The Water Garden from “A to Z”

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (5 of 14)

During my recent viewing of A to Z’s digital preview (which you can watch here – I’ve now seen it twice!), I recognized a location featured in it – The Water Garden in Santa Monica.  The Grim Cheaper used to live close to the office complex and I had driven by it countless times over the years.  I had never ventured onto the property for a closer look, though, so I decided to amend that while in the area last week.  And I was shocked at what I discovered!

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While the exterior of The Water Garden (pictured below) is pretty, the interior grounds, which are not visible from the street, are absolutely breathtaking!  I cannot even imagine having an office there!  What an idyllic place to work!

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The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (11 of 14)

The Water Garden complex is much larger than it appears to be from the street.  The 17-acre property, which takes up an entire city block, is comprised of eight buildings (six 6-story structures and two 5-story structures) that total a whopping 1.27-million square feet of office space.

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (3 of 14)

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (14 of 14)

The eight buildings surround a massive waterway that meanders throughout the grounds, complete with geysers, fountains and bridges.  Like I said, it is breathtaking.

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (1 of 14)

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (4 of 14)

The complex also features lush landscaping with rambling, trellised pathways that make the property look more like a public park than an office facility.  What I wouldn’t give to work there!

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (8 of 14)

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (7 of 14)

On A to Z, The Water Garden is where both Andrew (Ben Feldman) and Zelda (Cristin Milioti) work – Ben at a matchmaking company named Wallflower and Zelda at a law firm.

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The complex was used extensively throughout the pilot episode.

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Some of The Water Garden’s interior space was also utilized in the pilot – as both the interior of the Wallflower offices . . .

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. . . and Zelda’s law firm.  I am guessing that will not be a regular practice, though, and that a set of both office interiors will be built on a soundstage for all subsequent filming.

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The Water Garden also made an appearance in the Season 3 episode of CSI: Miami titled “Recoil,” in which it stood in for the Biscayne Courthouse where Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and the gang investigated a shooting.

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Oddly, while an image of The Water Garden was used in an establishing shot of the Biscayne Courthouse in the Season 6 episode of CSI: Miami titled “Inside Out” . . .

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. . . actual filming took place elsewhere.

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The Water Garden also served as the San Francisco headquarters of Gryzzl in the Season 6 episode of Parks and Recreation titled “Moving Up.”

For more stalking fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Los Angeles magazine online.  And you can check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic, here.

The Water Garden Santa Monica A to Z (10 of 14)

Until next time, Happy Stalking!  Smile

Stalk It: The Water Garden, from A to Z, is located at 1620 26th Street in Santa Monica.

Andrew’s House from “A to Z”

A to Z house (1 of 7)

Networks have recently begun the practice of digitally releasing the pilot episodes of new shows weeks before their scheduled premiere dates.  I think it’s a genius maneuver and have been relishing watching them all.  One that I perused, on the recommendation of fellow stalker Owen, of the When Write Is Wrong blog, was A to Z, a comedy co-produced by actress Rashida Jones that centers on the relationship between hopeless romantic Andrew (Ben Feldman) and pragmatic lawyer Zelda (How I Met Your Mother’s Cristin Milioti).  I thoroughly enjoyed the pilot and plan on adding the series to my television line-up, although I do have a fear that the storyline will wind up akin to that of the ultra-depressing (500) Days of Summer.  Fingers crossed that I’m wrong on that count.

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On A to Z, which is set in Los Angeles, Andrew lives in a Craftsman-style home with his quirky roommate/co-worker, Stu (Henry Zebrowski).

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A to Z house (2 of 7)

Owen managed to track down Andrew and Stu’s house – as well as all of the other locales that appeared in the pilot – before I had yet to even watch the episode.  So, since he had already done most of the heavy lifting, I decided to run right out and stalk a few of them while I was in L.A. earlier this week.

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A to Z house (3 of 7)

In real life, Andrew’s residence is located in Los Feliz and looks much the same in person as it does onscreen.  The pad measures three bedrooms, one bath and 1,416 square feet.

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I am fairly certain that the property’s actual interior was used in the pilot episode and that a set modeled after it will be built for all subsequent filming.

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In an unexpected twist, the Laverne & Shirley apartment building (which I blogged about here) was used as Zelda’s apartment in the episode.

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A to Z is set to premiere on Thursday, October 2nd at 9:30 p.m., but you can watch a full episode preview of the pilot now on NBC.com.

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A to Z house (5 of 7)

On a side-note – I had an absolute blast being a guest on The Bill Feingold Show Featuring Kevin Holmes yesterday!  For those who missed it live, you can listen to the show On Demand here.

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For more stalking fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Los Angeles magazine online.  And you can check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic, here.

Big THANK YOU to Owen, from the When Write Is Wrong blog, for finding this location!  Smile

A to Z house (4 of 7)

Until next time, Happy Stalking!  Smile

Stalk It: Andrew’s house from A to Z is located at 4431 Melbourne Avenue in Los Feliz.  Zelda’s apartment building from the series can be found at 419 North Sierra Bonita Avenue in L.A.’s Fairfax District.