A
P R E M I E R
W E S T
C O A S T
L U X U R Y
P U B L I C A T I O N
EST. IN 1992
:: Taylor Foley
Vollyball Junior Olympian
:: Curren Caples :: Lenny Krayzelburg
X Games Competitor
4x Gold Medal Olympic Swimmer
JULY/AUGUST 2012
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MonarX NEW PARKOUR GYM // TRAVEL ~ BERLIN, GERMANY // SUMMER WINES // BRAVO TV'S MASTERCHEF BECKY REAMS
PRESTIGIOUS PROPERTIES OFFERED BY BILL AND MICHELLE
Artfully Uniting Extraordinary Properties With Extraordinary Lives
OLD WORLD EUROPEAN VILLA - This stunning Mediterranean estate, sited on almost one acre behind the gates of Sherwood Country Club, offers approx. 8500 sq.ft. of luxury living. The impressive entry ushers you into the two story foyer with travertine flooring, exquisite chandeliers and an artfully designed staircase. A Creston system provides high-tec security and smart home features. A sumptuous master suite is located downstairs plus three additional upstairs bedrooms with ensuite baths. The grand dining room showcases an 800 bottle wine cellar. A gourmet kitchen with the ultimate in amenities, great room with 23 ft. ceilings, library, pub/pool room, theater/media retreat with a giant drop screen, electronic window drapes. A magnificent loggia with a massive fireplace, covered gazebo, outdoor bar, BBQ area, horseshoe pit and fire pit with seating area all overlooking the 1st fairway of the renowned Sherwood golf course. Huge Price Reduction! Offered at $6,250,0000. Also for Lease swww.2658Ladbrook.com
CHATEAU SIR FRANCIS IN SHERWOOD ESTATES - This 6000 sq. ft. residence, perched high on a hill above Lake Sherwood, offers panoramic views from all levels. Built in 2003, the unparalleled quality and old world craftsmanship provide for a lavish lifestyle in the prestigious gated community of Sherwood Country Club Estates. This European manor is reminiscent of the grand luxury villas on Lake Como. A timeless elegance is created by interior finishes of limestone, coffered ceilings, architectural moldings, columns, and marble fireplaces. There are five bedrooms, six baths, two powders, private elevator, game room with pub, gym, and executive office suites. An incredible cascading multi-tiered waterfall descends dramatically into the pebble-tec pool and spa. No HOA. This villa is a must see! Huge Price Reduction! Offered at $2,795,000 s www.410UpperLakeRoad.com
When you meet Bill Carter and Michelle Ouellette, you can feel their charismatic enthusiasm and genuine desire to deliver the type of service that has unfortunately become a thing of the past. In this “quick-fix” world we have grown accustom to just the opposite. They concentrate on providing their clients with great service, accurate information, and solid guidance.
STUNNING AND SOPHISTICATED - Welcome to the Estates at Mountain View. A fabulous enclave, and perfectly situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, backing to open space. A very desirable location. Built in 2003, this stately property welcomes you with a 2 story foyer, and gorgeous wide planked hardwood flooring, with tiling that compliments. Warm hues of color through out, with an open floorplan and soaring ceilings. Every room finished which invokes luxury living at its finest. The professional chefs kitchen is large, boasting upscale appliances, opens to the sumptuous family room. Featuring approx 4200 sq ft of living space, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and 1 powder. The ensuite master bath is like having your own private spa. A fantastic gameroom with its own ensuite bath could be a 5th master suite.The outdoor entertainment area is nothing less than spectacular.Your own private putting green, built-in BBQ and bar area, pebble tec pool and spa with waterfalls and waterslide. Surrounded by tranquility. Huge Price Reduction! Offered at $1,225,000 s www.694ConejoSchool.com
“Being associated with Sotheby’s International Realty provides us with an extensive web marketing and multi-media international network that is unparalleled within the industry.” Their impeccable reputation in the real estate community combined with unquestionable integrity and superb negotiating skills rank them in the top 1% nationally. They love their job and it shows!!
Contact Bill and Michelle for a confidential consultation.
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T H E D R Y B A R. C O M (4 8 0) 6 0 7 . 5 0 6 4
JULY/AUGUST 2012
SOCIAL SCENES
PSYCHOLOGY
PROFILES
16 BATTLE FOR VETERANS & THE GREATER CONEJO VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNITE
52 LIVING HEALTHY IN THE SUMMERTIME
32 BECKY REAMS: FOOD IN A FLASH
By Lex Kumar
SHELTER DOGS GET NEW LEASH ON L.I.F.E. By Samantha Gold
17 THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS By Casey Hands
18 BOYS TEAM CHARITY KICKS OFF WITH HOPE By Lisa Kestenbaum
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY’S RED DAY EVENT By Lisa Kestenbaum
19 FEARLESS WOMEN WALK THE RED CARPET By Lex Kumar
THE 19TH ANNUAL CASA PACIFICA ANGELS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL By Casey Hands
20 FIRST ANNUAL T.H.E. EVENT By Casey Hands
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS’ CHAMPIONS FOR YOUTH BREAKFAST By Emily Capretta
21 MY STUFF BAGS FOUNDATION’S CHIC STUFF BOUTIQUE & LUNCHEON
By Dr. Christopher Fulton
54 GETTING AROUND THE BOREDOM BLOCK
By Lex Kumar
TIPS & VIEWS
34 TEAGUE PILATES: FROM THE INSIDE OUT
CELEBRITY
By Lisa Kestenbaum
56 CHRIS GALYA Robyn Flans
36 DR. JIMIN OH: ADVANCING ORTHODONTICS
58 NYAMBI NYAMBI Robyn Flans
By Kari Rodems
60 AYLA KELL: FROM BALLERINA TO TV STAR
40 A SOLID FOUNDATION: LEADER FLOORING By Kathleen Melton
Robyn Flans
50 WOOD RANCH BBQ & GRILL’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY: CELEBRATING A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
62 MACKINLEE WADDELL: FROM THE EHART Robyn Flans
By Joan Trossman Bien
64 DOMINIK GARCIA-LORIDO
74 THE ANATOMY OF A SMILE: DR. KATHLEEN CARSON
Robyn Flans
66 THE SECRET LIFE OF: FRANCIA RAISA
By Christina DeCamp
By Alisa German
70 MISS WHITE TEETH: ON PERFECTION AND HOW ANNOYING IT CAN BE By Sandy Francis
72 BOOK REVIEWS: HOT SUMMER READS By Carol Karm
82 DITL: DAY IN THE LIFE 94 RESTAURANT GUIDE By Holly Correa
95 THE FOUNDER’S COLUMN: GROWING OLDER, GETTING GOD’S ATTENTION By M. Dayle Thomas
Robyn Flans
HEALTH 68 THE SUN SHINES VITAMINS ON YOUR HEALTH
FEATURES
DATEBOOK
23 SUMMER, YOUTH & SPORTS
92 HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS
37 NATUREBRIDGE: THE NATURAL WAY TO LEARN
By Hannah Grossman, M.D.
By Kari Rodems
By Niki Chopra Richardson
TRAVEL 76 THE EVER-CHANGING FACE OF BERLIN
44/
By Linda Lang
38/
By Emily Capretta
MONEY MATTERS 44 FINANCIAL FOCUS: ANSWER THESE FIVE QUESTIONS TO ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS By Tom Yoon
COVERS Photography Kevin Foley
FOOD & WINE 88 McGRATH FAMILY FARM: FRESH FROM THE FIELD By Carol Karm
90 SPRING INTO SUMMER WITH THESE NEW WINES By Carol Karm
LET THE GAMES BEGIN: CELEBRATING LOCAL ATHLETES
4 JULY/AUGUST2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE
STEFANIE TAYLOR: IN FIGHTING SHAPE By Lex Kumar
A Spectacular Mediterranean Estate in 24 Hour Guard Gated Club Estates
A premier setting in North Ranch. Luxury residence sited on 2 Lots. Custom designed with impeccable taste. Understated elegance, ultimate luxury & craftsmanship define this estate. Rear grounds boast a premier resort lot. Stone steps lead to an awe inspiring walkway to the outdoor pavilion with fountains, fire features & waterfalls, & expansive gathering areas inside & out. This estate oers ease of living & entertaining. Offered at $6,900,000 • www.831countryvalley.com
818.879.2999 www.sigiandpam.com email:sigipam@aol.com North Ranch Pavilions Center, 1155 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village, CA 91362
Kelly Kel lly B. B. TTrevethan revethan Managing M anaging Director Director
A P R E M I ER WE S T COA S T LUXU RY P U B L I C AT I O N
A PREMIER WEST COAST LUXURY PUBLICATION PUBLISHED BY POWERHOUSE LUX MEDIA, INC. PUBLISHER Rebecca Gray Grossman EDITOR IN CHIEF Monique Reidy CREATIVE DIRECTOR Antoni (Tuan) Pham | ap@anhcreatives.com ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Kevin Foley Kevin@WestlakeMagazine.com | www.FoleyPhoto.com DEPUTY EDITOR Lex Kumar PHOTO EDITOR Benny Haddad | www.BennyHaddad.com CHIEF CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Stephen Morales | www.MoralesPhoto.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chris Brereton | www.picturehealing.com David Brand, Judi Bumstead, David Carlson, John Creston DuBois, Rob Gold, Ryan Michael Hackett, Gary Kious, Jimmy Pollock, Becky Reams, Rick Tapia SOCIAL EDITOR Lisa Kestenbaum
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS - AT - LARGE Joan Trossman Bien, Emily Capretta, Christina DeCamp, Sandy Francis, Dr. Christopher Fulton, Alisa German, Samantha Gold, Hannah Grossman, M.D., Casey Hands, Lisa Kestenbaum, Lex Kumar, Niki Chopra Richardson, Kari Rodems, Kelly Trevethan, Tom Yoon, Kelly Wilkes EDITORIAL INTERN Casey Hands FOUNDER M. Dayle Thomas ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Holly Correa | Dawn McCarthy | Rose Wiltshire advertising@WestlakeMagazine.com (818) 707-4416 FOR MEDIA KIT www.WestlakeMagazine.com
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EDITOR
Monique Reidy Editor-In-Chief Monique@westlakemagazine.com
EVERY PARENT HOPES HIS OR HER CHILD WILL GROW UP AND BECOME ACCOMPLISHED, SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY. Certainly, those parents are pleasantly surprised when that child happens to rise to that extraordinary level having not yet passed through childhood. While all children and teens are gifted and bear skills and talents unique to their personalities and surroundings, some youths have a particularly insatiable drive to break beyond the “average” and win the prize. Those young champs are the stars of Westlake Magazine this issue. We honor the youths in our community who have won titles for their teams, have earned trophies and medals, and those who are off to the Junior Olympics. But there are other winners besides our athletic achievers. There are tiny people with big hearts who are utilizing their time and abilities locally to serve others less fortunate, and we give tribute to them here as well. Without regard for their status as minors—or the fact that they have piles of homework and seven hours they must spend in class each day— these young people, willing to make the necessary sacrifices, have realized their dreams. Reading their personal accounts is an invigorating experience. I hope you enjoy reading our summer issue as much as I have. And pick up this copy again if you ever find yourself in a summertime slump; these kids’ stories will motivate and inspire you faster than you can say, “Rad.”
Stay cool! Monique
Keep in touch … Facebook: facebook.com/monique.reidy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/moniquereidy Twitter: @TheSavvyGal Pinterest: pinterest.com/monique_reidy/ Blog: www.TheSavvyGal.com
~ Henry Ford
10 JULY/AUGUST2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE
World-class care now closer to
Now open in Westlake Village The world-class healthcare services of UCLA Health System are moving west — with a new office now open in Westlake Village. Experience UCLA’s renowned primary care and specialty services, located conveniently nearby. Now you can have access to the doctors, expertise, cutting-edge research and breakthrough medical procedures of UCLA, closer than ever. Primary Care • Cardiology • Dermatology • Endocrinology • Oncology • Rheumatology
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Rebecca Gray Grossman Publisher Rebecca@westlakemagazine.com
With the Summer 2012 Olympics, XGames and competitive summer sports upon us, Westlake Magazine’s Summer ~Youth and Sports issue celebrates a number of astonishing athletes and organizations that together demonstrate the extraordinary benefits of physical fitness and teamwork. Sports and fitness programs provide opportunities for our youth to connect, grow and, at times, compete against others from around the world … exciting stuff! We are proud to highlight individuals who, as a result of their personal dedication, commitment and passion to excel, have been chosen out of thousands of other young competitors to represent their team, community and country. Four-time gold medal Olympian swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg, graces the front cover with local star athletes Curren Caples and Taylor Foley and national boxing champ Stefanie Taylor punches out our back cover. Lenny currently owns and operates a number of exceptional swim academies around the country (one of which is based in our neighboring community of West Hills, California). We also pay tribute to a number of organizations and individuals that focus on providing opportunity for underprivileged youth to be a part of sports, physical fitness and athletic programs. It’s vacation time and our Travel Editor, Linda Lang, takes us to the adventurous summer city of Berlin, Germany on page 76 , the perfect destination after attending the summer Olympic games in London, England. However, if you are looking for a place within a few hours-drive that provides physical activity for the entire family, adventure, beauty and pampering, check out Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Springs by scanning the QR Tag below. Their Splashtopia water-park will keep your kids moving and primed for all to enjoy a tranquil and breathtaking desert sunset. This is one of my favorite family destinations. As Westlake Magazine prepares to celebrate our 20th YEAR AnnIvERSARY with the September / October 2012 issue, we invite our readers and many supporters to join us for a celebration at Wood Ranch BBQ in Agoura Hills. Check out our website and Facebook page for all the details. Wood Ranch will also be celebrating their 20th year in business and we are happy to join them in rounding up the community to rejoice in this special milestone. There is something to be said for two decades of endurance! We hope you can join us. Stay active, stay fit, endure … and let the games begin!
Ken Waters, Ph.D. Chair, Communication Division Professor of Journalism, Pepperdine University
Peggy Hart Insurance Broker, Thorson Insurance Services
Louis Masry Senior Settlement Consultant Millennium Settlement Consulting
Ellen Leyva ABC7 Eyewitness News Anchor, Los Angeles
Scott Harris President, Mustang Marketing
LaVerne Milazzo Studio and Set Stylist / Veteran Makeup Artist
Les Shapiro, CPA Les Shapiro CPA
Patricia Jones, MBA Senior Vice President, Home Helpers Former President, Alliance for the Arts Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
Erica Miller, Ph.D. Author, Psychologist and Entrepreneur
J. Lynn Reynolds, Ph.D. Communication Research Human Communication and Mass Media
www.rancholaspalmas.com/summer-sale
12 JULY/AUGUST2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE
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Rosemary Allison (805) 491-2100
RosemaryAllison@aol.com
www.CallRosemary.com
10 Acres of Country Living + 8 Car + RV Garage
A Priceless Opportunity in North Ranch
www.11094RockyHigh.com
www.5135IslandForest.com
Magnificent 10 acre Bella Canyon Ranch in Santa Rosa Valley in unique pastoral setting. This Tuscan inspired custom built masterpiece ranch provides the beauty and grace of the country lifestyle in an estate development, this residence encompasses over 6,000 SF. Live the life you always dreamed of Every room offers something amazing with incredible attention to detail. The master suite is luxurious with amenities that include a sunken whirlpool tub set below a see through fireplace. Well suited for entertaining with a large formal dining room and incredible chef’s gourmet kitchen. As an added feature a huge custom garage for your RV and all your toys. Space for world class equestrian estate, tennis court, guest house, whatever your heart desires.
Island Forest, this extraordinary property is located in the heart of the renowned North Ranch Country Club golf course. In perhaps the most exclusive estate setting in Ventura County, this residence provides breathtaking golf course views. While the classic lines of the exterior are imposing, the interior evokes the elegance and warmth of a Europe’s most storied estates. Exquisitely composed, each space appears as a perfect tableau, yet the residence unfolds with grace and harmony. The huge great room/family room ideal for large scale entertaining forms the nexus of the estate. Throughout all the ceilings are remarkable and include a massive master bedroom suite upstairs with balcony highlighted by a remodeled master bath gorgeous curved master bathtub retreat. The main floor secondary bedroom suites with each their bathrooms.Gorgeous resort styled rear yard with built-in outdoor cooking center with built-in barbecue. Huge swimming pool, spa and slide.
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Rosemary Allison (805) 491-2100 RosemaryAllison@aol.com 2010
GOLDLINE
RESEARCH AWARD WINNER
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by the Small Business Commerce Association
THE MOST DEPENDABLE
2010 Volunteer of the Year
Forbes magazine
“women of outstanding achievement in our business community”
Copyright C 2012 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity Owned and Operated by NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker Residential does not guarantee or verify the accuracy of square footage, lot size, or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by the seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with the appropriate professionals. CA DRE Lic # 00545184
SOCIAL SCENES Special Guest Wounded Veteran Joshway and his bride with Director of Football Operations Hector Castro
Dean of Oaks students Karen Coyle with Oaks Athletic Director Jan Hethcock
BATTLE FOR VETERANS & THE GREATER CONEJO VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNITE Battle for veterans and The Greater Conejo valley Chamber of Commerce joined together this past March 29th to announce and celebrate their work together on the upcoming 3-day Labor Day Battle for veterans Event to raise funds for our community’s wounded veterans. The ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Bellini Osteria right here in Westlake village showcased the Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to helping Battle for veterans gather support and spread awareness about our community’s veterans and student athletes. The 3-day Labor Day event includes the Battle for veterans Evening of Honor at Calvary Church on Thursday, August 30, a football invitational (16 norCal and SoCal football teams will be coming to Westlake High School), and as part of some of the featured special entertainment, a military expo with elite parachute jump teams and flyovers. Special guest, Joshway, a wounded veteran himself, attended with his bride and spoke of his dream of starting a wheelchair basketball league. With help from Battle for veterans, our community can support his dream and the dreams of our many local veterans. BY LEx KuMAR // PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLLY CORREA
L.I.F.E. Founder Laurie Bernie with longtime volunteer Linda Ribas
Guests having a doggone good time.
Hot diggity dog! 3 year old beagle-terrier mix Sophia Vergarra flaunts her curves.
SHELTER DOGS GET NEW LEASH ON L.I.F.E
¡Ay Chihuahua! Bruno, a 1 year old Chihuahua, is hugged by L.I.F.E. Volunteer Colleen Wolfson.
L.I.F.E. Animal Rescue celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at the Agoura Hills Community Center. Founded by mother-daughter team Laurie and Emily Bernie of Agoura Hills in memory of their own dog, L.I.F.E. saves homeless or abandoned dogs and cats and places them in permanent, loving homes. Since 1992, L.I.F.E. has rescued and provided homes for over 6,000 animals. L.I.F.E. kicked off its fiesta with a silent auction, “Cutest Dog” contest and raffle for prizes from Camp Bow Wow, the Barkley Hotel and Pet Smart. Guests chowed down on a Mexican feast while enjoying tunes by local band, Ignition. Then the dogs took to the catwalk for the first-ever L.I.F.E. Doggy Fashion Show. The models, L.I.F.E. dogs currently up for adoption, donned the latest designs in canine couture. While most of the models eagerly scampered down the runway, they were much more interested in licking members of the audience. What a “pawfect” start to the dog days of summer! L.I.F.E. holds pet adoptions every Saturday at Pet Smart on Lindero Canyon Road. For information on how to volunteer or adopt a dog from L.I.F.E., visit www.lifeanimalrescue.org. BY SAMAnTHA GOLD // PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB GOLD
L.I.F.E. Volunteer Brandon Pattee
Conejo Valley Unified School District Teachers of the Month
Andrea Gallagher (left), President of Senior Concerns, accepts the award for Non-Profit of the Year
Thousand Oaks Police Department and Sponsor Representative Kristen Davis from Amgen
THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS
Dr. Terry Paulson delivers an inspirational speech as the guest speaker
The group gathered in the halls of Westlake village’s Baxter Healthcare Corporation on March 31st could not have been more inspiring. The 10th Annual Spirit of Community Awards, presented by the Greater Conejo valley Community Foundation, was established to recognize and express appreciation for the outstanding community service exhibited by local educators, firefighters and law enforcement. Awards also included “nonprofit Organization of the Year” and “volunteer of the Year.” The celebration began with a series of Taste Stations offering guests culinary delights from AB Caffé Services to Qdoba Mexican Grill samplers. Attendees couldn’t help but feel gratitude to all those helping to maintain the excellence of the community. President and CEO of the Greater Conejo valley Chamber of Commerce, Jill Lederer, beamed with pride throughout the evening. “We just love bringing all the different segments of the community together and honoring the special people who keep us safe, who teach our children and who just provide for us, currently and in the future.” BY CASEY HAnDS Academy of Dance performs a tribute to the Armed Forces
THE ART OF CULINARY EXCELLENCE FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY Monrose Catering is a full service catering company. We pride ourselves on our ability, based on 30 years of experience, to create and orchestrate an occasion that will be remembered by you and your guests for many, many years to come. Monrose has access to many exquisite oceanfront locations. Our selected locations can accommodate 25-2500.
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SOCIAL SCENES (L-R): Win Banning, Jennifer Sutman, Daniel Sutman, Melissa Banning and Tyler Banning
(L-R): BTC Co-President Kim Chopp, speaker John Hope Bryant and Stefanie Wennes, BTC Co-President
BOYS TEAM CHARITY KICKS OFF WITH HOPE What might have been another lazy Sunday turned out to be an invigorating, inspiring afternoon for the members of the Boys Team Charity Conejo valley League and their families as they assembled for the organization’s Kick Off Meeting at California Lutheran university. On Sunday, May 6th, BTC members, ranging from ages 10 to 18, listened as the charismatic guest speaker, John Hope Bryant, talked to them about making progress through change, strong leadership, good decision-making and…birds. “You can be an eagle, a buzzard or a turkey,” said Bryant, CEO and Founder of Operation Hope. “This is your time…Choose to soar.” Launched by two mothers in 2002, BTC is an association for young men dedicated to service and charity work. In just six months, the BTC Conejo valley League accumulated 2,000 hours of community service by helping out nonprofits such as Casa Pacifica, MAnnA, My Stuff Bags Foundation and Food Forward. The Kick Off Meeting concluded with a standing ovation as Bryant reminded the young men that they too have the chance to make a difference. “Light a candle, don’t curse the darkness,” he said. BY LISA KESTEnBAuM Nicholas Shore, President of the 10th grade class of BTC, shaking Mr. Bryant’s hand (seated next to Mr. Bryant is Abbie Gourley, a BTC board member)
Supporting the Park and Rec at the Thousand Oaks Community Center
Day Committee: Tanya Mendez, Milli Rivezzo, Cindy Jacobson, Fred Konigsbach and Edith Anaya
Keller Williams Westlake Village RED Day Volunteers at the Kick Off Event
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY’S RED DAY EVENT Bright red balloons and beaming faces filled the
Doug Osgood—pumped up and ready to volunteer with Hospice of the Conejo
parking lot at Keller Williams Realty of Westlake village on the morning of May 10th during the company’s annual RED (Renew, Energize and Donate) Day event. Cheers erupted from all of the agents as music pumped from speakers and a helicopter circled overhead. The event celebrates Keller Williams’ firm commitment to community service—on this day, agents from all offices headed to charitable organizations to help out. As of 7:30 a.m., the Keller Williams Westlake village office had prepared 131 meals—exceeding their goal of 100—for the families at the Moorpark Food Pantry. Thousand Oaks Mayor, Jacqui v. Irwin, exclaimed that she had never been greeted so enthusiastically and thanked those at Keller Williams for making a tremendous difference in the community. The energized agents were also presented with a certificate of appreciation from Senator Tony Strickland’s office. Kim Woods, a realtor partner of The Moerler Team at Keller Williams, came out for her fourth RED Day. “It’s a great, fun way to give back,” she said with a big smile. BY LISA KESTEnBAuM // PHOTOS COuRTESY OF KELLER WILLIAMS
Volunteers helping wash windows for a patient under Hospice Care
Patti DeNucci featured in the last book, Fearless Women, Fearless Wisdom and author of the award-winning book, "The Intentional Networker"
(L-R): Rebecca Grossman and Dr. Erica Miller (both featured in Fearless Women, Visions of a New World), Stephanie Quayle (Nashville singer whose song "Sophia" is featured on "Songs for a New World,” the cd that comes with the Fearless Women book)
Mary Morrissey, bestselling author, who wrote the foreword to the book, Fearless Women, Visions of a New World
Nicole Jackson Jones, from Santa Monica, featured in the book, Fearless Women, Visions of a New World
FEARLESS WOMEN WALK THE RED CARPET World-renowned photographer Mary Ann
Mary Ann Halpin and Forbes Riley, featured in Fearless Women, Visions of a New World, Forbes TV spokeswoman and creator of Spin Gym Fitness
Halpin’s new book, “Fearless Women, visions of a new World,” celebrates the work of inspiring women from around the world. On May 18, Fearless Women walked the red carpet to the awards ceremony where these dynamic women were honored for their visionary work. Halpin, also the founder and CEO of Fearless Women Global, works to inspire, motivate, educate and connect women business owners and organizational leaders. Her new book shares the stories of fifty powerful women who are changing the world. She asks us all to ask ourselves: “What can I do to make this world a better place?” Ten percent of the proceeds from the Fearless Women Event are going to the nonprofit, A Billion Fearless Women. Rebecca Grossman, our very own Publisher, presented awards and said, “It was an amazingly powerful experience to be in the company of so many trendsetting women from around the world.” BY LEx KuMAR // PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS BRERETOn
(L-R): Natasha Ikeda, Lindsay Laubacher-Smith, Danielle Gomez, and Krisie Smith
Singing group, "Perfect Fifth," sisters who are featured on the cd, singing "Visions of a New World"
Mitchell Gebhard and Jonas Wilby of Stone Brewing Co.’s sampling booth took a moment to toast Casa Pacifica on their successful event
Adrien Nieto (right) attended the festival with his date as a celebrity chef and judge to the culinary competition
THE 19TH ANNUAL CASA PACIFICA ANGELS WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL visitors wined, dined and had
Whole Foods sampler display
a good time on June 3rd at the 19th Annual Casa Pacifica Angels Wine & Food Festival. On the California State university Channel Islands campus, the festival brought together the finest collection of wineries, breweries and catering for guests to enjoy at $100 per ticket. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, working within our community to provide aid for at-risk children and families suffering from abuse or neglect. Each guest, given a uniquely designed Wine & Food Festival platter with an interlocking wine glass, was invited to visit each booth as many times as they pleased. With energy-boosting live music, a silent auction and a great turnout, the event was nothing short of a success. Celebrity chef, Adrien nieto, and judge of the Festival’s culinary competition explained, “Something I took into consideration was…how much did they want to stand out... I looked for creativity and specific ingredients because I wanted to know what they could do to transform them or elevate them. It was a great time.”BY CASEY HAnDS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY REAMS
Guests Mike Biedibach and Steve Holt enjoyed some live entertainment and refreshments in the VIP section of the festival
SOCIAL SCENES James Denton and Adrian Pasdar rocked the house!
FIRST ANNUAL T.H.E. EVENT Hollywood hit the red carpet for the T.H.E. Event held on June 9th at the beautiful Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center to help raise money for the Las virgenes School District. The T.H.E. event was created by the T.H.E. Foundation—Together Helping Education for Las virgenes Schools—in an effort to aid the declining state of California’s funding for local public education. The event was wildly successful with appearances by local celebrities, entertainment from the Band from Tv, gourmet wine and food tastings, extravagant silent and live auctions and over 1,000 guests. All of the proceeds from the evening went toward the T.H.E. Foundation’s mission to help local educators and educational programs provide their students with the tools necessary to maintain the excellence of the LvuSD. James Denton, member of the Band from Tv and star of ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” commented on being a part of the event: “It’s common sense. It’s a shame that teachers are going out-of-pocket for supplies these days. These children and their education are our future. It’s so nice to pitch in, we couldn’t say no.” With over $400,000 in proceeds, four times the expected turnout, the T.H.E. Foundation held an evening of elegance, entertainment and raging success. BY CASEY HAnDS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAvID BRAnD
The hosts for the evening—Co-Chairs Jessica Pinto Nedick and Deanna Glassberg, with Honorary Chairpeople Greg and Elizabeth Grunberg, emcee Chris Harrison and Marc Hernandez, Co-Chair and President of T.H.E. Foundation.
Boys & Girls Clubs Chairman Gary Stephani, Founding Chairman Cal Johnston, and CEO Mark Elswick
The sponsorship tables are full and lively as the Live Auction gets underway
Greg Grunberg serenades Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo & Las Virgenes Club Members
Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief, Andy Fox and City of Thousand Oaks Mayor, Jacqui Irwin
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS’ CHAMPIONS FOR YOUTH BREAKFAST The 3rd Annual
Las Virgenes Unified School District Deputy Superintendent, Dan Stepenosky, Asst. Superintendent of Business Karen Kimmel, and Superintendent Donald Zimring
Champions for Youth Breakfast was held at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in honor of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo and Las virgenes. The “friendraiser” event, sponsored by Merrill Lynch, promoted a powerful message for the community. Founded 11 years ago by Cal and Marge Johnston, the BGCC’s mission is to enhance the lives of young people and their families by providing a positive environment that cultivates academic success, healthy living and active citizenship. Guest speaker, Dr. Jamshid Damooei of Cal Lutheran university, provided intriguing information on the positive economic impact of investing in BGCC. Attendees also enjoyed Sheriff Geoff Dean’s humor as the master of ceremonies and listened to a beautiful rendition of “The Greatest Love Of All” by 11-year-old Sequoia BGCC member, Dariele Parayaoan. BY EMILY CAPRETTA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JuDI BuMSTEAD PHOTOGRAPHY
Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the Year, 14 and over category, Jaclyn Lee
My Stuff Bags bag
MY STUFF BAGS FOUNDATION’S CHIC STUFF BOUTIQUE & LUNCHEON At this year’s annual Boutique and Luncheon for the My Stuff Bags Foundation on May 23rd, people shopped for a cause worth splurging on. Each year more than 300,000 abused and neglected children must be rescued from dangerous homes. My Stuff Bags Foundation offers these children a more hopeful start, helping to provide them with new belongings such as stuffed animals, clothing and school supplies. With beautiful spring weather and a gorgeous lake setting at The Westlake village Inn, ladies perused items from 19 different vendors. From jewelry and fashion to outdoor dishes and olive oil, the options were endless. Attendees played bingo throughout lunch while enjoying fabulously stocked raffle baskets. President and CEO Janeen Holmes said, “it’s always such a wonderful cause and we are so grateful for all the continued local support.” Please visit their website, www.mystuffbags.com, for more information, to donate or volunteer. BY EMILY CAPRETTA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS BRERETOn
Sandie Clendon and Patti Figge
Linda Denning, Vom Fass olive oils
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WHETHER FINDING WAYS TO HONOR LOVED ONES, BETTER THEIR COMMUNITY, WIN THEIR NEXT RACE OR PLAY THEIR BEST GAME, THESE LOCAL YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN HAVE FOUND AND NURTURED THEIR TRUE CALLINGS. AS YOUNG AS THEY ARE, THEY INSPIRE US TO DO THE SAME. BRIMMING WITH MOTIVATION, ENERGY AND PASSION, THESE ATHLETES AND GO-GETTERS—AND THE ADULTS THAT HAVE HELPED AND ENCOURAGED THEM—ARE SURE TO MAKE YOU WANT TO JUMP UP AND GET IN THE GAME, TOO!
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CONEJO VALLEY DANCE CHAMPIONS BY NIKI CHOPRA RICHARDSON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID CARLSON
ONEJO VALLEY HAS A NEW REASON TO BE PROUD. THE NEWBURY PARK HIGH SCHOOL DANCE TEAM BROUGHT HOME FIRST PLACE AT THE ANNUAL UNITED SPIRIT ASSOCIATION’S DANCE NATIONALS IN ANAHEIM ON MARCH 31ST.
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BIANCA DAVIES: A MODEL CITIZEN BY LEX KUMAR
IANCA DAVIES IS AN EXAMPLE—A BEAUTIFUL ONE—OF HOW TO TRANSFORM A PERSONAL TRAGEDY INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REINVENTION. After graduating from Oxnard High School in 2007, Davies, a rising basketball star, headed to California State university, northridge with an athletic scholarship. But after playing on their women’s basketball team for four years, she tore a major ligament in her knee. Planning on playing basketball professionally, she was suddenly left filled with uncertainty about her future. “A couple months after my surgery, my coach [Jason Flowers] asked me about my dreams. Basketball…was my dream. But when he saw that my dream had been taken away from me, he changed the question. ‘What’s your dream job’? I want to be a model, I said. That’s every girl’s dream, I joked.” Two days later, Coach Flowers called Davies to tell her she had an appointment at natural Model Management, a modeling agency specializing in plus-size models (size five and up). Davies, now a successful working model, promotes nMM owner Katie Halchishick’s motto, “Healthy is the new skinny.” “The point is to be healthy in all areas of your life,” explained Davies. “You don’t have to be a size zero to be perfect or a size three to be beautiful.” But basketball and modeling are not her only passions. During college, Davies discovered a love for community service while conducting basketball clinics with developmentally disabled students. She now works at Cole vocational Services in Oxnard and at only 22 years old, already oversees a staff of eleven and works with over thirty clients, “almost all of them registered in college,” she shared proudly. “I was playing basketball all my life. My coach took the time to help me see what other options I had,” divulged Davies, still grateful to Coach Flowers for his support. “I speak with him every week and update him on my photo shoots. He's very proud of me. I always go back and thank him.”
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To compete among a nationwide pool of thousands of dancers from top tier high school dance teams and to win in two categories is certainly no small feat and can only be attributed to the dancers’ hard work and dedication. The team won first place in the two categories entered and earned the title of national Grand Champion for Small Lyrical Dance and for Large Hip Hop, both of which were performed at the evening’s gala. This is the first time that the newbury Park
High School Dance Team has won at the uSA Dance nationals in the Championship category. “There is no doubt we had talented dancers in our 2012 team this year but the most important variable was that they trusted our coaching staff [Coaches Mandy Korpenin and Elizabeth Petrin],” said Cameo Carolan, nPHS Dance Team Director. “By allowing themselves to be coached and by putting their own opinions aside, they were able to exceed the goal they made on the first day of practice, to make it into finals at nationals.” Westlake Magazine is proud of this young cadre of talented dancers and looks forward to following their progress as they take on more championships nationwide.
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WELL DONE, WILLOW BY KARI RODEMS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY KIOUS
ILLOW HELENA MARKOWITZ, A RECENT GRADUATE OF AGOURA HIGH SCHOOL, STUDIED HARD, PLAYED HARD AND IT PAID OFF. With no shortage of college offers, Markowitz will be heading out to play volleyball and study communication at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho on a full scholarship. A second-degree black belt, Markowitz launched her impressive high school volleyball career upon the encouragement of her best friend, Katherine Franz, who had long been an avid club volleyball player. Prior to trying out for the freshman/sophomore high school team, Markowitz had only played volleyball for fun with friends. Looking back, she noted, “Being part of the team was a great way to meet new people as a freshman. We really learned to come together and it was a group of friends that you could always count on.” volleyball proved to be a natural fit for Markowitz. Her coaches agreed and she was awarded “Most Improved Player” after her first season. Since then, volleyball has provided a whirlwind of opportunities for the young athlete who was also selected to be on the ventura County All-Star Team. According to her mom, Kari Lloyd-Markowitz, “She was chosen to be on the High Performance European Global Team last summer and represented the u.S. against major European national teams.” Her parents are thrilled with her choice for college. “She was offered numerous scholarships with various Division I colleges, but chose a small school [in a] small town where 1,500 local residents come support their Women's volleyball Team and there are posters and billboards of the team throughout the town.” One particularly memorable experience for Markowitz and her teammates took place in Europe, off the court. After winning a match, the coaches told them they could see a screening of “Harry Potter” at an ancient coliseum at midnight. The team painted lightning bolts, “Harry Potter”style, on their foreheads and went to the midnight movie. “It was open-aired and they could see thunder and lightning in a distant town…a really a magical moment for her,” said her mother. Markowitz will have a busy summer as she continues to train while preparing for college. Reflecting on her journey thus far, she noted, “I have a lot of great memories around volleyball, like when we first found out my varsity team was going to playoffs. It was amazing…and going to Europe, seeing how they do different plays there and making lifelong friends that I intend to keep in contact with on Facebook.” Markowitz’s Agoura High coach, Brock Redmond, had this to say about the 6’1” outside hitter: “Willow is a very hardworking, driven young woman. She dedicated four years of her life to be the best volleyball player she can be and achieve a goal of playing in college. She has succeeded, her hard work and dedication has paid off.” He added, “I wish the best of luck and great success for Willow.” That is a sentiment undoubtedly echoed by her whole community.
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RACING AROUND WESTLAKE WITH GRIFFIN STEINFELD BY EMILY CAPRETTA
OST PARENTS WORRY ABOUT THEIR TEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, THEIR ANGST RISING A LITTLE MORE ON A RAINY DAY. But Pete and Cheri Steinfeld are not normal parents—they watch as their 18year-old son, Griffin, races around a track going 130 miles per hour, or more. “Yes, racing is dangerous, but so is football and basketball. We just knew Griffin would be a driver,” they explained. A recent graduate of Westlake High School, Steinfeld is currently one of the youngest drivers in nascar, racing in two different series this season. The grueling schedule was tough to balance, but that was the agreement he made with his parents: “I learned from my parents: don’t put off to tomorrow what you can get done today,” he said. “School always came first.” After a tragic accident during a desert race, Steinfeld and his parents decided to move to a more controlled environment. His talent and passion were quickly noticed while driving laps at Toyota Raceway in Irwindale. A few weeks later, after signing some legal paperwork and getting three sponsors, this young man’s dream became a reality. Steinfeld has always been interested in mechanics. When most kids wanted an action figure, a sixyear-old Steinfeld got a gas-powered leaf blower because he loved the sound it made and wanted to take it apart. The Steinfeld house soon became a bustling workshop— from vacuums, fans and blow dryers, he soon moved onto car motors. For his 14th birthday, he got a 1956
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Chevy Apache pickup, spending a year getting it ready, just in time to get his license. Most people don’t realize the rigorous training schedule racecar driving requires. Steinfeld spends four to ten hours a week just watching races and studying the tracks. “I spend as much time with my crew chief as possible since he’s my spotter. He’s the guy in my ear telling me when it’s clear to pass so it’s good to be friends with him,” joked Steinfeld. His father, a local trainer, has also stressed the importance of being an athlete. For that reason, Steinfeld is in the gym five days a week, building his endurance, strength and flexibility. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he is one of the tallest drivers in the series, so maintaining the right weight is essential. Watching their kids succeed at what they love has become a common theme for the Steinfeld parents. Their daughter, Hailee, was recently nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the film, “True Grit.” Grateful to his parents’ support, he added, “All of this has been possible thanks to my parents and knowing my sister is always by my side.” Here’s a small glimpse into this daredevil’s mind on race day: “When I’m climbing through that open window and setting in to my very confined seat, I truly block everyone out. Gloves on…I go to another place mentally. I know what I need to do. The last thing I tell myself is what my parents always tell me: ‘Be safe and have fun!’”
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MOLLY’S MISSION BY KARI RODEMS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JIMMY POLLOCK
HIS PAST NOVEMBER THE PHILLIPS FAMILY FROM THOUSAND OAKS LOST A DEAR FAMILY FRIEND TO OVARIAN CANCER. Her name was Marianne Eismann. According to 8-year-old Molly Phillips, there was much to be admired and remembered about Eismann: “She really loved dogs and loved to take care of foster dogs. That is something we both have in common. She also liked to make things. She taught me how to bead…She loved to bead a lot. She was the nicest person and now I love beading too and get to remember my friend when I make things.” Having been deeply impacted by her friendship with Eismann, Molly was inspired to create a special keepsake necklace for her mom to open on Christmas. With Eismann’s passion for creativity in mind, Molly and her dad, Dan Phillips, set out to find the right beads to honor their friend. Molly was determined to choose specific beads with special meaning so that her mother Patricia, when wearing the necklace, would recall fond memories and celebrate the life of their dear friend. The father and daughter duo’s heartfelt plan succeeded in doing just that! It seems Molly had added something extra to ensure their friend would never be forgotten. On each side of the necklace she placed a bead with Marianne Eismann’s initials. The simple inclusion of an “M” and an “E” along with teal-colored beads—representing the fight against Ovarian Cancer—not only brought joy to
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ZACH SIKICH: CHASING A DREAM, ONE GOAL AT A TIME BY EMILY CAPRETTA
ACH SIKICH IS UNLIKE MOST 18-YEAR-OLDS. Rather than spending his time with friends down at the beach or walking across the stage to accept his high school diploma, Sikich is living in Minnesota, chasing his dream of being a professional hockey player. Two years ago, the Oak Park native moved across the country to St. Cloud, Mn to play right wing for the Granite City Lumberjacks. “Everyone always talked about football and soccer, but no one knew what hockey was or understood what I was talking about,” said Sikich. Since there were no hockey programs at his school, he played in El Segundo for two seasons with the Junior Kings and skated with the So Cal Titans at the Simi valley Isoplex. Inspired by his father who played Division 1 hockey, Sikich headed east, turned to home schooling and graduated early. He recently won a national championship with his team in the north American 3 Hockey League, the nAHL. “I love scoring and honestly, hitting people. It’s the best,” joked Sikich. Hard work has paid off as Sikich has been tendered by the Austin Bruins of the nAHL and he hopes to play for them. “My dream would be to play professionally as I admire Kyle Clifford on the Kings, but if it doesn’t work out I’d like to go to college and be a firefighter.” As passionate as Sikich is about hockey, living away from his family, including two younger sisters and an older brother, has been challenging. “The hardest part is missing my friends and hearing that my sisters are sad I’m not home.” This Medea Creek and Oak Park alum is also missing something else he can’t get in the Midwest. “In-n-Out burgers. I crave those for sure!” no matter what happens, Sikich loves just being able to aim for, and hit, his dreams.
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“SHE IS A GIRLY-GIRL AND NOT ONLY HAS FUN CREATING THE JEWELRY, BUT IS LEARNING ABOUT BUSINESS AND THAT YOU CAN GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.”
her mother but also inspired her father to help Molly launch a mission of her own. That’s how her web-based business, never Forget necklace, was born. Established as a way to help others remember their lost loved ones, Molly created a place where her original necklaces could be ordered, created and shipped to those who wanted to purchase her extraordinary pieces. never forgetting Marianne Eismann’s impact on all of this, a portion of the sale of each necklace is donated to Ovarian Cancer Research. “I really like helping people,” explained Molly Phillips, pointing out that when possible, she happily customizes her creations for customers. Patricia Phillips shared how much her daughter had grown from this experience: “She is a girly-girl and not only has fun creating the jewelry, but is learning about business and that you can give back to your community no matter how old you are.” Molly’s mother noted that in recent months, her daughter has been asked numerous times to consider creating bracelets as well. Plans are now underway to offer bracelets at more affordable price points, making them accessible to a larger audience. As her jewelry line begins to expand, Molly continues to be thrilled to have found a mission she’s passionate about. visit www.neverforgetnecklace.com to read more about Molly Phillips, her mission to commemorate lost loved ones and browse her latest heartfelt works of art.
COACHING CHAMPIONS: LOCAL FOOTBALL HERO, BILL REDELL BY ALISA GERMAN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN MORALES
AKS CHRISTIAN COACH, BILL REDELL, IS BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER IN HIS LIFE BY ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT. JUST AS QUICKLY AS THE ANNOUNCEMENT HIT THE PAPERS, THE OFFERS FROM OTHER TEAMS CAME FLOODING IN. “I’VE SEEN GUYS IN COACHING AND IN BUSINESS THAT HANG ON TOO LONG. OAKS CHRISTIAN IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME. THEY NEED A NEW FRESH ENERGY IN THERE.”
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Redell will help Oaks Christian make the transition and after a vacation with his wife, he will begin his new job in very familiar territory. “I’ve accepted the head coaching position at Occidental College. I went there and played there, my Mom went there. There’s a lot of history and it’s a fantastic opportunity. I’m grateful for all that Oaks Christian has done for me and I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my career.” “I think he made the right decision, I’m just glad he’s busy doing what he loves,” chimed in wife, Cheryl Redell. Bill and Cheryl Redell have been together for 47 years and lived in Westlake village since 1977. While Redell coached football for professional, college and high school teams, the pair raised their three boys Randy, Bill and Ronny in Westlake. Redell has been coaching high school for over 24 years and his career is truly impressive. not only has he built one of the top high school teams in the state, his Oaks Christian Lions won the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) title six years in a row, setting a record for the CIF. He also spent seven years at St. Francis High School in Mountain view and five years coaching at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, where he took the team all the way to the 1986 Division I Championship. As an athlete he played at
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Occidental College, leading his team to two SCIAC (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) championships and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He played briefly in the nFL and spent six seasons in the CFL (Canadian Football League) taking away a Grey Cup—the equivalent of the Super Bowl’s vince Lombardi Trophy—in 1967. All of this and yet Redell is truly humbled and honored by the experiences he’s had, crediting his father for teaching him to do what he loved. “My Dad had a job that he dreaded and he always told me as long as you can take care of your family, you need to do in your life what you really want to do… I was lucky to be able to do that.” Redell has coached many kids of famous parents, though he is proud of all the kids that have come out of the program. “One out of every ten thousand high school kids goes on to the nFL… Oaks Christian has put 62 kids in football. In one year we put 11 kids and 9 of them started.” Like listening to a proud father talk about his children, he remembers his players fondly. “I’ll miss the coaches and the kids… You realize, the impact that you’ve had on the kids. I will miss that.”
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left to right back row Health-E-tips Christine Mango, Patti Howell, co-chair Dominique Dawes middle row JAM kids, council members, Michelle Kwan and Billie Jean King front row seated Council Executive Director Shellie Pfohl, Cindra Skotzko
Founder, Patti Howell speaking at the President's Council Meeting in D.C
PE Specialist and students lead JAMmin' Minute routine at President's Council meeting (behind) former Olympian gymnast Dominique Dawes and New Orleans' Saint's quarterback, Drew Brees
JUST A MINUTE! JAMmin’ to Better Health from Calabasas to Washington, D.C. BY CHRISTINE MANGO
IDS HERE, KIDS THERE AND NOW PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE JAMMIN’ TO BETTER HEALTH. A popular program called the JAM School Program debuted six years ago in the Las virgenes unified School District (LvuSD) when Rose Dunn, Director of Instruction, welcomed a free new wellness resource into classrooms called the JAMmin’ Minute®, a product of the JAM School Program. JAMmin’ Minutes are quick, fun and simple exercise routines that have proven to be a “JAM” good way to motivate students and staff school-wide. What started right here in the LvuSD by local resident Patti Howell of Health-E-tips, Inc. has become contagious, catching on around the country and even abroad. Today, the JAM School Program has landed in over 20,000 schools with nine million kids, adding 250,000 newly enrolled kids each month. This kid-friendly program inspires adults as well—JAMmin’ Minute® routines are showing up in corporate boardrooms and national conferences, capturing the attention of
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First Lady Michelle Obama and Washington, D.C. This past May, the program was invited to demonstrate its success at the program at the annual meeting of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and nutrition. Keeping to its roots, LvuSD’s Lupin Hill Elementary P.E. Specialist, Cindra Skotzko, a dedicated Jammer, was asked to lead the program in D.C. Students and teachers from all across the nation, including two who are physically-challenged, traveled to the capital to demonstrate JAM’s impact on people of all ages and all abilities. JAM leaders led council members, including Drew Brees, Billie Jean King, Dominique Dawes and Michelle Kwan, and the live televised audience in a fitness routine and nutrition skit choreographed by Skotzko. Afterwards, Billie Jean King endorsed the program, saying, “Everyone should be doing a JAMmin’ Minute every day!” Prior to the D.C. trip, Skotzko coordinated several LvuSD elementary schools to participate in the first-ever community JAMmin’ World Record. Students recruited parents and community members to come together to
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perform a JAMmin' Minute Flash Mob routine. Sponsored by Crunchies Food, the event even grabbed attention from local retail stores where people were JAMmin' wherever they were to support local students. Maddy’s Market, a health food store in Calabasas, broadcast the routine over their P.A. system and shoppers and employees got their JAM on. This groundbreaking initiative has set the stage for the program’s upcoming national JAMmin’ Across America event on September 27. JAMmin’ Across America is a first-ever initiative led by our nation’s schools and kids that invites the entire nation to set a world record for the most people doing a oneminute exercise routine. State JAM Leaders, athletes and nationally recognized organizations are eager to promote this monumental event, including the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (an initiative of the American Heart Association), the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In addition, September 27 will be featured in nickelodeon’s Big Help Playbook, a resource that supports nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, showing everyone all the different ways to play. Join the JAM: Support our schools and be a part of a World Record on September 27— It’s Worth the Minute! To register, visit www.healthetips.com.
Photos courtesy of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
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OU KNOW THE SCENE IN “JERRY MAGUIRE” WHEN JERRY YELLS, “HELP ME HELP YOU!” IN HIS MOMENT OF DESPERATION, YOU BECOME ENTRANCED WITH THE SMOOTH, FAST-TALKING AGENT WHO’S NOT SO HARD ON THE EYES.
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“AFTER A HEALTH SCARE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I DECIDED TO WAKE UP. YOU KNOW WHY? LIFE IS SHORT AND NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL.”
DARIN HARVEY: UNCAGED BY EMILY CAPRETTA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN CRESTON DUBOIS
Well within five minutes of sitting down with Darin Harvey, I find myself drawing parallels to Tom Cruise’s infamous character. Beyond their similar speaking style and suave demeanor, they’re also alike in another important way: they’re both defined by their passion. “After a health scare a couple years ago, I decided to wake up. You know why? Life is short and not a dress rehearsal,” recounts Harvey. He decided to found Fight Tribe Management in 2010, a full service management company specifically for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes. After dabbling in different businesses over the years, like real estate and a beverage company, this West valley native has found his true calling. “I have always dabbled in MMA and wanted to be a fighter, but I got pressure not to from my family,” said Harvey. A devout fitness junkie himself, Harvey has a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. “The funny thing is, one of the first things I tell my clients is not to do it, but if they are going to, I am the guy because I will make it the safest.” Fight Tribe Management now represents a roster of world-class mixed martial arts fighters, most of who are current or former uFC (ultimate Fighting Championship) and WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) fighters. Harvey got into the industry, which originated in Brazil, in 1993 when the first MMA fight was held in the uS. He helped famed and local fighter, Bas Rutten, establish his career and launched boxer Lucille Riker’s first fight. His impressive clientele includes many fighters seen on the popular Tv show, “The ultimate Fighter.” Today, Harvey’s biggest client is current Strikeforce banner weight champion, Rhonda Rousey, who’s making headlines in the MMA world. His goal for Rousey, as with all his clients, is to help her create a successful career and life after fighting. “Trust is proven, not given. You have to earn it,” said Harvey. As their manager, he takes care of everything so that they can focus on training and preparing for a fight. “There’s nothing I won’t do. I tell my fighters I am their wealthiest slave.” As Harvey’s eight-year-old son, Tanner, gets older, he doesn’t want to necessarily see him step into the cage. “MMA is actually safer than boxing since 95 percent of the shots in boxing go to the head. In MMA they go to the body,” he explained. However, whatever Tanner decides to do, his dad will support him. Harvey’s passion and dedication are infectious as he lives life with a simple motto: “The main goal is just to find something you love so that it doesn’t feel like work when you wake up in the morning. That’s what I’ve found.”
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NEW ZEALAND FITNESS: BUILDING MUSCLE … AND CHARACTER BY KELLY WILKES
HERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS TO WORK OUT, AS WE ALL KNOW. You should do it to stay healthy, to keep in shape and to blow off steam every once in a while. Most people go to the gym to improve the way they look on the outside. However, new Zealand Fitness owner Dean Buttar has another reason for wanting people to train at his gym: to improve who they are on the inside. Buttar opened up new Zealand Fitness in Calabasas five years ago when he noticed the lack of local facilities for private training. His gym’s offerings are plentiful, with a variety of classes from kick boxing, mixed fighting, circuit training and boot
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camps to one-on-one training with a professional who will help you get the specific results you’re after. The motto of the gym is “Kia Kaha” which means “forever strong.” Buttar picked up the phrase from the Maori, a tribe indigenous to new Zealand and it’s a saying by which Buttar trains and lives his life. “In the Maori culture, which is also the philosophy of my gym, they promote being strong in all aspects of your life—it’s not just about being physically fit, but it also focuses on being mentally, emotionally and spiritually strong. It’s about promoting a balanced, healthy lifestyle, because one’s not good without the other. I have a Hei-Matau, which is a bone carving in the shape of a hook, and that’s what it represents. I wear that around my neck and it’s also an emblem for the gym.” One of the most unique aspects of new Zealand fitness is its Mentor Program designed specially for teenagers. This program has been in effect for eight years, ever since Buttar first saw how training young people could change their lives so dramatically for the better. “I had a young client at my original location in Sherman Oaks who was not on a good path. I started boxing with him and he eventually opened up to me through boxing.” The teen’s father was so impressed by the change in his son that he decided to invest in new Zealand Fitness. Buttar was then able to open up the Calabasas location. He made a promise to his investor that he would train one teen for free for a period of time to con-
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tinue the success of his mentoring program. “There’s so much kids face at the moment. It doesn’t matter what socioeconomic background they come from… If they need help, I want to be there to help and try to set them on the right path.” Buttar has seen fantastic results with the program and says it is the most satisfying thing about the gym. To watch troubled teens come in and eventually become leaders, setting an example for their peers, makes him incredibly proud. To learn more about the Mentor Program and other programs offered for all ages and families at new Zealand Fitness, visit nzfitness.us or call (818) 222-2440.
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PROFILE
MasterChef
BECKY REAMS: FOOD IN A FLASH
“THE GREAT THING ABOUT COOKING IS THAT YOU CAN INTRODUCE THINGS TO PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULDN’T NORMALLY TRY.” BY LEX KUMAR // PHOTOGRAPHY BY RIC TAPIA
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Becky Reams, whose photography has been published in our very own Westlake Magazine, discovered her talent for photography in high school and in 2008, moved to Los Angeles from Stillwell, Kansas. Born and raised on a farm, her parents had no idea about her passion for fine dining. Her fondest childhood memory is making piecrust with her mother, her “cooking inspiration” who called herself “just a country cook.” Combining this country simplicity with a honed photographic eye, Reams has gotten the judges of Fox’s Tv show, “MasterChef,” to take notice of her culinary skills. A passionate foodie, Reams began voraciously watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks after moving to California. She soon started a food blog, “Delicious view” (deliciousview.blogspot.com) and realized she could combine her love of food with her talent for photography. For Reams, the discovery of food photography as a career choice was “love at first sight.” Soon she developed a keen interest in cooking with unusual, local ingredients—perfect in California, a beacon of diverse, delicious produce. “The great thing about cooking is that you can introduce things to people that they wouldn’t normally try.” Her friends soon pushed her to audition for Bravo Tv’s amateur chef competition, “MasterChef.” On her third attempt, Becky and the dish she concocted for judges got her a spot in the Top 100. “You’re surrounded by people who love what you love, you get to talk with them and eat with them…It’s a dream come true.” Reams strove to showcase food that was “very me but also showed my skill and technique…something that’s quintessentially me.” Grateful she finally took a “leap of faith,” fans of her cooking can soon eat off a menu designed by Reams in Manhattan Beach at Two Guns Espresso. Watch season three of “MasterChef” to see if celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Graham Elliot present Becky Reams with an apron, placing her in the Top 18. “I’m finally accepting that I can be a photographer and a chef at the same time. Maybe I’ll be the first chef that can photograph her own cookbook,” said Reams, beaming.
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PROFILE
TEAGUE PILATES,
FROM THE INSIDE OUT BY LISA KESTENBAUM // PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BRAND
GERALD AND CATHIE’S TIPS FOR HEALTHY LIVING: 1. Get circulation and oxygen to all muscles at all times – if your muscles get too tight, you’re fighting yourself. Walking into Teague Pilates in Agoura Hills is not like walking into your typical exercise studio–that is, unless an average experience would include a personal body evaluation, a verbal and visual guide through the practice of Classical Pilates and a quickie course in Kinesiology 101. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned pro, each client that enters Teague Pilates is awakened with a new understanding of their body, masterfully guided by the studio’s owners, Gerald and Cathie Teague. Here, the focus is on healthy longevity and an individual’s uniform development or what Cathie Teague refers to as, “Truth in Movement.” According to her, it’s all about moving the way the body is designed to and most importantly, continuing to change as your body and mind do. Teague Pilates members are also offered neuro Muscle treatments designed by Gerald to pinpoint and relieve pain and increase joint circulation. Pilates pumps oxygen to the muscles and regular practice reaps many benefits including removing lactic acid, increasing energy, easing joint pain and reversing the aging process. The Teagues’ studio, which opened in 2000 and has recently expanded, is also equipped with an infrared sauna, organic sunless spray tanning and TurboSonic Wave Workout machines that burn up to 300 calories in 10 minutes by sending vertical vibrations upward through the body. “If somebody asks you what you’re working in Pilates, the answer is always the same,” Gerald explained. “Everything. From the inside out.”
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2. Use your body uniformly – you’ll be more natural in your movements. 3. Always practice proper nutrition.
PROFILE
DR. JIMIN OH:
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTICS, THE NUMBER OF ADULTS IN THE U.S. WEARING BRACES TOPPED ONE MILLION IN 2008, UP 25% IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.
ADVANCING ORTHODONTICS BY KARI RODEMS
Another trend in his practice is the growing number of adult patients who are opting for braces. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, the number of adults in the u.S. wearing braces topped one million in 2008, up 25% in the past 20 years. Today, almost one in five people wearing braces are over the age of 18. Often these patients had long since given up on the idea of an aesthetically enhanced smile or even correcting a potentially unhealthy alignment issue. The reasons older patients have put off or foregone visiting an orthodontist varied but chief among them was the potential embarrassment they might experience sporting a shiny metal smile in their post-adolescent lives. Thankfully, Dr. Oh, and his staff, stand out as an “Elite Preferred Provider” for Invisalign, the braces that appear virtually invisible, making that concern a thing of the past. Dr Oh’s patient ratio is roughly 65 percent children and 35 percent adults, ranging from five to 80 years in age. Previous alternatives to traditional fixed braces may have earned reputations for being more costly, timeconsuming and even less effective by patients wanting an inconspicuous answer for their orthodontics needs. However, most patients who choose Invisalign (a custommade series of aligners) can expect “the same or even faster results as traditional braces,” explained Dr. Oh. The aligners are described as smooth, comfortable and virtually transparent. They are worn 22 hours of the day to gradually shift teeth into their proper placement. Dr. Oh is understandably impressed with the advances in orthodontic technologies and the safe, comfortable and effective results he is able to provide for his patients. In the not too distant future, his office will be able to provide a state-of-the-art intra-oral laser scan that will make the need for uncomfortable dental impressions obsolete.
It used to be that the simple mention of going to the dentist would cause even the bravest among us to writhe in anxiety. not so anymore, especially with talented dentists like Dr. Jimin Oh. Specializing in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, he credits technological advances in the field of orthodontics for delivering “convenience, comfort and better outcomes” to his patients seeking to enhance and straighten their smiles. Dr. Oh who has been practicing orthodontics in the valley for nearly a decade, graduated from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and completed his residency in orthodontics at u.C.L.A. Over the years, he has noted many changes in the practice of orthodontics. For instance, gone are the days when clunky contraptions, painful gums and awkward dental impression trays were an expected part of the process. Today’s patients, he assures us, can expect a “pleasant overall experience,” a sentiment that is echoed by his patients.
info
The Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedics offices of Drs. Dandona, Curry and Oh are located in Agoura Hills, Northridge and Simi Valley. Visit www.AgouraHillsOrtho.com for more information.
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natureBridge: The natural Way to Learn BY
N I K I
C H O P R A
R I C H A R D S O N
IT MAY BE HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT THERE ARE STILL CHILDREN LIVING IN SUNNY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S COASTAL TOWNS LIKE LOS ANGELES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE BEACH. Here’s a look at a sample day at natureBridge’s Circle x Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains: 7:00 a.m. Wake up call for the students (who are sleeping in tents). 8:00 a.m. Breakfast. 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Instructional Day, with hiking in groups of up to 15 students. Educators provide activities and curriculum while chaperones manage group behavior. Lunch is eaten on the trail. Teaching, aligned with California Science Standards, involves activities such as hiking to collect weather data, exploring the Grott, participating in a stream bio-monitoring project while learning about water use or participating in litter analysis at Leo Carrillo State Park. 4:00—6:00 p.m. Recreation time (shower, change, journal, play or just relax). 6:00—7:00 p.m. Dinnertime. 7:30—8:30 p.m. Evening program complementing the day’s lessons—includes activities like night hikes or classes ranging from bobcat awareness to astronomy. 8:30—9:30 p.m. Get ready for bed. 10:00 p.m. Lights out.
Enter NatureBridge: an organization of environmental educators that, for the last 40 years, has quite literally bridged these children’s education with the natural world that surrounds them. natureBridge “envisions a world where every student learns about the science of nature, is inspired by its beauty and is motivated to take action to protect the natural world.” Over one million students have completed one of natureBridge’s field science programs. Each program explores one of five awe-inspiring national parks: Washington’s Olympic national Park, northern California’s Headlands Park at the Golden Gate, the world-famous Yosemite national Park and into Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains and Channel Islands. utilizing an educational framework developed by environmental science experts and schoolteachers, natureBridge connects young people to the natural world with three- to five-day classes held out in the national parks. They also support a more environmentally minded curriculum, helping schoolteachers to “integrate environmental science concepts into their classroom lessons.” natureBridge’s programs have led participants to pursue careers in science, conservation and environmental and resource management.
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natureBridge partners with the academic community and other program providers and has a public/private partnership with the national Parks Service. “We are the largest residential partner of the national Parks Service. They are basically our landlords, but there are no cash transactions,” says Paul Culberg, a natureBridge Southern California Board member. “…The missions of the national Parks Service and natureBridge are bonded together in a symbiotic relationship. We help maintain the property, do upgrades and improvements to it, in exchange for use of the facility,” says Karen Oxrider, natureBridge’s Director of Sales and Marketing. The national Parks Service (nPS) often calls on natureBridge to join them during their presentations to Congress to help with nPS funding. natureBridge is teaching not only our local children to get out and explore the world around them, but our nation’s leaders how important, and valuable, our natural world is to our country’s future. For more information, visit www.naturebridge.org.
TAYLOR
STEFANIE
IN FIGHTING SHAPE IT ALL BEGAN WHEN HER COACH, AND
SOON-TO-BE HUSBAND, WALKED UP AND TOLD HER SHE LOOKED LIKE A FIGHTER.
BY LEX KUMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN FOLEY
Makeup Christa Carlson Hair Krista Tadevic Wardrobe (www.florahills.com) Accessories (www.isabellaemporium.com)
Former professional boxer, Phil Paolina, ran into Stefanie Taylor while she was working at the Lupin Hill Elementary School YMCA in Calabasas where he had come to pick up his kids. “He asked if I wanted to box,” said Taylor, who initially “just wanted to get in shape.” Eight years later, she’s a rising star in the world of female boxing, with bronze, silver and gold medals from the uSA national Boxing Tournament. Taylor’s rise in the boxing world is an inspiring one—“I was never sporty,” she explained. But Paolina saw a hidden athlete in her, though Taylor admits, it took some time to convince her. She began training but soon found that she was not ready to take the training seriously. They “lost touch for a couple years,” said Taylor, and then, unbelievably, they ran into each other at a screening of “Million Dollar Baby,” a movie all about the rise of a passionate, young female boxer. Paolina asked her, “Do you want to box now?” Taylor succumbed but Paolina added a caveat: “I’ll only train you if you compete.” So Taylor started training with Paolina again, this time, intensely. “I had my first fight five months later…and won.” Competitive boxing—a rigorous sport—required her to transform her body in ways she had never imagined. “When I’m training, I train two hours a day, six days a week.” Her typical fighting weight ranges between 145 and 152. But for the recent Olympic trials—the first year that any female boxer will get the chance to compete—there were only three weight classes accepted. unfortunately for Taylor, she had to enter into the highest one. Though she gained as much as she could to have a fighting chance against other boxers weighing 165 pounds, she wasn’t able to overpower them at this year’s Olympic trials. Still, Taylor is motivated and excited as ever to talk about her strategies and methods. “I move around the whole ring. I switch from left to right, punching righty then lefty. They can’t predict my movements.” While she’s willing to take, and give, punches and suffer through an “occasional bloody nose,” Taylor is a California girl at heart, happily raising her kids in the same town she was raised. “My mom’s house—the house I grew up in—is down the street from the gym.” The “gym” is where Taylor trains: the new York City Boxing Club in Canoga Park, owned and operated by Paolina, Taylor’s trainer and fiancé. Paolina also trains many famous clients including soul singer, Brian McKnight; actor and comedian, Cedric the Entertainer; reality Tv star, Khloe Kardashian and host of “Dancing with the Stars,” Tom Bergeron. Taylor, proud of her fiancé, added that one of Paolina’s clients, model Marisa Miller trained with him before gracing her famous 2008 “Sports Illustrated” cover. Soon, she won’t just be fighting in the ring, but wearing one, too. With their two little boys, Louis and Rocco, to keep her busy and her competitive spirit to keep her energized, Taylor will definitely stay in fighting shape. Boxing fans will be sure to watch when she fights to compete in the next Olympics, “in Rio,” she notes, her eyes sparkling.
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“I move around the whole ring. I switch from left to right, punching righty then lefty. They can’t predict my movements.”
Stefani with professional boxer Anatolly Dudchenko, UNBC Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion
PROFILE
A S O L I D F O U N DAT I O N :
LEADER FLOORING BY KATHLEEN MELTON
The strongest foundation upon which a person can build a great life is family. The strongest foundation for the interior of your home is superior quality, professionally installed flooring. Combine the two and you’ll find yourself at the doors of Leader Flooring, a company owned by Rick Simeone. Since first opening in northridge in 1959, it’s been family-owned and operated. now located in Agoura Hills, his son, James Simeone, explained how they ended up here: “After the earthquake in 1994, my dad, Rick, and my mom, Janet, who had always wanted to live in the Conejo valley, seized the opportunity to move the company. The entire family, including my brother, Rick Jr., and my sister, Pamela, migrated here shortly thereafter.” This tight-knit Italian family and their family business have been flourishing in Agoura ever since. Walking into the Leader showroom is akin to entering a world of luxury: the rich wood, glossy marble and extravagant carpets are eye-catching and implore you to explore all the many flooring options available. Leader Flooring uses highest quality materials and Rick and his family pride themselves on the excellent customer service they provide. ninety percent of their business comes from referrals.
Standing in front of Leader Flooring's showroom in Agoura are (L-R) Rick Jr., Mom Janet, dog Stitch, James and Pamela Simeone. Behind them is a 1941 Ford - just one of the collectible hot rods their dad, Rick owns.
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Most of their customers not only recommend them to their neighbors but often come back, again and again. One afternoon, a woman came into the showroom after seeing their sign from the 101 Freeway. upon confirmation that they were indeed the same Leader Flooring from northridge, she emphatically produced an invoice for work they had done in her home back in 1962. Here she was again, with memories of an honest, hardworking family that treated her home as if it were their own. “We are fortunate that we are able to provide for our whole family,” Rick Simeone’s daughter, Pamela, confided. “We are so grateful for the community we live and work in.” According to James Simeone, their business strategy is a simple one: “We buy local and sell local. Pricing is very competitive. We offer the assurance that your job will be done right. We are honest and open and go over every detail before we get started. We try to please people that way.” He puts clients at ease the moment they walk in the door. “I’m a T-shirt and jeans guy. I want people to be comfortable with me as they make important choices for their home.” Why the name “Leader”? Why didn’t they use their family name? “Because my dad wanted to be the leader in the industry,” explained James Simeone. Leader Flooring is certainly becoming a local “leader” in customer service and satisfaction and a great example of how to keep, and grow, a family-owned business over generations.
CHILDREN’S
ART EXHIBIT IS LAUNCHED IN BEVERLY HILLS AND WESTLAKE VILLAGE
9021PHO HOSTED TWO NOTABLE LAUNCHES FOR THEIR ART GALLERY PROGRAM IN ORDER TO BENEFIT THE YOUNG PATIENTS OF H.A.R.K. (HEALING ARTS REACHING KIDS) SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES. The star-studded press events were held at the 9021Pho restaurants in Beverly Hills on May 23 and in Westlake village on May 30. Reporters, bloggers, food critics, celebrities and city officials crowded the rooms enjoying vietnamese Master Chef Kimmy Tang’s Asian fusion cuisine along with delicious local wines. Patrons are invited to bid on the artwork that is hand crafted by the young patients during their stay at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; the art gives the children a spotlight for their creativity while also encouraging them through their healing process. Chef Kimmy Tang, a longtime supporter of children in need, devoted a big part of her life helping children throughout the world. On the local ground she helped in fundraisers for the Special Olympics, The Blue Heron Foundation, Casa Pacifica, H.A.R.K. and Plant the Seed just to name a few. Kimmy was moved by the dedication of Arlene Blumberg and Karen Sweeny of HARK in helping kids during their treatment at the Children’s Hospital, so she decided to make a difference and pledged to help their cause. The artwork is displayed on the dedicated walls at each 9021Pho restaurant and supporters will bid on the pieces with a silent auction throughout the month for this year around exhibit. The highest bidder will be the winner at the end of each month and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the H.A.R.K. (Healing Arts Reaching Kids) program supporting the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Alan Semsar, CEO of Barcelona Enterprises and known as the Wine & Food Festival guru, represents 9021Pho as their Public Relations specialist and has assisted in positioning the restaurants as one of towns top dining destinations. Semsar claims, “What sets Barcelona Enterprises apart is our big heart. What I really measure is how much we give back, not how much we make. That’s the formula I’ve found success with.” 9021PHO is a casual dining service restaurant inspired by Chef Kimmy Tang that offers a vietnamese centric menu with a French and California twist. The restaurant is centered on providing a new and exciting menu selection focusing on healthy choices. 9021PHO offers guests a dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere coupled with great food and a carefully selected variety of California and French wines, all at an incredible value.
Westlake Village: 30990 Russell Ranch Rd Beverly Hills: 490 N. Beverly Drive (818) 597-1902 ~ www.9021PHO.com
MONEY MATTERS
FINANCIAL FOCUS: Answer These Five Questions to Achieve Your Financial Goals BY TOM YOON
risk. On the other hand, investmentgrade bonds can offer a steady income stream and, barring the default of the issuer, will repay your principal when they mature.
As you strive to achieve your long-term financial goals, you may, at times, feel frustrated over events you can’t influence, like the up-and-down movements of the markets. Yet there is much you can control, especially once you answers just five key questions.
5/
1/
How can I stay on track? Once you’ve built your investment portfolio, you’ll need to review it regularly—at least once a year—to ensure it’s still meeting your needs. After all, many things can and will change in your life. To address these changes, you’ll need to adjust your portfolio over time.
Where am I today? Take stock of all your assets: your IRA, 401(k) and other savings and investment accounts. Then, do the same for your debts, such as your mortgage and any other financial obligations. On your financial journey through life, it’s essential that you know your starting point.
2/
Where would I like to be? Once you’ve established where you are today, you’ll need to identify where you’d like to be tomorrow. How much will you need to save for the retirement lifestyle you envision? Will you be able to help pay for your children’s or grandchildren’s college education? Will you need to support any other family members? You’ll want to write down all your goals and put a price tag on each one.
3/
Can I get there? After you’ve identified your goals, determine if they are achievable by considering a variety of factors—including your likely future income stream and your family situation—you should be able to determine if you can attain your goals or if you need to modify them.
4/
How do I get there? now it’s time to put a strategy into action. Specifically, you need to choose those investments that can help you pursue the goals you’ve selected. Your ideal portfolio will depend on your risk tolerance and time horizon, but in general, you’ll want a diversified mix of quality investments. While diversification cannot guarantee a profit or protect against loss, it can help reduce the effects of volatility. As you put together your holdings, make sure you understand what you can expect from your investments. For example, growth stocks may offer the highest potential returns, but they also carry the greatest
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As you can see, answering all these questions will take both work and expertise. That’s why you may want to work with a professional financial advisor to help you identify your goals and create a strategy for pursuing them. In any case, though, start asking—and answering—these five key questions as soon as you can. It’s easier to reach your financial goals if you put time on your side.
Tom Yoon is an Edward Jones Financial Advisor who believes “it's important to invest time in understanding what you're working toward before you invest your money." If you have any questions, please contact Tom at 805-496-6891 or tom.yoon@edwardjones.com.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
:: Lenny Krayzelburg 4x Gold Medal Olympic Swimmer
:: Keaton Hess Water Polo
:: Taylor Foley
Vollyball Junior Olympian
letthe ga Celebrating loC
:: Curren Caples X Games Competitor
:: Asha Culhane Triple Jump Track & Field
ames begin oCal athletes
“There are ups and downs, but live your dream and do everything with a smile on your face. With a smile, you give a different approach and impression.�
e z y a r k y n n le
this is a love story about parents who sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle in a foreign country to give their children a better life and their son who worked his whole life to give back to those very parents. Lenny Krayzelburg moved to the United States at 13 without speaking a word of English and went on to become a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist. According to Lenny, it all begins with his close-knit Jewish upbringing. “It all starts with my family, my parents instilling in me the values, respect for people, elders, for authority and the importance of family,” Krayzelburg says. “As I’ve gotten older, I realize the sacrifices my parents made to come to this country.” Back in the Soviet Union, no one told them how hard it would be to make it in the United States, the land of milk and honey. (“People forgot to mention that.”) His parents immigrated in 1989, both in their forties. They didn’t speak the language and struggled to make a better life for him and his sister. Krayzelburg had already been recognized as a swim talent in Odessa, Soviet Union. As sports fans, his parents had signed him up to swim at five years old. At nine, he was seen to possess professional potential and began training five hours a day. The coaches were already telling his father he was born to swim the backstroke. One month after their arrival in Los Angeles, Krayzelburg joined Team Santa Monica, which to this day he thinks of lovingly—they took him on, free of charge, and transported him to swim meets when his parents were working. Still, from 14 to 17, Krayzelburg admits he lost his motivation. “I wasn’t really improving and really enjoying swimming. We lived in West Hollywood, so I had to take a bus and it just wasn’t fun. I looked at all my friends who were hanging out, playing basketball at the park and thought that looked cool. I wanted to quit and my dad was really stressing about it.” For about three years, Krayzelburg swam only to make his father happy. He went to Santa Monica College because, he says, he wasn’t good enough to swim on the university level. He did well his first year, so his coach introduced him to the world-renowned Mark Schubert who was coaching at USC. In the summer of ’94, he got the chance to train with him. Then, everything changed for Krayzelburg.
g r u b el , y l i m a on ifmming & sw rifice sac
v
by robyn flans
“He was impressed with my work ethic and my willingness to improve,” he says. “Within two months he offered me a full ride to uSC. In that same conversation, he told me, ‘Lenny, I think you can be the best backstroker in the world.’ That conversation changed my whole commitment. When you hear those words from a coach who has worked with the best in the world, he obviously saw something in me, it changes everything.” When he won the gold, aside from the relief he felt—“it felt like the whole world was pushing on me and expected nothing but the gold medal”— he knew it was an unforgettable moment for his parents. “I had never seen my father cry…I had an opportunity to go up the stairs to see him and he couldn’t come up to me, he was crying. He was so emotional. I understood then that it was for them.” now, Krayzelburg, who will be 37 in September, oversees his many Learn to Swim Academies, including one in West Hills and a large one at the Westside Jewish Community Center on Olympic. These academies start infants swimming at three months, teaching them water safety. He also spends as much time as he can with his wife of seven years, Irina, and their six-yearold twin daughters. His advice to young athletes is, “To continue to believe in yourself and stay the course.” “There are ups and downs, but live your dream and do everything with a smile on your face. With a smile, you give a different approach and impression. Respect and value your coaches and parents and the people who want to help you succeed.” Today, he is glad that he spent those three years just going through the motions for his father. “Whatever I have today, the journey I took and every opportunity I had was basically because of my father’s insisting I don’t quit.”
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es l p a nx Cyears olpdohnesogroat nd at e r r Cu At si first s red his his e ente n. ,h itio sevesnt compet fir
asha Culhane Breaks Local Triple Jump Record
a hop, skip and Jump away
ramping it Up for the X games
by lex kumar
from a medal
“i’ve always loved running,” says 16-year-old Asha Culhane, set to compete in the Triple Jump at this summer’s Junior Olympics. The Oaks Christian Junior was born a natural runner: “When I was really little, at school we ran miles every Thursday and I'd always win.” Seven years later, Culhane still runs most days of the week, even running on the weekends when the track and field team doesn’t practice. “It can make you feel better no matter how your day's been. It will make you feel better even when your day's been great—you still feel ten times better.” At the end of July, Asha will compete in Baltimore, Maryland in the triple jump, often called the ‘hop, skip and jump.’ It’s similar to the long jump but the triple jumper jumps three times before the pole hits the ground. “I love that you can improve by feet, improve a lot, by changing one little thing in your technique. I improved [my jump] from 34 to 38 feet. There’s so much room for improvement.” While excited to compete at a national level, what she seems to love most about the sport of track and field, though often thought of as an individualistic sport, is the camaraderie she finds among her teammates and even her fellow competitors. To up-and-coming athletes, Culhane advises, “You always want to make sure it's not work, that you're always loving it and you want to do it. You want to make sure practice isn't just practice—that you want to go there.”
by robyn flans
at 16 years old, skateboarder Curren Caples, the first male x Games athlete to be born after the x Games began in 1995, is already living his dream. He has traveled the world, has multiple sponsors and is on his way to becoming pro. It didn’t hurt that his dad, Evan Caples, was a pro surfer who saw his son’s talent when he began skateboarding at the age of four. “I knew I wanted to be a professional skater when I was six years old,” Curren explained. “I said to my parents, ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’” At six years old he got his first sponsor and at seven, he entered his first competition. “The first contest I was in was called CASL, California Amateur Skateboard League, and I got third place.” When he was voted in to participate in 2010’s x Games he admits he was nervous and surprised when he took fourth in his category, competing against skateboarding legends. Curren attributes much of his success to his parents’ support. “There are a lot of people who don’t have their parents’ support,” Caples said. “They end up quitting and sometimes end up going down the wrong route. It helps so much to have parents who support you.” Sponsored by Flip Skateboards, Hurley, vans, Oakley, Sol Republic, FCS, Gorilla Grip and Momentum Ride Shop, he’s been able to not only compete but also travel. “I think I’ve almost been to every continent…I’ve been to Australia three times, Germany four times, China twice.” He hopes to become a pro skater within the next three years—that happens when his skateboard sponsor puts his name on the bottom of a board. Caples’ best advice to other young people pursuing their dreams is, simply, “not to give up.”
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on hess keHasat Got The Edge in Olympic Development Water Polo
ley tayloricsfo in volleyball Junior Olymp s with the LAVA (Los Angele y) dem Aca l bal Volley
[volleyb]all in the family
playing to
Win
by lex kumar
“you have to be on your toes all the time,” says Taylor Foley, the 15-year-old soon-to-be Junior Olympian who’s known for her strong defensive plays. Foley recently qualified for the Junior Olympics in volleyball with the LAvA (Los Angeles volleyball Academy) Club. She’ll be competing in the uSA volleyball Girls’ Junior national Championships in Columbus, Ohio the first week of July. The Oaks Christian sophomore played soccer for seven years but a knee injury forced her out of the sport and into volleyball. Though she only started playing seriously after her injury, playing volleyball has come naturally to Taylor and is nothing new in the Foley family. “My whole family plays. We've been playing for a very long time.” And there’s something she loves about the game that makes it stand out from the rest: “The fact that you can play in two different areas—at the beach or indoors—I like how there's two totally different games within the same sport.” Taylor’s father, Kevin Foley, our magazine’s very own Art Director, played volleyball at Pepperdine university, and her sister Kylie is also a rising volleyball star. Taylor is grateful to her family for pushing her to give volleyball a serious chance. “When all the people around you keep pointing it out to you that you should do something, whatever it is, than you should definitely try it out.”
by lex kumar
after trying “every other sport, basketball, baseball, football, soccer,” 16-year-old Keaton Hess tried water polo. nine years later, Hess is still playing and on his way to this summer’s Junior Olympics in Stanford, California. “My mom had a rule that no matter what I did, I had to be in a sport. I had gone through every other sport until I tried water polo. After my first practice, I knew this was the sport for me.” The Moorpark High Junior plays the center defender on the team, saying, “My position is mainly a defensive position. I love pissing off the other team.” Keaton and the rest of the Moorpark High water polo team, the South Coast Aquatics, certainly ‘pissed off’ the Los Angeles Water Polo Club at the Junior Olympic qualifying tournament with their surprise victory. “The Los Angeles Water Polo Club was the favorite to win all of the Junior Olympics. Our team was seated 8th place and we beat the team that was seated first.” Hess, who loves how aggressive water polo can be—what he calls “the physicality of it,” stresses the importance of finding something to be passionate about. “Find something to do and do it. And of course, love what you do.”
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PROFILE
WOOD RANCH BBQ & GRILL’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY: C E L E B R AT I N G A R E C I P E F O R S U C C E S S BY JOAN TROSSMAN BIEN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN MORALES
You might think that in cooking up an extremely successful restaurant company, the food is the only thing that matters. Of course the food is important, and delicious, at Wood Ranch, but owners Eric Anders and Ofer Shemtov emphasize the secret ingredient of their success: their focus on the people, both their employees and customers. This recipe is still working for them as they celebrate their restaurant’s 20th anniversary. Back in the late 1980s, Shemtov had just completed his military obligation in Israel. Anders had just graduated from Bucknell university in Pennsylvania. Then they both ended up working in the same Mom and Pop restaurant. “We ended up living together and becoming best friends,” Anders said. “After three years of working together, we both left the restaurant. He opened up his own restaurant in Canyon Country, which happened to be barbeque, and I went back to school at the Anderson School of Business at uCLA.” After going their separate ways, they reunited for a business venture. Shemtov wanted to partner up and build a restaurant chain. “The beauty of it was that it just didn’t occur to me that it was one of the worst businesses to go into,” Anders said. “We were only 27 years old, we were passionate, we had this idea, we were very clear about how well we worked together, how hard each of us worked and the respect we had for each other. Looking back, it was a blessing that we were ignorant of the risks involved.” So they each asked their families for some seed money and chose a failed restaurant in Moorpark, The Rib Cage, as the site of their new venture.
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“We felt that if you do a good job, we could make some mistakes as long as we handled the guests in a very good manner,” Anders said. “A town like Moorpark had very limited competition. We just felt that we were committed to doing a great job… and really connecting with the community.” Anders and Shemtov have a refreshing but unusual attitude toward their workers. They acknowledge the fact that their workers have lives, too. “From the get-go, we never wanted to operate just one restaurant,” Anders said. “We wanted to build a company that had real value so we could hire managers who considered it a real job, a company where we could share the load of work, share the benefits and provide moms and dads with a real opportunity to grow and be part of something special.” Anders and Shemtov have some employees who have been with them since the beginning and many more who have been there for a decade or more. “Our attitude was always, ‘be flexible with people but inflexible with our standards,’” Anders said. “I think that philosophy has allowed us to work with some great people who have made a huge impact on our ability to have grown the company from one store in Moorpark to 14 all over Southern California. Because we didn’t do it on our own.” Successful, whip-smart and modest, it’s no wonder the pair plans to open several more restaurants on the East Coast soon.
MONARCHS : GYMNASTICS MAKING OVERCOMING OBSTACLES FUN
BY LEX KUMAR // PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN FOLEY
"We are excited to be able to provide kids and teens an urban playground that simulates outdoor activities but in a safer setting,” says Lena urusova, Executive Director and daughter of Monarchs Gymnastics owners, Yelena and vitaly urusov. ESTABLISHED IN 1977, YELENA—A FORMER ELITE LEVEL GYMNAST—AND VITALY URUSOV, TOOK OVER IN 1997. Soon they outgrew their single location and opened Monarchs newbury Park in 2006. This summer they will open the new Monarx Parkour Gym. Parkour, the sport of efficiently moving through a varied obstacle course, began in the streets of Europe. As it continued to develop, many traceurs (as parkour practitioners are called) took it inside to practice in a safe environment. A great program for teens and people in the entertainment industry—as many movies are incorporating parkour and freeruning sequences—Monarchs Gymnastics fits perfectly with parkour practice as many of its elements are gymnastics elements: from vaulting, rolling and climbing to jumping and landing. Monarchs Gymnastics’ classes include not only parkour and recreational gymnastics, but tumbling, cheerleading, xtreme sports (where simulation techniques and boards are utilized so that snowboarders, skaters, surfers and other extreme athletes can practice their skills safely), a summer camp and classes for adults, too. urusova explains that Monarchs’ goal is “to target not only the
physical development but also the mental. Each class finishes with games and conditioning that work on coordination, team building and healthy competition.” Monarchs’ kinder classes for children five and younger (including infants) builds body awareness, motor skills and coordination in the little ones. “We have had comments from preschool and kindergarten teachers that kids enrolled in our kinder classes are better listeners and more adept at learning,” says urusova. More kids will get to experience Monarchs Gymnastics as the Monarchs Mobile program will launch this upcoming school year. Traveling to local preschools and kindergartens, Monarchs trainers will set up Monarchs gymnastics right in the schools. “Our diverse programs are intended to meet the needs of the children in our community,” she explains. And she points out that those ready to train at Monarchs Gymnastics can look forward to improving more than just their strength and flexibility: “Gymnasts are typically better at time management, discipline and goal setting and attaining.”
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PSYCHOLOGY
LIVING HEALTHY IN THE SUMMERTIME BY DR. CHRISTOPHER FULTON
It’s summertime—time to get the kids outside to play. Summer is the perfect time to build healthy family routines, especially when American children continue to have increased rates of obesity. We all know the physical and emotional health risks associated with being overweight, so how did we get here? The most common causes of obesity are genetic heredity, family eating habits, low physical activity, a traumatic event and an increased responsiveness to external food cues (e.g. eating when sitting on the couch vs. when hungry). We’re seeing our kids exercise less and eat more. So how do we combat this unhealthy lifestyle? First, start cultivating healthy habits among your own family. Children who see their parents living a healthy lifestyle tend to
do so themselves. Make the family activities more active, but do so seamlessly—don’t force it. Instead of having the family watch Tv shows together, play a game outside, go on walks or go to the gym together. Make watching Tv or playing computer games contingent on doing some physical activities. You don’t have to make your child play a competitive sport to get exercise. There are tons of activities in our community for the uncompetitive or less sporty child. Try rock climbing, fencing, parkour, martial arts, dancing, biking and hiking. The best way to motivate children to do something is make it fun and interesting. When a parent says, “You have to get more exercise,” it takes all the fun out of it. It’s all in how a parent delivers the message.
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Another way to create a healthy lifestyle is to change your family’s eating habits. Educate your kids about nutrition, portion size and how to listen to one’s body when hungry. Parents need to avoid eating in front of the Tv because it fosters unconscious eating. Make sure that you and the kids only eat in the kitchen or dining area. Make sure to put the right amount of food on your child’s plate and avoid having tons of food on the table. Slow down when eating—having conversations with children will make them take their time and make eating together more enjoyable. And definitely make sure to not put out junk food where it can easily catch the eye. Something to avoid when trying to create a healthy lifestyle is dieting. Dieting proves to be more detrimental in the long run, especially for adolescents and children. Diets often decrease children’s intake of essential vitamins needed for proper growth and lead to a potential lifelong cycle of “yo-yo dieting.” Teenagers are particularly susceptible to eating disorders, so parents will need to be cautious about focusing too much on weight and appearance. Changes in eating and exercise habits need to be promoted as healthy lifestyle choices versus choices made to merely lose weight. It’s summertime, so make sure to eat all those fresh fruits and vegetables and take advantage of our great local weather—get your family outdoors!
Dr. Christopher Fulton is a clinical psychologist serving the children, adolescents and adults of the Calabasas area for almost 20 years. His group practice, Fulton Pscychological Group, provides individual, family, couple and group therapy along with psychiatric services and neuropsychological testing. Dr. Fulton also gives talks in the community on a wide range of topics including parenting strategies and dealing with stress.
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GETTING AROUND THE BOREDOM BLOCK BY CHRISTINA DECAMP
“I am so bored!” What parent hasn’t heard this mantra as the summer wears on? If it doesn’t dance, sing or perform, if it’s not projected from a box or involve a controller and mind-blowing excitement, rest assured, boredom ensues. In the age of rapidly evolving technology and entertainment, our children have forgotten how to entertain themselves. One may even go as far as to say, they have lost the sense of wonder that comes from playing outside, enjoying nature and staying active. What’s the solution to “The Boredom Block”? Summer camp! It’s time to get our children off the couch and moving again. There are hundreds of day camp options that are a terrific way to keep your children active from sports camps to academic ones, from vacation Bible School to science camp. This year, our family is wading into the unknown and trying sleep-away camps. For some this may bring to mind the faded images of their youth or the pranks and ill-begotten chaos often portrayed on television shows when children leave the close eye of their parents. It’s the latter that gives most of us pause, but it’s time to be brave. Summer sleep-away camp offers the opportunity for children to explore their various interests while gaining a sense of independence. It gives children an opportunity to make their own choices and the freedom to experience what a camp has to offer. These are the positive things parents will tell themselves as they size up the prospects.
Children have varying interests and needs and it’s important to take that into account when making your choice. It’s also important to have an end goal for summer camp in mind. From leadership building, to earning badges for skills learned, from kayaking to rock climbing, I know my children will be staying active while they build relationships and confidence. If you can get past the tears, the worry and the disbelief that your child is going off without you, there are a few things that you can do to prepare your child to be away from you.
1
Have your children bring an item from home other than the basic necessities: a stuffed animal, a picture frame or something that can be comforting if they feel homesick.
2
Before leaving, share with your children how proud you are that they are taking this step, that you are confident in their independence. Avoid expressing doubt since this will only make your children worry.
3
Go over rules of self-preservation. A parent cannot be too cautious when it comes to sharing safety guidelines, especially what it means to bully and be bullied.
4
Last but not least, write a letter to your children ahead of time that can be given to the camp staff when they arrive. If there is a time your children are feeling troubled or lonely, that letter may be the connection and the confidence-builder they sorely need.
If you survive all that, you can relish the free time you gain while your children are away!
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:: CE LE BRIT Y ::
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WHEN CHRIS GALYA’S parents told their son that only one in a million makes it in show business, he would say to them,
And they have. All those years of goofing around at the dinner table in their new Jersey home, with them asking, “What’s wrong with you,” has paid off. He’s a big hit as Tony on Disney’s “Jessie.” At eight years old, Galya realized he had something going for him: when he did an impression of Home Alone’s electrocuted Marv, his family—his parents and three siblings—would “lose it.” “Then Jim Carey came along and I started idolizing him and went around acting like him and I began doing impressions,” says Galya. He’s since added Regis Philbin, Denzel Washington, Dr. Phil and many others to his arsenal. When he was a kid, graphic art also vied for Gaya’s attention. His parents would ground him by taking his art books away from him. After high school, he attended the Gibbs College in Piscataway, new Jersey, a 2-year technical computer school. “It was a hands-on school and it taught me Adobe and all the computer skills.” Then modeling intervened, by accident, when he accompanied someone to an open call. He was offered a 3-year
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contract with the Ford Modeling Agency on the spot. They sent him all over the world including Paris and Italy to shoot ads. Galya has appeared in worldwide campaigns for Pac Sun, Lacoste Red! and Saks Fifth Avenue which was out in the March issue of “GQ.” “Modeling was a cool experience,” says Galya. “I met interesting people. I was always an artist so I respect people behind the lens and the people who have a vision. The fact that you can help bring someone’s idea to life gets me pretty excited.” He met an agent in new York to whom he expressed his acting desires and just last year, Galya relocated to Los Angeles. He almost didn’t make it to his “Jessie” audition due to a near-missed flight after a modeling job in Milwaukee. But a first tryout got him a callback with producers. When he met with them, he walked in as the new York, Italian Tony and hugged all the producers with a big “Hey, how’s it goin’, how are ‘ya, nice to see ‘ya, hey ‘ya look great. Did you do something to your hair?” They were impressed. After about five callbacks, they took a chance on the newbie. “I love being able to entertain people. It’s really about the fans. They get attached to the characters and the storylines and it’s exciting.” Galya says this has been life-changing. “I’m turning up in all these teen magazines. I remember when I was a kid in fifth grade and the girls were looking through them and ‘nSync and the Backstreet Boys were in them and
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now I’m in them. It’s crazy. These 12-year-olds come up to me and that’s what it’s for. It’s not cool when somebody’s on a show and a fan comes up and the star gives them a cold shoulder.” Galya keeps in touch with his fans via the Twitterverse, although not the ones that are too young. “I tend to use my Twitter for a lot of comedy,” he says. “I like to tweet jokes and say random, completely insane things.” And sorry girls, Galya has a girlfriend who moved out from new York with him. “She is a producer, she has ambition, she’s always positive and she supports what I want to do,” he says. “I had a past relationship with someone who was always asking me why I couldn’t get a normal job. You want to have someone on your side and we both do that for each other. It’s nice to have someone in my life who gets it and she was there before anything happened for me.” It all happened very quickly for Galya and he’s a firm believer in following dreams. “I was living in new Jersey, a kid who wanted to be an actor. When you’re on the other side of the country it all seems so far away, but I feel like anything is possible if you stick to it. You have to put out there what you want and it shows up. You have to stay positive and not surround yourself with negativity. It goes for anything you want to do. If you want to play the clarinet, if you want to work in financing or be a singer…Journey said it best: ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’”
Styling Avo Yermagyan (www.avoyermagyan.com) Grooming Gabrielle Pascua (www.gabriellepascua.com)
Styling by Avo Yermagyan Grooming by Sylvia Wheeler Shot at Studio 1444 in Hollywood
:: CE LE BRIT Y ::
Tie JOHN VARVATOS (johnvarvatos.com) / Shirt REISS (reissonline.com) / Suit HACKETT LONDON (hackett.com)
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ALTHOUGH NYAMBI NYAMBI, who plays the quirky, hilarious waiter, Samuel, on the hit CBS comedy Mike and Molly, had been putting on skits since the age of five, he had no idea he was an actor until he had exhausted five majors in college. “I love coming to work and seeing the cast,” he says. “They’re such loving, funny people. That is my family away from my family…It’s a special, special group. And the script itself is hilarious. It’s so awesome to be a part of it. Mostly it’s about the relationships. We’re all there for each other, I think because we’ve all had a path that has humbled us.” As a youngster he played characters from In Living Color and did impressions for his parents and grandparents while visiting them in nigeria.
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He was on the basketball team at Bucknell university, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he decided to perform, for the Martin Luther Gala. The director was surprised because he was known as “the quiet kid.” That night, in the bright lights, the acting bug bit. A teacher, who had wondered what nyambi was going to do with his life, ran up to him and said, “nyambi, you’re an actor.” Finally someone had put a name to what he had always been doing. After the epiphany, nyambi went to new York with $200 in his pocket to study at Stella Adler’s studio and then decided to go to grad school. He chose nYu (with a full scholarship) over Yale, much to his parent’s chagrin, saying that nYu made him fearless. upon graduation in 2008, he landed a role in The Tempest opposite Mandy Patinkin for the Classic Stage Company. Patinkin promised him that great things would happen for him. “He was so kind to me. I’ve had people come into my life when I was feeling down or doubtful who always said the right thing,” he says, adding that Frank Langella was among those who went out of their way for him after meeting him at a Stella Adler workshop. After The Tempest, nyambi understudied a couple of roles in the first Broadway revival of August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” He was frustrated though, throughout the run, not being able to perform. “I figured the lesson I was to learn was about being humble and getting to pay my rent and student loans,” he says. “Then boom, June 12, 2009, three days before we were closing, I got to the theater, started doing a warm-up, just to feel like an actor and the play began. I could hear it over the loud speaker. Right before intermission, Harold Loomis has his big scene and he’s brought to his knees.
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The line came out and the actor said it real quiet. I thought, ‘Hmmm, that’s an interesting choice.’ He came off stage and said, ‘I got no voice, you gotta go on.’ My first reaction was a smile, then complete fear.” After intermission, nyambi took over the role and at the next day’s matinee, the door swung open as he was getting ready and Samuel L. Jackson congratulated him on what he had heard about his performance the night before and told him he was looking forward to watching him on stage. nyambi received lots of kudos. In January 2010, nyambi couldn’t pay his rent. He taped an audition for Mike and Molly, had to borrow money for the subway, thankfully booked a Bank of America commercial and landed his first small role on Law & Order. The following week, he received word that the producers of Mike and Molly wanted to fly him out to L.A. for a screen test. “They were paying for the flight? What? Per diem? They were going to pay me to eat? And reimburse my cabs?” But nyambi had never done a screen test. When Chuck Lorre told him to trust his instincts and nyambi went for it, it paid off. “The laughs that were coming out of these guys...,” he recalls. Fifteen minutes after the second round of tests, he got the call that the job was his. When he has time, he still goes to new York—recently, he saw 14 plays in a two-week span. He takes French classes, guitar lessons and improv classes, says he’s “SInGLE, in all caps” and looking for someone who has depth of soul but heads up, ladies—he has been known to be a little eccentric: last year alone, he watched 365 movies.
Wardrobe Styling Mary Lalitte Blush lace shirt by Madison Marcus, available at Madison Westlake
:: CE LE BRIT Y ::
from ballerina to Tv star
RUBIN & CHAPELLE handpainted Paula T available at Rubin & Chapelle Malibu and New York
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IN A SERENDIPITOUS, art imitating life, situation, Ayla Kell landed the role of Payson Keeler, a gymnast who deals with a halting injury on Make It or Break It in 2009, the same way an injury stopped her career as a professional ballet dancer. Kell started dancing at the age of four, training at the prestigious Royal Academy of Ballet as well as the Los Angeles Ballet Academy. She was injured when someone slipped in front of her and her leg hit Kell’s. When Kell’s career was stopped in its tracks, it was heartbreaking. “You have that moment of, ‘Why did it happen to me?’ But it’s a classic situation of when one door closes, another one opens.” Kell had graduated in 2008 and just
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turned 18 when life changed. As a youngster she had done some operas and stage work, so acting came naturally. Even during high school she had already racked up resume credits on such shows as Weeds, Malcolm in the Middle, Without a Trace and CSI Miami, as well as such movies as Rebound and What Just Happened. The role of Payson Keeler, though, is most near and dear to her. “I was that person who saw nothing but dance and just wanted to do that. I was just all about dance all the time, so the character is so real and natural to me. I’m really going to miss playing Payson, but I’m so glad my first major role was so close to my heart.” Kell is a certified baker, something she found when she was out of commission due to her injury. “I had to find something to do and I love making cakes and baking, so I thought, ‘Yes, I can sit and just ice all day. It was perfect. I did a couple of courses on cake baking and decorating,” she says. “I started with a butter cream course and went on to butter cream icing 2, then royal icing and then I went to fondant class.” She loves her angel food cake, but says everyone adores her dark chocolate cake that she makes with a little bit of hot chocolate powder and espresso powder. “It’s like a lava cake with a rich smooth chocolate in the middle and the cake around it. It’s one of my favorite things ever. The espresso just pops it just the right amount.” Her parents’ friends like it the most, but she does have a boyfriend of about a year for whom she can bake also. She’s known him since middle school, but they didn’t see each other
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for a year and a half until they reconnected at a party. “It was like meeting as different people, but we had a complete history together,” she says. “He’s sensible, he’s reasonable and he’s willing to listen.” Although Kell’s parents moved from Indiana when she was very young, she says she feels closer to Indiana than California. “I like to talk to people and I’ll do it when I’m getting coffee, at the airport, in a cab, anywhere,” she says. “L.A. is not like that. L.A. does not enjoy the art of conversation. L.A. enjoys the art of twitter. I have an appreciation for people who have been through something like veterans, people who have made our country what it is. I always make an effort to reach out to those people and I don’t think young people from major cities do that as much…When I was in Walmart in Indiana last time, about seven different people struck up conversations with me.” With lots of relatives still in Indiana, she goes as often as possible. “Family is very important to me,” says Kell. “My dream is for my mom to work for me instead of someone else, to take the time she needs and enjoy her life a little more. I would like to take care of them because they’ve taken care of me for so many years.” Kell is sad that Make It or Break It has ended, but she’s got lots of irons in the fire and lots of support. “I’m so lucky to have a family here and great friends so if I weren’t able to find work, I wouldn’t feel I had to take something that would compromise my morals. I can be selective and not have to take anything that would show women as victims and not sell my body. I have a great support system.”
:: C ELE BR ITY ::
from the heart B Y
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SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD MACKINLEE— “that’s pronounced Ma-kin-lee…The other day at an audition they called me Mack-in-Lee,” she said with a laugh—Waddell who most recently played young McKinney Peacham on ABC’s “GCB,” got started in acting the tough way. She was born with a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart defect that required open-heart surgery at the age of five. Thankfully, she doesn’t remember too much of the trauma. “Only bits and pieces,” she said. “I don’t remember actually being in the hospital, but I do remember when they had to place the breathing tube down my throat and I wanted it out really bad. I remember them bringing me rainbow popsicles.” But she recovered quickly and the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas got her involved with the Children’s Miracle network and its charitable events. This gave Waddell various opportunities to perform in front of crowds of people, instilling in her a considerable ease and confidence unique to such a young girl. It also introduced her to a newfound passion. “I took an acting class and fell in love with it,” Waddell said. One thing led to another and by age 13, she had signed with a local Texas agent, got an acting coach, a manager and a Los Angeles agent. Her first job was in a small movie in Texas called “Searching for Sonny” and just recently she completed “Den of Darkness,” shot in Los Angeles. “It’s a thriller and I play a very dark character that has a form of Stockholm Syndrome,” she said. “I really like chal-
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lenging myself with all kinds of roles. That was a great experience,” said Waddell who has been living between Texas and L.A. “Texas is home,” she explained. “That’s where all my friends and family are, but I am in L.A. for auditions and work.” Although “GCB” has been cancelled, she is still grateful for the opportunity. “It was so much fun to do the show. Getting to be on set with Kristin [Chenoweth], Annie Potts and Jennifer Aspen, who are such heavyweight actresses already…I learned so much. It’s been such a dream for me.” Some people, she admits, thought the show was a little racy, particularly since she’s from the small town of Celina, Texas. But Waddell and her family felt the story line had a moral. Waddell explained, “It was ‘Don’t be a hypocrite.’ I think it had a good message and the raciness was part of the comedy. My parents wouldn’t let me be part of something they didn’t approve of.” There is no doubt Mackinlee Waddell still has big plans and a bright future ahead of her. “I want to dabble in both film and Tv. I love being on Tv and I love doing movies,” she said. “As I grow as an actress, I want to work behind the scenes, too. I want to direct and write also. I love all aspects of the industry. If I could pick a show that I would like to be on, it would be ‘Saturday night Live’ because I love comedy and Kristen Wiig. now that she’s leaving, I’m really sad, although hopefully I can do a movie with her someday. Another
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show would be ‘American Horror Story.’ I love getting to be creepy and filming more serious things.” In her spare time, she loves riding her two horses, playing with her five dogs and driving everywhere in her new car. After all, she just turned 16! “I’m hanging out with friends all the time, just chilling, rock climbing, swimming. I love my friends,” Waddell said with a smile. What about boyfriends for this beautiful, down-to-earth talent? She laughed. “I don’t have a boyfriend, but there’s someone I like. The verdict is still out on that one. I’ll get back to you on that.”
“It was ‘Don’t be a hypocrite.’ I think it had a good message and the raciness was part of the comedy. My parents wouldn’t let me be part of something they didn’t approve of.” Dress by Kathy Hilton Shoes by Fornarino Earrings by Seize The Garment OPPOSITE PAGE:
Dress by Stop Staring, Vintage Earrings from Wastland, Gloves Vintage Dior
:: CE LE BRIT Y ::
B Y
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WHILE MERCEDES LAZARO, the beautiful adventure-seeking character that Dominik Garcia-Lorido portrays on Starz’s “Magic City” has a life full of family chaos, it is GarciaLorido’s close-knit family and especially her celebrity father, Andy Garcia, a successful and stable role model, that has provided the grounding for the often difficult show business life. “My dad dropped us off at school every morning that he was in town and my mom did pick up,” she explained. Although she is spending five months in Miami shooting “Magic City” and her three sisters are off living their lives (her brother is only ten, so he’s still at home), when they’re all in L.A., they all convene under the same roof. “We get separation anxiety from one another when we’re all off doing other things, so we’ll do a three-way Skype [call]. We’re actually spread out agewise, but we’re very close. When we were younger, my dad would be on the road filming, so we would be taken out of school and tutored on sets and we would just have each other to entertain [ourselves] in hotels in random cities.” Her parents put her in acting classes when she was five to help rid her of her shyness. At 13, a summer spent in new York seeing an abundance of theater and taking more acting classes, cinched it for her. It’s always been about the acting
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and not the fame, something she learned from her father who never tried to discourage her from becoming an actress. “He was just adamant about my working hard at it and studying. He told me it doesn’t come easy and it takes a lot of dedication. I saw that when my dad moved out here to L.A. to work. It took him about seven years to get a job, so I never thought it was something that came easy. And I never thought just because my dad was who he is, it was something that would come easy for me.” And it didn’t—although she has played his daughter in a couple of films, there have been times when she was rejected to play his child. When she finally got the part in “City Island,” many assumed it was because her father was in that film. But she had to audition twice for that role which she credits as her breakout one. “You have to develop a thick skin in this business,” she says. “I’m still learning how to do that. With ‘Magic City,’ I auditioned three times. I cried when I got it.” It was her ninth pilot season. “I love the show because of the writing, the people involved and I love the whole era it’s about. I’ve always loved the music of the era, which they use a lot.” “There is a lot of mystery to the character,” she explained. “Even though I don’t know what her journey is going to be, I know what her goals are. She’s this young girl in the late ‘50s who
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wants to be independent and travel the world and isn’t conforming to what is the norm for a young girl during the times. It’s a very meaty role.” Besides acting, Garcia-Lorido loves music. Though she doesn’t play an instrument or sing, she’s constantly listening, and dancing, to it. “Music can change your mood, help you through [hard] times… I even use it when I work, to get me in a mind-set. If I had to go to an island and take only one thing, it would be an iPod of music.” On that iPod would be retro artists like the Beatles, Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, the Four Seasons— her music taste has been influenced by her “amazing parents,” she revealed. “My dad is in a Cuban jazz band, so I love that, too.” Her goal is to have a career of which she can be proud and a successful, happy marriage, like the one her parents have achieved—they’ve been married for 30 years. “I saw it work. I have a good awareness of what keeps people grounded and what gets them off the track. I never saw my dad get fulfilled because of fame. He was fulfilled because of the work and because of his family, not because his face was on the cover of a magazine. So that has never been the dream. I only hope to do half as well as my parents did, to balance this crazy business and have a grounded family.”
Wardrobe by Avo Yermagyan Hair by Sylvia Wheeler Makeup by Gabrielle Pascua Full Look STELLA & JAMIE (stellaandjamie.com) Bracelet JULES SMITH (julessmithdesigns.com)
:: CE LE BRIT Y ::
the secret life of B Y
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FRANCIA RAISA, one of the stars of ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” says that being determined, headstrong and independent helped make her a homeowner at the young age of 21. “Instead of just dreaming, I pursue my dreams,” says Raisa. “My mom wasn’t happy because she didn’t want me to move out yet, but she’s proud.” now, 23, and going into her fifth year as Adrian Lee on the hit show, Raisa recalls watching Spanish soap operas with her grandmother as a child and turning to her with resolve as she said, “Grandma, I’m going to do that one day.” Then in high school, as a freshman, a senior asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. “I said I wanted to be an actor. She said, ‘Ha, everyone does.’ I kind of have that Adrian trait. When you challenge me, I’m going to go do it, just to prove you wrong.” For the next two years, she brainstormed a way into the business. She began taking dance at north Hollywood’s Millennium Dance Studio and one thing led to another. A friend who was an artist was looking for a back-up dancer and then a fellow dancer told her about a manager looking for a bilingual hispanic girl. A week later, she booked a music video with the artist Lil' Romeo. “Romeo is one of my best friends now, so I gained a friend out of it,” she says. “At the time it was exciting, but when I got my first guest starring role [in 2005’s “Over There”], I was really excited.” At 17, she landed her breakout role in “Bring It On: All or nothing,” which she admits was nerve-racking. “I had never really been on a set before,” she says. “I didn’t know what a mark was, I thought when the director said, ‘Action,’ you had to go right away. I didn’t know you could take your time. Rehearsals were fun. I had ten weeks of rehearsal before we started filming, but
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I was the only one who hadn’t had any experience. Fortunately, the girl who played my best friend in the movie, Giovonnie Samuels, had my same manager, so I already knew someone and she made me feel really comfortable.” Two years later, she began work on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” “A lot of people have an opinion about Adrian. I just think she’s a very honest person and most people aren’t used to that. Could she hold her tongue a little bit? Sure, but I’m not mad at her for being honest. There are always different ways to get what you want, and when Adrian has her mind set on something, she tends to act too quickly rather than think things through.” Raisa feels the show resonates because it deals with realistic issues that can open up a dialogue between teenagers and their parents, “things like teen pregnancy, alcohol and STDs,” says Raisa. “Watching it lets them know they’re not alone and helps them open up. Also, all of the characters on the show are close to their parents and the parents advise them, rather than punish.” Raisa, currently single, spends time educating herself on charities. “I want to know more about what goes on in the world because as a celebrity we have a powerful voice, especially someone like me around young teenagers and young adults. Rather than focusing on the latest celebrity gossip, they should be more involved in important matters. I’m starting to go to more events so I can learn about
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different diseases and how I can help and bring awareness.” But her guilty pleasure is hanging out with her girlfriends, having a glass of wine, some hot wings and “watching terrible Tv.” “My friends and I have this thing, whenever we have gossip about our lives that we can share, we text each other ‘chisme’ which means ‘gossip’ in Spanish. They’ll call me within 2.5 seconds and say, ‘Go!’” She is grateful to “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” which has changed her life. “It allowed me to be independent at a young age and I didn’t have to ask mom or dad for money anymore. People come up to me and tell me how much they look up to me and it’s a trip. It still kind of trips me out when people ask for my autograph. I turn to them and ask them, ‘Why?’” she says, modestly. “I’m enjoying the ride.”
“It allowed me to be independent at a young age and I didn’t have to ask mom or dad for money anymore. People come up to me and tell me how much they look up to me and it’s a trip.”
Wardrobe Stylist Mary Lalitte Shot on location at the Macmillan family home, Westlake Village Alice + Olivia floral applique tank from Madison Westlake OPPOSITE PAGE: Dresses: LAVENDER BROWN & shoes: SERGIO ZELCAR
all from TWYLA K Westlake, Pink Sunglasses UniqueVintage.com
HEALTH
THE SUN SHINES VITAMINS ON YOUR HEALTH BY HANNAH GROSSMAN, M.D. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, LOS ROBLES HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER
When the summer season rolls around, the beach beckons and the whole world seems to be on holiday. Along with the usual blanket and ice chest, moms tend to carry along a gallon of sunscreen to repeatedly coat their kids with as the day presses on. A sunscreen with SPF 30 blocks 98 percent of the ultraviolet B (uvB) energy. This is a great statistic for skin cancer prevention but it does interfere with vitamin D production. The skin uses uvB energy to make the precursor for vitamin D—25 hydroxyvitamin D—the main form found in circulation. This precursor is transformed in the liver with final conversion in the kidney, becoming what is referred to as the vitamin D Hormone. vitamin D has long been known to promote bone health. Sufficient levels are needed to absorb calcium from the gut and to maintain normal levels of phosphorous, another mineral required for bone growth. Recently, vitamin D has become a very hot topic in medical research in many different organ systems. In May 2008,
fyi TEN MINUTES OF SUN EXPOSURE (EXCEPT ON THE FACE) THREE TIMES A WEEK BETWEEN 10 A.M. AND 3 P.M. CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF VITAMIN D.
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Canadian researchers were the first to find a link between low levels of vitamin D and poorer outcomes with breast cancer patients. In June of the same year, the “Archives of Internal Medicine” reported that low vitamin D levels were associated with two times the death rate in men and women referred for angiograms. The “Archives of General Psychiatry” also published that higher rates of depression were noted in men and women aged 65 to 95 with low vitamin D levels. The Womens’ Health Initiative is currently conducting a four-year evaluation, with one group taking 1500 mg of calcium alone and the other adding 1100 Iu of vitamin D daily. The results showed a 77 percent reduced risk of developing non-skin cancers in the vitamin D group. note that the usual recommendation for vitamin D is 400 Iu a day. This group took essentially three times that dose. There are several natural ways to promote vitamin D intake. Ten minutes of sun exposure (except on the face) three times a week between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. can supply you with a fair amount of vitamin D. Food sources ripe with vitamin D include salmon, canned tuna, fortified orange juice and fortified milk. A blood test to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is the only way to objectively find deficiencies. Those at increased risk for deficiency include African-Americans, those with body mass indexes (the amount of body fat in your body) greater than 30 as fat cells extract vitamin D from the blood and those over the age of 65, as this group produces only 25 percent of the vitamin D produced in healthy 20-year-olds by sun exposure. Most labs report less than 20 nanograms/milliliter as a deficiency— between 20-29ng/mL is labeled insufficient. A sufficient level of vitamin D is 30 or more ng/mL and maximum bone density usually requires greater than 40 ng/ml. The national Academy of Sciences recommends no more than 2000 Iu per day unless the individual is known to be deficient. Often 50,000 Iu once a week is prescribed, for a limited period of time, to correct deficiencies.
Make-up Kristina Goldberg
TIPS & VIEWS
MISS WHITE TEETH:
ON PERFECTION AND HOW ANNOYING IT CAN BE BY SANDY FRANCIS
Don’t push me: it’s one thing to be pretty, another to be nice and quite another to be a good golfer all at the same time. That goes beyond tolerable. As we’re about to tee-off for our golf game at Hawaii’s beautiful golf course, the Mauna Lani, I spot a very pretty, young (in her thirties) blonde with a perfect body wearing bright, tight yellow capri pants and a white sleeveless top revealing sculpted arms (women are very quick to notice when nothing jiggles on another woman). When she smiled, I saw the most perfect white teeth I’d ever seen. I found myself admiring her until she turned to walk away—her tight, well-rounded butt made me downright resentful. Was there anything about her that didn’t look good? My husband who, earlier, had complained of neck pain was suddenly able to twist his neck around to watch her go.
“MY HUSBAND WHO, EARLIER, HAD COMPLAINED OF NECK PAIN WAS SUDDENLY ABLE TO TWIST HIS NECK AROUND TO WATCH HER GO. “
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As we drove our cart to the first tee, the starter ran to us asking if “Chris,” a single player, could join us. Before I could answer, there she was, Miss White Teeth. Though cordial and grateful for allowing her to join us, I had already decided that I never wanted to see her again. My husband, at the men’s tee, smacked out a monster ball and White Teeth was cheering. Where are her pompoms, I thought. At the women’s tee, she hit the ball nearly as far as my husband. Intimidated, I gave it a good whack and it went only fifty feet (I would’ve bet money that would happen). “That was a good warm up shot,” she chirped. Then she removed her canary yellow cap that matched her tight yellow capris and shook out her shiny shoulderlength hair. It’s going to be a very long day, I said to myself. By the second nine holes, I hit some great shots, though not as great as my fellow golfer. She was trying my patience with her compliments—there’s nothing worse than playing with someone who hits every shot a mile, straight down the middle, and then has the nerve to tell you, after you’ve shanked the ball, “Good shot.” When we finally reached the 18th hole, I was warm and sweaty though Miss White (Sparkle) Teeth had not one drop of sweat on her. She teed off on the final hole and hit one of her long, down the middle shots. Then I hit. My ball flew past hers but landed in a bunker. It was my shot of the day, albeit landing in the sand. Her second shot was her worst of the day and she, too, landed in the same bunker. On my first try out of the sand, I landed on the green. I was soaring. She swung and missed the ball. She couldn’t get out of the bunker. I oozed with encouraging words on her three valiant attempts to get out of the sand. I certainly couldn’t beat her score, but I parred the 18th hole. She triple bogeyed. I was victorious! The game was over. She shook my hand with a firm grip and gushed over my sand shot. Oh, dear Lord, please don’t make her pretty, a good golfer and nice too—it’s more than I can handle! I asked about her work. “I’m a dental hygienist,” she purred. Of course, you are, I thought, wondering if she had left whitening solution for anyone else!
Banquet Private Rooms | Catering Weddings | Rehearsal Dinners | Baby Showers Birthday Parties
TIPS & VIEWS
HOT SUMMER READS BOOK REVIEWS BY CAROL KARM
As you head out to enjoy the sunshine, whether at the beach or poolside, take along these entertaining summer reads.
AN UNEXPECTED GUEST
THE LAND OF DECORATION
By Anne Korkeakivi
By Grace McCleen
In the course of one day, Claire Moorhouse’s life brims with conflicts demanding resolution. Claire and husband Edward, the Deputy Head of the British Embassy in Paris, are asked, at the last minute, to host an important dinner party at their home that very evening as the Ambassador has gone ill. As Claire tries to pull the evening together, she finds out that their son has been suspended from boarding school and has returned home without the school’s permission. Worse yet, an Irish lover from her single days, for whom she smuggled money to the IRA and about whom her husband knows nothing, also turns up. Terrified that her secrets will be found out, Claire’s adventures make for an intense and intriguing read.
Grace McCleen is one of today’s most original storytellers, making a short summary of this dense and highly creative novel nearly impossible. But let’s give it a try! Ten-year-old Judith McPherson and her fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist father live a sullen, stripped down life since her mother’s death. Judith creates what she calls “The Land of Decoration”—a tiny model village built from scraps, based on Ezekiel’s biblical description of the Promised Land. Judith’s father reads the Bible to her every night and once a week they head out to preach to strangers. Judith, extremely bright and sensitive, is quite at odds with her classmates, particularly one boy who terrorizes her. How does a child deal with grief, a father who is emotionally unavailable and classmates who ridicule her? The story, full of rich and complex answers, will entirely engross you.
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AN AVAILABLE MAN By Hilma Wolitzer
Edward Schuyler, an attractive 62-year-old science teacher, has recently lost his beloved wife. now he has to endure the concerned looks and casseroles from his over-solicitous friends and neighbors—mostly single women. His adult children have placed an ad in an online dating site and the results are hilarious. Then, out of the blue, an old fiancée appears—one who left him at the altar. This book chronicles the world of the newly widowed with all the challenges, heartache and humor involved in the building of a surprising new life.
REBOUNDERS: HOW WINNERS PIVOT FROM SETBACK TO SUCCESS By Rick Newman
A terrific nonfiction read, Rick newman presents many interesting examples of how famously successful people moved on from failure to achieve their goals. newman includes stories from the lives of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, James Blake (a tennis player), Jon Luther (the CEO of Dunkin’ Donuts), Thomas Keller (a chef and restaurateur) and John Ratzenberger (an actor—“Cheers,” “Toy Story”). newman shows how even through crushing failures and false starts these resilient people were able to beat the odds and become the famous success stories we know today. Follow newman on his fascinating search for the characteristics these individuals share that made their success possible.
THE DRESSMAKER OF KHAIR KHANA: FIVE SISTERS, ONE REMARKABLE FAMILY AND THE WOMAN WHO RISKED EVERYTHING TO KEEP THEM SAFE
WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE
By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
One last book to put on your list is Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. Out on August 14th, the story of a mother gone missing— after promising her daughter a trip to Antarctica—and her daughter’s search for her is an audacious, hilarious and totally original one—a perfect way to end the summer.
This true story tracks 17-year-old Kamila Sidiqi’s life in Kabul, Afghanistan just as the Taliban comes into power. Kamila’s father, a high-ranking military officer, flees while her older brother escapes to Iran to avoid conscription into the Taliban. With the Taliban in control, every woman becomes a prisoner in her own house, unable to venture out unless veiled and accompanied by a male. Confined to her house, Kamila learns to sew and enlists the help of her sisters in building a dressmaking business to support the family. This business grows and soon, she decides to start a school to teach other women to sew so they can in turn build their own businesses. Her efforts were so successful that she was chosen by the united nations to create an entrepreneur-training program for women and was even invited to the White House by Condoleezza Rice. Inspiring and insightful, this story will definitely spark your summer.
By Maria Semple
ALL BOOKS ARE AvAILABLE On AMAZON.COM AnD AT BARNES AND NOBLE.
PROFILE
THE ANATOMY OF A SMILE:
DR. KATHLEEN CARSON BY ALISA GERMAN
Before
After
Did you know that your mouth is one of the first places doctors will look when searching for symptoms of disease? Dr. Kathleen Carson knows just how important oral health is and is determined to keep people healthy, one smile at a time. “It really isn’t a surprise that your mouth is connected to everything else…Look at it as the doorway to the rest of your body. Bottom line, if you want to be as healthy as possible, it’s extremely important to have your mouth as healthy as possible as well. not to mention the positive attitude, psychological and confidence levels that come along with it–and that also adds to your overall health.” Carson’s specialty is cosmetic and full mouth reconstruction and rehabilitation and she is one dentist who knows how to bring out the beauty in all her patients’ smiles. “This is the best part of what we do…we can literally change people’s lives and we do it regularly—anywhere from simply improving their health, to giving them a great first impression in a new smile and even improving their self confidence and attitude.” Carson received her bachelor's degree with honors from u.C. Santa Barbara and then earned her
Before
Doctor of Dental Surgery, cum laude, from u.C.L.A. in 2001. At u.C.L.A., she was presented with the Excellence in Restorative Dentistry Award and the Academy of General Dentistry Award. “My husband and I bought our first town house as a married couple while I was in dental school in Westlake village. I always thought I would resettle in southern Orange County and I did practice there right out of dental school. We only lasted two years before moving back–is there any better place to be than Westlake village?” Carson’s practice and services range from basic dental procedures—filling cavities, teeth whitening, repairing cracked or broken teeth with bonding or all-porcelain crowns—to smile makeovers and fullmouth rejuvenation. She has treated patients and helped change their lives. “We see it all the time and I can tell you many stories…I have a number of testimonials from patients on our website.” Carson knows our teeth say a lot about us. Her dedication to each of her patients is admirable and the results speak for themselves. “What you find in our office that also really sets us apart is the relationships we build with all of our clients. They become our ‘work family’ and we really get to know everyone. This helps us to be able to tailor very specific treatment to each person, taking into account all of the different variables that make each person unique. We are all each incredibly vested in the health, comfort and success of each individual. We become health care partners with our patients.” now that is certainly something to smile about.
After
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Dr. Kathleen Carson
Photo by Betwixt | www.betwixtstudio.com • David Michael Photography | ww.davidmichaelphoto.com
is a quality that all party-givers long to attain, that special magical quality remembered long after the food, the fun, and the favors have faded. In Westlake Village and its environs, if the ambiance of a certain occasion lingers in the mind, chances are that David Jeffrey Designs had something to do with it. ~ Ariane Comstock
David Jeffrey Florist SETTING THE STANDARD FOR QUALITY DESIGN AND SERVICE FOR 30 YEARS!
WWW.DAVIDJEFFREYFLORIST.COM | WWW.DAVID-JEFFREY.COM | 805.376.2500
TRAVEL
T H E E V E R - C H A N G I N G FA C E O F
One of the hot spots to visit after the Olympics is Berlin. If you haven’t been there recently, or at all, this diverse city pulsates with energy, activity, great shopping, dining and is continually evolving. The last ten years have brought dramatic changes visually, culturally and economically. Who would have thought that drab, crumbling, post-wall East Berlin would become a magnet for some of the world’s most talented young artists, designers, musicians and business professionals who have totally transformed its economy and social scene in just a little over two decades? BY LINDA LANG
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Museum Island, an ensemble of five museums with UNESCO World Heritage JULY/AUGUST2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE Scholvien Site status, is built on an island in the river Spree. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang
Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful 18th century squares in Europe. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
Credit also goes to the government for its perceptive, $60 billion, 20-year reconstruction plan which, since the infamous Berlin Wall came down november 9, 1989, has restored damaged historical structures and replaced or renovated the decaying buildings constructed by the communist regime, creating an eclectic blend of old and new. Ingenuity is also evident in the conversion of abandoned warehouses, factories and breweries into fashionable shops, galleries, restaurants and spacious apartments which still rent for far less than those in London, Paris or new York.
STREET ART SCENE Street art is one of the more visible changes that flourished throughout the eastern sector following the fall of the wall. It may not be legal, but it is an integral part of the city landscape and will remain so indefinitely. It began in the early 1980s when miles of wall space on the western wall became covered in graffiti art, much of it inspired by the street artists in new York. not so in the east where the writers were—at the very least—imprisoned by the infamous Stasi police if caught with hard-to-comeby spray paint cans in hand. All that changed after the reunification with the audacious youth culture that flooded into East Berlin. Almost overnight, pockmarked walls in the monotone gray neighborhoods came alive with brightly-painted images. Today, nearly everywhere you go, cartoonish characters, exaggerated lettering and wild graphics still cover the facades and sides of buildings and decorate sidewalks. And this is just not the work of rebellious twenty-somethings. Well-known graffiti writers such as Banksy—the pseudonym for a recognized British-based street artist, film director and political activist known for his dark humor and satire—and Os Gemeos, Brazilian twins whose comedic works have earned up to $20,000 in new York, contributed their talents along with a multitude of other recognized street artists such as xOOOOx, Mein Lieber Prost and Alias—all of whom now exhibit and sell in galleries. Remnants of the Berlin Wall can be found throughout the city. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
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TRAVEL
Brandenburg Gate was part of the Berlin Wall. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
OLD AND NEW SITES Of Berlin’s 12 districts, one of the most prominent is Mitte, where Berlin began in the 12th century as a trading post on the river Spree and reigned as the city’s political, commercial and cultural center until the end of World War II. All but totally destroyed, the remains became little more than a part of the Berlin Wall—officially referred to as the “Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart" by the GDR (German Democratic Republic). Following the reunification in 1989, this dingy, run-down sector became a mecca for young professionals, artists, beatniks and others looking for cheap rents and squatters who took over abandoned buildings. new life flourished and today, it once again pulsates as the heart of the city—an eclectic blend of old and new brimming with lively nightlife, theatre, concerts, shopping, restaurants, museums and galleries—all reflecting its rich history, bold redevelopment and influences of the numerous, Prussian, Turkish and other immigrant communities that settled here. Mitte’s colorful neighborhoods are made for walking. unter den Linden, Berlin’s “Champs Elysees” and most famous treelined thoroughfare, borders embassies, governmental and educational institutions, shops, cafes and museums. Many of its once-palatial buildings are still undergoing restoration. Here, of course, is Brandenburg Gate, the signature landmark prominently featured during the media coverage of the fall of the wall. As you cross from west to east beneath its mighty towering columns, you can almost sense the emotion and exhilaration of those who participated in that historic moment. An excellent example of old blended with new is the Reichstag, built in the style of a Renaissance palace to house parliament in1894. Severely damaged during the war, a debate ensued as to whether the building should be destroyed or restored. In 1991, when a slim majority voted to return Germany’s seat of government from Bonn to Berlin, the Reichstag was gutted, its facade retained, and the work completed in 1999 included the addition of an enormous glass dome which regulates the sunlight and other sustainable atmospheric elements throughout
Fernsehturm, the 1200-foot high TV tower is landmark visible from much of the city. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
The Reichstag was restored with the addition of a glass dome which regulates atmospheric elements in the original structure and offers 360-degree views of the city. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
The Holocaust Memorial, officially known as the Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe was dedicated on May 10, 2005. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
Potsdamer Platz, infamous for its decadent nightlife in the 1920s, has literally risen from the ashes with an array of skyscrapers, malls, cinemas and eateries. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
the original structure below which, once again, houses parliament. It also offers 360-degree views of the city which are especially impressive at night. Alexanderplatz, a grand square once showcased by the GDR as an example of its communist architecture, is overlooked by Fernsehturm, the 1,200-foot high Tv tower, which, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, is visible from much of the city. Potsdamer Platz, infamous for its decadent nightlife in the 1920s, has literally risen from the ashes with an array of sleek skyscrapers, shopping malls, cinemas and eateries. Gendarmenmarkt, one of the most beautiful 18th century squares in Europe, is bordered by French and German cathedrals and concert hall, all of which were restored after being damaged in the war. Its annual Christmas mart is one of the most spectacular in Europe. To best experience these and the city’s other sites, we strongly recommend the services of a private sightseeing guide who can customize a plan to suit your interests. Ask your hotel concierge for recommendations or you can contact Culture Trip (the one we used) and ask for Andreas Schlüter. www.culturetrip.de, tel: (+49-30) 305-3890 or email info@culturetrip.de.
The 18th century Charlottenburg Palace in western Berlin was completely rebuilt after the Second World War. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
The Neues Museum, which just reopened in October 2009, houses the Egyptian Museum Collection featuring the bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
MUSEUMS AND MEMORIALS Berlin has some 180 museums and over 440 galleries, more than just about any city worldwide. Among the most notable is Museum Island, an ensemble of five museums with unESCO World Heritage Site status built between 1824 and 1930 on an island in the river Spree. Following reunification, all were restored and now feature archaeology and 19th century art. The neues, just reopened in October 2009, houses the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, Museum of Prehistory and Early History, and artifacts from the Collection of Classical Antiquities. Here you can walk around, within arm’s reach, the acclaimed 3,300-year-old painted limestone bust of Egyptian Queen, nefertiti. The Pergamon, dedicated to the 3rd and 2nd century BC empire of the same name which encompassed much of what is now Turkey, is a three-winged complex housing three separate museums: the Collection of Classical Antiquities, the Museum of the Ancient near East and the Museum of Islamic Art. The most current exhibit is a gigantic 360-degree Panorama, viewed from a towering platform, simulating scenes and soundscapes depicting a day and night in the life of Hadrian’s
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ancient metropolis. It will continue through September this year. Memorials and museums remembering the Jews, the handicapped, gays and gypsies—the four primary groups targeted for annihilation by the nazis--are found throughout the city, some privatelyfunded, most government-run. One of the newest and most striking is the Holocaust Memorial, officially known as the Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe, which was dedicated on May 10, 2005. The controversial design by the American architect Peter Eisenman occupies some 205,000 square feet (19,000 square meters) of a city block near Brandenburg Gate, just a short distance from the unmarked ruins of Hitler's bunker. undulating rows of 2,711 unadorned, gray stone slabs—each totally unique in shape and size—vary in length and width with heights ranging from 7 inches to 15.6 feet. Eisenman’s intent to convey the inconceivable horror of a highly-ordered system that lost touch with human reason is best experienced by walking the undulating pathways between the pillars. This is not something you can begin to comprehend by driving by. The underground information center also houses an exhibition which includes data about the 3.5 millions of the Jews killed in the Holocaust.
TRAVEL
The Checkpoint Charlie Museum, one of the most visited in Berlin, occupies almost a block near the replica of the original guardhouse that now resides in the Allied Museum. Another memorial that saw over 800,000 visitors last year is the Topography of Terror. Its disturbing presentation at the site of former headquarters of the Secret State Police, SS and Third Reich Security Main Office vividly conveys the horrors of the nazi Reign of Terror. You can also
Café Reinhard’s is one of many stylish eateries along Kurfürstendamm boulevard. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
Friedrichstrasse is one of the most fashionable shopping areas in East Berlin. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
SHOPPING, DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
Checkpoint Charlie is one of the most visited sited in Berlin. © visitBerlin, Wolfgang Scholvien
If you are into high-end shopping, check out The Corner frequented by such notables as Katie Holmes, Claudia Schiffer and Jude Law. There are two stores: one at Charlottenburg in the west and at Gendarmenmarkt in the east. For chic labels like Lala Berlin or Helmut Lang as well as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, there’s Quartier 206 in Friedrichstrasse. But unlike some cities, Berlin offers not just one or two fashion centres but a number of distinctive shopping areas, much like Los Angeles. In addition to the best-known exclusive shops and department stores along the boulevards of Kurfürstendamm and Friedrichstrasse, Mitte, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain offer trendy side streets of stylish boutiques. As with any city, new restaurants are continually coming onto the scene. Among those to try in edgy, upcoming Kreuzberg are Horváth, which has earned a Michelin star for its delicate, creative presentations of Austrian cuisine in a softly lit,
intimate interior; and, down the street, volt, which features exquisite nouvelle interpretations of veal, entrecote and other German specialties in its eclectic, high-ceiling, low-lit, former power plant setting. With Berlin’s diverse population, fine dining of any ethnic origin can be found in the city. nightlife cafes abound and opera, theatre and concerts are prevalent throughout the year. Check with your hotel concierge on what to do and where to dine.
WHERE TO STAY With 10 five-star hotels and another dozen in the luxury category, choices include familiar names such as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and the new Waldorf Astoria which opens this year. And there’s the legendary Adlon Kempinski Berlin on Pariser Platz by Brandenburg Gate, frequented by European royalty, Russian czars, celebs dating back to Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich and, more recently, where Michael Jackson held his baby over the balcony railing for all to see.
view remains of the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall at different sites throughout the city. Opened July 2006, the privately-funded, interactive DDR Museum showcasing life in Cold War East Germany includes a mock-up of a standard apartment complete with hidden microphone to pick up private conversations; a fridge, sink, stove and clothes washer smaller than those found in today’s tiniest house trailers; and governmentapproved fashions which were severely limited and strictly monitored.
Open air concerts are among Berlin’s many entertainment options. © visitBerlin, Günter Steffen
The Regent Berlin’s two-star Michelin restaurant, Fischers Fritz is home to the first lobster press in Germany. Elegantly-furnished Deluxe Suites at the Regent Berlin offer spacious living rooms.
In the heart of the eastern sector is the Regent Berlin, ranked as the top hotel in Germany on Condé nast Traveler’s 2011 Gold List. On Gendarmenmarkt square within easy walking distance of other landmark sites including Boulevard unter den Linden, Brandenburg Gate and the great shopping of Friedrichstrasse, this beautiful, immaculately-maintained property excels in highly-personalized, professional service. You’ll not find brochures and maps in the rooms or lobby. All queries for information about sightseeing, dining, shopping and other activities are handled as individual requests by a knowledgeable concierge whose suggestions are tailored just for you. If you are into jogging, you can also join Stephan Mehlhorn, a veteran triathlete as well as the hotel’s chief concierge, for a daily run along a route designed to suit your sightseeing interests and experience level. The Regent’s restaurant, Fischers Fritz, headed by chef Christian Lohse, has held its two well-deserved Michelin stars for five consecutive years. If you feel extravagant and want to drive a Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster for two days, stay in an elegant suite, enjoy a lavish six-course dinner with beverage pairings in Fischers Fritz and lots of other luxury perks, check out the Regent Berlin SLS Summer Package at www.regenthotels.com/Berlin (under “view Offers”). It’s available through October 31, 2012.
Use of a Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster is part of a luxury package offered by the Regent Berlin.
GETTING THERE Airberlin (www.airberlin.com), Germany’s second largest airline, which began non-stop Airbus flights three times weekly between Los Angeles and Berlin May 11th, offers excellent, stateof-the-art service. On March 17, 2013, it will move operations along with all other international carriers to the new, high-tech Berlin Brandenburg Airport southeast of the city. This thriving capital continues to grow and change, promising new experiences each and every visit.
Fischers Fritz offers two-star Michelin dining at the Regent Berlin.
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D E S I G N
Arizona Leather
Nobody creates quality furniture quite like Arizona Leather & Fabric. Choose sofas, sectionals and chairs from over 100 styles and 400 colors, custom-made, designed specifically for you and your home. With hardwood frames, tempered steel springs and backed by a lifetime warranty, the products speak for themselves. When it’s made right here in America, it makes all the difference.
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Agoura Design Center
Agoura Design Center is your one-stop home furnishings and lifestyle destination for Conejo Valley and surrounding counties. With an array of retailers including Alpert’s Kidz Interiors, Berk’s Patio, Ethan Allen, Hold Your Horses, Keyboard Concepts, My Party Playhouse, Power of Home, Sit ‘n Sleep, The Mattress Store and Video & Audio Center, it’s the surefire place to go to meet all your needs. 20951 Burbank Blvd, Suite B, Woodland Hills 818.480.5512 www.agouradesigncenter.net
Urban Home
Nothing beats the affordable prices and top of the line customer service offered at the many locations of Urban Home. If you are looking to rejuvenate the style of your home with unique home decor and elegant furniture pieces, then come browse the high-end items that Urban Home offers at unbeatable prices.
111 South Westlake Blvd, Suite 101, Westlake Village 805.604.0908 www.shopurbanhome.com
Brad Fowles Pools & Landscapes
For over 30 years, Brad Fowles has enhanced properties throughout the Conejo Valley; capturing a statewide award for the Janss Marketplace and numerous other awards throughout the area. Brad specializes in awesome outdoor environments. Realize your vision with Brad’s award-winning experience. Whether you’re enhancing your property or starting from scratch, Brad Fowles is the person to call. 818.335.0468 www.bradfowles.com
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THE SUNSET ROOM
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e Premier Destination for Unforgettable Events Teen Staff, Front Row (L-R): Josh Ladell, Shiva Trieu, Garret Scull, Jordyn Ladell, Matt Taksen Back Row: Foundation Director Ron McNeill,, Charlie Bearer
FOLLOWInG THE OvERWHELMInG SuCCESS OF THEIR FAMED GLOBAL PARTY LAST SEPTEMBER BEnEFITTInG 15 DIFFEREnT InTERnATIOnAL CHARITIES, THE SUNSET ROOM IS PLEASED TO COnTInuE THIS TRADITIOn BY SuPPORTInG THE LOCAL ORGAnIZATIOn, POWERED BY YOUTH FOUNDATION (PBY). The Sunset Room will host the Summer End Celebration on September 9th promising an enjoyable time for all while raising funds for this worthy cause. The event will be be hosted by Tv personality, Mike Pereira, FOx Sports nFL Rules Analyst and Former vice President of Officiating for the national Football League, includes teen testimonials, live entertainment, delicious food; created by celebrity Chef's, fine wines, a casino room and live/silent auction including a day on the set at the FOx Sports nFL Pre-Game show withTerry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and crew. POWERED BY YOUTH Foundation’s mission is to give teens the opportunity to reach their potential while providing them with strong role models, alternatives to poor choices, healthy lifestyle options and creative environments. PBY also strives to facilitate positive family experiences that offer opportunities for healthy interaction, peer support, platforms for discussions and most importantly, environments that encourage parents to adopt healthy family lifestyles. PBY Founder and Agoura Hills resident, Dean Ladell, has a long family history of philanthropy. He recognized the need for mentoring programs for teens and their families in his community and established Powered By Youth. The foundation’s name says it all: the organization is led and operated by local teens. Garret Scull, a soon-to-be senior at Agoura High and PBY teen spokesperson, loves the Saturday afternoon roundtable discussions. “…Especially for teenagers like us that are at a time when you’re trying to find yourself…our discussions helps us get in touch with values and helps us learn and appreciate them.” Agoura High senior and teen staffer, Shiva Trieu, explains, “As we talk, it opens my eyes to critical issues like drugs, bullying…you don’t think about it but that’s everyday high school life. When you talk about it with the group…it makes you aware of the consequences.” 16-year-old Jordyn Ladell takes the lead by budgeting and planning all PBY programs. One of her favorite projects is the family movie night program. Once a month, PBY rents out a theater at Thousand Oaks’ Muvico and hosts a fun-filled free evening for local kids and their families. With a movie, popcorn and candy provided, these evenings are a special opportunity for teens and their families to interact. “We are here to help… we want all the teens in the community to feel that they get a fair chance…we want everyone to know that if they need us, we’re here for any—and every—one.” Powered by Youth Foundation’s passionate and dedicated Director, Ron Mcneill, is determined to expand this much-needed program. “The foundation reaches multiple families and their teens from the surrounding communities and through the efforts and benefits of this fundraiser, PBY’s goal is to raise enough funds to be able to provide the resources and offer this program nationwide.” Tickets are available for the Summer End Celebration at The Sunset Room on September 9 at 7 p.m. for $85 per person. For information regarding tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.PBYevents.org, www.sunset-room.com or contact Christine at christineM@pbyfoundation.org.
• • • • • • • • • •
Holiday Parties Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Wedding Receptions Birthday Celebrations Company Meetings and Parties Wrap Parties Fundraisers Anniversary Parties Class Reunions Cocktail Receptions
Home of many notable events including the famed Global Party. e possibilities are endless with three distinctive areas extending more than 5,000 square feet of upscale indoor and openair event space. For more information, contact Linda at
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Bugatti Veyron Super Sports Car $2,400,000
This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today (the base Veyron costs $1,700,000). It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is also the fastest street legal car when tested again on July 10, 2010 with the 2010 Super Sport Version reaching a top speed of 267 mph. When competing against the Bugatti Veyron, you better be prepared!
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Bumper 2 Bumper
Bumper 2 Bumper Carzmetix is the “Go-To” Car Care Salon for tricking out and tripping out your car. Whether you want a custom treatment for a new car or a makeover to restore your old car we specialize in custom cosmetic painting, hi-end detailing, window tinting, vinyl wrapping and we also do basic wheel refinishing, dent removal and bumper repairs. 31143 Via Colinas # 503 Westlake Village across from the Four Seasons Hotel. 1-805-553-9200 www.carzmetix.com
Galpin Auto Sports
Excelsior Yacht Group
The Excelsior Yacht Group, known for uncompromising quality and exceptional value, uses only the best to design yachts of the highest standard. Having worked with famed yacht designer, Ron Holland, and worldrenowned interior designers, Design Unlimited, Captain Chris Shearman is sure to get your seagoing vessels right here in SoCal in shipshape. Captain Christopher Shearman, SAMS-AMS The Excelsior Yacht Group, LLC Marine Surveyors & Project Managers 310-650-4455 23679 Calabasas Rd, Suite 31, Calabasas, CA 91302
From mild to wild, G.A.S. can deliver a unique custom paint job made to order! Turn your wreck around at Galpin Auto Sports. We work with our partners at Ford Auto Body to bring you the best in service and repair, or to arrange towing and car rentals, if necessary. Regardless of the make or model, Galpin Auto Sports can get you back in the driver’s seat. We can handle insurance claims or start the restoration of your classic!
1-877-GO-GAS-GO www.galpinautosports.com
Clay Lacy Aviation
Founded in 1968 by a living aviation legend, Clay Lacy Aviation (CLA) is one of the world’s premier aircraft charter and management companies. Over four decades ago, CLA introduced the private jet to the west coast. Today, it sets the standard for private aviation services worldwide, offering excellence through experience. www.claylacy.com
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D I N I N G
Marcello Ristorante
With over 22 years in the Conejo Valley, Marcello Ristorante is recognized for its authentic Italian cuisine served in an elegant and romantic setting. Chef and co-owner Tino Di Marcello and co-owner Pietro Rizzuti are known for providing excellent service and a fine dining experience.
Sweet Arleen’s Bakery
Join in for summer fun at Sweet Arleen's! Invite your best baking buddies for a Bake Party in our award-winning kitchen. Only $45 per guest, the party includes measuring, mixing, baking, cupcake decorating and a cupcake favor for each guest to take home. Limit 6-10 guests. Children ages 7-12, teens & adults. 50% deposit required. Call early to schedule your Bake Party—805.373.7373—or check our website for upcoming Bake Parties you can simply sign up for, subject to availability.
140 West Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks 805.371.4367 www.marcelloristorante.com
960 South Westlake Blvd, Suite #4 Westlake Village www.sweetarleens.com
Mastro’s Restaurant
Spice up your summer while cooling off at the same time. At Mastro's Steakhouse, enjoy a cold jumbo shrimp cocktail appetizer served with their signature Atomic horseradish and cocktail sauce. Pair that with a refreshing yet spicy featured cocktail…The Skinny Diablo. This delicious concoction has Milagro Silver tequila, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, sliced red bell peppers and jalapeños.
2087 East Thousand Oaks Blvd. 805.418.1811 www.mastrosrestaurants.com
Napa Tavern
Come spend an evening of savory wines and California cuisine at the Napa Tavern. With a carefully selected menu developed by culinary experts and a wine selection of over 90 wines, the Napa Tavern will provide a memorable dining experience for all ages. The enchanting atmosphere of the dining room and outdoor patio serve as the perfect place to host special occasion lunches, dinners, or business meetings. For a weekend treat, come by the Napa Tavern every Saturday and Sunday from 12-6pm for some of Napa Valley’s finest wine tasting. 805.497.4911 www.thenapatavern.com 101 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village, CA 91362
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The Sunset Room
The Sunset Room brings old world Hollywood glamour to Agoura Hills. The spacious, vibrant venue is fitting for all occasions and any theme. Host your event in the main room, dining room or under the stars with intimate cabanas for outdoor celebrating. The home of many notable events including the famed Global Party, the possibilities are endless with three distinctive areas of more than 5,000 square feet of upscale indoor and open-air event space. Plan your own memorable occasion—from two guests to 500, this is the premier destination for unforgettable events. For more information, contact: Linda@sunset-room.com Dinner, Dancing & Live Entertainment: Thursday- Saturday 5:00 PM - 2:00 AM 29020 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills 818.991.4007 www.sunset-room.com
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Ever y note i nspi red.
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FOOD & WINE
McGRATH : FAMILY FARM FRESH FROM THE FIELD BY CAROL KARM PHOTOGRAPHY BY BENNY HADDAD
“TO KEEP THE SOIL HEALTHY AND FREE OF THESE PESTS AND OTHER SEASONAL THREATS, THE CROPS ARE ROTATED FREqUENTLY AT MCGRATH FAMILY FARM AND NEW CROPS ARE ADDED SO THAT THE SOIL IS NOT DEPLETED.”
CONSUMERS ARE EMBRACING THE LOCAVORE MOVEMENT—LOOKING FOR MORE WAYS TO BUY THEIR FOOD LOCALLY. FRESHER AnD BETTER TASTInG, IT’S HARD TO FInD A REASOn nOT TO BECOME A LOCAvORE YOuRSELF, ESPECIALLY SInCE WE’RE FORTunATE TO LIvE In A RICHLY AGRICuLTuRAL AREA WHERE RECEnTLY HARvESTED PRODuCE IS READILY AvAILABLE. OnE OF THE PRIME SuPPLIERS OF THESE FRESH FRuITS AnD vEGETABLES IS MCGRATH FAMILY FARM, LOCATED RIGHT OFF THE 101 FREEWAY In CAMARILLO. McGrath Family Farm, a staple at ten farmers’ markets and a supplier to over 40 of Southern California’s finest restaurants, has become famous for its superior produce. Local residents can visit the farm store or subscribe to the McGrath Family Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. The CSA movement is gaining momentum nationwide. Phil and Joanne McGrath and Phil’s eight siblings are all committed to sustainable organic farming, each one involved in marketing and conservation. Phil McGrath has dedicated 30 acres of the farm to growing organic crops for the store and the CSA subscribers. Their CSA program is one of the few to provide produce almost exclusively from the farm itself. After arriving at the farm early Tuesday morning, I found the boxes for the subscribers already packed with an extravagant assortment of fruits and vegetables: baby carrots, strawberries, oranges, lemons, fava beans and much more. Local subscribers can pick up their boxes at the farm every Tuesday during the growing season from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Delivery can be arranged if there are sufficient subscribers in a certain locale and they even deliver to two pickup locations in West Los Angeles. Being a subscriber is like owning a little piece of the farm. “There are several different subscriber programs. Subscribers are our partners in this venture and this entitles them to receive their share of our harvest of fresh, organic, in-season produce—everything from strawberries and baby vegetables to legumes and flowers,” explained Michael Roberts, the farm store manager. Roberts mentioned that by participating in so many farmers’ markets, they meet many famous chefs and provide the produce for many of their special events. “We learn from [the chefs] what is new and can then update what we are planting. We can then introduce our subscribers to new crops and sometimes these crops are even new to us. When that happens, we all like to take a sample home and experiment with it.”
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The McGraths focus on teaching people to learn how to eat what is in season. Anyone who has bought imported peaches at the grocery store in January and then tasted a fresh peach plucked right off the tree knows the delicious significance of that lesson. Roberts said that Phil McGrath’s mission is to get people to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables right when they’re meant to be eaten—freshness is key. Frequently, when fruit or vegetables are imported to satisfy out-of-season demand, they harbor agricultural pests like the deadly citrus psyllid that is currently threatening our citrus crops. To keep the soil healthy and free of these pests and other seasonal threats, the crops are rotated frequently at McGrath Family Farm and new crops are added so that the soil is not depleted. This crop diversity and rotation ensure their farm remains sustainable. But it’s not just the produce that impresses the farm’s visitors: it’s also brimming with flowers. Blooming plants border the farm’s many crops—their flowers attract beneficial insects that get rid of harmful pests and help pollinate the crop. Roberts said emphatically, “Phil McGrath has definitely been ahead of the curve. We are not ‘Big Agriculture.’ We sell all of our crops and flowers directly to the consumer. That way we can control the integrity of what comes from our farm.” McGrath Family Farm offers farm tours and even hosts a petting zoo for its younger visitors. People can also pick their own strawberries and the farm store is a charming renovated horse barn filled with light, flowers and piles of brightly colored fruits and vegetables just waiting to be picked. The McGraths even have a secret garden they’ve started planting so that visitors can buy seedlings to plant in their own home gardens.
info
Sustainable, organic produce is readily available through the McGrath CSA program. For more information, visit their website at www.mcgrathfamilyfarm.com.
FOOD & WINE
A group of nine tasters—not professionals but all wine aficionados—gave their honest judgments as they enjoyed sipping and savoring the following wines:
WHITES Cantara Cellars Albarino—2010, Lodi Ojai Vineyard Viognier—2010, Ojai Montage Vineyards Viognier—2010, Malibu Pomar Junction Picnic at Pomar Junction Chardonnay—2009, Santa Barbara
REDS Rancho Ventavo Cellars Mourvedre—2008, Central Coast Magnavino Cellars Petite Sirah—2009, Lodi Boccali Vineyards and Winery Topa Topa Syrah—2010, Ojai Lange Twins Midnight Reserve (Bordeaux Blend)—2008, Lodi Malibu Family Wines Semler Cabernet Sauvignon—2007, Malibu Bridal Trail Cabernet Sauvignon—2010, L.A. County Alma Sol Winery Encantado Cabernet Sauvignon—2009, Paso Robles Michael David Winery Freakshow—2009, Lodi Alpha Omega Winery Cabernet Sauvignon—2009, Napa
After sampling all the wines, our tasters were told to pick one white wine and four red wine recommendations for our readers. They convened and here are their favorites: THE WINNING WHITE:
SPRING INTO SUMMER WITH THESE NEW
WINES
The Picnic at Pomar Junction Chardonnay— a perfect summer wine, fruity and smooth with a light, buttery note.
THE WINNING REDS: 4
3
2
The Rancho Ventavo Cellars Mourvedre—a spicy, light red wine with a touch of oak and a smooth finish.
Michael David Winery’s Freakshow (boasting a great label)— this oaky Cabernet, floral and fruity with complex notes, still went down smooth. Fullbodied, it’s a great red to drink with dinner.
Magnavino Cellar’s Petite Sirah—This full-bodied, smooth and well-balanced red was a big favorite with the tasters. velvety, with a nice finish, one taster exclaimed, “This will put some wattage in your cottage!”
1
Alpha Omega Winery’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon—The winning red, this Cabernet is finely balanced. Fruity, complex, full-bodied, rich yet mellow, smooth with a nice dry finish, it’s what a good Cab should embody: great for both sipping and pairing with strong, spicy, meaty flavors.
BY CAROL KARM
DURING THE SPRING MONTHS I RECEIVED NEWS ABOUT NEW RELEASES FROM VARIOUS LOCAL WINERIES. I DECIDED IT WOuLD BE Fun TO InvITE THESE WInERIES TO SEnD BOTTLES OF THEIR nEW RELEASES FOR An InFORMAL WInE TASTInG. I HADn’T REALIZED JuST HOW MAnY nEW WInERIES HAvE SPRunG uP In OuR AREA, THROuGH THE REGIOn EnCOMPASSInG vEnTuRA COunTY, CALABASAS AnD MALIBu, MAKInG THE TASTInG THAT MuCH MORE ExCITInG.
Our tasters finished the evening polishing off a couple of pizzas and a Greek salad and washing it down with whatever was left of these delicious wines. It was a rough job but somebody had to do it—and I recommend you hunker down one summer evening and enjoy one, if not all, of these wines, too.
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DATEBOOK HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS JULY/AUGUST2012 JULY July 4 5:00pm The City of Calabasas will proudly host its annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at Calabasas High School. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. The family-oriented, fun-filled event will feature live music from “Mrs. Robinson,” the ultimate entertainment band, a free family fun zone with a balloon artist, inflatable rides, crafts, games and the grand fireworks display. Tickets must be purchased in advance. www.cityofcalabasas.com/events/ fireworks.html 8:00am Boy Scout Troop #752’s pancake breakfast will take place at the former Westlake village Medical Center Property at 4415 Lakeview Canyon at 8 a.m. Breakfast tickets are available for $5 per person or $20 per family on the day of the event or by calling Lee Mackay at (805) 914-9701. 9:30am The 43rd Annual City of Westlake Village 4th of July Parade will line up at 9:30 AM and proceed down the decorated 4-block route at 9:45 AM—Lakeview Canyon Road and Agoura Road, Westlake village. 5:00—9:00pm The July 4th Janss Marketplace Fireworks Spectacular will be more spectacular than ever in 2012 with free music, giveaways, a balloon artist, face painting, bounce house and the best fireworks in the Conejo valley. Bring your family and friends to Janss Marketplace for the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular from 5–9 p.m. 10:00pm—5:00pm 4th of July Street Fair. ventura’s 37-year-old traditional Independence Day celebration stretches nine blocks along Main Street, Downtown. It features more than 250 participating artisans, entertainment on six stages and plenty of food choices. Kids’ attractions include pony and train rides, rock climbing and a Pushem-Pullem parade. www.venturastreetfair.com, (805) 654-7800/(805) 648-2075
July 6–14 The 2012 Ventura Film Festival is the largest and most prestigious film festival in ventura County, with hundreds of films, exciting parties and activities spanning ten days. The ventura Film Festival is a 100% volunteer-based charity event raising money and awareness for forest and ocean preservation and the environment. A convenient film location with miles of uncrowded, unspoiled beaches, ventura is just 60 miles north of Hollywood. www.venturafilmfestival.org, (805) 644-9981 July 6—8, and 13—15 8:00pm The 16th season of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will feature “Much Ado About Nothing” at California Lutheran university in Thousand Oaks, Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. in scenic Kingsmen Park. General admission is $20 for adults and free for those under 18. For more information, visit kingsmenshakespeare.org or call (805) 493-3014. July 16 8:00am The 20th Annual Care for Kids Golf Classic hosted by The Rotary Clubs of Camarillo. Located at the Spanish Hills Golf & Country Club, proceeds will benefit Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families. $375 per player, to register call (805) 604.1104 or visit www.casapacifica.org/news/events. July 20 The 45th Annual Santa Paula Citrus Festival will be held at Harding Park, 1330 E. Harvard Boulevard, on Friday, July 20th (5 to 11 p.m.) and Saturday & Sunday, July 21-22 (noon to 11 p.m.). Entry fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 10 and under. www.santapaulafestival.org July 21 & 22 1:00-4:00pm At the 7th Annual Pirate Days Festival, pirates will be blowing into the ventura Harbor village for a weekend of good-natured pillaging and plundering. There will be professional pirate live-action shows by Pirates for Hire, three daily costume contests, a children’s hunt for treasure, outdoor piratethemed movies at Kid’s Pirate Boot Camp and Adult Pirate Pub Crawl. Admission and parking are free.
July 28 8:00am Don’t miss the Ventura Family YMCA 12th Annual Fun & Fitness 5K located at 3760 Telegraph Road. Awards for top winners in each division and everyone can enjoy a pancake breakfast, live music and fun after the race. visit www.ciymca.org/ventura for a registration form. July 28 8:00am The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Fundraising Walk is a powerful and inspiring event that unites communities to celebrate people who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about the steps we can take to help prevent the disease and raise money to find cures and support programs and services for those facing the disease. Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks makingstrides.acsevents.org July 28 ProActive Pilates is hosting a Professional Speaker Series with dermatologist, Dr. Lisa Oki, presenting on the topic of skin cancer prevention. Free of charge, refreshments will be served and following the lecture, complimentary Pilates and Gyrotonic introductory sessions will be offered. 860-v Hampshire Road, Westlake village. www.proactivepilates.com July 28 5:00—9:00pm A Taste of Camarillo Wine Auction Gala & Dinner, presented by Meadowlark Service League, is held at the amazing Red Barn at the Camarillo Ranch. It includes a live auction of fine and rare wines and other enticing items plus a gourmet dinner and live music by the Big Little Jazz Band. Reservations required. $70 per person—advance purchase only. www.meadowlarkserviceleague.com/taste.shtml July 29 3:00-7:00pm Conejo Food and Wine Festival. Benefiting Many Mansions - A ticket purchase allows you to enjoy all the food and beverages served during the entire afternoon. At the same time, it also helps families get more than just a roof over their heads—they get a better chance at life. 155 E. Janss Road. conejofoodandwine.com
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AUGUST August 1-12 Weekdays: 11:00am–11:00pm Weekends: 10:00am–11:00pm “Rides, Ribbons and Rodeos” Ventura County Fair—there’s always plenty to do including carnival rides, midway games, free concerts, great food and drinks, a wine garden, a petting zoo, bungee jumping, a livestock auction, rock climbing, face painting and more. ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., ventura, CA. www.venturacountyfair.org August 3-5 8:00pm “Romeo and Juliet” is featured in the 16th season of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. Presented by California Lutheran university in Thousand Oaks, both shows begin at 8 p.m. in scenic Kingsmen Park. General admission is $20 for adults and free for those under 18. For more information, visit kingsmenshakespeare.org or call (805) 493-3014. August 4 8:00am The Ventura County Fair Costume 5K Run/Walk takes place on Saturday, August 4th in Downtown ventura. This scenic and challenging 5K takes place before the ventura County Fair Parade and includes great awards and an awesome postrace scene. Following the 5K will be a blazing fast downhill mile on Main Street—a great option for those who are not ready for a 5K. But feel free to run both the 5K and 1-Mile. Costumes welcome for all races! The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and the downhill mile starts at 9 a.m. For more information and to register, visit www.vcfair5k.com. August 4 4:00-8:00pm “City Slickers” Evening of Hope Gala for the American Cancer Society. Event Chairs Jacqui Irwin and Sue Chadwick promise an afternoon and evening of great music, breathtaking vistas, delicious food and unique surprises. Located at the Peterson Ranch, Somis, the dress is Western Chic Attire. Contact Sandy Berg at (805) 644-4237 or sandy.berg@cancer.org. gala.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=420 49&pg=entry
DATEBOOK HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS JULY/AUGUST2012 August 12 6:00-9:00pm Jammin’ at the Art Center. Featuring Ojai Song Writers at the Ojai Arts Center Patio, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. (805) 646-0117. August 18 8:00am Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K. A low-key event for those who would rather walk, the third annual Making Strides Walk is a noncompetitive 5K scenic morning event at ventura Harbor, followed by a pancake breakfast. For more information, visit MakingStrides.acsevents.org/ventura. August 18, 10:00am—6:00pm August 19, 10:00am—5:00pm Street chalk artists create “Chalk for Charity” pieces along the ventura village Promenade to support FOODShare. Local artists display amazing glasswork, jewelry, sculpture, handcrafts and more, outdoors at the ventura Harbor village Main Lawn. Live music and junior art competitions will take place throughout the weekend. Admission and parking are free. www.venturachamber.com/content/community_devel/arts_in_the_park.asp August 27 8:30am 6th Annual ACT Today! Charity Golf Classic presented by north Ranch Country Club. Proceeds from this event benefit Autism care and treatment for Military Families. visit acttoday.org.
Summer Event Series Beginning June 12 through August 16 Muvico at The Oaks mall will once again host a FREE summer film fest. The films will be offered every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. More details at www.muvico.com/SummerFilmFest.asp. THE CANYON Presents
For the fifth year the New West Symphony League presents a series of unique fundraising events that take place between June and August called “The Pleasure of Your Company.” All events are open to the public and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Symphony and its educational programs. For further information, call Sandee Kane at (805) 492-9535 or for dates and locations, visit www.newwestsymphony.org. Saturdays, July 14- September 8, 7:30—9:30pm Music Under the Stars Series. The musical events are held under the summer night sky at the beautiful and historic Olivas Adobe. Each Saturday features a different musician or group, ranging from reggae to hip-hop to jazz. Guests can bring their own dinner or reserve a table for catering, then dance the night away. Tickets are $20 each. www.cityofventura.net Wednesday nights, July 25—August 15 Boogie Nights Summer 5K Run Series. Boogie nights will be on the trails of ventura’s Arroyo verde Park and consists of four consecutive Wednesday evenings. Participants will enjoy a fun and challenging weeknight workout and then can reward themselves by socializing afterwards with friends and family. In addition, the race raises money for Buena High School’s Cross Country Team. www.boogienightsventura.com
SEPTEMBER September 6 6:00pm Malibu Country Mart—Fashion’s Night Out with The Bumbys— new York performance artists, Gill and Jill Bumby, will provide their appraisals of guests’ appearances at this coutoure carnival-themed event. Featuring designer and luxury retailers, in-store events, promotions, sales, raffles, a rocking local band, tarot card readings, food trucks and a glamorous red carpet entrance, it’s a night Out you don’t want to miss. Malibu Country Mart, 3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, (310) 456-7300.
Jul. 13 HOWARD JOnES, $35.00 Doors 6pm Show 8pm Jul. 27 THE MOTELS, $24.50 Doors 6pm Show 9pm
To include your event in our Aug. 17 REvEREnD HORTOn HEAT, $25.00 Doors 6pm Show 9pm Aug. 31 STEvE TYRELL, $35.00 Doors 6pm Show 9pm
Datebook email:
Kari@
WestlakeMagazine.com
28912 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills. Box Office (818) 879-5016. www.canyonclub.net
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RESTAURANT GUIDE
Westlake >> ITALIAN Boccaccio’s 32123 Lindero Canyon Rd # 104 Westlake Village, CA 91362 (818) 889-8300 www.boccacciosonthelake.com Bellini Osteria 951 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 497-8482 www.belliniosteria.com >> PIZZA Fresh Brothers 180 Promenade Way Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 777-8448 www.freshbrothers.com >> DELI Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant 2799 Townsgate Rd Westlake Village, CA 91359 (805) 557-1882 www.brentsdeli.com
>> CATERING Monrose Catering 31117 Via Colinas Westlake Village, CA 91361 (818) 707-7307 www.monrosecatering.com >> SEAFOOD Fins 982 S. Westlake Blvd., Ste. 8 Westlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 494-6494 www.finsinc.com
Malibu >> CALIFORNIAN Geoffrey’s Malibu 27400 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 457-1519 www.geoffreysmalibu.com
Agoura Hills >> AMERICAN
>> AMERICAN
The Lindero Bar and Grill 5719 Lake Lindero Dr Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 735-3530 www.linderocc.com
The Grill 120 E Promenade Way Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 (805) 418-1760 www.thegrill.com/westlake.html
Wood Ranch 5050 Cornell Rd. Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 597-8900 www.woodranch.com/loc_agoura.html
Lazy Dog Café 172 W. Hillcrest Dr. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 449-5206 www.lazydogcafe.com
Sunset Room 29020 Agoura Rd. Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (818) 991-4007 www.sunset-room.com
Mastro's Steakhouse 2087 East Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, Ca. 91362 805-418-1811 www.mastrosrestaurants.com
The Lab Brewing Co. 30105 Agoura Rd. Agoura Hills, CA 91302 (818) 735-0091 www.labbrewingco.com
Thousand Oaks
>> AMERICAN Zin Bistro Americana 32131 Lindero Canyon Rd Suite 111 Westlake Village, CA 91361 (818) 865-0095 www.zinbistroamericana.com
>> ITALIAN Napa Tavern 101 S Westlake Blvd Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-4911 www.thenapatavern.com Mediterraneo 32037 Agoura Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 (818) 889-9105 www.med-rest.com
Vitello’s Trattoria 3316 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 (805) 496-3333 www.vitellostrattoria.com Marcello Italian Ristorante 140 West Hillcrest Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 371-4367 www.marcelloristorante.com
94 JULY/AUGUST2012 I WESTLAKE MAGAZINE
If you would like to be included in our Restaurant Guide, please contact Holly Correa at Holly@westlakemagazine.com
PHOTO BY RAYMOND OCAMPO
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GROWING OLDER, GETTING GODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ATTENTION BY M. DAYLE THOMAS
You will always be one year older each year for the rest of your life despite Botox or keeping your age a secret. neither cosmetic surgery, re-doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nor antiaging pills can stop it. Aging continues to move along. We cannot untick the clock. What we can do is choose to stay alive all of our life. We will grow older, but we can choose to not grow old and learn the greater lesson with grace. Life does not end at 60, 70 or 80. It ends when you quit. A sad number of people have quit at the very early age of 30, 40 or 50. Wrinkles have panicked them into losing their spirit and tumbled into the attitude or pit of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m too old.â&#x20AC;? So much attention and value has been heaped upon how they look outside that they have overlooked who they are inside. Growing older is not a sentence to be served. It is an attitude to embrace. It is a continuing journey, like a storybook, though not everyone is Cinderella, acted out. Some are stories of pain and confusion, of trying to find answers that will make us feel better. Our hearts are broken when we lose someone dear to us, be it person or pet. There continues to be a part of us that never completely heals. The reminders are much like a broken ankle on a rainy day. However, we have within us a fortress of beautiful memories that help us walk with the limp. As weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better prepared to choose courage over timidity and confidence over fear, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to trust our endurance because we can see how we weathered the tests before. The growing years have brought quality to our imagination and curiosity to our dreams and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no room for despair. Growing older is not about thinking less of ourselves, but simply thinking of ourselves less often, and more about the things in life that we hold priceless. Charm does not fade, wit does not age and knowledge does not lose its power. Each year we can become a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of better, smarter and wiser. As focus is turned to life accountability, the search for spirituality often emerges. However, the end result of the journey reveals a great lesson. The God that was being sought was there all the time. not to be discovered, but to be acknowledged and accepted.
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Dear God, Give me the grace to change what I can and live in harmony with what I cannot.
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“It’s the show you have to see...” Photo: Véronique Vial Costume: Dominique Lemieux ©1998 Cirque du Soleil Inc.
— Daily Variety
Written and Directed by Franco Dragone
Tickets online at bellagio.com and cirquedusoleil.com or call 888-488-7111
GOLD MEDAL BOXING CHAMPION & KNOCK-OUT
STEFANIE
TAYLOR
SUMMER READS //McGRATH PLUS: HOTFAMILY FARMS //TELEVISION'S
EXCITING NEW STARS //SUMMER FAMILY FUN //INTO THE WILD WITH NATUREBRIDGE
EST. IN 1992
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