My Favorite Weekend: Elisabeth Moss
The title is “Mad Men,” but the Emmy-winning AMC series features some notable women as well, including L.A.’s own Elisabeth Moss. The onetime ballerina-in-training’s role as copywriter Peggy Olson earned her an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2009, a year also significant for her marriage to another TV madman, “Saturday Night Live’s” Fred Armisen.
Here’s how the newlyweds do SoCal.
Life at the Tower
It’s always a special treat to stay at the Sunset Tower Hotel. To me, it’s exactly what life’s existence should be -- the beautiful decor, the wonderful people, the great food. I would gladly live there if I could, I’m not one of those people who necessarily needs to have a house around them. But at the Sunset Tower, it’s like you’re back in 1930s Hollywood or something. It just feels like you’re some place other than where you really are.
On the boulevard
Maybe because I grew up in L.A., I’m not romantic about Sunset Boulevard at all. But in one of the unimpressive plazas along Sunset is a great restaurant called Sushi Park. I hesitate to even talk about it because while I want it to stay around, I don’t want it to get so popular that it would be hard for me to get in. But it has the most incredible omakase sushi in the world, and the people are so nice and caring, you can’t go wrong.
Umami homage
I don’t eat hamburgers very often, but I’ll always make time to stop at Umami Burger. It’s gotten pretty popular, so you often have to wait, but it’s so incredible you won’t mind a bit. I think they even make their own ketchup.
Mum’s the word
There’s a very cool place down on Venice in Culver City called the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Not too many people know about it, and when you get there, it doesn’t look like a museum from the outside. It’s very unassuming.
I’m not going to tell you any more except to say that it’s not about dinosaurs. But it’s an absolutely fascinating, one-of-a-kind place, and if you go you won’t regret it. I hate to be so cryptic, but I have to be. Trust me, it’s fun.
Best buys
One of the most unsung shopping areas in Southern California is along 3rd Street between Fairfax and La Cienega. There are so many great little boutiques and shops.
And another hidden gem on Melrose called Wanna Buy a Watch? They have the most beautiful collection of vintage watches and also antique jewelry. Fred’s gotten me a couple things from there, and I’ve gotten him a watch. A fantastic place, fair prices, and they really take good care of you.