Beyond the Acorn Fall 2015

• a c o r n n e w s pa p e r s •

Beyond

Fall 2015

The Acorn

Treasure Hunting Designer Discovers Vintage Gems

Chocolate Sweet Object of Desire

The Beauty of the Ride Collector Shares His Prized Motorcycles

That’s Us. The Tall, Good-Looking Rate On The Right.

Now you don’t have to move your money around to get the best rate in town.

Our Money Market rate stacks up as one of the heftiest around.

MONEY MARKET RATE COMPARISON - % APY*

$100k

.10% .03%

Bank of America

Chase

.01%

.01%

Citibank

Wells Fargo

Logix

Source: Informa Research Services, Inc. as of 9/7/15

.70%

Say goodbye to short-term specials and enjoy the peace of mind of steady returns. Learn more about all the ways Logix is smarter banking.

Newbury Park

Simi–Cochran St

Thousand Oaks

(877) 944.5328

(888) 738.5328

(877) 964.5328

1005 Broadbeck Dr. (Across from Starbucks)

153 E. Cochran St., Suite 300 (In the Courtyard by Marriott Parking Lot

Simi–Tapo Canyon

Westlake Village

(877) 974.5328

(866) 400.5328

2944 Tapo Canyon Road, Suite C (In the Pavilions Shopping Center)

2060 Avenida De Los Arboles, Ste. B (In the Vons Shopping Center)

2820 Townsgate Rd, Suite 120 (In the Gelson’s Shopping Center)

Logix Federal Credit Union, proudly serving members since 1937. *Minimum balance required to earn 0.70% APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is $100,000. The APY is variable, is accurate as of 9/7/15, and is subject to change after the account is opened. The Money Market Account is a tiered-rate account and rates on each balance tier are currently: 0.35% APY thru $7,499.99; 0.40% APY thru $9,999.99; 0.45% APY thru $24,999.99; 0.50% APY thru $49,999.99; and, 0.55% APY thru $99,999.99. Fees may reduce earnings. Logix membership and eligibility criteria apply.

Federally insured by NCUA

come thrive with us!

! !

CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE ANDAND THE THE ARTS! CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE ART

BALLET * JAZZ * HIP HOP * MODERN * TAP* BALLET * JAZZ * HIP HOP * MODERN * TAP* CONTEMPORARY * LYRICAL * ACTING* AND MUSICAL CONFIDENCE, DISCIPLINE THE ART CONTEMPORARY * LYRICAL * ACTING* THEATER * VOICE * TUMBLING *FLEXIBILITY!MUSICAL THEATER * VOICE * TUMBLING *FLEXIBILITY! BALLET * JAZZ * HIP HOP * MODERN * TAP* CONTEMPORARY * LYRICAL * ACTING* MUSICAL 3623 OLD CONEJO ROAD #100!

THEATER * VOICE * TUMBLING *FLEXIBILITY!

3623 OLD PARK, CONEJO ROAD #100!

NEWBURY CA 91320!

NEWBURY PARK, CA 91320!

(805)375-9988 3623 OLD CONEJO ROAD #100!

(805)375-9988 NEWBURY PARK, CA 91320!

Trust. Integrity. Responsiveness.

Whether you’re looking for a partner to help you reach your personal financial goals, grow your business, or manage your assets, choosing the right bank is important. For the last 40 years, our customers have partnered with Montecito Bank & Trust because we take the time to understand their unique needs and respond with timely financial solutions.

We invite you to discover what you can accomplish with the leading community bank on your side.

Visit our new location in Camarillo!

- 770 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 120 -

Member FDIC

montecito.com • (805) 963-7511 Solvang • Goleta • Santa Barbara • Montecito • Carpinteria • Ventura • Camarillo • Westlake Village

table of contents

Fall 2015 16

Features 24 cottage of curious finds Designer Jennifer Grey takes

flea market treasure hunting

to a whole new level.

28 family affair

The story behind Maria's Italian Kitchen, a family saga spiced with great food.

32 ride of a lifetime

Daniel Schoenewald shares his

remarkable motorcycle collection and

offers a glimpse of the passion that fuels it.

36 the faces of chumash

Departments

FEELING GOOD 48 bath therapy

8 Welcome from beyond

Greetings from the editor.

NEIGHBORS 12 All Hail the king of pop

Nelson De La Nuez is self-proclaimed

royalty in the art world, covering his

canvases with color and wit.

Joe Till's custom guitars are infused

with beauty and soul.

ACORNUCOPIA 16 rain check

When El Ni単o hits and gray skies water the land, don't get caught unprepared in the downpour.

SHOPS 18 threads

Our roundup of children's

clothing stores offers something

for every taste and budget.

AROUND THE TABLE 20 sweet seduction: CHOCOLATE

24 On The Cover:

Vintage books topped with a bird's nest make an intriguing statement in designer Jennifer Grey's living room. (Story on page 24)

Cover photo by JOAN PAHOYO

24

We asked our staff to reveal what tradition defines the holidays for them.

OUT AND ABOUT 53 around town

The area is bustling with things to do. Our calendar can keep you busy through New Years.

RESOURCES 64 A guide to the people and vendors

mentioned in this issue.

SNAPSHOT 66 Bottle Village

20

Who doesn't love it? Indulge yourself in these luscious dishes from three local chefs.

NESTING 44 STAGING your Home

for the holidays

Design pros offer tips on how to spruce

up your home with seasonal flair.

LOOKING GOOD 46 tressing up

6 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

READERS CORNER 51 season's needings

joan pahoyo

14 guitar hero

Sure, it feels great to soak in the tub, but did you know it can also offer significant health benefits?

Stylist Billy Lowe shows how changing your hairstyle can transform your holiday party persona.

richard gillard

For thousands of years, Chumash

people have called this place home.

Meet a few tribe members who are

keeping alive the Chumash ways.

Grand Opening sophisticatedconcepts.net

Direct Importer • Wholesaler • Manufacturer 12 months no interest on all materials • Custom Cabinetry • Imported Cabinets • Quartz Countertops • Hoods • Knobs • Kitchen & Bath Fixtures • Tile • Granite • Marble • Travertine • Mosaics • Pavers • Porcelain • Custom Rustic Wood Mantles • Wood Flooring • Eco Laminates • Windows • Shower Doors • Steam Showers • Closet Design • Decorative Wallpaper • Outdoor Kitchens & More!

From Concept to completion all under one roof

927 E. Ventura Blvd. Oxnard

805.981.1111

M-F 9am-7pm • Sat-Sun 9am-6pm

FREe bathroom*

With Purchase of Kitchen Good through October 2015 See store for details

welcome

From the Editor

I

t’s curious what people are drawn to, isn’t it?

For some, it’s a spanking new contemporary design with clean edges and muted tones. But for others, like interior designer Jennifer Grey, there’s nothing as compelling as a room filled with odds and ends that have survived the years.

I’m a lot like that. I wonder what stories an object could tell, if it could tell us anything, that is. And, I’m of the mind that, if you listen . . . really listen . . . an object can reveal to you a lot about where it has been and what it has seen.

Jennifer’s Newbury Park home is brimming with unusual objects with stories to tell. Many of them came from flea markets. And, not to be taken lightly, many of the oddly wonderful things she has collected have come with very small price tags—an added benefit for the bargain-conscious. Jennifer takes us inside her Cottage of Curious Finds on page 24.

In this issue we also go on another kind of journey into the past. This one takes us back to the roots of the land upon which our communities are built. Before the settlement of the Conejo Valley, Calabasas and Camarillo—way back, that is—the Chumash people lived and thrived on this land, in harmony with the natural world they utilized and nurtured. Meet some of their descendants who are keeping the Chumash fires lit in our story on page 36.

We also begin to prep for the holiday season with fun home decorating ideas from the pros as well as versatile and easy party

hairstyles for anyone planning to dress up and step out in style.

Looking ahead, I’d like to invite you to be part of an upcoming Beyond article. Our publisher, Lisa Rule, took an old microwave tray, painted it turquoise, suspended it next to her hammock and, voila, a quick weekend project yielded a fun and unusual spot for her wine (or hot cocoa, as the season requires).

Is there anything you have repurposed? Anything that you thought about tossing but then instead, with a fresh coat of paint or a new placement, gave new purpose to?

If so, we’d like to see it. Send in a photo and brief description, along with your name and contact info, and we’ll include it in our next Readers Corner.

This issue of Beyond is overflowing with stories and ideas. Hope you enjoy it!

Leslie Gregory Haukoos Editor-in-Chief beyond@theacorn.com

LUXURIOUS LEATHER FURNITURE MADE RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.

100 STYLES • 400 LEATHER COLORS • 1000’S OF CONFIGURATIONS

AGOURA HILLS 28811 Canwood St. #100 (818) 889-1212

Casual Fine Dining. You’re Always Welcome.

WHAT IS NEW ZEALAND CUISINE?

Back in New Zealand, whether surrounded by the backdrop of the Auckland harbour or the rolling hills of green grass and the smell of feijoa trees, locals are accustomed to fresh and organic meals at home and at the local restaurants. In one of Auckland City’s top restaurants or at the nearby pizza bar, dining out is not just another outing but a oneof-a-kind experience complete with top quality ingredients, beautifully plated dishes, and most importantly, an environment designed for the laid back Kiwi lifestyle. Many restaurants flaunt their trustworthy kitchens with open passes, allowing the customers to view the chefs from their seats. While a typical United States kitchen relies on pepper and other strong seasonings, the Kiwi chef prepares dishes designed to emphasize the natural flavor of the food and allow those flavors to pop.

ORGANIC, FRESH, & ALLERGY FRIENDLY.

Our menu consists of locally sourced handgrown and predominantly organic produce; free-range and grass-fed organic meats; and fresh seafood that’s flown in directly from New Zealand and served less than 48 hours fresh out of the water. Our kitchen and waitstaff are dedicated to providing a welcoming and safe environment for guests with allergies and dietary restrictions. Whether you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, or otherwise, our chefs are always happy to accomodate you without sacrificing the flavors of the dish.

“SPECTACULAR TASTES...

EXQUISITE FOOD!” - The Acorn

“FASCINATING AND DELICIOUS” - Ventura County Star

• NO CORKAGE TUESDAY • $15 SQUARE MEAL EXPRESS BUSINESS LUNCH (Tues-Fri) • SUNDAY BRUNCH (10am-2:30pm) • HAPPY HOUR (5:30-6:30 Tues-Fri) 30990 Russell Ranch Rd, Unit C Westlake Village (805) 405-5054 ArohaRestaurant.com RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

DCH

Audi of oxnard

Beyond The Acorn

Publisher Lisa Rule Editor-in-Chief Leslie Gregory Haukoos Advertising Director Nick Oliveri Creative Director David McMartin art director Timm Sinclair photography director Richard Gillard editorial Contributing Writers Lisa Finn, Kyle Jorrey, Ela Lindsay, John Loesing, Allison Montroy, Erin Newman, Darleen Principe, Stephanie Sumell Copy Editors Erin Newman, Ela Lindsay editorial assistant Allison Montroy ART contributing designers Sarah Ely, David Lopez, West Ma채tita, Karma Christine Salvato, Beth Thayer WEB DESIGNER Beth Thayer

2016 Audi A3 1.8T

Lease for only

299

66

Per month for 36 Months Plus Tax 3 at this price. Stk#AX02220, AX02221, AX02222 Model #8VS57X. 36 monthly lease payments of $299.66, plus tax.

Amount due at start, $2,550 customer cash plus $750 Audi loyalty cash (Must be a current owner of a 2001 or newer Audi), ($3,300 total). No deposit required. Based on 7,500 miles per year (22,500 Total), excess miles charged at .25 cents per mile. on approved credit. Plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, $80 dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing, charge and any emission testing charge. Expires 12/01/15.

Fully Synthetic Oil Change Includes multi-point inspection with free detail.

99

$

advertising account executives Mona Uttal, Richard Singer, Sue Martin, Jennifer Carlo-Valdez, Diane Verner, Stacey Janson, Stephanie Alatorre Administrative controller Andy McGinnis administrative assistants Marilyn Burin, Donna Bondy Beyond the Acorn is published by the Acorn Newspaper Group in association with J. Bee NP Publishing, Ltd. Address correspondence to 30423 Canwood St., Ste. 108, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 706-0266.

Send editorial comments to: beyond@theacorn.com For advertising: beyondsales@theacorn.com

www.beyondtheacorn.com www.facebook.com/BeyondTheAcorn

.95

Service Special

For four cylinder gas engines only and it includes a new oil filter, fully synthetic oil up to 5 quarts. The special will include a multi-point inspection and a minor detail. Must mention Beyond The Acorn magazine for special.

1521 Auto Center Dr., Oxnard, California 93036

805-288-3800 | Learn more at www.DCHAuto.com

Perks of the job: Beyond photographers Joan Pahoyo and Michael Coons do a little taste-testing during the photo shoot at Maria's Italian Kitchen in Oxnard (page 28).

ALLISON MONTROY

$

photoGRAPHY staff photographers Michael Coons, Joan Pahoyo

Beyond the Acorn 2015 Lvhs Crespi.indd 1 9/2/15 1:54 PM

Beyond the Acorn 2015 Lvhs Crespi.indd 1

9/2/15 1:54 PM

Nelson De La Nuez

All Hail

the

neighbors

King OF POP

Written by Darleen Principe Photo by michael coons

It’s about noon on a Monday in early August. Nelson De La Nuez sports a white, V-neck T-shirt and blue jeans, both stamped with his own logo: a crown adorned with the words “King of Pop Art.” He settles comfortably into his off-white living room sofa, perches his right arm on the armrest and, without being asked a question, begins talking.

“We’re in the midst right now of getting ready for Art Aspen,” he says, referring to the annual summer art fair in Aspen, Colo., in which only the country’s most high-end galleries are invited to participate.

His tone is casual, but matter-of-fact.

Authoritative, yet friendly. It’s the tone of a man who’s tasted success, but hasn’t let it get to his head.

As De La Nuez continues speaking, he slouches further back into the couch and crosses one leg over the other.

12 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

His right arm, accessorized by three bead bracelets—red, gray and black—dangles over the edge of the armrest, while the other arm is outstretched along the top edge of the couch. He relaxes.

“This is our second year doing Art Aspen and it’s just been a great show for us,” he continues. “And I’ve got to drop off about 10 pieces at Bruce Lurie Gallery in Beverly Hills this Friday, so that’s why I’ve been working and pulling allnighters for the last week and a half.”

De La Nuez is used to keeping weird hours.

The night is the 56-year-old pop artist’s favorite time to escape to his private Simi Valley studio and lay paint to canvas.

A recent product of one such session hangs on the wall above the artist’s head, making a striking living room centerpiece. The painting, an early edition of his work titled “Graffiti is Not Art,” features Monopoly’s iconic Rich Uncle Pennybags being dragged away by a cop holding a baton.

The image is just like the board game’s “Go to Jail” Community Chest card, except instead of the plain yellow background, there’s

a colorful graffiti-filled wall. A can of spray paint is strewn on the floor and where the words “Go directly to jail” should be, it instead reads: “No graffiti.”

The piece is only one of dozens hanging throughout the Simi Valley home De La Nuez shares with his wife of 15 years, Stacy Bell De La Nuez—actress turned president of her husband’s Pop Land Studios. Yet it’s the perfect example of the artist’s M.O. “It’s the fact that I’ve taken an iconic character and put him in a different situation he’s never been in before,” he says. “The cleverness and the genius behind it is I take these characters and juxtapose them and use them as satire, and create a scene where . . . you kind of shock the viewer.”

But even more than that, this particular piece yells out De La Nuez’s strong stance against street art, a movement that has invaded the mainstream art world in recent years thanks to Banksy, Shepard Fairey and the like.

Although he credits both Banksy and Fairey for being “clever enough to use graffiti as a means of marketing themselves,” most other street art, De La Nuez says, “is like a dog pissing on a wall to make its mark.”

“It’s just such a cheap shot,” he says.

For the Cuban-born artist, graffiti is nothing more than vandalism. And it’s the wrong way to earn success, he says.

“You have to have art that’s controversial. You have to offend people. You’ve got to make them laugh. You’ve got to do all these things. But I’d rather do that through a gallery than become anonymous and play this whole hide-and-seek game just to get fame.”

Over the past decade especially, De La Nuez has worked very hard to make a name for himself and stand apart from other pop art big hitters like Peter Max and Michael Godard.

What makes him unique, he says, is he’s not married to just one style. He’s influenced by surrealism just as much as the images of pop culture. And his craft is constantly evolving.

“I don’t want to box myself into a specific look like some of these artists in the past,” he says. “I like to just take it up a notch and outdo myself. And that’s really what my audience looks forward to. It’s like I’m a magician and they don’t know what tricks I have up my sleeve.”

This strategy has proven to be a smart one.

Today his original works fetch thousands of dollars. His top collectors have included A-list celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and the late Michael Jackson. His work hangs in a Madison Avenue gallery in New York and he’s also recently been commissioned by Delta Air Lines to create an original set of paintings to hang in the exclusive Delta One VIP lounge.

How did he get here?

“I’ve just gotten better at my craft. My No. 1 thing is if I get better at my craft, I will be more successful. It’s just that simple.”

Nelson De La Nuez’s work will be on display locally until midJanuary at Bagatelle bistro at 755 N. La Cienega Blvd. in West Hollywood.

The artist is pictured with his piece "Material Girl."

At left, "Take the Money and Run."

I R S P r o b lems!

Call now for free consultation

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS “...We regained our piece of mind” “...Kash saved our marriage” “...I can sleep peacefully now” “...We strongly recommend Kash Chandani CPA”

Former IRS Agent

With Over 35 Years of Experience

• Settle Back Tax Debt • Offer In Compromise • Installment Agreements • Audit Representation • Stop IRS Levy & Seizure • End Wage Garnishment • Innocent Spouse • Tax Preparation & Expert Advice

1-800-LESS-4-IRS 1-800-537-7447 www.less4irs.com

Visit our website for client testimonials.

2815 Townsgate Rd. Suite 335 Westlake Village

“We Can Help! Don’t ignore the IRS, they will not go away.”

neighbors

Joe Till Craftsman performs sweet solo making custom instruments

Guitar Hero Written by JOHN LOESING

Photos by RICHARD GILLARD

Joe Till keeps an eye out for unusual wood he can use to build his custom guitars, which may mean repurposing a redwood-burl coffee table or vintage bookshelves.

Do what you love, and love what you do. How many of us get to say that about our professional careers?

In Westlake Village there’s a 55-year-old electric guitar maker whose whole life has been built around the love of his craft.

Joe Till, who grew up in Calabasas and Agoura Hills and went to Las Virgenes schools, followed in his father’s footsteps and tinkered with carpentry at a young age. Joe preferred playing the guitar—he made a living touring professionally with the Box Tops and the Drifters in the ’80s—but when his stage career slowed down he decided to put his woodshop skills to use.

“My drummer and I sat down after some $40 gig and decided to find something else to do. So I got into woodworking.”

Joe moved into a dusty, 800-square-foot La Baya 14 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Drive workshop in 1992 and began a second career as a carpenter and cabinetmaker.

His foray into guitar building came four years later when he found a beat-up flying V electric guitar at a swap meet one day and decided to rebuild it.

“My first chore was to see if I could make a new neck, and it just came to me. It was easy. . . . From that moment I knew what I wanted to do.”

Joe remains a one-man band (he’s not married), and often toils seven days a week in a shop strewn with tools, hardware, wood samples and guitars in a various stages of production. Nothing appears orderly, but everything is in its place.

He’s made more than 210 individually numbered guitars and basses. He used to sell them in retail music stores until the recession forced him to pull back. Today he marches to the beat of his own drum and only makes

guitars to order.

“That’s what drives me, and the end product is so satisfying.”

The world of Joe Till is all about wood selection, string intonation and neck construction— and doing it just exactly so. It takes him about 100 hours to build a single guitar.

Made in America is important to Joe. He sources wood locally and installs pickups manufactured by Santa Barbara-based Seymour Duncan.

It all starts with the wood.

Till necks are often maple and attached to bodies made of alder topped by maple laminate.

Mahogany is sometimes a choice. His favorite is myrtlewood, grown only on the West Coast. Some fretboards are made from the beautiful purpleheart wood.

And he’s not afraid to think outside the box. He built a doubleneck bass and six-string from a 200-year-old desk made of Hawaiian koa wood (the grain is stunning). And once he made 15 instruments out of a redwood-burl coffee table that he found at a Simi Valley swap meet. From the birdseye wood of a 1940s bookcase that he bought for $20 at a Camarillo Goodwill store, he constructed 10 guitar bodies, 20 necks and 15 fretboards.

“Everywhere I go I’m looking at tables and furniture to see how I can make a guitar,” he says. “One of the thrills of the business is

working with different woods. If it’s pretty it becomes a guitar.”

One special style guitar that Joe calls Lady on the Beach has a multi-piece maple and walnut laminated neck with a rosewood fretboard and cherry wood body.

“I own three to four different go-to guitars and that is one of them, along with a Les Paul,” says Brian Watson, a West Hills musician who’s known Joe for decades and purchased a Lady on the Beach. “It really is a beautiful guitar.”

Most guitar manufacturers employ computerized modeling, but not Joe. He might use the same body template over and over, but he does all the subsequent cutting, gluing and assembling of the wood by hand.

Calabasas resident Chris Soulios, a Till guitar player from the popular L.A. rock band Gone By Sunrise, calls Joe’s work “the best kept secret on the West Coast.”

Joe offers seven different body shapes at prices that range from $1,500 to $3,000. Compared to big-name models made in gargantuan quantities (think Gibson, Fender), the price is more than attractive.

“It’s a super competitive field and he does his best to differentiate himself,” Brian says.

The best part, says Joe: “No two guitars are ever the same.”

That in itself is priceless.

Storewide

Sale

25-60% off Leather Sofas - Bedding - Upholstery

Designer Rugs - Candles - Wall Art

31149 Via Colinas #601 Westlake Village, CA 91362 | 818-575-9783 | www.LagunaFurnishings.com

acornucopia

Online buys

Pinwheel Umbrella

This custom, hand-sewn signature umbrella is not only super cute, but also impermeable to sun, rain and wind thanks to its SPF 50 waterproof fabric.

And, with steel ribbing, it’s impossible to invert. Bring on the rainstorms! You’ll be ready—and looking fabulous. $188 shop.bellaumbrella.com (206) 297-1540

Written by ALLISON MONTROY

Tibor Kalman and Emanuela Frattini Magnusson’s creative design ensures that skies are blue even on the grayest of days.

The cheery umbrella also features a manual open/close mechanism and classic wood handle. $55 www.momastore.org (800) 851-4509

RAIN CHECK El Niño is on the way and we’re feeling optimistic. Get rain ready with our roundup of gear to keep you happy and dry.

Dog Raincoat

Whether your pup prefers drizzly morning walks or rainy afternoons playing at the park, this machine-washable jacket will have your canine covered. Not only is Thundershirt’s outerwear raincoat incredibly cute, it is also functional, lightweight and has a reflective stripe along the back. $14.95 www.thundershirt.com (866) 892-2078

Batman Raincoat

Holy raincoat, Batman! Imaginations will save the day when kids don Western Chief’s Caped Crusader raincoat with attached Batman hood and detachable cape. The waterproof outer shell will keep young superheroes dry as they brave the rain. $49.95 www.westernchief.com (800) 925-7463

Bucket Hat

Don’t let rainy day frizz get you down. Designer Joomi Lim’s bucket hat with plated gold spheres is the perfect accent piece for any rainy day outfit.

The polyurethane hat has a cotton sweatband and net lining to keep your head cool and dry. $143 www.terranewyork.com (347) 291-7630

Saloi Jedi

Sky Umbrella

Tribeca Trench

LIONEL KORETZKY

This polyurethane trench coat is meticulously crafted and designed with style in mind, helping you look effortlessly chic as you hail a cab—or maneuver the school parking lot. $375 www.terranewyork.com (347) 291-7630

Bubble Cabin

Don’t let a little rain keep you from a night under the stars—or clouds. With this inflatable, transparent tent, which uses a small fan to keep air circulating, you can take glamping to a whole new level—and listen to the raindrops while staying cozy and dry. $2,990 www.bubblecabins.com (866) 360-6370

Purse Poncho

Don’t let your bag get caught in the downpour—The Charlotte

by Gussy keeps your purse protected under a waterresistant microfiber poncho while the tromp l’oeil design keeps you looking polished and poised. $45 www.thegussy.com

Rain boots

Even the rainiest days will feel cheery and bright when you’re wearing these classically cute Chooka rubber rain boots with adjustable leather straps.

Whether you favor fun prints or a pop of color, these boots offer a timeless style and will be your go-to for years to come. $70 www.chookaboot.com (800) 925-7463

acornucopia

Shops Written by Erin newman Photos by joan pahoyo

Threads KIDS' CLOTHING

Locally owned shops are rare these days, but Popular in Calabasas is an exception. A range of trendy styles for babies, kids, tweens and even moms and dads can be found there at mid-range prices. Head north to the funky beach community near Pierpont Beach in Ventura for The Crabby Baby, a great little shop with hip clothing, cool shoes and unique toys that can’t be found anywhere else.

Bigger chain retailers can offer value along with originality. If you’re looking to outfit tots in edgy yet luxe attire, search no further than M.Fredric, a chic L.A.-based boutique with trendsetting designer pieces for the whole family. Its two Conejo Valley locations are stocked with duds dedicated to infants, teens and everything in between. Those looking for clothing that is traditionally classic in style should check out Janie and Jack, which offers timeless pieces for children up to age 8. Gymboree is known for its darling, themed collections that are not only adorable but high-quality and durable for newborn to age 12. The Children’s Place carries stylish and fun togs for babies, boys and girls at prices that won’t put a big dent in your wallet.

For families on a strict budget but still looking for variety and quality, thrift and consignment shops may fit the bill. Cribs 2 Teens 2nd Time Around in Simi Valley is chock-full of gently used name-brand clothing for infants through size 14 at 50 to 75 percent below retail. Baby gear and toys are also available.

Worth the drive to midtown Ventura is Little Birdy Lane, an adorable kids and maternity consignment shop whose owners are dedicated to fostering an ecoconscious society by providing “like-new” clothing and equipment. The shop also offers a free music and movement class each week. Also, a variety of used babies’ and children’s clothing can be found at the Arc Thrift Stores, with locations in Oxnard and Ventura.

Where to Shop Popular Parkway Calabasas Shopping Center 23528 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (818) 222-2511 www.thepopularstore.com

Janie and Jack* The Oaks, 468 W. Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks (805) 418-9852 www.janieandjack.com

The Crabby Baby 1058 S. Seaward Ave., Studio 1, Ventura (805) 628-3944 www.thecrabbybaby.com

Gymboree* The Commons at Calabasas 4719 Commons Way, Calabasas (818) 876-0094

M.Fredric Kids Gelson’s Village, 22283 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas (818) 223-8400

The Oaks, 290 W. Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks (805) 496-1510 www.gymboree.com

Westlake Plaza, 982 S. Westlake Blvd.

Suite 14, Westlake Village (805) 777-1007 www.mfredric.com/kids

The Children’s Place* The Oaks, 190 W. Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks (805) 449-1713 www.childrensplace.com

Cribs 2 Teens 2nd Time Around Thrift Store 2139 Tapo St., Simi Valley (805) 306-1246 www.cribs2teens.biz Little Birdy Lane 2538 E. Main St., Ventura (805) 667-8232 www.littlebirdylane.com The Arc of Ventura County Thrift Stores 625 North Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard 265 East Main St., Ventura (805) 650-8611 www.arcvc.org * These retailers also have outlet locations at: Camarillo Premium Outlets 740 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo (805) 445-8520 www.premiumoutlets.com/camarillo

Top: for children who want to feel like mini movie stars, M.Fredric Kids may be just the place. Above: the pajama wall at Popular is complete with cuddly dolls and pillows to bring to bed.

around the table

Mexican Drinking Chocolate

sweet Seduction

Chocolate “If there’s no chocolate in Heaven, I’m not going.”

—Jane Seabrook, “Furry Logic Laugh at Life” Photos by Richard gillard and Michael coons

S

infully sweet and so indulgent. And now we’re hearing reports that chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) can actually be good for you. Its main ingredient, at least, has landed on the list of foods with positive health benefits.

Cocoa, from a plant grown in equatorial regions, is full of antioxidant flavonoids—naturally occurring molecules and compounds that protect many plants from dangerous wounds, pests, disease and self-destructive cells. Those flavonoids are good for people too, reducing the risks of cancer, high cholesterol and strokes all while encouraging a healthy heart.

Before Milton Hershey, John Cadbury and Henri Nestle had their way with it, chocolate was not so deliciously sweet. According to Aztec legend, the cacao plant was first brewed into a frothy, spicy divine drink of Mesoamerican gods in ancient Central America.

Quetzalcoatl, the god of delight who loved his people as much as his chocolate, believed that everyone should be able to enjoy cocoa.

Risking everything, he stole the cacao plants from the other gods, brought them to earth and taught the Toltecs to harvest the pods so that they, too, could enjoy the aphrodisiacal drink, which they called xocolatl.

Once chocolate hit Europe in the 17th century, people got creative with it, grinding the cocoa into powder, molding chocolate bars and adding sugar and butter to make the creamy confections we all know and love today.

—Allison Montroy

20 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

For the folks at Tifa, with shops at the Whizin Market Square in Agoura Hills and at The Shoppes at Westlake Village, the secret ingredient to making wonderful chocolate is making it as a family. Candace Orr whipped up this luxurious drinking chocolate for us, a smooth, rich dessert with a snap of spice.

Are you a PLANNER or a

CRISIS MANAGER?

Mexican Drinking Chocolate

Serves 2 5 oz. dark chocolate (64-70%) ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon ¼ tsp. ground cayenne pepper 4½ oz. half and half 2 dollops whipped crème fraîche

Break chocolate bar into small pieces and place in small mixing bowl.

Add cinnamon and cayenne (adjust cayenne for heat level).

Place bowl in larger mixing bowl containing hot water to soften chocolate.

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk crème fraîche until thick.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

In small pan, on low to medium heat, warm half and half to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add half and half to chocolate mixture, stirring with a small whisk or spatula until chocolate is melted.

Mixture should be warm and thick, the consistency of pudding. Pour into glass. Spoon dollop of crème fraîche on top and serve immediately.

Chef Mary Bergin, director of culinary operations at Westlake Culinary Institute, has a rich history with chocolate. Among her many credentials: serving several years as Spago’s executive pastry chef and authoring the award-winning cookbook “Spago Chocolate” with Judy Gethers. Her Tartufo is positively decadent.

Chocolate Tartufo

Serves 8-12 9 oz. bittersweet chocolate bar 3 egg yolks ⅓ cup granulated sugar ½ cup water 1 cup heavy cream 2 Tbsp. raspberry liqueur, Chambord or framboise

Grate 3 oz. of chocolate and place in medium bowl. Chill until needed.

Cut remaining 6 oz. of chocolate into small chunks and, in a medium bowl, melt chocolate over a double boiler. Keep warm.

In the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whip, whip egg yolks until thick.

While the egg yolks are whipping, in a small saucepan over high heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil until the syrup spins a thread (230 degrees).

Remove the syrup from the heat and, with the mixer running on lowest speed, carefully pour the syrup into the egg yolks. Raise the speed to medium and continue beating until the mixture is

Founded in 1997, LTCR is one of the leading long-term care insurance distributors, having helped over 400,000 individuals with their long-term care planning needs.

Call or email today for your

Free

2015 Resource Guide Office located at 2649 Townsgate Road, Suite 100 Westlake Village 805.413.7420 • mveta@ltcr.com education.ltcr.com/v/mveta CA License #OC85229

cooled and very thick. Scrape in the melted chocolate and beat until incorporated. The mixture will be stiff.

Gradually, pour in the heavy cream, beating at medium to high speed as needed until smooth. Add the raspberry liqueur and continue to beat for another 30 seconds. Pour the mixture into a shallow pan and freeze, covered with plastic wrap, until firm enough to shape, about 3 hours.

Chocolate Tartufo

To shape the Tartufo:

Line a baking sheet with parchment. Scoop out the tartufo with an ice cream scoop and roll in the grated chocolate. Form a large, smooth oval and set each one on the baking sheet. Freeze until firm. Serve right from the freezer.

Recipe courtesy of Mary Bergin and Judy Gethers, “Spago Chocolate,” Random House, NYC.

Sandrine and Ludovic Gaudin, the owners of Chocolatine in Thousand Oaks, offer a luscious—and versatile—truffles recipe, a customer favorite. A simple change of topping gives these yummies a whole new flair.

Chocolate Truffles

Makes 20 truffles 10 oz. 68% chocolate bar * 3½ oz. unsalted butter 2 egg yolks 4½ oz. powdered sugar 1 Tbsp. whole milk 1½ oz. whipping cream

Break chocolate bar in small pieces and place in medium saucepan.

Chocolate ON PAGE 56

Chocolate Truffles

Thousand Oaks

18 Featuring: Over 370 Vendors - Live Entertainment Kids Zone - Easy Parking FREE ADMISSION

Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks

jbfsale.com

OďŹƒcial Host Hotel BEST WESTERN PLUS

Cottage of

curious finds Written by Leslie Gregory Haukoos Photos by Joan Pahoyo

I

t’s not unusual to see Jennifer Grey leaving her Newbury Park home at 4:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning in her empty pickup truck, equipped only with a flashlight and her taste for a great flea-market find.

First thing in the morning is when you’ll happen on the real gems, she says. Sometimes she spots them when the vendors are still unpacking their trucks before sunrise. That’s why Jennifer brings a flashlight, so she can get a closer look at just what’s coming off those trucks and nab the good pieces before anyone else has a chance to even see them. She’s on the lookout for what she calls “curious finds,” things quirky, sometimes valuable, but mostly unexpected.

Flea marketing kind of runs in the interior designer’s blood. Her grandparents used to sell things at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, one of the oldest markets in town. “My mom would take me to the Salvation Army when I was a kid,” she

says. “I’d have my $2 to spend. When I was about 8 years old I found a Baby Ben clock. The man at the Salvation Army said, ‘You don’t want this. It’s broken.’ But I said, ‘Yes, I do.’” That clock was one of Jennifer’s first treasures. “Even early on I loved the old stuff.”

Jennifer credits a neighbor with training her in the ways of flea marketing. “I was 24 when I met her. I would see her coming home with her old red wagon filled with things. I saw she could make a living at it.” That neighbor taught Jennifer about crystal, glass and jewelry as well as how to detect flea market treasures.

“At some point I thought it would be fun to bring these things into my home. I wanted to live with these pieces.”

That, coupled with what she describes as “being thirsty Cottage ON PAGE 59

There are stories behind so many of Jennifer Grey's home furnishings. Right, the master bedroom headboard is an old fireplace mantel. Jennifer spied it looking neglected in someone's yard. She stopped her car, asked the homeowner if she was willing to sell and brought it home with her. Above, a detail from the dining room shelves where cotton branches make an unexpected appearance in a vintage pitcher.

Courtesy of Jennifer Grey

Jennifer Grey, an antique dealer and interior designer, began her online business and blog 12 years ago. The blog, found at her website www.theoldpaintedcottage.com, has over 30,000 followers.

The kitchen island does double duty as a breakfast counter and workspace. Jennifer painted the surface with chalk paint to imitate the look of slate. Left, the children's armoire in the entry is one of the designer's flea market treasures, discovered as it was being unloaded from the vendor's truck.

26 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Jennifer's husband, Adam, built the wall-to-wall dining room buffet. Shelves above are ideal for showcasing antiques and vintage finds. Right, an oversized mirror rests against the living room wall. The coffee table is an old factory cart.

Feeling inspired?

If you like Jennifer’s cottage style, check out Topanga Vintage Market. That’s the designer’s favorite source for the kinds of treasures she has in her home.

Located on the Pierce College campus, Victory Boulevard at Mason Avenue in Woodland Hills, Topanga Vintage Market is open the fourth Sunday of every month. www.topangavintagemarket.com Another fun source is the Ventura Flea Market.

Held on Sundays, six times a year, Ventura’s only and original flea market is steps from the ocean at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. www.rgcshows.com

Fall 2015 | beyond The Acorn.com 27

Family Affair Home-cooked meals steeped in tradition is what Maria's Italian Kitchen is all about Written by STEPHANIE SUMELL

Photos by MICHAEL COONS

M

adelyn Alfano looks back with nostalgia on the days when she and her four siblings worked alongside their parents, Donald and Maria, at their Brentwood market.

The family of seven, who moved to California from New York when Madelyn was still in elementary school, spent long afternoons together mopping, cashiering, helping customers and stocking shelves before heading home in the evening for a home-cooked meal in their tiny West Los Angeles home.

Arguments were inevitable, she remembers, and the theatrical nature of her Italian-American family was not lost on the customers.

“Half the time, people would come in for the entertainment value,” Madelyn remembers. “My mother would be yelling at my father, my father would be yelling at my mother, people were cursing . . . my friends say my family is like the show ‘The Sopranos’ without the violence.”

Every day at the store was different, but one thing remained the same: selling, serving and eating fresh and delicious food was at the heart of everything they did.

It still is. With the help of her family, Madelyn has built a successful chain of restaurants that pay homage to neighborhood eateries of another era.

Maria’s Italian Kitchen, named for Madelyn’s mother, now 82 years old, has locations in Agoura Hills, Brentwood, Encino, Marina del Rey, Northridge, Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, West Los Angeles and Woodland Hills. The newest Maria’s Italian Kitchen opened at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard in January.

The restaurants, all of which are lined with framed photographs of her immediate and extended family, have a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The displays include her grandparents’ wedding photos, pictures from her childhood, shots of her Uncle Mikey with Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland in the 1950s and images of her own children.

“I have an Italian heritage and I am proud of that Maria's Italian Kitchen namesake Maria Alfano and her daughter Madelyn are the heart and soul of the business.

Photo courtesy of Maria's Italian kitchen

Menu

Serves 4 to 8, family style

When the family sits down to this harvest feast, no one will leave the table wanting.

Clockwise, from foreground: pumpkin ravioli, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin harvest lasagna, organic baby lettuce and spinach salad and roasted Brussels sprouts.

Organic Baby Lettuce and Spinach Salad Roasted Cauliflower Pumpkin Ravioli Pumpkin Harvest Lasagna Roasted Brussels Sprouts Pumpkin Cheesecake Apple Cake Milan Cocktail

For dessert, Maria's apple cake and pumpkin cheesecake. And while you're lingering at the table, try a Milan cocktail, a Maria's original.

Italian heritage. Our culture is not something written on a piece of paper. We live it,” Madelyn explains.

She says guests come to the restaurants to enjoy authentic Italian cuisine. The meatballs and sausages are family recipes—made entirely from scratch—and the rosemary bread is practically famous.

Maria’s meat lasagna, a winning combination of homemade meat sauce, pasta, seasoned ricotta and mozzarella, is one of its bestsellers. The eggplant Parmesan, which takes hours to prepare, is also popular.

Executive chef Jose Gonzales says every dish—from the pasta Bolognese to the classic cheesecake—is thoughtfully prepared. The restaurant does not use many heavy creams or sauces, but rather, opts for “clean and fresh” flavors that complement each other.

“Italian food is about simplicity,” he says. “It’s about building layers of flavor so that every ingredient has a purpose.”

That kind of care preparing, cooking and serving food follows a precedent set many years ago by Madelyn’s mother and grandmother.

Madelyn’s Hoboken, N.J.-born mother, Maria, learned by watching her mother, a native of Naples, Italy, make home-cooked meals for her family. Those cooking lessons came in handy later on when Maria and her husband moved their young family across the

country to open their Brentwood grocery store.

Maria, who refused to let surplus meat and produce go to waste, began cooking meals for the family on a portable skillet in the back of the store. Customers liked what they smelled and, before long, the matriarch was selling freshly-cooked meals at the market.

The makeshift operation expanded in 1975 when the couple converted a garage next to the grocery store into a take-out restaurant. The original Maria’s Italian Kitchen was open for business— and it thrived. It was not unusual to see a line of customers winding around the parking lot waiting to order.

Madelyn continued to help her parents run the two family businesses on weekends and during breaks while studying psychology at UCLA. The admitted “organizer and list maker,” was especially helpful in creating job descriptions and establishing uniform codes.

“They did everything old school. I brought some more business acumen to the business.” She continued to work for her mom and dad after college until they sold the market to a new owner.

The transition was an opportunity for the young businesswoman to strike out on her own.

“The person they sold the market to did not know how to run the meat department and my mother volunteered me to help.”

FAMILY AFFAIR ON PAGE 60

Pumpkin Ravioli

Staff at Maria's are like extended family. District Operations Manager Don Froehlich, who has been on the Maria's team for 30 years, went to high school with Madelyn.

Organic Baby Lettuce and Spinach Salad 16 3 6 8 6 6 6

oz. mixed greens oz. crispy pancetta oz. blue cheese crumble oz. white button mushrooms, sliced oz. toffee walnuts oz. balsamic vinaigrette oz. dried cranberries

Combine all ingredients except the greens in a mixing bowl, tossing well.

Place greens in a separate serving bowl. Top with mixed ingredients. Serve.

Roasted Cauliflower

2 2 2 2 4 2 1

heads cauliflower oz. extra virgin olive oil pinches of kosher salt pinches of black ground pepper oz. lemon vinaigrette dressing* oz. bread crumbs lemon for lemon zest

Remove leaves from cauliflower, wash. Cut cauliflower into 1 oz. florets. Place in a mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt, pepper and mix well.

Place cauliflower on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven at 450° until lightly browned, about 12-15 minutes.

Remove from oven and place on a large platter. Top with lemon dressing, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and lemon zest. Serve hot. * Lemon vinaigrette dressing is available at most major supermarkets.

3 6 ½ 2

lbs. pumpkin ravioli* oz. butter oz. fresh sage, chopped oz. Parmesan cheese, shaved Kosher salt to taste Ground black pepper to taste

Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Boil ravioli until soft, about 4 to 5 minutes. Strain.

In a large sauté pan, combine butter and sage and cook until light brown. Season with salt and pepper.

Mix ravioli into the brown butter sage sauce and coat well. Place on a large serving platter and garnish with Parmesan cheese. Serve hot. *Available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market or through Maria’s Italian Kitchen.

Pumpkin Harvest Lasagna 8 5 34 32 32 16 16

oz. béchamel sauce 6" x 8" carrot pasta sheets* oz. pumpkin puree oz. cooked ground chicken oz. roasted butternut squash oz. fontina cheese, shredded oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350°. Spread 2 oz. of béchamel sauce on the bottom of a 6" x 8" baking dish. Place one sheet of pasta on top of spread. Spread 2 oz. of pumpkin puree and 2 oz. of béchamel sauce on top of pasta.

Place 8 oz. of ground chicken, 8 oz. of pumpkin puree, 8 oz. squash and 4 oz. of each type of cheese evenly in pan. Repeat three times, finishing with a layer of pasta on top. Spread remaining béchamel on top of the top layer of pasta. Cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Bake for 50 minutes. *Available at Whole Foods Market or through Maria’s Italian Kitchen.

MARIA'S RECIPES ON PAGE 61

RIDE OF A LIFETIME D

aniel Schoenewald can still describe in detail the bike that birthed a lifelong obsession.

A British-made Norton Commando, the motorcycle belonged to a man from Libya’s Fezzan region named Salah.

Schoenewald, 14 at the time, the son of a Mobil Oil geologist living in the historic city of Tripoli, was en route to the beach with two friends when they spotted a dust cloud rising from a nearby sand dune. Out from the dust rode Salah on a bright red Commando, its engine screaming.

“I yelled ‘Hey, hey, come over here!’ and waved him down. And we got to talking, and talking and talking, and pretty soon, the girls take off to the beach and I’m still sitting here talking about the motorcycle,” he recalls.

“I went home that night and put a sheet over my head and . . . all I could hear was the parallel-twin (engine), the hemispherical head. I knew then what a motorcycle should look like, what it should sound like. And I said, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to buy a bike just like Salah’s.’ And now I have all of them.”

Written by Kyle Jorrey Photos by Michael Coons

;

Motorcycle collector extraordinaire Daniel Schoenewald stands with one of his most prized possessions—actor Steve McQueen's 1942 Indian Scout, the King of Cool's favorite bike.

;l

“I look at that bike and I see art, the art of the motorcycle,” says collector Daniel Schoenewald.... “You find a really good balance in a motorcycle; it's part art, part finely engineered product.”

Schoenewald’s complete set of Commandos—one of the sport’s most sought-after models—is like few others in the world. But the 11 bikes made between 1968 and 1976 are just a small taste of what the successful businessman has in his one-of-a-kind collection.

Since 1993, Schoenewald has taken into his possession no fewer than 120 motorcycles, 118 of which he currently stores on the second floor of his Camarillo business, Advanced Motion Controls, a leading manufacturer of servo drives, essential components in motion control systems used by a wide range of industries.

“I’ve sold a few bikes, and I’ve given a few bikes away. . . but since ’93, I decided not to let many go,” he says, trying to hide a smile.

“I look at that bike and I see art, the art of the motorcycle,” he goes on, pointing to a vintage Indian Triumph just a few feet from the over-sized elevator used to transport the bikes to the street. “There’s a balance between engineering and art. You find a really good balance in a motorcycle; it’s part art, part finely engineered product.”

Arranged row by row, grouped according to year, make and model, Schoenewald’s fleet of high-performance sport bikes (there’s no Harley in this lot) is one of Ventura County’s best-kept secrets, stowed away in a nondescript 85,000-square-foot industrial building off Flynn Road. But more impressive than the sight of so many rare Ducatis, Triumphs and Kawasakis in one place, is the fact that nearly all are in perfect riding condition.

Schoenewald, who says he’s ridden all but two of the bikes, doesn’t label his motorcycle mecca a museum because it’s more of a super garage, a place where the bike fanatic can keep his play things, because, well, where else could he park them?

“I don’t want to be the guy that says ‘Don’t touch it, don’t look at it, just be happy for me.’ I want a bike that rides.”

A CEO of an international company responsible for 140 employees and millions in annual revenue, Schoenewald still regularly rides a motorcycle to and from work. When he’s not on the job, the father of two loves nothing more than to grab a few friends and take his toys out on the road, usually at high speeds. He’s taken groups on rides from Seattle and St. Louis to California in recent years.

Schoenewald prides himself on acquiring all of the bikes in a particular set; for instance, he owns all the Ducati Desmosedicis (top). He also collects historic bikes, like the 1937 Vincent Black Lightning and the 1969 Kawasaki H1.

“There’s nothing like having six great friends on all these bikes that look alike,” he says of his Norton collection. “You’re coming through town—the sound, the fury, the smoke, the glamour. There’s nothing like it.”

The speeding bikes help quench the 61-year-old’s lifelong thirst for adventure, a trait he picked up from his father, a native of Casper, Wyoming. Born in Anaco, Venezuela, Schoenewald spent the first 16 years of his life living abroad while his father chased new caches of oil, including in Libya, where Schoenewald saw the bike that started it all.

“Up until that point I was all about baseball. Baseball, baseball, baseball. But the moment I saw that bike, I mean I was just mesmerized,” he says.

In spite of his obsession, the younger Schoenewald wouldn’t get his own bike until after high school, when his father finally bought one to “shut me the (heck) up,” as he tells it.

Having traveled so much of the globe, Schoenewald has a unique appreciation and understanding of world history, and his collection is no exception.

Besides the impossible to find Japanese, Italian and British sport bikes, the Schoenewald Collection also includes Steve McQueen’s beloved 1942 Indian Scout and a 1937 Vincent Black Lightning, the same type of motorcycle used by the legendary Rollie Free to break the land-speed record in Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948. One of his most prized? A Rickman Metisse he bought from a local pharmacist for $8,000. The bike is valued at over $20,000.

“It’s the Holy Grail,” he says of the Metisse.

So how can you see Schoenewald’s collection? Well, you can’t, at least not without a personal tour from the collector himself. He does lend out his motorcycles for exhibit from time to time in support of local nonprofits like the Santa Paula Oil Museum, but otherwise, the bikes are mainly for family and friends to enjoy. At least for now.

Schoenewald, who calls the motorcycles his “401(k),” says he may one day open up a “collection within a collection” and display a few of the bikes at a time. For now, he’s too busy enjoying them.

“They find me, and I find them,” he says of his motorcycles. “Sometimes I’m just minding my own business and a bike shows up. . . . Motorcycles are like drugs, they’re everywhere.

Only I can say ‘no’ to drugs.”

Head out on the highway...

Gaviota Wind Caves photo: Josh McNair, CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com

photo: Josh McNair, CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com

1

Refugio State Beach is a paradisiacal pitstop just north of Santa Barbara.

21

The Gaviota Wind Caves are fascinating sandstone formations.

One of many great local rides is the loop that hugs the coast past Santa Barbara, heads north/east to Solvang then follows the 154 past Lake Cachuma and back to Santa Barbara. For other rides, check out www.motorcycleroads.com.

3

Feed the 50 roaming emus and ostriches at Ostrichland USA.

Buellton

4

The Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum houses a collection of rare motorcycles.

246

5

3

78.5 miles Approximately 1 hr. 40 min.

4

Solvang

154

5

101

6

Lake Cachuma has great fishing, boating and shady picnic spots.

6

Once a stagecoach stop, Cold Spring Tavern is now known for its legendary tri-tip.

7

Old Mission Santa Barbara is the 10th of 21 missions founded by the Spanish in the 1700s.

2 Gaviota

1 101

Santa Barbara

7

Chumash The Faces of

An ancient culture lives on through descendants who keep the fires lit Written by Ela Lindsay and Erin Newman Photos by MICHAEL COONS

T

he modern population of Southern California is not the first to enjoy the region’s spectacular beauty, rich resources and temperate climate.

Several groups of Native Americans have flourished here for thousands of years, including the Chumash—pronounced Shumash—whose settlements stretched from Malibu to San Luis Obispo along the coast, in valleys and on the northern Channel Islands.

Evidence of Chumash civilization dates back 10,000 to 12,000 years.

The Chumash people existed in simple relationships with each other, the land, animals, sky, wind, the sun and the moon. They believed that everything had a spirit and that those spirits communicated with one another.

Families lived in thatched domed houses, called ’aps. Ground acorns were a staple food, along with sea life. Chumash fisherman traveled up and down the coast in plank canoes, called tomols, hunting marine resources. The Chumash lived fairly peaceably with other local tribes, often trading with them using shell beads as currency.

The people thrived until the mission system imposed by the Spanish in the late 1700s and early 1800s devastated the Chumash, whose way of life and language suffered greatly. European diseases nearly wiped out the Chumash—only 200 were left by 1900.

Today, people with Chumash ancestry are scattered throughout the Central Coast and number between 4,000 and 5,000. Ventureno Chumash, named for their dialect, are prevalent in the Conejo Valley and surrounding areas. Chumash descendants do not have a tribal land to call their own aside from the Santa Ynez band, the only federally recognized group of Chumash, known for their Chumash Casino. Other bands include the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation, the Barbareno/Ventureno Band of Mission Indians, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and the Barbareno Chumash Council.

Today’s Chumash people strive to keep their cultural inheritance alive through songs, storytelling, language, basketry and canoeing. As a group they are also committed to protecting the lush land that their people have inhabited for thousands of years.

Beverly Folkes

Thousand Oaks resident Beverly Folkes has listened to the stories of her ancestors all her life; stories told by her grandfather Antonio Ortega and mother, Vera Ortega Salazar. She carries on this tradition, appearing as a storyteller at special events in the community.

A Chumash elder, Folkes often represents the Native community at blessings and groundbreaking events. As an active member of the Native American Monitoring Group in Thousand Oaks, she works with archaeologists and other public works teams to oversee sacred native areas to ensure any remains and artifacts are handled according to Chumash tradition. She strives to leave a legacy of teaching the importance of protecting the land.

Right: the sun sets behind a replica 'ap, or dwelling, at the Chumash Discovery Village in Malibu.

Mati “Little Hawk” Waiya

Chumash ceremonial leader Mati Waiya, “Little Hawk,” a lifelong resident of Ventura County, created the Wishtoyo Foundation in Malibu in 1997. The nonprofit promotes cultural and ocean conservation through its Chumash Marine Stewardship Program.

In teaching about environmental preservation and his tribe’s values, and to preserve the culture, language and history of the Chumash, Waiya often appears in full regalia to present programs in the community. He also performs with fellow Chumash Dolphin Dancers and sings tribal songs.

Waiya is the first Native American to be named a “Keeper” in the Waterkeeper Alliance created by Robert Kennedy, Jr., a global movement for “swimmable, drinkable and fishable water worldwide.”

Dennis Garcia

Educator and storyteller Dennis Garcia teaches about traditional ways through music and presentations.

In Chumash regalia, wearing tribal necklaces and red face paint traditionally donned for protection, Garcia sings songs and tells stories while also displaying rattles and clapper sticks.

He also displays the soapstone carvings made by his brother, Chief Ted Garcia Jr.

Garcia is of Chumash, Tataviam, Tongva and Vanyume ancestry. The Garcias’ father, Ted Garcia Sr., and grandmother, Chief Mary Cooke Garcia, are direct descendants of early 1700s members of the Chaguayabit village, now known as Castaic Junction.

Above, center: Chumash ceremonies, blessings and celebrations are held in this gathering circle at Discovery Village in Malibu.

Alan “Spirit Hawk” Salazar

As a traditional storyteller, Alan Salazar makes it his mission to share Chumash culture with students and communities throughout California and abroad. This past summer, he visited Bath, England, lecturing at the American Museum and at several schools about the Chumash ways.

Salazar, who lives in Ventura, is also a traditional paddler of Chumash ocean plank canoes, called tomols, and has paddled all of his ancestors’ longestablished, historic routes from the mainland to the Channel Islands.

As a Chumash monitor, Salazar also works to protect ancient village hunting and rock-art sites.

In a word

The influence of the Chumash is all around us. Here are some familiar names that evolved from Chumashan, a family of languages now extinct.

Simi Valley (Shimiyi): “threadlike clouds” Tapo Canyon (Ta’apu): “yucca” Malibu (Humaliwo): “the surf sounds loudly” Topanga (Topa’nga): “above” Calleguas (KayÏwÏsh): “my head” Satwiwa: “the bluffs” Point Mugu (Muwu): “beach” Port Hueneme (Wene’mu): “resting place” Pismo Beach (Pismu): “tar” Castaic (Kashtiq or Kashtük): “my eyes” Saticoy (Sati’koi): “sheltered from the wind” Ojai (’Awha’y): “moon” Anacapa Island (Anyapah): “mirage”

Coyote Brush Treated poison oak rashes and used as kindling.

Deer Grass Inland Chumash used stalks as weft in traditional coil-weave baskets.

California Poppy California’s state flower was also the Chumash symbol of love.

Basket Grass Primary material used in outer strands of Chumash Indian basket weaving.

California wild rose

Mugwort (Molush) Powerful astringent, antibacterial and vasoconstrictor. Also used as a purifying smudge smoke in the form of moxibustion (burning of an herb on certain points on the body).

Coffeeberry (Puq’) Bark used as laxative and purgative.

Blue Elderberry Hollow stems split and used to store small items or made into musical clapper sticks, a rhythm instrument. Berries made into jam and syrup.

California blackberry

California Hummingbird Sage (Qims) Used for tea, medicinal remedy, and antimicrobial healing salves.

Toyon (Qwe’) Red berries a nutritious food source. Wood used to make traditional big-game arrows, harpoons, digging sticks, acorn mush paddles, long needles, fish hooks and hide scrapers.

Blue elderberry

Giant Wild Rye (Stemelel) Stalks used for arrows, roof thatching material, and as a food source.

California Blackberry (Tiq’itiq) Berries known for juicy, sweet flavor. Leaves and flowers heal bruises and scrapes.

Lemonadeberry (Walqaqs) Berries are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, Vitamin C. Wood used as firewood. Plant closely related to poison oak.

Coffeeberry

California Lilac (Washiko) Rot-resistant wood used for fence posts, feathered ceremonial poles and to treat inflammation and infection.

California Wild Rose (Washtiq’oliq’ol) Dried, powdered petals used as baby powder; rosehips eaten for calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin C.

Toyon

California Sagebrush (Kopsheek) Powerful medicine that supported the body during acute bacterial and viral infections, postpartum troubles and muscle and joint pain. Dried sticks made good fire drills for starting small fires.

California Sycamore (Xso’) Wood used for bowls, cups and construction. Leaves played key role in leaching toxins out of acorn flour.

40 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Lemonadeberry

Explore

Experience the world of the Chumash by venturing out to these centers and events

The Chumash Indian Museum, a living history center, is located on an historic Chumash site in the Lang Ranch area of Thousand Oaks and features exhibits, events and educational programs.

3290 Lang Ranch Pkwy., Thousand Oaks www.chumashindianmuseum.com (805) 492-8076 The Wishtoyo Foundation’s Chumash Discovery Village offers a glimpse of what Chumash life was like. This recreation of a village with dwellings, canoes, tools and handicrafts serves as a center for ceremonies and celebrations. Guided tours are available by appointment.

Nicholas Canyon County Beach Park 33904 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu www.wishtoyo.org (424) 644-0088 In addition to a permanent exhibit that explores the Chumash and their natural world, the Museum of Ventura County has added a new outdoor children’s learning space that includes a Chumash ’ap (dwelling) reconstructed by an Eagle Scout.

100 East Main St., Ventura www.venturamuseum.org (805) 653-0323 Working closely with the Chumash community performing ongoing research and artifact identification, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is the region’s center of Chumash knowledge.

The collection features rare Chumash basketry, photographs, dioramas and original manuscripts of the lost Chumash languages and dialects.

2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara www.sbnature.org (805) 682-4711 Explore ON PAGE 63

California wild rose and California blackberry Courtesy of NPS/Keir Morse

The Chumash people lived in close harmony with their natural environment. Many of the native plants we are familiar with served very practical purposes in daily Chumash life. Here are a few, with their Chumash name included when available.

Courtesy of NPS

Native Plants

AAHEALTHIER HEALTHIER YOU YOUSTARTS STARTS WITH WITHTHE THEYY

AFTER AFTER SCHOOL SCHOOL CHILDCARE CHILDCARE & FALL & FALL PROGRAM PROGRAM REGISTRATION REGISTRATION IS IS NOW NOW OPEN OPEN

PROGRAMS PROGRAMS FLAG FLAG FOOTBALL FOOTBALL ADVENTURE ADVENTURE GUIDES GUIDES YOUTH YOUTH & GOVERNMENT & GOVERNMENT

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

ACTIVE ACTIVE YOUTH YOUTH WATER WATER POLO POLO

GROUP GROUP FITNESS FITNESS CLASSES CLASSES

SWIM SWIM TEAM TEAM

STRENGTH STRENGTH TRAINING TRAINING EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT

SWIM SWIM LESSONS LESSONS

CARDIO CARDIO EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT

MINDFUL MINDFUL LIVING LIVING

WALKING, WALKING, HIKING HIKING & & CYCLING CYCLING GROUPS GROUPS CHILDWATCH CHILDWATCH AQUATICS AQUATICS TRX TRX

THERE THERE ISIS NO NO BETTER BETTER TIME TIME FOR FOR HEALTHY HEALTHY LIVING LIVING THAN THAN RIGHT RIGHT NOW. NOW. JOIN JOIN TODAY! TODAY! MILLER MILLER FAMILY FAMILY YMCAYMCA of NEWBURY of NEWBURY PARKPARK 320 VIA 320LAS VIABRISAS LAS BRISAS NEWBURY NEWBURY PARKPARK 91320 91320 805.480.0309 805.480.0309

CONEJO CONEJO VALLEY VALLEY YMCAYMCA 40314031 MOORPARK MOORPARK ROADROAD THOUSAND THOUSAND OAKSOAKS 91360 91360 805.523.7613 805.523.7613

SIMI VALLEY SIMI VALLEY YMCAYMCA 32003200 COCHRAN COCHRAN STREET STREET SIMI VALLEY SIMI VALLEY 93065 93065 805.583.5338 805.583.5338

www.sevymca.org www.sevymca.org

TRIUNFO TRIUNFO YMCAYMCA 31225 31225 LA BAYA LA BAYA DRIVEDRIVE #106#106 WESTLAKE WESTLAKE VILLAGE VILLAGE 91362 91362 818.707.9622 818.707.9622

ADVERTORIAL

Saving Water - In Style

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

California’s drought doesn’t mean you have to embrace brown lawns and dead flowers. Here’s how to “go native” while enhancing the appearance and value of your home.

Many of us chose to live in our region because of the beautiful natural surroundings. Most homeowners enjoy a view of the picturesque nearby mountains, hills and open spaces.

Yet, our traditional landscape choices do not align with the local Mediterranean climate.

Rather than take inspiration from Italy’s Tuscany region, we pour precious water resources on lavish English-style lawns and gardens that struggle to survive in the hot summer months.

Facing the fourth year of an unprecedented drought, water agencies statewide are under orders to reduce usage by 25 percent or more. Property owners must make one of two choices: either let certain parts of their landscape die off or relandscape by selecting from an array of colorful, attractive, native and “California Friendly” varieties that will thrive in our climate.

Switching to a California-appropriate landscape does not mean “rocks and cactus.” Far from it!

Instead think of other Mediterranean locations such as Italy, southern France or Barcelona.

While you may have a talent for landscape design, savvy landscape architects and design firms are now creating exciting and attractive ideas that can make your home stand out in a way that is more suitable to our climate.

For plant ideas, pick up a free copy of “A California Friendly Guide to Native and Drought Tolerant Gardens.” This full-color catalog is available at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, 4232 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas, or it can be downloaded from the LVMWD.com website. Downloading to a tablet device also makes it easy to

ADVERTORIAL

take the catalog along if you choose to personally shop for new flowers, shrubs and plants.

Inside the catalog you’ll find a wide variety of vibrant colors, seasonal bloomers, shrubs, aromatics, perennials, herbs and more surprising categories.

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District’s website also features a list of Certified Landscape Professionals that identifies several design and maintenance vendors familiar with the challenges and opportunities of creating a beautiful setting with plants that thrive in our climate. They may also use modern irrigation methods like drip, mist and underground watering systems that are far more water efficient than traditional methods.

California’s prolonged drought accentuates the fact that lush, water-thirsty lawns and gardens may no longer be sustainable. Did you know a single square foot of lawn in the LVMWD service area requires over five feet of water just to survive each year? Clever homeowners will see that changing our watering behavior will heavily benefit our community in the long run. In fact, this may very well be the next socially responsible trend—much like the rise in recycling and hybrid cars. By opting for a Californiafriendly, Tuscan style landscape for your home, you’ll not only help conserve our region’s limited water resources, but you’ll also inspire your neighbors to follow in your trend-setting footsteps.

For more ways to save water, visit LVMWD.com.

Drought tolerant - Douglas Iris (left - photo credit Br. Alfred Brousseau) Tree Mallow (above - photo credit LVMWD Staff)

nesting

Staging

Home for the

Holidays

Written by ela lindsay Photos by richard gillard Styling by Leslie Gregory Haukoos and Allison Montroy

O

ur homes are blank canvases which we splash with seasonal sparkle. And, especially during these three months when holidays are back to back, it’s fun to find ways to change the mood of your home without doing major renovations.

Joann Baker of Joann Baker Interior Designs in Thousand Oaks says creating a holiday feeling can be as easy as adding accents to your window coverings. “Dress it up with scarves and fabric, or silver or gold that goes with your decor,” she says. “And then change things out for the different holidays like orange and brown for Thanksgiving or include holly and poinsettias to signify Christmas.”

Also appeal to the sense of smell to create a mood. Try having something with pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg aromas brewing around Thanksgiving or the sweet scent of peppermint and gingerbread to evoke a sense of Christmas as guests come through the door. Smith suggests using “locally sourced eucalyptus pods as well as small branches to create subtle and fragrant holiday displays.”

One simple strategy for holiday decor is to fill a collection of apothecary jars with items that speak to the season. Orange candies and bows, or brown branches and seed pods say autumn and Thanksgiving. Refill those same jars with red items for Christmas

or blue and white for Hanukkah. For some family fun, get everyone involved in creative ways to fill the jars. Then, when the next holiday comes, switch out the goodies with new ones to suit the special day.

Interior designer Pam Smith from Ventura County Home Staging says homeowners should consider texture when creating a mood. “Fur throws, fringed pillows, sisal rugs, pine cones and bare branches” evoke images of winter, she says.

Nancy Cranford of Nancy’s Design in Wood Ranch says the holidays are her busiest time of year. She has clients who go as far as reupholstering dining room chairs for the holidays and many who make new throw pillows for existing furniture to reflect the holiday spirit.

Here are some other great ideas from the pros: Candlelight: For a look that will carry you from Thanksgiving to New Years, use “masses of candleholders in varying heights and styles for a centerpiece. That’s amazingly festive,” Smith says.

The kitchen: “It’s the heart of the home and everyone hangs out there during the holidays,” Cranford says. “Put up a cute holiday-themed valance . . . and use cushions and a tablecloth in holiday fabric.”

Navy blue for Hanukkah: “This is a perfect choice to add for a more stylized take. . . . as it blends so easily with most neutrals,” suggests Smith. “Look for pillows, throws and area rugs. Mix in mercury glass for its glittery festive qualities.” But avoid using navy with white, she cautions, because it may come across as nautical rather than holiday.

Still life: Baker suggests creating vignettes using your existing special pieces. “Gather china pieces and other items from around the home,” she says. “Create a little scene and mix in the color of the season and some lights and leaves. Play around with it and be creative.”

Bare branches for Christmas: “Have the kids learn how to create origami cranes to use as decorations,” says Smith. And for something a bit other than the traditional red and green, she suggests “soft pink with a soft jade green for a very interesting take on typical Christmas colors.”

Light it up: Replacing light bulbs in lamps with colored bulbs is an easy way to create a festive environment. “Use string lights on a table or on a counter,” adds Baker. Or put tiny battery-operated lights in your glass vases or bowls.

Fabrics of the Highlands: “Plaid evokes cooler weather to me,” says Smith. “Football games and plaid blankets go hand in hand. Consider using a plaid fabric at the base of the Christmas tree, or bring in a plaid blanket as a throw on the sofa. Houndstooth is definitely more graphic and dramatic.” If you’re feeling creative, fill one of your glass vessels with homemade houndstooth ornaments.

“So fun!” she says.

Private places: Cranford reminds homeowners not to forget about bathrooms. “Get towels and mats with holiday colors,” she says.

Stepping out: Don’t forget to take the festivities outside.

“Adding white lights on shrubs and trees always provides a beautiful holiday glow,” says Smith. “Last year I used topiary rosemary bushes strung with tiny white globe lights as outdoor Christmas trees. They were so beautiful and very inexpensive to put together.”

But, says Smith, the bottom-line question to ask yourself when planning your holiday decor is “What emotion are you trying to impart to visitors to your home?”

Armed with that answer and your own creativity, all that’s left is the fun.

•

*Actual analysis of a bird seed mix commonly sold in major chain stores.

• •

• • • •

• •

In the Whole Foods Plaza

720 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

looking good

Holiday hair

Tressing

Up

Photos by Richard Gillard

T

is the season to dress up— the one time of year when even most homebodies get into their dancing shoes to attend a party or two.

Stylist Billy Lowe created several fun and elegant hairstyles that will make even the most humble (or humdrum) of women feel like a princess for the night.

Our model, soprano Kaitlyn Wolf, is used to donning the bling when she’s on stage. But, just like a performer, any woman dressing for a fine night out can transform her look just by changing her hair.

Unstructured Up Do

Chignon

Classic Ponytail The Veronica Lake

Style pro Billy Lowe demystifies the dress-up “do” Chignon —

A chignon is classic and elegant. Tease hair in back to add fullness, using hair spray or texture spray for hold. Gather into low off-center ponytail at nape of the neck, leaving a soft curl or two free near your faceline. Secure with hair elastic that matches your hair color.

Twist and wrap ponytail around itself and secure with bobby pins.

The Veronica Lake — The Veronica Lake look is sultry, soft and oh-so-sexy. Begin by creating barrel curls. Using a medium-to-large curling iron and, working in 2" sections, curl hair under, securing each section with a duck-bill clip to allow time for cooling and setting. Comb out gently, encouraging "S" type, undulating curls.

Classic Ponytail — Don't overlook the classic ponytail. This versatile style can take you from a day at the park to an evening on Park Avenue. Tease hair at roots to add some height. With a deep side part, smooth and gather hair into a high ponytail. Twist a small section of hair and wrap around to cover the hair elastic. Use a curling iron to curl ends.

Unstructured Up Do — An unstructured up do is deceptively easy—and very romantic. After barrel curls have set, do not brush out. Instead, pick up curls, one by one, and place them on the crown of your head, using bobby pins to secure.

The Krowning touch Kaylen Morrison of Krown in Newport Beach creates hair jewels that make any girl feel like a queen. Her styles range from delicate to downright show-stopping.

Shown here: The Goddess Headpiece.

Our goal is to simply have you blown away. Not just your first day, but your second and third day as well. Our stylists will deliver the highest quality of professionalism and create an experience, all while keeping you beautiful.

So forget about your scissors & color and come get blown away.

Oh yeah, did we mention it’s only $35?

Just wash, blow and go!

Mon-Sat 8am to 7pm • Sun 9am-5pm tel: 805-­‐777-­‐1057 • www.justblownaway.com 3825 E.Thousand Oaks Blvd #Q Westlake Village CA, 91362

feeling good

Bath therapy Soak your soul and your weary muscles in a watery ritual that is as old—and as true—as time

Most of us run on two speeds: fast and full blast.

Today’s women—and men—are busier now more than ever.

Flexible schedules and the Internet allow us to pack in all our dreams and goals in a 24-hour period.

And when we get overwhelmed and need some help, there are various organizational apps which we can tap and swipe to help keep the crazy going.

That is exactly why, when the day draws to a close, most of us could use some rejuvenation.

Back in ancient times, the Romans would come in droves to public bath houses to get clean, hit each other up for the week’s gossip and retreat into a relaxing neck massage. They were the creators of what we now know as the euphoric spa experience 48 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Written by LISA FINN

that restores the soul as much as the body.

But with today’s therapeutic products readily available and homemade detoxification remedies we can quickly whip together, it’s easy to treat yourself to a bit of bath therapy even when you can’t indulge in one of those glorious spa days.

Jan Tucker, owner of the online store White Lotus Living, recommends mixing aromatherapy and essential oils for bath pleasure. She warns, however, that not all products suffice. “Oils used for true therapeutic purposes should be of the highest quality and cold-pressed rather than chemically extracted. There should never be any unwanted chemicals or artificial fragrance on the product label.”

So shoo the kids away and ignite some candles. Make it a point to submerge yourself in a relaxing, rejuvenating holistic bathing ritual that is earth-derived . . . and heaven sent.

Prepare a sensual soak Fill the tub about halfway before adding essential oils and bath potions. The temperature can range anywhere from 92° to

110° depending on how much steam you want. Steam offers a moist heal and is beneficial for soothing nasal passages, easing muscle tension and reducing cramps.

Soak no longer than 20 minutes and give the bath a burst of cold water at the end, while draining the tub, for the proper cool down. Be careful getting out of the tub as steam can lighten your senses. Slip on a robe and head straight for bed. Ahhhhhh.

Rejuvenate and relax Whirl away the day’s anxiety with stress-melting scents such as eucalyptus and Bulgarian rose otto oil. To stimulate sluggish skin, mix equal parts olive oil, honey and sugar and then rub it on your body from head to toe before stepping in the tub. The act of physically washing your skin not only sloughs away the dead skin cells, but helps you mentally transform.

Detox devotion Decompress the mind and draw out the body’s toxins with a special detox bath. The warm water by itself encourages mild sweating, which starts the detoxification process through the skin, kidneys, lungs, colon and liver. When allergies act up or you’re feeling flu-ish, create an oxygen detox bath with 2 cups hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon dried ginger powder. If you’re looking to

help heal your skin and draw out impurities, add about 8 drops of jojoba oil.

Refresh and repair Kelly Teegarden, owner of Newbury Park-based Kelly Teegarden Organics, says essential oils such as rose, Roman chamomile and French lavender not only smell incredible, but help soothe eczema and other skin issues. She recommends adding oils to a “carrier,” such as coconut oil, to make your skin super soft.

Soothing serenity Sore muscles, arthritis and tension headaches call for Epsom salts.

This pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate helps nerve function and reduces inflammation.

Rosemary oil also has antiinflammatory properties ideal for muscle pain. If you’re having trouble unwinding, add frankincense or lavender to induce a sleepy state.

Add whatever accessories you need to make your bath time ritual radically revitalizing. Rest your head on a scented pillow (add some drops of bergamot if you’re feeling down), cover your eyes with a silk mask, wrap your hair in a warm towel or apply a facial mask such as Kelly Teegarden Organics’ Rejuvenate Hydration Masque.

This is your time. Set aside the technology and take to tranquility.

Why wait? Open up your living space today

Competitive Pricing

Extensive Showroom

Over 30 years of experience you can trust

805-273-5044 Agoura Sash & Door, Inc.

www.AgouraSash.com

Cabrillo Music 1/2 Horizontal

readers corner

From the heart

Season’s Needings

Acorn newspaper staffers share their holiday must-haves

“For my Filipino family, Christmas is not complete without our Noche Buena meal: a late dinner that starts around 11 p.m. Christmas Eve that consists of macaroni chicken soup and sandwiches made with baked ham and slices of queso de bola (a ball of Edam cheese) on pandesal bread, washed down with peanut butter hot cocoa. Then we exchange gifts at midnight! It is by far my favorite family tradition.”

—Darlene Principe, editor, Simi Valley Acorn “In my book, Christmas doesn’t truly happen unless we watch the movie “Elf” at least once— but usually more.”

—Caitlin Trude, staff writer “I count the days until I can spend the holidays with my 86-yearold mom, who lives in Canada. When she visits, she fills the air with the wonderful smells of home-cooked food I remember from my childhood, and we laugh together about the smallest things.

She is a precious and loving being who I would choose to be with, even if she weren't my mom.”

—Ela Lindsay, copy editor, Beyond the Acorn “If I didn’t bake, Christmas wouldn’t feel like Christmas. I bake 15 to 20 different things and make trays for family and friends.”

—Kim Cummings, advertising assistant “My holidays aren’t complete without Thanksgiving Day football watching with friends and family and Mom’s homemade-breadfilled stuffing.”

—Kyle Jorrey, editor, Thousand Oaks Acorn “Setting up the nativity figurines I received as a child in Sunday school.”

—Sally Carpenter, typesetter/proofreader “It isn’t Christmas unless my wife insists that I help her decorate the tree, then proceeds to take off the tinsel (that I have already put on) and re-hang it strand by strand. Even in the years we don’t actually put tinsel on the tree we laugh about it.”

—Andy McGinnis, administrative controller

Illustration by ANDrea RULE

“My mom always makes Almond Roca—my grandmother’s recipe—at Christmastime. If we can’t be together, she mails a tin of it to us!”

—Erin Newman, copy editor, Beyond the Acorn “Handmade ornaments that my mother and mother-in-law made over the years. Also, our traditional Christmas Eve celebration with my large, extended family is a must.”

—Stephanie Bertholdo, staff writer “Tamale Day! My family is of mostly Irish and Scottish descent, so it surprises my Hispanic friends who grew up with the tradition that we do it too. For the last two decades, my parents have hosted friends, neighbors and family to spread masa on corn husks, fill them with chicken, pork or beef and roll them tightly before we cook them up and have a huge Mexican feast.”

—Becca Whitnall, staff writer “I can’t live without cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. Ever since I was little, I’d be the first one up to put the Pillsbury rolls in the oven to fill the house with the fresh-baked smell before running in to wake up the rest of my family. I've since found an amazing recipe and now make homemade rolls for the entire family.”

—Melissa Simon, staff writer “I need to take our family photo with both of my children on Thanksgiving Day for our holiday cards. It always makes the holidays so much more special and meaningful!”

—Joan Pahoyo, staff photographer “Grandmother would be in the kitchen laboring over a hot stove making her famous latkes for the holidays. We could smell that familiar aroma and just couldn’t wait to eat them.”

—Marilyn Burin, administrative assistant “For me, it’s not Christmas without a new Hallmark ornament.

I only collect one series but I’m always looking for more snowmen.”

—Sarah Ely, graphic designer “The peace of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with my family: listening to choir-sung carols and bells, seeing a Nativity display, reflecting on the past year and what’s ahead.”

—Anna Bitong, staff writer

Fall 2015

Sat., Oct. 24

around town Fall’s in the air and, as always, there’s a whole lot going on. Here are a few highlights.

HALLOWEEN THURS., OCT. 15

Big Horse Corn Maze & Harvest Festival 33320 Temecula Parkway Temecula www.bighorsecornmaze.com (951) 389-4621 Largest corn maze in So. Cal. Runs thru Oct. 31.

FRI., OCT. 16

Reign of Terror House 197 N. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks www.rothauntedhouse.com (805) 492-1864 Weekends thru Oct. 31.

7 to 10 p.m.

Dead Zone 805 5353 Walker Street, Ventura www.deadzone805.com Post apocalyptic zombiethemed Halloween haunt.

Runs through Oct. 31 7 to 10 p.m.

SAT., OCt. 24

Halloween Fest ’n’ Films Arroyo Vista Community Park 4550 Tierra Rejada Road Moorpark moorparkca.gov (805) 517-6306 Outdoor screening of "Monsters University," costume contest.

5 to 8:30 p.m.

Dia de los Muertos Festival

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles. The theme is “Shamanic Visions of the Huichol.” www.ladyofthedead.com Noon to midnight.

Thrill the World Cal Lutheran University Kingsmen Park 60 W. Olsen Road Thousand Oaks Michael Jackson tribute; participants dress as zombies and dance to

“Thriller” for world record. www.callutheran.edu (805)241-8505 Noon to 4 p.m.

SUN., OCt. 25

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade Rancho Tapo Community Park

Quality care, Grooming, Boarding and Full-service Animal Hospital • Full Physical Exams

• Spay/Neuter

• Outdoor Play Area

• Wellness Plans

• Surgery

• Heartworm Testing

• Vaccinations

• Dentistry

• Geriatric Care

• Prescription Diets

• Pain Management

• Care Credit Accepted

• Health Certificates

• Boarding

• Parasite Treatment

• Grooming

Evening & Weekend Appointments On Call for Emergencies (during Business Hours)

FREE

Vaccine Clinic Office Visit EVERY Saturday for one pet

(Limited to 1 per new client)

10am-1pm

Expect a short wait time.

Dr. Lina Yetishefsky

Jenna

Jenny

Edgar

30849 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village

Dr. Erin Goodwin

818-707-0700 | www.doctoryanimalhospital.com Mon-Fri 8am-7pm • Sat 8am-5pm

3700 Avenida Simi Simi Valley www.howloweenpoochparade. com (805) 433-2156 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SAT., NOV. 7

Wed., Oct. 21

“My Fair Lady” Rubicon Theatre Company 1006 E. Main St., Ventura www.rubicontheatre.org (805) 667-2900 Runs thru Nov. 15

Dia de los Muertos Celebration Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, 2052 Howard Road Camarillo www.facebook.com/ DiaDeLosMuertosVentura (805) 482-1959 11a.m. to 6 p.m.

FRI., OCT. 30

THEATER

SAT., OCt. 31

Fri., Oct. 16

“Damn Yankees” Cabrillo Music Theatre T.O. Civic Arts Plaza 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks www.cabrillomusictheatre.com (800) 745-3000 Runs thru Oct. 25 “H.M.S. Pinafore” Ventura County Gilbert & Sullivan Repertoire Company Theatre on the Hill Hillcrest Center for the Arts 403 W. Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks www.hillcrestarts.com (805) 381-2747 Runs thru Oct. 25 “Nine” Camarillo Skyway Playhouse 330 Skyway Drive Camarillo www.skywayplayhouse.org (805) 388-5716 Runs thru Nov. 8

SAT., OCT. 17

The Pan Am Experience Air Hollywood 13240 Weidner St. Los Angeles www.airhollywood.com (818) 890-0444 Relive flying on a Pan Am 747 with a first-class gourmet meal. 18 and over.

Thru Nov. 21 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

“Coasta Titanica–The Lovely Boat” Melodrama High Street Arts Center 45 East High Street Moorpark www.highstreetartscenter.com (805) 529-8700 Runs thru Nov. 22 “The Addams Family” Cultural Arts Center 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave. Simi Valley www.simi-arts.org (805) 583-7900 Runs thru Dec. 6

Christian education isn’t expensive.

It’s priceless.

Since 1977 Hillcrest has partnered with parents to provide an outstanding Christian education to our students. While the world’s values have changed, ours haven't. Come find out what this could mean for your family.

Erbes Road Campus - Grades K-12 Hillcrest Christian School

384 Erbes Road, Thousand Oaks 91362 Grades: K-12 Accredited: WASC & ACSI Mrs. LuAnn Malcolm, Dir. of Admissions lmalcolm@hillcrestcs.org

(805) 497-7501 x 204

Wed., Nov. 11

“Under Fire” Black Box Studio Theatre Cal Lutheran University 60 W. Olsen Road Thousand Oaks www.callutheran.edu/ theatrearts Stories of combat veterans across generations.

Thru Nov. 22 8 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 12

“South Pacific” Smothers Theatre Pepperdine University 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy. Malibu arts.pepperdine.edu (310) 506-4522 Continues through Nov. 21 7:30 p.m.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE l CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED LEARNING

Skyline Drive Campus - Preschool Hillcrest Christian Preschool

101 N. Skyline Drive, Thousand Oaks 91361

Accredited: WASC & ACSI

Full and Part-time programs Ms. Cathe Jackson , Director cjackson@hillcrestcs.org

(805) 495-5513

Fri., Nov. 13

“Follies” Conejo Players Theatre 351 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks www.conejoplayers.org (805) 495-3715 Runs thru Dec. 13

www.hillcrestcs.org

FRI., DEC. 11

VENTURA COUNTY’S LARGEST GO KART TRACK

FAMILY RACING AT SEASIDE PARK OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

“Winter Wonderettes” Cultural Arts Center 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave. Simi Valley www.simi-arts.org (805) 583-7900 Runs thru Dec. 27

SAT., DEC. 19

“Home for the Holidays” Skyway Playhouse 330 Skyway Drive Camarillo www.skywayplayhouse.org (805) 388-5716 Runs thru Dec. 20

LIVE MUSIC SUN., OCT. 4

LOCATED IN THE OFFICE: 805.654.1329 PARKING LOT OF THE JimHallTrackTime.com1 9/16/15 VENTURA Beyond_Acorn_9-16-15_Layout 9:16 AMFAIRGROUNDS Page 1

hera health care Medical practice

h e hOlistic

esthetic

r a restOrative

anti-aging

no more vaginal dryness and no more pain during sex! restore your vaginal health without any pills or hormones with

MOnalisa tOuch, a safe, simple and virtually painless office procedure. no anesthesia is required and there is no downtime.

We are offering a special introductory price. Please call us to book an appointment or to inquire about the procedure.

805-379-9110

910 haMpshire rOad, suite a Westlake village, ca 91361

www.herahealthcare.com Mirela cernaianu Md, FacOg ■

BOard certiFied OBstetrics and gynecOlOgy

■

BOard certiFied integrative and hOlistic Medicine © 2015 hera health care, all rights reserved

54 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Ronny and the Classics Cultural Arts Center 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave. Simi Valley www.simi-arts.org (805) 583-7900

SUN., Nov. 8

“An American in Paris” Samuelson Chapel Cal Lutheran University 60 W. Olsen Road Thousand Oaks Arete Vocal Ensemble. www.callutheran.edu/music 2 p.m.

FRI., NOV. 20

Singer/Songwriters Bernice Lewis, Laura Zucker Camarillo Café 1605 E. Burnley St. Camarillo www.camarillocafe.com 8 p.m.

SAT., DEC. 5

Holiday Lights Concert: Handel’s Messiah Moorpark College Performing Arts Center 7075 Campus Road Moorpark sunny.moorparkcollege.edu (805) 378-1485 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

ART SAT., DEC. 5

Holiday Art Market & Gallery Studio Channel Islands Art Center 2222 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard www.studiochannelislands. org (805) 383-1368 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

COMEDY SUN., OCT. 18

Clean Comedy Show Fundraiser High Street Arts Center 45 E. High St., Moorpark (805) 501-6716 Benefits Moorpark City Library.

7:30 p.m.

SAT., NOV. 21

Conejo Improv Players Conejo Players Theatre 351 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks www.conejoplayers.org (805) 495-3715 11:59 p.m.

Runs thru Nov. 22

FAIRS & FESTIVALS SAT., OCT. 17

Steampunk Fest Downtown Oxnard’s Heritage Square 715 S. A Street, Oxnard www.oxnardsteampunkfest. com Costumes encouraged.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fall Harvest Festival Underwood Family Farms 3370 Sunset Valley Road Moorpark www. underwoodfamilyfarms.com (805) 529-3690 Pumpkins, corn maze.

Continues weekends through Oct. 31 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Calabasas Pumpkin Festival Juan Bautista de Anza Park 3701 Lost Hills Road Calabasas www. calabasaspumpkinfestival. com Continues Sun., Oct. 18 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ojai Day Street Fair Ojai Ave. www.ojaiday.com 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SUN., OCT. 18

Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair Moorpark Road from Hillcrest to Wilbur Thousand Oaks www.thousandoaksrotary.org 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Love Ride 2015 Motorcycle Rally From Glendale to Castaic Lake www.loveride.org Longest-running single-day

motorcycle charity event in the world. Benefits Wounded Warriors Project.

7 a.m.

SUN., OCT. 25

Adolfo Camarillo’s Birthday Celebration Camarillo Ranch 201 Camarillo Ranch Road Camarillo www.camarilloranch.org Noon to 4 p.m.

SAt., NOV. 7

Nottingham Festival Simi Valley Civic Center Park 3855 Alamo St., Simi Valley www.nottinghamfestival.com Renaissance Faire and marketplace.

Continues thru Nov. 15 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WED., NOV. 11

Veterans Day Commemoration Ronald Reagan Library and Museum 40 Presidential Drive

A REVOLUTIONARY

HEARING AID THAT CAN HEAR LIKE YOUR EARS DO.

Simi Valley www.reaganfoundation.org/ events (805) 522-2977 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

www.roamnrelics.com (805) 583-2965 Pre ’70s vehicles.

7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SAT., DEC. 5

SnowFest Arts and Crafts Fair Rancho Madera Community Park 556 Lake Park Drive Simi Valley www.rsrpd.org (805) 584-4400 Snow, sledding, live entertainment.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oxnard Tamale Festival Plaza Park, 500 S. C St. Downtown Oxnard www.oxnardtamalefest.com 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

FAMILY FUN SAT., OCT. 17

Star Party Oak Canyon Community Park 5600 Hollytree Drive Oak Park www.oakcanyonastro.com Stargaze while listening to live music.

Also Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 Starts at dark

SUN., OCT. 25

Roam ’n’ Relics Car Show 233 High St. Moorpark

SUN., NOV. 8

SAT., NOV. 14

Kids' Swap Meet Thousand Oaks Community Center 2525 N. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks www.crpd.org/tocswap (805) 381-2793 Kids can sell their toys, clothes and sports gear.

8 a.m. to noon

West Coast

Hearing and Balance Center In affiliation with West Coast Ear Nose & Throat.

West Coast Ear Nose and Throat

West Coast Hearing and Balance Center

From left to right: Abhay Vaidya, M.D., Martin Wareham, M.D., S. Tricia Kho, M.D., Nick Fettman, M.D., Jaesung Lee, M.D., F.A.C.S., G. Scott Voorman, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Left to right front row: Carissa Bennett, Au.D., Erin Richardson, Au.D., Janna Cline-Chanes, M.S., and Hang Lam, Au.D. Left to right back row: Gregory Frazer, Ph.D., A.uD., Emily Darchangelo, Au.D., John Davis, Au.D., Jennifer Kwast, M.A., and Lance Nelson, Au.D.

Lyric, the world’s first and only 100% invisible, 24/7 wearable, showerproof *, for-months-at-a-t ime ** hearing device can.

LYRIC HEARING EVENT: THROUGH MONTH OF OCTOBER Learn About What Lyric CAN Do Risk Free 45-Day Trial† • Free Lyric Screening *Individual replacement needs may vary. Duration of device battery life varies by patient and is subject to individual ear conditions. **Lyric is water resistant, not waterproof, and should not be completely submerged underwater. †Professional fees may apply. Annual subscription begins the first day of trial. ††Based on results from two surveys totaling 134 patients who had worn Lyric for at least 30 days. Lyric is not appropriate for all patients. See a Lyric Provider to determine if Lyric is right for you. Lyric. Distributed by Phonak, LLC ©2015 All rights reserved. MS040861 NEW920

Thousand Oaks

301 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

1-888-494-6937 Oxnard

1700 N. Rose Ave., Suite 460 Oxnard, CA 93030

1-888-427-1443

Simi Valley

2876 N. Sycamore Dr., Suite 303 Simi Valley, CA 93065

1-888-725-4230 Camarillo

2438 N. Ponderosa Dr., Suite C110 Camarillo, CA 93010

1-888-775-6352

Women’s Travel Made Easy Call Mary Barnett & SITA World Tours to book your next tour to the exotic destination of your choosing.

Colors of India + Pushkar Fair & Nepal: Only 2 rooms left - Guaranteed Shares November 11, 2015 Southern India with Backwater Cruise: January 15, 2016 China: Shanghai, Xian, Beijing plus Ulan Batar, Mongloia Extension October 10 - 20, 2016 Enchanting Morocco - Christmas 2016 December 23 - December 30, 2016

800.421.5643 ext. 1518

email: maryb@sitatours.com www.sitatours.com

HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES FRI., DEC. 4

“. . . And on Earth, Peace” Cal Lutheran University 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks Choral ensembles, University Symphony perform. www.callutheran.edu/music (805) 493-3306 Dec. 5, 6 at 4 p.m., 8 p.m.

SAT., DEC. 5

Holiday Homes Tour Westlake Village area www.cancersupportvvsb.org (805) 379-4777 Thru Dec. 6 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair Main Street Downtown Ventura www.venturawinterwinewalk. com Noon to 8 p.m.

SUN., DEC. 6

Hanukkah Festival Chabad of Moorpark 4219 Tierra Rejada Road Moorpark www.jewishmoorpark.com (805) 242-2232 4 to 5:30 p.m.

SAT., DEC. 12 Parade of Lights Channel Islands Harbor www.channelislandsharbor. org noon to 8 p.m.

FRI., DEC. 18

Parade of Lights, Fireworks Ventura Harbor Village 1583 Spinnaker Drive Ventura www.venturaharborvillage. com (805) 477-0470 Parade Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m.

Submit event info to elindsay@ theacorn.com by Nov. 20.

Chocolate from PAGE 22

Joseph A. Onesto — Realtor —

Topping Choices

A variety of truffles can be created by rolling individual truffles in coatings. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Est. 1972

• Top Line Exclusive Buyer’s Broker • Locate & Negotiate Any City or County at No Cost to Buyer • Specialize in Central Coast (I do not represent sellers) • Guarantee Non-recurring Costs Paid • Call for Confidential Meeting!

805.208.4339 josephaonestorealtor@yahoo.com California Licensed Real Estate Broker CalBRE #0045350

56 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

Melt slowly over low heat while gradually adding milk, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth.

Cut butter into small chunks and gradually add to chocolate mixture, stirring constantly over low heat.

Stir in egg yolks, followed by whipping cream. Continue to stir.

Pour mixture into glass bowl and place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

Mixture will set to consistency of a heavy paste. Take by teaspoonful and roll by hand into small balls, smaller than a ping pong ball.

Finish with topping of your choice.

Realtor Emeritus

Cocoa truffles: roll in cocoa powder until coated.

Pistachio or macadamia truffles: Roll in chopped nuts.

Coconut truffles: Mix equal parts unsweetened shredded coconut and powdered sugar and roll truffles in mixture.

Hazelnut truffles: Roll in chopped hazelnuts. Dip in melted 68% chocolate.

*Chocolatine uses 68% dark chocolate from Santa Barbara Chocolate Company (found at www.santababarachocolate.com). Any good quality 68% dark chocolate bar may be used.

ASCENSION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Kindergarten - 8th Grade

Ascension offers a wonderful environment for your child's education: one where their gifts are noticed and nurtured, where they are encouraged to use their talents to make the community and the world a better place. With each school day, we are fostering a life-long love of learning by providing unique results-oriented experiences in and beyond the classroom.

Schedule a Tour Today!

1600 E. Hillcrest Dr. Thousand Oaks

www.alschool.org

805.496.2419

KINDERGARTEN SCIENCE EXPLORATION NIGHT for Pre-K Students and Their Parents

Thursday, October 22, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran School Get a glimpse of the wonderful world of kindergarten! Parents will gain insights from our experienced teachers on kindergarten readiness.

Children are invited next door to explore fun science centers. Pizza dinner will be served. There is no charge, but space is limited. Reserve your spot by completing the form online at www.alschool.org.

■

LEAD INSPIRE SERVE ■

■

It begins with the right setting. Comfortable surroundings that please the eye and senses. A responsive staff for resident support needs, with a licensed nurse on-site 24/7. Professionally guided fitness and therapy for an active lifestyle. Delicious, chef-prepared cuisine. Concierge and transportation services.

Enriching activities for mind, body and spirit. What happens next is up to you. After all, it’s your story.

Distinctive Residential Settings | Chef-Prepared Dining and Bistro Award-Winning Memory Care | Premier Programs for Health and Wellness Professionally Supervised Therapy and Rehabilitation Services

belmontvillage.com

805.496.9301 • 3680 N. Moorpark Rd. ©

Winner of the George Mason University Healthcare Award for the Circle of Friends© memory program for Mild Cognitive Impairment. Provider to the NFL Player Care Plan.

RCFE License 565801746 ©2015 Belmont Village, L.P.

Anti-Aging Specials Specials Anti-Aging Saygoodbye goodbyeto tounwanted unwantedwrinkles wrinkles wrinkles Say andsay sayhello helloto torefreshed refreshedyounger youngerlooking lookingskin! skin! and looking skin!

• Botox$10/unit $10/unit • Botox • Xeomin$9/unit $9/unit • Xeomin • LipAugmentation Augmentation$499 $499 • Lip • Artefill$400 $400syringe syringe • Artefill • Sculptra22vials vials$750 $750 • Sculptra

Mention“Beyond” “Beyond” Mention andreceive receive and

$25 off off $25

Silkpeel aaSilkpeel Dermalinfusion Dermalinfusion Treatment Treatment (new clients only) (new clients only)

OtherDermal DermalFillers FillersAvailable: Available: Other Juvederm,Radiesse, Radiesse,Belotero Belotero Juvederm, Call for your complimentary consultation Call for your complimentary consultation

805-300-4594 805-300-4594

Specializing in medical grade Specializing in medical grade aesthetics and beauty regimes aesthetics and beauty regimes

3262 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite #120, Westlake Village | RenewalAdvancedAesthetics.com 3262 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite #120, Westlake Village • Renewa | RenewalAdvancedAesthetics.com 3262 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite #120, Westlake Village • Renewa | RenewalAdvancedAesthetics.com

cottage from PAGE 24

with very little water to drink”—in other words, possessing a passion for great old things without much budget to spend on them— explains the evolution of the charming cottage which Jennifer shares with husband, Adam. It’s the couple’s first home.

Though just 1,200 square feet, the Greys’ house is chock full of charm and innovative solutions to creating great design without spending much. The result is not only unique, but is infused with Jennifer and Adam’s blood, sweat and tears—literally.

The kitchen is a great example, a DIY project that cost the Greys around $3,000 (appliances included). Of course, the couple accomplished that by providing most of the labor themselves after shopping around for the best buys on materials and appliances.

That meant Adam cut the subway tile for the backsplash and Jennifer set it. She chose white for its classic, timeless appeal. The farmhouse sink, butcher block countertop and kitchen cabinets were Ikea finds. And the freestanding island came from J.C. Penney.

But accessories came from flea markets and antique stores and Jennifer uses them in unexpected ways. Her vintage plates are displayed in an antique barbershop comb and brush rack and old player piano scrolls have become an unusual centerpiece.

The dining room chandelier is another of Jennifer’s finds—$5 at a garage sale. Adam built the 11-foot dining room buffet out of 2-inch-by-6-inch planks and Jennifer hung burlap from it to create some storage space. A carpenter built the massive shelves above, which she uses to display small antiques.

“I try to get away from using a lot of little tchotchkes.” That’s part of her strategy of introducing surprisingly large pieces in what are modest rooms. A large mirror rests against the end wall in the living room, clearly bigger than what you might expect for a room that size.

“Small things in a small room make it feel small,” she explains.

“It’s the psychology of design.” That would explain the oversized chair and massive coffee table—actually an old factory cart—and the armoire, which originally lived in a nunnery somewhere.

“I love it,” Jennifer says. “It’s so imperfect.”

But it is the child’s armoire in the entry that really speaks volumes. It was one of Jennifer’s 5 a.m. flea-market finds. “They were unloading it when I spotted it.” She paid $30 for the piece, which has all the original appliques intact.

Jennifer gets a kick out of describing how she faked board and batten in one of the bedrooms using gardener’s bender board and lattice. And how she bought an end table for $5 and cut it in half lengthwise, creating two separate occasional tables.

The master bedroom has yet another of Jennifer’s creative concoctions. She spotted a fireplace mantel outside someone’s home, parked her car and offered the owner $100 for it. That mantel now serves as headboard for the master bed. Jennifer placed tufted fabric in the space where the fireplace would go and now has a charming—and soft—headboard.

But the designer is quick to say that, for the most part, she doesn’t get too attached to any of her curious pieces. She’s usually ready to part with them when the time comes to make room for a new, old friend.

The best seat in the house.

805-497-3222

2520 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

www.thesofaguy.com

catering to enthusiasts, investors, and collectors in the special interest automobile market place.

New and Pre-Owned Vehicle Procurement Services, Consignment Sales Collector Auto Sales and Services Licensed Auto Dealer & Broker Indoor Collector Auto Storage

Johnston Motorsports

3555 Old Conejo Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 Office: 805-262-8000 / Cell: 805-368-5228 info@johnston-motorsports.com www.johnston-motorsports.com Fall 2015 | beyond The Acorn.com 59

Receding Gums?

If you have unsightly receding gums or have been told you need painful gum grafts by your periodontist or dentist, there’s a new breakthrough in Los Angeles called Chao P.S.T. Gum Rejuvenation™ that eliminates gum graft surgery for most patients.

The benefits of the Pinhole Surgical Technique™ are many: • Less discomfort for the patient after treatment • Faster recovery for the patient than traditional grafting • No need for uncomfortable sutures • No need for scalpels or invasive surgical tools • No need to take donor tissue from the patient’s palate • Excellent, natural-looking, long-lasting results

Featured On

Chao Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation

is said by leading experts to be the most exciting cosmetic and restorative procedure to come along in decades.

Over 240 TV stations and nationally syndicated shows have featured this“ quick, easy and instantly pleasing” method making Chao P.S.T. Gum Rejuvenation™ a common household word to millions in the US, Canada and around the world.

Dr. Kathleen Carson Dr. M. Natalie Dianati Board Certified Periodontal Specialist

818.889.0400

30200 Agoura Road, Suite 270, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Find out more at:

www.westlakedentalarts.com

family affair from PAGE 30

Madelyn, who was freshly out of college at the time, took over.

She rented out that portion of the market to create an international deli with meats, fish, cheese, sushi, salads and other sides and worked there for several years before the owner sold the grocery store, including the meat department, to someone else.

Madelyn was contemplating her next move when she received an offer she couldn’t pass up. The owner of a pasta restaurant across the street from the Brentwood market, a fellow UCLA alum, asked her if she knew of anyone who wanted to buy his business. He wanted $20,000 for the place.

“I said, ‘You know, it’s funny. I have to leave here, but I don’t have any money,’” Madelyn recalls. “He came back the next day and said, ‘You know, if I’m going to lose money to someone, I’d rather lose it to someone I know. You just take over the lease.”

And that was that. He handed her the keys and she negotiated her first lease to open Maria’s International Deli in 1984.

The next year, another business opportunity fell in her lap.

The owner of a building in Sherman Oaks asked if Madelyn could help one of her tenants, who was not paying rent at the time, turn his fledgling deli around.

Madelyn used her modest savings to buy the business and, inspired by her first trip to Italy the year before, opened her first sit-down restaurant.

“I bought used equipment and built it from scratch. I thought it would be great to have a little neighborhood trattoria.”

She opened her next location in Woodland Hills not long after and the rest was history as Madelyn continued to open locations throughout the region.

Although she has confidence in her three regional managers, Madelyn says she stops by each of the locations as often as her schedule allows.

“I don’t just point my finger,” she says. “If the pizza guy didn’t show up, I’d go back there and make pizzas. I’m not a very good bartender, but I can pour wine.”

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Encino resident says she is proud to carry on her family’s legacy by bringing quality cuisine to the masses.

The restaurateur, who has several childhood friends on her staff, says two of her siblings are involved in the chain’s daily operations.

Her sister, Louise Berardis, designs the interiors of the eateries; brother, Matthew Alfano, addresses plumbing and electrical issues; and nephew, J.J. Berardis, is a sous chef for the successful chain.

And Maria?

Madelyn says her mother, a food aficionado, is “as feisty as ever.”

“My mother tells me everything I do wrong,” Madelyn laughs. “She isn’t shy about giving criticism and advice.”

Perhaps mom knows best, especially as Maria’s Italian Kitchens continue to be a home away from home for many of its regular customers.

“I love people and I love pleasing people,” Madelyn says.

“We treat everyone who comes through the doors as guests in our home.”

maria's recipes from PAGE 31

Béchamel Sauce 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. butter 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 cup milk ½ tsp. salt ⅛ tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until melted. Add flour and stir until smooth.

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture turns a light golden color (about 6 to 7 minutes).

In a separate pan, heat milk until just below boiling. Gradually add hot milk to butter mixture, whisking continuously until very smooth.

Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and season with salt and nutmeg.

Maria’s Ground Chicken 2 oz. olive oil 1 oz. shallots, chopped 2 lbs. ground chicken 2 oz. Marsala wine 2 oz. water Kosher salt to taste Ground nutmeg to taste White pepper to taste Saute shallots and oil in a hot 12" pan until light brown. Add all other ingredients. Cook over lower to medium heat until chicken is done and liquid has evaporated (about 5 to 8 minutes).

Roasted Brussels Sprouts 2 oz. oil blend (75% canola, 25% virgin olive oil) 4 oz. pancetta or bacon, diced into ¼"

squares 2 lbs. Brussels sprouts 3 oz. butter 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, shaved Salt to taste Pepper to taste Balsamic reduction*

In a large saute pan, cook pancetta with oil until halfway done. Add Brussels sprouts and butter. Saute until butter is browned and Brussels sprouts are hot. Season with salt and

pepper.

Place in a large platter, garnish with Parmesan and balsamic reduction.

Balsamic Reduction ¼ cup sugar 1 cup balsamic vinegar

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low, simmering until vinegar mixture has reduced to ⅓ the original amount (about 10 minutes). Cool. *Balsamic reduction, also known as balsamic syrup, may be purchased at most supermarkets.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Crust 16 oz. graham cracker crumbs 4 oz. granulated sugar 4 oz. butter, melted ⅛ tsp. mace 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice Combine ingredients and press into bottom of greased springform pan.

Filling 2 lbs. cream cheese 8 oz. granulated sugar 2 oz. heavy cream 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract 1½ oz. egg yolk 3 whole eggs 1 lb. pumpkin puree 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice ⅛ tsp. nutmeg ⅛ tsp. mace 1 tbsp. molasses 2 oz. all-purpose flour Combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add cream, vanilla and eggs. Mix well.

Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Add nutmeg, mace, molasses and flour until just blended. Do not over mix.

Pour filling into crust and bake at 325° for one hour until cheesecake is set. Cool.

Topping 6 oz. butter 6 oz. powdered sugar 1 lb. cream cheese ¼ tsp. nutmeg

8 oz. pumpkin puree 1 Tbsp. molasses Mix ingredients and spread on top of cooled cheesecake. Serve.

Apple Cake ½ cup melted butter 1 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced ⅔ cup all-purpose flour ¼ tsp. nutmeg ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. kosher salt 2 whole eggs 1 egg yolk 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. grated lemon zest

Preheat oven to 300°.

Melt butter. Set aside ¼ cup.

Mix ¼ cup of butter with apples in saute pan over medium heat and saute until apples are brown and soft. Set aside.

In a metal bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

In a separate mixing bowl, beat eggs and egg yolk for two minutes at medium speed. Do not over beat.

Add sugar, vanilla and lemon zest to eggs and mix for one minute. Add dry ingredients and continue mixing until everything is incorporated, then add butter and apples.

Line greased 9" to 10" springform cake pan with a circle of parchment paper. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Note: Cake will not rise much.

Milan Cocktail 1½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 8

oz. Absolut vodka oz. orange juice oz. lime juice oz. simple syrup oz. Limoncello drops cranberry bitters Lime twist

Combine ingredients in shaker. Fill halfway with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with lime twist.

Fall 2015 | beyond The Acorn.com 61

explore from PAGE 40

Chumash cave paintings and pictographs are plentiful, but their locations are not provided to the public to avoid vandalism—with one exception. The Chumash Painted Cave Historic Park near Santa Barbara offers visitors a glimpse of colorful rock art created by the Chumash several centuries ago.

Directions provided on website www.parks.ca.gov (805) 733-3713 Newbury Park’s Stagecoach Inn Museum contains authentic Chumash relics as well as carefully crafted recreations of tools, games and items for everyday use. Step outside to see a Chumash home, or ’ap.

51 South Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park www.stagecoachmuseum.org (805) 498-9441

King Gillette Ranch periodically offers easy one-mile walks that show how the Chumash have utilized resources in nature.

26800 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas www.lamountains.com (818) 878-0866 ext. 228

Chumash Jump

The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center, established by the National Park Service, features Native American hosts and rangers who answer questions during the weekend hours. The center also hosts occasional workshops and programs.

4121 Potrero Road, Newbury Park (805) 370-2300 (National Park Service) (805) 375-1930 (culture center) www.nps.gov/samo

Powwows, although not traditional to Chumash culture, provide the community with an educational and cultural experience featuring music, dancing, arts, food and customs.

•The annual Children of Many Colors Powwow is usually held in summer at Moorpark College: www.redbirdsvision. org/manycolors.htm

•The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians hold an intertribal powwow as well as Chumash Culture Days, both typically in October in the Santa Ynez area: www.santaynezchumash.org

•The Chumash Day intertribal powwow in Malibu takes place in early April: www.malibucity.org

Vintage

Garden & Bloom

• Garden-inspired gifts • Specialty pottery • Mid-century statuary • Weathered iron garden accents • Handcrafted barnwood birdhouses 805.379.1418 | vintagegardenandbloom.com 1696 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks (at intersection of Erbes Rd & TO Blvd.)

Mon-Sat 11-5 | Closed Sundays

Beyond

wants you!

Be part of the next issue of Beyond the Acorn.

Send us a photo of something you have repurposed, rescued from the trash, spiffed up, rebuilt or simply repositioned so that it has a whole new function.

Include your contact info and a brief explanation.

Once a kitchen microwave tray, this beauty has a new function hanging in the garden.

30423 Canwood St., Ste. 108, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 Visit us at: beyondtheacorn.com

Reach 100,000 Area Homes

Beyond the Acorn offers the largest distribution of any local lifestyle magazine. Each issue is brimming with interesting info on people, activities and entertainment.

Beyond The Acorn

Advertisers reserve your space now!

(818) 706-0266

Fall 2015 | beyond The Acorn.com 63

resources

People and vendors in this issue

NEIGHBORS Page 12

“All Hail the King of Pop” Nelson De La Nuez www.kingofpopart.com Page 14

“Guitar Hero” Joe Till www.tillguitars.com AROUND THE TABLE Page 20

“Sweet Seduction" Chocolatine 2955 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks www.chocolatine.net (805) 557-0561 Westlake Culinary Institute 4643 Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village www.westlakeculinaryinstitute. com (818) 991-3940

Tifa Chocolate and Gelato Whizin Market Square 28888 Roadside Drive Agoura Hills www.tifachocolate.com (818) 879-0685 The Shoppes at Westlake Village 30760 Russell Ranch Road Westlake Village (805) 796-1893 FEATURE STORIES Page 24

“Cottage of Curious Finds” Jennifer Grey Interiors jennifergreyinteriors@gmail.com www.theoldpaintedcottage.com (805) 428-3903 Kitchen cabinets, counter, sink: IKEA www.ikea.com Appliances, French door: The Home Depot www.homedepot.com

Kitchen island: J.C. Penney The Oaks, 280 W. Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks www.jcpenney.com (805) 497-6811 “Bakery” letters: online Lighting: www.ebay.com Art, entry cabinet: flea market Dining room chandelier: garage sale Living room coffee table: vintage factory cart from Z Gallerie www.zgallerie.com Jute area rugs: Cost Plus World Market www.worldmarket.com Linens: Pom Pom available through Jennifer Grey Interiors

Page 28

Topanga Vintage Market Pierce College campus www.topangavintagemarket.com

Page 32

(310) 422-1844

Ventura Flea Market Ventura County Fairgrounds www.rgcshows.com (323) 560-7469

Hot Tub

Truckload Sale

“Family Affair” Maria’s Italian Kitchen The Collection at Riverpark 2711 Seaglass Way Oxnard www.mariasitaliankitchen.com (805) 988-3300 29035 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Agoura Hills (818) 865-8999 El Camino Shopping Center 23331 Mulholland Drive Woodland Hills (818) 225-0586 “Ride of a Lifetime” Refugio State Beach 10 Refugio Beach Road Goleta www.parks.ca.gov (805) 967-0066 Cold Spring Tavern 5995 Stagecoach Road

Save $1000 up to

On the most popular selling brand, HOT SPRING Portable Spas featuring patented Moto Massage jets for the ultimate in comfort and relaxation!

Lifestyle Outdoor is a full service retail showroom offering replacement covers, filters, water care products and additional Services for all brands of Hot Tubs. WE TAKE TRADE INS. Stop by today. You'll be glad you did!

Since 1984

805.379.2242 www.LIFESTYLEOUTDOOR.com

3195 Willow Lane, Westlake Village (corner of Hampshire & Willow)

Santa Barbara www.coldspringtavern.com (805) 967-0066 Ostrichland USA 610 E. Hwy. 246, Buellton www.ostrichlandusa.com (805) 686-9696 Gaviota State Park www.parks.ca.gov (805) 968-1033 Lake Cachuma 2225 Hwy. 154 countyofsb.org/parks Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum 320 Alisal Road, Solvang www.motosolvang.com (805) 686-9522 Old Mission Santa Barbara 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara www.santabarbaramission.org (805) 682-4713

Page 36

“The Faces of Chumash” Chumash Indian Museum 3290 Lang Ranch Pkwy.

Thousand Oaks www.chumashindianmuseum.com (805) 492-8076 Chumash Discovery Village Nicholas Canyon County Beach Park 33904 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu www.wishtoyo.org (424) 644-0088 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 2559 Puesta del Sol Santa Barbara www.sbnature.org (805) 682-4711 Chumash Painted Cave Historic Park www.parks.ca.gov (805) 733-3713

NESTING Page 44

“Staging your Home For the Holidays” Ventura County Home Staging www. venturacountyhomestaging.com (805) 409-4317 Joann Baker Interior Design www.justbeautifulinteriors.com (805) 300-5040 Nancy’s Design www.nancysdesign.net LOOKING GOOD Page 46

Westlake Florist 2851 Agoura Road Westlake Village Krown www.shopkrown.com FEELING GOOD Page 48

“Bath Therapy” White Lotus Living www.whitelotusliving.com (805) 222-5102 Kelly Teegarden Organics www.kellyteegardenorganics.com (805) 498-8181

“Tressing Up” Billy Lowe Regency Salon Studios 2839 Agoura Road, Studio 14 Westlake Village www.billylowe.com (310) 430-4045

SNAPSHOT

Hair Bling: Courtesy of

Stephen Shafer www.habsphoto.com

Page 66

Bottle Village 4595 Cochran St. Simi Valley www.bottlevillage.com (805) 231-2497

A A N N EE W W K K II N ND D O OF F M M EE D D II C CA AL L M MO OD DE EL L F FO OR R H H EE A A LT LT H H C CA AR RE E C CO OM ME ES S TT O O W AK KE E V V II LL LL AG AG E E W EE SS TT LL A Shay Shani, DC Shay Shani, DC

THERE IS HOPE THERE IS HOPE With medical With medical solutions for the solutions for the 21st century!

21st century!

Patients have traveled from all over Patients from all from over the worldhave to traveled seek treatment the world to seek treatment from this Westlake Village clinic. While this aWestlake Village known clinic.forWhile being medical organization their being a medical organization known forClinic their natural and holistic approach, Shani natural and holistic approach, Clinic has become distinguished andShani applauded hastheir become distinguished andfield. applauded for innovation in the health for their innovation in the health field.

C O M M I T M E N T t o P A T I E N TS C O M MClinic I T M Eis N Tcommitted t o P A T I E to N TS Shani provide effecShaniaffordable, Clinic is committed to provide effective, comprehensive care that is tive, affordable, caretothat is simply the best comprehensive that medicine has offer, simply the Using best that medicine to offer, naturally. cutting edgehas technology naturally. byUsing edge technology delivered caringcutting and experienced profesdelivered by caring and experienced professionals, who are passionate about the care sionals, are passionate about the care and role who they play in your healing. and role they play in your healing.

CALL NOW (805) 494-9977 NOW (805)with494-9977 toCALL schedule appointment our caring staff to schedule appointment our caring 2806 Townsgate Rd, Ste Bwith Westlake Village staff 2806 Townsgate Rd, Ste B Westlake Village www.ShaniClinic.com

www.ShaniClinic.com

APPROACH A P P R OClinic A CH strives to address the unShani Shani Clinic strives to address underlying causes of health issues, the using a derlying causes ofapproach health issues, a solution-oriented and using engagsolution-oriented and engaging both patient approach and practitioner in a ing bothpartnership. patient andIt is practitioner in in a healing an evolution healing partnership.

It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better the practicetheof chronic medicine better addresses andthat epidemic addresses needs the chronic andcentury. epidemic healthcare of the 21st healthcare needs of the 21st century.

Rather than focusing on the traditional Rather than focusing on the disease-centered approach of traditional medicine, disease-centered of medicine, the focus is on a approach more patient-centered the focus isStriving on a more patient-centered approach. to address the whole approach. address whole person, notStriving just an to isolated setthe of sympperson, toms. not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Time is spent with patients, listening to Time spent with patients,environment listening to their is histories, discussing their lifestyle histories,factors discussing environment and and utilizing comand lifestyleblood factors and utilizing prehensive analysis.

The goalcomis to prehensive is to get to the blood root analysis. cause ofThe a goal patients get to issues the root of the a patients health andcause support overall health and issues andof support the overall vitality each individual. health and vitality of each individual.

A R E Y O U T H E R I G H T P A T I EN T ?

O U T HisE well R I G Hknown T P A T Ifor EN Thelping ?

A R E Y Clinic Shani patients with Shani Clinic is well helping inpatients with chronic diseases thatknown do notforimprove the current chronic model, diseases that do improve the tocurrent medical working withnot patients thatinwant avoid medical model, working with patients possible. that want Patients to avoid medications and surgery whenever medications and surgery possible. come in with anything fromwhenever chronic pain to type Patients 2 diabecome in with anything from chronic painClinic to type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

Shani also helps tes and peripheral neuropathy.

Shani Clinic also helps patients who are looking for overall wellbeing, nutrition, patients who are looking for overalland wellbeing, more energy, weight management optimal nutrition, health. more energy, weight management and optimal health.

TREATMENTS TInnovative, R E A T M E Nproven TS and Innovative, proventreatand highly effective FOR ACORN READERS highly are effective FOR ACORN READERS ments used. treatFrom ments arePlatelet used. From C O M P LIM E N T A RY your own Rich CCOOMNPSLIM N TI ON A RY your owntoPlatelet Rich Plasma, laser theraULTEAT Plasma, to laser therapy, natural injections, C O N S ULT A T I ON & B12 SHOT py, natural injections, chiropractic, acupuncB12 increases SHOT chiropractic, all&natural, ture, physicalacupunctherapy all natural, increases ture, physical therapy and many other medienergy, boosts and and manynatural other medienergy,and boosts cal treatmetabolism burns fat cal andto natural ments provide treatcommetabolism and burns fat ments to provide comB12 shot optional, 1 per patient, bined effective results. pending complimentary evaluation B12 shot optional, 1 per patient, bined effective results.

SPECIAL OFFER SPECIAL OFFER

pending complimentary evaluation

“Within 60 days I was completely off insulin. Within 90 days I started reducing my oral medica“Within days I was completely insulin.

I started reducing my oral medication.

I’ve60 lost over 40 lbs and my off energy levelWithin is off 90 thedays hook!

The results are amazing!

I can’t tion.

I’vehow lostmuch over I40 lbs and my is C., off (actual the hook!

The results are amazing! I can’t patient) tell you appreciate Dr. energy Shani” level ...Larry tell you how much I appreciate Dr. Shani” ...Larry C., (actual patient) advertisement advertisement

snapshot

Bottle Village

Grandma Prisbrey’s dream house “Anyone can do anything with a million dollars. . . .

But it takes more than money to make something out of nothing.”

—Tressa Prisbrey

Photo by Stephen shafer

66 beyond The Acorn.com | Fall 2015

T

hose are the words of the late Tressa Prisbrey, the visionary who built what came to be known as Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village. But her words hardly explain what motivated the then-60-year-old grandmother to begin a project that would result in 15 structures all constructed of discarded bottles and other odd found items.

The first structure, a 6-foot wall, was meant to block the feathers from the turkey farm next door. But others say Tressa began building because she needed some place to put her collection of pencils, which eventually numbered 17,000. Clearly the village became a kind of obsession for the woman who hailed from the Midwest, married a much older man, and eventually migrated to Simi Valley.

In her most prolific years—1956 to 1961—Grandma Prisbey was commonly spotted driving her truck to the dump or picking through discarded TV tubes. Those tubes now line the main walkway.

Bottle Village was, and is, a quirky work of folk art, infused with Tressa Prisbrey’s wry sense of humor (she fashioned one garden using trashed industrial springs because “every woman should have a spring garden”).

Today the property is one of California’s Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments and a California Historical Landmark. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused major damage to the buildings and faithful supporters are fundraising with hopes of restoring Bottle Village to its original odd splendor. But even with many of its structures downed, it regularly attracts visitors from all over the world.

Grandma Prisbrey, who had several hundred varieties of cactuses on the land, didn’t care much for cactus plants. “They remind me of myself,” she said in her memoirs. “They are independent, prickly, and ask nothing from anybody.”

—L.G.H.

1515 Flynn Rd. Camarillo 805|484|4391

www.thompsonbldg.com

Come see our Large Inventory of BBQ Islands & DĂŠcor