Issue #85

June 30, 2009

Celebrities are dropping like flies in LA!

Despite optimistic “the recession-is-bottoming-out” statements by politicians, parts of Los Angeles are beginning to take on the appearance of ghost towns. Just down the street from the brand spanking new Montage hotel in Beverly Hills are the empty skeletal structures that formerly housed luxury car dealerships and art galleries.  Boutiques and cafes in Hollywood and Santa Monica have disappeared almost overnight. Some LA streets are beginning to resemble sets from a Will Smith zombie movie. At night, one can frequently observe one solitary light emanating from the only unit that was sold in a new high-rise condo project.

Not everyone is suffering during this time, though. Staples Center is bustling with new construction (will the new designation for that neighborhood that also includes Nokia Live and the LA Convention Center be “NoLiv”?).  As in all economic downturns, the spirits industry (alcohol – not dead people) is booming.  The film industry turned in record profits last year. And now that consumers are watching their pennies, perhaps they won’t be so inclined to spend exorbitantly on “pre-distressed” clothing that doesn’t last more than a few months and look for better construction and quality fabrics that will endure. Fashion will always re-invent itself – but designers who have sewn their labels into cheap goods from third world countries and then inflated the retail price into the stratosphere are hiding in their chateaus waiting for consumers to start spending without thinking again.

Raleigh Studios (owned by winery owner George Rosenthal) was the upbeat scene of the 2-day LA Wine Fest several weeks ago. The weather was sunny and cool and so was the crowd. 30 wineries participated and there were tequila, scotch and sake tastings as well. For me, the stand out wine of the fest was the Suendero 2005 from Vina Robles winery.  The luscious wine is a blend of 80% Cabernet and 20% Petite Verdot. Most notable is the long berry finish, lingering on the palate for at least 5 minutes. I admit to being disturbed about the high alcohol content in so many American wines, I tasted a Zin that was 15.9 alcohol. Like drinking thick Kool Aid. I miss 11.5% wine – much more suitable for drinking with dinner than the new “fortified”-tasting wines. I predict that restaurants will start serving wine in shot glasses!

BATES RATES NEWS was established in 2002 by Dianne Bates, a Los Angeles-based culture journalist whose writing and/or photography has appeared on the covers of The LOS ANGELES TIMES Calendar section, FLAUNT MAGAZINE, LA Architect Magazine, and CITY AND SHORE MAGAZINE. She has also written for Variety, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Where LA Magazine, Malibu Magazine,  RPM and Performance Plus. She is the former Visual Arts Editor of the Tacoma Reporter. Bates was one of the first Internet TV reporters on NETTHISTV.com. She has served as a judge in the 2004 California Mid-State Wine Competition and as an associate judge in the 2006 Central Coast Wine Competition. BATES RATES NEWS IS RECEIVED BY THOUSANDS OF MEDIA AND VIPS. She is currently co-writing a book and screenplay, CRIME AND CIRCUMSTANCE about the gay scene and record business in Hollywood from the mid-1950's through the early 1980's.