Concussion Star Bitsie Tulloch’s Haute LA Secrets

Bitsie Tulloch is having quite a holiday season! The star of NBC’s hit series Grimm appears as Keana Strzelczyk, the wife of deceased NFL player Justin Strzelczyk (Matthew Willig) in Concussion, the biographical sports drama/thriller co-starring Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks and Gugu Mbatha-Raw that was released on Christmas day. The project is based on Jeanne Marie Laskas’s GQ article “Game Brain” which exposed the discovery of CTE, the concussion syndrome that contributed to the suicides of former NFL superstars. The San Diego-born actress can also be seen in the feature film Chronic opposite Tim Roth and will have a guest turn on the upcoming season of the hit IFC comedy series Portlandia. Here, the Harvard University graduate shares her haute secrets to the City of Angels. 

Where were you born: San Diego, CA.  But I spent my formative years in Spain, Uruguay and Argentina.

How long in LA: About 7 years before moving to Portland, OR to shoot Grimm in 2011, but I spend 3 months in LA during our hiatus each year. 

Neighborhood: This past hiatus, I rented a house in Larchmont. The year before – West Hollywood. Before that – Hollywood. And before moving to Portland, I lived in the Hollywood Hills. 

Occupation: Actress 

Favorite Restaurant: Osteria Mozza

Best Sushi: Sugarfish

Best Italian: I love Pace and Osteria Mozza 

Best dessert: I don’t know – I don’t really have a sweet tooth! I know, it’s crazy. I much prefer filling up on cheese or fries or an extra glass of red wine. 

Best place for a romantic date: Pace 

Best Sunday brunch: BLD or the farmers market at the grove – I love the Brazilian place! 

Best place for a power business meeting: Soho House  

If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? The Chateau Marmont 

Favorite shopping venue/boutique: I love Tory Burch and the store on Rodeo Drive is lovely. Her clothes aren’t crazy expensive and they’re well-made and versatile. Plus she’s doing great prints and beautiful, rich dark colors for fall/winter.

Favorite place to buy jewelry/watches: I don’t wear watches very often besides my grandfather’s vintage Rolex, but for jewelry I often get loaned things for events, and otherwise I love good vintage finds. 

Best Spa: Kinara on Robertson 

Favorite Charity Event: Operation Smile Gala and City Year Spring Break 

Favorite Cultural Event: I love going to movies at Cinespia in the summer time, although the last few years have been insane. It’s impossible to get in unless you’ve been waiting since the morning. 

Favorite Cultural Institution: LACMA

Best Steakhouse: STK 

Best Pizza: Pizzeria Mozza

Best Lunch: Joan’s on Third

Best Gym/Athletic Facility: I train at a private gym on La Brea. 

Best Massage: I don’t discriminate. I love all massages! I do love a good Thai massage though. It’s good when it hurts a little, and I’m bad about stretching after my workouts so I always feel limber after a Thai massage. 

Best Limousine/Driving Service: I use Uber! Usually just UberX for getting around LA, but their luxury car service is great if you’re going to an event. 

Best Museum/Exhibit: I love LACMA and am really looking forward to the new Broad Museum.  

Describe your city in three words: Sunny, lovely, hip.

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: It’s not historic, but nothing quite feels like home so much as a hike through Griffith Park.  

All-around favorite spot in Los Angeles: Griffith Park and East Side 

Best Aspect of Los Angeles: I love what I do and being in the entertainment industry, so since so many other people in the industry are concentrated in LA, that’s really my favorite thing about the city – meeting and befriending fellow artists. 

PHOTO CREDITS: 

Photographer: Diana Ragland

Hair Stylist: Bobby Eliot

Makeup Artist: Andre Sarmiento

Wardrobe Stylist: Chris Horan