withJACKI UENG

I n
My
N ei g h b o r h o o d
Jacki U e ng
with
West Los Angeles
P h o t o s
b y
J a c k i
U e n g
The glamour. The nightlife. The beaches. The natural beauty.
Overall, it's difficult to find a more desirable location in the United States than West Los Angeles. Home to
celebrities and some of the nation's most successful individuals, the west side of the nation's second most
populous city is an easy sell in real estate -- to those who can afford it. To get to know some of the local
institutions that give this little corner of the world its distinct character, our guide is none other than the
Bohemian Vagabond herself, Jacki Ueng.
What at t r act ed yo u t o t h is
part of t ow n ?
Jacki Ueng
Title R e p
Ticor Title
Travel Blog ger
www.JackiUeng.com
I was given the opportunity to start the Ticor Title
brand in Beverly Hills/West L.A. in 2006. West L.A.
has some of the most expensive and beautiful real
estate in the nation, with areas including: Beverly
Hills, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Hollywood Hills,
Bel Air, Westwood, West Hollywood and Santa
Monica. I was up for the challenge. This luxurious
area has an abundance of everything you need: the
best restaurants (upscale, food trucks, organic and
ethnic), nature, nightlife, wealth, beautiful people,
yoga studios, farmers' markets, beaches, gorgeous
houses and not to mention the celebrity spotting!
What ’ s t he n u mb e r o n e s el l in g
p oint t hat r es id en t s / bu ye rs
r av e about ?
It’s always sunny in Southern California! The home
values remain high because people always want to
live here; they don’t become affected nearly as much
as other areas. West L.A. is an affluent, safe area
Sunset in Santa
Monica
16
with many trendy neighborhoods. You get the big
city feel but can still find suburban pockets with
families walking their dogs and playing with their
kids.
C a n yo u s h a r e o n e of t h e
n e i g h b or h oo d ’ s b e s t - k e p t
secret s?
Not sure if it’s quite a secret, but Californians
value their health, are eco-friendly and support
local farmers. We have farmers' markets happening
almost every day in a different part of town and a
lot of vegan/organic restaurants popping up which
provide a great environment to raise a family and
live a healthy lifestyle.
W h at is yo u r favor i te way to
s pen d a n af t er noo n wi th th e
fa mily h e re?
Laying out at a hotel pool like the W Westwood or
Mondrian. L.A. embodies that work hard, play hard
mentality. We’re working 24/7, yet we seem to
Shopping on
3rd Street
Promenade
always be lounging. We don’t need to be
in a cubicle to get our work done. With our
iPads and iPhones, we can get deals done
just about anywhere: by the pool, at the
bar or over a hike. We just need to make
sure the deals are closing.
W hat i s th e p red o minant
arc h i tectu ral st yle?
Mediterranean, Modern and Spanish style
seem like constant favorites. Venice,
Culver City and Mar Vista have a lot of
very contemporary houses and remodels
replacing smaller bungalows. Brentwood
and Santa Monica seem to favor large
Mediterranean
style
homes.
Pacific
Palisades has a lot of East Coast traditional
homes like Cape Cods and colonials.
W hat i s yo ur favorit e
r e staur ant i n t he neighbor hood?
There are too many as I’m a major foodie
and it’s unfair to pick one! I’d highly
recommend visitors stop by Katana in
West Hollywood, which embodies the L.A.
culture. You can go at any time of the week
in the evening, find a spot in the patio area
and enjoy the fine ambiance overlooking
the glitz and glam of the Sunset Strip. It’s
The view
from
Temescal
Canyon
a great place to start before heading out
to town, right across from the Mondrian
Hotel (Sky Bar). We love to sip sake
martinis, nibble on skewers and savor the
fine sushi selection and great service.
Enjoying a
nice view
of the
Hollywood
sign
W h at t y p e s of o u t d oor
act i v i t i e s d o e s yo u r
n e i g h b or h oo d off e r?
Hiking trails, beaches, mountains. The
tough decision is which scenery are you
feeling? That’s the great thing about L.A.
You could literally sunbathe at the beach
or pool one day, and go snowboarding
the next. I love hikes. A view of the city?
Runyon Canyon in Hollywood. A more
tropical, nature-ish hike that ends in a
waterfall? Temescal Canyon in Pacific
Palisades. A strenuous mountain biking
trail or all-day hike? Mandeville Canyon in
Brentwood. All have views of the Pacific
Ocean. I also love going paddle boarding
or kayaking in Marina del Rey while seal
and bird spotting.
I s t he r e a co mmu n it y or
cult ur a l c en t er t h at
you of t en vis it ?
L.A. County Museum of Art (LACMA
- www.lacma.org) is filled with endless
17
The Malibu
coastline
Santa
Monica
State Beach
Park
Where Jacki Likes to. . .
I n M y N e i g h b o r h o o d with
J a c k i U e n g // W e s t L o s A n g e l e s
Get a cup of coffee Literati Café
has coffee, tea, fresh detox juices and
healthy food. It's a great place to work
on your laptop and get your creativity
flowing.
Read a book West Hollywood Library
just finished renovating and is absolutely
stunning and modern.
Get some peace and quiet Sweating
out my toxins and meditating the mind
at Hot Yoga (100 degree heat) at Core
Power Yoga in Brentwood. There are
many other studios popping up on every
corner -- like Starbucks!
Shop 3rd Street, Santa Monica is the best
with four blocks of shops, restaurants
and street performers, and with the
renovation of the old mall into “Santa
Monica Place”, it’s easy to find what
you’re looking for, with some great
restaurants on the top deck overlooking
the beach.
Find a good deal Melrose for boutique
shops. Also, Santee Alley in Downtown
L.A. if you’re up for some grunge and
hustling. This is the spot to find a
good deal before it hits the mainstream
market.
See live music Grab a blanket, picnic
basket, sneak in a bottle of vino and
head to the Hollywood Bowl, especially
in the summer time!
Watch the big game Love Bru Haus in
Brentwood for a few brats and some of
the best hand-crafted beer in the world.
If it’s packed, you can go next door to
Q’s or Cabo Cantina.
Go out for date night Abbot Kinney,
Venice. Cozy boutique restaurants.
Watch a play/show Laugh Factory in
West Hollywood.
art, exhibits, shows, community
activities and conservations.
Do yo u vo lunt eer
wi t h any lo cal Nonp rof i t s or causes?
I’m the Membership and Social Media
Chair for "Room to Read" L.A. Chapter
(online at www.RoomToRead.org),
which is a non-profit that builds
schools and libraries in developing
countries throughout Southeast Asia
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and Africa on a mission to eliminate
illiteracy and gender inequality. We
host monthly events and an annual
gala to fundraise.
A ny t hing el s e you ’d
like to sh a r e a bo u t
yo ur neig h bor hoo d?
If you can make it here, you can make
it anywhere! Oh yeah, and watch
Entourage, it’s kind of like that.
Go for a bike ride Short bike or
rollerblade ride from Santa Monica
to Venice, or a longer road trail along
Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu!
Have fun for free First Fridays in
Venice, museums offering free wine,
food trucks galore, street performers
and locals out for a good time.
Have a beer/cocktail Café Roma in
Beverly Hills has a great happy hour and
outdoor seating on comfy couches and
great music.