90265 malibu lif e & style
director of development & production
magazine
marcia beverly
director of editorial features
casey carrington director of editorial photography
peter augustin public relations
birungi ives executive administrative editor
addison altendorf editor in chief creative director
cece woods executive editor
STEVE WOODS managing editor
linda AtKinson
architectural+landscape editor
yvette gilpin automotive editor
shin takei beauty editor
tara owens community editors
lisa marie elwes janet kurbikoff copy editor
adam webb editor at large
jenny hardy entertainment editor
matt diamond fashion editor
Published by Rock & Revolution PR
ashley pennington fitness+nutrition editor samantha clayton food editor
jessica white hot topic editor
jackie robbins lifestyle editor
susan burger men’s fashion editor geffrey s. yabes sports editor
royce clayton sustainable living editor
claudia taylor
We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems. -Arthur O’Shaughnessy, “Ode,” 1874
video editor
david yanez cover photo: peter augustin
Graphic designer
Shirleena Cunningham
90265magazine.com
in this issue N 2 2013 1. the always princely enchanting show
Treehouses
Locals Only
Bugatti
Cary Elwes vibe
3. that 70’s 4. roll up in a
5. X marks the spot:
sustainability with
Fiji
6.
Cafecito Organico
7. Malibu’s original cowboy, Thomas 8. 15 minutes with
2.
Warhol ...and
Runyon
more!
bu + who andy warhol exhibition
photos by tommi trudeau & casey carrington
15 minutes ofof fame.” 15“... minutes fam -Andy warhol
the mly gallery, located in the malibu lumber yard, held an exhibition recently displaying some of the most iconic images by legendary pop artist Andy Warhol. the collection “Andy Warhol: Icons & Symbols”, was curated by REVOLVER GALLERY owner, Ron Rivlin. the exhibition began labor day weekend and continued through October 13th.
bu+who cafecito organico
Artisan coffee producer Mitch Hale shares his dedication to sustainability and a little history on Cafecito Organico. Sustainability at Home Our interest in sustainability extends beyond coffee to all our products including our dairy, non-dairy, sweeteners, disposables, cleaning products, etc. Since our founding we have adopted the principles of zero waste and work with our partners to achieve this goal. We also make sure our employees are paid wages significantly above minimum, invest in their continued training as baristi, involve them in making decisions related to their respective stores, and require their assistance in managing the stores. We currently share a roasting facility in the South Bay and are using a green coffee roaster designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. Our Cafe o Muerte (coffee or death) slogan exemplifies the three principles that guide our work in the US. First, for many of us, besides the delicious taste of coffee, if we haven’t had our caffeine fix it’s cafe o muerte! Secondly, our involvement with local community groups and grassroots organizations in the neighborhoods where our stores are located allows us to partake in addressing a variety of social issues. And lastly, as specialty coffee becomes a true craft in the US, it is becoming a viable career choice for many.We are playing a key role in providing those opportunities for career cafecitas. We understand that the coffee we buy from the people who bring it from the earth, becomes the food they eat, the schools they attend and the health care they receive. For that reason we are proud to put our certification on each and every bag --- Grown on Earth by Humans. -cafecito organico, 29169 heathercliff rd., malibu
photos by casey carrington
ml + culture hugh holland
locals only 1975-1978 california skateboarding
hang one, burbank (no 84) 1975
gold skater, san diego, 1975
ml + culture hugh holland
radical palms, santa monica (no.81) 1976
ml + culture hugh holland
in your face (jay adamsons), kenter canyon, 1976
left turn only, orange county (no.58), 1975
ml + culture hugh holland
la bufadora (todd foot), ensenada, 1977
ml + culture hugh holland
612 NORTH ALMONT DRIVE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90069
downtown tricks,burbank (no.78),1975
ml + culture tom schaar
skate phenom skate phenom
When a legend tweets,the world listens. As I watch the story unfold, one of our own - Malibu bred skate legendary status among the greats in the skateboarding world. It up my own sons at Juan Cabrillo and Malibu High, driving them to before they had to plunge into homework back at home. With vivid eight years ago when I saw Tom Schaar skate for the first time.
phenom Tom Schaar - already reaches recalls for me the memories of picking Papa Jacks for an hour of skateboarding distinction, I recall the day more than
At the time, Tom was half the size of the older kids, who were experts in the consequences of risk versus injuries. He, and the other young skaters, had a healthy dose of fear and a slight but anticipated pause as they would drop in on the steepest vert wall in the park. But in that moment, my breath was literally taken away as I witnessed this little miniature grom climb up to the top of that vert drop to do what only the older skaters dared to brave.
I had previously witnessed a lot of first time drop ins that ended very poorly, many requiring bandages, ice or even a stealth run to Urgent Care. But not this day. Little Tom Schaar put his wheels over the edge, stepped on the tail and leaned forward, and with what seemed like a combination of knowledge, confidence, and natural ability comparable to those well beyond his years, he ingeniously solved the gravitational, mathematical complexities with ease. The crowd followed with amazed hoots and those who had also held their breath knew in that moment as well that they had witnessed something very special. Tom was tenacious in learning new tricks and he knew that with enough failure and hard work, success would follow and indeed it did. Even though the metal skate ramps at Papa Jacks were ridiculed by visiting skaters who had world class concrete skate parks in their own hometown communities, it was appreciated by Malibu local skaters who made the best of what they had because of their love of the sport.
photo mike blabac
mr.1080 MR.1080
ml + culture tom schaar
Sadly for Malibu youth, the park was shut down when the land was sold to a developer with pending permits to build. In that moment, the only community stage for our local youth evaporated over night. Subsequently, the City of Malibu promised our skaters and dedicated parents to find a temporary place to set up the ramps as they develop plans to build a real concrete skate park. Tom’s mom was so dedicated to furthering Tom’s talent at a new local skate park that she and other parents attended city council and planning meetings to encourage and assist in the completion of this skate place for all of Malibu’s youth. Unfortunately, the city’s promise has evolved into a disappointing, bureaucratic quagmire. It is extremely disheartening that, Malibu, one of the most affluent beach communities in southern California, a demographic that literally made the sport popular, cannot even find a way through the bureaucratic red tape to provide a park for its youth. Especially recognizing that numerous small towns across the country, many with populations less than 5,000 which are inhabited and governed by low to median income households have created - and maintain - world class concrete skate parks for their youth. So, making the difficult, but well-concluded decision that they could not wait five years or more for the new park, Tom’s family sold their house and moved south to Carlsbad near the epicenter of skate culture. While they miss the beauty of Malibu, Tom’s skateboarding career is flourishing. And even though he is just getting started, he has already accomplished quite a lot in a very short amount of time.
In 2011, at age 11, Tom became the youngest skateboarder to land a 900. In March 2012, on a MegaRamp at Woodward West, he earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records when he became the first skateboarder ever to land a 1080! Tom landed the 1080 again in competition at X Games Asia in May of 2012, earning him a gold medal in Mini Mega entering the record books, at age 12, as the youngest person ever to win gold at an X Games event. His debut appearance at X Games LA in July 2012 saw him competing against many of his skateboarding idols as he racked up two top-ten finishes. “Just being invited to X Games in the first place was really cool in terms of tricks we’ll see,” he says. “But I have a lot of goals of making it to some of these bigger contests... I want to compete in all four X Games. It’ll be cool to travel around to the whole world and go to new places. I want to keep doing better, so I can prove I deserve to be there.” The Schaar’s correct decision to move on from Malibu successfully enabled Tom to focus more on his skating. As a result, he has rapidly moved up in the rankings alongside his older professional idols and has gained respect from some of the world’s best athletes who have recognized and paid homage to his talents.
ml + culture tom schaar
I had the chance to meet Tom and his mom, Regan, at the Element office in Costa Mesa. We had a little time after school for our interview and a quick skate at the Volcom Skate Park down the street before he had to get to work on his homework. Proudly sporting his Red Bull hat, Tom joined the others and humbly waited his turn to launch a massive Stale Fish way above the coping of the concrete pool. Almost instantly, you could hear whispers from the other skaters in the crowd saying, “That’s Tom Schaar!” ...” Mr. 1080 is here “...”He just showed up out of nowhere “... It was definitely a moment to remember. Though only 14 years old, with a genuine smile of glistening braces, Tom Schaar is already an idol among his peers, with class and maturity beyond his years. Tom has shown without question that when we provide opportunities, our youth will make us proud.
““he he just showed just showed up out of nowhere” up out of nowhere” Malibu has a strong family base that hosts a multitude of youth programs. Let’s hope this iconic surf town can step up and provide cutting edge opportunities in the popular and challenging world of Skateboarding. Our youth deserves it, and we deserve to keep our hometown heroes at home. -Steve Woods
photos by casey carrington
90265+fashion
malibu road malibu road
photos by casey carrington
model:matthew felker brands:freedomartists, hippy tree, billabong, rvca and volcom. clothing provided by becker surf shop.
90265+lifestyle jean tripier
San Francisco based artist, Jean Tripier, grew up surfing and skating in the Basque Country - so it was a natural evolution to start painting on used, discarded surfboards and skate decks. "I love how organic the base material is. There is a history engraved on my canvas when I am using these boards, and it gets more powerful when combined with the personal history the portraits represent. It also allows me to experiment with all sorts of materials and street art techniques." Surfing Ocean Beach also helps him get inspired, as the winter swells end up breaking quite a few boards. The skate decks are collected through friends and friendly skate shops. " I am now using a non toxic, plant based resin to laminate the paintings on the boards so it truly is the best way to recycle your ride,"
Check out his portraits, surfboards and skate decks on www.tripier.com
90265+lifestyle A POWERFUl ANTIOxIDANT PRICkly PEARS
Abundant here in Malibu, these golden, purple or magenta orbs grow effortlessly from the Nopales Cactus. Widely referred to as “Cactus Apples” or “Prickly Pears,” you cannot help but notice them growing wild all over Southern California. And while they look forbidding with their practically invisible thorns, the neon fruits offer a delicious juice very similar to watermelon, making Prickly Pears the perfect indian summer free fruit! Prickly Pear fruit and cactus leaves have also been used for ages in Mexico to treat diabetes, fatigue, liver disease and prostate problems. Some people consider Prickly Pear to be a ‘superfood’ with preliminary evidence from the Mayo Clinic showing that it can decrease blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The fruit is high in fiber, antioxidants, and carotenoids. They work great in cocktail mixers, syrups, jams and breads. Prickly Pears are tricky to work with but worth the effort. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT: Thick Gardners Gloves - preferably leather. Gardening shears. Harvest the fruit by choosing the ripest specimens on the paddles. Cut them off at the base and let them fall into your basket. Take them home, rinse and let them dry. Next, pierce the bottom with a knife, hold over an open flame and watch as the thorns spark and burn off. Now, you can safely hold them and with a paring knife peel the skin off. Place the skinned fruit into a food processor or blender and puree till smooth. Next, pour into a cone funnel and press with a spatula to strain the seeds from the liquid. The seeds are edible, just tough on the teeth! Use within 5 days, or freeze for future use. Freezing in ice cube trays for smaller portions is a great way to do it.
Prickly Pear seed oil, aka Barbary Fig Seed Oil as it’s called in Tunisia, refines skin texture and brightens the complexion. The oil penetrates easily, hydrating and firming the skin and creating a natural barrier for the free radicals that cause skin aging. Prickly Pear oil rejuvenates mature skin and also gives it a slight lifting effect. Regular use results in skin elasticity, smoothness and firmness with a natural glow. Undereye shadows and eye circles reduce dramatically. The oil quickly absorbs into the skin and leaves no greasy traces. It is a true elixir for beauty and slows down aging of the skin. Prickly Pear oil is recommended for the care of the bust and décolleté. A powerful all around anti aging oil. photos by casey carrington
-labellafigurabeauty.com
M A L I B U FA R M P I E R C A F E R EA DY, S E T, T H A N K F U L ? P re - o rd e r o u r T h a n ks g i v i n g to - go s p e c i a l Eve r y t h i n g b u t t h e Tu r key D i n n e r, P i c k u p a l l t h e s i d e s f ro m M a l i b u Fa r m C U R B S I D E P I C K U P - W E D N ES DAY N OV E M B E R 2 7
23000 E PaciďŹ c Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 - Wednesday - Sunday 9:00am-3:00pm
(310) 456-1112
malibu-farm.com
90265+lifestyle
seafood pasta malibu style
Fall in Malibu can mean a lot of things to the local forager. There’s the hope of an early rain, one that’s heavy enough to produce a golden crop of Chanterelle mushrooms. The last of the white sea bass are migrating through the kelp beds and the brotherhood of blue water hunters are trying to get one last fish in the freezer before the water turns too cold or muddy from the first rain. Squid can still be caught on jigs, and though time consuming to clean, they vacuum pack and freeze very nicely and will be added to Italian fish stews during the coldest parts of the winter. Then, there’s lobster season. Opening at the beginning of October, we start to welcome the flat days as much as we did the big summer swells to surf upon. When we talk about lobsters, the first topic among freedivers is where they are… either in deep water or shallow. Some nights we find them en masse in 6 feet of water or less. Sometimes, there are none at all. They are likely out in 30 to 40 feet of water. You can always tell by looking at what depth the commercial guys are placing their traps. So what can the local diver do when the lobsters aren’t around and he doesn’t want to go home empty handed? Thank goodness for the scallops and sea urchins! Here is a recipe I threw together after coming home empty-handed one day from diving. 1 pound of spaghetti or linguini pasta ¼ cup cream black pepper 1 large dark purple sea urchin 5 scallops (silver dollar size) 1 clove chopped garlic finely chopped chives Romano cheese 1 tablespoon butter Clean the urchin by cracking it in half and, with a spoon, gently scrape out the egg sacks. Remove the all purple bits, rinse, and set aside on a paper towel. Begin by boiling the pasta. In a food processor, combine the cream, garlic, and 3 of the egg sacks. Process until smooth, then add to a skillet on medium heat. Stirring constantly, let the mixture achieve an “alfredo” like consistency and turn off the heat. In another pan, cook the scallops on high heat for a few minutes on each side. Add about 5 tablespoons of Romano cheese to the cooked sauce and stir. Remove the pasta from the water and toss it in to the pan to combine with the sauce until well coated. Add some pasta water if it needs to be thinned out a bit. Serve on a large plate or bowl adding scallops, and remaining raw uni. Garnish with chives, cracked pepper, and more Romano cheese. -Michael Gardner
visit themaliburealestateblog.com
90265+feature the+lost+cowboys
artwork by Justin Bruner
the lost cowboys the lost cowboys
By: Hermine Hilton Willie Nelson was wrong... ... when he sang “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” at least it doesn’t apply when you’re talking about The Cowboys of Malibu. Yes, there are real cowboys in Malibu.
After meeting with several of them and talking with them over a period of time, I was entranced with the caring and understanding they all had for their animals. How very extraordinary this shared empathy would be if wonderfully translated to all human-kind. There is such an unadulterated connection between these riders and their horses from which springs that emotional and loving understanding. It is so clear and poignant, it is mesmerizing. It might be a perfect world if we could all walk in the shoes of another in the same way these purest of cowboys stand in the stirrups of their steeds.
the+lost+cowboys I asked them questions I had always wondered about:
Is there really a horse language? I asked them about ‘Aha’ moments when training horses. And how trust and thought exchange manifests itself. Do life lessons come into play? Are you the teacher or the taught? What about your idols and your mentors? What advice would you give to a new rider? And here, in their thoughts and words, are some of the answers to my questions and the many things I learned from The Cowboys of Malibu.
Chip Mandeville
A giant in his profession, and the author of “The Architecture of Feel” (A Path to the Horse) and “The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far West”, Chip Mandeville comes to us from a generation of horse riding masters of the art. “My grandfather had a hundred herd of horses and he taught my mom how to ride.” His mom, Milly Decker, (who is still with us and still riding at 94 years young) is the longest original resident in Malibu, having arrived here in 1926. She came here from Iowa and was the first woman jockey in the State of California. When I asked how long he had been riding, Chip answered that he started when he was still in the womb as his mom was riding when she was pregnant with him “and as soon as I hit the dirt she threw me on a horse.” So it’s been a lifelong and even before two daughters to watch him perform with in Malibu. It was amazing and inspiring from “On Time” with hand gestures, body
life journey for him. I was privileged to join his wife and their his magnificently beautiful stallion “On Time” at the Trancas arena to witness such extraordinary actions he directed and received posturing, and his green flag in hand.
the+lost+cowboys To one of the many questions asked, ‘Through the years working with horses, what comes to mind as one of life’s lessons?’ Chip responded without hesitation, “Every moment with every horse is an opportunity to learn. You enter as a student instead of the teacher because the horse will always tell you where he is. If you operate from there you can grow together, there is no place for growth in confusion. Stay with your horse so they can tell you what’s next. That is one of the main lessons a horse has taught me.” This was my favorite question asked that day - “When does trust triumph instincts? “When the gift is in the giveaway. We all want to take, we have to trust to give.”
When asked about ‘Horse Language’, Chip told me that horse language is a language of intention in which you simply have to express your idea to the horse. ”They have to dumb themselves down to get to us and we have to smarten ourselves up to get to them.” He first learned this as an ‘Aha’ moment when he was only 7 years old. His father had brought him a stallion that was running people over and hurting them. He told Chip to get in the riding ring and fix it. While at first the horse, intent on survival, came on to Chip as a white shark, with a level of communication rare in a child, Chip was able to convey to the horse that they were in a dance together, creating a like vibration. By the end of the day they had made a connection and a transition on both their parts from survival to intellectual. “It is not so much mastering the horse, it’s mastering the relationship. It is the oneness.” If you are a follower of the history of the profession you have probably heard talk of horse whisperers, among them; Tom Dorrance; Ray Hunt; or Buck Brannaman, to name a few. Chip has worked with, learned from, and been influenced by all of them. In fact, he rode with Buck since Buck was 19 years old, and sometime later, assisted Ray Hunt with his clinics.
the+lost+cowboys Chip himself now helps new riders in his own training clinics and workshops. At the Shalom Institute he works with children that have physical challenges and disabilities. Inspired by the late Ray Hunt he encourages all his clients to desire and manifest a mutual partnership with the horse and for both to understand the language of the other.
He included these lessons learned from Ray Hunt in a poem he wrote titled “Harmony.�
Anouk StEInke A lovely resident of Malibu and a competitive rider, Anouk Steinke grew up in Holland and started riding at 4 years old. She came to the States 25 years ago at 17, and has made Malibu her home for the last decade. Although Anouk is a beautiful female, she is as much a cowboy as the best of them. And as proof of that she knows, better than many, how to rope a steer. She was taught by her friend and mentor, World Champion roper, Brian Borrows. She says it is only one of the fearsome things she can do on a horse. Another mentor of hers is the phenomenal Danny Gerardi, who taught her when it comes to reining how to refine her relationship with her horse.
the+lost+cowboys She grew up riding English, but when she started working with trainers, she switched to a Western saddle, and felt that was when she learned to let go and be a gentle leader. She experienced a level of release riding a Western saddle, which enabled her to partner with the energy of her horse. When you don’t ride the reins so hard, this teaches the horse to relax. She says being a control freak does not work, and relaxation is key. This was her suggestion to the best piece of advice she would give to a new rider. Go on trial rides and feel the motion of your horse. Let go of your fear and let go of control because these are emotional antagonists and will confuse your horse. By relaxing into the natural rhythm of your horse, you are building a relationship.
Anouk says she learns life’s lessons by working with horses because it keeps her on her toes. “As in life you never know what is coming and you need to be present to what your horse is ready to give you each day. The oneness with my animal is a treasure that brings me peace and serenity.”
MIKE BROWN The son of another extremely fine horseman, is a cowboy who is a cutting horse trainer. Cutting is an equestrian event in the Western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a calf away from a cattle herd, and keep it away for a short period of time. The horses involved are typically quarter horses, although other breeds may be used such as American Paint Horses or Appaloosas. A horse that instinctively knows how to keep a calf from returning to the herd and is trained in a manner to be shown competitively is considered a cutting horse.
the+lost+cowboys ”The horse and rider should be an extension of each other so that their actions are in sync.” Mike says it is an always-astonishing escape for him to be able to take this 1300-pound animal and let that animal be an extension of his own body. He also likens expressing what his body knows through this animal, tantamount to dancing. Cowboys call it the dance of the Great American Cow Horse. But he is aware that you cannot force a horse to do what you need it to do. The horse has to be willing to do it. You and your horse must be on the same wavelength to experience the horse’s joy of getting the job done. And all of this takes trust, and trust triumphs over instinct.
Mike, as a cutting horse trainer, totally believes in horse language as the language of communicating through feel. He says you speak through your body positions when you’re in the saddle: How you use your body; how you use your feet; how you sit in the saddle. “A horse can feel a fly on its back, so imagine how much translates when you’re in the saddle.” I asked him, “Who where your mentors?” “I was fortunate in my life that my father was an extremely good horseman. My neighbor next door, Guy Murdock, was a cowboys-cowboy. Really tough man, very fair extremely good horseman in managing high end thoroughbreds. When I was a kid I wanted to be like Guy. He was a good family man. What stood out for me was his fairness with how he approached working with horses. He taught me a lot about being fair in working and training horses, and I am grateful to him for how far it has taken me with what I have come to understand about fairness.”
“Thought” has nothing to do with it, it’s all awareness BRAD LANGEBERG
Brad Langeberg was born and raised in Hoskins, Nebraska, where his family, all cattle feeders, have lived for over 130 years. Since Hoskins only had a population of 190, and Brad’s nearest neighbor was over a mile away, you might think of the young Brad as a very authentic ‘lonesome cowboy.’ As he tells it, he had his first horse at age 6, and got bucked off every day. Overcoming a period of battle as he grew up, with untoward addictions, he came out to California in 1987, and credits working with horses as having saved his life, helping him to win that battle. Today he is a cowboy hero of sorts as he makes himself responsible for helping others to free themselves, who may have walked that same difficult path. In the early 90’s he became interested in Equine Assisted Therapy, and was part of the first group of psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists, who started teaching this equine therapy to others. He has been rewarded with several certifications. Since he became interested in training horses he feels blessed to have ridden with the famed Tom Dorrance, Buck Brannaman, Ray Hunt, Ted Robinson, as well as the likes of Master horsemen Collier, Winters, Simpson, Nuebert, and Traurig. He does Horse Demonstrations for many school groups, adults, and the Braille Institute, and is a volunteer with the Will Rogers Non-Profit Organization at the Will Rogers Ranch.
the+lost+cowboys
Currently he is working with Dr. Nancy Sobel with homeless kids in Venice, eating disorder groups, and, through Equine Assisted Therapy, also helps people with drug and alcohol recovery. He expends many hours working with kids who are ready to make a change and helps them, through horse training, to rehabilitate their lives to keep his passion for horses and recovery pure. (bradlangenberg@verizon.net) After a few years of sobriety, but still struggling with an eating disorder, and an unrequited hankerin’ for chewing tobacco, Brad says the horses became great teachers for him and taught him how to be present in his own life. He says horses taught him about relationships. “The answer to unconditional love being yours and your horse’s ability to always be willing to start over.” He understands that often when thinking he is having a problem with a horse, it is really his own problem that he must deal with. He has learned the importance of recognizing and pulling back from negative energy, so he shares this advice with his students: “Don’t project your life on the horse as the horse will pick up your problem. Tom Dorrance explained it like this, ‘the problem is man’s ego.’”
VINCE MUSELLI Has won the Extreme Cowboy’s Org. Regional Championship Award, (Obstacles & Horsemanship) 4 years in a row. He is another generous Malibu cowboy who has worked with underprivileged kids for 10 years, teaching them how to ride and take care of horses. He also works with autistic children and runs family programs at a number of ranches. “It is pretty amazing to watch a ‘special needs’ kid on a horse smile for the first time.”
the+lost+cowboys
He encourages kids to observe a horse’s actions as a way to figure out what the horse wants to communicate: A swishing tail may mean something is bugging him, whereas ears moving back suggests he’s pissed off or scared. Maybe he’s been squeezed too hard or spurred. Vince feels that horses are soulful and spiritual and a lot easier to deal with than people who often fail to communicate. However, he adds, training horses has taught him patience and helps him when reacting to people not in the horse world. Vince has trained two of his horses, Rascal and Seeker, to perform various feats, including simulating playing soccer and maneuvering a seesaw, and says it took subtle and slow exchanges. In working with his horses he has learned that moving slowly through training will reach success of the techniques quicker. Trust takes time to develop. His thinking is in tune with a quote from Chip Mandeville who said, “The slower you go, the quicker you get there.” Vince is a volunteer with the Compton Junior Posse and his advice to the young riders is to get proper training and have patience with yourself as well as with your horse. “And don’t get thrown off by the things you see in the movies!”
Inspired by: Tara owens Yvette Gilpin Architectural & Landscape Editor Post Production: Matthew Bergman Photos: JohnPaul
ml+culture
tom runyon+the old place Yvette Gilpin Architectural & Landscape Editor tom runyon, 1920-2009
clams were a childhood favorite of Runyon’s
at one time, the old place had a cash only policy
Tom Runyon, one of Malibu’s originally cowboys, passed away peacefully at home in Malibu on July 17th, 2009. He was 89 years of age. In 1968, the Runyons purchased the Cornell Post Office property and opened the soon-to-be-legendary Old Place Restaurant. The Old Place always had a steady stream of characters, some famous, others just interesting. The Old Place is known for its no-nonsense-ways—steak, clams and cash-only, as was Tom’s way. Runyon built two additional buildings next door to the Old Place with the vision of restoring the old town of Cornell. Today Tom’s vision is a reality and Cornell is becoming much more than just a spot on the map. Cornell, along with The Old Place, represents some of the last true Malibu mountain soul. comfort food
photos by casey carrington
the old place is known for it’s choice cuts of meat
morgan runyon,owner the old place
90265+lifestyle living in the wild wild living in the A High Oxygen, Nature filled, Life Under the Stars
Yvette Gilpin Architectural & Landscape Editor Location: Tree House Point WA
The year was 2005, and Pete Nelson had been building tree houses for 20 years. He began, he says, when he was five years old, building his first tree house with just a hammer and a screwdriver. The serendipitous nature of this endeavor continued when Pete, driving by his new property, decided to stop on the night of a full (and Blue) moon to walk through the undergrowth. The moon seemed to cast a glow on an especially large spruce, almost as if pointing the way. He found, on further examination, that it was perfect, and Pete was inspired to completely design the tree house the very next day. Using lines from the Parthenon, the beautiful tree house emerged and is known to all as the Temple of the Blue Moon. Pete and his wife, Judy, share a vision of connecting people through personal encounters with the trees and nature. Their stewardship for the land and the trees that are growing on it is something they take very seriously. Additionally, they believe in celebrating that connection by gathering together friends, families and music to commemorate specialtimes and events. This exclusive part of the woods in Snoqualmie valley is an eco resort outside of Seattle, adjacent to a river and located in a beautiful fern-covered forest. Owned and operated by Pete and Judy Nelson, Treehouse Point’s mission is tri-fold: a nature conservancy centered around treehouses, a cultural events center that inspires and educates our community, and an environmental learning center that facilitates stewardship of natural resources.
The resort has a main lodge with a library, dining facilities and a few rooms. Treehouse Point Eco Resort helps you reconnect with nature. That first tree house has now been joined by five others: Trillium, The Nest, The Upper Pond, Bon Bibi, and The Burl. Site Credit: Bed & Breakfast, Treehouse Point www.treehousepoint.com Site Credit: Nelson Treehouse and Supply www.nelsontreehouseandsupply.com Exterior Photo Credit: Adam Crowley
Staring into the crackling, sparking embers of a campfire has a profound spiritual familiarity that is deeply embedded into our DNA. Another primitive instinctual memory that lies deep within our collective souls is the connection man has to the security of trees. Trees have saved our ancestors from predators who roamed the plains, forests and jungles of our past, so it is no wonder that we have a special, spiritual feeling when we are climbing trees or enjoying the view from a tree house. -Steve Woods
photo by casey carrington
custom built treehouse by Steve Woods Finished Carpentry 310.456.8211
Protect What You Love www.healthebay.org
90265+lifestyle ed gibson
It took Malibu Native Ed Gibson two years of living on a tiny tropical island to find his calling. And when he did, “Natural Edge” was born. Living in Fiji, on a remote island in the Northen Lau group, Ed routinely came across magnificent old trees that had been toppled by age and disease as well as the recurring tropical storms.
Seeing “sculpture” in the tangle of those fallen trees inspired him to look even closer at the beauty of the grain and the potential therein to rebirth these natural wonders into useful and artistic homages in their second incarnation. Thus, “Natural Edge,” a furniture design and manufacturing company, became the perfect vehicle to make his early inspirational vision a reality. “In Fiji we call this wood referred to as ‘rain tree’ me that the rain trees not wanted to create something trees to live on and bring
Vaivai. In English it is commonly or ‘monkey pod’. It was important to go to waste. And so I decided that I that would allow the beauty of these joy to others through another form.”
The work is a true labor of love. It begins as Ed salvages the trees with the help of many hands, strong backs and some major equipment for the larger recoveries. Ed’s workshop virtually contains a forest of salvaged trees awaiting their transformation. Ed painstakingly cuts long slabs from the trees with a giant wide blade machine, utilizing a sophisticated venting system to keep the massive quantities of saw dust out of the air. Each slab averages 3” in thickness and up to 12’ long.
photos by idris erba Ed employs an organic process to the design of each piece, “I let each slab - by its shape and size dictate to me what it wants to be. I don’t want to force anything.” Ed refers to all his pieces both glass and wood as “functional art.” His workshop building also houses an “open to the public” glass blowing facility. Ed trained for several years at the CCA California College of Arts in Oakland and San Francisco and majored in glass blowing. It was during this time that he took his one and only class on wood furniture production. Also in progress is a transformation to the east end of the building. Plans are to create a gorgeous loft-like space with exposed brick walls and 30 ft wood trussed ceilings dotted with skylights, lending incredible light into the massive structure – similar to the light that filters through his beloved rain forests. His plans also include a gathering space for friends, local artists and clients with of course a gorgeous slab of “Vaivai” topping the bar. @naturaledgedesign/instagram
310.869.1899
He preserves the “natural edge” of each slab to enhance the natural connection as they proceed on their journey of transforming into a beautiful table top surface. Then there is the process of surfacing the slab flat and sanding it. The type of finish will depend on the use of the piece and the desired look.
Textures Inspired by Nature
Recycled Material
MLH Architectural Surfaces hosts Elegant Architectural Surfaces with our focus on offering Sustainable Solutions-LEED certified materials.
photography by Peter Augustin
90265+feature
Doesn’t Cary Everybody Need Elwes a Prince? By Susan Burger
Long time Malibu resident, Cary Elwes, is best known as “Westley” of the overwhelmingly popular cult film, “The Princess Bride” which I refer to as the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” for romantics. I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days with Cary. One day was spent completely torturing him for the sole purpose of a photo-shoot which encompassed a variety of misadventures, and the other day involved a very civil brunch followed by this conversation…
SB: Did I read online that one of your names is Ivan? And if so, where does that come from? CE: I was named after my great uncle. He competed in the 100-meter hurdles for Yugoslavia in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. SB: Wow. CE: I’m kind of proud of him. He was one of the few athletes who refused to salute Hitler. SB: So your folks are from Yugoslavia? CE: My ancestors were Jewish Slavs dating back to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire from a place called Osijek. SB: You were born in England though? CE: Yes, in London. SB: What was it like growing up there? CE: I grew up in a fairly modest home. My mom was a single mom so she had to raise myself and my two brothers pretty much by herself. SB: Did you always want to be an actor? CE: As a kid I spent a lot of time in front of the TV. It became an education for me. We only had two channels in the UK at that time but they had a fairly good selection of comedy and drama. SB: What shows do you remember? CE: I watched a lot of classic British movies and a lot of sketch comedy. I remember being glued to one very abstract show called, “Do Not Adjust Your Set” that had a few of the Monty Python cast in it. SB: Nobody does sketch comedy like the British. Didn’t I read somewhere that you just filmed a TV pilot? CE: Yes. SB: What’s it about? CE: It’s a WWII drama about a group of individuals who discover that the government has been hiding the truth about alien contact. SB: What made you want to do it?
cary elwes CE: When I read it I was totally captivated. It reminded me of a classic action-thriller with this great sci-fi twist to it. It has an incredible cast. Definitely one of the more exciting projects I’ve worked on. SB: Who is producing it? CE: Gale Anne Hurd, the producer behind “The Walking Dead”. She’s a pioneer in the business and a real visionary. I’ve always wanted to work with her. SB: How fun. The clothes must be great! That’s when tailoring was at it’s peak! CE: Yeah. Not too shabby! SB: I can’t wait. Tell me about the book you are writing. CE: I was approached by Simon and Schuster to write a book about my experiences during the making of “The Princess Bride.” SB: That’s exciting. CE: It is. It was a joyful time for me so it has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. SB: Do you still get recognized from that film? CE: All the time. I call the movie ‘the gift that keeps on giving’. It has crossed over from generation to generation. It’s a testament to Bill Goldman and what an incredible writer he is. SB: It’s a brilliant screenplay. I’ll never get over how clever and amazing the dialogue is. There are so many great one-liners… “Prepare to Die!” is the one I use on my son when I’m about to attack him in a tickle-wrestling match! I’m sure you must’ve heard your famous line a few times. CE: You’ve no idea. SB: What about the others? CE: We all do. Although I’m sure Wally (Shawn) has it more than anyone as his was a one-liner. SB: Did you have any idea while you were making it that it would be this successful? CE: We thought it was great. The irony was that when it came time to release it the studio had no idea how to sell it. It really found its legs with a new format called VHS. People wanted their own copy. First they rented it. Then they bought it. Then they shared it with others and so on. SB: The gift that keeps on giving. CE: Exactly. SB: What was the craziest thing you ever saw a fan do? CE: I once met a girl who had a tattoo on the back of her neck saying “As You Wish”. She wanted me to sign it. SB: Did you? CE: At first I was hesitant but her mom insisted. SB: The thing that blows me away is not only did you have to learn how to fence but you had to learn with both hands! When you had that swordfight with Inigo Montoya and midway you switched hands, I thought, “Wow”! CE: Thank you. Mandy (Patinkin) and I trained hard for that. We had the most amazing trainers though, which helped a lot. Bob Anderson, who was an Olympic fencer, and Peter Diamond who was one of the great swordsmen and stuntmen in the business. So we had two of the best working with us. SB: Was that the first time you picked up a sword? CE: Yes. SB: Well, because of you my son picked it up briefly. He just walked around the yard decapitating my roses left and right. CE: Oh, no. SB: That’s okay, they all grew back. So now you live in Malibu? CE: Yes. SB: What was your first impression when you moved here? CE: Well, I met my wife here not long afterwards, so... SB: How long ago was that, if you don’t mind my asking? CE: Twenty-four years ago. SB: Congratulations. CE: Thank you. SB: So Malibu is a special place for you? CE: Absolutely. SB: What are some of your favorite haunts? CE: For restaurants, we like Café Habana and Tra di Noi. My wife is an incredible mom. She tries to make every day an adventure for our little one which is always fun. We go on hikes, picnics or to playgrounds. Malibu is great for kids. SB: What do you like to do in your spare time? CE: I’m on the road a lot so I really try to spend much of it with my family when I’m home. SB: How do you stay in shape? CE: I like to hike and work out.
on growing up...
Like Walt Disney said, Like Walt Disney said, “Why do we have to?” “Why do we have to?”
cary elwes SB: What are you passionate about? CE: My family. But other than that, my work. SB: Have you ever been able to use your celebrity for something worthwhile? CE: I work with this remarkable non-profit called Mercy Corps out of Portland. SB: What do they do? CE: They bring aid to people who have been displaced either due to man-made or natural disasters. I flew to Darfur to see their work first-hand not long after the war broke out there. SB: How was that experience? CE:It was life-changing to go out there and see this mass of humanity living in IDP camps and to see Mercy Corps staff providing not just health services and other vital supplies to them, but also creating sustainable development for the community. SB: How do they do that? CE: By providing livelihoods for the adults and education for their children. It was very moving. SB: You have a history of artists in your family. Have you ever tried painting? CE: I can only draw caricatures, which my daughter enjoys. SB: How old is she? CE: Six. SB: I bet she has informed your senses to a whole new spectrum of emotion. CE: Completely. Her imagination is formidable. SB: Well she’s lucky to have you as a dad. CE: I’m the lucky one. SB: So you draw caricatures for her? Do you do characters for her as well? CE: Puppet shows, Barbie, dress up... You name it. SB: So she keeps you on your game. CE: Oh, yeah. She’s my toughest critic! SB: What role would you like to be remembered for? CE: Hopefully for being a good husband and father. SB: What do you want to be when you grow up? CE: Like Walt Disney said, “Why do we have to?” SB: I agree. And on that note. We’re good to Cary Elwes on a mission in go! Darfur with Mercy Corps. CE: Thank you.
“... I met my “...i met my wife here...” wife here...” his first impression of Malibu 24 years ago
all clothing provided by: spindle&cannister groomer for cary elwes: chie sasaki
fiji
X marks the spot
photography janet kurbikoff
On a warm tropical night, many years ago while celebrating my birthday in Kauai, my friend Dave handed me an unusual looking gift that resembled a treasure map. It was all rolled up, complete with burnt edges and a ribbon tied around it. I opened the ancient looking scroll to find it was indeed a treasure map. One specifically detailed... revealing one of the best surf breaks in the world. It was truly the best gift a surfer could ever ask for. My friend had hand drawn a map of an island chain in the South Pacific marking with a big X next to a rich, reef pass. This gift was to be kept a secret, a sacred vow a surfer was held to once given the knowledge of these special places. He told me in no uncertain terms that if I could get to this secret break, it would “change my life”. Indeed it did. I worked hard enough to save for a two year adventure around the world scheduled to end at the big X on the surfer’s ‘pirate map.’ I carried it, guarding it diligently during my travels to over 30 countries. Whatever stops along the way, make no mistake, I was determined to find this surfer’s paradise as the trips ultimate reward. Fiji is as magical as the treasured spot that was gifted to me so long ago. It offers unforgettable vacation destinations on the main island with coral gardens that will take your breathe away. And now that Tavarua does not have exclusive rights to Cloudbreak, anyone from other resorts or with a boat can come surf one of the best lefts in the world.
A rusty bucket freighter left the main island once a week to bring supplies to the outer islands, so I camped out on the oily iron deck for the 24 hour passage before it delivered me to the promised island. I instantly fell in love with the people, the air, the water, the reefs and the food. And much to my thrill, the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow did manifest once I found the recorded location on a magical reef pass and witnessed one of the most perfect waves I have ever seen. Though my life had already been blessed with experiencing so much of the world’s beauty, this final destination was truly a gift - a gift to a surfer who wishfully dreams of perfect waves, solitary in experience, without any other surfers in the lineup. While I was there I met one local island fisherman who surfed on an old beat up board. In retrospect, he would become one of the best surfers I have ever surfed with. To this day he lives the surfers dream of a simple island lifestyle in tune with nature with his beautiful healthy family.
If you do not have the luxury of time to explore the 332 islands of Fiji, the main Island of Viti Levu offers great unforgettable world class vacation resorts with guided tours to some of the most spectacular coral gardens in the world. Exploring the mountainous interior will take your breathe away with its unforgettable views. It is every surfers dream to stay on the island of Tavaura with easy access to two of the best waves in the world. Though the resort owners lost the exclusive surfing rights on the villages Cloud Break Reef and more surfers are in the lineup, it is still a wave that can give the best surfers in the world the wave of their life. For those who desire more solitude, Fiji has 331 other islands that may harbor a secret return trip!
“X�
that marks your
-tidesreachresort.com -Steve Woods
90265+fashion fall finds
IVORY
GOLD
WOOD
photos by Yves Huy Truong jewelry Heather Gardner, heathergardner.com Make-up: Racine Mower Hair stylist: Erika Barquinero Stylist: Jen Summers
90265+fashion
natural gone rogue photos by yves huy truong
Fur: vintage, Dress: Sugarpuss, Cape: Rojas, Hotpants: Sugarpuss. The Thigh high boots are: Pleaser.
Stylist: Jen Summers, jensummers.com Make-up: Racine Mower Hair stylist: Erika Barquinero
90265+lifestyle
gold rush
Sweet 20 Arm Chairs Armchair in walnut, seat and back upholstered with polyurethane foams. Removable covers. Available wood finishes: natural, white, gray, air force blue and black laquered American walnut. -malibumarketdesign.com
90265+drive Bugatti Veyron
2014
16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse
2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse By Shin Takei There are no words that can describe the 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. There are no other cars on this planet at this time that it can be compared to. Driving the Veyron is epic, and a religious out- of-this-world experience. How can such a car exist? To make any sense of all this, first a little bit of history. Around the beginning of the last century, Ettore Bugatti, an Italian born engineer settled in Molsheim, France in the Alsace region. He went on to develop race cars competing in many Grand Prix all over Europe and in races like the Targa Florio and Le Mans. Bugatti built many sports cars and grand touring cars, the most sought after and desirable being the Type 57 which collectors like Ralph Lauren owns. The death of Jean Bugatti, son of Ettore in 1939 while testing a race car known as the Type 57G “Tank” dealt a serious blow to the company. After WWII, the ruins of war and the death of his father in 1947 took its toll and the factory closed its doors in 1952. In the nineties the Bugatti name was resurrected and the Bugatti EB110 model was released but the world economic downturn led to its demise. Today, the Volkswagen group owns the Bugatti name and they’ve done a great job in not just resurrecting the marque but producing the ultimate super-hypercar. The Veyron is surprisingly smaller in person than seen in photographs and is 1 inch shorter and 5 inched lower than a Porsche 911 Carrera but 6 inches wider. The styling is modern Art Deco and some resemblance to the previously mentioned “Tank” can be detected in the overall shape.
The cabin is finished in leather, carbon fiber and polished metal components with a hint of Art Deco design. There is no other car that even looks close to the Veyron. It stands out alone anywhere and commands attention wherever it appears. The Vitesse is equipped with an 8- liter W-16 engine producing 1,200 hp at 6,400 rpm with 1,106 ftlb of torque at 3,000-5,000 rpm. The quadruple turbocharged power plant is mated to an 8 speed dual clutch transmission operated by paddles behind the steering wheel. Performance is a staggering 2.6 seconds from 0-62 mph and the quarter mile arrives in ten seconds. The top speed is 255 mph but electronically governed to 233 mph when the targa top is removed. The active rear spoiler adjusts its angle to match the airflow with or without the targa top. This makes it the fastest open top roadster ever produced. The last time I drove the Veyron was two years ago and it was the 16.4 Grand Sport. At the time, I was only able to drive it around Beverly Hills and Century City where I could only wring out short bursts of acceleration from it. This time, with 200 more horsepower and the back roads of Monterey, not only was I able to test its head snapping acceleration but its cornering capabilities. I wasn’t able to feel huge differences between 1,001 and 1,200 hp but the car felt more powerful due to larger turbochargers and intercoolers and reduced exhaust back pressure and it was more stable as the four wheel drive gripped the tarmac like glue. Both the chassis and body of the Vitesse are constructed of carbon fiber for a more rigid structure. Suspension components have been improved resulting in a smooth ride even under aggressive and spirited driving without loss of composure. But the mechanical symphony of the engine sucking in air, turbochargers spinning and wastegates releasing extra pressure as the engine revs up in anger is something that can be intoxicating as the blood rushes to the back of your head. You can almost imagine a living, breathing fire-spitting dragon behind you. This summer Bugatti has started a six-part Les Légendes Bugatti series of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse starting with the Jean-Pierre Wimille edition.
Wimille was the driver of the Type 57G “Tank”. The second in the series just announced is the Jean Bugatti edition. The theme was based on the 1936 Type 57SC Atlantic La Voiture Noire. Jean Bugatti built only four of the special coupes known for their lightweight aluminum bodies. The Voiture Noir was his personal car and the first one built. As with the original it is black carbon fiber bodywork and the interior is beige over chocolate brown leather. I you want one you better hurry because only three examples will be available for each series. Oh well it’s probably too late. So who wants to pay close to $2.5 Million USD for a car that doesn’t even have power seats, navigation, premium sound system, or other deluxe comfort amenities? Plenty, because it’s the ultimate superhypercar, an engineering masterpiece, a rocketship, and it comes with that beautiful symphony of mechanical sounds emanating just behind your head every time you step on the gas and release the beast. Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber was the Chief Engineer on the Bugatti Veyron, and this is his work of art. 90265 Malibu Life and Style Summary Driving Impression: 10, Indecent acceleration, superb handling yet civilized just cruising Comfort: 8, Surprising comfort for a sports car but not for long distance Handling: 10, Four wheel drive, taut suspension and sticky tires allow for high grip levels Info-tainment System: 10, Forget about navigation or premium sound system. The W16 sound emanating from behind is a symphony Luggage capacity: 1 Have your support team deal with the luggage. Send them a day ahead Malibu Bling Factor, 10: Men drool, women drop their jaws and children stop crying The Bottom Line: 10, OUTRAGEOUS. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is in a class by itself Shin Takei is a Founding Member and one of the Executive Committee of the Checkered Flag 200, a support group for the Petersen Automotive Museum. He was the Executive Editor at the Finish Line, the official publication of the Checkered Flag 200 and an automotive columnist for Beverly Hills Lifestyle magazine before joining 90265 Malibu Life and Style.
hot topic rodenticides ro·den·ti·cide A chemical substance used to kill rodents. Last year in October, when mountain lion P25 was found dead by hikers at Pt. Mugu State Park, that was the last straw for the Malibu Agricultural Society, they launched the Poison Free Malibu campaign, an initiative to educate neighbors, merchants and governments about the dangers toxic rodenticides posed to our precious Malibu Wildlife and to suggest viable alternatives. Spear heading this campaign is a quietly gentle soul, a woman I’m proud to call my neighbor, Kian Schulman. This week I sat down with Kian to find out about the campaign, how it’s going, and her own thoughts about respect for Nature and living in close proximity with the wildlands of Malibu. JR: I’ve read the article that you sent me about PoisonFreeMalibu, did you write that? When did you write it? KS: The article is made from several articles that I had been organizing on the subject, starting last October. The Malibu Agricultural Society decided as a group to start a campaign against toxic rodent poisons that cause a “death cycle” in local wildlife and see if we could change that to a “life cycle”. I volunteered to head this outreach project. The idea came out of a “love-circle” after a Malibu Ag meeting when I brought up this issue and explained what was happening. I had taken an article posted in the Surfside News on the subject to Anawalt’s Lumber Yard and asked Mr. Anawalt if he could pull the rodenticides from his shelf and he said yes. This encouraged me to push forward. I began thinking that maybe we could discourage the businesses in Malibu from selling us this stuff. JR: Can you describe the death cycle that happens when wildlife ingests rodenticides? How does the poison kill the animal? KS: First the rats and mice die from eating the poison that people use for pest control and then there is secondary poisoning that occurs. Because local wildlife is our “natural” rodent control, they eat the infected rodents. When the mouse eats the poison in the “black death box” that is placed outside, they go into a fragile state, Somewhat drugged, and it may take several days for them to die. They become very vulnerable to the prey in the wild, so the owl, hawk, coyote or bobcat easily catches and then eats the mouse, rat, or gopher. Mountain lions then eat these predators and die. That would be the “death cycle”. So our statistics are coming in very high on many of the monitored species for having these poisons in them, some species are dying out. Our statistics even show that animals in the wild have multiple exposures with several types of poison in one animal. The poison causes the animal to bleed internally and die a slow and agonizing death. The weakened immune system produces extreme emaciation and mange that can take weeks to kill the animal. When we find these animals they are usually dead in a pool of blood. Also children and pets are at risk for being poisoned, there are thousands of cases every year. JR: Are you the responsible party that went to the City of Malibu, and got a resolution passed? What was that process like and did it finally include you going to all the businesses in Malibu that used or sold these products?
Interview with Kian Schulman for PoisonFreeMalibu By Jackie Robbins
KS: Basically we found that people didn’t realize that this huge chain of events regarding these poisonings was happening. So everyone was in a state of shock and great compassion and so happy to comply in any way possible. I accumulated an educational package. The package included scientific studies by the National Park Service, California Fish and Wildlife Department, newspaper articles, various nature organization studies, and pamphlets that discuss rodent control using alternative methods (Integrated Pest Management-IPM). I’m still meeting with many groups and organizations to create an IPM for Malibu and ways of disseminating this information to the public. We approached then Mayor La Monte and Councilmember Sibert, who then took the initiative to champion the resolution. We needed to create a backbone for the campaign, which became the resolution, it states; "The City Council urges businesses in Malibu to no longer use or sell anticoagulant rodenticides, urges all property owners to cease purchasing or using anticoagulant rodenticides on their properties in Malibu and commits the City of Malibu to not use anticoagulant rodenticides as part of its maintenance program for City-owned parks and facilities." So with the resolution and the evidence to support it, I went to all the businesses in Malibu and received their full co-operation. We all agree that we have the sophistication and responsibility to protect the environment and wildlife in the City of Malibu, and beyond as we move forward. JR: I’m curious about what businesses that had inventory of these rodenticides on their shelves… what did they do with them? KS: I was very patient; on many occasions I had to softly make repeated requests, friendly e-mail reminders, nothing aggressive because it was their choice to make. Every single one eventually pulled their poison. Some promised that once they sold-out their product supplies they would not re-order. So I said if you give us this promise then I will purchase what you have left on your shelves. So I bought all the product from three stores, then I had to find a toxic waste facility that would take and destroy them, in their white suits, facemasks and all. JR: That alone was a huge commitment on your part, heroic. Thank you… Do you think that the City needs to create a pamphlet that gets mailed to every household in Malibu to educate the public about this issue or do you think people will voluntarily go online and educate themselves? KS: Both! We’re in meetings on a continuous basis to make this happen. But right now we are using a pamphlet from the Santa Monica Mountains Fund which we have been distributing until we have our own. We need to get the word out and then work with the pesticide companies to start making more friendly products for this rodent problem. There are companies here in Southern California right now, that offer ways to fight this battle with certified eco-friendly options and we need to promote them too. We recommend live trapping or electrical zappers but there are IPM companies that can be hired to take care of the problem safely if someone doesn’t want to do it himself or herself. JR: Where do you think the future for wild animals in the Santa Monica Mountains is pointed, in a best-case scenario where rodenticides have been eliminated? KS: More and more people are moving into the Santa Monica Mountains area, and as we humans continue to take over these habitats, living compatibility is critical. All we ask is, “Please don’t poison the Wilds”. If we carry on the way we have been we will begin to have an opposite problem where all the predators are gone and there no longer exists a natural rodent deterrent. So we can only hope that we can regain balance and return to a complete and whole eco-system, this means peaceful eco-existence without the use of poisons.
hot topic JR: Was your love of and dedication to wildlife a direct result of living in a somewhat remote part of a Malibu hillside community close to open and protected wildlands? KS: Absolutely. I feel this is one of the greatest gifts given to me in my lifetime. The joy that I have received makes me feel so fortunate to live so close to a natural environment,an environment that gives me so much peace in every moment. Over the past 30 years that I’ve lived here I’ve hiked our beautiful mountains everyday. That walk in Nature gives me the balance and stability, strength, the purity and clarity of mind and spirit to take me through the day, to deal with psychological issues that are presented to everyone, including me. I have the benefit of Nature, the blessings of Nature, and the exact beauty of how Nature is working around me, and I become part of that. The gift of Nature is that I realize I am part of it. This is what we have the responsibility to give to our children and to give to our future generations, Silence, Peace, and Nature. Instead of going to a psychologist take a walk in Nature, that’s something to keep in your back pocket. Nature is a great relief to what happens in our lives, thejoy that comes without paying anyone and is given to everyone. This is why we protect Nature because it gives us this tremendous feeling of joy, silence and trans quility. We must continue to protect our parks and wild lands, this is who we are. JR: How deep does your respect for Nature run? KS: Nature puts me in place, when I’m in Nature I become part of the life cycle; I’m not separated from it. Even in my own backyard. JR: Last question, will you share the story of the snake you met on your driveway with us? KS: Oh my, the dear snake, interesting experiences with Nature… It was a very hot day, close to 100 degrees, One of those comatose days. I was just going to the mailbox, I had nearly nothing on, little shorts, barefoot, and through my not looking I stepped full force onto a rattlesnake about 4-5 long. With that force put upon him I never realized that a snake can stand up straight, like a walking stick! When I stood on him he stood up absolutely straight and nearly eye to-eye with me. We looked at each other and I said to him or her, in my heart-I am so sorry! I apologized because I was in its space and I was crushing its little body. With direct eye contact I kept projecting to him how very sorry I was. With that the snake went straight down and ran off into the garden. I had to go catch it though, because I have pets, I wasn’t afraid, and I have the appropriate catcher, so I moved him to an open area. There are thousands of them out there, No point in killing anything. We just don’t want it in our yard. Our responsibility is only to catch them in our Havahart traps and relocate them. I have a snake catcher and a trash can always at the ready, that’s what I do….if you have a snake give me a call J Kian Schulman PoisonFreeMalibu@gmail.com
Photographs of Kian: Jeff Herrera herrerajeffo@yahoo.com Interviewer: Jackie Robbins jackie@leatherwaves.com
90265+sports royce clayton+cleanplay
reward. Now there is a choice to be made, because getting to the next level can be as simple as a shot in the ass or rubbing cream on your arm. I propose we change the culture by showing our kids how to be role models for their generation. Give them the tools to live by example, through taking testing at the high schools to the next level. Clean Play is a movement that provides education and funding for random testing for all sports nationwide. If we can eliminate it at the high school level it will never get to the pro level where kids are being influenced by their role models.
When I was growing up as a young kid in LA my childhood hero was Ozzy Smith. I liked Ozzy because he seemed to enjoy what he did and bought an artistic expression to playing the shortstop position, which I recognized even at 12 years old. I emulated everything he did both on and off the field. He dressed well which drove me to step up my fashion game. I took note of the glove he used and that INITIATIVE: put me on a mission to find that CleanPlay is an initiative to advocate ethical and fair participation in sports worldwide. exact model. I am thankful for his We help emerging as well as top talent in baseball, basketball, football, and soccer compete professionalism and the example on a level playing field without the use of performance enhancing substances. of greatness that drove me every day as a young child. Eventually CleanPlay is a voluntary program elected by the athlete without coercion that drive would put me in direct of league, teammates, agents, or business managers, because they recognize the ethics competition with Ozzy some 15 years and integrity of fair competition is of paramount importance . later. That’s right, I replaced my childhood hero on the field and I MISSION: hope I did it with the same class Evangelize ethical competition in worldwide sports through nutrition and training and professionalism I learned from in fullcompliance with all athletic leagues, federations, associations, watching his every move. and teams governing rules, regulations, and policy. I tell this story to repute my old friend Charles Barkley. Yea Chuck, we are our children’s role models and we all have to step up our game. I am raising four young kids now and I’m petrified at the athletes and celebrities that they have to look up to. It is the responsibility of my wife and I to be the primarily role models for our kids, I get that, but know they will have other influencers. PED use, performance enhancing drugs is a topic my parents didn’t have to discuss with me. It was simple, you compete to the best of your ability and if you are good enough you progress to the next level. That progress is your
PRINCIPLES: 1) Fair Competition - level playing field. 2) Health & Wellness - reduce the risks of substance abuse to the longevity of an athlete’s sports career. 3) Respect of Peers - earn the respect of fellow athletes through achievement and victory.
It starts here with our kids to set the example for their generation. Please join me in THE CLEAN PLAY MOVEMENT as we help create role models our kids can truly look up to.
making+of+the+issue success+happiness+asyouwish+villasancti+customracks+soldout+communitysupport+1080+rolemodel+cowboys+ wayoverdeadlines+greatstaff+newfriends=making+of+issue#2!
cafehabana.com (310) 317-0300
3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CA 90265 Baelyn - Vintage Fanatic / Store Owner / Muse, Venice, CA