Harvey Spevak, Sam Nazarian, Jason Binn and Richie Notar

Spring Fever

Spring has enveloped Los Angeles, giving us a host of reasons to celebrate. As Dodger Matt Kemp reminds us on page 49, baseball season is here. Who doesn’t love watching a game, hot dog and beverage in hand, while cheering on the boys in blue?

This season also marks the 40th annual celebration of Earth Day April 22. Angelenos are at the forefront of the green movement, especially with Mayor Villaraigosa’s Green LA initiative, the goal of which is to reduce greenhousegas emissions to 35 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Los Angeles now draws 14 percent of its energy from renewable sources, and it met the Kyoto Protocol’s targets for lowering its emissions four years ahead of schedule.

We all know every eco-conscious action counts, a point driven home by Arianna Huffington, where she presents us with multiple options for greening our homes. As for environmental entrepreneurs, Sambazon founders and brothers Ryan and Jeremy Black are an inspiring, socially conscious duo whose u?bersuccessful business is based on importing organic and sustainable açaí berry products.

Most important, this season also brings one of our favorite days of the year, Mother’s Day. Cover star Kimora Lee is a shining example of one of the many women who juggle career, motherhood and so much more and still manage to make family their top priority (and look good while doing it). Don’t forget to honor the special ladies in your life on May 9.

Sincerely,

JASON BINN
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Sari Anne Tuschman at a photo shoot with Josh Radnor

GREEN WITH ENVY

SOME PEOPLE THINK summer in Los Angeles isn’t a special time of year like it is in other parts of the country because the weather is nice here year-round. That belief couldn’t be more wrong. Sure, 80-degree weather isn’t saved for June, July and August, but something special is—a certain je ne sais quoi in the air when LA and its inhabitants come alive more than ever.

I STILL REMEMBER walking into the Viceroy Santa Monica for the first time many years ago on a trip to Los Angeles to visit friends. I was struck by the impeccable décor—all that Kelly green, silver, black and white; it was so chic and yet so simple. That’s the key to exquisite design—it not only knocks your socks off, it withstands the test of time and stays with you long after you’ve walked away from it.

Of course we have interior design goddess Kelly Wearstler to thank for the Viceroy, but there are countless other creative visionaries who call Los Angeles home, and we celebrate many of them here—in our real estate and design issue. We pay homage to the kings (and queen) of real estate, those names synonymous with big deals and big living. Whether or not you can afford to buy something from these brokers, we have no doubt you’ll find them impressive and fascinating; I know I do.

We also use this spring edition to celebrate some of the eco-warriors making an impact on LA and beyond. Green is actually my favorite color (hence the incredible reaction to the Viceroy’s décor), but with the constant innovations happening in the “green” world, it’s not only easy being green, it’s actually easy to like being green.

It’s hard to believe it’s already springtime, but with the arrival of this season comes the inevitable desire to clean, start anew and begin thinking about what we can purge to allow for new growth in the garden of our lives. Without a doubt the incredible creative minds, businesspeople and eco-innovators we honor in this issue are making me evaluate what I can do to step up and reawaken my own creative spirit this spring. What do you want to do?

Happy spring!

SARI ANNE TUSCHMAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF