By: Seraphina Quinn
Our goal is to spotlight meaningful connections in the community. Inspirational leadership makes our world a better place. – Morale Matters
Internationally renowned singer, actress, model, and philanthropist Lika O introduced opening night at Village Arts Theatre for the local high school performance of Frozen. Lika O’s restaurant Bottega Taboo donated champagne and caviar to audience attendees. Bottega Taboo will also donate 10% of every order that mentions Village Arts back to the non-profit.
Prior to the show, Lika gave a speech backstage about dreams and how they are meant to be achieved. She shared how opening Bottega Taboo in Los Angeles was one such dream.
Students were able to ask questions about her career journey in entertainment and her life as a celebrity with over 3 million followers on Instagram, which is roughly equivalent to the massive fanbase of the Dodgers. Lika’s ‘American dream’ story began after founding the Miss Russian United States talent and beauty pageant. She later received commendation for her philanthropy from former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as well as other local and international achievements.
Lika’s recent single ‘Grow’ is currently up for Grammy consideration, and Bottega Taboo recently hosted a Grammy member-only event, provided the filming location for an episode of Vanderpump Rules, and was featured on NBC California Live.
Lika O invited the audience at Village Arts Theatre to experience the special vibe and positive energy of the restaurant. She expressed that she is honored to support the local community as “Children are our future.” Village Arts owner stated, “We’re not just supporting Bottega Taboo because the restaurant is supporting us. We have been at least 6 times. It’s fun, it’s groovy, it’s relaxing. The drinks are great. The food is excellent. It’s just a great place to be.”
The serendipitous connection between Bottega Taboo and Village Arts began when Village Arts owners John and Pam Moser became regulars at the restaurant. The restaurant which prides itself on hospitality and boasts nearly 5-star ratings on Yelp and Google, had a staff member go above and beyond to invite John to play tennis. Bottega Taboo opened in January and was seeking a more meaningful connection with the local community, while Village Arts was looking to support more local children’s participation in the arts. The rest was history!
Frozen will run through December at Village Arts Theatre along with Trolls the Musical to be piloted for Dreamworks Animated for the month of December. Upcoming Village Arts events in 2024 include a Disco Dance Party, a Talent Show, Sketch Comedy, Improv Elementary, and a Homework Club. Both organizations hope for a future special performance by Village Arts students at Bottega Taboo.
Bottega Taboo by Lika O is ‘A Vibe House’ and neighborhood oasis which offers Mediterranean and Japanese-inspired cuisine as well as live music on Sundays, champagne and caviar specials, and Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm Thursdays through Sundays. Village Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to theatre, dance, and visual arts for children. Both are located in the Valley Village neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley.
Danielle Roy is the Founder of Morale Matters, which offers consulting services to businesses seeking to scale, sell, or both. Her mission is to empower inspirational leaders. Visit morale-matters.com to get in touch.