Playa Vista Direct: April–May, 2019

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Sarah Hamilton makes a splash on YouTube

IN L.A.

A MERMAID APRIL · MAY 2019

D I R E C T

The Face of Phase II

Josh Goldstein Associate Broker, MBA jgoldgroup.com

Visit jgoldgroup.com to learn more about the team and our work.

CalBRE 01880805

Josh Goldstein Associate Broker, MBA

josh@jgoldgroup.com CalBRE 01880805

Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. To reach the Compass main office call 310.230.547

Josh Goldstein

The Face of Phase II

Contents

Vol. 4 | No. 1

EDITOR’S NOTE

6 Finding My People COMMUNITY 10 Peterson Auto Museum Movie Car Parade @ Google

PET ADOPTION 36 Two adorable cats and a German shepherd named Crosby all need a home HOME

12 St. Patrick’s Day Night Market @ Runway

42 After falling in love in Miami, the Mizunos love raising their family in Playa Vista

14 Women to Watch Creator Spotlight @ YouTube Space LA

HEALTH

PEOPLE 16 Web series creator Sarah Hamilton is hooked on mermaids 24 Deutsch takes black history out of the past and into the future

48 Cardiologist Dr. Nicole Weinberg demystifies the warning signs of a stroke

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FOOD

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50 Rodini Park Greek Kitchen lets you build your own wrap, bowl or salad

28 Busy Philipps returns to LMU to talk about disrupting TV patriarchy

EVENTS

34 Discover Ada Lovelace, the first female computer scientist

57 Poker at The Reserve benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice

50 ON THE COVER: Filmmaker Sarah Hamilton lives the mermaid life at the Centerpointe Club.

Photo by Maria Martin. Design by Michael Kraxenberger.

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Editor’s Note

Finding My People

I

was a ball of nerves the day of my very first book signing. I’d never written a novel before, so this is all terrifying new territory for me. Considering I write for a living, it might sound strange that writing “Ada Lovelace: the Countess who Dreamed in Numbers” was enormously difficult for me, but it was. It’s been years in the making, and finally finishing it felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. I look back now and am baffled by why I procrastinated for so long, but hindsight is always 20/20.

Getting to sign my book during the Playa Vista Campus Dessert Social at the Central Park Bandshell on March 28 was a dream come true. This is a mecca for tech companies and computer aficionados, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when female coders came over to my table throughout the event, sharing their admiration for Ada Lovelace and taking home copies of my book. One woman even told me there was a boardroom named for Ada at her office. I was thrilled to hear it! After so many years of trying to explain who Ada was to friends and colleagues, I finally felt like I had found my people. It was a great feeling and my nervousness vanished.

Many people asked me why I chose to write about Ada for my first novel. Ever since I read about the daughter of poet Lord Byron and her precipitous vision of the computer age, I ached for the world to know her, too. She was a woman so smart, so brave, so talented, her name should have been kept alive through history. But she was a woman, and that barrier alone was simply insurmountable in the 19th century. This book is one small way to remember the woman considered to be the first computer programmer.

Thank you Playa Vista for supporting me in so many ways.

Sharing my book with you has been one of the most exciting and positive experiences of my career. This is truly an extraordinary place, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue of Playa Vista Direct.

Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com

6 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Lara J. Altunian · Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Richard Foss Jessica Koslow · Brian Marks · Robyn Paris Andrew Dubbins · Andy Vasoyan Gary Walker Contributing Photographers Erica Allen · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins · Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel · Zsuszi Steiner Emily Hart Roth Graphic Designer Kate Doll Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy Rocki Davidson David Maury Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Associate Publisher Rebecca Bermudez Publisher David Comden

CONTACT US Editorial editor@playavistadirect.com Advertising info@playavistadirect.com

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Petersen Auto Museum Movie Car Parade @ Google Doc Brown’s silver DeLorean from “Back to the Future,” the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle from the Austin Powers sequel “The Spy Who Shagged Me,” the yellow Volkswagen bus from the 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine” and the bubble-gum pink Honda S2000 from “2 Fast 2 Furious” brought some old-school movie magic to Playa Vista on President’s Day (Feb. 18).

The Petersen Automotive Museum began its parade of Hollywood’s most iconic cars in Playa Vista and toured Los Angeles landmarks such as Santa Monica Pier, Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the Hollywood Walk of Fame before returning to the museum in Mid-City.

The museum’s Abigail Backert served as the parade’s grand marshal, wearing a Soviet cosmonaut suit as she rode in the Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton that once belonged to President Eisenhower.

Unfortunately the 1951 Chrysler Camera Car that once belonged to Howard Hughes, founder of the Hughes Aviation Co. that once occupied all what’s now Playa Vista, had smoke coming from the engine and had to be towed away.

— Shanee Edwards 10 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

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The VW Bus from “Little Miss Sunshine” that always needs a push

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The Honda S2000 from “2 Fast 2 Furious” zipped down S. Campus Drive

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The Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton transports Abigail Backert dressed as a Soviet cosmonaut

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A rare peak under the DeLorean’s gull-wing door

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The Chrysler Camera Car once owned by Howard Hughes

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The DeLorean time machine from “Back to the Future”

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St. Patrick’s Day Night Market @ Runway There’s an old joke that goes, “On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is a little bit Irish.

Except the Scottish.”

On the evening of Friday, March 15, the Scots weren’t well-represented at Runway.

This was an occasion for celebrating the Irish spirt. It seemed like all of Playa Vista was there sporting green hats, beads or shamrocks while they perused handmade crafts at the night market and little hands made Irish-themed crafts.

Families danced to lively ’80s tunes performed by the enthusiastic King Benjamin’s Royal Heart, whose lead singer interacted with the audience all evening long. The night’s popular food trucks included Cousins Maine Lobster and Baby’s Badass Burgers.

If you looked carefully, you might have spotted a leprechaun or two on the patio at Hopdoddy, but you certainly couldn’t find any green beer. Sophisticated beer offerings including Unibroue’s Blanche De Chambly, Anderson Valley’s Brut IPA and North Coast Brewing’s Red Seal did not disappoint.

— Shanee Edwards 12 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

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Lead singer for King Benjamin’s Royal Heart croons ‘80s tunes Baby Nellie isn’t sure about her headwear choice 10-year-old Mia rolls through Runway in style The crowd feasted from food trucks while enjoying craft beer Sofia Booth enjoys a lobster roll from Cousins Maine Lobster Truck Johnna crafts a clever Leprechaun trap Noah blows lucky kisses to Irish passersby

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Women to Watch Creator Spotlight @ YouTube Space LA YouTube Space LA was buzzing with feminine energy the evening of March 21, as videos from some of the most successful female creators were featured on the big screen.

Creators included Jenny Lorenzo, a Latinx comedian who does sketch comedy; Michelle Khare, a fitness enthusiast who trains like Spider-Man and other superheroes; and Lindsay Ellis, who takes deep dives into pop culture and movies.

Ellis has been making “video essays” for years and finally started her own channel in 2016. She now has half a million subscribers and four employees who help her write and edit.

“What worked for me,” says Ellis, “was finally figuring out exactly what my voice and my tone was, and making content that I could stand behind. I know that sounds simple, but you have to produce a lot of garbage to figure out what that even looks like.”

— Shanee Edwards 14 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

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Female video content creators gather at YouTube Space LA to inspire and celebrate each other

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DJ NovaSoul rocks some pro-feminist tunes to set the mood

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One creator takes a selfie on YouTube’s step and repeat

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Host Amanda Holland introducing the videos

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YouTuber Lindsay Ellis’s channel has over half a million subs

Stars of the streaming show “LA Mermaids,” Brenna Fitzgerald and Sarah Hamilton, at the Centerpointe Club pool

16 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

d

PEOPLE

HOOKED ON MERMAIDS Young filmmaker Sarah Hamilton makes a splash with her web series ‘LA Mermaids’

BY SHANEE EDWARDS | PHOTOS BY MARIA MARTIN

G

rowing up in a sleepy town in Upstate New York, Sarah Hamilton spent snow days obsessing about her favorite Disney film, “The Little Mermaid,” and dreaming about a magical world very different than her own. TV shows like “H20” and “Aquamarine,” also about mermaids, played over and over again in the Hamilton home, igniting her imagination about the mythical underwater creatures.

“I was always known as the mermaid girl,” recalls Hamilton.

“That was just me.”

So it should come as no surprise that Hamilton, now a film major at Loyola Marymount University living in Playa Vista, has created a show of her own about mermaids. The first five episodes of “LA Mermaids” are currently streaming on YouTube, and Hamilton is casting her nets for a second season.

The show, says Hamilton, “is about the drama and secrets that get uncovered when a group of mermaids come to LA. It’s very fun and lighthearted, but it’s also about human nature and what it means to be human, living in LA, and having dreams and aspirations.”

Conceived by Hamilton and fellow student Joanie Spaulding, they worked together to write the first three episodes. But when Spaulding couldn’t pass up a chance to study in Europe, Hamilton decided to swim ahead without her. That means Hamilton

Hamilton and Fitzgerald channel Esther Williams as they swim in mermaid tails

re-wrote, starred in, directed and edited all five episodes on her own all while being a full-time student.

Though mermaids are just fin-tasy, there’s something about being stuck between two worlds that can really resonate. Ariel, the mermaid in the Disney film, is on a journey to find her place — questioning whether she belongs on land with her prince or under the sea with her fish family. Hamilton was surprised to discover just how much she could relate to that odyssey.

“I love the world I grew up in, being home with my family,” she says, “but it was so different from LA life. Since I’ve

moved here, I realized I had my own Ariel moment. I have found the other world that I’ve been thinking about for so long. Ariel was always a part of two different worlds, and now that’s my actual lifestyle.”

Though Hamilton has spearheaded the project on a “low to no” budget basis, she’s very grateful to the people and companies that have supported her cinematic voyage. Mermaid Kat, a professional mermaid from Perth, Australia, makes and sells adult-sized mermaid tails.

(Continued on page 18) PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 17

People

(Continued from page 17)

“I reached out [to Mermaid Kat] and said, ‘I have a show coming up.

Is there any way I could have a couple tails to use for the show?’ They responded, ‘Sounds great,’ so I got two tales from them,” says Hamilton.

She thanked both Mermaid Kat Shop and Mermaidful, a monthly subscription service that delivers a box of mermaid-related accouterments, in the show’s credits.

While Southern California is home to numerous mermaid schools (yes, that’s a thing), Hamilton decided to teach herself how to swim in the fabric fish tail in the pool at her apartment complex.

“It’s really fun to be able to swim around in a mermaid tail in the pool at weird hours and have people walk by and say, ‘No way, that’s so cool,’” she says.

(Continued on page 20)

Hamilton shows off her underwater mermaid moves

(Photo by Michael Kraxenberger)

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People

(Continued from page 18)

But swimming with a mermaid tail is harder than it looks. The tail prevents you from kicking with your legs and changes your center of gravity.

“It’s a core workout that could be a gym in itself! You have to sustain the momentum, figure out the mindset.

I find that when I swim normally, it’s mostly upper body movement and with the tail I’m using my lower body,” Hamilton explains.

Maybe we’ll see mermaid swimming classes at The Resort sometime soon?

For Hamilton, helming this project has allowed her to grow as a filmmaker and a person.

“The before, during and after versions of myself are completely different people,” she says as she reflects on the past year, taking inventory of all the knowledge she’s reeled in. “I’ve also learned what my style is creatively. Everyone’s always told me I have a style, but I’ve never seen it. Now I am starting to see

l e f t t o r i g h t:

Hamilton, fellow actor James Taylor and Fitzgerald find their feet on land

that my creative style is very sweet and wholesome, with magical realism.”

Hamilton graduates from LMU this May and already has an acting agent. But her career as a writer, editor, director and producer hasn’t run its course.

“I hope a lot of people enjoy ‘LA Mermaids.’ Hopefully the audience grows to a point where I can have a second season,” she says. “I’d like to pitch it to different networks and distributors and see if it can grow into something even bigger than what it already is.”

Playa Vista is more than home to me — it’s my community . . .

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Š 2019 Highland Premiere. All rights reserved. DRE License #01967160. All material presented here in is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. If your property is currently listed with another real estate broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.Â

The ‘Hall of Black Excellence’ installation by artist Jill Knox Powell was on display in Deutsch’s main lobby to celebrate Black History Month

24 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

y as s te

PEOPLE

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Instead of ‘reflecting’ on black history, Deutsch tapped artists to frame it in the present tense STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA MARTIN

D

eutsch advertising agency is always looking to make an impact. That may be why its name is spelled out in giant silver letters on the front of their offices on Beethoven Street.

But if you’ve driven by the agency recently, you may have noticed the D in Deutsch looks a bit more colorful than usual. The intricate blue and purple geometric patterns that now decorate the D went up in February as part of a larger celebration of black artists for Black History Month.

Deutsch Associate Producer Justin Brown and a small group of staff members meet every January to plan out all the agency’s events for the year.

While discussing how to celebrate Black History Month for 2019, Brown conceived an idea to showcase black artists in ways that reflect both the past and future.

“I felt that since we’re a creative agency, it would be better if we could create history as opposed to just reflect on it, which is what I think we all usually do,” says Brown. “For me it was about the community having the chance, because of an agency like Deutsch, to see this art and start to have that conversation. But it was also an opportunity for black artists who might not normally have access to a place like this, as well as for folks at Deutsch who wouldn’t usually have access to artists like these.”

Deutsch asked two very distinct artists to exhibit their work at the office during February. Los Angeles-based

Artist Zahyr Lauren added colorful artwork to the “D” in Deutsch’s bold sign

artist Jill Knox Powell displayed her provocative large canvases in Deutsch’s main lobby. Seattle-based Zahyr Lauren had several pieces in both the Deutsch building and the Steelhead production studio across the street, which included replacing elevator walls with large, highquality scans of her original drawings.

Lauren (who goes by the pronouns them/their instead of him/her) also happens to be Brown’s younger sibling.

Brown jokes that “I’m probably a little biased when it comes to my sibling, so I

just presented Z’s work to the group as, ‘Here’s this artist — what do you think?’

Everyone really resonated with it, so we just moved forward from there.”

When Deutsch Head of Production Diego de la Maza saw Lauren’s work, he suggested using one of the pieces to cover the nine-foot D that was part of the agency’s outdoor design. That process required printing the chosen piece (titled “For Corinne Bailey Rae”) on an (Continued on page 26) PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 25

PEOPLE

(Continued from page 25)

adhesive-backed material and affixing it to the concrete structure, an exhaustive effort requiring a crew of three on scaffolding to complete.

For Lauren the entire experience has been pretty surreal.

“I only started drawing a few years ago, in the summer of 2015. At the time I was a practicing attorney in New York, but I was just so dissatisfied with my life,” Lauren says.

Lauren continued to draw day and night and eventually left law practice and fully embraced the pursuit of art, with an eye to raising awareness of issues affecting black and brown people today, as well as promoting unity.

“What I do comes naturally to me,” says Lauren, “and I think that part comes from my bloodline. I look at a lot of the art from the African continent, and there’s so much symmetry and earth and sacred geometries there.”

But this particular project has a

L E F T:

Artist Zahyr Lauren with sibling Justin Brown, associate producer for Deutsch

R I G H T:

Lauren’s artwork called Nilda Mae Factor lines the inside of the elevator at Deutsch

deeper meaning for Lauren.

“To me, Black History Month means that I’m able to show, as a black human, a very tiny piece of unlimited potential, if only given a chance,” says Lauren.

“It means continuing the legacy of black people, which is — from what I understand and what I see in my family and the people around me — a legacy of ingenuity, creativity, and brilliance.”

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LMU alum Busy Philipps spoke to students about breaking barriers for women

o

g

PEOPLE

THE FIRST LADY OF

LATE NIGHT

Former LMU student Busy Philipps drops by campus to talk about disrupting TV patriarchy STORY BY SHANEE EDWARDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF LMU

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usy Philipps is known for roles on shows like “Freaks and Geeks,” “Cougar Town,” “Dawson’s Creek” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” But it’s her latest project, called “Busy Tonight,” that is really pushing the boundaries for women as she enters the television boys’ club of late night talk shows.

On Friday, March 1, Philipps spoke to a packed auditorium at alma mater Loyola Marymount University for an Alliance of Women Philanthropists presentation about her new show and recent memoir “This Will Only Hurt A Little.”

Speaking with former “CNN Newsroom” host Carol Costello (who’s married to LMU President Timothy Law Snyder), Philipps told the audience, “Part of everything that motivates me is that I want to disrupt. Part of the reason I wrote the book, and part of the reason I made the decision to do this impossibly hard thing — this late night talk show — is to be a disruptor.”

Philipps claims she became disillusioned with her 20-year acting career after a string of professional disappointments that included a TV show she developed with Tina Fey not getting picked up.

“I felt broken. I just didn’t know how I was going to keep doing this thing that continues to break my spirit,” she said.

Philipps chatted about her new talk show “Busy Tonight”

So Philipps did what any Hollywood professional facing a career crisis would do.

“I got stoned in the desert,” she said.

“I get stoned a lot. It’s better than wine, and it helps my anxiety. I was looking out at the stars and the palm trees at the Merv Griffin estate, and I don’t know, maybe his spirit spoke to me. I just turned to Marc [Silverstein, her hus-

band] and said, “I’m supposed to be the first female host of ‘The Tonight Show.’”

Her husband wasn’t immediately convinced, and neither were her agents.

But Philipps is a self-proclaimed pusher: “I’m just a person who pushes, and I’ve always felt if I can just push through this, I know there’s something on the other side.”

(Continued on page 32)

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 29

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People

(Continued from page 29)

After Tina Fey made a call to E! Television on Philipps’ behalf, what seemed like a far-off dream became a reality when “Busy Tonight” launched.

“Ultimately,” said Philipps, “I think my mission in life is to dismantle the patriarchy. I say that crying is an act of defiance, but just having a body is an act of defiance. Just being a woman is an act of defiance — especially now in the late night space.”

Over the last couple years, Philipps has gathered 1.6 million followers on Instagram by sharing emotionally raw, brutally honest stories, including a rape at age 14 and an abortion at age 15.

She’s fearless in the social media space and says her talk show is no different.

“I’m not doing a political show.

I’m talking about women’s bodies and women’s health in a very casual, nonchalant way, like every time I got my period I will talk about it. It’s important to normalize being a woman. Being a

Philipps hopes her talk show will help “normalize women’s bodies”

woman is political, and I’m not afraid of that. I’m hopeful there’s going to be five more women who get late night talk shows,” she says.

When Philipps wasn’t talking about her new show and memoir, she shared memories of being an LMU student in the late 1990s.

She talked about living in the dorms, in a room adjacent to a nun’s quarters.

Sneaking her college boyfriend, Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks), into her room became risky business.

“It was like a sitcom. I’d open the door at 8 a.m. at the same time as the nun next door,” said Philipps, so she’d

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improvise excuses as to why a boy was leaving her room, saying, “Thanks for the early morning study time Colin, you’re going to do great on the test!” But it seems the nun caught on. “Halfway through the year, I got kicked out of that room because they wanted to turn it into a ‘study room.’ Yeah.”

Philipps left LMU after just two years when she was hired on the cult classic show “Freaks and Geeks.” But she has plans to return to the university.

“I really want to make my daughter Birdie come here in seven years, and I’ll totally f**king ‘Gilmore Girls’ her.

I’ll show up for class and get my credits with her.”

We’ll have to wait and see whether Birdie is onboard with that plan.

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AN ELECTRIC SOUL IN A STEAM-POWERED WORLD My book ‘Ada Lovelace: ˜ e Countess who Dreamed in Numbers’ celebrates the woman who foresaw the age of computers STORY BY SHANEE EDWARDS | PHOTOS BY MARIA MARTIN

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omputers run nearly every aspect of our lives, so it’s hard to imagine a time without all the technology we rely on. But a woman born in England two centuries ago, when steam trains were the Teslas of their day, saw the coming of the computer age nearly 100 years before it happened. That woman’s name is Ada Lovelace, and my first novel tells her remarkable story.

Ada was the daughter of Romantic poet Lord Byron and Lady Annabella Byron. Her parents divorced when she was just a baby due to Lord Byron’s scandalous sexual exploits and gambling debts. Annabella was so worried Ada would inherit her father’s grand imagination (and corrupt morals) that she only allowed Ada to study mathematics as a child. And Ada was never, ever allowed to see her famous father or even speak of him.

Such a sheltered upbringing became an asset, however, when teenage Ada met inventor Charles Babbage, who was as brilliant and eccentric as inventors come. Inspired by the Jacquard loom, which used punched cards to guide threads for weaving intricate patterns into silk brocade fabric, Babbage began to work on plans for a machine called the Analytical Engine. He also intended to employ punched cards, but instead of guiding patterns in fabric they would “program” the machine to perform algorithms seemingly on its

34 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019

Edwards signs her book for local female coders at the Bandshell

own. The machine was even to have its own printer. Today, the Analytical Engine is considered a prototype to the modern computer.

While the Industrial Revolution was quickly sweeping through Europe and America in the 19th century, the idea of a “programmable machine” left the most intelligent men of science baffled. Even the Royal Science Society was skeptical about a machine that could seemingly “think” (i.e., perform operations without human assistance) and worried it was anti-Christian.

That’s where Ada came in. Not only did she see the value of such a machine, her predictions for its uses far exceeded

Babbage’s understanding of its potential.

Ada was the only person of her time period to fully comprehend the machine’s endless possibilities and to see how profoundly important the computer would eventually become.

Ada published her own description of the machine and its capabilities in 1843 (while still in her twenties), including her prediction that such a machine could do far more than calculate numbers — even create music or poetry.

Most importantly, she was the first person to ever publish an algorithm for a machine to carry out.

Because she was woman, Ada was not allowed to put her name on the

Edwards traveled to Oxford University in England to research her novel that’s historical fiction

publication, as no legitimate man of intellect would take it seriously at that time. But her initials “AAL,” for Augusta Ada Lovelace, did appear on the work. Though three little letters may seem like a small victory, at the time it was a huge achievement for both women and science.

To research this book I traveled to Oxford University in England, where the Byron Estate granted me permission to read Ada’s handwritten letters. It was an exhilarating experience to peek into her world, see her messy handwriting that crisscrossed the page, and understand her just a little more. In one letter to her mother, Ada wrote that she believed she’d one day be famous — but only after her death. She was right.

Writing about Silicon Beach for this magazine, I have the opportunity to speak with many modern women in tech, from coders to UX managers to women who run their own tech startups. I often can’t help but wonder what Ada, if she could magically be transported here today, would think of Playa Vista and its wealth of technical resources. Would she be the CEO of her own tech company? Would she delight in our smartphones and design an app that creates poetry or music? Would she be a game designer or work in the VR realm? I’m certain she would she find a community here. I’d like to think Playa Vista would fully embrace Ada’s revolutionary ideas, unbridled passion and fierce ingenuity without thinking twice about something as insignificant as her gender.

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 35

Pet Adoption

Adoptable Pets

from Annenberg PetSpace The coolest buddies in Playa Vista are waiting for their new forever homes

Brandi

Hiya! My name is Brandi!

I’m a fine girl, in search of a good home where I can give you lots of love while feeling comfy and safe. I’m ready for you to hold out your hand and pet me!

The Importance of Spay/Neuter Spaying and neutering can prevent various unwanted behaviors such as spraying or marking, attempting to leave home to roam in search of a

Crosby

Louisa

Well hello there. My name is Crosby and I’m ready to be home with you! I’m an older boy with lots of love to give. If you’re looking for a loyal companion, come meet me soon!

Hello, my name is Louisa. I am a young girl who would really enjoy curling up and spending time with my pet parent in a nice home together. If you’re searching for a loving companion, I could be the one for you.

female in heat, or coming into heat.

The procedure generally has no effect on pets’ personalities, intelligence, or ability to play. Some are even better behaved following the procedure, making them wonderful companions for their humans.

Remember though, spaying and neutering isn’t an instant fix for all behavior problems.

Visit Annenberg PetSpace on April 13 for a Pet Health & Fitness Fair to learn more about this and other health and wellness needs of your pets.

To learn more about pet adoption, or to see other available pets, visit annenbergpetspace.org 36 Playa Vista Direct | April · May MaY 2019

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California YaCht Club Life On the Water ... A Dog’s Tale Hi! My name is Molly.

Molly Schofield Smith that is! I’m a sweet little 8-year-old Pomeranian Poodle Mix who recently arrived here in the States (namely Pasadena) by way of Manchester, England.

I’ve been sailing with me Mum, Dad, and human brother and sister for 7 years and absolutely adore the sun and the sea. We have sailed everywhere from Lake Windermere in the Lake District of England to Cannes in the French Riviera. Each and every sail was one adventure after another.

Sometimes weather was an issue, like the times the lakes were frozen over and we had to crack the ice to launch the boat and make our way through.

Very cold and very dangerous, but me Dad is the best sailor in the world and pulled us to safety. I’ll have to admit I was a tad bit afraid.

When me Mum and Dad made the decision to move to Southern California, I was sad to leave my mates in England — especially Winston, Wembly and Sebastian — but I was ready for our next great adventure and certainly calmer waters and warmer climate. We sold our boat and off we went. We landed in California and things happened very quickly with buying a new boat we call Invictus (a poem by our favorite English poet William Ernest Henley) and finding the most majestic place called the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. I just love it there and have found my new home with all kinds of new mates to sail, play and even nap with. I’m so very excited for the warmer months and the cruises to Catalina Island the club has planned.

I’ve also found new pastimes at the club, including paddle tennis where I get me exercise running after and delivering balls. I also love barking at the ducks whilst out on the canoe (called “kayak” here in the States).

One other new favorite is when I ride in the basket on Daddy’s bike and go to the boardwalk down to Venice Beach.

Take a look at some of me new pals. We play ball, take long walks, swim in the doggie pool and of course sail and go out on each other’s boats as much as possible.

Thanks, California Yacht Club, for becoming my new home away from home.

Meet Molly’s Mates

Carley

Here’s Carley! The cool ocean breeze, hundreds of smells and being with pet parent Kieran make sailing one of her favorite sports. She loves living aboard because she likes being in a small den with her family. Carley is truly a CYC dog because of all her friends here, including a couple of secret admirers who sneak her treats!

Callie

Edison

Wilson

“Ahoy there! My birth name’s Edison (my capWilson, aka “Top Dog,” really loves CYC tains Parker and Bri call me Eddie) and I’m the and living aboard Jano. He finds so many newest liveaboard at CYC working as a greenfun things to do, including playing with horn aboard the Angelica Oceani (or AO as we his friends Carley and two new puppy say here). I love it when we’re at sea whether in friends Eddie and Sheyn. All the members the bay or at the islands as I can’t stop trying to love him, so pats and petting are regular lick that salty air! Captain hasn’t let me take the perks! Wilson loves cruising to Catalina helm yet but I’m allowed a few tugs on the lines but does get seasick on the way over, so during a quick tack to help out ;). Parker and Bri he’s very grateful for Dramamine. also like taking a bunch of pictures of me and put them on something called the “gram” I think they think I’m a pirate @pirate_eddie “

Callie loves being a California Yacht Club member and hitting the water on the weekends. On a sunny summer day you’ll find her riding on the bow, enjoying the wind in her fur. Callie’s favorite hobbies are playing ball, chasing squirrels and boat rides.

Kai and Riley

Happiness is a day at the pool and life is good on the tennis courts. Most days at the club we do a little of both! We love CYC because it’s a blast romping around and looking at all the beautiful yachts.

Miss Molly has even had us on board her 40’ Chris Craft and we shared lots of laughs on that field day!

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Living by their

Own Design Creators of digital imagery Albert and Meiko Mizuno can’t picture themselves anywhere else Story by Brian Marks | Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner 42 Playa Vista Direct | April ¡ MaY 2019

Home Left side:

The Mizuno family: Albert, Meiko, 13-year-old Noa and 10-year-old Mia on the balcony of their Sausalito Villa B e low:

Sun pours into the Mizuno’s minimalist kitchen as green plants guide the way

B e l o w r i g h t:

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lip through the pages of a glossy national magazine and you’ll see ads for everything from designer handbags to space-age vacuum cleaners. One thing you may not notice: many featured images aren’t really photographs, but realistic facsimiles created on a computer.

Albert Mizuno and his wife Meiko Mizuno create these digital landscapes, so convincing that their artistry typically goes unnoticed. During a late-morning visit to their stylishly minimalist space in the Sausalito apartments, part of the Villas at Playa Vista, we sit together around their kitchen table in a clean, white, sun-dappled space.

The couple first met in 2000, while living in Miami. Albert had approached a mutual friend who ran a Japanese restaurant and asked if she knew any women she could fix him up with. When

Super flexible Mia does yoga with Meiko in this two-person lifted locust pose

Albert saw a photo of Meiko, it lit a spark. He would stop by the restaurant periodically, jokingly asking, “Where’s my girlfriend?” Meiko, who was born just outside Tokyo, had lived between Miami and Japan most of her life and was in Japan for the summer. Six months after they finally met, Albert and Meiko got married. They now have two children together: 10-year-old Mia and 13-yearold Noa. As business partners, Albert creates images for advertisements and architectural designs, and Meiko runs the administrative side. To give a better idea of how he works, Albert opens a file on his computer. What looks like a photograph of a chic bedroom transforms into a grid of straight and curved lines. The rumpled duvet becomes a tangled web of digital strings, the result of a program designed to mimic fabric textures.

Albert initially studied film and art at the University of Miami, but ended up taking classes in everything from medicine to interior design before shifting to architecture and eventually visual effects, hoping to someday work in the movie business. “It was always an ongoing cycle of diversification, of trying to find the happy place,” he recalls.

The Hollywood dream seemed almost within reach when Albert launched his own visual effects studio in Miami in 2005, but the onslaught of the financial crisis in 2008 led to its shuttering. Once again at a crossroads, he turned his focus to digital design for architecture, finding the industry was no longer dominated by traditional blueprints and photography.

Albert harnessed his knowledge of visual effects to create realistic mock-ups of (Continued on page 44) Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019 43

Home

(Continued from page 43)

architectural projects and fully digital advertisements for products.

“It’s cheaper [for companies] in the long run because you could only shoot one location at a time with a camera, but I can create many different locations at a time. It doesn’t seem cheaper — because photography should be cheaper — but you don’t take into consideration transport, delivery, set up,” he explains.

“Most of the things you see in catalogs, you wouldn’t even think twice that it’s CGI. Even me, it fools me sometimes, because it matters what the context is, if you mix it in with real photography.”

Albert’s designs feature clean lines, muted colors and simple furniture, a minimalist’s paradise. The apartment he shares with Meiko reflects his imaginary spaces with its lack of extraneous decoration and its clean white color scheme. Albert prefers the space nearly empty, but Meiko adds visual flair with decorations related to her passion for crocheting, origami and crafting. The

Printed family photos add cheer to the common spaces and help to strengthen the family bond

one big item with meaning to them is a tall, silver-trimmed mirror leaning against a wall that hails from their early years.

“I remember when I came home one day in 2001,” says Meiko. “We had no furniture, but when I came home he had designed the whole house, and the

furniture was there, including the mirror.”

Meiko is an accomplished yogini, a passion Albert ignited years ago by giving her Travis Eliot’s “The Ultimate Yogi” DVD because she was looking for a fitness program that didn’t involve going to the gym.

(Continued on page 46)

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HOME

(Continued from page 44)

“It’s a 108-day program that comes with a calendar,” says Meiko, explaining that work and family kept her from committing to daily exercise but she never gave up on the idea. “After about three years, I finally finished the 108 day program!”

Now she’s hooked, and practices every day after she takes her kids to school. After moving to Los Angeles, Meiko was able to take a live, in-person class with Eliot, who teaches at studios in Santa Monica in Venice — an amazing experience, because he was in our lives every day for so many years,” she says.

“When I do my yoga, it’s my own time — just me and my breathing. You get in tune with yourself, and it’s great to have that me-time,” says Meiko.

“Reality is not easy, so I guess the key is to try to be conscious about it and use your yoga practice to deal with all the situations in life.”

Though Meiko was initially hesitant

46 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019

L E F T:

Bunkbeds add a sense of adventure to Noa and Mia’s bedroom

R I G H T:

Miami transplant Albert Mizuno can’t imagine living anywhere other than Playa Vista

to move to Los Angeles, everything fell into place when a friend introduced them to Playa Vista. It was clean and spacious, blessed with great schools and personal neighbors, and it didn’t hurt that they can walk to SOL Mexican

Cocina, their favorite restaurant.

Although they are looking for a new home with a little more space, Albert says they won’t move far.

“I can’t picture myself anywhere else.”

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Cardiologist Dr. Nicole Weinberg of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Playa Vista

rg

cal

H E A LT H

IDENTIFYING AND

PREVENTING A STROKE Cardiologist Dr. Nicole Weinberg demystifies the warning signs and discusses risk factors for otherwise healthy people STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY COURTNAY ROBBINS

C

ardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America.

With the recent passing of actor Luke Perry, who tragically died from stroke complications at the young age of 52, heart health is at the forefront of our minds. Are strokes silent killers, or can they be detected?

Providence St. Joseph Health Center cardiologist Dr. Nicole Weinberg of the Providence Playa Vista Medical Center is an advocate for heart disease awareness. She sat down with us to explain the truth about strokes and share some simple tips for prevention and detection.

What Exactly is a Stroke?

There are two types of strokes. As Dr. Weinberg explains, “One is where you block an artery. That’s very similar to what people think about with a heart attack; it’s like a brain attack. The other kind is the bleed, where there’s a rupture or tear in a blood vessel and there’s blood flow extravagating into the brain, causing damage to the tissues.”

Warning Signs There are many different symptoms that signal you may be having a stroke.

Difficulty speaking, vision changes, immediate onset of a severe headache, a feeling of numbness and tingling that is isolated to a particular area of the body — these are all warning signs that you may be having a stroke. “Any sort of neurologic symptoms that are not going away after a few minutes are things that

Warning signs of a stroke can include difficulty speaking, vision changes and a sudden, severe headache

you would want to go to the emergency room for,” Dr. Weinberg says.

Patients that have been exercising regularly generally do better long term.”

Prevention is Key Many strokes are preventable. Atrial fibrillation is a common heart condition that often goes unnoticed, but it is a major cause of strokes. High cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugars are also factors that contribute to the risk of stroke. Fortunately, all of these disorders can be diagnosed with simple medical screenings and treated by your doctor.

As you may have expected, exercise can lower your risk of stroke. “Exercise is the No. 1 thing for preventing disease,” says Dr. Weinberg. “It’s an important thing to note — not just for cardiovascular health, but for everything going on in your body. Exercise for cardiovascular health gives your body these little tests so you’re constantly working out your blood vessels to expand and contract.

Awareness, Awareness, Awareness Dr. Weinberg couldn’t stress enough how much stroke education and prevention go hand-in-hand. “Our patients in this area are fit and they look like they are taking care of themselves,” she says, “but they may not be aware of some symptoms that are going on, or they may not be aware of what their risk factors for disease are. Hopefully [Luke Perry’s death] makes people pay attention to this and say, ‘Oh my gosh, if this could happen to this perfectly healthy, wonderful person, then this could also happen to me. Let me get some basic, easy screening testing done, just so I can understand what my risks are.’ This unfortunate situation will hopefully save some lives because people will be more aware.”

PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 49

Old World Flavor Goes

Fast-Casual Rodini Park Greek Kitchen lets you build your own wrap, bowl or salad for about ten bucks Story by Jessica Koslow Photos by Courtnay Robbins 50 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

Left side: A bov e :

S

Prime cut steak salad with pita bread, olives and feta cheese

Fire roasted salmon over rice with salad and pita

ome people, under the tutelage of a parent or grandparent, open a restaurant because cooking is in their DNA. Or, a master chef might’ve inspired them in the kitchen during their first restaurant job.

Peter Georges landed in the restaurant business by happy accident. In 2003, he and his wife, actress Cathrine Georges, moved from New York to L.A. to be closer to her family and her work: She had a recurring role on “Days of Our Lives.”

“I was an executive at a tech company and could work from home,” says Georges. “Plus, L.A. seemed like a better place to raise kids.”

The restaurant business was on Georges’ bucket list. When he found himself with money to invest, he jumped into restaurants and real estate — though “I never thought either would be successful,” he admits.

But he’s now the proud co-owner of Rodini Park Greek Kitchen in North Hollywood, the popular local breakfast spot HASH on Bluff Creek Drive in The Campus at Playa Vista, and, as of March, a second Rodini Park just next door to HASH. It’s the end of the week in the late afternoon, and Rodini Park Playa Vista is quiet. It wasn’t like this at lunchtime.

Around noon, the people working in the nearby offices were lining up at the new restaurant to try homemade savory pies (spinach, cheese, leek, chicken, beef and lamb, moussaka and salmon), seveninch gluten-free pitas, gyros, chicken shawarma and nine-inch white pitas.

LA Weekly called the Rodini Park in North Hollywood the “Chipotle of Mediterranean Food.”

“It’s build-your-own-meal here,” says Georges. “It’s hard to mess up something they’re building.”

Georges is from Astoria, Queens.

His Greek mother would cook for the family of eight. His mom, however, was not a good cook.

“She gets upset when I tell her,” says Georges, laughing. “Everything was well done. She’d throw everything in a pot, turn the heat on and leave it on for hours. We had anything you could scoop over pasta or rice.”

“I was 16 the first time I tasted a medium rare steak,” he adds. “I was in heaven.”

When Georges first moved to L.A., he couldn’t find a good gyro — a real New York-style gyro, that is. In 2010, he opened two locations of Big Fat Pita, at Westfield Century City and Westfield Culver City. Both malls launched major redesigns and Georges was asked to vacate, which turned out to (Continued on page 52) Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019 51

Food

(Continued from page 51)

be a blessing in disguise (“Rent at malls is very high,” he says).

When Georges reemerged in 2016 with Rodini Park North Hollywood, the rave reviews began pouring in.

LA Weekly included the baklava cheesecake in its “10 Best Cheesecakes in Los Angeles” list. The eatery was voted “Top 50 Places to Eat in LA” by Time Out Los Angeles. Yelp ranked it “Top 100 Places to Eat for 2017.”

“We were voted Best Cheap Eats in the Valley and Best Savory Pies in L.A.,” says Georges, adding to Rodini’s list of accolades.

“I’m very grateful that I have two successful places,” he continues, referring to Rodini Park North Hollywood and HASH. “It’s tough. If you don’t deal in alcohol, it’s a nickel and dime business. We do quick serve — $10 per person. There’s very little money in that.”

Georges has a plan to take his businesses to the next level. His fourth restaurant, The Conference Room, is

An assortment of Hellenic desserts including the Greek candy bar, chocolate baklava, butterscotch baklava, and an XL cake pop

scheduled to open soon, also adjacent to HASH. It’ll be a gastropub with live entertainment, dance lessons, games and a 5 p.m. happy hour. The concept, he explains, is geared toward today’s younger diners: “restaurantainment.”

But for now, he’s got his hands full with three restaurants. In the next few weeks, he’ll do a catering push for Rodini Park Playa Vista.

“Disney is coming,” he says with a smile. “Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, and Fox is one of the main tenants here.”

Georges’ business seems to be keeping pace with the growing occupancy rate at The Campus at Playa Vista. At the end of the day though, (Continued on page 54)

Serving New York Style Pizza to Playa Vista for 15 Years!

Medium Cheese Pizza & 5 Buffalo Wings for $16.50

TRIVIA MONDAYS & TACO THURSDAYS

X-Large Cheese Pizza & 25 Wings for $ 36.95

SPORTS * BOARD GAMES * BILLIARDS COCKTAILS * DRAFT BEER

PLAYA VISTA OPEN 7 DAYS

Not valid with any other offer.

Exp. 5/31/19

Appetizers • Salads • Pizzas • Wings • Subs Pasta Dishes • Lactose Free Options IN-STORE PICK-UP, DELIVERY, AND CATERING

p i z za p l ayav i st a .co m

Order online or call 310-437-7499 We specialize in large corporate orders, we can deliver up to 60 pizzas for any event.

13151 FOUNTAIN PARK DR, PLAYA VISTA 90094 52 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

OPEN 12 NOON - 2 AM 12740 Culver Blvd.

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Overlooking the picturesque Marina del Rey harbor, Cafe del Rey offers a truly fine-dining experience with coastal-inspired cuisine in an elegant seaside setting.

BRUNCH | LUNCH | DINNER L I V E M U S I C | D A I LY S O C I A L H O U R GROUP DINING

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Friday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Sunday 10:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 (310) 823-6395 | cafedelreymarina.com

FREE CATERING DELIVERY for the first 5 miles and only $ 1.15 mile after with $200 minimum purchase or 10% off pick up price. Must mention this ad prior to ordering.

ruttscafe.com (310) 398-6326 11707 Washington Pl, Los Angeles 90066 O P E N 7 D AYS

FREE ENTREE E X P R E S S D I N E- I N O R TA K E O U T

Buy one entreé at regular price, get a second of equal or lesser value FREE! With this coupon. Offer cannot be combined with other offers.

One coupon per visit per party. Expires 5/31/19

www.tutsgrill.com 424-289-8605 12114 w Washington Blvd, Los Angeles 90066 Open 6 Days • Closed Sundays ORDER ONLINE • WE CATER Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019 53

Famous Nashville Hot Chicken Sando

Chicken Shawarma over salad with pita bread

Food

(Continued from page 52)

Georges shares that what keeps him going is his team, who has been with him since day one.

“We’ve been together for eight years,” he says, pointing at everybody around him. “We’re like family. That’s what keeps me happy.”

Rodini Park Greek Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 12181 Bluff Creek Drive. Enter from the courtyard; parking garage validation available. Call (310) 282-8500 or visit rodinipark.com.

Great Chicken and Waffles, Variety of French Toasts, Wraps, Burgers, Salads and Gluten-free Options

Everything is made from scratch, using only the freshest and finest ingredients.

Happy Hour Menu Tuesday- Friday 8am-11am Dine-In, Online Ordering, Catering New! Marina del Rey 3105 Washington Blvd.

Marina del Rey 90292

Santa Monica

310.453.2787

Along with the help of her family, Tamara has dedicated a majority of her career to maintaining and expanding on their tamale-making craft.

20% OFF Any Purchase of $25 or More.

Excludes Happy Hour Menu. Not valid on weekends.

Present offer when ordering. Limit one per table. Expires 5/31/19

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54 Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019

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Tamara Tapp, a native of Venice, has been the owner of her one of a kind specialty tamale shop for 26 years. The shop has received numerous 1st place awards and widespread recognition and has been called the “Baskin Robbins” of tamales by the L.A. Times and “the best tamales in the world” by Wolfgang Puck.

Her famous traditional, vegetarian, vegan, seafood and sweet tamales have been hailed — terrific, ingenious, classic, fabulous, perfection, virtuosity and best!!

2408 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica 90403

310.881.9162

26 Years of Tamales

e

.

c o M

Try our Veggie Tamales • Vegan Tamales • Sweet Tamales Seafood Tamales • Chicken/Beef/Pork Tamales & more...

www.tamarastamales.com • 310-305-7714 13352 W. Washington Blvd (Marina Plaza) LA 90066

Open Tuesday – Sunday • Dine-in • Take-out • Catering

••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••

The inspiration for Hash is our love for breakfast.

Our menu is a balance of yumminess, nutrition and creativity.

Old-world comfort with a modern twist.

CORPORATE | PRIVATE | WEDDING | FILM

OPEN 7 DAYS 8AM –2PM

SERVING ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Customize a menu to create your perfect event!

hashplayavista.com · 310.282.8501

P: (310) 649-0906 W: WWW.RISEANDSHINECATERING.COM E: INFO@RISEANDSHINECATERING.COM

We specialize in corporate catering.

12181 Bluff Creek Drive Suite B · Playa Vista 90094 Mention this Ad for 10% off your bill.

FRESH, QUALITY FOOD COOKED TO ORDER

PLAYA WEST AUTOMOTIVE Modern repair facility with latest computer diagnostic equipment • Customer oriented, expert technicians, dependable and reliable • Integrity and honesty as well as mechanical know-how • We know the issues in today's complex world of automotive repairs • Your family neighborhood auto repair shop since 1962!

Owned/operated by ASE Certified Master Technician Andy Marozik • Finding a Good Mechanic is like Finding a Good Doctor! “There are no problems, only solutions” Classic car repair and restoration experts | Classic car STORAGE

ALL MAKES AND MODELS Highly trained ASE certified technicians

We can smog any vehicle including diesels: Star Certified Smog Check Center for testing and mechanical repairs

VOTED FIRST PLACE “BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP” 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • SIX YEARS! Argonaut newspaper’s Best of the Westside and “Best Auto Shop” Hometown News SEVEN YEARS in a row CHECK OUT OUR FUN CAR FACTS

http://playawestautomotive.com/fun-car-facts/ CHECK OUT OUR INFORMATIVE CAR TIPS

http://playawestautomotive.com/car-tips/

8145 West Manchester • Playa del Rey • (310) 822-9115

www.playawestautomotive.com PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019 55

E P l aya V i s ta R e a l e s tat e Sold in Feb/March

New customers only. Participating locations only.

Some restrictions may apply. Offer expires 5/31/19.

Molly Maid of Playa Vista 310-838-3300 www.MollyMaid.com

Feb. 25 to March 4

A joyous, musical celebration of Shabbat for Jewish women

Days on Market (Average)

Saturday, June 1 8:15 am — Light breakfast & teaching with the Rabbi 9:30 am — Shabbat Service

Beth Shir Shalom 1827 California Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90403 www.leveisha.org 310-575-0985 56 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2019

2019

15

21

2018

2019

15

51

AverAge liSting price 20 1 8

2019

1,232,900

$

1,283,700

$

AverAge SAle price

Saturday, May 4 9:30 am — Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Toba August and Cindy Paley

2018

20 1 8

20 1 9

1,257,900

$

1,235,500

$

current

Active liStingS: 38 (As of 4/1/19)

MiniMuM

MAxiMuM

DOM 3

DOM 235

1 bed · 1 bath 642 sq. ft. $589,000

5 bed · 7 bath 4,494 sq. ft. $4,119,000

Statistics from MLS, 4/1/19.

Information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. © playa vista Direct, 2019

EVENTS Reach your homebuying goals Whether you’re buying your first home, a second home, or refinancing your current home, we have the products and programs that may help you reach your homebuying goals.

Contact me today to learn more!

Saturday, April 27

Comedy for a Cause Pop Up Show Enjoy a night of laughter for a good cause. This event features some of the best stand up comedians from around the country in hopes of creating awareness around mental health and overcoming disabilities. Produced by Gabrielle D’Addario of XO Media Productions, tickets are $25 to $350.

Happy hour from 6 to 7 p.m., comedy show from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Location in Playa Vista TBD. For tickets and more info, visit: Createthechangetour.com.

Trey Alexander 310-927-3838 trey.alexander@wellsfargo.com www.wfhm.com/trey-alexander1 NMLSR ID 442965

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. © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.

NMLSR ID 399801. AS4778883 Expires 12/2019

SKINCARE Saturday, May 4th

Community Yard Sale + e-Waste Recycling + Shred-It It’s time again for spring cleaning. Declutter your home and join in the Community Yard Sale. Browse through all the items your Silicon Beach neighbors are selling. Also happening this year is a visit from All Green Electronics Recycling and Shred-It trucks.

Concert Park, 13020 Pacific Promenade. Yard Sale 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; e-Waste Recycling & Shred-It trucks: 8 to 11 a.m. Contact Jennifer Kingshott at outdoorgirl9@gmail.com to learn more or register as a seller.

MASSAGE NAILS EYELASH EXTENSIONS

StacyKaine on Main 432 Main Street, El Segundo (310) 356-7563 www.StacyKaine.com Playa Vista Direct | April · MaY 2019 57

EVENTS

(Continued from page 57)

FREE | INTRO TO (MDR) CLASS $18 | FIRST SESSION $39 | 1 WEEK UNLIMITED (1 CLASS PER DAY) $69 | 2 WEEKS UNLIMITED (1 CLASS PER DAY)

SATURDAY, MAY 4TH

Boys and Girls Clubs of Venice 9th Annual Charity Poker Tournament Go all-in to help raise money for at-risk youth in our community.

Enjoy delicious food and drinks, a raffle with lots of exciting items, fun Microsoft sponsored games, and an afternoon of playing high stakes poker for prizes. Last year’s event won The Argonaut’s Best Charity Event on the Westside Award.

Tickets are $25 to $25,000. 12 to 5 p.m. Microsoft @ The Reserve, 13031 W Jefferson Blvd., Suite #200. Visit Venicechamberofcommerce.com or Eventbrite.com for tickets.

SATURDAY, MAY 18TH Boys and Girls Club Venice

7th Annual Playa Vista Invitational Chess Tournament

This United States Chess Federation rated tournament for kids uses a round robin format, but also includes non-rated sections. Participants must pre-register. Sponsored by Playa Vista Optimists, Playa Vista Library and chess master Ben Eubanks.

Playa Vista Library, 6400 Playa Vista Dr., 12:30 to 4 p.m. Contact beeubanks@yahoo.com for more info.

58 PLAYA VISTA DIRECT | APRIL · MAY 2019

CALIFORNIA LASER SPINE

BACK OR NECK PAIN? Come See how the California Laser Spine can help.

CONDITIONS WE TREAT: • Sciatica • Spinal Stenosis • Facet Disease • Bulging Disc

• Pinched Nerve • Disc Disease • Herniated Disc • Scar Tissue • Arthritis of the Spine • Foraminal Stenosis

www.californialaserspine.com • 310-305-9200

Introducing our newest pain medicine specialist:

DR. YASHAR M. GHOMRI, D.O. • Pain Medicine | Fellowship Trained, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine/Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, FL • Internal Medicine Residency Attending Physician Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA

PAIN REDUCTION

PAIN RELIEF

Back, Neck & Nerve

Non-invasive Medical

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PAIN TREATMENT ✓ Cost-Effective

Non-Surgical • Safe • Cost-effective • Spine Problems • Back & Neck Pain • Nerve / Muscle Injury • Migraine • Work / Sports Injuries • Personal Injury • Spine & Interventional Pain Management • Orthopedic and Sports Medicine • Foot & Ankle Podiatry

Beverly Hills Pain Institute • 310-305-9200

Silicon Beach Medical Center STATE-OF-THE-ART MULTI-SPECIALTY COMPREHENSIVE CARE CLINIC MOST PPO INSURANCE ACCEPTED

5450 Lincoln Blvd. Playa Vista 90094 • (310) 305-9200 • SiliconBeachMedical.com Free Parking in LA Fitness Lot, Enter from Brisa; at Jefferson Blvd.

UnitedHealthcare

We take pride in offering the best in men’s grooming.

Whether it’s men’s haircuts, hair coloring, shaves, facials, waxing or any of our other services, we are here to help our clients refine themselves to be the best they can be.

Men’s Classic Haircut with Hot Towel $30 (Reg. $45) or 50% off any other service Limit one redemption per guest with participating stylists only. Expires May 31st.

Mention “PVD” to redeem.

PLAYA VISTA 12775 W MILLENNIUM SUITE 155 · PLAYA VISTA 90094

(310) 596-8018 · refinemenssalon.com/playa-vista