Hamburger Mary’s
Los Angeles continues to lose its many queer restaurant and bar/nightlife spaces at an alarming clip during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Historic and long-running spots from Silver Lake to the Valley to West Hollywood are either closing completely, or facing dire economic circumstances after being largely shuttered for 2020. Now one of the city’s most prominent LGBTQIA+ spots, Hamburger Mary’s, is reaching out for help. Reps for the bar, known as a delightfully raucous home for drag shows, charity events, and weeknight drinks, tell ABC7 that the business may not making to reopening this year without some much-needed help.
When Disney executive chairman Bob Iger required some assistance with the pizzas he makes as a hobby, he turned to Noel Brohner, a former nightclub owner who has become L.A.’s go-to dough guru. Brohner, 53, advised Iger to use gas instead of wood in his oven until he got more comfortable with controlling heat, and the media mogul’s pizzas, which he likes to top with vegetables from the garden of his Brentwood home, quickly improved. “He actually simplified the process for me rather than complicating it,” Iger says. “In doing so, he gave me more confidence. There’s a warmth about him and a generosity of spirit that I think makes you feel good about him. He’s instructional without being overly critical. I don’t have to feel like a complete and total failure. He’s not uptight, which I love.”