Shiny Object Co

03/12/2026

I’m deeply happy to see this space continue its creative life with the ideal new stewards. From 1994–1997, I worked on Charlie Chaplin’s old movie lot — back when it was A&M Records — before it became Jim Henson Studios. I still remember my very first day walking through those gates. Front and center: Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger on the featured billboard, felt like a dream sequence.
A&M’s recording studios and sound stage were alive every single day. Legends came and went like it was the most normal thing in the world, Michael Jackson was on the lot and somehow, I got to hang out and hold his pet monkey Bubbles! When Neil Young was recording Mirror Ball with Pearl Jam, I was in the studio pretending to be very busy while quietly losing my mind (thanks Whittaker). Never forget seeing shirtless Seal walking through the palm-frond-filled, smoky air while filming a music video and all the wild characters milling about for Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" video.
So many wildly talented souls crossing paths daily — musicians, engineers, creatives, visionaries — all orbiting this historic, electric place.
Some places deserve to keep making magic, glad I got to experience a sliver of it!

The duo announced today that the historic property will continue "operating as a major working studio in the heart of Los Angeles."

03/12/2026

Really inspired by this story about an entrepreneural couple who turned the lower level of their LA home into one of the city’s buzziest new coffee spots—legally—thanks to the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) permit, that allows small operators to serve food and drinks from their homes. I was not aware of this permit until I read this article and now my noggin is sparking! LA is historically difficult with permitting, good to see smart policy supporting creative people without massive capital. The founders created a cozy backyard coffee experience rooted in connection, art, and neighborhood energy—exactly the kind of small-scale, human-centered business that cities need more of.

A national site covering food and dining culture, with 23 city sites tracking local dining scenes across hundreds of maps.

02/05/2025

One of the main highlights in our world is working with innovators and The Max Collaborative + The Pinyon Group, delivered in spades with Avenue 34, located in Lincoln Heights Los Angeles.

This ground-up mixed use development is bringing greenspace and local style to LA’s Lincoln Heights neighborhood. Sitting on 5.03 acres at the corner of Avenue 34 and Pasadena Avenue, A34 will replace a functionally obsolete industrial site with a three-building development featuring 468 mixed-inc...

07/22/2024

It was an honor to introduce San Diego to WEST, an impressive mixed use development that has renewed this important neighborhood of downtown.

06/22/2023

We've been reading about the innovative "build to rent" housing market for a while and are thrilled to working with Cyrene at Meadowlands on their project in Northern California. A brand new subdivision of homes that are all for rent! With so few options for affordable housing, this concept is booming.

06/22/2023

Congratulations to Alexan Access Apartments in Washington State on their grand opening. So much goes into bringing a multi-family asset to market, we are honored to help bring their vision alive!

12/31/2022

100000% Agree that converting office buildings into living spaces is an ideal solution, great article. “The remote work revolution could devastate municipalities’ downtowns and finances, or it could help resolve their housing crises. If they can summon the requisite policy imagination and flexibility, city officials can make “work from home” work for everyone.”

To survive the work-from-home revolution, cities must let developers convert office buildings into deeply weird apartments.

09/30/2022

Congratulations to our client Arista Apartments on their official grand opening and ribbon cutting officiated by Glendale Mayor Ardy Ardashes Kassakhian, State Senator Anthony Portantino and President of Glendale Chamber of commerce Judee Kendall! "Through an adaptive reuse of an existing building, the city is helping add high-quality housing while also ensuring that we maintain the character of our downtown and quality of life that our residents and business have come to expect from our city," said Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian in a news release.

Arista Glendale, a two-tower luxury apartment community, is celebrating the opening of its first building Thursday. See photos of the new development below.