A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Amaranta Cocina Mexicana At Topanga Plaza Closes, Replaced By Drywall

The Mexican restaurant Amaranta Cocina Mexicana in the Topanga Plaza mall has closed.  I actually did eat at this place a few times and it was surprisingly good.  I just don’t think sit down restaurants do well in this particular mall, although Red Robin seems pretty busy every time I walk by.  I’m also a big fan of Gyu-Kaku, however I much prefer the Sherman Oaks and Beverly Hills locations.

I’m not sure if something will be replacing Amaranta or not, as the whole area has been encased in drywall.  Oddly enough, their website is still up and makes no mention of their out-of-business status.

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Anthropologie Coming To Westfield Topanga Plaza

I believe I noticed this last time I was at the mall, but for some reason didn’t blog it.  After a long period of dormancy, the space on the first floor of the mall that was formerly The Farm will become Anthropologie sometime later this year.

Anthropologie is a pretty cool store for people with large disposible incomes and others that just like to browse.  The Farm at The Grove does gangbusters business.  The one at this mall, not so much, hence why it is gone.

Update: Anthropologie should be opening in April 2010.

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SF Valley Cultural Landmarks In The News, Including “Corbin Palms House” In Woodland Hills

Some San Fernando Valley landmarks were in the news yesterday, including a home in Woodland Hills.

The Daily News writes:

Chris Nichols knows a good beer-barrel building when he sees one. And a group of Kennedy High School students has an eye for San Fernando Valley architectural gems.

Both are seeking to save four historic buildings, from a Lankershim Ranch reading room to a North Hills church.

And both are working to name each a city Historic-Cultural Monument, which would protect such landmarks as the onion-domed Sepulveda Unitarian church and the barrel-shaped bar once known as the Idle Hour Cafe.

The nominations for monument status, including three by the Kennedy High students, will be considered today by the Cultural Heritage Commission. If approved, the applications will likely clear the City Council this spring.

“It’s particularly exciting to have four remarkable San Fernando Valley landmarks in a single Cultural Heritage agenda,” said Ken Bernstein, manager of the city Office of Historic Resources.

“It’s tremendously exciting that a Valley architectural magnet school is preparing an entirely new generation of preservationists to take responsibility for Valley history.”

Fewer than 10 percent of the city’s nearly 1,000 historic-cultural monuments are located in the San Fernando Valley.

One of these sites is the Corbin Palms House:

The Corbin Palms House, an impeccable ranch-style house in Woodland Hills built in 1955 by William Krisel and Dan Palmer. The duo designed many modernist homes in the Valley and Palm Springs.

A site I found called Eichler Networks did an great write up about Corbin Palms here (a must read), and this is there blurb about that development:

• Corbin Palms is located on the west side of Corbin Avenue, between Calvert and Hamlin streets. The 6100 and 6200 blocks of Jumilla have homes that are particularly well preserved. Two landmark homes share a broad, park-like lawn on Corbin, just south of Topham Street. Victory Boulevard has a remarkable array of palms.

I was trying to figure out by searching online exactly which home they are speaking about in the article, and as of this moment I’m not sure.  If anyone has any idea, please leave a comment so I can find it and go take a picture.

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