Arroyo Monthly October 2010 by Southland Publishing

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OCTOBER 2010

FALL ARTS AR BUKOWSKI AT THE HUNTINGTON STATE OF THE ART — PASADENA THEATER PAST, PRESENT AND OFF THE GRID

HALLOWEEN CUISINE HOW TO EAT LIKE A ZOMBIE

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ARROYO VOLUME 6 ~ NUMBER 10

M O N T H LY

37 FALL ARTS STATE OF THE ART — PASADENA THEATER 8 BREAKING NEW GROUND A Noise Within’s new Pasadena theater is prepped for its fall 2011 debut. –By David Gadd

12 THEATER FOR ROCKET SCIENTISTS Left brains meet right for fun (but not necessarily profit) in Brian Brophy’s Theater Arts at Caltech program. –By Brenda Rees

ILLUSTRATION AND COVER: Courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

15 FUTURE SHOCK Pasadena’s Theatre @ Boston Court is a laboratory for new works, where no rules are the rule. –By Lynne Heffley

LITERATURE 37 TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS This month, the papers of the late Charles Bukowski, L.A.’s most famous poet, go on view for the first time, at The Huntington Library. –By Kirk Silsbee

DEPARTMENTS 7 FESTIVITIES Hillsides celebrates its new support group at a “Farm to Table” event.

43 DINING Melting Pot Food Tours introduces its guests to tasty nooks and crannies of Old Pasadena.

45 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS The fundamentals of Zombie Cuisine 47 THE LIST The Pacific Asia Museum’s “Night at the Taj,” ASID’s Home & Kitchen Tour, Pasadena ArtWeekend and more ABOUT THE COVER: Silk-screen print of illustration by Charles Bukowski, Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until the Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit.

ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 5

EDITOR’S NOTE

MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THE HOUSING slump, high unemployment and other economic woes bedeviling the national conversation. Less so about the state of the arts, which have surely taken a beating as well. So it is with awe that we bring you this issue dedicated to the fall arts season and the blossoming of theater in Pasadena. Certainly, theater here has paid a price for the economic turbulence of recent years, most notably the esteemed Pasadena Playhouse, which filed for bankruptcy in May. The playhouse emerged two months later with a courtapproved reorganization plan, and it returns this month with Ed Asner’s acclaimed oneman show, FDR, which runs from Oct. 12 through Nov. 7. A week later, Leslie Uggams returns to the playhouse in her musical memoir, Leslie Uggams Uptown Downtown, after a recent run at New York’s Lincoln Center. The playhouse’s 90 years in Pasadena surely earns it the mantle of the bellwether for theater here. And this decade’s additions to the scene are turning the city into a theatergoer’s destination. The Theater @ Boston Court, which Lynne Heffley profiles in this issue, has helped forge the art form’s future with its critically acclaimed avantgarde productions. Also coming to town is another critics’ darling, Glendale’s classical repertory company, A Noise Within, which is moving to Pasadena next year. David Gadd looks at its new theater under construction in East Pasadena, which will house top-tier productions of the past when it opens next fall. Theater even lurks in unexpected corners of this high-tech mecca. As Brenda Rees explains, Brian Brophy puts burgeoning rocket scientists through the production paces as the director of Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT). Of course, anyone who accuses Pasadena of being predictable does so at his own peril. As Kirk Silsbee notes, where else would you expect to find the first exhibition of the archive of Charles Bukowski, the Poet of Skid Row, than at the stately Huntington Library, where it opens this month? — Irene Lacher

ARROYO MONTHLY Altadena, Arcadia, Eagle Rock, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Sierra Madre, Pasadena, San Marino and South Pasadena

EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher PRODUCTION MANAGER Yvonne Guerrero ART DIRECTOR Joel Vendette JUNIOR DESIGNER Eisen Nepomuceno WEB DESIGNER Carla Marroquin COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Michael Burr, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, André Coleman, Mandalit del Barco, Patt Diroll, Gary Dretzka, Jenn Garbee, Lynne Heffley, Noela Hueso, Katie Klapper, Ilsa Setziol, Kirk Silsbee, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller, Bradley Tuck PHOTOGRAPHERS Johnny Buzzerio, Teri Lyn Fisher, Gabriel Goldberg, C.M. Hardt, Melissa Valladares ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Fred Bankston, Carolyn Johansen, Leslie Lamm, Alison Standish, Cynthia Vazquez ADVERTISING DESIGNER Carla Marroquin VP OF FINANCE Michael Nagami HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker

CONTACT US ADVERTISING dinas@pasadenaweekly.com EDITORIAL arroyoeditor@pasadenaweekly.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, Pasadena, CA 91105

BUSINESS MANAGER Angela Wang ACCOUNTING Alysia Chavez, Monica MacCree

ArroyoMonthly.com

OFFICE ASSISTANT Claudia Solano PUBLISHER Jon Guynn

6 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

FESTIVITIES

1 13

With an eye toward the future, Hillsides launched a new support group for volunteers under 50 at its “Farm to Table” event at the Flintridge Riding Club on July 11. H100 — dubbed “a new generation of support” for Pasadena’s nonprofit group home for children in foster care or suffering abuse or mental illness — is charged with generating awareness of Hillsides’ mission during the coming century. H100’s founding members dined on Patina Restaurant Group’s organic dishes of PHOTOS: Courtesy of Nicola Wilkins-Miller/Hillsides and Bridgette Lacerte-Veras

heirloom vegetables, grass-fed meat and poultry from a local farm. Vegetable appetizers sourced from several Southern California farms -– Coleman, Rutiz and Jaime — were followed by grilled flat-iron steak with ginger, a plum crostata dessert and California wines from Salmon Creek, Mirassou and Maddalena. Patina Group’s chef, Joachim Splichal of San Marino, made an appearance, and a bluegrass band provided the entertainment. “We were so excited to see the next generation of support for Hillsides at the H100 event,” said H100 board member April Danz. “We think the theme of the farm-to-table event of connecting ourselves to the food that we are eating and recognizing the rewards of local and organic farming is a great metaphor for what Hillsides and their support groups stand for.” 1. Joe Costa, Nancy Garni and Donna and Henri Ford 2. Clint and Christine Robison 3. Lauralyn Deringer, Shawn Evans and Roberto Veras 4. Page Malloy and Karen Huang 5. Scott Steuber and Joachim Splichal ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 7

STATE OF THE ART – PASADENA THEATER

BREAKING NEW GROUND

A NOISE WITHIN’S NEW PASADENA THEATER IS PREPPED FOR ITS FALL 2011 DEBUT BY DAVID GADD

AS THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED THEATER COMPANY A NOISE WITHIN LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR ITS MOVE TO PASADENA, LADY LUCK HAS TAKEN CENTER STAGE IN THE ONGOING DRAMA OF THE TROUPE’S RELOCATION FROM A FORMER MASONIC TEMPLE IN GLENDALE. GEOFF ELLIOTT AND JULIA RODRIGUEZ-ELLIOTT, COFOUNDERS AND CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS, HAVE IMPROVISED THEIR WAY THROUGH SCENE AFTER SCENE OF HAPPY COINCIDENCE TO DESIGN AND BUILD A FITTING NEW HOME FOR THE CLASSICAL REPERTORY COMPANY.

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6 8 PHOTOS: Jamie Phan; RENDERINGS: John Berry Architects

Indeed, happenstance played a part in A Noise Within’s selection of Pasadena as its promised land in the first place. “When we decided to start looking for space outside of Glendale, our fundraising consultant at the time, Noel Hanson, got in touch with the 7 mayor of Pasadena [Bill Bogaard] to see what the possibilities might be,” Elliott says. “We came to find out that the mayor had been coming to our theater for years and was a huge fan.” Bogaard began to marshal forces to aid A Noise Within in its move to the Rose City. As for the Elliotts, they first looked at an abandoned vaudeville theater on the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue. Hanson phoned his friend David Worrell, a principal in the real

9 THE MANY FACES OF A NOISE WITHIN 1. Stuart Pharmaceutical Building exterior 2. The original pool/recreation area for the apartments located in the Stuart Pharmaceutical Building that will feature A Noise Within’s new home. 3. A Noise Within resident actors rehearse for the groundbreaking. 4. Co-founders and co-artistic directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott 5. Interior rendering 6. Exterior rendering 7. Stuart (detail) Building exterior 8. (From left) A Noise Within resident artists Molly Leland, Mitchell Edmonds, Alan Blumenfeld, Endre Balogh (playing violin), Stephen Rockwell, Jill Hill and Freddie Douglas 9. Stuart Pharmaceutical Building

ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 9

STATE OF THE ART – PASADENA THEATER

BREAKING NEW GROUND

A NOISE WITHIN’S NEW PASADENA THEATER IS PREPPED FOR ITS FALL 2011 DEBUT BY DAVID GADD

—CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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6 8 PHOTOS: Jamie Phan; RENDERINGS: John Berry Architects

ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 9

STATE OF THE ART – PASADENA THEATER

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estate development firm SMV Technology Partners, and asked him to evaluate the structure. Worrell’s report was discouraging, as Elliott recalls. “He told Noel, ‘That’s going to be a lot of work.’” But Worrell phoned back the next day with an alternative: the Stuart Pharmaceutical Building owned by his firm. The former industrial campus at 3360 E. Foothill Blvd. in East Pasadena was designed by modernist architect Edward Durell Stone, completed in 1956 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Innovative for its time as a mixed worklive-play environment, a portion of it had already been incorporated into an upscale apartment complex, The Stuart at Sierra Madre Villa. Worrell and his partner, Jeff Allen, agreed to donate a 33,000square-foot space for A Noise Within’s new stage in exchange for the city’s support for SMV’s plans to convert the rest of the site into apartments. As it happened, Stone himself had extensive experience in designing theaters during his long career, having been the lead architect for both Radio City Music Hall in New York City (1932) and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (1971). For the adaptive reuse project, Los Angeles–based John Berry Architects was chosen to draw up the plans, with extensive input from A Noise Within’s codirectors and their cohorts. The theater is a departure for Berry, who designed buildings ranging from children’s museums to hospitals for major architecture firms like global giant Perkins+Will and Southern California trendsetters Koning Eizenberg Architects before opening his Los Angeles practice in 2005. “John understood our needs and our vision for combining theater and office space in this incredible adaptive reuse project in a way that allows us to broaden our artistic mission,” says Elliott. That involved limiting the theater’s size, even though it would have been possible to fit more seats in the ample space. “Ultimately, when we looked at what we do, we didn’t want to go beyond 300 seats,” he says. “The sense of intimacy would have been lost.” Eventually rising three-and-a-half stories — one story above the existing building and with a fly loft above the stage — the theater, in the building’s western flank, will be entered through Stone’s original modular concrete mesh

screen, just off the modernist gardens originally laid out by Thomas Church, a San Francisco–based landscape architect who designed more than 2,000 projects from 1922 to 1977. The state-of-the-art theater will feature a thrust stage surrounded by seating tiered for optimal views, heightening the opportunities for audience involvement with the dramas and comedies that make up the troupe’s ever-expanding repertoire. The structure will also house extensive backstage facilities, classrooms for educational programs, a library and office space. Construction has been moving briskly since the July 20 groundbreaking, with massive Caterpillars removing soil for the new concrete foundation. Construction architect Mark Giles of DLR Group KKE’s Pasadena office, who took over in early August, is working with Santa Fe Springs–based Matt Construction, responsible for such major projects as L.A.’s Skirball Cultural Center and the renovation of the Hollywood Bowl. The construction company’s involvement is INSIDE OUT another bit of kismet. “Al Matt, one of the princiA Noise Within theater cutaway pals, attends A Noise Within,” says RodriguezElliott. “When he heard about our move, he said, ‘Why aren’t we doing this project?’ That got the ball rolling.” Aluminum and glass for the new theater’s outer walls are being custom produced to match Stone’s original design for the existing facade. Sherman Oaks preservation architect Robert J. Chattel is serving as a consultant to make sure the new construction meets all requirements for historically protected buildings. Another stroke of good fortune? The group’s ongoing fundraising efforts have already raised $10.1 million of the $13.3 million goal, despite the grim economy. And the planned extension of the Metro Gold Line to several communities further to the east will broaden A Noise Within’s potential audience, Elliott notes. The company, which has performed classics by Molière, Ibsen, O’Neill, Shaw and Miller, is scheduled to move into the new theater just in time for its milestone 20th season in the fall of 2011. Which play will the company choose to inaugurate its new stage? The decision has yet to be finalized, but one thing is certain, says Elliott: “It’ll be a Shakespeare.” AM

FALL 2010

SPRING 2011

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare September 25 – December 5

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare March 5 – May 14

Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward October 9 – December 17

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale by Tennessee Williams March 19 – May 28

Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, adapted by Neil Bartlett October 30 – December 19

The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco April 9 – May 21

Noises Off by Michael Frayn January 21 – 30, 2011

A Noise Within: A Retrospective June 3 – 5 A Noise Within is located at 243 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Call (818) 240-0910 or visit anoisewithin.org.

10 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

RENDERING: John Berry Architects

A NOISE WITHIN’S 2010-11 SEASON

STATE OF THE ART – PASADENA THEATER

THEATER FOR ROCKET SCIENTISTS LEFT BRAINS MEET RIGHT FOR FUN (BUT NOT NECESSARILY PROFIT) IN BRIAN BROPHY’S THEATER ARTS AT CALTECH PROGRAM. BY BRENDA REES | PHOTOS BY JON WEINER / CALTECH

12 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

IN A WORLD WHERE ISSUES OF QUANTUM PHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ARE WATER COOLER TOPICS, BRIAN BROPHY IS GENTLY SHAKING UP THE STATUS QUO WITH A 2

LITTLE BERTOLT BRECHT, A TOUCH OF GREEK DRAMA AND A SLICE OF MUSICAL THEATER THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

PHOTOS: Jamie Phan; RENDERINGS: John Berry Architects

As director of Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT), Brophy is charged with offering a keen balance of arts to the mighty academic institution’s student body, undergrads and graduates who probably feel more comfortable pondering complex chemical reactions, engineering and the far reaches of outer space than ways to effectively deliver a soliloquy under bright stage lights to a full house. “We have arguably some of the smartest — and most stressed out — students in the world here,” says Brophy, 51, who has been at the helm of TACIT since 2008. Like Caltech’s other creative offerings of music and art, theater, says Brophy, provides students with opportunities to “get out of their own heads for a few hours, flex their artistic muscles and create a social network with people they might not normally meet on campus or in classrooms.” Indeed, TACIT’s productions invite not only students, but faculty, alums and staff of the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory to participate in the theatrical process, from cold reading a script, set-building or costume creation to opening night jitters. Brophy has shepherded varied productions, from the classics (Brecht’s Life of Galileo) to the brand new (Rocket Girl, Ventura-based playwright George D. Morgan’s original work about the first female rocket scientist, and the Loh Down on Science, KPCC-FM host and Caltech grad Sandra Tsing Loh’s science radio minute now in development as an hourlong show). One newly hatched environmental scientist discovered she was ready for her close-up in TACIT. “The theater program was a great outlet for my artistic abilities,” says Cecilia Yu, a recent Caltech grad who acted in six TACIT productions and even directed a one-person show. Now, working in the Boston area armed with degrees in environmental science and business, Yu credits the program and Brophy with helping her to be “more confident with public speaking and relating to people more. At the end of the day, theater helps us understand each other better.” Brophy came to Caltech fresh from a Fulbright Scholarship in India, where he spent six months lecturing and leading workshops on what is known as transformative theater — theater that leads to social change. He’d previously traveled to San Francisco; Omaha, Neb.; and Calcutta to study it under Brazilian theater practitioner Augusto Boal, author of the movement and book, Theater of the Oppressed. Brophy says that that form of theater can help exhume oppressive attitudes, like racial bigotry and religious intolerance, from one’s unconscious; these negative thoughts can be housed so deep that “we don’t even know they’re there,” he says, “but when you externalize them on the stage, put them up there for everyone to see, well, you begin to understand what’s going on much more clearly.” At the Peace Research Center at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges, Brophy’s students looked at the political and cultural oppression of women and at economic disparity in India’s caste-bound society. Spotlighting these topics challenged students to

reexamine their own attitudes and behavior, he says. “Certain people get preferential treatment, and you can call it caste-based or class-based, but it comes down to money and power,” he says. “We’d look at different scenarios and ask, ‘How would you dismantle this? What other options do you have?’” Brophy’s experience in India wasn’t his first brush with introducing students to transformative theater. His interest in it had evolved after a fairly con ventional career as a Los Angeles actor, albeit one of note; in his 25 years in the business, he appeared with Tim Robbins’ acclaimed Actors’ Gang theater company and appeared in feature films (The Shawshank Redemption and The Player) and television (Star Trek: The Next Generation and Max Headroom). But his Hollywood career left him unfulfilled. “In the late ’90s, I was getting bored with doing television,” says Brophy, who grew up in Chicago and Montana. His wife, Cynthia Campoy Brophy, had been bringing some of L.A.’s highest-risk youth together with professional artists as part of The HeArt Project, an organization she founded on Skid Row in 1992. With grants from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the California Art Council, Brophy started working with at-risk teens himself, teaching them about the ins and outs of professional acting — and learning from them in turn. Brophy made his teaching debut with the Shadow Klan, an inner-city group of teenagers who wanted to write, act and direct their own plays. “I got really close to those kids,” he says of his eight-year stint. “Here I was, this dorky white guy who wanted to hang out with them, who was interested in them and their lives,” he says with a laugh. His group worked on a variety of plays that addressed gang violence, domestic abuse, the untold and unglamorous history of California and more. “They really taught me how to listen, really listen, to someone’s dreams,” he says. “I’m still in touch with many of them today.” —CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 13

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In 1997, Brophy’s talented crew was invited to perform at the International Youth Theater Festival in Mostar, Bosnia, where the troupe received an award for a multicultural production that called for violent slaps between cast members. “It was physical and visceral, starting out as funny but ending up as something profound,” he says. Energized, Brophy continued teaching and directing at Southland colleges and universities. With the City of Riverside and U.C. Riverside, Brophy cocreated and directed Eastside Story, a play about violence between African Americans and Hispanics at local high schools — cast with students from those very schools. Once again, Brophy saw how theater broke down walls of distrust between groups. “When people of different backgrounds have the chance to mingle and work with one another, peace can happen,” he says. “I’ve seen it happen time and time again.” Comfortable working with both inner-city youth and privileged brainiacs, Brophy is pursuing his mission of making theater relevant at Caltech. And beyond his lofty goal of transformative art, he believes productions must be, first and foremost, entertaining. “I don’t want to be lectured, I don’t want to be told what to think,” he says. “I want to be entertained, to laugh and be moved to tears. There’s nothing better than a good cry, is there?” He adds that theater, which on the surface can be just a safe place for students to blow off steam, can also be a stepping stone to life in the spotlight, scientific or otherwise. “Hopefully, we are creating leaders who can go out into the world and be big picture people — people who can communicate, be aware of others and comfortable in social situations,” he says. “Theater, performance, social networking — what we are offering them is the opportunity to be fuller, more interesting and captivating people who can go out there and change the world — and yes, let’s face it, people who are also very good at dinner parties.” AM On Nov. 5, 6 and 7, TACIT will present Big Love by Chuck Mee — inspired by what may be the oldest surviving drama in Western literature, Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Maidens (463 B.C.) — at Caltech’s Dabney Lounge, 322 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena.

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STATE OF THE ART – PASADENA THEATER

FUTURESHOCK PASADENA’S THEATRE @ BOSTON COURT IS A LABORATORY FOR NEW WORKS, WHERE NO RULES ARE THE RULE. BY LYNNE HEFFLEY

THE THEATRE @ BOSTON COURT HAS MADE ITS REPUTATION ON UNEXPECTED, FORWARDTHINKING WORKS AND CHALLENGING CULTURAL EXPLORATIONS. AND EVER SINCE ITS 2003 LAUNCH AT THE BOSTON COURT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN PASADENA,

PHOTO: Ed Krieger/Boston Court

CRITICS HAVE TAKEN NOTE. “I think the theater is run by some of the smartest theater people in town,” says Steven Leigh Morris, L.A. Weekly’s critic at large. “They are trying to push the boundaries of convention, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t — at times within the same play. You’re not going to see anything quite like it anywhere else. It’s fresh and exciting.” Jordan Harrison’s Futura, opening Oct. 9, illustrates the company’s penchant for the new and thought-provoking. In a shared world premiere with Oregon’s Portland Center Stage and the National Asian American Theatre Company, it’s set in a near-future virtual age where putting pen to paper is subversive; a university professor with a missing husband and thoughts of vengeance gives a “dangerous” lecture on typography. For a small, edgy theater to settle in a city viewed by some as conservative, even staid, might seem downright quixotic –– or the manifestation of a death wish. Yet it has attracted loyal audiences from Pasadena and beyond, proving to be both adventurous and cross-generational. That’s what Co-Artistic Directors Jessica Kubzansky and Michael Michetti hoped for when they combined their creative

SEEING THE LIGHT Will Badley and Robert Mammana in The Twentieth-Century Way

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

visions to birth The Theatre @ Boston Court. “One of the most thrilling things about being the founding artistic directors,” says Kubzansky, “is that we could ask ourselves, what’s really important to us about making art? And we’re four blocks from Furious Theatre Company and the Pasadena Playhouse [reopening this month after its recent bankruptcy]. What could we bring that would be unique to the Pasadena and Los Angeles landscape?” Boston Court, the pair decided, would offer artist-driven work, emphasizing new plays and new play development that would encompass varied genres and “be inherently theatrical, textually rich and visually arresting. It gives us room to do a lot of different things and engage the cultural conversation.” The company’s inaugural blast-off was Romeo and Juliet, Antebellum New Orleans, 1836, Shakespeare’s classic reimagined by Michetti as an epic, organic exploration of race. L.A. Weekly deemed it “a hip-gyrating, feverish Romeo and Juliet unequivocally announcing the arrival of a major new venue for local theater.” The production heralded what was to come: bold, often risky work, characterized by respect for the power of language, unexpected integrations of music and movement, mostbang-for-the-buck scenic design and a willingness to take a leap of faith with new work. “When Michael and I program a season,” says Kubzansky, “in general we tend to go to artists we love and ask, ‘What has been burning a hole in your gut for the last 10 years that you just have to do?’ ” For director Stefan Novinski, it was a wedding-crashing Medea, set in a banquet hall kitchen. The ever-inventive author/choreographer/director Ken Roht brought in Echo’s Hammer, which Kubzansky describes as “a delightfully bizarre sort of Beckett-meets– Cirque du Soleil.” Programming the first all–world premiere season this year was another leap of faith that has paid off both critically and in ticket sales. The season opened with Luis Alfaro’s Oedipus El Rey, a retelling of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex set in an East L.A. barrio. It was a “rolling world premiere” shared with San Francisco’s Magic Theatre and Washington D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. (Under the auspices of the National New Play Network, rolling world premieres let a playwright develop one work with the creative teams of several theater companies, all agreeing to mount their own production of the play within a given 12-month period.) Tom Jacobson’s The Twentieth-Century Way, a provocative two-character drama, recently played the New York International Fringe Festival, another first, after an extended run at home. It was among a select number of festival productions chosen to return to the city in September as part of the FringeNYC Encore Series. Good notices and ticket demand also led to the recent extension of The Good Book of Pedantry and Wonder, playwright Moby Pomerance’s take 16 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

STAGE LEFT FROM TOP: The ensemble cast of A Picture of Dorian Gray; Justin Huen in Oedipus el Rey; and Jessica Goldapple, Camille Saviola, Seamus Deaver and Donn Swaby in Mother Courage

on the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, a co-production with L.A.’s Circle X Theatre Co. Such theatrical cross-pollination is common for Boston Court. It has coproduced with Furious Theatre Company among others, while Michetti and Kubzansky have both directed at the Pasadena Playhouse and the classical repertory company A Noise Within, set to relocate next year from Glendale to Pasadena. “We all have very distinctive brands, so there’s really not a sense of competition,” Michetti says. “Developing an audience for the theater only helps all of us. So we are thrilled to have A Noise Within joining us in Pasadena and beyond thrilled that the playhouse is coming back.” Boston Court “has raised the bar for L.A.’s smaller theaters in terms of production quality,” says Los Angeles Times Theater Critic Charles McNulty. “If I were an American playwright wanting an assured, smartly challenging staging of my latest play, I’d put Boston Court at the top of my wish list.” Yet it isn’t the company’s work alone that attracts attention. Jaws dropped when the Boston Court Performing Arts Center opened with the company’s debut. Cramped, no-frills storefront venues are a time-honored tradition for small theater in Los Angeles, but this stylish, airy building on Mentor Avenue could easily pass for the second stage at an upscale resident theater. “It’s the most lavish 99-seat venue in L.A.,” says Don Shirley, LAStageBlog.com columnist and former Times theater writer. That Boston Court has what most small theater companies can only dream of — a stateof-the-art facility and creative freedom — came about thanks to an astounding act of generosity. Boston Court’s benefactor and founding director is Pasadena-bred Z. Clark Branson, an investor, artist, author and passionate arts philanthropist, who says he footed the $5.5 million bill for the facility as soon as it became “financially feasible” in order to realize a long-held dream of his own. “The oft-called ‘storefront’ theaters have frequently produced excellent and, at times in my humble opinion, great theater,” says Branson, who was honored with the Pasadena Arts Council’s 2005 Gold Crown Award for his support of the arts. “The same is true of small jazz and cabaret clubs. They were all part of my inspiration. Boston Court is a tribute to those small venues, albeit on a grander scale.” To shepherd the project, Branson hired Eileen T’Kaye, a veteran actor, producer and business manager who became Boston Court’s founding producing director. Branson’s vision for a clean, industrial, contemporary design was brought to life by noted theater architect John Sergio Fisher, based in Tarzana and San Francisco. Branson wanted the physical space to be artist-friendly, T’Kaye notes, so dressing rooms have showers (a rare luxury); there’s a roomy sound and lighting booth, a rehearsal/concert space with a vaulted ceiling, superior acoustics and a floor that morphs into tiered seating for 60-plus. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

PHOTOS: Ed Krieger/Boston Court

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Also exceeding expectations is artists’ pay: Actors are paid $25 per performance, above the Actors’ Equity minimum, and receive a $300 rehearsal stipend, says Michael Seel, the center’s executive director. “We also pay all actors — both union and non-union — equally.” T’Kaye brought in Seel initially to serve as general manager and help with the project’s completion. To share the creative helm, she tapped Michetti and Kubzansky, “two directors who are among the most respected people in the L.A. theater community,” says Shirley. But there have been reality checks. One is a perception problem, Michetti says: Because the theater “is so beautiful, people assumed we didn’t need their support. And we did need it, not only to continue operation, but to be eligible for nonprofit status that requires a diversity of funding.” And Branson’s continuing generosity as Boston Court’s dominant funder during its first few years presented an odd sort of challenge, Michetti adds. Big productions with large casts, the company discovered, weren’t a realistic model for a small theater’s long-term survival. Paradise Lost, Shadows and Wings (2007), a sweeping rock opera by composer Eric Whitacre featuring anime, martial arts and taiko drumming, “almost killed us in terms of how huge it was and what we were attempting,” Kubzansky says. Still, Boston Court has never operated in the red, Seel notes, although economic realities led to a reduction in the center’s overall budget this year, from $941,000 in 2009 to $890,000 in 2010. On the upside, less than three-quarters of the way through the season, “we are already at 90 percent of projected ticket income,” he says. The rest of Boston Court’s income derives from individual donors and foundation and government grants, including a recent $10,000 gift from the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for the “support of a season of new works.” Persuading people to patronize a brash theater company committed to unfamiliar work, however, is still a front-burner issue. “We don’t pretend to be a theater for everyone,” says Michetti, but “you can’t really pinpoint our demographic. It’s less about age or income or geography than it is about people who are thirsty to be challenged by art and excited about new ideas in new forms.” Concerts at the venue expand the company’s audience by leading music lovers to discover the theater. Until 2008, Music at the Court was a rental series, produced by a small company owned by Branson. As a nonprofit, the center now produces the series, as well as poetry, spoken word, dance and other art forms. Branson, meanwhile, is delighted to see his dream take flight. “My desire was to create an environment of support for artistic exploration and the ability to take risks with new works,” he says. “The results are far beyond my expectations in every way. I was very fortunate to surround myself with artistic and business people who nurtured my vision and showed me what was possible, and to them I shall be forever grateful.” AM Jordan Harrison’s Futura, directed by Jessica Kubansky, runs from Sept. 30 through Nov. 7 at the Theatre @ Boston Court. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Preview tickets through Oct. 8 cost $16; regular tickets cost $32 ($27 for students and seniors). The theater is located at 70 N. Mentor Ave. Call (626) 683-6883 or visit bostoncourt.com.

PHOTO: Ed Krieger/Boston Court

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ART, ANTIQUES &JEWELRY Arnold’s Fine Jewelry Arnold’s Fine Jewelry is celebrating 120 years of serving Pasadena area families. From stunning engagement rings, engraved sterling baby gifts, watches for grads to spectacular evening baubles, Arnold’s is a destination for those seeking the very finest. Bruce Arnold’s personal joy is to suggest designs that respectfully restyle your cherished heirlooms. Thirdgeneration jeweler Arnold invites you to bring jewelry for repair or cleaning. Professionalism, trust and friendliness are why Arnold’s will be the choice for generations to come. 350 S. Lake Ave., suite 110, Pasadena. Call (626) 795-8647 or visit arnoldsfinejewelry.com Fancy That! Unwary visitors will be whisked inside Fancy That! by a coven of wicked witches, ready to turn your All Hallows Eve into a memorable moment in time. Within you’ll find a bewitching batch of creepy crawlers, inspired web works and tasty tricks and treats. Whether shopping or simply celebrating this most unique season, Fancy That! is a spellbinding, not-to-be missed spot to experience with your family and friends. See you there, if you dare! 2575 Mission St., San Marino, 91108. fancythat.us.com John Moran Auctioneers A full-service auction house for over 40 years, John Moran Auctioneers is internationally recognized as a leader in sales of exceptional antiques, fine art, jewelry and eclectic estate items. In addition to monthly Estate Auctions, Moran’s conducts tri-annual California and American Art auctions featuring top 19th and 20th century Impressionist and Western artists. Clients value Moran’s for expertise and dedication to top-quality personalized service. For information about consigning, purchasing at auction, estate services, appraisals, and free walk-in Valuation Days, please call (626) 793-1833 or visit johnmoran.com. G.H. Wilke Our story began when Gilbert H. Wilke purchased a jewelry store in Arlington Heights, Illinois at the onset of the Great Depression, October 1929. But we’re not finished yet! Now celebrating our 80th year, we’ve been here for you in great times and greater times, customizing beauty for your every occasion. For personalized designs as well as a fantastic collection of estate, antique and contemporary styles, come see us! Contact Tracy R. Wilke, Dario Pirozko or Mila Banez. Call (626) 284-9444 ■

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Altadena Stables Altadena Stables is a full-service facility and offers a safe and friendly environment for your riding enjoyment. Boarded horses are attended to 24/7 by experienced caretakers who live on the property. The location is next to the Arroyo and its beautiful forest trails. Instruction is provided on reliable stable horses by two professional horsewomen and trainers, who offer lessons, camps, clinics and groups for riders of all ages and skill levels altadenastables.blogspot.com

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Delphi Academy Delphi Academy is a K-12 school on a beautiful 10-acre campus surrounded by equestrian trails that offers an exciting summer program of fun and enrichment. Activities include adventurous camping & day trips to the beach, aquarium, Imax, Greyhound Rescue, Castaic Lake, a wild animal show, hiking, sports, cultural theme weeks, movie making, urban outdoor survival week, music cafe and more. A wide range of challenging courses include study skills, science, math, literature, and SAT & college prep. Call (818) 583-1070.

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Drucker School of Management The Drucker School of Management in Claremont offers a world-class graduate management education through our MBA, Executive MBA, Financial Engineering, and Arts Management degree programs. Our programs infuse Peter Drucker’s principle of management as a liberal art along with our core strengths in strategy and leadership. We offer individualized, flexible course scheduling, an innovative curriculum focusing on values-based management, and the opportunity to learn from world-renowned faculty. To learn more, visit us at drucker.cgu.edu.

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High Point Academy Summer is particularly exciting because of the wide range of classes this year. We will be offering a number of enrichment classes including mock trial, woodworking, water games, computer games, movie making, and cinematography. Sports include golf, bowling, basketball and volleyball. Arts and crafts will include painting, jewelry making, and mini-soldier painting. We have expanded the options for incoming kindergarteners this summer as well. Call (626) 798-8989 or visit highpointacademy.org. Justine Sherman & Associates, Inc. Justine Sherman & Associates is a nonpublic agency serving the speech-language, orofacial myology, and educational needs of young toddlers through adults. We strive to provide our clients with exceptional therapy and support so that they may achieve their greatest potential. Call (626) 355-1729 or visit justineshermanslp.com. Upstage Upstage is a part-time theatre arts school in South Pasadena that runs an afterschool program during the school year and a summer camp in July and August. Today, more than ever, theatre skills are vital for a young person’s development. At Upstage students learn how to speak more clearly, move more easily, act more naturally and become self-aware. Call (626) 310-0447, visit upstageschools.com or email adrian@upstageschools.com. ■

Classes every Tuesday 4:00pm - 6:00pm starting October 5th

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ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 25

ARROYO

HOME&DESIGN THE SURFACE OF A HOME CAN OPEN AND INVITE PEOPLE IN, MAKE A BOLD AND OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENT, CONVEY A FEELING OF POWER AND CONFIDENCE OR SOFTEN AND WARM AN OTHERWISE UNWELCOMING, COLD SPACE. Twenty years ago, you could enter any kitchen or bath and be sure to find laminate floors. Vinyl and laminate were nearly the only options available to homeowners who wanted surfaces that were easy to maintain and would withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. However, technology has changed the expectations of homeowners when it comes to flooring. Whether you’re looking for the latest trend in flooring or materials that are durable and easy to maintain, there are literally hundreds of flooring options on the market. Surface Technology The latest advances in technology are providing consumers with a myriad of flooring options. In fact, so many styles, colors, textures and materials are now available that making a selection can become quite overwhelming. Deciding on flooring for your home is a significant investment. Not only is high-end flooring costly but it is likely that you will only shop for these surfaces once or twice in your lifetime. That is why it is so important to thoroughly research your alternatives and carefully evaluate your lifestyle before making a selection. With so many options, it will be helpful if you make some decisions before you go shopping. For example: What is the traffic pattern of the area? Is it an entryway, stairway or hallway with ample foot traffic, a sitting room with minimal traffic, or a game room with vigorous movement? How will the color and style of the flooring fit in with existing surroundings such as furniture, cabinetry, flooring in other rooms? How will you use the room? Do you have young children, teenagers or pets, requiring a durable surface? Devote some time to your idea notebook, study the pages of design books and magazines, research advantages and disadvantages of different products on the internet and discuss your wishes with your designer. By doing so, you can eliminate many of the options that don’t interest you before you even enter a showroom, not to mention the hours of needless frustration. There are many choices when it comes to flooring. Many clients find it helpful to take advantage of the guidance a designer or experienced showroom consultant can offer.

STEP ON IT CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOORING FOR YOUR HOME

Carpeting Carpeting is the number one choice for floor coverings in the United States. It is a versatile choice, available in endless styles, patterns and colors. Carpet can be subtle in neutral tones, allowing furnishings and artwork to take center stage or it can stand out and make a statement in vivid colors like greens, red and purples. Carpet can turn an otherwise cold room into a warm and comforting environment. In fact, the insulation level of a room actually increases when it is covered with wall to wall carpeting, providing additional warmth on cold days. Other benefits about carpeting include: • Sound Buffer. The addition of carpeting can reduce a home’s noise level considerably by absorbing sounds from footsteps, conversations, television, noisy toys, etc. • Safety. A non-slip surface, carpeting reduces the risk of injury from slips and falls. It is especially ideal for families with children or older adults who may slip easily. • Comfort. The cushioned surfaces of carpeting provides comfort for achy legs and feet after a long day, not to mention the hands and knees of children who naturally spend lots of time on the floor. • Durability. Designed to last 10-15 years or more, carpeting is more durable than ever before. Advantages in technology make it possible for carpeting to repel stains and odors and withstand the most rigorous wear and tear. • Selection. Carpeting comes in a variety of styles, colors and textures, helping you achieve any look desired. Hardwood flooring Although hardwood flooring has adorned the floors of American homes for centuries, wood flooring reached the heights of its’ popularity in the 1940’s with the building of post-war ranch homes. In the 1960’s, price trends and government regulations made wood flooring too —CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

26 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 expensive for most Americans and carpeting became the floor covering choice. As the years passed, the popularity of wood flooring wavered, weaving in and out of style. Today, we are seeing an emergence of hardwood floors in upscale homes across the Nation. One of the most beautiful flooring choices, hardwood creates a warm, inviting environment that can be modern or contemporary, casual or rustic. Wood flooring is available in a wide array of wood species, such as oak, pine, maple, hickory, beech, elm, cherry and pecan. And, many of these species can be stained in almost any finish, from a whitewash or clear finish to a medium or darker finish. There are many benefits to hardwood flooring: • Adds to the value of a home. • Easy to clean and does not hide dirt like carpeting. • Warmer than ceramic tile, laminate or vinyl.

• More forgiving on the feet than harder surfaces such as tile or decorative concrete. • Durable, resisting scuffs from shoes and scratches from chairs and other furniture. • Easy to maintain. Although the purchase and installation of hardwood can be pricey, wood flooring can last up to 30 years or longer. On the other hand, surfaces such as vinyl, laminates and carpeting will need to be replaced four to five times throughout the same time period. Vinyl & Laminate The quality of vinyl and laminate has improved dramatically over the years, duplicating the patterns and hues of nearly anything imaginable, even stone and wood. The “natural” looks duplicated by vinyl and laminates has more and more families turning to these surfaces as an alternative to natural materials they once thought were unrealistic for their active lifestyle. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Laminate flooring is much tougher than the laminate typically found on kitchen and bathroom countertops. Its rugged construction makes it resistant to scratches, dents and stains. Best of all, laminate convincingly mimics the color and grain of natural wood or the shape and texture of stone and ceramic tile at a considerably lower cost. Many premium laminates even come with a 20-25 year warranty that guarantees against wearing, staining and fading. Vinyl flooring is making strides in quality and versatility as well. Known for its easy maintenance and affordable cost, vinyl can be designed to duplicate any pattern or texture, even ceramic, slate, marble and wood. And, its availability in sheets, tiles and planks makes vinyl extremely versatile. High grades of vinyl are more durable than ever, with no-wax urethane that makes cleaning easy and protects against tears, rips, gouges, scratches, scuffs and stains.

Ceramic Tile For centuries, ceramic tile has provided a look of timeless natural beauty. A natural product made from clay, water and other minerals, ceramic tile is durable, easy to care for, resistant to odors, allergens and bacteria, and can withstand hot pans and sharp utensils. Sophisticated homeowners add quality and value to their homes by using ceramic tile to create an endless realm of possibilities. Visit the showroom of any flooring manufacturer and you will find hundreds of tile variations in nearly every color, texture, size and shape you can envision. Because there are so many styles available, choosing the right tile for your home may be daunting. These guidelines, along with advice from your designer or an experienced showroom consultant, will help make the decision process smoother. • Style. When it comes to style, your options are endless so it is important to think about what look you are trying to achieve before beginning

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 your search. High gloss tiles will give your room a formal look, whereas tile that resemble stone will give your room more of a rustic feel. • Size. Ceramic tile ranges in size from 1” x 1” to 24” x 24”. The size of tile you use depends on the size of your room. For a small room, do not use tile any bigger than 12” x 12”, otherwise it may overwhelm the room. For a larger room, it does not matter which size you choose. Just remember that the smaller the tile, the busier the look and the harder it will be to keep the grout clean. • Texture. The texture you choose all depends on the function you want your tile to serve. Tile with a rough texture such as stone-look tiles and rippled tiles will be more slip resistant than high gloss tiles. Marbleized tiles and those with a high gloss finish can be hazardous when walking in socks or when wet, while tiles with a matte finish are duller and are not as smooth and slippery as high-gloss tiles.

Decorative Concrete Concrete is one of the hottest trends in Southern California, offering a durable, yet fashionable alternative for covering floors. As with other surface materials, the options for concrete as functional and decorative element are never- ending. It used to be that concrete was considered too gray and cold to be used for anything more than outdoor surfaces. Today, however, concrete has been reinvented and is appearing on the floors and countertops of high-end kitchen and baths. The beauty of finished concrete is its versatility. It can be designed to replicate the most expensive of flooring such as brick, flagstone and slate, yet unlike natural surfaces concrete comes in any thickness and can overcome virtually any design obstacle. The versatility of concrete allows for many decorative applications, including: • Coloring or finishing with chemical stains • Stamping patterns and textures • Overlaying cement products —CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Natural Stone Natural Stone is the most expensive of all surfaces, enhancing the overall beauty and value of the home. Stones such as marble, granite, slate, limestone and soapstone exude an image of strength and character and can create a statement in just about every space of a home, from entryways, staircases and patios to kitchens, baths and libraries. Each different stone requires special care and maintenance to retain its beauty. Master craftsmen and suppliers, after considering your wishes and particular lifestyle, can help determine which stone will work best for your home. Some of the more popular stones include: • Marble. Luxurious in texture and color, marble adds dramatic beauty to grand entryways, master baths and powder rooms alike. However, it is a highly porous surface that can be easily damaged by acids such as lemon juice and wine and prone to water stains. • Granite. As luxurious as marble, granite is more suited for the kitchen. It is extremely durable and versatile in design and if sealed properly it will resist scratches and stains left by citrus juices and other foods.

• Slate. A rugged surface, slate works particularly well for floors, backsplashes, counters and patios. Less formal than marble or granite, slate is available in solid hues or mixed earthy tones. It is durable, slip resistant, stain resistant, fireproof and cleans easily. Start your search for natural stone surfaces early in the building process as imported stone can take several months for delivery. Be sure to visit the warehouse to inspect the stone that will be used in your home before it arrives for installation. Be aware that natural stone is known for its unpredictable irregularities. Its color and pattern can vary from piece to piece, box by box, and even one end of a slab to another. The advantage of solid surfaces over natural stone is in its practicality. It is extremely durable, resisting the wear and tear of active families. It is easy to clean, resists staining, chipping and cracking, and its color will not fade with age. With the myriad of options available in flooring today, choosing surfaces for your home can be overwhelming. Any reputable designer, builder or architect will know first hand the best sources for finding flooring materials. Visit the showrooms of suppliers and check out the work of their installers. Discuss your needs and take advantage of their expert knowledge to help determine what products are best for your lifestyle. ■

ASID PASADENA CHAPTER 24th Annual

Home & Kitchen Tour 1986 - 2010

Save the Date Sunday, October 3, 2010 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Self Guided Tour • 4 Lovely Homes Real Homes – Real Design Boutiques Resource Displays Drawing Drawing Prize: KitchenAid Barbeque (donated by Ferguson Enterprises and KitchenAid)

For More Info

asidpasadena.org 34 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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ARROYO

HOME DESIGN DIRECTORY OF SERVICES

ARCHITECTS

INTERIOR DESIGN JAMES COANE & ASSOCIATES

CAROL COBABE

Since 1994, James V. Coane, has specialized in: custom residences, estates, historic renovations and expansions, residential and apartment interiors, multi-family residential, corporate interiors, retail and small commercial building design. American Institute of Architects award winners, and named Best Architect by Pasadena Weekly, their projects have been in Architectural Digest and other magazines and used as locations for filming and fashion shoots. Well-versed in historical and modern architecture and design and known for attention to detail on all projects. Visit jvca.com or call (626) 584-6922.

With a philosophy of “good design resulting in the creation of harmony in one’s environment,” Carol’s work has been published in countless publications. She has participated in several showcase houses, the Los Angeles Assistance League Design House, the Venice Family Clinic Design House and Little Company of Mary Design House in Palos Verdes. Carol is also a winner of the coveted First Place Award of the L.A. Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Call (626) 441-6052.

CYNTHIA BENNETT Cynthia Bennett & Associates has been a celebrated design and build firm for almost 30 years. They specialize in innovative kitchen and bath design, general construction, historical renovation, project management and interior design. With all areas of residential design and construction being taken care of by Cynthia Bennett and Associates, Inc., each detail will be thought of and coordinated. Call for a consultation at (626) 799-9701.

HARTMANBALDWIN DESIGN/BUILD HartmanBaldwin Design/Build is a fully integrated Architecture, Construction and Interior Design Company specializing in upscale remodels, additions, historic restorations and new custom homes for highly discerning individuals that are passionate about their home and lifestyle. We pride ourselves in being chosen by clients who look for a full service firm that will provide them with outstanding design services, cutting-edge materials and products, quality construction that is sustainable and energy-efficient, as well as a relationship that goes beyond the duration of a project. Call 626.486.0510 to schedule your complimentary design consultation. HartmanBaldwin.com.

DAY OF DESIGN WITH TERRI JULIO Imagine the opportunity to consult with a professional designer for an entire day. Now you can for a fixed flat fee. Let Terri’s expertise be the first thing you call upon when considering any project. It is a worthwhile investment and a good dose of prevention considering valuable dollars and time can be lost when improvements go awry. Call (626) 447-5370 or visit terrijulio.com.

NOTT & ASSOCIATES The “Design/Build” team of Tom and Jeffrey Nott specializes in custom homes in Pasadena. Tom Nott received his Bachelor of Architecture at USC, and has worked for decades on major projects. His work includes projects including for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the L.A.Subway and countless commercial parks. Jeff began in the field at age 12, attended UCLA and UCSB and has built custom homes with distinguished designers in Beverly Hills and Bel-Air. Together they have completed over 130 projects in South Pasadena alone. Nott and Associates provides complete design through construction services, fulfilling your vision and appreciating your budget. Visit NOTTASSOCIATES.com or call (626) 403-0844.

INTERIOR SPACES

BUILDERS & REMODELERS

CAROUSEL FLOORS This family-owned, 38-year-old company provides a superb selection along with remarkable service. For hardwood, select from all the top names, including Appalachian Hardwood Floors, pre-finished or finished by expert craftsman. For linoleum, Marmoleum is a natural, eco-friendly, stylish flooring with multiple patterns. Carousel is a Mohawk Color Center, carrying Fabrica, Karastan, Masland and Schumacher to name a few. Free consultations; designers welcome. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.; or by appointment. 676 E. Green St., Pasadena. Call (626) 795-8085.

CHELSEA CONSTRUCTION Many homeowners now choose to upgrade current living space, rather than rebuilding the entire structure. Whether it’s a kitchen/bath or complete remodel, we pride ourselves on classic design, maintaining the individual style of the house. Customers work closely with owner Mark Snashall, assuring their desired features and look are achieved, while he helps direct choices toward quality results, reflective of his finish carpentry training, commitment to quality, fine European craftsmanship and attention to detail. (818) 949-4595.

FLOORGATE, INC.

PHAT ENERGY

MAUDE WOODS

We are more than a solar company; we are a new energy company. If you are like most of our customers, you are facing increasing challenges with the current energy infrastructure. That’s why we are interested in 4 principal issues: power generation at the place of use (“distributed power”), energy efficiency, transportation fueling (electric vehicles), and energy storage. Our team is motivated to make a difference in your life! 866-797-PHAT (7428)

Stepping into Maude Woods: Artful Living, shoppers may feel they’ve entered someone’s beautiful home. Owner Carrie Davich mixes new upscale furnishings with vintage and renovated second-hand treasures. Within this “home” shoppers can find a unique hostess gift for $25, a $5,000 table and a variety of beautiful items in between. 55 E. Holly St., Pasadena. Call (626) 577-3400 or visit maudewoods.com

PHOTO: Tom Queally (Maude Woods)

GREEN/SOLAR

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Floorgate offers premium hardwood flooring designed to keep up with your family’s lifestyle. We offer the largest selection of colors and styles in wood flooring, hardwoods, laminate, carpet and tile, with virtually care-free finishes and our assurance of quality. Hardwood floors are incredibly beautiful, highly durable and extremely affordable. And they’re always natural and safe for the environment. We install over 50,000 square feet of flooring every week! 3350 N. San Fernando Road, Los Angeles; call (323) 478-2000.

—CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 35

th Anniversary Celebration

OPENING NIGHT GALA November 13, 2010

ARROYO

HOME DESIGN DIRECTORY OF SERVICES

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

MODERN LIGHTING Modern Lighting has been serving Southern California’s lighting needs since 1946. With all types of fixtures in every price range, you’ll find what you want. If not, we do custom design. We have stocks of light bulbs to compliment your fixture and we continually watch the marketplace for the best buys. Our staff has decades of lighting experience. Feel free to contact us if our service is what you are looking for. Call (626) 286-3262.

Glinka…Overture to “Russlan and Ludmilla” Sibelius…Violin concerto in D, Op. 47 Nigel Armstrong, Violin Arias by Donizetti, Rossini and Puccini Narine Ojakhyan, Soprano Beethoven…Symphony No. 7 in A, Op. 92

MORTGAGE LENDERS

7:30 p.m. Hall of Liberty

WELLS FARGO The Patsy Grant Team at Wells Fargo Home Financing meets your needs. Because your home is one of your biggest investments, it’s important to ensure that your mortgage fits you. This is our specialty — helping you find mortgage solutions that meet your current situation while complementing your long-term financial goals. We will help you determine what mortgage options work for you, guide you through the loan process and answer your questions. Patsy: (626) 577-3721; Jim: (626) 577-3703

Concert and Parking are FREE to the public

OUTDOOR LIVING

Hall of Liberty, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Burbank.

GARDEN VIEW LANDSCAPE

For more information, please call (818) 771-7888 or www.burbankphilharmonic.org

Specializing in landscaping, nurseries and pools, Garden View Inc. can take you from a design idea to a finished, detail-oriented garden. Garden View & their clientele are recipients of 60 awards from the California Landscape Contractors Association. The intent of the company is to provide high-quality interrelated outdoor services. The synergy between having their own designer/project managers, in-house crews, their own large nursery, and being a licensed pool builder provides for efficiency, competitive pricing, quality and schedule control. Call (626) 303-4043.

Personal Chef Catering Serving from 2 to 200 Guests!

MOTHER MAGNOLIA A private residential landscape design and construction firm operating here since 1999, Mother Magnolia’s passion is creating an outdoor space for you to enjoy. Your outdoor space should be your refuge, a place with power to rejuvenate. Our reliable and dedicated in-house designers, experienced masons, irrigation specialists, and landscape technicians will make your landscape vision a reality. Or, if you have a design prepared, we will provide construction bids. Fully bonded and insured, 3-time winner of HGTV’s “Landscaper’s Challenge,” and a member of the California Landscape Contractors’ Association, Angie’s List, and the Better Business Bureau. Call (626) 296-2617, or visit mothermagnolia.com.

Chef Loretta Vigil

Chefelle provides catering, menu planning, preparation and service staff for special events for 2 to 200 people. Serving Pasadena, Sierra Madre, San Marino, Monrovia, La Canada-Flintridge, Arcadia, greater Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley since 2000.

888.409.CHEF • 626.303.7117 www.Chefelle.com Weekly meals provided, visit our website for more information

SWAN POOLS Swan Pools has been building quality pools for over 50 years. We are experts at new construction, remodeling existing pools, spa additions and difficult site construction. All jobs are designed, contracted and supervised by the owner and family. We are fully licensed and general liability insured with the highest Better Business Bureau rating and can provide referrals upon request. Call us if you have any questions or would like to set an appointment for a free in home consultation. (626) 966-8631.

Pause to enjoy your clean home before the kids push play

REAL ESTATE LIN VLACICH-SOTHEBY’S

626.564.8724

$20.00 off 2 hours $30.00 off 3 hours 36 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

New customers only. Not valid with other offers. Valid only at this location. Cash value 1/1000th of one cent. Offer good through 10/31/2010

Lin Vlacich of Sotheby’s, a 25-year veteran in the real estate profession, is known for her reputation and success as a leader in the San Gabriel Valley brokerage community, as well as for high professional ethics, superior negotiating skills, innovative marketing plans and extensive knowledge of real estate sales. Committed to excellence in representing buyers and sellers throughout Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena and the surrounding communities. Call (626) 688-6464 or (626) 3963975 or email vlacichs@aol.com ■ | ADVERTISEMENT |

FALL ARTS

TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS THIS MONTH, THE PAPERS OF THE LATE CHARLES BUKOWSKI, L.A.’S MOST FAMOUS POET, GO ON VIEW FOR THE FIRST TIME, AT THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY.

PHOTO: Ulf Andersen

BY KIRK SILSBEE

Charles Bukowski appearing on Apostrophes television show, France, September 1978

ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 37

FALL ARTS

IN CERTAIN CIRCLES, 1970s LOS ANGELES WAS AS FAMOUS FOR OCCASIONAL POETRY READINGS BY AN OILY-HAIRED CODGER WITH A SCARRED FACE AS IT WAS FOR FIVE EASY PIECES AND OTHER NEW WAVE FILMS COMING OUT OF HOLLYWOOD. IN A THORAZINE VOICE, CHARLES BUKOWSKI WOULD DRINK BEER AND RECITE HARD-BOILED POEMS OF DEPRAVITY AND GRACE. WITH VITUPERATIVE REJOINDERS, HE GAVE HIS AUDIENCES WHAT PASADENA-BRED POET MICHAEL C FORD CALLS “A DOSE OF REALITY WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH.”

38 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST (Top and left) Letters from Bukowski; (Above) Bukowski and wife Linda at the Santa Anita races

Hodson, curator of literary manuscripts. “They should know that we have some manuscripts of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Walt Whitman that are pretty raw and earthy.” Not surprisingly, the colorful Bukowski left behind a trail of stories among his fellow travelers and poets in Los Angeles. One of them is record producer Denny Bruce, who reissued his Poems and Insults album for Takoma and recorded a 1980 performance, released as Hostage by Rhino Records in 1985. Though Bukowski had been paid before the show, Bruce recalls, he appeared in the club’s office afterward, roaring drunk. “Buk pulled a knife out and screamed at the manager that he wanted his money,” Bruce says. “He drove the knife into the poor guy’s desk and broke the blade off. The next day, he asked, ‘How did the reading go last night? Was I paid?’” While Bukowski may be L.A.’s best-known –– perhaps most notorious –– poet, his peers don’t necessarily consider him the most accomplished. Consider actor and poet Harry Northop, who lives with his wife, poet Holly Prado, near —CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

IMAGES: Courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

Bukowski chronicled life on the margins of society with pathos and humor, sparing no one, least of all himself. His alcohol-soaked poetry and prose depicted lives of despair, menial jobs, loose women, horse racing and what he called “tales of ordinary madness,” all viewed with a savage eye. Praised by both JeanPaul Sartre and Jean Genet, Bukowski remains, for better or worse, Los Angeles’ most famous poet. The first exhibition of his papers opens at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens on Oct. 9. Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge brings together hand-typed poems and short stories, publications that carried his work, the screenplay of his 1987 biopic, Barfly, drawings, photographs and memorabilia loaned by his widow, Linda Bukowski, who donated his archive to the Huntington in 2006. By the time he died of leukemia at age 73 in 1994, he’d published six novels, hundreds of short stories and countless poems. Bukowski’s work –– and doubtless, his alcoholism –– was fueled by a horrific childhood of paternal abuse (his semi-autobiographical novel Ham on Rye describes a father using a power drill to lance a boil on his son’s face) and a misspent adulthood that included what he called a “10-year drunk” and a hospitalization for a bleeding ulcer. Although he submitted short stories to literary magazines to no avail in his 20s, it wasn’t until 1957, when Bukowski was in his late 30s, that he wrote his first poems. The choice of the stately Huntington as a resting place for the work of the so-called Poet Laureate of Skid Row has more than a little irony attached to it. His relationship to Pasadena was bittersweet. His father, Heinrich, grew up there, and Santa Anita Park was a favorite destination for the adult Bukowski. He’d drop off his wife, Linda, at The Huntington before the races and join her for drinks in the botanical gardens afterward. (She appears as “Sara” in his novels Women and Hollywood.) “People think of [The Huntington] as staid and proper, definitely not the place for a writer who used the ‘seven words’ [George Carlin’s list of dirty ‘words you can never say on television’] the way Bukowski did,” says Sue

ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 39

FALL ARTS

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

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the East Hollywood apartment Bukowski lived in from 1963 to 1972. Was Bukowski the best of his kind? “No,” Northop says without rancor, “far from it. Thomas McGrath, Ann Stanford, Jack Hirschman, Leland Hickman and Holly are better poets. Bukowski had his head in the gutter with no ability to lift the form of poetry up, no sense of aesthetic form. But he was commercial — the one poet in L.A. who made a living off of his writing. He was and is the one poet people think of when they think of Los Angeles, because the ordinary guy could understand him. No one else exists.” The dark side of Bukowski’s work is inextricable from his misogyny. As evidence, rocker Dave Alvin, a Bukowski aficionado since age 14, says, “I lived with a woman 20 years ago who demanded that I burn all of my Bukowski books. I didn’t do it, of course. He was a great writer, but I’m not going to vote for him for president.” Yet there are plenty of tender moments in his work too. In his poem “Style,” Bukowski writes, addressing his lover: “Style is a difference, a way of doing, a way of being done: six herons standing quietly in a pool. Or you walking naked out of the bathroom without seeing me.” “A lot of people can’t get past the salacious things in his writing,” Hodson says. “But as a woman, I’m drawn to the sweeter things.” By 1966, Bukowski was highly enough regarded that John Martin created Black Sparrow Press in Santa Rosa to publish his work. Martin provided Bukowski with a monthly stipend that enabled him to quit his day job working in the post office. He was 49 at the time. Holed up in his tiny apartment, Bukowski drank beer, listened to classical music on the radio and cranked out tales of the urban underbelly. His novel Post Office became an underground classic among civil servants and manual laborers for its sharp observations and portrait of desperation. “One of the fan letters he got that he was particularly proud of came from an Australian fan in prison,” Hodson says. “He said that Bukowski’s were the only books that were passed from cell to cell.” Bukowski gained a measure of fame, success and even security in the 1970s. His German book sales alone paid for a tract house in San Pedro. Then as now, debate stirred about whether he could write authentically about life on Skid Row with two cars in the garage. “I think he worried he might lose his edge by moving to suburban San Pedro,” Hodson says. But Michael C Ford, who published Bukowski’s work in the Sunset Palms Hotel literary journal in 1974, believes he was in no such danger. “I think the house in Pedro and the fame just gave him a comfort zone to crank out his work in,” he says. “I think his best work is Rooming House Madrigals, the poems he wrote for little magazines in the early ’60s. I love the fire and the brilliance of those early poems, even though his engine ran rough. As the years passed, he just fine-tuned that engine.” Bukowski comically addressed the issue in his poem “The Secret of My Endurance.” After describing the relative opulence of his autumnal life, he “confessed” that he used “a young boy to write my stuff now. I keep him in a tenfoot cage with a typewriter, feed him whisky and raw whores, belt him pretty good three or four times a week.

IMAGES: Courtesy of The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

PULP FICTION (Below and opposite) Bukowski and covers of three of his books

I’m 60 years old now and the critics say my stuff is getting better than ever.” Perhaps it was inevitable that the life of L.A.’s most famous poet would end up on the big screen; in 1987, Mickey Rourke played the bohemian bard in the Barbet Shroeder biopic Barfly, and in 2004, he appeared posthumously as himself in the documentary Bukowski: Born Into This, which also featured appearances by friends and fans Sean Penn and Bono. The next year, Matt Dillon played his drinking, gambling, womanizing alter ego, Hank Chinaski, in the film Factotum, based on his second novel. But Bukowski wore his late-in-life fame uneasily. “When he became popular, he resented that people like Madonna, Sean Penn and Tom Waits wanted to hang with him,” Bruce says. “He said, ‘Fame came too late.’ Linda convinced him that it wouldn’t hurt him to let these people meet their idol. She said, ‘You’re from the pop world and you know they really love his work and want to meet him. I want him to have that.’” Hodson contends that despite finding his comfort zone on society’s fringe, Bukowski’s work has universal appeal. “We all see what we want to see in him,” she says. “More people have come forward to tell me how he’s given them something they needed at a particularly low point in their lives. If you can see past those scars, he’s got something you might be able to use. As he wrote, ‘What matters most is how you walk through the fire.’” AM Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge runs from Oct. 9 through Feb. 2 in the Huntington Library’s West Hall. The Huntington is open from noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays. It’s closed Tuesday. Admission costs $15 for adults on weekdays ($20 on weekends and Monday holidays); $12 for seniors ($15); and $10 for students and $6 for youth ages 6 to 11 every day. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626) 405-2100 or visit Huntington.org. ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 41

42 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

DINING

A Moveable Feast MELTING POT FOOD TOURS INTRODUCE GUESTS TO TASTY NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF OLD PASADENA — AND FELLOW TRAVELERS IN FOODIE-DOM. BY BRADLEY TUCK

COLORADO BOULEVARD IN OLD PASADENA IS, BY ANY MEASURE, A VIBRANT AND BUSTLING COMMERCIAL HUB. ITS CAFÉS SPILL PEOPLE ONTO THE SIDEWALKS, AND THE RUSTLE OF SHOPPING BAGS AGAINST SHINS IS ALMOST AUDIBLE, EVEN IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. BUT IT WASN’T ALWAYS SO. LISTENING TO DIANE SCALIA DURING A RECENT MELTING POT CULINARY TOUR OF THE AREA, IT WAS HARD TO KEEP MY EYES FROM WIDENING AS SHE RECOUNTED HOW OLD PAS BARELY ESCAPED THE WRECKING BALL IN THE 1970S. But it’s Scalia’s passion for food that drives

Melting Pot Food Tour of Old Pasadena

Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. $49 per person For information, call (424) 247-9666. For tickets, call (800) 979-3370. Or visit meltingpottours.com.

3 4

her — and her sister, Lisa — to lead groups of

1. Asian fusion dishes at Equator 2. Owner Anoush Terpoghossian behind the counter at Mignon Chocolate 3. Falafel at Father Nature 4. Choza Mama sample plate 5. The tea counter at Bird Pick Tea & Herb 6. Guests on the patio at Tortas Mexico

total strangers on a nibbling and gawking meander through the alleys and courtyards of the 21block Historic District. The sisters founded the company, which also explores L.A.’s Farmers Market on Fairfax Avenue, two years ago and recently added a Thursday evening route in Old

headed off to try the falafel at

Pas only for the summer. 5

My group of eight met at Heritage Wine

Father Nature (17 N. De Lacey

Company (155 N. Raymond Ave.) for the usual

Ave.). Scalia had told us what to expect — crisp shell, fluffy

introductions. I inadvertently sat down on the

interior and no greasiness — and we weren’t disappointed. It

hand of an Air New Zealand flight attendant which, thanks to the Kiwi’s easygoing disposi-

was a whirlwind pit stop, as there was tender beef to be eaten at Equator Café (22 Mills Pl.). Scalia explained how Equator had

tion, turned into an icebreaker rather than a clumsy faux pas. This part of the tour

morphed from a popular coffee shop into a full-fledged restaurant, while we mar-

was an optional add-on to the evening gatherings. Heritage gave us some nice

veled at the metabolism of a 14-year-old in our group who was able to put away a

wines and seriously good cheeses, served at room temperature and fully ripened.

third helping of orange chicken. By this point, a senior member of the group was

From there, with Scalia pausing occasionally to offer nuggets of local lore, we

flagging; there’s a fair bit of walking on the tour. Luckily, there were only a few more

headed to Mignon Chocolate Boutique (6 E. Holly St.): lovely handmade choco-

stops, so we weren’t forced to leave her to the animals. Beyond the Olive (10 N.

lates from the Terpoghossian family, which has been in the chocolate business for

Raymond Ave.) is a purveyor of artisanal vinegars and fine California estate–grown

three generations. There was just enough time for a sample; then, like someone herding kittens,

extra virgin oils. We tasted a super-fresh, grassy, spicy arbequino olive oil, made some hasty purchases and were shepherded to our next tasting stop, Choza Mama

Scalia whisked us out the door to Tortas Mexico (90 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) to try its asada

(96 E. Colorado Blvd.). Hearty Peruvian fare was followed by a quick tea tasting at

torta and a vegetarian alternative. The tortas we had at that tiny hole-in-the-wall were

Bird Pick Tea (10 S. De Lacey Ave.), then dessert at Tutti Gelati (62 W. Union St.),

grilled sandwiches on fluffy buns, baked fresh daily, filled with delicious carne asada,

where the 14-year-old’s metabolism was again sated.

beans, lettuce and jalapeños. The place is tucked away at the end of an alley where,

The Melting Pot Culinary Tour is definitely not a fine dining tour, and it’s all the

after quickly filling up, we were ushered into a charming courtyard by Scalia. This

better for that. It’s almost like a casual dinner party on fast-moving legs. It was

shady oasis, with vines clambering over brick façades, was a revelation. In the corner

informative and lively, with Scalia’s enthusiasm proving highly infectious. It’s a per-

lurked The Old Towne Pub, an authentically dingy bar that would have looked at

fect way to occupy out-of-town guests who might have tired of the usual tourist

home in an alley in London, with tattooed patrons puffing cigarettes outside.

traps and want to learn a little about the real Southern California. More than any-

Next stop was a “sensory tasting” at Soap Kitchen (43 N. Fair Oaks Ave.).

thing, it’s a wonderful way to meet a diverse group of strangers joined by a com-

Owner Dali Yu took us into her kitchen at the back of the store to marvel at the work

mon interest in food, culture and history. The flight attendant and I are now, of

that goes into making a 2-by-4-inch bar of soap. We all left clutching samples and

course, Facebook friends. AM ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 43

TASTE

T H E

F L A V O R S

O F

A R R O Y O

New Moon Happy Hour a Pick of the Glitter POURINGS MIX WELL WITH IMAGINATIVE FOODS BY DAN O’HERON To burnish its already glowing reputation for distinctive Chinese offerings in food and drink, New Moon Restaurant features a non-stop Happy Hour from 5 p.m. until closing, seven days a week. Glistening, gleeful moments in its lounge/bar area are garnished with a $6 list of selected martinis—which include a Grey Goose vodka pomegranate and a Stolichnaya appletini—plus $3 draft beer, $3.75 domestic bottles, $4.75 imports and $5 wines. To inspire thirst, a fine array of $3 and $4 appetizer plates includes fried calamari seasoned with fevered Thai chili peppers, onions and garlic. Regular prices prevail for the much-ballyhooed Montrose Chinese entrees. (The restaurant also has locations in downtown Los Angeles and Valencia.) While the excitement centers around dishes drawn from classical recipes from various gastronomical regions in China, the menu is overlaid with acquired refined interpretations that emphasize lightness and freshness, qualities dear to contemporary California palates. Featured among these: “Shelby’s Chicken,” named after owner Colin Tom’s youngest daughter, a sweet and spicy dish that’s deceptively delightful ($14.95). The first bite begins sweetly enough but is quickly followed by a black-peppery blast for contrast. A perhaps more popular dish, “Chloe’s Shrimp,” is NEW MOON named after Tom’s oldest daughter. Audibly crunchy, this 2138 Verdugo Blvd., Montrose $16.95 shrimp hits the spot—though not quite as hard as (818) 249-4393 “Shelby’s Chicken”—with a sauce that has a sneaking susnewmoonrestaurants.com picion of garlic. As popular as these two dishes are, the original New Moon Chicken ($8.95) salad, tossed by Tom’s dad some 45 years ago on San Pedro Street, is still enshrined by many as the gold standard—“ the ideal dish of all.” New Moon hosts an eclectic crowd: village shopkeepers, residential neighbors, business people from down the hill in Glendale, and, maybe in one corner, a scientist from nearby JPL, scribbling a formula on linen, and, in another, a palmist from Tujunga who’s reading the menu. ■

UGO’S CAFE

REDWHITE+BLUEZZ

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140 Shoppers Lane, Pasadena | (626) 440-1008 12117 Ventura Blvd., Studio City | (818) 980-0004 Thecounterburger.com

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Gourmet Italian cuisine with a charm for dessert, plus fine wines, Ugo’s dishes come fresh from farm to fork. All entrées also include a side salad and Ugo’s own artisan bread.

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VIBE

Live jazz every night—plus Sunday brunch—makes Zagatrated redwhite+bluezz the coolest spot in town. Guests enjoy the contemporary take on historic Pasadena architecture, art by Michael Hall and the casual yet sophisticated atmosphere.

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VIBE With 12 tables, an intimate bar crannied in a room marked with family-and-friend memorabilia, and a romantic classical guitarist on weekends, owners Chez & Sherri create the experience of a cozy café in Italy.

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44 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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KITCHEN CONFESSIONS

Zombie Feed

THE OFFAL TRUTH ABOUT DELICIOUS GUTS BY LESLIE BILDERBACK | PHOTOS BY TERI LYN FISHER

My participation in the annual Halloween frightfest has historically been meek. There is no fake graveyard in the front lawn, no people jumping out at you from bushes and my costumes are more cute than creepy, unless you count the year I was a punk

Actually, to call offal “guts” is disrespectful. It is much more than that. Offal (also known as organ meats or, in a stunning euphemism designed to de-squeamify

rocker. (Really, I think Lady Gaga is scarier than Sid

you, variety meats) are the animal parts less used. Basically, it is everything edible taken from an animal that isn’t muscle. This includes feet, ears, skin, liver, kidney,

Vicious ever was.) If I feel daring, I might put out a

spleen, thymus (my beloved sweetbreads), hearts, lungs, tongue, tripe and, of course, brains!

few cute candles and a smiley-face jack-o’-lantern.

The tradition of using all parts of an animal is as old as fire and, with the

So you can imagine how surprising it is to everyone that I suddenly found

exception of us pansy-ass North Americans, is still practiced in much of the world.

myself enjoying a little gore. It was inevitable, really. My husband has always been a

Sure, Americans will eat Whoppers enhanced with chemical “scrumptiou-cillin” —

fan of sci-fi and fantasy — no, we did not have a Dungeons & Dragons wedding,

flavor-enhancing additives, yum! — and McChicken wads made from parts

although there was talk of groomsmen wearing Star Trek communicators — and

unknown, but not the naturally delicious, texturally diverse, nutritionally rich “fifth

lately he has cultivated a very healthy zombie obsession. (If there were such a thing

quarter.” (That’s a butcher’s term for offal. Yeah, I know the lingo, baby.)

as a Star Trek zombie movie, all hell would break loose in this house.) I used to sit in the same room with him while he watched his zombie movies, just to be together. I would not watch but just read or work, looking up only occasionally to catch someone’s brains being pulled out through their nostrils. But one

I know offal is a hard sell. But y’all should be tough enough to deal by now. In a world with tattoos, face piercing, base jumping and Lindsay Lohan, what’s a little extreme eating? All the cool kids are doing it. When did Americans become so squeamish? (You’d never know we were

day, I accidentally paid attention during one of these films and was surprisingly cap-

squeamish by the TV listings. How many CSI’s do we really need?) We were not

tivated. For some reason (perhaps the years of fabricating meat), the bloody car-

always this wasteful, spoiled and lame when it came to eating animals. During

nage stopped bothering me. In fact, I found it a little bit awesome. Granted, some

World War II, organ meats were among the few unrationed foods, and many deli-

movies are scarier than others, but on the whole, I find that most are not truly fright-

cious recipes sprang from necessity. But after the war, Americans waved goodbye

ening, just hilariously gross.

to the ways of our forefathers and blasted off into a future that was clean, disinfec-

I am not the only one who has come to appreciate zombies. They are, if you

ted and shrink-wrapped. In the ’50s, we lost our gastronomical minds, giving up

haven’t noticed, enjoying something of a surge in popularity. Not only are zombies

delicious foods like whole grains, stinky cheese, fresh herbs and, of course, offal.

still starring in modern movies, but they are making waves in fashion, music and

We became a country of cake mix, concentrated soup, Minute Rice and TV dinners.

classic literature. (Jane Austen + zombies = brilliant.) And now, I am proud to

Immigrants still brought their whole-animal traditions to the U.S. but within a gener-

announce that zombie culture has entered the world of fine dining.

ation were converted.

You see, as zombies became fashionable, so too, in synchronous happen-

This culinary-sterilization was meant to give us a better quality of life, but did

stance, did offal. Zombies eat guts, and offal is guts. And so, with the power vested

it? Turns out we’re killing ourselves with processed foods, and it’s the whole foods

in me, I hereby declare that the delightfully diverse array of recipes cooked with offal

that are the healthier, more delicious options.

shall now and forever be known as Zombie Cuisine.

—CONTINUED ON PAGE 46 ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 45

KITCHEN CONFESSIONS

BROWN BUTTER BRAINS ON FRENCH BREAD Many international grocers carry offal of all types, but until eating like a zombie really catches on, it remains necessary to special order your brains. INGREDIENTS 1 teaspoon kosher salt ¼ cup lemon juice 2 calf or lamb brains, rinsed clean with cold water 1 French baguette, sliced ½-inch thick, on the diagonal, and toasted 1 cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence 4 ounces (1 stick) butter ¼ cup white wine 1 tablespoon capers

METHOD 1. Fill a 3-quart saucepan with water. Add lemon juice and a teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. At the boil, add brains, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Drain and cool. 2. Mix together flour, remaining salt, pepper and herbes de Provence. Slice brains into large bitesize pieces, and dredge in flour. Remove excess flour and let coated brains sit at room temperature while you heat butter. 3. In a large frying pan, melt butter. When the bubbling has subsided, add the brains in one layer and cook, stirring carefully, until well browned on all sides. Remove hot brains and place on slices of baguette. 4. Heat the pan drippings, add wine and capers, cook until liquid is reduced and a little thicker and drizzle over brain toast. Serve immediately.

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45

So, people of America, I challenge you to start eating like zombies. I want you

choice bits, then classify the rest as industrial waste. I liken our habits to the buffalo pelt hunters of the Western expansion. (That’s right, Kemo Sabe, I went there.)

to try brains, cockscomb, lights (lungs), trotters (pig’s or sheep’s foot), sweetbreads, turkey fries (a.k.a. Rocky Mountain oysters — look it up), sausage and pâté made

#5. It’s super-cool!

with all sorts of delicious parts. And, to give you a nudge, I offer the top five rea-

All the best chefs and foodies are jumping onto the zombie bandwagon, many on

sons you should start eating like a zombie:

the coattails of Chris Consentino, chef of Incanto in San Francisco. There, with a week’s notice, you can order the Il Quinto Quarto tasting menu, each course loving-

#1. It’s delicious!

ly crafted to highlight its offal goodness. Here in the Southland, visit Palate Food +

All muscle, regardless of the animal, has the same texture. All the cuts from a par-

Wine in Glendale (933 S. Brand Blvd.), where there are offal offerings year-round

ticular animal have the same basic flavor. (Boring!) Offal offers an endless spectrum

and Offal Wednesdays in the cooler months. There are also several food writers

of flavors, textures and preparations. There are hundreds of different delicious pos-

sharing their penchant for parts. Check out Fergus Henderson’s Nose to Tail (Ecco;

sibilities. Guts: a rainbow of flavors.

2004) and Beyond Nose to Tail (Bloomsbury; 2007), Michael Ruhlman’s Charcuterie (W.W. Norton; 2005) and Anissa Helou’s The Fifth Quarter (Absolute Press; 2004).

#2. It’s healthy! Yes, many internal organs have a lot of fat and cholesterol, but so do butter and eggs.

American supermarket meat has become so overprocessed that people have

I am not suggesting you eat nothing but offal, but sprinkled here and there throughout

stopped associating it with animals completely. When I teach kids about cooking,

a weekly diet, offal contains a level of nutrition rivaled only by your multivitamins.

I talk about the origin of meat. When I explain that beef is a cow and pork is a pig, there is inevitably a chorus of “Ewww, gross!” (Imagine the sounds that spew forth

#3. It’s economical.

when we get into game meat. “People eat Bambi?” Yes, little Jimmy, and he was

Offal, like all great peasant food, was put to use partly out of necessity. Muscle was

delicious.) So come on, America! It is time for your reality check. We eat animals.

the good, pricey stuff, reserved for the high and mighty. What “off falls” from the

They were once alive, and now they are dead. If you don’t want to be a part of the

good stuff was left for the huddled masses. Historically, offal is cheap.

carnivore corps, I can absolutely respect that. But if you’re going to eat a side of baby back ribs, know what it is and have some respect for the source. (Then next

#4. It’s the moral choice for meat eaters with a conscience.

time, eat like a zombie and order a side of turkey fries.) AM

The other part of offal’s history has nothing to do with cost and everything to do with disdain for waste. Why would you raise an animal, care for it, slaughter it, then throw

Leslie Bilderback is a certified master baker, chef, cookbook author and lead pastry

half of it out? The moral answer is, you wouldn’t. It’s reprehensible that we fail to

instructor at École de Cuisine Pasadena. A South Pasadena resident, she teaches her

honor the animals we eat. Instead, we raise sad, sick, mistreated animals, use their

techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com.

46 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS

THE

LIST COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER

A NIGHT AT THE TAJ Oct. 2 — The Pacific Asia Museum holds its 33rd Festival of the Autumn Moon at the California Club in downtown Los Angeles. “A Night at the Taj” celebrates the Taj Mahal and the richness of South Asian culture and honors museum supporter and Pasadena business consultant Temo Arjani. Ticket prices start at $275. The Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. For tickets, call (626) 449-2742, ext. 28, or visit

DIVERSE GLENDALE HOMES OPEN THEIR DOORS Oct. 3 — The Glendale Historical Society 2010 Fall Home Tour, “Adobe to Atomic: Glendale’s Ranch Heritage,” runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30 ($20 for members). Tickets can be purchased from 10:30 a.m. the day of the tour at the Casa Adobe de San Rafael, the starting point, or in advance on the society’s website. The Casa Adobe de San Rafael is located at 1330 Dorothy Dr., Glendale. Call (818) 242-7447 or visit glendalehistorical.org.

pacificasiamuseum.org.

IMAGES: Arlene Vidor (Adobe to Atomic); vagueonthehow (Matthew Morrison); Donna Rey and Lisa Crosby (Sierra Madre Wine & Jazz Walk); courtesy of Robyn Feeley (Frida)

SHINING OVER THE ARROYO Oct. 2 — The Pasadena Ronald McDonald House hosts its sixth annual Shine Gala at 6 p.m. at the historic Robinson House. The “Moon Viewing Over the Arroyo” benefit will celebrate the autumn equinox with live entertainment, dinner and silent and live auctions. The evening’s honoree is Paul Rusnak of Rusnak Motors. Tickets cost $150. The Robinson House is located at 195 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena. For tickets, call (626) 585-1588, ext. 103, or visit pasadenarmh.org.

ASID UNVEILS ITS HOME AND KITCHEN TOUR Oct. 3 — The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Pasadena Chapter hosts its 24th annual Home and Kitchen Tour of four residences designed by members of ASID’s Pasadena chapter, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stops include a traditional, Colonial-style home designed by Firoozeh Khorrami, a contemporary two-story residence by Rozalynn Woods, a 1970s ranch-style home reconfigured with modern and Craftsman-style sensibility by Susan Sawasy and a 1941 French Provincial home by Leona Valone. Tickets cost $30. Visit asidpasadena.org.

LIGHTING A SPARK FOR CANCER PATIENTS Oct. 4 — weSPARK, L.A.’s cancer support center founded by actress Wendie Jo Sperber, presents “Broadway Tonight!” at 8 p.m. at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The organization’s 10th anniversary celebration features Broadway musical numbers directed by Barbara Epstein. Honorees are director Robert Zemeckis, writer/producer Bob Gale and Fox Broadcasting exec Missy Halperin. The cast includes Matthew Morrison (Glee, pictured), Adam Pascal (Rent), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Alonzo Bodden (Last Comic Standing), Wayne Brady (Let's Make a Deal), Michael Chiklis (No Ordinary Family), Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives) and Randy Jackson (American Idol). Ticket prices range from $25 to $250. The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. For tickets, call (818) 243ALEX or visit alextheatre.org. For information, visit wespark.org.

FINE WINES FOR A GOOD CAUSE Oct. 9 — The fifth annual Sierra Madre Wine & Jazz Walk runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at Baldwin Avenue and Sierra Madre Boulevard in downtown Sierra Madre. The evening’s offerings include fine wines, live jazz and food from local restaurants. Sponsored by San Antonio Winery and Roboli Family Wine Estates, the event benefits cancer research at the City of Hope in Duarte. Tickets cost $40 in advance, $50 at the door. For an additional $35, guests can visit the San Antonio Winery VIP Wine Garden from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Call (213) 241-7266 or visit sierramadrewineandjazzwalk.com.

CELEBRATING THE DEAD AT FOLK TREE Oct. 9 — The Folk Tree’s annual “Day of the Dead Altars & Ephemera Exhibition” opens with a reception from 2 to 6 p.m. Marking the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday, the exhibition, which runs through Nov. 6, showcases altars by 12 artists, including Robyn Feeley’s "Frida" Mexican (pictured), folk art and related works. The Folk Tree is located at 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 795-8733 or visit folktree.com.

BEAUTY, POWER AND DRAMA AT THE HUNTINGTON The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens offers an eclectic array of events and exhibitions this month: Oct. 2 — As part of the monthlong Big Draw L.A., visitors will create a communal artwork –– a botanical collage, using leaves, twigs, flowers and other materials –– from noon to 4 p.m. in the Rose Garden. The image’s creation and deconstruction will be documented with time-lapse photography. Free with museum admission. Oct. 2 — “Evolving Ideas: Midcentury Printmakers Explore Process” opens, exploring American artists’ innovative printmaking techniques after World War II. Pieces on display reflect the influences of European Surrealism, process experimentation and the collaborative environment of the Depression-era Works Progress Administration. The exhibition runs through Jan. 3, 2011. Oct. 9 — “Beauty and Power: Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Peter Marino Collection,” a rare look at 24 exceptional bronze statuettes from the private collection of New York architect Peter Marino, opens today. The collection, on public view for the first time, includes pieces dating back to the 15th century. The exhibition is on display in the Mary Lou and George Boone Gallery through Jan. 24. Oct. 9 — “Drama After Dark: A Night of the Macabre with Poe and Gorey” features staged tales of Edgar Allan Poe and Edward Gorey, spine-tingling drama presented by actors of the Guild of St. George. The haunting stories, including “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and more, are enacted throughout the Huntington grounds from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The event is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Tickets cost $35 and are available by calling (800) 838-3006 or visiting brownpapertickets.com. The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626) 405-2100 or visit huntington.org. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 47

THE

LIST

PASADENA ARTWEEKEND RETURNS TO TOWN Oct. 8 through 10 — The Friday-through-Sunday event includes free admission to Pasadena’s museums, an open-air art market and gallery walk, a dance festival, edible art, live music and more. The weekend kicks off with ARTNight from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, when major Pasadena museums and cultural venues open their doors for free; participants include the Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center College of Design showing the exhibition "Energy" (middle), Kidspace Children’s Museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art showing Megan Geckler’s Every move you make, every step you take (above) and the Pasadena Museum of History showing their "Pasadena Patron" exhibition, which will include Benjamin Chambers Brown’s California Poppies (bottom). On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ARTWalk comes to the Pasadena Playhouse District, at El Molino Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, with an open-air market of paintings, photography, sculpture and new media by some 40 artists, a gallery walk, live entertainment, interactive children’s activities and more. The ARTHeritage Parade honoring Latino culture starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at Los Robles Avenue and Howard Street and ends at La Pintoresca Park. Also Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Art of Food offers tastes of local fare along South Lake Avenue. The day ends with ARTRhythm, a free outdoor concert from 5 to 9 p.m. at Paseo Colorado, at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Marengo Avenue. The weekend concludes with ARTPerformance, Old Pasadena’s Cultural Dance Festival, featuring dances from around the world, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Levitt Pavilion, 85 E. Holly St., in Memorial Park. Visit pasadenaartweekend.com.

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47

JENNIFER JONES CELEBRATED AT NORTON SIMON Oct. 9 through 30 — The Norton Simon Museum pays tribute to the life and career of Academy Award–winning actress Jennifer Jones, the late wife of Norton Simon, with 2 p.m. screenings of her films each Saturday of the month: The Song of Bernadette (1943) is scheduled for Oct. 9; Duel in the Sun (1946) screens on Oct. 16; Beat the Devil (1953), Oct. 23; and Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1956), Oct. 30. Before each showing, Chief Curator Carol Togneri talks with Jones’ son, Robert Walker, about growing up the child of a screen legend. Screenings are free with museum admission. The Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 449-6840 or visit nortonsimon.org.

LUXURIOUS CHOCOLATE Oct. 10 — Taste TV’s fourth annual Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center. Choco-holics can sample offerings from more than 35 chocolatiers, confectioners and other culinary artists. Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door. The Pasadena Convention Center is located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Visit lachocolatesalon.com.

HALF A CENTURY OF LAUGHS Oct. 10 — The Ice House marks its 50th anniversary with an “AllStar Comedy Show” including Paula Poundstone, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, benefiting the Pasadena’s children’s charity Hillsides. Tickets range from $25 to $100. The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. For show information, visit icehousecomedy.com. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at (800) 653-8000 or visit ticketmaster.com.

A ZESTY FUNDRAISER Oct. 10 — The Pasadena Senior Center celebrates its 50th anniversary with a gala starting at 5 p.m. at a private home in San Marino. “Zest! 10-10-10” serves up catering by Peggy Dark and The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, cocktails, mariachi music by Abel Ramirez of El Portal restaurant and music by Art Deco and His Society Orchestra. KCET host Huell Howser (pictured) will emcee, and Christian Perry of Dancing With the Stars will perform with his Rose City Ballroom dancers. Tickets cost $175. Guests can obtain the event address by requesting an invitation from Pasadena Senior Center Development Assistant Pam Kaye at (626) 685-6756 or pamk@pasadenaseniorcenter.org. Visit pasadenaseniorcenter.org.

PHOTO: Craig Schwartz (A Noise Within)

BLACK TIES AND BURGERS

48 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

Oct. 16 — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Pasadena’s “Black Tie and Burgers” fundraiser is scheduled for 6 p.m. at a private Pasadena residence. The evening includes food from In-N-Out Burger and The Spot, silent and live auctions, cocktails and music by the flamenco fusion band Cale and the six-member group Celebration. Tickets, which include sponsorship of one child’s annual $75 membership, start at $150 per person. The event location will be given upon ticket purchase. Visit bgcpasadena.org or call (626) 449-9100.

AUTUMN AIR AND PLANT FAIR AT DESCANSO Fall events for art and plant lovers are blooming at Descanso Gardens this month: Oct. 16 and 17 — The “Autumn Air” art sale offers a chance to visit with local plein air painters under Descanso’s oaks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

IMAGES: ©2010, Megan Geckler (Every move you make, every step you take); Courtesy of Art Center (At Any Given Moment, Fall 1) © Rebeca Mendez; courtesy of the Archives, Pasadena Museum of History (California Poppies); Michael Schwartz (Paula Poundstone)

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Pok-A-Dots • Costumes for all occasions • Full line of accessories • Rent or buy –infant to adult sizes • Plus size section Oct 22 through 24 — The Harvest Festival and Plant Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. offers plants from Descanso’s plant propagation program and the Mount San Antonio College horticulture program. Descanso staff and other experts present talks, demonstrations and workshops throughout the weekend; family fun includes a costume parade and sing-along for the kids. Events are free with Descanso admission. Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 9494200 or visit descansogardens.org.

ARTFUL CARS Oct. 17 — Art Center College of Design’s “Car Classic ’10” brings top automotive designers, collectors and enthusiasts to the Hillside Campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 rare and exotic automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, watercraft and other vehicles will be on display. The event includes a keynote presentation by alumnus Frank Stephenson, design director for McLaren Automotive, and the unveiling of the new McLaren MP4-12C. Tickets cost $50 and are available in advance by phone or by emailing carclassic@artcenter.edu. Art Center College of Design Hillside Campus is located at 1700 Lida St., Pasadena. Call (626) 396-2304 or visit artcenter.edu.

• Estate liquidation services available

Open 7 days in October 115 E. Huntington Dr. Arcadia 626-445-0254 pokadotscostumes.com

ILLUSTRATING MINI LAI’S MEMORY Oct. 23 — The Mini Lai Scholarship Fund presents a one-night exhibition of illustrations by Art Center College of Design alumni at the South Campus from 8 to 11 p.m. The fund honors the memory of the late Mini Lai, an Art Center alumna and illustrator and grants scholarships to illustration students at the school. Art Center College of Design South Campus is located at 950 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Email info@minilai.com or visit minilai.com.

THE VICTORIAN WAY OF DEATH Oct. 23 and 24 — Heritage Square Museum hosts its seventh annual Halloween and Mourning Tours this weekend. Witness a Victorian-style funeral procession, visit a fortune teller, learn about hair jewelry and mourning attire and hear an argument about the merits of spirit photography as the living history museum explores 19th-century culture and traditions surrounding death. On Sunday, children ages 2 to 12 can come in costume, play period games, try 19th-century harvest crafts, choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (while supplies last) and listen to spooky stories. The program runs from noon to 4 p.m. both days. Museum admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors older than 65 and $5 for children ages 6 through 12; members and children under 6 are admitted free. The Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles. Call (323) 2252700 or visit heritagesquare.org.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Art Center (Car Classic ‘10)

GO TO PERU WITH THE ZOO Oct. 29 through Nov. 8 — The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) hosts “A Classic Adventure to Peru,” a trip highlighting the country’s history and natural wonders, guided by professional naturalists. The trip takes in Lima, Nazca, the Ballestas Islands, the Paracas coastal paradise, the Amazon, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve’s rare plants and wildlife and Amazon Natural Park. An optional six-day extension to Cusco and Machu Picchu is also available. The tour, leaving from Los Angeles, is operated by Classic Escapes, an organization providing educational experiences supporting the world’s diverse wildlife and cultures. The package costs $5,995 (based on double occupancy); the optional extension costs an additional $2,695. Call Melissa Grossenbacher at GLAZA at (323) 644-4792 or visit lazoo.org/calendar/travel/index.html. AM ARROYO ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ 49

50 ~ OCTOBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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