Southbay December/January 2020

SOUTHBAY.GOLDENSTATE.IS

Light a Fire HERMOSA’S KEVIN SOUSA ON SPARKING COURAGE, CHANGE AND COMPASSION

SIX DOLLARS DEC 2019/JAN 2020

WE’RE OPEN! New Outerknown Shop in South Bay

Created by surfers, Outerknown is deeply connected to the sea. We make versatile and uncomplicated clothing for your coastal lifestyle. We just opened up shop nearby at The Point, El Segundo. Come on by for planet-friendly men’s and women’s products, epic community events, and more!

The Point 850 S. Pacific Coast Highway El Segundo, CA 90245

Out of the area? We’re open 24/7 at Outerknown.com

Discover Adventure

Some things in life just can’t be described.

And to truly understand them, you must experience them yourself.

Join us for our 10th Anniversary on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula, a hidden gem on the Los Angeles Coast.

Terranea Resort has been designated a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company by Great Place to Work. Terranea is proud to provide a safe and secure environment with a workplace culture that inspires connection, celebrates diversity, and encourages career growth.

8 5 5 . 41 6. 39 28 | T E R R A N E A .CO M | # T E R R A N E A D I S C O V E R Y | E P I C U R E A N | W E L L N E S S | C E L E B R AT I O N | C O M M U N I T Y | S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Expert cancer care

TORRANCE MEMORIAL AND CEDARS-SINAI’S AFFILIATION BRINGS MORE EXPERT CANCER CARE TO THE SOUTH BAY. More access to Cedars-Sinai oncology specialists and programs located within Torrance Memorial. More patient benefits from innovative cancer research to clinical trials. More expert care for our patients and the South Bay. Learn more at MoreCancerExperts.org

just got more experts

Left to right: Melanie Friedlander, MD, Paula Eboli, MD, David Chan, MD, Amirhossein Paymon Mahfoozi, MD

B L I N G I N T H E H O L I D AY S W I T H B O S S B A B E S O F T H E S O U T H B AY

2 0 0 P I E R AV E N U E | S U I T E 3 0 1 | H E R M O S A B E A C H | 3 1 0 3 7 4 7 7 0 0

DIANNE DE LA GARRIGUE wearing Sylva & Cie, founded Montage Boutique Spa in 1989 and has been providing personalized, results-oriented skin care services to clients ever since. Dianne’s love of the South Bay combined with her passion for beauty and wellness has made Montage the local gem that

PHOTOS: SHANE O’DONNELL @SEELIKESHANE / MAKEUP @MAKEUPBYASTRID / CLOTHING PROVIDED BY JULES LOS ANGELES @SHOPJULESLOSANGELES

it is today. montagemb.com

TANYA MONAGHAN wearing DRU. Jewelry, is a fashion stylist, editor and writer. She has twenty years of experience styling for numerous international publications and served as fashion editor for Glamour Magazine, South Africa. She is the fashion editor of Southbay Magazine, runs her personal fashion blog and freelances on several fashion projects, bringing inspiration and style to Los Angeles’ South Bay. You can follow her on Instagram @tanya.monaghan

JULES KIM-FENG wearing Sylva & Cie. launched her signature resort inspired line at juleslosangeles.com in 2013 featuring every day closet staples made in L.A. Recently, she expanded her portfolio with the debut of julesculture.com a collection of globally curated clothing for the modern woman. Jules is the proud mom of two teenagers and resides in Manhattan Beach..

L I V I N G

A R T

Alexandra Osborn (310) 946-1470 3216 Manhattan Ave #D Hermosa Beach CA, 90254

unique furnishings

one-of-a-kind designs

3216 Manhattan Ave, Suite D Hermosa Beach 310.946.1470

NOW OPEN AT MANHATTAN VILLAGE Join us for great Mexican food & cocktails

LUNCH mon–sat: 11:30 am–4 pm

VISIT OUR OTHER RESTAURANTS MERCADO SANTA MONICA MERCADO LOS ANGELES MERCADO HOLLYWOOD MERCADO PASADENA MERCADO TAQUERÍA STUDIO CITY YXTA COCINA MEXICANA DTLA MARADENTRO BRENTWOOD

3212A N. Sepulveda Boulevard Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310.545.0388 www.cocinasycalaveras.com

DINNER mon-tue: 4–9:30 pm wed-sat: 4–10 pm sun: 4–9 pm HAPPY HOUR mon-fri: 4–6:30 pm sat-sun: 4–6 pm BRUNCH sun: 11 am–4 pm

Where You Belong.

Where You Succeed.

www.elcamino.edu

40 Anniversary Holiday Open House th

December 13th and 14th Friday & Saturday

Enjoy Savings up to 40% Off 8 1 0 C B a rt E a r l e W a y Rolling Hills Estates m e d a w a r f i n e j e w e l e r s .c o m 3 1 0 .5 4 4 .0 0 5 2

Visit our boutique at Marea

100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes

Give the Gift that Keeps on Tasting...

WINE CLUB

by Uncorked, The Wine Shop Something for everyone. 2 handpicked artisan wines monthly.

What’s your wine type?

Classic Club

Beginner to connoisseur. Learn about wines from around the world.

Pinot Club

Pinot noirs only. We get your obsession.

“The worlds most elegant wine.”

Collector’s Club

For those ready to Level Up their palate!

Premium and collectible wines.

N P Somm Club

World-class wine carefully curated by professional sommelier, French wine scholar and Italian wine specialist, Nadia Pavlevska.

Organic Only Club

/

“Next generation wines” – organic, all natural, sustainable, biodynamic.

Bubble Club

C

There is something to Celebrate every month!

Sparkling wines from around the world.

Visit uncorkedhermosa.com to join or call 424.247.7117.

The Best Tasting Wine Shop

Wine Tasting • Holiday Gifts • Wine Baskets • Rare and Vintage Wines Wine Classes • Wine Club • Private Parties • Gift Certificates Shipping and local wine delivery available.

302 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach | 424.247.7117 | uncorkedhermosa.com

NEAPOLITAN PIZZERIA, CATERING & EVENT SPACE

NOW BOOKING HOLIDAY PARTIES WITH OUR MOBILE WOOD-FIRED OVEN AT YOUR VENUE OR IN OUR PRIVATE EVENT SPACE @LOCALE90

fi

| LOCALE90.COM | CATERING LINE: 310-540-9590 | CATERING@LOCALE90.COM

Annual Holiday

SALE Thursday, December 5 - Sunday, December 15

All the latest styles offered at the greatest prices of the year

Torrance 22200 Hawthorne Blvd.

(310) 375-4471 www.MorgansJewelers.com *Rolex Watches excluded.

ADVANCED CARDIAC CARE

HAS ARRIVED. Providence Little Company of Mary and Keck Medicine of USC team up to bring world-renowned academic medicine to the South Bay.

Jashdeep S. Dhoot, MD, Nazanin Azadi, MD, Michele Del Vicario, MD, Raymond Lee, MD, Matthew Powers, MD, Murrad J. Abdelkarim, MD, Thi B. Dang, MD, Craig J. Baker, MD, Rishi Kaushal, MD, Jonathan Cash, MD (Not pictured: Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, Distinguished Professor and Chair, USC Department of Surgery )

The Del Vicario Cardiovascular Center of Excellence is leading the way when it comes to matters of the heart. Thanks to the Providence Little Company of Mary and Keck Medicine of USC’s partnership, our highly skilled cardiologists and surgeons offer the South Bay community the highest level of expert care and the latest in academic research. From diagnostic procedures to minimally invasive valve and open heart surgery, we are saving the hearts and lives of the South Bay.

888-HEALING | providence.org/torrance

ENTER TO WIN! There is something about being near the beach that encourages us to focus on living a happier and healthier lifestyle. We want to feel good, and we want to look good.

Enter: Southbay’s Focus on Fitness contest! By entering below, you could win free workouts to all of the participating South Bay businesses Focusing on Fitness in our community!

Enter here: our.goldenstate.is/focusonfitness GOOD LUCK!

NOVEMBER 2019 | VENTURA BLVD

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810C BART EARLE WAY

R O LLI N G H I LL S E S TA T E S

M E D A W A R F I N E J E W E LE R S . C O M

Visit our boutique at Marea

100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes

3 1 0 .5 4 4 . 0 0 5 2

Trump National Golf Club LOS

ANGELES

The Most Spectacular Golf Course In the United States

W I T H 1 8 H O L E S O N T H E PA C I F I C O C E A N “The best golf course in California” “Finest dining in Los Angeles”

“Trump National, Los Angeles is the stretch limo of golf courses”

- The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences

- Ron Whitten, Golf Digest

“Best of Weddings”

“The best course in the entire state of California”

- The Knot Magazine

“Top 100 Golf Course”

- Southland Golf

- Golf Magazine

Open to the Public TEE TIMES & PRO SHOP 310 303 3240 • RESTAURANT & EVENTS 310 265 5000 ONE TRUMP NATIONAL DR, RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA

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*Rates are subject to change, all rates subject to 7.5% city tax

ENHANCING LIFE

along the coast

Over 60 fine stores and restaurants including:

APPLE

POTTERY BARN | KIDS

MACY’S

VICTORIA’S SECRET

GODIVA

SEPHORA

KIEHL’S

TOMMY BAHAMA

LOFT

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN

WILLIAMS-SONOMA

HOLLY & HUDSON

ShopManhattanVillage.com Rosecrans & Sepulveda Blvd. | Manhattan Beach, CA

WEEKEND TOO SHORT? Take PTO and Go To Catalina Island!

MIDWEEK PACKAGES

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Includes round trip on Catalina Express and resort-style amenities at the New Hotel Atwater.

Learn more at VisitCatalinaIsland.com/SouthBay or call 800.626.7994. Some restrictions apply.

Offering a Complete Resort Experience on California’s Island Escape™ HOTELS  DINING  BEACH CLUB  SPA  ADVENTURES

Created by PaulRobinsonArt.com

LIFE IS A STORY. MAKE IT A GOOD ONE. You never know what’s going to happen when you open a NEFT. Is it the rich, smooth award-winning taste? Or the way you can take its versatile barrel virtually anywhere as it keeps NEFT cold for hours? Whatever the reason that you grab one of South Bay’s favorite vodkas, you can count on it adding an unexpected chapter to the story you’ll tell tomorrow. Make it a good one.

Enjoy NEFT throughout the South Bay at Rock’N Fish, Shade Manhattan Beach, Shade Redondo, The Strand House, other fine establishments — or pick it up at Cost Plus World Market, Boccatos, Bristol Farms, Manhattan Fine Wines or Manhattan Market.

© 2019 NEFT Vodka USA, Inc. All rights reserved. Distilled and Distributed by NEFT Vodka USA, Inc. 40% alc./vol. Sip responsibly.

Your hair, our passion #whereyoumatterthemost

hair/nails 1400 S Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA, 90277 310.316.5555 | www.salonarnolds.com

Follow us @salondarnolds

AT THE KENSINGTON REDONDO BEACH, WE KEEP COUPLES TOGETHER, EVEN WHEN THEIR CARE NEEDS DIFFER

Select suites for couples are still available.

Reserve yours today and join our family!

W

hat happens when one half of a couple needs care but the other does not? Or when one half of a couple needs assisted living support and the other needs memory care?

Our solution is simple: We welcome both of them to make our home their home—TOGETHER. Some of our coupled residents have raised children, or served their country,

or built skyscrapers. Some have taught music, or traded stocks, or ministered to their congregations. From our perspective—whether they’ve been homemakers or contractors or artists or bankers—they’ve made a life together, side by side. And we do everything in our power to keep it that way.

At The Kensington Redondo Beach, our care model is built around families and for families, however they’re

structured. For couples, we offer support that meets the needs unique to each individual. But we also preserve the familiarity of comfortable routines and favorite pastimes they shared together as one.

Call us to chat, or come by soon to tell us about you and yours! And, let us introduce you to the uncompromising care and devotion to family that come with residency at The Kensington.

RCFE #198320032

801 S Pacific Coast Highway | Redondo Beach, CA 90277 | www.TheKensingtonRedondoBeach.com | (424) 241-2064

general dentistry cosmetic dentistry

implants sleep apnea

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banking done different

Construction-to-Permanent: An “All-in-One” Loan Kinecta offers Construction-to-Permanent loans, which fund a variety of construction scenarios, then convert into the home’s mortgage.

Benefits include:

• Lending based off the future value of your home post construction – determined by one full appraisal

• Full program selection, including fixed and ARMs • California-based lender with portfolio underwriting

• Loans up to $4 million

Contact our construction-to-permanent experts today.

Brad Martin Mortgage Loan Consultant ph: 949.253.5373 cell: 949.293.1900 NMLS# 260513 bradley.martin@kinecta.org kinecta.org/bmartin

Joe McGreevy Mortgage Loan Consultant cell: 714.396.1619 efax: 310.536.3621 NMLS# 66072 joe.mcgreevy@kinecta.org kinecta.org/jmcgreevy

Tayt Ianni Sr. Mortgage Loan Consultant ph: 310.727.9119 cell: 949.689.8639 NMLS# 310914 tayt.ianni@kinecta.org kinecta.org/tianni

Membership requirements apply. NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Lending Service) ID: 407870. Subject to credit and property approval. Rates, program terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states and for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. The actual terms of the loan will depend upon the specific characteristics of the loan transaction, the applicant’s credit history, and other financial circumstances that may apply.

23761-10/19

104 KINDNESS IS KEY Kaitlyn Sciarrino

122 WEEKENDER Rocky Mountain highlights

130 FAMILY TREE The Lonesome Pine

132 PALATE Slay Steak + Fish House

148 SEEN & THE BUBBLE Who’s who around town

186 CHRISTMAS RECLAIMED Creating your own traditions

ALSO...

75 2019 HOLIDAY WISH LIST Your South Bay gifting guide

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118 A TEAM WITH HEART Torrance Memorial cardiac care

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130

163 PROFILES Philanthropic Vanguards

170 REAL ESTATE Spectacular local listings

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THINK BING

BRIGHT IDEAS

THE PRODUCERS

Hermosa Beach-born surfboard label Bing

A bold color palette inspires a festive

Twenty-five years after he began his

has become one of surfing’s most enduring

tablescape, cake and cocktail to keep the

transition from Hollywood to Napa, Rich

symbols of quality, craftsmanship and

celebrations going though the new year.

Frank can confidently say that making wine

creativity worldwide. A new generation

is a lot like making movies. And given the

of shapers and innovations brings fresh

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enduring success of Frank Family Vineyards,

relevance to an iconic brand that is 60

CUTTING EDGE

Rich’s entertainment industry instincts have

years young.

The skating program at the Toyota Sports

clearly served him well.

Performance Center is filled with talent,

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and it’s all on display during their annual

SOUL SURVIVOR

holiday show.

With music, compassion and community, Hermosa Beach’s Kevin Sousa turns struggle

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into salvation.

BIG FISH From humble roots in Sicily to an abundant retail shop in Palos Verdes, the Galletti family propels their immigration story into an

COVER

American Dream.

Kevin Sousa at Nelson’s at Terranea Resort Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

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Brewing More Than Beer

THE FIRST MULTI-CONCEPT BREWERY AND FOOD HALL

now open!

21770 Del Amo Circle E. | Torrance, CA 90503 | 310.294.9838 | thebrewshall.com

@thebrewshall

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

GROUP PUBLISHER

Darren Elms

Jared Sayers ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Amy Tetherow

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

424-220-6338 | amy@goldenstate.is

Michelle Villas

MEDIA SOLUTIONS MANAGER | Erika Carrion

COPY EDITOR

310-897-2424 | erika@goldenstate.is

Laura Watts

MEDIA SOLUTIONS MANAGER | Marcie Gutierrez

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

424-220-6337 | marcie@goldenstate.is

Yasmine Kahsai, Nikki Smith

MEDIA SOLUTIONS MANAGER | Jen Turquand

DEPUTY EDITORS Bonnie Graves (Food & Wine), Kara Mickelson, Tanya Monaghan, Jennie Nunn

424-220-6335 | jen@goldenstate.is DIGITAL CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST | Sam Lee 424-220-6318 | sam@goldenstate.is

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Ian Freshman, Amber Klinck, Kathleen

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS | Danielle Price

Laccinole, Todd Prodanovich

424-220-6332 | danielle@goldenstate.is

PHOTOGRAPHERS

MARKETING MANAGER | Kimberly Caltagirone

Jeff Berting, Grant Ellis, Bryce Lowe-White,

424-220-6341 | kimberly@goldenstate.is

Kat Monk, Shane O’Donnell, Monica Orozco, Lauren Pressey, Juan Turcios

SOUTHBAY IS A DIVISION OF THE GOLDEN STATE COMPANY

MANAGING PARTNERS Charlie Koones

Todd Klawin

MARKETING & OPERATIONS PARTNER/BRAND PUBLISHER | Emily Stewart PARTNER/MANAGING DIRECTOR, MEDIA & ANALYTICS | Warren Schaffer DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL | Charles Simmons DIRECTOR OF FILM & VIDEO | Bryce Lowe-White OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | Allison Jeackjuntra COMMUNITY MANAGERS | Jenni Aceret, Natalie Long ACCOUNTING | Janet De La Cruz, Ljay Farris, YeVeet Wilson To learn more about us, visit thegoldenstatecompany.com.

No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from The Golden State Company, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any of The Golden State Company, LLC publications become the property of The Golden State Company, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit.

SUBSCRIPTIONS info@goldenstate.is or 310-376-7800. Subscriptions are $29 per year.

TO OUR READERS: Southbay welcomes your feedback.

Please send letters to Reader Response Department, Southbay magazine.

Please include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published.

200 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 110, El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel 310-376-7800 | Fax 310-376-0200 | goldenstate.is | southbay.goldenstate.is

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2020 Vision As the holidays approach and 2019 whittles down to

our most recent Inspire gathering at Shade Hotel, you

weeks, then days, it’s easy to get lost in the merriment

know the hard work that goes into bringing our editorial

and madness of the season and forego a solid reflection

to life, even for a few short hours. Congrats to Danielle,

on the year about to pass. It’s for that reason I typically

our sales and marking team, and of course our publisher,

choose to take this editor’s letter as my opportunity to

Jared Sayers, for supporting our content and finding

acknowledge the incredible work done by the Southbay

trusted partners to take this journey with us.

team. So please indulge me as I heap praise on my crew … for they all turned it out these last 12 months.

Looking ahead to 2020, we already have many new stories to tell and look forward to sharing them with

Probably the biggest change to the magazine itself

you. After nearly 14 years, it amazes me that we never

was our redesign, launched with our September/October

find ourselves without new and timely content to offer

Women’s Issue. Thanks to the creativity and vision of our

our readers despite our small community. Lucky for us,

creative director, Michelle Villas, and our two new amaz-

the South Bay continues to grow, inspire and reveal new

ing graphic designers, Yasmine and Nikki, our printed

layers. Thank you, Southbay reader, for taking to time to

issues look smarter and fresher than ever. Yet without

soak in all the beautiful things happening in our region.

our writers and photographers, many of whom have

Let’s see what next year has in store.

been collaborators for more than a decade, we wouldn’t

Health & happiness,

even have a product to create. So thank you to all who told stories—both in words and images—this year. And thanks, Laura, for keeping all our content buttoned up and on schedule.

If you’ve been to any of our events this year, including

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Darren Elms

JEFF BERTING | Jeff is an advertising and editorial photographer who lives in Manhattan

INSPIRED WEALTH MANAGEMENT FOR INSPIRED LIVING

Beach. “I love living and shooting in the South Bay with all the diversity it has in people and their activities,” he says. “One day it’s in the ocean shooting surfing, and the next it’s cow-

SEIA provides customized wealth management and investment strategies for individuals and corporations. We are proud to have been recognized by many well respected financial publications including:

boys roping cattle. There aren’t too many places that provide that kind of variety and visual eye candy.” jeffberting.com

VINCE A. DILEVA MS, CFP®, AIF®

Senior Partner

Financial Times

2019 Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors Financial Advisor

BONNIE GRAVES | Food and wine guru Bonnie has extensive industry experience, having worked as a sommelier in such legendary restaurants as Jean-Georges, Union Square Café and Spago

$10.3 BILLION Client assets managed

by SEIA & its Affiliates as of September 30, 2019

2019 Annual RIA Ranking L.A. Business Journal

Largest Money Management Firms 2019 (Ranked by assets managed)

Beverly Hills. When not drinking fermented grape juice, Bonnie enjoys hiking and is also an accomplished poet.

For inquiries or a consultation please call TEL EMAIL

(310) 712-2320 vdileva@seia.com

O U R SE R V IC E S

Investment Management and Portfolio Analysis Financial Planning Estate and Retirement Planning Techniques Philanthropic & Family Foundation Support Value-Based/Impact Investing

KARA MICKELSON | A graduate of UCLA and Le Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts, Kara trained in Spain and in Napa at the famed French Laundry. She has worked with Food Network chefs Bob Blumer and Giada De Laurentiis and many others on the talk show circuit. She is an on-camera culinary expert, recipe developer, producer, writer and food stylist. Follow @styleddelicious.

HEADQUARTERS

CENTURY CITY, CA

NEWPORT BEACH, CA REDONDO BEACH, CA

PASADENA, CA SAN MATEO, CA

TYSONS CORNER, VA HOUSTON, TX

SEIA.COM

Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA) member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through SEIA, LLC, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067, (310) 712-2323. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of RAA. The Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers (RIA) is an independent listing produced annually by the Financial Times (June 2019). The FT 300 is based on data gathered from RIA firms, regulatory disclosures, and the FT’s research. The listing reflected each practice’s performance in six primary areas: assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and online accessibility. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of the practice’s future performance. Neither the RIA firms nor their employees pay a fee to The Financial Times in exchange for inclusion in the FT 300. Information for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s list of 100 largest money management firms in Los Angeles County 2019 was provided by representatives of the firms. Firms are ranked by assets under management in L.A. County offices as of Dec. 31, 2018. Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list, February 2019. The ranking for this list by SHOOK Research is based on due diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively, a major component of a ranking algorithm that includes: client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including: assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Forbes is a trademark of Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Rankings and recognition from Forbes/SHOOK Research are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a current or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance results and such rankings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor. Third-party rankings and recognitions are not a guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation. CA Ins. Lic.# 0B84300 ID # 110519 - 9140509 - 17720959

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Holiday dinner.

On the terrace.

Make outdoor entertaining more inviting this season.

Jacuzzi time at Thanksgiving. New Year’s brunch in the outdoor kitchen. Enjoy seasonal comfort with Infratech electric radiant heaters and versatile controls including Infratech’s exclusive smart home integration or voice activation.

Choose from a range of color and mounting options that complement your décor — and lifestyle.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CAPABILITIES OR VIEW OUR GALLERY, PLEASE VISIT INFRATECH-USA.COM 800-421-9455 | 3-YEAR WARRANTY | PROUDLY MADE IN USA

DECEMBER 2019/ JANUARY 2020 More the Merrier Young figure skaters link up at El Segundo’s Toyota Center, page 94.

think bing HERMOSA BEACH-BORN SURFBOARD LABEL BING HAS BECOME ONE OF SURFING’S MOST ENDURING SYMBOLS OF QUALITY, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CREATIVITY WORLDWIDE. A NEW GENERATION OF SHAPERS AND INNOVATIONS BRINGS FRESH RELEVANCE TO AN ICONIC BRAND THAT IS 60 YEARS YOUNG. Written by Todd Prodanovich | Photographed by Grant Ellis & Bryce Lowe-White

It’s a cool, fall morning in the cruisy coastal suburb of Encinitas, and Matt Calvani is just shifting things into

craft and giving them a modern tune-up—more refined rails, new fin templates and configurations, hydrodynami-

Matt is in his late 40s with short-

cally superior bottom contours, etc.

“Taking the old design elements that offer really nice

cropped, salt-and-pepper hair, but his

feelings in the water and then tweaking them to make

expressive, blue eyes carry a youthful

them easier to ride—that’s where a lot of the magic is,”

spark—even when he’s jetlagged.

says Matt. “A lot of those classic boards were actually

ing gorgeous surfboards of all shapes, sizes and colors for

really hard to surf, but there’s still something special that you can tap into.”

Matt doesn’t have to look far for that kind of inspiration.

the local surf community. On that side of the Atlantic, they

He can find it in the dusty boards hanging in the rafters of

really appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that the

the factory, in the old Bing posters and artwork hanging in

Bing label represents. They appreciate it on this side too, as

the shaping bays, or on the phone with guy who started it

a matter of fact.

all: Bing Copeland, whom Matt considers a father figure and

Matt walks me through the sprawling factory past boards in every stage of production. Racks are jammed with crude

speaks with regularly.

Herbert Bingham Copeland III, as his birth certificate

polyurethane blanks begging to be transformed into refined

reads, is a pretty inspiring character whether surfboard

wave-riding tools. There are finished, twin-finned fish

design is your thing or not. From when his babysitter first

shapes that will soon be airbrushed in cosmic colors in the

decided to call him “Bing” instead of “Herbert” to when

next bay over. A traditional, single-fin longboard awaits its

his surfboard brand became one of the most renowned

gloss coat. To surfers, surfboards are precious objects—and

on earth, Bing’s is one of the most dynamic surf industry

they’re treated as such through every step of the production

origin stories you’re likely to find.

process at Bing.

“Once the glosser starts on this one, he’ll close all the

Born in Torrance in 1936 and growing up in nearby Manhattan Beach, Bing had a front-row seat for the birth

doors and make sure there’s no airflow whatsoever,” says

of the modern surfing industry. In Think Bing, the expansive

Matt. “When you’re glossing boards, even the slightest

new documentary by South Bay-based filmmaker Bryce

movement of air will cause ripples in the deck, and you

Lowe-White chronicling the brand’s 60-year history, Bing

can’t have that.”

talks about sitting on the sand by the pier as a 12-year-old,

Matt’s been meticulously building high-quality boards

watching surfers like Dale Velzy riding their then-crude

at this factory for the past nine years, and before that he

planks, when another young boy came and sat in the

was shaping under the Bing label for another decade in

sand next to him. It was Greg Noll, who would grow up to

Hermosa Beach. In that time, Matt has turned Bing into a

become one of the most famous big-wave surfers in history.

surfboard brand synonymous with the ride-anything ethos

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Today the best surfboard shapers often find inspiration in surfing’s past, taking the fuller outlines of ’60s and ’70s

gear at the Bing Surfboards factory.

Just a few days ago, Matt was in France for a stint build-

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fun shapes that cater to average Joes and surf savants alike.

Neither of them could have guessed that as they sat in

of modern surfing—a global, cultural shift away from the

the sand, mind-surfing the Hermosa peaks, they were

thin, narrow, difficult-to-ride boards used by competitive

starting a friendship that would last a lifetime. The two

surfers on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour. The

were surf friends through and through, hauling sleeping

shift is toward a whole galaxy of wider, thicker, endlessly

bags down to the sand to be ready to surf at first light when

Bing Copeland with his grandfather

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the conditions were prime, and occasionally bumming rides south to San Onofre or north to the perfect points of Malibu and Rincon.

Eventually Bing’s thirst to ride bigger and better waves took him to Hawaii, where he lived with fellow Hermosa surfer Rick Stoner and joined the Coast Guard to stay in and around the powerful Hawaiian surf. But it was a wildly ambitious surf voyage away from the Hawaiian Islands that introduced Bing to the vocation that would define his surfing life.

Bing and Rick wanted to taste high adventure and score new waves, so in 1958 the pair set literal sail—touring the Pacific and countless exotic surf breaks in the process.

Tahiti, Fiji and Samoa were all on the itinerary, as was New Zealand, where they introduced modern surfing to the country after coming ashore in Auckland.

In Think Bing, Bing recalls there being 10 or 15 locals in the water, many of whom were accustomed to riding waves on a surfski—a kayak-like, surf-catching craft. When they saw Bing and Rick calmly gliding and trimming on their surfboards, the locals were lining up for a chance to borrow the boards and slide a few peaks themselves. Wanting to spread the stoke and leave the Kiwis with some craft of their own, Bing sourced some Styrofoam and hacked it into a half-dozen boards with a cheese grater.

“They were kinda crude,” Bing admits, “but they were OK, and I remember thinking to myself, ‘You know, I can do this.’”

“This” was, of course, building surfboards. When he returned to Hermosa Beach to begin in earnest, he armed himself with much more than a cheese grater. Bing and Rick opened a shop together in 1959 and started churning out Bing & Rick Surfboards, which later became Bing Surfboards when Rick left to pursue lifeguarding.

That era of board-building in Hermosa Beach was one of the most explosive and influential in the history of surfing.

Hollywood ignited a powder keg of surf popularity with the 1959 film Gidget, which would be followed by countless beach-romp imitations throughout the decade—escalating the popular fascination with surfing into a kind of hysteria.

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“WE COULD SELL AS MANY [BOARDS] AS WE COULD MAKE IN THOSE DAYS. MORE THAN A SURFBOARD, WE WERE BUILDING A SOCIAL SCENE, WHICH WE DIDN’T REALLY REALIZE WE WERE DOING AT THE TIME. BUT THAT’S WHAT WE DID.”

Founded by filmmaker John Severson in 1960, Surfer Magazine created both a center of gravity that the nascent culture

atomization of the surfboard industry, with independent

could revolve around and a place for upstart board brands to

backyard shapers popping up left and right, disrupting the

advertise their wares.

big manufacturers of the time. In 1974 Bing sold the Bing

Bing, Greg, Hap Jacobs, Dewey Weber and more set up

Gordon & Smith fame. Bing was ready for a change of pace,

good would be an understatement. “We could sell as many

and he chose a drastic one at that—trading the crowded

[boards] as we could make in those days,” says Bing. “More

beach scene for some wide open, snow-dusted spaces in

than a surfboard, we were building a social scene, which we

Sun Valley, Idaho.

what we did.”

Bing built a stable of team riders that included many of

The Bing label lived on in some form under Gordon’s ownership, then under former Bing head shaper Mike Eaton, who also produced boards under his own label, Eaton

the most influential and stylish surfers of the era, includ-

Surfboards. Mainly, however, the Bing label languished

ing David Nuuhiwa and Donald Takayama. Bing enlisted

from the late ’70s until 2001, just waiting for someone to

legendary Hawaii-based shaper Dick Brewer to help on

see the value in its legacy and its potential to return to

the board design front, and Dick created the Bing Pipeliner

greatness. Enter Matt Calvani.

model, which set surfing’s collective imagination ablaze when ridden in barreling Hawaiian surf.

In the late ’60s and early ’70s, everything changed in the

“Right away I knew he had something going. I liked him,” says Bing of his first meeting with Matt, who had expressed an interest in picking up the brand’s torch and run-

surf world, just as things did worldwide with the growing

ning with it, reviving some of the classic designs and creat-

counterculture movement. Hair grew long, surfboards got

ing some new ones of his own. “He was the perfect guy for

short and Bing had to evolve or risk getting left in the dust.

the job. I was impressed with his quality, his shaping, his

Electric young surfers Keith Paull and Rolf Aurness joined

understanding of both shortboards and longboards.”

Bing, the latter of which went on to win the 1970 World Championships in Victoria, Australia, on a 6’10” Bing board.

Bing found a great friend and collaborator in Duke Boyd,

“My first impression of Bing was that he was just super nice and approachable, and I really liked him off the bat,” Matt tells me in the Encinitas factory. “Most of the time,

who helped define the look and feel of the brand amid the

when you have a partnership, things get difficult at times.

cultural upheaval. And in 1973, Bing began a pivotal col-

But with Bing, he’s just such a good guy and so easy to

laboration with a pair of mad surfboard scientists, brothers

work with. He’s a legend, but he doesn’t have a big ego.

Malcolm Campbell and Duncan Campbell, who were some

He’s just stoked to have someone interested in his brand

of the first to experiment with three-finned boards in their

and taking it in a good direction. To this day, it’s like that.”

garage in Oxnard, California—creating the Bonzer design and opening up entirely new possibilities for riding waves.

Amid all the excitement ushered in by the new era of surf

Before Bing, Matt spent years cutting his teeth shaping boards for labels across the South Bay. He was thrilled to not only resurrect the classic models that had first earned

culture and board design, however, Bing was beginning to

the brand acclaim but also to follow his creative impulses

feel estranged by the new landscape—“because of those

wherever they led.

drug influences, basically, and the hippie influences … not

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license to Larry Gordon, the San Diego surfboard mogul of

shops on the Coast Highway, and to say that business was

didn’t really realize we were doing at the time. But that’s

56

Business had also slowed, in large part due to the

Since then, Matt has worked closely with stylish

that I disagreed with all that stuff, but it seemed to lead

California surfer and Bing team rider Chris Del Moro to

surfing and our customer base in a bad direction,” he says.

produce fuller-volume shortboards like their best-selling

“I could see my interest slipping away.”

Dharma, as well as more far-out design ideas like the

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“IT’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING BUILT TO LAST, SOMETHING BING.” Speed Square, which is essentially a foam-and-fiberglass boogie board that’s meant to be ridden standing up. Matt and Chris’ collaborations have worked like magic under the feet of countless surfers, including Australia’s Dave Rastovich, who’s widely seen as the most talented freesurfer of a generation.

“We were ahead of the curve with the Simmons-inspired boards, fish, quads and wings,” says Matt about the interest in alternative shapes that first caught fire in the 2000s and has turned into a roaring blaze since. “Like Bing was trying to do in the early ’70s, since the 2000s we’ve really wanted to do things our own way. You can go with the trends of what people want to ride, but you need to make it your own at the same time.”

Matt has no shortage of ideas for new Bing models and tells me about the potential he sees in the mid-length movement—boards between roughly 7 feet and 8 feet in length, which don’t quite fit into the longboard or shortboard categories—when combined with twin-fin setups and channel bottoms. It’s a design concept he’s seen work to a spectacular degree under the feet of Australian surfer Torren Martyn. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out how to make it in a uniquely Bing way.

Matt takes me up to a storage loft—a place he goes from time to time for a little inspiration. He pulls a slightly yellowed, early-’60s longboard with a giant wooden fin—three stringers running down the middle and two strips of inlaid wood crossing each other, and the stringer looking oddly like the double helix of a DNA molecule. “I know you’d take a template and a router to do the inlay, but the crossing in the center …”

He scratches his chin while feeling the deck of the board. “I don’t know how Bing did that, but he did it perfectly.” It’s a beautiful surfboard, but it’s more than just that. It’s something different, something built to last, something Bing. ■

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soul survivor WITH MUSIC, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY, KEVIN SOUSA TURNS STRUGGLE INTO SALVATION. Written by Tanya Monaghan

| Photographed by Kat Monk & Shane O’Donnell

Growing up, Kevin Sousa’s family

The pattern repeated, and Kevin lost the gig when he

moved around a lot, so he felt like he

drunkenly tripped over one of their guitars and broke it. deciding to go back to teaching. He started as a substitute

a place to belong as well as searching

teacher at Manhattan Beach Middle School and then went

for his own identity. He was 13 when

on to run the auditorium at Mira Costa High School, as

he started taking guitar lessons but describes himself as terrible at it. Not a good fit with his guitar teacher, he ended up teaching himself by

found a part of himself in the South Bay community. He found joy in his connection with the kids there.

That connection still runs deep today with Kevin officiating the weddings of about a half-dozen former students. Many of them have also played in his bands, and Kevin managed to get a few of them some local gigs

figuring it out.

in the South Bay. At the time, Kevin still suffered with an addiction to alcohol but only realized the severity of the problem in a

comedian, Todd Glass, who brought Kevin and his fellow

therapy training session with a youth who was strug-

16-year-old band members in to play at a club called

gling with the same vice. The kid admitted to Kevin that

Smokey Joe’s. Although too young to even be at a club,

he wasn’t sticking with his alcohol program, and Kevin

they became a repeat act. While in college at Villanova,

heard himself tell the young man that he needed to go to

his band, Rugby Road, got pretty big. But by his own ad-

the meetings and stick to it.

mission, he was a bit of a rebel and often dropped out.

Begrudgingly finishing his studies with an English

That moment weighed heavily on Kevin. He told himself, “You can only take people as far as you have gone.

major and on the path to becoming an English professor,

How many more things are you going to lose in your life?

Kevin truly wanted to pursue a music career. He left his

How many more opportunities are you going to lose?

home base and “ran until he hit water,” which ended up

When are you going to grow up?”

being the South Bay. “It was 1992. I was 22 and troubled,”

He realized in that moment that he had lost so much

he shares. “I left with $500 and a bag. I told my girlfriend

already—numerous jobs, gigs, bands and a record deal—

I would be right back.” But Kevin never returned.

all due to using alcohol and drugs. He had worked at Mira

For months he slept on a friend’s couch until he

Costa for about 10 years and then decided to go to gradu-

scored a job at the newly opened House of Blues in West

ate school at Pacifica Graduate Institute to get a master’s

Hollywood. By the time he was 25 years old, he had

degree in counseling psychology. He also finished his PhD

worked his way up and held keys to one of the hippest

coursework there.

clubs on Sunset Boulevard, with passes to every show.

In 2004 Kevin fully dedicated himself to becoming so-

It was here that he got to meet and work with all of his

ber. Crucial to that success was the unwavering love and

music heroes—from American bands like Little Feat and

support from his wife, Patti. “She had a major corporate

The Eagles to English rock band The Who.

job, and she funded me, backed me and really believed in

Kevin fell too far into the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle and had problems with drugs and alcohol. In 1999 he went on tour with The Eagles to work as a guitar tech for Glenn Frey.

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well as coaching the surf team. Kevin “the seeker” finally

listening to his cassettes and just

While playing in bands, he was discovered by a popular

64

He worked for a couple years as a bartender before

was always a seeker—trying to find

me,” he says. “It’s incredible what she did.”

The two met on the patio of Patrick Molloy’s in Hermosa Beach. A few years after they met, he went cold

turkey and quit everything: caffeine, alcohol, smoking and drugs. “I am all-or-nothing; that’s just how I roll,” he says.

Kevin had always played music but had never sung.

He was absolutely petrified when he started, but in time he found his confidence and a new identity as a singer.

“I just sat on a stool and learned how to play and sing in front of people.” Along with concerts at Saint Rocke, Kevin can be found playing many local gigs—including regular sets at Terranea for their summer concert series.

Kevin is also currently finishing a dissertation on surf and ocean therapy while working as a therapist and developing the Hermosa Music Company with Patti and good friend and fellow musician Aragorn. “There are so many talented musicians here,” explains Kevin. “We are bringing them together to write, sing covers and stream songs to get South Bay music out into the world.”

Beyond music, Kevin has always believed in giving back to his community. Because he is so beloved here, he has played at many paddle-outs, benefits and memorials.

He is also very involved in The Jimmy Miller Foundation and started to carry on Jimmy’s legacy and provide ocean therapy to help those coping with mental, emotional and physical illness. Kevin was asked by the foundation to come on board as a psychotherapist.

In addition to his own therapy practice, Kevin has also been serving as a clinical director for the past 10 years at Miriam’s House in L.A. where he helps women in their first year of sobriety. He says, “This experience has made me become a better clinician and human being because of the incredibly sad stories I hear—stories filled with abuse and trauma,” he says. “The goal for these women is to help them get off government assistance and get them educated so they can stand on their own two feet.”

In 2013 Kevin became even more involved in the Hermosa Beach community when he discovered that Hermosa Oil was planning to drill in his beloved backyard. Alongside Mike Collins, he began a steadfast mission to keep the oil drilling out of Hermosa Beach.

The two put their minds together to create an innovative

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“I JUST SAT ON A STOOL AND LEARNED HOW TO PLAY AND SING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.”

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group named Keep Hermosa Hermosa. Their mission was to keep their pristine beach community clean, green, safe and beautiful. He devoted three years of his life to fighting the oil company, putting everything else on hold. His fight was successful.

Kevin’s life has given him great perspective. Both he and Patti recovered from thyroid cancer about four years apart. Ever the seeker for deeper meaning, he manages to put a positive spin even on those experiences. “Beating cancer has helped me be a better clinician, understanding and dealing with grief and loss, because I have been on both sides of the bed.”

He is also able to help others with addiction and trauma because he comes from a heavy background and has experienced drug and alcohol addiction himself. He is living proof of what is possible, underlining the authenticity and effectiveness of his practice.

Now 15 years sober, one of his most rewarding experiences as a therapist was working with a 14-year-old kid from Mira Costa who had really tough beginnings. Kevin managed to steer him from being involved in gang-related activity toward a better path, which finally led him to being accepted to Berkeley via El Camino College. He was in Kevin’s office when they found out together that he had been accepted.

“I had been working with him for seven years, and we just sat and cried together,” Kevin shares. “It’s moments like that that mean so much. I have worked with kids and parents struggling with depression, addiction, grief and loss. It’s such heavy work, but I feel so honored to do it here in this incredible community.” ■

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bright ideas A BOLD COLOR PALETTE INSPIRES A FESTIVE TABLESCAPE, CAKE AND COCKTAIL TO KEEP THE CELEBRATIONS GOING THROUGH THE NEW YEAR. Written, styled & produced by Kara Mickelson | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

An elegant table that blends traditional and not-so-traditional tones with a few easy do-it-yourself elements.

Gugrida white and gold flatware (20-piece set), $52; amazon.com. Bernardaud Sol dinner plate, $88, and salad plate, $82; Bloomingdale’s. Vintage glassware; Antique Corral in Redondo Beach. Repurposed copper hand-hammered chargers created with coat of Rust-Oleum spray paint in the color “Hammered.” The napkin décor made from hand-tied pink and orange chrysanthemums (you can use any flower with a small, rounded head). The seeded eucalyptus was spraypainted with a mix of two shades: “Hammered” and “Metallic Gold.”

CITRUS BUTTER RUM BUNDT CAKE Bright and cheery mandarins—in peak

Bundt Cake

season—add a touch of sunshine to an elegant

Preheat oven to 325º. In a medium saucepan, heat ¼ cup plus 2

Bundt cake.

tablespoons butter over medium-high heat until milk solids begin to lightly brown and butter is melted. Remove from heat. Reserve ¼ cup

2 tablespoons melted, browned butter*

of browned butter for rum sauce.* (We suggest making Rum Sauce

1¼ cups buttermilk

first in same pan, see recipe below.)

¼ cup dark rum

Combine buttermilk, 2 tablespoons browned butter, rum, vanilla

1½ tablespoons vanilla extract

and citrus zest. Reserve. Cream butter and sugar in a stand-up mixer

3 mandarin oranges, juice & zested

or use a hand mixer. Add eggs one at a time and combine thoroughly.

(reserve juice for rum sauce) 1 lime, juice & zested (reserve juice for rum sauce) 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1¾ cups granulated sugar 4 large eggs

Whisk together remaining dry ingredients. Slowly alternate adding half of the dry ingredients, then half of the liquid with the butter and sugar until combined. Scrape bottom to incorporate.

Lightly coat a 10-cup Bundt pan with pan spray or vegetable oil.

Turn pan upside down to remove any excess oil.

Spoon batter into pan. Tap pan to release air bubbles and smooth

3¼ cups all-purpose flour

top. Make sure batter fills in the decorative edges of the pan, with

2 teaspoons baking powder

slightly less batter at the center. Bake for 60 minutes.

1 teaspoon baking soda

Remove cake from oven. Use a skewer to poke holes into bottom

1 teaspoon salt

of cake. Carefully pour Citrus Butter Rum Sauce over cake, letting it

Garnish: six mandarins and three limes,

seep into the holes. Let cake absorb liquid. Place a cooling rack over

sliced, peeled and quartered

the cake and unmold over a sheet pan while still warm. Top with Buttermilk Glaze (see below). Can be made one day ahead; refrigerate.

Citrus Butter Rum Sauce

Cake should be room temperature or slightly warm before adding

¼ cup melted, browned butter*

Decorator Top Glaze (see below). Spread or pipe glaze on top outer rim

¼ cup light brown sugar

of cake. Gently shake and tap to encourage drips.

juice of 3 mandarin oranges juice of 1 lime

Garnish with sliced fruit. Add an extra pour of rum over the top of slices if desired.

3 tablespoons dark rum 1/8

teaspoon salt

Citrus Butter Rum Sauce Combine all ingredients and heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove

Buttermilk Glaze

from heat and cover.

2 cups powdered sugar ¼ cup buttermilk 1/8

teaspoon cream of tartar

Buttermilk Glaze Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl and cover.

1 tablespoon dark rum Decorator Top Glaze Decorator Top Glaze

Mix all ingredients. Add additional sugar as needed to create a

1¾ cups powdered sugar

spreadable thick paste. More liquid or powdered sugar can help

2 teaspoons olive oil

achieve a stiff consistency.

2 teaspoons dark rum 1–2 tablespoons buttermilk 1 lime, juice and zest

HOLIDAY BLISS COCKTAIL A refreshingly simple gin-based drink that’s

Cocktail Base

Ginger Simple Syrup

on the healthier side with antioxidant-packed

1½ ounces gin

¼ cup water

green tea, unsweetened cranberry juice and a

1½ ounces 100% unsweetened cranberry juice

¼ cup granulated sugar

hint of soothing ginger.

2 ounces Ginger Simple Syrup (recipe at right)

3 slices, 1/8-inch thick

3 mandarin oranges, juiced

fresh peeled ginger root

Makes 1 to 2, depending on glass size

1 lime, juiced ¼ cup prepared and cooled matcha green tea

Add water to a small saucepan. Stir in sugar

mandarin orange or lime twist

and ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a

sparkling water

simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Let cool; refrigerate

Place all ingredients in a shaker or pitcher with ice.

Shake or stir until combined. Adjust base flavor as desired by adding more gin or syrup to taste. Rub inside glass with a lime or orange slice. Add splash of sparkling water. Pour, garnish and serve.

until ready to use.

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Holiday Wish List 2019 EDITED BY LAURA WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL |

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Holiday Wish List 2019

Lord’s Prayer Morse Code necklace, $58.

Ocean blessing bracelet, $48.

Divine blessing bracelet, $48.

My Saint My Hero The Greatest Love Deuteronomy 6:5 cuff, $61.

The Greatest Love Deuteronomy 6:5 earrings, $46.

The Greatest Love Deuteronomy 6:5 ring, $46.

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be inspired to do good, love deeply and have faith

Benedictine blessing bracelet, $30.

Pillar of faith ring, $21.

Manta of love bracelet, $46.

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SP ECIAL ADVERTISIN G SECTION

Holiday Wish List 2019

Black-and-white Indonesian sea shell necklace, $260.

White Indonesian sea shell necklace, $168.

African bone beads, $40/strand.

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Mix-and-match customized holiday gift boxes—a variety of items available at our store, like this balsam & cedar candle gift box.

Prices vary.

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Holiday Wish List 2019

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Barefoot Dreams Cozychic shrug, $118.

PJ Harlow Charlie tank, $40.

PJ Harlow Jolie pant, $68.

Beauty Treats Eberjey ankle slippers, $38.

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Thymes Limited Frasier Fir statement 4-wick candle, $95.

Thymes Limited Frasier Fir medium statement candle, $42.

Thymes Limited Frasier Fir large hand wash, $27.

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Eberjey Apres Ski Vermont robe, $178.

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cutting edge THE SKATING PROGRAM AT THE TOYOTA SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTER IS FILLED WITH TALENT, AND IT’S ALL ON DISPLAY DURING THEIR ANNUAL HOLIDAY SHOW. Written by Amber Klinck | Photographed by Jeff Berting

The energy is high at the Toyota Sports Performance Center (TSPC) in El Segundo. Athletes of all ages occupy the ice throughout the day, with some beginning their training as early as 5 a.m. Home to the Los Angeles Kings, the Toyota Sports Performance Center doubles as an advanced training facility for competitive and recreational skaters alike.

“The TSPC skating program is built and structured to serve skaters of all levels, ages and aspirations,” says TSPC’s figure skating director, Gabriella Weissmann.

“What makes us unique is that we offer programs all year round, so the skaters and their families really become a part of our skating community.”

Skating has been a part of Gabriella’s life for as long as she can remember. “I have skated since I was old enough to walk,” she says. “My mom and sister were both ice skaters and now are both coaches as well.”

Gabriella, who joined the TSPC team in 2015, describes the community of skaters and coaches as being like family. “Everyone is so supportive and truly cares about one another,” she notes.

This sense of community translates to each individual skater, regardless of their age or skill set. For the novice, the rink is playful and instructive. For the determined athlete, the TSPC skating program offers an opportunity to train with highly decorated coaches in a state-of-theart venue.

“I’ve been coaching here for about 12 years,” says Robert Taylor, United States Figure Skating gold medalist and U.S. novice men’s champion. “I have some national competitors who are in their teens that I have worked with for many years: Henry Privett-Mendoza and Harrison Jon-Yen Wong—he skates for Hong Kong.”

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“YOU DON’T WANT TO PUSH THEM EARLY, BUT YOU DO WANT TO GET THEM ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I REALLY LIKE THAT ALL THE COACHES HERE WORK WELL TOGETHER; THERE’S VERY LITTLE EGO. WE TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER, AND WE REALLY WANT ALL THE SKATERS TO DO WELL—WHETHER THEY GO TO NATIONALS OR THEY’RE HERE TO HAVE FUN, GO TO DISNEY ON ICE … WHATEVER THEIR PATH IS.”

But it’s not just national competitors and international

coaching can only get these young skaters so far. The

skaters who Robert trains with. He works with athletes

most successful athletes are fiercely focused. For them,

of all levels, and that variety is something he enjoys.

skating is a calling that they are truly devoted to.

“Everyone is so different with different personalities. I

Josh began skating at the TSPC in 2013 but has been

love working with all ages, and I’ve done that since day

skating for 14 years total. “My mom is Canadian, and I

one,” he says.

have a twin sister,” Josh notes. “My mom got my sister

Robert began skating at age 10, which by today’s stan-

into skating at the age of 3. I went to see one of her com-

dards is relatively late. Still, he excelled and trained with

petitions, and I got really jealous watching her dance and

some of the industry’s best. “My coach for most of my

have such a great time on the ice. So I begged my mom,

career was Frank Carroll,” says Robert. “I was fortunate

and I started skating.”

to have him as my coach.”

Renowned in the world of American figure skating, Frank worked with celebrated athletes such as World Figure Skating champion Michelle Kwan and Olympic

Josh has been to nationals twice, but his dream is to compete internationally. When he’s not on the ice, he is studying to become a mechanical engineer.

Shari Richmond, age 16, stumbled into skating by

gold medalist Evan Lysacek. Robert competed until 1980

chance. “I was in Girl Scouts, and we used some of our

before beginning his own coaching career at age 21.

cookie money to pay for a group lesson. I really liked it,”

During his first 10 years as a coach, Robert worked side-

Shari says. Now she skates five to six days a week for two

by-side with Frank.

to three hours each day.

For skaters with big goals to succeed in the competi-

Henry Privett-Mendoza, age 17, began skating when he

tive realm, access to coaches with decades of experience

was 6. He skates six days a week for three to four hours a

is invaluable. Over the years the TSPC coaching team has

day and competes as a junior man in singles.

attracted incredible talent, including notable athletes

“[My parents] are really supportive,” Henry says. His

such as Michelle, Evan and Gracie Gold. But it’s the

moms are understanding of the time he spends on the ice

dedication to their students that makes the most impact,

and the adjustments he has made to enable him to do so.

enabling TSPC coaches to impart their years of experience

“I go to school online,” Henry adds. “A lot of students

in a meaningful way.

bring their computer to the rink and do their work here.”

Aileen Haggerty, age 17, began skating with the TSPC skating program when she was 4 years old. “The coaching team here is really supportive,” she says.

The dedication these young athletes put into skating is extraordinary. It goes far beyond discipline; it’s a passion.

Twelve-time national competitor Bebe Liang trained

“They know what they’re doing,” says 16-year-old

with the TSPC skating program from 2006 to 2010 before

Josh Simkin. “Having coaches take the time to work with

becoming a coach. “This will be my 10th year coaching,”

their students—one group works on spins, one group

Bebe points out. “I’ve been skating since I was 6,” she

works on jumps—it really helps the skaters get a taste of

adds. “I always understood that it was my thing, but I

what each part of figure skating is all about. I think it’s

didn’t truly enjoy it for myself—and the training I put

better to have coaches who specialize in certain things

into it—until I was 16 or 17. I had to ask myself if it was

because we get better critique. It offers different perspec-

something I really wanted to do, and [that’s when] I

tives too.”

started to actually appreciate it.”

Access to exceptional coaching plays an integral role

In the world of skating, the window to compete is

in a skater’s career. But without the passion to skate

small—meaning athletes have very little time to waver

and an unwavering commitment to their time on the ice,

between skating as a hobby or as a competition. “Skating

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is a very young sport; you want to be pretty competitive by the time you’re 12,” Bebe explains.

Identifying talent and encouraging the dedication required to succeed is a delicate task when working with such young athletes. “You don’t want to push them early, but you do want to get them on the right track,” Bebe says. And that’s a collaborative effort. “I really like that all the coaches here work well together; there’s very little ego. We try to help each other, and we really want all the skaters to do well—whether they go to nationals or they’re here to have fun, go to Disney on Ice … whatever their path is.”

There are many things that draw skaters to the ice. “I like being on stage a lot,” says Shari. “That’s my favorite part about skating: the performance.”

On Saturday, December 14, the TSPC presents their annual holiday show—one of their most anticipated performances. This year it’s Under the Big Top: A Holiday Spectacular, and preparations have been months in the making. Bebe and Brianna Weissmann are co-directors of the show. “We started preparing in August,” Bebe says.

“Our annual holiday show is one of our most popular events. Our semi-professional production showcases skaters from as little as 3 years old to national-level competitors. It is a fun and exciting event for the entire family to get them in the holiday spirit,” Gabriella adds.

The excitement surrounding this year’s performance is palpable. The event has been a longstanding success with months of hard work going into each production: the choreography, the costumes, the talent—one night and two shows where the skaters can leave it all out on the ice. This is where all their dedication translates into why they devote so much time in the rink—because they love it. ■

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Kindness is Key A LOCAL TEENAGER ZEROS IN ON THE ESSENTIALS. Written by Darren Elms | Photographed by Lauren Pressey

Kaitlyn Sciarrino first came up with the idea for Kindheartedly three years ago when she started volunteering at Maryvale orphanage in Rosemead with her mom, Christine.

Maryvale offers a temporary placement for girls who are victims of prior abuse, abandonment or neglect and suffer from the effects of numerous failed placements in foster care facilities. In eighth grade she launched a fundraiser and raised more than $10,000 in donations for the girls of Maryvale.

“I was eager to find a way to continue fundraising for Maryvale and jumped at the opportunity to join a yearlong entrepreneurship class,” says the Manhattan Beach teenager. “Through the course of the college-level business class, I learned about everything I would need to launch Kindheartedly.”

A nonprofit organization and fashion blog, Kindheartedly seeks to empower girls from the outside in. They provide girls entering the foster care system with a Kind Kit containing a new outfit, basic fashion and grooming essentials, and inspiring items to help ease their transition and boost their self-esteem. “Our vision is to empower girls to be the best representation of themselves,” shares Kaitlyn.

Now 17 and a student at Mira Costa, Kaitlyn says the response to her nonprofit has been heartwarming and eye-opening. “I was raised to respect, question and support anything and anyone that I am passionate about,” she says. “I am unable to fathom how our society expects children who have experienced significant trauma to function as fully independent and successful members of society with little to no resources or support available to them. To me, this is an example of the failure of the social justice system.”

On the cusp of turning 18, she laments the abrupt end of resources and support available to foster youth past that age milestone. She is currently crafting a research project about the extended foster care policy and its implications, something that will be published at the end of the year.

“I think that kindness is about giving without expecting anything in return,” she adds. “This is one of my favorite quotes from Bob Kerry, and I think it answers the question perfectly: ‘Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.’” ■

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big fish FROM HUMBLE ROOTS IN SICILY TO AN ABUNDANT RETAIL SHOP IN PALOS VERDES, THE GALLETTI FAMILY PROPELS THEIR IMMIGRATION STORY INTO AN AMERICAN DREAM. Written by Kara Mickelson | Photographed by Jeff Berting

Fishermen often tell stories of

her again. She was an essential part of his life. Even the

the “big one” that got away. In this

strain of separation could not change that bond.

His story hints at a healthy sense of resilience and

story, the “dream catch” is not

grit—both necessary traits for a successful entrepreneur.

an exaggeration.

He is also a dedicated family man—dad, grandfather and great-grandfather—who over the years worked tirelessly

On a cold, snowy day in 1946, a 6-year-old Sebastiano “Buddy” Galletti arrived at Ellis Island with his father

at a young age. He recounts that his father went to the

snow and his first ride in a taxi.

corner store and asked the owner if he would give his “12-year-old son a job.” The store owner said he couldn’t

merchant marine ship—was difficult. On one occasion the

pay, and his dad said in a thick Italian accent, “Please put

seas were so rough, Buddy’s father had to use his own belt

my son to work. You don’t have to pay him!”

to secure his son to a nearby post. The crowded steerage

Buddy handled the used, empty bottles that needed

held 200 people; some were sick, coughing and vomiting.

to be separated and returned to vendors. He smiles and

His brother contracted measles. Upon arrival, Buddy

emphatically states, “That was the worst job I ever had!”

was vaccinated. He spent two weeks in quarantine, be-

He would start work at 3 p.m. after school and made 25

cause of his brother’s illness, before heading to St. Louis

cents an hour.

to be with his mother and older brother.

Fast-forward to today. Buddy’s granddaughter Gail,

He speaks of his father, Salvatore, a nine-year veteran of the Italian navy, with great affection and respect.

sitting nearby with her young son at their new family

Galletti family members were commercial fishermen

business, Great American International Seafood Market in

in both Sicily and the United States. But immigrating

Rancho Palos Verdes, had never heard that story before.

to America was not a smooth transition. Italians were

Opening a small retail space on the Peninsula has long

regulated to small immigrant enclaves. He didn’t learn

been Buddy’s dream. Born out of those early experiences

English until he arrived in the States, taught by Catholic

and anchored by their perseverance, determination and

nuns. The family was not able to get housing outside an

strong bond, the Galletti family finally made the dream

area called Little Italy on the east side of Detroit.

a reality.

While he shared the story of his arrival to America,

Like many Italian families, resources were pulled together. Over the years the Gallettis created businesses

Buddy’s demeanor was pleasant with no bitterness, no

and work opportunities that would set the path for future

lamenting about a hard start at life in the United States.

success, learning and growing with each new endeavor.

He made only a passing reference to the dramatic emo-

At age 14, Buddy worked part-time at a meat depart-

tion he felt when his mother and older brother traveled

ment. A union representative came into the store and said

to America a year earlier to prepare the legal documents

Buddy needed to join. Even though he was underage, the

for the remaining family to follow. Only 4 years old at

rep demanded the $5 fee. He didn’t have the money on

the time, Buddy didn’t understand his hurt feelings. He

him but was able to scrape up the required funds and join.

thought he was abandoned by his mother.

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Buddy’s father taught him about hard work and respect

and younger brother Joe. It was his first experience seeing The journey from Sicily to America—on a converted

110

to achieve his dreams.

When the family moved to California, he was 17 years

In reality, she was deeply hurt by the experience of

old and already a union member for three years. He went

being without her young son. When reunited in America,

to the union hall and applied for a job. He was challenged,

he rejected her at first but then quickly warmed up to

as he was not the required age of 18 to join. That’s when

Tim Aupperle

FOUR GRANDKIDS WORK AT THE MARKET. SEBASTIAN AND FRANCESCA MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK AT THE STORE, SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SEAFOOD WITH CUSTOMERS. JOEY PERRI WORKS WEEKENDS, AND GAIL MANAGES THE WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING.

he showed them his union card from Detroit. As a result,

With the smaller retail market, the focus is on the

he was able to retire from the union fully vested after 10

sustainable, fresh product and personal interactions with

years—at the age of 24. Buddy proudly acknowledges that

their direct customers, while leveraging their extensive

he still receives a $78 per month pension. His persistence

resources, relationships and successful manufacturing

and hard work at a young age paid off.

practices in the wholesale business.

Around 1975 he decided to start a wholesale business

Tim Aupperle figures in as the director of retail and

with his brothers Joe and Al. In the beginning the compa-

marketing operations and co-owner. Before joining the

ny consisted of three brothers, a brother-in-law, a book-

Gallettis, Tim was the regional seafood coordinator for

keeper and a driver. They were selling the “finest fresh

Whole Foods Market. He worked with animals on his

and frozen seafood” available to supermarket chains.

dad’s small farm when he was about 7 years old, raising

Buddy says he always dreamed of walking into a store

livestock for food. As a young teenager, he went to work

one day and buying whatever he wanted. His dedica-

in a small neighborhood Italian deli. By the time he was

tion to building a better future for himself and his family

17, he had learned the art of meat-cutting and became the

fueled his strong work ethic. He hasn’t forgotten the

meat/seafood manager at Handy, a small, family-owned

journey to where he is now, and he is quick to acknowl-

market in Burbank. He also worked in packing houses, as

edge that he doesn’t take anything for granted. Life still

a meat jobber, delivering sides of beef to markets around

happens regardless of big dreams.

southern California, as well as running $100 million meat

The new store on the Peninsula was a lifelong dream to bring the success and resources of the wholesale

and seafood operations.

With more than 40 years of experience in the meat and

business to a boutique, family-friendly, unique retail

seafood industry, Tim has developed trusted partners

space—a place that would offer a great product and be-

throughout his employment. He worked alongside a glob-

come a trusted community source for fresh seafood and

al team to design Whole Foods’ animal welfare standards.

specialty products.

He worked at Whole Foods for 28 years and was their

Four grandkids work at the market. Sebastian and Francesca manage the day-to-day work at the store,

seafood and meat coordinator for more than 24 years.

At the new market, the team is focused on developing

sharing their knowledge about seafood with custom-

relationships with local suppliers and supporting com-

ers. Joey Perri works weekends, and Gail manages the

munities that provide excellent products. By support-

website, social media and marketing. His daughter, Maria

ing sustainable practices, they aim to create long-term

Perri, creates delicious recipes—green salads, seafood

relationships and have access to high-quality goods today

salads, salsas, marinades and dips—that are available

and in the future by protecting the natural resources.

for purchase at the store. Encouraging extended family

Beyond high-quality seafood, they offer a diverse line

members to work and learn at the market gives Buddy a

of cooked, raw, bulk and packaged shrimp, fish filets,

great sense of pride.

steaks, portions and whole fish, salads, seafood salads

Buddy’s sons Sam and Paul and his son-in-law Sal

like tuna, salmon, lobster and poke. They also have a

are all key partners and owners in the broader whole-

gourmet foods section filled with unique tinned sea-

sale business, Southwind Foods/Great American Seafood

food, akin to products sourced in the gourmet markets of

Imports Co. Beyond being a family-owned business, the

Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Gallettis have employees who have worked with them for

The store has a neighborhood feel, with specially made

more than 40 years, helping build a half-billion-dollar

cases in the center for frozen seafood. They smoke their

wholesale brand.

own salmon, make a salmon “candy,” and Tim’s famous

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115

recipe for green chili smoked salmon dip is available for

160,000-square-foot processing, storage and distribu-

purchase. Tim’s mother and grandmother inspired him to

tion facility located in Carson, California, which is also

cook at a very young age. One day he hopes to publish a

the corporate office. Additional sales offices in New

cookbook that would include recipes inspired by his mom.

York, Texas and Arizona, and processing and distribution

Ask him about his favorite products, and you will likely get a story about the flavor profile, its origin and processing methods. The Paolo Petrilli jarred tomatoes

Southwind Foods’ import division, Great American Seafood Imports Co., was established in 2003. It oper-

1000. The tomatoes are grown organically, handpicked

ates as the company’s overseas procurement division,

and jarred in La Motticella just outside Lucera in Italy’s

processing 115+ million pounds of seafood per year.

olives in the world.

Tim also speaks highly of the Marilungo egg pasta line

While the new Rancho Palos Verdes market has an established global network to rely on, they also work directly with local fishermen and trusted suppliers to get

they carry. It cooks in 90 seconds. It is the Pope’s pre-

the best offering. That’s good news for customers want-

ferred pasta, served at the Vatican. They also have a good

ing the freshest products, from a variety of seafood to

selection of high-quality olive oil.

daily specials.

Watch out for continuing community events, like the

They will gladly scale, clean, filet or shuck anything

recent shrimp fest, and specials for the holiday season,

to order. Delivery is also available online. The boutique

such as Maine lobster and sustainable Tsar Nicoulai

seafood store is focused on a comfortable neighborhood

caviar from 100% white sturgeon. If you want recipe sug-

feel, allowing the Gallettis and co-owner Tim to connect

gestions, they have that too. Ask the staff or browse the

directly with the customer. Their long history of success

website or social media platforms.

in the seafood industry is sure to continue as they foster

Tim says their customers are educated and savvy about fish. Most of their fish is processed through the Gallettis’

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support sales and distribution to all 50 states.

they offer are raised in a town that dates back to the year

Puglia region, known for some of the best vegetables and

116

facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada,

new relationships on the Peninsula, just as they’ve done as a family for generations. ■

Buddy Galletti

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Aziz Ghaly, MD

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

A TEAM WITH HEART Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai partner to bring expert cardiac care to the South Bay.

S

ince Torrance Memorial affiliated with

of respected Cedars-Sinai surgeons Joanna

Cedars-Sinai in 2018, team members

Chikwe, MD, Wen Cheng, MD, Dominic Anthony

have been working to bring outstand-

Emerson, MD, Fardad Esmailian, MD, Dominick

ing care to the local community. More

J. Megna, MD, Danny Ramzy, MD, Aamir Sayeed

recently, Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai announced a further extension of this partner-

Shah, MD, and Alfredo Trento, MD. The Cedars-Sinai surgeons will join Torrance

ship: Cedars-Sinai cardiothoracic surgeons will

Memorial’s newest cardiovascular surgeon

practice alongside the medical center’s already

and director of cardiac surgery, Aziz Ghaly, MD,

exceptional surgical team to provide the latest

to strengthen the existing Torrance Memorial

and best cardiac surgery options to patients—

heart surgery program. Dr. Ghaly provides

right here in the South Bay.

further expertise in a variety of procedures

This partnership is a welcome expansion

such as complex valve repair and replacement,

of the Torrance Memorial Lundquist Lurie

coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic root and

Cardiovascular Institute’s Cardiothoracic Surgery

arch surgery, mechanical assist devices, surgical

Program. It is made possible with the addition

treatment of arrhythmias, minimally invasive

“THIS PARTNERSHIP BUILDS ON WHAT IS ALREADY AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM AT TORRANCE MEMORIAL AND A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO MEDICAL CENTERS.” —CRAIG LEACH, PRESIDENT/CEO, TORRANCE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER

L to R: Salman M. Azam, MD, Aziz Ghaly, MD, John M. Stoneburner, MD, Matthew Ostrom, MD, J. Christopher Matchison, MD, Ankush Chhabra, MD

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

valve surgery and will also join the heart transplant team at Cedars-Sinai.

While these procedures—as well as diagnostics and treatment—have always been available at the medical center, the addition of Dr. Ghaly to the surgical team will allow for the growth and expansion of the program in the South Bay. Dr. Ghaly explains, “Cedars-Sinai has a nationally recognized cardiac program, ranked #3 in the country. The medical team performs a high

L to R: Salman M. Azam, MD, Ankush Chhabra, MD, J. Christopher Matchison, MD

volume of cases that require advanced clinical expertise. Our goal is to merge our experience and expertise with Torrance Memorial, partnering with their physicians to make more of these services available to patients at the Torrance Memorial campus.”

“This partnership builds on what is already an excellent program at Torrance Memorial and a strong relationship between the two medical centers,” says Craig Leach, president/CEO of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. “By working together, we add important resources to our program, and the additional surgical coverage will ensure community members have a highly skilled team available in an emergency, able to treat highly complicated cases of heart disease and structural heart defects.”

Mark Lurie, MD, medical director of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, is look-

L to R: Dominic Anthony Emerson, MD, Ankush Chhabra, MD, Danny Ramzy, MD, Aziz Ghaly, MD, Dominick J. Megna, MD, Mark Lurie, MD, Joanna Chikwe, MD, Aamir Sayeed Shah, MD

ing forward to taking the Cedars-Sinai partnership to the next level. “The Cedars-Sinai relationship has been extremely productive in terms of providing enhanced cardiovascular care for our patients at Torrance Memorial,” Dr. Lurie says. “Adding extra surgical resources means even better access for our patients without having to travel out of the South Bay. It’s a win for our program and a win for the community.”

TORRANCE MEMORIAL 3330 LOMITA BLVD., TORRANCE 310-325-9110 TORRANCEMEMORIAL.ORG

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Aziz Ghaly, MD, and John M. Stoneburner, MD

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elevation gain OUR INSIDE TRACK ON THREE ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOWNS WE LOVE ANY SEASON—BUT ESPECIALLY IN WINTER Written by Jennie Nunn

With its scenic hikes and roaring

(once Windsor Dairy dating to 1920), peruse 16 food

rivers, historic ski towns with

and specialty purveyors at Denver Milk Market, a food

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Whether you decide to hit the slopes or not, here are the state’s top winter destinations to explore.

executive chef Duy Pham at the helm, the eatery offers three distinct dining experiences including a raw bar.

After a bite, take a stroll to nearby Free Market— a modern shopping emporium including Jenni Kane, Clare V. and Alchemy Works. Just down the street, Fetch Shop, a curated brick-and-mortar of the city’s Fetch Markets (held once a month), stocks locally made jewelry, candles and aprons.

DENVER In RiNo (the city’s River North Art District peppered

FORT COLLINS

with art galleries, jazz bars and breweries), The Ramble

Tap into your inner musician at The Elizabeth Hotel,

is the ideal place to unwind after a day of exploring.

a 164-room, music- and art-inspired lodging with an

Evocative of a friend’s well-appointed home, the

Instrument Lending Library for in-room guest use dur-

cozy yet stylish, 50-room hotel features guestrooms

ing the stay. Instruments housed in the library include

appointed with wide-plank flooring, antique Persian

a Kala ziricote concert ukulele made of ziricote wood

rugs and in-room tablets for just about any request.

from Central America.

At The Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop, a 201-room property offering three, one-bedroon suites with in-room Peloton

town staple since 1923. Following a major renovation

bikes, head to the rooftop bar—Kisbee on the Roof—for

earlier this year, the 45-room hotel is fashioned with

sweeping mountain views. On the ground level don’t miss

leather tufted sofas, a fireplace and artwork depicting

Narrative, with menu selections like the 48-hour beef

local legends. In the guestrooms (each is a different

short rib paired with root vegetables and balsamic onions.

shape and configuration), expect to see macramé

Newcomer Safta, headed up by James Beard Award-

sconces. Be on the lookout for Oreo, the hotel’s resident

tures modern Israeli cuisine such as mafroum—stuffed

black-and-white cat, who is usually found in the lobby.

onions and garlic stewed in herb tomato sauce.

In LoDo (or “Lower Downtown”), make a reservation

Reconceived in a former 19th-century farmhouse, The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm serves rustic-inspired modern farm fare from truffle-parm brussels seasoned

at Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar, housed in one of the

with local Old Town Spice Shop truffle-parm salt and

city’s oldest standing firehouses, Hose House No. 1. The

parmesan cheese, to the Colorado Cubano consisting

restaurant is fashioned with wall-to-wall brick, glass

of red chile-braised lamb, pork belly, honey mustard

garage doors, leather tufted banquettes and chandeliers

and Swiss cheese. After lunch, meander to Heyday—a

made with bicycle chains.

women’s clothing boutique stocked with a well-edited

At newly launched Dairy Block “micro-district”

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wall hangings, brass headboards and industrial-style

winner Chef Alon Shaya (of Saba in New Orleans), feaeggplant with local Buckner Farms dry aged beef,

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A few blocks away, The Armstrong Hotel has been a

mix of boho sweaters, silk blouses and double-breasted

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coats, and nearby sister store Knapsack for herringbone throw blankets and letterpress stationery.

At Ginger and Baker, a restored old grain mill, grab

valley ranch.

At Wallace Jerold “Buddy” Werner Memorial Library, learn about Steamboat’s most acclaimed alpine

a slice of freshly baked cranberry or maple pecan pie

ski racer, Bud Werner. Located on the library’s second

or shop for locally made wares. Upstairs check out The

level, the exhibit highlights Werner’s skiing accolades

Cache, open daily for dinner with highlights including

including being selected for the U.S. Olympic Games in

fall bruschetta with pumpkin, butternut squash and

1956, 1960 and 1964.

manchego, and herb-crusted ruby trout with spaghetti

For a trip back in time through Steamboat’s storied

squash, watercress, black currant vinaigrette and chive

history, devote an hour or two to explore the Tread of

coulis. Venture to New Belgium Brewing Company for

Pioneers Museum. Partially housed in a 1901 Queen

a beer tour (book tickets in advance) complete with

Anne-style Victorian home, the museum features

beer sampling and a glimpse inside the beer produc-

exhibits from Edward S. Curtis (an artist and pho-

tion process.

tographer of Native American culture)and the Winter

Situated just west of Fort Collins, Horsetooth Reser-

Carnival—the oldest winter celebration in the West that

voir County Park is a hiking mecca with miles of trails.

originated in 1914 with the first twin ski-jumping event

Make a stop at the Horsetooth Area Information Center

by Carl Howelsen and James Pestrud.

for a map and to learn about the region’s local history and wildlife.

For one of the best photo ops in town, head to Fish Creek Falls, a nature destination for hiking, running and mountain biking with an impressive 280-foot wa-

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

terfall and wooden bridge. ■

Set just a quick walk from the Steamboat Ski Resort gondola, The Steamboat Grand is outfitted with rooms and condos with complimentary Wi-Fi, coffeemakers and flat-screen TVs. In Steamboat Mountain Village— the base area of Steamboat—check out the lively après scene at Truffle Pig, with bacon-wrapped dates and pork belly mac ‘n’ cheese, or grab wings and a Bavarian pretzel at the newly remodeled Timber & Torch.

Apart from skiing and winter activities, one of the city’s most beloved (and popular) attractions is Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Dotted with thermal pools reaching temps of up to 104º, the woodsy park offers watsu (or aquatic bodywork) therapeutic massages and lodging from an old train caboose to a covered wagon.

Just off the main thoroughfare, Old Town Hot Springs is replete with two 230-foot waterslides, a rock climbing wall, a café and a fitness center. For take-home gifts, head to Ohana for one-of-a-kind wares including handprinted tea towels and coasters crafted using 100-year-old barn wood from a local

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You won’t believe they’re yours.

Available at BOX® Human Landscapers® 3515 Highland Avenue | N. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Family Tree FROM CHRISTMAS STORY TO ANIMATED FILM Photographed by Monica Orozco

Jane West Bakerink and her husband, Jay Bakerink, were driving past a tree lot a couple days after Christmas when they noticed trees still for sale. “I felt so bad for them and made the comment, ‘I wonder what happens to those poor trees? They look perfect to me,’” she remembers. When she got home, Jane immediately picked up a pen and paper and started writing The Lonesome Pine.

That was 20 years ago, when self-publishing wasn’t so easy to do. As a kid, Jane was a child actress, singer and dancer in England and hardly ever in school because she was always performing. However, she always had a piece of paper and pencil at hand as she loved to write stories and songs.

When Jane sat down to write the children’s book, she had a very clear vision of how she wanted the book to be, the look of it, the feel of it and, most importantly, the message. Deciding not to collaborate with a publisher that might strong-arm her process, she went to the library and researched anything and everything she could on the subject of self-publishing. She found someone to design the book and picked a printing company that would make the book into a triangle shape.

She started in the month of February, and by the beginning of November she had the book selling at Borders—displayed in the front window. Very quickly she started receiving request after request to read her book at schools, libraries and other bookstores.

Although they had several offers over the years to buy the rights, the passion both Jane and Jay had for the book inspired them to collaborate on a film themselves. “We believed in the project so much that we sold our house to start the process,” shares Jay. “Most would say that was a pretty gutsy move, but to us we’ve never looked back. It was a no-brainer for us. It has been an incredible adventure that we went on together.”

The couple formed their own production company, Haylett Entertainment LLC, and it took many years of finding the people they wanted to work with to see the project realized. As the animation evolved, they were able to secure great talent, such as Jonathan Pryce, Simon Pegg and Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs. Patmore on Downton Abbey..

As Piney: The Lonesome Pine makes the rounds this holiday season, both Jane and Jay hope the message resonates with all ages. “We are all special and unique, each and every one of us,” says Jay. “We can all relate to Piney, whether you’re 2 or 102.” ■

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A New Classic SAVORING THE ELEGANT AND EDIBLE CHARMS OF THE NEW SLAY STEAK + FISH HOUSE IN MANHATTAN BEACH Written by Bonnie Graves

We had started the evening with fancy bowties, talk of proper silverware and high hopes.

A veteran of fine dining, our 12-year-old daughter has been “reviewing” restaurants since the days of high chairs, bibs and parental prayers. (She recently casually reminded my husband that the outside fork gets used first.) My 9-year-old son, on the other hand, is pure boy … and with a rascal buddy in tow, we weren’t sure how the night would go as our party of five arrived at Slay Steak + Fish House in Manhattan Beach.

My attention was immediately drawn to the space’s transformation. Previously Darren’s, a beloved neighborhood institution I remember reviewing when I was first dating my husband during his bachelor days at the beach, the dining room is now beautifully updated with nautical notes. A whimsical mural of dapper dandies gives an H.M.S. Pinafore vibe, and the open rafters, navy color scheme and polished brass evoke a wooden sailing ship from days gone by. With only 15 tables and a packed bar, the space on a recent Saturday night was humming even with a family-friendly early dinner reservation at 6 p.m.

Then my son hit his head and hit it hard against a brass railing that rims the dining room, as he and his buddy slid into the leather banquette. The guys were looking dapper and had been so excited to experience a “fancy” dinner. My son fought back the tears, but with a goose egg swelling on the back of his head, he hid his face in my lap and sobbed. Then my husband spilled his water glass and spilled it spectacularly. Meanwhile, the little buddy brandished a steak knife and marveled at how sharp it was. My daughter rolled her eyes. I ordered a Manhattan.

As this comedy of errors unfolded, a nice young guy with an easygoing surfer’s demeanor consistently popped over to our table to offer ice for the bump, fresh dry napkins for the soggy table and a subtly swapped butter knife for the buddy. (Our server, Megan, also could not have been more patient or helpful.) It turned out this solicitous fellow was David Slay Jr., the son of the chef, who was soon joined by his mother, Gale, as the whole team joined forces to rescue what could have been a disastrous dinner.

As a parent, food writer and 17-year veteran of hospitality work, I don’t think I’ve ever met nicer restaurant people. It is patently clear that they love what they do, that you are welcome in their house and that they genuinely want you to have a good time. Even if the food had been horrible and the wines mere plonk, these folks had me at “hello”

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Xxxxxx Xxxxxx XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Written & photographed by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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due to their warm welcome for our motley tribe.

But on to the food and wine, because Slay Steak + Fish House offers some serious eats. Chef David Slay Sr. trained at some temples of haute cuisine (with two-star chef Gérard Vié at Trois Marches in Versailles and A. Beauvilliers Restaurant in Paris with famed chef Marc Angel) before launching Beverly Hills’ beloved La Veranda and two successful restaurants in Orange County.

With his eponymous Slay opening in Manhattan Beach, where he and his family live, one senses that Chef David is coming home culinarily. While there are aspirational notes like an elaborate stuffed pork chop roulade with raisins, sourdough and soy, there are also homey American touches like twice-baked potatoes and a classic iceberg wedge.

On the appetizer side, standouts included steakhouse classics like shrimp cocktail with fresh-grated horseradish and some lovely seasonal squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta and chèvre and finished with a carrot-top pesto. On the topic of veggies, much of Slay’s produce is sourced directly from the family’s farm and vineyard up in the Santa Rita Hills, so seasonality and freshness are optimized.

About that vineyard … the Santa Rita Hills appellation in western Santa Barbara County is a moody, fog-driven climate where finicky pinot noir and chardonnay thrive.

Purchased and rebranded in 2017, the Slay’s vineyard is producing very fine fruit indeed.

The chardonnay is captured in two different house brands, Slayer and Slay, the latter of which is also sourced from Verna’s Vineyard. And the 2017 Slayer pinot noir is an absolute steal at just $18 a glass. Fans of the wines can also purchase them directly from the winery or enjoy them at one of the Slayer family’s several restaurants. With a newly announced venture taking over the Jimmy’s Kouzina space in Manhattan Beach, South Bay residents will soon have another Slay location to enjoy.

Dinner continued, and my son cheered up considerably when the excellent USDA prime rib eye showed up with potatoes he assessed as “yummy” and “almost as good as Grammy’s.” True to form, the observant chef noticed the little boys struggling to cut their shared steak. He swiftly popped out from the kitchen and cheerfully divvied it up tableside for them. They were mightily impressed by his chef’s knife, and I was equally impressed by a chef who took the time to step off the line at 8 p.m. on a Saturday to make a pair of 9-year-olds feel like restaurant VIPs. This restaurant is classy from top to bottom, with great food served with genuine hospitality. Our family looks forward to returning again and soon. ■ 1141 Manhattan Avenue in Manhattan Beach 310-504-0902, slaysteakandfishhouse.com

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310-962-4597 312 Rosecrans Avenue Manhattan Beach www.TheRipeChoice.net

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as seen in

Southbay is part of the Golden State network—a family of digital, social and print media brands celebrating the people, pursuits, lifestyles and ideas of California. In every issue, we are sharing one story across our network that explores topics beyond the limits of the South Bay. These California stories speak to the meaningful impact our state and its residents are making on the global stage. To learn more about Golden State and discover more stories like this, visit goldenstate.is.

the producers TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER HE BEGAN HIS TRANSITION FROM HOLLYWOOD TO NAPA, RICH FRANK CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT MAKING WINE IS A LOT LIKE MAKING MOVIES. AND GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF FRANK FAMILY VINEYARDS, RICH’S ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INSTINCTS HAVE CLEARLY SERVED HIM WELL. NOW THE FORMER EXECUTIVE TURNED WINEMAKER SHARES HIS SECRET TO MAKING A LASTING PRODUCT— WHETHER DESTINED FOR A CINEMA OR A CELLAR. Interviewed by Bonnie Graves

The old joke goes like this: “How

changer, although now it’s increasingly tech titans from

do you make a million dollars in

Silicon Valley who bring the big cash to wine country.

the wine business? Just invest 10

What distinguishes Frank Family Vineyards is not just longevity as they celebrate 25 years in Napa. It’s what I

million.” I am reminded of this

think is best described as authenticity. A tasting appoint-

adage whenever folks ask me if I

ment at Frank Family is easily one of the most coveted

want to be a winemaker or own a winery someday. (I am a sommelier by background, and we never make money … although we do drink well.)

in Napa Valley, and the winery greets its customers like cherished guests.

The ethos at Frank Family is always one that emphasizes family. Rich and his wife, Leslie, herself an Emmy Award winner, have now permanently relocated to Napa Valley, and their charitable pursuits reflect a commitment

While many envision a relaxing,

to the community that they’ve chosen to call home. Paying

bucolic lifestyle of seasonality

it forward is still one of the very best ways to build a loyal

and hospitality set amid rolling,

customer base. It’s also helpful to make delicious products.

We caught up with Rich on the heels of Festival Napa

vineyard-clad hills, the reality is

Valley, which he and Leslie co-chaired this past summer,

often much harsher.

and just before the annual chaos of harvest. Even though

The vagaries of a product defined by vintage are legion: too much rain, not enough rain, hail, mold, rot, drought

he’s a grandfather with grandkids who are rapidly growing up, this veteran winemaker has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

and, increasingly here in California, wildfire. And that’s before one considers just how crowded the wine market

You recently celebrated your 25th year in Napa Valley.

is, with increased globalization and expanded delivery

What have been the biggest changes you’ve seen?

mechanisms. Then you add the byzantine, three-tier

Rich Frank: Those visiting Napa Valley today have be-

distribution system here in the United States and decide

come much more sophisticated, and they seek sophisti-

that maybe you’ll just buy someone else’s bottle of wine

cated experiences—ones that offer a direct connection,

and enjoy it on your own time and dime.

even an emotional connection, to the winery. Visitors

It does take capital to make it in the wine industry,

anymore. Because of this, we’re accepting fewer tasting

Napa’s specific successes over the last 25 to 30 years

appointments so we can offer heightened experiences.

have made it increasingly cost-prohibitive to do business

Instead of a tasting room staff that is focused in numbers

there. With more than 45,000 acres now planted, Napa

and sales, we hire wine educators—people who are pas-

Valley is crowded both literally and figuratively. So how is

sionate about wine, history and storytelling.

a savvy winery owner able to make it there?

Rich Frank is the guy I often think of when pondering

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don’t just want to belly up to a stand-up tasting bar

particularly in a market like Napa Valley. In many ways,

It is also so important to stay relevant and fresh. There has been so much consolidation in distribution that many

this question. A veteran of the entertainment industry in

wineries are focusing on selling direct. Everyone is com-

Southern California—he is a former president of Walt Dis-

peting for the mindshare of this visitor market, so experi-

ney Studios and Paramount Television Group—Rich does

ences must be great or you may as well close your doors.

fit the mold when it comes to the role of affluent career-

My wife, Leslie, has amazing taste and consistently stays

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“IN ENTERTAINMENT, YOU NEED THAT SCRIPT (THE VINEYARD).

YOU NEED THE ACTORS (THE GREAT FRUIT).

YOU NEED A DIRECTOR (THE WINEMAKER).”

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ahead of the curve with the atmosphere here—from the

Once you have a great script, you need a good director,

grounds to the recently redesigned tasting room created

and I found that in our GM and winemaker, Todd Graff. He

by Erin Martin. We have many tasting areas—from a liv-

joined us in 2003 and is incredibly talented.

ing room atmosphere inside to a sublime patio experience

I also firmly believe that you should make what you like,

that is awesome in both winter and summer months. We

not what other people tell you to do. When I was head of

have heat lamps and offer blankets in the winter—people

Disney Studios, for nine years we never made a horror film.

just don’t want to leave when they visit.

Frank Family will never make a California sauvignon blanc!

And the wine?

Your focus is very much on family at Frank Family. Do

RF: Guests can choose from a variety of tastings—from a

you anticipate handing over the winery to your grand-

vineyard-specific tasting from our crown-jewel vineyard,

kids someday?

Winston Hill, to a tasting featuring cheese and charcute-

RF: We get calls once a week asking, “Do you want to

rie pairings from Michael Chiarello’s restaurant Ottimo.

sell?” We don’t, and we’re not even interested in talking about it. Leslie and I recently sold our home in L.A. and

What parallels do you see between the film business

moved to Napa permanently. We’re becoming deeply

and the wine business? Is one more challenging than

entrenched in the community. Leslie is on the board of

the other?

Festival Napa Valley, and we were both chairs of this

RF: I’ve always understood that, more than anything, the

year’s Collabria Care Gala, which focuses on hospice care.

bottom line depends on the quality of grapes in the wine.

We love running the winery day to day, so the thought of

I compare a grape to a movie script: If you don’t have

letting go—even to our grandkids—is unimaginable right

a good script, you don’t have a chance of success. That

now! Our kids have thriving careers and love to visit.

said, I’ve invested heavily in buying premium vineyard land—mostly in Rutherford and Carneros—in order to

How does that personal passion trickle down to the bottle?

secure the quality of my wine. We have more than 250

RF: We’re focused on what we do. It is so important that

planted acres today.

we can make decisions based on our values. Corporate

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wineries are pressured to show their worth on spreadsheets for shareholders, and sometimes quality suffers in that atmosphere. We’re very fortunate. After the fires of 2017, we decided not to bottle juice from a single grape that was picked after the fires started on October 8.

Financially it was a difficult decision, but we did not have to think twice about that. Our name is on the bottle.

It’s all about treating people great, making them feel at home and making them feel like a part of the family.

Generations are returning to our tasting room—as guests and now as employees.

Frank Family produces a wide variety of wines. Where have you seen the largest category growth in recent years?

RF: Frank Family’s cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay have ranked among the 20 most popular wines in Wine & Spirits magazine’s Restaurant Poll Top 50 for seven consecutive years. It is such an honor that fine dining establishments are so loyal to our brand.

We have always sold sparkling wine in our tasting room—we’re probably one of the only producers in California to still hand-riddle every bottle. That is special, and our guests recognize that. Our sparkling wines sell out quickly.

What advice might you give to someone looking to transition from entertainment into the hospitality industry?

RF: The wine business is simple, and it is a lot like entertainment. You need to spend quite a bit of money to produce a vintage of wine, and you should not expect to see a return for a few years. In entertainment, you need that script (the vineyard). You need the actors (the great fruit). You need a director (the winemaker). And if you are planning to make more than you can sell out of your tasting room, you better have a solid plan to distribute the wine before you even make it. Distribution partnerships—in both wine and entertainment—can make or break you … even if it is Oscar-worthy. ■

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Southbay Presents Inspire It all begins with a spark … an idea with potential. Locals gathered for the first Inspire, a sold-out female entrepreneurship microconference graciously hosted by Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach.

Southbay magazine invited Erin Condren, Pamela Salzman and Jill Willard to share where they started, why they chose their path and what inspires their journey. Thanks to Keri Murphy for hosting the program and NEFT Vodka for providing mid-program cocktails.

Guests were treated at the Pampering PopUps presented by Providence Little Company of Mary with manicures and massages by Sand Spa, waxes by Human Landscapers and a hairstyling bar by Arnold’s Salon. Local retailers Kate Lester Home, Morgan’s Jewelers Torrance, Loren Nicole, Outerknown and Right Tribe showcased the unique items they have on deck for the holiday gifting season.

In between the pampering and shopping, ladies struck a pose at the Marcus Medical boomerang booth and got their lip prints read by intuits from The Official Lipstick Reader.

Special thanks to Love This Way for the traffic-stopping light installations, Rolling Hills Flower Mart for the florals, and VOX DJs for keeping everyone dancing all night long. Thank you to the following sponsors for helping make Inspire possible: Alison ClayDuboff, Hutchinson Dental, Mioni Family Law, Kathleen Adams from SEIA, Gayle Theodora Drake, Locale90, Bita Davoodian, DDS, Parsa Orthopedics, Nicole Odom-Reis, Dr. Su Sachar, Maison Luxe, West Coast Living and SheSez.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

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Tribe.LA Grand Opening ActivFever’s Sheila Potter and Sammy Tehrani joined in celebrating the grand opening of Tribe.LA—a yoga, Pilates and barre studio.

Mother-and-daughter instructor team Anita Lugliani and Alexandra Lugliani welcomed guests to bubbles, bites and a tour of their fully equipped studio. Tribe.LA was joined by fellow Redondo Beach business ActivFever, an athleisure boutique that showcases brands such as Alo, Vuori, TravisMathew and Aviator Nation. Guests enjoyed special-event discounts on all retail items and a chance to enter a

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MILLENNIAL MEDIA GROUP

drawing for free memberships.

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SEEN

Best of Manhattan Awards The sixth annual Best of Manhattan Awards, sponsored by First Republic Bank, brought together the best in the community—those who are exemplary trailblazing models of innovation, philanthropy and excellence in Manhattan Beach. This event recognized the individuals and businesses that make a difference in the community.

Linda Mungcal and Dr. Don Mungcal

Kelly Stroman, John Altamura and family

Nina Marie-Daniele and Cedric Jones

Mayor Nancy Hersman and Lily Swardstrom

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SKECHERS’ Robin Curren, Michael Greenberg, David Weinberg

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRIS MILLER & WALKTHROUGH PRODUCTIONS

Bob Meistrell, Local Legend Award recipient Janne Kouri and family

27 TH ANNUAL

HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR DECEMBER 6-8, 2019 holiday market • café and shops 920 Highland Ave • Manhattan Beach Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10am-1:30pm ocean view rooftop happy hour 200 Pier Ave • Hermosa Beach Saturday only 2-7pm • Shuttles run until 5pm free shuttle Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10am-1:30pm presale $30 / door $35 shop these locations for tickets Bristol Farms - MB • Deep Roots Gum Tree - MB & HB • Waterleaf • GROW or online: Sandpipers.org Featuring 4 unique homes including the home of a local serial entrepreneur, restaurateur, hotelier and philanthropist.

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Depot Halloween Ball 2019 A ball was had by all at the 24th annual Halloween Ball fundraiser at the Depot Restaurant with Chef Michael Shafer. Proceeds benefitted the El Camino College Foundation to support the South Bay Promise program and student success initiatives at El Camino College.

Ken Brown, Karla Brown, Mike Maloney, Dena Maloney, Mary Combs, Roy Combs, Nilo Michelin, Daisy Michelin

Marlow Lemons, Ann O’Brien, Mike O’Brien

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Pati Johnson, Janan Johnson and guests

Bob Brandt and Laurie Brandt

Pat Furey, Monica Fredericks, Derf Fredericks, Terry Furey and friends

PHOTOGRAPHED BY DEIDRE DAVIDSON

Niko Bringleson, Monica Bringleson, Laurie McCarthy, Tom McCarthy

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Skecher’s Pier To Pier Friendship Walk Hundreds gathered for the annual SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk, an awe-inspiring event that brings together all walks of life for one common purpose: to support children with special needs and education. This year’s event raised more than $2.2 million. The walk is produced by SKECHERS USA and co-produced

by The Friendship Foundation.

Michael Greenberg rallies the walkers

America’s Got Talent winner Kodi Lee

PHOTOGRAPHED BY WILL HARTMAN AND GETTY IMAGES FOR SKECHERS

Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Greenberg and Mira Costa cheerleaders

Madison Baez

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Palos Verdes Coastal Architecture Tour A group of design aficionados spent the day exploring the architecture and rich history of Palos Verdes, led by architect Joseph Spierer and South Bay historian Steve Shriver.

Stops included the Palos Verdes Art Center, Wayfarers Chapel, Malaga Cove and private tours of The Neighborhood Church, a historic 1931 Gordon Kaufmann Italianate farmstead and Neutra's Rados House.

Joe Spierer and Steve Shriver

Carina Mills, Kristine Hammond, Joe Spierer, Steve Shriver

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Joe Spierer, Kristine Hammond, Gail Phinney, Steve Shriver

Stephanie Rosso, Karissa Kizer, Frauke Hormann

PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRANT BOZIGIAN

Monique Sugimoto, Marianne Shriver, Patrick Summar, Joe Spierer, Steve Shriver, Christine Low, Carol Low

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SEEN

Layla Paige's Nature Walk More than 400 walkers joined the inaugural Layla Paige's Nature Walk for TrinityKids Care.

Hosted by actor, comedian and musician Jack Black, this event honored the life and legacy of Layla Paige and all patients and families touched by TrinityKids Care. All proceeds of the event benefited TrinityKids Care, the only dedicated pediatric hospice and palliative care program in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Dr. Glen Komatsu and Jack Black surrounded by TrinityKids Care caregivers

More than 400 walkers join Jack Black.

Peninsula Heritage Harvest Fair Peninsula Heritage School’s annual Harvest Fair offered games, rides and food for the entire school community. Harvest Fair co-chairs and parents Melissa Hewitt and Jason Greenwald, along with volunteers from the Parent Association and Harvest Fair Committee, presented an enjoyable experience for students, parents, grandparents, alumni and friends of the school, with many wearing their Harvest Fair t-shirts. The variety of events provided a wonderful experience for all attendees. Funds raised will augment the school’s classroom libraries.

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Luke Sonnen, Larissa Sonnen, Jack Black, Matt Sonnen, Terri Warren

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The Ladies Night Out at Morgan's Jewelers Torrance Guests enjoyed food by Lido Di Manhattan, custom cocktails and a photo booth by Coco Mo's. VIP gift bags included Erin Condren goodies, makeup bags with masks from Beauty Cult, Hammitt card cases, Dosha Bars, Morgan's S’well bottles, jewelry travel cases and gift cards to Beach & Beverly. Giveaways included a Michele watch, treatments at Beauty Cult, Hammitt bags, a KÊrastase package from Hush Salon and a workout package from Equipt.

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Palos Verdes Pastoral Gardento-Table Dining Experience Hosted by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy in partnership with Terranea Resort, the sold-out Palos Verdes Pastoral: Garden-to-Table Dining Experience honored the Peninsula’s long-lasting connection to the land and their legacy. Terranea executive chef Bernard Ibarra created an inspired garden-totable menu with elements from the historic lands along with sustainable local resources from Terranea and surrounding areas, such as fresh herbs, honey, salts, vegetables and fruits. The 245 sponsors and guests raised more than $150,000 for the conservancy’s work to preserve and restore critical habitat on

Diana Heffernan-Schrader, Steve Schrader, Todd Tydlaska, Noelle Tydlaska, Amber Sandford, Jed Sandford

the Peninsula and celebrated the connection between local natural lands, healthy living and a great quality of life on the Peninsula.

Pam Geraghty, Clint Bird, Shanleigh Bird, Steven Geraghty

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SEEN

Siegrun Smith, Alex Smith, Mary Lopes

Diana Heffernan with executive chef Bernard Ibarra

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY GARY PARSONS & KARA MICKELSON

@ O U R SO U T H BAY

Jon Buttles, Lindsey Buttles, Jonna Werts, Andrew Werts

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Be valued. Be inspired. Be you.

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Vistamar is a private independent high school in the South Bay. We believe there’s a better way to do high school.

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PHILANTHROPIC VANGUARDS Giving back can make a profound difference in the lives of others.

During this holiday season, we urge everyone to think of how they might give back—whether it is money, time or talents—to benefit those who are less fortunate. For a little inspiration, we share this Philanthropic Vanguards profiles special section.

On the following pages we feature some professionals in the South Bay who are giving back and some charitable organizations that deserve our attention.

164 GIVEBOX Josh Rowley 166

MOSS ADAMS Jim Schlager

167

KINECTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

168

NOTE AND FLOAT LIFE JACKET FUND Rachel Griffiths & Tom Griffiths

EDITED BY LAURA WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL & JUAN TURCIOS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PHILANTHROPIC VANGUARDS

featured charity:

GIVEBOX TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION

givebox.com info@givebox.foundation

G

ivebox is a payment facilitator and technology company empowering nonprofits with a platform that has free fundraising tools, digital banking and advanced cyber-security. CEO and founder Josh Rowley has worked in the financial technology industry for the past decade and started Givebox in 2016.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FEATURED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. “We created Givebox Technology Foundation to support nonprofits by raising awareness through specialized events and online campaigns. Our Givebox Spotlight efforts help drive thousands of new donors to growing nonprofits and kickstart new nonprofits with viral fundraising.”

WHAT MAKES GIVEBOX DIFFERENT FROM OTHER FUNDRAISING PLATFORMS? “The biggest difference: Givebox is a technology provider AND a payment processor, authorizing us to support nonprofits with free tools and industrylow processing fees. Being one of the few payment facilitators in the financial industry enables us to lower fundraising costs, increase donations and protect donors through cyber-security and fraud monitoring. We combine financial technology and fundraising technology to help modernize philanthropy.”

WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS OUR READERS CAN GIVE BACK? “Statistics show that as early as 2021, 80% of all donations will be through credit cards. Because most platforms do not process money, donors are unaware that up to 50% of their donation goes to middle men. We have found that many nonprofits are unaware as well, since most platform fees are hidden. Donors should educate themselves by reading the fine print on these platforms, then pass that knowledge to the nonprofits they support. More donations can reach the efforts for which they were intended if donors demand that nonprofits reduce technology costs.”

HOW DO YOU FORESEE THE NONPROFIT INDUSTRY SHIFTING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS? “Small nonprofits are now forced to accept more credit card donations over cash donations. And as government assistance decreases, larger nonprofits are turning to micro-donors, who mostly prefer credit cards as their payment method. Without proper planning, technology and processing fees can drain the majority of these contributions.

Nonprofits must start thinking like for-profit

businesses by reducing technology costs, protecting donor data and embracing modern fundraising. Anything less, and unprepared nonprofits may be forced to close their doors.”

WHERE DOES GIVEBOX FIT INTO THESE CHANGES? “In addition to free technology and industrylow processing fees, Givebox ensures that donor data is protected through AI Cyber Security and Machine Learning Fraud monitoring. Though data security is a main talking point in other industries, philanthropy is behind in that conversation. Scammers using fake and stolen cards to defraud nonprofits are on the rise.

Overnight, philanthropy has become the most vulnerable industry in recent history. Givebox provides the first technological protective support system for philanthropy.”

WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF GIVEBOX? “The Givebox platform will forever be evolving around the needs of nonprofits. The tools we provide today are solutions to problems that nonprofits faced yesterday. We did not build Givebox; nonprofits did. Each nonprofit contributes to future features with their requests and the requests of their donors. A popular request has been to add checking account tools, which will further save nonprofits money. We, of course, are developing this feature.”

WHAT THREE TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE TO NONPROFITS? “1. Never sign technology or processing contracts.

Platforms that require contracts are often insecure with the features they offer. 2. Do not trust donor funds, even though it’s a fast way to start accepting credit cards. Donor funds often sell donor data to ad companies and other charities. 3. Obtain a merchant processing account as the financial features are desperately needed

by NPOs. For instance, a Dynamic Descriptor is a feature unique to merchant accounts. Givebox has automated the merchant account process, making it easy for any size nonprofit to receive financial tools historically reserved for only the largest organizations.”

WHAT DOES GIVEBOX HAVE IN STORE FOR 2020?

“Givebox will focus on broadcasting valuable financial technology information to charities, further educating and advancing philanthropy.”

HERMOSA BEACH | GIVEBOX.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ZOOM THEORY PHOTOGRAPHY

GIVEBOX Josh Rowley, CEO

Josh Rowley helps raise awareness during Givebox Technology Foundation’s spotlight event at Shade Hotel.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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PHILANTHROPIC VANGUARDS

Hilary Mahan, executive director of MBEF, and Jim Schlager, Moss Adams

MOSS ADAMS Jim Schlager

M

oss Adams is an industry-focused accounting, consulting and wealth management firm serving middle-market companies as well as families and families who own businesses.

Jim Schlager and his team help people make informed decisions about reaching their goals by integrating investments, tax, estate trusts, insurance, real estate and charitable giving into their financial plans.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FEATURED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. “The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a community-driven fundraising organization that supplements state funding for programs that inspire learning, enrich teaching and promote innovation and academic excellence in the public schools of Manhattan Beach. We’re proud to be part of such a great organization that helps support our schools and our kids.”

featured charity:

MANHATTAN BEACH EDUCATION FOUNDATION

310-303-3342 | mbef.org

WHAT’S AT THE TOP OF YOUR WISH LIST THIS YEAR? “I would really like everyone to learn about and, if appropriate, set up a donor advised fund (DAF) before the end of the year. As a result of the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), the limit for state and local tax deductions on your federal return is now capped at $10,000—meaning that you may have to look at other strategies to help minimize your tax exposure. One option might be to increase your charitable giving, especially since the new deductibility limit for cash gifts is 60% of your adjusted gross income.

A DAF could be a good avenue to help structure your giving more efficiently. Setting one up is relatively simple, and you can easily gift stocks, mutual funds, cash or other noncash assets to your fund. It’s generally more tax-advantageous to transfer highly appreciated assets rather than cash because you

won’t pay taxes on the appreciation, but it’s important to remember that the deductibility of these assets is different from cash and you should consult with an accountant. When you transfer assets to your DAF you claim a charitable deduction for the full fair market value, and the DAF does not pay gains tax on the capital gains when the assets are sold within the DAF account.

Giving is immensely fulfilling and can also be an important part of your own family’s financial plan and legacy. With a DAF, you can get the whole family involved in giving.”

Disclaimer: Assurance, tax, and consulting offered through Moss Adams LLP. Investment advisory services o ered through Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC. Investment banking offered through Moss Adams Capital LLC.

2121 ROSECRANS AVENUE, SUITE 2390, EL SEGUNDO | 310-616-3460 | MOSSADAMS.COM

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PHILANTHROPIC VANGUARDS

KINECTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

K

inecta Federal Credit Union has offered banking services in the South Bay for 80 years and has more than 250,000 members nationwide. The company offers its members a full range of financial products through the credit union and its subsidiaries, Kinecta Wealth Management and Kinecta Insurance Services. Kinecta was named the South Bay’s Best Credit Union by Daily Breeze readers from 2011 to 2019.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR FEATURED CHARITY? “Richstone Family Center has a great reputation in the community as a safe haven for families in need. We value and appreciate the work that the Richstone Family Center does to treat and prevent child abuse and trauma, strengthen and educate families, and prevent violence in families, schools and communities.

We have partnered with the Richstone Family

Center for more than 15 years, giving in-kind donations like backpacks, school supplies and Thanksgiving food baskets, and sponsoring the Richstone Walk with financial contributions and a team of walkers that includes Kinecta employees, family and members.

We provide year-round support through our volunteer initiatives that encourage staff to work with Richstone on special initiatives, such as facility improvement projects, holiday events and financial education programs for their clients. Most recently, we were honored to make a Capital Campaign donation to build a new sports court that allows the group to expand its fitness, sports and wellness programming.”

HOW DOES RICHSTONE TAKE CARE OF THOSE IN NEED DURING THE HOLIDAYS? “The holiday season should be a time of joy, appreciation and celebration. Many of the

featured charity:

RICHSTONE FAMILY CENTER

310-970-1921 | richstonefamily.org

families at Richstone, however, are unable to enjoy the holidays due to extreme financial and emotional hardships. Richstone’s annual Adopt-a-Family Thanksgiving and holiday programs exist to give these disadvantaged families the opportunity to enjoy this special time of year. We reach out to donors to provide families with food and holiday gifts.”

WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS OUR READERS CAN GIVE BACK TO THE RICHSTONE FAMILY CENTER? “Volunteer to work with ongoing programs or behind the scenes. Host a supply drive and collect items like children’s books, games, sports equipment (contact Richstone for a list of current needs). Be an Angel to a child and make a financial contribution to support one of Richstone’s child abuse and domestic violence treatment and prevention programs.

Every donation makes a difference!”

1440 ROSECRANS AVE., MANHATTAN BEACH | KINECTA.ORG SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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167

PHILANTHROPIC VANGUARDS

NOTE AND FLOAT LIFE JACKET FUND Rachel Griffiths & Tom Griffiths

N

ote and Float Life Jacket Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that donates U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets to swimming pools in need across the country to prevent drowning—a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. The life jackets are used for the Note & Float program, requiring children who cannot swim to be identified with wristbands (note) and buckled up in life jackets (float). This program saves lives while enabling children to enjoy the water. Rachel Griffiths started the Note and Float Life Jacket Fund in 2014 as a funding arm for the Note & Float program, which her father, Tom Griffiths, started in 2008.

WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS OUR READERS CAN GIVE BACK? “They can help raise awareness and prevent drowning by spreading the word about the

importance of life jackets. They can tell a friend about buckling up kids in life jackets for all bodies of water, just like they are buckled up in cars. Readers can also donate to Note and Float Life Jacket Fund through our website—all donations go directly to the life jackets for kids. Children’s groups and local businesses can partner with Note & Float to help donate life jackets to pools in need.”

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? “Note and Float Life Jacket Fund is unique, as it is the only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to donating life jackets to swimming pools in the U.S. We also gain evidence-based insight about life jacket use from pools that receive Note & Float life jackets. We found that swim lesson enrollment typically more than doubles and in-water rescues typically decline by more than 50%.”

TELL US ABOUT ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE DONATIONS. “One memorable recipient that we donated life jackets to was a swimming pool in Thomasville, North Carolina. Not only did the life jackets help keep the kids safe and helped them learn to swim, but just receiving the life jacket donation actually helped change the culture of the small town and promulgated a culture of safety.

Another memorable donation was to a swimming pool in Willoughby, Ohio. Their swim lesson enrollment more than doubled and rescues significantly declined after we donated life jackets. The facility won an award for Innovations in Safety based on Note & Float and implemented a school program to teach water safety. Since then, the life jackets inspired a multitude of lifesaving programs in the region.”

P.O. BOX 1377, HERMOSA BEACH | 814-883-0058 | NOTEANDFLOATLIFEJACKETS.ORG

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STRAND HILL | CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE LICENSE #01968431. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SQUARE FOOTAGE AND/OR ACREAGE, HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIOUS SOURCES WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE SELLER, PUBLIC RECORDS, THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OR OTHER SOURCES. BROKER HAS NOT AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE OR VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION.

W

IS

IN SE G O AS U O RC N L IN IE TH NT EI S A R J N OY EW O H US O H M O ES L ! I DA Y

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May Peace Be Yours!

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CJ

2019

CJ

Julianne

Grace

2009 BUY & SELL WITH

d 310.367.9129 | o 310.546.7611 x357 jennifer.caras@vistasir.com | DRE#01466213 1144 Highland Avenue Manhattan Beach, California 90266 JENNIFER.CARAS@VISTASIR.COM DRE # 01466213 EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED.

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STRANDHILL|CHRISTIE’SINTERNATIONALREALESTATELICENSE#01968431.THEINFORMATIONCONTAINEDINTHISDOCUMENT,INCLUDING,BUTNOTLIMITEDTO,SQUAREFOOTAGEAND/ORACREAGE,HASBEENPROVIDEDBYVARIOUS SOURCES WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE SELLER, PUBLIC RECORDS, THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE OR OTHER SOURCES. BROKER HAS NOT AND WILL NOT INVESTIGATE OR VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

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Christmas Reclaimed A MOM DISCOVERS THE UNEXPECTED GIFTS

OF CREATING FAMILY TRADITIONS OF HER OWN. Written by Kathleen Laccinole | Illustrated by Yasmine Kahsai

I dreaded the day—that end-of-summer morning when I’d step outside to find that in just one night the light had shifted, the earth’s axis tilted and the sun dipped the world

Later I’d clean up the mess. Couldn’t get that tree down fast enough.

Yet time did its thing. The earth’s axis continued to shift,

in Technicolor: fall. Nature sleeping, turning, falling off,

and so did life. Grandpa passed; cousins moved away. And

falling down. The days would grow darker, as would my

for me, what once felt efficient and routine became—dare I

spirit, because holidays were upon us.

say—fun. Halloween on Stansbury Avenue became a Mardi

This time of year used to send my younger self into fits

Gras with too much wine, baked ziti and thousands of trick-

of joy. Trick-or-treating in Mulwood, Thanksgiving at

or-treaters. Thanksgiving moved to my mom’s, Christmas

Grandpa’s, Christmas Eve at Uncle Bob’s and Aunt Ruby’s

Eve to my sister’s.

fruitcake, subsequently regifted through a cycle of friends

And Christmas Day moved to us. Me and my kids, the

and family … until it arrived back with Ruby, delighted to

perfect triangle, left to create our own family traditions.

receive such a delicious gift.

Then came the best day of all: Christmas. My mom, my

Soon our holiday festivities included midnight mass at St. Mike’s, arriving home to our noble pine covered in sparkly

dad, my sister and me: the perfect square, replete with a

Barbie ornaments. We leave out healthy carrots for Santa

majestic noble pine decked in red, green and shiny gold

and tack a “lesbian wreath” on the door. (Glittery troll dolls

balls. Dad playing Santa, passing out gifts. Us girls giggling

dressed as brides; it’s tradition.) Santa still bites the cookie,

and teasing him. And when I grew up, it would be the same.

but instead of a thank-you note he leaves a shot of tequila

Cue the record scratch. Not so fast. My daughter had colic, my dog had worms, my husband left and the holidays were upon us. And just like that, life became a nonstop, tinsel-

(for Mom).

I don’t want to nap. I don’t want to miss a moment.

One by one, new traditions, like beloved holiday relatives,

decorated, Hallmark-sponsored reminder of my failure—that

came to visit and then stayed. And I realized my “failure”

perfect day I’d been unable to duplicate for my children.

was born of fantasies of what the holidays should look

Christmas carols were replaced by “Go to sleep, dam-

like, as opposed to what they mean. I learned that change

mit, so Santa can come!” Then me, alone, assembling the

is OK—even good. Sleeping means awakening. Falling

impossible. Eating the cookie for Santa, pouring the glass

down means standing up. And the darkest nights bring the

of milk down the drain. Falling into bed at 2 a.m., contem-

brightest stars. ■

plating getting a cat.

Still, the next morning my sleepy-eyed little ones tiptoed

essays are featured in the new book We Got This: Solo Mom

nocent bliss, then send them off with their spoils so I could

Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor.

pass out on the couch.

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Kathleen Laccinole is a freelance writer and author. Two of her

on tiny soft feet to discover the magic. I’d revel in their in-

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