Always a challenge, restoring a neglected older property is almost always also a labor of love. Furniture designer Ryan Trowbridge of Los Feliz and his partner interior designer Tracy Beckmann recently completed an extraordinary restoration and thoughtful renovation on a hillside street in Desert Hot Springs.

In 2008, the pair purchased the four-room, 1947-built hotel designed by architect John Lautner—of Silver Lake’s Silver Top.  Originally the hotel was to be at the gateway to a 600-acre development. In 1947, Lautner was fresh off his fellowship at Taliesin West under the tutelage of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The hotel’s design echoes Taliesin’s primitive tents where light, the desert sky and the rugged environment are embraced.

Constructed of redwood, glass, concrete and steel, the building’s steel framing cantilevers out, creating a wing-shaped overhang that shades each room. Although the rooms are compact in size, there’s an incredible feeling of expansiveness due to the 180-degree view through a glass wall.  Each room opens to a private patio and cactus garden.  Lautner was known for his sympathetic way of incorporating the natural world into his buildings.

Purchasing the property took some time due to its uniqueness and its location in a tract home neighborhood. When Trowbridge and Beckmann first saw it, the entire building—including all the redwood—was painted solid white.

“It was a crazy adventure because nothing was standard,” saidTrowbridge of the restoration, but most visitors have been “blown away,” by seeing the building returned to its original look.

There have been some additions: bathrooms have been redone in Heath Ceramic tile, three units have restored kitchenettes, one has a full kitchen and furniture is now of-the-period vintage finds.

Among Beckmann’s projects is the hotel at the LA Athletic Club and Mas Malo restaurant downtown. Trowbridge, in addition to his furniture and light constructions, is a partner at Bar 107 in downtown Los Angeles.

Hotel Lautner is open for overnight stays via hotellautner.com. During Palm Springs Modernism Week, an open house on Sun. Feb. 19th will benefit the Lautner Foundation.

Eastside Eye Pick for February

Pacific Standard Time: Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, Backyard Oasis: The Swimming Pool in Southern California Photography, 1945-1982, now through May 27. For mid-century modern fans heading out to Palm Springs for modernism week, the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time sponsors this first major exhibition that dives into swimming pool photographs.

Caption: The local indie band, Milo Greene, performs three nights at the Satellite this month.

ART

‘Soft Candy’
The Shanghai-born, L.A.-based artist Danni Shinya Luo marks the release of her new book of art, Soft Candy, with a signing and an exhibition of her sensual, whimsical explorations of the female form. Also showing their work this month are West Coast artists Matthew Bone, Soey Milk, Christine Wu and Bonni Reid.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Tues., Feb. 14th-Sun., Feb. 26th.
4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 666-7667; www.laluzdejesus.com

BOOKS

Book Club
The Los Feliz Library’s monthly book club meets to discuss its latest selection, Helen Simonson’s Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand. Simonson’s debut novel tells the story of a retired British officer and widower who is trying to hold onto a family heirloom and his old-fashioned values. Also at the library this month are an installment of the Architecture & Beyond series (Thurs., Feb. 16th, 6:45 p.m.) and a used-book sale (Sat., Feb. 25th, 10 a.m.)

Los Feliz Branch Library, Sat., Feb. 4th, 11 a.m.
1874 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 913-4710; www.lapl.org

Daniel Pyne
Screenwriter and novelist Daniel Pyne (Fracture, The Sum of All Fears, Twentynine Palms) will read from and sign his new book, A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar. His latest novel is about a divorced high-school shop teacher who buys a gold mine off the Internet. Also reading this month will be Ben Marcus (Thurs., Feb. 2nd, 7:30 p.m.), Ramona Ausubel (Fri., Feb. 10th, 7:30 p.m.) and Steve Erickson (Wed., Feb. 22nd, 7:30 p.m.).

Skylight Books, Tues., Feb. 7th, 7:30 p.m.
1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 660-1175; www.skylightbooks.com

CLASSES

‘Backyard Chickens and Bees’ & ‘Redirecting Rainwater’
Aspiring urban farmers and eco-conscious gardeners, take note: In their respective classes, John Lyons will teach the basics of beekeeping and raising chickens, and Rachel Young will discuss and demonstrate how to make the most of natural rainwater. Classes are $15 each.

Descanso Gardens, Sat., Feb. 11th, 11 a.m. (Lyons), and Sat., Feb. 18th, 10:30 a.m. (Young)
1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Information: (818) 790-3663; www.descansogardens.org.

Safety Safari
Now in its second year, this annual event teaches families about such topics as home safety and how to build an emergency kit. Participating guests include safety experts, LAPD and CHP officers, and Smokey Bear.

Los Angeles Zoo, Sat., Feb. 25th, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park. Information: (323) 644-4200; www.lazoo.org

CLUBS

Los Angeles Breakfast Club
For more than 85 years, the club has gathered folks from all walks of life to enjoy a meal and each other’s company. Breakfast is $7 per person and free for first-time visitors. Annual club membership is $100.

Friendship Auditorium, Wed., Feb. 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, 7 a.m.
3201 Riverside Drive, Los Feliz. Information: (213) 665-1154; www.labreakfastclub.com.

FILM

Alternative Projections

The Echo Park Film Center and L.A. Film Forum continue this screening series focusing on experimental film in Los Angeles between 1945 and 1980. The first program is Outsiders Observe Los Angeles, with works by David Lamelas and Robert Nelson. (Details of the second screening were not available at press time.) Tickets are $10 general admission, $6 for students and seniors.

Echo Park Film Center, Sat., Feb. 4th, and Fri., Feb. 24th, 8 p.m.
1200 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park. Information: (213) 484-8846; www.echoparkfilmcenter.org

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ & ‘My Neighbor Totoro’
As part of its screening series Castles in the Sky, the American Cinematheque presents two fantastical films by the Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. Howl’s Moving Castle tells the story of a teenage girl swept up in an adventure with a mysterious wizard, while My Neighbor Totoro follows two young sisters who discover wondrous creatures in the forest near the house. (Totoro screens in Japanese with English subtitles.) Also playing this month are double features by Orson Welles (Fri., Feb. 10th, 7:30 p.m.) and Charlie Chaplin (Thurs., Feb. 16th, 7:30 p.m.). Tickets are $11 per screening.

Egyptian Theatre, Sun., Feb. 12th, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Information: (323) 466-3456; www.americancinemathequecalendar.com

FOOD & DRINK

Thursday Night Flights
Oenophiles and novices alike can sip and sample at these weekly tastings. Flights of three wines are arranged, each with a common theme: a grape, a winemaker, a region, etc. The Let’s Be Frank gourmet hot dog truck will be parked out front. Flights are $12 per person. Different tasting events are also held Mondays and Sundays.

Silverlake Wine, Thurs., Feb. 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd,5 p.m.-9 p.m.
2395 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake. Information: (323) 662-9024; www.silverlakewine.com

MUSIC

Lana Del Rey
On the heels of a controversial performance on Saturday Night Live and the release of her major-label debut, Born to Die (Jan. 31st), singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey comes to Hollywood for a free in-store concert at Amoeba.

Amoeba Music, Tues., Feb. 7th, 6 p.m.
6400 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Information: (323) 245-6400; www.amoeba.com

Milo Greene
The local five-piece indie-pop band Milo Greene will perform three free shows this month at the Satellite. Their first full-length is due in spring. Supporting acts include Handshakes, Lesands and A House for Lions. Also playing this month are Spindrift (Fri. Feb. 10th, 9 p.m., $8) and Buck 65 (Wed., Feb. 22nd, 9 p.m. $15). Shows are 21 and over.

The Satellite, Mon., Feb. 13th, 20th and 27th, 9 p.m.
1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake. Information: www.thesatellitela.com

SCIENCE

Public Star Party
At this family-friendly monthly astronomy event, attendees can try out a variety of telescopes; view the sun, moon, planets and other celestial objects; and talk to astronomers about the sky and their equipment. Admission is free. Also this month is All Space Considered, a public program held in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater that explores astronomy, space science and space exploration (Fri., Feb. 3rd, 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m., free).

Griffith Observatory, Sat., Feb. 25th, 2 p.m.-9:45 p.m.
2800 E. Observatory Road, Griffith Park. Information: (213) 473-0800; www.griffithobservatory.org

THEATER

‘Buddha’
The distinguished actor John C. Reilly (Magnolia, Step Brothers) directs the West Coast premiere of writer-performer Evan Brenner’s one-man show tracing the life of Buddha. Tickets are $30.

Bootleg Theater, Fri.-Sat., Feb. 3rd-25th, 7:30 p.m.
2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake. Information: (800) 838-3006; www.thebuddhaplay.com

‘Fiesta’
Master puppeteer Bob Baker presents a south-of-the-border-themed extravaganza. The show was first performed in 1964. Tickets are $15.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater, weekdays, 10:30 a.m., Sat.-Sun., 2:30 p.m.
1345 W. 1st St., Echo Park. Information: (213) 250-9995; www.bobbakermarionettes.com

‘Hunka’
The Native Voices First Look series presents a staged reading of playwright Larissa Fasthorse’s Hunka. The play explores themes of family, pregnancy, adoption and responsibility. A Q&A with Fasthorse will follow.

Autry National Center, Sun., Feb. 12th, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. Information: (323) 667-2000; www.theautry.org

O(h)’s Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith. Photo credit: Jeff Larson.

In the wake of the holidays a number of new shows are opening in the Hollywood area. I attend two vastly different productions that are running into February.

Dance aficionados won’t want to miss O(h) at The Actors Company Theatre in West Hollywood in which dancers Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith deconstruct the creative process offering a  fast paced glimpse into the minds and personalities of the two principals.

The show melds dance and theater into an interesting whole. As the two performers dance and sing, they also directly involve the audience. In 2010 O(h) was a hit at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and in New York City.  Producers hope to expand their audience in Los Angeles.

Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith have a long-standing partnership.  Both received degrees in experimental choreography at UC Riverside and now are college teachers: Casebolt at Los Angeles Valley College and Smith at UC Riverside, UCLA and Scripps College. Together they have a great chemistry.

In the one-hour production the duo dances together and alone.  I particularly enjoyed Smith’s athleticism and elegance. His allusions to being gay are sensitive and subtle.

Casebolt is incredibly agile and is also a good singer. Her performance in “I Feel Pretty” from “West Side Story” is a hilarious showstopper.

Architects Hadrian Predock and John Frane have transformed the bare stage into a stylish set using strings of brightly colored lights.  Be sure to arrive early to watch the two dancers warm up.

In a totally different vein, the dark comedy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane currently onstage at the Lex Theatre in Hollywood, is set in small town contemporary County Galway, Ireland.

The action takes place in a dreary kitchen that evokes a mood of entrapment that describes the central figure, Maureen Folar, a 40-year-old spinster who has a history of mental illness. She is the caregiver of Mag, her selfish and manipulative 70-year-old mother.

The play had a successful run in Ireland, England, and New York where it won four Tony Awards and was nominated for best play in 1998.  It was the debut-work of playwright Martin McDonagh who is known for his dark Irish dramas some of which have been at the Taper and the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

As the dysfunctional relationship between mother and daughter emerges, a glimmer of romance arises in the first act when Maureen brings home Pato Dooley, a middle-aged construction worker who is home from his job in England.  He is disillusioned by his life and dreams of moving to America.  His younger brother Ray adds a note of cynical humor and has a glimmer of a bad boy image. The plot unfolds with twists and turns of deception and betrayal and keeps the audience on edge.

I am not a fan of dark comedy with disturbing scenes of sadism and familial violence. The best part of the play for me was the stunning performances given by the four actors. Judy Nazemetz’s facial expressions are evocative as Mag. Ferrell Marshall captures the frustrations and anger that define Maureen’s motivations. Alex Egan’s interpretation of Pato Dooley’s monologue at the beginning of Act II is stunning and Rob Herring’s portrayal of the younger brother Ray provides comic relief. August Viverito is the director.

O(h) through Feb. 19th, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 5 p.m. Sundays at The Actors Company, 916A N. Formosa Ave., West Hollywood.  $30; students and seniors; $22. (800) 838-3006 or www.caseboltandsmith.com.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.;  Sundays at 3 p.m.  $25 at www.theprodco.com or at Brown Paper Tickets.