FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
June 2015
VIETNAM AND
HONG KONG THE EAST IS (KIND OF) RED
PARTYING IN PISMO Where Beach and Wine Country Overlap
FLYING HIGH BEFORE TAKEOFF Luxe Airport Lounges Around the World
A THAI ROMANCE Waterfall Premieres at the Pasadena Playhouse
A R C H I T E CT U R E . C O N S T R U CT I O N . I N T E R I O R S .
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VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 6 | JUNE 2015
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TRAVEL ISSUE 2015 15 THE EAST IS (KIND OF) RED In Vietnam and Hongkong, capitalist communist is not an oxymoron. —By Irene Lacher
PHOTOS (top): Mai Nguyen (bottom left): Matt Sayles (bottom right): Teri Lyn Fisher
30 FLYING HIGH BEFORE TAKEOFF Airlines are offering more perks to premium-class passengers at luxurious airport lounges around the world. —By Carole Dixon
33 A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH Waterfall, a Broadway-bound musical Thai romance has its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse this month. —By Bettijane Levine
36 A GOURMET GETAWAY IN PISMO BEACH Pismo Beach makes its mark in San Luis Obispo wine country with special events and a laid-back ambience. —By Irene Lacher
DEPARTMENTS 13
FESTIVITIES The Pasadena Playhouse Gala, PCC Foundation and more
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KITCHEN CONFESSIONS I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Books About Ice Cream
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THE LIST Corita Kent at PMCA, the Pasadena Chalk Festival, Pericles at the Huntington
ABOUT THE COVER: Incense pots at Saigon’s Thien Hau Temple, photo by Irene Lacher 06.15 ARROYO | 9
EDITOR’S NOTE I remember gazing at a map of East Asia in one of my college textbooks and making the simple decision to move there after graduation. At the time, I was planning a career as a foreign correspondent and projecting myself into an imaginary future of glamor and adventure. My target was Hong Kong, but I couldn’t get a job there from Boston, where I was living at the time. So I made a two-night reservation at the Kowloon YMCA and, with my parents’ graduation present of $1,000 and a one-way plane ticket, I went off to find my fortune. The next two and a half years were as exciting as I’d hoped. It was easy to get jobs in the local press — editors were quite impressed that I spoke English as a first language, which didn’t exactly knock them dead when I got back — and between posts, I would travel. I visited Thailand in the midst of one of their annual coups and the southern Philippines during the civil war there. (I thought hearing gunfire from my hotel was romantic. Go figure.) As a reporter for The Hongkong Standard, I went to Indonesia on the first Concorde flight through Asia. But I learned that the life of a foreign correspondent involved difficulties I hadn’t foreseen. I knew the Americans and saw that most of them had pretty miserable personal lives. Correspondents’ spouses had trouble finding work in Hong Kong; also hard on relationships was the journalists’ travel schedule, which called for them to be away at least 60 percent of the time, since they covered the region, not just the British colony. Perhaps most important, I didn’t want my work and thoughts to be consumed with China’s hideous totalitarian government. So I came back to the U.S. and stayed. I hadn’t returned to Asia for many years until February, when I took a Vietnam cruise and checked out the new post-handover Hong Kong. What follows is my report on the region, then and now. —Irene Lacher EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Tim Oliver, Rochelle Bassarear EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Carole Dixon, Lisa Dupuy, Lynne Heffley, Tariq Kamal, Kathleen Kelleher, Rebecca Kuzins, Brenda Rees, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Brenda Clarke, Leslie Lamm ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Tim Oliver, Stephanie Torres HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker PAYROLL Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Alysia Chavez, Kacie Cobian OFFICE ASSISTANT Ann Weathersbee PUBLISHER Jon Guynn
arroyo FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA
SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING V.P. OF FINANCE Michael Nagami V.P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin CONTACT US ADVERTISING dinas@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 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2015 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
CORRECTION: The address given for Julia Child’s childhood home designed by Reginald Johnson in the May issue (“Common and Uncommon”) was incorrect. It is 625 Magnolia Ave., Pasadena 10 | ARROYO | 06.15
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FESTIVITIES
Christine Franke, Marcia Hoffman, Yvonne T. Chen, Ann Demartini, Sheila Grether-Marion, Sheri Ball, Linda Griffey, Lilah Stangeland and Jinny Wilcott.
Cyndi Olsen with Lilah and Brett Stangeland
The Pasadena Playhouse Gala on April 25 had a country twang in honor of the honoree — songwriter and music producer Tena Clark, composer and lyricist of Twist, An American Musical, staged there in 2011. The dress code was “diamonds and denim,” the music, a little bit country, with Nashville star and Clark protegée Elizabeth Lyons regaling the crowd with SoCal’s Kelly Rae Band. Debbie PHOTOS: Earl Gibson for The Pasadena Playhouse. courtesy of Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, courtesy of Pasadena City College Foundation
Allen emceed the dinner catered by El Portal Restaurant at the new Playhouse Plaza. Sheila Grether-Marion and
Playhouse board officials Brad King and board Chair David DiCristofaro
Brett Stangeland co-chaired the event, which raised Debbie Allen, Tena Clark and Sheldon Epps
almost $300,000 for the theater...More than 500 Pasadena Community College supporters raised nearly $1.1 million at the PCC Foundation’s first fundraising gala, “PCC Celebrates Student Success,” on the school campus on May 16. The event, which increased the number of annual scholarships by one-third to 850, honored Bill and Brenda Galloway, the Boone/Fetter family and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses..The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts recently awarded $630,000 in grants to 67
PCC Foundation Executive Director Bobbi Abram and PACCD Trustee Anthony Fellow
nonprofits, including the L.A. Philharmonic Association, at a reception at the 51st Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
PSHA Gifts & Grants Chair Eileen Reilly, Marcos Arizmendi, Marleena Barber of the Braille Institute and PSHA President Katherine Watkins
PCC President Rajen Vurdien and PACCD Trustee Jeanette Mann
Bill and Brenda Galloway
PCC Foundation board President John Gregory
Nick Boone, Nic Fetter, MaryLou Boone, PCC Interim Superintendent-President Bob Miller and Susanne Boone 06.15 | ARROYO | 13
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An art installation in the Hong Kong subway
THE EAST IS (KIND OF) RED In Vietnam and Hong Kong, capitalist communist is not an oxymoron. STORY AND PHOTOS BY IRENE LACHER
AS MY PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN HO CHI MINH CITY, I SAVORED THE IRONY THAT IN 2015, VIETNAM WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SAFEST DESTINATIONS AN AMERICAN COULD VISIT. AS A TOUR GUIDE PUT IT, “WE DON’T HAVE CRAZY TERRORISTS.” For this trip, I’d be going halfway around the world, and yet I’d never been to other foreign countries that were as personally important to me. Hong Kong was where I started my adult life many moons ago, working in the local press. I hadn’t been back because of a whiplash I sustained when a drunk publicist driving me to a movie studio crashed into a street pole. I ended up in a Queen Elizabeth Hospital ward, the only guaipo (“ghost woman” in Cantonese) there. After that, a long flight in coach was pretty much out of the question. Then two things changed: Airlines introduced supercharged coach class (sometimes known as economy plus). It’s a semi-affordable way to fly with a few more perks than cattle class, enough at least to permit a trip without a physical therapist. And I was anticipating a
February birthday that ended with a zero, a milestone I always insist on being witnessed by family. When I lived in Hong Kong, globalization had not yet taken hold. Still a British colony, it was a witch’s brew of laissez-faire capitalism, authentic peasant life and nearly endless adventure. I wanted to see how much Hong Kong had changed after the handover to the People’s Republic of China in 1997 (even though everyone knew even then that if Beijing wanted to break the lease beforehand, it had only to knock on the governor’s door). Hong Kong was then and continues to be one of China’s top financial assets, a major port for foreign exchange. I also wanted to visit Vietnam, which wasn’t a possibility during my time there — that fact had been printed on my passport. As with many boomers, the Vietnam War was a formative experience, so I wanted to see it for myself. And I wanted to find out why Vietnamese people were said to be so welcoming to Americans despite the war’s devastation. I decided on a cruise, because it seemed the least complicated way to visit several towns and cities. And, as part of its fleet expansion, Windstar Cruises had just launched “Southeast Asia Unveiled,” a 10-day South China Sea cruise up the Vietnamese coast to Hong Kong, stopping in Nha Trang and Qui Nhon, near the ancient ruins of the Cham people; Da Nang, home to China Beach, where G.I.s went to destress; Hue, the site of the imperial palace; and Ha Long Bay, where spectacular caves are beautifully illuminated with colored –continued on page 16 06.15 ARROYO | 15
An opulent meeting room at Saigon’s Reunification Palace
Our cabin on Windstar’s Star Pride
–continued from page 15
lights. It’s also the starting point for the four-hour drive to Hanoi. Windstar was particularly appealing because its ships are quite small — I was on the Star Pride, which carries a maximum of 212 passengers — allowing them to dock in smaller ports too shallow for bigger boats. And the company’s “casual elegance” philosophy sounded perfect. Since the cruise was scheduled to leave Ho Chi Minh City (still called Saigon by many locals) the first day, my sister and I arrived there a couple of days in advance, so we could go exploring. With only a brief time window, we decided to hire tour guides. Didi didn’t want to travel with a pack and had heard good things about a site called ToursByLocals.com, which offers personal guides; we booked two tours — one around the city, the other to the 16 | ARROYO | 06.15
Cu Chi Tunnels, a centerpiece of war tourism half an hour from Saigon. More on that later. We lucked out with our first guide, the wonderful Mai Nguyen — her knowledge of Saigon was extensive (tour guides train at university), her English was fluent and clear (in fact, she was the only guide I didn’t struggle to understand) and she was always up for stimulating conversation. We started with a chat over Vietnamese coffee (served iced with sweetened condensed milk) at Cafe Soi Da, a charming traditional two-story building with a gurgling pond, extended eaves and no walls. Later, she would take us to Pho 2000, famous for its delicious Vietnamese noodle dishes and Bill Clinton’s visit in 2000, commemorated in numerous photos on the walls. We’d arrived a couple of weeks before the new year, which coincides with the Chinese new year, but is called Tet (associated in the U.S. with Hanoi’s surprise holiday offensive during the Vietnam War). In honor of Tet, Saigon’s shops, streets and homes were adorned with lovely golden flowers called hoa mai (ochna integerrima). That was one of many differences that still linger between the south and the north, where peach flowers are the holiday blooms of choice. Mai was the product of a politically mixed marriage — her mother was communist and her father fought alongside Americans in the Mekong Delta. But Hanoi has a long memory; because of her father’s past, three generations of her family have been unable to get promotions in government jobs. “It’s not written, but it’s there,” she said. And yet, far from the communist bogeyman the U.S. tried so desperately to conquer, Vietnam has moved much closer to the West since the Fall of Saigon. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam may be one of only five countries with a single party espousing communism (the others are China, North Korea, Cuba and Laos), but its economy says otherwise. A few years ago, The Economist described its leadership as “ardently capitalist communists.” “There are a lot of differences since 1975,” Mai observed. “If not, we’d collapse like the Soviet Union.” And remember that mantra, “to each according to his need”? Not exactly. “We don’t have welfare,” Mai said. Even education and health care aren’t free. “Here you’ve got
Vietcong mannequins at Cu Chi Tunnels
to do things for yourself. That’s our traditional mindset.” We visited the fascinating Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, which has artifacts dating back to the Stone Age, and Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown, where worshippers burn incense coils in honor of the Chinese goddess of the sea. I was surprised by how interesting I found the Reunification Palace, the preserved headquarters of the defeated South Vietnamese government, where I imagined corrupt officials meeting in splendid rooms. The next day, we got a big dose of war tourism at the Cu Chi Tunnels, once Hanoi’s base of operations for the 1968 Tet Offensive, now a theme park–like display of the Vietcongs’ hidden death traps and vast network of underground bunkers. I saw how they lived and moved undetected in the tunnels; the displays of underground spikes hidden by leaves, mannequins in military garb, a captured U.S. tank and munitions were compelling but disturbing. With the loud crack, crack of AK47s fired by tourists at the site’s shooting range assaulting my ears, I studied the shop of Cu Chi souvenirs, including branded liquor, and wondered about people who would buy them. But I couldn’t help thinking how clever the Vietnamese were, first to devise this complex combat system that confounded the U.S. military, and second, to get Americans to pay for the privilege of seeing how they did it. The next day we boarded the 458-foot Star Pride and were delighted by how large our cabin was — at 277 square feet, it was quite comfortable, and far larger than the smallest cabins on many other cruise lines, which can start at a cramped 120 square feet. The food was sublime, the service snappy and warm, but it was only later that I’d find out how excellent the staff really was. I’d already heard that a lot of government officials expect to have their palms greased, and the cruise was no exception. Even though Windstar had done everything by the book, the ship’s otherwise jovial captain discovered that if they didn’t bribe officials or give them a bottle of liquor from the ship shop — even though it was closed — officials could impose obstacles to docking and leaving port. It was enough of a problem that it contributed to Windstar’s decision to pull Vietnam from its cruise menu after just two months. And yet the passengers knew nothing of the problem. The ship lacked flashy evening activities, but that was just fine with me. Most nights, we’d feast on dinner in one of two restaurants with open seating — the formal Amphora
Our guide, Mai Nguyen, at Saigon’s medicine museum
Kindergarteners in rural Nha Trang
and the more intimate Candles, on a windy deck — and the maitre d’s offer to seat us alone or with new people led to many lively discussions. Then it was earlyish to bed and early to rise for shore excursions we’d booked through Windstar. Staff did arrange one special event that reflected some sensitivity — Vietnam vets were invited to gather privately and share their military experiences. It was telling that of the dozen vets on the trip, just two had actually seen combat, and only one had been wounded. Wally Henkelman, now an online college professor in Las Vegas, was hit in the chest with shrapnel, arriving home with persistent PTSD. This was his first trip back to Vietnam since the war. “It’s very different, very progressive, very upbeat,” he said. “I had bad dreams and still occasionally do, but I think this was very healing. It may stop all of that.” –continued on page 19 06.15 ARROYO | 17
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Embroidery workers in Nha Trang
Shooting a selfie over Hong Kong Harbor
Four of Ten Thousand Buddhas at Hong Kong monastery
Offerings to Tin Hau Temple deities in Stanley
–continued from page 17
We set off for Da Nang, where we boarded a bus to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well-preserved trading port dating back to the 15th century. Soon after I started wandering in the delightful ancient city, untouched by the war, I came across a street vendor selling Tiger Balm, a Vicks VapoRub–like salve created by Hong Kong’s Aw family (who happened to publish my first newspaper, The Hongkong Standard). He looked middle-aged and beneath the brim of his hat, I saw skin had grown over his eyes, presumably the result of a war-related injury. I didn’t need Tiger Balm, and he didn’t ask for charity, but I bought it anyway, even though my attempt at reparations was pretty lame. In addition to its considerable charm, Hoi An has taken Hong Kong’s place as the go-to Asian city for cheap custom tailoring, and the town is teeming with shops. Mai had recommended a place called Blue on Tran Hung Dao, so I headed there in the early afternoon and went to town: I ordered two silk ao dais (the Vietnamese national dress for women, consisting of a long tunic over pants), one in black and the other in a stunning blue and raspberry pattern; coordinating flowy silk pants; black silk-and-cashmere trousers; a casual long silk dress; a sleeveless black top with red frogs; two pairs of custom leather shoes... Okay, yes, and more, including flowy cotton pants perfect for L.A. from another tailor who took me on a scary scooter trip to an ATM. If I tell you that all this cost a little over $400, surely you’ll understand my horror at overhearing Americans trying to bargain at Blue. My one regret is that I had only a few hours in Hanoi, but I made a point of visiting the infamous Hanoi Hilton (Hoa Lo Prison), another staple of war tourism, where North
Vietnamese incarcerated, interrogated and tortured American P.O.W.s, including Sen. John McCain. The prison sits on prime Hanoi real estate, so the government tore most of it down in 1993 and built a condo skyscraper. (Sound familiar?) Plenty of grim cells are still preserved as a museum, only now the “prisoners” are mannequins; still, it’s horrifying to see rows of them languishing on long tables lining the walls, their ankles shackled. With all that brutality behind us, how could Vietnamese people be so nice to Americans? Of course, not everybody is, and that’s still more likely to be the case in the north. But the two countries have developed what the U.S. State Department calls “an important emerging partnership” since relations were normalized in 1995. And more than 60 percent of Vietnamese were born after the war, including our guide, Mai. She offered a simple explanation. “We understand what happened — 58,000 Americans died in Vietnam. Blood is all the same in red color.” I distinctly remember stepping off the plane when I first arrived at Hong Kong’s cramped Kai Tak Airport and being walloped in the face with a pungent odor that’s hard to describe. Suffice to say, no one was likely to bottle it. As modern as the basic infrastructure was even then, there was plenty of room for improvement when it came to sanitation. Shopkeepers frequently tossed pans of dirty water into the street, and many locals spit on the ground. So imagine my surprise when I found post-handover Hong Kong to be just the opposite — the streets and subway were spotless, and public bathrooms and elevators –continued on page 20 06.15 ARROYO | 19
Service with a smile at the Langham
Villa Song’s riverside terrace
Hotel boat shuttle on the Saigon River
Hotel Heaven We stayed at the Langham, Hong Kong, a name familiar in Arroyoland as a sister property of the Langham Huntington, Pasadena and its London flagship, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this month. The elegant Hong Kong hotel was new to me — there were only two five-star hotels when I lived there, the Peninsula and the Mandarin — and I found it quite interesting that the Langham’s rise in Hong Kong paralleled that of the former British colony itself. Indeed, as went the British empire, so went the Langham’s British ownership. Victorian London’s first grand hotel was bought in 1993 by Great Eagle Holdings, the family business of Hong Kong billionaire Victor Lo. The classic brand has since mushroomed to encompass 21 hotels on four continents, with 30 more in the works. In 2004, the Langham, Hong Kong opened in busy Tsim Sha Tsui, and since then, the area has only grown more fabulous, with luxury shops, half of Hong Kong’s major museums, the subway and the retro Star Ferry (which used to be the only way to travel between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and now mainly carries tourists). For travelers, the Langham couldn’t be better located. Despite its proximity to Kowloon’s hustle and bustle, our ample room, recently renovated as part of the hotel’s multimillion-dollar overhaul, was perfectly quiet and comfortable. Even better, we had access to the Langham Club, which served endless Champagne from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and a buffet that changed from breakfast foods — including the best croissants I’ve ever had — to charcuterie, cheeses, sushi and macarons. Try as we might to dine elsewhere, we kept finding ourselves back at the Langham Club. (Okay, yes, we skipped Chinese food in China, but authentic East Asian cuisine is easy to find back home.) And while luxury hotels typically pride themselves on their service, I was astounded by a thoughtful gesture from our housekeeper, Lesley Chan. After noticing the wrist brace I
was wearing due to a sprain, she left me a get-well card, a cold compress in an ice bucket and a tube of Deep Heating Rub. The Langham, Hong Kong is located at 8 Peking Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. For rates and reservations, visit langhamhotels.com/hongkong or call (852) 2375-1133.
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took the train (which has video screens with a bit of news and a lot of commercials) to the New Territories to see the spectacular Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. We wandered the bustling Yau Ma Tei night market, where vendors hawked T-shirts, tchotchkes and, in another sign of the times, previously unmentionable sex aids. And we took a cab to Stanley, which used to be a sleepy fishing village on Hong Kong Island when I lived there in a humble squatter hut. I still remember the address: Irene Lacher, Far East Farm, Behind Tin Hau Temple, Stanley, Hong Kong. Of course, the seaside town was catnip to developers, who utterly transformed it into a mecca of luxury condos, shops, restaurants and yes, a Starbucks. But squeezed in along the commercial strip was Tin Hau Temple, a small white building with a red door surrounded by calligraphy and flowers for the new year. Inside I found a temple tender, still there from the years when Chinese opera singers would celebrate the goddess’ birthday by regaling crowds from an outdoor stage deep into the night. Like me, he looked back fondly on the old Stanley. “Something is missing — the traditional way of life,” he said. “The quality of life is better, yes. But today is more commercial, more Western. In the old days there was a lot of freedom; now there are more restrictions. I still miss the past.”||||
had signs posted in Chinese and English declaring that the facility would be sanitized every hour or two. Clearly (and perhaps ironically), the People’s Republic had modeled Hong Kong after Singapore, Asia’s super-capitalist country (now the world’s fourth leading financial center), which has long been notorious for its harsh cleanliness laws: spitters and litterbugs are hit with fines, gum sales were banned after globs were found in the subway and police check public bathrooms to make sure toilets are flushed (and cane offenders if they catch them). Hong Kong’s soaring highway system and five-square-mile international airport on easily accessible Chek Lap Kok island put our crumbling infrastructure, and the Congress that won’t fund improvements, to shame. What I found particularly interesting was the total lack of political signage anywhere, unlike Vietnam, which had the occasional billboard flaunting a hammer and sickle. In the touristy part of Kowloon known as Tsim Sha Tsui, where I stayed, the most prominent signs were over boutiques selling luxury goods — Prada, Bulgari, Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana and many more. Sayings emblazoned on subway walls came not from Chairman Mao, but from Paul Cézanne and Saint Augustine. The subway even has first-class cars, which even the snootiest New Yorkers can’t ride back home (okay, so they have drivers). Clearly, Karl Marx would be aghast at Hong Kong’s version of class consciousness. In our day and a half there, we did manage to get a taste of the old Hong Kong. We 20 | ARROYO | 06.15
Many travelers to Saigon like to stay at the Metropole, a French colonial–era hotel famous for hosting Vietnam War correspondents. But we were attracted to a newish luxury hotel called Villa Song, away from the noisy city center in an expat residential neighborhood. Located on the banks of the Saigon River (song means “river” in Vietnamese), the villa is just 15 minutes from downtown by free boat shuttle or inexpensive cab. Despite its French colonial architecture, the building was constructed as recently as 2007, and it opened as Villa Song in 2012 after a stylish year-and-a-half renovation (which should have taken three months, but the hotel refused to bribe local officials). Now it consistently takes the No. 1 spot on TripAdvisor’s list of nearly 400 Saigon hotels. That’s in no small part due to its romantic ambience and stunning riverside restaurant, which serves both Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Villa Song also has a lovely secluded pool, chauffeur-driven BMW (with iPad) airport pickup if you request it, contemporary art and a sophisticated general manager in Yega Thiyagarajan, who personally tried to track down a folder of personal information I’d left on the plane. (He couldn’t find it, but I haven’t run into any digital doppelgängers, so I think I’m good.) Villa Song is located at 197/2 Nguyen Van Huong St., Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam. For rates and reservations, visit villasong.com or call (84-8) 3744-6090. —IL
For cruise information, visit windstar.com. • Contact Mai Nguyen by email at nhatmaibot@ yahoo.com or visit maiguide.com. For more on her background, visit tourguides.viator.
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ARROYO
HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING SEASON ALMOST HERE It’s time to enjoy your backyard with friends and family. A few tips to maximize the experience BY BRUCE HARING IT’S ALMOST SUMMER, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL EVEN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE LAND OF THE ENDLESS SUMMER. THE DAYS GROW LONGER, THE NIGHTS ARE WARMER, AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF SCHOOL AND WORK SEEM TO LESSEN FOR MANY. SO EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE IN A PERPETUAL WONDERLAND OF WEATHER, IT’S TIME TO MAKE PLANS TO ENTERTAIN OUTDOORS, BRINGING TOGETHER FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO TRULY ENJOY THE UNIQUE CLIMATE OF OUR SLICE OF THE GOLDEN STATE. The backyard takes on new meaning at this time of year, becoming a true
But every great outdoor entertainer knows there’s more to a good time than throwing out a few plastic chairs around the grill. There’s an art and style to gracious backyard entertainment, a flow which embraces everything from the aesthetics of the landscape through the fun and enjoyment generated by those privileged enough to have a pool. Add in some great outdoor kitchen space, some tasteful home electronics, and the proper decorating accents, and you’ll have a backyard that almost makes leaving home unthinkable. Karen Miller of Sacred Space in La Crescenta has been in business since
extension of the home as the ancient “call of the great outdoors” beckons. From
2002, providing landscaping advice that will create a tranquil environment while
barbecuing to pool activities, or simply lounging under the stars, the focus is
emphasizing water conservation, an increasingly important consideration in our
on enjoying the fresh air and the wonderful, temperate climate that makes our
drought-stricken region.
state’s living environment the envy of the world.
Although Miller has not seen much by way of change in outdoor entertain–continued on page 25
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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
–continued from page 22
ment styles since opening her business, she has seen certain features become more in demand. “Fireplaces are very popular now, and TV and sound systems as well,” she says. “Outdoor cooking is very important, though not everyone wants a full-on kitchen. Many like a simple BBQ island with counter space.” Miller, who specializes in property make-overs, often starts creating a space with a blank slate. “We start with a yard that has nothing but open space to offer. The success is in creating a new “room” for the family or couple to utilize for relaxing, cooking, entertaining, etcetera. Creating shade where there was none is ALWAYS popular no matter what your lifestyle.” One of the biggest issues when designing your space is privacy, Miller says. “Everyone appreciates that no matter how large or small the space or how many or few amenities,” she says. Her remarks were echoed by Mark Meahl, the President of Garden View Landscaping, Nursery & Pools. “Privacy from the neighbors is always a consideration. So using large hedges to block that second story view into your yard is a way to get –continued on page 27
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–continued from page 25
immediate privacy. Even more important is using some soothing ambient water
Garden View’s Meahl. “And try not to block views to the yard and pool with
noise from a foundtain or waterfall. Even if your voices are heard, what you’re say-
furniture.”
ing cannot be deciphered.”
ELECTRONICS AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS
THE INDOORS GOES OUTSIDE
Designing the perfect entertaining space brings considerations that aren’t much different from interiors, even though the environment has changed. With furniture, make sure there’s a variety of seating that can accommodate
No one is neutral when it comes to whether there’s a place for TV and a stereo in the outdoor entertainment area. Some feel that it’s an intrusion. Others feel it enhances the experience and allows you to enjoy the summer environment while not missing a beat on your favorite shows or games. “My wife and I do not
the needs of various guests. Make sure the furniture is sturdy, won’t slide when
live in the house except for the bedroom, kitche and bathroom for seven months
someone sits, and won’t bend or break if a larger guest seats. Some elderly or dis-
out of the year because we can unwind with our favorite shows at the end of the
abled guests have trouble navigating extremely low lounges or chairs, so make
day,” says Meahl.
sure you have something that will allow ease of access. As with indoor seating, it’s important to set up a conversation pit. This involves
Naturally, you want to make sure these sensitive devices are protected against the elements. Custom cabinets are a good idea for TVs and screens that
aiming seats into a central point to facilitate discussion. Ideally, there are a
will permanently be part of the backyard. For projectors, it’s a good idea to make
variety of seating options in the area so everyone can partake. Smart hosts know
sure they can retract into something that will keep them clean and safe. Most
that guests love to wander and explore, so having several different areas where
households bury their cables and other connections in order to safeguard them
conversations can take place is ideal.
against animals and to remove an unsightly tangle from view.
Keep your fabric colors cool and outdoorsy for summer activities. Blues,
The key with any stereo system in the backyard is coverage, not volume.
greens and white make the temperature seem less challenging, although some
Make sure that the speakers are placed so there are no drop-outs or dead spots.
different color accents can be added to the mix. And draped see-through net-
An array of smaller speakers is best.
ting or fabrics on cabanas or pergolas create a sense of privacy for guests who wish to have more intimate conversations. Of course, no matter where the grill is located, guests will want to congregate and kibitz. Much as the kitchen is the heart of the house, the grill will be a
Finally, remember the golden rule of having electronic devices in the back yard: do not go near the pool carrying the remote. You’ll be glad you heeded the warning! Beyond the aesthetic value of having a great outdoor entertaining space,
big focal point of any gathering. Although the actual cooking will take place
there’s one other positive advantage to consider: it will likely increase the value of
on the grill, much of the prep work will usually happen indoors in your kitchen, so
your home.
make sure there’s easy access from Point A to Point Grill. Keep furniture out of your
“It has been proven time and again that investments in outdoor living and/or
path and have doors that provide easy access. When you’re carrying a heavy
landscaping generates a solid return on investment,” says Sacred Space’s Miller.
tray, you’ll be thankful you thought ahead.
“Everyone appreciates the use of their yard, given our mild climate and the abil-
“Do not put the outdoor living room where it is inconvenient to get to,” says
ity to be outside almost all year-round. AMH&D
06.15 | ARROYO | 27
arroyo
™
~HOME SALES INDEX~
ALTADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. ARCADIA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. EAGLE ROCK Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. GLENDALE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. LA CAÑADA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SAN MARINO Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SIERRA MADRE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SOUTH PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. TOTAL Homes Sold Avg Price/Sq. Ft.
JUNE ‘14 30 $627,000 1635 JUNE ‘14 36 $979,000 1570 JUNE ‘14 18 $632,000 1498 JUNE ‘14 135 $625,000 1522 JUNE ‘14 24 $1,410,500 2222 JUNE ‘14 143 $655,000 1569 JUNE ‘14 11 $1,888,000 2151 JUNE ‘14 9 $788,000 1940 JUNE ‘14 19 $1,082,500 1943 JUNE ‘14 425 $559
2015 HOMES SOLD
-0.36%
2014
435
AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.
june
425
2.35%
june HOMES SOLD
HOME SALES
JUNE ‘15 42 $605,000 1557 JUNE ‘15 32 $1,095,250 2010 JUNE ‘15 18 $732,500 1450 JUNE ‘15 119 $675,000 1591 JUNE ‘15 27 $1,670,000 2360 JUNE ‘15 164 $685,000 1521 JUNE ‘15 7 $2,500,000 2733 JUNE ‘15 12 $949,000 1914 JUNE ‘15 14 $970,250 1645 JUNE ‘15 435 $557
HOME SALES ABOVE RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT ADDRESS CLOSE DATE ALTADENA 351 East Calaveras Street 04/14/15 04/24/15 1160 East Calaveras Street 3508 Giddings Ranch Road 04/15/15 2820 Holliston Avenue 04/29/15 1777 Meadowbrook Road 04/03/15 3769 North Hollingsworth Road 04/29/15 1835 Vistillas Road 04/09/15 2436 North Altadena Drive 04/29/15 1306 East Calaveras Street 04/14/15 965 New York Drive 04/08/15 3182 Fair Oaks Avenue 04/30/15 2070 Maiden Lane 04/16/15 ARCADIA 280 Arbolada Drive 04/22/15 04/22/15 1610 Perkins Drive 1428 Carmelita Place 04/10/15 2230 South 2nd Avenue 04/16/15 1410 Rodeo Road 04/17/15 758 Hampton Road 04/24/15 1127 West Foothill Boulevard 04/02/15 521 Arbolada Drive 04/21/15 502 East Camino Real Avenue 04/30/15 1874 Highland Oaks Drive 04/28/15 1303 Mayflower Avenue 04/30/15 1674 Wilson Avenue 04/09/15 2323 Lee Avenue 04/30/15 1420 South 2nd Avenue 04/28/15 124 West Grandview Avenue 04/15/15 308 East Winnie Way 04/16/15 1045 North Old Ranch Road 04/01/15 1035 San Carlos Road 04/24/15 154 East Longden Avenue 04/24/15 720 Katherine Lane 04/30/15 2514 El Capitan Avenue 04/15/15 323 South 3rd Avenue 04/09/15 421 Genoa Street #B 04/28/15 EAGLE ROCK 5037 Onteora Way 04/24/15 04/24/15 1920 Estes Road 4845 North Maywood Avenue 04/17/15 GLENDALE 1105 Hillcroft Road 04/15/15 04/20/15 2112 Lenore Drive 326 View Crest Road 04/08/15 5336 Quail Canyon Road 04/28/15 341 West Dryden Street 04/01/15 343 West Dryden Street 04/01/15 1841 Colina Drive 04/17/15 3174 Beaudry Terrace 04/22/15 1301 Rossmoyne Avenue 04/02/15 1015 Bramford Drive 04/13/15 401 Meadows Drive 04/29/15 1510 Royal Boulevard 04/13/15 861 Cavanagh Road 04/24/15 827 West Mountain Street 04/24/15 1225 North Isabel Street 04/29/15 1109 North Isabel Street 04/24/15 640 Bohlig Road 04/29/15 1520 Sunshine Drive 04/06/15 833 Olmsted Drive 04/09/15 1619 Colina Drive 04/28/15 660 Caruso Avenue 04/17/15 2508 Hollister Terrace 04/21/15 1329 Daily Circle 04/23/15 1434 Graynold Avenue 04/17/15 525 West Wilson Avenue 04/01/15 1687 Country Club Drive 04/21/15 1515 Western Avenue 04/09/15 3411 Fairesta Street 04/24/15 1616 Country Club Drive 04/14/15 5010 Boston Avenue 04/07/15 1727 Wabasso Way 04/21/15 2411 East Chevy Chase Drive 04/27/15 LA CAÑADA 4245 Chula Senda Lane 04/27/15 04/07/15 3928 Starland Drive
PRICE
source: CalREsource
BDRMS.
SQ. FT.
$1,810,000 $1,775,000 $1,300,000 $1,179,000 $1,120,000 $1,038,000 $900,000 $895,500 $885,000 $875,000 $850,000 $825,000
6 3 5 3 5 4 3 4 4 3 4 2
4502 1654 3311 2083 2168 2495 2231 2356 2239 2452 2009 1712
YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD 1910 1925 1997 1952 1929 1998 1932 1922 1924 1959 1983 1924
$3,400,000 $3,300,000 $3,125,000 $3,050,000 $3,000,000 $2,948,000 $2,450,000 $2,450,000 $2,150,000 $1,750,000 $1,750,000 $1,253,000 $1,240,500 $1,210,000 $1,199,000 $1,115,500 $1,075,000 $1,060,000 $949,000 $935,000 $915,000 $892,000 $828,000
3 2 4 6 5 4 3 3 5 4 4 2 5 4 2 4 5 2 0 3 3 3 3
4748 1354 4081 7581 3285 2980 2628 2677 4681 2312 2856 2048 3062 1640 1979 1935 2964 1634 280 2405 1132 1422 2276
1950 1936 1946 2009 1937 1954 1950 1951 2008 1953 1950 1949 1961 1923 1958 1957 1966 1953 1953 1975 1950 1950 1991
$860,000 $842,500 $825,000
5 4 3
3257 1910 1254
1954 1959 1923
$1,930,000 $1,335,000 $1,325,000 $1,295,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,205,000 $1,200,000 $1,160,000 $1,100,000 $1,090,000 $1,085,000 $1,060,000 $1,010,000 $998,000 $973,000 $970,000 $955,000 $935,500 $920,000 $915,000 $895,000 $885,000 $884,000 $880,000 $876,500 $875,000 $869,000 $860,000 $840,000 $838,500 $835,000
5 5 3 5 8 8 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 2 2 5 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
3816 2821 2531 4860 4768 4768 2958 2803 3308 2972 2840 2987 3037 2867 2197 1978 2267 1985 2521 1536 1560 2600 2577 1958 2244 2742 1930 1782 1881 1625 1656 2313
1926 1975 1957 1986 1963 1963 1923 1975 1941 1980 1955 1938 1931 1925 1927 1928 1962 1967 1941 1953 2008 1930 1975 1935 1921 1986 1941 1956 1930 1959 1923 1977
$5,700,000 $3,550,000
5 5
7177 5276
2013 1999
$343,000 $675,000 $428,000 $981,000
03/15/2006 08/23/2013 11/04/1998 04/29/2004
$356,000
11/12/1998
$1,120,010 $520,000 $650,000 $468,000 $500,000
01/26/2005 09/12/2002 05/05/2011 07/10/2003 06/22/2009
$3,188,000 $1,198,000 $2,120,000 $880,000 $830,000 $1,600,000
10/21/2013 03/28/2013 08/21/2007 04/03/2008 12/08/2000 08/22/2005
$1,774,500 $540,000 $1,068,000
06/07/2010 06/15/2000 09/05/2007
$490,000 $137,000 $580,000 $545,000 $385,000 $1,000,000
10/16/2002 08/15/1984 03/25/2003 12/20/2002 05/01/1991 12/02/2014
$86,500
09/16/1976
$625,000
03/26/2008
$720,000
08/21/2007
$550,000
10/31/2014
$1,650,000 $903,000
01/14/2014 05/25/2004
$1,280,000 $699,000 $715,000 $1,180,000 $595,000
10/05/2005 12/05/2002 12/20/2002 04/12/2006 06/05/1998
$525,000 $520,000 $619,000 $825,000
04/01/1999 11/09/1990 02/14/2002 05/27/2003
$419,000 $715,000 $870,000 $203,000 $590,000 $658,000 $385,000
05/26/1999 12/31/2003 03/31/2006 07/10/1980 01/30/2009 03/10/2010 05/28/1999
$335,000 $510,000 $215,000 $462,000 $705,000 $425,000 $645,000
04/07/1988 03/20/2003 11/15/1985 08/20/2002 06/05/2009 07/28/1999 11/22/2010
$645,000
04/30/2008
$1,595,000 $1,625,000
08/12/2003 05/19/2000
The Arroyo Home Sales Index is calculated from residential home sales in Pasadena and the surrounding communities of South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Eagle Rock, Glendale (including Montrose), Altadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2015. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.
28 | ARROYO | 06.15
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE LA CAĂ‘ADA 5055 Oakwood Avenue 04/01/15 861 Flintridge Avenue 04/22/15 145 Inverness Drive 04/20/15 5005 Jarvis Avenue 04/02/15 4350 Chevy Chase Drive 04/10/15 4455 Commonwealth Avenue 04/02/15 260 Starlight Crest Drive 04/15/15 1210 Descanso Drive 04/13/15 4909 Gould Avenue 04/24/15 666 Meadow Grove Street 04/21/15 3757 Normandy Drive 04/01/15 2118 Sunnybank Drive 04/29/15 1734 Fairmount Avenue 04/10/15 5147 Crown Avenue 04/10/15 4836 Indianola Way 04/06/15 1127 Atlee Drive 04/24/15 912 Big Briar Way 04/03/15 224 Starlight Crest Drive 04/10/15 4909 Burgoyne Lane 04/03/15 440 Paulette Place 04/16/15 466 Noren Street 04/13/15 4638 Lasheart Drive 04/17/15 1108 Fairview Drive 04/16/15 4803 Hill Street 04/08/15 PASADENA 1199 South El Molino Avenue 04/13/15 880 Chula Vista Avenue 04/01/15 2005 San Pasqual Street 04/29/15 1199 Madia Street 04/10/15 1478 Lomita Drive 04/22/15 1151 Kewen Drive 04/14/15 885 Laguna Road 04/22/15 1050 San Rafael Lane 04/09/15 345 East Colorado Boulevard #406 04/30/15 360 San Palo Place 04/28/15 585 Laguna Road 04/10/15 676 Norwood Drive 04/01/15 200 South Orange Grove Bolvd. #10704/20/15 1345 Lomay Place 04/20/15 1700 Devon Road 04/17/15 155 Cordova Street #503 04/15/15 1425 South Marengo Avenue 04/29/15 1150 Wellington Avenue 04/03/15 377 West Bellevue Drive 04/20/15 1197 Arden Road 04/24/15 95 Anita Drive 04/24/15 865 Arden Road 04/22/15 1480 Lancashire Street 04/22/15 1436 North Michigan Avenue 04/29/15 366 West Bellevue Drive 04/27/15 1660 Poppy Peak Drive 04/23/15 2500 East Orange Grove Boulevard04/29/15 1260 Sierra Madre Villa Avenue 04/24/15 3770 Shadow Grove Road 04/02/15 1460 Daveric Drive 04/30/15 1479 Cheviotdale Drive 04/09/15 3861 East California Boulevard 04/29/15 500 Tamarac Drive 04/23/15 2218 East Orange Grove Boulevard 04/20/15 1645 Monte Vista Street 04/22/15 360 West Bellevue Drive 04/22/15 826 South Los Robles Avenue 04/15/15 1095 Sierra Madre Villa Avenue 04/03/15 1964 East Woodlyn Road 04/13/15 3234 La Encina Way #26 04/29/15 760 North Holliston Avenue 04/17/15 196 Malcolm Drive 04/01/15 508 Juniper Drive 04/08/15 2135 Monte Vista Street 04/30/15 80 Sequoia Drive 04/17/15 981 Worcester Avenue 04/13/15 2983 Margaret Drive 04/21/15 1150 Armada Drive 04/08/15 755 North Mar Vista Avenue 04/14/15 2787 San Pasqual Street 04/14/15 567 Eldora Road 04/10/15 1518 Cheviotdale Drive 04/08/15 1450 Washburn Road 04/03/15 1094 Bella Vista Ave. 04/20/15 SAN MARINO 1348 Westhaven Road 04/21/15 968 Roxbury Road 04/28/15 1470 Cambridge Road 04/15/15 1255 Lorain Road 04/23/15 589 San Marino Avenue 04/02/15 2857 Gainsborough Drive 04/15/15 2995 Woodlawn Avenue 04/30/15 SIERRA MADRE 330 East Grandview Avenue 04/15/15 190 North Lima Street 04/16/15 295 West Orange Grove Avenue 04/15/15 131 East Bonita Avenue 04/08/15 707 Auburn Avenue 04/23/15 86 West Mira Monte Avenue 04/14/15 19 West Orange Grove Avenue 04/14/15 471 Santa Anita Court 04/22/15 SOUTH PASADENA 126 St. Albans Avenue 04/02/15 412 Hermosa Place 04/24/15 1948 Fletcher Avenue 04/23/15 513 Camino Verde 04/17/15 1503 Oneonta Knoll 04/30/15 1606 Bushnell Avenue 04/06/15 2036 La Fremontia Street 04/20/15
PRICE
BDRMS.
SQ. FT.
YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
$3,300,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,950,000 $2,325,000 $2,165,000 $2,100,000 $2,050,000 $1,910,000 $1,838,500 $1,700,000 $1,670,000 $1,550,000 $1,531,500 $1,490,000 $1,390,000 $1,375,000 $1,340,000 $1,340,000 $1,302,000 $1,115,000 $1,110,000 $955,000 $935,000
5 0 4 5 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 2 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 2
5965 945 5131 4115 3595 2834 4730 2188 2508 2782 3148 2912 3656 2248 1928 1644 2360 2090 2271 1745 2123 1362 1766 1196
1950 1946 1988 2008 1938 1937 2003 1952 1947 1953 1976 1954 1926 1958 1948 1952 1967 1966 1949 1955 1956 1939 1963 1950
$1,865,000 $2,150,000 $1,500,000 $2,130,000 $380,000 $1,550,000 $560,000
06/28/2004 02/18/2004 06/12/1998 02/25/2009 11/03/1987 02/17/2011 02/22/2001
$585,000 $724,000 $1,450,000 $1,101,000 $256,000 $1,310,000 $1,280,000 $450,000 $1,200,000
10/21/1994 07/31/2003 07/10/2009 10/14/2011 10/29/1986 08/15/2014 09/01/2005 06/30/1993 04/30/2004
$169,000
06/27/1986
$700,000
01/10/2011
$6,475,500 $6,415,000 $3,550,000 $3,150,000 $2,950,000 $2,688,000 $2,500,000 $2,500,000 $2,350,000 $2,070,000 $1,998,000 $1,721,500 $1,576,000 $1,565,000 $1,545,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,450,000 $1,450,000 $1,450,000 $1,382,500 $1,380,000 $1,350,000 $1,310,000 $1,300,000 $1,290,000 $1,240,000 $1,233,000 $1,200,000 $1,183,000 $1,100,000 $1,070,000 $1,050,000 $1,025,000 $1,025,000 $1,008,000 $998,000 $977,000 $950,000 $950,000 $945,000 $930,000 $930,000 $927,000 $910,000 $905,000 $900,000 $897,500 $870,000 $860,000 $840,000 $840,000 $828,000 $825,000
6 4 5 4 4 5 4 2 3 4 5 4 0 4 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 3 2 4 4 3 4 3 2 3 5 4 2 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 6
8742 5536 5709 4574 3892 3515 3968 4047 3560 3375 3014 3110 0 2310 1994 1950 2268 1747 2480 2341 2615 1675 2195 2864 2822 1274 2668 2264 2177 1976 2572 2051 1843 2719 1772 1974 1656 2210 2100 2167 1788 1519 1686 1518 1758 1911 2155 1521 1648 1874 1835 1336 1920 1838
1913 1938 1926 1930 1981 1932 1955 1959 2007 1935 1963 1916
$1,765,000 $6,500,000
10/10/2000 10/19/2007
$185,000
07/15/1993
$2,410,000 $1,775,000 $1,800,000
06/08/2012 05/09/2012 11/19/2004
$1,535,000 $1,225,000 $985,000
07/19/2006 04/15/2014 07/11/2003
1950 1951 2010 1929 1952 1979 1951 1949 1941 1964 1926 1973 1951 1928 1953 1950 1952 1928 1940 1937 1936 1921 1973 1922 1953 1928 1974 1910 1945 1925 1926 1956 1912 1923 1949 1907 1957 1924 1941 1958 1941
$1,028,500 $429,000
03/08/2005 12/03/1992
$1,380,000 $390,000 $1,200,000 $1,415,000 $998,000 $393,000 $1,250,000 $205,000 $1,255,000 $625,000 $900,000 $950,000
08/29/2013 05/07/1996 06/21/2012 12/27/2012 09/03/2014 12/29/2000 07/02/2007 08/28/1986 01/12/1996 03/29/2012 07/28/2014 06/28/2012
$565,000 $575,000
12/13/2012 04/25/2002
$910,000 $550,000 $850,000 $337,500 $330,000 $1,017,000 $759,500 $455,000 $885,000 $765,000 $749,000 $757,000
03/18/2013 08/29/2001 07/19/2013 05/06/1996 02/13/2002 08/17/2006 10/30/2014 02/05/2003 07/14/2006 07/31/2008 09/02/2011 04/27/2012
$730,000 $800,000 $670,000 $186,000 $327,000 $650,000 $795,000
09/13/2013 05/31/2006 11/22/2011 03/26/1998 09/30/1994 06/29/2004 01/26/2007
$545,000
08/02/2010
$4,228,000 $3,050,000 $2,600,000 $2,500,000 $2,353,000 $2,335,000 $1,700,000
5 7 3 4 3 4 3
4221 3842 2430 2309 2733 3015 2284
1935 1928 1941 1925 1926 1939 2011
$2,575,000 $942,500
10/12/2007 09/21/1999
$1,817,000 $866,000 $1,080,000
09/05/2007 03/12/2003 12/03/2002
$2,000,000 $1,650,000 $1,451,000 $1,300,000 $1,075,000 $998,000 $900,000 $825,000
4 0 2 4 3 4 2 3
4206 0 2894 2846 1958 1968 1732 1914
1941 1947 1961 1937 1961 1914 1949
$1,475,000 $445,000 $1,300,000 $200,000 $888,000 $600,000 $640,000 $190,000
01/22/2008 10/11/2012 04/05/2013 07/31/1985 06/07/2013 04/28/2003 10/15/2010 12/12/1986
$1,511,000 $1,475,000 $1,437,000 $1,278,000 $1,260,000 $1,135,000 $1,130,000
5 2 2 3 3 3 4
2556 2326 2494 2261 1734 1678 2247
1956 1954 1906 1966 1952 1923 1967
$1,045,000
03/07/2012
$934,000 $534,000 $455,000 $805,000 $395,000
07/11/2003 08/10/1989 06/26/1990 03/04/2010 01/31/1995 06.15 ARROYO | 29
FLYING HIGH BEFORE TAKEOFF
Airlines are offering more perks and pampering to premium-class passengers at luxurious airport lounges around the world. BY CAROLE DIXON
For a certain percentage of the population, flying the friendly skies can involve perks and pampering beyond most people’s wildest dreams — and budgets. If the sky’s the limit on your credit card, you can travel in your own private suite the size of a Manhattan co-op with a butler trained by retired staff from Buckingham Palace. But what happens on the ground to get your luxury travel juices flowing before you board the plane? Consider Dubai-based airline Emirates’ 37th lounge for first- and business-class passengers (like the airlines below, it also serves high-level frequent flyers), which recently opened at Los Angeles International Airport’s Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). (Some airlines sell day passes to coach passengers.) The airline invested $6.2 million in the new lounge, promising an experience of “seamless luxury and comfort” for its top-tier customers who connect via LAX. There you’ll step into a world of opulence with Italian marble floors, gold Rolex clocks, leather armchairs, a water feature, commissioned artwork and mahogany furniture. On top of such mainstays as a business center and shower facilities, the new lounge offers a prayer room. Emirates’ premium pre-boarding services even include complimentary chauffeur pick-up (within 60 miles of the airport). The trendsetters include Virgin Atlantic, which started redesigning its lounges in 2006 with its Heathrow flagship, offering a full-service hair salon and spa (with the first lounge Jacuzzi, followed by one at JFK), a complimentary cocktail bar and brasserie and The Den, featuring a music recording studio and pool table. Up next is Virgin’s 4,000-square-foot LAX Clubhouse (one of 11 worldwide and five in the U.S.) which opened in late April. New York–based Slade Architecture, which also 30 | ARROYO | 06.15
Virgin’s new LAX Clubhouse takes design cues from nature
designed the JFK and Newark Clubhouses, took design cues from nature, with sculptural lines and glimmers of gold inspired by L.A. sunshine. The space will feature work by California and British artists, but the focal point will be healthy West Coast food and drink, including select dishes and signature cocktails from the acclaimed Century City restaurant Hinoki & The Bird. For Qantas, size really matters: Last month, the Australian company expanded its LAX lounge space to a whopping 42,000 square feet, nearly quadrupling its original footprint and accommodating 800 travelers. That completes a multimillion-dollar overhaul unveiled last December with the opening of its new Qantas First Lounge at LAX — the third premium lounge at TBIT. Qantas First promises five-star design and service (staff are trained by Sofitel Luxury Hotels) at the sleek first-class lounge conceived by influential cuttingedge Aussie designer Marc Newson. The space has various zones for dining, working and relaxing, allowing 200 guests to lounge on stylish California Knoll furniture and stroll along Tuscan Carrera marble floors or plush Tai Ping carpets. A 74-seat restaurant and 48-foot-long bar with a menu from chef-entrepreneur Neil Perry, famous for his Sydney flagship Rockpool, offers dishes like salt-and-pepper squid. The lounge also offers “faster” WiFi, two private work suites and seven shower suites outfitted with Aspar products from Australia’s Aurora Spa. In Asia, Cathay Pacific, which consistently tops world’s-best-airline lists, hosts six firstor business-class lounges at its heavily-traveled Hong Kong hub. The latest is The Bridge, a vast space designed to accommodate 450 passengers by London-based Foster + Partners.
Emirates spent $6.2 million on its new LAX lounge.
Visitors check in at a luminous reception wall made of Venetian glass tiles by Fabbian of Italy, before entering one of two light-filled wings with sophisticated, minimal décor evoking the comforts of home with display cabinets for artifacts and abstract water photography by Hong Kong’s William Furniss, bronze sculptures by London-based artist Charlotte Mayer, black-marble-and-oak-slat walls, Aerofoil louvers, sculptural pods, caramel-colored leather seating and black lounge chairs facing the tarmac. For a preflight nibble, The Bakery in the North Wing offers the freshly baked goods you would expect, along with hot Asian and Western dishes and casual fare. The South Wing offers the self-service Bistro, shower suites and a dedicated IT zone. Or passengers can sit at The Long Bar and simply enjoy the view across the airport while snacking on canapés worthy of a swanky cocktail party. Top-ranked Singapore Airlines has also decided to take a homey approach with the launch of its SilverKris Lounge design, which debuted in Sydney in 2013. The airline invested $100 million in introducing its extensively researched lounge concept to 15 cities, including San Francisco, by 2018. Upgrades were recently completed to lounges in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. At Singapore Changi Airport, the airline offers four tiers of lounges for premium passengers, described as “one of the most modern and entertaining lounges in the world” by LoungeBuddy.com. At the top of the pyramid is The Private Room, which trumpets its exclusivity in its name, offering restaurant-quality food and service for suites- and first-class passengers. “Our customers frequently tell us that they have a feeling of home as soon as they board our aircraft, and our aim is to extend this experience to the ground. Through our new
‘home away from home’ concept, the intention is for our customers to experience the feeling of being taken care of at every step of their journey,” says Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Tan Pee Teck. The lounges are carved into personal spaces tailored for different needs, ranging from living room–style leisure or intimate alcoves for rest to productivity pods enabling passengers to work in privacy. A chef sporting a toque whips up such signature Singaporean dishes as laksa noodle soup and mee siam noodles, along with a variety of global food choices and premium wines and spirits. And at LAX, Singapore co-hosts TBIT’s new 18,000-squarefoot Star Alliance Lounge, serving passengers of eight airlines. Perks include a pho bar for making your own Vietnamese noodle soup, a media room for TV watching, a quiet library room, shower suites, a grand outdoor terrace, free printing and iPad loans. British Airways at LAX offers fresh tacos via a cool street-style cart, a cozy circular fire pit and a full-service bar. At JFK and London’s Heathrow, you can book treatments at its Elemis Spa. And BA’s trans-Atlantic flights departing after 7 p.m. offer pre-flight dining in the lounge so passengers can maximize their onboard sleep time. On arrival, you can have your clothing pressed while you’re showering in the lounge, then grab breakfast before heading off to a meeting. Domestic airlines are also stepping up their game when it comes to lounges. American Airlines’ Admirals Clubs in Dallas and Chicago offer conference rooms with state-of-theart business facilities, staff and full catering service. –continued on page 32 06.15 ARROYO | 31
Qantas nearly quadrupled its lounge at LAX.
Singapore’s SilverKris Lounge at Changi Airport has a homey touch.
– continued from page 31
Even young travelers, despite their discount fares, are getting luxe lounge treatment: In Istanbul, children flying on Turkish Airlines can play in the recently renovated children’s area of its CIP Lounge. “This is a notable favorite for one of our families in particular,” says Philippe Brown of London-based Brown + Hudson, which offers custom-tailored luxury travel experiences. “Recently doubled in size, the children’s playroom is wonderfully engaging, catering to a nap or game time — including a golf simulator.” The CIP Lounge is a favorite spot for Scott Wiseman, who has logged many hours in airport lounges as president of L.A.–based Cox & Kings, The Americas, which arranges bespoke cultural and wildlife adventures for luxury-minded travelers. “There is an endless array of gourmet food, self-service top shelf bars, and a lovely little tea garden reminiscent of those found in Istanbul,” he says. “There is a miniature model of Istanbul where guests can experience a virtual car rally.” Add massages, a billiards room, private suites with showers, a prayer room and a library with a great selection of international newspapers and Wiseman was more than enthusiastic. “I didn’t want my three-hour layover to end!” |||| 32 | ARROYO | 06.15
A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH
Bie Sukrit and Emily Padgett
Waterfall, a new musical romance with Broadway creators and a Thai story, cast and director, has its world premiere this month at the Pasadena Playhouse.
PHOTO: Joan Marcus
BY BETTIJANE LEVINE Fans of musical theater get a rare chance this month to preview what just might become Broadway’s next hit musical. Waterfall, written by the multi-award-winning team of Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire, has its world premiere June 7 at the Pasadena Playhouse, prior to a run in Seattle and a possible Broadway debut in 2016. The show is based on the classic Thai romance novel Behind the Painting, written by Sri Burapha in 1937 and still taught in Thailand’s high school literature classes. Presented as a musical in Thailand in 2008, it has been revised by Maltby (Miss Saigon), who wrote the show’s new book and lyrics, and Shire (Big), who wrote the new score. It’s a tale of forbidden love between a Thai student and a married American woman. The setting is Bangkok and Tokyo in the 1930s, a prewar period when both Thailand and Japan were in chaos and cross-cultural relations between individuals and countries were as fraught with peril and misunderstanding as they are today, if not more. “These themes of love and cultural divides are timeless, compelling and universal,” Maltby told Arroyo Monthly by phone from New York, where the cast was in rehearsal. As the lyricist of Miss Saigon, which ran for nine years on Broadway and has since been produced in 25 countries and 12 languages, Maltby (also a director, producer and book writer) knows quite a bit about hits based on love and cultural divides. He updated the story of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly to the Vietnam War era to tell a tale of doomed romance between a Vietnamese bargirl and an American G.I. The show won three Tony awards and eight more nominations. He also conceived and directed the best musical Tony winners Fosse and Ain’t Misbehavin’. (And he’s known in some circles for his hobby constructing cryptic crossword puzzles for Harper’s and New York magazines.) Maltby and Shire have been friends and collaborators for more than 50 years, since their days together at Yale. After college, Maltby stayed on the East Coast to do theater, and Shire came west to write scores for feature films, including All The President’s Men, Farewell My Lovely, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation. (Shire’s first wife, Talia, was Coppola’s sister.) Shire won an Academy Award for his Norma Rae theme song, and Grammy nominations for his original music for Saturday Night Fever. As a team, they’re best known for their Tony-nominated collaborations on original musicals such as Baby and Big and their off-Broadway revue Closer Than Ever. Maltby describes Waterfall as “an epic production and a groundbreaking collaboration between American and Asian artists. The whole cast is Asian, except for actress Emily Padgett, who plays the American woman.” The male lead is 29-yearold Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. Discovered in 2006 on a TV talent show, his albums are mega-hits and his concerts are sellouts. (One single, Maak Maai, has had 5 million digital downloads.) Sukrit’s starring roles span Thai films, TV and theater. And in 2008, he was named one of the most influential people in Thailand by Thai Positioning magazine. Waterfall’s director is Tak Viravan, Thailand’s leading theatrical impresario, who conceives and directs blockbuster musicals in his home country, and has produced –continued on page 35 06.15 ARROYO | 33
34 | ARROYO | 06.15
Richard Maltby Jr.
David Shire
Sheldon Epps, Tak Viravan, Thai Consul General Jesda Katavetin, Elizabeth Doran, Jack M. Dalgleish
David Shire (seated at piano) and Richard Maltby Jr.
PHOTOS: Top and Bottom Left, Tama Ratt; Right and Far Right, Joan Marcus; Courtesy of The Pasadena Playhouse
– continued from page 33
several musicals on Broadway, including the Tony-nominated revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011-2012). Viravan is an entertainment-industry icon in Thailand, Maltby says. “He has produced 14 original musicals in Bangkok. That’s an amazing statistic. And they are all really full, huge, elaborate productions that are just gorgeous.” Waterfall’s Thai scenic designer, Sasavat Busayabandh, has devised a working waterfall for the Pasadena Playhouse stage. That all sounds exciting, but what, specifically, drew Maltby and Shire to an 80-yearold story written by a Thai author for Thai readers? “Tak Viravan had staged a great musical version of the story in Thailand,” Maltby says. “I thought it deserved an American adaptation because it’s a genuine classic love story, and you don’t find many of those. Some of the most enduring musicals ever written are basically love stories, and love songs are really the centerpiece of American musical theater. Broadway has recently sort of shied away from all that. They’ve been way too sophisticated to go for the unabashed feeling that goes with a musical love story. I think that, secretly, audiences are just desperate to have that kind of show again. And that’s what David [Shire] and I saw in Waterfall — a chance to write a classic romance, an epic story that will join the ranks of the enduring musicals.” But love is not enough, he adds. “Waterfall is a textured tale, with cross-cultural implications that are relevant today. It’s about America’s changing influence in Asia in the years 1932 to 1939. In ’32, America was the model for everything. Siam [later renamed Thailand] revered everything American. In Japan, American music and culture were taking over the country. By 1939, America was reviled and Japan was preparing to bomb Pearl Harbor. So this is a story of America’s changing impact on Asia, and about American culture meeting Asian culture. It’s a love story with historical and political overtones, which is what the best love stories always have. And it’s set in exotic locations, which is another asset. That’s what made me think this could enter the canon of great memorable musicals. And it has David Shire’s lovely score, with memorable songs, which is what you always have to have.” We asked Director Viravan how he connected with Maltby and Shire, and why he chose them to reboot his Thai musical for an American audience. “I went to high school in the U.S., where I became interested in American musical theater,” he said in a phone interview from New York. “I loved Maltby and Shire. I listened to the album of Baby, I
listened to Starting Here, Starting Now [a revue of Maltby and Shire music]. When Maltby adapted Song and Dance, I thought, my God, he’s a genius. And Miss Saigon is one of my all-time favorite shows.” Years later, Viravan says, he met producer Jack Dalgleish at a London theater opening, and they hit it off. “I showed him some video clips of my musicals in Thailand, and he was quite keen on developing them in English. He introduced me to Richard Maltby. Maltby chose my musical Behind the Painting,” Viravan says. What audiences will see is “a big, romantic musical that’s about being open and being able to appreciate love and beauty and the things closest to you,” Viravan continues. “It’s a lot of beautiful truth. You know how a lot of people are saying they don’t make musicals like they used to anymore? Well, we’re bringing back that kind of show — one that opens you up and is grand and very entertaining.” Sheldon Epps, artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse, says he booked the show after watching a video of the Thai production of Behind the Painting and reading the new version. “The show is beautifully designed. Stunning. With the waterfall and all, it’ll be a visual treat. Also, I’m a big fan of Maltby and Shire, and this big, romantic story. The cast is great, with Bie Sukrit as leading man. He has a beautiful voice, and a kind of innocence that’s perfect for the character.” Equally intriguing, he says, “this is a world premiere. Our audiences will be the first to experience this treat. It’s exciting, especially if the show does go on to Broadway and beyond, to have a long life.” Both Maltby and Shire say they are “hopeful” that the show will open on Broadway next spring. (The Broadway producers’ plans are subject to theater availability.). “The thing about musicals is that they are magic tricks,” explains Maltby. It’s the creation of a world that you enter and give your heart to. Creating something like that is very difficult, but it’s also the point of it all. You enter another world, and when you come out at the end of the story, it’s like having heard a great fairy tale. Your heart’s been touched. You know, that’s why God made musicals.” |||| Waterfall previews continue through June 6; the play opens on June 7 and runs through June 28. Tickets, from $47 to $87, can be purchased by visiting pasadenaplayhouse.org or the Pasadena Playhouse box office or by calling (626) 356-7529. Go to pasadenaplayhouse.org for the performance schedule and box office hours. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. 06.15 ARROYO | 35
A GOURMET GETAWAY IN PISMO BEACH Pismo’s special events and laid-back ambience make it a magnet for the mushrooming San Luis Obispo wine-country audience. STORY BY IRENE LACHER | PHOTOS BY RICK CUNNINGHAM
Wine lovers sipped and snacked on a hotel lawn by the ocean.
It seems like ages since Pismo Beach was known as “the clam capital of the world,” a nickname coined during the environmentally pristine days of the 1950s. Now the clams are mostly gone due to overfishing by mollusk-loving humans and sea otters, although the town still hosts a clam festival in October, as it has for nearly 70 years. These days, Pismo’s allure for weekenders lies more in its sunswept oceanfront and growing winery footprint — assets also touted by other destinations along the California coast. And while the name San Luis Obispo (known to locals as SLO) is enjoying a growing national profile thanks to the county’s four highly regarded viticulture regions, Pismo works hard to stand out from the Central Coast crowd, partly by maintaining a busy event schedule for tourists and locals. Ergo, last month’s Wine, Waves & Beyond festival, five days of wine-tastings, a winemaker’s dinner, a vintage Volkswagen display, surfing contest, surf movie night and more. “We were looking for an event that would highlight what the Pismo Beach lifestyle is about. It’s a California lifestyle that’s authentic, that has a relaxed vibe, nothing too snooty,” says Mike Casola, an event organizer and COO of Boutique Hotel Collection, which owns four SLO hotels, including The Cliffs Resort, SeaVenture Beach Resort and the historical Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in nearby Avila Beach, all festival venues. We stayed at The Cliffs, a comfortable oceanfront hotel with great views and roomy rooms. I arrived on a Friday afternoon, about an hour before one of the most popular events, Rabobank’s casual Barrel to Barrel tasting on the hotel’s lawn, mere steps from the cliffs and crashing waves. Guests cruised 40 tented booths offering samples from local wineries, breweries and restaurants (including the requisite clam chowder), while Santa Rosa’s 36 | ARROYO | 06.15
Girl + Boys band performed on a raised stage, where lead singer Brianna Lee’s Natalie Merchant–like vocals combined with the wine to mellow the crowd. By evening’s end, after much consumption of wine and music, dancers in front of the stage grew in numbers and, shall we say, expressiveness. Needless to say, I was early to bed that night. For Saturday lunch, we headed to a mainstay of Pismo Beach’s culinary landscape — Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana, founded in 1988 by Giuseppe DiFronzo, then a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student, as a senior project. The restaurant specializes in southern Italian cuisine but, since it’s in California, DiFronzo also prides himself on his family vineyard and farm, where he grows the zucchini, friselle peppers, fava beans and dandelions that adorn your plate. If you go, the flavorful eggplant parmigiana is a must. Indeed, farm-to-table is so embedded in coastal culinary culture that it doesn’t even seem to bear mentioning. Before that evening’s winemaker’s dinner at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, Chef Gregg Wangard plucked violettes for the first course from a pot in the resort’s restaurant garden, while nearby guests nibbled charcuterie and olives and sipped Cass Winery’s crisp Oasis rosé blend. The dinner for some 60 guests was a joint effort by half a dozen local chefs, who each prepared a different course, starting with Wangard’s Stix and Stones, a delicate dish of sweet nuts, crema casa, herbs and flowers. SeaVenture’s Chef Casey Walcott deep-fried fresh abalone from nearby Cayucos and served it with bloom micros and butter-citrus nap, surprisingly tender and flavorful. Alas, though, I had to pass on the main course of rabbit with vegetable timbale; as a cat mom, my culinary adventurousness stops at fur-bearing ani-
Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana is a mainstay of Main Sreet in Pismo Beach.
Clay Claiborne & Frederika Churchill specialize in German wines.
Chef Gregg Wangard picks violettes for that evening’s first course.
A SLO WINE SAMPLER
A freshly picked violette adorns Chef Wangard’s delicate Stix and Stones course with sweet nuts, crema casa, herbs and flowers.
mals. The kitchen graciously provided an exquisite dish of short ribs, which I could swear was eyed enviously by my table neighbor, who didn’t touch his rabbit. The Paso Robles– based Cass, which specializes in Rhône-style wines, offered a different vintage with every dish, but my favorites were bold reds — the fruity 2013 grenache and the 2012 Rockin’ One Red, a full-bodied blend of syrah, grenache, petite sirah and mourvèdre. During the meal, event organizers auctioned off meals to be cooked at winners’ homes by the evening’s chefs. And in a sign of how far Pismo has come environmentally from its clamming days, proceeds from the five-day event benefited the Still Frothy Surf Festival and GleanSLO, a countywide nonprofit that fights hunger and food waste by “rescuing” fruits and vegetables from the community’s backyards and gardens and crops left over after farms are commercially harvested. In fact, the vegetables and fruit transformed into culinary feats at the winemaker’s dinner were from GleanSLO’s rescues. If that doesn’t qualify as snootiness-free, I’m not sure what does. “It’s just kind of a fun, let’s-kick-back-and-have-a-good-time event,” Casola says. “We have wine, we have surf, we have Volkswagens.” What more does a California weekend need? |||| Visit winewavesandbeyond.com. • The Cliffs Resort is located at 2757 Shell Beach Rd., Pismo Beach. Call (805) 773-5000 or visit cliffsresort.com. • Giuseppe’s Cucina Italiana is located at 891 Price St., Pismo Beach. Call (805) 773-2870 or visit giuseppesrestaurant.com.
As Clay Claiborne surveys his kingdom, the unusual Claiborne & Churchill (saluting his other half, Frederika Churchill) Vintners, he still seems surprised to be there, even though the couple’s small winery is one of the oldest in the Edna Valley. “I was a newcomer from outside the industry — I didn’t go to [UC] Davis [famous for producing wine professionals] — and I look around me now and I’m the dean of the Edna Valley,” he says with satisfaction. “I’ve been here longer than almost anybody.” Claiborne may be the only winemaker who taught medieval Viking literature in an earlier life, echoes of which hang above the winery’s tasting bar — his own handmade brass rubbings of effigies of 13th-century English knights. “It was an impetuous decision,” he said of his second career. “Since I more or less burned my bridges behind me, I couldn’t go back on my plan. We had to survive. We made our first wine in 1983, so we celebrated our 30th anniversary a year and a half ago.” Also unusual are some of the couple’s wines, at least for the area. While the Edna Valley’s cool climate makes it ground zero for such California all-stars as chardonnays and pinot noirs, Claiborne & Churchill is known for dry German wines — rieslings and gewürztraminer — pinot gris and pinot noir. “This reflects our love of the French province of Alsace, where they have similar winemaking traditions,” Claiborne says. “They take German grapes and make the wines dry instead of sweet, and they’re meant to go with food.” Claiborne & Churchill is located at 2649 Carpenter Canyon Rd., San Luis Obispo. Call (805) 544-4066 or visit claibornechurchill.com. Center of Effort’s winemaker, Nathan Carlson, concentrates on chardonnays and pinot noirs that typically earn plaudits from critics like Wine Advocate’s Jeb Dunnuck, who tasted five last year and declared, “These wines are solid across the board.” Center of Effort is located at 2195 Corbett Canyon Rd., Arroyo Grande. Call (805) 782-9463 or visit centerofeffortwine.com. Kynsi Winery is a family-run operation specializing in pinot noir, pinot blanc, chardonnay, syrah and its signature red blends. Owners Don and Gwen Othman are 30-year veterans of the Central Coast wine industry. Kynsi Winery is located at 2212 Corbett Canyon Rd., Arroyo Grande. Call (805) 544-8461 or visit kynsi.com. Sinor-LaVallee wines, owned by SLO Vintners Association President Mike Sinor and wife Cheri LaVallee-Sinor, start with grapes — pinot noir, syrah, chardonnay, pinot gris and albariňo — from the Bassi Vineyard, on a ranch the couple bought in 2013. Sinor-LaVallee’s tasting room is located at 550 1st St., Avila Beach. Call (805) 459-9595 or visit sinorlavalee.com. —IL 06.15 ARROYO | 37
KITCHEN CONFESSIONS
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Books About Ice Cream Impress the gang — and yourself — with DIY frozen treats this summer. BY LESLIE BILDERBACK
I
f you are a regular reader, you may have noticed that this column occasionally becomes a giant advertisement for some book I’ve written. This is, of course, because I want you to buy it. Also, when I review my own book, I’m guaranteed five stars. And, if you have been paying attention, you might notice that the books I produce are kind of gimmicky — microwaved cakes, spiralized veggies and now No Churn Ice Cream: Over 100 Simply Delicious No-Machine Frozen Treats. Yep. Just in time for summer, I offer you an easy way to impress your family and friends with very little effort. There are a couple reasons I write these types of books. First of all, they sell. (I do have two kids in college.) But more important, these recipes are user-friendly. They are not difficult, but they are modern, fresh and they use real food. It is just another weapon in my battle for kitchen confidence. Despite the seemingly endless conversations about food — in print, on TV and in all things Internet — an alarming number of people don’t cook. And despite the health and wallet benefits of preparing your own food, too many otherwise smart people still eat out for the majority of their meals. This has always been my mission — to get more people into the kitchen to cook for themselves. As a culinary instructor I learned very quickly that once students make a great dish from scratch, they are hooked. Never underestimate the power of being impressed with yourself. And if those people are inquisitive, and even a little creative, they will pursue that feeling of self-awe by trying something else, and on and on. It’s the thing that used to happen in childhood. Parents would teach, and kids would gain skill and confidence. It is this cycle of skill that I want to bring back. So try these recipes and build a little culinary confidence in your family. ||||
Coffee No-Churn Ice Cream Coffee ice cream has been my all-time favorite since I was a little kid. Looking back, I can see that it was a gateway to the full-blown caffeine addiction I currently enjoy. (And I do mean enjoy.) To achieve great coffee ice cream, it’s best to start with great coffee. If time allows, grind beans as fine as possible 38 | ARROYO | 06.15
PHOTO: Teri Lyn Fisher
No-Churn Ice Cream Basics This no-churn ice cream method is based on the classic French parfait. Unlike the American layered parfait your grandma made with Jell-O and Cool Whip, the French version is vanilla custard lightened with whipped cream and frozen in a loaf pan. Once frozen, the French parfait is sliced, like a frozen sweet pâté. While this no-churn ice cream method nods to the classic, it is 100 percent built to scoop. It is also designed to make in a hurry, with no ice cream machine and no difficult techniques (unless you want them). This is accomplished in two ways: The air normally incorporated by a churning ice cream machine is instead added in the form of whipped cream. The custard, which is a pastry technique that takes some time to master, is replaced by sweetened condensed milk. We cut its sweetness by limiting added sugar and incorporating anti-sweet elements, like sour cream, lemon or coffee. I always include suggestions for accompaniments, because the enjoyment of a dessert comes not only from the way it tastes, but the things it is paired with and the way it is presented. And because I know you are going to get excited about the possibilities, there are many ideas for variations on the basics. So start simply, by all means. But don’t stop there.
and steep them in warm milk. When cool, strain the coffee grounds through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. There will be a few stray grounds, but they are not offensive, and they indicate the use of real coffee. (Insomniacs can relax — this works just as well with decaffeinated beans too.) But because finding great beans, and spending the time to grind and steep them, is not always possible, this recipe uses the next-best method: great instant coffee. (Yes, such a thing exists.) Instant espresso powder, available in most supermarkets, is my favorite instant coffee. It is bitter and dark, and tastes like real coffee. When in doubt, I follow my coffee mantra — “If it’s not good enough to drink, it’s not good enough to cook with." (This is, coincidentally, also my wine mantra.) There is also such a thing as good coffee extract, which can be found at better “gourmet” food stores. INGREDIENTS 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons instant coffee, or coffee extract Pinch of salt 1 13-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2 cups heavy cream ½ vanilla bean, scraped METHOD 1. Warm the cup of milk in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds. Add the instant coffee and set it aside to steep and cool completely. 2. In a large bowl combine the sweetened condensed milk, coffee milk, vanilla bean, lemon juice and salt. 3. In a separate bowl whip heavy cream until it reaches soft peak, fold in the milk-coffee mixture, then transfer it to a shallow freezable container. 4. Cover with plastic wrap or waxed paper pressed directly on the surface of the ice cream, and place in the freezer for six hours. 5. Scoop and serve with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, crushed toffee, coffee crunch, chocolate shavings or a shot of Irish whiskey. VARIATIONS Coffee Cinnamon What works for your café latte will work for your ice cream too! Add to the steeping coffee milk one-half teaspoon of ground cinnamon, or 1 crushed whole stick. Let it cool and proceed with the recipe as directed. Coffee Cardamom Arabic coffee has included cardamom seeds in varying degrees for centuries. Some coffeehouses in London mix them in equal parts, which seems a bit too strong for this dessert application.Try adding 5 or 6 crushed pods the steeping coffee milk, then proceed with the recipe as written. Coffee Orange The combination is great at breakfast, so why not after dinner? Add the grated zest of 2 oranges to the steeping coffee milk, then proceed with the recipe as written.
Mint Chip No-Churn Ice Cream Most mint chip ice cream found in world is green. But not all, and there is something to be said for a white, pepperminty frozen delight. That said, a little green can be a little fun. Feel free to use or omit the food coloring at your own discretion. INGREDIENTS 1 13-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 cup milk Pinch of salt 2 or 3 drops peppermint extract 2 cups heavy cream 1 or 2 drops green food color (optional) 1 cup chopped dark chocolate or mini chip METHOD 1. In a large bowl combine sweetened condensed milk, milk, peppermint extract, food color, lemon juice and salt. 2. In a separate bowl whip heavy cream until it reaches soft peak, fold in the mint mixture and the chocolate, then transfer it into a shallow freezable container. 3. Cover with plastic wrap or waxed paper pressed directly on the surface of the ice cream, and place in the freezer for six hours. 4. Scoop and serve with chocolate sauce, or a drizzle of your best bourbon. VARIATIONS Candy Cane Replace the mint extract with vanilla, omit the food coloring and fold in along with the chocolate 1 cup of crushed candy canes. Fresh Mint If you have fresh mint available (I prefer peppermint to spearmint, which reminds me of toothpaste), finely chop a cup of it, warm the milk and steep them together for about 30 minutes. Then strain out the leaves and proceed with the recipe as written. Orange Peppermint In ye olden days thick porous peppermint sticks were sold with oranges, into which they were inserted to suck out the juice. Revisit this flavor memory by adding to the recipe above the finely grated zest of 2 oranges. Definitely omit the food coloring, as the zest will give the base a lovely orange hue. This flavor pair works well with or without the chocolate chips, and with fresh chopped mint in place of the candies. Chocolate Raspberry Mint This is a luscious trifecta of deliciousness.Toss 1 cup of raspberries in 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and the zest of 1 lemon. Set this aside for 1 hour or more to macerate.The raspberries' flavor will intensify as they exude some water. Omit the food color from the recipe above. Give the berries a rough smash, then fold them into the milk mixture before the cream goes in.
Leslie Bilderback is a certified master baker, chef and author of No Churn Ice Cream (St. Martin’s Griffin), from which these recipes are excerpted. She lives in South Pasadena and teaches her techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com. 06.15 | ARROYO | 39
A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER
THE LIST
Children’s Chorus Seeks New Voices
program of the Academy of Magical
June 4 through 7—
children, specially decorated cookies,
L.A. Children’s Chorus
ham, turkey and PB&J sandwiches, pink
holds auditions at
lemonade, milk and a selection of fruit-
Arts (Magic Castle) to present magic for
Pasadena Presbyterian Church for boys
infused, caffeine-free teas. Seatings are
and girls up to 12 and at least 8 years old
at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The cost is $48 for
by Sept. 1. The chorus trains children who
adults and $36 for children 4 to 12.
love to sing, regardless of experience.
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Successful candidates will demonstrate
is located at 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave.,
the ability to match pitch, follow
Pasadena. Call (626) 585-6216 or visit
instructions and engage in a structured
langhamhotels.com.
but supportive learning experience. Candidates audition in groups of five, and no preparation is necessary. Call (626) 793-4231 for an appointment. Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Visit lachildrenschorus.org.
CARNATIONS, CORITA KENT AT PMCA
Chamber Orchestra Salutes Cartoon Composers June 13 — LACO @ the Movies Celebrates Walt Disney Animation Studios is an evening of
Crafts Market at Convention Center
June 14 — Alexandra Grant and Steve Roden: These Carnations Defy Language
musical world premieres and animation
opens today, continuing through Nov. 1, at the Pasadena Museum of California
covering more than 80 years of Disney
Art. The exhibition is an artistic collaboration inspired by Francis Ponge’s poem
magic. Emmy-winning composer Mark
June 5, 6 and 7 — The
“The Carnation.”
Watters (above) leads the orchestra in
Contemporary Crafts
June 14 — The museum presents Someday is Now: The Art of Corita Kent, the
premieres of his own work, composed
Market makes its
first full-scale survey of the L.A. artist and activist’s career. Kent, a sister of the Im-
for revivals of long-lost, 1920s-era Oswald
annual visit to the Pasadena Convention
maculate Heart of Mary, taught art at L.A.’s Immaculate Heart College from 1946
the Lucky Rabbit shorts. Other screenings
Center Exhibit Hall, showcasing wares of
through 1968. Among the most popular graphic artists of the 1960s and ‘70s, she
include The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
more than 250 artisans of functional art —
became known for thousands of posters, murals and serigraphs reflecting her
with a world premiere of Watters’ new
jewelry, ceramics, sculptural glass, textiles,
passion for faith, civil rights and peace. The exhibition, on view today through
adaptation of the movie’s score. Dustin
custom footwear and many other items.
Nov. 1, includes early abstractions and text pieces as well as her more lyrical
Hoffman is honorary event chair. The
The market runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
works and rarely shown photographs of the artist.
fundraiser benefiting LACO starts at 7
Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Pasadena Museum of California Art is located at 490 E. Union St., Pasadena.
p.m. at downtown L.A.’s Ace Hotel. Ticket
Sunday. Admission costs $8; children 12
Call (626) 568-3665 or visit pmcaonline.org.
prices start at $35. The Ace Hotel is located at 929 S.
and younger are admitted free.
Broadway, L.A. Call (213) 622-7001 or visit laco.org.
located at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.
and Botanical Gardens presents
and runs through Oct. 12, marks the
Call (310) 285-3655 or visit craftsource.org.
Shakespeare’s rarely performed
document’s 800th anniversary by
romance, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, the tale
exploring the language and ideology
Twelve Tuneful Hours
of a shipwreck, pirates, an abandoned
of constitutionalism. The exhibition is
Levitt Pavilion Concert Kick-off
baby, a long-lost wife and jousting. The
anchored by the Huntington’s 13th
June 14— The Levitt
June 6 — The
Independent Shakespeare Company
century draft of the Magna Carta; other
Pavilion Pasadena’s
free annual music
stages it at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45 ($35 for
items from the institution’s collections
free summer concert
festival Make Music
members).
highlight the document’s relevance to
Pasadena returns
Call (800) 838-3006 or visit
history and politics in England, the U.S.
p.m. with the Pete Escovedo Orchestra
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., featuring 150
brownpapertickets.com for tickets.
and elsewhere.
featuring Sheila E. The Memorial Park
eclectic performances by dozens of
June 12 — The Huntington celebrates
The Huntington Library, Art Collections
series runs Thursdays through Sundays
acts on stages in Old Pasadena and
support from the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and Botanical Gardens is located at
June 14 through Aug. 6 and Fridays
downtown Pasadena. The full roster of
and transgender community with An
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626)
through Sundays thereafter through
acts and locations is available online.
Evening Among the Roses from 6:30
405-2100 or visit huntington.org.
Sept. 20. Concerts include Americana,
Visit makemusicpasadena.org.
to 9:30 p.m. The elegant garden party
season kicks off at 7
jazz, blues, world and Latin music and
salutes donors, staff and individuals
Tea and Magic
children’s entertainment.
Shakespearean Romance, Night of Roses at the Huntington
whose works are in the collections.
June 7 — The
Memorial Park is located at the corner
Garden party attire is encouraged.
Langham Huntington,
of Walnut Street and Raymond Avenue,
Tickets cost $75, available only in
Pasadena hosts
Pasadena. Call (626) 683-3230 or visit
Imagine Tea, a
levittpavilionpasadena.org.
June 6 — The
June 13 — Magna Carta: Law and
special afternoon tea service for children.
Legend, 1215-2015, which opens today
The hotel will partner with the junior
Huntington Library, Art Collections 40 | ARROYO | 06.15
advance at huntington.org.
–continued on page 42
MAIN PHOTO: Arthur Evans, courtesy of the Tang Museum at Skidmore College
The Pasadena Convention Center is
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Descanso Summer Means Camping, World Music
Descanso Gardens is located at 1418
June 15 through
org.
Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 949-4200 or visit descansogardens.
July 17 — Kids in first
Descanso Discoveries Camp, presented
Pasadena Pops Features Big Band Swing
by Descanso Gardens and Child
June 20 — The
through seventh grades can explore cooking, gardening and nature at
Educational Center. Sessions from 9 a.m.
launches its 2015 Sierra Acura Summer
through 19, June 22 through 26, July 6
Concert Series at the Arboretum with
through 10 and July 13 through 17. The
“Big Band Swing,” featuring cabaret
cost is $462 per week.
singer Marilyn Maye (above) and
Call (818) 354-3418 or visit ceconline.org.
Michael Andrew performing the
June 18 through Aug. 20 — Descanso’s
sounds of the 1930s and ‘40s, including
Music on the Main series presents jazz by
“Moonglow,” “Stardust,” “Minnie the
top performers at 6 p.m. Thursdays. .
Moocher,” “Misty” and others. The
June 23 through Aug. 4 — The World
grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking
Rhythms series features family-friendly
and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
performances by top world-music artists at
Ticket prices start at $20.
6 p.m. Tuesdays.
The L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic
Admission to both music series concerts is
Garden is located at 301 N. Baldwin
free with Descanso admission of $9, $6 for
Ave., Arcadia. Call (626) 793-7172 or visit
students and seniors and $4 for children
pasadenasymphony-pops.org.
5 to 12; children 4 and younger are admitted free.
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Pasadena Pops
to 3 p.m. are scheduled for June 15
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THE LIST –continued from page 42
Lance Bass with L.A. Zoo’s okapi
L.A. ZOO ROARS DURING JUNE June 20 — The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) presents the annual Beastly Ball, where guests can stroll through the zoo after hours to observe the inhabitants, watch animal feedings and chat with keepers. The 6 p.m. event includes live entertainment, dancing, food from top restaurants and live and silent auctions. Guests are encouraged to wear safari attire. The event honors L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge and 99 Cents Only Stores for their support, and Lance Bass will be presented with the Mankiewicz Leadership Award. Tickets cost $1,000. Call (323) 644-4753 or visit lazoo.org/beastlyball. June 26 — The zoo’s annual Roaring Nights summer music fest for adults launches at 7 p.m. with a DJ dance party, live music, food trucks, full-service bars, zookeeper talks and visits with zoo dwellers. Also included is the Animal Artistry Paint Party, where guests can paint a favorite animal on a small canvas to keep as a souvenir. Admission for visitors 18 and up costs $20 ($17 for GLAZA members). The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Dr. in Griffith Park. Call (323) 644-4200 or visit lazoo.org.
Chalk One Up for Paseo Colorado
Artist Gallery offers visitors the opportunity
June 20 and 21 —
by participating artists. Proceeds benefit
More than 600 chalk
the Light Bringer Project, a Pasadena
artists, including
nonprofit providing arts education to
to bid on small painted canvases created
teams from art schools and museums,
underserved youth.
converge on Paseo Colorado to create
Paseo Colorado is located at 280 E.
murals for Pasadena’s free annual
Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 795-
Chalk Festival, which runs from 10 a.m.
8891 or visit pasadenachalkfestival.com.
to watch artworks being created on
No Ants at Antaeus’ Picnic
concrete areas of the Paseo, covering
June 25 — Classical theater ensemble
three city blocks. The Kids’ Chalkland
Antaeus Company presents Picnic,
area offers creative activities for children,
William Inge’s sensual, passionate and
and Animation Alley highlights top
funny American classic exploring the line
and upcoming animators and graphic
between restraint and desire. Picnic takes
designers. In addition, the Pasadena
place on Labor Day in the American
Police Department’s classic car show runs
heartland as a group of women are
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, and the
preparing for a picnic. A handsome –continued on page 46
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MAIN PHOTO: Jamie Pham
to 7 p.m. both days. Guests are invited
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THE LIST –continued from page 44
JOURNEY JOINS IN BOWL’S GALA OPENER June 20 —Hollywood Bowl’s summer season opening gala features an 8 p.m. concert by the enduring rock band Journey, recently inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. In its first performance with an orchestra, the band performs a full set with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Principal Conductor Thomas Wilkins. The event includes performances by the L.A. Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra L.A. and ends with a spectacular fireworks show. Proceeds benefit the L.A. Phil and its educational and community programs. Gala patron packages with VIP preconcert reception and dinner cost $2,300 to $15,750. Tickets for the concert only run from $25 to $155. The Hollywood Bowl is located at 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Call (213) 972-3051 or visit hollywoodbowl.com.
young drifter enters the scene, and his
Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The program
combination of uncouth manners and
also includes Beethoven’s Symphony No.
titillating charm set off a romantic stir.
7. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for preconcert
When he is forced to leave town, one
dining. Tickets cost $20 to $950.
woman must decide whether their fleeting
Santa Anita Park is located at 285 W.
encounter is worth changing the course
Huntington Dr., Arcadia. Call (626) 304-0333
of her life. The play opens at 8 p.m. today
or visit calphil.com.
and continues at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays
and $34.
Taking to the Streets with Kindness
Antaeus Company is located at 5112
Through July 4 —
and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 9. Tickets cost $30
Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Call (818) 506-1983 or visit antaeus.org.
Pasadena’s Wescom Credit Union is conducting the Wescom Kindness campaign (#WescomKindness)
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Cal Phil Brings Beatles and Beethoven
at various entertainment and dining
June 27 — The California Philharmonic
program consists of random acts of
opens its summer music season at Santa
kindness to spread good cheer and
Anita Park at 7:30 p.m. with “The Beatles
give back to the community in a variety
and Beethoven.” The concert features
of ways, such as offering movie theater
revolutionary music from the two eras, with
and restaurant patrons gift cards for
Beatles tribute band Beatlemania Now
car washes and food from food trucks.
performing Fab Four hits, including “Penny
Announcements go out via social media.
Lane,”“Hey Jude” and “Sgt. Pepper’s
Visit wescom.org/wescomkindness. ||||
locations in Southern California. The
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