SLO LIFE Magazine Dec/Jan 2022 by SLO LIFE Magazine

LIFE SLO magazine

LOCAL ARTIST

shahrzad

HEALTH the anti-diet

TIME LINE WINE NOTES ON THE RISE student success DEC/JAN 2022 SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

CENTRAL COAST HAPPENINGS who, what, where

FAMILY OUTING SEASONAL FAVORITES brews worth trying

LIVING

small space makeover

MEET

CHENDA LOR

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

MAKE AN IMPACT. DESIGN | PRINT | MAIL | APPAREL WEB | PROMO

805.543.6844 | WWW.PRPCO.COM 2226 BEEBEE STREET, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 2

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M O D E R N • C L A S S I C • J E W E L R Y

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G A R D E N

S T R E E T

S A N

L U I S

O B I S P O

W W W . B A X T E R M O E R M A N . C O M

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

YOU MATTER TO US. We are welcoming our community back with the same dedication to providing a healthy and affordable mode of transportation. With our rider’s health and wellbeing always the top priority, we continue to maintain a rigorous cleaning and sanitizing program for when you choose to board. 4

We’re here to safely take you where you need to go.

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“American Riviera wants the Paso community to succeed — they are literally investing in it.” – ADAM PELTIER

Renee Howard Fifteen years of banking on the Central Coast

This is True Community Banking Marissa and Adam Peltier of Peltier Glassworks with Renee Howard, SBA Business Development Officer

Combining our expertise with yours to find solutions for your unique needs.

Visit us at AmericanRiviera.Bank • 805.965.5942 DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

Tenet Health Central Coast

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center

Health

Stronger Together

Your Partners in Neurosurgical Care Together, with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center is providing a stronger network of neurosurgical services on the Central Coast. Combining nationally recognized expertise and advanced technology, we can help keep you close to home for specialized neurosurgical care. Why Choose Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center? • Integrated care with UCSF Medical Center, which ranks #1 in the nation and best in California for neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report • Advanced technology for enhanced precision of brain and spine procedures • Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification • Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery • The only designated trauma center in San Luis Obispo County

To meet our specialists, visit TenetHealthCentralCoast.com/UCSF 6

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| DEC/JAN 2022

Fusion Quartzite Designed by: Honeycomb Home Design & Pack Design Lisa Maksoudian Photography

1111 EL CAMINO REAL, ARROYO GRANDE, CA 93420

(805) 481-1122

WWW.PACIFICSHORESTONES.COM

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 26 Timeline 28 Briefs 30 View 32 Q&A

NOW HEAR THIS

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 14 Info 16 Sneak Peek 18 Inbox 22 Contributors

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

Volume 12 Number 6 Dec/Jan 2022

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

Singer, songwriter, music educator, and San Luis Obispo native Inga Swearingen came to national prominence as a regular guest performer on NPR’s Prairie Home Companion. Her graceful spirit and signature vocal style has made her an enduring favorite at venues throughout the U.S, and this year she’ll be lighting up the stage of the Damon Castillo Holiday Show alongside special guests Morgan Monroe and Eric Cotton. This free community event is sponsored by The San Luis Obispo Collection. Refreshments provided by Seeds December 11 5:30PM Court Street Terrace. Free. www.sanluisobispocollection.com #sanluisobispocollection

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Co u r t S t r e e t • M o n t e r e y S t r e e t • D o w n t o w n Ce n t r e DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

dwelling

Real Estate

Health

82 TASTE

46 ARTIST

48 Author

WINE NOTES

50 Explore

52 On the Rise

92 brew

54 Animal Kingdom

96 Happenings

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| DEC/JAN 2022

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Merry Griffmas Since the beginning, the feature story of this magazine has been the article we call “Meet Your Neighbor.” As the name implies, the concept is all about meeting someone from the neighborhood for the first time. I’ll never forget the first time I met Griff, my neighbor from across the street. What struck me was his enthusiasm. For everything. Whether it was the view of the hills he showed me from his front yard—“Hey, come over here, look, right here, this is so awesome!”—or his extra strength home brewed coffee, or the Chicago Bears, or Christmas. Griff was so enthusiastic about Christmas, that my wife and I came up with a name for it: Griffmas. For us, Christmas has always been a modest occasion. Dating back to the early years of our marriage when we tried to figure out how to wedge a Douglas fir into our tiny San Francisco bungalow, we have continued the tradition. To this day, my wife still goes straight for the tiniest available fourfoot tree, which we then place upon the top of an equally tiny end table. We stack up the presents at the base to fill the thing out. It’s actually pretty cool, and the final result appears as one full-sized tree. If Martha Stewart or Joanna Gaines tweeted something about it, half the country would be doing the same thing. Not Griff. Each year, about ten minutes after the Thanksgiving turkey had been carved, my kids would marvel as Griff wandered around his roof with 100-foot coils of extension cords dangling from his shoulders. A few days later, the lights would go on for the first time, and we would have to pull our curtains tight in order trick our bodies into believing it was actually nighttime. A few weeks later, I would finally get around to hanging a single strand of twinkly lights, which looked as if they were some far off stars, dark and cold, compared to Griff ’s supernova that was bringing the municipal power grid to its knees. But it wasn’t just the lights, it was the lawn decorations, too. And all the other stuff. One day, for a brief moment, my competitive juices kicked in and I resolved to bury Griff in Christmas joy. But, like I said, it was a brief moment. After wandering the big box aisles in total bewilderment with an empty cart and a maxed-out credit card, I came to terms with the realization that there was no keeping up with my neighbor. Instead, I made the same calculation the Soviets did when they finally opted out of the arms race. Although we moved from the neighborhood years ago, my family and I continue to celebrate Griffmas as we hang ornaments on our half-pint evergreen while recalling with fondness the awesome show of nuclear-level yuletide force, each year growing in might, back on our old street. I couldn’t beat him, so I decided to join him, but that doesn’t mean I was gracious in defeat. Instead, I would engage in a little bit of friendly trash talk as I swept the driveway: “Hey, Griff, you may have won the battle, my friend, but you haven’t won the war! One of these days, you watch, I’m gonna do something to blow Griffmas away!” The truth is, just like Gorbachev, I was bluffing. I love Griffmas as much as the rest of my family, which is why we continue to celebrate it . . . but I will admit to finding a pinch of satisfaction knowing he’s spending the first couple of weeks in January cleaning up the mess. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season, a Merry Griffmas, and a prosperous New Year. Thank you to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, thank you to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you. Live the SLO Life!

Tom Franciskovich tom@slolifemagazine.com

p.s. If you’d like to read more visit me at tomfranciskovich.com 12

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

LIFE SLO magazine

4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM info@slolifemagazine.com (805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax PUBLISHER Tom Franciskovich

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sheryl Franciskovich CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Alexander Jeff Al-Mashat Brant Myers Lauren Harvey Paden Hughes Zara Khan Jaime Lewis Andria McGhee Joe Payne Brian Schwartz CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mariah Dingman David Lalush Lisa Maksoudian Todd Meaney Mark Nakamura Zachary Scott Alexandra Wallace CONTRIBUTIONS Have some comments or feedback about something you’ve read here? Or, do you have something on your mind that you think everyone should know about? Submit your story ideas, events, recipes, and announcements by visiting us online at slolifemagazine.com and clicking “Share Your Story” or emailing us at info@slolifemagazine.com. Be sure to include your full name and city for verification purposes. Contributions chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations. ADVERTISING If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom Franciskovich by phone at (805) 543-8600 or by email at tom@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com/advertise and we will send you a complete media kit along with testimonials from happy advertisers.

Nicole Pazdan, CSA,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ready to live the SLO Life all year long? It’s quick and easy! Just log on to slolifemagazine.com/subscribe. It’s just $24.95 for the year. And don’t forget to set your friends and family up with a subscription, too. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! NOTE The opinions expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect those of SLO LIFE Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Letters chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.

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B E C AU S E YO U D E S E R V E T H E V E R Y B E S T C E N T R A L C OA S T R E A L E S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I O N .

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DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| SNEAK PEEK

O N T H E C O V E R W I TH C HE NDA L OR

behind the scenes PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY SCOTT

I asked Chenda to bring unique clothes, things only she might wear—signature Chenda looks. We decided on her ripped and bleached overalls that she had sewn designs onto.

ne s, we de cid ed to n in the gra sse s a nd du sio ses ve cti du pro a ter Af 100 mp ca me ra. I ly too k on e wa ve int o my on I . ter wa the in mp ju . Th en, I dit ch ed my nt be ca us e it still wo rks a ist res h as spl it’s ess gu ht a few go od wa ves. wit h Ch en da —we ca ug out led dd pa nd a ra me ca

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

When I showed up Chenda was with her boyfriend’s son, John, and their dog, Tali. John was generous to help. He had a background in theatre, so he also offered suggestions and lugged my light around the garden making the transition from one space to the next quickly.

I hold the world record for most photographs ever taken of Chenda. While she was a great subject, I’m mostly grateful for meeting her and becoming friends. If I had to list some of her attributes beyond her contagious smile, they would be: playful, authentic, calm, centered, and trusting. SLO LIFE

presents

Holidays 2021 j Downtown San Luis Obispo

45th Annual Holiday Parade FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 • 7 PM Presented by American Riviera Bank

Holiday Plaza

Around Downtown

Lights, sights, and family fun in Mission Plaza!

ALL SEASON LONG

Presented by the San Luis Obispo Collection

NOVEMBER 26, 2021 – JANUARY 2, 2022

Santa’s House

Sponsored by Tenet Health Central Coast

Classic Carousel Letters to/from Santa Hanukkah Menorah Lighting 20-foot Holiday Tree

Explore and celebrate local!

Shop Small Saturday 11/27 The Search for Santa’s Mouse Scavenger Hunt Decorated Window Showcase Unique Shops & Dining Holiday Lights

Dazzling Displays Festive Photo Ops

SLOHolidays.com @DowntownSLO Holiday Plaza presented by

Special thanks to

@ExperienceDowntownSLO Holiday Parade presented by

Letters from Santa Sponsor

Search for Santa’s Mouse brought to you by

Media Partners In partnership with

Santa’s House Sponsor

Holiday Parade Major Sponsors

Classic Carousel Sponsor

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| INBOX

TAKE US WITH YOU

Send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com HACIENDA ZULETA, ECUADOR

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

JOHN and FREDENE MAULHARDT with JAMES NISBET RICK and CINDY JONES

ANACORTES, WASHINGTON GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA

JUDY KELLING, BETH GALLAGHER, CATHY BEZEK, ELAINE WILCOX, and TRACY ARNOLD

PEACE BRIDGE, DERRY, IRELAND

KURT and SUSAN PACHECO 18

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| DEC/JAN 2022

CAL and ROSEMARY WILVERT

COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK

RANDY and PAT HOSEGOOD MARTIN

RHÔNE RIVER, FRANCE

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO

HAL and VICKI HEINEMANN, TOM and DEBBIE BECKWITH, with SHERYL and ROBERT FLORES

PALACE OF DIOCLETIAN, SPLIT, CROATIA

THE CUMBERLAND FAMILY

BURNEY FALLS

SHARON and CHRIS CONNORS

CACAK, SERBIA SUSAN and REX FITCH

RHÔNE RIVER, FRANCE

JOVANA, DEJAN and ERIK

HAL and VICKI HEINEMANN, TOM and DEBBIE BECKWITH, with SHERYL and ROBERT FLORES DEC/JAN 2022

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| INBOX

SLO LIFE TRAVELS

Send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com OAXACA, MEXICO

BORA BORA

JON VAN SPANKEREN, KAREN VAN SPANKEREN, DAN LEVI, and LINDEN NELSON

CAROLINA BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA LAUREN DUNN, CRYSTAL WISE, KELLIE SCHWINDT, and NATALIA WELLMAN

INDY 500 SPEEDWAY

ROB KITZMAN, JOE and TRENDA STENNETT, OWEN and CAMILLE SCHWAEGERLE, and TRACY KITZMAN

JOE’S POND, WEST DANVILLE, VERMONT

PAUL and BRIDGET READY 20

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LAURA HEIDEN

Selling Paso - by Miranda Battenburg

Selling Paso - by Miranda Battenburg Over 20 years local experience Miranda brings strong branding & marketing to your listing Berkshire Hathaway HomeSerivces knows great homes Full service local brokerage Complementary market analysis Represents buyers and sellers Quality properties

Miranda Battenburg Realtor DRE#02131203

800 11th St. Paso Robles CA 93446 805-712-1362 805-237-4700 miranda@sellingpaso.com www.sellingpaso.com ©2021 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.® Equal Housing Opportunity. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard this offer. It is not my intention to solicit your listing.

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| CONTRIBUTORS

meet the team Andria McGhee writer

Brant Myers writer

Brian Schwartz writer

Reading: The Bhagavad Gita and When Twighlight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Reading: I’ve been reading Frank Herbert since a 6th grade book report and with the current re-hashing of his iconic Dune released as a movie, I’ve dusted off my full collection to revisit my favorites. I especially like the Lazarus Effect as its cautionary tales of racism and totalitarianism are as prescient today as they were forty years ago.

Reading: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Podcast: We Are Supported by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman because they feature smart, kind, and ambitious women in such a fun and inspiring way. Dining: Sally Loo’s—great food and a fun place to write. Advice: Follow your interests, not the money. Money will always come and you don’t need much to keep you going. Sparks passion: Learning new things. It’s such a humbling experience but inspires me to enjoy and appreciate the things around me. Free time: I love yoga, swimming, trapeze flying, family, and friends. New and exciting: Bought two new puppies. IS that the definition of exciting? Living in SLO: I love the hills, the ocean, and the calm it brings to our lives. I love making connections with our community. I am always so impressed with the way people reach out to others and help each other. We are lucky to have a little village here in SLO. Community improvement: More conversation. I feel like there are so many ideas in this wonderful community and that’s something that makes it wonderful. Even though we don’t believe the same things, we can respect each other and listen. 22

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Advice: I attribute my independence to a sense of wonder and awe in the world and my desire to find out how it all works. Curiosity will get you to the door, but you have to fearlessly enter inside. People can get stuck wondering whether to go through the door, not realizing that it opens from the inside too, and you can go right back out and find a new one. Sparks passion: I love to create. It’s probably the reason my garage hasn’t seen a car for fifteen years. Everything is a potential project and every space is a maker space. New and exciting: I just replaced my beloved mountain bike of eight years with new hotness and have been riding nearly fifty miles a week, rediscovering old trails and being sherpa’d around by friends to trails I have yet to discover. Adrenaline > coffee to get you going in the morning. Living in SLO: I’ve always been awed by the sense of community in SLO, it’s the reason I have been able to successfully start so many businesses here. I also know my neighbors where we can share tools or even lend out a pickup truck, and we surprise each other with a bag of extra garden veggies, a potted plant, or a crockpot full of chili.

Playlist: TimeCop1983 Podcast: Smartless with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett—great comedy trio who can get almost any guest they want. If you need a good laugh, they will not disappoint. First date: I’d take ‘em on a hike above Sycamore. If it went well, we could always rent a hot tub after. My first date with my wife was actually at Sycamore thirty years ago! Brewery and Winery: There Does Not Exist Brewery and we also love the food and wine at Sextant in Edna Valley. Dining: @bites fusion cuisine and Flavor Factory in Morro Bay—best burgers on the planet. Advice: When you think you’ve gone as far as you can, push a little further. Next time, you will be able to push even further. It’s hard to rate the quality of a decision before we start. Just take the first step and then decide. Sparks passion: I consider the trifecta of yoga, ukulele, and meditation my ‘YUM’ recipe for peace and contentment. I also teach ukulele and have taught over 400 first-timers since 2015. It rarely feels like work. Beyond that, I enjoy writing, cycling, and hiking. Living in SLO: The laid back attitude, authenticity and gratitude of everyone who has made this a permanent home. I find the smaller community far more appealing than any big city.

Charlotte Alexander writer Reading: Plainsong by Kent Haruf (again), and I Always Look Up the Word “E•gre•gious” (subtitled “A vocabulary book for people who don’t need one”) by Maxwell Nurnberg. First date: The Pismo Preserve Winery: Talley Vineyards Dining: Fin’s Seafood Restaurant in Grover Beach Advice: Be true to yourself, cherish your friends, don’t be afraid to explore the unknown.

David Lalush photographer Playlist: Moonshiner Collective is a local favorite of mine. If you have been around SLO for a while you have likely seen them play. Podcast: Radio Lab has been at the top of my rotation for many years. Their method of storytelling and investigative research makes every story they tell incredibly interesting and engaging. Dining: Giuseppe’s is hands down the best Italian restaurant in the area. Whenever there is a special occasion in our family, I don’t even have to ask where everyone wants to go for dinner.

Jaime Lewis writer Reading: How To Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims Playlist: I’m really liking the band Palace lately. First date: Les Petites Canailles in Paso Robles Favorite local spot: Favorite?!? How dare you. Okay, probably Jocko’s. Advice: To everything (turn, turn, turn) there is a season (turn, turn, turn).

Jeff Al-mashat writer Reading: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Everyone should read it. Playlist: Can’t seem to get enough Jason Isbell this past year. Plus, Van Halen—there is never too much VH! Podcast: The Rewatchables. It is a discussion of movies that are worth watching over and over—something I am very guilty of. First date: Boo Boo Records

Sparks passion: Writing and editing, and taking care of my three rescue dogs—a gentle greyhound, a rambunctious Jack Russel terrier mix, and an ancient chihuahua. New and exciting: For our sixty-fifth birthday I took my twin brother Charles Alexander to visit friends, museums, and the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco; he’s an antique dealer who lives in the Midwest, and he had never been to the city before. Living in SLO: I enjoy small-town life but appreciate being within reach of big-city arts and culture.

Advice: I didn’t travel out of the country until I was in my thirties. I didn’t see many opportunities to travel when I was a young adult, but looking back I should have spent more resources on traveling. Experiencing other cultures is the best way to learn more about yourself and value many things that you may otherwise take for granted. Sparks passion: As an entrepreneur, I seem to always get inundated with work. However, my first priority and passion is my family. Spending time with my wife and two kids brings me more joy than anything in this world. Free time: Mountain biking our seemingly endless trails.

Free time: I’m a big fan of daydreaming. Reading. Movies. Big cooking weekends. New and exciting: I’m celebrating nineteen years of marriage with my husband, Jake! That’s exciting to me. Living in SLO: I feel like I see someone I know wherever I go. Not everyone likes that, but I do. Community improvement: I’d like to see a revival of the pioneering spirit that made us the first city in the nation to ban smoking indoors and shut Mission Plaza to traffic. I wish our residents were more open to healthy change.

Advice: Be a good listener. And limit your time on social media as much as possible. Free time: The beach. Riding my bike. Painting. Shopping for records. New and exciting: Hitting all three Dead and Company shows at the Hollywood Bowl in October. Living in SLO: I can get to the beach each day and still have time to take advantage of many other great features of our community.

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

Joe payne writer

Mark Nakamura photographer

Paden Hughes writer

Reading: From Colony To Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 by George C. Herring is as thick as it is wide, but absolutely worth the time and effort.

Reading: I’m reading through the Bible, and Golden Dreams—Japan to the Promised Land (memoirs of my aunt’s JapaneseAmerican family, growing up in America in the twentieth century).

Reading: A Radical Awakening by Dr. Tsabary

Playlist: Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong’s holiday-themed collaborations, and the rest of their collaborations. Podcast: Last Podcast On The Left’s fivepart series on the Black Plague. Nice to remember things could always be worse. Winery: Penman Winery in Paso Robles is a cute spot, and they let me play their piano when I visit with my wife. Dining: Jocko’s Steakhouse and Shaw’s Steakhouse, and Black Horse Coffee in SLO (I’m addicted). Advice: Follow your interests, get good at what you love. Sparks passion: Music, food, journalism, history, and politics. Free time: Playing music, listening to music, daytripping the Central Coast for wine country, beaches, antiquing, and food. Community improvement: Affordable housing

Podcast: Dave Ramsey First Date: Big Sur hike to Dutra Valley, east of Ragged Point Dining: Oki Momo Advice: Start saving for retirement with your first paycheck.

Dining: Scout Coffee shop for sure, and Goshi’s is still my favorite.

Free time: I enjoy hiking and backpacking and, of course, photographing nature and landscapes.

Advice: Develop your intuition daily so you can learn to trust your heart and yourself in the face of uncertainty. And when given the chance to please yourself or someone else, make it your goal to please yourself.

New and exciting: The biggest news is that our son Joel and his wife had a new baby boy, Bradley, and I became a grandpa. When did I get to be the age of old people? Also recently, I traveled to the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains this fall to photograph the fall colors around Bishop—incredible scenery and colors. Living in SLO: I enjoy being by the ocean and the coastal mountains, and living close to Big Sur.

Playlist: Blu DeTiger. I recently got the opportunity to see her play live at the Roxy in Hollywood. She is incredibly talented! Podcast: Hidden Brain. It covers so many topics and I always learn something new. Dining: Jewel of India is one of my favorite local spots. SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

First date: I’d go to Lido’s outdoor patio at sunset or hike Terrace Hill with a picnic. Brewery and Winery: Honestly I’m not a big drinker, messes up my gut health. But I could be persuaded with Whalebird’s Hard Kombucha.

Reading: Metamorphoses by Ovid. It’s been sitting on my bookshelf for years and I finally decided to pick it up. Greco-Roman mythology is endlessly entertaining.

Podcast: On Purpose with Jay Shetty, I always learn something awesome from Jay and it helps shift my perspective meaningfully.

Playlist: Fernando Ortega

Lauren harvey writer

Playlist: Another Wave, Raphael Lake

Sparks passion: Spending two hours a day outside in nature, dancing and cultivating my intuition. I’m a highly sensitive person and I need time to recharge so I can bring my gifts to the world. Living in SLO: The people. I can’t go anywhere without running into a friendly face of someone I genuinely care about and I love that feeling.

The Kasmeeri Naan is so delicious. Kin SLO is the best coffeeshop in town with great matcha and breakfast burritos. Advice: Small habits make the biggest impact. Small progress is still progress. It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out—no one does. Sparks passion: Writing is my passion. I write a food blog edibleink.org and I’m working on my first fiction novel. Free time: Reading, hiking, walking on the beach and tasting all the cuisines of the Central Coast. Enjoying a Kombucha flight at Piper’s in Orcutt.

Mariah Dingman photographer Reading: Grain Brain by David Perlmutter Playlist: Maniac by Gatlin Podcast: I frequently listen to The Doctor’s Farmacy with Mark Hyman. He has deep conversations with world-renowned scientists and experts about critical issues from climate change to chronic disease sans the sugarcoating. First Date: I’d take them paddle boarding in Morro Bay at night, along the docks with croaking sea lions and through the lapping water streaked with lights.

Todd meaney photographer Reading: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Dining: My favorite restaurant is Luna Red. I was hooked after the first bite of paella and squid ink rice. It’s incredible. Kreuzberg is one of my go-to coffee shops. I’m always served a great espresso, and if not a late-comer, I’ll find a quiet spot to sit and work. Their breakfast burrito is also a must-try, loaded with sweet and savory ingredients. Advice: Work hard and go outside. Sparks passion: Creative endeavors and spending time with the people I love fuel my life. Free time: Climbing, cooking, biking, paddle boarding, and home projects.

and the beer and food are fantastic. Definitely worth checking out.

Playlist: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Coffee shop: Black Horse on Broad and Active Coffee. Both are super dog friendly and have great coffee.

Podcast: Planet Money and the Indicator from Planet Money. Short, entertaining, and insightful podcasts exploring the economy.

Living in SLO: There is so much to love about living in SLO! Epic hiking, amazing beer and wine, the ocean, and friendly people that really care about the community.

Brewery: Kulturhuas has recently opened in Pismo

Community improvement: Banning leaf blowers

Zachary scott photographer

Winery and Brewery: I’ve always loved Stephen Ross for wine, and lately I have enjoyed SLO Brew Rock for burgers, beer, and pretzels.

Reading: I’m currently reading my riveting 300-page camera manual. Playlist: Depending on my current mood, I’m alternating between Ryan Bingham and 21 Savage. Podcast: This American Life. The stories are always heartfelt and interesting. It just feels like the weekend when I’m listening to it. First date: Whenever we have family in town, we always take them to Ember in Arroyo Grande, or the beautiful and casual setting of Mersea’s on Harford Pier at Port San Luis.

ZARA KHAN writer Reading: Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty Podcast: Skimm This. I love how they break down news stories in a witty way and have resources available if you want to dive deeper. I read their newsletter every morning, their podcast has weekly episodes. Brewery: Bang the Drum Brewery—I am obsessed with their chocolate chip cookies.

Coffee shop: My new favorite coffee shop is Field Day on Montery Street. Go check them out! Advice: I think the best advice I could give is something that many of us struggle with and that is to put the phone away. For most of the day. They slow you down. Sparks passion: My greatest sense of purpose comes from my girls: Lea, Ivy, Willa, and June. They keep me busy! My ranchito in Squire Canyon always has a job for me to do—and surfing keeps me centered.

Dining: Park 1039 has been my go to. You can’t leave without trying the Basque style cheesecake. Inspirational: How you do anything is how you do everything. New and exciting: I designed my first tasting room for Emercy Wines in Paso Robles. They opened earlier this year in Tin City and I am so happy with how it turned out!

SLO LIFE

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| TIMELINE

LOCAL

october 6

The SLO City Council appoints Councilmember Erica Stewart to the Mayor’s seat recently vacated by Heidi Harmon. The Council also taps Councilmember Carlyn Christianson as Vice Mayor, and City Planning Commissioner Michelle Shoresman to fill the seat vacated by Stewart. All three will serve through the end of December 2022. Stewart has more than twenty years of broad volunteer and professional experience, and is the Assistant Director of Personnel and Marketing for Campus Health and Wellbeing at Cal Poly.

october 12

SLO County Supervisors, on a four-to-one vote (Debbie Arnold dissenting), select Santa Barbara County Chief Deputy Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano out of forty-four applicants to fill the position of County Clerk-Recorder until the next election. Cano is a former city clerk for the cities of San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach.

october 21

The Local Agency Formation Commission unanimously approves the annexation of the 110-acre Froom Ranch, currently vacant land off Los Osos Valley Road, into the San Luis Obispo city limits. The Froom Ranch Specific Plan allows for 174 multi-family housing units, up to 100,000 square feet of commercial space, and 404 units of senior housing at “Villaggio,” a Life Plan Community. 26

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

october 25

One of the largest changes in years for the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner goes into effect, improving the service of trains traveling between SLO, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. The change builds on the partial service restoration that was implemented in June 2021, and includes adding an additional roundtrip along the length of the corridor. It also shifts departure and arrival times for more consistent frequencies for both weekday and weekend travel, and improves connections to other train services.

october 26

The SLO County Board of Supervisors reviews initial draft maps of proposed supervisorial districts as it holds its second public hearing to solicit input on how to adjust district boundaries to re-establish the areas each supervisorial seat represents over the next decade. Redistricting is mandatory every ten years to ensure equal population distribution according to the latest US Census data. Changes must be completed by December 15.

REVIEW

november 10

The City of San Luis Obispo announces that its public transportation system has received international recognition for its inclusive and enhanced bus-riding experience. One of just three transportation agencies in North America to earn an Innovation Award from the American Public Transportation Association, SLO Transit is the first system in the world to integrate reactive smart lighting on its buses to better communicate with individuals who have hearing, visual, cognitive, or selective-cognitive impairments.

november 8 Researchers at Stanford and MIT announce the results

of a new study reporting that extending the life of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant could help California meet the increasing challenges of climate change by providing clean, safe, and reliable electricity, water, and hydrogen fuel. The study claims that delaying Diablo Canyon’s

closure to 2035 would reduce California power sector

carbon emissions and reduce reliance on gas, save $2.6

billion in power system costs, and bolster the system to mitigate brownouts.

november 9

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials announce that the massive Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is one step closer to becoming a reality after years in the making. Nominated in 2015, the new sanctuary now moves into the designation phase. If approved, it will offer federal protection for the area’s rich biodiversity and Chumash tribal history, and set a precedent for elevating indigenous perspectives and cultural values in ocean conservation.

november 9

The SLO City Council approves evening hiking at Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve on a permanent basis beginning December 17. A recent environmental report showed the impact of a pilot program on wildlife and the risk of a wildfire is not significant, so the program will continue, allowing a maximum of sixty-five permits to be issued to community members daily from one hour after sunset until 8:30 p.m. when daylight savings time is not in effect.

november 12

The SLO County Regional Airport successfully completes a $13.5 million six-month project on time and on budget, with much of the work completed at night and outside airline flight schedules. The Runway 11-29 rehabilitation project, which provided an upgrade to the main runway and its taxiway connectors, brings the airport in line with the latest federal safety standards, and was entirely funded by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.

november 13

SLO County sets a new daily heat record, reaching 90 degrees at the SLO County Regional Airport. According to PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey, the high temperature tops previous records on the same date of 88 degrees in 1982 and 87 degrees in 1933. SLO LIFE DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| BRIEFS

600+ The number of to-go, home-cooked holiday dinners the folks at United Way’s Care Packages for Christmas program will prepare and distribute to vulnerable families on Christmas Day at the Odd Fellows Hall, 40 Prado, and other predesignated locations throughout the area. Warm winter clothing and sleeping bags also will be available for those in need.

“I understand that this decision may not be immediately popular . . .” CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro in a letter to Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong saying the time has come for the university to transition from the current quarter system to the semester system. Cal Poly is the last of the twenty-three CSUs to make the change, now scheduled to take place over the next four years.

1,968 The number of new space industry jobs in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties that a Cal Poly study projects to be created over the next decade thanks to Vandenberg Space Force Base. 28

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

Honk An app developed by the City of SLO to make parking more convenient. It lets you skip pay stations and instead pay from your mobile device. You can download the app for free and create an account with a credit card. It even helps you find less expensive places to park in the downtown area.

+10% The increase in total transient occupancy tax collected in 2020-21 compared with the previous fiscal year, as reported by the Tourism Business Improvement District’s annual report to the SLO City Council. Local lodging occupancy rates increased slightly as well, mostly due to a surge in visitors from April to June this year.

April 25

The start date set by Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen for the trial of fourty-four-year-old Paul Flores and his father, eighty-year-old Ruben Flores, the men who have pleaded not guilty to, respectively, murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart and hiding her body.

$52 million The estimated cost of a new Public Safety Center to replace the fifty-two-yearold SLO Police Station that stands on Walnut Street, according to RRM Design Group. Their plan calls for stripping it down and rebuilding it to include an emergency operations center and a community room, with a focus on community policing and sustainability.

4.6% The County’s lowest unemployment rate since March 2020. It’s below the one-yearago figure of 7.5 percent. In September an estimated 125,000 people out of a 131,000-person labor force were employed.

Harvestly A “one-stop shop” startup led by a Cal Poly student that’s bridging the gap between local vendors and consumers by bringing fresh, just-harvested produce and other goods from 160 local vendors directly to people’s doorsteps.

“Thanks to the creative vision of these wonderful artists, a dark spot has become a bright, beautiful, fun addition to our town.” Community arts supporter Barbara Bell praises the vibrant new mural that now adorns the cement retaining wall above San Luis Obispo Creek on the historic Marsh Street Bridge. The mural, coordinated by the SLO County Arts Council and SLO Museum of Art, was executed by Marmalade Mural Co. SLO LIFE

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

SHADES OF

| VIEW

BY MARK NAKAMURA

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

GRAY M

ay Gray? June Gloom? No-Sky July? Sure, on the Central Coast, we have our overcast days, weeks, and, yes, even a rare month of gloomy weather, but what about photos in gray?

Many of my photographs are at sunrise and sunsets with the beams revealing the warm colors of the scene. But not all of my adventures and hikes end that way. Sometimes, I hike up the mountain only to be in the middle of a fogbank, turn around and hike down without taking my camera out of the bag. On this particular morning, I headed off to take photographs from the Cayucos Pier, arriving about half an hour before sunrise. After snapping a few unmemorable photographs there, I headed back to San Luis Obispo on Highway 1, and I stopped at the pullout between Morro Bay and Cayucos, even though everything was a shade of gray.

I hiked along the beach towards Morro Rock, taking a photograph of this iconic landmark, but something was lacking. The figure of the man fishing helps to bring perspective on the size of this monolith. Not all photographs need the hues of color. In fact, at times color can be a distraction—this coming from someone who loves colorful scenic and landscape photographs. Almost all my scenic photographs are taken with my Sony 16-35mm f2.8 lens or my Sony 100-400mm lenses. If I had to choose only one lens, it would be the 100-400mm lens. It compresses the scene, bringing the foreground next to the background, such as with this fisherman and The Rock. I took several shots at different focal lengths and I moved about to frame the fisherman. This photograph was my favorite out of a dozen or so. As I told my photographer friend, “Bad weather brings great photographic opportunities.” I’m glad I didn’t sleep in. SLO LIFE DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| Q&A

John Laird The other day, we sat down for a wide-ranging interview with SENATOR JOHN LAIRD, who originally rose to prominence in 1983 when he was elected as one of the country’s first openly gay mayors. He then went on to serve as the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency where he oversaw a $10 billion annual budget and twenty-five statewide departments. Today, his sprawling senate district spans from Santa Cruz County to San Luis Obispo County. Here are a few of the things he had to say… Okay, John, where are you from originally? I was born in Santa Rosa, California, and I was raised in Vallejo, which was a shipyard town, about 60,000 people, 10,000 of which were employees in the shipyard. My mom dropped out of college to raise my two younger brothers and me and to support my dad, who was a high school teacher and a coach and then a principal. My parents had fifty years of education between them, so I was never able to get away with not doing my homework. [laughter] My mom actually went back to school to finish at about the same time I went off to college. She raced through thirteen straight quarters and beat me to a diploma. And then she taught elementary school until she retired. What were you like as a kid? Oh, I was just one of the neighborhood kids. I did everything: read voraciously, played baseball all the time, whatever everyone else was doing. I had what I thought at the time was a relatively idyllic childhood. I had no idea we didn’t have much money. I was just very lucky to come from a household where everybody got along, where everyone valued education—it was just a great thing. Through my parents, I developed a lifelong love of learning. Really, at the end of the day, that’s who I am, just a guy that’s working hard to learn things. And what have you learned during your long career in public service? I’ve learned that we’re in trouble—the planet is in trouble—and I just want to make sure that we have people that are still here after us. That there are subsequent generations. This idea that somehow taking care of our environment is bad for business is nonsense. The thing that I have learned, I will say, is that growing the economy 32

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

and addressing climate change are not in opposition. As I said during a debate on the assembly floor [over California’s adoption of the Kyoto Protocol], “You don’t think the ultimate collapse of the planet’s climate is a job killer?” That seems like the very definition of it. You used to oversee Cal Fire, so you probably have a unique take on why we keep seeing these massive wildfires in California. What’s happening? It’s two things, in my view. One is that for eighty or ninety years, our ethic was to suppress fires, to put them out quickly. As a result, there has been a massive buildup of fuel across the state. And then the other reason is, again, the climate is changing dramatically. We’re having much more wild swings. We go from floods one year to a complete parching the next. We’ve got to thin the vegetation around inhabited areas. But that’s not as easy as it sounds because, here in California, the federal government owns 57% of the forests, so it’s really up to them to do that part. And, during the past few years, they really haven’t been much help. Quite the opposite, actually. Can you leave us with a little hope as we finish up? Yes, of course. Look, I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, so was my dad. In 2016, when they won the World Series, there was a headline in the paper that said, “Hell freezes over.” I went to the cemetery and put it on his grave. There was a story in The Onion that day where they said, “There are five million drunken Cubs fans rioting in heaven.” And I thought, there he is—he’s there. For many years, whenever I had to stand up and introduce myself, I’d always mention that I was a Cubs fan and then joke that “it prepares you for any kind of adversity.” But the joke falls flat now. So, yes, there’s always hope. SLO LIFE

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DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| NOW HEAR THIS

joy of jazz

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

BY JOE PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXANDRA WALLACE

Musicians come in all kinds with various backstories, from classical child prodigies to late blooming singer/songwriters. For local Timothy Metcalfe, his obsession with music began in childhood, and developed into a passion that burned brighter and brighter the more he studied. Growing up in Arroyo Grande, church and worship music was formative for Metcalfe’s development, but he was compelled to learn jazz on his acoustic guitar in his high school years. There was something essential about jazz, Metcalfe explained. It would get in his ears and refuse to get out. “Jazz has such a rich history … it’s such a huge umbrella,” he said. “I think what really captured me is … it adds so much color and opens another door into another reality.” Metcalfe’s first attempts at learning jazz included three standards, which he played over and over again. Locals might remember a baby-faced kid with a guitar busking downtown from years ago, but he didn’t stop there. Once out of high school, Metcalfe began attending Cuesta College, which boasts a celebrated and impressive jazz program within its music department. Metcalfe gushed about the staff and infrastructure available to studying musicians at Cuesta, which gave him early chances at group collaboration in a jazz context. His first professional performances were on Cuesta’s campus or at Linnaea’s Cafe for the regular jazz combo improv session. He also made friends with a longtime collaborator, Josh Collins, and the two enjoyed regular gigs until Collins moved out of the area recently. “Collins and Metcalfe, that’s what we were called,” he said. “Josh is a phenomenal guitar player, phenomenal. So I would play snare with brushes and sing while he played guitar.” Spurred to develop his solo guitar chops and perform alone, Metcalfe has come into his voice both as a singer and a jazz guitarist. He has performed up and down the Central Coast at wineries, breweries, restaurants, hotels, and more. Metcalfe’s style blends classic jazz with more contemporary and rootsy sounds, which feels appropriate anywhere from a beachside hotel patio or outdoor wedding. Yet his voice is rugged and smokey, which feels at home in a steakhouse bar or late-night brewery. And according to Metcalfe, music-loving locals are filling up all kinds of venues, hungry for live music. He performs regular shows weekly at McClintocks Saloon and Dining House in Shell Beach on Fridays and Hotel San Luis Obispo on Saturdays, both from 6 to 9 p.m., where jazz lovers can enjoy good food and drink with Metcalfe’s music. “There’s a huge audience for all kinds of jazz. Because we live in the Central Coast, which has this small town feel, but it also has the college and the hustle and bustle, it’s kind of got it all,” he said. “On the Central Coast you can look for the bougie cool experience, or you can just vibe and hang out and meet the people. It’s really nice.” SLO LIFE

DEC/JAN 2022

JOE PAYNE is a journalist, as well as a lifelong musician and music teacher, who writes about the arts on the Central Coast.

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

pro file PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY SCOTT

Between 1975 and 1979, it is estimated that nearly two million people were killed—one out of every four—during the Cambodian genocide under the brutal regime known as the Khmer Rouge. Another million fled the country for a better life—10% of those ended up in America to start anew. Among them was a five-year-old named CHENDA LOR. Since then, she has lifted herself up through a classic combination of education, hard work, and self-reliance. Today, she is three years into her tenure as the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. She’s a builder, a leader, an artist, and a mother of four highly successful young adults. She has a passion for surfing and a disdain for socks. Here is her story…

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

e like to start from the beginning, Chenda. Tell us, where are you from? Okay. I’m from Cambodia originally. So, my family immigrated to the US when I was five years old. We crossed the border during the revolution when Pol Pot fell. Yeah. My dad got us across even though they turned us away three times before they finally accepted us in Thailand. One of the soldiers from the Khmer Rouge caught my dad picking oranges off the ground and made an example of him by hitting his head with the butt of his gun, which induced a stroke. He passed away a month before we were to leave, which is why we ended up in the US instead of France. His family had immigrated to Paris. That’s where we were planning to go. And my mom’s family immigrated to the US, so she changed our travel plans after that happened and that’s how we ended up here. I’m curious about your name, is it Cambodian? Yes, it’s kind of an Americanized nickname. My Cambodian name, well, there’s no English way to say it, [sounds like “ahn-gha”] translates to “the crier.” I don’t know if it’s because I cried a lot, or what it means exactly, but I do get emotional. But, actually, in Cambodia, you say your last name, your family name, first. So, it’s Lor Chenda, which is how they commonly do it in many Asian cultures. It’s been interesting, too, because I have a few cousins that are the same age as me in Europe and Asia and Australia. My dad was a twin and he married one of my mom’s sisters. So, we actually have a lot of close—really close—family, a lot of family in common around the world. So, I have cousins that I’ve actually hung out with who grew up in other areas, and I’ve been able to see how they live and it’s fascinating. So, you grew up in Chicago—what was it like? It was very different. We were the only Cambodians in town. Back then, it was about 20,000 or 19,000 people. Now, I believe it’s somewhere around 30,000. We were in the suburbs. I grew up in a little town called Mundelein, which is in the north shore area next to Libertyville in Lake Forest. Some of the neighbors didn’t like us being there. But we had a lot of support, too. There were three sets of sponsors that sponsored my family and they helped us to get set up and go to school. I was in kindergarten and had great teachers. My lovely English teacher—I just saw her poem posted online—they were all writers. Very great people. They thought me how to read and write, and I learned a lot of poetry and writing in the English language and that’s been a love of mine. And, what were you like growing up? I was really studious. I’ve always been a really good student; really energetic, always rode my bike, and played. I grew up playing lots of sports: soccer, basketball, volleyball, and water polo in high school. So, I was very athletic but also a nerd. After high school, I went off to Bates College in Maine. I played club water polo and worked in the library and at the gym because I had to pay for school. I loved college. I was a geology and biology double major, with a minor in studio art. It was awesome. Bates College is an amazing place, and my son went there, too. He recently graduated, the year before last. I actually met my ex-husband there at college, on the first day of the last year, my fourth year. It was a whirlwind, and we got married before graduation. I was pregnant before graduation also, which was planned. Wow. Yes, I know, it was a crazy plan, but we did it. We got married and moved to Seattle, and he got a job and I worked from home. I did some consulting there and designed a house and bought property, which started my whole real estate business interest. So, I got schooled in Bainbridge Island, Washington. That’s where we designed our first home, it was an octagon-shaped house, kind of Victorian. We built the house on six-and-a-half acres and subdivided the lot, paid for the house and built another house on it, which I designed and did everything. I learned how to do electrical, and plumbing, and drywall, and plaster, and tiling, and everything. So, yeah, I’ve done all of it. We roofed, laid down asphalt shingles, and lifted walls. My favorite trade to do is framing; it’s super fun, you see it all go up and it’s just really awesome to see it all together. My water actually broke when I was plastering the walls. Really? Then what? We lasted in the Seattle area for four-and-a-half years, but after another stretch of one hundred straight days of no sunshine, we were ready to go. My ex-husband’s parents had >> DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

retired in Paso Robles, and we moved down here to be near them. We had three kids at the time, and we were like, “What are we going to do for a living?” We looked at all of the different professions, at what we qualified for, and were like, “Okay, construction.” The contractors make more than the doctors, so he got his real estate license, and did a lot of the transactions, while I did all the design work and the office management for the businesses. We started out as a framing subcontractor, just to get going. Then we started doing our own designs, custom design-builds, and ground-up projects, mostly in-fill projects around the county. We did that for fifteen years together and built a lot of houses. We grew a lot. At one point, we had over forty units going at the same time. We had about twenty-five employees and a ton of subcontractors. So, what happened? Then, the divorce, and I started working at a local engineering firm as their business manager. I did that for about threeand-a-half years, and it was a great job, and it paid the bills, but I realized it was not my passion. One day, I was at Transitions-Mental Health—I was there volunteering on a project—and, anyway, I was sitting in Jill’s [Bolster-White] office and she said, “Chenda, you don’t seem happy 40

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

[with your current job], but you just came back from this conference [for the volunteer project] and you’re beaming.” All this time I was thinking, “There has to be something else out there for me. Either I have to spend more time doing this volunteer side work, or Rotary stuff, or I need to do something else because I have this void.” So, then, Jill, it was like she just remembered something when she said, “Oh, my goodness! I have this job listing that was just sent to me. Chenda, you’d be perfect for this.” What was it? It was for the Executive Director of the Botanical Garden. I’ve been there for three years now, and I love every minute of it. We have a garden—a beautiful garden—it’s almost like a blank canvas, 150 acres I get to work on. It encompasses everything that I love, everything I love to do, everything I know, and, most important to me, is having the ability to give back to the community by working to build this magical public treasure. It’s an outlet for everybody, I mean, an outlet for wellness. It’s an incredible place with an amazing staff, and an amazing group of volunteers. We’re averaging over 13,000 volunteer hours per month currently, which is just incredible. Phenomenal. And everyone is so happy, and wants to be there, every day, all the time. You know, I’ve said this a >>

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

lot, but it really is true: the Botanical Garden is one the county’s best kept secrets. It’s an inspiring, serene, lovely place to be. So, what’s new out there? Well, we have a new visitor center in addition to our expanding education center. We received a grant recently to finish the flatwork around the building. You’ll notice that it’s been decomposed granite and gravel, which presents a challenge for a lot of people to be able to get around and to access our restrooms. So, there’s a huge need for it. Construction started out on that project in 2004 and one of my biggest pet peeves as a developer-contractor coming into the job, was just approaching the building and saying, “What the heck? Why is this not done?” So, getting the final sign-off on that project and finishing off this flat work is huge for us. We’ve also been working on a donor wall, which recognizes all of our past donors from the last twenty-plus years, honoring them, and making it right again with the community. I’m also working on building up our board, so if you know of anyone, we’re looking for new, fresh energy all the time. We have board positions to fill. We’re also busy expanding our trail system. Lots to do. You mean, there’s more? Oh, yes—that’s just scratching the surface. 42

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

Don’t even get me started about thistle abatement. That’s been a big thing for us and another reason we need so much help. Right now, we have over 500 volunteers. It’s such meaningful work. And, in the case of thistle abatement, it allows our natives plants to really thrive. And, keep in mind, we are a conservation organization, so we have identified a list of plants that we’re working with to promote more of them being planted around the area and at our garden. So, we’re always looking to increase our production and propagation. And that’s something that not very many people know about: Our greenhouse has native plants available for the community to plant at their house, at their properties. What about the future? Well, there’ a lot. We have plans that I’m going to submit for permitted shelter areas in each of the five Mediterranean climate zones connected by two-and-a-half more miles of trail that have been designed and beautifully planned out to be accessible to everyone. Also, we’re going for a grant that would allow us to get a bridge across the creek so the public can access the rest of the 150 acres. We’re working hard to get that trail approved and built. It’s started. And, as I said about thistle, weed abatement has always been a top priority throughout the 150 acres, so we’ll continue that effort. Also, we’re looking to expand >>

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our AmeriCorps Fellowship. We actually now have AmeriCorps fellows working with us. They just started. They’re so adorable; it’s been really fun having them. Beyond that, I’m hiring like crazy. How would you describe your management philosophy? Do less. They are very capable. I really try to instill confidence in them and have them be independent and give them some room. It’s the same way I’ve raised my kids. I definitely give them room to fail, and remind them that you’re there for them but that they’ve got this. I hire good people, and I tell them, “You guys are smart—you can handle this. The challenges are going to come, so let’s get you the tools you need, the resources you need to succeed, and you let me know how I can help you reach your goals.” So, we check in regularly and check in as a team, too. So, I’ve got family meetings, team meetings, and staff meetings every week, just to check in often and see how everybody is doing and see what I can do to help. Then I get out of their way and let them do it. What do you like to do when you’re not working? I love surfing, that’s why I moved to Morro Bay. Lately, I’ve been riding a longer board—8-0 44

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

is my sweet spot. But I do like my big waves. That’s when I bring out my short board. It’s 6-2. My son stole it, it’s my favorite big wave catcher. It’s been cold lately. I wear a hood, but never booties—unless the water’s like 48-degrees—because I hate wearing socks. I never wear socks, no matter how cold it gets. I even do construction in flip-flops, which you’re not supposed to do. I recently bought a new board. My old one died, so I turned it into a piece of art. I like to do art whenever I can, mostly because I love trying new things. I just poured concrete—or, I mean, not concrete, excuse me, I’ve done that, too—but this is epoxy, they’re epoxy countertops, which has been super fun and the product is pretty amazing. I’m learning a lot about it as I go along. Have you ever had any big wipeouts? Oh, yeah, definitely. Usually, it’s collisions with my board, which is pretty typical and to be expected. A while back, I was riding my 9-0 and it came down straight on top of my eye here [pointing to a scar]. So, I’ve had a double row of stitches and my lip slit. It seems like it’s once every couple of years something like that happens, and it’s usually bumps and bruises from collisions with your board when you’re tumbling. But that’s just the way it goes sometimes. SLO LIFE

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| ARTIST

ARTIST PROFILE

Shahrzad BY JEFF AL-MASHAT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIAH DINGMAN

here are artists for whom the process is the driver. Their creative motions, the act of sculpting or painting, quench a need. For others, it is about the result. The object or image that is created is fulfillment. The conceptual artist’s goal is conveying an idea that will stimulate thought on an issue, an injustice or inequity, an uncomfortable feeling. Perhaps that idea will elicit joy, or highlight a guilty pleasure, or ultimately invoke ongoing rumination and conversation. For Los Osos artist Shahrzad, conceptual art is about creating ideas that linger in our minds. Her artwork is an endless exploration of thought about human connectivity and the indelible impact that she can have on others. Her work from the past two years examines isolation and how it has unexpectedly made us all feel connected. While Shahrzad does make objects, they are often incidental in her process. Anyone who walked through SLO’s Mission Plaza during August saw Sharhzad’s brightly-colored, life-sized sculptures resembling animals and sea creatures. Children played and interacted with the sculptures. Families took photos with them. So why at the close of her exhibition did Shahrzad smash the exhibit in a downtown storefront for an audience to watch? Destroying the work that so many came to appreciate is a striking comment on the conflict we all face between the importance of objects versus experiences in our lives. After all, being outside away from all of our stuff, our possessions, that we spent a year surrounded by inside our homes is the experience we had longed for. Shahrzad’s remarkable detachment from the objects she spent so much time creating makes a powerful comment on how little her life was affected by the loss of them. Her concept, her art, was a prioritization of using these objects for the greater goal of stimulating a mind shift for her audiences. The exciting thing about her work is that it is an explorative journey. The goal is the examination. Her artistic aims are high and reverberate with conceptual giants like Yoko Ono and Laurie Anderson—both artists who have played the long game and never seemed to rest. Their concepts are often abstract upon first sight, but ultimately generate discussion that transcends the decades. SLO LIFE

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DEC/JAN 2022

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| AUTHOR

LOCAL READ

For the Love of Wisdom W

BY BRIAN SCHWARTZ

hen we stop to reflect on our lives and how we fit into the world, we become philosophers. Have you ever stopped to think about the foundation of the moral rules and standards you use in everyday life? If we inherited the moral beliefs of our parents and the culture in which we were raised, what justifies these beliefs? Laurence Houlgate, Ph.D. has devoted much of his life’s work to answering this question.

Houlgate is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Cal Poly and the author of thirteen books, including a series of eight books called the “Smart Student’s Guides to Philosophical Classics.” Recently, he launched the Understanding Plato podcast as an audio companion to the series. Unlike the Cliffnotes you might find on the same shelf, Houlgate’s books are for readers who seek a deeper understanding, and want to think critically about the impact the great philosophers have had on our own beliefs. His series are highly rated and continue to sell well. Spending over fifty years in academia, Houlgate landed at Cal Poly back in 1979 prior to the existence of a philosophy program of any kind. By establishing the philosophy major itself at Cal Poly, Houlgate made a large contribution to the liberal arts programs offered at a “learn by doing” technical university. Bringing about a new major at Cal Poly was no small task, often leaving him feeling much a like a politician persuading decision makers. Upon acceptance of the major by the Academic Senate, Houlgate later became the chair of the philosophy department at Cal Poly.

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| DEC/JAN 2022

His experience in collegiate politics played out later in life as he became the Democratic Party candidate for the California State Assembly in 2000 and again in 2002. Lawyers use philosophical debates in their closing arguments. Everything from our interpretation of the US Constitution to individual liberties has its roots in philosophy. It impacts our laws, punishment, and the standards we use to determine right and wrong. Philosophy itself stems from the Greek word meaning ‘love of wisdom.’ Philosophy helps us to think critically about the justification of our basic beliefs. Our own philosophical ideas are omnipresent, whether we realize it or not, and they are at the heart of the actions we take and opinions we form. If understanding Plato and other philosophers can help prepare us for the challenges that lie ahead, then Houlgate is prepared better than most. His spouse of fifty-one years suffered a stroke in 2019, which thrust Houlgate into the role of a full-time caregiver, a challenge that would test the best of us. You can learn more about Houlgate and find all of his work at www.houlgatebooks.com. SLO LIFE

We Are

smart, eclectic, art to live on

“REAL ESTATE” The Schwaegerle Real Estate Team: Honest. Committed. Proactive. Educated. Empowering. OWEN AND CAMILLE CALDRE #02040597 / #02107467

805-215-5063

1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com

(at the corner of Grove Street, across from Benny’s Pizza Palace and Social Club)

Open Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm

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| EXPLORE

Bulls Eye BY PADEN HUGHES

I think inside all of us is this secret wondering: What would we do if it all hit the fan? Not in a pandemic way, but in a zombie apocalypse way. Well maybe you don’t wonder about that. Maybe you’re someone who waits until you’ve re-watched Hunger Games and sat there asking yourself, “What weapon would I pick up if I were called into the Tribute Center and had to demonstrate a lethal skill?” And I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t have picked up an axe prior to today with any idea about how to demonstrate skill. That all changed when I checked out the newest activity-based business in downtown San Luis Obispo: Battle Axe. Open just over six months, Battle Axe has already crossed the 10,000 mark for booked sessions. Offering eight indoor axe throwing lanes, it’s a unique experience. I walked in mid-day on a Friday ready for my thirtyminute session of axe throwing. The staff went over safety protocols and taught various throwing techniques. I then spent the entire thirty minutes wielding my axe, which felt like more than enough time for one person.

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TIP! Pricing for one person is $20 for thirty minutes of throwing time and increases up to $40 per person for groups of ten or more and includes two hours of time. And while they have a concession stand on site, you can also bring in outside food and non-alcoholic beverages.

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Expecting to be about as good at axe throwing as a toddler attempting to walk for the first time, I was elated to hit a bullseye on my fifth attempt. That pretty much solidified it for me—I’ll be back. There’s something so addicting about trying something new and being even slightly good at it. As a local business owner, I love talking to other owner-operators and learning how they transitioned an idea from vision to reality and, in this case, how they brought Battle Axe to SLO. Neal Stuckey and his wife Shelley were already entrepreneurs, running Doggie Salon and Spa and A Tails Boutique. It was a family trip they took to Las Vegas that spurred this new business idea. During their stay on the strip, they were happy to find so many indoor, family-friendly, entertainment businesses. And, they felt like these kind of experience-based businesses were something San Luis Obispo’s downtown was missing. So, when they walked into an indoor axe throwing venue on their trip, they knew they were on to something. Filled with excitement, they began brainstorming ideas for launching an axe throwing event space back home, knowing it would be the perfect addition to our community. What I appreciated about the business was that they don’t serve alcohol. Does that make me old? Probably. But I have to say I felt safe throwing axes. It felt more family-friendly than I imagined it would, and makes for a great outing for families with kids aged ten and up. If you’re looking to mix up office work parties, or searching for a unique event space, Battle Axe should definitely be on your radar. The structure lends itself to team building as well as good, clean, family fun. Axe throwing tournament, anyone? SLO LIFE

Charmaine Petersen, CSA

Serving Central Coast Families

Since 1997

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| ON THE RISE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Sam O’Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA MAKSOUDIAN

As a four-year honor roll student and soccer team captain, this San Luis Obispo High School senior is maintaining balance between work, academics, athletics, and college preparations.

What do you like to do for fun? I love playing soccer whenever I can, but I also value time with my friends. I spend a lot of time outside, whether it’s surfing, cliffjumping, camping, hammocking, or exploring. I’m also interested in helping our environment. As my schedule starts to wind down, I’m hoping to get involved in beach clean-ups or any volunteering that helps the world become a better and healthier place. What is important to you outside of high school? Just living life to its fullest. I want to have new experiences, travel to new places, and have as much fun as I can. Who has influenced you the most? Two people I really admire are my soccer coaches Phil Ruskin and Mike Hocker. I’ve learned a lot about the sport from Phil Ruskin—it’s complex and seeing how players can be trained and taught in order to win at the highest level is something that I find pretty interesting. Mike has been a great role model for me in these last couple of years of high school. Both of my coaches have taught me how to play soccer, but have also inspired me to consider coaching and teaching others and carrying on their ideas. Is there anything you’d like to improve in the world? Littering and pollution—I think it’s annoying that we can’t take care of our earth. It’s frustrating that most environmental problems are caused by humans and we’re not doing enough to stop them. What is something that not many people know about you? I’m actually pretty scared of heights. My friends are always confused whenever we’re hiking and I don’t want to go on a sketchy path. If you won $1 million, what would you do with it? The first thing I would do is help my parents with retirement. After that, I would plan a trip around the world. I’d like to see some soccer games in England, then visit world-famous monuments and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and the Northern Lights. If I had money left over I would probably save it for later in life. What colleges are you considering? I’m mainly considering colleges in-state, but I’m hoping to move to a new city so I can experience life on my own. I’m applying to UCSB, UCSC, UC Berkeley, UCSD, and Colorado State. Know a student On the Rise? Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com 52

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"Having our kids concurrently studying the same period of history fosters unity and connection in our family. Our kids, who at times struggle to relate to each other, bond over a shared interest in SLOCA literature books and history topics. When the older child arranges his home day so that he can listen in on his younger sibling’s literature and history reading, you know that the curriculum is quality and engaging. Semper discentes! (Always learning together.)"

–Sharon, parent of two

now enrolling at all grades: sloclassical.org DEC/JAN 2022

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| ANIMAL KINGDOM

Rudy PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY SCOTT Breed: English Springer Spaniel Hobbies: Barking at deer, chasing birds on the beach, hanging out with his cat sisters, Ellie and Bear, and sunbathing in the driveway while waiting for Kevin, his best friend and UPS man, who always has a treat for him. He also enjoys long walks in the canyon and belly rubs. SLO LIFE

Know a local animal ready for a portrait? Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com 54

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ai161437639511_SLO Life Mag March 2021.pdf 1 2/26/2021 1:53:16 PM

CMY

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| DWELLING

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| DEC/JAN 2022

small space biG Style BY ZARA KHAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

t may seem counter-intuitive, but smaller spaces require more thought and creativity when it comes to design. When the time came to finally convert an existing attic into habitable space, homeowners George and April Garcia faced a difficult challenge: How to fit a complete, yet independent accessory dwelling unit (ADU) within the 436 square feet of unfinished attic space above their existing garage. And if that challenge wasn’t arduous enough, the homeowners also acted as architect, 58

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builder, interior designer, and décor curator, personally overseeing the entire design-build process from start to finish. Working within a limited space wasn’t their only challenge. To keep up with the City of SLO’s Clean Energy Program and carbon neutrality goals for new construction, they decided to design the entire project with 100% renewable energy. This resulted in the Garcias specifying all-electric appliances, a high-efficiency heat-pump hot water >>

GROWING TO GIVE We grow while staying rooted in one of our core values, giving back. Our TEN OVER family is beyond proud to support our local community through an annual volunteer day. We are grateful to Habitat for Humanity for San Luis Obispo County for the opportunity to spruce up their new San Luis Obispo ReStore located at 2790 Broad Street. ARC HIT EC T URE L AN D SC APE IN T ERIO RS M ED IA

Caitlin, Rachel, and Laura volunteering at our annual TEN OVER volunteer day. TE NO VE RSTUDIO.COM DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

system, an electric HVAC unit, and dimmable LED light fixtures throughout the space. With just over 400 square feet of livable area, the space was designed as a singular open-studio concept, in which they limited interior walls to necessity only—around the bathroom and utility room. This strategy, paired with a vaulted ceiling, allows for natural ventilation and passive cooling thru the entire guest cottage. From a design perspective, the intent was to create a timeless yet modern space. To achieve this goal, the Garcias chose a restrained material palette that married contemporary finishes with traditional elements. The compact nature of ADU’s and small square footage of the existing attic space only left them with one option: an open floor plan layout. The zoning code height and setback constraints meant that the original attic over the detached garage could not be built at a full second story height. As a result, the north and south walls are only four feet tall before becoming part of the roof, which again constrained the actual usable space and limited headroom within the attic space. >>

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Although the attic space was originally built with small windows on all four sides, none of them were large enough to satisfy the residential emergency fire access requirements. Given the age and character of these existing double-hung wood windows, simply swapping out one window for a casement style that met egress requirements would be aesthetically inappropriate. The solution therefore came by replacing an entire row of non-compliant windows with a twelve-foot-wide sliding door system. These

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| DEC/JAN 2022

full-height sliding doors not only provided an elegant solution to the egress conundrum, but also provided the opportunity to install a small private Juliette balcony railing with tremendous views of Cerro San Luis and the city beyond. The unfinished attic was originally built with two small dormers on the south facade, which provided just over seven feet of headroom clearance along the dormer peak or ridge. One of these interior dormer >>

gratitude

R A M S E YA S P H A LT. C O M DEC/JAN 2022

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spaces was turned into the dining area just off the kitchen. The other was transformed into the full bathroom for the unit. The short walls and sloping roofline within the shower space provide an intimate, European feel to this small bathroom enclosure. These same truncated walls also warranted full-height wall tile throughout the entire bathroom, which only adds to the charm of this space. Another stand out feature is the built-in cabinet/library wall just off the dining area. Since the side walls were lower, the Garcias had to be creative with their storage solution. The new walls required for the bathroom created a unique triangular space that was perfect for a custom-built lower cabinet system with a buffet top and floating display shelving above. These shelving units were finished with dimmable recessed LED strip lighting, completing the elegant look of this bespoke built-in feature. It’s interesting how odd architectural elements can become the favorite design elements in a space once it has been creatively transformed. The Garcias were fortunate to work with some great local subcontractors, including >>

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DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

Live Oak Electric, Wood-tech Cabinets, and Argus Flooring. They had to source small scale appliances since they were limited to only two-foot-wide appliances. These were sourced from Bosch, Summit, and Galant, which complement the space perfectly and enabled them to have a fully functioning kitchen even in such a small space. The Garcias have a lot of wisdom when it comes to taking on a similar project, “Whatever budget and schedule you think is sufficient or conservative, it will not be enough. It’s best to use the general rule of Celsius conversion, meaning you should ‘double it and add 30 (percent).’” In addition, the pandemic-driven supply chain situation affected all aspects of this project, including delivery times for materials, fixtures, and furniture. In fact, some of the “in stock” furniture that was ordered last December only arrived this summer. This space was a labor of love and it doesn’t go unnoticed. As a recent guest commented, “From the gorgeous wood floors to the custom cabinetry to the lighting fixtures, this guest cottage is simply magical.” SLO LIFE

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INC

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REA L E S TAT E

BY THE NUMBERS

| SLO CITY

laguna lake

2020 Total Homes Sold 56 Average Asking Price $759,114 Average Selling Price $754,411 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.38% Average # of Days on the Market 36

2021 73 $778,529 $785,504 100.90% 16

+/30.36% 2.56% 4.12% 1.52% -55.56%

tank farm

2020 38 Total Homes Sold $815,989 Average Asking Price $810,676 Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.35% 43 Average # of Days on the Market

2021 64 $942,251 $945,938 100.39% 28

+/68.42% 15.47% 16.69% 99.10% -34.88%

cal poly area

2020 Total Homes Sold 17 Average Asking Price $1,199,823 Average Selling Price $1,148,453 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 95.72% Average # of Days on the Market 33

2021 36 $1,169,433 $1,160,635 99.25% 28

+/111.76% -2.53% 1.06% 3.53% -15.15%

country club

2020 Total Homes Sold 13 Average Asking Price $1,186,461 Average Selling Price $1,135,169 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 95.68% Average # of Days on the Market 15

2021 19 $1,408,526 $1,414,966 100.46% 7

+/46.15% 18.72% 24.65% 4.78% -53.33%

down town

2020 Total Homes Sold 56 Average Asking Price $949,866 Average Selling Price $927,340 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.63% Average # of Days on the Market 46

2021 84 $942,963 $954,878 101.26% 34

+/50.00% -0.73% 2.97% 3.63% -26.09%

foothill boulevard

2020 Total Homes Sold 36 Average Asking Price $888,115 Average Selling Price $887,931 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.98% Average # of Days on the Market 28

2021 36 $941,886 $952,612 101.14% 31

+/0.00% 6.05% 7.28% 1.16% 10.71%

2020 Total Homes Sold 57 Average Asking Price $1,047,928 Average Selling Price $1,018,198 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.16% Average # of Days on the Market 40

2021 57 $1,063,333 $1,091,633 102.66% 21

johnson avenue

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 11/15/20 to 01/01/21 - 11/15/21

+/0.00% 1.47% 7.21% 5.50% -47.50%

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

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Please join our team in supporting the SLO Food Banks's Season of Hope. Every dollar you donate will buy seven nutritious meals for our neighbors whose table would otherwise be empty. Visit www.slofoodbank.org to donate.

Best wishes for a bountiful Holiday Season & a Happy New Year!

Reach out to one of our local experts today! Donna Lewis

Ken Neate

Maggie Koepsell

O: (805) 335-8743 C: (805) 235-0463

O: (805) 706-8074 C: (925) 963-1015

O: (805) 335-8742 C: (805) 674-6653

donna.lewis@rate.com

ken.neate@rate.com

maggie.koepsell@rate.com

Ermina Karim

Dylan Morrow

Elieen Mackenzie

O: (805) 329-4095 C: (805) 602-0248

O: (805) 335-8738 C: (805) 550-9742

O: (805) 212-5204 C: (831) 566-9908

ermina.karim@rate.com

dylan.morrow@rate.com

eileen.mackenzie@rate.com

Zoe Thompson

Joe Hutson

Matthew Janetski

O: (831) 205-1582 C: (831) 212-4138

O: (805) 329-4092 C: (619) 300-2651

joe.hutson@rate.com

matt.janetski@rate.com

Branch Manager & SVP of Mortgage Lending

VP of Mortgage Lending

Licensed Sales Assistant

O: (805) 335-8737 zoe.thompson@rate.com

SVP of Mortgage Lending

VP of Mortgage Lending

Luana Geradis

Lisa Renelle

O: (805) 329-4087 C: (707) 227-9582

O: (805) 456-5344 C: (805) 674-2931

luana.gerardis@rate.com

lisa.renelle@rate.com

VP of Mortgage Lending

Rate.com/sanluisobispo 1065 Higuera St., Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate for current rates and for more information. (20210903-616080) Donna Lewis NMLS #245945; CA - CA-DOC245945 | | Ken Neate NMLS #373607; CA - CA-DBO373607 | | Maggie Koepsell NMLS #704130; CA - CA-DBO704130 | Ermina Karmin NMLS #2005928; CA - CA-DFPI2005928 | Dylan Morrow NMLS #1461481; CA - CA-DBO1461481 | Luana Gerardis NMLS #1324563; CA - CA-DBO1324563 | Eileen Mackenzie NMLS #282909 | Matthew Janetski NMLS #1002317; CA CA-DBO1002317 | Joe Hutson NMLS #447536; CA - CA-DOC447536 | Lisa Renelle NMLS #269785; CA-DOC269785 Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. • CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act

DEC/JAN 2022

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| SLO COUNTY

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Thanks to our wonderful clients, partners, and the entire SLO community for trusting us to handle your home financing. In the spirit of giving back, we’re proud to donate a portion of every closed loan to the Noor Foundation, San Luis Obispo County’s free health care provider.

Happy holidays!

Ben Lerner 805.441.9486 www.blerner.com ben.lerner@myccmortgage.com

994 Mill St, Ste 200 - San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Equal Housing Opportunity. All loans subject to underwriting approval. Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. NMLS3029 NMLS2131793 NMLS395723 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. Refinancing may result in higher total finance charges over the life of the loan.

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| DEC/JAN 2022

REAL ESTATE BY THE NUMBERS REGION

NUMBER OF HOME S SOLD

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

MEDIAN SELLING PRICE

2020

2021

2020

2021

Arroyo Grande

267

332

$840,955 $1,005,952

Atascadero

340

362

$608,170

Avila Beach

$1,132,657 $1,951,338

Cambria/San Simeon

136

172

$855,210

Cayucos

134

$1,171,504 $1,581,383

Creston

210

$898,000 $1,006,200

Grover Beach

127

144

$592,231

$707,712

Los Osos

133

132

$777,574

$856,181

Morro Bay

121

155

$742,951

$1,015,214

Nipomo

233

261

$747,429

$857,864

Oceano

$604,697 $644,559

Pismo Beach

127

118

$1,040,839 $1,317,453

Paso (Inside City Limits)

337

390

$560,292

Paso (North 46 - East 101)

$598,098 $874,086

Paso (North 46 - West 101)

$636,661

$921,446

Paso (South 46 - East 101)

$697,258

$910,552

San Luis Obispo

331

434

$952,091

$1,023,391

Santa Margarita

124

$613,522

$777,202

135

154

$873,366 $1,030,852

$753,740

Templeton Countywide

2,547 2,773

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 11/15/20 to 01/01/21 - 11/15/21

2020

2021

$725,661

$1,114,509

$611,256

$888,640

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

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Forge a Natural Connection

www.GardensbyGabriel.com lic.# 887028 805-215-0511 DEC/JAN 2022

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| HEALTH

The AntiDiet A new approach to eating and being healthy. BY LAUREN HARVEY

hen presented with the question, “How can I eat better?” most doctors and nutritionists would repeat the same, unglamorous and timetested answer: eat more whole foods, fruits, and vegetables, drink more water, cut down on sugar and processed foods. Though it seems straightforward, many know it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Either these foods aren’t enticing enough to our palates or perhaps we get caught up, overcomplicating uncomplicated advice—convinced it can’t be that simple.

In our quest for healthier selves, some of us get lost in the latest trendy diet. Remember the egg and wine diet? Published in Vogue in the 1970s the diet advocated, “the consumption of 3-5 eggs per day plus a 24-oz bottle of wine,” for quick weight loss. No matter how well-promoted these fad diets may be, time proves 74

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| DEC/JAN 2022

they aren’t as beneficial to us and our health as that accessible, attested advice. There must be a better way to eat more healthfully. Not with the intent to starve ourselves, or force feed on the undesirable (cabbage soup, anyone?), but to simply give our body best what it needs for peak performance. While it may seem radical to diet culture, intuitive eating is rooted in a very uncomplicated, very holistic idea—our bodies will tell us what they need. All we have to do is learn to listen. Intuitive eating is a framework for living that pushes back against popular notions about dieting and what foods we ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ eat. Today, we’ll learn the basics of intuitive eating, its history, and how it can become a revolutionary lifestyle change. As with any diet, consult your physician for what suits you best. >>

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INTUITIVE BASICS

PROOF OF EMPOWERMENT

Intuitive eating as a specified practice began in 1995, when the book “Intuitive Eating” was published by dietitians Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. According to Tribole, “Intuitive eating is a selfcare eating framework rooted in science and informed by clinical experience.” After the publication of the book, the intuitive eating framework grew slowly in popularity. At its core, intuitive eating is built on the idea that diets don’t work “and that lifestyle changes and personal care are more important for long-term health.”

According to Tribole, nearly 120 studies to-date show the benefits of intuitive eating. Out of those, the studies performed by Tracy Tylka, PhD are often cited as the first to scientifically explore the value of intuitive eating. In 2006, Tylka “validated the intuitive eating model in two seminal studies,” says Tribole.

While some diets consist of value-based lists of ‘good’ foods and ‘bad’ foods, intuitive eating has in place only ten principles to guide daily eating. The principles can be divided into three categories: those that honor your body (Honor Your Hunger, Honor Your Feelings, Respect Your Body, Respect Your Fullness, and Honor Your Health with Gentle Nutrition); those that push back against harmful diet culture beliefs (Reject the Diet Mentality, Make Peace with Food, Challenge the Food Police); and those that encourage us to notice the changes in our bodies (Discover the Satisfaction Factor, Movement–Feel the Difference). The basics of intuitive eating are simple: eat what you crave, eat when you are hungry, stop when you are full. Intuitive eating is meant to challenge the constructs we have around being and eating healthy. Inherently, intuitive eating dictates that there are truly no rules at all about what we can and cannot eat and when we are allowed to consume it. By turning our attention inward, we can begin listening to our bodies and discover what truly makes us feel good, inside and out. 76

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The study was performed on 1,260 college women, who followed intuitive eating principles. The findings pointed to the success of intuitive eating beyond any diet, indicating intuitive eating to be “negatively related to eating disorder symptomatology, body dissatisfaction, poor interoceptive awareness, pressure for thinness, internalization of the thin ideal, and body mass,” and were “positively related to several indexes of well-being.” The second study performed by Tylka and team, in 2013, expanded on the first, including more factors and more participants–1,405 women and 1,195 men. The findings were similar to the first study, positively relating intuitive eating to “body appreciation, self-esteem, and satisfaction with life,” while inversely relating to “eating disorder symptomatology … body surveillance, body shame … and internalization of media appearance ideals.” The findings of these studies suggest that intuitive eating, when practiced, can improve not only our physical health, but our mental health as well. Practicing intuitive eating is related to increased body positivity, and essentially, helps us to become more comfortable in our own skin; a process through which we can learn to be in touch with our bodies again. Intuitive eating is not a diet—it’s a way of life that promotes trust within your own body, with an emphasis on respecting your body for what it is, as opposed to fighting with it to be something it’s not. >>

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MAKING THE CHANGE Intuitive eating’s inherent rejection of diet culture, unattainable body ideals, and integration with total self-care makes it an attractive and popular framework. As Tylka says in her study published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology, “Intuitive eating is characterized by eating based on physiological hunger and satiety cues rather than situational and emotional cues and is associated with psychological well-being.”

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Tribole summarizes the two-pronged approach of intuitive eating as working in these two key ways: 1) Cultivating attunement to physical sensations that arise from within your body … and 2) Removing the obstacles and disruptors to attunement, which usually come from the mind in the form of rules, beliefs, and thoughts. Intuitive eating delves deep beyond what’s on the plate to what’s in your mind and heart, encouraging its practitioners to cultivate emotional well-being that doesn’t rely on chocolate as emotional support. Controversial, indeed! This may be its most attractive feature, and to many, also the most intimidating. So how do you begin? Kerri-Ann Jennings, MS, RD suggests, “Start taking stock of your own eating behaviors and attitudes, without judgement.” This is how we learn, “If you’re experiencing physical or emotional hunger.” If it’s physical hunger you feel–eat! If it’s hunger as an emotional response, further inner work may need to be done, such as journaling, talking things out with a friend, or any other emotionally supportive activity. Next, Jennings, MS, RD recommends tracking physical hunger and fullness level on a scale of 1-10 “from very hungry to stuffed. Aim to eat when you’re hungry but not starving and stop when you’re comfortably full—not stuffed.” Remember the ten principles of intuitive eating and start incorporating some of them into your daily life. Such as, find movement that makes your body feel good, and eat when you’re hungry. Following intuitive eating can feel uncomfortable at first. Katherine Kimber, RD, suggests “allowing yourself unconditional permission to eat all foods, honoring your biological hunger, and finding movement that makes you feel good.” These are great ways to start cultivating the intuitive eating philosophy in your daily life. To be sure, for some the change may be drastic, but in the end worth it for the physical and emotional contentment often associated with this lifestyle.

FINAL WORD Intuitive eating is not a diet, but a lifestyle that revolves around honoring your body’s hunger and fullness cues and practicing emotion regulation. Any change in diet should be done under the supervision of a medical professional. SLO LIFE

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SPONSORED

ENCOURAGING a loved one TO TEST THEIR

hearing

Peter A. Lucier Hearing Instrument Specialist

Did you know that one in three people over the age of 65 experience some degree of hearing loss? Chances are, there is someone in your life who experiences a hearing loss and might not even know it yet. As an invisible condition, hearing loss affects many different areas of one’s life but is not immediately understood as the root of the problem. If you believe that your loved one may have a hearing loss, it is important to encourage them to take a hearing test. Hearing tests are simple and painless, and they provide useful information on a person’s hearing abilities. Because hearing loss is a sensitive topic, here are a few tips for the conversation. Do Your Research: Studies are published about how hearing loss affects your cognitive abilities (Johns Hopkins University), how untreated hearing loss may lead to lower earning power, and how hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of accidents and falls. Before talking to your loved one, make sure you have the facts straight. Check to see the signs and symptoms of hearing loss match what you experience with your loved one. Arm yourself with useful facts about hearing loss that could help encourage your loved one to take a hearing test. Find a Quiet Time and Place: Hearing loss makes speech recognition

difficult. With hearing loss, people may ask others to repeat themselves or they may check out completely if they cannot compete with background noise to hear. For this reason, it is important to have your conversation in quiet place. Moreover, hearing loss may be a taboo subject for some. Rather than gathering a huge group of people – which may put your loved one on the defensive – have a one on one conversation so that you can clearly communicate your concerns.

Speak from Your Own Experiences: Data show that the mere process of aging can often result in social isolation. Add hearing issues to the mix, and those with untreated loss pose higher risks for finding themselves in a dark corner. They may feel abandoned by the family, ignored by friends, and excluded from activities, all because they cannot hear well enough in these social situations.

Talk about the Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss: Treating hearing loss helps people stay in

touch with their loved ones and to their communities. Studies indicate that people who do not treat their hearing loss have a smaller “life space”—they are not as mobile as people who treat their hearing or have normal hearing. Hearing loss interferes with the ability to drive and communicate, and also leads to a higher rate of accidents and falls. By treating hearing loss, your loved one would be investing in their own independence and security.

Support Your Loved One: Taking a hearing test is a simple and painless procedure, but of course there’s more to it than that. Ensure your loved one that you will be there to support them on their journey to better hearing—from making the appointment, to accompanying them to the hearing test, and—if a hearing loss is detected—helping them adjust to their new hearing aids. To begin the process, schedule a consultation, or talk to a hearing expert, contact us at Hearing Aid specialists of the Central Coast today.

Peter A. Lucier, has been a practicing Hearing Instrument Specialists for 22 years. If you would like more information, please contact us today for an appointment.

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| TASTE

Crêpes BY JAIME LEWIS

I recently noticed a couple crêpe restaurants sprouting up in San Luis Obispo, and wondered if it was a coincidence, or if crêpes are trending across the US. Turns out, SLO’s interest in crêpes isn’t an isolated incident: Google Trends says that national search volume on the subject has grown steadily since Google started tracking searches in 2004. Why are these thin, delicate pancake-like dishes becoming more popular? I have a theory.

The International Civil Aviation Organization reports that global air travel has increased by 1.7 to 4.4 billion in just 20 years, thanks to steady economic development and a growing middle class. The number of students studying abroad each year has also grown nearly four-fold since 1975, with over half of all traveling American students choosing Europe as their destination. Anyone who’s backpacked in Europe has experienced the simple beauty 82

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of a crêpe slathered with Nutella. Crêpes are French, after all, having originated in Brittany. Eating crêpes is a young independent traveler’s rite of passage, along with dancing at the discotheque, and sleeping in a creaky hostel bed. Of the three crêpe restaurants I interviewed in SLO, all three said that sweet crêpes with Nutella are their best seller. If I can be so bold as to connect the dots: our love of travel—and our access to it—is moving the needle on how we eat. The growth of our interest in eating crêpes in the US directly coincides with our awareness that crêpes exist, and that they are delicious. Whether I’m right or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that crêpes are tasty whether filled with savory or sweet ingredients, they’re versatile enough to eat for any meal, and they’re available right here in SLO. Visit one or more of these crêpes hot spots and take a mental trip to France. If you can’t get there by airplane, getting there on a crêpe might just be the next best thing. >>

Mon Ami Crêpe Bar In French, “mon ami” means “my friend,” and that’s a fitting name for this little crêpe bar tucked into Court Street in SLO. When I arrive at 8:30 a.m., owner Natalie Gann has already seen many of her regulars. I ask her why she thinks people like crêpes so much. “Crêpes are lighter than pancakes,” she says. “Because they’re lighter, you don’t feel the heaviness of too many carbs. You don’t feel like you’re cheating.” I order The Benedict and the Strawberry-Nutella, watching Gann and her chef, Jeremy, spread batter on the crêpes pans. French music pipes over the airways as the crêpes become golden and crisp up around the edges. I start with The Benedict, which is hearty and savory, folded into a triangle and bathed in hollandaise sauce. But it’s the Strawberry-Nutella crêpe that makes me moan a little. I haven’t had one in such a long time, the richness of the flavors takes me by surprise. The strawberries are farm-fresh and the housemade chantilly cream sends it all over the edge. >>

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

The Boba Stop This tiny shop at the corner of California and Taft Streets focuses mostly on boba tea, but I’d heard chatter that their crêpes were worth a visit, too. I’ve never tasted boba tea (an upcoming column, perhaps?) but I know that the Taiwanese specialty/obsession has its fans here in SLO. What I didn’t realize is that boba tea is often sold where crêpes are sold, and vice versa. Fried “popcorn” chicken is another common addition to the mix. The Boba Stop is definitely in the right area for students to enjoy it, located just steps from Cal Poly. Its bright, pint-sized interior includes a flat-screen TV playing “Hometown Cha Cha Cha,” a Korean romantic comedy series. The crêpes menu here consists only of sweet crêpes, all on a basic theme of fruit, whipped cream, and Nutella. As I wait for mine, I watch young people approach the counter to pick up their popcorn chicken and boba tea. When my crepe comes up, it’s wrapped in a paper plate like a cone, perfect for holding in my hand. I dig in and notice that this crepe is a much more casual affair than those I tasted at Mon Ami. This one is more of a snack—an on-the-go treat rather than a full-tilt breakfast. Still, a little happy moan escapes: Nutella strikes again. >> 84

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Le Ciel Crêpe Cafe Le Ciel has stood in the Crossroads Center at Orcutt and Broad Street for eighteen years, but it’s been years since I dined here. When I walk in, I meet owner Estela Lopez, who started as an employee at Le Ciel and eventually bought the business. The little shop is bright with midday sun, potted plants, and a vast display of vintage salt-and-pepper shakers in the pastry case. “Our best seller for sweet crêpes is Nutella-with-strawberries,” she says, “but most people want savory crêpes here for lunch.” I do likewise and order the “De Tolosa”: a soft crêpe filled and folded with shredded chicken, sundried tomatoes, pesto, and cheese. The flavors are concentrated and bright, with the crêpe itself a light foil to the decadence of the filling. With the accompanying roasted potatoes and salad, it’s a very substantial lunch. After I’ve nearly polished off the De Tolosa, Lopez arrives with the “Santa Margarita,” filled with Nutella and strawberries and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I check my watch: 11:45 a.m. “Ice cream before noon?” I ask, aghast. Lopez just laughs as she leaves me with another Nutella moment to savor. SLO LIFE

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

PEACE. COMFORT. HEALING. First Church of Christ, Scientist invites you to our services:

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DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| WINE NOTES

Returning Home BY ANDRIA MCGHEE

I 88

It’s a hard decision to leave home for some, and an obvious one for others. Even here on the Central Coast, a place often recognized as the “Best Place to Live,” most people spread their wings and explore other communities— but the lucky ones find their way back. As author Donald Miller says, “Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.” >>

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| DEC/JAN 2022

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

Peachy Canyon // 2020 Pêche Blanche // $32 Brothers Josh and Jake Beckett grew up in Paso Robles back when there were only a handful of wineries and even fewer stoplights. Their parents, Doug and Nancy Beckett, founded Peachy Canyon in 1988 and became known for their flagship varietal—Zinfandel— growing in production from a 500-case venture to producing 70,000 cases of wine at its peak. Working in and around the business their entire childhood, the brothers knew as they approached high school graduation that they would be on the open road to discover what the world had in store for them outside of their small town. When they flew the coup, the first spot to land was college, where one brother studied English and the other Anthropology. Entrepreneurial by nature, they were planning on starting their own businesses and going wherever life would take them, but their parents frequently lured them back home to work harvest in the fall. Overtime, getting their hands stained and learning to process grapes made them more and more curious about the family business. But it would not be as simple as coming home and taking over their parents’ business for this duo—both brothers felt that they needed more experience in the field. So, they decided to try making wine on a much smaller scale at their own winery just across the street from their parents, and founded Chronic Cellars. I can picture their parents questioning: Why wouldn’t you just take over this already functioning winery that we had spent our lives building? And that name. Yes, they were, in plain sight of the family, doing their own thing. The launch was a great success, and they were able to sell the first bottles to friends. The years of working alongside their parents combined with help from friends and mentors along the way taught them both the business and production side of winemaking. Confident that they had enough experience under their belts, the brothers were ready to move back across the street to their parents’ vineyard, seizing the chance to put their stamp on the business and make it something special. The two worked out a new business plan, which included replanting vines and reducing their output of wine to under 20,000 cases. They wanted to make wine from grapes grown exclusively on their land, and began actively taking steps to meet that goal. Their focus is to represent the Paso Robles wine region, adding different varieties to the tasting room, while still honoring the Zinfandel that is the foundation Peachy Canyon was built upon. By stepping back into the family business, the Beckett brothers gave their parents the chance to finally take a well-deserved vacation. Do I have to pick just one wine to suggest? Since I am a sucker for a nice crisp white wine, the 2020 Pêche Blanche made with Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, and Viogner tastes just how it’s named, white peach. Really great to drink anytime, but my pairing of choice would be with a creamy pasta dish.

Joshua and Chiasa Klapper

Timbre Winery // The Jam // $45 Joshua Klapper had moved to Los Angeles from New York to study at USC with his wife Chiasa, who is from Arroyo Grande originally. But he needed a job. Luckily, he found the perfect pairing. If there were ever a place in the heart of LA to embody fine dining it was Sona Restaurant. When Klapper began his shift at the establishment known for its modern French cuisine, along with a reliable stream of good tips from generous customers, he had access to wines from all reaches of the world. Through this access, he was able to refine his palate. Klapper’s discerning taste proved to make a remarkable wine list at Sona and won him a 2004 Wine Spectator Grand Award. After years of leaning into the restaurant business, he took a moment of reflection to evaluate the lifestyle that comes along with it. Late nights, working on holidays, and day in and day out on your feet is a service worker’s reality. Klapper knew it was time for a change. So, when he was ready to make the leap from sommelier to winemaker, he called on Bob Lindquist, local winemaking legend, for an internship. Lindquist took him in for a harvest and the relationship grew from there. After years of commuting back and forth from LA to the Central Coast, standing in the vineyard one morning with the hills peeking out around him on all sides, Klapper took in the sunrise and knew he was on the right path and decided to relocate. Though the journey of a winemaker is not an easy one, he was lucky to work alongside great teachers—in addition to Lindquist, he credits Jim Clendenen and Jim Adelman. His time among experts taught him about our local climate and grape varieties in each field. Klapper became a part of a community that would later support him when he took the leap and began making wine on his own, launching La Fenêtre Wines in Santa Barbara County, which in 2016 became Timbre Winery. Klapper and I sat for this interview in his cozy tasting room located in the Village of Arroyo Grande. I exchanged a smile with the welcoming staff, Denise and Bethany, as I tried to decide on a favorite wine. While Timbre is best known for Pinot Noir, I relished in the lusciousness of the Grenache. It felt like I was wrapping myself up in a blanket. The Jam (all Grenache) was definitely my jam and so was Rare Groove, a Grenache and Syrah blend. Be sure to stop in and sample some for yourself— and keep an eye out for their new tasting room slated to open this year in San Luis Obispo. SLO LIFE

The Beckett Brothers 90

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| BREW

Dark draft BY BRANT MYERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD MEANEY

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

s I begrudgingly make the trek around town to find pumpkin beers with my wife, a tradition in our house that starts around jack-o-lantern carving times, we notice that there is a distinct lack of offerings in the style. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! After all, the over-hyped pumpkin spice season has been derided in the past decade as only the most basic of trends and maybe this is the sign of them slowly dying off. Albeit there are a few outstanding offerings, they are still far and few between. Mocking disappointment, I resign that “now I’ll just be stuck drinking all my cellar beers,” big thick barrel-aged stouts and barleywines that only get better with age and are nigh undrinkable when it’s over 60 degrees outside. After all, barleywines are life. This interaction got us talking about what are the best seasonal beers being offered, and what constitutes a beer for the season that transitions us to colder weather, shorter days, and darker evenings. I contend that the first leaf drop of the season actually starts in September with the release of Oktoberfest beers, or more accurately, Märzenbier. To avoid labor competition, this beer was brewed in March (Märzen) at a slightly elevated sugar/alcohol content to lager over the harvest season and then consumed once the hard work was done and the fields have been harvested. Despite no added adjuncts, this style screams fall to me from the date of its release to its nearly orange-amber hue. It has the essence of autumn in a bottle, or ideally, in a liter glass mug. In California, the home of IPA’s renaissance, we associate this hoppy style with barbecuing on hot summer days, but Sierra Nevada treats us with their annual release of Celebration IPA. Resplendent with depictions of snowcapped cabins and bright red poinsettias this is a clear indicator that winter is coming. Much like the >>

DEC/JAN 2022

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Oktoberfestiers, this doesn’t contain any added spices, but the careful selection of hops leaves a clean pine aroma that just barely lingers on your palate hinting at the weather change ahead and conjuring images of log cabins with wispy smoke trickling from the chimney. This is the time of year I also start getting back into my craft beer roots. I search out other California classics such as Old Rasputin from North Coast Brewing, a Russian Imperial Stout that hearkens the tradition of British brewers supplying the style to Russia’s Catherine the Great. It drinks slow and hot and is the perfect casual inky black beer for an early night. For a slightly lighter touch I always grab a six-pack of Firestone’s Velvet Merlin, an oatmeal stout that gives all the mouthfeels with its slightly creamy after effects. If Old Rasputin is black coffee, Velvet Merlin is a cappuccino. It’s bigger brother, Velvet Merkin gets the barrel treatment making it a triple shot of espresso. I’m also reaching for more German and Bavarian options, as well. I have a sneaking suspicion that the colder the climate, the better their end of year offerings. My go-to for well over a decade is the iconic Celebrator beer from Ayinger, a brewery just South of Munich. This dopplebock is rich and decadent without being overly alcoholic or cloyingly sweet. As the name implies, this is a great beer for a celebration and, at this point, spending time with people you love is celebration enough to break out a few to pour and share. They even come with a bonus—there’s a tiny white goat on a string around the neck of the bottle. Collect enough and you could hang a few on the cut pine tree that might be adorning the corner of your living room soon enough. Any

dopplebock is a good dopplebock and Spaten Optimator is high on my list, even though it’s gotten me into trouble on more than one occasion, and I had a keg at my wedding, this one always seems to punch back. It’s worth taking a few blows however, so put this one on your short list. As is my passion, I love the thick and chewy barrel-aged stouts this time of year. The aforementioned Velvet Merkin is great, but I always enjoy trying new offerings from the mad hatters that are the barrel meisters/cellar rats of the brewery. Firestone has been releasing a bevy of cocktail inspired blends and even a few more sessionable beers such as their Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout, which are good for those evenings where you start drinking while the stew is stewing. A fan favorite, Central Coast Brewing has been putting out their bourbon barrel aged Deep Dark stout in eight-ounce single serving cans. Still in denial over the end of summer, I can get into the rum-barrel aged brown sugar imperial ale that is Barrelhouse’s Grog. That slight hint of rum brings me back to the days at the beach, while warming me up from the inside. There’s so much more to seasonal beers than just the addition of nutmeg or the holidays inspired label artwork. If any of these beers sound good for cold nights wrapped in a thick blanket, then I hope you dive into the season with me and get yourself a nice winter warmer to heat you up from the inside, as well. Don’t forget that if you put any of these into a coffee mug no one in the office will be the wiser and your video conferencing might just be a little jollier. So, raise your favorite mug with me and let’s toast to feeling toasty. Cheers! SLO LIFE 94

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| HAPPENINGS

Culture & Events I’d Tell You If I Could

California Dreamin’: Holidays 2021

Downtown SLO has been the destination for making holiday memories for more than forty years. Treasured in-person family traditions continue this year in Mission Plaza with the Classic Carousel and Santa’s House, both open for all good girls and boys to celebrate the season and whisper holiday wishes into Santa’s waiting ear. Through December 24 // downtownslo.com

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art presents an exhibition by London-based artist William Brickel. Included are large paintings and works on paper with an array of different mediums represented, including oil paint, charcoal, conté, and watercolor. For the artist, these scenes are representations of his lived experience; each canvas is a window into a state of emotional vulnerability. Through February 6 // sloma.org

Reindeer Run

Get in the holiday spirit with this annual 5K fun-run hosted by SLO County Friday Night Live. Promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles among youth and families, the event begins at Mitchell Park in SLO and follows the Railroad Trail to Orcutt Road, returning to Mitchell Park via Broad and Santa Barbara streets. Everyone is encouraged to dress in favorite holiday attire, and run or come out to show support for those who do. December 11 // slofnl.com

It’s a Wonderful Life The Holiday Extravaganza

No Central Coast holiday season is complete without a visit to The Great American Melodrama’s festive holiday triple bill. Bring the kids and the grandparents along to enjoy Scrooge’s heart-warming re-discovery of the Christmas spirit, laugh until your sides ache at the zany characters in a fractured fairy tale opera, and celebrate the music of the season in everyone’s favorite vaudeville review. A great musical and theatrical experience. Through December 31 // americanmelodrama.com 96

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022

Frank Capra’s holiday movie classic with George, Mary, Zuzu and the entire town of Bedford Falls comes to life in this delightful staged reading performed as a 1940s radio broadcast. Complete with live Foley sound effects and featuring just a handful of actors playing dozens of roles, the story of beleaguered building and loan owner George Bailey and his affable helper angel, Clarence, unfolds one fateful Christmas Eve as you’ve never seen it before. Bring the whole family to rediscover this Christmas classic. December 10–18 // slorep.org

SLOcally Made 5.0

A collective of more than twenty-five local makers and artists bring form, identity, and purpose to the concept of shopping local during the holiday season at 881 Higuera Street in downtown SLO. Artists have reimagined traditional trades such as leatherwork, embroidery, painting, sewing, metalsmithing, hide tanning, letterpress, and more to curate a unique selection of handcrafted, contemporary, and locally-created goods. December 11-24 // slocally-made.com

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New Year’s Eve Super Gala

Ring in the new year at the PAC with the Opera SLO Grand Orchestra conducted by artistic director Brian Asher Alhadeff in an unforgettable goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022. An epic evening of pops, opera, musical theatre, and dance includes the SLO premiere of George Gershwin’s Variations on “I Got Rhythm” for piano and orchestra with pianist Terry Spiller, a tribute to Lawrence Welk featuring dancers from Santa Barbara’s State Street Ballet, special appearances by Ballet Theatre SLO, the return of soprano Alba Franco-Cancél, selections from West Side Story, and more. December 31 // operaslo.org

Mommies & Guppies

Preschoolers and those who care for them are invited to explore the Central Coast Aquarium in this unique program. Suitable for ages five and under, the hands-on experience lets children enjoy up-close encounters with creatures like sea stars and urchins, story time, sing-a-longs, games, and crafts. January 3 // centralcoastaquarium.com

live the Restaurant Month

Visit San Luis Obispo County launches its eighth annual Restaurant Month promotion bringing California cuisine to life in restaurants participating countywide. Visitors and locals experience the region’s locally-inspired flavors throughout January as participating venues offer special menus and promotions, most featuring a three-course prix fixe menu. January 2-31 // slocal.com

Picket Painting Party

The Children’s Garden is undergoing a beautification project and needs community members and artists to help decorate the fencing that will surround and enclose the area to make it a welcoming and safe space for all. Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund the project. January 8 // slobg.org

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| HAPPENINGS

Culture & Events Winter Bird Festival

The Morro Bay festival features 160 events over five days, including master classes, pelagic cruises, birding by boat and kayak, bus and car trips throughout San Luis Obispo County, day hikes, and many informative workshops. Hundreds of birders visit this Globally Important Bird Area to see, photograph, and learn more about birds. Over 200 birds are usually seen throughout the weekend, and this year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the festival. January 14-17 // morrobaybirdfestival.org

Bach Week is devoted to the performance and exploration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. Events range from chamber music performed on period instruments to the collaborative performance of large vocal and instrumental works by students and professionals. Free demonstrations and lectures provide additional context for these performances. January 18-22 // bachweek.calpoly.edu |

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

Set in the Berkeley hills after a major fire, Jane Anderson’s 2007 play introduces us to Jeannette, an earthy, high-spirited woman whose husband, Neil, is dying of cancer. When her cousin Dinah from Ohio comes for a visit with her husband, Bill, the two couples—one solidly on the left, the other resolute in their conservative Christian beliefs—are made to confront their huge dissimilarities. January 21 – 22 // slorep.org

Why Be Good?

Bach Week

The Quality of Life

| DEC/JAN 2022

Considered a lost film for many decades, a 35mm print of the 1929 silent comedy film Why Be Good? starring SLO icon Colleen Moore, was discovered in an Italian archive in the late 1990s. Now, nearly ninety years after its first release, this newly restored version will be screened alongside a genuine period-authentic live score provided by renowned silent film accompanist, Christian Elliott. January 23 // calpolyarts.org

Fiddler on the Roof

A fresh, funny, joyous new road production of the longest-running Broadway musical of all time comes to the Cal Poly Arts stage, bringing a lavish orchestra as well as stunning movement and dance from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. Come early and enjoy a preperformance lecture illuminating this beloved theatrical masterpiece set in the small Russian village of Anatevka at the beginning of the twentieth century. January 26-27 // calpolyarts.org

An Evening with Fran Lebowitz

Spend an evening at the PAC with one of the most insightful social commentators and cultural satirists in America today—the woman many call “the heir to Dorothy Parker.” Author, journalist, and social observer Fran Lebowitz offers up acerbic views on current events and the media, as well as her pet peeves: tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, and anyone who is unduly tan. January 30 // pacslo.org SLO LIFE

DEC/JAN 2022

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| DEC/JAN 2022