DAVEMEETCONGALTON LIFE BEHIND THE MIC & CATCHING A DREAM FEB/MAR SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM2019
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4 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 S L O T snar i t let s em tummoc e easily fmor school to mylocal internsh i p . Cal Poly Art and Design Department | Art Director: Shaina Kim, Designer: Briana Jackson | Photographers: Ally Evans, Noelle Merrihew, Ysabel Sullivan slotransit.org 1 Find your route 2 Enjoy the ride 3 Reach your destination
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10 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 SLOLIFE magazine 42 CONTENTS Volume Feb/MarNumber1012019 DAVE CONGALTON The voice of our local airwaves steps out from behind the mic to share his story. Publisher’s Message OnInfothe Cover In Box20181614 Briefs Check out the latest news highlight reel. Timeline We take a look at local events from the past two months View It was a crisp winter day when NICK PAVLAKIS stumbled upon a long-forgotten scene. 343028
Not for the faint of heart, we explore the hot health benefits of taking the plunge into cool, icy waters.
Look no further for insight into the local housing market as we share the year-to-date statistics of home sales for both the city and the county of San Luis Obispo.
Health
On the Rise
Brew Get ready to rant as local beer meister BRANT MYERS explains the history and shortcomings of the pint glass.
12 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
A combination of academic and athletic success is guiding Mission College Preparatory senior AVERY MUNSTER into a bright future. Family Always on the hunt for a fun-filled adventure, PADEN HUGHES spends an afternoon exploring the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.
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Now Hear This
Dwelling TERRY and ANDREA HEINLEIN open the doors to their remodeled post-war bungalow situated in a sunny spot on the north end of San Luis Obispo where views of Bishop Peak abound.
Looking for something to do? We’ve got you covered. Check out the calendar to discover the best events around the Central Coast in February and March.
Real Estate
5240383654 64687482848892
Taste
Wine Notes
Kitchen Reminiscent of the French dish coq au vin, CHEF JESSIE RIVAS shares this wine-based, herb-infused braised chicken meal perfectly suited for dinner parties.
CONTENTS Q&A
New to her post as Chief Executive Officer of Downtown SLO, BETTINA SWIGGER is excited to be a part of the scene.
Self-proclaimed “musicians for musicians” TRAVIS LARSON BAND is set to release their ninth album.
Happenings
While not a new trend in the foodie world, noodles have staying power. Ready to sip and slurp, JAIME LEWIS dives into a bowl of the good stuff and dishes out the details of our local hot spots.
Digging deep into the red, ANDRIA MCGHEE journeys into the world of Cabernet Sauvignon.
C O M M E R C I A L & R E S I D E N T I A L
The other day, my teenage daughter, Geneva, was running late to school. As she was frantically getting herself ready, she called out from the bathroom asking me if I would slice a bagel in half and put it in the toaster for her. A few minutes later, she appeared as a hurricane blowing through the kitchen, and she scolded me down the hallway: “Dad, you burnt the heck out of this thing!”
Toast-R-Oven
I don’t know for sure, but I would guess it had been a wedding present for my parents. Those numbers would add up because, by the time I was Geneva’s age, it must have been nearing the end of its second decade. Black as night charcoal was baked onto the tin foil lining the bottom. Its glass door moaned in protest each time it was pried open. And the drip pan below was frozen shut by the melted cheese cementing the slide rails. Encircling the top were jagged burn marks—our Toast-R-Oven wore a crown.
Bagels hadn’t fully made their way to California at that time, but English muffins were fast becoming a supermarket mainstay. And once we figured out that you could scoop a teaspoon of Prego or Ragu or whatever spaghetti sauce happened to be on sale that week on top then cover it with a slice of cheese and throw it in the Toast-R-Oven, it was pretty much game over. Demand for the old G.E. Toast ‘n Broil went through the roof at our house as my sisters and I discovered the mini pizza. Again, the only problem was that about every fifth time we baked with that thing, it would catch on fire.
Of course, we learn from our parents by watching them much more than we do by listening to their words. My mom almost always had an audience of three, and as long as she didn’t panic, neither did we. It was only during a sleepover when our friends witnessed the whole production that it first occurred to us that anything was out of order with our vintage Toast-R-Oven. Horrified would be the word to characterize the look on their faces. Sheer terror. After noting the size of their eyes with curiosity, I would return my full attention to the well-done Wonder Bread smoldering on the plate before me. We watched this scene play out for years, never giving it a second thought. That’s just what Toast-R-Ovens do. They catch on fire. Big deal. The only time it was ever a problem was when my sisters and I entered teenagedom and discovered the mini pizza. Everything was fine until it came to seconds, and thirds, and fourths because the odds for spontaneous combustion increased exponentially with every use, particularly when deploying the broiler, as was the case with the tiny pies. Usually, when it came to mini pizzas, it was midway through the second round when someone would have to stop whatever they were doing, fasten the oven mitts, and get focused to walk the flaming Toast-R-Oven to its designated cool-off spot. That was the only problem.
After she left, just for fun, I went online and searched “1980s toaster oven.” In a split second, I traded places with my 15-year-old when on the screen popped up the words “General Electric Toast ‘n Broil Toast-ROven.” Yes, sir, that was the one.
I can’t remember when it was precisely, it may have been after a week at summer camp, or maybe I was off at college, but I returned home to find that the Toast-R-Oven was gone. Mom replaced it with a new, shiny Hamilton Beach toaster, which was conspicuously missing its suffix, “-R-Oven.” No orange, no brown, no wood paneling—just two boring little slots on the top to drop in a couple of slices of bread, or bagels, or English muffins. The whole thing felt too sanitary to me, too safe. I did—and still do—prefer a little bit of danger with my breakfast.
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14 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
The orange and brown that framed the skinny plastic control knobs was the thing I remember most— orange for broil; brown for toast. But, the faux wood grain that wrapped the sides was a dead giveaway that we actually had the 1970s model. And that would make sense, considering that it caught on fire about 20% of the time.
I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you.
Mom made it clear that it was not a big deal. No reason to panic. Nothing to see here. Since we didn’t keep a car in the garage, the solution was simple: Quickly stab whatever had been cooking with a fork to yank it out of the miniature inferno, then put on a pair of oven mitts and calmly but deliberately place the now-on-fire Toast-R-Oven in the middle of the concrete garage floor to let it quietly burn itself out. The whole production became routine and was not much different than the way you may send a kid to “time out” so that he could quell his temper tantrum.
Live the SLO Life! Tom tom@slolifemagazine.comFranciskovich
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LIFE magazine
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18 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
Dave’s sidekick and producer, Craig Hill was setting up for Dave’s show that day. They’re fun together. You can tell they really get along well. They were very playful in front of the camera.
Dave showed up right on time. The first thing he went to was a picture—a big black and white shot hanging in the studio; it’s from the first year he was a host. He said he still loves doing what he does after 27 years, which is so awesome. He’s exactly where he is supposed to be.
It was my first rainy day shoot for SLO LIFE came up to these really cool-looking satellite dish things, and I had to stop for some photos. They were sort of old school, really interesting. the scenes
I always ask what music people like during our shoot for the cover. He said that he likes Led Zeppelin, so I pulled out one of their albums as I was prepping the shots on my computer afterward.
SLO LIFE | ON THE COVER BEHIND
A SNEAK PEEK BY VANESSA PLAKIAS WITH DAVE CONGALTON
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 19 Thank you to our nurses, doctors, sta and volunteers for helping Sierra Vista and Twin Cities Hospitals achieve recognition as two of the safest hospitals in America, every year since 2012. Just five hospitals in the state of California have the honor of this distinction. HIGHEST HOSPITAL SAFETY RATING. 7 YEARS IN A ROW.
20 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Take us with you! | IN BOX Hey, SLO LIFE readers: Send us your photos the next time you’re relaxing in town or traveling far and away with your copy of the magazine. Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com PLYMOUTH ROCK, MASSACHUSETTS PISA, ITALY MOUNT PINATUBO, PHILIPPINES STEVE and JENNY MATHIS RUDY BUDANOLEVI, LENA, and BELLA COX LISA MCCARTY and MATTHEW HAAS
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 21 BERLIN, GERMANYGUANACASTE, COSTA RICA NORTH CAPE, NORWAY KAREN PETERSEN KELLY, MISSY, and MATT TEEL RANCHO SANTANA, NICARAGUA PAM and RICHARD ZWEIFEL met their daughter, MARY, and her husband, ELIAZ, along with friends and in-laws, ARMEL and ANNICK, from Carnac, France. There were eight different nationalities represented at dinner, and EVERYONE wanted to know more about the SLO Life! JOHN and FREDENE MAULHARDT and FAMILY
22 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 JIM AND SALLY BROOKS-SCHULKE | IN BOX HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, MAUIPARIS, FRANCE You showed us! LEZLIE and SHANE SHESKEY ANGELA BORIN, RAMSEY VON RAUNER, VERA VON RAUNER, RANDALL KULLGREN, and NORM BORIN PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON FISHER FAMILY REUNION SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA LOREN EYLER
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 23 GERMANYDUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES BRIAN and MAUREEN SOMODI GLENNA EDMONSON and MARLEY GEDDES LAKE COMO, ITALY SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA CHERYL and SAMMYLISAPAPERTMIA THAILAND KIERAN ALLEN with a little piece of home by the ancient Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai, as he celebrated his last day of a 6-month elephant internship in a nearby mountain village.
24 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 | IN BOX SLO LIFE travels! NORTH POLE, ALASKASANYA, CHINA The guides nicknamed me Babu (Grandpa) because of my age (72). Tough trek—5 days up and 2 days down. MOUNT KILIMANJARO DERONDA BURDETTE and JUDY TREVOR KEN RIENER PARIS, FRANCE ALEX, JOCELYN, FELICIA, JULIETTE, and KARIN
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 25
26 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 Trekking with you! Please send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com Follow SLO LIFE on Facebook: Visit facebook.com/slolifemagazine Visit us online at slolifemagazine.com Letters may be edited for content and clarity. To be considered for publication your letter should include your name, address, phone number, or email address (for authentication purposes). BELIZECUBA | IN BOX JIM and RHONDA SEYBERT JANET LAURSEN and GULLIVER’S TRAVEL CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA CHARLEY AULT and JORDIS DAIGLE SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA RICH and KIM DICKERSON SLO LIFE Magazine would like to issue a correction to the Oct/Nov 2018 issue. The photo of the pasta Bolognese was incorrectly credited to Jennifer Pallian. It was taken by Laura Davidson.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 27
“It had one of my legs in its mouth.”
34
The value of the contract awarded by Cal Poly to Atlanta-based consultant Damon A. Williams in an effort to make the campus more inclusive. Currently, the university ranks as the worst public school when it comes to serving AfricanAmerican students according to a report conducted by the Race and Equity Center at USC, and the least racially diverse student population among all public universities in California.
| BRIEFS
“We’re going to Dallas.”
A chant repeated for eight minutes by Cal Poly students protesting at defense contractor Raytheon’s booth during a university career fair in October last year. The students, who came under the scrutiny of administrators following the incident, claimed a double standard existed at the institution as it relates to free speech— evidenced by the two visits by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos (at a security cost of $86,200) plus recent racial flare-ups, including the fraternity blackface controversy. The students noted that former Raytheon CEO William Swanson donated $10 million to the Cal Poly golf program.
The number of years since Paso Robles last elected a woman to its city council when Maria Garcia—only the third female in its history to hold a seat—was sworn in following her victory in November.
$1.9#RightToRescueBillion
SLO LIFE
The increase to San Luis Obispo County’s population last year according to estimates released by the California Department of Finance. The uptick of .25% was among the lowest in the state and was classified as a “natural decrease,” meaning that more people had died in the county than were born. Also, the report noted that approximately 160,000 more people left California for other states than came here from them last year.
Nick Wapner, a sophomore communications major at Cal Poly, who was attacked by a great white shark at Sandspit Beach in Montaña de Oro State Park. The surfer received 50 stitches to his leg and is expected to make a full recovery.
Jay Asher, author of “13 Reasons Why,” claiming that the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) had made “reckless and false statements” to the news media alleging that the San Luis Obispo resident had used the SCBWI in an effort to “lure women sexually,” an assertion he denies. “Today, I filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles to set the record straight.”
540
The number of miles that 36-year-old Walter Handloser, a data analyst of San Luis Obispo, will attempt to run in 2019 as he plans to complete 50 races of 100 miles or more, which would be nine more than the current world record.
An announcement made by County Airports Director Kevin Bumen, who shared that American Airlines will begin non-stop, year-round service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April.
worldgreed,throughrightyourforkillingallacrosstheforthatwarmoney.”
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A homemade sign held up by Zoe Rosenberg of San Luis Obispo, a 16-yearold animal rights activist, who ran onto the field during the NCAA Championship football game between Clemson and Alabama in Santa Clara to protest Petaluma Poultry, a chicken supplier to Levi’s Stadium.
“Proud to be a student, though we see
The total number of acres preserved as a result of an agreement between the Land Conservancy and property owners Jeff and Joan Buckingham as part of the Cerro Alto Ranch deal. While the couple will continue to prohibit public access to one of the Central Coast’s most iconic morros—Hollister Peak—the Land Conservancy did negotiate for some docent-led hikes.
690 5,000 $243,000
The amount that San Francisco-based Vista Equity Partners is paying to acquire MindBody of San Luis Obispo. Currently, the deal is being contested in court by a class action lawsuit filed by shareholders, who felt the agreement was unfair to them.
12/28 Emily Marie Bales, 24, was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI causing great bodily injury, and leaving the scene of an accident after striking and killing a Morro Bay pastor in a hit-and-run incident in November. The 67-year-old, Dale Paulsen, had just announced his retirement from the church that morning and was out for a walk on the western shoulder of Ramona Avenue, east of Pine Avenue, at about 5:30 p.m. on November 18th when Bales hit Paulsen with her 2015 Toyota Tacoma then fled the scene and was later found and arrested.
The Sierra Club sued the Board of Supervisors for its contentious 2018 land use decision where the majority—Debbie Arnold, Lynn Compton, and John Peschong—went against the recommendations of county staff and the warnings of county attorneys when it voted to use a map made in 1905 to recognize twelve parcels of property owned by the Dennis Fesler Family Trust in rural Arroyo Grande, effectively allowing the family to build homes and develop the individual lots without going through the subdivision process which requires an environmental review. Adam Hill called the decision “an abuse of process” and Bruce Gibson accused Compton of ignoring staff recommendations “because a campaign donor came and asked for a favor,” to which she said, “It’s not true—to me, this is a property rights issue.”
30 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel—a group of citizens chosen to provide public input to PG&E concerning the closure of the nuclear power facility—issued a report stating the plant should be conserved, its buildings repurposed, and the surrounding lands protected for public access. The decommissioning process, expected to begin in 2025, was characterized as “lengthy and complicated” and could stretch out for 50 years as critical issues, such as long-term storage and removal of spent nuclear fuel, are resolved. the ounty
| TIMELINE Around
12/3
12/11
12/4
San Luis Obispo County employees opted to strike in protest of wages their union claimed were, on average, 18% less than similar positions in Kern, Monterey, and Santa Barbara counties. Hundreds walked off the job and joined picket lines in front of the County Government Center in San Luis Obispo, and many spoke of their financial hardships during the public comments session of a Board of Supervisors meeting. The union demanded a variety of wage and benefit increases, including a 2.5% pay hike for certain groups of employees.
DECEMBER ’18
A landmark deal was struck by the Board of Supervisors, who agreed to a program to end a stalemate and ease the affordable housing crisis in San Luis Obispo County. The plan calls for a variety of new revenue sources to fund a $2 to $4 million pilot program to encourage construction of low-income and workforce housing locally. While the source of the monies are not yet determined, they are expected to arise from a combination of new construction and vacation rental fees, additional taxes on second homes, a bond, and a .25% sales tax increase.
12/31
C
In a stunning development, PG&E filed for bankruptcy amid $30 billion in wildfire claims. The company stated that its Chapter 11 action, which will allow it to restructure its debts while continuing to operate, was the only way forward following an avalanche of lawsuits it had received as a result of recent fires, many of which were ignited by its power grid infrastructure. The company had already begun skipping payments to victims of the 2015 Butte fire, which was caused by a downed power line and is hopeful that the bankruptcy will eliminate or reduce its eventual payouts related to last year’s Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Local policymakers are expected to watch the Chapter 11 proceedings closely for concern over how the judge will treat the $85 million settlement agreement the utility made with the county related to the closure of its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant.
The San Luis Obispo City Council, having already outlined the most ambitious municipal goal of carbon emission reductions nationwide—carbon neutrality by 2035—unanimously expanded upon its commitments by voting for a resolution opposing new proposals to truck and pipe crude oil from offshore platforms through the county. Citing health, safety, environmental, and climate concerns, the council cited the 2015 crude oil spill off Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara as an example for what it was hoping to prevent in the future. The resolution was the most recent action taken in opposition to the construction of additional fossil fuel infrastructure locally.
1/16
1/29
Stephen Best, who lost his bid for a seat on the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) board by a mere 60 votes, filed a lawsuit challenging the results because of what the Clerk-Recorder’s Office claimed was a clerical error. Best alleged that it was not, in fact, a simple blunder, but rather an attempt by the district to seat a preferred candidate. The county conceded the error, but argued that it had little choice but to allow Christine Womack, who had been appointed to the board before the election, to finish out the term of former director, Jon-Erik Storm. The ordeal leaves behind many questions and threatens to undermine any decisions made or actions taken by the current board of the Los Osos CSD and will likely require the intervention of the Board of Supervisors and the courts.
Despite an appea l filed by two residents—James Lopes and Odile Ayral—the third luxury student housing project of El Segundo-based lawyer and developer Loren Reihl was approved by the San Luis Obispo City Council. Citing mandates from the State of California concerning affordable housing targets, the project at 790 E. Foothill Boulevard, which will result in the demolition of the building that currently houses Black Horse Coffee and the vacant building that formerly was occupied by a McDonald’s, was given the green light— even though it occupies 90% of the lot (versus the standard 75% for similar projects), reaches a height of 43 feet (versus the standard 35 feet), did not require an environmental impact review to assess traffic and other impacts, and blocks views of the surrounding landscape. 1/24
JANUARY ’19 SLO LIFE
1/12
The ongoing courtroom drama where District Attorney Dan Dow has taken over to personally prosecute Cambria resident Herbert Connor, 73, for sexual assault against his 67-year-old former girlfriend, teetered on the brink of mistrial when it was found that DNA from someone else was found on the woman. Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn Duffy ruled that since evidence was withheld from the defense, it was in violation of the law. Dow took over the case ahead of the November election—a highly unusual development—sparking charges of political grandstanding and pandering to voters by the defense attorney, Ilan Funke-Bilu.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 31
Experience panoramic views of Edna Valley wine country from this 3376 sqft French Farmhouse style home. Located on 10+ acres, quality features throughout include newly refinished hardwood flooring, whole house reverse osmosis system, new exterior paint, high ceilings, open floor plan, French doors throughout, lush landscaping, and yellow pine accents throughout. Property Website: 1990Corbett.com GAVIN BROKER/OWNER,PAYNELIC. #01381849 805.550.3918LINDA BUTLER BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #00597458 805.801.5914GAVIN BROKER/OWNER,PAYNELIC. #01381849 805.550.3918 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties 547 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442 805.592.2050
SAN LUIS OBISPO
SAN LUIS OBISPO • 1232IRIS.COM
A rare opportunity to find such a unique property in SLO! Two homes with year round creek and a short distance to downtown. The front home is a remodeled 2 bedroom, ¾ bath home with original hardwood floors. The kitchen is adorned with beautiful accent tiles, hammered copper farm-style sink, stainless steel appliances, and a sunny kitchen nook. The main/back two bedroom home, is entered via the second story patio with a built in gas BBQ. It is an ideal space for entertaining and also features an outdoor shower. The open floorplan features a large butcher block island, stained concrete floors that include radiant heat and a wood burning stove. The ground floor of the house has a double garage and smaller third garage bay, laundry area, office and a full bath.
TERRY GILLESPIE, REALTOR ® , LIC. #01815083 805.459.2022
32 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 M BHGREHAVEN.COM
Immaculate single level home located in Laurelwood Estates close to Sinsheimer Park. This 2 bed, 2 bath, 1263 sqft home features new interior and exterior paint, new landscaping, open floor plan design, vaulted ceilings and large 2-car attached garage. An abundance of windows provide a plethora of natural light accentuating the thoughtful layout and touches throughout. Property Website: 1167Bedford.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO SAN LUIS OBISPO
This classic, single level 3 bed/1 bath charmer in the Sinsheimer area is in a prime location to bike, drive, walk or ride to schools, shopping and the bike path. The home features an open floor plan with wood floors, updated kitchen and bath, lots of storage and is on a large lot with drought tolerant, mature landscaping yet still provides room for a gardener with their own ideas. Property Website: 1184SanCarlosDrive.com
HAVEN
TO EXPERIENCE
PROPERTIES has invested in a Matterport Camera to introduce San Luis Obispo County to the newest video and still photography technologies. The Matterport 3D Showcase is an online experience for homebuyers to actually move through a property and see it from any angle, making immersive digital experiences out of real-world environments. The 3D Showcase completely immerses visitors so they can create an emotional connection.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 33 BHGREHAVEN.COM Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties 547 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 805.592.205093442 INTRODUCING THE ULTIMATE OPEN HOUSE EXPERIENCE
HAVEN PROPERTIES can offer their listing clients more options to let buyers into their home faster and with more quality experiences. MATTERPORT: 1990CORBETT.com
beauty. There was something about photography that had always appealed to him, so he squirreled away the largess granted to him by his tipsy patrons for a couple of months until he was able to make a trip to Costco and plunk down for a Nikon D-SLR bundle. He figured, as so many people do, that if he hated it, then he would simply return it. Hate is the polar opposite of what bubbled up that day. It was a quick jaunt out to Morro Bay that sealed his fate. What better way to learn his new equipment than by snapping shots of one of the most
| VIEW COMFORT and JOY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK PAVLAKIS
Eight years ago, Nick Pavlakis set foot on San Luis Obispo’s fertile soil for the first time. He may as well have been shot through the heart with one of Cupid’s arrows. It was a moment—a feeling—that stuck with him until the day he packed up his car and moved to the place that had been occupying his thoughts. The jobs came quickly, all three of them, and the tips from the bar were the icing on the cake. Between shifts, as he explored his adopted hometown, Pavlakis wondered how he could capture the surrounding
photographed rocks in the world? But, of all things, it was two vultures in the foreground that marked the moment in time when Pavlakis fell in love with the craft. “I don’t know what it was exactly, but it was this one shot that was super, crispy clear; and that was it. I’ve pretty much had a camera in my hands ever since.” The Costco equipment was eventually sold, and he used the proceeds to upgrade to a full-frame Nikon D750, which he reports has “taken things to a whole new level.” Now, as of the past few months or so, Pavlakis has gone pro and has hung out a shingle offering both landscape prints as well as portraiture.
SLO LIFE
There was no one else on Highway 1, so he spun around in a maneuver that could have landed him a high-priced Christmas present. Driving off the road a bit, the scene that you see here began to unfold. The familiar clunk of the shutter was the only thing that could be heard, as it opened and closed over and over again—the sounds of comfort and joy.
Through a confluence of unusual events, the young photographer found himself home alone for Christmas. Not wanting to sit around and stare at the walls, he resolved to take the D750 on a trip up to Big Sur. As he crossed the city limits, an equally lonely windmill caught his attention.
Q&A BEATING HEART
After a few short months into her new role as Chief Executive Officer of Downtown SLO—formerly known as the Downtown Association— BETTINA SWIGGER stopped by the office to introduce herself and share her vision for downtown San Luis Obispo as the regional hub for the intersection of art and culture and entertainment and commerce. Here are some highlights from our conversation… SLO LIFE
How did your eight years at the helm of the festival prepare you for Downtown SLO? When I was at Festival Mozaic, I was always trying to get arts and culture and music to be elevated as part of the conversation about economic development. So, now I’m in a position where I get to kind of put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. That’s probably not the best metaphor. I get to practice what I preach. I can see every day that the businesses downtown that incorporate elements of having an experience instead of just a transaction, and that are based in principles of design and are trying to create something that people will appreciate and enjoy, actually have a lot of their roots in artistic practice, even though they might not see it that way.
We like to take it from the top, Bettina. Where are you from? I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was, and is, a culturally rich and diverse place to live. My dad was an English professor. My mom was an artist. She was really involved in local politics. She was the president of the League of Women Voters when I was in first and second grade. I remember going with her to the different candidate forums they would host. I was a little smarty pants. Did a lot of distinctly nerdy things. I loved to read and write. I’m a writer. That’s my passion. I’m actually writing a book right now. My home life was really focused on reading and writing and language and music. I started playing viola when I was five. And, what about school? High school was a miserable experience, and I couldn’t get out of there soon enough. I graduated when I was 16. Then I took a year off and followed my sister to Rochester, New York. She was in graduate school at the Eastman School of Music. After that, she got a one-year teaching position in Durango, Colorado. So, I moved to Durango with her, which is this totally beautiful Southwest town with a narrow gauge railroad, and it’s surrounded by mountains. I volunteered for a radio station, worked at a coffee shop called the Steaming Bean, I played in the local symphony, and volunteered in an art center. It was a life that was similar in a lot of ways to my life now. What came next? I went to Colorado College in Colorado Springs and worked at the college for seven years after I graduated. I started working during the summer for a music festival, The Colorado College Summer Music Festival. I left to become the Executive Director of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region. I was there for three years. I was really happy there actually, but then Scott Yoo walked into my office one day. He was the Music Director for Festival Mozaic, and he was in town for a visit. He said, “Hey, I think you should apply for this job in San Luis Obispo.” And I said, “I love San Francisco.” [laughter]
36 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
What’s new at Downtown SLO? We recently moved from a second-floor office, sort of hidden away from the public. Now we are on Chorro Street, and we have a storefront. We see visitors there. We have a retail store of our own now, so we are experiencing what a lot of our members have been experiencing, asking ourselves, “Is this a viable activity in the 21st Century?” Retail is changing a lot. That doesn’t mean it’s dead, but it’s changing. So, getting back to your question, we’re actively creating programs for people to come downtown and be surprised and delighted, stay and spend some money, and maybe learn something new and connect with their neighbors while they’re at it. I walk downtown every day and see blank canvases for murals. I see some streets that, frankly, could be a little bit cleaner. And I see some ways that we can activate our public spaces that could encourage visitors to linger a little bit longer. I love our downtown—it’s the beating heart of the Central Coast.
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FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 37 Helping You Hear the ings You Love Turn the chicklouder.up 80 5 541-1790 www.KarenScottAudiology.com Call us today for yourDon’tconsultation miss a peep
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FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 39 of their hits, such as “Tom Sawyer” or “Working Man.” In Morro Bay, at the time, there may have been a handful of people who could attempt to name the members of the Canadian rock band—Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart. On either side of Morro Bay’s beachside high school, there were two gangly fourteen-year-old kids, who had independently discovered the guitar, and Rush. The two became obsessed with striking chords in the same way their musical heroes did it, practicing day and night to get it right. Then, after just six months into their respective musical journeys, they found one another. Travis Larson and Jennifer Young, it could be imagined, were placed on planet Earth as some sort of cosmic amusement, mirror images—one female, one male. Similar to the classic scene from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at the Island of the Misfit Toys, from that point forward, Larson and Young resolved to become “independent together.” First, it was all about getting gigs and doing whatever it took to book shows, which meant playing covers. Whether it was The Rolling Stones or The Police, it didn’t matter, “We slung it out in local dive bars for five or six years before we started doing our own stuff,” is how Larson characterizes those early days. The more the dynamic duo jammed together, the more they began to trust themselves and each other with their unique blend of creativity. Songs and music started bubbling to the surface. That’s when they decided to build a recording studio, which they did with Kip Stork, who had been the sound technician for the old SLO Brew. Together, the trio came up with Avalon Recording Studio, which continues to operate today in downtown San Luis Obispo under Stork’s watchful eye. With the ability to create and record their own music, Larson and Young turned their attention toward their need for a drummer. After asking around, the choice became clear after meeting Dale Moon, then a Cal Poly student. In a testament to the chemistry found between the bandmates, this all happened in 1996—23 years ago. Since that time, Travis Larson Band has gone on to cut eight albums with its ninth in production for next year. But, the secret sauce has been grinding it out on the road, touring almost non-stop for two decades building a fan base one audience member at a time. It’s the musical equivalent of the football metaphor: three yards and a cloud of dust. The eponymous bandmate, Larson, has been particularly prolific in this area, as he jets around the country teaching guitar to “guitar geeks” at events such as the recent NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) conference in Anaheim, and music equipment retailers nationwide. Today the band, in which Young now handles the bass duties with Larson on guitar and Moon on drums, ends most of its tours at the same place it begins—on Higuera Street, at the Frog & Peach Pub. And, that has been a continuous theme for the trio from its genesis, as it resisted the temptation to move away to the big city to make it happen. Larson sums up the sentiment through a raspy voice that he likens to Peppermint Patty, which accompanied him on his way home after a long stretch of guitar clinics on the road: “We’ve never left the Central Coast. Just toured incessantly and shamelessly self-promoted to make it happen where we want to be.” SLO LIFE
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orro Bay is a small town, which is what makes this story so unlikely. First, we have to go back in time to an era when people with names like Michael and Madonna dominated the airwaves. Very few knew of a band called Rush, and fewer still could name any of their songs except, perhaps, a couple
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TRAVIS LARSON SOLO SHOWS
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UPCOMING March 15 + 16 Libertine Morro Bay 22 Siren Morro Bay
This eighteen-year-old Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School senior is eyeing a bright future ahead. Know a student On the Rise? Introduce us at slolifemagazine.com/share SPOTLIGHT
What sort of extracurricular activities are you involved in?
Who has influenced you the most? My friend Makenna Parkinson has influenced me because, even though she has been sick for many years, she is fiercely dedicated to school, diving, and maintaining friendships. She never allows her illness to stop her from doing the important things. She has such a big heart, and I admire that quality.
I play tennis four times a week and run a beginner tennis clinic for children with autism on Saturdays. I played high school varsity tennis every year at MCP, and this last year I played first singles and doubles and was team captain. What recognition have you received? I have earned Honor Roll with Distinction every year in high school, which is awarded to those with a GPA of over a 4.0. I also won the Health Science Subject Award, the World Literature Subject Award, Second Place in the 2017 Bentley Physics International SMART Competition, the AP English Language Subject Award, and was an AP Scholar.
Avery Munster
STUDENT
What is going on with you now? I am currently running my weekly tennis clinic for children with autism called Tennis on the Spectrum (TOTS), crocheting, needle felting, and maintaining my grades in my classes. What career do you see yourself in someday? I want to be a veterinarian because I love science and animals. I shadowed a local veterinarian and felt comfortable in a veterinary clinic. I think a career in that field would be really satisfying. What schools are you considering for college? I applied to Bowdoin College, Kenyon College, Macalester College, Bates College, Oberlin College, Colby College, Scripps College, Occidental College, and Whitman College.
| ON THE RISE SLO LIFE
40 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
If you could meet anyone, who would it be? I would like to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is currently making history as a Supreme Court Justice. I would like to meet her in order to discover how she was able to maintain a fulfilling personal life while also reaching the highest position in her chosen field.
What are your interests/hobbies? I spend a lot of time crocheting and have just taken up needle felting. I just finished crocheting an infinity scarf and needle felting a squirrel. Most of my creations are gifts for friends and family.
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| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR
Here is his story…PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS
Twenty-seven years ago, DAVE CONGALTON was a ball of nerves as he settled into his seat and switched on his microphone for the first time at San Luis Obispo-based KVEC. Over the course of thousands of interviews, he found his voice—and his calling—as the host of the local “Hometown Radio Show” daily broadcast. Never far from his heart, however, is his passion for writing. And, after many ups and downs, he found success in Hollywood a few years ago when his screenplay “Author’s Anonymous” was made into a movie. As he wandered around the set meeting the famous actors who were busy memorizing the lines he had written, he described the experience as “catching a dream.”
CATCHERDREAM
the test when I entered a stand-up comedy contest. It was an incredible feeling when I actually won the thing. It validated everything Terry had said, the guy back in Tulsa who told me I needed to follow my dream. I called him afterward to share the news. He was so proud of me. Without question, he had changed my life. You have to tell us about the comedy routine. Alright. So, I had a stuffed rabbit named Peter, a toy rabbit, and I had my rabbit do impersonations; and for the last impersonation, I did this bit about the local KSBY News anchor, Rick Martel. The place went nuts. It went nuts. But here’s the deal. It’s the only time as a communication professional that I screwed this up—because it was a painful lesson—but since I had won, I was asked to come back another night to open for three professional comedians. I changed my act. I didn’t do the same routine I won with. I did something completely different, and I bombed. I was so bad. And to make it worse, I was single at the time and sharing a place with a Cal Poly student, basically renting a room. After the routine, I went to the bar and drank way too much and then I walked home. On my way, a police officer stops and questions me. They were looking for someone on an attempted rape.
Wow, I guess so. By this time, I had written a couple of screenplays and was trying to sell movie scripts or get an agent or whatever, so I used the little bit of money I had saved teaching at Poly to move to L.A., to Venice. I got a job working at a department store in Santa Monica called Henshey’s. I worked in the stationery and book section making five bucks an hour. I kept writing screenplays this whole time, but they were all terrible. Just awful. Then I met this woman, Charlotte Alexander, who I eventually married and later divorced. I was living in Venice; she was living in Indiana. I went back for a couple months to live with her, and while we were together, we decided to get married. She got me a job at the local newspaper, without any experience at all, because it was Richmond, Indiana. Small town. They sent me to city council meetings. I bombed. Oh my God, I bombed. I didn’t know what I was doing. Then they gave me a chance to write feature stories, profile people, and I found my voice.
So, I didn’t just burn bridges at Cal Poly, I actively set a blowtorch to them. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t settle into academic life again because I knew it would make me miserable and push me further away from my dream, which is to write. But, it got me to California and I was determined to keep going. Right out of the gate, I put my writing to ake it from the top, Dave. Where are you from? I was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. My family was all New Jersey-based. I’m the youngest of three sons. My father was in retail, and he bounced around, mostly up and down the east coast; but in 1960, I would’ve been seven years old, he took a job in suburban Chicago. So, in August
So, when was this exactly? This was 1987, August. I did everything in my power to make sure they wouldn’t hire me back. It’s like the singer Roy Orbison said, “If you have something to fall back on, you always will.”
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 45
Anyway, when I finally get to my house, I opened the door, turned on the lights, and all my furniture was gone, everything. It was completely cleared out. Apparently, this guy was unable to pay the rent that month, so he moved without telling me and he took all the stuff. One of the worst nights of my life.
So, what came next? Three months later, we come back to San Luis Obispo. We were house sitting for a former student of mine, who was my age. I took the clips from my newspaper job in Indiana, and I went into the Telegram-Tribune. They gave me a three-day trial. The city editor loved my writing, and so he gave me a test. They give you a current events test, and I was the only reporter there that could name all nine Supreme Court justices. [laughter] So, I’m working at the Trib and continuing to write screenplays on the side. They were terrible, just awful, and I was getting more and more desperate with each. Until, finally, I gave up. Quit the movie writing. And, that’s about the time that I heard about an opening at the radio station. KVEC was looking for an afternoon host in the 2 to 4 p.m. timeslot. I went in for a meeting and they said, “We’ll get back to you.” It took them forever, at least a couple of months, before I heard anything. They offered me the job because I don’t think they could find anyone else willing to work for $12,000 a year with no benefits.
I didn’t know anything about radio. Didn’t have any experience. So, I was >>
T 1960, we became the Midwestern branch of the family. Even though I was born in New Jersey, I consider myself to be a native of Chicago. I’ve always had trouble with my vision. I was born with cataracts in my eyes. When my mother was pregnant with me she got chicken pox for the second time, which somehow caused this issue. For the first few years I was fine, but then my family realized that I couldn’t tell the difference between my dad and my uncle. I wore these really thick Coke-bottle glasses. I was never bullied, but it was a constant source of ridicule. That’s when I developed humor as a defense mechanism.
Tell us about your first day. On the first day, I walked into the station and they said, “The morning host just quit. You’re going to take over her show.”
What was it like growing up in the Windy City? I grew up in the suburbs. I went to Eastern Illinois University on a debating scholarship. I got a master’s at Illinois State. I thought I was going to be a college professor. I taught at Concordia College in Minnesota, University of Utah, DePauw University in Indiana, and then University of Tulsa. I was teaching media, it was communications and media; mostly media history and media law and media theory. But, I wasn’t actually doing anything in media, and I never had. I was just teaching it. I was a historian and could tell you all about the history of CBS and the FCC and the fairness doctrine. I knew all that stuff, and have since forgotten everything. I attended all of the academic conventions. I distinctly remember one in Chicago, which turned out to be my last. I did all of the social events there; socialized at the bar, sat on one of the panels, then I woke up the next morning and had one of those look-in-the-mirror moments and said, “Is this it?” I was 34 years old, living in Oklahoma, and miserable. What did you do? I picked up the phone and called the university counseling center. I said, “Look, I’m not suicidal. I’m not depressed. I just need someone to talk to.” So, they tell me that I should call this guy named Terry. It turned out that he used to be the director of the center, but he was fired because he refused to wear a tie to work. I said to myself, “That’s the guy.” When we first met, he sat me down and said, “Okay, what is it you want to do?” I told him that I had always wanted to live in California, and I’ve always wanted to be a writer or something creative. He said, “Okay, this is our strategy: You’re going to finish out your year at the University of Tulsa; you’re going to quit your job; you’re going to move to California to do something creative.” We would meet twice a month to refine my plan. And sometime during this process, I came across a job notice for a one-year, non-renewable lecturer position at Cal Poly. I had never heard of Cal Poly, never heard of San Luis Obispo, but I figured it would give me a foothold in California, so I applied. They interviewed me over the phone.
Alex’s wife, calls in. It was probably my best moment of radio, because what I did was absolutely nothing. I just kind of sat back and I let her talk, and she was grieving, and she was anguished, and it was raw, and she was crying, but she was listening to all the tributes that people were giving. It was incredibly moving. I kept her on until the hard news break at the bottom of the hour, and I thanked her, and left it at that. That’s the moment.
How would you describe what you do on air? I’m not the community cheerleader. I won’t go out and do a remote [broadcast] from the blood bank. I don’t like doing those. That’s not me. I like being in my studio with my microphone. I’m the watchdog. The show is what matters. My job is to kind of help keep an eye on things and to give a voice to people.
H.L. Mencken said, “The role of the media is to afflict the comfortable >>
46 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 supposed to debut on January 6, 1992, but we had an ice storm the night before and it knocked down the broadcast antenna. I tried not to take it as a bad omen. It was the next day, January 7th—27 years ago now—that I did my first show. Rick Martel, the KSBY anchor that I had impersonated for the comedy routine I talked about earlier, was my first guest. It was actually a pretty decent show. I was so nervous, but did okay. The very next day, I came back in and just stunk it up. The second show was awful. I had a woman on who was a clown, followed by some people who talked about the estuary. It was so bad. But, it was a good lesson because to this day, my show is as good as anything in the country or it’s so bad that even I’m not listening to it. Those early experiences allowed me to find my voice, learn where we can shift gears, and carry the program when necessary.
And, the most memorable day in the broadcast booth? That would be the day that Alex Madonna died, probably 13 or 14 years ago now. It was a Thursday. I canceled everything. So, I called this woman up who I had scheduled to have on as a guest, and I said, “I’m sorry, but I need to cancel you today because the guy that built the Madonna Inn, Alex Madonna, just passed away, and we’re going to talk about that instead.” And she says, “Well, that’s not going to take up the whole four hours, is it?” I said, “You know what, I think it is.” Sure enough, I spent about 20 minutes talking about him and what he meant to me, and then I just sat there for four hours, and I took phone calls. And at 4:19 or 4:20, Phyllis Madonna,
What have you learned about yourself along the way? I’ve learned that I’m doing the job I was meant to do. This is the job I was meant to do. I was meant to be a radio host. I think I’m never going to win the Peabody Award or be an NPR correspondent, but I think for local radio, which is the mission of, to me, radio, to be local, that’s why the FCC set up radio stations, we’re supposed to serve the community. It’s a real honor for me to do this and to keep local radio alive. And, at the same time, I think I do okay with it, and that’s a gift. Not many people get to do the job they were meant to do.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 47 Throughout the purchase of our rst home Graham answered every question we had. He was always prompt and professional with communication but also extremely personable and friendly. We felt like he was truly in the hunt with us as we searched for a house. We are thankful to have worked with him. - Bobby & Kelly Boss, San Luis Obispo 3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.459.1865www.ccreslo.com|CalBRE #01873454 graham @ ccreslo.com “ ” Local, honest expertise for home buyers and sellers 115+ transactions closed in the last seven years
48 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 >> and comfort the afflicted.” That’s me. Nothing gives me more joy than giving someone an hour. I’m not claiming that it changes anything, but at least they have the satisfaction that somebody listened to them. Take, for example, this guy, who works at an auto parts store. Through me, we’ve created this persona, Conservative Bob, and he comes in multiple times a year, and he sounds off on the issues of the day, and he is so grateful for that opportunity. And he’s good for me because he gets phone calls. I can’t force people to listen, but I’m striving for what we call “driveway radio.”
That’s a show that is so good that you are willing to sit in your driveway to listen to the end of it after your commute home.
What are you writing these days? It’s back to screenplays. So, for the last five, six years, I’ve been trying to get a movie made called “Seven Sisters.” One thing I have learned over the years, is that you should write about what you know. Those first few screenplays I wrote were all turkeys because I was going for the big idea. “Authors Anonymous,” on the other hand, was about me and my experiences. Most of what happened in that movie actually happened to me. “Seven Sisters” is about a guy in San Luis Obispo, who overcomes personal grief by taking up hiking, and he
What does the future hold for you? Well, I’m 65. I’d like to do the show for at least another five years. Then, we’ll see. Right now, I’m looking for calmer waters. I’m coming off a very rough four years. From November 2014 to November 2018, I’ve had six eye surgeries. I had a detached retina, and they reattached it, which I’m grateful for, but they weren’t able to really do anything for the left eye. On top of that: shingles, bilateral hernia, diverticulitis, 18 days in the hospital. Charlotte and I had an amicable divorce after 27 years of marriage, but it still hurts. Moved into a new house. My station, KVEC, was bought by American General Media. My dog was killed by a neighbor’s dog while I was in the hospital. And, I was hit by a car. All that in four years. Not looking for a pity party, but it’s been a tough run and, like I said, I’m ready for some calmer waters. And, life is good. I’ve been able to do some traveling recently and I’m writing again. Maybe for my final phase I’ll become a travel writer, who knows?
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 49 Visit our kitchen and bath showroom for the remodel of your dreams—with the environment in mind. Contractor’s License 940512 111 South Street San Luis Obispo (805) slogreengoods.com543-9900 Visit our kitchen and bath showroom In-House Designers Custom FlooringWineCountertopsCabinetsCellars
50 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
know. I like the guy I’m becoming. To survive everything I did these last four years, I know people have it a lot worse, but I went through a lot. But having survived it, I kind of rebuilt myself. I think I’m mellower on the radio. I think I’m friendlier to people. I think I have a more positive outlook. I’m traveling. I’m in a positive relationship. I made a point in the last year of reaching out to both of my brothers. We’re closer now than we’ve ever been. Just thinking back to all those years ago and the decision to move to San Luis. So, now I go around to speak to these different writers’ groups in California and I tell people, “Don’t ever give up on your dream, because there’s no better feeling in the world than catching a dream.”
SLO LIFE hikes the Seven Sisters. It starts off as a comedy, but then takes a whole unexpected turn. That’s sort of my valentine to San Luis, because this is my home and I don’t know that I can leave; I’ll always stay here. So, I’m trying to get that made. Now I’m working with Hallmark on some TV movies. Last January, we pitched this murder mystery, and we finally heard back yesterday that they want to know more. They sat on it for a year. It took eight years for “Authors Anonymous” to be made. It’s just hurry up and wait. Okay, Dave, just like you do with guests on your show as you approach the top of the hour, I’m going to ask you: Any final thoughts? I don’t
“Don’t ever give up on your dream, because there’s no better feeling in the world than catching a dream.”
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 51 COMING SOON Your new favorite place to shop in downtown SLO will be opening in February. We look forward to meeting you. 1019 Morro Street . San Luis Obispo
PADEN HUGHES is co-owner of Gymnazo and enjoys exploring the Central Coast.
Delight. There is a lot parents will do to coax a look of delight from our children. I think of all the times we’ll attempt a silly dance, cheer as our little ones jump from the couch into a pile of pillows, or, in my case, watch the movie “Frozen” for the
As we made our way upstairs, it quickly became apparent it was going to be our favorite. Every corner of the floor was designed as if it were on the set of “Sesame Street,” a scene made for kids to step into and make their own. From a diner equipped with a kid-sized kitchen and plastic foods to sell, to a doctor’s office, to a theatrical stage, to a rock climbing wall, to the ever-popular fire truck, to the police motorcycle, it was endless fun seeing what would unfold behind the next Withoutcorner.adoubt, the highlight of Kennedy’s trip was playing with the make-believe fruit and vegetables organized in bins as if it were a roadside farm stand in Edna Valley. I not-so-successfully attempted to contain my pride as she named each piece of fruit and vegetable in her cart, then passed the produce out to the other kids playing nearby and encouraged them to make dinner. The cycle repeated as she refilled the shopping carts to the point they were overflowing, restocked the bins, and then started all over again. We spent almost an hour playing with the plastic produce, and she was in heaven. With just ten minutes to go until closing time, we finally made our way up to the third floor and spent those last moments with the toddler train. Just as I thought the outing could not have possibly gotten
| FAMILY
Recently, my family and I spent the day exploring the three levels of the museum. The first floor is more science focused, the second floor emphasizes creativity, and the third floor is designed specifically for toddlers.
Originally opened in 1990, the museum reopened in 2008 after a three-year $5 million remodel, resulting in the world-class facilities it offers today. With a combination of permanent and temporary exhibits, the museum continually offers fresh inspiration to learn through play.
The next long stop for my daughter, Kennedy, came at the backlit multicolored pegboard. As she began working away on her creation, a man who I guessed to be in his eighties, also got busy spelling out the word, “Hi.” It was fascinating to see the two generations equally mesmerized by the exhibit, each bringing their own experiences and creativity to the empty canvas. The notion that creativity flows no matter our age was on full display.
MUSEUMCHILDREN’S better, it did as she climbed aboard and pretended to be the conductor. She mostly loved yanking on the string that operated the whistle, which rang out in the same way we have come to expect from the Amtrak that passes by our home daily. As the museum closed and we made our way out the front door, I knew the day was a success when my daughter proclaimed, “So fun!” SLO LIFE
SLO
One of the best local spots guaranteed to fill my daughter with glee is the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.
Our exploration began with a hands-on exhibit called the “Augmented Reality Sandbox,” which comes complete with kinesthetic sand that holds its form as you shape it into whatever your imagination can conjure. If you can manage to morph it into a single letter, the projector above will scan the hand-made typography and respond by changing the color of its light. It was something that can only be described as magic.
BY PADEN HUGHES
For parents and children alike, it’s true: the minute you step into the museum, it lights up your imagination.
52 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 thousandth time. But, at the end of the day, it’s always worth it, and we keep coming back for more, because witnessing our children engage in a world full of magic and miracles is just as thrilling to us, the big kids, as it is to them. Their joy is our joy.
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| DWELLING AS ONE The past, present, and future come together in a post-war bungalow on the north end of San Luis Obispo.
t was supposed to just be one semester, some time away from the icy, cold hustle and bustle of Boston. The traffic was getting out of hand, and the near constant state of commuting between his office at the university and his private practice was, frankly, getting old. Yes, it is fair to say that
Terry Heinlein needed a break.
56 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 >>
I
After a quick trip through California the previous year, there was one thought that would not leave his mind as he stared through the frosty windshield at the bumper inching forward ahead of him: San Luis Obispo. He tells the story about flying into Los Angeles— or was it San Francisco?—then driving up, or down, Highway 101 and exiting for a break midway. “I fell in love immediately,” recalls Heinlein. Although an East Coaster all the way through, who was born in Washington, D.C. and had roots firmly planted within the orbit of go-go Beantown, he found something that he had been missing right here on the Central Coast. “People here are so nice. I don’t
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 57
58 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 ever want to go back to Boston. [laughter] I love being here. It’s very different. San Luis is a different place. It’s a great town.” With a lively private practice as an architect specializing in restorations, additions, and renovations of historic buildings, Heinlein was busy. If that was not enough, he was also teaching his craft to eager students at the University of Pennsylvania and Boston Architectural College, including taking on various levels of administrative roles, as well. It was during a particularly hectic day toggling between clients and students that he caught wind of something that he needed to do. Cal Poly was searching for a visiting professor to teach in its architecture department for a semester. Figuring that was exactly what he needed to recharge his batteries, Heinlein along with his wife, Andrea, and their son headed off to San Luis Obispo for what was to be a four-month sojourn. Except it wasn’t. One semester quickly became nine. The weeks and months melted away as if they were icicles holding on during a warm spring afternoon; no one noticed. The Heinleins settled into a new life on the Central Coast and found its unique culture, the SLO Life, suited them just fine. But, they were never able to entirely leave the East Coast behind, as Heinlein logged many hours on a plane for meetings with clients, and there were so many family ties on the other side of the country. At some point after those nine semesters, reality set in and the family moved back to whence it came but, as Heinlein noted during this part of the >>
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 59
retelling of the story, “Always with the idea that we’d be Theback.”hold-downs in Boston began to loosen their grip in 2006 and allowed for a homecoming of sorts. But, as it turned out, the real estate market was white hot. Nothing was available for a price that penciled out for the Bostonians, so they sat on the sidelines until the Great Recession made its way to the Central Coast. There, perched atop a hillside overlooking the north end of town, the Heinleins stumbled upon a 1940s vintage two-bed, one-bath shoebox of a house. The little cottage was one of many occupying Tassajara Drive, originally built by Cal Poly as faculty housing after World War II when that part of town had more Holsteins in residence than humans. With an abundance of sunshine, an oversized lot, and friendly neighbors, the East Coasters began the process of becoming West Coasters. Winding things down in Boston would take some time, and some planning, so the house was rented to a Cal Poly professor for the next eight or nine years. During that period, the architect took on some new clients: his wife and himself. As the couple envisioned what they felt to be important for their next chapter of life together, they laid out their priorities: family, community, and sunshine; lots of California sunshine. The design began taking shape, and because his
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specialty was restoring old buildings to their former glory, Heinlein was the perfect choice for the project.
SLO
Within a year, the project was complete. The only thing left on the checklist is the installation of the solar panels, which are going in soon. And, just like the resurrected bungalow, Heinlein himself is on the brink of a new beginning as he finishes up work for clients, one in Boulder, Colorado, the other in Cape Cod, and fully settles into his new hometown; the magic happens—the professor knows—when the past, present, and future come together as one. LIFE
While the city’s stamp of approval was still wet, Heinlein enlisted the help of Don Chaffin a Santa Margarita-based builder, who the homeowner describes as an “old school, great, terrific guy,” and the vision began to materialize. While maintaining the same basic structure at the front of the house, two separate wings were added on which created a courtyard. Previously, the lot had a significant slope, but it was elevated and flattened with all of the soil that was over-excavated to make way for the new foundation. One wing now houses the guest quarters, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom space with a separate entrance, which features a forever rotating series of kinfolk visiting the western branch of the Heinlein family tree. The other wing serves as an extension of the living space, including a family room and kitchen separated only by a countertop and pass-through window hemmed in by cabinets built by Green Goods of San Luis Obispo.
181 TANK FARM ROAD . SUITE 140 . SAN LUIS OBISPO . CA . 805-543-7600
Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price
ESTATEREAL
Total Sales Price as a % of Asking # of Days on the $804,663$813,4695298.92%32 2018 $861,368$877,3165898.18%45 +/40.63%-0.74%11.54%7.85%7.05% 12/31/17 -
$784,342$794,1802698.76%26 2018 $865,90824$850,25998.16%41 +/57.69%99.10%-7.69%9.03%8.40%farmtank
Price Average
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2017
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2017 $721,04363$710,61498.55%31 2018 $832,72961$818,28198.26%39 +/-0.29%15.49%-3.17%15.15%25.81%
$755,866$761,5768199.25%48 2018 $923,903$934,1004998.91%52 +/-39.51%22.65%22.23%-0.34%8.33%downtown
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2017
NUMBERSTHEBY
$1,236,52015$1,196,62396.77%54 2018 $1,224,93818$1,181,88896.49%79 +/20.00%-0.94%-1.23%-0.28%46.30%countryclub
2017
foothillblvd
Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price
to 01/01/18
lagunalake
Price Average
12/31/18
64 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS® | SLO CITY SLO LIFE
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2017
Market 2017
Total Sales Price as a % of Asking # of Days on the Market $774,48652$759,59698.08%33 2018 $868,022$882,2174298.39%30 +/-19.23%13.91%14.27%0.31%-9.09%
johnsonave *Comparing 01/01/17 -
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2017 $798,300$806,6533098.96%28 2018 $1,033,59123$996,65396.43%31 +/-23.33%28.13%24.85%-2.53%10.71%cal areapoly
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FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 67 Cheers – your garden drinks responsibly! visit gardensbygabriel.com -or- call 805.215.0511 An activity of Gardens by Gabriel, Inc. · License No. 887028 ph 805·466·6737 fx 805·466·6739 semmesco.com 7900 El Camino Real, Atascadero, California 93422 Semmes Homes: Built with purpose. At Semmes & Co. Builders, we are guided by environment. CA LICENSE #962529 FEATURED PROPERTY: Modern Farm House, Arroyo Grande visit us on HOUZZ As pioneering green builders on California’s Central Coast, we believe in building responsible, healthy and inspiring living spaces – just as we’ve done since 1978. Jason Vork DRE 805-440-459301031282743SERRANO DRIVE . SAN LUIS OBISPO . $949,000 Beautiful describes this property, Hardwood and Tile flooring, Maple counter tops with numerous built-ins including kitchen and through out the home, updated bathrooms, numerous skylights, rear patio is low maintenance with mostly brick pavers, hot tub, pond with waterfall. Walking distance to down town, Property must be seen to appreciate. Contact listing agent for a personal tour. “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” - Ted Turner on his secret to success Call us. We can help your business grow. slolifemagazine.com/advertise805.543.8600 SLOLIFE magazine
Today, here in the States, many big-name athletes swear by the ice bath that follows a
| HEALTH I
68 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019
t was noon sharp on the first day of the New Year in Avila Beach when hundreds of revelers simultaneously sprinted toward the frigid waters of San Luis Bay. Screams and shouts of shock and exhilaration were heard as contact was made with the frigid 55-degree Pacific, and it left us wondering from our perch on the pier above: Is the Polar Bear Dip good for you? Turns out it is.
why cold is so hot tough game. And, the motivational speaker Tony Robbins has become so enamored of the benefits that follow the freezing dunk that he has reportedly built something called a plunge pool at each of his seven homes. In the case with Robbins, as with so many other practitioners, he starts by first cranking up the heat in his sauna. Then, it’s on to the shock of the cold. And, it’s that hot-cold combination that appears to jolt our hormones and circulatory system into optimal performance. We here at SLO LIFE Magazine became intrigued by the whole concept and decided to dive (pun intended) into it further with our decidedly non-scientific approach. Again, we’re not doctors, and we’re not scientists, just curious minds who like to know what is new and now in the world of health. Here are a few things we learned… >>
If history can serve as a guide, as it often does, then there are many accounts of people jumping into cold bodies of water for the sake of their health. The Chinese, as it turns out, have been doing this for years. The ancient Romans had a similar practice. There are accounts of various Native American tribes who would dive into an icy river following a sweat session in a superheated teepee, sometimes called a sweat lodge. And cold-weather countries, such as Finland and Russia, have their own traditions that continue to this day.
Taking the Plunge
There’s that word again, inflammation. As research continues to show up demonstrating that the root cause of so many of the diseases that afflict modern-day human beings have their roots in chronically inflamed bodies, the fix would seem simple: reduce inflammation. And, that is precisely what a cold plunge does. The concept is no different than applying an ice pack to a sprained ankle. What does that do exactly? It reduces the swelling. And, what is swelling? It’s just another word for inflammation. Think of jumping into the ocean without a wetsuit as dipping your whole self into a big, huge ice pack. The result: less inflammation.
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WIN-WIN
HAPPINESS HORMONES
#3
Cryotherapy is hot (um, we meant to say “cold”) and appears here to stay. Already common in most big cities, it may not be long before cryogenic centers start to pop up here around the Central Coast. The person receiving the therapy sits in a futuristic-looking tube with their head sticking out of the top. Through the use of liquid nitrogen, the air inside suddenly plunges to -200 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of two to four minutes. But, don’t worry, you’ll get the same benefits from diving into the Pacific. And for free.
HUMAN POPSICLE
#2
GEE, THAT’S SWELL
Those long, hot showers that Americans have adopted as a daily practice may be doing a number on our skin, particularly those thin, sensitive areas under our eyes known as “bags.” Some health and beauty gurus swear by the cold shower, which is becoming en vogue with the Hollywood set. It’s those bags under our eyes that make us look tired, even when we are not. And, again, what causes those bags? Swelling. And, what is swelling? Inflammation. Reduce inflammation, and you not only become healthier, but you also become more beautiful. Win-Win.
#1
In some circles, the cold plunge is referred to as cold thermogenesis and may involve what the Russians call “dousing,” which traditionally was done early in the morning and late in the day just before bedtime. The reason: It lifts the mood. Think about those long, dark winters in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere. No sun. No trips out to Dog Beach to let Fido run around while you soak in the rays. Depressing, right? The effect on the mood appears to be significant, as the body responds to the shock of the cold by releasing massive amounts of the happiness hormones: endorphins and noradrenaline.
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YOGA FOR YOUR VESSELS
CONTROL-ALT-DELETE
SLO LIFE #5
Alternating between cold and hot like Tony Robbins does by going to the sauna first before taking a cold plunge appears to have an optimal effect on our circulatory system. In the most simple terms, the heat causes our vessels to expand and open wide, while the cold prompts them to tighten. This daily expansion and contraction routine strengthens the vessels and increases flexibility in the same way that doing downward dogs on the yoga mat does for our lower backs and shoulders.
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Aside from the endorphins and noradrenaline, there appears to be a cascade of beneficial hormones that are released during a cold plunge. Although the research is scant in this area, many practitioners describe a resetting of the endocrine system, which could mean relief for hormone-related disorders. There have been some promising results documented with metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes when it comes to insulin resistance with one study finding a 43% increase in insulin sensitivity after participants switched from taking a daily hot shower to a cold one for a period of six days. Just as when the old PC starts getting wonky and acting up, a cold plunge may very well be the body’s way of hitting Control-Alt-Delete.
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USENOODLEYOUR
n college, I probably ate my weight in ramen. Each serving cost something like 19 cents and the directions couldn’t be easier: place the hardened New and old purveyors offer an education in the ancient art of noodles.
74 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 | TASTE
BY JAIME LEWIS
I cake of noodles into a bowl (or mug, or bike helmet, or...), pour boiling water over to soften, and stir in the little pouch of flavoring. Voila! Dinner is served. Recently, ramen and other Asian noodle styles are trending in American restaurants, but these aren’t the crusty pre-fab packets from college days of yore. Like so many other heritage foods, noodles have experienced a renaissance in modern cuisine, transcending humble origins to be obsessed over, played with, and made unbelievably tasty. Want to start slurping? Here in SLO County, the options are plentiful. I visited just a few, both new and not-so-new, to get my noodle on. >>
JAIME LEWIS writes about food, drink, and the good life from her home in San Luis Obispo. Find her on Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis.
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THE CHOWINDULGENCE:MEIN
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Likely one of the oldest restaurants in town, Mee Heng Low stands beside the Palm Theatre on Palm Street, one of the best dinner-and-a-movie gigs going. The building dates back to the turn of the 20th century, still boasting a sign that reads “Chop Suey.”
At Chef Paul Kwong’s pint-sized Chinese noodle house, Mee Heng Low in downtown San Luis Obispo, the vibe manages to be both vintage and deliciously contemporary. Watercolors of the Buddha eating noodles line the walls, and classical music pipes over the stereo.
Kwong’s son, Russel, brings me a plate spread with crispy, thin yellow noodles, topped with seasonal vegetables. I’ve ordered the chow mein with chicken, vegetables and ginger-soy sauce. (Kwong also serves lo mein; mein refers to noodles while chow means “fried” and lo means “tossed.”) I tug at the fried noodle cake with chopsticks, the dish melding into a thick jumble of noodles, cabbage, scallions, and sauce, and proceed to wolf down the whole thing.
Three people at a neighboring table rise to leave. As the door closes behind them, Kwong tells me the group includes the owner of the nearby tai chi studio. “He comes in all the time,” he says. I could get into tai chi and chow mein every day, I think to myself. >>
“Chop suey was invented here for the U.S. palate,” says Kwong, who was born into an English-Chinese family. It’s a fusion style of cooking, he adds, not a specific dish. “Traditionally, it’s served with rice, but rice was rich man’s food. Noodles were poor man’s food. So we serve chop suey with noodles, instead of rice.”
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 77 3076 Duncane Lane . San Luis Obispo 805 549 0100 WIRELESS INTERNET FOR THE CENTRAL COAST NO CONTRACTS . NO DATA LIMITS INSTALLATION ONLY $99 805.556.4065 | peakwifi.com Fresh Food + Fresh Finds Mint + Craft is a fast casual café and mercantile that features innovative, handcrafted, market-fresh foods and locally and regionally made artisanal wares. Whether you are looking for a quick bite or a leisurely dining experience on our sunny downtown patio, Mint + Craft is a convenient choice for fresh, highquality foods and goods. The Mint Mercantile is SLO’s best kept secret for foodie-inspired finds, hand selected wines, and gift boxes for many occasions. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH + DINNER 848 Monterey Street, downtown SLO | mintandcraft.com |
>> THE PURIST:
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The word kitsune means “fox” in Japanese, which I realize refers to the amber color of the fried tofu in my bowl when server Gustavo Santana places it before me. I add a few ruffles of scallions and generously sprinkle the bowl with shichimi, a red powder composed of chiles, spices, orange peel, seeds and seaweed. Nutty and delicate at the top, the broth becomes richer and more concentrated the more I slurp. Just over halfway through my lunch, I am full. When the check comes, I’m amazed at the total: just $8.45, including tax, for one of the most satisfying and flavorful lunches in SLO. SOBA
Just a few blocks away, Goshi offers a completely different sort of ambiance. Set amid the sycamore trees behind The Creamery complex, the Japanese eatery feels leafy and peaceful, a place apart with paper lanterns and traditional music playing softly. Most people visit Goshi for its sushi, including a Japanese friend I bump into and two friends from the wine industry. Me? I’m here for the soba, thin Japanese buckwheat noodles served in a brothy soup called kitsune soba. Borrowing the concept of noodles from neighboring China, the people of Japan have eaten soba noodles since as far back as 300 B.C. A warm, comforting dish of soba, broth, and sweet-fried tofu called abura-age, kitsune can also be ordered with ropy wheat-flour noodles called udon.
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“There’s a lot of debate about where pasta came from,” Terrizzi says. “Most experts think it’s likely that Italians picked up pasta from travelers along the Silk Road, coming from China.” Japan picked up ramen, too, and has developed its preparation into an artform.
THE NOMAD: RAMEN SLO LIFE
Best of all? My family gets to enjoy a veg-heavy lunch... and I get to take the credit.
When Brian Terrizzi opened his pasta shop Etto last year, he had no idea he’d soon be making ramen noodles right alongside bucatini and fettuccine. But the link between East and West isn’t actually all that obscure.
So when Terrizzi’s Japanese-American friend, Anna Takahashi Gargani, suggested selling ramen beside pasta, the idea didn’t feel so far-fetched. He and Gargani researched the dish and eventually sourced ingredients to design a make-at-home kit to feed four people, offered the first Thursday of every month. Since the program’s launch, ramen kits are promoted via email and social media, and often sell out before the noodles are even made.
I pick up a kit to try composing ramen at home for my family on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Inside, it’s comprised of the noodles and pre-packaged servings of tare (Japanese barbecue sauce), shichimi, nori (dried seaweed), wood-ear mushrooms, scallions and Japanese candy for a sweet ending. I follow the kit’s directions (including foolproof instructions for perfect soft-boiled eggs to lay on top), and dish out a colorful, healthful, yet hearty lunch. Terrizzi told me that each sip of the broth would become more and more concentrated, leading to what he called an “umami-bomb,” and he is right. One twirl of precious, handmade noodles begets another; each spoonful of broth grows successively meatier and more complex.
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FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 81 — Serving san luis obispo county — (805) Audiovisionslo.com489-6979 From Wishlist to SuperbowlPlaylistDealsFreeSameDayDelivery HappensHealing FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, SLO, INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR SERVICES. At our Wednesday evening services, you will hear testimonies of healing and ideas shared on how Christian Science is applied to every challenge in the daily lives of our members. The laws of harmony and health revealed in the Bible apply today. You will be inspired. Healing through prayer is possible. Wednesday Testimony Meeting 7:00 p.m. Sunday Church Services 10:00 a.m. 1326 Garden Street, SLO prayerthatheals.org christianscience.org TUESDAY - SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 1075 COURT STREET, SUITE 204, SAN LUIS OBISPO 805.459.8323 | tohaveandtoholdbridalsalon.com TO HAVE & TO HOLD BRIDAL SALON SPECIALIZES IN AIRBRUSH MAKEUP, HAIR DESIGN, SALON SERVICES, AS WELL AS BRIDAL ROBES AND HAIR ACCESSORIES. WE INVITE YOU TO EXPERIENCE OUR UNIQUE SETTING IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SLO.
82 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 | KITCHEN
the
you’ll be
When
flavorful
BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS
BRAISED CHICKEN preparing this dish, hard-pressed to wait until it’s finished simmering to get a taste of rich, gravy.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 83
1 cup chicken stock 1 tsp ground allspice
¼ cup rough chopped flat leaf parsley Mix flour, salt and pepper for dredging. In a 12” deep fry pan add both oil types and heat to medium high heat. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and add to fry pan one piece at a time. Sear to a golden brown on both sides. Remove chicken and set aside. Drain excess oil and add dried porcini mushroom, garlic, onions and sauté on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add chicken, herbs, red wine and vinegar to fry pan. Bring to a boil then add chicken stock and reduce to a simmer. Add allspice, Worcestershire sauce and cremini mushrooms. Cook on low simmer for 20-30 minutes or until sauce is reduced by half. Serve with polenta or your favorite mashed potatoes and top with chopped parsley.
1 cup flour for dredging
!
1 bay leaf 1 cup red wine 1 ½ cup red wine vinegar
16-20 oz pearl onions peeled and halved or 1 onion sliced
8-10 cloves garlic peeled and smashed with side of knife
2 tsp table grind black pepper
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
BRAISED CHICKEN
1 Tbs kosher salt
6 - 8 pieces of bone-in chicken thighs, wings, or drumsticks with excess skin and fat removed
1 Tbs canola oil 1 Tbs olive oil 2 oz dried porcini (optional)
3-4 sprigs of thyme
6-8 whole sage leaves
JESSIE RIVAS is the owner and chef of The Pairing Knife food truck which serves the Central Coast.
2 cups cremini mushrooms cut in half
SLO LIFE JESSIE’S TIP: This dish is great for dinner parties because you can cook everything up to the 20-30 minute simmer and then turn off the heat and cover until your guests arrive. Keep warm in a 350 degree oven covered and serve when ready.
The vines grow in a warm environment where the hot sun will urge the grapes to produce by day, while the cool night comes in to create the deep complex flavors. The soil is often chalky, white, and light brown dust. Your shoes will be dirty after a walk through the vineyard. Sounds like Paso, right? This is where the good Cabs thrive.
84 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 DEEP RED BY ANDRIA MCGHEE
Sauvignon. This is one of those bottles that you uncork to drink with a hefty steak, like a ribeye, and continue enjoying while you visit with company around the table after dinner.
| WINE NOTES
In the glass, most Cabernet Sauvignons will appear thick with a glowing ruby red hue. This particular wine entices with its deep cherry appearance. It’s the phenols that come from the grape skins, seeds, and stems that produce the beautiful color. They can also take credit for the complexity of taste as well as for preserving a bottled wine over time. The sight of that particular shade of red makes anyone’s mouth water.
Austin Hope // Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 // $50
>> ANDRIA MCGHEE received her advanced degree in wines and spirits from WSET in London and enjoys travel, food, wine, and exercise as a means to enjoy those around her.
This bottle from Austin Hope Wineries in Paso Robles was a treat that a friend passed along to me when visiting my old hometown. It made me proud to see such an example enjoyed by someone who has yet to visit the vineyards here. It is made purely of Cabernet Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre grape varietals—also known as GSMs—from the Central Coast have received considerable recognition worldwide. Visitors arrive here to sample them, and to meet their makers. Cabernet Sauvignon, on the other hand, has been renowned in Napa and Bordeaux, but not traditionally here on the Central Coast. That is starting to change, however, and the California Cab has been making some noise in the industry as of late. The secret is out, but our local vintners have known it for years. Brace yourself for homegrown Cabernet Sauvignon.
What makes a Cab? On the vine, it is deep purple in color. A relatively small grape, it features a tough skin, which puts up a good fight to frost and also combats any rot that may appear in an unexpected late rain. You can see why it can be a farmer’s favorite.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 85 HOME TO EDNA VALLEY’S MOST DRINK IT ALL IN. CHAMISALVINEYARDS.COM 7525 ORCUTT ROAD • SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 805-541-9463 TASTING ROOM OPEN 10AM-5PM DAILY onlivetoarteclectic,smart, 1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com (at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados) Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm 805.927.0374 . ecotoneslandscapes.com . LIC # 767033 Drought-Tolerant, Lifestyle Landscapes Hand Laid Natural Stonework Design . Build . MaintainEST. 1999
Ancient Peaks // Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 // $18
Edna Valley Winery has a great example of Meritage right here on the Central Coast. The first taste conjures a bing cherry, as well as a slight hint of raspberry and blueberry. Though it’s easy to get a “hot mouth”—the burning sensation that sometimes accompanies alcohol of deep red wines—it will not happen here. Instead, you get the pleasure of a smooth, velvety texture. It has such an elegant taste that it could be paired with a meaty braised short rib, or on its own as you linger late into the night with a special group of pals. Even without wine critics to tell us how great the Cabs are, we can simply taste it for ourselves. The recognition for all of the hard work that our region has done in the last 15 to 20 years in wine is lovely indeed. The upcoming 2016 vintage (remember, these wines take a couple of years to debut) in Cabernet Sauvignon is already creating quite a buzz, so keep your eyes and taste buds ready for more exquisite, homegrown deep red Cabs in your future.
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Edna Valley Winery // Meritage 2015 // $40 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes great on its own and also plays together well with other grape types. Have you ever seen the word “Meritage?” Look for it when you are shopping because it means that a winemaker was having even more fun than usual. You can almost substitute the word Meritage for “mixture” or “blend” because it means that it will consist of two or more red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, among others. Why these grapes in particular? They are the grapes that have been blended in the Bordeaux region of France for so many years to enhance the flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Ancient Peaks is as impressive in taste as it is in price. Cabs are known for being expensive, so enjoy this one on a weeknight in with a grilled eggplant dish or a robust stew. No question here, you don’t have to wait for a fancier occasion—be here now, in the moment. Savor the lasting echoes of blackberries with this Cab along with some faint, woody tones of a distant campfire. SLO LIFE
Early picked Cab can taste faintly of green vegetables: asparagus or green bell pepper. Picked too late and it can carry the flavor of a heavy, jammy fruit explosion. A mid-range Cabernet Sauvignon should taste velvety and smooth with flavor colors of brick red and deep blue, reminiscent of late harvest dark cherries, blackberries, and blueberries. You may even detect some different spices, such as cedar, and sometimes vanilla.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 87 Free Admission & Parking Find Us at the Home Expo! Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Avenue &HomeGourmet EXPO FEBRUARY 23 & 24, 2019 SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10am - 4pm Premi Event Wine & Gourmet For more info visit inspiredexpos.com or call 805.772.4600 2976 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY . SANTA MARIA 805-570-0019 . HANSDUUSBLACKSMITH.COMHANSDUUS@GMAIL.COMDUUSHANSBLACKSMITHINC Creators of bench built lighting fixtures by local artisans. The jewelry for your home.
>> | BREW BY
The ubiquitous Shaker Pint glass, widely used in bars and restaurants BRANT MYERS
downshakethe
to serve everything from ice water to iced tea, is being used to serve your beer. My beer better come with free refills if this maddening practice continues! Okay, I need to calm down and start at the beginning. For those of you that are not calling your congressperson, taking to the streets in protest, and burning malt bags on the steps of the Capitol like myself, the Shaker Pint
88 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 is something you have seen a thousand times, but likely never talked about. It’s a simple conical glass with straight walls and a taper of about one inch from the wide mouth at the top to the narrow bottom a half-foot later. A self-proclaimed “American Pint,” the Shaker gets its name from the original use, as a vessel to pop into a stainless steel cocktail shaker then open slightly to drain into a cocktail glass. So, how did a bar utensil become a serving vessel? Well, like many of our antiquated liquor laws still on the books, this piece of work is a holdover from Prohibition where most small breweries serving beer in traditional glassware specific to their country of origin went bankrupt. Traditional small German and Belgian breweries serving tulips, half-pints, and mugs went belly-up, and the only breweries remaining after the repeal were the mass manufacturers of the fizzy yellow stuff that is still being made to this day. Afterward, very few customers cared about what they were drinking and how they were drinking it once the bars reopened, so any glass was tolerated. Bar owners liked the new Shaker Pint due to its sturdy sidewalls, low cost, and especially the ability to stack them high, which increased bar space. Fast F olks, we’re being robbed blind right in front of our eyes. That’s right, someone is taking precious beer from us. And what is beer but liquid gold? I hope I have your attention because this epidemic needs to stop. Let me dive into the highly contentious topic: the pint glass.
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 89 Resilience starts here. stewardship.educationthroughcommunitiesourEnhancingcoastaland Make a difference CreekLands.org Serving the Central Coast since 1964 805-549-8000 hamonohd.com Lic#390619 Life Moves Too Fast for Traditional Braces! Invisalign offers a quicker, easier way to achieve the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted, delivering life changing results in months. the clear alternative to braces Cosmetic | Laser | Metal-Free Dentistry FREE TEETH WHITENING WITH COMPLETED INVISALIGN® TREATMENT! CALL TODAY! 1250 Peach Street Suite E San Luis Obispo (805) 250-0558 www.slotownsmiles.com •• •
BRANT MYERS is a 13-year veteran of the Central Coast craft beer industry who enjoys sharing his passion with anyone who doesn’t put an orange in their hefeweiezen. forward 90 years, and we are still stuck with these abominations of proper glassware. Politics may have changed, but bars and restaurants still see the bottom line with a catch-all glass that’s cheap, sturdy, and stackable. Now that we have some background let me return to my rant regarding this highway robbery. What does the Shaker Pint take from us?
Youutensil.see,the proper pint is one served in a 20-ounce glass. Order a bourbon barrel-aged stout, fruited sour, or double IPA and you should get a smaller pour in a tulip glass, but order a pint and you’ll want the best vessel your money can rent. My opinion on the best pint glass is one commonly called a Nonic; it has a thin sidewall for temperature retention that has been strengthened with a slight bulge to trap aroma and comes with the added benefit of acting as a grip for when you’ve had a few. You can pour 16 ounces into them all day, have a nice thick foam layer, and still leave a little gap to keep the bar dry. The tops are also less prone to chipping hence the “no-nick” name, and they stack without sticking.
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Now, for the last, and worst, theft of our liquid gold reserves: the beer itself. You see, as opposed to a 20-ounce British Imperial Pint (more on that in a minute) the Shaker is 16 ounces, which is the proper U.S. liquid pint amount, so what is the issue here?
The first act of theft: enjoyment. Any thick glass will instantly begin to transfer the ambient warmth of the glass itself into your beer while simultaneously removing the cold from the beer to chill the glass—basic heat transference principles at work (and, if you think the Shaker gets me riled up, ask me about chilled/frosted glasses). The second element of theft is that wideopen mouth at the top of your glass. Where is the head retention for the foam, the place where all the aromatics play for your enjoyment with every quaff? That beer may have a thin line of white stuff on top resembling a 7th grader’s mustache when it’s set down on your table, but take one sip, and it’s gone. So now you have a warm, flat beer beginning from the moment it was poured. Aroma, mouthfeel, carbonation, temperature—all gone thanks to the larcenous Shaker Pint.
Well, friends, you’re getting a 14-ounce pour into that glass to account for the fleeting foam in addition to the room at the top to make sure nothing spills while it’s getting to you. That’s twelve percent of your “pint” gone because of this antiquated mixer carried forward from nearly a century ago. Please don’t serve my food on a floor tile, my wine in an old pickle jar, or my beer in a bar
What could go wrong?
Sure, I have Shaker Pint glasses at home, my guests use them all the time for their water, and my toddler loves his juice with the fun brewery designs on the outside. Would I ever drink a beer out of them? Well, you can pry a Nonic glass out of my calm, temperature-correct, frugal hands because at least I’ll die happy with twelve percent more beer in my belly. So, next time you order a beer, remember to stand on the bar top and begin your chant: “No Shaker! Nonic!”
SLO LIFE
FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 91 No matter what your fortunes are, Dr. Daniel will give you the smile you need to make your dreams come true! Specializing in Smiles Dr. Daniel Orthodontics 1356 Marsh Street . San Luis Obispo (805) 543-3105 . drdanielortho.com
CO-CREATION PROJECT
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COMEDY NIGHT Weekly comedy show at Bang the Drum Brewery featuring touring and local comics all for one dollar. Plus beer, food truck, and raffle giveaways. February 7 - 28 bangthedrumbrewery.com//
Robert Thies brings the perfect balance of drama and lyricism needed for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #4. He then takes you on a tender and introspective journey with Debussy’s Girl With The Flaxen Hair to which the artworks of the evening are beautifully choreographed. Orchestra Novo, led by Michael Nowak, will also be performing Aaron Copland’s delight-filled and romantic Appalachian Spring. February 10 // orchestranovo.com
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
PLEIN AIR PAINTING
This Tony Award-nominated musical is inspired by the legendary recording session on December 4, 1956, when an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. In this blockbuster musical experience, the actors play the instruments, sing the songs and take on the characters of these four icons of popular music. Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary December night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, betrayal, and hit songs like Blue Suede Shoes, Walk the Line, Sixteen Tons, Hound Dog, and Great Balls of Fire. Celebrate the kings of rock ‘n roll at our Million Dollar Gala Night on Friday, February 15th. Enjoy a preshow reception featuring generous hors d’oeuvres, martinis and wonderful Central Coast wine. February 8 – March 10 // slorep.org
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FEBRUARY
| HAPPENINGS
The more than 50 dancers of one of Russia’s foremost ballet companies imbue vibrant performances with the timeless tradition of classical Russian ballet. This full-scale production of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovski’s crown jewel is sumptuous in its scope, featuring choreography by Russia’s legendary Marius Petipa. February 10 // operaslo.org
Morro Bay Art Association is proud to present renowned, local artist, Ken Christensen, for a two-day workshop. Christensen is a classic, on-site landscape painter influenced by French Impressionists and Fauves. February 8-9 artcentermorrobay.org//
SLEEPING BEAUTY
NONAME Noname (born Fatimah Warner) is an American artist from Chicago, Illinois, who blurs the lines of poetry and rap through the music she creates. Noname released her debut project entitled “Telefone” which was 3 years in the making and highly anticipated by fans and media alike. Instantly the project gained critical acclaim with a rave review by Pitchfork and landing her praise from major outlets like Rolling Stones, Complex, and Dazed & Confused. Special Guest Elton will open the show.
February 21 // festivalmozaic.com
February 22 - 23 // slo-beer-fest.com
February 27 // pacslo.org
Celebrate the brewers of craft beer and raise a toast to their unique and wonderful creations. Enjoy special beer and food pairings as well as educational beer seminars.
NOTABLE ENCOUNTER
SLO BEER
CRAFT
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Inspired by the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and curated by musical director, multi-instrumentalist, composer and conductor Damien Sneed, We Shall Overcome showcases a repertoire from across the African-American music traditions that electrified generations of civil rights activists and defenders. Interwoven with spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches, an awe-inspiring assemblage of vocalists tie together a living lineage of music and culture that includes traditional gospel, modern gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals.
WE SHALL OVERCOME
February 20 // eventbrite.com
Join music director Scott Yoo for an encore presentation of his Notable Encounter exploring Bach’s second partita for solo violin. He will take you on a one-hour tour behind this masterpiece for the violin, which has been dubbed the “Everest” of the violin repertoire. He will discuss Bach’s life, the historical context of the work, and will offer his own perspectives on learning and playing the piece. Scott will conclude the evening with a full performance of the entire Violin Partita.
San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre 888 Morro Street, San Luis Obispo slorep.org • FEB805.786.24408–MAR10 Wed-Sun@7 pm / Sat-Sun@2 pm Join us for the greatest jam session in history! SENIOR DISCOUNT . Mon & Tues 10 to 2 . $15 1351 Monterey Street . San Luis Obispo (805)783-2887 . clippersbarber.com Dr. Arnie Horwitz HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS Are you feeling overwhelmed and confused? I can help. Specializing in - Relationship Conflicts - Parenting & Self-Esteem - Separation and Divorce - Personal Life Planning - Grief and Loss - Career Uncertainty Therapy/Counseling/Coaching Dr. Arnie Horwitz • 30 yrs. 805-541-2752Experiencewww.doctorarnie.com
FESTIVAL
THE MISEDUCATION OF THE AMERICAN ELITE
SLO Classical Academy will host William Deresiewicz, the best-selling author of “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.” As a professor at Yale, Deresiewicz saw something that troubled him deeply. Some of the nation’s brightest minds were adrift when it came to thinking critically and creatively and finding a sense of purpose. “Excellent Sheep” takes a sharp look at the high-pressure conveyor belt that culminates in the skewed applications Deresiewicz saw firsthand as a member of Yale’s admissions committee. It is essential, says Deresiewicz, that college be a time for self-discovery, when students can establish their own values and measures of success. March 7 // sloclassical.org
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HAPPENINGS
Sponsors, raffle donors and teams are needed for our 5th Annual Hope for the Homeless Golf Tournament presented by Pismo Beach Golf Course. All proceeds from this event support the efforts of the 5Cities Homeless Coalition to transform lives for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in South County. Register your 5-player team online or complete and return a 2019 Player Registration Form no later than February 22. March 2 // 5chc.org
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HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS GOLF TOURNAMENT
PINE BASKETNEEDLEWEAVING
ART AFTER DARK Art After Dark is a free evening of art, community, and culture! Enjoy this selfguided tour of galleries and non-traditional art venues (think salons, jewelers, museums, etc.) showcasing the work of local visual, literary and performing artists. Held the first Friday of the month in downtown San Luis Obispo and surrounding neighborhoods. March 1 // eartsobispo.org 6 9 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Head to the SLO Botanical Garden and explore the art of pine needle basket weaving in the Oak Glen Pavilion. Artist Elizabeth Bear will guide attendees through the process of creating beautiful, fragrant and sustainable pieces of artwork at this intimate workshop. “A basket reflects the person who makes it… There’s no machine that can make a basket,” states Ms. Bear. Just bring sharp scissors, imagination and a bagged lunch, as Ms. Bear provides all materials as well as her masterful insight. Each participant will make their own basket and start a second basket to complete at home. This intimate workshop also includes a lecture on sustainable harvesting and tree kindness. March 2 // eventbrite.com
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FEB/MAR 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 95 First Presbyterian Church is committed to expressing our love of God through inspirational worship. fpcslo.org981 Marsh Street (corner of Marsh and Morro) First Service: 8:45 am Education Hour: 10 am Second Service: 11 am childcare available
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BLACK MAMBAZO No group is more closely identified with African song—some might say with world music itself—than this vibrant South African nine-member vocal ensemble. Since 1987, when they were introduced to mainstream America with the release of Paul Simon’s groundbreaking Graceland album, these African troubadours have traveled the world with the uplifting, polyrhythmic harmonies of their homeland. The group has won five Grammy Awards, including one this year for Best World Music Album for their recent Shaka Zulu Revisted release. March 12 // pacslo.org
PACIFIC COAST CLASSICS: BIG SUR INSPIRATIONS
An evening to change the way you think about classical music with electric violinist Tracy Silverman. The evening will also feature Schumann’s No. 4—a widely interpreted piece, frequently subjected to modifications in tempo, orchestration, and expression by conductors; making every live performance of the piece a unique experience. And enjoy a tribute to the Central Coast with Dharma, which features a huge range of percussion instruments, including a set of tuned gongs, keyboard samplers, and even two flower pots composed by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Adams.
March 12 - 17 // slofilmfest.org
As one of the premier events on the Central Coast, visitors come from all over the country to enjoy a weekend of local artisan goods, fun in the sun, live music, and of course an extensive marketplace of the finest sea glass art. Whether a sea glass fan or someone looking to learn about this world-wide hobby, the festival has something for everyone. March 9 // cayucosseaglass.com
Film, wine, fun—The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival will once again attract stars, great films, and film and wine enthusiasts to the Central Coast of California, as it celebrates its 25th annual festival. A premier six-day annual event, the SLOIFF showcases contemporary and classic film screenings in a wide variety of venues, from the city’s classic art deco Fremont Theatre, to the popular independent Palm Theatre, as well as a number of unexpected venues from the wine country of Paso Robles to the seaside towns of Avila Beach and Pismo Beach.
HAPPENINGSLADYSMITH
SAN LUIS FESTIVALINTERNATIONALOBISPOFILM
CAYUCOS SEA GLASS FESTIVAL
March 9 // slosymphony.org
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TRIATHLON SERIES
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ZINFANDEL WEEKEND
Once a year Paso Robles toasts our heritage variety, Zinfandel. The 3-day celebration features winery events, a Zin seminar, and the Z After Party, pairing Zin with dessert and live jazz. March 24 // pasowine.com
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15TH ANNUAL MARCH
This outrageous musical comedy is lovingly ripped off from the film classic, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” with script by original Python Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Idle and John Du Prez. Follow the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen, and bright, show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences worldwide are eating up Spamalot! March 14 // pacslo.org
CATTLEMEN’S WESTERN ART SHOW & SALE
The nationally renowned 29th art show and sale will be held at the Paso Robles Event Center. This show offers all original art that has not been displayed at the show before. This highly successful national show includes 50 extremely talented professional western artists. All the artists will be available to meet and talk to the public during all hours of the show. Don’t miss the Friday Night Reception or the Cattlemen’s BBQ Saturday and Sunday. Proceeds go to sponsor agricultural activities for 4-H, FFA, and Cal Poly. March 29 cattlemenswesternartshow.com-31
The Cal Poly Triathlon Team is hosting the 15th annual March Triathlon Series at Lopez Lake in Arroyo Grande. All proceeds from the event go directly to the team to help provide athletes with discounted race entries and travel fees to other collegiate races throughout California, as well as Collegiate Nationals. Online registration closes March 21 and is open to anyone over 13 years old. March 24 // marchtriathlonseries.com 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT!
100 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019 starts with Haven Properties.
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