‘PIONEER TO THE FALLS’ – MEET MICHELLE MARINI (PART II of II)
(photo by Jessy Plume for TRAFFIK)
“If you’re going Downtown, I may as well be on your way“
– “Downtown” by Tegan and Sara
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In Part One of our feature on nightlife proprietor Michelle Marini, we discussed a little bit of her personal history with “tinseltown” and the City of Angels (if you missed it you can click here to read it). In Part Two, we will be learning a little more about her influences, current project, and what she hopes to accomplish with this new venture.
In January of 2009 we asked Michelle Marini, what she would like to tackle next. She responded with, “I’m angling to open a small bar in Gallery Row Downtown. It’s a super artsy, fashion-minded community that’s in the making.”
Intrigued, our conversation continued.
Why Downtown? What made the idea of opening something up Downtown first pop into your head?
Marini enthusiastically replied, “During Artwalk. Fall ‘08 I believe. I felt like I was in Manhattan, and loved it!”
Ultimately, this decision and idea eventually evolved into the newest addition to the already popular Spring Street area Downtown, The Falls (interior pictured below, photo originally published here) –a lounge that boasts a delectable drink menu concocted by Marini and her partner Al Ameida, replete with cocktails featuring natural juices as one of the ingredients is located in the City Lofts Building (626 S. Spring St. L.A, CA 90014). The LA Times described it as “kind of like if the ’70s and the ’40s mated and had a casually stylish baby.”
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Recently, we decided to pick back up with the questions to give everyone more insight into what went into the Falls and what to expect when you set foot into it.
TRAffIK: On any given night you could be found mixing with the Downtown locals (and now neighbors of the Falls) whether it was taking in the nightlife at places like the Association or taking in the Art during the monthly Downtown Artwalks, do you think this has helped you to gain an understanding of the folks that currently make up the Downtown scene?
MM: No! Now that we’re open I realized I didn’t have a clue. The folks that have been coming in have been awesome, as I expected. And we’re gaining new locals day by day. I have noticed, however, that people are very loyal to their blocks. Some friends came over from Spring and 4th. I joked, wow, you traveled ALL that way?! And they answered that they usually go to The Must, which is right where they live. And coming down to The Falls was a trek. So it’s been a bit of a challenge being the new bar. Plus I suspect since I had Lava Lounge and now The Woods we might be considered “Hollywood,” which we really are not.
TRAffIK: What do you hope your patrons feel when they step into the Falls and what kind of experience should they expect?
MM: The bar is cozy, but a bit glamorous at the same time. I hope they feel at home, but clever that they have discovered this cool little spot.
TRAffIK: We mentioned how supportive you have been of the Downtown businesses, in general when you go out for the evening what does that consist of and what type of service do you expect?
MM: I feel like my trips out are always research for future projects. I try to make it at least once to as many new spots as best I can. I’m particularly interested in the new boutique bars that custom mix drinks to your current whim, and even chip ice the texture that suits the concoction.
TRAffIK: Do you have any favorite places in LA that you frequent and why?
MM: For months I really haven’t had much time to go out, and I suppose I frequent the bars that I am personally involved in (invested financially) most. I do not have a favorite bar other than my very own yet– but, I really admire my neighbor [downtown] bars like Varnish, the Association, Las Perlas. I also love Roger Room or Lubitsch for drinks, and admire the concept of La Descarga. I also used to like the Chalet in Eagle Rock when it was around, but it was so damn far.
‘PIONEER TO THE FALLS’ – MEET MICHELLE MARINI (PART I of II)
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(photos of Michelle Marini inside of the Woods by Jessy Plume for TRAffIK- click on images to enlarge)
Fresh from the grand opening of her new Downtown Los Angeles lounge, The Falls (626 S. Spring St. L.A, CA 90014), eternally youthful and fashion savvy Michelle Marini (co-owner of the Woods 1533 N. La Brea Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028) has demonstrated time and time again to the “City of Angels” that she has staying power.
In a city where good-looking people can be found on every corner, it’s just as easy to write them off as it is to notice them. Why should we? They’ll be replaced by at least dozens more in just a few months or even weeks. San Francisco Bay area native Marini, is an exception to that rule. Possessing both good looks along with business savvy and an inclination towards the arts and creative expression (which she’s incorporated in some form or another into all of her ventures), Marini is anything but dismissible and has demonstrated that she can hang with the big boys without giving up her high-heeled shoes.
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Fashion is a “manifestation of my mood, changing every day, likely three times a day.”–Michelle Marini
On the surface, Marini may appear as just another typical Hollywood socialite type as she could rival many of those that appear on the covers, pages, and segments of “those” magazines and shows that plague the city with paparazzi. One of the first things you’ll notice about her is her fashion-forward attire. Although we would definitely agree that Marini, hands down has a much better fashion sense than most of those socialites (who more often than not count on the aide of stylists). Citing Rachel Zoe as someone whose style she admires, “I’d watch her show, Rachel Zoe Project, over and over, just drooling. Her vintage pieces captivated me the most.” Marini describes her fashion style as, “seeing fashion as a manifestation of my mood, changing every day, likely three times a day. I love the 60’s and 70’s eras most.”
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Her love for those eras was further exemplified after revealing that she would love it if moustaches (which she describes as so “70’s cheesy/sexy”) on men and big huge top hat sized bee hive fall type wigs (“60’s glam at it’s height”) made a comeback.
When asked if she felt there was anything lacking in the world of fashion this day in age, Marini stated, “The only thing I miss is that it’s impossible to make a defining statement with fashion. I was a teenage punker, really put some people off, which is exactly what I set out to do. You can’t accomplish that easily now, everything is accepted by the mainstream.”
Although a trendsetter from the womb and yet despite that “young punker” desire to be an individual, even her “How I Got to L.A.” story is actually quite relatable and typical of many of those that make up this city’s population. “[I] was at UCB [as] a Biology major, changed to Art and transferred to UCLA. Plus, I was dating the guitar player from SoCal Punk band TSOL, so that was a bit of the draw,” states Marini.
It was the following that solidified Marini as a rare individual, who walked the walk and not just talked the talk.
“I used to hang out at Three Clubs Bar an inordinate amount of time. Then, in 1992, there was hardly anywhere else to go. I figured Hollywood needed another bar and I’d be the gal to do it. And, no, I did not have an inch of experience at the time.”
A short time later the Lava Lounge was born (which a few years ago she turned into the Woods, but we’ll get to that), the friendly little tiki bar, which most Angelenos and visitors to the city will know this unassuming blonde from best.
Initially, the Lava Lounge was to be a haven for Marini’s expansive circle of friends, or as Marini describes “an 
intimate clubhouse,” however, due to it’s prime location in Hollywood (located off of Sunset Blvd. and La Brea Blvd.) “later, when it caught on, we had to have Gold Cards made with people’s names on them to make sure they could get in front of the throng,” Marini revealed.
Lava Lounge was an oddity among the surrounding establishments that made up the pretentious Hollywood nightlife, which inadvertently at times did become a “haven” to Hollywood celebrities who wanted to go somewhere where they could fly under the radar and have a drink. (more…)