Arroyo Monthly April 2021

April 2021 | Seniors

Fine living in the greater Pasadena area

`We're Not Dead Yet'

ACTRESSES DEFY AGEISM WITH NEW WEB SERIES

+ BUNGALOW HEAVEN TOUR

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VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 4 | APRIL 2021

06 SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Host the perfect summer soiree with the best barbecue grills and outdoor patio furniture —By Mike Ryan

10 JUST LIKE HEAVEN

Bungalows are at the center of 31st annual tour —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

14 A SECOND CAREER

Senior actresses take on stereotypes in new show —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

16 SENIOR TO SENIOR

An intergenerational win-win —By Nancy Carol Inguanzo

18 EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR SENIORS

The Community Resource Center for Aging helps older adults navigate unique challenges —By Katie Brandon

23 OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Cairn Atkinson is a hip and leg amputee who survived a rare form of cancer —By Kamala Kirk

26 CHIC RETREAT

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel is slated to open in May 2021 —By Kamala Kirk

30 CHEF JARITZA GONZALEZ & MAESTRO Maestro’s Maestra —By Frier McCollister

36 SAYING ‘YES’ TO PASADENA

Jennifer Garner’s new film explores the City of Roses —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

36 HER ‘DESTINY’

Rebecca Crews overcomes hurdles to restart music career —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

34 HIGH HOPES

Isaiah Crews just wants to make people laugh —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

DEPARTMENTS

36 CULINARY CUPBOARD Tropical taste meets Brisbane bake

arroyo

fine living in the greater pasadena area

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Mike Ryan, Katie Brandon, Nancy Carol Inguanzo, Emily Chavez, Kamala Kirk, Frier McCollister PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta ON THE COVER: Sandra Cruze and Sarah Hunter Photo by Luis Chavez

TIMES MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine V.P. OF OPERATIONS Michael Hiatt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Zac Reynolds CONTACT US EDITORIAL christina@timespublications.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1349, South Pasadena, CA 91031 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2021 Times Media Group All rights reserved.

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R E A L E S TAT E

Summer ENTERTAINING

HOST THE PERFECT SUMMER SOIREE WITH THE BEST BARBECUE GRILLS AND OUTDOOR PATIO FURNITURE

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BY MIKE RYAN

ummer is just around the corner, which means more cooking and entertaining outdoors. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue or an evening under the stars, investing in a good-quality grill and patio furniture will help you host the perfect outdoor summer celebration.

“Last year, barbecue grills were big sellers, and we expect sales to continue to rise this year,” says Erick Silva, seasonal department manager at Ace Hardware in South Pasadena.

According to Silva, there are four basic types of outdoor grills: gas, charcoal, pellet and Kamado. Gas grills work with either propane or natural gas, are the easiest to use and are the most convenient. Prices range from $100 to $3,500 depending on size and other features.

Charcoal grills use coals as their source of fuel and heat and contribute to a smokey, tender flavor when cooking. Prices range from $100 to $400.

Pellet grills, also known as pellet smokers, are fueled by small wood pel-

lets that come in an array of flavors, including hickory and maple. Many pellet grills have temperature-regulation systems with a thermostat option, which allows for better heat control. They also offer more options so that one can barbecue, roast and smoke meat. Prices range from $400 to $1,200.

Kamado grills have tight-fitting lids for air-tight cooking and are great when grilling items that take multiple hours. The two most common types of materials used in the construction of Kamado grills are ceramic and stainless steel. The ceramic grill retains more heat and will rarely crack, while the steel grill is less heavy and retains less heat.

Silva’s favorite grills are the pellet grills from Traeger. He points out that the design has a timer that can be downloaded via an app. It also has a pellet sensor inside the grill, and only the brand’s pellets can be used.

“You just fire it up, leave it and forget it!” Silva says.

One of his favorite grill brands is Weber, which includes gas, coal and pellet options. He especially likes the company’s 10-year warranties offered on parts.

When it comes to safety tips for grilling, Consumer Reports mentions that three-legged grills are less stable compared to those that have four. It’s always a good idea to keep a combo-use fire extinguisher handy as well. Garden hoses are not recommended — like trying to put out a cooking oil fire, water could make a fire worse.

Good-quality outdoor patio furniture is another essential for outdoor entertaining. Fishbecks Patio Center in Pasadena, which has been in business since 1899, is one of Southern California’s largest outlets for outdoor furniture.

Richard Wainman, a Fishbecks salesman, explains that the company’s warehouse was once a carriage garage for Castle Green, a historic building locontinued on page 8

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R E A L E S TAT E

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cated across the street in Pasadena that once served as an annex to the former Hotel Green.

Fishbecks offers patio chairs, couches, seat cushions and different types of tables, in addition to over 30 types of umbrellas. It also retails a wide variety of exclusive patio furniture brands, including Brown Jordan, an industry leader in luxury outdoor furniture, as well as Lloyd Flanders, which is known for making the first wicker baby buggy. Fishbecks also carries its own signature line of outdoor furniture as well.

There are several things to consider before purchasing patio furniture.

Along with rain and sun, wind can be the most damaging element to outdoor chairs, tables and umbrellas. A good solution for windy environments

is wrought iron furniture, which is quite heavy and can’t be easily moved.

Wrought iron furniture tends to be more costly, ranging anywhere from $400 to $5,000.

Wicker furniture is traditionally made out of natural fibers and is light yet sturdy. While natural wicker furniture is very durable, furniture made from synthetic wicker, which features resins that are extracted from plant material and permanently hardened, can better withstand the outdoor elements for longer periods of time.

Another good option is aluminum furniture, which is lightweight and sturdy, doesn’t rust and is stain resistant. A powder-coated finish helps to enhance the furniture’s scratch resistance.

Plastic furniture is the most affordable and comes in a range of styles, including faux wood. It’s also low maintenance and can withstand all types of weather conditions.

The premium choice of wood for outdoor furniture, teak is a dense wood that has a high content of naturally occurring oils, which makes it extremely durable and resistant to moisture, light and heat. It’s also the most expensive; a teak patio set can start at around $1,800.

Eucalyptus wood is a less costly alternative to teak due to it being one of the most widely cultivated types of tropical hardwood. With regular maintenance, it can last for a long time when exposed to the elements, but it’s less durable than teak.

For those looking for custom-made wood patio furniture, American Woodworks in Highland Park is a family-run business that has been around for nearly 30 years and one of a few wood furniture factories still operating in Southern California. In addition to unfinished and painted wood benches, tables and chairs, it can also custom-build beautiful wood patio furniture made to order.

Summerset Superstore, which has locations in Anaheim and Costa Mesa, carries a variety of customized barbecue islands, fire pits, fireplaces and hot tubs and also allow customers to test their grills.

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R E A L E S TAT E Annette Yasin lives in the Dr. Robert H. Sutton Bungalow, which was built in 1915. She volunteers to help run the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour: “As Seen Through a Lens.” Ticketholders can view it between Thursday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 28.

Heaven JUST LIKE

BUNGALOWS ARE AT THE CENTER OF 31ST ANNUAL TOUR

ungalow Heaven’s 31st annual home tour has pivoted to a virtual event scheduled for Thursday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 28. However, the benefit is participants can peek into spaces not normally seen.

“We’ve gone down into some basements, which normally we couldn’t do on a public tour,” says Annette Yasin, the Bungalow Heaven Home Tour director. “We’ve seen some unusual things — original coal shoots down there, some vegetable storage areas.

“We have one house that was moved here from the area of Caltech.

It was totally cut in half and brought here. We saw where the beams were cut.”

Dubbed “As Seen Through a Lens,” the tour features docents leading a video walk-thru of seven historic homes, providing commentary about the home’s architectural details and history. Tickets are $20, and the video can be watched anywhere in the world.

“I know we have people in Scotland and Germany who want to buy tickets,” Yasin says.

The 16-block area, bordered by Orange Grove and Washington

Photo by Luis Chavez

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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

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boulevards and Lake and Hill streets, is a historic gem set in Pasadena.

Although the district includes residences from most periods of Pasadena’s history, the overwhelming majority of the homes are bungalows built during the Arts and Crafts period of the early 20th century.

In the Craftsman homes, river rock and redwood shingles augment deep front porches, wide windows and interior details of wood, hardware, tile and glass.

The English Revival homes feature steeply pitched roofs, multipaned windows, stuccoed exterior, arched front doorways and, in some cases, a slightly storybook romanticism. The houses on the tour meld original historic elements, beautiful restorations and period-appropriate renovations.

Separate videos will include artisans demonstrating their talents in restoration and sharing tips and tricks of their trade. A reservation-only Zoom Q&A with California bungalow historians will be held during the home tour to provide an opportunity to learn more about the featured homes.

“On Sunday, April 25, we’re having a live Zoom with California Craftsman Bungalow historians,” she says. “People can reserve a spot on the Zoom conference. They know about the houses and Pasadena history.”

The home tour is a major fundraiser for the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association.

“We are a preservations and education group for the neighborhood,” Yasin says. “We use this money for preservation and education of these historic homes or any historic homes. We have a restoration grant program. We put on a lot of community-minded events to enhance the sense of community.”

Yasin said the neighborhood is fortunate to have McDonald Park in the middle of the “landmark district.” The facility hosts holiday celebrations like an annual Easter egg hunt, Halloween and Christmas events, a

Fourth of July parade and a communitywide potluck dinner.

The Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association furnished money for the equipment at McDonald Park, and a volunteer architect, who lives in the area, designed the pavilion.

The tightknit community comes together to volunteer for the annual home tour.

“About 99.9% of the people who put this together all live in Bungalow Heaven,” Yasin says. “In a ‘normal’ year, let’s call it, it takes about 150 to 175 volunteers to put it on.

“This year, it probably took 30 to 40 people. Our filming crew was all volunteers from the community and all professionals at it.”

BHNA is dedicated to preservation of the early 20th century homes in its landmark district, education about Pasadena architectural history, and organization of neighborhood forums to address current events and advocacy.

Yasin is hoping in-person tours will return next year so the frills can come with them.

“We usually collect dozens of cookies from the neighborhood and give them out at our tour,” Yasin says. “People from the community bake, and whoever comes on the tour can have them.

“Flower arrangements are in all of the homes that are on the tour. The flowers are collected from the neighborhood and designed by the neighbors. Of course, we ask permission first.”

Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association Presents: 31st annual Bungalow Heaven Home Tour: “As Seen Through a Lens” WHEN: Thursday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 28 WHERE: Virtual at bungalowheaven.org COST: $20, all-inclusive INFO: 626-585-2172, bungalowheaven.org

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Arroyo market watch

Existing Single Family REsidential Home Sales PASADEN­A — 50 LA CAÑADA — 17 ARCADIA — 27 ALTADENA — 21

% CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR PASADENA +38.9%

+41.7% ARCADIA -3.6% ALTADENA +50%

LA CAÑADA

Active listings

PASADEN­A — 92

% CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -34.8%

LA CAÑADA — 29

% CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -59.7%

ARCADIA — 89

% CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -23.9%

ALTADENA — 26

% CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -7.1%

EXISTING HOME SALES MEDIA PRICE

PASADEÑ­A — $1.16m % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -26.6%

MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET

PASADENA — 20 LA CAÑADA — 25 ARCADIA — 16 ALTADENA — 23

LA CANADA — $1.73m % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR +8.8%

ARCADIA — $1.25m % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR -9.5%

ALTADENA — $1.02m % CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR +11.6%

FEBURARY 2020 SALES DATA FROM THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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SENIORS

Career A SECOND

SENIOR ACTRESSES TAKE ON STEREOTYPES IN NEW SHOW

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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

andra Cruze and Sarah Hunter were tired of being cast as grandmothers with cancer or Alzheimer’s patients with “one foot in the grave.”

“We want to show an audience that being older, and particularly an older woman, can be fun — especially with an open mind,” Cruze says.

They address this through their original web series “We’re Not Dead Yet,” which debuted on March 17. Episodes one through three are available on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, the website twoheadsarebetterproductions.com and TikTok. The episodes are released at 5 p.m. Wednesdays.

“Our parents didn’t tell us what to expect when we were older,” Cruze says.

“We thought we could write (stuff) better than that. We started writing these little episodes about two women doing whatever the hell they wanted.”

The episodes are less than 10 minutes, with Cruze playing “Dita” and Hunter starring as “Lilly.” The duo write and edit the scripts together. Next season “We’re Not Dead Yet” will give a little more backstory and will have a serious slant to it.

“We really want to build on the idea that older women have something to

say,” says Hunter, a 50-year retired teacher. “It’s never too late, and it’s real life — even in the midst of the saddest thing in the world.”

Cruze and Hunter, both writer/actors, met almost 30 years ago at Ellouise, Cruze’s hair salon in Pasadena.

They realized salons had the perfect atmosphere for their creative ideas, like poetry readings, music events and original plays.

In summer of 1999 they launched Hunter’s original play, “Got Estrogen,” and “Unplugged and Off the Hook” with Cruze starring.

In 2009, they began producing weekly poetry and music with local talent featuring Cruze’s pals from her reggae singing days in Al’s Bar in Downtown Los Angeles, as well as Hunter’s huge cache of friends.

They attracted a coterie of fellow actors, musicians and writers and started producing plays of famous playwrights as well as their own, including Cruze’s original play/musical “Moonshine Mamas” and Hunter’s “Daughter of Earth” — a tribute to the late Agnes Smedley.

The two have a shared history. They were in recovery, but “we’re still crazy.”

“We’re different in many, many ways,” Cruze says. “There’s always a push and a pull with us, and people think it’s funny. My husband always says, ‘Are you guys rehearsing or are you really in a fight?’”

Hunter recently performed in her award-winning solo show, “Dogs are Better than People.” The 70-minute show covers her bad relationships with men, her alcoholism and her sobriety, as told by her five dogs.

“When you retire from a half century of teaching, many people simply retire,” she says. “I kicked off a whole new career here with Sandy. We’re very serious about it. We’re closers. We’re finishers.”

Hunter began creating characters and dramas in her neighborhood backyard at the age of eight in West Lafayette, Indiana. From graduate school to her time in Los Angeles, Hunter has remained a dedicated student of classical and modern theater.

Her interest in American history prompted her to write “Daughter of Earth,” Agnes Smedley’s harrowing story. She has dubbed Japanese cartoons, done voice-over work, had her original plays produced in Los Angeles and Pasadena, published a short story, adapted children’s stories for the theater, and adapted Sandra Cisneros’ “House on Mango Street” for student production. Working with Cruze has allowed her to continue writing and acting.

Cruze says writing saved her life. From jotting down ideas on napkins, business cards or her computer she has gone on to write “Groundless,” a one-hour TV series with Rey Deegan-Sandrey Productions, about two professional women who step over the line of the law.

Cruze enjoys collaborating. She worked with Dave Brown and Rey Deegan on the musical “Moonshine Mamas.” It is now being worked into a TV limited series, “Moonshiner’s Fate.” She has produced numerous 10-minute plays, making one into a short film, “The Physics of Killing.”

The brains behind Two Heads are Better Productions, Cruze and Hunter acknowledge the comparison to “Grace and Frankie,” which stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

“We’re a little more relatable,” Hunter says. “We’re not kazillionaires living on the beach. We’re normal people with normal situations.

“We worry about problems without having to worry about money. We don’t live in an $8 million house on the beach. We have to finance every single thing we do. This isn’t a ‘cheap hobby.’”

Hunter says she wishes Americans had the same thoughts as those overseas about older women.

“Older women, grandmothers, they’re at the top of the food chain,” Hunter says. “Here, we have commercials joking about she sheds burning down, or mom living in the shed in the backyard, or a woman being locked in a closet with the Depends overnight, or with bed pans.

“Neither one of us are stupid. Let’s say our series — God, please—a studio calls us in. We already know these young, 30-year-olds will look at us and say, ‘You’re both aware that you’re not going to be in it.’ We’d say of course. These actresses who have names and carry SAG cards would. We have no illusions about being stars of our own series.”

They just want to see the show succeed.

“We’re Not Dead Yet” twoheadsarebetterproductions.com YouTube.com sandreyproductions.com

Photo by Luis Chavez

Sandra Cruze and Sarah Hunter star in the new original web series “We’re Not Dead Yet.”

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AN INTERGENERATIONAL WIN-WIN

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PEF VOLUNTEER AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

“Mr. Burger and I had many great conversations about COVID-19, vaccines, history, reusable energy, the stock market, economics, his time at JPL, cooking and much more.”

Ani Hakobyan, PHS sophomore

E

ach summer, high schoolers volunteer as classroom aides in Pasadena Educational Foundation’s much-loved Summer Enrichment Program.

They expand their skill sets, enjoy time with the younger kids and have fun with fellow volunteers. It’s an immersive way to learn professionalism and build key skills while giving back.

When we couldn’t hold our program in-person last summer, we found solutions for our younger students by distributing learning kits and creating captivating online lessons.

To engage high school students who wanted to help their community during these difficult times, we created the Senior to Senior Program last May. Working with Pasadena Village, our goal was to pair high school students with elders in our community for personal connections, mutual learning and support.

In addition to being a fun and inspiring way to complete community service, volunteers enjoy participating in the program because they have the opportunity to build relationships with different people, learn more about themselves and make an impact on the lives of others.

Volunteering in the program teaches them to collaborate, builds their communication skills, expands their capacity for empathy, teaches them about responsibility and what it means to be an active and engaged member of their community.

Now in its third session, the Senior to Senior Program has served its participants in untold ways. Friendships have been formed, advice given, stories shared and laughter exchanged. Our elder partners offered much-needed insight on surviving this crazy time, and they did it over the phone, through emails, even via texts and Zoom meetings.

To sign up for the program, participants must either be an incoming Pasadena Unified School System sophomore, junior or senior or a community member who is 64 years of age or older. They must also be able to serve for a minimum of three months and complete an online application that includes a 100-word statement of interest.

Currently, due to COVID-19, the program is virtual, and no in-person meetings are being held. We look forward to resuming in-person group social activities once the pandemic is past.

No doubt our high schoolers serve our community’s elders, but the unexpected benefit came from the elders helping our high school students manage the stress of attending high school at home. It’s been an intergenerational win-win.

The Senior to Senior Program continues to teach participants about living lives of quality and connection despite differences and distance.

Enrollment for spring 2021 is closed, but the next session begins in June 2021.

For more information, visit pasedfoundation.org.

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• Located on over 25 acres with Breathing Landscaped Gardens with Walking Paths • Spacious Studios, One Bedroom, and Two Bedroom Apartments with Kitchens • Elegant Restaurant-Style Dining • Private Patios or Balconies in Each Unit • Daily Trash Removal and Bed Making • Weekly Housekeeping and Linen Service • Transportation Services 7 Days a Week • Monthly Calendar of Activities • Entertainment and Events • Complimentary Laundry Facilities • Fitness Classes • Pool and Jacuzzi • Library

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Free Online Interactive Presentations • Elder Abuse Prevention by Bet Tzedek, 4/8 at 1 pm • Creative Connections: Spotlighting Artist Donna Hummer, 4/14 at 2 pm • Stewarding Our Precious Open Spaces: A Virtual Tour presented by The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy, 4/21 at 2 pm • “Driving While Elderly,” 4/22 at 1 pm

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SENIORS

EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR

Seniors

THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER FOR AGING HELPS OLDER ADULTS NAVIGATE UNIQUE CHALLENGES

Susan Carr and Adria Navarro are friends and colleagues.

usan and Jim Carr lived in Glendale when Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, so they turned to Alzheimer’s Los Angeles for help.

Using her background as a public health nurse, Carr became a volunteer advocate for Alzheimer’s LA and focused on helping people in her community uncover resources to help deal with the many challenges that come with the disease.

She also co-founded Dementia Friendly Montrose, a community group based on a nationwide initiative that aims to improve the lives of those suffering with dementia, and joined Pasadena Village, an intentional community of older adults who live independently and support each other as they age.

After Jim’s death two years ago, Carr began building on the relationships she had formed with Alzheimer’s LA and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. She shared her story with hospital executives and told them about the many people in the community who were reaching out to her for assistance. As a result, the hospital proposed the creation of a community resource center focused on helping older adults.

“The hospital wanted to do something for the community. I was only the catalyst,” Carr says.

The next step was to share Carr’s story with potential funders. In early 2020, Navigate Foundation awarded a generous grant to fund an 18-month pilot program at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

During the days of dreaming and planning for a resource center, Carr often consulted with friend and colleague Adria Navarro. The two had collaborated on Dementia Friendly Montrose, and Navarro was also on the board for Pasadena Village.

As a final bit of serendipity, Navarro was hired as the program manager of the newly created Community Resource Center for Aging (CRCA).

CRCA aims to improve the quality of life for older adults by connecting them with a broad network of support services from the hospital, as well as nonprofit and public health organizations. People can also receive guidance navigating daily needs, like food and medicine delivery or transportation, as well as major life decisions like long-term care or assisted living. Access to the CRCA is free to anyone in the community, including patients, family members and caregivers.

“Older adults have their own unique questions and challenges, which are further complicated by the pandemic,” Navarro says. “USC Verdugo Hills Hospital has created a support network for older adults in our community, and we are excited to be here for them at such a critical time.”

Navarro finds great satisfaction in helping people navigate the system to access resources.

“Our community resources can be so fragmented,” Navarro says. “I am thrilled to be able to go back to my roots, helping people seek support to meet their needs.”

Navarro and Carr’s strong commitment to the community of older adults in the area has paved the way for others that are navigating the challenges and joys of aging. Through Alzheimer’s LA, Pasadena Village and CRCA, people have more outlets to turn to for support and resources, especially during these continued challenging times.

For more information, visit uscvhh.org.

Photos by Luis Chavez

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BY KATIE BRANDON

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F E AT U R E In 2018, Pasadena resident Cairn Atkinson underwent a hemipelvectomy and had her left leg amputated due to a rare form of cancer known as epitheliod sarcoma.

Overcoming OBSTACLES

CAIRN ATKINSON IS A HIP AND LEG AMPUTEE WHO SURVIVED A RARE FORM OF CANCER

BY KAMALA KIRK

Photos by Luis Chavez

I

n 2018, Cairn Atkinson was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer that would change her life forever.

One night after work, she was getting ready to attend Bible study but was suddenly overcome by a strange feeling that told her to go home instead.

“For the past eight months prior, I had been experiencing severe sciatic pain in my left butt area,” Atkinson says. “When I got home that night, I felt fine so I decided to work out on my yoga trapeze device, which is flipped upside down like a hammock with handles on the sides. I was on it with my feet together like a diamond, then all of a sudden it felt like something flicked my hip and I lost control. I fell right on my back and was in so much pain. The next day I couldn’t walk, so one of my friends drove me to the ER.” At the hospital, Atkinson learned that she had a large tumor in her hip. The following month she was diagnosed with epitheliod sarcoma: a rare, slowgrowing soft tissue cancer.

“Growing up, I would get tired and sick easily,” Atkinson says. “When I was in high school, I would come home and lie on my bed after school because my back hurt. At concerts, I would get dizzy and had to sit down a lot. Epitheliod sarcoma is a childhood cancer, and I was diagnosed with it when I was 28.

Looking back, I always felt compromised and probably should have gone to the doctor sooner, but I was a procrastinator. Now I encourage people to go to the doctor right away just to be safe.”

In December 2018, Atkinson underwent surgery to remove her left hip and leg. After nine days in the hospital, she came home. The process of adjusting to her new normal was challenging, and Atkinson had to relearn how to do everyday things like walking and driving.

“It was a very difficult time for me, but I got through it and things slowly improved,” Atkinson says. “I had lost a lot of weight, and after my surgery I was very weak. I made sure to have things around me that made me comfortable, like my stuffed animals, blanket, diffuser and favorite essential oils. I’m pretty independent, and I can still drive. There are some things that are harder for me to do on my own, like emptying the dumpster bins, but my husband Joseph helps with the things I can’t do. He’s been so supportive, loving and compassionate throughout this whole ordeal.”

After her surgery, Atkinson started wearing more vintage-style dresses and outfits because they were comfortable and easy to put on. She also participates in photoshoots and partners with clothing brands and local businesses like Vintage Treasures and Antiques in Arcadia, regularly posting her latest outfits on her Instagram account (@smooth_hop_erator).

“Growing up, I was a fan of old-fashioned movies and TV shows like ‘I Love Lucy,’” Atkinson says. “I love mimicking the hairstyles and outfits from those days, and I just want to show people that you don’t have to have all your limbs to be beautiful and fashionable. I would love to get more into modeling and acting.”

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Atkinson enjoys sharing her vintage outfits and photoshoots on Instagram, and regularly uploads how-to videos on YouTube to inspire others. continued from page 23

Three months after her procedure, Atkinson decided to return to the workforce and landed a job in quality assurance at Turbo Jet Productions.

“Working and being around other people really kept me going and helped get me out of my depression,” Atkinson says. “It was nothing like the previous work I did before my surgery, which included being a caretaker and working in rehabilitation and nursing homes.”

These days, Atkinson works as a full-time babysitter. In August 2019, she started a YouTube channel (Cairn Atkinson Lean on Me) so she could share videos about her life as an amputee and has amassed more than 2,500 subscribers.

“My YouTube channel consists of lots of different videos that show how I do things as an amputee, from getting dressed and cooking to riding a horse and water rafting for the first time,” Atkinson shares. “I’m not afraid to be in front of a camera, although for a while I was still shy about my new body and only filmed myself from the chest up. What’s been great about having my channel is hearing from people who thank me for helping them because they or someone they know is going through something similar. It’s been wonderful to help people through a scary time.”

In addition to helping Atkinson connect with others, YouTube and social media have also given her a renewed sense of hope.

“I watched a video of a lady who was an amputee that wore a runners clip on her waist which she clipped to her baby stroller, and when I saw that I cried because my husband and I are trying to conceive and I always thought I would be walking with a stroller,” Atkinson says. “After having my surgery, I was sad because I didn’t think I could do that. But seeing her gave me such confidence. After we have a baby, I plan to post videos about how a one-legged person can take care of a child. I want to pay it forward so that others can also have a positive outlook and a good quality of life. At the end of the day, I’m still doing the same things — I’m just doing them differently.”

Atkinson has been cancer free for two years and gets regular scans and checkups to stay on top of her health. She and her husband, who have lived in Pasadena for the past seven years, are planning on starting a family in the near future.

“Going through this has given me more of an appreciation for life,” Atkinson says. “While I can’t control my situation, I can control how I respond to it. Aside from becoming a mother, my other goal is to continue to share my story and put myself out there. I don’t see a lot of hip amputees out there, and I would like to become a public figure so that I can use my platform to help other people and give them encouragement and hope.”

Follow Atkinson on Instagram @smooth_hop_erator.

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F E AT U R E

The property will include 234 rooms and suites, in addition to 14,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces.

Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia is a new luxury hotel that will open on May 25 across from Santa Anita Park.

CHIC

Retreat

LE MÉRIDIEN PASADENA ARCADIA HOTEL IS SLATED TO OPEN IN MAY 2021 new luxury hotel, Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia, will open its doors on May 25 in Arcadia directly across from Santa Anita Park. Developed by Chateau Group founders Eric Chen and Anna Sung, the hotel is owned by SAICP LLC and managed by Pacifica Hotels, the largest owner and operator of lifestyle design-inspired hotels on the Pacific Coast.

“We are thrilled that this new hotel will bring to life the history of the region through design, culinary creations, craft cocktails, fine art and beyond,” Chen says.

“We are confident that this stylish metropolitan oasis will be a fantastic addition to the Arcadia community, and we look forward to welcoming guests from around the world and showing them all there is to unlock in the local area.”

The highly anticipated property will include 234 rooms and suites, in addition to 14,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces that span five separate rooms.

The elegantly appointed ballroom will feature 14-foot floor-to-ceiling glass walls and doors that open to the 7,000-square-foot outdoor event lawn, which will offer views of the racetrack. In addition to meetings and conferences, Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia can host wedding ceremonies and receptions, and will offer customized wedding packages.

The hotel will bring Le Méridien’s distinctive European heritage to the Southern California destination. Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts have over 100 properties in more than 30 countries, which pair the brand’s engaging midcentury designed spaces with chic signature programs that put a playful twist on art and inspire creative-minded travelers to explore the world in style.

Brought to life by Linda Snyder Associates and AO Architects, Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia will incorporate illuminating textures and layers of sophisticated equestrian design, celebrating the glamorous halcyon days of travel and the area’s rich heritage.

Guests will be greeted when they enter the hotel by an impressive handmade porcelain and glass abstraction of peacock tail features by Ron Dier Design. Global art installations curated by renowned local art consultancy Daniel Fine Art will be on display around the property, and works throughout the hotel will include pieces

by French illustrator Serge Bloch, international multimedia artist David Ellis and established Venice Beach artist William Attaway.

“Guests can indulge in a cultural and culinary journey at Le Méridien Pasade-

na Arcadia,” says Dan Zwirn, general manager of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia.

“The hotel’s dining destination, Mélange, will showcase Asian-European inspired cuisine. The hotel’s grand bar, Longitude 118, will serve as a social gathering place with a curated high tea and highballs cocktail program.”

Additional amenities include an outdoor pool that will be heated year-round, along with poolside delivery and dining experiences. Available to guests will be 24-hour in-room meal, spirit and packaged-item delivery service. There will also be an on-site fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment.

“We are fortunate that the process has remained on track since the groundbreaking in 2018, but the hotel will have additional features guests can look forward to, such as expanded outdoor dining and other amenities,” Zwirn says.

“Guest and team member safety remains a top priority at Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia, which is why we will be implementing industry-leading standards from the Marriott Commitment to Clean Program.”

To ensure guests can enjoy their stay with peace of mind, precautionary measures around the hotel will include signage to indicate safe distancing, sanitization systems in high-traffic areas, safe food preparation and service practices, and elevated cleaning measures with hospital-grade disinfectants.

“We’re excited to be engaged with the Arcadia community and are already working on exciting partnerships with our neighbors to further showcase all there is to unlock in the local area,” Zwirn says. “From the Santa Anita racetrack to art to shopping, Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia looks forward to welcoming guests with captivating experiential packages.”

Matt Marquis, CEO of Pacifica Hotels, adds, “The development of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia is a huge accomplishment, and this premium, full-service property is certainly an esteemed addition to the Pacific Hotels portfolio. We look forward to opening day when we can welcome the public to this special hotel.”

For more information, visit lemeridienarcadia.com

Photos courtesy of Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia

A

BY KAMALA KIRK

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DINING Seared Hokkaido scallops on huitlacoche rice with oyster mushrooms and epazote foam is $32.

CHEF JARITZA GONZALEZ &

Maestro MAESTRO’S MAESTRA

Photos by Luis Chavez

BY FRIER MCCOLLISTER

W

hen the upscale and elegant Maestro restaurant opened in 2017, four primary partners were responsible for the successful launch: Sergio Martinez, brothers Paul and Emmanuel Gonzalez, as well as Jaritza Gonzalez (no relation).

Jaritza was the mastermind in the test kitchen, creating the restaurant’s sophisticated takes on Mexican cuisine, with the recipes and dishes that define Maestro’s menu.

The team had deep roots together as Martinez explains, “The funny thing is — all four of us — our parents all come from the same town in Mexico. So that’s how we have the relationship. We’ve all known each other for over 20 years.”

Martinez and the Gonzalez brothers grew up in El Monte and the San Fernando Valley, while Jaritza lived in Anaheim. Their families all hailed from the small town of Jalostotitlán in the northeast corner of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The four friends would convene there regularly for fiestas with their extended families. It was at those family fiestas where the dream of a collaboration first hatched.

Tres leches carrot cake.

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Paul Gonzalez co-owns Maestro.

“Long story short: Me and Jaritza, literally since we were 15, 16 years old, she always had a passion for the kitchen,” Martinez says. “She disappeared and went off to Greece for a couple of years. But I always said, ‘When you get back, we’re going to do something together.’”

Jaritza’s family moved to Anaheim when she was 6 years old. The family had a background in food and quickly started a cottage food operation out of the family kitchen.

“In Mexico, my dad used to sell barbacoa, and then he became a butcher,” Jaritza says. “So I grew up making meat and barbacoa. When we came from Mexico, my parents used to make salsas at home and sell them to markets, to work our way up coming from a different country. That intrigued me.”

After attending culinary school, Jaritza returned to the family business and expanded its operations.

“After culinary school and working at various restaurants, I used my (experience) to expand the business,” Jaritza says. “Now we have our own business to massproduce products.”

The family’s company, La Cabana, now develops “master-use recipes” for food companies and restaurants over a wide variety of products.

“I’m a product development chef. I create recipes for companies,” Jaritza says.

“I’m the chef. I create the recipe, and we mass-produce it.”

There’s another connection to Maestro as well. One of La Cabana’s regular clients is the local Vallarta Supermarkets chain, owned by the family of Maestro partners Paul and Emmanuel. Emmanuel was responsible for the concept and design of the spectacular new Vallarta location in Pasadena on Fair Oaks and Orange Grove.

The road to product development and the launch of Maestro was preceded by study, hard work and international travel. Jaritza attended two rounds of culinary school.

“For baking and pastry, I went to Pasadena (Le Cordon Bleu),” Jaritza says.

“Then I went through the Cypress College culinary program, where I ended up doing all the courses. I wanted to learn everything.”

Jaritza’s experience at Cypress College led to a position teaching pasta technique there, and she also worked in the kitchens of various restaurants in Orange County, including The Resort at Pelican Hill, among others.

Jaritza’s interest in pasta took her to Europe for further study. continued on page 30

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DINING continued from page 29

“The plan was to take a couple courses in Italy,” Jaritza says. “I ventured off to Greece and ended up staying there for three years.”

In Greece, Jaritza worked at a beachside seafood restaurant on the island of Syros, where the food was “unapologetically good.” The restaurant served traditional Greek cuisine, but as she continued to develop her talent, Jaritza was allowed to experiment.

“I started as a line cook and then became a sous-chef,” Jaritza says. “By the second year, I was using more of my Mexican culture. I love fusion. I love all types of ingredients. It’s why I call myself a food scientist, because I love creating random things. But I always try to remember my culture, which is Mexican.”

Upon her return to Southern California, Jaritza began working with Martinez on the plan and menu for Maestro’s opening in Pasadena. At the time, she was also working with chef Daniel Godinez, who was a partner in the concept briefly.

“Jaritza was working with Daniel, but she created the menu here at Maestro,” Martinez says. “For the first six months, Jaritza was working with us in the kitchen when we first started.”

Jaritza adds, “I pretty much worked the menu from the first day we opened.”

Maestro serves dinner Tuesday through Sunday, as well as brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. As devised by Gonzalez, the menu is rife with sophisticated riffs on regional Mexican cuisine.

Starters include a ceviche of shrimp and octopus with serrano chilis and avocado ($15); a tetela composed of blue corn masa, huitlacoche, black bean puree and tomatillo salsa ($12); and grilled octopus with beans, potatoes and nopales ($22).

There are four items in the middle section of the menu: a tamale of roasted pasilla peppers with Oaxacan and Chihuahua cheeses ($12); fried quesadillas with beef chorizo and potatoes ($15); chicken taquitos with broth and salsa verde ($15); and shrimp and potato tacos with cabbage, Chihuahua cheese and pico de gallo ($15).

Highlighted entrees in the main menu section are lamb shank braised in banana leaves ($32), a mole confit of chicken and fingerling potatoes with avocado puree and queso fresco ($25), and seared Hokkaido scallops on huitlacoche rice with oyster mushrooms and epazote foam ($32). Individual fish, carnitas or potato tacos ($4.50), two birria tacos ($13) or a sope of short rib ($8) are available as add-ons.

The Sunday brunch menu features chilaquiles ($13); avocado toast with manchego ($14); breakfast tacos with scrambled egg and chorizo ($13); and barbacoa tacos with traditional consommé ($14), among other tempting options.

In addition to a selection of craft cocktails, Maestro offers a truly impressive list of over 200 agave spirits, including rare vintage tequilas and mezcals.

Maestro is transitioning back to indoor dining slowly, particularly since outdoor seating has been so successful. The outdoor seating capacity is 60 people with over 8 feet of distance between tables. On weekends, a guitarist serenades diners.

“There’s nothing like live music to calm the nerves and enjoy dining out,” Martinez says. “This is one of the strategies we went, with and people really enjoy it.”

Maestro never closed despite the pandemic lockdown a year ago. Martinez recalls, “Myself and (partner) Paul (Gonzalez), we’ve had one day off since COVID-19 started. We were going to push and fight to make sure something was left standing.

We weren’t going to be taken out just like that. We wanted to adapt.”

Now with Jaritza back in the kitchen, the partners are considering expanding to a second location. They are also staging occasional themed pop-up events. At the end of March, they staged a benefit for the nonprofit No Us Without You honoring female chefs, featuring Jaritza collaborating with chef Naima Wilson on a four-course prix fixe menu.

“We don’t need men!” Jaritza says.

Reflecting on the magic of Maestro’s chemistry, Jaritza says, “Here, we’re a team. Back in the day, we would talk about things to do together. I love to create. I love to cook. We make a great team. It’s creating, that’s where my heart is. I love the restaurant because I just create, create, create. It’s definitely been a great accomplishment.”

For the exclusive enjoyment of Arroyo readers, Jaritza shared one of those creations: her carefully engineered recipe for molcajete guacamole. Just add chips!

Maestro 110 E. Union Street, Pasadena 626-787-1512, maestropasadena.com

Jaritza Gonzalez is the chef at Maestro.

Guacamole with chips MOLCAJETE GUACAMOLE SERVES FOUR

INGREDIENTS 6 RIPE AVOCADOS 2 ROMA TOMATOES 3 SERRANO PEPPERS, SEEDED AND CHOPPED 1/2 CUP OF CHOPPED CILANTRO LEAVES

4 TABLESPOONS FRESH LIME JUICE 1/2 TEASPOON GROUND CUMIN ZEST OF ONE LIME KOSHER SALT TO TASTE COTIJA CHEESE TO TASTE

METHOD COMBINE INGREDIENTS IN EITHER A TRADITIONAL STONE MOLCAJETE BOWL OR STANDARD MORTAR AND PESTLE. MASH TO DESIRED CONSISTENCY. SEASON WITH SALT AND TOP WITH COTIJA CHEESE.

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FA M I LY

SAYING

‘Yes’

TO PASADENA JENNIFER GARNER’S NEW FILM EXPLORES THE CITY OF ROSES

Photos courtesy of Netflix

D

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

irector Miguel Arteta loves Pasadena, and the bond gripped a little tighter after he filmed “Yes Day” here with Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez.

“We went to the beautiful bookshop there, Vroman’s,” Arteta says during a recent phone interview. “We shot the coffee scene where she meets Edgar. We shot the office scenes in Pasadena. The Torres’ beautiful yellow house is in South Pasadena.”

Arteta and Garner filmed “Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” in Pasadena as well.

“Pasadena is a lovely place to shoot,” he says.

“Yes Day” is a family film about Allison Torres (Garner) and Carlos Torres (Ramirez), parents who usually say no but decide to say yes to their kids’ crazy requests — with a few ground rules. Arteta enjoys working with Garner, calling her “a rare unicorn of a movie star.”

“I love Jen Garner,” he says. “She’s so authentic and so present and is such a good person. I just adore her. She told me, ‘This is something very personal to me.’”

Garner and her children have scheduled “yes days” for years, after she read the book of the same name by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She wanted to share this fun departure from parental rule with the world.

“It comes from the heart,” Arteta says. “Jen just wanted to share. I was doubly thrilled when I found out Jen was going to be in the film. It’s hard to say ‘no’ to a thing called ‘Yes Day.’” Arteta says Garner made filming fun. Calling her “very adventurous,” Arteta says she does her own stunts. However, Garner is afraid of roller coasters, which is evident in a key scene in the film.

“It was funny because she edited and produced the film, and she was there every step to develop it,” he says. “The roller coaster was there from the start.

She didn’t say anything until a few weeks before.

“On the roller coaster, she did ruin a scene because she yelled Jenna Ortega’s real name. So, she had to do it a few times. She was squeezing Jenna Ortega’s hand so hard. Jenna said it felt like she broke it.”

The scene was filmed at Magic Mountain, which thrilled the adult members of the cast, Arteta says.

With a laugh, Arteta calls “Yes Day” a “very active shoot, actually an action movie, really, for us.”

Another pivotal scene in the movie involves Ramirez practically inhaling ice cream. Arteta says they were eating ice cream for breakfast for two days trying to perfect the scene.

“Edgar Ramirez has to eat a lot of ice cream in this movie,” he adds. “It was that kind of a shoot. It was very, very fun. We also had water balloon fights for five days straight.

“We threw 30,000 water balloons, and the crew was wet for five days. We had a lot of fun.”

Garner proved to be the motherly figure of the cast — literally and figuratively. Arteta says the star brought goodies for the cast and crew every morning and became close with the child actors’ parents to earn their trust.

Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez kiss during the pivotal ice cream scene in “Yes Day.”

In “Yes Day,” Edgar Ramirez (left, playing Carlos Torres) and Jennifer Garner (Allison Torres) let their children decide what they’re going to do for a day. The activities include going through a car wash with the windows down.

“She really cares about children,” Arteta says. “She’s an ambassador for Save the Children. She went with the kids and Edgar to the mall to Build-A-Bear Workshop because she just wanted to have a bonding experience with the kids — Jenna, Julian (Lerner) and Everly (Carganilla).

“It was such a lovely time spending the day with her. It’s a great way to build trust and get everyone to know each other. The actors had chemistry, and it’s luck. It doesn’t happen every time.”

Playing Carlos Torres was a departure for Ramirez, who’s known for his gritty serious roles. Arteta was thrilled to work with him as well.

“For me, it was such a great thing to be able to cast Edgar Ramirez with this diverse family, not only because I’m a humungous fan of Edgar but because Edgar had not done comedy before.

“Also, it gave me a chance to cast three beautiful Latino kids. For me, a Latino filmmaker, it’s a great pleasure and privilege. Jenna, I think she’s going to be a big star. Julian is incredibly talented. Everly, she was 5 years old when we shot.

It was her first time in a film, and she was a little Shirley Temple. She’s so alive and a joy and loves doing this.”

At the end of the day when filming wrapped, Everly begged to keep shooting. Arteta says the actress — who truly steals the film — injected energy into the shoot.

“It’s a rare thing to have a 5-year-old who’s so intelligent and smart. She was just born to be in front of the camera,” Arteta adds.

“She stole all of our hearts. We’re going to hear a lot from all three kids. Jenna is in the new ‘Scream’ movie. Working with kids is such a pleasure. You get to work with people when they’re just starting. You fell in love with them, and you get to watch like a proud parent all the amazing things they go off and do.”

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

HER

‘Destiny’

REBECCA CREWS OVERCOMES HURDLES TO RESTART MUSIC CAREER

R

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Troubling times Rebecca also took a break from music to battle breast cancer. Then 54, Rebecca was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer at the end of January 2020 and was staring at operating room lights on March 3. She had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

The timing couldn’t have been worse: Her son, Isaiah, was just cast in the Nickelodeon show “Side Hustle.” (See related story.)

“The day after he was cast, I got a call from the breast center,” she recalls. “I said, ‘OK, what are we going to do?’ I just had this strong sense that I should be very radical.”

Rather than just removing the lump, she authorized a mastectomy.

“I’m a big believer in divine guidance,” she says. “Twelve years ago, I had a small lump that was not cancer. They said it was scar tissue and it should be removed and to keep an eye on my girls.”

She had an ultrasound and mammogram each year, and in 2020, they found a suspicious lump. Rebecca — who didn’t feel a lump herself or have other symptoms — decided to “be very radical, cut it off and rebuild.” She didn’t want to “play around.”

“It was a very peaceful feeling,” she says about the decision to have a mastectomy. “I wasn’t afraid.”

Rebecca King Crews wrote the song “What You Wanna Do?” about waiting for her husband, actor Terry Crews, to come home from work.

Photos courtesy of Rebecca King Crews

ebecca King Crews has spent many evenings wondering when her husband, actor Terry Crews, was going to be home.

She has phoned to say dinner is ready and she’s prepared for a romantic night. Still, Terry is busy at work. The story rings true to many couples, so Rebecca wrote a song about it.

“What You Wanna Do?” is an adult contemporary track that speaks from the heart of a woman waiting for her man to come home.

“As wives, we value certain things,” says Rebecca, who lives in Pasadena with Terry and their children. “For me it’s family dinner. My husband has worked really late hours. Plenty of times I’m calling him saying, ‘When are you getting home?

I’m trying to have dinner together.’ Then 6 o’clock comes round and he’s not home. I can’t get him on the phone and I’m (mad).”

The theme resonates with couples and families around the world, she says.

“I felt it was a very universal cry for women,” Rebecca says. “Men are all about their work. It’s a big part of their DNA to provide for the family.

“In our generation, most wives are working full time, too.

For me, the song is emotional and heartfelt, like, ‘Hey, we’re waiting. Where are you?’ Of course, if you tease him, he’s going to get home faster.”

Since 2018, Rebecca has released music under the pseudonym Regina Madre because she wanted an honest opinion of her music. She has two radio singles: “(I Keep) Holding On” and “Destiny.”

Although she never stopped writing songs, Rebecca has taken several breaks from her career to support her family’s activities. Rebecca believes in putting family first and the rest will follow.

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She recently had her one-year anniversary of being cancer free.

“I’m very thankful that it was caught early,” she says. “There was no spread to my lymph nodes. There was no need for radiation or chemo. I’m just monitoring with an oncologist every three to four months. I have to do that for the next five years at least.”

The anatomy of a HIT Rebecca says some dreams just won’t die when she’s asked about music. She started playing piano and writing songs at age 9. She sang in the church choir, in theater and with live bands in college.

The last project she did before she married Terry was “Dreamgirls.” Once she married, she kept her music within the church walls.

Rebecca had an epiphany, though, during an awards show. She saw herself sitting in the front row, in a white dress and her back to the television.

“It was like a vision,” she adds. “I looked my husband and said, ‘I’m going to win a Grammy.’ He said, ‘That’s great, honey.’ That day something was born inside my heart.”

She started writing, producing and creating again. Rebecca built a home studio, and in between having babies and washing dishes, she says, she wrote songs. In 2015, she put out an inspirational jazzy gospel song that was called “too sexy” for gospel.

“It had this tropical, Latin, bossa nova Sade vibe to it,” she says. “I had some conversations with gospel labels and didn’t have any luck. I’ll still write Christian.

I’m a devout believer. I wrote lots of love songs, ‘you broke my heart’ songs.”

She finally found the right producer and a favorable genre so she could be “definable.”

“You need to be definable,” she says. “They have to know where to send your music. I think I just started narrowing down some things. I’m theater trained. I’m opera trained. I write country, pop , R&B and all styles. It doesn’t mean I can sing all of them.

“I started to narrow down who I was as a singer. What I felt was a good combination of my personality and style. It doesn’t make me feel like I’m trying to sound like someone else.”

Music has been a fun form of therapy for Rebecca. “What You Wanna Do” is her third single. She intends to release an album featuring her singles and other new tracks.

A home that exceeds expectations deserves a mortgage to match

Her promotional team told her it’s the “era of the single,” so they’re testing the waters with her music.

“They’re dropping singles to see how they do one at a time,” she says. “We’re introducing the public to my sound. We’re dropping another one that’s R&B, and we’ll see if we want to make each song a single or release them as an album.”

Crews says “What You Wanna Do” deserves to be successful. For one, the hook is catchy.

“This is one thing I always say — as a songwriter, if you can’t sing along by the second chorus, you don’t have a hit,” she says. “If your song is so complicated that Rebecca King Crews is gearing nobody can sing along, it’s not going to be up for a book release. a pop hit.

“I write for the church and gospel music, too. If it has too many runs or a complicated melody, they can’t pop in with you. I read this book years ago about the music industry. You have to have a HIT — hook, idea and title. That stuck with me.”

Telling their story Terry and Rebecca will release their new book “Stronger Together” on April 15 exclusively through Audible.

“We’re really excited about it,” Rebecca says. “The book is a great story. It was my lifelong dream to be an author. As crazy as we are, we stayed together. If two people like Becky and Terry can make it, so can you.”

Rebecca says “Stronger Together” will cover how they met, their journey together through Terry’s NFL career, and the Hollywood years.

“We’ve had some ups and downs along the way,” she says. “We went through some tragedies. We’ve had great triumphs, too. We look back over the 32 years and talk about how we survived it. We’re old fogies now.”

We’ve got a mortgage to fit your needs.

Call us today.

Vipul Patel Home Lending Officer 818-517-1173 v.patel@citi.com citi.com/vpatel NMLS# 484889

• Mortgage discounts with Relationship Pricing1 • Dedicated support every step of the way • Jumbo loan sizes up to $3 million; loan sizes sizes up to $8 million available to well-qualified buyers who meet Citi’s High Net Worth2 requirements

Steven Xu Home Lending Officer 323-641-8986 steven.xu@citi.com citi.com/stevenxu NMLS# 1495017

Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, products and services are subject to change. This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Certain restrictions may apply on all programs. Offer cannot be combined with any other mortgage offer. This offer contains information about U.S. domestic financial services provided by Citibank, N.A. and is intended for use domestically in the U.S. 1

A Citibank deposit account and automated monthly transfers of the mortgage payment from a Citibank personal deposit account using automated drafting will be required to receive Citibank mortgage relationship pricing. Ask a mortgage representative for details on eligible balances and the qualifying closing cost credit or rate discount. Availability of the Citibank mortgage relationship pricing for Citibank account holders is subject to change without notice.

2

Available for clients with a minimum of $500,000 or more in investable post-close assets, and at least $50,000 in traditional assets must be on deposit with Citi at least 10 days prior to closing. This amount may be part of the $500,000 eligibility requirement. Real estate, loan proceeds, stock options, restricted stock and personal property will not be counted as part of the $500,000 or more investable post-close assets or the $50,000 in traditional assets. Net cash value of life insurance can be counted as part of the $500,000 but not part of the traditional assets. Investable assets are defined as deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, Certificates of Deposit), unrestricted stocks, non-vested stock and restricted stock, bonds and retirement accounts held by the individual who is personally liable on the loan. These asset types held in revocable trust may be used provided the trust document meets the Trust Policy. 100% of the face value of all assets, except non-vested stock and restricted stock, may be used to calculate the amount of funds available to meet the eligibility criteria. For non-vested stock and restricted stock, the borrower must be 100% vested within 1 year of closing and a maximum of 70% of value may be used to calculate qualifying equity. Additional conditions apply. ©2020 Citibank, N.A. NMLS# 412915. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Citi, Citi and Arc Design and other marks used herein are service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates, used and registered throughout the world.

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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

HIGH

Hopes

ISAIAH CREWS JUST WANTS TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

K

nown for lighting up red carpets with his fashion style, 15-year-old actor and musician Isaiah Crews is following in the footsteps of his father, Terry Crews, as he shares his comedic chops on Nickelodeon’s “Side Hustle.”

Airing at 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, the popular teen series was written by Dave Malkoff (“Sam & Cat,” “Victorious”) and John Beck and Ron Hart (“Fuller House,” “Liv and Maddie”). When Isaiah heard about their participation, he was sold on the role of Isaiah Crews stars in “Side Hustle” with Munchy.

Annie LeBlanc and Jayden Bartels.

“I watched John and Ron’s shows growing up, like ‘Liv and Maddie,’” Isaiah says. “I was very excited to work with them.”

“Side Hustle” stars social media sensations and real-life best friends Annie LeBlanc and Jayden Bartels.

The show follows Lex (LeBlanc) and Presley (Bartels) along with their quirky friend, Munchy, after they find themselves in a sticky situation after an accidental mishap destroys the police vehicle belonging to Munchy’s dad.

Forced to come up with creative ways to earn money to pay for the damages, the best friends enlist the help of Presley’s tech-savvy younger brother, Fisher (Mitchell Berg), to create an app called “Kid-DING” to connect with people looking for help with small jobs.

With Munchy’s bossy older brother Jaget (Jacques Chevelle) making sure they keep up with the payments, the three friends must do any jobs that come their way — no matter how crazy they are.

Isaiah’s character has been compared to Steve Urkel of “Family Matters” and Screech of “Saved by the Bell.”

A Pasadena resident, Isaiah says he sees similarities between himself and Munchy. But there are differences as well.

“I’m not as goofy as Munchy,” he says. “I just want to make people laugh, though. That’s my only goal. That’s what I have my heart set on. It’s cool that people from all over the world have the chance to watch us. I also like being someone I’m not. It’s all in good fun.”

A fixture on TV sets around the country since he was 5 years old on the BET reality series “The Family Crews,” Isaiah starred in national ad campaigns and appeared at the Gamer Awards in 2018.

When he is not on set, Isaiah plays the drums and bass and sings. He’s also an accomplished dancer, and he studies coding. An avid gamer, he built a PC from scratch with his dad that went viral.

“I started taking music seriously last year,” says Isaiah, who looks up to Tyler, the Creator; Sarah, the Illstrumentalist; and Jaden Smith.

“It was around the same time we started filming ‘Side Hustle.’ It’s very hard to make music. That’s why I have so much respect for other artists. I’m going to try to keep doing music, though.”

A self-described perfectionist, Isaiah melds his music tastes with fashion.

He hopes to create his own clothing someday, “if I get popular enough,” he says with a laugh. Fans direct message him frequently on Instagram, and most of them compliment him on his clothing. Others, Isaiah adds, are mean, but he just ignores it.

“I never thought I would make it this far, honestly,” he says about his career. “It just took so long. It took four years to book this role. I’m glad I did it. I just love how goofy Munchy is. I like doing goofy stuff. It lifts people’s spirits, and we need that these days.”

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CULINARY CUPBOARD

TROPICAL TASTE MEETS

Brisbane Bake

T

BY EMILY CHAVEZ

raditionally coated with chocolate and coconut, a lamington is a cake square originating in Australia. One day, I hope to enjoy an authentic lamington in Brisbane, but until then, I’m happy to share with you my take on the lamington with refreshing mango and pineapple flavors perfect for spring.

The tropical fruit coating, bursting with vibrant flavors, is lightly absorbed by the soft cake crumb and then topped with flaked coconut for a unique textural combination. Additionally, the convenience of baking in a large tray and then cutting out the perfect serving sizes for a buildable dessert display or individual packaging to go is a win.

TROPICAL LAMINGTONS YIELD: 25 PIECES | ACTIVE TIME: 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 45 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS 1 CUP FINE SUGAR 1 CUP FLOUR 2 3/4 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER 1/4 TEASPOON SALT 1/4 CUP CORNSTARCH 3 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT 1/2 CUP BUTTER, UNSALTED 4 LARGE EGGS, ROOM TEMPERATURE

1/2 CUP MILK, ROOM TEMPERATURE 1 1/4 CUP MANGO, CUBED 1 3/4 CUP PINEAPPLE, CUBED 1/3 CUP POWDERED SUGAR 4 TABLESPOONS CREAM CHEESE 2 TEASPOONS GELATIN POWDER 2 TABLESPOONS BOILING WATER 2 CUPS COCONUT FLAKES

1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 320 DEGREES. 2. LINE A 10-BY-10-INCH SQUARE BAKING PAN WITH PARCHMENT PAPER BUT DO NOT GREASE OR OIL THE SIDES. 3. SIFT TOGETHER IN A LARGE BOWL THE FLOUR, BAKING POWDER, CORNSTARCH AND SALT 3 TIMES. 4. IN ANOTHER BOWL, BEAT TOGETHER BUTTER, FINE SUGAR AND VANILLA EXTRACT UNTIL CREAMY (ABOUT 10 MINUTES).

5. ADD EGGS TO THE BUTTER MIXTURE, BEATING AFTER EACH ADDITION. 6. SIFT THE FLOUR MIXTURE OVER THE BUTTER MIXTURE AND FOLD WITH A SPATULA. 7. ADD MILK AND STIR TO COMBINE. 8. BAKE IN THE PREPARED CAKE PAN FOR 20-25 MINUTES OR UNTIL A SKEWER INSERTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAKE COMES OUT CLEAN. 9. LET THE CAKE COOL IN THE PAN FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING OUT ON A COOLING RACK. 10. IN A FOOD PROCESSOR, COMBINE THE MANGO, PINEAPPLE, POWDERED SUGAR AND CREAM CHEESE UNTIL COMPLETELY SMOOTH. 11. STIR GELATIN WITH THE BOILING WATER IN A SEPARATE CUP UNTIL COMPLETELY DISSOLVED, THEN ADD TO THE FRUIT MIXTURE AND PULSE. 12. PLACE FRUIT MIX GLAZE IN THE FRIDGE FOR 10 MINUTES TO THICKEN. 13. SLICE THE COOLED CAKE INTO 2-BY-2-INCH SQUARES. 14. COAT EACH CAKE SQUARE COMPLETELY IN THE FRUIT GLAZE AND THEN ROLL IN SHREDDED COCONUT. 15. ALLOW THE LAMINGTONS TO FIRM UP IN THE FRIDGE BEFORE SERVING.

Photo by Luis Chavez

INSTRUCTIONS

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In our previous articles, we discussed the negative side effects of topping pruning, specifically topping trees. One exception is hedges; it is necessary to top them so they do not grow into tall trees but into aesthetically pleasing green walls.

I remember as a kid reading the book Robinson Caruso, about a shipwrecked man on a desert island. Struggling to survive on his own, he builds a sheltered enclave by planting trees close together in order to create a barrier which offered protection and hid him from the dangers around him. Today in our crowded world, the saying “fences make good neighbors” couldn’t be truer… But maybe even better of a saying is, “hedges make great neighbors.”

Hedges provide privacy along with a soft, organic, and aesthetically pleasing barrier between us and our neighbors.

Hedges don’t just happen. In most cases, we can’t plant a tree or shrub and expect it to stay dense and aesthetically pleasing without some effort on our part. The two general categories of hedge candidates are either large shrubs that grow large, or trees that respond to topping-pruning by generating new growth along the trunk.

While the first category, shrubs, are generally lower maintenance once mature, they take a long time to grow into fences. Tree-type hedges generally grow faster, so are often more popular. However, the tree-type hedges can’t grow into proper hedges without help from us. This is where topping comes in.

The first rule of pruning is, “Cut a plant in one place and it grows in another” couldn’t be more obvious than this case. Topping your tree-type hedge on a regular basis encourages them to put their energy into the lower growth, shifting focus away from their normal job of growing tall, generating dense, low

growth, perfect for making a fence-like hedge. Remember to top your tree-type hedges often, as waiting too long between topping, or cutting only the sides, will result in a less dense plant. See examples below of two properties with the same plant (Ficus Nitida). One has been topped, the other has not.

When planting a new hedge, don’t let the plant grow upward to the desired height immediately. Allow the plant to grow in 1-foot increments, then cut back 4 inches. This forces new limbs closer together, which will create that compact, dense look, without compromising health.

While we may not be hiding from wild animals or cannibals like Robinson Caruso, with mature hedges in place, we can enjoy our yards in peace, quiet, and any state of undress without upsetting our neighbors.

Mark Meahl.

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