Milk Studios

I've passed 855 Cahuenga Boulevard hundreds of times, never giving notice to the elegant white marble courtyard leading to Milk Studios.  Glamour and Hollywood may be synonymous when referring to the industry, but until recently was not often used to describe the neighborhood.  This was the address on the invite for the Emmy party I attended last night.  I was thrilled it was so close to my house, but didn't anticipate much from the space.  I was immediately blown away by the graceful and stylish structure, minimally decorated with high end furnishings.  Waiters serving hor d'oeuvres and cocktails greeted us in the lobby which doubled as a bar.  Spirits were high, the atmosphere was clearly having a positive effect on the mood.  Like Alice in Wonderful, we explored beyond the lobby and found two, enormous spaces, a literal sound stage, pulsing with energy and music.  The 46,000 square foot space was transformed into an intimate, sophisticated environment with designated living room areas, bars, and food stations.   Originally built in '20s by Howard Hughes, the property has been occupied through the years by show-biz companies, including Technicolor and Television Center Studios.  In the 1980s when Hollywood grew seedy, many entertainment businesses fled for more desirable addresses.  In 2008, Mazdack Rassi, the visionary founder of  Milk Studios in Chelsea, was searching for a space to launch a west coast branch of his successful business catering to photographers, designers and artists.  After revitalizing the Meat Packing industry with his first studio in the '90s, he was set on finding a location in Hollywood, and settled on this historic address.  After an extensive renovation the doors opened in June 2009 hosting a fete for Chloe.  It's been buzzing ever since.