(Photo of the upside-down hanging lamps at the Starck-designed S Bar)
Normally, restaurant and nightlife coverage is left to our sister, and indeed, she provides an excellent write- up of our adventures last night at the new Hollywood Katsuya. But we feel compelled to also post about it, because designer Philippe Starck seems to have fallen on his head, or hit the crack pipe, or had a bastard child with Kelly Wearstler for the design of his new S Bar, hidden behind Katsuya. And we mean that in the best possible way. By now his work for the Mondrian and Delano hotels have become Wallpaper*-cliches. So it's refreshing to see him busting out with Versailles trompe-l'œil (while Versailles was partly under renovation a couple of years ago - funny) and those wacky upside-down lamps. We remarked to Eater we felt like we fell through the looking glass as soon as we walked in - and sure enough, "Alice In Wonderland" was playing on screens in the restroom.
And spotted at the party: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Curbed LA crush, Councilmember Eric Garcetti. Our mayor apparently likes to hit the hot spots on opening night.