Playavistadirect aug sept2016

August · September 2016

D i r e c t

Risk and

Reward

72U’s Maria Scileppi makes unlikely connections to take creators out of their comfort zones Athletes Fly above Fear at Broadway Gymnastics Augmented Reality for a Better Real World The Science of Freshness at Playa Vista Farmers’ Market

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Contents

Vol. 1 | No. 3

EDITOR’S NOTE

HOME

6 Break Free of your Comfort Zone

32 Patti Londre’s Playa Vista townhome for two globe trekkers

COMMUNITY

HEALTH

10 Sofar Sounds @ TOMS Shoes 12 ChamberFest LAeXpo @ Centerpointe Club

40 Meet the man behind the Farmers’ Market

14 David Brighton and Space Oddity @ Playa Vista Central Park

FOOD

16 Bike Attack Grand Opening @ Runway 18 National Night Out @ Concert Park

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4 Wellfed serves up Hawaiian4 fusion comfort food SHOPPING

PEOPLE 2 0 72U Director Maria Scileppi brings together artists, techies and makers for a tuition-free creative residency 24 Broadway Gymnastics School trains future Olympians

50 Bamboo Beach Bags and Shearling Slip-ons

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EVENTS 54 End of summer brings outdoor family activities and Oktoberfest ON THE COVER: 72U Director Maria Scileppi in the creative offices of 72andSunny. Photo by Shilah Montiel.

Design by Michael Kraxenberger.

2 8 USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies alters reality

44

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www.rockreation.com | 310-207-7199 4 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

Edi t o r ’ s N o t e

Break Free of your Comfort Zone

S

ummer is traditionally the time for outdoor adventures, trying new things and good, old-fashioned play.

But as summer begins to wane and our kids head back to school, it appears the people who live and work in Playa Vista won’t be abandoning that sense of child-like wonderment anytime soon.

No, we’ll be looking for new ways to test the limits of what it means to be a maker, collaborator and innovator. Playa Vista has a long history of innovation and is carrying that spirit into the new millennium through a willingness to push themselves — and others — outside their comfort zones. To find the satisfying rewards that come out of risk. To cherish the new and exciting.

As head of the creative residency program 72U, Maria Scileppi’s fulltime job is putting artists and techies together and tasking them with incredible, often mind-bending community projects that may exist for a moment or forever. It sounds like an ethereal, dream-like undertaking, and, in fact, it is. Scileppi told me she’s found her dream job here in Playa Vista, a place that allows her to bring together people from different cultural backgrounds and create a safe space for them to take risks and build ambitious projects that bridge the gap between art and commerce.

Just down the road, across Jefferson Boulevard at Broadway Gymnastic School, a young woman named Evan Pakshong faces her fears every single day as she leaps, twists and dances along a four-inch piece of wood called a balance beam. Pakshong is the 2016 Junior Olympic National Beam Champion and has found her comfort zone in the air.

New restaurateur Monique Yamaguchi has left her own personal comfort zone of documentary filmmaking to create Wellfed, a local eatery she hopes will honor her late parents every time she serves up a plate of traditional Hawaiian comfort food.

As always, I hope this issue of Playa Vista Direct will inspire you to create, innovate and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, the risk alone is its own reward.

Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com

Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director & Creative Concept Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Evan Henerson Jessica Koslow · Laurel Minter Robyn Paris · Michael Reyes Contributing Photographers Nicolas Bates · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel Ted Soqui · Lyle Okihara Susan Werner Graphic Designer Kate Doll Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy David Maury Jillian Libenson Advertising Director Alan Rock Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Publi sher David Comden

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SOFAR SOUNDS SECRET SHOW @ TOMS SHOES In celebration of National Sunglasses Day on June 27, TOMS Shoes opened up the backyard of its Playa Vista-adjacent headquarters for a live musical event curated by secret-concert producer Sofar Sounds.

Before the show began, more than 150 people milled about the grassy knoll and outdoor hangar space, tossing bean bags, sipping Lagunitas beers, trying on sunglasses, and experiencing virtual TOMS giving trips to Colombia and Peru on VR headsets.

The surprise musical guests were indie rock group Hunny, rapper Wes Period and Afro-Latin funk band Jungle Fire. DJ Disco Mechanic spun EDM beats between sets.

“To play an intimate space ground-floor with the audience is something you rarely get to do,” said Jungle Fire bassist Joey Reina, whose 10-piece band got the whole audience on its feet. “When you’re that close to people, it’s really easy to have fun.”

— Christina Campodonico 10 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2016

A virtual reality booth allowed visitors to experience TOMS giving trips to South America

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2 Steph Johnson (left), Aubrey Larson and Kelli McDonald pause for a photo during the concert 3 TOMS indoor/outdoor multipurpose space makes a great music venue 4 Hunny is currently on a North American tour supporting a new album 5 Emmitt James sings along during Wes Period’s set Visit sofarsounds.com/la to find out about the next show.

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Chamberfest LAeXpo @ CenterPointe Club Westside business minds gathered at the Centerpointe Club on June 23 to enjoy food, games and raffles while forming new community connections at the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce’s ChamberFest LAeXpo. Raymond Mackay from Urban Plates in Runway at Playa Vista was serving up delicious mac and cheese — a crowd favorite. Benny’s Tacos, The Game Sports Bar, Tony P’s Dockside Grille, The Warehouse Restaurant and Rise & Shine Catering also made delicious impressions in the event’s tasting area.

Representing Providence Health and Services was Julie Tjandra, there to let the neighborhood know they are building a new 20,000-square-foot medical office on Jefferson Boulevard that will provide primary care, pediatrics, internal medicine and other services.

Maria Garcia, whose Facebook page “Playa Vista Bazaar” encourages locals to exchange goods and ideas, said she attended LAeXpo with her young son mostly for fun but also saw it as an opportunity to better know the surrounding neighborhood.

— Shanee Edwards 12 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

1 ChamberFest LAeXpo is a big draw for families and organizations alike

2 Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club members give away bottles of wine 3 Benny’s Tacos & Chicken Rotisserie grill chefs serve up mouthwatering quesadillas 4 Barbara Littlejohn and Janet Zaldua of the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau 5 LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce staff members know how to have a good time 6 Info booths kept attendees busy with giveaways and games 7 Tony P’s Tony Palermo and daughter Francesca

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co m m u ni t y Photos by Maria Martin

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David Brighton and Space Oddity @ Playa Vista Central Park In a moving (and grooving) tribute to the late music icon David Bowie, tribute band David Brighton and Space Oddity dazzled an audience of hundreds during a free summer concert on July 17 at the Central Park Bandshell.

Brighton, who’s been performing as Bowie for 16 years, led the band through a mix of ‘80s hits and Bowie classics from three decades, pausing only to run backstage for costume changes that took him from donning a fiery red Ziggy Stardust wig to a loud yellow suit.

Near the end of the set, Hollywood U2 frontman Joe Hier (aka Hollywood Bono) — who had played Central Park on June 26 — joined the band for a wham-bam version of “Suffragette City.”

Concertgoer Malik Adams loves Bowie “from head to toe,” he said.

“Bowie encouraged people to be accepting of the LGBT community.

He made people feel OK about who they were.”

— Shanee Edwards 14 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

1 The crowd is enthralled by the timeless music of David Bowie 2 Playa Vista locals and visitors fill the lawn around the Central Park Bandshell 3 David Brighton takes a turn as Bowie alter ego Ziggy Stardust 4 Hollywood U2 frontman Joe Hier joins Space Oddity on stage 5 Moms and kids alike enjoy hits from the ‘80s 6 Brighton embodies the Starman as he plays to the crowd

co m m u ni t y Photos by Maria Martin

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Bike Attack Grand Opening @ Runway Popular online bicycle retailer Bike Attack launched a new brickand-mortar location in Runway at Playa Vista on July 23 by throwing a party to raffle off bikes, skateboards and swag.

Founded in Berlin 22 years ago by BMX racer Ericson Monsalud, Bike Attack has evolved to specialize in not just racers but also highend motorized commuter bikes and others meant for pedaling around the neighborhood in comfort and style.

Bike Attack partner Andrew Smith said he doesn’t know how anyone can live in Playa Vista without a bicycle.

“You’ve got a beach less than two miles from here, you can ride to the farmers market, to the playgrounds, up the hill to Westchester for dinner. It’s all reachable by bike,” Smith said.

Bike stylist Toons One attributed his calling to experiencing the pride German women take in their bikes.

“They saw how I was doing my bike and were approaching me to do theirs. It’s an awesome way to meet women,” he said.

— Shanee Edwards 16 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

1 Bike Attack founder Ericson Monsalud, a former BMX racer, and business partner Andrew Smith 2 Bicycles lined the streets of Runway at Playa Vista for Bike Attack’s grand opening 3 A local boy test drives a kid’s version of a dirtbike 4 Bike stylist Toons One adds hand-painted flair to a bike helmet

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National Night Out @ Concert Park Playa Vista families and local law enforcement mixed and mingled at Concert Park in observance of National Night Out, an annual celebration bringing police officers and the community together for hot dogs, conversation and fun.

Hosted by LAPD’s Pacific Division and its Community Police Advisory Board, the Aug. 2 event also featured tunes from band Skye Park, with LAPD officer Joe Sellner on bass.

“When we meet citizens at events like this, they see us as humans and not just police officers,” said Sgt. Kevin Lowe.

“We can’t do our jobs without a community to support us,” Sgt. Dennis Beacham added.

When Helen Stepan’s three-year-old son Julian spotted the firetrucks at the park, she was sold. After Julian posed for photos in the firetruck, the family stayed for the festivities.

“It’s so generous of the police officers to bring food, and the band is great,” she said.

— Robyn Paris 18 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

1 Curious kids explore the inside of a firetruck as LAFD engineer Donald Batiste supervises 2 Fire Captain Alvin Engle chats with local Girl Scouts 3 LAFD Assistant Chief Armando Hogan takes a photo with two boys from the area 4 A boy shows Officer Kristan Delatori his Spider-Man balloon sculpture before grabbing a hot dog 5 City Councilman Mike Bonin connects with the crowd 6 LAPD Cadet Bautista and LAPD Officer Brown smile for the camera

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Maria Scileppi poses with 72andSunny’s whimsical bovine sculpture, a gift from Tillamook Cheese

People

Risk and Reward

72U’s Maria Scileppi makes unlikely connections to take creators out of their comfort zones Story By Shanee Edwards | Photos by Shilah Montiel

A

lone in a new city, concept artist Maria Scileppi began an experiment she called PeopleScape. Her goal was to make a new friend each day for an entire year.

Scileppi documented each new friend and brought all 365 souls together for a culmination event at an art gallery. Instead of paintings or sculptures, “the art was the relationships,” she says.

The project pushed Scileppi out of her comfort zone and taught her the importance of authentic human connection.

Nine years later, Scileppi’s job is to push others out of their comfort zones and help them forge new and exciting connections. She’s director of 72U, a tuition-free creative residency for artists, techies and makers.

72U was the brainchild of John Boiler, CEO of the international advertising agency 72andSunny, which has its L.A. office in Playa Vista’s Hercules Campus.

Scileppi says the agency’s mission is to be a “platform for personal growth and creative self-expression,” and Boiler wanted to have an in-house program that exemplified the values of the company. 72U seems to be a new way to bridge the gap between art and commerce.

“It’s a total dream job,” Scileppi says. “I got to have a blank slate and design the program. I wanted to work with people who have different skills than I have, from different back-

grounds culturally, and create a safe place to take risks and take on really ambitious projects.”

72U courses are three months long, and they happen three times a year.

Teams of makers are curated from all over the globe.

The people skills Scileppi learned from the PeopleScape project come in handy while forming teams, and each session is designed according to the participants’ backgrounds.

“I think of them as my palate. The program is designed to take them to the next level creatively and professionally.

I choose projects that will leverage their skills but also push them out of their comfort zones,” she says.

Past 72U projects have included short films, a digital poster that passersby can manipulate to create new music, two four-story murals in Hollywood and an interactive learning sculpture that translates screams into visual expressions via bubbles, floating ribbons, flying pompoms and other objects.

Finding such opportunities is an essential part of Scileppi’s job.

Last fall she managed to find an empty lot on Abbot Kinney Boulevard that her team converted into a pop-up park for community-driven events.

“We had seven people on the team, six different countries represented. We had one architect who had just finished architecture school but had never built anything. So I thought, ‘Okay, we’re building something.’”

Scileppi reveals the electronics in back of an interactive musical poster created by a 72U cohort

The Venice Pop-Up Park incorporated free Wi-Fi, modular seating, a performance stage and a chalk board for brainstorming sessions, but Scileppi says the most challenging aspect was a requirement that the land have a fence around it. This is where innovation and creativity really came into play.

(Continued on page 22) Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 21

People

(Continued from page 21)

“The group came up with the ‘fenesk,’ which is a fence that turns into a desk. This was a space that was supposed to be adaptable for all types of community uses like yoga, food tastings or talks. When the park is open the fence comes down and turns into desks. You know clearly from the street whether the park is open or not, and it creates these nice windows that frame the park.”

The connection between a program that creates a pop-up park and an advertising agency that creates TV commercials doesn’t seem terribly obvious, but Scileppi says the ties run deep.

“I think it’s a clear manifestation of 72andSunny’s mission, and it really does put the participants’ creative and professional needs first. 72U is an opportunity for the company to reach out and connect with the community. It’s also a way to inspire people. There’s no way to know how many connections

have been made or ideas that have been spawned from the park we built.”

Like so many industries adapting to life in the 21st century, advertising is changing, too. 72U seems to be a starting point for creating an authentic relationship between brands and their increasingly savvy consumers.

“So it’s not necessarily connected to advertising as we would define it in the traditional sense. But it’s our way of connecting with culture, and that’s what 72andSunny does as a whole for our brands. Our work is a little different because we’re not trying to make advertising. We’re trying to connect and be part of the cultural conversation.”

The same way Scileppi sought out that “authentic connection” in her onefriend-a-day project, 72andSunny seems to be searching for a similar relationship with consumers. But is blurring the lines between making, creativity and commerce a good thing?

“You could technically say what we do is one big advertisement for 72andSunny, just in a different form that we’re not used to,” she says. “But there’s a purity here. A lot of times, people think that advertising doesn’t have that authenticity, and people can’t believe it, wanting to know the ulterior motive or catch. But our work really is to give back to the creative community and to inspire.”

Scileppi says she’d love to create projects right here in Playa Vista.

“We’re always looking for talent — interesting people with different backgrounds. I call them wonderful weirdoes,” she says. “So, I put that out to Playa Vista. If anyone’s doing anything interesting or is curious, I would love for them to reach out and let’s get a coffee.”

For more information about 72U or to contact Scileppi, visit 72u.org.

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22 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

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Coach April Brandon looks on with pride as gymnast Evan Pakshong soars over the balance beam

People

How to

Fly above Fear

Broadway Gymnastic School teaches discipline of body and mind Story By Christina Campodonico | Photos by Shilah Montiel

T

umbling down the length of a four-inch strip of wood with no safety net in sight would be a terrifying experience for most people.

Not so for 2016 Junior Olympic National Beam Champion Evan Pakshong, a college-bound gymnast at the Playa Vista-adjacent Broadway Gymnastic School.

“I feel safe on the beam,” the 18-year-old says. “It’s not something that I’m scared of. Some of the other events, I may have some fears sometimes, but with the balance beam I’m confident and I know I can do it.”

Pakshong is a Level 10 gymnast — one tier below the Elite Level from which Olympic gymnasts spring — and a balance beam specialist who has been training in gymnastics since she was six years old. This fall she’s off to The College of William & Mary in Virginia on a scholarship to compete on the university’s NCAA women’s gymnastics team.

To get her there, Pakshong’s coaches at Broadway Gymnastic not only had to train the young athlete’s body to perform at a highly competitive level, but also her mind.

“Gymnastics is probably 90% mental,” says Broadway Gymnastic Head Girls Coach April Brandon. “There’s a lot of fear involved, a lot of hurdles to overcome, so we feel like we’re psychologists as well as coaches.”

To train her students, Brandon relies on mental techniques in addition to physical ones.

Boys Coach Douglass Johnson preps his athletes before practice

“You’d be surprised how many, when they start, see themselves crash or see themselves fall. So it takes training and practice even just to get their brain to be able to see [themselves doing] it perfectly as well,” says Brandon. “We do things like deep breathing to help them learn how to relax and control their nerves at a meet. We teach them things like cue words — one thing that they might say to themselves before they do the trick to remind them what they need to do to stay on, or get it right. And then we also use mental imagery where they learn how to close their eyes and picture how to do that skill perfectly.”

“The cup is half full. It’s never half empty at Broadway,” adds Broadway Gymnastic owner Michael Cates.

Head Boys Coach Douglass Johnson picked up similar positive mental

techniques from training with a physical therapist and competing for a spot in this year’s Olympic trials, and he uses them to teach his students how to grapple with the scary parts of the sport — big jumps, flips and tumbles.

“Fear is a big factor,” says Johnson, talking about how he assuages those fears. “The first thing I would do is determine if it’s a rational or irrational fear.

If it’s a rational fear — if they’re afraid of hitting the bar, or afraid of falling and landing on their head — that’s an easy fix: Let’s put a bar pad in between your hands, so if you do hit the bar it won’t hurt,” he explains. “You provide a situation where it makes complete sense that things are safe. You convince the brain that it’s safe.”

(Continued on page 26) Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 25

People

(Continued from page 25)

And convince it that it is capable of processing more information than we think. Working with his physical therapist, a masseuse and acupuncturist during his attempt to make it to the trials, Johnson learned how he could train his body to inform his brain with eye exercises that strengthened his visual acuity, skin massages that stimulated scar tissue from previous injuries and affirmation mantras that nurtured a positive mindset.

“It’s like doing a research paper,” says Johnson, who studied aerospace engiWith body and mind perfectly aligned, Pakshong does a backflip on the beam neering at the University of Michigan and competed on their NCAA chamThe more input that you have, it provides just click,” says Johnson, who now focuses pionship teams. “You want to have a lot your brain enough information to know on “coaching the mind” as well as the of information and correct information how to output, how to function.” body and the connections in between. in order to be able to sift through the Bringing these various mind-body “What I’ve discovered from my data and provide a very, very succinct exercises together was a revelation for experience in gymnastics is nerves can be research paper. If you have one or two Johnson as an athlete and a coach. interpreted as fear or as excitement,” says sources and you don’t have a lot of input, “The older you get, the smarter you Johnson. you’re not going to have a good research become about your training. The more The real trick, he says, is forgetting the paper. It’s the same thing for your brain. you understand the skills. Things kind of fear in order to fly free.

26 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

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Todd Richmond sits at the control panel, commanding a hyperrealistic CGI naval officer

People

Virtual Tech with

Real Purpose

Todd Richmond builds ‘the coolest stuff in the world’ at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies Story By Stephanie Case | Photos by Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo

T

odd Richmond is an analog soul in a digital world. He rides a manual transmission motorcycle to work every day; at night, he plays bass guitar for live audiences, without a note of electronic accompaniment. He abstains from social media, Netflix and other digital distractions.

But Richmond spends most of his time in and out of the office hypothesizing about the future of emerging technologies.

As the director of advanced prototypes at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) in Playa Vista, Richmond and his team build and experiment with cutting-edge virtual and augmented realities, artificial intelligence and virtual humans — years before such technology hits the market.

In ICT’s Mixed Reality Lab, newly out-of-date gadgets — from game controllers to primitive VR headsets — are displayed in glass boxes like relics.

In the middle of a motion-tracking lab, a pair of virtual reality goggles (a “head-mounted display” in tech speak), is covered in wires and red LEDs and strapped onto a mannequin.

Try it on, and you can take in a 150-degree field of view — more panoramic than the widely hyped, 90-degree Oculus Rift — and made roughly decade earlier. Artists and engineers can construct a simulated world around you.

As to what that world is, the possibilities are endless.

“I can be at the top of Mount Everest or I can be at the bottom of the ocean, and I can be fully immersed in it,” Richmond says.

But to Richmond, where the simulated realities can transport you is less important than the why.

“We don’t sell products. We don’t sell games,” he assures. “We try and figure out how we can use all this technology for positive outcomes.”

ICT’s virtual reality scenarios, for example, can be used as an occupational therapy tactic, help someone rehabilitate after a brain injury, or gain bodily awareness after a stroke or amputation. The prototype team is also coding virtual physicians for mobile devices, so people across the world can receive instantaneous medical care.

ICT’s VR can also help people train for rescue jobs in life-or-death environments like nuclear spills and embattled warzones. It can also work the other way, as a healing tool for those who return from dangerous spaces with PTSD to virtually reconstruct and process moments of trauma.

Richmond leads me to the next room, where a hyper-realistic CGI naval officer snaps to attention as he senses our presence. Around him is a prototype military workspace that ICT designed for the Office of Naval Research. ICT is

Todd Richmond is surrounded

by VR headsets and other cuttingedge gadgets

largely funded by the Department of Defense, which fuels the team’s research into tech that solves very human problems.

“We don’t train you how to shoot a gun better,” says Richmond. Instead, he paints another picture: “You’re deployed in Afghanistan, you’re 23 years old, and (Continued on page 30) Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 29

People

(Continued from page 29)

you’re responsible for people who are older than you. Then, you get a 32-yearold sergeant coming to you in tears because he got a Dear John letter. What in your life has prepared you for that?”

That’s where virtual humans come in, providing a safe space to practice social scenarios before you’re thrust into the real world. Since they’re AIs, they’re infinitely scalable; everyone can train at once — and virtual doctors can see thousands of patients per day. Plus, when coded right, they have infinite memory and are perfectly consistent.

But, you’re still talking to a robot.

“In digital experiences, invariably, something is lost in translation,” Richmond says. “Something is stripped out. “At the end of the day, two people should be having a conversation.

The technology should only be mediating that connection, not becoming a replacement for it.”

But as virtual tech continues to blend with real spaces — especially for commercial means — Richmond is worried.

Back in his office, he grabs his laptop and pulls up “Hyper-Reality,” a short film by Keiichi Matsuda. It depicts a dystopian, corporate world saturated with augmented reality, where constant messages, advertisements and coupons bombard your view. Many humans fill the screen, but few interact with each other, immersed in their artificial environments.

“It’s pretty disturbing, and it’s probably going to happen,” says Richmond.

Yet while he knows a mixed-reality future is inevitable — augmented reality will be as necessary as cell phones and the internet by 2025, he says — Richmond also thinks that people should take responsibility for that future.

“Like everything, it’s yin-yang. Technology is agnostic. You can use it for good,

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or you can use it for evil,” he says. “The more we understand technology and its implications for humanity, we can avoid the evil and do more of the good.”

At ICT, Richmond feels a lot of good is being done. ELITE SHARP CTT, a training software filled with virtual humans, helps Army officers better respond to sexual assault. VITA, a virtual human prototype that helps young adults on the autism spectrum practice for and ease anxiety in job interviews, could one day scale for teens with disabilities everywhere.

“There are days that I get up and I am ready to quit my job, and either try to make a living as a musician or go back to teaching chemistry,” Richmond says. “But there are other days that I wake up and I think, ‘I work on the coolest stuff in the world.’”

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Like Home World travelers Patti and Larry Londre have built a cozy nest around mementos of great adventures Story By Stephanie Case Photos by Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo

32 Playa Vista Direct | august ¡ september 2016

Home L e f t:

B e low:

O

World traveler Patti Londre takes respite from adventure in the sewing room of her Playa Vista townhome

Cabinet doors made from a repurposed antique church window the Londres found in Vermont (center) and a map of North America with a pin in every place the Londres have visited

n any given day, Patti Londre could be sliding down an Antarctic glacier, driving a candycolored Chevy on the streets of Havana or aboard an African safari, a yard or two away from a trumpeting baby elephant.

She’s explored all seven continents and visited hundreds of cities. Her food and travel blog, “Worth the Whisk,” features recipes she’s gathered from around the globe: Egyptian tomato soup, Namibia sunset cake. Another, more exotic entry, is one you can’t whip up at home.

“They call it Viking sushi,” Londre says, a snack she tried on a boat in Iceland. The crew netted in fish, mussels, clams and urchins, alive and squirming.

Then, the captain took out a butter knife.

Lunch was served.

“As you’re on the water, they’re popping open oysters, and you’re eating them with ginger and soy sauce,” she grins. “It’s so, so fabulous.”

But not every day calls for oysters or safaris. Even the most avid travelers need a home base — or, as Londre describes it, “a soft place to fall.” Hers is Playa Vista.

Londre’s five-story, townhome-style condo at Park Homes, built in 2005, has a simplicity to it that could convert any restless traveler to the slow life. Sunlight streams through three sides of her unit, bringing in warmth and fresh breezes.

Multiple enclosed patios surrounded by greenery make perfect spots to lounge, bask in the warm weather and share home-cooked meals with neighbors.

As a young couple, Londre and husband Larry lived and worked in a string of fixer-uppers from Northridge to Westwood.

“We bought a Hungarian restaurant [in Studio City], tore it to smithereens and put it all back together again,” she remembers.

Compared to that, Londre says, “Playa Vista is easier living.” Even the most daunting aspect of their home — five flights of stairs — isn’t such a challenge; turn your head, and a private elevator is ready to sweep you toward the top floor.

Waiting on the roof is a serene view: a panorama of the town.

(Continued on page 34) Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 33

Home

(Continued from page 33)

“The best time up [on the roof ] is when the sun goes behind those buildings,” Londre says, pointing southwest towards the sea. Perched atop Park Homes, she can take in sweeping views of Loyola Marymount University and, further off into the horizon, Los Angeles International Airport. “You can watch the planes take off and enjoy a glass of wine,” she adds.

But more often than not, Londre isn’t watching the planes take off; she’s in them. Just this winter, she and her husband jetted off to Morocco to sightsee and taste the cuisine. She returned with an emblem of their adventure: an intricate mandala plate, now hanging on her wall.

It’s one of the many standout pieces that give Londre’s home a global flair.

Her kitchen features a United Nations of utensils: salad bowls from Kenya and Tanzania, a fish platter from Barbados and a gleaming wooden cutting board from New Zealand.

So much of the Londres’ home was born out of these moments of serendipity on the road. At a restaurant in Umbria, Patti and her husband ate pasta off of two hand-painted plates — and, on a whim, decided to buy them. They hang in the main living space, evoking a small taste of Italy.

On a drive through rural Vermont, they stopped in an antique barn and were struck by a precious, vintage church window — then repurposed it into cabinet doors.

There’s a constant influx of these finds: an antique slot machine from a Las Vegas trip, a vintage Victrola record player from Erie, Pennsylvania. With every adventure, their home grows and gains more personality.

One of their unique finds is from Playa Vista. Three years ago, Larry Londre noticed that PVPAL (Playa Vista Parks and Landscape Corporation) was throwing away an aerial photo of the early town, back when it was little more

Londre decorates her outdoor patio with objects found during her travels

than a bean field. Amidst the grass and dirt, he could pick out the rough location of their home with his finger.

“Why would you throw this away?”

Larry asks. He salvaged it and hung it across from a map of the globe, pairing their two worlds: big and small. “[Home] is your ground zero, from where you emanate,” Patti says.

“We travel like crazy, but we always come back.”

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The Life Adjustment Team can help those diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. The family is also provided with guidance, support and education to become a member of the treatment team, when appropriate.

During the initial consultation with Life Adjustment Team professionals, families are shown clear and concrete steps that have to be taken to resolve their situations. They are shown that these steps can help their loved ones, and begin to feel hope. After a few months of treatment, many families have called to express gratitude to the Team because they have gotten their son or daughter back.

The Life Adjustment Team spends as much as 10 to 15 hours a week with clients, helping them with tasks that are the hardest for them. Western medications treat the illness and not the person, and while medications and a therapist are critically important, the first just treats the symptoms and the second is only an hour or two a week. Using a team approach, LAT works in conjunction with the client’s psychiatrist, therapist or other treatment provider.

While significant progress has been made in developing new medications that treat the symptoms of mental illness, the transformational, self-empowering state-of-the-art rehabilitation that the Team provides is now being recognized globally by doctors and the mental health community at large as the driving force behind what leads to successful recovery.

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Farmer Mark holds a bowl of his favorite fruit — organic tomatoes, of course — at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market

40 Playa Vista Direct | June august · July · september 2016 2016

H e al t h

How Farmer Mark

Keeps it Fresh Playa Vista Farmers’ Market operator explains the science and economics behind a perfect tomato Story By Shanee Edwards | Photos by Maria Martin

O

nce an investment banker in the dot com world, Mark Anderson — known to locals as Farmer Mark — operates the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market in Runway at Playa Vista, where you can find him from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday. He has lots of fruitful information to share.

How did you go from being an investment banker to being a farmer?

I decided to get my MBA at UCLA, which brought me out here. This was back in 2000, and I thought the startup world was interesting. But halfway through the program, the dot com bubble burst and that all dried up. I changed my direction, wanting to look away from technology and find a business that you can’t just invent a better mousetrap and be out of business the next day. Just out of happenstance, I was put in touch with a man who had a seed breeding company, developing hybrid seeds for tomatoes and peppers.

What is seed breeding?

Take two tomato plants — say one that has perfectly red, round fruit that you want, and the other has fruit that aren’t red or round but last a long time.

You make the plants have sex together and you hope that the offspring has both qualities.

Fresh fruits like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are available at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market every Saturday

Is that similar to genetic modification?

No. It has nothing to do with genetic modification because you’re staying within the same species, not bringing in another organism, like a characteristic from a fish. They have inserted genes from a fish into a tomato.

Why would farmers want to cross a fish with a tomato?

They’ll take genes from an arctic fish that can tolerate cold temperatures and insert it into a tomato so that it will better withstand cold temperatures, because that’s how you lose your crops.

Should we refrigerate tomatoes?

No, don’t refrigerate them unless they’ve been cut into.

What made you get interested in farmers markets?

I joined the seed breeding company and became a farm manager overnight.

I had all these tomatoes and decided to go sell them at the farmers market in Hermosa Beach, and that was the turning point in my life.

(Continued on page 42) Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 41

H e al t h

(Continued from page 41)

How so?

Once I got to the farmers market, people started asking questions about how we grew that tomato — where did that tomato come from, what kind of seed do you have? I just fell down a rabbit hole, thinking, “My gosh, people are so interested in food — why is that?”

I started reading books, like Michael Pollin’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma,” about really knowing where your food comes from. Once you start asking those questions, it’s a slippery slope that is tough to come back from. I developed an appreciation for the power of food — that food is medicine and its importance in your lifestyle.

How do farmers benefit from selling at farmers markets instead of retail stores?

When you’re selling into the retail channel, they have classifications and

standards that each piece of produce needs to fit to be purchased and be sold.

The reality is that a lot of the crops that you’re growing might have a little blemish, might be a little too big or too small.

So the farmers markets became a vehicle for the farmer to sell this produce that’s perfectly great nutrient-wise, but just might not be as pretty as the one on the grocery store shelf.

Is that good for farmers financially?

Yes, they get a retail price verses going through a middle man and getting maybe half the price. It’s also an instant sale, so they don’ have to wait 30 or 60 days to get paid.

What’s the biggest benefit to shopping at a farmers market?

The freshness. Everything at the market is picked within a day or two,

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What is the one thing people must buy at the Playa Vista Famers’ Market?

I’ll stick with tomatoes. You really can taste the difference between a farm-fresh tomato and a commercially grown tomato.

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F a mi l y

Tradition The Hawaiian-fusion comfort food of Monique Yamaguchi’s Wellfed is a tribute to Mom and Dad Story By Jessica Koslow Photos by Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo

44 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

F ood The Wellfed P o k e Sa l a d combines ahi, salmon, baby tatsoi, frisée and avocado with a go chu jang vinaigrette ($13)

Wellfed ow n e r Monique Ya m ag u c h i honors her parents’ legacy by dishing up Hawaiian comfort food that brings people together

A

sk Monique Yamaguchi — little sister to celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi — why she picked Playa Vista as the home for her first restaurant and her eyes light up, her mouth twists and turns, as she tells you that this is the last place she lived with her parents.

“My parents had me later in life,” she shares. “When I was in high school, I told them, ‘You guys will never have to live alone. I’ll take care of you guys.’

I didn’t know how much time I had with them.”

In 2008, the family moved to the area after her father was diagnosed with cancer, and for eight years she lived just a few blocks away from the boxy lawn and play area bordering Pacific

Promenade, which her new Asian fusion restaurant Wellfed looks directly out on.

When her father died six years ago, Yamaguchi felt she had to do something to honor his memory.

Taking a cue from her much older middle brother Roy, who owns more than 30 restaurants in the U.S., hosted a TV series, published cookbooks and actually gave Monique her name (“I was one of the first examples of his love for fusing cultures: Japanese and French”), she decided to pour her blood, sweat and tears — into opening a restaurant.

She teamed up with a general contractor and together, with the help of investors (but surprisingly not her brother), they’ve put everything they have into Wellfed.

“I feel an attachment to this community,” says Yamaguchi. “This is a way to give back. And we’ve received so much support.”

The Hawaiian word for family is ohana, and Wellfed is very ohana.

Cooking has always been very special to the Yamaguchi family. Yamaguchi’s mom was from Okinawa, Japan, and her dad was born and raised in Maui. Her grandfather owned a restaurant in Maui.

Her parents were amazing cooks. And even though Monique only claims to cook a handful of items, like tacos and grilled cheese, she’s been around it all of her life. Wellfed allows her to hold on to the things she grew up with. Her memories live on in the food. Plus, she (Continued on page 46)

Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 45

F ood

(Continued from page 45)

loves the environment and energy of restaurants.

Other Yamaguchi family touches at Wellfed are 65-year-old paintings on the wall done by her grandfather (of Diamond Head and Haleakalā Crater in Maui) which she grew up with in her house, and palm trees, bamboo and orchids that belonged to her mom, who passed away last year, just five days after Yamaguchi received the official OK to start construction on Wellfed.

“The last thing my mom asked me was, ‘Is the restaurant finished?’” says Yamaguchi, a flash of pain crossing her brow. “She knew I needed to do it for my dad.”

Though not a financial investor, Roy — whom Monique credits with “starting the Hawaiian fusion Pacific Rim thing” — has played a big part in creating Wellfed’s menu, albeit indirectly.

“I’m blessed because my chefs have all come out of my brother’s kitchen,” says Yamaguchi. “Our chef is Nate Payo, who worked for my brother for 10 to 11 years.

He whipped a menu out of nowhere. His son is our head chef now.”

The menu is an updated version of Hawaiian food. It’s accessible and familyfriendly, the type of menu customers can enjoy several times a week.

Yamaguchi calls it comfort food, with kid-friendly dishes like chicken katsu (breaded chicken), chicken teriyaki and mac and cheese. The kids’ items have been so popular that adult versions were added.

When Yamaguchi is not planted on Pacific Promenade (which is rare these days), she tries to stay connected to her career as an independent filmmaker. Her YouTube channel with a partner has 93,000 subscribers and 25 million views.

In the future, Yamaguchi hopes to add a Sunday brunch and special dishes honoring her parents.

But for now, she’s happy to welcome, chat with and feed well everyone who walks through her door, one neighbor at a time.

The refreshing, non-alcoholic POG blends Hawaiian Sun passion fruit, orange and guava ($2) 46 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

Wellfed is at 13020 Pacific Promenade. Call (424) 835-4232 or visit wellfedla.co.

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Go on board an original DC3

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Shopping Gold-tone “Love” necklace Perfect for your wife or mother, this hand-stamped tag necklace is the perfect neck charm to keep things classy and to help her express what’s deep in her heart. $45

Beauty Beach Lounge 12751 W. Millennium Dr., Ste. 125 Playa Vista | (310) 862-5555

Alien Lunchbox Your child can pretend he’s lunching on another planet with this one-eyed alien lunch pack that is eco—friendly. Easy to wipe clean, it has a extra storage compartment and additional lining to keep food fresh. $15.19

Whole Foods 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd.

Playa Vista | (310) 862-9900

50 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

Toms Knit Shearling slip-ons Inspired by the Mexican blankets we all love to bring back from Tijuana, these cozy shoes are as comfortable as they are stylish. Plus, for every pair of Toms Shoes purchased, another pair will be donated to a child in need. $59

YogaWorks 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd., Ste. 3120 Playa Vista | (424) 228-8899

At the Market Men’s Coastline Tank The perfect shirt for your man’s endless summer, nothing says beach-ready like this tank that evokes the gorgeous sun and sand of our local beaches. Retailer Barnabas Clothing Company donates 10 percent of all sales to the charity Living Room International that helps people with HIV/ AIDS in Kenya. $32

Barnabas Clothing Company 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd., Ste. 145 Playa Vista | (310) 862-5599

Bamboo Beach Bags With room in carry your sunscreen, iPad, towel and snacks, this colorful tote made by Wanawake is the perfect accessory to take to Dockweiler Beach. These bags, along with other sunbathing accessories are sold by Ice Cold Apparel at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. $25 to $60

Playa Vista Farmers’ Market 12775 W. Millennium Drive Playa Vista | (310) 600-8252 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 51

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Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016 53

EVENTS

Compiled by Michael Reyes

THURSDAY, AUG. 18

Campus Dessert Social (Campus tenants only.) The word “dessert” comes from the French word desservir, meaning “clear the table” — which you and your Campus coworkers will not have a problem doing at this event designed to induce a giant sugar rush. Arrive early with your Campus ID badge (and toothbrush), as desserts are only available while supplies last. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. playalink. playavista.com Thursday, August 18

Marina Summer Concerts: “Madame Butterfly” A delusional geisha and a lustful American naval officer come together in Puccini’s explosive three-act opera that explores the collision of ancient culture and American colonialism. UCLA-trained soprano Daria Somers stars as Butterfly in a fully staged outdoor production with music by the Marina del Rey Symphony. 7 p.m.

Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 305-9545; beaches.lacounty.gov

Twilight Concert Series: Mavis Staples The soul/gospel legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer headlines a double bill with up-and-coming “Gulf Coast Soul” band The Suffers as part of the Twilight Concert Series at Santa Monica Pier. 7 p.m.

Free. tcs.santamonicapier.org Thursday, August 25

I Know What You Did This Summer IV Adventurous souls inspired (or cursed) by wanderlust — the compulsion to travel, explore and discover — share their personal travelogues in this Otis College of Art and Design discussion series. This session features art historian and Orchard Gallery cofounder Rhea Anastas; artist, curator and writer Eric Golo Stone; and Hammer Museum assistant curator Jamillah James. 7 to 9 p.m.

Bolsky Gallery, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester. Free.

(310) 665-6800; otis.edu/calendar FRIDAY, AUG. 19

Beach Movie Nights: “Finding Nemo” Saturday, August 27

Take a short ride to Dockweiler Youth Center for a family-friendly outdoor movie screening on the beach.

Tonight’s animated adventure takes place under the sea at the Great Barrier Reef and follows Marlin, a clownfish, and his memory-challenged friend Dory, a blue tang fish, as they search for Merlin’s lost son, Nemo. Movie begins at 8 p.m. 12505 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey. Free.

(310) 726-4128; beaches.lacounty.gov

Beginner Birding & Creek Cleanup

54 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24

Knitting For Beginners Knit chicks, teenage yarn harlots and knit-nerds can perfect their craft and stitch together some new friendships at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, Sept. 7 and Sept. 21 at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista.

Free. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/branches/playa-vista THURSDAY, AUG. 25

Twilight Concert Series: Save Ferris OC ska band Save Ferris’ triumphant, blaring horns and scuzzed-out chords will have you feeling like a skateboard-riding kid again — even if you never hardflipped an ollie in your life. Food-obsessed ‘90s duo Cibo Matto is in from Japan to kick off the evening. 7 to 10 p.m. Santa Monica Pier. Free. (310) 458-9801; tcs. santamonicapier.org SATURDAY, AUG. 27

Freshwater Marsh Tours Find out the difference between a swamp and marsh as you explore your own backyard freshwater marsh in the Ballona Wetlands. You’ll also gander at various birds while learning about plants native to the region.

10 to 11 a.m. Park and meet on the southwest side of Jefferson and Lincoln Boulevards. Free. (310) 306-5994; ballonafriends.org

Venice Beach Music Fest 11 The annual beach party at Windward and Pacific avenues in Venice features Willie Chambers of the Chambers Brothers headlining a bill that also features Barry “The Fish” Melton, Grateful Dead-inspired Cubensis, Venice dub reggae favorites Meet Me at The Pub and reggae talents Jah Faith and The Royal Lineage Band.

11 a.m. to sunset. venicebeachmusicfest.com

Marina Summer Concerts: Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra The Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican pianist and conductor leads his orchestra through salsa and Latin jazz numbers that will have you wanting to beef up your Latin jazz music collection. 7 p.m. Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 3059545; beaches.lacounty.gov WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31

Meditation at the Library

New and advanced meditators can release tension and clear their minds under the guidance of meditator Doug Frankel from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Aug. 31 and again on It’s a bird, it’s a plane … no, wait — it’s a bird with a trash Sept. 28 at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa bag! Beautify your neighborhood creek and explore the Vista Dr., Playa Vista. Free. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/ avian diversity of the wetlands during this light habitat branches/playa-vista cleanup with Friends of Ballona Wetlands. An adult must accompany children under 15. 9 to 11:30 a.m. Meet at (Continued on page 58) the parking lot behind Alkali Water (Gordon’s Market) at SATURDAY, AUG. 20

Saturday, September 10

303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey. Free. (310) 306-5994; ballonafriends.org

Pack your picnic baskets and bring the family to the Dockweiler Youth Center on Friday nights and Burton Chace Park on Saturday nights to enjoy our free outdoor movie screenings under the stars. The start time for all movies will be at 8:00 pm.

Dockweiler Youth Center

Burton Chace Park

12505 Vista del Mar Playa del Rey, CA

13560 Mindanao Way Marina del Rey, CA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH For movie listing, please call (310) 726-4128.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH For movie listing, please call (310) 305-9595.

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Playa Vista Direct | august ¡ september 2016 57

EVENTS

(Continued from page 54)

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1

Twilight Concert Series: Unknown Mortal Orchestra Indie songsters Unknown Mortal Orchestra bring their slick late-night rock to a double-bill featuring equally eccentric Steady Holiday, whose haunting melodies will echo in your head for days. 7 to 10 p.m. Santa Monica Pier. Free. (310) 458-9801; tcs.santamonicapier.org

Saturday, September 17

SATURDAY, SEPT.17

MONDAY, SEPT. 5

Yoga Day @ LMU

Labor Day Bike, Scooter and Stroller Parade

LMU’s Yoga Studies program welcomes yogis of all skill levels — those experienced in downward dog and those who only know how to walk a dog — to an event full of free pose classes, meditation sessions, workshops, lectures and a soothing rock performance at 7 p.m. by the band Wah! That’s guaranteed to make your chakras tingle. Come with friends in search of enlightenment or make new ones on already on their way to Nirvana. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Dr., Westchester. Free. bellarmine.lmu.edu

Organized by the Playa Vista Moms Group, this celebratory procession allows residents of all ages and walking abilities to participate. A prize will be given for the bestdecorated bike or scooter. Location and time TBA. Visit playavistamomsgroup.org for updates.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8:

Twilight Concert Series: Ohio Players Wrap up summer in style — get funky and loose with storied R&B and funk pioneers the Ohio Players.

Opening the evening is New York band Holy Ghost. 7 to 10 p.m. Santa Monica Pier. Free. (310) 458-9801; tcs. santamonicapier.org FRIDAY, SEPT. 9

Short Film Night @ LMU Thursday, September 22

brunch is grape-jam-packed with quiches, pastries, muffins, bagels, fruit, coffee and non-alcoholic mimosas, because it’s really not okay to get drunk at work, people. Make sure to bring your Campus ID badge and an empty stomach. 9 to 10:30 a.m. Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. playalink. playavista.com

The LMU School of Film and Television teams up with the Academy of Catholic Thought and Imagination to host a community discussion and screening of “Ave Maria,” “10 Minutes” and selections from “Paris Je T’aime.”

Appetizers, cocktails, wine and dessert provided. Free childcare also available. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Hannon Library 1 LMU Drive, Westchester. $10 suggested donation; proceeds benefit LMU’s Alternative Spring Break programs, which provide students with opportunities for international service and cultural exchange trips. academics.lmu.edu/acti

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

Woody Woodpecker & the Avant-Garde During World War II, animation director Shamus Culhane paired modernist artistic references and film techniques with mainstream animation in Woody Woodpecker films, shifting the intent of early 1940s cartoons.

This exhibition celebrates the bizarre unheard mash ups of people, art, politics and wartime efforts, but keep in mind that sometimes a woodpecker is just a woodpecker. Tonight’s opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. is free and open to the public. The exhibit continues from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays through Nov. 20 at Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery, 1955 Ignatian Circle, Westchester. Free. (310) 338-2880; cfa.lmu.edu/labandgallery FRIDAY, SEPT. 30

Playa Vista Oktoberfest

The inaugural Playa Vista celebration of this storied German tradition has yet to release a lineup of activities Brunch & Bubbly — Gott im Himmel! — but you can expect loads of beer, Kick-off your weekend as you plan for fall with a mimosa lads in lederhosen and dames in dirndls. 7 to 9 p.m. bar and brunch menu from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at The The Resort, 6200 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista. playalink.

CenterPointe Club, 6200 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista. playavista.com playalink.playavista.com SATURDAY, OCT. 8 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14 “La Bamba” SATURDAY, SEPT. 10

Friday, September 30

Science & Tech World Discussion Series

The Playa Vista Branch Library hosts a monthly discussion about the history of science and current controversial investigations. This month, Dr. George Fisher explores the immune system, including a deep dive into what happens after you get a cut. Suitable for all ages.

Noon to 1:30 p.m. 6400 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista.

Free. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/branches/playa-vista THURSDAY, SEPT. 15

Campus Brunch & Bubbly Saturday, October 8

58 Playa Vista Direct | august · september 2016

(Campus tenants only.) Considering breakfast is the most important meal of the day, make this event a dietary priority on your culinary calendar. This morning

Lou Diamond Phillips plays 1950s teenage rocker Ritchie Valens in a musical biography directed by the legendary Luis Valdez. Catch a screening from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista. Free. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/ branches/playa-vista SUNDAY, OCT. 9

Discover Marina del Rey Day Explore your local marina with a family-friendly day of games, live music, arts and crafts, children’s marionette shows, food trucks and much more. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. chacepark.com/events.htm

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PARKING IN LOT #10: 4101 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey 90292 (25¢ for each 10-minute period). For more information: 310-305-9545 or marinadelrey.lacounty.gov Food Truck Schedule: lotmom.com/beacheats Facebook.com/BeachTrucks • Facebook.com/exploreMDR

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2016 Ford FUSION Energi

0% 72

FOR PLUS UP TO APR FINANCING MONTHS

ON APPROVED CREDIT

2016 Ford FOCUS Electric FOR % UP 0 TO APR

FINANCING

72

PLUS

MONTHS

ON APPROVED CREDIT

2016 Ford FUSION Hybrid

0% 72

FOR PLUS UP TO APR FINANCING MONTHS

ON APPROVED CREDIT

2016 Ford CMAX Hybrid

0% 72

4000 OFF MSRP

$

3450 OFF MSRP $

2500 OFF MSRP $

2500 OFF MSRP

$ PLUS

FOR UP TO FINANCING MONTHS APR

4500 OFF MSRP $

ON APPROVED CREDIT

$3000 OFF MSRP

On all remaining 2015 Ford CMAX Hybrid *0% APR for 72 months at $13.89 per month per $1,000 financed regardless of down payment.

Only available on 2016 model years. Take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 9/6/16. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.

2016 Honda

Civic LX Sedan Automatic

149

$

4 at this offer +TAX

MO.

OR

199

$

MO.

36 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT

SECURITY DRIVE PAYMENT $0 DEPOSIT $0 OFF $1999 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING $0 FIRST

Lease is for 36 months on approved above average credit. Each offer is plus tax, license & fees. 12,000 miles per year totaling 36,000 miles for lease term, 15¢ per mile thereafter. (GH545908, GH551727, GH557065, GE230649)

2016 Honda

Accord LX Sedan Automatic

159

$

209

2 at this offer +TAX

MO.

OR

$

+TAX

MO.

36 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT

SECURITY DRIVE PAYMENT $0 DEPOSIT $0 OFF $1999 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING $0 FIRST

Lease is for 36 months on approved above average credit. Each offer is plus tax, license & fees. 12,000 miles per year totaling 36,000 miles for lease term, 15¢ per mile thereafter. (GA146611, GA130440)

2016 Honda

CR-V SE 2WD

179

$

229

2 at this offer +TAX

MO.

OR

$

+TAX

MO.

36 MONTHS ON APPROVED CREDIT SECURITY DRIVE PAYMENT $0 DEPOSIT $0 OFF $1999 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING $0 FIRST

Lease is for 36 months on approved above average credit. Each offer is plus tax, license & fees. 12,000 miles per year totaling 36,000 miles for lease term, 15¢ per mile thereafter. (GH544698, GH53225)

5880 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles

5850 W. Centinela Ave., Los Angeles

(310) 856-9309

(310) 856-9319

www.airportmarinaford.com

+TAX

www.airportmarinahonda.com

All vehicles subject to prior sale plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge, if applicable on approved above average credit. Dealer installed options extra. Expires 8/31/16.