FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA MAY 2014
Design Pasadena 2014
The Post-Stainless Kitchen 10 Must-Have Gadgets to Make Your Home Smarter Showcase House Turns 50
arroyo VOLUME 10 | NUMBER 5 | MAY 2014
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DESIGN PASADENA 2014 12 THE PASADENA SHOWCASE STORY A celebration of 50 Years of beautifully redecorated estates. —By Noel Jeffrey
18 BETTER HOMES AND GADGETS Here’s the latest and greatest in luxury home technology. —By Tariq Kamal
41 WHITHER STAINLESS STEEL?
PHOTO, BOTTOM RIGHT: Leland Lee
Is there life after stainless steel appliances? Indeed there is, according to upscale retailers and interior designers. A look at the new looks for upscale kitchens. —By Bettijane Levine
DEPARTMENTS 11
FESTIVITIES L.A. Chamber Orchestra’s “Stradosphere” gala, A Song at Twilight opens at the Pasadena Playhouse
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ARROYO HOME SALES INDEX
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OBJECTS OF DESIRE Some best bets for furnishing Tomorrowland
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KITCHEN CONFESSIONS Raw oysters taste meh and look worse. So why bother?
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THE LIST L.A. WineFest, butterfly season at Kidspace, L.A. Master Chorale’s High School Choir Festival and more
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EDITOR’S NOTE
A CONFESSION: ONE OF MY SECRET PLEASURES IS WATCHING HGTV’S House Hunters because I’m fascinated by other people’s living spaces. (A shelter magazine editor once told me that publications like hers amounted to “girl porn.”) But there’s one constant refrain among said hunters that drives me insane. No matter where they are or what they’re looking at, everyone says they want “granite and stainless steel,” “granite and stainless steel…” There’s something very monkey-see-monkey-do about that, which probably accounts for their continuing popularity. But it also strikes me as an abdication of taste. (Okay, so my kitchen has stainless too. I can dream, can’t I?) Arroyo has already explored the fabulous options for kitchen counters other than granite, so for Design Pasadena 2014, we turn to ubiquitous stainless steel. Arroyo contributor Bettijane Levine spoke to design and retail folk to find out what else is cooking in luxury kitchen appliances. And since so much is about rapidly evolving tech these days, Tariq Kamal surveys the latest gadgets on the home front. How would you like a shower massage from six jets over a bench on which you recline? Or a toilet with a blow-dryer and prerecorded music? For those with the wherewithal to acquire a pizza oven used by Wolfgang Puck, life will never be the same. Finally, we’d like to congratulate the Pasadena Showcase House of the Arts on the golden 50th anniversary of the group’s Showcase House of Design, which has benefited the L.A. Philharmonic as well as other arts organizations and schools for many years. In this issue, we’ve excerpted a section on the event’s history from PSHA’s new coffee-table book commemorating the occasion. And don’t forget: The 2014 Showcase House runs through May 11. Visit Pasadenashowcase.org for information and tickets.
—Irene Lacher
EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kent Bancroft ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez PRODUCTION MANAGER Richard Garcia PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, Carmelita Reyes COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Samantha Bonar, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Carole Dixon, Lynne Heffley, Noela Hueso, Tariq Kamal, Kathy Kelleher, Rebecca Kuzins, Bettijane Levine, Elizabeth McMillian, Brenda Rees, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brenda Clarke, Joseluis Correa, Leslie Lamm ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Joanna Dehn Beresford ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Richard Garcia, Rochelle Bassarear HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker PAYROLL Linda Lam accounting Alysia Chavez, Kacie Sturek OFFICE ASSISTANT Ann Weathersbee PUBLISHER Jon Guynn 8 | ARROYO | 05.14
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 ©2014 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
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FESTIVITIES
Leslie Lassiter, Steve Block, LACO Composer in Residence Andrew Norman and Raulee Marcus
LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer, Jerry Kohl, Elizabeth Pitcairn (with her 1720 “Red Mendelssohn” Strad) and Terri Kohl ?????
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra glammed up its annual gala at downtown L.A.’s California Club on March 29 with rare mini-concerts showcasing
Violinists posed with Stradivarius violin “honorees”
eight Stradivarius violins, including the famous 1720 Red Mendelssohn featured in the Oscar-winning film The Red Violin (1998), which was played by its owner,
LACO Board Member Ann Mulally and LACO President Gene Shutler
Elizabeth Pitcairn. “Stradosphere: A Strad-Studded Gala Evening” capped “Stradfest L.A.,” four days of concerts from Pasadena to Santa Monica. The PHOTOS, Clockwise from top left: Lee Salem Photography (LACO); Earl Gibson (Pasadena Playhouse); Ed Krieger (AbilityFirst); courtesy of The Blue Ribbon of The Music Center
black-tie evening, co-chaired by Pat and Sandy Gage, also included dinner and silent and live auctions, raising $535,000 for the celebrated orchestra… On March 23, the Pasadena Playhouse unveiled its production of A Song at Twilight, one of Noel Coward’s final plays, starring Bruce Davison, Sharon Lawrence and Roxanne Hart… AbilityFirst’s April 12th Stroll & Walk on the Fifth grade students from McKinley School
Universal Studios Backlot drew 1,700 participants, including honorary chair leaders Jaclyn Smith and Lee Meriwether, and raised more than $500,000 for the Pasadena organization’s Claremont Center and Camp Paivika, helping disabled children and adults… Fifth-graders from Pasadena’s McKinley School danced on the Music Center Plaza in downtown L.A. as part of the 44th annual Blue Ribbon Children’s Festival on April 9. Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, Zach Bandler, Sharon Lawrence, Bruce Davison, Roxanne Hart, Art Manke and Elizabeth Doran
AbilityFirst’s Board of Directors, plus Jaclyn Smith and Lee Meriwether
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THE PASADENA SHOWCASE STORY
Celebrating 50 Years of Beautifully Redecorated Estates BY NOEL JEFFREY
TODAY’S PASADENA SHOWCASE HOUSE FOR THE ARTS STARTED LIFE AS THE PASADENA JUNIOR PHILHARMONIC COMMITTEE IN 1948. IN 1965, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF JOAN STEWART ANAWALT, THE JUNIOR PHILS ABANDONED THEIR TRADITIONAL CASINO NIGHT FUNDRAISERS FOR THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
2014 Showcase House, Salon Designer: John Cole Interior Design Photographer: Peter Valli
in favor of a new concept. They invited designer members of the American Institute of Interior Designers (AID), now known as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), to redo a mansion in San Marino, and then they opened it to the public for a fee for two weeks. It was wildly successful and raised some $10,000. The Showcase House was exactly that — a showcase for good design, unusual decorating ideas and new products in home furnishings. Property surrounding the homes became a showcase for the latest in landscape design. In addition, it became a showcase of community effort and cooperation — between designers, dealers and manufacturers, landscape architects and the able members of an active service group. In 1980, 16 years into Showcase Houses, Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith wrote, “As a believer in serendipity… I think the money they raise for the orchestra is not as important as the side effects. They have reminded us that we have an honorable architectural tradition here, despite the notion so cherished by Eastern journalists that Los Angeles, including Pasadena, is the capital of kitsch… they show us each year, that Los Angeles and especially Pasadena, have probably produced the best architecture in America.” –continued on page 15 05.14 ARROYO | 13
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1966, Sitting Room Designer: Cannell and Chaffin Photographer: George R. Szanik
1966, Breakfast Room Designer: L. Jarmin Roach Photographer: Tommy Mitchell
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GETTING STARTED: THE ’60S AND ’70S Outstanding interior design was a hallmark of the project from day one. In 1970 the Dunn-Edwards company began donating all of the paint used for the house. Today, a sample card in the program enables visitors to order those same colors from the company. Other current features that make Showcase an event — garden tours, the Restaurant at Showcase and the Shops at Showcase — took decades to evolve. Early efforts were very much a hands-on affair. For the first few years, at the end of the racing season, members themselves dug up the flowers at the Santa Anita Race Track, principally cyclamen and pansies, and replanted them around the Showcase. The owners of a local nursery also contributed to the landscaping. By the end of the 1970s, several nurseries and landscape architects were taking responsibility for exterior areas. Exterior workdays, which included husbands digging ditches, however, went on for years. At first, food was not sold, though complimentary coffee, doughnuts and cookies were included in the ticket price and tea was served in the afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. Later, members themselves made lunches to sell. Art sales, which eventually mushroomed into the Marketplace and then Shops at Showcase, was conceived early and by the end of these decades had added crafts to the art displayed for sale. After the second year, Junior Phil members realized that pre-selling tickets was essential to the project’s success, so members began selling tickets themselves, and a committee mailed out pre-purchased tickets. By the end of the ’70s, the project had grown large enough for the group to employ an accounting fi rm. –continued on page 17 05.14 ARROYO | 15
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–continued from page 21
1984, Teen’s Room Designers: Cheryll Wegge and Judy Kenyon Photographer: Leland Lee –continued from page 15
The Music Mobile for area schoolchildren was launched in the early ’70s as the first effort to benefit local music programs as well as the orchestra. EVOLUTION: ’80S, ’90S By 1980, Showcase had become a place to “do lunch.” Recognizing the opportunity for growth, the committee hired a caterer to supply lunches and light refreshments in an alfresco setting. A wine bar was opened. Junior Phils continued to bus tables. Today, an alfresco restaurant serves light breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9 a.m. until Showcase closes for the day. A full bar and soft drinks are also available. The caterer provides the staff. By 1984, the event enjoyed such overwhelming popularity that the public had become accustomed to waiting in long lines — two hours or more on weekends — to enter the house. In order to eliminate that problem the committee began issuing various colored cards with entry times. Today members can sell tickets, but most guests purchase tickets by ordering online, calling and through the mail. These functions are now handled by a professional ticketing service. Another important milestone in 1984 was the launch of the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Instrumental Competition, a professionally judged annual competition awarding cash prizes for young musicians from the local area. To further promote local involvement, in 1989, the Junior Phils launched Community Gifts and Grants with $25,000 in honor of the 25th anniversary Showcase. Group members have always staffed the rooms and outdoor areas to welcome the public, answer questions and discuss the décor. As the project grew, other affiliated groups and community organizations provided the majority of staffing help in the house, while members still staffed the outdoor areas. These five benefit chairmen’s Showcase Houses generated $1 million toward the construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
1984, Sultan’s Room Designer: David Galvery Photographer: Leland Lee
CHOOSING THE HOUSE Showcase fans are typically curious about how a house is chosen each year. The hunt starts early. A search book is presented to the incoming benefit chair at a luncheon prior to the opening of the current house. It contains information on potential houses whose owners are interested in having their homes become a Showcase. The search begins in earnest that summer. For example, in July 2014, the benefit chair will be looking for the 2015 house. Owners, neighbors and Realtors facilitate the process. The following criteria are used in selection of the house: • Minimum 6,000 square feet • Two stairways • Good through flow • Grounds spacious enough for Shops at Showcase and restaurant • Willing and flexible owners • General condition of the property and grounds There are also criteria for choosing designers: • Past and potential designers are invited to a Designer Walk Thru. At that time, they must submit choices and plans. New designers also submit their portfolios. • Work with chosen color palette • The PSHA president, benefit chair and interior and exterior chairs together choose the designers who will participate. 21ST CENTURY As the group became more involved with the local community, members voted to enlarge its focus and dedicate more of its funds to local arts and music programs and to support the orchestra as well. In 2000, the group chose Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts as its name to reflect that focus. At age 50, Showcase continues to evolve as a benefit to provide advantages, assistance, promotion and profit to everyone involved. To date, over $19 million dollars in gifts and grants has been awarded to support the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, the Instrumental Competition, Music Mobile and Youth Concert and over 60 schools and other nonprofit organizations for symphonic, cultural and educational programs. |||| Reprinted with permission from 50 Years of Pasadena Showcase Design Houses: Supporting the Arts Through Design ($59.95), written by Noel Jeffrey, edited by Fran Biles, available at Showcase House, all Snyder Diamond locations, Julienne’s in San Marino and online at showcase50.com. 05.14 ARROYO | 17
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Better Homes and Gadgets
OPEN THE DOOR TO SNYDER DIAMOND ON SOUTH ARROYO PARKWAY IN PASADENA, AND YOU’LL BE GREETED WITH A STAGGERING ARRAY OF HIGHEND HOME APPLIANCES, MANY OF WHICH WOULD SEND DISNEY’S ORIGINAL
Home electronics and appliances are becoming increasingly smart, efficient and stylish. Here’s the latest and greatest in home technology. BY TARIQ KAMAL
TOMORROWLAND DESIGNERS REELING. EXAMPLES INCLUDE THE $11,000 SCANOMAT TOPBREWER COFFEEMAKER, WHICH IS BUILT INTO THE COUNTERTOP; ONLY A MINIMALIST FAUCET AND SMALL GRATE BREAK THE SURFACE. THE DORNBRACHT HORIZONTAL SHOWER LETS USERS RECLINE ON A BENCH WHILE SIX JETS FIRE TEMPERATUREAND PRESSURE-CONTROLLED WATER FROM ABOVE; WITH INSTALLATION, IT COSTS ABOUT $50,000. OUTSIDE, A FULLY FUNCTIONING INDOOR/ OUTDOOR PIZZA OVEN FROM WOOD STONE CORP. SERVES AS THE CENTERPIECE OF A BACKYARD DISPLAY; PRICES FOR THAT PRODUCT LINE START AT $13,500.
Dornbracht Horizontal Shower
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Company President Russ Diamond travels extensively to Europe and elsewhere to vet suppliers, visit trade shows and look for new products. He says there is a movement toward hidden or nearly hidden appliances, such as the TopBrewer, and induction ranges, which utilize a single heating surface that senses the position of cookware and heats it directly. But Diamond says Internet connectivity could be the real gamechanger for manufacturers, who can assess glitches remotely. Michael Fehmers says that smart-home technology, which once relied on radio receivers to control lighting, for example, can now also be operated by WiFi. Fehmer’s company, South Pasadena’s CBA Technology, designs, programs and installs customized control systems. “The most important thing we can do is put full, enterprise-grade networks in these homes, better than you might find in your office.” Such systems pair integration — controlling multiple systems such as heating, window shades and lights — with automation, in which motion detectors or set times trigger their operation. The next phase, Fehmers says, is the incorporation of personal radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags. “You walk in your house, you don’t have to do anything and it knows it’s you. It can follow you around. Lights can turn on and off.” Once installed, the system can be operated by the homeowner’s smartphone or tablet computer, and the interface is decidedly user-friendly. One can control lights,
for example, by tapping the appropriate fi xture as it appears on-screen. Systems such as those designed by Crestron, the industry leader, allow users to tap a single button to turn their homes “off ” at night — security system armed, lights off, shades down, temperature down — and then wake them with light, heat and music in the morning. At the moment, such technology is an option largely for the affluent, although Fehmers says a “brain” and some bells and whistles can be acquired for less than $5,000. The cost of a fully integrated and automated control system in a threebedroom house, he says, “can very quickly get over $100,000” — and, incidentally, all the home’s occupants have to be on board. “It’s usually the partner who’s not really interested who wins the argument. ‘I don’t want it and I won’t use it, so why spend all this money?’ Typically, it’s the male who is most interested, but that’s changing.” As the economies of scale increase and men, women and children become more tech-savvy, smart-home technology will undoubtedly become more popular. Fehmers, who studied psychology, is the fi rst to admit that his work was made possible by advances by Crestron and other providers such as Savant and Control4. He will spend 40 hours or more to program a system such as those described above; however, “the programmer used to have to write a line of code. Now components can be added to a system, appropriate connections made and an interface created for the user.” ||||
GADGET GALLERY Expensive and designed to appeal to the most discerning consumer, these appliances and devices are at the leading edge of home technology. Prices may vary and do not include the cost of installation. Scanomat TopBrewer The TopBrewer is a coffeemaker that is built into a counter or tabletop. Below the surface, an industrialstrength grinder, heater and refrigeration unit deliver hot and cold coffee, milk, water and steam. The stainlesssteel faucet features a built-in milk foamer that Scanomat claims is the world’s smallest. The device is self-cleaning and can be controlled by a smartphone or iPad. $11,000, topbrewer.com
Dornbracht Horizontal Shower Powered by six jets suspended over a reclining bench, the Horizontal Shower features three preprogrammed “choreographies” designed to comfort, relax or energize bathers. The shower requires professional installation and is operated by a stylish, minimalist control panel. $40,000, dornbracht.com 20 | ARROYO | 05.14
Wood Stone indoor/ outdoor pizza oven Wood Stone’s line of pizza ovens was initially designed for commercial use. Residential buyers can choose from multiple configurations and outfit their oven with a custom metal finish; they may want a contractor to install it in their kitchen or backyard. Endorsed by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, they have graced the kitchens of other famous chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali. $13,500 and up, woodstonehome.com
Sub-Zero Pro 48 The Pro 48 includes several features popular among high-end refrigerator buyers: a stainless steel exterior, an auto-close door with a glass viewing pane, “dual” refrigeration to keep food fresh longer, spill-proof cantilevered shelves and more. Buyers can adjust the temperature with an interior control panel and, in some models, Sub-Zero can address any malfunctions remotely. $15,970, subzero-wolf.com
Blendtec Pro 800 Billed as “the most advanced blender on the planet,” Blendtec’s Stealth series was designed to offer industrial-strength power without the noise. A 3.8-horsepower motor delivers the power while a sealed sound enclosure keeps it quiet. Users can download the correct blending times and speeds for their favorite recipes on a USB flash drive and program the blender accordingly. $1,500, blendtec.com
Dacor Discovery WineStation Dacor’s “restaurant-quality” WineStation stores and dispenses wine from up to four bottles. The device was designed to preserve the flavor and aroma of each selection for up to 60 days. Users can enter each bottle’s varietal and vintage and select a taste, half-glass or full glass of wine, delivered via tubing from each bottle. $5,299, dacor.com
Thermador Freedom Induction cooktops are designed to sense the position of ferrous metal cookware and heat it directly. This allows users to arrange pots and pans anywhere on the surface; the rest of the range remains cool to
the touch and shuts off when the cookware is removed. The Freedom features a touchscreen that controls 48 three-inch coils under a 36-inchwide surface. $4,999, thermador.com
Nutrifaster N450 Designed for the commercial market, Nutrifaster juicers combine power and durability with an aluminum finish. The N450 features a high-speed 1.25-horsepower motor and can produce a 12-ounce glass of juice in seconds. Other models are designed to handle vitamin-rich “superfoods” such as wheatgrass. $2,499, nutrifaster.com
Kohler Numi This state-of-the-art toilet features an elongated bowl with a built-in bidet, air dryer and deodorizing filter. The seat is heated and the cover opens and closes automatically. An auxiliary system allows the toilet to flush up to 100 times in the event of a power loss. Users can enhance their experience with music; the Numi comes with prerecorded songs and an FM radio and is Bluetooth- and iPod-compatible. $6,097.60, us.kohler.com
Osaki 7200CR The 7200CR is the flagship of Osaki’s line of “Zero Gravity” massage chairs. It uses S-shaped rollers and 48 individual air bags to apply pressure to the back, shoulders, thighs, calves and feet. A control panel
allows users to select programs for muscle relaxation, stress relief and more. The chair is available in four colors and can accommodate users up to 6 feet, 4 inches tall. $5,495, osakimassagechair.com 05.14 ARROYO | 21
ARROYO
HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
50TH ANNUAL PASADENA SHOWCASE OF DESIGN An Artful Collaboration BY JOANNA DEHN BERESFORD
“ON EITHER SIDE THE RIVER LIE LONG FIELDS OF BARLEY AND OF RYE, THAT CLOTHE THE WOLD AND MEET THE SKY; AND THRO’ THE FIELD THE ROAD RUNS BY TO MANY-TOWER’D CAMELOT; AND UP AND DOWN THE PEOPLE GO, GAZING WHERE THE LILIES BLOW ROUND AN ISLAND THERE BELOW THE ISLAND OF SHALOTT.”
Photo: Alexander Vertikoff, courtesy of Cynthia Bennett
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Photo courtesy of Sacred Space Garden Design
—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
–continued from page 22 So begins Alfred Lord Tennyson’s 1842 vision of “The Lady of Shalott,” a maiden’s voyage upon the waters that lead to Camelot. It’s a dubious adventure, since the maiden must leave her castle and travel into the realms of a real-world paradise without much guidance or reprieve, but though she hardly survives the travels, her beauty and the radiance of the world that beckons to her is luminous, uncompromised. And it lives forever (or, at least, for a good long time) in Tennyson’s verse. So does the enchantment of the San Gabriel Valley, among the homes and gardens that sprawl along the foothills here, reminiscent of Tennyson’s fields, and the unspoiled island of Shalott, just beyond the city. The annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design celebrates the perpetual nature of life and beauty in our region, and this year’s 50th rendition of the event presents the artistry of 25 local designers who have transformed a traditional English country estate into a more relevant and breathtaking residence than perhaps even the original architect, Stiles O. Clements, might have imagined when he built the home in 1915. –continued on page 27
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–continued from page 25 Built nearly a century ago (700 dog years and practically a millennia in Southern California years – think Steve Martin in L.A. Story: “Some of these homes are nearly twenty years old…”), the house initially encompassed 8,200 square feet and 17 rooms of interior living space, and cost $28,000 to build. It’s still referred to as The Flint House because it was built for Robert Philip and Margaret Gray Flint. He was a Yale graduate and a successful mining engineer. Philip Chandler, son of Los Angeles Times publisher, Harry Chandler also owned the home at one time. According to Showcase organizers, “Today the house features seven bedrooms, including a nursery, a nanny’s room and a traveler’s suite, ten baths, five fireplaces, a media room, oak floors, redwood wall paneling, and floor to ceiling leaded glass windows. The 3.5 acre wooded grounds feature 300 trees, a lily pond, river-rock spring house, a variety of lovely gardens, a pool and dressing rooms, a greenhouse, a gardener’s potting shed and an outdoor kitchen.” And for current or future residents who prefer not to drive, there is a chauffeur’s suite situated above a carriage house. Karen Miller, founder and principal designer of Sacred Space Garden Design, accepted the challenge of renovating The Terraced Garden, directly behind the house. She describes the existing space as a “Sad and tired old rose garden – badly neglected.” As a family-owned, full-service landscape design and installation company, Sacred Space Garden Design focuses on preserving and enhancing the unique
Photo courtesy of Sacred Space Garden Design
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Photo courtesy of Sacred Space Garden Design
—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—
–continued from page 27 qualities of the Southern California landscape and lifestyle. Karen, her partners and colleagues share a background in the visual arts and a dedication to sustainable practices – so their projects represent aesthetic, practical and environmental elements of magnificent design. “I always look towards water use and efficiency and quickly decided that this location and the timing of our current drought would provide an excellent opportunity to showcase my favorite plants – succulents and cacti,” she says. “My goal was to introduce the diversity and beauty of these plants to people unfamiliar with them. My clients often picture a desert scene when I ask if they like succulents or cacti, yet I know that they are complex, colorful and uniquely beautiful.” The team also honored the spirit and era of the Flint House, raising and relaying brickwork, incorporating vintage pottery and custom wrought iron creations. “We cleaned the original vintage concrete steps and together these created a very strong structural element, which became the backbone for our plant display. I chose one of my favorites, the Blue Agave Americana, as a central point and worked my way out from there, creating a kaleidoscope of color and form.” –continued on page 32 05.14 | ARROYO | 29
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–continued from page 29 One of the essential characteristics of the Showcase House tradition is a commitment to collaboration – among designers, owners, administrators, other members of the community, and even among the pale ghosts of past residents and routines that have defined these homes for decades. Jeff Locker, of Huntington Pools, has provided the pool design and reconstruction for Pasadena Showcase several times in the past, and has served as coordinator for exterior design projects, as he does this year. As a veteran of the event, Jeff’s role as advisor is to review designs and consider technical issues, like lighting, water systems, electricity, drainage and construction requirements. He also serves as an informed mentor and mediator among the Showcase collaborators in an effort to create a cohesive, organic, beautiful revision of the home. While landscape designers like Karen Miller transformed the rambling grounds of the Flint House, interior designers, decorators, technicians and craftspeople were busy reinventing the interior spaces. With more than 30 years of experience and more than 800 renovations, Cynthia Bennett & Associates, Inc., a design and build construction company, was asked to recreate “Today’s Kitchen” in the home, which consisted of six small rooms: a darkened kitchen, laundry, utility bath, butler’s pantry, and two tiny spaces next to the dining room, which may once have served as servants’ quarters.
Photo courtesy of Sacred Space Garden Design
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Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Bennett
–continued from page 32 “Since our firm was one of the first in Southern California to create the open kitchen-great room by removing all the walls and opening doors and windows to the outside, around an existing small space, this has been our theme for many years,” explains Cynthia. This year’s Showcase project was an exceptionally ambitious one for Cynthia and her associates. In addition to (or in spite of) the unusual configuration of the 850 square foot space, the kitchen has three sinks, multiple counters, three dishwashers, multiple refrigerators and ovens. “It required two foundation piers under the house and two major beams to be able to remove all the walls,” she says. “This type of a project would normally take at least six months, and cost several hundred thousand dollars. For Showcase, we have barely three months!” Because most designers donate their resources – time, material, labor, money – to the Showcase project, their involvement represents a tremendous commitment to the community and the organizations that benefit from the event. And they invariably
Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Bennett
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Photo courtesy of Sacred Space Garden Design
–continued from page 34 experience personal and professional satisfaction throughout their participation. Cynthia describes the camaraderie among designers and the Jr. Philharmonic volunteers. “In spite of the time crunch, we all have fun moments together and celebrate when it is over. Even though many of us are competitors, we all get along and help each other if that is needed. It is a great experience…I feel blessed to live here and to have a successful business in this community.” The 50th Annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design is open to the public April 13 – May 11. For more information, please visit the website: www.pasadenashowcase.com ||||
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~HOME SALES INDEX~
+16.7% 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.
mar ’13 54 $523,000 1376 mar ’13 39 $938,000 2153 mar ’13 16 $437,500 1273 mar ’13 143 $500,000 1489 mar ’13 28 $1,205,000 2005 mar ’13 174 $525,000 1384 mar ’13 11 $1,590,000 2033 mar ’13 19 $715,000 1598 mar ’13 21 $737,500 1467 mar ’13 505 $449
2014
HOME SALES ABOVE RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT
HOMES SOLD
AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.
2013
mar
505 425
-15.84%
mar
HOMES SOLD
HOME SALES
mar ’14 35 $565,000 1679 mar ’14 44 $1,369,000 2060 mar ’14 18 $605,550 1456 mar ’14 115 $500,909 1443 mar ’14 28 $1,440,500 2250 mar ’14 147 $599,000 1410 mar ’14 14 $2,339,500 2941 mar ’14 10 $912,500 1573 mar ’14 14 $981,500 1595 mar ’14 425 $524
ADDRESS ALTADENA 1052 New York Drive #A 3925 Lilac Canyon Lane 1085 Rubio Street 3261 Lincoln Avenue 2204 Kengary Lane 2175 Grand Oaks Avenue 1840 Skyview Drive ARCADIA 388 Torrey Pines Drive 1109 Englemann Court 1121 Rodeo Road 188 East Las Flores Avenue 623 Arbolada Drive 312 East Camino Real Avenue 2322 South 3rd Avenue 1725 North Santa Anita Avenue 1622 Perkins Drive 425 East Norman Avenue 1410 Santa Margarita Drive 416 East Duarte Road 620 East Longden Avenue 1243 Highland Oaks Drive 1780 South Santa Anita Avenue 1035 South 4th Avenue 1651 Wilson Avenue 929 Alta Vista Avenue 2310 South 2nd Avenue 1350 Highland Oaks Drive 2029 Highland Oaks Drive 2039 Elkins Place 2235 Canyon Road 1829 Stonehouse Road 30 Fano Street 140 East Colorado Boulevard #C 169 Eldorado Street #B 1518 Mayflower Avenue 301 Coyle Avenue EAGLE ROCK 5020 Sierra Villa Drive GLENDALE 1542 Hillcrest Avenue 3276 Beaudry Terrace 2006 Maginn Drive 1515 Glenmont Drive 3441 Linda Vista Road 1524 Idlewood Road 1620 Thurber Place 1400 Stanford Drive 1890 Idlewood Road 1033 Alcalde Way 1874 Idlewood Road 740 West Glenoaks Boulevard 1440 Melwood Drive 2851 Hermosita Drive 1780 Allen Avenue
CLOSE DATE
PRICE
BDRMS.
SQ. FT.
source: CalREsource
YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
03/24/14 04/01/14 03/25/14 03/21/14 03/03/14 03/31/14 03/27/14
$2,000,000 $1,549,000 $1,499,000 $1,050,000 $999,000 $987,000 $938,000
9 4 4 4 3 3 3
5841 3979 2789 5387 2277 2293 2822
1925 2001 1929 1991 1952 1957 1955
$860,000 $851,500 $480,000
1/24/2013 3/9/2001 11/16/1988
$341,000 $827,500 $965,000
4/11/1997 5/8/2007 8/8/2006
03/13/14 03/12/14 03/11/14 03/12/14 03/24/14 03/05/14 04/02/14 03/24/14 04/01/14 03/13/14 03/17/14 03/13/14 03/05/14 03/24/14 03/28/14 04/01/14 03/21/14 04/01/14 03/11/14 03/13/14 03/18/14 03/25/14 03/06/14 03/27/14 03/26/14 03/20/14 03/21/14 03/26/14 03/25/14
$5,080,000 $3,970,000 $3,950,000 $3,700,000 $3,300,000 $3,280,000 $2,800,000 $2,500,000 $2,410,000 $2,300,000 $2,100,000 $2,000,000 $1,920,000 $1,880,000 $1,825,000 $1,600,000 $1,588,000 $1,570,000 $1,550,000 $1,400,000 $1,388,000 $1,388,000 $1,350,000 $1,328,000 $1,000,000 $960,000 $960,000 $945,000 $900,000
6 4 6 3 6 2 5 2 5 4 4 6 4 3 4 4 4 5 2 3 4 3 4 2 4 6 3 5 3
8553 5245 7497 1832 7176 1183 5754 1768 5389 2154 3037 3136 1703 2232 1994 2342 2873 3651 2515 2685 2586 1813 2428 1762 2125 2672 2317 2147 1542
2005 2003 1938 1947 1999 1940 1989 1950 1998 1950 1954 1913 1947 1961 1953 1977 1950 2003 1950 1950 1959 1955 1962 1955 1938 1955 1999 1949 1955
$3,400,000 $2,825,000 $3,775,000 $940,000 $550,000 $848,000 $1,044,000 $640,000 $294,000 $755,000
3/27/2009 4/19/2007 09/24/2013 6/19/2012 3/18/1993 9/17/2012 4/18/2000 10/31/2011 1/10/1997 3/31/2006
$1,080,000 $949,000 $1,110,000 $1,100,000 $128,000 $120,000 $920,000 $442,500 $1,380,000 $858,000 $1,070,000 $880,000 $335,000
11/8/2011 3/16/2011 4/2/2010 7/30/2013 9/30/1981 11/25/1977 10/10/2003 8/19/1991 5/25/2012 9/21/2004 5/24/2013 11/10/2004 6/21/1988
$339,000 $828,000 $660,000
9/5/2001 4/5/2013 10/5/2011
03/07/14
$1,000,000
5
3176
1923
03/20/14 03/28/14 03/19/14 04/02/14 03/18/14 03/26/14 03/06/14 03/28/14 03/28/14 03/07/14 04/01/14 03/21/14 04/02/14 03/18/14 03/28/14
$1,550,000 $1,418,000 $1,385,000 $1,335,000 $1,260,000 $1,224,000 $1,140,000 $1,070,000 $1,000,000 $995,000 $975,000 $950,000 $950,000 $914,000 $900,000
5 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 2 8 2 3 3
3918 3730 2619 3448 2247 2092 2321 2958 2883 2478 2732 5016 2398 1370 2560
1929 1982 1964 1941 1949 1924 1947 1929 1963 1948 1955 1929 1958 1951 1956
$150,000
4/6/1981
$136,000 $875,000 $870,000
7/26/1976 11/7/2003 3/23/2012
$420,000 $475,000
7/27/2001 7/10/1992
$603,000
8/15/2002
$298,000 $157,500 $396,000
3/26/1985 8/12/1983 2/14/1997
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 2014. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.
38 | ARROYO | 05.14
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE LA CAĂ‘ADA 4325 Woodleigh Lane 03/07/14 600 Highland Drive 03/07/14 5255 Alta Canyada Road 03/18/14 88 Normandy Court 04/01/14 2245 Richey Drive 03/12/14 606 Highland Drive 03/25/14 609 Inverness Drive 03/25/14 833 Parkman Drive 04/01/14 4444 Commonwealth Avenue 03/27/14 1217 El Vago Street 03/13/14 3852 Keswick Road 03/03/14 3959 Madison Road 03/12/14 5210 La Sierra Drive 03/24/14 2003 Orchard Lane 03/25/14 2034 Los Amigos Street 03/18/14 2055 Sunnybank Drive 03/05/14 827 Salisbury Road 03/28/14 1126 Wiladonda Drive 03/12/14 4731 Angeles Crest Highway 03/26/14 4903 Revlon Drive 03/26/14 2002 Manistee Drive 03/27/14 1036 Fairview Drive 03/28/14 609 Houseman Street 03/12/14 PASADENA 522 Bradford Street 03/13/14 550 Allendale Road 03/07/14 895 South Oak Knoll Avenue 03/24/14 575 Elliott Drive 03/25/14 590 Bradford Street 03/14/14 300 South Orange Grove Blvd #8 03/31/14 3526 Ranch Top Road #D 03/13/14 1653 Hastings Heights Lane 03/25/14 754 Vallombrosa Drive 03/05/14 748 Laguna Road 03/04/14 920 Granite Drive #314 03/07/14 3007 Gainsborough Drive 04/02/14 615 Brightside Lane 03/27/14 920 Granite Drive #208 03/12/14 2985 Meyerloa Lane 03/24/14 1546 Linda Vista Avenue 03/12/14 3780 Hampton Road 03/07/14 1331 Wellington Avenue 03/24/14 2111 East Woodlyn Road 03/04/14 1025 Atchison Street 03/04/14 1322 Ontario Avenue 03/28/14 2026 Rose Villa Street 03/21/14
PRICE
BDRMS.
SQ. FT.
YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
$5,708,000 $2,440,000 $2,390,000 $2,300,000 $2,250,000 $2,250,000 $2,250,000 $2,080,000 $1,900,000 $1,825,000 $1,800,000 $1,650,000 $1,565,000 $1,555,000 $1,325,000 $1,315,000 $1,315,000 $1,215,000 $1,200,000 $1,176,000 $1,150,000 $995,000 $915,000
6 4 8 4 5 6 6 3 4 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2
6820 3451 5520 4541 5052 3300 2939 2216 2616 2555 4743 1648 3244 2896 2106 2450 1378 1975 1632 2060 1781 1608 1449
2007 1957 1987 1998 1991 1924 1924 1945 2008 1951 1925 1951 1948 1937 1942 1953 1931 1949 1967 1947 1962 1967 1941
$3,302,500 $1,518,182
7/22/2005 3/18/2013
$400,000
5/7/1996
$830,000 $830,000 $680,000 $1,090,000 $1,725,000 $1,475,000 $1,450,000 $805,000 $1,555,000 $1,250,000
7/26/1991 7/26/1991 1/15/2004 7/28/2006 6/23/2009 3/14/2001 11/17/2006 2/25/1999 3/25/2014 5/12/2006
$774,500
12/5/2012
$520,000 $981,000
11/21/2002 6/21/2005
$745,000
11/19/2004
$3,900,000 $2,275,000 $2,259,000 $2,250,000 $2,125,000 $2,100,000 $2,000,000 $1,919,000 $1,900,000 $1,850,000 $1,575,000 $1,569,000 $1,520,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,475,000 $1,400,000 $1,350,000 $1,347,000 $1,327,000 $1,322,000 $1,320,000
6 4 4 3 7 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 4 3 5 3 6
5009 2722 2929 2772 2533 3679 4369 5992 3454 2967 2470 2385 2019 2100 2611 2261 2167 3096 2521 2577 2148 3705
1931 1950 1926 1968 1926 1991 1989 1988 1948 1956 2009 1941 1953 2009 1955 1999 1947 1980 1951 1927 1980 1925
$3,850,000 $1,490,000 $1,311,010 $929,000 $1,780,000 $1,375,000
6/30/2006 12/29/2006 12/5/2002 8/31/2000 6/1/2005 2/9/2004
$96,000
9/4/1986
$330,000 $775,000
5/15/1991 8/29/2003
$880,000
1/22/2002
$457,000
11/18/1993
$90,000 $1,200,000
3/31/2010 4/18/2011
ADDRESS CLOSE DATE PASADENA 703 South Los Robles Avenue 03/05/14 139 Annandale Road 03/13/14 2026 Oakdale Street 03/19/14 1386 Glen Oaks Boulevard 03/19/14 154 North Mar Vista Avenue 03/04/14 3615 Thorndale Road 03/03/14 429 South Santa Anita Avenue 03/18/14 1100 Armada Drive 03/25/14 155 Cordova Street #203 03/11/14 705 South Mentor Avenue 03/05/14 920 Granite Drive #203 03/03/14 1965 East Crary Street 03/10/14 336 Redwood Drive 03/11/14 840 East Green Street #503 03/31/14 3664 Grayburn Road 03/25/14 SAN MARINO 1045 Rosalind Road 03/18/14 2225 Montecito Drive 03/12/14 1895 Virginia Road 03/07/14 933 South Santa Anita Avenue 03/31/14 1920 Windsor Road 03/26/14 1908 Warwick Road 03/27/14 1486 Wembley Road 03/04/14 2455 Adair Street 03/13/14 1713 Virginia Road 03/12/14 1380 Vandyke Road 03/19/14 1617 Old Mill Road 03/07/14 1565 Bellwood Road 03/26/14 1900 Sycamore Drive 03/05/14 1833 South Los Robles Avenue 03/10/14 SIERRA MADRE 350 Acacia Street 03/27/14 127 North Lima Street 03/07/14 52 Rancho Road 03/28/14 302 West Carter Avenue 03/05/14 270 Grove Street 03/14/14 SOUTH PASADENA 2012 Le Droit Drive 03/07/14 2043 Milan Avenue 04/02/14 1951 Stratford Avenue 03/26/14 1301 Oak Street 03/13/14 1708 Lyndon Street 03/31/14 1108 Maple Street 03/17/14 1240 Indiana Avenue 04/01/14 529 Floral Park Terrace 03/14/14
PRICE
BDRMS.
SQ. FT.
YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE PREV. SOLD
$1,291,500 $1,250,000 $1,195,000 $1,175,000 $1,050,000 $1,040,000 $1,013,500 $1,010,000 $1,003,000 $1,000,000 $950,000 $938,000 $925,000 $920,000 $915,000
5 3 4 3 2 3 3 4 2 2 3 5 3 2 3
3086 1819 2919 3500 2024 1716 1724 2266 2000 831 1910 2718 1480 2142 2069
1910 1927 1929 1990 1924 1938 1927 1925 2010 1915 2009 1941 1947 2006 1947
$5,750,000 $4,389,000 $3,100,000 $3,003,000 $3,000,000 $2,750,000 $2,579,000 $2,100,000 $1,998,000 $1,565,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,380,000 $1,350,000
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 2 4 2 3 3
6772 3514 3557 3546 3158 3250 2985 2896 2543 1740 2289 1480 2265 2326
$2,098,000 $1,085,000 $1,025,000 $975,000 $960,000
4 5 2 2 2
$1,830,000 $1,650,000 $1,250,000 $1,200,000 $1,170,000 $1,112,500 $1,053,000 $910,000
5 5 3 2 3 4 5 3
$1,000,000 $91,000 $789,000 $850,000
11/26/2008 3/5/2002 7/25/2003 10/16/2013
$835,000 $380,000
1/9/2013 12/26/1997
$601,000
12/28/2012
$960,000 $380,000
4/26/2007 3/29/2002
1978 1957 1934 1949 1938 1939 1947 1948 1950 1948 1957 1941 1941 1924
$819,500 $2,200,000 $1,300,000
6/28/1996 10/14/2011 6/7/2002
$975,000 $2,090,000 $720,000
4/30/2003 11/30/2012 12/13/1999
$884,000 $525,000 $750,000
10/15/2003 8/2/2000 11/25/2003
$1,021,500 $1,000,000
6/30/2008 5/3/2006
5089 2511 1796 1349 1957
1991 1929 1957 1950 2009
$1,275,000 $900,000 $639,000 $245,000 $785,000
10/10/2003 1/5/2007 3/18/2011 6/22/1995 08/27/2009
3096 2228 1954 2122 1708 2621 2391 1438
1932 1909 1942 1931 1913 1924 1940 1924
$1,315,000
04/15/2004
$1,069,000 $940,000 $327,500
3/29/2007 8/19/2008 7/26/1993
05.14 ARROYO | 39
40 | ARROYO | 05.14
Stainless S tainless ssteel teel k kitchen itchen a appliances ppliances sstill t ill d dominate ominate the the market, market but but many many affl affl flu uent uent consumers are opting for more colorful or integrated looks. BY BETTIJANE LEVINE
THE FASHION INDUSTRY RECENTLY TRIED TO CONVINCE WOMEN THAT RED WAS THE NEW BLACK. IT DIDN’T WORK. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, THE KITCHEN APPLIANCE INDUSTRY STARTED ITS OWN CAMPAIGN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, CLAIMING THAT WHITE — OR BLACK OR COLOR — –continued on page 43
Miele Brilliant White oven 05.14 ARROYO | 41
42 | ARROYO | 05.14
La Cornue Chateau kitchen island, with a Chateau range and matching enameled steel cabinetry –continued from page 41
was the new stainless steel. That didn’t work, either. Appliances aren’t easily replaced, like sweaters and blouses. And folks who’ve recently spent a bundle on stainless appliances are not about to discard them on a fashion whim. Stainless remains the stalwart backbone of kitchen appliance sales in the U.S. But millions of consumers are slowly getting used to at least the possibility that someday, something might come along to replace it. And when they’re ready to renew their kitchens, they might just consider a change of pace. The seemingly concerted industry effort to wean customers off stainless steel comes after a quarter-century of the iron-based alloy’s dominance over kitchen style around the country. And there’s some method to the industry’s madness in trying to unseat the metallic look. Stainless, when it first came out, was a high-end product. Slowly, it filtered down to every price level, becoming a staple in even modest homes, and lost cachet among those who wanted a new look or something less common in their kitchens. Meanwhile, the kitchen’s identity itself has evolved over the past few decades, as the popularity of open floor plans has grown and food preparation areas have been integrated into great rooms and living rooms. Open-floor-plan kitchens must harmonize with the design of those other rooms, and appliance industry gurus hoped to come up
with products that would be more decorative or appealing than stainless. (Adding to all the fuss about open floor plans and post-stainless kitchens, late news from Manhattan real estate developers reveals that some pricey new buildings will lose that loft-like, open-space vibe. Instead, many new multi-million-dollar high-rise homes will have totally separate and isolated kitchens, reminiscent of the ’40s and ’50s. Some people just don’t want their guests to watch them cut the carrots.) Whirlpool Corp.’s Ice White kitchen collection, Wolf ’s black-glass ovens and General Electric’s muted gray “slate” shade all entered the marketplace, along with various colored appliances from many manufacturers. Some have been moderately successful. But none approach the continuing appeal of basic, bland and neutral stainless steel, which is durable and fits any décor. Yet inroads are being made, says Russ Diamond, president of Snyder Diamond Appliances. In an interview with Arroyo Monthly, he said, “From a design standpoint, what we’re finding is that there are no rules anymore. Kitchen design is driven by the individual,” not by trends. On a mass-market level, Diamond says, “Stainless is still the most well-accepted surface for the kitchen. But Miele, Jenn-Air, Whirlpool –continued on page 45 05.14 ARROYO | 43
44 | ARROYO | 05.14
–continued from page 43
and others all now offer white [and often black] as an option.” Indeed, design magazines are showcasing kitchens with a refreshing airiness, using pale or bright shades or matte white for cabinetry as well as appliances. On the luxury level, Diamond says, the status of stainless is irrelevant. For well-heeled homeowners, the most popular design is an integrated look, with appliances flush with — and camouflaged by — the same cabinetry in the rest of the kitchen. The refrigerator and dishwasher don’t stand out, because their façades match all the other cabinets. Function is more important than fashion in the appliance world and, in Diamond’s opinion, the newest advances in refrigeration are the “columns” — separate refrigerators and freezers that are columnar in shape and available in many sizes, and can be placed next to each other or anywhere in the room. Each is a self-contained unit with its own compressor, Diamond says, affording greater energy efficiency and flexibility in unit size and room design. Sub–Zero and Miele have technology that connects wirelessly with their appliances, so that performance is continuously monitored. “If your refrigerator or freezer starts to falter, it will send a message to the manufacturer,” Diamond says. “They’ll do a diagnostic and tell you what to do. If you require a service call, they’ll know in advance what’s wrong, and the repair person will arrive with the right parts.” The same applies to some dishwashers, he says. “Miele is by far” the most advanced, he continues. “They have residentialized the commercial dishwasher, like the ones you’d find in a restaurant, so that a homeowner gets dishes well cleaned within 20 to 30 minutes. They have lights inside their dishwashers and self-closing doors that latch by themselves. And customers are telling us they are the most efficient.” Jan Ledgard, founding designer of Yorkshire Kitchens in La Cañada Flintridge, agrees that stainless appliances are still “pretty popular, especially those with new finishes that don’t show fingerprints as much as they used to.” However, she adds, “monochromatic color schemes seem to be coming back. The last three kitchens I’ve done have been a soft cream color on the cabinets and a combination of stainless steel and cream-color cabinet panels on the appliances. I do a lot of older Craftsman and Mediterranean homes and of course these homes are circa 1900. They didn’t have stainless steel back then. So I put cabinet door panels on the stainless steel refrigeration and dishwasher units” to blend in with the rest of the kitchen. Cynthia Bennett, the South Pasadena interior designer who created the kitchen in this year’s Pasadena Showcase House of Design, says that while stainless has been around a long time, its popularity exploded during the past decade. “That’s all people seemed to want. Before that, we used to do all sorts of colors. And stainless is still very popular. But there’s a big return to paneling,” she says, “because the kitchen is no longer just a kitchen. It’s a living space. It’s part of an open floor plan — a great big open space that combines kitchen, casual dining and a comfortably furnished room where friends and family –continued on page 47
Sub-Zero “over-and-under” panelized refrigerator 05.14 ARROYO | 45
46 | ARROYO | 05.14
Blue Star range –continued from page 45
congregate.” That’s the contemporary way of life, she says, and her design/build fi rm does a lot of remodeling that reconfigures space to accommodate that lifestyle. In such a scenario, she says, “the kitchen can’t look too kitcheny. It should have continuity with the rest of the space.” The popularity of combined kitchen and living areas has made the living room somewhat obsolete in many homes, she adds. Her Showcase House kitchen is huge — 850 square feet — and it’s integrated into a great room. “We paneled everything we could, including refrigerator drawers and dishwasher drawers using birch and alder woods.” As paneling has become more popular, she says, there’s a great variety of woods to choose from, in shades from pale to dark. In some ways, the 21st-century kitchen is reverting to the pivotal position it held before the industrial revolution. Now integrated into the home’s major living center, it has once again become the spiritual and social focus of the home — similar to what it was when food was cooked in iron pots that hung above the fire in a cabin’s hearth. And so stoves (now called ranges) have a uniquely emotional resonance with many individuals who couldn’t care less about the design of their dishwashers, fridges and freezers. The appliance industry’s strategy to move consumers away from stainless steel has included downplaying the current trendiness of the industrial look — ranges outfitted with chunky grids and knobs — presenting them as passé. Manufacturers are touting new designs with more delicate-looking appurtenances, in the same white,
black or colors they’re promoting for other appliances. For those at the top of the wealth spectrum, the stove that makes a statement — in craftsmanship, functionality and design — wins the day. Diamond says some clients bring their personal chefs with them to the showroom, so the chef can select the specific cooking components and configurations he or she wants to work with. Other homeowners ask their interior designers for a kitchen that will spotlight a handcrafted, extraordinarily expensive and often colorful range. “We just sold our display model La Cornue range,” Diamond says. La Cornue is a French fi rm whose cooking appliances “are like beautiful pieces of custom furniture,” he adds, and they range in price from $6,500 to $85,000. And to replace his sold display item, Diamond has ordered a bright red customcrafted Bonnet range with chrome trim from France, which he says will sell for $130,000 to $140,000. Such a unit is handcrafted to meet the buyer’s specifications, which may include gas, electric and induction functions, along with barbecue and griddle. Who would buy such a costly cooker? Diamond chuckles at the question, because he knows by now that there are as many aficionados for ranges as there are for cars. “We just sold a pink range by Blue Star — that’s the manufacturer that made the purple range bought by Two Broke Girls on TV. They saved and saved for it.” And, he says, there are affluent residents in the San Gabriel Valley who would value a highfunctioning, handcrafted range as much as they would artwork or fine jewelry.|||| 05.14 ARROYO | 47
objects of desire Furnishing Tomorrowland
BY IRENE LACHER
EBB CONCEPT CUSTOM ILLUMINATED SINK LED lighting’s victory over the bathroom (taken a color-changing shower lately?) almost literally circles the drain with the Ebb Concept series of illuminated resin sinks custom-made by Neo-Metro. The high-polished stainless steel sink has a hidden drain and is shaped in a trough style. $7,000 to $15,000, depending on size, finish and lighting options; Pirch, 101 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 743-9999, thepirch.com
POET SOFA The modernists so completely captured the zeitgeist that their work remains fresher than many designs that came later. So it is with the late Danish designer Finn Juhl, who created this Poet Sofa for his own home north of Copenhagen in 1941. We love the sofa’s pop of color and Jetsons-style curves. And it doesn’t hurt that the upholstery is hand-sewn in Denmark. $8,500; DWR, 60 W. Green St., Pasadena, (626) 432-6700, dwr.com
48 | ARROYO | 05.14
CHRISTOFLE COLLECTION O BY STUDIO PUTMAN FAUCET This sculptural faucet from THG Paris has an impressive pedigree. The iconic O was created by the late über-designer Andrée Putman for Christofle’s Vertigo collection of home décor. Her daughter, Olivia Putman, collaborated on Collection O, which extends the design to include bath. Turn your bathroom into a gallery with this beauty. $1,615.88; Snyder Diamond, 432 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, (424) 276-0924, snyderdiamond.com
MELTING CHAIR The “melting” chair has been in the vocabulary of avant-garde furniture designers at least since the postwar years, but Vienna-based Philipp Aduatz takes it to the next level. His version harnesses new technology to mimic a moment of mercury melting into a shape fi t for sitting. According to Milkster.com, he used 3D-animation software and studied the solidification of fluids and the melting of solids to create his functional illusion. $15,644; milkster.com –continued on page 51
YOSHITOMO NARA’S DOGGY RADIO In Tomorrowland, life is so new and improved that you needn’t worry about scooping your pup’s poop. Indeed, Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara’s dog is a veritable treasure trove of possibilities. Does your dog play NPR and other FM delights? Touch this doggy’s chin to turn the radio on and off; control the volume by petting the chin up or down. The MoMA Store’s Doggy Radio, of hand-assembled polymer and fiberglass, will also do quite nicely as a piece of sculpture. Only 3,000 have been produced (only a third are available for sale in the U.S.), and the limited-edition number is noted on a metal dog tag. $2,500, momastore.org
05.14 ARROYO | 49
50 | ARROYO | 05.14
objects of desire –continued from page 49
KARTELL TAJ TABLE LAMP Is it a luminous sculpture or a stylish light source? Designer Ferruccio Laviani says his LED lamp, inspired by an elephant’s tusk, is both essential and bold, “like a comma.” And of course, it’s manufactured by Kartell, the Italian visionaries in the realm of molded plastic furniture responsible for Philippe Starck’s nearly ubiquitous Ghost Chair. $550–$600; Kartell Los Angeles, 313 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, (888) 405-4899, kartellstorela.com
GALA VASE Don’t be surprised if lifestyle maven Jonathan Adler’s surreal vase adorned with many mouths reminds you of Salvador Dali — the 9½-inch-high, unglazed matte porcelain piece is named after Dali’s wife. Perfect for people who like décor that makes a statement. $250; House of Honey, 1518 Mission St., South Pasadena, (626) 441-2454, houseofhoney.com
ROCHE-BOBOIS ORA-ITO TABLE The sensuous curves of the Ora-Ito table won the French manufacturer and designer Ora Ito a prestigious Red Dot Award 2014 for “best of the best” in product design. The top is tempered glass, and the “legs” are comprised of reinforced polyurethane on a steel ballast, encircling a mirror base of brushed stainless steel. $4,890–$5,680; Roche Bobois, 8850 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 274-6520, roche-bobois.com 05.14 ARROYO | 51
KITCHEN CONFESSIONS
Erster Slurpin’ Yes, raw oysters taste meh and look worse. So why bother? BY LESLIE BILDERBACK | PHOTO BY JOE ATLAS
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Oyster Facts: Trends come and go, especially in food (a least we hope so — see the cronut). But some trends have persisted. Case in point — the oyster. Perhaps it is because of its much-touted qualities as an aphrodisiac, an idea that sprang from the myth of Aphrodite, who was born from its shell (although Botticelli thought she was the spawn of a scallop). Or perhaps the oyster’s popularity stems from its ubiquity. Every coastal community around the globe since prehistory shows evidence of consumption of this nutritious food. Middens (also called shell heaps), often meters deep and miles long, have been discovered from Korea to Canada, containing debris from human activity. Oyster shells were used as building material and road paving in much of the colonial world. The oyster-paved roads of Williamsburg, Virginia, proved too tempting for my kids, whose pockets were found full of shells once we unpacked from that excursion. But historical use cannot explain the oyster’s popularity in modern times. Now that we have irrigation, and agriculture, and pizza, why would we need to eat oysters? Because, let’s face it — oysters are not delicious. I am not a timid eater. And yes, I eat oysters. But there are many foods I’d rather eat. Their texture is weird, their flavor unremarkable and they look pretty gross. (I call ’em as I see ’em.) So what gives? When Henry Hudson sailed into New York Harbor, the lower estuary held an estimated 350 square miles of oyster beds, now thought to be half the world’s oyster population at the time. Ellis and Liberty islands were first known as Great and Little Oyster islands because of the beds that surrounded them. By the 19th century, New York oysters had become world-renowned for their flavor and size, with some recorded up to a foot in length. (The thought of slurping that down is too horrible for words.) They were exported around the world and remained a cheap and easy food source within the city until the approach of the 20th century, when erosion, disease and pollution reduced the harvest and drove up the price. Oysters remained a favorite food of the well-to-do and appeared in a variety of forms in all the new restaurants popping up in America’s cities. After terrapin soup, oysters were the era’s most sought-after dish. (Turtles fed on the oysters, so their numbers diminished too.) Abraham Lincoln is known to have hosted oyster parties, and a stagecoach known as “the Oyster Line” exported barrels of them to the frontier. Innkeepers in the mining towns of the West knew they had to stock oysters for those customers who’d struck it rich. For rich and poor, immigrant and “native,” oysters were the symbol of success. Though considered a food of the elite, they meshed nicely with the essence of the American Dream and the fuel behind the settling of the West: the belief that we would all join the elite eventually — all it took was gumption. Even on death row, oysters offered a bump in status. The Gold Rush classic Hangtown Fry, an omelet with bacon and oysters, was created upstate in Placerville (a.k.a. Hangtown) as a last meal request. The hard-to-acquire ingredients added nearly a week to the poor sot’s lifespan. My fi rst experience with oysters was at the hands of my grandfather, who considered smoked oysters (or “ersters” as he called them) on a Ritz cracker suitable afternoon fare for a 10-year-old. (He was right — it is still a favorite snack.) Later he advanced me to fried oysters, which I love a little less but will still eat in homage to him. In culinary school, not only was I inclined to proclaim I liked them raw (I refuse to look wimpy), but I had to prove proficiency at shucking. (Insert the oyster knife into the hinge, twist until it pops, then slide the blade along the opening and
There are just fi ve oyster species available in the U.S.: Eastern (or Atlantic), Pacifi c, Kumamoto (formerly considered Pacifi c, but recently given its own category), European (sometimes called Belon, or European Flats) and Olympia. The various names within each species refl ect the area from which they are harvested. Flavors vary according to water’s temperature, salinity, mineral content and marine vegetation. Oysters feed on plankton by fi ltering water through the shells and over the muscle, imparting the fl avors of the terroir to the meat. Colder temperatures produce fi rmer, saltier oysters and are considered the best choice for raw preparation. Months that contain an “R” are traditionally the best oyster months. This is because warmer water temperatures promote spawning, which renders the muscle fatty, watery, soft and less fl avorful. This adage also stems from the historical lack of refrigeration needed to preserve oysters in the hot months. Today you can ignore that, as most oysters are imported from cooler climates or raised in farms. Choose tightly shut oysters. If they are open, they should shut tightly when tapped. If they don’t, they’re dead, and therefore not good to eat. RIP. Store oysters in the fridge, in an open container with a damp towel placed on top, for up to 48 hours (but consuming within 24 hours of purchase is best). To relax the oyster muscles before shucking, place them in the freezer for 10 minutes. Just don’t forget about them. Conscientious eaters take note: Because they feed on plankton, which is low on the food chain, and are not harvested by dredging, oysters are considered a sustainable food source and appear as a best choice on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s much-praised Seafood Watch List. They are, however, still frequently pried out of their homes and eaten alive — so there’s that.
loosen the muscle to separate the shells — and don’t lose any of the juicy “liquor” in the process.) As a result, I can hold my own at an oyster bar, although, if I had my druthers I would probably not go there in the fi rst place. In my opinion (American Dream, be damned) oyster slurping is a National Pretension. Sure, you can call me a poseur — or perhaps I am just polite? |||| Leslie Bilderback, a certified master baker, chef and author of Mug Cakes: 100 Speedy Microwave Treats to Satisfy your Sweet Tooth (St. Martin’s Press), lives in South Pasadena and teaches her techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com.
Mignonette Sauce Some people like lemon, Tabasco or cocktail sauce, but this is the classic accompaniment for raw oysters on the half shell. INGREDIENTS 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns 1 teaspoon whole pink peppercorns
2 tablespoons fi nely minced shallot /3 cup red wine vinegar
2
METHOD 1. Roughly crush peppercorns. The mignonette method entails placing them on a cutting board and pressing down firmly with the bottom of a wide sauté pan. Alternatively, you can pulse them briefly in a coffee grinder. 2. Combine pepper, minced shallot and vinegar in a glass or ceramic bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. (Maceration is the key element here.) 3. Serve in ramekins as an accompaniment to oysters on the half shell, nested on a bed of ice. (Rock salt is sometimes used instead of ice, although it is less desirable.) 05.14 | ARROYO | 53
THE LIST
A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER
L.A. Chamber Orchestra Brings Bach and Baroque
followed by the awards program, dinner and
May 1 — Los Angeles
auctions at 6 p.m.
Chamber Orchestra
Registration costs $300 per person, $1,000 for a
Music Director and pianist Jeffrey Kahane
team of four, with sponsorships available for
performs Bach’s Gold-
$500 to $10,000. Proceeds benefit PCDA’s
berg Variations at 7 p.m.
mission to improve the lives of children
in the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall, as part of
and young adults with autism and other
the orchestra’s Baroque Conversations series.
developmental challenges.
Kahane offers insights into the music and
Angeles National Golf Course is located at
takes audience questions.Tickets start at $55.
9401 Foothill Blvd., Sunland-Tujunga. Call
May 17 — Pianists Jeremy Denk and
(626) 793-7350 or visit pcda.golfreg.com.
Kahane are featured in a LACO performance of works by Bach and Mozart at
Pasadena Symphony Closes With Tchaikovsky
200 S. Grand Ave., L.A.The Alex Theatre is
BUTTERFLIES ARE FREED AT KIDSPACE
located at 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.
May 3 and 4 — Butterfly Season at Pasadena’s Kidspace Children’s Museum
Piano Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich’s
Call (213) 622-7001 or visit laco.org.
crescendos with the Grand Butterfly Release at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, when
Symphony No. 5.The featured pianist is Shai
hundreds of Painted Ladies --- including those kids raised from caterpillars – will be
Wosner, and Jahja Ling is guest conductor.
Stepping Up the Humor
set free. The event, featuring live music and a variety of butterfly-related arts and
The concerts begin at 2 and 8 p.m., with
May 2 and 3 — The musical comedy group
science activities, starts at 10 a.m. both days. Free with Kidspace admission
pre-concert discussion one hour earlier.
The Capitol Steps returns to Caltech’s
of $10 for adults and children one year and older (free for members and infants).
Ticket prices start at $35.
Beckman Auditorium
Kidspace Children’s Museum is located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. Call
Ambassador Auditorium is located at
at 8 p.m. Friday and
(626) 449-9144 or visit kidspacemuseum.org.
131 S. St. John Ave.,
8 p.m. at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, with a preconcert talk at 7 p.m.Tickets start at $25. Zipper Hall is located at the Colburn School,
Saturday.The troupe
May 10 —The Pasadena Symphony closes its season at the Ambassador Auditorium with two concerts featuring Tchaikovsky’s
Pasadena. Call (626)
of former Congress-
concert also includes a three-song set by
of historic La Solana Drive.The neighbor-
793-7172 or visit
ional staffers and other
the 80-voice Festival Honor Choir, culled
hood was developed in 1926, with 23
pasadenasymphony-
satirists was launched
from participating schools.
houses near the future Altadena Town and
pops.org.
in 1981 when members of then-Senator
Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111
Country Club. Guests
Charles Percy’s staff skewered their bosses
S. Grand Ave., L.A. Call (213) 972-7282 or
can visit seven historic
in songs for a Christmas party.Tickets cost
visit lamc.org/hscf.
homes during the tour,
Letters from Zora Returns to the Pasadena Playhouse
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
May 10 — The Pasadena Playhouse presents Letters from Zora, the story of
$28 to $38, $10 for youth high school–age and younger.
Art Fair for Sierra Madre Library
which also includes
Beckman Auditorium is located on Michi-
May 3 and 4 — Jewelry designer Beverly
complimentary
Zora Neale Hurston, an American folklor-
gan Avenue south of Del Mar Boulevard,
Jones is the featured artist at the 52nd an-
desserts or homemade baked good pur-
ist, anthropologist and author who lived
Pasadena. Call (626) 395-4652 or visit
nual Art Fair, presented
chases, as well antique and craft booths
from 1891 to 1960.The Gabriel Pina play
events.caltech.edu.
by Friends of the Sierra
for clothing, accessories and gifts.The cost
examines Hurston’s controversial views on
Madre Library, from
is $30 in advance, $35 the day of the event.
segregation, integration and social justice,
Student Chorale Concerts Free at Disney Hall
9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat-
Proceeds benefit Huntington Medical
defying the social conventions of her day.
urday and 9:30 a.m. to
Research Institutes, studying cancer, stroke,
The production is an artistic fusion of music,
May 2 — The Los Angeles Master Chorale
5 p.m. Sunday at Sierra
heart disease, deafness, Alzheimer’s and
history and literary prose, illuminating the
presents two free performances as part of
Madre’s Memorial Park.The event features
many other illnesses.
life of an extraordinary woman. Directed by
the 25th annual High School Choir Festival,
works by 100 artists, children’s activities, live
Call (626) 304-4678 or visit altadenaguild.org.
Anita Dashiell-Sparks and starring Vanessa
conducted by Music Director Grant Ger-
entertainment, food trucks and a wine and
shon and composer Francisco J. Núñez at
beer garden. Admission is free. Proceeds
Golfing for a Good Cause
8 p.m. today and plays at 2 p.m. May 11 and
Walt Disney Concert Hall.The professional
benefit the Sierra Madre Library’s resources
May 9 — Pasadena Child Development
18, 8 p.m. May 15 and
LAMC Chamber Singers perform works by
and programs.
Associates hosts “Get into the Swing of
16, 4 and 8 p.m. May 17
Morton Lauridsen and others at 11 a.m. At
Memorial Park is located at 222 W. Sierra
Things,” its fourth annual golf tournament
and 2 p.m. May 18.Tick-
1 p.m., nearly 900 students from two dozen
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Call (626) 355-
and dinner at Angeles National Golf
ets cost $40 to $100.
SoCal high schools perform the world
7186 or visit sierramadrelibraryfriends.org.
Course.The event includes a hole-in-
VIP packages for $150
premiere of Núñez’s “Es Tu Tiempo,” as well
Bell Calloway, Letters from Zora opens at
one contest for a new Mercedes-Benz,
include a meet-and-
on-course contests with prizes, tequila
greet with the playwrght, director and star.
Aaron Copland, the
Home Tour Supports Huntington Hospital’s Research
and beer, massages and more. Registra-
The Pasadena Playhouse is located at
“Hallelujah” chorus
May 4 — The Altadena Guild of Hunting-
tion starts at 10 a.m., followed by various
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Call (626)
from Handel’s Messiah
ton Hospital hosts its 63rd annual Home
activities and lunch.The shotgun start is at
356-7529 or visit pasadenaplayhouse.org.
and more.The student
Tour, showcasing the art and architecture
noon. A cocktail reception starts at 5 p.m.,
as choral music by
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THE LIST
MOTHER’S DAY, ROSES CELEBRATED AT DESCANSO GARDENS
May 10 and 11 — Descanso and the Patina Group host a Mother’s Day brunch in the Rose Garden, with seatings at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days.The cost is $59 ($50 for members), $23 for children ($19 for member children).The event is free for children 3 and younger. Reservations close May 5, available at patinagroup.com/descanso. May 25 — Descanso’s Rose Festival kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a class on rose gardening. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., floral artist Alison Franchi and makeup artist Jennifer Aspinall turn a female model into a living work of art by adorning her with roses, body paint and jewels. Franchi also demonstrates ways to create rose arrangements, at 1 p.m.The California Shakespeare Ensemble gives a reading of his comedy Much Ado about Nothing at 2 p.m., and a guided Rose Garden walk completes the day at 3 p.m. Free with Descanso admission of $9, $6 for seniors and students and $4 for children 5 to 12; free for children 4 and younger. Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818) 949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org.
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Fritz Coleman: Baby
L.A. Children’s Chorus Puts on Premieres
Boomer Support Group
May 11 and 18 — The Los Angeles Chil-
classical theater pro-
benefits the company’s ductions.The show is
dren’s Chorus performs two concerts showcasing world premieres by Shawn Kirchner
a wry look at getting older and the shared
and Eleanor Daly at Pasadena Presbyterian
experiences of the baby boom generation.
Church at 7 p.m. May 11 and 18.The
Tickets cost $40.
works are Kirchner’s “A
A Noise Within is located at 3352 E. Foothill
Mother’s Lament for the
Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 356-3100 or visit
Death of Her Son” and
anoisewithin.org.
Daley’s “A la Claire Fontaine.”The chorus also
Swingin’ On a Star for Five Acres
performs works by Bach,
May 17 — The nonprofit organization
Mendelssohn, Brahms, Haydn, Bach, Handel
Five Acres hosts its 11th annual “Swingin’
and more.Tickets cost $26 to $44; half-price
on a Star” gala at the Trinity Ballroom in
for students 17 and younger.
Pasadena.The 6 p.m. event, themed
Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at
“Voices for Five Acres,” honors Tena Clark
585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626)
and Michelle LeClair for their work helping
793-4231 or visit lachildrenschorus.org.
children and families in crisis.The evening
An Evening with Fritz
includes live music,
May 12 — KNBC-TV Channel 4 weather-
dining, dancing and a
man Fritz Coleman reveals his comedic
live auction. Celebrity
alter ego when he brings his stand-up act
emcees are Matthew
to A Noise Within at 8 p.m. An Evening with
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THE LIST
L.A. WINEFEST KEEPS SPIRITS RISING
May 31 and June 1 — The L.A. WineFest at Hollywood’s historic Raleigh Studios includes two days of sampling hundreds of offerings by California wineries from Napa Valley to Temecula. Craft beers and exotic spirits are available in a beer garden. Mainstage presentations include short, fun talks on wine-related subjects, cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and seminars on related topics. Food trucks will be parked onsite, and artisan boutiques and live music are included.The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.Tickets cost $85, $150 per couple.VIP tickets offer various perks for an additional $40 on Saturday, $25 Sunday. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles. The Raleigh Studios are located at 5300 Melrose Ave., Hollywood.Visit lawinefest.com.
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Lillard (The Bridge) and Wendy Burch (The
from noon to 5 p.m. Free shuttles connect
KTLA Morning News).Tickets cost $250,
all museums.
with sponsorships available for $1,000
Visit museumsofthearroyo.com.
to $20,000.The gala benefits Five Acres programs providing safety, well-being and
Bright Lights, Dark Humor
permanent homes for Southern California
May 31 — The dark
children and families in need.
comedy Bright Light
Trinity Ballroom is located at 778 S. Rose-
City opens at 8 p.m.
mead Blvd., Pasadena. For tickets and
at the Los Angeles
sponsorships, call (626) 791-1225, ext. 1, or
Theatre Center. Set in
email jill@mhpevents.com. For information about Five Acres, visit fiveacres.org.
a sleazy hotel, it reveals the less glitzy side of Las Vegas.Two hit men are hired to kill a beautiful cocktail waitress
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Open Door Day at Arroyo Museums
and prostitute, but one falls for her and
May 18 — The 25th annual Museums
complications ensue.The play was written
of the Arroyo Day features a variety of
by Nate Rufus Edelman, who co-directs with
Pasadena-area museums opening their
Angie Scott. Previews are May 29 and 30, with
doors for free admission. Museums include
performances at 8 p.m.Thursdays through
The Autry’s Southwest Museum, the Gamble
Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through June
House, Heritage Square Museum, the Los
22.Tickets cost $30; $20 for students, seniors,
Angeles Police Muse-
veterans and groups of 10 or more; and $15
um, the Lummis Home
for members and previews.
and Garden and the
Los Angeles Theatre Center is located at
Pasadena Museum
514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles. Call (866)
of History. Activities run
811-4111 or visit thelatc.org. ||||
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