Southern California Life_May.June2015 by Antoni Pham

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MIKE TROUT LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

CLAYTON KERSHAW LOS ANGELES DODGERS

HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL

AT HOME WITH DESIGNER TRINA TURK

MAY/JUNE 2015

ACTOR & ARCHITECT JAMES WILDER’S HOLLYWOOD HILLS RETREATS

LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD BOWL // TRAVEL: SUMMER CRUISES // SO CAL’S FAVORITE BURGERS // SECRET OASIS IN GRIFFITH PARK // WHERE TO SIP SUMMER COCKTAILS // FAMILY FUN ON DAD’S DAY // SCENIC ROAD TRIP ALONG HIGHWAY 1 // DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO

MAY.JUNE2015

CONTENTS 62

A NEW GOLDEN AGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

MIKE TROUT AND CLAYTON KERSHAW Photo courtesy of SUBWAY®

Features + Profile

MAO SHING NI 38 DR. Author, Healer and Pioneer of Chinese Medicine in the U.S. By ROBYN FLANS

NEW GOLDEN AGE IN 62 ASOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

By SCOTT HARRIS

70 WHATCANWE.ORG For the Love of Animals By ROBYN FLANS

90 ON THE PORCH

By MACKENZIE MILLER

41 HOME + DESIGN 42 POST AND BEAM DREAM A Look inside Fashion Designer Trina Turk’s Historic Los Feliz Home By ERIKA THOMAS

48 OUTPOST INSPIRED

Actor and Architect James Wilder Creates a Serene Hollywood Hills Retreat for Artists By ERIKA THOMAS

54 WILLIAM KRISEL

The Man who Helped the Butterfly Roofs take Wing in So Cal By IMAAN JALALI

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

CONTENTS Departments MAY.JUNE2015

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER/EDITOR.IN.CHIEF

AFFAIRS TO REMEMBER

ENCHANTING ESCAPES

Neiman Marcus Topanga Plaza Luxury Lifestyle Event

Summer Fun on the Coastal Waters By LINDA LANG

SO CAL SIGNATURES

The Hollywood Bowl 93 Years of Music Under the Stars By ERIKA THOMAS

TRENDING TALK

School’s Out! Making the Most of Summer Vacations

By ESTHER C. BLEUEL, MA MFT, MDR

FAB FINDS

Just for Mom/Just for Dad By NICOLE SCHMIDT

OFF THE BEATEN PATH Amir’s Garden: A Friendship of Kindred Souls By DEBBIE SULLIVAN

BUBBLES & BREWS

Seductive Summer Cocktails By IMAAN JALALI

THE GOURMAND

Chef Javier Plascencia Serves up Cuisine that Knows no Borders By LYNN MORGAN

FIVE FAVES

So Cal’s Most Celebrated Burgers By LINDA LANG

THE HOOD

What's Trending in Downtown San Diego By LINDA LANG

PERFECT PICKS

Freewheeling and Fun: Must Have Style for Summer By LYNN MORGAN

TO-DO-LIST

Going Coastal: Scenic Stops Along Highway 1 By MACKENZIE MILLER

FAMILY FUN

Dad’s Going to LOVE This By DEBBIE SULLIVAN

ON THE CALENDAR

SOOO CAL E=mc2

By SCOTT HARRIS

MY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Mt. Baldy

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▲ Ahi Tuna Tostada – served at Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro

36 Seductive Summer Cocktails

The Gaslamp Quarter's shops and restaurants are housed in restored Victorian building s dating back to the 1850s.

ON THE COVER Portrait: Dominic DiSaia Stadium: Van Wagner BSN/Cameron Cone

Going Coastal: Scenic Stops Along Highway 1

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D IS COVER

MONIQUE REIDY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITOR COMMUNICATION AND ADVICE EDITOR ENTERTAINMENT AND PROFILES EDITOR LANDMARKS AND HISTORICAL FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS & "SOOO CAL” EDITOR STYLE AND BEAUTY EDITOR TRAVEL EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER WEBSITE DESIGN | DIGITAL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Antoni Pham Benny Haddad Imaan Jalali Janine Goldberg Esther Bleuel Robyn Flans Erika Thomas Scott Harris Nicole Schmidt Linda Lang Lynn Morgan, Debbie Sullivan, MacKenzie Miller Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers, Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP, Dominic DiSaia, Gene Boyars/BBWA, Cameron Cone, Erica Goddard Jennifer Hurless Mike Kaiser, Karen Kaiser I www.searanchimages.com

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Southern California Life magazine is published by Elysian Media Group, LLC. ©2015 Elysian Media Group, LLC. Southern California Life magazine is registered US Patent and Trademark Office. The opinions expressed in Southern California Life magazine are not to be considered official expressions of Elysian Media Group, LLC. Elysian Media Group, LLC does not accept any responsibility for the actions of its readers. The contents within Southern California Life magazine are for informational purposes only and should not be treated as health care or health management advice. The materials herein are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content in this magazine. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without written permission from the publisher is prohibitted. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising matter. Publisher does not assume responsibility for errors, omissions, and/or changes in advertising or editorial material.

socallifemag May/June 2015 Printed in the USA.

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FROM THE

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PUBLISHER/

EDITOR .IN.CHIEF

pieces, and celebrated retro-style designer Trina Turk takes us into her Los Feliz home as she shares about her LOYAL BASEBALL BUFFS IN THE COUNTRY. 20-years of setting international style trends. WINNING OR LOSING, WE SUPPORT OUR As Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are in sight, we PLAYERS AND CONTINUE TO SHOW UP TO present a slew of fun ideas for creative celebrations. GAMES, ROOTING AND CHEERING WITH UTMOST There are suggestions for day jaunts, a road trip along ALLEGIANCE … UNLIKE SOME OF THE FICKLE the spectacular Southern California coast and where to FANS OF THOSE OTHER BALL find the most popular burgers and CLUBS. IT’S NOT MUCH OF A SACRIexotic summer cocktails. If you want to FICE, OF COURSE, CONSIDERING WE “THE OTHER trek through Downtown San Diego, LAY CLAIM TO THE TWO BEST we’ll tell you where to stay and play SPORTS ARE PLAYERS IN BASEBALL, CLAYTON when you get there in our feature about JUST SPORTS. KERSHAW AND MIKE TROUT. that ever-evolving region. And with BASEBALL IS Kershaw, of the Los Angeles summer right around the corner, an A LOVE.” Dodgers, and Trout, of the Los Angeles extensive list of cruise possibilities will Angels of Anaheim, are each MVPs of help make vacation planning easy. BRYANT GUMBEL, 1981 their respective Leagues. Kershaw is This issue is packed with even more also this past year’s CY Young Award entertainment tips than ever and you’ll winner, making him one of only four players in history find options to explore that may be nowhere near your to win both awards the same year. radar. As the season turns from spring to summer, we Kershaw and Trout grace our May-June cover and begin to focus on baseball and outdoor activities and the we at Southern California Life magazine couldn’t be pages ahead present events you might enjoy during those more proud. You won’t want to miss the cover story long, sunny days ahead. about these two admirable winners, found on page 62. And of course, whether you’re a So Cal local or are As the 2015 baseball season sets into full swing, we just passing through, you’ll want to be sure to catch one eagerly anticipate the remarkable sportsmanship that of our baseball games this season. You wouldn’t want to they will each no doubt showcase, and we are honored miss watching our cover heroes in action! to spotlight both of them in our publication. We also feature a special Home and Design section Warmest wishes, in this issue. Actor-turned-architect, James Wilder T’S A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT SOUTHERN

CALIFORNIANS ARE AMONG THE MOST

offers an inside look into his Hollywood Hills master-

MONIQUE REIDY,

Publisher/Editor.in.Chief

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

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AFFAIRS TO REMEMBER

NEIMAN MARCUS TOPANGA PLAZA LUXURY LIFESTYLE EVENT

Southern California Life ➺ Magazine was honored to

co-sponsor the Neiman Marcus Topanga Plaza Luxury Lifestyle event alongside Tesla Motors and Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, February 16th. The private event featured winetasting and hors d’oeuvres, an espresso bar by Longshot Coffee, luxury drawings, an art exhibit by Cheryl Kline and a special designer Spring Trends fashion presentation. Tesla Motors provided a few covetable vehicles for guests to view and test drive. Alexander Vreeland, grandson to fashion trailblazer Diana Vreeland, was in attendance to launch his perfume line, exclusive to Neiman Marcus, as an homage to his legendary grandmother. The exclusive Luxury Lifestyle event drew an overwhelmingly fashion-forward crowd who enjoyed an evening filled with the best in shopping and style. ❖

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

Vicki Raven, Public Relations Manager, Robert Lugari, Vice President-General Manager, Neiman Marcus

Alexander Vreeland, publisher Monique Reidy

BY ERICA GODDARD / WWW.BOSSYBOSSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Musician Alex Nester

MAY.JUNE2015 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

COURTESY OF FLAGSHIP CRUISES

Flagship Cruises' turbo-charged Patriot Jet Boat executes 360째 turns around San Diego Bay.

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SUMMER FUN ON THE COASTAL WATERS âœ’ BY

LINDA LANG

WHILE MANY SIGHTSEEING AND SELF-CAPTAINED CRUISES ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND, THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO HOP ABOARD AND SAVOR THESE WARM, SUNNY DAYS AND BALMY EVENINGS CRUISING THE TRANQUIL CANALS, SHIMMERING BAYS, HIDDEN COVES, NEARBY ISLANDS AND SPECTACULAR LANDMARKS RIMMING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTLINE FROM SANTA DIEGO UP TO SANTA BARBARA. For first-time visitors, sightseeing cruises with narratives about the many sites filling the shores are offered in every major harbor. One to two-hour excursions, many with blue whale and other marine animal sightings, as well as lunch, sunset cocktail and dinner cruises with music and entertainment are standard and can also be chartered for private events such as birthdays, wedding dinners, reunions, and other special occasions. And that's just for starters. Self-captained rentals for experienced sailors range from sailboats to yachts and novices can opt for self-driven electric boats, small sailboats and all sorts of water toys including jet skiffs, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and more. CONTINUED

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

BY TIM HAUF

BY DAVID SERINO

FROM LEFT CLOCKWISE: 1. Duffy bay cruisers

are easy to drive for first-time captains. 2. Island Packers offer harbor cruises and day trips to the outer islands. 3. San Diego Speed Boat Adventures. 4. The Maritime Museum of San Diego also offers swift boat tours. 5. You can sail around San Diego Bay aboard the Californian, California's official tall ship, and the famed Star of India. 6. Sailboats glide along the Santa Barbara coastline. 7. The Aquabus taxi is one way to get around Long Beach's Rainbow Harbor. 8. Paddle boards are great fun for all ages.

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BY TIM HAUF

BY BRIAN SPAFFORD

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

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SAN DIEGO'S WAVE OF HARBOR ADVENTURES

Diego Bay, first discovered in 1542 ➺ bySanPortuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez

COURTESY OF THE MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO

COURTESY OF THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

COURTESY OF SPEED BOAT ADVENTURES

Cabrillo, buzzes with constant activity from large cruise ships, fishing boats, pri vate vessels, sightseeing, high speed cruises and more. Standard cruise tours highlight some 50+ celebrated sites including the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, Star of India, submarines and other historic vessels at the Maritime Museum, Seaport Village with its quaint shops, the awardwinning San Diego Coronado bridge, legendary Hotel del Coronado, and Cabrillo National Monument. Flagship Cruises and Events and Hornblower Cruises & Events both offer a full menu of diverse options aboard com fortable yachts. Flagship's nightly dinner dance cruis es feature gourmet appetizers, innova tive entrées and desserts prepared fresh in the vessel's galley headed by executive chef Brian Gist. The Saturday and Sunday summer champagne brunches feature generous buffets complete with break fast and lunch entrées, carving stations, salad and dessert bars, and freeflowing champagne. www.flagshipsd.com Hornblower is also known for its weekend champagne brunches, cocktail, and dinner cruises featuring worldclass dining including glutenfree options, chil dren's menus, entertainment and, of course, narrated sightseeing. And on some vessels, you can dine in privacy at your own table instead of with strangers. Spacious on deck and indoor climate controlled settings include snack bars with hot food, a full bar and souvenirs. If you are into watching harbor seals, dol phins, sea lions, and looking for whales,

COURTESY OF THE MARITIME MUSEUM OF SAN DIEGO

Hornblower's fourhour Blue Whale Watching cruises with live narration often by volunteer naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum run from late June to the first week in September. Hornblower also offers cruises out of Newport Beach, Long Beach, and Marina del Rey. www.hornblower.com Seal Tours offers the only amphibious tour of San Diego Bay by land and sea. Launching from Shelter Island, this “boat on wheels” highlights San Diego’s early fishing days and views of marine life such as pelicans, blue herons, and sea lions. www.sealtours.com For thrill seekers, Flagship Cruises' turbocharged Patriot Jet Boat speeds around the bay with 360degree turns while Swift Boat Cruises (www.sdmari time.org/sailingadventures) shows you the Naval Base, Amphibious Base, and Naval Air Station at North Island. On San Diego Speed Boat Adventures’ (www.speedboatadventures.com) har bor tour, you take the wheel and captain your own mini speed boat while following a guide pointing out the sites and wildlife of the bay, including colonies of 5 sea lions on Point Loma. You can also sail aboard America's Cup Stars & Stripes USA 11, one of the fastest, most famous sailboats in the world, raced by Dennis Conner in the 1992 America’s Cup. www.sailusa11.com CONTINUED

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

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9. Hornblower's Wild Goose offers a variety of cruises from Newport Beach. 10. Sailboat rentals are available for experienced and novice sailors. 11. Long Beach and other harbors offer gondola cruises along the canals and quiet bays.

NEWPORT BEACH SAILINGS

Newport Beach also offers a wide variety of summer cruises ➺ including Hornblower's dinner cruises every Friday and

Saturday. On select dates, you can ride aboard the Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by the legendary John Wayne. In addition to Saturday and Sunday summer brunch cruises, Sights & Sips Sunset Cruises with happy hour specials and music run from May 23 to August 29. If wine and appetizers aboard a sailboat sound fun, contact Ship in a Bottle, www.shipnabottle.com. They also offer programs in San Diego. A great way to create your own adventure is to rent a Duffy electric boat and be the captain of your own group.

These easytooperate vessels are great for couples, family, friends, and you can bring your own picnic and beverages. www.duffyofnewportbeach.com Newport Landing Whale Watching (www.newport whales.com) features summer migrations of blue and finback whales as well as resident dolphins, pelicans and other marine life. If you’re looking for something totally laid back, try a gondola, plied by a garbed gondolier, around the bay and tranquil canals. Of course, if you're with that significant someone, you must follow the gondola tradition of kissing under every bridge. www.gondolarides.com

10 LONG BEACH RAINBOW HARBOR

Long Beach's Rainbow Harbor also has it all ➺ bay cruises, whale watching, dinner cruises,

plus a giant Mississippi Stern Wheel River Boat and two water taxis Aquabus and Aqualink. Check out Harbor Breeze Cruises (www.longbeachcruises.com) which offers the usual harbor and sea life programs as well as a Queen Mary / Long Beach excursion around the Long Beach Harbor with other sites including The Black Scorpion Russian Spy Submarine, Beach Oil Islands and views large cargo ships from around the world. In for a bit of nostalgia and drama? How about dinner aboard an authentic Stern Wheeler River Boat cruising along the beautiful coastline of Long Beach and Queen Mary as you participate in an exciting but hilarious murder mystery (www.thedinnerdetective.com)? As with Newport Beach, authentic Venetian gondolas take you around Alamitos Bay and canals of Naples Island. www.gondolagetawayinc.com. And, of course, you'll find all sorts of rental shops for hydrobikes, kayaks, canoes, sailboards, standup paddle boards and sail boats.

COURTESY OF THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

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COURTESY OF VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE

CHILLING OUT IN VENTURA HARBOR

small, charming harbor offers ➺ aThislaidback experience with narrat

BY TIM HAUF

ed harbor tours, dinner and cock tail cruises and boat rentals offered by Ventura Boat Rentals (www.venturaboatrentals.com). The calm waters of the bay and Ventura Keys, home to some of the area's most beautiful water front homes, also make this is a great choice for self driven electric boats for up to 12 passengers, sail boats, and water sports rentals including kayaks, pedal boats, surf bikes, stand up paddle boards. www.venturaharborvillage.com. In addition to harbor cruises, Island Packers (www.islandpack ers.com) has some excellent day trips to Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and other isles. There you are immersed in nature with opportunities on some islands for kayaking, camping, snorkeling and other activities.

COURTESY OF VENTURA HARBOR VILLAGE

ON THIS PAGE: 12. Ventura Harbor is a great place for kayaks and pedal

boats. 13. Island Packers visits ancient caves along the coastline and outer islands. 14. Sea lions are found sunning all along the coast. 15. Letting go is part of the fun. 16. Dolphins often play and swim along with the boats. 17. Experienced kayakers paddle along the Santa Barbara coastline.

15 SANTA BARBARA WATER 'SCAPES

COURTESY OF SANTA BARBARA SAILING CENTER (3)

The Santa Barbara Sailing Center ➺ (www.sbsail.com) features cruises

16 17

aboard its premier party boat, Double Dolphin, Friday and Saturday from Memorial Day week end through Labor Day weekend. Live bands perform during the Friday sunset cruise while Saturdays features a buffet sunset dinner cruise. Additional sightseeing and large menu of rentals and charters are also available. Sunset Kidd Sailing (www.sunsetkidd.com) has morning, afternoon and twilight cruises as the sun sets and city lights come aglow.

As an added bonus, the shores around the harbors are filled with multitudes of restaurants, shops and long menu of summer enter tainment options and activities for everyone! Enjoy! ❖

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SO CAL SIGNATURES

THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL 93 YEARS OF MUSIC UNDER THE STARS ✒ BY

ERIKA THOMAS

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FOR ALMOST A CENTURY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL TO HEAR SOME OF THE WORLD’S BEST MUSIC VIA STARLIGHT. IT’S A PLACE THAT WOULD INSTANTLY BECOME AN ENTERTAINMENT ICON, PLAYING HOST TO THE INDUSTRY’S MOST GLAMOROUS CELEBRITIES AND PERFORMERS, BOTH ONSTAGE AND OFF.

Now, the outdoor music venue with the most famous band shell in the world will hold its summer 2015 season. Executive Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Gail Samuel, says “This summer, our Opening Night will feature Hollywood Bowl favorite, Journey, and our annual fully-staged Broadway musical will be Monty Python’s ‘SPAMALOT’, featuring an all-star cast. For the first time, Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the ever-popular Tchaikovsky Spectacular weekend with fireworks. We also have two performances of Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ with Gustavo on the podium, which are sure to be thrilling. We will be expanding our tradition of screening three classic films, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the orchestra soundtrack live. In addition to ‘Back to the Future’ which celebrates its 30th anniversary, the LA Phil will perform an entire John Williams’ score for the first time, with ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ on the big screen.” CONTINUED

COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION

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SO CAL SIGNATURES

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COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION

THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

The Hollywood Bowl celebrated its inaugural season, “Symphony under the Stars,” July 11, 1922, but the idea of an outdoor music venue would begin years before. In 1910, Hollywood was a small town with only 5,000 residents. By 1920, a burgeoning movie industry had turned it into a booming metropolis. Largely inhabited by stars of radio and the silver screen, dancers, musicians, directors, producers and even nature enthusiasts, it was inevitable that an open-air theater would be built. Between 1916 and 1921 the planning and development would begin for a permanent arts center in Hollywood. The Theater Arts Alliance was created in 1919. The group would purchase 59 acres in Bolton Canyon for just $47,500 with the plans of building a community arts

center and park. The Alliance was replaced in 1920 by the Community Park and Art Association and the efforts to build a permanent theater were officially underway. That same year, the “Hollywood May Festival” took place in Bolton Canyon, marking the first time the space would be called “The Hollywood Bowl” and the first time admission would be charged. And although the May Festival would take place on a simple wooden platform with a canvas top, plans for a more glamorous look were already in the works. Allied Architects first came up with the arched proscenium, a style that resembled the half-shell of a clam, and though many ideas would be designed and torn down (one even burned down) the shell motif would eventually

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

become permanent, making the Hollywood Bowl an instantly recognizable landmark. Upon its launch in 1922, the Bowl quickly become a favorite of Tinsel Town’s golden age A-list, including Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplin (a season ticket holder every summer for nearly 30 years), Lucille Ball, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Danny Kaye and Mickey Rooney. It’s seen some of the greatest talents in entertainment

perform beneath its famous band shell, including a 1922 performance of the glorious opera “Carmen” with the Albertina Rasch Ballet. Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, Marilyn Monroe, The Beach Boys, Miles Davis, The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and countless others would also perform there. Like they have every summer for more than nine decades, people still come from all over the world to experience the Hollywood Bowl. The tradition remains more popular than ever, something that can be attributed to the immense dedication to the arts as well as the diversity and individualism of the performers. Of the summer tradition, Samuel says, “The Hollywood Bowl summer season strives for diversity that offers something for everyone. From classical music artists, weekend spectaculars featuring stars from pop music and Hollywood, to our popular jazz and world music series, every night is a magical experience under the stars at the Bowl.” ❖

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SCHOOL’S OUT! MAKING THE MOST OF SUMMER VACATIONS

✒ BY

ESTHER C. BLEUEL, MA MFT, MDR

SHIFTING FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR OR TERM to summer break can be tough on the family, eliciting both excitement and apprehension. Summer vacations may bring, well, children of all ages home for several months. No matter how old they are, each will be celebrating their “impending freedom.” Faced with the dilemma of managing both expectations and behaviors of their children, parents need to realize that the likelihood of conflict is considerable. HERE ARE A FEW PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP ALL FAMILY MEMBERS MAKE IT SUCCESSFULLY THROUGH THE SUMMER BREAK.

Establish Rules & Consequences Let your kids know what you expect of them (regarding, for example, curfews, chores, and general behavior), and what consequences will result from their failure to comply. Then be sure that you stand behind what you’ve said. Be both realistic and reasonable – in other words, make rules that your children are capable of following, with penalties that offer an opportunity for rehabilitation instead of just retribution.

Remain Open to Negotiation It’s human nature to be more likely to support rules that you’ve had a part in creating, and no matter how many times they may give you reason to doubt it, children are indeed people, too. When you are talking about family rules, make sure that the communication takes the form of a discussion, not a lecture.

Keep Them Busy Boredom is not your friend when it comes to your kids and good behavior. Whether you’re enlisting their help with chores, sending them to the neighbor’s to help with a few end-ofspring chores, or taking everyone to the mall for some shopping, the more activities you engage them in, the less opportunity they’ll have to engage in off-limits behaviors. Develop a list of age-appropriate assignments and activities for your children, and be sure to balance “family time” with opportunities for your kids to enjoy moments of independence.

Stay in Touch The cell phone that you didn’t want to buy for your child is about to become your best friend, making it much easier for you to “reach out and touch” your teenager. It’s hard these days for him/her to claim not being able to check in with you.

Enjoy the Opportunity Having a teen or younger children underfoot for a few weeks can, indeed, be a stressful experience, but it can also be the creation of great memories. Take advantage of having the family all together. Let them know how proud you are of them and complement their successes.

Continue the Fun When the Break is Over When summer comes to an end, continue to have fun with your kids. When possible, set aside some time each week to spend having fun together as a family.

Got a tough question or delicate dilemma you want Esther to help you solve? E-mail her at Ecbleuel@toughtalkcoach.com and she may address it in her Trending Talk column in an upcoming edition.

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Just For Mom

MOTHER’S DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIGGEST FAN THAN BY GETTING HER SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY SPECIAL, BUT ALSO PRACTICAL, CLASSIC AND JUST PLAIN PRETTY. HERE IS A LIST OF SOME OF OUR TOP PICKS TO SHOW MOM HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE HER THIS MOTHER’S DAY. ✒ BY

SEND MOM A MONTHLY REMINDER OF HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HER WITH THESE SUBSCRIPTIONS:

NICOLE SCHMIDT

Signature flower bouquets sent to her door once a month, TheBouqs.com Monthly deliveries of beauty and lifestyle products, Birchbox.com

6 (a)

(b)

1. This compact camera has photo and video capabilities with a Vibration Reduction (VR) System that allows zoom shooting even in poorly lit conditions. Nikon D3200 Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm Zoom Lens, NikonUsa.com $529.99 2. Zensation 3-in-1 Skin Rejuvinating Device is an effective at home treatment that uses infrared light and sonic skin massage to repair and renew the skin. RonRobinson.com, $275 3. Kai Room Diffuser gently releases the soft and exotic scent of one of our absolute favorite fragrances. KaiFragrance.com, $78 4. This Solid Pave Disc Necklace is elegant, timeless and beautifully crafted in 14k gold. AdinaDesign.com, $398 5. The Rivington Power Tote by Punchcase is an innovative and functional bag that is large enough to carry all of mom’s essentials and includes a dual-port battery charger that can charge up to two electronic devices at one time. Punchcase.com $199 6.(a) Retrouvé - Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer is a moisture-replenishing hydrator for the skin, this revitalizing overnight treatment is packed with a powerful blend of vitaminbased ingredients that mimic the skin's natural moisturizing properties. Tailored for dry or mature skin and infused with stem-cell rejuvenating properties, this luxurious gel will nourish, firm and plump skin. RonRobinson.com/product-p/46155.htm, $520 (b) Retrouvé - Revitalizing Eye Concentrate is a revitalizing eye treatment that enriches and plumps the delicate skin around the eyes. This rich, water-free, luxurious balm contains a highly exclusive ingredient, Morinda Citrofolia Extract, which helps to protect skin by converting UV rays, while a blend of vitamins and other antioxidants work to stimulate collagen, improve the skin’s tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines. RonRobinson.com/APOTHIA-Retrouv-Revitalizing-Eye-Concentrate-p/46175.htm, $485 CREATE A KEEPSAKE GIFT THAT SHE CAN ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME:

Family photo books, Shutterfly.com / Family recipe cookbook, HeritageCookbook.com

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Just For Dad

FATHER’S DAY IS A DAY THAT HONORS THE MAN WITH A PLAN. WHAT A BETTER WAY TO LET HIM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE ALL HE HAS TAUGHT YOU THAN BY GIVING HIM THE GIFT OF FUNCTIONALITY AND STYLE. WE HAVE CREATED A LIST OF SOME OF OUR FATHER’S DAY FAVORITES WE KNOW DAD WILL ENJOY FOR YEARS TO COME. ✒ BY

NICOLE SCHMIDT

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1. The Modern Man’s Essential Kit from Evolution Man is quality skincare designed to gently and effectively buff away dead skin cells and loosen ingrown hairs for a clean and smooth post-shave face. Evolution-Man.com, $110 2. V-Moda’s XS Headphones boast the highest sound quality, sleek design and can be personally engraved for Dad. V-Moda.com, $210 3. The Hand Formed Leather Desk Organizer Tray is made of hand formed raw leather, is rustic, sturdy and looks great on any desk, table or workspace. FourRobbins.com, $24 4. For a fun twist on the traditional necktie, bow ties are making a comeback and can now be found in just about any color or pattern. (a) Plaid Bowtie, BeauTiesLtd.com, $45. (b) Big Spur Bow Tie, RonRobinson.com, $165. 5. The Grant Three-Hand Automatic Leather Watch by Fossil is masculine, versatile, classy and casual. Fossil.com, $175 6. The dockBoss Air Home Theater let’s you stream music from your phone or tablet directly to your home theater speaker system while charging your devices as they play. This system will automatically reconnect when your receiver is turned on. CableJive.com, $69.95 For cool crates full of stuff Dad loves, check out ManCrates.com! For a HUGE variety of monthly subscriptions for men, check out Gifts.com! From monthly beef jerky deliveries to monthly golf ball packages, you are sure to find something Dad will love.

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OFF THE BEATEN PATH

AMIR’S GARDEN A FRIENDSHIP OF KINDRED SOULS ✒ BY

DEBBIE SULLIVAN

WITH A FLOPPY HAT AND A HOSE IN HER HAND, SHE DEDICATES HER TIME – OVER 80 HOURS A MONTH – TO TENDING TO HER FRIEND’S DREAM. KRISTIN SABO, A NO NONSENSE, DOWN-TOEARTH WOMAN WORKED ALONGSIDE AMIR DIALAMEH FOR EIGHT YEARS HELPING TO TRIM PLANTS, WATER TREES AND CLEAR DEBRIS WHILE BUILDING A DEEP FRIENDSHIP AND MAINTAINING HIS BEAUTIFUL GARDEN. 1 OF 2 v

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Dialameh was an avid hiker, passionate about the earth and people. “He was a Zen guy – a beautiful man. Amir even had blue jays that would come to him and sit on his foot and the plants were like children to him,” Sabo reflects. When Dialameh arrived in America he discovered his love of hiking the Mineral Wells trail through Toyon Canyon in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. But in 1971 a major brush fire devastated the area. It was then that Dialameh’s dream was born – he would dedicate his life to restore the area and make it a peaceful resting stop for hikers and equestrians. Dialameh worked this steep hill every single day for over three decades. Using only a pick and shovel, he single handedly turned the scorched hillside into a beautiful, plant and tree-filled grove that provides shade and rest to all the hikers and horseback riders who come through daily. His goal was to make “an attractive rest stop.” Dialameh felt that city life was hard and wanted to help people, as he told the Los Angeles Times in 1983, “There are so many pressures…people need to get away from that.” So he hiked up a service road every day for years to plant pine and

jacaranda trees, rose bushes, yucca and geraniums. He terraced the slopes, built stairs to the picnic area and added wooden benches. In short, he created an oasis, a place that would shelter hikers from the sun and give them a spot to rest and take in the beauty of nature. This place would be named Amir’s Garden.

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Along the way, other volunteers and hikers began to help Dialameh keep up the grounds. Originally from the mountains of Iran, he fell in love with the giving nature of Americans and was amazed by the amount of volunteerism that built this country. Amir inspired others to step up and encouraged them to help where they can. Kristen Sabo started working alongside Dialameh and began a friendship that would change the course of her life. “When Amir died,” Sabo reminisces, “I had to change my whole life to continue his dream. He spent 32 years of his life dedicated to creating and maintaining this beautiful garden and it deserves to be cared for.” And care she does, “I want the garden to survive and be clean and wonderful … I am at home in Amir’s Garden and people have this beautiful place to enjoy.”

Sabo has worked for more than 20 years to continue her friend’s dream, “Amir believed in ‘old style volunteerism’- you see a need and step up and take care of it, not for credit but just because it needs to be done … I mostly do it for him and his legacy.” To find this hidden treasure called Amir’s Garden you can trek up a winding fire road or climb a steep stairway of 220 steps within Griffith Park. Along the way remember to stop and smell the flowers and give a word of thanks to these dedicated people who work so hard to provide this place of rest and beauty. ❖

Yes, You You Can Reach Y Your our Fitness Goals! G

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Pilates Studio

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• Expert master instructors structors • Certified training centerr for instructors • One-on-one or grou up sessions

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BUBBLES & BREWS

UMBRELLA DRINKS

SEDUCTIVE SUMMER COCKTAILS ✒ BY

IMAAN JALALI

Suffering Bastard Cocktail ERIC SHANI

The Pikey Cafe & Bar 7617 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 thepikeyla.com (323) 850-5400

LA Woman Cocktail ERIC SHANI

Cucumber Jam Cocktail

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, PERHAPS MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER REGION IN THE WORLD, SUMMER IS THE ONE SEASON OF THE YEAR WHEN WE CAN GREET THE SUN WITH OUR SUNGLASSES, SUNBATHE NEXT TO THE SPARKLING OCEAN AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SPLURGE ON SWEET COCKTAILS. There's also something about that extra helping of Vitamin D in the air that has establishments throughout Southern California—three in particular—compelled to add a certain twist, or get entirely creative, to bequeath our palates with an exotically enriching cocktail or four. Though it gets better, or different, depending on where your drinking allegiance lies, because there is a remarkable beer cocktail, or shandy, that quenches the deepest thirst; and, even healthier, an organic cocktail mixer that allows you to indulge one swill at a time, guilt and shame-free, this summer and beyond.

Now if you're an establishment-frequenting patron, have a hankering for an avant-garde cocktail creation to salve the heat, and happen to be in the Hollywood area, it would behoove you to visit The Pikey. There are six new craft cocktails, concocted by Chef Ralph Johnson, on the menu through Memorial Day. Of those include the “Cucumber Jam,” an amazing amalgamation of gin, cucumber, lemon juice, Chartreuse, and basil; the “LA Woman,” a seductive mix of tequila, lime and ginger juice, orange bitters, and Prosecco; and the “Suffering Bastard,” a satisfying mix of bourbon, gin, lemon juice, and ginger ale. Of course, if you're feeling especially cultured, and desire an Italian persuasion to woo your taste buds during the So Cal sum-

mer, you should definitely try four original cocktails, invented by mixologist William Perbellini, at Brentwood's Bar Toscana. In the mood for an all-purple cocktail, with parts lavender gin, Lillet Blanc, Crème de Violette, and edible violet flowers? Try the “Sogno di Primavera.” If you prefer a thicker consistency to your cocktails, you might want to give the blood-orange tang of lime-juiced-lavender foam, or the “Giardini di Marzo,” a hearty sip. If you find yourself in Orange County or thereabouts, your desire to be pleasantly surprised at The Cellar in Fullerton would be met with eight novel cocktails realized by Spirits Director

Lemon Shandy Beer at the Limoneira Citrus Ranch in Santa Paula SHOCK TOP BREWING CO

ERIC SHANI

Lemon Shandy SHOCK TOP BREWING CO

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Shock Top Beer shocktopbeer.com SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

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Bare Organic Mixers Owner Natalie Susi

Violetta Cocktail

California Jaz Cocktail Flower Power Cocktail

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COURTESY NATALIE SUSI

THE CELLAR RESTAURANT

The Cellar Restaurant 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832 cellardining.com (714) 525-5682

Rich Ohtsuka. Three of them that delight are the fresh “Flower Power,” infused with bourbon, elderflower, habanero and lemon; the “Violetta,” a neon presentation of tequila, violet, and lime; as well as the “California Jaz,” a medley of gin, India Pale Ale, jasmine, and lime. Granted, you might not fancy a fancy fruition of fruitiness whatsoever, or maybe only some of the time. So, on your days off from living the ultra high life, the relatively simple, but just as gratifying, beer cocktail will warm the depths of your heart. And the one that does just that is Shock Top's Lemon Shandy, which has been appropriately branded as representative of Southern California, perpetually warm 72-degree weather and all, using lemon peels harvested from the Gold Coast to complement its wheat

ale. The overall impression of the Lemon Shandy is that of a citrus taste that is just ripe, without being overbearing, with a fizzy, but robust, satisfaction that immediately registers from the first gulp. Okay, in a world that is becoming increasingly, albeit necessarily, health-conscious, it would be understandable if you wanted to reward yourself with a cocktail without the conscientious guilt of adding potentially undue calories to your waistline. It would make sense, right? After all, if frozen yogurt can be enjoyed without much consequence, the same should be said for cocktails that are now being calorie-counted on many bar/restaurant menus. Ultimately, the supply for such a demand was bound to appear, and it has, thanks to 31-year-old entrepreneur Natalie Susi, who

has created a USDAcertified, gluten-free cocktail mixer that is as bare and organic as the official name suggests. A California dreamer and doer, Susi, upon being fired from her teaching job, acted on the light bulb that flashed through her mind by forging a mixer stripped of high fructose corn syrup, and comprised of only organic juice, agave, and water. The variety of mixers (each at 17 calories an ounce), which can be found at most Fresh & Easy and Total Wine stores throughout So Cal, have on average 50% fewer calories than the average cocktail when combined with vodka for instance. As Bare Organic Mixers owner Susi professes, “we should all live life without guilt,” and what better way to honor that credo than with a carefree cocktail! ❖

Bare Organic Mixers baremixers.com

Cocktail that includes Bare Organic Mixer COURTESY NATALIE SUSI

Sogno di Primavera ELISABETTA ANTONACCI AND WILLIAM PERBELLINI

Giardini di Marzo ELISABETTA ANTONACCI AND WILLIAM PERBELLINI

Bare Organic Mixer Bottles

Bar Toscana 11633 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 bartoscana.com (310) 826-0028

COURTESY NATALIE SUSI

William Perbellini ROB STARK PHOTOGRAPHY

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PROFILE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERICA GODDARD / WWW.BOSSYBOSSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

“As we evolve and learn more about health, we find that the body wants to heal and you need to give it what it needs to thrive.”

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DR. MAO SHING NI- Author, Healer and Pioneer of Chinese Medicine in the U.S. Not many doc-

tors can really empathize and say they’ve taken their own medicine, but that is just one reason Dr. Mao Shing Ni (known to his patients as Dr. Mao) is so special. ✒ BY

NI HAS WRITTEN 16 BOOKS INCLUDING:

1. Secrets of Longevity “I think there is something in there for everyone, no matter what age you are,” says Ni. 2. Secrets of Self Healing He says that book covers the whole system of Chinese healing. A good overall primer. 3. Tao of Nutrition “Every food has a healing property and I explore the healing properties of food,” says Ni.

ROBYN FLANS

At seven years old, acupuncture and Eastern medicine was the only treatment that brought him from the month-long coma resulting from a fall from the rooftop of his 3-story home in Taiwan. If it weren’t enough that his family had been practicing Chinese medicine for the last 1,300 years and 38 generations, that near debilitating experience clinched the decision for him to carry on the tradition. Western doctors first said he would never survive and then that he would never walk with his brain and spinal cord injury. “There was a lot of negativity,” Ni says. “My father steadfastly believed and told me I would be normal and applied this amazing medical tradition to help save my life.” After a tough couple of years struggling to literally get back on his feet, Ni realized he owed his life to Chinese medicine and acupuncture. “I felt inspired to share it with everybody,” he says. His father Hua-Ching Ni made that possible when he pioneered acupuncture in California in the mid ‘70s and brought his family to the United States. They settled in Malibu in 1978. Looking back, Ni says he doesn’t think his story is very different from any immigrant. “This is an amazing country with people who are so open-minded, who don’t discriminate,” Ni says. “I felt so lucky. I grew up with a value of hard work and learn as much as you can.” Even though Ni didn’t know English, he says no one made fun of him. Laughing, he says knowing martial arts and having the “Bruce Lee advantage” empowered him. “David Carradine and ‘Kung Fu’ was all the rage at the time,” he says. “I came at the right time. I count my blessings.”

He and his brother received Western and Eastern medical training in schools here and in China and Ni says in the past 30 years the Eastern medicine practices have gone from alternative to preference. Ni calls the “coming out” a perfect storm during which time in the ‘70s, people started to self-empower. Self-discovery fueled the beginnings of Yoga popularity and Eastern philosophy in the ‘80s. “Pioneers in the area of “mind/body medicine” came along like Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil and more recently Dr. Oz, which has fueled the incessant desire to learn about healthy lifestyle and healing. People have begun to realize that Western medicine is great for emergency medicine, but for chronic conditions, drugs are filled with side effects. People didn’t know there was an alternative and when they did find it, they began to talk about it.” Los Angeles, Ni says, was the epicenter for the alternative medicine because celebrities embraced it first, but it was really due to Norman Cousins who was convinced there was a link between the mind and the body, which Ni says was still separated in Western medicine until 1986. Cousins’ Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, which broke the stereotype, still continues at UCLA today. “As we evolve and learn more about health, we find that the body wants to heal and you need to give it what it needs to thrive,” Ni says. They do this at the Tao of Wellness facility, in Santa Monica, Newport Beach and Pasadena where they can address almost any ailment. “We really can take care of everything because, don’t forget, Chinese medicine is a complete medical system,” Ni says. “For 5,000 years we did not have antibiotics, we did not have Western med- H

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LOCATIONS

2825 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300, Santa Monica, CA 90404 310-917-2200 359 San Miguel Dr., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949-706-7770 171 South Los Robles Ave., Suite A, Pasadena, CA 91101 626-397-1000

icine, we did not have X-rays and we managed to grow a population of 1.5 billion people. I think most of the credit goes to the healing system. In our practice we believe in integrating the best of Eastern and Western medicine and therefore regularly collaborate with other medical specialists.” Ni says he is humbled by what he has learned. “I’ve learned that life is connected. What we eat matters and where we are and our environment, matters. And how we heal matters and what we do in our lifestyle, matters. And also, who we are matters because your mindset, your attitude and your outlook, your genetics, your disposition, your emotions, your spirit, your faith, all of it matters,” Ni says. “So I step back a little and say, ‘I’m really not the healer, per se. My patients are the healers because their body and their mind are doing the healing. I am here to guide the process.” Dr. Mao and his wife Emm have three children, ages 18, 16 and 13, who he says are “the loves of my life.” “Every day I am grateful that I had these kids and I am able to be in their lives,” Ni says. To continue their family lineage into the 39th generation, Ni and his brother founded a teaching facility in 1989 called Yo San University named after their grandfather. They also believe in giving back and offer free acupuncture at several clinics including Children’s Hospital made possible by the help of a celebrity patient fundraising event. Last year Pierce Brosnan stepped up. The Annual Robert Graham Visionary Award fundraiser (named after Angelica Houston's late husband), supports free

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

acupuncture services at Children's Hospital and Venice Family Clinic through the nonprofit university. Past celebrities have included Robert Downey Jr., Sela Ward, Debbie Allen and Danny DeVito. “We’ve been given this opportunity and privilege and I’m so lucky that I want people who cannot afford it, to get it for free,” Ni says. “When you see these kids come in and they’re in pain and they’ve been up and down with GI scans and no one can find anything wrong with them, but they’re hurting, and acupuncture is the one thing that will put a smile on their face, that’s worth everything.” And Ni knows that firsthand, which so few doctors can say. “So when a patient says, ‘Your herbal tea is God-awful tasting,’ I just smile and nod my head and say, ‘I know. I’ve taken it before.’” ❖

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TRINA TURK

HOME DESIGN WILLIAM KRISEL

JAMES WILDER

IN ADDITION TO BEING ONE of the most popular regions in the nation to visit, Southern California also happens to be one of the most desirable places in which to live. The consistently pleasant climate is the primary draw, but the entertainment options and real estate collections follow close behind. From the eclectic to the opulent and everything in between, Southland homes are worthy of their own e-ticket travel attractions, and home tours are fashionable and well-attended by out-of-town sightseers. This issue we give you a peek into a few premium So Cal homes and visit with the exceptional masters behind their design concepts: Trina Turk, James Wilder and William Krisel. We invite you to peruse through each room and enjoy the beauty and innovation of these amazing Southern California artists. H

HOME DESIGN

[POST AND BEAM DRE

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A LOOK INSIDE FASHION DESIGNER TRINA TURK’S HISTORIC LOS FELIZ HOME “I GREW UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD

in San Jose that wasn’t technically Eichler or specifically midcentury modern, but it was very much inspired by those kinds of homes; and so I was definitely aware of the idea of design from a very early age,” says vintage-inspired fashion designer and architecture enthusiast Trina Turk. The self-proclaimed architectural hobbyist (though many consider her an expert) has long called the eclectic Los Angeles enclave of Los Feliz home. Turk and her husband, Jonathan Skow, already owned a midcentury pad in Palm Springs and wanted something along the same lines for their Los Angeles residence. “We were living in Los Feliz in a 1920s Spanish-style house. My husband was a fashion stylist before he became a photographer and had actually worked at this house many times. Each time he was here, he would come home and tell me how much he loved it. We didn’t live far from it at the time, but we never went and looked inside or drove by. He would always just kind of talk about it. We had bought a modern house in Palm Springs and wanted the same style in LA. Ironically, our broker showed us this very house. We didn’t even know it was on the market at the time. That was almost 13 years ago,” says Turk. The couple’s 1940s post-andbeam dream home was designed by Case Study architect J.R. Davidson; and it was practically a time capsule

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HOME DESIGN

BY ERIKA THOMAS / PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENNY HADDAD MAKEUP BY AGOSTINA FOR EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS MGMT USING NARS COSMETICS HAIR BY NICOLE SCHMIDT, DOLLHOUSE BEAUTIES

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when they bought it. “It isn’t actually one of the Case Study homes, but it was photographed by Julius Shulman. It was designed in 1942 and it wasn’t completed until 1948, because of the war. We’re only the third owners of this house. The previous owner had kept it up quite well. Renovations-wise we did more on the exterior. We redid the pool, refinished all of the wood and put terrazzo floors throughout the entire inside. We didn’t live in it right away. We took our time and worked on it.” In terms of décor, the vintage purists stayed true to their roots, from the original—now restored—1948 kitchen stove and scarlet-lacquered front door, to the array of colorful midcentury art and furniture. “We’ve been shopping flea markets since the 1980s. I don’t think there’s anything new in this house,” she says. Turk, who has had an eye for creative design since childhood, launched her first fashion collection 20 years ago. “My first collection was made entirely out of silk dupioni. I did a skinny pant and cocktail jacket and offered it in six colors: hot pink, chartreuse, ivory, red, silver and black. I did it all from my studio, which was in my home at that time,” she says. Known for her trademark use of retro style and bold color, Turk says her mother was her biggest influencer. “Growing up, my mom was very crafty. As kids, she would do lots of different projects with us—making sand candles and that kind of thing. She also made a lot of clothes for my brother and sister and I; making stuff was just what

“I’ve always been interested in architecture so once I started living here I began going on all kinds of tours through the Los Angeles Conservancy and that’s when I really started learning about it.” she did,” says Turk. Her mother’s constant crafting and sewing influenced Trina to want to do the same. “She first taught me how to sew when I was 11. We started off with the basic McCall’s pattern packets. I would pretty much sew every single day. But once she introduced me to the concept of manipulating a pattern that was it for me. There’s one way you learn garment construction and that’s by changing a pattern. When I found out that could be done, my mind was blown,” she says. Turk eventually

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HOME DESIGN

“Each time I’ve opened a new location I’ve had the chance to work with incredibly talented architects and designers: Barbara Bestor, Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler—the best in the business—so I’ve gotten an extra bonus in that area.”

earned a degree in Apparel Design from the University of Washington. In 1985, a job with Ocean Pacific sportswear brought her to Los Angeles. “I’ve always been interested in architecture so once I started living here I began going on all kinds of tours through the Los Angeles Conservancy and that’s when I really started learning about it. I consider myself a hobbyist more than anything; but it shares a lot in common with clothing design. You’re dealing with proportion, color and texture, so there are many of the same aspects,” says Turk. The designer says that opening retail spaces—twelve showrooms in all— has given her the chance to expand her knowledge even more. “Each time I’ve opened a new location I’ve had the chance to work with incredibly talented architects and designers: Barbara Bestor, Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler—the best in the business—so I’ve gotten an extra bonus in that area.” Still, she says when it came to selecting retail space she didn’t go by the book. “Palm Springs was our very first store and we opened

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in 2002. I hadn’t learned the rules of selection in terms of choosing retail locations. We just drove into town one day and there was a ‘For Lease’ sign on it and so we took it. All I knew about retail space at that point was what I liked as a shopper. For our Los Angeles store—and really all of our stores—it was the same thing in terms of selection. And we chose our home the same way; it was purely emotional and based on the fact that we absolutely loved the way the space felt,” she says. Of the funky, artist-centric burg she’s called home for more than 20 years, Turk says, “This has always been my favorite part of LA. We moved to Los Feliz in 1992. We’ve lived here for so many years that it’s just my ‘hood… you know, it’s really my home.” As far as considering other locales for living—perhaps northern California or Seattle— the designer says, “We’ve talked about maybe retiring for part of the year up there, but I really don’t think I ever could. Southern California is so beautiful. Once you’ve live here, you’re kind of ruined for any other place in the world.” ❖

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HOME DESIGN

“I’ve had some really talented people come through my spaces to write albums; Steven Tyler, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Stevie Wonder.”

BY ERIKA THOMAS / PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MODERN VILLAS

[OUTPOST INSPIRED] AC TO R A N D A RC H I T E C T JA M E S W I L D E R C R E AT E S A S E R E N E H O L LY W O O D H I L L S R E T R E AT F O R A R T I S T S

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JAMES WILDER’S CAREER SPANS MORE THAN TWO DECADES. Over the years

The Castle - kitchen

he’s starred in super-popular shows like “Models, Inc.”, “Melrose Place”, “Veronica’s Closet”, T.V. miniseries “The Last Don” and films such as “Murder One”, and the Venice Film Festival Grand Prize winning “The Coriolis Effect.” His newest role in “3 Holes and a Smoking Gun”— the story of a Hollywood screenwriter-turned-night school writing teacher—recently won him the Independent Spirit Award at the Garden State Film Festival and a Best Actor award at the Independent Spirit Awards. Wilder’s latest project, designing and building cathartic getaways in Hollywood Hills’ historic Outpost enclave, is another extension of his immense creativity. “I’ve always felt that creative expression happens in a variety of ways. I also had in mind the fact that as an actor in this business, your days are num-

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HOME DESIGN

The Castle - red room

bered. I figured I might as well channel my creative expression into other areas. So I build homes that inspire artists. I’ve had some really talented people come through my spaces to write albums; Steven Tyler, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Stevie Wonder,” says Wilder. When it comes to building and designing, Wilder does everything himself. “I’ve built nine living spaces—five of them have been built completely from the ground up. The homes have a lot of unique features; internal elevators, all kinds of secret passageways, great color and texture and an expansive feeling. One of the things that really attracted me to this area is that it is very private and secluded. The weather in LA is so great that it’s conducive to designing a really good space. The views are great too. You can look out and see Yamashiro, the Roosevelt Hotel, the Cinerama Dome and the Magic Castle. Coming from Paris, the diversity of architecture here really appeals to me. I love the mixture of styles, which is why design-wise I appreciate everything from Bauhaus to Frank Lloyd Wright. I love a space with great flow and clever design, something I strive for in my own work. I did one house with a completely modern floor on one level, white concrete, stainless steel; and glass on the second floor; and completely French Moroccan on the top floor. I wanted each floor to have a different expression.” The actor and architect says his apprecia-

The Castle - master bathtub

“I do like some MidCentury design, but it’s become so popular that it’s really kind of everywhere you look. I like Steve Jobs’ ‘Think Different’ motto. Being different is important in whatever you do; except it’s really very hard to be different today.”

The Castle living room and view

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Villa in the Sky - pool, 4th floor living room

The Castle - interior entrance

The Contemporary - living room and view

tion of aesthetic diversity comes from an upbringing that was well-travelled and unconventional. “My mother is from Paris my dad is Italian. Growing up, we lived all over the world and eventually landed in San Francisco, which had a very creative and expressive quality to it. People were making jewelry, designing clothes and creating visual art. I became a street performer at the age of 11. Not long after that, I got spotted by an agent, who booked me at the Moulin Rouge and the Lido in Paris. The first thing I noticed about those venues were the colors and the décor, which was very lush. It was being in these kinds of spaces that caused me to want to create moods and feelings and sensations. When I started working as an actor, I

immediately decided to create artistic environments. That can be done in acting and it can be done in designing,” he says. Despite the immense popularity of his homes, Wilder says the success has largely been by accident. “I really didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t start out wanting to build spaces for musicians and writers. Initially, the first place I did was just going to be a house for me to live in. Then when I’d bought the other properties, I’d planned to lease them out, but everyone was interested in my house. So I basically moved into the one nobody wanted,” says Wilder. And while he says Mid-Century Modern isn’t his favorite style, he does like some aspects of the era. “I do like some Mid-Century design, but it’s become so popular

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The Panorama - living room and view

that it’s really kind of everywhere you look. I like Steve Jobs’ ‘Think Different’ motto. Being different is important in whatever you do; except it’s really very hard to be different today. So I stick with what appeals to my senses—Italian, Mediterranean, French, Moroccan—those influences and style, with a modern and traditional feel. I mix old world traditional with ease of flow.” Although he is moved by the history of many of LA’s legendary hotels and landmarks, he says some of them are strictly for inspiration. “The Magic Castle and the Roosevelt are definitely some of my favorites. They have stood up so well over time and really serve as architectural anchors in the city. Chateau Marmont is by far my favorite place style-wise. But I could never live in it. I love the vibe and the décor, and while it has influenced my own design, I need large, wide-open spaces for living. Back when it was designed, a lot of rooms and spaces were very small and boxy, which means I could never live there, though I appreciate its historical value. I like the feeling of a lot of space—a lot of space and color. Color definitely makes me happy.” ❖

The Contemporary - living room and kitchen

Villa in the Sky - 3rd floor landing Villa in the Sky - pool at night

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[WI LLI AM BY IMAAN JALALI

PALM SPRINGS LIFE ARCHIVES

Example of Butterfly Roof in the 50s in Palm Springs by Krisel

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

KR ISEL] A SIMPLE “ROOF” IN AND OF ITSELF SOUNDS BLAND AND BORING. Though tack on “butterfly” before it,

and a “butterfly roof” piques the interest of those who aren't even architecturally inclined. Defined as an outstretched bi-rectangular design that slopes up at the edges and meets at a valley in the center, the butterfly roof was actually once a prominent feature of Southern California, and other parts of the world, but perhaps now mostly forgotten by way of lapsed time. That said, a view through the hourglass of history reveals that the butterfly roof once thrived due to the ingenuity of four architects—Le Corbusier, the commercial pioneer of the design; Antonin Raymond, who seemingly introduced the design to Japan; Modernist Marcel Breuer, who was more or less responsible for the roof's foray into the United States; and last but not least, William Krisel, who popularized the concept in Southern California. At nearly 91 years young, William Krisel is the only surviving member of the foursome and the last link to the butterfly roof. How he arrived at his contribution to the butterfly roof, from upbringing to surroundings, carries with it a fascination almost equal to his individual prosperity. His father Alexander was a superstar lawyer, who eventually distributed domestically made films for the major

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Example of Butterfly Roof

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Krisel in 2009

studios on Asian soil in the 1930s and '40s, resulting in a life alternating between living abroad in Shanghai, China for young William (where he was also born) and growing up with the film forerunners in Beverly Hills who initially put Hollywood on the map, such as Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Fred Astaire, Jack Benny, and so on. Yet, despite seeds that were rooted in an

“I'm an ethical person, who is environmentally concerned. I've done what is best for the public when designing a building—in terms of aesthetics and function—to improve the vicinity, while staying within the context of the area with respect to its ecology. I've always stuck to my principles as an architect, never

PAOLA THOMAS

THE MAN WHO HELPED THE BUT TERFLY ROOFS TA K E W I N G I N S O C A L

affluent lifestyle since birth, Krisel never became complacent, rested on his laurels, or cast aside his dream of becoming an architect—a profession that has served his creative spirit for over 60 years. Krisel, who exclusively spoke to Southern California Life, has a lilting voice that is laden with everlasting youth and well-earned confidence. He is as sharp and passionate as ever, able to cobble together insightful sentences about his life and work without nary a strain or break. His architectural accomplishments, moreover, are illuminated within the breadth of his stance on artistic integrity, still as robust as ever.

compromising them or caving into the whims of the builder-developer, and I've never taken a job if it wasn't aesthetically viable,” Krisel calmly, but firmly, states. Certainly practical in its own way, the butterfly roof design first entered Krisel's consciousness when he lived in Japan for a time and became acquainted with Raymond's modern-Japanese take on it. However, the implementation of the design didn't come to fruition until he had finished his WW2 duty as a Chinese-language interpreter, and graduated from USC in 1949. “I started in 1950 with the roof, trying it on roughly five custom houses after graduating as an architectural student. I believed it still had to fit the criteria of the site and needs of the clients, like if they wanted a certain amount of privacy, light coming in overhead, high windows, or if they lived in the desert and wanted their roof to collect the rain efficiently. I also built a chain of 'Interior 400 Motels' using the design, and of the 40,000 homes I did, nearly 6,000 of them had butterfly roofs, particularly in Palm Springs, as well as in San Diego, Northridge, and West Los Angeles,” Krisel clarifies. Unfortunately, the butterfly roof has become an artifact of a time capsule from a bygone era, but Krisel is unaffected by this and the effect this has on his legacy. His resume, for one thing, far surpasses the design, and includes the Sunset Tower Hotel, various con- H MAY.JUNE2015 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE

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dominium complexes, several-story buildings, shopping centers, and offices. “While I brought the butterfly roof to the masses, not just the everyman, it's strange that I'm known for it. I wish it was still being done, but the truth is that many of today's architects misunderstand the scale and proportion because it has to look like it's really part of the house. My architecture is not about fashion or style; it's a practical language that can adapt to new technology and create new words to fit that technology. People try to speak my language, who don't speak it, and it just comes out garbled.” Nonetheless, Krisel still sees his life, and the meaning he has derived from it, as clearly as ever, underscored by an often said message, but a rarely lived one.

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“I'm still busy all day long consulting and offering advice on architecture. Though I wear glasses, have dentures, and hearing aids, I continue to walk, spend time with my six grandchildren [and their families], and will continue to live by my honesty, ethics, and the vindication of knowing that, because I've loved my work, I never worked a day in my life,” he exuberantly declares. ❖

“While I brought the butterfly roof to the masses, not just the everyman, it's strange that I'm known for it. I wish it was still being done, but the truth is that many of today's architects misunderstand the scale and proportion because it has to look like it's really part of the house.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

Home designed for Bobby Darin by Krisel in 1955

JULIUS SHULMAN AND GETTY RESEARCH

WILLIAM KRISEL AND DON CLARK

Krisel and Architectural firm partner Dan Palmer in 1958

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THE GOURMAND

CHEF JAVIER PLASCENCIA SERVES UP CUISINE THAT KNOWS NO BORDERS LYNN MORGAN

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the typical tortillas, guacamole and Romesco spiced mystery Mexiterranean Bistro meat that Exterior often passes as Mexican food. “A lot of people don’t know Mexico or Mexican food,” he says with a touch of sadness. “There are a lot of people who have never been there, never experienced it. I want them to be able to taste the authentic flavors of Mexico. Mexican food varies a lot from one region to another: the styles of cooking, the techniques are different, and of course, the ingredients are different in different regions. The cuisine of Baja is very fresh and innovative, and people love it, especially young people who are just beginning to learn about food and wine and want to experience new tastes.” ▲

Javier Plascencia effortlessly inhabits two different worlds, overseeing a growing restaurant empire on both sides of the US/Mexico border. For 10 years, he has run the acclaimed Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro in the San Diego suburb of Bonita, serving up a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean flavors in a casual, yet elegant bistro atmosphere. On the other side of the border, the Plascencia family is renowned for their string of familyowned restaurants which have helped transform Tijuana and Ensenada into destinations for adventurous gastronauts. As famous for the warmth of their hospitality as they are for their cuisine, Plascencia is proud to carry on and expand the family legacy with his new San Diego restaurant, Bracero: Cocina de Raiz, opening in the spring in Little Italy. “San Diego is my second home,” Plascencia explains. “I’m really looking forward to introducing these flavors to the city.” The flavors Plascencia has in mind take diners beyond

Plascencia is dedicated to honoring and preserving the best traditions of Baja-style Mexican cuisine. He will serve fresh local fish and seafood at Bracero, along with produce from local farms, and all of his tortillas (corn, flour or blue corn) will be freshly handmade. “There is no comparison between a fresh, hand-crafted tortilla and the commercial kind. My tortillas will taste totally different from the ones that come in a plastic package from the supermarket!” he insists with a laugh. He finds there is good will towards Mexican food all over California, as well as the rest of the Southwest and beyond. He credits some famous American

Salt Crusted and Baked Bone Marrow with Charred Octopus – will be served at Bracero Cocina de Raiz

chefs for spreading the message that there is much more to Mexican cuisine than breakfast burritos and chalupas. “Microwave burritos make me sick!” he states flatly. “Guys like Rick Bayless and Anthony Bourdain love Mexican food, and they have traveled to Baja, sampled the cuisine. They’ve really helped to introduce people to this cuisine, and their enthusiasm has encouraged people to taste it for themselves.” Plascentia is a powerful ambassador for the cuisine he loves. He is friendly and unpretentious, and passionate about food. He loves to talk about food, its role in culture and sociology almost as much as he loves to cook. He has appeared on the hit TV show “The Taste” alongside such food world mega-stars as Nigella Lawson, Ludo Lefebvre and Anthony Bourdain, as H

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Seafood Paella – served at Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro Interior

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“

A lot of people don’t know Mexico or Mexican food. There are a lot of people who have never been there, never experienced it. I want them to be able to taste the authentic flavors of Mexico. Mexican food varies a lot from one region to another: the styles of cooking, the techniques are different, and of course, the ingredients are different in different regions.

“

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THE GOURMAND

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Recipe courtesy of Executive Chef Javier Plascencia Serves 1

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modern Mexican bistro. Downstairs, the bar and oyster bar will be open for lunch, serving small plates, tapas and appetizers. “It will be very casual,” Plascencia explains. “Places to have a drink, a light meal, relax with friends. The raw bar will serve oysters, clams, ceviche, and tiritos – a Peruvian version of sashimi." Upstairs, the mood will be more formal. Plascencia will be in the kitchen, producing more elaborate, complicated dishes. ”We’re telling a story with this restaurant,” he reflects. “We’re paying tribute to the braceros that came here to work in the fields; some of them eventually bought vineyards in Napa and became winemakers. They are an important part of California’s history and we want to honor them.” “I want people to experience authentic flavors,” he insists. “I want them to be fearless, willing to taste new things. That’s my mission.” ❖

Renderings of Bracero Cocina de Raiz

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

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Roadside Ahi Tuna Tostada

JAVIER PLASCENCIA

a guest judge for the Latin cooking segment. But his most important Ahi Tuna role is as chef Tostada – served at and host. Romesco “Our father Mexiterranean Bistro taught my brothers and me the restaurant business,” Plascencia local farmers. We’re very recalls. “We are the second lucky to have such easy generation of our family to access to so much wonderwork in restaurants. I hope ful, fresh produce.” our kids will be the third! First-time visitors to The most important thing I Bracero will be surprised, learned from my father was possibly shocked, and hopehow to make people feel fully delighted by the exotic welcome, to allow them to flavors in Plascencia’s cuienjoy their food, and feel sine. He plans to serve kale that they have had a wontamales, fresh masa, octoderful experience and want pus and bone marrow tacos. to return.” “We’re going to serve a lot Bracero represents a of offal meats; tripe, and substantial gamble for beef cheek tacos,” he says. Plascencia. The restaurant The spacious, two-story business is unpredictable, restaurant was designed by and he is doubling down the architectural firm, Bells with this new venture. It will and Whistles. Plascencia be large, seating over 180 took the designers on a people at full capacity, and Mexican tour to introduce it will be unfamiliar. Some them to the country and to of the things he plans for help them understand the the Bracero menu will be look and feel he wanted for challenging for timid diners. Bracero: Cocina de Raiz. “I’m going crazy with They purchased flooring for my menus!” he laughs. “I the project in Mexico, and have so many recipes I want bought chairs from local to include, I don’t want to artisans, but Plascencia wasstop. The menu will change n’t interested in a mall verwith the seasons. It will sion of Mexico, some sort of even change daily, dependfaux hacienda. Instead, the ing on what’s available from architects created a conthe farmer’s market. We will temporary space for him, a work very closely with the

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• 1 tostada • 1⁄4 cup of ahi tuna cut in squares • 1 oz. lemon juice • 1 cup of fine cut cilantro • 2 oz. ponzu • 1⁄4 cup of guacamole • 1/4 cup spring mixed greens • 1 oz. fresh cream • 1 oz. habanero cream sauce • 1/4 teaspoon of sesame seeds • 1 teaspoon of radish cut in strips Ingredients for Habanero Cream Sauce: • • • • •

2 cups cream cheese 1 ½ cups of milk 1 ¼ cups of cilantro 1.5 oz habanero peppers 1 tablespoon of chicken stock • ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper Directions for Habanero Cream Sauce: 1. Fry habanero peppers until golden brown. 2. Blend all ingredients (cheese, milk, cilantro, chicken stock, habanero peppers and pepper) in a mixer. Directions Ahi Tuna Tostada: 1. Mix and prepare ahi tuna, lemon juice, cilantro and ponzu in a small bowl. 2. Cover one side of the tostada in guacamole. 3. Cover tostada with prepared ahi tuna mix. 4. Add spring mix greens and strips of radish on top. 5. Add cream and habanero sauce on top and sprinkle with a pinch of sesame seeds.

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MIKE TROUT

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I N COURTESY OF SUBWAY速

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CLAYTON KERSHAW

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A NEW GOLDEN AGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

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CLAYTON KERSHAW. MIKE TROUT. Both are base-

MATT BROWN/ANGELS BASEBALL LP

ball players. One is a pitcher and one is an outfielder. One plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers and one plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. What is most exciting for Southern California sports fans is that they just happen to be the two best players in Major League Baseball.

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In the 1950s, the New York Yankees, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers were all based in the greater New York area. During that decade, the three teams combined to win eight of the ten World Series, and in five of those years, both the winning and losing teams were from New York. During that same time, these three teams also combined to win 11 of the 20 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, as well as two of the first four Cy Young Awards (first awarded in 1956), given to the best pitcher in baseball. CONTINUED

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A NEW GOLDEN AGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

It was a golden age for baseball, especially if you hailed from New York. As great as it was, in 1958, the Giants left New York for San Francisco and the Dodgers broke Brooklyn’s heart by moving to Los Angeles. In 1961, the Dodgers were joined in Southern California by the now Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and in 1969 by the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers had great success from 1959 –1988, but since then, the highlights of these three Southern California teams have been few and far between. The Angels have the only World Series win (2002) and the only MVP, Vladimir Guerrero (2004). In total, the three teams only have three Cy Young Awards: Dodgers’ Eric Gagne (2003), Padres’ Jake Peavy (2005) and the Angels’ Bartolo Colon (2007). But, though nature’s drought continues in Southern California, our baseball dry spell may have come to an end. Both the Angels and the Dodgers look to be strong in 2015, and many are predicting they may face each other in the World Series. While that’s a long way off, it is not too early to declare that the two best players in baseball are right here in Southern California’s “City of Stars”: the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and the Angels’ Mike Trout.

CLAYTON KERSHAW IS THE BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL.

He has won the Cy Young Award three of the past four years—2011, 2013 and 2014—and this past year won it unanimously. He also won the MVP, becoming the first National League pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1968 to sweep both awards, and one of only four players to win both awards the same year Dodgers Don Newcombe and Sandy Koufax won both awards in 1956 and 1963, respectively. JON SOOHOO/LA DODGERS

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As a matter of fact, Kershaw has been known as “the next Sandy Koufax” since 2006 when USA Today selected him as “High School Baseball Player of the Year” while he was pitching for Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. Kershaw was also center on his high school football team and hiked the ball to one of his fellow pitchers, a man better known now as the starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford. As great as Kershaw is on the mound (and at only 27 years of age, he may have yet to reach his peak), it is the work he does off the field that really stands out. Married since 2010 to his high school sweetheart, Ellen, he is now also a father; daughter Cali Ann was born January 23rd of this year. As Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times about having a daughter, “It’s a game-changer. It’s been awesome. She’s just the best.” Between our politicians, entertainers and athletes, Los Angeles may have more “stars” than any place in the country, if not the world. Unfortunately, character has not always been a requirement to be revered in this town. But if it were, Kershaw would remain among our very favorites. For each of the past few years, the Kershaws have traveled to Africa on missions trips and worked closely with the nonprofit organization Arise Africa. As an outgrowth of this work—and Ellen meeting a little girl named Hope— they established Kershaw’s Challenge, donating money to Arise Africa and other nonprofit efforts for every strikeout Kershaw throws. Through Kershaw’s Challenge, they have now raised enough money to buy land and build a permanent home for nine young children. In 2012, Kershaw was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the H GENE BOYARS/BBWA

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player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship and the individual’s contribution to his team.” Kershaw is the youngest player to have ever received the award. In 2013, he was also the youngest player to receive the Branch Rickey Award, which honors the baseball player who best combines being a role model for children, while unselfishly contributing to their communities. To learn more about the Kershaws’ work in Africa, one only has to read the book Kershaw and Ellen coauthored in 2012: Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself. A little closer to home, a portion of the proceeds from the Kershaw’s Challenge proceeds go to Mercy Street, a faith-based community center in the inner city, working to positively impact the lives of adults and children in the Kershaws’ hometown of Dallas, Texas. And right in our own backyard, Kershaw has worked with and contributed to the Sharefest Youth Development Academy, whose mission is to "develop comprehensive programs and services that strengthen communities and meet the needs in the lives of children and families." So, he does charitable work locally, nationally and internationally. He is the best pitcher in baseball, the best player in the National League, and is also a husband and a new father. At the ripe old age of 27, he has money enough for many generations of Kershaws, having signed a seven-year, $215-million deal last year, a couple of lifetimes worth of awards— both professional and personal—and a future that would seem to have very few, if any, limits.

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A NEW GOLDEN AGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BASEBALL

SO WHAT’S LEFT?

As he has said many times, the answer is simple: to win the World Series. And in order to do that, Kershaw may have to go through another member of the Los Angeles luminaries club, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim centerfielder Mike Trout—the best position player in baseball. The Angels’ centerfielder is all of 23 years old and, after finishing second in MVP balloting in 2012 and 2013, he won the American League award in 2014, only the 10th player in history to have won the award unanimously. A firstround draft pick of the Angels, Trout was Rookie of the

“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 54 YEARS SINCE THE ANGELS AND DODGERS HAVE SHARED A LOCATION, THEY ALSO SHARED A BILLBOARD.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

Year in 2012 and has been an All-Star each of the three years he has played full time. He has already signed a $144-million contract, has accomplished more in his first three years in the majors than almost any previous player, and has won the hearts of Angel fans and baseball fans in general. Like Kershaw, Trout has a baseball future that seems to have no limits. And while he’s an Angel and has become a local icon in such a short time, he’s still a Jersey boy. Trout grew up in Millville, N.J., and still has Philadelphia Eagles season tickets. He also gives back to his high school baseball team, the Millville Senior High School Thunderbolts. He helped build them a new baseball field and stays close to the coaches and players with days that have included a trip to the Empire State Building and Yankee Stadium to watch him play against the Yankees. At 23 years of age, Trout is not only the face of the Angels, but is rapidly becoming the face of major league baseball. That is quite the responsibility for a young man closer to high school than 30 years of age, but his teammates and executives from the Angels will tell you he is equipped to handle

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the pressures, both on and off the field. It is arguable that no city in baseball has ever had two better players at the same time at this early stage in their careers. Both Kershaw and Trout are locked up with long-term contracts, both contribute to their communities beyond their on-the-field exploits, and both are liked by their teammates, their management and their communities. For those of us who live in or visit Southern California and love baseball, we are in the middle of, or maybe just heading into, what could be another golden era. And for those who drove down the Los Angeles freeways this spring, you may have already seen Trout and Kershaw. For the first time in the 54 years since the Angels and Dodgers have shared a location, they also shared a billboard. It was a simple billboard promoting last April’s Freeway Series, with a headline that read “Is Your MVP Red or Blue?” If the baseball gods smile on Southern California this year, both the Angels and the Dodgers will be playing in the World Series, both Kershaw and Trout will continue on the paths they have carved for themselves, they will win numerous awards again, and we’ll see another billboard this fall that will read, “Which One of These MVPs Will Be the World Series MVP?” ❖

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JON SOOHOO/LA DODGERS

MATT BROWN/ANGELS BASEBALL LP

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Whatcanwe.org For the Love of Animals BY ROBYN FLANS

f t e r S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a animal lover Christopher

Myers was tragically killed in a car accident in 2012 at the age of 19, Beth Pattee, whose daughter had grown up with him, tried to answer the community’s question: “What can we do?” Whatcanwe.org, a non-profit that raises money to offset animal rescues’ veterinary costs, was born to honor Myers. “My co-founder Shannon Delgado and I went out and talked to the founders of a lot of different rescue organizations and discovered that more than 50% of these rescues’ budgets go towards veterinary costs for unanticipated surgeries,” Pattee says. They decided to use Danny Thomas’ St. Jude’s Hospital for people “where, regardless of your status or financial position, you can get quality health care,” as the model for animals.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

They set out on that mission to use a collaborative approach to attract like-minded people, to find innovative ways to fundraise and help bring attention and educate the public about rescues and the homeless and transitional animals. “I believe Ventura County will become the model for the nation,” Pattee says. “Some people have come into the area who are very forward-thinkers, including “...WHATEVER Tara Diller, the director of Animal Services, who is innovating a lot of YOU DO MATnew programs.” TERS. JUST DO Diller is fan of WhatCanWe as well, because as she has said, “It takes SOMETHING. a village and we are a village.” THAT’S WHAT Case in point: Annie, a 10-pound, 1-year-old miniature poodle was IT’S ABOUT.” found on the street last August. Pattee -BETH PATTEE and the organization received a call from L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue who had gotten word from the North Hollywood Animal Shelter explaining that Annie’s jaw appeared to be broken and completely shifted from her mouth, probably from a large shoe or heavy boot kicking her in the face. L.I.F.E. rescued her and took her to the vet where x-rays were done. She needed the help of a specialist surgeon. Her only hope for survival were dozens of metal pins placed strategically across her face and a metal bar. The surgery costs were $6,000 and without them, Annie would die. The village to which Diller referred, began to organize. A volunteer at L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue, set up an outreach campaign which WhatCanWe.org contributed to as well as provided additional outreach utilizing social media sites and connection to animal advocates, donors and supporters. That same volunteer fostered Annie while she recovered. “With months of love, care and veterinary procedures, that animal was totally transformed,” Pattee says. “It’s in a loving forever home and we were able to contribute to the veterinary care of that animal. A lot of people did. It was very expensive.” Pattee says they are encouraging the positive, and anyone can get involved. Their organization has started a Heroic Heart Award that honors people who have “gone above and beyond,” such as Starbucks employee, Jan Romero, who took the idea of a Blessing of the Animals fundraising event to her church on behalf of WhatCanWe. Pattee believes everybody can do something. “This organization started out with one young man. Whatever you do matters. Just do something. That’s what it’s about.” Copies of “Kitchen Rescues,” a cookbook for people and pets with an animal resource section in the back, is available on their website, www.whatwecan.org. One hundred percent of the donation goes to the organization. ❖

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FIVE FAVES

t C s e o l e M b s r ’ l a a ted C o S

e g r r s u b 1 The Melt's Double Bacon BBQ burger made with Angus and Wagyu beef comes with aged cheddar, tomato and grilled onions on a potato bun.

ee r f n e t u Gl

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Five Guys Burgers and Fries are all custom-made to order. Fries are cooked in cholesterol-free peanut oil.

ONION OR NO ONION? WELL DONE OR MEDIUM? CHEESE, PICKLES, KETCHUP, MAYO -- OR NOT? BURGER AFICIONADOS GENERALLY HAVE VERY DEFINITE IDEAS OF WHAT THEIR TASTE BUDS CRAVE. IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE A GREAT RANGE OF BURGER FARE EVERYWHERE. SOME OF OUR TOP FAVES INCLUDE:

The Melt

Their signature, mediumcooked Angus and Wagyu beef patty served on a potato bun with a toothpickanchored pickle on top comes with endless options. Add double bacon, original Melt or BBQ sauce, fresh or grilled onions, avocado, jalapeno , cheddar, blue cheese, spinach, and a side of naked or welldressed fries. Gluten-free, wheat and nobun lettuce wraps are also available as are chicken and grilled cheese melts, soups, salads, desserts, natural and regular sodas, beer and wine. For locations and menus, go to www.themelt.com.

The Habit's Santa Barbarastyle Double Char with cheese and avocado on grilled sourdough is a popular fave.

infused with truffle oil, brown sugar and soy sauce; house pickles thinly sliced and marinated in tamari; Umami dust, a blend of mushroom powder; anchovies and soy; and Umami’s master sauce of undisclosed ingredients. Sides include thin cut or sweet potato fries, tempura onion rings and several salads. There are 15 locations throughout Southern California. www.umamiburger.com

Umami

For connoisseurs who like burgers with Asian influences, Umami starts with fresh, handground beef seared to medium rare on a hot flattop grill seasoned with Umami’s master sauce and Umami dust. One of their most popular is the Throwback $8 Burger with two seared beef patties, white cheddar, miso mustard, Umami house ketchup, soy pickles and minced onions. Other favorites include the Truffle and Ahi Tuna burgers. Umami's signature flavoring comes from ketchup

Umami's Greenbird burger comes with a turkey patty, crushed avocado, green cheese, butter lettuce, sprouts, and green goddess.

The Habit

"You don't fry an American Icon. You charcoal it over an open flame," proclaims The Habit. Voted "The Best Tasting Burger in America" in the August 2014 issue of Consumer Reports, The Habit sticks pretty much to basics. The Double 2 Charburger with Cheese, a top favorite, comes with mayo, pickle, fresh tomato, lettuce and caramelized onions on a toasted bun. Variations include the Teriyaki Char which adds grilled pineapple,

and the Santa Barbara-style Double Char with cheese and avocado on grilled sourdough. There is also a veggie burger, turkey patty with crushed avocado, green cheese and sprouts, plus sandwiches, salads, kids' meals, shakes and malts. www.habitburger.com

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

It's simple basics. There are no freezers. Everything is handcrafted and fresh. Start with your hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, or bacon cheeseburger which is cooked to order. Then select the toppings and seasonings you want from a totally traditional list of mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, grilled onions and mushrooms as well as steak, BBQ or hot sauce. If not everyone is burgerminded, there are Kosher hot dogs, assorted veggie and other sandwiches, and of course, Five Guys and Cajunstyle fries cooked in cholesterol-free peanut oil. You can also munch on bulk peanuts while you wait. www.fiveguys.com

In-N-Out

You can't talk about burgers in Southern California without In-N-Out popping up. They do not freeze, pre-package, have microwaves or freezers. Everything is hand-prepared starting with 100% American beef patties, free of additives and made in their own facilities, to fresh, hand-leafed lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese. They even bake their own buns. Every burger is custom made to order. In addition to the popular singles and doubles, you can order up to four patties, resulting in a triple or quadruple hamburger or cheeseburger. Also on their not-so-secret menu (items not listed but popular with patrons) are Animal Fries that come topped with melted cheese, grilled onions, and Thousand Island dressing. You can also get any burger "Animal Style”. For locations, go to www.in-n-out.com. ❖

Among In-N-Out's not-so-secret (not on the menu) customer favorites are cheeseburgers with up to four patties and your choice of toppings.

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What's Trending in Downtown

San Diego

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“...San Diego is the second largest city in California thriving with a ginormous list of attractions...”

COURTESY OF RUSTIC

✒ BY

ROOT AND DAVIS INK, LTD.

LINDA LANG

SAN DIEGO'S VIBRANT HISTORY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO 20,000 BC, BUT MOST OF US RECALL IT BEING LITTLE MORE THAN A SLEEPY NAVY TOWN FOLLOWING THE END OF WORLD WAR II. While the military

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1. The Gaslamp Quarter's shops and restaurants are housed in restored Victorian buildings dating back to the 1850s. 2. A pedestrian skywalk to PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, connects from the Omni hotel. 3. The newlyopened Rustic Root focuses upon local farm-fresh ingredients for its brunch, dinner and late-night menus.

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continued to be a major contributor to the economy, city leaders took a good look at its ideal seaside location, glorious year-round climate, rolling landscapes and other assets and began to focus upon the development of tourism, business, research and science. Today, San Diego is the second largest city in California thriving with a ginormous list of attractions and activities, infinite variety of dining options and accommodations, and diverse roster of major businesses throughout the city and county, military included. A stay of three to five nights will provide ample time to pursue your interests in this engaging city. To be in the center of it all, select a hotel in or near the Gaslamp Quarter just minutes from the harbor. There's a broad choice of lodging starting with the upscale Westgate with its elegant, old world charm; the Omni, connected by a pedestrian skywalk to PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres; and the Hard Rock Hotel with its pulsating nightclub, rooftop swimming pool, and spa. Plenty of moderately-priced and budget options are also available. Here, you are within walking distance of the Gaslamp's many eateries, nightlife hot spots, shops, fashionable boutiques, art galleries, and other sites housed in restored Victorian buildings dating back to the 1850s. The wide variety of restaurants extends from the Bandar's exotic Persian cuisine and Dublin Square's fine Irish fare to Donovan's Steak & Chop House and the new Parq Restaurant and Nightclub which, under the direction of Chef Errol LeBlanc, winner of Food Network's “Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell,” offers a creative farm-to-table menu. The newly-opened Rustic Root in the heart of the Quarter focuses upon local farm-fresh and house-made ingredients for its brunch, din-

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Pizza Grotto featuring a traditional menu of pasta, pizza and salads; and Mona Lisa which adds sandwiches, seafood, chicken and veal to its Italian bill of fare. Despite the popularity of kale and other things green, yellow and orange, the newest food trend is the emergence of meatand pork-centric eateries throughout the county including the new S&M Sausage & Meat in Hillcrest/University Heights, the Carnitas that just opened on the Embarcadero, Iron Pig Alehouse in Pacific Beach, and the new Stake Chophouse across the bay in Coronado. There is certainly no shortage of things to do. Along the harbor is the Embarcadero where you can find ticket booths for daytime, dining and sunset cruises and stroll in the park. You can visit the Maritime Museum's world-class collection of historic sail- H

5 ON THIS PAGE: 4. Juniper & Ivy offers American fare by

“Top Chef” winner Richard Blais. 5. San Diego's Waterfront Park is as stunning at night as during the day. 6. Float, the Hard Rock Hotel's fourth floor nightclub with spectacular city views, was voted San Diego’s best. 7. Shakespeare and current plays are offered in the Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theatre.

COURTESY OF HARD ROCK HOTEL

ner and late-night menus. The main dining room is dominated by a life-size Sudoku wall, overhead colander lamps and floor lamps a la the Gaslamp’s signature street lights. You'll also find Italian, Mexican, Asian, and other cuisine plus live jazz nightly at Croce's Restaurant and Bar, authentic blues players at Patrick's Gaslamp Pub and other venues offering salsa and rock. Trending downtown is Little Italy with its own dining and nightlife spots. Local restaurant faves include the new Ironside Fish & Oyster with its daily catches; Juniper & Ivy featuring American fare by “Top Chef” winner Richard Blais; and the new Kettner Exchange with its small, large and shared plates of imaginative twists on traditional American specialties. Also popular with locals are Bencotto's home-style Italian dishes served in a modern décor; Filippi's

COURTESY OF SANDIEGO.ORG

SAN DIEGO

COURTESY OF JUNIPER & IVY

COURTESY OF CRAIG SCHWARTZ

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8. Old sailing ships, Californian and Star of India, are found at the Maritime Museum. 9. Trending downtown is Little Italy with its own dining and nightlife spots.

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craft beer from Stone Brewing Co. and other local breweries with international cuisine featuring California fusion and tastes of Europe, the Caribbean and Pacific islands. Bands will also perform throughout the day. Mission Bay, with some 27 miles of winding beaches and hidden coves, offers almost every water sport imaginable. Here you can 13

COURTESY OF SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO

For more highlights on the city and county, go to www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

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10. Mission Beach Giant Dipper roller coaster and Wave house. 11. The Westgate Hotel offers spacious rooms, old world charm and a perfect location for exploring San Diego by foot and trolley. 12. Shamu and friends performing at SeaWorld San Diego. 13. The new San Diego Waterfront Park on the Embarcadero offers something for everyone.

swim and picnic in the sun by day or by bonfire at night. It's where you can test your skills aboard a variety of deep sea fishing boats. If you're a thrill seeker, Belmont Park, San Diego's only beachfront amusement center, is home to the Giant Dipper roller coaster and Wave House where you can sharpen your surfing skills. It's also where dining is undergoing a revival with the opening of two new restaurants. Oceana Coastal Kitchen at Catamaran Resort features fresh local produce and seafood in a prime waterfront setting and an 800-gallon aquarium in the main dining room. Tidal was ranked among San Diego's Top 10 Best New Restaurants of 2014 by Zagat, San Diego Magazine, and Thrillist. In a former private beach house built in the 1960s by Hollywood producer Jack Skirball, its updated dĂŠcor takes in the 180-degree view complementing a menu of traditional seafood with Mediterranean influences. â?–

COURTESY OF SANDIEGO.ORG

ing ships including the Star of India, the world's oldest sailing vessel; submarines including the USS Dolphin; and a variety of steam-powered boats -- all of which you can board and explore - some on which you can even sail. For military buffs, there's The Midway Aircraft Carrier Memorial, Battle of Leyte Gulf 10 Memorial, and the National Salute to Bob Hope and the 11 Military. Celebrating its centennial this year, Balboa Park is home to numerous historical and art museums, performing arts venues including The Tony Award-winning Old Globe and Starlight Bowl, the San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Its 2015 Centennial Railroad Garden exhibit, which just opened in April, is set in a miniature of Balboa Park circa 1915, and new technology allows visitors to interact with a smart phone or tablet. Best place to get your bearings is the Balboa Park Visitor Center where you'll find discount passes, brochures, maps, audio tours, free guided tours, and advice for pursuing your interests. You might also drop in on Shamu and his BFFs at SeaWorld in Mission Bay, especially on weekends this May when the park hosts its inaugural Craft Beer & Food Festival starring

COURTESY OF JOHN BAHU

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PERFECT PICKS

SUNGLASSES Nothing says summer or Hollywood glamour like sunglasses, and local heroes Barbara McReynolds and Gai Gherardi of L.A. Eyeworks design groundbreaking, limited edition eyewear in bold colors and sculptural shapes. Each style is a limited edition; you’ll want to build a collection.

SHOES FREEWHEELING AND FUN

MUST HAVE

STYLE FOR SUMMER ✒ BY

LYNN MORGAN

Shoe (and belt and handbag) designer Calleen Cordero launched a classic rock revival with her artisan-crafted, hippie chic leathers, inspiring some of fashion’s biggest names to follow her lead; adding hardedged, heavy metal detailing in the form of buckles and studs to her accessories. For this summer, the Marin County native has created a Coachella-ready collection of shoes, wedges and sandals, perfect for California’s endless summer.

Summertime and the living’s so easy. Warm sultry days and balmy nights mean that for a few short weeks, everybody gets a taste of the breezy, casual lifestyle that we enjoy in So Cal year-round.

This summer, designers drew inspiration from music, bohemian chic, and fashion icons of the past, like Jane Birkin, creating looks that are fun and funky, and ideal for casual living, whether you’re on vacation or just living the endless summer lifestyle at home.

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T-SHIRT “Casual couture for the creative class” is the motto of the innovative clothing line, Calvin Rucker. Playing with the contrasts between femininity and tomboys, rough-edges and refinement, Calvin Rucker clothes are perfect for summer and travel. Easy enough for daywear; easily dressed up with jewelry and accessories, they can move effortlessly from day to night.

DIAMONDS Diamonds can be costly in more ways than one. Ecologically destructive mining practices, dubious origins (the infamous and widely banned “conflict” diamonds), and sometimes the unfair labor practices can turn a joyous purchase into a crisis of conscience. Ecologically aware gem lovers can now rejoice: Pure Grown Diamonds offer all of the bling, with none of the ambivalence. Perfected by a Mumbai physicist, the diamonds are produced in laboratories, identical in every way except price to mined diamonds, and guaranteed conflictfree. Already embraced by celebrities (Patricia Arquette wore Pure Grown Diamonds to the 2015 Oscars), Pure Grown Diamonds are pure glamour, without guilt.

TOTE BAGS Tote bags are trending for spring. Ideal for stashing your shades, sunscreen, water bottle, fully-loaded Kindle, and all the other equipment you need for fun in the sun. Witty British handbag designer Anya Hindmarch channeled Sixties Pop Art to create the fun and fabulous Ebury tote from her “Sticker Shop” collection, emblazoned with graphics that would do Warhol and Lichtenstein proud.

SCENTS Smell is the sense with the closest tie to memory, so nothing revives a cherished memory like a whiff of perfume. Several modern perfumers have succeeded in capturing the essence of summer in a bottle. Tom Ford’s glamourous Neroli Portofino smells of cool breezes, blue water and orange blossoms, as if you just stepped off a yacht on the Mediterranean. CB I Hate Perfume’s At the Beach 1966 is a playfully nostalgic rendering of a childhood memory, evoking sun-warmed skin, salty air and an exotic hint of coconutscented suntan oil, and Jo Malone’s “unisexy” Sage and Sea Salt blends the fresh, bracing scent of an ocean breeze with a cool mineral note, underscored with the earthiness of sage and driftwood. A spray or a splash of any of these beachy scents can make summer last forever. MAY.JUNE2015 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE

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CALIFORNIA’S COASTLINE IS ONE OF THE MOST PRISTINE IN THE WORLD. IT OFFERS REMARKABLE VIEWS AND A SCENIC DRIVE THAT SOME WILL HAIL AS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE. THE TERRAIN, FOLIAGE, AND WATER CHANGES ALONG THE COAST, AS DO THE COLORS, TEXTURES, AND TEMPERATURE. WHETHER YOU LIVE HERE OR ARE VISITING, TRAVELING ALONG OUR VERY SPECIAL HIGHWAY 1 IS A “MUST DO.” THE ROAD THAT PARALLELS THE COASTLINE BECKONS US TO FORGET ABOUT THE LAUNDRY LIST OF DAILY TASKS AND GET OUT AND FEEL THE WIND THROUGH OUR HAIR, SING OUT LOUD LIKE WE ARE THE NEXT AMERICAN IDOL, AND SATISFY OUR DESIRES TO EXPLORE. IT’S QUITE POSSIBLE YOU JUST MIGHT EXPERIENCE SOMETHING AMAZING. H

✒ BY

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MACKENZIE MILLER

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HERE ARE A FEW FAVORITE STOPS YOU’LL WANT TO ENJOY ALONG THE PCH ON YOUR SCENIC DRIVE FROM SANTA BARBARA TO SAN DIEGO:

MARCELLO RICCI

SANTA BARBARA FUNK ZONE Santa Barbara is a fun-filled area of history, culture, arts, and youth. The Funk Zone, and its array of artists, winemakers, and up-and-coming chefs, is transforming some of SB’s older buildings into hot spots along California's Central Coast.

POINT DUME The hike around Point Dume is considered one of the nicest in California. The paved trail along the volcanic outcroppings takes you to the top of the point where you have a stunning view of the Channel Islands. At certain times of the year, it’s a great spot for whale sightings too!

LEO CARRILLO STATE PARK This is the perfect place to pull over for a swim, surf, beach walk, camp, BBQ, or to fish. There is plenty to explore in the tidepools, coastal caves, and reefs. There is also backcountry hiking.

CHANNEL ISLANDS The five remarkable islands that make up the Channel Islands National Park have unique plants, animals, and archeological resources that are only found here. You need water transportation to get here, so bring your kayak and don’t forget your scuba gear to wind through the magical kelp forests. 84

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MALIBU’S NEPTUNES NET Established in 1956, Neptunes Net has stayed tried and true despite all that has changed along the Pacific Coast Highway. The food is outstanding, the sightseeing keeps it interesting, and kicking back to watch the surfers and bikers makes this one of Malibu’s “must experience.”

SANTA MONICA PIER The pier contains Pacific Park, a family amusement park with its one-of-akind, state-of-the-art, solar-paneled Ferris wheel. It also has an original carousel hippodrome from the 1920s, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium operated by Heal the Bay, shops, entertainers, a video arcade, a trapeze school, pubs, and restaurants. The west end of the pier is a popular location for anglers. During the summer months the pier is venue to weekly outdoor concerts, movies, and other family friendly activities that are free to the public. H

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ESCONDIDO CANYON PARK FALLS Just off the PCH and into the canyons you’ll find a beautiful trail perfect for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Through the 4.2 miles of nature at it finest, you’ll find the spectacular, multi-tiered 150-foot Escondido Falls—the highest in the Santa Monica Mountains.

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G H W A Y H I

VENICE BEACH Venice has a history of being a hangout for the creative and artistic. The Venice boardwalk will take you on a trip through vendors, musicians, artists, athletes, dancers, and more. Home to Muscle Beach, Skate Dancing Plaza, a brand new skate park, the graffiti wall, and renowned basketball courts, the possibilities of entertainment on this bright stretch is endless. The beach is pristine and the Venice Breakwater is an acclaimed local surf spot.

HUNTINGTON BEACH INTERNATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum was founded decades ago by Natalie Kotsch. Thanks to her efforts, many of the great surfboards and local history have an opportunity to be preserved in a huge, cataloged collection that rotates in the museum.

CORONA DEL MAR TIDE POOLS Little Corona del Mar beach is known for spectacular diving due to its rocky reefs that flank the beach. Because of this the tide pools are a “sea” of activity. Filled with starfish, crabs, sea urchins, sea slugs, and more, it’s a great place for families to snorkel and experience the wonder of California’s sea creatures.

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BALBOA ISLAND: DAD’S DONUT & BAKERY SHOP Take a quick ferry ride to Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop, a local favorite on Balboa Island. Since 1960, Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop has been taking care of the locals and visitors with many specialties, so stop and enjoy some donuts before heading to the boardwalk or just come in and enjoy a coffee and donut.

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SAN CLEMENTE BEACH TRAIL Hugging one of the most picturesque shorelines in Southern California, the San Clemente Beach Trail is one of the premier rail-trails in the area. Whereas most communities surrounding L.A. have fallen victim to rampant development, surfside San Clemente has preserved its small town identity and spirit.

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OCEAN BEACH DOG BEACH Want to take your pups to their ultimate happy place? The Original Dog Beach in San Diego is nationally famous and one of the first official leash-free beaches in the United States. Dog Beach is a special place where people and pets, beach lovers and surfers celebrate the spirit of Ocean Beach, one of Southern California's last true beach towns.

ENCINITAS: PANNIKIN COFFEE AND TEA Pannikin has been serving the community since 1968. Family owned and operated, Pannikin roasts coffee daily to bring the freshest selection of single origin coffees and proprietary blends from around the globe. Their tea list is notable with a wide range offered. Built in 1888, the Pannikin is located in the historic Santa Fe Railroad Station.

e SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

LA JOLLA: LA JOLLA COVE The Cove at La Jolla is a vacationer's dream in San Diego with deep blue water, small waves and white sand. Kids can swim safely with no surfboards/boogie boards allowed, and snorkelers can be awed by the wonders of the La Jolla Underwater Park- a marine refuge area. The ocean floor at La Jolla Cove is often covered with bright orange Garibaldi, the California state fish, seals, sea lions and countless other striking local sea life. For visitors who want to get adventurous, just south east of the Cove at La Jolla are the La Jolla Sea Caves. â?–

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FAMILY FUN

FATHER’S DAY

Dad’s going to LOVE this! ✒ BY

DEBBIE SULLIVAN

“WHAT CAN WE DO? ... WHERE SHOULD WE GO? ... WHAT SHOULD I GIVE HIM? … HE HAS EVERYTHING!!!!” SINCE FATHER’S DAY FALLS ON JUNE 21ST, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO ARRANGE FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TO MAKE HIS DAY THE COOLEST EVER! Does he love adventure? Give him the experience of a lifetime where he can live his dream – even if it is just for a day. Offer him just about anything he can imagine in prices that range from $129 to $1400+ … or as Cloud9Living.com says, “Create a memory. Give an experience.” Does he love driving? Give him the gift of choosing his Ferrari for the day where he will learn how to optimize his laps on the track and then unleash his dream of being a sports car driver. You can watch from the stands and even accompany him on a couple of discovery laps!

Need something more hardcore? Give him a chance to try his hand at racing a 500-horsepower NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car. You can even ride along if you’re feeling brave! Does he dream of flying? Give him the opportunity to step into the pilot’s seat of a Cessna 172, where he will grab the controls and fly that baby from start to landing no experience necessary! Two others can take the lesson beforehand along with him. Or perhaps he wants the thrill of being a Fighter Pilot, engaging in air-to-air combat

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

with the original civilian dog fighting school? He will attend a full briefing covering formation flight and aerial combat maneuvers, then put on his flight suit and board the Marchetti SF260 for the ride of a lifetime. Does dad love sports? How about giving him the opportunity to play nine holes with PGA Professional Rick Sessinghaus where he will learn the skills he needs to improve his score and play more effectively. Or give him a private surfing lesson where he will be catching his own waves by end of day. Already a surfer? Give him the experience of shaping his own board – every surfer’s dream. To reserve one of these or other experiences, visit www.cloud9living.com and choose Los Angeles for local adventures or phone 866-525-6839.

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Is your Dad a seafaring sort? You can give him a Father’s Day Adventure at Sea – a voyage on an authentic tall ship where you and he can join the crew in handling lines and raising sails. Then enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the ship’s cook, help steer the ship, listen to stories of legend or just sit back and enjoy the open ocean. Located at Dana Point Harbor – make your reservations at www.ocean-institute.org or phone 949-496-2274. The dad in your life might enjoy drifting peacefully over Temecula’s Wine Country with breathtaking views of the vineyards and mountain

ranges. Arrange for a hot air balloon ride for two to 14 people and then enjoy a gourmet breakfast in a rose garden overlooking the vineyards. Maybe add in an afternoon of wine tasting and enjoy Old Town Temecula. For reservations and information, visit www.californiadreamin.com or phone 800-373-3359. There is also a great vintage train ride out of Fillmore where the whole family can enjoy a delicious BBQ tri-tip or chicken lunch with dad while watching the beautiful scenery drift by. Arrive at the Loose Caboose where you can purchase gifts and treats to enjoy – it’s about two hours total. This sells out early, so make your reservations soon by calling 805-5240330. If you are simply not sure what he may want to do on Father’s Day, there are

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plenty of things to do that don’t require a reservation. Take Dad for a day of fishing at Irvine Lake in Silverado where you can catch fish and swap stories. For more information, phone 714-649-9111, Extension 1. A picnic at the beach is always a hit: Set up chairs and blankets and bring his favorite beverage. Maybe play some touch football or listen to his memories as you stroll along the sand. Stay and watch the sunset and make a toast to the man who gave you life. Whatever you decide to do for the day, remember that the most important thing to Dad is simply being together and celebrating family. Enjoy. ❖

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ON THE PORCH

1. The "Daniel Island" bedswing (Lowcountry Swing Beds) Named after an island in Charleston, SC. The "Daniel Island" is shown in cedar with an Air Blue Sunbrella outdoor mattress and pillows. Choose from 1000's of fabric options to customize. www.lcswingbeds.com, claire@lcswingbeds.com, 843.607.3924

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2. Succulent Arrangement (Big Red Sun) BIG RED SUN is a leader in the industry for pioneering a sustainable approach to restorative gardens as well as a thoughtful use of regionally appropriate and repurposed materials, that en-dure the desert and coastal environments in which they are applied.

3. Azobe Salvaged Wood & Rope Planters (Restoration Hardware) Modeled on containers from 19th-century European orangeries, our planters are hand-built in Poland from wood that once supported drying bricks at a Belgian factory.

BY MACKENZIE MILLER

4. Italian Wool & Alpaca Cable Knit Throw (Restoration Hardware) Exceptionally cozy and lush throws are knit from a sumptuous blend of virgin wool and high-mountain alpaca, which are prized for their fine fleece and lightweight warmth.

There’s nothing better than enjoying spring turn to summer from your porch, sipping lemonade, surrounded by butterflies, as the breeze and the shade cool you from the summer heat. But if your porch hasn’t recovered from the winter doldrums, you’ll need to decorate that space in time for those relaxing summer days.

said, “It's much easier for me to make major life, multi-million dollar decisions, than it is to decide on a carpet for my front porch.” But it doesn’t need to be a complicated process. The first step is to select a key item as the design focal point, such as a hammock, a comfy bench or a swing bed. Leaders in customized handmade porch essentials, Claire & Robert Huff, who started their company Lowcountry Swing Beds in 2010, create a product that OPRAH WINFREY

can be customized to the client’s requests. This allows each client to have a tailored design, whether it’s a custom size, unique paint selection or wood preference. “Our products and company encompass the artisan,” says Claire. The collection has nearly 14 designs between swing beds, porch beds, bunk beds, loft beds, and daybeds. “Our customers can pick from our product line or we can customize any design to the clients requests.”

6. Hyannis Lanterns- Silver Finish (Pottery Barn) With the look of vintage canning jars that have been repurposed, these lanterns come in different sizes to cast a variation of glows around the garden or patio.

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Keeping the porch customized to reflect your personal sense of style is essential. The porch is the gateway to the rest of the home and sets the stage for what’s inside. It’s where you’ll read, where you’ll pace, where you’ll have long conversations with family and friends. Selecting a porch design that will promote a sense of composure is important. Keep your porch clutter free. If that space is a mess you won’t enjoy it and will most likely avoid it. The porch is the designated part of the home where “relaxation” should happen and where you’ll want to simply sit and restore your soul. Keep that goal firmly in mind as you plan your design. ❖

7. Starfish Wind Chimes (Crate and Barrel) Silvery starfish dangle from driftwoodinspired branches, softly chiming a nautical note on a porch or patio.

5. A relaxing porch is not complete without a pet bed! Available at Gary Michelson Found Animals’ Adopt & Shop Culver City (as is the dog harness).

8. Torrey All Weather Wicker Round Coffee Table (Pottery Barn) Character-rich table merge the beauty of rattan with the ease of a synthetic. Wrapped with thick, woven strands that have variegated tones to capture the appeal of natural fiber.

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ON THE CALENDAR

may /june

Bacon & Barrels Festival Saturday, May 9, The Embarcadero Marina Park South Noon-5:00p.m. www.baconandbarrels.com

â€˘ Bacon & Barrels is the definitive outdoor festival for the bacon obsessed foodies and those who prefer their drinks from a barrel! The all-day, all inclusive event includes live music and games, live chef and mixology demos, and challenges participating chefs to create their most imaginative, fresh recipes incorporating bacon. Bacon & Barrels donates a percentage of all tickets sales to support programs that support under-served children, and farm programs through the Create Community Foundation.

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Los Angeles Beer Week Festival California Strawberry Festival May 16-17, Strawberry Meadows of College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. www.strawberry-fest.org

June 20 – 28, Exposition Park www.latimes.com/ beerweek

• Strawberry fans are going to love this festival! More than 50 food booths offer strawberry everything — kabobs, nachos, pizza, flan, funnel cake, cotton candy, beer, margaritas. For dessert? Chocolate-dipped strawberries, of course. Also: pie-eating, best-dressed baby and other contests.

Newport Beach Jazz Festival May 29-31, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach www.festivals.hyattconcerts.com

LA Premiere of Tania PérezSalas Compañía de Danza

• Celebrate the beginning of summer with a star-studded festival of food, fun and electrifying music. Artists include Patti Austin and Rick Braun.

May 15-17, Ahmanson Theatre www.musiccenter.org

• For the first time, Angelenos will be treated to the extravagant theatricality, intensity and originality of one of Mexico’s leading contemporary dance companies as Glorya Kaufman Presents The Los Angeles premiere of Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía de Danza.

The 2015 Pink Tie Ball in Orange County America's Largest Design Event Held in Los Angeles May 29-31, Los Angeles Convention Center www.dwellondesign.com

• Dwell on Design Los Angeles, curated by the editors of Dwell magazine, returns to Los Angeles with three full days of dynamic exhibitions, unparalleled educational opportunities, cutting-edge technologies, 90 onstage programs, 250+ speakers, and more than 2,000 innovative modern furnishings and products. 94

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

Saturday, May 30, 6:00p.m. Orange County Great Park, Palm Court Arts Complex. www.komenoc.org

• The Komen Orange County Pink Tie Ball is the Affiliate's annual fundraising gala held at a unique venue each year raising funds in the fight against breast cancer. The night features live and silent auctions such as an escape to Hawaii for two, an exceptional opportunity drawing from one of their great jewelry partners and fun entertainment all in support of their vision of a world without breast cancer. SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

june

may/june

26th Annual Mariachi USA at Hollywood Bowl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, June 27, 6:00p.m. www.mariachiusa.com

San Diego County Fair

Wine & Roses Charity Wine Tasting June 7, 3:00-6:00 p.m. The Grand Del Mar Hotel, San Diego www.wineandroses.net

• The 32nd annual Wine & Roses Charity Wine Tasting makes a lavish return to the luxurious Grand Del Mar Hotel for this year's can't miss charitable event. The fundraiser, put on by the Social Service Auxiliary of San Diego and the San Diego International Wine Competition benefits the youth summer camp, Camp Oliver, located in Descanso, Calif.

Sunday, June 27, from 10:00a.m.- 8:00p.m. www.oceanbeachsandiego.com

• The festival offers 65,000 attendees eclectic fun in the sun that's great for all ages. There will be tasty festival nosh, art, beachfront entertainment, shopping and more. Attendees of all ages can take part in creating the annual Street Fair Community Mural. 26th Annual Mariachi USA at Hollywood Bowl

Los Angeles Film Festival June 10-18, L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles www.lafilmfest.com

• Nine days of screenings of everything from short films submitted by high school students to music videos and alternative online content to feature films. Back for a second year is a Funny or Die talent contest to promote up-and-coming comedic voices.

Saturday, June 27, 6:00p.m. www.mariachiusa.com

• The premier mariachi music festival in the world, Mariachi USA will showcase top Mariachi bands from the USA and Mexico, traditional folkloric dances and the legendary Fireworks display that together have made the event a cultural icon in the USA. Los Angeles Beer Week Festival

June 5-July 6, Del Mar Fairgrounds www.sdfair.com

• The 2015 San Diego County Fair presents A Fair to Remember: a Celebration of World's Fairs and Balboa Park. Cook, bake, sing, dance or blow a bubble! The Fair has numerous ways you can show off your talent and go home with a blue ribbon! Some of the Fairs’ contests require entry in advance, but for others, you can enter on the spot.

The 36th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival in San Diego

June 20 – 28, Exposition Park www.latimes.com/beerweek

La Jolla Festival of the Arts June 20-21, UC San Diego Warren Field www.lajollaartfestival.org

• Meet nearly 200 artists in an intimate setting of original fine art, entertainment and delicious cuisines, complemented with fine wine and craft beer as you stroll the turf of UCSD’s Warren Field. This is not a street fair but an elegant and high quality showcase.

• The popular celebration of brews, Beer Week will be held at the expanded Exposition Park. The festival will bring even more local and guest breweries together to get things started on June 20. Organizers expect over 200 events citywide during Beer Week, from marquee Brewers Guild-organized events like The Meeting of the Guilds and the opening festival to simple tap takeovers and beer dinners at local craft-focused establishments.

To feature your upcoming Southern California event in our "On the Calendar" section, e-mail: calendar@socallifemag.com

MAY.JUNE2015 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE

S M

SOOO CAL

LIVE

TRAVEL

DISCOVER

L.A. TRAFFIC

E=mc2 ✒ BY

SCOTT HARRIS

IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS, WE MEASURE DISTANCE, WHEN TRAVELED BY CAR, IN MILES.

Throughout much of the world, it is measured in kilometers. But here, in the United States, it is miles. If you are driving in one of the 50 states and you ask someone how far it is from Point A to Point B, you'll be given an answer in miles. It may be exact, approximate, correct or mistaken, but miles it is. There is one exception: Southern California. Nowhere in the country is more closely associated with a dependence on automobiles than Southern California. Nowhere in the country do you find people identified and defined by their cars like you do in Southern California. And,

101 Freeway

nowhere in the country, except right here in the southern half of California, do you find distance measured in time. A first-time visitor to Southern California, when planning a trip, will innocently ask "Excuse me, how far is it from here to X?" A lifetime of experience and a passing understanding of physics lead them to believe they are mere moments away from a distance-based, and specifically miles-based, answer. However, rather than the expected answer, this innocent visitor will be hit with a barrage of seemingly unrelated questions. It usually starts with, “What time do you need to be there?” Einstein’s theory of relativity races through the visitor’s mind as he or she tries to understand the relationship between the necessary arrival time and distance. To locals, of course, arrival time has everything to do with traffic patterns. Next, the visitor will be asked, “How many passengers and what kind of car do you drive?” Again, out-of-towners are forgiven for not understanding the direct relationship between the question and

405 Freeway SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

the distance to their destination. As all true Southern Californians know, the correct answer to either of these questions is the golden ticket to the carpool lane. An idea originally sold to unsuspecting taxpayers as an environmentally friendly method of speeding up travel for those deemed worthy, this lane has simply become a steering wheel pounding lesson in frustration and the frequent yelling of the rhetorical “Why is everyone else going faster than the carpool lane??!!” Last, but of paramount importance, the visitor is queried about the planned route. Want to know a little secret? Every Southern California resident is trained to respond to your answer (regardless of what it is), with a version of the following: “What? The 405 at that time of day? Are you crazy? Let me tell you. The best way to go is…” This is invariably followed by a detailed explanation of a complicated route that is guaranteed to bypass all traffic and known only to the individual giving you the information. The problem with this is, it never works.

With 12 million people in Southern California, tens of millions of miles driven annually, decades to figure out the freeway system, and the proliferation of dozens of realtime driving smartphone apps, do you really believe there are any “secret” routes? But once all of those questions have been asked and answered, you still won't learn the distance in the traditional sense. Calculations made, traffic flow analyzed, GPS reviewed and you'll be given your distance in time. Another little secret, there are only two answers a true Southern Californian will give to your original question. First, “You’ll never make it,” combined with a slow, sad, knowing shake of the head. Second, some variation of "It's about an hour," followed, invariably, by "depending on traffic." “Depending on traffic” is a Southern Californian’s get out of jail free card when giving directions and travel time. This way, locals maintain our record as never having given a wrong answer to an out-oftown traveler. Now, where did you say you were going? ❖

Thanks to you, we're able to save them.

This year, we will save the lives of more than 20,000 animals. Thanks to donations from individuals, foundations, and business partners, we help animals in the following ways: • We will adopt out more than 10,000 homeless animals into loving homes • Our foster program will provide a second chance to 2,000 sick, injured, or underage animals • 16,000 animals will be examined in our veterinary medical centers • Humane Law Enforcement officers will help nearly 10,000 animals • Project Wildlife will care for nearly 8,000 injured or orphaned wildlife • Nearly 2,500 lost pets will be reunited with their worried families

ADOPT

• Our surgeons will perform more than 5,500 reduced cost spay/ neuter operations on community animals • Our 24-hour-kitten nursery will give safe haven to nearly 1,800 orphaned or newborn community kittens • More than 500 pets will stay with their families through PAWS San Diego, our community safety net program • We will save 3,000 additional lives from our partner shelters through our medical and behavior transfer program

| VOLUNTEER | DONATE

SDHUMANE.ORG San Diego Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. We are supported by individual donors and through grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from our retail store, and fees for services.

S M

My Southern California

Mt. Baldy BY BENNY HADDAD, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE

BENNY HADDAD is

based in Los Angeles where he shoots for a variety of editorial outlets and commercial clients. Whether photographing celebrities, adventure lifestyle, or travel, he strives to create images that are vibrant but natural. He is known for having a unique sense of light and space, and an easy-going disposition that allows him to find the true spirit of the moment and capture his subjects in a deep and honest way. For more of his work, go to his website at www.bennyhaddad.com.

While people around the world may only associate Southern California with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood or the laid back attitude of sunny San Diego, So Cal has so much more to offer. Just outside of its celebrated urban centers, it is a rugged place, a place of extremes, with hot red rock deserts, cold-water pacific islands with wild kelp beds, and snow capped mountain peaks. At least, that’s how I see Southern California. How do you see it? We want to know! We at Southern California Life Magazine are devoted to showing you all that it has to offer. We’ll close each issue showcasing the beauty of our region, with its landscapes, and landmarks. And we want you, our readers to participate. For a chance to be published on our “My Southern California” photo page, follow us on Instagram (@socallifemag) and use these hashtags in your favorite photos of the landscapes, landmarks, and lifestyles that you think define our home: #ThisIsMySoCal #Socallifemagcontest.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE - MAY.JUNE2015

SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

My Montage Memory.

To le a rn mo r e a b o u t me mo r i e s m ade at Montage or to start m a k i n g y o u r o w n visit montagelagunabeach.com

L AG U N A B E AC H | B E V E R LY H I L L S | D E E R VA VA L L E Y | K A PA LUA BAY | PA PA L M E T T O B LU F F To preview residential opportunities at any of our destinations, please visit montagehotels.com/residences.

Southern California Life_May.June2015

Published on Apr 16, 2015

LIVE I TRAVEL I DISCOVER

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