Josh Levenshus

Somewhat of a wunderkind, Levenshus, just 28, is, in addition to being a lecturer at Cal State Long Beach, founder and executive director of nonprofit arts organization ISM, a community project whose ISM:gallery at Koos Art Center just opened. He lives in Belmont Shore.

ART AND ABOUT I’d head out with friends for happy hour at Tantalum on the East Pacific Coast Highway, a tucked-away Asian fusion restaurant with great cala mari. If we decide to go to a gallery show in L.A. -- Thinkspace, Gallery 1988, Copro Cason -- pretty much anywhere, depending on the artist, we’d have dinner at Junior’s in Westwood. I love that place! A lot of my weekends revolve around food because I’m so strict [about eating] during the week. I’d have chicken soup and a pastrami sandwich, and I’d have to have a black-and-white cookie. Then we might catch a movie at the ArcLight. HANGING AL FRESCO Saturday morning I’d have coffee at Polly’s on 2nd Street and take my Rhodesian ridgeback, Lucy, to the park or dog beach in Seal Beach. I’d grab breakfast with my girlfriend, Alexis, at Babette’s Feast, a little French bakery with a great, dog-friendly outdoor patio. In the afternoon, I’d bike to downtown Long Beach and then walk around Shoreline Village. We might have coffee at Portfolio on 4th Street. VIVA LA DIFFERENCE We usually have dinner with friends -- in Long Beach, at George’s Greek Cafe or Open Sesame. In L.A. we rarely go to the same place twice; we like to try new restaurants. We might have a couple of drinks then go to a movie or gallery opening. NO DAY OF REST We’d meet friends for brunch at Schooner or Later, off Marina. We’d have schooners of beer at the outdoor bar while waiting for a table. I’d get a chili cheese dog or a crab melt and hang out for a bit, then go to the Long Beach farmers market or to LACMA or MOCA if something cool is on. We also like to look for eclectic furniture at the Rose Bowl and at shops on Melrose. For dinner we’d grill on my deck.

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