Category: Best of the Westside

Best Hairstylist with a Cause: Jason Schneidman, The Mens Groomer By Christina Campodonico You could say there are two secrets to Jason Schneidman’s success: service and saltwater. When he needs a break from the daily grind, he’ll grab his surfboard and head to the beach for a soul cleanse. “Saltwater is magic. The magic potion,” Schneidman says. “Good for the skin, great for the hair.” He should know. Not only has Schneidman coiffed the ’dos of “Late Late Show” host James Corden, “X-men” star Hugh Jackman, singer Bruno Mars and actor Jonah Hill, he’s built an entire salon and...

Best Jewelry/Watches 1st Place Blue Diamond Jewelers 245 Main Street, El Segundo (310) 322-8060 1009 Manhattan Ave. Manhattan Beach (310) 921-8707 4814 E. 2nd St. Long Beach (562) 433-8222, bluediamondjeweler.com READER RECOMMENDED Marina Bay Watch Co. 4027 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey (310) 574-8777, marinabaywatch.com READER RECOMMENDED Westchester Watch Works 630 N. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo (310) 640-1074, westchesterwatchworks.com Best Bicycle Shop 1st Place Helen’s Cycles 2472 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey (310) 306-7843 2501 Broadway, Santa Monica (310) 829-1836, helenscycles.com READER RECOMMENDED Summit Ski and Cycle 8419 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester (310) 568-8357, summitskiandcycle.com READER RECOMMENDED Bike Attack 12775...

Best Craft Cocktail in a Can or Pouch: Lanea’s To-Go Cocktails By Anthony Torrise One good thing to come out of 2020 is the To-Go Cocktail. To help restaurants make it through the pandemic, California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) eased restrictions on selling alcoholic beverages for pickup or delivery, and so the craft to-go cocktail was born. Among the standout concoctions created by local bars and restaurants are Lanea’s to-go cocktails, which come in cheekily decorated aluminum cans (“Enjoy: today, duh,” they declare! ) or clear pouches that show off the cocktails’ brilliant colors. There are 17...

Best Way to Say Thank You to a First Responder: Urban Plate’s Nourishing Heroes By Caden Sullivan The risk first responders and health care workers take every day is incredible. While we take precautions to avoid the virus and chill at home with Netflix, they fight it on the front lines. To reward their hard work, Urban Plates is running a program through December called “Nourishing Heroes.” By donating $12 to Nourishing Heroes, locals can sponsor a meal for a first responder or health care worker provided by Urban Plates. For up to 1,000 meals per week, Urban Plates...

‘Reticent, Riot, Wrought:’ The Wit and Wisdom of ‘Notes from Noreen’ The Westside’s own ‘paramedia ecologist’ Gerry Fialka interviews The Best ‘Westchester Crank’ around in this correspondence for the ages Interview by Gerry Fialka | Edited by Christina Campodonico I was in stitches, laughing my head off reading a witty letter to the editor of The Argonaut written by the “Westchester Crank” known as Noreen “Do Not Resuscitate” Petrichor, who occasionally submits humorous letters under the guise of an old lady (or maybe she is a little old lady!) to our local rag. She’s commented on everything from the...