used to see Fabio all the time. He was always going into the gym downstairs from my office. Oh, speaking of, saw Arnold Schwarzenegger on the USC campus a bit ago. I’ve also seen a lot of amazing novelists and essayists at various readings and panels around town, but do we want to get nerdy about this? I’ll be here all night.

Nice use of ‘the aughts’ though. Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?
It’s one of those mini-chains/local chains, but Pitfire Pizza serves a number of delicious dishes (not all pizza) made with locally grown produce. In the fall/winter they had a pizza called something like “the late-season tomato pie.” Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. And I’m eating something else right now. I believe there are a number of vegan options, too.

Wait, pizza in LA? Okay. Vegan/veg restaurant?
Cafe Gratitude. You should eat EVERYTHING there, but if you have to choose, I am partial to the I AM TRANSFORMED.

Right, we went there. It was crazy/awesome. Best place for tacos in town?
Oh, man, that I AM TRANSFORMED dish? It’s vegan tacos. And really freakin’ good ones. I think most of the taquerias that Angelenos brag about are not vegan, or even vegetarian-friendly (lard, lard, lard). But there’s supposedly a vegan Mexican joint somewhere around here called Cinnamon. Ella and I have been talking about going since we moved here, but somehow we haven’t yet.

Oh, right—I actually got the tacos at Gratitude. They were pretty awesome. Coffee shop?
Bricks + Scones on Larchmont. The house drip. Rotates, but it’s always fantastic.

That is a pretty fantastic name. Plus I love the very sophisticated pig in the logo. Museum/gallery?
LACMA. Even though that’s like saying, “The Met,” or “MOMA,” if you asked this question about New York, LACMA is a terrific museum with an amazing and eclectic collection and a fun campus.

We loved it. Movie theater?
CGV Cinemas—Korean films with English subtitles and Hollywood films with Korean subtitles.

Beautiful. In closing?
This is a great city from which to have an outdoor life, as far as cities go. You will NOT be eaten by a mountain lion. Mountain lions are not at all interested in having an interaction with you. I’m actually working right now on an essay about the mountain lions of the Santa Monica range, who are fighting for survival, thanks to human encroachment. More on that later though!

One of the things we noticed about the food scene when we were in Los Angeles recently was how notably vegan-friendly it was. But it’s not the number of strictly vegan or vegetarian restaurants that struck us—though that was considerable too—it was how well non-vegan establishments integrated vegan + vegetarian options into their menus that really impressed us.

Coming from New York City, we’re already wildly spoiled in terms of living in a city that both values food highly, in general, and one that offers up many establishments that specialize in vegan/vegetarian foods. But—at the risk of sounded like spoiled children—we will say that many if not most of New York’s mainstream restaurants can be not-so-accomodating or -creative when it comes to catering to those choose to abstain from eating animal products.

Seriously, guys—this bacon-in-everything trend is getting OOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDD.

But in LA—and blame our rose-colored glasses if you like—there’s an unmistakable difference in the way chefs + home cooks alike seem to approach food. Perhaps it has to do with the near-year-round growing season, or maybe you could even say their popular culture is a more health-centric one than New York’s, but plant-forward cooking + eating is much more the norm there.

Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of LET’S MAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF MEAT EVEN THE WALLS places + retro burger joints out there, but, from the Vegan Grill embedded in the Venice Whole Foods to the simple fact that the über-legit Santa Monica taco place that was recommended to us had three—THREE—different vegan tacos for us to enjoy, it’s hard to argue with Veg News magazine’s recent declaration that LA was the “Center of the (Vegan) Universe.”

One such amazing non-vegan restaurant that was recommended to us by LA vegan blogger, quarrygirl, was Susan Feniger’s STREET. We hadn’t heard of the place before, but one look at the menu, with its barbecue jackfruit bao, Japanese-fried tofu bites, curry fries (not curly, curry), and enough asterisks for vegan options on the menu to make you think you’re looking at a cloudless night sky, we were in.

It ended up being one of the most enjoyable dining experience of our stay in LA, prompting us to reach out to find out more about STREET and the idea behind it. Chef + co-owner, Kajsa Alger (below, left), was gracious enough to answer some of our questions on the food scene in Los Angeles, where the vegan lifestyle fits into it, and to share some pictures of some truly mouthwatering vegan dishes from the restaurant. Scroll down for the photos + a video quarrygirl did with Kajsa on the restaurant’s vegan options.

raven + crow: How would you all describe the idea behind STREET?

Chef Kajsa Alger: Susan, through her travels, experienced so much culture and realized that it all ties back to food. We’ve both tasted so many distinct flavors on the streets of India, Turkey, Egypt, etc., and wanted to bring them back and create a restaurant that celebrated the community and culture that makes street food so special.

What interests you about street food in particular?,

Just seeing the love and community that goes into these delicious bites on the streets of all these amazing countries inspired me.

Do you + Susan collaborate on everything or is there a clear break-down of responsibilities, interests, et cetera?

Susan and I have worked together for a long time. The restaurant, menu, and concepts are all collaborative and stem from years of working together and a mutual appreciation for the way we cook and eat and travel/explore food.

In terms of the space that you created at the restaurant, what was important to you all when you were planning STREET?

We wanted a space that was exciting and unique, reflecting a sense of modern architecture, but that still felt small and warm and welcoming. We want STREET to be a cool, modern yet neighborhood restaurant. A space that felt exciting to be in, but not stuffy or over-thought. We used Neil Denari Architects, and they were great!

Yeah, it’s really nice. The wall art, decor, + overall look of the restaurant is very distinct and rather reminiscent of 80s pop street art. Who did that for you all?

Su Huntley and Donna Muir created the colorful onsite works and worked collaboratively with Denari’s design. We love the artwork!

How would you characterize the current food scene in LA? We were pretty shocked at how…foodie—for the lack of a better term—the city seemed.

LA has definitely seen an increase in small, independent restaurants focused on great quality food and beverages. It has moved away from the big-spender “Hollywood” feel that it was trending with in years past. People are wanting intimate and interactive dining experiences. The guests are more food educated and are looking for a way to explore and try lots of different kinds of food. Small plates/tapas style dining is big. People want experience and “value” isn’t based on size of portions any more, but how creative and well made the food is.

Your menu is strikingly vegan-friendly and seems to center around plant-based foods in many cases. Is that intentional?

Approximately 1/3 of our clientele is vegan. Neither Susan or I are vegan but we believe in a non-meat centered menu and most ethnic food lends itself to that world anyways. I eat a predominantly plant-based diet and am hugely involved in the vegan community. We have always emphasized great veggie food, but specifically over the past two years we have started to move the restaurant in the direction of being more vegetarian-/vegan-focused, with an emphasis still on our global comfort food ingredients and style.

Why do you think it’s so rare in such a cosmopolitan city like New York to have vegan options integrated into a non-vegan restaurant’s menu? LA seems so much better about that to us.

New York has an incredible amount of vegan restaurants with fantastic quality. But it’s true—there are not a lot of “mixed” vegan/non-vegan places and the options for vegans outside of a vegetarian restaurant are limited. I think that the difference is that LA is more health-based in general. Even if someone is not vegetarian or vegan, a huge majority of the population is concerned about their health, healthy eating, and eating light. So those options are more prevalent in LA restaurant menus in general.  On top of that, there is a huge vegan food movement happening in LA right now.  People are preferring to eat vegan rather than vegetarian and there is a whole subdivision of “foodie” vegan restaurants that are pushing into the mainstream audience.

Yeah, that just makes me want to get back there as soon as possible. What are some NYC spots you like for vegan food?

Well, for non-veggie places that do great veggie, I love that place Danji—sort of korean modern food—actually my fave restaurant in the city right now.  Then I love Red Bamboo, Hangawi, MOB in Brooklyn…there’s actually such amazing food happening right now in Brooklyn…I want to check it out more when I go next. I met some people from Paris the other night who said the new expression for great food in Paris is to say it’s “tres Brooklyn!”

Oh, Brooklyn. Funny though—MOB’s actually a block up from our office. Now, I know Susan has a cookbook. Any chance the curry fires + jackfruit bao recipes are in there? We REALLY need to have those again as soon as possible but I’m not sure we can actually justify the airfare from NYC right this second.

Those recipes are not in the current cookbook, but many of the recipes are vegan, or easily adapted into vegan recipes. So much of the world’s food is vegan by nature, that it is easy to transition. We are toying with the idea of a vegetarian cookbook soon….

DO IT!!! Any other exciting plans for expansion or development in the future?

We hope so!

Hm. I’ll assume from that mysteriously vague response that you are opening an east coast outpost. In Brooklyn. A block away from our office. Just in case my assumption is not correct though, any nice new vegan options we should look forward to for our next visit in the coming seasons?

Come Mother’s Day—we are starting an all new brunch menu with at least 15 new vegan items. We’re very excited about that. We are continually recipe- and menu-developing and have every intention of including vegan recipes in all of our upcoming menus and special events. Check out our social media, website, etc…for news on all of that.

You can read more about STREET + check out their menus on their site. If you’re in LA, start off your week with their Meatless Mondays and be sure to stop by for their happy hours—5-7PM Monday-Friday—for food + drink specials. You can follow STREET on Facebook + Twitter and check out Susan Feniger’s cookbook (and even a few of the recipes) here.

Below, photos of STREET’s Potato Samosas (awesome); the Pumpkin Cauliflower Cannoli (awesome); Curry Fries (MIND-BLOWING); and then photos from Kajsa’s Instagram account (@chefkajsa): a gluten-free falafel waffle w blood orange hummus; falafel poppers with feta or vegan Daiya cheese inside and blood orange + date salad with harissa vinaigrette; mishuku fries; the fable barbecue jackfruit bao (so good); a soyrizo empanada made with plantain masa; and housemade soyrizo.

Next up on the LA Interviews, our friend Martha, who made the move west from New York a few years back. We’ve known Martha since our days in DC via a somewhat JJ-Abrams-esque Venn diagram with uncountable crossover points between her alma mater—Vassar—and ours—James Madison. Trying to figure out who knew who when and first is like…well, deconstructing the last season of Lost. Read on to get Martha’s take on favorite beaches in LA, where to go to for cemetery dance parties, and how crazy it was to see the space shuttle drive by at one mile an hour.

What do you do in LA?
I’m a Digital Media Exec at Warner Bros. Sometimes I talk about movies all day, sometimes I talk about the business of movies. Usually, it’s combination of both!

How long have you lived there?
Three years this month!

What do you like most about LA?
The weather, the people, the space, the palm trees, the culture (yes, I said culture), the food, the landscape, the architecture, having the option of a beach, mountain, or desert a short drive away. I like that, despite it’s limitations of being such a big city that’s a slave to the car, there is a movement of people who are trying to make LA a bikeable city. Not an easy feat but they are doing it.

What do you think is most lacking in LA?
Walkable neighborhoods, bike lanes, public transportation.

Does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽
It’s not too bad..but I like to drive so I might be in the minority. Plus, what happens is you end up hanging out in your neighborhood so you don’t drive as much. On the plus side, you don’t drink as much either.

Where do you live in LA?
Silver Lake.

How would you describe the neighborhood?
Beautiful houses, hip looking people, the hills, the Silver Lake reservoir, home.

Most memorable, life-altering, fucked up, or just funny experience to date in LA?
This is a hard one to answer…I know I have all of the above but I’m drawing a blank. So I’ll just say the following. Seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavor driven through the streets of LA at 1 mile an hour and the various LA communities; black, white, Mexican, rich, poor gathered along the streets waiting to see it drive by. Seeing the Levitated Mass—the large rock that’s at LACMA—driven through the streets of LA at 1 mile per hour. Participating in CicLAvia, which is what I call “my favorite day in LA”. It’s basically when a section of LA is car-free for a few hours and people can bike, rollerskate, walk the streets. I’ve never seen people so happy to be outside.

Best celebrity sighting you’ve had (and where)?
Hanging out at the beach next to Ben McKenzie of OC fame. What made this so memorable is that he was ditched by the girl he was with. She said she was going to the bathroom and left for at least 45 mins. It was obvs he was very confused and when she came back she didn’t apologize or answer his question. Very strange.  And yes—I was that close that I could overhear him.

That’s pretty good.
Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?
Bestia—everything’s good there. Impossible for me to pick just one thing.

Vegan/veg restaurant?
Sage Organic Vegan Bistro—Quinoa Corn Cakes as a starter, Brazilian Bowl for your entree.

Taco place in town?
Guisados. Not sure if they serve vegan tacos, but their taco sampler is as good as anything you’ll find in Mexico. Gets my Mexican seal of approval.

Bar?
Thirsty Crow. Have the Thirsty Crow.

Oh, clearly we approve of that. Coffee shop?
Broome Street General Store—they serve Gimme Coffee, which is the only place outside of New York that serves it. It’s a small reminder of home….

Museum/gallery?
LACMA—permanent exhibit, Urban Light, rotating exhibits;
Getty Center—hang outside;
Museum of Jurassic Technology—museum of all things bizarre—it’s a small place; you’ll be out in two hours but worth a visit;
and I recently went to the Grammy Museum and I didn’t hate it…it was actually kind of interesting to learn about the music industry.

Movie theater?
Arclight Hollywood. At first it may seem like just a movie theater but there more you go, the more you realize it’s special. It has assigned seating, ample room, a bar, a store, a coffee shop, and plenty of celeb sightings; an usher introduces the movie and people clap at the end. It’s just a pleasurable way to see a movie. Seeing a movie in the dome of the Arclight is also fun.

In the summer, see a movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It’s quite the LA experience. My favorite time there was seeing Labrynth followed by a David Bowie dance party…in the cemetery. It was very fun.

This isn’t a movie theater, but would like to add see something at the Hollywood Bowl. Whether it’s a concert or a movie accompanied by a live symphony, it’s a special LA experience. I mean, it’s featured in the beginning of Beaches when Bette Midler’s character, CC Bloom, is rehearsing and she gets a call that her best friend Hillary is dying! Tear…

Shopping spots?
Boutiques in Silver Lake for gifts; Beverly Center for my mall shopping.

Hiking spot?
I’m not a big hiker but I do have a soft spot for Runyon Canyon. It’s more people-watching, dog-watching; less about trees. You’ll get beautiful views of LA. It’s also a short hike and it’s in the center of town.
And this is not a hike, but I highly recommend hanging out at Barnsdall Park in Los Feliz. It’s a hidden gem that has wine tastings, film screenings, an art gallery, and beautiful views of LA.

Beach?
Malibu. I like the beach by Paradise Cove. Zuma is great too, though Leo Carillo State Park is more chill.

Song, movie, or show that best captures LA?
Song: “California Paradise” by The Runaways or “LA Freeway” by Guy Clark;
Movie: LA Story, Beginners, Laurel Canyon, Clueless;
Show: The OC, The L Word, Up All Night, New Girl.

Tourist trap that’s worth the trappings?
A movie at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre—plus, the footprints and handprints of famous celebrities are out front. Everyone needs to see if their hands and feet are as big as George Clooney’s;
Biking Venice Beach—you just have to;
Watts Towers—not really a tourist trap but worth a visit;
Drink at Chateau Marmont—because you’re in Hollywood, so why not see how the other half lives.

Thoughts on the whole inescapable retro, mid-century aesthetic in LA?
The mid-century aesthetic started in LA, or at least was embraced by the city…in the mid-century! It’s part of the look that defines the city. It will continue to be woven into the city’s makeup even after the rest of the world has moved on to some other furniture trend. I think LA is a good place to come and see the origins of it and appreciate it in it’s “natural state.” LA is the mid-century OG.

Advice to those considering making the move?
It will be a tough adjustment but for anyone that’s willing to take a chance, it will be worth it. The hardest part will be getting used to the driving. Get a car that has a good stereo system and definitely get bluetooth! The future is now. And don’t hold your phone, people – it’s illegal to even have it in your hand! With a car, you’ll love how awesome it feels to go grocery shopping and be able to put bags and bags of groceries…in your trunk! No more shopping based on what you can carry on you.

The definition of community is very different. Because people are so spread out, it’s harder to feel like you can walk out of your house and will run into someone or can just walk over to the local bar. You have to make more of commitment to see people while simultaneously accepting that people can be…I don’t want to say flaky…lax about making a solid plan. So learn to be patient…also accept that you’ll eventually become one of them.

If and when you decide to make the move, I recommend Flat Rate Moving for shipping your things. Great experience.

Finally—not that this is a bi-coastal battle of the metropolises…but, kinda, it is—what would you say to all the LA-haters in NYC?
LA is misunderstood. There is a misconception that LA is full of vapid people who only want to work in entertainment. Instead, what i’ve found is a city full of incredibly smart and driven people who work in a variety of industries. These same people value their careers but have a work life balance. I think the weather helps. LA is full of creative people. There is a reason why people move here. Musicians like Fleetwood Mac started here; Joan Didion has written elegant and beautiful stories about this city; Jeffrey Deitch has worked hard to make LA an arts mecca; and even in fashion, Rodarte was started here by the Mulleavey sisters. I really believe that LA is in the midst of experiencing a kind of renaissance and it’s an exciting time to be living here.

New Yorkers think that you have to drive everywhere and you’ll still never never find anything good or interesting. I recommend they visit someone they know. Because a culinary gem will be hidden in a strip mall and only a local would know about it. Culturally, LA has so many nationalities. Every night I have my choice of legit Mexican, Persian, or head to San Gabriel Valley where I can have my pick of any Asian cuisine. I can get a Thai massage, Chinese foot massage, or head to a Korean spa for as low as $15.

No city, especially LA, can be compared to New York, so why try? Nothing is like New York, because New York is the best city in the world. But LA has a lot to offer in it’s own unique way, and it’s a great city in it’s own right.

When we decided earlier this year to make a trip over to LA, one of the first things we did was enlist the opinions of our friends out there as to what we should do, see, eat, drink, hike, fist-fight, et cetera. Over the years, we’ve noticed a lot of back-and-forth migration between New York + Los Angeles, but, of late, we’ve been seeing a lot more westward than eastward movement among our various circles of friends. Read into that what you will, but we wanted to find out what drew so many people we know—both from NYC and not—to LA. So we asked.

We were inspired by a piece a friend of ours—Lara—sent us from the French blog, Garance Doré, in which her friend who lives in Silverlake was interviewed in the same manner. Never ones to let a good idea fall by the wayside, we thought we’d do the same with our friends. First up: Comedian, Eliza Skinner.

We’ve known Eliza since our early college days, having lived with her through somewhat wince-worthy bands, not-so-well-kept group houses, and the ever-present diverse pains of being young and trying to figure out what the fuck is going on. Eliza’s always been wildly talented and equally determined + motivated, so it’s no surprise that, since moving from New York, she’s continued to make a name for herself in the comedy world. Here’s why Eliza thinks Los Angeles is awesome.

raven + crow: What do you do in LA?

Eliza Skinner: I’m a comedian, which means a lot of different things, but all in all, a comedian.

How long have you lived there?

Two-plus years.

What do you like most about LA?

The possibility.

What do you think is most lacking in LA?

Winter.

Does it suck to have to drive EVERYWHERE‽

The traffic totally sucks, but I actually don’t drive everywhere. I always have a couple of days a week where everything I need is in walking distance. I think what you’re feeling is the difficulty of having to drive LONG distances—I could take the subway to the beach in NYC, here that’s not an option. But to say we drive EVERYWHERE isn’t really accurate.

What does suck (besides the traffic) is not reading as much as I did when I had a subway ride. But that has been replaced by books on tape and carpooling to work with friends I’d happily spend that time with anyway. So it’s kind of a wash for me.

Where do you live in LA?

Beachwood Canyon.

How would you describe the neighborhood?

It’s right by Franklin Village, which is cute and fun. Beachwood is a big, not-too-busy street with a lot of beautiful houses and fun hidden hikes. There is a cafe + market that have a very neighborhoody feel – right by the old Hollywoodland development.

Favorite:
Not totally vegan restaurant?

I go to the same five places. I’m listing a couple in other places, so I’ll say Cafe 101 or Brite Spot are great late night diners with vegan options. And Cheebo in West Hollywood makes a great chopped salad.

Vegan/veg restaurant?

Cafe Gratitude is RIDICULOUS…but I like it. Everything on the menu is named shit like “I am THOUGHTFUL” or “I am FORTIFIED” and when they give it to you they say “You are THOUGHTFUL” or “You are FORTIFIED”. But it’s good!

Taco place in town?

Kogi trucks or Malo in Silverlake.

Bar?

The Virgil (come to my show there on Thursday); try the Blazing Saddle or El Diablo. Or The Pikey in West Hollywood to try the Laddie Dill or the Ginger Minge.

Museum/gallery?

LACMA, or if you want something weird, The Museum Of Jurassic Technology.

Movie theater?

Arclight—see whatever is in the Dome (it’s Jurassic Park now). I used to go there every time I visited, and see whatever was showing. LA is GREAT for movies—Disney’s El Capitan is an adorable show—dancing girls + magicians. Cinefamily (at The Silent Movie Theater) shows all kinds of great stuff. Sundance Movie Theater is great for indie movies—they are always showing at least one thing I want to see. The Vista in Los Feliz is a cool old movie theater where they removed every other row of seats so it has tons of leg room. And of course, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is a great tourist spot…and an actual beautiful movie palace inside.

Shopping spots?

I like Abbot Kinney in Venice. 

Hiking spot?

My neighborhood has tons of hidden stairs that make hiking fun. 

Beach?

This time of year it’s too cold for me, but you’ll see people out there (especially surfers in wet suits). I’m not a big beach relaxer, so I like Venice for all of it’s craziness.

Tourist trap that’s worth the trappings?

Grauman’s Chinese.

Thoughts on the whole inescapable retro, mid-century aesthetic in LA?

I love it. It’s like dutch design with a little more fun thrown in. Love it.

Advice to those considering making the move?

Do it. You never know until you try. Not everyone loves it here, but if you’re considering it you may as well just try it. Eventually life gets in the way and you can’t make those types of big decisions.  And get rid of your shit before you do. It’s easier than moving it.

Finally—not that this is a bi-coastal battle of the metropolises…but, kinda, it is—what would you say to all the LA-haters in NYC?

We don’t care. I think some New Yorkers feel there is some kind of rivalry, but there isn’t really. People in LA don’t hate New York. We don’t care about it. We’re too busy enjoying our city and being happy; and when we visit New York we like it.

One of the biggest complaints I have heard is that people in LA are so fake and nice. I personally would rather have some stranger being fake nice to me than some one being unnecessarily mean to me just because someone on the subway was an asshole to them – it’s just as fake.

Eliza hosts Big Money Comedy—a weekly event—this Thursday night at The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd. It’s free, so you have no excuse as to why not to go if you live in the LA area. She’ll also be performing Friday night at UCB LA as part of the musical improv group, Diamond Lion. That’s like, $5, so, again, no excuse.

Two days.

That’s how long you currently have, Reader, to order you various delectable vegan Easter sweets from our friend Allison at Allison’s Gourmet and receive them by Easter Sunday.

Get to it!

Pictured: the Chocolate Rice Crispy Bunny + assorted Flavored Solid Chocolate Eggs (creamy dark, blackberry, + coconut).

And yes, clients, do expect a massive sugar crash to shut down the office shortly. Please plan accordingly.