Arroyo December 2020

December 2020

Fine living in the greater Pasadena area

Gems of PASADENA

YVONNE DAVIS IS AMONG THE STARS WE CELEBRATE

AN ORIGINAL

THIS FEDERAL-STYLE HOME IS AN ARDEN ROAD LEGEND

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Photo By Chad Mellon CSLB 653340

Now more than ever, our home is the center of our lives.

As we find ourselves negotiating for quiet space to work and study, we also seek spaces in our home that promote wellness, peace and relaxation.

Let’s help you find ways to refine and get the most out of your personal sanctuary.

Call 626.486.0510 to start the conversation about your home today.

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arroyo

VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 12 | DECEMBER 2020

06 BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Don Benito’s Yvonne Davis isn’t just a teacher —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

07 FRESH FOOD RAIN OR SHINE —By Annika Tomlin

08 FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS HEAD-ON

Union Station helps clients get back on their feet —By Andres de Ocampo

10 HIGH QUALITY OF LIVING

MonteCedro makes independent living comfortable —By Alison Stanton

12 CUSTOM DESIGNS

Sofa U Love creates high-quality, made-to-order furniture —By Kamala Kirk

14 LONGTIME TREASURE

Ultra Bathroom & Kitchen brings on the whole ‘home experience’ —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

16 MISSION-DRIVEN WORK

Dia DuVernet leads the charge at Pasadena Humane —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

18 PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

Attorney Amy Sulahian’s background in tax and accounting helps clients achieve success —By Kamala Kirk

20 A CENTURY OF COMMUNITY

Pasadena Playhouse holds its place among the giants of American theater —By Bridgette M. Redman

22 A ‘MIND-BLOWING’ EXPERIENCE

Dinosaur Farm owner reflects on 25 years, looks forward —By Connor Dziawura

24 THE INABILITY TO BE PERFECT

Lin Vlacich

Airtalk’s Larry Mantle continues to strive to inform Angelenos —By Matthew Rodriguez

26 DOTS CUPCAKES

Sotheby’s International Realty Pasadena Brokerage vlacich.com

Hailey Kwon: Cupcake Queen —By Frier McCollister

28 BREAKING THE MOLD

Civic ballet commits to an inclusive community —By Bridgette M. Redman

10/6/2020

PW-ReaderRec-2020.jpg

30 A PASADENA ORIGINAL

This Federal-style home is one of six original properties on Arden Road —By Kamala Kirk

34 IN GOOD TASTE

Chef Claud Beltran and Bacchus’ Kitchen —By Frier McCollister

DEPARTMENTS

32 CULINARY CUPBOARD Dessert for the cookie lover

arroyo

fine living in the greater pasadena area

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco -Karasinski ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Frier McCollister, Kamala Kirk, Andres de Ocampo, Alison Stanton, Bridgette M. Redman, Connor Dziawura PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta ON THE COVER: Yvonne Davis 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 161 South Pasadena, Ste. B, South Pasadena, CA 91030 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2020 Times Media Group All rights reserved.

Thank you to my much appreciated clients for this recognition.

I still love what I do, and it is because of great clients like you.

Lin Vlacich

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1i3NIDB5z266tf2csJtBLKZrw53Obb1Gm

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vlacichs@aol.com | 626.688.6464 vlacich.com © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. SIR DRE License Number: 899496 | Lin Vlacich DRE: 609754

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

BUILDING

Yvonne Davis, who has taught for the Pasadena Unified School District since 1985, is a “Gem of Pasadena.”

Relationships

DON BENITO’S YVONNE DAVIS ISN’T JUST A TEACHER on Benito Fundamental School kindergarten teacher Yvonne Davis knows learning is difficult. But she’s also aware it’s her job to instill a sense of wonder, pride and joy into her students.

That’s one of the reasons why she’s a Gem of Pasadena.

“I don’t just teach,” she says. “I build relationships. My families say, ‘Once a Davis, always a Davis.’ That’s how I feel about all the students in our school.”

The feeling is mutual. Davis says her “quick trip to the market” isn’t so fast, because she is frequently stopped to have “wonderful chatty conversations with people I know. My family and friends tease me that they can’t take me anywhere.”

The Pasadena native, who has taught for the Pasadena Unified School District since 1985, says she always wanted to be an instructor.

“I had a little brother who was born when I was almost 10,” explains Davis, whose sibling is Dr. David Morris. “So, I practiced on him. I just think it was always my dream and my passion to be a teacher.”

Before her tenure with Pasadena Unified, she was a local cooperative preschool director and, as a junior in college, she worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as an instructional aide.

“I’m lucky that, over the years, I started young and have worked through having a family,” she says. “Now my children are all adults and off on their own paths.

I’m able to just devote my time and attention to the classroom, and that’s what I do.

People ask me about hobbies. I teach kindergarten. That’s my hobby.”

She chalks up her success to “celebrating everything.”

“It’s the fun that makes life good,” Davis adds.

Parent Kalea Dunkleman agrees. Her son, Jackson, was one of Davis’ students.

“She’s incredible,” Dunkleman says. “She is a gem. My son, Jackson, who’s in second grade now, had her for kindergarten. I had heard about her. I grew up in Pasadena and I went to private schools. Still, I heard about her through the grapevine, and she’s always been on our radar.

“When it came time to choose an elementary school for my son, there was obviously a number of things that went into that decision. When I toured the school, I fell in love with the community. I just instantly responded to the way she was teaching.”

Teaching is a two-way street between Davis and her students’ parents.

“I realize that my job is to teach kindergarten,” she says. “The work is with the whole family, though. That relationship serves us well. It gives the kindergarten child that full, completed, supportive experience and it just rounds out their year having their families be involved in their education.

“Because I have been in Pasadena Unified and Don Benito for as many years as I have, I have children of the same family over and over again. That is also a benefit. Younger siblings are family with how it’s going to work.”

In typical years, Davis has her students perform in plays, which are family highlights. At Thanksgiving, kindergarteners have what is often their first on-stage experience, where they sing fall songs and talk about being thankful. Over the winter holidays, the gingerbread man—often the gingerbread girl—is the subject of the play. In the spring, they perform a show based on DuBose Heyward’s book “The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes.”

During the pandemic, Dunkleman says Davis took online learning like a champ. The teacher formed a book club with older children in the summer to work on the tools and programs that parents and children would need to be successful in the fall. She knew where she was going to teach, too.

“That’s a microcosm of how she is as a teacher,” Dunkleman says. “Our kids are so lucky to have her. With her years of experience that she brings, she has a tried and trusted method that creates this incredible foundation for learning.”

That, Dunkleman adds, is why students—and parents—latch onto Davis. She encourages parents to volunteer and lead projects in the classroom.

“Kindergarten can be a hard transition,” says Dunkleman, who served on the PTA board when Davis was the faculty liaison. “To let us be so involved in the class, field trips, art projects and anything that we wanted to do that had an educational value to it was just amazing. We all became really close.”

Davis enjoys seeing former students when they visit with her. After all, she bids adieu to kindergarteners by saying, “Don’t forget to invite me to graduation.”

“The last number of years, I’ve been attending high school and college graduations,” she adds. “It’s very sweet that people say, ‘Oh, this is my kindergarten teacher, where it all began.’”

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Photo by Luis Chavez

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BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

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Fresh food RAIN OR SHINE

G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN

Photos by Meg Aldrich

R

ight off the Gold Line South Pasadena station sits the neighborhoodfriendly South Pasadena Farmers Market, open 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays—rain or shine.

The market manager for nine years, Carole Gallegos thinks the market has a “fantastic location” and has done “exceptionally well” because she tastes everything.

“We’re a food-oriented market because I’m a cook,” Gallegos says while baking a cake. “Nobody gets into this market without me trying their stuff first—you have to pass my test.”

Gallegos considers herself a gourmet cook and a foodie who knows what the neighborhood wants to eat.

“We’re a California-certified farmers market with a lot of organic choices,” Gallegos says.

To be certified, a farmer obtains a certificate from the agricultural department specifying the types of produce they are allowed to grow as well as the quantity. Gallegos says several people assume that certified means organic certified, which is another category.

“I have a waiting list of three years of people trying to get into the market,” Gallegos says. “I’ve got stacks of applications, and everybody who has an application—especially if it’s food—they have all given me samples.

I’ve picked a handful that are on a shortlist of waiting to get in, but not many people leave this market, so it’s hard to get people in.”

Some of the certified fruits coming in season include all types of apples; oranges, tangerines and grapefruit; juju berries; guavas and dragon fruit. Vegetables include root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, yams, butternut squash, accord squash, Brussels sprouts and green beans. “(The number of farmers) is never the same,” Gallegos says. “We have summer farmers who come and then they leave, and we have winter farmers.

It averages about 27 to 30 depending on the time of year.”

In addition to the fresh fruit and veggies that Gallegos assures are picked within 24 hours of being at the market is the list of food vendors, ranging from Indian cuisine (Zaiga Kitchens) and kosher baked goods (Uncle Irving’s Bagels) to vegan cheese (Blode Kuh) and rotisserie chicken (Chicken Guys).

“We have a vegan cheese made with nuts, which I have taken to parties and said it was a cream cheese spread and nobody has ever figured out that it’s not cheese,” Gallegos says.

“My husband is one of those people that is like, ‘If it’s vegan then I don’t want it.’ Sometimes I have to kind of fool him.”

Some of Gallegos’ top picks and most popular at the market are Blode Kuh, vegan cheese; Bonjour Yogurt, French-styled yogurt; Orveganic: Healthy Butter, peanut butter; and Frog’s Bakery, French-styled bakery.

The South Pasadena Farmers Market normally offers hot meals, but because of COVID-19 there are occasional restrictions. Vendors such as Tamale Treats & More as well as Zaiga Kitchen opted toward selling cold meals for customers to take home and heat. Kettle Korn made the switch to popping its corn in a commercial kitchen and then have it wrapped and ready to sell, according to Gallegos. “(Chicken Guys is) a rotisserie truck that brings the chicken in a truck, and when they open the side it’s already roasting around and you can smell it down the street,” Gallegos says.

Other vendors include Completely Pickled with pickled vegetables; Hemera’s Bench serving sweet and savory pies; Deisy’s Tasty Food offering pupusas and lemonade; and Mom’s Products dishing out hummus, pita chips and falafel.

South Pasadena Farmers Market will be closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. “Usually we only close one day a year, Thanksgiving, because it is always on a Thursday,” Gallegos says. “This year is different because New Year’s and Christmas are on different days. I don’t want my vendors driving back to Fresno or wherever on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.”

Vegetables at the farmers market include root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, yams, butternut squash, accord squash, Brussels sprouts and green beans.

Hopf Chocolate sells at the farmers market.

South Pasadena Farmers Market Meridian Avenue and El Centro Street, South Pasadena 626-403-2820, southpasadenafarmersmarket.org

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

FIGHTING HOMELESSNESS HEAD-ON UNION STATION HELPS CLIENTS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET

BY ANDRES DE OCAMPO

munities, encampments, hospitals, etc., to speak to people experiencing homelessness to see what services USHS can provide them.

Bean said many of the staff members have clinical, physical and mental experience. “(USHS staff) who serve in these rolls are trust builders,” she said, “They’re letting people know what services are available, and they’re letting them know Union Station will be there for them.”

The second pillar of USHS, bridge housing, is to “provide shelter, housing vouchers and bridgeNatasha Head, left, met Karen King in 2016 while housing opportunities for King was volunteering at the USHS Adult Center (families and individuals) on Raymond Avenue. The two are pictured with to have a safe place to Head’s 1-year-old son. stay in the interim while (USHS) helps them look for more permanent housing,” Bean said.

Supportive housing, the third pillar of USHS, includes three buildings in Pasadena—Euclid Villa and Marv’s Place for families, and Sentential Place for adults—and serves as what USHS calls “permanent supportive housing.”

The fourth pillar, community integration, is multilayered with services, like employment resources and its 2-year-old program, Community Allies, for people being assisted by USHS. “(USHS has) case managers helping recently housed clients, but there’s a whole other piece that case managers can’t always provide,” Bean said. “We established community allies to provide a sense of ongoing belonging and friendship in a new community.”

A lot of people who have experienced homelessness face isolation, according to Bean, and the isolation does not always end once they have been housed.

“By pairing a client with a friendly face in the community, who is willing to (volunteer), really helps clients create a wonderful transition into housing,” Bean said.

Head and King, after joining the Community Allies Program together in 2018, have shared many moments together by attending social events in Pasadena and growing their personal connection with each other.

“Whether we’re in the Community Allies Program or not, we’re going to always be in each other’s lives,” King said. “That’s just something that’s going to happen for us and continue on. … It’s been wonderful for both of us. (Natasha) knows she can count on me for whatever it is.”

Head has since worked with a case manager at USHS and moved from the dormitory-style housing at USHS Adult Center to a one-bedroom apartment in Pasadena to live comfortably with her 1-year-old son.

“Union Station’s program for transitional housing is great,” Head said. “I wish and pray for anyone who is homeless to open that door and have the opportunity to know that they are secure, have a roof over their head and have the protection they need to get off the streets.

“It’s been a wonderful blessing to find Union Station and to seek the programs (they offer). I used to be a really quiet, shutdown person. I had a lot that I lost when I first (found) Union Station. I used it as a recovery center to better myself and to move myself forward in life. I used Union Station as a growth in my life, and I will continue on that growth.”

Photo courtesy Union Station Homeless Services

N

atasha Head has rebuilt her life after falling on hard times, battling homelessness, by seeking programs provided by the Pasadena-based Union Station Homeless Services.

Once quiet, with a shutdown disposition, Head said she has “blossomed” after finding USHS’ programs and is now in a place in life where she can be self-sufficient.

“This is me taking my fears and blossoming into the woman I am today, and going outside the gates of Union Station and really getting out there,” Head said. “It took a lot for me to get to where I am today.”

Head utilizes USHS’ Community Allies Program and its transitional housing and found Union Station in 2015.

“I had stayed at the Union Station Adult Center as a recovery,” she said.

“It was a home away from home to get back on my feet and get myself back together.”

Head met Karen King, a previous volunteer with USHS, in 2016 while King was volunteering at the USHS Adult Center on Raymond Avenue. After discovering a connection between them, Head and King started the Community Allies Program in 2018 and have since become close friends with a familial bond.

“During the time Karen volunteered at the Union Station adult center, I just really connected with her,” Head said. “I always had to give her a warm hug and greet her. She was someone I really wanted to be attached to.

“When the (Community Allies) Program popped up, I was game for it.

I needed a best friend; I needed a big buddy. It took me back to high school, when we had someone that guided us through our tough times and situations, and she has always been there for me and my son, which is a blessing.”

Union Station Homeless Services was founded in 1973 and is committed to helping individuals and families end homelessness and rebuild their lives.

USHS has many other programs and services, among the Community Allies Program, and is the largest social-service agency in San Gabriel Valley, from Pasadena to Pomona, and is partnered with other agencies throughout Los Angeles County.

To help “clients,” which USHS defines as anyone the organization serves or assists, it depends on its staff, volunteers and the community.

“Union Station was founded by volunteers, and the agency as a whole would come to a grinding halt if we didn’t have the volunteers that help us every day,” said Dana Bean, USHS’ senior director of development and communications.

Bean said each year USHS has over 3,500 volunteers helping with every aspect of its work, from helping in kitchens and running events to helping at the front desk at the USHS office.

Bean emphasized the community’s impact and role in helping end homelessness.

“The work of Union Station is critical in our community,” Bean said.

“We are helping 4,500 people every year connect with services and helping 1,000 people a year end their homelessness, but we can’t do it alone. This is truly a community effort. “(The community) can also advocate for more affordable housing (in the areas they live and) they can advocate for fair wages.”

By recognizing systems that have led to the homelessness crisis, Bean said, like income inequality, a lack of affordable health care and efficient mental health care, the community can help those in their community who are experiencing homelessness.

USHS operates within its four foundational pillars of outreach, bridge housing, supportive housing and community integration to provide multiple services to those in need.

“Our mission has remained the same (since 1973),” Bean said.

“Our goal is to help people end their homelessness, but that mission has deepened and the way we do that has developed over time. We believe very strongly in housing first but not housing only. Once people feel safe, we can help work with them in the journey of rebuilding their life. All of the programs we have speak to that mission and intent.”

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a r c h i t e c t u r e is part of every aspect of our lives architecture is our: home workplace places of worship schools museums restaurants hospitals stores sports venues civic facilities etc , etc , etc ...

you can not survive without architecture it heavily influences your life and environment.

support future architects! help local architecture students in need donate to the jean roth driskel scholarship fund sponsored by

the american institute of architects pasadena foothill chapter Each year the tuition scholarships benefit one community college student transferring to a Bachelor of Architecture program; and one fourth-year student in a B. Arch. program in the five accredited architectural universities in the L.A. region. The fund was established in 1971 to honor Jean Roth Driskel, the first woman president of the Pasadena AIA, and just the third woman architect in the nation to be honored as a Fellow of the Institute. A remarkable, energetic community leader in South Pasadena and Pasadena, she was active in sixteen community organizations. The Scholarship Fund is ably administered by the California Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity.

for more information visit or contact: www.calfund.org/jean-roth-driskel-scholarship/

lance Bird, faia.

(626) 818-7411 rlBird888@gmail.com

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

Living

HIGH QUALITY OF

MONTECEDRO MAKES INDEPENDENT LIVING COMFORTABLE

BY ALISON STANTON

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MonteCedro offers 183 independent living accommodations with more than two dozen different floor plans.

Nancy and Richard Flores enjoy the bar at MonteCedro. ute to the greater community,” Alvarado says.

The commitment to individualized attention and offering a high quality of life is also part of MonteCedro’s mission, which is to create exceptional communities and services for seniors.

This also reflects the core values of MonteCedro, which are the courage to embrace change, compassion to others, integrity, respect, generosity, spirituality, imagination and diversity, Alvarado says.

In regard to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Alvarado says the safety of residents, staff and visitors is a top priority at MonteCedro.

“With weekly testing required for staff, daily temperature taking for all staff, daily temperature taking for residents and visitors as well as following all local health officials and licensing protocols, we feel confident in our process as we navigate the current pandemic,” he says.

Alvarado says he enjoys being part of an independent living community with such an incredible staff, residents and supportive families.

He is also proud of the way so many new residents mention that MonteCedro came highly recommended by people they know.

“Our residents love where they live and this truly shows, as the largest referral source of our new residents comes from current residents and families.”

MonteCedro 2212 El Molino Avenue, Altadena 626-788-4924, montecedro.org

Photos courtesy MonteCedro

ntertaining social events and educational classes. Beautiful living accommodations with more than two dozen floor plans. A welcoming, home-like atmosphere with a friendly and caring staff.

These are just a few of the many things that help MonteCedro, a Life Plan senior community in Altadena, stand out.

As Ruben Alvarado, director of sales and marketing, noted, nearly all new residents are pleased with their decision to call MonteCedro home.

“Probably the most common feedback we get from new residents after they complete the process of moving in is that they wish they would have done it sooner,” he says.

MonteCedro, which opened in December 2015, offers 183 independent living accommodations with more than two dozen different floor plans.

As Alvarado notes, residents can choose from accommodations with one bedroom, one bedroom with a den, two bedrooms, and two bedrooms with a den that range from 750 square feet to almost 2,300 square feet.

When hunger strikes, residents may either cook their own meals in their full kitchen or they may be served delicious daily specials at any of the three on-campus dining venues.

“MonteCedro also offers an aging in place model; this allows residents to stay in their independent living accommodation as they age,” Alvarado says.

“As their care needs change, we will bring care services to them, and we also offer memory care accommodations on the campus, should the resident develop a need for Alzheimer’s or dementia care.”

Unlike some other independent living facilities that operate for profit, MonteCedro is a nonprofit organization.

This means the Life Plan senior community is motivated by service to its residents, Alvarado says, not by earning a profit.

“At MonteCedro, we continually reinvest back into the community by improving services to residents and their families, hiring outstanding staff and developing new ways to fulfill our mission,” Alvarado says, adding that they also do not pay dividends to shareholders—because there aren’t any.

As people weigh their options for independent living communities, Alvarado says he suggests finding out if a community is a nonprofit or for profit.

“This distinction reveals a community’s ultimate priority,” he says.

“It’s part of our social accountability commitment, and it’s at the heart of everything we do. It’s the essence of our core values and the foundation of the mission to which we devoted ourselves back in 1923, when Deaconess Sophie Miller created The Episcopal Home for the Aged.”

The Episcopal Home for the Aged provided housing, services and health care to older people of all faiths and especially those facing hardship, Alvarado says.

Over time, The Episcopal Home for the Aged evolved to become Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS), which provides care and services to older adults. In addition to MonteCedro, ECS has two additional Life Plan senior communities in Southern California: The Canterbury and The Covington.

Alvarado says ECS is proud to serve people of all faiths and economic backgrounds. He and everyone at MonteCedro remain deeply committed to providing their residents with outstanding care and other enriching opportunities.

For instance, to help provide residents with interesting and stimulating educational offerings, MonteCedro offers the Creative Living Academy. This includes lectures, classes and other offerings on a number of subjects.

Alvarado says the academy is comprised of a group of resident advisers who arrange for a variety of offerings, including art classes, language classes and social opportunities, that are designed to enrich the lives of MonteCedro’s residents.

The creative living classes and other amenities, a high standard of living and continuity of care are indicative of the way the independent living industry is changing, Alvarado notes.

“Senior consumers are looking for a different product than what was in demand even 10 years ago. They are also looking for continuing education and life enrichment opportunities, as well as the chance to continue to contrib-

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Sofa U Love creates a wide variety of high-quality, custom furniture that is all produced at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Los Angeles.

CUSTOM

Designs SOFA U LOVE CREATES HIGH-QUALITY, MADE-TO-ORDER FURNITURE

BY KAMALA KIRK

V

incent Karapetian got his start in the family business at the age of 17 by sweeping floors and delivering furniture in his pickup truck. His father, Johnny, founded Sofa U Love, a custom furniture company, in 1971.

He started out by making custom furniture for major TV studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount Studios, and over the years, his company expanded to multiple store locations across California. In 2010, Vincent grew the business by opening a store in Thousand Oaks, followed by Pasadena in 2013. He took over the existing Santa Barbara location from

his father in 2018 and now owns and operates three stores.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life. I was practically raised in our factory,” Vincent says. “I know this business like the palm of my hand, and I love helping make furniture for people. I’ve always wanted to run a business my own way, and I wanted to prove to my dad that I could do it better. He’s blown away by what I’ve been able to achieve.”

Sofa U Love creates a wide variety of high-quality, custom furniture that is all produced at the company’s state-of-the-art factory in Los Angeles. It can make everything from sofas and sectionals to headboards and offer a vast selection of fabrics and styles for customers to choose from.

“We do a lot of custom work and can make pretty much any style or size,” Vincent shares. “When a customer comes in, they tell me exactly what they want and show me a layout of their space where they want the furniture. If they don’t have that, I can draw it for them and they’ll provide me with the dimensions of the furniture they want to build, then we’ll discuss everything from the style to the fabric. It can seem overwhelming, but my job is to guide them in the right direction. I’m not expecting them to look through thousands of fabric books. I narrow things down and put everything in front of them within a few minutes to help them make a decision.”

Because all of the company’s furniture is made in Los Angeles, it is able to fulfill orders within a few weeks and at a much faster rate than its competitors, which include big chain furniture stores.

“Our customers are buying directly from us, and we build everything from scratch at our local factory,” Vincent explains. “There’s no middleman, so we are able to offer a much higher level of service and custom work. Our customers love the personal service that we provide. I give them whatever they want to ensure that they’re 100% satisfied. My goal is to make every single customer happy.”

A large portion of Sofa U Love employees have been with the company for as long as 20 years, and Vincent has close relationships with everyone he works with.

“A lot of my co-workers are with us for life, which is rare in many industries,” he says. “We take really good care of them. I don’t call them my workers, because we’re all on the same level here. I appreciate everything they do for the company.”

In addition to custom pieces, Sofa U Love also sells furniture in the showroom at each of its stores. Items that are purchased off the floor can be delivered to customers’ homes within a few days, sometimes even the same day. For those who are unable to come to one of the store locations, orders can be made over the phone or by email, and Vincent can mail fabric samples directly to customers.

“Everyone has such busy schedules, and with COVID-19, some people are uncomfortable leaving their homes,” he points out. “I can email them photos, dimensions and invoices so they don’t have to come in. We tailor our services to people’s specific needs.”

In the future, Vincent would like to open more locations in California, including San Diego. He is committed to offering high-quality products and five-star service and takes great pride in the relationships he has built over the years with his customers, having known many of them for decades.

“I’ll have customers come in and tell me that they bought furniture from my dad years ago,” Vincent says. “Many of them have watched me grow up in this business. I want to carry on my father’s legacy, and one day my daughters might get into the business as well. I’m in this for the long haul, and we’ve managed to keep growing and being successful because of referrals and repeat business. I get such a rush working in this industry and I love helping people—it’s the best feeling ever.”

For more information, visit sofaulove.com.

Photo courtesy Sofa U Love

G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

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Pasadena CA 91105 626-844-0054

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

Treasure LONGTIME

ULTRA BATHROOM & KITCHEN BRINGS ON THE WHOLE ‘HOME EXPERIENCE’

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

U

Friedmans only sells only what homeowners or pros need.

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Friedmans Home Experience 318 E. Huntington Drive, Arcadia 626-521-9938, friedmanshomeexperience.com

Photos by Luis Chavez

Friedmans Home Experience specializes in high-end appliances and plumbing, according to owner Costa Constantinou.

ltra Bathroom & Kitchen has been a treasure in the community, and now it is transitioning to Friedmans Home Experience.

With contractors and designers as its primary customers, Friedmans Home Experience helps the working pro meet challenges, solve problems and find the right product.

“We specialize in high-end appliances and plumbing,” says owner Costa Constantinou.

“I’ve been in the business for a very long time—over 20 years. I noticed that the business was changing. People are more discerning. I didn’t want to have the same products—hence the expansion. I outgrew that, too, and bought this company called Friedmans from a couple retiring in Long Beach.”

Some folks hear “professional grade” and assume the products will be expensive. Constantinou stresses the prices are better than big-box stores. Brands in the showroom include Sub Zero, Lynx, Viking, Dacor and Smeg. The Briton culls his products by traveling through Europe, visiting shows and showcases houses, asking contractors and seeing what people are willing to spend millions of dollars on.

“We’re part of the nation’s largest retail buying group,” Constantinou says. “This force is so mighty it dwarfs all of the big-box stores combined. Who doesn’t enjoy drafting off that kind of power?”

Friedmans’ clientele isn’t just professionals. Homeowners are more than welcome as well. The staff educates all customers who come through the doors and only sells what homeowners or pros need.

Constantinou acquired Friedmans in August 2019 and, admittedly, moves quickly. He’s already looking to expand, despite having a 16,000-square-foot showroom and 16,000 square feet of warehousing in Long Beach. The Arcadia location has a 5,000-square-foot showroom.

“We have one of the most prestigious showrooms of appliances and plumbing fixtures,” Constantinou says. “We spent a few million revamping it.”

In his first year, sales are up 25%, which he cites is “amazing,” considering the COVID-19 pandemic. The store has never been busier, and he attributes that to the revamped showroom, the software and new website.

“The website’s helped us a lot,” he says. “We invested a lot in the website and software. It’s still doing well, hence the expansion.

“We added online chat to the website. Of course, when the COVID hit, boom, the online chat exploded. We can give a virtual tour around the showroom as well. It made people comfortable.”

The company also added factory-trained installation services.

“The high-end products, we don’t just dump it on the doorstep,” Constantinou says. “We install it. Because of COVID, we come in with gloves, gear and masks on. You order the product, we deliver it, install it and leave.”

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562.989.7756 - 1827 E Spring St Long Beach, CA 90806

626.521.9938 - 318 E. Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91006

www.friedmanshomeexperience.com

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

MISSION-DRIVEN

Work

DIA DUVERNET LEADS THE CHARGE AT PASADENA HUMANE

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

D

ia DuVernet has had a long career with nonprofits, mostly those aligned with animal welfare.

While living in Virginia, DuVernet was preparing to congratulate her son on his high school graduation when a position at Pasadena Humane opened up.

“It was the perfect opportunity to make a move across the country,” DuVernet says. “I was encouraged to apply. I did and, fortunately, I was selected for the position.”

Since June 10, 2019, she has served as chief executive officer and president of Pasadena Humane.

Pasadena Humane is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization that provides animal care and services for homeless and owned animals in the greater Los Angeles area.

For more than 117 years, it has promoted compassion and care for all animals through lifesaving programs and services to the community that support the human-animal bond and keep pets healthy and safe.

In 2019, Pasadena Humane had a combined 91.4% live release rate for dogs, cats and critters and saved 100% of healthy neonatal kittens for the first time.

“It is an amazing organization,” she says. “I’ve never worked with such a talented group of staff and volunteers. They’re just a very smart and dedicated and passionate group of people.

“Pasadena is a fabulous community—so philanthropic. People really support the nonprofits in the community, including Pasadena Humane.”

DuVernet grew up in Southwest Georgia and attended college at Yale. She met her husband, Pierce Tyler, in Connecticut, as he’s from New Haven. After they married, they decided to move to Virginia because it was a nice middle ground between Georgia and Connecticut.

“We both have lived on the East Coast our whole lives until moving out here,” she says about Pasadena. “We had been here to visit when we were

looking at college for my son, and we just love the area. We also have relatives on the West Coast. We’re really loving it here. It’s just wonderful.” Her son, James Tyler, is taking a gap year at Yale due to the pandemic.

A clinical social worker by training, DuVernet has spent her entire career in nonprofit work. The early part of her career was spent in child welfare. In 2014, she made the switch to animal welfare to work as president and chief executive officer of the Virginia Beach SPCA. “I really love working for mission-driven organizations,” she says. “I like feeling like my work makes a difference in the lives of others.”

Soon after she arrived at Pasadena Humane, she performed a comprehensive strategic planning exercise. The organization is executing the three-year strategic plan now.

“Our mission is to lead the way toward a compassionate community for all animals,” she says.

That includes wildlife animals. Pasadena Humane is one of only two shelters in Southern California that is licensed for wildlife rehabilitation.

“If we believe they can be rehabilitated and can survive back on their own in the wild, that’s what we do,” she says.

“We nurse them back to health and get them acclimated to being outdoors in the wild. We get a lot of birds. One of my favorites is little orphaned hummingbirds.”

This year has been “interesting” for Pasadena Humane, like others in the pandemic-stricken world. DuVernet is proud of her staff for rising above all of it.

“I’m looking forward to, hopefully, the end of this pandemic in 2021 and the ability to go back to our normal way of operating.”

Pasadena Humane 361 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena 626-792-7151, pasadenahumane.org

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2020

BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT/CHARITY Pasadena Humane

2020

BEST ANNUAL EVENT Wiggle Waggle Walk

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

Success

PARTNERING FOR

Amy Sulahian’s areas of specialty include civil litigation; trusts and estates; intellectual property; trademark infringement; and business, corporate, tax and real estate law.

ATTORNEY AMY SULAHIAN’S BACKGROUND IN TAX AND ACCOUNTING HELPS CLIENTS ACHIEVE SUCCESS

BY KAMALA KIRK

“Criminal law has always fascinated me, and my heart is compelled to help people in a meaningful way,” Sulahian says. “It’s one of the areas of law where you can make a big difference in others’ lives.”

Outside of work, Sulahian is dedicated to making a difference in her community by helping out the less fortunate. Prior to the pandemic, she and her son regularly volunteered at St. Francis Center in Los Angeles, an organization that provides assistance to homeless and low-income individuals by helping to organize food and clothing donations, among other services.

“That’s something my son and I would always enjoy doing together while helping other people,” Sulahian says. “I’m also one of the co-founders of The Leo Project Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps fallen and injured law enforcement officers and their families. A lot of my close friends work in law enforcement and they’re such amazing people, so this is something that is important for me to advocate for. There’s a lot of awareness and support for injured military solders, but our law enforcement needs it, too. The reality is that police officers get shot and killed on a regular basis and they put their lives on the line for their community.”

Aside from helping people, the other favorite part of Sulahian’s job is the interaction she has with clients and the opportunity to be of service while helping them through challenging times.

“Receiving an IRS audit notice, engaging in litigation or starting a new business can be scary for many people, and I get great satisfaction from being able to hold someone’s hand and tell them that we’re going to get through this together,” Sulahian says. “It’s really satisfying to be that kind of light for people and to help them through a difficult time.”

For more information, visit sulahianlaw.com.

Photo by Luis Chavez

F

rom a young age, Amy Sulahian wanted to be a lawyer, but she didn’t take the typical path to become one. She studied business and accounting at California State University Los Angeles, later overseeing the accounting for her husband’s company. Over time, she began performing bookkeeping and tax returns for close friends and acquaintances, which ultimately led Sulahian to start her own accounting firm.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to own a business,” Sulahian says. “Accounting came naturally and easily to me, and when I started doing some work for people, the referrals started to increase. Eventually, it turned into a full-time business and continued to grow from there.”

In 2013, Sulahian had an epiphany and decided to go to law school and pursue her original dream of becoming an attorney. She enrolled in evening classes at Glendale University College of Law while continuing to run her accounting business of 20 years and raise a 10-year-old son. Sulahian earned her Juris Doctorate degree in 2017 and opened her own practice, Sulahian Law in Pasadena.

“I grew up in Altadena, and my family spent a lot of time in Pasadena,” Sulahian says. “I love the city because it has so much culture and history and the people are wonderful. It’s a unique and special place. It was also important for me to be able work close to home so I can spend as much time as possible with my son and be available whenever he needs me.”

Sulahian’s areas of specialty include civil litigation; trusts and estates; intellectual property; trademark infringement; and business, corporate, tax and real estate law. Having worked as an accountant for more than two decades, Sulahian brings a unique background and set of skills to her role, which has proved to be helpful when working with clients.

“I handle everything from civil litigation and breach of contract to setting up new business entities,” Sulahian explains. “Because of my tax and accounting background, I help clients understand different entity structures and the pros and cons of each. I don’t just educate them on the legal do’s and don’ts, I also make them aware of the tax ramifications so that they can make more informed decisions with what they’re trying to accomplish.”

Because of Sulahian’s background and experience, she has many crossover clients who come to her for accounting and legal services. Recently, Sulahian Law was voted Readers Choice 2020 in Pasadena Weekly—Arroyo’s sister publication—and Sulahian was also named Best Accountant of 2020.

“I am so grateful and delighted that so many of my clients would submit and vote for me,” Sulahian says. “It really means a lot, and I was so surprised when I found out they did that.”

One of the things clients love about working with Sulahian is that she takes the time to help them understand everything, especially more complicated legal issues.

“People say that after talking with me, they feel a sense of calm and more at ease,” Sulahian says. “I’m very patient and explain everything in layman’s terms—a lot of that comes from working in tax, which can be complicating and confusing. Over the years I have learned how to make things more simple so that people can have a better understanding of complicated issues such as tax law. I put my clients first and spend a lot of time educating them so they can be more independent and make informed decisions in the future. They know they’re in good hands, and not only does education help them but it helps me service them better as well. It’s a win-win.

“Currently due to COVID-19, I’m also doing a lot of pro bono work.

Many businesses and individuals are in great need of services like what I provide but just do not have the financial means. It is important for me to help with what I can and try to minimize additional hardship for them.”

In the future, Sulahian plans to add more like-minded attorneys to her team that share similar views when it comes to making clients a top priority.

She also looks forward to continuing to expand her practice into other areas, such as criminal law.

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A The Pasadena Playhouse is no stranger to difficult times and finding creative ways to not just survive but to thrive.

A CENTURY OF

Community

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE HOLDS ITS PLACE AMONG THE GIANTS OF AMERICAN THEATER

T

he Pasadena Playhouse isn’t just a gem of Pasadena, it is a gem of American theater with contributions that sparkle over its 100-plus year history.

The playhouse in its original heyday was dubbed a Star Factory, had five stages, a college and stretched for a full city block.

“It isn’t just a local community theater,” says Danny Feldman, the current producing artistic director. “It is a world-renowned theater that has had a pretty significant impact on American theater as a whole.”

Glory days A man named (George) Gilmor Brown transformed American theater and contributed to the movement of community playhouses. In 1916, he established the Pasadena Community Playhouse, sharing a space with a burlesque theater.

By 1925, he had built the largest theater complex in the West. Built at 39 S. El Molina Avenue, it was christened the Pasadena Playhouse.

Some of the most famous names in theater passed through their doors. In 1928, it premiered Eugene O’Neill’s “Lazarus Laughed,” a show featuring a cast of 250 actors, most of them nonprofessional community members. The playhouse produced world premieres of such theater luminaries as Tennessee Williams, William Saroyan, Noel Coward and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Brown built a school of theater that became an accredited college granting bachelor’s and master’s degrees. They earned the name of Star Factory, turning out such people as Charles Bronson, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman

and Sally Struthers. They taught silent movie actors how to speak for “talkies.”

They trained the Air Force how to use radio and television equipment in World War II. “So many of the major figures of theater have crossed the path of the Pasadena Playhouse,” Feldman says. “Agnes DeMille, the choreographer, directed plays at the Pasadena Playhouse. Martha Graham was in the very first production at the Pasadena Playhouse. Tennessee Williams premiered plays here.”

In 1937, after they were the first and only theater in the United States to perform the complete canon of Shakespeare, they were designated the Official State Theatre of California. It led to George Bernard Shaw dubbing Pasadena “The Athens of the West.”

After Brown died in 1960, the theater struggled, eventually closing its doors from 1969 to 1986. Contributors helped it to reopen and refurbish the building.

In 1997, Sheldon Epps became artistic director, the first person of color to be an artistic director at a major Southern California theater and among the first in the country. He would continue in that role until Feldman took over in 2017.

“One of (Epps’) lasting impacts here was making sure the doors were opened wider to audiences and to the stories being told,” Feldman says. “He did it so effectively that when I came in, the DNA of the Pasadena Playhouse had been altered. He cemented that legacy of what the theater is all about.”

Feldman explains that the history of the Pasadena Playhouse has created a two-tonged legacy that they continue to build on.

Photos courtesy the Pasadena Playhouse

BY BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A The first is the world-class quality of the theater and its unique contributions to theater. The second ties into the way the Playhouse was founded and sustained—by a group of community members who were committed arts patrons.

“They sat in a living room and said, ‘Let’s make a theater,’” Feldman says. “They funded it and built it and I’m sitting in that building that they created and conceived, a resource and a gathering place for this community.

That’s pretty extraordinary.”

Moving through a pandemic The Pasadena Playhouse is no stranger to difficult times and finding creative ways to not just survive but to thrive.

“It’s been a challenging time, and it will continue to be a challenging time,” Feldman says. “What most people are now starting to understand is that live performing arts will be the hardest hit industries. We cannot come back until the very end of this terrible chapter in our history. We are an industry that relies on many human beings making something in close proximity.”

After closing their doors, they focused on education. They put out a digital class for adults on the history of the American musical and had more than 300 people participate.

“We saw two paths forward,” Feldman says. “We could hibernate and ride out the storm, shrink down and stop serving the community and hold on to our money or we could do what we have always done, which is innovate.”

They started by launching a digital platform that had been in the early planning stages before the pandemic. It is designed to be a hub for the arts and theater.

The platform went live in September with pay-per-view shows, a series of online content, documentaries about the theater and making of their plays. In the first month, they racked up 100,000 views.

“It extends the brand of the Pasadena Playhouse beyond our theater,” Feldman says. “We worked very hard and made investments so that the digital content we were putting out matched the high standards we hold ourselves to on the stage. We’re not just filmed on iPhones, (the productions) are filmed in 4K quality—Netflix-level sound and video—that are beautiful to look at.”

The platform isn’t just for the pandemic period, they plan to keep it going after they are return to their stages.

As for that day, they are evaluating things quarter by quarter, making plans for when it is safe to return to the stage. Feldman described flexible plans that range from having half an audience to performing outdoors, plans that could be quickly put in place when it is safe.

They labor to figure out how they can thrive on the other side of the pandemic, and how to be good stewards of a historic landmark of a building that is 100 years old.

“When we look at this wonderful list of gems, that is what makes our community who we are,” Feldman says. “We have a great community with great cultural institutions. That’s why so many of us love being here. So, what is our role in preserving and moving forward?”

It is something, he says, that will take the community’s financial support.

They must see the playhouse as something more than just a place to visit, but a place with which to engage.

“They should feel ownership, taking care of it financially, supporting it to make sure it is just as beautiful and can be here for another 100 years,” Feldman says. “They should have a stake in it not just as audience, but as engaged citizens.”

The playhouse’s next 100 years For all its storied history, the Pasadena Playhouse retains a veneer of informality and pluckiness.

“If we were a person, you’d want to go out and have a drink with us,” Feldman says. “There’s a certain grittiness to the Pasadena Playhouse. It comes with being at the leading edge of American theater. We’re always pushing boundaries. We’re spunky. We do things with style and panache. There is a boldness to our work and our personality.”

They hold onto their roots as a community theater, something Feldman says is built into the playhouse’s very architecture. The reception area was built slightly too small for everyone who came. The Green Room is under the stage and there is a pathway directly to it from the audience so actors and audience could commingle after performances.

“There is a sense of community and coming together,” Feldman says.

“We’re not only a leading theater, but we are a community centric theater.”

The Pasadena Playhouse is a place where world-class artists come together to make theater. They do not bring in national tours. Instead, they

The playhouse in its original heyday was dubbed a Star Factory, had five stages, a college and stretched for a full city block.

make their own theater using both the leading artists in American theater and members of the community.

Feldman says they recently had the director of “Hamilton,” Thomas Kail, directing one of their works and have had Al Pacino on their stage.

“We’re a very community-centered neighborhood theater and we’re in the top theaters in the country with the work we are producing,” Feldman says.

As they move forward into their second 100 years, Feldman says the artistic directors of the past guide his way.

“We light each others’ torches. We each have our own vision, but we light each other. I find that really, really powerful,” Feldman says.

“It is humbling and daunting, but it also has a sense of power with it. I didn’t feel wayward or lost in any way. I have found a pathway that is completely informed and connected with the legacy. When I came in, it had financial problems and a declining audience base and some real systemic problems, but I feel lucky to be connected to the history of the place and that has guided my path since I started here.”

As he carries the torch forward, he is committed to seeing the Pasadena Playhouse continue to grow and to make history.

“We are the state theater of California,” Feldman says. “That’s a guiding idea here. California is one of the most diverse places on the planet. It is one of the most innovative places. It is forward thinking; it is adventurous. We are the theater that represents those ideals and values.”

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

A ‘MIND-BLOWING’

David Plenn owns The Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena.

Experience DINOSAUR FARM OWNER REFLECTS ON 25 YEARS, LOOKS FORWARD

avid Plenn never imagined how far The Dinosaur Farm would go.

The owner of the popular South Pasadena toy store, Plenn says he was once reminded by a parent that the store will live on. The father said his son will eventually pass memories of visiting the store on to his own kids. That idea sticks with Plenn.

“That kind of blew my mind, because it never occurred to me,” Plenn says.

“I still feel like a musician trying to run a toy store. I’m still trying to figure it out.

“But I thought, ‘Wow, you’re right.’ Because I tell people about the toy story I went to when I was a kid. So that’s kind of awesome, too, just to have that kind of a legacy. Mind blowing.”

Though Plenn may feel like a newcomer to the toy business, he’s not. He opened the store in 1994 with his wife, Shelley Stephens, who he says was a longtime director of retail operations for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

“I was a musician. I wanted to stay in town. I wanted to be available to be a dad. I didn’t want to have to be worried about going away or having weird hours in the (music) studio or whatever. So, we started talking about something to do in town,” Plenn says, recalling the two brainstorming on a weekends.

When Stephens suggested a toy store, Plenn says he was unsure about making the jump from rock ’n’ roll to a toy store. Her suggested name, however, caught his attention: The Dinosaur Farm.

“I just loved the name, because I used to love them as a kid. So, it totally excited me,” he says. “And then we just went for it and it turned out to be great, because there were no toy stores that were in town. We had already seen there was something missing. We could fill that hole. So, we did.”

Though he admits it may have slightly backfired and caused confusion, he feels the name is nevertheless what draws people in. And he feels word of mouth has ultimately taken care of any issues.

“When we first opened the store, it was more like a science/educational store or like a museum store, which is what my wife’s background is,” Plenn explains. “So, we had science kits—we had a couple of dinosaurs, but it wasn’t that heavy. And then I realized people were making these drives to see it, we’d better power up the dinosaur angle. So, we ended up moving next door and devoting one room to just the dinosaurs.”

While the shop is themed after dinosaurs, with a jungle-like atmosphere, Plenn estimates 75% of the inventory isn’t. A diverse array of toys, clothes, books, puzzles, games and more line the shelves. And he says the mission—to be “Not Your Ordinary Toy Store”—has remained the same. While he says other stores may have more licensed products, The Dinosaur Farm aims to provide unique but still good products—while not being too big or overwhelming in scale.

And people often make the drive from cities like San Diego and Riverside on weekends to check it out, like a “special day” to for their “dinosaur nut” kids, he says.

“There’s a lot of girls now who are dinosaur fans, too,” he observes.

“That’s the real change in the last five years. There were none the first 20 years, but now it’s a lot of girls—and even older girls, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds. It’s really interesting.”

Among the shop’s visitors was actor Malcolm McDowell, who Plenn recalls stopping by several times to buy toys for his kids and tell stories of seeing the Beatles at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He referred to The Dinosaur Farm as “the best toy store in the world” in a 2007 Los Angeles Times interview.

The Dinosaur Farm has also piqued the interest of reporters, who have incorporated it into roundups for the likes of USA Today and Buzzfeed. Plenn recalls laughing when he saw his shop named alongside others from around the world in the Buzzfeed article. Readers from Pasadena Weekly—Arroyo’s sister publication—have on multiple occasions voted it Best Toy Store, too.

Despite successes, with COVID-19 came challenges. The shop was closed for three months in response. Upon reopening, business remained impacted but has slowly increased.

“I’m just hanging on this year and hoping that thanks to a government loan

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Photos by Luis Chavez

D

STORY BY CONNOR DZIAWURA | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

12/1/20 12:58 PM

G E M S O F PA S A D E N A I’ll be able to see January. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to,” Plenn says. “And then if you have zero income for three months and then reopen at about 40% of what you normally do, you’re not going to make up that difference.

“Plus, my staff, most of them were on unemployment and weren’t coming back to work, so when we did reopen it was me doing everything practically. I had a couple days where I just worked by myself, so it’s been a struggle.”

The shop is still adjusting to some hindrances, like face masks, hand sanitizer, a plastic shield on the counter, reduced store occupancy, and less customers due to fears of going out. Nevertheless, Plenn says October increased to a “fine” 80% of business. Still, that won’t make up for lost time.

“Christmas is going to be a little bit of a challenge, because this place is jammed,” he continues, noting that winter is the busy season when customers line the stores needing gifts wrapped. “December’s when I actually make money so I can keep the business going, and that’s going to be a little difficult this year. … We won’t have as many people in the store, but we still have to wrap all those things and have people wait in their car probably and call them when it’s done. It’s all new territory.”

The shop is also currently taking orders at thedinosaurfarm@gmail.com, where people can provide the age, gender and interests of each person for whom they are buying. The staff will then make gift selections and get back to the customer to let them know. If the customer approves the ideas, staff will wrap any gifts for pickup.

“It’s working out great,” Plenn says.

Sometime in early 2021, Plann plans to update the shop’s website. Set up in 1999, he says the original intent was to strictly advertise dinosaur products to non-California customers, as the hope was that local customers would stop by and experience The Dinosaur Farm’s full collection in person. Plenn now wants the website to provide more support to locals, allowing pickup orders and reflecting the full inventory.

“For 1999 to 2006, I think, if you searched the words ‘dinosaur toys,’ it was just me and some guy in Nevada. Nobody else came up. It was hilarious.

And then we were shipping all over the world—we were shipping to Saudi Arabia, to England and wherever, and all over the U.S.” he recalls, before

Though owner David Plenn estimates 75% of The Dinosaur Farm’s inventory is unrelated to dinosaurs, they are featured prominently. noting that copycat concepts eventually started to sprout up and Amazon’s popularity increased, affecting the online market.

Moving forward, however, he also plans to boost other online engagement, possibly including a YouTube channel, and to simply “get through COVID and get out alive.”

“I really like being in the store. It’s hard to be in a bad mood. I really am one of those strange people that really gets a kick out of kids, and that’ll probably never change,” he says. “So, I’m very happy with the store and happy with our customers.”

The Dinosaur Farm 1510 Mission Street, South Pasadena 626-441-2767 | dinosaurfarm.com

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

THE INABILITY TO BE

Perfect

AIRTALK’S LARRY MANTLE CONTINUES TO STRIVE TO INFORM ANGELENOS

BY MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ

A

Larry Mantle hosts Airtalk, the longest-running daily talk show in Los Angeles spanning 35 years.

As Mantle says, he recalled an interview in the early days of Airtalk where he failed to prepare adequately for a Nobel Laureate scientist.

“The interview was only 20 minutes or half an hour but felt like an eternity,” he says. “I came off the air so down on myself, and I was very disappointed.”

He learned that sometimes you fail but told himself that it’s just part of life, and he used that disappointing feeling to rally for the next show.

“I came back the next day and had a really good show, and it helped to wash away the feeling of failure that I had from the evening before,” Mantle says. “It helps to go through times that might be more challenging.”

Even though Mantle has close to 40 years of experience being on the air, he still looks for ways to improve his craft. He finds pleasure in what he calls “the inability to perfect.”

“You never stop learning. You never stop growing as a profession in this field,” he says. “It will not go away. I think that’s what’s going to help you grow as a journalist. I feel like I’m getting better as time goes on, (but) I’m never going to hit that mark where I feel like, ‘Yes! That’s it! I’ve reached the pinnacle. I’ve become what I want to be.’ It’s always a process, and that’s OK.” Now a veteran radio host, he still holds on to the memory of the little kid walking around with his pocket transistor radio.

“It sounds strange, but there’s something about radio that I so loved as a kid, and that’s still there—that part of me has not changed,” Mantle says. “I still have that same awe of radio that I had as a kid even though I’ve worked in it all these years. That makes for a wonderful job, to have that kind of feeling.

“The people we get to meet in doing this work, the conversations that we get to have, the things we learn about ourselves—that’s the other part of it.

I’m still learning about myself after all these years as I’m hosting the program.”

Photo by Luis Chavez

s a 5-year-old growing up in Los Angeles, Larry Mantle persuaded his parents to take him to the local electronics store. With his birthday money clutched in his hand, he went straight toward the radio section, picking a small pocket-sized transistor radio.

“It was probably five bucks or something,” Mantle says, chuckling as he remembered one of his most treasured possessions. “As an only child radio was a real companion for me. I loved listening to music. … If I was ever home during the week because I was sick or (during) vacation time, I listened to Michael Jackson, who was a local talk show host on KABC radio and (who) did a program very similar to what I do now.”

As an only child, he was drawn to the radio because of the intimacy of the medium.

“Radio is a medium that relies a lot on intimacy,” Mantle says. “It’s different than television because in radio you’re talking to one person—most people listen by themselves.”

As a young boy enamored by the voices he heard over the radio, Mantle took his radio with him, never dreaming of someday hosting his own show.

“All of us who are on the air looking to create a relationship with the listener, that’s what drew me to radio as a little kid,” he says. “My hope when I started was to be able to connect with listeners in that same way that I was connected as a listener growing up.”

Now 61, he hosts Airtalk, the longest-running daily talk show in Los Angeles spanning 35 years. Mantle has had the pleasure of interviewing politicians such as Presidents Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain and personalities like comedian Steve Martin, legendary Los Angeles Laker Jerry West and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Although he has had many other famous figures sit across from him in his studio, his focus has never shifted from creating that intimate feeling connecting his listeners.

As a fourth-generation Angeleno, Mantle wanted to connect those living in the largest metropolitan region whether they lived in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley or right by LAX in El Segundo.

“My hope with this program is that with all the listeners calling in and with us talking about issues going on in different communities, we better understand our commonalities,” he says. “That was the hope from the very beginning of the program.”

After graduating from college with a degree in psychology, Mantle no longer felt that pursuing a career in psychology was right for him. He decided to call one of the radio stations that he avidly listened to, KPCC, asking for any position in the newsroom. He worked as a volunteer working gradually working his way up.

“After I took the test, I started writing and then they let me go on the air and then just gradually it built up from there,” he says.

After working at KPCC as a volunteer, he left to briefly work at CBS News only to be called back to KPCC a couple of months later.

“After being away from KPCC for just about two months at this other job, they called me back to see if I would come back as a full-time employee,” Mantle says. “Two years later, in 1985, the general manager asked if there’s something more personality-oriented I’d liked to do.”

Understanding that he had a very engaged and informed audience, Mantle wanted to start a call-in program, which would then become AirTalk. He hoped to emulate the different hosts he admired growing up such as Jackson on CBS to even Ted Koppel the host of “Nightline.” With the help of his team, they broadcasted their first episode on April 1, 1985.

In the nearly four decades of being on-air, Mantle has had his fair share of poor interviews.

“The great thing about radio is no matter what happens on any given program, you’re back the next day,” he says.

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A

Cupcakes DOTS

HAILEY KWON: CUPCAKE QUEEN

BY FRIER MCCOLLISTER

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A daily selection of baked goods including, of course, cupcakes is always available.

Cupcakes are available in regular and “mini” sizes. The regular cupcakes are $3.25 each and $35.75 per dozen.

The mini cupcakes are $2 each or $22 per dozen.

The specialty flavors are Carmelita, Meyer lemon, hazelnut crunch and black forest on Monday and Tuesday.

Marble swirl, chocolate raspberry, tiramisu and blueberry cheesecake are available on Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday and Saturday brings raspberry lemon; chocobutter; Mostess (Hostess-style filling) and passionfruit.

The cupcakes are available in regular and “mini” sizes. The regular cupcakes are $3.25 each and $35.75 per dozen. The mini cupcakes are $2 each or $22 per dozen.

Kwon grew up in Hacienda Heights and graduated from Wilson High School. It was during high school, when she was working at a furniture store on Colorado Boulevard, that she developed an affection for Pasadena. She would routinely pass by the location of her second store in Old Town.

“I always had a great love for Pasadena,” says Kwon, a proud resident, living equidistant from her outlets, near Pasadena High School.

In recalling her motivations to open the business, it’s personal. As she tells it: “My father had passed 15 years ago, a year prior to when I opened (Dots). It really motivated me to celebrate life occasions and to spend your life doing what you’re passionate about. I used my grief to propel me to open this business.”

DOTS CUPCAKES 400 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena 626-568-3687 dotscupcakes.com DOTS CAFÉ 3819 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-314-3456 dotscafebakery.com

Photos by Luis Chavez

ots Cupcakes has dominated the competition for Best Cupcake in Pasadena Weekly—Arroyo’s sister publication—for the last 10 years. This year was no different, except 2020 was different for all of us.

“As business owners we’re making a lot of decisions now and hoping we’re choosing the right ones,” says Hailey Kwon, the local cupcake empress reflecting on the challenges presented by the pandemic in the last eight months.

Founded in 2006, Dots Cupcakes’ original location on South Arroyo Parkway just celebrated its 14th anniversary on November 17. Dots’ second location in Old Town on Colorado Boulevard just celebrated its 10th anniversary. It’s also been temporarily closed since March.

“The Arroyo (location) stayed open during the pandemic,” Kwon says. “We didn’t close at all. The Fair Oaks location was a little bit trickier because it’s a part of a shopping center in Old Town. (We were) relying on foot traffic and the other retail stores nearby.”

Additionally, with the closure of large nearby offices like Kaiser Permanente and Parsons, the regular after-lunch crowd vanished.

That said, “Our stores are fairly close enough (to each other). They’re probably a mile away (from each other),” Kwon says.

Old Town regulars were easily redirected to the original location on Arroyo Parkway.

“Not everyone has that luxury, having another store a mile away,” Kwon notes.

Still, a trove of advance orders were canceled and had to be refunded immediately and catering interest all but disappeared.

“We experienced a great loss immediately. (But) being in the celebration business, we felt it was important to stay open,” Kwon says.

As celebrations slowly shifted to the outdoor “parade format,” larger orders began to increase.

“We’ve been doing a lot of cupcakes for hospitals and first responders,” she says.

“We’ve also been creating edible logos that say, ‘Thank you, doctors’ and ‘Thank you, nurses.’”

Prior to the pandemic, Dots routinely partnered with local nonprofits to help community causes. Although the capacity to engage with charitable partners has diminished, Kwon notes, “We’ve also received donations from customers to provide for first responders. The community is very important to us.”

Incidentally, Dots Cupcakes fanatics may be unaware of the third rampart of Kwon’s local empire: Dots Café. Opened in December 2017, east of Rosemead on Colorado Boulevard, the café serves breakfast, lunch and, since the pandemic, now “Family Meal” dinner packages.

A daily selection of baked goods including, of course, cupcakes is always available.

“When the pandemic hit, we quickly pivoted,” she says. “We switched to a dinner takeout model within the first two days (of the lockdown). I think March 17 was our first day.”

The dinner packages are priced at $40 and serve four. The dinner menus for takeout and delivery are different each day and change weekly.

Check the café’s website for updates: dotscafebakery.com.

At Dots, cupcakes are always reliably available in 12 daily flavors.

Twelve additional specialty flavors are offered, four per day, and rotated on a daily schedule every week. A baker’s choice daily special is also on offer every day.

The daily flavors include red velvet, vanilla chocolate, carrot, chocolate lovers, fleur de sel, strawberry shortcake, chocolate vanilla, chocolate mint, dulce de leche, vanilla squared, cookies and cream, and chocolate coconut.

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A Internationally known artists Petra Conti and Eris Nezha, a husband-and-wife team who were principal dancers at La Scala in Milan and the Boston Ballet, join Pasadena Civic Ballet dancers as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier in “The Nutcracker Alfresco.”

Breaking the Mold CIVIC BALLET COMMITS TO AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

he artists at the Pasadena Civic Ballet are more than willing to break the mold, which is part of what makes them a gem of Pasadena.

The Pasadena Civic Ballet is home to both a pre-professional dance academy and the Pasadena Civic Ballet Company. While other ballet companies operate under the leadership of a single artistic director, the PCB has a trio that jointly guides the organization and serves students and professionals.

Diane De Franco Browne, Tania Grafos and Zoe Vidalakis have shared the title of artistic director since 2000, when they bought the studio from Elly Charlotte Van-Dyke.

“The idea of a triumvirate is not common,” says Gina Baffo, who handles the company’s marketing and outreach.

“It is very unusual to have three artistic directors who are artists themselves. Typically, there is a singular focus that is driven by the artistic vision of an individual.”

She says no one else in Los Angeles has the structure they do and that the three artistic directors work in harmony, each bringing individual talents and perspectives. Grafos and Vidalakis are sisters and second-generation ballerinas who have skills in classical, cultural, character and folk dancing, all of which they bring into the curriculum of PCB’s Academy. Meanwhile Browne brings in more modern and contemporary influences.

“This is a very comprehensive training and ballet-focused curriculum that is expanded based on the three different directors,” Baffo says.

Vidalakis says because there is such rich experience among the leaders of the company, the students and professionals benefit, making sure no one leaves as a “one-trick pony.”

“The styles of dance we offer and the choreographers we bring in really exposes students to a variety of dance styles,” Vidalakis says. “It makes them quick learners, and they’ve been exposed to so much. They have a love of different styles, which is not characteristic of a ballet academy, but the ballet isn’t compromised at all.”

The school today offers classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical dance, hip-hop and musical theater. They also have a pre-professional track where training is more stringent.

In the beginning to 2020 The Pasadena Civic Ballet was founded in 1980 by Van-Dyke. She laid a foundation for the company that continues to this day. When the new owners took over in 2020, they were determined not to transform the company, but to continue its tradition of excellence.

“It was really important to the former owner that we kept the trajectory of discipline and creating the whole artist,” Vidalakis says. “The company has grown immensely since we took over, but the ideologies remain the same.”

Each year, typically in February, the company performs a major story ballet, usually shying away from such things as “The Nutcracker” or “Swan Lake” because other companies perform them so often. In the past they have done such shows as “Aladdin,” “Alice in Wonderland” or a production of “Peter Pan” where they had artists flying in formation above dancers performing below. However, this holiday season, the company is staging “The Nutcracker Alfresco” to allow social distancing.

They typically perform out of the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, a historic theater, but they are housed in a center they share with Huntington Botanical Gardens, the Pasadena Playhouse and a museum.

“We have this community that we’re nestled in where arts organizations are all out to support one another,” Vidalakis says. “We do a lot of collaborations with different performing arts organizations that doesn’t always happen in other communities. It makes us unique and allows us to cross-pollinate our audiences.”

She cites an example of an international dance festival that was supposed to take place before the pandemic hit. They were partnering with the Pasadena Playhouse to perform “Aladdin.” Such a joint performance was designed to bring their audiences to the playhouse and its audiences to the ballet.

“It is a small community, a community that is committed to the visual arts and that tries to really move the needle on performing arts as a collective community,” Vidalakis says.

The PCB performs frequent outreach to bring dance and classical art to the community. They’ve partnered with school districts and nonprofits that serve children or focus on health.

Photos courtesy Pasadena Civic Ballet

T

BY BRIDGETTE M. REDMAN

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G E M S O F PA S A D E N A Pasadena Civic Ballet students practice outdoors under the newly built pavilion designed for safe, socially distanced dance experiences.

Adjusting to the pandemic The word of the year for the PCB has been “pivot.” Like most of the world, the pandemic stopped them in their tracks and forced them to change the ways they operated and how they taught.

“At no time in our history and not in ballet’s history has the word ‘pivot’ been more applicable,” Vidalakis says. “We really sought to find a way to get our dancers off the screen and onto the dance floor. Six and seven hours of Zoom is exhausting, and we were concerned about the welfare of all our students.”

While they first moved to Zoom and virtual practices when the shutdown took place, there was a longing for community. In late spring they took a survey of the parents and families asking what their needs were and what they would be comfortable with.

“We were hearing from families who were participating in dance via Zoom how difficult the end of spring was for their daughters and sons because they were just really fatigued,” Boffo says.

With an overwhelming number wanting to find a way to get back together, the PCB built two outdoor gazebo pavilions with an engineered floor designed to protect dancers.

“I think it has been a place of joy for these kids,” Vidalakis says. “So much has been taken away that at least they have a place to perform. The families have been appreciative.”

Boffo says the nature of the outdoor pavilions not only gives students the sense of community they were missing, but it provides a sense of relief for the parents who overwhelmingly told PCB they wanted to have live rehearsals again.

“That’s when the outdoor gazebo idea was born,” Boffo says. “It gives the parents peace of mind because when they pull up to drop off their children, they can see the outdoor pavilion and that they are wearing masks and not dancing close to one another. The parents are grateful.”

They continue to loop in dancers via Zoom if they do not feel comfortable coming back so that no one is left behind, while focusing on safety as they rehearse.

“Artists learn in a communal environment,” Vidalakis says. “It is unusual

to develop an artist who only does private training their entire life. We learn from others, watching their techniques.”

In addition to spacing and wearing masks, instructors are no longer touching dancers to teach them placement. Instead, they’ve been doing things like using canes to straighten a leg or provide physical feedback.

Today and tomorrow In a world of ballet that is often defined as being cutthroat, Vidalakis is firm in rejecting that model and embracing one of community and inclusiveness. She describes ways their dancers support each other, rejecting elitism and cheering each other on in whatever roles they have.

“We promote this sense of company and really family,” Vidalakis says.

“That’s something we’ve really tried to maintain even during corona. These dancers need that.”

While the pandemic has introduced a great deal of hardship for the company and the families that make up the community, Boffo points out that the company never turns away a student because their family is experiencing hardship. Instead, they find scholarship money and keep the student in training.

“They understand the importance of continuity,” Boffo says. “These young artists, girls and boys make lifelong friends. Whatever happens to the family, (PCB) does a very good job of never letting that affect the students. We have had families fall upon hard times and we are not turning them away.”

“We will never do that,” Vidalakis adds firmly.

It is partly why Vidalakis does not anticipate major changes even as adjustments will have to be made as communities pick up the pieces from the pandemic.

“I don’t think we want to reinvent ourselves,” Vidalakis says. “I’m very content with what we’ve built over the past 20 years. I’m incredibly proud of our community and our dancers who are still committed. I want to continue that trajectory, continue to create artists and really nurture the whole student.”

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R E A L E S TAT E Designed by architect Frederick Kennedy Jr. and built by Mark E. Lincoln in 1920, the house is one of six original properties on Arden Road.

Original A PASADENA

THIS FEDERAL-STYLE HOME IS ONE OF SIX ORIGINAL PROPERTIES ON ARDEN ROAD

S

arah and Jim Shelton had been looking for a home in Pasadena for some time because they were drawn to the traditional architecture and feel of the community. In 1994, they came across a Federal-style residence that reminded them of the houses back in their home state of Virginia—and they immediately knew they had found the one.

“We find it amusing that we moved to Los Angeles only to buy a house that looked like it belonged back home,” Sarah says with a laugh.

“It combines that East Coast aesthetic with the brightness and easiness of Southern California. It’s the best of both worlds. I never thought I would leave the East Coast, but this is home. We love this house and have raised our four children here; it’s the only home they’ve ever known. It’s got such a great sense of family to it.”

Designed by architect Frederick Kennedy Jr. and built by Mark E. Lincoln in 1920, the house is one of six original properties on Arden Road. At just under 6,000 square feet, the residence is spacious yet warm. With more than 120 windows and French doors, an incredible amount of light fills the house.

“I love the light,” Sarah says. “All of the French doors and the windows

bring the outside in. Even though it’s a big house, it feels comfortable and inviting. There’s an elegance but also an easiness that makes it seem friendly, a lot of which has to do with the light and the beautiful details.”

A unique exterior feature is the columned porte-cochère, which is original to the home and was built to accommodate guests arriving in automobiles.

“Motorized transportation vehicles were brand new at the time this house was built, and the porte-cochère offered a way for guests to exit their vehicles in a covered fashion,” Sarah explains. “Once you pull up, there is a set of French doors that opens to the driveway, which makes it so that people can step straight from the car into the home.”

The main entryway consists of a large glass door flanked by columns and a carved garland detail above the door. At the time the house was built, the American Arts and Craft movement was popular, so the home reflects elements of that style mixed in with traditional features. Examples of the Arts and Crafts movement style include the Batchelder tile that adorns the fireplace and Craftsman-style woodwork.

“When this home was designed there was a giant push to establish the American Arts and Crafts style as a true architectural style, so local architects

Photos courtesy Sarah Shelton

BY KAMALA KIRK

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at the time were always trying to include certain details in their work,” Sarah says.

“You can see it in different rooms of the house, including the panel molding in the sunroom. This home is very reflective of Pasadena and combines two different styles and aesthetics.”

The light-filled sunroom opens out onto the outdoor veranda via French doors. One of Sarah’s favorite rooms in the house, the veranda is built along the east wing of the house and is designed to incorporate many of the details that define the home, such as columns that flank the space; the Craftsman design in the ceiling’s woodwork; and the fireplace’s marble mantle, which features a custom carving of the same garland detail over the main doorway.

“The veranda is a lovely open-air space where we can enjoy the gorgeous Southern California weather,” Sarah says.

“There’s a fireplace for when it gets chilly, and it’s also a great spot for morning coffee or afternoon cocktails. When we open the French doors, it becomes one large covered area that is perfect for holiday dinners and family events.”

The home has been updated on two occasions—first in 1996 and again in 2006—but the Sheltons have gone to great lengths to stay true to the home’s original charm and character. In addition to reconfiguring parts of the upstairs, which included updating the closets, childrens’ bedrooms and an en suite bathroom, they also made some modern updates to the kitchen and added heat and air conditioning to the sunroom.

“Cynthia Bennett & Associates did our kitchen, and we hired a wonderful architect who oversaw the more elaborate renovation work,” Sarah says.

“He was extremely careful about preserving the home’s original features special and made sure that the renovations maintained a look of authenticity.”

The property includes a beautifully landscaped yard that has a large grassy lawn and a rectangular saltwater pool. Border gardens are defined by a boxwood hedge, in addition to hydrangeas, rose gardens, and a vegetable and cutting garden.

Over the years, the Sheltons have enjoyed opening their home to the community by hosting various fundraisers and events for organizations they

At just under 6,000 square feet, the residence is spacious yet warm. support, such as the Pasadena Garden Club, the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena, Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital and many more.

“Being one of the original homes on Arden Road, we try to share the house with the community as much as we can so they can get a sense of Pasadena’s culture and history,” Sarah says.

“We’re the fourth family to live in this home. The minute we saw this house, we knew we loved it. There were quite a few people that wanted this house, but I believe the owners liked us because we had our two infants with us at the time and they wanted the new owners to raise their family in the home as they had done. We love this house. It’s grown with us and our children throughout the years.”

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CULINARY CUPBOARD

CAKE INGREDIENTS

DESSERT FOR THE

Cookie Lover

B

STORY BY EMILY CHAVEZ | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

reaking away from the everyday grind by baking gorgeous goodies is one of my favorite ways to destress and share a special moment with family and friends at the conclusion of an unprecedented year.

Although I will not be able to sit down at the same dinner table with my extended family this month, I will be dropping off slices of this chocolate chip cookie-inspired cake to them and we will be able to enjoy it at the end of our dinner time over a virtual platform. There are certainly times for easy and practical bakes, but this is not one of those times.

Here a traditional rich and dark chocolate cake’s aroma is further deepened with the addition of instant coffee. To bring back memories of childhood cookie making, the filling evokes flavors of raw cookie dough but baking the flour before incorporating helps to avoid stomach upsets. The final touch of this chocolate cake is the cookies on top, of course!

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE CAKE HANDS-ON TIME: 1 HOUR | READY IN: 1 HOUR, 30 MINUTES MAKES 10 SERVINGS

CAKE INGREDIENTS

3 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE OR PLAIN FLOUR 1 1/2 CUPS WHITE GRANULATED SUGAR 1 CUP UNSWEETENED CACAO POWDER 3 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER 1 TEASPOON SALT

2/3 CUP VEGETABLE OIL 2 LARGE EGGS 2 TABLESPOONS PURE VANILLA EXTRACT 1 1/4 CUPS MILK 1 1/4 CUPS BOILING WATER MIXED WITH 4 TEASPOONS OF INSTANT COFFEE

1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350 F (175 C). LIGHTLY GREASE TWO 8- OR 9-INCH ROUND CAKE PANS WITH NONSTICK COOKING OIL SPRAY. 2. COMBINE FLOUR, SUGAR, CACAO POWDER, BAKING POWDER AND SALT IN A LARGE BOWL AND WHISK TOGETHER. 3. ADD OIL, EGG, VANILLA AND MILK TO THE FLOUR MIXTURE AND BEAT WELL TO COMBINE, ABOUT 30 SECONDS. POUR IN THE BOILING WATER, INSTANT COFFEE MIX AND STIR UNTIL THE BATTER IS THIN AND GLOSSY. 4. POUR THE CAKE BATTER INTO THE PREPARED PAN. BAKE FOR ABOUT 35-40 MINUTES OR UNTIL A TOOTHPICK INSERTED IN THE CENTER OF THE CHOCOLATE CAKE COMES OUT SEMICLEAN WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUDGE-CONSISTENCY CAKE CRUMBS. 5. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND ALLOW TO COOL FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO A WIRE RACK, AND COOL COMPLETELY BEFORE ASSEMBLY.

1/2 CUP BUTTER, MELTED 1/2 CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR 1/3 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR 1 EGG 1/2 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT

2 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA 1/4 TEASPOON SALT 2/3 CUP SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS

1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350 F. 2. IN A LARGE BOWL, CREAM THE MELTED BUTTER AND SUGARS TOGETHER FOR 1 TO 2 MINUTES. 3. ADD IN THE EGG AND VANILLA. MIX JUST UNTIL THE EGG IS COMBINED. 4. GRADUALLY ADD IN THE FLOUR, BAKING SODA AND SALT. MIX JUST UNTIL COMBINED AND THE DOUGH IS THICK AND DRY. ADD FLOUR IF NEEDED SO THAT THE DOUGH IS WORKABLE WITH YOUR HANDS. 5. GENTLY STIR IN CHOCOLATE CHIPS. THEN ROLL THE DOUGH INTO 2-INCH COOKIE BALLS. 6. PLACE AT LEAST 2 INCHES APART ON A LINED BAKING SHEET. BAKE FOR 10 TO 12 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE EDGES ARE SLIGHTLY BROWNED AND THE CENTERS LOOK UNDERDONE. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND LET COOL ON THE BAKING SHEET FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO A WIRE RACK.

FILLING AND FROSTING INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR 1 CUP PACKED LIGHT BROWN SUGAR 1 1/4 CUPS CONFECTIONER’S SUGAR 1 1/2 CUP BUTTER, ROOM TEMPERATURE

2 TEASPOONS PURE VANILLA EXTRACT 1 CUP WHOLE MILK 1/4 CUP WHIPPING CREAM 1 CUP SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS

1. LAY THE FLOUR ON A BAKING SHEET AND BAKE FOR 10 MINUTES AT 350 F. REMOVE FROM THE OVEN AND LET COOL. 2. BEAT BROWN SUGAR, 1 CUP OF CONFECTIONER’S SUGAR AND BUTTER TOGETHER IN A STAND MIXER ON MEDIUM SPEED UNTIL SMOOTH AND CREAMY. 3. ADD IN FLOUR AND VANILLA EXTRACT INTO CREAMED BUTTER UNTIL FULLY COMBINED. 4. GRADUALLY ADD THE MILK WHILE MIXING ON A LOW SPEED UNTIL FULLY INCORPORATED. 5. SET ASIDE A SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE TOP OF THE CAKE AND BEAT IN THE 1/4 CUP OF CONFECTIONER’S SUGAR FOR FIRMING CONSISTENCY TO PIPE IF DESIRED. 6. STIR CHOCOLATE CHIPS INTO THE REMAINING FILLING TO BE USED AS THE CAKE FILLING.

TO ASSEMBLE 1. SLICE EACH CAKE ROUND TO MAKE FOUR TOTAL CAKE ROUNDS. 2. BUILD CAKE BY LAYERING CAKE ROUNDS AND FILLING. 3. PIPE ON FROSTING AND TOP WITH COOKIES.

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855 Plymouth Road, San Marino $3,750,000 Classic Monterey Colonial behind a covered doorway offering timeless elegance and charm that simply can’t be replicated. This grand and stately residence will delight anyone who appreciates attention to detail and luxury. Inside, the elegant details continue with gleaming hardwood floors cozy fireplaces, and beautiful window seats. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to comfortable gathering spaces with a formal dining room and living room, with an office and a sun-soaked breakfast nook. All the bedrooms are impeccably presented and inviting. With a wrap around balcony upstairs, plus there’s a maid’s room which could work as a guest room with a bath and a small tandem office/craft room. Additional accommodation

is in the guest/pool house, complete with its own living room, dining alcove, kitchen and bathroom. This private living space also offers a corner brick fireplace for added comfort on those cool winter nights. Endless hours of fun and relaxation await in the shimmering in-ground pool and poolside cabana where you can host guests in style. The large park-like lot is beautifully landscaped with tall mature trees, a lush lawn, and established gardens. This one of a kind home sits along a tranquil street in the Mission District with everything you could need nearby. A life of luxury and leisure is all yours in this spectacular residence that will make you feel as though you’re being transported to a private and peaceful haven.

Pamela del Rey, Broker | Art Del Rey Realty, Inc. 333 E. Foothill Blvd., Arcadia, Ca. 91006 pameladelrey@yahoo.com | www.artdelreyrealtyinc.com Office 626-358-2107 | 626-841-2387 Cell phone 12.20 | ARROYO | 33

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DINING

IN GOOD

Taste

CHEF CLAUD BELTRAN AND BACCHUS’ KITCHEN STORY BY FRIER MCCOLLISTER | PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

M

eeting chef Claud Beltran midday in the darkened confines of his popular local bistro, Bacchus’ Kitchen, is akin to meeting a lion in its den or a deity in his sanctum.

There’s a sense of regal domain and quiet power. If this is the jungle, this is the king. If this is Olympus, this is Bacchus’ kitchen.

It seems appropriate, as Beltran has been a presiding presence on the greater Pasadena dining scene for the last 30 years or so. If you live here and haven’t encountered one of Beltran’s clever culinary conceits over the last many years, you probably haven’t been out looking for a decent meal.

Now more than seven months into the pandemic, with its implacable uncertainties, surprises and unraveling consequences—like every other restaurant operation in the country—Beltran and his small dedicated crew have been forced to constantly adapt to maintain the business, while ensuring safety for guests and staff. Still, Bacchus’ Kitchen is likely more secure than many.

Among other things, Beltran’s catering operation began to re-vivify by midsummer as local organizations began organizing remote gala fundraisers complete with home-delivered meals prepared by Beltran at Bacchus’ Kitchen.

In October alone, he fielded several large jobs over consecutive weeks with local nonprofits Young & Healthy and College Access Plan. This activity speaks again to his local recognition and burgeoning fanbase that followed on Beltran’s persistent ubiquity on the local scene over time.

Bacchus’ Kitchen is also blessed with an elegant, breezy and well-shaded outdoor patio that runs along the west side of the building. It allows Beltran to accommodate 30 socially distanced guests. That said, the now-shuttered interior dining room routinely hosted 85 regulars on any given raucous, winefueled weekend evening in the “Before Times.”

Catering, he says, helps a lot.

“It’s a big part of the business,” he adds. “It’s just a different kind of catering. It’s a different way of doing business. We’re creative. It hasn’t been too bad.”

The exigency of working with a smaller staff redounds as a benefit to hungry local gourmands. It means the maestro spends more time at the stoves himself. These days he’s assisted by his daughter Keely, 21.

“The other greatest thing about the pandemic that’s happened is I get to cook with my kid almost every day,” he says.

“She’s awesome. She kicks ass. She helps me do all the prep and all the catering now.”

Beltran beams with pride as he continues, “She’s studying restaurant management (at Cal Poly Pomona). I have her now running all the books. She’s driving me crazy with that! It’s fantastic.”

Former regulars at Bacchus’ Kitchen who haven’t been back yet—rest assured you will still be admirably hosted by the genial Brandon Firla, who serves as Beltran’s general manager, chief aide-de-camp and co-wine curator.

Beltran openly speculates on his upcoming winter menus.

“I’ll try a little more French cooking.”

Regarding this particular inflection in the cooking and his name, one may presume a Gallic background. In fact, “I’m Mexican Lebanese.” he asserts firmly.

Cooking—and eating—at home was a major influence.

“My stepmother owned a restaurant in Mazatlán. And so that was a big thing when I was a child. My grandmother was a gourmet cook, not a chef, but experimented with all kinds of food from all over the world. She cooked Mexican. She cooked Lebanese food. She cooked French food. So, I loved to eat as a little fat kid. That leads to then wanting to cook and to make your own stuff.”

A graduate of San Marino High School, Beltran initially studied aerospace at PCC. However, “It was the downsizing of aerospace. There were no jobs at JPL and so I was already cooking at home, reading recipes and entertaining, doing what I could to practice. And so somebody said, ‘Why don’t you do this for a living?’ So, I said, ‘Yeah that’s what I’m going to do!’ And

Chef Claud Beltran owns Bacchus’ Kitchen.

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DINING

Roasted lavender chicken with sunchokes and persimmons with Fuyu persimmon sauce. from one day to the next I said, ‘That’s what I’m going to do!’ And I did.”

A stint at the now-defunct culinary program at UCLA Extension was interrupted by an entry-level offer to join the kitchen at Checkers Hotel, under the now legendary chef Thomas Keller, best known for Napa’s French Laundry.

As Beltran recalls, “Once I got hired (at Checkers) it was very apparent to me that I was learning 20 times more in one day than in one class at UCLA. “So, I worked 16 hours days, seven days a week. They had to kick me out of the kitchen. My first (task) was to cut in half a 50-pound case of kumquats and then scoop out the middle and julienne them. I cut my thumb twice. It took me four days to get it done, and then the pastry chef just cooked it down into jam.”

The association with Keller lasted more than three years. Beltran engaged with Keller’s catering operation, hosting wine dinners and helping found an olive oil company.

“When he opened the French Laundry, he started moving up there and I stayed down here, doing his (catering) menus and running the olive oil company.

And then eventually it made sense to move everything up to Napa and I decided I just didn’t want to move to Napa.”

The parting was amicable, and the two remain “great friends.”

Keller’s loss was a win for eaters in Arroyo. Following sporadic local ventures, Beltran’s dramatic solo entrance on the local scene came with Claud & Co. (aka “The Eatery”) in 2012. Situated in an unmarked corner store on an otherwise desultory strip of Allen Avenue, next to Puebla Tacos No. 2 and a liquor store, Beltran began devising playful and inventive thematic menus that changed each month. The combination of imaginative novelty and precise execution with quality ingredients struck the right chord with the burgeoning wave of local foodies at the time.

Bacchus’ Kitchen opened three years later as a local wine-forward bistro. In the meantime, Beltran was engaged to open Perry’s at the Hotel Constance, upon its opening in 2014, featuring an Asian-fusion menu with an emphasis on fresh seafood. This led to a good two-year run, before the hotel changed its dining format.

Now Bacchus’ Kitchen remains the sole rampart of Beltran’s mini-empire.

Beltran’s monthly concept menus have now been translated to his “Dinner for Two-sdays,” which offers a three-course prix-fixe menu priced for a couple at $50 for pickup or $60 to dine on the lovely outdoor patio.

Let’s not forget this is the kitchen of Bacchus. As Beltran emphasizes, “95% of the influence of what we do here is centered around wine. We specialize here in (wines) that are not mainstream. I think we have one chardonnay and we have one cabernet (but) we have tons of grenache and tempranillo and sangiovese.

That is what I’m passionate about.”

November’s theme is “chef’s choice.” No surprises will be spoiled here, but Beltran was persuaded to relinquish a recipe—exclusively for Arroyo readers— that might provide a hint: roasted lavender chicken with sunchokes and persimmons with Fuyu persimmon sauce.

“Persimmons have just started to come into season. I like roasting them, and we make sauce with the same persimmon. Tastes great with wine,” he says.

The wine? “Beaujolais. Gamay. Any Gamay-based wine will be fantastic.”

Bacchus’ Kitchen 1384 E. Washington Boulevard, Pasadena 626-594-6377, bacchuskitchen.com

Chef Claud Beltran slices Fuyu persimmons and sunchokes.

RECIPE

Roasted chicken breast with lavender, roasted sunchokes and Fuyu persimmons Serves four

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts 1-ounce fresh lavender, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

6 persimmons cut in half moons 1/4-pound fresh sunchokes, cut in 1-inch dice Salt and pepper

METHOD Marinate chicken breasts overnight in the lavender and garlic.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Season the breasts with salt and pepper.

Sear the breasts on each side, in a heated oiled pan.

Roast the breasts in the oven until done (internal temperature 165 degrees).

Toss 4 of the persimmons with the sunchokes with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Roast the sunchokes and persimmons on a flat baking sheet until caramelized and cooked through.

Cut the remaining persimmons, place in a saucepan and cover with water.

Bring to a full boil and then allow to cool.

Puree to a fine sauce and season with salt and white pepper.

Serve the breasts with the roasted sunchokes and persimmons, and the persimmon sauce.

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PA I D A DV E R T I S E M E N T

Woody, looks like tree santa likes our compost-cookies and water!

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Gard I told you Gardy, they are my favorite too!

During the Holiday season, the only landscape thoughts you’re probably having are about poinsettias, hanging lights, trimming trees, and timing the perfect moment beneath the mistletoe. This month, we’re taking a break from our normal landscape design guidance to bring you some holiday decorating cheer.

Picking the right Poinsettia: To ensure your poinsettia will last, check the flowers on the cyathium in the center of the bracts to determine age in the bloom cycle. If the flowers are open and showing yellow pollen, they are further along. However, if you see green or reddish closed flowers, it means this specimen will last far longer!

Picking the right X-Mas Tree: When it comes to a cut Christmas tree, we’ve narrowed down a list for you.

Douglas Fir- The Douglas Fir isn’t really a fir, so it grows far faster and has a smaller price tag. This tree is dense with soft needles, allowing for it to be easily trimmed into your favorite shape.

Douglas Firs are not known for longevity, so make your purchase within two weeks of Christmas and don’t expect it to last far into January.

Noble Fir- The Noble is known for its cool, blue-green color and well-spaced stiff branches, ideal for heavy ornaments. The needles are thick and retain more moisture, meaning it has a longer life after the chop, which makes the Noble well worth the extra cost. The

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Noble, in my opinion, looks the most natural of the Christmas trees.

Fraser Fir – The Fraser has a vibrant pine smell, and is slimmer than other firs, so makes a big statement while fitting in a smaller room. The branches turn upwards slightly, giving it a cozy, compact look. The Fraser lifespan is right in the middle of the trees, and its needles are soft, making it ideal for families with children and pets.

No matter your pick, always look for a fresh tree, with fully healed cuts and needles growing over the branch stubs- These look better, and hold moisture longer. Always keep your tree hydrated and away from sources of heat at all times.

Christmas Light Tip from the Maintenance Team: Don’t forget to trim and clean your shrubs around the edges before you hang your lights up this year, it’s a lot harder after!

Holiday gifts for garden lovers: Here at Garden View Nursery, we don’t sell poinsettias or Christmas trees. However, we do make it very simple to give the garden lover in your life a gift that will make them think of you every time they go outside. Give the gift of life with a Garden View Nursery gift card, complete with a holiday gift package.

We hope your Holidays this year are merry and bright and full of life. We’ll see you in the new year with new Landscaping tips!

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