Arroyo October 2019

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA

October 2019

Fa l l Ar t s C CELEBRATING GA CENTURY OF GIVING THE HUNTINGTON

THE HAUNTING TALE OF PASADENA WITH CHIP JACOBS

TRICK-OR-TREAT YOURSELF

CULINARY CUPBOARD

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arroyo VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 10 | OCTOBER 2019

10 FALL ARTS 2019 10 DON’T MISS A BEAT The San Gabriel Valley boasts creativity around every corner through art, music and theater shows.

—By KAYLA RUTLEDGE

15 ART’S NEXT CHAPTER After 34 fun-filled years, storytellers look forward to connecting with art lovers at Contemporary Crafts Market’s final fair.

—By KAYLA RUTLEDGE

18 DIVERSITY TAKES CENTER STAGE Pasadena theater, A Noise Within, scripts full semesters of dance, music, art and other forms of nontraditional theater, putting a spotlight on topics like mental illness, black identity and more.

—By JANA J. MONJI

27 HONORING A LITERARY HERO A tour of Jane Austen’s humble abode inspires readers and writers across the globe.

—By SRIANTHI PERERA

33 CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF GIVING The Huntington, Pasadena’s hub of art, science and history, commemorates 100 years of promoting public welfare.

—By SCARLET CHENG

36 THE HAUNTING TALE OF PASADENA A Pasadena native unveils the dark side of the city’s history in his new book “Arroyo.”

—By KAYLA RUTLEDGE

DEPARTMENTS 08

FESTIVITIES The Huntington’s Centennial Launch Celebration

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CULINARY CUPBOARD Trick-Or-Treat Yourself with pumpkin spice cupcakes

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ARROYO COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH Spiked Iced Coffee

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THE LIST Disney CEO speaks at the Alex, Pop Katoons Festival, Pumpkin display at Descanso Gardens and more

ABOUT THE COVER: Photo of Jonny Lang, who plays The Rose in December, courtesy Mascot Label Group 10.19 ARROYO | 5

EDITOR’S NOTE

Nothing screams “October” quite like pumpkin spice lattes, spooky hay mazes and if you’re anything like me, replacing dinner on Halloween night with a king-sized candy bar.

However, if sweets aren’t on your agenda this month, Pasadena offers various, perhaps healthier, ways to treat yourself.

The change in seasons brings about many of Pasadena’s hairraising events, people and stories that are sure to be a hoot.

This issue is all about art, but its creative reach goes much further than the classic paint on paper. Pasadena has a rich history ingrained with the arts; today, the city gives us a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of various media while honoring the past.

In this issue, we will explore the area’s art, music and theater shows that will take your breath away in the Fall Arts Preview. We will honor the 100 years of history at The Huntington, which is guaranteed to give you the good kind of shivers.

Meanwhile, the debut of a new book written by a Pasadena native will unveil the dark history of the Colorado Street Bridge and how the past can come back to haunt you. We will also take a look back at the 34-year history of the Contemporary Crafts Market as its final show comes to a close. Finally, a first-person walkthrough of the great Jane Austen’s House Museum, in Chawton, England, to celebrate her works and the museum’s 70th birthday will be nothing short of a shock.

It’s not just “Hocus Pocus,” folks. The arts in Pasadena are delivering entertainment so good, it’s scary.

—Kayla Rutledge

arroyo

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco -Karasinski EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kayla Rutledge ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Richard Garcia EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Léon Bing, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Richard Cunningham, Tommy Ewasko, Noela Hueso, Kathleen Kelleher, Frier McCollister, Jana J. Monji, Srianthi Perera, Brenda Rees, Jordan Riefe, Kayla Rutledge, Ilsa Setziol, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Rick Federman, Javier Sanchez ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta

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TIMES MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine V.P. OF OPERATIONS Michael Hiatt CONTACT US ADVERTISING dinas@pasadenaweekly.com EDITORIAL editor@arroyomonthly.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, Pasadena, CA 91105 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2019 Times Media Group All rights reserved.

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FESTIVITIES The Huntington’s Centennial Launch Celebration

Karen R. Lawrence, president, The Huntington and Ann Philbin, director, Hammer Museum attend The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens Centennial Celebration Launch Event.

Joanne Heyler, Director, The Broad museum and Karen R. Lawrence, President, The Huntington attend The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens Centennial Celebration Launch Event on Sept. 5, 2019, in San Marino, California.

Juan Devis, Roy Choi, Victoria Orphan, Yuval Sharon and Melodie Yashar talk during launch event.

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The Huntington's Centennial Celebration kicked off September 5, setting in motion a yearlong series of exhibitions, public programs, artist interventions, and more—inviting people with a range of interests to engage with the venerable institution's collections and the connections they offer, and to join an exploration of ideas that will shape the future. The launch event included news announcements from Karen R. Lawrence, president of The Huntington; panel discussion with Roy Choi, Juan Devis, Victoria J. Orphan, Yuval Sharon, and Melodie Yashar; music performance and conversation with Dexter Story and Josh Kun. (Photos by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

Melodie Yashar and Karen R. Lawrence, president, The Huntington.

Roy Choi attends The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens Centennial Celebration Launch Event.

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Judy Collins

GOTTA HAVE ART! Performances abound in the greater Pasadena, Glendale areas this fall

BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE

A

s the weather gets cooler, the theater scene is heating up.

This fall, stages across Pasadena and Glendale are showcasing first-class shows with stories that will make audiences laugh, cry and reflect on their own lives through media like dance, performance theater, music and inspirational lectures.

So, grab a warm drink, wrap up in your coziest sweaters and scarves, and prepare yourself for the best entertainment the area has to offer this fall.

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse has been a hub for creativity in the performing arts world for more than 100 years, and has no plans to slow down. The next century for the theater will bring about many changes. Perhaps the most notable is Pasadena Playhouse’s vision of its purpose, as it transitions from a place of entertainment to a destination of enlightenment through theater.

Shows are held at the theater, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena.

Info: 626-356-7529 or pasadenaplayhouse.org The fall series includes: “Little Shop of Horrors,” now to October 20; “A Kid Like Jake,” now through to November 3; and “The Great Leap” from November 6 to December 1.

A Noise Within A Noise Within’s 2019-20 season features three classic plays that fall under the theme, “They Played with Fire.” They demonstrate the trials, tribulations and, ultimately, the power of change through characters who are willing to give their lives to make a difference in the world around them.

Guests will enjoy each robust show in a massive theater erected in 2011 that boasts 324 seats.

A Noise Within is located at 3352 E. Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena.

Info: 626-356-3100 or anoisewithin.org The fall lineup for 2019-20 includes: “Gem of the Ocean” through November 16; ‘Buried Child’ from October 13 to November 23; and “A Christmas Carol” from December 4 to December 23.

Boston Court Pasadena Boston Court Pasadena impeccably blends the drama of theater, movement of music, and an exhibition’s ability to spark one’s curiosity in a single location. Over the next few months, there are seemingly endless opportunities to partake in varied experiences.

Fall will bring about the show “How the Light Gets In,” which highlights the lives of four strangers from drastically different backgrounds, who connect through their loneliness and change each other’s lives entirely when one of them falls apart.

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Jonny Lang

–continued from page 10

In the auditorium’s lobby, the show will be paired with an art exhibition that plays on the performance’s showcase of vegetation typically seen in Japanese gardens. Both shows are running through October 27.

The theater also offers music performances of varying types including the conductor-less Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra that was scheduled to perform September 21 and the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Percussion Quartet set to hit the stage October 17.

Info: 626-683-6891 or bostoncourtpasadena.org Remaining performances this season include: • Piano Spheres: Mark Robson, October 4 • Brightwork NewMusic, October 5 • The Viano String Quartet, October 6 • Synchromy, October 12 • Rod Gilfry in Concert, October 18 • Bridge to Everywhere, October 19 • Alexander Miller: To… Oblivion, October 25 • Josh Nelson: Après Un Rêve, October 26

Parson’s Nose Theater Parson’s Nose Theater believes the classics have withstood the test of time because of the truth they speak to each generation, but also thinks the truth can sometimes be funny.

This season, the theater is featuring “full-out” comedy shows while prematurely celebrating the upcoming centennial year of women’s suffrage. Unlike a large portion of classic plays, in each of the theater’s productions it’s the woman who saves the day.

“Our American Cousin,” the play Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated, will be showcased from October 18 to November 11. The show highlights the story of an awkward and honest American, and her adventures to English relatives as she tries to save her fortune. As per the theater’s culture, the show will include a song and dance or two.

From December 14 to December 22, the Parson’s Nose will also feature a rendition of “A Christmas Carol.” The production is what Parson’s calls 12 2 | ARR ARROYO OYO | 10 10.19 .19 19

“theater unplugged.” During the show, the actors sit along the back of the stage, and present themselves only when needed. In this casual setting they hold their scripts, yet are typically familiar enough with content they’re barely looked over. The actors sing their own carols and create the show’s sound effects by hand and with the help of the audience.

All shows are hosted at Parson’s Nose Theater located at 95 N. Marengo Avenue, Suite 110.

Info: 626-403-7667 or parsonsnose.org

The Rose The Rose is an intimate live music venue that serves dinner and also manages to have room for a massive dancefloor. Though the inside is a large space that accommodates all types of music shows each month, the location is comfortably tucked away at 245 E. Green Street, Pasadena. It serves as a focal point for music lovers of all types in the area, and a great place to test out dance moves judgment free.

Remaining shows this season include: • L.A. Guns, opening sets by Wikkid Starr and Six Gun Sal, October 4 • Jim Messina, October 6 • Brian Howe, opening set by Ampage, October 10 • Jon B, opening set by H’atina, October 12 • A Night with Janis Joplin, October 17 • Todrick: Haus Party Tour, October 19 • Sir Mix-A-Lot, October 26 • Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, November 2 • Judy Collins, November 10 • Los Lonely Boys, November 16 • Queen Nation, opening by Slow Burning Car, November 22 • The Association, opening set by Nick Marechal, November 23 • Jonny Lang, December 7 • DSB Journey Tribute, December 27 • Led Zeppelin Tribute by Led Zepagain, December 28 Info: 888-625-5006 or wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com

Queen Nation

Fremont Centre Theatre Since Fremont Centre Theatre’s start in 1997, Co-Artistic Directors James and Lissa Reynolds have worked to produce shows that promote diversity in society, as well as attract diverse audiences from far and wide.

The theater, located at 1000 Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena, will be showcasing the musical “Annie Jr.” from October 4 to October 27.

The show will bring generations together as the story of orphan Annie walks the audience through her struggle after being abandoned on the doorsteps of a rundown orphanage where she is mistreated. Annie will set out to find her birth parents, but along the way she will adopt an entirely new family—one better than in her dreams.

Info: 626-269-3609 or fremontcentretheatre.com

Alex Theatre The performing arts and entertainment center, Alex Theatre, has been hosting robust events for more than 80 years and has only increased the quality and quantity of events since its doors opened.

Now serving more than 130,000 people per year, the theater located at 216 N Brand Boulevard, Glendale, hosts events including classical, contemporary and world music concerts, film screenings, live theater, stand-up comedy, dance recitals and musicals.

Remaining shows include: • Live Talks Los Angeles in association with Glendale Arts presents: An Evening with Bob Iger, October 1 • AEG presents: Yanni, October 3 • Symphonic Concert Management Ltd presents: Havasi Pure Piano Concert, October 5 • Boundaryless Productions presents: Where Is Your Groom II?, October 6

• Los Angeles Times Ideas Exchange presents: Patti Smith, October 9 • Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre presents: Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre Goes Broadway, October 13 • Center for Inquiry presents: An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Ann Druyan, October 20 • Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents: McGegan and Denk, October 26 • Right Angle Entertainment presents: Raffi, October 27 • Alex Film Society presents: Halloween Classics! “The Old Dark House” (1932) and “The Raven” (1935) October 27 • Musical Theatre Guild presents: “The Goodbye Girl,” November 10 • Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents: Pulcinella and Prokofiev, November 16 • Los Angeles Ballet presents: The Nutcracker, December 7 and December 8 Info: 818-243-2539 or alextheatre.org

Antaeus Theatre Company The Antaeus Theatre Company has recently announced its two fall shows, which both share the underlying theme of defying the odds as the past comes back to haunt the present.

The story “Eight Nights,” which the theater will be showing from October 31 to December 16, features the journey of a resilient German Jewish refugee and her family set in a single apartment. From October 3 to November 25, the stage will be absorbed by the cast of “The Abuelas,” a story of an Argentinian concert cellist living in Chicago who will have to face the harsh truths of Argentina’s “Dirty War.” The theater is located at 110 E Broadway, Glendale.

Info: 818-506-5436 or antaeus.org |||| 10.19 | ARROYO | 13

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MAKING SELF EXPRESSION RELATABLE Pasadena to host a crafts market where art, history and science intersect

BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE

F

or 34 years, the Contemporary Crafts Market has provided creators and art lovers a place to explore where art, history and science come together. Years past have proven to be successful in connecting people to art they love, however, the retirement of the market’s CEO will bring about the end of an era.

“We are retiring, but art is timeless,” says CEO Roy Helms.

“When I launched this show 34 years ago, my goal was to showcase fine craft and wonderful products you cannot find anywhere else. There’s nothing like hand-crafted artistry to enhance home and everyday life.”

The market serves as not only a place to showcase talent and dedication, but as a medium to exchange stories. From November 1 to November 3, the Pasadena Convention Hall will house more than 150 booths filled to the brim with art that has a strong history and a plethora of stories behind it.

One such booth is that of enamelist Marianne Hunter.

Fifty-two years ago, Hunter started enameling atop pennies that she sold to friends and family. She prides herself in only using each design once, even over the last half century, and being inspired by something new for each piece.

Though her originality has persisted throughout the years, Hunter’s ability to keep simple titles for each piece has not.

“When I’m working on a piece, I have to immerse myself into that feeling,” Hunter says. “I have thought about it and what I’m trying to communicate as my vision comes together. Soon enough my one-word titles for each piece grew longer and longer, so I gave into it and started engraving short poems on the back that tell the piece’s story.”

From the colors used to the shape of the jewelry itself, everything about the piece shares a role in relaying Hunter’s narrative.

While the pieces can be worn, her techniques allow the art to look just as wonderful in a translucent case in which all sides can be seen.

“The biggest thing for me is that I do everything freehand, every emotion comes through the work naturally. It’s raw, it’s authentic, it’s my vision of the story straight from my soul to my hands to the work itself,” Hunter says.

It can take Hunter anywhere from two weeks to a month to perfect a fired glass piece, which can take more than 120 individual firings somewhere between 1,500 and 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit before completion.

Hunter says, however, she doesn’t mind the process, as delicate and tedious as it may be.

Starting her own small enameling business in the summer of 1967, Hunter says she, “hasn’t had the need for a straight job since. I’ve been self-employed my whole life. I haven’t been to Europe or the other things I might’ve done if I got two-week vacations, but doing this everyday challenges me. It drives me, and there’s no other place I’d rather be than doing this.”

Due to the time, concentration and use of materials, Hunter’s pieces start at $5,000. She has started utilizing a layaway program to make her art accessible to anyone who can relate to the stories she tells through her work.

“I want people who relate to my art and these pieces to be able to have it. That’s what it’s for, that’s the reason I do this. If it speaks to you, you need to have it,” Hunter says.

Through an entirely different medium, watercolorist Liz Covington has also used her art to tell a story entirely her own. Though her art she has expressed the balancing act of being a practicing physician and crafter.

Ten years ago, the painter got her start in the art world through calligraphy, where she specialized in italics. Though she took it on for –continued on page 16 10.19 | ARROYO | 15

Marianne Hunter

Liz Covington

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fun, Covington says it was more demanding than she could have ever imagined.

“I wanted to do something fun and easy to kind of take my mind away from my practice and I enjoyed the technique and discipline, but it’s a lot more involved than most people think,” Covington says.

As she began mastering calligraphy she sought out embellishments like watercolor flowers to pair with her writing. And without a moment’s notice she had discovered her true passion- painting.

“I started in watercolor because it was cheap, but I stuck with it because I think, personally, it’s one of the most challenging ways to deliver a scene. It requires so much practice and patience. I loved it immediately,” Covington says.

Today, Covington is able to produce nature scenes, flowers, portraits and abstract works. She says a particular fan favorite is her mixed abstract-portraits pieces.

As Covington takes on the complexities of nature, politics, and urban unrest, through her art she says painting the world as she views it through watercolor helps her see overwhelming aspects of life in their simplicity.

“I’m eclectic so I usually paint what’s on my mind. Sometimes is soft, and gentle, other times it’s a harsh truth that needs to be acknowledged.

Either way, I feel it’s important to put it on paper. Once I’ve painted it, I feel like I’ve expressed it and it’s okay to let it go,” Covington says.

Covington has also explored the fashion market, and has recently gone under contract with a clothing company that put’s her art on shirts, dresses, scarves and bags, which she says brings her art to life.

Though her clothing can only be found online at the moment, Covington will be featuring greeting cards, prints, posters, and originals that range from $10 to more than $250 at the craft fair.

“Really, I just hope my paintings have a unique perspective and composition that provokes you. I want my art to draw you in, and make you think on an emotional level,” Covington says. ||||

CONTEMPORARY CRAFTS MARKET 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 3 Pasadena Convention Center Exhibit Hall, 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena Limited passes are available at craftsource.net

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MAKING NOISE Pasadena theater is expanding its cultural reach through Noise Now

BY JANA J. MONJI

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Jonathan Muñoz-Prou, director of cultural programming.

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n a sunny Pasadena day, the interior of the historic Stuart Pharmaceutical building was refreshingly cool even as the sun filtered in from the building’s distinctive milky white Persian inspired lace-like facade.

Backlit by this glow, Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx enthusiastically explained A Noise Within’s diversity directive: Noise Now. In-person, Muñoz-Proulx is warm and welcoming with a quick smile and a disarming eagerness to listen and share possibilities.

Since he was hired last fall to be the director of cultural programming for Noise Now, the Southern California native has been reaching out to local community organizations. ANW’s managing director, Michael Bateman, said Muñoz-Proulx has been in touch with more than 300 organizations. The program launched in February and has brought in over 800 audience members. Some of these programs have been as intimate as 15 people while others have attracted 250.

ANW has been recognized for its high-quality classical theater productions since the 1990s. Under two of its three original founders, the husband-and-wife team of Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, ANW moved from the Masonic Temple in Glendale to a state-of-the-art, 324-seat performing space in Pasadena in 2011. Now well-established in the Pasadena community, ANW continues to expand.

“We see Noise Now as our commitment to being of service to all audiences,” Rodriguez-Elliott explained. “It also presents a wonderful opportunity to animate our campus by presenting art in nontraditional spaces throughout A Noise Within.”

According to Bateman, Noise Now came about when the house of the mouse squeaked some advice. Bateman said it was discussions with Disney Imagineers that set these plans into motion. ANW was challenged to consider that for the community, “theater didn’t have to be their primary access point” and that ANW could become “a hub where art happens.”

So enter center stage the Muñoz-Proulx. Graduating from USC, School of Dramatic Arts, he also served as an adjunct faculty to the USC MFA in acting program. Muñoz-Proulx previously served as an associate producer at the Skylight Theatre and as an artistic assistant at East West Players. He has also worked for Center Theatre Group and Pasadena’s Boston Court Theatre and is on the Latinx Theatre Commons National Advisory Committee. Like many transplants to Los Angeles

Jonathan Muñoz-Prou, director of cultural programming.

County, Muñoz-Proulx wanted to be an actor, but realized he was more interested in “choosing the stories I was telling.”

Being of Mexican and French heritage, in college, he had another realization.

“I began to understand my role and responsibility to illuminate underrepresented communities,” he said.

Yet at times, he’s found himself “tokenized” as a “cultural ambassador” when he was contracted to direct the one Latinothemed play within a season. “I accepted that because it got me in the door.”

With Noise Now, he’s opening the door to the Pasadena community by offering dance, music, art exhibits and bits of nontraditional theater. Structured in “semesters” because many organizations aren’t ready or equipped to commit to a year-long initiative, in its first semester, Noise Now took on the topics of mental illness, black identity, transgender identity and water in Latin America.

Muñoz-Proulx explained that instead of offering what one thinks the community needs and be trapped in a “savoir complex,” Noise Now works on the concept of “consensus organizing.”

While Bateman spoke of “cross-pollination” between ANW and its Noise Now partners, Pasadena’s theater community has already been

inspiring each other. Muñoz-Proulx credited Seema Sueko, who came to the 647-seat Pasadena Playhouse in 2013, for bringing the concept of consensus organizing to his attention. Consensus building is “asking the community what type of plays” and other presentations they want to see and “accepting accountability as an institution” for asking and producing results. In his outreach to local organizations, he asks, “Where’s the overlap in our missions?”

For the fall, the answer lies in Ibarionex Perello’s “The Three-Fifths Project” photo exhibition (now through November 16), Josh Gershick’s staged reading of “Dear One: Love & Longing in Mid-Century Queer America” (October 13), the Diwali Festival of Lights block party with the Bollystars Dance Company (October 26), a staged reading of a feminist adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” (November 17), a staged reading of a play based on the myth of Daedalus and Icarus (December 7), a Latina Christmas Special presented with the Latino Theater Company. (December 9), staged readings from Wicked Lit’s repertoire (December 15) and a staged reading generational trauma—“Ballad of Haint Blue” presented with the Pasadena Mental Health Advisory Committee & Project Sister Family Services.

All events are pay what you choose. For more information, call 626356-3100 or visit anoisewithin.org/noisenow. ||||

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ARROYO HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

HOME ENTERTAINMENT NOW MEANS STREAMING

The explosion in the technology is leading to big changes

By Bruce Haring By the time Labor Day rolled around this year, your local movie theater owner was not in a good mood. That’s because yearto-date box office revenue was down about 5% from last year, marking a continued erosion in the business.

You can blame bad movies like “Men in Black: International,” or noisy theaters, or the hassle of having to drive to the local cinema, or even the price of popcorn. Maybe it’s the overall price of tickets, which, combined with the requisite snack bar stuffing, makes a night at the movies a relatively expensive evening out.

But the truth may run deeper, and that’s what really scares your local theater owner. Because with the advent of Netflix, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, Philo, Fubu TV, SlingTV, Locast, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime, SiriusXM and other streaming options soon to come online from Disney and Apple, it’s becoming increasingly clear to many

people that you can stay at home and experience what you used to only get at the movies or other traditional entertainment locations—great sound, fantastic images, and a selection that goes beyond the dozen or so films on display at any given time in the local cinema.

All that’s minus the noisy patrons, the high price of popcorn, and the parking hassles and grants the ability to relax in the safety and comfort of your own dwelling. Thank the growth of technology in the home theatre industry, which has risen from something that only the rich could afford to a true family experience that is reachable even on a modest budget.

Not your father’s stereo system

Your notions of what constitutes a “home theater” may need continued on page 23

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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

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some adjustment if you haven’t been paying attention. Gone are the days where elaborate wiring and huge speakers ruled.

Technology in the form of wireless transmission and speakers that are one-third the size, but deliver as much punch as the giants of old, are now the mainstays of the home theater experience.

Add in the ability to hook up to virtual libraries that contain almost every song you can imagine, or a list of movies that stagger the imagination, and you start to realize that a home theater is not only fun, but makes good economic sense.

Yes, there will always be an excuse to leave the house for the young men and women of the tribe who need to go off on their own. But as for the rest of us, we are increasingly intent on enjoying our castles without dealing with the hoi polloi.

The Motion Picture Association of America says that overall spending on home entertainment in the United States hit $23.4 billion in 2018, up 12% over 2017. The research also indicated that Americans spend 52% of their media browsing time on a digital platform.

Research firm Strategy Analytics determined that Americans spent more than $10 billion on home theater equipment in 2018. This includes speakers and wireless hookups to augment your television, as well as accessories to accommodate various formats, from streaming to DVDs. All of it is smaller and more powerful than previous generations of equipment. continued on page 25 10.19 | ARROYO | 23

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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

continued from page 23

For example, Bose, the venerable speaker company, has introduced SoundTouch 10, a wireless speaker with a retail price of $200 that works with a tablet or smartphone. It’s the size of a book, yet its playbacks can fill any living space short of a palace. Gone are the days when a speaker system that rivaled that of U2 was required for authentic sound.

The good news doesn’t stop there. As with all technology, prices have dropped significantly in the past few years. Now, for slightly more than $1,000, you can feel like you’re at the movies, or inside your own private nightclub if you crank the music. And if you live in an apartment with tolerant neighbors, the systems have grown so small that they will work well even within limited spaces.

You can buy everything in a package, or you can augment your existing TV with speakers, perhaps a DVD or Blu-ray player, and a way to process audio from your iPod, smartphone or other array.

Professionals know best

As with any modifications to your living situation, whether it be a home renovation, new furniture, or a change in decoration, it pays to talk to a professional if you are installing or upgrading a home theater or entertainment system. They know what works, what doesn’t, and what can bring you hours of entertainment joy on a reasonable budget.

Before visiting a brick-and-mortar store or online outlet, first determine your budget and whether you will dedicate a room to your entertainment experience. Then you can approach the task of selecting equipment with a clear objective in mind. You should also determine if the acoustics in a home entertainment room would be an issue. Echo, reverberation and other anomalies can affect the performance of even the best systems. The good news is echoes can easily be solved by adding in throw rugs or more furniture to your room to dampen the sound waves.

While bigger can be better—larger images on a screen create a greater sense of immersion—smaller 4k Ultra Hi-Resolution displays can make a fine, budget-friendly alternative. When it comes to projectors or other components, the quality is more important than size, and many customers now prefer that the speakers and equipment remain hidden in the decor rather than be part of the visual landscape.

Buying quality upfront pays off in the long run. Choose products that hold their value and are repairable. Reliability, performance and value for the dollar should be among your top concerns, experts in A/V contend.

When planning your system, don’t overlook one important component—seating. Being comfortable adds a strong component in making the overall experience more enjoyable.

Lighting is also crucial. Proper color, placement and directivity all work together in achieving the cinematic experience.

Need more advice? There’s no shortage of online information on the best home entertainment systems. Many sites will even have someone in your local area who can come in and set it up for you, eliminating the hassles for those whose skill levels fall short of the expert level. Once that’s in place, it’s time to fire up the popcorn, pour a glass of your favorite beverage, and enjoy what you’ve been missing.

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A woodcut of an 1870 sketch by Cassandra Austen is supposed to be the best likeness of the author.

(Photo courtesy of Jane Austen’s House Museum)

REMEMBERING JANE AUSTEN Take a trip to Chawton and recall author’s life

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

I

t is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen fans would make their way to the sites associated with their beloved author to ingest the world that shaped her novels.

One good spot to start this reverence, as I did, is the Jane Austen’s House Museum located in South of England in the tiny village of Chawton, near the town of Alton in Hampshire. The village also boasts Chawton Estate, an Elizabethan manor associated with the famous author’s family.

The museum recently celebrated its 70th anniversary 202 years after Austen’s death.

The daughter of a clergyman with modest means, Austen lived here during the last eight years of her life. The house inspired and nurtured her literarily. That’s where she revised and published three novels, including the classic “Pride and Prejudice” in 1813, and wrote three more.

The dwelling was part of the Chawton Estate that belonged to Austen’s brother, Edward, who had the good fortune to inherit it from the childless Knight family for little more than a change of surname and an endearing personality. Edward allowed his mother, Cassandra, sisters Jane and Cassandra, and their friend Martha Lloyd to live in the home rent–free for life.

Those days, chickens clucking about the outhouse, grunting pigs and a donkey carriage would have been commonplace sights and sounds.

Nowadays, what’s usual are tourists — more than 40,000 flock to the museum annually. About 30% come from overseas and many of the most loyal and enthusiastic fans travel from the United States.

Getting to the picturesque English village of Chawton is half the fun. Once off the A31 Motorway that leads south from London, the drive to the heart of Jane Austen country features wooded areas lined roadside by wildflowers.

Helpful museum signposts begin about 15 minutes before the destination, but my companion and I still managed to lose our way. However, it added to the experience: meandering through the lanes, we were rewarded with sights of thatched-roof cottages, a quintessential feature of the English countryside.

The verdant Chawton countryside remains as unchanged today as it did in the 19th century when the Austen family resided.

“Many of the buildings would have been known to Jane Austen, and we know that she used to walk to visit friends and family locally,” says Jen Harris, the museum’s marketing manager. “During her time here, the road directly outside the house would have been busier than it is now, as it was the main coaching route from Winchester he estter to to London.”

Lond Lo ndon nd don.”

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Jane Austen’s House Museum is located in Hampshire, in the south of England.

(Photo courtesy of Jane Austen’s House Museum)

–continued from page 27

The museum has a lock of Jane Austen’s hair.

(Photo by Srianthi Perera)

The traffic, however, would have been of horses and carriages.

The first glimpse of the 17th century red-brick house with white-framed windows is poignant. This is the only dwelling where Austen lived and wrote that is open to the public. The museum describes it as the most important Austen site in the world also because this is where her genius

flourished.

To think of the technology and facilities at the disposal of modern writers brings focus to what little was available to Austen, and marvel even more at her talent.

These thoughts are reinforced in the Dining Parlor.

Placed in a corner is the three-legged table at which Austen devised plots, engaged her sparkling wit and weaved social commentary into endearing prose. (The table base is dated later, but the top is original.)

At this round walnut tabletop, a little bigger than an extra-large pizza, she described the privileged landed gentry of the 19th century and women’s dependence on marriage for existence; hence the stuffy social gatherings where matchmaking was ceaseless, the gowns, the balls with their rigorous etiquette, the conquests and the animated sibling conversations that followed.

Here she created the matchmaking Emma Woodhouse, starched the pompous Mr. Collins, and outlined sense and sensibility in the form of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne.

This fictional world was created with a quill pen dabbed in ink. (The nib pen was not in use until a few decades later.)

You could have knocked me over with a feather.

As the story goes, after breakfast each day, Austen would settle at this table for a morning of writing. Remarkably neat, she pinned together about 20 smallish sheets and wrote on them in her sloped handwriting. She hid the manuscript from prying eyes by giving ear to a creaky swing door that was prevented from getting attention.

Now there’s no Austen writing by the window, so there’s no need to safeguard manuscripts. Hence, the door doesn’t creak and is used as a fire door.

Research indicates that Austen was developing cataracts in her eyes, which drove her to move the table through the house in tandem with the light; hence her preference to using a small work surface.

Another item that gives visitors pause is the lock of straw-colored hair kept upstairs in a glass case. The lock was snipped off by sister Cassandra upon Austen’s death at age 41 in 1817. It was presented to the museum by its American owner at the museum’s opening in 1949.

And then there’s the mystery ring. Was it purchased by her or was it a gift? Is the stone turquoise or the cheaper odontolite? It’s hard to verify.

On the subject of rings, in 1802, Austen entertained a marriage proposal from Harris Bigg-Wither, but changed her mind overnight. Did the insight and emotions she imparted on romantic matters in her novels not translate to real life? Or, did Cassandra, with whom she shared a bed and room since childhood, nudge her to remain single, as she herself stayed?

The museum preserves the first editions of Austen’s books, newspaper clippings from The Courier and The Morning Chronicle announcing the publishing of her books, dozens of hand-written letters and other documents, a coverlet, the Rev. Austen’s bookcase and the family carriage. In Austen’s bedroom hangs her likeness sketched by sister Cassandra, considered the only accurate portrait of her because Cassandra was a talented artist.

It’s best to visit early in the day because the true Janeite will need a good length of time to browse the objects and peruse ru use the the documents. doc ocum umen um ents en ts.. ts –continued on page 30 10.19 10 19 | ARROYO ARROY ARR ROYO | 2 29 9

Jane Austen’s Bedroom, which she shared with sister Cassandra.

(Photo by Peter Smith, Jane Austen’s House Museum)

–continued from page 29

Visiting early would also allow time to walk the few minutes to Chawton House, past the sloping meadows. Austen would often make her way there, to get away from the smaller confines of the cottage where privacy was elusive. While the House Museum is the obvious draw, the “Great House,” as Austen called it, is no less interesting to “dawdle away” the time.

Chawton House, in the Knight family since 1582, doesn’t quite boast the grandeur of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s Pemberley. Researchers believe that Mr. Knightley’s Donwell Abbey in Emma was modeled on this estate.

Janeites would do well to bump into volunteer guide Jeremy Knight, who happens to be the fourth-great nephew of Jane Austen and grew up in the Great House. It is now leased in trust for 125 years.

The Chawton House Library conserves a rare collection of early women’s writing, from 1600 to 1830, which was neglected during the 20th century. While Jane Austen is the most famous woman novelist of her time, others such as Aphra Behn, Mary Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft, also paved the way to the modern novel.

Fans eager to connect the Great House to Austen would note that the library contains the first editions of her novels. She also would have read the books that are in the shelves.

“Some of the books from the Knight collection that the librarian had worked out that we know Jane would have read,” Knight said. “She would have come up here and got permission and read them. So there are books that she would have touched and read herself. We know she came up here to the library quite regularly.”

The Dining Room bears the same long mahogany table at which she dined with her brother’s family when she visited. She would have eaten out of her brother’s Wedgewood dinner service; some of its pieces are in the house museum. Knight inherited the crockery set as a wedding gift from his 30 | ARROYO | 10.19

Jer e m vo lu y K n i g h ntee t, t h e rs ( Ph o f t o by a s a g u o u r t h - g r id e S ria n t hi e a t C h a a t n e p h e Per e w ton w r a) Hou s of Jane Au s t e. e

n,

family.

The Reading Alcove in the Oak Room was one of Austen’s favorite spots from where she would look down the drive.

Among the many portraits is one of her favorite niece, Fanny Knight, while another, a 1783 silhouette, depicts a young Edward Austen being introduced to the Knight family.

During the final part of her life, an ailing Austen moved to Winchester to be closer to her doctor. She died in 1817 and is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

After the author’s passing, her mother and sister continued to live at the house for the rest of their lives. They are buried in the church in the Chawton Estate.

In 1845, the house was split into three dwellings to provide homes for staff on the Chawton estate and the building remained in this state until it went on sale in 1947.

Following an appeal by the Jane Austen Society, the house was bought by a lawyer from London, T. Edward Carpenter, who opened it as a museum in 1949. A registered charity, it’s independent and receives no regular public funding. Jane’s Fund, launched in 2017, raises funds to help protect and restore the home, an ongoing process.

The museum continues to collect her memorabilia and build its collections. A campaign in July raised 35,000 British pounds to retrieve a letter that she wrote. The Bank of England placed her portrait in its new 10-pound note, and the museum asks fans to donate their notes to Jane’s Fund, set up to protect the home.

On this 70th anniversary year, a special exhibition titled Making the Museum relates the story of the characters, hard work, luck and determination that has gone in to preserve this place of pilgrimage for Austen devotees.

Using a quill pen, Jane Austen wrote her novels at this small three-legged table.

(Photo by Srianthi Perera)

The mahogany dining table at the Great House, where Jane Austen would have dinedwhen she visited.

(Photo by Srianthi Perera)

Sadly, she didn’t strike riches when she could have used them; her lifetime’s work earned her as much as her father earned annually. Like many authors that contributed to English literature, she, too, was ushered into greatness posthumously.

Especially after the BBC’s dramatization of Austen’s novels, new legions of fans have discovered her writing and often make their way to the museum. Some are inspired to don a bonnet and gown, which are available to those who want to try yesteryear’s fashion, or dip a quill pen in the inkpot and scratch their names.

Some Janeites have even received offers of marriage in the gardens.

“I know of at least two proposals,” Harris says. “The last we heard about was in 2018 and involved a couple from the States.

“The young girl was a huge Jane Austen fan. Her boyfriend booked her the holiday of a lifetime, brought her to Jane Austen’s House, and then surprised her with his proposal in the garden. He’d even booked a local photographer to capture the moment.”

Austen would have approved.

Details: jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk. ||||

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HAPPY CENTENNIAL, THE HUNTINGTON

BY SCARLET CHENG

PHOTOS: Courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

A

hundred years year ye arss ago, ago Henry Hen enry ry and and Arabella Ara abe belllla a Huntington Huntingtton signed Hu sig igned a trust trus tr ustt agreement that left the buildings and grounds of their San Marino estate, plus their remarkable collections, to the public.

They were both extremely wealthy when they married in 1913, and both were serious collectors. Arabella had been married to Henry’s uncle, Collis Huntington, one of the Big Four of Western railroading who founded the Central Pacific Railroad (later called the Southern Pacific), part of the first transcontinental railroad.

After Collis died in 1900, Henry spent several years courting Arabella.

It may have appeared scandalous, but Henry and Arabella were actually closer in age than she to her former husband—and Henry seemed genuinely smitten with her.

He collected rare books, while she was fond of European paintings, jewelry and antiques—and soon enough he became interested in the fine arts, also. He became especially enamored of 18th century British portraiture, and today people travel from all over the world to see two romantic fulllength portraits, Thomas Lawrence’s “Pinkie” and Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy,” hung in the British gallery of the mansion. A few of the exquisite Medieval and Renaissance paintings she owned, including Rogier van der Weyden’s “Virgin and Child,” are on display elsewhere in the same building.

Since Henry and Arabella’s time, the library and art collection have expanded by leaps and bounds, and in recent decades the museum has begun to collect and exhibit American art, as well. They started collecting American art only in 1979, with a gift of 50 paintings from the Virginia Steele Scott Foundation. Five years later the Virginia Steele Scott Gallery of American Art was created, with a major expansion in 2009. The library is in its own building and has exhibition galleries for the public and research facilities for scholars.

Of course, many visitors also come to see the gardens with different blooms at different times of the year. They are themed, including the Japanese garden, the rose garden, the camellia garden, the desert garden, and the newest one, still under expansion, the Chinese garden.

Celebrating 100 years, the Huntington is presenting several new exhibitions and programs—and a name change. Formerly, it was known as the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.

“Our art collections are more than a group of cataloged objects; they are carefully curated, interpreted and exhibited,” says Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence during a recent presentation to announce their centennial year.

“An added benefit to this change is that we become more discoverable, particularly in online searches. This is important as we work to widen our audiences and accessibility.”

Christina Nielsen, director of the art museum, adds later in an email, “Simply put, the word ‘museum’ more accurately describes our mission in today’s vernacular. It conveys that this place, which does hold some 42,000 art objects in its collection, is not just a repository.”

The pivotal exhibition will be “Nineteen Nineteen” (September 21 to February 20) in the Boone Gallery, an exhibition looking back to the

George R. Watson, Portrait of Henry E. Huntington on Loggia of San Marino Residence, April 1919; printed 1927. Gelatin silver print, 22 x 18 3/4 in

Portrait of an unidentified woman in Pasadena, Calif., during the 1918–19 influenza epidemic, 1919. Gelatin silver print, 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.

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–continued from page 33

Howard Chandler Christy (1873–1952), The Spirit of America

Charles H. Sykes (1882-1942), At Last, in The Suffragist

Nineteen Nineteen (2019) by James Glisson and Jennifer Watts

Photobooth pictures of Don Bachardy (left) and Christopher Isherwood, March 30, 1953

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Hong Chinatown Neon Electrical Products Corp., Neon study for You Chung Hong buildings, Chinatown, Los Angeles

landmark year when the Huntingtons signed the document creating what is now popularly known as The Huntington.

Using 275 objects from their own collection, curators James Glisson and Jennifer Watts tells a story about what else happened that year—a lot, as it turns out. Europe was trying to recover from a World War, American soldiers returned, women fought for the right to vote, the flu pandemic struck down millions, violent attacks were inflicted upon African Americans, and high inflation fueled labor unrest. Glisson calls it “an inflection point for world history.”

In theory, they had millions of objects to choose from—the library alone has 11 million objects. However, Glisson says, “The show’s based on a constraint, and that is, everything had to be made copyrighted, altered, exhibited, acquired, the list of verbs can go on, in the year 1919.”

It took three years to narrow down that checklist, and as they did they formed five key themes to organize the material around—“Fight,” “Return.”

“Map,” “Move” and “Build.”

The opening section “Fight,” for example, features the expected—a look at the devastation of World War I. However, some of the objects may be unexpected, such as a sketch by John Singer Sargent of soldiers suffering a mustard gas attack. The struggle for women’s suffrage is shown through a photo of National Woman’s Party members burning “President Wilson’s Meaningless Words on Democracy,” at a time when women were denied the right to vote. The exhibition uses the breadth of Huntington’s holdings, including photographs, handbill and posters, books and documents, objects and art.

“Maps” has maps, of course, but as Watts says, maps also tell a story.

There will be a map of the city of Los Angeles in 1919, done by Laura L. Whitlock, L.A. County’s official cartographer. At that time, Watts says, our electric train system was the most extensive in the world, and the centerpiece of this section will be a 37-foot long, hand-drawn map to be displayed flat in a showcase. Done by the Pacific Electric, it details sections of the electric train system in 1919 and the parcels of land around it.

“It goes from Old Town Pasadena all the way to the edge of downtown, to Soto Street,” says the curator. “That map is really incredible. It not only shows transportation networks but real estate domains…additions and redactions over time.”

The story of Henry Huntington, who invested heavily in that network, is pulled in here, as in a number of other places. “It makes the interesting point that Huntington is selling off and investing in a lot of lots of adjacent to the streetcar lines,” Glisson says. “He’s kind of a quintessential Californian because he’s really making his money in real estate.”

The “Build” section focuses on the Huntington’s, and the institution they founded. For years Henry had kept his library in New York, but in 1919 he started building one on the San Marino estate. When it was finished in 1921, he shipped his books here. The Chicago Tribune heralded the event with the lines, “One of the largest and most extensive private libraries in the world is being built at San Marino…and when this is completed it also will be conveyed to the public.”

For the centennial, the library offers an exhibition in two parts, “What Now: Collection for the Library in the 21st Century” (Part I: October 19, 2019, to February 17, 2020; Part II: May 1 to August 24, 2020). It will show more than 100 acquisitions representing areas in which the library has grown.

With 750,000 visitors a year, the Huntington is one of the most popular destinations in Southern California.

“Today we take a moment…to think about our future,” says Lawrence during a centennial presentation, “and the future and the ideas that will propel us all for the next 100 years. For an institution turning 100, a centennial is a moment to be like Janus, looking back and forward at the same time. Today we’re celebrating how far we’ve come, and reflect on where we want to go.” ||||

10.19 | ARROYO | 35

TELLING THE STORY OF ‘ARROYO’ ‘ARROYO’

Author Chip Jacobs says his writing process grabbed him by the throat

BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE

T

hough Pasadena claims to value honesty, integrity, and accountability, one author challenges the seemingly utopic history of the city through his debut fiction novel “Arroyo.”

Pasadena-born Chip Jacobs has spent the last three years studying the idiosyncrasies of the Colorado Street Bridge. While history books portray the bridge as a beacon of Pasadena’s withstanding financial and industrial success, Jacobs has uncovered gruesome truths about the structure locally dubbed, “Suicide Bridge.”

“Pasadena is a beautiful place, but it’s not perfect. No place is perfect that’s made by man,” Jacobs says, adding, “there’s a lot of coffee table books about Pasadena and about our history, and they’re great, but they don’t seem to capture human suffering, drama, and confusion—all things that build a city.”

Having worked in journalism for seven years, Jacobs found the industry was tailormade for him because of his “curious” and “annoying” personality that made getting to the bottom of stories exhilarating.

There was one story, however, that changed Jacobs’ trajectory in the field of writing.

Jacobs published an article in Pasadena Weekly about a very obscure accident that befell the Colorado Street Bridge in the midst of construction. The catastrophe killed several construction workers, but the brilliance of the bridge shadowed over the lives sacrificed to erect it.

“It really bothered me that these men who died in this dramatic collapse had been forgotten, kind of brushed aside by history; swept over by the glory of this bridge and what it meant for the history of the city,” Jacobs says.

Not long after the story was published, Jacobs began receiving very passionate responses from the community. Some of the letters and emails believed the piece to be distasteful, but others highlighted their appreciation for the truth of what happened to the men killed while building the bridge.

–continued on page 39

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–continued from page 36

“When you live in Pasadena you’re always connected with that bridge because you drive over it, you know somebody that has gone for a walk or a jog on it and has seen a dead body at the bottom. You’re inundated with lithograph paintings of the bridge in art galleries and in organizational literature. You’re absolutely dazzled by the aesthetics of it,” Jacobs says, adding, “you’re either someone who views it as a symbol of how far the city has come, or how far we have to go.”

Jacobs’ resume includes two nonfiction novels published. “Strange as It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler,” a story about a maternal uncle whom he couldn’t stand, but turned out the be the most astonishing man he’d ever met; and “Smogtown: The Lung-Burning History of Pollution in Los Angeles,” which offers a social—not technical—history of the smog crisis.

Jacobs says he had “all the ingredients to write a fiction novel”—a book-publishing history, a natural curiosity for the world, the ability to dig for the truth and a passion for writing.

“I had so many people tell me ‘with your smart-ass personality and imagination, you really should be going into fiction.’ So I did,” Jacobs says.

“Being a journalist, you’re capturing history on the fly, but I wanted to capture the drama on a deeper spectrum and of course do it with my own sort of flare,” Jacobs says.

And so, “Arroyo,” the novel, was born.

The hilariously grim story embarks readers on a journey through the lens of a young inventor and his dog, inspired by his beloved dog Auggie, in both 1913 and 1993 Pasadena.

Though the inventor was once the “biggest homer, all-American Pasadena boy possible,” in his second life he will discover his purpose as a whistleblower reincarnated to bring truth to the dark past of the bridge as it celebrates its 80 years.

As the inventor discovers the purpose of his second life with the help of his dog, the story walks the audience through the contrasting ideologies of history and myth, progress and vanity, even the contrasting approaches to various obstacles by dog and man.

“Teddy Roosevelt once famously said, not all movement is necessarily progress,’ and I think that does apply to this bridge at this point in our city’s history,” Jacobs says.

Although there are elements to the story that rings true of fiction, like the dialogue, Jacobs says it was extremely important to him that he reflects the information on the bridge accurately when writing the book.

He also insisted on keeping true to the area’s personalities, including hints of a local business owner’s voice, and a pharmacist who recorded the bridge’s history from his perspective as it was under construction. He says both accurately portray the shared feelings of hesitation and excitement for the area’s future.

The book seamlessly alludes to both an epoch of doll-style dresses and ice cream parlor and another era filled with technology and “Seinfeld;” however, while writing the book, Jacobs says switching between two worlds wasn’t effortless.

“Going from a journalist to being a nonfiction author to a novelist wasn’t always easy. I ripped up and threw away thousands of pages. I burned through printer ink like crazy. I got a hand injury from backspacing so much. I was so paranoid about digging in and touching down on that blank page—problems I never had when I was writing nonfiction. I mean it was grabbing me around the throat,” Jacobs says.

Jacobs’ father also died while writing the book, which sent him “sideways.” Beyond the shock of losing a loved one, the conflicted author was writing about a 1913 falsely utopic Pasadena world while in modernday Pasadena as his world went dark and his family mourned.

“I was split down the middle of these worlds, but that helped me relate to this character even more than I already had because he’s doing the same thing. He’s trying to figure out who he is in this world of confusion and chaos,” Jacobs says.

Jacobs hopes “Arroyo” brings as much clarity and reflection on life and history while looking toward the future to readers as writing the novel did to him.

Jacobs says he believes past decisions affect Pasadena today and hopes readers can learn lessons that carry into their choices.

“Be careful about your secrets and machinations because they might just ricochet back at you in unintended ways,” Jacobs says. ||||

AUTHOR VISIT “Arroyo” will be released Tuesday, October 15. Chip Jacobs will be at a book launch event at Vroman’s in Pasadena at 8 p.m.

Friday, October 18. The following month, he will sign books at 6 p.m.

Thursday, November 7, after a presentation at Flintridge Bookstore.

Jacobs will host a reading with a question-and-answer session at the Pasadena Museum of History on Thursday, November 21. For more information on Jacobs and “Arroyo,” visit chipjacobs.com.

10.19 | ARROYO | 39

CULINARY CUPBOARD

Trick-or-Treat Yourself TRY THIS HAUNTINGLY GOOD PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKE RECIPE.

BY KAYLA RUTLEDGE

I

attended a Halloween party years ago excited to obliterate the dessert bar in my wizard costume, but to my disappointment each treat was difficult to eat. From jet-black frostings that were bound to make my teeth look like that of a dirty pirate, to gooey caramel apples that are delicious but too much of a hassle, I had to give those mouthwatering treats a hard pass. The memory still haunts me.

Neon-orange icing and marshmallow-pretzel spiders are a thing of the past, this spooky season is all about class. Whether you’re hosting or attending a Halloween party this month, bring treats your guests won’t be afraid to eat.

Cue these decadent and adorable pumpkin spice cupcakes.

Though humble in appearance, the flavors of the whipped cream cheese frosting paired with the perfect spice of the cake boasts what October is all about.

Although the cakes have pumpkin in them, they’re shockingly light in texture and not overbearing in taste. This surprising airy texture makes the perfect pairing for the whipped cream cheese. Slightly tangier than a traditional usually heavy cream cheese, the frosting in this recipe has a great texture and sits high on the cake, which always looks great.

The best thing about this recipe is that outside of the staple ingredient measurements (eggs, milk, flour, sugar and so on), the spices and seasonings can be altered to fit your ideal flavor profile.

Though, I have to say, even Behemoth would think this recipe hits the axe on the head.

For the cake: INGREDIENTS -1 1/8 cup of all-purpose flour -1/2 teaspoon cinnamon -1/4 teaspoon ground ginger -1/4 teaspoon nutmeg -1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice -1/4 teaspoon ground cloves -1/4 teaspoon allspice -1/4 teaspoon fi ne salt

-1/2 tablespoon baking powder -1/4 teaspoon baking soda -1/2 cup softened butter -1/2 cup white sugar -5 tablespoons brown sugar -2 eggs -6 ounces of whole milk -1/2 cup pumpkin puree

For the frosting: INGREDIENTS -4 oz cream cheese -1/2 cup white sugar -pinch of fi ne salt 40 | ARROYO | 10.19

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract -3/4 cup heavy whipping cream –continued on page 42

10.19 | ARROYO | 41

–continued from page 40

Let's Bake This recipe yields about 10 cupcakes, and between cooling and decorating times takes about an hour and 25 minutes.

To begin, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare your cupcake tin with 10 liners or you can grease each holder in lieu of liners. If using liners, you can enhance the Halloween theme by going with dark colors like purple or black.

Next, sift the dry ingredients into one bowl. These ingredients include flour, cinnamon, clove, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

The dry ingredients are where personal flavor styles come in.

But a word to the wise, veer away from introducing too much clove, allspice or ginger. These ingredients are quite dominant in this recipe.

In a separate bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar and white sugar into a paste. This process takes somewhere between one and three minutes. If you are using an electric mixer, keep the setting on low and allow time for the ingredients to mix slowly. You will know this step is finished when the butter turns into a light golden-brown color.

Add the eggs, milk, and canned pumpkin with the butter. Give these ingredients time to mix well on a low setting before slowly adding in the dry ingredients.

Once the batter is prepped, fill each cupcake tin about 3/4 of the way. The cakes do rise quite a bit, even with the weight of the pumpkin in the batter, so be sure not to overfill.

While the cupcakes bake for 25 minutes, you have the perfect window to whip up some cream cheese frosting.

Begin by beating the whipping cream until stiff peaks form, this process takes about five to seven minutes with the mixer set to medium. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, cream cheese, salt and vanilla and mix well. Finally, fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese spread. Be sure not to overmix as it will take the fluffy appearance out of the frosting.

Place the frosting in a piping bag and chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes. The cupcakes should be finishing up at about the same time. You can either leave the cakes on the counter until they’re at room temperature or put them in the fridge for about 15 minutes or until cool.

Though simple in appearance, there are various ways to spice up the identity of these cupcakes. Personally, I went with a sprinkle of cinnamon, topped with full pecans and some chocolate wafers.

Just because this recipe lacks bright green Frankenstein-colored frosting, doesn’t mean these cupcakes won’t scream Halloween.

When it comes to themed treats, it’s all about the accessories.

You can play on the Halloween theme with the cupcakes through the plating—get creative! I went outside and snagged leaves from the front porch, rinsed them off and sprinkled them on a festive platter before stacking them with the cupcakes. Another idea is to find a festive mug, fill it with hard candies and place it in the middle of your display.

Whether you are into being a scream queen this time of year or prefer the safety of pumpkins, spice and everything nice, give these cupcakes a run for their money. They won’t disappoint. ||||

SPIKED ICED COFFEE

STORY AND PHOTO BY MICHAEL CERVIN

I

ced coffee is hot. The $5 billion coffee industry is one of the ways we love to cool down during the sizzling summer months. Coffee has long been a go-to beverage for the addition of alcohol; just think Irish coffee with and Mexican coffee with tequila.

But RumChata's boozy creamer, "MiniChata's" blend of cream, rum, cinnamon and vanilla has made this even easier. Given the coffee roasters like Jones Coffee Roaster and Jameson Brown, both based in Pasadena, and Regent in Glendale, you can get superior coffee over chain- stores spiked with a touch of creamy rum.

Leon Nie, who started Regent in 2015 then opened his café in Glendale in 2017, recommends using iced coffee from a dark roast bean as a base. “With cream liqueurs’ strong, creamy rich flavor and sweetness, a dark roast develops to be fully caramelized and lightly carbonized,” Nie says. “The coffee could be cold brew coffee prepared slowly, or freshly brewed hot coffee that is then iced. The reason behind the cold brew dark roast is its charming depth of chocolate notes and bittersweetness, without any acidity. It has a solid strength of body and lends itself to work in tandem with many cream liqueurs.”

You can purchase the 25-milliliter MiniChata’s in packs of 15, or pick up their 26-ounce plastic thermal tumbler that will hold your coffee and contains eight “MiniChatas.” ||||

RUMCHATA COFFEE INGREDIENTS 6 ounces iced coffee

METHOD Brew coffee, add MiniChata.

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1 25-ml RumChata MiniChata

THE LIST COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER Disney CEO Speaks at the Alex

Brahms Quintets for clarinet and strings.

October 1 — The Alex Theatre and Glen-

Performers are clarinetist Pierre Génisson,

dale Arts present “An Evening with Bob

violinists Ambroise Auburn and Henry

Iger in a Live Talks LA event. The Disney

Gronnier, violist Virginie d'Avez’c and cel-

CEO speaks, in conversation with Brian

list Cécilia Tsan. Tickets are $50 for each

Grazer, discussing his memoir, “The Ride

performance.

of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15

Mt. Wilson Observatory is located at 100

Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Com-

Mount Wilson Red Box Road, Mt. Wilson.

pany.” Iger shares the ideas and values

Visit mtwilson.edu/concerts.

he embraced to reinvent the beloved

$20 to $65.

Tasting Pasadena Features Top Local Restaurants

The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N.

October 10 — The Pasadena Chamber

Brand Blvd., Glendale.

of Commerce presents the 2019 Taste of

Call (818) 243-2539 or visit alextheatre.org.

Pasadena at the Rose Bowl. A long list of

institution. It starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are

Pasadena’s favorite restaurants provide

Golden Plate Awards Honor Community Service

the food and drinks for the event, from 6

October 3 — Local community ser-

top four cocktails determined in the SIP-

vice organization Foothill Unity Center

tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge. The

presents its annual Golden Plate Awards,

winning cocktail will be announced at

honoring various members of the com-

8:45 p.m. Live entertainment is by Dance

munity who have made a difference

Syndicate. Tickets at the gate are $75.

locally. The event is scheduled for 11:30

Rose Bowl Stadium is located at 1001

a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens’ Ayres Hall. Tickets are $65 per person.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens is located at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Call (626) 3583486 or visit foothillunitycenter.org.

Saying No to Bullying October 5 — The Human Growth

to 9 p.m. Included in the event are the

NORTON SIMON DEBUTS NEW EXHIBITION October 4 — Norton Simon Museum presents a new exhibition, “By Day & by Night: Paris in the Belle Époque,” on view October 4 through March 2. The exhibition surveys the range of artistic responses to life in the French capital

Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Visit pasadena-chamber.org.

Photos from the Sky at Forest Lawn October 10 — Forest Lawn Museum pres-

during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It highlights the fact that during

ents the exhibition “The Elevated Eye:

the “beautiful era,” the city took the lead in urban development and cultural

Aerial Photography Past and Present.”

innovation. This was the period when the Eiffel Tower was built, the Montmartre

The exhibition explores airborne photog-

district was the center of art and entertainment and the city was aglow with

raphy from its 19th century beginnings

Foundation presents the fourth annual

electric light. However, some artists, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edgar

to the boundary-pushing technologies

Say NO to Bullying Festival from 11 a.m.

Degas and Pablo Picasso, focused on the less-spectacular details of life that also

of the 21st century. “The Elevated Eye”

to 3 p.m. in Griffith Park. The event is an

inspired creative expression. The collection consists of paintings, drawings, prints

features 150 images and 14 minutes of

extravaganza meant to educate and

and photographs that interpret the everyday as extraordinary.

video, including those from satellites and

empower victims of bullying of all ages.

Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626)

drones. Images are from the museum’s

The festival features messages from bullying prevention advocates, plus

449-5320 or visit nortonsimon.org.

permanent collections that have never been displayed as well as works from the Getty Research Institute, Huntington

hot musical performances, exhibits and resource booths, food and celebrities.

5 p.m. October 5 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fukushima on keyboards, Miles Senzaki

Library, Art Collections and Botanical

Admission is free.

October 6. Tickets are $20 per day for

on drums and J.P. Maramba on bass.

Gardens, and special collections from

Griffith Park is located at 4730 Springs

adults, $34 for children 3 to 10, or $40 for

Tickets are $65 for the series of three

Los Angeles. It features a reproduction

Drive, Los Angeles. Call (800) 451-6434 or

adults, $68 for children for the full week-

concerts, or individual tickets for $28 in

of the oldest surviving aerial photograph

visit saynotobullying.org.

end. The festival’s mission is to encour-

advance, $30 at the door.

taken over Boston from a balloon and

age children to be active, passionate

The Neighborhood Unitarian Universal-

the oldest surviving aerial view of Los An-

Fun for Kids in Pasadena

and confident citizens of tomorrow.

ist Church is located at 301 N. Orange

geles, taken in 1887. The exhibition also

October 5 and 6 — The Pop Katoons

The Pasadena Convention Center is

Grove Blvd., Pasadena.

includes images taken from pigeons and

Festival features fun for kids in a two-day

located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.

Call (626) 296-9843 or visit jazznpaz.com.

kites. An opening reception runs from

event at the Pasadena Convention

Visit popkatoons.com.

5 to 8 p.m. October 10 and continues

try out musical instruments, learn new

Jazz ‘n Paz Season Opens

Mt. Wilson Observatory Hosts Final Concert of the Season

dance moves, show their artistic side

October 6 — The Jazz ‘n Paz series of jazz

October 6 — The Mt. Wilson Observa-

Lawn—Glendale, 1712 S. Glendale Blvd.,

in a crayon party, try out a new punk

concerts opens at the Neighborhood

tory’s Concerts Under the Dome final

Glendale. Call (323) 340-4545 or visit

or unicorn look and take part in photo

Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasa-

2019 concerts start at 3 and 5 p.m. The

forestlawn.com.

opportunities. It runs from 10:30 a.m. to

dena. This month’s performer is Gary

performance highlights Mozart and

Center. Kids can play in the play zones,

through March 8.

Forest Lawn Museum is located at Forest

–continued on page 44 10.19 | ARROYO | 43

THE LIST –continued from page 43

Pasadena Artwalk Returns

youth age 17 and younger.

October 12 — The annual Artwalk

The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located

features more than 70 visual artists dis-

at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra

playing works in a festival atmosphere,

Madre. Call (626) 355-4318 or visit sier-

from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Pasa-

ramadreplayhouse.org.

dena Playhouse District. Also included

neighborhood, hands-on activities,

Pasadena Symphony Classics Season Opens

entertainment, a self-guided walking

October 19 — The Pasadena Sym-

tour and other activities. All activities

phony opens its classics season with

are free.

Brahms Symphony No. 1, along with

The Pasadena Playhouse District is

other works by him, and the world

located in the vicinity of Colorado

premiere of a commission by Sydney

Boulevard and El Molino Avenue,

Wang, along with works by Bruch.

Pasadena. Call (626) 744-0340 or visit

Concerts start at 2 and 8 p.m. at

playhousedistrict.org/artwalk.

Ambassador Auditorium. Featured

is free admission to museums in the

violinist is Tessa Lark. David Lockington

Fun and Games at Boston Court

conducts. Tickets are $35 and up.

October 12 — LA musicians’ collective

Ambassador Auditorium is located at

Synchromy teams with cello and flute

131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena.

duo Autoduplicity, consisting of cellist

Call (626) 793-7172 or visit pasade-

Jennifer Brewerse and flutist Rachel

nasymphony-pops.org.

Beetz. The concert, “Game Night” fea-

mieres of Los Angeles-based compos-

Exhibition Highlights the Huntington’s 21st Century Acquisitions

ers Carolyn Chen and Isaac Schankler

October 19 — The first of two con-

that playfully interpret games, from

secutive exhibitions focusing on 21st

pattycake to trivia. “Game Night”

century acquisitions at the Huntington

also features works by Tim Parkinson,

Library, Art Collections and Botanical

Cassia Sreb and John White. The

Gardens opens October 19. “What

concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30

Now: Collecting for the Library in the

general admission, $25 for seniors $20

21st Century” features more than

for students.

100 items that reveal the past and

Boston Court Pasadena is located at

construct new histories and narratives.

70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena.

The items offer insights into the ever-

Call (626) 683-6801 or visit

growing cultural heritage available at

bostoncourtpasadena.org.

the Huntington and confirm the institu-

tures musical games and games that make music, featuring the world pre-

tion’s significance as a destination

Inspiring Story for Women and Girls

for the acquisition of knowledge and

October 17 — The Sierra Madre

est items is a Middle English manuscript

Playhouse presents its production of

“The Book of John Mandeville” from

“Little Women,” based on the book by

the second half of the 15th century,

Louisa May Alcott and adapted and

and one of the newest is large-scale

directed by Artistic Director Christian

archival inkjet botanical prints from

Lebano. “Little Women” is the classic

2009, created by California artist Jane

story of the March Sisters, detailing

O’Neal. The first part of the two-part

their passage from childhood to wom-

series continues through Feb. 17.

anhood, in a tale loosely based on the

The Huntington Library, Art Collections

author and her three sisters. It opens at

and Botanical Gardens is located at

8 p.m. October 17 and continues at 8

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Call

p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 and 8

(626) 405-2100 or visit huntington.org.

intellectual discovery. One of the old-

p.m. Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 3. Tickets are $30 general admission, $25 for seniors and $15 for

44 | ARROYO | 10.19

–continued on page 46

THE LIST

PUMPKIN DISPLAY HERALDS THE FALL AT DESCANSO GARDENS October 23 through 27 — Descanso Gardens presents a display in keeping with the season, with “Carved.” A one-mile walk through the Camellia Forest and Oak Grove features 1,000 professionally carved pumpkins lining the route.

Guests of all ages can enjoy jack-o-lanterns carved from real pumpkins. Some 75 of the gourds will be 100-pounds or more, carved in popular themes such as superheroes, famous movie monsters and other popular images. Seasonal snacks, live carving demonstrations and other surprises are included. The exhibit runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. each night. Admission is $30, or $25 for members.

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org.

–continued from page 44

Red Hen Press Hosts Champagne Luncheon October 27 — Red Hen Press celebrates

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Begins Season

its 25th anniversary with a Champagne

October 26 — The program features

The festivities feature performances by

music from Rameau’s opera, “Dar-

local students, fine cuisine, a silent auc-

danus,” and works by Schubert and

tion and readings by authors Erica Jong,

Mozart, starting at 8 p.m. at the Alex

Percival Everett, Elizabeth Bradfield and

Theatre. Nicholas McGegan conducts.

Steve Almond. It runs from 11 a.m. to

Featured pianist is Jeremy Denk. Tickets

2:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $175,

are $28 and up.

tables of 12 are $1,800.

The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N.

Noor is located at 300 E. Colorado Blvd.,

Brand Blvd., Glendale. Call (213) 622-

Pasadena, in Paseo Colorado. Call (626)

7001 or visit laco.org.

406-1205, email benefit@redhen.org or

luncheon benefit at Noor in Pasadena.

visit redhen.org.

46 | ARROYO | 10.19