Southern California Life_ Jan.Feb2017

LANDMARKS & DESTINATIONS ISSUE

CELEBRATE DISCOVER EXPERIENCE

FOOD NETWORK’S CUPCAKE WARS’ ELIZABETH CHAMBERS

JAN/FEB 2017

MUSICAL SUPERSTAR COLBIE CALLAIT

LOMPOC'S

LA PURISIMA MISSION SOCAL’S CELEBRATED LANDMARKS

L.A. THEN AND NOW

HOUSTON, TX

|

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA

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S T. L O U I S , M O

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PALM SPRINGS, CA

T R I L O G Y PA C K A G E Enjoy up to $1,000 in added value when booking this special package. Includes a choice between: 2 rounds of golf, one-hour tennis lesson, or one-hour surf lesson. Plus complimentary Barber & Blade experience for men and signature blow dry for women and resort credit per stay, per room category up to $400 in value.

Travel by December 18, 2017.

TO BOOK YOUR STAY, PLEASE CONTACT A SMART FLYER TRAVEL SPECIALIST: NEWPORT@SMARTFLYER.COM *Terms and conditions: Minimum 3 nights stay. Applies to new bookings only. Valid on stated travel dates only. Booking dates: Now through December 15, 2017. Travel Dates Now through December 18, 2017. Package subject to availability at the time of booking and subject to closeouts. Minimum 3 consecutive nights stay required. Package Offer apply to Ocean Front Premier Room and above (excluding Villa One and Villa Cortez). Rates are per night in USD based in double occupancy. Activity and Salon Experience are per stay for two and requires a 24 hours advanced reservation. Resort credit once per stay. All other terms and conditions apply. One&Only Palmilla reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time. All normal booking, payment, cancellation procedures and policies apply. All mandatory taxes, service charges and gratuities apply. Not combinable with any other offers.

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Feature

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y JASON REYNOLDS

JAN/FEB 2017

ON THE COVER

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LOMPOC:

CITY OF ARTS, FLOWERS AND WINERIES

By Linda Lang FE AT U RE

54/ COLBIE CAILLAT ON BECOMING ARTISTICALLY COMFORTABLE AND AUTHENTIC

By Robyn Flans

Step back into the past as you enter the interior of La Purisima Mission's Main Church.

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23/ Built for $3,000 in 1887, the residence now known as Britt Scripps Inn was the city's most expensive residence.

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CO N T E N TS

73/

Departments

Top quality gift items, jewelry, g re eting cards,leather g oods, g ourmet food and vintage items are found in the Los Olivos General Store.

JAN/FEB 2017

10/ AFFAIRS TO REMEMBER Breeders’ Cup 2016

12/ LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER/ EDITOR.IN.CHIEF Monique Reidy

90/ Viceroy L’Ermitage rooftop pool.

14/

14/ SIGNATURES & LANDMARKS

Los Angeles Then and Now

By Sheryl Nance-Nash

20/ ENCHANTING ESCAPES

64/ FIVE FAVES

26/ SO CAL CULTURE

70/ THE HOOD

Historic B&B Getaways

By Linda Lang

Weirdly Wonderful Museums

By Imaan Jalali

39/ TRENDING TALK

Travel Fun for the Family

By Esther C. Bleuel, MA, MFT, MDR

42/ FAB FINDS

Winter Wonders

“I always jok ed that my television care er has be en 30% talent and probably 70% bribery because every time I leave a me eting or audition, I return the next day with monster cookies and I have the job.”

THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY Where European Culture Meets the Old West

By Linda Lang

76/ TO-DO-LIST

Dancing with the Stars Maks Chmerkovskiy Reveals His 20 Best Health Tips

44/ OFF THE BEATEN PATH

82/ FAMILY FUN

49/ BUBBLES & BREWS

90/ PERFECT PICKS

Romantic Valentine’s Destinations

By Lisa Kestenbaum

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Iconic Images Around Town

By Karma Christine Salvato

SoCal’s Mindblowing Milkshakes

By Dustin Clendenen

58/ THE GOURMAND

ELIZABETH CHAMBERS’ CUPCAKES The Ultimate Love Language

By Robyn Flans

62/ RESTAURANT RAVES

Where to Find Wildlife: Petting Zoos

By Robyn Flans

Resort Pool Picks

By Jessica Soporito

92/ CALENDAR

Events and Happenings

96/ SOOO CAL

They’re Cars!

By Scott Harris

98/ MY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Tim Horton

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THE GREAT RACE PLACE HOSTS COAST TO COAST CARNAVAL! The Stronach Group proudly presents the inaugural running of The World’s Richest Thoroughbred Horse Race,

The Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan 28, 2017

$12 million purse As the nation’s top 12 Thoroughbred racehorses vie for their place in history at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL, the best of the west will vie for their chance at stardom at another Stronach property, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. Don’t miss Sunshine Millions Cal Cup Day as Santa Anita celebrates California-bred Thoroughbreds and the Pegasus World Cup in style with a wine festival, a trackside event and an all out party!

Be a part of the festivities happening at Santa Anita Park this Winter Meet and enjoy offerings on every level. Live Thoroughbred Racing December 26 – July 4

Buy online and Save! Exclusively for Southern California Life Magazine readers! *2 Club House Passes on Us!

Farriers Package

Burgers & Beer Trackside

1. Go to santaanita.com/socalmagazine 2. Fill Out the Form & Receive Confirmation E-Mail 3. Pick Up Your tickets at the Club House Will Call.

Includes Club House Admission, Box Seat, Entree, Craft Beer or Wine and program. www.santaanita.com/events Get 40% off, use promo code: SOCAL17

Saturday, January 14 Taste Burgers and Beers during live horse racing. www.santaanita.com/events Get $10 off, use promo code: SOCAL17

*2 CH Passes per person. Limited number available. Must submit form 24 hours before redemption.

Online offer only.

Black out dates apply.

Online offer only.

Sunshine Millions Wine Festival Saturday, January 28 $10 off General & VIP Packages, use promo code: SOCAL17 Online offer only.

285 W. HUNTINGTON DRIVE, ARCADIA, CA 91007 626-574-7223 @santaanitapark @clockerscorner

C E L E B R A T E

D I S C O V E R

EDITORAL MONIQUE REIDY

E X P E R I E N C E

PUBLISHED BY ELYSIAN MEDIA GROUP, LLC. ROBYN FLANS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ENTERTAINMENT & PROFILES EDITOR

ANTONI PHAM

SHERYL NANCE-NASH

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LANDMARKS & HISTORICAL FEATURES EDITOR

BENNY HADDAD

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

SCOTT HARRIS

MONIQUE REIDY

PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

CHERYL DALTON

IMAAN JALALI

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, SALES & DIGITAL PLATFORMS

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

SPORTS & "SOOO CAL” EDITOR

JANINE GOLDBERG

NICOLE POLLASTRINI

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & CIRCULATION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITOR

JANINE GOLDBERG

STYLE & BEAUTY EDITOR

ESTHER BLEUEL

LINDA LANG

COMMUNICATION & ADVICE EDITOR

TRAVEL EDITOR

SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

HEIDI WOOD-BROWN

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE

STEVE BLIMAN

SALES & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

DUSTIN CLENDENEN, LISA KESTENBAUM, KARMA CHRISTINE SALVATO CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

VANESSA SHAPIRO BOOKKEEPER

CONNIE SCHUH CIRCULATION CONSULTANT

DOUG BITTO

TIM HORTON, ERICA GODDARD

LEGAL COUNSEL

EDWARD COREY, ESQ. ADVISORY BOARD

LANDMARKS & DESTINATIONS ISSUE

C EL EBRATE DISCOVER EXPERIENCE

FOOD NETWORK’S CUPCAKE WARS’ ELIZABETH CHAMBERS

MUSICAL SUPERSTAR COLBIE CALLAIT

LOMPOC'S

LA PURISIMA MISSION SOCAL’S CELEBRATED LANDMARKS

On The Cover: LA PURISIMA IS THE 11TH OF CALIFORNIA'S 21 SPANISH MISSIONS

CATHERINE JAYNE, PH.D, STEVE BARDWIL, ESQ., BILL BLEUEL, PH.D, ESTHER BLEUEL, MA, MFT, MDR, ELENA NIKITINA, DOUG SYLVESTER, MARY WAGSTAFF, DEBBIE WIDERØE, KELLY TREVETHAN, SCOTT HARRIS, PATTY MACMILLAN, DIANE DREYER SUBSCRIPTIONS

INFO@SOCALLIFEMAG.COM EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL@SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

Photography by

JAN/FEB 2017

BOTTLE BRANDING

L.A. THEN AND NOW

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

JENNIFER HURLESS WEBSITE DESIGN | DIGITAL SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

MIKE KAISER, KAREN KAISER I WWW.SEARANCHIMAGES.COM

ADVERTISING

ADS@SOCALLIFEMAG.COM

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 232 Westlake Village, CA 91362 Tel: 805-777-0080 Fax: 805-370-8181 www.socallifemag.com /socallifemag

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY ELYSIAN MEDIA GROUP, LLC. ©2016 ELYSIAN MEDIA GROUP, LLC. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE IS REGISTERED US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE ARE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL EXPRESSIONS OF ELYSIAN MEDIA GROUP, LLC. ELYSIAN MEDIA GROUP, LLC DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS OF ITS READERS. THE CONTENTS WITHIN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LIFE MAGAZINE ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS HEALTH CARE OR HEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVICE. THE MATERIALS HEREIN ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A QUALIFIED HEALTH PROVIDER REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF CONTENT IN THIS MAGAZINE. RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. PUBLISHER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ALL ADVERTISING MATTER. PUBLISHER DOES NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS, OMISSIONS, AND/OR CHANGES IN ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL MATERIAL. PRINTED IN THE USA.

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A F FA I R S TO R E M E M B E R

Breeders’ Cup - Arrogate and California Chrome

Breeders’ Cup 2016 Boyz II Men

Emily Ratajkowski, Susan Sarandon, Elizabeth Banks and Camilla Belle

A crowd of 72,811, the highest single-day attendance for a BREEDERS’ CUP since the event switched to a two-day format, cheered on as blossoming 3-year-old star, Juddmonte Farms’ Arrogate, bested hometown favorite California Chrome, North America’s richest racehorse, at the wire to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BREEDERS’ CUP

Taylor Lautner and Wilmer Valderrama

Carson Kressley

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Zenyatta Celebration

A stunning tropical island in St Vincent & the Grenadines offering the ultimate getaway for privacy and seclusion. Established over fifty years ago Mustique is a well kept secret and a seaplane away from St. Lucia, Barbados and Canouan. Create a bespoke experience in a fully staffed and privately owned home from The Villa Collection; or choose to stay at The Cotton House, a 15 bedroom boutique hotel.

Barefoot Luxury ~ Pristine Surroundings ~ Secluded Beaches ~ Effortless Elegance ~ Private Island Community Destination Celebrations ~ Romantic Getaways ~ Family Holidays ~ Curated Retreats ~ Bespoke Experiences For more information about the island and to find your perfect villa on Mustique contact your Smartflyer Travel Advisor Newport@Smartflyer.com mustique-island.com cottonhouse.net

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FROM THE PUBLISHER/ E D I TO R . I N .C H I E F

A common remark associated with discussions of 2016 seems to be an emphatic “good riddance.” For many, this past year proved to be one filled with challenges and disappointments. Fortunately, a brand new 12-month chapter is here, and like a blank notebook with unmarked pages, we all get to decide how to fill each day.

The proverbial “New Year’s Resolutions” can propel individuals forward with great anticipation of big things to come, but they can be mere lists of wishes that evaporate as soon as difficulties arise. On the other hand, those who craft a comprehensive action plan, outlining details of how each goal is to be achieved and ways to overcome potential obstacles, seem to be the ones who succeed at hitting their target.

The same scheme applies to us here at Southern California Life magazine. As a new year approaches, we set an editorial blueprint for the next six bi-monthly issues, and our goal is to equip readers to uncover the very best of Southern California all year long. Our editorial calendar includes seasonal and ongoing events and activities as well as features about people and places of interest for the upcoming year. If we can enable locals and visitors alike to enjoy our region to its fullest throughout each issue, then we feel gratified.

To launch our 2017 line-up, this Landmarks and Destinations issue covers the beautiful area of Santa Ynez and a peek into the charming town of

Lompoc

for those who like to explore new ground. We examine

Los

Angeles historically with rare images of how the city has evolved over the years and offer notable Bed & Breakfast

options for our consummate travelers. We feature five well-known landmarks throughout SoCal in our “Five Faves” section and take a look at some of our most unusual and lesser-known museums. We suggest where you can take the family to interact with live animals and offer suggestions on how to spend a romantic Valentine’s Day with your honey. And with so much more content in this issue, we hope you’ll find our first of 2017 inspiring and helpful.

We wish you the very best this upcoming year and hope you can exceed your goals to such a degree, that at this time next year you will proclaim it as your best year yet. We plan to do the same.

Warm wishes,

MONIQUE REIDY

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S I G N AT U R E S & L A N D M A R KS

L o s

THEN AND NO WWW.SO CA L LI F E MAG.COM

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S I G N AT U R E S & L A N D M A R KS

BY

SHERYL NANCE-NASH

A n g e l e s

OW

Los Angeles has always had a certain The City of Angels, with its je ne sais quoi. mix of Hollywood, art, culture, business, beautiful

beaches, billionaires and the simply beautiful, from as far back as anyone can remember, was something special. H

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S I G N AT U R E S & L A N D M A R KS

Farmers and Merchants National Bank – View from Main and 4th Street

RESEARCH ATTRIBUTION www.rentcafe.com/blog/cities /los-angeles-ca/amazingthen-and-now-photos-of-losangeles-ca/ CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY @ UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND GOOGLE MAPS

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND GOOGLE MAPS

Los Angeles Times Building – View from Spring and 1st Street

Warner Bros.

Theatre – View from Hill and 7th Street

Los Angeles Herald Examiner’s Office – View from Broadway and 5th Street

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S I G N AT U R E S & L A N D M A R KS

Edison Building / One Bunker Hill / The CalEdison – View on Grand and 5th Street

Walter P. Building – View from Broadway & 6th Street

Fifth Street and State Normal School – View from Olive and 5th Street

Today it is home to some four million people and is considered the entertainment capital of the world. Increasingly, it has become a hot spot for real estate investors, according to Nadia Balint, real estate editor for RENTCafe, a nationwide apartment search website. In just the last few years, change has been significant, she says. Multi-family buildings are popping up in impressive numbers all over Los Angeles. There were 28 new major projects in 2014, 23 in 2015, and 32 to be opened by the end of this year, most of this is happening in downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood Hills East.

Because of this buzz, Los Angeles was ideal for RENTCafe’s Then and Now Time-Lapse series that spotlights the evolution of major U.S. cities through urban development. For sure, much can be gleaned from a city’s architecture. That’s certainly the case in Los Angeles. Given the city’s stature around the globe, it was fitting to look back over the last century to see what buildings survived and those that vanished for one reason or another. Balint says they chose to focus on downtown landmarks to contrast them with the same spots where now there is much revitalization. In the end, they selected 12 staff favorites that are also likely much beloved by many others. They tapped resources like the Library of Congress and the California Historical Society and used Google Street to find the location and get the same view of the spot today.

“We chose some of the best historic photos of the city’s iconic sites taken decades ago (sometimes more than a century ago) and overlapped them with today’s images of the exact same sites to instantly see L.A.’s transformation,” Balint explains.

The illustrious list includes Farmers and Merchants National Bank, the Los Angeles Times Building, Walter P. Building, Fifth Street and State Normal School, Los Angeles Herald Examiner’s Office, Angel’s Flight, Westminster Hotel, Los Angeles Public Library, Warner Bros. Theatre, Plaza Fire House, Edison Building, and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Suffice to say, if these walls could talk, imagine the stories that could be told.

The legendary William Randolph Hearst founded the Los Angeles Examiner in 1903. After construction of new offices in 1914 on the corner of Broadway and 11th Street, the original Los Angeles Examiner’s offices were converted in the H

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – View on Los Angeles and 12th Street

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S I G N AT U R E S & L A N D M A R KS

Angel’s Flight – View from Hill and 3rd Street

Los Angeles Public Library – View from Flower and 5th Street

Plaza Fire House – View on N. Los Angeles Street

What’s the impression after the walk down memory lane?

Balint sees a future where Los Angeles continues to rehab and repurpose buildings. That revitalization will feed the existing trend of people moving downtown. And as people come, so will more stores, shops and businesses. Voila, downtown will mirror the days when downtown was the center of most things.

“There's a lot of potential,” says Balint.

The past not only portends much about the future, but the present. Says Balint, “Just to see what the streets looked like a century ago, to see horse drawn carriages, street cars. Things were very different. It’s a reminder of the kind of lifestyle people had then. Los Angeles was the definition of urban then, and it still is.” ❖

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CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY @ UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND GOOGLE MAPS

1920s into what they remain today, the Shybary Grand Loft condos. The Los Angeles Examiner eventually merged with the Herald and became the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.

Since closing in 1989, its offices remain vacant. That may change soon. “There’s talk that new investors will develop creative offices and mixed-use space,” says Balint.

Then there’s Angel’s Flight.

It has the distinction of being the shortest railway in the world. “It used to serve the rich folks in Bunker Hill from 1901-1969,” says Balint.

The original photo was taken near the Hill Street entrance with the Olive Street terminus visible. Long gone are the shops and hotels that were nestled nearby. In 1996, Angel’s Flight was moved a block south of the original site. “It’s still in operation as a historical and cultural monument. I think it’s 25 cents to ride the trolley,” says Balint.

What’s interesting too, is what is completely gone. “The Westminster Hotel with its Victorian architecture was a very recognizable hotel in the city’s skyline. I don’t know why it was demolished. It was replaced by a plain apartment building that doesn’t have nearly the character the hotel did,” says Balint sadly.

But on the other end of the spectrum are the buildings that survived. “The Plaza Firehouse and the Public Library have withstood the test of time,” says Balint. The library, with its mosaic pyramid, is a timeless icon, even if overshadowed by the 62-story AON Center, which towers over it, and the 28-story KPMG Center stands to the south of the library.

One of the biggest surprises unearthed during research is how many historical sites are downtown. “There at least a dozen or more than we expected. We may do another article. There are a lot of interesting photographs,” says Balint.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND GOOGLE MAPS

Westminster Hotel – View from Main and 4th Street

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

Historic B&B

G e t a w

Bed & Breakfasts offer a welcome escape from our hectic lives. Each has its own charm, including those first built a century or more ago as homes for prominent families that have since taken their own places in history. Whether in the countryside or the heart of a bustling city, the intimacy and step back into time create a unique setting for a relaxing getaway. H LINDA LANG

COURTESY OF VISIT SANTA BARBARA

BY

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

a y s

La Arcada Court with its historic walkways, fountains, sidewalk cafes and sculptures is within walking distance of the B&B.

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COURTESY OF UPHAM HOTEL AND COUNTRY HOUSE (4)

ENCHANTING ESCAPES

British Charm in SANTA BARBARA

ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1. The Penthouse suite takes the entire

third floor with a living room, fireplace, waterfall shower, whirlpool tub and private terrace. 2. Upham' s Country House, a traditional bed and breakfast in a Victorian manor, offers eight individually-furnished guest accommodations.

3. The B&B has its own colorful history and distinctive presence in downtown Santa Barbara. 4. The Country House is just minutes from all the waterfront activities. 5. The Penthouse terrace features stunning mountain views.

COURTESY OF VISIT SANTA BARBARA

The town and county of Santa Barbara have several historic B&Bs, each with its own colorful past and distinctive present. One is the Upham Hotel and Country House in Santa Barbara's historic downtown area within walking distance of State Street and just minutes to the beach and all the waterfront activities.

Half a block down on the opposite side of the street from the hotel is the Country House, a traditional bed and breakfast in a Victorian manor housing eight individually-furnished guest accommodations with names such as Windsor, Victoria and Darcy reflecting its British heritage. The most romantic is the Penthouse, which takes the entire third floor and is complete with a living room, fireplace, large waterfall shower, whirlpool tub and private terrace with mountain views. You start the day with a hot breakfast entrĂŠe and return in the late afternoon for some wine, snacks and freshly-baked cookies before heading back into town or perhaps to Louie's California Bistro, a local favorite recognized by Travel + Leisure, on the ground floor of the hotel.

Built in 1871, the Upham Hotel is the oldest continuously-operating hotel in Southern California. Reminiscent of a British country inn, its 50 rooms and suites are housed in several single and two story buildings with sweeping verandas. Check-in for both properties is at the hotel. Both offer free parking, wireless Internet access and other services. uphamhotel.com | 805-962-0058

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

COURTESY OF VENICE BEACH HOUSE

A Place on the DUNES OF VENICE

ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 6. The residence has been faithfully

restored, bringing the past to the present. 7. Its nine individually-designed guest rooms are named after colorful local characters, celebrities and landmarks. 8. The aromas of a sumptuous breakfast, freshly baked bread and cookies live up to tasty expectations.

9. Attractions along the boardwalk include the Freak Show. 10. Since 1911, the Venice Beach House has been the town's most celebrated residence.

Since 1911, the Venice Beach House has been the town's most celebrated residence. Known simply by its address "15 Thirtieth" for decades, it was built on sand dunes by Warren Wilson, owner of the Los Angeles Daily Journal newspaper for the Los Angeles legal community.

A few years prior, Abbot Kinney had bought a few nearby miles of undeveloped coastal marshland which became known as “Kinney’s Folly” until his vision began to take shape as work crews dredged the now-famous Venice Beach canals and built boardwalks, boulevards, piers and a bathhouse. Kinney's "Venice of America" opened just before July 4, 1905 with the attendance of numerous artists, celebrities, and visitors from around the globe.

Just south of “Kinney’s Folly,” Wilson, a father of eight, built his escape from city life. Upon completion, the Wilson family welcomed Abbot Kinney and his two sons who married two of the Wilson daughters. Guarded by closed gates, the beach house soon became the private retreat of celebrities, politicians, presidential candidates and other notables for more than a century. It was also the headquarters for the torch relays during the 1984 Olympics.

Today, Venice Beach House still sits on its sand dunes, having undergone a careful restoration to its original craftsman-style splendor and earning a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Its nine individuallydesigned guest rooms include The James Peasgood Suite, named for the newly re-elected Venice City treasurer who in 1922 disappeared with the city treasury, leaving behind a sign saying "Gone Fishing”; the Venice Pier Suite, in honor of the first Venice pier that never opened; and Tramp’s Quarters, a romantic hideaway named for Charlie Chaplin who dearly valued his privacy. Today, of course, Venice Beach House also has all the modern amenities.

Just a block from the beach, you are within walking distance of the legendary Venice Boardwalk with all its activities, performers, artists, eateries as well as skating, jogging, water sports and nearby attractions including the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. venicebeachhouse.com | 310-823-1966 H

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ENCHANTING ESCAPES

The Inn of MANY FACES Built in 1887 for $3,000 by Alonzo Erastus Horton, a founder of modern San Diego, the residence now known as Britt Scripps Inn was the city's most expensive home.

This was during the boom between 1880 - 1915 when the city's first electric street lights illuminated new dirt streets and the San Diego Street Car Company offered horse and mule drawn cars on tracks. At that time, this was the ideal suburban locale for the elite including six San Diego mayors and a former California governor.

After growth slowed, the house survived a series of owners and served a variety of purposes from luxurious private homes to law offices, a chiropractor's office and lastly, a B&B. It was named for Judge Eugene W. Britt, whose joint donation with his sister launched the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and Edward W. Scripps, founder of the giant media conglomerate, The E. W. Scripps Company, and United Press, which became UPI. The Queen Anne Victorian-style architectural elements created an ornate, irregularly shaped building which today is a San Diego City Landmark. The three-story, ninebedroom property underwent extensive renovations before becoming a bed and breakfast. In 2014, the Inn sold for $2.9 million, and the current owner invested an additional $6 million, returning the property to its former Victorian glory. The original two-story high stained glass on the west side remains part of the stairwell allowing cascades of light into the interior. Its seven gables, three chimneys, three balconies and tower still look out onto San Diego Bay. It also has every amenity including high-speed wireless Internet, free parking, LCD flat screen TVs and more.

ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 11. Built for $3,000 in 1887, the residence

now known as Britt Scripps Inn was the city's most expensive residence. 12. The Inn went through a number of uses before becoming one of San Diego's most treasured B&Bs. 13. Now a San Diego City Landmark, the Inn has been restored to its former Victorian glory. 14. The Garden Room is one of nine beautifully-restored guest rooms. 15. The original two-storeyhigh stained glass window remains part of the stairwell. 16. The Britt Scripps Inn is within minutes of the San Diego waterfront park and other major attractions.

COURTESY OF VISIT SANDIEGO.ORG

COURTESY OF BRITT SCRIPPS INN

brittscripps-inn.com | 619-230-1991

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COURTESY OF GLORIETTA BAY INN

ENCHANTING ESCAPES

Escape to CORONADO At age 34, entrepreneur John Dietrich Spreckels was investing much of his time and money developing San Diego when he bought into the Coronado Beach Company which had developed the legendary Hotel del Coronado. By 1890, he held controlling interest in the hotel and, at various times, owned most of the island as well as the San Diego-Coronado Ferry System, Union-Tribune Publishing Co., San Diego & Arizona Railway, Belmont Park in Mission Beach and a number of buildings he built in downtown.

In 1906, Spreckels began building his dream mansion on five Coronado acres overlooking Glorietta Bay. Constructed in the classic Italian Renaissance style, the house had six bedrooms, three baths, a parlor, dining room, library, brass cage elevator, marble staircase and flooring, and a few years later, a spectacular 800-square-foot Music Room which has been fully restored and is enjoyed today.

In 1975, the mansion was acquired by its current owners and underwent both a major modernization and historic renovation. The Spreckels Suite, former quarters of John Spreckels, once connected to Mrs. Spreckels’ room, is now known as the Sugar Baron Suite. The six rooms on the second floor, originally for the Spreckels’ children and grandchildren, still have their original light fixtures and most of the hardware. The thirdfloor Solarium is now the magnificent 1,000 square-foot Penthouse Suite offering some of the island's best views.

In 1977, the Mansion was designated a Coronado Historic Landmark and in 1997, Glorietta Bay Inn received the Golden Hibiscus Award from the City of Coronado for Excellence in Historic Restoration. In addition to the Mansion, the Inn has 86 contemporary rooms and suites blending historic beauty with all the modern amenities. gloriettabayinn.com | 619-435-3101 ❖

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ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 17. The Spreckels Mansion, originally built

in 1906, is now a designated a Coronado Historic Landmark. 18. The Garden Suite's kitchen is one of the Mansion's more recent additions. 19. The mansion's spectacular 800-square-foot Music Room has been fully restored. 20. The Garden Room Suite, on the first floor, is one of the largest with a small kitchen and private garden. 21. The nicely-furnished patio of the Garden Suite is perfect for relaxing in total privacy.

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We i r d ly Wo n d e r f u l BY

IMAAN JALALI

MUSEUMS

Though most conventional museums are required viewing for their historical value, they’re all apt to look

somewhat similar after a period of time. Paintings and sculptures, as masterfully made as they usually are, can blur together. The following unusual museums in Southern California, however, play to our sense of unpredictability and quirkiness, surprising us in the many unorthodox ways objects can be appreciated.

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MONA: Museum of Neon Art 216 S. Brand Blvd. Glendale (818) 696-2149 www.neonmona.org

WWW.NEONMONA.ORG

w There is something bedazzling about neon in its

electric and kinetic glory that just catches the eye of the beholder. Besides being a celebration of light-up technology, MONA teaches science through the expression of art. Certainly, there is also an element of education, particularly about neon’s roots, dating back to its invention in 1910. Some of the most prized objects in the museum, which peculiarly tell us about Southern California’s history, are “The Brown Derby” (Hollywood) and “Iwata Camera” (Little Tokyo) signs.

Founders Richard Jenkins and Lili Lakich have additionally been bringing awareness to the many different applications of neon, most notably via its popular bus tour – the Neon Cruise – where illuminated marquees of a special significance can be elaborated upon by a guide. Highlights include the Chinatown Gift Fair Chinaware neon signs from the 1940s and 50s; Clifton’s Facade, which may be home to the world’s oldest operating neon tubes; and the Los Angeles Theatre neon marquee that dates back to 1931. H

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1052 N. Banning Blvd. Wilmington (310) 548-7509 www.drumbarracks.org w By acting as a powerful remembrance of our nation’s Civil War, this

museum provides visitors with a snapshot of the Greater Los Angeles' role in it around 1862.

As many may not be aware, Southern California, which was being protected by only a single quartermaster in Captain Winfield Scott Hancock, was in danger of becoming a Confederate territory as Arizona had become. The Union army came to Hancock's rescue, securing the DRUM BARRACKS site, and making it a military post for California Column infantry members.

Named after Lt. Col. Richard Coulter Drum, the museum remembers the state’s past with not only a book club and stirring reenactments, but with spaces like the officers’ parlor (featuring an 1869 Steinway and 1838 Numms & Clark piano), the barracks room, officers’ bedroom, and armory. Notable artifacts that must be experienced are the museum’s Gatling gun, a 34-star flag from the Vicksburg battlefield, and the Dunbar Autograph Book, which contains signatures of three presidents and 50 Union generals. H

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WWW.DRUMBARRACKS.ORG

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum

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1933 Jefferson Dr. Pasadena (626) 798-8848 www.thebunnymuseum.com w Since opening in 1998, THE BUNNY MUSEUM has come to be known as the Guinness World Record holder for most bunny-related memorabilia in a single setting. It is a “living museum” belonging to couple Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski, who have turned their Pasadena home into a place where one can take sight of bunny games, books, furniture, and even kitchenware. Not to mention, famously hip bunnies – such as Bugs Bunny, Roger Rabbit, and the Energizer Bunny – can also be treasured all over again. Needless to say, none of this would have been possible if not for the couple’s mutual adoration for rabbits, whose habit of bunny-inspired gift-giving eventually gave cause to sharing their idiosyncratic passion with others.

In addition to the roughly 33,143 bunny items on site, one of which is arguably the most famous piece of all, a too-cool ceramic doll patterned after “The King” himself called “Elvis Parsley,” there are various pet bunnies that can be fed by the public, who only have to pay $5 to enter the “hoppy” abode after making a reservation.

WWW.THEBUNNYMUSEUM.COM

The Bunny Museum

Museum of Broken Relationships 6751 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles (323) 892-1200 www.brokenships.la

Los Angeles building in 2016, this museum explores what it means to have loved oneself, another, a pursuit, a profession, or even a place before breaking it all off and beginning anew. Donated by individuals with the promise of anonymity, the items on exhibit range from letters, to personal mementos, pictures, placards, and other heartfelt objects.

At least in theory, each of the items on display somehow defines a relationship that ended unceremoniously or over the natural course of time. As director Alexis Hyde and the museum’s followers rightly believe, there is a poignantly cathartic element to letting go and allowing failed relationships to find new life in the eyes of objective observers.

For instance, one of the objects – a Peter Pan plush toy – serves as a reminder for one who needed to abandon his boyhood in order to become a man; and another, a melted phone recovered by a landlord, symbolizes a broken couple that was evicted for rowdiness. Nonetheless, both impart the message of eventual renewal in the wake of pain. H

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MATT WEIR/MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS

w Having come to international fruition in 2006, before the debut of its

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1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster

1931 Bugatti

The Nethercutt Collection 15151 Bledsoe St. Sylmar (818) 364-6464 www.nethercuttcollection.org

1931 Mercedes

w With more than 250 rare automobiles produced between 1898 and 1997, along with antique musical instruments and furnishings, THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION boasts a unique blend of

1916 Simplex

1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson

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Grand Salon WWW.NETHERCUTTCOLLECTION.ORG

vintage items. The family-owned museum, which now belongs to Jack Nethercutt and his wife Helen, began when Jack’s father, J.B., purchased a 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster and a 1930 DuPont Town Car in 1956. Following a thorough restoration process, J.B. won top honors, spurring a car collection that would cover the Antique, Vintage, Classic, and Post-War Eras.

Some of the most beautifully refurbished motor vehicles, representative of a bygone painstakingness, are the 1913 Mercedes, 1916 Simplex, 1931 Bugatti, 1951 Bentley and, of course, the first two cars purchased by J.B. Nethercutt, which are primarily on display in the Lower and Grand Salons.

Other marvels include the 1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson locomotive and the 1912 Pullman private car, both of which further underscore an artful craftsmanship applied to transportation. Bonus attractions consist of classic dolls, coins, and lastly the Music Room, which is filled with ornately musical creations like the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. â?–

OUTFIT HOME Vintage Furniture & Interior Design Services

1521 N. Gardner St - Hollywood ZZZ RXWıWKRPH FRP

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The main hallway exemplifies the simplicity of the mission’s architecture and furnishings.

LOMPOC: BY

LINDA LANG

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AT ALL ENTRANCES TO LOMPOC IS A SIGN READING "THE CITY OF ARTS AND FLOWERS".

YOU WON'T FIND HIGH-RISE RESORTS. Lompoc is a community focused upon natural rather than man-made beauty and a history rich in traditions still evident today. There's an inviting simplicity to this city on the floor of a tranquil valley secluded by undeveloped rolling hillsides, vineyards and farms.

Lompoc is the place you go to escape today's frenetically-paced world where acquisition of things and multi-tasking often takes precedent over personal interactions and the values of smalltown America.

BOTTLE BRANDING

Located 55 miles north of Santa Barbara, Lompoc has grown from a primarily agriculture town to a more diverse community with a rich culture focused on tourism, the arts, outdoor recreation, wineries and history. Also nearby is Vandenberg Air Force Base, the only U.S. military base that launches unmanned government and commercial satellites that often blaze across Southern California skies.

The town's businesses, shops, restaurants, and wineries are locally-owned and operated giving visitors the opportunity to experience a lifestyle where individuals, not multinational corporations, still maintain control of their lives.

Like much of California, Lompoc was home to the Chumash Indians for centuries prior to the arrival of the Spaniards who, in 1787, founded La PurĂ­sima Mission, 11th of the 21 Spanish missions established by the Franciscan monks. After many of the original buildings were leveled by an earthquake in 1812, it was rebuilt at its current location on the outskirts of Lompoc. Today, with the tours, you can step back in history and experience a bygone era.

That's also true of other parts of the city. Attracting visitors worldwide, Old Town displays 40 outdoor murals on buildings and in alleys depicting the area’s heritage. H

La Purisima Mission is the most extensively restored of the 21 California missions, and is surrounded by 25 miles of hiking trails.

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BOTTLE BRANDING

BOTTLE BRANDING

JASON REYNOLDS

JASON REYNOLDS

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1. Historic

storefronts line the colorful streets of Old Town Lompoc. 2. Flower fields ablaze with color from spring through fall. 3. The scenic drives into Lompoc Valley are through some of nature's most mesmerizing landscapes. 4. Docents make tortillas for mission events. 5. Lompoc's Wine Trail signs direct you to nearly 30 local wineries. 6. Jalama Beach is a secluded park on the coast. 7. Lompoc’s Scratch Kitchen features fine wines and farm-to-table fare. 8. La Purisima Mission's Bell Tower has one stationary and two rolling bells. 9. Golfers can test their skills on the 18-hole La Purisima championship course designed by Robert Muir Graves. 10. "Feeding Time" on the back wall of a building facing Art Alley was completed in 2015 by Artist Jeff Raum of Moorpark, CA. 11. Wine Tasting in the Sta. Rita Hills vineyards is one of many options.

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BOTTLE BRANDING

COURTESY OF EXPLORE LOMPOC

BOTTLE BRANDING

“With its cool coastal breezes and rocky soil, the microclimate is ideal for producing some of the Central Coast's finest chardonnay, pinot noir, and other varietals.”

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At the Lompoc Museum, you'll find exhibits of Chumash Indians, a recreation of old Lompoc storefronts, and the pioneer history of Lompoc Valley. Housed in the former Carnegie Library circa 1910, the Lompoc Museum features art, photography, and traveling exhibits. Other noted sites include Fabing-McKay-Spanning House, the town's first two-story wooden home from 1875 which now houses the Lompoc Valley Historical Society; and Cypress Gallery featuring works by local artists. The Italian Stone Pines arched canopy covering over three city blocks is also a magnificent display of nature's art.

Lompoc is the gateway to Sta. Rita Hills AVA. With its cool coastal breezes and rocky soil, the microclimate is ideal for producing some of the Central Coast's finest chardonnay, pinot noir, and other varietals. In Lompoc's Sobhani Industrial Park is the town's renowned Wine Ghetto featuring 20 wineries with tasting rooms. With limited productions by small family operations, you won't find many of these distinctive wines on the shelves of grocery chains or wine stores. You can only enjoy them in Lompoc area restaurants or if you join one of the many winery mail-order wine clubs.

Dining in town is also a gracious as well as palate-pleasing experience. Longtime local favorites include family-owned Sissy's where mom, dad, son, daughter and son-in-law welcome and cook for you. There's also a wine cellar of more than 300 different, hard-to-find labels comprising one of the largest Central Coast selections. For Italian, there's La Botte, another family-run favorite. Mama Caterina is renowned for her minestrone and desserts. Cuisine is Central and Southern Italian, all freshly-made, and, of course, there's an excellent choice of local wines.

Another must for your to-do list is the spectacular 15-mile scenic drive to Jalama Beach Park secluded in a ruggedly beautiful part of the coastline. Take your beach towels and toys - even Fido. The park is great for bird-watching and rock fishing.

Many protected native plants are also within park boundaries.

You can take a picnic or hit Jalama Beach Store and Grill for their world-famous Jalama Burger or homemade clam chowder, chile verde, and Aunt Ruth's raw apple cake. Other popular activities in Lompoc include biking and hiking.

You can also test your skills on the 18-hole La Purisima championship golf course designed by Robert Muir Graves, or go tandem skydiving from Lompoc Airport.

For hotel accommodations and to get the most out of your visit including wine tasting, mural, biking and other sightseeing maps, go to www.explorelompoc.com. â?–

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T R E N D I N G TA L K

TRAVEL

Fun

for BY

the

Family

ESTHER C. BLEUEL, MA, MFT, MDR

Excitement and anticipation are what we want to feel about an upcoming travel adventure. However, it

can also be a great way to engage everyone in the family by assigning a little research about special destinations or landmarks. H WWW.SO CA L LI F E MAG.COM

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Once you have decided on a destination, each person can become an “authority” by investigating something that would be interesting and surprising — an adventure to anticipate.

There is so much to be learned from travelling - life lessons, history, new food tastes, geography, how to read a map, a different culture (even within the United States), music, and art. And, let’s not forget the built environment and beautiful historic buildings just waiting to be explored. What could be better than a trip that entertains, educates, and is shared by the entire family?

Just as important, it will encourage family conversations and the exchange of ideas. Each family member (depending upon age) can take the lead with an assignment and research contributions.

After the destination and date are set, make a pre-trip research plan.

Books, brochures and maps will provide a good overview of your destination.

Don’t forget to anticipate the weather. Then, explore on the Internet.

Here are some tips to help make this a fun family affair:

• Assign the task of finding a place to stay to a family member. Everyone should provide input about important considerations.

• Share budget guidelines with age-appropriate children. This can be a great experience for kids.

• Compile a list of some attractions or destinations that are important to each person.

• Find the destination on a map and track your trip.

• Each family member gets to research at least one attraction. Create a short list of information questions. These might include the history, what is special about the place, hours and days of operation, cost of admission, availability of guided tours, how much time to allot for a visit?

For restaurants, think about cuisine, location, cost, etc.

• Design a treasure hunt or activities for your kids. This might be things to look for, listen to, touch, or taste, either at one location or throughout your journey.

• Make a list of family members and friends back home to whom postcards will be mailed. Take stamps or buy local ones for others to save.

• Check local means of transportation and distances before you leave home. Riding on a train, a streetcar, in a taxi, or a bus might be a new adventure.

• Create a scrapbook of your trip. Collect menus, brochures from tourist attractions, ticket stubs, and a postcard or two. Include pictures with a description written by different family members. You might even want to make a book, slideshow or videos for family and friends.

These ideas can work for day trips, extended vacations, weekend getaways, or any interesting adventure. Involving everyone before, during, and after these journeys makes learning about places and travel more fun. In addition, your family will benefit from time spent together and children will learn skills that will serve them in life as well as to gain a love of travelling, exploring and meeting new people.

Most importantly — have everyone participate and enjoy! ❖

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FA B F I N DS

WINTER WONDERS We’re suckers for cool stuff and we’ve uncovered a few we want to share. Check out these awesome products to try for yourself or share with your Valentine.

Astoria Wines

Prosecco DOC Treviso (SRP $13.99) is an extra dry sparkling wine that comes in a decorative bottle inspired by Venice’s famous Murano glass, making it pleasing to both the palate and the eyes. It has an aroma as clean-cut and elegant as the presentation, with hints of green apples and white florals. Its palate is lively and energetic, with a linear streak of lemon.

Salt & Pepper Co.

Gift boxes are perfect for Valentine’s gifting because they take the guess work and stress out of gift giving, they are affordable and a great way to give tastefully this holiday season. The Salt & Pepper Co. offers nationwide shipping as well as hand delivery in Los Angeles.

View all gift boxes at www.saltandpepperco.com and they range in price from $29 - $149.

POWERGear

Designed to accommodate any Fitbit model and similar fitness tracking devices, the POWERGear-Sport can provide up to 10 recharges with a powerful 2000 mAh battery. the POWERGear-Sound case protects ear buds like Beats while also recharging them via 1000 mAh battery. A rigid exterior keeps fitness trackers safe and protected while charging, even when tossed into the bottom of a gym bag, while a soft fabric interior provides scratchproof cushioning. A magnetic closure system makes accessing a recharged tracker a snap and an interior cable and band management system keeps everything organized. POWERGear-Sport has an MSRP of $29.99 and POWERGearSound is $39.99.

Device sold separately.

Vivobarefoot

The leading barefoot shoe company just launched a new line of women’s and men’s shoes, encouraging consumers to reconnect with nature. The line, which includes the new Primus Trail Soft Ground (SG), Primus Trail Firm Ground (FG) and the Tracker, can withstand the roughest terrains, inspiring people to spend time outdoors, pursue adventures in nature and reconnect with their roots. The Primus Trail Soft Ground is the company’s first shoe, designed specifically to give great traction on soft, muddy trails. It’s also a great performer for the growing swim-run market. www.vivobarefoot.com/us

Kona Deep

The only water brand of its kind, Kona Deep comes from the deep ocean waters of Hawaii, more than 3,000 feet below the surface where cold, pressure and darkness combine to create an exceptionally high quality water. The result is deeply refreshing and restoring water with a unique balance of naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes – with nothing added and nothing artificial.

For more information on Kona Deep, please visit www.konadeep.com.

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Instagram: TheAdventuresOfCamelliaN Facebook: The Adventures of Camellia N.

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R O M A N T I C

D estin a tio BY

LISA KESTENBAUM

Balboa Island

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V A L E N T I N E ’ S

ns

From chocolate covered strawberries to little love notes, there are

countless traditional ways to show your darling how much they mean to you on February 14th.

But this year, try something (or somewhere) new! Here are some different ways to spice things up or slow things down this Valentine’s Day.

Turn up the heat with a cooking class specifically catered to couples. Learn how to sauté and flambé during a private class or simply join a group at a local cooking school. At EATZ LA (located at La Brea and Melrose), you can choose from various theme nights, such as Moulin Rouge, Greece is the Word, Valentine's Day Rendezvous or the obvious, XX. H

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Magical Adventure Balloon Rides Griffith Observatory

What sweeter way to your steady’s soul than with fresh, ripe blueberries handpicked by you. Take a trip to Santa Barbara and on your way, stop at Ventura County’s

Underwood Farms

Underwood Farms

where you can go on a berry picking adventure. Save some strawberries to drop in a glass of champagne as you wind down your date night at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Santa Ynez. Relish robes and room service or go for the ultimate pampering and book an inroom couple’s massage.

The only thing more romantic than strawberries and champagne is strawberries and champagne 5,280 feet up in the air! Head to Palm Desert’s Magical Adventure Balloon Rides to surprise your sweetheart with the trip (and view) of a lifetime. Ascend one mile up in the air in your private hot air balloon and take in desert landscape from a 360-degree angle.

Toast with bubbly as you float for a one-hour magical ride high in the sky.

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn

Feel like adding a touch of fitness to your Valentine’s Day? Take your one-and-only to Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory. But instead of driving up the mountain, hike it.

Simply park the car along Fern Dell Avenue and enter through the wrought-iron fence. Follow one of the trails up to the top and not only will you feel like you earned a seat in the planetarium theater but you’ll also enjoy the skyline view all the way up.

In La Jolla, you’ll find the Coast Walk, a romantic stroll along the coastal stretch of this seaside community. Sectioned in four separate parts, this beginner’s level trail stretches from La Jolla Cove to La Jolla Shores and offers picturesque views of the water, tranquil coves and plenty of wildlife.

Take a vintage spin on the classic movie date and head to the South Bay Drive-In movie theater in the heart of San Diego. Pull the car up, put the windows down and snuggle up with some gummies and your honey while you enjoy a double feature for only $9.00. Established in 1958, this nautical themed entertainment destination has been remodeled and revamped over the years to offer the highest quality date night experience.

Grotto

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It’s A Small World

Take a minute to relax together and visit the Grotto at Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs. Here you can soothe your souls and your bodies in the waters of the grotto, which is packed with healing minerals. Enjoy a private sideby-side mud bath, one of the many treatments offered at this spa, lauded for its quietude. End the day with dinner at Essence, the resort’s restaurant that harvests the majority of its own produce. And for what it can’t, it looks to local farms to supplement.

Who says the Happiest Place on Earth can’t also be the most romantic? Pull out your Mickey Mouse Club sweatshirt and head to Anaheim where the magical world of Disney will whisk you and your beau away. While Frontierland may not make your heart flutter, there are a handful of spots within the park to fuel the passion. Stroll down Main Street and pick up an afternoon hot fudge sundae for two at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (don’t forget the cherry on top!). Or make your way to Fantasyland’s It’s A Small World, where you’ll find a twinkle light-lined path and the perfect spot to sneak in a kiss.

Newport Beach’s Balboa Island is one of Orange County’s romantic treasures. This quaint island off of Newport Beach is a great spot for strolling and shopping, but also offers beautiful views of the harbor, sweet treats and a nostalgia-filled amusement park with a classic Ferris wheel and carnival games. Enjoy a private gondola ride on the water or simply cozy up to one another as you watch the sun set from Inspiration Point. ❖

Coast Walk

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B U B B L E S & B R E WS

SoCal’s Mindblowing

Milkshakes

BY

DUSTIN CLENDENEN

California isn’t known for its dairy industry, but as

the unofficial foodie mecca of the United States, we know how to spruce up classics with delicious twists. Milkshakes are an American staple, but some of these recipes are purely SoCal. Here’s a roundup of the best milkshakes in the

region worth coming to the yard for.

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B U B B L E S & B R E WS

Brian’s 24

828 6th Ave. San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 702-8410

Burger City Grill 8260 Firestone Blvd.

Downey, CA 90241 (562) 250-3700

2064 Pacific Coast Hwy. Lomita, CA 90717 (424) 250-1240 Good burgers are nothing if they aren’t served with good milkshakes, but Burger City Grill is all about great burgers. Their classic milkshakes are equally delicious, coming in chocolate, vanilla and, of course, strawberry, all topped with fresh whipped cream. Don’t be fooled by the price - the ice cream in these milkshakes is award-winning! Burger City Grill has two locations in Downey and Lomita, with two more in Torrance coming soon.

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WWW.BURGERCITYGRILL.COM

Hailed the restaurant that never sleeps, Brian’s 24 is open 24/7 in the heart of San Diego’s bustling Gaslamp District. This is a “classic” diner, so it’s only appropriate that they serve classic shakes and malts. These gargantuan 32-oz. concoctions come in three delicious flavors: vanilla, strawberry and chocolate, with a heaping serving of whipped cream. If that’s not enough to whet your appetite for 1950s nostalgia, they all come with two straws for sharing. Drink up, and maybe you’ll have enough energy for a good ole’ sock-hop!

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HopDoddy Burger Bar

3030 El Camino Real Tustin, CA 92782 (714) 505-2337 401 Newport Center Dr., #311 Newport Beach, CA 92660 (949) 640-2337 830 S. Sepulveda Blvd., #116 El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 414-2337 12746 Jefferson Blvd., #1120 Playa Vista, CA 90094 (310) 410-2337 HopDoddy Burger Bar is a growing restaurant chain with locations in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and now Los Angeles and Orange County. It’s been named one of the best burger joints in the nation, but expect to see its milkshakes reach infamy as well. Going above and beyond what’s needed for malt beverages, the milkshake menu boasts of Vanilla Bean and Stout Chocolate shakes, as well as exotic delights like Red Velvet Cake and a Nutella and Chocolate Pretzel Shake. The wine menu isn’t bad either, so hopefully it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to ask them to put together a milkshake flight.

Salt & Straw

240 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 466-0485 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291 (310) 310-8429 12180 ½ Ventura Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 91604 (818) 358-2890 829 E. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 988-7070 Salt & Straw is a relatively new Southern California import from Portland, but it’s already developed a cult following throughout Los Angeles.

You can turn any of the scoop shop’s tongue-teasing flavors into a milkshake, but absolutely check out the Whole Pint Vanilla Milkshake with Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup - it’s an artisanal treat. You can also have any milkshake enhanced with Pomegranate Pok Pok Drinking Vinegar for an extra exotic kick, brimming with tart berries and notes of rose petals. If you haven’t already noticed, you’re probably going to have to wait in line at any of Salt & Straw’s four Los Angeles area locations, but we guarantee you it’s worth it. H

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Twins Sliders 5940 Sunset Blvd.

Hollywood, CA 90028 (323) 960-6902

Twins Sliders in Hollywood has all the classic diner staples, from Angus beef sliders to chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shakes and malts. But this is actually a very worthy destination for milkshake connoisseurs, because Twins Sliders offers The Big One: a dairy delight of Oreos, M&M’s, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Butterfingers and a whole Twinkie. The whole affair is going to set you back a whopping $18.99, but let’s be honest, that’s a meal.

Shields Date Garden 80-225 U.S. Highway 111 Indio, CA 92201 (760) 775-0902

Milkshakes aren’t the first thing that come to mind when you think of nature’s candy, but Shields Date Garden in the Inland Empire is making a good case for changing that. They’ve dubbed their milkshake the world’s finest date shake, featuring a heaping serving of their proprietary Shields Date Crystals. If you find a way to improve perfection, they have an open submission policy for customers’ recipes as well.

McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams

728 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 324-4402

Founded in Santa Barbara in 1949, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams is still one of the reigning dairy queens of Southern California. At their original scoop shop in downtown Santa Barbara, they offer their delicious Cooooookies Shake, a mix of sea salt cream & cookies ice cream along with cookies & cream ice cream and a heap of chocolate chunk cookie pieces for good measure. For an even more exotic dairy dream, check out the one-of-a-kind Pumpkin Pie Shake. After one sip, you may never order a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte with quite the same reverie ever again. ❖

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F E AT U R E

on Becoming Artistically Comfortable and Authentic The sound of ocean waves open and close quintessential Southern California artist Colbie Caillat’s newest offering, The Malibu Sessions.

BY

ROBYN FLANS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

GREGORY KEITH METCALF

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he album cut in 2013 was a result of a two-month stay in a beach house in Malibu with musical partners, friends and dogs.

The artist who rose to the top of the charts in 2007 with her single “Bubbly,” had gotten off tour and began writing songs with Mikal Blue and Jason Reeves, the guys with whom she had cut her first album. The first song they wrote together was “Gypsy Heart” and when it came out in the vein of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Caillat decided that would be her direction.

She spent the next year writing in California, Nashville and Hawaii and also realized she wanted to go back to the kind of relaxed recording of her first album, “Coco.”

“Recording wasn’t fun anymore,” she says.

“It had turned into something different.”

The turmoil began unexpectedly when a friend of hers put “Bubbly” up on MySpace.

Caillat was just 20, a little over a decade ago.The surprising response turned her world upside down and began a runaway train which included a Grammy winning duet with Jason Mraz, an opening tour for John Mayer and cowriting with Taylor Swift on Swift’s Grammy winning album of the year, Fearless. Looking back, she admits perhaps she wasn’t ready for all of it.

“If I had had more experience and I had been older...,” Caillat muses. “I just didn’t know who I was. I was a sheltered homebody from a suburban town in Southern California with a great upbringing. I had never played live or challenged myself because of stage fright and then all of a sudden this happened.”

Immediately the label began a complete makeover on the jeans and sandal wearing, makeup-less beach goer.

“I didn’t like it, but I didn’t stop it,” Caillat says.

She says the most powerful thing she learned along the way was to know when to say no.

So when it came time to record in 2013, Caillat knew how to ask for what she wanted - finally. She thought about how her father, Fleetwood Mac co-producer Ken Caillat, had always told her how the mega group recorded together in one place as a unit, sometimes in one house, making their own schedules.

In the spring of 2013, they were able to rent the beach house where they shot photos for their previous

I just didn’t know who I was. I was a sheltered homebody from a suburban town in Southern California with a great upbringing.

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“

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Christmas album. Producer John Shank transported his entire Hollywood studio to the downstairs of the house where Engineer Paul Lamaifa, composer Jason Reeves and his wife, her best friend/make-up artist Annaliese Canady, her guitarist/fiance Justin Young and a passel of dogs stayed.

Her sister, who is Caillat’s nutritionist/chef, and her husband lived in the guest house.

“Every day we would walk on the beach, get smoothies, get burritos for lunch and record in the morning or after lunch or all through the night,” she says.

It was idyllic.

“The ocean waves were so loud that we had to get thick custom curtains made to cover all the windows because it was getting through the recording,” Caillat says.

Musically, it was the most organic, honest project to date. But the record company didn’t hear it and wanted to put it on hold.

“I was pretty devastated and I felt defeated,” Caillat says.

Still, the experience gave Caillat a great deal of introspect.

“From the beginning, with ‘Bubbly,’ it was already a success on MySpace. Then after that, they really didn’t believe in me as who I was. Right away they wanted to me to start being someone different. That was the battle the

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whole time. Every single by a new artist they would say, ‘You should go for this sound,’ and I would say, ‘What do you mean? That’s not me.’”

After she cut The Malibu Sessions, she agreed to go into the studio and do it “their way.” She delivered the album Gypsy Heart and says she enjoyed the process and felt proud of the work, but it wasn’t organic. She and the label parted ways, amicably.

Within a year, she began her own label, PlummyLou (named for two family dogs) and was able to put out The Malibu Sessions on her own.

Caillat and audiences loved the recent acoustic tour with her musical cohorts in which she played The Malibu Sessions in its entirety.

Caillat says it was the most comfortable she has ever felt on stage.

“This is how I should have been touring all these years,” she says. “You can’t put blame on anyone else. Ultimately it was my not being in control of who I was as an artist. I didn’t know how to perform. I had everyone around me telling me who I should be up on stage, so I’d wear outfits I wasn’t comfortable in. It wasn’t about talking to the audience, it was about moving around. I didn’t ever feel it was me.”

On this tour, she brought her own living room items - lamps, rugs, lanterns and she ordered chairs from Target.

“I didn’t have hair and make-up,” Caillat says. “Five minutes before the show I just put on a little mascara. There was no pressure, so I opened up on stage. It was

interesting – the less stuff I had, the more comfortable I felt.”

Stage fright isn’t gone. She admits she was nervous during the first song, but once she got into it, it dissipated.

Now she wants to take some time off from the road and enjoy her new home in Nashville with Young and their dogs.

“I’ve never left California and I wanted to try something different,” Caillat says.

Although there is a home in Hawaii, there just isn’t a music scene.

Having been to Nashville to work often and with many friends there, Caillat thought they’d give it a whirl.

“I think Nashville is beautiful and the people are very friendly,” Caillat says. “But I’m sure I’ll be back in Southern California.” ❖

“I didn’t have hair and makeup. Five minutes before the show I just put on a little mascara. There was no pressure, so I opened up on stage. It was interesting -- the less stuff I had, the more comfortable I felt.”

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An enticing fragrance composed around Osmanthus blossoms. The wearer will be transported to a vintage convertible on a country road. Just imagine, worn leather seats and the gentle hum of the engine as warm summer air envelopes the body. This hypnotic essence introduces refreshing top notes of lemon, hints of gardenia and a kiss of sheer Jasmine. Base notes of tea and bergamot give Willow an intoxicating warmth. This delicate and fresh scent is uniquely seductive .

Sold Exclusively at www.serenapothecary.com

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THE GOURMAND

ELIZABETH CHAMBERS’ CUPCAKES The Ultimate Love Language BY

ROBYN FLANS

Carrot Cake Cupcake

At the end of a crazy day, Elizabeth Chambers knows she can always come home and combine three cups of sugar and two cups of flour and “you know what you’re going to get.”

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LILLIANA STORY

THE GOURMAND

“I always joked that my television career has been 30% talent and probably 70% bribery because every time I leave a meeting or audition, I return the next day with monster cookies and I have the job.”

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THE GOURMAND

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 1. BIRD's

Valentine's Six Pack of Little Ones Salt Peanut Butter Bar 3.

Breakfast Casserole 4. Apple Pie 5. Gluten-free Brownies 2. Sea

owned a catering company and Chambers has vivid memories of stealing food out of the walk-in refrigerator, the likes of which she owned never before seen.

One of the most popular cupcakes of the 22 varieties is the carrot cake, a recipe that was handed down through the family.

“It’s crushed pineapple, flaked coconut, golden raisins, walnuts and good wet shredded carrots,” Chambers says, adding that the other two most popular cupcakes are the red velvet and sea salt caramel.

Ingredient quality for the many baked goods in the shop has been the primary concern since the beginning.

“Even if you use unsalted butter instead of margarine or instead of shortening,” she insists that you need more. “We use plugra butter, which is European butter without any additives. It’s an expensive ingredient. We use the best quality chocolate, not cut with wax. So many of our recipes have peanut butter in them and we tried using non-hydrogenated oil, but it didn’t stick as well. I wanted to use Jif because that’s what my mom used when I was growing up, but none of the food suppliers supplied it. They supplied this horrible peanut butter that came in a huge 3-gallon can that had so many stabilizers in it. I said, ‘You mean, the peanut butter I eat in restaurants is this?’ They said, ‘Yes, no one is going to Costco and buying regular jars that you buy for home.’ And I said, ‘Well, we are.’”

They make Costco runs and buy pallets and pallets of Jif to maintain their philosophy of: “If I don’t want to eat that, why would I serve it to other people?”

These measurables proved to be a good thing, because in 2010, while she was on top of the world, she found herself quite surprised by what occurred.

Chambers had been hosting three shows and for one reason or another, within a two-week period, all of them were cancelled.

Suddenly she realized how out of control of her life she was.

As a magma cum laude graduate from the University of Texas with a major in journalism, she had previously anchored the news desk at Al Gore’s network Current TV for four and a half years.

She had also minored in business, so combined with being a selfdescribed compulsive baker, opening a bakery is what made sense to gain back control of her world.

“I always joked that my television career has been 30% talent and probably 70% bribery because every time I leave a meeting or audition, I return the next day with monster cookies and I have the job,” Chambers says.

I

n 2011 she opened The Bird in her birthplace, San Antonio, as opposed to the more sweets saturated Los Angeles where she resides.

Chambers went for a rustic vibe and with pieces of her decor that all tell a story. The beans on the ceiling came from Gruene Hall’s stage - Texas’ oldest dance hall, the door came from a theater in France, their sign came from a table she found in Cannes, France.

Her grandmother, who passed away 20 years ago, had lived just three blocks away from the shop. Her grandmother and uncle had

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THE GOURMAND

Her husband, actor Arnie Hammer, is the taste tester.

“He has a very refined palate,” Chambers says. “He can tell if something is off. That’s the biggest challenge in a bakery - consistency. Every single day it’s from scratch, so if the chocolate is a little bit different, it’s a constant struggle.”

Chambers says a customer sent pictures of their monster cookie which has M&M’s on it.

“They were weighing their Monster cookie for six months,” Chambers says. “They thought we were putting less M&M’s on it.”

Valentine’s Day, Chambers says, conjures up chocolate, raspberry, strawberry and a lot of piping.

“I’m not a great cake decorator, so I like to think of things that people can do at home,” Chambers says.

“We make petit fours which is a sheet cake. They’re not huge in Southern California, but I think they’re going to make a comeback because they’re really big in the South. You cut it into little squares, pour the icing over them and let it harden. Then you use the conversation hearts as piping, to incorporate some nostalgia.”

At the shop, their Valentine’s Day cupcake is a chocolate raspberry, which is a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling and raspberry buttercream icing.

It wasn’t long before customers were asking for breakfast and lunch, so eventually soups and sandwiches were added to the menu.

Success has also prompted the November opening of a second shop in Dallas.

All this while raising a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter whose earliest word was cake, while pregnant with a second child, and accompanying her actor husband Arnie Hammer on many red carpets during awards season.

“It’s enough to give you anxiety,” Chambers says with a laugh.

“You have to put family first and the best thing for your marriage is to always be together,” she says. “We take our daughter everywhere with us and we’re never apart for more than four days. You have to make an effort and that means we’re never at home. We’ve only been home two months this entire year.”

She’s been judging “Cupcake Wars” since 2009 where she says “you literally eat 150 cupcakes a week” and tasted a cupcake she never had before - cookie dough buttercream. She’s still the chief correspondent for the Human Rights Foundation with eight assignments a year and working with Vice News.

“I could never just walk away from my career to start a second one. And we live in a time where you can do both,” she says. “We’re only here for a short time.

You may as well do everything you want to do.” ❖

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Restaurant RAVES

O+O

UNION

1705 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90401 www.OOSantaMonica.com

37 E. Union St. Pasadena, CA 91103 www.UnionPasadena.com

O+O brings modern Sicilian cuisine with California flair to Santa Monica. Located at the corner of Ocean Ave. and Olympic Dr. near the Santa Monica Pier, the menu features Sicilian inspired dishes including pizzas, meatballs, salads, meats and fish made with local ingredients and is complemented by a full bar and wine list. The restaurant boasts a casual neighborhood vibe with a nighttime scene, happy hour and outdoor patio.

Located in Pasadena, UNION plates the classic flavors of Northern Italy coupled with the bountiful seasonal produce and intrepid culinary attitude of California. Driven by local markets, Chef/Owner Bruce Kalman’s ingredient-driven Mediterranean fare puts forth rustic, elegant dishes culminating sustainable kitchen practices and an abundance of housemade components to deliver a personal and engaging meal. Owner Marie Petulla oversees the business growth and development at the restaurant, creating a warm and intimate experience for each guest.

Nerano

Lemonade

Nerano is inspired by the beauty of the Amalfi Coast where the temperate climate influences the coastal cuisine, and the Italian culture is welcoming to every guest. That virtuoso team of culinary and creative professionals fulfills a vision of a stunning contemporary space matched with exquisite dishes and hospitality reminiscent of the village of Nerano. Signatures include Crudo di Ricciola of Pacific Yellowtail Tuna, Tartufata Pizza, Pasta alla Nerano & Salmone Neozelandese.

The acclaimed California fast casual restaurant is known for its fresh vegetable-based fare and has multiple locations throughout Southern California. Anchored by its fresh array of Marketplace Salads, the cafeteriastyle setting invites guests to ‘eat colorfully’ by grabbing a tray and choosing from an array of hot and cold seasonal dishes that are designed to mix-and-match. Sandwiches toasted to order, comforting mac n cheese, decadent desserts, and fresh lemonades are also on the menu. Catering, online ordering, and take out available.

9960 S. Santa Monica Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90212 www.NeranoBH.com

www.LemonadeLA.com

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Obica Mozzarella Bar, Pizza e Cucina 606 Broadway Santa Monica, CA 90401 www.Obica.com

Obicà Mozzarella Bar is a casual and contemporary Italian restaurant that proposes a genuine Italian dining experience centered on the freshest Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP. At 3pm, Happy Hour starts with special cocktails and the Antipasto Obica! At 7pm, dinner with a mouthwatering mozzarella, a pasta delicacy and a glass of Italian Rose’.

AR Cucina

9531 Culver Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90232 www.ARCucina.com AR Cucina offers rustic dishes drawn from Akasha Richmond’s nine-year cooking relationship with her first husband and his mother – both from a small village in Sardinia – and her extended travel throughout Italy’s many regions. The menus change with the seasons, highlighting local California ingredients and using domestic and imported artisan ingredients that are carefully and lovingly sourced.

Many components of the dishes – mostarda, pickled produce and red onion jam – are created in-house.

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F I V E FAV E S

Iconic Images BY

AROUN

KARMA CHRISTINE SALVATO

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F I V E FAV E S

ND TOWN

Architectural landmarks found throughout cities everywhere are not only recognizable

navigational objects that help guide us as we travel from place-to-place — they are also links to the past, containing secret stories waiting to be discovered. H WWW.SO CA L LI F E MAG.COM

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F I V E FAV E S

1 Los Angeles County

PANTAGES THEATRE Signifying the “glorious past” and “adventuresome future” of Hollywood, the historic and palatial Pantages Theatre was once home to the Academy Awards. Opening in 1930, the Pantages is one of the most cherished landmarks in Hollywood. The gala event was first held at the Pantages Theatre in 1950. In 1953, the Oscar Ceremonies were televised for the first time from the elaborate Art Deco venue. The Emmy Awards were also held here before moving to Pasadena in 1977 at which point the Pantages re-opened as a legitimate live theatre offering Broadway-style musicals. Designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca and situated at the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine, the Pantages Theatre was the last theatre built by Alexander Pantages — a Greek American vaudeville and early motion picture producer and impresario who created a large and powerful circuit of theatres across the Western United States and Canada. In 1949, Howard Hughes bought the theatre, adding it to his RKO chain. Seating more than two-thousand patrons, the Pantages is one of Los Angeles’ leading venues for live theatre, hosting productions including: Wicked, Legally Blonde, Dirty Dancing, The Phantom of the Opera, Newsies, The Lion King, and countless others. In the heart of historical Hollywood, the Pantages Theatre is a gem that sparkles bright!

6233 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 468-1770 www.hollywoodpantages.com

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F I V E FAV E S

THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

2 Orange County

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY If the beautiful Botanical Gardens of this famous landmark feel familiar to you, perhaps it is because you recognize them from such films like the ‘80s dark comedy, Heathers; National Treasure: Book of Secrets; or a bevy of other films and television shows that have utilized the venue as a backdrop for a myriad of stories. Founded in 1919 by railroad and real estate magnate Henry Edwards Huntington, the world-renowned Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens attracts many visitors from all around the world. A collections-based research and educational center serving both scholars and the general public, the facility houses an impressive assortment of rare books and manuscripts as well as numerous European and American art pieces. One hundred and twenty acres of breathtaking botanical gardens surround the center making it the perfect respite from life’s hectic pace.

1151 Oxford Rd. San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 www.huntington.org

3 San Diego

HOTEL DEL CORONADO An architectural masterpiece, and highly acclaimed for its stunning seaside setting, Hotel del Coronado is a historic beachfront hotel located in the city of Coronado, just across the San Diego Bay. Also known as The Del and Hotel Del, this exquisite destination resort has been the proud host to presidents, royalty, celebrities, and beach-loving guests. Built in 1888 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Hotel del Coronado is an American treasure containing more than a century of stories. H 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, CA 92118 (800) 468-3533 www.hoteldel.com delreservations@hoteldel.com

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MICHELLE PARK (3)

F I V E FAV E S

4 Santa Barbara

LOBERO THEATRE Recognized as one of Santa Barbara’s architectural jewels, as well as a state and city landmark, the Lobero Theatre is California’s oldest, continuously operating theatre. The Lobero was originally founded in 1873 and rebuilt in 1924 — and it was during the glittering golden age of Hollywood that a new life was breathed into the theatre and it began to flourish. Built by Italian immigrant Jose Lobero, the theatre stage has been graced by the likes of Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugosi, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Clark Gable, Ingrid Bergman, Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, and many others.

SHERRILL & ASSOCIATES

5 Palm Springs

THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM With the goal to “foster and inspire reflection and renewal for local, national, and global audiences,” the Palm Springs Art Museum specializes in Native American artifacts, the natural sciences, and the environment of the surrounding Coachella Valley. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, it is not only a world-class art museum, but it has a vibrant theater program as well. Originally founded in 1938 as the Palm Springs Desert Museum, works are displayed from Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Ansel Adams, and Roy Lichtenstein — containing an art collection that rivals urban metropolitan museums. ❖ 101 N. Museum Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 (760) 322-4800 www.psmuseum.org WWW.S O CA L LI F E MAG.CO M

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ROY KOMASSA

33 E. Canon Perdido St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 966-4946 www.lobero.com

✑✍❚❁❐❆✿❄❉■❇❂❁▼▲✿❁❂❃❄❅❆❇❈❉❊❋●❍■❏❐❑❒▲▼◆❖◗❘❙❚❀✑✒✓✔✕✖✗✘✙✐✍✝✻✽✼✛✌✎✏ ✡✢✣✤✥✦✧★✩✪✫✬✭✮✯✰✱✲✳✴✵✶✷✸✹✺❞✁✠✃✄☎✾✆☛✈✉✿☞❛❝❜✚✜✞✟ marriot_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" €$€£¥₩฿руб marriot_light_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriott_med_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriott_med_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriott_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜،‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriott_bold_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜،‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriot_condensed_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriot_condensed_medium_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб marriot_condensed_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $€£¥₩฿руб

AbadiMTStd-Light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥(`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ǩ¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–± AbadiMTStd-LightItalic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥(`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ǩ¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–±

Let us introduce you to the beauty of the desert.

AbadiMTStd_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ǩ¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–± AbadiMTStd-Italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" € $‚Ǩ¬£¬•‚Ç©‡∏ø—Ä—É–±

Let us begin your day with an unforgettable sunrise.

Let us illuminate your night with a canopy of stars.

Let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Experience true luxury in the Palm Springs Valley with the uncompromising service only we can offer. For reservations, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage at 800-542-8680 or visit ritzcarlton.com/ranchomirage.

©2014 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

LIVE THOROUGHBRED RACING! 2016/17 WINTER MEET: DEC. 26 - JULY 4

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285 W. HUNTINGTON DRIVE, ARCADIA, CA 91007 626-574-7223 I www.SantaAnita.com @santaanitapark @clockerscorner Free shuttle service from the Metro Gold Line Arcadia Station to The Great Race Place available each racing day.

Uber is the official ride to Santa Anita Park, with special discounts for fans heading to the races.

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Where Eu rop ean Cu lt u r e

Cattle graze peacefully on sizeable ranches throughout the valley.

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VALLEY BY

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Me e ts t he Old West

Two hours north of Los Angeles and 30 minutes south of Santa Barbara lies the Santa Ynez Valley, 86 laid-back square miles of gently

rolling landscapes dotted with just six small century-old towns, vineyards, ranches and farmlands sheltered by the Santa Ynez Mountains on the south and San Rafael Mountains to the north. H

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ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

1. The AAA 4-Diamond Ballard Inn & Restaurant is one of the region's most romantic B&Bs. 2. The Little Red Schoolhouse in Ballard, opened in 1883, is still a top-performing Santa Barbara County school. 3. The Maverick Saloon is one of the last original thriving California Honky-Tonk Saloons.

4. Happy Canyon is a popular road for bikers. 5. The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House present the past and present including 36 stagecoaches, wagons and carriages.

ture which still stands today as a private residence. When he suddenly passed away, Lewis returned and in his friend's name founded the town, which flourished with the valley's first general store, post office and blacksmith shop.

Today, Ballard remains the area's smallest town with a population of 467 and is home to several historic homes, churches and the Little Red Schoolhouse which opened in 1883 and today remains a top-performing Santa Barbara County school. Another attraction is The Ballard Inn & Restaurant, one of the region's most romantic B&Bs. Its AAA 4-Diamond rating and membership in the prestigious Select Registry is complemented by its award-winning restaurant, featuring a fusion of French Asian with gourmet wine country cuisine.

You may recall the Oscar-winning 2004 film, Sideways, which was shot almost entirely in the valley. Also a retreat for numerous luminaries, Michael Jackson's Neverland lies near Los Olivos and not far from Solvang is President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Regan's beloved Rancho del Cielo. Among other notables in the area are Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, Bo Derek, and Steven Seagal.

Home to the Chumash Indians who occupied much of California for centuries before Columbus found the new world, the valley's first European settlers were Spaniards and then Mexicans after Spain turned California over to Mexico. In the 19th century, American ranchers and farmers began arriving followed by the Danish-American settlers who founded Solvang.

In the late 1800s, five towns were established in the Santa Ynez Valley: Ballard, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Buellton, Solvang (1912), and in 2010, Los Alamos at the northern entrance to the valley. Just a few miles apart, their old west heritage is still very evident. Today, cattle ranches still thrive and several horse ranches are nationally known for their fine thoroughbred and Arabian horses. Currently, primary crops are walnuts, tomatoes, beans, corn and, over the past two decades, wine making has skyrocketed into a major industry with more than 120 wineries now producing award-winning wines.

Santa Ynez: SOPHISTICATED COWBOY TOWNSHIP Santa Ynez originated in 1882 when Bishop Francis Mora began selling land owned by the Catholic Church. To settlers purchasing a tract in town for $15, he gave one free. Anticipating the arrival of the railroad, the town did boom for a time when businesses peaked with 11 saloons, blacksmiths, general mercantile stores, a millinery and barber shops; but when the Southern Pacific decided upon another route, it reverted from a busy urban center back to a peaceful rural community.

Ballard: WHERE IT ALL STARTED Founded in 1881 by New Yorker George W. Lewis, Ballard became the first town in the Santa Ynez Valley when he homesteaded 800 acres. Upon moving to Mexico, Lewis transferred the property to his friend, William N. Ballard, who managed the Concord stagecoach line between San Francisco and Yuma, Arizona. Lacking a stagecoach stop between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Ballard built Ballard's Station, an adobe struc-

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Today, Santa Ynez is a sophisticated old world township of 4,418 residents. Its facades house saloons, feed stores and variety of eateries ranging from pancakes and burgers to steaks, seafood, Italian, Latin infusion, and farm-to-table fare. Modern shops and galleries line streets with hitching posts and horse-shoe embedded crosswalks. Not to be missed are the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum and ParksJaneway Carriage House containing the largest collection of stagecoaches and carriages west of the Mississippi. Adjacent to the town is the Chumash reservation with its popular Casino Resort with 24/7 gaming, live entertainment, dining and a luxury hotel.

Los Olivos: THE TOWN THE TRAIN BUILT

ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 6. The Vineyard House Restaurant, circa

MATT DAYKA

ROB BROWN

In 1885, 22-year-old New Yorker Alden March Boyd purchased 157 acres of prime farmland just north Ballard upon which he planted 5,000 olive trees and named it Rancho De Los Olivos. In 1887, a Pacific Coast Railway line extension from Los Alamos arrived, and the developers officially named the town Los Olivos. The train made its final run in 1934, but Mattei's Tavern, built in 1886 across from the old terminal, is still serving patrons today.

Los Olivos is a charming town rich in tree-shaded streets, antique shops, fine dining, and numerous of festivals. Prairie-style Victorian architecture is found downtown where landmarks include the Whitcher/Sahm home, Downs store, D.D. and Uncle Tom Davis store, Riceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gas stations and the Campbell, Ashbraner and Fleenor homes.

Residences dating back more than a century include Keenan/Hartley, the oldest wooden home in Los Olivos built in 1882. H

1907, is surrounded by beautiful gardens and stunning views complemented by excellent dining. 7. Staffords Chocolates features handmade blends in nuts and flavors grown the Santa Ynez and San Joaquin Valleys. 8. The 120-acre Rodney's Vineyard is part of the Fess Parker family winery group. 9. Top quality gift items, jewelry, greeting cards, leather goods, gourmet food and vintage items are found in the Los Olivos General Store. 10. Bubble Shack is one of the Fess Parker family of wineries in Los Olivos.

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by Sunset magazine as one of the "10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the Western United States," Solvang exemplifies traditional Danish style. 12. Anton and Juliette Andersen opened the Electrical Cafe which became the first Pea Soup Andersen's restaurant. 13. The Hitching Post restaurant was featured in several scenes of the hit movie, Sideways.

14. The Victorian-style Union Hotel, Saloon and Depot date back to the 1880s when Los Alamos was a bustling stagecoach stop. 15. Antique shops, art galleries, wine tasting rooms and wide variety of restaurants in Los Alamo are housed in vintage and modern buildings. 16. Foxen Canyon is part the Wine Trail route from Santa Maria to Los Alamos. 17. A favorite stop for families is ostrichland USA in Buellton which is home to some 50 friendly ostriches and emus. 18. The Solvang Farmer's Market offers fresh produce, flowers and foods every Wednesday, rain or shine.

COURTESY OF BUELLTON VISITORS BUREAU

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Buellton: BIRTHPLACE OF PEA SOUP ANDERSON Within a six-mile radius of Buellton, population 4,500, are the four other original Santa Ynez Valley towns. In 1920, the town was established on the Buell Ranch, which dates back to 1875.

After the turn of the century, more farmers, ranchers and merchants arrived, and in 1924, Anton and Juliette Andersen opened a restaurant called the Electrical Cafe. Juliette's pea soup recipe became the foundation of Pea Soup Andersen's restaurants. In the nearby Mendenhall Museum, you'll find one of the West Coast’s largest petroliana collections of gas pumps, globes, signs, race cars, racing memorabilia, and other antique paraphernalia.

Solvang: DANISH CAPITAL OF AMERICA

COURTESY OF BUELLTON VISITORS BUREAU

Named by Sunset magazine as one of the "10 Most Beautiful Small Towns in the Western United States," Solvang was founded in 1911 by 400 Danish immigrants. Following an article in a 1947 issue of the Saturday Evening Post, visitors flocked to the town to immerse themselves in the ambience of half-timbered houses, Danish food, goods, music, and celebrations.

Today, this pedestrian-friendly village of 5,200 still exemplifies traditional Danish style. Attractions include a replica of the Little Mermaid statue from Copenhagen, a bust of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, and a model of Copenhagen's of Copenhagen's Round Tower or Rundetårn near the Old California Mission Santa Inés downtown. Visitors enjoy 30+ restaurants and bakeries, 150 retail shops, three museums, and the 700-seat Theaterfest. Held monthly, Solvang Third Wednesday offers special activities and sales in shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms, plus a bountiful Farmers Market.

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TENLEY FOHL PHOTOGRAPHY

MATT DAYKA

Los Alamos: GATEWAY TO THE NORTH At the northern gateway to the valley, Los Alamos, population 1,890, packs its wealth of old west heritage into seven blocks. Founded in 1876, the town was named after the cottonwoods that still define the area.

The Victorian-style Union Hotel and Saloon and Depot Antique Mall and Wine Pub date back to the 1880s when Los Alamos was a bustling stagecoach stop. Today, vintage and contemporary buildings house art galleries, antique shops, wine tasting rooms and a wide variety of restaurants. Los Alamos Old Days in September is a huge celebration of the town’s western heritage complete with an arts and crafts fair, car show, parade and lots of free fun for the whole family.

World Class WINERIES

TENLEY FOHL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Santa Ynez Valley has four American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) annually producing more than one million cases of wine including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier.

Most of the 120+ wineries are small operations with many family-owned and operated. In addition to dozens of tasting rooms you can discover on your own, there are numerous winery tours to suit every taste.

For further information on all the valley has to offer — including a downloadable map you can use to visit all the same places as the Sideways movie characters — go to VisitSYV.com. ❖

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Dancing with the Stars

HEADLINER

MA K S CHMERKOVSKIY REVEALS HIS

20 BEST HEALTH TIPS PHOTO BY

MICHAEL ROSENTHAL

Maksim Chmerkovskiy of Dancing with the Stars— who just completed an intensive 45-city nationwide dance tour—is passionate about taking the best possible care of his body. Here he shares 20 tips on what he eats, what he avoids, and how he stays motivated to keep making the hard choices. H

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“Try eating real foods, not chemically engineered foods made in a laboratory," he advises. You'll quickly see that this is what the body wants and needs. And you don't have to live on lettuce like a rabbit—there are so many fresh, natural, delicious foods out there that you'll never feel bored or deprived.”

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Learn which nutrients you are missing and supplement them. Almost everyone is deficient in certain vitamins (D, for example) and minerals. That's why Maks starts each morning with three supplements he believes are the foundation for good health. The list includes Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C, Lypo-Spheric Glutathione, and Lypo-Spheric R-ALA (all from LivOn Labs). He is so sold on these products, which he has taken for years, that he has introduced them to his entire family, and he recently agreed to become a brand ambassador for LivOn Labs.

"My doctor told me that most supplements aren't absorbed well by the body, but the LivOn supplements have a special delivery system that lets them reach the cells more quickly and efficiently," says Maks. "That's why I started taking them. I would never endorse any product if I didn't 100 percent believe in it. That's just not who I am.

These supplements will make a difference!

"Besides the LivOn stuff, I also take 10,000 IU a day of vitamin D," he adds. "I also take palm fruit extract in powder form, which is incredible for cardiovascular health from its multiple forms of vitamin E. The palm fruit extract also has an excellent source of vitamin A that I combine with vitamin K2. This combination of vitamin D, vitamin A, and vitamin K2 contribute to strong bone formation and fight against the progression of osteoporosis as we age. This combination also controls the formation of calcium build up and plaque formation in my vessels!"

If you watch Dancing with the Stars, you've almost certainly noticed: Maksim Chmerkovskiy (simply "Maks" to his legion of fans) is in amazing shape. You might attribute this to hours and hours on the dance floor, but that's only a small part of the equation.

Maks is not only fit, but also amazingly strong and healthy. He takes his health very seriously and that means subjecting every food, fitness, and lifestyle choice he makes to a simple litmus test: Will this help me meet my goal of living to 120...or will it detract from that goal?

"I truly believe I can make it to 120 and I want it to be an active and vibrant 120," says the 36-year-old dancer, choreographer, and television personality. "It's not just about quantity of life, but quality of life. This lifestyle is what allows me to even consider a 45-city tour at my age. Also, I want to be able to play basketball with my kids when they're teenagers and still kick their butt—I don't want to be an old dad.

If you've seen Maks in his "Maksmob" videos (Check it out at maksmob.com)—or better yet, seen him in person in one of these thrilling flash mobs popping up in cities across the United States— you'll have little trouble believing he can reach his goal.

"To do that in the future, I have to make friends with my body right now," he adds. "If I get out of its way, and help it do its thing by giving it the right nutrients, it will take care of me in return. It will reward me. It will just live. Yeah, things come to an end—but they don't have to degrade by the time you're 60."

This may sound simple. But if you've ever tried to overhaul your habits in this age of processed foods, supersized meals, and electronic distractions that lull you into a sedentary stupor, you know you're swimming against the tide. Still, Maks is doing it—and he insists the rest of us can, too.

"Once you make up your mind that great health is important to you, the choices become, if not easy, then at least doable," he promises. "You don't have to be a celebrity, you don't have to be rich, you don't have to have a chef or a personal trainer. You just have to make it a priority to give your body what it needs, and only what it needs."

Make a conscious decision to stay well. No matter how often you wash your hands during cold and flu season, you'll never be able to shield yourself from every germ. What you can do is follow a best odds regimen to strengthen your immune system so you get sick less often. In Maks' case, that means adhering to a natural "clean eating" regimen as well as supplementing with the aforementioned Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C. "I've always been a big believer in vitamin C," he adds. "I take it to kickstart my immune system. I can't tell you the last time I got sick. When I traveled with my family for New Year's Eve, everyone came home sick except for me.

"When you have a busy life, you have to stay well," he adds.

"And when you are sick, it alters you as a person. You're not yourself.

You're nasty and have a short temper. You whine like a baby. No one wants to be like that. Plus, you get behind on commitments and that leads to even more stress!"

WANT TO JOIN MAKS IN HIS QUEST TO LIVE LONG AND PROSPER? THEN CONSIDER HIS 20 "BEST ODDS" SECRETS:

Try to maintain a healthy body weight, too. Maks points to the popular A&E Network show Fit to Fat to Fit—in which trainers purposely gain a lot of weight in order to lose it again alongside their clients—as the pinnacle of self-destructive behavior.

He says most people don't realize how dangerous yo-yo dieting (even the far less extreme versions that many people do) can be.

"People just don't bounce back from rapid weight change," he says. "Your hormones get out of whack, and then you are screwed.

This is no different from smoking. You're killing yourself when you let yourself get really fat or when you lose weight too fast or in unsustainable ways—and it's unnatural to kill yourself."

Educate yourself on what to eat and why. Your body is smart and will regulate itself when you get out of the way—but that means learning how best to feed it. Do some research. Don't limit yourself to "mainstream" resources as many are driven by big food manufacturers with their own agenda. Digging deeper reveals that the typical Western diet—grain-heavy; filled with genetically modified, hormone-infused, processed foods; and deficient in many nutrients—is counter to what the body needs to operate at its best.

"You need to know why you're choosing certain foods and avoiding others," says Maks. "When you know a food causes inflammation in your body or creates insulin surges that lead to diabetes, you'll want to steer clear of it so your natural healing processes can work. When you know overcooked meats are dangerous, you'll stop overcooking. When you know what free radicals are, you'll eat antioxidant-rich foods to fight them. This is what I mean by making friends with your body."

Find a doctor who believes in prevention—and don't go only when you're sick. Maks' own doctor introduced him to so much of what he knows about nutrition and supplementation. He admits this is unusual, which is why he believes

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Pay attention to what's REALLY in your food— especially those old familiars you take for granted.

Ketchup is a good example. Most of us eat it because we always have.

We grew up on it and we love the taste. But once we know what's in it—tons of sugar, sodium, and artificial preservatives—how can we in good conscience keep eating it and feeding it to our kids?

"Eating ketchup is a habit for most of us, and habits can be hard to break," says Maks. "People in my own household keep eating it even though they know they shouldn't. They say, 'But I like ketchup!'

So I get how hard it is to give up ketchup—but it can be done."

that as a nation, our relationship with healthcare providers needs to change.

"Most people go to the doctor only when stuff hurts," notes Maks. "But we need to use our doctors to help us stay healthy, not just to try to fix what's wrong. We can show up when we are not sick, and if enough people start doing that, doctors will have no choice but to start getting more involved in prevention."

If it's man-made, don't eat it. Maks bases his diet on lean grass-fed meats and organic, GMO-free fruits and vegetables. This is not as hard as you might think, he says. Processed foods are an addiction, and when you're hooked on them, it's hard to imagine quitting. But once you do, you won't want to go back.

"Try eating real foods, not chemically engineered foods made in a laboratory," he advises. "You'll quickly see that this is what the body wants and needs. And you don't have to live on lettuce like a rabbit—there are so many fresh, natural, delicious foods out there that you'll never feel bored or deprived."

Throw out your microwave. Many people believe cooking with a microwave oven is inherently dangerous as it changes the molecular structure of your foods and zaps their nutrients. (Plus, of course, the radiation it emits is harmful.) But even beyond these issues, taking this one step can squelch the temptation to eat processed "convenience foods."

"When microwaving is not an option, you will give meal preparation the time and effort it deserves," says Maks. "You'll be more likely to prepare good, healthful, whole foods."

Cut way down on wheat, sugar, and corn. Grains are inflammatory, says Maks—wheat in particular. Bread is full of sugar, which spikes your insulin and forces the body to work hard to level it, leading to diabetes. Speaking of sugar, studies show it's more addictive than cocaine. And if you're avoiding genetically modified foods, you'd better swear off corn—the vast majority of it is GMO. "It's best if you can cut these things out altogether," says Maks.

"At least eat them as little as possible. Instead of wheat, use spelt flour. Instead of white sugar, eat raw honey. There are all kinds of great alternatives out there that taste amazing."

Believe it or not, it's fine to skip breakfast. "Three times a week I do a 16-hour fast," says Maks. "I have a normal dinner and then the next day I skip breakfast. I wake up, take my daily supplements, and have some coffee, but don't have my first meal until around 1:00 or 1:30. It makes me feel cleaner and healthier. Just don't go over 16 hours, because after that the body starts suffering."

Visualize what your food is doing in your body. Maks says this is a little trick that motivates him to make positive food choices. If a food is natural and healthful, as you eat it, picture it fueling your body, building your muscles, plumping up your cells. On the other hand, if it's junk food, visualize it tearing your body down.

"When you envision the process that goes on inside you, it's a game changer," says Maks. "What you're doing starts to seem very real. You realize there is a benefit or a cost to everything you put in your body and this will drive the right decisions."

You don't have to be a gym rat—but you do have to exercise. If you're trying to lose weight, you have probably heard that food is 90 percent of the battle. And while it's true that you don't need to live at the gym (Maks insists he doesn't), it also doesn't mean you get a pass on exercise.

"Feeding your muscles is pointless if you don't let them do anything," he says. "Find an activity you enjoy, and one that meets your needs, and make it a part of your life. Try dancing. It's fun and gets you moving!"

Saying, "It's too expensive" is usually a cop-out.

Yes, it is expensive to eat healthfully now, admits Maks. But not doing so will cost far more 20 years down the road when you're sick and fat and all your money is going to doctors. If you have to drive an old car and cancel your cable, it's worth it—there is no higher priority than taking care of your body and providing for the long-term health of your family.

"When my family moved from Ukraine, we didn't have much money," says Maks. "But we had been used to eating vegetables grown in my grandmother's garden and had an appreciation for these whole, natural foods. So once we got to America, my dad got a second job so we wouldn't have to eat at McDonald's every day. I am grateful for that because I learned early that good health is worth sacrifice."

Another cop-out? "I can't get that around here."

Maybe you're thinking, Sure, I'd love to switch to grass-fed beef, freerange chicken, and organic fruits and veggies. But grocery stores around here don't carry that stuff. First of all, that's probably not true. There is most likely a natural foods store within driving distance; even tiny towns have them now. But even if this isn't the case where you live, this is the Age of Amazon—virtually everything can be ordered online and shipped right to your door.

"I like to make pancakes out of spelt flour," says Maks. "Okay, maybe you can't get it at your supermarket, but you can order a fivepound bag from Berlin Natural Bakery and it will last you half a year. It doesn't matter where you live anymore. We all have access to healthful foods."

Sign up for a fitness event and tap into your competitive nature. Maks is a big believer in competition. He has spent his life having his performance measured and being ranked against others. In his dance training, he was required to improve every lesson, which led to continuous improvement and built discipline. That's why, if you're having trouble making yourself work out, he suggests you sign up for a race or perhaps take a class where you can hold yourself to a standard and strive to get better and better.

"We are afraid to admit that human beings are competitive by nature," he says. "It's an old-school belief but it's true. For most people it's not enough to just say, 'I want to lose 60 pounds.' There has

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could have given me. They get the credit for who I am. I want my own children to be able to say that about me someday."

to be a bigger reason and that reason is competition. It's, 'I want to be better than her,' or even just, 'I want to be better than my old self.'

It's powerful; it works, so why not use it?

"If you are signed up for a race, you'll do anything to try to get the upper hand," adds Maks. "That means you probably won't just train; you'll do the nutrition part, too. It all works together organically."

Talk to your future self. This trick helps you make the right health decisions. When Maks came to Hollywood in his mid-20s, he fell into glittering social circles that included high-profile celebrities. Friends stayed up all night smoking, binge drinking, doing drugs. While at the time it felt like he was missing out, Maks is now glad he never did these things. Now, when he is tempted to eat the wrong foods, he remembers the true price of self-destructive behaviors.

"I like to pretend I am talking to myself 20 years from now," he says. "I think, What would that conversation be like? And I know that my 55-year-old self would say, 'Thank you for taking care of me.

I'm still here. I'm still loving life. I get to golf, travel, and hang out with my beautiful wife, my kids, my family. I'm happy and healthy and that's because of the choices you made 20 years ago.'"

Ultimately, Maks takes a hard line on health because he truly believes that we have the ability to make a huge difference in the quality of our lives. And knowing that, why wouldn't we make the changes we need to make?

"Something may happen to me and I won't make it to 120," he says. "But even if I don't, the years I'm alive will be healthier and happier than if I had neglected my body. If I just get to be 60 or 70, I am not willing to spend my life in the hospital. I don't want to look back and think, Maks, you were an idiot. So I try really hard not to be an idiot now." â?&#x2013;

Just make sure you're doing the RIGHT exercises for your needs. Similar to his advice on food, Maks says it's important to know why you're doing the workout you're doing. For example, when he's getting ready for a tour, he works out more than usual, following a program designed for these specific needs.

"When I'm at the gym, I see women in full makeup and highheeled sneakers," he says. "I see guys trying to lift heavy things to look cool. But ask them what its purpose is and they don't know.

They are just hurting themselves and will find out later when they start having joint problems and muscle issues."

Maks on alcohol: "Have a drink here and there.

Pinot noir is perfect." Maks enjoys this red wine due in part to its cardiovascular benefits. He also doesn't object to an occasional shot of good tequila. It fits in with his "everything in moderation" view of life. If you enjoy alcohol (and don't have an addiction, obviously!), he sees nothing wrong with drinking it.

"You should enjoy yourself but certainly don't let yourself get to the point where you can't function," he says. "You rarely see a professional drunk become a billionaire! So be aware of why you like to drink. If you feel the need to alter your mood and reality all the time, some bigger problems might be going on."

Get enough sleep for your needsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but don't sweat the "eight hours" thing. Sleep is important, sure. But instead of following the standard "everyone needs eight hours a night" advice, Maks is more likely to listen to his body. He rests when he is tired and sleeps until he feels refreshed.

"I'm a night owl and probably not a perfect example of great sleep habits," he admits. "I focus more on nutrition as the main building block for good health. If I make that a priority, then everything else is fixable. If I miss a few hours of sleep, I can always go to bed earlier the next night, but if I start eating crap, it takes half a year to get back."

Preach the gospel to your friends and family.

Never ever let up! Maks is passionate about good health and the problems with the food industry and believes it's his duty to influence his friends and familyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and, yes, his fans. It's more than a hobby or an interest; it's a cause. Talking about health has become a big part of his personal brand, which in turn keeps him accountable to living by his own rules.

"Some people can talk about politics all day," he adds. "To me, this is the most important thing. I want the people I care about to know how to live the right way. And I want everyone to know we have to start supporting the small farmer, not the person who presses a button on an assembly line. I'm not going to stop talking about it. And since I'm talking about it, I'm going to keep walking the walk."

"I value good health and I am extremely disciplined about nutrition and fitness only because of the parents I had," he adds.

"They instilled those values in me, and it was the greatest gift they

Maksim "Maks" Chmerkovskiy

is a Ukrainian-American Latin and ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. He is widely known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing with the Stars. He is also the founder of Dance with Me, one of the nation's leading Latin and ballroom dance studios, which has locations throughout the country.

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THE LIVING DESERT

FA M I LY F U N

Wh e r e t o F i n d Wi l d l i f e :

PETTI

ZOOS BY

ROBYN FLANS

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NG

Everyone loves animals and all over Southern California there are opportunities to see a variety at diverse locations. Check out a few of our favorites. H

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SANTA BARBARA ZOO (2)

SANTA BARBARA At the SANTA BARBARA ZOO you can enjoy the regular experience seeing the animals, feeding the giraffes and sheep or you can spend a little more to get a closer look with a behind the scenes tour or a family safari. 500 Ninos Dr., Santa Barbara, www.sbzoo.org

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At the MOORPARK ZOO, America’s teaching zoo, you are able to get fairly close to the animals’ cages. It is a smaller zoo and only open on the weekends, but it offers an intimate experience. On February 4 the zoo will celebrate Ira the lion’s 3rd birthday and guests can watch as he claws open his large presents and eats his special birthday treat.

7075 Campus Rd., Moorpark,

TAD MOTOYAMA

LOS ANGELES

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www.zoo.moorparkcollege.edu/ visitor-information

The public can visit THE WILDLIFE LEARNING CENTER where all varieties of displaced and rescued animals are given sanctuary. They even have birthday parties with a guided safari.

16027 Yarnell St., Sylmar, www.wildlifelearningcenter.org

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The LOS ANGELES ZOO boasts of having more than 1,000 animals with more than 250 species on 133 acres.

Some of the most unique animals include a Sumatran Tiger, Visayan Warty Pigs, Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby and Cape Griffon Vulture.

The zoo often has special events.

5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles, www.lazoo.org

The STAR ECO STATION Environmental Science Museum & Exotic Wildlife Rescue Facility is a haven for endangered and illegally trafficked exotic animals.

This venue touts lessons in ecology and environmentalism through hands-on encounters with exotic birds, reptiles, mammals and ocean life.

10101 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, www.ecostation.org

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PBS SOCAL KIDS WEEKEND Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens Saturday and Sunday, February 18 and 19, 2017 10 to 4 pm

STAR Education PRESENTS The 6th Annual Winter Rock Fest Sunday, January 22, 2017 STAR Eco Station PRESENTS The 17th Annual African American Art Festival Saturday, February 11, 2017

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FA M I LY F U N

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See the penguins above and below the water at the AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC. Sea otters and whales are favorites as well. The 10,000 square-foot shark lagoon is the biggest attraction with more than 150 sharks and interactive displays.

100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach,

At THE MONTEBELLO BARNYARD ZOO, children will

www.montebellobarnyardzoo.com

www.lasafaris.com

enjoy pony rides, a petting zoo full of sheep, goats, ducks, chickens and rabbits and lots of other activities.

600 Rea Dr., Montebello,

ORANGE COUNTY 1

The OC ZOO exhibits animals in their natural habitats including black bears, mountain lions, coyotes and more. There is also a petting zoo with such animals as domestic goats, pot-bellied pigs, sheep and chickens.

1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange,

FACEBOOK.COM/ZOOMARSPETTINGZOO

www.ocparks.com/zoo

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At ZOOMARS PETTING ZOO thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 1,000-pound cow, ponies, llamas, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, alpaca, emu, rabbits, guinea pigs and horses with which to interact as well as other fun activities for the family.

31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, www.zoomars.com

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A smaller zoo, THE SANTA ANA ZOO features 80 species of animals and is known for having 50 monkeys on the premises at all times. Kids can pet some of the animals and learn about life on a farm. They will be celebrating their 65th birthday March 4-5.

1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, www.santaanazoo.org

On the weekends, MALIBU WINE SAFARI opens its safari to those guests

who are under 21-years-old. Held at the 1,000 acre Saddlerock Ranch and vineyard, it is home to about 20 exotic animals including camels, zebras, alpacas, bison, a giraffe named Stanley, as well as many horses. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get to feed and pet the animals and enjoy a beautiful backdrop, while riding in a custom open-air safari vehicle.

32111 Mulholland Hwy., Malibu,

www.aquariumofpacific.org

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PALM SPRINGS Since 1970 THE LIVING DESERT has been engaged in preserving, conserving and interpreting the desert and its plant and animal life.

Guests can see 600 animals from 145 species, including endangered species, on 1,200 acres. A special event starting at 7:30 a.m. on February 25, the 3rd annual Living Desert Cheetah Run, allows participants to run through the venue alongside zebras, camels and cheetahs and then enjoy a day at the zoo.

47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, www.livingdesert.org

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You can feed the giraffes and hear the animal keeper’s tales at THE SAN DIEGO ZOO or pet a sheep’s coat or comb a pygmy goat’s hair in the Petting Paddock. With more than 3,700 animals of more than 650 species, the San Diego Zoo, with an aerial tram ride called the Skyfari, is one of only four zoos in the United States which have giant pandas on display.

2920 Zoo Dr., Balboa Park,

SAN DIEGO ZOO / SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK

SAN DIEGO

www.sandiegozoo.org

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The SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK (formerly known as San Diego Wild Animal Park) has an emphasis on conservation and making a difference in the lives of endangered animals. Some of the featured exhibits are the African Plains with elephants, rhinos and giraffes, the African Outpost is home to cheetahs, flamingos and warthogs and the Asian Savanna where you can see Przwalski’s horses, deer and one-horned rhinos.

15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, www.sdzsafaripark.org ❖

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We deliver fresh, perfectly portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes designed by our team of chefs so you can cook a special dinner in 30 minutes or less.

Skip the grocery store. Forget meal planning. Let Home Chef simplify your life.

Make Dinner Special Take $30 off your first order with promo code AMAZING homechef.com

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Get the bimonthly print edition of Southern California Life magazine to discover the hidden treasures of Southern California. From entertainment and recreation options, events, points of interest and profile features, Southern California Life magazine serves as a guide for residents and visitors to live, travel, and discover the Southern region of the Golden State.Â

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P E R F E C T P I C KS

Resort Pool

PICKS

One of the most relaxing activities here in Southern California is to lounge by the pool and soak up some rays.

Thanks to our amazing Southland climate, we’re able to enjoy this activity year-round. No pool in the backyard? No problem – we’re blessed to

BY

LE MÉRIDIEN DELFINA SANTA MONICA

have a variety of lavish resort swimming pools in which we can swim to our hearts’ content. Here are a few of our faves.

JESSICA SOPORITO

Viceroy L’ERMITAGE The beautiful rooftop pool here offers sweeping views of Beverly Hills and of Los Angeles skyline. The poolside cabana rentals are ideal for a private celebration or hang-out with friends and family. Hotel rate specials run nearly year-round so be sure to check the website: www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina

HERE ARE A FEW MORE TERRIFIC OPTIONS FOR BEAUTIFUL HOTEL POOL EXPERIENCES: Viceroy Santa Monica (Santa Monica), Hyatt Regency Newport Beach (Newport Beach), The Saguaro (Palm Springs), Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina (San Diego), Andaz (West Hollywood)

The Saguaro Andaz

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FOUR SEASONS SANTA BARBARA

P E R F E C T P I C KS

Four SEASONS

Le Meridien DELFINA Le Meridien, in the heart of beautiful Santa Monica, offers many discounts and strives to ensure that your respite doesn’t empty your wallet. You won’t experience the complete beach view at pool level but it more than makes up for it with its level of privacy and finesse. Whether you’re renting a cabana or sunbathing in a lounge chair, Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica will cater to your every need at one of the most gorgeous pools in SoCal. Log on to www.lemeridiendelfina.com to reserve a room.

LE MÉRIDIEN DELFINA SANTA MONICA

Since Santa Barbara is one of the trendiest, most luxurious cities in SoCal, it is no surprise that it harbors one of the best hotel pools. You can relax poolside with a vast view of the Pacific. Amenities include an Olympic sized pool, sunscreen and aloe, spa treatments and even sunglass cleaning. Those at the Four Seasons want to make sure you don’t need to lift a finger and will keep you coming back for more. For more information, go to www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara.

The Standard HOTEL

THE STANDARD HOTEL

The Standard Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles is as famous for its architectural beauty and interesting history, as its uncompromising rooftop pool. At night, watch the building around you light up while taking a dip in the heated pool. Other features on the roof include a dance floor, a red AstroTurf deck, waterbed pods, an outdoor fireplace and even a German Biergarten garden. There is something for everyone here and the Standard is sure to surpass your expectations. Go to www.standardhotels.com/la/properties/downtown-la if you really need more of a reason to book your stay. ❖

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JANUARY/ FEBRUARY

PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL January 28

BY JANINE GO L DB ER G

santaanita.com

t Get your ticket today for the inaugural running of The Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. Twelve horses all vying for a record-setting $7 million, this industryleading Thoroughbred invitational will seek out the best of the best.The first-ever event of its kind, this is the richest Thoroughbred Race in the world.

dineL.A. RESTAURANT WEEK January 13-27 discoverlosangeles.com

t dineL.A. Restaurant Week showcases Los Angeles as a premier dining destination while highlighting the diversity of culinary experiences the city has to offer. Enjoy special lunch and dinner menus at more than 300 restaurants. There are no tickets or passes required for dineL.A. Restaurant Week. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

INDIE BEAUTY EXPO IN LOS ANGELES January 18

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/HAKKASANBH

indiebeautyexpo.com

PASADENA BEAD AND DESIGN SHOW January 12-15 beadanddesign.com t Shop and buy direct from artisans and tradespeople at excellent prices. Beads, art clothing, jewelry, gemstones, textiles, findings, embellishments; the largest selection of handcrafted beads, art

jewelry and gems, are offered for the first time and by the artisans themselves. There are an array of designer accessories such as felted hats, artwear, hand-dyed silks, hand tooled leather, and eco-dyed & upcycled clothing.

10TH ANNUAL DESERT WOMAN’S SHOW January 15

on women's and family issues with dynamic guest speakers while focusing on wellness, spring fashions and accessories, home décor, and Chef samplings. This event will feature more than 60 exhibits of local products and services, casual fashion shows, interesting seminars on today’s hottest topics, yoga classes and a Taste of the Valley offering tasty sampling from the valley's most popular restaurants.

desertwomansshow.com

t Come and discover the newest, freshest and most innovative beauty brands on the planet. You will find cool, under-the-radar brands in cosmetics, skincare, haircare, nailcare, beauty devices and more. There are also expert presentations, "how to" workshops and panel discussions on a range of topics in beauty, lifestyle and wellness.

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FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN IN LA JOLLA January 26-29 farmersinsuranceopen.com

The annual PGA Tour men’s golf tournament is played at the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course and is known as the "West Coast Swing." The course is home of the 2008 U.S. Open and the future 2021 U.S. Open.

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6TH ANNUAL WINTER WINE CLASSIC IN SANTA BARBARA January 21 santabarbaraca.com t One of the largest gatherings of California’s ultra-elite winemaking masters will gather in Santa Barbara to pour their ultra-premium wines. Nearly 100 wines will be available to taste along with a wide variety of gourmet morsels.

SOUTHWEST ARTS FESTIVAL IN INDIO January 26-29 discoverindio.com t Now in its 31st year, the Festival continues to evolve and attract a high caliber of

The Desert Woman's Show will shine the spotlight t

talented artists and unique artwork. This year’s festival will feature interactive art displays and live music, with pottery, glass blowing and fine art painting scheduled to be on display. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of food and beverage options while casually walking the grounds.

LOS ANGELES CLASSIC CAR SHOW January 27-29 theclassicautoshow.com

The Classic Auto Show promises to be the ultimate

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ble savings. Participants can pick up a Macy’s Museum Month Pass at any area Macy’s store to enjoy half-off admission to all of the participating San Diego Museum Council member museums through the entire month of February. This program applauds San Diego’s rich arts and culture destinations while highlighting the amazing contributions of the local museum community. The roster of museums spans the likes of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, USS Midway Museum, The New Children’s Museum, Museum of Making Music and more.

GASLAMP QUARTER MARDI GRAS PARADE & CELEBRATION February 6 gaslamp.org

San Diego’s nationally recognized Gaslamp Quarter Mardi Gras Parade & Celebration is bringing glitz, glam, floats, beads, and vivacious energy for an epic party. The event features live music, bright lights, and excitement. Celebrate with more than 40,000 revelers at one of the biggest music and parade festivals the West Coast has ever seen. t

car experience featuring an expansive showcase of wallto-wall classic cars and automotive merchandise including vintage parts, tools and accessories, memorabilia and other nostalgia. Attendees will be able to get up close and personal with their favorite celebrities, browse the expansive auto swap and access cars rarely showcased.

One of the highlights of the show will be the live stage which will include demonstrations, competitions and interviews, allowing attendees the opportunity to meet and hear their favorite classic car celebrities.

VENTURA FLEA MARKET January 29 rcgshows.com t The Ventura Flea Market is held near the ocean and is a great place to shop and features antiques, new and used items and good food. More than 500 vendors come out

with their wares. The event features antiques, used and new merchandise sold by over 500 vendors, more than 5,000 buyers visit the market each time it is held. The Ventura Flea Market is held near the ocean in Ventura and is a great place to shop.

OCEANSIDE’S VALENTINE’S WEEK February 2-14 oceansidevalentinesweek.org t Businesses and attractions throughout Oceanside will celebrate love of all kinds with fun events and specials for the entire family. The celebration will also include a gigantic 25-foot heart-shaped balloon that will be making appearances over the 12 days at different locations and community events.

LOS ANGELES A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL February 3-5 la-af.com

MACY’S MUSEUM MONTH IN SAN DIEGO Februay 1 – 28 sandiegomuseumcouncil.org t Macy’s Museum Month gives visitors and locals in San Diego a chance to discover what’s new at more than 40 area museums with incredi-

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t The Los Angeles A Cappella Festival is a weekend-long vocal festival that aims to bring the best a cappella performers, educators and enthusiasts together in an academic forum to celebrate, appreciate and advance vocal music as an art form. A weekend full of insightful lectures, workshops and master classes — covering topics such as arranging, recording, vocal percussion and more — closes with an evening concert featuring the year’s festival headliners.

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SAN DIEGO PET EXPO February 18-19 petexposandiego.com

Animal lovers won’t want to miss this Expo which includes exhibitors, give-a-ways, discounted vaccinations and micro-chipping, free nail trims, entertainment, obedience demonstrations, the latest in pet products, a costume contest and much more. Admission is free.

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SCOTS FESTIVAL & INTERNATIONAL HIGHLAND GAMES IN LONG BEACH February 18-19 queenmary.com t Experience the rich culture and history of Scotland first hand through an array of authentic activities, athletics, dancing, entertainment and cuisine in ode to the Queen Mary’s Scottish legacy. Held at the Queen Mary, the ship’s heritage is celebrated through the two-day ScotsFestival honoring Scottish culture. Whisky tasting sessions with aged malt experts and craft beer samplings are available for adult festivalgoers while the wee laddies & lassies can bear witness to Queen Mary’s coronation, knighting ceremonies and even take part in the Wee Highland games.

Quartet and other artists.

The Festival is committed to offering free outreach events for students, seniors and the community-at-large.

71ST ANNUAL RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR & NATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL February 17-26 datefest.org

Johannes Moser

LAGUNA BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL February 8-12 HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS COMING TO ONTARIO February 11 harlemglobetrotters.com t The world famous Harlem Globetrotters will bring their spectacular show to Ontario. New this season, the Globetrotters will debut basketball’s first 4-point line. The 4-point line will be located 30 feet from the basket – 6 feet, 3 inches beyond the top of the NBA’s current 3-point line.

Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction. After the game, Globetrotter stars will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

lagunabeachmusicfestival.com t The Laguna Beach Music Festival is an annual multiday celebration featuring outstanding classical and contemporary concerts in intimate spaces, community outreach programs and dynamic special events. The 15th annual Festival will feature acclaimed cellist Johannes Moser as Festival Artistic Director, in collaboration with the Calder

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t This year’s Fair will feature several extra value days giving fairgoers even more bang for their buck. Visit the website for details. Festivalgoers will enjoy Camel and Ostrich races, Humpz & Hornz Bullriding, Monster Trucks, Demolition Derby, Hypnotist Show, Marvelous Mutts Show, Nightly Musical Pageant, Jest in Time Circus, Cooking with Dates Shows and much more.

GOLDEN DRAGON PARADE & FESTIVAL February 13 lachinesechamber.org t The annual Golden Dragon Parade & Festival enjoys more than 110,000 celebrators each year. This colorful celebration has

become the premiere cultural event in the Southern California Asian-American Community. It includes almost two dozen floats, multiple marching bands, government officials, various dignitaries, entertainers, local business leaders and cultural groups. The parade's theme emphasizes ethnic diversity and Chinese Culture. The parade is a rich and diverse experience for all ages and ethnicities.

DESERT ARTS FESTIVAL February 18-20 visitpalmsprings.com

Talented artists will present their unique work in acrylic, collage, etchings, mixed media, oils, pencil, watercolors, digital and traditional photography.

Among the objects of art you may find one-of-a-kind works of sculpture in a variety of media such as bronze, clay, blown glass, paper, metal, stone and wood.

Gifted artisans present their original custom designed and fabricated jewelry, art furniture, stained glass, and weavings. Admission and parking are free. ❖

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SOOO CAL

THEY’RE

Cars!

BY

SCOTT HARRIS

In the past couple of months, I’ve taken two RV road trips, totaling 33 states and well over 10,000 miles. In addition to family, friends and amazingly beautiful sites throughout the country, I also saw thousands of cars — and so, thousands of drivers. What I noticed, through time and miles, is that with the exception of the occasional cellphone user, the only thing I saw the drivers doing was, well, driving.

I was heading south on the 101 as I watched a man tie his tie while driving (it didn’t appear to go well with his shirt). On the same day, I saw another man actually shaving – with shaving cream! Maybe they were both late for the same meeting?

Music has helped an infinite number of drivers pass the time and reduce stress over an infinite number of miles. But for some, the car releases the inner dancer or air guitar player to a dangerous level. I imagine it serves the same purpose as the shower, giving anonymity to our inner artist, but there should be limits and, if you’re dancing reaches James Brown levels, maybe turn the music down a little. Speaking of driving distractions, if you’re music is so loud I can hear you, or feel you (for the true bass enthusiasts) from a block away, maybe it’s a bit much.

Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone have their hands at 10:00 and 2:00 (I heard that is no longer recommended?), their music on low and no conversations with passengers. Driving in SoCal can be mind-numbing and sometimes a small distraction can actually enhance our enjoyment AND alertness. This, perhaps, is perfectly captured by Randy Newman…

I realized that this is quite the contrast with Southern California drivers. I don’t know if it’s because we’re such a car culture, because we spend so much time in our cars, or because we spend so much time in our cars doing less than 10 MPH, but when it comes to driving, we Southern Californians are multitaskers.

The worst offenders of course are the hand-held cellphone users. They endanger themselves, which is bad enough, but they also endanger all of us, which is even worse. It seems that they can’t be educated, legislated or shamed into not doing it, so we’ll continue to play cellphone roulette as we roll down the highways with these clowns.

But, by no stretch are our driver seat activities limited to driving and chatting. I watched recently as a woman read the paper while driving, periodically bending the top of the paper down to check on the stop-and-go traffic on the 405 Freeway. I watched another woman use a Q-tip (okay, cotton swab) for the express purpose we have been told not to use them for. I have to believe that while it’s not mentioned on the package, the danger of puncturing an eardrum increases dramatically on a bumpy highway while traveling at 65 MPH.

“Roll down the window, put down the top.

Crank up the Beach Boys, baby.”

But, I think we can all agree that Q-tips and shaving are best left for the privacy and relative safety of our bathrooms. ❖

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MY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Malibu Road Beach, Malibu TIM HORTON

Based in Malibu, Tim Horton has been smitten with the photographer’s curse; seeing the world through a lens. He can no longer walk

down the street without noticing a colorful rusty hinge, a weathered window fame, or the way the sun shines through a leaf … or the shadow that same leaf casts on the wall. But his first photography loves are the seascapes and sunsets of Malibu, as well as the surprising abundant nature in the Malibu Lagoon.

Instagram: @timhortonphotomalibu Website: www.timhortonphoto.com Email: timhortonphoto@yahoo.com

While people around the world may only associate Southern California with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood or the laid back attitude of sunny San Diego, SoCal has so much more to offer. Just outside of its celebrated urban centers, it is a rugged place, a place of extremes, with hot red rock deserts, cold-water pacific islands with wild kelp beds, and snow capped mountain peaks.

At least, that’s how I see Southern California. How do you see it? We want to know! We at Southern California Life magazine are devoted to showing you all that it has to offer. We’ll close each issue showcasing the beauty of our region, with its landscapes, and landmarks. And we want you, our readers, to participate. For a chance to be published on our “My Southern California” photo page, follow us on Instagram (@socallifemag) and use these hashtags in your favorite photos of the landscapes, landmarks, and lifestyles that you think define our home:

#ThisIsMySoCal #SocalLifeMagContest WWW.SO CA L LI F E MAG.COM

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HERE, EVERY PLACE WILL BECOME

Y O U R N E W FAV O R I T E P L A C E .

LANA‘I BY FOUR SEASONS On an island of contrasts, you’ll find a world beyond compare.

Contact your Smart Flyer Travel Advisor to book your stay at Four Seasons Resort Lana‘i: Newport@Smartflyer.com