Lifestyle
Our favorite looks from “L.A. Vie en Rose” at Soho Warehouse. Collectively, we dripped
The dress code caused mass chaos in the group chats: “Dripping in romance,” taking inspiration from the night’s theme, “L.A. Vie en Rose.” Any good prompt is both esoteric and hyper-specific enough to let your imagination run wild (and trigger an existential crisis). But mostly, we used it as a framework for the kind of night we thought L.A. deserved: a sexy one — where we dressed up in patent leather boots, wore red lipstick and crushed rose petals under our feet on the dance floor.
The party, hosted by Soho Warehouse and sponsored by 400 Conejos, felt like the only fitting way to celebrate our biggest issue of the year (our biggest issue ever, actually): Image Makers, a love letter to the creative directors, photographers, designers and artists who are shaping the look and feel of the city with their work, day in and day out.
The event featured a photo exhibition highlighting our subjects: leather designer Zana Bayne; latex designer Mariano Cortez; global girl group Katseye and their fashion fairy godfather Humberto Leon; stylist and Saint Helen’s House founder Zerina Akers; photographer Emanuel Hahn; costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas; stylist Ann-Marie Hoang; Peruvian Parisian creative director Claudia Rivera; Parisian fashion designer Vincent Frederic-Colombo; creative director and photographer Eric Solis in collaboration with Planeta and Wavey; and leather goods craftsman Guillermo Cuevas. Earlier that night, the Image Makers gathered for an intimate dinner on the Soho Warehouse roof, where they received gift bags curated by fashion director at large Keyla Marquez. Each bag included a pair of Nike Shox contributed by Nike L.A., a custom keychain with charms personal to each Image Maker and a bandanna featuring every Image logo ever commissioned, created by Image’s design director Jessica de Jesus.
Party guests danced to the sounds of NoNo, Mia Carucci and Bianca Lexis late into the night and posed in a custom photo booth inspired by the party’s theme, created by production designer Zoe-Zoe (the artist who created our lettering for the Image Makers issue) and floral designer Gray Hong. Collectively, we dripped.
Curator Anita Herrera (left), Hoza Rodriguez, designer and co-founder of Planeta, and 2024 Image Maker.
Artist Barrington Darius.
Artists Alfonso Gonzalez Jr. (left) and Isaac Psalm Escoto a.k.a. Sickid.
Keyla Marquez, Image fashion director at large.
Eric Kim, co-founder of Firmé Atelier and a 2023 Image Maker.
From left: Michael Anthony Hall, Blessing Greer-Mathurin, Shanelle Infante, Adigun Atanda and Meka Boyle.
From left to right: Image contributing writer Astrid Kayembe, Cierra Black, Angela Choe, Ana Cruz and Qurissy Lopez.
Jaime Muñoz and Rochelle Martin.
Guests make their way through “Image Making: A Collective Art,“ a special gallery show featuring photography from the “Image Makers” issue.
From right: Pechuga Vintage founder Johnny Valencia and Priscilla Yael.
A guest views a photograph by Cody Critcheloe of costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas.
Shirt detail courtesy of Polio Brothers.
Editor Jules Wood (left) and BJ Panda Bear, fashion director of Reserved magazine.
Leeann Huang (second from right), designer and 2023 Image Maker.
Poet and cultural organizer Sonia Guiñansaca (left) and archivist Lylliam Posadas.
Yubo Dong, cofounder of ofstudio and Image contributing photographer.
Image contributing photographer Brandon Kaipo Moningka and friends.
A guest flips through “American Fever,” a photo essay by Emanuel Hahn featured on 1 of 4 covers.
VTProDesign creative director Mike Lee signs the gallery guest book.
Image contributing photographers JJ Geiger (left) and Sam Ramirez.
Humberto Leon, a 2024 Image Maker.
(Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times)
Anthony Brown and Image contributing artist, London James a.k.a Porcelain Sneakerhead.
Photographer Eric Solis and designer Hoza Rodriguez with friends.
American Artist, Image contributing artist.
From left: Reanna Cruz, Julia Carmel and Troy Curtis Zaretsky-Kreiner.
Image’s rooftop dinner at Soho Warehouse.
(Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times)
Costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas (left) and Dunrite Leatherworks designer Guillermo Cuevas.
Image staff writer Julissa James.
Featured stylists Zerina Akers (left) and Ann-Marie Hoang.
Gotha Shakira, digital director and Image contributing writer (left), and Ann-Marie Hoang, featured stylist.
(Julissa James / Los Angeles Times)
Aria Davis, Nike Catalyst Brand Marketing Manager (left), and Maria Maea, artist and Image contributing writer.
Eric Solis, creative director, photographer, and 2024 Image Maker.
Keyla Marquez, Image fashion director at large (left) and Julissa James, Image staff writer.
From left to right: Humberto Leon, Elisa Wouk Almino, Image editorial director, and Jessica de Jesus, Image design director.
Dinner guests applauding Image’s editorial director Elisa Wouk Almino.
Dinner party photography by Image photo editor Calvin B. Alagot.
Musician, DJ and Image-featured artist Mia Carucci.
Image photo editor Calvin B. Alagot.
Model Lex Orozco-cabral (right).
Image contributing photographers Brittany Bravo (left) and Emanuel Hahn (center) with Leah Sarnoff.
“L.A. Vie en Rose” DJ, NoNo
Mario Ayala and Nathaniel Santos.
Stylist and costume designer Sailor D. Gonzales (left) and Rebecca Marquez.
Geo Solis, Image contributing photographer.
Paul Yem, Image contributing photographer (left) and Kate Kuo, Image Director of Photography 2021–2023.
(Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times)
Image contributing producer Imani Lindsey of Mere Studios (left) and photographer Richard Brooks.
(Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times)
Mia Carucci, musician and DJ (left), Keyla Marquez, Image fashion director at large (center) Celina Rodriguez, creative director.
(Julissa James / Los Angeles Times)
Maria Maea and Zerina Akers.
Artist Sebastian Hernandez and Shirley Sosa.
From left to right: Gray Hong, floral designer and founder of Moon Jar Design, Zoe-Zoe, production designer and Image contributing artist, and Jessica de Jesus, Image design director.
(Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times)
Image contributing artist Jaklin M. Romine.
(Julissa James / Los Angeles Times)
(Julissa James / Los Angeles Times)
Lifestyle
L.A. Affairs: It’s hot when a man drives to me. But would this new guy make the trek from the Valley?
I met Dan on Hinge.
He lives in Woodland Hills, and I live in Venice. In Los Angeles, this is considered a long-distance relationship. In another city it might be nothing. Here, it’s a factor.
But I believe that with the right person, you can make anything work, so I stay open. I’m a native New Yorker, and if I were living in Brooklyn and a guy lived on the Upper West Side, that would be a 45-minute subway ride, which is truly nothing in New York. So with that same logic, I try to have flexibility with men in L.A.
When we started planning our first date, Dan suggested three options: a hike on mushrooms, a wine tasting or a walk on the beach.
A hike on mushrooms is something I’d only do with someone I already trust, not someone I just met online. I don’t do first-date hikes because I don’t like feeling trapped if the guy’s a dud. So I chose the wine tasting.
Then I learned the wine tasting was in West Hills.
On a Friday night, driving there from Venice would be insane. So I said I didn’t want to meet there because of the traffic. He suggested Malibu. That was also not ideal on a Friday.
I was getting annoyed — this was a pink flag because in my dating world, the guy is supposed to come to the woman’s neighborhood in the early days. I’ve gone out with plenty of men from the Valley who effortlessly suggested they come to me. It’s not rare or impossible.
I suggested he come to the Westside. I didn’t specifically say Venice, and in hindsight, I probably should have. He landed on Brentwood, which was manageable for both of us. On our first date, we met at an Irish pub on Wilshire Boulevard. He was cuter and more interesting than I had expected, and with the Guinness flowing, we had fun.
When I got home, he texted me: “Well, I like you 🙂 Less the tik tok and the lack of rock music in your life, but it’s not a deal breaker — there are other qualities 🙂 What are your thoughts?”
I noticed the slight negativity but was mostly dazzled that a man texted immediately after the date to say he liked me. In the modern dating economy, this felt rare.
The next day, both of our evening plans fell through, so we made a last-minute date. The wine tasting he originally suggested still sounded like fun, and although it meant me driving to the Valley, I was up for it now that we’d met.
We sipped flights at Malibu Wines & Beer Garden in its airy, romantic courtyard and played a flirty version of Truth or Dare. Halfway through, he dared me to kiss him.
We ended with sushi on Ventura Boulevard and a short make-out session in his car. He invited me to Thanksgiving at his uncle’s, which felt too soon, but also sweet.
After the second date, he texted and said he had his kids that week and was also hosting an event on Thursday, so his only day to meet was Wednesday. I said great.
On Tuesday night, he checked if we were still on, and I said yes.
Then he texted: “I’m flexible on time but not on location. I have a big event on Thursday, hopefully you can come to me again.”
My stomach tightened. This again?
So I texted back: “I drove to you last time, which was a bit of an exception for me especially in the early days, but the wine tasting location sounded special. Usually guys come to my area. How about we switch it up this time?”
He replied: “I appreciate the effort! Because of my event, I’d rather be close to a computer just if needed … Here is what i offer:
— I’ll come to your area anytime next week/end
— Lunch/dinner on me
I want to continue where we stopped last time 😉 No pressure of course, but let’s snuggle”
I responded: “Ok let’s meet next week. Snuggles sound nice … let’s see what happens …”
Then he wrote: “So I won’t see you tomorrow?”
I replied: “Unless you wanna come to me and bring your laptop along, let’s rain check until you have more flexibility.”
He said: “Dang, you are hard. I’ll let you know tomorrow around midday if it’s ok.”
And then — surprise — he decided to come.
He drove to Venice for a 5 p.m. date. He said his ETA was 5 p.m., and it ended up being 5:25 p.m., typical 405 Freeway.
When he showed up, he was in a cranky mood. On our way to KazuNori in Marina del Rey, I thanked him for picking me up and told him I think it’s hot when the guy comes to the girl.
“You’re just saying that because you want me to come to you more,” he said, not playfully, but aggressively.
That was basically the end for me. But there I was, in his car, heading to dinner. So I stayed pleasant and tried to make the best of it.
I shared that in the early stages of dating, I find it’s good etiquette for the guy to come to the woman’s neighborhood. He immediately disagreed and started ranting about how dating rules are ridiculous and how they swing in women’s favor. He resented paying for dates and declared he wasn’t looking to “sponsor a woman’s life.”
“If women want equality and equal rights,” he said, “then it should apply all across the board, including dating, and the man shouldn’t have to pay.”
I said women don’t actually have equal rights because we get paid less than men and often receive lower salaries than men in the same position.
I tried to change the subject and reset the mood, but he insisted we keep hashing it out.
I tried to explain masculine/feminine dynamics: providing and protecting, giving and receiving.
“What does the man get out of this arrangement?” he asked.
It was like watching someone’s personality warp into Mr. Hyde. Then he brought up another point: He’s a single dad of two kids, so he gets tired; and because I don’t have kids, that should factor into who drives where.
At this point, I was barely engaging and focused on eating my hand rolls, and I couldn’t wait to get home.
The check came, and I happily split it, wanting nothing further from him.
In the car back to my place, he remarked: “It’s obvious we’re never gonna see each other again.”
Obvious, but did it need to be stated?
Then he showed me a Spotify playlist he’d made for me of his favorite electronic music, because he knows I like EDM.
“Oh, that’s sweet,” I said.
“Yeah, that’s how I show interest. Through things like this, not who drives to who,” he replied.
When I got out of the car, we wished each other luck, and I headed inside and shut the door.
Two hours later, he sent me the playlist. I’ve yet to listen to it.
It wasn’t the distance that ruined it. It was the resentment. I’m not looking for a man who feels burdened by the effort. I’m looking for a man who sees the value of courting a woman in the first place.
The author is a writer, comedian and former psychologist who lives in Venice. She is the creator of the new vertical series “Manfari.” She’s on Instagram: @solange_neue and @manfari.show.
L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $400 for a published essay. Email LAAffairs@latimes.com. You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here.
Lonnie Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. He’s pictured above in September 2017.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
In a memo addressed to staffers sent Tuesday, the secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie G. Bunch III, defended the institution after the White House issued a 162-page report that characterizes the National Museum of American History as a place which has become “subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love.”
In his email, which NPR has obtained, Bunch wrote in part: “While there will always be room for improvement, this report is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History. At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America’s story. As public servants and the keepers of this institution, we are charged with helping a nation find understanding, hope and clarity and as part of that duty, we are dedicated to excellence, reflection and growth.”
He continued: “We remain focused on what grounds us: a steadfast commitment to scholarship, nonpartisanship, independence, accuracy and integrity. For nearly 180 years, the Smithsonian has worked alongside partners across government — from the White House to Congress to our governing Board of Regents — guided by our enduring mission to increase and diffuse knowledge. That purpose remains: to pursue knowledge with rigor and to serve the American public with clarity and care.”
The White House report was issued on July 4 by the Domestic Policy Council under the title “Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage.”
The council faults the National Museum of American History on a multitude of fronts, saying it underemphasized the Founding Fathers and early colonial and Revolutionary history; was not sufficiently celebratory of the country’s 250th anniversary; and that it engaged in “anti-white,” “illegal alien” and transgender activism.
It also accuses the museum of trying to “indoctrinate” teachers and students through its exhibitions, programming and teaching resources.
In the report, the council also specifically criticizes museum director Anthea Hartig, who has led the National Museum of American History since 2019 and is concurrently the president of the Organization of American Historians, calling her “an activist advancing an ideological agenda contradictory to the museum’s founding purpose of fostering patriotism.”
The Trump administration has made the Smithsonian museums one of its primary targets in its efforts to reshape cultural narratives to align with its viewpoints. In August 2025, the White House requested a “comprehensive internal review” of eight Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of American History, following an executive order issued by President Trump in March 2025 in which he called for the removal of “improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s offerings.
According to the Smithsonian’s charter, all of its 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo are meant to be run independently of the federal government. The Smithsonian is overseen by Bunch and a board of regents, which includes Vice President Vance, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and other members appointed by Congress.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Bunch spoke about the Smithsonian’s 250th anniversary special exhibition at the Smithsonian Castle, which is called “American Aspirations.”
He told NBC: “It’s really important for people to understand that America is much an ideal as it is a place, that it’s a series of aspirations that have really shaped who this country is. And so for me, what is so powerful is to say, ‘Let us honor the words of Thomas Jefferson and the founders, but let us use those to challenge us to be better.’”
Jennifer Vanasco edited this story.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoKnee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoDetroit Evening Report: Waymo cars blocking first responders – WDET 101.9 FM
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie Blocks Vacant Grocery Store Tax Proposal | KQED
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoOregon Battling Miami, Mario Cristobal for Four-Star EDGE Recruit
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoFC Dallas Forward Logan Farrington Inks Contract Extension
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoRed Sox face lengthy travel issues ahead of series vs. Mets
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoWhat’s going on with the Nuggets? Unpacking an NBA offseason on hold
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle Kraken Sign Goaltender Victor Östman and Defenseman Ville Ottavainen to One-Year Deals | Seattle Kraken
