Ed i t o r ’ s N o t e
Real Connections
W
hen I started editing this magazine more than three years ago, I was excited for the opportunity to work in print — publishing a glossy magazine is a rare opportunity for a writer these days. But what I didn’t expect was to make real connections with the people here. It’s been an unexpected blessing to have people in this community show up and support my writing outside of the magazine. I feel humbled and grateful. A new connection for me in this issue is husband-and-wife filmmaking team Renee Airya and Akira Chan. They share their unanticipated journey into parenthood that inspired their new documentary “Little Humans.” More than an educational video for parents, it harnesses the Playa Vista community to share wisdom and find ways to offer support. As fall approaches, I feel lucky that Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist Rachel Tomasian agreed to share her wisdom about dealing with anxiety kids might face about going back to school. It’s a must-read for all parents. We have a new recipe contributor this issue. Her name is Amanda Prince and her passion is cooking and food styling. I’m excited to share her recipe for a homemade version of Chunky Monkey ice cream with you. Peter Georges is opening his third restaurant at The Bluffs called the Conference Room, and the salmon and mac-and-cheese are to die for! I’m planning to take a few “meetings” there myself that may involve a discussion about a great craft cocktail. I also had the chance to see Sonia Machado-Hines’ new film “Hatshepsut,” about the female Egyptian pharaoh who ruled as a man thousands of years ago. It’s an inspiring story for modern times as we all continue to explore identity. Getting to speak with street artist Kenny Scharf about the art he installed behind our local blue mascot BFF was the highlight of this issue for me. His kooky, playful characters transform a simple parking garage into a place that engages the imagination — a quality highly valued in this community. As always, I hope you’re enjoying your summer along with this issue of Playa Vista Direct. Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com
Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Lara J. Altunian · Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Richard Foss Jessica Koslow · Brian Marks · Robyn Paris Amanda Prince · Andy Vasoyan Lawrence Yee Contributing Photographers Jake Ahles · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins · Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel · Zsuszi Steiner Emily Hart Roth Graphic Designer Kate Doll Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy Rocki Davidson David Maury Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Associate Publisher Rebecca Bermudez President Steve Strickbine
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6 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2019