| Los Olivos was originally a stagecoach / railroad town. Felix Mattei built Mattei's Tavern here in 1886 to house and feed rail and stage travelers as they made their connections in Los Olivos from stagecoach to train, or vice versa. Known as a "Stagecoach Stop," it is today a fine dinner restaurant, just off Hwy. 154
You will find many of the galleries in Los Olivos listed in our art section&emdash;and you could plan to spend an entire day just touring and enjoying art, with lunch at Los Olivos Cafe, a great place (where the locals eat) right in the center of town, just across from the post office. (See dining guide) And, now open, adjoining the Los Olivos Cafe is the Los Olivos Wine Merchant, a complete wine and gourmet food shop, with wine bar and gourmet retail items (great gifts.) They make wine country picnic baskets for two or four persons. They have wine tasting from 11 to 8, daily and feature over 300 local and international wines. And on these cold spring days there's no better place to stop in and warm up than in front of their massive concrete fireplace. Also available there are a few of the distinctive Los Olivos Cafe salad dressing, dipping sauces and spreads.
Near Grand Avenue and Hwy. 154, at 2990 Grand Avenue, in a 90 sq.ft. shed, is the Kahn Winery Tasting Room. Featuring the fine wines of Andrew Kahn and Christian Garvin, this is a fun and interesting place to visit. (See wine section ) Next door is the Cody Gallery and Coffee Station. Cody Gallery features sculptures of internationally-known John Cody, paintings of Eyvind Earle and many other fine artists.
South on Grand Avenue you will find the art galleries listed in the Art section, including Gallery Los Olivos, B.C. Davis Sculpture Studio, Young's Gallery and Judith Hale Gallery.
On down Grand Avenue to the old gas station building, next door to B.C. Davis Sculpture Studio you will find Libros Olivos, Books and Maps of Los Olivos. For a great selection of books, maps and magazines visit Libros Olivos. This bookstore has a wide variety of books for adults and children, locals and visitors, as well as a unique selection of magazines and maps. You're sure to find the right gift, a beautiful map for your wall or a great book to read in here. Drop in and say hello.
Los Olivos veterinarian Doug Herthel and his sons Mark and Troy have developed an incredible food supplement&emdash;Platinum Performance. Doug Herthel pioneered a biological approach to healing using this supplement to aid bone healing and performance. Now everyone is using it, including the World Sprint Team and U.C. Berkeley swim team. Platinum Performance Bars and Granular Formula are available factory direct too at 800/533-2400 (they make it right here in the Valley). Whether you're working with animals, are an accomplished or aspiring athlete, or just want to maintain wellness and great nutrition, They now have a product called Ortho-Chon that "keeps you moving" -whether you're plagued by the wear and tear of athletic performance, or aging, suffer arthritis or sustained injuries in an accident, Ortho-Chon can be an effective supplement that helps support healthy joints. See their website for full information: www.platinumperformance.net
Just off Roblar and Highway 154 in Los Olivos, is the Dunn School campus, a fine co-educational boarding and day college prepatory high school. They also have a middle school for grades six to eight.
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Established in 1957, Dunn School philosophy is based on the conviction that the depth and quality of the relationship between students and teachers is central to the process of education. Dunn is a school community known for adding enduring quality to a student's life.
Adjoining Dunn School on Highway 154 is Los Olivos Grocery. Now owned by the Rich Cundiff family who has completely redecorated and upgraded the place. The produce display alone is worth stopping in to see. Lots of special gourmet foods, and some items are found nowhere else in the Valley. This is a very pleasant place to shop, the prices are right and their deli food is superb.
Los Olivos has became a center for health and beauty practitioners as one look around town will tell you. Besides the six who practice at Benny Jensen's Wellness Center, Mary Heyden offers Shiatsu in her office across from St. Mark's Church and Shelly Lane is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine who offers acupuncture and herbs to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Carol McCoy, a long-time local who is also a licensed esthetician, has expanded her business and moved to larger quarters in front Now called Bare Skin Day Spa, she specializes in skin and body treatments that will make you smile all over.
South on Grand Avenue, about 1/2 mile out of town on your right is Los Olivos Wine and Spirits Emporium owned & operated by famed writer and wine connoisseur Bob Senn. Located in an historic Los Olivos, the old Montanero Store. (See wine section.)
On Figueroa Mountain Road, north of Los Olivos is The Family School, a private coed elementary school for preschool through fifth grade. Set in a pastoral background, the school was founded in 1974 by ten local families and modeled after the English Infant School and Pacific Oaks in Pasadena, which teach learning in centers as opposed to behind desks. Headmaster Esther Munger says "The school was founded on a philosophy that children learn best when they are engaged learners."
With small classes and individualized attention in a nontraditional environment, children thrive and succeed in subsequent schools. Fully accredited &emdash; full of happy students too.
The Wild Hair has a new owner. Debbie Stanton-Scavone, has been with the salon for eight years, recently purchased the Wild Hair. "We have a commitment to our clients and make every effort to make this salon a warm and welcoming place. We want our clients to feel pampered and special," says Stanton-Scavone. "Our mission is to listen attentively and apply our extensive training, experience and creative talent to design cuts that range from casual to sophisticated while being easy to maintain."
Michele Davidian, master hair designer with over 15 years of experience has recently come to The Wild Hair from Napa Valley. Davidian trained at the new York Color Institute and is highly skilled in advanced hair coloring and color correction. Her expertise ranges from cuts for the working professional with the latest fashion needs to easy-to-do-at-home styles.
Dayna Vance, an innovative stylist, has a reputation for creating cuts that appeal to all ages and needs. From sleek and classy to short and sassy, Dayna Vance will fashion the cut that fits your individuality.
Athena McCandlish, nail technician with 14 years experience, is known and respected as one of the best manicurists in the Valley. McCandlish uses Tammy Taylor products exclusively.
Grace Rasmussen, receptionist, will greet you with a warm, welcoming smile. Hers is the friendly voice on the phone reminding when appointments are scheduled. Her gift for helping the client find the right stylist is uncanny.
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