Once silent screen legend Alla Nazimova was nearing the end of her career, she was advised by her business manager to build a revenue generating hotel. She turned her estate on the corner of Sunset Blvd and Crescent Heights into a hotel which soon became a getaway for film stars, and discreet affairs. The cost of the construction was so great that by its completion in 1928 the actress was bankrupt, and forced to sell out. She subsequently rented a small flat in one of the wings of the hotel.

The Garden of Allah was a magnet to the famous such as Ernest Hemingway, Gloria Stuart, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Marx Brothers, Dorothy Parker and others. The hotel included a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and a several bungalows. In 1959 the hotel was torn down and today there’s a strip mall with a bank, subway sandwich shop and Mac Donald’s, but no bar. “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot.”

Now there is a drink celebrating the glory days of the actress and her Garden. Drink up and enjoy!

Garden of Allah

2 oz Gin

2 oz cantaloupe puree

1 oz simple syrup

3/4 oz grapefruit juice

Place all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake hard and double strain into a chilled 4 – 5 oz. cocktail glass.