Hidden Hills Magazine • Fall 2022

REMEMBERING VIN SCULLY

FOR THIS GREAT AMERICAN LEGEND, HIDDEN HILLS WAS ‘HOME PLATE’

HIDDEN HILLS’ MAYOR LAURA M cCORKINDALE | GETTING HYPER-REAL WITH ARTIST DOUG WEBB

AUTHOR LEE GOLDBERG’S LATEST BOOK | SAMPLING SPAIN’S COASTAL CITIES | THE BEST LOCAL CRAFT BREWHOUSES

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D A N I E L L E P E R E T Z

Danielle Peretz

PUBLISHERS

Aswarm as it has been—weatherwise— it's hard to imagine the warmth of pumpkin spice that takes over and fills the air each autumn season. But as much as we are sad to see summer go, fall reminds us of the beauty of change and the impermanence of warm, sunny days.

A big 'thanks' to you for taking the time to read Hidden Hills, and, to our most supportive advertisers who, through everchanging times, have continued to make this publication possible.

Here is to that feeling in the air that only autumn can bring!

Lonna Weber & Joe Bellissimo

Lonna@LongValleyMedia.com

Joe@LongValleyMedia.com

CONTRIBUTORS

ELYSE GLICKMAN

CO- PUBLISHERS

Lonna Weber

Joe Bellissimo

Editor-in-Chief

Joe Bellissimo

Copy Editors

Linda Raznick

Carly Fentress

Advisory Board

Linda Raznick

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 copyright owner (s). Long Valley Media, LLC does not take responsibility for the claims provided herein. Printed in the U.S.A.

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.

BRITT AARONSON

Britt moved to Hidden Hills in 2008 and quickly became involved in community activities like CERT, the Valentines Musicale, and as a Calabasas Library Commissioner. She practices yoga & meditation daily, and loves living adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains where she can be found when she is not walking the bridle trails in the neighborhood.

FALL

14

WE'LL MISS YOU VINNY

A fan's personal remembrance of the magic and nostalgia that only the late Vin Scully could convey.

20

MADAME MAYOR

A Q&A with Laura McCorkindale, Hidden Hills' first female mayor in 25 years..

26

THE FINER DETAILS

Local Artist Doug Webb is a patient and prodigious master of hyper-realist painting.

44

COASTAL ESPAÑA

Tasting and experiencing some of Spain's most colorful coastal cities.

53

"HOP" TO IT!

L.A. Has become a destination for its crafty beer. Discover some of our best local brewhouses.

63

YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

Spanky's Pet Pics features some furry friends, desperately in need of a fur-ever home!

On the Cover

Photo by George Rose. Hulton Archive. Via Getty Images.

IT’S TIME FOR DOD GER BASEBALL

ONE FAN'S HEARTFELT REMEMBRANCE OF A LIFETIME LISTENING TO VIN

WRITTEN

BY LINDA RAZNICK

PHOTO BY DOMINIC DISAIA VIA GETTY IMAGES

Addicted to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and through to this year 2022, I do not remember an April to October without Vin Scully since the day we claimed the “Blue Crew” team (affectionately also known

as “Dem Bums”) and Vinny as ours. That was when they landed at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum to launch their 1958 first season as the L.A. Dodgers.

For well over six decades, the LEGENDARY ICON of Dodger

Baseball—indeed of MLB broadcasting— guided us through verbal watercolored paintings of play by play. His voice was baseball poetry, mesmerizing us through transistor radios glued to our ears. As the L.A. Times reported, Koufax once said “I

enjoyed listening to Vin call a game almost more than playing in them.”

Vinny was a humble man, never wanting to be the center of attention and, indeed, shunning it. He had trouble accepting that he

home plate), we looked directly above us during all those games to wave at Vin (his red hair peeking above the broadcaster’s booth), who often waved right back. Yet, it seems like yesterday we’d be hovering over our grandmother with that turquoise transistor held tight to her ear (as she was invariably yelling at Walter Alston for “leaving his pitchers in too long”) while we listened to Vinny unfold all his stories like no one other than him could.

Sure, our introduction to the Great American Pastime began with the baseball legends who made the move to L.A. . . . like Gil Hodges, Duke Snyder, Pee Wee Reese, Johnny Roseboro, Jim Gilliam, Wally Moon, Larry and Norm Sherry, and Big Frank Howard. Then came Drysdale and Koufax. But there was always Vin Scully calling the famous and, of course, the infamous. He was THE VOICE who brought us unforgettable Dodger moments-- Sandy Koufax’s 1965 Perfect Game (my brother and Grandmother were there); and injured Kirk Gibson’s 1998 World Series Game #1 9th inning unthinkable magic moment home run against the Oakland A’s (who could forget what Vin Scully screamed--“She’s gone! In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!”).

returning used empty soda cans for refund pennies. He got his start in his broadcasting career with a stint at a local Washington D.C. radio station. Predecessor Red Barber heard him and around 1950 offered Vin a job. He was 23 years old when he rounded out what became the announcing three-some of Barber, Connie Desmond and Scully. When Barber left to join the Yankees in 1954, Vinny took over; a year later he called the Dodger Franchise’s first World Series win (Vin’s words: “The Brooklyn Dodgers are the champions of the world” . . . and then, as he often did in those magic baseball moments, he said nothing more, preferring to allow the crowd to take over with roaring cheers).

grew to the GREATEST, always deferential to the crowds who adored our team and him even more. With my twin brother, parents, and grandmother, we became Vinny devotees from Day One, sitting in our Season Ticket Coliseum Box and then at Chavez Ravine year after year after year. From our Dodger Stadium Field seats (aisle 7, row P behind

Vinny was 94 when he passed away at his Hidden Hills home. A long life, indeed, but not long enough. He learned what it was like hearing the roar of a baseball crowd and an announcer’s excitement while listening to a big old fashioned radio as a child at his Brooklyn home. He played stickball in the streets as a kid; he raised money to buy his tickets to the Polo Grounds by collecting and

Vin Scully was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame Broadcasters’ Wing in 1982. That same year came his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was anointed as National Sportscaster of the Year four times. And he was also the recipient of an Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through it all Vinny remained intensely private. After he moved to Hidden Hills in 2009, he twice declined my invitation to be Grand Marshal at our annual Hidden Hills Fiesta parade and to allow us to feature him as the cover story in our Hidden Hills magazine. Politely, but with sincere apologies, he simply told me both times “I simply get too much exposure as is. I like it here,” he said, “because it is somewhat Hidden and I would like to keep it that way.” I treasure those notes he wrote to me, as I do the handwritten penned note he gave me in 1994 (“To Linda, A Great Dodger Fan. Best Wishes, Vin Scully”). Ironically, he could never have stayed “hidden” here—the name plate in front of his house gives it away (“Home Plate”).

Vin Scully retired in 2016. His final Dodger home game ended with a prerecorded Vin Scully singing (as we all sobbed) “Wind Beneath My Wings.” He called his last game for our Dodgers on the road at a Giants game October 2nd of that year (regrettably, not

HE HAD TROUBLE ACCEPTING THAT HE GREW TO THE GREATEST, ALWAYS DEFERENTIAL TO THE CROWDS WHO ADORED OUR TEAM AND HIM EVEN MORE.

SANDI & VIN SCULLY AT VIN'S FINAL GAME AS THE VOICE OF DODGER BASEBALL

PHOTO BY HARRY HOW VIA GETTY IMAGES

the way my twin and I would have chosen to celebrate our birthday). His full-time attention then turned joyfully to his wife Sandi (who eventually predeceased him) and his many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lucky for Vin’s Hidden Hills neighbors, we all often saw him graciously smiling and waving as he stepped to his mailbox, while we jaunted by walking and on horseback.

His final words to his adoring fans from the Dodger broadcast booth resonate loudly in Scully poetic lyrics:

“You know, friends, so many people have wished me congratulations on a 67-year career in baseball, and they’ve wished me a wonderful retirement with my family, and

now, all I can do is tell you what I wish for you.

“May God give you, for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life seems, a faithful friend to share; for every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer for each prayer.

“You and I have been friends for a long time, but I know, in my heart, I’ve always needed you more than you’ve ever needed me, and I’ll miss our time together more than I can say. But, you know what, there will be a new day, and, eventually, a new year, and when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, ooh, rest assured it will be time for Dodger baseball.

“So, this is Vin Scully wishing you a pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.”

We wish Vinny’s family comfort with everlasting cherished memories. We are grateful to all of them for sharing Vin with us over the many, many decades and now, forever. WE WILL MISS YOU VINNY! ALWAYS!

TRUE TO HIS HUMBLE NATURE, AT VIN'S FINAL GAME, HE REPLACED THE "WE'LL MISS YOU" BANNER WITH ONE OF HIS OWN DESIGN..."I'LL MISS YOU."

PHOTO BY STEPHEN DUNN VIA GETTY IMAGES

MAYOR MADAME

A Q & A WITH LAURA MCCORKINDALE, HIDDEN HILLS' FIRST FEMALE MAYOR* IN 25 YEARS.

The last female Hidden Hills Mayor was way back in 1996, and only a handful of women have ever served in the city’s history, and most for just one short term. Hidden Hills’ newest Mayor and the first woman in 25 years has taken full opportunity of the role. In her initial term of just less than four years, Mayor McCorkindale has been busy starting a Farmer’s Market, fighting the Legislature to protect her city from apartment buildings nestled in between single family houses, working with law enforcement on public safety innovations and representing the 5 cities in the region (Malibu, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Hidden Hills) on the Cal Cites Los Angeles Board. She’s also served on the

California Cities Public Safety committee and the Housing Committee, choosing to focus on the biggest issues not only facing Hidden Hills, but also the entire state.

Already quite accomplished when she moved to Hidden Hills in 2015,McCorkindale was an award-winning journalist, entertainment executive, movie producer — and most recently music manager.

Let’s start by asking: why did you run for office?

I never had any interest whatsoever in politics, let alone a thought of running for office, but one day the desire just hit me.

It came about organically after working on security issues for the community. I just followed my instinct.

You produced Golden Globe winning film Iron Jawed Angels about how women got the right to vote, don’t you think that foreshadowed or indicated some interest?

No, not consciously. I was always drawn to movies based on true stories, real people doing extraordinary things, so Iron Jawed Angels was just one of many projects with that throughline. That movie comes back around every year at election time, which is more fun for me now that I view it through a different lens. And some of the themes are still

By Nicole Baez

LAURA McCORKINDALE AT HOME WITH HER DOG, MAGIC MOOSE

eerily relevant today. I hope it continues to serve as a reminder about not taking your vote for granted. One vote truly matters, we’re seeing that more and more in these very close races and ballot measures.

How would you describe your politics as it relates to being Mayor?

I’ve always been a registered Independent, some of my thoughts would be considered left and others right. I've supported candidates on both sides of the aisle, so thankfully this isn’t a partisan role. The job is to serve the people who live here and to execute ideas that improve an already great city. There’s really no room for my political opinion because my positions have to be aligned with the greater whole. I’ve occasionally taken heat from some of our conservative constituents over my vocal support for Democratic candidates running at a state level to serve Hidden Hills. But that’s who we’re getting, so why not get out there behind the best of the choices and solidify a relationship that will end up helping the city?

Why do you think Hidden Hills hasn’t had a female Mayor in so long?

I’m not exactly sure, we’ve certainly had some terrifically qualified women. We seem to be on track to achieving some balance and diversity on our council. I think we’re headed in the right direction. That’s what matters to me: where we’re going, the future, how we improve upon things that weren’t optimal.

What’s the best thing about being Mayor?

Just being called Mayor makes me smile, maybe because I never expected to be one. And there are more opportunities to have conversations and work with interesting people like other Mayors in California. I think everyone knows I love working with law enforcement, that’s a focus that goes back a few decades for me, but it’s more effective in this role.

Is there anything you don’t like about the role?

I spend a lot of time battling misinformation. Also being a council member can be incredibly dry and technical and I’m more of a big picture, free-form person. There’s not a lot of room to brainstorm on the dais or even outside meetings with the council because of limitations with the (Brown Act) law. It’s one of the fundamental issues with local government, something our state legislators don’t have to deal with.

What would you change about government?

Well … as I said, the Brown Act desperately needs to be modernized, it was signed into law in 1953! And overall, I think California is crippled with too many new laws each year compared to other states. It’s an epidemic, thousands of bills proposed to become law, no one can even read through them all. We need to rethink what we’re doing to our state, much of what’s going on of late has the potential to impact our communities.

You were the Manager for country music icon Dwight Yoakam for many years. Did that position or any of your other past jobs help prepare you to be Mayor?

Absolutely. As a music manager, you always, always put the best interests of the artist first – that’s the job. And that’s exactly the role of a public servant: separating your personal desires from the task: whatever is best for the city and the people who live here, that’s what you go with. It’s second nature for me to function that way.

The other similarity: as manager you make a decision, like which song will be released as the first single. But then maybe the artist disagrees and wants a different song, so sometimes you acquiesce and rally around the new song as if it was your first choice. When a majority of council votes a certain way, and you’re on the other side of that vote, you do the same: support the outcome as if it was your preference, because you’re a team. That comes easily to me, I rarely look back. I’d also say my early years as a columnist helped me with social media which is important in terms of getting accurate information out into the world. I’ve always been interested in how to effectively reach the most people, especially in order to inspire positive change or initiate new ideas. If you look at my Facebook page over the last 10 years, you’ll know everything you need to about me. I love to communicate about the

AT LEFT: Mayor McCorkindale and Lost Hills Captain Jennifer Seetoo at “Cone with a Cop” in 2022

OPPOSITE: McCorkindale working with Dwight Yoakam. Kids at the first Hidden Hills Food Truck event. One of McCorkindale's many photos of local horses.

future, discoveries, topics that will better our communities, information about the city. I could do that all day long.

What is your favorite thing about living in Hidden Hills?

Two things. First, the connectivity of the people. I’ve never lived anywhere I could literally pick up the phone and call 50 different people to help me out in a bind. And the idea that your social life can thrive right where you live, at all ages, is incredibly unusual. And, the resonance of the animals! It’s a gift to be able to share your community with horses, goats, donkeys, ducks - they’re a pivotal part of the atmosphere. I spent my first years here just walking around taking thousands of photographs of the horses.

What is the one thing you wish people knew about Hidden Hills?

That we’re more diverse than our reputation, in our people, our vocations, our income levels, our lifestyle priorities. We obviously have an incredibly large percentage of high profile residents per capita, and many of them have impressive homes, but that’s not seeing the full picture, nor the authentic footprint of the community. When visitors attend our annual Fiesta Parade, just as one example, they witness a very soulful consciousness - children, relationships, animals and community are prioritized at a very deep level.

How did the pandemic effect you as a newly elected official?

It’s been an extraordinary time to be in office, no matter what size your city. We all had access to the same briefings, the same contradictory data, the same battles with the unknown and the same questions about how to provide a sense of safety for our constituents. I ended up becoming more involved, specifically because of Covid. While it’s been a frustrating couple of years,

the technological leaps we’ve made as a society allowed me to do much more, join committees and participate in all sorts of meetings and hearings that I would have passed on before Zoom. If not for the pandemic I’d never have become so intimately involved in legislation - it would have required too much time in Sacramento. So the entire paradigm shift really accelerated my council experience. The world was shutting down and I made the decision to do this almost full time, to take every opportunity and learn about everything that captured my attention, anything I thought might help Hidden Hills or our region, and to put that education into action.

It’s also been an interesting time to be smack in the middle of polarized everything. No community escaped the palpable divide, over so many things! That’s made the position more challenging, but also more rewarding because of the complexity, especially in trying to find resolution.

What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing Hidden Hills or your City Council?

Even though we’re incredibly fortunate - in this entire region - we’re still a microcosm of the county, the state and beyond. As a people, we’re obviously in a moment of crisis in so many arenas, from crime to the environment to extremism. You can’t take a position that it’s not happening here because that might not be the case in the future. So we need to continue to be vigilant and forward-thinking about the ways

we provide safety and protect the quality of life in our city. I think we've done a great job thus far, but the world has changed significantly in a very short period of time, so being proactive and having vision is imperative. We need to continue to ensure our voices are represented and bundled with other cities, so we don’t wake up to a

grouping of new laws that forever change the face of the life as we know it.

Looking way down the line, I have some concerns about how many people will want to serve in law enforcement, that could be an issue in the future. And obviously the far-reaching impact of the drought, sorting out how to provide access to alternative water sources, updating our infrastructure, also important.

What do you feel is the most important role of a council member?

To some degree each council member can tailor their focus to individual strengths and passions. For one council member it might be fiscal oversight, for another it might be helping find balance amongst opposing points of view. Some council members thrive on the social and ceremonial aspect of the role. For me, it’s been legislative oversight, law enforcement issues, and trying to protect our

local control. The state has made significant moves to take away that local control, meaning to override your council members and their ability to make the decisions they were elected to make, decisions that are more successful given the knowledge we have knowing the history, the nuance, the nature of our specific communities.

What don’t people know about you?

I think people see me as incredibly serious, which I can be when I’m working on something I passionately believe is important. But for the most part, my nature is more lighthearted and I’m always looking for the humor. People also think I’m an extrovert, when I’m actually a bit shy in group settings.

You can contact Mayor McCorkindale at LMcCorkindale@HHCityCouncil.com

*Terms for City Council seats in Hidden Hills are staggered every four years, with non-partisan elections held every two years. The position of Mayor rotates annually in December like in most municipalities, but ultimately is selected by the choice and a vote of the City Council.

TOP: McCorkindale coordinated the creation of the Hidden Hills Farmers Market which launched in March 2020. ABOVE: Hidden Hills City Hall.

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THE WORLD THANKFUL TO SEE IN

— DOUG WEBB

WRITTEN BY BRITT AARONSON

In the heart of Calabasas lives a selftaught painter whose education is equal parts artistic tradition, faith, and rebellion. Doug Webb was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1946, and has dwelled locally for over 31 years. The son of an O.S.S. Special Agent, he traveled to America on a U.S. Troop military ship at three months old with his Armenian mother. The first medium he handled was watercolor paints, followed by acrylics, with the most difficult challenge learning to blend since acrylic dries so fast. After decades of trial and error, the integral word he discovered in working is “patience.” Having patience and gratitude are suitable metaphors for his own journey.

Photorealism is a term primarily applied to an art movement in the United States and Europe developing since the early 1970’s that looks so real that sometimes paintings are hard to distinguish from photographs. Hyper-realism is a genre resembling a highresolution photograph that is considered an advancement in the methods used to create the meticulously detailed paintings or sculptures. Doug illustrates in a hyper surrealistic style, even though he considers

FINE DETAIL

himself a classical romantic surrealist juxtaposing oversized objects and shifts of scale within scenes to create meaningful metaphors. His paintings depict ordinary objects in an uncannily consciousness expanding manner, not concerned with representing the world as it actually is, but as it is seen through his detached yet connected visions.

Working alongside other artists in a Canoga Park factory prolifically producing artwork for furniture store showrooms is where Doug learned much of his early technique back in the early 1970’s. He transitioned into freelance work for architects and designers at the same time he was beginning a career showing in galleries. He has enjoyed solo exhibitions at Galerie Yves Arman, Molly Barnes, Louis K. Meisel, Bernarducci Meisel, and the Carnegie Museum; has shown in galleries including the Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago, and museums throughout the U.S. and abroad, including Paris, Spain, Shanghai, and Tokyo. He participates in international exhibitions and publications, including the imaginative cover commissioned by Mad Magazine at the time the Statue of Liberty

was being renovated. His paintings are revered in the collections at the White House, Smithsonian Institute, University Club of D.C.; and the Forbes, Weisman, and Eileen S. Kaminsky Family Foundations.

Doug is currently electrifying patrons in a show close to home. The Reflections on a Warming Planet exhibition includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, as well as short films and interviews addressing Global Warming, one of the most critical issues of our time. At 76 years old, he remains grateful to be in a notable group exhibition at the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica. Bergamot Station houses many different private art galleries and two of his fantastical paintings depicting the convergence of organic and urban environments appear at the Lois Lambert Gallery among many others to celebrate the natural world and call attention to the climate crisis.

Known for meaningful art that gets people's attention and makes them think, his painting called “Rise of the Nasty Women” was inspired by the women’s march that took

“I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STORYTELLER NOT INTERESTED IN PAINTING A BOWL OF GRAPES. THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON BEHIND IT. ALL THE EXTREME DETAIL IS TO GET YOUR ATTENTION AND DRAW YOU IN.”

place globally in January 2017, which he and his wife attended in Los Angeles, CA. As delicate as roses are, he blew them out of proportion, blocking the intersections in downtown Los Angeles to protest the abuse of human rights.

Doug’s process begins with a “flash of an idea” and he explains that the strength of his mind-bending work “lies in the reconciliation of opposites—the humdrumness of urban living with the dream of utopia based in nature.” Romance is introduced as visitors are drawn in to closely view the intimate sized pieces with whimsical titles and seemingly realistic images of idyllic outdoor scenes and public architectural spaces with contrasting literary, philosophical, religious, and scientific themes. Many works are bathed in the glory of nature and upon closer inspection reveal absurdity through “threads of satire, irony, conflict and hope.”

For the keen eyed, quite often his grandson, son, and wife are his subjects which establish a familiar basis of identity. These portraits of his colorful visions are homages to the family who are committed to supporting him and integral to his success not only as a creative, but as a devout man. Being a successful artist has a different meaning now than it used to hold for Doug. His process of painting used to be six days a week for ten hours a day, and currently he works five days a week for eight hours a day, with most of his paintings taking close to three months to finish. His works clarify human abuse and environmental

issues, discover both the inner and outer levels of existence, explore midlife crises, addiction, recovery, and the good found in humanity.

Continually evolving, fourteen of his paintings have been digitally archived, and are included in the Lunar Codex Project

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: "BREAK EVERY CHAIN" 20X16. ACRYLIC ON LINEN. "DAUGHTER OF WOMAN." 20X16. ACRYLIC ON LINEN. "SUPPORT." 20X16. ACRYLIC ON LINEN.

Photo by Ye Rin Mok

along with works from 30,000 contemporary creatives from 137 countries, launching in four time capsules to the Moon in late 2022 to 2023. “The Lunar Codex, part of NASA’s Artemis program is a project to preserve contemporary creative arts for future generations, a message-in-a-bottle to the future,” explained Samuel Peralta, creator of the enterprise that uses digital and analog technology to safeguard art, books, music by sending it into space.

Devoted to his family, faith, and nature, Doug Webb continues to be grateful that creating,

showing, and selling paintings has been his full-time profession for over forty years. The details might be intricate but his message is simple: artists are a mirror “who relay to society what we need to look at whether it be appreciating a flower or considering that there may be an apocalypse.”

You can find Doug Webb by visiting www.dougwebbart.com or emailing doug@dougwebbart.com

ABOVE: TO ANSWER THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION... NO, THIS IS NOT A PHOTO... “LOST IN THE SHUFFLE” 24X30 ACRYLIC ON LINEN IS A METICULOUSLY CREATED HYPER-REALIST MASTERWORK.

RIGHT: "MOVING ON," 20X16 ACRYLIC ON LINEN.

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WRITTEN BY ALLIE LEBOS

In 2003, Kelsey Lichtenstein

Anders founded Aspen Learning Lab in Malibu, California. Aspen Learning Lab is an elite, private education company serving families throughout Southern California. Originally, the focus was to mentor young students. Kelsey quickly realized education was foundational and critical to each student’s development and success.

Shortly thereafter, the focus shifted to tutoring, and in 2006, Aspen Learning Lab began providing customized homeschool and microschool services to families. Through personalized instruction, hands-on learning, and a holistic approach focused on each student’s social, emotional, and academic needs, Aspen Learning Lab’s experienced teachers create real-world

connections that make learning relevant and applicable...a missing component in many traditional classrooms. “Learning is more than just memorizing out of a textbook,” Kelsey says. “Learning is all around us. It’s a journey, and the journey is different for every student.”

“The pandemic has affected all areas of our life,” continues Kelsey.” Given

the major changes in the classroom, parents have sought better alternatives for their children’s learning. Remote learning, due to the pandemic, exposed the limitations of traditional classroom learning. This prompted many parents to adjust how, where, and what their children learn. Parents discovered alternatives for learning, which created opportunities parents didn’t know existed before the pandemic. It’s easier than ever for parents to feel both empowered and connected to their children’s educational journey.”

In addition to in-person homeschool, microschool and tutoring options, Aspen Learning Lab also offers small group learning, enrichment classes, and online opportunities. The variety of programming provides parents with options to find what works best for their family’s and children’s learning needs. “Learning is not a one-size-fits-all-model,” explains Kelsey. “Aspen Learning Lab’s programs incorporate highly customized content based on each student’s needs and goals, utilizing the most innovative and inspiring resources and technology available. Our customized approach inspires curiosity, develops 21st century skills, and leaves a lasting, positive impact on our students.”

The Aspen Learning Lab team has an extensive roster of educators. No matter your child’s educational goals, level, unique circumstances, or your family’s needs, your child’s education is in great hands. Aspen Learning Lab’s teachers have more than 140 years of combined classroom experience and expertise in more than 55 subjects. These teachers bring a global perspective to the classroom, and at last count, speak nine languages and have

traveled to 26 countries outside of the United States.

Today’s academic environment can be challenging and complex for both students and parents alike. Thankfully, Aspen Learning Lab can help guide parents with the best academic options for their child. From preschool through high school, Aspen Learning Lab caters to each individual student helping them feel confident and prepared to take on whatever challenges they face academically and beyond.

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Kelsey and her husband, Eric, with their dogs (left to right), Boss, Beau Jackson, and Riley.

MOSQUITO SQUAD

WRITTEN BY ALLIE LEBOS

After moving to Woodland Hills from Bel Air, Jay Blecker ran into a pesky and pressing issue that he didn’t expect…mosquitos. There is nothing quite like these relentless bloodsuckers to ruin a peaceful evening at home. Upon finding himself stuck at home due to Covid lockdowns, Jay realized just how important it was to find a solution and utilize his amazing

OF SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

backyard. “After having really bad experiences with many of the largest pest control companies, I decided to research the issue myself,” explained Jay Blecker. “The Mosquito Squad was started in 2006 and is part of the publicly traded Authority Brands. After talking with friends in Chicago that had used the service, I was so impressed that I bought a franchise and brought it to service Los Angeles.”

As the original mosquito control service, The Mosquito Squad is dependable, effective, and efficient. Though ridding your yard of mosquitos and other bloodsucking pests such as ticks might seem impossible, The Mosquito Squad makes it easy as one, two, and three with their protective barrier treatment.

While it might come as a surprise, mosquitoes are the deadliest animals

on the planet, making them a real problem that needs real solutions. “For me, this issue hits close to home as my mom's husband, who was dearly loved, passed away due to West Nile virus obtained from a mosquito bite,” said Jay. “He loved the outdoors, and at 85 years old, one of his favorite routines was to make a nice cocktail and enjoy the sunset. I take great joy in knowing we are getting folks back to enjoying the great outdoor living that Los Angeles has to offer.”

From your kids to your pets, The Mosquito Squad is committed to protecting homes and keeping yards safe and enjoyable.

The process is beyond simple, and customers are able to call The Mosquito Squad directly for a free estimate. In addition to having a 100% satisfaction guarantee, this beloved business has also protected more than 300,000 homes and families from these pesky pests nationwide. When it comes to results, the barrier treatment is able to eliminate up to 90% of mosquitoes thanks to its microencapsulation technology. The results should last up to 21 days, giving you ease and peace of mind each month.

Though mosquitos may seem like an inevitable part of life, it’s not. From spring to fall, The Mosquito Squad uses expertise and passion to make life outside not only liveable but optimal. Whether you’re having a birthday BBQ in your backyard or an outdoor wedding, The Mosquito Squad also serves special events so that you don’t have to worry about bugs ruining your big day.

Prefer to keep things as natural as possible? While The Mosquito Squads EPA-registered products are safe for both people and animals, the company also offers a more natural mosquito

treatment option. Rather than using the traditional barrier treatment, customers can request a solution that is made entirely from essential oils.

Enjoying a sense of indoor and outdoor living is one of the main perks of living in our community. Thankfully, The Mosquito Squad enables residents to regain control of their backyards and soak up the SoCal sunshine without interruption.

MOSQUITO SQUAD

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED MOSQUITO & TICK CONTROL SERVING SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

(818) 835-5755

www.mosquitosquad.com/sanfernandovalley

L.A. TECHS

SMART HOMES AND OFFICES

WRITTEN BY ALLIE LEBOS

Whether you’re looking to add Control4 automation throughout your house or you’re planning to upgrade your security system, LA Techs makes the installation process smooth and effortless. “LA Techs is a locally owned, full-service, low-voltage company with expertise in a wide range of technologies,” said

LA Techs owner, Russell Gaskamp. “We work with homeowners to design and implement customized technology solutions that make their lives easier.”

Technology has made huge strides over the last decade, allowing our lives to become undeniably more convenient. However, with that enhanced technology also comes more complex and difficult

integration. All in all, LA Techs’ main goal is to simplify the interaction between homeowners (or business owners) and the technology that keeps their days running smoothly.

In addition to handling the infrastructure side of things, LA Techs’ monthly service plans provide users with peace of mind. For example, if a device or

system stops working, LA Techs is there to figure out the problem and find the solution. Also, since technology is prone to change, having professional assistance along for the ride prevents any frustrating roadblocks or standstills. Living smart doesn’t have to mean living complicatedly. In fact, LA Techs puts individual needs and specially tailored technology at the forefront of their priorities.

While there are an endless amount of benefits and features in a smart home, LA Techs customized solutions ensure that you are getting exactly what you need across the entirety of your space. Best of all, aesthetics and design don’t get left behind. “We can design a technology system with aesthetics in mind, which is even more effective when the aesthetic design keeps technology in mind,” explained Russell. “We love working alongside designers to create technology solutions that fit and even enhance their aesthetic vision.”

Leveraging the power of technologies like Control4, SAVANT, Lutron, SONOS, and Josh.ai, LA Techs uses personalized information to make intuitive technology solutions to support a variety of systems. Commercial spaces and offices are able to run with efficiency and ease, allowing businesses to focus on output and profit. Homes are able to receive that special touch that makes a smart house truly feel like home. “Too often, technology can be a source of stress. Eliminating that stress is a big part of what we do,” said Russell. “Through leveraging technology, we can provide you with more time to spend with those that matter most.”

EPOXY

POWER

EPOXY FLOORINGS AND REFINISHING SERVICES

WRITTEN BY ALLIE LEBOS

Whether your concrete floors are in need of a touch-up or your driveway is due for a new polyaspartic coating, Epoxy Power by BMI services Calabasas and beyond with the utmost efficiency and attention to detail. This family-owned business ensures that your home remains in tiptop shape, no matter how long you have

lived there. The services are quick and aim to be done in only one day, keeping convenience and efficiency at the forefront of priorities. From your pool deck to your patio, there is no outdoor area that Epoxy Power can’t improve.

Even those looking to spruce up the interior of their home and bring a sense of coziness to their floors inside

can utilize the services. Best of all, Epoxy Power by BMI offers a 20-year warranty, backing up all of their services for two decades so that you can rest easy and enjoy peace of mind. Though they are based out of Calabasas, this beloved business services the entire Los Angeles area, all the way from Santa Monica to Santa Clarita.

The Epoxy Power process can be accomplished in six simple steps, including preparation, concrete reconstruction, laying a base coat, chip broadcasting, scraping the chip, and finally, a clean and shiny clear coat. This family-backed business has mastered this process, allowing you to trust them with the tedious task of transforming your home, business or business.

Though it might seem like a detail that goes unnoticed, floors are actually one of the first aspects of a space that gets noticed. Everything from pesky cracks to damaging holes can have a negative impact on the overall look and feel of a home or business. That said, those looking to make a great first impression and maintain a quality that is unmatched can benefit from the services provided by Epoxy Power. In addition to residential renovations, this local gem also tackles commercial properties.

Since the floor is quite literally the fountain upon which all of our feet are planted, there are many reasons to pay it mind. Though a cohesive look and appearance are always appreciated, keeping up with the quality of your concrete can also result in better longevity and stability, causing you less grief down the line.

Between the one-day turnaround and the sleek results, Epoxy Power has made refinishing your floors easier than ever. Best of all, being a Hidden Hills local means that these showroom-ready concrete coatings are only a phone call away.

“On the bulletin board, they spread out a map of the Lost Hills jurisdiction, specifically the portion bordered by the 101 freeway to the north, the Pacific Coast Highway to the south, Kanan Dume Road to the west, and Topanga Canyon to the east. The patchwork shape of Malibu Creek State Park was in green and right in the middle of the map. They put colored pins at the location of every shooting incident.” (Movieland)

Lee Goldberg recently visited the Calabasas Library to discuss the release of his new book Movieland. The Calabasas Library serves as one of the local settings of a press conference in the fourth book of his Eve Ronin detective series and it was here Goldberg chose to be questioned by Calabasas Library archivist Brian Rooney, the author of Three Magical Miles: An Appreciation of the Past & Present of Malibou Lake & Vicinity. Rooney is an interviewer with a deep knowledge of one of the most fascinating areas of Los Angeles which is the home to the “Three Magical Miles.” The historic area includes Cornell, Malibou Lake, Malibu Lakeside and Agoura, and is the location where hundreds of classic movie & television programs have been filmed. Rooney provided an archival perspective for Malibu Creek State Park which serves as the backdrop for murder in the riveting thriller by the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Eve Ronin is the youngest woman appointed robbery homicide detective at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station after being labeled “Deathfist,” following the widespread viral video broadcast of her subduing an international celebrity involved in a public

LOCAL READS

Calabasas author

Lee Goldberg discusses the release of his latest book, Movieland, with Library Archivist, Brian Rooney.

domestic incident. Each of Goldberg’s four books are fictionalized associations to Calabasas culture, politics, and current events going on in our backyards. The current book includes a series of sniper attacks in Malibu Creek State Park, a familiar destination for local tourists and hikers where two female campers have been seriously shot and one killed. The popular park is located “a few yards south of the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and the famous Mulholland Highway.”

Thus begins Eve and her soon retiring partner Duncan Pavone’s efforts to solve a murder in eight thousand unfenced acres that resemble a Hollywood set more than a real-life killing field. For decades, the Malibu Creek State Park was the spectacular natural backlot setting where Hollywood fantasies were made

before Twentieth Century Fox donated the land in 1975. When the biggest park in any metropolitan area in America becomes a crime scene, it wreaks havoc among the many local entities that get involved.

The case elicits fears related to twelve confirmed yet unsolved shooting cases over eighteen months in the parkland east of Las Virgenes Road. The top officials at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department refuse to see a connection until Eve and Duncan follow their instincts to break another multileveled criminal conspiracy.

If you are looking for a great end of summer read, this is it!

“As a resident of Hidden Hills for more than 40 years, I have a unique understanding of how our community, and the homes in it, has evolved into something almost beyond imagination. There is an intangible here within our gates that ads value to anyone looking to redefine their lifestyle and become part of this great and ongoing story. I love telling that story, and helping people to understand what it means to live here, and I love being able to communicate the potential of every home.

THE AGENCY CALABASAS WELCOMES Michael Bloom

THANK YOU TO MY LONG-TIME NEIGHBORS FOR PUTTING THEIR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME.

Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky, Calabasas Managing Partner Emil Valley Sales Manager Jason Galardi are proud to welcome Micheal Bloom

“We are thrilled that Michael has joined our Calabasas Office Family. He touches the hearts of everyone he encounters. With many years of Real Estate Hidden Hills, Michael brings a level of sophistication, knowledge and personal that is unmatched by most. We are delighted to welcome Michael to The celebrate his growth and success.”

–

Emil Hartoonian, Managing Partner and Jason Galardi, Sales Manager

A longtime Hidden Hills resident, Michael brings a strong work ethic, genuine knowledge of Calabasas, Woodland Hills and Hidden Hills. Fluent in Spanish deeply involved in the community, serving as an Ambassador to the Calabasas a Board Member for the Foundation for the Las Virgenes Schools and Commissioner

It is the greatest of compliments when those who have known you the longest believe wholeheartedly in what you can accomplish.”

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“First time” milestones set the tone for life going forward, and my first “professional” overseas trip to Bilbao, Spain and the surrounding Rioja wine region in 2004 continues to inform the way I travel... and still puts a smile on my face. While I had traveled abroad prior to that, I felt this trip was the first one I had truly earned and could truly enjoy on my own terms. Although I was required to work much of the time (taking copious notes, interviewing winemakers, sampling a lot of wine and delivering articles for exacting editors on time), specific details

about that trip are far more vivid than my earlier European jaunts.

Earlier this year, when I sailed on the Celebrity Beyond ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton to Barcelona, I was particularly excited about the scheduled days-in-port. La Rochelle, the first stop, allowed me to put my conversational French to good use. The Lisbon stop allowed me to enjoy a leisurely day with friends. However, at the outset of the trip, I was looking forward to the day in Bilbao to see if it was still as wonderful as I remembered...or if a combination of the

2004 career opportunity to work abroad and the fabulous Rioja red and Txakoli sparkling white wines influenced those memories.

Bilbao had changed a lot over the course of two decades, with new trendy neighborhoods taking shape in the old quarter. Yet it lived up to expectation, and I found myself wishing there was more time to leisurely explore downtown highlights, including the

SAMPLING SPAIN’S COASTAL CITIES

WRITTEN BY ELYSE GLICKMAN

OPPOSITE: Cadiz Cathedral.

TOP: A view of Port city Cádiz from the top deck of the Celebrity Beyond luxury cruise ship.

MIDDLE: Palma de Mallorca is awash with plazas, cafes, and prime people watching.

BOTTOM LEFT: Specialty food shopping in Cádiz.

BOTTOM MIDDLE: Sampling sardines in fine olive oil at Los Patios de Beatas, known for its prolific selection of wines and beautifully prepared bites made for pairing.

LOWER RIGHT: Patios de Beatas' white Spanish anchovies, a local "must try".

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao which had opened just before my first visit.

As is what often happens during the day at a port-of-call, the seeds are sown for an intention to return for a longer visit. However, even a day in town with a good pair of walking shoes provides a hearty taste of the city... quite fitting as Bilbao sits in the heart of Basque Country, which enjoyed notoriety for having the highest per capita concentration of Michelin star restaurants in the world. It also whetted my appetite for the visits to cities in southern Spain that followed after Lisbon.

BILBAO

Bilbao is a true 21st Century renaissance city—a sparkling urban expanse emerging out of its gritty industrial past over the last few decades. Even with bold architecture defining the city, other eras of the city’s history from the Middle Ages forward can be enjoyed at street level.

Nothing beats a city’s food hall when it comes to an inexpensive but highquality bite, quality souvenir shopping for avid home cooks, or getting a sense of its residents’ day-to-day life. However, Bilbao’s La Ribera Market, built in 1929 and most recently renovated in 2010, is a standard-bearer. One of Europe’s largest indoor markets (over 110,000 square feet) is also one of the most beautiful with its art deco flourishes and location on the Nervion River’s right bank. The organized maze of vendors sitting at the heart of it, sell Jamon Serrano, almonds, sweets, olive oils and herbs and tapas to-go. It also houses several sit-down bars and restaurants, a cooking school and an in-house jazz band.

Mercado del Ensanche (dating to the mid 19th Century) is a true neighborhood shopping spot that’s ideal for anybody preferring smaller crowds, allocating a few hours for the tapas trail, or dedicating more time to arts and culture. The immaculate

and upscale pintxos (i.e. tapas, or bite-sized appetizer) bars in Plaza Nueva in the Casco Viejo (historic quarter) draw tourists, but there’s much to be found on the side streets including unassuming pintxos bars with the strongest word-of-mouth. On one of these streets, UMAMIE, a sustainabilityfocused ready meal service, hides a wonderful cooking workshop venue with a pintxos making class that will not only fill participants up, but also send them home with the knowledge of recreating Bilbao in their kitchens.

The stained glass window at the Abando Train Station is a good first stop of the day, with its overview of key landmarks (i.e. Basilica of Begoña) and Basque culture. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the equally worthwhile Bilbao Fine Arts Museum and lots of outdoor public art surrounding the buildings and downtown provide a feast for the other senses. Postcard views of the city, teamed with a few more examples of good public art make a trek to Mount Artxanda a good use of time on a one-day visit. Serious fashion shoppers can get caught up in Bilbao La Vieja, noted for its indie fashion shops, street art, bars and small galleries.

CÁDIZ

While Sevilla, Granada and Córdoba are the “Big Three” of Andalusia, going to any one of these cities can be problematic if a cruise ship is the primary mode of transportation. Even if bus tours to these cities are available, the rides can end up being longer than staying in town. Port city Cádiz may be less flashy, but it has more than 3,000 years of history going for it, making it one of Europe’s oldest continually occupied towns. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and North African Muslims all called this city home, and evidence of their occupation and cultural influences abound throughout the old town. The Museum of Cádiz takes history buffs on a deeper dive, with its collection of Phoenician artifacts

TOP: On “tapas” the world” In Bilbao, one can master the art of tapas-making and other Spanish culinary skills at UMAMIE’s cooking school.

BOTTOM: In good taste: Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga features a stunning stained glass ceiling as well as pairings of Southern Spain’s superb red wines with regional appetizers and main courses.

OPPOSITE: Málaga’s Mercado de la Merced and Bilbao’s La Ribera Market showcase the best examples of local produce and artisanal foods. Here, an edible sugared hibiscus flower.

and paintings by

Murillo, Zurbarán, Rubens, Zuloaga, Sorolla and Miró.

The city also has lovely beaches and parks, as well as many tiny streets and squares to stroll through to visit churches and shops. Other ways to soak in this corner of Andalusia like a local is to pass the day in a cafe in the Plaza de la Catedral, or rent a bike for a ride around the waterfront.

While getting to many of Andalusia's famed sherry producers may require long drives, Bodegas Osborne in Puerto de Santa Maria is 15 miles away from Cádiz and accessible by taxi or rideshare. In addition to winery tours and sherry tasting accompanied by Spanish charcuterie and snacks, it has a fascinating history dating to the 1770s, gorgeous grounds and architecture. An adjoining museum is dedicated to Bodegas Osborne’s impact on international popular culture and fine art, while its boutique not only carries its wines (specially packaged for travel), but also conversation-starting apparel and home accessories.

MÁLAGA

Málaga draws people in with its beaches, street art, restaurant scene, boutiques, and Costa del Sol

location. However, its history and interesting geography add context and depth to a visit of any length. Alameda Park (a.k.a. Parque de Malaga along with the adjoining Paseo del Parque) is both the oldest park in the city as well as a verdant “gateway” to the city highlights. It is further enhanced with walkways winding past tropical plants, gardens, sculptures, and sitting areas facing the sea. In the opposite direction, the Alcazaba and Moorish Gibralfaro citadels complete the backdrop.

While Málaga is the sixth largest city in Spain, some may be surprised to discover there are many world class cultural sites. In addition to its own Picasso Museum, Picasso Foundation (at the site of his birthplace) and Picasso statue, art lovers have its Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, Centre Pompidou Málaga (the first outside of Paris), Carmen Thyssen Museum (19th Century and Andalusian art), Glass and Crystal Museum, Museo de Artes y Costumbre Populares,

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Museo Alborania Aula del Mar (focused on environmental issues) and many others (including the aforementioned citadels) to choose from.

That said, if the weather cooperates, make time to wander the streets and squares, whether it is to scope out boutiques or hidden gem restaurants on small streets off the main Calle Marques de Larios (this is where apps come in handy). Alternatively, the Mercado de la Merced is perfect for a quick bite. While, yes, it’s another manicured food hall with trendy vendors, those selling finished dishes show native Malaga cuisine is about hearty meals rather than small bites. Wine shops also abound, but Los Patios de Beatas is worthwhile for its stained glass ceiling, huge selection of acclaimed and rare wines from nearby regions, tastings, and if you’re really hungry, a meal of local snacks and main dishes.

Muelle Uno Mall, some of the best shopping in town, is a ten minute walk from the city

center, and in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it location. While its permanent shops are a mix of national (Spanish) and local, if you happen to be in town on the second Sunday of the month, hit El Zoco de Muelle Uno for gourmet food, handcrafted products, and vintage clothing vendors.

PALMA DE MALLORCA, SPAIN

Palma de Mallorca enjoys a niche as the chic hub of a vacation island packed with sidewalk cafes, beaches, fashionable people filling these places, and high-end stores catering to them. Monge specializes in gorgeous, insanely comfortable hand-crafted espadrilles and loafers. Rialto Living, the apex of the city’s many “concept stores,” is essentially a department store with painstakingly curated stock. As the city drips in pearls (one of its biggest cottage industries), proceed with caution and seek out boutiques like Mallorca Pearl Shop, with its fashion-forward Ma Q collection. Weekend

craft markets such as Alcúdia and Artisans' Craft Market are also worth perusing for high quality fashion and home finds made on the island.

Fancy food is part of the lifestyle here, and opulent wine boutiques, cafes and specialty shops abound. Mercat de l'Olivas, on the other hand, is refreshingly unpretentious and well-organized. Among its handful of tapas bars, Bar-Tapas Los Maños is the standout for its diverse cross section of fresh, filling individual tapas, combo tapas dishes and sandwich plates.

Beyond the landmark Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma (a.k.a. Mallorca Cathedral), many treasures await architecture and art buffs. Antoni Gaudi’s Edifici Casasayas may be considered a jewel in the city’s architectural crown. However, serious Gaudi enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit inside the Mallorca Cathedral as the visionary architect was involved in major renovations of the 13th century landmark

The exteriors of the Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma (a.k.a. Mallorca Cathedral)and walled city center welcomes cruise passengers walking in from the docks.

TOP LEFT: A walk through time: the Alcazaba and moorish Gibralfaro citadels peek out behind the greenery of Málaga’s Alameda Park and buildings from later centuries.

TOP RIGHT: Palma de Mallorca’s Judería provides glimpses into THE ISLAND’S JEWISH LIFE CENTURIES AGO.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Bodegas Osborne in Puerto de Santa Maria, a short cab ride from Cádiz, is worth a visit for samplings of its world-class sherries and gallery.

between 1903 and 1915. Buildings from other leading architects of the Art Nouveau era include Gran Hotel, Palma’s first luxury hotel designed by Catalan architect Lluis Domenech I Montaner, and Can Forteza Rey, adorned with whimsical sculptural flourishes and mosaics assembled from multicolored broken tiles, wood, iron, glass, and ceramic plates.

Innovation goes further back in history, however. The construction of the Arab Baths, dating between the 10th and 12th centuries, is strikingly relevant today given the popularity of repurposing and recycling. Situated in a private garden, it is constructed from bits and (large) pieces of other buildings from earlier civilizations, including the Roman Empire. The nearby Judería de Palma and its information center is small in size, but fascinating in its presentation of the island’s Jewish history. The Museum of Mallorca, a few minutes’ walk away, tells the story of the area through curated island artifacts and works of art.

One important takeaway from this experience is that if time doesn’t allow for a feast at a Michelinstarred restaurant, a food tour, a full-on museum day, or scouting out the city’s most unusual one-off boutiques, You can still put together a hearty sampling of the city’s best with a few simple tools in your pocket: Smartphone restaurant apps, map apps, city guide apps, related social media, and your keen observation skills to dig up local gems.

TOP: One of Málaga’s many vibrant murals.

BOTTOM: Gaudi’s contemporaries, such as Catalan architect Lluis Domenech, in buildings like this.

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Meet eight home-grown breweries that helped our region rank among the finest.

WRITTEN BY ELYSE GLICKMAN

DRINKING IN THE VALLEY'S TAP ROOMS

Los Angeles is more than just one of the world’s entertainment capitals and a hub for all things trendy. There are many proprietors and artisans intent on creating things built to last, and that’s particularly true with craft beers and the unique places that produce and serve them. U.K.-based Hey Discount, which evaluates the popularity and “hipness factor” of cities worldwide, recently revealed our hometown ranks 8th in its list for the “Greatest Beer City on Earth.”

The phenomenon may be a surprise to those who remember L.A.’s craft cocktail bar renaissance or the national shift in popularity from commercial to craft beers taking place a decade ago. The current home-brewed taproom scene, however, makes perfect sense given that the city’s reputation for innovative dining, embrace of repurposing buildings and shop spaces, and stylish casual vibe has

enabled enterprising brewers to make their mark and rack in followers. The Valley alone is home to some of the city’s most exciting taprooms and breweries that have found aficionados beyond Southern California.

“Even with six times the population, Los Angeles was (regarded as) a weaker younger brother to San Diego, which then had over 150 craft breweries during the late 1990s and early 2000s,” says Nic Bortolan, master brewer at 14 Cannons in Westlake Village, who witnessed the evolution of both cities’ beer scenes first hand. “I have a strong belief that every neighborhood deserves a brew pub, complete with high quality beers and a social experience to match. Today, we’ve cultivated such a following that several of the products’s distribution will expand into L.A. County.”

Many of the featured breweries function as “second village halls” or “town squares” for the community

as well as beer aficionados who come from far away. For this reasons, the owners were compelled to balance out their innovation with beer and food offerings (in house, or through nearby restaurants) with greater approachability through being family and pet friendly as well as serving wines, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks. Each place has an ambiance that’s as distinctive as its beers.

“We tried to think about why people would come to a brewery, and what were some of the most intriguing or enticing aspects about it,” explains Jennifer Febre, co-owner of MacLeod Ale Brewing Co. about devising the ways the beers, décor and experience would stand out. “After observing our customers, I find people like to see where and how their favorite beers are made, and discuss their favorites with other customers. Perhaps, they may even like to fantasize that they work at their favorite brewery.”

It’s official! Los Angeles is one of the top cities for craft beer in America and the world!

CELLADOR ALES

www.celladorales.com

Address:16745 Schoenborn St, North Hills, CA

Phone: (747) 529-6002

Hours: Monday & Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday & Thursday: 12 Noon - 8:00 pm; Friday & Saturday:12 Noon - 10:00 pm; Sunday: 12 Noon - 8:00 pm

Founded in: 2014

Taproom Established: 2017

Artistic Vision: “Cellador Ales is one of the few 100% oak barrel-fermented craft breweries in the United States, unique in that we are also one of the few specializing in sour beers,” says Alex Ourieff. “We have another advantage with our access to locally-grown fruits, vegetables, botanicals and herbs, building relationships with growers like Matsumoto Family Farms, which produces some of the best peaches in the state. We are also innovating by working with wineries in Paso Robles and other areas to create wine-beer hybrids, as well as developing ciders and seltzers with originality and refinement.

Taproom Ambiance: In contrast to other tap rooms geared more toward men than women, or relying on nostalgic decor, we’re about allowing guests to sit in a fresh, airy environment amongst the barrels as our beers are fermenting, and enjoying fullsized versions of the artwork that we've commissioned for the bottles and cans on the

walls. The ambiance is nuanced, lively and rooted in local agriculture.

Favorite Year-Round Beer: Saison de Rosier, a Belgian-style saison aged in oak barrels and packaged in corked bottles; We also offer a pilsner on top that we created in collaboration with another local brewery, Seasonal Beers and Special Creations: Moshi Mosh, made with plums from Andy’s Orchard; Tepache Farmhouse Seltzer with Pineapple & Cinnamon; Nature is Satan's Church, Wild Ale with Passionfruit & Juniper, and wine hybrids such as Moon Water ‘Pinot Noir’ 2021, brewed with the pomace (stems, seeds, skins) of Pinot Noir grapes.

Bites and Pairings: Although we host a few cheese and brew pairings throughout the year, and snacks for sale at the bar, we have a lot of great restaurants nearby and allow our guests to come in, pair and enjoy. My personal favorites include Birrieria San Marcos (Mexican), Pho So #1(Vietnamese), and Sam Woo B.B.Q.

Artistic Vision: “We were one of the first breweries to be utilizing the technology of cryogenically frozen hops,” says Bortolin, a graduate of the American Brewers Guild Brewing Science and Engineering program and member of the Master Brewers Association. “However, it’s the way we treat our water that also sets us apart. Through this Reverse Osmosis System, we purify our water down to remove whatever L.A. County put in the water system. This allows me to add back salts, minerals and elements to allow me to mimic a water style from anywhere in the world. Our Patient Pilsner is brewed with water similar in composition to that found in the Czech Republic.”

Ambiance: “As we are in Westlake Village, we take pride in the fact that our ambience directly reflects this. 14 Cannons is the most high-end and comfortable tasting room that I've ever seen or worked in through my years in the business. It was designed by The Marshall Group, one of America’s foremost brewery designers and builders and top tier developers of restaurants, retail, hotels, spas and entertainment venues. Although there’s an elegance to the design, serious beer enthusiasts can see and taste beers and ales in real time as they evolve from projects to final production. We also have Club14, for the many wine lovers living nearby.”

Best Sellers: “Tyrannicide IPA,” our flagship beer, inspired by Jonathan Haraden, builder M’s ancestor, commander of the 1776 tyrant killing ship, Tyrannicide, which we believe is the most aromatic IPA around.

Gold Award Winners: “Marooner Marzen” (San Diego and Los Angeles International competitions); “Patient Pilsner” (California State Fair); “Powder Chest Black IPA” (San Diego International)

14 CANNONS BREWERY

14cannons.com

Address: 31125 Via Colinas #907, Westlake Village Phone: 818-699-6165

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5-10pm; Friday: 4-10pm; Saturday: Noon-10pm; Sun: Noon-9pm

Opened in: 2017

Specialty Brews: “Catorce” Mexican Lager; “Hazy Wench” Peach IPA; “Second Anniversary,” aged in bourbon barrels; “One Cannon,” a refreshing single hop IPA with notes of coconut, tangerine, and mint; “White Caps,” a Belgian-style saison; Morning Watch,” a coffee kolsch brewed with Ethiopia

Bensa Coffee from Moorpark's California Coffee Republic.

Bites: In-house eatery is Rock ‘n Roll Pizza, which serves traditional and specialty pizzas along with original salads and appetizers.

MALIBU BREWING COMPANY

brewmalibu.com

Address: 30745 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

Phone: (310) 684-2408

Hours: 11:30am-11pm

Established In: 2020

Tap Room Opened: September 2022

Artistic Vision: “As our mission at Malibu Brewing Company has always been to elevate the craft beer experience, but we also want to appeal to customers who may not know everything about craft brewing or hop styles, but have an idea of what they like,” says co-owner Jill Ahrens. “We want to make sure that anybody can find something they’ll enjoy with our food... and every time they come back, they’ll find something different and new among our 22 taps. In addition to bringing on master brewer Chas Cloud, our reputation is built upon our being conscientious in sourcing the ingredients that we use. For example, for our Happy Days Honey Blonde, we use honey from bees from a local purveyor in the Santa Monica mountains, just over the hill from

us, even if we could get quality ingredients from anywhere. Our community values these efforts.

Ambiance: “Although our brewery is over the hill in Westlake Village because the conditions are better for operating a brewery, we want the taproom to be a place where you’ll enjoy them to transcend just being a great place to go if you're heading to the beach. While Calabasas-based designer Amber Lewis avoided making the space too beach house-y with surfboards like other bars, theTaproom & Eatery captures the Malibu spirit with natural materials and hues that are an extension of the outdoor environment.”

Signature Brews: “Pacific Gold American Lager” (currently also found at Dodger Stadium), “Happy Days Honey Blonde” and “First Point American IPA” Seasonal Best Sellers: “Big Rock Amber Lager”

Bites and Pairings: Charcuterie board with our Canyon Rosé Lager; Beer-braised short ribs over creamy mac & cheese with our Big Rock Amber Lager.

MACLEOD ALE BREWING CO.

macleodale.com

Address: 14741 Calvert Street, Van Nuys

Phone: (818) 631-1963

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 4pm-Midnight, Friday thru Sunday:Noon-Midnight

Taproom opened in: 2014

Artistic Vision: The bar started off with British/ Scottish theme, as owners Jennifer Febre and Alastair

Boase started out making traditional cask ales and serving British pints, although the brewery has branched out into some more modern and American-style drafts. A lot of the beers are named after bagpipe tunes, such as “Better Days” and “Deal with the Devil.” They opened our pizza kitchen in 2019 and expanded outdoor seating for an even more welcoming feel.

Ambiance: “We keep the look subtly British. We have at least three portraits of bagpipers in tribute to our being bagpipe players, but you won’t see tartan wallpaper or anything along those lines as we never wanted the place to look like a Scottish gift shop,” says Jennifer Febres. “We (also) went with utilitarian décor instead of anything too fancy. Furthermore, our street is industrial... very rough and tumble...kind of the ‘Wild West.’ However, we are not apologetic about the location because I think it's really cool to show that you can create an amazing, thriving business even in the most unlikely locations... like an oasis in the desert.”

Signature brews: “Deal With the Devil” IPA; “Better Days” American Pale Ale; “The Little Spree” Yorkshire Pale Ale; “The King’s Taxes” Scottish Export

Seasonal Favorites: “LH453 to Munich” Oktoberfest; “Baron Von Nuys” Festbeir; “Flynn the Crow” Cherry Porter (holiday season availability)

Bites: “We pay a lot of attention to the quality of the pizza, it’s safe to say all of our beers go well with our pizzas; however, I personally find our IPAs go particularly well with our spicier pizzas and spicy meatballs. We care about details like fermenting our dough for 48 hours, and making our own mozzarella cheese in-house.”

LADYFACE BREWERY & TAVERN TOMOKO

taverntomoko.com

Address: 29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills Phone: (818) 477-4566

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-9pm; Friday-Sat, 11am10pm; Happy Hour, Monday-Friday, 3-5pm

Established/Reestablished: Originally opened in 2009 in the beautiful city of Agoura Hills; In October 2019, the restaurant and brewery was purchased and rebranded to Tavern Tomoko and Ladyface Brewery. “We’re the same brewery, but with a different restaurant concept serving up American and Japanese gastropub food,” says Peter Lee, the venue’s president and general manager.

Artistic Vision: “Ladyface is regarded as one of Los Angeles County’s first revival craft breweries, and the first microbrewery in the Conejo Valley. It is known for its award-winning Belgian and American style ales, including La Blonde, Chesebro IPA, Reyes Adobe Red, and Picture City Porter, all brewed on site. The vision for Tavern Tomoko was to bring an elevated American style pub food with Japaneseinspired comfort food. Our master brewer, David Griffiths, is pushing the envelope with new flavors that pairs well with our fabulous menu.”

Ambiance: Enjoy a nice beverage with our unique pub food in our spacious indoor dining or our outdoor patio overlooking the beautiful hillside and Ladyface Mountain.

Signature brews: “La Blonde Belgian Ale,” “Blind Ambition Belgian Abbey” Year-Round Best Sellers: Ladyface IPA, “La Blonde Belgian Ale,” “Anime Japanese Pale Ale,” “Blind Ambition”

Seasonal: “Everyday Heroes Hazy IPA,” “Picture City Porter” Bites and Pairings: Japanese small plates with elevated American gastropub fare.

“A robata protein skewer platter (chicken meatball, ribeye, chicken thigh with green onions, pork belly)

is perfect with our Anime Japanese Ale, and I suggest the Tavern Burger with Ladyface Lite,” says Lee.

SAN FERNANDO BREWING COMPANY

sanfernandobrewingcompany.com

Address: 425 Park Ave, San Fernando Phone: (818) 745-6175

Hours: Monday-Tuesday: 12pm-4pm (to-go only); Wednesday: 5pm-11pm; Thursday-Saturday: Noon11pm; Sunday: Noon-8pm

Opened in: 2015

Artistic Vision: “We believe we’re a little different than other craft brewers in the sense that we focus on making solid beers,” says Vic Chouchanian, who co-founded and coowns San Fernando Brewing with his brother, Joe. “This means that we are not chasing beer fads or insist on only doing IPA’s. Although we’re not flashy, we are proud of the fact that we are doing a range of styles and we’re doing them well. Brent Meadows, our master brewer who has been with us from the beginning, has ensured consistency between devising all brew formulation of recipes, on both a 15-barrel brew system and a 45-gallon pilot system as well as trained all brew personnel to keep things rolling smoothly.”

Ambiance: “We’ve always been laid back and welcoming. When you come in, there’s no rush to order and no rush to drink up and leave. When you are here, you are a part of the family. While we are refreshing our décor beyond the existing industrial look and adding more seating, we want to be the favorite neighborhood beer garden.”

Signature Beers: “Stoney Point Stout,” “Wolfskill IPA,” “O’Melveny Red Ale” (a classic American malty amber ale with a touch more alcohol and bourbon notes), “Royal Road Pale Ale,” “747 Blonde Ale,” “Del Valle Lager”

Specialty Brews: “Q-Cumber Pale Ale”, “Grapefruits of Wrath IPA,” “Mango IPA” and “Imperial Death Star Stout” (hop forward and less sweet than other stouts).

Bites and Pairings: Vic notes that while the tap room does not have a kitchen, there are several food trucks that visit regularly, including Soledad’s Sopes, Tacos Mi Amor, Little Batches, Poppa Joe’s Kitchen and the Pizza Plant. Visit the website to see which ones will be appearing at the brewery. You can also bring your own food or have something delivered here via Grubhub through the website.

Artistic Vision: “From the beginning, our goal was to brew high quality beers with unique identities and that can reach a wide range of patrons,” says Brian Hand, who founded Hand-Brewed Beer with longtime friends Anthony Castaneda and Will Caplenor. “Our beers are often inspired by the local region around us, as we are great fans of the outdoors. This has helped our local fans to relate to these brews and easily remember their names. We also come up with some beer names with a touch of humor. We think that while brewing quality beer is serious, enjoying them can be fun.”

Ambiance: “We are all about bold beer, a relaxed backyard vibe and our delicious pizza. Plus, we are family-friendly in our tasting room. Mom and Dad can come in with their kids and have lunch (what kid doesn't love pizza?) while they enjoy a couple pints and unwind. And if you have fur babies? We also welcome dogs on-leash.”

Signature Brew: “Deez Nuts Brown Ale.” Nutty, roasted, and we call it an aggressive American brown ale,” says Hand. “This is the beer that "started a brewery"

Best Sellers: “Honey Hand Blonde,” “War Eagle Lager,” “Bridge to Nowhere IPA”

Year-Round Favorites: “Flat Earth West Coast Hazy IPA,” “Flashflood NEIPA,” “Erudite Witbier,” “Isotope IPA,” “Gorn Hoppy Pale Ale,” “Castle Peak Pale”

Seasonal Favorites: “Chubasco Spicy IPA,” “Chatsworth Chai Stout,” “Santa Susana Saison”

HAND-BREWED BEER

handbrewedbeer.com

Address: 9771 Variel Ave, Chatsworth Phone: (818) 960-4540

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 4-10pm (kitchen closed Mondays); Friday and Saturday, Noon to 11pm, Sunday 2-9:30pm.

Opened in: October 2014

Bites and Pairings: “We recommend our ‘Honey Hand Blonde Ale’ with the Hot Honey Habanero Pizza, the ‘War Eagle Lager’ with our Lassen Street Dog, and ‘Bridge to Nowhere IPA’ with our Bacon Nachos,” says Hand.

8ONE8 BREWING COMPANY & TAPROOM

818brewing.com

Address: 8953 De Soto Avenue, Canoga Park Phone: (818) 208-0624

Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 5-11pm; Thursday, 5pm12am; Friday and Saturday: 1pm-1am, Sunday, 1-11pm

Opened in: 2014

Artistic Vision: The 8one8 Brewing Company has a two-fold mission of creating true-to-style beers and ales made with locally sourced ingredients and cultivating a diverse craft brew community. Names of many of the beers are inspired by San Fernando Valley locations and pop cultural references.

Ambiance: At “The Valley’s Brewery Tasting Room,” beer connoisseurs can sample the newest launches and old favorites. The brew pub itself is a perfect hybrid of an outdoor beer garden and sports bar. There are also popular events such as Monday Trivia nights and (818) Oktoberfest, staged this year on September 17-18 in partnership with The Elks Lodge #2190 to support local charities.

Signature Brews: “Good Day” IPA, “Matador Red” American Red Ale, “El Jefe del Trigo” Citrus Wheat Ale Beer, “Valley Girl” Blonde Ale, “Machete” Mexican Lager, “Reseda Rye” IPA, “1st Stage” West Coast IPA

Other Notable Beers: Machete Mexican Lager, “Canoga Crush” Light Lager, “(818) Witbeir Valley Girls” Strawberry Blonde Ale, “MICHE con Valley Girl” Michelada, “Gravity Hill” Belgian Tripel, “Valhalla” Baltic Porter, “Cat in the Hat” American Stout, “Chatsworth after Dark” Baltic Porter, Bites and Pairings: Through a collaboration with Raku, known for its modern sushi creations, guests can order familiar favorites or original dishes via a specially devised “Secret Menu” accessed through the website Monday through Saturday until 8 p.m.

ENEGREN BREWING COMPANY

enegrenbrewing.com

Opened in: 2010, Expanded in 2015

Address: 444 Zachary Street, #120, Moorpark Phone: (805) 552-0602

Brew Chief Joe Nascenzi, focuses on German-inspired beers. Although there is a heavy emphasis on lager-style beers, regulars stop by to check out seasonal beers as well special releases and one-off brews that push the boundaries of craft beer.

Ambiance: The taproom is part of The Alley in Moorpark, a food-centric destination that is also home to Lucas Sellers Winery, Fire & Vice restaurant, California Coffee Republic

subtle but marked German character from the seating to the adornments on the tanks. In 2015, the team opened a 15-barrel brewery which increased production capacity and expanded its tasting room and added more taps.

Year-Round Signature Beers: “The Lightest One,” “Lagertha,” “Schoner Tag,” “Valkyrie,” “Enegren IPA,” and “Nighthawk” Rotating Beers: “Edel Pils” German-style Pilsner, “Baltic Maple Porter,” Maibock German-Style Spring Lager, “Oktoberfest” Marzen Style Lager

Bites: In keeping with the German theme, neighboring Fire & Vice serves up Schnitzel, artisan-made sausages, fried cheese curds, German potato salad and giant pretzels as well as smash burgers, stone-fired pizza and salads.

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Time to Adopt a New Approach to Finding Your Next Best Friend?

It is a sad fact that sometimes furry family members are, for whatever reason, left behind. The dogs featured here (and these are only a very, very few of the number actually in need) have been looking for a new home and, without an adoption or foster, face a perilous uncertain future (if there is one).

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