Arroyo Monthly December 2010 by Southland Publishing

HELLBENT 4 THE HOLIDAYS

NANCY SPILLER DISHES ABOUT WHAT NOT TO SERVE THIS SEASON

MARVIN HAMLISCH

MAKES THE POPS POP

SUPER ZACK

300 DIRECTOR ZACK SNYDER TAKES ON THE MAN OF STEEL

THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF

Mike White HOW ONE HOT WRITER FOUND HILARITY IN SPIRITUAL HEALING

HOLIDAY GIFT AND EVENT GUIDES

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4 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

ARROYO VOLUME 6 ~ NUMBER 12

M O N T H LY

29 THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE 8 ZACK’S BACK 300’s hot director, Zack Snyder, gears up to relaunch the Superman franchise. –By Noela Hueso

12 MARVIN DOES PASADENA Award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch talks to Robert Cutietta, dean of USC’s Thornton School of Music, about his latest gig: principal pops conductor of the Pasadena Pops.

29 EAT, PRAY, ANNOY Hollywood hyphenate Mike White aims his quirky lens at spiritual healing with his new HBO series, Enlightened. –By Betti Levine

35 ART AT THE ARCLIGHT ArcLight Cinemas showcase local talent in their nontraditional art galleries. –By Brenda Rees

HOLIDAY CHEER 46 HELLBENT 4 THE HOLIDAYS Don’t let these seasonal jawbreakers get stuck in your teeth. –By Nancy Spiller

50 BASKET CASES For our annual holiday shopping guide, we bring you suggestions for great gift baskets from experts in the sensual arts. –By Bradley Tuck

DEPARTMENTS 7 FESTIVITIES The Red Hen Press, Rosemary Children’s Services and Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services

PHOTO: Gabriel Goldberg

53 THE LIST A calendar of events celebrating the holiday season 57 DINING CRÊPEstudio gives one of France’s culinary creations an international je ne sais quoi.

59 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS Get your strength up for the new year at the best breakfast joint in town. ABOUT THE COVER: Mike White

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 5

EDITOR’S NOTE

COMPARED TO ITS BOX OFFICE–OBSESSED NEIGHBORS to the west, Pasadena is the un-Hollywood. Indeed, rubbing shoulders at finer restaurants here isn’t likely to land anyone a gig directing the next big blockbuster. Which is precisely what a lot of people in the entertainment industry like about it. Certainly the sometimes skewed but always heartfelt sensibility of Pasadena-born writer-director-actor Mike White (Chuck and Buck, School of Rock, The Good Girl) benefited from his youth here, spent relatively far from the belly of the sequel-making beast. His most recent writing project is Enlightened, HBO’s offbeat new series starring Laura Dern scheduled for release next year. And at 40, his directing career is set to take off, after his 2007 debut (Year of the Dog), with Enlightened’s pilot and the plum job helming the upcoming film adaptation of the bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. We check in with White in this issue. So it shouldn’t be surprising that Pasadena also lays claim to the director of another big upcoming film: Zack Snyder, who soared to prominence with the stylish

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action movie 300. Snyder, who’s raising four kids here with his wife and producing partner, Deborah, was tagged to direct the relaunch of the Superman franchise. They talk to Noela Hueso about his cresting career and choosing Pasadena. We also welcome Marvin Hamlisch, the much honored film and stage composer who has taken over the reins of the Pasadena Pops. Hamlisch and Pasadena’s Rob Cutietta, dean of USC’s School of Music, talk about his vision for his debut season. Oh, yes. And happy holidays! Even if they’re not always happy, at least they can be amusing, if Nancy Spiller’s delightful “Hellbent 4 the Holidays” spread is any indication. Still checking your list of who has been naughty and nice? Consider one of the gift baskets designed by experts in the sensual arts, compiled by Bradley Tuck. — Irene Lacher

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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 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

FESTIVITIES

Pasadena’s Red Hen Press toasted its 16th anniversary at a champagne luncheon at the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on Nov. 7. Supporters of the independent publisher of poetry and literary fiction were regaled with readings by poet and novelist Ishmael Reed, poet and memoirist Toi Derricotte and novelist Christopher Rice. Other guests included such L.A. literary lions as Wanda Coleman, Janet Fitch and David St. John. The event raised more than $200,000 for outreach.

1. Red Hen managing editor Kate Gale (center) with guests 2. Ishamel Reed 3. Jim Tilley, Gina Knox, Toi Derricotte and Wanda Coleman MAIN: Kelly Davio and Austin Strauss

More than 300 supporters of Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services raised more than $160,000 for treatment and education of at-risk youth at the 2010 Mentors Award Gala on Oct.

PHOTOS: Courtesy Red Hen Press, Optimist Youth Home & Family Services and Rosemary Children Serices

19. The dinner at Universal Studios 1

Hollywood’s Globe Theatre honored two major supporters: Trish Curry, chair of the Los Angeles Commission for Children and Families who received the Mentor’s Award from Carol Biondi of the L.A. County

1. Chris Schauble and Michaela Pereira 2. Terry and Paulette Chapman 3. Carol Biondi, Trish Curry, Michael Kofsky, Marcy Grossman, Stacia and Luc Robitaille and Sil Orlando

Commission for Children and

Is there such a thing as guilt-free

Families, and Hockey Hall of Fame

shopping? There was for dozens

inductee Luc and Stacia Robitaille,

of supporters and board members

founders of the Echoes of Hope

of Rosemary Children’s Services

Foundation, who were presented the

on Nov. 11, when they gathered at

Humanitarian of the Year Award by

the Pasadena showroom of jewel-

Marcy Grossman, deputy consul

er Maria de la Luz, who donated

general of Canada. KTLA’s Michaela

10 percent of that evening’s sales

Pereira and Chris Schauble of

to the agency serving 450 at-risk

KNBC co-hosted the event. Dinner

children. The event showcased

co-chairs were Terry Chapman and

pieces the designer had created

Jan and Ian Teague. The organiza-

exclusively for Rosemary

tion’s services include housing for 99

Children’s Services, USC and

boys at its Highland Park campus.

Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

MAIN: Donna Benjamin, Clifta Gillette, Maria De La Luz, Randy Arrieta and Executive Director Greg Wessels INSET: De La Luz, Donna Benjamin, Charise Stewart, Gillette, Wessels and Ralph Ramirez ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 7

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

ZACK’S BACK MORE POWERFUL THAN A LOCOMOTIVE, 300 ’S HOT DIRECTOR, ZACK SNYDER, TAKES ON HIS BIGGEST COMICBOOK ACTION FLICK YET, THE THEATRICAL RELAUNCH OF THE SUPERMAN FRANCHISE. BY NOELA HUESO

8 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

PHOTOS: Clay Enos (portrait); courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures (300, Watchmen, Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole)

ZACK SNYDER THINKS A LOT OF THINGS ARE “AWESOME.” Whether he’s talking about the upcoming Superman film he was recently tapped to direct — “It’s early in the process, but my main goal is to make it awesome” — or extolling the virtues of architecture in Pasadena, where he has lived since he was a student at Art Center College of Design in the late ’80s — “There are so many awesome places, especially if you like the Craftsman movement” — the 44-year-old director is excited. It’s not hard to see why. Awesome can also be used to describe Snyder’s career over the past seven years. Ranked No. 25 on Entertainment Weekly’s 2007 list of the 50 smartest people in Hollywood, he started out as a commercial and music video director, becoming known for his stylish and sweeping visuals. But his big break came when he was chosen to direct the 2004 remake of George Romero’s cult horror classic Dawn of the Dead. It was a critical and commercial hit, enabling Snyder and his producer wife, Deborah Snyder, 40, to set up shop at Warner Bros. His next venture, 2006’s 300, was an even bigger success, using a cuttingedge post-production technique to reproduce imagery from the comic book that inspired it. The action movie about a battle between 300 Spartans and a million Persians in 480 B.C. earned $456 million worldwide and international recognition for Snyder and his star, Gerald Butler. The director followed it up with the superhero saga Watchmen in 2009 and his first animated and family-friendly film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, which opened in September. Next up is the fantasy action film Sucker Punch, opening in March, which Snyder wrote — it’s his first produced original script — as well as directed. Even more buzzworthy is his helming of Superman: Man of Steel, reportedly budgeted at $250 million and scheduled for release during the 2012 Christmas season. Producer-director Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight) handed him the Superman gig after months of Internet speculation about who would be directing the high-profile project. (Everyone from Darren Aronofksy to Robert Zemeckis was rumored to be the frontrunner.) “He thinks like no one I’ve ever come in contact with,” Deborah says. “He really is brilliant — and I’m not just saying that because he’s my husband.” It’s a crisp late October morning and we’re sitting in the Warner Bros. bungalow that houses the Snyders’ production company, Cruel and Unusual Films. Back in the day, the space belonged to Jack Warner and, more recently, was home to George Clooney’s production operation. It’s a warm and inviting cluster of offices with a Southwestern vibe — though the mural-size photo on the wall of a pile of anatomically correct dolls (props from the 300 shoot) offers visitors a somewhat startling greeting. With Venti cups of Starbucks coffee in hand, the couple are relaxed and chatty as they reflect on their life in Hollywood — and their deliberately unHollywood life in Pasadena. The Snyders may travel the world to create and promote their films, but at heart, they say, they’re homebodies. “We really try not to go over the hill if we don’t have to, especially on the weekend,” Deborah says. “There’s a normalcy to Pasadena. It’s not Hollywood.

300

Watchmen

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole

It’s a great place for your kids to grow up. You can go into your coffee shop and the people know you.” Favorite Pasadena haunts include the ArcLight and Gold Class Cinemas (where they go at least once a week with Zack’s four kids, ages 10 to 17), Mi Piace, Slaw Dogs, Violet’s Cakes (owned by Zack’s ex-wife, Denise) and Los Gringos Locos Mexican restaurant in La Cañada Flintridge. Many nights, Zack says, “we go, ‘Let’s just go to Los Gringos — screw making dinner.’” Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Snyder spent a year studying painting at London’s Heatherley School of Fine Art before landing in Pasadena to major in film at Art Center College of Design. (While USC is better known as an incubator for Hollywood, Art Center has turned out a number of filmmakers through the years, including director Michael Bay [Transformers, Pearl Harbor] and Oscar-winning writer Roger Avary [Pulp Fiction].) “They create a special culture that’s unique,” Snyder says. “It’s like a medical school in the sense that they expect you to give your life over to the place. I remember endless allnighters — and not questioning that. They want the most professional version of —CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 9

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

what you’re doing and for you to have confidence in your work. They encourage and demand an excellence that I’ve taken into my professional life.” Snyder’s intensity about his work has evoked equally intense reactions, both pro and con, with critics describing his style as everything from “breathtaking” (The Hollywood Reporter) to “artful excess” (Rolling Stone) and “overblown” (USA Today). That’s just fine with him. “My aesthetic hasn’t changed dramatically over the years,” he says. “Sure, it has evolved — as you work and get more of a chance to make those pictures real, you definitely get an opportunity to hone your aesthetic — but I feel like I’m doing the same stuff that I’ve always done since I was a kid.” What he hadn’t done, until recently, was make films for kids. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole was Snyder’s response to his children’s complaint that they were never allowed to see his films. “I’ve always been really clear with the fact that my movies are not meant for kids,” he says. But he wasn’t about to make just any age-appropriate movie. “When you’re spending three-plus years of your life, that can’t be the only reason you’re making a film,” Deborah says. “So while we were looking for something that they could come see, it had to be the right story and it had to be something that Zack had a vision for.” Based on the children’s books by Kathryn Lasky, Guardians fit the bill. Snyder found that the tale of a young barn owl that escapes and fights his captors with the help of new friends had the scope and grandeur he’s drawn to. “Making an animated movie is very similar to the way I make a movie anyway,” he says. “I storyboard everything and pan everything really carefully. I’m very specific about the way that I make shots, and everyone has my drawings so they’re very clear on what I want to do. In the animation process, that [work style] translates really nicely. It’s the next step — the layout, rough animation and the background — that I’m really learning. That’s really where you also rely so much on the animators and the layout guys to make that stuff work. “The big challenge, really, was trying to restrain myself and to just stick to my normal way of making a movie,” he continues. “I told myself, ‘Let’s just try to make the same shots you would make if it was live action.’ It just helps the movie feel more real and more organic.”

Zack Snyder has been hooked on restoring homes in Pasadena since 1993, when he bought his first Charles Greene–designed house — it actually was Greene’s home — in foreclosure. He spent four years returning it to its former glory (a “museum-quality restoration,” as Snyder puts it) with the help of restoration architect and author Randell L. Makinson. Since then, he has bought and given new life to four other houses in the area, including his current residence: a six-bedroom mid-century modern home designed by architect and former Pasadena Mayor Mortimer J. Matthews. Snyder and his wife, Deborah, began renovating the 1965 residence overlooking the Rose Bowl when they bought it two years ago. As Snyder says wryly: “I’ve been doing my best to upgrade Pasadena whenever I can.” — Noela Hueso 10 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

What hasn’t always been organic is the compromise Snyder has had to make between his vision and Warner Bros.’ expectations of ratings. “The studio always wants PG-13 movies from me — whether it should be PG-13 or not — and I’ve really struggled with that. Sucker Punch [which will be PG-13] is the first time I’ve really tried to do that for them.” Punch — which stars Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung and Jon Hamm (rumored to be a contender for Superman) — is the story of a teenage girl who imagines escaping, along with four other girls, the 1950s insane asylum they’re trapped in. “These are amazing female characters,” Deborah says. “They’re complex. Female action roles can be very one-dimensional. These girls are tough — they can kick butt — but they can also cry and be sexy. They can be all these things — and to have five of them is a rare thing.” Despite his differences with the studio, Snyder says he’s happy with the result. “It feels a little bit like a compromise, but I feel it’s appropriate for the theme. If it had been as violent or as sexual as some of the other ones that I’ve made, it would have taken away from the overall idea [of the story].” But that doesn’t mean he lets his standards slip. “I try and make each movie like I’ll never make another,” Syder says. “You kind of have to think about that. You can’t say, ‘Oh, I’ll do it on the next one.’ There’s a really good chance you’ll never make another movie — and I don’t mean because you’re going to die — just because you’re not going to get the opportunity.” AM

PHOTOS: Clay Enos (Zack and Deborah Snyder); Zack Snyder (house)

ZACK SNYDER HAS A THING FOR PASADENA ARCHITECTURE.

Zack and Deborah Snyder

BR E T T

S T U M M

Happy

Holidays

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THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

PHOTOS: Clay Enos (Zack and Deborah Snyder); Zack Snyder (house)

ZACK SNYDER HAS A THING FOR PASADENA ARCHITECTURE.

Zack and Deborah Snyder

BR E T T

S T U M M

Happy

Holidays

Kennedy Capital

Join me in bidding “Auld Lang Syne” to 2010 and welcoming in a New Year of opportunity for all. BEST MORTGAGE BROKER Two Years In A Row

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LOCAL AND PERSONABLE | CARING AND METHODICAL | SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 11

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

MARVIN DOES PASADENA Marvin Hamlisch, 66, the new principal pops conductor of the Pasadena Pops, a prolific composer for film and stage and one of only two people to have won all four major American performing awards — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — and a Pulitzer Prize, talks to Robert Cutietta, dean of USC’s Thornton School of Music, about how Hollywood will interact musically with Pasadena under his baton, the orchestra’s family values and the one thing audiences can do to make him happy. DEAN ROBERT CUTIETTA: First of all, I want to welcome you to Pasadena. There’s so much excitement about you coming. MARVIN HAMLISCH: Well, thank you. I’m looking forward to it.

RC: MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHY PASADENA? WHY WERE WE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE CHOSEN? MH: I didn’t exactly choose. I was asked to come and I thought it was a wonderful opportunity. I like Pasadena, and I like L.A. I like the whole world of California. I love the idea of playing particularly American music and making it, hopefully, viable for not just older people, but for younger people and families to come and hear this music. It’s a very important part of what American culture is all about. And so I think it’s a very good fit, and I’m hoping it will create a lot of excitement. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

12 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

PHOTO: Jason Cohn

RC: I’D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS AND I’M SORRY, I’M IN A TRAIN STATION. IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE NOISY. MH: It’s funny that you say that, because I’m actually on a train going from Washington to New York.

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 13

POPS SUMMER SERIES 2011

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

JUNE 18 — FIREWORKS POPS SPECTACULAR A multimedia celebration of Pasadena’s 125th anniversary, conducted by Michael Krajewski. The program will include the “William Tell Overture,” “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” California Dreaming,” “76 Trombones” and the “1812 Overture.” July 23 — MARVIN DOES MARVIN Hamlisch conducts a concert of selections from some of the scores he composed or adapted for films and musicals, including The Way We Were, The Sting, A Chorus Line, They’re Playing Our Song and Ice Castles.

THE IDEAL IS NOT TO LOSE THE AUDIENCE THAT IS ALREADY THERE, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO POPULAR MUSIC AND POP CONCERTS, IS USUALLY AN OLDER AUDIENCE. I DON’T WANT THEM TO THINK THAT NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE’RE GOING TO DO LADY GAGA AND THEY’RE GOING TO BE OUT.

Aug. 6 — MARVIN DOES BROADWAY The program, conducted by Hamlisch, includes music from such hits as Les Misèrables, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers and Company, with guest artists Cady Huffman (a Tony winner for her performance in The Producers), Anne Bunolfsson (Les Mis) and Gary Mauer (Phantom, Les Mis). Aug. 27 — MARVIN DOES MOVIES Hamlisch will conduct a program that includes “A Salute to Gene Kelly” and selections from Gigi, An American in Paris, The Informant and Schindler’s List. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on the lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl (gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking). Single seat prices range from $56 to $90. The Rose Bowl is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena. Call (626) 793-7172 or visit pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

Rob Cutietta (inset) and Marvin Hamlisch

three we’re going to do. That way I think we introduce the audience to where we’re going.

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

RC: I’M SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT ABOUT AMERICAN MUSIC, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET INTO ANYTHING WITH THE SYMPHONY, IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX. AND IT HAS TO BE FROM EUROPE OR IT HAS TO BE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING WHAT WE’VE DONE. IS THAT GOING TO BE YOUR MUSICAL STAMP? WHAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR MUSICAL STAMP? MH: There will be mostly American music, there will be a lot of stuff from Broadway and from movies. I don’t want people to think it’s only going to be my music because it won’t. I’m the viaduct, so to speak, that brings the stuff there, and hopefully, as concerts go by, we’ll be able to have some very good musical guests. But yes, it will be mostly American music, absolutely.

RC: SPEAKING OF AUDIENCES, WHAT IS THE IDEAL AUDIENCE FOR YOUR CONCERTS? MH: The ideal is not to lose the audience that is already there, which, as you know, when it comes to popular music and pop concerts, is usually an older audience. I don’t want them to think that now all of a sudden we’re going to do Lady Gaga and they’re going to be out. We’re not doing that. But what we want to do is bring in families. The perfect ideal to me is to have a broad demographic, so the young kids can find out they actually enjoy some music, whether it’s written by Cole Porter or Richard Rodgers, or whether it’s sung by people who are a little bit more contemporary. But at least they can have a really good time. One thing I feel strongly about is that parents always say, “I never have anything to do with the kids.” That’s something a family really can do, and they can do it together and they can have a good time.

RC: THERE IS — IT’S SUCH AN IDENTITY THAT L.A. HAS ARTISTICALLY AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO CELEBRATE THAT. I’VE BEEN HERE NINE YEARS, SO I’M STILL ENJOYING THIS NEWNESS, AND I THINK PEOPLE WHO’VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME JUST TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, HOW UNIQUE THE ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE IS. AND YOU’RE RIGHT, THERE’S SO MUCH TALENT. SO HOW MANY CONCERTS ARE GOING TO BE DONE EACH SEASON? MH: As far as I know, for the summertime I’m doing three. One is about movies, one is about Broadway and one is my music. So those are the first 14 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

PHOTO: Mark Berndt (Rob Cutietta)

RC: WE’RE RIGHT NEXT TO HOLLYWOOD HERE, SO CAN WE EXPECT A LOT OF FILM MUSIC? MH: I would think so, and also, because we’re so close to Hollywood, I think there will be a lot of people that we can get as guests, who don’t always have to sing at the Hollywood Bowl and can get another chance here and another choice. I think that’s good. There’s so much talent out there, we might as well make use of it.

RC: I HAVE A WEEKLY RADIO SEGMENT WHERE PARENTS CALL IN QUESTIONS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND THAT’S A QUESTION I GET ALL THE TIME: “WHERE CAN WE TAKE OUR CHILDREN WHERE WE WON’T INTERRUPT THE AUDIENCE?” THE OTHER QUESTION I GET A LOT IS, “WHY DON’T CONDUCTORS TALK FROM THE STAGE MORE?” SO CAN WE EXPECT THAT YOU WILL BE SPEAKING FROM THE STAGE? MH: That’s something I’ve done for the last 20-something years. That’s my trademark. RC: WONDERFUL. MH: I try to make you feel like when you come to a concert, it’s as if you came to my living room. The only thing is, you have a symphony orchestra. That’s the only difference. A big living room. Yes, we will certainly be having fun from

the stage; we’ll be making up songs. I don’t really call these concerts; I call them shows. I’m trying to have a dialogue between myself and the audience and have a good time. RC: I LIKE THAT, CALLING THEM SHOWS. THAT SETS A WHOLE MOOD. OF COURSE, I’M DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC HERE; ARE YOU GOING TO BE GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE MUSICAL COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THE STAGE IN ANY WAY? DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS OR INTEREST IN DOING THAT? MH: Well, I would certainly be willing to entertain the notion of occasionally coming in and either watching a class or giving a master class. I would have no problem with that. RC: THE CLASSICAL AUDIENCE AND CLASSICAL COMMUNITY OUT HERE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMING, SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT. MH: Well, that’s nice. RC: IT REALLY IS. ALL OF US JUST WENT “WOW” WHEN WE SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT. WE CARE ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA, AND THEY’VE HAD SOME ROUGH YEARS HERE. MH: Yes, I know. RC: FOR ALL OF US, IT JUST FEELS LIKE A NEW BEGINNING AND I’M JUST SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT’S A WONDERFUL ORCHESTRA. WHAT’S THE ONE THING THAT PASADENA — AND I MEAN THE PEOPLE OF PASADENA — COULD DO THAT WOULD MAKE YOU SO HAPPY, BESIDES COMING TO YOUR CONCERTS? MH: I’ll tell you what they could do is, after they come to the concert, they can make two phone calls if they loved it to two people that didn’t come to the concert. If everybody does that, we’ll be real successful and real happy. AM ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 15

POPS SUMMER SERIES 2011

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

Rob Cutietta (inset) and Marvin Hamlisch

three we’re going to do. That way I think we introduce the audience to where we’re going.

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

PHOTO: Mark Berndt (Rob Cutietta)

ARROYO

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CONSTRUCTIVE CONSTRUCTION: HOW TO AVOID TAKING A BATH WHEN YOU REMODEL THAT DINGY OLD OUTDATED BATHROOM OR KITCHEN

IN MANY WAYS, PARENTING AND HOME-OWNING CAN

BY JENINE BAINES

HAVE MUCH IN COMMON. YOU LOVE YOUR CHILD; YOU LOVE OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING OF YOUR HOME. BOTH HAVE THE ABILITY TO EMBARRASS THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU. BOTH COST A SMALL FORTUNE IN UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE. AND, YES, YOU’LL WILLINGLY ADMIT THAT NEITHER IS PERFECT, BUT THE BENEFITS YOU GAIN FROM THE RELATIONSHIP FAR OUTWEIGH THE NEGATIVES. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

16 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 Yet there’s one major difference. While you can’t turn in your children for prettier, spanking-new, better functioning and aesthetically pleasing models, there’s nothing stopping you from taking a wrecking ball to, say, that dank ugly bathroom or that kitchen so tired that even your penny-pinching spouse winces when you try and pass it off as “vintage.” Fortunately for those of us who have made the decision to tackle a kitchen or bath remodeling, there are plenty of experts ready to guide us through the process. In fact, those in the know in the world of design offer this key piece of advice: Don’t embark upon the journey on your own. “The most effective method to reduce the inevitable stresses of remodeling is being well prepared with adequate information and design. Well-thought-out design plans are the homeowner’s first and best investment,” says John Caire of John Caire Construction. Working with a designer not only lessens stress, but also strain on your pocketbook. You’ll avoid any do-it-yourself costly mistakes. “Hiring a professional will always save the client money, because of the designer’s experience,” maintains designer Carol Cobabe, co-chairperson for the Pasadena ASID 2010 annual Kitchen and Home Tour. Igor Royz of Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Showroom, one of the largest high-end appliance retailers in Los Angeles, is such a believer in the efficacy of designers that customers who visit his showroom in Studio City will find more than appliances, plumbing fixtures and entire kitchens by everyone from GE and KitchenAid to Viking, Sub-Zero and Wolf. Staff designers are also on hand to offer virtually any help a puzzled home remodeler may need, from answering a simple question to drawing up design plans to overseeing the entire construction project. Dan Mikolasko of Dan Mikolasko Construction cautions homeowners to do their homework regarding their contractor as well. “Before embarking on any type of remodeling project, it is important to ask if the contractor is licensed, bonded, insured and willing to allow the potential customer to speak to other customers and see the work performed in their home,” says Mikolasko, who encourages customers to visit the photo gallery on his website and to visit his showroom. Adds designer Terri Julio, who shares Molasko’s concerns, “Another question to ask is this: is there a limit on our project, so that any extras will have to be done with signed change orders?” A vitally important consideration, of course, is the budget. “Front-load as much information as possible in the planning and design stages of your project,” advises Caire. “The more you know at the outset,

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the fewer monetary surprises you will have. And be forthcoming with the builder. I always ask people what their budget is. Not because I am trying to figure out what profit I can build into the job but because I need to know if the goals set forth by the client can be realistically obtained.” Igor Royz of Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center agrees. “You can spend as little as $3000 for a kitchen and appliances or as much as $40,000 or $60,000 for an entire kitchen remodeling,” says Royz, who carries a variety of products for any budget and encourages customers to visit his showroom and website for design inspiration. “It all depends on what products you choose and what budget you have. We are working with any budget and able to accommodate all our customers.” Carol Cobabe encourages homeowners to do some budgetary soul-searching as well. “Is my budget realistic?” and “Am I hoping to get more than I can afford? “are two key questions she suggests we ask. Mikolasko adds, “If the customer knows their budget, then we can work within their means. It could include reusing existing appliances, plumbing and electrical. Sometimes just changing the cupboard doors and drawer fronts is all that is needed.” —CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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CAROL Other COBABE times what’s needed is patience on the part of the homeowner. “If the project can wait, save

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 your money so that you can do it right or otherwise do the basic simple things such as painting, wallcovering, new countertops,” Cobabe advises. Igor Royz takes a somewhat stronger line. “In my opinion, a facelift is a waste of time,” he says. “At the end of day, you still have your old kitchen or bath.” That said, if you’ve counted your pennies and decided that it’s time to remodel, don’t get too caught up in pinching a few more. “Kitchens are the one room I encourage homeowners not to be afraid to spend a little more on, to get exactly what they want,” says Caire. “Think of all the time you spend there and how much use the kitchen gets, then spread the costs over all the years you’ll have that kitchen. It will help determine the actual worth of the project.” And what if we don’t want to take the wrecking ball to everything? What if we don’t want to replace our cabinets or wood flooring but want to revitalize, to resurrect them? There’s a way…and without dust!

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Your Dream Home NOW! —CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 “We do a wet abrasion, cleaning, color-balancing and refinish without ever sanding,” explains Scott Viers of N-Hance Wood Floor Refinishing and Cabinet Refacing. “Also, our process is good for the houses in and around Pasadena that cannot be sanded again because they have already been sanded to the limit.” “Our classic client is someone who has updated everything in the house, but doesn’t want new cabinets because the old ones are great quality, just a dated look,” Viers continues. “About 80 percent of our business is cabinets, and about 75 percent of that business is re-staining to give a new look.” Darker wood seems to be taking precedence over lighter, Viers has found. “What keeps me working six days a week is clients who have early ‘90s Amber Maple or Golden Oak cabinets or stairways and they want to turn them Espresso or Mahogany,” says Viers. That business is good for Viers is no surprise to John Caire. “To me, the most exciting trend is the return of fine craftsmanship,” Caire explains. “People have re-mastered the old trades with modern innovation.” Mikolasko describes himself as a “fan of energy efficiency.” Products topping his list include energyefficient appliances, tankless water heaters, insulation and airtight windows and doors. Meanwhile his clients are leaning toward stainless steel countertops, LED lighting and cork or bamboo flooring. Like Mikolasko, Royz has found his clients favoring a more contemporary look. Caesar Stone and Silestone are popular for countertops while colored cabinets in, say, yellow or red — or even a combination — are increasingly requested. Tile flooring, Royz adds, continues to be popular — particularly with larger tiles, which involve less grout and provide a cleaner look. But Terri Julio cautions homeowners not to get too carried away with new trends. Trends are fun and exciting to work with,” Julio concedes. “However, if one wants a timeless kitchen or bath, trends should be avoided. Trends often show the era in which the remodel was done. Do avocado and gold ring a bell? That said, I find it fun to use glass tiles in designs and experiment with different types of wood flooring. Just don't overdo the trends.” In fact, it’s that fear of making a goof that sometimes leads people to postpone a project indefinitely, Igor Royz has found. But with the right help, he emphasizes, they’ll find the process so rewarding that they’re almost sorry when the project ends. “That’s when the real adventure begins,” says Royz, “opening your home to friends and family and enjoying your new kitchen or bath for years to come.” ■

Specializing in Remodeling & New Construction Custom Cabinetry Tile, Carpet, Wood and Ceramic Indoor & Outdoor Painting 31 Years of Professional Experience DAN MIKOLASKO CONSTRUCTION, INC. 626-338-0244 • www.dmchomeimprovements.com

Your Local Real Estate Expert 25 years of experience putting my clients first when buying or selling a property! My extensive market knowledge and effective negotiation skills will get you the price you want for your home when you are selling, and the price you want when making that important lifetime purchase. Visit my website: Vlacich.com

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ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 23

ARROYO

HOME DESIGN DIRECTORY OF SERVICES

ARCHITECTS

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.

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.

MORTGAGE LENDERS 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

JAMES COANE & ASSOCIATES 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.

OUTDOOR LIVING GARDEN VIEW LANDSCAPE 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.

MARK HOUSTON ASSOCIATES, INC. Mark Houston Associates Inc. provides residential planning and design services in San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and surrounding areas. With Mark Houston Associates Inc. you are an integral part of the design process. We work with you to create a residential environment that expresses your personality, values and vision. This collaboration begins with discerning your needs and flows through to the completion of construction. Call (626) 357-7858

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.

BUILDERS & REMODELERS DAN MIKOLASKO CONSTRUCTION (DMC) A family owned & operated company and a member of the BBB. We are committed to making your home improvement dreams a reality. Remodeling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make. We maintain a standard of excellence in our workmanship, customer service and professionalism. We guarantee that we will do the job right the first time and we won't be satisfied until you're satisfied. Visit our website at dmchomeimprovements.com (626)338-0244

TEAK WAREHOUSE

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Today’s hottest outdoor trend is the outdoor living room ... a favorite for hotels & resorts for years and now available for residential settings. Why go to an expensive resort for the weekend when you can turn your back yard into one? Invest in something that will bring comfort and style for the long run! Teak Warehouse boasts over 16 varied collections of deep seating, offering teak and wicker at the best prices in California. 133 E. Maple Ave., Monrovia. Call (626) 305-8325 or visit teakwarehouse.com

AMERICAN WINDOW COMPANY

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Since 1999, American Window Company has supplied builders, general contractors and homeowners with a wide variety of door and window options. We can enhance the current style of your home or help you create an entirely new look. We offer the very best manufacturers’ products. They are beautiful, efficient, affordable, dependable and long-lasting. We want to be the door and window replacement supplier for the life of your home. 803 N. Glendora Blvd.,in Covina. 909-967-4043 americanwindowcompany.com

REAL ESTATE

MAUDE WOODS 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 | ADVERTISEMENT |

LIN VLACICH-SOTHEBY’S 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 ■ ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 25

38 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 27

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THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

HOLLYWOOD HYPHENATE MIKE WHITE ILLUMINATES HIS LATEST OFFBEAT VENTURE, ENLIGHTENED, HBO’S HILARIOUS NEW SERIES ABOUT SPIRITUAL HEALING. BY BETTI LEVINE | PHOTOS BY GABRIEL GOLDBERG ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 29

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

WHEN YOU CLICK ON HBO NEXT YEAR FOR THE DEBUT OF ENLIGHTENED, YOU’LL GET A LOOK AT THE WORKINGS OF THE ECCENTRICALLY FERTILE MIND OF WRITER-DIRECTORACTOR MIKE WHITE AND SOME OUTRAGEOUS CHARACTERS THAT HAVE SPRUNG FROM IT. INDEED, THOSE CREATIVE RICHES MAKE THIS ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY ANTICIPATED TV SERIES OF THE NEW YEAR. For starters, there’s the high-powered beauty executive brought to quirky life by series star Laura Dern, who suffers a mental meltdown right before your eyes. And then there’s her mother, played by Diane Ladd (also Dern’s real-life mother), who may or may not be helping the situation. Also in the mix is the requisite cast of madcap friends and colleagues who suffer hilarious consequences after Dern goes off in search of spiritual healing; when she returns, she decides she’ll henceforth live an “enlightened” life and try to entice all around her to do likewise. They’re all fictional, of course. But doesn’t everyone know someone who has found salvation in chanting, yoga or some other mystical path to self-realization — and can’t stop proselytizing about it? And don’t we all sometimes wish they’d just shut up? Enlightened is the latest brainchild of White, 40, one of Pasadena’s most creative native sons. He has an enviable track record of writing films that showcase their stars’ particular talents — sometimes obvious, other times less so. Not a fan of rock music himself, White wrote The School of Rock (2003) for Jack Black so the puckish actor could perform his favorite rock music. He also wrote the 2002 tragicomedy The Good Girl, so far the only vehicle in which Jennifer Aniston has demonstrated acting chops that go way beyond her bubbly Rachel persona from Friends. Chuck and Buck (2000), White’s first film, has become a cult classic, called by one observer on IFC.com “the most sweetly demented stalker film” ever written. White also acts, produces and directs, mostly for movies and TV shows he has conceived. And in a possible sign of his growing stature, he recently signed on to direct the first project that didn’t originate in his fecund imagination: Lionsgate’s adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an unlikely blend of Jane Austen’s genteel classic tale and a comedic 30 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

swath of blood, guts and zombie gore. (He replaces David O. Russell, who reportedly left behind a script on his way out the door.) And when White is not directing his own work, there’s plenty of top-tier talent willing to do it for him. Like Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs), who directed two episodes of Enlightened. When HBO announced in April it had greenlighted production on a full season, White issued a statement saying he felt lucky to have an opportunity “to make something original, heartfelt and weird.” And that about sums up his body of work. Beyond that, it would be fair to say that White is himself enlightened. On a recent Sunday morning, his white Prius was sitting in the driveway as he opened the door of his Westside hacienda built around a sunny brick courtyard, wearing jeans and a faded navy T-shirt with the words “eat no” above a picture of a cow. He patiently explained to a visitor that his vegan diet (no meat, fish or chicken) offers more than enough protein to be totally nutritious, and that his health and energy levels have peaked under this regime. Not your typical slick Hollywood type, White seems pretty much like the shows he creates: independent, gently off-center, with an absurdist view of life’s tragicomic zigs and zags. Let’s just say that if Woody Allen had been born a WASP in Pasadena, like White, the two might have been coconspirators. And talk about degrees of separation, Diane Keaton (who won her only Oscar in Allen’s Annie Hall) happens to have worked with White too. She directed a segment and executive produced his ill-fated 2001 Fox TV series, Pasadena, inspired by his beloved hometown. But the timing was unfortunate: The show debuted two weeks after the 9/11 tragedy, and a traumatized nation did not tune in. Although 13 episodes were filmed, only four aired that first year. Pasadena never totally bit the dust, however. Called “one of TV’s buried treasures” by Entertainment Weekly, it’s currently airing in Belgium after runs in Romania, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Serbia, South Africa, New Zealand and China. In 2005, all 13 segments finally aired in the U.S. on SOAPnet. Of course, foreign viewers probably think they’re seeing the real Pasadena when they watch the show. They’re not. Due to tax credit considerations, the show was actually filmed in Vancouver, B.C., White says. “It’s so ironic,” he continues, relaxing on his beige living room sofa. “I love Pasadena; it’s where I grew up. I do a lot of filming there. I shot much of Year of the Dog in Pasadena,” he continues, referring to the 2007 film he wrote and directed, which also featured Dern. The two have long been friends, and White says he wrote Enlightened with her in mind. The regard is mutual; as Dern told Moving Picture magazine, “I have loved [Mike White] for a long time as a writer… He has a really profoundly unique and important voice in film for the future...” She added that she’d like to make a “very long movie” with him in some faroff place. “I’d laugh my ass off and never be bored.” —CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 31

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White directed the pilot of Enlightened — there will be 10 episodes this season — and he shot much of it in Pasadena, too. “I think people will see when the show comes out that I did a pretty good job of capturing a certain kind of Southern California light and palette that is very nostalgic for me, something I don’t always see in film representations of the area.” You may have seen White play the gay stalker Buck of his first film or the store security guard in The Good Girl or perhaps Jack Black’s roommate in The School of Rock. But his biggest exposure came last year, when he teamed up with his father, Mel White, on the 14th season of the CBS reality juggernaut The Amazing Race. The show pits multiple teams against each other in a global race for $1 million; the Whites made it through seven legs before being eliminated in Thailand. And the real-life saga of this father and son is at least as interesting as any plot the junior White ever invented. White describes his childhood as idyllic. “I had two great homes — one with my parents and older sister in Eaton Canyon, the other at the Polytechnic School, where I went from kindergarten through 12th grade,” he says. “I spent lots of time at my friends’ houses, and they always loved coming to my house. My parents were outgoing and fun to be around.” White’s father, the Reverend Mel White, was a prominent Pasadena clergyman and author, often commissioned to ghostwrite books for religious right leaders such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. When Mike was about 12, his father announced to the family that he was gay and asked them all to keep it a secret until the children had completed school. They did. After graduating from Polytechnic, White went on to obtain an Ivy education at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. His father eventually came out publicly, his parents divorced amicably and, in 2008, his father married Gary Nixon, whom he’d known since they’d met, 27 years earlier at Pasadena’s All Saints Episcopal Church. (The younger White himself came out as bisexual in The Advocate in 2002.) Nixon and Mel White now live in Lynchburg, Virginia, and lecture at university campuses across the country on what they call the “soul force” philosophies of Gandhi and King, encouraging youth to confront religious leaders’ anti-gay rhetoric. Despite his father’s new life on the East Coast, the family has remained close, Mike says. It helps that his mother and sister, who has children, still live in Pasadena. “I’m frequently over there visiting them and my friends,” he says. “My dad comes to visit us a few times a year.” Whatever heartaches may have occurred are now well in the past, and a huge smile spreads across his face when he’s asked if he’d like to write a part in one of his films for his dad to play. “Oh, yes, I would. It would have to be the right part, of course. But I hope we can do it some day.” AM

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THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

ART AT THE ARCLIGHT

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE ART WITH YOUR POPCORN? ARCLIGHT CINEMAS SHOWCASE LOCAL TALENT IN THEIR NONTRADITIONAL ART GALLERIES. BY BRENDA REES

FIRST-RUN FLICKS, RESERVED SEATING AND A SNAZZY SNACK BAR WEREN'T ARCLIGHT PASADENA'S ONLY DRAWS WHEN THE MODERN MOVIE PALACE OPENED ITS DOORS THIS PAST MAY. ADORNING ITS HALLWAYS IS A MINI–ART GALLERY THAT SHOWCASES THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISTS, MAKING THIS THE CITY’S LATEST NONTRADITIONAL ART SPACE FOR THE CULTURALLY ADVENTUROUS. —CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

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ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 35

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

A Kjose Elliot Portfolio Top to bottom: Service This Way, A Chaired Reflection, Rooftop Party for One Opposite page: The Future Reflected In the Past

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

“The space has an open and wide art-gallery feel, but without the pretensions of a typical art gallery,” says Kjose Elliott, a Los Angeles–based photographer whose work is on exhibition there through February, his second ArcLight show after last year’s maiden voyage at the Hollywood venue. “You can browse and don’t have to worry about others asking you to hurry up. You can take your time and not feel intimidated.” Locating an art gallery within the walls of a theater (also done at L.A.’s other three ArcLights) broadens the artistic experience for moviegoers, says Chad Brice, the chain’s operations manager, who handles fine art and special events. “Our guests don’t just come to a movie; they can have an enhanced evening experience that will make them want to linger,” he says. While some gallery space may be lent to props and costumes from big theatrical releases (costumes from the latest Narnia flick will be on display this month in Pasadena, for example), exhibition space is usually devoted to paintings, collages, prints and photography. Brice says ArcLight is open to “just about any kind of art” as long as it’s 2-D and appropriate for public space (no nudity, violent themes, etc.). “The question I ask is, ‘Will the guests enjoy?’” he says. They do, says Ana Mejia, Pasadena operations manager. “We have regulars who come just to check out the artwork and not the movies,” she says. “It’s really fun for them to see the new displays.” (Exhibitions typically last for three months.) It’s a plus for artists as well. Their costs are low –– they pay ArcLight only for the cost of mounting the show. And beyond expanding their audience, artists keep all the proceeds from their sales, which usually average four to five pieces during their run. (Traditional galleries typically keep 20 to 40 percent as a consignment fee.) “It’s great overall exposure and I have gotten new customers from my ArcLight shows,” says Los Angeles artist Leah Devora, who has shown her work at three ArcLight locations, most recently in Pasadena. “They have the kind of audience I wanted to reach out to. And let’s face it: I think most people in L.A. go to movies more than they do art galleries.” Galleries have another advantage over conventional movie theaters –– the propensity for creating community among total strangers, says Brice. “I’ve seen that happen at exhibition openings,” he says. “It can be a remarkable experience.” AM

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ArcLight Pasadena is located at 336 E. Colorado Blvd. (at Paseo Colorado), Pasadena. For information about gallery exhibitions, call (626) 568-8888 or visit arclightcinemas.com. 36 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 37

THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE

A Kjose Elliot Portfolio Top to bottom: Service This Way, A Chaired Reflection, Rooftop Party for One Opposite page: The Future Reflected In the Past

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST AT WHAT YOU DO?

Would a career representing the Pasadena area’s biggest newspaper and magazine be of interest to you?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

If the answer is YES, we should talk! Southland Publishing is looking for a professional and dedicated advertising representative for its Pasadena location. A minimum of 2 years sales experience is a must; preferably in advertising/print media. A college degree is preferred, but not necessary. Your earning potential is limited only by your own drive and desire to succeed. We offer a salary plus commission, as well as a health plan and 401K plan. For consideration, submit your resume and salary requirements to dinas@pasadenaweekly.com No phone calls please.

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EDUCATION& ENRICHMENT 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 www.altadenastables.blogspot.com 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 www.drucker.cgu.edu. Flintridge Preparatory School Strike the Right Balance at Flintridge Prep. Flintridge Preparatory School is a coed independent day school for grades 7-12 offering a balanced education that encourages students to embrace their love for learning in an honest, generous, and respectful environment. The school will host its Open House on Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 1:003:00 PM. The Headmaster will speak at 1:15 and again at 2:15. 4543 Crown Avenue s La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Tel: (818) 790-1178 www.flintridgeprep.org —CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

English

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Boarding Training

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Children’s Camps

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ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 39

High Point Academy KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE Over 45 years of providing quality education in the Pasadena area.

Application Deadline January 14, 2011 All Grades

—CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

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 www.highpointacademy.org.

Admissions Meetings Kindergarten Meetings: Jan. 8, 2011 at 10:00 am

EDUCATION&ENRICHMENT

Grades 1-8 Meetings:

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 www.justineshermanslp.com.

Jan. 8, 2011 at 9:00 am

CAIS and WASC Accredited

CALL TODAY 626·798·8989 1720 KINNELOA CANYON ROAD PASADENA

highpointacademy.org

Maranatha High School Maranatha, a college preparatory Christian high school, offers an educational experience where individual talents are celebrated and nurtured. The school’s athletic program boasts 44 competitive teams in 18 sports and features state-of-the-art facilities. Performing arts students showcase their talents on stage at the renowned Ambassador Auditorium. Students are challenged with 29 AP and Honors courses, and every student can find their niche in one of the 19 student clubs. Discover the Maranatha Difference. Maranatha-hs.org. 169 South Saint John Ave. Pasadena (626) 817-4000 San Marino Academy With very little advertising and news about the academy traveling primarily through “wordof-mouth,” San Marino Academy has quietly become known as one of the most well established tutoring centers in the San Gabriel Valley. We offer English, math, science and AP courses. We have a great history of teachers and staff members who offer the best assistance to our customers. Come by with friends and family and receive more information of what our academy offers! (626) 432-6668 ■

SAN MARINO ACADEMY SPRING SESSION NOW ENROLLING

Offering Classes for 5th graders to SAT students! We now offer ESL for all ages and college counseling for High School Juniors and Seniors

626•432•6668

WWW.SANMARINOACADEMY.COM

3007 Huntington Dr. Suite 202 | Huntington Drive and San Gabriel Blvd. Above Starbucks and Subway

40 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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ART, ANTIQUES &JEWELRY Arnold’s Fine Jewelry Celebrating their 100th year in Pasadena are inviting shoppers to help blow out the birthday candles. On Dec. 10 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., third generation gemologist and jewelry design expert Bruce Arnold and his knowledgeable staff will be raffling off a string of 100 Pearls, one for each year in the crown city. Entries may be taken in the store starting Nov. 2 through Dec. 10. One per household only. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. 350 Lake Ave., Pasadena. (626) 795-8647 www.arnoldsfinejewelry.com. Fancy That! The Holiday Season delights our senses with a potpourri of sights, sounds and smells that speak to each of us on a very personal level. At Fancy That! we relish this special time of year because it allows us to continue our most treasured traditions while creating sparkling new ones. Our boutique is a magical realm destined to amuse, entertain and inspire your enjoyment of the holidays. We invite you to drop in, shop and share the spirit of the season with us. Fancy That! 2575 & 2537 Mission St. San Marino www.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 ■

42 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

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ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 45

HOLIDAY CHEER

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ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 47

HOLIDAY CHEER

46 ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ ARROYO

ARROYO ~ DECEMBER 2010 ~ 47

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

FOR THE BUDDING GARDENER

Suggested by Victor Rodriguez, landscape designer, Dig-It Garden Design, Los Angeles “I wanted to compose a basket with plenty of color and fun, but with a strong practical slant, so that the items in it would all get used, and might even educate!” In Your Garden by Vita Sackville-West (1), (Frances Lincoln; 2006), $18.45 (hardcover),

available at amazon.com “A collection of Sackville-West’s gardening articles for The Observer newspaper, this is the first of a series of four anthologies. Despite being written from an English garden perspective, they make great

TOP UP YOUR KARMA ACCOUNT, WARM YOUR EMPLOYER’S HEART BEFORE ANGLING FOR A PAY RAISE OR THAW THE SPIRITS OF A FROSTY IN-LAW WITH THESE HOLIDAY GIFT BASKET SUGGESTIONS FROM EXPERTS IN SOME OF THE SENSUAL ARTS.

reading for their ability to inspire with an honest love of the garden. Written in clear but beautiful language,

they are as relevant now as they were in the 1950s.” Sloggers Premium Garden Clogs gardening shoes (2), $29.99, available at Armstrong Garden Center, 352 E. Glenarm St., Pasadena, (626) 799-7139, sloggers.com

BY BRADLEY TUCK

“These shoes are easy to kick on and off, easy to hose down and come in fun colors. Just don’t wear them

to the store…” Spring Bulbs (3), Prices vary by variety, available at Burkard Nurseries, 690 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena,

FOR THE STAY-AT-HOME CHEF

Global Two-Piece Knife Set (2), (10-inch chef’s knife and 3½-inch paring knife), $145

(626) 796-4355, burkards.com

Assembled by Onil Chibas, chef/owner of Elements Kitchen, Pasadena

and $52, available at Sur La Table, 161 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, surlatable.com

“Spring bulbs are a great way to brighten up the garden after the winter and stop a planting from being too static.

“It's not too glamorous a list,” he says, “but it’s five essential items that would make

“You just need two really good sharp knives to be able to get through pretty much

Change is a good thing. Go for drought-tolerant South African bulbs like Sparaxis, Alliums or perhaps some native

cooking much more enjoyable for a home chef.”

all the slicing and dicing you'll need to do in the kitchen. Good knives make cooking

Californian iris rhizomes.”

The New Food Lover’s Companion by Sharon Tyler Herbst, Ron Herbst (1), (Barrons

a joy. Bad, dull knives are like drinking bad, dull wine... Why bother?”

Pinebush Kneeler Pad, $7.99, available at Armstrong Garden Centers

Educational Series; 2007), $16.99 (paperback), available at Vroman’s Bookstore, 695

All-Clad LTD2 Cookware Seven-Piece Set (3), (3-quart covered saucepan, 3-quart

“For those times when you’re going to be on your knees a lot. These Pinebush foam kneeler pads are great for your out-

E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 449-5320, vromansbookstore.com

covered sauté, 8-quart covered stockpot and 10-inch skillet), $629.96, available at

door needs... useful when you’re planting those bulbs! Also comes in great colors.”

“A great reference for definitions of thousands of food, drink and culinary terms. It’s

Sur La Table, 161 W. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, (800) 243-0852, surlatable.com.

100 percent–Recycled Polyethylene Garden Trug Tub (4), $9.95 – $22.95, available at kinsmangarden.com

one of our bibles at Elements.”

“Just like knives, great cookware is critical to making cooking at home successful

“These are amazing. You can haul compost in them, yard trimmings and even carry water. They’re durable and flexible.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom

and fun. All-Clads are hands down the best and most durable pots I have ever

They can even double as a party ice bucket. I love that they are made for fruit-picking in Spain. I’d gussy this up and use

of America's Most Imaginative Chefs by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page

owned and used. They are on the pricy side but worth every penny. This is an

it as the basket for the other gifts.”

(Little, Brown & Co.; 2008), $35 (hardcover), available at Vroman’s Bookstore

extremely basic set and I would double and triple up on some of the above items.”

“This is the other bible of Elements –– an amazing book that gives you flavor profiles

White Flour-Sack Towels (4), $9.99, Crate and Barrel, 75 W. Colorado Blvd.,

of food products and what ingredients pair well with them.

Pasadena, (626) 683-8000, crateandbarrel.com “You can never have enough [towels] while you are working in the

It also tells seasonality of ingredients. We have

kitchen. You use them constantly to dry, clean and grab hot

found this to be an absolutely

items, just to name a few functions. Having a stack of

indispensable book.”

FOR THE GOURMAND-IN-LAW Designed by Nicole Grandjean, Nicole's Gourmet Foods, South Pasadena

good, clean, dry towels is like having money in the

“I’m from the Loire Valley, in France. We carry a lot of great products, so it was hard

bank –– it gives you peace of mind knowing

to pick five, but I think this selection would make any lover of good food very happy.”

they are there if you need them.”

All items are available at Nicole's Gourmet Foods, 921 Meridian Ave., #B, South

Pasadena, (626) 403-5751, nicolesgourmetfoods.com Cheese Sampler (1), Prices by the pound: Soureliette ($23.95), Brillat Savarin ($20.95), Mimolette ($15.95) “A wedge of Soureliette (sheep's milk cheese), a piece of Brillat Savarin, one of the best triple crèmes in my opinion, and a wedge of Mimolette, which

has a bright orange color and a firm texture.” Tortas (2), $5.95 a box “These flaky little flatbreads come from Spain and are delicious as a

1 3

Nicole’s Homemade Cake (3), $11.99

“My third product is a loaf of our homemade cake with griottines and

3 2

snack or served with the great cheeses I’ve picked out.”

dried fruit macerated in rum. Griottines are wild Morello cherries soaked in Kirsch and other liqueur. Not like your usual fruitcake.” Macaroons, $1.50 each “It seems that everyone has discovered these mouth-watering little cookies. They not only taste wonderful, they’re so pretty to serve and perfect for any occasion. Ours are imported from France, of course.” Piper-Heidsieck Champagne (4), $13.95 (187 ml) “To crown it all off, a split of this should be just enough to get anybody in the holiday spirit!” AM

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