THE STRAND
Civic C I V ICouch C C OPresents: UCH PRESENTS
Special Edition
PLUS: Local Control The Six Man Debate When Cancer Stikes Manhattan Wine Auction Beach Style And More!
Rocco Deluca THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS
The Strand
124
CONTENTS
PEOPLE 24 When Cancer Strikes
An unpredictable follow up to Valerie Buck’s own interview with Lindsay Weems
28 Rocco Deluca
Deluca openly shares his thoughts on his involvement with “Walk With Sally”, giving back to the community, creating the music he loves, his upcoming album and his extensive collection of socks.
20 One 2 Watch
There is a rising star in the South Bay culinary landscape
ETC. 16 Local Control The 6-Man debate rages on
34
12
PLACES 26 New Kids on the Block New business to check out here in the South Bay.
8
Calendar
What’s up with what’s going down.
10 Miss USA Media Day
34 Day Trippin
Current and future MISS CALIFORNIA USA contestants came to The A short while back I decided that once Shade Hotel a month I will take my daughter on a day trip outside of the South Bay Jeanne’s Journey
11
Bubble.
18 Summer of Color For five months beginning in May, the LA County lifeguard towers – on 31 miles of beach -- were transformed into a collective work of art.
Appearances from three time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, Laker Luke Walton, “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Katherine Kelly Lang
12 Raise Your Glass The 16th Annual Manhattan Wine Auction
6
What Are We Searching For
Top “key words” people use when searching for information about our beach cities
On The Cover: Rocco Deluca belts out a song for the White Light White Night crowd Photo Credit: Ian Logan
EVENTS
CIVIC
2 COUCH
{Contributors}_______________________ Valerie Buck
Alright, so better late than never became the unofficial motto for this issue as my treatment forced delays upon delay while I went from diagnosis on March 16th, to surgery, radiation and completion of my last chemotherapy treatment on July 21. Needless to say I would like to thank everyone for their patience. Luckily summer in the South Bay waited for us too, with a June gloom lasting through July. Now with August on . . us, the sun is busting out, perfect time for ladies to refresh their look. Ubertalented makeup artist Lisa Gilbert shows us gals how to bring color used wisely into a summer palate. Another amazing local secret everyone should sample is tucked away down at North End Bar and Grill in Hermosa Beach (formerly known as “Critters”)- two nights a week Jessica Jordan rocks another type of palate bringing Gastropub fare to new levels. Hats of to the ladies for showing us how its done! Another special personal thank you goes out to Lindsay Weems. Her message “Get checked” in our debut issue saved my life. So now its time to pay it forward, if you are a young person, healthy fit, but there is something nagging - a mole, a spot, a lump, a cold that keeps coming back, an ache, a twinge, or you just haven’t had a checkup since your doctor gave you a lollipop at the end of your last - Go in, get checked out.
Cindy Whitehead
Being able to sit down one on one with indie rock singer Rocco Deluca was a really great experience - there was none of this “wall of handlers” or any rules laid out prior to the interview like you get with some artists. Just us having a conversation about everything from charity, to skateboarding to music. His sense of humor kept me laughing and his interests are wide and varied - I couldn’t have asked for a better subject to interview.
CIVIC
3 COUCH
From The Editor:
O
ur debut issue was released a few months ago and the response overwhelming. What was most important was that the subjects of many of our features, Eric Fonoimoana, Lindsay Weems, the Miller family, felt we did the stories justice and appreciated them. Those are the toughest critics and there is no higher compliment. As we began working on our follow up issue we were hit with devastating news. On March 16th, Valerie was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36. Valerie is an instrumental piece to the success of our debut issue. The magazine was put on hold as she immediately began her treatment through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Writing the Lindsay Weems article led not only to the discovery of Valerie’s illness, but provided an invaluable role model and supporter. Both now are joining the fight to spread awareness among young people. Friends joined the cause, getting health insurance, checkups, following up on overdue tests, getting screened for everything from skin cancer to joining registries for bone marrow donation. Now at the end of her chemotherapy regime, her sights are set strong on tacking the cancer, getting her running shoes back on and she still finds time to write great articles. Rocco Deluca is an interesting man. His indie rock sound is off the mainstream music path. His performance is a musical love child mix of Led Zeppelin and Billie Holiday. I was impressed by his unique musical styling and his giving attitude toward a great cause, Walk With Sally. So, take a minute, pull up your laptop and check out our newest addition – let us know what you think! Sincerely, Brad Jacobson Publisher Valerie Buck Editor In Chief www.civiccouch.com
CIVIC
4 COUCH
CIVIC COUCH Executive Editor Brad Jacobson brad@civiccouch.com Editor Valerie Buck vk_10_5@yahoo.com Executive Literary Editor Kathleen Paralusz Photography Director Ian Logan Contributing Writers Cindy Whitehead Contributing Photographers Brent Broza, Brad Jacobson Letters To The Editor brad@civiccouch.com Advertising and Marketing Brad Jacobson brad@civiccouch.com (310) 406.5998 Advisory Board Valerie Buck, Portia Cohen, Jacob Dax, Carrie Fisher-Pascual, Kathleen Paralusz, Jonathan Pascual, Edward Myska, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Mitch Ward
Catch Us While We Are Young HALF PAGE COLOR AD FOR ONLY
$100 Contact Brad Jacobson for more information brad@civiccouch.com 310.406.5998
CIVICCOUCH.COM
WHAT ARE WE SE
Here are the top “key words” people use when s as reported by google ad words for global monthly searches
Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Beach
“Key Words” when using the phrase Manhattan Beach
“Key Words” when using the phrase Hermosa Beach
1. Hotels Manhattan Beach
1. Hermosa Beach Hotels
40,500 global monthly searches
22,200 global monthly searches
2t. Manhattan Beach Hotel
2t. Hermosa Beach Hotel
22,200 global monthly searches
12,100 global monthly searches
2t. Manhattan Beach Homes
2t. Hermosa Beach Homes
22,200 global monthly searches
12,100 global monthly searches
3t. Manhattan Beach Restaurants
3. Hermosa Beach House
14,800 global monthly searches
9,900 global monthly searches
3t. Manhattan Beach Homes For Sale
4t. Hermosa Beach Inn 8,100 global monthly searches
14,800 global monthly searches
4t. Hermosa Beach Pier
4t. Manhattan Beach Home
8,100 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
5. Hermosa Beach Restaurants
4t. Manhattan Beach School
5,400 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
6t. Hermosa Beach Rentals
4t. Manhattan Beach Inn
4,400 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
6t. Hermosa Beach Apartments
5t. Manhattan Beach Rentals
4,400 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
6t. Hermosa Beach Club
5t. Manhattan Beach Jobs
4,400 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
7. Hermosa Beach Rental 3,600 global monthly searches
FEB / MARCH
6 CIVIC COUCH
EARCHING FOR?
searching for information about our beach cities
Redondo Beach
El Segundo
“Key Words” when using the phrase Redondo Beach
“Key Words” when using the phrase El Segundo
1. Hotels Redondo Beach
1t. El Segundo Hotel
33,100 global monthly searches
18,100 global monthly searches
2t. Hotel Redondo Beach
1t. El Segundo Hotels
27,100 global monthly searches
18,100 global monthly searches
2t. Redondo Beach Homes
2. El Segundo blvd
27,100 global monthly searches
14,800 global monthly searches
3. Redondo Beach Homes For Sale
3. El Segundo School
18,100 global monthly searches
4. Sepulveda El Segundo
12,100 global monthly searches
4. Redondo Beach Pier
8,100 global monthly searches
14,800 global monthly searches
55. El Segundo Restaurants
5. Redondo Beach Restaurants
5,400 global monthly searches
12,100 global monthly searches
5t. Hacienda LAX
6t. Redondo Beach School
5,400 global monthly searches
9,900 global monthly searches
6. El Segundo Park
6t. Redondo Beach Jobs
3,600 global monthly searches
9,900 global monthly searches
7t. Hacienda El Segundo
7t. Redondo Beach Restaurant
2,900 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
7t. El Segundo Beach
7t. Redondo Beach Home
2,900 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
7t. El Segundo Homes
7t. Redondo Beach City
2,900 global monthly searches
8,100 global monthly searches
FEB / MARCH
7 CIVIC COUCH
Calendar
Upcoming Events for August
AVP Manhattan Beach Open 8/19/2010 - 8/22/2010 Manhattan Beach
The AVP Nivea Tour comes to Manhattan Beach. Manhattan Beach is considered by many as “crown-jewel” of the AVP Tour. Players say once you win in Manhattan Beach, you really have made it on the AVP Tour. Find more info at: www.avp.com
Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament
Dinner of Champions Fashion Food and Wine Festival
7/31/2010 - 8/1/2010
8/21/2010
Manhattan Beach Beach
World-class volleyball players, pro athletes, aspiring avp players and average Joe’s throw on costumes and battle it out in Manhattan Beach in front of thousands (estimated around 30k last year) of spectators with a Mardi Gras type atmosphere. Find more info at: http://www.citymb.info
This event gives both participants and fans of the Manhattan Beach AVP Open a chance to meet and mingle with legends of the game while eating good food, sipping great wine and enjoying a fashion show. Nicole Johnson (Miss Ca. USA) and Chris “Geeter” McGee will be hosting the event. Proceeds benefit Dig 4 Kids Education Foundation
35th Catalina Classic Paddleboard Championships 8/29/2010 Cataline to Manhattan Beach
On Sunday, August 29th, 2010, paddlers from all over the United States and from as far away as Australia will take to the waters off of Southern California in the 35th Catalina Classic Paddleboard Championships, the premier and most historical paddleboard race in the world. Officially started in 1955 by Los Angeles County Lifeguard Bob Hogan, the first Catalina crossing was won in 1932 by Tom Blake, beating out Pete Peterson and Wally Burton in just under 6 hours. They will race 32 miles from Catalina to the Manhattan Beach pier.
10 COUCH
CIVIC
Fashion
Food wine
Ge
ner a Tic l Adm ket s $ ission 75
SATURDAY AUGUST 21st
Festival
@Raleigh Movie Studios
Featuring a Tribute to Manhattan Beach
TASTE
Open Champions
Tastings from award winning wineries Sample delicious foods prepared by some of the South Bays favorite restaurants
Hosted By Miss California USA
VIEW
Swimwear and casual wear modeled by Miss California USA® contestants and Professional Volleyball Athletes.
with MC
MEET
Past and current professional volleyball champions
AVP Announcer Chris “Geeter” McGee Our Supporters
LOST BIRD Benefiting
MISS CALIFORNIA USA
MEDIA EVENT DAY
Working the red carpet Miss California USA Contestants
AT THE SHADE HOTEL Current and future MISS CALIFORNIA USA contestants came to The Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach to meet and greet the industry’s top hair and make-up professionals, fitness and nutrition experts, Hollywood stylists and fashion designers, media trainers, and learn to walk the red carpet and win over the paparazzi on Saturday April 10th.
Working on interview skills 2010 MISS Ca. USA Nicole Johnson
1.
Stars Support
Jeanne’s Journey
2.
4.
3.
5.
Founded by Lindsey and Lauren Borden, “Jeanne’s Journey” held their debut fundraising event on Sunday. The organization is a new non-profit benefitting breast cancer. The group aids cancer patients with their living expenses, and provides complimentary alternative therapy options for patients undergoing treatment. The stellar turn out included appearances from three time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova, Laker Luke Walton, “The Bold and the Beautiful” star Katherine Kelly Lang, and live music by Marc Robbilard. Also in attendance were Gold Medalist Eric Fonoimoana, and AVP stars Albert Hannemann, Ty Loomis and Austin Rester.
7.
6.
1: (L-R) Lauren Borden, Maria Sharapova, Lindsey Borden and Marc Robbilard. 2: Marc Robbilard 3: Sliding. 4: Lauren and Lindsey Borden. 5: Luke Walton. 6: Katherine Kelly Lang. 7: Maria Sharapova
MANHATTAN WINE AUCTION POURS WINE, DISHES OUT GREAT FOOD AND RAISES OVER $600K Over 1,400 people attended the 16th Annual Manhattan Wine Auction hosted by the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) . This years event raised over $600,000 for MBEF, who helps fund critical education programs at each of Manhattan Beach’s seven public schools. Over 80 leading wineries
One of over 80 wineeries pouring for the event
offered tastings of their wines alongside delicious foods prepared by over 30 of the area’s finest restaurants. The event also featured a silent and live auction as well as dancing to the sounds of the John Brown Band.
Dressed to impress for an evening of wine, food and donations
Jack Johnson was ready to bid The live auction under the lights
One of the many servings of food available to the guest JEvent overview
Going once...
12 COUCH
CIVIC
Body Glove Beach Fest
Body Glove hosted the first annual Beach Fest 4 man Volleyball “King of the Streets” tournament on Saturday, June 12th in Manhattan Beach. The “King of the Streets” format pitted teams from not only the beach cities, but as far south as San Diego in a challenge to see which local area could claim both bragging rights and a $3000 check.
13 COUCH
CIVIC
BEACH By Lisa Gillbert FEB / MARCH
16 CIVIC COUCH
“My goal was to create a look that would evoke a colorful summer palate; beachy, outdoor and fun, flexible enough for day and night, subtle enough to be worn at the office and by many ages, but still using color which a lot of people think “they” can’t wear – everyone can wear color like this.” To Create this look – Gilbert applied Kiehl’s Moisturizer and Smashbox Photofinish Primer to provide a smooth flawless surface, followed by Stila One Step Foundation “it’s a new foundation which was launched in May which is the perfect multitasking foundation – it gives a natural satin finish, medium to full coverage with or without powder and its made with Arclay Technology which balances the oily, dry and blemish prone areas. It’s a liquid but with almost a mousse texture and uses a pump to prevent cross contamination.” The face was finished with Make Up Forever HD Powder. The eyes are the focus of the look, but to make bright color wearable for a wide range of people, I used it in a different way. I started with Urban Decay Eye Potion Primer all over to the lash line to the eyebrow, followed by a base color: eye shadow by Nixie Cosmetics in “Niko” a light cream shade, then “Teddie” a soft cocoa brown in the crease both in matte shades, “Teal” shadow, under the eye with a smudger (short bristled flat round brush), from lower lash line inner corner to outer edge – by using matte
color in neutral shades on the lid and in the crease – allows a wide range of skin tones, eye shapes and to wear this look while also making it versatile enough for day or night. The “Teal” hue under the eye allows a creative and fun way to introduce color into a once subtle look. “The teal here can be the wild card, you can leave it out, apply it later in the day, substitute a different color like a purple, blue or any bright color for fun, or a neutral for something more subtle.” This look can be worn within a large age range appropriate from 20’s to 40’s. The inner rim of the lower eye lid (also called the waterline) was also done with Sephora Eyeliner Pencil #085, a very pale light blue – by adding the lighter color on that portion of the lid it widens the eye, making it appear larger and rounder, by using light blue vs. white it enhances the whites of the eye without making it appear yellow. The blush used was Nixie Cosmetics “Embrace” a matte papaya (peachy orange) applied to the apples of the cheek following the cheek bone. Lip color is MAC Viva Glam “Gaga” a soft sheer bubble gum pinkfun for summer and a breezy beach look, the color added by
15COUCH
CIVIC
Lady Gaga to the popular Viva Glam line which ALL proceeds go towards MAC Aids Fund “it’s another nice way to bring in a brighter color because it is sheer” Gilbert finished the look with MAC brow pencil in “Lingering” a taupe brown – a universal shade for all but the blackest of brows. “This is a great pencil, it works with every brow color from beach blondes like Jenna to darker brunettes”. Lashes were enhanced with Diorshow Mascara “It’s a great summer mascara it’s got good dense coverage, one stroke and you are done, nice thick black lashes”. Nixie cosmetics are available exclusively online – while all other products can be found at major retailers including Sephora, MAC, Macy’s and Nordstrom. Gilbert- an independent a makeup artist has worked on celebs such as Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Solange Knowles. She is available for consultations, special events, and personal appointments.
Makeup Artist: Lisa Gilbert – vixenmua@yahoo.com Photographer: Scott Gorski – www.scooterphotography.com Model: Jenna Kemp
“Local Control”
The Debate Rages On By Valerie Buck
A
nyone hearing the recent debate over the 6 man tournament draws the same conclusions. The concerns about crowds now double the city population, fear of a drunken mob rioting, city services overwhelmed from a worried police chief. Residents complaining of a deluge of intoxicated revelers treating their multizillion walkstreet homes and Calterranean Strand Castles like an alley on Bourbon street, at 4 a.m. on the closing days of Mardi Gras. Families with young children exchanging horror stories of vomit spewing underage drinkers whose own parents seem to be blissfully unaware that those jello packages missing from their pantries (along with the vodka) are happily being horked by their angelic honor student, who is in fact, face down located in the gutter between heatstroke and alcohol poisoning, clad in a bikini, wearing a sodden bunny tail at the veteran age of 16 – and that was their eldest son. The Chief has the right to be worried, its bad, and could get worse. While arrests and citations are low, its simply because it wouldn’t be prudent for officers outnumbered 1500-1 to begin issuing open container violations as was the ratio last year. Council members stated the obvious “it’s gotten out of hand”. But they announced it to the wrong group of ears, a handful of organizers, longtime participants, including an Olympian, sitting in the chambers on a Tuesday evening.
SIX MAN
H
ere are the facts- there are around 4000 participants in the tournament who are registered on teams the majority of whom are area residents – many have participated in the tournament for years. The other 56,000 folks… well, uh, they just kinda show up. And drink. A lot. Judging from the fact that Manhattan Beach has a population of around 35,000… most of them actually don’t live in the area. The players are rostered, trackable, and under the dominion of the tournament organizers. That’s where the tracking begins and ends, without the police getting involved.
“that
means
the scale that six man has hit, let alone the AVP attendance numbers. when the answer comes back – that requires California Coastal Commission approval – brows furrow and folks go “uh, so? The AVP does…” While widely unpopular with locals, the yellow – scratch thatNivea Blue tented professional beach volleyball tour, does in fact charge an entry fee for its events, including it’s Wimbledon, the Manhattan Open. This is debated, complained about, and its been quite awhile since 60,000 folks showed up for that event in a single day – but is really the only way it’s affordable to create anything
a
loss
of
event on the beach. That being said, the AVP was able to get approval as a for-profit company, so while not easy, its not impossible. This was brought up by CBVA President Chris Brown, who implored the council to pursue that route, rather than resorting on effectively punishing the only group they could find – the athletes – by raising the fees, restricting their costumes/uniforms, sound systems, etc., when the increased costs are coming from the spectators. Many six man athletes include current and past AVP pros, Olympians, Collegiate All-Americans, current NCAA coaches, current NCAA athletes, in addition to weekend warriors
local
control”
one city council member quickly said defensively Proposed changes; banning costumes, reducing teams, allowing teams a single 10 x 10 tent, pulling the proverbial plug on the MacGyver inspired mobile PA units powered by car batteries; target those participants. That is the regulated controllable group, who pays to play. Yeah – spectators show up by the tens of thousands to get treated to some of the top names in volleyball, past and present, playing without paying a dime. And the teams, well, since we know who and where they are, get to shoulder the burden. “Why not charge spectators?” people blithely ask – and to
City council members sat up in their chairs at the mention of the Coastal Commission – “that means a loss of local control!” one member quickly said defensively. The process could be long, arduous, take years and involve restrictions with an organization whose mission statement is: “ Protect, conserve, restore, and enhance environmental and human-based resources of the California coast and ocean for environmentally sustainable and prudent use by current and future generations.”
thrilled to have been drilled in the face by a childhood icon. The reality is that while the teams have a good time, they are not the issue, organizers know that, they know the teams – and hey know who to track down when a team misbehaves – because the 6’6 former AVP Champion, dressed like Chevy Chase, does kinda stand out – even in a crowd. But the faceless, nameless, revelers flying in for a party listed on Maxim magazines website are the ones least impacted.
Their job, in essence is to protect access to the beach – keep it free – and accessible, and their approval is necessary to hold a private controlled, ticketed, paid
Those same spectators are also the group voted “least likely” to read the City Council meeting notes, visit the... continued on page 36
17 COUCH
CIVIC
COLOR Summer of Color is the largest public art project in the U.S., and also one of the largest civic efforts in the world. For five months beginning in May, the LA County lifeguard towers – on 31 miles of beach -- were transformed into a collective work of art. Summer of Color is the culmination of the efforts of nearly 6,000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs – and more than 2,500 adult volunteers – who have participated in the initiative’s program activities. For six months preceding the installation, Portraits of Hope engaged children and adults from 118 school, hospital, youth, and social service programs in civic leadership and creative therapy sessions. The Braille Institute, Special Olympics, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitative Center, and Program for Torture Victims are among the many organizations that have participated. Many children and adults involved in the project have experienced a variety of medical and physical challenges. To meet the individual needs of children and adults with disabilities, Portraits of Hope developed specialized painting brushes and techniques including telescope paint brushes for those in wheel chairs or attached to IVs, the shoe brush ™ for individuals unable to manipulate a brush with their hands, and fruit-flavored mouth brushes for kids and adults with limited movement in their limbs. For more information, visit: http://www.portraitsofhope.org/projects/lifeguardtowers/
Rosecrans
26th Street
34th Street
One by Valerie Buck
2 Watch
There is a rising star
in the South Bay culinary landscape, but like a mirage promising “foodie paradise”, perched on the border between Manhattan Beach and Hermosa beach, nothing is as it seems. The oasis is not a chic bistro, designed by a top name, low lit, contemporary furniture with nouvelle cuisine. Nor is it an ivy covered quaint café filled with charm and warm lighting. It’s a bar. A really old bar, and not the old “so old its new again” with red naugahyde booths haunted by Hollywood hipsters. It’s an old beach bar, where the newest thing is the flat screens slung around the circular space so
Photo by Scott Gorski
the locals can watch their beloved Lakers and Kings. The typical menu is bar food; wings, burgers, munchies, some salads. North End Bar and Grill in Hermosa Beach – not to be confused with North End Caffe in North Manhattan Beach is predominantly a neighborhood crowd. Most of the locals still refer to it by its previous incarnation “Critters”. It makes the news for the same neighbors griping about the little bar that a residential neighborhood sprouted around. Its wood paneled, with photos of the wall of men on horseback - instead of cars – the original regulars.
The dress code is as beach casual as it gets – with softball teams popping in post game. Jeans, flip flops, tee shirts, sweats, swimsuits covered by a tee shirt – and two guys who stopped in to watch Kobe after work. But two times a week – something magic happens, so quietly you could miss the single sheet of paper set out on the bar, Monday Night Dinner Specials and Tapas Wednesday. The young girl bringing you your dinner, who looks
Photo by Scott Gorski
barely old enough to drink is not your waitress, she’s the chef. Meet Jessica Jordan – and if you haven’t gone to North End on one of those nights – you are missing the best kept culinary secret in the South Bay. While Jordan looks like she could still be in high school, she in fact graduated from Mira Costa in 2003, and now several of her former teachers are very loyal for
regulars. She took a typical local teen job at Beckers Bakery and went onto culinary school from there – working at Avenue restaurant as a line cook to build experience. Now, at 25 with clear vision rare for someone her age, she is taking charge of a project that gives her the creative freedom a larger relocation couldn’t provide, without the overhead to keep a snazzy setting in its electric bill. Her food is inspired and efficiency in ingredient use would make a kitchen manager proud. In fact, that is one of her duties around those menus. “My inspirations are places that go above and beyond the ordinary. I hunt for new restaurants that have unique/regional/international inspired menus. I like to take ingredients that would
North End Bar and Grill in Hermosa Beach be classified as one ethnicity and use them in a different ethnic food type. for example....sesame & ginger are considered Asian ingredients. I like to do something like Sesame Ginger Grits and served them with Miso Glazed Sea Bass.... making the grits not all that American,” said Jordan. It’s simplicity is brilliance. The concept talked about, but never quite executed – a bar, a sports bar, with amazing food, fine dining without the fuss. Some place the husband can watch the game, and the wife can marvel... Continued on page 22
at the menu – while both in their sweats. Kobe is showing up twice – on the flat screen and in the sliders – while she can nibble on her Food Network fantasies like Prosciutto, Basil & Goat Cheese Calzone Pizza topped with a Balsamic Reduction and White Truffle Oil -$9. The romantic notion that the chef lovingly prepared the menu, gazing out the window before hitting a local Farmers Market for the best of everything is not a pipe dream. Jordan’s menu planning wins a hats off – and the flexibility that the two day a week duty gives allows her to personally select everything from the cuisine to which heirloom tomato makes it onto your plate.
“The most difficult thing about planning my menus is the weather!
Photo by Scott Gorski
If it’s cold and windy my clientele drops. If it’s a beautiful sunny day business is better. It’s also hard to plan how much of each item will sell... sometimes the pork chops are a hot item and other times they are a dud. I guess it’s because the items are never really the same as the week before. My favorite time to plan the menu is during football season when the menu is based on the Monday Night Football home team. I do all items regional to that specific area. My favorite to make is New Orleans. I have never been, but some people highly doubt that because of things like my Fried Oyster Po boys, Jumbo Shrimp w/ Cheese Grits or my alligator gumbo.” “My ingredients are sourced locally. If I have time I go to the
Farmers Markets, if not I go to Whole Foods for produce. We use Santa Monica Seafood for our fish and Rocker Brothers for our meats. My friend also grows oyster & shitake mushrooms organically, his company’s name is “Shitake Happens”. People give the most feed back on the size of my Monday Night Dinners... ‘Oh my God its sooo big’. I did a 20oz prime porterhouse steak. They also talk about my baby back ribs... I know we are not a BBQ place, but mine are different. I braised them, usually in a ginger lemongrass BBQ sauce that I make. I leave them in the oven for about 5 hours and crisp them up on the grill. Knife and fork ribs! I also did an appetizer that was tempura lobster claws w/ Vanilla-Lemon Hollandaise, that got a lot of comments. I also
have to say I love the fryer. I really wish i had a smokers because it would be limitless what would come out of there...” The menu changes with every session, and EVERYTHING is taken into consideration. A rare cold blustery day finds comfort food taking stage. But this ain’t your Ma’s Meatloaf – it’s Spring Lamb Meatloaf, Mint Au Jus, Roasted Garlic & Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Lemon Olive Oil Aioli – for $17 – about half of what you would pay at that chic bistro or café. The soup that day was a Roasted Sweet Corn & Blue Crab Chowder, Baby Zucchini, Spring Onions, Oyster Mushrooms for $6, served in a bowl large enough that four people noshed to their hearts content. With a nod towards both the recession and the quality of food, all wine is discounted by $5 per bottle. “My best sellers are hard to rate because the menus change so much but usually the filet mignon, any time i make it. My double cut pork chops usually stuffed with something like pancetta & goat cheese... whenever I make halibut it flies out of the place.... I also make a gigantic meatloaf whether it be lamb, veal or garlic clove stuffed, they all do pretty well. California really inspires me. We have the best of everything. There is no need for restaurants here to use lettuce grown in Mexico. We can be sustainable as a state,” concluded Jordan. The environmentally aware angle, emphasis on organic and locally grown foods and sustainability pledge are all typical hallmarks of the Generation Y2K movement, it also shows with the Facebook group
“I <3 North End” (the <3 portion is facebook code for a heart shape). Every Monday and Wednesday she updates the menu using the group. One thing that is very clear is that this rising star will have opportunities heading her way – so pop into North End on a Monday or Wednesday before the mirage vanishes and visit paradise before its lost.
Jessica Jordan with one of her favorite’s
When Cancer Strikes
by Valerie Buck
Finding Out I Have Stage 2 Breast Cancer
Photo by Scott Gorski
“When my lotto comes in I am sooooo going to get this fixed,” my friend Elise said, pointing at the faint lines starting around her eyes. To be sure, the lines are there. She, like me, is 36. We were going for a “walk”. An 8 mile walk, because on an “easy” day, you have to do more, longer, to get the same calorie torching result, and since both she and I are fond of food rather than the Posh Spice approach to dieting (two grapes and an almond), we put on the sneakers and go. As we tick down the miles, we chat about a friend of ours, single guy of 38 and his new girlfriend, a much younger 28 and continue to plan our forward assault on age. Thirty six, inching ever closer to 40, but with expectations that if we push hard enough
going, determined, driven.
back against time – run a little farther, maybe a little botox, it can look on the downward side of 35 rather than that needle pointing to that lovely 40 cliff. Joggers and runners streak past us. The women all look the same. Headphones on, faces set in determination, running down time and age itself – running towards that bikini and size 26 pair of jeans. This isn’t leisure, this isn’t fun, this is business and the personal stakes are high in a place where beauty opens so many doors. The guys have it easier, doing a leisure jog, shirtless, smiling while appreciating the zoo around them. The ladies are running by them, for them, and they know it and enjoy the views with smug faces. We keep
the debut issue, Lindsay Weems. We chat over the article and I tell her how much I appreciated her candor. The biggest impression she left was the intense plea “If you are a young woman, like me, healthy, happy, but there is some nagging symptom out there…. Get it checked.” Running into her I remember a not-so-small lump in my armpit that my doctor found at my annual back at the end of October. It’s now the end of February. I call to get it “checked”, primarily so I can then email Lindsay and let her know that someone heard her. Someone did something and what she said mattered.
We both have so many things happening in our lives. She just started a new job and is driving every morning to Pasadena before dawn to call her clients in India and Europe. I am days away from becoming a working partner in Civic Couch and scrambling to make the deadline on the spring magazine issue. I have interviews scheduled, articles planned, assignments passed out. Big things are happening, new website launching, working with PR firms. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s my dream job and pushes me even harder to keep walking. That night at Brett Broza’s Photography show at Memphis, I run into an interview subject from
schedule to get the mammogram prescription. Not really, by genetic standards, my 66 year old paternal Aunt’s case is genetically not really that interesting. She had Stage 0 non invasive cancer. Lumpectomy, radiation and literally barely missed a beat. “Mind if the med student checks this?” Nope, sure check away. This is the third doctor now who checks my happy lump and is very unimpressed. They write me a mammogram and ultrasound order and send me on my way. The next week at the imaging center I am the youngest person in the room by at least 15 years. The waiting area is filled with ladies getting their annual. I am the only one scheduled for an ultrasound. The technicians
The next week at the imaging center I am the youngest person in the room by at least 15 years.
“Any family history of breast cancer?” Dr. Kevin says unconcerned at the appointment I have to
were funny, and answered all my questions. Being a writer, there might be a story here, and the pictures are honestly quite neat to look at. Mammogram is done and not as bad as I have heard, in fact it was quite nothing. Back to the waiting area and there are fewer ladies there. Ultrasound begins and again, chatting away and asking questions about the scan. “Oh, he’ll want to biopsy this… it’s a solid mass” the tech says. I groan inwardly not wanting to reschedule, and come back. I offer to hang out and wait for an opening for the biopsy, remembering my Aunt waiting roughly a week for hers. This appointment could interfere with my schedule for the magazine. I
continued on page 32...
New Kids On The Block New businesses to check out here in the South Bay
Rok Sushi in Hermosa Beach
Pages Bookstore Manhattan Beach
O
nce upon a time...
...three passionate and savvy bibliophiles, Patty, Linda and Margot, opened an independent bookstore in their beloved hometown of Manhattan Beach, CA. They had always dreamed of doing so. When serendipity brought together the three women, their dreams and the perfect seaside location, nothing could stop them.
Today, {pages} is the place for book lovers of all ages, where reading, meeting and discussing books is a way of life. As book and literary gift curators, the heroines have endeavored to create an independent full-service bookstore that is home to hand selected fiction, nonfiction and children’s books. Browse their extensive selection of contemporary best-sellers and must-have classics. You can expect friendly, personalized service to help you find what you’re looking for. If {pages} doesn’t have it, they’ll set off to get it for you and won’t live happily ever after until they do.
A general bookstore, they offer a hand selection of great books, cards and reading related gift items. pages: a bookstore 904 Manhattan Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-318-0900
All new businesses: 4 Daughters, watermans, pages, Sushi place, (japanese MB Blvd.), Jacks Surfshop, Seafood ES Plaza) ,
Rok Sushi Hermosa Beach uniquely delicious cocktails. Visit the second floor VIP lounge offering bottle service; sit back and enjoy the “high life” while watching the scene below through our frameless glass railing. Groups of 25-40 people will find their beautifully designed mezzanine provides an excellent venue for private parties and special events.
ROK Sushi Kitchen is Hermosa Beach, California’s newest and freshest Japanese fusion restaurant, located on Hermosa Avenue at the Hermosa Pier. Experience their fusion of traditional sushi with
California kitchen cuisine. Enjoy fresh grilled fish, chicken, shrimp, or their traditional sushi bar featuring fish fresh from the dock. ROK’s full-service bar taps the talents of top mixologists for a drink menu of martinis and cocktails created with only the freshest fruits and vegetables. Stay into the night to enjoy their DJ and
Rok Sushi Kitchen 1200 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-372-4765 Hours: Sunday – Thursday 4pm – midnight Friday – Saturday 4pm – 1am
Continued on page 38...
Photography by Ian Logan
The
Nightingale Sings
by Cindy Whitehead
O C D L C
On the elevator ride up to the green room to do our interview, Rocco Deluca lets me know that there are no questions I could possibly ask that could throw him off his game before he starts his set in an hour or so. He explains to me that there are what he calls “mean press” and “nice press” and none of it phases him as he has learned to deal with all of it, good and bad, in the past few years. This probably isn’t what he loves about playing music, but it comes with the territory when people are comparing you to artists like Jeff Buckley. Being in demand means that Deluca has been in a session all morning with one of his hero’s, Producer Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Emmy Lou Harris) and after a full day in the studio he still seems genuinely excited and energized to be here getting ready to perform. When he sits down on the couch to start our interview, his black pants ride up slightly to expose bright red socks paired with a stylish pair of John Varvatos black Converse. I compliment him on the sock choice. Laughingly he explains that he left his boots at the studio so when he threw on his skateboard shoes to come here he realized that the red socks made more of a statement. Just like the songs he writes and the way he sings – Deluca is making a statement and people are paying attention. He acts on his first instincts and those instincts are proving to be right on. As he took the stage, with his grandfathers dobro, and a slide he makes himself out of wine bottles, there was no yelling into the mike to announce his arrival, just the haunting sound of his guitar and his powerful voice filling the night air almost immediately. Deluca doesn’t engage the crowd with stage theatrics and eye contact but rather allows them to explore his music in their own personal way. Listening to him perform is more like a journey you take that allows you to immerse yourself into a story he has created where imagination and possibilities are endless. Much like the children’s books and authors he loves, Deluca has found a way to combine that child like world with the depth of the jazz greats he listened to growing up, to create lyrics that pull you in, and a sound that is unique and all his own. During our interview Deluca was nice enough to openly share his thoughts on his involvement with “Walk With Sally”, giving back to the community, creating the music he loves, his upcoming album and his extensive collection of socks. CIVIC
29 COUCH
Cindy Whitehead (CW) :How did you get involved with the White Light White Night fundraiser benefiting Walk With Sally?
(Walk With Sally is a South Bay charity founded by Nick Arquette that provides mentoring and support programs for children across Los Angeles that are living with or have lost a parent or sibling to cancer)
Rocco Deluca (RD): When these beautiful people
contacted me it seemed like a really nice invitation to be a part of something that represented such a great idea. I’m really excited to be part of anything that contributes to community, like kids getting help or like some kind of sponsorship. It’s an amazing idea to stretch out beyond the immediate family and into the community. Almost like a milder form of some sort of apprenticeship, which I think is required for the future, for us to really bring a neighborhood together. I see these kids, and they have things, but if they could take a couple days off school and learn a craft, really just work with their hands or see someone in the community that’s passionate about something they do – it’s kind of cool too.
CW: It seems like had that kind of experience with your father being a touring blues musician? RD: I did see him be passionate about what he did and that was the best gift, very motivating. Like why does someone care so much about this? What’s going on over here? You’re curious and you investigate a bit and before you know it it’s contagious and you are involved. I think it’s good for kids to see that and to have someone. The most important thing being time spent, more important than some kind of craft, or wood shedding or any specific thing being taught. Genuine time spent seems to be the most important thing. CW: It’s also the easiest thing to give. RD: That’s ironic isn’t it? You don’t have to have a degree, or money – just time. CW: I know you were born in Torrance, lived in Lake Elsinore and later moved to Long Beach. So being here and playing tonight (in Torrance) must be like coming home in a way, as well as giving back to your community. At least one of your communities, as I know you have a few, Silverlake now being home.
RD: Yeah, pretty much from Los Angeles to down South, Long Beach and between it’s like making circles as a kid. Silverlake is a good neighborhood, as you can walk around.
CW: That’s kind of going back to what we spoke about, giving back and spending time rather than “doing something” is that right?
CW: And you don’t have to drive a car, because I know about this situation with you and the car. (The ironic part of this conversation is that Deluca is performing on the rooftop of the local South Bay BMW dealership tonight) RD: (laughing) I don’t drive, I can drive though. Lets get that straight. I skateboard, and I have a motorcycle I am building, but that’s another story.
RD: Just being there. I think that for me when I was growing up, if someone I was interested in on some level spent time with me I was very excited. Just getting to observe and learn by example. You didn’t even have to tell me anything, I’d just watch and see how it works. CW: I think kids know this instinctively. RD: You are right; children are, in my opinion, as smart and as intelligent and more forward than any species on the planet. A child is a very smart being and we sometimes forget how intelligent they are. Just by being there, showing a commitment to being somewhere everyday at the same time, or at this particular time you get to go do this. That teaches you a lot. Leading by example, showing rather than telling. CW: You have some favorite female blues artists that were an influence on you. Can you tell us who?
CW: When you come back to the South Bay to visit do you have any favorite places you like to go to listen to music or play music? RD: The funny thing is, when I am here it feels more like time to spend with grandma. She lives in Long Beach, and my brother and uncle live down the street. So when I am there I don’t ever leave that block as I am usually spending time there. If I am in Los Angeles, I am walking everywhere. There is tons of stuff going on in my neighborhood, I am constantly walking around, and it’s like a little triangle happening. So when I get to Long Beach most of the time I am just at grandmas.
RD: The female voice is a heavy, heavy deal. Billie Holiday is probably the queen. There is a vulnerability and a mystery. There is lot going on there. It’s like you have to hear that voice to know the story. I couldn’t explain that voice to someone; they would have to hear it. Nina Simone is another one. Also Mahalia Jackson. I am a big fan of music that comes from Hymns. Mahalia Jackson had a big powerful voice. The list goes on and on. When I hear these voices that are so pure and effortless, it’s like effortless cool. CW: You do the same thing with your music. Like with your song Nightingale, it’s beautiful. RD: Thanks! I think Nightingale was almost like a tribute to those kinds of beings who understood that nature and that effortless giving. I don’t think everyone grasps that piece.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 40 CIVIC
31 COUCH
*Breast Cancer* or something. “Sure, let me see if we can make that happen” she says while sending the images to the doctor. “What’s that?” I say seeing some squiggly brightly colored lines. “Oh, those are blood vessels…” she says distracted. Blood vessels leading to the mass… the wheels begin turning. This thing is being fed. This thing is smart enough to arrange to feed itself. Hmmm…. The doctor barges into the room kinda abruptly for the calm of the breast center and says “yes, I want a biopsy… lets do it.” Now I know I have amazing health insurance, so I understand that might speed things up, but I also know that the US med system does not move THAT quickly. They explain the procedure and paperwork materializes within minutes. Okay, time to investigate this. When he asks the standard “do you have any questions” I have a brief opening to say something different, ask a different question than one he is used to hearing, to jar a response out of him that is beyond the standard, that will give information relevant to this moment. “What are the usual odds, a mass this size, 36 yr old non smoker, no family history, no contributing factors (overweight, out of shape, poor diet), that this is malignant?” His wheels turn and he starts explaining. “With something like this, it isn’t the size of the mass, it’s the shape of the edges. Are they smooth or do they have tendrils, tentacles, phalanges reaching into the surrounding tissue… this has
some edges that I don’t like,” he pauses describing to me unconsciously what he just saw to trigger the biopsy, “but that doesn’t mean anything.” He quickly recovered and realizes that he might have slipped. I note the entire thing like an interview subject trying to hide something, from the unconscious admission to the recovery follow up and dismissal. The biopsy was a core needle biopsy with ultrasound guidance. The area was numbed and the pretty substantial
spring loaded needle took four good size samples through a single entry. I took pictures with my iphone. While certainly unpleasant mainly due to my fear of needles – it wasn’t particularly painful, with the sensation being more of tugging than anything else. It did leave an amazing bruise which I used to reward myself for stoic behavior and a legitimate excuse to cancel the running for a day or two and stick with walking. My underarm/breast area was sore for a few days, but again, barely worth taking an Aleve.
I get home and check out some facts about breast cancer, because this is a possibility, even though the odds are 90% that the lump is benign. I hit www.breastcancer.org, because information is ONLY as good as its source and the internet is filled with useless speculation, unverified facts, rumors, suspicion, fear and outright lies. I get the basics. The bottom line is that 1 in 8 US women will have breast cancer, but that only 5% of the cases diagnosed every year are in women under 40. Again, considering lifestyle factors, genetic factors, the odds are very much in my favor. I do the research regardless so if I get bad news I am prepared. My aunt insists on accompanying me. The nurse calls to do “wound check” and tells me not to sign in, just ask for her. Hmm. Okay. On that morning we arrive, and the volunteer politely insists that I sign in. I say I am supposed to meet the nurse and not sign in… a head peeks over the cubicle and says “oh, that’s Valerie… she’s not supposed to sign in.” Hospitals not signing in… this could be very good, or very bad. “Oh good you brought someone…” the nurse begins. Okay. Bad. On March 16th, I was told I have Stage 2, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, at 36. I am one of the youngest patients in my doctors’ offices paired with the unusual bad luck of having no family history, no lifestyle contributors and never touched a cigarette. My doctors (in the following week I would meet more than 10) all take a deep breath and show concern. I
have triple negative cancer (roughly 10-20% of cases are triple negative). It means the 5 year survival rate isn’t the normal 93%, its 77%, and those 16% points difference haunt them. It is more common in women under 40. It is also common in women with the “cancer gene” BRCA 1, which I do not have. It also means that several therapies and drugs are not going to work. The options are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. This bothers the doctors. There is also no “go to” treatment plan that shows better success with this type of cancer. This bothers the doctors more. All 10 have had different treatment plans and recommendations. It’s been an interesting two weeks. My first surgery is tomorrow and we are going to perform a
lumpectomy on the 2.7 cm (according to the MRI) not so happy lump. See the lump wasn’t bugging me. I kept an eye on it. I looked for breast symptoms, skin changes, pain, discharge, size changes… anything. But it didn’t really do much that I can see. But sometimes the devil is in the details. I tell my friends and they are scared. Some are in tears. My favorite is my friend and Civic Couch photographer Scott “Scooter” Gorski who simply says “cancer is dumb”. Because he is right, this whole thing is pretty dumb. And we talk about other stuff, including getting old. He just turned 46 (sorry Scoots!) and he is feeling old. I look at him and for once I am completely clear. “Scooter… Do you realize that if I make it to 46, that’s a 10 year cure
rate.” “Cancer sucks!” he replies, and once again is exactly right. Age and more importantly time have such different meaning now. I got home and I emailed Lindsay Weems. Without that article, without her admonishment, without the Labor Day Tournament’s donation to her, I would still not know. I wouldn’t have got it checked, because even today I feel fine, okay maybe a little stressed, but not as bad as you would think. Cancer is like rain. Sometimes it just happens. I thanked Lindsay Weems once again for that interview and article, but for a different reason this time. Because she just may have saved my life.
“ Do you realize that if I make it to 46, that’s a 10 year cure rate? ”
NOTE: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is a very common type of breast cancer. It starts developing in the milk ducts of your breast, but breaks out of the duct tubes, and invades, or infiltrates, surrounding tissues. Unlike ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a non-invasive cancer, IDC is not a well-contained cancer. IDC has the potential to invade your lymph and blood systems, spreading cancer cells to other parts of your body. If IDC spreads beyond its original site, we say it has metastasized. Signs and Symptoms: Invasive ductal carcinoma may feel like a hard, bumpy, irregularly-shaped lump beneath your areola or around the central area of your breast. An IDC lump will feel like it is attached to the breast tissue around it, so it may appear to be moveable. But it will be moving with the tissue that it has infiltrated. IDC can cause nipple retraction (nipple or areola pulling in). When doing your regular breast self-exam, if your nipple won’t remain standing out from your areola, it’s a good idea to go see your doctor for a clinical breast exam. On a mammogram, microcalcifications can appear near an IDC mass. - breastcancer.about.com CIVIC
33 COUCH
Day Trippin
Worth the short drive, the Huntington Library Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens provides a great day trip for people of all ages
The Japanese Gardens
The Huntington today encourages research and promotes education in the arts, humanities, and botanical sciences through the growth and preservation of its collections A short while back I decided that once a month I will take my daughter on a day trip outside of the South Bay Bubble. Being that my daughter is only 10 months old is going to make this tricky.
After the library we headed over to the botanical gardens. Each garden had a trail easily accessable with the stroller, and where there were stairs there was also a handicap entry.
To make the day trip successful, it would need to have a few qualifications. The destination has to be active, she doesn’t sit well in one place for more than 10 minutes. It needs to be visually changing and appealing. Finally, it needs to have easy acess for the stroller.
We started in the Japanese Gardens. These were amazing and I could have went home extremely satisified from here. Occupying nine acres on the slopes of a canyon, this is one of America’s oldest most elaborate and gracefully matured Japanese gardens. Bella gave it an A+.
My wife and mother in law recently took a trip to the Huntington Library, so when I mentioned my new plans for a weekly adventure she suggested that we start at the Huntington.
From there we headed over to the Chinese gardens. The Chinese Gardens are also referred to as the Garden of Flowing Fragrance. These gardens are a photographers dream. The man made lake is surrounded by Chinese architecture and rocks, flowers and trees, including the pine, lotus, plum, and other native Chinese plants. The bridge which crosses over the pond reflects a mirror like image off of the water. There is also a restaurant located here with a pond-front outdoor patio. The wheelchair path was great for pushing Bella around to see all sides of the garden.
I don’t get out of the bubble much, so my day trip got off on a bad note when my navagation told me to drive through downtown L.A. Thankfully, with Isabella safely strapped in the car seat, I qualified for the car pool lane and shaved an hour off of my drive. Pulling off the freeway in San Marino was another added bonus. Tree linned streets with large old fashion homes on huge lots wasn’t something we got to see much in Manhattan Beach. We arrived exactly as the Huntington opened, 10:30am. I paid the $15 addmission (Bella was free) and walked through the entry to a wide open garden. It seemed like everyone who arrived just before me was making their way directly to the botanical gardens. Knowing how well my daughters vocal cords worked in quiet places, now would be the best time to visit the library. I’m not much of an art collections type, but I could appreciate the paintings and antiques that the Library has. The collections were unique (didn’t feel like I was looking at the same painting over and over) and easy to look at. Appearantly Bella enjoyed them as well because midway through the library she began cheering (some people call it screaming). CIVIC
Chinese Gardens Story continues on page 36
35 COUCH
Day Trippin On our way to the Desert Gardens is the Lily Pond. What once was an unsightly gully in the southeast corner of the gardens is now home to four acres that include two large and three small ponds. These ponds are home to turtles, bullfrogs, Japanese koi, aquatic plants, and an occasional mallard family. Just up a hill from the ponds is a 10-acre garden featuring more than 5,000 species of succulents and desert plants in sixty landscaped beds. Bella was not as excited about this garden because I would not let her touch any of the plants. I enjoyed seeing all of the different colors, textures, shapes and sizes. Nearly 100 years old, this garden has grown in to one of the largest and oldest assemblages of cacti and other succulents in the world. Our last stop was at the Rose Gardens. These Gardens were featured in the movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, used as the White House rose garden. The three and a half acre garden was reorganized in the 70’s as a “collection garden” with more than 1,200 cultivars (approx 4,000 individual plants) arranged historically. The entrance pathway walks you through a tunnel of roses, opening Bella’s eyes as wide as they will go. Our timing to visit this garden was perfect as their first bloom starts around April 15th and continues right up to the start of pruning on January 2nd, typically peaking from late April through early June.
Lilly Pond
The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens are home to 14 gardens. numerous art collections and exhibits, and of course, the gift shop! Overall we had a great day and the Huntington met all of our prequalifications for my first father daughter day trip. Their mission statement adds that “The Huntington today encourages research and promotes education in the arts, humanities, and botanical sciences through the growth and preservation of its collections, through the development and support of a community of scholars, and through the display and interpretation of its extraordinary resources to the public.” I believe that they are staying true to their mission. To plan your own day trip or for more information about the Huntington, you can visit their website at http://www.huntington.org/
36 COUCH
CIVIC
Desert Gardens
*The Debate Rages On - Six Man*
official city sponsored website, or the Manhattan Beach Surf Festival Charles Saikley Memorial Six-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament’s website. In fact, when they Google “six man” (since most probably don’t realize there is in fact an entire surf festival actually happening – or know who Charles Saikley was), one of the first listings is from a party oriented blog/travel guide – written by a local resident, www.pubclub. com. However, council members, while aware of his site, did not approach the longtime resident, who would be more than happy to spread the word, and cooperate fully, using his site to promote the changes in cooperation with the city. They were busy debating how many
which probably get a good look from many civic minded folks, Maxim and Pub Club, filled with bikini clad babes probably get slightly more traffic… just a guess. Perhaps a PR company – there are several local – would step up to organize approaching media outlets and website to get the word out. There were several mentions of youtube videos showing the monster six man has become, but no realization of the tool that could be. Rather than overcharging the teams – ask them to create videos in cooperation with tournament organizers outlining proper etiquette, rules and regulations guidelines for spectators, and post them on youtube and
just like Pandora and her proverbial box, the last item to leave is hope team members can fit under a single tent. The answer, btw is – uh – not enough to realistically grant shade to a team now paying $100 per person to be broasted in the sun. The idea about allowing beach umbrellas instead is – shall we say – asking for trouble- as the remaining members each setting up umbrellas take up far more real estate which is in dire shortage. So – how to save the Saikley? Well, just like Pandora and her proverbial box, the last item to leave is hope – and while the Council didn’t slam the lid shut like our favorite Greek Lindsey Lohan – they could use a good hitter and several blockers on their own team. First, while the City and the Surf Festival operate websites
facebook . Teams with videos chosen might garner free or reduced entry rather than a bill for the poor behavior of total strangers. And while local control is a happy fantasy – let’s admit finally that the world, thanks to that kooky invention the world wide web – has gotten a lot smaller, and the secret is out. Form a foundation, benefiting local charities, approach the coastal commission, jump through the hoops and get the approvals needed to shift the burden not to the athletes, or the local residents, but to whoever shows up. Several knowledgeable resources exist in our own backyard within the AVP. This was first suggested by Brown – and so far CIVIC
37 COUCH
the most logical and reasonable solution to date. The word is getting out, “the party is over” – but we’ve got to make sure the right ears are listening.
New Kids
Watermans Hermosa Beach A new face is in the lineup at the Hermosa Pier. Watermans opened its doors recently, slaying the ghost of the much maligned, troubled nightspot Dragon. Positivity flows with a “Safe House for Surfers” theme, pure California beach at its best. A wind free patio and fresh healthy fare lead the way with Waterman’s charging into the lunchtime and dinner trade.
“The Banzai Pipeline” burger, to the actual cuisine itself, with a fusion of island and California flavors. Sandwiches are paired with a spring salad side rather than the typical French fries. Ahi shows up in several places ranging from salads, to seared on a sandwich with a crisp arugula and cool cucumber chilling down the Serrano chili kiss. The burgers include a veggie burger offering in addition to chicken and tuna. The colorful hummus plate is a must have with grilled pita showing a new attention to detail, and the hummus itself adorned with feta crown.
Most notable is the crowd, which includes local families, and area lunchtime business people in addition to tourists enjoying Spring Break. The atmosphere is comfortable, casual, without the hard drinking party crowd that plagued the The menu is solid, featurformer spot. Striking a unique baling lighter options, and ance, this is now a great idea for out of a variety of choices for town family and friends that want to try vegetarians - which are something local with out torturing the quite limited on the pier. The flavors and menu skew local by dragging them to another toursurf style. Menu items tote ist trap. The change is reflected in the ownership with addition of Dig 4 Kids both surf titles such as founder, an Olympic gold medalist
Eric Fonoimoana to the group. “I’ve known Jeff (Bellandi, owner) for years. When he approached me and explained what he wanted to do and what direction he wanted to go, I thought it was a very positive thing for the community. I wanted it to be a place that I could bring my family, and I do, “explained Fonoimoana. Taking the theme even further Bellandi approached local surf companies headquartered in the South Bay, giving them an opportunity to brand a space in the restaurant, contributing photos, video footage for the flat screens. That branding is creating a natural venue for special events sponsored by those very companies, and even their daily business. “it’s great, we had a client in town and took them to lunch over there, sitting at our branded table, watching our video playing on the tv’s… it was a nice touch,” said one rep. It’s rare when a location can change so radically, but it looks like this time, the Dragon has officially been slain and a new Safe House sits on the horizon. Watermans 22 Pier Avenue Hermosa Beach, Ca. 310.372.4462
Handel ’s Ice Cream
Handel’s has been named “One of the Best Ice Cream Parlors in the Country” by the Travel Channel, and Redondo Beach the best ice cream in the Generally speaking, teens country by USA Today, are not connoisseurs of Ohio Restaurant News, truly great food. When it and Chocolatier Magazine. comes to ice cream, how- National Geographic also ever, teens know the good named Handel’s the #1 stuff when they taste it. Ice Cream in its ‘10 Best of Everything’ book. While new to the Los Angeles area, Handel’ s has In addition to traditional been making homemade ice cream flavors, Handel’s ice cream and yogurt fresh offers flavors including: daily on the premises in banana cream pie, chocotheir more than 30 stores, late cake batter, chocolate with Handel’s Redondo raspberry truffle, chunky Beach being the second chocolate chip, peanut butCalifornia location. There is ter parfait and spouse like a also a Handel’s Ice Cream house. and Yogurt in Upland.
Designed like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor with walk up windows, Handel’s will soon add tables and umbrellas on the patio and free Wi-Fi. Handel’s Ice Cream 1882 Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (424) 247-8861
Four DaughtersKitchen Manhattan Beach points.” Four Daughters is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu offers mostly American comfort food with dishes that include eggs, salads, pastas and burgers. Looking for a good breakfast? Try the Hailey’s Chocolate Chip Pancakes! Four Daughters Kitchen 3505 Highland Avenue This side walk style cafe fits in perfectly with the North Man- Manhattan Beach, Ca. hattan style. Walking in you feel as if you have paid a visit to 310.545.2444 your neighbors house for a meal. This neighborhood restaurant was opened by former senior vice president of restaurants for SBE, Clint Clausen and named after his own four daughters. Clausen states that he wants to “create a neighborhood bistro that serves up gourmet fare at neighborhood price
CW: When you listen to it more and more you hear different things in it. You process the words a bit differently each time you hear it – at least for me. RD: Oh that’s cool! There’s another element in the voice – we’re talking music now - that’s poetic in it self and it doesn’t need any explanation, it’s there. Then there’s lyric. It’s not musicians that I go to for the lyric but writers. I love children’s stories. I love children’s stories that are open for your interpretation and your participation. I am a huge fan of Oscar Wilde. (Deluca has a quote from Oscar Wilde tattooed on his forearm) Anything that comes from a perspective like that, even weird ones like the Painted Bird. It’s like half fantasy, half concrete, so Nightingale lyrically comes from that wide-eyed moment. CW: Where you kind of get lost in it? RD: Yes, you are kind of living a conscience dream of some sort. CW: Speaking of poems, I know you have a blog and in a sea of blogs yours is very interesting because it’s like your thoughts are pouring out and its very uncensored. It’s very poetic and also seems like it’s perhaps the way you write music? RD: Yeah it’s the way I think, it’s a little fragmented but I figure if I put the right elements in there… You know the blogging came because I had to participate with some people who were coming to shows. They would send very nice gifts and say nice things to me and the record company said you need to do this, this is something that’s important. At first I wasn’t sure as I don’t own a computer, so I was bothered by having to do that, but then I thought if I treated it as a proper moment to share truthfully… You know what I mean? Then it would work. CW: Yes, it would then be the essence of you and you could thank them. Especially for all the socks! (Deluca’s fans read on his blog that he needed socks and have been showing up to his concerts with them ever since). RD: (Laughing) I had to buy these socks (the bright red pair he is wearing). If someone sent me these I would blog to them!
CW: When you recorded your last album, Mercy, I heard you spent 18 days straight in the studio, writing all day and not continuing a song after you left the studio for the night. On your next album will you work using the same process and does that work best for you? RD: That was Daniels Lanois’ rule. He made that rule because he saw me perform and he wanted to capture a performance from me, he didn’t want me to labor anything as he felt it pulled away. In our minds as music increasingly goes in this particular direction, Daniel felt it was important to take what we have to offer, really own that, and to really show what we do. He wanted to define that in a way. So every night we did a song or two songs, and then we mixed it and that was it. Then he performed the mix, which was incredible to see because that was an amazing performance as well. Not just the playing but to see him perform the mix. CW: When is the next album coming out? Everyone wants to know. RD: I don’t want to get into too much. Just know that I have been doing a lot of documenting. Both on a level of what I like to call the field recording level, which is very raw performances, in certain parts of Los Angeles and around the country. And there is a proper recording that I did with the suggestion of Daniel Lanois and the help of an amazing producer/engineer, and partner of Daniel’s, Mark Howard. Mark Howard worked on all the Bob Dylan Records, the Neville Brothers, Tom Waits and all this amazing stuff. He came with me and we’ve created something very beautiful and I am just looking forward to the right opportunity to share it. Wrapping up our session, Deluca heads up to the roof to lose himself in the music he creates and at the same time give back to all the kids out there who have a family member with cancer and need some hope and a friend. Giving back by giving time.
NEXT ISSUE
COMING SEPTEMBER
FALL BACK Michael Zislis - Manhattan Beach AVP Open - Jayime Jeans - and more
Fall Into The South Bay
Photo: Scott Gorski