Crown City Magazine March 2021

THE ARTS ISSUE

Collaborative Art Artichoke Queen OTB to Balboa Park

MARCH 2021

I N F O C U S | PA I N T I N G C O R O N A D O B Y K AT I E K A R O S I C H

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CONTENTS & CREDITS | MARCH 2021

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IN FOCUS: Painting Coronado By Katie Karosich

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS

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LOCAL BUZZ: Search Local Happenings in Real Time

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COMMUNITY: Art Education in a Pandemic

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OTB BUCKET LIST: Over the Bridge to Balboa Park

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HISTORY: All Kinds of Art in Coronado

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IN THE KITCHEN: Artichokes by Chef Clyde

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AROUND TOWN: Island Girl Blog has Apps for the Arts!

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LIFESTYLE: Bungalow 56 Flips the Switch on Bedroom Lighting

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FORKS & CORKS: Christine Van Tuyl Reviews Poke 1-2-3

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COMMUNITY: Check Out Balboa Park at the Coronado Public Library

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CROWN CITY BOOK REVIEW: A Novel by Marisa Reichardt

Art & Photo Credits

In Focus (pages 2 & 3): A lovely photo of an incredible view of a Coronado painter in action called, “Point Loma from Coronado” by local artist and photographer Katie Karosich. Katie is a local artist and photographer who lives in Coronado with her husband and their two sons. She says she enjoys painting on the beach while her boys play in the sand. The painting in this photo was created with a gesso board and oil paints. Artwork is available for purchase online at KatieKArtPhotography.com Artist & Photo Credit: Katie Karosich | Website: KatieKArtPhotography.com | Instagram: @KatieKarosichArt | On Facebook at Katie Karosich Artist Back Cover: An imaginative and unique photo of the Coronado Shores engulfed in clouds taken from the water looking like an island in the sky by local photographer Will Holder. Artwork is available for purchase online at willholder. space.

Photo Credit: Will Holder | Website: willholder.space | Instagram @will_holder | Facebook: Will Holder Photography 6

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PHOTO BY KATIE KAROSICH

Front Cover: An image of a beautiful oil painting of the Coronado shoreline called, “Quiet Surf” by Uwe Werner. Uwe has been showing his paintings here in Coronado on Sundays at Art in the Park for over 30 years, and he is mentioned in this month’s History article. Artwork is available for purchase at Art & Frames Gallery Coronado.

Artist Credit: Uwe Werner | Art & Frames Website: ArtCoronado.com

M a r c h 2 0 2 1 | Vo l u m e 4 I s s u e 3

PUBLISHER | Amy Slack amy@crowncitypublishing.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

EDITOR | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Gina Falletta Design SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Gina Falletta Design COPY EDITORS Sydney Zoehrer, Alex Larratt, Rose Wojnar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariah Gillespie, JeanMarie Bond, Clyde Van Arsdall IV, Carol Pastor, Christine Van Tuyl, Karyn Frazier, Jessica Nicolls, Jennifer Moore and Katia Graham CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Uwe Werner, Katie Karosich, Coronado Schools Foundation, Sofia and Grace of Village Elementary School, Ellie and Gracie of Silver Strand Elementary School, Jane Watwood of Coronado Middle School, Leila Gimber, Ella Oden and Chloe Berk of Coronado High School, Evgeny Yorobe, Coronado Historical Association, Christine Van Tuyl, Samantha Goh Photography, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Marisa Reichardt, Kristen Vincent Photography, Daron Case, Monica Reksiedler, Ryan Garvin Photography, Qualcraft Construction Inc., JHill Interiors Inc., Coronado Historical Association, Christine Van Tuyl, Kristen Vincent Photography, Samantha Goh Photography

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We make every effort to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If you find any, please bring them to our attention and accept our sincerest apologies.Thanks!

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CROWN CITY MAGAZINE Phone: (619) 302-2329 Email: hello@crowncitypublishing.com crowncitymagazine.com

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SPECIAL THANKS TO: Coronado Cultural Arts Commission, Coronado Schools Foundation, Coronado Historical Association and Coronado Public Library

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Proud Supporter Of Coronado’s Public Schools

Crown City Magazine is proudly printed by: SOUTHWEST OFFSET PRINTIING 13650 Gramercy Place • Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 323-0112 • southwestoffset.com Crown City Magazine is published monthly. No part of this publication may be used without written permission of the publisher. ©2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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ALL KINDS OF LOCAL ART We experience art all around us daily, whether it be reading a good book or going on a trip over the bridge to take in Balboa Park. Creating art is just as ubiquitous — making a great meal in your kitchen or painting while sipping wine with your friends. Artists don’t always have a camera or a paintbrush in hand; mediums vary from a slab of clay to pen and paper. There are so many kinds of art to experience and countless ways to bring out your inner artist.

Art can be simply sitting down to write a memoir or that creative story that popped in your head. This month, be sure to read about our friend Marisa Reichardt who did just that — she put pen to paper and now she’s a renowned young adult author!

Also in this issue, President & CEO of Coronado Schools Foundation Jeanmarie Bond shares how Coronado art teachers have gone above & beyond to bring art to our kids during the pandemic. Find out how the Coronado Public Library has also found inventive ways to provide new experiences to kids and adults alike during these strange times.

Whether it’s funny or poignant, on canvas or onstage, art is everywhere and we can’t get enough of it. While we publish two artheavy issues each year in March and October, we love to sprinkle art in every issue. We really value being able to support local artists by showing off their fantastic talent, publishing their incredible work in print for the whole town to see.

Each and every issue of Crown City Magazine is a work of art we create for our hometown. It makes us so happy to see our publication adorn your coffee tables or hear that you’ve mailed it to a friend who misses Coronado. Thank you for supporting what we do.

Here’s to the abundance of art forms that beautifully enrich our lives — here’s to artists among us, and the artist within. We hope you enjoy this March Arts Issue!

Cheers!

Amy Slack and Heather Canton, Publishers

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PHOTO BY KATOE KAROSICH

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS | MARCH 2021

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LOCAL BUZZ | MARCH 2021

the Coronado Public Art App designed to guide residents & visitors to more than 75 works of public art throughout Coronado.

Click here!

The Coronado Cultural Arts Commission makes it easy to find local activities with an online calendar. Check out the array of activities offered at www.coronadoarts.com/artsonline.

For the first time since March 2020, live entertainment will be allowed outdoors where food is served in Coronado. This past January, Governor Newsom lifted the stay-athome orders statewide, and some businesses will be able to provide live entertainment, including those in Coronado.

Coronado’s live music schedule at www.coronadoarts.com/livemusic will continue to be updated as our beloved musicians get back to work. Upcoming performances include: • Live music at Emerald C Gallery on Saturdays from 6-8 (Matt Heinecke, Jennifer Franks, Ron’s Garage, and more) • Sunday concert series at the Coronado Ferry Landing from 1-4 pm • Jake Lyons at live at Garage Buona Forchetta Sundays 12-2 pm • Gonzo at the Hotel Del (Babcock and Story) Fridays and Saturdays 5:30-9:30 • Live Music at Costa Azul Saturdays at 5:30 For a complete listing of events including both virtual and live music concerts, social events, art lessons, fitness and wellness classes, visit www.coronadoarts.com/artsonline.

To add an event to the calendar, please e-mail Arts Education Commissioner Mariah Gillespie at mariah@msmariahsmusic.com.

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C O M M U N I T Y | C O R O N A D O S C H O O L S F O U N D AT I O N

Lion by Sophia from Village Elementary.

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ARTWORK IMAGES COURTESY OF CORONADO SCHOOLS FOUNDATION “Creativity takes courage,” claimed French artist Henri Matisse, and never before has that been more apparent than during this global pandemic. Hundreds of students in Coronado Unified School District are enrolled in art classes, where creativity thrives, although for most of this year they attended school remotely. So how does art education occur in a virtual environment, and what strategies have our art instructors employed to make art instruction come alive when teaching on Zoom?

“This year has definitely been a challenge,” according to CHS art teacher Laura Hill. When faced with the reality that they would be teaching virtually, she reached out to her CHS art teaching colleagues, Ken Hekested and Kelly Telebrico, to brainstorm. “I said to them, let’s do something different! Let’s cull our resources and collaborate in ways we’ve never done before.”

This year, art instruction at CHS has taken a courageously creative and innovative turn. “We wanted to do something that would actually improve the student experience,” Laura explains. Content delivery presented the first dilemma.

Historically art classes at CHS, like woodworking taught by Ken, ceramics lessons delivered by Kelly and fine arts instruction provided by Laura have been “studio art” courses, where teachers and students take a “hands on” approach – hence the conundrum when classroom studios are closed.

The next challenge – Zoom. “We were all beginning distance learning teachers,” explains Kelly. “A year ago, we were teaching in an entirely different format.” This teaching trio devoted their summer break to mastering new technologies and trying new techniques. “In a lot of ways, it was like each one of us having our first year of teaching again,” she continues. “Starting from scratch was very scary at first. But by working together as a team, and as a department, we were all able to put forward our best work.”

This year, unlike the past, students enrolled in their art classes receive instruction in multiple mediums. Students in Introduction to Art also receive instruction in woodworking and ceramics, and students taking woodworking benefit from learning other artistic techniques. So far this year students have engaged in a variety of projects, from crafting ceramic pinch pots and creating ancient Mimbre bowl designs, to constructing intricate paper sculptures or recreating famous works of art for the #nadoartchallenge.

Each teacher takes the lead on the medium and technique of their artistic expertise, creating two-to-four-week units of study culminating in a project where students use the knowledge and skills they have learned. “I’ve been here for 25 years, and I never anticipated that the level of work for these students would be as remarkable as it has turned out to be through Zoom,” Laura exclaims, and all this coming from such differing talents.

“This year has been a period of reinventing and redefining what we do,” explains Ken. “None of these projects are projects I’ve ever taught before. Everything is new.” He goes on to explain, “From our perspective, we are thinking, how can we challenge these kids to be divergent thinkers from home plus have them feel creative.”

In order to do so, each teacher recognizes that students working from home have limited supplies. For Ken’s woodworking courses, students use cardboard and paper. “We can’t use wood, because the kids don’t have machinery at CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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home,” he notes, explaining that even using a different medium his students still acquire both fundamental and more advanced skills. “During first semester, I designed projects that teach my students skills that will be transferable when they return to the classroom,” he notes. “They’re using the same techniques with cardboard that they would with wood, so they still learn the basic sensibility about it.”

Ceramics teacher Kelly took her instruction one step further, explaining that students don’t need a studio and a potter’s wheel to create with clay. “A lot of the time, clay can seem inaccessible because you think you need all types of equipment,” Kelly notes. To prove that wrong, she created packets of materials for students, which she refers to as “mobile clay studios” in ziplock bags.

She explains that much of what students need can be found at home. Along with potter’s clay, each budding artist receives a sponge, plastic cutlery and paperclip. When possible, students pick up their supplies on campus, ensuring her classroom instruction is accessible to all. “This makes it less elitist,” she notes. “Plus, it makes it exciting that we can create projects with clay for kids who don’t have all the benefits we have here.”

Courageous creativity does not stop at CHS; instead it permeates through the entire Arts Pathway in CUSD. Coronado Schools Foundation funds both the STEM and Art Pathways thriving in our schools, starting at Village and Silver Strand Elementary Schools where every child is enrolled in the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) class, 14

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through CMS where all sixth graders take Art Wheel to whet their creative appetites, and can continue with more advanced art classes if that is their passion.

CMS art teacher Gina Crossini Concha faced similar challenges to those of her peers. She, too, created art kits for students at home, then employed multiple technologies for instruction. “The ability for me to make these art kits has changed the dynamics of my lesson plans,” she explains. “The kids are willing and able if they have the supplies in front of them. Their work has been stellar, and I’ve had 100% participation.”

Using a hover camera, students observe Gina demonstrating each lesson’s techniques while she delivers verbal instructions in the Zoom gallery, engages via iPad and provides videos illustrating specific skills being taught. Her projects run the gamut from painting and drawing to screen printing and mosaic, and each student checks in daily with Google slides showing progress.

Her advanced art students created screen printed designs that were transferred to fabric, then each student used a sewing machine to create personalized Covid masks.

“Middle school is such a great space to have all these art projects for them to see if they like. Going into high school, understanding different mediums is so important.”

In the primary grades, Village and Silver Strand Elementary teachers Cyndi Fuhrmann and Gina Mirtallo have taken a very unique yet collaborative approach to providing both visual and performing art instruction. “Our goal in VAPA is to have each student express their unique self, be it in performing arts |

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Dot art by Ellie from Silver Strand Elementary.

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or visual arts,” Cyndi explains. “Our challenge was to do that with the limited supplies that students have at home, but they could still feel empowered through their imaginations.”

To accomplish this goal, the pair came up with a program called Passport to the Arts. “It was so different creating lessons online because I was used to seeing more than 850 students per week in my classroom,” she explains. “So, we had to try to generate that same excitement and ignite that same creativity and self-confidence online. That’s why we created Passport to the Arts, so the students can be excited by where they are going next.”

This curriculum literally takes students around the world, exploring the arts, culture, history and traditions of myriad countries. “We tried to create lessons where the student could escape some of the reality that was worrisome to them,” she explains. “But they had to be easy and fun so that families could integrate them into their learning.”

In Passport to the Arts, so far elementary students have traveled virtually to the Dominican Republic, Africa, Indonesia, Hawaii, England, France, Australia, Japan, India and Russia to name a few destinations.

Projects are as varied as designing and creating African djembe drums, artistically crafting Australian didgeridoo instruments or constructing Indonesian shadow box theatre for storytelling.

Be sure to tune into the annual Coronado Schools Foundation Telethon on March 24th from 5 to 9 p.m. to learn more about the STEM and Art Pathways programs funded by CSF. Its TV game show format will also include live student and teacher performances, celebrity guest appearances and a schoolwide Lego Builders challenge with the champion crowned near the end of the show.

• Jeanmarie Bond, who has lived in Coronado for more than 20 years, is the President & CEO of Coronado Schools Foundation.

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Art reproduction by CHS students Leila Gimber and Ella Oden.

Moth by Coronado Middle School student Jane Watwood.

Art reproduction by CHS student Chloe Berk of "Girl With the Red Hat" by Johannes Vermeer, 1665.

(Above) Puppet show by Silver Strand Elementary student Gracie.

(Below) Djembe drum made by Grace from Village Elementary.

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O T B B U C K E T L I S T | OV E R T H E B R I D G E TO B A L B OA PA R K

The Soul of San Diego: Balboa Park

By Clyde Van Arsdall IV Photos by Evgeny Yorobe

Built for the 1915 Panama California Exposition the Botanical Building is one of the largest lath structures in the world.

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Balboa Park

is a cultural Disneyland that permeates every aspect of growing up in San Diego. The park helped to define many of us with countless field trips which opened our minds to science, aviation, history and the arts. Let us not forget the play structures, a grand carousel and the most impressive zoo in the entire world. As we age, the park may temporarily fade from thought. The occasional pass under the Cabrillo Bridge or a distant shot of the California Tower presiding over the park serve to remind that the park is always there, waiting for our return. Life gets busy with the responsibilities of adulthood, a career, marriage and possibly a family. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere we are back hosting playdates for our children. It is the zoo and field trips all over again. This time it is different for us. While our kids are discovering the magic we found as children, as adults we notice the architecture, the culture and history of the park itself. It is not just an educational destination; it is also, quite simply, just a kickass park. Exotic trees and plants, endless trails, enchanted gardens, sweeping views and ethereal sounds. It is not just for children — the park is for all of us.

This majesty did not happen by chance. Two World’s Fairs were responsible for so much of the breathtaking architecture. These major events were also instrumental in defining who we are as San Diegans and how we wanted the world to view us. Balboa Park is a major reason we are considered America’s finest city. However, the park is not made of amazing buildings alone. The landscape of the park rivals the architecture. Hills and valleys, wideopen spaces, groves of trees and gardens abound. No surprise, a canvas such as this had to have an artist. A visionary like no other, a rock star of sorts, the kind of person that knew how to leave a lasting impression. This person of course is Kate Sessions, the mother of Balboa Park.

There is a line from Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” that states, “Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book a painting or a house a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted.” Lucky for us, Kate Sessions did just that and the gardens she planted can be seen all over San Diego and Coronado. Miss Sessions had her first nursery here on the island and a flower shop at the Hotel del Coronado. Her touches can be seen all over Coronado. Canopies of lush purple flowers belonging to the many Jacaranda trees. She may not have planted all of them, but she introduced the Jacaranda to San Diego as well as hundreds of other species that we know and love today. She is responsible for a lot of the beauty we take for granted, the crown jewel of which is Balboa Park.

In 1882, she contracted with the city of San Diego to plant 100 trees a year in Balboa Park and 300 additional trees in San Diego for 10 years. In exchange, she received 30 acres in the park to use for her nursery. The streets that intersect the park from Hillcrest to downtown are all named after trees thanks to Kate. She helped landscape so much of the park that the two are inseparable.

The park is free, and it is available pandemic or not. Step into Miss Sessions’ shoes and take a walk. The Balboa Park Gardens loop covers 1.4 miles and quite a few of the many gardens as well as other points of interest. The Alcazar Garden was patterned after the garden at Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain. The Cactus Garden dates to 1935 and is one of Kate Sessions’ many contributions. Built in 1915, the Botanical Building and Lily Pond is one of the largest and most beautiful lath structures in the world. From the Memorial Rose Garden to Palm Canyon, there are seventeen gardens in all. The Morton Bay Fig Tree in 22

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The Lilly pond connects El Prada to the Botanical building in Balboa Park.

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the park is over a century old and a magnificent giant. The tree has been fenced off since 1989 but a new deck and fence are nearing completion — a must see while you are there.

There is a visitors’ center in the House of Hospitality, but most points of interest and trails can be found online. Keep your ears open — it is not just the sights but the sounds that make it magical. Bell-like tones can be heard from the carillon player located in the tower at the Museum of Us, formerly known as the Museum of Man. Visit or simply listen for the

Spreckels Organ Pavilion. John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the breathtaking pavilion and organ to the City of San Diego in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. The architecture is stunning, and the concerts are free.

Picnics were made for this park. Enjoy some of the best views in San Diego. Daydream under one of her many trees. Spend time with the family, go on a date or just take some much-needed alone time. There are few places in San Diego more idyllic for this refreshing past time. Pick

Full moon rising over the California Tower.

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up some food from your favorite restaurant. There has never been an easier time for takeout. Bring food from home; picnics are not just for summer Promenade Concerts in town. All you need is a blanket and a lazy afternoon. The park will provide everything else: endless trails, stunning scenery and relaxing sounds. Culture and beauty lurk around every corner. The park is not only the epicenter of San Diego, it is also the glue that binds us all as San Diegans.

There is a wealth of information

about Balboa Park and Kate Sessions. Two sources that may be of interest: an article titled “Influencer: Kate Sessions,” for Hidden San Diego by Jessica Johnson, and “The San Diego World’s Fairs and Southwestern Memory, 1880-1940,” a thought-provoking book written by CHS alumni Matt Bokovoy. The work takes a deeper look into how the two world fairs laid the groundwork for our collective Southwestern identity. Balboa Park was designed to let the world know who we are, but more importantly, it continues to help nurture and shape us into who we will become.

You are invited to dig deep into Balboa Park and all it has to offer.

• Clyde Van Arsdall is a third generation Coronado local, a chef and storyteller. For more stories and followups to his articles go to www.oliveavenuesupperclub.com.

• Evgeny Yorobe is a local San Diego photographer who skillfully captures the beauty of his hometown of San Diego. Evgeny's art is available for purchase at www.sandiego-landscapes.com or (858) 467-0952.

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Nick Barringer during a water rescue drill, jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean off Coronado CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Crown City History I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H H O T E L D E L C O R O N A D O & C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N

All Kinds of Art in Coronado B y C A R O L PA S T O R , C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N V O L U N T E E R

If

you were to ask five people the meaning of art or what it meant to each of them, no doubt you would receive different answers. With that in mind, I turned to Webster’s Dictionary. The more complete version of the definition of “art” describes it as composition, performance, drama, sketching, painting, sculpting and on it goes. This brings me to the artists in Coronado over the years. If you have lived here for a number of years you, too, can probably name a few. If you are a visitor then perhaps we can bring you up to date.

As I had mentioned in the February issue, one of our most famous pieces of art are the murals from La Avenida Restaurant which now hang in the Coronado Public Library, both painted by Alfredo Ramos Martinez.

If you have not seen them or have never noticed them, it is certainly worthy of a moment of your time to observe the forty-eight-foot-long mural hung at the lobby entrance called El Dia del Mercado and the smaller piece further down the hall in the reading area, named the Canasta de Flores.

Another noteworthy stop to view is the Legends of California piece by Donal Hord depicting Hord’s vision of the founding of California. The Legends of California are a series of seven Limestone panels on the exterior wall at Coronado High School, on the corner of 7th and D Avenue. This creative piece dates back to the early 20th century.

It has been saved and nurtured to be kept as part of our town’s history.

Our village has an abundance of artists in many fields. Some of our artists, mostly in paint, are private and never shown, other than to family and friends.

However, many Coronado artists have explored and excelled in other artistic mediums such as writing. More wellknown over the 20th century is Frank Baum, none other than the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who lived in the yellow house on Star Park Circle.

His books were translated and published around the world, not to mention the The Wizard of Oz house on Star Park Circle. Date unknown. movie enjoyed by now generations Coronado Historical Association Collection. of viewers. Coronado also had Joe Wambaugh, a true crime author and novelist who lived here and was known to hang out with some of the police officers — maybe because of his past occupation as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, or maybe

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he was looking for ideas for the next book. In more recent days we have fiction from Ted Nulty, a Coronado High School graduate with a background in various law enforcement fields who has published at least five books, some more fanciful in nature. You can check out his first work from the library, Gone Feral. This book is a great thriller set in our area as well as Palm Springs.

Take a stroll down Orange Avenue and visit some of the galleries or stores which display some of our artists’ work. Uwe Werner has been showing his paintings not only here but around the world for over twenty years.

Another worthy visit with local art of all media — pottery, jewelry and more — is Art in the Park on Sundays at Spreckels Park. Some great watercolorists have been with us for perhaps thirty years like John Yato, an artist who has long displayed his art at Art in the Park.

If you are now enthused about trying your skills, just ask around. There are people here who teach classes as well as private study in everything from china painting to sculpting to any form of art that you may wish to try. You can find art in jewelry making, which is both relaxing and imaginative. You, too, may find something creative in the arts that will help pass the time during our “stay-at-home” days. I do hope you find the time to enjoy some of the arts and artists to be found here in Coronado.

Legend of California relief by Donal Hord. 1939.

Coronado Historical Association Collection.

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Queen

I N T H E K I T C H E N | C H E F C LY D E VA N A R S DA L L I V

of the

Artich kes

By Clyde Van Arsdall IV Marylin Monroe was larger than life. For some she was Coronado royalty; we associate her with the Hotel Del and the movie Some like it Hot. Holding court came naturally to Marylin, before she earned the nickname the Blonde Bombshell, Miss Monroe held the distinguished title of Queen of the Artichokes. Castorville, California is and was considered the artichoke capital of the world, and in 1948 the artichoke industry crowned Marylin Monroe their first Queen. The rest as they say is history.

What is not to like about artichokes? There are very few vegetables that can be eaten alone as a meal. Artichokes and corn on the cob are two of those vegetables. When in season these two are hard to beat. There is no better way to consume an entire stick of butter.

My first memories of artichokes were with my mother. I remember the display stacked high at the supermarket. Mom was so excited for us to try them; artichokes were her favorite. My brother and I soon fell in love. We requested artichoke night at least a couple of times a week while they were in season. Dad was a naval officer and at sea during this new discovery. The artichoke ritual we had created felt a little naughty. Mom would pile up our TV trays with artichokes and ramekins of drawn butter. The three of us would post up on the couch in the family room and watch M.A.S.H. Dad would have never tolerated dinner in front of the TV despite his affection for Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan.

My brother and I were not sure what he would think of us eating with our hands or eating all that butter. We were thrilled to discover that Dad loved artichokes. After he relocated us to the dining room the tradition continued. Dad even introduced us to mayonnaise instead of butter. Who am I fooling, instead of, more like in addition to, now we were all but freebasing saturated fat and patting ourselves on the back for eating more vegetables. You have to love the 80’s. Artichokes were a huge part of my childhood. When I was not eating artichokes, I was serving them as a waiter at the Chart House.

Remember how good those were?

There are a lot of different ways to cook an artichoke. The Chart House used to boil them, and 30

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Before becoming Coronado royalty Marylin was crowned Queen of the artichokes 1948 in Castroville, CA. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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this method does produce the best results. Water does not come flavored, so you are going to have to smarten up the boiling liquid. The Chart House started with a large pot of water then added red wine vinegar, vegetable oil, lemon juice, tabasco and the “secret spice packet”. Circle of trust, the secret contents were as follows: garlic powder, dry whole leaf oregano, ground black pepper and salt.

Steaming an artichoke comes in a close second but falls short in overall flavor. While steaming tends to preserve some nutrients that are lost when boiling, there are not many nutrients in an artichoke to begin with, kale they are not.

Grilling an artichoke takes a bit of preparation, but the results are healthy and delicious. The artichokes are par boiled then cut in half; the choke removed. The halves are then drizzled with olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Grill the artichokes cut side down, just enough to get some good caramelization in the form of grill marks and a bit of char. Grilling adds flavor pure and simple. A chemical reaction occurs when searing things, called the Maillard reaction. This reaction produces one of the five basic tastes called umami or savoriness. The umami in harmony with good olive oil and proper seasonings produce an artichoke that is tasty and healthy. Give your arteries the night off, eat them right off the grill, no butter needed.

Artichoke hearts are where the money is, more of the delicious edible parts are concentrated in the heart of the globe. Hearts can be purchased without the leaves either packed in water or marinated. The grocery store variety of marinated artichoke hearts are often soft and taste more like marinade and less like artichoke. The marinated hearts you want are the Italian style long stem hearts that have been grilled, and subtlety marinated. Buona Forchetta serves them as an appetizer and in their deli case at the garage location here in town.

The story of artichokes is not complete without mentioning the iconic hot artichoke dip. This dip’s rise to fame happened in the 50s when eating in front of the TV became more popular. It did not take long for this dip to make its way out of 32

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the TV room becoming one of the most popular appetizers of all time. My mother served what she called a Hot Artichoke Casserole, as calling it a dip might have sounded a bit low brow for her.

Casserole or not, dip we did, and it was amazing, hot, creamy and savory all at once.

There are two seasons for artichokes, the spring, March through June, and in the Fall, September through October. Artichokes tend to be a bit expensive, but they are less expensive in the spring when they are most abundant.

California artichokes can be purchased yearround, but I advise you not to buy them out of season. Seasonal purchasing ensures you get the best tasting and most nutritious product possible and the wait will make them so much more enjoyable.

The season is upon us so how do you get a good one? Look for an artichoke that has tight compact leaves. Discolored leaves are ok, that’s just oxidation. Squeeze the artichoke, the leaves should squeak a little. Make sure the globe is heavy for its size, this shows it has a lot of moisture and

has not dried out. Try to avoid ones that have an open hole in the center and loose leaves. Leaves that are split or dried are signs that the artichoke is dried out. Being light or feeling spongy when squeezed are other signs of dryness.

Artichokes symbolize hope, peace and prosperity, things we could all use in our lives. Who knew you could get all this from a vegetable? Well, we do now!

• Clyde Van Arsdall is a third generation Coronado local, a chef and storyteller. For more stories and follow -ups to his articles go to www.oliveavenuesupperclub.com.

Marinated artichoke hearts, versatile and delicious.

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R E C I P E S | C H E F C LY D E VA N A R S DA L L I V

The Original Chart House Artichoke Makes: 4-6 artichokes

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • •

4-6 artichokes trimmed 4 quarts of cold water 2 cups red wine vinegar 1/4 cup salad oil 1/4 cup fresh lemon Juice 1.5 teaspoons Tabasco sauce 2 ¼ teaspoons garlic powder ¾ teaspoon dry whole oregano ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper 1.5 teaspoons salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cut top ½ inch to and inch off the top of the artichoke exposing the inside of the

vegetable. A serrated knife works best for this as the outer leaves are slick like a tomato skin, a serrated knife will better grip and cut through these leaves.

• Use kitchen shears or scissors to cut the tips of the rest of the remaining leaves then cut stem flush with the bottom of the globe so the artichoke will stand upright when served.

• Bring Water to a boil, add all ingredients, return to boil.

• Reduce water to a simmer and allow mixture to cook for 2-3 minutes.

• Add Artichokes and cook until a knife can easily be inserted into the bottom of the stem.

• Most artichokes take between 30-40 minutes to cook.

• Set timer for 25 minutes and continue to check stem until fully cooked.

• Remove from water and allow artichoke to cool and drain upside down until able to handle.

• Serve warm with drawn butter, mayo or an aioli.

Grilled Artichokes INSTRUCTIONS:

• Using the same boiling recipe par boil artichokes. Remove when knife inserted into stem has a little give. Do not cook all the way as cooking will be finished on the grill.

• Cut artichokes in half lengthwise and scoop out the fibrous choke with a spoon.

• Drizzle cut sides of artichoke with olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper.

• Grill until charred and cooked through.

• Enjoy as is, no butter needed.

Clyde was part of the Chart House family from 1988-1992. He also worked at Peohe’s in Coronado and the Newport Chart House on Bowen’s Wharf in Rhode Island.

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Tina Gavzie DRE #01205962

Luxury Property Specialist

Coronado Resident and Agent for 24 Years

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Desperately

AR O UN D TOW N | C H R I ST I N E VAN T U Y L

Seeking Culture t! a h T r o f pp A n a s ’ There

The Best of Everything Coronado With continued lockdowns looming, it can be challengingYoga to getin your fill of creativity

and culture. Fortunately, there are many ways to quell your thirst literacy,Van knowledge Byfor Christine Tuyl and artistry that don’t involve leaving your home. So, slip on your favorite jammies, grab your go-to beverage, and take a gander: whether you’re a bookworm, an art lover or you’re simply searching for more inspiration, it’s only a download away.

ART FOR A C U LT U R E V U LT U R E Get inspired everyday by classic, modern and contemporary masterpieces with the app DailyArt. You’ll join more than one million art lovers, exploring, reading and learning about beautiful pieces sure to brighten your day with color and artistry. In addition, you’ll gain access to the collection of more than 2,500 masterpieces and read 700 artist biographies and 500 museum collections. You can download the app for free or pay $5.99 for the ad-free premium version.

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G E T YO U R G R E E N E G G S A N D H A M Download Dr. Seuss Treasury to your phone or iPad to explore more than fifty Dr. Seuss Titles.

The app encourages literacy skills with highlighted narration, helps kids learn vocabulary with tappable words and pictures and allows for easy sorting and searching. Spend some time with the Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, Sam-I-Am and even the Grinch.

BE A HERO If comics, graphic novels and manga make you happy, download Comixology to explore more than 100,000 of your favorite titles. You’ll get instant access to purchased titles on all your devices, and a new way to explore sci-fi, crime noir, horror, the world of superheroes and more. Includes top comics from Marvel, DC and Image, and features cinematic and immersive reading options on any device.

GET JIGGY WITH LIBBY Want to check out free books for your iPhone from your local public library? Libby by OverDrive is the app for you. The app digitalizes the process of borrowing books so it only takes a couple of seconds.

Trusted by millions of bookworms around the world, and featured in Forbes, Buzzfeed and Reader’s Digest, Libby makes a virtual visit to your library fast, fun and easy.

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F E E D YO U R I N N E R M U S E Even if you’re stuck at home, you can still tour the ancient Mayan temples, learn about incredible Indian railways and view a Van Gogh up close. It’s all thanks to the Google Arts and Culture app that puts more than 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries at your fingertips. App highlights include virtual reality tours, 360 degree videos and even an art transfer feature that lets you take a photo and transform it with classic artworks.

GET LITERARY WITH SCRIBD With Scribd, you’ll find more than a huge selection of audiobooks and ebooks. You’ll also gain access to magazine articles, research documents and even sheet music. The app earns high marks for customization and ease-of-use.

A $9.99 a month subscription gives users access to hundreds of magazines like the Atlantic, Time, People and more, as well as unlimited access to the world’s largest document library which includes more than 60 million official government reports, case studies, study guides, medical reports and more.

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LIFESTYLE | BY KARYN FRAZIER + JESSICA NICOLLS

Bedside

Lighting

By Jessica Nicolls + Karyn Frazier

hat is the first thing you see before you go to bed and the first thing you see when you wake up? Why your bedside lights of course! Lighting is one of our favorite design elements as there are so many options. You can add texture, color, personality and even set a mood. There are many options for how to light up your bedside tables but these are some of our favorites.

THE L AMP

The most common choice as they require no hardwiring and come in every shape and size. Fun fact : your bedside lamp should be 20” above your mattress. If you prefer to read in bed a task lamp that is adjustable is a great solution. We also love to make sure the bedroom lights are on a dimmer to set a cozy mood in the evenings.

THE S CO N C E

This option requires more planning and a professional installation but is such a beautiful statement and frees up space on the side table as a bonus! An articulating sconce is an option we love to use beside the bed as it allows you to move the light to best suit your needs.

THE PLUG IN

If cutting holes in the wall sounds like a bit much to take on for a light then this option is for you! Many options come with a decorative cord so you don’t have to worry about unsightly wires. These come in all the amazing styles as a hardwired light so you don’t have to compromise style. A little tip for decorating around the cord is to lean a piece of artwork over where the cord hangs down.

• Karyn Frazier and Jessica Nicolls are the owners of the interior design firm Bungalow 56.

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PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY

A modern spin on bedside lighting from the ladies at Bungalow 56.

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FORKS & CORKS | POKÉ 1•2•3

Hooked Poké?

IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3!

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE VAN TUYL 46

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A Fresh Idea As soon as he took a bite he knew it was something special. Kevin Shaeffer, owner of Poke 1-2-3, first tasted poke at a summer training session in Hawaii, when he was a Midshipman with the U.S. Naval Academy.

“It was my first time in that beautiful state, and the local poke made a huge culinary impression on me,” says Shaeffer. “It was an adventure to pick out new poke styles and enjoy them on the beach during our ‘liberty’ time.”

Decades later in 2017, Shaeffer joined forces with another Coronado local, Neil Capin Jr., to open up the very first Poke 1-2-3 in Imperial Beach. Another location at Liberty Station in Point Loma soon followed. The verdict? Great success! The eateries found appreciation and love from seasoned poke eaters and newbies alike.

“We knew early on in IB and Liberty Station that we’d honed in on a unique and in-demand dining choice in those areas,” says Shaeffer. “Being local, we felt a fresh, fast and healthy dining option was strongly needed.

Genuine poke lovers, those who had experience with poke in Hawaii, complimented us on our creations.”

The concept: an upscale, fast casual restaurant specializing in traditional Hawaiian-style craft poke bowls, as well as innovative poke “norritos” (large nori wraps) and fresh hand wraps, called “waves.” New to the menu: 1-2-3 sushi rolls in six different styles.

In case you were wondering, traditionally speaking, poke is cubes of raw tuna marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, often served with fresh add-ins, over rice or leafy greens. These days poke is a ubiquitous term that can mean anything cubed. This means, at Poke 1-2-3, you can order your poke bowl with vegan, locally-made tofu or with free-range chicken if fish isn’t your thing.

Which is all part of the idea. The eatery’s goal is to ensure that anyone, regardless of diet, can indulge in all the savory delights of poke.

“Offering a creative, high-end option for non-seafood lovers and vegetarians/vegans was an important goal of our company,” says Shaeffer.

Like your fish on the fly? A standout feature of the menu is that all items are highly mobile. Grab your container and take it to the park, to your home office or nosh at the beach.

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(Previous Page) The poke bowls are made to order with your choice of base and protein. With options like ahi tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, tofu, chicken, shrimp and octopus, there's something for everyone.

The sushi rolls are new to the menu and are fresh and tasty. The prices are just as enticing...each roll is priced at under $10.

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A Sea of Delights Poke 1-2-3 does a stellar job of making it fast and easy to order your meal. They have a simple 1-2-3 step ordering process.

First off, we ordered a custom craft poke bowl: step 1, two scoops of protein, we selected salmon and ahi tuna over a base of white rice. Step 2, sides and sauces, we added avocado, cucumber, sweet onion and seaweed salad, fire shoyu and spicy mayo. Step 3, toppings, we selected crispy onions, edamame, seaweed, cilantro, ginger, wasabi and a drizzle of spicy mayo and eel sauce.

Diving in with two pairs of chopsticks, my husband and I made quick work out of the dense bowl, filled to the brim with goodness. The fish tasted fresh and delicious, and we loved the freedom to choose exactly which protein, base, toppings and sauces we wanted. (I noted that we could order a base of salad greens if we wanted to be more carb-conscious, but the rice felt decadent and hearty.)

For the price of $11.99, how could this go wrong?

And, there’s a reason why that fish tastes so good.

“We strive to source all of our fish from local Southern California and San Diego wholesalers,” says Shaeffer. “Our commitment to use only the best seafood extends to our other vegetarian/vegan offerings, and our house-made sauces, which are also vegan.”

Next, we ordered the norrito, which is basically the sushi lover’s version of a burrito. (Given that my two favorite foods of all time are sushi and burritos, as you can imagine, this one gets high marks from me.) The norrito was large, fresh and flavorful and just begged to be devoured. Wrapped in a seaweed shell and bursting with poke and lots of love (edamame, seaweed salad, veggie mix, spicy mayo, cilantro and cucumber) the norrito felt one part naughty and several parts nice. The perfect choice for a colossal craving and healthy satisfaction.

And of course, we had to try the new item on the menu…the sushi rolls! We ordered the Albacore Roll with 1-2-3 style albacore, avocado, cucumber, crunchy onions and citrus ponzu drizzle. Again, the fresh, made-to-order awesomeness set our taste buds on fire. We will definitely order this again.

To drink, my husband indulged in the Mosaic Hazy IPA from Projector Brewery, which happens to be San Diego’s first organic beer company. A self-professed beer snob, he sipped down every last drop, refreshed and excited about his new discovery. I stuck my giant straw into a Boba Tea, a healthy and gratifying endeavor, especially when you consider the satisfaction of slurping up a juicy tapioca ball.

And then, there’s dessert. Once again, Poke 1-2-3 doesn’t fail to please. The iconic pineapple Dole Whip, reminiscent of Jungle Cruise rides at Disneyland, is perhaps one of the tastiest (and dairyfree) desserts known to man. We also ordered up the Mochi ice creams in a three flavor mix. Again, amazing. If I wasn’t in the mood for a full meal, I would show up just for the Dole Whip, the Mochi and the Boba.

Luring in the Locals Poke 1-2-3 knows that folks love a good deal so the eatery makes it easy for locals to indulge in craft poke creations. For example, every Monday is “Kids Eat Free.” Customers who order with their children receive a free kids bowl with purchase of any adult bowl, norrito, or waves. The kids bowls are custom-made to order with premium seafood, sesame chicken and healthy toppings.

“As parents, we know how time-strapped and difficult it can be to get fast, healthy and valuepriced meals for the family,” says Shaeffer.

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On “Wave Wednesdays,” customers get a great deal on the eatery’s exclusive hand roll poke Wave. Three nori hand wraps come with each order. Customers can choose between the 1-2-3 style Ahi tuna, Cali style and Spicy style tuna. You can make them vegan with organic tofu and vegan-friendly sauces, or get crazy and add the Cheetos Flavor Blast Coatings. (Who knew?)

Shaeffer says that COVID has certainly impacted their business, but Poke 1-2-3 is still dedicated to making things fresh, delicious and fun for Coronado locals.

“It’s definitely been a challenge during the pandemic, but we’ve been operating safely with an ‘attitude of gratitude’ for our amazing staff and our customers,” says Shaeffer. “Local community support has been incredible.”

With a fresh and easy concept and a lot of love to locals, Poke 1-2-3 is sure to reel in lots of business in 2021.

Looking forward to stopping in for my norrito and boba tea!

The Noritto (an island-style burrito) is filled to the brim with fresh poke and delicious toppings like avocado, cucumber, edamame, and more.

• Christine Van Tuyl is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and two children.

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COMMUNITY | THE CORONADO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Check Out Balboa Park At The Library PHOTO BY CORONADO PUBLIC LIBRARY

By Katia Graham

San Diego Model Railroad Museum offered an engineering lesson about the structure of bridges.

Photo courtesy of San Diego Model Railroad Museum.

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Nothing says culture in the San Diego region quite like the attractions of Balboa Park. While health restrictions have forced the park’s museums and the San Diego Zoo to close, the Coronado Public Library has managed to provide exclusive tastes of many of these attractions. The library has initiated special partnerships with the Mingei International Museum, the Fleet Science Center, the Model Railway Museum, the San Diego Zoo and the Japanese Friendship Garden to create some unique lockdown experiences for Coronado residents.

In December, the Zoo partnered with the library for a virtual event filmed live from its reindeer habitat so children could learn about one of the most iconic animals of the holiday season from Darby Kirby, an experienced wildlife care specialist. Coronado children were able to interact with the zookeepers and ask questions. The recording of the program is available on the library’s YouTube channel.

Currently, the library is collaborating with the Zoo to be the first library to host story times featuring its award-winning Hope and Inspiration series, read by San Diego Zoo Global Press Director and author Georgeanne Irvine. “On sharing stories about animals at the Zoo and Safari Park, my hope is children will connect with the animals and become a champion for that animal and wildlife conservation,” Irvine said. “I am so honored to be invited to be a part of the book reading program at Coronado Library.”

Books in the series include her newest book Saving Moka: The True Tale of a Rescued Tiger Cub. Moderated by the library, the story times take place monthly via Zoom.

Having set up a Polar Express train exhibit in the library’s children’s area, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum has also partnered with Coronado Library on a series of related programming. For Christmas Eve, the Model Railroad Museum and Coronado Library co-hosted a live Polar Express Story Time from their Facebook pages. Museum staff also offered an engineering lesson on how bridges are structured to support the weight of trains, which streamed over the library’s Zoom platform in February.

Thanks to a partnership with the Fleet Science Center, a museum instructor leads a virtual STEM workshop for elementary-aged children in Coronado on a different theme each month. Whether on kitchen chemistry, geology or the solar system, an accompanying materials kit is provided to each registrant that can be picked up from the library. Workshops fill up quickly, so interested participants should register in a timely manner.

Mingei International Museum set up an exhibition in the library’s main gallery called “Around the World with Mingei International Museum.” Patrons could learn about folk art from four of the cultural and geographic regions represented in Mingei International Museum’s permanent collection. The exhibit’s display of costumes and attire, crowns, headgear, adornments and other objects allowed visitors to engage with craft and art forms from Japan, Nigeria, Central Asia and the United States.

A stunning under-the-sea display, reminiscent of La Jolla’s majestic kelp forest and replete with educational tidbits, brought ocean creatures to life in the library’s diorama space. Patrons could also observe the actual kelp forest tank, located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Birch Aquarium, through a screen set up at the library to livestream the actual kelp cam.

Now the library is planning a series of programs with Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden. In early February, the Zoo and Friendship Garden reopened with limited schedules.

“While these venues may be closed, we are proud to help people in Coronado continue to benefit from their offerings,” said Library Director, Shaun Briley. “We’ve had an incredible public response that’s fueling our desire to continue to connect the community with more cultural experiences of this caliber.”

Registration for the library’s virtual programming is available through its online calendar at cplevents.org.

• Katia Graham is the Children’s Librarian at Coronado Library. She has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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C R OW N C I T Y B O O K R E V I E W | A N OV E L BY M A R I SA R E I C H A R DT

A Shot at Normal IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

BY JENNIFER MOORE PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARISA REICHARDT

ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made us not only keenly aware of our own and family members’ sniffles and coughs, but it has also tasked us with greater responsibility for protecting the health of others, including strangers on the streets and in grocery stores.

The emerging availability of vaccines represents a new and hopeful chapter in our shared saga, but how we respond to the fast-tracked immunizations, as well as the challenge of balancing our own health and rights with the health and rights of others, depends on our unique circumstances and the impact the virus has had on us and our loved ones.

Into these unprecedented times drops Coronado High School classmate Marisa (Matherne) Reichardt’s eerily prescient third novel, A Shot at Normal, released to bookstores on February 16. Reichardt chronicles how individual choices impact public health through teen protagonist Juniper Jade, who launches a legal fight against her Marisa in Santa Monica neo-hippie, anti-vaccinationist parents for her right to with her acclaimed trio. access immunizations after she contracts a serious case of the measles and unwittingly spreads the disease. In 2018 and 2019, when she first conceived the idea and wrote her next book, Reichardt could not imagine just how relevant the themes and conflicts faced by Juniper, her family and her community would be. She intuitively captures the skepticism, fear, vulnerability, loss, anger and guilt so many of us have felt and expressed during this time of heightened powerlessness. Where this book hits a particular and timeless sweet spot is in its poignant and empathetic exploration of the differences in how risk is perceived, calculated, weighed and then responded to among members of one family.

I’ve been a fan of Marisa Reichardt’s writing since we were classmates at CHS, where her poetry was featured in our yearbook and her talent recognized by faculty when she was selected for the coveted Bobbie Booth Creative Writing Award during senior 54

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year. Following and supporting our talented friend’s writing career over thirty years has been exciting and gratifying for Reichardt’s Islander classmates. And in 2021, when many of us in the Class of ’89 celebrate 50th birthdays, Reichardt also celebrates the publication of her third young adult novel, following the critical acclaim of previous works Underwater and Aftershocks. She has a knack for launching books centered on critical topics at just the right time. 2017’s Underwater follows Morgan, suffering from agoraphobia and navigating online learning after a tragic event at her school; last year’s Aftershocks focuses on the interactions and relationships of two teens trapped together after an earthquake, a book released to an audience also stuck at home in quarantine.

Themes of confinement and freedom are notable threads running through Reichardt’s novels as she insightfully depicts adolescence as the threshold between childhood and adulthood, dependence and independence, and adoption of family values and beliefs and establishment of one’s own. In A Shot at Normal, Juniper Jade and her siblings are homeschooled, due in part to her parents’ desire to implement their own curriculum, but also as a result of their exclusion from school for not having required vaccines. Juniper’s house faces the public high school across the street and she expresses a palpable longing to participate in the trappings of “normal” teen life: football games, dances, cafeteria lunches. When she meets Nico in the public library, she is invited into his world of high school friends, clubs and events.

Marisa has characterized her novel as a veritable “love letter to adolescence,” and appropriately dedicated it to her 17-year-old daughter. Reichardt is mindful that when she wrote A Shot at Normal, she did not foresee that the COVID-19 pandemic would result in her daughter and her 12th-grade classmates missing many of the high school rites of passage Juniper ultimately experiences.

Coronado readers will recognize the “old Victorian resort” hotel featured in the novel’s small-town setting and reference to its haunted rooms and seaside ice rink. Also familiar is how elusive privacy and anonymity can feel within a tight-knit community, as well as the competing interests of personal confidentiality and public health during a crisis. Readers who have felt a tension between protecting personal interests and the rights of others during the pandemic and have explored the safety of COVID-19 inoculations will appreciate the nuanced depiction of Juniper and her parents in conflict over their beliefs and practices. We watch both factions thoughtfully weigh the pros and cons of vaccinating and empathize with characters who are all determined to make a decision they feel is most “right.”

In A Shot at Normal Marisa Reichardt’s most compelling message is for her daughter and her readers to “remain inquisitive,” CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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Marisa signing books in this new normal.

“examine the tough questions” and “seek truth,” important aspects of growing into critically thinking and expressive citizens of our community, nation and world. While Juniper and her parents, siblings and grandparents grapple individually with the broad impacts of her parents’ decisions, Reichardt sensitively examines how family relationships and roles shift and realign, and Juniper finds support in unexpected places. Between teens and grandparents, readers of all ages will find resonant and relatable voices among the novel’s characters. Hope ultimately prevails in my friend Marisa’s compelling and timely novel, not from a compromise that would subjugate the strong convictions of key characters, but from the recognition that love can sustain even amidst differing points of view and ways of life.

• Jenny Moore is a 1989 graduate of Coronado High School and current principal at Silver Strand Elementary School.

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“Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness.”

— ANNI ALBERS