Arroyo June 2016

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA

June 2016

GUATEMALA THE LAND OF THE MAYAS MAKES A COMEBACK

PAINT EUROPE On Tour With Eva Margueriette

GHOST-HUNTING In Culver City

Sandra Tsing Loh Goes Mad at the Pasadena Playhouse

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Photo by Alexander Vertikoff Lic.653340

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arroyo

VOLUME 12 | NUMBER 6 | JUNE 2016

29

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TRAVEL 11 PAINT EUROPE WalkEurope’s luxury tours include painting outings with noted San Marino artist Eva Margueriette.

—BETTIJANE LEVINE

PHOTOS: (Top) Brent Winebrenner; (bottom left) Ventana Photography; (bottom right) Tatjana Loh

15 THE CULVER HOTEL AND MR. CULVER’S GHOST The joint was jumpin’ and the vibe was great for a jazzy, ghostly staycation in Culver City.

—By LESLIE A. WESTBROOK

29 BELLA GUATEMALA A La Cañada Flintridge–based entrepreneur is introducing her beautiful native country to travelers, as democratic Guatemala grows its budding luxury tourism industry.

—By IRENE LACHER

33 THE MADWOMAN COMES HOME Sandra Tsing Loh makes her Pasadena Playhouse mainstage debut in a sharp new show about “the Triple-M generation” — middle-aged, menopausal moms.

—By MICHAEL CERVIN

DEPARTMENTS 08

FESTIVITIES Pasadena Playhouse gala, lunching with The Blue Ribbon, Kidspace unveils Arroyo Adventure

09

LÉON BING A forbidden — but unforgettable — encounter in New York

27

ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX

36

KITCHEN CONFESSIONS A primer on summer’s bounty of melons

39

THE LIST After-hours at the L.A. Zoo, Politicon, the Norton Simon’s summer garden party and more

ABOUT THE COVER: Tikal, Guatemala, photo by Brent Winebrenner.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

In the summer, a young man’s thoughts lightly turn to getting on a plane and going somewhere.

That was certainly what I had in mind the summer after college graduation when I moved to Hong Kong. In those days, I had a strong appetite for novelty when it came to people and places — the more exotic, the better.

But now I think there’s a lot to be said for touring with fellow travelers who share your interests — and who may have insider info about your destination. In this year’s Travel Issue, we introduce you to a few Arroyoland neighbors who are leading all-inclusive luxury tours to Guatemala or Europe — Elsie YiDonoy of La Cañada Flintridge, who runs Bella Guatemala Travel, and San Marino’s Tom Harter and Eva Margueriette, who collaborate on WalkEurope’s painting tours.

Guatemala is particularly interesting these days, in light of its relatively recent return to welcoming the rest of the world after 36 years of bloody civil war. Over the past decade, the country has been experiencing a renaissance in luxury travel. And Guatemala-born YiDonoy, who moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was 13, wants people to know how rich in culture and natural beauty is her much underrated native land. (Before the war, the center of ancient Mayan civilization rivaled Havana as a popular vacation destination.)

Like YiDonoy, Harter scoured his destinations for special places and experiences before launching tours last year. Now the former ad-sales rep offers 16 European tours a year — four with working artist and teacher Eva Margueriette, who provides painting instruction and materials.

Of course, fellow travelers come in all forms — both terrestrial and otherwise. Leslie A. Westbrook went ghost-hunting for Culver City founder Harry Culver during a staycation at the chic Culver Hotel, which he also built.

To find out whether she found her man, turn to page 15.

Speaking of familiar faces, we’re delighted to profile Pasadena’s own multi-talented writer/performer Sandra Tsing Loh for her debut on the Pasadena Playhouse’s mainstage this month in her sharp new autobiographical show, The Madwoman in the Volvo. Trust me — you won’t want to miss this one.

—Irene Lacher

EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres

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arroyo

FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA

PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, Richard Garcia EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Léon Bing, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Richard Cunningham, Carole Dixon, Lisa Dupuy, Lynne Heffley, Kathleen Kelleher, Rebecca Kuzins, Elizabeth McMillian, Brenda Rees, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller, Leslie A. Westbrook ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Brenda Clarke, Leslie Lamm ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker PAYROLL Linda Lam CONTROLLER Kacie Cobian ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie, Teni Keshishian

SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING 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

OFFICE ASSISTANT Ann Turrietta PUBLISHER Jon Guynn

©2016 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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FESTIVITIES

Jane Fonda and Richard Perry

Monaco Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle, Princess Charlene of Monaco and Blue Ribbon President Julie Goldsmith 8 | ARROYO | 06.16

Sheldon Epps, Jane Fonda, Richard Perry and David DiChristafaro

The Pasadena Playhouse saw stars at its lively annual gala April 30 — honoree Jane Fonda and Martin Sheen, who introduced her. Fonda was celebrated with her partner, noted music producer Richard Perry, who was the consulting producer on Pasadena’s production of Baby It’s You! which went on to Broadway. The multi-talented Sandra Tsing Loh, who’s appearing on the mainstage this month, was the ebullient host of the evening, titled “A Night in the Catskills” in a nod to the concurrent production of Casa Valentina. The benefit raised $310,000 for the historic theater… The Blue Ribbon ladies who lunch recently gathered for two elegant afternoons — on April 27, the group sat down to an al fresco meal at the Huntington’s new Steven S. Koblik Education and Visitor Center before exploring the art collections; the event was chaired by Pasadena’s Alyce Williamson.

On May 12, members converged on the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a luncheon honoring Princess Charlene of Monaco… Kidspace welcomed scores of young constituents to the April 30 opening of its new Arroyo Adventure, which connects kids to nature and the Arroyo Seco.

Annette Ermshar, Alyce Williamson, Ginny Mancini and Goldsmith

Roger Engemann, Michele Engemann and Art Silveri

PHOTOS: Earl Gibson (Pasadena Playhouse); John McCoy (The Blue Ribbon of the Music Center); Mike Windle/Getty Images (Palais Princier de Monaco); Gina Long (Kidspace)

Mark Marion, Sheila Grether-Marion, Julietta Perez and Art Silveri

LÉON BING

VINCENT AND ME AT THE MET A forbidden — but unforgettable — encounter in New York

I

’m a third-generation native Californian, but by the time I hit my early teens, nearly everyone I met assumed I was from New York, and when I asked why they thought that, the answers were vaguely uniform: “Oh, you know — you’ve got that New York thing.” I had no idea what “that New York thing” meant; with the exception of weekly trips to The City (San Francisco) and to Berkeley (where I attended boarding school), I’d never been out of Piedmont, where I lived with my grandparents, a great-aunt and a great-uncle in a sprawling bungalow. When I moved down to Los Angeles to be with my mother after her third husband died, I was enrolled in another boarding school — this one overlooking Pasadena — where it was once more assumed that I was from New York. Same thing at college: “Come on, you’re a New Yorker.”

So I left USC at the end of my second year at age 19, and, in a move that was rather eerily tropistic, packed up and went to New York. My plan was to become a fashion model. My mother’s plan was that she would support me in this endeavor with one condition: that I stay at the Barbizon Hotel, a hotel for women known for its strict rules, until I became familiar with the Big City and landed a job. Then I’d be on my own: to work, to make friends, to find a suitable apartment.

My Sunday ritual at the hotel was to bring a breakfast tray up to my room along with a copy of The New York Times. I’d eat and spend an hour or so going through every page, including the want ads, then I might take in a matinee at the nearest movie house. I hadn’t made any friends yet; other than fast greetings in the lobby with other girls my age, there wasn’t anyone I wanted to get to know better. Looking back, I think they seemed too much like me: hungry to make a place for themselves and get on with their lives in this teeming city.

Friendship would come later.

One Saturday morning, about two weeks into my stay at the hotel, I woke to see rain sluicing down the window of my room and thought about taking shelter inside the warming light of the Metropolitan Museum. I grabbed my oldest jeans, a heavy sweater, stepped into a pair of scuffed boots and made my way to 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue. I scurried up the fl ight of granite steps and through the Romanesque arches. Then I pushed open one of the tall doors and stepped into the Great Hall: it smelled deliciously of lemon oil and old, well-polished wood. I wandered idly, inspecting with great interest the suits of armor (were 14th-century warriors really so tiny?) y standing guard at the imposing staircase leading to the second floor. r..

I stood for long moments close to the keyboards of clavichords that

The object of the author’s affection: Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh

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LÉON BING THERE WAS A DEEP GROOVE OF SATINY BROWN PAINT AT THE CENTER OF ONE OF THE TREES WITH A NEARLY INVISIBLE BIT OF GRIT TRAPPED AT THE CREST. I FELT AN OVERWHELMING URGE TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH THAT GLISTENING RIDGE –continued from page 9

made me think of the Bach Two-Part Inventions I’d learned at school and I longed to touch the keys. I thought of the big Steinway my grandfather played every evening after dinner, and the painful memory of his recent death shot through me. I gazed for a long time through the glass cases that held the ancient Egyptian and Roman jewelry donated by J.P. Morgan. I mounted the stairway to the second floor and walked slowly through a series of perfectly reconstructed historic rooms, lingering in the 17thcentury Venetian bedroom with its testered (canopy) bed and parquet floors puddled with thick golden light beamed in through mullioned windows. Finally, I headed for the painting galleries. I passed 18th-century wheat fields blazing beneath a white-hot sun, and luminous candlelit studies by de La Tour. I stopped in front of The Horse Fair

by Rosa Bonheur; I’d grown up with a gilt-framed reproduction of that image and I loved the heavy-hocked beasts with their gleaming flanks and flared nostrils. I looked long and hard at paintings by Caravaggio and Holbein and Thomas Eakins.

I was leaving the museum when I spotted something at the end of a gallery that made me turn back for a closer look. This was the real thing, just as I’d seen it in books about great art: that limpid, cloud-streaked sky with a creamy slice of moon hovering above the pinkish haze that enclosed, at its center, a setting sun. There, in the background, were the rolling, blue-streaked hills. And, rising up from a surround of bushes, the narrow gathering of cypresses: blacks and dark greens and grayish browns laid on in thick swirls by the artist, who had matched feathery branches to the pinkstreaked shreds at a corner of the canvas. I felt the tiny hairs at the back of my neck stir.

I took a few steps back and then moved in close until I was positioned directly in front of the painting. There was a deep groove of satiny brown paint at the center of one of the trees with a nearly invisible bit of grit trapped at the crest. I felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch that glistening ridge.

I looked around. The guard was giving directions to someone at the other end of the gallery. I took another step toward the painting, then another and leaned forward until the details swam dizzily before my eyes. I took off my glasses and took a deep breath. Then I stretched out my tongue and let the tip glide across the thick rind of greyish-brown paint. It was done in an instant. I turned and walked away from the painting, through the small gallery, and out of the museum. I felt the shining skin of that long-dried paint with its bit of grit on my tongue all the way back to the hotel. I felt the memory of it that night. It was the first time I’d broken a rule so aggressively yet didn’t feel guilty — and I wasn’t sorry. I’d touched true greatness and I knew I would be able to bring back that instant for the rest of my life. I can feel that bit of grit at the tip of my tongue now, as I write, and it’s as real to me as any of the small treasures — the snuff box with the enamel portrait of an 18th-century beauty on its lid, the gold-and-enamel carriage clock that winds with a key, the antique blue-and-white porcelain ginger jars — I’ve inherited or collected throughout my life.

That brief moment at the Met means as much to me as anything I own. And it’s one of a kind. |||| Reprinted with permission from Swans and Pistols: Modeling, Motherhood and Making It in the Me Generation (Bloomsbury; 2009).

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Eva Margueriette (left) working with a student near Lake Como, Italy

PAINT EUROPE WalkEurope’s luxury tours include painting exquisite locations with noted San Marino artist Eva Margueriette.

BY BETTIJANE LEVINE

FORGET YELP AND ALL THOSE OTHER ONLINE RATINGS AND REVIEWS. THE BEST EVIDENCE OF A TOUR COMPANY’S EXCELLENCE COMES FROM THOSE WHO’VE TAKEN THE TOURS AND WHOSE LEVEL OF DISCERNMENT IS SIMILAR TO YOUR OWN. WALKEUROPE ART TOURS WERE STARTED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO BY SAN MARINO RESIDENT TOM HARTER; SINCE THEN, THE

PHOTO: Courtesy of WalkEurope

GROUP HAS LED TWO EUROPEAN TRIPS TO EXQUISITE OFFBEAT LOCATIONS, WITH MORNING WALKS, SOPHISTICATED FORAYS INTO LOCAL CUISINE AND CULTURE AND A FEW HOURS OF PAINTING INSTRUCTION EACH DAY FROM NOTED ARROYOLAND ARTIST AND ART INSTRUCTOR EVA MARGUERIETTE. –continued on page 12

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WalkEurope President Tom Harter, with artist Margueriette

Margueriette teaching in in Varenna, Varena, Italy Italy

No tourist traps, no herding by guides (the groups are limited to 15 people), no stress or strain. In fact, the debut six-day tours were apparently so exhilarating, relaxing and satisfying that some participants signed up to take all four art tours Harter and Margueriette offer again this year. That’s an impressive return rate for any tour company, let alone a startup. The art tours are among WalkEurope’s 16 trips this year (four are art tours), many of which are already booked, with reservations coming in from as far as Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The almost-instant success saga of this startup tour company is inspirational on many levels. For San Marino resident Eva Margueriette, 72, it’s yet another chapter in her already long and successful art career and an unexpected one to boot. She tells Arroyo Monthly that she had led her students on numerous tours to Europe throughout the years, “and last March I decided I really didn’t need to go again. Then my friend Janet sent me a photo from Tuscany of the pink sky at sunset over rolling open hills. I thought to myself, ‘Maybe I actually do want to go again, to soak up all that beauty.’

Five days later, Tom Harter approached me with his idea” to lead plein-air painting tours in Europe “and I jumped at the chance. The tours brought a breath of fresh air to so many, including myself. Tom provides the space for painters and nonpainters alike to nourish their creative souls.”

The tours are for both working and beginning artists, she says, as well as friends and family of all ages who just want to enjoy the sights, scenery and off-the-beatenpath delights Harter plans for each trip, she says. The groups are limited, she adds, “because we travel like a family, enjoy long European-style meals together and get to know each other. After an early morning walk, we have one long painting session with beautiful morning light, followed by a leisurely lunch, because high-noon light is not as pleasing.” Depending on the location, afternoons might entail shopping, cooking classes, museum tours, wine tasting — or just roaming around. Activities are optional, Harter and Margueriette say, but groups tend to stay together for the engaging company while exploring the highlights Harter has planned for each locale.

“The golden-light hour is spent painting, before the sun sets and dinner is served, Margueriette says. “Our painting schedule revolves around the light.”

Well known in the local art community, Margueriette graduated from the fledgling CalArts when it was transitioning from the Chouinard Art Institute and went on to paint for the next 50 years. For the past 30, she has also taught students at 12 | ARROYO | 06.16

her San Marino studio. Her watercolors and oils have won numerous awards, and she has won private and corporate commissions from such institutions as downtown L.A.’s Jonathan Club, USC’s Gould Law School and Pankow Builders in Pasadena. She currently teaches two watercolor classes and one oil-painting class a week, in addition to private instruction. And she’s been accepted into a memoir-writing class at Yale later this year.

For Harter, 63, founder and president of WalkEurope, the new venture is a long-deferred dream come true after a career as a top corporate executive in media and advertising. As West Coast ad-sales director for The Wall Street Journal for 20 years, he traveled extensively on business and for pleasure; for 10 of those years, he lived in Europe and Asia. Vibrant, charming, low key and plain-spoken, Harter enjoyed rambling the continents, indulging his penchant for hunting down the most magnificent sights and scenery, and the most distinctive chefs, cuisines and wines — places and people the typical tourist and large tour groups would not have access to. All that travel led to close relations with leading airlines, hotel companies and country tourism organizations, though at the time Harter didn’t realize he was preparing to become a tourism entrepreneur. But in an interview with Arroyo Monthly, Harter said he realized only recently that he must have had this in mind since his university days. “After getting my MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business, I backpacked through Europe and Africa for a year before starting my ad career. And I only recently remembered I wrote a paper for a course while getting my MBA — it was about starting a travel tour company.” Now, 40 years later, he has finally started that company. It’s his full-time profession, and he accompanies all tours. “Trips are designed to get beneath Europe’s sights and culture in a way that makes it more than a memory,” he says. “It’s part of your soul, and it becomes part of your life story.”

Margueriette’s fellow travelers on WalkEurope’s 2015 tours included a beginner who’d never before put paintbrush to paper; another is one of Margueritte’s student success stories: a working artist who exhibits and sells her work. And both have signed up again this year.

The novice is San Marino resident Linda Mollno, a history professor at CalState Polytechnic University, Pomona, who made her painting debut on a trip last summer.

“I knew Eva just from seeing her at functions around town, and I have a friend who’s been taking classes from her,” she says. “I learned about the trip from something

PHOTOS: Courtesy of WalkEurope

–continued from page 11

Pretty as a picture: Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast

A WalkEurope group attends an Italian cooking class on Lake Como

posted on Facebook, and I signed up just because of where they were going. The French Riviera sounded pretty enticing, and I thought I could just read a book while the others were painting.”

What happened on the tour, she said, was “pretty amazing. She’s just an amazing teacher, and a wonderful person to be around. I was so surprised at what she managed to get us to do. She gave everybody a sketchbook and palettes, with paints and brushes. We sat and sketched and eventually painted, all watercolors, all outdoors. The sketchbook became a journal of our trip. It’s a wonderful memory.” When the group left France for a six-day tour of Italy, Mollno continued on with them. And this year, Mollno says, she has signed on for three six-day painting tours of several countries.

Will painting become part of her at-home routine? “Eva tells me I have talent,” she says with a laugh. “But I think for sure I’ve found a hobby I’ll enjoy in the future.”

The late-blooming art professional is Linda Salinas, an Altadena teacher who met Margueriette on an Altadena home tour six years ago and started taking classes with her. “I always liked art but had no idea I was able to paint as well as it turned out I could. I stopped teaching and started to paint. I sold 10 paintings in my showing at the San Marino library. I did the cover painting for the Altadena home tour and the people who owned the house bought the [original] painting from me.”

Salinas says that last year she went on WalkEurope’s painting tours to the French Riviera and Lake Como, Italy. Th is year, she’s going with the group to Florence and Tuscany, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. “Tom Harter has everything all set up, all transport organized. Great hotels, great places to eat to get the local flavors. We went to open markets and painted in little towns. We even tried cannabis gelato. We had a cooking class in each country, and wine-tastings. In Italy a well-known chef picked us up and took us to a tiny little village on Lake Como, to a restaurant that had been in his family for generations. Eva gave us each a book for journaling and painting. It’s a small group, and you can come with friends or family, whether they paint or not.

These trips really do become more than just a usual tour. They become an important part of your personal history.”|||| WalkEurope’s tours range in price from $3,450 to $5,025 per person, double-occupancy, not including air fare. Call (626) 616-3448 or visit walkeurope.com. For information about Eva Margueriette, visit paintingsbyeva.com.

A WalkEurope painting session in Portofino, Italy 06.16 | ARROYO | 13

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THE CULVER HOTEL AND MR. CULVER’S GHOST

I ARRIVED ON A GRAY, RAINY SATURDAY IN APRIL, SEEMINGLY THE PERFECT KIND OF WEEKEND FOR GHOST-HUNTING. FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED INSIDE THE HISTORIC SIX-STORY CULVER HOTEL — A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK AND CULVER CITY’S ANSWER TO NEW YORK’S FLATIRON BUILDING — I FELT AS THOUGH I’D STEPPED BACK IN TIME. NEVER MIND THAT THE MUNCHKINS FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ SLUMBERED HERE (THREE TO A BED!) IN THE 1930S — SO DID JUST ABOUT EVERY MAJOR MGM STAR IN TOWN FOR BUSINESS DURING HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN AGE. –continued on page 16

The joint was jumpin’ and the vibe was great for a jazzy, ghostly staycation in Culver City.

PHOTO: Seiichi Niitsuma

BY LESLIE A. WESTBROOK

The six-story, flatiron-style Renaissance Revival property was designed by Curlett & Beelman, the architecture firm behind renowned Art Deco buildings throughout L.A.

06.16 | ARROYO | 15

A recently inaugurated art gallery on the hotel’s second floor is showing works from the Brian Lurie Gallery. The same floor hosts numerous special events and private parties (a 40th birthday, a baby shower and one other event the weekend I stayed) in Culver’s former office and beyond. This is a swell venue for a special event; the catering department seems to be hopping nonstop.

A Culver Luxe room with “vintage-meets-modern” décor

Originally called the Hotel Hunt and used as a center for selling real estate, the hotel was decidedly less glamorous when it fi rst opened in 1924, with much smaller rooms (100 at that time — half the size of current accommodations) and loos down the hall.

The hotel founder, Mr. Harry Culver, would be proud of his hotel today.

In addition to boasting a rich Hollywood history, thanks to its close proximity to the former MGM studio (now Sony Pictures) and Culver Studios, The Culver is also a popular jazz and meeting spot — just my cup of tea, since I was practically breastfed on the genre by a jazz pianist father, Forrest Westbrook, long, long ago in Sierra Madre Canyon.

And so I landed. The valet took my car and a bellman collected my bags. I entered a narrow hallway leading to an unusual check-in desk — smack dab in the entrance of the bustling Grand Lobby, where the classic movie Casablanca was being projected on a wall. Locals and hotel guests lounged in the cavernous space, chatting away over food and libations.

When I asked about ghosts, Eddie at the front desk told me to check the second floor — where Culver’s former office and walk-in safe (converted into a bar for private events) are located. “The rooms on that floor are all booked, but you are welcome to roam the halls,” he said. I wondered if the man who also founded Culver City might travel to other floors of the purportedly haunted hotel. I was also advised to speak with the hotel general manager; apparently he had a ghost tale or two to share.

I was quickly escorted to my room by the bellman who told me — adamantly — that he hadn’t seen a ghost at The Culver, nor did he want to! I told him I’d lost more than 20 people in the past two years, and if any ghosts from outside the hotel were prone to visit, I would be happy to greet them.

My room was super-glam — with modern décor in a black-and-white palette against dove-gray walls, accented by antiques, frilly turquoise pillows on the bed and a crystal chandelier. I was on the fourth floor, with northerly views toward Century City and the Santa Monica Mountains. The hotel’s truncated hotel signage — which glowed “HOT” outside my window — added to the vintage flair.

I anticipated a relaxing soak in the huge deep tub, but fi rst I needed to do three things: explore the neighborhood, visit the nearby Museum of Jurassic Technology (9341 Venice Blvd., mjt.org) and talk to General Manager Seth Horowitz about ghosts.

The hotel provided a large black umbrella and I walked down the street for a solo lunch at the counter of Akasha Restaurant (9543 Culver Blvd., akasharestaurant.com).

16 | ARROYO | 06.16

I ordered a tasty kale salad and tea while observing other diners, many with children, before continuing my explorations just a few blocks away at the odd and wonderful Museum of Jurassic Technology, a treasure trove of off beat relics housed in an unprepossessing storefront. I entered through the small door into a very dark interior jammed with visitors of all ages from around the globe. Like me, you may have heard of this eccentric place over the years, but I’d not visited, despite better intentions, since its founding in 1988. Expecting to spend an hour or so there, I ended up exploring the mysterious rooms and exhibits for close to three hours — wondering what was real and what was pure imagination. From mesmerizing holograms and oil portraits of Russian cosmonaut dogs to minute carvings on the eye of a needle and strange tales told on fi lm, the displays were endless. My self-guided explorations ended with tea and cookies (included in the admission price) served adjacent to a peaceful Moroccanstyle rooftop garden. I don’t want to spoil the mystery of it all, but I found the experience curiously fascinating, haunting and sort of spooky — which tied in nicely with the ghosts at The Culver I’d been hoping to see.

I walked back to the hotel and met with Horowitz, the charming general manager, who kindly gave me a tour of the hotel and shared (in an equally charming South African accent) city and hotel history. He saved the best for last. Culver City’s founder has been said to roam his hotel. Would Culver himself appear? I wondered. More important, would he approve of contemporary buzz about the triangular building he built close to a century ago?

One day, Horowitz noticed a guest in his mid-30s to early 40s having difficulty opening the second-floor exercise room with his key, so he assisted by opening the door. Upon entering the room, the hotel guest gasped loudly and said, “Whoa!”

“I ran over to the window to investigate and the man, with this huge look of surprise on his face, said, ‘Oh, my god — it’s gone,’” Horowitz recalled.

Then the fellow pulled out his phone and started drawing a man’s portrait on a phone app. He showed it to the GM. “The hair stood up on my arms and neck!”

Horowitz recalled. “The image was the spitting image of Mr. Culver! I took the man over to see a photograph of him hanging down the hall.” Then he did what any good GM should do in a situation like this — he ran and got the clairvoyant a shot of good single-malt whiskey. “There is no doubt in my mind that man saw the ghost. I was in the room,” Horowitz said, adding that the guest told him that the ghost “was happy and had a satisfied look on his face.”

That jibed with an account given by another guest who had a sighting on another

PHOTOS: (Top right) Courtesy of Culver Hotel; (top right) Ventana Photography

–continued from page 15

The dimly lit Velvet Lounge evokes a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Hotel guests and locals gather in the Grand Lobby for live jazz and dining.

PHOTOS: (Top left) Gregory Graham Dalton; (top right) Maya Mallick

Harry Culver’s portrait stll keeps watch over his former office at the Culver Hotel.

occasion and told Horowitz that the spirit was “very, very happy with what you’ve done with the hotel.” That must surely please current owner Maya Mallick, who has created such a stylish and fun hotel. Other odd occurrences have included windows opening, doors not opening and water turning on mysteriously. And yet The Culver Hotel is also child-friendly — they even offer haunted tours for kids.

But I would have to wait until evening for any potential ghost sightings.

I finally had my soak in the tub and then went downstairs to meet a friend who comes here frequently for the live music. Originally booked to dine in the Grand Lobby, we instead opted for the quieter Crystal Dining Room next door, where we could still hear the stellar jazz but also enjoy catching up over a delicious meal that began with a burrata appetizer. I had succulent lamb chops over peas; he opted for a kale salad and delicious grilled Jerusalem artichokes. My wine — a 2012 Trefethen Double T red blend, Napa — was the perfect accompaniment to the chops. We went to check out The Velvet Lounge, the atmospheric speakeasy-style bar on the second floor jammed with 20somethings, then listened to a little jazz in the packed lobby before bidding each other adieu.

That night, I had one of the soundest slumbers in months in the big comfy bed, the neon sign outside the room casting an otherworldly glow. Sad to report, I wasn’t awoken by rattling windows. Nor did I see a ghost (and I have seen ghosts, specifically at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris long ago). I wish I could tell you that Culver did show up for a wee chat in the middle of the night, but no such luck. Perhaps I will have to return for another visit: All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) might be a good time. But before that, I hope to swing by during happy hour and try one of the house specialty drinks, like the Ruby Slipper or Yellow Brick Lemonade, while I dig the jazz.

In the meantime, there’s that photo of Culver near his old office safe to help with ghostly identification. And just outside the hotel entrance, there’s a bronze sculpture of a man on a bench, reading a newspaper, with a woman and child standing behind him — which also depicts Culver, along with his family. We can thank this visionary for Culver City’s beginnings as well as hotelier Mallick for bringing this grande dame back to life, keeping jazz alive, providing a great L.A. welcome to visitors and locals alike and keeping the home fi res burning for Culver, who must be resting peacefully.||||

CULVER CITY TURNS 100!

Culver City’s centennial celebrations start in September and run throughout the year, culminating on Oct. 1, 2017, with a big closing gala on the Sony Pictures Studios lot.

Mayor Jim Clarke is the main force behind the events, and the Culver Hotel’s Seth Horowitz notes that there will be “thousands of events during the year.” Centennial tie-ins include Mother’s Day weekend festivities, the annual Culver City Car Show in May, the Fiesta La Ballona music festival in Veterans Park from Aug. 26 to 28 and the Screenland 5K: “The Race of the Century,” on Feb. 26, 2017.

The Culver Hotel will be part of the kick-off event on Sept. 24 from 9:30 to 4 p.m. when the public is invited to an opening ceremony with mayors of Culver City’s four sister cities around the world, followed by a community parade and a downtown Culver City block party; the hotel will host an invite-only luncheon in the Grand Lobby for city and Sister City officials and other VIPs. Then on Jan. 22, 2017, the Culver will host a birthday luncheon for city and hotel founder Harry Culver.

The Culver Hotel is located at 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City. Nightly rates range from $289 to $589. Call (310) 558-9400 or visit culverhotel.com.

Visit CulverCity100.org and CulverHotel.com for updates.---L.A.W. 06.16 | ARROYO | 17

ARROYO

HOME & DESIGN

PHOTO: Courtesy of Garden View Landscape, Nursery & Pools

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

DESIGNING THE OUTDOORS WITH YOU IN MIND There are many rules for creating outdoor space.

But only y one rule really counts…

BY BRUCE HARING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS THE LAND OF THE ENDLESS SUMMER, ACCORDING TO THE MYTHOLOGY WE’VE CREATED ABOUT THE PLACE WE CALL HOME. AS A RESULT, IT’S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL WHEN THE CALENDAR TURNS TO JUNE. Sure, it’s slightly warmer and less moist, making outdoor living a true joy.

But there are 80 degree days in January and February here in the Southland, which is why many people have homes that feature seamless transitions between indoor living and the great outdoors.

One of the biggest trends in Southern California over the past decade is the transformation of outdoor spaces into true adjuncts to the interior home living space. No longer is plastic patio furniture and a portable grill the only furniture allowed.

These days, it’s not unusual for a home to have wide sliding doors that stay open most of the time, allowing easy access to the backyard.

It’s also increasingly likely that the outdoor patio has many of the features of the living room – over-stuffed furniture, hi-def televisions

and music players, restaurant-quality kitchens and grills, silky fabrics providing sun screening and decoration.

All of them combine to make outdoor living a true joy, and many families spend a good deal of the next few months enjoying the extra space and inviting fresh air.

If you’re considering a remodel of your outdoor living space, or simply want to freshen up an existing design that’s grown a bit stale, there’s no time like today to get started. There are any number of ways to transform the outdoor living area into a relaxing, comforting and enjoyable space that will become the heart of the home in short order.

PRIVACY, EASY ACCESS Tim J. Gilliam is the head of Teak Master, a Pasadena exterior wood restoration firm. Although it started as a company that specialized in preserving and restoring teak furniture, it has since expanded its service into all types of exterior wood refurbishing, including decks, siding, –continued on page 20

18 | ARROYO | 06.16

06.16 | ARROYO | 19

PHOTO: Courtesy of Teak Master

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

–continued from page 18

pergolas, garage doors and even homes.

Naturally, spending that much time examining the impact of the outdoors creates strong opinions on what works in your living space.

Gilliam is a strong advocate of making sure that the design isn’t overly complex.

“Our clients value privacy and ease of use,” says Gilliam, reflecting on outdoor living. “They like to feel that they are in a living space where they can be free to enjoy the fruits of their labor and do so easily.”

His biggest advice: make sure that you understand who will be using the space and how they will be using it.

“There can be lots of no-no’s when it comes to safety,” Gilliam says. “You always have to think about who will be using the space and how often. You always want to make sure people don’t have to extend themselves too much to use the space.”

Although he deals in wood products, Gilliam isn’t a traditionalist when it comes to adding electronic gear to outdoor living. “I particularly like the fact that you can pop on the big game or entertain for fight night,” he says. “You can also turn your space into a dance party or karaoke club in a matter of seconds if that’s what you and you guests want to enjoy.” Or there’s a quieter alternative: “You can always turn off the devices and enjoy a cool calm night around a fire pit.”

A nice outdoor living space can add unlimited value, Gilliam says.

“If we are talking about quality of life and value, then it can add tons.”

Mark Meahl, President of Garden View Landscaping, Nursery & Pools, says Pasadena area residents like to create a “backyard living room” feel to what they design.

“Their friends and people on TV have done it, and there are people like us who can show them what they can have,” says Meahl.

His ideal outdoor space allows a range of activities, “from dining, to enjoying drinks around a fire pit while sitting in comfortable chairs, or having an area with sofas and chairs to watch TV or do anything you would do in your living room.”

Meahl says privacy is “always a consideration.” To create that condition, he advocates using large hedges to block out views from higher elevations in the next-door house. “Even more important is using some soothing ambient water noise from a fountain or waterfall. Even –continued on page 23 20 | ARROYO | 06.16

06.16 | ARROYO | 21

22 | ARROYO | 06.16

PHOTO: Courtesy of Garden View Landscape, Nursery & Pools

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

–continued from page 20

if your voices are heard, what you’re saying cannot be deciphered.”

Planning, planning, planning should go into creating the outdoor living space, Meahl says.

Keep in mind human nature - no matter where you place your grill, guests will want to gather ‘round and remind the cook that the sausages are burning. The grill will always be a big focal point of any gathering, so make sure there is plenty of elbow room. Keep a clear path to the kitchen, as transporting trays laden with meats and vegetables for grilling is sure to be an issue at some point, particularly for smaller people with lesser upper-body strength and a lot of friends.

–continued on page 25

06.16 | ARROYO | 23

24 | ARROYO | 06.16

—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

–continued from page 23

“Do not put the outdoor living room where it is inconvenient to get to,” says Meahl. “And try not to block views to the yard and pool with furniture.”

Of course, the furniture you have in your outdoor space will be a key to how enjoyable it is to spend a lot of time in the area.

Uncomfortable, stained, mildewed or wet furniture is a turn-off, and it may send guests scurrying home or, worse, back into the interior of the house.

Make sure you plan for who you anticipate to use the area. Soft, cushiony sofas are nice, but if grandma or grandpa sink too deep and have trouble getting up, they won’t want to spend a lot of time out there. Similarly, make sure your seating is sturdy. Large individuals may look askance at fragile seats, preferring to stand rather than chance accidentally destroying something.

The rules of the seating area remain the same whether outdoors or indoors. Create a conversation pit by angling seats toward each other, making cross-conversation easier. Have multiple seating areas so your guests can break off for more intimate discussions. And certainly make sure there’s enough room for people to get up and walk between the indoors and outdoors without having to navigate legs, tables and other obstacles.

Whatever your choices, remember that designing your outdoor space ultimately is personal. Don’t feel you have to follow every rule.

If you and your family enjoy what you’ve created, then it’s truly the perfect space.||||

06.16 | ARROYO | 25

26 | ARROYO | 06.16

arroyo

™

~HOM E SALES I N D EX~

ALHAMBRA ALHAMBRA (NEW) Homes Homes Sold Sold Median Price Median Price Median Sq. Ft. Ft. Median Sq. 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.

APRIL ’15 ’15 APRIL N/A n/a N/A n/a N/A n/a APRIL ’15 42 $605,000 1557 APRIL ’15 32 $1,095,250 2010 APRIL ’15 18 $732,500 1450 APRIL ’15 119 $675,000 1591 APRIL ’15 27 $1,670,000 2360 APRIL ’15 164 $685,000 1521 APRIL ’15 7 $2,500,000 2733 APRIL ’15 12 $949,000 1914 APRIL ’15 14 $970,250 1645 APRIL ’15 435 $557

2016 HOMES SOLD

+7.72%

2015

437

AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.

april

HOMES SOLD

+0.46%

april

435

HOME SALES

APRIL ’16 APRIL’16 45 $523,000 $498,750 1374 1320 APRIL ’16 45 $700,000 1624 APRIL ’16 39 $990,000 1900 APRIL ’16 19 $795,000 1551 APRIL ’16 108 $731,500 1562 APRIL ’16 27 $1,850,000 2529 APRIL ’16 145 $735,000 1528 APRIL ’16 23 $3,050,000 2985 APRIL ’16 11 $901,000 1604 APRIL ’16 20 $1,112,500 1645 APRIL ’16 437 $600

HOME SALES ABOVE

RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT ADDRESS ALHAMBRA 2711 West Hellman Ave. ALTADENA 2920 Zane Grey Terrace 1675 Braeburn Road 3925 Lilac Canyon Lane 1541 Homewood Drive 1255 Morada Place 3912 Chapman Court 3430 Ellington Villa Drive 2391 Catherine Road 3561 Giddings Ranch Road 2338 Midwick Drive ARCADIA 2108 South 2nd Ave. 1410 Rancho Road 1041 West Foothill Blvd.

24 Woodland Lane 1300 Oak Meadow Road 1228 Magnolia Court 1741 North Santa Anita Ave. 2012 Highland Oaks Drive 2203 Canyon Road 1860 Alta Oaks Drive 2225 Cielo Place 2200 Highland Oaks Drive 132 East Arthur Ave. 1636 La Ramada Ave. 2052 Highland Oaks Drive 1608 South Santa Anita Ave. 1821 South 7th Ave. 1303 South 8th Ave. EAGLE ROCK 4622 Loleta Ave. GLENDALE 2535 East Chevy Chase Drive 804 West Kenneth Road 3069 Country Club Drive 3643 Hampstead Road 2231 Hollister Terrace 1120 Sweetbriar Drive 544 East Lexington Drive 609 Benowe Scotia Road 1116 Don Jose Drive 3186 Emerald Isle Drive 636 Fischer Street 3333 Country Club Drive 3454 Country Club Drive 3615 Mesa Lila Lane 1001 Crestview Ave. LA CAÑADA 4725 Hillard Ave. 645 Hillcrest Ave. 4105 Hampstead Road 431 Inverness Drive 4071 Dover Road 1100 Inverness Drive 4735 La Canada Blvd.

4947 Indianola Way 5075 Indianola Way 5284 La Canada Blvd.

5710 Ridge Court 728 Lynnhaven Lane

CLOSE DATE

PRICE

BDRMS.

SQ. FT.

source: CalREsource

YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE

PREV. SOLD

04/28/16

$1,725,000

7

3814

1931

$410,000

04/24/2002

04/15/16 04/26/16 04/26/16 04/22/16 04/21/16 04/29/16 04/13/16 04/29/16 04/15/16 04/19/16

$2,500,000 $1,915,000 $1,650,000 $1,500,000 $1,485,000 $1,438,000 $1,325,000 $1,311,000 $1,250,000 $1,160,000

4 4 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 4

4184 3222 3979 2457 2770 3832 2400 2469 2844 2212

1966 1929 2001 1956 1912 2001 1973 1929 1997 1949

$850,000 $605,000 $1,549,000 $955,000 $400,000 $935,000 $905,000 $1,160,000 $1,030,500 $950,000

08/11/2004 07/28/1999 04/01/2014 11/19/2013 06/23/1988 10/03/2003 09/01/2004 07/26/2013 12/18/2013 04/23/2013

04/29/16 04/18/16 04/20/16 04/21/16 04/07/16 04/12/16 04/15/16 04/13/16 04/20/16 04/28/16 04/18/16 04/13/16 04/12/16 04/27/16 04/29/16 04/14/16 04/12/16 04/25/16

$3,160,000 $2,800,000 $2,398,000 $2,360,000 $2,075,000 $1,900,000 $1,850,000 $1,763,000 $1,755,000 $1,688,000 $1,406,000 $1,398,000 $1,350,000 $1,287,000 $1,267,000 $1,138,000 $1,122,000 $1,100,000

2 4 4 3 3 5 2 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 5 4 5

1452 3222 4562 3431 2435 4080 1423 3188 2579 2696 2829 2510 2927 2517 2485 2135 2132 2119

1949 1941 1941 1941 1948 2011 1952 1958 1959 1952 1975 1960 1969 1953 1955 1917 1950 1912

$888,000

12/28/2012

$2,600,000 $400,000 $1,800,000 $1,715,000 $900,000

10/06/2014 01/29/1980 10/01/2013 09/26/2012 09/30/2014

$450,000 $460,000 $550,000 $380,000 $358,000 $1,165,000

03/17/1995 10/01/1993 05/16/2000 05/30/1986 02/01/1995 10/03/2014

$94,000 $665,000

12/16/1977 03/04/2005

04/19/16

$1,120,000

2

1652

1928

$877,000

05/05/2015

04/20/16 04/21/16 04/05/16 04/20/16 04/01/16 04/27/16 04/19/16 04/05/16 04/26/16 04/18/16 04/08/16 04/01/16 04/15/16 05/02/16 04/19/16

$2,335,000 $2,100,000 $1,850,000 $1,840,000 $1,699,000 $1,599,000 $1,297,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,220,000 $1,200,000 $1,195,000 $1,150,000 $1,130,000 $1,100,000

5 5 3 8 5 4 8 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 3

3281 5830 3230 5300 5221 2944 4623 2377 2508 2837 2121 3136 4029 2492 2163

1926 1928 1950 1979 1937 1972 1971 1964 1933 1979 1923 1965 1987 1966 1938

$415,000 $1,700,000 $700,000 $1,033,500 $408,000 $1,005,000 $900,000 $170,000 $567,000 $585,000 $637,500 $430,000 $1,050,000

08/12/1997 06/09/2014 12/04/2001 03/18/2015 09/24/1999 07/23/2015 06/22/2015 03/15/1979 11/12/2013 11/19/1999 04/18/2002 04/11/1989 09/13/2007

04/08/16 04/29/16 04/14/16 04/15/16 05/02/16 04/13/16 04/08/16 04/06/16 04/22/16 04/28/16 04/12/16 04/11/16

$3,600,000 $3,200,000 $2,750,000 $2,744,500 $2,700,000 $2,520,000 $2,375,000 $2,295,000 $2,205,000 $2,068,000 $2,040,000 $1,925,000

5 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4

4876 4903 4290 2782 3911 3776 2335 3343 3574 2972 2182 3208

2001 1957 1948 1954 1947 1952 1952 1948 1981 1957 1997 1950

$2,300,000 $550,000

07/22/2003 05/04/1983

$739,000 01/06/1999 $1,500,000 10/30/2001 $2,390,000 09/09/2014 $995,000 05/29/2015 $500,000 01/05/1990 $1,785,000 07/09/2010 $995,000 06/28/2002 $1,650,000 01/14/2009 $803,000 04/24/2003 –continued on page 28

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, Arcadia and Alhambra. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2016. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.

06.16 ARROYO | 27

–continued from page 27 ADDRESS CLOSE DATE LA CAÑADA 4925 Angeles Crest Highway 04/29/16 520 Meadowview Drive 04/05/16 4243 Woodleigh Lane 04/15/16 349 Santa Inez Way 04/06/16 5102 Jarvis Ave. 04/19/16 817 Chehalem Road 04/05/16 2211 Canalda Drive 04/29/16 328 Mellow Lane 04/22/16 4923 Alminar Ave. 04/07/16 4820 Carmel Road 04/05/16 4804 Hampton Road 04/19/16 4839 La Canada Blvd.

04/14/16 PASADENA 1717 Sierra Madre Villa Ave. 04/20/16 153 Sierra View Road 04/19/16 250 North San Rafael Ave. 04/14/16 124 Backus Ave. 04/20/16 112 South Orange Grove Blvd. #31004/25/16 367 West Del Mar Blvd. #106 04/05/16 112 South Orange Grove Blvd. #30804/22/16 515 South Orange Grove Blvd. #30004/01/16 1280 Afton Street 04/26/16 1205 South Oak Knoll Ave. 04/27/16 830 Laguna Road 04/19/16 3760 Hampton Road 04/12/16 1114 Heatherside Road 04/27/16 3335 Trevan Road 04/18/16 685 Linda Vista Ave. 04/19/16 918 South San Gabriel Blvd.

04/28/16 1546 Rose Villa Street 04/07/16 3785 Ranch Top Road 04/14/16 211 South Orange Grove Blvd. #9 04/21/16 884 South Marengo Ave. 04/11/16 250 South De Lacey Ave. #302A 04/28/16 1750 East Mountain Street 04/26/16 3784 Sycamore Street 04/08/16 1338 Glen Oaks Blvd.

04/08/16 295 Glenullen Drive 04/26/16 1353 Lida Street 04/15/16 155 Cordova Street #101 04/12/16 494 Woodward Blvd.

04/18/16 139 South Los Robles Ave. 04/22/16 2915 Clarmeya Lane 04/06/16 3621 Yorkshire Road 04/22/16 445 South Santa Anita Ave. 04/20/16 2925 Thorndike Road 04/26/16 SAN MARINO 1925 Lombardy Road 04/20/16 1450 Old Mill Road 04/14/16 1040 Oak Grove Ave. 04/19/16 2134 South Oak Knoll Ave. 04/29/16 1265 Winston Ave. 04/19/16 1486 Wembley Road 04/15/16 1560 Old Mill Road 04/12/16 2245 Ashbourne Drive 04/08/16 1000 San Marino Ave. 04/14/16 2198 Melville Drive 04/19/16 2350 Montecito Drive 04/19/16 2250 Huntley Circle 04/25/16 1711 Euston Road 04/29/16 1715 Durklyn Court 04/28/16 1766 Windsor Road 04/06/16 1864 Windsor Road 05/03/16 965 Winston Ave. 04/12/16 535 Bonita Ave. 04/27/16 2915 Woodlawn Ave. 04/12/16 2151 Lorain Road 04/08/16 1301 San Marino Ave. 04/14/16 2968 Gainsborough Drive 04/14/16 1964 San Salvatore Place 05/02/16 SIERRA MADRE 139 West Bonita Ave. 04/29/16 521 Key Vista Drive 04/25/16 444 North Lima Street 04/13/16 SOUTH PASADENA 1215 Garfield Ave. 04/04/16 305 Hermosa Street 04/04/16 402 Fairview Ave. 04/15/16 804 Milan Ave. 04/14/16 243 Los Laureles Street 04/06/16 634 Forest Ave. 04/12/16 1234 El Cerrito Circle 04/27/16 1811 Diamond Ave. 04/15/16 1415 Santa Teresa Street 04/27/16 1125 Avon Place 04/11/16 28 | ARROYO | 06.16

PRICE

BDRMS.

SQ. FT.

YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE

PREV. SOLD

$1,880,000 $1,850,000 $1,700,000 $1,675,000 $1,650,000 $1,510,000 $1,450,000 $1,430,000 $1,400,000 $1,360,000 $1,125,000 $1,110,000

5 5 2 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 3

3304 3059 2336 2529 2161 1866 2309 1722 2552 2406 1872 1255

2008 1963 1963 2002 1950 1958 1959 1956 1947 1947 1952 1953

$1,375,000 $1,500,000

10/21/2010 08/31/2007

$110,000

03/15/1977

$564,000 $1,098,000 $338,000 $995,000

05/18/1999 01/04/2013 03/28/1997 11/28/2012

$3,425,000 $2,550,000 $2,500,000 $2,350,000 $2,260,000 $2,064,000 $2,041,500 $1,950,000 $1,950,000 $1,855,000 $1,836,000 $1,701,000 $1,605,000 $1,600,000 $1,572,000 $1,540,000 $1,500,000 $1,490,000 $1,488,000 $1,450,000 $1,439,000 $1,425,000 $1,340,000 $1,300,000 $1,295,000 $1,280,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,190,000 $1,189,000 $1,165,000 $1,150,000 $1,132,000

6 5 3 2 0 3 0 3 4 4 3 3 2 2 3 4 4 3 2 3 4 5 3 3 3 2 3 3 0 3 3 3 3

6727 4488 3353 1488 0 3460 0 3141 2573 3263 2744 1943 2332 1954 1856 2012 2712 2238 2311 1264 2210 3157 3022 1646 1719 1520 1930 2094 3250 2290 2178 1845 1600

1980 1935 1954 1926

$3,150,000 $509,000 $775,000 $2,930,000

04/22/2005 04/03/1997 08/07/1996 11/09/2007

1988 1924 1955 1948 1947 1960 1949 1949 1951 1924 1960 1975 1912 2007 1926 1936 1953 1952 1941 2010 1937 1927 1954 1950 1927 1951

$1,465,000 $947,730 $242,000 $870,000

12/11/2013 05/22/2003 07/30/1985 04/11/2012

$292,500 $1,475,000 $1,235,000

04/18/1995 06/13/2013 10/30/2014

$998,000 $1,328,000

10/08/2015 06/12/2014

$1,250,000 $179,500 $1,050,000

10/29/2010 08/30/1984 09/21/2015

$893,000 $558,000 $1,200,000

10/26/2015 01/17/2003 02/22/2012

$905,000 $480,000 $1,035,000 $835,000

03/04/2013 05/07/1999 08/28/2007 11/12/2015

$6,500,000 $6,080,000 $5,800,000 $4,300,000 $4,200,000 $3,700,000 $3,518,000 $3,495,000 $3,331,000 $3,250,000 $3,200,000 $3,050,000 $3,000,000 $2,730,000 $2,725,000 $2,265,500 $2,250,000 $2,010,000 $1,850,000 $1,760,000 $1,750,000 $1,600,000 $1,500,000

5 6 6 4 4 4 3 4 3 2 4 5 4 4 5 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3

5128 4709 4571 3971 4328 2985 2637 4101 2994 2807 3889 3566 3176 2929 3206 2538 2839 2362 2199 2244 2101 1813 1431

1939 1951 1955 1948 1949 1947 1947 1938 1950 1938 1972 1950 1976 1959 1930 1927 1963 1916 1937 1939 1948 1939 1941

$115,000 $2,990,000 $4,200,000

12/08/1969 07/22/2013 10/23/2012

$2,579,000

03/04/2014

$1,050,000 $1,160,000 $2,100,000 $3,000,000 $1,025,000 $199,000 $1,620,000 $89,500 $600,000 $998,000 $1,650,000

11/06/2002 08/10/2001 09/13/2013 07/02/2012 06/08/2001 04/15/1977 12/18/2009 04/21/1976 11/03/1992 09/16/2002 03/12/2013

$531,000

07/29/1998

$1,321,000 $1,200,000 $1,100,000

5 5 3

3442 2166 1378

1924 1965 1948

$1,260,000 $849,000

08/21/2014 01/25/2005

$4,230,000 $3,589,000 $3,400,000 $2,117,000 $1,600,000 $1,550,000 $1,405,000 $1,360,000 $1,268,000 $1,165,000

4 5 0 5 3 1 3 2 4 3

3574 6536 0 2517 2263 672 1828 1456 2886 1584

1926 1991

$295,000 $2,000,000 $222,600 $415,000 $1,218,000 $575,000 $985,000 $589,000 $441,000 $430,500

02/05/1979 07/15/2003 03/02/2000 11/22/1995 01/18/2006 02/28/2014 05/21/2004 04/02/2003 05/21/1992 06/27/2003

2014

1970 1965 1948 1928 1923 1965 1924

BELLA

GUATEMALA A La Cañada Flintridge–based entrepreneur is introducing her beautiful native country to travelers, as democratic Guatemala grows its budding luxury tourism industry.

STORY BY IRENE LACHER | PHOTOS BY BRENT WINEBRENNER

ELSIE YIDONOY WAS ONLY 13 WHEN HER FAMILY MOVED TO LOS ANGELES FROM GUATEMALA CITY. AT THE TIME, HER NATIVE COUNTRY WAS WRACKED BY A BLOODY CIVIL WAR REMINISCENT OF SYRIA’S CURRENT TROUBLES. FOR 36 YEARS, GUATEMALA’S DICTATORSHIPS MASSACRED THEIR OWN PEOPLE AND COMMITTED NUMEROUS WAR CRIMES, ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. In 1995, shortly before peace was fi nally brokered by the United Nations, YiDonoy went back to see whether Guatemala was ready to receive tourists — the longtime La Caňada Flintridge resident wanted to wake up the world to her country’s vast cultural and ecological riches, which had been overlooked during the war years. “When I talked to all the other mothers in La Caňada, everybody had been to Costa Rica, but nobody had been to Guatemala except the housekeepers. So I decided I wanted to show the world that Guatemala has the same things that Costa Rica had — the beauty of the land is the same — but we also have the Mayan culture, which makes us more interesting.”

06.16 | ARROYO | 29

–continued on page 30

Lake Atitlán shimmers in the distance.

–continued from page 29

Elsie YiDonoy shopping for brightly hued huipils at the San Juan La Laguna women’s collective.

Trekking Pacaya’s volcanic moonscape

Indeed, Guatemala was at the heart of Mayan civilization, and archaeologists have still only scratched the surface of its rich stores of ruins. The country is also wealthy in biodiversity, a naturalist’s paradise with 14 ecoregions, from wetlands to mangrove forests, which are home to more than 1,200 animal species and close to 8,700 vascular plant species.

But when YiDonoy returned in 1995, the country still had an unsettling military presence and she concluded that it wasn’t ready for its close-up. Guatemala did go on to enjoy economic growth under the new democratically elected government (which recently dealt with a high-level corruption scandal). And as the years went by, stunning upscale hotels and restaurants began dotting the areas that attract tourists, like the charming village of Antigua and the spectacular Lake Atitlán.

By 2004, YiDonoy decided it was time to start her company, Bella Guatemala Travel, and she began scouring the country for safe, luxurious hotels and eco-lodges for her clients. “I didn’t want to sell anything until I traveled the country and checked the hotels,” says the soft-spoken and warm YiDonoy. Five years later, she met the two exceptional tour guides she still works with: José Antonio González, a research archaeologist with decades of experience leading tours, and Emilio Faillace, a naturalist and environmentalist. Then in 2009, she began selling tours; they now number four a year, catering to seekers of adventure, culture and nature travel. Some trips are pegged to colorful local celebrations, like the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and All Saints’ Day Kite Festival on Nov. 1, when locals converge on cemeteries around the country to party with their ancestors and fly elaborate kites trailing messages for their loved ones. Next year, she plans to expand her offerings to one a month.

While the U.S. State Department still urges Americans visiting Guatemala to proceed with caution, YiDonoy says she has never encountered danger on her trips. Bella Guatemala steers clear of the Mexican border, a hotspot for drug smuggling and violence, and benefits from insider info on the best and safest places to visit (not to mention from the presence of the two burly guides).

Here are some highlights of Bella Guatemala’s tours to UNESCO World Heritage Sites: ANTIGUA Fans of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico (where Americans have flocked since World War II) will be equally enchanted by Antigua, a small cosmopolitan city with Spanish Colonial and baroque architecture, 15 miles from the capital of Guatemala City. Founded in 1543 by conquistadors, Antigua (then known as Santiago de los Caballeros) was the colonial capital of Central America for the next 200 years. With 30 monastic orders, the city built monasteries, convents and churches, but many have been damaged by centuries of seismic activity. Check out the intricate Cathedral de Santiago overlooking the Parque Central and the San Francisco Church on First Street, one of Antigua’s oldest churches, which holds the tomb of Central America’s first saint, hospital founder Hermano Pedro.

Antigua is surrounded by volcanos wreathed in clouds, and more adventurous souls will want to visit Pacaya, an active complex volcano near the city, which has erupted 23 times since the Spanish invasion of Guatemala. As its elevation tops 8,000 feet, you’ll want to make the steep climb on horseback, before exploring the slippery inactive volcanic moonscape below the peak. Also nearby is the Filadelfia Coffee Resort, a vast plantation that offers tours of its coffee-growing and -roasting activities. The more daring can go ziplining a half-hour drive away.

Back in town, the country’s most popular tourist destination boasts such comforting amenities as Internet cafes, nightclubs, restaurants, art galleries and Spanish-language

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schools. But one thing you won’t find back home is the must-see Chocolate Museum, where chocolate-growing and -manufacturing processes are explained and you can take home delicious treats you pour into molds. Not to bury the lead, but some consider Guatemalan chocolate among the world’s best; that shouldn’t be surprising considering that the sublime substance, worshipped by the ancient Mayans as “the food of the gods,” originated in Central America. Guatemalan chocolate is grainier than its European counterparts but has an arguably richer flavor.

One of Elsie’s favorite Antigua hotels is the lushly appointed 100-room Camino Real Antigua, which could easily be mistaken for a landmark dating back to colonial days — even though it’s only five years old. Don’t miss the nearly endless breakfast buffet of indigenous dishes and Western classics.

Guatemalan chocolate is among the world’s best.

A young woman toting colorful kites at the All Saints’ Day Kite Festival

LAKE ATITLÁN This is a stunning, thousand-foot-deep volcanic lake in the Western Highlands, a threehour drive from Guatemala City. It’s ringed by Mayan villages, where you can find excellent handicrafts — textiles, blankets, masks, leather goods, paintings and more. The usual arrival point is the busy village of Panajachel, where you can pick up boats to other villages, such as San Juan La Laguna, a less-visited spot that’s home to a women’s collective. The women demonstrate dying cotton thread using botanicals and weave colorful huipils (traditional embroidered tops), pants, placemats, bags and much more.

One of the Lake Atitlán hotels on Elsie’s tours is Relais & Châteaux’s Casa Palopó, a global art–fi lled luxury boutique hotel high up in the surrounding hills. With seven rooms and a two-bedroom villa, the hotel describes its décor as “modern rustic,” although its brand of rustic style doesn’t exclude Frette linens and L’Occitane toiletries.

TIKAL To get to the ancient sacred city of Tikal, you take a 50-minute fl ight from Guatemala City to the lush tropical rainforests of Petén Province in northern Guatemala. Tikal was the steamy capital of one of the Mayas’ most powerful kingdoms during the Classic Period (200 to 900 A.D.), ruled by a dynasty of 33 rulers. At its height, some 100,000 people lived among its 3,000 palaces, temples, monuments, homes, Mesoamerican ballgame courts and jail. The Guatemalan government has worked with the University of Pennsylvania to restore the ruins in this national park and there’s a lot to see — José Antonio and Emilio really shine here — but most of Tikal is still buried, leaving plenty more for archaeologists to uncover. (The site may look familiar to Star Wars fans: Tikal doubled as the rebel base on the jungle moon Yavin 4 in Episode 4: A New Hope [1977]; director George Lucas fi lmed Tikal Plaza from the top of Temple 14.)

Elsie’s hotel of choice near Tikal is Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel in a 200-acre wildlife preserve (including the not-to-be-missed Monkey Island), built by a Guatemalan businessman who left behind trophy hunting as he evolved into a strong environmentalist.

(You can still see his trophies and Central American antiques at the private museum there.) The hotel has 19 large suites with individual hot tubs in private porches overlooking the Quexil Lagoon. Its Shultun Restaurant, with a 180-degree view of the lagoon, offers fine international and local cuisine made from local ingredients.|||| Bella Guatemala Travel tours are all-inclusive down to taxes, tips and a donation supporting sustainability in this still-struggling country (although alcoholic beverages are on your dime). Tour packages range in cost from $2,795 for the 10-day “Practice Spanish Tour” to $4,995 for 12 days including Easter week. Prices are per person, double occupancy. Call (818) 669-8435 or visit bellaguatemalatravel.com.

06.16 | ARROYO | 31

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THE

MADWOMAN COMES HOME Sandra Tsing Loh makes her Pasadena Playhouse mainstage debut with her sharp new autobiographical show about the “Triple M” generation — middle-aged, menopausal moms.

BY KATHLEEN KELLEHER

THE PHONE RINGS, AND SANDRA TSING LOH LEAPS FROM HER CHAIR, SAYING SHE HAS TO GET THE CALL BECAUSE HER TEENAGE DAUGHTERS ARE “ROAMING” AND, WELL, ONE NEVER KNOWS. THE CALL IS NOT FROM HER DAUGHTERS, AS IT TURNS OUT, BUT FOR THAT MOMENT AT HER COZY, SPACIOUS, WARM-HUED VICTORIAN HOUSE IN PASADENA, LOH IS SIMPLY THE MOM NEXT DOOR, BOTH OMNIPRESENT MATERNAL

PHOTO: Jim Cox

FORCE AND EVER-READY WORKING WOMAN. Strangely, this is whom Loh initially thought she’d represent — the middle-aged, menopausal mom next door (“the Triple M Generation,” she quips) in her critically acclaimed new play, The Madwoman in the Volvo. Adapted from Loh’s 2014 memoir, The Madwoman in the Volvo: My Year of Raging Hormones — one of The New York Times’ 100 Most Notable Books of 2014 — the play is coming to the Pasadena Playhouse from June 2 through June 26. It marks her debut on the mainstage of her historic hometown theater.

Madwoman had its world premiere in January at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, where tickets “sold out many, many nights,” according to SCR marketing and communications director Bil Schroeder. Directed

by Lisa Peterson, the play features Loh onstage with two other actresses, Caroline Aaron and Shannon Holt. It is a stark departure from Loh’s signature comedic onewoman shows.

“My fi rst hope was that I could create a Menopause the Musical, Vagina Monologues or Love, Loss and What I Wore,” said Loh, throwing out statistics like this one: more than half of all American women are over 45, and women 45 to 65 are America’s largest demographic. “You know, it is such a big demographic. If I could just do a funny play of three to five actresses reading from music stands where they say ‘hot –continued on page 34 06.16 | ARROYO | 33

Sandra Tsing Loh, Shannon Holt and Caroline Aaron in the world premiere of The Madwoman in the Volvo at South Coast Rep.

flashes,’ ‘night sweats,’ ‘chocolate,’ and there will be adult-like laughs and cheers. And then I can collect royalty checks at home.”

Luckily for theatergoers, that is not what happened.

Madwoman’s dramatic adaptation examines some of the saddest, darkest, most painful moments of Loh’s life — infidelity, divorce, depression, loss — contrasted with Loh’s hilarious intimations of her own Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride through the hellacious biological ravages of menopause.

The three-person play opens with Loh quoting from Dante’s Inferno: “Midway on our life’s journey, I found myself in dark woods, the right road lost.” She goes on: “It’s true that while Dante went to hell, I made my own hell in the form of a spectacular midlife blowup. While Dante had a guide, I didn’t — at least not at first.” The road found leads to Burning Man, where she and her longtime manager discovered they were crazy about each other, setting off a series of cataclysmic consequences, including divorce and temporary homelessness (that’s where the Volvo comes in). All this happens as Loh, then 46, approaches menopause with all manner of bodily havoc; as her friend cheerily puts it, “You’re out of eggs!”

Critics weighed in with high praise. “The Madwoman in the Volvo neither makes Loh a villain or a hero,” writes Los Angeles Times critic Charles McNulty, who named it a Critic’s Choice. “Irony comes naturally to her. But though she has plenty of fun at her own expense, the dominant impression is that of a woman feeling her way through her complicated and ever-shifting destiny.” Describing Loh as a combination of “the bouncy presence of a solo performance artist with the vulnerable wildness of a standup comic,” McNulty adds that the production is “a polished gem.”

The Orange County Register called the play “crazy good”; the OC Weekly likened Loh to that “chick in a private Facebook group for women who just will not stop sharing,” adding: “To Loh’s enviable credit, she is painfully honest about what transpires... And she peppers everything with laughs, whether it’s a dreary dinner at Hometown Buffet or a hilarious account of going to a Fourth of July party for divorced parents.”

Loh’s solo shows Off Broadway include Aliens in America and Bad Sex With Bud Kemp, and another of her New York Times’ Notable Books — Mother on Fire — inspired her hit solo show of the same name, which ran for seven months at the 24th Street Theatre near downtown L.A. Last year, she staged her solo comedy The B**** is Back: An All-Too Intimate Evening (adapted from Loh’s Atlantic essay of the same title) at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

But when Loh attempted to adapt the manuscript for The Madwoman in the Volvo for the stage, she wasn’t really sure what to do with it, she said. She took a five-year hiatus

34 | ARROYO | 06.16

from theater to recover from “blowing up my life,” then applied and was accepted into the Sundance Institute Theater Program in 2013. Loh partnered with director Peterson and dramaturge Janice Paran, who urged Loh to dig deep into the parts of the story she preferred to leave out, sections she thought would make her “unlikable.”

“Sundance has high artistic principle and they start asking these really difficult questions, so it became much more of a drama,” said Loh. “So it was dragged, kicking and screaming along the way, because it went against my natural instincts to be warm, funny and likeable. At one point, [the program’s producing artistic director] Philip Himberg said, ‘I read your book and, oh, I just didn’t like you in the couples’ therapy part. I just didn’t like you!’ And I said, ‘Fine, we will just leave that out.’ Then the dramaturge said, ‘Oh, you have to leave the couples’ therapy scene in!’ ” The couples’ therapy scene, said Loh, stands as one of the “high points of the play because my actresses are so good.” And at nearly 90 minutes long with no intermission, Loh said performing the play is as exhausting emotionally as it is physically. So she rested up in preparation for the intense performance schedule ahead.

It’s only fitting that Madwoman is up next in Pasadena. Loh is, after all, a Pasadena treasure of sorts. She’s a physics graduate of CalTech and broadcasts her well-loved weekly radio shows, The Loh Life and The Loh Down on Science, from KPCC’s Pasadena studios.

And it’s appropriate that the Pasadena Playhouse is Madwoman’s next stop. Loh performed her one-woman show Mother on Fire at its intimate Carrie Hamilton Theatre in 2006, but the new production will take over the main stage because “it has the scale and scope that make it ideal for a larger stage,” said Sheldon Epps, artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse.

“She is very connected to our community and all of Southern California, really,” Epps said. “Her work is always very, very smart and clever, and this show has a deeper emotional honesty. It is not afraid to walk in the darker spaces and darker emotional territory, more than she has in some of her one-woman shows.”

There is no question that social attitudes about women’s biological rhythms are changing, inspiring drug companies to launch female Viagra equivalents (to mixed reviews). Loh hopes that Madwoman is a disrupter, helping to dispatch clichés, constructs and antiquated ideas surrounding menopause, middle age and biology as destiny. The idea that once women’s fertile years are over, the rest of her life is over too, is history, and she hopes America’s 50 million menopausal women will seize the second half of their lives with a renewed sense of creative agency, freed of the chaos of fertility, as a chance for free-spirited reinvention. Loh will bring the coffee, chocolate, martinis and belly laughs.||||

PHOTO: Debora Robinson/SCR

–continued from page 33

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KITCHEN KIT K ITCH CHEN EN C CONFESSIONS CON ONFESSIO O NS

Roll Call of Melons A PRIMER ON SUMMER’S BOUNTY OF TOUGH-SKINNED, SWEET-FLESHED FRUITS OF THE VINE

BY LESLIE BILDERBACK

B

efore we were married, my husband and I frequented the San Francisco comedy scene of the 1980s. It was our idea of a hot date. Comedy was booming, and tons of great talent came through the City by the Bay. So many great moments stand out, but one in particular has become something of a family mystery. What is perhaps the funniest bit we have ever seen was performed by a comedian whose name we cannot remember. We have been periodically reciting excerpts from it for 30 years, but we have no idea who created it. Sadly, no amount of Googling has brought relief from what is clearly early-onset dementia.

I fear that we have built it up too much in our collective memory. The reason it does not exist on YouTube is because it probably isn’t as funny as we remember it.

But I’m going to explain it to you anyway. It was called the Roll Call of Melons, and it was literally a roll call. The comedian spoke in the voice of a British field officer and read off the names of his melon ranks, adding hilarious commentary about each melon’s state of readiness.

See, I told you. Not funny. I cannot explain it any better than that, and I certainly can’t perform it for anyone, because it is the British officer voice that really made it funny, and no one wants to hear me attempt that. The problem is, I cannot ever cook with, eat or discuss melons without thinking of this bit. And, unfortunately, we are entering peak melon season. So in an homage to this mystery bit, I offer you my own Roll Call of Melons — less funny, but more useful than the original.

Canary Th is melon’s smooth, bright canary-yellow skin conceals a white flesh that tastes like a more flavorful version of honeydew. Its color is unimpressive, but when ripe, the flavor more than compensates.

Cantaloupe Also known as muskmelon, its name comes from Cantalupo, a walled village in the Sabine Hills near Rome, where it gained popularity. But like all melons, it likely originated in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Middle East. The netted rind and sweet orange flesh are standard fare at Sunday brunch year-round.

But now — June through August — is when they are actually good.

Casaba Named for the former Turkish town of Kasaba (now Turgutlu), whence it was exported, this melon was one of the fi rst cultivated by Europeans in the New

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World. It has a greenish-yellow furrowed rind, and a green flesh that tastes like cucumber, which makes sense, because both melons and cucumbers (and squash) are in the same family (Cucurbitaceae). The Tuscan cantaloupe is similar in flavor but has a ribbed rind.

Crenshaw Th is melon is a hybrid of the casaba and Persian varieties. It has smooth yellow skin, bright salmon-colored flesh and a spicy-sweet flavor.

Galia Netted on the outside like a cantaloupe, but pale green on the inside like a honeydew, this melon is a hybrid of the two. But it’s sweeter, juicier and more aromatic than either. When ripe, the skin takes on a slight orange hue.

Gaya Th is melon comes in several varieties, but most common are the whiteand-green variegated ivory gaya and the dark-green chameleon gaya. They both have a white-to–pale orange flesh and are both very crisp. The flavors are reminiscent of mild bananas and pears.

Hami Also known as a Chinese muskmelon, it is oblong with sparsely netted skin and pale orange flesh. It is less sweet than a cantaloupe, but very crisp.

Honeydew Ubiquitous and disappointing, this melon finds its way into every fruit salad known to man. But there is a reason it is so overused — it’s always available and always sweet. In China it is known as the Wallace melon, because its seeds were brought to that country by Henry Wallace, one of FDR’s vice presidents and an agriculture expert. There is a yellow-skinned variety, aptly named golden honeydew, which has a slightly crisper texture.

Horned Also known as the kiwano, this alien-looking fruit has spiked orange skin and a seedy, gelatinous flesh. It has a tart, unripe banana flavor, which admittedly doesn’t sound good. But a little sugar and salt brings out a nice lemony cucumber essence. If you’re a Star Trek fan you’ll know it as the Golana melon from an episode of Deep Space Nine.

Korean Small and oblong, with bright orange stripes, this cute specimen has white flesh with a sweet flavor of honey and cucumber. Despite its name, it probably originated in India. The thin skin is frequently eaten along with the flesh and even seeds.

KITCHEN CONFESSIONS

Persian Th is melon looks a lot like an elongated cantaloupe, but its skin is covered in finer netting. The interior is orange like a cantaloupe, but it has a milder flavor. It is often confused with an Afghan melon, which is similar, but has sparse netting and much less sugar.

Santa Claus Th is variety is also called the Christmas melon because it is harvested late and can be kept until December if chilled. It has a green mottled skin and pale orange flesh that is mildly sweet.

Sharlyn The white flesh of this melon tastes like a blend of cantaloupe and honeydew. The flavor is less sweet than either of those, but it takes on a more floral aroma as it ripens. It is oblong with netted green-to-orange rind.

Sprite Th is small Japanese melon, about the size of a softball, has white-yellow skin and pale ivory flesh. It is very crisp and very sweet, with a hint of pear.

Watermelon Everyone knows what these are. They hardly bear mentioning, eπxcept to say that you can get them with yellow flesh, seedless flesh, mini-size, jumbo-size and, if you’re willing to pay, square-shaped. A Japanese graphic designer started that trend by growing them inside clear plastic cubes. The idea was that they fit better in small refrigerators. The square fruit has become more of a novelty though, at three to four times the price of a lowly round melon. More shapes have since been created, including hearts, pyramids and Mickey Mouse.

Once you choose your melon, you’ll have to decide what to do with it. Lots of melon recipes pop up this time of year. Dishes like melon gazpacho (basically just puréed melon), melon salsa (chopped melon), melon granita (frozen melon) and melon carpaccio (thinly sliced melon) are about as creative as melon recipes get.

My preferred preparation is simply melon chunks tossed with sea salt, ground black and pink peppercorns, a pinch of chile flakes and a squeeze of lime to enhance the melon’s sweetness. Melon also lends itself well to a drizzle of honey, a dollop of yogurt, a crumble of toasted nuts and a sprinkle of fresh mint.

After you have enjoyed the sweet flesh of a summer melon, don’t forget to save the rind for melon-rind pickles. A Southern treat, these tangy nuggets make terrific accompaniments to grilled meats and classic barbeque. ||||

Melon-Rind Pickles These pickles are made with the melon’s outer flesh, close to the skin. The tough outer skin is removed with a peeler, unless you’re using a melon with very thin, edible skin, such as a Korean melon. The pickling method used is fairly standard, but the addition of charred spices adds a layer of sophistication that plain, dry spices lack. Once you master this technique, try the same recipe with fresh fennel, rainbow carrots or radishes.

""

INGREDIENTS 4 cups of melon rind, skinned if necessary 1 cup water 1 cup cider vinegar 1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon sea salt 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger root 1 cinnamon stick 3 or 4 star anise

METHOD 1. Place melon rind in decorative jars or plastic containers with fitted lids.

2. In a small saucepan, combine water, vinegar, sugar, salt and ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar and salt are dissolved.

3. Using tongs, hold the cinnamon sticks, and then the star anise, over an open flame until they ignite.

Allow to burn for a few seconds, until charred, then drop them in the simmering pickling liquid.

Remove the liquid from the heat and pour it over the melon rinds. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 day.The texture will stay crisp for about a week. After a while, when you find they are too soft, add them to your favorite relish, chow-chow or chutney recipe.

Leslie Bilderback is a certified master baker, chef and the author of Mug Meals: More Than 100 No-Fuss Ways to Make a Delicious Microwave Meal in Minutes. She lives in South Pasadena and teaches her techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com.

06.16 | ARROYO | 37

38 | ARROYO | 06.16

THE LIST

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER Local Color by Merion Estes

Roses Highlighted at Huntington June 1 — Take a

A Cappella Gems from Master Chorale

private 9:30 a.m.

June 5 — The L.A.

tour of the Frances

Master Chorale

and Sidney Brody California Garden —

presents “Sonic Masterworks,” a 7 p.m.

the Huntington’s model for sustainable

concert of a cappella gems at Walt

landscape design — and view the

Disney Concert Hall. Led by Artistic Director

California native and dry-climate plants

Grant Gershon, the group performs works

there. Tickets cost $20 ($15 for members).

by Antonio Lotti, Gregorio Allegri, György

Visit huntington.org/calendar for tickets.

Legeti, Abbie Betinis (above), Anders

June 3 — “An Evening among the

Hillborg, Steven Stucky and others. Ticket

Roses,” an elegant soirée celebrating the

prices range from $29 to $119.

LGBT community’s contributions to the

Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111

Huntington, kicks off National Pride Month

S. Grand Ave., L.A. Call (213) 972-7282 or

from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $95 in

visit lamc.org.

advance only.

June 9, 11 — Thursday’s East Asian

Jazz, World Music Light Up Descanso Nights

Gardens Lecture Series explores the history

Descanso Gardens

Visit huntington.ticketleap.com/amongtheroses2016.

of the rose in China, from the Song Dynasty

hosts its annual

(960–1279) through the Qing Dynasty

summer music series, with World Rhythms

(1644–1911), led by horticulture professor

from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Music

Guoliang Wang, author of Old Roses in

on the Main jazz from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

China, starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission is

Thursdays June 7 through July 28. Free

free; no reservations required.

with Descanso admission of $9, $6 for

On June 11 at 2 p.m., Wang is honored

seniors and students and $4 for children

as the 15th Great Rosarian of the World

5 to 12; free for members and children

and gives an illustrated lecture on his most

NATURE NEUTERED? ASKS ART CENTER SHOW

under 5. Coming up:

June 11.

Ongoing through July 3 — The Art Center College of Design’s Urbanature

June 14 — Varimezov Family Band

Register at huntington.org/calendar.

exhibition, exploring the eroding boundaries between nature and city in an

performing Bulgarian music

June 11, 12, 18 and 19 — The Huntington’s

age of environmental change, crisis and impact, has been extended through

June 16 — Percussionist Louie Cruz Beltran

Bonsai Academy, led by Ted Matson, runs

July 3. The Williamson Gallery show was curated by artist and writer Constance

and his band play Latin jazz, R&B classics

four sessions for beginners from 10 a.m. to

Mallinson and features works by China Adams, Elizabeth Bryant, Laura Cooper,

and salsa.

4 p.m. The course explores bonsai history,

Nick Taggart, Merion Estes, Nancy Evans, Brian Forrest, James Griffith, Mallinson,

June 21 — The Armenian Dance Center

basic tree botany, horticultural challenges,

Ross Rudel, Fran Siegel, Linda Stark, Coleen Sterritt and Don Suggs.

June 23 — Danny Janklow, featuring the

design concepts, training techniques

Art Center College of Design is located at 1700 Lida St., Pasadena. Call (626) 396-

Sarah Reich Jazz Tap Project

and bonsai display. Supplies and tools

2200 or visit artcenter.edu.

June 28 — Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance

treasured finds among China’s heritage roses. Tickets, which cost $25, include a Chinese Garden reception the evening of June 10 and admission to the Huntington

are provided. The cost is $135 ($120 for

June 7 — Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts and Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble

June 9 — Jazz pianist and producer Billy Mitchell and his seven-piece orchestra

Company

members).

of Supervisors Advisory Committee’s

LAMP Mentor Program lunch benefit at the

June 30 — Betty Bryant performing bluesy

Visit huntington.org/calendar to register.

initiative aims at encouraging people

University Club of Pasadena. The 11:30 a.m.

tunes and Kansas City swing

The Huntington Library, Art Collections

from underrepresented communities to

event recognizes the accomplishments

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Des-

and Botanical Gardens is located at 1151

participate and lead in the arts. RSVP

of graduating high school seniors

canso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818)

Oxford Rd., San Marino. Call (626) 405-

recommended.

from underrepresented and minority

949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org.

2100 or visit huntington.org.

The Armory Center for the Arts is located

communities who have successfully

at 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Visit

participated in the program. Tickets cost

artsequityla.com to RSVP.

$125, and sponsorships are available for

Making Music in Pasadena

Input on Cultural Inclusion Wanted June 4 — The public is invited to

$325 to $5,000.

June 11 — The annual

The University Club of Pasadena is lo-

Make Music Pasadena

Equity and Inclusion Initiative from 10 a.m.

Luncheon Honors Student Success

cated at 175 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena.

festival spotlights 150

to noon at Pasadena’s Armory Center

June 5 — The

Visit lamp-mentor-luncheon.eventbrite.

performances in a wide variety of genres

for the Arts, one of a series of hearings

Gamma Zeta Boulé

com for tickets and gammazetaboule.

on five main stages and 30 more venues

around SoCal. The L.A. County Board

Foundation hosts its

org for information.

comment on the L.A. County Cultural

–continued on page 40 06.16 | ARROYO | 39

THE LIST

CELEBRATING CHALK ART June 18 and 19 — Sidewalk chalk artists from around the world converge on Paseo Colorado for the annual Pasadena Chalk Festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.The free event features live music, Kids’ Chalkland (face-painting goes from noon to 5 p.m. both days), Animation Alley, Chalk of Fame spotlighting movie posters and iconic movie scenes, an art gallery and a silent art auction.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday only, the annual Pasadena Police Classic Car Show takes over the Green Street side of the Paseo, with food booths, raffles and a police helicopter ride auction. An artists’ awards ceremony starts at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Paseo Colorado is located at 300 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Visit pasadenachalkfestival.com.

–continued from page 39

in downtown Pasadena from 11 a.m. to

Fridays. Campers sign up by the week. The

11 p.m. The free event is presented by the

cost is $300 per week ($275 for members).

Old Pasadena Management District and

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock is located

the Playhouse District Association.

at 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock. Call

Visit makemusicpasadena.org.

(323) 561-3044 or visit cfaer.org.

Array of Arts at Eagle Rock Camp June 13 through Aug.

Rabbi Retires from Homeless Help Role

12 — Kids ages 6 to

June 15 — Rabbi

12 can explore visual

(above) will be honored on his retirement

textile art and writing at Center for the Arts,

as CEO of Pasadena’s Union Station

Eagle Rock’s Summer Arts Camp. Local

Homeless Services. Gross, who has

contemporary artists combine art history,

headed the organization since 1995

play-based learning and their own studio

and led the agency through a period of

practices in a curriculum promoting artistic

unprecedented growth, will be feted at

expression and community. Camp runs

a 6:30 p.m. buffet reception at Brookside

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through 40 | ARROYO | 06.16

Marvin Gross

art, performance, sculpture, architecture,

–continued on page 42

06.16 | ARROYO | 41

THE LIST

–continued from page 40

Golf and Country Club. Tickets, available

an Animal Artistry Paint Party. The event

at unionstationhs.org, cost $40; the RSVP

starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25 ($22 for

deadline is June 1.

members of the Greater Los Angeles

Brookside Golf and Country Club is lo-

Zoo Association). Ticket prices include

cated at 1133 Rosemont Ave., Pasadena.

admission to the “Dinosaurs: Unextinct at

Visit unionstationhs.org.

the L.A. Zoo” exhibit.

The L.A. Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Dr.,

Sale Aids Art Education

Griffith Park. Call (323) 644-6042 or visit

June 18 — The free annual Art on Palm

lazoo.org/roaringnights.

juried show and sale takes place from

Park. Numerous artists will display their

Politicon Comes to Pasadena

ceramics, collage, glass, leather, metals,

June 25 and 26

mixed media, photography, print-making,

— Politicon: The

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Altadena’s Wildwood

textiles, watercolors and woodworking. The

Unconventional

dog- and child-friendly event includes a

Political Convention comes to the

performance by the folk-rock band Bullfish.

Pasadena Convention Center from 11 a.m.

A portion of the proceeds benefits the

to 9 p.m. both days. Look for a weekend

Creative Arts Group of Sierra Madre, which

of comedy, discussion panels, radio and TV

offers art experiences and education for

broadcasts, interviews, film screenings and

students of all ages.

other activities. Notables slated to appear

Wildwood Park is located at 1421 E. Palm

include former veep candidate Sarah

St., Altadena. Visit artonpalm.com.

Palin, former Mexican President Vicente Fox, Democratic political consultant James

Discover Nature at Descanso Summer Camp

Carville, former Texas state Senator Wendy

June 20 through

Boxer. Also expected are The Daily Show

July 1 — Descanso

comedians Roy Wood, Jr., and Desi Lydic, as

Davis, right-wing political commentator Anne Coulter and U.S. Sen. Barbara

Gardens partners with the Child

well as The Nightly Show stars Grace Parra

Educational Center for two weeklong

(above) and Jordon Carlos. ThinkProgress,

sessions of Descanso Discoveries Summer

the Latino Victory Project and National

Camp. Kids entering grades one through

Review are also scheduled to host events.

seven tend their own garden plot, prepare

Ticket prices range from $15 to $291.12.

healthy snacks in the outdoor kitchen and

The Pasadena Convention Center is lo-

investigate the wonders of the natural

cated at 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Visit

world through art- and science-based

politicon.com.

activities. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to

cost per child is $481 per week, and free

The Norton Simon’s Summer Garden Party

extended care is available.

June 25 — The Norton Simon Museum

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418

celebrates the start of summer with its

Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call

annual garden party from 5 to 8 p.m.

(818) 354-3418 or visit ceconline.org to

Guests can explore the Sculpture Garden,

register and descansogardens.org for

inspired by Monet’s garden at Giverny, and

information.

listen to live French-themed music. Visitors

3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The

are encouraged to sip Champagne, learn

42 | ARROYO | 06.16

Summer Nights Roar at L.A. Zoo

the art of tea blending and bring drawing

June 24 — The L.A. Zoo’s annual Roaring

supplies to sketch en plein air. Free with

Nights summer series features live music,

regular admission of $12 and $9 for seniors;

food, craft beer and an after-hours look

free for members, students and youth 18

at wildlife. The series, open to visitors 18

and younger.

and older, also includes a DJ dance

Norton Simon Museum is located at 411 W.

party, pop-up zookeeper talks, animal

Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 449-

encounters, visits to animal habitats and

6840 or visit nortonsimon.org. ||||

06.16 | ARROYO | 43

44 | ARROYO | 06.16