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Dining Continued from page 51 Places Continued from page 15 The Original Farmers Market 3rd St. & Fairfax Ave., (323) 933-9211. A Los Angeles favorite for over 75 years. Enjoy over 30 eateries ranging from Japanese to Texas barbe- cue. The ultimate in casual dining. (See FAMILY) www.farmersmarketla.com Vermont Kitchen and Bar and Rockwell, vt 1714 N. Vermont Ave. (323) 661-6163. Offers guests a unique take on the classic bistro menu, with daily blackboard specials, California’s freshest ingre- dients and a superb yet modest wine list. Vermont’s sister restaurant, Rockwell,vt, embraces the casual side of outdoor patio dining, featuring American-style tapas, a spectacular bar and lounge scene and DJ music several nights a week with brunch served on the patio every Sat and Sun from 10am- 3pm. Off Vine - Hollywood’s Phoenix A fter a devastating fire in April 2008, a favorite restaurant has returned to a different restaurant scene from when it first opened its doors in 1989. Today, within a 4-square block area, there are nearly a dozen restaurants where there were once only a few. Off Vine quickly became a favorite of the entertainment industry and theatre-goers. Located in a charming 1908 Craftsman bungalow, notables as well as those behind the scenes enjoyed its homey interior and outdoor patio ambiance. Hidden on Leland Way directly south of Sunset Blvd. “off Vine,” celebrity clients included Garth Brooks, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Al Pacino and Jodie Foster (to name drop just a few). News of the fire quickly spread throughout the commu- nity which shared the heartbreak with owners Richard Fal- zone, Tony Hernandez and Greg Fedderly. Loss from the fire was estimated at $450,000 ($300,000 structure & $150,000 contents). Fortunately the restaurant staff and 90 dinner patrons were safely evacuated. The cause of the fire was electrical in nature. The owners vowed to reopen. Little did they realize, however, what it would cost in time, effort and dollars to keep their promise. To restore the restaurant required bringing the building up to code, adding a sprinkler system, larger restrooms and a wheel- chair ramp to the house. Recreating the charming atmos- phere that patrons loved was definitely a requirement and the addition of a new state-of-the-art kitchen and larger upstairs dining room added up to a to a $750,000 tab. “Our journey has been long and tumultuous, full of struggles and setbacks,” Falzone said. “It also has come to exemplify the strength of a community that has continually offered guidance, encouragement and support to a small business that found it struggling to reopen its doors during one of the worst economic crises our country has ever seen.” Hollywood’s phoenix has risen out of the ashes. “Off Vine has finally come home,” Falzone said. The Fire Department douses the Off Vine fire, April 2008. Photo: All rights reserved bswriters Los Angeles Fire Fighters Museum & Memorial 1355 N. Cahuenga Blvd., (323) 464-2727. The Los Angeles Fire Department houses its historic fire fighting collection dating back to the 1880’s in the 1930 Old Hollywood Fire Station No. 27. Outdoor sculpture memorial- izes fallen firefighters. Open Sat 10am-4pm. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens 5333 Zoo Drive, (323) 644-4200. At Grif- fith Park. One of the world’s finest; where the real wild life is! (See FAMILY) Madame Tussauds Hollywood 6933 Hollywood Blvd., (323) 467-8277. Get up close and personal with stars and fa- mous personalities from the past and present. Hollywood’s newest attraction, dates back to 1770 and the original Madame Tussaud. In- teractive fun for the entire family. Hours: Daily 10am-8pm.www.madametussauds.com Magic Castle 7001 Franklin Ave., (323) 851-3313. 1909 Gothic mansion, once home to actress Janet Gaynor, now world-famous private club for ma- gicians. Guests enjoy “Houdini Séance Room,” “Invisible Irma Room,” other dining rooms, se- cret chambers. Operated by the Academy of Magical Arts, non-profit organization of 5,000 magicians and magic fans for over 40 years. Max Factor Building (See Hollywood Museum listing) 1660 N. Highland Ave. Opened in 1935 with a “premiere” attended by Claudette Colbert, Rita Hayworth, Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland. Melrose Avenue A unique collection of restaurants, nostalgia shops, and boutiques with the newest and best of fashion for a hip and trendy look at what’s hot in L.A. Mole-Richardson® Museum of Lighting 900 N. La Brea Ave., (323) 851-0111. A history of the evolution of lighting within the motion picture industry. The Mole-Richardson Company has been designing and manufac- turing lighting in Hollywood since 1927. Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. www.mole.com Montecito Apartments 6650 Franklin Ave. Fine example of art deco style with Mayan influence, listed in National Register of Historical Places. Was home to James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Geraldine Page, Rip Torn, George C. Scott, Ben Vereen and Ronald Reagan. Now a residence for seniors. 52 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / FALL 2010 2 Locations to Choose Locati to Cho fro Ch DELIVER WE V cations Choose from Los Feliz