Ventura Blvd July 2017 by Moon Tide Media

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Cybill Shepherd invites us in SIX DOLLARS

JULY 2017

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FREE live music under the stars! 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 skirball.org/sunset-concerts On-site parking: $10 per car (cash only) Carpooling encouraged Street parking strictly prohibited Or take Metro Rapid 734

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JULY 2017

the sauce

22 IN THE DOG HOUSE Chic Pooch Pads

46 PET PROJECT Sonny’s Italian Ice

24 MEDIA Coffee Table Tomes 32 THE WILD WEST Reflections From the ‘70s

48 COMEBACK KID Stanley’s Returns to Sherman Oaks

40 CONTROLLED CHAOS Organizational Strategies for the Closet

and then some...

79 DESIGN SHOWCASE Noteworthy Interior Designers & Builders

42 SUMMER GREENERY Accessories That Bring the Outdoors In

92 PROFILES Top Doctors of the Valley

72 WALL FLOWER The Latest Trend in Landscape Design

104 REAL ESTATE Spectacular Local Listings

88 SEEN Faces Spotted on the Party Circuit

130 LAST WORD Summer Bonding

features 16

LAUNCH PAD A celebrity landscape designer creates a stunning, hillside contemporary in Studio City.

26 BUILDING CHARACTER Actors-turned-home-flippers Amanda Pays and Corbin Bernsen on refreshing an older home. 34 COLOR MY WORLD A peek inside the colorful yet serene digs of a creative couple. 51 VALLEYDICTORIANS Join in the fun with our salute to the Class of 2017. 66 CYBILL’S SERENITY Actress Cybill Shepherd gives us a tour of her Encino home.

COVER Cybill Shepherd photographed by Shane O’Donnell; hair and make-up by Helen Jeffers

74 LEGENDARY LOVE NEST A glimpse into the casual Valley lifestyle of glamorous A-listers— Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

UP TO

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Linda Grasso

Jared Sayers

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Heather David, Michael Goldman, Helen Jeffers, Amy L. Mack, Hadley Hall Meares, Kathleen Laccinole, Susan Spillman, Rachel Heller Zaimont PHOTOGRAPHERS Kristin Burns, Robert Deutschman, Tameka Jacobs, Amy Neusinger, Shane O’Donnell, Monica Orozco, Jessica Sterling

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MARKETING & OPERATIONS Partner/Brand Publisher | Emily Stewart Partner/Managing Director, Media & Analytics | Warren Schaffer Brand Publisher | Hannah Lee Associate Brand Publisher | Cherice Tatum Director of Digital | Charles Simmons Director of Film & Video | Bryce Lowe-White Art Director | Angela Akers Operations Manager | Allison Jeackjuntra Marketing Manager | Rachel Gotko Marketing Manager | Danielle Price Accounting | Janet De La Cruz No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Moon Tide Media, LLC. Any and all submissions to this or any Moon Tide Media, LLC publication become the property of Moon Tide Media, LLC and may be used in any media. We reserve the right to edit. TO OUR READERS Ventura Blvd magazine welcomes your feedback. Please send letters to: Reader Response Department, Ventura Blvd Magazine, PO Box 3760, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Please include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published. SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: info@moontidemedia.com or phone: 310-376-7800. Subscriptions are $29 per year.

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

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editor’s letter | LINDA GRASSO

Closet full of emotional baggage?

PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL

By clinging to items that are no longer useful you are subconsciously holding yourself in the past.

Desperately Seeking Cybill Learn creative ways to honor your past and preserve memories while letting go of clutter.

Closet Therapy As a gift to you, hangers included free with your first closet therapy session. Contact Kristin today to book your closet therapy session. 424.302.7972

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VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

When you move into a neighborhood in the Valley, locals immediately point out the celebrity component. After we bought our house in Encino 19 years ago, one of the first neighbors I met gestured to the house directly across the street and said, “Cybill Shepherd used to live there.” It wasn’t long before another neighbor quipped, “Did you hear Cybill Shepherd just moved into that big house with the long driveway?” And then a few years later, it appeared she’d relocated yet again in the very same neighborhood. “See that house on the hillside? Cybill Shepherd just moved in.” Over the years, I’d drive by that house every time I went to the grocery store. And each time, I’d think of her. What is she up to nowadays? Why did she pick Encino to call home? And yes, I’ll admit it—as we all seem to do with great beauties—I wondered what she looks like now. I finally found out. One spring day I received a message on my cell. It was Cybill’s good friend Toni Gmuer inquiring why Cybill had never been in the magazine. “She’s lived in the Valley for 30 years!” Toni quipped. After a brief phone conversation with the actress a few days later, I was ringing her gate callbox. Taller than I expected (I’d forgotten about her modeling days), Cybill answered the door barefoot, in jeans and surrounded by her dogs. Turns out—as you’ll see on page 66—she is still beautiful. Our initial meeting, as well as the photo shoot, was just terrific fun. She was earthy and forthcoming about her career, her family—even some of her legendary romances. And it was also really cool to see her home, which is full of southern charm, reminiscent of her Memphis hometown. We shared laughs about all the random stuff we have in common. We both have an affinity for a particular hair colorist (I recognized the unique shades of blonde in her hair—literally); we both are prolific thank you note writers (the paper kind); and we both enjoy playing hostess. The day before the shoot, she rang. “How many people are coming? I want to make sure I have enough snacks on hand.” I just received a lovely thank you note in the mail from Cybill. Now I need to write her one.

Linda Grasso Editor-in-Chief

Follow me on Instagram @linda.grasso

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july SUB ZERO

A window on the lower level of a Studio City home offers a peek into the pool. More on the next page... PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTIN BURNS

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

Launch Pad

Landscape designer Jon Goldstein has spent most of his adult life making a name for himself as the mastermind of fantasy gardens for posh hotels and celebrity estates. But a sustainable home he built in the hills of Studio City could change that. WRITTEN BY LINDA GRASSO PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA STERLING

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

CLEAN LINES Instead of building up, Jon chose to build into the hillside, offering views for the residents of the house, while preserving those of neighbors.

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

“I wanted to show that you can make a profit without wrecking the character of the neighborhood.”

t’s not like Jon Goldstein needed work. The president and founder of Jonny Appleseed Landscaping, which has won more than a hundred awards from the California Landscape Contractors Association, is always juggling projects. The Toluca Lake resident is behind some of the most beautiful gardens in LA, including those at the Hotel Bel Air and the Beverly Hills Hotel. Closer to home, Jon designed and built the award-winning outdoor events space “Beverly Park,” at The Garland in North Hollywood. Although as a general contractor, he’d taken on some pretty substantial projects—from lavish pools to outdoor fireplaces—he’d never done an entire home and grounds “on spec.” That changed five years ago after he spotted a 1,400-square-foot cottage with sweeping views of Laurel Canyon. Jon bought the property, thinking it’d be a relatively easy “flip.” Good thing he’s good at dealing with fantasies. The project immediately got mired in trying to get city permits. Because the street is private, the city required that it—along with two miles of other streets leading down the mountain—be 20 feet wide. To Jon, it made absolutely no sense. “I said, ‘The house is over 50 years old, and there are many others around it; the area is already developed.’ But [for new construction] they required that the road be wide enough for fire trucks. I can certainly understand that, but I was not changing the street in any way so it was crazy to me.” Jon refused to give up. One day he decided to measure the width of the street. After digging a bit, he discovered that on parts of the roadway soil had eroded down the hillside. Ivy and weeds had grown over it, and Jon suspected there might be asphalt—the original street—underneath. Using a bobcat machine, Jon and his team started removing soil and, sure enough, they discovered black. Soil removal was an arduous process that ultimately required having to build a small retaining wall to shore up the hillside on a neighbor’s property. “We did that and then had the city come back out and remeasure the street. It measured 22 feet wide and so we got our permit after 18 months of trying. I was so happy when it finally happened!” he recalls. Then there were challenges trying to make sure the site was structurally sound. The property did not have a compaction report, “so we needed to treat the hillside like the first 17 feet of soil had no structural value.” While most builders would have simply gone up, Jon decided to go backwards—in the opposite direction of the hill’s edge. “We decided to build into the hill rather than up and block our neighbors view.” That required removing soil, which was reused to create a yard adjacent to the house. Sustainability was also top of mind when it came to the trees, which include native oaks and walnuts. Jon worked with the engineer on the project, Andrew Parker, to protect the roots. “Saving the trees required building huge caissons and walls to retain the entire hill where the house was going. We needed 63 caissons in the end, lots of grade beams and huge “shotcrete” walls [a construction technique whereby concrete is projected at high velocity through a hose onto a surface],” Jon says. The neighborhood, a charming enclave with mostly older homes, was also taken into consideration. “I wanted to show that you can make a profit without wrecking the character of the neighborhood.” The goals were threefold: to maintain privacy for all the neighbors, avoid cutting down mature trees, and use recycled wood, concrete and soil. “Everything demolished was reused where we could,” Jon says. It’s a classic “upside down” property with living quarters upstairs. Floors throughout are grey, wide plank, stained oak. Ironwood is used

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

on the ceiling. Unlike many spec houses, the kitchen, constructed with Brazilian marble and dark-stained cabinetry, is not grand. “I wanted it to feel European, well-appointed and useful. I envisioned a single guy as the buyer.” The three bedrooms, as well as a space conceived of as an office, den or music studio, are on the lower level. One of the coolest features in the house: a captivating view into the body of the pool. A limestone staircase leads to the lower level. At the bottom, there’s a window that not only showcases a colorful mosaic, but also fills the entire landing with light. “It is basically a porthole window. We hired the guy who did the Aquarium of the Pacific,” explains Jon. The energy-efficient pool equipment is housed in a tidy space under the pool, along with a state-of-the-art landscape irrigation system. Drains and pipes capture both greywater (from shower, sink, appliances) and rain water off the decking. After being run through a filter and cleaned of bacteria, it is then reused for watering the trees and plants. “It’s almost drinkable!” quips Jon. Like everything else on the property, from music to lighting, the system is operated from a small, handheld remote via Bluetooth. The hillside is planted with the pink, flowering “rosea” ice plant, agave, “Pride of Madeira” Echinacea and aloe. A Texas Privet hedge follows the fence line for privacy. The 3,800-square-foot home went on the market in April, received multiple offers and sold over the asking price within five days of the listing. As Jon predicted, the buyer was a single guy. Despite all the frustrations, not to mention the extra costs caused by the permitting delays, Jon says months later, he still feels buoyed by the experience—flexing new muscles and having completed a successful project. “I am amping up to do more,” he says with a smile. ■

PHOTOGRAPHED BY KRISTIN BURNS

TOP THAT A shot taken from a porthole window in the office, which was built underneath the pool.

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

In the Dog House The ultimate in pet shelter WRITTEN BY DARREN ELMS

“Mies van der Rohe once said, ‘I don’t want to be interesting. I want to be good,’” shares Alejandro Pijuan, who works as an associate senior designer at LA-based architecture firm Johnson Fain. While he says his job allows him to expand knowledge of his craft, he desired an outlet where he could experiment with a different perspective on design. He joined forces with his wife, Sara, who also has an architecture background, to form Pijuan Design Workshop (PDW). Their primary client? Dog owners. “We aspire to make exceptional design more accessible for the typical family,” he says of his stylish shelters. “Our custom doghouse becomes a platform for individuals to bring this into their office, home or backyard.” All of PDW’s doghouses are fully customizable, depending on the needs of the pet or owner—including size, functionality and style. “Once this is established, we

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work with a multitude of different amenities in what a dog might enjoy on a daily basis,” says Alejandro. “From accessible green roofs to partially covered sun decks to peekaboo windows and artificial turf, we design and integrate as much as we can.” And new styles are in the making. “These will be designed for the urbanite,” he adds, “the individual who lives in a loft, townhome or flat in which they do not have access to a backyard or any type of personal outdoor space. These individuals might have a small or medium-sized dog who deserves their own hideaway ... their own home.” Alejandro and Sara also can combine a doghouse build with a furniture piece, like an end table or side table for space management. And, according to Alejandro, all PDW products are tested "in the market." “We have a 7-year-old Siberian Husky named Adilynn. She is a firm supporter of PDW ... and cheese.” ■

Let’s build together.

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media

Living Pages Bring Mother Nature into your home…no water required.

FLOWERS It has been more than a decade since Carolyne Roehm first shared her love of gardening and flower arranging. Now the former fashion designer turns her own camera lens to that passion with the coffee table book, Flowers, which showcases more than 300 colorful images. The various varieties are from her own abundant gardens—all captured at their most vibrant and exquisite moments throughout the seasons. Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony, $85

PLANT: EXPLORING THE BOTANICAL WORLD Following in the footsteps of the international best seller Map: Exploring the World, this fresh and visually stunning survey celebrates the extraordinary beauty and diversity of plants. It combines photographs and cutting-edge micrograph scans with watercolors, drawings and prints to bring this subject vividly to life. Carefully selected by an international panel of experts, this beautiful compilation of botanically themed images includes iconic work by celebrated artists, photographers, scientists and botanical illustrators, as well as rare and previously unpublished images. Phaidon Press, $59.95

THE BOOK OF PALMS This encyclopedic treasury of 240 exquisite chromolithographic illustrations is based on Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius’ expeditions through Brazil and Peru. From 1817 to 1820, he traveled more than 1,400 miles through the Amazon basin to investigate natural history and native tribes with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix. The result: an unrivaled catalogue of all known genera of the palm family, describing all the palms of Brazil and producing the first maps of palm biogeography. Taschen, $19.99

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

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VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

BUILDING

Character

Actors Corbin Bernsen and Amanda Pays have accomplished some serious feats together. Married for almost 30 years, the couple have raised four sons. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also renovated and sold nearly 25 homes, most of them here in the Valley. The recent empty nesters reflect on their various projects in their first book, Open House: Reinventing Space for Simple Living, coming out in August. The book showcases the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keen appreciation for spotting and preserving diamonds in the rough. Here Amanda shares her top 10 design tips for homeowners seeking to renovate or simply spruce up. WRITTEN BY HEATHER DAVID PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMY NEUSINGER

UNCOVER GEMS There was a house in Toluca Lake that was sitting on the market for months and months. It was just horrible with ugly brick and hideous pillars. But when I walked inside, I immediately looked at it and thought, I can work with the brick by painting it, but we need to take all these pillars down. It was built in the 1940s and had all of the original carpet, mirrors and glass. When we pulled everything out, great floors and high ceilings were revealed. Then with the power of paint, we were able to transform it into a beautiful house with whitewashed brick—giving it a real colonial feel. PRESERVE CHARACTER Corbin and I have always been drawn to old

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homes. We’ve never built a new house and instead always try and savor the spirit of an original structure. We aim to keep any unique details, whether it’s the hardware, drawers, doors or windows. If it’s a place from the 1940s with very simple strip floors, we don’t take the old floors out. Instead we fill in any trouble spots with new wood pieces and stain them to match. It’s been a great way to give old homes a new life and it’s become one of our signatures. KEEP IT SIMPLE I think my style in recent years reflects a French, Nordic, Scandinavian vibe with greys, whites and wood tones. I achieve this by sanding down and grey color-washing the floors and then using white paint for the

walls, ceilings and woodwork. I also add texture by using reclaimed wood in places like around the front door or on a kitchen island. I find that if you have a backdrop of neutral color, you can add so much to that with your furniture, art and collectibles. Buyers can come in and absolutely see how they could live in it with their things. CREATE KITCHEN HUB I love opening up kitchens to outdoor space. Just walking into a house and having that big open space is so inviting. I’ve been turning living rooms or other large rooms into the kitchen in order to make it the hub of the house. The other rooms in your house definitely don’t have to be as big.

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

ADD UNIQUE ELEMENTS Most of the people who have bought our homes are in the arts. If you’re trying to get buyers in the entertainment industry or those who are artistic, you need to add unique features to a home even though you’re flipping it. People don’t necessarily want to walk down the road and see the same home with different color hardware. Any type of unique feature will get you more offers. I always try to integrate a reclaimed feature into our homes. We included an old barn door to separate a living room from a kitchen on a couple of the houses. It adds character and texture. SCOUR SECOND-HAND MARKETS Corbin and I always find something fabulous at flea markets. You need to have your colors and your style in mind so you know exactly what you’re looking for and how it’s going to look in a room with furniture. By the time you get to the swap meet, you’re at a point of layering accessories. I like the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, All Good Things in downtown LA and Big Daddy’s Antiques in Venice. Corbin and I also collect things when we’re traveling. We collect antique hardware and hooks to add to a home. I pick up linens that I can make into cushion covers or simple paneled curtains. CONSIDER CONCRETE Concrete is a natural material that looks fantastic for indoor flooring. It’s also really durable for dogs and children, it can get wet, and it feels great to walk on with bare feet. I think it also brings together all design styles from contemporary to rustic farmhouse and even French country. You should decide on only two or three types of floor materials and keep the palate the same. I would paint a wood floor the same color as the concrete. If you’re going to carpet the bedrooms I would go with a natural material like jute but then add a bit more of taupe in the concrete rather than grey. PERFECT THE PAINT There are only a few paint tones that you can really bank on for the interior and it’s one of the hardest things to get right. Even with a grey palate, you have to be very careful because they can become way too blue. What I do is pick three or four natural earth tones throughout the entire house. I tend to stick with simple colors and not get too busy. I use the same color on the kitchen cabinets,

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FULL HOUSE The couple raised all four of their sons in the Valley; from the left: Finley, Angus, Oliver and Henry.

“WE’VE NEVER BUILT A NEW HOUSE AND INSTEAD ALWAYS TRY AND SAVOR

the spirit of an original structure.

WE AIM TO KEEP ANY UNIQUE DETAILS, WHETHER IT’S THE HARDWARE, DRAWERS, DOORS OR WINDOWS.” in the bathroom and other places so you’re tying the entire interior together. BRING OUTDOORS IN If you can walk into a home and see greenery and have a great outdoor meeting and eating space—it’s a winner—especially here in California with its beautiful warm, balmy environment. We always do the garden of the homes we work on and use drought-tolerant plants like succulents, giving it a more Mediterranean-type vibe. If you live where the sun shines, you need to have an outdoor eating and cooking area. Even just a basic barbecue from Home Depot is great. You can really achieve wonderful style and feel good about what you’re doing, on a budget. There’s no need to spend a lot of money. WELCOME THE WORN People have to get over the idea that a house has to be pristine. Most people don’t

know how to live in their homes and that’s the problem. So when you go into a home, you should get a sense of the people living there as opposed to, “don’t touch this or that.” It’s a whole lifestyle philosophy. Choosing fabrics like linen or cotton are great because they age well. The more worn in, the more beautiful. ■

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The Wild West

Reflecting on growing up in the ‘70s in Calabasas where much has changed—yet some of the simplest joys remain the same. WRITTEN BY KATHLEEN LACCINOLE

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

At the age of 7, on most days I could be found running up Venice Boulevard, across from Venice High, in polyester shorts with a quarter to buy an Abba Zabba at the neighborhood liquor store. Then my world was torpedoed. Three days before my eighth birthday, my parents plucked me from my asphalt wonderland to move to a place called “the valley” and a town named “Calabasas,” which I learned meant pumpkin in Spanish. I was devastated. My mom made her case, “You’ll have your own room.” Nope. “The house has stairs.” Nope. “There will be horses.” Hmmm … We bumped up the dirt road that was to be my street. At the top were three new homes that looked similar. These were called “tract homes,” and our tract was called “Braemar.” It was the middle of nowhere—mostly fields. I wanted to go home, but this was home. Our new house was next to what is now Calabasas High: rolling hills, horse trails, 100-year-old oak trees and a creek—perfect for catching pollywogs. It wasn’t long before my life was filled with wonder and discovery. Wild overgrown fruit trees from the ghostly remains of the Jack Carson ranch were a wonderful source of snacks for us roaming kids. We could jump on a horse and ride bareback and barefoot. Stepping on a rusty nail was a right of passage. We caught lizards in coffee cans, snakes with our bare hands and secretly fed the rabbits that gnawed on vegetables from my dad’s garden. The night was a symphony of chirping crickets, baritone toads, singing coyotes and stars. I remember the African daisies that followed the sun and went to bed with the moon. I still feel the wet purple lupine and the smell of wild mustard that didn’t taste like mustard at all. And if a California poppy reflected orange under your chin, it meant you were pretty. I wasn’t pretty, but the poppies told me otherwise. At the bottom of our street was “Park Modern” where all the streets

were named after birds. It was an older community where the “artsy” people lived. Jimmy Durante lived there and would finish his shows with “Good night Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.” Nearby was a makeshift hippie colony. Whispers went through our wolf pack that Charles Manson once lived there. We stayed away. Hippies scared us. Even scarier was the long-abandoned bomb shelter, deep in the brush. We were certain it housed devil worshippers at night. On serious games of hide and seek, I’d end up in that bomb shelter—cool, dark and quiet with graffitied walls, cigarette butts and thin, quarter-size plastic wrappers—I assumed from the devil worshippers. Old Calabasas was a tourist attraction with an authentic general store and a haunted mansion called Leonis Adobe. Not far off was a man-made lake surrounded by houses where the “rich people lived.” We’d walk to Alpha Beta to buy pop rocks, ride bikes to the Valley Circle Theater and buy the best ice cream ever at “Sav-On” for 25 cents a scoop, long before the likes of Sweet Rose Creamery or Salt & Straw. I was the queen of my imagination, a sun-browned wild child with dirty feet and skinned knees, whose greatest worry was losing a kickball in a cluster of tumbleweed. No need to go home until the African daisies went to sleep. But things changed as they always do. Houses built, streets poured and then schools, malls and restaurants. The Wild West gave way to urban sprawl. Yet given a perfect hike on a perfect day, my daughter and I can still find wild mustard to smell, feel the wet purple lupine and hold a magical poppy under her chin to tell her she’s pretty. And I promise her that no matter how much the world transforms—out there, somewhere—there will always be horses. ■

We caught lizards in coffee cans, snakes with our bare hands and secretly fed the rabbits that gnawed on vegetables from my dad’s garden. The night was a symphony of chirping crickets, baritone toads, singing coyotes and stars.”

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

COLOR MY WORLD A creative power couple brings their passion for the carefree Caribbean lifestyle to their Studio City home. WRITTEN BY SUSAN SPILLMAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT DEUTSCHMAN

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

rom the outside, Robert Deutschman and Sybile Kohn-Deutschman’s ranch home looks like a lot of houses in the Colfax Meadows neighborhood. The pea green structure is well tended and full of charm. But once the front door opens, it’s anything but typical. Visitors are met with a vibrant palette of burnt oranges and golden yellows. On the walls there are spectacular framed photos of Cuba, Thailand and the Caribbean. Also on the property: an eclectic assortment of Buddha artifacts, three energetic dogs and the coolest couple north of Mulholland Drive. Rob, a fashion photographer and commercial director, and Sybile, a stylist and designer, met 15 years ago on a photo shoot. They got engaged two years later on the deck of an over-the-water suite in Tahiti, married soon thereafter and have been working together ever since. With their 11-year-old son, Kian, in tow, they travel the world shooting big-time campaigns for clients like Pottery Barn, Crocs and Hyatt Hotel’s luxury boutique brand, Andaz. Photo spreads that don’t take them abroad, including Kylie and Kendall Jenner’s Steve Madden shoe campaign and Eva Mendez’s Interview magazine layout, are often shot here at the couple’s home, which easily doubles as a lush resort in Mexico or Tahiti. The property includes a 2,500-square-foot main house and an equal size guesthouse that serves as their offices. The two are separated by a rectangular travertine-tiled pool, covered patio, two outdoor fireplaces, custom teak cabinetry made by Rob and walls saturated in cheerful sunrise shades. Chill-out lounge music and Nag Champa incense complete the ambiance. “We wanted to make our home feel like a resort so that when we got home from traveling around the world for work, we didn’t feel like we had to go anywhere else,” says Rob. Inspiration for the Deutschman’s décor aesthetic is their love of the easygoing lifestyle and lively colors of the Caribbean. Sybile, whose parents are both French, was raised in Tahiti, St. Bart’s and the Dominican Republic. Rob fell in love with the region’s turquoise water and white sand beaches while shooting numerous swimwear ads on the islands. The most striking Caribbean influence is the bold use of color inside and outside the home, including purple with black accents in

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“We wanted to make our home feel like a resort, so that when we got home from traveling around the world for work, we didn’t feel like we had to go anywhere else."

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T WORRY. BE HAPPY. A rainbow of color, comfy furnishings and photographs from traveling the world create the perfect space to kick back.

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

the master bedroom. “She started with one wall, and then it just became a virus,” shares Rob. “As a stylist and designer I kind of live for color,” explains Sybile. “I get a lot of talent who come in, and they wear just black. I’m not anti-black. But I try to get people out of black because I see how peoples’ whole auras change when they wear different colors.” Their devotion to Buddhism is apparent as well. “I put a lot of Buddhas in each room because I like to be constantly reminded about what I say and how I act,” says Sybile. “We love surrounding ourselves with symbols and elements that mean things that make you happy and inspire you to live a good life.” Color and symbolism are also the driving tenants of Sybile’s recently launched clothing and lifestyle brand, Rum Punch, available at rumpunch.com. The line features sustainable, hand-dyed hemp clothing for children, emblazoned with inspirational messages like “Live the Life,” as well as yoga mats, throw blankets, women’s dresses and home goods brought back from her travels to India and Tibet. The couple run their businesses out of the two-story guesthouse, which also has a yoga/exercise studio and sauna. “We were about to sign a lease on office space right before we found this place,” says Rob. “It’s turned out to be ideal.” The only drawback: such a convenient and comfortable office sometimes makes it hard to end the workday. “One beautiful day I looked out the window,” recalls Sybile. “Each of my three dogs was on their own lounge chair by the pool, while I’m in my office preaching ‘live the life you love,’ ‘don’t work so hard,’ and ‘be in the moment.’” ■ INTIMATE SPACES Sybile’s favorite room is a dressing area where she often blogs about lifestyle on her Rum Punch website.

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Controlled Chaos True Religion jeans co-founder Kym Gold offers 5 tips for maintaining order in the closet. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DONNELL

It borders on absurd. You go in your closet, and amidst all the stuffed racks and overflowing bins, you can’t find anything to wear. The truth is, no matter how great your clothes or accessories are, if you can’t find it you might as well not own it. No one knows that better than True Religion jeans co-founder and fashion designer Kym Gold. Her experience running the brand’s brick and mortar stores taught her the importance of keeping items in an orderly fashion. And that lesson also applies to her Encino home. “When my closet is organized well, everything is easier to find and my decisions are made more quickly,” she says. Here is a peek inside Kym’s meticulous closet and her strategies for keeping it “just so.” CLUSTER CLOTHES Putting like clothes together makes it easier to see what you have. Whether it is jeans, day dresses, night dresses, workout clothes, etc., grouping by likeness makes it easy to find things immediately. GROUP SHOES Separating by the style of the shoe (tennis, high heel, mid-heel, sandals, etc.) helps you find exactly what you’re looking for and is more pleasing to the eye.

IDENTIFY SURPLUS AREAS Organization is key—particularly when you own a lot of one kind of item. I have a lot of jeans, so it is really important for me to keep them in some type of order. I found these black labels at The Container Store that you write on with chalk. The labels, as you can see in the photo above, are a quirky and useful way to define the various styles of my jean collection. USE A CRITICAL EYE Clear out what you know you won’t wear in a particular season because it has gone out of style or perhaps you have tired of wearing it. Using the jeans example again—like many items they have a cyclical life—they go in and out of fashion. By the way, I also recycle and alter my jeans to fit my own style and current trends. SWAP OUT SEASONALLY Give items that are in season prime position in your closet; move out items that are not. For example, I keep my jeans based on seasonal style. Jeans with a capri cut or white jeans lend themselves to spring/summer. So right now they are front and center in my closet. When I switch them out in fall, I put them in a clear bin and label it. Then I put the bin up on the closet shelves—out of eyesight. When the weather turns, the fall/winter stuff comes out. ■

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Paper salad bowl ($6.50) in “meadow” and appetizer bowl in “lime” ($5). 10 items per package; sophistiplate.com Waverly Bohemian Swirl fabric, $25 per yard; joann.com

Summer Greenery

Trove pendant, $595; Lightopia, lightopiaonline.com

Pantone’s fresh and inviting 2017 Color of the Year adds seasonal zest to the home.

Artisan Series 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer, $430; KitchenAid, kitchenaid.com BlueStar kitchen range, $11,675; Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, ferguson.com

Botanical Garden Trellis Tray, $595; Oscar de la Renta, oscardelarenta.com Wallpaper by LA-based artist Michelle Oppenheimer, $16 per square foot; michelleoppenheimer.com Fendi Casa Berenice armchair, $3,990; Luxury Living Group, luxurylivinggroup.com

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the sauce

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL TAKE SECONDS

Stanleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s returns to Sherman Oaks and fans line up for familiar fare like French toast with berries. More on page 48...

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Pet Project By day, they’re veterinarians. By night, two Valley women trade their hospital whites for chef whites to whip up some of the tastiest ice cream on the Boulevard. WRITTEN BY RACHEL HELLER ZAIMONT PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

Sindy Habib and Kelly Hall

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Creating premium ice cream from scratch is time-consuming. From concocting a new recipe to sourcing artisanal ingredients to whipping up large batches, countless hours go into the production of a single scoop. That’s why opening Sonny’s Amazing Italian Ices & Crèmes in Sherman Oaks was an impressive—and unlikely—feat for its two owners, Kelly Hall and Sindy Habib. Both are fulltime veterinarians. “It’s a miracle that we opened,” muses Kelly. Kelly and Sindy cooked up the idea when they were coworkers at a veterinary hospital years ago. Sindy’s father had an ice cream and Italian ice business while she was growing up in New York, and Kelly always loved to bake, so they envisioned opening a shop together for fun. The only hitch? Neither of them had made ice cream before. “We knew nothing about any of this, so we were watching YouTube videos in our spare time,” Kelly recalls with a laugh. “We were watching and saying, ‘This might be possible.’” After months of learning the craft and investing in a batch freezer, they rented their space in a Sherman Oaks strip mall and brought their daydream to life. Sonny’s opened in January 2016 and now serves more than 50 flavors of ice cream, Italian ice and crème ice—a hybrid of ice and dairy. All are made fresh, in-house. Popular ice cream flavors include chocolate milk and cookies, strawberry balsamic and the aptly-named “stakeout”—a blend of coffee and doughnuts. The crème ice menu features inventive pairings like Nutella with ganache and mint chip. And in the summer, nothing slakes thirst like a scoop of Italian ice in peach or mango. Fresh ingredients are key: oranges and lemons are hand-squeezed and crispy waffle cones and bowls are made from their own recipes. Creative shakes, sundaes and homemade cookie sandwiches are also offered, along with a rich “butterbeer” float. Customers in the know can order off of Sonny’s secret menu of decadent DIY shakes. And just ask the gals what they can do with a Moon Pie. “We wanted a mom-and-pop place where everyone knows you,” Sindy says. “Everybody who comes in finds something they like.” During the week, Kelly works at a clinic in Westwood and Sindy works at a veterinary center in Sherman Oaks. Both are dedicated and passionate about spending their free time in the world of chilled confections. So who is Sonny? It’s not Matt Hoch, Sindy’s boyfriend, who is often the only male behind the counter. Sonny was Sindy’s black lab, memorialized in a whimsical mural on the wall, depicting a cross-legged dog on a yoga mat with a bowl of ice cream tucked in one paw. “We both love our animals,” Kelly says. “We figured he was a good representative of us. It’s just right: the Buddha/Zen dog contemplating ice cream. What could be more LA?” ■

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the sauce

Comeback Kid After closing for two years, a Sherman Oaks stalwart returns with a vengeance. WRITTEN BY JOSHUA LURIE

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

Stanley’s, with its large, comfy bar and charming outdoor patio was a staple in Sherman Oaks for 32 years. Two of its bartenders had been there since the very beginning; diners could always count on the salads being fresh and crisp and the burgers being perfectly cooked. The restaurant even survived a spate of nearby openings, including Sweet Butter, just across the street. There always seemed to be a steady crowd, so longtimers were stunned when Stanley’s suddenly closed in 2015. Everyone wondered: what happened? Turns out the owners—Greg Sadofsky, Ramin Ghaffar and Luis Morales—lost their lease. A new landlord replaced them with Te’kila, an existing tenant from Hollywood. Instead of sulking, they immediately plotted a return, but where? Eighteen months later, the old Fab’s spot became available—a prime corner space just south of Ventura Boulevard. The trio signed a lease and launched renovations. Greg says, “We were at our original location on Ventura for over 30 years, and it only seemed right to continue serving in an area we know and love.” The community is apparently returning that love. Drive by Stanley’s on any night, and you’ll see a crowd spilling out onto the sidewalk. “It’s been amazing,” says Greg. “I thought we’d be immediately busy but not this busy. It’s been fun and stressful.” Stanley’s is open daily from lunch through dinner, and even during standard lulls, the restaurant is drawing crowds to order classics like Amy’s grapefruit salad, rotisserie chicken and burgers by the bushel. The space now features a powder blue façade with highbacked grey booths, aqua banquettes and a full bar that faces

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flat screen TVs. Art dons the walls, courtesy of nearby MRG Fine Art gallery, which rotates paintings. During our recent visit, eye-catching pieces ranged from colorful abstract shapes to a young kid in a Detroit hat, rocking chains. Greg says he recognizes a number of repeat customers who “pretty much know what to expect,” but adds he is also seeing faces from a younger generation. He credits a “different vibe” and “homier feel” for part of the appeal. The restaurant is also on a highly visible corner along Van Nuys Boulevard. Surrounded by homes and condos, Stanley’s now enjoys more of a neighborhood feel and plenty of foot traffic. The new space does pose certain logistical challenges. The original location was much larger, with more seating and a big patio. “We’ve had to scrap for space,” Greg says. “We had more storage space, everything.” Not that they’re complaining. Although dozens of new restaurants opened in the area while they were closed, Stanley’s may have been gone, but it was not forgotten. ■ Stanley’s 4336 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks 818-453-8025

Straight to the source to reveal Valley food trends!

The Destination For Valley Foodies.

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

datebook

Congratulations Class of

Congratulations, Class of 2017! Colleges and universities that the Class of 2017 graduates will be attending include:

Barnard College

Lewis and Clark College

University of California, Santa Barbara

Berklee School of Music

Loyola University New Orleans (3)

University of Chicago

Bennington College

Loyola Marymount University

Boston College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Boston University (2)

McGill University

Bucknell University

Middlebury College

Cal Lutheran University

California Institute of the Arts

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2)

California State University, Northridge (2) Carleton College

Chapman University (2)

New York University (5) Occidental College

Ohio State University

Pacific Northwest College of Art Rhode Island School of Design San Francisco State University Santa Monica College (2)

Colby College

Sarah Lawrence College

Colgate University

Scripps College

Colorado College

Skidmore College

Columbia University

Stevens Institute of Technology

Emerson College

Syracuse University (2)

Feather River College

Franklin & Marshall College Georgetown University Grinnell College

The New School Trinity College

Tulane University (5)

University of Alabama

Hamilton College (2)

University of Arizona

Johns Hopkins University

University of California, Berkeley

King’s College London

University of California, Los Angeles (6)

University of California, Santa Cruz (7) University of Colorado, Boulder (3) University of Denver

University of Edinburgh University of Iowa

University of Miami

University of Michigan (5) University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania University of Portland

University of Puget Sound University of Redlands (2) University of San Diego

University of Southern California (8) University of Texas at Austin University of Utah

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin-Madison (4) Vassar College

Washington University of St. Louis (2) Whitman College

Willamette University

Campbell Hall is a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving and responsible human beings.

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

Episcopal, independent, coeducational college preparatory day school for grades kindergarten through 12. campbellhall.org • 4533 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91607 • 818.980.7280

valleydictorians Our annual salute to the valedictorians of the Valley as they head off to college. Indeed, the future looks brightâ&#x20AC;¦ PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

Cameron Aaron Bridges Academy Connecticut College I hope to use all my skills to create a better world—one where being divergent is celebrated and every person feels safe to be themselves. I encourage everyone to raise their voice. Stay true to yourself and let creativity and passion drive you to find your heart’s calling.”

Henri Stern The Buckley School Stanford University I’m a little worried that we—the youngest of the millennials—may be becoming the generation of meh—the generation of overblown, manufactured, internet outrage with nothing to back it up. My worry is that I have landed in the apathetic generation. We are supposed to be the generation to change the world, yet 38 million eligible voters in our generation stay at home on polling day. We complain about policy, the direction of our nation, and the myriad of problems 52

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

gripping this country and this earth, and yet we don’t do the most basic of things to stop events from going in the wrong direction. In a few years, we will be the most politically powerful age demographic in this country and we need to start exercising that power. This is not about being liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, independent, libertarian or socialist. This is about being actively engaged.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLASS OF 2017!

Milken students were admitted to over 100 universities and colleges for fall 2017 including: The University of Alabama American Jewish University American University The American University of Paris Arizona State University The University of Arizona Berklee College of Music Binghamton University Boston University Brandeis University University of British Columbia Brown University California Institute of Technology California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo California State University, Northridge California State University, Sacramento University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of California, Riverside University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University University of Chicago Claremont McKenna College University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado College Columbia College Chicago Cornell University University of Delaware University of Denver DePaul University Drexel University Duke University Eastern Washington University Emory University Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Franklin & Marshall College The George Washington University University of Idaho University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Indiana University at Bloomington Jewish Theological Seminary of America Johns Hopkins University University of Kansas Kenyon College Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Los Angeles College of Music Loyola Marymount University

University of Maryland, College Park McGill University Miami University, Oxford University of Miami Michigan State University University of Michigan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Montana State University, Bozeman The University of Montana, Missoula New York University The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Northeastern University Northern Arizona University University of Northern Iowa Northwestern University Occidental College Oregon State University University of Oregon Pace University, New York City Pepperdine University Princeton University Purdue University University of Redlands Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology San Diego State University San Francisco State University

University of San Francisco Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College Sonoma State University University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Stanford University Stetson University Stony Brook University Syracuse University The University of Texas, Austin The New School Tufts University Tulane University Union College, New York Vanderbilt University University of Victoria University of Virginia Washington State University Washington University in St. Louis University of Washington Wesleyan University Western University University of Wisconsin, Madison Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Katie Chiou North Hollywood High Brown University Thanks most of all to my mom, who not only will do the heavy lifting when it comes to tuitions, but also believed that I could get into great colleges and sat through my touchiness during application season. I’m excited for the independence and exploration of college, taking all the classes that I can manage in whatever subject I so choose, whether it be raising plants in a lab for medicine or finally joining an a capella group. It’s a great place to be in—a senior waiting for graduation. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Gift Riley-Norman iLEAD North Hollywood University of California, Los Angeles We’ve been taught that a one-sizefits-all model must to be applied to all of our relationships. But every person is different and so is every relationship. Luckily this isn’t the only approach. It is only through the conscious pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement that we can realize the full extent of human happiness.”

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

CONGRATULATIONS TO VIEWPOINT SCHOOL’S 143 SENIORS IN THE CLASS OF 2017 FOR THEIR ACCEPTANCES TO OUTSTANDING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

Amherst College • American University • Arcadia University • Arizona State University • Auburn University • Baldwin Wallace University • Bard College • Baylor University • Belmont University • Boston College • Boston University • Bowdoin College • Bradley University • Brandeis University • Brown University • Bucknell University • California Baptist University • California Institute of Technology • California Institute of the Arts • California Lutheran University • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona • California State University, Channel Islands • California State University, Chico • California State University, Dominguez Hills • California State University, Fullerton • California State University, Long Beach • California State University, Los Angeles • California State University, Monterey Bay • California State University, Northridge • California State University, San Bernardino • California State University, San Marcos • Carnegie Mellon University • Case Western Reserve University • Chapman University • Claremont McKenna College • Clark University • Clemson University • Colby College • Colgate University • College of Charleston • College of William and Mary • Colorado College • Colorado State University • Columbia College Chicago • Columbia University • Cornell University • Cornish College of the Arts • Dartmouth College • Denison University • DePaul University • Dominican University of California • Drexel University • Duke University • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott • Emerson College • Emory University • Fordham University • Franklin Pierce University • Furman University • George Mason University • Georgetown University • Georgia Institute of Technology • Gordon College • Green Mountain College • Harvard University • Hawaii Pacific University • High Point University • Hobart and William Smith Colleges • Hofstra University • Humboldt State University • Illinois Wesleyan University • Indiana University at Bloomington • Ithaca College • Johns Hopkins University • King’s College London • Knox College • Lafayette College • Lehigh University • Lewis & Clark College • Loyola Marymount University • Marist College • Marquette University • Marymount Manhattan College • Massachusetts Institute of Technology • McDaniel College • Miami University, Oxford • Middlebury College • Moorpark College • Mount Holyoke College • New York University • North Carolina State University • Northeastern University • Northern Arizona University • Northwestern University • Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences • Occidental College • Oregon State University • Oxford College of Emory University • Pace University, New York City • Pacific Northwest College of Art • Pennsylvania State University • Pepperdine University • Pratt Institute • Purdue University • Reed College • Rice University • Ringling College of Art and Design • Robert D. Clark Honors College, University of Oregon • Rochester Institute of Technology • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology • Saint Mary's College of California • San Diego State University • San Francisco State University • San Jose State University • Santa Clara University • Santa Monica College • Savannah College of Art and Design • School of the Art Institute of Chicago • Scripps College • Seattle University • Smith College • Sonoma State University • Southern Methodist University • Stanford University • Susquehanna University • Swarthmore College • Syracuse University • Temple University • The American University of Paris • The George Washington University • The London School of Economics and Political Science • The New School - All Divisions • The Ohio State University • The University of Alabama • The University of Arizona • The University of Edinburgh • The University of Georgia • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill • The University of Texas, Austin • The University of Texas, Dallas • Trinity College • Trinity University • Tufts University • Tulane University • Union College (New York) • University at Buffalo The State University of New York • University College London • University of British Columbia • University of California, Berkeley • University of California, Davis • University of California, Irvine • University of California, Los Angeles • University of California, Merced • University of California, Riverside • University of California, San Diego • University of California, Santa Barbara • University of California, Santa Cruz • University of Chicago • University of Cincinnati • University of Colorado at Boulder • University of Denver • University of Hawaii at Manoa • University of Illinois at Chicago • University of Kansas • University of La Verne • University of Maryland, College Park • University of Massachusetts, Amherst • University of Miami • University of Michigan • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities • University of Mississippi • University of Missouri Columbia • University of New England • University of New Mexico • University of Notre Dame • University of Oregon • University of Pennsylvania • University of Portland • University of Puget Sound • University of Redlands • University of Richmond • University of San Diego • University of San Francisco • University of South Carolina • University of Southern California • University of St Andrews • University of Tennessee, Knoxville • University of the Pacific • University of Utah • University of Vermont • University of Virginia • University of Washington • University of Wisconsin, Madison • Ursinus College • Vanderbilt University • Villanova University • Wake Forest University • Washburn University of Topeka • Washington and Jefferson College • Washington College • Washington State University • Washington University in St. Louis • Wesleyan University • Western New England University • Western New Mexico University • Whittier College • Whitworth University • Willamette University • Williams College • Xavier University • Yale University

WE WISH THEM WELL IN THEIR BRIGHT FUTURES AHEAD.

23620 Mulholland Highway | Calabasas, California 91302 | 818.591.6500 | www. viewpoint .org

Jason Muljad Crespi Carmelite University of California, Los Angeles When I stepped into the corridors of Crespi, I was queasy and I felt unsettled. I stepped out of a community that I relished as home and I flew forward into a future that allowed for great expectations. Wide-eyed, somewhat fresh-faced and absolutely clueless, I did not know much about the ideals of being a Crespi man, much less understanding the complexity of brotherhood. It took me four years and a retreat with K138, but I’m proud to say that the neophyte who once cowered at the prospect of talking to crowds has become a confident Celt that has so much love for this school and the guys right in front of me.”

Brendan Rose Harvard-Westlake School Yale University Teenagers tend to think of old books, or even old people, as completely irrelevant to their lives. Especially with self-driving cars and artificial intelligence on the horizon, society only seems to look ahead. But I know better. I looked to the past, and it helped me move forward.”

Seva Castleberry North Hollywood High Duke University

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

Take a moment to remember the people that were with you on this journey—the ones that can be called nothing but truly, genuinely, your friends. And without this huge and complex amalgam of experiences, maybe you wouldn’t have them.

The nostalgia that I feel right now, that I think you might feel as well, this is what this school means to us. So let’s try to appreciate it, at least for a moment, before we are off. Off and never truly the same, because we will be something greater.”

iLEAD NoHo is now accepting enrollment for Fall 2017. Come and tour our campus or join us for our next Open House. iLEAD NoHo 14701 Friar St., Van Nuys

iLEADNoHo.org iLEAD NoHo congratulates its second graduating class – Class of ‘17!

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i LE A D

They will attend a wide a array of four-year colleges and universities in Fall 2017, such as Oberlin College, Columbia University, Wellesley College, Brown University, Skidmore College, Dickinson College, UCLA, Sarah Lawrence College, Trinity College Dublin, School of Visual Arts, Hampshire College, Eckerd College and many others.

.O R

S E R VI

Congratulations to the YOUNG EXPERTS of the Class of 2017, Cameron Aaron and Grady Shoemaker.

Over the course of three years, Cameron and Grady focused on areas of interest, acquiring highly advanced interdisciplinary knowledge, skills, and experiences in their chosen fields. Cameron’s exploration of artificial intelligence and neural networks connected him with experts in the industry - including members of Google’s DeepMind project (deepmind.com) - and his Ted-Ed talk on the topic attracted the interest of technology professionals, who contacted him for exploratory discussions about future collaboration. Grady’s work in video game design and production included a mentorship with a professional from DigiPen, a top design school. This resulted in the production of several games utilizing engines that manufacture dynamics of physics and motion, creating realistic, intuitive, and engaging experiences for players. www.bridges.edu

818.506.1091

“The opportunity to explore, discover, and develop talent is the greatest gift we can give children. Passion and curiosity are a wonderful combination.” - Doug Lenzini Admissions Director

doug.lenzini@bridges.edu

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

Lorenzo Sampson iLEAD North Hollywood Columbia University I came to this school where students are free to express themselves and where teachers and staff trust us enough to give us more independence and responsibility than we’d be able to get anywhere else. When I first got here, it seemed too good to be true. Never before had I been to a school where teachers cared so deeply about their field, their students or just teaching in general. I think the faculty and their closeness with the student body are what make this school so damn exceptional, and I think we owe them a huge thank you.”

Christina Boatwright Campbell Hall Johns Hopkins University The future will entail that we use the intellect we have gained throughout our education but will also teach us something in every experience it hands us. As we step into the years to come, it is important that we take with us all that we have learned and keep an open mind to the wisdom that is waiting for us.”

Aidan Faustina Sierra Canyon School Massachusetts Institute of Technology

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

Don’t be afraid to do what feels right, even if that means doing something really weird or pursuing a “useless” passion just because it piques your interest. The best advice I can give you about the future is not to worry about it too much … because you owe it to yourself to pursue your own future differently

from the way society or anyone else told you to. Because if you can do that, that’s poetry, and as the German philosopher Martin Heidegger believed and Elon Musk and his tunnels exemplify, when we do right by ourselves today, tomorrow can’t help but come easy.”

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Kourosh Ghaemmaghami Crespi Carmelite Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art In the words of Randy Pausch: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” High school has been a roller coaster. Although sometimes the cards we were dealt weren’t the best, we all played beautifully to get to this point. I have each and every one of my peers, all 118 of my Crespi brothers, to thank for helping me through the tough times and helping me in getting to this point. I have to thank them for helping me to play my hand properly. I never thought it was possible for a bond this powerful to exist.”

Richard Liu Highland Hall Waldorf School University of California, Santa Cruz ‘Honing gives a sharp edge to a sword, and bitter cold adds keen fragrance to plum blossom.’ This poem is one of my favorite Chinese poems. Since I made a decision to study abroad, I have experienced a lot of changes and difficulties. In the past two years in the U.S., every time I’ve been badly shaken by the unknown quantity around me, the poem has helped me to get through the rough times. It also inspires me.”

Zoe Beckman Viewpoint School Brown University

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The best advice I’ve received in a while was from a twenty-something-year-old named Phil who worked at a ropes course. He said: the bravest people are those who are the most afraid. If you take someone who calmly walks across a log 30 feet in the air and compare them to someone else whimpering and barely moving, you assume the

calm person is more brave. However, the terrified person actually has to overcome so much more fear to cross the same distance. Therefore, if you want to know how strong you are, you have to try the things that scare the living daylights out of you, because they give you the greatest opportunities to test your courage.”

Louisville High School A L e g a c y o f E x c e l l e n c e i n C a t h o l i c E d u c a t i o n f o r Yo u n g Wo m e n 22300 Mulholland Drive Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-346-8812 www.louisvillehs.org Half Page June 2017.indd 1

6/4/2017 6:18:39 PM

Congratulations

W E S T R I D G E S C H O O L C L A S S o f 2 017

Members of the Westridge Class of 2017 will continue their educational pursuits at the following institutions:

Boston University (3) University of British Columbia California Baptist University California Institute of Technology California Polytechnic State Univ., San Luis Obispo (3) University of California at: Berkeley (9) Los Angeles Santa Cruz

Carnegie Mellon Univ. (2) Chapman University University of Chicago (2) Claremont McKenna College Univ. of Colorado Denver Columbia University (2) Cornell University Davidson College University of Delaware Georgetown University (2)

Howard University Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Loyola Marymount University New York University (4) Northeastern University Northwestern University (2) Occidental University (2) Ohio Wesleyan University Pasadena City College

University of Pennsylvania Pomona College Purdue University Rice University Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Scripps College (3) Univ. of Southern California St. Olaf College (2) Stanford University (3)

Swarthmore College Tulane University (2) Vanderbilt University Vassar College Washington University in St. Louis (2) University of Washington Willamette University

W E S T R I D G E S C H O O L • 324 MADELINE DRIVE, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91105 • 626.799.1153 • WWW.WESTRID GE.O RG

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 6TH GRADE GRADUATES

Milan Bachar Ryan Brunswick Alex Dienstag Nicole Diner Oren Figenblat Jadyn Greene Natalie Herskovitz Abby Macarah Solomon Margolis Shahar Ohev-Zion Tomer Ohev-Zion Joel Osher Jacob Silverstein

We are so proud of the amazing individuals they are and wish them lots of good luck as they move on to the following middle schools: The Buckley School • Brentwood School • Campbell Hall • Geffen Academy • Heschel Day School • Milken Community Schools 12020 Burbank Blvd., Valley Village, CA 91607 • 818.766.4992 • aaedayschool.org

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Grady Shoemaker Bridges Academy University of California, Santa Barbara

Abigail Urbina Providence High School University of California, Los Angeles There is a fine line between being irrational and being dauntless. Never let the fear of failure prevent you from venturing out of your comfort zone and exploring new things. Always continue to be open-minded and willing to take risks, because you never know what life has in store for you. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because no matter how vulnerable you may feel at times, these learning experiences will help you grow. You alone hold the pen to write the script of your life; don’t let others take that pen from you.”

Other Notable Valleydictorians Mariam Baghdasaryan

Ulysses S. Grant High School University of California, Los Angeles

Micaela Cole

Oaks Christian School University of Southern California

Tamar Shine

Milken Community High School Wesleyan University

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datebook

Summer Swooning GOING ON NOW Happy Birthday, Mr. Hockney: Self Portraits In honor of painter David Hockney’s 80th birthday, this exhibition features self-portraits, composite Polaroids and the artist’s highly regarded photo collage Pearblossom Hwy. Through November 26. getty.edu

Extreme Mammals

This exhibition explores evolutionary standouts and oddities in the 200-million-year history of mammals. Includes specimens from the La Brea Tar Pits and footage of P-22, the Griffith Park mountain lion. nhm.org

Animal Farm

A musical adaption of the George Orwell novel runs at the outdoor theatre in Topanga Canyon through October 1. theatricum.com

JULY

2, 3 & 4 Pentatonix at the Bowl

The three-time, Grammy®-winning a cappella group hits the stage for a three-night appearance with The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Fireworks included. kcrw.org/events

The Two Gentlemen of Verona Griffith Park

Shawn Mendes

Staples Center

Master Chef Skills BLVD Kitchen

Pack a picnic for this performance of a classic Shakespeare coming-of-age comedic play performed at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park on July 29 & 30.Wednesday-Sunday evening performances will be held beginning August 2 through September 3. iscla.org

The multi-platinum singer/songwriter appears with special guest Charlie Puth at the Staples Center on July 12, to promote his second album, Illuminate. staplescenter.com

This chef training camp is geared for kids ages 10 and above. They’ll learn knife skills, sauce creation, pastry making and more. Camp culminates with a multi-course feast prepared by the chefs. July 31 – August 4. theblvdkitchen.com

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4 July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza

Over 60,000 people expected to attend this free concert “on the green” at Warner Center, along with a 20-minute fireworks display. 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. valleycultural.org

14 Tony Bennett

After opening selections from Dudamel and the LA Phil, Tony Bennett performs a set with his own jazz quartet. hollywoodbowl.com

27 American Tune w/Sean Watkins & Friends

Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Sean Watkins kicks off this season of Sunset Concerts by celebrating the legacy of Paul Simon. skirball.org

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Cybill’s Serenity ^ Catching up with longtime Encino resident Cybill Shepherd

WRITTEN BY LINDA GRASSO PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE O’DONNELL MAKE UP AND HAIR BY HELEN JEFFERS

“I

think it is really important to know why you live where you do,” muses Cybill Shepherd. The actress, well known for her movie (The Last Picture Show, The Heartbreak Kid, Taxi Driver) and award-winning TV career (Moonlighting and Cybill) has called Encino home for the past 33 years. “I had lived in Bel Air when I was with [the director] Peter Bogdanovich. And I just didn’t love it,” she explains. After eight years of living together, the couple split up. “He already had two kids with Polly Platt and didn’t want any more. I really wanted to have children.” Cybill married and had a daughter. She married again and had twins—a boy and a girl. “I just thought the Valley was a better place to raise kids. The Valley is down to earth and my kids went to school here. Plus, I wanted to avoid the tour buses that you get on the other side of the hill.” She lived on a large estate in Royal Oaks in the ‘90s and then decided to downscale. “My manager kept

telling me it just wasn’t a good idea to spend that much money each month!” she laughs. After a two-year search, she saw a traditional Cape Cod-style home perched high in the hills overlooking Havenhurst Blvd., as it swirls up the canyon toward Mulholland. “That was 17 years ago and I remember it so clearly. I knew the house was perfect and I paid the asking price on the spot. It was a smart move. Of all my homes, this one is my favorite.” With a tall wall surrounding the property, the vibe instantly changes once the gate opens. The gentle sound of wind chimes is the first “hello.” A fern-filled walkway leads to the front door. The three-bedroom, two-story home, which the actress shares with her three small dogs, was built in 1965. From fabric to furnishings, décor is inspired by the actress’ southern heritage as well as her half-century-long career. Many of the accessories and accent pieces are memorabilia. There’s Cybill on the cover of Vogue, photographed by Bert Stern. There she is on the cover of Rolling Stone,

SOUTHERN COMFORT A baby grand piano and an antique slot machine, inherited from her grandfather, are two of Cybill’s favorite pieces. “It still works!” quips the actress.

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'’I

think it is really important to know why you live where you do.’’

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SUN KISSED Cybill’s home has 180° views of the Valley. Dotted across the property are various shevas and buddhas. “I like spiritual things,” she says, adding, “I pick them up everywhere.”

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shot by Matthew Ralston. Several issues of Life magazine with the actress on the cover grace the baby grand piano. A step-down bar in the living room has been transformed into an awards showcase. A large stone Buddha and an illustration of Orson Welles by the well-known caricaturist Al Hirshfeld add a bit of levity. Though there are three Golden Globes on the counter, “I think the People’s Choice Award is my favorite because it came from the people,” she remarks. The peach, moss-green and bright yellow color palate carried throughout the home is inspired by several oil paintings she owns. They are the work of Peter’s father, Borislav Bogdanovich, an artist who lived in Serbia. “Borislav died while we were shooting The Last Picture Show, so I never had the pleasure of meeting him. Looking back, I just don’t know how Peter got through that movie with such sad news,” shares Cybill, as she gazes at a painting above the living room fireplace. She calls her most recent endeavor, the dramatic comedy Rose, which she shot in New Mexico last year, “my best work yet.” The film follows Rose (played by Shepherd), a recently disabled and widowed ex-cop who discovers she has a short time to live. Confined to a motorized wheelchair, she takes a road trip through the southwest in an effort to reconcile with her estranged son. Along the way, she finds love with a cowboy played by James Brolin. “It’s harder as you get older to get roles. I hope this movie will give me the opportunity to do more,” she notes matter-of-factly. Now 67, the actress’s blonde, ethereal looks have morphed into a more regal beauty. Still intact: the sky-high cheekbones and creamy complexion that launched her career. Cybill started modeling as a teenager (she was both the “Breck girl” and the “Kodak girl”) and ultimately wound up on a cover of Glamour. Bogdanovich spotted the magazine and requested a meeting. “I was just 19 and I’d never acted before. I showed up at the meeting at The Essex House in New York City in cut-off jeans. He said it was something about the way I ate strawberries that convinced him I could act,” she chuckles. The director cast her in The Last Picture Show, which won two Oscars and thrust Cybill into the national spotlight. As a girl, it wasn’t acting but singing that was her passion. She made an album in the ‘70s and at one point studied to be an opera singer. “And now I’ve returned to that, you might say,” Cybill explains. She is booked to sing at Vitello’s Supper Club in Studio City on August 5. “I’m not trying to get out there and impress critics or anything. I just want to spend an evening with my longtime fans. It’s a chance for us to be together and for me to thank them for being so supportive all these years.” ■

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Wall Flowers Living walls take curb appeal to a new level. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DONNELL

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For some it’s stunning flower beds. For others, it is eye-catching outdoor sculptures. But for homeowners who really want to make a statement, wall landscaping is where it’s at, as this hillside contemporary in Manhattan Beach illustrates. Perched on the second and third floors, the living wall wraps around two sides of the structure with a colorful sculptural design. The captivating vision was designed by David Brenner of Habitat Horticultural Living Walls in San Francisco. He says having artistic green spaces on walls is nothing short of a movement. “The first living wall I ever saw was in Milan, Italy about 12 years ago. At that time, only a few people in the U.S. knew what a living wall was. Since then it’s become very trendy. I think this has a lot to do with our desire to reconnect with the natural world and create healthier living and work spaces,” David shares. The living wall lends itself to contemporary projects but can be used in more rustic or old-world designs by applying more traditional plant material. “I’ve been waiting for the client that asked for a parterre or knot garden on the wall,” he chuckles. While many succulents burn in 100°-plus heat, David insists, “There are some that can withstand the summer Valley sun—sedum for sure!” The mechanics are pretty simple. The wall is waterproofed, and then a metal frame is installed. A plastic backing is placed over the framing and two layers of felt (a growing medium) are added to support growth and distribute water and nutrients to the plant’s roots. Finally, the plants are put in between the felt layers. Irrigation—embedded within the system—drips down from the top of the wall to the plants below. Plants do need to be replaced from time to time. Homeowners can do it themselves, but typically they use the installation company. The cost of a living wall ranges from $120 to $220 per square foot. ■

Legendary Love Nest Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were the A-list couple of their day. And at the height of their fame, the glamorous pair opted not to buy a mansion in Bel Air or Beverly Hills. Instead they chose a sprawling ranch in Encino. WRITTEN BY HADLEY HALL MEARES PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES

t was a sunny Saturday at an Encino ranch in 1939. A lovely, casually dressed blond woman was trimming flowers and pulling weeds in her garden, near a picturesque, two-story colonial home. Not far away, her ruggedly handsome husband was tooling around on his large yellow tractor. While this scenario was probably being played out on countless ranches all over the San Fernando Valley on that particular day, this one was notable. For the hardworking, newly-wed couple was none other than Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood. The coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s romance had blossomed three years earlier. Lombard was the madcap comedienne who starred in screwball masterpieces, including My Man Godfrey. Gable was the George Clooney of his day, who headlined in blockbusters like Gone With the Wind. As Gable waited out his divorce from his wife, Lombard began looking for a home they could eventually call their own. She heard that director and founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and

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BEHIND THE SCENES Carole Lombard and Clark Gable on the brick steps of their nine-bedroom, clapboard home, Ca. 1940

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“If we put in everything at once, we’d have nothing to look forward to.” GABLE FABLES The property featured a main house, a detached garage, citrus groves, alfalfa fields, a barn, a henhouse and horse stables. At the time, the home’s entrance was located at 4525 Petit Drive; the address is now 4543 Tara Drive. Gable’s fourth wife and son continued to live in the house until 1973, at which point it was sold to developers and torn down.

Sciences, Raoul Walsh, was interested in selling his 20-acre ranch in Encino. The property featured a 1926 Connecticut-style colonial home, which set designer and amateur architect Malcolm Brown had designed to appear weather-beaten and distinguished. On the grounds: a barn, stables, and acres of lemon, grapefruit, eucalyptus and avocado trees, as well as fields suitable for crops. When Lombard showed Gable the estate, he was immediately smitten. “I’ve always wanted a place like this,” he told her, according to Warren G. Harris, the couple’s most respected biographer. “It will be the first home I’ve had since I was a boy that I can really call my own. Ma, I think we’re going to be very happy here.” Soon after, Lombard gave Walsh a personal check for $50,000, and the ranch was theirs. Lombard set to work redesigning the home’s interiors to suit Gable’s casual, Midwestern taste. She hired scenic artist

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Tom Douglas, a friend from the studio, to create an early American, cozy atmosphere, perfect for the outdoorsy Gable. The downstairs centered around a special room for the actor’s collection of over 50 guns. She specified that all the furniture custom made for her husband be “king size”—befitting the King of Hollywood and his hulking 6-foot-1inch frame. Even the glasses for his beloved scotch were extra large. The only place Lombard indulged herself was in her blue and white bedroom suite, where the bathroom featured glamorous floor-to-ceiling mirrors. (The couple had separate bedroom suites, a Hollywood custom at the time.) According to author Chrystopher J. Spicer, she joked it was “the most elegant sh** house in the San Fernando Valley.” Lombard and Gable were finally wed in March of 1939 and they immediately moved onto the ranch, which their friends dubbed “the house of two Gables.” Their first months

of marriage were spent building fences, improving the land and riding horses around the Valley. The couple had a menagerie of animals, including cats, dogs, doves, horses and hundreds of chickens. Lombard would often collect the chickens’ eggs herself and played with the idea of marketing “The King’s Eggs” as a side business. Both stars enjoyed working on projects together—even antiquing their wooden cocktail bar by beating it with chains and burning it with cigarettes. Since they expected the ranch to be their lifelong home, they were in no rush to get everything finished. “If we put in everything at once,” Carole quipped, according to Harris, “we’d have nothing to look forward to.” The Gables’ move to the Valley seemed to ignite change in the Hollywood community as an increasing number of stars began engaging in a more private, casual lifestyle. “Until then, stars of their magnitude had created lavish estates that were a reflection of

their success,” Lombard’s biographer Larry Swindell explains. Instead of hosting glamorous parties, the couple preferred to be home alone, often reading unproduced scripts to one another in front of the living room’s large stone fireplace or outside on the patio. According to biographer Harris, one night Gable turned to Lombard and said: “Ma, we’re lucky people. We’ve got the ranch, and while it’s not going to support us, it feels like a ranch, it smells and looks like a ranch. It’s not just animals and hay. We’ve got the house fixed just to suit us, we’ve both got good jobs, friends, money in the bank and our health. God’s been good to us. Can you think of anything you really want that you haven’t got?” Harris says that when they did entertain, Gable would often lead guests on a tour of the house where they would see “two pictures adorning the wall above Carole’s bed, in heart shaped frames; one of a plump but winsome, obviously pretty

little girl and the other a jug-eared, slickhaired little boy.” Parties were barbecues or other small gatherings, always marked with Lombard’s signature inventive style. In Clark Gable: A Biography, one get-together at the ranch that Harris writes about exemplifies her legendary sense of fun: Arriving guests found the Gables’ patio set up for a 12-piece orchestra, with all the necessary instruments but with no musicians to play them. Lombard urged everybody to choose something and form a band. Gable sat in on drums, Fred MacMurray on saxophone and Buster Collier at the piano. Spencer Tracy played bass, while Robert Taylor and Dick Powell joined the brass section. Lombard took up the trumpet … Despite the Gables’ quest for privacy, overeager fans would occasionally appear at the ranch, prompting the couple to call MGM security to come kick them out. They were also aware of and liked to promote their

image as a “down-home couple,” often inviting reporters and photographers to watch and shoot them performing farming chores. But the Gables’ picture-perfect happiness was short-lived. By 1942, Gable was rumored to be having an affair with his co-star, Lana Turner. Lombard went on a tour to sell war bonds in her home state of Indiana. Eager to get back to the ranch and her straying husband, she took a plane instead of the customary train. In January 1942, the small plane crashed near Potosi Mountain in Nevada. All onboard, including Lombard and her mother, were killed. Gable would live at the ranch until his death in 1960. While changing a tire in the ranch’s driveway, he suffered a heart attack and died a short time later. Despite being married to his fourth wife at the time, who was expecting his first (legitimate) child, the actor was interred next to Lombard at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. ■

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A P L U S S I Z E FA S H I O N B O U T I Q U E

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Summer Intersession June 12 - July 9

Drop-in classes available for beginners, experienced dancers & adults. Hone your skills or try something new. Schedule at www.laballet.com

Summer Dance Intensive July 10 - August 4

Internationally recognized ballet faculty and LA’s top contemporary master teachers. Choose 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Ages 8 & up. Call 818 382 2500 for an audition.

Classes for the 2017-18 School Year begin August 12 Returning LABA students can register from June 27. New students – age 3 and up - registration begins July 12.

Boys Program:

Audition date coming soon – see www.laballet.com

Los Angeles Ballet Academy 16422 Ventura Blvd Encino CA 91436 818 382 2500 www.laballet.com

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13646 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks

(at the corner of Woodman & Ventura) Parking In Rear

818.906.2345 Mon-Fri 6am-10pm | Sat 8am-8pm | Sun 9am-5pm | Overnight Service WWW.STEAMERCLEANERS.COM

design showcases

EDITED BY AMY L. MACK PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS AND MONICA OROZCO

MILAN CONSI, LLC, DESIGN & BUILD Alice Milan Noravian

SH INTERIORS Stephanie Hatten

HOLLYWOOD SIERRA KITCHENS, INC. Gerry Bross and Peter Grisdela, CKD

MAISON ROSE INTERIORS Rose Schneider

BENNETT LERNER INTERIORS Lisa Lerner

design showcases

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design showcases

MILAN CONSI, LLC, DESIGN & BUILD ALICE MILAN NORAVIAN 500 N. Central Ave., Suite 940 Glendale 818-434-1011 alice@milanconsi.com milanconsi.com

What sets you apart from other professionals in the business?

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LUCIE ALEKS PROJECTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEFF BODMAN GENERAL CONTRACTOR ALIGNED CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

I think the most obvious is the fact that I’m a woman in a male dominated profession— although I find that’s an asset. The fact that you are underestimated can be your greatest ally and power when you perform stronger than anyone anticipated! Growing up with a father that was a real estate developer taught me the business from a perspective that allowed me to determine the fundamentals of launching a completely different business entity that was also in sync with my own ideals. My motivation has been about elevating the standard in home design and creativity wherein the comfort of the potential buyer is the primary consideration.

How do you determine your success? My success can be summed up with the feelings of passion, excitement, and eager anticipation for the work that I’ve chosen as my career! When you do what you love, success in any business is inevitable!

What inspires you? The daily drive to become the greatest version of myself. It’s never to be better than someone else, but rather the best version

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of whom I envision myself to be—the hero I chase continuously. I’ve created a structure of my optimized self, and strive to become that version where I can be inspired by my own accomplishments as I grow and expand professionally. I’ve created an Empowerment Workshop where I teach the methods to optimize the mind, therein optimizing the self to accomplish the goals set for business success. (Visit my website for more information.)

Tell us a bit about you “off the job.” I believe that life is meant to be lived well! I treat myself to the finer things in life and live with the main theme being “freedom”. Freedom from constraints of societal rules and anything that doesn’t make me feel amazing. I rent and don’t believe in owning a house at the present moment. Instead, I am actively increasing my investment property holdings. My physical, emotional, and mental well-being are my primary concern. I have a personal trainer, and do boxing as well as weights. I meditate nightly and read continuously to enhance and expand my consciousness.

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design showcases

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design showcases

HOLLYWOOD SIERRA KITCHENS, INC. GERRY BROSS AND PETER GRISDELA, CKD

926 N. La Cienega Blvd. | LA 310-659-9290 | gbross@hollywoodsierra.com | hollywoodsierra.com

Describe the scope of your services. We are a kitchen and bath design firm that is known for creating attractive and functional spaces that integrate beautifully with our clients’ homes. Although “Kitchens” is in our name, we do so much more than that.

What’s your background? Peter has been designing kitchens, baths and interiors for almost 30 years. He started in his hometown of Detroit, moved on to Boston, and finally settled in the Los Angeles area. Peter has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in interior architecture, which acts as the foundation of his design through careful review of interior elements and features.

How do you view the collaborative process with a client? PHOTOGRAPHED BY NATALIA KNEZEVIC

Our best projects are those where we work closely with our clients. One of the essential aspects of kitchen design is ensuring that it integrates our client’s aesthetic tastes and functional requirements. Once our projects are underway, we insist on regular interactions and visits to assure the project is on time, on budget, and on track aesthetically. We have a commitment to communication and transparency throughout a project.

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How do you collaborate with other professionals on a job? We very much enjoy working with our clients’ interior designers or architects when they are also engaged in a project. When we collaborate with designers and architects, we provide our professional expertise in a very complex and detail driven area of home design that might not be their strong suit. However, we also get the opportunity to work creatively as part of a team, helping us to grow professionally and to be even better designers.

How important is client satisfaction to you? Client satisfaction is of utmost importance to us—it is what drives and sustains us. Our clients know that we pour our heart and soul into every project, spending as much time and energy as needed to fulfill their vision. As the project nears completion, our clients see us as friends.

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design showcases

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design showcases

BENNETT LERNER INTERIORS LISA LERNER 4164 Weslin Ave. Sherman Oaks 323-314-4481 lisa@bennettlerner.com bennettlerner.com instagram.com/bennettlernerinteriors houzz.com/pro/bennettlerner

Do you have a particular specialty? My specialty would be my strong use of color. Color, for me, is the embodiment of emotion. I love nothing more than for my clients to feel happy, inspired, calm and proud when they walk into a room I have designed. I typically use two dominant colors and then incorporate a splash of another color for an unexpected touch of personality.

What is the most critical skill for being successful in your field? Many people don’t realize that “designing” is only a portion of what we do. The majority of our job is managing—trades people, product, and, most importantly, the client’s expectations. It is extremely important that my clients feel comfortable and supported throughout the entire design process. I learn something new from every project I take on and bring that knowledge with me onto the next, striving to never stop evolving.

is equally important. I find my biggest inspiration through fabrics. Layering fabrics and patterns is what gets me going. I love the challenge of pulling it all together into a cohesive whole.

How do you view the collaborative process with a client? I let the client let take the lead on how much they want to be involved. Before the designing process begins, I have a meeting to get a feel for their over-all style and needs. What do they envision and want for the space? How does it need to function? Are there pieces they want to incorporate, any colors/ materials they don’t like or want to use? From there I create a design plan and present my ideas with all coordinating materials, also giving my clients a choice of different products that can be interchanged in that particular room. Throughout the process, I like to offer many options so that in the end, we create a design that is both functional and unique.

When people see a project of yours, do they often recognize it as such— and if so—why? I do have a bit of a signature style: my use of color and pattern. I love, love, love color! Color gives the space personality, but pattern

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JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

design showcases

SH INTERIORS STEPHANIE HATTEN 11271 Ventura Blvd., #112 Studio City 310-261-7911 info@sh-interiors.com sh-interiors.com

What services do you offer? As a full-service design company, we can help you with a complete house remodel or something as simple as a few new furniture pieces and a fresh coat of paint. We truly enjoy the collaboration process and pride ourselves on giving clients a functional and beautiful space that is designed specifically for them and their lifestyle. And we love to incorporate treasured artwork or prized collections where possible!

What’s your background? I grew up (and my design career began) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is rich with culture and antiques are a staple in every home. As a result, antique hunting and thrift shopping are among my favorite pastimes. I love to repurpose pieces when possible, and sometimes even a modern design can be perfected with a unique item.

This client’s Studio City media room is a gathering place used for large family gettogethers, and especially football games. The original room was done in the 90s and was a bit drab, so the client requested something more modern with a bit of color. Another special request was comfort and flexibility to house more than 40 people at a time. Our inspiration began with an oil painting the client picked up on vacation. The color palette is neutral, so to add depth we used lots of texture, natural materials, and pops of color for a dramatic punch. The space, which also includes a kitchenette, was completely transformed and all of the finishes updated. The main kitchen cabinetry was in great shape, so we just refinished it. We incorporated plenty of seating with a large sectional, dining area, and comfy bar stools designed to watch the big screen. The most dramatic change was adding triple sliding doors to open up the space and take advantage of the amazing views. The final design is spacious but cozy, with a timeless appeal.

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMY WILLIAMS

Describe your featured project.

design showcases

MAISON ROSE INTERIORS ROSE SCHNEIDER

16042 Valley Meadow Pl. Encino 310-405-1002 rose@maisonroseinteriors.com maisonroseinteriors.com

What sets you apart from other professionals in your industry?

complete re-design, we tailor our services for projects of any size or budget.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JESSICA ISAAC

Our attention to detail and ability to create spaces that our clients feel comfortable living in. We feel that our homes shouldn’t just be designed for special occasions, like some of us experienced as kids. (Remember the furniture covered in plastic?) Many clients come to us to recreate a space in a way that is beautiful without compromising function and daily living—and this is what sets us apart. We pay close attention to each client’s individual style preferences and translate that into a beautiful and functional space.

Describe the scope of your services. We provide hands-on interior design, home staging and home organizing services. We can customize any project to meet a client’s needs. Whether it’s a home polish or a

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Describe your design aesthetic. My design aesthetic is often dictated by the style in which the home was originally built. Our home (pictured above) is a French Normandy style home. We tried to maintain the integrity of the home’s original style by creating a French-inspired look with modern elements throughout. Ensuring this kind of consistency is an essential component of our design process and philosophy.

What designs are you known for? Designs that balance classic and modern. Our design mantra is: a home should reflect the personalities, interests and lifestyles of the people who live in them!

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

seen

Bon Appetit

Jimmy Koshino from Sushi Sazanami

Lea Newman, James Baraquio and Anthony Jacquet from Claudine Kitchen & Bakeshop

Aaron Robins from Boneyard Bistro and SOCA

Ted Hopson and Ann-Marie Verdi from The Bellwether

Phillip Frankland Lee from Scratch|Bar, Woodley Proper and Frankland’s Crab Co.

Perry Pollaci and Rod Bonois from Firefly

Flapper Fest Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills hosted its biggest fundraiser of the year—the “Roaring 20’s”-themed Beverly Hills Ball. Three couples were given awards in recognition of their philanthropic efforts.

Rabbi Adam Lutz, Eric Reiter, Barry Brucker, Cantor Lizzie Weiss, Rabbi Sarah Bassin, Rabbi Jonathan Aaron

Coldwell Banker realtor Jade Mills and husband Adam Mills, who received the Community Spirit Award.

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Attorneys David and Lilly Lewis, who received the Humanitarian Award.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KAREN YOUNG

Flavor of LA was held at CBS Studio Center. The food fest was put on by the Studio City Chamber of Commerce and The Television Motion Picture Car Club. Proceeds benefitted Food Forward.

seen

Purposeful Partying

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW DINH

Former VB Top Teen Lulu Cerone tossed a party at Artisan Cheese Gallery for her new book Philanthroparties!: A PartyPlanning Guide For Kids Who Want to Give Back. Volunteers from Lulu’s nonprofit, LemonAID Warriors, attended the celebration, raising donations for the African Millennium Foundation.

The Cerone family: Lisa, Lulu, Daniel and Jasper

C’mon In!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL SIMON

Williams-Sonoma Home opened at The Commons in Calabasas with a wine and cheese party and panel discussion on décor trends.

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

seen

On Safari

FILES

TASTE OF THE VALLEY TASTE OF

THE VALLEY

John Frank and Diann Kim

Melanie Cotton, Richard Lichtenstein and zookeeper Francisco Moran with a python

Nick Franklin and wife, Kathy

Gary E. Knell, Connie Morgan, John Lewis, Charley Koontz

The finest Meet the finest professionals professionals in Valley in the theValley

Jimmy Vivino, Bernard Fowler and Slash on stage with The Basic Cable Band

Richard Corgel, Beth Price, Brian Diamond, Jay Sonbolian

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Beastly Ball guests enjoying a rare after-hours evening at the Zoo.

Zookeeper Dmetri Domerick , Margot Armbruster and husband, Mark

Jax Malcolm and Chloe Noelle get an up close encounter with a bateleur eagle.

Julie Chang and Carolyn Hennessy

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JAMIE PHAM

PRO

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s (GLAZA) annual Beastly Ball raised close to $2.5 million. GLAZA President Connie Morgan and L.A. Zoo Director John Lewis bestowed the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award on the National Geographic Society, represented by Gary E. Knell, President and CEO. Proceeds, in part, support the Zoo’s new Species Conservation Action Network (SCAN), including a dedicated Curator of Conservation whose sole focus will be to identify and respond to urgent animal conservation issues around the world.

seen

Heyyyyyy!

Actor, director and producer Henry Winkler (aka “The Fonz”) read from and signed copies of his latest children’s book Always Watch Out for the Flying Potato Salad at the WeVillage Flexible Childcare Center in Sherman Oaks.

Bling Bash

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY ARAYA DIAZ/GETTY IMAGES FOR STELLA & DOT

The fifth annual HollyRod Foundation Stella & Dot Charity Trunk Show was held at the Encino home of Kym Gold. Since partnering with the Foundation in 2013, Stella & Dot has donated over $390,000 to the nonprofit, which was founded by Rodney Peete and Holly Robinson Peete, and is aimed at providing compassionate care for those living with autism and Parkinson’s Disease.

Kristen Bellamy

Holly Robinson Peete, Kym Gold and guests

Patricia Heaton

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top doctors Quality of life ranks pretty high when it comes to what is most important in life. And for maximum enjoyment, we need to be in tip-top shape—both physically and mentally. Whether you are already at your prime and simply want to maintain, or you need a little guidance on the journey toward health and wellness, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most accomplished practitioners in the Valley. Think of it as a resource guide for keeping healthy all year long.

BELLA SKIN INSTITUTE Anna D. Guanche, MD, FAAD

100 GSK SPINE Greg S. Khounganian, MD

EVO ADVANCED FOOT SURGERY Ali Sadrieh, DPM

101 DR. MICHAEL ABDULIAN

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR SURGICAL ARTS Husam Elias, MD, DMD, FACS

PERSKY SUNDER FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY Michael A. Persky, MD, FACS

BEVERLY HILLS OPTOMETRY Dr. Kambiz Silani

WRITTEN BY LAURA WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS & MONICA OROZCO

102 GLASER PAIN RELIEF CENTER Jeffrey B. Glaser, MD 103 MALAMET PLASTIC SURGERY Matthew Malamet, MD, FACS

“We love our patients and treat them as friends and family.”

Bella Skin Institute

ella Skin Institute is a full-service dermatology and aesthetic surgery practice directed by Dr. Anna Guanche—a boardcertified dermatologist with more than 14 years of experience. The Bella Skin team cares for all types of skin conditions but places special emphasis on the areas of cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. What do your patients like best about you? “We love our patients and treat them as friends and family. Patients love us because we are consumers of our own offerings, and so we clearly believe in what we are doing.” What is your area of specialty? “We offer a full range of cosmetic procedures/devices to enhance the appearance of the skin and reverse signs of aging. We best serve our patients by giving them optimal, specific treatment, rather than trying to recommend the same treatment for everyone.”

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Anna D. Guanche, MD, FAAD Owner/Founder 23622 Calabasas Road, Suite 339, Calabasas 818-225-0117 | bellaskininstitute.com What concern do you frequently hear from patients? “That they look natural after their aesthetic treatment. Our practice provides treatments that are well-planned and administered in the safest, most conservative way to ensure a natural look and minimal down time. At the intersection of proper evaluation and counseling, pretreatment care and an artistic eye is where optimal results are achieved.” Tell us about your staff. “Our staff has been nicknamed the ‘derm dream team’ for good reason. Our estheticians have more than 30 years experience collectively. The medical assistants are caring and experienced and understand patient needs extremely well. Our physician assistant, Ananda Fidani PA-C, trained at USC in the master’s program, and our patients love her!”

How do you give back to the community? “We are sponsors of the Melanoma Research Foundation’s Miles for Melanoma 5K. Every year our team, Bella’s Melanomanators, walks while spreading awareness and raising money for the cure. Bella Skin Institute is a leader in contribution to the Dermatology Foundation, which funds research for finding cures for other skin conditions.” What does the future hold for Bella Skin Institute? “Our Coolsculpting device has been upgraded to provide effective fat reduction with increased comfort and reduced treatment times. Soon, a very effective topical treatment for acne that we developed will be made widely available. Also, Dr. Guanche is writing a beauty book about bringing out the ‘sexy’ whenever it is needed. That will be published this year.”

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

top doctors

Evo Advanced Foot Surgery Ali Sadrieh, DPM Aesthetic Foot Surgeon/ Founder 12265 Ventura Blvd., Suite 107 Studio City 310-691-5411 evofoot.com

“We come to work every day to do better than we did the day before and challenge ourselves to stay on top of the relentless pursuit of excellence.”

n practice for the past 16 years, Dr. Ali Sadrieh designed evo advanced foot surgery so patients can experience advanced medicine, cutting-edge technology and a luxurious experience. His office caters to the active professional looking to correct foot problems with a quality experience and a more simple recovery process. In 2003 Dr. Sadrieh developed the sub-specialty of aesthetic foot surgery and invented three new procedures that simplify the recovery process and improve the patient experience. Prior to opening his practice, he earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and pursued podiatric medical training at University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed a podiatric surgical residency at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

inversely proportional to volume. The more volume, the less quality. The numbers vary from ‘product’ to product, but the relationship holds true across industries. This is why our practice is designed around the low-volume, high-quality model of care. We limit the number of patients and surgeries we perform to make sure our work is the best it can be.”

What do you consider your specialty? “At the core, it’s all about the feet! As foot surgeons we treat everything below the ankle. But back in 2003 I realized a need for a new kind of foot surgical approach. I called it aesthetic foot surgery. The concept is designed around fixing structural problems before they cause issue and symptoms, but perform the procedures with aesthetic technique. Thirteen years later, there are numerous practices that have been inspired by our work and offer their patients the modern way to experience foot surgery.”

What does the future hold for your practice? “We’re excited about the upcoming year. We’re currently building the next version of our concept called evofoot 3. This project will provide patients with technologies and a user experience design that has never been seen before. Our goal has always been to improve the patient experience by making cutting-edge technology available to all of our patients.”

How important is a physician’s “bedside manner”? “I’ve always held the belief that doing what we do well is a minimum deliverable. Attending medical school and residency, there’s a minimum expectation of excellent medical knowledge and work. Everything above this is what achieves the ‘A’ grade… and that’s where bedside manner comes in!” Grappling with insurance can be a challenge. How does your practice handle it? “We’ve always been a patient-centered practice, and consistent with that philosophy is our relationship with insurance. Our practice is out-of-network with insurance so we can work for the patient without dealing the bureaucratic hurdles that insurance companies place in the way of an excellent patient/doctor relationship. Despite our out-of-network status, we accept all insurance plans so our patients still have access to the evo philosophy.” Doctors often seem in a hurry. Thoughts? “Since the beginning of my time in practice, I’ve held to the formula of Q=1/v. Quality is

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What would you like our readers to know about you and your team? “Our team is what make us special, because every one of them subscribes to the ethos of ‘Do what you love … love what you do.’ We come to work every day to do better than we did the day before and challenge ourselves to stay on top of the relentless pursuit of excellence.”

How do you use technology to enhance the patient experience? “We’ve always believed that the barriers of the patient/doctor relationship should be eliminated. That’s why since the inception of technologies like the iPad or Electronic Health Records, we’ve been early adopters and have had the privilege of collaborating with developers in Silicon Valley to build the next generation system. We leverage drchrono EHR, Spruce for secure patient communications, Echosign for paperless HIPAA-compliant document signatures and we are an all-iOS based practice so you begin and end your experience with us on an iPad!” What’s all the media and news coverage about? “Doing great work for our patients is a privilege, and to do this we had to create a new model of practice and new procedures as well. Back in 2003 these procedures began to pick up the attention of the TV shows like The Doctors and newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. We had the privilege of participating in these opportunities to help spread the vision of what an excellent surgical practice could look like, as well as the latest in surgical procedures for the foot.”

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top doctors

Southern California Center for Surgical Arts Husam Elias, MD, DMD, FACS Medical Director 4910 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 102 Sherman Oaks 818-789-6622 socalsurgicalarts.com sccsarts.com

“I believe a doctor is a lifetime student.”

outhern California Center for Surgical Arts is a multi-specialty center offering cosmetic surgery, facial plastic and maxillofacial surgery, and oral surgery and implantology. Cosmetic and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Husam Elias has been practicing medicine for more than eight years. His office has existed in the same location for more than 35 years. Dr. Elias is a member of an elite group of surgeons who are trained in both oral and maxillofacial surgery and general cosmetic surgery. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Elias worked as section head of maxillofacial surgery at Cleveland Clinic Head and Neck Institute and served as medical staff member for the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers. He also worked as staff surgeon at the head and neck/maxillofacial surgery department at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Born and raised in Sudan, East Africa, he moved to the U.S. following his dream of becoming a surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and his dental degree from Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, graduating with honors. Dr. Elias completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in maxillofacial surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland/ Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital. He completed a general cosmetic surgery fellowship accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic surgery at Inland Cosmetic Surgery Medical Center. What do you consider your specialty? “Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. We are known nationally and internationally for natural breast augmentation and rhinoplasty, complex facial reconstructions and dental implantology.” How important is a physician’s “bedside manner”? “Bedside manner is crucial in building trust with your patient.” How do you incorporate a holistic approach when treating patients? “A balanced diet, exercise regimen and nutritional supplements. We also emphasize the connection between a speedy recovery and emotional and spiritual well-being.”

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Why did you choose a career in health care? “I chose to pursue a career in cosmetic and maxillofacial surgery because of the opportunity to combine art, science and technical skill to improve the life of my patients.” What is your best tip for preventing illness? “Find ways to reduce stress in your life.” Is there a common concern that you hear? “Length of recovery from surgery. In our busy lifestyle, speedy recovery is the most common concern for our patients. We utilize strict protocols before and after surgery to ensure positive outcomes and fast recovery.” How do you stay on top of current research and treatments? “Continuing education. I attend four to five large national meetings in the specialties of cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery and oral/ maxillofacial surgery to stay on the leading edge of current research and treatments. I am always researching ways to improve outcomes of different surgical procedures, reduce risk of complications and speed up recovery. I participate in one or two surgical workshops per year to hone my surgical skills. I set at least two to three hours per week to review medical journals. I believe a doctor is a lifetime student. Once you stop learning, it is retirement time!” How do you address patients’ concerns? “My patients are my family members. I always make time to sit and listen. I try to put myself in their shoes to understand their concerns and address any of their questions.” How do you use technology to enhance the patient experience? “Virtual surgery and 3-D printing have been a tremendous addition to contemporary surgical practice. They have led to a more accurate prediction of surgical outcomes and reduction in the length of surgery. We use these technologies on a daily basis in treatment planning for most cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries—including dental implant, facial reconstruction, corrective jaw surgery, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation.” Tell us about your family. “I am married to Dr. Zainab Mahmoud, worldclass physician, super-mom and the love of my life. We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary in July. We have one son, Nadir, my pride and joy. He recently finished third grade and is ready for an exciting and fun summer.”

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JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

top doctors

“We pride ourselves on impeccable patient care service.”

Persky Sunder Facial Plastic Surgery

ichael A. Persky, MD, and Sarmela Sunder, MD, provide patients with surgical makeovers such as rhinoplasty, eyelid lift and facelift. Both doctors are dual board-certified facial plastic surgeons. Dr. Persky studied and trained at Emory, UCLA and USC, and Dr. Sunder studied and trained at Johns Hopkins, Cornell and Stanford. Persky Sunder Facial Plastic Surgery also offers non-invasive procedures such as injectables like Restylane Defyne and Refyne, Juvederm® Volbella and Voluma, Sculptra, Dysport and Botox®, skin-tightening devices Profound Lift™, Ultherapy, Coolsculpting, Fraxel® laser resurfacing, Venus™ Freeze, Viva, and microneedling with Platelet Rich Plasma.

a warm, friendly, professional and discreet environment in which patients can trust our expertise and feel pampered. We pride ourselves on impeccable patient care service and for building long-term patient-provider relationships.” What’s new in facial plastic surgery? “Profound Lift is the best non-surgical lifting and tightening device for facial and neck rejuvenation. Restylane® Defyne and Refyne are HA fillers that conform to facial expressions. Juvederm® Vollure can be used almost anywhere on the face. Silhouette Instalift™ uses threads to lift and volumize the face. We have added pain-free ThermiVa® non-invasive vaginal restoration, and hair replacement therapy.”

Tell us about your practice. “Persky Sunder Facial Plastic Surgery offers

Do you ever turn down a patient’s request? “We often tell both new and established

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Michael A. Persky, MD, FACS Owner 16311 Ventura Blvd Suite 600 | Encino 818-501-FACE DrPersky.com | LittleBeautySecret.com

patients when they do not need a treatment—whether it be injectable fillers or surgery. We find that our patients trust our professional judgment and appreciate our honesty, knowing that they will never leave our office looking ‘overdone.’ Our goal is to help our patients achieve and maintain their aesthetic goals naturally for many years to come.” What is the most important aspect of facial plastic surgery? “It is not the device, type of injectable filler or type of surgery that determines the outcome of treatment. The most important aspect of any aesthetic treatment is making sure that you choose your facial plastic surgeon carefully based on their experience, skill, knowledge, board certification and ultimately their natural artistic vision.”

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top doctors

Beverly Hills Optometry

Dr. Kambiz Silani Chief Clinical Director

212 S. Robertson Blvd. Beverly Hills 310-659-2020 | bheyeguy.com

r. Kambiz Silani and his team at Beverly Hills Optometry offer dry eye therapies in a concierge health care setting. Dr. Silani’s family has been in the eye care field for more than 50 years. He took over as chief clinical director of the practice four years ago. What do you consider your specialty? “Although I see patients commonly for advanced eye exams, specialty contact lens evaluations, LASIK consultations, glaucoma screenings and dilated diabetic eye exams, my emphasis and passion truly lies with dry eye education, diagnosis and treatment. Dry eye syndrome is typically a chronic condition that takes weeks or monthly to resolve. Some moderate-to-severe patients seem to have no hope in sight; it’s extremely gratifying to guide them to healthier eyes and eventually see their symptoms significantly reduced or eliminated.” How do you incorporate a holistic approach? “We emphasize the importance of preventive medicine and proactive eye care. Our goal is to reserve pharmaceutical medications for emergency cases or as a last line of defense. Oftentimes by properly evaluating and assessing the signs and symptoms of such conditions as dry eye, we can unravel the root cause and eradicate it by developing the appropriate protocol.” What makes your practice stand out from the rest? “Our five-star team offers the latest and most innovative dry eye therapies. We feature The Eye Massage therapy and hold the honor of being the first site in Beverly Hills to offer this treatment.” How do you use technology to enhance the patient experience? “We carry state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic devices, many of which are interactive and visually stunning. Our patients remain loyal because our staff is caring, respectful and professional, but they also appreciate that we want the best for them and when it comes to technology, we are not willing to compromise.”

“We emphasize the importance of preventive medicine and proactive eye care.” SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

What would you like our readers to know about you and your team? “Our team knows the value of connecting with our patients. We understand that our patients have busy lifestyles, so we try to accommodate their needs by staying open late (until 7 p.m.) as well as being open on Saturdays. You will find that the Beverly Hills Optometry team is friendly, engaging, very approachable and easily accessible by phone, text or email.”

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

top doctors

GSK Spine

Greg S. Khounganian, MD Owner

5363 Balboa Blvd., Suite #245 | Encino 818-343-4430 | GSKspine.com

SK Spine in Encino provides minimally invasive surgery for cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine issues. After completing medical training, owner and board-certified spine surgeon Dr. Greg Khounganian began his own practice just blocks from where he was born and grew up. “This is a great source of pride for me, as I am living in and treating the very community I have been a part of for all my life,” the doctor says. He specializes in techniques that help minimize incisions and surgical time, allowing patients to recover at home in many cases and return quickly to an active lifestyle. What makes your practice stand out from the rest? “We have an excellent staff that focuses on treating all patients with care and respect. We have a limited number of staff, and that ensures that we will always have someone who is fully aware of your situation and can answer questions for whatever you need. I take pride in the fact that I am not a surgeon looking to operate on everyone. A visit with me will focus on the problem and all options of treatment. Many times this does not include surgery as a firstline treatment.” Is there a common concern that you hear frequently? “Often patients present to the office with the fear that they are seeing me for surgery. Most patients with back and neck problems do not need surgery. I often see patients who would benefit from noninvasive treatments like medication, physical therapy and local treatments to the area where the pain is most severe. If a patient requires something more invasive like surgery, we do so only if these other treatments have failed or if there is a more pressing concern that requires surgical treatment.”

“A visit with me will focus on the problem and all options of treatment.” 100

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How do you address your patients’ concerns? “Often patients’ initial thought of seeing a surgeon is that they think I am going to push them towards surgery. In fact, fewer than 10% of my patients that see me actually need surgery. The only request I have for the general public is that they seek an opinion from their physician or spine specialist before taking part in their own treatments. This way we can provide an evaluation and steer them toward safe treatments—and not make the problem any worse.”

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top doctors

Dr. Michael Abdulian

Spine and Orthopaedic Institute at Glendale Adventist 1500 E. Chevy Chase Drive, Suite 401B | Glendale 818-863-4446 | michaelabdulianmd.com

r. Michael Abdulian treats patients for a variety of conditions involving the shoulder, hip and knee, utilizing both surgical and nonsurgical techniques. His practice, Spine and Orthopaedic Institute at Glendale Adventist Hospital, consists of a multidisciplinary team of specialists all in one clinic. How important is a physician’s “bedside manner”? “Bedside manner is one of the key components to providing a positive experience for a patient. Patients come to you because they have pain and they are looking for help. They are in a vulnerable state. It is important for a physician to understand that and be compassionate when addressing patients’ concerns and treating their condition. The manner in which care is delivered can have a great impact on a patient’s overall recovery.” How do you use technology to enhance the patient experience? “Technology is an integral component to delivering quality care in my practice. Conveniently, in our clinic we have an in-house digital X-ray, ultrasound capabilities and a bone density Dexa Scanner. I perform robotic-assisted partial knee replacements—a technology that can improve a surgeon’s precision, leading to faster recovery and improved outcomes. Using the latest advances in regenerative medicine, I provide treatment options such as Platelet Rich Plasma injections and stem cell therapy for conditions that traditionally were treated with surgery.”

“The manner in which care is delivered can have a great impact on a patient’s overall recovery.” SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

What is your best tip for preventing illness? “As an orthopaedic surgeon, a big part of my practice is focused on injury prevention. It is important to properly warm up before working out or playing sports and recover after. Most new exercise routines focus on high-intensity workouts done in short spurts that can fatigue a person. Listen to your body. If you are feeling fatigued, it is important to rest to prevent injury.” Tell us about your team. “We are here to serve you as our patients. Each patient is a priority from the second they walk into the office. Your concerns become our concerns, and your well-being becomes our goal. We strive to make each patient’s experience positive to the best of our abilities. Our clinic staff members are friendly, accommodating and understand that your time with us is valuable.”

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top doctors

Glaser Pain Relief Center

Jeffrey B. Glaser, MD Owner/Medical Director 16311 Ventura Blvd., Suite 518 | Encino 818-501-7246 | glaserpainrelief.com

r. Jeffrey B. Glaser and his team at Glaser Pain Relief Center provide minimally invasive treatment for pain, including back pain, herniated/bulging discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, failed back surgery, arthritis of the spine, migraines and peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Glaser has been practicing medicine for 17 years and is dual board-certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine and the American Board of Anesthesiology. How important is a physician’s “bedside manner”? “Super important! It is important to listen to the patient and correlate their symptoms with their history, examination and studies so a proper diagnosis can be made that will lead to the most appropriate treatment. People in pain and patients in general are already vulnerable. It’s important to have a doctor who is kind, approachable and compassionate.” What makes your practice stand out from the rest? “Every patient in my practice is treated the way I would want my family treated. From the moment a patient calls to make an appointment through being seen as a patient, they are treated with kindness, dignity and respect. 95% of our patients when independently surveyed are satisfied and would recommend us to family and friends.” Why did you choose a career in health care? “I grew up revering doctors because I saw quite a few of them. My brother and I were born with defects requiring surgical correction and follow-up for many years. I was so grateful and in awe that doctors helped my brother and me so much to be able to live normal and productive lives, and I always looked up to them and aspired to do the same.” Who is the ideal patient to see you in consultation? “80% of people will experience a major episode of back pain and/or sciatica at some time in their life. Where to go? These patients should see me in consultation. Many patients with back pain and sciatica end up in the ER, urgent care or at their primary physician and ultimately will see my anyway by referral. Sometimes they even go straight to a surgeon. Surgery is the treatment of last resort. In most cases a patient’s spine related pain can be treated without surgery with minimally invasive, state-of-the-art therapies.”

“It’s important to have a doctor who is kind, approachable and compassionate.” 102

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“I am meticulous and thorough, complementing the patient’s inner beauty with their outer beauty.”

Malamet Plastic Surgery

Matthew Malamet, MD, FACS Owner

16311 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 835 Encino 818-380-3130 info@malametplasticsurgery.com matthewmalametmd.com

r. Matthew Malamet, a native of the Bay Area and alumnus of U.C. Berkeley, is a double boardcertified, fellowship-trained aesthetic plastic surgeon serving the Los Angeles area. He is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His practice specializes in all areas of plastic surgery.

How do you match a client’s inner beauty and outer beauty? “This emanates from the thoroughness of my consultations. What type of procedure(s) are they interested in pursuing, what drives their passion for that particular treatment, what is their desired outcome? I take my skill and training to another level when it comes to patients’ needs and desires. My goal is to make the patient happy, comfortable and completely satisfied.”

What do your patients say about you? “One satisfied client recently wrote, ‘There are several qualities that come to mind when I think of Dr. Malamet. The one quality that stands out is compassion! He listens attentively to patients’ concerns. He speaks to the patient as if he were speaking to a close friend or family member. In the office and the operating room he is calm and collected, yet with the utmost confidence so the patient feels comfortable.’”

What is your specialty? “While I enjoy performing all cosmetic procedures, my favorites are cosmetic surgery of the face, nose, breast and body because this is where my artistic ability thrives. I am meticulous and thorough, complementing the patient’s inner beauty with their outer beauty.”

What would you like new patients to know about you and your team? “In today’s fast-paced society, we exude compassion, empathy, honesty, dedication, confidence and the desire to attain our patients’ goals. First impressions are an essential component within the plastic surgery field. When you meet with me, you will feel as if you have known me your entire life.”

How do you give back to those in need? “Humanitarian efforts have recently taken me back to San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. At Hospital Regional Dr. Antonio Musa, other plastic surgeons and I surgically treated patients with a wide array of disease processes ranging from severe burn contractures and syndactyly to cleft lips and palates.”

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3925 Archdale Rd., Encino $5,499,000 www.ArchdaleEstate.com

sold

4811 Encino Ter., Encino $2,199,000 www.EncinoTerraceEstate.com

sold

16214 Morrison St., Encino $1,539,660 www.HomeOnMorrison.com

sold

16167 Royal Oak Rd., Encino $4,449,000 Royal Oaks

sold

16672 Ashley Oaks, Encino $2,199,000 www.EstateOnAshleyOaks.com

sold

16716 Alginet Pl., Encino $1,532,500 Encino Hills

in escrow

3833 Hayvenhurst Dr., Encino $3,799,000 www.RoyalOaksColony.com

sold

5240 Genesta Ave., Encino $1,699,000 Amestoy Estates

sold

14839 Round Valley Dr., Sherman Oaks $1,520,000 www.RoundValleyDrive.com

818.285.3688

www.CarolWolfe.com

CalBRE #00477745

real estate

NEW MODERN FARMHOUSE

19100 Sprague Street in Tarzana www.NewTarzanaEstate.com https://vimeo.com/217786764 Offered at: $3,499,000 Carol Wolfe Luxury Home Specialist Rodeo Realty 818.285.3688

JULY 2017 | VENTURA BLVD

105

$5,250,000 | 16810 Bajio Road, Encino | 7BD/7BA A. Manning/C. Lucibello | 818.380.2147/818.554.9797

$4,995,000 | 4425 Woodley Avenue, Encino | 5BD/8½BA Andrew Manning | 818.380.2147

$3,549,000 | 4723 White Oak Avenue, Encino | 5BD/7½BA Andrew Manning | 818.380.2147

$3,095,000 | 4546 Gaviota Court, Encino | 5BD/6½BA Andrew Manning | 818.380.2147

$2,995,000 | 3644 Westfall Drive, Encino | 5BD/5½BA Andrew Manning | 818.380.2147

$615,000 | 7308 Katherine Avenue, Van Nuys | 3BD/3BA Laura Kellam | 310.748.5344 Let us help you

bhhscalifornia.com

FIND YOUR PERFECT

©2017 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. CalBRE 01317331

# REAL ESTATE

BROKERAGE* S E R V I N G

T H E

VENTURA BLVD CORRIDOR Bringing joy and significance to life’s greatest investments

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties agents are dedicated, highly skilled, and professional. You can be confident that their unparalleled market knowledge will result in the ideal home purchase or sale – year after year. Let us help you #FindYourPerfect

bhhscalifornia.com

CALABASAS • 818.223.9100 | ENCINO • 818.501.4800 | SHERMAN OAKS • METRO ARTS • 818.528.3200 | STUDIO CITY • 818.933.2400

©2017 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. *Trendgraphix, Inc. Top Broker – Market Share Report published March 2017, for total sales units & production from 1/1/16 to 12/31/16 for Calabasas (91302), Tarzana (91356), Woodland Hills (91364), Encino (91436), Sherman Oaks (91423), Studio City (91604), North Hollywood (91602). CalBRE 01317331

W H E R E G R E AT B E G I N N I N G S S TA R T

STEPHANIE PAYAB

Luxury Collection Specialist

818.269.2796 SPayabTPG@gmail.com StephaniePayab.com

Stephanie is ready to help you on your real estate journey. Whether you are looking to purchase your first home, upsize, downsize or any other step along the way, Stephanie always goes above and beyond to make sure her clients get the best possible results. KNOWLEDGEABLE. EXPERIENCED. AUTHENTIC...ALWAYS!

ng Co

ratulations

MATTEPSTEIN.COM SOMATT@AOL.COM 818-789-7408

Matt Epstein #1 #2 #5

Agent San Fernando Valley Agent Los Angeles Agent Nationwide for

Follow me on Facebook: MattEpsteinRealty Follow me on Twitter: @SoMattEpstein

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

CalBRE# 01121162

With proven results from the market leader, why call anybody else?

POCKET LISTING - ENC - $17,500,000 - 8Br+14Ba in 15,000 SqFt on a 63,641 SqFt Lot - Built in 2007 is this magnificent gated estate in 15,000 square feet of interior living space situated on a 1.5 acre all flat lot. Located on this quiet tree lined street in this sought after south of the boulevard Royal Oaks neighborhood.

#KeepingItRealEstate

14437 Greenleaf St. - SO $3,000,000 - 4Br+4.5Ba in 4,320 SqFt on a 6,807 Lot - South of the boulevard new construction. Modern/ contemporary with a great use of wood and stone surfaces that bring warmth and depth to the interior and exterior.

5512 Colbath Ave - SO $1,750,000 - 4Br+4.5Ba in 3,200 SqFt on a 7,264 SqFt lot - Gorgeous newer construction. Modern/ Contemporary with high ceilings and an open floor plan and easy flow. Pool, spa, Grassy Yard.

3633 Crownridge Drive - SO - $1,650,000 - 5Br+4Ba in 3,774 SqFt on a 13,674 SqFt Lot - South of the Blvd MidCentury Modern with Valley Views. Spacious Living room, Updated Kitchen. Huge Master Suite w/ full bath and Walk-in. Pool, Spa & covered patio

4104 Goodland Ave - SC - $1,499,000 - 5Br+3Ba in 2,661 SqFt on a 6,470 SqFt Lot - Nicely updated South of the Blvd Cape Cod with easy access to all Studio City has to offer. Recently updated and upgraded inside and out. Easy West Side and Valley Access.

Call for your FREE market analysis! ÂŠ2016 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this information. Based on information obtained from the MLS as of (11/1/2016). Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. CalBRE 1317331

Home is where your story begins Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you’ll make and can be the beginning of a lifetime of memories. That’s why choosing a lender — and the right home mortgage consultant — is as important as choosing your mortgage type. A powerful combination is imperative for you today and tomorrow. At Wells Fargo, you’ll find loan options for most kinds of home financing needs. Plus, you’ll have a knowledgeable and experienced home mortgage consultant working with you along the way. Count on us to provide you with: • • • • • • •

Responsive and professional service A wide selection of conventional loan programs Low mortgage rates Fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) Mortgages with built-in renovation financing PriorityBuyer® preapproval Owneroccupied and investor mortgage programs

Contact Richard Kosoff, your Mortgage professional with 20+ years experience. Richard Kosoff Home Mortgage Consultant 17404 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91316 Office: 818-808-1140, Cell: 818-625-9358 richard.kosoff@wellsfargo.com www.wfhm.com/richards-kosoff NMLSR ID 459585

Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N. A. © 2016 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3150379 Expires 05/2017

Oren David Mordkowitz ESTATES DIRECTOR | REALTOR ÂŽ CalBRE License #01246402 818-933-5866 oren@orenestates.com

"To deliver unsurpassed service with unsurpassed results is my daily mission! For me it is about the quality, not the number of transactions I can close, or the price point of a deal. My clients have come to trust that when I make a commitment to them, I am present to handle any and all issues. From premarketing preparations, providing exceptional negotiating skills, expert support, combined with a first-class global marketing plan. I am entrusted to oversee what can be one's biggest asset, it is a task I personally ensure is handled professionally, with great care, and with the utmost integrity!"

Call Oren today to discuss your next move!

IN ESCROW

JUST LISTED

www.4405AlonzoAve.com

www.4775HaskellAve.com

4405 Alonzo Avenue | $1,449,000

4775 Haskell Avenue | $1,489,000

IN ESCROW

116650 Calneva Drive $1,299,000

SOLD

16701 Bajio Court $5,279,000

www.OrenEstates.com

SOLD

20301 Ruston Road $1,395,000

Grand Colonial Just Listed – Gem of Sherman Oaks 4107 Ventura Canyon $6,500,000 Grand Colonial Just Listed – Gem of Sherman Oaks Home: 4107 6364Ventura Sq. Ft., 4 $6,500,000 Bds/4 Bths, Guest/Studio Canyon 759 sq.ft. 1 Bed 2 baths, sq. Bths, ft. Basement Home: 6364 Sq. Ft., 4234 Bds/4 Guest/Studio POOL, SPA, RESORT FEEL, LUXURY INSIDE OUT 759 sq.ft. 1 Bed 2 baths, 234 sq. AND ft. Basement POOL, SPA, RESORT FEEL, LUXURY INSIDE AND OUT www.4107VenturaCanyon.com www.4107VenturaCanyon.com

Just Listed – Dream Property Encino Encino Just Listed – Dream Property First Time on market in 40 Years! ENCINO WOODS First Time on market in 40 Years! ENCINO WOODS 4961 Edgerton Ave, $1,399,000 - 11,564 sq. ft. Flat Lot 4961 Edgerton $1,399,000 - 11,564 ft. Flat Lot 5 Beds/3Ave, Baths 2,474 Sq. Ft. SINGLE sq. LEVEL 5 Beds/3Dynamic Baths 2,474 Sq. Ft. SINGLE LEVEL lot, end of cul-de –sac Dynamicwww.4961Edgerton.com lot, end of cul-de –sac www.4961Edgerton.com

No agent has more transactions in Royal Woodshas of Sherman Oaks than Billy No agent more transactions in

Royal Woods of Sherman Oaks than Billy

Sherman Oaks Just Listed – Family Ready PENDING OVER ASKING 4242 Saugus Ave. $1,599,000 Sherman Oaks Just Listed – Family Ready Single Level, 4 Beds/3 Baths 2894 Sq. Ft. SINGLE LEVEL PENDING OVER ASKING Upgrades thru-out, sports court, huge yards. 4242 Saugus Ave. $1,599,000 www.4242Saugus.com

Single Level, 4 Beds/3 Baths 2894 Sq. Ft. SINGLE LEVEL Upgrades thru-out, sports court, huge yards. www.4242Saugus.com

OLSON ESTATES

Mortgage Capital Partners

Number of Properties Sold (April) Average Days on Market (April) Sold Price per Square Foot (April) Month's Supply of Inventory

122

an d

 45  52  $511  2.7 

122

$1.74m

$1.03m

$1.42m

$907k 

    

 20  35  $389  3.8 

 23  47  $478  3.8 

 72  33  $394  2.1 

85 30 45 $628 2.8

 28  63  $506  4.4 

Total Properties Currently for Sale

W oo

$1.34m

$1.59m

Ca lab a

Sh er m an

Average Sales Price

St ud io Ci ty Ta rz an a

Single Family Homes

En cin o

O ak

H ill s

Aimee’s Neighborhood Market Update

152

Based on information from California Real Estate Technology Services. Due to MLS reporting methods and allowable reporting policy, this data is only informational and may not be completely accurate. Therefore, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does not guarantee the data accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS's may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

No Tax Returns | Cash-Out Refi | Purchase Pre-Approval | Interest-Only Options

Trevor Lane

Aimee Lane

818.971.9380 direct

323.868.8450 direct

VP Mortage Lending

REALTOR®

trevormlane@gmail.com

aimeeglane@gmail.com

Mortgage Capital Partners

NMLS #531594

trevormlane.com

Your Neighbor and Local Jumbo Loan Specialist

CALBRE #01976084

aimeelaneproperties.com

Aimee will help you get where you want to go! As a Realtor® and a licensed attorney, Aimee has excellent listening skills and is always attentive to helping you realize your real estate goals.

*This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. The actual interest rate, APR and payment may vary based on the specific terms of the loan selected, verification of information, your credit history, the location and type of property, and other factors as determined by Lenders. Interest rate and APR are variable and subject to increase Not available in all states. Rates are subject to change daily without notice. Not all applicants will qualify. Payment amounts shown do not include taxes or insurance. If your property is currently listed, this is not intended as a solicitation. Mortgage Capital Partners, Inc. is a lender under California Real Estate License #01858965. NMLS #239902. © 2017 Mortgage Capital Partners, Inc.

4540 ENCINO AVENUE | ENCINO

$4,895,000

7 B E D S | 7 B AT H S | 7, 8 0 0 S Q . F T. | 3 1 , 07 7 S Q . F T. LOT CO -LISTED WITH ADRIENNE MART Z

4717 ENCINO AVENUE | ENCINO

$4,495,000 14541 DEERVALE PLACE | SHERMAN OAKS

6 B E D S | 7. 5 B AT H S | 6 , 7 1 8 S Q . F T. | 1 7, 6 3 7 S Q . F T. LOT CO - LISTED WITH JA M ES H IRSCH A N D DEN ISE SN A NOUDJ

3532 CAMINO DE LA CUMBRE | SHERMAN OAKS 3 B E D S | 3 . 5 B AT H S | 2 , 6 9 0 S Q . F T. | 8 , 7 1 4 S Q . F T. LOT C O - L I S T E D W I T H S T E FA N P O M M E P U Y

$1,849,000 3254 OAKDELL ROAD | STUDIO CITY

$17,500 /MO

5 B E D S | 5 . 5 B AT H S | 6 , 02 8 S Q . F T. | 25 , 28 0 S Q . F T. LOT

CRAIG KNIZEK C K N I Z EK@T H E AG EN C Y R E .CO M | 8 1 8 .61 8 .1 0 0 6 An international associate of Savills

$1,995,000

3 B E D S | 2 . 5 B AT H S | 2 , 8 0 3 S Q . F T. | 1 8 , 7 2 8 S Q . F T. LOT

THEAGENCYRE.COM

4142 BENEDICT CANYON

STUNNING GRAND ELEGANCE Marvel at the opulent level of finishes in this nearly new, gently-used East Coast traditional. Framed by towering Redwood trees, just steps from Ventura Blvd and easy Westside access, the scale of the high ceilings and the open floor plan inspire delight. Supreme privacy with tall mature hedges, extra –high fencing, entry gates, and a sophisticated Control 4-security system with 13 cameras. The Master Suite resembles a 5-star hotel’s Presidential suite. Fireplace, wine refrigerator, private balcony to see the blooming Jacaranda tree tops but no other homes over the large hedges. The expansive bathroom with gorgeous claw foot tub and multiple closets relaxes and starts your day off in luxury. This house was customized in every way-designed and built with utmost care and sophisticated taste. 5 Beds / 7 Baths

LISTED AT: $3,995,000 WWW.4142BENEDICTCANYON.COM

CRAIG KNIZEK

t: 424 230 3718 | m: 818 618 1006 TheAgencyRE.com/CraigKnizek DRE# 01377932

JEANNE VALVO AND JOEY VALVO Luxury Estates Directors 310-625-4777 Jeanne | 310-463-2727 Joey jvalvo@me.com CalBre 00616104, CalBre 01242463

TOLUCA LAKE

10125 Valley Spring Lane $4,299,000

find open houses now

Sensational indoor/outdoor living in this private 6bd, 5ba estate with exquisite interiors.

aaroe.com

10125valleyspring.com Craig Strong 310.439.3225

ENCINO ENCINO

ENCINO

4517 Firmament Ave Kevin Driscoll

$4,399,000 818.398.0797

SHERMAN OAKS

17428 Oak Creek Crt Renee Ogiens

$2,650,000 818.404.7440

SHERMAN OAKS

15500 Valley Vista Blvd $2,775,000 Traditional on approx. 1/2 an acre flat. 5bd, 4ba and amazing yard with pool.

3532 Woodcliff Rd Tracey Raphael

$2,299,000 818.744.6655

SHERMAN OAKS

4643 Atoll Ave Lieberman & Gerber

SHERMAN OAKS

STUDIO CITY

4935 Varna Ave Gloria Carmona

$1,749,000 323.350.8686

ENCINO

$1,699,000 818.535.8755

TOLUCA LAKE

SHERMAN OAKS

4046 Strawberry Pl Michael Bergin

BEVERLY HILLS

Bryan Abrams 818.266.4300 Tracey Raphael 818.744.6655

BRENTWOOD

$1,679,000 310.600.0715

SUNSET STRIP

13454 Valleyheart Dr Joan Duffy

BALDWIN HILLS/VIEW PARK

$1,499,000 310.995.0900

PASADENA

DOWNTOWN LA

John Aaroe Group does not guarantee the accuracy of sq. footage, lot size, or other info concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records and other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy.

SOLD IN 2017!

13227 McCormick St, Sherman Oaks

4620 Rubio Ave, Encino

4719 Atoll Ave, Sherman Oaks

3946 Davana Rd, Sherman Oaks

4755 Whte Oak Pl, Encino

23594 Park South St, Calabasas

5255 Encino Ave, Encino

4180 Klump Ave, Studio City

19250 Hamlin St #4, Reseda

5008 Bluebell Ave, Valley Village

13568 Valleyheart Dr, Sherman Oaks

6556 Murietta Ave, Valley Glen

1408 Torres Dr, Glendale

4828 Noble Ave, Sherman Oaks

ALAN TAYLOR | 818.650.1603 | Alan@AlanTaylorRealEstate.com | AlanTaylorRealEstate.com John Aaroe Group does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records and other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. CalBRE 01369255

STRONG REALTOR TOP 1% NATIONWIDE 2016

10125 VALLEY SPRING LANE, TOLUCA LAKE AVAILABLE | OFFERED AT $4,299,000

SOLD OVER $100 MILLION IN 2016

6Bd | 5Ba | 5,135± sf | 14,252± sf lot

AVAILABLE | TOLUCA LAKE

Bob & Dolores Hope Estate

AVAILABLE | STUDIO CITY

$22,000,000

$4,995,000

AVAILABLE | STUDIO CITY

AVAILABLE | TOLUCA LAKE

4402 Ledge Avenue

11550 Dilling Street

$3.149,000

AVAILABLE | TOLUCA LAKE

4245 Vanetta Drive

$2,249,000

AVAILABLE | TOLUCA LAKE

CRAIG STRONG Executive Director, Aaroe Estates 310.439.3225 CalBRE 01450987

4322 Ponca Avenue

$2,149,000

4247 McFarlane Avenue

$1,649,000

STRONGREALTOR.COM #1 AGENT SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

John Aaroe Group does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records and other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. CalBRE 01450987

KevinDriscollHOMES.COM Extraordinary Seller Representation!

ENCINO

16207 Dickens Street $1,495,000

4517 Firmament Avenue $4,399,000

16207Dickens.aaroe.site

4517firmament.aaroe.site

IN ESCROW

ENCINO 15715 Woodvale Road $2,100,000

ENCINO 17966 Lake Vista Drive $2,699,000

KEVIN DRISCOLL

17966lakevista.aaroe.site

Top 1% Nationwide Director, Aaroe Estates

818.398.0797

KevinDriscollHomes@gmail.com John Aaroe Group does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from public records and other sources and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. This is not intended as a solicitation if your property is currently listed with another broker. CalBRE 01270052

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUSANNA NAGY Harma Hartouni, Operating Principal of Studio City, Encino-Sherman Oaks, and Calabasas; honors top-producing agent, Susanna Nagy on reaching the prestigious award of Platinum Level in sales volume.

Susanna has been recognized by the Wall St. Journal as one of California's top producing real estate agents and honored by Real Estate Executive Magazine in 2016 as one of Southern California's 100 most influential realtors. She is an experienced full-time, top producing agent with Keller Williams and was recently profiled as a leading local Realtor by Ventura Blvd. Magazine. Susanna has also earned the designation as a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and is one of Zillow's top Premier Agents. S T U D I O C I T Y • E N C I N O - S H E R M A N OA K S • C A L A B A S A S

Ea c h Offic e I nde pe nde ntly Owne d a nd Ope ra te d.

Saturday

Open House

Haleakala Luxury Apartments 14227 Magnolia Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

11:00 - 4:00 PM

2011-2016

last word

Summer Bonding

Day trips, alfresco dinners and family vacations are great, but if you want to really connect with your kid this summer, offer an opinion about things like who would win a fight between Superman and the Hulk. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL GOLDMAN | ILLUSTRATED BY CHRISTINE GEORGIADES

Last year, on the final night of the NBA season, my teenage sons and I unintentionally woke my exhausted wife with shouting. When she wandered in to ask what the racket was about, we explained that Kobe Bryant, in the final game of his career, was on the verge of scoring 50 points in an otherwise meaningless season-ending game. We sternly warned her not to touch the crystal water glass sitting on the middle of the hardwood floor directly in front of the TV, as we precariously jumped around it. She took no offense at our superstition. If she moved something, then maybe Kobe’s miraculous final game would suddenly go south. So she left it there, sat on the couch, smiled, yawned and watched the rest of the game with us. Kobe ended his career with 60 points; our entire family went to bed satisfied. Her understanding of our idiosyncrasies made me recall an encounter my oldest son and I had in a public park when he was small. We were engaged in a spirited debate over who would win a fight between Superman and the Hulk. At some point, a mother with a boy about my son’s age interrupted to tell me she wished she could have such conversations with her son. She said she didn’t know anything about the Hulk or Superman, and she worried she wouldn’t be able to bond with her son. I suggested she buy comic book reference guides, watch cartoons and movies, and ask her son to explain stuff to her. I said the point wasn’t the quality or depth of her knowledge. It was to make the effort. She promised to give it a try. My wife, Bari, is always giving it a try. For 17 years, she has tolerated an unfairly male-dominated culture in our

130

VENTURA BLVD | JULY 2017

home. She gets facts and figures wrong, mixes up her sports, dozes off at critical game moments, but the point is, she exhibits a willingness to participate. Our sons are now an active 17 and 14, and she’s a sometimes-tired, always hard-working mom, yet she still finds pockets of time to watch The Flash with us and offers occasional opinions on the Lakers. I’ve often wondered how I would have done if the shoe were on the other foot. I grew up reading comics and obsessively following sports. What would I have done with two girls? I don’t know anything about fashion or hairstyles. I’d like to think I would have followed my wife’s example. We parents can go crazy scheduling our kids during summer—with the goal of avoiding idle, nonproductive time. But I’d like to suggest another goal for the months when school is out: bonding with your child. And a great way to achieve that is by focusing on their interests—even if they seem silly or aren’t in your wheelhouse. Heck, use Google as a source of information. Within seconds, I guarantee you’ll come up with 10 excellent conversation starters. Strategically pick moments (avoid hungry, tired and internet immersed) and initiate discussions with your child about things that matter to them. He or she won’t care that you looked the stuff up, but they will care that you made the effort. And for the record, should it come up, it’s my view that Superman would whip the Hulk—he’s just smarter. ■ Michael Goldman is a freelance writer and book author who tries to keep up with his sons, Jake and Nathan. Find out more about Michael at hollywood-scribe.com.

Harriet & Andrew Ranked #38 of all Berkshire Hathaway Agents Nationwide For 2016

17110 McCormick Street, Encino $3,995,000 www.17110McCormickSt.com Exceptional custom Amestoy Estate Tuscan situated on nearly a half-acre of landscaped private grounds. Superb craftsmanship and impeccable attention to detail are evident throughout this 6 bedroom, 8 bath home. A blend of comfortable elegance and timeless sophistication, the luxurious home is the epitome of California living at it’s finest! The private grounds offer a grassy play yard, pebble tech pool/spa, outdoor powder room, covered exterior living space with fireplace and ceiling fans, full summer kitchen with barbecue, outdoor burners, smoker, warming drawer, refrigerator, and prep area. Other amenities include a 5-car garage, gated circular driveway, maid’s/guest quarters, cedar lined storage closet, chic powder room with designer carnival glass vessel basin, surround sound, and closed circuit security system.

Results That Will Move You! Nearly 100 Million In Closed Sales In 2016 HarrietCameron.com

AndrewSpitz.com

BRE#675971 Realtor®

BRE#924610 Realtor®

818-380-2151

Harriet Cameron Andrew Spitz

818-817-4284

2017 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be vafified by broker or MLS. CalBRE 01317331