WOMEN OF PASADENA I REAL ESTATE ALL STARS I ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE
W O M E N O F PA S A D E N A I R E A L E S TAT E A L L S TA R S I U LT I M AT E D E S I G N G U I D E
PASADENA M AY / J U N E 2 0 2 1
Your Ultimate Design Guide to the City
MAY / JUNE 2021 MAY / JUNE 2021
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Where to Eat and Drink in Santa Ynez Mexico’s Hidden Health Retreat
CONTENTS MAY/ JUNE 2021
44
6 CONTRIBUTORS 7 MASTHEAD 9 NEWS AND NOTES 15 MY PASADENA Decorative Artist David Wiseman
16 FAMILY
Friendship and Motherhood + Mother’s Day delights
19 DIALOGUE
BAILA founder Lili Bernard
DIY
34
Organize It: Clear Space, Clear Mind
HOME DESIGN AND REAL ESTATE
36 40 42 44 50
On the Market Vacation Homes The Expert: Catherine Welch Home Tour Gardening: Yvonne Savio
FOOD
52 53
The Ingredient: Hog Wild Trends: Saso, Bento Boxes, Women from the Pasadena Food Scene
70
ART & DESIGN
20 22 23
Games: Already Winning Ceramics: Down to Earth PGA Tour: Going Green
WHEELS
56 57
Jaguar E-Type Classic British Sports Cars
TO DO
FEATURES
24 26 30
Central Coast
59 67
Oahu
LAST LOOK
5 Ways to Experience Water
104 The Work of Adrienne DeVine
HEALTH
32 33
Cuixmala Sunwink, AbilityFirst, M/Y NJORD, Chantal Donnelly
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Pasadena Home Design Guide Women of Pasadena
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> On The Cover Proper Hotel photographed by The Ingalls
32
FROM TOP: MEGHAN BEIERLE-O’BRIEN; DAVIDGOLDMAN.COM; DAVIS GERBER
4 EDITOR’S NOTE
Explore. Exhale. Experience. #MyPismoBeach
Pismo Beach is located half way between Los Angeles and the Bay Area and is famous for its miles of beautiful white sand beaches, great accommodations and a rich
wine region, only minutes away. Come visit Pismo Beach and try surfing, kayaking, exploring the dunes and our wonderful dining opportunities.
ExperiencePismoBeach.com
E DITOR ’ S NOTE
IT TAKES A VILLAGE THIS IS MINE.
w
hen I started my career as an intern at Robb Report in 2003, I didn’t realize that so many of the wonderful colleagues and connections I made there would still be in my life years after I left, in 2014. For our annual “Women of Pasadena,” issue, I thought I’d introduce some of the women of Pasadena. While many amazing females (and males) help put each issue together, a handful of us have worked together for years, and I wanted to share a bit of that history. Almost immediately after the opportunity came to be editor in chief of this magazine, I called Mary Franz to see if she would be our art director. Mary has been in my professional life since day one: We worked on three Robb Report publications
Love Notes ➝
FROM SAM TO MARY: Every editor should be this lucky. I don’t know how she does it, but Mary somehow takes my far-flung ideas and turns them into reality. Her endless creativity, attention to detail, and unheard-of stamina to get through the crazy late nights of shipping a magazine never cease to amaze me. FROM MARY TO LAUREN: What a talented, savvy, stylish, ➝ compassionate, wise beyond her years woman Lauren is. Not to mention, she has the most wicked sense of humor, which has relieved my stress on so many occasions. I am so pleased to be working with her on Pasadena, and on a bit of a selfish note, I wish I could work with her all of the time, on all projects.
➝
FROM LAUREN TO JENNY: Working with Jenny is what I imagine working with Wonder Woman would be like. Since 2008 she has been a mentor to me in the working world and now motherhood. Her consistency, honesty, and professionalism mean everything. FROM JENNY TO CAROLYN: When Carolyn started at Robb ➝ Report, we were a small, tight-knit staff and every new face impacted the dynamic in the office. She walked in with a big smile and enthusiasm for every project, quickly becoming an expert in the worlds of high-end jewelry and wellness, pitching great ideas, thoroughly researching leads, and writing smart copy. I’m so glad we crossed paths back then and love that we’re reconnecting again through Pasadena.
➝
FROM CAROLYN TO ANUSH: When I met Anush, she was the newly hired editorial assistant and I was an assistant editor, giving her the office tour. Immediately, her talents were clear—and they were vast. From day one, her story pitches were refreshing, compelling, and always rooted in impeccable research. And her knack for comedic wordplay was next level. To work with AB is to laugh. And laugh hard. As an editor, she is eagle-eyed, and as a writer, she is curious and compassionate. I can’t wait to read her memoirs. FROM ANUSH TO SAMANTHA: Working with you has always ➝ been such a treat. I so enjoy collaborating on design stories with you and geeking out together over historic properties and local designers’ and artists’ works. I’ve always admired how you could spot a great story from a mile away and cover it with such a fresh take. And of course, your travels and adventures (which I love to follow on Instagram) never cease to ignite my wanderlust.
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together and countless projects in the years since. My other core collaborator, Lauren Schumacher, our photo editor, started working with me in 2008, and I don’t know how I could possibly source and keep track of all of the images it takes to produce a publication without her. On the editorial side, Jennifer Ryan has not only been a longtime collaborator, but she’s also been like a sister to me. Starting at Robb Report, also as an intern, in 2004, she sat next to me for years, as we both climbed the ranks to become associate editors and senior editors. I see her now thriving as a mother of three and couldn’t be more thrilled that she’s agreed to write each issue’s “Family” column for us. Her honesty and heartwarming insights about being a mother are one of the things I look most forward to reading. When I asked for help with the “Women of Pasadena” feature, in 10 minutes she sent an entire list of nominations, gushing over contacts she admires, several of whom made it onto the pages of this issue. I am grateful for her support in helping that feature come together. By the time Anush Benliyan and Carolyn Meers came to Robb Report, I was already working remotely (an uncommon practice back in 2012), and I didn’t have the pleasure of getting to know them in an office setting. They were years behind me in age (and therefore their careers), and that space allowed me to immediately recognized their innate research, editorial, and writing skills. In the years since, it’s been a joy to watch them advance in their careers, and I’m always glad when they have the time to write for me. In the spirit of the way we’ve organized this year’s “Women of Pasadena” feature, with pairs of women speaking with and praising each other, I’ve asked each of these lovely ladies to note something about someone else on our team. Their chain of responses is at left. Finally, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, there’s one more woman I want to introduce. When I showed my mom, Linda Brooks, the March/April issue (my first issue of Pasadena), she said, “It’s great, but you need a gardening section.” She was right. (Aren’t moms always?) Not only has she always had an inherent green thumb and endless capacity to read and learn about horticulture (for the record, I cannot keep a houseplant alive), she pitched me a dozen amazing ideas for the “Gardening” section, which I look forward to sharing in the coming months. Perhaps as you enjoy this issue you will think of some of the special women in your lives.
SAMANTHA BROOKS
Editor in Chief
CONTRIBUTORS On what they learned while putting together the issue…
Ning Chao
Sheean Hanlan
“HAIR LOSS” PG. 38, PASADENA HEALTH
“ON THE FLIP SIDE,” PAGE 30
I’ve suffered from hair loss since college, but never realized that the “normal” shedding of up to 150 hairs a day multiplies when you skip shampoos. Now I won’t be so freaked out when I see 300 hairs down the drain because I extended my blowout an extra day.
I learned that Hawaiian royalty would paddle from Waikiki all the way around the island to bathe in the Ko Olina waters, which were considered a sacred place.
POST-VACCINATION PLANS: TRAVEL! I can’t wait to stay in a hotel
tripping with a friend through the coastal villages of Puglia, the “heel of the Italian boot.”
Carolyn Meers
Ramona Saviss
“24 HOURS WITH/PASADENA PEOPLE” PG. 46, PASADENA HEALTH
“SLEEP” PG. 30, PASADENA HEALTH
I loved learning about people’s day-to-day routines and was inspired to try Michele Canon’s nighttime cocoa drink. I started doing it to help curb my post-workday sugar cravings, and I love it. POST-VACCINATION PLANS: TRIPS. Near and far. Puerto Vallarta,
Sedona, Catalina Island, Olympic National Park in Washington— I’m so excited to travel and shake things up.
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As someone who has always struggled with some form of insomnia, I was surprised to discover that, according to sleep experts, waking up at the same time every morning (weekends too) is more important than what time you go to sleep. POST-VACCINATION PLANS: I’m invited to a wedding in Tel Aviv in June and have already booked my flight, hoping that the borders will be open by then! The second leg of this much-needed vacation is yet to be determined but it’s looking like the south of Spain as of right now. It’s all dependent on what is open to travel to this summer.
NING CHAO: JANE HOULE; RAMONA SAVISS: STEPHANIE MCGANN
where I can eat decadent food and sleep on crisp, clean sheets not prepared by me.
POST-VACCINATION PLANS: Renting a red Fiat 500 and road-
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
Shelby J. Russell srussell@lamag.com
VICE PRESIDENT, CUSTOM CONTENT
Mitch Getz mgetz@lamag.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
Samantha Brooks samanthalbrooks@gmail.com ART DIRECTOR
Mary Franz
MANAGING EDITOR
Sara Smola sara@pasadenarose.com PHOTO EDITOR
Lauren Schumacher DIRECTOR OF SALES
Carly Allen callen@lamag.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Courtney White courtney@pasadenarose.com ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Mia Pierre-Jacques Mia@pasadenarose.com ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
Shana Wong shanawong@me.com
NEW YORK SALES OFFICE
Cynthia Donaher cynthia@donahermedia.com DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND EVENTS
Traci Takeda ttakeda@orangecoast.com
SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR
Julianne Quirong jquirong@lamag.com
CREATIVE SERVICES ART DIRECTOR
Sheila Ramezani
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Glenda Mendez
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Ping Tsai ptsai@orangecoast.com COPY EDITOR
Dora Dalton
Modern Talismans
CONTRIBUTORS
Anush Benliyan, Linda Brooks Carole Dixon, Sheean Hanlan Jennifer Ashton Ryan, Ramona Saviss Shaun Tolson, Christina Wall-Streit HOUR MEDIA CEO
Stefan Wanczyk PRESIDENT
John Balardo
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M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 1
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS 2021
195 Sequoia Dr, Pasadena 3 Bed | 2 Bath | Sold for $1,365,000
1520 Pegfair Estates Dr, Pasadena 3 Bed | 2.5 Bath | Sold for $2,150,000
Tracy Do knows Pasadena
Tracy Do 1404 Laurel St, South Pasadena 4 Bed | 3.5 Bath | Sold for $2,380,000
323.842.4001 tracy@tracydo.com DRE 01350025
NEWS + NOTES
PARK IT HERE Inspired by its famed adjacent racetrack, the new Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia is a tribute to its surroundings. BY SA R A S M O L A
F
rom nearly every west-facing floor of the six-story LE MÉRIDIEN PASADENA ARCADIA, guests have unobstructed views of the iconic Santa Anita Park. But the 87-year-old racing and entertainment venue isn’t just a nearby attraction, it’s also the inspiration for much of the interior elements at the property, which aims to cater to travelers as much as locals. Inside, the thoughtfully designed 234-room hotel gives a nod to Arcadia’s prominent equestrian-centric legacy through sophisticated interiors complemented by the brand’s signature
midcentury modern design. Details like horse-bit motifs on lighting fixtures and textiles blend seamlessly with expanses of glass and streamlined furnishings. The onsite European-Asian fusion restaurant Mélange is helmed by chef Mako, formerly of Spago, Nobu, and his own eponymous eatery in Beverly Hills. The ground-floor bar, Longitude 118, features one-of-a-kind private labels and international spirits. For a lighter afternoon, you can visit the dedicated tea space, featuring an array of premium teas. More than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space spanning five separate rooms (including three private dining rooms), as well as an additional 1,800 square feet of indoor function space, making it ideal for weddings, meetings, and celebrations—something we can all look forward to in the year ahead. From $200; le-meridien. marriott.com
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NEWS + NOTES
Prints Charming Originally founded by sister-duo Hopie and Lily Stockman in 2013 with just a small collection of scarves, Block Shop Textiles has since expanded into apparel and home items, all reflecting the brand’s signature playful, geometric patterns and bright, bold colorways. For those with DIY in their DNA, the Atwater Village–based studio recently launched its first small-batch upholstery fabric collection, which features 10 art deco–inspired designs meticulously block printed by hand in Jaipur, India, on heavyweight linen and cotton using AZO-free, nontoxic pigments. From $240 for 2 yards; blockshoptextiles. com — S A R A S M O L A
Basket Case Pasadena Picnic Co. launched earlier this year with the aim of providing a safe way to meet up while supporting neighborhood vendors. The brainchild of Kaiy Smith-Biesman (owner of the Old Pasadena’s charcuterie and cheese board company Stems) and Lena Kelly (a marketing and event production pro), the turnkey service offers three tiers of curated picnic packages: Basic ($249), Bold ($449), or Boujee ($649), as well as a fully customizable picnic experience (from $650). The team can set up in any backyard or park in the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area. Every month, they highlight local businesses, like Semolina Artisanal Pasta and Little Flower. pasadenapicnicco.com —A N U S H B E N L I YA N
TRUST THEM Following the success of their weekly pop-up at the La Peer Hotel in Beverly Hills, Chef Brian Ogawa and Jazmine Valte joined forces to create the Home-AKase by Soosh! dining experience, featuring curated, customizable omakase menus to be enjoyed in the comfort of home—setup and cleanup included. Beyond sushi takeout, Ogawa takes it up several notches, bringing a sophisticated level of skill and expertise as one would expect from a former Matsuhisa and Nobu head sushi chef with more than 20 years of experience in the kitchen. Menus start at $400 per person, with optional add-ons to suit your needs, including a Japanese BBQ chef, custom sake/wine pairings, dessert bar, and premium offerings such as uni, otoro, shaved truffle, and caviar. From $400; soosh.la — S . S .
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SMART SIPS Female-founded, mission-driven wellness brand Clevr offers delicious, nutrition-rich instant latte mixes loaded with adaptogenic
herbs, probiotics, and superfoods for Zenlike focus and long-term energy—and none of the jitters that often accompany caffeine. The SuperLattes come
in four flavors: Matcha, Coffee, Chai, and an anti-inflammatory concoction called Golden, made from single-farm turmeric, resulting in its rich namesake hue. In keeping with its “feel good, do good” mission, Clevr exclusively sources organic or non-GMO ingredients; its shipping materials are both 100% post-consumer recycled and 100% recyclable; and each month it donates a percentage of revenue to organizations fighting for food justice in the US. $28/11.8oz bag; clevrblends.com — S . S
5 Artisanal Creameries in Pasadena to Cool Off with This Summer 1 Bloomfield Creamery
Inspired by the traditional “feel-good” ice cream they grew up eating during their Midwestern childhood, owners Bijan and Leila Sadeghi scoop traditional classics as well as inventive, Persian-influenced flavors like Faloodeh, a traditional sorbet made with rosewater and rice noodles, and Pink Rose, made with rose jam. bloomfieldcreamery.com
2 Carmela Ice Cream Co.
SALT & STRAW: JAKOB LAYMAN
Not Just Another Dress If there was ever an excuse to shop for a cause, this is the one. Nonprofit social innovation project Ni En More (Not One More) merges political activism, fashion, and art to create change for women living in vulnerable conditions in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. While Ni En More is much more than a fashion brand, the organization’s core sewing project plays a significant role in creating jobs, helping to create confidence and skills that contribute to long-term financial independence for at-risk women. The nonprofit promotes a safe work environment, fair wages, education, and job training through sustainable production of oneof-a-kind, handmade garments, individually colored with botanical dyes to create wearable pieces of art with watercolor-inspired prints. Its dreamy silk robes ($420), bohemian dresses ($300), and chic cotton tees ($80) are the staples you’ll live in season to season. nienmoreshop.com — S . S .
Jessica Mortarotti’s North Pasadena microcreamery churns out handcrafted ice creams and sorbets made from seasonal, local, farmers-market produce. For a true gardeninspired flavor, try the refreshing, palate pleaser Lavender Honey—milk and cream are infused with organic lavender flowers, then naturally sweetened with a touch of honey. carmelaicecream.com
3 Rori’s Artisanal Creamery Owner Rori Trovato partners with local farmers for the freshest, most wholesome ingredients available, like he uses in Wild Berry Chocolate Crisp, a blend of local, seasonal berries sprinkled with dark-chocolate-covered Rice Krispies. rorisartisanalcreamery.com 4 Salt & Straw A variety of inventive flavors make their debut monthly, but menu staple Pear & Blue Cheese, a savory-sweet combo made with candied Bartlett pears and Rogue Creamery blue cheese, remains a popular pick. saltandstraw.com 5 Wanderlust Creamery Food scientist and co-founder Adrienne Borlongan draws inspiration from far-flung locales that translates to colorful, craveable flavors like Ube Malted Crunch, Pandan Tres Leches, and Passion-Fruit Cacao. wanderlustcreamery.com — S . S .
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NEWS + NOTES
FOOD NEWS
QUICK BITES
Though summer is approaching, and it feels like time to work off the “quarantine 15,” it appears that comforting carbs are still on everyone’s menus. Here are some new places to dig in and indulge around town.
Delucatessen
L.A. spin to U STREET PIZZA. His dough is fermented for over two days from a blend of artisanal wheat, then layered with local tomatoes, produce from Girl & Dug Farm, finished with 18-monthaged Fiscalini cheddar, and cooked in an electric deck oven for the perfect ratio of crispy, chewy crust.
Yakumi
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DeLuca’s Italian Deli in Glendale launched a new sandwich delivery concept, DELUCATESSEN, that will bring juicy meatball and chicken Parmesan favorites right to your door, along with artisan sandwiches inspired by Tieste, Italy, from which chef Tancredi Deluca hails. Lee Maen of Innovative Dining Group (Sushi Roku in Pasadena), and PizzaRev founder Nicholas Eckerman opened the YAKUMI experience—a premium fast-casual and affordable sushi spotDamien near the Burbank studio corridor. Expect combination boxes and sake cups along with outdoor patio seating. For at-home provisions, Atwater’s new WINE + EGGS bodega-style market is the perfect spot to grab organic wines, pasta, or frozen pies from La Morra Pizzeria—and it seems they have kicked off a trend. The new Sesame LA “superette” in Chinatown is stocked with pantry items, produce, and snacks from Asian artisans including owner Linda Sivrican’s Vietnamese mother, Judy Nguyen, and Top Chef winner Mei Lin, who is crafting a chili jam. Lin has also been busy since her acclaimed Arts District restaurant Nightshade closed, opening Yardbird, a spicy Szechuan chicken sandwich shop in Silver Lake.
LA Cha Cha Chá
The sister restaurant of Mexico City’s famed Colonia Tabacalera has opened as LA CHA CHA CHÁ, a massive rooftop dining and drinking spot in the downtown Arts District. Architect-designer Lena Kohl incorporated over 150 plants amid the tables and banquettes, creating private nooks. Chef Alejandro Guzman (Michelin-starred Le Comptoir) makes ceviche, tacos, and carnitas, and the mezcal-tequila-heavy cocktails are by Bryan Tetorakis (The Varnish and Cole’s). Nearby, the famous fish-and-chips truck with an Asian twist, YESS AQUATIC (who created UK cult favorite Koya) will open a brick-and-mortar patio space at 7th and Matteo in May. Proper Hotel, designed by Kelly Wearstler, is scheduled to open in June on South Broadway, with Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne of a.o.c. helming the flagship kitchen with restaurants CALDO VERDE and CARA CARA. And we are happy to report that Aaron Lindell of QUARTER SHEETS and pastry chef Hannah Ziskin of HOUSE OF GLUTEN have moved from their Glendale apartment operation (as reported in our last issue, “In-n-Out”) to the old M. Georgina space (where Ziskin used to work) at Row DTLA for a pizza/bakery concept. — C A R O L E D I XO N
YAKUMI AND LA CHA CHA CHÁ: WONHO FRANK LEE
E
veryone’s favorite Bay Area bakery, TARTINE, is continuing its L.A. expansion with a new Green Street location this summer. The new outpost is slated for a small retail location that will be bakery forward, focusing on bread and pastry offerings. Next door to Old Pasadena staple Union, executive chef Chris Keyser is bringing New York–style pizza with an
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M Y PA S A D E N A
MY PASADENA
OA K K N O L L : U N L I M I T E D ST Y L E R E A L E STAT E P H OTO G R A P H Y; M I R R O R , OW L , C H A N D E L I E R & P O R T R A I T: M A R K H A N AU E R /CO U R T E SY O F W I S E M A N ST U D I O ; STO O L : D U N JA D U M A N S K I /CO U R T E SY O F W I S E M A N ST U D I O
A
master of modern decorative arts, designer David Wiseman (dwiseman.com) is world-renowned for his bespoke, nature-inspired fine artworks—intricate installations, sculptures, chandeliers, objets, and furnishings, which he painstakingly crafts using bronze, porcelain, stone, plaster, and glass. Born and bred in Pasadena, Wiseman spent his formative years attending Polytechnic School and taking weekend classes at ArtCenter. After studying furniture design at Rhode Island School of Design, he found his way back to Los Angeles 15 years ago. Today, he lives in Silver Lake, but still finds himself roaming the verdant, tree-lined streets of Pasadena seeking inspiration for his next piece, foraging for fallen branches and limbs that he brings back to his sprawling Frogtown studio and incorporates into his work. Here, the local luminary takes a walk down memory lane. I grew-up in a 1950s, single-story, modified ranch-style home on a beautiful, somewhat secluded street off OAK KNOLL. The previous owners had made an innovative addition of a large family room with an expansive curved window that overlooks the garden. / I created
DAVID WISEMAN my first studio in my parents’ garage when I moved back to Pasadena after college and laid out MY FIRST CEILING INSTALLATION on the same front lawn that I used to kick a soccer ball on. / Pasadena’s architecture has its own authentic style and history, as seen in the incredible examples of GREENE AND GREENE residential architecture. In contrast to many urban centers around the world, Pasadena has its origins in the idea of living in a home with a garden. This close relationship with nature has been pivotal for me. / The grounds of CALTECH and its historical buildings are spectacular. When I was younger, I loved to catch crawdads, turtles, and frogs in the ponds. / The gelato at BULGARINI GELATO in Altadena is second to none. You can’t beat their pistachio. / AI JAPANESE RESTAURANT in South Pasadena was a favorite spot growing up. It was where I was introduced to sushi as a young person. / THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART MUSEUM, AND BOTANICAL
is a favorite. I can’t think of a more diverse and beautiful garden in the world. In addition, their important collection of decorative arts has numerous works that have provided inspiration over the years. — A N U S H B E N L I YA N GARDENS
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FA M I LY
UNICORNS ARE FOR KIDS I
pick up the phone and the voice of my mother sounds brighter than it has in months. “Celia called,” she says. “Oh?” I answer, raising an eyebrow. I hadn’t heard the name of her good friend in several months. “What did she say?” “She said it hurt her feelings when I didn’t want to walk with her anymore.” “Oh?” I reply. “Weren’t we just talking about how you miss those walks?” “We were!” she said. “I told her, ‘I never said that. I love walking with you, I thought you were too busy and didn’t want to walk with me.’” “And what did she say?” “Well, we’re going walking tomorrow and I’m just so glad she called,” she said, her voice shining like the sun.
I’m telling this story because I can relate. My mom is 73 and she’s lifted up and really hurt by the same trigger that started for most of us in grade school: female friendships. In Raising Girls, Steve Biddulph writes, “Friends are important to most of us, but for girls, they are like the oxygen they breathe.” From my vantage right between girl and septuagenarian, in my thirties running a mostly stay-at-home-mom gig with three kids, I wasn’t prepared for both the depth and the length of all these relationships. Motherhood has been rapid-fire friendship 101. Going in, there was this expectation to find my person, or my people. I’d moved to the other side of L.A., we had no family in town, and I needed an emergency contact. But we didn’t know anyone
that well yet. And then there was that made-up unicorn mom I was longing for. I would be Cat, she’d be Nat. We’d vent together, laugh together. She’d be the sanity break following an imaginary-play marathon. The work of momming all day with no other adults felt isolating. To have that one trusted person to get through it with would make everything easier. But I know now, friendships don’t necessarily work that way. The way I’ve seen it, the shape of the motherhood friendship rollercoaster
AC T I V I T E S , PROGR A MS A N D MOR E SUPER BLOOMS Laura Williams of Poppy Hill Flowers (poppyhillflowers. com) says the best part of making a flower crown is that once you know the basics, you can just play. She answers our other questions here … What flowers work best? Anything light without heavy stems, like chrysanthemums. Choose what you’re drawn toward. What makes a crown stand out? Add a large statement flower just off-center. Choose something that drapes down
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H OW TO F LOW E R C R OW N a bit to frame the face and attach it by your temple. Any trends you’re seeing? Designers are adding preserved floral elements to crowns. You can use only preserved florals and keep the crown forever! What did you learn from your mother? The importance of hosting. She taught me to set a beautiful table and she poured hours into her dinner parties because she wanted her guests to know they were loved.
Time: 30 minutes
together to secure a circle shape.
1 Gather materials: flowers, hempcovered wire (18 gauge), paddle wire (26 gauge), floral tape, and floral clippers.
3 Strip and trim flower stems to 3
2 Measure the covered wire loosely
around your head. Cut wire, leaving excess so you can twist the ends
inches. Prepare larger flowers by pushing a 4-inch piece of paddle wire alongside the stem, just through the center of the bloom. Trim excess wire.
4 Set the crown on a flat surface and play with various flower arrangements.
5 Pick up the crown and one flower. Start tightly wrapping floral tape to secure the stem to the crown. Continue wrapping and adding new stems until flowers are secure and the crown is filled out. —J. A . R .
PAINTING BY LAUIRE HENDRICKS
As an adult, I’ve realized that when it comes to friendship and motherhood, the BFF of our dreams is perhaps an illusion. BY J E N N I F E R A S H TO N RYA N
ride looks something like this: It starts with a baby. Babies crack you open and make you feel vulnerable in ways maybe you have never felt before. Women often make deep, authentic connections in these years. We really need each other, and moms show up. Conversations cover nap schedules, first foods, stroller accessories, existential crises. No one else in the world can breathe these topics like a new mom. It’s only a couple years until that baby gets a sibling, or not, starts at Montessori daycare or a forest school, and there’s a
shift. Someone always moves. And it’s sad, so you’ll watch some kids grow up on Instagram instead of in your backyard. And if you have a job, or a strong friendship with your spouse, or you’re close with your mom, or a sister, then friends come and go, and the ride feels just kind of bumpy. But if it’s just you with these kids, no emergency contact, and the only people you really talk to are moms at the park, then, like me, you’ll be white-knuckling a lot of this ride. If making baby friends feels quick and dirty, elementary school is the long, slow climb. Grade school is a bigger crowd of people on so many different pages with every shaped family. Instead of hours sitting on the floor watching someone nonverbal try to crawl, you cannot hear yourself think from the carpool line, trying to simultaneously keep a baby awake and seem interested in the middle child’s soliloquy on Pokémon Go. The season is loud. Family life becomes all-consuming. There’s little time for friends, but you’re surrounded all the time by people. You make small talk at practices, recitals, backto-school nights, basketball games. You send SOS texts for drinks, bent on staying awake and completing a thought. You catch up with the people you bonded over babies with. You also make time for a hike
SCREENS OFF Turn left upon entering Serafina (shopserafina.com) to find the lifestyle boutique’s cheerful children’s salon. Celebrating 10 years on Mission Street in San Marino, owner Corina Madilian describes her approach to the salon as “carrying thoughtful items that inspire creativity and never require batteries.” This children’s gardening set ($22) from Australian brand Heaven in Earth is properly weighted like grown-up tools to foster an early affection for gardening. —J. A . R .
with the mom you want to get to know better from basketball. With low expectations of everyone, you can cobble together adult time. Sometimes it’s all too much and you just take your free time to read a pile of books. (I also recommend tennis.) I’ve realized that that’s all OK. We’re all a little lonely, and we’re going up and down. The truth is motherhood brings about reasons to connect with a diverse, fascinating collection of women who will support you, have fun with you, and draw boundaries with you. Friends fade in and out while life changes more quickly than children grow up. We all have new relational, emotional, and time needs with each pregnancy, diagnosis, school year, job change. The seasons can’t match up with any one person. But there’s overlap and, in those times, shared mothering means the world. So it’s not you, it’s us. One size fits none. It’s really normal to be 73 and missing your friend. And to walk through a misunderstanding with her. Since grade school it’s been thrilling to connect with someone new, and sad to stop seeing them regularly. So whom do I list as my emergency contact? As it turns out, a whole bunch of people. I was looking for a bestie, but I found a network. It’s better than I could have imagined.
MOM LOVES CAKE “In 2020 Mother’s Day happened in the heart of the shutdown,” says bakery owner John Hensley, remembering the abrupt pivot by Lark Cake Shop (larkcakeshop.com) to operate a delivery-only business. “The response from the community was absolutely overwhelming and we delivered hundreds of Mother’s Day cakes that weekend.” For this year’s holiday, Lark’s locations in Silverlake and Pasadena’s Shops on Hill are back open for in-store and pickup services. Lark’s most popular item, its Ice Box cakes and cupcakes, draw inspiration from the popular 1920s and ’30s mom hack of stacking wafer cookies with whipped cream and putting them in the new “icebox.” —J. A . R .
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4/12/21 4:53 PM
DIALOGUE
Lili Bernard with examples of her work: Maceo y Marti and La Mejorana 2017. Oil on canvas 28 x 44
famous museum in L.A. came to Otis and looked at my work, rolled her eyes with disinterest, and proceeded to ask me, “Do you ever paint white people?” I was dodging these microaggressions of racism every day.
> What are some of the biggest
issues the art world is facing when it comes to diversity?
LILI BERNARD Black Artists in Los Angeles (BAILA) was created to illuminate the work and advance the careers of Black visual artists. Here, its local founder shares her thoughts on diversity—or lack of—in the art world. BY SA R A S M O L A
> What inspired you to create BAILA? I was frustrated with the dearth of representation of Black and brown people in museums and galleries. I found that the most disenfranchised of the three groups of underrepresented artists— Black, Chinese, and Latino—is by far the Black artist. That was also reflected in art academia. Most people who are exhibited in galleries have [a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree]. Very few Black and brown people get accepted into MFA programs and if they are accepted they can’t afford to go. > What was your own MFA program experience like?
My experience at Otis College of Art and Design was not unlike the experiences of a lot of Black and brown artists who go the academic route. When I was in graduate art school in 2014, there were a number of white feminist professors who said the most racist things on a regular basis in such an inadvertent way that they didn’t even realize they were inflicting microaggressions of racism upon me and my Black and brown peers. These are well-intending white people who have been so enculturated in their privilege that they lack the sensitivity to say things that are not going to be racially offensive. A well-known curator of a
[Museums] are failing to give audiences access to works by artists of color. You look at [Pasadena-based artist and BAILA member] Adrienne DeVine’s artwork, and don’t necessarily think “that’s a Black artist.” The population is deprived of her art because she’s a Black woman. Museums turn a blind eye to us. The Black image, particularly the Black female figure, is something that is almost absent in the annals of art history. And that’s why I, as an artist, do paint the Black female figure, to insert her into the archives of a history from which she has been omitted.
> Where is there room for improvement?
It starts at the top. When you have a faculty or a museum board of directors that’s all white, you are not going to see the changes in the curriculum, you’re not going to see the changes in the artists who are represented, because people tend to be interested in what’s familiar to them.
> What would you like to see BAILA accomplish in the next year? My answer pertains to what I would like to see all Black artists in Los Angeles accomplish in the next year. My prayer for all of us is that we feel inspired and are supported enough to continue producing relevant works of art. I hope that we all continue to evolve in our creative expression, and that we reap rewards for our hard work in the form of healing, growth, productivity, reviews, awards, exhibitions, and sales.
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ART & DESIGN
ALREADY WINNING These elevated updates of classic games score big when it comes to style. BY SA R A S M O L A
< Mega Jumbling Tower, Sunnylife Ideal for the outdoors, this hand-dyed, mega, Jengainspired set is a knockout at parties or game nights. $110; sunnylife.com
“El Rumi” Rummy Tile Game, Luxe Dominoes
Designed to be both displayed and played, this modern take on the traditional tile game you grew up playing with grandma is made with recyclable materials and comes in several bold and vibrant neon hues. $225; luxedominoes.com
Four-In-A-Row, Edie Parker Accessories and lifestyle label Edie Parker blends its signature whimsical style with sophisticated elements—the perfect “connection” between fun and fashion. $1,495; edie-parker.com
< Noughts and Crosses Set, Bamford London This elevated British version of tic-tac-toe takes a childhood
favorite and turns it into a sculptural display piece. $400; mrporter.com
Mexican Train Hub Box, Alexandra Von Furstenberg
An eye for design is a family affair. The former daughterin-law of fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg adds her own innovative, luxurious spin to this game with neon acrylic additions. $475; alexandravonfurstenberg.com
> Texas Hold’em Poker Gift Set, Scully & Scully Handmade in Italy from fine leather, this poker set contains everything you need to play Texas Hold’em—including a sleek display case. $1,150; scullyandscully.com
Backgammon, Alexandra Llewellyn
Handcrafted by artisans in the UK, designer Alexandra Llewellyn’s stunning backgammon boards are almost too pretty to play on. The coveted, gallery-worthy boards are recreated in wood marquetry or digitally reproduced on leather. From $1,700; alexandrallewellyn.com
< Power Lunch Puzzle, Piecework
As fun to look at as it is to put together, female-founded Piecework’s eye-catching puzzle is worthy of display on your walls. Made with extra-
thick, 100% recycled paper for a luxe look and feel. $36; pieceworkpuzzles.com
Virtual: Fun Fact App, Monty Media
Can’t play in person? Developed by tech entrepreneur Tamara Odinec, this multiplayer personal trivia app makes a game out of any get-together, live or remote, from family dinners to Zoom meet-ups. Available for download in the Apple App Store. Free; funfactgame.com
ART & DESIGN
DOWN TO EARTH If you have yet to be seduced by the creative output of California’s hot-as-fire ceramics scene, get ready to enter a colorful world, rich in history and imagination. BY M A R T I N E B U RY
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he California pottery movement comes in waves. A myriad of influences dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, including Spanish settlers’ penchant for using colorful tiles in their architecture, the Mexican culture’s masterful expressions using red clay, and the Chinese art of delicate porcelain. All of these cultures brought traditional crafts to the Golden State. Statehood in 1848 spurred immigration, population growth, and a building boom that created a demand for tile and tableware. From the 1930s through 1960s, California pottery brands such as J.A. Bauer, Vernon Kilns, and Heath Ceramics became coveted household names throughout the US. Pasadena companies included Bevan Kilns and Flintridge China Company. Although consumer appetite for ceramics waxed and waned over the decades, a new day dawned after World War II, when the school of ceramic art known as “California clay” launched notable talents who innovated the medium and changed popular perception. What was once considered a simplistic handicraft began to be seen as art. A towering figure in that scene
Sunja Park Ceramics
was Peter Voulkos, an abstract artist, sculptor, and ceramist who challenged norms with his large-scale works. He founded the Ceramic Center at the Los Angeles County Art Institute, now Otis College of Art and Design. Nancy Selvin, Stan Bitters, and Michael Frimkess—all students of Voulkos—became major artists in their own right. Keeping with tradition, contemporary ceramists throughout L.A. and Pasadena continue to break boundaries with a breadth of inspiring work that you can appreciate in haute interiors showrooms, fine art galleries, hip hotels, or your kitchen table. Here are four artists dominating a kiln near you. Victoria Morris Pottery The Los Angeles native’s breezy, minimalist forms conjure raw earth, salt air, and clean white light in silhouettes that balance form and function. Created in her light-filled Altadena studio, her lamps, vessels, and bowls are as much a vibe as they are material things. Morris’ 25-year career in the craft continues to influence a generation of California ceramic artists. victoriamorrispottery.com Jonathan Cross Studio Trained as a printmaker, Cross never intended to become a ceramist. In 2006 a trip to Huntington Library—particularly time spent in its renowned Desert Garden—ignited a love affair with cacti and succulents. This inspired Cross to begin making his own clay planters that leaned more into the realm of abstract sculpture than your average pot. He utilizes a variety of clays (many of which he digs himself) as well as a multitude of firing techniques, resulting in captivating pieces that teeter between archeological find, artifact, and futuristic new stone age. jonathancrossstudio.com Sunja Park Ceramics Park’s vessels, stools, planters, and bowls are mesmerizing. Influenced by midcentury design, her work is as comfortable holding court in a coveted Schindler or Lautner home as it is at a backyard garden party. Her humble, groovy showpieces blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and arti- sanal craft. sunjapark.com BZIPPY and Company Since launching her business in 2008, Bari Ziperstein’s rise as a fine artist, activist, creative director, and CEO has resulted in her being one of the most talked about ceramists in Los Angeles. Just saying her company’s name brings dancing images of instantly recognizable pieces from her pop-color imaginarium of furnishings, vases, tiles, and whimsical tableware, all of which follow her limitless obsession with technique and materials, engineering solutions, shapes and glazes, and business models that empower women. bzippyandcompany.com
GOING GREEN This Southern California golf company can equip your backyard with a PGA Tour–quality practice area. BY S H AU N TO L S O N
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stute golfers understand that better scores require a proficient short game. But exemplary wedge play and a deft touch around the greens—like every aspect of the sport— require plenty of dedicated and focused practice. With many avid golfers struggling to find the necessary time to play regular rounds of golf throughout the year, the prospect of carving out extra time to get to the course just to practice is mere fantasy. Fortunately for those golf enthusiasts, BACK NINE GREENS is wellversed at turning fantasies into reality. For more than two decades, the Palm Desert company has specialized in building artificial backyard putting greens and short-game practice areas for discerning clientele. These aren’t just average, run-of-the-mill flat putting greens, either. Through the company’s luxury division, Back Nine Greens works with homeowners to build a sloped and contoured green complex—one that features artificial bunkers and can accommodate multiple hole locations, if desired.
In fact, the company recently hired a shaper who had previously worked for many revered course architects. He was even instrumental in the redesign of The Hay, a historic short course at Pebble Beach that just reopened for play. “We construct it just like you would a golf green anywhere,” Dominic Nappi, the company’s founder and president, says of the putting surfaces that Back Nine Greens builds. The company also benefits from a staff of specialists, including a former professional golfer who now serves as a partner and oversees the company’s aforementioned luxury division. In fact, that golfer was first a Back Nine Greens customer. “When I was living in Rancho Mirage, I wanted a tour-speed green,”
says Dave Stockton Jr., who played as a professional for more than a decade. “They did it perfectly, which is why I got involved in the company. I couldn’t believe what they put in my backyard.” These backyard green complexes replicate on-course conditions in more ways than just how the putting surfaces roll. Bunkers are constructed using a white, wiry turf that realistically simulates sand-filled bunkers and, as Stockton acknowledges, they require that golfers hit shots just as they would out on the course. “You have to make the same kind of swing you would in a normal bunker,” he says, “sweeping underneath it and finishing high.” A simple and straightforward Back Nine putting green typically starts at $18 per square foot, while the company’s intricate luxury division green complexes cost as much as $40 per square foot. Given that the company has built some as large as 13,000 square feet in size—a backyard par 3 hole with multiple tee boxes and a variety of bunkers—these projects can be a significant investment. “These greens aren’t cheap,” says Stockton, “and you want the person to say when it’s done that they never knew it would look this great and play this realistic. That’s the highest compliment you can get.” backninegreens.com
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TO DO
F O R T H E DAY
Tired of being cooped up at home? Dive into the fun with these waterrelated activities. BY R A M O N A SAV I S S
5 WAYS TO
EXPERIENCE WATER VISIT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
At Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific (aquariumofpacific.org) you can learn about coral reefs in the new “Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities” exhibition, on display May 28, 2021, through April 2022. More than a dozen animal species are highlighted throughout the new coral lagoon habitat, including bioluminescent and fluorescent animals that glow, plus clownfish, parrotfish, and a green sea turtle. For a more hands-on experience, book the Animal Encounter program with Magellanic penguins ($150 per person) and have the entire area to yourself—along with a guide. Limited to a single household with up to four people at once, this activity is memorable and fun for all ages. The aquarium’s outdoor exhibitions, most of which also offer direct-contact experiences, are also open and feature habitats of sharks, rays, seals, penguins, jellyfish, and more. 24 PA S A D E N A
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HIKE TO EATON CANYON FALLS
Head to Eaton Canyon for a 3.5-mile round-trip hike near Pasadena. Suitable for all skill levels, the trail features a waterfall, shade in most parts, and year-round access. Dogs are permitted if kept on a leash. Take the Park Road Trail to the 50-foot waterfall, where some people wade in the shallow end or rest on the surrounding rocks. To mitigate crowds, timed reservations for entry to the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, which includes the trails, are required for entry. Make a reservation online (ecnca.org) before heading to the hike (sameday reservations are not accepted). The scenic Eaton Canyon Natural Area is a 190-acre nature preserve at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. In addition to hiking trails, you can enjoy picnic areas, seasonal streams, equestrian trails, and native plants and animals.
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC: ROBIN RIGGS; EATON CANYON FALLS: @DG_NACHO VIA TWENTY20; @TROVELA VIA TWENTY20
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PICNIC AT ECHO PARK LAKE
The historic Echo Park Lake (laparks.org) is a family-friendly spot with plenty of greenery for idyllic lakeside picnics. The eastside hot spot is crowded on the weekends, but arrive early and snag a spot near the lake where water lilies float as ducks and small turtles swim by. The park is slated to reopen on June 15 after an $85 million renovation, with updated playgrounds, restrooms, drinking fountains, and more. When open, the boathouse and its breakfast spot, Beacon, provide picnic food (breakfast and lunch fare includes sandwiches, bowls, and coffee) so you don’t have to pack anything from home. Be sure to stop by the eastern edge of the lake to see the 14-foot-tall statue commonly referred to as “The Lady of the Lake,” by artist Ada Mae Sharpless from 1935. There are even swan pedal boats for rent hourly (pandemic limitations permitting), with romantic night rides available as another way to enjoy the lake.
ECHO PARK LAKE: GERSON REPREZA/UNSPLASH; JUST FLOAT PASADENA: JAN EASTER PHOTOGRAPHY; MALIBU PIER: @KERRYHORVATH1 VIA TWENTY20; @MALIBUFARMS
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KAYAK AND LUNCH AT MALIBU PIER
Make it a beach day and head to the coast for water sports and lunch at Malibu Pier. Located on PCH, across from the pier, Malibu Surf Shack (malibusurfshack.com) is a go-to for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. The shack sets up beach rentals on the sand next to the pier, making it easy to dive right in. After the water activities, head to Malibu Farm (malibu-farm. com) for a sit-down lunch with sweeping ocean views featuring organic California cuisine and local ingredients, or walk down the pier to its more casual sister restaurant, Malibu Farm Café. There, you can enjoy pancakes, sandwiches, salads, juices, and more on wooden picnic tables while you watch surfers and dolphins ride the waves.
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RELAX AT JUST FLOAT PASADENA
Destress and just, well, float inside a sensory deprivation pod at Just Float Pasadena (justfloat.com). With 11 floating chambers, each 8 feet by 5 feet, with 7-foot ceilings, these floatation rooms are designed not to make you feel claustrophobic and are billed as part of the largest floating facility in the world. Each suite comes with its own shower and dressing area, towel, and bathrobe. The floatation unit itself looks like a shallow (11 inches) hot tub that’s filled with 1,300 pounds of Epsom salt and 260 gallons of water, typically at 94.5 degrees. First you take a pre-float shower and then enter the completely private and soundproof floatation unit. After five minutes and once you’re acclimated and starting to relax, the music and lights automatically shut off, leaving you in complete darkness and quiet to relax the mind. Here, the idea is to deprive your senses and give your mind a unique setting to relax for an hour or more.
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Hotel Ynez
Hotel CoastYnez Range & Vaquero Bar
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SY Kitchen
Alma Rosa
TO DO
FOR THE WEEKEND
Santa Ynez General Store
NORTH BY NORTHEAST
Just beyond Santa Barbara rests a bounty of culinary and leisure delights. BY C A R O L E D I XO N
Santa Ynez and Solvang Visiting this rolling wine country region off Highway 154 is always a good idea—especially with new hotels, wineries, and restaurants from top hospitality operators. STAY: New from the owner of trendsetting Skyview in Los
Alamos, the 18 cabana-style Hotel Ynez opened in March 2021 on a secluded stretch of highway between Solvang and Santa Ynez. The grounds are shaded by ancient oak and pine trees with a slender pool and communal bonfire area for sipping wine in the evening. All rooms have a spacious front porch with a hammock—but for something more intimate, book the garden suite with a private jacuzzi. If you are staying for a few nights, the staff will bring a BBQ grill complete with Santa Maria ribs and veggies for a cookout on your patio. A spa area for massages in an atrium building on the grounds will be completed soon. From $179; hotelynez.com
Industrial Eats
HOTEL YNEZ: KARYN MILLET
DO: A great way to explore the valley and wine taste is by
bicycle (also available through Hotel Ynez) or you can follow the Foxen Canyon Road, which leads to 20 wine-tasting rooms in the tiny town of Los Olivos. Sandwiched in between the two locations is Bob’s Well Bread Bakery in Ballard where you can stop for pastries or lunch with house-made pâté and a custom blend of rosé and grenache from neighboring Margerum Winery.
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FOR THE WEEKEND
SHOP: If you only have time to hit one shop in the area, it
should be Santa Ynez General. This cozy space has everything from French fig candles to cookbooks, soaps, jewelry, and the perfect hostess gifts, but you will want to buy everything and keep it for your own home.
White Water Cambria (above and below)
have opened Nella Kitchen & Bar alongside the Fess Parker Inn (Los Olivos) where Nonna Nella Meatballs are already a fan favorite. New in Solvang, Coast Range & Vaquero Bar brings an all-star lineup of chefs—Anthony Carron, Lincoln Carson, and Steven Fretz—to make daily crudo and pig-ear “Cheetoz.” Over in Buellton, Industrial Eats owner Janet Olsson and her team cook everything in wood-burning pizza ovens, including Cuban pork confit sandwiches, while also selling gourmet goods from France and Italy. Be sure to book a Pinot Noir wine tasting next door at Alma Rosa Winery, which feels more like an art gallery.
Cambria/Paso Robles Not far from Hearst Castle, this low-key beach town is perfect for a reset. Once you are rejuvenated by the salty air, the Paso Robles wine country is less than 30 miles away, and you have the pick of 250 wineries dotted amid the mustard wildflower fields. STAY: Stay in any of the boutique hotels or Airbnbs that
define Paso Robles, but for a more romantic and balanced Cambria
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WHITE WATER CAMBRIA: JONNY VALIANT; CAMBRIA: JESSICA ALEXANDER
EAT: The owners of local favorite Italian eatery S.Y. Kitchen
JUSTIN: TIM WILSON PHOTOWORKS; COPYRIGHT © 2021 BRUCE MUNRO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS HARDY
Justin
experience, stay on the beach in Cambria. The new White Water Cambria, which opened in September 2020, was designed by Nina Freudenberger as a chic refuge just across from the picturesque Moonstone Beach. The 25 whitewashed rooms are a nod to the coastal lifestyle of the area, with elements from 1970s Scandinavian designs mixed with art by Block Shop Textiles. Enjoy craft cocktails in the library stocked with vintage National Geographic magazines and board games after a day of exploring the revitalizing seaside. Don’t miss the on-site boutique and its curated selection of home items. From $329; whitewatercambria.com
EAT: For dinner along Moonstone Beach, walk from White
Water to the historic Sea Chest Oyster Bar for the best ocean views and its famous Calamari Steak. In Paso, fine-dining Tuscan fare can be found at Il Cortile, while Thomas Hill Organics offers beloved, farm-to-table local options. For a funkier festive night out, hit The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar or enjoy Mexican-inspired seafood dishes and a serious tequila and mezcal list at Fish Gaucho. Don’t miss a meal at The Alchemists’ Garden, where plant-driven dishes include everything from grilled mushroom steaks to Moroccan spiced lamb, as well as a diverse cocktail list.
DO: On the beach, try to spot the 20,000 seals at the elephant
seal rookery or view the art of plein air painters at The Vault Gallery. For Paso wine sipping, the tasting room and patio restaurant of Justin are a must stop, and if you drink too much of the famed Isosceles, you can spend the night at the intimate JUST Inn bed and breakfast on the grounds. Don’t miss a visit to Daou for the award-winning Soul of a Lion Cabernet, biodynamic vintages at Tablas Creek, or Thacher Winery, which produces négrette and cinsault grapes. For the ultimate art and wine buff, Sensorio: Light Towers by artist Bruce Munro opened in April. The exhibit pays homage to the abundant vineyards of the region with 69 towers made from 17,388 wine bottles. SHOP: In Cambria, hunt for one-of-a-kind treasures at Rich
Man Poor Man, Antiques on Main, or Home Arts. Paso Market Walk is a new mixed-use development filled with specialty shops from local artisans, sustainable farmers, and vintners, where you will find everything from cheese to cashmere.
Sensorio: Light Towers
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TO DO
THE TRIP
ON THE FLIP TIDE Beyond the crowds of Waikiki, Oahu offers secluded beaches lost among the lagoons and eroded volcano on the island’s leeward coast. BY S H E E A N H A N L A N
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fter nearly a year of being closed off to visitors, the Hawaiian Islands—and their sought-after resorts—are reopening. However, vaccinated or not, post-pandemic travel still has us all looking at things differently. Crowded beaches, packed pools, and group activities are far from most people’s wish lists. If you’ve been overlooking Oahu for the state’s more resort-focused Big Island and Maui, it’s time to discover the 642-acre Ko Olina resort community, just 35 minutes from downtown Honolulu. The relaxed destination, whose name translates as “place of joy,” was a favorite getaway of Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, who resided in the Iolani Palace until 1893. Here, the turquoise waters, once thought to be sacred by Hawaiian royalty, ebb and flow in a melodic ripple suitable for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling. Three perfectly crescent, swimmable coves dot the coast, where only a handful of
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hotels occupy the shore, including the preeminent Four Seasons. This less developed west coast is also home to the largest native Hawaiian population in Oahu and has all the idyllic white-sand beaches of Waikiki and the North Shore—only unspoiled by the tourist crowds. Instead, respected artisans, watermen, and cultural storytellers continue ancient traditions in these rural parts, imbuing the area with meaning. While the region’s isolation from urban life is a major draw, there’s no shortage of experiences to be had at the Four Seasons Ko Olina itself. Originally designed by architect Edward Killingsworth in 1998, the resort underwent renovations by Philpotts Interiors in 2016, when it reopened as a Four Seasons. The resulting 371 rooms and suites fall in line with the timeless decor and Hawaiian accents of the public spaces—banana-leaf wall coverings, hibiscus throw pillows, and wood furnishings, along with garden-side lanais and ocean-view balconies. Four swimming pools and the expanses of coastline mean that there’s never a wait for a lounge chair. The circular main pool is as welcoming as it is architectural, while the kids pool invites play. A spa pool accommodates lap swimming, and the adult pool feels like a resort in itself. The sleek, lava rock–colored infinity pool extends along the property’s northern end. Just beyond it is an extended grassy lawn for lounging, and then the ocean. A teak deck, ample chairs and cabanas, and
Five Things Not to Miss 1 YACHTING. Charter the Four Seasons’ The Entertainer for a high-speed private excursion up the coast, where you’re likely to see spinner dolphins and humpback whales. The 35-foot Sea Ray SLX 400 also features a dropdown swim terrace for easy snorkeling and access to hidden beaches. 2 HIKING. “The Realm of the Gods” hike is more than your average trek with scenic views. Guided by a kuma hulu and his dancer, climb to Ka’ena Point on the island’s westernmost tip, where ancient Hawaiian legend has it that wandering souls were forced to take a final leap from the cliff into the realm of the gods. At the top, witness an intimate spiritual performance while enjoying a privately catered picnic. 3
full staff make you fully feel on vacation—even if you can only escape for a few hours while your kids are at the kids club. There’s even the swim-up bar helmed by Dr. Mai Tai, who can prescribe guests the perfect cocktail. There’s no shortage of dining options, but Mina’s Fish House, led by chef Michael Mina, and Noe, a Southern Italian restaurant led by Japanese Italian chef Ryo Takatsuka, are the standouts. Guests staying at the property will want to dine at each more than once, as the diverse menus will leave you wanting to try more. When it comes to the Sunday brunch the Four Seasons brand is known for, the property has successfully pivoted from buffet to prix fixe, offering the perfect assortment of traditional favorites with Hawaiian flair: surf and turf with prime rib, Hawaiian poke, fresh seafood, and the property’s own take on eggs benedict, featuring pork and a poached egg. The spa includes outdoor treatment rooms where you can hear the waves crash, while the fitness center goes beyond just a traditional gym, offering a cardio room (complete with Peloton bikes) and weight room, as well as rooftop facilities for soccer, basketball, and tennis. Just outside the property is the Ted Robinson–designed Ko Olina golf course. Add consistently warm, sunny weather, and it’s the idyllic, naturally social escape that couldn’t be better this season—and next. Rooms from $1,195; fourseasons.com
SEAFOOD. Feast on a tower of cracked crabs, Kona lobster tails, and oysters at Mina’s Fish House, led by James Beard Award–winning chef Michael Mina. Better yet, let one of the world’s first “fish sommeliers” recommend the best line-to-table dish, down to the exact texture and style of preparation for your tastes. Choose from exotic varieties like opah, swordfish, kampachi, and onaga.
4 SURFING. Monster waves at the Banzai Pipeline won’t seem as intimidating after a couple of surf lessons with Moniz Family Surf on Waikiki Beach, where the motto is “anyone can surf.” monizfamilysurf.com 5
HELICOPTER TOUR. Marvel at the island’s most iconic landmarks from another point of view, in a customizable aviation tour with Paradise Helicopters. The trip covers everything from Pearl Harbor to Kualoa Ranch, where the Jurassic Park series was filmed. paradisecopters.com
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H E A LT H
At Cuixmala, health and wellness are just as central to the property’s ethos as its stunning architecture and unparalleled setting. BY SA M A N T H A B R O O K S
L
ocated on 30,000 acres on Mexico’s Costalegre—about three hours south of Puerto Vallarta and two hours north of Manzanillo—Cuixmala has been a tucked-away haven since it was built as the private estate for British billionaire and conservationist Sir James Goldsmith in 1992. Following his death in 1997, his daughter, Alix Marcaccini, opened up the estate—which features a 60,000-square-foot Moroccan-inspired main house designed by Robert Couturier, as well as a collection of villas and bungalows sprawling throughout the property’s coast and cliff tops—as a boutique resort. Constantly making enhancements and upgrades, one of Marcaccini’s latest endeavors is focusing on the property’s wellness programing. While no formal spa exists (though in-room treatments are available), a tranquil, freestanding yoga pavilion made from bamboo overlooks the lush scenery (Cuixmala has been designated as a biosphere for decades and is home to wild
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zebras, horses, a sea turtle refuge, crocodiles, and countless species of birds), as well as a Tibetan Buddhist stupa for meditation. However, it’s not only the facilities and inherent sense of calm and seclusion that make Cuixmala an ideal escape for a wellness retreat, it’s the outstanding programming its owner and her team have curated for its loyal clientele. For starters, the property introduced a Rasha machine last August, followed by a retreat with its inventor, Jere Rivera-Dugenio, who specializes in quantum physics. “It’s a fascinating and incredible healing tool that uses technology to work with your DNA and nervous system,” says Mikaela Beach, Cuixmala’s head of wellness, who has been on the property for five years, and came from the acclaimed Golden Door in Escondido. “The machine can do everything from release stress in the body to help insomnia and even assist with weight loss and depression.” Beach says each client receives a customized program for Rasha, but guests might typically experience three 60-minute sessions during a three-day stay. “We’re also adding more of our signature retreats this year,” she says, with the next one coming up May 10–15, featuring Joe Dispenza, who specializes in neuroscience, quantitative electroencephalogram measurements, mind-body medicine, and brain-heart coherence. The acclaimed wellness guru has led numerous soldout retreats, which can often accommodate as many as 2,000 people, but perhaps none in as intimate a setting as Cuixmala. “With all of our space and natural social distance, we’ve become the perfect place for a smaller retreat,” says Beach. The property has been working with Dispenza to create five-day programs for just 60 guests. “It’s an extremely rare opportunity for people,” says Beach. From there, the resort is planning additional retreats with Dispenza, as well as wellness-expert-in-residency programs, bringing in bodyworkers, healers, yoga instructors, and other leaders for anywhere from two weeks to three months. From $550; cuixmala.com
DAVIS GERBER
MEXICAN MARVEL
H E A LT H
SET SAIL
N E W S A N D N OT E S
FINDING CALM IN THE CHAOS
D
ubbed the “the finest address, everywhere in the world,” M/Y NJORD and Chenot’s first-of-its-kind collaboration doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to luxury living at sea. Slated for completion in 2024, the private superyacht offers 118 luxury ocean residences for those seeking the ultimate seafaring abode. With a focus on well-being while traveling, the ship’s wellness center will offer top-tier, personalized services and amenities that include a worldclass spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as bespoke holistic, dietary, and physical treatments for a transformational trifecta: to reenergize, reset, and rebalance the mind and body. my-njord.com — S A R A S M O L A
Physical therapist and Resilience Toolkit Certified Facilitator Chantal Donnelly offers workshops and one-on-one sessions to mitigate stress and help gain the upper hand in the tug-of-war between calm and chaos. “What does it mean to decrease your stress? Self-care doesn’t seem to be working for people; we seem to be living for vacations—a temporary hold on stress—but it doesn’t take care of the day-to-day problem,” explains Donnelly, who uses traditional, hands-on therapy techniques, exercise, and science-based tools for stress management to help her patients through recovery. Starting at $150/hour for private sessions; $45/1-day workshop; bodyinsight.com — S . S .
HEALTHY AND HAPPY > While some of us have been mindlessly increasing our intake of snacks and screen time, local nonprofit AbilityFirst is prioritizing health and mental well-being through a variety of programming designed to help its participants stay active and engaged. “We have been pleased to offer creative virtual programming like dancing and yoga, as well as cooking for healthy eating,” says Chief Operating Officer Keri Castañeda. “Our staff is also supporting individuals in one-to-one activities, such as hiking and outside craft projects, keeping a safe distance and with proper [PPE]. Not only are these activities helping individuals reach their personal goals, they also help foster a healthy lifestyle.” abilityfirst.org — S . S . Game pictured is pre-pandemic
PLANT POWERED > After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Eliza Ganesh helped treat her symptoms with herbs and superfoods, an experience that led her and co-founder Jordan Schenck to create Sunwink. Made from whole plants and real ingredients, their refreshing sparkling herbal tonics and superfood powder mixes help fight fatigue, stress, and sickness, while offering mood- and immunity-boosting powers to supercharge your system. Tonic 12/$48; powder 1 tin/$34.90; sunwink.com — S . S .
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DIY
CLEAR SPACE CLEAR MIND What you see is what you get—organize your goods and use what you have. > There’s no time like the present for a (belated) spring cleaning. Gather up your unused trinket trays, mismatched bowls, and bud vases to display your products in thoughtful, meaningful ways that provide order and aesthetic bliss. Not ready for a big closet purge? Simply moving unexpected items around and organizing by color and material can give your closet an updated, boutique feel.
WO R D S BY C H R I ST I N A WA L L ST R E I T P H OTO G R A P H Y BY M A R I S SA D E L A TO R R E
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Project! Give basic acrylic storage drawers a personalized touch. SUPPLIES: » Clear acrylic vanity organizer (available at The Container Store, HomeGoods, or Amazon)
» Wallpaper scraps, peel-and-
Expirations dates are not just for the fridge.
stick wallpaper, or cardstock
» Scissors » Measuring tape and ruler » Double-sided tape
Here are a few quick reminders: MAKEUP
1 Measure the inside of your drawers.
Concealer: 1 year
2 Trim the wallpaper to fit.
Cream blush: 1 year
3 Apply double-sided tape from corner to corner.
Eyeliner: 3 months
4 Gently place wallpaper in the drawer then flatten any bubbles by lifting edges with a ruler.
Eye shadow: 1 year
Eyeliner pencil: 2 years Foundation: 1 year Lip balm: 1–5 years
5 Admire your work.
Lip gloss: 1 year
BONUS: Change paper anytime to give your space a fresh update.
Lipstick: 2 years Liquid eyeliner: 3 months Mascara: 3 months Nail polish: 1 year
•
Powder blush: 2 years THINK AGAIN. Save lids from your
beauty products to organize your
BODY CARE
small items like bobby pins, tweezers, safety pins, and Q-tips. You don’t
Bar soap: 18 months– 3 years
always need to buy more things—just
Bath oil: 1 year
rethink what you already have.
Body lotion: 2 years Body wash: 3 years Deodorant: 1–2 years Disposable razors: every five to seven shaves
• WE’VE ALL BECOME GERMOPHOBES. It’s more important
than ever to frequently clean out your vanity. Make sure you wipe down your beauty products with disinfectant wipes and dry them completely. (You’d be surprised how dirty they actually get.)
Eye cream: 1 year Face cream: 2 years Hair spray: 2–3 years
•
GET MOVING. We all have those mixed-use items that have been used for a variety of needs. For instance, I have had this bust for 12 years. It has been a sculpture in my living room, an outdoor table decoration, and now it is in my closet as a hat stand.
Loofah: 6 months Makeup sponge: 1 month Perfume: 1–2 years Shampoo and conditioner: 2–3 years Sunscreen: 3 years Toothbrush: 3 months
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ON THE MARKET
LO C A L P R O P E R T I E S W O R T H A LO O K
756 FAIRFIELD CIRCLE, PASADENA
p
asadena is known for its roster of well-preserved architectural gems, but to artist David Wiseman (page 15), this midcentury modern masterpiece was simply “home.” With its original charm and character still intact, the home offers a glimpse of where Wiseman spent his formative years (it’s still owned by his parents). The home sits on more than 32,522 square feet of land, with the residence
BUILT: 1953 LOT: 32,522 square feet INTERIOR: 4,542 square feet BEDS/BATHS: 5/6 AMENITIES: Highlights include an eat-in gourmet kitchen, sizable backyard, and winding paths to a lower level and pool.
family room has a striking— almost seamless—curved glass window that stretches the entire length of the room for a true blend of indoor/ outdoor living. Considered design forward when it was originally built, it still makes a statement 70 years later. INQUIRIES: $3.3 million; Brent Chang, compass. com, and Blair Chang, theagencyre.com
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UNLIMITED STYLE REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY
WHAT SETS IT APART: The
itself spanning 4,542 square feet. An expansive, sweeping glass wall invites the outdoors in, blending harmoniously with the property’s natural surroundings. The gallery-white interior is balanced with the warmth of natural wood elements throughout, including flooring and cabinetry. The sizeable backyard oasis is perfect for entertaining and is a prime example of Southern California outdoor living at its best. A winding path leads
to a lower level and pool, surrounded by lush greenery and mature trees. Located in one of Pasadena’s most desirable locations, the sprawling property is only a short drive away from prime shopping and dining destinations, as well as world-renowned cultural institutions including Pasadena Playhouse, Norton Simon Museum, and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. — S A R A S M O L A
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ON THE MARKET
LO C A L P R O P E R T I E S W O R T H A LO O K
2470 South Oak Knoll Avenue, San Marino
2 Oak Knoll Terrace
BUILT: 1931 LOT: 15,550 square feet INTERIOR: 3,901 square feet BEDS/BATHS: 5/4.5 AMENITIES: The classic Spanish colonial’s elegant wood-beamed ceilings, cementtiled foyer, and a multitude of outdoor areas (including an enormous outdoor patio), are just a few of the notable design details of this impressive abode. A car aficionado will appreciate the two separate garages, along with ample space for parking. WHAT SETS IT APART: The multilevel
home has been thoughtfully and stylishly updated, including its two master bedrooms with private balconies that overlook the designer pool and elegantly landscaped grounds. INQUIRIES: $3.198 million; Mike Wu and Ash
Hammad, compass.com
2 Oak Knoll Terrace, Pasadena BUILT: 1916 LOT: 106,722 square feet INTERIOR: 32,500 square feet BEDS/BATHS: 7/18 AMENITIES: This exemplary estate offers
unparalleled indoor and outdoor facilities, including a swimmer’s pool, spa, pavilion, pizza oven, putting green, and basement with wine cellar. An entertainer’s dream, the adjoining gallery/entertainment complex boasts an authentic tiki bar, 46-seat movie theater, game arcade, card room, gym, conference rooms, lounges, catering kitchen, and full guest apartment. WHAT SETS IT APART: The main residence
was designed by prominent architects
1446 Hillcrest Avenue
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Myron Hunt and Gordon Kaufmann, and built by master builder Peter Hall. The adjoining complex is a unique 20,200-square-foot, commercial-grade museum by noted architects Ladd & Kelsey. A private underground passage, served by commercial elevators, connects the two buildings. INQUIRIES: $48 million, Carol Chua, carolchua.com, and Darrell Done, darrelldone.com
most prestigious locations, the home features an expansive master suite and a kitchen with a butler’s pantry. The property also offers a three-car garage with plenty of additional parking, stunning private pool, and spectacular canyon views. WHAT SETS IT APART: Designed by architects Hunter & Benedict, the contemporary estate’s grand entry features a glassenclosed indoor atrium with a fountain and numerous skylights. INQUIRIES: $6.9 million, Gus Ruelas,
1446 Hillcrest Avenue, Pasadena
theagencyre.com
5525 Stardust Road, La Cañada Flintridge
BUILT: 1966 LOT: 1.47 acres INTERIOR: 5,929 square feet
BUILT: 2014
BEDS/BATHS: 5/5
LOT: 14,135 square feet
AMENITIES: Located in one of Pasadena’s
INTERIOR: 3,004 square feet
1155 South Grand, Unit 1807
1910 East Glenallen Lane
1155 South Grand, Unit 1807
Aldik Home
Come Discover LA’s Most Beautiful Store For 70 Years 2470 South Oak Knoll Avenue
5525 Stardust Road
BEDS/BATHS: 4/4.5 AMENITIES: A custom build with no expense spared, this home features a gourmet kitchen with built-in refrigerator and center island with induction cooktop, mesmerizing floor-to-ceiling fireplace, and spacious walk-in closet. WHAT SETS IT APART: This light-filled home
offers surrounding views of the mountains, city, and hills.
sics! by Summer Clas re itu rn Fu or do Out patio furniture. Featuring Luxury ibly comfortable ed and incred Impeccably craft
INQUIRIES: $2.45 million, Michelle Ko,
michelle4sold.com
1155 South Grand, Unit 1807, Los Angeles BUILT: 2008 LOT: 300 units on 1.21 acres INTERIOR: 1,390 square feet
2470 S. OAK KNOLL AVENUE: DIEGO RETAMOZA
BEDS/BATHS: 1/2 AMENITIES: A combination of functionality and sophisticated design, this fully furnished unit offers access to its residentsonly amenity collection of resort-style indulgences, including a sun deck and pool, state-of-the-art fitness studio, and on-site concierge. WHAT SETS IT APART: Perched 18 floors
above the city, there’s no shortage of breathtaking views. The unit also comes with two assigned parking spaces—a rarity for city living. INQUIRIES: $899,000, Arrington Williams
and Greg Stangl, theagencyre.com
ALDIK
h o m e
7651 Sepulveda Blvd. Van Nuys AldikHome.com (818) 988-5970
—S.S.
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ON THE MARKET
VAC AT I O N H O M E S
Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club
1020 Bitterroot Ct., Tributary, Driggs, Idaho DESTINATION: The 1,500-acre low-density
community is teeming with rivers, wildlife, and charming mountain-town culture, just west of Grand Teton National Park.
Montage Cay
Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and the adjacent waters offer access to sport fishing, kayaking, whale watching, surfing, paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving, and snorkeling. INQUIRIES: $16 million; realestate. puntamita.com
great room, master suite, office, mudroom, powder room, and three-car garage—all on the main floor. The lower floor boasts three en suite bedrooms, bunk room and additional bathroom, wine storage, and exterior covered patio. TO DO: Access to an Owners’ Lodge, fishing
contemporary cabin retreat was built with authentic materials, including reclaimed siding, stacked-stone chimneys, and aluminum-clad windows, and features three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Meadowlark Residence at Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
lake, on-site equestrian facilities, private backcountry retreat, five miles of trails, private gold-medal fishing on the Yampa River, and membership opportunities at the five-star, slope-side Alpine Mountain Summit Club.
DESTINATION: Located in South Valley of
TO DO: An abundance of recreational
Steamboat Springs, Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club is a 1,216-acre ranch community bordered by the Steamboat Ski Resort, Catamount Country Club, and national forest. The ranch features 63 five-acre home sites, as well as 900 acres of open space and a wildlife preserve.
INQUIRIES: $5.96 million;
RESIDENCE: This 2,120-square foot
amenities includes a two-mile, elevated wildlife viewing boardwalk, an 18-hole David McLay Kidd–designed golf course, seven fishing ponds, endless trails for crosscountry skiing, kid-friendly snowmobile track, and ice skating rink, as well as access to a members-only ski lounge at the Grand Targhee Resort. INQUIRIES: $2.25 million; tributaryidaho.com
Casa Aquila at Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico DESTINATION: The 1,500-acre resort and
residential community lies on a peninsula surrounded by white-sand beaches, Pacific Ocean waters, and tropical flora. RESIDENCE: Designed by architect José Iturbe, this 15,000-square-foot property features more than 180 feet of ocean frontage, eight bedrooms, full gym and spa, and rooftop patio. The master suite leads to a private terrace, walk-through closet with custom built-in storage, and outdoor shower. TO DO: Punta Mita is home to two Jack
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RESIDENCE: This two-level residence features 5,588 square feet of custom living space with a chef’s kitchen, dining and
alpinemountainranchsteamboat.com
E2 at The Residences at Montage Cay, The Abacos, Bahamas DESTINATION: Situated on a private 53-acre
island in The Abacos, less than one mile off the coast of Marsh Harbour, Montage Cay
Here and right: Punta Mita
GRAND OPENING WOMEN OWNED AND OPERATED
Tributary
will feature 50 all-suite accommodations and a limited collection of Montage Residences built against the Sea of Abaco and the surrounding cays. RESIDENCE: This premier .7-acre homesite offers sunset views, sea-tosea orientation, and nearby access to two of the island’s seven private beaches. The home’s complementary design, the “Royal Poinciana,” is intended for indoor-outdoor living with up to six bedrooms and a private pool. ALPINE RANCH: ROCKY MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY
TO DO: Owners will have access to a
50-suite Montage hotel, full-service Spa Montage, deep-water 46-slip marina, extensive health and wellness program, fitness center, swimming pools, Montage’s signature Paintbox Children’s Club, water sports, and recreation center. INQUIRIES: From $3.9 million;
montagecayresidences.com —SARA SMOLA
1017 Mission Street, Unit B, South Pasadena, CA 91030 Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-6pm 626.399.0066 | jeweleduniverse.com
R E A L E S TAT E
THE EXPERT
THE EXPERT
CATHERINE WELCH
This Pasadena native and embryologist is wearing a new hat, with a wide brim, as she and her family put down roots on their new farm in Paso Robles.
F
or 39-year-old entrepreneur Catherine Welch, life hasn’t come full circle. Rather, it keeps circling. There are her Pasadena roots, an agriculture degree from Cal Poly, a decade spent raising her four children in South Pasadena, and a new adventure back in San Luis Obispo County. Lately she’s been driving weekly circles between the two California locales delivering fresh eggs and gourmet goods to Pasadena friends and family, including her mother, another green thumb and owner of South Pasadena florist Mission Gardens. She also checks in on their South Pasadena homes (usually rented via Airbnb) and the children’s museum at Colorado and Los Robles that she founded in 2013.
> You’re a woman of many trades. Tell us about your work.
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The Pasadena native with her family. They now divide their time between Pasadena and Paso Robles, where they recently purchased a farm.
Collaboration has always been huge for me because I become very passionate about whatever business I’m in. I want to find ways to make the business, whether its children’s programming or agriculture distribution, that much better. Our tagline for my newest venture, a food and spirits label called Finca Los Agaves, is “doing the next right thing” (IG: @fincalosagaves.co). At Windrose (IG: @windrosefarm), we host farm tours, you can drop by our farm stand, or you can stay overnight. Our renovated tiny home trailer is on Airbnb (IG: @thewelchabodes), as are Shelter Co. canvas tents with beds. There’s a camping spot and space for an RV that’s available through Hipcamp. We’re gearing up to host events and pop-up dinners with great chefs. In Pasadena, our four-bedroom home, The Mission Residence, is
INTERIOR: MOLLY ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAIT: JUST MAGGIE PHOTOGRAPHY
BY J E N N I F E R A S H TO N RYA N
on Airbnb. We are about to put another townhome across the street from the South Pasadena Library on Airbnb and we have a newly renovated condo in Waikiki. Also, the nonprofit I founded, Southern California Children’s Museum, has reopened after a yearlong closure.
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> What was 2020 like for your family?
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My husband, Justin, left his job. We transitioned our four kids to independent study for school and left on March 2, 2020, for Guatemala. We’d been dreaming about this trip for years and had to accept that there’s never a good time to put daily life on hold. We chose to go to Central and South America, planning to see around 10 countries in six months. Then lockdowns hit and borders closed. We found ourselves with a lot of extra time in Guatemala.
We are taking appointments during this difficult time
Enderle Center
17300 E. 17th St., Ste. A, Tustin
714-665-5994
> While you were abroad, you bought
aperfectfitonline.com
a working farm in Paso Robles?
When we were stuck in Guatemala, we found refuge in farms. Across the city we kept coming across these exceptionally beautiful spaces where we could walk the grounds and experience nature, even in a pandemic. As we continued our journey through Oaxaca, Mexico— faithful consumers of tequila and mezcal that we are—we fell in love with the hillsides full of agave. While we were envisioning what we wanted our next experience to be, it was definitely a finca.
> What do you envision for Windrose? Windrose has been going to the Santa Monica Farmers Market for the last 20 years. I was starstruck the first time. Chef after chef kept coming up to the stand, asking about our produce. We have 6 acres of apples in 45 varieties. Plus, squash, tomatoes, greens, and garlic.
> What inspires you? One of my long-term goals is to change how farmers connect with the consumer. Even though farming isn’t sexy, and may not be glamorous, making it a little more appealing is important to keep consumers thinking about where their food comes from.
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NEW LOCATION
1294 S. Coast Highway, Unit C, Laguna Beach EuropeanOpticalinc.com | 949.494.6106
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HOME TOUR
SECOND NATURE A charming midcentury dwelling in Glendale’s Childs Canyon is given new life.
WO R D S B Y A N U S H B E N L I YA N
w
ith a unique Japanese-influenced roofline and a perch up in the Verdugo Mountains near protected parkland, this 2,560-square-foot Glendale property was originally built in 1956. In 2014, ACME Real Estate agent Cari Field and her husband, Matt, purchased the three-bedroom abode for their family of four knowing that it would be their lifelong home. For the remodeling and decoration that took place in subsequent years, they called on Los Angeles–bred interior designer Deirdre Doherty, who upgraded the outdated floor plan into an open concept while safeguarding distinct historical features that give the house great character, like the lavarock fireplace in the living room. “We love to keep the original elements of the home, honor them, yet make the space feel current,” says Doherty, a self-confessed mix master and chameleon of styles. “I love combining new and old for a fresh outlook.”
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<
P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y M E G H A N B E I E R L E - O ’ B R I E N
< PREVIOUS SPREAD D E TA I L : A vintage flush-mount chandelier from the now-defunct Retro Gallery in Los Angeles greets guests in the entry. L E F T: A Matters of Space entryway console is enhanced by a vintage lamp and painting. Deirdre Doherty Interiors’ namesake principal designer notes that the home features “tons of vintage pottery and collectibles throughout. The client loves to shop the flea market and is a true believer of being eco-friendly by making use of things that already exist—hence the vintage flair.” The slate floors are original to the house. R I G H T: The dining room features a custom wood-slab dining table, Wegner Wishbone chairs, drapery in Donghia cream and yellow striped linen, and a Lawson-Fenning chandelier. Plus, “that view out to the hills of L.A. and the amazing palm trees is hard to beat,” says Doherty.
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HOME TOUR : Second Nature
< THIS SPREAD A B OV E : “The kitchen was the clients’ main focus,” notes Doherty. The eat-in kitchen, “equipped for a chef,” features vintage stools, a Miele coffee maker, double ovens, warming drawers, two full-size sinks, and a top-of-the-line electric range. An uninterrupted line of custom walnut cabinets (thanks to paneled appliances) is
paired with handsome black-honed, riverwashed granite countertops. L E F T: Highlights in the living room include retro seating (the blue swivel chair is from the Pasadena Antique Mall), vintage fabric pillows from Nickey Kehoe, and a vintage kilim from Jamal’s Rug Collection. The light
fixture was made for the family by owner Cari Field’s uncle, Lee Ferrier, and the artwork was created by her aunt, Kay Ferrier. D E TA I L : Houdini Standing, 2007, ink and oil on unprimed paper, by Los Angeles– based artist Whitney Bedford, sits above a vintage dental cabinet.
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HOME TOUR : Second Nature L E F T: In the master bathroom, walnut counters on the wall-to-wall vanity call to the kitchen’s custom cabinetry, while new slate floors echo the original stone of the home’s entryway. Premium Hansgrohe plumbing is paired with walnut and brass pulls from Liz’s Antique Hardware and Lagos Azul wall tiles. The bathroom renovation also included the additions of a soaking tub and large shower. B E LOW: The master bedroom’s floor-toceiling corner windows and fireplace were uncovered from behind soundproofed walls during the renovation. The Ann Sacks fireplace tiles recall Eames designs—an apt nod to the home’s midcentury roots. The custom headboard features Maharam fabric, a nice contrast to the Matteo bedding and Thomas Lavin drapery. Vintage accents include an infinity mirror, chairs, and Moroccan rug from Jamal’s. Carved stone lamps, equipped with onyx-and-brass on/off buttons, rest atop nightstands from Empiric.
< D E I R D R E D O H E R T Y I N T E R I O R S , ddidesigns.com
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SUMMER AT
LACM
Flexible 1 to 3 week(s) of in person or online summer program. Emphasis in bass, guitar, drum, piano, vocal or jazz performance, rap & hip-hop, songwriting, music production, composing for visual media, or music entrepreneurship. All-Star Faculty: • Bryan Lipps (Michael Buble) • Gordon Goodwin (Big Phat Band) • Joe Ryan III (1 8 7 9, Netflix & HBO) • Mike Xavier (Artist & Songwriter)
Summer at LACM is offered to all skill levels, ages 12+!
From top: Carved stone lamps, equipped with onyx-and-brass on/off buttons, rest atop nightstands from Empiric. The master bedroom's fireplace features Eames-esque tiles from Laguna Niguel-based Ann Sacks. A pair of retro clocks in the living room.
Apply by May 14th for 20% off our on campus programs! Regular Deadline, June 1, 2021. summer@lacm.edu
www.lacm.edu/summeratlacm
RAP & HIP-HOP: CHANGE THE WORLD
SO CAN YOU. M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 1
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GARDENING
THE EXPERT
TOTALLY SOILED Acclaimed local master gardener Yvonne Savio shares her secrets to creating a home garden.
visited community gardens to encourage members who were interested in volunteering to come to the Master Gardener Program. UC Davis scientists wrote the 700-page California Master Gardener Handbook based on science but written in layman’s terms that I used as my text book. The program grew to create the Victory Garden Program for beginner gardeners led by UC Master Gardener volunteers to form neighborhood garden circles, and in 2015, I retired from UC Cooperative Extension and established my website of gardening-related resources.
> What are your current projects?
BY L I N DA B R O O K S Yvonne Savio
I continue as a volunteer with the Master Gardener Program by offering webinars. I write my daily newsletter and update my website GardeningInLA.net on a regular basis with a range of resources and information I derive from my own garden. I also offer garden consultation and coaching.
> What first got you into gardening? Spending time with my parents in our garden growing and eating seasonal foods harvested at the perfect ripeness. I didn’t care for pulling weeds but it’s all part of the process. I stagger my planting to ensure there is always something to enjoy.
> What is your home garden like and how much time do you spend on it?
> How has the UC Master Gardener Program evolved since you came on board in 1994?
I was hired to upgrade the Common Ground Gardening Program through UC Cooperative Extension, which became the Master Gardener Program as we know it today. At first, we were working with gardeners that were only interested in the education we offered and not volunteering to give back to a community where there was the greatest need. In 2000, I 50 PA S A D E N A
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> What is important to know about soil? Feed the soil not the plant. Organic fertilizers create a rich soil of microorganisms and plant material that are constantly feeding the plants. You can start small by periodically layering organic fertilizers with numbers about 5-4-3 for a good balance of N-P-K.
> What advice would you give to someone who is trying to start their own home garden?
Plant seasonally what your family likes to eat. It’s a nice reward to harvest what you enjoy. Bulbs for color are easy care and multiply. Group herbs in pots with similar requirements for water and fertilizer.
DAVIDGOLDMANPHOTO.COM
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uring her 21 years as coordinator of the UC Master Gardener Program for Los Angeles County, Yvonne Savio educated 1,183 master gardeners and assisted 1.3 million home and community gardeners on a variety of gardening topics and issues. She was even honored in 2015 at the Celebration of Public Service by President Barack Obama. Chatting in her three-quarter-acre hillside garden in Pasadena, where she lives with her husband of 43 years, Tom, Savio shares tips and insights from her decades-long gardening career.
It’s like a circus. There is always a lot going on given Pasadena’s lack of extreme climate. Currently, we are enjoying our warm-season crops like tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, beets, and warm lettuce varieties. I plant seedlings for my must-haves and seek out unusual plant varieties available through seeds to play with. Global warming affects the root system so I’ve changed my practices to plant early, before May 1st for spring/ summer harvest. Depending on the time of year for planting and harvesting, I spend about four to five hours per week with additional time taking photographs and keeping a calendar to document activity, which I use as the source for my monthly tips.
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FOOD
THE INGREDIENT
the sliced crispy fried pork chop. You can order this dish as an appetizer, in a soothing bowl of noodle soup, or as a topping for your fried rice. The juicy chop is marinated with an in-house signature sauce before it’s dusted with potato starch and pan fired Kurobuta Pork in oil for about 2 minutes, rendering the addictive Sticky Rice golden crunch. Wrap by Din Tai Fung Originally from Alhambra, the Pasadena location of LUNASIA DIM SUM HOUSE on Colorado is also a popular pork palace for Shanghai soup dumplings and the lighter steamed BBQ pork bao. If you’re dining with a group of friends, just go for it with the massively rich Macao-style roasted pork belly. For elevated modern-Mexican fare, founder Sergio Martinez serves many of the elevated dishes that made a big impact in the community when MAESTRO opened on Union almost five years ago. Currently, the most crave-worthy dish is the slow-cooked pork carnitas Nixtamal fried quesadilla with organic black bean puree and a blend of quesillo from Oaxaca topped with cotija cheese. “This dish is meant to be rich and comforting with traditional flavors,” says Martinez. The chef just added cochinita pibil with suckling pig to the While we wait for the nose-to-tail, menu—and don’t miss the breakfast tacos with chorizo. whole-hog cookery of the Cochon If you’d like to go to the source and whip up a few dishes at home, CHOPS BUTCHER SHOPPE BBQ festival to come back to Celestino Ristorante offers upscale organic and Los Angeles, here are some other grass-fed options, including standout dishes for “the other white Nueske’s bacon, at its counter meat” and mouthwatering places to in South Pasadena on Monteindulge around town rey Road. Its premium offerBY C A R O L E D I XO N ings have also been utilized by acclaimed modern Spanor simmering soul food, step into BONNIE B’S SMOKIN on ish eatery Otoño in Highland North Lake for hand-sliced pulled-pork sandwiches and Park, among others. Co-ownBistro 45 pork ribs. The latter is smoked in the backroom pit for hours then served with a secret BBQ sauce from a 50-year-old family recipe. Sisters Bonnie and Zenobia Ivory moved out West with the family matriarch from Oklahoma City before opening in Pasadena in 2009. Affectionately known as “Z” by loyal customers, Ivory is now running the business, and the ribs are her specialty. “They really do fall off the bone,” she says. They also offer vegetarian options, thanks to Z’s daughter who doesn’t eat meat. For the pork chop aficionado who prefers a Fred Flintstone– style serving, the American-meets-French-cuisine at BISTRO 45 is Carnitas Nixtamal Fried Quesadillas from Maestro your spot. The ranch-to-restaurant, signature 12-ounce Niman Ranch pork chop on a bed of shaved organic brussels sprouts, topped with a Fuji apple compote, is a serious commitment but ers Jeff Perez and Ruben Perez (no relation), smoke their own one that has kept customers coming back for years. meats and carry highly sought-after Kurobuta pork chops from Just outside The Americana at Brand in Glendale, TaiwanTrue Story in the Berkshires. “If you are going to eat meat, ese staple DIN TAI FUNG is legendary for its Kurobuta pork xiao why not invest in quality that you can put into your body?” long bao and a variety of pork wontons. On your next visit, says Ruben, who is very health conscious—especially when it try the stewed pork sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves or comes to pork.
HOG WILD
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MAESTRO: PAUL GONZALEZ PHOTOGRAPHY
F
HOG WILD Ganbak prawns
TRENDS
SEAFOOD CRISP Saso’s chef brings coastal cuisine to the Pasadena Playhouse BY C A R O L E D I XO N
Chef Dominique Crisp
While the recipes are steeped in Spanish tradition, you’ll see AsianCali influences represented, from crispy croquettes with wagyu and an Iberico ham sandwich with Tillamook cheese to green matcha Basque cheesecake. Here, Crisp gives an inside look.
> How would you describe your version of “coastal cuisine”?
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH STUDIOS
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n a century-old, European-style courtyard strewn with twinkling lights, towering palm trees, and an ornate central fountain, Saso has opened at the Pasadena Playhouse. Saso is a Basque word that loosely translates to “the sea” and is a fitting name for coastal, all-day dining with an extensive seafood menu. Basque Country is represented well with traditional pintxos (snacks), crudo, and tortas that can take you straight from lunch to happy hour and dinner with dramatic porrón pours of rare txakolina wines from Spain. If you choose to dine inside, a cheerful, 40-foot, full-wall custom mural by renowned L.A. artist Tim Biskup spans the entire space from bar to back of house and represents land transitioning into the sea—or the kitchen in this case. After growing up on a third-generation farm and in the Lumos Winery in Oregon, chef Dominique Crisp helmed kitchens at popular seafood spots L&E Oyster Bar in Silver Lake and Blue Plate Oysterette in Santa Monica. “I want coastal cuisine from Baja to Alaska to shine by showcasing farmers, fishermen, and butchers we work with,” says Crisp. “We need to reconnect with food as much as we need to reconnect with each other.”
It’s a play on three different coastal regions—the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, and Basque Country. It’s a hybrid of all those elements, a lighthearted, casual dining experience—and also letting these coastal ingredients marry on a hot charcoal grill while cooking at the highest level.
> What do you love most about cooking with seafood?
The connection with the fishermen, the oyster farmers—understanding the meroir—just like we understand the terroir for farming and vineyards.
> What about sustainability? We respect and utilize every part of the animal and fish. The bones are used for stock and the offcuts are used for
elements such as smoked salmon aioli. Even our partner fishermen are dedicated to sustainable farming. Our charcoal is from Prime 6, a 100% sustainable product, and they plant a tree for every case purchased.
> Tell us more about your Basque
Country travels that inspired and informed your role today as a chef.
It’s a combination of enjoying a lighthearted meal yet having a deeply rooted connection to the ingredients. Seeing the chefs master cooking with charcoal and a respect for the land and sea while creating a memorable dining experience. landscape also reminded me of where I grew up in coastal Oregon, a place where giant pine trees meet the wild ocean.
> Why did you want to bring this
type of restaurant to Pasadena diners at this time?
From the moment I saw the restaurant space and courtyard, it felt like a place where we could be part of the community while also building a community. Our vision is to build a space where guests can come together and create memories. After a long year apart, it feels more important now than ever. sasobistro.com
Saso dining room
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FOOD
TRENDS
BENTO BOX BOOM This traditional Japanese lunch box is having a moment. BY C A R O L E D I XO N
P
erhaps brought on by the onslaught of takeout during the pandemic, the bento boom has captivated the local dining scene. But not all bento boxes—Japanese-style lunch boxes—are created equal. The traditional wooden or lacquered containers typically include rice, protein, veggies, and dessert, compartmentalized in a magnificently orderly way that is almost too pretty to eat. In Pasadena, family-owned OSAWA by former Chaya executive chef Shigefumi Tachibe, makes a Shokado Bento loaded with sashimi, sushi, ribeye steak, and miso-marinated salmon, along with sunomono (cucumber), rice, and miso soup. Or the petit (by comparison) Saba Bento with mackerel and
burdock tempura, which resembles the gourmet TV dinner of your dreams. Former Q sushi chef Ai Kennedy is now serving weekend bento boxes with her special boiled firefly squid and a mix of seasonal Japanese ingredients with California produce out of a small gallery on South Wilson Avenue. Sushi master Morihiro Onodera opened MORIHIRO in Atwater Village with a daily lunch box bounty consisting of what he finds at the farmers market, along with traditional homemade pickles, tofu, and omelet. You can also expect the nine squares to be filled with mizuna (Japanese mustard greens) and sunchoke that accompanies grilled mackerel, big-eye tuna sashimi from Hawaii, and halibut from Japan, ending with sweet
TRENDS
THREE DYNAMIC WOMEN FROM THE PASADENA FOOD SCENE This trio has not only given back to the community by opening, operating, and cooking in top restaurants, but they also have their hands in many charitable organizations around town. MARIE PETULLA OF UNION
< Petulla is the co-owner and visionary behind Pasadena’s beloved, award-winning Northern Italian restaurant Union, Grand Central Market’s Knead & Co. Pasta Bar + Market, Red Jungle, and her latest venture, U Street Pizza, which features New York– style pizza made with high-quality, marketdriven ingredients from across California. This new concept is nostalgic for Petulla, who first opened Union in 2013. “The focus of the restaurant has always been a commitment to the community of Pasadena, who have been so supportive,” she says. “We have done our best to source locally and collaborate with farmers and producers.” Those collaborators have included Pasadena Community Gardens
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and John Muir High School garden. Petulla and her team continue to support Elizabeth House, which works with at-risk women and children, and Planned Parenthood. “During the pandemic, we worked with the community to provide meals for frontline workers at Huntington Hospital and our local firehouse.”
YARI GONZALEZ OF MASTRO RESTAURANT
> Gonzalez had a hand in conceiving Maestro’s original menu and is back in the kitchen creating unique new modern Mexican dishes and incorporating her family story and inspirations from her travels. “I’m excited to give our customers a great experience and teach them not only about the dishes but the reason they were chosen and where all the ingredients come from— and put my soul into it,” she says. Along with Maestro, Gonzalez has chosen to help the charity No Us Without You LA, a nonprofit whose mission is to support the backbone of the hospitality industry in Greater Los Angeles by providing food security for undocumented
rotating themes every 4–6 weeks until mountain peach agar. The chef wanted their izakaya can open this summer. to share his farm-to-table cooking while Michelin-star HAYATO at Row DTLA using all wild and sustainable fish, along and chef Brandon Go have set a high bar with his knowledge and reputation as a with a box that’s an immaculately conrice master. “He has grown it and sold it,” says manager Tokiko Binkley. “He structed work of art. “I think the main sleeps thinking about rice.” thing that is different about our bento is SUNSET SUSHI in Silver Lake (in the not what ingredients are in it, but how it’s same family of restaurants as Ichijiku in made,” he says. “Our entire team works Highland Park) specializes in kaisen chifor three days with a focus of putting each rashi, with generous pieces of raw fish component into the box exactly when you atop a bed of rice, and omakase boxes arrive for pickup. Most bento are made filled with premium sushi and sashimi with things that are stored in the refrigThis page: Hayato. Opposite: Sunset Sushi by Tokyo-born chefs Kazuhiro Yamada erator or put in the box for an extended period of time before the box is sold.” and Yoshi Matsumoto. Chef Go is modest about being a frontrunner for the city’s Acclaimed chef Nozawa has recently created Toro Tataki Bento at all Los Angeles locations of KAZUNORI and SUGARnewfound bento craze. “The pandemic created a perfect storm FISH. This small, brick-shaped box features a decadent dish of for people to search for special food that they can take home. finely chopped toro from sustainably ranched bluefin tuna, The bento box is the perfect food medium for celebrating life served over rice with ginger, nori strips, and wakame (kelp), without a restaurant,” says Go. “When I think about going to and topped with salmon eggs and cucumber. Japan, one of my first thoughts is ordering a nice bento and Two Michelin–star chef Niki Nakayama of n/naka and her opening it on the Shinkansen on my way from Tokyo to Kyoto. sous chef/partner Carole Iida-Nakayama have opened bento No matter how many times I do it, there is something about box eatery n/soto (meaning outside) in West Adams. The focus opening the lid of a bento box that makes you forget about is on exploring Japanese food through outside influences with the outside world, if only for a few seconds.”
is to work with amazing people that never get recognized.”
CHEF JARITZA GONZALEZ: PAUL GONZALEZ PHOTOGRAPHY; HAYATO LA: DYLAN AND JENI
LINDA GRACE OF CAFÉ SAN MARINO
immigrants. “When I first heard about No Us Without You, what they represent and their vision, it simply just moved me,” says Gonzalez. “I instantly wanted to help and be part of the cause. They feed over 1,300 undocumented backhouse employees for the hospitality industry, and I know what it
> A neighborhood favorite gathering spot for great coffee and a harissa tuna sandwich with a cult following, Grace’s Café San Marino has become a space where women activate their passions in an encouraging and inviting setting. To that end, the café has built a supportive community by hosting numerous local charities and clubs, small business meetings, and other gatherings. “We’ve raised money for women on the cancer journey and for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and supported local organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she says. Grace also works with Ronald McDonald
“THE FOCUS OF THE RESTAURANT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY OF PASADENA, WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE” —MARIE PETULLA
House and the National Charity League, among others. Her team recently fed over 600 people from Valentine Elementary School and made more than 1,000 meals for the Pasadena Civic Ballet—and she does all this without a kitchen. Grace works off two burners, two convection ovens, and a panini press. “We do this with a lot of love, magic, and a great crew,” she says. The café is in the midst of expanding next door or possibly to another location with a kitchen, but they will never leave San Marino where Grace has built her following.
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WHEELS
E XQ U I S I T E , E XC E P T I O N A L , E XC I T I N G :
THEY ALL DEFINE THE E-TYPE
A
t the Geneva International Motor Show 60 years ago, Jaguar famously unveiled its now heralded E-Type, a sports car offered in roadster and coupe form that directly descended from the British automaker’s race-car pursuits. That lineage is significant, as the sporty E-Type—with its 150 mph top speed—could outperform Ferraris and Aston Martins, yet only half as much. “The E-Type was groundbreaking in its conceptual design,” says Stewart Reed, ArtCenter’s department chair for transportation design. “It survives so astonishingly well because it descended from race-car practice, so there is an element of authenticity to it. Even after all these years, it’s a delightful sports car.” To commemorate the E-Type’s 60th anniversary, Jaguar recently announced that it is creating six, limited-edition, matched pairs of reborn 3.8-liter E-Types—a fixed-head coupe inspired by the original demonstration car at 56 PA S A D E N A
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the Geneva International Motor Show, and a roadster painted in striking green (with suede green-leather interior) that takes inspiration from the second show car, which had to be driven to the show overnight from Jaguar’s headquarters in Coventry, England, since demand to see and drive the revolutionary car during the show exceeded even Jaguar’s founder’s expectations. Jaguar Classic is tight-lipped on the price of these six matching pairs, but given that standard, 3.8-liter, restored E-Types built by Jaguar’s preservation and restoration department start at
about $433,000, it’s safe to assume that each duo will likely surpass $1 million. On a slightly more affordable scale, Jaguar has announced production of 60, hand-finished F-Type Heritage 60 Editions. Built by Jaguar’s Special Vehicle (SV) Bespoke team, these exclusive F-Types are painted Sherwood Green—a paint scheme last offered on E-Types during the 1960s—and feature additional curated materials and accents, including duo-tone Caraway and Ebony Windsor leather, E-Type-inspired aluminum console finishes, and commemorative “E-Type 60” badging. Using the 575 hp F-Type R as its base, this celebratory Heritage 60 Edition carries a $135,500 price tag in coupe form and costs $138,200 as a convertible. “The F-Type Heritage 60 Edition is a fantastic example of what the
CLASSIC ACQUISITIONS
ArtCenter’s Stewart Reed acknowledges that beautiful body lines and thrilling rides can be had in a variety of classic British sports cars.
S
As an iconic British sports car turns 60, its automaker launches a trio of commemorative vehicles. Despite their exclusivity, those celebratory rides aren’t the only way to drive a piece of history.
BOTTOM LEFT: ANDREW MITERKO/RM SOTHEBY’S 2020; BOTTOM RIGHT: RM AUCTIONS 2019
BY S H AU N TO L S O N
SV Bespoke team is capable of,” says Clare Hansen, director of vehicle personalization at Jaguar SV Operations. “We’ve created a distinctive and highly collectible interpretation of the definitive Jaguar sports car.” Of course, purists who are looking for an E-Type with some history of its own should keep tabs on Gooding & Company’s Geared Online auction in May, which includes a 1967 Series I E-Type fixed-head coupe. Offered in well-preserved original condition (with its matching-numbers engine), the 4.2 liter E-Type is projected to sell for as much as $180,000. Some would argue that’s as much of a bargain as the original E-Type was in 1961, given that this particular car has been driven fewer than 30,000 miles over five decades. jaguar.com; goodingco.com
tewart Reed, chair of the Transportation Design Department at Pasadena’s ArtCenter College of Design, owns a modest collection of classic automobiles from numerous genres and eras. Such an eclectic collection is fitting given that Reed, an ArtCenter graduate himself, designed and developed more than 30 concept vehicles during a career in transportation design that spanned more than three decades. A lifetime of automotive design experience has given the 73-year-old the ability to appreciate stunning automotive architecture in all forms. Although he’s searching for a Jaguar E-Type to reinsert into his assemblage of classic cars (he owned one in the 1990s), Reed recognizes that other classic British sports cars are defined by similarly striking (albeit distinctive) aesthetics as the E-Type and can provide equally thrilling driving experiences. In many cases, they can also be had for more affordable prices, which makes them ideal acquisitions for prospective collectors who are looking to get their feet wet in the hobby. In Reed’s estimation, the original Lotus road car, the Elite, is “like a baby E-Type.” The car’s hammer prices are smaller, too: RM Sotheby’s sold a 1962 Series 2 in October for $72,800. Other Lotus models that supplanted the Elite, such as the Elan and the Esprit, are desirable for different reasons. “I have a 1977 Esprit,” says Reed, “and it’s got a sturdy little backbone chassis and a fiberglass shell. It’s the beginning of that era of radical wedge-shape automotive architecture.” RM Sotheby’s sold a 1978 Series I example for $36,400 last January.
The Elan, which preceded the Esprit, is a front-engine sportster that Reed believes is beginning to heat up with collectors. “It’s an amazing little lightweight sports car,” he says. “The body is a very simple shape, but the chassis was really advanced for its time in the ’60s.” RM Sotheby’s sold a 1965 Elan S2 roadster for $39,200 in October. The feeling behind the wheel of an MG TC from the late 1940s, according to Reed, is unlike anything that a more modern, postwar sports car can produce. “It’s a fragile, flexible little thing,” he says of his 1948 example. “I can feel its chassis flexing under my seat as I’m driving. It’s just old technology and I love it.” RM Sotheby’s sold a restored 1947 example in 2019 for only $30,800. Finally, Reed points to the MGA— both in roadster and fixed-head coupe form—as a classic that’s starting to gain traction in the marketplace. As proof, RM Sotheby’s sold a 1957 MGA 1500 Roadster for $31,350 in late summer 2019; more recently the auction house hammered down a 1960 MGA Twin Cam for $67,200 in October. “They were undervalued for years,” Reed says. “They’re still affordable and just nifty sports cars. You will not go wrong on the money.” artcenter.edu; rmsothebys.com — S .T.
Top: A 1948 MG TC; Left: A 1959 Lotus Elite S1 Competition Coupe
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Pasadena 548 S Lake Ave Pasadena, CA 91101
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Proper Hotel
From shops and craftspeople to galleries and architectural eye candy, here’s our guide to some of the most stylish aspects of the city.
Pasadena Design Guide THE INGALLS
BY A N U S H B E N L I YA N
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PASADENA DESIGN GUIDE
SHOPS, DESIGNERS, ARTISANS manufacturers who hold the rights to produce the respective designers’ works. dwr.com
✦ At his ARBOR EXCHANGE design and build studio, master craftsman Josh Jackson creates customizable heirloom-quality furniture using sustainable domestic hardwoods like black walnut, white oak, and hard maple. arborexchange.com ✦ BONITA INTERIORS proprietor Angela Dickerson-Lee curates an ever-changing, global mix of eclectic home goods and artworks—and offers interior design consultations to boot. bonitainteriors.com ✦ Founded by husband-and-wife duo Richard and Helena Martinez, BORBOLETA (Portuguese for butterfly) specializes in bespoke wooden furniture created to last, from armoires and beds to farmhouse tables. borboletadecors.com ✦ Susan Sawasy, principal designer of the full-service interior design studio CASA WASY, infuses every project with a perfect mélange of traditional and contemporary, making for refined yet cozy environments. casawasy.com ✦ The namesake designer behind CHARMEAN NEITHART INTERIORS finds inspiration for her playful, sun-drenched projects from international travels, transforming local residences with Japanese modern and Spanish bohemian aesthetics. charmean-neithart-interiors.com ✦ COLORES DE MEXICO has an inventory of countless traditional, handcrafted 60 PA S A D E N A
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Arbor Exchange
Mexican tiles. Think rustic Saltillo terracotta floor tiles and vibrantly hued and patterned decorative Talavera tiles perfect for both indoors and outdoors. coloresdemexicotile.com ✦ Interior designer Jeanne K Chung taps her extensive knowledge of historical styles and periods when dreaming up residential projects and curating charming home furnishings for her shop, COZY STYLISH CHIC. cozystylishchic.com
✦ At FARROW & BALL’s Green Street location, the beloved British label stocks its quirkily named, eco-friendly paints—including the new California Collection created in collaboration with designer Kelly Wearstler—and handcrafted wallpaper. farrow-ball.com ✦ A Pasadena mainstay since 1899, FISHBECKS is a wonderland of upscale outdoor and casual furniture, plus
✦ Through her eponymous full-service studio, artist/designer CYNTHIA BOYD honors and preserves historic homes while maximizing space for modern lifestyles and incorporates the latest energy-saving technologies along the way. cynthiaboyddesign.com
De-Cor
✦ The inventory of Deepali Pareek’s DE-COR retail showroom and gallery runs the gamut from handcrafted artifacts and textiles to furnishings and reclaimed architectural elements that celebrate the Indian subcontinent. de-cor.com
✦ Set in a 1920s-era brick warehouse in Old Pasadena, this outpost of DESIGN WITHIN REACH is home to a slew of authentic midcentury furnishings, all sourced from
House of Honey
Maude Woods
garden statuary, fountains, umbrellas, gazebos, pergolas, and canopies. Bonus: the store offers free local delivery and setup. fishbecks.com ✦ Those on the hunt for unique contemporary artworks and conversation pieces, look no further than the Edgar Allen Poe–inspired GOLD BUG gallery. This neo-Victorian cabinet of curiosities stocks the works of independent artists, plus home accessories, jewelry, and more. goldbugpasadena.com ✦ HÖMAGE owner Jill Pearson curates an array of home goods and gifts for her shop, among them ceramics, candles, glassware, stationery, and jewelry, all by local artists and small studios. homagepasadena.com ✦ Lauded interior designer Tamara Kaye-Honey draws inspiration from her background in fashion and her international travels for the whimsical-yet-modern abodes she dreams up. Her South Pasadena–based boutique design studio, HOUSE OF HONEY, also has a second outpost in Montecito. houseofhoney.com ✦ With a roster of international clients—including Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello—Jennifer Bevan Montoya of JENNIFER BEVAN INTERIORS has a knack for injecting a sense of livable luxury into every one of her projects. jenniferbevan.com
✦ After nearly 30 years at its Allen Avenue location, LANZETTI CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY recently moved to a new showroom space on Colorado Boulevard where the experts are continuing their time-honored tradition of custom upholstery and antique restoration services. lanzettiupholstery.net ✦ At MAUDE WOODS, proprietor Carrie Davich’s collected decor, furniture, bath linens, kitchen accessories, textiles, and art mingle with covetable vintage and antique finds inside the lightfilled boutique. maudewoods.com
Caesarstone. The knowledgeable team will work with you, your designer, and/or contractor to customize its offerings to your needs. saxumtile.com ✦ Interior designer Robert Frank’s expertly edited collection of California-inspired home goods at SUMMERHOME spans raffia furniture and natural-fiber rugs, handblown glassware, and rustic dinnerware. Frank also offers in-house design services. summerhomestore.com
✦ Connecting architecture with nature, interior/exterior designer MICHAELA SCHERRER’s work exudes a sense of calm by way of muted palettes and earthy textures. michaelascherrer.com ✦ A. PELTIER HOME, the shoppable range curated by South Pasadena–based interior designer Amy Peltier, comprises collectible home accessories and objects such as sea-foam glass bottles, hand-painted bone boxes, and distressed Hömage terra-cotta vases. peltierinteriors.com ✦ The sun-soaked historic homes transformed by SAMANTHA WILLIAMS INTERIOR all share the local talent’s trademark touch—a fresh, streamlined twist on classic style— while each reflecting their homeowners’ distinct personalities. williamsinteriordesign.com DESIGN
✦ SAXUM TILE DESIGN STUDIO houses a plethora of mesmerizing tiles from around the globe, including the latest from Mosaïque Surface and
Tactile Matter
✦ Artisan-crafted homewares take pride of place at the 5,400-squarefoot Old Pasadena outpost of ROOM & BOARD. The retailer, which is dedicated to sustainable practices and products, specializes in Shaker, Asian, Danish, arts and crafts, and modern styles. roomandboard.com ✦ Altadena-based multidisciplinary artist Kenesha Sneed of TACTILE MATTER creates objects and textiles that speak to empowerment and the Black female experience. Her offerings include made-to-order prints of her vibrant oil-on-canvas works. tactilematter.com ✦ Helmed by creative director Hanna Li, the full-service design firm ZEHANA INTERIORS incorporates elements of wellness, vitality, and comfort into its projects, marrying mixed metals and ultra-luxe pieces with natural textures and organic accents. zehana.com
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FOR ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY BUFFS
✦ Another quintessentially Pasadenian bungalow built in the arts and crafts style is the iconic GAMBLE HOUSE. Designed in 1908 by architects Greene and Greene as the winter residence of the Gamble family, the 8,100-squarefoot work of art is open to the public for ticketed tours, which will be resuming soon. gamblehouse.org 62 PA S A D E N A
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✦ Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the 1923-built MILLARD HOUSE—also known as La Miniatura—is a poetic masterpiece that showcases the visionary architect’s textile block system. The Mayaninspired private property, located near the Rose Bowl, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. ✦ With its distinct Romanesque revival bell tower, ST. ANDREW CHURCH was built in 1886 as the first Catholic church in Pasadena. Modeled after Rome’s Santa Sabina and Santa Maria in Cosmedin basilicas, the historic structure features Corinthian-capped scagliola columns (built by Italian immigrant artisans in the 20th century) and a Carrera marble altar. saintandrewpasadena.org
GAMBLE HOUSE: ALEX VERTIKOFF
✦ Set on South Arroyo Boulevard, the storied BATCHELDER HOUSE was where the namesake ceramist and tilemaker Ernest Allen Batchelder once resided and worked. Today a private home, the 1910 bungalow and its surrounding gardens are dotted with the late designer’s colorful handcrafted art tiles.
Above and below: Gamble House. Opposite page: St. Andrew Church
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EXCEPTIONAL EYE CANDY IN AND AROUND TOWN ✦ Recently transformed from a ’50s-era motel into a serene oasis within L.A., the CARA HOTEL in Los Feliz is an amalgam of Californian and Mediterranean aesthetics, featuring a central courtyard and tranquility pool, palms and century-old olive trees, whitewashed accommodations, and thoughtful design details such as locally made ceramics throughout. carahotel.com ✦ A romantic hidden gem in the heart of Pasadena, THE an intimate, below-ground wine bar “library” that stocks varietals from around the globe, including rare finds from Armenia and Brazil. The wood-clad space is decked out in Western classical composers’ portraits; wall-to-wall shelves of bottles and books; velvet and leather tufted sofas; and classic green banker’s lamps. lecellar.com
CELLAR is
Above: Cara Hotel. Below: Proper Hotel
✦ Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the nearby, newly opened housed in a 1920s California Renaissance revival landmark building. Wearstler played on the historic architecture and incorporated elements of Mexican modernism, along with French- and Moroccan-influenced details, throughout the 148-room property. properhotel.com PROPER HOTEL is
✦ Lauded design duo Brittany Zwickl and Shannon Wollack (together known as Studio Life/Style) are the masterminds behind FACILE at The Commons. A must-know for any skincare junkie in town, the spa/dermatology office/boutique—an airy, neutral-hued space—is bedecked in custom furnishings and pieces from Lawson-Fenning and Consort. facileskin.com
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Bougie Bazaar bougiebazaarla.com
Pasadena City College Flea Market pasadena.edu/community/flea-market
Hollis (pictured) hollispasadena.com
Revival Antiques revivalantiques.com
Pasadena Antique Center and Annex
Rose Bowl Flea Market rgcshows.com
Pasadena Antique Mall thepasadenaantiquemall.com
T. L. Gurley Antiques gurleyantiques.com
HOLLIS: MINH T; CARA HOTEL: MAURA GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY; PROPER HOTEL THE INGALLS
T R I E D -A N D -T R U E A N T I Q U E A N D V I N TAG E R E S O U R C E S
Sacred Space Gardem Design. Below: Sarah Bazik of Sarahcotta Plants
INDOOR PLANTS AND LANDSCAPING
✦ BLVD NURSERY has been serving the community since 1991. The garden center, open for retail and wholesale, has an inventory of more than 1,000 indoor and outdoor plants and flowers, from in-demand fiddle leaf fig trees to massive evergreen succulents like the aloe Hercules. blvdnursery.com ✦ Specializing in sustainable, water-saving, and low-maintenance gardens, designer Tristam Bielecki and his team at COLWYNN GARDEN DESIGN create beautiful drought-tolerant landscapes with California-native flora. colwynn.com ✦ Another local landscape business dedicated to creating water-wise oases is GARDEN NATIVES. Founded by Sydney Harrington and Amanda Claverie, the full-service firm designs landscapes with Californianative plants—helping support the ecosystem of butterflies, birds, and bees—and offers
maintenance services as well. thegardennatives.com ✦ Master stone mason Omar Huerta Tobon and landscape designer Karen Miller are the husband-and-wife team behind the full-service firm SACRED SPACE GARDEN DESIGN. With a roster of offerings, from custom hardscaping and shade structures to lush vegetable gardens, the duo creates decorative, California-friendly landscapes and outdoor “rooms” like kitchens. sacredspacegardendesign.com ✦ SARAHCOTTA PLANTS is a gorgeously curated petite plant shop in Glendale where proprietor Sarah Bazik stocks a plethora of both familiar and rare houseplants. Whether you’re on the lookout for a philodendron pink princess, caladium Miss Muffet, rubber tree, or lemon button fern, you’ll find it here alongside design-forward pots and quirky accessories. sarahcottaplants.com
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WE ALL GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS. For our annual Women of Pasadena feature, we chose women who shine the spotlight on each other. Paired up, these eight established women allowed us to eavesdrop on a conversation in honor of our issue.
P R O D U C E D BY SA M A N T H A BROOKS
Covering topics as broad as family, education, friendship, and leadership, this feature gives a behind-thescenes look at some of Pasadena’s finest leading ladies.
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Karen Hofmann, provost at ArtCenter, speaks
with Swati Mohan, the Guidance,
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Brenda Harvey-Williams, director of the Parks,
Recreation, and Community Ser-
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Joy Flores, vice president of programs and
operations at Union Rescue
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Kirsten Blazek, founder of home-staging and
design company A1000x
Navigation, and Control Systems
vices Department speaks with
Mission, speaks with Jocelyn
Better speaks with Jennifer
Engineering group supervisor at
Cheryl Moody, deputy chief of
Robertson, director of Cottage
Parker-Stanton, founding part-
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
the Pasadena Police Department.
Co-op Nursery School.
ner of Deasy Penner Podley.
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KAREN HOFMANN & SWATI MOHAN hese women help people shoot for the stars—through art or with rockets. As provost of ArtCenter (artcenter .edu), Karen Hofmann oversees the undergraduate and educational departments, academic, faculty and student affairs, and ArtCenter Extension. Swati Mohan is the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems Engineering group supervisor at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (jpl.nasa.gov), and the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Operations lead for Mars 2020. Here, these innovative thinkers discuss how teamwork evolved during the pandemic. » KAREN HOFMANN: Here at ArtCenter, we celebrated our 90th anniversary during the pandemic. In the history of the college, hands-on making has been imperative with learning how to be an artist or a designer. Every student uses our shops and labs to visualize and realize their ideas. Along with our disciplines all being very tactile, what is also essential in the education at ArtCenter is the culture of critique— the studio experience of showing your work and getting constructive feedback from the professor and peers, and then giving feedback to classmates as well. This all typically takes place in our studios on campus. When the pandemic hit, we had to shift all of those experiences online. We had to train 600 faculty to teach remotely and prepare students to do their work at home. We totally had to reinvent
“WE’RE DEVELOPING A NEW KIND OF CULTURE ONLINE, AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THAT, WE JUST NEED TO FIND THE BALANCE WITH BEING IN PERSON ONCE WE RETURN.” —KAREN HOFMANN
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how we create, how we make a new reality. In some ways, it was a gift, because we learned that creativity and problem solving can happen anywhere with determination and resilience. Swati, what was it like for you to not be at JPL with your team during the pandemic?
» SWATI MOHAN: Oh, the pandemic hit me at a crucial time. We were putting
together the hardware for the Mars mission, which launched last July. You can’t do that remotely. We had to reevaluate what it takes to put together a spacecraft and operate it. The sheer number of people it takes to get this done is crazy. One thing, though, is that when you put together a spacecraft, it has to be super clean anyway. We already had the full sets of gloves, face masks, etc., but getting to the launch pad was hard. There were two instances where we had to shut down for a few days due to possible COVID exposure. In terms of operating a spacecraft, we are all so used to talking to each other in person and being in the same room. That’s how it has been for 50 years. We had to reinvent the infrastructure for home use and reevaluate who is critical to be on site. It was a learning experience. There were some positives, though. For instance, there were a ton of nightshifts I did at home with my kids sleeping upstairs. But
Karen Hofmann
because of the normality of it all, you lost a bit of the excitement.
» KH: That’s so true. I share that with you. How do you recreate something where you rely on being together as a team? That’s how you thrive. For us, the classroom experience is so visceral—we did our best to help our faculty recreate the dynamic ways they teach in person. We came up with “Studio-in-a-Box.” We gave our faculty audio/visual kits with three GoPro cameras and other equipment for them to capture different angles of painting techniques or model-making demonstrations and replicate a sense of being there in the studio. It’s been quite an experiment and process of learning. Swati Mohan
» SW: My team had all been together for years, so remote wasn’t as hard in that sense. We knew each other really well, so we knew the inflections in everyone’s tone of voice and could interpret those in an email. In the classroom, how did that go when you had to rebuild a communication structure when you have different people all the time, in terms of classes constantly rotating with students?
LEFT: DAVIDGOLDMANPHOTO.COM; ABOVE: NASA/JPL-CALTECH
» KH: It was a challenge for sure when we kicked off our summer and fall semesters. Many of the classes had students and faculty who had not met before. The faculty had to really change the way in which they get to know their students. For many of our students, who typically range in age between 19–25 years old, they’re naturally more used to online interactions, so it was not as hard of an adjustment socially. But a year later, they’re all anxious to get back to campus and into studios, shops, and labs. We’re developing a new kind of culture online, and we’re not going to say good-bye to that, we just need to find the balance with being in person once we return. I know the JPL culture very well, as my parents were there for 40 years. How do you balance being at home with at the lab?
“OH, THE PANDEMIC HIT ME AT A CRUCIAL TIME. WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE HARDWARE FOR THE MARS MISSION, WHICH LAUNCHED LAST JULY. YOU CAN’T DO THAT REMOTELY.” —SWATI MOHAN
» SM: Well, you can’t bring home hardware, so you always have to go to the lab to work with the hardware. There’s a lot of testing we do, and we’ve found some ways of being able to do it remotely. We might keep some of that. But we realized that, for our teams, it only works if everyone is either there or everyone is remote. A mixed system doesn’t work because the remote people can’t butt in. Not everyone is on the same pace. » KH: I remember watching you in February, during the landing of the Perseverance on Mars, and I was thinking, ‘How did they pull this off?’ With the pressure, how did your leadership and your team get ready for that moment? » SM: We had a nice balance in our team that included veterans who had landed craft on Mars before, and new people. We spent so many years working toward this, and throughout the process, what we focused on was accounting for
what we were worried about. In a team, you have your own responsibilities, but then you also have your tentacles in other places as well, which is what forms a strong mesh. When people were confident in their own parts, and their worries were about something that was two or three people removed, we realized we were in good shape. I’d say that JPL is getting better in diversity, both in terms of educational background, experience, women, minorities. In your perspective, how are the teams getting more diverse in your field?
» KH: Diversity is a huge area of focus for us at ArtCenter. In collaboration with our chief diversity officer, we developed a 40-point Diversity Action Plan addressing every touchpoint at the college, knowing that the best and most creative cultures prioritize diversity and inclusion. Collaboration is more important than ever, and it’s the expertise of numerous individuals that come together that creates success.
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BRENDA HARVEY-WILLIAMS & CHERYL MOODY “AS A LEADER, I ALWAYS AIM TO BE FAIR. NOT JUST TO THE OTHER OFFICERS, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.” —CHERYL MOODY
he pandemic brought heightened challenges to people in public-safety roles, like these two women. Cheryl Moody is deputy chief of the Pasadena Police Department (cityofpasadena.net), where she has worked since 1992 after a stint in the U.S. Air Force. Here, she talks with her friend and City of Pasadena colleague Brenda HarveyWilliams (cityofpasadena.net), director of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, about leadership and keeping a team together through difficult times. » CHERYL MOODY: At the beginning of COVID, the city went through a lot of changes. It was fluid, but when it started, it was challenging. You over at Parks and Rec were challenged with discouraging people to gather in parks and to wear masks at the Rose Bowl. We did what we could do to help collaborate with you, but it was almost 70 PA S A D E N A
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too big of a job to tackle. In hindsight, what would have been a better way to handle things do you think?
» BRENDA HARVEY-WILLIAMS: It’s interesting to think about. Part of the challenge initially was just being so frightened about how contagious it was and knowing it was important to keep
» CM: For us, it was a little easier. Initially, we tried to enforce people to leave if they were in the parks, but we had so many complaints saying we were too heavy handed. Then, we changed our methods to education, and telling people that they can’t be there, but no one listened. In hindsight, maybe had we worked closer with human services, we could have come up with better ideas.
» BHW: I joke that we should have had a sign that read, “Come Get COVID Here,” and maybe that would have given people the message. As a human being and a civil servant, you just want to protect people, but we learned you can’t protect people from themselves. » CM: There were a lot of tough days. Plus, on top of work, I have my elderly parents to be concerned about and my sons, who are adults, but you never
DAVIDGOLDMANPHOTO.COM
Cheryl Moody
people apart. But we also had to balance that with a place to let people go outside and be safe. That meant having the parks and the Rose Bowl loop to walk or jog in. First, we tried to shut everything down and not let anyone in, but that didn’t work. So, we opened the Rose Bowl loop but kept vehicles out so that people would have more space to spread out. At parks, we tried barricades, yellow tape, even a chain-link fence, but nothing worked. Someone would always break through it. I don’t know that we would have done anything differently at the Rose Bowl, but at parks, I think the money would have been better spent on signage.
stop worrying. I tried to find different ways to decompress. I ended up watching old black-and-white shows like Gunsmoke and Andy Griffith, which both took place when things were calm and the world was right side up. What did you do?
» BHW: I actually started running through my neighborhood and rediscovered how beautiful the homes and landscaping are. I noticed the small things—like the architecture in the windows of a house that I drove by all the time and never really saw before. Plus, with telecommuting, I’ve rediscovered my own house. We really hadn’t spent much time here since our kids got older. I hadn’t been in our pool for 15 years until this last year. I also reconnected with an old group of friends and we’d have Friday night Zoom calls. Self-care was really important in this last year. » CM: And on top of COVID, there was the Black Lives Matter movement too. That was such a mix of emotions. One of the things that happened was that police officers got painted with a broad brush. There’s one bad apple that spoils the group. In reality though, every profession has some bad people in it. This has been a tough year for law enforcement.
Another aspect was being African American and having our staff witness a national reckoning. You have to acknowledge it in the workplace because people do not want to bring it up. In our department and with community services, most of our clients tend to be lower income and in many cases are Black and brown. It forced us to have some discussions this year and have eyes opened. It was a big year for leadership.
community as well. People also have to know that you care. I try to make sure that my team isn’t just physically healthy, but mentally as well. You have to know your people and their limitations. A lot of people have stress at home that you have to watch for, and sometimes they end up taking that to the streets with them. Especially in a high-liability profession like this, you have to be in tune with your team.
» CM: What do you think makes a
» BHW: For me, one of the traits of a good leader is that someone has to be willing to follow you. The only way is to set a good example. I’m the director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, but that’s not my background. I started out as an intern in finance and budgeting—I was a bean counter locked in a basement, but now I’m front facing, and it’s important to represent my team. I tell them that they’re the experts; I’m the leader to help them reach their full potential. The skills I have paired with theirs will help us all go further. I don’t claim to be an expert. I have to aim to be real and authentic.
good leader? For me, it comes from working in a variety of roles, so I have a grasp of how everything below me is run. I started in law enforcement as a clerk in records. Then I wanted to work in the Police Department, so I went to the police academy. I was a divorced mom with two boys, and one of the oldest in my class, but I had already been in the military, and figured if I could survive the Air Force, I could survive this. I worked a lot of different assignments over the years and worked my way up. Now, as a leader, I always aim to be fair. Not just to the other officers, but to the
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» BHW: Yes, the protests were tough for us too because they were happening when gatherings weren’t allowed. If a group was going to gather in a park for a peaceful protest, we allowed it to happen. With events, we just worried if it would end up being a super-spreader event. It was always nerve racking. “AS A HUMAN BEING AND A CIVIL SERVANT, YOU JUST WANT TO PROTECT PEOPLE, BUT WE LEARNED YOU CAN’T PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THEMSELVES.”
Brenda Harvey-Williams
—BRENDA HARVEY-WILLIAMS
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JOCELYN ROBERTSON & JOY FLORES hese women both work with youth but in very different ways: Jocelyn Robertson is director of Cottage Co-op Nursery School (cottagecoop.org) in Pasadena, where she is passionate about parent education and helping adults understand child development, while Joy Flores is vice president of programs and operations at Union Rescue Mission (urm.org) and was previously pastor of local outreach at Fellowship Church in Monrovia, where she led community outreach and developed its Restorative Justice Initiative that encompassed at-risk youth, foster care, homelessness, and more. Here, the passionate pair discuss misunderstandings around youth and education—and where they see hope.
» JOCELYN ROBERTSON: For me, I’m lucky in that I get to work with kids who are feeling safe in their homes and who have parents who are home with them, especially during this last year. People were concerned that their kids would fall behind or miss out on social opportunities, but there have been lots of instances throughout human history where kids have lived through situations that aren’t normal, and it’s not as bad as you might think.
» JOY FLORES: My husband and I have four kids, and of course we’ve worried about how distance learning has affected them holistically. At work, in addition to our downtown shelter, URM has a satellite campus away from the mean streets of Skid Row that is 77 acres tucked away in the foothills of Sylmar. Hope Gardens Family Center is where we have 75 single moms, who previously were experiencing homelessness and are now in our two-year to three-year recovery program. If you’re homeless with kids, you have a lot going on, and, in most cases, a lot of unresolved trauma. We currently have 160 kids on campus, and this past year with COVID, our staff has been nothing short of remarkable. We’re the only shelter in Downtown Los Angeles that takes families. Some of our kids have developed explosive behaviors this last year, and we’ve seen the pandemic take its toll in different ways. During 2020, I was putting in 17-hour days, so it became hard to balance work and
“SOME OF OUR KIDS HAVE DEVELOPED EXPLOSIVE BEHAVIORS THIS LAST YEAR, AND WE’VE SEEN THE PANDEMIC TAKE ITS TOLL IN DIFFERENT WAYS.”
Joy Flores
—JOY FLORES
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Jocelyn Robertson
“I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT A YEAR AGO, WHEN PEOPLE WERE UPSET THAT KIDS WERE HOME AND EVERYONE REALIZED THAT WE WEREN’T PAYING TEACHERS ENOUGH, EVERYONE WOULD WAKE UP AND MAKE SOME CHANGES TO HOW EDUCATORS ARE TREATED.” —JOCELYN ROBERTSON
DAVIDGOLDMANPHOTO.COM
family. My saving grace has been a strong group of sisters around me that remind me who I am and whose I am. We call our group The Net, like a fisherman’s net that will carry you through a storm. It’s kept me sane. If not, I don’t think I’d be able to function.
» JR: You sound pretty functional. What’s kept me steady is also the sense of a cohesive community. Our school was screen free, so to send everyone home and tell them to watch as many Disney movies as they can has been different for us, but we said it’s OK to struggle and not be your best self. We thought about what was important though at our school. It wasn’t the sandbox, it’s the people and the relationships and how we talk to each other. We broke up into groups of three to four kids for child-led collaborative play over Zoom. They got to know the teachers well, and the kids got to know other kids they weren’t as close to before. Everyone got together and just chose to love each other and built a little community around that.
» JF: Community is so important for kids. When we look at our guests at URM, we’ve had kids in second grade who have been to nine different schools. Transcripts? Forget about it.
» JR: You know, I was really hoping that a year ago, when people were upset that kids were home and everyone realized that we weren’t paying teachers enough, everyone would wake up and make some changes to how educators are treated. I was glad that they dropped the SATs and standardized testing, which really only indicates whether your parents were able to get you a tutor, and that was a start at rethinking how we look at education, but I wanted to see a revolution. There’s so much racism and classism in the school system, both public and private. I’m furious and outraged that we’re letting it persist. » JF: Speaking of looking down the road, a year from now, in my own role, I have things I want to implement that will make the way we do
ministry sustainable. URM is a great place to work, but at times, it can feel like you’re standing at the gates of hell redirecting the traffic, and that takes a specific type of personality. Some of the things we see are so horrific, but we all feel that we’re here for a deeper purpose. When you talk about how people end up on street, you might be surprised that they come from a family just like mine. My brother was the oldest [of my siblings] and started acting out in third grade, with a mental health dual diagnosis in his teens. My family did everything they could to save him. He died a quarter mile from Skid Row when he was 30. I always wondered why no one could infiltrate his mind and reach him. People tend to ignore mental illness because it’s invisible most of the time. The truth is everyone we see is struggling with something. We need to be OK with other people’s pain.
» JR: That’s so true. I often say that kids won’t learn from you if they don’t trust you, so you have to help them feel safe. Adults need to learn to calm down and not project what’s happened to them onto their kids. And we can’t neglect play. Kids need to play out narratives that they see or hear about—like guns. They don’t quite understand what they are, but they are trying to work out the meaning through play, in the absence of adults giving them all the information because it’s scary. Kids need to be allowed to process things, and their processing comes through play. Same with when they want to “battle” or horse around. It’s not allowed at most schools, but it’s actually a really good way to teach consent and let kids find out what their boundaries are. When kids want to play something that makes adults uncomfortable, we have to sit back and listen observe and see what they are really communicating. » JF: This makes me want to go back to nursery school.
» JR: It’s important. The skills we learn here are food for life.
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WOMEN OF PASADENA
KIRSTEN BLAZEK & JENNIFER PARKER-STANTON irsten Blazek, founder of home-staging and design company A1000xBetter (a1000xbetter.com), first met Jennifer Parker-Stanton, founding partner of Deasy Penner Podley (deasypennerpodley.com), when they were introduced by Tamara KayeHoney of House of Honey. Many years and many projects later, the two friends and sometimes business collaborators talk friendship, competition, and balance. » KIRSTEN BLAZEK: When I moved to Pasadena from San Diego in 2010, I really didn’t know anyone. I was reluctant to leave San Diego in the first place because it was all I had known outside of Scotland [where I grew up]. But I started meeting people organically, and then Tamara Honey officially introduced us. It was 2012, and I was going through a divorce. I had been an ICU nurse, then a stayat-home mom, and it was time for me to go back to work. I was dabbling in small design projects, and a friend encouraged me to get into it more formally. When we first met, I was at a crossroads where I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but real estate sounded interesting and at the time home staging was a much smaller industry. Tamara connected us, and we spent three hours talking. It was an instant connection, and I realized that I could find my tribe here too. » JENNIFER PARKER-STANTON: That kind of ends up happening. A lot of my clients are either my friends or become my friends. I have a lot of girlfriends
and believe in helping and supporting people. We initially met to chat about staging and to give you some advice, and then you did your first staging project for my brokerage. From the beginning, I could tell that we were in alignment with our feelings about living with integrity and living what you love.
» KB: Absolutely. And you even let me borrow your husband! I had gotten a bunch of IKEA furniture, along with borrowed pieces from friends, to stage that house, and he helped me put it all together. That house had been on the market for six months, but after we staged it, it sold. I think we’ve probably worked together on at least 15 homes since?
» JPS: I’ve probably lost count at this point, but not only have you helped me with staging my listings, you’ve helped me redesign the casita at my own house and redo and design my Airbnb. I’ll never forget that first time you staged for me though. My husband called me and said you were skipping and singing throughout the
“AS AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS OWNER NOW AND MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I FEEL LIKE I’M IN A PRIVILEGED POSITION TO PASS ALONG WORK TO OTHER WOMEN.” —KIRSTEN BLAZEK 74 PA S A D E N A
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house. He had never seen someone so happy doing what they do.
» KB: I think I came into it all with naivety. I had no ego and no organized plan, really. I just went with my gut. I wasn’t even caring about what any competition was doing, and I still
don’t look at things that way. As an established business owner now and member of the community, I feel like I’m in a privileged position to pass along work to other women. I don’t feel like there has to be so much competition. Do you?
DAVIDGOLDMANPHOTO.COM
» JPS: Real estate is competitive, and I’m not a hugely competitive person— it’s not where I come from. I was talking to someone who was thinking about getting into real estate, and they were asking me how I look at the world and business. A lot of people think there’s a
pie and everyone is fighting for a slice of it. I don’t believe in the pie though. There’s enough for everybody, and I’m happy when other people do well. I just put my head down and do my business.
» KB: I always see that you make genuine connections, and because of that, your business grows so much.
» JPS: It’s all about balance. How do you find balance?
“LEARNING SELF-CARE AND BOUNDARIES IS IMPORTANT. TIME WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS IS IMPORTANT. WE ALL LOVE HIKING TOGETHER. THAT AND A GOOD BATH.” —JENNIFER PARKER-STANTON
» KB: That’s actually something I’m trying to work on. As a woman who was newly divorced and had two young kids at the time, I was trying to establish my business, and I don’t think I’ve always achieved balance. Any mother or working woman who tells you it’s easy—maybe if you can hire a million people for help, and even then—is lying. Something I’ve worked on with work lately is setting boundaries and not answering the phone after a certain time and setting limits. You also have to make time to have fun. When I get out of town it feeds my soul.
» JPS: It really wasn’t until my 40s
Jennifer Parker-Stanton and Kirsten Blazek (left)
that I could learn boundaries. I used to work all the time. I did film costumes and styling, which were endless days, and took that same lifestyle into real estate. Now, I do a meditation practice and that helps immensely. It helps me to see the world from half a step away. Because of meditation, I can get more done while also preserving time for myself and my family. I have an Airbnb business, a father who has had a stroke and lives with us—our hands are full. Learning self-care and boundaries is important. Time with my girlfriends is important. We all love hiking together. That and a good bath.
» KB: I do love our hikes! You really do give me great advice every day, and you’ve always helped give me the confidence and support to believe in myself. You helped me step outside of my box as a nurse and a mom. I grew up in a culture that’s less risk taking, and I think coming to America, ironically, even though I never thought I’d end up here, has been so liberating. You can make it happen, and I’m so grateful for what you’ve helped make happen for me.
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2021 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
STACI SELLAS, MS, RD SELFSCULPTMD OWNER
i It’s been a rough year for most of us! I created SelfSculptMD to assist women and men achieve their weight loss goals in a smart, straightforward, and healthy way. SelfSculpt is a medically supervised weight loss program. As the owner and sole registered dietitian, I have a vested interest in each client’s health, wellness, and goals. A healthy diet and lifestyle is my passion and I love to share that with my clients. We have a double board certified physician on staff to monitor your labs, overall health, and progress during the diet. I provide an individually tailored weight loss program that is guaranteed to work.
+ BEST ADVICE: Weight loss is achievable for anyone. Change your diet, change your habits and mindset and see your life change. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Having the opportunity to help people reach their weight loss goals! BUCKET LIST: Obtaining my doctor of public health degree in nutrition — set to finish this year! FUN FACTS: Oddest diet infatuation I’ve witnessed was alligators in Louisiana jumping out of the water for marshmallows!
ADDRESS: 960 East Green Street, Suite 101 Pasadena, CA 91106 PHONE: (310) 362-5122 ONLINE: www.selfsculptmd.com EMAIL: info@selfsculptmd.com
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2021 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION
HILLSIDES
STACEY R. ROTH, LCSW PRESIDENT/CEO
AMY LEY-SANCHEZ, LCSW
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
DIANA BUEHLER, JD
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
CARRIE ESPINOZA
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
i Hillsides was founded in 1913 by Deaconess Evelyn Wile as an orphanage and has since grown to become one of the largest mental health, child welfare, and foster care nonprofits in Los Angeles. And although Hillsides was founded by a woman, it has not been led by a woman until 2020, when Stacey Roth was tapped to serve as President and CEO after nearly 25 years at the organization.
+ BEST ADVICE: Stacey: “You have to fly your own plane; I can only be your copilot.” Meaning you must chart your own course and figure out what to do if you’re headed for trouble. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Under Stacey’s leadership, the agency has greatly expanded its Family Resource Centers since she took over in 2003, raising revenues from $1 million annually to $24 million and expanding staff from 40 to about 250. BUCKET LIST: Hillsides seeks to partner with L.A. County to help address the mental health crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. FUN FACTS: Stacey has been learning to play guitar, a lifelong goal. Diana loves to run the Dopey Challenge at Disney World every year. Carrie spends her downtime at her favorite beach reading. Amy is a pet collector with three dogs, three cats, and two turtles.
From left: Diana Buehler, JD; Amy Ley-Sanchez, LCSW, Stacey R. Roth, LCSW; Carrie Espinoza
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ADDRESS: 815 Colorado Boulevard, Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA 90041 PHONE: (323) 543-2800 ONLINE: hillsides.org EMAIL: communications@hillsides.org
DEBRA MANNERS
HATHAWAY-SYCAMORES CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES PRESIDENT AND CEO
i Two experiences shaped my life’s work: my first job at a children’s shelter and teaching art in a women’s prison. The work at the shelter, admitting children who had been removed from their families because of abuse and neglect, was deeply distressing. At the prison I realized that all the women I was working with had children — and those children were currently living in shelters or group homes. Everything came full circle, and I was motivated to earn my MSW degree. Since then, I have been committed to providing care to children and their families so that they can have a better life. At Hathaway-Sycamores, where I have worked for the past 34 years, I continue to be inspired by the transformative work our amazing staff accomplishes every day. While it can be incredibly painful at times, at Hathaway-Sycamores we see success — families change because of our partnership. Children who have grown up in the worst of circumstances begin to resolve their issues. Some will continue working through their trauma into their adulthood, but they will be equipped to do so, and not afraid to ask for help. I truly believe that investing in children’s well-being and mental health is the best investment we can make in this country. If we want this world to change, we have got to start with the children.
+ BEST ADVICE: Be kind, you never know what the other person is dealing with in their own life.
ADDRESS: 100 West Walnut Street, Suite 375 Pasadena, CA 91124 PHONE: (626) 395-7100 ONLINE: hathaway-sycamores.org EMAIL: dmanners@hscfs.org
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2021 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION CHRISTIANNE KERNS MANAGING PARTNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I am honored to serve as Managing Partner of the respected law firm of Hahn & Hahn. As a Partner for many years, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many fine people and organizations in and around Southern California and globally. It has allowed me to build a law practice which spans a broad spectrum of business matters, including sophisticated financing, real estate and general business matters. As a business lawyer, I work with boards of directors and C-Suite executives of private companies and large non-profit organizations, seeking high-impact, high-quality, client-centered solutions. I am pleased to have been a member of several boards of non-profit organizations, and currently sit on the Board of Directors of Five Acres, including two years as Chair. PHONE: (626) 796-9123 X354 ONLINE: hahnlawyers.com/christianne-f-kerns EMAIL: ckerns@hahnlawyers.com RITA DIAZ PARTNER & CHAIR OF THE LITIGATION DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Aside from being a partner in the best law firm in the San Gabriel Valley, I count accomplishments in my everyday life. I count completing an estate plan for a family or a trust administration for a fiduciary as an accomplishment. Some may be more challenging than others, but I feel that I am helping people and families with difficult decisions or after losing a loved one and that gives me an overwhelming feeling of professional satisfaction. I also count helping my kids with a science project (the one about carbonation is my best), learning to cut hair during the pandemic and figuring how to entertain my three kids without a screen while everything was closed as accomplishments. PHONE: (626) 796-9123 X393 ONLINE: hahnlawyers.com/rita-diaz EMAIL: rdiaz@hahnlawyers.com SUSANNE B. COHEN OF COUNSEL
From left: Rita Diaz, Christianne Kerns, Susanne Cohen
HAHN & HAHN LLP i
Hahn & Hahn LLP’s attorneys, culture and practice reflect the vitality of the Pasadena community and the rapidly changing Los Angeles metropolitan area. Long-standing relationships and client loyalty reflect our experience, style and strength. The firm strives to create value and contribute to its clients’ successes with excellent legal services delivered with integrity.
ADDRESS: 301 East Colorado Boulevard, 9th Floor Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: (626) 796-9123 ONLINE: hahnlawyers.com
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I have a daily sense of accomplishment from helping clients and their families plan for and manage during some of life’s biggest transitions related to aging and health challenges. I want our clients and their families to thrive. Working with clients to get a vulnerable elder’s financial and care management safely transitioned into the capable hands of a responsible family member, friend or professional gives me a special satisfaction. Court outcomes that I’m proud of are court orders to return an elder or another vulnerable client’s property to them when it was taken from them by fraud or undue influence. I’ll never forget my first trial where I got my client’s house restored to him after his cousin tricked him into signing a deed transferring the property to her and then kicked him out of his home. I still carry the passion for working for the right outcome for clients into every matter I work on. PHONE: (626) 796-9123 X323 ONLINE: hahnlawyers.com/susanne-b-cohen EMAIL: scohen@hahnlawyers.com
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LORA UNGER
PASADENA SYMPHONY AND POPS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
i Lora Unger leads the region’s premier orchestra in the annual presentation of over 25 Symphony and POPS concerts at the Ambassador Auditorium, L.A. Arboretum, Pasadena City Hall, and All Saints Church, plus, a robust music education program of seven youth orchestras teaching 650 students grades 4 through 12. Seizing the reins of technology, the organization unveiled “Pasadena Presents” last October, a streaming 10-concert series featuring world-renowned artists in recital and symphony musicians in chamber music works. The acclaimed series has provided an innovative concert experience to an expanded audience during at-home COVID restrictions. Her vision provided a catalyst for COVID-19 relief to our public school system as cuts put students at risk of losing a full year of music education. Instead, her team of conductors and teaching artists stepped in and created a weekly online curriculum reaching 9,000 households. Looking ahead with great optimism, she is thrilled to bring summer concerts back to the community with the orchestra lead by Michael Feinstein, live on stage, at the Arboretum.
Photo Credit: Melissa Kobe
ADDRESS: 150 South Los Robles, Suite 460, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: (626) 793-7172 ONLINE: pasadenasymphony-pops.org EMAIL: info@pasadenasymphony-pops.org
M. LORRAINE PURINO, M.D.
PURINO FORTANASCE NEUROLOGY CENTER NEUROLOGIST AND CEO
i The Purino Fortanasce Neurology Center is dedicated to providing quality care to all patients with disorders of the nervous system. It was founded in 1962 and acquired in 2017 by its first woman President and CEO, M. Lorraine Purino, M.D. Dr. Purino grew up in Montréal and was inspired to be a caring provider by her physician parents.
+ BEST ADVICE: Aim for balance in health, family, work, and life! Appreciate each day. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Current Secretary/Treasurer of the Los Angeles Neurological Society, Founder/President of the Women Physicians Organization of San Gabriel Valley, doing research in Parkinson’s Disease, and is a qualified expert on NFL-player concussions. BUCKET LIST: Work in Neurologic clinics across the US and visit each of the 50 states while doing so. FUN FACTS: Loves dogs and sci-fi books.
ADDRESS: 289 West Huntington Drive, Suite 309, Arcadia, CA 91007 PHONE: (626) 445-8481 ONLINE: healthybrainmd.com EMAIL: info@myhbmd.com PASADENAMAG.COM
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SUSAN BARILICH
SUSAN BARILICH, PC ATTORNEY/OWNER
i
I grew up in the Midwest, spent a number of years in Texas, and ended up in California by design (not by accident). I have learned and benefitted from moving around and made good friends everywhere I have been. My values are traditional, my mind-set is open, and I have great taste….as long as it is affordable.
+
BEST ADVICE: Never give up. Every day presents new possibilities and set backs also present new opportunities. It’s not about what you encounter in life, but how you deal with it. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Trial lawyer, successful business owner, Tournament of Roses member, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts member, former President of Commercial Real Estate Women Los Angeles, Super Lawyers 2020 and 2021, and Pasadena’s Best Lawyers 2019, 2020 and 2021. BUCKET LIST: Run for office–US House or Senate; ski black diamonds; become a certified yoga instructor; climb/hike Mt. Whitney; train a border collie for the Crufts Agility Competition; become fluent in German; and I would like to learn how to make documentary films. FUN FACTS: My favorite TV series of all time is Parks and Recreation. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was my law school legal research and writing instructor. ADDRESS: 535 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 504, Glendale, CA 91203 PHONE: (818) 500-0377 ONLINE: barilichlaw.com EMAIL: susan@barilichlaw.com
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REAL ESTATE
ALL-STARS
REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS 2021
B
uying a house is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life, and who you choose to help you make that purchase is just as important – the right real estate agent can make all the difference whether buying or selling a home. Pasadena Magazine has commissioned Professional Research Services (PRS) to conduct a survey of all Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley brokers and agents, to determine the top agents in the area. Real estate agents who were chosen as “All Stars” had an annual sales volume in the top 2% of all agents in the area, and we are proud to share them with our readers. Inclusion in the Pasadena Magazine Real Estate All-Stars is based solely upon merit; there is not a commercial relationship to the listings and listings cannot be purchased. The right real estate agent can offer you guidance on home values, neighborhoods, and other important factors that may affect your decision. These Real Estate All-Stars know the communities they serve better than anyone, and can help you find the home of your dreams. (Although we reached out to all agencies in the area, Deasy-Penner and Dilbeck declined to participate.)
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS
REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS 2021
VERA NELSON HYTHE REALTY
FOUNDER/BROKER
i Committed to real estate and relationships for life, Vera is a 20-year veteran of the real estate industry and living proof of the B.A.M. effect: “Broker, Advisor, and Mentor.
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Vera began her real estate career in 1999, became a Top Producer for Century 21 Master, San Marino, which she was affiliated with until 2010. She then became a broker associate, mentor, ambassador, and again a top producer for Coldwell Banker from 2010 to 2020. A people-person at heart, Vera became the company’s charitable foundation liaison, being named Veterans United Top Partner.
Left to Right: Barbara Richardson King - Founding Partner/Global Estate Director; Wanda San Juan - Founding Member/Director of Design; Kelly Reid - Luxury Property Specialist; Jennifer O’Connor - Luxury Property Specialist; Vera Nelson - Founder/Broker; Nick van Hoff - Executive Director/Global Estate Realtor; Tiffany Wopschall Property Specialist; Alex Buzi - Realtor/Cultural Communications Liason; Cameron Nadler - Luxury Property Specialist Not pictured: Carlos Reyes - Property Specialist
+ BEST ADVICE: Do you! You get what you give. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Top 500 sales associates in 2020 and 2021; Real Estate All Star for Pasadena and Los Angeles magazines; Top 1% Sales Producer, Premier Service and Exclusive Representation.
ADDRESS: 177 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91105 PHONE: 626-298-3025 ONLINE: hytherealty.com EMAIL: vera@hytherealty.com DRE # 01333471
BUCKET LIST: Sail to Tahiti. FUN FACT: Loves reading a good book and eating a bowl of Lucky Charms!
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS Gillan AbercrombieFrame 01348441 Compass 818-652-7304
Ronald Chang 0991079 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-318-6746
Kevin Bourland 01486389 Compass 213-407-4754
The Agency -----------225 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena 626.644.3844 DRE# 01330150
Michelle Chen 01895132 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-379-7266
Alain Babaian
Catherine "Tink" Cheney 01173415 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-233-2938
Lisa.Ashworth@TheAgencyRE.com theagencyre.com/agent/lisa-ashworth
Americana Real Estate Services -----------343 W. Cypress Street, Suite A Glendale 818.839.0443
Rick Cheng 01958923 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-315-1771
DRE# 01890396
MyAgentAlain@gmail.com MyAgentAlain.com
Lara Arslanian 01274839 Compass 626-590-1243
Kathleen Bywater 01991093 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 818-469-8498
Joe Chiovare 01931960 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-945-2236 Helen Cho 01122018 Compass 310-424-0838
Donna Baker Douglas Elliman -----------517 S. Myrtle Avenue Monrovia 626.487.0820
Fred Ashker 0925837 RE/MAX Premier Properties 818-681-4975
DRE# 01308772
Lisa Ashworth 01330150 The Agency 626-644-3844
donna.baker@elliman.com donnabakerhomes.com
Thomas Atamian 01739307 Compass 818-235-6325
The Agency -----------225 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena 626.664.4444
Alain Babaian 01890396 Americana Real Estate Services 818-606-6846 Donna Baker 01308772 Douglas Elliman 626-487-0820 Michael Bell 01164731 Sotheby's International Realty 626-354-8505
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DRE# 01173415
tinkcheney@earthlink.net TinkCheney.com
Amy Chang 01870603 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-404-2168
Lisa Ashworth
Paul Argueta 01223040 REH Real Estate 626-600-2734
Coldwell Banker Realty, Pasadena -----------388 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.233.2938
Grace Chang 01788890 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-318-2028
Carla Buigues 01160323 The Agency 626-664-4444
Susie Aguirre 01130705 Compass 626-399-4988
Catherine “Tink” Cheney
Chelby Crawford
Coldwell Banker Realty -----------388 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.536.2002 DRE# 01399237
chelbycrawford@gmail.com chelbycrawford.com Tim Cragoe 01119101 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-533-1881 Chelby Crawford 01399237 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-536-2002 Steven Daly 01944930 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-618-8336 Tracy Do 01350025 Compass 323-842-4001 Darrell Done 01233781 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-844-2255 Colette Dornblum 01952165 Compass 626-818-3534
Imy Dulake 0987845 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-664-1280 Jan Emamian 01010028 Compass 626-487-3678 Megan Ferrell 01705291 Compass 626-390-3831 Tom Flanagan 01330299 Compass 626-755-5050 John Fredrickson 0853111 Sotheby's International Realty 626-688-9890
Carla Buigues
Tracy Do
DRE# 01160323
DRE# 01350025
Compass -----------680 E. Colorado, Boulevard, Suite 150 Pasadena 323.842.4001
carla.b@theagencyre.com TheAgencyRE.com Garrett Chan 01959579 Compass 626-456-0056 Jack Chang 01075478 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-818-1880
tracy@tracydo.com tracydo.com
Carol Chua 0908699 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-708-8022
Tony Dowdy 01347010 Coldwell Banker Realty 323-804-3542
Pretam Fuqua 01074015 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-298-4680
Geoff Clark 01487063 Compass 323-459-3845
Michele Downing 01046965 Compass 626-523-6939
Jeannie Garr Roddy 0941946 Compass 626-862-0620
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS 2021
LISA ASHWORTH THE AGENCY
DIRECTOR, RESIDENTIAL ESTATES
i YOU HAVE A DREAM. I MAKE A PLAN. AND TOGETHER, WE EXECUTE. Dream: What’s your dream? What does it look like? More importantly, what does it feel like? When you imagine selling your house, remember: the perfect buyer is out there dreaming of your home. Stay true to your vision and objectives. After all, you have a dream too. So live it. Plan: Undertaking the task of selling or buying a home demands a thorough well-thought-out plan — one that incorporates many variables including market analysis, pricing strategies, advertising methods, and timing. The logistics and planning of one of the biggest transactions in your life demands a person with experience, knowledge, and integrity. I am that agent, and I will work with you to orchestrate the perfect plan. Execute: Executing the sale is an art — one that requires finesse, style, and grace. Once struck, the transaction needs to be protected to the very close. I am well-versed and experienced in negotiations. I preserve the greatest amount of equity for my clients. And I will be there for you until the very end making sure your dream comes true.
+ BEST ADVICE: Live each day by the Golden Rule. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I have been consistently ranked, year after year, as a top selling real estate agent nationwide, a "Super Agent" in Los Angeles magazine, a "Real Estate All Star" in Pasadena magazine, and a recipient of numerous awards. BUCKET LIST: To learn to how to play the accordion. FUN FACT: The staff at See's Candies know me by name.
ADDRESS: 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 100, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-644-3844 ONLINE: theagencyre.com/agent/lisa-ashworth EMAIL: lisa.ashworth@theagencyre.com DRE# 01330150
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS Colette Dornblum
Compass -----------42 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 626.818.3534 DRE# 01952165
colette@compass.com colettedornblum.com
Tim Durkovic
The Durkovic Group -----------70 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 1020 Pasadena 310.738.8098 DRE# 01923778
tim@thedurkovicgroup.com thedurkovicgroup.com Lu Gordon 01113951 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-485-6855
Maureen Haney 01169487 Compass 626-216-8067
Dean Griffith 01452542 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-664-9163
Steve Haussler 0840777 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-644-0353
Andy Hairabedian 01900114 The Agency 626-318-0907
Jack Holwahjian 01800853 Huntington Group 818-288-1132
Matty Hurtado 01207955 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-862-6289 Kerry Jackson 01977527 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-808-2500 Ronald Jackson 01363276 Compass 310-748-5959
Micah Lachtman 01754602 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-215-4331 Angel Lau 01337201 Coldwell Banker Dynasty TC 626-372-2609
Janice Lee 0874257 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-616-2789 Eva Lin 01817694 Lin Realty Group 626-807-6581
Janette Emamian
Ara Keshishian 01866459 Compass 818-795-9054
Compass -----------42 S. Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 626.487.3678 DRE# 01010028
Brad Keyes 01912382 Keyes Real Estate 323-422-2422
jan.emamian@compass.com compass.com/agents/jan-emamian
Elizabeth Kho 0970729 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-487-2222 Kevin Kwan 01483390 Century 21 West Coast Brokers 626-272-2365
Teresa Fuller
Teresa Fuller Real Estate Team at Compass -----------680 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 150 Pasadena 626.483.0710 DRE# 01315387
teresa@teresafuller.com teresafuller.com
DONNA BAKER
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
MONROVIA REAL ESTATE EXPERT
i Over the last year, we have all experienced what it’s like to be “at home.” That means different things for different people. As a Realtor, knowing the right questions to ask can help guide buyers and sellers through what “home” truly represents. I am very proud of my success as a top producer in Monrovia real estate, which I attribute to being tuned in to the wants and needs of my clients. Whether it’s a Craftsman bungalow, a mid-century modern, or newer construction, creating a “home” is the ultimate goal. I work hard to make sure my clients are happy at the end of every closed escrow. Let me know how I can help you find your perfect home! I’m never too busy for all your real estate needs.
+ FREE ADVICE: Do what you love and the money will come! Be passionate about what you do. Do everything in life with a sense of humor!
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ADDRESS: 517 South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 PHONE: 626-487-0820 ONLINE: donnabakerhomes.com EMAIL: donna.baker@elliman.com DRE# 01308772
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LAURIE STANFORD TURNER COLDWELL BANKER REALTY SENIORS REAL ESTATE
i Over my many years in real estate I have discovered that seniors face unique challenges when selling a home. For some it’s been decades since they have sold a home. That’s why I invested my time to earn a National Association of Realtors® Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation. Often seniors are on their own, newly widowed or dealing with family member health challenges and find themselves overwhelmed. They need a partner and that’s where I come in. The questions come fast and furious. Where do I start? What do I do with all my belongings? I’ve been in this home for 50 years and I’m downsizing. I can’t take it all with me, and the kids don’t want it. I’ve heard it all and handled it all with empathy, an open ear, hand holding and a team to minimize the stress. Guiding my sellers through the complexities of getting a home ready for sale, going to market and the mountains of paperwork that comes with it gives me so much joy and satisfaction. They are not just my clients but my friends and I take care of them like family. Like my tag line says, I am your key to a successful sale. If you fit this description or know someone who needs my services, reach out to me. I want to help.
+ BEST ADVICE: Make one decision at a time. We’ll get through this together! ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Top 2% of Realtors at Coldwell Banker Realty, Seniors Real Estate Specialist. BUCKET LIST: Learn to fly.
ADDRESS: 388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena PHONE: 626-483-5269 ONLINE: LaurieTurner.com EMAIL: LaurieTurner@ColdwellBanker.com DRE# 01919000
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CATHERINE “TINK” CHENEY
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY, PASADENA LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST
i Catherine “Tink” Cheney has been a San Gabriel Valley real estate professional since 1994, specializing in the uniquely beautiful communities of Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada Flintridge. Known for clear thinking, innovative marketing and award-winning sales, she is recognized for her thoroughness, focused direction and impressive knowledge. Holding a master’s degree in English from UCLA, Tink was previously a high school and junior college teacher. That experience and her exceptional communication skills help her guide her clients through the sales process. She generously shares her knowledge of local history, architecture and culture, and her passion for the region includes a commitment to its charitable and cultural organizations. Tink serves on the board of the Pasadena Symphony and is an advocate for the Huntington Library, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Huntington Hospital, Pasadena Heritage, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.
+ FUN FACTS: Owns a parrot and tortoises. Wants to adopt a puppy. TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Competing in the marketplace. EDUCATION: Scripps College (undergraduate); UCLA (graduate). BEST ADVICE: Always be available. BUCKET LIST: Travel, travel, travel. HOBBY/PASSION: Reading, Gardening.
ADDRESS: 388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-233-2938 ONLINE: TinkCheney.com EMAIL: tinkcheney@earthlink.net DRE # 01173415
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ANNIE CLOUGHERTY COMPASS
NEWPORT BEACH
i REPUTATION. DEDICATION. COMMUNICATION. TENACITY. RESULTS. 24/7
These are the values that Annie Clougherty has been bringing to her clients since starting in Orange County real estate in 2002. Her number one priority is making the home buying and selling process as stress-free for her clients as possible. Working in Coastal Orange County real estate for almost 20 years, I have built my business through hard work and referrals from happy clients and love what I do! Our all-female team has now grown to include seven unique, passionate and dedicated women who each brings a strength and balance to the team. With our combined local knowledge, determination and commitment to our community, we have gained an excellent reputation among both our clients and peers.
+ BEST ADVICE: Treat others how you want to be treated. It is the motto I live by, especially in this business and when working with other agents. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In the top 1% for volume in all of Orange County, in the top 500 for agents in California for 2020 and in the top 1/2 of of 1% in the country for volume for the past 3 years in a row as shown in REAL TRENDS. BUCKET LIST: Safari in Africa has been my dream for years. We will see if I can get there one day! FUN FACT: My real name is Annalisa, but I go by “Annie.”
ADDRESS: 341 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 PHONE: 949-375-3037 ONLINE: annieclougherty.com EMAIL: annie.clougherty@compass.com DRE# 01716801
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS Barbara Rogers 01169115 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-484-8135
Andy Hairabedian
The Agency -----------225 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena 626.318.0907 DRE# 01900114
Sarah Rogers 01201812 Compass 626-390-0511
Jack Holwahjian
Gus Ruelas 01221146 The Agency 626-375-5401
andy.h@theagencyre.com theagencyre.com/agent/andy-hairabedian
Huntington Group -----------305 Pasadena Avenue South Pasadena 818.522.0479
Artin Sarkissian 01722942 The Art In Real Estate 818-437-2433
DRE# 01800853
jack@huntingtongroup.com huntingtongroup.com
Fleming Trainor 01810650 Sotheby's International Realty 626-660-4186 Jim Tripodes 01455574 Compass 626-202-9444
Yennis Wong 01344042 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-316-3318 Cordelia Wong 01001576 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-487-0837
Laurie Turner 01919000 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-483-5269
Sabrina Wu 0900733 Compass 626-688-0100
Chris Reisbeck
The Agency -----------225 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena 818.298.6413
Gretchen Seager 01217500 Sotheby's International Realty 626-616-8146
Alpha Liu 01906983 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-321-0123
Henry Plascencia 01250465 Compass 310-995-6273
Sharon Liu 01720175 RE/MAX Premier Properties 626-758-0937
Rick Raymundo 01357019 Marcus & Millichap 213-943-1855
Luis Segura 01305186 Compass 626-233-2884
Jeannie Garr Roddy
Chris Reisbeck 01475481 The Agency 818-298-6413
Kathy Seuylemezian 0947297 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-378-7928
DRE# 00941946
Devone Richard 01857383 Cinc Real Estate Group 626-500-1212
Greg Stanton 01482973 Compass 626-644-4760
Matt Ly 01441481 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-821-1216 Maggie Ly 01385106 RE/MAX Premier Properties 626-203-9344
Vera Nelson
Carol Majors 0769694 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-399-9665
Matt McIntyre 01844466 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-437-3643
Compass -----------42 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 626-862-0620 Jeannie.Garr@Compass.com JeannieGarrRoddy.com
Edward Uriarte 01102702 Compass 626-817-3238 Gordon Wang 02049148 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-552-2339
vera@hytherealty.com hytherealty.com
Tony Wang 01478596 Compass 626-590-7534
Bernadette “Bernie” Pittroff
Compass -----------42 S. Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 714.425.0814
Sophie Mehtemetian 01936196 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-484-7283
Chris.Reisbeck@TheAgencyRE.com ChrisReisbeck.com
Hythe Realty -----------177 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626.298.3025 DRE# 01333471
Norma Mardelli 01477249 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-400-3794
DRE# 01475481
DRE# 01429045
Amy Weber 01389877 The Agency 818-568-4243 Rita Whitney 01209004 The Agency 626-755-4988
Vera Nelson 01333471 Hythe Realty 626-298-3025
Nazee Rix 01210301 Compass 626-824-4464
Annie Teng 02016963 Compass 626-833-8880
Jason Winicki 01891204 Compass 818-731-3601
Bernie Pittroff 01429045 Compass 714-425-0814
Ash Rizk 01503342 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-393-5695
Jessie Thurston 01907756 Compass 323-552-6662
Josette Wolf 01787295 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-264-0425
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Natalie Wycoff 01755930 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-590-3599 Daniel Xiao 01960766 Coldwell Banker Realty 310-926-5090
TEAMS Brandolino Group 01259914 Compass 661-600-9410 Bri Waterman & Assoc. 01357740 Compass 661-433-4485 Clarkliving 01482283 Compass 626-788-3013 Courtney + Kurt Real Estate Team 01431217 Compass 323-667-0700
REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS 2021
CHELBY CRAWFORD
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY LUXURY ESTATES AGENT
i Chelby Crawford has successfully assisted sellers and buyers of Pasadena residential properties for nearly two decades. Crawford represents many high profile VIPs including CFOs, CEOs, athletes, entertainers and people seeking a custom, creative and competitive edge in the sale and acquisition of unique homes and one-of-a-kind estates. Crawfords words to work by, "Only perfection will do".
+ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Crawford received the International President's Elite Award for sales production in 2020 and leads in the top 2% of her company worldwide. Crawford also has a long history of community involvement and was the 2019 recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Pasadena Foothills Association of Realtors. BEST ADVICE: Do the right thing. Do the best that you can. BUCKET LIST: Spaceflight. FUN FACT: Swim Team nickname was GT after the Shelby Cobra.
ADDRESS: 388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-536-2002 EMAIL: chelbycrawford@gmail.com DRE# 01399237
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TIM DURKOVIC
THE DURKOVIC GROUP PRESIDENT
i Art, design, and business collide in luxury estates. At The Durkovic Group, we combine each element into a superior approach that is greater than the sum of its parts. Through concierge service, powerful advocacy, and modern, editorial-style marketing, we create value for clients and capture the essence of the home, and we provide in-house expert consultation via our exclusive affiliation with renowned photographer/designer Mark Liddell Design.
+ BEST ADVICE: No one perfectly times the market, except by accident. Make decisions based on your own needs, timeline, and finances. Hiring the right agent is everything (yes, you should HIRE your agent). Interview, read reviews, and analyze track records to find the right fit. The rest will follow. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Douglas Elliman Pinnacle Award: 2020, 2019 (Top 2% Nationwide) • No. 1 Agent, DE Pasadena Office: 2020–2018 • Top Ten Teams, DE California, 2020, 2019 • LA Business Journal, "Who's Brokering LA" 2019 • Cover, “Top Producer” Magazine • Frequent speaker for real estate events • Real Trends’ Americas Best Agents, 2018, 2017 Douglas Elliman Sports and Entertainment Division BUCKET LIST: Get to all seven continents (missing two); earn pilot's license; own a classic Porsche; go to pastry school; learn to surf. FUN FACTS: Juilliard/USC-trained concert pianist, performed in Disney Hall and Kennedy Center. Born and raised in Guatemala City. Love fitness, baking, and my golden retriever, Monroe (as in Marilyn).
ADDRESS: 70 South Lake Avenue, Suite 1020, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 310-738-8098 ONLINE: thedurkovicgroup.com EMAIL: tim@thedurkovicgroup.com DRE# 01923778
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CHRIS REISBECK THE AGENCY
DIRECTOR, RESIDENTIAL ESTATES
i The Million Dollar Over Asking Agent.
+ BEST ADVICE: Life is too short to not love where you live. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Good things come in 3’s Pasadena Magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, and Agency Pasadena All Star.
ADDRESS: 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 818-298-6413 ONLINE: ChrisReisbeck.com EMAIL: Chris.Reisbeck@TheAgencyRE.com DRE# 01475481
Connect with Chris! Scan here for more details
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COLETTE DORNBLUM COMPASS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ESTATES DIVISION
i REPRESENTING CLIENTS WITH INTEGRITY, TENACITY AND CREATIVITY. Colette’s expert knowledge of the greater Pasadena and Eastside area, a keen eye for design and a dedication to her clients, bring an elevated approach to real estate. From preparing a listing to truly shine on market and maximizing it's sale price, she utilizes the latest marketing innovations and invests personal interest and attention into every detail before, during and after every transaction. Colette brings her impeccable professionalism, tenacity and integrity to all of her clients while advocating for their best interests and investment. In our competitive market, due diligence, communication and collaborative negotiations have been a proven successful strategy. "I am proud to say that 75% of my business is past client referrals and that is the biggest compliment. For that I am incredibly grateful."
+ BEST ADVICE: An Organized Life Is a Calmer Life. In work and in my home, it has been game changing for me personally. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Proudly and consistently being named a top producer in the region, ranked within the Top 1% of Agents Nationwide as shown in REAL TRENDS and boasting a personal sales volume of $30 million in 2020. FUN FACT: The day after I was born, Jimi Hendrix came to visit me in the hospital (he accompanied a friend of my mother).
ADDRESS: 42 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 PHONE: 626-818-3534 ONLINE: colettedornblum.com EMAIL: colette@compass.com DRE# 01952165
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TERESA FULLER
TERESA FULLER REAL ESTATE TEAM AT COMPASS ASSOCIATE BROKER / TEAM LEADER
i CLIENT CENTERED. RESULTS DRIVEN. With over 60 million in sales in 2020, Teresa is a standout top producer in both the Pasadena and Altadena markets. Special historic properties have been a highlight, with homes such as the Zane Grey Estate, the Andrew McNally Estate, and the Idlewild house. Additionally, the new development project The Del Mar, a 55-unit condominium community in Pasadena, is now offering hard hat tours. Teresa brings 15 years of corporate consulting, sales, and marketing experience to the table. In combination with her education in art, design, and construction it's the perfect storm for success in real estate. “It’s her absolute professionalism in combination with her authenticity that inspired us to hire her to list and sell our home,” says a recent client. “Even if you think you know who you are going to hire, interview Teresa. We could not be happier with the process or the result.” Teresa’s love of the work and helping both her clients and team reach their goals is at the core of her business. Her favorite rooms are those created outside: porches, patios, and pool decks. Originally from Oklahoma and Texas, and now a longtime Altadena resident, she loves the SoCal climate and spending time outside with her daughters and dogs. Her pup Findlay, pictured, is blind from birth and was a rescue from Southland Collie Rescue.
ADDRESS: 680 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 150 Pasadena, CA 91101 Or 2450 Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001 PHONE: 626-483-0710 ONLINE: teresafuller.com EMAIL: teresa@teresafuller.com DRE# 01315387
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REAL ESTATE ALL-STARS Barbara Rogers
Coldwell Banker Realty -----------388 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.484.8135 DRE# 01169115
barbara.rogers@camoves.com
Compass -----------42 S. Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 626.390.0511
The Sabatella Group 01945152 Compass 626-394-9212
Lucy Mao Homes 01779052 Compass 626-831-2201
The Durkovic Group 01923778 Douglas Elliman 310-738-8098
Tracy Do Team 01350025 Compass 323-842-4001
The Eastside Real Estate Co. 01391639 Compass 323-547-0330
Sarkissian + Perera Group 01242603 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-695-2808
DRE# 01201812
Sarah@SarahRogersEstates.com SarahRogersRealEstate.com
Dilsaver Group 0620166 Compass 626-795-6700
The Chang Group 01822562 Compass 626-376-4378
McGlashan Group 01041976 Coldwell Banker Realty 818-949-5230
Sarah Rogers
David Lao & Pei Chang 01324106 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 626-922-4268
Haynes Group 01144568 Compass 818-599-8066
Laurie Stanford Turner Coldwell Banker Realty -----------388 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.483.5269 DRE# 01919000
LaurieTurner@ColdwellBanker.com LaurieTurner.com
Ted Clark & Heather Lillard 01892752 Compass 626-817-2123
Gary Doss - Socal Resorts 01416748 Compass 909-659-7200 George & Jenan Musulli Team 0769903 Coldwell Banker Realty 626-318-7118
Tracy King Team 01048877 Compass 626-827-9795
Josette Wolf-Petralia Coldwell Banker Realty -----------388 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.264.0425
Teresa Fuller Team 01315387 Compass 626-483-0710
DRE# 01787295
The Botsford Group 0843748 Compass 626-705-6207
Josettewolf@gmail.com Josettewolf.com
BERNADETTE “BERNIE” PITTROFF COMPASS
LUXURY CONDOMINIUM EXPERT, CCS
i Bernadette "Bernie" Pittroff is well-known as Pasadena's top real estate agent specializing in luxury condo sales in and around Pasadena. She played an instrumental role in selling two of Pasadena's largest mid-rise condo communities and possesses knowledge of all aspects of construction, as well as the inner workings of condo community life, HOAs, and CCRs. Bernie's approach to marketing continues to set her apart from competitors. She utilizes all available tools with a refined flair for design to highlight each property's unique qualities. Bernie welcomes every new opportunity to treat buyers and sellers with extra special attention to facilitate seamless transactions. Bernie married a local boy from San Marino and is raising their three children, who attend St. Edmunds and St. Phillips the Apostle.
+ BEST ADVICE: Genuine listening has become a rare gift. It can be powerful in many ways and helps build successful marriages, friendships, and careers. BUCKET LIST: Take my family to Palermo, Sicily, to visit where my grandparents were born.
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2021
ADDRESS: 42 South Pasadena Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 PHONE: 714-425-0814 DRE# 01429045
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CARLA BUIGUES THE AGENCY
DIRECTOR OF PROBATE AND ESTATES
i Carla is a mother of two young adults, a leader, philanthropist, crossfit athlete, avid reader, and world traveler. As a 30-year real estate veteran and a multimillion-dollar top producer, Carla brings integrity, strength, innovation, and collaboration to make a difference in the lives of her clients. Dedicated to generating the best results, she represents luxury real estate sales, is an expert on probate and trust estate transactions, as well as making the dream of homeownership a reality for first-time buyers. Carla educates, advocates, and negotiates to maximize the returns of her clients’ greatest financial asset. Carla’s real estate know-how is second only to her emotional intelligence. She prides herself on always remaining open and available to her clients, accurately assessing their needs while building relationships that long outlast the close of escrow. Carla was born and raised in Argentina and migrated to the U.S. when she was 14 years old. Passionate about community and philanthropy, she has been voted as the sponsor of the Pasadena Bar Association and is a legacy member on the Advisory Council to the Leadership Pasadena Board of Directors, in addition to serving as board president to the Pasadena Fire Foundation and a committee member to WIN at NAACP Pasadena Chapter. Carlas' volunteer efforts expand internationally, and has served in multiple trips with PanAmerican Health Services in Pena Blanca, Honduras. Following her passion for mentoring others, Carla has launched a speaker series on Resilience and Women’s Empowerment. Carla is now proudly leading The Buigues Group, a fullservice real estate team of spectacular women.
ADDRESS: 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-664-4444 ONLINE: TheAgencyRE.com EMAIL: carla.b@theagencyre.com DRE# 01160323
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ANDY HAIRABEDIAN THE AGENCY
LUXURY ESTATES AGENT
i With nearly a decade of experience in the L.A market and beyond, Andy quickly rose to become one of leading real estate agents in his hometown of Pasadena after only one year in the business. However, real estate and development isn't something he just happened to stumble upon. It's been a part of his family history dating back to his grandfather in the 1940s and his uncle in the U.K. in the ’70s. By combining his background in finance and enthusiasm for architecture, Andy has been able to dominate both the residential and commercial real estate markets throughout the years. He's established himself as an honest and reliable broker with unparalleled hustle and a "get it done" attitude!
+ BEST ADVICE: 80% of closing the deal consists of simply showing up! ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Becoming a dad to my three girls. HOBBIES: Tennis, hiking, and traveling to new places. CAR YOU DRIVE: Porsche.
ADDRESS: 225 South Lake Avenue, Suite 100 Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-318-0907 ONLINE: theagencyre.com/agent/andy-hairabedian EMAIL: andy.h@theagencyre.com DRE# 01900114
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JOSETTE WOLF-PETRALIA COLDWELL BANKER REALTY REALTOR
i I love real estate! I absolutely love what I do. Real estate has long been a passion of mine as I started 14 years ago. With previous corporate experience as a director for a Fortune 250 Insurance Company, I began my real estate career with excitement and passion! Real estate has given me the opportunity to bring my professional experience to my clients in assisting them with their real estate goals and dreams. I am able to walk them through every step of the buying or selling process with ease. I’m THANKFUL to my clients for their five-star reviews/testimonials and allowing me to do what I love!
+ BEST ADVICE: Real estate is a hot market and things move quickly. Take that chance, be decisive, and go for it when you find the right place. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: International President’s Circle — Coldwell Banker Realty: 2018, 2019, 2020; bachelor's degree, speech communication; graduate: Leadership Pasadena. BUCKET LIST: Travel and buy a home at the beach! FUN FACT: I have a wonderful family which includes my husband, two high school age boys and an adorable Goldendoodle named Otis. I love to hike, Peloton and fitness training.
ADDRESS: 388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101 PHONE: 626-264-0425 ONLINE: josettewolf.com EMAIL: josettewolf@gmail.com DRE# 01787295
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SARAH ROGERS COMPASS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ESTATES DIVISION, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRUST AND PROBATE DIVISION
i I’m a Pasadena native and have always been in real estate. I studied for the real estate license exam before I graduated from college, then started in commercial real estate in 1994. After earning my MBA from USC, I returned to real estate on the residential side.
+ BEST ADVICE: Listen to your clients, build relationships with your colleagues, and follow your instincts. Everything begins with gratitude. My goal is to attract clients who are grateful for my time and energy. I am grateful for my clients and my team. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: My highest priority is to be a great wife and mother. I am grateful for my husband and our children. I try to lead by example: working hard, being a good listener, and having attention to detail. BUCKET LIST: Taking my kids to as many baseball stadiums as possible, playing on a tennis team again, lobster diving in Catalina, visiting every state in the USA, owning property out of state, staying in a villa in Tuscany, obtaining a sommelier certification, attending Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, Australian Open, and French Open. FUN FACT: I am grateful to come from a large family. I have 29 nieces and nephews and am a great aunt. One of my memorable travel experiences was a shipwreck dive in Greece at 130 feet depth.
ADDRESS: 42 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 PHONE: 626-390-0511 ONLINE: sarahrogersrealestate.com EMAIL: sarah@sarahrogersestates.com DRE# 01201812
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JEANNIE GARR RODDY COMPASS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ESTATES DIVISION
i
THIRD-GENERATION JOINS ALL-STAR MOTHER Jeannie Garr Roddy, Broker Associate, for over 33 years learned the business from her mother, Jean Garr, a 40-year real estate veteran. Jeannie enthusiastically welcomes her daughter, Claire, to join her in the career Jeannie is so passionate about. As her current assistant, Claire is currently awaiting her real estate license exam date. Jeannie is a magna cum laude graduate of USC and Claire is a recent UCLA graduate with summa cum laude honors. They have the long-standing local collegiate rivalry covered! These ladies bring experience, integrity, hard work, dedication, and results to the table for their clients. Buying and selling homes is serious business; it is a transaction that typically is one of the largest investments one makes in their lifetime. Jeannie and Claire value the dream of home ownership and love being involved in this huge life event with clients. Taking this process to the next level and maximizing value encompasses a critical part of their business. They are “hands on” and go above and beyond in helping their clients meet their needs and goals. Jeannie and Claire are Pasadena natives, both born at Huntington Memorial Hospital. They are proud to represent the beautiful city of Pasadena and the surrounding areas. Jeannie volunteers at the Pasadena Humane Society and Claire at Kitten Rescue, as both brim with passion about animals and their well-being. Jeannie and Claire are also involved in Shadow Hills Riding Club, a fabulous therapeutic and veterans’ equestrian program.
+ BEST ADVICE: One should always strive to be accountable.
ADDRESS: 42 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105 PHONE: 626-862-0620 ONLINE: JeannieGarrRoddy.com EMAIL: Jeannie.Garr@Compass.com DRE# 00941946
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TRUE COST BAILA member Adrienne DeVine’s mixed-media works challenge society’s beauty standards and the price women pay to attain them. BY SA R A S M O L A
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ixed-media artist and Pasadena resident Adrienne DeVine’s provoking work Miss Propaganda offers intimate insight into attaining a mainstream white femininity that in reality is only accessible to a select, privileged few. The collage is depicted through a medley of materials including a brown paper bag, gauze, fabric, buttons, found wood fragments, magazine clippings, and acrylic paint. “I created a beauty queen who, upon close inspection, reflects the harsh impacts of prevailing standards of beauty,” explains DeVine of the work. “Her face is bandaged from plastic surgery, her skin is blotched from bleaching creams that would enable her to pass the brown paper bag test, a girl can be seen having her hair chemically straightened. Swirling around Miss Propaganda’s head are images of broadcast journalists who were fired and an elementary school student who was expelled, all for wearing their natural, afro-textured hair.” DeVine’s intention is that Miss Propaganda draws the viewer in from afar with her beauty but, upon closer look, offers an opportunity for reflection on how first appearances can be deceiving and challenges the age-old question: What is the true cost of beauty? Miss Propaganda, privately owned/not for sale; adriennedevine.com
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