Crown City Magazine February 2021 by Crown City Magazine

BUILDING & DESIGN ISSUE

Meet Bungalow 56 Keeping it Coronado Remodeling History

FEBRUARY 2021

I N F O C U S | C O R O N A D O C AY S S U N S E T B Y D A R O N C A S E

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IN FOCUS: Blushing Sunset in Coronado Cays by Daron Case

A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS

LOCAL BUZZ: Search Local Happenings in Real Time

FEATURE: Keeping that Coronado charm with design & build plans

FEATURE: Interior design styles expertly explained

HISTORY: Building design throughout Coronado’s history

IN THE KITCHEN: A trip to Spain for paella with Chef Clyde

AROUND TOWN: Island Girl Blog with everything YOGA!

PEOPLE: Meet the gals at Bungalow 56

FORKS & CORKS: Christine Van Tuyl Reviews Lil' Piggy's Bar-B-Q

Front Cover: Principal designers and co-owners Jessica Nicolls and Karyn Frazier of Coronado’s design firm Bungalow 56. Meet these two savvy local business owners on page 38! Photo Credit: Kristen Vincent Photography Website: kristenvincentphotography.com | On Facebook & Instagram as @kristenvincentphotography In Focus (pages 2 & 3): This pretty photo of private boat docks at the Coronado Cays with a blushing sky at sunset. Beautiful photo, Daron! Photo Credit: Daron Case Captain of the Cays Art Gallery, 505-B Grand Caribe Causeway, Coronado 92118 (619)575-CAYS(2297) Instagram @ captainofthecays | Facebook: Captain of the Cays

Back Cover: They say a photo says a thousand words and we think this one says it all with one word – Amour! The photo was taken of local couple, Mr. and Mrs. Kraig and Jessica Nicolls in Paris. So romantic. We wish everyone a lovely Valentine’s Day this month. Photo Credit: Kraig and Jessica Nicolls

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PHOTO BY MONICA REKSIEDLER

CONTENTS & CREDITS | FEBRUARY 2021

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 | Vo l u m e 4 I s s u e 2

PUBLISHER | Amy Slack amy@crowncitypublishing.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

EDITOR | Heather Canton heather@crowncitypublishing.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | Gina Falletta Design SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Gina Falletta Design COPY EDITORS Sydney Zoehrer, Alex Larratt, Rose Wojnar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Jacobs-Bonnett, Katie Chiera, Carol Pastor, Clyde Van Arsdall IV, Christine Van Tuyl, Carol Pastor, Aly Lawson CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Kristen Vincent Photography, Daron Case, Monica Reksiedler, Ryan Garvin Photography, QualCraft Construction Inc., JHill Interiors Inc., Coronado Historical Association, Christine Van Tuyl, Kristen Vincent Photography, Samantha Goh Photography, Patricia Bean Photography, Jenny Seigwart Photography, Andy McRory Photography ADVERTISING SALES Heather Canton Amy Slack

amy@crowncitypublishing.com

(619) 288-8050

heather@crowncitypublishing.com

(619) 302-2329

Natasha Archer Advertising Executive

natasha@crowncitypublishing.com

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We make every effort to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If you find any, please bring them to our attention and accept our sincerest apologies.Thanks!

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A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHERS | FEBRUARY 2021

DESIGN & BUILD CORONADO STYLE! We present our annual February Design & Build Issue packed with interesting and informative content. This month, we bring you information, advice, tips and tricks from local experts in the design and build industry. The two lovely ladies sprucing up this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cover are our friends, Jessica Nicolls and Karyn Frazier, of local design firm Bungalow 56, who are monthly contributors for our Lifestyle section. Get to know these savvy business owners who have been two of our biggest supporters since our very first issue. Also included in this issue is the Island Girl Blog, where you will get the scoop on everything yoga to create your perfect Zen moments. And take a trip to Spain right from the comfort of your kitchen with Chef Clyde, who shares the delicious dish on paella. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to renovate a historical home or build your modern dream home, local building and design teams have the experience and knowledge to make your dreams for any design style a reality. We cherish being a part of this beautiful coastal town and adorning the coffee tables in your homes with Crown City Magazine. Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy this issue! Amy Slack and Heather Canton, Publishers

Photo Courtesy of J Hill Interiors, Inc. Builder: Flagg Coastal Homes Photography: Ryan Garvin Photography

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LOCAL BUZZ | FEBRUARY 2021

While many events have gone virtual or have been canceled this year, plans are always changing, so be sure to keep checking in with your favorite clubs, community and faith organizations like these to see what's happening locally.

CITY OF CORONADO Each week you can read or watch a video from the City Manager Blair King's Office that provides an update that includes information on programs, services and issues within the City, as well as news, project updates and follow-up information when necessary. Visit coronado.ca.us/news/what_s_new. You can also sign up to receive eNotifications right to your inbox with an emailed notice of the Weekly Update. Sign up for eNotifications on the City’s website. Visit Coronado.ca.us and search “enotifications” CORONADO CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION CoronadoARTS.com is the leading online resource for Arts & Cultural information in

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Coronado. A service of the City of Coronado’s Cultural Arts Commission, this site is intended to provide easily available “one-stop” information on a variety of events, classes, lectures, exhibitions and music performances. Visit coronadoarts.com/artsonline

CORONADO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Coronado Chamber of Commerce is a great place to check in to find out what's going on locally. They have an online calendar of events at https://web. coronadochamber.com/events. Check in with the Coronado Chamber of Commerce for details. Contact the Chamber office at 619-435-9260 or visit their website coronadochamber.com

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Entryway area in historical home built by QualCraft Construction. 12

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very home tells us a story, especially in a place like Coronado where there is a rich, historical context unique to the Island. When remodeling historical homes, as a contractor, we are given the unique ability to revive these historical properties and retell their stories. Throughout our years on the island, we have been hired to remodel our fair share of historic homes, each one differing significantly from the next. Every one of these projects has taught us something new, and has given us the ability to specialize our approach of remodeling these homes. We are often asked what the process entails when remodeling an historic home. As a homeowner, the undertaking may seem daunting, but we are here to share with you more information on how to not only navigate the process, but enjoy it for the incredibly unique and rewarding experience that it is. We are ready to remodel our historic home. Now what? Define your scope of work relative to the historic nature of your home and your desired outcome. It is important that you decide the features of your historic home that you want to change entirely and the details you want to bring back to life or enhance. Something that is always important is to maintain the traditional style and integrity of a home. In order to do so, it is crucial to have a very clear picture of the historic details of the home that you’d like to preserve so that you can blend the old with the new, seamlessly. One way of doing this is to write down your favorite features in the home that make it historic. Make notes of any historic materials, features and finishes that are important to you that you’d like to carry into your remodel. It may be as simple as maintaining the architectural integrity of the house while expanding the overall footprint, or restoring the original moulding throughout the original and new rooms of the home. When it comes to remodeling an historic home, the devil is in the details and going to your design team/contractor with your historic home wish list will pave the way. Find the right team to work with:Coronado is bustling with construction work and teams that are excited to help you in building your dream home. It is crucial that you hire a team that has previous experience with remodeling historic homes; as the process is unique and their expertise will make the undertaking as seamless as possible. There are hidden ventures like the “Determination of Historical Significance” (if your home has not yet been officially determined historically significant), an application required by the community development department, which the design team/ contractor can assist with more efficiently when having previous experience with historically significant homes.

Traditional design inside Coronado home built by QualCraft Construction. 14

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TIPS AND TRICKS: #1. Be patient. As with any home project, remodeling an historic home takes time. We understand the thought of the project can be exciting for homeowners, and it can be difficult to wait around as new ideas for your dream home are overloading your headspace. We like to let our clients know from the get-go that it is best to prepare for a wait period that may not match their excitement level. In cases where you are just starting the historic significance determination process, the timeline is going to be lengthy. After completion of the Determination of Historic Significance application, it is routed to the City’s historic research consultant. From there, it is prepared for an Historic Research Report and Analysis to see if it meets the City’s historic designation criteria. This preparation can take approximately eight weeks. The Commission will then move it forward with a public hearing, which the property owner or the property owner’s representative must attend. Once designated, the home is listed on the Coronado Historic Resource Register as well as the City’s Map of Designated Historic Resources. Owners are then presented with a plaque to install on their home, recognizing its significance.

#2. The City of Coronado has a designated historic planner that can be reached if you need help. Resources are key. Rest assured that the City of Coronado has designated staff to assist with all things historic. If you have any questions or need additional assistance with completing applications, Associate Planner and staff liaison for the Historic Resource Commission, Tricia Olsen, can help. You can reach her at tolsen@coronado.ca.us.

What makes a home “historic”? According to the Coronado Designation Guidelines, a building, structure, object, or site may be designated as an Historic Resource by the Historic Resource Commission in the following cases: If it is at least 75 years old (or has achieved historic significance within the past 75 years) and meets two or more of the following designation criteria: A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City’s military, cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, or engineering history. B. It is identified with a person(s) or an event(s) significant in local, State or national history. C. It possesses distinctive characteristics of an architectural style, and has not been substantially altered. D. It is representative of the notable work of a builder, designer, architect, artisan or landscape professional. Exterior photo of historical home built by QualCraft Construction. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

MYTHBUSTING: #1. “We have been wanting an addition to our home for years, but we can’t add square footage because it’s historic.” On the contrary. You can not only add square footage when remodeling your historic home, but you are provided incentives and exceptions through doing so. The City of Coronado has incentives and exceptions for setbacks, height limit, floor area and lot coverage that are not available to non-historic homes. #2: “If my home is deemed historic by the City of Coronado, I’ll receive a tax deduction.” A common misconception is confusing Coronado Historic Designation with qualifying for the Mills Act from the state of California. Having your home designated historic by the City of Coronado can help qualify your home for the Mills Act, however, your tax base will not decrease unless you apply for the Mills Act independently of the Coronado historic designation. Whether you are a Coronado native that is finally pulling the trigger on your long-awaited project, or new to the island with high hopes for your historical homestead, the Coronado community is here to help. The ability to connect a piece of Coronado past with present can be a rewarding experience for all parties and being informed on the historical home remodeling process will enrich that experience even further.

• Michael Jacobs-Bonnett, an expert in his field, who lives on-island with his wife and children is owner & founder of QualCraft Construction, a trusted local design-build firm.

Bright pops of turquoise in a kitchen built by QualCraft Construction. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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PHOTO BY JENNY SEIGWART PHOTOGRAPHY

Ample negative space draws the eye to the fireplace in this Spanish style home.

PHOTOS BY JENNY SEIGWART PHOTOGRAPHY

eciphering interior design styles can be a daunting task, especially when you’re attempting to define where your own aesthetic lies. Each category is defined by several characteristics that we all (mostly) agree on. That’s the tricky part about defining design styles; like other art forms, they can be interpreted differently from person to person. While some great trends come and go, there are several styles that stand the test of time. Here we will cover five design styles.

MODERN Modern design is often used interchangeably with contemporary design to describe what is current; however, there are several differences between the two. Modern refers to the mid-20th century time period that precedes contemporary style, heavily influenced by Scandinavian and Bauhaus design. Many people think modern is cold and sterile. However, true modernism is what most people typically picture as mid-century modern.

A bold color and tile choice make for a modern kitchen.

Modern is generally defined by earthy tones, natural materials like leather, stone and warm woods (think teak, rosewood and walnut) accented by pops of bright colors like flamingo pink, chartreuse and turquoise (like in the photo above). This style became popular in America as a cool, minimalistic alternative to the baroque styles of the past. You might be more familiar with the furniture styles that came out of this period that are still popular today. The Eames chair is a classic example as well as walnut storage cabinets and tables defined by their boxy silhouettes and outward angled legs.

CONTEMPORARY Paradoxically, contemporary design isn’t tied to a specific time period. It continually evolves to echo the popular styles of current day design. It can incorporate elements from other periods and styles without pinpointing any one over the other. Even though contemporary design is more fluid, there are some qualities that help define the style. Neutral colors, clean and sleek silhouettes and an overall minimalistic approach to decor are some of the more obvious attributes.

A sleek two toned kitchen creates a balanced, contemporary look. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

In contrast to modern design, contemporary doesn’t often incorporate bright colors. Warm, neutral tones dominate this style. With the limited color palette, textures become more important, especially when it comes to upholstery. When it comes to metals, chrome and nickel are popular choices to align with this minimalist style.

TRADITIONAL Traditional interior design is a broad style. It can encompass or be incorporated into various other styles. It draws a lot of inspiration from the classic and timeless forms from the past — mainly the 18th and 19th centuries with a heavy influence from England. You’ll often find rich colors, patterned textiles and ornate details in a traditional home. Stacked crown molding, wall paneling, cabriole legs and tufted upholstery are common elements of traditional design. When it comes to fabrics, you’ll find damask, plaid and embroidery among the top choices.

S PA N I S H / M O O R I S H /C E N T R A L & SOUTH AMERICAN DESIGN These genres often share a lot of the same sentiments with traditional design such as ornate architectural features, furniture and textiles inspired by previous time periods. It’s rare to fully classify a home as Spanish, Mexican, Moorish or Morrocan because so many of the same motifs, patterns, colors and shapes can be found in all of these styles. Authentic Mexican design (depending on which region of Mexico) showcases typically terracotta and talavera tiles, often with brighter colors and mixed patterns. Depending on the region of Spain, Moorish influence can be found largely in the use of the arabesque patterns and specific arches. Spanish and Mexican design often are categorized together because they can look quite similar but are actually vastly set apart as their own aesthetic. The rest of Central and South America have a broad array of design, but in most cases, you can still expect to see a heavy use of terracotta, bright colors, quatrefoil, arabesque and similar shapes. In almost all of these influences, ornate wood carvings are common, along with the use of wrought iron, oil rubbed bronze finishes and plaster and stucco walls.

C O A S TA L Coastal design is a very popular style in Southern California. It is most certainly defined by the use of white and blue with an overall light and bright feeling. While coastal is uniquely its own, it can sometimes incorporate elements from other styles to evoke that soothing ambience. Drawing from contemporary design, the foundation of the coastal aesthetic is a neutral color pallette. Then, blue hues and other accented colors are layered on top. In contrast to traditional and Spanish style design, coastal design often calls for materials like rattan, wicker, linen and cotton to create that airy feeling. With all of these genres of design, each one can be blended with the other. There are no rules when it comes to choosing your style. You can go for Spanish coastal, or mix traditional with modern — the options are endless.

• Kadie Chiera, an expert in her field, is Operations and Purchasing Coordinator for locally owned interior design firm JHill Interiors, Inc. 22

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PHOTO BY ANDY MCRORY PHOTOGRAPHY

This cozy corner is a perfect example of coastal design.

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Crown City History I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H H O T E L D E L C O R O N A D O & C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N

Historical Building Design B y C A R O L PA S T O R , C O R O N A D O H I S T O R I C A L A S S O C I AT I O N V O L U N T E E R

rom an island-like setting reached by rowboat where men came to hunt, to the city we know today, what a change. How did it come about? With the forethought of a few gentlemen who built the Hotel del Coronado, thus began our city. In 1885, the first forty workers arrived by boat to start the construction. What was needed? Housing for workers on the construction site was a priority that was solved by pitching tents around the area that became their homes for many months. There were others who came providing services such as a market, the bakery, postal services and on and on it went... until we had the makings of a real village. In the early days it, too, resided in tents. At that time, you could rent a house in the San Diego area for $12.00 a month, but they were not yet available in Coronado. A typical cottage could be built here for the price of a dinner with wine, at today’s prices.

Do take a drive through some of our residential areas where we often pay little attention to the homes around us. Then you, too, will notice the smaller homes and cottages of earlier days. There is the Little Yellow House in the 800 block of H Avenue, built in 1913, restored inside and out, looking as good as it did over a hundred years ago. Any day you are out driving down Fourth Street, note the three cottages which start at 415 Fourth Street. They were built in the early 1920s as a three-room cottage. At the same time, those of the gentry set came here to build their summer homes. Only this time it was more often what we refer to today as a megamansion. Homes of gigantic proportion in those days, such as twenty rooms, needed to house one’s guests. Buying up a block or a half-block maintained

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A home in the 800 block of H Avenue. Date Unknown.

CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Some ultimately saw town as a great place to spend vacation time, rather than at the more expensive hotel. Summer cottages sprang up along with the mansions along Ocean Boulevard. Thinking back to the turn of the 20th century, there were far more cottages than the affluent’s mansions. Many of the cottages and smaller homes remain today and often come under review as possible historic sites. Some were never intended to be anything other than summer retreats but were ultimately sold off in later years to others as year-round residences.

PHOTOS BY CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION COLLECTION

one’s privacy. It was possible then to do so. What we know today as the Glorietta Bay Inn, the John D. Spreckels home was an example of one’s wealth, along with the home built on Ocean Boulevard. The Glorietta Bay Inn site became the Spreckels family home and Ocean Boulevard was the “Beach House.” Spreckels and his family survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and were quite happy to call Coronado home. His Ocean Boulevard beach house was unique in that it was built with interior walls of concrete, sturdy and not about to collapse in another earthquake. Just a few doors down Ocean Boulevard stands the original Bartlett Richards home built in 1902. This English Tudor home was sold in 1913 and became the Dupee mansion with two significant additions to the home. Then at 20,000 square feet, it was noted as the largest home in the county. These are just three of the many estates developed in Coronado. Throughout the years many of our older homes were either divided or torn down to make room for The Spreckels Family home, another building. Today, through the effort of the now Glorietta Bay Inn. 1910. Coronado Historic Resource Commission, many homes seventy-five years old or older are being preserved as part of our heritage. Much more information can also be obtained from the Research Center at the Coronado Historical Association.

The historic Richards-Dupee home, also named Crown Manor by former Hotel del Coronado owner Larry Lawerence. c. 1910.

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I N T H E K I T C H E N | C LY D E VA N A R S DA L L I V

Paella de Marisco (seafood paella). 28

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PA E L L A

is a performance, and by making one you are performing. Theater in the round, cooking outdoors over an open flame. Center stage, a fun pan from Spain, some fancy imported goods and a cash of local fresh ingredients. This is an event: invite friends, make it a party. Paella is sexy and has what I like to call a “Wow Factor.” The finished product is often a thing of beauty that you create skillfully in front of loved ones for their entertainment and nourishment. Paella is not only a onepan meal. The same pan in which you cook paella goes straight to the table for service. This style of cooking embodies comfort and community. Family and friends gather around the paella pan; everyone starts at the edges and works their way to the middle. Paella is a rice dish prepared in its eponymous shallow pan populated by meat or seafood, sometimes both, usually prepared over an open flame. There are a lot of theories about the origins of paella. The story that makes the most sense to me is that it has Moorish roots. Both rice and saffron came to Spain with the Moors and most historians would agree that paella is part of a family of Arabic rice dishes that rippled outward from Persia in the 8th and 9th centuries. Examples of this culinary migration can be seen in Indian biryani and Persian rice pilaf. The word paella comes from the Valencian dialect, a dialect remarkably like Catalan. Paella literally means pan, stemming from the Latin patella. Outside of Valencia, most Spaniards would say paellera to describe the pan. Humble in its origins, how did this popular, regional dish from Valencia become synonymous with Spanish cuisine? The answer is Franco, the fascist leader that ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975, who had a love of paella. Franco was trying to create a more national and less regional image of Spain, so as dictators do, he chose the things that he liked and told the rest of Spain to get on board. The base of paella consists of four elements: bomba rice, sofrito, liquid and socarrat. Paella rice is called bomba which is like Italian arborio rice. The difference is that bomba has round grains, not oval, and absorbs liquid well without breaking down and becoming creamy, allowing the grains to remain intact. The sofrito is made up of the aromatics which provide most of the flavor for the dish. Sofrito consists of tomato, onion, garlic, paprika, saffron and seasonings. Two of these spices that play a leading role are saffron and paprika. Saffron are the threads from the crocus flower that are painstakingly plucked and dried; they are the most expensive spice in the world by weight. Luckily, a little goes a long way. Saffron has an earthy, sweet, floral flavor that stands out and is very pronounced in the final taste of the paella. Spanish smoked paprika or pimenton de la vera is a spice, in powder form, made from peppers dried and smoked over oak fires. The peppers either add some sweetness or heat depending on which style you choose, while their smokiness reinforces the taste of the outdoors you would get by cooking with wood. The sofrito is sauteed then combined with the rice which gives it a vibrant orange color. The liquid is usually stock although some towns claim it is the regional water that makes their paella the best. The truth is, no matter where it comes from, water does not come flavored so a good homemade stock will take your paella to another level. If you do use store bought stock, always look for the low sodium variety. The last — and some say the most important — part of any paella is the socarrat. Socarrat is the chewy, crispy crust that forms at the bottom of the paella pan. Unlike risotto that takes constant stirring, which creates a creamy texture, paella is stirred relatively little allowing for the all-important caramelization on the bottom that is the socarrat. Country paella usually features meats such as chicken, rabbit, sausage and the ever-popular snail. Coastal paella, like the famous version from Valencia, features fresh seafood 30

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such as mussels, clams, squid and shrimp. Fresh vegetables and roasted red piquillo peppers are present in most versions. Paella can be labor intensive so when I cook it, I go all in — I want a little bit of everything. I do what they call a “Mixta Paella’’ which means a mixture of seafood and meats. Cooking paella can be done in a skillet indoors with good results and a decent socarrat but for my money, if I am going to the trouble, I am kicking it old school outside over an open flame. A wood fire would be very traditional, but a bit challenging for most. I have invested in a paella burner, fueled by propane. This burner sits on a tripod and is made up of four concentric fire rings that give the paella pan even heat distribution. This allows the paella to cook evenly, no flare-ups or hot spots. I suggest trying this a few times in a skillet on the stove before investing in a paella pan and burner. The more you make paella, the more you want to share this dish. The more you share, the bigger the pan you need. Cooking paella is a great excuse for a party: cue up the Spanish guitar, set out tapas and sangria and let your guests watch the paella come together. Side note: Paella pans come in all sizes and can be purchased locally at Pata Negra, a great Spanish market in San Diego, located in Pacific Beach on Garnet Ave. This hidden gem has been in business for 17 years and is family owned. They carry everything you will need to make a great Paella: bomba rice, red piquillo peppers, pimenton de la vera, saffron, paella burners and pans of all sizes. A special occasion deserves a special meal and occasionally some special equipment to make that happen. I may have led you down a culinary rabbit hole. This store is dangerous and full of cool shiny objects so before you go, try and figure out where you will store your new paella pan and burner when not in use.

• Clyde Van Arsdall IV is an executive chef and lives in Coronado with his children.

Paella takes its name from the wide shallow pan used to cook the dish on an open fire. Paella means “frying pan” in Valencian. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

R E C I P E S | C H E F C LY D E VA N A R S DA L L I V

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NOTE:

This recipe can be made in a large pan, such an iron skillet cooked on the stovetop and finished in the oven. If finishing in the oven: as soon as the final liquid is placed in the pan, turn off the heat, arrange the chicken, shellfish, and peas. Place in the oven (400 degrees) uncovered for 25 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the oven and cover with a towel for 15 minutes to rest, then serve. CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

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New Year is well upon us, and everything is wiped clean for a season of healthy choices. Although the pandemic has altered how, when and w h e r e we practice mindfulness, the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yoga culture is alive and well. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping for a leaner, fitter physique, more stamina and flexibility, or you simply seek a new level of calm, Coronado is brimming with everything you need to embrace your inner yogi. From classes under the trees of Spreckels Park to a practice by the sea; from stylish tops and leggings to an intention-setting journal, get excited...your own personal Zen is only a cleansing breath away. Coronado Yoga has moved its classes outdoors to Spreckels Park. 36

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PHOTO COUTESY OF CORONADO YOGA

A RO UN D TOW N | C H R I ST I NE VA N T U Y L

R EF L EC T T R A D I T I O N , EM B R AC E I N N OVAT I O N

It’s a whole lot easier to stretch properly with the right gear. The Tumaz Yoga Strap is a simple, non-elastic band that provides extra stability and flexibility. It gets high marks for durability and comfort and comes in an array of karma-inducing colors. Amazon, $8.95.

Yoga on C | 176 C Avenue 1-833-YOGAONC | Info@YogaonC.com

H I T T H E M AT It’s hard to practice yoga without your very own mat, especially during heightened pandemic safety protocols. Fortunately, you can find a yoga mat in just about every color online, like this Gaiam Premium Print Reversible Mat. It provides a stable, sticky, non-slip surface for your yoga practice, and is great for home use. This mat ranks high for value, comfort and durability, and its reversible design is sure to suit any mood. Gaiam Yoga Mat, Amazon, $34.99 PHOTO COUTESY OF YOGA ON C

G E T YOUR ST RE TC H O N

Whether you are an advanced yogi, or it’s your very first time, Yoga on C offers the full spectrum of today’s popular styles including Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Vin/Yin and Yoga Sculpt. You’ll even find Yoga Dhara, the studio’s own style of yoga with immersive, simulated environments, unique themes and creative sequences. Contact the studio for classes.

P R AC T I C E I N TH E PAR K During pandemic restrictions, Coronado Yoga, which is celebrating its 20th year in business, has moved its classes outdoors, to Spreckels Park. Students are invited to register online through MindBodyOnline.com prior to class, bring their own mats and straps, as well as a beach towel and a blanket. You’ll find everything from hour-long Kitaido Yoga classes, to gentle yoga, to Kenbudo Chi Flow. Classes, many of which are taught by studio owners Jean Pierre and Linda Marques,are based on proper alignment, deep breathing, relaxation and stress reduction. Coronado Yoga promises that you will leave feeling more balanced, healthy and happy. Coronado Yoga | 801 Orange Avenue Ste 202 (Classes currently held at Spreckels Park) 619-437-6840 | CoronadoYoga.com

Check out Yoga on C for the latest popular styles of yoga.

PEOPLE | KARYN FRAZIER + JESSICA NICOLLS

Their 1st Street project boasts a spacious kitchen. 38

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PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY

Principal designers and co-owners Jessica Nicolls and Karyn Frazier of Coronado’s design firm Bungalow 56 are today’s relevant combination of small business heroes and resilient women. The experienced interior designers grew up in Truckee, Calif. — a small, lovely mountain town tucked into the Sierra Nevadas. Nicolls was a freshman in high school when Frazier was a senior, and the two eventually worked together at what they describe as a mini-Anthropology, the store offering clothing, furniture and accessories. They always talked about starting a business together. Nicolls, pregnant and running her design firm, convinced Frazier to leave their hometown area and join her in Coronado in 2012. They joke that Nicolls was panicking while expecting, but they discuss how it was the business step that was also terrifying, even though they already knew they worked well together and had a great set-up. It was the logical next step, they say, but it felt tremendous as they would be investing a lot of their own time, money and commitment. “She was shoveling snow so it was a hard sell,” Nicolls inserts with a laugh as she recalls the phone conversation with Frazier. While living in Hillcrest, later moving to Coronado in 2009, Nicholls studied at the Art Institute, and also gained experience at a real estate firm. Frazier had become a preschool teacher, but transitioned into nannying for a property developer. The developer soon realized Frazier’s talents and let her expand on her passion for, and experience in fashion and furniture. Frazier went on to work with an interior design firm in the Lake Tahoe area and was soon running the business. Frazier shared how there’s so much more to running an interior design firm than meets the eye; from managing employees and numerous projects to the buying, retail, product knowledge, vendor relationships, placing orders, creating lines, getting deliveries on time, juggling installations and construction projects and much more. “It’s really like Tetris,” she says, adding how Nicolls juggles the technical side with aspects like design drawings and the firm’s website. “We were lucky our skills kind of complemented each other. It takes teamwork. We’re a family.” The designers share how in the beginning of the pandemic, it was rough. Vendors were shut down

nation- and industry-wide, and projects would be stuck in the middle. While construction was viewed as essential, furnituremaking and décor supply like window treatments came to a screeching halt, Frazier says. A couple of projects just beginning had to be paused since those clients couldn’t afford to keep going. Once Frazier, Nicolls and all the rest of us started realizing the pandemic wasn’t going away anytime soon, the phone started ringing off the hook — everyone wanting to redo kitchens or bathrooms and creative home offices. The business partners reconfigured and restructured how they do everything. They rethought their routines and figured it out, they explain, navigating family responsibilities and rethinking workflows to find a new normal. Interior design doesn’t just mean hiring an expensive person to make your home look like a Pottery Barn, West Elm or Wayfair catalog page, the two discuss. The team offers insight and an ambiance that fits the client’s lifestyle and budget, including furniture packages, curated gift baskets they’ll wrap and drop off in Coronado, real estate staging, closing gifts and small projects that fit just as well into their timelines and interests as big commercial projects do — which offer different creative spaces and bigger budgets to explore. The partners also focus on shopping locally with items 40

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being made in the United States. And that money spent by clients also stays local, they describe. They admit they’ll donate to just about anyone who walks through their door. “We work with a lot of families and second homeowners who have families,” Frazier says, noting clients from Arizona and Mexico City, as well as the use of performance fabrics that hold up around children and pets. “Our designs, we always try to make them approachable and comfortable — someone lives there, but it’s also as clean and timeless as possible, and natural materials, so it’s not something you get sick of in a year and want to remodel again.” The Bungalow 56 brand is becoming more and more recognizable, a mixture of clean lines and layered neutrals that are easy on people’s eyes, they explain. They add how they don’t do their own spaces because it’s hard when you live in your space to fully see it. “We’ve been doing this a long, long time,” Frazier says, “almost 20 years now.” One of the main things about their job, they add, is how a room might be centered on something, but it still needs to be balanced and work together for the client’s life. “A lot of our clients actually have great taste,” Nicolls says but explains how it’s hard to “compartmentalize” while designing something for yourself. The firm quickly had to expand its location from the duo’s start, going from a year in the front part of Nicolls’ kitchen to 1022 C Ave., to adding 1016 C so they could expand the firm’s shop and office area. Their shop is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and other days by appointment. Visit bungalow56design.com/contact for more details.

Jessica Nicolls and Karyn Frazier in the kitchen of their Aruba Bend Project.

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PHOTO BY KRISTEN VINCENT PHOTOGRAPHY

• Aly Lawson is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and children.

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA GOH PHOTOGRAPHY

The master bathroom vanity at Bungalow 56's Star Park Circle Project features two sinks.

Nick Barringer during a water rescue drill, jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean off Coronado CROWNCITYMAGAZINE.COM

A guy with f ive kids knows wha t it me a ns to be a

family dentist.

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Michael B. Copp, D.D.S

( 619 ) 435-3185

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FORKS & CORKS | LIL' PIGGY'S BAR-B-Q

The convenient Ferry Landing location makes Lil' Piggy's a great stop for takeout. Diners will find lots of perfect picnic spots in the area with epic views of the San Diego Bay and city skyline.

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hat’s not to love about a little barbeque? It’s juicy, it’s meaty, and usually you’ll find something cheesy nearby. If you’re lucky, there’s potato salad and coleslaw. Fortunately for us, Coronado locals don’t need to travel far to get some of the best BBQ this side of the Mississippi. Lil’ Piggy’s, recently taken over by Luis Madrid ala Café Madrid, resides just down the road … where the Bay meets the sand at the Coronado Ferry Landing. Lil’ Piggy’s has an impressive tenure; more than twelve years of success in Coronado. It all started in 2008 with a few “gluttonous months of carnivorous research,” when the Spatafore family of Blue Bridge Hospitality traveled many miles to solidify their fourth restaurant concept. According to Blue Bridge, the family journeyed through Southern states like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Tennessee, all the while engaged in “research” for their new BBQ joint. The tastiest, juiciest BBQ they found was in Memphis, so Lil’ Piggy’s adopted the region’s pork-based, “low and slow” style of cooking as its main focus. “It’s all about the temperature,” says Luis Madrid, all energy and twinkling eyes, a mask pulled up over his face, as he takes a break from the register to chat with me outside of Piggy’s. “You have to make sure the temperature is just right, and once that meat is smoked and it comes out fresh, it’s like…what do we want to do with this? Let’s do something fun.” Madrid, who took over Lil’ Piggy’s just after the COVID lockdown in March, says he’s surprised and grateful for the “amazing” community support amidst restaurant restrictions, just one of several COVID silver linings. “It really tests you,” says Madrid. “How you are and who you are. And it definitely put me in a position where I really needed to be here. I’ve really learned about our employees, and we’ve become a family. We are really close.” Madrid, who says he’s taken a total of 11 days off since he began working at Piggy’s, says sales are still “awesome.” He says — despite the pandemic — Piggy’s is only down 13% compared to last year. “I can’t complain about 2020,” says Madrid. And diners have nothing to complain about either. The doors open early, at 10:30am, and usually there are a couple of hungry folks lingering for their taste of BBQ. (The warm scent of smoked pork already permeates the air.) The easy, breezy, takeout-friendly setup seems to work well for Piggy’s. BBQ is, after all, usually a casual dining experience, and the unfancy patrons are there for the quick and tasty grub, not the ambiance. (Although the space is noteworthy — spaced-out tables within a glimpse of the San Diego Bay and downtown skyline, fresh ocean breezes and the low-key buzz of the Coronado Ferry Landing. Plenty of outdoor seating.) Diner’s also enjoy the bright selection of local beers available by bottle or on tap, and the festive Piggy merch that lines the walls. When it comes to the food, Piggy’s is always looking to add more menu items, but doesn’t want to reinvent the wheel, says Madrid. “Let’s keep it simple and fun,” says Madrid. Like, the Tennessee Street Tacos, the first dish I sampled. “The tacos are so good, I really do love them. It’s something so simple, but so tasty, especially when we add a little bit of the Texas sauce.” These delicious morsels are small but mighty. The tacos (mine were made from pork, but you can also choose chicken or brisket, as well as mix and match) were topped with Mexican slaw, a tangy BBQ crema 46

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Lil' Piggy's serves up something for the entire family, including tasty tacos, incredible ribs and mouth-watering mac n cheese.

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and fresh cilantro. And of course, there’s that sauce. According to Madrid, the Texas BBQ sauce is vinegar based, and has an extra little zest or tang. Being a Texas girl at heart, I appreciate the nod to my home state, and absolutely love the flavor and spice in this delicious BBQ sauce. I could eat it by the spoonful. And what better to spoon it over, than juicy pork tacos? I would definitely order this again, especially when the tacos are on Happy Hour for $5. (Happy hour runs every day from 3-6 p.m.) My next dish was the Piggy Mac, and although mac-n-cheese might seem a bit, well, juvenile, there’s nothing elementary about this version. “Once you have it, you kind of get addicted to it,” says Madrid. It’s not hard to see why. The “Piggy” approach adds a unique twist to traditional house-made mac-n-cheese. Yes, it’s made with creamy, house-made cheese sauce, but Piggy’s adds crispy onions, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce. (It’s like BBQ ribs and a pot of mac and cheese got together and made a baby.) If you haven’t tried it, you’re in for a treat. Bite after delicious bite, it’s rich, filling and flavorful. Now, onto a new menu item…the BBQ pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich. “This was a huge hit,” said Madrid. “People loved it! We have great meat, and we are having fun with it.” This Southern spin on the typical grilled cheese is made with tender, applewood smoked pulled pork and extra-melty American cheese on Texas Toast. Can it get any better? Only if you dip it in Texas sauce. The ultimate in comfort food, this tasty delight is sure to call my name in the near future. (The coleslaw that accompanied the dish was equally delicious.) Finally, the signature plate, baby back ribs with potato salad and white bread. The ribs (Madrid explained that Piggy’s gets its meat from Shamrock Meats, a family-owned farm in the Midwest) were moist and flavorful down to the last morsel. The potato salad won me over as well. Madrid says he can’t wait to get back into the kitchen and conjure up some more BBQ creations. “It’s fun to play around with the meat, so we will do something like a pork quesadilla, or a rib sandwich on Hawaiian bread,” says Madrid. “So, we are always looking for things like that, ways to make it our own, and to make it fun.” He says that, although 2020 was a challenge, he looks forward to an amazing 2021. He plans on working and collaborating with local beer companies and hopes to beat the sales numbers for 2019. But Texas sauce and pulled pork goodness aside, Madrid says the best part about making BBQ at Lil’ Piggy’s is the outpouring of community support. “We feel 100% supported by the community, there is no doubt,” says Madrid. “The support from Coronado has been beyond what I expected. It’s been really, really good.”

• Christine Van Tuyl is a freelance writer who lives in Coronado with her husband and two children.

Extra care is taken to cook the meat slowly at the right temperature, so it's tender and juicy, falling right off the bone. 48

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“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known — and even that is an understatement.” - F. SCOTT FITZGERALD