COAST MAGAZINE - March 2020

FUNCTION

MARCH 2020

THE DESIGN ISSUE

FORM &

FEATURES

26 Colin Kaepernick asked Kesha Franklin, the designer of his San Jose home, to include a pool table. “He assumed he had to have a dining room,” says Franklin, “and it didn't fit in the sun room.” Her solution: The pool table sits in the dining room.

26

MARCH 2020 COAST MAGAZINE

HOW TO TALK TO AN INTERIOR DESIGNER Planning to remodel your home? Here are the tips, tricks and secrets from experts in the architectural and design industry.

About the Cover

BY DYLAN LANDIS

FUNCTION

THE SPACE BETWEEN

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 3

31

A design contest in Tustin inspires the next generation of architects in Orange County.

BY LISA ALEXANDER MARCH 2020

4

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

THE DESIGN ISSUE

FORM &

This month's cover is an ode to Pantone blue.

The 2020 Color of the Year, Classic Blue, is reminiscent of the sky at dusk. According to Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Color Institute, “It's a color that anticipates what's going to happen next.” So it was only fitting that we feature it on the cover of COAST’s Design issue.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER STARK

CO N T E N T S

In Every Issue

15

12 Editor’s Letter 24 Click

Current 15 Up Close Erin Darafeev builds on a craftsmaker's legacy with IMD Furniture.

BY SAMANTHA DUNN

Foundation for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases and UCI MIND galas raise awareness for medical research.

18 Along the Coast

What’s going up and changing the

80 Calendar

landscape in OC? Find out here.

BY MARTIN A. BROWER

81 Books. Read. Must.

BY DANIELLE BAUTER

20 Beauty

Innovative start-ups discovered

82 Artistic Vision

BY JEANNIE DENHOLM

at the Indy Beauty Expo.

BY SHELLEY LEVITT

48 Trending

Feeling blue? Pantone's color

of the year dominates in home decor.

BY SHELLEY LEVITT

WANT MORE COAST? Want our digital articles, along with more social scene coverage, web exclusives and the latest happenings? Follow us!

48

@CoastMagazineOC @facebook.com/coastmag

Passions 38 The Coast Dish

Father-daughter-duo chefs Paige Riordan and Marty Manley's showstopping cioppino.

BY JENN TANAKA

40 Morsels

Delicious nuggets of info about OC's food scene.

BY JENN TANAKA

42 Liquid Assets

A mango margarita to remember at Taco Rosa.

BY JENN TANAKA

43 Cure Rated

6

Beboe, the Hermès of cannabis.

BY MOIRA PEACOCK

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

44 Home Tour

A second-generation architect strikes a balance between his vision and his wife's taste at their Irvine abode.

72

BY JENNY PETERS

62 Great Escapes

The romantic Wild West flourishes in Bend, Oregon.

BY KAREN NELSON

Miami sizzles all year round.

BY KIRSTEN WASSON

72 Wish You Were Here

The Resort at Pelican Hill's Tom Donovan shares his tips to conquering Lyon, France.

BY COAST STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEONARD ORTIZ, ISTOCK

E D I T O R I A L E XECUTIVE EDITOR

Samantha Dunn samantha@coastmagazine.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Jenn Tanaka engraver’s gothic jenn@coastmagazine.com

CRE AT IVE DIREC T OR

Karen Kelso karen@coastmagazine.com

PRODUC T ION COORDINAT OR/ SENIOR DESIGNER

Lee Offenhauer DESIGNER

Sláinte!

250 Ogle Street • Costa Mesa • (behind Staples on 17th St.)

949.650.8463 • hitimewine.net • locally owned and family operated since 1957

A Perfect Fit Fine Lingerie

Denise Smaldino PHOTO EDITOR

Mark Rightmire CONTRIBUTORS

Lisa Alexander, Danielle Bauter, Martin A. Brower, Jeannie Denholm, Karen Nelson, Dylan Landis, Shelley Levitt, Jenny Peters, Sherry Stern, Kirsten Wasson PHOTOGRAPHERS

Matt Beard, Jeff Gritchen, Wolf Hoffmann, Chris Hollo, Laurel Hungerford, Jeri Kogel, Leonard Ortiz, Ralph Palumbo, Marc Patrick/BFA, Mark Rightmire, Christopher Stark, COP Y EDITOR

Anita Gosch

by T H E

O C

R E G I S T E R

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Specializing in B Bra Fittings ittings Nursing Bras available

Frank Pine SENIOR EDITOR

Todd Harmonson

Elegant Sleepwear Bridal Foundation and Bridal Registry Sizes from AA to K

COAST MAGA ZINE IS PRODUCED MONT HLY BY

Voted Best Lingerie by myFOXla Also seen on The Doctor Show

17300 E 17th Street, Suite A • Tustin • 714.665.5994

8

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Volume 29, Issue 3. COAST is published in Anaheim by Register Magazines, a division of the Orange County Register.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED COPYRIGHT ©2020. Reproduction of COAST is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of Register Magazines. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. COAST reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste.

COAST is delivered every month to homes and businesses in coastal Orange County. Subscription rates are $24 per year.

A D V E R T I S I N G

PUBLISHER

Ron Hasse VICE PRESIDENT OF MAGA ZINES

Bill VanLaningham engraver’s gothic V I C E P R E S I D E N T, MA JORS & NAT IONAL S

Leslie Lindemann D I R E C T O R O F C U S T O M C O N T E N T, SOUT HERN CALIFORNIA NEWS GROUP

Caroline Wong cawong@scng.com

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Jan Bussman jbussman@scng.com

Tobin Honda thonda@scng.com VIGNETTE® MODERN ROMAN SHADES WITH DUOLITE®

Diana James djames@scng.com

Linda Knudtson lknudtson@scng.com

DIREC T OR OF CRE AT IVE SER VICE S

Thomas Halligan thalligan@scng.com

E VENT COORDINAT OR

Katelyn Zino kzino@scng.com SILHOUETTE® WINDOW SHADINGS WITH DUOLITE®

DUETTE® HONEYCOMB SHADES WITH DUOLITE®

ACCOUNT COORDINAT ORS

Monette Ryan Moryan@scng.com

Privacy and Light Diffusion.

Now available on three popular Hunter Douglas window fashions, the Duolite® design option seamlessly combines

Olga Serrano omata@scng.com

two shades in one. It provides softly diffused light when you want it, and roomdarkening privacy when you need it.

Ask for details today.

All in One.

T O

R E A C H

Coast Magazine 1771 S. Lewis Street Anaheim, CA 92805 coast@coastmagazine.com coastmagazine.com Subscriptions 1.877.450.5772 E-mail

Website

Creative Window Designs 2915 Red Hill Ave Ste F108 Costa Mesa, CA M-F: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sat: By Appointment Only Sun: Closed 714-966-1383 714-966-1383 www.creativewindowdesignsgallery.co www.creativewindowdesignsgallery.com

©2019 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 18DUOMAGC2

10

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

U S

Please recycle this magazine

E D I TO R ’ S

L E T T E R

Back to the future I always learn something when we’re putting together our design and architecture issue, whether it be about the design trends of the moment or past architects’ visions for the future. It always seems to me that design is a reflection of current culture and the quotidian concerns of living comfortably, while the best architecture aims to envision the lives we will grow into.

Which reminds me of a note I received recently from Diane Pritchett, the executive director of South Coast Metro Alliance, the business-to-business networking group in central county. Maybe because its motto is “The shape of the future today,” Diane has for years made a habit of collecting articles that offer predictions for the future, and she happened to unearth one from this very magazine, dated July 1996, by then-publisher Jim Wood. The piece, titled “The Next 50 Years (or so): A studied prediction of what will happen in Orange County between now and the year 2050,” is in the ballpark when it foretells the influence of the internet on shopping habits and the rise of electric vehicles. But then there are some gems that really underscore how difficult it is to project what will be to come, given only what we know from our present reality. Jim said: • “The L.A. Clippers will become known as the ‘County Clippers’ because they’ll be playing half their games at The Arrowhead Pond.”

• He predicted a drop in theater attendance due in part to “the advent of Virtual Sex. With this craze, which will come available in mass supply by 2022, people of all ages and sizes will be able to

12

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

don electronic bodysuits that, when combined with a life-sized holographic person, will be able to simulate the sights, sounds and tactile feelings of what was once referred to as an ‘intimate personal relationship.’

• “…Orange City, the capital of Orange County (built on land once occupied by the cities of Orange, Santa Ana and Anaheim, all of which incurred major damage in the NewportInglewood earthquake of 2016), will host the 2036 Olympics.

Most events will take place at the 70,000-seat Orangedome near Orange County International Airport.”

• And finally, “In 2040, Newport Beach resident and former Attorney General Chris Cox will win the Republican nomination for President of the United States.”

So, yeah.

Perhaps you’ll appreciate why I’ll refrain from making my own statements about the future here. Me, the woman who after a lifetime of childlessness went in to the doctor to finally schedule a long-delayed hysterectomy. During the pre-op appointment, the nurse asked, “Do you think you could be pregnant?” I snorted and said, “Snowball’s chance in hell, honey.” Guess what? Turns out I was in fact almost 8 weeks pregnant. That “snowball” is now the Ben you have heard mention of so many times in these pages.

The best we can do is enjoy the moment, work with what we have to build a better future, and hope it all proves to be so much better than our limited imaginations can conceive.

Onward,

SAMANTHA DUNN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

samantha@coastmagazine.com Twitter @SamanthaDunn

Current

PEOPLE

|

STYLE

|

C H AT T E R

UP CLOSE Erin Darafeev, owner and furniture designer of I.M. David Furniture

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEONARD ORTIZ

U P

C LO S E

Erin Darafeev builds a legacy

BY SAMANTHA DUNN “I feel like I’m keeping history alive,” says designer and CEO Erin Darafeev, whose grandfather emigrated from Russia and established a furniture company. After starting a small product company using scrap materials from other manufacturers, she “came to understand that there are designers and there are makers.” Then after working in the family business, in 2018 she struck out on her own and bought I.M. David Furniture, a similar brand founded in 1966, and set up her own factory in Garden Grove.

As a kid, Darafeev loved hanging out at her family’s warehouse. “I was fascinated by the work, seeing product built from scratch, and I loved the smell of the wood shop,” she remembers. Meanwhile she was also absorbing lessons about designing products, manufacturing goods and all the other business realities that serve her today as she navigates the challenges of keeping her product made in the USA. “Building furniture in California, following in the footsteps of my grandparents and honoring the legacy of Irving Martin Ginsburg, who founded the I.M. David brand that I now produce, all while keeping American craftsmen employed creating exceptional, madeto-order furniture is a thrilling and worthwhile endeavor,” she says.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD: We’re in a great little industrial area in West Garden Grove.

While I don’t have an on-site showroom or retail space, we do offer factory tours and design consultations to our clientele by appointment. We ship internationally and serve a lot of residential and hospitality clients in Orange County, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It’s a great location, about 8 miles from the beach.

MY SANCTUARY: The desert. Cooking on an open fire, sleeping in a tent, connecting with the earth and waking to the light of the sun is a perfect reset. It reminds me to connect to my own stillness and hear my deeper voice, reminding me of who I am, what I want and why.

RED OR WHITE: Mostly red. I love a smooth

16

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Erin Darafeev offers factory tours and design consultations by appointment in her I.M. David Furniture headquarters in Garden Grove.

malbec, pinot noir or cab. Occasionally I’ll go white, with bubbles. But I’m not fussy.

SHOWS I BINGE: I don’t really watch TV, except with my kids. When they invite me to spend time together before bed, it doesn’t matter to me what’s on. With my 16- and 17-year-olds it’s “Parks and Rec”

and “The Office.” My 21-year-old and I watch science, nature and documentary films and have conversations around the concepts.

WORST ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED: I don’t know that I’d call any advice “bad.” Most people have good intentions when they

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEONARD ORTIZ

tell you what you “should” do, and it’s often about them wanting to keep you safe. Any advice based on fear – play small, do things the way they’ve always been done or take the easy route – should be questioned. As should advice encouraging reckless action or the pursuit of shortsighted gains. If they don’t have skin in the game or a stake in the outcome, I’m cautious of accepting direction.

Everyone has an opinion, and I’m grateful when people share ideas I can take into consideration, but ultimately I need to make a decision and own the results.

WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT: Life is busy and can feel overwhelming between running a business, raising kids, maintaining business relationships and friendships, striving to eat well, sleep enough and stay physically active. I’m often up late, figuring out what’s next and reflecting on the big picture. I love the stillness of night to reflect and write without interruption.

Mostly, I contemplate how to best keep things moving forward and to avoid pitfalls.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND: A sketchbook and pencil, a glass of wine and lots of books. Current in-progress reads: “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek, “Stillness is the Key” by Ryan Holiday, “Marketing Rebellion” by Mark Schaefer and “Braving the Wilderness”

by Brené Brown.

PET PEEVE: I have the gift and curse of sensory sensitivity. As a designer, this allows me to notice things others don’t, which is helpful in creating. But the repetitive sound of a clicking pen, a sniffling nose or loud chewing can unnerve me.

WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN EARLIER: I’m almost always the only one stopping myself from doing something differently, designing the ideal outcome and working to get something done.

When I show up with passion, confidence, curiosity, focus and humility, great things happen. There is so much possibility on the other side of fear and self-doubt. This is something I know, but have to remind myself to live out each day.

CALL NOW AND REDUCE YOUR TAXES UP TO 50% OR MORE Most high income earners still have opportunities to reduce their tax bills significantly, but many have not done so. The Winfield Group has been leading our clients to discover dramatic tax savings for over 25 years. Our financial team implements advanced strategies that may open possibilities often missed by single source experts including: • Tax Reduction Strategies • Asset Protection • Wealth Transfer • Asset Management

If you are paying more than $150,000 in taxes annually, we are confident we can save you money!

SIMPLE TAX SAVINGS TAXABLE INCOME

TAXES UNDER EXISTING PLAN

TAXES WITH WINFIELD GROUP

TAXES SAVED

TAX REDUCTION

CLIENT 1

$2,500,000

$1,000,000

$550,518

$449,482

44.90%

CLIENT 2

$1,400,000

$560,000

$303,292

$256,708

45.80%

CLIENT 3

$330,000

$132,000

$31,076

$100,924

76.30%

Call 949.720.8010 800.543.9103 or visit us online winfieldgrouponline.com

We invite you to contact us to arrange a complimentary initial consultation.

Newport Beach, California

Scottsdale, Arizona

San Diego, California

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

17

C H AT T E R

MARTIN A. BROWER’S

Along the Coast MISSION VIEJO MAKES A NEW VILLAGE Here comes Mission Viejo Company’s third new village on the remaining 23,000 acres of Rancho Mission Viejo land in far south Orange County. County of Orange OK’d 14,000 homes on 6,000 of the 23,000 acres, leaving approximately 75 percent of the land as perpetual open space.

The first village, Sandero, opened in 2013 and all of its 1,334 housing units have been sold. The second village, Esencia, opened in 2015 and its 2,834 residential units are expected to sell out during this year. Now comes Rienda, planned for opening in 2022, with a total of 2,700 units and 671 homes in its first phase. The new inland village is three miles to downtown San Juan Capistrano.

Rienda, on 2,200 acres, will be positioned as a more affordable product, with smaller homes in the 2,000-square-foot range with choices of condominiums, townhomes, duplexes and detached residences. The first homebuilders to purchase sites are Lennar, Meritage Homes, PulteGroup and Tri Pointe. For those who prefer to rent, 200 apartment units will be part of the first phase. In time, a retail center will be added.

JEFF GRITCHEN

Construction is winding down on the Esencia neighborhood of Rancho Mission Viejo. Next up is Rienda, slated to open in 2022.

NEW ‘HOPE’ FOR CANCER TREATMENT Thirty-some years ago when my next-door neighbor was diagnosed with cancer, his wife drove him weekly into Los Angeles for treatment, which in those days failed him. Today, there are cancer care centers at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and UCI Medical Center in Orange, among others. Now there is a significant newcomer. “Bringing tomorrow’s discoveries to people who need them today” is the newly opened City of Hope Regional Cancer Center in Newport Beach.

The two-story outpatient facility of the Duarteheadquartered City of Hope is only the beginning for Orange County. By 2025 the City of Hope will have MARK RIGHTMIRE completed a $1 billion, 11-acre cancer center in Irvine, Annette M. Walker speaks at the opening of the complete with a leading-edge research hospital.

City of Hope in Newport Beach.

Meanwhile, the Newport Center facility will provide medical oncology, surgical oncology, cancer prevention and support. Physicians in the Newport facility will emphasize multiple myeloma, kidney/bladder, colorectal and breast cancers.

TRAVELAND BECOMES INNOVATION Called “Orange County’s first contemporary large-scale amenitized low-rise office campus,” Innovation Park will be opened by the Irvine Company in 2021 on the 35-acre site just off the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) between Jeffrey Road and Sand Canyon Drive in Irvine once occupied by Traveland USA, a recreational vehicle sales center that closed in 2012. Innovation Park will be a collection of 15 two- and threestory buildings totaling 550,000 square feet of office space.

MUSEUM HOTEL FACES OPPOSITION Laguna Beach resident/developer Mo Honarkar is trying to introduce a new hotel into his city, but thus far is facing stiff opposition. Called the Museum Hotel for its location near the Laguna Beach Art Museum, Honarkar proposes a boutique hotel of only 76 to 119 rooms on seven lots ocean side of Coast Highway between Cliff Drive and Jasmine Street. The three-level structure as presented to the planning commission would appear as multiple buildings with setbacks and undulating heights.

Included would be public art exhibition space, rotating art exhibits and art-oriented events.

Not so fast, responded the planning commissioners and

18

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

residents in the audience at a first hearing. Commissioners asked Honarkar to more clearly define “what the hotel is trying to say” and residents asked “What about the old-time feel of the neighborhood, possible obstruction of views and increased traffic?”

Honarkar said the Museum Hotel would bring “higher-quality visitors” into the city and be a boon to the economy. The Laguna Beach City Council is currently wrestling with a revision of the city’s Downtown Specific Plan, with the challenge of numerous retail vacancies.

The Museum Hotel would also have a restaurant and lounge, café and bistro.

>>> G O T O C O A S T MAG A ZIN E.C O M

FA S H I O N

F I L E

Statement

Bags

The right handbag makes or breaks an outfit.

Especially now when torn denim and sneakers are de rigueur. That’s where visionaries such as Olympia Le-Tan and Judith Leiber come to dazzle with pops of sparkle and punctuated commentary literally woven into clutch bags. These purses are functional – after all, they carry all our essentials – but they can express a ton about us, too. They whisper, be your best you. – JENN TANAKA

Olympia Le-Tan created a series of literary-centric clutch bags. The designer pays homage to famous book jackets, novels by Jane Austen, whimsical childhood tales

by Dr. Seuss and magazine covers.

Prices vary. Available at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island. :: neimanmarcus.com

Coach’s NYFW show featured live rock music played by an all female trio. Set in an industrial warehouse space, the highlights – in addition to Blondie’s Debbie Harry closing the show – were the geometric bags in eye-catching colors. Price upon request. Pre-order at Coach, South Coast Plaza. :: coach.com

Going hands free? Sport the Gray Stone Lady D-Lite embroidered cannage bag. Wear it as a crossbody or an over-the-shoulder bag. Or remove the strap and carry it with the “D.I.O.R.” charms facing out. Tr¯s chic! $4,450. Available at Dior, South Coast Plaza.

The Flora motif, first presented by Vittorio Accornero more than 50 years ago, is layered over Gucci’s monogram print for a modern take on the two archival patterns. The red leather trim and gold hardware accentuate the hatbox-shaped handbag. $5,800. Available at Gucci, South Coast Plaza.

Capture the moon and stars with this Judith Leiber Couture clutch.

A playful indigo tassle hangs down from this Crescent Moon Galaxy bag and matches the indigo crystals covering the mesmerizing piece. $4,295.

Available at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island. :: judithleiber.com

Presented by

:: gucci.com

:: dior.com

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

19

BB EE A AU U TT YY

Emerging brands WE DISCOVERED SOME INNOVATIVE START-UPS AT THE INDIE BEAUTY EXPO

BY SHELLEY LEVITT

FARM-LOGIC SKINCARE “Seed to bottle” is the philosophy behind Trisha Watson Organics, a line of small batch skincare. Watson grew up on a working family farm in Black Diamond, Washington, before becoming an esthetician and setting up a practice in Spokane. She began making skincare products with organic herbs to target her client’s skincare problems, and launched a capsule collection that she sold at a local farmers market. A couple of years ago, Watson and her husband bought a farm, where she now grows many of the ingredients she uses in her products; others are sourced from neighboring organic farms. Her products include Beyond Grateful Detoxifying Cleanser ($42), with turmeric, tea tree and rosemary essential oils. And Face & Eye Oil Youth Elixir ($56), infused with ashwagandha and other Ayurvedic herbs :: trishawatson.com

REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP, NO PAD NEEDED! Thanks to a schooling from ThinkBeforeYouFlush.org, we no longer toss cleansing pads or facial wipes into the loo, where they can start a journey that leads out to the sea. Still, we’ve had a hard time giving up our eye makeup remover pads. That’s about to change, thanks to Vike Makeup Melt ($24). An oil-free makeup removal spray with extracts of grapefruit, cucumber, moringa and passion fruit, and the scent of eucalyptus, it eliminates the need for wipes or pads, as well as tugging on delicate skin and lashes. Simply spray directly on dry skin, massage lightly with fingers in a circular motion and rinse. With daily use, Makeup Melt should last around three months. :: vikebeauty.com

KIWI CARE There are no artificial chemicals or fillers in the Velettà collection, luxury products made in New Zealand. Instead, you’ll find only active, high-quality ingredients, some unique to the country, such as Totarol, a potent antibacterial/anti-inflammatory/antioxidant compound, derived from indigenous yew trees. The line includes a cleansing oil ($48.46), rejuvenating oil ($77.52), moisturizer ($64.61), purifying mask ($42.00), intensive hydrating treatment ($87.23) and the Youthful Glow AHA Radiance Treatment ($87.23), a powerful exfoliator with lactic acid, salicylic acid and licorice root, formulated for use one to three times a week. :: velettaskincare.com

20

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

PALETTE CLEANSER & MORE Kate Westad, a Minneapolis-based trial attorney, is as fastidious about her skin and hair care as she is her summations. So she hated leaving her favorite products at home during her frequent work trips and being restricted to the brands available in TSA-approved sizes. Even worse, there’s a lot of waste and unnecessary packaging in those teeny-tiny bottles and tubes.

The enterprising single mother of four developed her own solution: Palette

by Pak ($39), a washable, reusable and leak-proof five-compartment container made with pliable recycled plastic and shipped in a compostable tube that holds liquids, powders, creams and gels, or as Westad cleverly puts it, “all your goops, glops and glam.” :: palettebypak.com

C L I C K

Wan-Yin Chan and Joseph Church

Viney and Vandana Soni

Tijuana Dogs

Jody and Howard Newman

Gala sheds a light on overlooked illnesses There are more than 10 million children and adults with primary immunodeficiency worldwide and over 400 primary immunodeficiency diseases in the world. A large number of patients with the diseases go for years never being diagnosed.

The Foundation for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases held its annual black-tie gala in November to raise money to support efforts in the U.S. and in India for education, treatment, genetic counseling, early diagnosis and research into the causes of primary immunodeficiency.

Annual treatment for just one patient ranges from $10,000 to $20,000; in India Christina Schwindt healthcare insurance is not affordable for and Mark Roach the majority of the population. Dr. Sudhir Gupta, co-founder of the foundation, says the foundation is his way of giving something back to his homeland, India, and, “It helps raise the awareness of primary immunodeficiencies.”

The fundraising event was held at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach and raised over $200,000. Scientist Jean-Laurent Casanova, MD, PhD, received the Thomas Waldmann Award for Excellence in Human Immunology, and Mark Davis received the William E. Paul Memorial Award for Excellence in Immunology and Cell Biology. Comedian and actor Joe Piscopo emceed and performed along with local band Tijuana Dogs. –KAREN KELSO

Ara, Ani, Richard and Aida Demirjian, Sudhir and Abha Gupta with Tapan Audia

24

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Alexandra and Joe Piscopo, Sudhir Gupta, Francis Arena and Raymond Mirra

Michelle Tran, Yvonne Hsieh, Tejal Narsai and Christine Panganiban

C L I C K

Bob and Virginia Naeve

Harriet Harris and Josh Grill

Ashley Campbell

Memories matter for UCI MIND “More than 80,000 Orange County residents are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, making the work of UCI MIND as important locally as it is nationally,” said Dr. Joshua Grill, director of UCI MIND. “This support is vital to the cutting-edge research performed at UCI MIND in the race to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.”

It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the third-leading cause of death in OC. These statistics have led UCI MIND’s scientists to work from a cross-disciplinary perspective to find prevention and a cure.

As OC’s only state and federally designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, UCI MIND has received more than $2 million over the years through its gala. The 10th annual “A December to Remember Gala” at Balboa Bay Resort raised $473,240.

That evening, Harriet Harris, president of Harris Taylor Management, Inc., was honored as was Betty’s Foundation. The Woesner familyoperated nonprofit was created in memory of grandmother Betty, who passed away after battling Alzheimer’s for 16 years. “Equally important, they have brought awareness to younger generations through their innovative outreach and philanthropic events,” said Grill. The event culminated with Julia and George Argyros, Chris and Kathy Taylor, and Joe Gonzalez enjoying a performance by Ashley Campbell, whose late father, musician Glenn Campbell, also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. – J.T.

Janet and James Gianulias

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LAUREL HUNGERFORD

Paul and Sydney Balalis

Clint, Holly and Karah Woesner

Julie Hill and Frank M. LaFerla

Kim Campbell, Harriet Harris and Ashley Campbell

Ruth and Steve O’Leary

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

25

How to Talk to an Interior Designer

BY DYLAN LANDIS

I

f a person has the taste to desire a beautiful home, the savvy to know she needs help creating one, and – what luck – the money to engage an interior designer, what could go wrong?

Oh, baby!

Interior designers, like bespoke tailors, a few society hairdressers and sommeliers, are Tastemakers. For most of us, baring our foolish desires to a Tastemaker or, God forbid, disagreeing with one, feels intimidating. We may be masters of the universe on our own turf, but if we knew how to layer a room and then light it, we wouldn't be clients, now, would we?

And so it happens that on rare occasions, a client closes his or her checkbook at the end, and thinks, I really hate that $18,000 rug I agreed to.

Or else: It's pretty. But it feels like a stranger's home, not mine.

Designers don't like to talk about this any more than cosmetic surgeons enjoy admitting that, at times, a patient is unhappy with a facelift.

But I call around. I leave messages: How should clients talk frankly to designers to ensure that they love what they get – since occasionally it happens that they don't?

Only one designer returns my calls. She sounds exactly how you want your interior designer to sound (more on that below). Meanwhile, two old friends, both pros in the business, are delighted to dish over dinner. One, G, edited a top design magazine for years. The other, P, used to deal in antiques; now she writes for another interiors magazine.

G and P tell me this: As a client, you need to be courteously blunt about your likes, your dislikes and your desires, foolish or otherwise. And yes, your secrets do need to come out.

They just aren't the secrets you think.

(No, Really)

26

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

> > > G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M

STUDY HIS PORTFOLIO. IF HE'S THE PERFECT DESIGNER FOR YOU, YOU MIGHT DISLIKE SOME OF HIS WORK. Sounds like terrible advice – hire someone whose work you don't like? But variety in his portfolio, from homes you dislike to homes that strike a chord in you, esthetically and emotionally, tells you he listens to his clients and gives them what they want. Chances are he'll listen closely to you.

Here's another scenario: You spot the same taste on every page – boldly mixed patterns, which the designer calls "fun." Or a thousand shades of beige. You adore it. You can stop speed-dating now.

He's the one.

ything. r e v e s are Picture 't bring u don oms yo If you o r f o eets ing, tearsh e first meet th f love to yoursel y l n o ve you ha if you don't e to blam s you love. ult get res

Maybe you've been keeping a file. If not, buy Post-its, and every interiors magazine on the newsstand. The Post-its are for annotating the tearsheets.

Acrylic desk!!!! you might write, or Hate the green, love the tile.

The designer knows, looking at your file, if her esthetic and yours can mesh. She can see at a glance that you like curated clutter, whether you can articulate this or not, while she prefers spare serenity. She can't tell that you swept 20 painted Russian boxes off the sideboard and into a cupboard before she came over, but she still knows you're wrong for each other.

Don't hire a designer who intimidates you.

Hire a designer who makes you feel like this one does:

I

'm never forceful with my ideas.

I never come in like I'm an expert. I use the word “partner” with my clients. I want to feel proud of the space, as the designer, but I'm not living here. So I do look at it as a partnership.

If you take away the “interior designer,” I'm Kesha first. I pride myself on being caring. I'm a mom.

I'm a wife. I come in respecting their boundaries and their privacy at the door. I'm grateful that a client will trust me this much in their space.

– KESHA FRANKLIN,

CEO and principal designer of Halden Interiors

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

27

Before you order anything – a sofa, a set of bookshelves – ask how big it's going to LOOK. “People are afraid to tell their designers, ‘I don't like it,’” says P. “Perhaps they don't read drawings.

Perhaps they're ashamed to say, ‘I didn't really know what you were showing me.’” So ask: How long will this 102-inch sofa look in my living room? Can you put cardboard on the floor and show me?

Here's a scenario, says P, that can happen to the best of us. “He shows you a picture of the refrigerator. It looks nice, it comes, it goes to the ceiling, and you didn't realize it would go to the ceiling. And you hate it and you're stuck with it.”

Shouldn't the designer mention the height, not just in inches, but relative to the room?

“He should,” says G. “But he doesn't know how little you understand.” She adds, “You can't blame him for that.”

TALK ABOUT HOW YOU SPEND YOUR NIGHTS. Perhaps you crave a special room for sex?

Oh, just say it. Sex is old hat.

What's mortifying for some couples to admit – to anyone – is that they sleep apart.

“Separate bedrooms,” says G, leaning across our dinner table. “That's the biggest secret. I hear stories about this all the time.

Many couples do want to sleep separately, with conjugal visits. But either they don't tell their designers and then regret it. Or they are honest, and then…”

And then?

“And then, I guess,” says G, “there's decorator-client privilege.”

28

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Talk about how you spend your days.

Be your true, unedited self.

If you do taxidermy, like my friend's husband, maybe you want a specialized room for that. (Just spare me the details.) Maybe you dream of a room for interpretive dance, like my novelist friend, who has one.

(It's invitingly empty.)

Your present home may constrain you, so tell the designer how you use your time, not your rooms. She may see the space more fluidly than you do.

Colin Kaepernick wanted a pool table. But he told Kesha Franklin, whom he hired to design his San Jose house, that it probably wouldn't work. “He assumed he had to have a dining room,” says Franklin, “and it didn't fit in the sun room.”

So she asked whether he entertained formally. Then she suggested he put the pool table, not a dining table, in the formal dining room.

(Yup, he totally went for that.)

> > > G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

C

all her N. Her bedroom was small, her closet tinier than a shower stall. Since she was gut-renovating the condo, she asked for a wall of built-in closets, and in the living room, a wall of built-in shelving.

She knew the rules – pictures. She showed her architect lots of pictures of narrow, tall wardrobe doors.

Later, she found herself admiring finely inked architectural drawings on pale vellum. Her young architect watched her through retro black glasses. He'd done a great job so far, arching the foyer doorway with a perfect curve, laying countertops like wet ink. (Silestone.) She liked his sense of proportion.

Yet now, at the interior design stage, something was amiss.

“The cabinetry felt graceless,” my friend says, “as if the closets

PRACTICE ALOUD THE TWO FORMS OF SAYING

NO

were meant for a Big and Tall store. I asked for runway-model doors. He gave me sumo-wrestler doors.”

The architect then showed her drawings she did like – and explained why they wouldn't work. “I started to feel guilty,” says my friend. “And shrewish.” (P comments: “Women are so used to being pliable with men.”) So when the architect yielded slightly on the living room shelves, redrawing the moldings, she caved on the rest.

She built it all. And hated it.

“Tear it out now,” her contractor said, “or you never will.”

(P confirms this: “Anything you don't do in the first year,” she says, “you never will.”) But it seemed so wasteful. So N tore out only the hulking built-in shelves. The new ones were perfect – trimmer, prettier. “I spend all my time in the living room now,” says N, “writing, or talking to friends.”

The closets stayed. “I thought, if I have extra money for ripping out new closets, I should donate it,” she says. Was she right? She isn't sure. “I can't spend five waking minutes in that bedroom. My husband dislikes it, too. And it's a very small apartment.”

A few years later, N called her architect's boss, who is famous.

He agreed to visit, and when he saw the closets, he winced, very slightly. “These should never have come from my firm,” he said.

“They should be narrow, and tall.”

He declined to tear them out.

She did not argue.

She regrets it. So ...

A designer who is famous for the hushed, worldly opulence of his rooms was working with a client in a top fashion house. For her bedroom, he selected a large painting to fit the color scheme.

But his client refused to buy art she didn't love (the only reason to buy art, after all), and chose instead a cheaper painting she did love, and which, the designer felt, disrupted The Look.

“He was pissed about it,” says P. “He wanted to control the vision.”

The client prevailed. Good for her. Not all of them do.

P also tells of another famous designer who, midway into a job, presented his clients with images of a $40,000 sofa. They refused.

He persisted. Finally the husband – presumably a Master of the Universe – shrugged and conceded.

“It's only a car,” he said.

No one told him it was just the front seat.

 “I don't like it.”  “I won't spend that much.”

Don't try to justify either statement.

Dylan Landis is a former contributing editor to House Beautiful and Metropolitan Home, the author of six books on interior design, and of “Rainey Royal,” a novel.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISTOCK AND GETTY IMAGES

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

29

A LITTLE DESIGN COMPETITION IN TUSTIN HAS A BIG GOAL: ››› REVIVE GREAT ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION IN THE COUNTY

THE BETWEEN

I

STORY BY LISA ALEXANDER

n the popular imagination, Orange County has long been associated with suburbia run rampant.

But here’s what has been lost: the knowledge that it has been a place of great architectural innovation, and an incubator for new ideas.

Consisting of primarily agricultural land before 1950, the building of major highways and the founding of UC Irvine created a construction boom the likes of which California had never seen. Though it was conceived and implemented by visionary architects, much of the subsequent work was carried on by developers, watering down and homogenizing many of the original ideas. ›››

31

The Tustin Preservation Conservancy and the American Institute of Architects OC recently invited inspiration back with a design competition for Tustin’s Old Town.

As Mark Wilcken, one of the founding members, says, “The competition was a thought experiment to imagine what the future might look like.”

The conservancy was started more than 20 years ago by a group of local citizens advocating for the protection and preservation of the town’s architectural history. More recently they’d become concerned with the large number of empty lots in Tustin’s Old Town and, interestingly enough, the thoughtful redesign of infill, or in-between land, is a primary way to bring architectural individuality back to a town.

According to Wilcken, whether or not the designs were built was beside the point. Its mission was simple: Expand the possibilities.

Dream a little. Give us your vision, your imagination, your ideas.

The contest started with land, specifically a nondescript L-shaped empty lot on the corner of Tustin’s El Camino Real and Main.

After getting permission from the owner, the conservancy put out the word to regional architects, and offered a modest $1,000 prize. There were no requirements for the design, not even parking. Just come up with something cool.

Old Town Tustin as compared to, say, Old Towne Orange, is completely distinct.

As Jeff Gill, executive director of AIAOC says, “For Orange the issue has to do with proximity. Old Towne Orange has a major thoroughfare connecting two freeways – Chapman Avenue – as well as a major road coming from Santa Ana – Grand, which turns into Glassell. And, a large, very wellknown university, Chapman. The circular road surrounded by antique stores and restaurants also is a unique attraction and destination drawing people from all over Southern California. Tustin offers a quainter small-town atmosphere where you get the feeling everyone knows each other. Tustin is very neighborly.”

It’s that sense of community that binds the place, yet another reason to update Old Town. As Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

Colin Ellard, who studies the psychological impact of design at the University of Waterloo, has found that something as simple as a complex building

32

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

> > > G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M

The winning designs by Wilson Deomampo from Wilson D Design International.

façade can elevate mood. So too with curved rooms and objects arranged to bring people physically closer, such as benches in a park. This is yet another reason thoughtful redesign can not only invigorate a downtown but improve people’s well-being and lives.

With the contest, both the Tustin conservancy and AIAOC ended up being impressed. Wilcken even admits to being wowed by the response: 45 entries and 14 that ended up in the competition. “I was shocked,” he says.

What struck him most was the level of professionalism and dedication that generated so many well-conceived ideas for a comparatively tiny design competition. It was also immediately obvious that the top entries offered radically different alternatives for the approximately 20,000 square feet of space.

The winner was Wilson Deomampo from Wilson D Design International, who focused on connecting Old Town’s past to its future. Inspired by the town’s Victorian architecture, his design featured a walkable mixed-use space anchored by a fanciful brick turret and fountain. The architecture managed to refer to the past while staying curiously modern. Was it the curved windows in the presentation? The glass bridge? It looked like a fun place to walk and eat ice cream and meet your best friend for coffee, the kind of OC town center that has been conceptually lost in the onslaught of high-end specialty malls.

Peter Chang from Gradient Real Estate Group and Rodolfo Mora from TCA Architects won second place. They proposed something called Destination Nodes, or a collaborative evolution of the entire town.

The idea was that private owners and developers could joint venture with the city, linking vacant lots around town into a web of venues offering a mix of art, dining, music, residential and open space.

A Judge’s Choice was given to another notable entry, a striking red-tiled music theater by Ivan Henson and Ricardo Molina of Ewing Cole. Both whimsical and futuristic, it featured a subterranean entrance with dangling white lights like Christmas icicles, the effect recalling Cesar Pelli’s iconic Red Building at the Pacific Design Center in L.A. Additional presentations included a block of sleekly designed residential space, and others incorporated food halls and trucks, outdoor stages, boutique hotels and even hanging gardens. What unified them all was

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

33

Peter Chang from Gradient Real Estate Group and Rodolfo Mora from TCA Architects won second place.

34

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

pedestrian engagement, space for people to walk and talk and just be together and hang out. Faced with sprawl the of California, of suburbia, this was a vision of engagement, of enjoying a community instead of just going to the market and the bank and the post office and then hurrying back to your house.

According to Gill, one of his goals with the contest was to avoid putting the lot owner in a corner and making him feel as if these developments had to be built.

Instead he wanted the entries to inspire new possibilities, and he felt especially good about connecting AIAOC members with the community because, to him, architects are a driving force to creatively problem-solve better ways to live, work and play.

Orange County is known across the country as the center of residential design because of its planned communities.” Many were created for people on the run from the traffic and congestion of L.A. “This was the center of new creative ideas,” he says. “We’re going back a few years now. (The innovations) came out of here, and then spiraled out… today you can see designs in China that mimic 100 percent of an Orange County community.”

While it’s amazing to think of OC teleported across the globe, Gill also emphasized the revolutionary residential design concepts that started here. In addition to the Victorian and art deco buildings often focused on for preservation, OC’s modern architectural signature began with William Pereira, the architect who designed UC Irvine in the ’50s and ’60s. Designing forward-looking campus buildings with light sculptural forms, his priority was diverse housing types, neighborhood villages in walking distance, and the integration of nature, of green. In addition to countless California landmarks such as LAX, the TransAmerica building and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, he went on to design the city of Irvine. With the help of talents like Frank Gehry, who also was one of the main architects of South Coast Plaza, the original structures became a remarkable collection of mid-century modern buildings, many of whose significance is often lost in the sea of Mediterranean stucco we have such a love/ hate relationship with now.

If you ask Gill, he thinks it’s unfortunate that developers instead of architects were subsequently allowed to take on the role of designing. “You’ll see a lot of those tans and

> > > G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M

creams. Very safe. We are fortunate, though, that we have some good contemporary residential architects … and also a heritage of good architecture.”

Gill says that countywide, “we’ve had some ’60s, ’70s office buildings come down and residentials get built. It’s starting to change a little bit to try and get people off the roads. Maybe they can bike to work.

Maybe they can walk where some of these new areas are coming in.”

OC’s population has tripled in the last 60 years. In response, people are being asked to think greener and smaller. According to Martha Thorne, dean of the IE School of Architecture and Design and executive director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the great challenge of architecture has to do with its capacity to create denser metropolises that have high urban quality and offer residents a better quality of life.

This concern extends to suburbia too.

Ultimately what it all comes down to is what is worth keeping, what is worth updating, and how can smart design make it so.

“Tustin doesn’t have many historic buildings left, so these days we’re concerned with almost all of them,” Wilcken says.

“Tustin Garage isn’t an architectural marvel, but it has historic meaning for the city, and that’s why it’s significant that it wasn’t demolished but adaptively reused into a restaurant.”

Beyond the obvious houses worth preserving – the Victorian Stevens House, the Bowman Craftsman, the Queen Anne Vance, and the low-slung Cliff May neighborhoods in the hills – there’s the past laid out in Old Town. Constructed in 1885, the very first doctor’s office still exists, as well as the neo-classic revival Artz Building, the Cox’s Market originally built in 1925, and even more historic sites mixed in with not-sofabulous development.

And then there’s also the empty lot of the competition itself, now filled with possibility. A roomy L with bare patches of earth and springy grass, now it’s not hard to see a plaza with a tinkling fountain, a theater with streams of people heading in for a show, a spoken word act on an outdoor stage, as well as bustling galleries, cafes and restaurants. One can even imagine the sound of people laughing and chattering, of little kids playing tag, of people connecting and relating and experiencing the place where they live. And all of it was thanks to one local neighborhood contest and the inspiration of good design. ■

A Judge’s Choice was given to another notable entry, a striking red-tiled music theater by Ivan Henson and Ricardo Molina of Ewing Cole.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

35

Passions DINING

|

T R AV E L

DINING ➻➻➻

HOME ➻➻➻

The Coast Dish The Coast Cioppino at Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge benefits Working Wardrobes. ➻ 38

Home Tour An architect and his wife build their dream home in Woodbridge. ➻ 44

Morsels Top Chefs in OC, Gucci and Massimo Bottura open a rooftop restaurant, and more … ➻ 40

TRAVEL ➻➻➻

Liquid Assets A sweet mango margarita at Taco Rosa channels Mexico's vibrant street style. ➻ 42 Cure Rated Sweeten your day with Beboe cannabis candies. ➻ 43

|

HOME

Great Escapes Bend, Oregon, continues to inspire outdoor lovers. ➻ 62 Miami's vibrant food and art scene sizzles all year. ➻ 66 Wish You Were Here Stay in soigné style while visiting Lyon, France. ➻ 72

53

COA S T

38

D I S H

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

COA S T

D I S H

Coast Cioppino

BY JENN TANAKA PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH PALUMBO

Cioppino reminds me of Dad. Growing up, our family tradition on New Year's Eve consisted of a hodgepodge feast created by my father. Dungeness crabs plucked from the waters off Santa Barbara. Creamy roasted onion oyster dip with salty crinkled potato chips. And, the piéce de résistance: cioppino.

Fish King, a quaint Japanese-American, family-owned seafood market in Los Angeles, was where my father found his inspiration. It was also where he learned how to prepare cioppino. The fishmongers revealed the history of the tomatobased seafood stew. A dish that originated in San Francisco, but over the years, came to represent coastal cuisine in the West. A fusion of rustic Italian cooking married with the bounty of the ocean, all caught off California's shores. A taste of home.

Cioppino holds a special place in my heart. So when we decided to feature it as our Coast Dish for March, it was only fitting that we enlist the talents of chef Paige Riordan and her father, chef Marty Manley, of Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge. The daddy-daughter duo put their East Coast spin on this hearty seafood smorgasbord. As a former commercial fishing captain, Manley knows the good stuff. Plump mussels and a gigantic lobster tail flavor the dish. “It's our version of cioppino,” explains chef Riordan. A New England clambake and a San Franciscanstyle seafood stew all in one. “It mixes our East Coast roots with California.” The hearty broth is rich and comforting. Fingerling potatoes bob around, soaking in the briny flavor, as a sprinkling of corn adds pops of color. A dish best savored with loved ones.

On March 19, Scarlet Kitchen & Lounge will gather friends and family to a fundraiser for Working Wardrobes. (A fire destroyed the facility in February.) That evening, 20% of proceeds will benefit the OC nonprofit's rebuilding efforts. This month, the restaurant will also donate $5 from each Coast Dish sold to Working Wardrobes. So, we'll eat well and do good.

Dad would be proud.

SCARLET KITCHEN & LOUNGE 30865 Gateway Pl., Rancho Mission Viejo 949.503.3086 :: scarletkl.com

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

39

M O R S E L S

Orange County is a hotbed for Bravo’s Top Chefs

BY JENN TANAKA

The Emmy-winning “Top Chef” debuts its 17th season on March 19 at 10 p.m. on Bravo. The show, which was filmed in L.A., features previous contestants such as Brian Malarkey. The chef recently opened Herb & Ranch in Irvine and is one of several “Top Chef” alums who have eateries in the OC. Here’s a roundup to keep you satiated through the season!

CHEF BRIAN MALARKEY - Partnering with the Puffer Malarkey Collective, the chef opened Herb & Ranch at the UCI Research Park campus. The casual, multidining concept (read: food hall) serves breakfast and lunch from five stations.

Pan-Asian offerings such as dumplings, scallion pancake wraps and royal purple rice bowls with charred corn, pickled carrots, cucumbers, cabbage and choice of protein such as beef, chicken or tofu at Asian Street Eats in Anaheim.

:: herbandranch.com

CHEF HUNG HUYNH - Asian Street Eats at Downtown Disney is a Pan-Asian fast casual concept. The food is prepared in a tiny kitchen and features royal purple rice bowls with pickled vegetables, the chef’s take on bibimbap, a hearty Korean rice dish. The spicy avocado sauce is Huynh’s version of a popular Peruvian sauce. “But mine is better!” he says with a smile. The chef recommends first-timers to try his crispy vegetarian dumplings and the scallion pancake wraps. :: asianstreeteats.com CHEF AMAR SANTANA - The Hall Global Eatery satisfies the cravings of hungry moms with kids coming off the carousel. Plus the grab-and-go options – a Mediterranean carving station and coffee bar with freshly baked pastries (order the Cookies 'n' Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie!) – satiate the employees working at South Coast Plaza. Crudo Bar, the sit-down

40

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

experience, is the way to go. Dine alfresco among the olive trees. Order the warm hummus with lamb and the impeccable bay scallops with black truffles and lemon oil. “We’re not reinventing the wheel," says Santana. "We’re just making good food.” :: thehallge.com

Baja to Alaska. Outer Reef’s menu will include crudo, caviar and fresh shellfish, as well as select steakhouse offerings. :: johntesar.com

CHEF RICHARD BLAIS - The Crack Shack in Costa Mesa is a family-friendly neighborhood spot.

Kids cavort on the quaint green artificial turf space and play cornhole, as the adults sip on craft beers and savor the succulent jidori chicken fried to perfection.

Blais is definitely a family man, because this has become a hot spot for OC dads. :: crackshack.com

CHEF JOHN TESAR - Outer Reef at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa is scheduled to open later this year. The restaurant will feature California produce and seafood sourced exclusively from the West Coast,

CHEF BRIAN HUSKEY In the summer my family often wanders over to chef Huskey’s TackleBox grub shack at Corona del Mar State Beach.

My husband and I pick up the kids from school and we head straight to the shore. My daughter plays in the surf and my son digs for hermit crabs. Idyllic childhood moments that I hope they remember. Huskey’s beachside eats, buffalo cauliflower bites, Maine lobster and “Cali” cheesecake sandwiches, will surely flavor their memories for years to come. :: tackleboxoc.com

>>> G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M

M O R S E L S

DATE BOOK Orange County Restaurant Week March 8-14 :: ocrestaurantweek.com Pechanga Chocolate Decadence & Wine Festival March 6-7 :: pechanga.com The Temecula Creek Inn Wine Dinner March 11. An intimate dinner by Chef Matt Steffen paired with Danza del Sol wines. :: temeculacreekinn.com

OC Wine & Spirit Fest March 28-29. A Stone’s Throw Winery hosts this spring celebration, which benefits JDRF OC and CASA OC.

APERITIVO On March 6, The Resort at Pelican Hill will launch a series of Aperitivo Hour pop-ups in collaboration with three renowned bars – Old Lightning Bar, Peppi’s Cellar and The NoMad Bar. Guest bartenders will take over the resort’s Coliseum Pool & Grill each Friday and Saturday throughout March, with the first Aperitivo Hour pop-up happening March 6 from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Think: classic Aperol Spritz and specialty cocktails prepared by the visiting bartenders. Pair that with a view of the glistening Coliseum Pool at dusk and you’re set for a splashy time. :: pelicanhill.com

SOUNDBITES

“I will be passing the torch to Russ [Bendel] in early March. … I will focus all of my attention on Sapphire Culinary Group, including my Sapphire at School and Sapphire at Work programs, and some exciting new projects I look forward to sharing with the public.”

– AZMIN GHAHREMAN,

Executive chef/CEO of Sapphire Culinary Group :: sapphirelaguna.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE RESORT AT PELICAN HILL, MARC PATRICK/BFA.COM

:: ocwineandspiritfest.com

Taste of Huntington Beach April 26.

The 20th anniversary event will support The Friends of the Children’s Library. :: tastehb.com

Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura opens in L.A. The three-Michelinstar chef and culinary humanitarian Massimo Bottura opened his first West Coast outpost atop the Gucci boutique in Beverly Hills. The plush space, which is JR, chef Massimo Bottura, Salma Hayek Pinault, open for lunch and chef Karime López, Anderson.Paak in the kitchen dinner, celebrates at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura.

Italian design with superb Italian food. The menu showcases Bottura's signature tortellini pasta with Parmigiano-Reggiano cream and innovative “Risotto Camouflaged as Pizza.” A large focus will be on vegetables, “California cuisine.” Bottura along with Gucci president/CEO Marco Bizzarri welcomed guests on Feb. 8 to an opening soirée and tasting with Anderson.Paak, Gwyneth Paltrow, Saoirse Ronan, and Salma Hayek Pinault. The partnership originated from a childhood friendship between Bizzarri and Bottura. It celebrates their shared love of two core Italian cultural themes: food and fashion.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

41

L I Q U I D

A S S E T S

Feel the HEAT

STORY BY JENN TANAKA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH PALUMBO

S

treet food in Mexico City is an experience unto itself. The smells, the sounds, the heat emanating from the sun and radiating on the hot pavement.

The sidewalk grills sauteing onions and sizzling peppers. Handmade masa tortillas and fresh salsa abound. Lingering memories are what inspired Taco Rosa’s general manager, Amber Calderón, to concoct a series of refreshing cocktails. The Coconut con Paleta margarita doubles as dessert. It’s an icy blend of 1800 coconut tequila, créme of coconut, orange liqueur and toasted shaved coconut. Our tasting panel kept drinking until it was almost finito. Then, chef Ivan Calderón summoned for another concoction: this vibrant mango margarita.

It’s photogenic – and there’s just something about a mango margarita topped with a tangy mango-chamoy paleta that really delights the inner child in me. “It tastes just like a candy that all the children in Mexico eat,” she says.

Except this version is spiked. “I add an extra shot of blue agave tequila on the bottom.”

The bar reflects the care put into Taco Rosa’s dishes. Greens come from local sustainable, organic and regenerative farmers; while the chef only selects purveyors of humanely raised meats. There is intention in Taco Rosa’s food.

So when Calderón sought to overhaul the cocktail menu, he enlisted someone he trusted, his niece, Amber. The drinks’ composition excite diners. Plus, the well crafted cocktails taste as good as they look. “She’s done a great job,” says Calderón nodding with approval. “It really channels Mexico – and the street!”

MANGO MARGARITA 10 oz. crushed ice 1½ oz. blue agave tequila 3/4 ounce triple sec 1½ oz. fresh squeezed sweet and sour 3 oz. fresh mango puree ½ oz. chamoy Garnish: Tajin chamoy and a mango-chamoy paleta METHOD: Swirl the chamoy into the margarita glass. Combine ingredients in blender. Top with garnish.

TACO ROSA 2632 San Miguel Dr., Newport Beach 949.720.0980 :: tacorosa.com

42

COAST

C U R E

R AT E D

PASS THE PASTILLES

BY MOIRA PEACOCK

It makes sense that when Beboe, an upscale cannabis line of signature products, opened shop in 2017, the tony West Hollywood launch party was filled with celebs such as Justin Theroux, Orlando Bloom and Sharon Stone. One of the founders, Clement Kwan, is a former fashion industry executive for Theory, Diesel and Dolce & Gabbana, and the other, celebrity tattoo and fine artist Scott Campbell – the brand’s upscale packaging is embellished with his intricate drawings – has inked the skin of Robert Downey Jr., Sting and Jennifer Aniston, among others. Campbell’s muse is also his wife, the actress, director and screenwriter Lake Bell, who wrote, directed and starred in the must-see quirky video delivered with deadpan

humor on the company website.

Staying true to its family roots, the artisanal marijuana innovator, dubbed “the Hermès of marijuana” by The New York Times, is named after Campbell’s maternal grandmother, Be Boe, who bought small bags of marijuana to bake into brownies to ease her daughter’s pain as she battled cancer when Campbell was a child.

Fast forward to last spring, when Beboe’s latest leap was to partner with The High End, a store within a store on the 5th floor of Barneys in Beverly Hills, where an on-site representative is available to explain Beboe’s products and help place orders for home delivery.

We’re obsessed with Beboe’s “Inspired” Sativa pastilles and blueberry and lavender flavored “Downtime” Indica pastilles, which Bell describes as

“candy tarts of bougieness.” They are made with cold-water processed hash, each tart with a microdose of THC and CBD. WHAT TO EXPECT: With the “Inspired” pastilles, expect a euphoric daytime experience “that makes everything a little warmer, a little more vivid.” After a long day, relax with the high-CBD “Downtime” Indica pastilles.

HOW TO DOSE: Each tin contains 25 pastilles. Each “Inspired” pastille contains 5 mg of THC and 3 mg of CBD. Each “Downtime” pastille contains 10 mg of CBD and 3 mg of THC. Since cold-water hash is more potent than other products typically used for edible cannabis products, the company suggests trying one pastille and waiting for a half-hour to an hour to see how it affects you. Pill popping was never so much fun.

BEBOE :: Beboe.com

BUDMAN 949.520.1021 :: budmanoc.com Barneys High End 5th floor, Barneys 9570 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

43

â– LIKE FATHER,

â– Breaking down

walls and moving the kitchen helped create the great room feeling, while the high-set windows and floating soffit above the kitchen fill the room with light.

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

H O M E

TO U R

AN OC ARCHITECT’S HOME

LIKE SON

REFLECTS HIS FATHER’S LEGACY . . . AND HIS WIFE’S DESIRE STORY BY JENNY PETERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERI KOGEL

P

urchasing a home in the Woodbridge neighborhood of Irvine, Renzo J. Nakata and his wife, Caroline Wong Nakata, knew they were buying into a legacy.

“Woodbridge is one of the original developments of Irvine,” Renzo explains, “and Woodbridge is like a clock. This section of it is from the 9 to 12 quadrant, which was the first quadrant in Woodbridge, and this section had the models for the neighborhood. This house was one of the models, and is one of the oldest.”

But you’d never know that by looking at the home now, because Renzo Nakata is an architect who had a plan to transform the house into a place more in line with the couple’s shared design aesthetic. “My – our – personal style is modern, with clean simple lines and an emphasis on natural light,” he says.

It’s the architectural style he learned from his father, Seattle architect Smith S. Nakata, so it’s no wonder that his reimagining of this traditional Irvine house has similarities to the Seattle house he grew up in that his dad designed.

“With lots of windows and high ceilings that create a lot of open space, our house definitely has the legacy of my father’s work,” Renzo adds.

The renovation/recreation of the original 1,440-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath house into a 1,975-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bath home took about a year to accomplish.

Enlisting the help of Laguna Hills contractor Steve Kirakossian of M & J Star Construction, the couple and their two daughters moved out for the duration as the transformation took place.

Caroline had very specific needs for the home, including a prominent place for her grand piano in what was to become the great room of the single-story house. “I teach piano, students come to me every afternoon, and we have recitals here a few times during the year. So I wanted the space to be very open, so people can come and go as they want,” she says.

The result is a light-filled living room, whose exterior wall soars to 16 feet, with the wall cut at a sloping angle that plays off the shape of the piano and provides perfect acoustics for the instrument as well. Huge windows bring in plenty of light, yet maintain privacy without any window coverings.

“Renzo was able to design it so that we have privacy, despite being tight to our neighbors on all sides,” Caroline continues. “And we love the indoor-outdoor feel, too, with the side doors that open completely to the patio. All the windows sort

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

45

LargeH storage O M E cabinets keep clutter at bay, while meals can be taken either inside or out.

TO U R

■ ■ Irvine homeowners Caroline Wong Nakata and Renzo Nakata.

46

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

of bring the nature right into the house, too.”

The outdoor landscaping was another part of the project for Renzo, beginning with a shift in the front aspect of the house to create a sightline from front door straight through the house (an element Caroline’s feng shui sensibilities instinctively knew was lacking) and continuing to a rock garden at the side entrance made of 6,000 pounds of stones.

The couple collaborated on the interior design as well, using white, black and gray as the main neutral color palette, with pops of lucky red throughout.

Built-in cupboards keep clutter at bay, and one of Caroline’s favorite spots is a place Renzo designed at her request. “I wanted a sports center, a place for all our gear – and for shoes,” she says happily, gesturing to the area she calls her “mud room.”

“As Asians, we always take off our shoes when we come into the house, and I didn’t want to have a pile of tons of shoes right at the front. Some people like that, that it means there is something happening in the house, but I personally don’t like that. So I wanted a place for them, and this has worked out perfectly.”

Much like the rest of the house for the Nakata family, as Renzo says with a grin. “We love the house, which also is my office for my architectural firm. We pretty much use all of the space we have and we love it that way.”

■ The Nakatas and their daughters did all the heavy lifting to create the Zen rock garden that flows from curb to backyard of the home.

PORTRAIT OF NAKATA’S BY LEONARD ORTIZ

H O M E

■

TO U R

The soaring ceilings, undraped windows and angled back wall all create a feeling of airy openness in the great room.

■ Top: The mud room and shoe depository that Caroline envisioned works perfectly for the family of four’s assorted stuff.

■ Left: Renzo designed everything in the home to flow with similar color palettes, including the gray tile in the master shower.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

47

N O W

T R E N D I N G The Jens Bench from Design Within Reach has an understated Scandinavian flair that complements both modern and traditional aesthetics. As designer Jens Risom put it, “Good design means that anything good will go well with equally good things.” $1,895, Design Within Reach SOCO. :: dwr.com

Car keys, earrings, loose change: all will be beautifully contained in Anya Nesting Bowls in Peri Blue from Room & Board. Made at North Carolina’s HAAND ceramic studio, the bowls are slip cast from porcelain and feature a footed base to stand alone or nest together. $25 to $45. Room & Board SOCO. :: roomandboard.com

Classic

BLUE THE 2020 PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR

BY SHELLEY LEVITT

The Louis Armchair in Blue Velvet is a mid-century stunner. A spongy seat and back make it as comfortable as it is refined. It will look right at home on hardwood floors, an overdyed vintage rug, a shag, Persian or Moroccan. $529, available at Modani SOCO. :: modani.com

Your pup wants the soothing blues, too.

Available in sizes from small to extra large ($119 to $289) the sofa-like Jax & Bones Sleeper Bed is made in L.A. from fabrics that are hypoallergenic, mildew- and stain-resistant and washable. Online at :: jaxandbones.com

48

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

For its 21st year of hue forecasting, Pantone declared 2020 the year of Classic Blue, a shade that “brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit.” The design community has responded with pieces in comforting blue for every corner of your home.

Rejuvenation’s Terrafirma Planter, shown here in cobalt blue, is made by painting liquid porcelain on textiles and lace. Each piece is unique and signed by artist Ellen Evans. Available in heights of 5, 6 and 8 inches, from $119 to $169. Rejuvenation SOCO. :: rejuvenation.com

No. 2’s statement-making toilet paper made from renewable bamboo will be a testament to your commitment to sustainability. Each roll is wrapped in recycled paper with a fashionable pattern printed in soybean ink. Vacation Blue, shown here, is one of seven styles. 24 rolls for $34. :: gono2.com

G R E AT

E S C A P E

Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon’s high desert is considered by many to be the birthplace of American sport climbing.

Home on the range 62

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

G R E AT

E S C A P E

Brasada Ranch is known for its signature s ‘mores.

BEND, OREGON, PROVIDES THE PERFECT OUT-WEST ADVENTURE

I

BY KAREN NELSON

was that kid. Every summer, I would call my parents from camp and beg to stay longer. Here in Bend, Oregon, I feel like that kid again. I’ve ridden a horse to a picnic spot overlooking the high peaks, hiked at the birthplace of American sport climbing, and discovered a secret bar inside a broom closet. Known for its easy access to four seasons of world-class adventure, plus numerous breweries, Bend is my new summer camp – and it’s not even summer.

My home base is Brasada Ranch, a chic western resort community nestled into 1,800 acres on Powell Buttes. It was originally a sheep farm, and the historic trestle bridge that once carried water to livestock now leads to an 18-hole golf course carved into sage-covered canyons. Brasada Ranch boasts a horse stable, miles of trails, four swimming pools, a spa and fitness center, plus outdoor fire pits sprinkled throughout the property.

Accommodations range from private rooms to multibedroom cabins decorated in contemporary ranch décor.

Up early, I enjoy a hearty rancher’s breakfast of a tortilla topped with beans, eggs, cheese, sour cream and guacamole, then head to the stable for a guided ride in the rugged landscape. Mounted on a goodnatured bay named Scout, I follow the wrangler though juniper trees and yellow-tipped rabbitbrush until we reach our picnic site at Spirit Rock. Nine snowcapped peaks stretch before us, from Mount Bachelor to Mount Jefferson, and I imagine riding Scout clear to the base of the Cascades.

I trade Scout for my hiking boots and head to Smith Rock State Park, an internationally renowned

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

63

G R E AT

E S C A P E

Horseback riders meander through juniper and sage-covered trails with the “Three Sisters” (Charity, Hope and Faith) as their backdrop.

climbing destination. As I hike along the aptly named Crooked River, above me, rock climbers scale the walls of the jagged spires that reach into the sky. At the top of the Misery Ridge Trail, the view sweeps across Central Oregon’s high desert to all points on the compass, and I pause to breathe it all in.

Back at the ranch, I soothe my muscles with a hot tub soak and a luxurious High Desert Salt Stone Massage at Spa Brasada.

Later, deep in a leather chair by the roaring fire, I sip a Lange Estate Winery pinot blended exclusively for Brasada Ranch. For dinner, I waver between the mac ‘n’ cheese, and the fried chicken, before deciding I deserve both.

The next day, ready for an urban adventure, my friends and I head to downtown Bend, located along the Deschutes River. We stroll along the river path, pop into the local boutiques and enjoy an organically sourced lunch at Jackson’s Corner. I recommend the Tillamook cheddar grilled cheese dipped into tomato soup, or any of the daily specials.

No trip to Oregon is complete without a stop at the local McMenamins, and in Bend’s case this is The Old Saint Francis School – a former Catholic school-turned brewery, restaurant, hotel, movie theater and indoor soaking pool. We are tipped off to a “secret” broom closet, and my friends, unfamiliar with McMenamins,

64

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

are skeptical. After a few wrong turns and a tour of the actual broom closet by a bartender who had a little fun at our expense, we find ourselves in an upstairs utility room. About to give up, thinking fool me twice, my friend presses her hands against the broom-lined wall, and we very nearly fall into the secret bar. I appreciate that the bartender doesn’t bat an eye.

When it comes to craft beer, Central Oregon has the highest number of breweries per-capita in the country, which means there are many, many choices. The original Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House offers tours and has 19 taps plus a beer-centric menu. 10 Barrel Brewing has pubs in both West and East Bend, and great outdoor seating on a warm day.

Exploring all the breweries is an adventure in itself.

For dinner, we head to Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails and feast on the Cajun-influenced menu of artichoke and corn fritters, barbecue shrimp with grits, blackened red-fish and crawfish jambalaya.

There is no corkage fee on the first bottle of Oregon, Washington or Idaho wines, and be sure to ask for the complimentary Lady’s Homemade Dog Biscuits for your four-legged friend.

Late our last night as we sit around the roaring fire pit, indulging in Brasada Ranch’s signature s’mores, I’m reminded of my favorite times at summer camp as a kid. Infinite stars spread across the clear night sky and the moon reflects off the distant peaks of the Cascades. This weekend we’ve only scratched the surface of what Bend has to offer, and just like camp, I’m wishing for a longer stay. ■ Enjoy the fire pit with views of the snowcapped Cascade Mountains in the distance.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISTOCK, CHRIS HOLLO, WOLF HOFFMANN

G R E AT

E S C A P E

Behind the facade

MIAMI REVEALS ITSELF AS MOODY AND MAGNIFICENT

BY KIRSTEN WASSON

A

s my Lyft approached the silvery Miami skyline, I let the lightly humid air bathe my face. The clouds’ chiaroscuro show overhead held my gaze. Not everyone may like humidity and clouds as much as I do, but there are plenty of other reasons to travel from Southern California’s paradise to Miami’s.

For starters, during the months when the Pacific is frigid and roiling, the Atlantic is warm and serene. Once in the South Beach Art Deco District, I was delighted by rejuvenated façades and bustling energy in the street, the bright charm of renovation that honors the area’s early 20th-century origins.

66

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Nowhere else in the world is there as much well-preserved art deco.

Hotel Victor welcomed me with a lobby of dazzling marble and friendly front desk staff.

My tastefully appointed room included a view of the beach, and the sun was setting a purple day’s end. I quickly made my way down to the

G R E AT

ocean and walked in up to my thighs. Then I dressed for dinner at the former Versace villa, right next door.

That’s Miami.

A tour revealed extravagantly Italian décor; dinner was served by the tiled pool in an outdoor courtyard. Gianni’s, the restaurant inside the villa, offers atmosphere and service that is elegant but surprisingly unstuffy. The cuisine is superb: octopus carpaccio, burrata with tomato confit, branzino. Mango mousse inside a shell of dark chocolate. A romantic and sexy dining experience.

The next morning brought a satisfying breakfast at one of the district’s gems: the Betsy Hotel, owned by Jonathan Plutzik and his wife, Lesley Goldwasser, who have infused the spot

E S C A P E

The penthouse at the Betsy Hotel boasts picturesque views of the city skyline.

Opposite page: The Hotel Victor lobby features moody hues of purple and blue.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISTOCK, BETSY HOTEL

67

G R E AT

E S C A P E

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses in Aventura.

During the evening, the rooftop at the Betsy Hotel is a lively respite from the bustling street below.

Families enjoy the Turnberry resort’s Tidal Cove, which features private bungalows and a lazy river pool.

68

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

with a rich cultural flair. The hotel includes an art gallery, writer’s residence and nightly jazz and opera in the bar.

Don’t miss a visit to the interactive Artechouse, a museum where art and technology intersect inside beautiful and trippy interactive rooms. I lunched at the Setai hotel, which weaves the aesthetics and flavors of the Far East into its menu and original art deco façade.

Back at the Victor, I sampled offerings at K’Alma Spa, which culminated in a quinoa facial that made me glow like a sparklingly fresh salad! Then another delicious dinner at Versace’s place, only this time in a sushi speakeasy. “Sushi by Bou” features fresh and braised fish prepared right in front of your private party and playful banter with chefs.

The following morning led me to the museum park perched on Biscayne Bay. First stop: the Frost Science Museum, boasting both a planetarium and an aquarium with educational programs (and sleepovers!) for children as well as adults. Next: the architectural wonder of the Perez Art Museum – with permanent and visiting collections of 20th and 21st century art. That afternoon, I toured the renovated Design District in

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIAMI TURNBERRY RESORT & SPA, BETSY HOTEL

G R E AT

E S C A P E

downtown, chock full of high-end couture as well as excellent restaurants like Jardinier, where I enjoyed a vegetarian-forward lunch on the patio.

From downtown, I went to the JW Marriott Turnberry hotel and spa in Aventura, a short drive north. The complex includes two golf courses, a waterpark, adult-only pool and several remarkable restaurants; the Turnberry’s hospitality genius lies in the intimacy of each part of the whole, all proffered by warm, attentive staff.

Bourbon Steak, the James Beard Awardwinning restaurant, did not fail to live up to its reputation. Tenderly prepared organic and hormone-free steaks, of course, and I enjoyed a superb sea bass. My gigantic room was luxurious, and I had a view of the golf course under a sky of, again, moody and masterful clouds.

The next morning and afternoon were spent at Tidal Cove, the waterpark, which has something for everyone. Adults lounge in cabanas sipping frozen sangria, while children and children-at-heart laugh with delight soaring down tubes and slides.

Later, at the Ame Spa, I enjoyed a Thai massage – herb packets were applied to

70

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

my body in a tradition tracing back to 15th-century warriors. Then, spa soldier that I am, I enjoyed a dinner that paired craft beers with tasty treats at the Corsair Kitchen and Bar. Imagine eating porchetta while drinking Cigar City Madura Brown Ale. Though not a huge beer fan, I was in love … or at least, lust!

Sunday arrived too soon. Time to return home, yet a sensual and vibrant feeling lingered.

That’s Miami. ■

The Forbes five-star Setai Miami Beach hotel boasts ocean and art deco suites for guests seeking the essence of Art Basel Miami.

The Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade County, known as PAMM, is regarded as the city’s flagship art museum. It celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.

W I S H

YO U

W E R E

H E R E

Lyon offers ultimate savoir vivre Before becoming the managing director of The Resort at Pelican Hill, Tom Donovan spent a decade in Hawaii. “I’ve been fortunate to live where many people choose to vacation. Our industry lives and breathes travel, which is why I think it’s even more important for hoteliers and hospitality professionals to make time for travel whenever possible, whether it’s a 24-hour getaway close to home or a lesser-known locale halfway around the world,” says Donovan. He adds, “Traveling deepens your appreciation of other cultures, pushes you outside your comfort zone – and creates lifetime memories.” We asked him to give us the rundown on one of his favorite getaways, which turned out to be Lyon, the third-largest city in France.

Tom Donovan

WHY LYON? I think Lyon is the best city in France. People automatically think of Paris as the must-visit destination, but Lyon is the epitome of all things French. The city itself is clean and the people are incredibly friendly.

BUY IN The farmers market scene in France is a culture all its own and offers some of the best shopping. Beyond the staples of meat, cheese, bread and wine, you’ll enjoy produce unlike anything you’d find in a grocery store. The markets give travelers a real feel for each neighborhood and are a great opportunity to meet the artisans who call Lyon home.

72

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 019

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISTOCK:

W I S H

YO U

W E R E

H E R E

TIME IS RIGHT In September and October, summer tourists have returned home and you’re left with beautiful crisp days and fall foliage we don’t often see in coastal Orange County. April and May are also a great time to travel.

AFTER DARK A unique Lyonese event is the Festival of Lights, a tradition that began in the 1600s. This year the festival, where local artists create bold and imaginative light displays projected on public buildings throughout the city, begins on Dec. 5 and culminates on Dec. 8 with a procession to the Basilica of Fourvi¯re.

BEST BITE Paul Bocuse Restaurant is iconic, and my favorite meal in Lyon is their Bresse chicken truffled cooked in a bladder “à la M¯re Fillioux.” It’s classically French and an opulent tableside presentation.

SECRET TIP

MUST DO The best way to experience Lyon is on bike. Whether you join a guided tour or rent a bike on your own, there’s so much to explore – the Saône and Rhône riverbanks, the tunnel Modes Doux de la Croix, quaint city squares – even the Lyon Zoo!

Only a couple routes of Lyon’s funicular railways are still in operation (they began in the mid-1860s), but you can still take the funicular up to the top of Fourvi¯re hill to visit the basilica and take in panoramic views of the city. Without the funicular, it’s a long, steep walk through town, but still worth the picturesque destination.

MARCH 2020 COA S T

73

SPRING

COA S T K I D S

A QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENT FOR COAST

Beyond

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

The Dino Adventure at Discovery Cube OC allows visitors to explore the prehistoric world with a scavenger hunt.

COA S T K I D S

Party Like a Rock Star

BY JENN TANAKA

Birthday parties in Orange County have evolved. Gone are the days of screaming children swatting a piñata at the park. Now, thanks to Pinterest and Instagram-envy, parents are upping the ante. From artisanal, locally sourced food and experiments led by science experts to afternoon tea painting parties and whale watching tours, OC children have so many more ways to celebrate. Party on!

THE DISCOVERY CUBE ORANGE COUNTY

TIMREE PAINT STUDIO

OCEAN INSTITUTE

For my son’s sixth birthday, we invited his kindergarten class and his cousins to a birthday party at The Discovery Cube Orange County. He’s the kind of kid who memorizes dinosaur names, devours nature statistics and builds Legos. So it’s no surprise that he wanted to celebrate at The Cube.

The party packages feature all-day admission to the museum and a science demonstration led by an assistant dressed in a white lab coat. The Mad Scientist option ($500 for 15 people) also includes a 3D movie. One good thing, there’s no need to go crazy with the decor. After the activity, a healthy lunch catered by BeanSprouts and birthday cake, the kids dash off to explore the museum.

Timree Gold founded her art studio in Newport Beach to encourage creativity. The studio gained some notoriety after appearing on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Orange County,” but Gold says her time teaching cancer patients to paint is the work that really feeds her soul. For Gold, “art is a healing process.” Her dream is to make art accessible and fun for everyone. So it’s only fitting that we included Timree Paint Studio in our birthday party roundup.

The private party package ($100 for space reservation, plus $50/painter with a nine painter minimum) allows attendees to create a keepsake. The website indicates several age-appropriate art projects. Kids (ages 6-8) can paint colorful unicorns or a Chanel-inspired lipstick collection.

How do squid see in the dark? If your kid is curious about sea life, opt for a birthday party at the Ocean Institute. Private parties include the Pirate package ($550) or the new Under the Sea experience, available in April. Each allows guests to explore the Ocean Institute, and add-ons are available. Engage kids’ curiosity with a private 45-minute tour aboard the Brig Pilgrim ($150) or an interactive squid dissection ($75).

For the adventurous, try a whale watching excursion. The Pacific Marine Life Exploration on the R/V Sea Explorer is $15 for kids (3-17) and $35 for adults, with a 10 percent discount offered to groups of 10 or more. Remember, the sight of a breaching whale is priceless. And watching dolphins swim by your boat is a great birthday gift no matter what age.

2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana 714.542.2823 :: oc.discoverycube.org

1651 Westcliff Dr., Newport Beach 949.723.1300 :: timree.com

24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point 949.496.2274 :: ocean-institute.org

E TICKET EXHIBITION

Sleeping Beauty (1959) (Walt Disney Productions), Original Prop Book, Walt Disney Archives, ©Disney

76

The Walt Disney Archives is a pop culture explosion.

The collection of millions of items document the company’s legacy. Walt Disney’s correspondence to sketches for “Fantasia” and ghouls from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. With permission, researchers, scholars and Hollywood insiders can explore the archive items within the private reading room in Burbank.

Now OC can explore the collection. “Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic” will open March 7 at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. The aim: Experience a visit inside the archives.

C O A S T K I D S :: S P R I N G 2 0 2 0

“We’re physically recreating the reading room of the archives that people will be walking through. And they can experience a simulated storage facility with different objects in the collection,” said Victoria Gerard, Bowers’ vice president of collections and programs.

Bowers will offer a nod to Disneyland, with curated ephemera and curiosities, Gerard said. “I felt it would be really interesting to have some Disneyland-related objects in the show because it is so much part of our story in Orange County.”

The exhibition opens with a March 5 gala fundraiser.

It closes Aug. 30. –SHERRY STERN :: bowers.org

C A L E N DA R

A VOLT of CIRQUE C

irque du Soleil returns to its Orange County home, the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, for a monthlong residency of a show that’s been getting buzz around

the country for its unique performers, eye-popping visuals and urban vibe. Aiming for a young audience, “Volta” finds inspiration from street sports and features a futuristic score composed by Anthony Gonzalez of the electronic group M83.

Designer Zaldy Goco, known for his work with Lady Gaga and Gwen Stefani, designed the costumes. The Chicago Tribune critic found much to like, writing, “Volta is thrilling because of the acts. Period.” – SHERRY STERN

SEE IT: “Volta” by Cirque du Soleil, OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, March 18-April 19.

Tickets $70-$285 for VIP seats.

Discounts available for children. :: cirquedusoleil.com/volta

80

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT BEARD

Books.

READ. MUST. NEW, NOTABLE AND BUZZWORTHY TITLES IN LITERATURE

BY DANIELLE BAUTER

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, “Creatures” by debut author Crissy Van Meter is beautiful both inside and out. Told in a nonlinear format, her lyrical prose raises questions of what it means to love and be loved. The novel is set on a fictional island off the coast of Southern California, and follows a young woman named Evie who has struggled with a difficult childhood. Exploring the ties between humanity and the natural world, this is a heartwrenching but rewarding tale.

Harlan Coben is a master at writing spellbinding thrillers, and his latest, “The Boy From the Woods,” is no exception.

This one features a connection to one of Coben’s recurring characters, Hester Crimstein, a 70-something defense attorney.

When a friend of Hester’s grandson goes missing, she enlists the help of Wilde, a man with his own mysterious past. Throw a powerful family and a presidential runner with his own secrets into the mix, and you’re in for a wild ride.

Author Fanny Singer is the daughter of culinary legend Alice Waters, and her intimate memoir “Always Home” is a love letter to her mother, filled with personal anecdotes and recipes that were collected over a lifetime. Singer describes what it was like growing up in a restaurant family, and her coming-of-age in a world of organic food and frequent traveling. Pour yourself a cup of tea and savor this heartwarming book.

In “These Ghosts Are Family” by Maisy Card, family secrets come to light when it is discovered that Stanford Solomon has been lying about his identity for over 30 years. He is actually Abel Paisley, a man who faked his own death and stole his best friend’s identity. A multigenerational saga that moves from Jamaica to Harlem, it is one that will affect you long after having finished it.

A moving tribute to her grandfather Patrick Gourneau, “The Night Watchman” is Louise Erdrich’s fictionalized account of his struggle for Native American rights. Set during the 1950s, it is told from the perspective of Thomas, a night watchman at a jewel bearing plant near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in North Dakota, and two sisters, Patrice and Vera, who were born on the reservation. It is a book about adversity and struggle, but also full of hope.

M A R C H 2 0 2 0 :: C O A S T

81

A RT I S T I C

V I S I O N

Caesar Alzate Jr. ‘Object No. 032 Cobalt Blue,’ acrylic on canvas Who: A native to Orange County, Caesar Alzate Jr. received a BA in illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and an MFA in drawing and painting from Cal State Fullerton in 2018. Alzate lives and works in Anaheim.

What: Alzate transcends ideas and builds forms, shapes and textures on the canvas with paint, through the accumulation of disciplined actions and a labor-intensive artistic process. Each canvas receives his ritual of brushing thousands and thousands of layers of paint with a heat process. After many hours, days and weeks devoted to the shaping of each painting, every work is transformed into a unique (sculptural) artwork, engaging viewers and stimulating myriad conversations and interpretations.

How: Alzate creates artwork using paint straight from the tube, isolated from other hues, free from contamination with its color purity carefully insured. A heat gun is used at the same time that he layers the paint on with a brush, which accelerates an evaporation process with the acrylic paint. As a colorblind artist, he enjoys the comfort, peace of mind and security when he is creating an artwork based on his decision to use only one saturated color per painting.

82

C O A S T :: M A R C H 2 0 2 0

Quoted: “While working I tend to retreat into a meditative state, attuned to the specificity of the medium. My experience working with this process for hours upon end has given me a sense of the paint’s formula and material gaining awareness of it as a phenomena. My unique process allows me to challenge a common narrative based on the idea that painting is two dimensional; usually void of sculptural effects.”

Noted: Alzate has been featured in several exhibitions, including a group showing at SCAPE Southern California Art Projects + Exhibitions, Huntington Beach Art Gallery, CSUF Leo Freedman Gallery and Coastline Community Art College Gallery.

Hopes: “Being a colorblind artist and fighting discrimination in various other fronts, it is my hope that my art, driven both personally and politically, mimics organic growth accompanied by a deeper conceptual metaphor that celebrates individuality as well as commonality.”– As told to Jeannie Denholm :: scapesite.com

> > > G O T O CO A S T MAG A ZIN E.CO M