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MINUTES ENCHANTMENT By Billy Fong 30 David Hockney's A Bigger Splash, 1967, at Tate, London RICHARD LESLIE'S POP ART: A NEW GENERATION OF STYLE (TODTRI) (Continued) " Swimmin' pools, movie stars." Those insightful lyrics from the Beverly Hillbillies theme song came to mind as I packed my Louis Vuitton weekender for a trip to the sunny Left Coast. I had been summoned by the divine Becca Cason Thrash for a series of parties and art tours she was hosting in Los Angeles to raise funding for and awareness of the American and International Friends of the Louvre (read about those fabulous soirées on pages 24 – 28). So why not extend that sojourn and share my go-tos for a whirlwind adventure — four days, which turns out to be 5,760 minutes in the land of swimmin' pools and movie stars. WHERE TO REST YOUR WEARY HEAD Perhaps half the fun of visiting Los Angeles is securing a suite at a favorite hotel. And there are lots to choose from, with daily rates that echo the price of the most coveted luxury-house handbags. Like starlets, they're continually getting facelifts, giving us a reason for a return stay to see what's new. The Beverly Hills Hotel: Perhaps Fran Lebowitz put it best: "Los Angeles is a large city-like area surrounding the Beverly Hills Hotel." This grand dame, known to many as the Pink Palace, is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2022. It's the epitome of old-school chic. The best reason to visit is a martini at the Polo Lounge. This The Beverly Hills Hotel Blackman Cruz IAN HUGHES The Britely storied room with its candy-striped ceiling has long been the epicenter of power dining in L.A. 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills. P e n d r y We s t Hollywood: Sleek cars and a sleeker crowd gather at the Pendry, starting at the glamorous driveway of this relatively new spot on the boutique- h o t e l s c e n e , which takes up an entire block of the infamous Sunset Strip. 8430 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. T h e P e n i n s u l a Beverly Hills: I feel like penning a love letter to this beyond l u x u r i o u s h o t e l nestled dangerously close to the shops along Rodeo Drive. My first time here, I squealed with delight to see that they had monogrammed my pillows in advance. Yes, The Peninsula maintains a closet with thousands of monogrammed pillowcases awaiting repeat guests. The rooftop pool has incomparable views of Century City and the Beverly Hills skyline with plush cabanas stocked with waiters at the ready to transport a cocktail or flute of champs. 9882 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Sunset Tower Hotel: Like many Hollywood landmarks, you'll likely recognize the Sunset Tower's façade or certain interiors from movies or photographs taken at the famed Vanity Fair Oscar Party (the hotel was the setting for this event from 2009 to 2013). Similar to a member's-only club, they have a strict policy on photos in many public spaces to ensure the privacy of the dazzling celebrities who are as common here as John Deere salesmen at a West Texas Courtyard Marriott. 8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. YE RIN MOK