Here’s the Scoop: Arnold Leases Schatzi on Main

Schwarzenegger Hands Over His Sweetheart: Arnold Schwarzenegger has leased his restaurant Schatzi on Main (the name means “sweetheart” in German) to ice cream magnate Charly Temmel, though Schwarzenegger still owns the building. “Arnold is still involved in everything. He and Charly are good friends,” says new chef and fellow Austrian G.M. Helmut Elmann. Chef Matt McLinn, who had been at Schatzi since December, left last week amid the changes. New chef Elmann helped Temmel open Charly Temmel’s Restaurant and Ice Cream on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Temmel also owns ice cream parlors in Venice Beach, Redondo Beach and Culver City, so don’t be surprised if European-style ice cream dishes such as spaghetti-shaped ice cream in strawberry sauce start popping up on the Schatzi menu. As for the entrees, many Austrian dishes will remain but Elmann plans to make the menu more international.

* Schatzi on Main, 3110 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 399-4800.

A Wake: Geri Gilliland is closing her first baby, Gilliland’s Cafe. As she puts it, “I have decided that I cannot mentally or physically balance four restaurants [including Jake & Annie’s, Lula’s and the Washington Street Bar & Grill], lots of dogs and cats, a family, and also have a life for myself.” The restaurant is throwing a last hurrah July 24-26. Call for reservations.

* Gilliland’s Cafe, 2424 Main St., Santa Monica; (310) 392-3901.

The Boxer Breakfast: Boxer is now open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. There’s a breakfast-all-day menu, complete with Belgian waffles, a breakfast calzone and an Ode to Neal--a grilled tenderloin steak, poached eggs and Cabernet hollandaise on an English muffin. There’s also a lunch menu of salads, sandwiches, tuna tartare and sauteed prawns. The prices range from $6-$12, but if you come in before 11:30 a.m., everything is $7 or less.

* Boxer, 7615 W. Beverly Blvd., L.A.; (213) 932-6178.

Southern West Hollywood: Victor Hodd’s is now open for lunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Mondays-Fridays. The menu has a Southern twang with honey-dipped fried chicken, blackened catfish, baked meatloaf and barbecue basics like a pulled pork sandwich with “sweet ‘n’ sassy” sauce. Also new on Monday nights is the barbecue buffet--all-you-can-eat Memphis-style barbecue specialties, $12.50 a head. It’s accompanied by Monday night happy hour with $2 beers and well drinks.

* Victor Hodd’s, 7953 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (213) 822-9652.

One Giant, Interactive Advertisement: It’s time, once again, for the Best of L.A. festival. For three days, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium grounds will be filled with vendors yearning to give you samples of their food, wine, music, fashion and art. The festival begins on July 24, running from 5-11 p.m., continues from noon-11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurants include 2424 Pico, Bistro K, Cicada, Coco Pazzo, DC-3, Four Oaks, Gadsby’s, Il Fornaio, Indochine, James Beach, Jozu, Pangaea, Remi, Obachine/Spago and Schatzi on Main, to name quite a few. Each restaurant is offering at least three different tastes of their cuisine for $1-$4 each. Some of the participating wineries are Beaulieu Vineyard, Santa Margherita and Buena Vista Carneros Estate. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $2 for children under 12. For more info, call (888) 237-8635.