Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: Inside One Of The Nation's Fanciest Polling Places
The Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Brentwood has been offering residents in the 90049 ZIP code an unusual, stress-free voting day experience for nearly ten years. While the hotel has been a polling place for decades, the owner, Efrem Harkham, expanded its election day experience in 2008. What does this mean? For one thing, there's no line—instead, lingering voters are offered al fresco yoga and meditation sessions, all set to "the gentle strum of live sitar players," a press release announced. Does your polling place have a press release? Didn't think so.
On top of yoga and enlightenment, there are the very L.A. features of a step and repeat (who needs a ballot selfie?) and valet parking. But the big payoff is in the hors d'oeuvres and refreshments section of the courtyard. We're told this year's menu included pastries, "lite bites," a takeout Mediterranean chicken salad, and a variety of other dishes with "a Mediterranean flare." And while you were washing down this horrific election season with some old coffee in a church basement, these guys were savoring unlimited berry and cucumber-infused water.
But you deserve a Moment of Zen, too, and these guys really delivered—click play on this strange tableau:
This year's election day programming purposefully had a relaxation theme, a rep for the hotel told us, "Every election season is different but, this year clearly it's been a very stressful election season and as a way of giving back to the neighbors, the hotel wanted to create a relaxing environment for the community to escape the noise and enjoy doing their civic duty."
Please pocket some mini quiches for the rest of us, precincts 9001354A and 9001364A, and check out the hellscape that is voting in NYC as you sip on your cucumber water.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
