P ROUDLY B UILDING H OPE AND N OURISHING B RIGHTER F UTURES T HROUGH S UPPORT OF THE F OLLOWING C HARITABLE F OUNDATIONS.
THE C HARITABLE F OUNDATION
Supporting local organizations that promote health, education, community and environment.
C HARTER M EMBER OF W OMEN FOR H OPE
Assisting homeless men, women and children seeking life change through the Orange County Rescue Mission.
L IFE S AVERS F OUNDATION OF O RANGE COUNTY
Providing financial assistance to living organ donors.
SHARON GRIMES
REALTOR®
Chairman’s Circle Gold Top 1OO Nationwide
949-466-5756 SharonGrimes.com
DRE 01149249
Bruce Cook Editor
Dear Friends,
I went searching for inspiration to write the May Bay Window Welcome and I found it in the editorial copy of this issue. It is said that the best things in life are often right in front of us. We only need to open our eyes.
In this issue, writer Matthew Morrison files a finely written family story on the Kevin and Lisa Brennan family and their three young daughters. Morrison introduces us to Grace, their youngest child. She is a second grader attending Newport Heights Elementary School. Grace was born with Down syndrome. The story is a must read. I will not give too much away. However, I will borrow one line quoted from dad Kevin Brennan.
“We do not ask why us, we ask why not us?” he says. If those words do not inspire, nothing will. What is more precious in the human experience than the love of a child, the importance of the family? Clearly, this axiom is at the core of values held sacred by citizens of this community. Protecting our kids, providing for their best journey, passing on traditions of love and respect, courage, fortitude, fair-play, and living with an open heart and open mind in order to thrive in a complicated world, matters so much.
The Bay Window May issue pays homage to the spirit of life affirmation embodied by the Brennan family. In this issue, we salute our long-valued career valet staff in a feature story by style columnist Carole Pickup. The 75th Anniversary feature finds its focus in the legacy of the 1221 Balboa Bay Club Scholarship Awards presented each May in the Balboa Bay Resort ballroom. The Men’s Spring Classic and the Ladies’ Guest Day take center stage at Newport Beach Country Club. Respected columnist Dr. Michael Brandt-Zawadzki clarifies misconceptions relating to heart health, designer Barclay Butera on current home fashion and food and dining columnist Lana Sills makes Mother’s Day a special event with plenty of culinary inspiration.
We are all about inspiration in May. Kiss your mom. May is for Mothers! Smile,
Respectfully,
Bruce Editor
Heartfelt Support For Children
CHILDHELP ORANGE COUNTY PRODUCES ITS ANNUAL SEASONAL FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON WITH SOUTH COAST PLAZA IN THE GRAND BALLROOM OF THE BALBOA BAY RESORT
Childhelp member Katherine Meredith and Co Chair Pam Pharris
Kristin James, Linda Gattis, Kimberly Chavez
Heydie Frazee, Platinum Donor Donna Clark and Karen Thagard
Laura Smith and Ellen Hanson Walker
Platinum Donor Janet Ronnenberg
Patti Edwards, Caitlin and John Stamos
Vonda Manley, Heather Denton, Tracy Morse and Star Dust Donor Jacquie Casey
Gina Van Ocker, Patti Edwards, Pam Pharris, Patricia Ford and Stephanie Rogers Dir. of Community Relations
Second Chances
NEW DIRECTIONS FOR WOMEN (NDFW), A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT HOME FOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN RECOVERING FROM ISSUES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HOLDS AN OPEN HOUSE AND BREAKFAST CONFAB WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO WITNESS ITS TRANSFORMATIVE MISSION.
Heather Fisher, Jennifer Ramsden
Beth Wright, Heather Black-Coyne
Madalyn Johnson, Sole Contreras
Betty Batenburg, Grant McNiff, Beth Wright
Kristen Smith, Dotty Dozal, Katie Ronquillo, Carolyn Fisch
Brooke Cianciotta, Kim Hurd, Lexi Larison, Beth Wright, Renee Nedelman
Sarah Chasteen, Sasha Antoun, Madalyn Johnson, Michelle Ruben, Amy Prout
World-Class Ballet At The Center
THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE’S “LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE” THRILLS LOCAL AUDIENCES
From entrancing costumes to sets that transformed before your eyes, the North American premiere of American Ballet Theatre’s Like Water for Chocolate was a mesmerizing production unlike any other at Segerstrom Center for the Arts this past month. This stunning, new threeact ballet by award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon received its World Premiere at London’s Royal Ballet in 2022 and thrilled Center audiences with its richly-layered story from March 29–April 2.
Based off of the internationally acclaimed novel by Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate tells the story of Tita, a young woman who falls in love with her neighbor, Pedro. When Tita is prevented from marrying due to her sense of duty and family tradition, her only form of expression comes through cooking, which leads to incendiary, forbidden affairs. The plot line infuses many elements of magic, and with this brilliant staging in its North American premiere, aspects of Esquivel’s sensational story seemed to leap off the page and onto the Segerstrom Hall
stage to captivate audiences.
On opening night, Segerstrom Center welcomed an array of cultural VIPs, celebrities, and ABT dancers to walk the red carpet and talk to press. Among the guests were Alfonso Arau who directed the 1992 movie adaptation of Esquivel’s novel and Yareli Arizmendi who played Rosaura in the film.
Like Water for Chocolate was met with overwhelming praise and will be at the forefront of ABT’s upcoming summer season at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Catherine Hurlin (Gertrudis) in Like Water for Chocolate.
Cassandra Trenary (Tita) and Herman Cornejo (Pedro) in Like Water for Chocolate.
Cassandra Trenary (Tita) and Herman Cornejo (Pedro) in Like Water for Chocolate.
Christine Shevchenko (Mama Elena) in Like Water for Chocolate.
Rock The Segerstrom Center!
SIX AND TINA-THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL COMING TO COSTA MESA
Get ready for the six queens and the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll as they light up the stage this summer with SIX and TINA –
The Tina Turner Musical! This June and July at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, two awardwinning Broadway hits take the stage with thrilling music that you’re sure to love!
SIX remixes the history of 16th century royal heartbreak in an all-out concert experience with bright lights, dazzling music and more!
Telling the story of Henry VIII’s wives, SIX is the global sensation that everyone is losing
their head over, with fans around the world praising the Tony Award-winning show for its euphoric celebration of 21st century girl power. With an all-female cast and band, SIX brings women’s narratives to the forefront of history with a modern lens that The New York Times says, “totally rules!” This show is modern Broadway royalty and will be playing inside Segerstrom Hall from June 13–25!
After a successful Broadway run that secured 12 Tony nominations, TINA–The Tina Turner Musical is hitting the road to bring the music of a beloved star to Orange County audiences
from July 11–23! Relive her rise to fame and watch Tina Turner’s triumphant story unfold as you dance along to hits like “Proud Mary,” “The Best” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” Featuring acclaimed performances and an inspiring story, TINA is the daring jukebox musical that packs all of this iconic superstar’s best hits into a phenomenal show and delivers a high energy tribute unlike any other.
As you’re making plans for the summer months, be sure to secure tickets to see SIX and TINA at Segerstrom Center for the Arts! For information on tickets, visit scfta.org.
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Ikettes in TINA - Photo by Manuel Harlan
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe & The Cast of TINA in TINA - Photo by Manuel Harlan The North American SIX Aragon Tour - Photo by Joan Marcus
Khaila Wilcoxon as Catherine of Aragon (center) in The North American SIX Aragon Tour - Photo by Joan Marcus
Ending Human Trafficking
DR. SANDRA MORGAN FROM VANGUARD UNIVERSITY ADDRESSES HER AUDIENCE AT BALBOA ISLAND MUSEUM BOOK SIGNING EVENT
Renee Pepys, Bruce Cook, Laurie Easton
Maureen Lenihan, Linda Levshin
Erin Moloney, Kim McKay
Christina McClellan, Lisa Houssels
Diane Mondino, Tiffany Pepys, Shirley Pepys
Sandra Morgan, Jan Landstrom
Sandra Morgan speaking to the crowd
Denise Schüler, Keith and Pam Curry, Sandra Morgan
Just Sold | $5,850,000
Interested in the Newport Beach market? Look no further than this property. In escrow with multiple offers within the first week and sold over the asking price.
Annie Clougherty
Elevating Artistic Consciousness
PATRONESS OF THE ARTS ELIZABETH SEGERSTROM HOSTS THE WEST EASTERN DIVAN ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE AT A VERY SPECIAL AND EMOTIONAL CONCERT IN THE SAMUELI THEATRE AT SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
Miriam Manasherov, Sindy Mohamed, and Astrig Siranossian enjoying the after party at Mastro’s Steakhouse
Elizabeth Segerstrom and Michael Barenboim enjoying the after party at Mastro’s Steakhouse
Michelle Rohè, Tabaré Perlas, Elizabeth Segerstrom, and Charlie Zheng
Adrian Blake Mitchell, Andrea Laššáková, and Tommy Phillips
Gloria Brandes, James Darrah, and Tyler Ennis
Elizabeth Segerstrom with Jane Fujishige Yada
Guests in Samueli Theatre at Segerstrom Center for the Arts await the West Eastern Divan Ensemble
Elizabeth Segerstrom with John Forsyte
Dining In The Dark
THE SIGHTED COMMUNITY GATHERS WEARING BLINDFOLDS DINING WITH THE BLIND RAISING RESEARCH FUNDS, AWARENESS AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WITHOUT THE BLESSING OF SIGHT.
Current Beyond Blindness student Riyalynn Fuentes enjoyed attending with her mom Candyce Fuentes
Board members Laura and John Sorich with Sunrinda Mann
Michael Kramer, President and Director of the Kirchgessner Vision Foundation accepts Beyond Blindness’ Vision Award
Beyond Blindness alumna Lily Gabora performs at the Vision Beyond Sight Gala
Lily Gabora, Tom Sullivan and Kris Gabora
Beyond Blindness alumnae Kendal and Nikki Lyssy delivering an inspirational keynote presentation at the Vision Beyond Sight Gala
Evan and Julia Williams, with Kendal, Stacy, Nikki, Sophie and Mike Lyssy
Guests at Beyond Blindness’ Vision Beyond Sight Gala enjoy a unique blindfolded dining experience
Easter Elegance
AN EXQUISITE EASTER SUNDAY BRUNCH WELCOMES HOLIDAY GUESTS IN THE MAIN BALLROOM OF THE RESORT
Morgan Family
Halsey Family
Vanheil Family
Matte Family Longo Family
Raveena Family
Hulley Family
Dapra Family
Living With Grace
THE YOUNGEST OF THE BRENNAN DAUGHTERS, SECOND GRADER GRACE, NAMED WORLD AMBASSADOR 2023 FOR THE GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION
BY MATT MORRISON / PHOTOS BY CHASING POPPIES PHOTOGRAPHY
As ordinary as the young girl seems – a happy eight year old sitting in the comfortable living room chair, interacting with her tablet device while munching on ‘Nilla Wafers – there’s much more to Grace Brennan than meets the eye.
The youngest of Kevin and Lisa Brennan’s three daughters, a second grader at Newport Heights Elementary, Grace is typically content in her own little world. Now, whether she knows it or not, the littlest sister is becoming a big deal. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation has named Grace Brennan its World Ambassador for 2023.
Essentially, she’s this year’s poster child for the world’s largest fundraising, research and lobbying arm for the cause. Her parents and older sisters Audrey, 13, and Ava, 11, couldn’t be more proud.
“They get along great,” Lisa says collectively of her daughters. “They just love Grace. Love, love, love. And all their friends love her, too.”
Grace was born with Down syndrome around the time the Brennan Family became members at the Balboa Bay Club in 2015. It was not a surprise, as Lisa was informed early in her pregnancy that her baby carried the marker. Though listed as a ‘genetic disorder,’ Down’s is not an inherited condition; rather, a random extra chromosome attachment causes babies to be born with lifelong physical and intellectual development issues on a spectrum of severity. Her condition at birth was not a surprise, and neither was it bewildering to her parents.
“Both Lisa and I came from families with siblings that had disabilities, so it was never a question,” begins Kevin, before Lisa finishes his sentence, “…of why us? Well, why not us?”
Kevin grew up among a big family of eight kids just behind his middle sister MaryShannon, who was born with Down syndrome in 1968. She developed as the inspirational focal point of the family; fun, funny, active, and imbued with the extra capacity for joy unique among people in the Down’s population.
“It’s true,” Kevin confirms, “they’re the happiest individuals in the world.”
That element inspired the Brennan family with a sense of commitment. Sadly, MaryShannon passed away in 2003, a young woman in her early 30s. Still, her family remains devoted to the cause of those affected by Down syndrome. In some respects, you could say Grace Brennan was born to be a World Ambassador.
Kevin’s two younger sisters, Alison Brennan and Cara George, founded a non-profit in Colorado to help people with Down syndrome adjust into adulthood. When their sister was born, the life expectancy of a baby born with the condition was barely 20 years. Now it’s over 60 years.
“Back in the day they used to institutionalize kids. I just think it was the lack of love and caring,” Kevin says, noting his own daughter is
benefitting from tough lessons learned through previous generations. “She’s in a mainstream second grade class at school, she has a community, she’s involved with the family and I think that has a lot to do with it.”
“She’s generally good natured. Grace loves to dance. She loves to play with her sisters, and snuggle and giggle and laugh,” Lisa notes, though the behavioral challenges of raising a child with Down syndrome are ever present. “She can also be stubborn. She can be a little destructive if she’s bored or isn’t getting attention. So we gotta keep her occupied, that’s where the iPad comes in.”
When Grace was born, both aunts Alison and Cara knew she was destined to be the Global Ambassador. Their non-profit was absorbed by the Global Foundation headquartered in Denver, so yeah, Grace has an ‘in.’ The GDSF raises awareness and important funding for family assistance, research, and legislative action to benefit the Down syndrome community.
As 2023 Global Ambassador, Grace will be featured in the organization’s quarterly magazine, take part in promotional videos, and serve as belle of the ball at the annual Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Fashion Show, annually the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world. Star power behind the effort includes actors Jamie Foxx, John C. McGinley, and Eric Dane along with music icon Quincy Jones.
“I never thought she would be the one that would have us mixing & mingling with
celebrities and being highlighted in magazines,” Lisa quips. The big night is November 18th in the Mile High City and there’s no use in getting nervous about it.
“Grace has no idea,” Lisa says. “I don’t know how she’s gonna react out on the fashion runway in front of all those people. But the folks on stage know how to inspire all the models to have a good time with it. We’ll just see how this little one performs.”
For more information on the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and the 2023 Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Fashion Show, visit GlobalDownSyndrome.org.
Uncomplicated Luxury Redefined
Studios at the Balboa Bay Club Residences offer unparalleled amenities in perfectly designed space
Handsomely upgraded and remodeled studio apartments of approximately 750 sq. feet featuring counter dining, large open living-entertainment area as well as bedroom space accommodating multiple sleeping options—all facing a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass opening to a generous patio, extending the living space outside with some offering lovely vistas of the Newport Bay.
Rarely available, these unique homes are ideal full or part time residences and include the exceptional lifestyle offered at world-renowned Balboa Bay Club. Are you looking to escape the heat? If so, the studios are an ideal option. Full security, with gate guarded parking, private waterfront pool, available maid service, in-room dining, laundry service and more at resident’s request.
To learn more about the lifestyle afforded residents at Balboa Bay Club and to inquire about available studio apartments, please contact Leasing Director Laura Bryan at 949-630-4379.
INSIDE THE RARIFIED WORLD OF NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB
Robin Shelton
CCM, PGA Master
Professional General Manager
Newport
Beach Country Club
Dear NBCC Members,
I recently completed a two-year term as the president of the Southern California section of the Professional Golfers Association. The PGA of America is the largest working sports organization in the world, and it was both an honor and a blast to lead golf professionals throughout Southern California for the past two years.
During this time, many of my beliefs about golf, people and hospitality have been reaffirmed. I truly believe that golf is the greatest force for good in the world.
As I reflected on my two years, a thought came to my head: In golf, it is very common for a stranger to join a threesome. It is very common for a solo golfer to ask, “May I join you?” to a group. It is equally common for two twosomes who don’t know each other to join together to form a foursome. But never in a restaurant would a person go up to a table of strangers and ask, “May I join you?”
For those of us who are golfers, we know golf is a game that knows no age limits. It is a game that anyone can compete in through the USGA handicap system. We know there is no one to blame but ourselves for our shortcomings and failures, and successes can be achieved and shared with others. There is an incredible opportunity for human connection in between shots and play of the hole. The conquest for improvement, socialization and shared competition with no age or gender restriction creates a vehicle where relationships are enhanced and lives are enriched through shared personal experiences.
I love tennis. I love the athletic challenge, the exercise and calories burned. As a force for good, it does not match golf. I can’t play tennis with someone twice my age. I can’t play tennis with someone at an entirely different skill level. There’s no opportunity to converse between shots. There’s no opportunity to try and create an equal playing field. And every tennis court that I’ve played has the same physical space and dimensions. On the other hand, every golf course is different, with new challenges, new obstacles, new scenery, new backdrops, new flora and fauna.
Golf has a way of bringing people together, whether it’s for charity, for health, for social opportunities, for competitive activity or for business networking. There are a number of philanthropic causes that would not have the financial support they have today if it wasn’t for charity golf tournaments. Families would not be as strong without the connection and time spent together on a golf course.
Golf is a place where people from different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different ages and different professions, with different skills, different viewpoints and different perspectives can come together and enjoy their time. Where else can all of this happen? Definitely not around a restaurant table.
All the best, Robin
Shelton
May Calendar
GRILLE
Danielle Sayer Director of Membership
Happy Mother’s Day, members!
Spring is in full swing at Newport Beach Country Club and May is blooming with an exciting spectrum of events to fill your social calendar.
Fresh flowers, chilled bubbly plus an array of healthy and decadent culinary delights are all part of our sumptuous Mother’s Day Sunday brunch on May 14. Contact the Seahorse Grille for current availability. We look forward to seeing you and your family there.
Please help me welcome our newest members to the NBCC family:
THE FOROOTAN FAMILY
Milaad Forootan is a real estate broker and personal injury attorney while Shirin Forootan is an employment law attorney. They are long-time residents of Newport Beach where they live with their fourth-grade son, Jason. When not spending time with family, Milaad is a car and motorcycle enthusiast and Shirin devotes a substantial amount of time volunteering for the legal community. The Forootans look forward to meeting other families at the club.
THE MCCAULEY FAMILY
Sean is the president of The McCauley Co., a surety bond and insurance agency headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices in nearby Dana Point as well as Denver, Colorado. Courtney is a retired NICU nurse and mother of five kids: Tripp, 7; Gramercy Ann, 5; Waverly Lynn, 2; Winnie Lane, 1; and Hampton Penn, 2 months old. The McCauleys live in Dallas, Texas.
ROGER & MOLLY BEANE
Roger and Molly Beane are excited to become a part of the NBCC family. Married for 33 years, they raised their family in Orange County and are thankful their adult children, their spouses and three grandchildren live close by. Now semi-retired, they enjoy time spent with family and friends as well as golf and travel. Roger and Molly look forward to experiencing the NBCC community.
BRIAN & DANIELE GREEN
Brian is a senior director at Alcon where he leads global operations and service support. Daniele is a comprehensive cosmetic dentist and the owner of Coastal Smiles Newport Beach. The Greens reside in Newport Coast and are looking forward to meeting new friends at NBCC.
KEVIN JAFFE & SHELBY LIEFKE
Kevin is senior vice president of sales for Behr Paint Company and Shelby has retired from a successful sales career in the food industry. The couple enjoys traveling to tropical destinations, outdoor activities, being out on the water and cheering for their favorite sports teams. They reside in Newport Beach along with their two dogs, Murphy and Jagger.
Spring Fling
WITH AN EGG HUNT, A SKYDIVING EASTER BUNNY AND MORE, THE EASTER CELEBRATION AT NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB OFFERED PLENTY OF FUN IN THE SUN THIS APRIL.
Kate Horgan, Charlotte Horgan, Kristen Horgan, Claire Horgan
The Flescher family
Ford Duplex, Grayson Duplex
Easter egg hunt
The Luesebrink family
Harriet Goodmon, Sosie Goodmon
Max Wilson Hayden, Ava Wilson Hayden, Zoe Wilson Hayden
The Boatwright family
Giorgia Stremick, Gianna Stremick, Nicholas Stremick Coulter Stewart, Shari Stewart
The McConnell family
Easter Sunday
The Dopita family Hunting for eggs
Skydiving Easter Bunny
Petting zoo
Down Low
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB’S DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION CARLO BORUNDA DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF USING YOUR LOWER BODY IN YOUR GOLF SWING.
BY ASHLEY RYAN
When it comes to swinging a golf club, it may seem like the bigger the arm muscles, the further you can hit. But that’s not necessarily true. Everything from your legs and hips to your posture can affect how you hit the ball.
According to Carlo Borunda, the director of instruction at Newport Beach Country Club, the lower body can have a strong impact on not only your golf swing, but your game in general. “A successful golf swing is largely a product of your lower body,” he notes. “The proper use of your lower body affects your contact, consistency and power. Every golfer can benefit from learning to use their lower body more effectively.”
Here, Borunda reveals how your game can improve when you learn how to use your lower body effectively.
BAY WINDOW: How can using your lower body to swing impact your overall game?
CARLO BORUNDA: Your legs and hips are essential tools in generating a more powerful golf swing. The world’s best golfers on the PGA and LPGA Tours are the best examples of how to use your lower body to produce remarkable power.
BW: How can you use your legs to give yourself more power?
CB: A golfer’s ability to transfer weight during
the golf swing is enhanced by effective leg action. In a full swing, your legs function like pistons in an engine, raising, lowering, then raising the body again. When combined with your upper body, this movement is a tremendously potent source of energy for the golf swing.
BW: How can posture play a role in your swing when using your lower body?
CB: Your ability to make consistent contact with the golf ball is heavily influenced by how you set up your stance. It’s critical to maintain appropriate balance, with your legs engaged regardless of the swing you’re about to make.
Left: Use this exercise to activate your hip rotation while keeping your upper body stable. Right: Whatsthatstrap’s 3D Strap creates resistance as you work to strengthen your core and stimulate your lower body.
Use two alignment sticks to help you improve your hip rotation and forward weight transfer at impact.
BW: Where do you want to shift your weight as you move through your swing?
CB: Begin each full swing by addressing the golf ball with roughly 60% of your weight favoring your lead foot (left foot for a righthanded golfer). This allows you to produce power early in your golf swing. As you complete your backswing, you should shift up to 80% of your weight to your right leg. Play with this percentage until you achieve a sense of balance and coordination. The more powerful golfers begin shifting weight back to their left foot before completing the backswing. This action increases club head speed by drawing energy from their upper body through impact.
BW: Where should your hips be pointing as you swing?
CB: Many golfers mistakenly slide their hips too far forward during their downswing. As a result, there is a loss of balance and inconsistent contact with the golf ball. The tour professionals shift their hips toward their target four inches on average. They excel at rotating their pelvis open to the point where their hips swivel to face their target while maintaining their posture through impact. They reach this position in rhythm with their upper body rotation, which is a major reason their contact is so exceptional.
BW: How can all of these techniques impact your swing speed?
CB: Your ability to produce additional club head speed is significantly influenced by your lower body movement. More power can be produced the quicker your legs and hips are activated through impact.
BW: Why is it important to build up the muscles in your lower body in order to utilize this technique?
CB: Your balance at impact is one of the most important things to establish when making a golf swing. Making solid contact with the golf ball requires training your lower body to move independently of your upper body. … Your effort to generate power will be in vain if your contact suffers. The stronger your legs are, the more opportunity you will have to shift your hips quickly through impact.
BW: What types of exercises can help you effectively build these muscles?
CB: In my program, I use the Whatsthatstrap to provide resistance as I practice shifting and rotating my hips properly. I also like to use my GolfForever [swing] training tool to strengthen my core. Exercises that strengthen your glutes and leg muscles are essential to your exercise program. The ability to increase the speed of your golf swing will also be significantly
impacted by improving your stamina, which includes exercises that develop speed in your legs. Remember to work on improving your hip and ankle flexibility and mobility to prevent injury.
BW: Are there any drills you can try on your own to practice using your lower body effectively in your swing?
CB: A popular drill to visually see how much rotation you can establish at impact is to place an alignment stick through your belt loops while practicing. In a different session, you can improve the amount of forward shift you have as you reach impact by placing an alignment stick in the ground a few inches outside your lead hip. The stick will act as a barrier in case you struggle with excessive hip sway. Another good warm-up exercise is to extend your arms in front of you and place your hands on a golf club that is vertical. Rehearse rotating your pelvis while keeping your upper body stationary.
BW: Anything else to add?
CB: For most golfers, increasing club head speed through lower body movement will always be a valuable skill. The best golfers also understand that lower body strength is critical to finishing your round with the same intensity as you started.
Making Melodies
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER TO SING THE HITS DURING KARAOKE NIGHT.
Lauren and Kory Kramer
Janis and David Murray
Jamie and Mark McConnell
Karaoke Night fun
Fun night with friends
Nader and Julie Salib
Karaoke Night
A Family Affair
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERS PAUL AND CAMERON JONES, ALONG WITH THE HELP OF THEIR CHILDREN EVERETT AND MILLIE, SHARE THEIR FAVORITE VACATIONS, WHAT THEY ENJOY MOST ABOUT THE CLUB AND MORE.
Every so often, the editors of Bay Window send out a questionnaire to one of the esteemed members or employees of an International Bay Clubs property to gain some insight into his or her life. These nine questions allow our readers to learn something new about old friends, or discover somebody they have not met before. For this issue, we’re getting to know Newport Beach Country Club members Paul and Cameron Jones along with their children, Everett and Millie.
BAY WINDOW: How long have you been members at Newport Beach Country Club?
PAUL AND CAMERON JONES: We joined as social members in the summer of 2017 after the renovation was complete. In January of 2020, we converted to full membership, [which] turned out to be good timing with the pandemic.
BW: Tell us about your family.
P&CJ: We have two kids. Everett is 8 and Millie is 6. Everett is in second grade and loves to play and watch sports. Millie is in kindergarten and enjoys arts & crafts, spending time with her friends and dance class. We also have two Cavalier King Charles puppies named Woody and Fletch.
BW: What’s the best thing about NBCC?
PJ: The great memories it has provided our family—golf, Operation 36, swim team, kid’s movie nights and Sunday dinners. The staff is always so nice and all work very hard to make it an enjoyable experience. We have also made some great friends and enjoy meeting new families.
CJ: The entertainment it provides for the whole family, including free time for the adults.
EVERETT JONES: Playing golf.
MILLIE JONES: The snacks.
BW: What is your favorite trip or activity that you’ve done as a family?
PJ: Sun Valley[, Idaho,] in the summer would be my favorite family trip. I also really enjoy playing golf as a family.
CJ: Sun Valley in the summer.
EJ: My favorite trip was going to San Francisco to see Tom Brady and the Buccaneers play the San Francisco 49ers.
MJ: My favorite trip is Alisal Ranch [in Solvang].
BW: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
PJ: Bald eagle.
CJ: Our dogs.
EJ: Cheetah.
MJ: Horse.
BW: What’s your favorite meal?
PJ: P.F. Chang’s Mongolian beef—no scallions—with white rice.
CJ: Thanksgiving dinner.
EJ: Steak salad from the club.
MJ: Pasta.
BW: What do you want to be when you grow up?
EJ: Professional golfer.
MJ: Doctor.
On the Course
MEMBERS AT NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB COMPETED FOR TOP HONORS IN THE MEN’S SPRING CLASSIC.
Tyler Terry, Dan Grable, Brian Thomas, Tom Chadwell
George Eadington, Jim Glidewell, a caddie, Kurt Werner, Mick Manzi
James Mathisrud, Jeff Bush, Jeff Bower, Andrew Moore
Rick Weiner, Gregg Hemphill, Kevin Martin, Todd Pickup
Overall Champions - Brian Hull, Tayt Ianni
Overall Gross Champions Gregg Hemphill, Todd PIckup
For the Ladies
SOME OF NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB’S BEST FEMALE GOLFERS PARTNERED UP WITH FRIENDS FOR THE LADIES’ GUEST DAY TOURNAMENT.
Overall Gross Champions - Mel Murray, Diana Aperlo, Linda Kogod, Denise Wintrode
Sue Werner, Jeanine Veldhuis, Liz Van Linge, Mary Burns
Recreation Refresh
WITH A NEW MAKEOVER, ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND UPGRADED CLASSES, THE NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB FITNESS CENTER HAS BECOME AN EXERCISE OASIS FOR ANY AND ALL SKILL LEVELS.
BY ASHLEY RYAN
It’s been two years since Bianca Gillett, director of fitness and recreation, started at Newport Beach Country Club, and from the moment she arrived, she knew she wanted to upgrade the clubhouse’s Fitness Center.
“I remember walking into the Fitness Center even when I was interviewing and thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, this flooring has no support at all,’ ” she recalls. “… It wasn’t the club’s fault, it’s just that technology has changed so much in the last six or seven years.”
The new shock- and noise-absorbent floors are just one of the new additions that were recently added to the Fitness Center. The project, which was unveiled in March, has been a long time coming, with pandemicrelated delays slowing the process.
Gillett, along with General Manager Robin Shelton and club ownership, started planning the remodel in fall of 2021, finalizing their plans in spring of 2022. But it wasn’t until a year later that they were able to put their plan into action, thanks to shipping issues spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic and current
financial climate. “God taught me a lot of patience with this project,” Gillett jokes.
The actually build took around two weeks, which Gillett says was an accomplishment for everyone involved. They took down the full wall in the group instructor room and opted for an accordion-style folding door instead, which she notes opened up the space beautifully. “It looks like there is so much more space when we didn’t actually create any extra space,” she explains.
In addition, the gym has gained new and updated equipment for members to utilize.
“It was a remodel more than complete new gym project, so all of the equipment that we had got replaced with the latest, greatest models,” Gillett explains.
Some of the new pieces are a half squat rack, which allows weight lifters to do more functional, complex movements, as well as a ski machine and a curved treadmill for cardio work. Other additions include a power plate, a stretching modality that vibrates to allow for deeper extensions, along with posterior and anterior stretching machines, an improved medicine ball, a turf and a body sculpt machine that measures metrics such as body fat percentage, lean mass and more.
Overall, the response has been positive, though Gillett says some are unhappy that the cardio machines were moved to the front of the gym, as many lost their window views. But the new machines feature consoles that allow exercisers to watch local channels, stream Netflix or take a virtual walk/run through beach or forest landscapes. Plus, all of the upgraded cardio machines now feature on-demand workouts that are tailored to the user’s skill level.
Fitness classes and personal training have both been enhanced within this new space as well, with additional sessions and new staff members being added. Some new classes include a strength performance class aimed at golfers, circuit conditioning and strength resistance as well as a youth strength class for girls.
Her main goal with the remodel was to ensure that everyone can find everything they need for their training right here at NBCC. “I took a lot of time and thought to make sure that when you walk into the Fitness Center— no matter what type of fitness person you are—you will have the option [to use the type of equipment that you prefer],” Gillett says. “Now, it’s more of a fully equipped gym that has everything you would need.”
Eyes Open
LEARN HOW SIGHT CAN PLAY A ROLE WHEN BLIND TASTING WINES.
BY ANDREW CICHON
For the next few months, I would like to take you on a journey through what I consider to be the most exciting aspect of wine: blind tasting.
Despite popular belief, there are no blindfolds or dark rooms—just six glasses placed in front of you whose appearances alone can help you decipher what it is and where it came from. One of the most overlooked indicators of observing a wine is sight itself. We often pull a cork or pop a bottle to immediately become entranced by the aromas and tastes of what enters the glass. Rarely do we take the time to identify what it is by beholding the beauty of what goes into the glass.
To truly appreciate a wine, it is best to go through a checklist of obser-
vations so that, when you are deducing what it is, you can jog memories of what you’ve had in the past. Next, we will discuss clarity, concentration, color, secondary color, rim variation and tearing, all used in order to make initial conclusions of which wine is in front of us.
Clarity is the keynote for identifying age, faults and styles. When looking at this, do not swirl the wine. Gently lower the glass until the rim reaches a white backdrop like a napkin or piece of paper. With white wine, we are typically looking to see that it is clear enough to see through as well as reflecting the overhead light. Haziness could be signs of the unfiltered approach to winemaking, which allows the natural yeast and sediment to remain in-bottle instead of fining and filtering
before bottling for a cleaner look. When the liquid is a turbid, cloudy yellow with thick suspended matter, it could possibly be flawed from bad storage or bacteria in the bottle. With red wine, we are still looking to see through the liquid with light reflection. The best indicator we can find is sediment, which can tell us that the wine has age to it.
Concentration, or opacity, is one of the best tools for defining a wine. When it comes to deductive tasting, a pale, medium or deep concentration of the wine tells us if it is a thin-skin or thick-skin grape. One of the best examples of this is pinot noir, which you can always read your watch through, next to a cabernet sauvignon that you can’t see through. This practice is even apparent in white wines when comparing sauvignon blanc, which is almost watery, to chardonnay, which features a yellow or golden tinge.
After we determine clarity and concentration of the wine, we finally start to talk about its primary and secondary colors. Gently roll your glass forward until the liquid starts to touch the rim over a white background. Now we have
centration of color, you can start identifying the type right away.
Still holding your glass over a white backdrop, now is the time to identify age through rim variation. This process entails observing the wine from the center of the tongue to the rim of the glass looking for dulling and changes in color along the way. It should appear like rings in a tree telling you the history of the wine. With a lack of a change in color saturation, it reveals that the wine is less than three years old. Varying colors with minimal dulling points to a wine that is roughly five to seven years of age. If a wine completely transforms, with the center primary color shrinking to a dime size and various changes and dulling occurring, you can anticipate it being over 10 years old.
Now, we finally lift our glass upright and swirl. As we swirl in air, we want to observe the staining of the glass for red wines. Here, we reconfirm thin- versus thick-skinned grapes based on the amount of pigment left in the glass when we stop. Heavy staining versus light staining can also identify an age as pigment falls over time.
After we determine clarity and concentration of the wine, we finally start to talk about its primary and secondary colors.
created what we call the tongue.
White wines are put in the color categories of watery, white, straw, yellow or gold in the center of the tongue. From there, we look for the secondary color at the tip of the tongue, consisting of silver, green or copper. As a simple practice, thin-skin grapes like albariño, riesling or sauvignon blanc have a watery or straw color and a silver or green edge because of youth and lack of barrel aging. Thick-skinned grapes like chardonnay, marsanne and roussanne tend to be more yellow or gold in color with copper hues, because they are often aged in oak barrels. Red wines, on the other hand, are classified in the colors of purple, ruby, red and garnet in the center of the tongue with varying degrees. Secondary colors range from orange, blue and brown to ruby and garnet. We use the primary colors to hone in a specific grape and the secondary colors to reconfirm our choice as well as begin to consider the age and area it came from. When the color garnet is both the primary and secondary color, it almost exclusively pertains to an Italian varietal like nebbiolo or sangiovese while a natural purple color typically comes from either syrah or malbec. Based on the con-
For instance, a three-year-old Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon will almost paint a glass purple or black while a 15-year-old cabernet from the same producer will have lesser effect, with more brown residuals left behind.
Lastly, after swirling, allow the tearing in the glass to occur by letting the glass sit perfectly still. This glycerol residual is strictly an identifier of residual sugar and possible alcohol content. The longer the legs take to run down a glass of white wine, the higher the sweetness levels in the varietal. With red wine streaks that roll down the glass like molasses, it tends to indicate higher alcohol levels because of higher sugar content (which is used to create alcohol). The legs themselves are no indicator of quality, however.
Now that you’ve learned how to observe like a pro, try it. Get a group together, brown bag wines and pour them side-by-side so you can start identifying the differences. Or, order two different wines that you know and see how they vary. Work on precision and accuracy right away, never second-guessing your decisions. You might surprise yourself on how much you now know on blind tasting.
When tasting wine blindly, there are a few things to consider, including clarity, concentration, color, rim variation and tearing. Your observations in all of these categories can provide clues to help you determine which type of wine you are enjoying.
Under Lock
AT NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB, TOMMY OLSON HELPS OUT IN THE MEN’S LOCKER ROOM.
BY ASHLEY RYAN
Inside the men’s locker room at Newport Beach Country Club, the atmosphere is much like that of the club in general—casual luxury. This is due, in large part, to the locker room attendants who work hard to provide excellent service for members day in and day out.
It’s been roughly nine months since Tommy Olson stepped into this position, having started at the end of last summer. “I
wanted to work somewhere [where] I can be close to my family and home,” he says of why he initially applied. “It doesn’t hurt that I can play the course on select dates.”
Aside from amping up his golf game with his new job at NBCC, Olson says that he really enjoys helping the members and their guests out when they need him as well as working with some great people in the locker room. On the opening shift at 6 a.m. Tuesday
through Saturday, Olson is one of the first faces golfers see when they arrive at the club and that puts him in a wonderful position to set the course of their day.
“[I love those] interactions with members and coworkers—everyone there is happy to be a part of something limited,” he says, noting the exclusivity of NBCC’s golf membership.
His everyday tasks include greeting members, giving tours of the locker room and men’s grill, cleaning and repairing shoes, tidying up the sinks and showers and ensuring smooth operations throughout his shift. When a tournament is taking place, Olson also encourages golfers to take advantage of the snacks, smoothies and recovery items available for the athletes.
Before making his way to the club, Olson spent a considerable amount of time with Starbucks, working there for six years. He also became a general manager for a cannabis company in Santa Ana called From the Earth, working his way up over a three-year stint. Following his time there, he helped Eaze, another cannabis company, launch its Orange County location and set up delivery service throughout the area. “We were able to make 250 to 300 deliveries a day with about 60 people in the workforce,” he recalls.
When he’s not at NBCC assisting members, Olson can be found spending time with his wife Hayley and their two cats, Alice and Pumba. The couple hopes to buy a house sometime in the near future.
Olson is also an avid sports fan, ready and willing to attend any game or sporting event that he is able to. “Golf and soccer are the two sports I still play regularly [though],” he adds.
Despite the enjoyment he finds working at NBCC, Olson says his dream job would be something that lets him travel more freely. “Scouting for any sport would be at the top of the list,” he says.
Tommy Olson
THE HOST OF THE COAST IN NEWPORT BEACH SINCE 1948
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Bill Blaine, Michelle Barto, Bruce Cook, Cory Cosenza, Mike Granja, Noel Hamilton, Wayne Harvey, R.J. King, Kory Kramer, Mark Larson, Kevin Martin, Joe Moody, James Papazis, Richard H. Pickup, Todd Pickup, Jane Rivera, Ryan Tomalas, John Wortmann, Jack Wright, Dr. Daniel Yanni
HONORARY GOVERNORS
Douglas K. Ammerman, David Banta, Richard Bertea, Robert C. Clay, James Doti, Robert W. Howard, Michael Nevell, Michael D. Stephens, Herbert Sutton, Catherine Thyen, Ethan Wayne, David C. Wooten
HONORARY GOVERNORS DECEASED
William C. Adams, Harold Ayres, Harry Axene, Joey Bishop, Guy Claire, Nick Doolin, Arden Flamson, George Gaudin, Senator Barry Goldwater, Dr. Frederick Grazer, Robert Guggenheim, Sam Gurley Jr., William Hadley, Richard Hausman, Gavin Herbert Sr., Clement Hirsch, Mary Lou Hornsby, Norman Kendall, John Killefer, Robert Lynch, Roger Miller, Richard Nabers, John J. McNaughton, R.J. Marshall, Arlis B. Parkhurst, Theodore Robins Jr., Jim Slemons, E. Morris Smith, W. Reed Sprinkel, John Wayne, Dorothy Yardley
Leticia Rice General Manager
Balboa Bay Club
Dear Members,
What a year it’s been so far! All the rain we received this winter and the gloomy start to spring may have kept the sun from shining as much as we’d like, but it’s going to take more than that to keep us from kicking off our best season at BBC! This month we have so much to celebrate starting with our Marina Tenant Appreciation party on Saturday, May 6th. We invite all our BBC Marina tenants to join us as we celebrate you and your love for boating! Be sure to make your reservation with our Dockmaster, Captain Troy Heidemann.
Calling all our BBC Superheroes, be sure to join us for Superhero Family Bingo night on Wednesday, May 10th. This popular night out will be a sellout so be sure to get your reservation early. Of course, we can’t forget to celebrate Mom! Club Executive Chef, Jacob Davis, and Resort Executive Chef, Prabeen Prathapan, have pulled out all the stops to help you celebrate Mom in style. Mother’s Day Brunch will be available in our Resort Ballroom as well as in Members Grill so whether you prefer an intimate brunch in Members Grill or a lavish outing in our Ballroom, we have you covered. Reservations for this May 14th celebration can be made by calling Members Grill at 949-630-4290 or calling the Resort at 949-630-4801.
To round out our events for the month we invite you to join us for a fun-filled Memorial “Day” Weekend beginning on Saturday, May 27th as we welcome back everyone’s favorite sno-cones, Kona Ice! Sunday will be a beach and pool fun day filled with all your grilled beach favorites and poolside music. On Monday, join us for a family fun day featuring face painting, balloon twisters, Chef’s BBQ favorites and much more. Don’t forget Memorial Day is a “members only” day, so please no guests.
Leticia
H HAPPY HOUR
3:00 – 6:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL H YOGA CLASS 9:00 – 9:45 AM MEMBERS LAWN
May Calendar
H CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL H BOOT CAMP CLASS 9:00 – 10:00 AM MEMBERS LAWN H KID’S CLUB 4:00 – 8:00 PM H CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H YOGA CLASS 9:00 – 9:45 AM MEMBERS LAWN H YOGA CLASS 9:00 – 9:45 AM MEMBERS LAWN H FIESTA TACO TUESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL H YOGA CLASS 9:00 – 9:45 AM MEMBERS LAWN H FIESTA TACO TUESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H PRIME RIB THURSDAY 5:00 – 8:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H BOOT CAMP CLASS 9:00 – 10:00 AM MEMBERS LAWN
H KID’S CLUB 4:00 – 8:00 PM
H LIVE MUSIC 6:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H BOOT CAMP CLASS 9:00 – 10:00 AM MEMBERS LAWN
H KID’S CLUB 4:00 – 8:00 PM
H PRIME RIB THURSDAY 5:00 – 8:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H KID’S CLUB 4:00 – 8:00 PM
H LIVE MUSIC 6:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H KID’S CLUB 4:00 – 8:00 PM
H LIVE MUSIC 6:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
H CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 9:00 PM MEMBERS GRILL
CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAY
5:00 – 9:00 PM
$30 half size charcuterie & cheese board & choice of two glasses or $60 full size charcuterie & cheese board & choice of bottle from the following:
WHITES
Allan Scott, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Emmolo, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Placido, Pinot Grigio, Italy
Sonoma-Cutrer, Chardonnay, Sonoma
Bello, Rosé, Napa Valley
Poema, Cava, Spain
REDS
Sea Sun, Pinot Noir, CA
Bodega Catena Zapata, Malbec, Argentina
Bonterra, Cabernet, CA
Newton Skyside, Cabernet, CA
Caymus Conundrum, Red Blend, CA
Earthquake, Zinfandel, Lodi
*WINE SELECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE GUEST WINE EXPERT POURING TABLE-SIDE AND LENDING THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WINE.
May
CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAYS
EVERY WEDNESDAY • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Come enjoy an all-new experience in the restaurant. Wednesday evenings we will feature select wines and a charcuterie special. A wine expert will be on hand to pour and educate members on wine selections. Small or large charcuterie and cheese boards available with either a choice of (2) glasses of wine, or a bottle of wine, from our special list of whites and reds. For more information, please contact Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
“MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!” SPECIAL THEME MOVIE NIGHT BUCKETS
THURSDAY, MAY 4 (AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP AT THE CLUB DESK BETWEEN 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
Gather your family for another fun movie night at home. Complete the experience with your very own pre-made Galaxy Theme Movie Night Bucket. Order your Family Movie Night Bucket today by calling the Club Desk at 949.630.4120. Supplies are limited. Movie Night Buckets are compliments of your Club. One bucket per family please.
PRIME RIB THURSDAYS
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Join us on Thursday nights this month for Chef Jacob’s Prime Rib Dinner. Enjoy a 12 oz. Slow Roasted Prime Rib, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Au Jus and Horseradish Crème, fresh Bread Rolls, finished with Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Caramel Bourbon Sauce! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
CINCO DE MAYO
FRIDAY, MAY 5 • 5:00 – 9:00 PM • MEMBERS GRILL
Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Chef Jacob’s authentic Mexican Dinner menu selections, topped off with Mexican Beer and Margarita specials from the bar. During dinner (5:00 – 8:00 PM), hear live Mariachis perform. It’s a Fiesta Muy Grande at the BBC! Reservations required. Limited seating available. Please call 949.630.4290 for reservations to join us.
WEEKEND BRUNCH ON THE BAY
EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Enjoy Chef Jacob’s fabulous Brunch on the Bay. All your favorite specialty items like Avocado Toast, Eggs Benedict, Huevos Steak Rancheros and Steak Chilaquiles. Kids will love their own new Rise ‘N’ Shine Menu including delicious Belgian Waffles and Buttermilk Pancakes hot off the griddle! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN NIGHT
SUNDAY, MAY 7, 21 AND 28 • 4:00 – 8:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Chef Jacob’s all-new Southern Fried Chicken Night is delicious! Start off with a Fresh House Salad with your choice of dressing, then enjoy an entrée of three pieces of Fried Chicken, Yukon Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Collard Greens, Corn on the Cob and Biscuits with Honey Butter. Top it all off with Blackberry Cobbler, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and a Cinnamon Sugar Crust! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
SUPERHERO FAMILY BINGO
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 • 6:00 PM • BAY VIEW ROOM
An all-new Superhero theme with a full hour of fun, fast-paced Bingo games and great
gift card prizes. Charcuterie and lite bites included. 6-cards max per person. Guest policy in effect. Includes one Bingo card. Additional cards can be purchased in cash for one dollar each, all monies awarded in the final blackout game. 48-hour cancellation policy in effect. Reservations required, please call Members Relations at 949.630.4120.
MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT THE CLUB
SUNDAY, MAY 14 •TWO SEATINGS 10 AM – 12 PM AND 12:30 – 2:30 PM • MEMBERS GRILL
Treat Mom to a special day here at the Club. Executive Chef Jacob Davis proudly prepares delicious brunch offerings of: Prime Rib of Beef, Scottish Salmon, Appetizer Station, Omelet Station, Raw Bar Station, and of course, Delicious Desserts and Specialty Treats. Live Music. Seating is limited. Cancellation policy of $25 per person in effect. Reservations required, please call 949.630.4290.
FIESTA TACO TUESDAYS
TUESDAY, MAY 16 & 30 • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Live music and great Margarita specials, paired with Chef Jacob’s delicious Menu Items! Taco Man Station featuring: Carne Asada, Chicken or Fish Tacos, Seafood Ceviche, Tijuana Caesar Salad, Enchiladas, Dessert Station and more. Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
LADIES BUNCO NIGHT
MONDAY, MAY 22 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM • LIBRARY
Make reservations quickly to join us for the fastpaced dice game of Bunco. This event sells out quickly. House wine and snacks included. Bring $12 cash for game buy-in, all monies awarded at the end of the games. Even the biggest loser can come home the biggest winner! Space is limited. A Members only event. 48-hour cancellation policy in effect. Reservations required, please call 949.630.4120.
MEMORIAL WEEKEND FUN WITH KONA ICE!
SATURDAY, MAY 27 • 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
MEMBER POOLSIDE
Just for the Kids, come get your favorite flavors of Kona Shaved Ice (11:30 am – 2:30 pm), compliments of the Club. Parents will enjoy the Member’s Pool Bar featuring great drinks and ice-cold beers on tap. A Taco Man and Kids Favorites will be served up fresh on the Beach. Soak up the sun, cool off in the pool and listen to great Music all weekend long.
MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION
MONDAY, MAY 29 • 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
MEMBERS LAWN & BEACH
Celebrate Memorial Day in style, while you kick back and relax at your Club’s own private beach. Our Chefs will be grilling up BBC’s famous Power Burgers, Hot Dogs and more while Smoothies & Mai Tais are served ice cold at the Pool Bar. Great DJ music with fun activities on the lawn. Members only, No guests, No walk-ins. Reservations are required by calling the Club Desk at 949.630.4120.
June
PRIME RIB THURSDAYS
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Join us on Thursday nights this month for Chef Jacob’s Prime Rib Dinner. Enjoy a 12 oz. Slow Roasted Prime Rib, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Au Jus and Horseradish Crème, fresh Bread Rolls, finished with Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Caramel Bourbon Sauce! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
WEEKEND BRUNCH ON THE BAY
EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY • 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Enjoy Chef Jacob’s fabulous Brunch on the Bay. All your favorite specialty items like Avocado Toast, Eggs Benedict, Huevos Steak Rancheros and Steak Chilaquiles. Kids will love their own new Rise ‘N’ Shine Menu including delicious Belgian Waffles and Buttermilk Pancakes hot off the griddle! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN NIGHT
EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT • 4:00 – 8:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Start off with a Fresh House Salad with your choice of dressing, then enjoy an entrée of three pieces of Fried Chicken, Yukon Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Collard Greens, Corn on the Cob and Biscuits with Honey Butter. Top it all off with Blackberry Cobbler, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and a Cinnamon Sugar Crust! Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
CHARCUTERIE & WINE WEDNESDAYS
EVERY WEDNESDAY • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Wednesday evenings we will feature select wines and a charcuterie special. A wine expert will be on hand to pour and educate members on wine selections. Small or large charcuterie and cheese boards available with either a choice of (2) glasses of wine, or a bottle of wine, from our special list of whites and reds. For more information, please contact Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
KID’S CLUB MOVIE NIGHT/PARENT DATE NIGHT
FRIDAY, JUNE 9 • 6:00 – 9:00 PM • IN THE RESORT
Kids are going to love watching their favorite Disney Movie on the Big Screen, while parents enjoy a Date Night at the Club! Unlimited popcorn, movie theater candies and kid’s dinner included! Bring your favorite pillow and blanket and come in your pajamas. Limited seating available, so make reservations early. Members only, no guests. Kids must be checked in and out by their parents. Parents are welcome to enjoy their own dinner in A+O or Members Grill. Parents must remain on property. Reservations required, please call the Club Desk at 949.630.4120.
FIESTA TACO TUESDAYS
TUESDAY, JUNE 13 AND 27 • 5:00 – 9:00 PM
MEMBERS GRILL
Live music and great Margarita specials, paired with Chef Jacob’s delicious Menu Items! Taco Man Station featuring: Carne Asada, Chicken or Fish Tacos, Seafood Ceviche, Tijuana Caesar Salad, Enchiladas, Dessert Station and more. Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
SUMMER FUN BINGO
THURSDAY, JUNE 15 • 6:00 PM • BAY VIEW ROOM
Join us for a fun summer night with a full hour of fast-paced Bingo games and great gift card prizes. Charcuterie and lite bites included. 6-cards max per person. Guest policy in effect. Includes one Bingo card. Additional cards can be purchased in cash for one dollar each, all monies awarded in the final blackout game. 48hour cancellation policy. Reservations required, please call the Club Desk at 949.630.4120.
FATHER’S DAY BRUNCH ON THE BAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 18 • SEATING AT 10:00 AM AND 12:30
PM • MEMBERS GRILL
Treat Dad to a delicious Brunch at the Club on his special day! Enjoy a build-your-own Omelet Station, Carving Station, Sushi and Seafood Display, variety of Fresh Salads and Delicious Desserts. After brunch, stop by the Car Show for more Father’s Day Fun! 48-hour cancellation policy of $25 per person applies. Reservations required, please call Members Grill at 949.630.4290.
16TH ANNUAL FATHER’S DAY CAR SHOW
SUNDAY, JUNE 18 • 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM • UPPER RESORT PARKING DECK
Enjoy a fine collection of cars, great music, family fun and much more. From rare to classic, custom or antique, BBC Members are invited to enter their own cars or sponsor a friend to enter. Fresh grilled BBQ favorites, cocktails and concessions will be available for purchase. Trophies awarded at approximately 2:00 PM. Car Show is complimentary, thanks to our sponsors. Reservations not required. To enter cars, please call 949.630.4120 or stop by the Club Desk to fill out an entry form. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, June 14.
FAMILY MOVIE BUCKETS!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 (AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP
BETWEEN 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
Gather your family for a movie night at home. Complete the experience with your very own pre-made summer theme Movie Night Bucket. Order your Family Movie Bucket today by calling the Club Desk at 949.630.4120. Movie Night Buckets are compliments of your Club. One bucket per family please.
THE WINES OF CALIFORNIA ON THE BAY!
FRIDAY, JUNE 23 • 4:00 – 6:00 PM • MEMBER LAWN
An event for the Wine Lovers! Join us on the lawn this fall for an evening tasting fine wines, a beautiful sunset and great music on the
Bay. Wineries featured include Stag’s Leap, Frank Family, DAOU Winery, Grgich Hills, Napa Cellars, Adobe Road and more. Great juice and savory small bites. Reservations required. 2-guests max per membership. For reservations, please call the Club Desk at 949.630.4120.
SUMMER BEACH GRILLIN’
EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY • 12:00 – 3:00 PM
MEMBERS BEACH
All summer long, beginning Saturday, June 24, bring family and friends for summertime favorites, grilled fresh to order on the Beach! Refreshing summer cocktails and daily drink specials at the Pool Bar, while you soak up some sun. Regular summer prices. Reservations not required.
LADIES SUMMER BUNCO NIGHT
MONDAY, JUNE 26 • 5:30 – 7:30 PM • BOARDROOM
A perfect way to meet other women of the Club. Make reservations quickly to join us for the fast-paced dice game of Bunco. House wine and snacks included. Bring $12 cash for game buy-in, all monies awarded at end of games. Even the biggest loser can come home the biggest winner! Space is limited. A Members only event. 48-hour cancellation policy in effect. Reservations required, please call the Club Desk at 949.630.4120.
STARS & STRIPES, FIRST BURGER BASH OF THE SEASON
THURSDAY, JUNE 29 • 5:00 – 7:30 PM
MEMBER LAWN
Our first Burger Bash of the season with a patriotic theme! Our DJ will play all your favorites, plus kids will enjoy fun lawn games, dancing, balloons, a limbo contest and more. Take a night off from cooking as we grill up all your Burger Bash favorites, including Power Burgers, Hot Dogs and more at regular summer prices. Reservations are not required.
PIZZA OVEN FRIDAY AT THE BEACH!
FRIDAY, JUNE 30
Chef Jacob will fire up the Pizza Oven to make fresh and hot pizzas, made to order! A perfect lunch for the kids while enjoying summer beach fun. Reservations not required.
Selby Gillett Director of Membership
May Is For Moms
SUMMER FUN IN THE BAY CLUB SUN JUST AROUND THE CORNER
May is that wonderful month of the year where the air is positively filled with anticipation for the possibilities of the summer to come! And wow, do we have a lot to anticipate this year. From the exciting events Aaron and Melanie have planned, to what memories will be made around the pool and beach, to finding a new favorite dish in Members Grill, the coming few months are brimming with opportunity for fun times at the Balboa Bay Club! It’s been a delight welcoming back so many of you after the dreary early spring we experienced and I can’t wait to for that BBC summer energy to hit us in full swing.
As we do head into our busier season, I’d like to take the opportunity to be a bit of a proverbial “mom.” Fitting for this month, I would say, given that we will be celebrating Mother’s Day. In this “mom” role, I’d like to share a reminder that we hope you understand always comes from a place of love, intentionality and genuine interest in all of our members being able to fully enjoy their experience here.
The reminder I am referring to is that, as a private club, we do have expectations and requirements that members and their guests should be mindful and respectful of while enjoying the Club’s amenities and events.
The greatest desire of our entire team is that you, our treasured members, enjoy your time here. All rules are implemented and enforced with our members’ enjoyment and safety as our paramount concern.
Copies of the Rules & Regulations and Member Code of Conduct may be found on the member website or requested directly by emailing membership@balboabayclub.com.
Should you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll be here, alongside the rest of the staff doing our best to make this summer the greatest yet!
We can’t wait to see you!
ERSKINE FAMILY:
“With all of the recent rain, we are looking forward to enjoying some beautiful weather at the BBC pool and beach. Beyond that, we are really looking forward to attending BBC events, particularly around the holidays, and meeting other BBC members.”
SUMMER MINI GUARDS
Session 1: 6/19-6/22
Session 2: 7/10-7/13
Session 3: 8/14-8/17
Time: 9:30 AM -12:30 PM
Ages: 5+
Drop off on the beach
SUMMER SWIM TEAM
MONDAY – THURSDAY JUNE 12 – JULY 27TH
PRACTICE TIMES: 5 years: 3:00 - 3:30 PM
6 years: 3:30 - 4:00 PM
7 years: 4:00 - 4:45 PM
8 & up: 4:45 - 5:30 PM
No practice July 4th
Eggcitement!
BIG SMILES AT EASTER FESTIVITIES AT THE CLUB
Cassidy Stokes
Brayden and Connor Ball Brian and Kaden Mitchell
Deal Daughter
Cameron and Camille Peck
Charlotte Papazis and Katie Hall
Aleia Debons Augusta and Harriet Smith Brady, Logan and Luke Stoeckly Liam and Lucas Perea
Lyndi and Sayla Young
Madaline and Emma Rasch
Kennedy Kahn
James and Harlow Janda
Jett Land
Lennon Motzer
Kaia Yurkanin
Krew, Kooper, and Kolt Hochuli
Dylan Lee
Elle, Rhodes and Charlotte Lux
Erica and Phoenix Thomas
Mina and Mason Rundles
Mason and Sabrina Ronay
Natalie Paglia
Natasha, Elaine, and Aleia Debons
Ralston Dornik Penelope Yurkanin
Rebecca and Katie Hall
Valet Visions
UP CLOSE WITH FABRIZIO KHALONA, AND SIX OF THE BBR/BBC VALET STAFF
BY CAROLE PICKUP / PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS DARNALL
Fabrizio A. Khalona, Director of Club and Resort Experiences… Good title, right?! He is really “The Boss.” Just look at him. He is the best boss of us all. If you need to know anything, about anyone, any time or any place, get in touch. He will have an answer for you quickly and pleasantly.
This particular outfit Fabrizio is wearing is his favorite style outside of work and not too many members, visitors or club management staff have seen him away from his job. He’s in style, it’s “Boss Attire,” right? Oh, and by the way, he has a heart as big as his job.
Compassion for all he serves. What a guy! We all love, love him, dear Fab.
When not at the BBC, he enjoys spending time with family and having dinner with friends at a favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. What he enjoys about being a valet is making someone’s day special, especially if they are not having a good day (members, guests and co-workers).
His wonderful mother, Blanca Ramirez lives in Nicaragua, along with his brother, Hector. His sister and her husband and children reside in Ladera Ranch. His older brother, Ramon lives in Carlsbad.
“Happy Mother’s Day Mom. All my love,” Fab says!
Six valets have given decades of service for all of the members and guests.
Fab chose these particular men for their long-time valet service.
Are you all ready to guess altogether how many years of service? Wonderful years for everyone connected to the BBC.
Their service years outperform our 75th Anniversary Year! They spoil us all while taking care of our precious cars.
The total for these valets…100 years!
Thank you, guys.
FABRIZIO A. KHALONA
DARRICK WOO
Darrick is a friend to many members and repeat guests at the BBC/BBR. His attitude and service are well regarded. Born in Palo Alto, CA and raised in Lake Almanor, Darrick enjoys the outdoor life: hiking, cycling and skiing. He reports that his family “is everything.” Close to father James, brother James, sister Darrelle and nephew Greyson, Darrick is grateful for family and many friendships made through his job as valet.
DONNIE AVERY
Donnie says the best part of his valet job is meeting interesting people every day. Born and raised in Seal beach, Donnie is a regular working out at the gym. Workouts allow for enjoyment of wine, and a great golf game. He shares family with two brothers.
JASON MARTINEZ
Jason was born in Long Beach and grew up in nearby Cypress. He has two brothers and is close to family, including parents, Michael and Susan. Hanging out at the beach, attending concerts and sharing a great dinner with friends make his day when not working valet and taking care of BBC members and guests.
DARRICK WOO DONNIE AVERY
JASON MARTINEZ
MITCH ISLAS
So Cal kid Mitch Islas hails from Huntington Beach and is currently studying Cyber Security and training MMA. Sunday brunch with family is perfect for Mitch, with his brother and sister. Brother Erick is a valet with Mitch at the BBR.
ANTHONY PERRY
Anthony comes to the BBR from Michigan, a town called St. Clair Shores near Detroit. Days at the beach with girlfriend Rocio and rescue dog Honey are at the top of Anthony’s list. He says being a valet opens a door to something and someone new every day. Multi-generations of his French Canadian and Irish family remain in Michigan, and they remain close despite distance.
IAN DODGE
Ian was born at Hoag Hospital and grew up in Huntington Beach. He lives in Old Town Orange with his wife Becki, son River (5) and daughter Ruby (7). The family love taking road trips and going on adventures. Ian works with kids at his son’s pre-school doing crafts with 2- to 4-year-olds when not serving the club and hotel as a valet. He says, “We have a great team at Valet. I have very good friends I work with, and we all appreciate getting to know the members and guests.”
MITCH ISLAS
ANTHONY PERRY
IAN DODGE
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Marina Dutton General Manager
Balboa Bay Resort
Dear Guests, Members and Visitors,
We are delighted to welcome you to the month of May, a time of renewal and celebration. With the warm weather and blooming flowers, May brings a sense of joy and excitement.
As we enter the month of May, it’s essential to remember Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 14th. In the United States, the idea for a national holiday honoring mothers was first proposed in 1905 and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is a special day where we show our appreciation and love for the wonderful mothers in our lives. Whether it’s your mom, grandmother, aunt or any maternal figure who has played a significant role in your life, take some time to show them how much you care.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the amazing mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. It’s a time to honor the sacrifices, love and care that they have given us. We invite you to celebrate and cherish the mother figure in your life by joining us for our annual Mother’s Day Brunch which will include live music and fresh bouquets by Penelope Pots Floral for purchase.
In addition to Mother’s Day, May is a month filled with many other exciting events and opportunities. From graduations to weddings and more, we enjoy hosting your special events here at the resort. Let us know how we can assist you.
Our annual Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival also takes place in May over Memorial Day Weekend. This year’s event will feature a Duckhorn wine dinner and The Macallan Speyside Lounge in addition to two days of tastings including food, wine and spirits. You can read more about the festival later in this issue or visit our website balboabayresort.com for information on this and all our events.
I look forward to seeing you around the resort enjoying the beautiful weather in Newport Beach.
Enjoy bottomless mimosas, sparkling wine, orange juice, coffee and tea alongside beautiful bay views and an assortment of decadent seafood, classic brunch favorites, and assorted desserts.
Visit balboabayresort com to make a reservation on OpenTable or call 949 645 5000
Mother's Day Brunch Mother's Day Brunch
Sunday, May 14
Grand Ballroom & Terrace | Seatings from 10:00am-1:30pm
Live Music | Sparkling Wine, Mimosas and Bellinis included Adults $115 | Children 4-12 $60 Tax and service charge not included
Celebrate Mom in style at Balboa Bay Resort featuring the finest selection of meats, seafood, charcuterie, breakfast favorites, pastries and more for the whole family to enjoy Buy Mom a fresh bouquet of flowers from Penelope Pots Floral to make her day even more special!
Balboa Bay Club Members and Hotel Guests staying overnight 5/13 or 5/14 enjoy special pricing Please email reservations@balboabayresort c om or call 949 645 5000 with your member or reservation confirmation number to make a reservation
18th Annual Newport Beach Wine Festival Returns Once Again To Balboa Bay Resort
THE 3-DAY EXTRAVAGANZA TAKES PLACE AT THE LUXURY WATERFRONT RESORT OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
BY FRANCINE SLOSSER
This Memorial Day Weekend, Balboa Bay Resort is proud to kick off the summer season with the return of the beloved Newport Beach Wine Festival. Over three days at the luxury waterfront resort, the 18th Annual Newport Beach Wine Festival will host an array of premium wineries and distributors representing over 50 labels. Guests can sip and mingle while enjoying live music, tasty bites, fun activations and breathtaking views along the waterline.
“This is one of our favorite weekends of
the year,” said Jason Hsieh, Food & Beverage Director at Balboa Bay Resort. “With such great views here, it’s the perfect destination to enjoy a glass of wine or sample some tequilas or spirits. We’re excited to host this event again this year.”
Last year, the festival returned to Balboa Bay Resort after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and drew over 500 guests.
Also known as the Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival, the extravaganza begins Friday, May 26 at 6 PM with a dinner and reception with Duckhorn Winery, the iconic Napa Valley winery
known for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots. An expertly curated 5-course dinner will accompany the tasting, courtesy of Balboa Bay Resort’s Executive Chef Prabeen Prathapan, including Wild Morro Bay Smoked Salmon Roulade, Mishima Ultra Wagyu Ribeye, Meyer Lemon Cake with Grand Marnier Coconut Curd and more. This intimate dinner and reception will take place in the resort’s beloved Lighthouse Room, framed with oversized accordion glass doors that offer tranquil ocean breezes and sweeping harbor views.
On Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 the Newport Beach Wine Festival will welcome over 50 wine and spirits vendors with live music, hors d’oeuvres and stunning bay views. Participating vendors include DAOU, 818 Tequila, Off Hours Bourbon, Martin Ray & Angeline and more. The festival will be in the resort’s Lighthouse Room pouring out onto the boardwalk, overlooking the marina, yachts and Lido Island in the distance.
New to the Newport Beach Wine Festival this year is The Macallan Speyside Lounge. The
speakeasy-style lounge will offer elevated cocktails from The Macallan’s single malt scotch whisky collections. This experience takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings with rare tastings at 6pm, 730pm and 9pm both days. Festival guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of The Macallan’s one-of-a-kind scotch at the Grand Tastings on Saturday and Sunday.
Ticket information for each event is available online at www.balboabayresort. com/nbwinefestival and tickets start at $145 per person (plus tax, service charge and fees).
Combination tickets are also available for guests who desire a full weekend of wine and cuisine starting at $215 per person (plus tax, service charge and fees). Parking is limited and ride share is recommended. An alternate parking location will be available.
Balboa Bay Club Members and Resort Guests staying overnight May 26, 27 or 28 enjoy special pricing. Call 949-645-5000 or email reservations@balboabayresort.com with your Member or Room Reservation number to reserve tickets.
Cherish And Celebrate
CREATING THE PERFECT MOTHER’S DAY RECIPES FOR BRUNCH AND DINNER, AT HOME OR ON THE TOWN
BY LANA SILLS
Ilove my Mother’s Day memories of newspapers from many years ago that had weekly food sections. The recipes were cut out and stored in my mother’s recipe boxes and became treasured inheritances passed from generation to generation. Today these recipes have yellowing and brown edges of newsprint and are still cherished and valued. Shared recipes became family favorites.
Here are Mother’s Day recipes to let her sleep in and have breakfast or brunch ready when she wakes. My overnight French toast is prepared on Saturday night and baked in the oven first thing Sunday. Or, treat yourself and Mom to special occasion Croissant French Toast done with split croissants that get bathed in custard
and browned in butter until the edges get lacy and crisp. Just add berries and mascarpone and honey or maple syrup, it’s all up to Mom. One of my favorites and my grandson’s best breakfast…Serve quick and easy gluten free 3-ingredient pancakes: mashed bananas, beaten eggs and almond flour; the pancakes are fluffy and bouncy.
Celebrate Mom and Spring with some light starters at dinner. Arugula salad with radishes or a Spring’s bounty from the Farmer’s Market of farm lettuces with an herby dill vinaigrette. “Toasts” taste way fancy despite being a breeze to assemble. Other than Avocado Toast, think Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad Toasts and Crispy Mushrooms and Caramelized Leeks
Toast. Share a salty, nutty bright Parmesan Risotto for a light first course. Hopefully it will feel like a glorious summer day and you can make shrimp on the BBQ with a Romesco Sauce or barbecued Balsamic-glazed pork tenderloin. And there’s always pasta: I love using canned cherry tomatoes for a really intense tomato sauce (adding tomato paste and sundried tomatoes) for a 15-minute red sauce which would make her exceedingly happy. And surely there is a Mom that would be delighted with a grilled 2 inch-thick filet steak chased with a heavy, non-tannic red wine (I’m that Mom!).
Desserts can be as simple as Blackmarket Bakery, Susie Cakes, Arc Butcher and Baker
or Sidecar Doughnuts, to support local. Blackmarket Bakery’s Total Eclipse Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Paillettes and Chocolate Sticks is one of my favorites, the ultimate indulgence for chocolate lovers. Pick what you know she likes or for the simplest homemade sweet, make my scrumptious Orange Liqueur Raspberries with Crushed Amaretti and Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream; assembled in martini glasses. They are a wonderful way to show Mom how much you love her.
And don’t forget a cocktail! Take the edge off with a Rosé Sangria that’s as pretty as a picture, a sparkly Champagne and Lemon Sorbet Cocktail, Peach Mimosas or surprise her with a Plum Basil Gin Fizz made with a simple, homemade basil syrup.
To dine out, Moms will feel like a valued guest at the newly opened JOEY Newport Beach restaurant. The food was simply delicious. The combination of excellent food, beautiful atmosphere and exceptional service make it a truly special dining experience. The Rib Eye Steak was cooked to perfection, the seared Herb Crush Salmon was delicious, the Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps were drool worthy, and its modern cuisine with a busy bar had a great vibe. I would highly recommend booking a table at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Tickets to a show at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and a visit to VACA Restaurant is my perfect Mother’s Day gift. Catch Orange County’s much beloved Chef Amar Santana on Top Chef World All Stars on Bravo. And don’t miss the Canelon de Pollo Ahumado! To add to Mom’s cookbook collection, these cookbook favorites of mine make a lovely gift for every cook, new or experienced: “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” by Samin Nosrat; “Small Victories” by Julia Turshen; “Simple Cake” by Odette Williams; Ina Garten’s “Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” (you can feel the love pouring out of every page). And for toasting, the 2021 Syndrome Rosé by The Prisoner is the perfect Rosé for Mother’s Day with great character, and taste the 2021 Prisoner Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Magnum with lingering notes of blackberries, toffee, freshly baked pie crust and milk chocolate. This wine has it all!
Cherish and celebrate the Matriarchs, Mothers, Moms, Mommies, Mamas, Madres, Mummy, Super Mom, Wonder Women, Cheerleader and The Boss!
This easy and delicious one-dish dinner is perfect for Mother’s Day and easy enough for a weeknight. Finish with capers and olives and serve warm or at room temperature.
1 pound baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
6 ounces haricots verts or green beans, trimmed
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes
4 (6-ounce) center-cut, skin-on salmon fillets
5 ounces salad greens, like baby red and green leaf lettuce
Optional: ½ cup pitted olives, preferably Niçoise or Kalamata and a tablespoon of capers
DRESSING:
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 anchovy fillet, minced
4 tablespoons olive oil
For the dressing, combine the ingredients in a mason jar and shake to blend.
Heat the oven to 400°F. Toss the potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper and arrange the potatoes cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes.
Toss the haricots verts and tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and add them to the baking sheet. Place the salmon fillets in the center of the sheet pan, brush with salad dressing, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on the top rack in the oven for 10 minutes. Toss the greens in the dressing and place on a platter. Place the salmon fillets in the middle of the platter and arrange the roasted vegetables around them. Serves four.
In a martini glass, place raspberries and pour over orange liqueur. Using your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add heavy whipping cream with a little powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste and a pinch of salt and beat on medium high speed until firm peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Top raspberries with whipped cream and crush a few Amaretti cookies on top.
SHEET PAN SALMON NICOISE SALAD
Rooftop Living with Barclay Butera
BY CHRISTINE PHILLIPS FOR BARCLAY BUTERA INTERIORS
Ahh the great outdoors… One thing design icon Barclay Butera knows for certain, is how to maximize open skies, ocean breezes and sunshine! And in magnificent California, often that means the rooftop; the perfect, private place to escape the hustle and bustle to relax and unwind. Barclay approaches this space as he would any room in the home, with the same design sensibility and attention to detail. In fact, Butera refers to all his outdoor spaces as “the fifth room,” a
natural extension of the whole home. Luxurious yet comfortable furnishings are chosen, floorplans are set up to maximize conversation and entertaining options. Details that allow versatility are a must; umbrellas for shade on a hot sunny day, firepits to warm up chilly nights, and always plenty of pillows and throws for cozy comfort options. All you need to do is go up on the roof Baby, bring up your morning coffee or an evening bottle of wine and all your cares will drift right into space…
For more rooftop and outdoor inspirations and design services, visit www.shopbarclaybutera.com or one of our magnificent showrooms in Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, or stunning Park City, Utah.
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Where’s The Risk?
THE END OF A 40 YEAR BULL MARKET FOR BONDS
BY IVAN ILLÁN
When I was 10 years old in 1984, Wendy’s launched one of the most successful ad campaigns of all-time. An elderly woman scrutinized a tiny beef patty exclaiming, “Where’s the beef?” This simple catchphrase has become an all-purpose question on anything of supposed substance. Today, I ask this same question, but directed to the bond markets. With all the uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve’s next move to quell inflation, as well as the broader concerns on the domestic and international economic conditions – why is the bond market acting as if there’s no risk in sight?
There are a few ways to assess risk in the capital markets. When measuring risk levels on stocks, there are a battery of tools to use, including valuation multiples (like Price-to-Earnings or Price-to-Sales ratios). However, when it comes to the bond market there may be fewer, although no less potent methods of assessing perceived market risk. One such tool is OAS or option-adjusted spreads. When risks are seen as higher in the marketplace, OAS are higher. The opposite is true when the perception of forward-looking risk is lower. Lately, OAS on BBB-rated corporate bonds don’t look particularly elevated and have even lowered since 2022. However, I took this analysis a step further in my research in hopes of revealing another perspective or even an obscured dynamic.
Analyzing the BBB-rated corporate bond market is a good idea. Most of the corporate debt in the U.S. is rated BBB or lower. Market yield on BBB debt is 24% higher than its 18-year average. This would seemingly indicate that these types of bonds offer a good opportunity for higher cash flow into an investment portfolio. However, taking the analysis a step further, we uncover a more interesting perspective. When dividing OAS by its yield, the resulting ratio illustrates a 30% lower value than its 18-year average. This may indicate that the reward (or yield) is not so desirable given the level of risk.
Since 2005, periods where a higher OAS/Yield ratio was experienced tended to be better value opportunities.
When the bond markets provide better risk-adjusted value through risk-free rate instruments (like U.S. Treasury bills, notes and bonds), the capital markets more broadly could suffer. Until such time that riskier assets decline further in price, investors would be justified in staying more on the sidelines. Boring cash equivalents such as FDIC-insured CDs, Money Market Funds and Treasury bonds are providing more yield than has been seen in well over 10 years. Investors and capital allocators could enjoy the
yield oasis that has finally appeared in this interest rate desert.
Pay particular attention to the bond ratings in your businesses or households’ portfolio. Running a similar analysis as above may provide additional direction into your risk management activities, as it relates to your fixed income allocations. With interest rates rapidly changing and still in flux, opportunities abound to position accordingly. In 2022, it’s likely that we all witnessed the ending of a 40-year bull market in bonds, and with it the more stable total return performance that so many capital allocators have come to anticipate.
Technology On Steroids
ADVANCES IN TECH DEVICES OUTPACE HUMAN ADJUSTMENT TO CHANGE
BY ALEX CHAZEN
Irecently purchased a Portable Monitor to make working remotely easier (for those that work off of a laptop, I could not recommend this purchase more, but this is straying far from the subject of this article). When I first opened the box, I was shocked at how light the monitor was. Then I connected it with a single cable to my laptop which powered it and provided the connection for a high quality display, and I was even more shocked. I am still impressed that what once was a massive cube of plastic, glass and metal that was nearly too heavy to carry up the stairs to my bedroom was now lighter than one of the many legal pads strewn about my office. I was so amazed that I walked into the other room to show it off to my very un-techy wife. Her reply was “wow –technology has come so far.”
Normally, I would simply agree with her, but this phrase hit me with déjà vu in that moment. I was taken back to a dinner with my grandparents and their friends who were visiting from New York. We were at a red booth Italian restaurant, and I was the only person under the age of 65 at the dinner of three couples who had all been married for
over 40 years, and if I wanted to, I could not get a word in edgewise.
In between talking about television shows I did not watch, and movies I had no desire to see, the conversation shifted to discussing the technological advances that they thought were incredible in their lifetimes. There was talk of the space shuttle, about dishwashers, televisions, and the internet (the iPhone hadn’t come out yet). I sat, apparently internalizing, as I hadn’t thought about this conversation in the fifteen years since it occurred.
Everyone who sat at that table with me is now gone. These treasures of American history, our lifeline to the past, no longer with us. And as I came out of my trance thinking about that dinner, by my daughter complaining that the streaming on her iPad was blurry, I began to realize that time seems to move faster now – not only because we are nostalgic for the past, and for those people who were our guides to it that are no longer here – but because our technological adoption is so much faster.
Telephones provide a concrete example of this abstract thought process. According to a
recent article in MIT’s Technology Review, It took 25 years for the telephone to be adopted by 10% of US homes. It took another 39 years before 40% of US homes had one, and another 15 years before more than half of US homes had them.
On the other hand, it took only 15 years for mobile phones to get to 10% and an additional 5 to get to break the 40% of household figure. Smartphones, which seem like we’ve had in our pockets forever, took only 10 years to hit the 40% penetration rate. We now go through technology at a rate that is almost five times as fast in terms of adoption as when the original versions of our everyday devices were invented.
In 2008, only 15 years ago, cars had a five year design cycle, and by 2013, it was down to two to three years. We had so much demand for change, that two to three years were cut off the design window in 5 years.
As summer begins in earnest this month with the dismissal of schools and kids beginning to beg for activities that keep them more occupied (and hopefully more exhausted) than school, keep in mind that sometimes the newest technology doesn’t need to be adopted right away. Sure, watching TV on your tablet is nice, and lets everyone watch their own programming, but maybe a board game with the whole family is an activity that provides more entertainment (and more lasting memories) than the latest episode ever could. We see in two years the technological advances that my dinner companions saw over decades, but we should not necessarily succumb to the feelings of needing to be the earliest adopters every time.
Here’s hoping that you have a wonderful summer – with more memories than devices, and honoring those people who taught us all how to play with a deck of cards, or a game of checkers, or monopoly.
Alex Chazen is a partner with Lorber, Greenfield & Polito LLP. He can be reached at achazen@lorberlaw.com.
*This is the latest installment in a series of articles throughout 2023 celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Balboa Bay Club.
The cheerful greeting came in the form of a delightful lady’s voice on the other end of the telephone. With just a soft touch of Texas twang, Beverly Ray Parkhurst was expecting this call, only at the pre-approved time to coincide with her comfort zone. Plenty settled in her home state, she seemed happy to chat for a bit.
It’s been a decade since Mrs. Parkhurst sold her interest in the Balboa Bay Club to the current Pickup & Martin family ownership. It’s been two decades since one of her pet initiatives sparked a lasting legacy.
A Club Within The Club Is Founded
THE 1221 CLUB UNITES THE WOMEN OF THE BALBOA BAY CLUB.
BY MATT MORRISON
The 1221 Club was established as a rallying point for BBC women at its beginnings in the early 2000s. Beverly wanted to ‘get things going’ and direct some of the untapped feminine energy around the Club. She wanted to ‘liven things up’ and steer the social scene in a new direction. Mrs. Ray (at the time) had by then already appointed the first two women to the BBC Board of Governors; Arden Flamson and Catherine Thyen in 1997.
Mrs. Thyen states ‘Beverly was the mover and shaker,’ while pointing out that Beverly’s goals for the club were clear, and they’ve all come to
fruition. This bit from the Heritage section of the 1221 Club webpage says it best:
“Over two decades ago the 1221 Club was formed at Balboa Bay Club, providing the women of BBC with a community where good times, warm friendships and new acquaintances could be found and fostered. The women of the 1221 Club are united not only in their desire to enjoy a unique sense of belonging within Balboa Bay Club, but also by sharing a common mission; to serve their community and make a difference in the lives of young people.”
Certainly, a difference continues to be made.
2008 Catherine Thyen and Bob Howard
2008 Marilyn and Dave Wooten, Anne Wortmann
2008 Dr. Norman Loats with Gini and Bob Robins
To date, hundreds of local students, and their families, have benefitted from thousands of dollars in scholarship money awarded annually through the Balboa Bay Club 1221 Scholarship program. This isn’t simply support for education through philanthropy, it’s equally incentive and reward for hard-working students.
Out of a trophies-for-everyone generation, the 1221 scholarships recognize 24 of the highest achievers from the four Newport Mesa high schools each year. Individual grants contribute a minimum of $1000 up to $20,000 to individual students. Including the 2023 scholarships awarded in May, more than $1.8 million in scholarship grants has been distributed over the last two decades.
Catherine Thyen says the reward for club members over the years has been just helping ‘really high achieving students who
were working really hard to achieve their goals.’ Though spearheaded by the women of the 1221, the scholarship program has been much more of a total BBC effort. With the right touch of feminine persuasion, the women enlisted their masculine counterparts quickly to grow the largest annual scholarship program in Orange County.
As BBC Chairman of the Board of Governors John Wortman notes ‘It’s about helping families. It takes a village.’ It didn’t take much in the way of persuasion to have the annual Gentleman’s Smoker serve to benefit the scholarship fund. The popular event would now be an even better excuse for the fellas to have fun, and it quickly elevated the coffers. The residual: Mr. Wortmann calls the annual scholarship awards ceremony ‘the most rewarding event of the year.’
Mrs. Thyen reflects on the joy she feels knowing how the club has helped local students and their families, ‘especially young people who’ve already done a lot to help themselves.’ She also appreciates how the legacy is extending through generations and has seeped deeply into the Club culture. She notes ‘The Pickups have been enormously helpful in adding funds to the scholarship program.’
“It’s turned out to be a real feather in my cap,” Beverly admitted without taking sole credit for anything. She does recall fondly many of the fun events and good times that blossomed from her instinct that the women of the BBC had much more to contribute. Beyond the wife and widow of respected BBC owner Bill Ray, Beverly steered the ship she inherited for two more decades, leaving her distinct imprint at 1221 Pacific Coast Highway.
2009 Mary Roosevelt, Marilyn Gust and Loretta Haugen
2015 Char Armstrong, Noel Hamilton, Carole Pickup, John Wortmann, Catherine Thyen, Malcolm Smith and Heather Dickerson
2015 Jaclyn Kessler, Devon Martin and Beverly Stern
2016 Heather Dickerson, Char Armstrong, Catherine Thyen, Eden Steel and Malcolm Smith
Skipping A Beat
IS IT “A-FIB” OR SOMETHING ELSE?
BY DR. MICHAEL BRANT-ZAWADZKI
The phone rang. It was my nephew James, alarm in his voice, not the usual, “Hey, what’s happening?”
Rather a rushed word barrage, “Hey, I kept waking up last night, my heart pounding in my throat, weirdest sensation ever, and my Apple Watch told me I had atrial fibrillation – whaddya think, what’s happening to me!?” Knowing my nephew was a bit of a hypochondriac, only 28, and the still imperfect technology of the Apple Watch being overly sensitive, I took him less than seriously. However, after a few calming remarks to get his speech down to a normal rate, I began to do some reality testing. He noticed his heart beating “in his throat” several times the night after the Super Bowl, and that continued to the morning when he called me. I asked him if he enjoyed the game, and with how much alcohol. More than usual, he admitted. After a few more reassuring remarks, I arranged for him to see a cardiologist.
Excessive alcohol consumption can trigger a bout of heart rhythm disturbance, particularly
atrial fibrillation – “a-fib” as current TV commercials tout. Even moderate consumption of alcohol can trigger it, changing the electrical activity of the heart as well as the overall autonomic nervous system that controls our breathing rate, heartbeat, and motion of our intestines. Alcohol also has a direct effect on the muscle itself, which contracts for every heartbeat paced by the circuits in the heart.
All of us experience the occasional poetic “skipped beat,” a common idiom reflecting the true physiologic truth that a sudden stimulus can upset our normal, very regular metronomic heart rate. We do not notice most of them. Faster heart rates, for example during exercise, can predispose to the occasional skip. Emotions that increase our heart rate or certain drugs other than alcohol, likewise can produce the occasional premature ventricular contraction we call a skipped beat. It’s actually an extra beat and less forceful contraction pushing less blood, followed by a longer than normal pause, and a greater contraction pushing more blood into the aorta that expands a bit more – hence the sense of being “in the throat.” Several of these irregular beats in less than a minute can be misinterpreted by the Apple Watch as a-fib. In general, if one experiences more than 10 to 15 such skipped beats per hour, or if they occur in a specific pattern (such as three in a row), they are considered abnormal and should be evaluated.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common and perhaps the most serious of all the cardiac rhythm disturbances or arrhythmias. Here, the heart’s pacemaker that lives in the smaller of the chambers, the atrium, starts misfiring, or another rogue nerve cell starts pacing the rest of the system in competition, leading to the irregular rhythm and haphazard contractions of the pump like ventricles. Conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, even thyroid disease can predispose. Open heart surgery can bring it on. It is surprisingly common beyond the age of 65 with two out of
three men eventually developing atrial fibrillation between the ages of 70 and 100, over 50% of women.
When such irregular muscle contractions of the heart occur, blood pressure can drop leading to syncope. But most importantly, the blood in the cardiac chambers can sit longer and clot. When sent to the brain, such clots are one of the most common causes of stroke in the elderly. That is why you see so many TV commercials for various blood thinners for a-fib. Indeed, those with unexplained strokes are often monitored for unrecognized sporadic bursts of fibrillation.
The first goal of treatment is to restore normal rhythm. Cardioversion uses paddles to apply a controlled electrical shock to the heart: Think of it as a reboot. Medications aimed at controlling the electrical activity help maintain regular rhythm in those who’ve experienced atrial fibrillation. When these conservative measures fail, a special procedure inserts a wire under x-ray guidance through a puncture of a vein in the groin to certain suspect sites in the atrium, allowing precise mapping and ablation of rogue pacemakers. Ultimately, some patients with atrial fibrillation (and other rhythm disturbances) that result in very slow rates of meaningful ventricular beats will have an external pacemaker placed under the skin.
The diagnostic tools, as well as expertise in pharmacologic and minimally invasive interventional treatments of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias require a strategic integration of experts, facilities, and advanced technology, all of which exists in Hoag’s arrhythmia program at the Jeffrey Carlton Heart and Vascular Institute. Good news is, should you need it, it’s just a heartbeat away.
As for my nephew, a few days of sobriety cured “the Irish Monday,” as one of Hoag’s cardiologists called it. Tests showed nothing abnormal, and he can still drink a beer or two watching the Lakers without skipping a beat.
The Green Blazer Goes To Rahm
JON RAHM TRIUMPHS AT THE MASTERS
BY RYAN G. COOK
Jon Rahm, representing Spain, is becoming one of the best Spanish golfers of all time, alongside Steve Ballesteros, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sergio Garcia. Born in 1994 in Barrika, Basque Country, Rahm played for the Spanish National team as an amateur before attending Arizona State University. In college, he won 11 NCAA Division I tournaments and was second only to Phil Mickelson’s 16 wins in the school’s history books and athletic hall of fame.
In his professional career, Rahm has participated in seven Masters tournaments,
finishing in the top 10 four times and never missing a cut. He has won tour events in Maui, La Quinta and Los Angeles in 2023 and finished in the top 7 this year in San Diego and Phoenix. He has also won three international tournaments in 2022, including the Mexico Open, Spanish Open, and the DP World Tour’s season finale in Dubai, qualifying for the Tour Championship at East Lake for a sixth consecutive year. Despite the lucrative offers from LIV Golf, Rahm remains with the PGA Tour. He believes that the PGA Tour is steeped in history and legacy and wants to play against the best in the world.
At the Masters, Rahm surpassed his major competition Brooks Koepka for the championship. Koepka led by four strokes before losing by four, with Rahm making a massive eight-shot swing in his favor. Rahm also prevented Phil Mickelson, from winning the green jacket. Mickelson became the oldest player in history to finish in the top five at a Masters with a surprising seven-under-par 65 in the final round. Despite the rain, another amazing tournament showcasing the greatest talent in golf, including the return of legendary player Tiger Woods.
