Arroyo Monthly February 2008

F I N E

L I V I N G

I N

T H E

S A N

G A B R I E L

V A L L E Y

M O N T H L Y FEBRUARY 2008

State of the Heart

Pasadena experts take the pulse of our achy breaky love lives

Procreation Vacations Baseball’s Oddball Treasures The Huntington’s Chinese Garden

ARROYO VOLUME 4 ~ NUMBER 2

M O N T H LY

55 10 TRAVEL “Procreation Vacations”: The travel industry gives birth to a new kind of package.

–By Jenine Baines

22 SPORTS “Home Run”: Pasadena’s Baseball Reliquary mounts arcane, germane and award-winning exhibits exploring the history of the national pastime.

–By Paul Sterman

28 BOOKS “Love Story”: Hurricane Katrina’s pint-size hero and freshly minted literary figure, De’Monté Love, rides into town.

–By Brenda Rees

32 L’AMOUR “State of the Heart”: Our relationship experts offer the lowdown on real-life love.

–By Irene Lacher

40 ART “A New Muse”: The once broken-hearted artist Vahe Bedrosian finds fresh inspiration in a surprising place – Barney’s Beanery.

–By Carl Kozlowski

55 THE GREAT OUTDOORS “A Garden By Any Other Name...”: The new Garden of Flowing Fragrance blooms at the Huntington Library.

–By Bradley Tuck

DEPARTMENTS 7 FESTIVITIES The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services

31 REAL ESTATE If Aristotle had a broker’s license 43 THE ART OF SCIENCE Snapshots from space 58 THE LIST Descanso Gardens’ Camellia Festival, the Fremont Centre Theatre’s “Ravensridge” and more

61 KITCHEN CONFESSIONS A valentine for presidents 62 TASTE TEST The intimate Green Street Tavern offers a fresh take on seasonal dishes.

ABOUT THE COVER: Illustration by Reed Sprunger, www.rsprunger.com ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 3

E D I TO R’ S N OT E

Y

ou’d think that after 20-odd centuries of practice, humankind would be getting the hang of that thing called love. Instead, more than a few of us are apparently still doing our homework, judging from Amazon.com’s airplane hangar full of self-help books on love (16,129) and romance (5,593). In honor of Valentine’s Day, we decided it was high time we got to the bottom of this knotty problem, so we sat down with three of Pasadena’s experts on love: relationship guru and clinical psychologist Gary Brainerd, Ph.D.; Deborah B. Edgar, a marriage and family therapist (with a Harvard BA in musicology); and Gian Gonzaga, Ph.D., a research scientist for the matchmaking website eHarmony.com.

We asked them about love at first sight and other mysteries of our achy breaky hearts. One bit of good news: Our experts agreed that if you feel like your life has fallen short of happily ever after – and who doesn’t? — you may be much better off than you thought. Read more of their surprising answers in this issue.

We also looked beyond the dance of romance to explore variations on the theme of love: Carl Kozlowski spoke to artist Vahe Bedrosian, an artist who swore off painting because of a broken heart, only to find inspiration at Barney’s Beanery 20 years later. Brenda Rees wrote about 8-year-old De’Monté Love, a Hurricane Katrina hero who’s coming to town this month. And Jenine Baines looked into the craze for “procreation vacations,” designed for couples hoping to bring home the ultimate souvenir.

Finally, landscape designer Bradley Tuck takes us on a tour of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens’ fabulous new Chinese Garden – which, when it’s completed, will be the largest one outside China considered truly authentic. And with spring on the horizon, Paul Sterman reveals some of the under-appreciated – and oddball – treasures housed in Pasadena’s Baseball Reliquary.

—Irene Lacher

Passion combined with experience results in perfection. For over three decades Dr. Dustin Nelson has earned a

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ARROYO MONTHLY

comes to creating

beautiful smiles and comprehensive care for the mouth.

Dustin Nelson, D.D.S. 536 South Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, Ca 91105 626•577•1819 View testimonials at DustinNelson.com 4 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher PRODUCTION MANAGER Yvonne Guerrero ART DIRECTOR Joel Vendette • ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Piechowski CONTROLLER Michael Nagami • HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker OFFICE MANAGER Joe Beauvais CONTRIBUTORS Jenine Baines, Joe Beauvais, Jake Belcher, André Coleman, Steve Coulter, Bob Ecker, Mandalit del Barco, Noela Hueso, Carl Kozlowski, Brenda Rees, Arlene Schindler, Kirk Silsbee, John Sollenberger COPY EDITOR John Seeley PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Germana, Christopher Rainone, Evans Vestal Ward ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Marc Andonie, Fred Bankston, Dana Bonner, Hilary Chen, Andrea Fitzgerald Elizabeth Guzman, Leslie Lamm, Rochelle Reiff, Cynthia Wagner, Noelle Watkins ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Maricela Estrada, Carla Marroquin TRAFFIC MANAGER Jake Belcher • jakeb@pasadenaweekly.com ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR Angela Wang ACCOUNTING Archie Iskaq, Tracy Lowe, Ginger Wang PUBLISHER Jon Guynn

CONTACT US ADVERTISING jon@pasadenaweekly.com • EDITORIAL editor@arroyomonthly.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 • FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, Pasadena, CA 91105 www.ArroyoMonthly.com ©2008 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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festivities PASADENA’S HATHAWAY-SYCAMORES CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES SCORED $38,000 in donations at the third annual Battle of the Bowl benefit on Jan. 6. The 1 event pitted two philanthropically minded teams – the Benefactors and the Patrons – against each other in a flag football competition at the Rose Bowl. Todd Doney, vice chairman of the CB Richard Ellis real estate services firm and a San Marino resident, launched the unusual 2

fund-raiser in 2004 after winning one day’s use of the stadium in an unrelated charity auction. He decided to donate the day to benefit Hathaway-Sycamores, which he serves as 3 a member of the board of directors.

Players included La Cañada Flintridge residents Charlie Smith, Kevin Bender, Brendan McCracken and Tom Bohlinger; Pasadena’s Bruce Asper, Mark Herzog, Scout Jackson, Chris Morphy, Bob Morse, Dennis Alfieri, Justin Watson, Bill Poulsen, Chris Rising, Jim Shelton and Jeff Smith; and San Marino denizens Todd Doney and Brian Philo.

4

1. Bill Martone, president and CEO of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, receives a check for $38,000; 2. Teams on the field, with the referees; 3. A team player; 4. Brendan, Claire, Todd and Faith Doney.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 7

DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE

festivities

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THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD ON SOUTH OAK KNOLL AVENUE TOOK PLACE ON JAN. 9 with much pomp, plenty of circumstance and at least one very long pink ribbon. Langham Hotels International celebrated its takeover of the hallowed former Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel & Spa with a ribbon cutting and champagne toast.

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the Langham, Huntington Hotal & Spa—is the European luxury hotelier’s second venture in the U.S. Langham has said it will give the century-old hotel a $25 million facelift, which will include improvements to the landscaping and cottages. The company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong–based Great Eagle Holdings, also owns and/or operates luxury hotels in London, Boston, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Auckland, Toronto, Beijing, Chang Chun, Koh Lanta and Shanghai.

3

1. Nigel Roberts, svp - operations, Langham Hotels International, and Pasadena City Councilman Sid Tyler cutting the ribbon; 2. Chris Orta, Hans Schaepman, Kim Baez, Ed Curry, Nigel Roberts, Serge Denis, Denis Depoitre and Martin Nicholson; 3. Rich Schammel, Mike Ross, Jane Sandmeier, Monica Smith, Mary Webster, Nan Marchand, Martin Nicholson, Ed Curry, Bob O'Rouke and Nigel Robert.

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T R AV E L

Potential parents who prefer winters on the Long before Antony journeyed to Egypt and met slopes can check into the Teton Mountain Lodge in Cleopatra, humankind wandered the globe in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a “Procreation Ski search of romance and passion. But it may have Vacation.” Tom Walker, Teton’s sales director, says taken the birth of the $1.3 billion travel and the hotel was inspired to launch the program tourism industry and another 20 centuries to because of the proliferation of “bundle of joy” and conceive the romantic getaway’s latest arrival – “babymoon” packages. the procreation vacation. Care for a fertility “We thought, ‘Why not take it to the next cocktail to chase down your martini? You’re in step and offer a special getaway for couples who luck: Hotels and resorts worldwide are now were ready to get pregnant?’” recalls Walker. offering fertility-challenged couples an exotic “We’ve had a tremendous response in terms of opportunity to take a break and make a baby. interest, although only the more adventurous The Westin St. John Resort in the Virgin Islands seem to actually book the vacation.” is generally credited with launching the trend in THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY GIVES BIRTH In addition to couples massages and candlelit August 2006. The move was inspired by hotel housedinners, the package, which starts at $1,256 per keepers, who extolled the virtues of pumpkin soup TO A NEW KIND OF PACKAGE. person for four nights, includes champagne and in fighting infertility. Today, two resorts in the

BY JENINE BAINES chocolate on arrival, two days of skiing and a chain—the Westin St. John and the Westin Our dogsled trip to Granite Hot Springs. “In 20 years, Lucaya Beach Resort in the Bahamas—are only too you can tell your child that he or she was conhappy to help couples eager to bring home the ulticeived in Jackson Hole,” says Walker. “Or not.” mate “souvenir”: For about $2,000 for a three-night While $2k for a weekend away is undoubtedstay, guests pregnant with hope can indulge in dinly cheaper – and much more fun – than visits to ners in their suite, couples massages with aromatheran infertility clinic, do procreation vacations apy and reflexology to aid fertility and virility. Also actually work? Dr. Bryan Jick, a Pasadena obsteon hand are limitless bowls of pumpkin soup for trician, says hitting the road can be helpful. “The wanna-be moms and a sea moss elixir for husbands. problem with working couples is not just stress The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort offers a but opportunities for conception,” he says. “If “Fertile Turtle” package, timed to coincide with the you are not having sex at home, and then you May through September mating season of the have sex while on vacation, guess what! You island’s sea turtles. For $419 per couple per night, might get pregnant.” visitors are “treated” with the Fertile Turtle’s elixir of But he cautions that the travel industry’s ferchoice: red clover and raspberry tea, plus the usual tility frills are unproven. “This is not due to some romantic dinners and massages. The Five Gables Inn magic potion or sexy massage,” he says. “I’m & Spa in St. Michaels, Maryland, offers a “Birds and sorry to have to be a cynic, but to me this is Bees” package, beginning at $545 per couple for a nothing more than an industry-sponsored martwo-night stay, which relies upon heart-printed boxer keting ploy aimed at vulnerable people.” shorts, oysters and a Barry White CD to inspire Five Gables Inn & Spa And, of course, an amorous vacation doesMother Nature. n’t need an official stamp of procreative approval or even pumpkin soup to If Barry White doesn’t do the trick, there are financial incentives to encourage get the job done. As Anthony Adler, president of the Cruise and Resort travel conception: Those with a successful stay receive a complimentary three-night visit agency in Sherman Oaks, notes, “While we have had quite a few clients plan at the Marco Island Marriott and a $50 discount on a return “Bundle of Joy” getaway package from the Five Gables Inn & Spa. —Continued on page 21

Procreation Vacations

10 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

At Angel’s Nest Stationers, you are invited to celebrate all of life’s special occasions!

Offering everything for a wedding; invitations, including William Arthur, Crane, Elite, Encore, custom designs and many more, plus, favors, gifts, candles, servers and organizers. Trust Yvonne Navarro with everything you need to perfectly punctuate your special occasion with her extensive experience in helping you, the bride, pick out the invitations for your special wedding theme – she’s not just your bridal stationers consultant, she’s a person you can count on in a pinch. Please note: Angel’s Nest will remain in their current location at 468-A Foothill Blvd. in La Canada. Take time to make an appointment to order those invitations today at 818-790-4019.

Carmody & Co. is the first place to go after the big day is set. The helpful staff can help decide what the best possibilities are for your special invitations. The choices abound at this unique stationary boutique. Carmody & Co. will help with every wedding desire, from save the day notes, to invitations, thank you cards, and bachelor(ette) party invites. In addition to custom printing and hands on service, the shelves are lined with gorgeous gift ideas. Photo albums come in every shape and size at this quaint corner store, and gifts for him and her make shopping here an experience to be remembered. Stationary is their passion, from sophisticated William Arthur Crane to retro-chic Kate Spade designs, Carmody & Co. delivers. Call (626) 795-2924, or stop in at 121 E. Union St. in Old Towne.

Fancy That! has certainly mastered the art of gifting for the upcoming season of engagement parties, showers & weddings, including personalized gifts for the bridal party and reception guests. No toasters or blenders here, but rather an amazing selection of gifts the Bride & Groom will enjoy for years to come.

Continuing in their tradition of finding unique contemporary & traditional accents

Voted d Pasadena’s

Bestt Naill Salon

Pasadena Weekly Readers Poll 2007

Tinzee Nail Salon

Celebrate e alll off life’s speciall occasions

We provide our clients the ultimate protection in salon sanitizing

• Spas and chairs are cleaned after each use with anti-bacterial soap.

• Spas and spa chairs are run with clean water & disinfectant after each use.

• Fresh towels for each client

Custom m Invitations Fine e Stationery William m Arthur,, Crane e and d Encore e wedding g justt to o name e a few….

468 8A Foothilll Boulevard d • La a Cañada a • (818)) 790-4019

• Pumice stones, files and buffers are one time use only and new for each client.

• All implements are sanitized using 3 steps, anti-bacterial soap, EPA registered hospital disinfectant that kills bacteria, viruses and fungus and sterilizing oven.

for the home from Italy, Poland, Mexico and the US, Jim & Paula have added a collection of gifts & home accents from Spain & Germany featuring unrivaled workmanship & design in glass, leather and metal.

Picture frames, vases, candelabra, pottery…gifts of art and whimsy that become jewels for the newlyweds home.

And if the best gifts are those you really want for yourself, you’ll just love shopping at Fancy That!

Firefly Bistro in South Pasadena has a wonderful and charming ambience that is perfect to help set the scene for any theme of wedding or bridal party. Their two enchanting outdoor dining areas with the greenery and warm lighting offer much in the way of a romantic setting. Combine this with their extraordinary wedding menu, and you and your guests are sure to remember your special day with joy for years to come. Whether you have a party of 10 or 110, Chef Paul will create a menu to suit any occasion or creative idea, be it a wedding, wedding reception, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner. Browse through the Menus and Catering sections of their website and get some ideas. Then call or email Paul. He'll walk you through the party planning process with a grace that will make it all seem so easy.

Every event at Firefly Bistro is unique and made-to-order. Firefly Bistro can accommodate up to 120 patrons, and is wheelchair accessible. For more information, please call (626) 441-2443 or email fireflybistro@earthlink.net. See them online at www.eatatfirefly.com.

Join the Four Seasons Tea Room with your sweetheart for a romantic evening of Candlelight Tea. Candlelight Tea starts at 5:30p.m., February 14 through February 16. Enjoy this relaxing tradition in an elegant setting. Private space is also available for bridal, baby showers, birthdays and special occasions. Make your reservation today! (626) 355 – 0045. 75 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre.

Over 300 Nail Colors Gel Nail & Waxing Available ) 403-3311 626 Openn 10am m — 8pm m Daily

(

www.tinzeenailsalon.com

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Celebratee Valentine’ss Dayy with h Candlelightt Tea Thursday,, Februaryy 14 4 through h Saturday,, Februaryy 16.

Makee yourr reservation n today!

(626) 355 – 0045 75 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024

(818) 790-6525 8381/2 Foothill Blvd. La Canada, CA 91011

Tinzee — Over 300 nail colors (OPI, Orly, Misa). All implements are sanitized by 3 steps: 1. Anti-bacterial soap. 2. Quat liquid that kills bacteria, virus and fungus. 3.

Sterilizing Oven. Experience our spa treatment without the high prices. Open 10am until 8pm daily. Visit us at 436 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena (626) 403-331.

Fine Continental Pastries

(in n OSH H & Kinko’ss Plaza)

Fancy That!

Masis Bakery — When you walk into Masis Bakery you feel as if you have walked into one of those wonderful European bakeries. Everything looks elegant and delicious! The glass counter is filled with pastries, tarts, tiramisu, Napoleans, éclairs, cookies, cream puffs, pound cakes and slices of cake. Everything is made with the fresh ingredients, real butter and dedicated to pure excellence. Masis Bakery is filled with a fresh, flavorful and unique assortment of pastries and mini deserts.

Owner, Martin Minasyan is a second generation baker and will cater your wedding or special event. Wedding cakes are one of his specialties and can be made in every shape, size and flavor combination from 5 inches to 10 feet tall. Delivery service is available. Be sure to stop by one of his convenient locations in Burbank or Montrose!

MASIS BAKERY

436 6 S.. Fairr Oakss Ave.,, S.. Pasadena

Inspired Gifts for Engagements, Showers & Weddings

Contact Your Wedding Cake Specialist at (818) 919-8020

321 E. Alameda Ave., #D Burbank, CA

Mention the Arroyo and get 10% off a package deal

Specializing in …

•Wedding Cakes •Mini Deserts •Mini Snack Foods for Weddings & Special Occasions •Delivery Service Available 2064 Verdugo Blvd, #E Montrose, CA A D V E R T I S E M E N T

At Angel’s Nest Stationers, you are invited to celebrate all of life’s special occasions!

Offering everything for a wedding; invitations, including William Arthur, Crane, Elite, Encore, custom designs and many more, plus, favors, gifts, candles, servers and organizers. Trust Yvonne Navarro with everything you need to perfectly punctuate your special occasion with her extensive experience in helping you, the bride, pick out the invitations for your special wedding theme – she’s not just your bridal stationers consultant, she’s a person you can count on in a pinch. Please note: Angel’s Nest will remain in their current location at 468-A Foothill Blvd. in La Canada. Take time to make an appointment to order those invitations today at 818-790-4019.

Carmody & Co. is the first place to go after the big day is set. The helpful staff can help decide what the best possibilities are for your special invitations. The choices abound at this unique stationary boutique. Carmody & Co. will help with every wedding desire, from save the day notes, to invitations, thank you cards, and bachelor(ette) party invites. In addition to custom printing and hands on service, the shelves are lined with gorgeous gift ideas. Photo albums come in every shape and size at this quaint corner store, and gifts for him and her make shopping here an experience to be remembered. Stationary is their passion, from sophisticated William Arthur Crane to retro-chic Kate Spade designs, Carmody & Co. delivers. Call (626) 795-2924, or stop in at 121 E. Union St. in Old Towne.

Fancy That! has certainly mastered the art of gifting for the upcoming season of engagement parties, showers & weddings, including personalized gifts for the bridal party and reception guests. No toasters or blenders here, but rather an amazing selection of gifts the Bride & Groom will enjoy for years to come.

Continuing in their tradition of finding unique contemporary & traditional accents

Voted d Pasadena’s

Bestt Naill Salon

Pasadena Weekly Readers Poll 2007

Tinzee Nail Salon

Celebrate e alll off life’s speciall occasions

We provide our clients the ultimate protection in salon sanitizing

• Spas and chairs are cleaned after each use with anti-bacterial soap.

• Spas and spa chairs are run with clean water & disinfectant after each use.

• Fresh towels for each client

Custom m Invitations Fine e Stationery William m Arthur,, Crane e and d Encore e wedding g justt to o name e a few….

468 8A Foothilll Boulevard d • La a Cañada a • (818)) 790-4019

• Pumice stones, files and buffers are one time use only and new for each client.

• All implements are sanitized using 3 steps, anti-bacterial soap, EPA registered hospital disinfectant that kills bacteria, viruses and fungus and sterilizing oven.

for the home from Italy, Poland, Mexico and the US, Jim & Paula have added a collection of gifts & home accents from Spain & Germany featuring unrivaled workmanship & design in glass, leather and metal.

Picture frames, vases, candelabra, pottery…gifts of art and whimsy that become jewels for the newlyweds home.

And if the best gifts are those you really want for yourself, you’ll just love shopping at Fancy That!

Firefly Bistro in South Pasadena has a wonderful and charming ambience that is perfect to help set the scene for any theme of wedding or bridal party. Their two enchanting outdoor dining areas with the greenery and warm lighting offer much in the way of a romantic setting. Combine this with their extraordinary wedding menu, and you and your guests are sure to remember your special day with joy for years to come. Whether you have a party of 10 or 110, Chef Paul will create a menu to suit any occasion or creative idea, be it a wedding, wedding reception, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner. Browse through the Menus and Catering sections of their website and get some ideas. Then call or email Paul. He'll walk you through the party planning process with a grace that will make it all seem so easy.

Every event at Firefly Bistro is unique and made-to-order. Firefly Bistro can accommodate up to 120 patrons, and is wheelchair accessible. For more information, please call (626) 441-2443 or email fireflybistro@earthlink.net. See them online at www.eatatfirefly.com.

Join the Four Seasons Tea Room with your sweetheart for a romantic evening of Candlelight Tea. Candlelight Tea starts at 5:30p.m., February 14 through February 16. Enjoy this relaxing tradition in an elegant setting. Private space is also available for bridal, baby showers, birthdays and special occasions. Make your reservation today! (626) 355 – 0045. 75 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre.

Over 300 Nail Colors Gel Nail & Waxing Available ) 403-3311 626 Openn 10am m — 8pm m Daily

(

www.tinzeenailsalon.com

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Celebratee Valentine’ss Dayy with h Candlelightt Tea Thursday,, Februaryy 14 4 through h Saturday,, Februaryy 16.

Makee yourr reservation n today!

(626) 355 – 0045 75 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024

(818) 790-6525 8381/2 Foothill Blvd. La Canada, CA 91011

Tinzee — Over 300 nail colors (OPI, Orly, Misa). All implements are sanitized by 3 steps: 1. Anti-bacterial soap. 2. Quat liquid that kills bacteria, virus and fungus. 3.

Sterilizing Oven. Experience our spa treatment without the high prices. Open 10am until 8pm daily. Visit us at 436 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena (626) 403-331.

Fine Continental Pastries

(in n OSH H & Kinko’ss Plaza)

Fancy That!

Masis Bakery — When you walk into Masis Bakery you feel as if you have walked into one of those wonderful European bakeries. Everything looks elegant and delicious! The glass counter is filled with pastries, tarts, tiramisu, Napoleans, éclairs, cookies, cream puffs, pound cakes and slices of cake. Everything is made with the fresh ingredients, real butter and dedicated to pure excellence. Masis Bakery is filled with a fresh, flavorful and unique assortment of pastries and mini deserts.

Owner, Martin Minasyan is a second generation baker and will cater your wedding or special event. Wedding cakes are one of his specialties and can be made in every shape, size and flavor combination from 5 inches to 10 feet tall. Delivery service is available. Be sure to stop by one of his convenient locations in Burbank or Montrose!

MASIS BAKERY

436 6 S.. Fairr Oakss Ave.,, S.. Pasadena

Inspired Gifts for Engagements, Showers & Weddings

Contact Your Wedding Cake Specialist at (818) 919-8020

321 E. Alameda Ave., #D Burbank, CA

Mention the Arroyo and get 10% off a package deal

Specializing in …

•Wedding Cakes •Mini Deserts •Mini Snack Foods for Weddings & Special Occasions •Delivery Service Available 2064 Verdugo Blvd, #E Montrose, CA A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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Gabriel Gonzalez, a graduate of Tufts school of Dental Medicine is a member of the ADA, International Association of Orthodontics and the California Dental Association. He offers the latest technology in the dental field at a fair price and uses only the highest quality, research proven materials and outstanding labs to ensure the highest quality and result.

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Member ADA, CDA, ASDA

2245 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 202 Pasadena • Voice (626) 449-9181 • Fax (626) 449-9382 Tom Strafaci, PTA, CSCS David Im, DPT

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Dr. Marilyn Mehlmauer — Having smooth, youthful skin is the first step to feeling great about your appearance. Dr. Marilyn Mehlmauer offers a wide variety of solutions for any problem areas on your face. Whether you have lines, wrinkles, or acne, we have a remedy to restore the elasticity and refine the appearance of your skin. Visit us and explore our facial rejuvenation treatment options. Call and schedule your consultation today. (626) 585-9474.

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CONTACT THE OFFICE TO SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION.

All procedures are done on-site.

10 CONGRESS ST., STE 320 PASADENA, CA 91105

626-585-9474

www.mehlmauer.com

MARILYN N A.. MEHLMAUER,, M.D.

Health&Beauty Dr. Gonzalez — Looking for a caring dentist that will keep you and your family smiling?

Gabriel Gonzalez, a graduate of Tufts school of Dental Medicine is a member of the ADA, International Association of Orthodontics and the California Dental Association. He offers the latest technology in the dental field at a fair price and uses only the highest quality, research proven materials and outstanding labs to ensure the highest quality and result.

Gabriel Gonzalez DMD Providing the Foothills with Caring Family Dentistry That Will Keep You Smiling

Family Dentistry Children of all Ages Braces & Orthodontic care Implant Placement & Restoration Sapphire Tooth Whitening Invisalign Lumineers

Diplomate, American Board of Dematology Diplomate, American Board of Dermatopathology

Changing the way you look …at yourself

10% OFF

your first visit

(818) 249-3213

with purchase of a package

Call for our MONTHLY SPECIALS Hair Removal • Botox • Wrinkle Reduction

COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE

THE PERFECT SMILE…..

IS EASY TO HAVE!

Not Just Fit, Functionally Fit

As se on A en B Extre C’s Make me over

Teeth Whitening Special!

$250 (reg. $600)

Let Dr. Bilemjian give you the smile you've always wanted!

V. Henry Bilemjian, DMD

150 N. Hill Avenue Pasadena

Member ADA, CDA, ASDA

2245 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 202 Pasadena • Voice (626) 449-9181 • Fax (626) 449-9382 Tom Strafaci, PTA, CSCS David Im, DPT

AESTHETIC AND GENERAL DENTISTRY

212 South El Molino Ave. • Pasadena

626-792-6131 1 • www.perfecttooth.com ADVERTISEMENT

Get more from your workouts and stay on track with the help of our highly experienced, college-educated, caring FITNESS TRAINERS who are here to help you through an entire spectrum of needs.

We also have a highly trained group of PHYSICAL THERAPISTS who are graduates of USC’s Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Program.

2 locations to serve you, both with state-of-the-art fitness and physical therapy equipment.

WE PROVIDE FAT COMPOSITION AND METABOLIC TESTING.

COME IN FOR A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION We are dedicated to the highest level of Individualized patient care

HANY K. ZAKI, MD

626.564.9025

Dr. Marilyn Mehlmauer — Having smooth, youthful skin is the first step to feeling great about your appearance. Dr. Marilyn Mehlmauer offers a wide variety of solutions for any problem areas on your face. Whether you have lines, wrinkles, or acne, we have a remedy to restore the elasticity and refine the appearance of your skin. Visit us and explore our facial rejuvenation treatment options. Call and schedule your consultation today. (626) 585-9474.

3901 Ocean View Blvd., Montrose, CA

SERVICES:

1 FREE TREATMENT

Le Reve Medical Spa is changing the way you look at yourself. Let our well-experienced staff help you achieve your goal of radiant looking skin, and a healthy looking body with our specialized treatments. Lose inches and say goodbye to cellulite with Velashape! Also specializing in Skin Tightening, Hair Removal, Botox, Juvederm, Removal of Red and Brown Spots and more. Call and schedule your appointment today. (626) 564.9025.

MedAesthetis Laser & Skin Care — Your someday is now. Renew yourself. Defy age. Let or well trained staff consult and work with you to bring out the best in you and improve your body confidence now. Specialties include: red/brown spot removal, laser hair removal, Botox & Dermafillers, Microdermabrasion, Photodynamic acne therapy, facial treatments, cellulite. Call now, and learn more about ‘Acoustic Wave Therapy” the gentle non invasive way to treat cellulite.

Mention this ad and get

Botox Restylane Juvéderm Acne Treatment Brown Spot Treatment Rosacea Skin Tightening by ReFirme ST Wrinkle Reduction by Matix Leg and Facial Vein Treatment Hair Removal Velashape for Cellulite and Circumfrencial Reduction

GET RID OF CELLULITE AND LOSE INCHES WITH VELASHAPE

Dr. Gonzalez is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Montrose and has flexible hours, including Saturday’s by appointment.

Dr. V. Bilemjian

150 N. Santa Anita Ave. Ste. 210 Arcadia • Voice (626) 446-3862 • Fax (626) 446-3860 Frank Chow, DPT, OCS

www.functionalptandfitness.com ADVERTISEMENT

A RT,

ANTIQU ES

Art and Antiques on Lake — Our shop is an all-inclusive place where experienced dealers will help customers in all aspects of art and antique purchases. With the focus these days on remodeling kitchens, baths and living spaces, average homeowners lose touch with what makes their house a home, its individuality. At Art & Antiques, we present vintage art, furnishings, lighting, etc., in a way that will give the homeowner a choice of quality vintage items that have stood the test of time. 60 N. Lake Ave. Pasadena; (626) 356-0222.

Art Source — Ripsime Marashian has been a remarkably successful art dealer and consultant with her own ArtSource Gallery for over 10 years. Not only does she have her B.A. in art and music, she has an extraordinary passion for the visual arts that instantly becomes clear when you meet her. That’s why any artist should rely on her to help their artistic visions come to fruition! Make ArtSource your Licensing Link - if you have artwork that you’d like to see on greeting cards, calendars, collector plates, wall décor, or any other products that people use, Ripsime can help. She is your consultant for helping you to get your very own designs on any item that a savvy shopper, looking to have unique and beautiful artwork on everyday items, would seek. Break into this largely untapped Licensing Market with your artwork! The gorgeous interior of the gallery and ambience created with light and music will keep you coming back to see what is new at ArtSource!

Offering both American and European works from many brilliant artists, Ripsime is very happy to invite you up to this stunning 9th floor penthouse gallery to talk about what you have in mind for your designs! Call her today at (818) 244-0066. The Penthouse Gallery is at 401 North Brand Blvd., 9th Floor in Glendale.

RICK KAPLAN

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

& JEWELRY John Moran Auctioneers — Expertly serving clients since 1969, John Moran Auctioneers is a full-service auction house offering quality objects and complete personalized dedication. Monthly estate and fine furniture auctions are where collectors, dealers, decorators and others gather to buy the finest antiques, silver, American Indian, oil and watercolor paintings, jewelry, unusual accessories and much more.

They also hold an auction (three times per year) for exceptional California and American paintings. Consignment and the purchasing of estates. 735 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena. Call (626) 793-1833 or visit www.johnmoran.com.

Novotny's Antique Gallery and Funnel Modern Showroom — Everyone is talking about Pasadena's New Antique Row (on Colorado and Altadena). Featuring distinctive styles from Novotny's Antique Gallery and Funnel Modern Showroom. Everything from lighting, carpeting, and kitchen design to fine collectibles, estate jewelry, antiques and one of a kind decorative items. Neighborhood service from start to finish. This is Pasadena's new designer destination. Call or Stop by today! Novotny’s Antique Gallery 2552 E. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena (626)577-9660 and Funnel 2540 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 395-0141.

Rick Kaplan Antique and Fine Arts — A New York style antique store, located right in Antique Row in Pasadena, Rick Kaplan Antique and Fine Arts has been buying and selling fine quality antiques for over 35 years! Whether you are a collector, decorator, or dealer, Rick offers the best selection of authentic antiques in all Southern California. Top dollar paid for fine antiques. Come see for yourself. www.rickkaplanantiques.com. 626-793-6841. 450 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.

—Continued

&

Art Antiques

on lake

“BEST ANTIQUES IN PASADENA!” Come discover our exciting selection of authentic antiques and fine art. · PAINTINGS · DECORATIVE ITEMS · CALIFORNIA PAINTINGS

· STATUARY · ART POTTERY · LIGHTING

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450 SOUTH FAIR OAKS AVENUE, PASADENA, CA 91105 (located next to Gale’s)

626-793-6841 www.rickkaplanantiques.com

60 NORTH LAKE AVE. PASADENA, CA 91101

626.356.0222 | 951.316.0429 OPEN DAILY 11A.M. TO 5:30P.M.

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A RT,

ANTIQU ES

Art and Antiques on Lake — Our shop is an all-inclusive place where experienced dealers will help customers in all aspects of art and antique purchases. With the focus these days on remodeling kitchens, baths and living spaces, average homeowners lose touch with what makes their house a home, its individuality. At Art & Antiques, we present vintage art, furnishings, lighting, etc., in a way that will give the homeowner a choice of quality vintage items that have stood the test of time. 60 N. Lake Ave. Pasadena; (626) 356-0222.

Art Source — Ripsime Marashian has been a remarkably successful art dealer and consultant with her own ArtSource Gallery for over 10 years. Not only does she have her B.A. in art and music, she has an extraordinary passion for the visual arts that instantly becomes clear when you meet her. That’s why any artist should rely on her to help their artistic visions come to fruition! Make ArtSource your Licensing Link - if you have artwork that you’d like to see on greeting cards, calendars, collector plates, wall décor, or any other products that people use, Ripsime can help. She is your consultant for helping you to get your very own designs on any item that a savvy shopper, looking to have unique and beautiful artwork on everyday items, would seek. Break into this largely untapped Licensing Market with your artwork! The gorgeous interior of the gallery and ambience created with light and music will keep you coming back to see what is new at ArtSource!

Offering both American and European works from many brilliant artists, Ripsime is very happy to invite you up to this stunning 9th floor penthouse gallery to talk about what you have in mind for your designs! Call her today at (818) 244-0066. The Penthouse Gallery is at 401 North Brand Blvd., 9th Floor in Glendale.

RICK KAPLAN

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

& JEWELRY John Moran Auctioneers — Expertly serving clients since 1969, John Moran Auctioneers is a full-service auction house offering quality objects and complete personalized dedication. Monthly estate and fine furniture auctions are where collectors, dealers, decorators and others gather to buy the finest antiques, silver, American Indian, oil and watercolor paintings, jewelry, unusual accessories and much more.

They also hold an auction (three times per year) for exceptional California and American paintings. Consignment and the purchasing of estates. 735 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena. Call (626) 793-1833 or visit www.johnmoran.com.

Novotny's Antique Gallery and Funnel Modern Showroom — Everyone is talking about Pasadena's New Antique Row (on Colorado and Altadena). Featuring distinctive styles from Novotny's Antique Gallery and Funnel Modern Showroom. Everything from lighting, carpeting, and kitchen design to fine collectibles, estate jewelry, antiques and one of a kind decorative items. Neighborhood service from start to finish. This is Pasadena's new designer destination. Call or Stop by today! Novotny’s Antique Gallery 2552 E. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena (626)577-9660 and Funnel 2540 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 395-0141.

Rick Kaplan Antique and Fine Arts — A New York style antique store, located right in Antique Row in Pasadena, Rick Kaplan Antique and Fine Arts has been buying and selling fine quality antiques for over 35 years! Whether you are a collector, decorator, or dealer, Rick offers the best selection of authentic antiques in all Southern California. Top dollar paid for fine antiques. Come see for yourself. www.rickkaplanantiques.com. 626-793-6841. 450 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.

—Continued

&

Art Antiques

on lake

“BEST ANTIQUES IN PASADENA!” Come discover our exciting selection of authentic antiques and fine art. · PAINTINGS · DECORATIVE ITEMS · CALIFORNIA PAINTINGS

· STATUARY · ART POTTERY · LIGHTING

WE BUY AND SELL

COME SEE THE STORE THAT SETS A NEW LEVEL OF QUALITY AND SERVICE IN THE AREA. Let us help you make your house a home with the best in Vintage Fine Art, Antiques, Fine Furnishings and many other interesting and exciting things!

450 SOUTH FAIR OAKS AVENUE, PASADENA, CA 91105 (located next to Gale’s)

626-793-6841 www.rickkaplanantiques.com

60 NORTH LAKE AVE. PASADENA, CA 91101

626.356.0222 | 951.316.0429 OPEN DAILY 11A.M. TO 5:30P.M.

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A RT,

ANTIQU ES & JEWELRY

C.A. STODDARD A.I.A. & ASSOCIATES Architecture & Planning

Whites Art, Framing & Restoration — Serving the community since 1944, Whites offers the most complete and comprehensive fine-art framing and restoration services in the San Gabriel Valley. Nestled in the charming town of Montrose, Whites specializes in archival conservation and custom framing, sophisticated matting, shadow boxing and other creative display solutions for unique and unusual works of fine art. You can also experience an exquisite collection of fine art on display. 2414 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. Call (818) 957-4071.

T

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T R AV E L —continued from page 10

Hacienda San Angel

trips with the hope of a resulting pregnancy, they are a bit reluctant to call them procreation vacations.”

Hotels topping Adler’s “Most Romantic” list: the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora, which greets guests visiting its over-water villas with champagne and flowers (160,150 XPF); the Hotel Caruso’s “Romance in Ravello” package featuring rooms with rose petals strewn across the bed, candles even in the bathroom, romantic music and soft lighting (2,570 euros per couple per night); and the Four Seasons Resort Maui, which offers monogrammed bathrobes to keep, chocolate-covered strawberries to savor, aromatherapy oils to slather on and — if and when you venture outdoors — an air-conditioned convertible to drive ($910 per night).

Then again, you can follow the example set by the hottest couple of the ’60s – Liz and Dick, who frolicked in Puerto Vallarta after Richard Burton’s gig there in “Night of the Iguana.” As things turned out, Burton’s love affair with the former Mexican fishing village lasted longer than the one he had with Elizabeth Taylor. He bought a charming home for his next wife, Susan Hunt, which has been transformed into Hacienda San Angel, an exquisite boutique hotel in the heart of Old Town. You can line up the hacienda’s on-site wedding coordinator or, if formalities aren’t a concern, go for the “Romance Package,” which includes three nights with a four-course dinner and full breakfast for two for $1,620 in low season (June through October) and $1,770 in high.

After all, as Sandals Resorts’ brochure says of their Caribbean vacations: “Love is all you need. Everything else is included.” AM ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 21

S P O RT S

Home Run PASADENA’S BASEBALL RELIQUARY MOUNTS ARCANE, GERMANE AND AWARD-WINNING EXHIBITS EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PASTIME.

BY PAUL STERMAN

22 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

Here’s one of Terry Cannon’s favorite things: a rubber model of the amputated index finger of Mordecai “Three Fingers” Brown, a star pitcher who lost the digit in a cornshredder accident in 1908 (an event curiously immortalized in an exhibit in Brown’s Indiana hometown). Then there’s a framed lock of hair highlighting the history of the barnstorming baseball team that played in the early 20th century for the House of David, a Michigan-based religious sect that preached celibacy and free-flowing hair.

After a dozen years at the helm of Pasadena’s Baseball Reliquary, an educational nonprofit dedicated to the history of our national pastime, Cannon has had the opportunity— and inclination—to assemble a singular collection of sports mementos. Also culled by Cannon from the annals of the offbeat: the jockstrap of one Eddie Gaedel, at 3 feet 7 inches, the smallest man ever to play in a pro baseball game. “Play” is a generous description of his activities, considering that Gaedel never even swung his bat: He was included in a game lineup for the old St. Louis Browns as part of a publicity stunt. The ploy was the brainchild of flamboyant team owner Bill Veeck, baseball’s version of P.T. Barnum.

Which brings us to perhaps Cannon’s greatest coup in his canon of quirkiness: the wooden leg of Veeck himself. A Los Angeles–area collector lent the prosthetic to Cannon to display in an exhibit, deeming it a fitting tribute to Veeck’s — for want of a better word — legacy.

Cannon’s organization isn’t your typical baseball-history museum, rife with Babe Ruth busts, musty infielders’ gloves and enough statistics about batting averages and home-run titles to make a sports junkie tremble with rapture. The Baseball Reliquary is the alternative version, the product of one besotted fan’s rarefied vision of the game.

“I’ve always been involved with organizations interested in unusual artistic expression,” says Cannon, who in the mid’70s founded the Pasadena Film Forum (now the Los Angeles Film Forum), a showcase for independent and experimental film.

While the Baseball Reliquary displays a sly and irreverent sense of humor, it also houses materials of interest to serious scholars. In December, an exhibit Cannon mounted in conjunction with California State University, Los Angeles, won the 2007 Helen and Martin Schwartz Prize, awarded by the Federation of State Humanities Councils to recognize the country’s best project produced with a state humanities grant.

The winning project is titled “Mexican-American Baseball in Los Angeles: From the Barrios to the Big Leagues,” an exhibit of photographs, artworks and artifacts kick-started in 2005 with a $5,000 state grant. The show, which debuted in 2006 at Cal State L.A.’s John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, centers on the largely forgotten legacy of Mexican-American baseball players in Southern California — mainly in Los Angeles.

There, a half-century ago, the sport was the focus of great interest and pride in the Mexican-American community.

“In the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, baseball in East L.A. was huge,” says Cannon. “These guys would play on amateur and

semi-pro teams, and even in city municipal leagues. There were quite a few ballparks, and the community would come out in huge numbers [for the games].

There were some legendary teams.”

Francisco Balderrama, a longtime professor of Chicano studies and history at Cal State L.A., designed a 10-week course around the project, calling on his students to research the era and interview many of the former ballplayers.

“This particular class struck a chord in the community and with the students,” says Balderrama. “By the third week of the course, I had calls from people in the community who wanted to attend the class; not only that, they wanted to teach it, too...

What’s beautiful about this exhibit is that it’s taking what in many cases was a private history and making it a public history.

Someone might have had a vague sense that his grandfather played baseball, but he didn’t understand the magnitude of it.”

The exhibit also touches on “Fernandomania” — the giddy pride felt by Mexican-American fans when Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela burst onto the big-league scene with thunderous success — as well as the bitterness many of them harbored against Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, after the city forced out residents of the Chavez Ravine neighborhood in the 1950s to make way for the team’s stadium.

Since its run at Cal State L.A., the exhibit has traveled to public libraries and Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin was one of many baseball luminaries who were interviewed as part of the exhibit “Mexican-American Baseball in Los Angeles: From the Barrios to the Big Leagues.” In 1970, Jarrin became the first Hispanic broadcaster to win the coveted college campuses in Southern California.

“Golden Mike” award (seen in this photo), presented by the Southern California Radio and Television News Association. In 1998, he became only the second The oral histories and other materials Spanish-language broadcaster to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. assembled for the show are currently Council for the Humanities and the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Division — covers housed in the university’s Kennedy Library, says Cannon. The archives will be the $15,000 annual budget, enabling it to offer events at no charge. accessible to the public and visiting scholars.

As president and executive director of the group, Cannon launched the Cannon, who works full time as an assistant librarian at Alhambra High School, nonprofit in 1996 so that he could share his own collection of baseball-related says he has had requests to bring the display to other parts of the United States. (His memorabilia and artifacts, as well as his passion for the game’s history. At the wife, Mary, also a baseball lover and a teacher at Alhambra High, helps oversee the time, he had about 25 objects – mostly odd and unusual – as well as a mounprograms’ visual design.) Cannon hopes the imprimatur of the Schwartz Prize will tain of baseball trading cards he’d begun collecting as a kid. Over the years, help him raise the funds to make that possible. other collectors have contributed objects to the group’s repository; the archives “I feel very strongly that [the history of Mexican-American baseball] hasnow boast about 100 artifacts. n’t been thoroughly examined,” Cannon says. “We’re in Southern California, You don’t have to be a hardcore hardball fan to savor the collection. The relibut this was happening all over the country — in Texas, in the Southwest. quary’s eclectic programs examine baseball but also explore the world around it, That national history hasn’t been adequately documented.” mining the relationship between the venerable sport and American culture. Drawing The Baseball Reliquary doesn’t function as a conventional museum, a permaon the arts as its primary medium, the organization looks at a wide array of subjects, nent physical site with exhibits open to the public. The organization keeps most of ranging from Jackie Robinson’s epic journey to the evolution of ballpark food. the collection in storage spaces and displays its treasures primarily at public libraries Projects have included a CD of Southern California poets reading baseand universities. About 200 members from around the country (and a few from ball-theme verse; a mixed-media installation examining the nature of anger in abroad) pay from $25 to $100 in annual fees. That money – in addition to grants from organizations like the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the California —Continued on page 24 ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 23

S P O RT S —continued from page 23

The Carmelita Chorizeros baseball team, circa 1950. Formed in 1946 as a semi-professional team sponsored by Carmelita Provision, a company which provides chorizo to local markets, the Chorizeros became one of East Los Angeles’ most powerful and celebrated clubs. Carmelita Provision’s logo, a pig swinging a baseball bat, is one of the most charming icons in the Los Angeles urban landscape, and the sign still amuses people traveling the 710 Freeway, near Cesar Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles. The Chorizeros are one of several teams featured in the project “Mexican-American Baseball in Los Angeles: From the Barrios to the Big Leagues.”

the sport (such as San Francisco Giant Juan Marichal’s notorious eruption when he hammered Los Angeles Dodger John Roseboro over the head with his bat, triggering a 15-minute melee between the two teams); and a 2004 performance at Hollywood’s Ford Amphitheatre, featuring various artists examining ways the Dodgers’ monumental move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles — a seismic shift in the baseball world — affected communities on both coasts.

Cannon says that in the coming year, he hopes to reprise a display on baseball and politics, as well as one on baseball in the 1960s and ’70s, which studies ballplayers against the background of the drug culture, the Vietnam War and the sexual revolution. The reliquary will probably also sponsor a July exhibit at the Pasadena Central Library featuring highlights of past shows. (The group’s web site is www.baseballreliquary.org.)

The reliquary’s biggest event each year is the induction ceremony for “The Shrine of the Eternals,” its humble version of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. While an exclusive group of baseball luminaries votes on the candidates for the Cooperstown club, all members in this organization can vote on prospects for the shrine. Also, what the reliquary rewards is not statistical excellence, but an individual’s overall contribution to the sport. Most of its members are figures who would never be elected into Major League Baseball’s hall; many are outsiders, misfits, eccentrics or renegades.

A small sampling of inductees: William Hoy, a deaf major leaguer who played in the late 1800s; Jim Bouton, a pitcher whose explosive and highly controversial book, “Ball Four,” helped pioneer the field of athlete-penned tomes (the candid ones, at least) in 1970; Ila Borders, a sensational female pitcher who competed against men in a professional independent league; Lester Rodney, who in 1936 became the first sports columnist for the Daily Worker, the house organ of 24 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

The most hallowed of its relics is a mid-19th century soil sample from historic Elysian Fields. It was at this New Jersey site that the first modern baseball game — structured around the sport’s original written rules — was played by two organized teams. the American Communist Party; and Marvin Miller, longtime leader of the baseball players’ union — and longtime nemesis of team owners — whose efforts dramatically transformed the game’s economic landscape.

Noting that Major League Baseball has historically been a very conservative, mainstream organization, sportswriter Jean Hastings Ardell says that Cannon “is such a beautiful counterbalance to that.”

“Marvin Miller is in [the shrine]. A former Communist is in there. In our current political climate, I love that,” says Ardell, the Newport Beach–based author of “Breaking Into Baseball: Women and the National Pastime” (Southern Illinois University Press; 2005).

Michael Guccione, a Pasadena painter who has produced various artworks for the nonprofit, agrees. “The reliquary seeks out the people in the game who were under-credited,” he says.

—Continued on page 27

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 25

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S P O RT S —continued from page 24

Terry Cannon

The induction ceremony is always a festive event. Held every year at the Pasadena Central Library — this year it is set for July 20 — the gala starts with a ceremonial ringing of the bell in tribute to Hilda Chester, a beloved, cowbell-toting, Brooklyn Dodgers fan. The musical entertainment is also of a decidedly quirky nature; you might experience “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” performed on the ukelele, or hear a few tunes played on the sitar, as happened last year when a musician wanted to evoke the image of yoga — in honor of Yogi Berra. The noted baseball sage and New York Yankee legend was one of the 2007 inductees.

While Cannon revels in poking fun at baseball and some of its pretensions, he also celebrates the game’s lore and legends. The very name of the nonprofit is evidence of that. “Reliquary” is a religious term referring to a repository of sacred relics; Cannon decided the word was apt, reflecting the almost spiritual sense of mystery and wonder baseball fans can feel about the sport.

The most hallowed of its relics is a mid-19th century soil sample from historic Elysian Fields. It was at this New Jersey site that the first modern baseball game — structured around the sport’s original written rules — was played by two organized teams. That was on June 19, 1846. The next day, two young men dug up the small amount of dirt from an area right in front of the batter’s box. “That’s kind of a key piece in the history of the sport,” Cannon says of the sacred sod, “because Elysian Fields is considered to be the birthplace of modern baseball.”

Some of the reliquary’s objects are on permanent loan to the Jackie Robinson Community Center in Pasadena. Guccione’s oil painting of Robinson is part of a display on the Pasadena native son housed at the facility. There’s also an exhibit Cannon assembled about the old Negro Leagues. Gene Washington, acting supervisor of the community center, says both of those exhibits draw great interest from visitors, which is only fitting. After all, he says, Cannon “is a carrier of the game’s history.” AM ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 27

BOOKS

Love Story HURRICANE KATRINA'S PINT-SIZE HERO AND FRESHLY MINTED LITERARY FIGURE, DE'MONTÉ LOVE, RIDES INTO TOWN AS AN HONORED GUEST OF PASADENA'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH PARADE & FESTIVAL.

BY BRENDA REES

IN THE JAZZY, SPICY CITY OF NEW ORLEANS | IN A BUILDING COLORED MANGO TANGERINE | LIVED A MOMMY AND A DADDY AND A BROTHER | AND A BOY WHOSE NAME WAS DE’MONTÉ LOVE

—OPENING PAGES OF “DE’MONTÉ LOVE” BY RODNEY VANCE

Pasadena writer Rodney Vance is about to come face to face with his muse: 8-yearold De’Monté Love. The subject of his first children’s book is set to arrive in town as a star of the 26th annual Black History Month Parade & Festival on Feb. 16.

Love won pride of place in a stranger’s literary career after becoming a rare bright spot in the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. While government bureaucrats flailed about in the face of the disaster, one small child instinctively knew how to take care of others in the aftermath of the 2005 storm – and quietly, he did.

Vance was astounded to hear the story of the then-6-year-old boy, who shepherded his five younger relatives and friends (including his 5-month-old brother, Da’Roneal) after the children were separated from their parents. The television writer and playwright penned the book “De’Monté Love” (Visikid; Aug. 2007) in less than three weeks. “Here was a story that was simple but had a big impact,” says Vance, who only later spoke to the boy and his mother, Catrina Williams, by phone. “I’m really excited to meet him in person.”

Love was touted as a hero after reporters learned how he, along with family and friends, spent three days stranded on the roof of a home in uptown New Orleans. A pilot finally came to the rescue, but the helicopter had room for only the children. Williams instructed her son to care for his brother, cousins and friends – all of whom were less than 3 years old. Just before taking off for Baton

28 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

Rouge, the pilot promised to come right back for the adults, but he never returned.

A different pilot picked up the adults, but instead of flying them to Baton Rouge, he landed at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International airport. From there, Williams and her friends flew to San Antonio, Texas, where she began a frantic search for the children.

“We were devastated,” she says in a telephone interview from San Antonio, where the family now lives. “I honestly didn’t know if I was ever going to see my kids again.”

While his mother made myriad phone calls and waded through red tape, Love guarded over his little brood for four days in a crowded shelter, where he encouraged the children to keep up their spirits by holding hands. Social workers and nurses there quickly discovered the little boy taking on a very adult role, so they helped Love tend to and play with his charges. In an interview with National Public Radio, Love was asked if he’d changed any diapers during the four-day ordeal. “No!” he quickly responded; he later explained that when the kids were hungry, “I just asked the people who were taking care of us” for food.

Eventually, Williams saw her children’s pictures on a web site set up by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Representatives from the Air Charity Network (formerly Angel Flight America) escorted the children by plane

Book cover; Love; author Vance

to San Antonio, where the family embraced in a tearful reunion. (The nonprofit Air Charity Network provides free air transportation for individuals experiencing a health crisis or disaster.)

“We were all so happy, I can’t tell you,” Williams recalls. “I was so glad he had his right mind to keep them all together. He made me proud.”

Love’s story touched people disturbed by post-Katrina reports of looting, brutality and makeshift shelters erected near filth. The little boy’s shining and heroic actions stood in sharp contrast to the detritus of the storm’s mismanagement.

Love’s example inspired Vance, who asked his next-door neighbor, Haitian-born artist Martino Dorce, if he would illustrate the book. Dorce says fans of his colorful style had approached him numerous times to illustrate children’s books, but he always said no. Love’s tale was different.

“I love this story,” he says. “That’s the reason I [did] it. It touched me.” With muted colors and designs suggesting exotic yet familiar locales, Dorce’s work meshes a childlike simplicity with the artist’s deft touch. His agreement to collaborate on the project grabbed the attention of publisher Leon Goss of Sylmar-based Visikid Books. Sealing the deal, Goss says, was the “poetry of the story. It was an immediate yes.”

But not an immediate rush to the presses; it turned out to be more difficult to obtain approval from the hero and his family than the publisher expected. “It took eight months to find them,” Goss says, reeling off names of agencies, organizations and even reporters who helped them finally locate the family in San Antonio.

Then, when Goss reached Williams by phone, she was initially skeptical about the project. “They just didn’t want anyone taking advantage of them,” Goss says.

“She was understandably protective of her son and their family.”

Williams’ doubts were dashed by a proof of the book. “We had heard lots of promises, so I wasn’t expecting much,” Williams says. “But it was a nice book. For a guy who didn’t know us, [Vance] sure was writing about us like he did.”

Critics have been impressed too. The Buffalo News praised the book’s “lilting rhymes” and “Caribbean-flavored paintings [which offer] dramatic visions of Katrina’s devastation.” Amazon.com’s reviewer said it is “sure to tug at your heartstrings, while it teaches the valuable lessons of perseverance and courage…the book is a treasure.”

Goss has commissioned Vance and Dorce to create a series of inspirational children’s books based on true stories, of which “DéMonté Love” is the first. The series is titled Heroes All Around. After all, notes Goss, we meet heroes every day.

“We just have to keep our eyes open at all times.”

Perhaps no one knows that more than Williams. Her son may be the one who garnered accolades — not the least of which was Time Magazine’s Local Hero of the Year for 2005 — but Williams believes she has won the best prize of all.

“I call De’Monté my super hero,” she says, “because every day he does lots of things that are positive. To be here with him and share with him every day is such a gift. He’s my gift.” AM The 26th Annual Black History Parade & Festival takes place Saturday, Feb. 16.

Both the parade and festival are free. The parade runs from 10 a.m. to noon, led by celebrity co-grand marshals and actors Bookeem Woodbine and Bill Cobbs; it begins at Charles White Park on Ventura Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue in Altadena and ends at Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. From noon to 4 p.m., the festival at Robinson Park offers entertainment, food and a display of black inventions.

For more information about both events, call (626) 744-7300.

Vroman’s Bookstore hosts a booksigning by Rodney Vance and Martino Dorce on Saturday, Feb. 9, from noon to 1 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Love family and to the Texas-based Air Charity Network. The bookstore is located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 449-5320.

To learn more about Heroes All Around, visit www.visikidbooks.com.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 29

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R E A L E S TAT E

If Aristotle Had a Broker’s License DO’S AND DON’TS FOR THE VIRTUOUS REAL ESTATE AGENT

BY JOE WILSON Real estate agents are not created equal, nor are they all ethical. Aristotle may have focused on the importance of making virtue a habit, but as many home buyers and sellers have discovered, not all Realtors are exactly the great philosopher’s disciples. Fortunately, most agents behave admirably, and their clients refer them to friends and relatives in need of real estate services.

Indeed, many agents are committed to the welfare of their community.

Always remember: “Virtue” and “ got you” may rhyme, but there is a difference: Don’t get an “I got you” agent. Of course, racking up good karma is a two-way street, so here are some proverbs for the virtuous on both sides of the sale: •

•

•

Buyers should be honest with their agents.

If an agent shows a home, an offer to purchase should be written with that agent. It’s unethical to bring in a brother-in-law, lawyer or friend with a real estate license after the fact. That person may be ill equipped to protect the buyer against possible lawsuits.

Smart sellers disclose the actual condition of their property.

If there’s traffic during Rose Bowl events, disclose that fact. If the seller is up front, he or she will never hear complaints from the new homeowner who has just discovered the Rose Bowl headache—and now wants money to go to the Bahamas because the seller failed to disclose it.

Smart, ethical agents discuss every aspect of the negotiations, contract, escrow process, inspections, title report and request for repairs with all parties at all times.

They also provide copies of all paperwork to buyers and sellers as soon as they’re signed. They communicate and communicate.

These guidelines are good business, but Realtors are bound by a code of ethics as well as federal and state law: They must be honest in their advertis-

ing and follow strict rules regarding fair housing issues. One cannot run an ad discriminating against potential buyers based on religion, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, disability, sexual orientation or source of income. An ad can’t market a home as good for “retired, one child, one person, adults only, professionals, or executives.”

Real estate agents and sellers are required to disclose everything about a property that would affect a buyer’s decision to buy and how much a buyer would pay. Such disclosures are detailed on numerous forms, signed and acknowledged by buyers and sellers. On the other hand, some things cannot be disclosed. Agents must be careful when discussing neighborhoods, schools and the proximity of sexual predators. They often refer buyers to web sites and other databases if there is a concern, rather than risk violating fair housing and ethical practices.

How agents represent their clients is also regulated. The first form signed by buyers and sellers when entering into a negotiation is an agency disclosure form. This form outlines what one should expect from an agent. A seller’s agent cannot reveal how low a bid a seller will accept. A buyer’s agent cannot reveal how high the buyer is willing to bid. Talk is cheap, but it means nothing in a real estate transaction. A deal is only a deal when it’s signed, sealed and delivered in writing.

Buying or selling a home should not only be a big deal, it should be a big, fun deal. When someone moves to a new home which is the culmination of a dream, that’s great fun. When someone sells a home in the least affordable state in the union—a.k.a. California—it’s a heck of a lot of fun to spend the money. And when everyone gets a fair shake in a real estate transaction with mutual respect for all involved, it’s the best of all possible worlds. AM Joe Wilson is a broker associate in the Pasadena office of Coldwell Banker.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 31

L’ A M O U R

State of the Heart NOT EXACTLY LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER? LUCKY YOU. OUR RELATIONSHIP EXPERTS SAY THERE’S SOMETHING EVEN BETTER THAN GRABBING YOUR HONEY’S HAND AND STROLLING OFF INTO THE SUNSET: REAL-LIFE LOVE.

If you live around Pasadena, chances are you’re smart enough to help send a man to the moon or design a menu that will shatter the defenses of the snootiest foodie. But even rocket scientists can be flummoxed by that age-old conundrum: getting one’s love life right. So we invited three of Pasadena’s relationship experts to help us get to the heart of the matter: Gary Brainerd, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist, who counsels couples and travels the country giving workshops on “Getting the Love You Want” and “Keeping the Love You Find”; Deborah B. Edgar, MFT, a therapist in private practice; and Gian Gonzaga, Ph.D., a senior research scientist for the Pasadena-based matchmaking website, eHarmony.com, for which he’s studying initial attraction and marriage. They recently sat down with Arroyo Monthly’s editor in chief, Irene Lacher.

CAN YOU HELP US TO TAKE THE PULSE OF OUR LOVE LIVES IN 2008?

HOW HEALTHY ARE WE? GARY BRAINERD: Generally, we’re not doing very well. The divorce rate is very high.

I’ve heard that of those who stay married, 90 percent rate their marriages as unsatisfactory. Some people say that’s a criticism of marriage. I think we don’t quite understand what’s happening in marriages, and why they’re so complex. Since we don’t understand that, and we still have a very idealistic view of how it’s supposed to be, I’d say we have a lot of work to do.

On the other hand, there have been more studies, more research, more understanding of what’s going on in relationships in the last 50 years than the hundreds of years prior to that. So that’s a positive sign.

DEBORAH B. EDGAR: I think more people are becoming more aware of themselves as therapy and psychology become more a normal part of life. It both raises the complexity level in a relationship as well as existential questions about what is happiness and what are relationships for.

GIAN GONZAGA: If you take a look at relationships and love, my suspicion is we’re

probably doing about the same as humans have done for a really long time, which 32 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

is, we have felt this close connection with people around us for our whole history, and it remains deeply ingrained within us and in our evolutionary past. These challenges in our relationships have always been there, and we continue to bump into them again and again.

IN OUR PARENTS’ GENERATIONS, A LOT MORE PEOPLE STAYED MARRIED. WERE THEY HAPPIER THAN PEOPLE ARE TODAY OR ARE PEOPLE HAPPIER NOW THAT IT’S EASIER TO LEAVE A MARRIAGE? WHICH WAS THE BETTER MODEL? GG: I’m not sure there is necessarily a better or worse model. If you’re talking about

the success of a marriage (the happiness of the individual being in a successful marriage over a long time) or their own personal well-being and happiness, that’s one important question. By that standard, some people who are having relationships should stay in them and some people should leave them. If you’re talking about the relationship being about staying together and making the marriage work over the long haul and raising children, the standard becomes a little different.

So are people happier or not happier? There’s a researcher at the University of Illinois who does well-being research – how happy you are – and people are remarkably resilient. All sorts of situations, they end up being about the same. You can take the poorest of the poor in Africa and they will report about the same amount of well-being as people in the U.S. GB: Happiness may not be the best criterion to look at. Relationships are hard. I don’t think they’re supposed to be happy. Certainly today, when it’s easier to divorce without heavy legal battles – now we fight about custody, but not whether you get divorced – that takes some pressure off, and therefore, when people stay together, it’s probably out of choice. The “I’m trapped” phenomenon often makes people more resentful, so I think it’s healthier that it’s easier. I also think the research is that it’s not good for children; a bad marriage is often worse than a good divorce in terms of the impact on children.

If you look at happiness in the broader sphere, I would say, the fewer divorces the better. I’m not against divorces per se, but I think that most divorces are unfortunate in that people get divorced because they get to the power struggle phase of the relationship and they think there’s a problem, that they’ve made the wrong selection. And the problem usually is not a selection error. I’m very pro-marriage and like to see couples stay married, but I wouldn’t go back.

—Continued on page 34

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 33

L’ A M O U R

—continued from page 32

SO WHY OUR EXPECTATIONS OF RELATIONSHIPS SO OUT OF WHACK?

and saying, “Okay, this is it.” There’s a wisdom in saying, “Life is hard.”

GB: I think Hollywood is responsible for

DO YOU THINK LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT ACTUALLY EXISTS?

a big hunk of it. It still says we’re supposed to get married and live happily ever after. That is not what happens in marriage. We tend to fall in love with people who have a combination of the positive traits of all of our caretakers and the negative traits. When we meet someone whom we sense has those qualities – and people are remarkably able to pick those out – we get very interested, may fall in love, may get married. In the romantic phase, we’re on drugs anyway. After about six to eight months, the drugs wear off and those negative traits start emerging.

Reality hits, and for many people that’s a huge disillusionment. They don’t want to do the work. They want to be happy. They tend to blame the other person and search for another partner. We believe the problem is not that you fall in love and marry someone who has the same traits that drove you crazy with your parents. The problem is, couples are not aware that that is normal or even desirable and they’re not willing to do the necessary work, so they quit. Why do we have that image?

It’s so wonderful when it starts, we think, why can’t it continue that way?

GG: I think it does. I think there’s a

remarkable amount of research showing that people take in enormous amounts of information about someone in the first two to five minutes. I don’t think I believe that people can look across the street and say,“There’s the person for me.” But I think people in relationships get a good grasp very quickly and can get to a place where they say,“This is a person I could end up with.”

ARE YOU SAYING THEY CAN MAKE THE SELECTION OR THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE IN LOVE? GG: It depends on how you want to

define love. The drugs are oftentimes a precursor to love.

DE: I think chemistry can happen at first

sight, but I’m not sure love can.

GB: I’m more likely to believe in love at first fight. I do distinguish between attraction and chemistry and mature AS TRITE AS IT SOUNDS, LOVE IS NOT JUST love. The first certainly does happen.

Whether or not people are wise to folA FEELING. IT’S AN ACTION. IT’S SOMETHING low that instinct is another question.

THAT GROWS, AND IT CAN GROW AS A GG: What people neglect to realize a lot RESULT OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF HARDSHIP. The criterion I’d say to couples who fall of times is that life courses change. in love with each other, the most imporOne of the biggest moments in a marriage when relationship satisfaction goes tant question is, is this person also interested in doing the work of the relationship? down is when a child is born. Why? You’re getting less sleep, you have less money, you have less time. So the structures that exist external to the marriage dig away at WHAT ABOUT THE OPPOSITE: CAN A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WORK WITHOUT THAT CHEMISTRY? that happiness across time.

A researcher at UCLA, Ben Karney, did this great study looking at how peoGB: Yes, it can. Three-fifths of the world today still have arranged marriages, and ple value marriage, and he found that the poorest brackets in America really value marriage. As a matter of fact, they value marriage more than the other brackets some of them develop very, very satisfactory marriages, so yes, it’s possible. Will it be do, and yet they get divorced at a higher rate. Why? Because they have to work a as passionate and intense? Probably not. But it can be deeply satisfying, deeply sexulot more; they see each other a lot less; they have a lot less resources to deal with ally satisfying. the things that come in.

DE: As trite as it sounds, love is not just a feeling. It’s an action. It’s something that

grows, and it can grow as a result of the transformation of hardship. So I think the whole journey into love and into authenticity in relationships is a hard road to travel, but it’s the only way to true happiness, in the sense that it’s not happiness that’s the goal. It’s love, and love is dimensional and deep and factors in trouble and hardship and suffering. I think in American society, there’s this idea that “I have the right to a happy life” that’s kind of thin. You want happiness, but love is planting your feet 34 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WHO’VE JUST MET SHOULD WAIT TO HAVE SEX AND, IF SO, HOW LONG? GB: Yes. At least until after dinner. That’s a complicated question. You have to con-

sider a person’s values, their religious background and belief. Apart from that, if you’re just asking psychologically when is it best, I have no idea. I would say probably the later, the better. For people who jump into the sack too soon, I think sex can confuse the relationship.

DE: I have people who come to me who will have sex before they even know who the person is, and then all this stuff happens, and I say, “Have you considered waiting?” There’s a way to help people process how sex fits into a relationship.

HOW COMMON IS PHYSICAL INFIDELITY? ARE ASSUMPTIONS THAT MEN ENGAGE IN IT MORE OFTEN TRUE? GG: Physical infidelity does tend to occur among men more than it does in women.

But the rates that I have seen vary enormously. Bottom end, 10 or 20 percent, to top end, 50 to 60 percent. It depends on who you ask.

WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENT TRIGGERS FOR INFIDELITY? DE: People think, “This is obviously not working, and I’m going to find someone

who’s going to understand me and is going to be that mother or vice versa [that father].” They meet someone at work and think, “This is great.” And they’re starting that romantic phase again, rather than getting to that roadblock and saying, “Okay, let’s go deeper. We’ve got one more great opportunity to grow.”

GB: In couples where one person has had an affair, a high percentage of those individuals have a parent who had an affair. If that was part of their world growing up, it becomes easier—even if they hated it when their parents did it.

DE: In general, you find that when it happens 10 years into the marriage of the kids,

that 10 years into the marriage of the parents, there was this roadblock. Why 10? It gets to that freakish level. There’s something about the unconscious stuff in the family system that’s trying to be worked out in each generation.

DO MEN AND WOMEN DIFFER IN WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR IN A RELATIONSHIP? GG: It depends on what kind of relationship you’re talking about. If you are talking

about the short term, the evidence I’ve seen is that there’s great divergence. If you’re talking about a longer-term relationship, men and women converge in the long haul. They both want relationships that are understanding, that are caring, that are intimate, that validate them.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER? GG: In terms of the relationship, don’t worry about getting there too quickly. It takes

time to get to know each other, and it takes time to understand the rhythms. A lot of what I think makes relationships successful in the long term is being able to deal with day-to-day stuff, and you don’t get to learn that in the first two weeks.

That brings me to the second point, which is understand yourself really well and choose someone who understands themselves really well. It’s much easier to communicate who you are and how you can make a relationship work together.

DE: To expect both happiness and suffering in relationships, and when those things

happen, to use them as opportunities for change.

GB: Be courageous, because in order to have a happy, successful marriage, you’re going to have to face some of your deepest fears. Ninety percent of the hurts, the upsets and emotions that emerge in a marriage and intimate relationship, 90 percent of that belongs to history. Ten percent belongs to what’s actually going on in the present. When couples understand it’s an old wound that’s getting activated, that you are not causing all of this pain, that’s a big step. AM ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 35

“I used to like school.”

EDUCATION AND SUMMER CAMPS ADAT ARI EL Over 25 years in the making, Adat Ari El Day School prides itself on being a cutting-edge competitive institution that was born out of the need for a community-based Day School, dedicated to the academic, emotional and spiritual development of its students. The beautiful state-of-the-art facility houses modern, colorful classrooms; fully equip-ped computer and science labs, a resource learning lab; an art studio, a multi-purpose auditorium and a computerized library. Come visit and see education the way it should be, at Adat Ari El Day School, (818) 766-4992, or visit their website at adatarieldayschool.org.

CAMP SHI’INI Since 1947, Camp Shi’ini has provided active and entertaining camp activities for children without a prolonged absence from home. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and safe environment for kids, while also educating them about Native American folklore through interactive and action-packed surroundings. Our American Indian theme is portrayed in several daily events, including: horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, archery, athletics, hiking, games, crafts, swimming, and an extraordinary month-long treasure hunt! Sign up today! For more information call (626) 922-0945 or visit campshi-ini.com.

recognized leader in the field of improving a child's basic study skills through remediation and enrichment programs. Students are given individual attention by certified teachers using personalized programs tailored to improve skills in a child's trouble areas. Huntington offers individual testing and tutoring in reading, math, study skills, writing and SAT/ACT preparation to students of all ages. Parents who would like additional information, or who are concerned about a specific aspect of their child's aca-demic performance, are encouraged to contact the Huntington Learning Center at 1832 E. Washington Blvd in Pasadena or call (626) 798-5900.

HILLSIDE SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER Hillside School and Learning Center in La Cañada has more than three decades of experience at creating programs that respond to the individual learning needs of children. This isn’t learning just to get a grade, or learning to just get by. It’s learning for success! Hillside School will restore and build confidence in your child! Hillside’s skilled staff educates and encourages students to be successful academically and socially. Call Bob Frank with any questions at (818) 790-3044.

DAYJAMS We’re heading into our 10th Season! Never played an instrument? This is a fun way to jump-start.

Experienced player? It’s your chance to study with the best musicians in town. Our friendly and creative curriculum-based environment guides campers in songwriting, instrument lessons, clinics, art and Concert performance. Ages 8-15. Call 800295-5956 for free brochure or visit our website www.dayjams.com.

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER The Huntington Learning Center is a nationally

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ST. GEORGE’S PRESCHOOL At St. George’s Preschool the staff creates a positive environment that encourages each child to develop a healthy self-concept and provides a warm and nurturing atmosphere in which emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth takes place. Within appropriate boundaries, individual choice is encouraged to allow each child to participate actively and learn about their world. “I want to live at preschool forever!!” and “I just don’t know how I’m going to fit all these ideas in my brain” are quotes from the happy students! Call today for a tour at (818) 790-3842, Enrollment opens in February!

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“I used to like school.”

EDUCATION AND SUMMER CAMPS ADAT ARI EL Over 25 years in the making, Adat Ari El Day School prides itself on being a cutting-edge competitive institution that was born out of the need for a community-based Day School, dedicated to the academic, emotional and spiritual development of its students. The beautiful state-of-the-art facility houses modern, colorful classrooms; fully equip-ped computer and science labs, a resource learning lab; an art studio, a multi-purpose auditorium and a computerized library. Come visit and see education the way it should be, at Adat Ari El Day School, (818) 766-4992, or visit their website at adatarieldayschool.org.

CAMP SHI’INI Since 1947, Camp Shi’ini has provided active and entertaining camp activities for children without a prolonged absence from home. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and safe environment for kids, while also educating them about Native American folklore through interactive and action-packed surroundings. Our American Indian theme is portrayed in several daily events, including: horseback riding, fishing, canoeing, archery, athletics, hiking, games, crafts, swimming, and an extraordinary month-long treasure hunt! Sign up today! For more information call (626) 922-0945 or visit campshi-ini.com.

recognized leader in the field of improving a child's basic study skills through remediation and enrichment programs. Students are given individual attention by certified teachers using personalized programs tailored to improve skills in a child's trouble areas. Huntington offers individual testing and tutoring in reading, math, study skills, writing and SAT/ACT preparation to students of all ages. Parents who would like additional information, or who are concerned about a specific aspect of their child's aca-demic performance, are encouraged to contact the Huntington Learning Center at 1832 E. Washington Blvd in Pasadena or call (626) 798-5900.

HILLSIDE SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER Hillside School and Learning Center in La Cañada has more than three decades of experience at creating programs that respond to the individual learning needs of children. This isn’t learning just to get a grade, or learning to just get by. It’s learning for success! Hillside School will restore and build confidence in your child! Hillside’s skilled staff educates and encourages students to be successful academically and socially. Call Bob Frank with any questions at (818) 790-3044.

DAYJAMS We’re heading into our 10th Season! Never played an instrument? This is a fun way to jump-start.

Experienced player? It’s your chance to study with the best musicians in town. Our friendly and creative curriculum-based environment guides campers in songwriting, instrument lessons, clinics, art and Concert performance. Ages 8-15. Call 800295-5956 for free brochure or visit our website www.dayjams.com.

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER The Huntington Learning Center is a nationally

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THE TRUTH IS:

Your child won’t tell you that he or she is having trouble. Since 1977 parents have been using Huntington to help their children reach their full potential.

Huntington will pinpoint

HILLSIDE SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER WHERE PROFESSIONALS GO WHEN THEIR CHILDREN NEED HELP

your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses and tailor a program to

Private Tutoring for

improve grades and increase confidence and motivation. We can help.

• 30 years Experience in Helping Children

Your child can learn. We’re nearby and affordable. Call Huntington today.

• Educational Therapy & Tutoring K-12th grade

Reading • Writing • Math • Spelling • Phonics Study Skills • State Testing Prep • Confidence Motivation • Self-Esteem • SAT • ACT

• WASC Accredited School 7th-12th grade • College Counseling

SAT/ACT/ PSAT

1-800 CAN LEARN

Your Center Location Here 1832 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, 91104 000-000-0000 Independently franchised and operated. Accredited by The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. ©2006 Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Contact the School at (818) 790-3044 • www.HillsideForSuccess.org

626.798.5900

HLC2150

Independently franchised and operated. Accredited by The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. ©2006 Huntington Learning Centers, Inc.

Now accepting applications for the 2008-2009 school year.

Please call Shelley Belafsky (818) 766-4992 ext. 214

ST. GEORGE’S PRESCHOOL At St. George’s Preschool the staff creates a positive environment that encourages each child to develop a healthy self-concept and provides a warm and nurturing atmosphere in which emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth takes place. Within appropriate boundaries, individual choice is encouraged to allow each child to participate actively and learn about their world. “I want to live at preschool forever!!” and “I just don’t know how I’m going to fit all these ideas in my brain” are quotes from the happy students! Call today for a tour at (818) 790-3842, Enrollment opens in February!

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KID’S CORNER

At Saturday’s Child, classic kid’s clothing, from Polo, Burberry, Monkey Wear and more. Sizes infant to 16. Come Celebrate By Helping Us Leap Into Our Second Year! Friday Feb. 29 10 am – 6 pm Treats served all day 2529 Mission St. San Marino 626.441.8888 My Little Bebe is a great place for you to shop for your baby and children or to buy gifts for others. This month, our new spring and summer clothes collections have arrived. The new Feng Shui toys from Kaloo are also here to celebrate Chinese New Year. Please take advantage of our special promotion this month. We are offering a 10% off on our major in stock items, such as Oeuf furniture, Silver Cross strollers, and Recaro car seats. Visit 956 Huntington Drive, San Marino or call 626.588.2810.

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A RT

A New Muse THE ONCE BROKEN-HEARTED ARTIST VAHE BEDROSIAN FINDS FRESH INSPIRATION IN A SURPRISING PLACE – BARNEY'S BEANERY.

BY CARL KOZLOWSKI

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and Brenart Café Restaurant Gallery in Old Pasadena is packed with people bustling to see an artist’s local debut. The abstract paintings lining the walls recall Miro, evoking a sense of sly playfulness along with a hint of eroticism. Amid the commotion of the curious crowd, two cultural curve balls quickly become apparent: First, far from being a novice fresh out of school, the artist in question is a 54-year-old named Vahe Bedrosian, a Romanian immigrant whose decades of hard experience appear to have settled in the intense squint behind his round glasses. And second, there’s the surprising fact that none of the works are for sale.

Bedrosian is holding onto the paintings for now because they are the first works he has completed and deemed ready to show the world in 20 years, the first since he destroyed hundreds in a fit of romantic rage. In the years that followed, he says, he was uninKimiya Ayubi spired. Then, a year and a half ago, he met a Left: “The Blue Madonna” young bartender named Kimiya Ayubi.

“The only thing I can tell you is that I was silent and uncomfortable for many years, and when I met her, a peace came over me,” Bedrosian later tells a visitor at Brenart. “I have no clue as to how a muse works and why it works, but in some strange unexplainable way, everything that I’ve done from that time on is somehow connected.” His second show at Brenart opens Feb. 2.

Ayubi, 27, an exotic-looking woman from Maine, is seated near Bedrosian.

She talks about the first flash of friendship she experienced with him one slow afternoon at Barney’s Beanery in Pasadena, where she tended bar. The Glendale-based artist would come in every day to eat and sketch, prompting her curiosity about the quiet customer with a passion for drawing.

“You make up stories in your head about the people you see to pass the time, figuring out what they do, and one day I figured out he was an architect or some sort of artist and asked him if he liked art,” Ayubi recalls with a broad 40 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

Vahe Bedrosian

smile. “I had just moved downtown to a loft and wanted to make it a real home, so I asked him for advice about decorating. At first, he snubbed me, but I started talking about art that I’d seen, like the Hockney and Klimt retrospectives.

And one day, he just cracked open, started talking and kept going and going.

For the first time, he had a smile on his face.”

Indeed, Bedrosian says, it had been a long time since he had found life gratifying. Things had been difficult for him, ever since his childhood in the former Communist nation of Romania. He found solace in his work as early as age 10, when he enrolled in an art school next door to his grandfather’s shoe repair business. Despite his youth, he overrode his parents’ disapproval of what they saw as a frivolous endeavor.

Still, the daily indignities of life in a police state were grueling, and he was glad when his family decided to come to America, where he was able to study architecture at USC. While at the university, he spent much of his downtime observing the students in the fine arts department and the works they created, even though he felt that his family’s meager circumstances discouraged him from painting as much as he would have liked.

“We were very poor, with three generations living in a two-bedroom house, and there wasn’t much time to pursue art,” he recalls. “I kept doing it though, and I kept all the paintings in my closet. I had teachers say it was great and that I should show it, but I always said no.”

Uncertainty about the worth of his work was coupled with the challenges of accommodating to life in his new country. As the years went by, Bedrosian was also disappointed by his encounters with American culture, finding it less intellectually vibrant than he had hoped. When the love of his life broke his heart, everything came crashing down. In a fit of frustration, he ripped apart hundreds of his artworks.

“The point I want to make is that I wasn’t driven to do that by just the loss of a woman, because I don’t think you can put art down for 21 years because of just one incident,” says Bedrosian, his eyes narrowing. “Things were building up, and…well, only three paintings were left. Two of them were in the closet, and I overlooked them until I calmed down later. One was a self-portrait that was a scary thing, but it told you what my mental state was.

“In a relationship you lay it all out on the table, saying ‘This is all I have to give.’ And it wasn’t enough.”

Curiously, however, one of the paintings that survived was “The Blue Madonna,” a portrait of a beautiful woman with flowing dark hair, which he

and others have likened to Ayubi. The painting was created before she was born, but when Bedrosian established his friendship with her, he sensed that he may have found his inspiration again. So he made her an offer.

“He was looking for a new assistant, and I was starting to wonder what I was doing with my life there, thinking I don’t really care about someone’s omelet order and I have better things to do with my life,” Ayubi says with a laugh. “When he offered me a job and said I could study for my college classes whenever there was downtime, I knew I had to go.”

At first, Ayubi didn’t realize that she was inspiring her new boss artistically. As their friendship grew, he offered some decorating tips for her loft. In turn, she encouraged him to find a downtown studio to paint in. And so it went—until they found themselves in Brenart on this autumn Sunday, in the restaurant that had become his new daily lunch spot away from the Raymond Avenue office of his Artech architecture firm.

It was an afternoon filled with people who had come to experience the artistic sensibility that he had locked in his closet and his mind, before – more than 40 years after first picking up a brush – he found the courage to share it with the outside world.

“His art is full of life,” says Nadine Alon, who owns Brenart with her husband, David. “It gives you a really good feeling and makes you feel alive.”

“What I like about it is that it has a fresh quality to it,” adds David Alon.

“The color and composition are outstanding. The public’s appreciation of his work was the best we had with any exhibition all year.”

For now, that warm response is enough for Bedrosian. At some point, he might sell his paintings — but for now, he’s happy just to watch people look at his work each day as he takes his lunch. He hasn’t opened his heart again the same way he did long ago, but at least he can again experience the thrill of creation through his friend, employee and muse.

Says Bedrosian: “I don’t want my art to be forgotten. I would not have thought about art again if not for Kimiya. She comes to work and goes home.

That’s it — but somehow I was inspired. I’ve found that love is a form of communication. For 20-some years I was silent, but I found it’s not worth putting your life on hold.” AM

“FOR 2-SOME YEARS I WAS SILENT, BUT I FOUND IT’S NOT WORTH PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON HOLD.” A new show of Vahe Bedrosian’s work opens on Feb. 2 at the Brenart Café Gallery, 53 E. Union St., Pasadena. A reception for the artist will be held at 3 p.m. Feb. 10. For more information, call (626) 796-7460.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 41

42 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

T H E A RT OF SCIENCE

Snapshots From Space NEW SOFTWARE FROM CALTECH ZEROES IN ON NATURAL CATASTROPHES.

BY STEVE COULTER You might as well admit it, because we’ve all done it. There you are, right in the middle of the workday with a big deadline looming, when you are suddenly struck by an uncontrollable urge.

The next thing you know, you’re flying around the earth at breakneck speed, like Christopher Reeve in the movie “Superman.” The only difference is he was circling the globe in order to turn back time and save the woman he loved, whereas you are probably just looking at 3-D views of your exgirlfriend’s apartment building.

You’ve landed on Google Earth, a virtual globe program which combines satellite images and aerial photographs to form a detailed, bird’s-eye view of the world. Although Google Earth is not the only virtual globe software available, it is undoubtedly one of the most popular and has given birth to a worldwide subculture of virtual globetrotters.

As a testament to the software’s pop cultural gravity, there are several videos on YouTube dedicated to it. Perhaps the best known of these montages is “Secret Images of Google Earth,” a two-minute clip that exposes some of the planet’s most peculiar geological and man-made formations as pictured from space. Posted in December 2006, it has so far been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

There is no doubt that Google Earth is a true cultural phenomenon, but that sort of technology has a lot more to offer than mind-blowing cubicle excursions.

Sebastien Leprince, a graduate student in electrical engineering at Caltech, recent-

LEPRINCE

LANDSLID

ly developed similar software under the guidance of geology professor JeanPhilippe Avouac. He designed it for geoscientists monitoring natural disasters. “[Our software] uses optical satellite images to monitor Earth’s surface displacements with high accuracy,” Leprince said. “Optical images are acquired using optical sensors. You can think of it as taking a picture through a telescope.

They are the same kind of images that are used in Google Earth.”

The software that Leprince wrote is called Co-registration of Optically Sensed Images and Correlation (COSI-Corr), and it accurately tracks some of the biggest changes on Earth’s surface, including earthquake ruptures, “slow” landslides and fast-moving glaciers. To put it another way, when nature strikes, Leprince’s software is able to collect measurements geoscientists can use to predict where similar phenomena might occur and what the consequences could be.

Using the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan in 2005 as an example, Leprince explained that a lot of needed information from that particular disaster could not be collected through a traditional field survey, because a great deal of the damage occurred at high elevations and in extreme weather conditions.

“Imagine sending teams of geologists for months to map fault ruptures that can run for hundreds of kilometers,” he said. “You arrive after the event and try to measure on the ground where the land was before it moved. For all these reasons, the measurements we provide are extremely valuable.”

One of COSI-Corr’s greatest strengths is that it doesn’t replace the existing radarE based imaging technique known as InSAR but complements it. Leprince believes that InSAR and his optical image correlation software will continue to work in unison, with COSI-Corr taking the lead in measuring larger events.

As for the future, Leprince said that validating the technique and releasing a free version of the software is only the first step. His hope is that geoscientists will begin to discover more applications for COSI-Corr and that optical correlation will become standard.

“We could think of having dedicated computers processing satellite images in real time to monitor large-scale disasters and direct rescue teams in the field,” Leprince said. “From a more technical point of view, we’re also studying how future satellites should be improved to provide images that can be better exploited for scientific purposes.”

I wonder what websites Leprince looks at when he wants to goof off at work. AM ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 43

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—Continued

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YO U R H O M E . . .

Y O U R C A S T L E H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T D I R E C T O RY The Bath Connection makes shopping for a new bathroom an unexpected

understands your needs and will take care of them with mastery and heart.

and even outdoor furnishings! In the spirit of being commissioned to cre-

pleasure. With a huge selection and the friendliest staff in Pasadena, the

Springtime will be here before you know it, and you know that each season

ate a piece of artwork, Melissa Carson, Barry Magness and their

Bath Connection is the perfect marriage of fixtures and service. Whether

requires your trees to be maintained in some way - why wait until they’re way

team bring their rich and varied backgrounds in painting, sculpture,

you are searching for a new sink, tub, toilet or faucets, there are styles to suit

beyond improvement or repair? Bring your trees to optimum health so they

water design and lighting to each one-of-a-kind project. Barry specializes

every taste, and the staff can help you make the all-important decisions that

fill out and grow perfectly this year before the warm weather hits. It couldn’t

in the lusty organic with walkways, walls and original water features of

will send you home with a smile. Come in and see what your new bath-

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Call 818-952-1078 and have a look at the complete list of services at

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Canada Tree Care - Formative pruning, reshaping, thinning, removal of dead

Carol Cobabe Design — With a philosophy of “good design resulting

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in the creation of harmony in one’s environment,” Carol’s goal is to

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felling (skilled dismantling of awkward and dangerous trees), fruit tree and

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West, Better Homes and Gardens, Window and Wall Ideas and F.

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Fedde Furniture — Fedde Furniture has been selling quality home Carson-Magness Landscaping — From the overall exterior vision to

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—Continued

interior design

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—Continued

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seating and children’s furniture for your home. Fedde’s complimentary Interior Design service and experienced staff will help you find exactly what you need for your home and office. Free local delivery and fullservice delivery staff will assure your furniture delivery. Come in today and visit their two showrooms in Pasadena,

located

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Historic Lighting — Our long dedication to the Arts & Crafts revival has been inspired by the original Craftsman movement centered in the Pasadena area. Our showroom blends quality production home furnishings with representation of individual artisans. Our close relationships with noted local craftsmen allow us to offer individual pieces not readily available elsewhere.

Lighting and interior design services are available. Working from architectural plans and photographs or actual site visits, we can assist clients with their Craftsman and Bungalow-style projects, both old and new. Historic Lighting is located at 114 E. Lemon Ave., Old Town Monrovia, (626) 303-4899.

—Continued

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START to FINISH The Shortest Distance Between You and Your Dream Home is Nott & Associates.

We’ve Been Designing and Building Homes for Over Thirty Years and Would Like to Build Yours, from Start to Finish.

Make Your Backyard An Oasis

Nott and Associates is the “Design Build” father-and-son team of Tom and Jeffrey Nott. This family team specializes in custom homes in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles region. Tom Nott studied architecture at the University of Southern California, and since then has worked on major projects throughout Southern California. His work spans decades and includes projects for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the L.A. Subway and countless commercial parks.

Jeff began working in the field at age 12, graduated from UCSB and has worked with many well known designers in Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, building custom homes. Together for 30 years, they have completed over 120 projects in South Pasadena alone. Nott and Associates provides complete design through construction services, caring for your vision and appreciating your budget. Visit www.NOTTASSOCIATES.com or call (626) 403-0844.

Pashgian Brothers — To enter the gracious, two-story showroom of Pashgian Brothers is to enter the complete world of efficient contemporary resources, with the tradition of a “customer comes first” business. Pashgian Brothers was established in the United States in 1889, thus making it, legitimately, the oldest oriental rug company west of the Mississippi River. Their luxurious wares come from such countries as Iran, Pakistan, India, China and Afghanistan, to name a few. Also, because Pashgian Brothers own several factories around the world, they can custom-order rugs to your specifications, from traditional and contemporary designs.

Cleaning and repair of your treasures are also available. Designers and their clients are welcome. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m. to 5p.m. Sat.; and by appointment Sun. 993 E. Colorado Blvd. Call (626) 796-7888 or (323) 681-9253.

Prime Building Materials is a family owned business that has been serving the Southern California building industry for over 20 years with pride and traditional

Craypo’s Pool & Spa Call For an Estimate: 626.355.6145

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—Continued

Tom and Jeff have built beautiful homes in the San Gabriel Valley for over 30 years.

TOM NOTT A.I.A Architect 626-403-0844

JEFF NOTT General Contractor 626-403-2146 LIC#B746905

In the Playhouse District 37 years, same location LIC# 283612

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Day of Design With Terri Julio — “My mission is to offer more people an opportunity to consult with a professional designer and afford them a service that fits into their budget.” Those words capture Terri Julio’s practical and thoughtful approach to her profession. A full day of design consultation (six hours for one flat fee) is a great way to begin any project. The job will run smoothly, and, most importantly,

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STICKLEY • LEXINGTON • HOOKER • STANLEY • DREXEL HERITAGE

values. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff work with homeowners, developers, landscape contractors, general contractors, designers and architects alike

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to achieve your exact goals, dreams and beyond. Our huge supply yard features acres of building materials for all phases of building and home improvement, with

B R I design

D G E studio

a specialty showroom featuring a host of interior and exterior products. From formal residential landscapes and masonry to large, track-home developments, Prime Building Materials can provide all the materials to create the perfect living environment. Call us for a free consultation or estimate on your next project.

Save Now on our Large Selection of Quality Consoles and Entertainment Centers

Three locations to serve you: 7811 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood; and 11694 Sheldon St., Sun Valley; 2800 Teal Club Rd., Oxnard. Call (626) 284-2222.

Selected Consoles in Stock & Available for Immediate Delivery!

Quantities Limited!

Roman Deco — We are direct importers of fine European furniture and accessories with 20 years of experience in sales and importing of exclusive, high-quality furniture and accessories from top manufacturers in Europe. We have a large selection of fine furniture, accessories, lighting, chandeliers, decorative objects and much more in stock. We pride ourselves on the customer care and service that we provide. We supply our clients with extensive home furnishing and decoration services, using the finest material available in the market. Call us at (323) 466-3304.

Day of Design With Terri Julio — “My mission is to offer more people an opportunity to consult with a professional designer and afford them a service that fits into their budget.” Those words capture Terri Julio’s practical and thoughtful approach to her profession. A full day of design consultation (six hours for one flat fee) is a great way to begin any project. The job will run smoothly, and, most importantly,

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Terri will help you avoid costly mistakes. Terri’s philosophy also extends to “putting the client’s wants first.” She simply guides those desires to a beautiful conclusion.

Call (626) 447-5370.

PASHGIAN BROTHERS Gallery of Fine Oriental Rugs ESTABLISHED 1889

Featuring consoles, home theater systems, pop-up plasma, expandable wall systems, pocket armoires & many more.

Designed for Plasma, DLP & LCD television systems.

Special savings on selected wall units, quantities limited.

Visit Our Website at

www.Fedde.com

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Fratelli’s Ristorante Italiano & Pizzeria is conveniently located in Montrose and offer’s the very best and freshest homemade Italian food. In keeping with his family tradition, owner Maurizio Iocono puts all of his heart and soul into preparing his dishes the way his mother did back home in Sicily.

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

T H E G R E AT OUTDOORS

A Garden

By Any Other Name...

THE NEW GARDEN OF FLOWING FRAGRANCE – WHICH WILL BE THE LARGEST AUTHENTIC CHINESE GARDEN OUTSIDE OF CHINA WHEN IT’S COMPLETED – BLOOMS AT THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY.

BY BRADLEY TUCK

What’s in a name? In the case of the new Chinese Garden at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Garden, a lot more than meets the eye – or ear. The name Liu Fang Yuan, or Garden of Flowing Fragrance, is no mere confection: It was the result of a full year of deliberations by three eminent scholars of Chinese culture at UCLA, UC Irvine and in New Hampshire.

Liu Fang Yuan refers to a verse written by the poet Cao Zhi (192-232 A.D.): “She treads in the strong pungency of pepper-plant paths/Walks through clumps of scented flora, allowing their fragrance to flow.”

Liu Fang Yuan, which opens to the public on Feb. 23, is a re-creation of a Ming Dynasty “scholar garden” from the southern Chinese city of Suzhou, the capital of such havens for the country’s elite. Retired officials and wealthy merchants would invite artists and poets to help them build elaborate sanctuaries, also known as “gardens of the literati,” where they could meditate and write poetry. In naming the gardens, the owner often underlined his cultural refinement by alluding to literature or art. And with Liu Fang Yuan on its way to earning pride of place as the largest authentic Chinese garden outside of China, combining architecture, art and botany, the choice of a name was a weighty one.

“The naming of a garden is very important in Chinese culture,” says the garden’s curator, June Li. “It both personalizes the place and recognizes its unique artistry, often through the use of poetry, symbolism and word play.

The name brings a garden to life.”

If a yearlong collaboration on the name seems an arduous process, it’s an indication of how far the Huntington went to bring the garden to life. The garden — designed by Jin Chen, a landscape architect based in Shanghei, and the Suzhou Institute of Landscape Architectural Design — has taken more than 20 years to reach fruition. Fund-raising didn’t take off until 2001, when it was kick-started by a $10 million bequest from the estate of Los Angeles businessman Peter Paanakker.

—Continued on page 57 ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 55

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56 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

T H E G R E AT O UTDOORS —Continued from page 55

PICTURED: Above: Native Chinese plants, such as flowering peach trees, lend their graceful beauty to the landscape; Insets (clockwise from top left): Intricate wood carving on the ceiling of the Pavilion of the Three Friends depicts the three symbolic companions of winter in Chinese culture: pine, bamboo and plum blossoms; The Jade Ribbon Bridge with the Pavilion of the Three Friends in the background. Limestone rocks from China’s Lake Tai line the water’s edge and are covered with delicate vines of yellow-flowering jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi); A small black pine (Pinus thunbergii) stands out against a wall like the brush strokes of calligraphy on a painted scroll; The Pavilion of the Three Friends pays tribute to the three symbolic companions of winter — pine, bamboo and plum blossoms — which are often depicted together in Chinese art.

Photo credit: The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Garden

The Huntington’s keen attention to detail caught the imagination of 300 donors and helped the organization raise the $18.3 million it needed to complete the first, two-part phase of what is slated to be a 12-acre project: The first consists of a “lake stage,” 3.5 acres around a 1.5-acre lake with five stone bridges and a canyon waterfall; the other is the “pavilions stage,” which includes a courtyard, tea house and moon-gate pavilion. More than 60 artisans from Suzhou have been toiling since 2006 to carve wood, lay paving and build bridges and pavilions. The rest of the garden is scheduled to be completed when the funding is raised.

The most spectacular pavilions are located past the Wall of the Colorful Clouds, a curved, tile-topped wall leading to the Plantain Court, a courtyard with elaborate pebble-inlaid paving. Yu Ming Tang – the Hall of the Jade Camellia – is a dazzling fretwork-encased glass house, where tea (which is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, ergo the pavilion’s name) is served. The pavilion overlooks the main body of water, with a view north to the mountains past existing mature pines and oaks. This mountain vista is an essential element in the garden, in harmony with the traditions of garden design in the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644). The adjacent patio has been named Yao Shan Tai – Terrace that Invites the Mountain – emphasizing the relationship of the constructed elements of the garden with the unmoving natural edifice to the north.

It is this duality, this balance of the transient and the steadfast, the yin and yang, that is so important. Nowhere is this more evident than in the placement of 600 tons of limestone rock around the lake. The rocks were shipped from Lake Tai, China’s third-largest lake, and are placed with meticulous precision, joined together almost seamlessly by Suzhou craftsmen. The stones undulate and contort, adding a rhythmic muscularity to the edges of the lake, representing an unchanging force in contrast to the water’s ever-changing fluidity.

That tension is acknowledged and celebrated in the names of two garden elements: Bi Zhao Tang – Pond of Reflected Greenery – and Zhu Yun Quan –

Cascade of Resonant Bamboo. Reflecting the sky and the mature trees that hug its edge, the pond’s surface is like an ever-changing mirror, a foil to the manmade pavilions surrounding it and the bridges that traverse it. The bridges themselves twist and turn as they cross, presenting constantly changing vignettes to the viewer. The Cascade of Resonant Bamboo is a waterfall over which one passes, the stream rushing over the sculptural rocks with a sound akin to the rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind.

In addition to the symbolic visual poetry, actual calligraphic couplets are posted on the pavilions and engraved on stones. At the serene Love for the Lotus Pavilion, one such couplet reads: “Though rooted in the mud, how could the Lotus be sullied? Its subtle fragrance spreads far with even greater purity.”

The garden is landscaped with plants common to both China and Southern California: willows, flowering fruit trees, bamboo and black pine.

It’s designed to unfold like a scroll painting, “to make you think about things in a different way and experience the landscape in a different way,” says Huntington spokesperson Lisa Blackburn. Certainly, it engages the wanderer in a sensual conversation that involves much more than the sense of sight.

Says June Li: “The design for Liu Fang Yuan captures the spirit of classical Chinese gardens by incorporating traditional elements, authentic materials and scholarly associations. This latter aspect, in particular, finds perfect expression in the context of the Huntington, where our mission is to advance research and education in the humanities and botanical sciences.” AM Prof. Yang Ye of the Department of Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages at the University of California, Riverside, will give a lecture titled “Poetry and Calligraphy in the Garden” on Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m., in Friends’ Hall.

The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. For more information, call (626) 405-2100 or visit www.huntington.org.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 57

{ List THE

A highly selective preview of upcoming events

BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER

Feb. 21 — In “The Science of Magic and Illusion” at 8 p.m., Bob Friedhoffer tricks the senses while teaching the scientific principles behind magic and illusion.

Feb. 23 — The touring belly-dance troupe Bellydance Superstars takes the ancient art of undulation to a new level at 8 p.m.

Feb. 29 — The East Village Opera Company meshes rock with opera at 8 p.m. This concert honors Caltech Public Events’ founding director, Jerry Willis.

All performances are in Beckman Auditorium on the Caltech campus, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 395-4652 inside Pasadena or (888) 2CALTECH outside, or visit www.events.caltech.edu.

GAMBLE HOUSE SEEKS DOCENTS Feb. 3 — Pasadena’s Arts and Crafts masterpiece home, the Greene and Greene–designed Gamble House, celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Celebrate the centennial by guiding visitors through the structure as a trained docent. A docent training class starts Feb. 3 and continues for 10 Saturdays. Training is in two phases: The first focuses on the house and the art of being a docent; the second phase, starting in September, focuses on the Arts and Crafts movement. Docents help educate visitors about the craftsmanship of Greene and Greene through tours, lectures and other activities. Call (626) 793-3334 or visit www.gamblehouse.org.

ROCK FOR THE AGES Feb. 10 — The San Marino Celebrity Series concert “Rock and Roll for All Ages,” sponsored by the San Marino Guild of Huntington Memorial Hospital, features the 1950s group the Diamonds. The quartet produced hits including “Little Darlin’,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and “Silhouettes.” The concert will raise funds for medical equipment for the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Tickets cost $30.

The concert starts at 5 p.m. at Lake Avenue Church.

Lake Avenue Church is located at 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 441-1465 or (626) 792-4963.

HARPSICHORD CENTER GOES FOR BAROQUE Feb. 1 — The Harpsichord Center’s Artist Series continues its 30th season with the Los Angeles Baroque Players' 8 p.m. performance at Pasadena's Trinity Lutheran Church. The program includes works by J.J. Quantz, J.B. De Boismortier, Tommaso Giordani and Georg Philipp Telemann. The players are William Neil Roberts on harpsichord; Anthony R. Brazier on baroque flute; Adriana Zoppo on baroque violin; and Frances von Seggern Bach on baroque cello.

The Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 997 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. Call (323) 254-9613.

ENTERTAINMENT WITH AN IQ AT CALTECH Caltech's prominence in science is well known, but the school also offers a fine selection of theater and dance offerings: Feb. 1 — The Acting Company’s production of “Moby Dick Rehearsed” portrays a troupe of actors who scrap a rehearsal of “King Lear” in favor of a play about another obsessed man, Captain Ahab. Curtain time is 8 p.m.

Feb. 2 — The Acting Company presents “The Tempest,” Shakespeare’s tale of the wizard Prospero who, in luring his enemies to his island to exact revenge, instead discovers peace and the ability to forgive. The show starts at 8 p.m.

Feb. 8 — The eight-member Canadian brother-and-sister act, Leahy, performs traditional Celtic music, dance and song at 8 p.m.

Feb. 9 — “Lazer Vaudeville” features the dragon emcee, Alfonso, in a show where laser beams add visual spectacle to juggling, acrobatics and magic tricks. Show-time is 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 — The Paco Peña Flamenco Dance company presents “¡A Compás!” articulating the power and passion of Southern Spain’s song, dance and music, with three guitarists, three flamenco dancers, two singers and one percussionist. The show starts at 8 p.m.

58 ~ DECEMBER 2007 ~ ARROYO

SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY SUMMIT—TAKE A PEEK Feb. 5, 6 and 7 — The Art Center College of Design hosts the second in a series of five summits titled “Cities, Systems and Sustainable Mobility.” The event on the South Campus includes presentations, discussions and brainstorming sessions emphasizing the role designers play in the future of mobility and urban planning. The keynote speaker is environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist and author Paul Hawken, executive director of Natural Capital Institute, CEO of Paxit and founder of Groxis, Inc. Presenters include experts in the broad area of sustainability. On Tuesday, in conjunction with the summit, the Hillside Campus hosts a full-day, intensive introduction to the topic of sustainability.

The Art Center College of Design South Campus is located at 950 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. The Hillside Campus is at 1700 Lida St., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 396-4308 or visit www.artcenter.edu/summit.

FAMILY FUN AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY AT THE MUSIC CENTER Feb. 9 — The Music Center’s free performance series “World City” celebrates the cultural diversity of Los Angeles. In honor of Black History Month, theater artist and storyteller John O’Neal’s Junebug Productions presents stories, songs and poems culled from African American oral history. The Carolina Chocolate Drops perform traditional and contemporary fiddle and banjo music from the foothills of North and South Carolina. Performances begin at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the W.M. Keck Foundation Children’s Amphitheater of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Feb. 23 — The free, family-theme Pillow Theater features Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets in “Animalia.” The performance includes Bunraku, rod, marionette and shadow puppetry at 10 and 11 a.m. in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Grand Hall.

Feb. 27 — The Music Center’s BRAVO Awards take center stage, recognizing teachers and schools for excellence in arts education. The awards honor educators who employ the arts to revitalize teaching, enhance student achievement and improve self-esteem, teamwork and cross-cultural understanding. The awards ceremony runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Call (213) 972-3379. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is located at 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

Call (213) 972-8000. The Millennium Biltmore Hotel is located at 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Call (213) 972-3387. For more on these events, visit www.musiccenter.org.

DANCERS WHO DAZZLE Feb. 10 — The Tap Chicks is a troupe of seasoned tap dancers, ages 50 to 84. You can catch them one night only, at 7 p.m. at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Born at the Pasadena Senior Center, the troupe dances to Broadway tunes, 1940s favorites and contemporary songs. Pam Kay choreographs the performance and provides musical accompaniment, comedy and song. Comedian Hank Garcia also performs.

The Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 256-3809 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.

DINING WITH DRAGONS

COMING UP CAMELLIAS AT DESCANSO Feb. 23 & 24 — Descanso Gardens’ signature flower begins blooming in January and continues into spring. The Camellia Festival celebrates the blossom with a lecture and demonstrations, free with the cost of admission. At 2 p.m. on Saturday, experts discuss camellia care and culture. At 2 p.m. Sunday, learn the secrets of pruning and shaping the flowers for bigger and more numerous blooms.

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descanso-gardens.org.

Feb. 10 — In time for Chinese New Year, the Pacific Asia Museum presents a cooking class, “Dragon Dinners,” with instructor Ivy Dai from 3 to 5 p.m. Learn to cook Szechuan green beans, “lion’s head” meatballs, dumplings and other Chinese treats. All materials are provided. Dai is a food writer who has produced how-to videos on a wide variety of cooking styles. The cost is $50.

The Pacific Asia Museum is located at 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. To register, call (626) 449-2742, ext. 31. For more museum info, visit www.pacificasiamuseum.org.

ly PBS show “the last refuge of intelligent conversation on TV.” The former CBS anchor’s one-hour show airs on 215 PBS stations.

The Pasadena Civic Auditorium is located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Call (310) 5466222 or visit www.speakersla.com.

HEARTS AND FLOWERS AT THE FOLK TREE

RUSSIAN INTRIGUE IN “RAVENSRIDGE”

Through Feb. 16 — The Folk Tree is getting an early start on Valentine’s Day with its 21st annual Hearts and Flowers exhibition. More than 30 artists, including more than 20 jewelry designers, present their takes on matters of the heart in a variety of media. Valentine-friendly mementos include jewelry, mixed media, cast-metal pieces, paintings on tin, collages, fiberwork, assemblages, papier maché, paintings, ceramics, drawings, 3-D illustrations and more.

The Folk Tree is located at 217 S. Fair Oaks, Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 795-8733 or visit www.folktree.com.

TALKING ABOUT TALKING Feb. 20 — The Distinguished Speaker Series of Southern California presents talk show host Charlie Rose at 8 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Morley Safer has called his night-

60 YEARS OF STAN Feb. 2 — When it comes to reporting the news, veteran KTLATV newsman Stan Chambers practically wrote the book.

Now he literally has, in his just-released “KTLA’s News at Ten: 60 Years with Stan Chambers.”

Chambers discusses the book at a 4 p.m. signing at Vroman’s Bookstore. The Emmy Award–winning journalist offers a literary time capsule full of insights on the birth and growth of broadcast journalism, as well as colorful stories from his career.

Vroman’s Bookstore is located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.

Call (626) 449-5320 or visit www.vromansbookstore.com.

Feb. 22 — The Fremont Centre Theatre hosts the world premiere of the new play “Ravensridge” by T.S. Cook, co-writer of the 1979 film “The China Syndrome.” The play is set in 1992 Russia, soon after the fall of communism and the end of the Cold War. The old political machine has been replaced by a new capitalist oligarchy, which in some ways can be as repressive as the old system. Protagonist Will Torrey is an American steelworker and officer of a striking union in Ravensridge, West Virginia. He has traveled to Russia to confront the owner of the steel mill, Richard Miller, a financial criminal and fugitive from U.S. justice being protected by the wealthiest man in the new Russian economic class. The mission hits complications as Torrey accidentally kills a Russian security guard and now sits in prison where he is grilled by a major in the local law enforcement agency. Love interests and intrigue swirl around the story’s twists and turns as Torrey is presented with a terrible choice in order to win his freedom. The play previews on Feb. 22 and opens Feb. 23. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through March 30. James Reynolds directs; the executive producers are Lissa and James Reynolds. “Ravensridge” is produced

by Lissa Reynolds and Emily Button.

The Fremont Centre Theatre is located at 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena.

Call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.theatermania.com for tickets.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Feb. 28 — Dr. Lori Moore of NuVision Laser conducts a free seminar on the causes of cataracts and new advances in technology that treat the condition. Moore is co-chair of the department of ophthalmology at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia. The seminar starts at 6 p.m. at 488 E. Santa Clara St., Ste. 105, Arcadia. Call (626) 357-2020 or visit www.nuvisionlaser.com.

WALK WITH THE MAYOR Ongoing — Up and Moving Pasadena invites early risers to join Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and special guests for a walk around the Rose Bowl Stadium at 7:45 a.m. the first Wednesday of every month. Guests and Pasadena residents joining the mayor in coming months include Olympic gold medal–winning swimmer John Naber (Feb. 6), Pasadena StarNews editor Larry Wilson (March 5) and Gale Anne Hurd, producer of the “Terminator” movies (April 2). Meet at the stadium’s Gate A. Up and Moving Pasadena is a communitywide effort supporting health and fitness.

The Rose Bowl Stadium is located at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena. Call (626) 432-1508 or visit www.upandmoving.org. AM ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 59

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KITCHEN CONFESSIONS

President’s birthdays became an extra added bonus day for the lucky government employees who get all three days off. I firmly believe that this bonehead move deserves a culinary celebration.

Neither Lincoln nor Washington was very good in the kitchen. I doubt the first ladies did much cooking, either. They were probably too busy trying to push through their healthcare reform measures. At any rate, they obviously had chefs to do the dirty work. It’s a little-known fact that Lincoln had a chef named Washington, and Washington had a chef named Lincoln. And although Washington never chopped down a cherry tree, Lincoln did eat a handful of cherries just prior to delivering the Gettysburg address. Or so I’m told.

Although only Lincoln and Washington are officially honored this month, I like to widen the range of presidents and honor them all with a big feed, regardless of their birth month or party affiliation. Past President’s Day festivities have included:

A Valentine for Presidents

•

BY LESLIE BILDERBACK

This year, I have decided to honor President’s Day with a twist on an allAmerican favorite—grilled cheese. A sandwich with French roots (like most food worth eating), grilled cheese is known as the croque-monsieur on Parisian street corners. This translates roughly as “Mr. Crunchy,” which is no doubt a cryptic commentary on someone, probably an American tourist. The original is made with Gruyére cheese, ham and a touch of sauce béchamel. In honor of our presidents, however, I am giving it a patriotic twist. This version is warm and melty, salty and sweet, and just unique enough to get you noticed. It makes a lovely cocktail hors d’oeuvre and an even better midnight snack. Serve it at your next political rally or slumber party. Better yet, throw a political slumber party in honor of your favorite president or presidential contender. You can watch CSPAN in your PJ’s and play Foreign Policy Truth or Dare. AM

EAT LIKE A KING ON SUPER-DUPER TUESDAY.

Since this is a February food column, you are probably expecting a death-bydecadent-bittersweet-chocolate-torte-gasm recipe from me. Well, surprise! I hate Valentine’s Day. I believe it’s a holiday invented by Hallmark, See’s Candy and florists. No, I am not anti-love. I love love. But I don’t need a special day and a pound of Nuts & Chews to know my husband loves me. I know that with every toilet he plunges, every spider he saves us from and every kid he chauffeurs.

As a kid, my Valentine’s Day focused on paper-doily/construction-paper arts and crafts, and whether or not the boy I liked would slip a valentine into my fancifully adorned shoebox. Oh, the anticipation. The goose bumps! Today, my poor kids are required to give everyone in their class a card; that means they never know who has a crush on them, and the mean kids think everyone likes them. How is this better?

So I have boycotted Valentine’s Day, much to the relief of my husband’s wallet–and my waistline. Instead, I choose to spend February focusing on the presidents.

President’s Day is one of the rare occasions in which the bureaucracy bumbled in our favor.What was supposed to be a holiday that combined two

• • • •

Kennedy’s Cuban Black Bean Crisis (a great accompaniment to Pit-Roasted Bay of Suckling Pig and Ask Not What You Can Have for Dessert Pudding) Nixon’s I Am Not a Crook-neck Squash Gratin, delicately seasoned with Spiro-mint Ronald Reagan’s Tear Down This Wall-nut Bread FDR’s We Have Nothing to Fear Falafels I Like Ike Cream topped with Battle of the Bulge Sugar-Free Fudge Sauce

Bilderback is a South Pasadena resident and the author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Spices and Herbs” (Alpha; Dec. 2007); “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Comfort Food” (Alpha; Sept. 2007); and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Success as a Chef ” (Alpha; Feb. 2007). A former executive chef at the California School of Culinary Arts, Bilderback teaches her techniques online at www.culinarymasterclass.com.

GRILLED RED, WHITE AND BLUE CHEESE SANDWICH The key to the best grilled cheese is to butter the outside of the bread, not the pan. That way, less of the butter will burn, and more of it will soak into the bread, crisping it up.

Ingredients (makes two sandwiches) 4 slices really good sourdough bread 4 tbsp. butter, softened to room temperature 4 oz. Maytag Blue Cheese (a real American cheese) 1 cup fresh raspberries

Directions Butter each slice of bread. For each sandwich, place one slice in a nonstick skillet, buttered side down. Crumble the cheese onto the bread, then divide the raspberries evenly and arrange on top of the cheese. Top with the second slice of buttered bread, buttered side up.

Over medium-low heat, cook the sandwiches until the bottom is golden brown, about three to four minutes. Carefully flip them over, and brown the other side. Cut the sandwich on the diagonal and serve.

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 61

TA S T E T E S T

Green Pastures THE INTIMATE GREEN STREET TAVERN OFFERS A FRESH TAKE ON SEASONAL DISHES.

BY IRENE LACHER

While hunger is never on the menu anywhere in Old Pasadena, the arrival of a new, distinctive voice on the restaurant scene is always good news. Excited sybarites have been blogging up a storm about the Green Street Tavern, virtually since its opening last fall. Some of the buzz has reflected a bit of confusion about the eatery’s name, so let’s clear it up now: The place does have a small, elegant bar, but it’s not the kind of tavern that sends you home with your panties on your head. Think Tavern on the Green, only smaller. Much, much smaller.

Indeed, the Green Street Tavern’s intimate charm is intrinsic to its appeal. The place seats only 30 people for lunch and dinner, so don’t expect to drop by on a Saturday night without a reservation. (Some latecomers order their meals to go and eat them at the nearby Cigars

by Chivas, but that’s probably only for the most intrepid.) The décor – a collaboration between owner Armen Hakobyan and Long Beach interior designer Megan Tagliafferri – is a sophisticated backdrop of earth tones, undulating walls and rich tobacco-colored leather.

Hakobyan has run ethnic restaurants in Moscow and his native Armenia, but for his first place in the U.S., he wanted a forward-looking menu with surprising counterpoints. He has achieved it, thanks to his promising young chef, Michael Montoya, a graduate of Pasadena’s California School of Culinary Arts who grew up in Altadena. At a fresh-faced 26, Montoya already has surfed through the Patina Group, David Lentz’s now-shuttered Opaline, Minx and Maison Akira. Now that he has his own kitchen with no corporate grown-ups to please, he’s cutting loose with a vibrant menu of seasonal ingredients impeccably cooked.

Montoya’s vocabulary includes truffle oil, garlic and a subtle balance of sweet and tangy dishes that are never bland.

“I want people to enjoy a casual environment with upscale food,” Montoya says. “Dishes don’t have to look cookie-cutter perfect. It’s about the flavor and the balance. Sometimes putting food on the plate is an art in itself, but decorations don’t add flavor.”

Start with the creamy blue cheese tart – tart in both senses of the word – served with walnuts, balsamic and fig. The menu mainstay of tomatoes and mozzarella is reinterpreted here with grilled heirlooms and velvety Burrata.

The Hawaiian pineapple popcorn shrimp with macadamia nuts and cilantro has a nice blend of textures and avoids the cloying sweetness that can mark its Asian inspiration.

And don’t miss the homemade pasta dishes. The potato gnocchi, served with an inventive combination of grilled asparagus, morels and truffles, is the

Green Street Tavern 69 W. Green St., Pasadena | (626) 229-9961 Tuesday through Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“I want people to enjoy a casual environment with upscale food. Dishes don’t have to look cookiecutter perfect. It’s about the flavor and the balance.

Sometimes putting food on the plate is an art in itself, but decorations don’t add flavor.” ~ Chef Michael Montoya

62 ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ ARROYO

best I’ve ever tasted. Homemade spaghetti also comes as a bed for delicately crisped and moist Chilean sea bass blanketed in caramelized pearl onions, arugula and pomegranate. Montoya tweaks the menu every three months, and spring brings a fine grilled rack of lamb nicely enhanced with eggplant caviar topped with truffle–port wine demi sauce.

For dessert, knock off a rustic, buttery Granny Smith apple strudel with walnuts, mascarpone cream and cinnamon ice cream. Then quit yer yowling about all those restaurant chains that only seem to rule the neighborhood roost. AM

ARROYO ~ FEBRUARY 2008 ~ 63