The classically feminine Rolex, sized and styled to perfectly match its wearer since 1957. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.
This sprawling, gated, off-market compound encompasses two parcels and includes a spectacular residence, two barns with 24 new stalls, seven large turnouts, an ocean view riding arena and so much more. 27580WINDINGWAY.COM
Most people buy what they need.
Some buy what they want.
Few buy what they dream.
This is the car they dream of.
The all new Revero.
Although we live in a part of the world where we rarely feel the chill of a true winter, it is always exciting to begin to feel spring in the air. As the oak trees push out bright, clean new leaves, and the hillsides are still lush and green from the occassional rain, thoughts shift to warmer days, perhaps a bit more relaxed, where we can spend more time outdoors, with family, friends and neighbors.
It is in celebration of this love of the things that feed our spirits—nature, food and music—that we have created a new event; The Hidden Hills Magazine Hootenanny, Food, Spirits & Music Festival. We hope everyone from every community will join us on April 28th in support of The Heart Foundation for an evening that will be truly memorable.
For more information you can read on, or go to www.HiddenHillsTickets.com.
Hope to see y’all at the Hootenanny!
Lonna Weber & Joe Bellissimo
Lonna@LongValleyMedia.com
Joe@LongValleyMedia.com
CO- PUBLISHERS
Lonna Weber
Joe Bellissimo
Editor-in-Chief
Joe Bellissimo
Copy Editors
Carly Fentress
Advisory Board
Archie E. Hanson Jr.
Linda Raznick
Lisa Sapiro
Steve Weber Inquiries
Advertising: Lonna@Longvalleymedia.com
Editorial: Joe@Longvalleymedia.com
Hidden Hills Magazine is published four times a year by Long Valley Media. LLC. It is mailed to residents of the city of Hidden Hills, California as well as distributed at commercial and retail locations in the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas.
Long Valley Media, LLC 5115 Douglas Fir Rd. Suite C Calabasas, CA 91302
All Rights reserved. No article illustrations photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without permission of the copy write owner (s). Long Valley Media, LLC does not take responsibility for the claims provided herein. Printed in the U.S.A.
Dr. Kapil Moza is a board certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon who has specialized in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery, as well as cerebrovascular/skull base surgery, for more than a decade. He is known for his record of positive clinical outcomes with zero infections and historically low complication rates. He is the first choice for many referring physicians and has frequently won patients’ choice awards for his medical expertise and bedside manner. Dr. Moza recently launched the Centurion Surgical Center, an outpatient surgical center that is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and interventional pain management. Equipped with stateof-the-art technology and staffed by board certified surgeons and physicians. Centurion boasts the largest operating room in any ambulatory surgical center in California. It will serve as a center of excellence for patients seeking minimally invasive spine surgery and artificial disc replacement, as well as interventional pain management services, including radiofrequency ablation, epidural injections and spinal cord stimulator implantation.
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Baseball hall of famer and actor Don Drysdale was an icon synonymous with Los Angeles & the Dodgers, and Hidden Hills as well.
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FIVE SENSE COLLECTIVE
Dru Erin and Kirscha Kramer have a vision to bring a 360°, fully immersive zen experience into your home.
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FAMOUSLY DELICIOUS
Culinary creations courtesy of Crateful, a special treat for VIP’s at the upcoming Hootenanny event.
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HOME PLATE: DON DRYSDALE COCKTAIL ACADEMY
Cocktail Academy has perfected the presentation and creation of cocktails.
66
KEEPING SCORE WITH THE ISHAMS
Film, music, art, and family: getting to know the Isham family.
74
THE ROCK STARS OF REAL ESTATE
The Shevin brothers have forged their success in real estate in the community they serve.
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KARMA AUTOMOTIVE
44
The EATS
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Karma Automotive is taking charge of their future by defining their brand in a unique and timeless way.
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BRINGING CRYPTOCURRENCY INTO THE LIGHT
LIFElabs wants fluid transactional freedom for the masses.
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The MUSIC The SPIRITS HISTORY OF THE VENUE
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SPANKY’S PET PICS
Meet the McQuaid Family’s Menagerie
• All Day Indoor Play Facility
• Private Parties Available
• Hip Hop, Ballet & Tap Dance Classes
• Mommy & Me Interactive Sessions
MUSIC MASTER CLASS, THE MCC Twice a Week (Tues & Thurs)
GRADES 5TH - 12TH
• VOCAL CONTROL/BREATHING
• STAGE PERFORMANCE
Debbie Yanuck began telling family tales about her siblings, at a young age, claiming they were nonfiction, but learned to label them fiction, and thus began her writing career. Since then, she has written 11 nonfiction children’s books (i.e. “The White House, “The Bald Eagle.”) Visit her blog at www.debyanuck.wordpress. com.
Elyse Glickman’s work as a journalist and editor spans the globe and topics including gastronomy, wine and spirits, wellness, business profiles, interior design and fashion. She served as a Senior Editor for business/executive lifestyle magazine C-Suite Quarterly (CSQ) magazine, covering food and travel.
Nicola is a British fine art and commercial photographer, with a distinct and unique storytelling style. Evoking more than just a visual experience, her images have a keen eye for detail. Her work has been published by the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post as well as other publications and she has worked on marketing content for major corporate clients. Fine art trained, Nicola has also exhibited in group shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco and London. She works closely with the local charity Heal the Bay photographing events and educational content.
• MUSIC TERMINOLOGY
• HARMONY & BLENDING
WEEK 1: Intro/Assess vocals & breathing
WEEK 2: Vocal control (highs & lows, loud & soft)
WEEK 3: Harmony
WEEK 4: Sing your favorite song
WEEK 5: Harmonizing & individual singing
WEEK 6: Perform your song (Recorded performance delivered via email)
*SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER TO DISCUSS THE MANY FACTORS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
DISCOVER YOUR INNER PERFORMER WITH SHAWN STOCKMAN ph.D FROM THE MULTI GRAMMY WINNING MUSIC GROUP
(818) 912-6762
• 23343
MULHOLLAND DRIVE
• WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91346
High School Senior Gracie Bellissimo has loved writing ever since she was a little girl. Finding a passion for short stories and screenplays, she has since continued to bring some of her written work to the screen through her creation of short films, several of which have won awards. With an eye towards attending film school next fall she hopes to one day become a professional storyteller through film making.
Having spent her summer as a high school intern for the Los Angeles Times, McKenna Thurber is proud to call herself a journalist. She is a rising senior at El Camino Real Charter High School, where she is serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s paper for her second consecutive year. Her weekends have been dedicated to music photography and journalism, which she hopes will one day become her career.
Fireball (his legal name) has designed vehicles for over 400 of Hollywood’s biggest action films including BATMAN, KNIGHT RIDER, JURASSIC PARK & MONSTER GARAGE plus over 1K Commercials. But not only a force in the Design of Cars for Hollywood, Fireball is also an Award-Winning Filmmaker, accomplished Children’s Book Author, Cartoonist and Host for Speed, TLC, Discovery and Velocity Channels.
Renewal Beauty Bar is happy to announce that our spa facility was just renovated and we happily invite our Hidden Hills and Calabasas neighbors to try out our new treatments. We are also proud to announce that we now offer IN-HOME SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR HIDDEN HILLS CLIENTS AND CALABASAS.
Renewal Beauty Bar is a full service spa, offering a variety of relaxing treatments from your scalp to your pores to your toes. Begin with pampering your nails with or high-end nail artists that do acrylic, UV gel, nail art, and, our newest addition, bio seaweed gel. Then, get that golden glow from our facial estheticians, offering everything from waxing, eyebrow shaping, microdermabrasion, ultrasonic/red light, stem cells, to both gold and oxygen facial for both men and women. Our skin products come from all the best European countries. In addition to our wide menu of massage therapy treatments, Renewal spa offers a variety of body scrubs and detox wraps. To finish off your day-time relaxation, check out our new blow dry bar!
When the Brooklyn Dodgers became the Los Angeles Dodgers there was no Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park. Games were played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, downtown.
THROUGHOUT THE FIFTIES, SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER AND ACTOR DON DRYSDALE WAS NOT ONLY AN ICON SYNONYMOUS WITH LOS ANGELES & THE DODGERS, BUT FOR HIDDEN HILLS AS WELL. HERE THE DRYSDALE FAMILY GENEROUSLY SHARES WITH US THEIR PERSONAL HISTORY, PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA.
It is true that Donald (Don) Scott Drysdale is a member of The National Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1984, won the Cy Young award in 1962, and in 1968 pitched six consecutive shut-outs, but first he was a San Fernando Valley boy, born and raised in Van Nuys, California. He was drafted straight out of high school to the Brooklyn Dodgers, which later became the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958, enabling him to come home. He and his wife, Ginger, soon moved with their young daughter, Kelly to Hidden Hills and spent over ten years living in their countryside haven. Don passed away at the age of 56 from a heart attack, but Kelly says he lived big (as he stood physically at 6’6”) each and every day.
Don Drysdale’s father, an athlete who played baseball in the minors, shared his love of sports with his son, Don, who played football and baseball throughout high school. He also shared his strong work ethic and the ability to take on any task, small or large, with his son.
Ginger and Don met at a Dodger event. She was a model at the Mr. Adrian Teen Model Agency and was there for a “Day with the Dodgers.” She posed with some of the players and they began to talk. They married September 27, 1958. Ginger may only stand 5’4” tall, but she was a powerful, fearless match for her husband. Kelly was born a year later and in 1964 they moved to Spring Valley Road in Hidden Hills.
LEFT, CLOCKWISE: DON & GINGER, NEWLYWEDS. KELLY WITH DAD AND MOM. KELLY WITH HER DAD ON THE PORCH OF THEIR SPRING VALLEY RD. HOME IN HIDDEN HILLS, ALSO ONCE THE HOME OF BUZZ ALDRIN AND SINBAD
OPPOSITE
PAGE: A VOLPER PAINTING OF DRYSDALE FOR A PROMOTIONAL ITEM.. DRYSDALE WITH TEAMMATES . BEFORE THE JERSEYS SAID “DODGERS” IT WAS JUST “LOS ANGELES.”
“More and more, looking back, living in Hidden Hills was an idyllic place for a family to live and grow,” says Kelly. She played outside daily with her friends and neighbors, riding their bikes or horses, and often did not come home until the sun set, or her mother rang a bell that could be heard up and down the street.
Beyond baseball, Don and Ginger were savvy business people. In 1962, along with their partners, Jack and Ilene Luffee, they opened Don Drysdale’s Dugout Restaurant in Van Nuys. It had a small menu of surf and turf and
many evenings after games, Don and his teammates would spend the night eating and hanging out in the restaurant. They later opened a second restaurant with their business partners in Santa Ana, and a third, Don Drysdale’s Whaler’s Pub in Maui. On their own, Ginger and Don opened Don Drysdale’s Club 53 Inc in Kona.
They also became interested in thoroughbred breeding and the horses that did not make it on the track became Ginger’s horses for her Hunter/Jumper events. Many Friday nights the family
went to the Burbank Equestrian Center, where Ginger entered the weekly competition to see who could jump the highest bar on their horses without knocking it down. Ginger rode a dapple, gray horse that stood 16 – 6 hands high and some Fridays found Ginger taking home the prize. Kelly remembers the Friday nights as ones where she played with friends and family, while cheering on her petite mother. Her parents loved to entertain in their Hidden Hills home. Don’s Dodger teammates and their wives would come formally
dressed and would spend the evening dancing and eating with Don occasionally singing with his cousin’s band. He loved to sing “Fly Me to the Moon” and it later became his legacy song. Kelly says, “Someone always ended up in the pool.”
In the offseason, Don and his father built an addition to their Hidden Hills home. They built the one bedroom, one bath guest house with a kitchen and living room by themselves. When it was complete, Kelly says, “My grandparents moved in and the whole family lived together, raising
horses, working hard, throwing parties and enjoying the country life.” Ginger and Don had a sense of humor and each family animal carried a baseball inspired name. Some of their names were: Homer, Full Count, Pitch, Wind
money. They ended up signing just before spring season began and became the first pitchers to earn more than $100,000 per year. Ginger was the spark behind this and told them to hold out for what they were
Don spent his entire career with the Dodgers. He played baseball from 1957 until 1969. He and Sandy Koufax were two incredible pitchers for the Dodgers and in 1966, for the first time ever in baseball, they held out for more
worth. She went to every game that Don pitched and learned how to keep score with the stats. She would score the entire game and later on she and Don would go over the mistakes.
His teammates were also his family and if one of them got hit
by a pitch, he would hit two of the opposing team’s guys with a pitch. If he was told to walk a player, he would often hit them with a pitch because as Kelly says, “He didn’t want to waste four pitches when it only took one to walk a batter.”
Kelly says, “One day my dad drove Sandy Koufax, my mom and me in his baby blue, Continental convertible to LAX, with the top down, and people were doing double takes and honking and yelling hello as they recognized the two. It wasn’t every day you saw your baseball heroes, sideby-side driving down the 405 with the lid down.”
When his baseball playing career ended, Don became a broadcaster. For fun, he used to do play-by-plays in the dugouts to amuse himself and his teammates. He worked as a broadcaster for the Montreal Expos, the Texas Rangers, the California Angels, the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles, Dodgers until his passing.
Don Drysdale passed away July 3, 1993. It was Kelly’s birthday. While Kelly misses her father daily, she appreciates how her father lived. She says, “He was a big guy in every single way; with his generosity, his giving spirit, the exuberant way he lived his life and the way he loved his family.”
CLOCKWISE: DRYSDALE APPEARING IN “THE FLYING NUN” WITH KOUFAX AND SALLY FIELD. CONVINCING GREG BRADY TO STAY IN SCHOOL ON “THE BRADY BUNCH.” ON THE SET OF “THE FUGITIVE,” WITH KOUFAX AND DAVID JANSEN. WITH CHUCK CONNORS ON “THE RIFLEMAN.”
HIDDEN HILLS RAISED DRU ERIN AND BEST FRIEND KIRSCHA CRAMER HAVE A VISION TO BRING A 360°, FULLY IMMERSIVE ZEN EXPERIENCE INTO YOUR HOME.
WRITTEN BY GRACIE BELLISSIMO PHOTOS BY ROSE ELIZABETH
TOP: THE GIRLS MOVE THROUGH EACH MOTION WITH INTENTIONED BREATH. ON AN EXHALE, SINKING INTO THE HIPS, WITH ARMS EXPRESSED TO OPEN THE SHOULDER BLADES.
BOTTOM: FLOWING TOGETHER THROUGH SYNCHRONIZATION SHOWS US HOW WE CAN BRIDGE OUR INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENTS WITH THE OUTERSELVES. THIS EXPRESSION IS SYNONYMOUS WITH RELATIONSHIPS WE ALL HAVE WITH THE WORLD AND OTHER PEOPLE. HOW ARE WE CONFORMING TO OUR ENVIRONMENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN A WAY THAT STILL ALLOWS YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR FULLEST SELF?
Istep into Topanga Canyon’s secluded Cafe Mimosa, a quaint little coffee house that’s hipster with heart. My eyes immediately land on a smiling young woman with dreadlocks. She is Dru Erin, one of the founders of the Five Sense Collective. With a Bhakti Chai Tea in hand, she introduces me to co-founder and longtime friend, Kirscha Cramer, who leads us out onto an open patio shaded by sycamore trees. The girls seem completely content and calm, being that they were just taking care of business emails and brainstorming their next event inside for several hours leading up to my arrival. For two young women in their twenties, they sure seem to have it together. Settling into their seats, the girls begin to tell me of the chance becomings of their eclectic Five Sense Collective, a business the two launched together to provide therapeutic events for clients that are catered
to spiritually heal, bring awareness to sustainable living, and support the community. Originally intentioned to be a one-time event in Hidden Hills, the girls combined their passions for healing movement and meaningful encounters to bring an immersive, holistic healing event to the Hidden Hills Community. It was intend to be a larger outdoor event, but a prediction of rain proposed a conflict. What was originally a chance misfortune of rain, instead transformed the birth of the Five Sense Collective business. The warm, comforting feeling provided by the wholeness of home and closeness of the open-hearted eventgoers is what inspired the genesis of the Five Sense Collective. “It just unfolded itself, without us really having to try and unfold anything”, Dru recalls, regarding the birth of their company. “It was just so incredible to create that safe, vulnerable place that everybody needs... where people can come and get back to the root of their being.”
“Everyone needs some healing in their life, no matter what your journey or past has been,” adds Kirscha. “Levels of depression, mental health, and suicide are at more insane rates than ever before...we just want to be able to create an environment where people can
come and feel more connected.”
The concept behind the name of the company comes from how the girls believe that all healing begins at the root of your five senses. Connecting various practices to different sounds, smells, tastes, textures, and visuals helps to
provoke memories and emotion that access the root of your senses; this is when healing starts to occur. “When you start to create new memories,” on or off the yoga mat, “you’re in control then of your journey, of your healing, and of your life”, explains . For each private event,
the girls first enhance the experience by “cleansing and transforming the space, enhancing a feeling, and harnessing specific tones unique to the client.” “When you walk into my house, it’s full of crystals and incense and sage” Dru laughs, “we just completely gut the place of any negative energy and bring in the Collective’s energy instead.”
During each holistic healing session, verbal questions help guests to become in-tune with their surroundings by
asking what they currently can smell, touch, and hear. “The way we talk and the way we express ourselves through our yoga instruction is a huge thing” Dru adds. Alongside spreading positivity within the community, the Collective supports and brings awareness to humanitarian & environmental matters, promoting sustainable lifestyle from every end. Food is always incorporated into these events as well, ranging from local, organic vendors
SHARING SPACE WITH OCEAN AND ARCHITECTURE, DRU DIVES DEEPLY INTO A ONE-LEGGED VARIATION OF BACKBEND FOR SPINAL TRACTION AND STRENGTHENING
to vegan, homecooked meals.
The Five Sense Collective further practices range from yoga to meditation, Kundalini, sound baths, reiki, breathwork, and even feature guest speakers that offer their respective expertise, wisdom, and knowledge to the community. Currently focused on private in-home yoga sessions and private holistic healing events in So Cal residents’ homes, Kirscha
and Dru continue to aspire in creating a homey, safe, and serene experience for those throughout the community craving spiritual solace. “We just want to spread consciousness, and offer meaningful conversation and experiences within the community,” emphasizes Kirscha, “it’s something worth exploring.”
CONNECTING VARIOUS PRACTICES TO DIFFERENT SOUNDS, SMELLS, TASTES, TEXTURES, AND VISUALS HELPS TO PROVOKE MEMORIES AND EMOTION THAT ACCESS THE ROOT OF YOUR SENSES; THIS IS WHEN HEALING STARTS TO OCCUR.
HIDDEN HILLS
CALABASAS
MALIBU
AGOURA HILLS
THOUSAND OAKS
WESTLAKE VILLAGE THIS IS YOUR FESTIVAL!
EMILY HACKETT
TICKETS ARE VERY LIMITED!
hoot·en·an·ny ˈhootnˌanē/
A festive, casual and impromptu gathering of friends, kin and community where all can share local music, delicious food and enlightening spirits. We hope you enjoy this 30 page preview of our new local tradition...
AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Most famous for their smash hit, “Two Princes,” a fictional rags-to-riches story, New York rock band, Spin Doctors, have a rags-to-riches story themselves. After dropping out of Bennington College, lead singer Chris Barron moved to New York with only $100 in hand. There, Barron and the group began to record original music, which was eventually compiled into “Pocket Full of Kryptonite,” their debut album. At the time, the band began to play in clubs and slowly built up a grassroots fan base, while performing alongside jam bands such as Blues Traveler and Phish.
In 1991, “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” was released. The album featured upbeat-rock melodies and lyrics that told a story. During the era of era of grunge and garage rock, where bands like Nirvana dominated the radio, “Pocket Full of Kryptonite” stood out and
turned heads because of its upbeat and catchy rhythms. It landed as No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 charts and was soon after certified as a five-time platinum album by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Their song “Two Princes” reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, while “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” reached No. 17. These two hits helped the band move from a grassroots fan base to a more mainstream audience, ultimately launching their career.
The band members recognize that their early nineties, career-defining hit, “Two Princes,” labeled the group as a “nineties band.” Spin Doctors have worked to keep their music on the radio and fans singing along in their audiences for decades long after the ‘90s.The reason the group has been able to consistently tour for the last three decades is because they
HEADLINING ACT HITTING THE MAIN STAGE AT THE HIDDEN HILLS MAGAZINE HOOTENANNY - 10:00 PM VISIT www.HiddenHillsTickets.com and click “The Music” to watch the SPIN DOCTOR’s classic MTV staple video, “Two Princes.”
have backed up their songwriting talent with lengthy and entertaining, live performances. Rolling Stone once compared a Spin Doctors concert to a “party.” A party, for the Spin Doctors, often includes frontman, Barron, executing dance moves with unexpected flexibility, swinging his microphone by its cord out into the crowd and facilitating onstage interaction with his particularly talented bandmates.
Lyrics from Spin Doctors’ most famous chorus, “I ain’t got no future,” were hardly prophetic of the band’s own career. In three decades, Spin Doctors have released four compilation albums, three live albums and six studio albums. They have toured across the world and as a result, each individual band member has lived a truly rich life in highenergy performances, upbeat music and fans singing along wherever they tour.
HITS THE MAIN STAGE AT THE HIDDEN HILLS MAGAZINE HOOTENANNY - 8:40 PM VISIT www.HiddenHillsTickets.com and click “The Music” to see KOREY DANE’s video, “Lovesick in a Hotel Wildfire.”
Today’s popular music has undoubtedly been overpowered by electronic instruments and multi-layered synthetic production. To find music just as catchy and uplifting, while reminiscent of classic rock is a challenge that most alternative artists as well as youthful audiences tend to face. However, musician Korey Dane has placed a fresh twist on classic, folk rock through his bright, memorable songs that contrast, yet perfectly pair with their bittersweet, poetic lyrics.
“I grew up skateboarding and listening to music,” says Korey, looking to influences such as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Tom Petty from an early age. “I figured that I would study art in college, but once all of that turned to reality, I think I just got situated where music made the most sense”. Dane gained knowledge through experience after floating around from place to place on the road, and in 2015, he released his first album, Youngblood. His Grandfather, named Youngblood, of Cherokee descent, passed away during the process of the album’s production. “My piano player and I went and visited him in Louisiana when we were doing some sessions up there in Nashville. I wrote that song, ‘Louisiana Sundance’, which is on Youngblood while we were there. It just seemed like such a fitting head nod. All of the themes and points of reference direct back to him. He was in mind when we were shaping the whole thing.”
Dane’s sophomore album, Chamber Girls, was released last year and took on a live, self-produced approach that was recorded at the recently revitalized Valentine Recording Studios, which originally opened in 1949 and had remained untouched since its closing 30 years ago. Twentieth century greats such as The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa and Jackson Brown were produced in the now reopened space, where Dane chose to bring his goal of a live warmly “analog” album to fruition.
“Encapsulating the energy that would be felt during a live performance when you’re there in the room can get lost in translation when you get too meticulous with recording,” Korey explains. “I was
really hung up on making a live record, so we went in and recorded it in five straight days. The first couple days in the studio kept going wrong, and it was all haywire, but somehow, it all worked out. To this day I’m still kinda confused how it did.”
The struggle of recording live isn’t apparent in any of the 11 tracks, each individually radiating a beautiful blend of emotion and feeling just as sincere and honest as Dane’s hypnotic vocals. “Lovesick In a Hotel Wildfire” sounds just as lively as its title, with bold flavors that evoke the spirit of Nick Lowe and the energy of those Petty songs that make you want to speed down a dusty country road. Dane’s favorite song off of the album, “Hard Times,” reminisces the trials and tribulations of life, while simultaneously sounding like a beachy breezy ride down PCH. Despite these sun-soaked similes, don’t be misled; Dane still carries that sometimes dark insight of the true singer-songwriter. “Down in a Hole,” a stirring tale of addiction, and metaphorically inspired by Danes’ pet rabbit, generates a sense of mystery and loneliness one would experience on a misty morning in a forest.
Most recently, Dane released a single written for his current girlfriend and fellow musician, Zella Day. “It was a song I wrote to her, and she has the most beautiful voice, so she sang on it.” The couples’ voices in perfect harmony sing clear and true the intimacy of love backed by relaxed, vibrant guitar strumming redolent of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac.
With another album due in a little over six months, Dane has moved back into the studio for his next record and is going back to modern producing methods. “It’s a bit different, but it’s interesting and fresh,” he enthuses. “I’m excited to share it with everyone.” In regard of performances, Dane brings a heightened sense of the energy echoed within his two albums to life with untouchable spirit and precision. “I have the same appetite for all of the things that all of us have, that’s why I’m happy to be a part of music.”
Three horn players stand shoulder-toshoulder, harmonizing as a single unit for a couple of entrancing seconds before breaking off to play individual notes. Behind them, a clean-cut drummer is committed to producing the perfect balance of cowbell and rhythm. In front of them, a smiling man sings with a wholesome voice and a cherry red guitar in hand.
With seven band members, Seattle soul group, The Dip, is not only interesting to listen to, but captivating to watch.
“We wanted to start a party band,” says Jacob Lundgren, The Dip’s guitarist and engineer who mixes their music. “A band that we could have fun performing at house shows with.”
While studying at the University of Washington, Lundgren and bass player, Mark Hunter, looked to the university’s jazz program to find potential band members. From that, they organized a group that was nine members large. Even though the number of musicians in The Dip used to fluctuate, they have kept seven members consistently for three years now.
“We got more and more serious in a very natural way,” Lundgren says. In 2015, the group released their self-titled album, which features some of the band’s most listened to songs. On the most popular track from the album, “State Line,” lead singer Tom Eddy sings about struggling with being distant from another. From 2011 to 2016, The Dip has released four albums.
As the band developed, they labelled themselves as a soul group for social media purposes. However, Lundgren tends to shy away from labeling their music. “Sure, we are very soul-influenced,” he says. “But we draw upon rock, blues, jazz, and pop. We blend all of those genres together.“This is especially evident in their track, “Sure Don’t Miss You,” which features upbeat blues-rock guitar and jazz-sounding horns, courtesy of a three person large horn section, which adds an extra layer of melody and rhythm to their music. From the audience, the seven-piece group is entertaining because the stage is packed to the brim with musicians absorbed in their songs and performances. Being on the stage
with that many people, Lundgren shares, is a completely different experience. With each new venue comes a differently sized stage. Some are roomy enough to fit the whole band, while others are so tiny that they cramp the band members together. However, Lundgren says that small stages provide for a unique experience at each show.
A more miniature stage demands that the band members fit the drum kit, mics, pedal boards and amplifiers on the stage in whichever configuration may work. This often forces
the musicians to rearrange their positions on the stage, which makes them stand next to different band members each night. “It leads to us listening to people we don’t usually hear,” Lundgren says.
The true magic of the group lies in how tight their sound is, especially considering how large they are. As an infusion of multiple genres of music, members of The Dip say that they are serving “the greater groove,” creating unique music that makes people want to listen and dance.
CALICO was founded by two female musicians who identify first and foremost as Californians. The band’s songs constantly allude to their experiences living in California, singing lyrics such as “we’ve got nothing between us but the 405.” Their music videos are beautiful and strongly convey the messages of each of their tracks, while also featuring backdrops that any California native would recognize as home. Through their music videos and lyrics, the frontwomen of CALICO radiate adoration for their home state.
They recognize that California may see to be an overly-romanticized state, as people seem to forget about the traffic and overpopulation when dreaming about Hollywood. Even though CALICO’s lyrics occasionally point out those Californian struggles, they also emphasize parts of California that are overlooked, such diversity and its natural beauty. However, even though a large part of their identity is being from the West Coast, famous for surf rock and rap, band leaders
written by McKenna ThurberManda Mosher and Kirsten Proffit produce music that ranges across Americana and Country genres.
In 2012, Mosher and Proffit met for the first time. Back then, they were both writing and performing music as solo artists. In fact, they were already following each other on social media due to the fact that they were active members in the same music scene. After listening to the two perform separately, one promoter thought that Mosher and Proffit would make a great doubleheadlining show. The two agreed to double-bill a show at The House of Blues and decided to perform a song together as well.
At their first rehearsal, Mosher and Proffit recall feeling an instant connection; they recognized that they were both “lone wolves.” That epiphany sparked the inspiration for their first original song together, titled “Lone Wolf.”
Both Mosher and Proffit find inspiration in the music from groups such as Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and their admiration for these groups shines brightest through their second album, “Under Blue Skies.” In this album, they explore topics such as love through wholesome acoustic guitars and enchanting harmonies. As the two musicians became more comfortable with each other, they began to explore showing more vulnerability in their lyrics, which is evident throughout this record.
In getting to know each other, Mosher and Proffit realized that they grew up living completely different lives. Mosher was the granddaughter of a screenwriter who created famous television series such as “Leave It To Beaver” and “The Munsters.” Proffit, on the other hand, was raised by nomadic hippies who traveled from California to Spain and back again during her childhood. Even though these women have lead very different lives, one major commonality that they share is their love for music and, of course, their home state.
Looking to the future, CALICO hopes to create a California Country album featuring collaborations with other West Coast artists.
Los Angeles alternative rock band, Wildling, credits the launch of their career to their first song, titled “Hummingbird.” Written in 2014, when Wildling only consisted of duo Ryan Levine and Andrew Ampaya, the song motivated the two musicians to organize a full band. Now, the group is made up of brothers Ryan Levine (vocals, guitar) and Justin Levine (bass), Andrew Ampaya (keyboard) and Erik Janson (guitar).
Once it was recorded, DJ Kat Corbett of KROQ added the band’s single, “Hummingbird” to the rotation on her “Locals Only” radio show. The group then played their first gig in 2015 at The Satellite in Los Angeles. After an impressive, entertaining, and captivating performance, they landed a month-long residency at the same venue and were invited to play as the opening act for Young The Giant’s North American tour. Within one year, the band inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records and their tracks began to be featured on television, such as on ABC’s “Nashville.”
Traveling to Joshua Tree, CA in 2016, the four musicians of Wildling dedicated full days to crafting brand new music for their Warner Bros. debut album, “Here.” In five days, they wrote nine songs.
With the guidance of GRAMMY®
Award-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli, who has previously worked with artists such as Elton
written by McKenna ThurberJohn and The Killers, Wildling began to find their sound. Ampaya recalls that Chiccarelli encouraged them to avoid “referencing other bands.” His main advice to the group was to “stick with being who you are, and it’ll happen.”
With Chiccarelli, they perfected four new songs for their album, “Here,” which also features a re-recorded version of “Hummingbird.”
The band’s members originally bonded over their shared admiration for groups such as Talking Heads, Danger Mouse, and Gorillaz. While their sound is entirely their own, their preference for slightly altered versions of rock and pop, which artists such as the Talking Heads and Gorillaz specialize in, shine through the tracks in “Here.”
The third track off of the album, “Lilywhite,” features dreamy guitar riffs and an addictive vocal melody that is simultaneously melancholic and upbeat.
With a completely different sound, “Leavin’” features strumming
acoustic guitars and a chanting vocal melody. That song, for singer Ryan Levine, is about walking away from situations that no longer feel “authentic.”
The lyrics of “Leavin’” relate to Levine’s own life, as he and Ampaya have left record labels and bands that they were no longer in “authentic” relationships with. Levine and Ampaya have toured, recorded, and released music under four different band names since 2004. Previously known as Test Your Reflex, No Country, and Low Shoulder, the two are thankful to now be committed members of Wildling.
As for their future, the four members of Wildling intend to pursue their passion for music, and hope to continue playing music for the rest of their lives.
“This band is what we’d all spent so many years looking for,” says bassist Justin Levine. “It’s all or nothing.”
HITS THE MAIN STAGE AT THE HIDDEN HILLS MAGAZINE HOOTENANNY - 5:30 PM VISIT www.HiddenHillsTickets.com and click “The Music” to see WILDLING’S music video for “Leavin.”
Iwrite songs, release them and then they get to go on their own journeys,” proclaims singer-songwriter Juliet Roberts. The Southern California native’s music has led her to travel and perform, but she has also achieved commercial success after being featured on television shows such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” NBC’s “The Voice” and the trailer for Netflix’s original documentary, “Seeing All Red.”
“It’s exciting to be a part of representing something [I’m] a fan of,” Roberts says. “It’s really special for me.”
Classifying herself as a mix of soulful throwback music with a rock influence, music has always been an anchor in Roberts’ life.
“My mother was a jazz singer,” Roberts says. “When I was in my preteens, I was like her roadie.” Roberts looks back fondly on the memories of helping prepare the stage and watching from the audience, as her mother performed in coffee houses. However, Roberts says that before she even knew what being a performer meant, she loved singing and writing.
Most of Roberts’ lyrics today are not only about love, but about life. “All of my lyrics are inspired by my life
and people around me,” Roberts says. “I love writing about facing your fears and pushing through difficult times.”
This is particularly evident in her song, “I’m On Fire,” which features lyrics about empowerment and is currently being used alongside promotion for Ronda Rousey. Roberts is especially fond of having her song promote Rousey, as she feels Rousey is a figure that many people, especially women, look up to.
Ultimately, Roberts hopes that her lyrics will continue to spread positive messages and inspire others. The artists that she considers to be most inspiring include Jason Mraz, because of the originality and subject matter of his lyrics, and Sia, because of the texture and different vocal characteristics in her voice. While she may look up to them, Roberts still remains true to herself and is proud of her unique style.
When performing live, Roberts either sings with a full band or just an acoustic guitarist. Each style summons a completely different type of performance and creates polar opposite atmospheres. “There’s a lot more energy with a full band that brings drum-driven rhythm, as we do,” she says. “But playing acoustically is a lot more intimate.”
Roberts shared that more than any monetary value or fame, what she truly wants is to perform and tour more often. Though she has already accomplished so much in her singing career, Roberts looks forward to the future journey she will take with her music.
“I would love to be able to travel and have more people listen,” she says. “It would be incredible to be able to really branch out and affect more people.”
With a “tell-it-like-it-is attitude, singer and songwriter Emily Hackett describes herself as a storyteller at heart. With a gypsy grunge look and an acoustic guitar in hand, her southern influences are not as much shown as they are heard, but her authenticity has a found a home in Nashville and country music.
Hackett released her first single, “Take My Hand (The Wedding Song),” in 2014. On that track, she sings alongside Will Anderson (of Parachute) as a beautiful, orchestral strings melody accompanies them. Even though this was Hackett’s first official song to ever be released, its music video has received upwards of 20 million views on YouTube. A collection of various wedding footage and photographs stitched together, the video was delicately edited together by Emily herself to perfectly compliment their lyrics, “Take my heart, take my hand.”
After that single was released, Hackett released “The Raw EP,” a compilation of stripped down versions originals. Her newest release, “Nostalgia,” although labeled a country song, it’s sprinkled with all the elements of a pop track and is accompanied by a music video that will make you feel like the high school rebel that you once were. Edited to appear as though it was shot with film, the video is both beautiful and entertaining to watch. With bright colors and shots of Hackett laughing with her friends, her carefree and fun personality shines. The video perfectly correlates with the lyrics of her song, where she sings about reminiscing on old memories - the good times and the hard times.
Since its release in 2017, “Nostalgia” has introduced Hackett to her first encounter with radio attention for her original music. On November 3, it was added to Radio Disney Country’s track rotation. The response to this track was
so positive that Hackett released an acoustic version of it as well.
One of the reasons Hackett has gained success quickly is because she puts herself out there in an attempt to open up opportunities for herself. Her YouTube channel is filled with videos of her performing acoustically at gigs and open mic nights, showing she is dedicated to performing and publicizing her name. Her dedication shows, too, as she was named Sirius XM’s Best Coffeehouse Cover with Megan Davies for her rendition of “Royals” by Lorde. In addition, she was the winner of Belk’s Modern Southern Music Showcase, which invited her to play live shows across the nation during the summer of 2014.
Influenced not only by country artists, such as Miranda Lambert and Shania Twain, but classic-rock artists such as The Beatles and Joni Mitchell, Hackett’s music blends multiple techniques from different genres. While her vocals have a consistent country sound, some of her tracks, such as “Once In A While” implement guitar harmonies and riffs similar to those heard in The Beatles.
Whether by listening to her traditional country voice, watching her captivating music videos or listening to her heartfelt lyrics, it is evident that Hackett is a strong performer with high goals that she has the confidence and talent to achieve.
YOUR WRISTBAND IS YOUR PASS TO AN EVENING OF INCLUDED DELECTABLE TREATS
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO ONE OF THOSE DINNER PARTIES WHERE EACH CAREFULLY CATERED BITE IS EVEN BETTER THAN THE LAST... FOOD THAT YOU TALK AND DREAM ABOUT DAYS LATER?
THE HOOTENANNY FOOD, SPIRITS & MUSIC FESTIVAL IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, AND HERE IS JUST A SAMPLING OF SOME OF THE AMAZING CULINARY PARTNERS YOU’LL CRAVE
local produce bounty while creating sophisticated but user-friendly comfort food with lots of imagination and artisanal producers’ flair.
Pedalers Fork remains an ingenious combination of bar, restaurant, coffee house,
IT’S A LOCALS THING. There was a time when Calabasas was regarded as a quiet and uneventful bedroom community in the West Valley. However, a few years ago, Pedalers Fork arrived in town with a brand new way to enjoy local dining that made the most of the area’s rustic glamour and
and bicycle boutique. The self-contained “stay-cation” that shapes the personality of Pedalers Fork was clearly
devised for people who would rather participate in a sport rather than watch it on television. The same can be said for what the restaurant will be bringing to and serving at the Hootenanny. Partners Robbie Schaeffer (a current Hidden Hills resident) and Gideon Kleinman were intent on creating a very different spin on the comfort food/ gastropub experience, with the mindset that Calabasas was long overdue for a “community gathering spot” that is truly “home grown” on many levels.
Not surprisingly, Pedalers Fork is also known for its impressive “who’s who” list on its web site documenting which purveyors, neighborhood farms and markets stock their pantries. “The concept started out as a beer garden,” Schaeffer told Hidden Hills. “I’ve always said there are three hundred days of sunshine in L.A., and we don’t have any beer gardens. You go to New York City in the middle of winter, and people are drinking outside. Why doesn’t that work here? Then we (decided that) at
the end of the beer garden, there will be a little French country house, and we will make that a little bike shop. Next, with our chef, we decided to have a menu full of seasonal dishes and interesting reinventions of everybody’s favorite foods. And that’s how it all came together.”
toppings to mix and match, this tiny poke paradise sets itself apart from the rest of the pack by through its signature bowl creations, house-made sauces and seasonings.
“Unlike other poke places that present their fish and toppings in a buffet format,e are very picky about the way we select and handle everything, from serving our fish and produce the day it arrives in the store, to storing the fish in a stainless steel container at 32°F to control oxygen exposure which affects the flavor and freshness of the fish,” said Eli Moshehai, co-founder.
When it comes to poke, the freshest food trend going, there are many fish in the sea.
However, there’s only one Kai Poke in the El Camino Shopping Center. While DIY bowls are available, and there are loads of interesting
every member of the sauce line-up, like different bands, has a unique personality and appeal. The signature “Kai Sauce” blends shoyu base and yuzu kosho to create a jazzy citrus kick. Spice lovers will find their world rocked with the Pan-Asianinfluenced Spicy Aioli, blending sriracha sambal into the shoyu base. Miso is updated with Kai Poke’s secret blend of spices, salt, and citrus, while Yuzo Miso focuses on the sweetness and sass of yuzu and other citrus notes.
Guests will be enjoying such signature sea-faring bites as Kai’s special expression of spicy tuna (large pieces rather than small cubes), albacore, and salmon with a choice of yuzu sauce or spicy ponzu, along with a colorful selection of toppings that can be mixed and matched.
“As many people in the area have not yet heard about us, participating in this event is a great way for us to
introduce ourselves and our different approach to poke in a beautiful setting at the perfect time of year.”
“We are also unique in that all of our sauces are created in-house everyday from scratch.”
In a similar fashion to a successful concert lineup, Kai Poke translates different influences and flavors into something wholly original that’s sure to create word of mouth and legions of fans. According to Moshehai,
so perfectly. Furthermore, pizza is unique in that can go anywhere, from a casual gathering with beer and soda to a wine-sipping connoisseur crowd. In this context, nobody knows the value of pizza and events more than Two Doughs Pizza Co. co-founders
Chadwick Corcoran and Zach Mendelsohn. Given Two Doughs is as known for its catering as it is for its restaurant and to-go options, it was the natural choice as the official pizzeria of The Hidden Hills Magazine Hootenanny.
Attendees will enjoy proteintopped and vegetarian pizzas with seasonal produce with a sturdy-but-light Neapolitan crust foundation that is more easily digested and more body friendly, or a more decadent and mouthwatering Sicilian-style dough. The flour for both original recipes is made using old milling practices, ensuring that the dough is prepared with only the highest quality organic flour. Before the toppings go on, the dough is given time to mature as Corcoran will insist naturally leavened pizza crust, which requires no yeast, will better complement and enhance the toppings.
The pies served on site, like at the restaurant, will be finished in a wood-burning oven so ensuring a charred crust with a soft, airy center.
California artists in during the 1920’s “Prohibition” era. In this rebellious time, many art enthusiasts regarded them as the visual arts rock stars of their era. It also fits the times today, as chefs are regarded as the new rock stars, and see their creativity with an artists’ perspective.
corn succotash, asparagus, feta, basil, and blistered cherry tomatoes.
a warm loyal, and inviting staff, Oscar shows the depth, the love of and commitment to his work.
“THE SOCIETY OF SIX” MAY SOUND LIKE THE NAME OF A CLASSIC ROCK BAND, but it was actually an influential community of six Northern
The restaurant’s décor is a work of art in its own right, fashioned from primarily recycled materials. Classic cast iron skillets and rustic wood planks are not just serving pieces for the locally sourced fare, but also perfect frames for finished dishes.
Their offering at the Hootenanny, in turn, will be a fun “road show” version of the concept, capturing the spirit of the Calabasas
Oscar, the restaurant’s owner, is always front and center greeting his patrons with a welcoming smile and a warm handshake. Charismatic, charming, friendly and an incredible chef, Oscar brought with him from the Yucatan the many flavors, delicious tastes, distinctive aromas, traditions and ambiance of his native land.
MORE THAN 40 YEARS AS A LOCAL FAVORITE
Rib Ranch BBQ provides catering services for any event that is in need of delicious, Americana cuisine, from block parties to corporate events. They are infamous in the Hidden Hills area especially for bringing their deluxe barbecues on-site to cater for the community parties held there.
location. The perennially Short Rib Tacos (braised short rib, pickled onions, avocado crema, cilantro, cotija cheese) will be on hand as will a special Spring Flat Bread with arugula pesto,
La Paz offers a full Yucatan style menu with fish as it core ingredient as well as traditional Mexican dishes, some with a Yucatan inspired flavor. From the colors of the restaurant, cerulean of the ocean, yellow of maze, green of chilies and red of tangy salsa, together with
The Rib Ranch BBQ is so much more than a place for marvelous, home-style food, it is a place that exemplifies home. The family values that established the Rib Ranch have not faltered throughout its many years of business. Working as a family unit has remained the foundational purpose, and has advocated the business to grow to be more than just a dining establishment, but rather a labor of the most pure form
IT’S ONLY FITTING THAT WINES FROM BEL AIR-BASED MORAGA VINEYARDS, OWNED BY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA GIANT RUPERT MURDOCH, WILL BE A VIP AREA HEADLINER AT THE “HOOTENANNY.” The signature red and white wines will be partnered with luxurious, innovative nibbles crafted by Crateful Catering, a rising star in the party planning world making its mark with carefully selected local ingredients and recipes capturing the multicultural spirit of L.A.
While Murdoch’s ownership gives the wine name recognition and prominence, he knows it takes an experienced team to deliver the quality and strategy that will appeal to a wide
audience. The team is led by Winemaker Scott Rich, and based on a vision devised by founders Tom and Ruth Jones.
Mountains. The result is two singular wines that embody the region.
Rich’s strategy, is a less-is-more approach, involving one red blend and a carefully treated Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes harvested for both benefit from Pacific Ocean-enriched soils of plots at the 600-to-900 foot elevation in the Santa Monica
Moraga Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is a great mate for savory meats and salmon bites. The time required to attain the velvety but approachable body and flavor is 30 to 42 days, from picking to pressing in a small basket press. The wine is then transferred to new Seguin Moreau and Taransaud French Oak barrels, where it undergoes fermentation and aging for 18 to 22 months before receiving two years of bottle aging.
Lighter fare will be beautifully accented with Moraga White Wine, distinguished by its playful notes of grapefruit zest
ONE TICKET IS YOUR INVITATION TO SIP, SAMPLE AND SAVOR
to peach, nectarine and tropical fruit, The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are picked in a very narrow window of time. Once pressed, the wine aged on the yeast lees from eight to ten months prior to bottling, a process which helps the wine maintain the structure and texture while allowing the exotic fruit and mineral characteristics of the vineyard to dominate the flavor profile. Bottling occurs in the late spring or early summer of the year following harvest, and the wine is bottle-aged for a year prior to release.
Cornell Winery, founded by Tim Skogstrom is in the unique and rustic building tucked between The Old Place restaurant (which Skogstrom ran for 4 years) and Charme d’Antan home design on Mulholland Drive. The position of Skogstrom and his knowlegeable
staff of connoisseurs is that of guides, since they are the only place in the area that allows you to explore the majority of wines made in the surrounding mountains. Cornell Winery also promote wines moving up the central coast as they feel that “local” is a few hours on the road. Cornell Winery will be bringing this wide and respected spectrum of tastings to the Hootenanny with some eye-worthy art, as they also represent some of the top artists in the area.
and a thorough understanding of the importance of a community dynamic in building a vineyard with staying power.
The Hidden Hills resident, who enjoys living in coastal surroundings reminiscent of the Israeli countryside and wine-growing regions of his childhood, ultimately decided to
including versatile Pinot Noir, Grenache, and Syrah reds and expressive whites crafted with Viognier, Gruner Veltliner, and Chardonnay, are grown in the Santa Rita Hills at 900 feet above sea level. Fittingly, several Spear favorites will be poured and savored against the backdrop Sepher has grown to love since moving to the area. Indeed, guests will be sipping, “Wine that tastes like where it came from,” as the winery’s motto says.
HIDDEN HILLS RESIDENT OFER SHEPHER, owner of Spear Winery, grew up in Israel, and like many of his peers, spent his summers on a kibbutz where his mother spent her childhood. That environment provided him a communal and familyoriented farming background that provided him both a diverse skills
CORNELL WINERY WILL BE BRINGING THEIR WIDE AND RESPECTED SPECTRUM OF TASTINGS TO THE HOOTENANNY WITH SOME EYE-WORTHY ART.
make his greatest passion--wine-his life’s work. His formative years continue to influence the stewardship of every aspect at Spear Vineyards, where every stage of the wine growing process is treated with equal importance— something attendees at the event will surely taste.
The vineyard’s prime varietals,
Dedicated to sustainability, CCOF certified organic in-house farming used by Spear soils and ensures they will, as their motto says, result in “wine that tastes like where it came from.” Those viticultural practices obviate the use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.
HOW IN TARNATION COULD IT BE A HOOTENANNY WITH BOURBON AND MOONSHINE? Fortunately, thanks to Hidden Hills resident David Kaufman and his brother, Billy Kaufman a rural farmer who lives and works in Short
Mountain, Tennessee, we won’t have to wonder.
Not long ago, Billy proposed an idea to his brothers to start a distillery called Short Mountain Distillery. It would create jobs, help keep local farmers in business and bring another unique Tennessee brand to America and the world. Most important to the Kaufman brothers, Short Mountain Distillery would be a locally owned and family funded business that’s a productive part of their community generating needed revenue that stays in their county.
In the summer of 2010, Kaufman began seeking approval from his friends and neighbors by collecting signatures for a referendum. A law passed in 2009 by the state legislature cleared the way for distilleries to operate in Tennessee. On November 2, 2010 voters granted Kaufman permission to build a distillery in Cannon County through a general election referendum.
Since then, Short Mountain Distillery worked to receive both state and federal permits becoming Tennessee’s sixth distillery making a 105 proof authentic Tennessee Moonshine on Kaufman’s 300 acre farm. Short Mountain Distillery has become an internationally
recognized moonshine with thousands of loyal followers.
Armed with discriminating palates, Duke of Bourbon is best known for scouring the globe in search of fine, rare, and distinguished wines since 1967. Today, the shop’s shelves and racks host a broad assortment of varietals—from Sangiovese to Viognier—to appeal to both learned aficionados and budding sommeliers. With locations in Westlake Village and Canoga Park, owner Xavier Roy prides himself on ensuring the selection remains top-notch The Duke’s court fully researches and inspects its most distinguished picks, sniffing out the tannins and curated selections that make each valuable to collectors.
Besides the broad portfolio of wines and spirits, Duke of Bourbon offers small plates of gourmet food from a simple, but to-die-for, onion soup fondue, to Scottish smoked salmon that melts in your mouth, unique cheese platters to caviar and blinis. Unlike any other, Duke of Bourbon is simply an experience that should not be missed.
The Semler Family is truly one
acre parcel that once belonged to Harvey Mudd (philanthropist and founder of Claremont College) to stable his daughter’s horse. Eventually, it transitioned into Saddlerock Ranch, the starting point of the winery and Semler family compound where they still reside. Today, the winery lands are so lush that it is hard to believe they grew out of the ashes of the devastating 1978 Malibu fire and, later, a record-breaking 1992 frost that wiped out the family’s thriving avocado business. “In researching viable crops to replace the trees, we came across wine grapes,” Semler said. “We learned wine grapes only require [one] seventh of the water avocados did, [and] we realized that when the freezes come, the grapes are already harvested… and in some cases benefit the grapes still on the vines late in the season.”
Grenache, Muscat, Vigonier, and Gewürztraminer. Today, the wine growing area occupies 80 acres, with 80,000 vines.
In addition to growing grapes for their own wine portfolio, they offer services to nearly 50 small vineyards across the Malibu wine growing denominations. Their ability to plant and maintain vineyards for others has enabled other wineries to emerge, including Les Clos (owned by the Hirsch Family), Rocky Oaks and Michael McCarthy (outfitting his restaurant, Michael’s, in Santa Monica). The Semlers were also instrumental in establishing the Malibu Coast AVA wine denomination as well as their own denomination, which raises the area’s status in the international winemaking community.
of the “first families” of wine production in Los Angeles County, and the story of how the family got there is as complex and interesting as what will be served during the festival.
In the 1970s, patriarch Ron Semler first purchased a 300-
As the property grew to 1,200 acres, the Semlers, whose Saddlerock property grew to 1,200 acres, initially planted 15 acres of grapes. They quickly learned that everything about their property’s soil, climate, altitude and sun exposure was perfect for the grape varietals they were growing, which include not only staples like Merlot and Chardonnay, but also
Hula Girl Beverages offers four unique flavors of ready-to-drink tropical rum cocktails. All of Hula Girl cocktails are made with real rum and are 10% alcohol (20 proof). As its moniker implies, Hula Girl creations will make you long for lying on a tropical beach under a palm tree without a care in the world. You can enjoy this same sensation under a grove of oak trees while rocking out at the Hootenanny, Food, Spirits & Music Festival on April 28th, 2018.
On December 7, 1995, Steven Cohen came home from work, changed his clothes, kissed his wife and daughters (ages 2 and 5) and walked out the door to play his weekly basketball game with friends. Neither Steve nor his wife Eva could know what would follow. During the basketball game this healthy-looking, 35-year-old man complained of not feeling well. He left the court, sat down and suffered a massive heart attack that took his life. Too often, the only sign of heart disease is sudden death. Steve exercised regularly, didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, wasn’t overweight and had just received a clean bill of health two months prior at his annual checkup. Steve died suddenly with no warning signs or symptoms. His wife, daughters, family members and friends were left behind in a state of shock and disbelief. How could this have happened to someone so young, vital and seemingly healthy?
Driven to do something to honor Steve’s memory and save other families from suffering the tragic loss of a loved one to heart disease, Steve’s friends, family and community formed The Steven S. Cohen Heart Fund in 1996. In 2004, the name was changed to The Heart Foundation.
The Heart Foundation’s mission is to save lives by educating the public about heart disease, promoting early detection, and supporting the research taking place under the direction of world-renowned cardiologist Prediman Krishan (P.K.) Shah in the quest to find more effective ways to prevent and treat the #1 cause of death in the U.S. Director of the Division of Cardiology, Dr. Shah holds the Shapell and Webb Family Endowed Chair at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He also is the Director of the Oppenheimer Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai where he leads several studies that focus on heart disease prevention and treatment.
Over the several years, Dr. Shah and his team have continued on a path to uncover the causes of arterial plaque build-up and to develop new treatments for the resulting condition called atherosclerosis. Fighting against cardiac disease since 1976, Dr. Shah has logged countless hours of study, clinical trials, and even serendipitous discovery to bring him closer to realizing his ultimate goal of eliminating atherosclerosis. Because of his strength in clinical work, as well as his expertise among researchers and talent as a mentor and guide, he is heralded as one of the top cardiologists in the country. His interests in the broader field of medicine—including neurology, neuroscience, and immunology—make him an excellent physician, capable of tackling complex illnesses that require a more holistic and integrated approach.
FOUNDED BY MICHELIN STAR AND JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING CHEFS, THE TEAM AT CRATEFUL CATERING , CARRY A KNOWLEDGE AND PASSION THAT RESONATES IN EVERYTHING THEY DO. VIP GUESTS AT THIS YEAR’S HIDDEN HILLS MAGAZINE HOOTENANNY - FOOD, SPIRITS & MUSIC FESTIVAL (APRIL 28th) WILL BE TREATED TO LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND TASTINGS FROM THESE CULINARY MASTERS. UNTIL THEN, HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR CREATIONS TO TRY AT HOME!
crateful.com
1. Use Black Trumpet, Brown Bunashimeji and White Bunashimeji.
2. Cut roots and clean mushrooms.
3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in saute pan on medium/high flame.
4. Season to taste.
5. Saute asparagus until desired tenderness and color.
1. Once steak is removed from pan, deglaze with 1/2 cup pinot noir.
2. Mix in 1/4 cup prepared veal demi glace and stir in well.
3. Throw in 2 crushed garlic cloves and a sprig of rosemary, bring to a soft boil. Once boiling stir in 3 tbsp unsalted butter.
4. Season sauce to taste.
1. Marinate steak with crushed garlic, sliced yellow onion, olive oil, thyme and rosemary sprigs for 4 hours or over night.
2. Remove steak from aromatics.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in saute pan on medium/high flame.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Heat oil until a slight visible smoke appears.
1. Cut 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled, into 2-inch cubes.
2. Slice a quarter yellow onion, crush 4 large cloves of garlic.
3. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in medium pot over medium/high flame.
4. Once hot, place all ingredients in pot and saute for about 4 minutes.
5. Pour in a cup of dry white wine, lower flame to low and cover for about 20 mins.
6. Once tender place softened ingredients until blender and blend on high until desired smoothness is reached.
1. Slice 4 large asparagus on a sharp angle.
2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in saute pan on medium/high flame.
3. Season to taste.
4. Saute asparagus until desired tenderness and color.
6. Place steak until carmelization appears on the sides from the surface on the pan (about 6 mins).
7. Flip steak and repeat step 6. If you desire a less rare meat finish in oven until it reaches desired temperature.
THE STEAK CAN BE SERVED AS PLATED OPPOSITE, WITH THE SAUCE ON THE SIDE, OR SLICED, ARRANGED AND DRIZZLED WITH THE DELICIOUS REDUCTION.
• 7 oz. carnaroli rice
• 4 cups light vegetable/chicken stock
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tbs. chopped onion
• 2 tbs. olive oil
• 2 oz Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp Urbani truffle butter
• Fresh black truffle
Bring stock to a boil and keep simmering. In a sauce pan sweat onion in oil, add rice and toast over medium fire till rice is very hot, pour wine, let evaporate, add half broth, lower heat to medium and cook till most of broth has evaporated, occasionally stir with a wooden spoon to prevent rice from sticking, add this point add stock a little at a time till rice is done to your liking. Turn fire off and add and Parmesan cheese, whip risotto vigorously to cream, spoon on plate and shave fresh truffle over the top, you can also finish dish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
1. Marinate fillet with crushed garlic, sliced yellow onion, olive oil, thyme and lemon peel sprigs for 4 hours or over night.
2. Remove fillet from aromatics.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in saute pan on medium/high flame.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Heat oil until a slight visible smoke appears.
6. Place fillet until carmelization appears on the sides from the surface on the pan (about 4 mins).
7. Flip fillet and repeat step 6 for only about another 4 minutes or to reach 165 F.
FOR THE SAUCE
1. Once fillet is removed from pan, add another tbsp olive oil and saute 2 cloves of garlic.
2. Deglaze with 1/2 cup white wine, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, bring to a soft boil.
3. Begin to stir in 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter that were cut into pieces.
4. Salt and pepper to taste.
1. Bring 4 cups vegetable stock on high.
2. Add 1 cup wild rice and season with salt and pepper to desired taste.
3. Lower flame to simmer, cover and let cook for 45-60 mins.
4. Fluff with fork and fold in your choice of herbs
1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. Choose cluster of tomatoes on vine, place on cooking sheet, oil with olive oil and salt and pepper to desired taste
3. Place tomatoes in over and roast for 12 min or until a desired char occurs.
The team
This step up from a classic non-traditional sour is a great way to introduce amaros into your cocktail rotation. The flavors change from crisp, sour and sweet to herbal and complex.
INGREDIENTS
1oz gin 1oz cynar .75oz lemon · .75oz simple
Muddle 3 Cucumber Coins. Shake, Double Strain. Garnish with Cucumber Coins.
PHOTOS BY BRIAN TROPIANO1.5oz anejo tequila, .25 islay scotch, 2 dashes orange bitters, stirred.
A cocktail originally created by Michael Madrusan of the Little Branch bar in NYC was intended to be a cocktail of strange bedfellows, allowing people to consume morally opposing spirits in one grab cocktail.
This cocktail was inspired by the great surf breaks down at County Lime. Everybody wants to finish a long ride in some smooth whitewater.
When you are born in New York and you grow up on the Westside of L.A. it’s easy to know the finer art of entertaining. For Matt Landes, founder of Cocktail Academy, he has perfected the presentation and creation of cocktails for Angelenos to enjoy no matter where you are. Cocktail Academy brings highly curated cocktails and bartending expertise to events all over the city with personalized and memorable experiences. Drawing inspiration from LA’s diverse neighborhoods and cultures Matt shares with us a few of Cocktail Academy’s signature drinks for us to enjoy this spring. Cheers! CocktailAcademyLA.com
2oz tequila
1oz Sage infused curacao
Add all ingredients to tin with ice and shake. Double strain into coupe glass. Garnish with fresh sage.
AFTER A SOMETIMES TUMULTUOUS HISTORY, THE UPPER LAS VIRGENES OPEN SPACE PRESERVE HAS BECOME A BELOVED PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. ON APRIL 28th, 2018 IT WILL BE ENHANCED BY FOOD, WINE AND THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC AND MERRIMENT!
On the western border of Hidden Hills is the beginning of 5000+ acres of seemingly endless fields of wild grass, rolling hills, an abundance of wildlife and native oak trees. For most locals who have grown up in the area, this broad expanse of nature has been known as Ahmanson Ranch. However, since 2003, after a fiercely (and famously) contended plan to develop the area was defeated and the land was transferred to the state, it has been renamed the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. On most nights, the howls of coyotes and the hooting of owls are the only sounds to fill the air, but occasionally, as certain areas of the preserve are encouraged for special uses, the hills come to life with the sound of music. Most often, the festivities are weddings, but on April 28th, it will be the
Hidden Hills Magazine Hootenanny, Food, Spirits & Music Festival.
The home base for this music event will be within the grounds of an original 1938 ranch home built by a man by the name of George Barrett, who originally purchased the piece of land from William Randolph Hearst as a vacation property. During Barrett’s lifetime, he used the hundreds of surrounding acres not only for his family’s recreation, but to also raise cattle. He generated occasional revenue by leasing the land to film productions such as Gone With the Wind, They Died With Their Boots On, and Dual Under the Sun. The small ranch home itself is a rambling one story house with no heating system, but two stone fireplaces built with stone gathered from the surrounding wilderness. With interconnected rooms and panoramic
BY GRACIE BELLISSIMOviews, Barrett did not want the scenery from his window to be obstructed by anything abnormal, therefore leaving hundreds of oak trees intact and only planting a few eucalyptus and palm trees on the property.
In 1949, Barrett sold the ranch to R.E. Crummer, who held it for fifteen years until it was purchased in 1963 by a subsidiary of the H.F. Ahmanson Company, which had plans to develop a residential subdivision. Various plans to do so came and went until 1986 when it became partially owned by Washington Mutual. With this new ownership came a plan to develop 3000 home and rental units, a few hotels and two golf courses. Already approved by Ventura County, the public caused a massive outcry and drew attention to the urgent need for the cancellation of the project by holding protests, placing advertisements and
even sending bus loads of people to the landlord’s Seattle headquarters in order to emphasize the environmental threats the new community would pose. Once the potential proposition for a community was shot down, the land was purchased in 2003 as a group effort by the State Wildlife Conservation Board, State Coastal Conservancy, and Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy for $135 million dollars, making it the most expensive and largest acreage purchase in the state of California to date.
Since then, the land has remained protected and naturally maintained by the course of nature. Due to the Barrett Ranch Home now defined as state-owned lands, the building is maintained largely through funds generated by events hosted on the premises, like this years’ Hootenanny. With
the choice of this location, not only does it set the stage for a day amongst the beauty of nature, but it actively helps to make the preservation of the property and surrounding spaces possible as well.
OPPOSITE: THE PRESERVE, STILL KNOWN TO MANY LOCALS AS “AHMANSON RANCH,” IS UNIQUE IN ITS EVER CHANGING VISTAS. ABOVE RIGHT (CLOCKWISE): THE ORIGINAL BARRETT RANCH SIGN IN 1943. GEORGE BARRETT, WHO BUILT THE RANCH HOUSE AS A VACATION HOME FOR HIS FAMILY IN 1938. THE HOUSE TODAY. RIGHT: THE CRUMMER CYN. ROAD ENTRANCE TO THE PRESERVE, DEDICATED IN 2004. BELOW: THE HOUSE IN ITS EARLY DAYS BLANKETED IN RARE SNOW, TODAY THE SMALL OAK SEEN HAS BECOME A SPRAWLING CANOPY OF TWO, LARGER OAKS.
TIME
CALABASAS COMMONS: 8 MINS
WHIZIN’S MARKETPLACE: 10 MINS
WESTLAKE PROMENADE: 18 MINS
MALIBU COUNTRY MART: 22 MINS
While there is on-site parking the use of a car service to and from the event is encouraged.
MARK ISHAM’S LIFE AS FILM COMPOSER AND RECORDING ARTIST DRIVES HIS PASSION TO CREATE SONIC CHARACTERS AND LANDSCAPES, WHILE DONNA AND THE KIDS KEEP HIS LIFE FULL OF ART.
Two boisterous golden retrievers greet me as I walk up the path to Mark and Donna Isham’s Hidden Hills home. They stand sentinel until Donna opens the door and ushers me inside. The house is sunny, vibrant with color, and filled with a cozy energy that only expands when Mark comes into the room and settles into a chair close to his wife. His voice is soothing and selfdeprecating as he describes his decadeslong musical career as a film music composer, an electronic synthesizer guru, and a trumpeter. Each of Mark’s careers embraces music; its sounds, its creation and the story it tells.
Mark was born into music. His mother played the violin and was employed in New York City as a symphony player. His father was a professor of art history and music. By the age of four, Mark had
a violin in his hand and learned to play. He says, “I listened to the classical music of (Franz) Joseph Haydn and did not learn to appreciate the Beatles until I was 25.” To circumvent the cost of babysitters Mark went to work with his mother. After he finished his homework, he wandered behind where the orchestra sat and watched everyone play. He was enamored with the powerful sounds the trumpets made and the fact that the men who played them looked pretty damn cool. “…happy eating their meatball sandwiches between sets.”
“…switching to the trumpet was quite a revolt,” Mark says, “as a guitar was considered edgy compared to a violin, but a trumpet was in a whole other sphere.” He began to play classical music on his trumpet and then moved to playing jazz as it felt free. Mark educated himself by playing music all over the world.
HE WAS ENAMORED WITH THE POWERFUL SOUNDS THE TRUMPETS MADE AND THE FACT THAT THE MEN WHO PLAYED THEM APPEARED COOL.
MARK ISHAM
In his twenties, he toured and collaborated with great musicians such as The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchel and Van Morrison. In those early days, Mark would drive out of London to meet with record producers, as he was hired to play on other musicians’ albums, in their English countryside estates. The homes had separate studios and when he saw the kids bringing their parents’ lunch and spending time with them, he loved the setup. “I knew, even as a young, single man, that this is how I wanted my future family/work life to be. I thought it was a good life
and was something to aspire to,” Mark says.
Electronic music was in its infancy when Mark first heard it at seventeen. The sound and composition appealed to Mark and became another facet of his career. Donna points out that they have rooms filled with Mark’s trumpets and synthesizer collection.
While in his young 30’s, Mark received a call asking him to write music for a film. The fit came naturally after his decade in the music industry. I ask Mark if he composes the music for the film from the script or the movie. “I
usually create the score after I see the movie,” Mark says. “I respond to the color and the emotions on the actors’ faces. The music has different jobs in the movie and I want it to enhance and enlighten the film without overtaking the story.”
It speaks to Mark’s humble personality that he never mentions that he has received over 46 awards and nominations and scored over 300 films and television shows. Mark was nominated for an Academy Award for the film, A River Runs Through It, a Golden Globe for the film, Nell, (4) Primetime
Emmy Awards and earned a Grammy Award for the Best New Age Album, and incredibly, this is just a snippet of his nominations and awards. He was also the winner of the Hollywood Film Award in 2007 for the “Composer of the Year.”
Mark and Donna lived parallel lives, without meeting, in San Francisco, but when they both moved to Los Angeles, they finally met when she, as a costume designer and a stylist, was enlisted to ‘style’ Mark for an upcoming event. They soon married, and Donna now works with Mark managing his business, is a creative entrepreneur embarking, through her Vintage Pictures, Isham Productions, on producing in film and television. She currently has a deal with Sony Television for a new show based on a 9-book science fiction novel series and several more projects are in various stages of development. She is also the President of the nonprofit group, Artists for Human Rights, shedding light on abuses and their solutions. From her loving tone, I know that raising their four children is one of her top projects. Donna spent over a year searching for their ‘country home’ where Mark could have a studio on the property and the growing family could be together, despite his late-night work hours. Her realtor took her to Hidden Hills and when she saw the three-acre estate, she knew this would be their home. With Donna’s vision put on paper by an architect, the area once designated as the turnout for the horse corral became a state-of-the-art studio, and she also used her artistic flair to redo
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the interior of the home and the guest house. Donna says, “… it went from horse property to an artist retreat.” Donna, a consummate entertainer, creates parties and events that showcase their beautiful home which she has designed and decorated. From lavish Christmas parties to birthday parties and charitable fundraisers, they radiate love and warmth for their friends and associates in the artistic and aesthetic environment. They have lived in Hidden Hills since 1995 and have fulfilled the longago dream that Mark had of working close enough to have lunch with his wife and children. Their children ranging in age from 14 - 26 years old are all artists like their parents, each in their own unique way. Vivienna, the youngest at 14 and only girl, is an equestrian, dances and goes to school. The three boys; Jake, Nick and Lexington are all leaving their diverse
impressions on the art world. Jake is a filmmaker, international photographer, and owns a branding/alternative marketing company, Nick is a singer/ songwriter and recording artist, and Lexingtion is a filmmaker and self taught entrepreneur.
new solo album, or writing with Moby and BT on electronic projects, the studio and Mark and Donna’s home is always bustling.
Beautiful paintings rest in the room where we sit. As I’m admiring them, Mark informs me with a proud smile that Donna painted them. (True to form, he never mentions that they cover some of his many awards.) The paintings are breathtaking in their color and style. Donna has them in several private homes and galleries around the world. Yet, another aspect of Donna’s artistry I would not have discovered without Mark’s revelation.
From Jodi Foster showing up inconspicuously wearing a bright yellow rain slicker and rain hat to work with Mark on a Black Mirror episode, to Joe Perry (from Aerosmith) dressed in full rock attire to collaborate on an upcoming song for Joe’s
Mark’s three careers continue to fulfill his drive to create and produce, while Donna with her many careers, and the children keep his life full of art as they all find their way to share and showcase their many talents with the grateful world.
THE UBIQUITOUS YET UNASSUMING SHEVIN BROTHERS HAVE FORGED THEIR SUCCESS IN REAL ESTATE BY UNDERSTANDING THE INTANGIBLES THAT MAKE EACH COMMUNITY THEY SERVE UNIQUE.
WRITTEN BY ELYSE GLICKMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLA BUCKAs realtors, Marc and Rory Shevin aren’t exactly synonymous with music festivals. True, they have sold landmark area homes to some of the music industry’s most iconic names; from the likes of Stevie Wonder to The Weeknd, who purchased an 18.2 million dollar Hidden Hills compound in 2017 —topping the charts, so-to-speak, as real estate goes— but despite the
occasional high profile transaction, the Shevin brothers are best known for helping families set down roots in Hidden Hills and Calabasas. Therefore, when Hidden Hills Magazine cofounders Lonna Weber and Joe Bellissimo floated the idea of creating a food, spirits and music festival celebrating the area’s rustic-yet-regal roots, they weren’t sure how the brothers would take to it. The Shevins, however, jumped at the
opportunity, taking center stage to bring this ultimate neighborhood gathering together.
“We have always considered ourselves fortunate to help people not just find the right home,” says Marc, “but more importantly, to understand just how unique this part of the world is.” “This is going to be a celebration of these communities and we had to be a part of it,” adds Rory.
It is this kind of immediate, unspoken understanding that close families have that has made the brothers such an dynamic duo. “The fact that we’re brothers and work as a team helps establish a trust factor that is so reassuring for our clients, especially as we have seen this community take shape together,” says Marc. “We’ve been working together one way or another for 40 years, and there is a synergy clients can sense. When they hire us, they are also hiring a family that stands by what we all do.”
After pointing out that Rory’s wife Beth has been managing the office for 20 years and that Marc’s daughter Sara joined the team 6 months ago, Marc notes that clients continue to respond to the stability and commitment that comes from adding another family member to the team who is not only familiar with the area, but raised here.
“We came to the area like many other families did, when our children were very young,” Marc continues. “My daughter Sara was 2, and my wife, Dawn, was pregnant with our daughter Hanna. We knew this was the place, as it was tailor made for families like ours, from the schools to the green
spaces, to safe neighborhoods, shopping, and other facilities and services.”
Beyond the day-to-day business, the Shevin brothers are active in the community, affiliating their business and reputation with philanthropic activities benefiting area schools, sports programs and various local charities. They enjoy venues like the Calabasas Swim and Tennis Center, which is not just a social hub with regular activities and classes, but also a perfect location for staging various special events and fundraisers.
The brothers also take full advantage of the outdoor spaces that makes Hidden Hills so popular. Marc enjoys hiking, mountain biking and walking his two golden retrievers, Summer and Daisy. Rory enjoys playing tennis, as do several of his clients. “It provides the perfect opportunity to mix business and pleasure.” Rory affirms.
“We also stage informal barbecues at our homes that will often expand into multiple family parties, which is something you don’t see everywhere in L.A. At the end of a long work day, what I am coming home to is an environment that almost feels like a vacation, from the peace and quiet to the fact our homes in this area have everything we need.”
Rory points out his personal experience “discovering” Hidden Hills and the tribulations of finding the “right place” 22 years ago informs the way the team works with buyers and sellers to this day. The brothers’ San Fernando Valley childhood helped them set very high standards for where they wanted to raise their young families. After searching for a home in several communities, Rory and Beth knew they found the right community. However, finding the perfect home was another matter.
“After selling our starter home in Woodland Hills, it was challenging to find something that was the right home for us at the right price,” Rory recalls. “Then, somebody told us about a great home in Hidden Hills that was not officially on the market and was a great buy, but had been in a “minor” fire. It looked fine from the outside, but when we opened the door, the interior of the house was covered in charcoal dust as if somebody did a barbeque inside the house and then set it on fire! But that was the one thing I could theoretically afford at the time. We passed as living in a pile of charcoal dust for $600,000 was a lot to ask!”
Another agent recommended the couple look at homes in Mountain Park Estates, but in the process, they discovered there was a cluster of eleven vacant lots for sale. Rory bought one for himself and put the other ten in escrow. Soon after, he convinced Marc to buy the lot next to his and build a custom home for his family. The other nine lots were split, sales-wise, between friends who bought lots and builders who purchased the lots to build homes to be sold to other families. As time went on, some of the same builders then went on to build beautiful homes in other parts of Hidden Hills.
“We not only take pride in bringing 11 plots to life, but also creating a community from the homes that went up was 22 years ago,” says Marc. “As we see it, we’re not so much selling homes as we are helping bring families into a thriving, safe and lively community. Some of the original families we sold homes to in the early years now have adult children who are now our clients looking for the right home to raise their families.”
“We will not only run into friends when we’re out, but run into many people we have worked with,” concurs Rory. “Conversations get started and we reconnect with people we’ve sold homes to. In turn, those relationships deepen and become more meaningful. We know this connectivity makes Hidden Hills a very special place, with fantastic people, wide-open spaces and numerous family amenities. We’re not just selling homes. We are welcoming people into a community with a strong sense of identity.”
QUALITY. Our unique selection of home theatre and audiophile components are the absolute finest.
PRICE. We match the prices of big box stores.
QUALITY. Our sales force has a superior knowledge base because we are also movie aficionados and audiophiles.
SERVICE. We provide outstanding personal service replete with beautiful showrooms and high-end home theatre boutiques.
“
WE HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED OURSELVES FORTUNATE TO HELP PEOPLE NOT JUST FIND THE RIGHT HOME, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW UNIQUE THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS. MARC SHEVIN
Agrand shift is happening the in the automotive world. Some of which is obvious in the electric propulsion circuit, partly with the unity of our smart phones and inner circles, and partly in an area slightly more elusive and obscure.
It is this illusively that very few car companies attempt to venture; as many of them concentrate on bulk actions, brand building and mass markets. Now boutique companies are taking charge of their futures by defining their brands in ways that are unique, timeless
and according to Karma Automotive.
Sure, this statement can sound egotistical, but only if it isn’t true. Those within the industry are watching with eager eyes as companies like Karma not only shift to world saving power, but are shifting the consciousness of people by doing what they love extremely well.
Karma Automotive is a fairly new company, taking the reins of a design that deserved better and diving in deep to secure a place in automotive history.
What makes Karma and the new 2018 Revero
unique is a combination of traits that are building a philosophy that changes our outlook on what’s possible in a vehicle.
Many companies pride themselves on vehicles that are smart, unusual or craft-driven. Karma expands further with a connection to a certain kind of consciousness that demands your attention.
Although its 2018 Revero is certainly watchlike in its craftsmanship and design, it’s really the company that is trailblazing where very few are going.
According to the Karma website,”Cars have become commodities. Design has taken a back seat, and most everything on the road looks the same. Not here. We designed our vehicles with proportions from the gods. The result: an almost primal beauty. Timeless and modern. Voluptuous and sensual. Created to elicit a visceral, emotional response.”
The 21st century is bringing a whole host of technology to the world that the last 100 years could never have imagined. It’s companies like Karma, among a very select few, that are bringing much more than a product to market.
They seemed to have come to the realization that success in any field requires a certain level of consciousness that gives their customers a sense of an evolved experience. That driving is no longer an A to B experience or even an Autonomous Lounge, but a visceral feeling that helps the user grow and become more within him or herself.
The flagship Revero was born from an idea to envision a feeling. Although pretty much every car company would say that, it’s not a true statement unless the mind of the company is a collective consciousness. This is very hard to do in a large company like GM, but boutique companies like Karma are like fine watch companies; Large enough to make an impact, yet tight enough to have that collective outlook.
Not everyone will understand why the company chose Karma as it’s moniker, but those embracing the 21st century outlook and world race expansion will. These people are Karma’s customer base.
Every company will claim to hit the road less traveled and very few will actually venture forth with vigor. Karma shares this journey with companies that consider watch-making and culinary classics an art form. They aren’t just making cars, but spiraling up the race mind. Although the true test for Karma will be in its subsequent models and maintenance of present-mind thinking, no one ever said that the road less traveled was easy.
THAT DRIVING IS NO LONGER AN A TO B EXPERIENCE OR EVEN AN AUTONOMOUS LOUNGE, BUT A VISCERAL FEELING THAT HELPS THE USER GROW AND BECOME MORE WITHIN HIM OR HERSELF.
Authenticity and responsibility play a large roll in Karma’s design language and philosophy. A business model that strives with the excitement to make a difference over the next 100 years. Will they? Only time will tell, but as in all success, the one key factor is realization of choice. According to author Charles Haanel, “The real secret of power is consciousness
of power.” With one look at Karma, their team and passion for automotive art, one can feel pretty dang good about driving into this century to make a difference…for everyone.
Very inspiring, don’t you think?
At Glamour Flooring, we offer a wide array of flooring products and services to beautify your home. Specializing in hardwood flooring and hardwood floor refinishing, we also carry a full range of quality flooring products, including, hardwood,
tile, travertine, wood, granite, slate, marble, laminate, and carpet that will make your home’s floors beautiful. Providing some of the best flooring available, Glamour Flooring is your onestop-home-shop for all your flooring products and services.
WRITTEN BY JASON DEAN
Maybe you haven’t dipped your toe into the shimmering, mercurial waters of cryptocurrency just yet, but it’s likely that the very thought intrigues you. And for good reason. With recent valuation surges, you may suddenly know someone who knows someone who made an early investment in Bitcoin and has seen their initial buy balloon exponentially.
Back in the summer of 2010, a purchase of 100 bitcoins cost a mere $6. Jump ahead to Dec. 11, 2017—when valuation for a single coin soared to an all-time high of more than $17,500—and that $6 investment would be worth more than $1.75 million.
However, to boldly journey into the cryptosphere, one must be aware that galactic gains will be accompanied by precipitous nosedives. The pitching seas of this evolving market can make you queasy in a hurry if you’re the type who feels every ripple of the market’s flow. Be prepared to weather the unpredictability. Today there are more than 1,000 different cryptocurrencies vying for a piece of the pie in the expanding digital cash arena. While Bitcoin remains the biggest player, other prominent entries (Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Ripple) have emerged to suit varying needs and applications.
Enter LIFElabs, a UK company with a refreshingly different approach in the cryptocurrency microcosm. On a recent West Coast trip, Jonathan Bushnell, one of LIFElabs’ six co-founders, shared insight about his vision of making cryptocurrency sustainable, transparent, and accessible to the masses.
Bushnell, whose background is in real estate and property management, founded Pure Living Homes with a focus on addressing a dire housing shortage in England and Wales. The company manages properties that offer incentivized rewards in the form of LIFEtokens to tenants who opt into the program. LIFEtokens can in turn be linked to any VISA or debit card. Tenants receive rewards for paying rent on time, proper upkeep of units, and other measures and standards. The model is intended to be applicable to any business, charity, community or innovation project.
“One thing that no one’s done with digital currency, yet,” offers Bushnell in his pitch for LIFE, “is taking it to anyone that normally wouldn’t get involved. Educating them, supporting them through the journey and getting them to the point where they’re using alternatives as opposed to the money in their bank.”
What started in July 2017 as a way to create sustainable housing has quickly blossomed into a larger mission. “We didn’t want to be the landlord that just sucks up hard-working people’s money in terms of rent,” Bushnell says. “We’re going to create sustainable housing, at the end of their tenancy, three to five years, we’re going to give them cash back. So they can [use] that toward a deposit on a home.”
The LIFEcard, a cryptocurrency debit card will be introduced in 2018, which enables payments using LIFEtoken as well as Ethereum and Bitcoin. LIFEwallet, when it’s released will add simplicity to the purchase, sale, and trading of tokens. Bushnell says the goal is to demystify cryptocurrency while empowering people with secure and fluid transactional freedom.
As for the criticism that volatility keeps crypto from being a sustainable and viable form of currency, Bushnell responds, “The reason Bitcoin is so volatile is that banks and hedge funds are
taking huge positions in them, driving the price up, then it drops back down.” As more people become invested, volatility will abate, he predicts. As of this writing, cryptocurrency is an unregulated financial market, but LIFElabs is taking a transparent approach as it establishes its model. “We’re going to regulators and saying, this is what we’re doing, here’s a clear brush, here’s the canvas, can you give us any recommendations, and by the way, wouldn’t it be great if you could endorse us if we stick to your terms and conditions?”
The introduction of Bitcoin in 2009 marked the dawning of the age of cryptocurrency. As innovation pushed technology forward and international transactions became more accessible, the demand for fluidity and privacy created the demand for crypto. Fittingly, Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto is a figure shrouded in mystery, with the common belief the name is actually a pseudonym for either a person or syndicate. Bitcoin represented the advent of blockchain, a decentralized public digital ledger that continually links transactions securely using cryptography. To put it in perspective, it’s helpful to use the Internet as an analogy. Just as the Internet bypasses traditional media (broadcast, print, etc.),
giving everyone a platform in a public forum (i.e., social media), blockchain allows direct transactional connection without the necessity of a large financial institution as a mediator.
Bitcoin is a Generation 1 blockchain; only monetary transactions are possible with this platform. In 2011, former Google employee Charlie Lee launched Litecoin, introducing a Generation 2 blockchain with “smart” contracts that enabled the exchange of money, property, shares, or anything of value. While it offered faster confirmation, making it ideal for smaller transactions, Generation 2 had no scalability. Ethereum, introduced in 2015, is a Generation 3 blockchain, providing scalability, interoperability, and sustainability.
“Blockchain is changing the way we do things. It’s going to change politics moving forward, because they’ll use blockchain voting mechanisms,” he explains. “It’s changing the banking system. Banks can’t stand digital currency because it’s something they’re not involved in.” And inevitably, Bushnell adds, governments are getting involved in cryptocurrency. Bank of England will soon be launching a digital coin and the Venezuelan government recently released Petro, a cryptocurrency backed by Venezuelan oil reserves.
The demographics of cryptocurrency investors skew heavily millennial, which suggests that the genie is out of the bottle and cryptocurrency is here to stay. (“You don’t just want the 18-year-old investor,” Bushell counters. “You also want the 60 year olds.”) The numbers are impressive, even if they don’t align. As of early March 2018, depending on what source you consulted, Bitcoin’s market cap stood at $124 billion (Bithumb.com) or $171 billion (Coinmarketcap.com). While either of those figures dwarfs the $41 billion market cap reported as of June 2017 (Investopedia.com), it’s slightly concerning that such a discrepancy should exist on pages of record that are ostensibly updating in real time.
Wrapping up the SoCal leg of his trip having met with influencers in the music and film industries who can help push the LIFE agenda forward and increase branding and visibility, Bushnell is upbeat for what the future holds.
“We haven’t taken any hedge fund money or VC money, just private investors,” says Bushnell. LIFElabs plans to produce a one-time run of 100 billion LIFEtoken. In keeping with the company mission, Bushnell notes that 30% of the total allotment is earmarked for charitable entities and projects dedicated to innovation.
Ultimately, the valuation of different systems all comes down to perception. And Bushnell wants LIFElabs to steer the conversation. “The pinnacle for me is the day that we [digital currency holders] don’t say, ‘How much are my LIFEtokens worth in dollars or pounds?’ The day digital currency makes it is the day you say, ‘I’ll give you 1 bitcoin for that car,’ and the dealer says, ‘I believe that car is more or less than the value of that bitcoin.’”
Only time will tell if today’s calculated risks will be tomorrow’s visionary milestones. For now, Bushnell is content with the idea that tomorrow is just around the corner. And by his calculations, the forecast is bright and sunny.
Holding Hands has been serving communities for over 14 years through Los Angeles, Burbank and now Calabasas. As an outpatient community clinic, Holding Hands serves infants, children and adolescents with developmental and mental health needs. We also provide psychological testing and diagnosing. Our clinical team focuses on the client’s strengths and individual differences while developing an intervention plan that addresses his or her unique profile. Our clinical team fosters a relationship not only with the client, but educates, empowers and supports the entire family unit. In addition to our pediatric services we provide counseling for individuals, couples and family.
Holding Hands, where every individual has the potential to grow, learn and develop; they only need someone to believe in them and hold their hand.
Atranquil setting that helps your pet recharge while experiencing a balanced environment. They offer aromatherapy, soothing music, water fountains with fresh water to double as drinking fountains, the indoor daycare is a large living room complete with a couch and fire place. Outside, their play yard is 3000 sq. ft. of grass, trees, climbing rocks and fresh water at every turn.
Pets need mental stimulation as much as they need physical exercise. They help ensure your pet gets the most out of their day with obstacle courses and they work on basic commands (Sit, Stay, Lay down…) and offer a good game of fetch or go swimming! In the Spa, your fur baby will receive a full body massage and blueberry facial with any bathing package!”
RESORT • DAYCARE • SPA
The Sit & Stay Pet Resort & Spa
23210 Ventura Blvd, Suite B Woodland Hills, CA 91364
818-940-4063 www.sspetresort.com
This Veterinary Hospital is a new state of the art animal hospital with a clean modern design. They have multiple surgical suites, a full lab, endoscopy, digital x-ray and ultrasound. Their exam rooms are beautiful and they are equipped with a staff that feels like family. “But wait, there’s more!” They also do house calls in a twenty-six foot RV which is outfitted and built to be a fully loaded mobile hospital. They literally pull up to your curb and your pet receives all the medical attention they need without the stressful car ride! It’s very convenient and a comfort for those that don’t travel well.
Written by SELA DIAB
Donkeys, chickens, dogs, a goat, and a parrot may sound like a chaotic group of pets to take care of, but here in Hidden Hills, it is nothing unusual. Many families usually own a pet or two, but in the McQuaid family’s case, they own ten. It may seem like a lot of animals, but Joani and Frank McQuaid know how to keep it under control! They have a barn that holds their many pets, and they spend time with them constantly. The animals all have unique names and back stories that Joani explains intriguingly.
Out of their two donkeys, one is a miniature male donkey named Apple whom they got from their next door neighbor that first got him from a rescue. “He is kind of timid and shy, but very sweet.” Their other donkey, named Harry, was taken in from another neighbor who was not able to take care of him anymore. The McQuaids also own a “little monster” named Fiddle who is goat that they got when he was
a baby. “He kind of rules the roost up there.” Also, four chickens accompany the donkeys along with two golden retrievers. Harley and Hagradey, the golden retrievers, are half brothers; they have the same father but different mothers. Harley loves to swim while Hagradey enjoys playing with toy balls. They have another brother who lives in Hidden Hills and shares the same mother and father as Hagradey! Lastly, they own a parrot named Rainbow.
“They’re just really fun animals. We end up going to the barn and hanging out with them, and they all have their own personalities.” Joani McQuaid also tells us that the goat, Fiddle, pushes the donkeys around as he herds then into the stalls at night. “A lot of the neighbors know the dogs because we take them up to Ahmanson every day and hike with them.” Based on the love they have for their pets, the McQuaids seem like pretty cool owners! Who knows, maybe they will add more pets to their family.
