Music, movies and always MOCA

JASON BENTLEY first hit the airwaves at Santa Monica-based KCRW-FM (89.9) with his mix of danceable world electronica in the summer of 1992. These days, when the 34-year-old isn’t DJing “Metropolis” on weeknights, he’s putting together soundtracks to major motion pictures such as “The Matrix” trilogy, spinning records at his Friday night club, Bossa:Nova at Zanzibar, and touring the world. On New Year’s Eve, Bentley will play the fifth annual Giant Village party along Wilshire Boulevard in downtown L.A., which features Paul Oakenfold, the Crystal Method and the Killers, to name a few.

Stuck on the Hall

I am a season ticket subscriber to Walt Disney Hall because I love the design of the building, the sound of the instruments in the hall, and I’ve always been a big fan of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I usually attend the brunch concerts they have at Disney on Sundays. It’s a very smart program. They present progressive music mixed with the standards.

One of my favorite experiences was the day they unveiled the organ. I also attended the “Matrix: Revolutions” premiere there. It was very rewarding to have the unveiling of the movie in those rich surroundings.

Art downtown

When I first started with KCRW, downtown used to be the place where you went for after-hours parties that took place in artists’ lofts. Nowadays, you have great hangouts like the Standard Hotel.

Downtown also offers some great artistic virtues by having great museums. MOCA and the Natural History Museum are excellent choices. In April, I worked with the latter to put on a Cut Chemist concert. Recently, I attended the Fatboy Slim concert there, which was two hours of high-quality entertainment. They also have an exhibit at the museum called “Light, Motion, Dreams” which I have enjoyed.

At MOCA, I took in the David Hockney and Andy Warhol retrospectives.

Independent street

If I had to pick my overall favorite street in L.A., it would have to be Abbot Kinney in Venice. It’s very close to my home and business. One of the greatest things about it is that you won’t find a corporate business like a Pottery Barn there. My wife is an interior designer, and she and I love to walk around looking at all the individually owned design boutiques.

There’s a very low-key, California type of feel to the area. There are no real high-rises, only one-story buildings that offer down-home barbecues mixed in with the latest chic teahouses.

Equinox is a great bookstore, and Wolf is equally appealing for clothing. You also are likely to find me eating brunch at Joe’s or lunch at Primitivo.

In the mood

If I was going to spend a romantic evening, I might head for Ocean Avenue Seafood in Santa Monica, because my wife swears by the Bloody Marys. Another good place to get cozy is at Houston’s off the Third Street Promenade. They make terrific French dips there.

We also are big fans of Ciudad in downtown. The Peruvian ceviche they serve is a lime-marinated seafood dish that is to die for. The Pollo Ciudad is ridiculously good too.

To finish off our romantic experience we might either take in a movie on the Santa Monica Promenade or just head home and cuddle up together while watching DVDs.