VICTORIA BRYNNER

OCCUPATION: President & CEO of Stardust Visions, a full service creative production company

MY STYLE: Classic with a modern twist. I like to think I have a little rock in me, too, but I really don’t.

I LOVE L.A. BECAUSE: I love the lifestyle in Los Angeles. I can work hard and be healthy and active very easily. For kids, the space, the weather, and the natural surroundings (parks, beaches, mountains, canyons) are so amazing. All this with all the culture of a large international city

 

LACMA

The largest art museum in the western United States recently expanded, creating the Broad Contemporary Art Museum to house (some of) Eli Broad’s famous collection, and to host exhilarating traveling exhibitions. LACMA’s Arts for the NexGen project is the only free youth membership program of its kind in the U.S. and features art classes and camps for kids of all ages. In addition, during museum hours, kids can visit the Boone Gallery to learn about brush painting and Korean art.

 

Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market

Open every Sunday (weather permitting), the Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market is an easy place to go to get fresh, seasonal California foods. “I just grab my tote and go,” says Kimora Lee Simmons. If you’re not trying to do a quick grocery trip, bring your kids to the Kid Zone where the Cookin’ Kids program offers free classes on nutrition and cooking every second Sunday. Attendees can even meet the farmers who produce the market’s featured item of the month and taste their crops. Kids can also ride ponies and play at the petting zoo every second and fourth Sunday. And don’t miss the annual pie baking competition and chili cook-off!

 

Beverly Hills Hotel

We’d love to lounge for days on end on the green-and-white-striped pool chairs at this iconic Hollywood hotel. Despite its “throwback” aesthetic (pink stucco, marble bathtubs, you name it), the Beverly Hills Hotel is well equipped to attract today’s hippest crowds—kids included. “We’ll have Easter egg hunts and staycations here,” says Lara Shriftman. “It’s our home away from home. We love the pool and fountain coffee shop.”

 

Beverly Hot Springs

These naturally occurring hot springs—the only ones in Los Angeles proper—bubble up from 2,200 feet below. The water’s unique chemical makeup has several healing properties that people claim can solve such health problems as fatigue, arthritis, and high blood pressure. And while the spas themselves are the main attraction, patrons can also indulge in various massage and facial treatments.

 

AIDA THIBIANT SPA

Aida Thibiant Spa boasts the name of a renowned skin guru who has been in the beauty business for fifty years, earning the nickname “the face saver to the stars.” Indeed everyone from Hayden Panettiere to Rod Stewart has been poked, scrubbed, and pampered at this spa, which the LA Times describes as “at once homey and luxurious.” Thibiants methods are highly individualized and are prescribed according to each customer’s particular environment, lifestyle, even her emotions. The staff is known for pioneering a tough love approach that emphasizes aggressive treatments and straight talking. For the many clients who can’t get enough, the spa also makes its own line of superlative products.

 

M Café

This health food restaurant serves creative, macrobiotic foods in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Asian-inspired dishes of fresh vegetables, soba, and soy served in flavorful sauces come alongside altered versions of classic café food, which come with twisted recipes that pleasantly surprise, (like sweet potato fries with hot pink ketchup!). Vegan pastries, some of which are flown in from New York’s famous Baby Cakes, are also available. With outdoor seating and free parking, the intimate and friendly spot is also a popular neighborhood hangout.

 

Madeo

This classic LA seafood and steak house serves up a daily selection of pastas, risottos, meat, and fish to a packed crowd, which more often than not includes a handful of celebrities. But you don’t have to be famous get the Madeo star treatment; the restaurant also attracts regulars whose loyalty does not go unnoticed by a more than hospitable staff. For the rest of us, reservations are helpful as the small, lively space fills up fast. A little planning or a long wait is surely worth what is arguably the best Italian in town.

 

Nichols Canyon

Nichols Canyon is a section of Los Angeles known for stunning stunning natural vistas. The area begins at Hollywood Blv and snakes its way into the outer hills. A road leading through it is a popular route for joggers and cyclists who can admire the canyon’s network of creaks and waterfalls. Named for the first mayor to expand the LA city limits, the development of Nichols Canyon tells a fascinating story that dates back to the Wild West. Today the area bursts with California flora and fauna as well as celebrity homes. The Canyon is a perfect place for active families to come for hiking and exploring in the great outdoors.