Brentwood Beat: Glorya Kaufman, Coral Trees, Austria, and Mr. Charlie’s

I’ve got a lot to cover this month, so I’ll be bouncing around a bit.  

To start, I’d like to say a few words about Glorya Kaufman, who died last month at 95.

Glorya, who lived in Mandeville Canyon for many years before moving to Bel-Air, was a real force for good.  She made huge philanthropic gifts to UCLA, USC, and LA’s Music Center in support of world-class dance programs.  

I remember, many years ago, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce hosted a private party at the Brentwood Country Mart.  It was on a Saturday night, and it was all set up like a barnyard gathering, with bales of hay all around. A dance floor was set up for square dancing. 

Later in the evening, the music switched to jitterbug. Glorya Kaufman got out on the dance floor with her partner; everyone else moved to the sidelines to watch.  It was a very high-energy, athletic performance – as exciting as anything you’d ever see on “Dancing with the Stars.”  

Glorya was married to Donald Bruce Kaufman, co-founder of Kaufman and Broad, a huge housing developer (KB Home).  After her husband died in a plane crash, Glorya put up the money to build a new library on San Vicente.  We know it today as the Donald Bruce Kaufman Branch Library.  Glorya was a real treasure; she will be missed. 

Speaking of San Vicente Blvd., a meeting was held recently at St. Martin of Tours to discuss some new plans for the San Vicente Median Strip.  Many think maybe it’s time to stop working so hard to try and save the Coral Trees.  

As everyone knows, they break and fall often.  They aren’t native to LA and don’t do well with either too much – or too little – water.  Getting the underground irrigation system just right has been an issue for decades.  

So some new ideas are being floated – planting new tree species to replace Coral Trees when they fall; replacing the green grass with native, drought-resistant plants; and installing winding walkways intended to make for a pleasant pedestrian experience.  

Plans shown at the recent meeting envisioned the elimination of the two-way jogging paths in the median strip.  These jogging paths run from Brentwood to the bluffs overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica.  I hear the joggers aren’t happy with this idea, for obvious reasons.  I’m sure this conversation is just getting started.  Stay tuned.

I was invited to meet the people behind “Mr. Charlie’s,” a new, fully vegan fast-food place on 26^th Street, about a block south of San Vicente.  Mr. Charlie’s is the “Anti-McDonald’s,” with “Frownie Meals” instead of “Happy Meals.”  No meat products are served.  The atmosphere is colorful and fun. 

I was offered a “Not a Cheeseburger” and some “Not Chicken Nuggets” – and you could have fooled me.  Fries are, of course, made with potatoes, and they were as good as any you’d find at McDonald’s.  Mr. Charlie’s is expanding, and the proprietors seem confident their new store – right across from the Brentwood Country Mart – will do well. Welcome to Brentwood, Mr. Charlie’s.  

Last but not least, Dr. Alexa Sekyra was recently honored at the home of the Los Angeles Austrian Consul General’s residence in Brentwood.  Alexa, originally from Austria, is the head of the Scholars Program at The Getty Institute.  

I know Alexa from some Getty Scholars gatherings we mutually hosted.  Alexa is in charge of the Getty Scholars program.  Quite a few scholars from around the world stay at an apartment building on Sunset, close to Westgate, while working on their research projects.  

For a while there, several Brentwood residents hosted small gatherings of local residents and the Getty Scholars.  I’m no art expert, but the gatherings were always fun and interesting. Unfortunately, COVID caused us to pause these get-togethers.  Maybe it’s time to get them going again.  

Anyone want to host a dinner for maybe 12 (six scholars, six Brentwood residents)?  If yes, send me an email: jeffhall@mirrormediagroupla.com.