Haute Living / Los Angeles / Haute Secrets

For The Record Star Pia Toscano Shares Her Haute Secrets to LA

Pia Toscano, American Idol alum and the star of For The Record: Scorsese—American Crime Requiem, shares her haute secrets to the City of Angels.

By Laura Schreffler

Haute Living

October 5, 2016 · 2 min read

Photo Credit: Irvin Rivera

Pia Toscano certainly hasn’t been “idle” with her time since rising to fame on the tenth season of American Idol. In addition to performing with Jennifer Lopez as a singer in her Las Vegas-residency show “Jennifer Lopez: ALL I HAVE” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino as well as releasing a handful of singles and music videos, the Queens-born singer is now acting or the first time ever in For The Record: Scorsese—American Crime Requiem at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The show, which runs now through Oct. 16,introduces audiences to MARTY’S PLACE—a four tier venue rising from the depths of the orchestra pit to the height of the light grid—taking audiences from a Lower East Side dive bar to an Italian restaurant, a Las Vegas casino to a classic rock concert stage. As characters rise through the physical space so do their positions in life: from drunken degenerates at the bar to couples on dinner dates, the rich VIPs seated in the casino to the Gods of Rock looking down on us all. The evening will highlight 40 years of Scorsese’s storytelling through films such as GoodFellas, Casino, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street and more. In this production Toscano portrays Karen Hill from Scorsese’s biographical crime drama Goodfellas. Originally from Queens, Toscano immediately felt a connection with this specific director and was excited to join the group For The Record after seeing their show For The Record: Tarantino in Los Angeles. Here, this songbird-turned-actress shares her insider’s guide to the City of Angels.

Where were you born: In New York!

How long in LA: 5 years. Move to LA to compete on American Idol

Neighborhood: Los Angeles

Occupation: Singer/Actress

Favorite Restaurant: Hugos & Sugarfish

Best Sushi: Sugarfish!!!!!

Best Italian: il Pastaio or Dan Tana’s

Best dessert: Pinkberry :)

Best place for a romantic date: IPic in Pasadena

Best Sunday brunch: Cecconi’s or Malibu Cafe

Best place for a power business meeting: Soho House

If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? Mondrian

Favorite shopping venue/boutique: zara top shop and nasty gal

Favorite place to buy jewelry/watches: xiv karats in Beverly Hills

Best Spa: burke williams

Favorite Charity Event: american cancer society & the Humane Society

Favorite Cultural Event: columbus day parade NYC

Favorite Cultural Institution: The Met

Best Steakhouse: STK

Best Pizza: Newpark Pizza Howard Beach NYC

Best Lunch: Sweet Green

Best Gym/Athletic Facility: Barrys Bootcamp

Best Massage: Thai

Best Limousine/Driving Service: uber Black

Best Museum/Exhibit: LACMA

Describe your city in three words: sleepless, exciting, home

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: Rome

All-around favorite spot in Los Angeles: Manhatten Beach

Best Aspect of Los Angeles: The Weather

The Greatest life lesson I’ve learned from Scorsese would be to be true to your artistry & to Commit 110% to the story you want to tell.

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