SLO LIFE Magazine OctNov 2018

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LIFE SLO magazine

CONTENTS

Volume 9 Number 5 Oct/Nov 2018

42 JORY BRIGHAM

We check in with the furniture designer to talk business and personal success.

Publisher’s Message 16 Info 18 On the Cover 20 In Box 14

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Briefs

Check out the latest news highlight reel.

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Timeline

We take a look at local events from the past two months.

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View

After climbing a hillside overlooking the city of San Luis Obispo, MARK NAKAMURA captured the perfect moment.

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| CONTENTS

Q&A

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64

Ready to take the helm at Cuesta College, incoming president JILL STEARNS shares her thoughts about the local institution.

Now Hear This

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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.

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Guided by his punk rock roots, local winemaker and singer-songwriter MARK ADAMS reveals how his grit, determination, and do-it-yourself tendencies have led to his success.

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Real Estate Health

Vaping is on the rise with flavors like cotton candy and bubble gum marketed to a youthful audience. After investigating the permanent risks of puffing the toxic stuff, we here at SLO LIFE share the findings. .

On the Rise

With a passion for performing arts, San Luis Obispo High School senior ELLA LIVINGSTON is well on her way to an entertaining future.

Family

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Ready for an adventure-packed day, PADEN HUGHES hits the rails for a train trip through the hills to Paso Robles.

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Taste

More than just ground-up chick peas fried and served piping hot, JAIME LEWIS explores this popular Mediterranean comfort food: Falafel.

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K itchen

Tapping into his wife’s Italian heritage and recipes, CHEF JESSIE RIVAS creates his unique version of the traditional Bolognese sauce.

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Wine Notes

Exploring more than the taste of wine on its own, ANDRIA MCGHEE steps into a tasting room to discover how the ambiance, service, history, and food pairings create the whole wine experience.

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Dwelling

We take a look at the classic charm of the BARBIERI Craftsman home located in the downtown Mission Garden Tract.

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Brew

Beer aficionado extraordinaire BRANT MYERS serves up a history lesson on the stories behind local breweries.

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Happenings Looking for something to do? We’ve got you covered.

Check out the calendar to discover the best events around the Central Coast in October and November.

Singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and extraordinary gentleman Damon Castillo has been electrifying audiences with his unique blend of funk, pop and soul for more than 20 years. Denim by H&M, sweater by Banana Republic, Von Zipper sunglasses from Moondoggies, and classic Puma basketball shoes from Shoe Palace. www.sanluisobispocollection.com #sanluisobispocollection

Shop like a Local.

40 world-class brands in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo.

Cou r t S tre e t • Montere y S tre e t • Downtow n Ce n tre OCT/NOV 2018

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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

1-800-COLLECT I was wrapping up an interview the other day when my phone vibrated. Glancing down, I could see it was my daughter, Geneva. Her text read, “Dad come pick me up at the gym.”

Not happy to cut my conversation short, I mostly took exception to the tone of the message. There was no “Please,” no “Thank you,” and I was right in the middle of something.

She was the only one there, and I spotted her black and yellow SLO High hoodie instantly as I rolled up to the curb. “Sorry about that, Dad,” she said as she climbed into the car. “Geneva, what? You don’t even bother to say, ‘Please’ anymore?” I asked.

“I’m really sorry, Dad, but my phone was running out of power; it was at 1%. See, look,” she said showing me her phone, “it’s totally dead now—and I wanted to make sure the message went through.”

“I doubt that typing out ‘Please’ would have drained the battery,” I retorted, which was also the opening salvo of my soapbox lecture. As I droned on about how busy my day had been, how I had to leave my interview early, how I still had 40,000 things remaining on my to-do list, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Sometimes I even bore myself, and this was one of those times. It was almost as if I was watching the scene unfold, outside of my body from the back seat, as I droned on with my high-and-mighty self-righteousness. That’s when it hit me. Her message was nearly identical to the one I sent to my mom back in the day. Only it wasn’t an iPhone; it was 1-800-COLLECT. Up to that point, to summon a ride home, there were two options and both required a payphone. Either you could drop two dimes into the slot—money that could have been put to better use, like buying Kit Kats, or Whatchamacallits, or baseball cards—to place a call. Or, you could dial “0” and talk to the crotchety lady on the other end of the line to make a collect call. Considering the number of rides my younger sisters and I required to all of our various sports and activities, those expenses were stacking up. That’s when I found a workaround.

After spelling “collect” with the touch-tone keypad, a chirpy recorded voice greeted me. “Thank you for calling 1-800-COLLECT, please enter the phone number you wish to call. Following the prompt, clearly state your name.” When the beep stopped, I rattled off as fast as I could, auctioneer-style, into a single amalgamated word: “Mom-come-pick-me-up-at-the-gym!” Seconds later, the rotary phone framed by the floral-print wallpaper above the kitchen table where my mom was grading English papers rang, startling her out of her flow. “Hello?” she answered.

The chirpy recorded voice stated, “This is 1-800-COLLECT. You have a collect call from,” and there was a brief pause followed by my recording, “Momcome-pick-me-up-at-the-gym!” The voice then asked Mom if she agreed to the charges. That’s when she hung up, finished filling the essay with red ink, and grabbed her keys.

I pulled the sweatshirt tight around my neck, doing my best to hold in my body heat, as I strained to see through the voracious Tule fog. Did she get the message? I wondered and worried. Every car that approached, I willed to morph into our old Volkswagen van. Knowing how much the German hippie mobile hated the cold, I whispered a prayer to myself, hoping it would start this time.

The familiar putt-putt-putt gave it away. I heard the geriatric seven-seater before I saw it. Pulling hard twice to unstick the front door, I said, “I’m sorry, Mom. Practice got canceled.” That’s when she let me have it. “What about saying, ‘Please?’” she asked. “You know that this is my paper grading time. Do you know how busy I am? I’ve got 40,000 things to do today.”

I don’t know where she came up with 40,000, but it was always 40,000, never 28,500 or “a ton of stuff ” or some other thing. What’s interesting to me now is that’s exactly how much I’ve got to do in any given day, at least that is what I tell my kids—40,000.

“Mom, you don’t understand. That’s not how 1-800-COLLECT works. I’ve got to keep it super short, otherwise they will charge us for the call.”

As if behind a drum kit, she lifted her right foot at the same time pressing down her left on the clutch while dropping the shifter from third to fourth.

“Really? That’s how it works?” she wondered aloud. “Be sure to tell your sisters about it, okay.”

I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who has 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.

Live the SLO Life!

Get the story within the story by going to GrowWithTom.com and subscribing to Tom’s Bombs to receive the next installment called “Decomposing Room.”

Tom Franciskovich tom@slolifemagazine.com 14

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T I L E S H O W R O O M & N AT U R A L S T O N E S L A B YA R D SHOWROOM HOURS MON-FRI 10-5, SAT 10-3 SLMARBLE.COM, 5452 ENDA RD OCT/NOV 2018

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LIFE SLO magazine

4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM info@slolifemagazine.com (805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax PUBLISHER Tom Franciskovich CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sheryl Disher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paden Hughes Dawn Janke Jaime Lewis Andria McGhee Brant Myers Jessie Rivas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Seth Doyle Dave Garth Mark Nakamura Jennifer Pallian Vanessa Plakias Duncan Shaffer Talen de St. Croix Emily Wren CONTRIBUTIONS Have some comments or feedback about something you’ve read here?

Or, do you have something on your mind that you think everyone should know about? Submit your story ideas, events, recipes, and announcements by visiting us online at slolifemagazine.com and clicking “Share Your Story” or emailing us at info@slolifemagazine.com. Be sure to include your full name and city for verification purposes. Contributions chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.

ADVERTISING If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom Franciskovich by phone at (805) 543-8600 or by email at tom@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com/advertise and we will send you a complete media kit along with testimonials from happy advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ready to live the SLO Life all year long? It’s quick and easy! Just log on to slolifemagazine.com/subscribe. It’s just $24.95 for the year. And don’t forget to set your friends and family up with a subscription, too. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

NOTE The opinions expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect those of SLO LIFE Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.

CIRCULATION, COVERAGE, AND ADVERTISING RATES Complete details regarding circulation, coverage, and advertising rates, space, sizes and similar information are available to prospective advertisers. Please call or email for a media kit. Closing date is 30 days before date of issue.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR info@slolifemagazine.com 4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Letters chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.

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| ON THE COVER

A S NE A K P E E K

BEHIND the scenes WITH JORY BRIGHAM

“I wanted to do a little book, a catalog showing the furniture, so we did a photo shoot at SLO High. We heard that you can turn the lights on there at the football field, so I rounded up some friends and we got all dressed up in ‘70s gear, drove a muscle car out there in the middle of the night and played Ping Pong on the table I had just built. It was hilarious.”

“My kids are 7 and 9 now, and my dream—my dream has always been—I’ve always wanted my kids to grow up in the country.”

“I’m really proud of this chair. We call it “Hank,” and it’s really tough to make. Not a single 90-degree angle on the whole thing.”

“I remember the first time I was told that my furniture would be featured in a magazine, it was pretty exciting. I said, ‘Oh my gosh, get ready.’”

SLO LIFE

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Because you deserve the very best representation.

Let The Avenue guide you home.

THE AVENUE CENTRAL COAST REALTY REAL ESTATE | IN-HOUSE MARKETING | PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 1 3 3 3 J O H N S O N AV E , SA N LU I S O B I S P O, C A 9 3 4 0 1 | ( 8 0 5 ) 5 4 8 2 6 7 0 | T H E AV E N U E S LO. C O M

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| IN BOX

Take us with you!

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 MOUNT COOK, NEW ZEALAND

NAIROBI, KENYA

THEA and COLE RAGSDALE

POVLJANA, CROATIA

RUDY and JACKIE BACHMANN with boys JUSTICE and KENYON FAIR and nephew JOSEPH SIMARD couldn’t pass this colorful fruit and vegetable stand without stopping to taste the sweetest nectar only the Motherland can provide... and, yes, it’s organic!

GRANGEVILLE, IDAHO

ETIENNE and SYBIL BRENNAN EMMERSEN and ELAINE HILL 20

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ALINA DZUKOLA and JACOB DEVOR

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

KARA WOODRUFF and DAUGHTERS

FREDERIKSBORG CASTLE, COPENHAGEN

MARCIA and BILL BESS

ALPIGLEN, BERN, SWITZERLAND

AUDREY, CONNIE, and CLINT PEARCE

MOROGORO, TANZANIA

CHARLIE and NANCY CRANE, MIKE and JONI STALLINGS with guide ALEX CHARLES at the hippo pond in the Mikumi Wildlife Park.

ALBERTA, CANADA BASS LAKE, CALIFORNIA

NORA AND PIPER CULLEN

JESSE ENGLERT

We went on a two week RV trip and one of the highlights was Lake Louise. We always travel with SLO LIFE Magazine, waiting for the perfect opportunity for a pic!

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You showed us!

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

DANUBE RIVER CRUISE

PATTI and JERRY HEMPENIUS

ANNIE and ALBERT YU (40 years) with BRIAN and DEBI SCHWARTZ (23 years) celebrated their anniversaries at the Biltmore.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Our group, organized by Brian & Johnine Talley, was 1/3 of the ship! We had a fabulous time visiting Austria, Czech Republic, Slavakia, & Hungary. Cruise began in Vienna & ended in Budapest.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

JOEL and KERRY SHEETS

TONI FLEMING and BRUISER

US OPEN, NEW YORK MUNICH, GERMANY

MARY and MIKE ALLWEIN 22

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Celebrating Lucia Landeros’ Quinceañera: MONICA GARCIA, MARTIN LANDEROS, HALEY SARABIA, JOSEPHINE SEPULVEDA, EMIRI SARABIA, LUCIA LANDEROS, PABLO LANDEROS, JÜRGEN BRAUN, EVE-VA SARABIA, ANIKA BRAUN, SANTOS SARABIA, CLARITA LANDEROS, PANCHO LANDEROS, SIGRID BRAUN.

SCARBOROUGH, ENGLAND

TICINO, SWITZERLAND

DARIN WARD

MYKONOS, GREECE

MAX, KATHLEEN, RICK, and KAREN MUNN

This photo was taken at the Church of San Giovanni Battista designed by Mario Botta in Mogno Village.

GARY and DARLENE TROWER, JANICE SMITH, and DEXTER MACWHORTER

ALBEROBELLO, ITALY

SCHILTHORN SUMMIT, SWITZERLAND

TIM, MICHELLE, HENRY, and VIOLET AURAN

BRUCE and LEE TEDONE RICCARDO CAPELLI, and EMILY TEDONE OCT/NOV 2018

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SLO LIFE travels!

HUNTINGTON LAKE, CALIFORNIA

LEH, INDIA

ALAN LATTA, DDS and ROXANA CRESPO, Dental Hygienist, working with the nonprofit, Global Dental Relief, to provide dental services to children. Leh, India is situated in the Himalayas at 11,000 feet, and is a starting point for many trekkers.

We enjoy SLO LIFE Magazine for its uplifting articles on people and events in our community. Here is a photo of AIDAN and CINDY HILL taken in the High Sierras. China Peak is in the background.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

ST. PETER’S BASILICA, VATICAN CITY

JOSEPHINE SEPULVEDA bringing SLO LIFE Magazine to see the Pope at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

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MARY WESNOUSKY and CAROLYN SMITH

OB Hospitalist Program P R OV I D I N G A N A D D E D L AY E R O F S A F E T Y F O R W O M E N W H O G I V E B I R T H AT O U R H O S P I TA L You want the best care for you and your baby. And so do we. Our team of OB Hospitalists are dedicated solely to enhancing quality of care for Sierra Vista moms-to-be. Always on-site, our doctors will support your doctor or midwife and your birth plan to help give you peace of mind when your baby arrives.

Elevating the Standard of Women’s Healthcare on the Central Coast SierraVistaRegional.com/OBHospitalist Tour our Birth Center: (800) 483-6387

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Trekking with you!

GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, D.C.

MALLORCA, SPAIN

MACKENZIE (age 5), SARAH, and BEN HAWKINS just reached Mile 0 after cycling 350 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. along the historic Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath trails.

LALUSH FAMILY

DANVILLE, VERMONT

CORY and LAURA HEIDEN HAWKINS 96TH ANNUAL FAMILY REUNION

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, city, state, phone number or email address (for authentication purposes).

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E X P E C T B E T T E R E XPEC T BE T TER

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| BRIEFS

The number of oak trees Justin Vineyards and Winery has applied to remove as part of its expansion of a bottling facility in Paso Robles, which is a few thousand less than the winery—wholly owned by The Wonderful Co. of Beverly Hills—illegally cut down on its Adelaida property two years ago.

“The trampoline didn’t bounce like I was expecting it to.”

San Luis Obispo firefighter Thomas Kofron, 31, who fell during the final round while attempting to navigate the Jumping Spider obstacle on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.”

22% The percentage of San Luis Obispo County residents who can afford to buy a median priced single-family home, currently at $618,500. The housing affordability index reached a ten-year low and mirrored data indicating that just 25% of California residents are able to afford a home in the Golden State.

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“Appreciate ya, brother.”

Rapper Snoop Dogg in a shout out to Greg Steinberger, owner of Doc Burstein’s Ice Cream Lab, who recruited SLO Baked Bakery to assist in the construction of a massive, 100-inch-long ice cream sandwich estimated to weigh 300 pounds, for an episode of VH1’s “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party.”

$410,957 The total 2017 earnings of San Luis Obispo County employee, Dr. Daisy Ilano, the highest-paid government employee, who serves as Medical Director and Psychiatrist.

“I first met met [sic] Neal not long after my father died…”

The first line of the classic Jack Kerouac novel, On the Road, which was originally written by typewriter on a single, continuous roll of paper. The scroll was unformatted and replete with spelling and grammar errors, just as in the first line with the repeated use of the word “met” in 1951. When it was published as a book six years later, the opening line was changed to, “I first met Dean not long after my wife and I split up.” The original manuscript, a 120-foot roll of paper known to fans as “The Scroll,” was on display at the San Luis Obispo Library this summer, as Kerouac aficionados traded stories about the writer’s brief stay in SLO when he worked locally in 1953 as a railroad brakeman.

345,000 The number of gallons of water it took to refill Heart Castle’s Neptune Pool, which had been empty for the past five years as it underwent a $5.4 million renovation.

“My dad always taught me to finish what I begin.”

Morro Bay resident Jack Smith, 61, on his second attempt in as many years to be the first to ride across the United States on an electric skateboard.

8% The City of San Luis Obispo received its first Spotlight Award from The Institute for Local Government for cutting its electricity use by eight percent since 2010.

“We share the community’s anger, and will continue to work with the city to rectify the situation.”

Mitch Woolpert, Compass Health spokesman, commenting on the unauthorized teardown of Alex Bar-B-Q in Shell Beach, originally built in the early 1930s. SLO LIFE

T. KEITH

r u O ! s d For o o h r o b h g i e N

Call | (805) 543–3118

Visit | GurneeForSLO.com

Email | GurneeForSLO@gmail.com

w w w. G u r n e e Fo r S L o . c o m |

OCT/NOV LIFE MAGAZINE Paid for

by T. KEITH 2018 GURNEE|for SLO SLO MAYOR 2018 | FPPC # 140635829

| TIMELINE

Around the County AUGUST ’18 8/8

The head of San Luis Obispo County’s waste management agency, Bill Worrell, was abruptly placed on leave after a private investigator uncovered $445,077 in charges—taxpayer funds—that appear to have been personal in nature.

The Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), which was formed in 1994 under a joint agreement among the county’s seven cities, requested receipts and documentation from Worrell, which he failed to provide.

Additionally, the investigator discovered that contractors who had received lucrative IWMA contracts had done so without going through a competitive bidding process. The District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating Worrell and, absent a felony conviction, the now retired executive will continue to receive his benefits.

8/22

In a major win for local policymakers, an $85 million bill intended to mitigate the short-term effects of Diablo Canyon’s closure passed and was later signed into law by the governor. The bipartisan bill, co-authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), directs the California Public Utilities Commission to fully fund the mitigation effort as well as $350 million for employee retention and retraining.

California’s last remaining nuclear facility is scheduled to close by 2025, and is forecasted to leave as much as a $1 billion annual shortfall to the local economy in its wake.

8/22

Following a marathon five-hour packed-house meeting, the San Luis Obispo City Council authorized an increase of construction for buildings on upper Monterey Street up to 75 feet tall, while the closely watched tiny house ordinance was sent back to staff for further refinement before going up for vote. The council also approved new electric vehicle parking requirements for new construction, as well as bicycle parking with lockers and showers, considerations for adding child care facilities as part of a push for affordable housing, and new standards for hillside developments that require maintaining a natural appearance.

8/18

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors pondered the expansion of eight large land tracts for rezoning and future housing developments.

Although each of the locations face significant hurdles for eventual approval, such as water shortages and lack of infrastructure, and unacceptable distances from services including police and fire stations, the county identified the following: 1) West Paso Robles; 2) West Templeton; 3) South Atascadero, east of Highway 101; 4) Pozo Road area, south of Santa Margarita; 5) Los Osos Valley Road area, near San Luis Obispo; 6) Edna Valley area, southeast of the San Luis Obispo city limits; 7) South Arroyo Grande/North Nipomo, west of Highway 101; and Southeast Nipomo, east of Highway 101.

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8/25

A report published by the real estate website Trulia found that it costs $636 less per month for Cal Poly students to live on campus rather than off campus. The study examined 48 universities nationwide, and compared rents for on-campus rentals versus in-town rentals. In the city of San Luis Obispo, the average cost for housing is $1,553 per person per month, while the rate for oncampus housing is $917. While some Cal Poly officials have expressed a desire for housing 65% of its students on campus as part of its new master plan, this figure contrasts sharply with the last academic year when less than 30% of its students were housed on campus. Additionally, many city policymakers see increased student housing as a key component toward easing San Luis Obispo’s housing crisis, as more of the existing units in town, currently occupied by students, would become available for permanent residents instead.

SEPTEMBER ’18

9/3

Morro Bay moved to the head of a list of potential sites for an offshore wind farm, as the U.S. Navy entered talks with Seattle-based Trident Winds concerning development of such a project a few miles out to sea. The site, which is considered ideal because of its existing power infrastructure that had been mothballed with the closure of “The Stacks,” as they are known to locals, face challenges concerning zoning as well as objections within the fishing industry. However, the state continues its aggressive push toward clean, renewable energy as the Assembly recently approved a bill that would require California to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2045. It was reported that Trident Winds expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with the City of Morro Bay this fall as the first step in the process.

9/5

In a politically fraught decision, the San Luis Obispo City Council approved the highly controversial Anholm District bike lanes. After many meetings and many hours of debate, the council was split on the decision, 3 to 2, with Heidi Harmon casting the deciding vote in favor of the project (Carlyn Christianson and Andy Pease both voted “No,” while Dan Rivoire and Aaron Gomez voted “Yes”). The $3 million project put long-time residents along the Chorro Street corridor at odds with local bicycle advocates, and clearly defined the central issue for the upcoming election which pits the incumbent mayor, Heidi Harmon, against her challenger, an outspoken project opponent, Keith Gurnee.

9/8

Pismo Beach Councilman and California Coastal Commissioner Erik Howell was ordered by a judge to pay $959,307 in attorney’s fees and court costs related to corruption charges from 2016. Howell, who was a defendant in the case along with four others, was found to be personally liable for the judgment according to San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor in a 12-page ruling. Despite the findings, Pismo Beach has failed to run a candidate against Howell, who campaigns uncontested again this year for another term in office.

9/11

Oil companies dump money, nearly $1 million as of this writing, into the campaign on Measure G, otherwise known as the “fracking measure.” Vastly outspending supporters of the legislation by a 7 to 1 clip, which would permanently ban fracking in San Luis Obispo County, multinational oil conglomerates from outside the area represented the largest donors in the effort to stop the passage of Measure G. The local, grassroots group, Coalition to Protect San Luis Obispo County, has received far less funding and expects the gap to widen, citing a similar vote in Monterey County which led to oil companies spending $5 million in opposition to their fracking ban, which ultimately passed but remains tied up in court.

9/19

As the San Luis Obispo County Jail continued to be among the leaders in the nation when it comes to inmate deaths, the Board of Supervisors elected to outsource medical care at the facility. Carty Holland, whose son, Andrew, died at the jail last year after being placed in a restraint chair for 46 hours, expressed his skepticism, as he cited the need for culture change at the Sheriff ’s Department, stating, “You have got to look at the root of the problem.” The handoff to the private service provider is expected to take up to six months, but will likely come at a slightly lower cost overall. SLO LIFE OCT/NOV 2018

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Tim & Kathleen Choal, Jen Cusack, Tim Morrow & Michelle, Carrie Cusack

Damon & Andrea Castillo

Cait Johnson & Céleigh Chapman

Sarah Johnson

Trudie Safreno

Todd Lemay

Foundation for the Performing Arts Center

Sidecar Loading Dock Party

Megan Glimpse, Steffanie Medina, Craig & Skye Christakos, Candace & Bert Forbes, Daniel Glimpse, Nelson Medina

Hundreds of arts supporters gathered Saturday, September 22 on the loading dock at the Performing Arts Center to support the Foundation for the Performing Arts. Guests were treated to delicious hor d’oeuvres and pop up surprises. Funds raised will help bring 12,000 students to the PAC next year to experience live performances for free.

For more information visit fpacslo.org Photo credit to Heraldo Family Photo 32

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Renee Periat & Lea Brandy

Gary Hale & Terri Kahn

Janet Windman & Jill Anderson

Leann Standish, Courtney Meznarich & Adam Montiel

Cooper Hawes & Kiko Chicas Aleman

Cliff & Lynette Branch

Tricia Kobielusz & Lindsey Miller

Sandy Dunn, Erin Steed, Leann Standish, Kathy Coull, Martha Kettelkamp

Drew Silvaggio & Kevin Harris

Johnny Chavez & Jeff Al-Mashat

Ben and Pat McAdams & Dr. Minke WinklerPrins

Warren Baker

Ty & Trudie Safreno

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Kristin Hoover

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| VIEW

MOOD LIGHTING PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK NAKAMURA After 32 years in the classroom, Mark Nakamura knows how quickly the mood can change: mostly it depends on how near or far it is until recess. Movement, light, fresh air—those are the ingredients for happiness. That much he understands.

It was a breezy afternoon, not long ago, when Nakamura and the family who had hired him to do their portraits trudged their way up the Tower Trail from San Luis Obispo High School to the top of the hill behind it. The sky was filled with wispy, stringy clouds just like the teacher/photographer liked it.

He knew it would lead to something good, but it did not matter because everyone was having fun and the weight of his Canon 5D Mark IV never felt heavy over his shoulder, more like another appendage, familiar, a pendulum swaying with his gait.

The photo shoot went well, just as they always did after a long walk. But, as he clicked away, zeroing the viewfinder on his happy clients, he became distracted by the scene unfurling itself on his starboard side: a young couple bidding the day farewell.

Excusing himself for a second, he whirled around and caught it. At the precise moment the girl’s smile widened to its apex reflecting back the radiance she was spying from a distant star falling slow motion into the ocean, he pressed the button. Click.

One moment—a mood—was forever frozen in time and space, for better or worse, a man-made digital dimension.

When Nakamura booted up his computer back home that night, he realized he had it. Fussing around with Photoshop was minimal, some adjustments were made, little tweaks here and there, but mostly it was preserved how he remembered seeing it with his own eyes. And the composition reminded him of his work as a wedding photographer, which he did on the side throughout his teaching career, sometimes shooting as many as 50 or 60 weddings per year. There was just a moment— you may now kiss the bride—and that was it. The trick was to be there, with the right light, prepared to capture it, the memory, the mood. It was all so fleeting. It always is. SLO LIFE

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| Q&A

HOMECOMING This summer, JILL STEARNS took over the top job at Cuesta College, which was a homecoming of sorts. She had met and married her husband while they were students at Cal Poly, and he returned to the area three years ago to become the head of IT for the community college, which meant a lot of long weekend commutes. With deep roots in the area—their two sons are also Cal Poly graduates—the family has been reunited for good. We sat down one recent afternoon to talk about everything from assembling the perfect floral arrangement to how not to make money in the gas station business. Here is some of what she had to say…

Tell us, Jill, where are you from originally?

I am from Avenal. It’s a small town in the Valley, about 5,000 people. There were 63 kids in my graduating class, and 15 of us had been together since preschool. I played everything growing up. Actually, I broke my leg playing football when I was in sixth grade. I played a lot of volleyball and tennis. I was also in the band. Music has always been a big deal for me. My parents were both educators. My mom was a counselor at the high school.

My father was a counselor at the elementary school, but he taught kindergarten for eight years in his journey.

So, what brought you here? I came to Cal Poly where I met my husband, Keith. We got married in college, and lived in San Luis Obispo. We’ve lived in Atascadero. And we’ve lived in Paso Robles. Keith worked at Diablo Canyon for a couple of years in the late ‘80s. When we left, it was to raise our boys in Avenal close to family. And we always had the desire to come back. And, as it turns out, our oldest son got married in January, and he and his wife own a home in Oceano, and he works in San Luis. So, it’s nice that not only Keith and I are in the same household, but also that our son and daughter-in-law are close. Our other son is in Fresno, so he’s not too far away.

What was small town life like? For 60 years, my family has owned a gift and floral shop in Avenal. I’m actually an FTD Master Florist.

We did lots of weddings, lots of events. And, after graduating from Cal Poly, I managed that business for ten years while my boys were little. I worked with them in my backpack; had a playpen set up. It was ideal because both sides of my grandparents were still living, so they’d come down to the shop during the day and push the stroller, go for a walk. After that, I landed a teaching job at the high school, 36

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which I did for four years. It was there that I started building websites to provide practice space for my math students online. This was all while we were building a gas station.

Wait, what? Gas station? I often say that I am a recovering entrepreneur. I had this idea that I was going to own gas stations; that was what I was going to do. But life sometimes has a different path for you. And this was one of those opportunities. We had some real challenges with construction. We did get it built. It’s the Chevron there, and it has a convenience store and carwash. But I couldn’t be there full time, and I needed to be doing something else. I found my path when I went to work at West Hills College in Coalinga. They were looking for someone with experience in Distance Education. So, I started doing faculty training to develop and teach online courses. I did that for four years, then I stepped into administration. So, it was twelve years in all at West Hills, then I served six years as president of Modesto Junior College.

What is your take on Cuesta College so far? I would say that we are really a college that is in transition. One of the things that has been really exciting during the monthand-a-half that I have been here is how open the community has been to helping me understand the kinds of partnerships that are already in place, and where public and private are working together around major issues like the closure of Diablo Canyon. It’s been fantastic to have so many people willing to help me onboard and understand where some of the big community-based challenges lie. And, of course, my predecessor, Gil Stork, has been very helpful. He left quite a legacy, 51 years at Cuesta, which is just incredible.

I don’t think I’ll be here quite that long. The math doesn’t work out. [laughter] SLO LIFE

I said we had time for a short ride.

I heard “short bride.”

What did you hear?

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| NOW HEAR THIS

MARK ADAMS Local singer-songwriter MARK ADAMS learned early on in his career how to do things on a budget. During the several years he was in Hollywood working at indie film companies like Troma Entertainment, Adams says, “I was in boot camp for the ‘Do It Your Damn Self’ approach to art, which taught me to understand that you can produce tons of stuff without much money.”

BY DAWN JANKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY WREN

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Mark Adams’s albums are available at Boo Boo Records on vinyl and CD.

A

long with those independent film companies, Mark Adams credits the punk rock ideals of his youth as influential to his DIY way of being in the world—a modus operandi he applies to both his music and the wine he makes for the small but successful Ledge Vineyards. In both, he also honors history and tradition: Adams’s music, for example, cites anything from lead singer Jello Biafra, of the punk band Dead Kennedys, to the “Master of the Telecaster,” blues guitarist Albert Collins.

Adams, a San Luis Obispo County native, started playing music at a young age. He credits his mom, a second grade school teacher, with having instruments lying around the house—piano, guitar, and various others—on which he’d tinker. Adams then participated in the grade school band and continued on to jazz band in high school, while shifting his personal musical focus to folk and indie rock; writing songs for fun and playing drums outside of school with a couple of buddies.

After high school, Adams left Templeton and played in a local band up north while majoring in Cinema Studies at Chico State. He then headed down to Los Angeles, where he got involved with low budget, independent film companies, and performed with a band called Rancho Deluxe. Over the course of five years, Rancho Deluxe released three albums and enjoyed widespread success with several songs featured on the Sirius XM Outlaw Country radio station, as well as song placement in television shows, and a few European tours.

It seemed as if Adams was living the dream when he finally landed a sounds effects editing position at Sony Pictures, but all the while the Central Coast called. “Ultimately, I wanted to get something going with the family ranch my parents bought back in the ‘70s in prime westside wine country in Templeton,” says Adams.

In 2005, Adams returned to Templeton and started Ledge Vineyards on the Adams ranch. “At first, I thought I might do walnuts or fruit trees because I didn’t want to be a copycat and get into winemaking like everyone else,” Adams explains, “but my longtime friend Justin Smith, who owns Saxum Vineyards in Paso, suggested a small vineyard.” In exchange for a job at Saxum, Adams gained invaluable winemaking advice from Smith, and his cult winery was born.

Eventually, Adams was able to quit his editing gig at Sony, and he and his wife, a singer for the Los Angeles Opera who holds a doctorate in classical music from UCLA, permanently relocated to their Templeton ranch. “We dropped out of the real world little by little,” Adams says, “but the music always continued.” In fact, Adams has recorded more than seven albums since starting the vineyard over ten years ago. “The schedule is writing and recording from January through the summer months,” he says, “and I always seem to be finishing an album during harvest, which, I guess, is a harvest in its own right.”

Adams’s most recent album, Switcheroo, was recorded down in Los Angeles with session musicians with whom he became friends during

his tenure in Hollywood, including backup singer Leslie Stevens, who has also performed with Father John Misty and Brian Wilson; bass player Gregory Boaz, who was one of Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men for a number of years; and drummer Jim Doyle, who has played with Jackson Browne.

The first release from the album, “Where is My Town,” is in heavy rotation on local radio stations The Krush and KCBX. Adams describes the song as one with visceral, angry nostalgia for the time when a town was smaller, with stop signs instead of stop lights. According to Adams, “The song was intended to be about Everytown USA and certainly not intended to be about Templeton, but surely there are long-time residents of San Luis Obispo County who can relate to its sentiment.”

Speaking of nostalgia for what once was, Adams talks briefly about Live Oak Music Festival, which recently announced a new Central Coast location for 2019: “For a lot of people, it will be sad to see that campground go, but the reason for moving has noble intentions,” he says. “It’ll now be closer to home, and there are a lot of positives about the relocation.”

This past June, Adams and his band performed at the festival, his third time on a Live Oak stage. “My wife and I have attended the festival for eight years now, and I was happy to be included on this year’s roster. It’s always a privilege to work with KCBX; their staff is wonderful.”

With harvest season upon him now, Adams will be busy in the vineyard, so he anticipates the release of his next full-length album to be sometime in 2019. The album has already been recorded at Painted Sky Studios in Cambria, and according to Adams, what remains is the tidying up of the production, or the “sprinkling on of the fairy dust” as he calls it.

The upcoming release features talented local musicians Daryl Vandruff on drums, Bob Hamilton on pedal steel guitar, and Paul Lewolt on bass. The quartet has been performing live together for a while now, and Adams is excited because the music “directly reflects the laid back SLO lifestyle.” He depicts the sound on the upcoming album as “high lonesome” with themes of staunch independence, thoughtful self-exploration, and a time “when the air smelled more like straw and cow dung and less like grape vines and capitalism. There is a ‘60s inspired instrumental trip-out jam called ‘West Coast Fog’ inspired by a radio show by the same name,” he shares, “and a really chill ballad called ‘Doves,’ a musical imprint of growing up on the Central Coast.”

“In a nutshell,” explains Adams, “my musical sound is an Americana-rock hybrid. We play old school country and blues, we’re heavily influenced by the Byrds, and I always have a Jello Biafra punk element to what I do.” He continues, “I guess I always have some axe to grind, be it outrage at what’s happening politically, or something about love, but, mainly, I just want people to make music a real part of their lives.” SLO LIFE OCT/NOV 2018

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DAWN JANKE, Director, University Writing & Rhetoric Center Cal Poly, keeps her finger on the pulse of the Central Coast music scene.

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| ON THE RISE

S TU D EN T SPOTLIG H T

Ella Livingston Sixteen-year-old San Luis Obispo High School senior ELLA LIVINGSTON is counting the days before heading off to the bright lights of New York.

What sort of extracurricular activities are you involved in? I’ve been very involved in both the theatre program and choir program since middle school, and I joined the high school film production club in my sophomore year.

What are your interests? I’m the co-president of the school’s Drama Club, and president of the Film Production Club. I also really enjoy performing and entertaining, and find almost every form of the entertainment business to be very interesting.

What’s going on with you now? I’m getting ready to direct one of my first musicals at school with auditions coming up in a few weeks.

I’m also working on getting college scholarships, and setting up a great year for both drama and film club.

What career do you see yourself in someday? I see myself somewhere in the entertainment business. I have been interested by many of forms of the business ever since I was little. Writing songs when I was little, singing, acting, performing, working behind the scenes, and filming. I love it all.

What has influenced you? I was born and raised in Ireland, and we moved to America in 2013 and that really has helped me to mature and grow, and turn me into the person I am today.

What are you looking forward to this year? We have a good set of shows that we are doing this year with the SLOHS Drama Department, and film ideas with the Film Production Club, which I’m both excited for. I’m also really excited to start college.

If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be?

Although it is not that far back in history, I would love to be able to meet Ella Fitzgerald. My parents named me after her and we share a birthday. I think it would be so cool to sing with her, or to just talk about her profession.

What schools are you considering for college? I actually got early acceptance into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy last April, and I committed there right after summer ended. So I’m heading to New York City for college! SLO LIFE

Know a student On the Rise?

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| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

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TRIAL AND ERROR A few years ago, around the time Central Coast furniture maker JORY BRIGHAM won a reality TV show called “Framework,” he started wondering how life might be different if he was not paying so much rent. Between the shop he was leasing in San Luis Obispo and his family’s home in Los Osos, the monthly tab was bumping up against $5,000. And considering how many hours he was working, wouldn’t it be nice to have a shop at home? Besting the other top-tier woodworkers on cable television netted a cool $100,000 plus another $20,000 in gift certificates at ACE Hardware, not to mention a deal with Crate & Barrel. That was about the time he stumbled upon an ad for a 13-acre property tucked away in the remote hills at the top corner of San Luis Obispo County. The shop there seemed to be sent from the heavens above, and now serves as the headquarters for a once a month two-and-a-half day intensive woodworking course, where enthusiasts from all over the country show up to learn the tricks of the trade as his kids and his wife, and their 25 chickens, all pitch in to make the family business a success. Here is his story…

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et’s take it from the top, Jory. Where are you from? Yeah. I was born in Los Olivos. I was born at home, I was homeschooled, all that. We moved to Hawaii when I was about a year old.

We lived there until I was 16. Then my parents decided to move to Pennsylvania, which was a complete culture shock. My sisters were older than me and already out of school, so I was the only one that had to go along with them. They moved to Pennsylvania because they just loved adventure. They’d never been there in their life. My mom loves the season changes, the trees turning different colors. So they decided to sell everything and ship whatever was left to Pennsylvania. They’d never been there before. We flew in. We rented a car and just drove around until they found some place they wanted to live.

What do you remember about your move to the Central Coast.

I remember building a compost toilet. [laughter] And I didn’t have a shower, so I would hose off. Basically, I was living in the shop where I worked. I would come to San Luis on the weekends. I had friends here, but mostly I would just work. I still do. I work really long hours: 12, 15, 16 hours a day. Last week, I put in one 19-hour day and one 20-hour day. I get so excited when I’m doing something that I just can’t wait to see this thing come to life. It gives me energy. Ever since I was a little kid, I would just skip meals. I wouldn’t get hungry; I was just completely focused. I don’t sketch my designs on paper first; they’re all in my head and that makes it really exciting, but also scary because, at a certain point, you can go too far. The security of having a rendering on paper gives you a pretty good idea for how it’s going to turn out. But when you don’t have that, you don’t know how it will come together until you’re done with it sometimes.

Where did you end up? It was Doylestown, which is a tiny little town about 30 miles north of Philadelphia. Up until that time, I had been homeschooled. Now I was in public school. I got out of there as quick as I could; graduated early. Went back to Hawaii. Stayed there for a year, and then moved to California when I was almost 19. At the time, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I grew up working in construction and carpentry. My dad went to Cal Poly for architecture. And he went almost all the way through before dropping out; he decided he didn’t want to be sitting at a desk. He always had that; he was always into design, for sure.

And so, when I was a kid, I helped him build our house from the ground up. I mentioned that I was homeschooled, but I just drove my mom nuts.

She’d tell my dad, “Take him to work.”

I bet that approach keeps you on your toes. The weird thing is that my wife tells me I do this almost every time with every single project. I get to this point where I start panicking. I can’t sleep and I’m like, “Oh, man.

I’ve done it this time.” Invariably she goes, “You say that every time.” And I’ll say, “No, this time I’ve done it. I don’t know how to come back from this. There’s something off and I’m staring at it, and I don’t know what it is. There’s something that is missing, and I can’t figure it out.” And she’ll come to the shop and look at it and say, “It looks fine.” And I’ll say, “No, something’s off.” So, I think what happens when I’m like, “Something’s off, something’s off,” is I’m in this kind of like half-anxiety, half-excitement, and half-panic state during the process. At that point, that’s when time kind of disappears. And I’m like, “I can’t sleep, so I might as well just do this.” Because I’ll just be laying in bed there thinking about how I screwed this thing up.

Why didn’t you stay in Hawaii? Everything is centered around the tourist industry in Hawaii. I worked at a restaurant and a surf shop, but if you have any aspirations to do anything else, you should get out of there. I went to Cuesta for maybe a semester. I’m not cut out for school. I just don’t have the patience. So I started working with my uncle, who builds reclaimed furniture. I had this idea for a piece and I asked him if I could build it. I told him I’d do it on my own time and we could split the profit.

Looking back on it now, it wasn’t very good. It was sort of a mix between a credenza and a dresser. It was decent though; it had this curved front, it was bowed. So I bent the wood and spent a lot of time getting it just the way I had envisioned. At the time, he had some retailers he worked with up north and I remember driving up with him to Carmel. The store was called the Carmel Bay Company. We walked up to it and my piece was in the front window. I was so stoked. I’ll never forget that feeling.

Did the piece sell? It did. It actually sold in just a few days, so I said, “Hey, do you want to do another?” It started like that. I was hooked. I loved designing. I loved just coming up with a design idea, and then making it come to life. When you do that, and build it with your own hands, and then someone likes it, it’s just so cool. The whole thing for me is it’s such an honor when someone likes it, wants it in their house. That’s a very intimate, personal thing. You’re like, “Hey, this stuff is growing up with them. They’re going to have it their whole life.” And I love to think about how, back in the day, people would invest in a piece of furniture.

And it wasn’t cheap. They would buy furniture that was expensive, but they would buy it with the intention of handing it down to their children. And it meant a lot to them. It was a family heirloom. We’ve gotten so far away from that. Now it’s like, “Well, it’s cheap. We’ll toss it when it breaks or when we don’t like it anymore.”

How are you able to put in so many hours? I mean, I have two kids now, seven and nine years old. But now we live on this property, which was always my dream to have my shop at the house. It changes everything because I’m able to eat at least two meals with the family and hang out every night. Then, when the kids are asleep, I go right back out there. I really wanted my kids to grow up in the country. To me that was success.

That was my goal. I had been renting a shop in San Luis; it was big, about 3,000 square feet, and I was getting a really good deal. I was only paying $1,800 a month, which was great. But, when you combine that with what we were paying to rent our house in Los Osos, it was $4,500 a month. That’s almost five grand a month just on rent. So, we started looking around for some land where we could have our house and a shop, but everything is just so expensive. So we started looking further and further out.

How far out? I stopped for lunch in Paso one day flipping through one of those real estate magazines, and I found an ad for 13 acres way up by San Miguel. It had a whole bunch of pictures of a crappy double wide with one shot of this amazing shop. So, I drove out there, down all these dirt roads to find it. Then I pull up to this shop and my mouth just drops.

It’s on top of a hill. It was the most beautiful shop I had ever seen in my life. It overlooks the surrounding vineyards; doors that open all the way up, a wraparound redwood deck. I said to my wife, “You’ve got to check it out.” She’s like, “That place is way too far; it’s in the sticks.” I did not want to push it at all because I knew she would resent me forever if I did, so I just kept quiet. She sort of walked around, taking it in, and then said, “For some reason I feel at peace here.”>> OCT/NOV 2018

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So, how’s country living? Someday, my dream is to build a house there, something other than the double wide. But now, actually starting a couple of years ago, we host woodworking classes there at the property.

I do it twelve times a year, once a month, Friday through Sunday. It’s kind of set up for intermediate woodworkers, people who know a little bit but want to advance. During our weekend together they’ll build a piece of furniture with me at the shop and take it home with them.

There are twelve people in each class, so it’s small and we all get to know each other. It’s a lot of fun. We all pitch in to make it happen. My wife cooks the meals; I’ll barbecue. My kids help out. There’s something about that experience. People come and they’re like, “You know, this is kind of cool.” I’ve had so many students tell me, “Man, I’m re-thinking my whole way of living right now.” They’ll mostly stay in Paso at a hotel or something, but we’re looking into building some cabins, maybe like those tent cabins in Yosemite where we would also do an Airbnb thing on the side, too.

Sounds like a nice business way out there “in the sticks.” So, what I realized, you know, is that I’m really bad at business. And it’s hard to make money in woodworking. I’m just running around like crazy, trying to find time for everything. I’m hoping this will help me stop 46

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working as many hours as I do. Right now we’re just trying to save.

Working hard and trying to save. And I’m building furniture mostly for designers and architects. I don’t know how word gets out. They did recently feature the Ping Pong table I designed and built in Vanity Fair.

And, a couple of years ago, I did hire a publicist. It was a huge jump for us. But I realized that it just didn’t feel right, like it wasn’t what we were supposed to be doing. And, as soon we stopped trying to attract publicity, stuff started happening. My wife and I decided to hit the brakes. We said, “Hey, let’s just slow grow it, you know? We’re fine. We’re as busy as we want to be.” And when it comes down to it, honestly, I don’t want to have a whole bunch of guys working for me.

That sounds like a nightmare; I’d be managing people. I don’t want to do that. So, let’s just figure out ways to do what we’re doing, and keep it in the family. And then we’re happy.

Expand on that idea, if you would. You start it. You decide to do it. Then you work really hard trying to figure out how to make it happen. You commit to it. No matter what, you are going to find a way. Then you can see how you can make a living doing it. And, no matter what you do, you go into it knowing that it’s not a sure bet.

A lot of things are going to come up. But you have to be open to it, >>

“ It was great working with Graham. He did an outstanding job helping us sell our rental home. He went the extra mile and was there for all the inspections, cleaning, and misc times needed to facilitate the showing and sale of the property. Graham came highly recommended to us and I would highly recommend him to others.

– Tim & Donna Brown, Sunnyvale

”

graham @ ccreslo.com 805.459.1865 | CalBRE #01873454 www.ccreslo.com 3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

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and figure stuff out as you go along. And then doors start to open up at some point, and now it becomes this huge thing with a life of its own, which is something I could have never foreseen, never have imagined. But, when you are committed to doing what you love, stuff

How do we teach that idea to our young people? We need to be cultivating these things in our kids at an early age. If the parents can’t do it, which for some reason seems like it’s a problem, then teachers need to say, “Hey, what do you love to do?” We’re so stuck on this how-do-

We’re so stuck on this how-do-you-make-money thing.

Instead, do what you love to do.

Let’s talk about that and everything will follow. just happens. And I really do think that humans are capable of so much more than they know. We, as a society, we work nine to five, and then we do this, we do that. Then we take a vacation and do it all over again. And it’s fine. But I think when you really want to do something, if you’re willing to push it, we can do so much more.

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you-make-money thing. Instead, do what you love to do. Let’s talk about that and everything will follow. Not first how to make money; that’s all backwards. Find out what you think you might want. You don’t have to commit to it. You don’t have to go to college and say, “I want to do this.”

We have to teach our kids to ask themselves, “What do I want to do?” >>

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And then search for the answer. You see it so often where kids go off to college and end up in some major after never doing any exploring.

They get a whole bunch of time and money invested into it and they say, “Well, I guess I have to do this,” when it is not even something they love to do. They might be screwed at an early age, as opposed to some kid in Europe where they really push apprenticeships. They may say, “You have an idea. Why don’t you go try it out for a year.” I actually have some apprentices at the shop myself, but I kind of stick to the Europeans, truthfully, because they have a better work ethic than the kids here.

What does the future hold? So, my wife gets a little overwhelmed 50

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because I’m always like, “Hey, let’s do this, let’s do that.” And I start this, and start that, and it’s all fun for me, but it gives her anxiety. You know, the woodworking courses are good because it’s cool to see people just get so stoked on stuff. We have a lot of students who have day jobs, and they’re off working a ton of hours in an office somewhere and then they come out here and find that woodworking is so simple. But so often they want to complicate it. They want rules. But there are no rules to this. Woodworking has no rules. Design has no rules. It’s not, “You can’t do this; you can’t do that.” It’s kind of cool to help free that up in people. That’s the idea. So, we’re always evolving. We have no idea what we’re doing. You know, it’s amazing how much we don’t know about what we’re doing. But, you just wing it—it’s all trial and error. SLO LIFE

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OCT/NOV 2018

slodentalpractice.com facebook.com/slodental |

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| FAMILY

TRAVEL

BY TRAIN

E

BY PADEN HUGHES

arlier this year, we moved into a small Victorian home in the Historic Railroad District of San Luis Obispo. As you might expect, we’ve become fascinated with the history of the neighborhood and, of course, charmed by the humming of the train station nearby. With an 18-month-old daughter, who is obsessed with trains, this fascination was compounded.

It is not unusual now to have her come running into the room shouting “choo choo” and pointing expectantly to the door. We head outside and walk up to the train station to cheer, wave, and take in the scene.

The significance of the train station to our community is not lost on us, as we’ve since gone to the Railroad Museum many times with our future little conductor.

It’s hard to imagine San Luis Obispo once being a small farming community cursed by its geographic isolation. While the first local rail line came in 1876, the Pacific Coast Railway— connecting San Luis Obispo to Avila, and later Los Olivos—was small compared to the promise of the big Southern Pacific Railroad. Locals dreamt of connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco through the Central Coast. They could almost taste it when in 1886 the Southern Pacific Railroad reached King City. Then, in 1889 they connected the rail all the way to Santa Margarita, but that is where it stopped. With the rail line only 16 miles away, locals fought to bring the railroad giant into town. It comes as no surprise that the biggest barrier was the Cuesta Grade.

The Southern Pacific Railroad put the power in the hands of the citizens of San Luis Obispo to get the necessary right-of-way. So our locals did just that and proudly welcomed the first steam engine on May 5, 1894 when it cruised into the

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San Luis Obispo station. It resulted in a three day celebration.

The city has grown considerably and is now the economic hub for the region. And it all started right outside my front door at the train station. Recently, after months of running out front to admire the train, we decided to board for a ride from San Luis Obispo to Paso Robles.

The journey was a big hit for all. Not only did it deliver on our wishes to see parts of the county we hadn’t yet seen, but it also offered stunning views. Our daughter, Kennedy, was thrilled the entire trip. She was mesmerized by passing through the tunnels.

And, seeing her reflection in the window was a big hit. My husband and I were intrigued to take in the Grade from a completely different vantage point and enjoyed the back country behind Highway 101. It was a unique, not often seen perspective, of North County. Our hour-long trip was the perfect amount of time to feel like an adventure without it monopolizing the whole day.

There’s something romantic about riding the rails.

It offers an amazing view and is incredibly monumental to this place we call home. The experience felt like going back in time, PADEN HUGHES is and it was certainly co-owner of Gymnazo and enjoys exploring something we will the Central Coast. look forward to doing again. SLO LIFE

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Contact us today for FREE placement assistance.

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| DWELLING

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MISSION SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

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BELLS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE GARTH

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I

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n July of 1976, Ron Barbieri declared his independence.

gotten too busy, too crowded. He was searching for a certain quality of life.

He wanted to know his community, his neighbors. That’s when he found San Luis Obispo.

Fresh out of dental school—Georgetown in Washington, D.C.—the newly minted dentist had There was a tiny dental practice coming available, and Barbieri did not resolved himself to find a small town to plant roots, to hesitate. Something about the Central Coast felt right, as if he was being move away from his native Bay Area where things had called to it. He could almost hear it. One thing led to another, and soon >>

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| OCT/NOV 2018

PASO ROBLES

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OUTDOOR LIVING

OCT/NOV 2018 KITCHEN DESIGN

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the young dentist was hunched over the open mouths of locals needing bridges and crowns and root canals.

Before long, Barbieri became an integral component of his adopted hometown.

Not far away, a chef, Leo Logsond, was wedging himself into his car—again. The restaurant in Santa Barbara was waiting, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to escape the gravity of his beloved Craftsman.

He built it in 1924 and had been its only resident to that point, but his back ached now, and the commute was no longer complying with his creaking bones.

By the time he slipped into old age, the once proud home had fallen into disrepair. That was about the time—1995—that longtime locals, Vic and Randi Montgomery stepped in. Not only did they clean it up, they also expanded, adding a two-car garage with an in-law apartment above. >>

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Life marched forward, as it always does. A few years later, Barbieri and his wife, Maureen, and son bought the property with an eye toward how they could put their own stamp on it, while also preserving its heritage. Their plans were extensive and would take years to execute. The footprint was expanded with an addition in 1998 and an entirely new floor, a second story, was constructed seven years later. Landscaping was reimagined to include an intimate seating area, perfect for quiet conversation around an outdoor fireplace, followed by a dip in the spa. For good measure, a Koi pond was also included.

Through it all, the Barbieris were careful to maintain the classic elements and stylings of Craftsman architecture: a low-pitched gable roof, broad eaves, a large and expansive front porch, and a whole lot of exposed wooden beams. Fittingly, this style, Craftsman, was a product of the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th Century and is also sometimes referred to as Mission style. An apt description, as the Barbieri home is located in San Luis Obispo’s Mission Garden Tract, and its property line at the end of the backyard demarcates the very spot where the rock wall once stood protecting Mission de Tolosa’s garden from the hungry critters wandering down from Cerro San Luis above. >>

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ARCH ITECTURE LAND SCA P E INT E RIORS

New Brisco Road development in Arroyo Grande.

GIVE BACK “We make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give.”

-W I N S T O N S . C H U R C H I L L

One of our firm’s core values is to GIVE BACK. To this end, we are committed to building community through pro-bono and discounted fees for non-profit organizations. We are currently working with Habitat for Humanity of San Luis Obispo County on eight new single-family homes on Brisco Road in Arroyo Grande.

This net-zero project will be built with significant volunteer hours as well as the sweat equity of the new homeowners. To learn more about our local Habitat Chapter see their website at w w w . h f h s l o c o . o r g .

Will Ruoff collaborating with Julia Ogden, CEO of Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County.

T EN O VERST U D I O. CO M OCT/NOV 2018

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As of last year, 41 years after his declaration, the dentist called it a career. The work is physical, more so than many imagine, and Barbieri’s neck and shoulders were objecting. But, before he turned off the lights, he did something that occupies much of his thinking today. It was five years before his retirement when he sat down with Dr. Ahmad Nooristani, the founder of the SLO Noor Foundation, an organization with the tagline: “Free healthcare for the uninsured.” While the non-profit had been making significant headway in the 62

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community with its SLO Noor Clinic, there was an overwhelming need for dental services.

The longer the two talked, the more they appreciated one another, and in no time plans for a dental clinic were hatched.

As an administrator, Barbieri found his place once again. Recruiting dentists, pushing the papers that must be pushed, and adding his energy to the cause is where his passion lies today.

It’s not any different than when he first came to town, really; just a different time. And the passing of time is something that Barbieri knows well. His neighbor—Mission de Tolosa—just a stone’s throw from the back fence, and approaching 250 years old, will not let him forget as the daily chorus of its iron bells call out for all to hear. SLO LIFE

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BY THE NUMBERS

REAL ESTATE

| SLO CITY

laguna lake

2017 Total Homes Sold 45 Average Asking Price $691,184 Average Selling Price $681,838 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 98.65% Average # of Days on the Market 23

2018 34 $848,481 $836,503 98.59% 34

+/-24.44% 22.76% 22.68% -0.06% 47.83%

tank farm

2017 19 Total Homes Sold $801,094 Average Asking Price $793,574 Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.06% 23 Average # of Days on the Market

2018 13 $850,677 $845,094 99.34% 31

+/-31.58% 6.19% 6.49% 0.28% 34.78%

cal poly area

2017 Total Homes Sold 23 Average Asking Price $808,604 Average Selling Price $797,043 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 98.57% Average # of Days on the Market 30

2018 19 $1,020,874 $984,552 96.44% 23

+/-17.39% 26.25% 23.53% -2.13% -23.33%

country club

2017 Total Homes Sold 12 Average Asking Price $1,182,317 Average Selling Price $1,132,779 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 95.81% Average # of Days on the Market 57

2018 15 $1,097,414 $1,214,458 110.67% 68

+/25.00% -7.18% 7.21% 14.86% 19.30%

down town

2017 Total Homes Sold 63 Average Asking Price $694,703 Average Selling Price $686,978 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 98.89% Average # of Days on the Market 48

2018 42 $914,545 $903,982 98.84% 58

+/-33.33% 31.65% 31.59% -0.05% 20.83%

foothill blvd

2017 Total Homes Sold 39 Average Asking Price $718,061 Average Selling Price $707,055 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 98.47% Average # of Days on the Market 27

2018 31 $905,787 $898,343 99.18% 28

+/-20.51% 26.14% 27.05% 0.71% 3.70%

johnson ave

2017 Total Homes Sold 39 Average Asking Price $769,397 Average Selling Price $768,551 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.89% Average # of Days on the Market 33

2018 36 $891,415 $884,484 99.22% 36

+/-7.69% 15.86% 15.08% -0.67% 9.09%

*Comparing 01/01/17 - 09/20/17 to 01/01/18 - 09/20/18

®

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

SLO LIFE

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Help Us End Hunger In San Luis Obispo County

Please join in helping RPM Mortgage and the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County in their efforts to end hunger. RPM will donate $100 for every loan closed by the San Luis Obispo and Atascadero branches beginning Hunger Awareness Day, June 1st, 2018 through June 1st 2019 with a goal of raising $25,000.

Donna Lewis

Ken Neate

NMLS #245945 805.235.0463 donnalewis@rpm-mtg.com www.rpm-mtg.com/dlewis

NMLS# 373607 925.963.1015 kneate@rpm-mtg.com www.rpm-mtg.com/kneate

Dylan Morrow

Valerie Gonzales

Branch Manager/Senior Loan Advisor

Loan Advisor

NMLS #1461481 805.550.9742 dmorrow@rpm-mtg.com www.rpm-mtg.com/dmorrow

Loan Advisor

Loan Advisor

NMLS# 1082998 805.550.4325 vgonzales@rpm-mtg.com www.rpm-mtg.com/vgonzales

1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 5805 Capistrano Avenue, Suite A, Atascadero, CA 93422 LendUS, LLC dba RPM Mortgage NMLS #1938 - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the CA Residential Mortgage Lending Act. | 11365 | Equal Housing Opportunity.

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It’s here.

A low down payment loan program for doctors, nurses, attorneys, CPAs, dentists, veterinarians, and pilots.*

| SLO COUNTY

REAL ESTATE

BY THE NUMBERS

• No mortgage insurance • No down payment on loans to $850,000 • Low down payment on loans up to $1.5M • Purchase and rate/term refinance for primary residence Contact me today to learn more.

Ben Lerner

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 395723 805.441.9486 blerner@opesadvisors.com 1212 Marsh St., Suite 1 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

© 2018 Opes Advisors, A Division of Flagstar Bank Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender * Borrower must open a checking or savings account with Flagstar to participate. Eligible borrowers include: a Medical Resident (with educational license), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine or Surgeon (DMD), Doctor of Optometry (OD), Doctor of Ophthalmology (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Attorney, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Veterinarian, and ATP (Airline Transport Pilot). With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your 5/1 loan will have an initial fixed-rate period of 60 months and your 7/1 loan will have an initial fixed-rate period of 84 months.

After the fixed rate period, your interest rate will adjust up or down according to market rates at the time of the reset. Rate is variable after the fixed-rate period and subject to change once every year for the remaining life of the loan.

This is not a commitment to lend. Programs available to qualified borrowers. Subject to credit approval, underwriting approval and lender terms and conditions. Programs subject to change SLO LIFE without66 notice. |Primary residence only.MAGAZINE Restrictions may apply. | OCT/NOV 2018

REGION

NUM B E R OF H OM E S S OLD

A VE R A GE DA Y S ON M A R K E T

MEDIAN SELLING PRICE

2017

2018

2017

2018

Arroyo Grande

235

238

58

51

$764,235 $766,500

Atascadero

290

270

54

45

$547,575 $577,987

Avila Beach

12

9

86

56

$1,099,140 $1,295,564

Cambria/San Simeon

112

126

79

74

$713,593 $736,430

Cayucos

46

39

118

91

$1,052,354 $1,129,936

Creston

11

10

95

153

$813,718

Grover Beach

137

91

43

48

$518,625 $534,681

Los Osos

88

126

31

35

$590,639 $639,443

Morro Bay

105

105

64

58

$692,600 $727,372

Nipomo

180

228

57

51

$632,441 $670,296

Oceano

36

30

51

58

$448,444 $500,233

Pismo Beach

98

115

50

78

$1,079,618 $970,132

Paso (Inside City Limits)

349

296

42

34

$482,639 $502,298

Paso (North 46 - East 101)

37

43

47

50

$472,253 $513,502

Paso (North 46 - West 101)

72

87

96

82

$496,566 $643,960

Paso (South 46 - East 101)

41

30

67

70

$663,082 $806,550

San Luis Obispo

264

244

35

40

$760,536 $937,932

Santa Margarita

15

15

35

95

$405,933 $424,600

Templeton

84

93

70

81

$741,762 $789,403

2,155

2,094

54

53

$656,726 $695,580

Countywide

*Comparing 01/01/17 - 09/20/17 to 01/01/18 - 09/20/18

2017

2018

$949,100

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

®

SLO LIFE

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A strong voice for putting people and the environment first.

“Change is important, and it is constant. But in democracy--in our City--how we change is up to us. How we change matters. It matters to people, and to the environment and to this place we call home.

My vision for San Luis Obispo includes an engaged community working together with a commitment to long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability, where transparency is valued and a broad array of perspectives are considered.”

HOW WE CHANGE MATTERS. www.sarahflickinger.com Paid for by Flickinger for Council 2018, FPPC ID # 1406806 OCT/NOV 2018

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SPONSORED

GARDEN STREET GOLDSMITHS In the wee hours of the morning, it must have been a sight to see a toddler riding a 5,000-pound safe being pushed down the middle of Higuera Street.

After opening their first downtown SLO location, The Najahe Inc. in the 1970s, Richard and Laurel Stephens were now expanding to their second location in the Barrett Block building across from Hanna’s Hardware on Garden Street. Little did they know at the time that Garden Street Goldsmiths was destined to become a multi-generational mainstay for more than four decades.

Richard and Laurel’s daughter, Amanda Stephens, had a natural talent and vision for the complex engineering and manufacture of heirloom quality jewelry. Being a designer and a bench jeweler herself, Amanda took the reins in 2000 and has been GSG’s leader ever since.

Old school ethics, integrity, and environmentally sustainable manufacturing practices have been some of the cornerstone values of GSG’s business model since its inception. Amanda’s stewardship of her business is no different, she takes pride in finding or designing inventive ways to reuse or repurpose her client’s sentimental gems or jewelry.

And, when the design calls for new materials, she will reach for recycled metals every time.

It’s a family business. Amanda is the spear’s point, Richard, a co-owner, is still an integral member of

the GSG team. Amanda’s husband, David Hillebrecht, has always enjoyed carving and sculpting and has now become one of GSG’s top jewelry designers. Finnegan the beagle, their senior jewelry ambassador, is ready to greet you at the door. Samantha, Amanda and David’s daughter, comes to work most days and is growing up within the same four walls that Amanda herself did. While Sam works at evading her grandmother, many of our downtown locals enjoy a quick high five, or if lucky a big hug, when they stop in for a new addition to their jewelry family.

The People of Garden Street SOPHIE BOBAN-DOERING

OWNER, FROMAGERIE SOPHIE Currently on my playlist: ‘Dusk’ album by The The… love the lyrics and how they interact with the music; quite sexy!

I wanted to grow up to be a: school teacher, but dreamed of being a solid gold dancer, too.

The greatest musician of all time is: the Russian composer and pianist Dmitri Shostakovich.

Someday I will: have a day off!

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T - The Heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo

SPONSORED

ANOTHER LEVEL

Browse our curated gift section for beautiful linens, cookbooks, jewelry, stationary, and an assortment of ceramics like these mugs from Japanese company Kinto. These handmade mugs take a cup of tea or coffee to a whole new level. The two colors of layered glaze make each mug unique, and the mix of luster glaze and matte finish leave a beautiful finish. $24.50 // Scout Coffee Co. 1130 Garden Street and 880 E. Foothill Boulevard, San Luis Obispo (805) 439-2253 // ScoutCoffeeCo.com

LIFE OF PIE

Choose from our selection of fruit, nut, cream, chocolate and savory pies. Take one home or enjoy a slice à la mode at Hotel Serra. Now you can have your pie and eat it too by joining our Pie of the Month Club. Sign up to be notified when memberships and Gift Certificates are available.

Hotel Serra Coming Soon //1125 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo // hotelserra.com

INDULGE YOURSELF

What better way to let your style shine than with a custom designed piece of jewelry? This pendant of multi-color Tahitian pearls and diamonds was created for a special client with a flair for fashion. Let us create something beautiful for you.

Contact for Pricing Marshalls Jewelers 751 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 543-3431 // marshalls1889.com

MANGO A GO GO

Our Montrose Coffee Table will look the part and play the part in your living space—we select high quality materials to create impressive products that last. This solid mango wood table is 40” in diameter and comes in a refined misted ash finish. $849 // San Luis Traditions 748 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 541-8500 // sanluistraditions.com

FEED MY LIPS

Transition from summer to fall with Aveda Feed My Lips lipstick in Goji. Our stylist, Emy, is wearing this moisturizing formula with long lasting color in this snapshot.

Perfect for bringing daytime into evening. Come in and play to find the color that lifts your spirits. $24 // Salon62 1112 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 543-2060 // salon62.com

MODERN MALACHITE

Our new one-of-a-kind earrings feature a perfectly matched pair of rich green-banded Malachite drops. The polished Malachite is thoughtfully suspended from modern 18K rose gold hexagonal French hooks, and accented with twenty-four Canadian diamonds to provide a subtle sparkle. Modern classic jewelry.

Made fresh daily. $1,650 // Baxter Moerman // 1128 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 801-9117 // baxtermoerman.com

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SPONSORED

FALL IN WITH CHEESE…

BOTANICAL ENGAGEMENT

Fall is here, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the season of giving.

Together, we will create a fabulous and delicious selection for your Thanksgiving Celebrations, a romantic evening by the fireplace, or spending an evening with friends. All platters are created based on budget, event size, cheese, and charcuterie selection. Check out our website for more information.

Created with your stones or ours.

Yellow, white, rose, or platinum. Custom design appointments available.

Contact for Pricing Garden Street Goldsmiths & Estate Jewelry 1114 & 1118 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 543-8186 GardenStreetGoldsmiths.com

Contact for Pricing // Fromagerie Sophie 1129 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 503-0805 // fromageriesophie.com

LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART

We call them Sweetheart cakes. At the perfect size, these 6” cakes come with edible flowers or just loads of honest-togoodness all-American frosting. Perfect for two, especially love birds. Multiple flavor choices are available, as well as vegan and gluten-free options.

Prices Vary // Linnaea’s Cafe 1110 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 541-5888 // linnaeas.com

CHLOÉ... SAY NO MORE! CURL UP COZY

These custom Anichini throws created exclusively for Hotel Serra provide a stylish fluid drape and soft cozy comfort. Take home the experience with 100% cotton cable knit throws that are machine washable and available for sale at Spa Serra.

Hotel Serra Coming Soon 1119 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo hotelserra.com

Be bold; let your boots do the talking.

Sashay your way into the fall season wearing these blue suede booties and be ready to have your world transformed. Elegant, sexy, and amazing are all synonymous with CHLOÉ. $356 Finders Keepers Consignment Boutique 1124 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 545-9879 slofinderskeepers@gmail.com

TORTELLINI CON PROSCIUTTO, FUNGHI, E PISELLI

A rustic dish perfect for winter or fall. Customers ask for this classic by name after it was featured in our first review three years ago. Though not a staple on our menu, be sure to ask your waiter about it the next time you stop by. This dish starts with tortellini and a creamy sauce, then it is tossed with prosciutto and peas. It pairs excellently with a chilly Sunday or a local Pinot Noir. Keep an eye on our Seasonal Specials chalkboard for its next return. $18 // La Locanda 1137 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 548-1750 // lalocandaslo.com 70

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T - The Heart of Downtown San Luis Obispo

SPONSORED

the sense of place, local culture, climate and agriculture. A casual atmosphere to gather, socialize and truly enjoy the abundance of this remarkable year-round climate.

Local producers of fine wine, beers, ciders and spirits compliment the endless array of produce, nut oils, aquaculture, ancient grains, citrus, cheeses and magical seasons that offer pumpkins and strawberries at the same time!

The food style at Brasserie SLO could best be described as Modern Mediterranean but regional descriptions do not really apply. Keeping the offerings as natural as possible producing generous flavors, bold color, aromas and texture with uncomplicated cooking methods. Menu items are unadulterated and unadorned emphasizing the essence of individual ingredients.

BRASSERIE SLO CHEF JAMES ANDERSON Following the authentic style of European brasseries, this new restaurant at Hotel Serra will offer all-day dining in a wholly California-accessible style, capturing

With over a decade of high-end experience on the Monterey Peninsula, Head Chef James Anderson recently joined Hotel Serra. “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Hotel Serra and look forward to establishing Brasserie SLO on the Central Coast dining scene. I am also excited to celebrate the elemental cooking methods of our wood-fired grill and oven as a signature of the Brasserie SLO experience”, said James.

Refining practices such as nose-to-tail butchery, root-to-fruit and wild coastal and forest foraging, Chef James crafts dishes succinctly of the highest quality, and preferably with a good glass of Central Coast wine!

Brasserie SLO coming soon; 1125 Garden Street www.hotelserra.com

The D ogs of Ga rde n Street

P RO G R ESS R EP ORT As Garden Street moves closer to being completed, Hotel Serra would like to thank all of our neighbors for their continued support and combined efforts towards truly making this the best street in Downtown SLO. Over the past few weeks, the team at Hotel Serra has been busy making improvements not only to Garden Street but to the surrounding walkways and crosswalks.

Work on the two historic buildings that will become the hotel entrance and the restaurant, Brasserie SLO, continues, and the recent installation of the rooftop pool went off exceedingly smooth and garnered a very positive response. Most importantly, Garden Street is now fully open!

Finnegan // Beagle Mix // 9 years Rescued at only 3 months old, this kind soul loves spending most days working as a senior jewelry ambassador at Garden Street Goldsmiths. When not working he gains inspiration by hiking and perfecting his cuddling skills with the family toddler. He hopes you’ll stop by to pet his tummy and become a proud member of the FFC (Finnegan Fan Club).

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pop corn lung

| HEALTH

A

highly informal and decidedly most unscientific poll conducted here at SLO LIFE Magazine a few weeks ago led to some disturbing findings. The question was this: How many of our local kids at places like SLO High and Mission Prep and AG High vape? We found very quickly that it would have been much easier to ask the inverse: Who doesn’t vape?

For those unfamiliar, vaping has evolved quickly in recent years. The term first arose when someone figured out how to smoke marijuana using an old Volcano vaporizer. Instead of burning the buds and inhaling the smoke, however, the steam from the heated water liberated the cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, filling an attached balloon, which was then passed around as if it were a joint at a Rolling Stones concert. For many, the experience felt “cleaner” and somehow “healthier” because the smoke was removed.

Innovation was brisk, and soon the technology was applied to cigarette smoking.

Entrepreneurs saw a massive market of untapped potential. Since cigarettes were so unhealthy, what if you could remove the smoke? The result was the now ubiquitous “e-cigarette.” Initially, it was a clunky miniature version of the Volcano vaporizer filled with ground-up tobacco leaves, however, the latest technology is so discrete that it is practically undetectable—and it is permanently damaging our kids.

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What you must know about vaping before it’s too late.

The problem, as it turns out, is not tobacco. When Uncle Louie lit up his pipe back in the day, he was smoking a mostly pure, unadulterated form of the plant. He was getting a nicotine buzz that is naturally occurring. The stuff that was so harmful to our health came about when cigarette manufacturers began adding things to extend shelf life and introduce flavoring. Modern-day cigarette smoke now contains thousands of chemicals, and at least 70 are known carcinogens.

Enter vaping. Consider e-cigarettes, or vape pens, the advanced version of a cigarette. They are what MP3s are to vinyl records; iPhones are to rotary phones. The difference is that the substrate—the thing that is smoked—is not tobacco leaves, but a concentrated laboratory-made liquid called “e-juice.” Through the use of innovative chemistry, manufacturers are able to entice young people with flavors more commonly found in the candy aisle than next to the Marlboro Lights. The problem with inhaling those quixotic brands, such as Unicorn Milk and Smurf Cake, is that they damage lungs—permanently and irreversibly. >>

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#1 KNOW THIS WORD: DIACETYL Over the years, scientific words have become popularized, things like carcinogen, and caffeine, and metastasize. Brace yourself for a new one: Diacetyl.

This word, diacetyl, is the short version of the alphadiketone, 2,3-pentanedione, which was first used as a flavoring agent in microwave popcorn. That was before the workers, who diligently punched in and out of the factory every day expertly filling those little tri-fold microwaveable bags with kernels and their secret sauce, started experiencing strange symptoms.

They came on slowly, but, to this day, have not gone away: lethargy, shortness of breath, dry coughing, and wheezing. Diacetyl is no longer allowed as a flavoring agent for food, but the vape industry now uses it to create all of those innocent-sounding flavors, such as “Blueberry Cheesecake,” that our kids draw directly into their lungs.

#2 WHAT IS POPCORN LUNG? The phenomenon, named for those microwave popcorn workers, put in its simplest terms, is the obliteration of the tiny blood vessels—alveoli— in our lungs that do the magic that happens when we unconsciously transfer the oxygen in the air into oxygen in our blood. And that word, obliteration, is appropriate, as the medical term for popcorn lung is bronchiolitis obliterans.

Diagnosis is problematic because the symptoms appear slowly and do not present in the same way that traditional cigarette coughing— smokers hack—comes on with a clear cause and effect. In other words, “I smoked a bunch of Camels yesterday, and today I am coughing my brains out.” And, unlike cigarette smokers, where research shows that abstinence for a period of about seven years will clear the lungs, that is not the case for diacetyl exposure. There is no cure. The damage is permanent.

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#3 FAMILY JUULS Mention the word “jewel” in the presence of a high school teacher or administrator and watch their reaction. Their face will likely be a boiling stew of frustration, anger, and terror. Why so much baggage attached to such an innocent little word? That word, jewel, is also the trendy brand name for a tiny e-cigarette, or vaping pen, known as a JUUL. To the untrained eye, a JUUL appears identical to the ubiquitous thumb drive, those little, portable external hard drives that can plug into a computer’s USB port. Once used to transport essays and book reports from home to school, those little devices, thumb drives, are now mostly banned in high schools because teachers cannot tell the difference between the real thing and the e-cigs. Still, they are very easy to sneak onto campus, and unlike cigarette smoke that leaves a billowing cloud overhead, the effect of taking a hit on a vape pen is a very fast disappearing vapor. Ask any local high school kid, and they will tell you that they have witnessed their classmates smoking a JUUL in class, inhaling discretely the moment the teacher turns their back to write on the whiteboard.

䰀漀挀愀氀 䔀琀栀椀挀愀氀 䨀攀眀攀氀爀礀 匀椀渀挀攀 ㄀㤀㜀㐀

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1238 MONTEREY ST SUITE 110 | SAN LUIS OBISPO | (805) 542-9500 | WWW.EASTWELLBEING.COM OCT/NOV 2018

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#4 SMOKIN’ IN THE BOYS’ ROOM

ATTENTION ATHLETES

The most insidious thing about vape pens may be their cultural acceptance, and dismissive claim by many parents who reason, “It’s probably not as bad as smoking a real cigarette—I did that once in a while when I was in school.” In 1985, the band Mötley Crüe popularized the song, “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room,” which, in many ways, became a rite of passage. We recall those days sneaking a drag on our buddy’s Lucky Strike, the one he swiped from his dad’s pack at home, with fondness. Those days are long gone. The risk now is not stinky clothes, possible detention, and a little bit of next-day smoker’s hack. Instead, it is permanent and irreparable lung damage. No, you’re right, it’s not as bad as smoking a real cigarette, it’s worse. Much worse.

T RAIN W I TH FO RM E R

PR OFE S S IONAL ATH LE TES FOR MOR E INFOR MATI O N EM A I L U S AT INFO@ R E VS LO.CO M

#5 MADE IN CHINA VARIOUS CLASS OFFERINGS

SPIN & ABS, SPIN & GUNS, BOOT CAMP, TNT (GROUP TRAINING), TURN & BURN, TABATA BOOT CAMP

755 Alphonso Street . SLO [off Broad Street]

8420 El Camino Real . Atascadero

805.439.1881

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We imagine tobacco grown on pastoral hillsides in Virginia. Not e-juice. Nearly all of it comes from factories in China and is subject to virtually zero governmental oversight. A recent study conducted by Harvard University found that of the top 51 e-cigarette brands it analyzed, 39 of them contained diacetyl—in other words, 76%. In addition to the agent that causes popcorn lung, the researchers also found other dangerous compounds, such as the highly toxic chemical known as acetoin, in 92% of the cases. Because e-cigarettes have been branded by their makers as smokeless and, therefore safe, and since popcorn lung is difficult to diagnose, regulators have been slow to respond to what has the potential to mushroom into a health care crisis unlike anything we have seen before. Imagine an entire generation of Americans toting oxygen tanks around with them someday. It’s not hyperbole: with continual and direct exposure to diacetyl, it may not be a matter of if, but when. SLO LIFE

VARICOSE & SPIDER VEIN TREATMENT

Healing Happens

Love your legs again and wear shorts with confidence!

Covered by most insurance No hospitalization Local anesthesia No down time

TAKE A 1-MIN. SELF SCREENING TEST

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTISTS, 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.

Kenneth Spearman, M.D. Timothy Watson, M.D.

You will be inspired. Healing through prayer is possible.

www.ccveins.com info@ccveins.com

Wednesday Testimony Meeting 7:00 p.m.

880 Oak Park Blvd., Suite 201 Arroyo Grande , CA 93420

Sunday Church Services 10:00 a.m.

1326 Garden Street, SLO

If you checked any of these symptoms, call today for a FREE consultation!

805.473.VEIN (8346)

christianscience.org

prayerthatheals.org

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| TASTE

FALAFEL

Mediterranean Comfort Food This pillar of Middle Eastern cuisine comes in all shapes and sizes across the Central Coast and tastes better than ever.

BY JAIME LEWIS

“Wait one moment, please.”

My husband Jake and I had stopped off at a roadside kebab stand on England’s M11 on our way to see my brother, who lives in Norwich. At the counter, a handful of olive-skinned men sipped thick black coffee despite this summer’s punishing heat wave. Several sets of dark eyes turned to look at us, squarely, unrelenting. The middle-aged man behind the counter carried himself like a rugby player; his cheeks wore several days’ stubble.

I ordered a falafel sandwich and watched as our host unceremoniously pulled pita bread from a bag and plopped uncooked falafel balls in oil to fry. He paused to look up at me and I realized that, unlike his patrons, his eyes were bright green against his dark skin. Now I was the one staring.

“Where are you from?” I said, gracelessly attempting to cover my tracks.

“Turkey,” he said, and turned his back to me, moving falafel from the fryer to an open half-moon of pita bread. It appeared our talk was over, and I mentally kicked myself for being the clueless American, striking up conversation without reading the room.

It was only after we paid and held our sandwiches, wrapped tightly in foil 78

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and emanating a garlicky perfume, that he asked us to wait. Did I hear him right? I thought as he walked to the back of the shack and out of view. My mouth watered at the scent of falafel: dinner called. But there he was, returning to the counter with his wallet. He leaned over and opened it to a photo of three teenagers, their features unmistakably like his, their smiles wide.

“These are my children,” he said. “This one,” his finger pointed to the face of a young woman, “is at university now.” He beamed silently. I remarked how proud he must be.

After a quick flip through the rest of his photos, we thanked him and walked back to the car. Jake pulled back onto the motorway and I unwrapped my dinner, steaming beneath a drizzle of tahini sauce. The ingredients for the sandwich were nothing revolutionary— ground chickpeas, blended with herbs and spices, fried and wrapped with vegetables in pita bread—but, one brief human connection had brought its flavors vividly to life. >>

JAIME LEWIS writes about food, drink and the good life from her home in San Luis Obispo. Find her on Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis.

BRAHMS

| Symphony No. 3

CABANISS | “Double Rainbow” Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra

COPLAND

| El Salon Mexico

BARBER

| Violin Concerto

DAUGHERTY | Strut for String Orchestra BERNSTEIN

| On the Waterfront

Grow your very own home entertainment center.

visit gardensbygabriel.com

-or-

call 805.215.0511

An activity of Gardens by Gabriel, Inc. · License No. 887028

www.slosymphony.org

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PETRA SAN LUIS OBISPO Back home in San Luis Obispo County, I’m happy to report that options for falafel abound, in many cases featuring locally-sourced and house-made ingredients.

At Petra in SLO, falafel can be found in sandwiches, on plates—even on pizza, consistent with the restaurant’s collegiate hangout vibe and popular happy hour. The falafel itself remains authentic, though, as Jordanian owner Todd Aburashed and his son, manager Rammy Aburashed, explain.

“We make it daily using our family recipe, from scratch,” says Todd, adding that most people mix eggs into falafel for a fluffy appearance, but not at Petra. “They make it look nice, but we don’t use that here. It’s all about taste.”

At the bustling counter, I order the falafel plate, served with hummus, tzatziki (a classic salted yogurt sauce), and a puff of house-made pita bread. I love how seedy and crisp the falafel are against the cool tzatziki. I look around: On a Monday morning, the place is already hopping with people in business clothes, moms with strollers, and students. I ask Todd how Petra found such a loyal following.

“If you make food with love and care, if you make something you’re proud of, you will do well,” he says. >>

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smart, eclectic, art to live on

Eat SLOcally Direct from our farm, Fresh to your home.

Variety of Quality Fruits & Vegetables in Every Talley Box (2 Sizes Available) Flexible Schedule, Convenient Local Pick-up, Home Delivery Available, No Commitment

New Customers First Box

$15 OFF Use Code: SLO18

1599 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo (at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados)

805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm

See What’s in Season at

TalleyFarmsFreshHarvest.com 805.489.5401 • FreshHarvest@TalleyFarms.com

Upgrade your holiday traditions to 4K AUDIO • VIDEO • LIGHTING • CLIMATE CONTROL • SURVEILLANCE • SHADES

(805) 540-5116 www.abovegradeautomation.com 245 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo OCT/NOV 2018

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HAPY BISTRO PISMO BEACH Heading south to Pismo Beach, Hapy Bistro serves falafel in a completely different setting, albeit with similarly delicious results. Situated at the end of a strip mall, the eatery surprises me when I walk inside: Duke Ellington pipes through the speakers, a glass door reveals a cigar room, and hundreds of bottles of wine from all over California stack in racks across the dining room—not to mention a wall of craft beer in cold cases.

“The wine is my thing,” says Samer Georges, who immigrated from Syria six years ago, along with his managing partner, Nabil Fadel. They opened Hapy Bistro, named after the Egyptian god who brings agricultural fertility to the Nile River, in 2016.

Make no mistake: Hapy really is a bistro, with upscale Eurostyle fare prepared from fresh California ingredients with a Middle Eastern twist. I opt for the falafel burger on a pillowy potato bun, drizzled with tart tahini sauce, and served alongside a side salad with capers, red onion, and an herbal vinaigrette.

Munching on my sandwich, I glance around at the wine and beer: Which would pair best with this meal? I wonder. When I look back down at my plate, I’m shocked to realize it’s too late.

I’ve already gobbled down the whole thing. >>

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WIRELESS INTERNET FOR THE CENTRAL COAST NO CONTRACTS . NO DATA LIMITS INSTALLATION ONLY $99

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RIZZOLISAUTOMOTIVE.COM OCT/NOV 2018

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GRAPE LEAF MARKET & DELI MORRO BAY

Perhaps the most surprising falafel purveyor I’ve met on the Central Coast is Ibrahim “Abe” Abuhilal of Grape Leaf Market & Deli in Morro Bay. With a PhD in agriculture and a thriving farm that produces sheep’s milk cheese, Abuhilal opened 18 months ago on Main Street. As we talk, he says hello to every single passerby, pressing them to enter (“We have a door! Please walk in!”), and offering samples of anything he has. Inside, a Palestinian flag hangs beside a poster showing Middle Eastern farm equipment.

“Palestinians eat falafel any time of day: for breakfast, lunch, dinner,” he says with a smile. “It’s like our peanut butter and jelly!”

He attributes the light and crispy texture of his falafel to the purity of locally-grown ingredients and freshness of the oil. “We use only chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, garlic, and onion,” he says, plus something he calls “mama touch,” which I presume to be a lot like love.

I tell Abuhilal I’ve read that some folks argue over the origins of falafel. “Where did it come from?” I ask him.

“Does not matter to me, history,” he says without skipping a beat.

“Falafel comes from Morro Bay now.” SLO LIFE

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First Presbyterian Church is committed to expressing our love of God through inspirational worship.

First Service: 8:45am Education Hour: 10am Second Service: 11am

We Are Moving!

childcare available

981 Marsh Street (corner of Marsh and Morro)

fpcslo.org

3076 Duncane Lane . San Luis Obispo 805 549 0100

Creators of bench built lighting fixtures by local artisans.

The jewelry for your home.

HANS DUUS BLACKSMITH INC

2976 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY . SANTA MARIA 805-570-0019 . HANSDUUS@GMAIL.COM HANSDUUSBLACKSMITH.COM OCT/NOV 2018

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| KITCHEN

BOLOGNESE SAUCE Bolognese sauce is a meat-based sauce believed to originate from Bologna, Italy. Here, Chef Jessie Rivas shares his version of the recipe passed down from his wife’s Italian grandmother.

BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA DAVIDSON & JENNIFER PALLIAN

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½ cup red wine 1 Tbs ground allspice 2 tsp ground fennel In an 8-quart stockpot add 1 Tbs oil and heat just until hot. Add beef and pork and sauté until well browned and fat is rendered. Remove most fat and add the rest of the oil, carrots, onions, celery, garlic and cook for 10 minutes, just until the onions are translucent. Add bay leaves, Italian seasoning, tomato sauce (and red wine if desired) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.

Stir in tomato paste 1 Tbs at a time and add water if sauce becomes too thick. Simmer for an hour stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste (add allspice and fennel if desired). Simmer for another ½ hour stirring occasionally.

Taste for seasoning before serving.

JESSIE RIVAS is the owner and chef of The Pairing Knife food truck which serves the Central Coast.

In another stockpot bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 Tbs Kosher salt and pasta. Cook until al dente, drain water, and return to pot. Add 2 cups of the pasta sauce to the pasta and stir well. Serve pasta and top with more sauce as desired.

Finish with Parmesan cheese and Italian chili flakes. SLO LIFE

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| WINE NOTES

Setting the Scene Similar to a theatrical performance, from its musical score to costume and set design, wineries have a way of telling a story. The tasting room is the stage where the presentation takes place and the tale unfolds. The product of hard labor yearns to be shared. How that happens is as much an art as the winemaking itself.

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE

W

hether the goal is to make guests feel warmly welcomed like a family member or treating them with the authority and respect given to a visiting dignitary—whatever the goal—from the moment you arrive on the grounds of a winery, to those aching goodbyes, your experience is being considered every step of the way.

While out wine tasting with my mom recently, we stopped into a winery which set up a great stage and made it easy to have a good time. AronHill overlooks Highway 46 and Vineyard Road in Paso Robles. They have made an art of welcoming people, being informative, having a high standard of wine, food, and scenery, yet maintaining a reasonable price.

From the entrance to the exit, you can tell that details were at the heart of every decision. As we meandered up their treelined path, we waved to veteran worker Lupe Lopez who was pruning the trees. As a cornerstone of this winery, he always has a project on his hands. He has been around since Day One. We pulled into a well-manicured parking lot that overlooks a beautiful view, which we would later enjoy while sitting on the deck. As we walked in, the winery warmed us with dark browns that indicated we were entering an old world lounge with new age styling. Kathryn Aron, daughter of the winemaker, Judy Aron, greeted us along with head chef Kara Massey. We enjoyed a pleasant, thoughtful conversation. >>

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HOME TO EDNA VALLEY’S MOST .

DRINK IT ALL IN.

EXPERIENCED. BALANCED. MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

C H A M I S A LV I N E YA R D S . C O M 7 5 2 5 O R C U T T R OA D • S A N L U I S O B I S P O, C A 805-541-9463 TA S T I N G R O O M O PE N 1 0 A M - 5 P M DA I LY

I am grateful to have served on the City Council for the past five years. In that time, I’ve delivered on my promises: integrity, transparency, and a no-nonsense attitude coupled with a calm, balanced and thoughtful approach to the city’s challenges. I remain strongly committed to San Luis Obispo’s fundamental values of environmental protection, cultural richness, economic vitality and fair, sensible government. I ask for your vote on November 6.

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Kathryn shared the story of how she had moved there with her whole family as a little girl. Her mom was a horse lover and soon caught a passion for farming. Eventually, Judy roped in Lupe to start growing grapes. She found that their plot of land—the slope, soil, and weather—produced great wine grapes.

We were offered wine and food. Who can say no to that? The wine was delectable.

AronHill was an early planter of primitivo (the European Zinfandel). They also grow (Californian) Zinfandel and Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon. Richard Sauret, who is deeply missed at the winery, taught Judy the art of dry farming, which is a tough gig. Mikel Olsten also joined the family to help in winemaking. The small team produces a good product.

The wines ranged from easy drinking white wines and a flavorful rosé, to some deeper red wines. Some reds tasted slightly peppery with dark cherry flavors, while other reds danced with blueberry and raspberry. I reveled in every one. Next, we sampled their bruschetta. This is a dish that must have flavor-packed ingredients because they are few. It was exquisite. The vine-ripened tomatoes, which are grown on their land, burst with flavor and were balanced by the warm, comforting, locally baked bread. This was followed by a pear and pesto chicken sandwich for my mom, while I enjoyed a bacon and brie hamburger. Are you drooling yet? They were amazing. Whoever thought of pesto, pear, and onion has won my heart.

Not only was the wine great, the food enjoyable, and the people charming, but the little 90

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things made it a special place to return. The summation of those little thing for us: The perfectly timed refill; the missing napkin that magically reappeared before us in the hand of the observant proprietress; the expertly polished wine glass performed tableside before every pour. Together they created a memorable experience that will bring us back—again and again. Now, combine those little things with a compelling story and you have a winner. However, as the old saying goes, “Deeds are more powerful than words,” all you really need to know is that my mom, well, she has already returned for a second visit.

Each of our many hundreds of wineries here on the Central Coast have a different story to tell.

AronHill reminded me of this, and did so with flair. As for now, I can’t wait to get out there to explore more wineries, and meet the people bringing them to life. SLO LIFE

ANDRIA MCGHEE received her advanced degree on wines and spirits from WSET in London and enjoys travel, food, wine, and exercise as a means to enjoy those around her.

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SongsWeLove Best Sunday, November 4, 2018 · 3 p.m.

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| BREW

LOCAL SCENE

BY BRANT MYERS

T

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he year is 1988 and the dirt roads of San Luis Obispo are torn up from countless hooves pulling carts up and down the main drag while a lone saloon door slowly pulls away from its last hinge, moved ever so further away by the slight breeze passing through like a wayward straggler traveling between Mexico and

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San Francisco. Well, not really, but SLO might have well been a one-horse town when it comes to breweries thirty years ago. Having just attended the SLO Brew 30th Anniversary Party held after Labor Day weekend this year, I thought it would be an apt time to reflect on where we were, where we are, and where we may be going in the recent craft beer boom that has seen massive growth in the previous three decades.

Talk to any of the industry veterans and they can recall with great fondness

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like a roadie talking about their band touring, when the boom came rolling through the streets of San Luis Obispo. According to most, this is the third they’ve experienced, but we can all agree that it is by far the largest. The three grandfathers of the Central Coast brewing scene most of us know by now—SLO Brew at 30 years, Firestone at 21 (22 in November), and Central Coast Brewing coming in at the drinking age of 21 years old next spring. As all things small town, these breweries are interconnected but none as much as SLO Brew and Firestone. Having chatted with David Walker, co-Founder of Firestone-Walker Brewing Company, and the more gregarious of the partners, he relayed just how close they came to opening up their brewery in Buellton. Apparently, a red tape delay by Santa Barbara County officials of just a couple of days led them to hear rumors of SLO Brew’s Paso production facility shuttering. They checked out the facilities and decided going turn-key to save time and money was just smart business. The rest, as they say, is history.

Continuing this interconnectedness, I grabbed a beer or eight with the SLO Brew-master, Steve Courier, who spent his time brewing at Firestone and SLO Brew concurrently for many years. Like most alumni of larger breweries, he’s enjoying being master of his own domain. Like all things in life, however, with more power comes more responsibility. He has taken over the helm of a purposebuilt brew system and has been striving to learn the intricacies of new equipment and new recipes. I’ve often heard people in the industry refer to certain equipment as the “Ferrari of ___” and much like an exotic car they all have their quirks. It takes a mechanic and an artist to be able to understand the correct pitch of when their equipment is running properly or the smell of something brewing at the wrong temperature. Steve is extremely proud of the progress that he’s made in both the quality and the scope of the beers that they are making at their new flagship brewery. As a consumer, I particularly enjoyed the Still Frothy double IPA with extremely fresh notes of tropical fruit and a very quaffable mouthfeel despite it’s nearly 9% abv. Mimicking the Australian and American roots of their 94

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two owners, their special anniversary Imperial IPA release has hops from both countries and I hope that, if you didn’t get a chance to enjoy it on draft directly from the source, then you were able to grab one of their beautifully styled matte gold and black 4-pack cans.

With the continuing growth of these three storied breweries it is worth noting that three more will soon be added to the repertoire. To the North is Kilo Kilo Brewing and their unique Hawaiian style helmed by Ryan Putney known best for his involvement at Firestone’s Barrelworks and incredible palette. Another Ryan (Fields), this one coming from acclaimed Beachwood Blendery out of Long Beach, is returning to his home of SLO County to open Wild Fields Brewing in Atascadero at the site of the original city hall complete with kitchen and bowling alley.

And here in San Luis Obispo, the long awaited There Does Not Exist, founded by yet another Firestone alumnus, Max Montgomery, has been a work in progress just off Suburban Road with a very unique and minimalist vibe. More to come BRANT MYERS is a 13-year on these later as we explore the veteran of the Central Coast craft beer industry who future of brewing on the Central sharing his passion Coast in the next installment. In the enjoys with anyone who doesn’t meantime, drink in the history of the put an orange in their finest suds SLO has to offer. SLO LIFE hefeweiezen.

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| HAPPENINGS ART How much would you pay for a white painting? Would it matter who the painter was? Would it be art? One of Marc’s best friends, Serge, has just bought a very expensive painting. To Marc, the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marc doesn’t have the proper standard to judge the work. Another friend, Ivan, allows himself to be pulled into this disagreement, which escalates to often hilarious proportions.

September 28 – October 14 // slorep.org

OCTOBER A LITTLE BIT OFF... BROADWAY Central Coast Follies—a fun, fantastic, fabulous group of women and men who love to dance and sing while raising funds for meaningful causes—salute the musicals of the on- and off-Broadway stage with this production. Enjoy the evening as it winds its way from moving ballads to high-energy tap and jazz numbers.

October 5 - 6 // eventbrite.com

PISMO BEACH OPEN Witness a men and women’s World Surf League event boasting great waves. This marks the second annual WSL event to descend on Pismo Beach’s shoreline and its pier will play host to a critical final event on the North America Qualifying Schedule that may ultimately decide its champion.

October 11 - 14 // pismobeachopen.com 96

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THE MAGIC FLUTE Mozart’s Magic Flute was an instant hit at its premiere in 1791 and its popularity and success has kept it on opera stages throughout the world with growing love ever since. The opera tells the story of Prince Tamino’s quest to rescue Pamina, the daughter of the Queen, from the high priest, Sarastro. A powerful magic flute and bells help Prince Tamino and his friend Papageno the bird catcher survive the trials of fire and water while learning about brotherhood and justice.

This is Mozart at his comic best—rife with an outpouring of famous melodies cascading one after the other, packaged in an irresistible opera perfect for both opera aficionados and families of all ages.

October 13 - 14 // pacslo.org

DANNY COME HOME Enjoy an original musical written

by Michael Kaplan and Mark Pietri, inspired by San Luis Obispo headlines from 8 years ago (Annie the Dog). It is a homegrown Central Coast story that playfully investigates the way the animals we adopt help us awaken as human beings. This event is part of the 2018 Coastal Awakening.

October 19 - 20 thecoastalawakening.org

| HAPPENINGS WINTERMEZZO At Festival Mozaic’s WinterMezzo chamber music series, internationally-renowned artists present educational events, culinary experiences, and intimate concerts in spectacular venues on the California Central Coast. This season, Music Director Scott Yoo presents two weekends of great works of chamber music and offers three sequential ways to connect to the music and the musicians.

October 25 - 27 // festivalmozaic.com

PET COSTUME CONTEST The Pismo Beach Veterinary Clinic invites pet owners and animal lovers from all over SLO County to participate in their 10th annual Pet Costume Contest. This free, wholesome event is perfect for the whole family.

October 27 // pismobeachvet.com

HARVEST WINE WEEKEND 100+ wineries will celebrate harvest across Paso Robles Wine Country.

Try your hand at harvest (including stomping a few grapes), take in the beautiful fall foliage, live music, barbecues, barrel samples, and more.

October 19 - 21 // pasowine.com

NOVEMBER HARVEST ON THE COAST The weekend kicks off with our “Crafted on the Coast” collaborative winemaker dinner featuring Executive Chef Heidi Hornikle. Then on Saturday, hit the coast at the Grand Tasting and Wine Auction, located beachside at Avila Beach Resort featuring wine tasting, artisan foods, and live music by The Damon Castillo Band. Grab your wineglass and wristband, and head out to the SLO Wine Country tasting rooms for free wine tasting all day Sunday, during the “Surf ’s Up Sunday”. Each tasting room will feature free tastings, wine specials, live music, and more.

November 2 - 4 // slowine.com

THE GLASS MENAGERIE A theatrical piece of distinct power, with some of Tennessee Williams’ most potent lyricism, The Glass Menagerie is a memory play as told to us by Tom Wingfield, a merchant marine looking back on the Depression years he spent with his overbearing Southern genteel mother, Amanda, and his physically disabled, cripplingly shy sister, Laura.

Williams’ intensely personal and brilliantly tender masterpiece exposes the complexity of our memories, and the ways in which we can never truly escape them.

November 2 – November 18 // slorep.org

MARCHING BAND REVIEW Marching bands from all over California come to compete in this 40th annual event. Head to Pismo Beach and listen to the musicians play.

Awards will be given out at the Pismo Pier.

November 3 // classiccalifornia.com OCT/NOV 2018

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| HAPPENINGS

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MORRO BAY TRIATHLON Swim or kayak in the bay, run on the beach and bike along the coast for fun. Come out and enjoy some of the finest multisport terrain on the West Coast.

November 4 // morrobaytri.com

NOVEMBER

STAR GAZING IN HARMONY The town of Harmony is not only home to fabulous wines but also beautifully dark skies. Enjoy an evening of live music by Tim Jackson, food truck fare, and wine followed by guided star gazing on the hilltop patio with the Central Coast Astronomical Society.

November 9 // harmonycellars.com

TALL SHIPS The Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftan will visit the harbor in Morro Bay. This year, the gift of their visit comes in the midst of the holiday season. There are public tours during the week and Adventure Sails on Saturday and Sunday.

November 30 - December 19 // morrobay.org

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