Los Angeles August 2015

GO/DO

Edition

Kaitlynn CARTER MEETS US IN THE DESERT AT HIGH NOON

PIONEERTOWN

TEAM

the

Finally, the months that are merely pretenders to the summer throne have passed. June, with your socked-in foggy mornings and July, teasing us with signs of summer greatness only to pull the covers a few times per month —making us wonder if we live in Los Angeles or Seattle.

August is here, and we are ready.

We take you first timers sailing (“VITAMIN SEA” ON PG. 134), and for those who want to sail away to farther destinations, we tour all of the new awesomeness at LAX with fashion blogger Racquel Natasha (“TAILORED FOR TAKEOFF” ON PG. 68). We take you on two trips to the desert (as most of us do in the summer), first to Pioneertown to shoot our cover girl and Western Wild blogger Kaitlynn Carter (“HEY MS. CARTER” ON PG. 96) then to Avalon Hotel for a retro-inspired fashion shoot with photographer Taso Papadakis (“VIVID IN VINTAGE” ON PG. 80). We also break down one of our favorite summer meals at True Food Kitchen (“FOOD FOR THOUGHT” ON PG. 28) and show you

ASHLEY HICKSON, COO/CO-FOUNDER

We saved room to debut a new section called Localendar (PG. 150), detailing 20 things not to miss this season, told you all about my engagement in Tahiti (“TAHITIAN PAIRA-DISE” ON PG. 158), and walked you behind the ropes at some of the coolest speakeasies in LA (“SHH! DON’T TELL ANYONE” ON PG. 38).

Deep breath. There is a lot to do on these pages. These summer days aren't going to enjoy themselves. Better get busy.

ERIK HALE PUBLISHER

ALEXA ERICKSON, PRINT EDITOR

Born and raised in New Jersey, Ashley Hickson has enjoyed living in sunny Southern California since she was 17. After graduating from Chapman University in Old Town Orange, Ashley joined forces with Erik to create LOCALE Magazine. Known as Erik’s right and left arm, Ashley is THE go-to girl for everything LOCALE. She enjoys being an intricate piece to LOCALE’s puzzle and is proud of the down-to-earth, innovative magazine.

Born and raised on the coast of Maine, Alexa flew south to sunny Florida to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and Journalism at the University of Tampa. Upon graduation in 2011, she ventured west to Newport Beach where she now resides. Alexa is thrilled to be a part of LOCALE, as working in editorial has always been her passion.

MIKE TODD SMITH, MARKET MANAGER

MICHELLE SLIEFF, WEB EDITOR

Mike was born in Los Angeles, raised in Laguna Beach and has created a home in San Diego. After graduating the University of Arizona, Mike helped build ECCO Restaurant and then later a custom golf car company, LUXE. Mike found his true passion within LOCALE and now wakes up inspired everyday.

Michelle is a local of Southern California's coastal cities. She received her BA in Creative Writing from CSULB. She enjoys hiking, poetry, and cured meats, but not necessarily in that order. If she's not at the table next to you in your favorite restaurant, then she's writing content for LOCALE magazine’s website as web editor.

REILLY KAVANAUGH, DESIGNER

RICK RAMIREZ, DISTRIBUTION

With a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design under her belt, this Redlands native has produced creative for major fashion labels, institutions and ad firms. Reilly Kavanaugh is a tiny artist, at 4 feet 11 inches, who is much tougher than she looks. As the most artistic member of LOCALE, she exhibits a youthful energy and fierce, current designs.

Rick is a California native, and has lived in Orange County all of his life. A lover of nature, Rick is an avid camper, with an extensive knowledge of Southern California's beautiful mountain and forest regions. He further expresses his connection with nature artistically, through his unique watercolor paintings. Among his many other interests are cooking, history and music.

ERIN PRICE, SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

BRIANNA ROMANO, EVENT COORDINATOR

Erin is a California native with a sense of adventure. Raised in Long Beach, she yearns for travel. Her curiosity leads her on adventures and her outgoing personality allows her to make friends easily. Her position at LOCALE Magazine as Sales and Marketing Coordinator is exactly suited to her talents. Her main focus is to make new friends and keep our partners happy.

JASON KOSKY, MARKET MANAGER Jason was born and raised in South County with the Dana Point Harbor as his backyard. He is proud to call such a beautiful place home. Family has always been most important to him, and now, he is a father to two beautiful girls and a husband to a wonderful wife. Jason says, “As long as I have my family and my health, I am a rich man.”

ANDRE MATAELE, MARKET MANAGER Born and raised in Hawaii, Andre has made Southern California his home for the past four years. His position at LOCALE in sales allows him to continue building relationships with people who he values greatly. If he’s not working hard, you can find him laughing with his friends or in the water.

6 |

the longest fresh fish case at a Santa Monica institution (“HOOK, LINE AND SINKER” ON PG. 22).

| AUGUST 2015

Brianna is California native with an eclectic taste in fashion, music, and activities. After graduating with a degree in Fashion and Textiles, she became a jack of all trades, juggling multiple jobs from fashion stylist and makeup artist to professional organizer. After interning for LOCALE, she finally decided to plant her feet in a place where she can utilize all her talents. She loves traveling, making dinner for friends, a good beer, and taking Instagram photos of her dog George.

JESSIE DAX-SETKUS, EDITOR Born in Pennsylvania, Jessie spent her early years on the East Coast before calling Orange County home. While obtaining her Bachelors in Communications at Cal State Fullerton, she took a semester to study in Germany and met the love of her life. While gaining experience as a copywriter, she contributed to LOCALE for two years and eventually assumed the coveted role as editor. Jessie is also an arena rock revivalist, a world traveler, and a hedgehog enthusiast.

the CONTRIBUTORS AUGUST 2015

WRITERS

LEAH MARSH NICOLE FERA

IG @lm57x

IG @San_dee_ayGirl

MICHAEL WESLEY

STEPHEN PANOSIAN

MAUREEN BORSODI

www.bluewesley.com www.surfart.co IG @bluewesley FB /bluewesleyphoto

www.steviepphoto.com IG @steviepphoto

THE LA LOOK www.thelalook.com IG @thelalook TW @thelalook

BEAUTY STYLISTS KIM CONLAN RACQUEL NATASHA www.racquelnatasha.com IG @racquel_natasha FB /racquelnatashaofficial TW @racquelnatasha

www.portofsoundrecords.com IG @kimconlan FB /portofsound TW @kimAconlan

SHANE RADACOSKY ANGEL MANUEL www.angelmanuelphotography.com IG @angelmanuelphoto FB /angelmanuelphoto TW @mrangelmanuel

www.ShaneRad.com IG @ShaneRad

BRIE LEACH CROUSE www.briedoesmakeup.com IG @briedoesmakeup TW @briedoesmakeup

TARA SIMON www.TaraSimonPhotography.com IG @tarasimonphoto

ERICA LEITZ GENESIS GONZALEZ

TASO PAPADAKIS

www.genesisgonzalez123.wordpress.com

www.tasophoto.com

GENEVA MENDOSA TONI & GUY NEWPORT BEACH, OWNER

JAKE PALUMBO

JESSICA ALEXANDER

DIONNE EVANS

JONATHAN YACOUB

www.dionneevans.contently.com FB /dionne.evans.35

www.jonathanyacoub.com IG @jonathanyacoub FB /JonathanYacoubPhotography

www.jessicaalexanderphotography. com IG @jessicajalexander

FASHION STYLISTS LAUREN SCACCIA

SUSAN KRUPA

TONI & GUY NEWPORT BEACH, OWNER

TW /TraevelPhoudee

TAUNA CARSON

www.toniandguy.com IG @toniandguynewport

PHOTOGRAPHERS TC FRANKLIN

www.tnt-tauna.com IG @tnt_tauna FB /TNT-Tauna TW @tnt_tauna

www.tcfranklinphotography.com

JILLI JOFFE www.justjilli.com IG @imjustjilli FB /jilli.joffe TW @justjilli

JUDITH VIOLA

MATT DOHENY www.mattdohenyphotography.com IG @dohenyphoto FB /MattDohenyPhotography TW @dohenyphoto

ROXANA BARHAGHI IG @Roxanaivy FB /RoxanaBarhaghi

www.toniandguy.com IG @toniandguynewport

TONI & GUY NEWPORT BEACH, STYLIST www.toniandguy.com IG @toniandguynewport

FREEMAN MCFADDEN www.FreemanMcFaddenPhotography.com IG @freemanr

REBECCA ARAOZ TAILORED TANTRUMS

PROP STYLISTS

www.tailoredtantrums.com IG @tailoredtantrums FB /TailoredTantrums TW @Tailoredtantrum

DHRUMIL DESAI TAYLOR SIMMONS www.simmonsview.wordpress.com IG @simmonsview1

www.dhrumildesai.me IG @desaidhrumil FB /DhrumilSDesaiPhotography TW @DhrumilDesai

JONATHAN MEINERS www.showthework.com IG @showthework FB /showthework

DEWAYNE CARSON www.tnt-tauna.com

*FOR FULL INFORMATION ON OUR CONTRIBUTORS GO TO www.localemagazine.com/about

8 |

| AUGUST 2015

LOCALE MAGAZINE

Contents AUGUST 2015

THIS ISSUE: Go/Do

LOCALENDAR

150

140

Localendar

Twenty Things to Do in Los Angeles to Keep Your Summer Endless DO FEATURE

Grape Expectations

Believe It or Not, Malibu Has Plenty to Wine About

GO/DO EXPERTS

109

The Crowd Goes Wild

Professionals From Our Favorite Industries in LA 10 |

| AUGUST 2015

123

FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE GO FEATURE

Dawn Patrol

Decadent and Diverse Entertainment in LA for Every Night of the Week

134

Vitamin Sea

Learning the Ropes of Sailing the Big Blue Aboard the Zen Yatta

LOCALE MAGAZINE

Contents AUGUST 2015

16 NATIVE KNOWLEDGE Monday Through Sunday, by Locals

STYLE/BEAUTY

HOME/AWAY 154 HOME EXPERT

The Building Blocks of What Matters

EAT/DRINK

A Man’s Journey to Helping the Less Fortunate Through Real Estate

52 STYLE EXPERT

Sole Struck

Step Into Your New Favorite Shoes With Handmade Leather Footwear From Mere 22 EAT EXPERT

Hook, Line and Sinker

The Big Fish in the Seafood Industry

56 LOCALE LOOKS

An Open Book

Find Your Next Favorite Novel at One of These Three Unique Venues in Los Angeles 158 ESCAPE 68 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID

Tailored for Takeoff

How to Start Your Trip Before Your Plane Even Leaves the Airport

Tahitian Pair-A-Dise

Where Adventure Turns Into a Happily Ever After

76 BEAUTY EXPERT

Practice Makes Perfect

Dedication to Inner and Outer Transformation 28 MEALS DECONSTRUCTED

Food for Thought

A Fresh Take on Eating Well, True Food Kitchen Invites You to Indulge in Honest Flavors 170 SETTING THE TABLE

34 DRINK EXPERT

Haven on Earth

Bottoms Up

Master Cocktail Crafter Russell Davis Tells Us How it All Got Started

A Personal Touch on an Elegant Poolside Retreat 80 FASHION SPREAD

Vivid in Vintage

Living in Luxurious, in Mod-Inspired Style

38 DRINK FEATURE

Shh! Don’t Tell Anyone

Hard to Find But Easy to Love Speakeasies in Los Angeles 12 |

| AUGUST 2015

96 COVER STORY

Hey Ms. Carter

From Small-Town Sweetheart to Big City Babe

174 SU CASA

Home Sweet Hollywood

Hidden in the Hills, Step Inside This Iconic Tinseltown House

®

Making THE ISSUE

All rights reserved © 2014, the entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright.

No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any forms or by any means without express written prior permission of the copyright owner.

LOCALE MAGAZINE ph: 949.436.8910 | fax: 949.682.4807 info@localemagazine.com COVER Photographed By: Angel Manuel, www.angelmanuelphotography.com Model: Kaitlynn Carter, www.thewesternwild.com Styled By: Rebecca Araoz of Tailored Tantrums, www.tailoredtantrums.com Makeup & Hair By: Brie Leach Crouse, www.briedoesmakeup.com Location: Pioneertown, Mane St., Pioneertown, CA 92268 Bikini Provided By: Indah, www.indahclothing.com Vest Provided By: Katharine Story, www.katharinestory.com Accessories Provided By: Neely Phelan, www.neelyphelan.com & Cleobella, shop.cleobella.com

Venturing to Pioneertown for our LA August cover shoot, photographer Angel Manuel, beauty stylist Brie Leach Crouse, wardrobe stylist Rebecca Araoz and our cover model, life and style blogger Kaitlynn Carter of thewesternwild.com, all worked together to create this beautiful cover shot.

Photographer Angel Manuel used a Canon 7D with 55mm and 28mm lenses. Manuel sees all photo shoots as a true collaboration. The photographer, the model, the beauty stylist and the wardrobe stylist are all striving to reach the same goal: to get a picture that speaks to you. Manuel said working with cover model Kaitlynn Carter was an absolute delight. Her easy going personality made the shoot comfortable and allowed for the entire team to enjoy the experience with ease.

Beauty stylist Brie Leach Crouse loved that Carter had such great blue eyes, so she knew she wanted to pop them with shimmer. Crouse used a combination of all three colors in Le

Métier de Beauté’s Kaleidoscope called The Total Look. To create her glowing complexion, Crouse used Dior Airflash in #201, along with Bobbi Brown’s Bronze Shimmer Brick. For Carter’s lips, she used a neutral NYX pencil in Natural, along with a nude Runway lipstick crayon. Carter’s hair was already wavy, so Crouse only curled a few strategic pieces away from her face, followed with L’Oreal’s Elnett unscented extra strong hold hairspray due to the breeze they had during the shoot.

Wardrobe stylist Rebecca Araoz from Tailored Tantrums styled our Western-inspired shoot with Kaitlynn Carter without taking the century-old fashion too literal. Araoz styled each look with modern yet urban fashion trends and classic Native American influence.

For more amazing images and an exclusive interview with Carter herself, flip through the pages of this issue for this month’s Cover Story, “Hey Ms. Carter.”

Native Knowledge

BY LOCALS FOR LOCALS // Where to be Monday - Sunday

“

I’m excited for dinner with my crew at MB Post. The bacon cheddar biscuits are to die for.”

CHRIS SUDER Owner, Club Pilates Manhattan Beach

PAUL S. TRACEY Actor/Model/Writer/Filmmaker

After an energetic day of teaching at Club Pilates, I head to Grow to pick up some fresh produce to juice. My evening ends with a sunset walk on the Strand and dinner at Rice. I’m craving the Garlic Toro Kale. www.ricemb.com

I’m a big fan of freshly squeezed juices and, although there are tons to choose from, my favorite juice bar is at the Whole Foods in Sherman Oaks on Riverside and Coldwater. It’s relatively affordable, and they even have a rewards program: for every five juices you buy, you get one free.

M

M

www.clubpilatesstudio.com/locations/manhattanbeach www.growdelivers.com

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Even NFL players do Pilates! I trained three of my favorite offensive linemen today. Time for a healthy lunch at The Source Cafe. I’m looking forward to the planning meeting tonight for the Walk With Sally, White Light White Night Event.

T

www.thesourcecafehb.com www.walkwithsally.org

TRX and running the stairs with my trainer, Chris Juergens, at Avenue C in Redondo Beach. Testing out my new leopard print Nikes that I bought at my favorite fitness boutique, Shore Fit. W

www.shorefitmb.com

I start teaching at 6am. I always treat myself T to a “Stanwich” and almond milk Latte at Two Guns Espresso, the very best coffee house! I finish up the day with some meetings for Club Pilates’ one year anniversary party. I’m ready for a glass of wine and apps at Barsha Wines with my girlfriends. www.barshawines.com

I took McKenna’s awesome Cardio Sculpt class at Club Pilates. Ready for the weekend! I found a great new dress at Manhattan Denim. Dawn is an amazing stylist. I’m excited for dinner with my crew at MB Post. The bacon cheddar biscuits are to die for.

F

www.clubpilatesstudio.com/locations/manhattanbeach www.manhattandenim.com | www.eatmbpost.com

It’s a beautiful day to hit some balls at the Live Oak Tennis Courts. I like to use the ball machine and turn it up. It’s a great cardio workout.

I stop at The Green Store for a veggie sandwich and then meet my friends on the beach for a day of sun and volleyball.

S

www.greenstorehb.com

The water is calm and perfect for Pilates on a paddle board. Then, lunch at Simmzy’s. Sangria and fish tacos—yes, please. I top off the day hanging on my friend’s patio barbecuing, watching the sunset, and recapping the weekend’s events.

S

www.simmzys.com

16 |

| AUGUST 2015

Whether I’m there to read a book, write, catch up with a friend or have a meeting, Republic of Pie in North Hollywood is a great go-to. It feels more like a living room than a café, and although they’re known for their pie selection, they offer breakfast items, salads and sandwiches as well. Tuesday is my favorite day to go because my buddy, the singersongwriter Jeremy William Smith, has a residency every Tuesday night. www.jeremywilliamsmith.com T

“

Nothing can detox me, physically or mentally, quite like a hot yoga class at CorePower

Yoga in Sherman Oaks.”

www.republicofpie.com

I usually try to eat as healthy as I can, but every now and again when I get a craving for something sweet, I stop by SunCafe in Studio City.

They have a great menu of vegan and raw food, but their desserts are what keep bringing me back. The raw Almond Butter Chocolate Cheesecake and cacao superfood shake are my favorites.

W

www.suncafe.com

If I’m going to go out to a nice dinner in my neighborhood, my number one choice is Girasol in Valley Village. The chef, CJ Jacobson, takes a farmto-table approach, and his menu is always changing based on what’s available that season.

T

www.girasolrestaurant.com

A spot I like to frequent for drinks and tapas is Bow and Truss. It’s best during the summer because they have a great bar patio. I recommend their margaritas, but they have an extensive wine and beer selection as well.

F

www.bowandtruss.com

Nothing can detox me, physically or mentally, quite like a hot yoga class at CorePower Yoga in Sherman Oaks. The studio has a number of classes that I can choose from, depending on whether I want a more challenging or meditative class.

S

www.corepoweryoga.com

Over the last year, I’ve gotten into the habit of going on a weekly hike. It’s surprising just how many great trails LA has to offer. I tend to frequent Fryman Canyon Park in Studio City; it’s less than a mile down the street from my house, right off of Laurel Canyon. www.lamountains.com S

Native Knowledge

BY LOCALS FOR LOCALS // Where to be Monday - Sunday

“

I love starting my Fridays with walking Bailey to the Venice Farmer’s Market, stock up with my favorite Korean tempeh, buy myself some flowers, then teach yoga at 11am at The Yoga Collective.”

RACHELLE TRATT Creator, The Neshama Project

AMERICA MARTIN Artist

First I walk the pups to Menotti’s for the best almond latte, then I get my morning dose of sweat and inspiration with my girl Gina at Soul Cycle, spend some time on the computer working on my collection of jewelry, The Neshama Project, some meetings and greetings, and curate some beats for a playlist for class. I teach a candlelit soulful yoga flow at 8pm at The Yoga Collective. www.soul-cycle.com

Wild Card Boxing Club offers an amazing group boxing class that always starts my week off right. Then, I grab a mandatory post-workout juice at Lassen’s Natural Foods & Vitamins.

M

www.theyogacollective.com | www.coffeeveniceca.com www.theneshamaproject.com | www.menottis.com

I walk the pups through the Venice Canals followed by a morning soulful sweat sesh, yoga class, or run. Then I make a green superfood smoothie and work on The Neshama Project. I usually then take lunch meetings over at Cafe Gratitude in Venice, watch the sunset, or take a nice long walk. www.cafegratitude.com T

M

www.wildcardboxingstore.com www.lassens.com

Since I paint 5 days a week, I like to take my dog, Buddah, to the Silver Lake Dog Park for fresh air, and then walk down to L & E Oyster Bar for fresh oysters and a beer.

T

www.silverlakedogpark.com www.leoysterbar.com

For a mid-week pick-me-up, I go Reggae dancing at the Echoplex in Silver Lake. They have some of the best DJs in LA, and there’s always the possibility of a surprise guest performance!

W

www.theecho.com

Coffee first! Sometimes I walk Bailey to Menotti’s W and then take her to the beach to play fetch with her. Then I practice yoga with my girl Mary Beth LaRue at The Yoga Collective. Lunch date. Emails.

Work. Play with the pups. I have to spend time outdoors in the sun. If there is time, I will head over for another sweat sesh at The Studio MDR, watch the sunset by the Venice Pier, and then teach yoga at 8pm at The Yoga Collective—candlelit, soulful, sweaty flow. www.theyogacollective.com www.thestudiomdr.com | www.menottis.com

My friends go bowling every Thursday at All Star Lanes. If I need to see some faces, I’ll join them for a quick game and the occasional song at our favorite karaoke bar, Smog Cutter.

T

www.allstarlanesbowling.com

After a long week, you can’t beat dinner at La Poubelle in Hollywood Hills. I love the European-style sidewalk dining, and they offer some secret off-menu dishes I can’t live without.

F

www.lapoubellebistro.com

I wake up and walk the pups followed by a T morning soulful sweat sesh with my girl Mary Miller at The Studio MDR. Then, it’s emails. Work.

Play. Then I take Bailey for a drive down PCH to meet our girl Sophie of Philosophie in Topanga for a light lunch at Mimosa and a hike at Red Rock. www.cafemimosa.info | www.thestudiomdr.com www.thephilosophie.com

I love starting my Fridays with walking Bailey to F the Venice Farmer’s Market, stock up with my favorite Korean tempeh, buy myself some flowers, then teach yoga at 11am at The Yoga Collective. Then I lunch it up over at Zinque, then spend some time with likeminded entrepreneurs at an inspiring co-work space. www.lezinque.com | www.thevenicefarmersmarket.com

S

No cell phone. No plans. Entirely open to love and magic … usually outdoors in nature.

I teach a Sunday Funday yoga class at 11am at The Yoga Collective. One Sunday of every month, the class is accompanied by my friend, DJ Glenniest, for a soulful sweat sesh full of intention, flow and groove to some amazing beats. The rest of the day is about spending time with the ones that I love most.

S

18 |

| AUGUST 2015

I wake up bright and early for the Silver Lake Farmer’s Market, where I find more than fresh produce! I recently bought amazing boots from a local artisan who travels the country sourcing hidden treasures.

S

www.jadaandjon.com

Sunday means breakfast at Little Dom’s in Los Feliz. They make my favorite Eggs Benedict, and it’s also located right next to Griffith Park, which has some of the best hiking in LA. S

www.littledoms.com

“

I wake up bright and early for the Silver Lake Farmer’s Market, where I find more than fresh produce!

I recently bought amazing boots from a local artisan who travels the country sourcing hidden treasures.”

PHOTO BY: Angel Manuel

eat /drink

August 2015

22 EAT EXPERT Santa Monica Seafood Owner Michael Cigliano Talks About the 76 Years of His Family’s Business, and How to Select the Freshest Seafood for Your Table

28 MEALS DECONSTRUCTED Feel Good Food, Liven Up Your Diet With the Worldly Options From True Food Kitchen

34 DRINK EXPERT Celebrity Mixologist Russell Davis Proves There’s More to Making Cocktails Than Meets the Eye

38 DRINK FEATURE Six Speakeasies We Love in LA

38

DRINK FEATURE Shh! Don't Tell Anyone

BREAK ROOM 86 630 S Ardmore Ave Los Angeles, CA 90010 213.268.3056 www.thelinehotel.com/nightlife/break-room-86

21

AUGUST 2015

Hook,Line and Sinker THE BIG FISH IN THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

WRITTEN BY: KIM CONLAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MATT DOHENY

THE EXPER T

MICHAEL CIGLIANO Owner, Santa Monica Seafood

Recommended Products: Alaskan Halibut & Copper River Salmon

ver the last century, seafood distribution and consumption has changed dramatically. Technology has evolved to allow fishmongers to quickly catch, process and ship tons of pounds of fresh fish daily from all corners of the world, right to the local grocer or restaurant staff within a matter of 24 hours. At the forefront of this industry is Santa Monica Seafood, a longtime family-run business based in Santa Monica that started with two brothers fishing off the pier in 1939. Through the years, these two Deluca brothers expanded their brand and built their storefront. Many years later, they passed their legacy on to their nephews and niece. The Cigliano family then continued to build the company to the remarkable size and stature that it is today.

O

Encapsulating all of the resources and commodities Santa Monica Seafood provides to customers gets difficult, just because the business scope is vast, as is their customer base. The company works with fishermen from all over the world, sourcing only the finest product held up to the highest standards. With three retail locations, Santa Monica Seafood provides fresh seafood to local consumers looking to bake, fry and grill anything from sea bass to shrimp, from scallops to salmon or oysters to lobster. Furthermore, many of the most outstanding restaurants and hotels in the San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and Central California markets receive shipments of fish distributed with the utmost care courtesy of Santa Monica Seafood. Since the history is long, and the reach of this successful company’s business continues to grow, I sat down with the owner of Santa Monica Seafood, Michael Cigliano. While we enjoyed the aesthetic of his Orange County retail location off of 17th Street in Costa Mesa, Cigliano described the growth of his family’s company, their procedure for successful operations, and a few tips for making the most of your personal seafood experience.

22 |

| AUGUST 2015

SANTA MONICA SEAFOOD 1000 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90401 310.393.5244 www.santamonicaseafood.com PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION 154 E 17th St Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.574.8862

| AUGUST 2015 | 23

“We’re able to get as close to the source as anybody can,

AND WE PASS THAT QUALITY AND SAVINGS, WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE TO US, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SUPPLY CHAIN.”

– MICHAEL CIGLIANO

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Santa Monica Seafood

is a founding member of Sea Pact, an amazing international organization that’s changing the future of seafood.​

SUSTAINABILITY: They are the first and

only seafood distributor to include a sustainability ranking on all customer invoices based on the level of sustainability of each product purchased, along with a weighted average GPA for all the products purchased to help you monitor the level of sustainability in your seafood purchases.

Q: What services do you provide and who are your customers?

Michael Cigliano: For the retail stores, we have Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Costa Mesa, so we get to service all of the communities around the stores. We’ve been doing that since 1939 when we started on the pier in Santa Monica. We service a number of restaurants and hotels, and grocery stores as well. We service from Pebble Beach all the way down to Tucson, so we have a lot of accounts in there, and that includes the Las Vegas Strip.

over the last 76 years—it’s become more global. With the advent of air freight, we’re able to move product from other parts of the world overnight. What was not available to us just 30 or 40 years ago now is. It’s just a matter of picking up the phone or sending a purchase order through the internet, and you get the fish. We get fish from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South America—almost every continent, including Antarctica. We get Chilean Sea Bass out of Antarctica.

Q: When and how did Santa Monica Seafood begin?

MC: It began with my two great uncles Jack and Frank, who started it in 1939 on what is now the end of the Santa Monica Pier.

They were unloading little local fishing boats in the Santa Monica Bay area, and they were getting some local fish there. They started to distribute it to other wholesalers and other restaurants. One thing led to the next, and they got involved with some lobsters out of Mexico, and they became the primary source of lobsters. They coupled the lobsters with the fresh fish they were getting off of the boats, and became more of an asset to restaurants and hotels in the immediate Los Angeles and Santa Monica area. They did that until 1968 on the pier.

Q: What kind of standards do you have for your product?

MC: We’re an FSSC 22000 company, which is a European food standard. Everything we get in has to have full traceability.

We have to understand exactly where it was caught, by whom it was caught, and how it was handled. When it gets to the doors of our distribution facility, we check it for temperature, we check it for quality, and we check it for weight. If it doesn’t meet any one of those standards, we reject it. We’ve always held a very high standard.

Q: How did the business change from there?

MC: In 1969, they moved off the pier because the city wanted to change the focus of it—from more of a working pier to a tourist pier. They still stayed in Santa Monica and moved 12 blocks east, built a new facility, and continued to expand a little bit, but still service the greater Los Angeles area and Westside. Then in 1981, my brothers, sister and I bought the company from our uncles, and we’ve expanded it little by little. We went to Orange County, went to San Diego, went to Palm Springs, and one thing led to the next.

Over the years, we’ve grown the business, and here we are today.

Q: Where does your product usually come from?

MC: We get fish from all over the world. The industry has changed

24 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Can you tell me a little about your retail storefronts?

MC: The one in Santa Monica is on 10th and Wilshire, and that was recently moved. We created the building to look like an icehouse or an old fish shop so that the customers still have this feel of going into a factory and getting their fish. We thought that was part of the allure—getting it direct from the factory. It has a little cafe and oyster bar in it, along with a 64-foot seafood case. It does great, and it’s our flagship store. In 1992, we built our Costa Mesa store, and in 2010, we gave it a renovation.

We added a full-service cafe and oyster bar and put a lot of the components that were in our Santa Monica store that we had built into that one. Then in 2014, we opened a little kiosk, or a small oyster bar and retail case in the Santa Barbara Public Market. That’s been very exciting. It’s our smallest footprint, and we like how it’s going.

“Everything we get in has to have full traceability. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS CAUGHT, BY WHOM IT WAS CAUGHT, AND HOW IT WAS HANDLED.” – MICHAEL CIGLIANO

Q: Can you tell me about how the addition of your processing facility and distribution has bolstered the company?

MC: The bigger distribution facility, first of all, allows us to move more product in the same period of time. We’ve brought in a little bit of automation, and that helps us, and it also slows down the process for us, so we’re not as rushed. We work 24 hours a day, whereas before, we didn’t. Working in a bigger facility, we’re able to spread out the shifts—spread out the workflow. It helps us slow down what we’re doing, which enhances our quality controls, which, in turn, ultimately helps the customer. We’re able to get as close to the source as anybody can, and we pass that quality and savings, when it is available to us, all the way through the supply chain.

Q: On your company website, it indicates that Santa Monica Seafood is a longtime family business. How does the family currently stay involved?

MC: I have five brothers and a sister. At one time, all of us were involved in the business, until my eldest brother retired in 2004, after running the business for 24 years. The family is still very much involved in key areas, but we’ve also learned along the way that the only way we’re going to continue to grow is if we bring in people with different skill sets and more of an expertise than we have.

The family grew up in the fish business. We know fish. We’re fish mongers by trade, but it doesn’t make us experts in other fields, such as marketing, sales and procurement.

26 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: What product do you get most excited about when it’s available?

MC: Alaskan Halibut, because it’s not available year round. It’s a very defined season, so when it shows up, there’s a level of anticipation, and that’s fun. I would say the other one would be Copper River Salmon. It has a very short season, around 4 – 5 weeks, and there’s a tremendous buildup on it. It’s great to see the buzz of the anticipation, and it’s great to have people excited about the fish industry.

Q: Do you have any tips on selecting fish and how to keep it fresh for enjoying?

MC: You should go to a very reputable store to start with, and you should ask your fishmonger questions. I always say, if it smells like fish, don’t buy it. That’s the true indicator, so your nose knows. How do you keep a fish fresh? When you get it home, if you buy it from a store and they wrap it up, what I suggest doing is unwrapping it, maybe giving it a quick rinse—not soaking it. Put it on a plate, cover it with Saran wrap, and it will be fine for at least 24 hours. Before you season it or do anything to it, give it a quick rinse again. That would be it. If you’re getting shellfish like mussels and clams, and they put them in a bag and seal it up—you don’t want that to happen. You want them to have air because they’re still alive, and you want them to breathe. So when you get them home, you just put them in a bowl or Pyrex dish, and just cover them with a damp towel. And that’s it.

DECONSTRUCTED

EALS

Lemon Juice

Meals

STRUCTED

DECONSTRUCTED

FOOD FOR

Parsley

THOUGHT A Fresh Take on Eating Well, True Food Kitchen Invites You to Indulge in Honest Flavors

Kalamata Olives

Salt

WRITTEN BY: DIONNE EVANS PHOTOGRAPHED BY: TARA SIMON

I

n San Diego, you won’t be hard pressed to find a restaurant to fit your diet. From vegetarian to gluten-free, this SoCal city has it all.

Whether you’re a meat-lover, a vegan, or someone trying a juice cleanse or the Paleo diet, there’s a restaurant for you. What can be hard to find, though, is an eatery that offers choices—and tasty choices at that—for every diet. That’s what makes True Food Kitchen so special.

The menu of the restaurant located in Fashion Valley Mall, and the nine other True Food Kitchens across the U.S., is extremely diverse, taking cues from different cuisines around the globe. What all the menu items do have in common, though, is that they all follow the guidelines of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet, created by Dr. Andrew Weil, who developed the restaurant in partnership with Fox Restaurant Concepts.

Chickpeas

Herb Mix

Ras el Hanout

Smoked Paprika

The chicken is brined for 6-12 hours, tossed with salt, pepper and oil, and then roasted in the oven until the skin is nice and crispy.

28 |

| AUGUST 2015

Garlic

Pepper

Olive Oil

Tomato Sauce

Baby Spinach

Preserved Lemon Rind Dried Figs

Cilantro

Chicken Stock Roasted Carrots

Chicken Brined

round Cumin

Preserved Lemon Chermoula Sauce

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN Santa Monica Place 395 Santa Monica Pl #172 Santa Monica, CA 90401 310.593.8300 www.truefoodkitchen.com | AUGUST 2015 | 29

THE DISH:

MOROCCAN CHICKEN The Main Ingredients: • Chickpea • Fig • Olive • Spinach • Chermoula

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE:

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN gets as many ingredients as possible locally, and frequently attends events to support local farmers and fishermen.

CHEF COULON’S FIVE FAVORITE THINGS TO COOK AT HOME: • Roast chicken • Curry • Omelets with fresh herbs from the garden • Chocolate chip cookies • Salad

THE FIVE INGREDIENTS CHEF COULON USES THE MOST AT HOME: • • • • •

Olive oil Butter Tarragon Black pepper Soy sauce

CHEF COULON’S FIVE FAVORITE HEALTHY HOBBIES: • • • • •

Bike riding Motocross Cooking Gardening Cleaning

“I like being able to serve great food to the masses using locally grown ingredients.”

— Chef Nathan Coulon

F

ounder, professor and director of the Arizona Center of Integrative Medicine and a best selling author, Dr. Weil restructured the food pyramid to lower the consumption of foods of animal origin and to emphasize the benefits of fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains. It was this idea of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet that intrigued Chef Nathan Coulon, who used to specialize in French cuisine, enough to come work at True Food Kitchen as Executive Chef 5 years ago. “I really like the concept of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet. It’s the way of the future.

It’s the way people need to eat. I like being able to serve great food to the masses using locally grown ingredients. People can usually only experience this level of dining in fine dining restaurants. We’ve been able to make this high-quality food with high-quality ingredients more accessible,” Chef Coulon told me when I visited True Food Kitchen one Tuesday morning. “The basic idea of the AntiInflammatory Diet is eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugars, and a lot of people can make it fit into their diet.” Not only that, but the diet’s goal is all about reducing inflammation to reduce the risk of disease, which makes you feel that much better about eating at True Food Kitchen.

The diet, and the idea of eating fresh fruits and veggies, is very much a part of the theme of the restaurant. The small outside dining patio is accompanied by a quaint garden growing such things as borage, parsley, fennel and oregano. Upon entering, the first thing guests will see is the bar set to the right that showcases a large chalkboard, displaying the Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid along with health-inspired quotes. An earthy vibe fills the space, with plants on each of the tables, shelves decorated with spice-filled jars, wicker baskets packed with fruit, and curtains decorated with a leafy pattern. Another theme of the restaurant is sustainability. The tables are made from reclaimed wood, the chairs from recycled Coca-Cola bottles, and the food is sourced locally and responsibly which is something Chef Coulon is proud of. “We use as many local producers as we can and participate in events supporting local fishermen and farmers,” he said.

The restaurant offers dishes mostly made from locally grown ingredients at affordable prices. Salads and appetizers start as low as $4 and nothing on any of their menus (brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert) goes above $26. I was there to try the Moroccan Chicken, one of their many gluten-free options. The dish is made with chickpeas, figs, olives, spinach and a tasty chermoula sauce. The chicken is brined for 6-12 hours, tossed with salt, pepper and oil, and then roasted in the oven until the skin is nice and crispy. The skin was what I liked the most about the chicken, which was served in large portions. I really enjoyed the sauce as well, which had nice, clean flavors. The figs went surprisingly well with the spinach, which was delicious on its own. Like the rest of the menu options, this dish was made to order from scratch.

After tasting the Moroccan Chicken, I understood why the restaurant would be so busy just 30 minutes after opening on a Tuesday morning. By this time, there

32 |

| AUGUST 2015

were people coming through the door nonstop, and the large indoor seating area as well as most of the outdoor dining area was halfway filled with hungry patrons.

“One thing that is very different about the restaurant is that it’s located in a mall,” Coulon tells me. “We have guests that come here from far away places just to eat here, and I think that shows a lot about how great our food is.”

True Food Kitchen’s menus change several times a year to accommodate seasonal fruits and vegetables, and each menu item sticks to the Anti-Inflammatory Diet principle. What’s great about the food, though, is that it doesn’t feel like diet food or that you’re giving something up. The meal I enjoyed at the San Diego True Food Kitchen was tasty and had flavor. An Alice Waters quote displayed on the bar’s chalkboard sums it up well: “Let things taste like what they are.”

“A lot of the drinks I make have a lot of heart behind it. Whenever I create a drink, I want it always to have a deeper meaning.”

— RUSSELL DAVIS

34 |

| AUGUST 2015

Master Cocktail Crafter RUSSELL DAVIS Tells Us How it All Got Started

WRITTEN BY: TAYLOR SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPHED BY: STEPHEN PANOSIAN

THE EXPER T

RUSSELL DAVIS Celebrity Mixologist

Favorite Drinks: Petchuga Mezcal Old Fashioned & Tecate dipped in salt, tomatillo and lime

“CAN I MAKE YOU A DRINK?” These were some of the first words to come from Celebrity Mixologist Russell Davis’ mouth. The bar industry deep rooted in his core, he can’t help but offer a drink to those he interacts with. And so the experience began, as he handed me iced water in a mason jar and a candy from across the globe. The sliding glass door was open to the beach air, and the music was switched on as I became his audience rather than his interviewer.

From mixologist to producer, he likes to describe himself as a wild card. Talking to this open, thoughtful man, the passion he has for the industry oozes from his pores. He describes his ride of a life, from a theater and dance major, to bartender, to bar manager, to celebrity bar industry entrepreneur, with an excitement and openness that is rare to find. He talks about the need to remain grounded as fame creeps into his life. Practicing what he preaches, he talks about his role in the industry as though he is doing it for the talent behind him. Being humble and selfless, his goals are geared more towards an industry he wants to see excel. We talk personal and professional and fill the spaces in between as Russell answers questions without hesitation and with a sense of pride and purpose.

In an industry that is growing fast, Russell has found his niche in many corners of the expanding arena. He compares his career to throwing spaghetti against the wall to find out which ideas stick.

| AUGUST 2015 | 35

LIVING LIKE A LOCAL g Russell’s local go-to favorites include Mo’s Place, a nice little dive bar owned by Mo, who actually takes care of his dog, Daphne. He loves having a sour ale over at The Tripel.

And then there’s Prince O’ Whales. Each has a distinct atmosphere.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE g Russell lives in Playa Del Ray, which he says is “one of the coolest towns in the U.S.” It doesn’t feel like LA, and no franchises are allowed.

His neighborhood is known as “The Jungle,” an area where many other producers live as well.

tourism industry. We have a cup that has these grooves in it so that you can drink Q: Could you explain how you came to be it without a lid. We’ve proved that the cup works with water, and now I will be in the bar industry? going up and creating the first cocktail.

Russell Davis: I was going to college at the University of Texas. I had always had this Q: What is the one ingredient that will always make a drink better? fascination with cocktails. My first girlfriend RD: Love. It’s true. showed me this movie at 16-years-old, and Q: What has been your response to your success?

I just loved it. I was going to college to be a RD: Don’t drop the ball. This moment is fleeting. You need to get to the next one. theater and dance major. I told myself I would Know your own velocity. Keep the momentum. be a bartender throughout college—that would be how I made my money. My freshman Q: What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome? year, I would sit in my dorm room and throw all these taped bottles around while RD: Myself on many different levels. When I get focused, I get too focused. When I watching the slow motion scenes in “Cocktail” on my VHS. That’s how I learned am intense, I am too intense. I can beat myself up sometimes. I can be my worst all the tricks. The RA would come to my room and tell me that the neighbors enemy, but then I can be my biggest hero if I learn how to rein myself in. There downstairs are complaining because I was dropping so many bottles. But then I are those times I thought I couldn’t do this. Then there are those times where got this job at a bar out there. It was on West Campus. I had worked I think I can break the glass ceiling. Yeah, I can get in my own way my way up to bar manager before I was 19-years-old. Slowly, I was professionally and personally.

“Ernest moving up. At 21, I got this opportunity to move from that bar to one of Q: Who as inspired you? the hottest bars around, called Speakeasy. It was such a cool lifestyle.

Hemingway RD: Hemingway and Picasso. I think Pablo Picasso and I would have I remember talking to my buddies who were graduating with their said that if you gotten along really well. He always expressed the way he was feeling degrees. They would graduate and then go work at convenience stores. want to judge through his art, which I thought was very cool. I hope that when I I ended up staying in this bar industry and loved every minute. It is my a culture, then am gone, people will be able to look at my cocktails, and the time passion. I just loved entertaining the crowds. Growing up I was a huge look at their frame when they came out in my life, and say “Oh, he was sad in this nerd. I kissed my first girl at 17-years-old. I used to go to comic book bars.” part.” I hope they can read that the same way you can with Picasso. conventions. The bar industry was what forced me to open up.

Hemingway is an idol, but I don’t think we would have gotten along — RUSSELL DAVIS Q: What do you think are attributes that make a great bartender? as well. I think we are too similar to be good friends. I think we would RD: I think being able to give somebody an experience makes for a clash. His passion is something that I can relate to. great bartender. You’re never selling a cocktail. You’re selling an Q: What is your favorite place that you have been able to travel to? experience. There was a bar up in San Francisco. It was a really dumpy dive bar, RD: Prague. Prague is cool. Prague was one of the only cities that was saved by but for $5 you could get a shot, a can of beer and a lottery ticket. And it created Hitler in WWII. He wanted to make the head of the Nazi empire in Prague. And so an experience for the people who decided to go in. he didn’t bomb it or anything. It was never destroyed, so you have this city that Q: What is your favorite part of creating drinks? has never had to rebuild itself. Even the city underneath it. You would be in this RD: Getting something out. Creatively, you just need to get something out of there. really nice hotel, and you may not realize there is a basement to it. But then at A lot of the drinks I make have a lot of heart behind them. Whenever I create a night the basement opens up, and you have these secret strip clubs. It’s a crazy drink, I want it always to have a deeper meaning. I have always tried to express town. They have some really cool liquors that come out of there. It’s dangerous, myself through it. it’s old and it’s fun. It’s perfect. Ernest Hemingway said that if you want to judge a culture, then look at their bars.

Q: What is your favorite drink?

RD: I love a shot of Green Chartreuse and root beer chaser. A lot of people used to give me crap about that, but they don’t understand how historical root beer truly is. I try not to drink that anymore though. I end up doing stupid things. I love a Petchuga Mezcal Old Fashioned and a Tecate dipped in salt, tomatillo and lime. Nothing can beat that. I try not to be too crazy. I am creating the first drink for Zero Gravity. I started a company that would launch products for the space 36 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Do you give back to the community in any way?

RD: I do a lot of the stuff I do without telling people. I have gotten in trouble with my accountant for giving too much. I don’t like to talk about it, but I think that’s a huge part of everything. Making the world a better place. I want to be a pillar— help hold up the local community.

! h h S

E N O Y N A L L E T T ’ N O D asy to

ind But E

Hard to F

38 |

| AUGUST 2015

s in Los

akeasie Love Spe

Angeles

LA DESCARGA 1159 N Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90039 323.466.1324 www.ladescargala.com

WRITTEN BY: MICHELLE SLIEFF PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ANGEL MANUEL

WE HAVE A SECRET, and it’s where to drink in LA. We can’t give all of them away (because that just wouldn’t be cool) but we will do our best to lead you in the right direction.

These not so discoverable bars are reinventing exclusivity, starting with the front door all the way to what’s in your cocktail. Some don’t even have front doors. You might find yourself entering through a garage that takes you to a fridge door as the entry. Some might require a password. An unassuming wardrobe closet may very well be where you enter into the club.

You might find yourself looking for some munchies at a vending machine, and little do you know that it is the entrance to the time of your life. Or perhaps you are in the mood for a sandwich and while exploring the restaurant you come across a room that ends up serving you the coldest drinks you’ve ever tried while being serenaded by the sweet tunes of jazz. You’ll have to figure it out for yourself, but here is a list of drinks you should definitely try once you’re in.

Throwing it back, speakeasies were bountiful and one of the biggest parts of American culture during the Prohibition era. Fast forward, and the name was revived in the early 2000s to represent Prohibition-style bars or classic cocktail bar programs. Today, this is more or less what we think of when we hear the term speakeasy.

We also think of exclusivity, secrecy, live entertainment, secret entrances, dimly-lit spaces and a damn good cocktail. Transform your nightlife by visiting a few of our favorite secret bars.

| AUGUST 2015 | 39

“An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools.”

– ERNEST HEMINGWAY

the

Study

6356 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 323.469.0040 www.thestudy.la

Formerly known as Hemingway’s Lounge, we invite you to The Study. This hidden gem can be hard to find if you’re looking for the sign. Make sure to get guest listed by making a reservation and dressing to impress— wear your cutest little black number. As you enter, your eyes are immediately drawn to the decor. Hundreds of books captivate your view, perhaps reminding you of that overdue book you never returned (but we doubt it). Typewriters line the walls, inspiring you to write your next novel. The guns behind the bar remind you to be on your best behavior. If the school library looked like this, then I’m not sure how much studying would get done. Dance to the beat of your

next favorite DJ as you order a drink from the bar. Order the Garden of Eden, made with vodka, muddled strawberries and fresh basil, shaken with lemon and topped with a Champagne float. The drink is refreshing and will help keep those feet of yours moving to the best beats you’ve heard in weeks. Looking for a kick? Order the Sun Also Rises with crushed cucumber and jalapeño. This drink keeps things spicy while maintaining a cool composure. All of the produce is ordered the day of to provide you with the freshest drink possible, so cheers to that! Order a table and make this night one for the books.

HISTORY LESSON: Ernest Hemingway once took a urinal home from his favorite bar and moved it into his home, arguing that he had “pissed away” so much of his money into the urinal that he owned it.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: There’s no cover at The Study, so feel free to spend more on drinks.

40 |

| AUGUST 2015

Having grown up in K-town in the ’80s, brothers Mark and Jonnie Houston have created a time warp that takes guests back a few decades.

break

Room 86

630 S Ardmore Ave Los Angeles, CA 90010 213.268.3056 www.thelinehotel.com/nightlife/break-room-86

Located in The Line Hotel in Koreatown, Break Room 86 brings you all things ’80s and then some. Upon entering, you may experience sensory overload, but you will adjust. Your eyes will light up, and several times throughout the night, you’ll find your self starting sentences with, “Remember when _________.” Admire the throwback decor of old TVs, boomboxes, cassette tapes, microphone chandeliers and more—a lot more. Remember the times of bright color, arcade games and karaoke? Welcome back. Explore what Break Room 86 truly has to offer—the element of surprise. Beyond the telephone booth located inside lies just one of the exclusive private karaoke rooms you can book. You can sing at the top of your lungs and only your friends in the room with you will truly know the extent of your vocal skills/the following events that will unfold from the evening. Or perhaps dancing the night away while watching the performance on the hidden stage is more your vibe. Say hello to the bar manager, Christine Wiseman, and order the Cherry Chapstick. All of their cocktails are based on paying homage to the ’80s versus what people drank during that time period. Expect to see lots of colorful drinks with fruitforward flavors. With sugary alcoholic drinks running through your veins, we suggest booking a room at the hotel, because you won’t want to leave.

TOP 10 MOST REQUESTED KARAOKE SONGS: Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean” Weezer, “Say it Ain’t So” Natalie Imbruglia, “Torn” Kings of Leon, “Sex on Fire” Adele, “Someone Like You” Radiohead, “Creep” Madonna, “Like a Prayer” Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the USA” Sir-Mix-A-Lot, “Baby Got Back” The B-52s, “Love Shack”

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Thursdays are the best nights of the week to come. They have live bands, special guest DJs and two different shows.

| AUGUST 2015 | 41

“The bar has one of the largest selections of rum available in all of Los Angeles.”

– JOSEPH SWIFKA, BEVERAGE DIRECTOR

la

Descarga 1159 N Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90039 323.466.1324 www.ladescargala.com

La Descarga has been bringing Old Havana nights to the City of Angels for the past 5 years, and we are looking forward to even more.

Thank you Jonnie and Mark Houston for providing this hideaway from LA life. You’ll need to dress up (serious dress code) and book a reservation to even get into this place, but it’s well worth it. Enter through the secret entrance, and as you walk down the spiral staircase, burlesque dancers will be putting on a show (sometimes twirling fire), while the live Latina musicians set the mood for your evening.

From the peeling ceiling to the painted floor, the club is decked out in details. Enjoy a hand-rolled cigar in the lounge and order an ice-cold Distant Shores.

Your drink will be made with mint, lime, sugar, white rum and dry vermouth with a dash of absinthe.

Think of a mojito—but revamped and updated with a Cuban flair. This drink is a little bit lighter in terms of alcohol content but more herbaceous than the traditional mojito. It might not be on the menu when you visit, but they can still make it for you.

Thursdays are the best nights to come to the club.

They have all of their entertainment available, as well as a DJ. It’s a good crowd, but not as crazy as on the weekends. Say hello to the beverage director of Houston Hospitality, Joseph Swifka—you’ll find him at the end of the white Carrera marble bar.

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT CIGAR: First, find a shape that you like. Inspect the wrapper. The wrapper should not have any gaps or tears. Look for uniform color. Avoid cigars that feel dry. Look for cigars with a luster or sheen. Make sure the cigar is well-filled with tobacco. Put the cigar up to your nose and take a deep inhale. If it smells good, chances are it will taste good. Enjoy.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: You can purchase cigars to enjoy or you can bring your own!

1830s: Temperance Movements begin advocating for abstinence from alcohol.

PROHIBITION

TIMELINE 42 |

| AUGUST 2015

January 16, 1919: The 18th Amendment is ratified, and prohibits the manufacture, sale or transportation, importation and exportation of liquor in the United States.

1851: Maine becomes the first state to prohibit the manufacture and sale of liquor, though the law is later repealed in 1856.

December 5, 1933: Prohibition is repealed with the 21st Amendment.

October 28, 1919: The National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, is passed; it establishes the enforcement of Prohibition.

David Wayne Houston, father to Mark and Jonnie Houston, was a blue-collar pool shark who enjoyed late nights in his garage building and fixing things—some of the brothers’ best memories.

Good Times at

Davey Wayne’s

1611 N El Centro Ave Los Angeles, CA 90028 323.962.3804 www.goodtimesatdaveywaynes.com

As you walk along El Centro Avenue, you’ll come across a garage with finds that take you to an era that’s not quite like today. We invite you to time travel to the ’70s. Jonnie and Mark Houston created Good Times at Davey Wayne’s as a tribute to their father, David Wayne Houston. The feel of this place is inspired by their times growing up with their father. You’ll find this represented not only in the atmosphere but the music, old beer cans and in the cocktails. On the weekends, you can vibe out to the music of the Good Time Boys performing different ’70s covers. To make your experience come full circle, you’ll need to order a Snow Cone. This treat might take you back to your childhood as you enjoy a refreshing snow cone in sunny California. All of the fresh fruit purees are made inhouse with citrus and a variety of spirits. Expect a wellbalanced cocktail in the form of a snow cone. The most 44 |

| AUGUST 2015

popular flavor is the blackberry ginger served with bourbon.

If you’re in the mood for something that will warm you up, try the Old Fashioned on draft. It’s the original recipe that Davey Wayne himself used to drink. The cocktail menu of the bar changes somewhat seasonally, but don’t worry, the snow cones are available year round. If you’re looking for a more laid-back vibe, come during the day on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy happy hour all day long while taking in the sunshine on the patio. Make friends with your bartender, because she is well equipped in the field of making your next beverage. Her background comes from Providence, a two Michelin star restaurant. Details, interesting ingredients, and techniques are what drive Kate Provenza to develop the bar program at Davey Wayne’s. Her background as a chef has definitely translated into her approach with cocktails.

HERE FOR THE SHOW: You have to check out the roller skating show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. There are two shows a night outside above the camper on a see-through plexiglass stage. The show is amazing!

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: If you purchase a #1 Dad mug for $3, you get to keep the mug and anytime you bring it in, you’ll get discounted refills on any of the draft beers.

“When my partner, Hope Arnold, and I were trying to come up with a name for this fine establishment, we just kept saying ‘It’s our bar’ over and over … and it stuck!”

– LAURA RAMIREZ, OWNER

R

Bar

3331 W 8th St Los Angeles, CA 90005 213.387.7227 www.facebook.com/rbarktown

KNOW YOUR

TERMS 46 |

This American speakeasy located in the heart of Koreatown takes you to a place of familiar faces. With a password required for entry, you won’t have to worry about tourists taking up your seat at the bar.

Not sure how to get in? You can find the password on their Facebook page located in the address section. One of the first things we noticed and fell in love with at R Bar was the ample seating. This is the kind of bar you can take a seat and enjoy good conversation with your friends, or after a few drinks, sing your heart out doing karaoke on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday nights. By the end of it all, you’ll be hugging your bartender and offering to make drinks alongside them. And even though you may not remember the night, they will definitely remember you the next time you stop by for a drink. The bar manager, Matt Russell, has created the Russian Radler #2 for you, a drink christened by their crazy friend Jonny Z from Canada. Just like everything in this place, there is a great story behind it so ask him to tell you about it. Beyond the skeleton wearing Mardi Gras beads and the astronaut helmet that is silently telling you to put it on, this place offers a local watering hole vibe that is unpretentious and full of history—a place you can end the work day at.

SPEAKEASY: Secret or underground drinking establishment that required a secret passcode to enter.

| AUGUST 2015

BATHTUB GIN: Gin made with water from the bathtub tap because the mixing jugs (filled with alcohol, glycerine and juniper juice) were too tall to be filled with sink water.

BOOTLEGGER: A person who illegally sold spirits.

TREASURE HUNT! FIND THESE FUN ITEMS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE BAR:

Astronaut helmet Steampunk lamp Horn Glass snail Tassel Two-legged wine cork Vintage scale Picture of a naked lady

RECIPE: RUSSIAN RADLER #2

R

2-oz Fair Vodka .75-oz Orgeat 2 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters 2-oz Steigl Grapefruit Radler Lemon zest

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: The “R” in R Bar stands for “our.”

WETS: People that support the legal sale of alcoholic beverages.

DRYS: People that oppose the legal sale of alcoholic beverages.

“Ice is the bartender’s flame.”

– ERIC ALPERIN, OWNER

the

Varnish 118 E 6th St Los Angeles, CA 90014 213.265.7089 www.213nightlife.com/thevarnish

Located in the back of Cole’s in Downtown LA, you’ll find The Varnish, a dimly-lit room with the sounds of smooth jazz wafting through the air. A speakeasy bar that promises to serve you the coldest drink you’ll ever have, negative 9 degrees Celsius. Bartenders clad in suspenders are creating classic cocktails with a focus on consistency and precision. All walks of life come through their door and each guest is treated equally, such as they treat their cocktails. You could say this is a cross between a destination bar and a neighborhood bar with a diverse set of clientele. Bring in your Beef Dip and let your worries from the day melt away—unlike the ice in your drink. This bar uses specialty handchipped ice cubes that are designed to maintain the desired temperature while not melting and 48 |

| AUGUST 2015

diluting your cocktail. Sip on the Smuggler’s Notch made with rum, brown sugar cube, orange bitters, an orange twist and a float of absinthe. A drink that represents the bar’s ethos of simple, classic and strong. This original cocktail was created by Eric Alperin, the owner of The Varnish.

It’s a cross between a rum Old Fashioned and a Sazerac. This drink was inspired by a bottle of Havana Club 7 Year as a gift from someone traveling abroad. He created a cocktail that really showcased the spirit. Throughout The Varnish, there is an attention to detail, technique, and an appreciation for the classics that is greatly appreciated amongst its patrons. The focus here is definitely hospitality, and you can thank General Manager Max Seaman for making sure your water glass is always full!

HOUSE RULES Our process takes time; thank you for your patience.

We are first come, first served and we don’t take reservations.

We cannot accommodate parties larger than six people.

No vulgar language or loud behavior please.

Disrespectful attitudes towards other patrons or our staff will not be tolerated.

Cocktail attire is admired, not required.

You are welcome to order sandwiches to go from Cole’s for consumption at The Varnish but not sides or desserts.

Cole’s drinks are allowed to be finished at The Varnish but we insist that you order cocktails from us when seated.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Their Clinebell machines make big, slow-frozen, crystal-clear ice blocks to keep your drinks the perfect temperature. We promise.

PHOTO BY: Jonathan Yacoub

style

/beauty

August 2015

52 STYLE EXPERT Nothing More, Nothing Less, Meet the Designer of Mere, a Leather Footwear and Accessories Label Based in Sydney

56 LOCALE LOOKS

ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Fred Segal LAX, www.fredsegal.com

Fashionable Outfits You Can Wear Even While Browsing Through Your Favorite Novel

68 THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID Turning Airports Into Vacations With Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger Racquel Natasha

76 BEAUTY EXPERT See How Dr. Motykie Practices What He Preaches About Beauty

80 FASHION SPREAD

68

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID Tailored for Takeoff

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX) 1 World Way Los Angeles, CA 90045 424.646.5252 www.airport-la.com

Throwing it Back With These ModInspired Looks at Avalon Hotel Palm Springs

96 COVER STORY Catching Up With Life and Style Blogger Kaitlynn Carter

51

AUGUST 2015

SOLE Step Into Your New Favorite Shoes With HANDMADE LEATHER FOOTWEAR FROM MERE

WRITTEN BY: GENESIS GONZALEZ

THE EXPER T

JAMES NOAKES Owner & Designer, Mere

A Current Collection Favorite: Trooper High

N

othing short of simply perfect! Australian designer James Noakes launched Mere footwear in 2009 with the sole purpose that great style can be comfortable, affordable, and, above all, simple. In fact, it is the saying of “nothing more, nothing less,” that has transformed the brand into a household name.

With every pair of shoes, there is the quality of hand craftsmanship, tailored stitching, and the creative detail to make something truly unique. From sandals, to boots, to boat shoes, and lace-up brogues, Mere footwear has every style for every occasion with the perfect comfort for those on the go.

Every pair of Mere footwear is artfully crafted and hand stitched in Vietnam, made from fine leather like Nubuck to warm suede. Based out of Sydney, Australia, Noakes is very much hands-on when it comes to the creative design and forecast process of each product. He sees to the highest quality that every Mere shoe is met and absolutely ready for the customer who is simply on the go. More than just shoes, Noakes has expanded his brand to include an array of accessories such as beautiful leather duffle bags, backpacks and notebooks. With each new design, Noakes maintains a positive focus with the goal of tackling each new challenge. The creative process never gets easier; however, it is the catalyst to bring something different from the rest.

WITH EVERY PAIR OF SHOES, THERE IS THE QUALITY OF HAND CRAFTSMANSHIP, TAILORED STITCHING, AND THE CREATIVE DETAIL TO MAKE SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE.

52 |

| AUGUST 2015

MERE www.mere.com.au | AUGUST 2015 | 53

HAUL - WHEAT - LEATHER SOLE

HAUL - CLAY - BLACK SOLE

TROOPER - CHOC

TROOPER HIGH - BLACK NU BUCK

“THE FIRST TIME I SAW MY INITIAL DESIGNS IN THE FLESH FROM PAPER TO PRODUCT … I WAS HOOKED. EVER SINCE THEN, GETTING SAMPLES HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THE JOB. IT NEVER GETS OLD.”

– J AMES NOAKES It is easy to see Mere footwear is truly unique, but it is also the compassion and humbleness that comes from Noakes and his motivation to help others. With his campaign From The Ground Up, Noakes went to his community and provided clothing, shoes and food for many of those living on the street. Nothing short of simply perfect, Mere footwear may be “nothing more, nothing less.” However, it has so much to give and then some!

Q: When did your passion for shoe design first begin to take off?

James Noakes: When I was about 23, I began working for a Sydney-based footwear manufacturer.

I had been working as a freelance graphic designer beforehand and started a few days a week there to help with warehouse duties and some ad mock-ups, and to help me get through a slow patch with work. I ended up going full time with them and was there for a year or so until I was given the green light to draw up some shoes from scratch and sample them. The first time I saw my initial designs in the flesh from paper to product … I was hooked. Ever since then, getting samples has been one of my favorite parts of the job. It never gets old.

Q: What skills or maybe even attitude have you adapted along the way in creating your own brand?

JN: A thick skin and a growing confidence to trust my gut more and more.

Q: How would you describe the Mere brand?

JN: Humble, but different, with a thirst for longevity and character.

Q: When it comes to design and style, what is your inspiration for each pair?

JN: My inspiration would be to stay true to Mere—to make sure it’s similar but different enough to what we have been working on but will also challenge and excite our customers.

Q: Is there a challenge to create something new and different from the rest? Does it ever get easier?

JN: There is always the challenge to do something different or new to what we have done or what’s being done; whether it’s in styling, construction or finishing.

If it wasn’t challenging, I wouldn’t have the drive I do to design and create. It’s the part I love.

54 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Each pair is handmade and stitched. How would you describe the day-to-day process?

JN: The shoes are made in my factory in Vietnam. I work out of Sydney, so each day varies quite a bit for me from office day-to-days, to photographing product, designing, to forecasting.

Q: Are the shoes versatile for just about anything and any occasion—from running errands to heading to the beach?

JN: That is something I try to aim for. I love a shoe that can fit a bunch of different occasions. There are definitely a few styles that can be dressed up or down, like the Bluto. That’s a simple style that can be worn to the beach or dressed up and accompany you to a wedding.

Q: What are some of your favorites?

JN: I’m a bit of a boot guy, so I would have to say the Haul and Trooper High are my picks out of the current collection.

Q: How would you describe the fashion scene and/ or trends in Sydney, Australia?

JN: It’s a fairly mixed bag. It’s funny where I live because there isn’t much of a fashion scene really as it’s pretty beach-y, and a lot of the influence comes from the inner city … that’s why I love going to places like Newtown in Sydney, where there is a lot more freedom and lack of judgment which means individuals can be exactly that. Going back to looks though—as winter creeps in—I have noticed that boots and panels of leather are coming in, which I love.

IT’S ALL IN THE

NAME: JAMES NOAKES had been looking and thinking of names for a long time when he came across the word “mere” by means of a thesaurus. As soon as he saw the word, he was hooked. “I love the humble meaning of it. They are just mere shoes. Nothing more and nothing less, which is something I want conveyed in the label as we are not a ‘too cool’ label or come with an attitude or unapproachable. We just make footwear and accessories for those that seek something a little different.”

TOP 5

INFLUENTIAL SHOE DESIGNERS: 1. Andrew McDonald 2. Alexander Wang

3. Common Projects 4. Supra 5. Nike

Q: In addition to the shoes, Mere also designs bags and accessories. What can you share about those?

JN: We kicked off a bag and accessory collection a couple of years back now. The bags have been such a great addition to the label and I love the process of designing bags, too. I think they help explain the story of Mere along with the footwear.

Q: What have you found to be your biggest success when it comes to being a designer in the industry?

JN: Being able to keep doing what I love doing. It’s such a tough industry, so I feel lucky to be amongst it.

Q: What can you share about your charitable project From The Ground Up? JN: That was a project I set up to raise money for Youth Off The Streets (a homeless charity) and also try to

help individuals on the streets that may need a hand.

My mate Rob Domjen (who is a killer photographer) and I drove around the streets of Sydney during the day and night to find people to help out. Once we got their consent, we paid them $50 and gave them shoes, bags, clothing, socks, food and cigarettes all varying to what each individual needed and wanted. I interviewed each one and we then took photos of them (totaling 55 people). With the imagery and interviews, I compiled them into a book which was for sale on the exhibition night. On the night, we collated 30 artists to paint their depiction of the homeless situation. All sales from the artworks sold went to the Youth off The Streets charity.

“IF IT WASN’T CHALLENGING, I WOULDN’T HAVE THE DRIVE I DO TO DESIGN AND CREATE. IT’S THE PART I LOVE.”

– J A M ES NOA K ES

| AUGUST 2015 | 55

AN OPEN BOOK FIND YOUR NEXT FAVORITE NOVEL AT ONE OF THESE THREE UNIQUE VENUES IN LOS ANGELES WRITTEN BY: ROXANA BARHAGHI PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MATT DOHENY STYLED BY: BRIANNA ROMANO MODEL: LEE-ANN ROBERTS OF WILHELMINA MODELS, www.wilhelmina.com

56 |

| AUGUST 2015

ARCANA BOOKS ON THE ARTS 8675 W Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90232 310.458.1499 www.arcanabooks.com

ROMPER PROVIDED BY: Sam Edelman www.samedelman.com NECKLACE PROVIDED BY: Lionette by Noa Sadé www.lionetteny.com GOLD CUFF PROVIDED BY: Charles Albert www.charlesalbert.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 57

DRESS PROVIDED BY: Endless Rose www.endlessrose.com EARRINGS PROVIDED BY: Lionette by Noa SadĂŠ www.lionetteny.com

ARCANA BOOKS ON THE ARTS 8675 W Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90232 310.458.1499 www.arcanabooks.com

Since 1984, Arcana Books on the Arts has been one of the world’s premier visual arts bookstores. Specializing in rare and out of print books on photography, contemporary art, fashion, design, architecture, cinema, and music, they offer a wide variety of genres to choose from. With the rows neatly organized, you can easily find your way around the store to find that perfect book.

The ambiance sets you in a mood to zone out and be at peace, and the artistic setting resembles a museum as well as a bookstore.

Arcana provides a unique environment to get lost in that distinctive book. To go with the exceptionality, this one-piece romper

by Sam Edelman will undoubtedly set you apart from the rest.

58 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 59

Specializing in rare and out of print books on photography, contemporary art, fashion, design, architecture, cinema, and music, they offer a wide variety of genres to choose from.

60 |

| AUGUST 2015

ARCANA BOOKS ON THE ARTS 8675 W Washington Blvd Culver City, CA 90232 310.458.1499 www.arcanabooks.com

ROMPER PROVIDED BY: Sam Edelman www.samedelman.com NECKLACE PROVIDED BY: Lionette by Noa Sadé www.lionetteny.com GOLD CUFF & RINGS PROVIDED BY: Charles Albert www.charlesalbert.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 61

62 |

| AUGUST 2015

TOP PROVIDED BY: Rag & Bone www.rag-bone.com SKIRT PROVIDED BY: Sam Edelman www.samedelman.com TRENCH PROVIDED BY: Topshop www.us.topshop.com POCKET WATCH PROVIDED BY: Made In Earth www.mieusa.com STATEMENT RING PROVIDED BY: L’Dezen by Payal Shah www.ldezen.com GOLD RINGS & CUFF PROVIDED BY: Charles Albert www.charlesalbert.com

THE LAST BOOKSTORE 453 S Spring St Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.488.0599 www.lastbookstorela.com

Located in the bustle of Downtown Los Angeles, The Last Bookstore is the perfect spot to escape and get lost in a book. In addition to their 250,000 new and used books, they also buy and sell vinyl records and graphic novels.

Their colorful array and arches of books displayed can keep you busy for hours at a time.

Make a statement and stand out in a sassy Sam Edelman skirt and a cute trench by Topshop. And when time flies on your lunch break at the bookstore, be sure to look at your pocket watch designed by Made In Earth to make it back to the grind on time. | AUGUST 2015 | 63

THE LAST BOOKSTORE 453 S Spring St Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.488.0599 www.lastbookstorela.com

TOP PROVIDED BY: Rag & Bone www.rag-bone.com SKIRT PROVIDED BY: Sam Edelman www.samedelman.com NECKLACE PROVIDED BY: Free People www.freepeople.com EARRINGS & RINGS PROVIDED BY: L’Dezen by Payal Shah www.ldezen.com RINGS & CUFF PROVIDED BY: Charles Albert www.charlesalbert.com

64 |

| AUGUST 2015

Their colorful array and arches of books displayed can keep you busy for hours at a time.

| AUGUST 2015 | 65

SKYLIGHT BOOKS 1818 N Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027 323.660.1175 www.skylightbooks.com

Serving the historic Los Angeles neighborhoods, Skylight Books is just a short distance away from the Griffith Observatory.

Their diverse clientele ranges from many local artists and musicians, as does their selection of books. Pick up a book on literary fiction, political theory, music, art, film, or even theatre. The choices are endless. This chic, yet comfortable outfit provides everything you need to look presentable and professional. The detailed, studded blazer

by Endless Rose is one you can mix and match for any occasion, including pairing up with a good book. Set it with black Bebe heels and you’re ready to take on any event of the day.

66 |

| AUGUST 2015

Their diverse clientele ranges from many local artists and musicians, as does their selection of books.

LEATHER JACKET & PANTS PROVIDED BY: Topshop us.topshop.com TOP PROVIDED BY: Chelsea28 by Nordstrom www.nordstrom.com SILVER RINGS PROVIDED BY: Pushmataaha www.pushmataaha.com FOSSIL RING PROVIDED BY: Made In Earth www.mieusa.com SHOES PROVIDED BY: Bebe www.bebe.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 67

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAX) 1 World Way Los Angeles, CA 90045 424.646.5252 www.airport-la.com

ALL CLOTHES, HANDBAGS AND JEWELRY PROVIDED BY: Fred Segal LAX www.fredsegal.com FRINGE WRAP PROVIDED BY: Minnie Rose www.minnierose.com BLACK T-SHIRT AND SNAP LEGGINGS PROVIDED BY: Talia Designs www.weartalia.com HANDBAG PROVIDED BY: Clare V www.clarev.com SMALL CHARM NECKLACES PROVIDED BY: Minor Obsessions www.minorobsessions.com DIAMOND NECKLACES PROVIDED BY: Sydney Evan www.sydneyevan.com ANCHOR BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Miansai www.miansai.com WAX BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Scosha www.scosha.com RINGS PROVIDED BY: Bing Bang www.bingbangnyc.com

Want more from Racquel Natasha?

Check out her blog at: www.racquelnatasha.com

68 |

| AUGUST 2015

WRITTEN BY: RACQUEL NATASHA & KILEY COLEMAN | PHOTOGRAPHED BY: JONATHAN YACOUB | STYLED BY: MAUREEN BORSODI

| AUGUST 2015 | 69

ALL CLOTHES, HANDBAGS AND JEWELRY PROVIDED BY: Fred Segal LAX www.fredsegal.com HANDBAGS PROVIDED BY: Fred Segal www.fredsegal.com DRESS PROVIDED BY: Monrow www.monrowattire.com SMALL CHARM NECKLACES PROVIDED BY: Minor Obsessions www.minorobsessions.com DIAMOND NECKLACES PROVIDED BY: Sydney Evan www.sydneyevan.com ANCHOR BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Miansai www.miansai.com WAX BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Scosha www.scosha.com RINGS PROVIDED BY: Bing Bang www.bingbangnyc.com HANDBAG PROVIDED BY: Clare V www.clarev.com

70 |

Re:LAX | AUGUST 2015

1.

MICHAEL KORS | www.michaelkors.com t I love having a guilty pleasure store in LAX. Michael Kors is actually the place I buy my boyfriend all his presents. He is a major fan of the Winward Silver-Tone Watch, and woven silk ties. When we travel together, he skips belting his pants at home and waits till he gets to LAX’s Michael Kors to treat himself to a new belt.

F

or those of you who have been following my blog within the last year, you know that I have traveled A LOT. Europe has been my home away from home for the last 2 years, and I am so happy to be heading back there this summer! When I think of airports and long lines, anxiety and stress come to mind. LAX is one of North America’s busiest airports and holds some of the world’s top luxury brands when it comes to news, gifts and specialty retail shops. For those long haul flights, I make sure to get myself checked into the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at least 3 hours ahead to sit, relax, unwind and treat myself to some retail therapy! What I love most about this terminal is that it gives off a unique Rodeo Drive feel with its glittering glass storefronts, and a taste of lavish LA restaurants. Not to mention the on-demand spa treatments like facials, massages and manicures. I look forward to starting my vacation the minute I walk through the doors of LAX.

“I like to respite my stress of air travel with a choice of over 20 different vodkas, and top shelf Champagne paired with famous caviar.”

PETROSSIAN www.petrossian.com

t An hour later, I was

so excited to make my way over to my favorite Champagne and caviar situated in the middle of the madness, post shopping. I like to respite my stress of air travel with a choice of over 20 different vodkas, and top shelf Champagne paired with famous caviar. It’s all a matter of personal preference. I only started to acquire the taste of caviar about 2 years ago. My favorite is the Siberian, which gives the “taste of the sea.” There were a few other caviars that stood out to me to try next time. Alverta President Caviar had a

nutty and buttery flavor, Hackleback Caviar offered a dry and strong briny zest, and Tsar Imperial Ossetra Caviar gives a bold, juicy taste. If caviar isn’t your thing, don’t worry. There are many other options. There are foie gras options galore such as goose or duck, pate, cheese selections to die for—even a cheese of the month. Of course, there are different chocolate delectables and candies to go along with this classy menu. I took home the Petrossian Fudge and Pates de Fruit.

But hands down, the fresh truffles were some of the best I’ve ever tasted!

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: If you like endless indulgence, purchase a Caviar in the Air picnic pack including a caviar selection of your choice, blinis, and crème fraiche presented in an insulated carry-on Petrossian pouch.

2.

COACH | www.coach.com t I wouldn’t be a fashionista if I didn’t love Coach. Between the Tristen Stainless Steel Color Dial Bracelet Watch and the new Turnlock Tie Rucksack, I couldn’t leave empty handed. I have been eyeing those items for weeks, and instead of doing the Los Angeles traffic, I got my goodies right then and there!

3.

HUDSON BOOKSELLERS | www.hudsonbooksellers.com t Any time there is a bookstore, I have to stop in. I spent a good amount of my time inside Hudson Booksellers browsing high and low through the autobiographies (and trashy magazines)! Every time I travel, I make it a goal to buy one book and finish it on the plane ride there and back.

| AUGUST 2015 | 71

“LAX is one of North America’s busiest airports and holds some of the world’s top luxury brands when it comes to news, gifts and specialty retail shops.”

FRED SEGAL www.fredsegal.com

t My first pit stop is

at the Fred Segal store located directly in front of security. A worldrenowned upscale boutique that has captured the world by storm has made its way from Melrose right into the airport terminal. You cannot miss the faux greenery framing around the store front. I love how they have captured the same outdoor feel that the store in West Hollywood has. Fred Segal is like a candy store for me. It has almost everything and anything you are looking for and more, with a wide range of hip, eclectic clothing, shoes, accessories, tech toys and fun gifts! They are

especially known for their denim selection—my personal favorite is J Brand! I can’t walk into this store without leaving with bags in hand. I left today with a full headto-toe outfit. I bought the Finn Tank Top by Equipment in white as a go-to staple piece for any outfit and topped it with their Sullivan Cardigan.

My fingers are always covered in jewelry, so, of course, I bought Bing Bang’s Delta Bezel Ring and Skinny Mixed Ring set. Naturally, I am that girl that has a closet full of bags and clutches, so I couldn’t resist buying a cute foldover clutch to add to my collection.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: In 1960, Fred Segal opened the first jeansonly store.

4.

72 |

VICTORIA’S SECRET | www.victoriassecret.com t Whether you are male or female, who doesn’t love Victoria’s Secret? Having a clothing store ranging from casual to sexy in an airport is one of my best go-tos. Whether I am traveling for a romantic vacation and want one last goody bag, or I’m tired from a layover and looking for comfortable sweat pants—this store has all of my needs. I even dab on some lotion just to freshen up my scent after a long plane ride.

| AUGUST 2015

5.

INK.SACK | www.mvink.com t A few hours into my day, I stopped for a bite at Michael Voltaggio’s Ink. Sack. This fast-casual sandwich shop makes high-quality miniature sandwiches.

The ones that stood out to me were the Smoked Trout, Branzino and the Beef Tartare featuring hearts of palm, sea bean chimichurri, horseradish and rye.

ALL CLOTHES, HANDBAGS AND JEWELRY PROVIDED BY: Fred Segal LAX www.fredsegal.com HANDBAGS PROVIDED BY: KARA www.karastore.com DENIM JEANS PROVIDED BY: J Brand Jeans www.jbrandjeans.com SWEATER PROVIDED BY: Equipment www.equipmentfr.com

“A world-renowned upscale boutique that has captured the world by storm has made its way from Melrose right into the airport terminal.”

ANCHOR BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Miansai www.miansai.com WAX BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Scosha www.scosha.com RINGS PROVIDED BY: Bang Bang www.bingbangnyc.com GLASSES PROVIDED BY: Barton Perreira www.bartonperreira.com

6.

TUMI | www.tumi.com t I love having a luxury luggage store in an airport. When I travel, I tend to pack way too many things into too small of a bag (like most people do). There are countless times I have been at the airport and my strap, handle or zipper have broken, and Tumi is there to save the day! Featuring amazing leather totes, small accessible wallets or a simple briefcase, I’m always grateful for the few bags I had broken because purchasing those pieces from Tumi were well worth the value.

“I love my coffee, but sometimes I need a bit more of a buzz than caffeine.”

| AUGUST 2015 | 73

“I love being able to grab a box of the mixed chocolates featuring a variety of options inside such as chocolate coated almonds, dark chocolate with raspberry filling and my favorite chocolate covered marshmallows. I will usually make sure to stop and pick up these delicious treats as a gift to family or friends when going to visit, and I make sure to grab an extra gift for myself!”

XPRESSPA www.xpresspa.com

t Manicures while

waiting for your flight?

Why not! Since I am always in a rush for everything, it is such a relief to have this spa right by the gates. They offer express manicures and pedicures besides regular mani-pedis. It’s a treatment of cuticle care, moisturizing, buffing and polish—then you’re on your way! They have the comfiest massage chairs to sit back and relax in while receiving the fastest and best spa treatments. The one thing I admire about the XpresSpa is how fast they were able to accomplish a gel manicure. I was in

and out of there in about 20 minutes all dried and ready to catch my flight! There are endless polish options which is extremely important to me. If I had more time on my hands, I would have opted to add the neck and back massage. What’s great is that they offer memberships as well, that way I can accumulate specials every time I book a massage, wax, facial, nails or all of the above.

Because, let’s be real, who doesn’t wish they could get a quick wax and facial treatment last minute before a trip?

*Fashion Credits on opening page

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: If you like the products used during treatment at XpresSpa, they are also available for sale to take home with you.

“The one thing I admire about the XpresSpa is how fast they were able to accomplish a gel manicure. I was in and out of there in about 20 minutes all dried and ready to catch my flight!”

7.

74 |

SEE’S CANDIES | www.sees.com t “Life’s a box of chocolates.” At least that’s what I have been told every year when I receive a box of See’s Candies from my mother. I love being able to grab a box of the mixed chocolates featuring a variety of options inside such as chocolate coated almonds, dark chocolate with raspberry filling and my favorite chocolate covered marshmallows. I will usually make sure to stop and pick up these delicious treats as a gift to family or friends when going to visit, and I make sure to grab an extra gift for myself!

| AUGUST 2015

Dedication to Inner and Outer Transformation

WRITTEN BY: TAYLOR SIMMONS

THE EXPER T

DR. GARY MOTYKIE Owner, Motykie Med Spa

Must Have Beauty Product: “Moisturizer is the one product every person should own.”

B

eauty is a concept that changes from city to city. There are many components of what this elegant idea is defined as. Is it a curvy or skinny build? Tan or porcelain skin? Is it made up or au naturale?

In the end, beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder. You can find it in the mundane and the extraordinary. LA is filled with people who want to be considered beautiful. More importantly, LA is filled with people who want to feel beautiful. Dr. Gary Motykie is someone who can help them undergo a metamorphosis.

As a man who thinks of his career as a journey, Dr. Motykie helps transformations happen every day for his clients as he crosses the paths of who they want to be and who they really are. His spa and practice offer the latest procedures that are as minimally invasive as possible. These procedures help keep his clients looking “natural, youthful and beautiful,” Dr. Motykie proudly exclaims. His words flow with an accuracy and elegance that many wished they could have. He views his work as a work of art; his words carry unmistakable passion, and his drive to make the world a more beautiful place is inspiring. He is a man that can find the beauty in everyone, and makes it visible for the world to see.

“I KNEW THAT IF I WANTED TO OFFER MY PATIENTS A COMPLETE WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT I HAD TO START WITH MYSELF. MAKING SIMPLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND BREAKING BAD HABITS CAN REALLY BOOST YOUR BEAUTY ON BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.” — DR. GARY MOTYKIE

76 |

| AUGUST 2015

MOTYKIE MED SPA 9201 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.276.6772 www.motykiemedspa.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 77

“MY PATIENTS INSPIRE ME TO CONTINUE THIS PROFESSION BECAUSE THERE IS NO GREATER FEELING THAN TO BE ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE LOOK AND FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES. THE SMILES ON MY PATIENTS’ FACES ARE ALL THE INSPIRATION I NEED TO SHOW UP AT THE OFFICE EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

TIME OUT g You can find Dr. Motykie outside on his days off hiking in the canyons, relaxing on the beach, or snowboarding down the mountains.

HEALTY LIVING HAVEN g Motykie Med Spa offers a variety of wellness services such as an infrared sauna, intravenous vitamin therapy, Vitamin B injections, detoxification programs and custom wellness supplements.

They also serve freshly pressed juice and retail organic beauty and wellness products.

Q: What made you interested in becoming a plastic surgeon?

Gary Motykie: Becoming a plastic surgeon was more of a journey than a destination for me. In college, I studied bioengineering because my creative side drove me towards wanting to develop artificial limbs and organs. I found this work fascinating, but I soon realized that I wanted to be able to work more directly with helping people. I also desired a career path that could satisfy all of my curiosities and talents, so I set my sights on becoming a surgeon. During medical school, I was fortunate to be able to spend some time working in plastic surgery where I found the perfect marriage of art, science and creativity. The more I performed plastic surgery, the more I fell in love with how I was literally able to transform patients’ bodies and lives on a daily basis.

Q: How has the beauty industry changed your perception of the world?

GM: Beauty is now big business. I didn’t realize the impact that the field of plastic surgery would eventually have on the world and the way people see themselves. In private practice I soon began to realize that, to some people, beauty is the ultimate luxury. Many people crave it and will do almost anything to get it. Part of my job is to serve as a gatekeeper of sorts to keep people looking natural, youthful and beautiful. Therefore, this job sometimes comes along with the need to say “no” to patients that want to take things too far with surgery and/or medical spa treatments.

| AUGUST 2015

Q: What kind of clientele does your practice attract?

GM: My practice attracts patients both locally and internationally. My local patients vary from housewives to movie stars, but my international patients are more diverse. They can come from as far away as Dubai and Australia.

Q: What three words would best describe your spa?

GM: Beauty, quality and wellness.

“It is important to keep your finger on the pulse of plastic surgery because the field can change very rapidly due to evolving technology, new implantable devices, and advancing surgical procedures.”

Q: What motivated you to open Motykie Med Spa? GM: I originally opened the medical spa to create a continuity of care for my surgical patients. They often wanted my recommendation on where to follow-up after surgery for such things as Botox, facial fillers and maintenance skincare treatments. I decided to create a medical spa that provided quality treatments in an environment that also promoted health, wellness and effective anti-aging strategies.

Q: How is it different from other spas in LA? GM: I wanted to start a medical spa that placed — DR. GARY MOTYKIE health and beauty on the same playing field. I created programs that combined wellness and beauty Q: On your website you mention your artistic eye. Do you consider procedures in order to optimize treatment outcomes. I also believe that diet, nutrition, supplementation and detoxification programs are yourself an artist? Are there specific artists that inspired you to crucial to staying healthy, beautiful and looking more youthful. pursue this career path?

GM: Yes. I think to be a great plastic surgeon you must also have a strong aesthetic sense and respect for true artistic talent.

Therefore, I enjoy all other forms of artistic expression including photography, painting, sculpting, theater and music. There wasn’t a particular artist that inspired me to become a plastic surgeon, but I’m fascinated by Albert Einstein’s idea that, “Creativity is far more important than knowledge.”

Q: What are the benefits of having your practice in LA? GM: LA has always been a city that is known for art, beauty and, of course, plastic surgery. It is wonderful to be surrounded by

78 |

healthy competition that continually pushes me to evolve and stay current with the active trends and advancements in the world of health, wellness and plastic surgery. It is also enlightening to be surrounded by so many people that are interested in sharing their talents in so many culturally diverse ways such as live music and small theater productions. That makes these types of experiences all that much more personal and special.

Q: How does the treatment create beauty from the inside out?

GM: Because the skin is the largest organ in the body, it is one of the first places a person will start to show signs of aging and the effects of toxins. I want our clients to be able to understand that creating a healthy terrain inside the body will lead to a clearer, younger, more beautiful appearance of their skin on the outside.

Q: What is one skincare product everybody should have in their bathroom cabinet?

GM: I feel that it’s imperative to have a moisturizer that provides antioxidants and nutrients to the skin while also offering UV protection.

“PLASTIC SURGERY CAN BE AN AMAZING, LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE WHEN PERFORMED BY A TALENTED AND EXPERIENCED PLASTIC SURGEON.” — DR. GARY MOTYKIE

This combination will create healthy skin that is protected from the damaging effects of toxins, free-radicals and direct sunlight.

Q: Do you have a daily routine to keep a younger, healthier body/look? What is it?

GM: I just committed to a wellness program about two months ago, and I am feeling amazing. The program included boosting my intake of supplements as well as eating home-cooked meals rather than eating out and continuing with a daily workout regimen. I knew that if I wanted to offer my patients a complete wellness program that I had to start with myself.

Making simple lifestyle changes and breaking bad habits can really boost your beauty on both the inside and outside.

Q: What about the spa excites you most?

GM: I think that the plastic surgeon of the future will be using the scalpel-less and injectable fillers, lasers, skin tightening technology and other non-invasive technologies more. I think this is an exciting concept because it will allow patients a variety of beauty and anti-aging treatment options that will be less invasive and more effective with faster healing and less risk.

Q: How does your spa speak to your personal brand?

GM: My belief is that everyone should always consider their health before their beauty. The tagline of our spa is, “Where your beauty, health and wellness are addressed as one.” Everything I do from my skincare and supplement lines to encouraging my patients to juice and exercise keeps this motto in mind.

Q: What advice would you give somebody looking to get plastic surgery?

GM: Plastic surgery can be an amazing, life-changing experience when performed by a talented and experienced plastic surgeon. Therefore, I tell people that the most important thing to do is your homework and research your doctor, the procedure you are contemplating, and the true reasons you are considering plastic surgery in the first place. Then, pick a board-certified plastic surgeon that you feel a personal connection with during your surgical consultation and view photographs of their work for the same procedure you are considering on actual patients.

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Lolli Swim www.ilovelolli.com

AVALON HOTEL PALM SPRINGS 415 S Belardo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262 | 760.320.4117 | www.avalonpalmsprings.com

| AUGUST 2015

80 |

VIVID VINTAGE in

Living in Luxurious, in Mod-Inspired Style

PHOTOGRAPHED BY: TASO PAPADAKIS STYLED BY: REBECCA ARAOZ HAIR & MAKEUP BY: GENEVA MENDOSA & JUDITH VIOLA OF TONI & GUY NEWPORT BEACH, www.toniguy.com MODEL: GIGI THOENNES OF WILHELMINA MODELS, www.wilhelmina.com PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION: AVALON HOTEL PALM SPRINGS

| AUGUST 2015 | 81

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Ark & Co. www.arknco.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Xevana www.xevana.com

TOMMY The Dog

82 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 83

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Ark & Co. www.arknco.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Xevana www.xevana.com

84 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 85

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: On Que Style www.onquestyle.com

86 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 87

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: On Que Style www.onquestyle.com

88 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 89

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: On Que Style www.onquestyle.com CLUTCH PROVIDED BY: Kent Stetson www.kentstetson.com

90 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 91

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Lolli Swim www.ilovelolli.com

92 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 93

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Lolli Swim www.ilovelolli.com

94 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 95

www.thewesternwild.com

PIONEERTOWN Mane St Pioneertown, CA 92268

BIKINI PROVIDED BY: Indah www.indahclothing.com VEST PROVIDED BY: Katharine Story www.katharinestory.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Neely Phelan www.neelyphelan.com BAG PROVIDED BY: Cleobella shop.cleobella.com

96 |

| AUGUST 2015

Hey

MS. CARTER FROM SMALL-TOWN SWEETHEAR T TO BIG CITY BABE

WRITTEN BY: ALEXA ERICKSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ANGEL MANUEL STYLED BY: REBECCA ARAOZ HAIR & MAKEUP BY: BRIE LEACH CROUSE

| AUGUST 2015 | 97

Growing up in New England myself, I can assure you that when someone from New Hampshire refers to themselves as a “smalltown girl,” they mean it.

But when you take a quick glance at the stunning features and fashion of Los Angeles resident Kaitlynn Carter, you don’t think small-town anything. She is a trendsetter. From her style, beauty and food picks to her endless travel trips, she is a whimsical wanderlust with a zest for discovering how to live like a queen. Taking her humble background to the glitz and glamor of the golden coast, Carter is a rising star among the scene.

Having always been moved by the written word, Carter studied creative writing and journalism in college, but upon graduation, she worked in the finance field for several years before a friend suggested she get into blogging. Teaming up with Ali Grant of Be Social Public Relations, Carter began her journey into social networking and soon found that her newfound passion could also serve as a solid career. Western Wild serves as a space for Carter to inspire. Skin care secrets, wardrobe must-haves, recipe roundups, love advice and exotic getaways fill the life and style blog with Carter’s soulful, fervent and influential voice.

It’s been a whirlwind experience since Carter picked up and headed west. She’s left no chance to falling through the cracks of the nonstop commotion the City of Angels beholds. From hitting it off with her reality star boyfriend, Brody Jenner, dressed in an all-white body suit, and a pink and blue wig topped with a unicorn horn, to becoming a household name in the blogosphere with Western Wild, she is making moves. And if her blog posts aren’t proof enough, check out her Instagram, @Kaitlynn_Carter, serving as a photographic journey into the jet-setting style maven’s world.

98 |

| AUGUST 2015

TOP PROVIDED BY: Indah www.indahclothing.com BOTTOMS PROVIDED BY: Blue Eyed Girl www.shopblueeyedgirl.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Blue Eyed Girl www.shopblueeyedgirl.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 99

“Travel is the only way by which we can even come close to understanding what it actually is to be human and be living on this planet. I hope that my writing about travel inspires other people to break from their comfort zones and explore the world—even if it’s just one baby step at a time!”

— KAITLYNN CARTER

100 |

| AUGUST 2015

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Katharine Story www.katharinestory.com RING PROVIDED BY: La Weez Jewelry www.etsy.com/shop/LaWeezJewelry CUFF PROVIDED BY: Luna Boutique www.shoplunab.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 101

“I’m grateful for New Hampshire because it instilled a lot of qualities in me that I don’t think I would’ve ever developed if I’d grown up in LA. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty; I am fiercely loyal and honest; and I believe in love.”

— KAITLYNN CARTER

FAVORITE Travel Destinations: “It’s pretty impossible to choose one, but I have a few! My favorite beach destination is Fiji. It’s so remote and undeveloped.

I’d pick Spain and Italy as the two best if you’re looking to tour around.

So much history!”

CURRENT Project: “The biggest project I’ve been involved with for the past year is the development and launch of the online fashion marketplace, Foray Collective. A girlfriend of mine, Tiana Haraguchi, who I studied abroad in Italy with, started the company.

It’s been so cool to watch that take off!”

102 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Tell me about growing up in New England, and what made you transition to the West Coast.

Kaitlynn Carter: I think growing up on the East Coast (especially in a small town) has been such an asset to my life.

There’s something so charming and humble about small-town New England. I grew up going to “keggers” in the woods and never locking my front door. I’m grateful for New Hampshire because it instilled a lot of qualities in me that I don’t think I would’ve ever developed if I’d grown up in LA. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty; I am fiercely loyal and honest; and I believe in love. As an adult, having developed those qualities, I wanted a change of scenery. LA is a beautiful city full of opportunity, sunshine and some of my favorite people on the planet. It just made sense for me.

Q: Has living in Los Angeles been a culture shock compared to the small-town environment of New Hampshire? What do you love most about the change?

KC: I actually lived in London and Boston while working at my last job (plus, I studied in Florence, Italy during college) so I was already fairly accustomed to “city life” by the time I moved out here. It’s funny because, although I now live in LA, I technically live in Malibu, which is almost just as small as the town I grew up in. It’s like I never left home!

Q: Do you ever miss the seasons?

KC: The seasons are what I am by far the most nostalgic about. I miss jumping in piles of raked leaves in the fall and smelling the lilacs bloom each spring.

Q: Let’s talk about Western Wild. Where did the inspiration to start this life and style blog come from?

KC: Well, I needed a job, of course. I studied journalism and creative writing in college, and I was considering going back to school so I could teach writing, but somewhere along the line, someone suggested I start a blog. I didn’t realize I could make a living with a blog, but I paired up with Ali Grant from BeSocialPR and, as my manager, she helped bring deals in. It turned into a full-time gig!

Q: How did you choose the name?

KC: My sister actually came up with the idea. I had honestly gone through hundreds of options, then one night we were watching the movie “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” Afterwards, my sister asked, “What do you think of ‘Western Wild’ since you’ve moved out west, and you’re exploring and having fun?”

I liked it, and so did my boyfriend and a few friends I asked, so that became the name!

Q: I love that on your blog, you mention that if you are not learning something new, you are bored. How do you stay inspired?

KC: That’s something I struggle with every day, so I just push myself to take on new projects, meet new people and also, sometimes, take a step back and chill. I find I am the most inspired by being present in the moments of my life.

Q: Western Wild covers a variety of topics. What’s your favorite to write about?

KC: My favorite thing to write about is BY FAR travel. I absolutely love sharing my travel experiences because I think those are generally the most informative and the most valuable. Travel is the only way by which we can even come close to understanding what it actually is to be human and living on this planet. I hope that my writing about travel inspires other people to break from their comfort zones and explore the world—even if it’s just one baby step at a time!

Q: You’ve lived and traveled to an array of worldly destinations, from living in Florence and London to traveling to Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Fiji. How important is traveling to you and how does it inspire your day-to-day life as well as Western Wild?

KC: I think travel makes me appreciate how fortunate I am to be where I am. It also inspires me to pay attention to all the details around me constantly. It gives me an added energy for life because I know there is so much else out there I have yet to see!

Q: I love all of the tips you provide your readers. From dating advice to fashion and beauty, you’re well-versed in providing readers with informative answers. Can you give LOCALE readers a fun tip on how to live like a local in Los Angeles?

KC: Be late for everything and always blame traffic!

Q: Favorite places to frequent in LA? Where do you like to shop, eat, drink and play?

KC: I’m a big Planet Blue lover when it comes to shopping.

I’m at their Malibu store once a week. I just appreciate the variety—any one brand, no matter how spectacular, gets repetitive after a while. I’m so obsessed with brunch at Terrine in West Hollywood right now. They serve spicy fried chicken with maple grits, and I actually have dreams about it!! When it comes to playing, I love late night karaoke at Blind Dragon (where I hosted Western Wild’s launch party!) or getting fancy with drinks at Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel.

BIKINI PROVIDED BY: Indah www.indahclothing.com VEST PROVIDED BY: Katharine Story www.katharinestory.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Neely Phelan www.neelyphelan.com BAG PROVIDED BY: Cleobella shop.cleobella.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 103

“LA is a beautiful city

full of opportunity, sunshine and some of my favorite people on the planet.”

— KAITLYNN CARTER

Q: Tell me about this fabulous unicorn costume you wore to a Halloween party in LA and how it landed you a conversation with now boyfriend, Brody Jenner.

KC: Well, it landed me a little more than a conversation! (laughs) Basically, I was in an all-white bodysuit with furry, white leg warmers and a purple, pink and blue wig with a unicorn horn attached to it. Brody saw me from across the party and came directly over to chat. He didn’t realize we had actually met a few months before, so I mentioned that, and it got us talking. We’ve been inseparable ever since!

Q: You now have a section on your blog titled “WWBJD?” where you ask Jenner a question about love and relationships that you’ve received from one of your readers. What has been his best advice?

KC: He actually gives terrible advice on those, which is funny because he has a lot of brilliant insight when it comes to our relationship! He believes in being able to be 100 percent yourself in a relationship, and in complete honesty between partners. Of course, there are compromises between you, but if you’re giving things up that are truly important to you or you’re keeping secrets from your partner, that may not be the relationship for you. I love that he thinks this way because we both just put everything out there, and there’s no confusion or “games.” It’s so refreshing!

Q: Your recipe roundups in your food section sound so delicious. I love your array of items, from Sunrise Baked Eggs in Tomatoes to Soba Noodles with Eggplant. Where do you find these recipes?

KC: I have so many cookbooks! I flip through those a lot. I also find dishes at restaurants that I love and beg the chefs to give me their recipes! Sometimes, I’ll see a meal on television or somewhere else and I’ll make up my own version.

Q: How do health and fitness play a role on your blog and in your life?

KC: I wish I were so much more into fitness. I get bored too easily with any set routine, so I really just do random hiking, spin classes and beach walks to keep active. Healthy eating does play a big role in my life, though. I eat almost entirely organic, I try to cook more than I go out to eat, and I don’t each much meat or dairy.

Q: What is a must-try fashion trend to take advantage of this August? What about for the fall season ahead?

KC: Seventies fashion was big on the runways this year, so for August, I’d throw on a bell-sleeved dress with some mules. For fall, I’d take advantage of the chance to wear all your flared denim with some cozy sweaters!

Q: Can Western Wild readers expect anything new in the near future? Do you plan on adding any new topics? Traveling to any exotic destinations?

KC: I’m always mixing up what I write on the blog, so readers can definitely expect unique material going forward. I am headed to Bali for a few weeks in September, so I’ll definitely be posting about that!

Q: Where do you see yourself and Western Wild in 10 years?

KC: Wow, I really haven’t thought that far ahead at all! I just want to be happy, whatever that entails.

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Cleobella shop.cleobella.com ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY: Blaine Bowen & Neely Phelan www.blainebowen.com www.neelyphelan.com CRYSTAL CHOKER PROVIDED BY: Red Fox www.facebook.com/redfoxlaguna

104 |

| AUGUST 2015

| AUGUST 2015 | 105

PHOTO BY: Dhrumil Desai

go /do

August 2015

109 GO/DO EXPERTS From a Dancing Queen to a Teen Heartthrob, These Four Professionals are Shaping our Athletic and Entertainment Industries

123 GO FEATURE We Take You Inside Five of the Finest Nightclub Establishments in Los Angeles, Each With its Own Unique Flair and Way of Having Fun

134 FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE A Day on the High Seas With Sail San Diego

140 DO FEATURE

140

DO FEATURE Grape Expectations

Raise a Glass to Outstanding Malibu Wineries

150 LOCALENDAR Keep the Summer Fun Going Strong With This List of 20 Los Angeles Events

MALIBU ROCKY OAKS ESTATE VINEYARDS 340 Kanan Rd Malibu, CA 90265 877.676.7660 www.maliburockyoaks.com

107

AUGUST 2015

THE CROWD GOES

WILD

PROFESSIONALS FROM OUR FAVORITE INDUSTRIES IN LA

Cobi Jones, former American Soccer Player and Analyst for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Cody Simpson, Musician

Anna Trebunskaya, Professional Dancer and “Dancing With The Stars” Cast Member

Craig Wayne Boyd, Singer/ Songwriter and Winner of the Seventh Season of “The Voice”

Tal Cooperman, Business Mogul

Gretta Kruesi, Professional Kitesurfer, Artist and Lifestyle Entrepreneur

WRITTEN BY: DIONNE EVANS PHOTOGRAPHED BY: TC FRANKLIN

Los Angeles is filled with movers and shakers, so it wasn’t hard to find interesting, successful people for this issue of LOCALE. Here you’ll find interviews that tell of how this issue’s Go/Do Experts found success in each of their professions. We have an ex-soccer player turned sports analyst, a professional kitesurfer, a professional dancer, a well-rounded business mogul and a teenage pop star. You’ll be sure to relate to at least one of our experts and you’ll hopefully be inspired to strive for success as they all have. All of this month’s experts have demanding schedules, yet have found a way to work and still make time for what’s important to them.

| AUGUST 2015 | 109

STRUMMING ALONG THE EXPERT: Cody Simpson, Musician Cody Simpson, the 18-year-old Australian pop singer and teen “heartthrob,” gained attention in 2009 when he started posting videos of himself singing on YouTube. He was an almost instant success, though he doesn’t feel he’s reached the height of his success quite just yet, and his YouTube videos each have millions of views.

He released his debut single in 2010 and was signed by Atlantic Records. That same year, Simpson moved to Los Angeles to work on his career. His work paid off, and in late 2011 his EP “Coast to Coast” made the Billboard 200. “Free,” his first independent album, is set to release this year and Simpson will go on tour this summer, but says it will be more of a “mellow rock show with just myself and the band jamming out.”

However, he also says, “Sometimes we get carried away and mess around too much, but that’s all the fun of the gig! It’s casual, and I like to chat to the crowd and share positive messages. Live shows shouldn’t be confined to protools and format. It’s live.

We improvise and have a sick time doing it!” When he’s not working, Simpson enjoys going the beach, which is something he’s loved ever since growing up in Queensland, Australia. If he could change one thing about his chaotic life, it would be not having enough time to see his friends and family and not getting enough time at the beach.

Though he’s been compared to a certain young Canadian pop icon, Simpson sees himself influenced more by the likes of John Mayer and Bob Marley. He doesn’t much care about what people think of him, CODY’S 5 but wants to earn a positive reputation.

FAVORITE Q: How old were you when you realized you could sing?

Cody Simpson: Ever since I can remember, I’ve been singing and scattin’ around the house and everywhere I go—just an everyday feel good thing for me that now I’ve applied to my guitar playing and found something cool in the mixture.

Q: Did you immediately have dreams of taking your talent and making it into a career?

CS: I always imagined it as something I’d like to have one day pursued, but never did. I think the opportunity would have arisen so early in my life. I took grasp of it and am riding the wave!

Q: What did you think of your almost instant success?

CS: I don’t necessarily think it’s been instant, because I don’t think I’ve reached success yet. I’m still on the road to musical establishment and improvement and always will be I believe. I have a long ways to go, but am enjoying the present moment as we go!

Q: How have you been able to balance being a kid and having a successful career?

CS: I’ve felt pretty normal throughout it all. I never experienced high school, but I still hang with my mates when I can, obviously not as often as the norm, but I get a surf and party in when I can!

THINGS ABOUT LA:

1. Malibu 2. In-N-Out Burger 3. All the cool little music venues 4. The sushi 5. Topanga Canyon

5 ARTISTS CODY LOOKS UP TO: 1. Ben Harper 2. Paul Simon 3. Jimi Hendrix 4. Neil Young 5. Bob Marley

CODY’S FAVORITE PLACES TO TRAVEL: 1. Australia 2. Caribbean 3. UK 4. Asia

Q: You were relocated to LA in 2010. What was your initial reaction to LA and of Southern California?

CS: It wasn’t too drastic of an adjustment. Many parts of SoCal that I spend a lot of time in, such as Malibu, remind me of home, so I’m enjoying myself a lot.

Q: What do you love most about LA now?

CS: I love the opportunities it has brought to me and the cool musical people I’ve met being here. I’m here for a reason and I’m starting to understand what that reason is.

I try to bring a little Aussie flavor to it all, and I think it makes people feel a little less uptight and egotistical!

Q: What do you miss about Australia?

CS: I miss the surf, lifestyle and weather. I’ve been out of the water a lot lately because I’ve been on the road playing gigs. I miss my friends and family dearly.

Q: What kind of image/reputation do you want?

CS: I want whatever my audience wants to think. People should have the freedom to think whatever they want about me as long as it’s positive. It should always be positive no matter what.

Q: Do you get involved with local organizations/charities?

CS: It’s not local but I’ve been chatting with the United Nations. I just played their gig for their #HappySoundsLike campaign down at South Bay. I want to go to unprivileged islands and regions like Haiti and to hang and bring a bunch of instruments over for the kids and teach them guitar. We’re planning a trip. Music brings joy, and a guitar is a gift that keeps on giving. I’m hoping to start doing that this year. One day I’d like to be able to build music schools globally.

Q: You have acting experience. Is acting something you would like to pursue further?

CS: No, I don’t think so. If a cool opportunity comes my way, I’d be down to try it out, but aside from that, I’m 100 percent music consumed right now.

110 |

| AUGUST 2015

www.codysimpson.com

“MUSIC BRINGS JOY, and a guitar is a gift that keeps on giving. One day I’d like to be able to build music schools globally.”

- Cody Simpson

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: For his upcoming album, “Free,” Simspon worked along with fellow musician and Los Angeles native Cisco Adler. Of Adler, Simpson says “His philosophy and perspective is inspiring. I’ve learned a lot about life hanging with him and working.

He really let me thrive as a writer and a guitar player on this record and we had a really natural connection.”

| AUGUST 2015 | 111

STUB HUB CENTER 18400 Avalon Blvd Carson, CA 90746 www.stubhubcenter.com

“WHEN SOMEONE GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET PAID TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE, they gotta take it.

Thank God I was given that opportunity. Everything seemed to work out and push me towards it.”

- Cobi Jones

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Jones works closely with youth soccer organizations around the country as an ambassador to Cal South and AYSO. He works with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, America SCORES, Grassroot Soccer, Cycle for Survival and the Mia Hamm Foundation. He soon hopes to launch his own foundation to help combat childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

112 |

| AUGUST 2015

PUMPED UP KICKS THE EXPERT: Cobi Jones, former American Soccer Player and Analyst for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Though currently retired, Cobi Jones, who spent old until I was 37, I was playing soccer. People don’t 15 seasons with LA Galaxy as both a player and realize that when you’re playing all season long, yearcoach, shows no signs of slowing down. The 45-yearround, you’re traveling, or on the field or practicing old recently got into broadcasting as a soccer analyst every day. I did that for almost 20 years. Having a little for multiple stations including Time Warner Cable free time is nice.

SportsNet, the Galaxy’s broadcast partner, Pac 12 Q: You’ve been very involved with charitable Network, and Fox Sports. Jones also joined NBC for foundations. Do you have any new projects you’re their coverage of the 2012 London Olympics for the working on?

Men’s Soccer Tournament and may also cover the 2016 CJ: I’m working with LA84 Foundation, they’re the Rio Olympics. He’s also recently taken part in several foundation that started when the ’84 Olympics were business ventures, including a social app, high-end held here in LA. They’re providing sports education men’s fashion line, and a decal company. Between and fundraising to build soccer fields. We’re trying to shooting a quick interview with his broadcast partner, get fields so people and kids can play the sport I love.

Joe Tutino, and heading to a soccer game to work in Q: Talk about your fashion line and decal company. the broadcast booth, Jones kindly made time for an interview with LOCALE. We met up at the StubHub What made you want to get into these businesses?

Center, a multiple-use sports complex center on the CJ: SlapItOn is pretty cool. You can take any type of picture, like of your kids, and get it in any size and you campus of CSU Dominguez Hills in Carson. The wellcan slap it on anywhere. It has a charitable aspect. Ten known three-time U.S. World Cup player and member percent of the profits go back into schools. When you of the 1992 U.S. Soccer Team is instantly recognized have P.E. and recess cut backs, kids aren’t able to find by fans (no doubt the dreads tipped them a source of release. It can have a negative off) and he happily takes a picture. Out affect. SlapItOn allows schools to get some COBI’S FAVORITE on the practice field, several other fellow of the money back to keep those kinds of PHYSICAL soccer players come up to Jones to say programs in place. Asaf Ganot is the fashion ACTIVITIES: hello and joke around. It’s very clear he line I got involved in with. It’s a high-end 1. Going to the gym knows everyone who plays and works at and working out boutique men’s fashion line. I met Asaf the center, and even though he has a game 2. Spinning Ganot, the line’s creator and namesake, in to get to soon, he doesn’t mind taking 3. CrossFit training New York through my manager and I spent the time to chat with everyone who stops 4. Outdoor activities some time with him and I love it. Every time him. Jones, who is friendly and constantly with his kids I see him, I’m amazed with the line. He’s smiling, is very well spoken and eager to 5. Snowboarding a former college athlete and his line really talk about how his passion for soccer has 6. Four-wheeling talks to the athlete consumer. I don’t think gotten him to where he is today.

7. Cruising on his any athlete would wear something from the Harley Q: How old were you when you started brand and not love it. playing soccer?

WHAT COBI Q: How have you been able to have such a Cobi Jones: I was 5-years-old and played LOVES MOST busy schedule? with AYSO. ABOUT SOCAL: CJ: It’s been difficult, but thankfully I have 1. The people Q: When did you realize you were good people helping with everything. One of the 2. The weather at the sport? biggest things that helps is exercise. Forcing 3.

The beach CJ: Every kid thinks they’re really good. myself to exercise four or five times a week 4.

UCLA I never really got attention; never got any keeps me energized. The more I exercise, 5. LA Galaxy scholarships or anything like that. Once the more I’m able to handle everything.

I started the Olympics, that’s when I I’m trying to stay fit to help me be able to realized I was good. handle everything like all the traveling I do. That, and Q: Why did you decide to make soccer your career?

CJ: After the ’94 World Cup, that’s when the opportunity came for me to go and play in England. That’s when I was like, “Okay, maybe there’s something there for me.” Until then, I thought I’d go back to school and finish my degree. When someone gets the opportunity to get paid to do what they love, they gotta take it.

Thank God I was given that opportunity. Everything seemed to work out and push me towards it.

Q: What do you think made you such an incredibly successful player?

CJ: Determination. It might sound like selfaggrandizement, but I had to work really hard to get to where I’m at. I was told at a young age that I wasn’t very good at playing soccer. In high school, I had a coach tell me that I was the worst player he’d ever seen.

I was cut from the Olympic team twice. Through all that, my strength of character got a little bit stronger.

Any athlete that wants to succeed has to have that and push against the will of others.

Q: Just a few years ago, you became an analyst. Why get into broadcasting after you retired?

CJ: I wanted to still be a part of the game, but this time, step back and look at it from afar. It’s allowed me to still be a part of it and gave me free time to spend quality time with my family. Since I was 18-years-

trying to be a lot more organized. Technology really helps me with that.

Q: Would you say all of your projects have some connection to soccer?

CJ: Not all of them. For instance, the fashion line doesn’t have a direct connection with soccer though it does have to do with sports. One thing I’ve learned is stick to what you know. There’s an app I’m involved with called GameOn that’s a social platform for people that love sports. It’s a great way to talk with friends that love sports. When I was younger, my friends and I would talk smack about each other’s sports team, but we’ve lost touch over the years. This app allows us to reconnect, and we can talk smack, too.

Q: You’re also a father. Are your kids into soccer yet?

CJ: It’s still early on. Cayden, the 4-year-old, is somewhat interested. He’ll pick this team or that. The 1-and-a-half-year-old loves kicking the ball already, and he’s a lefty. He’ll sit still and watch a game which is pretty good for his age. I don’t want to force them into soccer, but they will play sports. They’ll play one team and one individual sport when they get older.

| AUGUST 2015 | 113

A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY THE EXPERT: Craig Wayne Boyd, Singer/Songwriter and Winner of the Seventh Season of “The Voice” It’s a quarter to 11, and I’m a little early. I’m sitting in the grand foyer of the beautiful Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica when my phone rings from an unknown number. I answer and am greeted by a booming voice with a slight twang. “Hiya Lindsay. It’s Craig Wayne Boyd,” says the caller. “Why hello Craig Wayne Boyd,” I reply, thinking he must be running late. He continues, “I’m right on schedule; I’ll be there at 11 sharp. Lookin’ forward to it, sweetie!”

I hang up, a little thrown off as to how nice that little check in call was. And sure enough, true to his word and not a second too late, in he walks all dressed to the nines, drawing stares from everyone in the vicinity—his country-meets-rocker charisma immediately permeating the room. “Hi! I’m Craig Wayne Boyd!” he exclaims while he shakes my hand, gold and turquoise rings splattered about most of his fingers. It is then that I completely understand just how he captured the hearts of America (and Blake Shelton, Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani) to win the seventh season of NBC’s “The Voice.”

He has that star appeal that only the best celebrities possess. He’s so handsome that he looks like a walking cardboard cutout. Talking to those blue eyes for any length of time makes you feel as though you two are the only ones in the room, even while you are vaguely aware of people clicking photos in your general direction from every angle.

(Which, I can assure you, is not a regular occurrence).

The hotel concierge whisks us outside to the hotel’s famous veranda overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Mr. Craig Wayne Boyd and I sit down to discuss his journey to fame, his time on the show and his plans for the future.

Q: When did you get into country music?

Craig Wayne Boyd: I grew up in a fairly religious home, so early on I was mainly into gospel and bluegrass. My dad was a banjo player, and one day he pulled four strings off a mandolin and just like that, I was learning to strum. My grandma was actually the one who got me into country music though—she was kind of the rebel of the family and was an Elvis and Johnny Cash fan. I would sneak over to her house and go through her old albums. I remember line dancing and two-stepping in the living room with her. She’s the first person I ever danced with.

Q: What was life like before you got on “The Voice”?

CWB: I was traveling. I was a road warrior. I was doing 230 to 240 dates a year all over the country in a 15-passenger van with four other sweaty dudes. It was a fun time in life though because I was getting to do what I wanted to do. I wasn’t making the money I needed to make ends meet, but it definitely trained me to be where I’m at now.

Q: Were you hoping for him?

CWB: I didn’t care who turned around! I just wanted someone to! I’m a fan of all of them. And Pharrell was definitely interested as well. He turned around too, and he really made me think. I almost went with his route.

Q: What was it like working with Blake Shelton?

CWB: Blake is one of those guys where what you see is what you get.

He’s the same guy you see on camera as he is behind the scenes.

It was a joy to work with him, and we are still continuing to work together in different facets. There are a few things coming up that I’m very excited about—stuff I can’t say quite yet. Another thing that he did, which was probably most important, was helping me out on the business side of things. Taking it from the level that I was at to where I am now. And, of course, with winning the show and all, he turned me on to the right business management people and helped me out with booking agents and things like that. He helped me make those decisions by giving me advice on what he had done wrong and right in his own career. He saved me a lot of heartaches, and that’s true value.

Q: What went through your mind when they called your name? Did you think there was any chance you would actually win?

CWB: I hoped and prayed that it would happen, but I was okay if it didn’t, only because I felt that I had given my best performances every single time, so I felt comfortable with LEVI’S OR not winning. When they actually called my name, I was WRANGLERS? overwhelmed. It was like that final puzzle piece for me of Neither, Guess! validation. It was like every week there was more validation to all the hard work, all the struggles, all that I had given BISCUITS OR up in life. I had spent the past 11 years kind of selfishly CORNBREAD? focused on myself, giving up the things in life that a lot of Biscuits and gravy, come on! people strive for—stuff like the family life, the comfort of being able to go to a 9 to 5 job and know that you’ve got WHISKEY OR money coming in. I never chased those things. I chased MOONSHINE? the dream of making music my career. When I started Whiskey the show, I was very self-doubting. I thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. What if I would have just taken a FAITH OR sales job or whatever?” But every week, there was another SHANIA? puzzle piece added to the validation, and that moment Shania when they called my name was kind of the final one. It was like, “See? You were right. This is why you chased it!” So for DOGS OR CATS? me, that was really cool.

Dogs

Q: Being on tour, you travel a ton. What do you love about coming to Southern California?

CWB: One thing I like to do is check out all the good sushi Neither, because joints. Being from a place that is more landlocked, you Nissan gave me one! don’t get that. And then, of course, the scenery here is amazing. However, I have yet to go to the beach, which I Q: What made you decide to try out for the show? know is right across the street. The main thing that I’ve done is the CWB: I had gotten down on my luck. I was losing everything. We played a show in Nashville, and I was sitting outside with my drummer and social scene. The nightlife is great. I rang in the New Year at Hyde, was like, “Man, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I’m paying out more which was awesome. Everyone in my experience has been really nice here, and that surprised me. Being from the South, you don’t tend to than I’m bringing in.” I was pawning guitars to make sure the guys were getting paid, and just everything was going wrong. I was in a bad place think of SoCal that way, but it has really been so welcoming. in my life where I had lost my place to live; I was sleeping on friends’ Q: You’ve had a ton of cool opportunities since winning. What would sofas. I said, “I’m gonna have to quit.” And he was like, “Dude, you can’t you say has been the coolest experience since the show wrapped? give up yet.” And, as crazy as it sounds, I got an email within a week of CWB: There are two things in particular. One being the residency with that from a casting company asking if I was interested in auditioning Rascal Flatts at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas. The other one was for “The Voice.” starting out the year playing the Grand Ole Opry at the original Ryman CHEVY OR FORD?

Q: How did they hear about you?

CWB: I had created quite a buzz because I had already been traveling so much. Most people didn’t realize where I was at professionally though because I was everywhere. They thought I was already successful. Even the labels in Nashville after “The Voice” were like, “We thought you had something great going on!”

Q: What was more nerve wracking, the initial audition, the turnaround tryout or the finale?

CWB: The turnaround tryout was definitely the most nerve wracking.

I walked out with this mindset that I was just going to entertain the people that were there. But I made the mistake of looking at the back of the chairs, and when the judges hadn’t turned around yet, I felt this little hiccup in my chest. Thankfully it didn’t come out vocally, and I was able to retain that momentum and not lose it. As soon as I felt myself swallow that back down is when Blake turned around.

114 |

| AUGUST 2015

Auditorium. I stood in the same place as Hank Williams Sr., George Jones, Johnny Cash … I could keep going. All of these guys that were huge country music stars all played in the same spot, and that was pretty overwhelming to get to experience because you can almost feel them there. It was amazing. I get chills talking about it now.

Q: When was the first time you heard your song on the radio?

CWB: Well previously to “The Voice,” I had put out a single on my own that was played on the radio. It had gotten up to number 35 on the Country Music charts, but now we are preceding all of those numbers with, “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face.” The first time I heard that in public was right after winning when they were playing it as I showed up to the TODAY Show. To me, that was huge.

WRITTEN BY: LINDSAY DELONG PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MICHAEL OLIVERI

“WHEN THEY ACTUALLY CALLED MY NAME, I was overwhelmed.

It was like that final puzzle piece for me of validation.”

– Craig Wayne Boyd

THE GEORGIAN HOTEL 1415 Ocean Ave Santa Monica, CA 90401 310.395.9945 www.georgianhotel.com

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: With the release of Craig Wayne Boyd’s hit single, “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face,” Boyd became the second artist ever to launch at Number 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs since the chart began in 1958. His predecessor was Garth Brooks’ “More Than a Memory” in 2007.

| AUGUST 2015 | 115

DANCING QUEEN THE EXPERT: Anna Trebunskaya, Professional Dancer and “Dancing With The Stars” Cast Member As a child, Anna Trebunskaya, now professional to open up a dance studio, and I was busy with dancer and “Dancing With The Stars” cast competitions and she was like, “Look, one day you’ll member, thought that dancing was just something have kids and you’ll want to stay in one place.” I’m everyone did. Her parents were professional ballroom so happy she said that. Now I have a daughter, and dancers and owned a dance studio in Russia, where it’s just great to bring her into the studio and she can she grew up. She was around dance so much that get her exercise and run around while I’m teaching. it was no surprise when she got into it herself. At Another side is it’s just a natural thing to have a 6-years-old, Trebunskaya started entering dance base; having a home and having your way of doing competitions and won her first competition at age 7. things. The studio, it’s like my family member. It’s my She came with her family to New York City when she mom’s other child, and it’s like a sibling. That’s how was 17, and that’s when her professional dance career I relate to the studio. starting gaining momentum. When she joined the cast Q: How have you handled being a mother with such of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2006 for the show’s a busy career? second season, her career took off in a new AT: I get help. My mom’s been just the direction. She’s been a part of the show on ANNA’S best grandma ever. My better half is and off since Season Two and has become FAVORITE wonderful. He’s been able to work from a star in her own right and finds herself STYLES OF home half the time, and it’s been great. often getting recognized in what she calls, DANCE: We’re just very fortunate to have good “The most random of places.” The show 1. Argentine Tango people around us that are able to watch is just one thing that takes up time in 2. Waltz her. With my schedule, I’ve been lucky 3. Pasodoble her busy schedule. The 34-year-old gave where I can bring her to events and maybe birth to daughter Amalya in January 2014 someone can watch her backstage. I’ve ANNA’S with partner Nevin Millan, but becoming had to accommodate being a mom with FAVORITE a new mother hasn’t slowed down her my career and I only travel 3 days a week.

GENRES OF career. Trebunskaya also works with her I used to travel a lot more. I may have to MUSIC: mother in the dance studio they opened turn down certain gigs now, but it’s worth 1.

Classical up in Hermosa Beach called, “You Can being a mom.

2.

Singer/songwriter Dance” and has recently found a passion 3. Dance music Q: How were you approached when asked for acting and hosting television shows. to join “Dancing with the Stars”? What She’s traveling non-stop for her numerous ANNA’S was your reaction to the opportunity? projects and is only able to make time for FAVORITE AT: They called about 16 of the top dancers me while waiting for her flight at the San FORMS OF in the U.S. and I had an interview. I was Jose airport. Though she flew there just EXERCISE: chosen to be in season one and I wasn’t that same morning, she’s already on her 1. Gyrotonic able to so I joined the show in season two. way back to LAX. It’s been a hectic day for 2. Ballet I thought it was really cool. I’d been in her but, she tells me she’s “used to it.”

3. Yoga the competitive circuit since I was really Q: Your parents owned a dance studio in young, so to take it to another level and Russia and were professional ballroom take what I love to do on another platform seemed dancers. Did you feel pressured to become a like a great thing to do and it was really fun and a dancer at a young age or was it something you’ve great experience. always loved?

Anna Trebunskaya: I didn’t feel pressure. It was a Q: Who’s been your favorite dance partner and why?

AT: Well, people have asked me that before, but it’s very natural transition. I guess I was around it so the same as asking who’s your favorite child and much and it felt like a normal thing for me. It wasn’t something new or weird or unnatural. I was always everyone has a favorite child but they can’t say it.

I was very fortunate to have great partners who all in my parents’ studio and watching them dance. It just felt like, “Oh, this is what people do.” I was at worked hard. performances a lot as a kid. It was just fun. I didn’t Q: You’ve been on the show multiple seasons since get serious about it until I was a bit older. I started to season two. Do you get recognized out in public a get into dancing seriously as a teen. I thought, “This lot now? is cool,” and I decided I wanted to do it for real.

AT: I do get recognized, but not always. It’s in the most random places like in the public toilet or the Q: You started entering and winning competitions grocery line. at young age. What do you think made you stand out from the other young competitors?

AT: Well, it definitely wasn’t my technique. I guess I really just enjoyed myself. As a kid, you shouldn’t have any doubts about yourself—you should just go for it. I was smiling and having fun and I had good partners. I had really good outfits, too, and I think that helped a lot.

Q: When you moved to the United States at age 17, what was the transition like for you?

AT: There were definitely a lot of changes. It was a different culture and I didn’t just move to the United States; I moved to New York City, which is a whole other culture shock. It’s quite impressive, busy and exciting, and it never stops and never sleeps. It was a big culture shock.

Q: Why did you decide to open up a dance studio with your mom?

AT: It was one of those things where my mom wanted 116 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: What kind of exercise routine are you on during the show? And when the show’s not shooting?

AT: When you’re on the show, it’s all about maintaining what you have and not injuring yourself.

When you’re off season, it’s all about building strength and flexibility, and it’s your downtime so that’s when I’ll do yoga and dance classes and try things out. I try to switch things up so I don’t get bored. It’s gotta be different all the time.

Q: What projects are you involved with right now?

AT: Getting into the world of acting and hosting. I was on HBO’s “Newsroom” and was also fortunate to be able to co-host on ABC’s “All Access.” That was definitely fun and it’s a new venture I’m excited about.

YOU CAN DANCE STUDIO 1089 Aviation Blvd Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 www.ycdstudio.com

“WHEN YOU’RE ON THE SHOW, it’s all about maintaining what you have and not injuring yourself. When you’re off season, it’s all about building strength and flexibility, and it’s your downtime so that’s when I’ll do yoga and dance classes and try things out.”

- Anna Trebunskaya

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: On “DWTS,” Trebunskaya has worked with a number of well-known stars including sports legends Jerry Rice and Sugar Ray Leonard and boy-bander Drew Lachey.

“I WAS ON HBO’S ‘NEWSROOM’ and was also fortunate to be able to co-host on ABC’s ‘All Access.’ That was definitely fun and it’s a new venture I’m excited about.”

- Anna Trebunskaya

| AUGUST 2015 | 117

WELCOME TO TALLYWOOD THE EXPERT: Tal Cooperman, Business Mogul Not many people can make money off of natural talent, nor do many people just stumble into that kind of luck.

Trendsetter Tal Cooperman is a force behind many brands in the surf/skate fashion industry and is about to make his mark into food and beverage. After years of partying and connecting people, his focus as a newly-married man is settling down and staying healthy. His new venture, RESQWATER, aims to save you from your next hangover by preventing one in the first place. The 8-oz skinny bottle is sexy and filled with nourishing ingredients that you’ll want to ingest in between alcoholic drinks.

We sat down with Cooperman to discuss his history and success connecting people and brands, his own business ventures, and what we can expect from him next.

Q: But I love a can of Coca-Cola sometimes!

TC: I was just saying that! I was at In-N-Out the other day and sat next to my wife, Abbi, and said, “Sometimes you just gotta have a good soda. You can’t have a burger with water.” It doesn’t make sense. I’ll go run an extra 5 miles just to get that. I can’t actually drink a whole can of soda, so after three sips, it’s just so good. I’ll squeeze lemons in there. Lemon and coke will change your life.

Q: When did you move to the U.S. from Israel?

TC: I moved here from Israel when I was 6. We were first in New York, then came out to California and settled in Sherman Oaks, and I went to school in Agoura Hills. I changed my hair color every week in high school. Brody Jenner and I became friends at 16. He’d bring Malibu girls, and I’d bring valley girls to each other’s parties. I just moved to Vegas for RESQWATER a couple years ago.

Q: It sounds like you’re always connecting people.

Tal Cooperman: Yeah, people always say I’m the dot connecter. I’ve Q: Where can I find RESQWATER? I would even sell it in my never been the guy about the money, which is why I’m still not a fitness studio. millionaire. I’ve always tried to be the guy that helps people. I have a TC: I would love it to be in there. We’re in Las Vegas gyms. Vegas is lot of people in my life that take advantage of that or have called me a actually where Red Bull took off. We have a lot of people working social climber, but I’ve been doing this since I was 16. I’ve never asked with us from Red Bull. But I love going anywhere in Vegas and seeing for anything in return. I always try to get people to the next RESQWATER in any club, any hotel. I’ll walk in, and I’ll level and then I’m out. I’m an idea guy. I’ll be at a dinner see at least 10 people have it in their hands. It’s the best TAL’S FAVORITE party, and I’m like, “Yo! You need to meet each other.” feeling. It’s in every hotel room and gift store and almost FOOD: every club. Tao Group backed us first, and they have 25 Q: How did you get involved with RESQWATER? “My mom’s cooking properties there. And now people are starting to ask for TC: My friend Troy Michels did all the lifestyle comes first! It’s all it. It’s right near the cash register. People like that the Israeli, amazing marketing for Target, including the Shaun White deal, bottle is sexy, too.

Mediterranean and was recruited by the company. When he decided to leave, I said, “Well, if you leave … I’m going to do that, too. You are leaving the dream job!”

Q: I had some friends party at the RESQWATER house at Coachella this year. Were you there?

TC: Yeah, I was there. We were also at Bonnaroo and EDC. I just got back from Aspen actually. I was up all night at EDC then took a helicopter to go river rafting, then got back on a helicopter and drank for 2 more days.

We also went to the Aspen Food and Wine Classic and plan on being there again for the Summer X Games.

Q: What’s your drink of choice?

TC: Tito’s Vodka with lots of lemon.

food.”

Sushi. “I love Sugarfish. I go to Bear Flag and just eat a pound of poke.”

TAL’S FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES: Instagram Snapchat

Q: I bet you needed RESQWATER after partying all week at EDC! You’re saving people one hangover at a time, but what makes RESQWATER different than coconut water?

TC: Milk thistle and more nutrients. Our flavor is more lemonlime. I can’t stand coconut water; I hate the taste!

Q: Visual design is your talent. Is your clothing line CRSL another creative outlet for you?

TC: For sure. I come from fashion. My best friend, who I call my brother, Aaron Levant, started the Agenda Trade Show and I helped it get where it is at, but I got bought out of it 2 years ago. I grew up with him and had a room up until 2 years ago at his house. His mom raised me, and she breeds talent. Agenda is one of the biggest action sports trade shows out there. Aaron is a self-funded boss and my idol. I brought him into the industry, and he outgrew me. I think I noticed it at my wedding; it was rad. In his speech, he said that he wouldn’t be here without me, and I’ve been waiting for him to say that for 15 years! But I wouldn’t be here without him. With him and I together, we were unstoppable. It was the best.

Q: I noticed there are also more fitness brands coming to Agenda.

TC: Yes. Aaron has lost about 50 pounds over the last year, and a lot of the brands are getting into it. People are going more plain.

It’s really interesting. I think street wear is in a lot of trouble. A lot of the graphics on T-shirts, it’s done. I never used to wear James Perse shirts, and now I go in and take all the black shirts.

Q: Are you taking CRSL into more of a classic design then?

TC: Yeah, I took a little break because I saw the market was hurting, and I’m going to change it up. It’s going to be way more clean—still cut off shirts, but the graphics are going to be more mild. I love CRSL, but I think it will be more of my brother’s project because he lives it and loves it. RESQWATER is my focus. It’s going to be the next Red Bull. I want to say that because Red Bull to me is the new generation of Coca-Cola.

118 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Would this be considered a whole new market with the purpose of offering hydration and nutrients while at parties?

TC: We did help start a market. As much as I secretly want other brands to fail, I also want them to work because it helps us get bigger. We are the original brand.

People at first took us as a joke. The category is new, and there were a lot of stores that weren’t sure about where RESQWATER would fit in, but, through connections, we were given a chance. Our street team works really hard, and we love passing it out to friends.

Q: Your connections in Vegas from hosting Agenda Trade Show there must help RESQWATER. TC: I really always try to help. So many social media guys are big or bands with a huge audience and don’t know how to turn into money. My goal is always to help the brand, and maybe I over step boundaries sometimes. Managers hate me because if they don’t find it, then they don’t get their cut.

Q: Street art and graffiti seem to have shaped a lot of your style.

Do you still spray paint?

TC: Yeah, I’m part of The Seventh Letter Crew. Aaron and I have been doing graffiti art forever. He bought a gallery for Seventh Letter, but it’s more of a clothing line. They also have a vape shop called TSL. But, life is different. I’m married now.

Q: Does that mean life is slowing down? Do you plan to stay in Las Vegas?

TC: We are actually moving to Miami and taking RESQWATER to a new city. We're not slowing down, yet. My wife, Abbi, and I want to take a couple years before we have a kid.

Q: Sounds like more nights in with your beautiful wife. Do you have books on your nightstand?

TC: My good friend Holly Madison just wrote a book, and I’m going to read for the first time in 10 years. She calls the whole world out. She is single-handedly putting a huge dent into "Playboy." They deserve it.

They put her through hell. She’s married to my good friend who owns Insomniac, Pasquale, and they have the most beautiful child ever.

Q: Knowing so many people, you could write your own book.

TC: That’s actually in the works. I could go to prison for some stories, but I have the photos to prove it! I just went through an old computer the other day, and there’s like 14,000 photos of awesome. I thought, “This is gold! This is my retirement.”

WRITTEN BY: LEAH MARSH PHOTOGRAPHED BY: SHANE RADACOSKY

“WE DID HELP START A MARKET. As much as I secretly want other brands to fail, I also want them to work because it helps us get bigger. We are the original brand.”

- Tal Cooperman

RESQWATER www.resqwater.com @RESQWATER

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Cooperman is in the works of starting a hot sauce company called ACE. “It’s a multi-billion dollar industry,” he says.

“We’re going to have artists come in and design the bottle.

Shepard Fairey is only a phone call away.”

| AUGUST 2015 | 119

A SOAR SUBJECT THE EXPERT: Gretta Kruesi, Professional Kitesurfer, Artist and Lifestyle Entrepreneur Gretta Kruesi attracts attention easily. pushing the boundaries of surfing with a kite— Whether it’s because of her pretty face competition or not. (which has earned her a modeling career) or the Q: When did you realize that it was something fact that she’s one of the only female kitesurfers you were good at and could make a career you’ll see out there, Kruesi draws in everyone’s out of? eyes. Though she’s lived in Maui, one of the GK: I started out getting sponsored by my local best places to go kitesurfing, the Charleston surf shop back in 2008. Within a year, I got native now can’t imagine living anywhere else directly picked up by an international brand. but Southern California, to which she moved to Shortly after, I was at Surf Expo in Orlando to pursue her modeling career. What she also and met one of the top kite brands. The stars finds great about the area is that she’s able to aligned—they didn’t have a female face for the model and still have access to action sports.

U.S.—and I was their girl. I immediately signed In between her two careers, the entrepreneur with them and within a few weeks was flown out is planning on getting into a new industry: to Maui for a shoot and to be in my first kite the food truck business. Her surf-inspired video with the rest of the international team. truck, Beach Kruser, will launch locally this Q: Where’s your favorite place to surf? summer, which is something Kruesi is very excited about. Though there are currently no GK: Any point break or reef break with glassy kitesurfing competitions, she hopes that will clean overhead waves and no crowd is my soon change, and in the meantime, she’ll just favorite place to surf. enjoy being the face of the kitesurfing industry.

Q: Why kite surfing instead of other styles Kruesi loves all types of surfing, but one of her of surfing? favorite styles is strapless kitesurfing because GK: It’s not a one or the other kind of thing. it allows her to do more tricks. She feels lucky I just see myself as a surfer, and kiting as an to be able to do what she loves for a living and extension of that. Anytime I can get on a board is content with life as is. She was and make big carves or smash kind enough to offer an insight to waves I’m a happy girl—be it on the GRETA’S 5 the kitesurfing world and dish out ocean, snow, lake or land.

FAVORITE all her favorite activities.

Q: Where are you from? If not THINGS ABOUT Q: How and when did you get into Southern California, what made THE OCEAN: the extreme sport of kitesurfing? you want to come out here?

1. It’s alive Gretta Kruesi: I first learned in 2. It humbles her GK: I’m originally from Charleston, front of my parents’ beach house 3. It teaches her South Carolina but it was when I 4. It’s good for in Charleston, South Carolina. This was living on Maui that I decided to the soul was back in 2005, and there was make the move. Maui is the capital 5. No matter what, literally no other girls kiting there of wind sports and the perfect place she’s always happier at the time. The surf was pretty to make a name for myself in the after being in it bad that summer and I remember kite world. But, I also realized that seeing a few local guys having so kitesurfing alone, wasn’t going to 3 THINGS much fun on these kites! I made it be a long-term sustainable career GRETTA DOES IN my mission that summer to learn, plan. I was traveling to LA a lot for HER SPARE TIME: and am thankful to this day for the work both in modeling and action 1. Surf friends that took me under their sports, and it didn’t take long to 2. Paint wing. I am still hooked to this day.

3. See live music realize Southern California was the obvious move. I now couldn’t Q: And what did you like about GRETTA’S 5 imagine living anywhere else. the sport?

FAVORITE GK: I love kitesurfing because no Q: Aside from surfing, what else PLACES TO SURF: matter the surf conditions, there’s do you like to do?

1. Zeroes always a way to push myself and GK: I paint and cook! Street art is 2. San Onofre make the surf fun. When it’s flat my second love and painting has 3. County Line or onshore, I can work on strapless become a career of its own. I’m also 4. Breakwater airs. When it’s good, I catch a ton 5. Salt Creek a bit of a homebody, so any night more waves than I would regular I get to stay in and make food is a surfing. And when it’s big, I’m more good night to me. confident and will go out or drop in on heavier Q: You’re also a model. How did you get into conditions I might not otherwise. doing that?

Q: Are you currently competing?

GK: When I was 20, I modeled for Lacoste GK: There’s currently no world tour dedicated and a few other big brands that taught me a specifically to strapless wave riding. They tried lot. Around that time I also started pursuing to start one a few years ago, but I think there kitesurfing, so it was a natural progression were still a lot of developments to be made. to start working with swimwear and sports My kite sponsor, Ben Wilson Surf, is the only lifestyle brands. surf-specific kite company out there. Simply Q: What other kinds of careers interest you? put, our goal is to bridge that gap between GK: Sure, as a creative person there’s always a surfing and kiting. I don’t think our focus will laundry list of projects; things I’d like to learn be on competitions until the standard across or do more of, but I honestly couldn’t imagine the board is up there with the TDZ crew. In myself doing anything other than what I am the meantime, I’m pretty stoked on being the now. I feel pretty lucky to say that. only girl on such a talented and progressive team and how we’re all encouraged to keep

120 |

| AUGUST 2015

“I LOVE KITESURFING because no matter the surf conditions, there’s always a way to push myself and make the surf fun.”

- Gretta Kruesi

www.grettakruesi.com

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Kruesi is on the board of Beautify Earth—a non-profit dedicated to beautifying blank wall eyesores with artist murals, and a founding member of the Silicon Beach Surf group. | AUGUST 2015 | 121

1OAK LOS ANGELES 9039 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.274.2326 www.1oakla.com

DECADENT AND DIVERSE ENTERTAINMENT IN LA FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK WRITTEN BY: KIM CONLAN

L

os Angeles is the city of dreamers, movie stars and rock musicians. At least, that is how the rest of the world pictures Los Angeles. Realistically, there are many cultures spread throughout the many neighborhoods in the LA area, with even more diverse individuals inhabiting each section of this metropolis.

Due to this diversity, this city has produced some of the best and most unique food, drink and nightlife in the world. Many would say that Los Angeles even rivals the likes of London, New York and Las Vegas, but with better weather and sunny beaches readily available.

Whether you are a visitor or a local, the list of nighttime entertainment establishments can be rather overwhelming. Depending on your taste, budget and ability to venture out on certain evenings will directly determine where you will want to frequent. Los Angeles is a busy city where everyone works constantly and rarely has time to stop and find that next adventure.

So let us help you! Here are five of the finest nightclub establishments in the area, each with its own unique flair and way of having fun.

On our list is 1OAK on the infamous Sunset Strip in Hollywood, styled with extraordinary contemporary art, interior design and lighting. Just down the street you can hide away in your own personal karaoke room at Blind Dragon. Prefer specialty cocktails and the feel of the roaring ’20s? The Edison in Downtown Los Angeles has the perfect setting to suffice those needs. Or maybe you’re looking for a nightclub with some old LA style, and will want to get some bottle service and enjoy a decadent night at Henry’s. If you have a craving for rock music, craft cocktails, and a stunning setting, head to Pershing Square and visit Mrs. Fish. Whatever your choice may be, all of these Los Angeles nightclubs are places that are setting the standard for night entertainment in LA.

| AUGUST 2015 | 123

what’s in a name?

g Blind Dragon formed its name from the Prohibitionera illegal establishments known as “Blind Pig” or “Blind Tiger,” meaning it was a speakeasy or blind spot from the law.

drink up

g You can order any of the Blind Dragon cocktails as a punch bowl for $300

personal karaoke picks

JOHN TERZIAN: g A Sinatra song

WADE CRESCENT: g Sweet Home Alabama g Satisfaction g Wonderwall g Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You g Baby One More Time

ADAM KORAL: g Snoop g Classic R&B g Old school hip hop

I

f you have ever wanted to find a stylish lounge where you can just hide away and enjoy the company of your choosing with specialty cocktails in hand, then Blind Dragon is the nightclub you are looking for. Just off of the beaten path of the Sunset Strip, Blind Dragon offers complete privacy for its clientele in the form of karaoke suites and secluded den sections. Enjoy the striking design of the space, which is adorned with Asian embellishments, vibrant red couches, lantern lighting, and thick green foliage. Rent the karaoke spaces for two or more hours with your favorite friends, locked away to sing all of your top hits and let loose without peeping eyes watching. Need a bite to eat once you’ve worn yourself out from working the microphone? Blind Dragon offers a great selection of delectable morsels to keep your energy up and keep you rocking out. For John Terzian and Wade Crescent, the H.Wood Group entrepreneurs created their establishment to provide an alternate nightclub experience. With the help of their Food and Beverage Specialist, Adam Koral, Terzian and Crescent truly have established Blind Dragon as a unique LA nightlife hot spot. Take a look at what they have to say about what exactly is so special about this secluded West Hollywood club.

Q: What was the inspiration behind opening the Blind Dragon?

John Terzian: We’ve worked for a long time with Wade Crescent, music wise. He has a very strong passion for the music and event world, which is why we’ve been trying to put a concept like this together for more than a year. We wanted to bring a concept that was more out of the box that West Hollywood has not had yet.

124 |

| AUGUST 2015

Wade Crescent: This whole concept comes from Japan. In LA, that type of party only existed in Koreatown. I’ve been so fortunate to spend some time there before I moved to LA, and it’s just an amazing place. That’s when I got really into karaoke—like going 6 days a week; I couldn’t get enough of it.

This club I was working at had this little private booth upstairs, and so I’d DJ for a bit, then run upstairs and sing songs.

Q: Why is it so unique as an establishment in Los Angeles?

JT: It’s going to be the kind of place that brings people together.

And no one’s really done it in this area. People drive to all parts of LA for that experience. For us, what we like about it is that it’s a strong form of entertainment. Bring your own party, be in your own world, but also be out with everybody. If you are not into karaoke, you’re welcome to stay out in the lounge area. This is not your typical club version and not a bottle service type thing.

WC: What we’re really trying to do is to find a place for everyone—for people who like going out and enjoying each others’ company. I wanted a place that’s a little fun, a little secretive. We’re not trying to sell crazy amounts of bottles at the door—just, like, if you’re here, you belong here. And that’s something that’s sometimes lacking in the nightlife world.

Q: What role do the karaoke suites play in your lounge?

WC: The people that I’ve met through karaoke, you just have this bond with them. You’ve sang these songs together, and it’s really amazing. It’s just such a different way to interact when you’re out. And we wanted to bring that to West Hollywood.

Q: What elements were most important to you when attempting to create the overall theme of the Blind Dragon?

JT: There is so much detail in the design of the venue. We are really proud of how the interiors turned out. It is such a gorgeous, very photogenic space in both day and night that has

BLIND DRAGON 9201 W Sunset Blvd Hollywood, CA 90069 310.274.7500 www.hwoodgroup.com/blind-dragon

Rent the karaoke spaces for two or more hours with your favorite friends, locked away to sing all of your top hits and let loose without peeping eyes watching.

Asian touches mixed with a typical nightlife accoutrement, all done up in the high-end West Hollywood stylings. We were able to collaborate with designers, John Sofio and Sormeh Azad of Built Inc. to bring Blind Dragon to life. We wanted to stay true to the exclusive, exotic Asian themed Karaoke bar and lounge concept destination, featuring historical, royal dynasty fixtures and nostalgic furnishings. We decided on the hidden ‘shipping crate’ entrances for both the front door and also for our three uniquely themed private karaoke rooms, with plush communal areas for people who just want to dance or grab a drink at the bar.

Q: Privacy seems to be of utmost importance. Can you explain what type of environment clientele can expect?

WC: I’ve worked in nightlife for 15-odd years. I’ve opened spots, and worked with some of the best operators in Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo. So through traveling so much, I’ve got a pretty great cosmopolitan clientele. I’ve been in LA now for 4 years, and as you know, there’s been such a great influx of people from all over the world—people picking up on the LA vibe and coming here. It’s almost like they’re catching the LA wave.

JT: This is a space for beautiful people to let loose, either by singing their hearts out in one of the well-appointed private rooms, or out in the main room alongside the rest of the riffraff. I firmly believe that business builds on business. A lot of our friends and clients live on the Westside, Beverly Hills or Hollywood. This is a meeting spot in the middle of it all.

Q: Can you explain how your bottle menu works, what cocktails are available, and the punch that is available?

Adam Koral: While there is a full bar menu available, our Asian-themed special cocktails menu is more ’80s pop culture-inspired and, any of the special cocktails can be made for our signature sharable punch bowls. The punch bowls

are excellent to have with a good group of friends. With our karaoke room menus, starting with reservations at 2 hours per room, we offer separate cocktail service packages with food. Between ballads, guests can enjoy some sake or any of our fun special cocktails, while snacking on late-night fresh cooked dim sum, or a Margarita Pie. Q: Your food selection is very delectable. Can you tell us what you offer on your menu?

AK: We get to blend the best of both worlds. Our food menu features a cheeky on-purpose combo Swedish pizza and an assortment of dim sum, presented by Chefs Luigi Fineo and Michael Lefnes at the shared Rivabella kitchen.

Q: What type of events do you tend to cater to most often?

JT: At Blind Dragon, we get a lot of requests for private events and birthdays. People see the karaoke rooms concept as a really fun and different way to celebrate, rather than your typical going out night. In everything we produce, we really like to cater our events to what our crowd mostly enjoys, then build on top from what’s been the best received. We also always look for ways to bring something else to the table. It ranges widely, whether it’s an impromptu guest music performance, celebrity DJ, or even a surprise VIP that walks through the door. There’s always something unexpected happening that wraps people in that entertainment excitement, and it’s a lot of what has really drawn people to our venues. We have gained a great amount of trust from our amazing clientele with our hospitality operations, and events execution. We hope to be known for these etiquettes always in check and deliver our genuine brand to each expansion.

“OUR FOOD MENU FEATURES A CHEEKY ON-PURPOSE COMBO SWEDISH PIZZA AND AN ASSORTMENT OF DIM SUM, PRESENTED BY CHEFS LUIGI FINEO AND MICHAEL LEFNES AT THE SHARED RIVABELLA KITCHEN.” – ADAM KORAL

| AUGUST 2015 | 125

1OAK LOS ANGELES 9039 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 310.274.2326 www.1oakla.com

Make yourself at home on one of the two levels in the club that are centered around the DJ booth.

Reserve a table for bottle service, hit the bar, or just enjoy the lounge areas.

1OAK HAS BOOKED SOME OF THE MOST REPUTABLE DJS IN THE BUSINESS WHO KNOW HOW TO BRING THE BEATS THAT KEEP THE PARTY GOING ALL NIGHT LONG.

T

he Sunset Strip has always been where rock 'n' roll legends play to crowds and then wander the streets post-show. Since this area is known for its wild nights, that is exactly what 1OAK provides. However, instead of long-haired rockers, 1OAK has booked some of the most reputable DJs in the business who know how to bring the beats that keep the party going all night long. Before 1OAK took over the location, this venue was known as The Key Club. Renovations included contemporary installations designed by master artist, Roy Nachum. The owners also completely transformed the old venue’s two levels, replacing the old with Brazilian wood counters, extensive lighting, chevron tiled flooring, LED screens and gorgeous embellishments. Make yourself at home on one of the two levels in the club that are centered around the DJ booth. Reserve a table for bottle service, hit the bar, or just enjoy the lounge areas. Once you experience the eclectic artwork, profound design and outstanding performances from club DJs at 1OAK, you’ll want to make this spot on the Sunset Strip your next regular hangout. We spoke with Darren Dzienciol, Owner and Operator of 1OAK, to see just what makes this nightclub so unique.

Q: What is the meaning behind the name 1OAK? Darren Dzienciol: 1OAK stands for One-Of-A-Kind, referring to Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and how we all have individual one of a kind DNA but live in social groups and require interaction.

Q: How are you involved with the business?

DD: I have had a longstanding relationship with 1OAK Owner

126 |

| AUGUST 2015

and Partner Richie Akiva and our former Partner Scott Sartiano.

We worked together to bring the well known 1OAK brand in New York to the Los Angeles market. After working together closely for several years, I am now a partner in the brand and am excited to announce that we are expanding to London, Japan and Dubai this year alone in addition to other future endeavors under The Butter Group like Up&Down.

Q: How was the transition from the setup of The Key Club, to the renovated design of 1OAK? DD: We really transformed the space, and redesigned the venue with the use of quality materials and art installations to make it unique to 1OAK. Under the direction of contemporary artist Roy Nachum, we wanted our guests to walk into the place and recognize it as 1OAK, not as The Key Club. This was obviously challenging as we took a live music venue and turned it into an upscale nightclub environment.

Q: Can you tell me about the overall setting and style at 1OAK LA? DD: 1OAK LA features signature Da Vinci Code walls, Brazilian wood counters and a Gatsby-esque atmosphere split amongst the main floor and mezzanine level to convey a luxury ambiance.

The large-scale oil paintings, light installations and gorilla sculptures add a cool cultural touch.

Q: What type of events do you have there?

DD: We have our normal programming which is two nights a week and also have plans to add a third and fourth shortly. On nights we are not open, we have private events. We have catered

sneak peek

g The venue features the Da Vinci Code walls by renowned artist Roy Nachum.

g The venue accommodates up to 550 people, and offers DJ and live entertainment with state-of-the-art lighting.

g Enjoy two full service bars, valet parking, and event catering.

to everyone from Vanity Fair to Harvey Weinstein, to Beats

by Dre and also host a lot of big concert and movie premier after-parties. We recently hosted The Weeknd following a soldout show at the Hollywood Bowl and had an event with world renowned DJ Tiesto.

Q: Is there a specific event that you have found to be most memorable?

DD: Award season is always fun. One of the most memorable events we had was a top secret party for the film, “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The club was packed with the best people in Hollywood and was definitely a night to remember.

Q: What makes this nightclub unique in Hollywood?

DD: Our location is by far one of the best in Hollywood and we pride ourselves on service. Since we are located in West Hollywood, on Sunset Boulevard right in the midst of all the action, our clientele is provided with easy access, whether they are coming from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica

or elsewhere. We also create a really unique and exclusive experience for every one of our guests. Since we are on a first name basis with our clients, we do little things to make every experience unique each time they walk into the venue.

Q: Can you describe your clientele, and the amenities you offer to those in attendance?

DD: The 1OAK LA clientele is comprised of mostly cool creatives in fashion and media as well as Hollywood actors, top executives and international travelers. The integrity of the place will never change from special birthday celebrations, to the unique nightly programming. We even provide our highprofile clients with access to a secret backdoor entrance and restroom that allows them to feel private while enjoying the experience that comes with 1OAK. Every one of our staff is very personal with clients. People feel comfortable because they are on a first name basis and remember small details such as the type of Champagne they drink.

g When the venue isn’t open, there are private events. 1OAK has catered to everyone from Vanity Fair to Harvey Weinstein, to Beats by Dre.

g One of the most memorable events 1OAK had was a top secret party for the film, “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

“WE CREATE A REALLY UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR GUESTS. SINCE WE ARE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS WITH OUR CLIENTS, WE DO LITTLE THINGS TO MAKE EVERY EXPERIENCE UNIQUE EACH TIME THEY WALK INTO THE VENUE.” – DARREN DZIENCIOL

| AUGUST 2015 | 127

THE EDISON 108 W 2nd St #101 Los Angeles, CA 90012 213.613.0000 www.edisondowntown.com

Take yourself back to the 1920s by stepping into this establishment that is fashioned as if a nightclub and Edison light factory merged into one.

“THE EDISON LOGO IS ‘LIVING HISTORY IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES’ AND CELEBRATES THE FIRST ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS, THE INVENTIONS OF EDISON AND TESLA, AND THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH ART AND TECHNOLOGY MELDED INTO ONE.” - BARBARA JACOBS

E

legant, refined, industrial. These are words that immediately come to mind when you see the inside of The Edison. Take yourself back to the 1920s by stepping into this establishment that is fashioned as if a nightclub and Edison light factory merged into one. Although the setting has the feel of a power plant, the mixture of clientele dressed in upscale and proper attire with comfortingly classic cocktails in hand projects a sophisticated impression overall. This is more than a club. It is an experience, and was created to give adults an environment where they can revel in the old manners of the past, and appreciate a time when attention-to-detail was of the utmost importance. Enjoy trapeze artists, a big band and burlesque dancers while you enjoy one of the finest menus of food and drink. Just make sure to pull out that fine suit or dress since there is a dress code, and don’t miss the hidden door on the way into this tasteful speakeasy. COO of The Edison, Barbara Jacobs, explains just what the main focus was when creating this venue, and why every little detail is constantly taken into consideration when running this establishment. Let the staff at The Edison take you back to a more decorous time— if even just for an evening.

Q: Where is The Edison located, and how does that play into the overall theme of the lounge?

Barbara Jacobs: The Edison is located in the Downtown Los Angeles historic core. The location was integral to the theme and design of the space. The Edison logo is “living history in downtown Los Angeles” and celebrates the first electric power plants, the inventions of Edison and Tesla, and that brief period of time in which art and technology melded into one. All of this was reflected in Andrew Meieran’s original concepts and it is what continues to set us apart from any other nightlife destination in the world.

Q: What were you and Andrew Meieran aiming for when designing this incredible location?

BJ: The Edison purposefully offers an upscale experience, and that is reflected in our continuing attention to service and varied entertainment options. The experience of The Edison

128 |

| AUGUST 2015

mirrors a period of time when everyone dressed to the nines to go out on the town.

Q: There is so much history connected to The Edison. How is that depicted to the clientele?

BJ: The Edison’s ultimate goal is to entertain our guests and to momentarily suspend reality. You might not actually notice all of the historic details, such as the original power generators or the repurposed machinery used to create elaborate fixtures, but you will immediately notice that you are immersed in a total sensory experience that includes the décor, the dress and attitude of the staff, the lighting and entertainment. The historical elements are found in every nook and corner of the space, but the intention is that the guest is immersed into another world—a time and place when this keen attention to detail was cherished.

Q: Can you describe the dress code, and why it is so important to the atmosphere?

BJ: The Edison strives to create the ultimate nightlife experience.

To that end, we recommend that guests dress in upscale cocktail attire. We request that guests refrain from wearing athletic or tennis shoes, athletic wear, ripped or torn jeans and that gentlemen wear collared shirts. The intention of the dress code is intended to maintain an upscale venue for adults to enjoy. It also offers our guests a great excuse to dress up, with many of our guests arriving nightly in period costumes.

Q: What type of entertainment is typical at The Edison?

BJ: The Edison prides itself on varied and upscale entertainment.

We create an atmosphere of excitement, by featuring a variety of artists, including aerialists elegantly descending from high in the rafters, burlesque dancers, period music, big bands, stilt walkers, tap dancers and an array of assorted talent. You never know exactly what you will experience at The Edison; sometimes, you are not certain that you can believe your own eyes.

Q: The cocktails and food play an important role at The Edison. What is it about your selection that is so impressive?

BJ: The Edison enjoys the largest and most comprehensive offering

“WE CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF EXCITEMENT, BY FEATURING A VARIETY OF ARTISTS, INCLUDING AERIALISTS ELEGANTLY DESCENDING FROM HIGH IN THE RAFTERS, BURLESQUE DANCERS, PERIOD MUSIC, BIG BANDS, STILT WALKERS, TAP DANCERS AND AN ARRAY OF ASSORTED TALENT.” – BARBARA JACOBS

of gins in Los Angeles, and our whiskey and bourbons rival any in the area. In fact, we offer spirits that are created especially for us.

As part of the immersive entertainment experience of The Edison, our vintage china and stemware play very important roles in maintaining the overall character and design. Our dining menus are specifically designed to complement our cocktails, and our chef works closely with our bar staff to ensure that our menus celebrate the theme of The Edison.

Q: Can you describe the layout for someone who has never experienced it firsthand?

BJ: Much like a speakeasy, our entrance is in an alleyway just off Main Street. In fact, you could walk right by the entrance and never notice that we’re here. The entrance immediately sets the stage for what is to come—the period costumes of the staff, the music, the furnishings—however, most first-time guests are overwhelmed as they descend the two-story flight of stairs to enter the main bar. The Edison is quite large, but it is designed utilizing smaller spaces, nooks and secret alcoves, allowing for a sense of mystery and exploration. Seating is intimate and carefully arranged to allow for more private spaces, as well as breathtaking views and dramatic spectacle.

Q: What makes The Edison such a unique lounge?

BJ: The Edison has never offered bottle service. Our goal is to have our guests enjoy a proper, civilized night out, just as they might have in this same space 100 years ago. This sort of elegant nightlife offering is all but non-existent in other venues.

Q: What type of attitude should someone come to The Edison with to fully enjoy the experience?

BJ: An open mind and a willingness to have the time of their lives! We are proud that our guests include every walk of life and every type of person that you can imagine. We expect our guests to respect those that share our space, and we hope that for a brief time, they will all suspend their reality and allow us to transport them to a magical time. Every time a guest tells us that a night spent with us was one of the greatest memories of their lives, we know that we have succeeded!

be my guest

WHAT ARE THE GUESTS LIKE AT THE EDISON? g “One of the greatest things about The Edison is that we are able to cross over supposed age, financial and cultural boundaries to simply provide a memorable experience for our guests.

From our one of a kind live performances to the magical Absinthe Fairy, The Edison has something for everyone. So often we hear that walking into The Edison is like walking into a bygone era, where there are treats and surprises around every corner. We compose ourselves with a certain level of sophistication that allows everyone to enjoy themselves and never feel out of place. We provide an inclusive experience and environment that is both high energy and casual in order to appeal to all walks of life.”

– Michael Heckle, General Manager, The Edison

drink up

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR COCKTAIL THAT YOU SERVE AT THE EDISON? g “The Edison signature cocktail is a guest favorite. It’s perfect for bourbon lovers that love a bit of peach, lemon and honey.”

MOST UNUSUAL DRINK REQUEST RECIEVED? g “Can I get a ‘whiskey’ on the rocks with no ice, please?”

– Christopher Ogilvie, Director of Spirits, The Edison

bottle packages

g YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE 1 6LP Perrier Jouet Bella Epoque 2 3LT Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque 5 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Brut 5 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Rose 2 Eylx Magnum

g THE PUBLIC ENEMY 1 3LT Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Brut 5 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Brut 5 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Rose 2 Elyx Magnum

g BLACK ANGEL 10 Dom Perignon 2 Belvedere Magnum

g TOUCH OF EVIL 5 Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label 1 Belvedere Magnum

g THE SET-UP 1 Stoli Elite 1 Don Julio 1942

H

enry’s has a past. It’s changed faces a few times, trying to find the right fit for its style of nightlife. Luckily, the venue has found its stride offering the epitome of Los Angeles lounging, with coolness, style and comfort. Enjoy the renovation by reserving a classic leather lounge booth, settle under sultry dim lighting, and choose your favorite from Henry’s fine selection of bottled libations. Run by Brian Toll of the H.Wood Group, along with fellow partners, Henry’s has a team of some of the best in the hospitality business backing it. Rub elbows with the Hollywood elite, and if you are really celebrating, get ready to indulge with an order of one of their cleverlynamed bottle packages. Choose from “The Set-Up,” “Touch Of Evil,” “Black Angel,” “The Public Enemy,” or go big with “You Only Live Once.” Just make sure to bring your friends!

Q: How are you involved with the business?

Brian Toll: I am a managing parter and handle most of the day-to-day operations and the business side of things.

130 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: What does a typical evening at Henry’s look like?

BT: Typically, I get there around 10:30pm as we open doors and finish our pre-shift meetings. People start to trickle in at that point and promoters check in their groups with the front.

Tables and our VIP start to come around midnight and that’s really when the party gets started.

Q: How would you describe the overall style of the lounge?

BT: It’s meant to feel comfortable inside with oversized tables so big groups can be accommodated. As a patron of clubs, I always hated being squashed into a table with my group that is really only meant to fit six people. We also planned the layout so all the tables face each other so people can see who’s in the room and vibe off of each other.

Q: What is the history behind Henry’s?

BT: We opened initially 2 years ago in May 2013 as Hooray Henry’s, and went over-the-top with the lighting and projections. We tried to make a mini Vegas-style club work

HENRY’S 8713 Beverly Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90048 310.274.7500 www.hwoodgroup.com/henrys

Enjoy the renovation by reserving a classic leather lounge booth, settle under sultry dim lighting, and choose your favorite from Henry’s fine selection of bottled libations.

in West Hollywood. It was clear that our customers preferred more of a lounge atmosphere, so we did a little remodel in October of 2014 and got rid of the stadium-style seating. It made the room a lot more toned-down and comfortable.

Q: When you renovated, what were the key changes you wanted to make?

BT: We wanted to give people a more relaxed feel when they were inside. With the success of The Nice Guy and the back room at Bootsy Bellows, we’ve noticed that our VIP are sick of the big clubs with big lights and a want a more toneddown vibe.

Q: What type of performances can your clientele enjoy here?

BT: We have had everyone from French Montana, Tyga, and Snoop in there on the hip hop side, to a new indie band called ASTR. We try to appeal with our performances by staying ahead of what’s cool and have artists before they break as well as top talent.

Q: You have a great mixture of bottle service items. Can you tell us how you decided on your menu?

BT: It’s a combo of factors, including what our clientele demands us to carry, as well as new interesting products that we think they may enjoy.

Q: What is unique about this Los Angeles club?

BT: I think the crowd is what sets us apart. A lot of these clubs in Hollywood just charge $20 per person to anyone who shows up, and they don’t really care about their clientele. We try to cater to artists and a cool crowd, and we purposely don’t charge a cover so we can keep the best crowd coming back.

Q: Do you cater to special events?

BT: H.Wood group does a ton of special events in general, but it’s very tough in this specific venue just based on sheer size.

Most private events need at least 500 people, so we do a lot more of these at Bootsy Bellows and off premises.

“WE TRY TO CATER TO ARTISTS AND A COOL CROWD, AND WE PURPOSELY DON’T CHARGE A COVER SO WE CAN KEEP THE BEST CROWD COMING BACK.” – BRIAN TOLL

| AUGUST 2015 | 131

sneak peek

MRS. FISH 448 S Hill St Los Angeles, CA 90013 213.873.4444 www.mrsfish.com

g Mrs. Fish offers weekly shows from local and touring rock, indie and pop groups.

Inside of this unassuming space is a ceiling covered by a suspended aquarium full of sea life.

g The venue is adorned with a 5,500 gallon suspended chandelier aquarium filled with sea life.

g Their food and drink have many musical themed names like:

TINY BUBBLES Remy VS/VSOP Sugar cube Angostura Bitters Champagne / sparkling wine THE FLAMING HETFIELD Old Forester Bourbon Sugar cube Simple syrup Angostura Bitters LONDON CALLING: Crispy battered New England cod, served classically with thick cut steak fries, tartar sauce and lemon.

ANGRY INCH DOGS: Two 2-oz. all Wagyu beef hot dogs grilled and served atop warm brioche buns, topped with sherry marinated peppers, caramelized onions, and garnished with a side of pepperoncinis.

ROCK OPERA CAKE: Layers of chocolate cake and coffee mousse topped with a dark chocolate ganache and streaked with white chocolate. Accompanied with espresso crème anglaise and shaved bittersweet chocolate.

132 |

| AUGUST 2015

L

ive music has a new home in Downtown Los Angeles. Slightly hidden, settled underground, and very hip, Mrs. Fish is definitely rapidly growing in popularity since its opening. With an eclectic and creative design and atmosphere, this nightclub will be a place you’ll find yourself frequenting on a regular basis.

Check out their rock concerts, grab a full meal or a small plate of caviar, and sip on a specialty cocktail created by the mixologist at the bar. And how could we not mention the elephant—or the fish tank—in the room. That’s right. Inside of this unassuming space is a ceiling covered by a suspended aquarium full of sea life. Head to the back door of this Pershing Square building, down the ornate iron staircase, and into this intimate, yet extensive underground venue. Director of Operations, Joseph Ojeda, tells us just what sets this Los Angeles nightclub apart from the rest, and just what you should expect when you walk through those double doors.

Q: Can you describe the layout of the establishment?

JO: Simultaneously spacious and intimate. The scene creates a perfect acoustic environment to indulge the senses.

Q: How does your location in Pershing Square play a role in your establishment?

Joseph Ojeda: Pershing Square is an iconic location that’s soon to be undergoing an incredible revitalization, so it’s certainly exciting to be at the forefront of the development of our city. This provides Mrs. Fish the opportunity to help shape Downtown LA’s city square by offering those who live, work and visit downtown a new, authentic music experience.

Q: What is your take on cocktails at Mrs. Fish?

JO: We had Joseph Brooke, from the show “Bar Rescue,” consult us on the list. We offer approachable, craft cocktails that don’t take 15 minutes to prepare.

Q: With so many points to start with—drinks, entertainment, atmosphere—it’s difficult to choose. How is the mix of all three components important to your business?

JO: Extremely important. They all play a major role in the overall experience. But let’s not forget the food! For example, try sipping on one of our quality vodkas—served neat— immediately followed by a bite of buttered toast-point topped with a spoonful of our Ossetra caviar. It’s an unforgettable experience for most anyone.

Q: The furnishing, artwork and lighting are incredibly decadent. What type of ambiance were you trying to create when first creating this location?

JO: An eclectic atmosphere with an East Coast vibe.

Q: What type of performance, music and entertainment is typical at Mrs. Fish?

JO: Rock music.

Q: Do you showcase any special events, and is there one in particular that is most memorable?

JO: If you stay until 1:00am on the weekends, it’s always a special surprise.

Q: What sets this lounge and venue apart from others in Los Angeles?

JO: The food is at another level. It’s an intimate setting even though it’s a larger venue. Oh, and the 5,500 gallon fish tank is something you don’t see every day.

Q: Overall, what do you offer your clientele?

JO: A music experience unlike anything in LA. Q: Is there any advice you can give visitors to make the most of their experience at Mrs. Fish?

JO: Come early so you can get a good seat! And order the Tuna Boui.

TIMER’S GUIDE

SAIL SAN DIEGO Shelter Island Marina 2051 Shelter Island Dr San Diego, CA 92106 619.297.7426 www.sailsandiego.com

134 |

| AUGUST 2015

Vitamin

SE A Learning the Ropes of Sailing the Big Blue Aboard the ZEN YATTA WRITTEN BY: NICOLE FERA PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MICHAEL WESLEY

| AUGUST 2015 | 135

PRICING: 3-hour Adventure Day Sail: $85 per person 3-hour Sunset Sail: $85 per person 3 1/2-hour Rum Runner: $120 per person 3 1/2-hour Whale Watching: $90 per person 6-hour All Day Group Sails: $185 per person 3-hour Engagement/ Anniversary Sail: $480 for up to 6 people 3-hour Private Lesson: $385 for up to 4 people

Sailing Terminology: 10 TERMS TO KNOW

From Discover Boating www.discoverboating.com

#1 Aft: The back of a ship. If something is located aft, it is towards the rear of the sailboat. The aft is also known as the stern. #2 Bow: The front of the ship is called the bow. Knowing the location of the bow is important for defining two of the other most common sailing terms: port (left of the bow) and starboard (right of the bow). #3 Port: Port is always the lefthand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used in open water, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow.

WHEN YOU LIVE

IN A CITY AS BEAUTIFUL AND WARM AS SAN DIEGO, you tend to seek out new and exciting days that San Diego has seen in ways to spend as much time in the months. However, I’m a firm believer sun as possible. That's what prompted that everything happens for a reason, me to set sail with SAIL SAN DIEGO and when we were finally able to head for a first-timer’s course, where I out, the weather could not have been learned how to “trim the sails, jib the more perfect. After sitting on the dock genoa, and man the helm.” for a few moments looking The first thing If those last few references out onto the marina and I learned to do have you feeling a little lost, feeling excited to get during my sailing don't worry. I’m here to share out there, I was lesson was to look all my newfound sailing tips greeted by Captain out for the boom. and information so that you Tim Hanley. After The boom is a can try out my peaceful new a few minutes of large, horizontal hobby for yourself. By the talking, he escorted pole attached to end of this article, you'll be the bottom of the our photographer mast (which is the Michael and me equipped with boat jargon, long pole in the what to expect, and how to onto the dock to meet make the most of your day on center that has all our captain and check out of the navigation the high seas. the sailboat where we'd be tools and sails spending the rest of our day.

Whether they are fortunate attached to it).

enough to call San Diego home or not, most people are aware of the city’s constant and consistently good weather. This is a big plus in the world of sailing, where a lot of things depend on the wind, temperature and currents. That’s why it’s pretty ironic that my first two attempts at heading out for a lesson ended up being scheduled on two of the only stormy

RULES OF THE

ROAD

The boat we boarded was a Catalina 400, spanning 40 feet and named the ZEN YATTA. I’m no boat expert, but it seemed to me to have all the essentials for a perfect day at sea. There was cold wine and beer down below in the cabin, a bathroom, a bedroom, comfortable seating both upstairs and on the deck of the boat, and plenty of snacks! What more could

#1 Out on the water, larger boats have the right of way. That's because it’s easier for smaller boats to change their course, so be mindful that you need to move when you see the cruise liner coming right for you.

#2 When sailing in San Diego, keep in mind that the Navy restricts some areas on the water. Be aware of this when you choose your course.

you ask for? Our captain, Peter Ogden, was an equally amazing surprise, with his genuine kindness and enthusiasm.

Right off the bat I could tell that Ogden had a lot of experience and that he’d have me sailing in no time! After explaining a few basic safety rules and boat terms that we’d be using throughout the lesson, Ogden hoisted the sails, and we set sail into the beautiful San Diego Bay. The first thing I learned to do during my sailing lesson was to look out for the boom.

The boom is a large, horizontal pole attached to the bottom of the mast (which is the long pole in the center that has all of the navigation tools and sails attached to it). It gets its name from the loud noise that it can make when knocking someone over, and on days with high-intensity winds it can move on its own and be the most dangerous thing about sailing. After making a serious mental note to stay out of the boom's way, we proceeded with our lesson. I learned that for ideal sailing, you need to be constantly aware of the wind and

#3 Never anchor in the channel, which is a straight of water that connects two larger bodies of water and is marked by buoys. You’ll just be in everyone's way and anger the Coast Guard.

#4 Starboard: Starboard is always the right-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Again, “right” and “left” are confusing sailing terms when used in open water, so starboard is used to refer to the right-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow. #5 Leeward: Also known as lee, leeward is the direction opposite to the way the wind is currently blowing (windward).

#6 Windward: The direction in which the wind is currently blowing.

Windward is the opposite of leeward.

Sailboats tend to move with the wind, making the windward direction an important sailing term to know. #7 Boom: The boom is the horizontal pole that extends from the bottom of the mast. Adjusting the boom towards the direction of the wind is how the sailboat harnesses wind power in order to move forward or backward. #8 Rudder: Located beneath the

boat, the rudder is a flat piece of wood, fiberglass or metal that is used to steer the ship. Larger sailboats control the rudder via a wheel, while smaller sailboats will have a steering mechanism directly aft.

#9 Tacking: This basic sailing maneuver, also known as "coming about," refers to turning the bow of the boat through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other. The boom of a boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack. #10 Jibing: The opposite of tacking, this basic sailing maneuver refers to turning the stern of the boat through the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the boat to the other side. The boom of a boat will always shift from one side to the other when performing a tack or a jibe.

Jibing is a less common technique than tacking since it involves turning a boat directly into the wind. | AUGUST 2015 | 137

DID YOU KNOW? You can sail as long and as far as you’d like, weather permitting.

WITH THEIR AMAZING STAFF, BEAUTIFUL BOATS AND

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, IT’S THE PERFECT PLACE TO GET YOUR FEET WET AND TRY SOMETHING NEW.

Meet the CAPTAINS: Tim Hanley

is not only a captain, but also the operations manager at Sail San Diego. Hailing from the East Coast, he purchased his first boat in Atlantic City, New Jersey—a favorite place to gamble, party and apparently, sail.

Peter Ogden

was the captain of Zen Yatta the day LOCALE came to sea. He's considered a master sailor, with over 12 years of experience under his belt. He's a California native who got his start on the San Francisco Bay. But his love of travel has taken him around the world; his longest trip to date was 40 days long, spanning from the Panama Canal to the Virgin Islands. His passion for sailing comes through when he shares his interesting stories from abroad with those aboard his ship.

AYE, AYE CAPTAIN 138 |

| AUGUST 2015

its direction. For example, if you are “wing on wing,” then you need to keep the wind directly behind you.

If you’re on a “port tack,” then the wind is coming over the port side of the boat. And if you’re “down wind,” then you are running away from the wind. All these terms filled my head as I tried to keep an eye on the boat's direction, our speed, and all the other components that drive you to make changes throughout the journey.

After a little instruction, Captain Ogden let me TRIM MY FIRST SAIL, a personal victory in my small world and a workout for my arms. I pulled the rope through and watched the sail change direction before securing the ropes and then turning the helm towards our new course, downtown. As we sailed closer to the city and enjoyed the amazing view, I learned that sailing is not only about the wind, but also about balance and multi-tasking. “When you’re first starting out, you need to keep four things in mind: the jib, the main sail, the keel and the rudder,” Ogden explained. All four of these create a balance of effort and keep the sailboat

#1 Even if it’s a hot sunny day, make sure to bring a jacket out on the boat with you. Changing directions can cause winds to pick up and even the warmest day can feel chilly.

moving on the right course. Like most things, this becomes easier to understand and comes more naturally the longer you do it. Even steering the boat was a bit of a challenge at first because the slightest movement had a huge effect on the way this boat moved. If I turned the wheel to the right, then the Zen Yatta would immediately start to move in response.

Ogden taught me to look out to a distant point and keep the helm in line with that for minimal movement and a steadier course when cruising along.

stuck with me as we sailed back to the bay. He shared some amazing stories of sailors and things encountered on the seas and told us, “It’s impossible to not be a bit of a mystic when you spend your life out on the water.” Even after a few short hours, I believe this to be true, and can’t wait to get back out there!

If you’re a first-time sailor like I once was, check out some of the sailing jargon to help prepare you for your first lesson. Safety tips and a little inside knowledge are also key and The 3-hour lesson with Peter and available thanks to Peter Ogden Michael flew by because of all and my amazing experience with there was to learn, Sail San Diego. Located the beautiful at Shelter Island Marina, As we sailed scenery and good with their amazing staff, closer to the city company. By the beautiful boats, and years of and enjoyed the amazing view, time we were experience, it’s the perfect I learned that heading back to place to get your feet wet and sailing is not only shore, Ogden was try something new. Their about the wind, trusting me to steer boats hold up to 12 people, so but also about and asking me to trim feel free to bring friends and balance and the sails whenever needed. family, or save the lesson for multi-tasking.

I felt confident from his another time and rent out the instructions and excited to entire boat for an intimate be helping. There's just something so party! Now that I’ve had a taste of the freeing about being out on the open good life, I know that I’ll be back on water, and I realized how spiritual the the water soon, improving my skills waters can be. Ogden’s parting words and working on my tan.

#2 Make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated! You may not notice how hard the sun is hitting you or how much of your skin's moisture the wind is taking away. It’s easy to become lightheaded or sick if you're not drinking enough water.

#3 Don't forget the sunscreen! Once again, you may not notice just how much sun you’re actually getting out on the boat, so make sure to lather up beforehand and reapply.

MALIBU ROCKY OAKS ESTATE VINEYARDS 340 Kanan Rd Malibu, CA 90265 877.676.7660 www.maliburockyoaks.com

GRAPE expectations Believe It or Not, M A L I B U Has Plenty to Wine About

WRITTEN BY: JAKE PALUMBO PHOTOGRAPHED BY: DHRUMIL DESAI STYLED BY: JILLI JOFFE MODELS: LEXI ATKINS & ALENA GERBER OF WILHELMINA, www.wilhelmina.com

140 |

| AUGUST 2015

I’M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. WHEN I DO, I WANT YOU TO SAY THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND. NO CHEATING. READY? “California Wine.”

LET ME GUESS: The rolling hills of Napa Valley, golden fields of Sonoma County or, perhaps, lush and lighthearted San Luis Obispo? Mine was that YouTube video where that poor woman trips while stomping grapes and takes an alarming yet hilarious spill out of the tank onto the ground.

Anyway, the point is that when most people think of California wine, their thoughts drift first to the verdant valleys of the Golden State’s central and northern coastal regions. In the race to the top of mind, SoCal tends to cross the finish line long after its more widely recognized regional brothers as a legitimate California winegrowing location. Mention Malibu in any oenological conversation and risk being on the receiving end of skeptical, planetic tilts of heads on axis accompanied by the nervous crinkle of tapenade-stained cocktail napkins.

BEADED TOP PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com LACE PANTS PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com

For decades, Southern California flourished as a wine-producing region until Prohibition pulled the cork on the operation, bringing years of growth to a grinding halt. What was left afterwards was all but wiped out by the industrial explosion that occurred in Los Angeles after World War II, when thousands of acres of agriculture were replaced with manufacturing plants, shopping centers, and residential subdivisions.

However, recent years have seen a rebirth of the vine across the ocean-kissed Santa Monica Mountains that is reshaping how wine lovers think of Southern California. With its legendary reputation for pristine shores and glamorous, celebrity beach houses, it can be easy to overlook Malibu’s virtue as a producer of world-class wine, so we hit the PCH and took a drive up along the cliffs to explore four outstanding wineries that are putting Southern California on the viticultural map. g

| AUGUST 2015 | 141

Set amongst the picturesque backdrop of vines and valleys, the well-manicured layout serves as a majestic venue for weddings, birthday parties and baby showers.

MALIBU ESTATE CIELO VINEYARDS 31424 Mulholland Hwy Malibu, CA 90265 747.220.6740 www.woodstockmalibu.com 142 |

| AUGUST 2015

Don’t get me wrong. I love Los Angeles. But one of the most lovely things about living in LA is how easy it is to feel like you’re hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Never has this felt truer than when I was looking out from the vineyards at Cielo Farms, where the breathtaking view had me frantically reaching for my passport. It took nothing short of a reaffirming pinch to snap me back from the waking reverie that I was traveling across some distant Mediterranean countryside. Here, tucked into the eastern slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains where jagged peaks crown the surrounding landscape in all directions, the Pacific might as well be nothing but a myth of some far away, ancient sea.

The geometric patchwork of the vines in their rows texture the nearby hills in such an aesthetically pleasing pattern

of color and shape that they might have been placed there, premeditated, by some ambitious oil painter standing at the ready with a palette prepared with a spectrum of vegetal greens and earthen browns. The aesthetic of the foreign pastoral is linchpinned by the estate’s Tuscan inspired barn, which serves as the vineyard’s tasting room. Outside the barn, an outdoor seating area gives visitors a peaceful place to take in the scenery as they sip Cielo’s flavorful, full-bodied vintages.

Set amongst the picturesque backdrop of vines and valleys, the well-manicured layout serves as a majestic venue for weddings, birthday parties and baby showers.

Cielo owner and LA native Robert Hirsh along with his wife, Diana, built the entire property from the ground up, carefully curating the land in preparation for their first crop, which was

SLIP DRESS AND LACE KIMONO PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com TURQUOISE NECKLACES PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com

LACE DRESS PROVIDED BY: For Love and Lemons www.forloveandlemons.com CHOKERS PROVIDED BY: Child of Wild www.childofwild.com

The geometric patchwork of the vines in their rows texture the nearby hills in such an aesthetically pleasing pattern of color and shape that they might have been placed there, premeditated, by some ambitious oil painter standing at the ready with a palette prepared with a spectrum of vegetal greens and earthen browns.

planted in 2004. Together, the couple resides atop the hill in a spectacularly rustic home overlooking their vinous kingdom.

At the Cielo Farm vineyards, 12 different varietals are produced under two labels: the Cielo Estate label, which is made from grapes harvested directly from the farms, and the rock n’ roll inspired Woodstock label, which uses grapes sourced from Napa Valley. Despite their relative youth, Cielo has already

produced award-winning Syrahs and Rouge blends solidifying its reputation as one of the best wineries in the region. Although not open to the public, you can find Cielo’s flavorful vintages down the street at the Sip Wine Bar in Agoura Hills, or join the private wine club, which meets two weekends a month at the Cielo Farms Estate.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: "Cielo" means sky or heaven in Spanish, and you will understand why they named their vineyard this when you are sipping vino atop a hill, amongst the clouds. | AUGUST 2015 | 143

COLCANYON ESTATE WINES 2375 Latigo Canyon Rd Malibu, CA 90265 310.589.4925 www.colcanyon-estate-wines.com

144 |

| AUGUST 2015

The scenic road to Colcanyon Estate Wines takes you deep into the rugged heart of the Santa Monica Mountains and offers an automotive experience that would make even the most jaded of car commercial directors salivate with cinematic inspiration. As you negotiate the serpentine thoroughfare and death-defying vistas to the estate, you’ll find yourself suddenly transported to a dreamlike landscape, which seems somehow closer to the clouds than to the shimmering ocean in the western distance below. As you meander higher and higher up through the final hairpin curves, you’ll finally spot the vines of Colcanyon Estate climbing to the foot of a magnificently designed Spanish Colonial Revival home, which stands like a watchful centurion atop the mountain— its gaze cast outward across the vast canyon and down toward the sea.

The luxuriously rustic estate house at once gives an impression of sophisticated Old World elegance. The

roughly textured stucco and terracotta roof tiles reflect the same rich earthiness provided by the grapes harvested at its doorstep. The open-air balconies seem to be designed exclusively to maximize the absorption of the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape’s uninterrupted views. Peaceful courtyards and patios encourage the enjoyment of the outdoor living that Southern California’s mild climate provides. Wisps of cool breeze billow through splendid arcades, which funnel the fresh ocean air through sheltered walkways.

Established in 2001, Colcanyon Estate Wines quickly emerged as a rising star amongst wineries in the Santa Monica Mountain region, impressively earning International Double Gold Medal status by 2008 (the highest fine wine accolade there is). Situated 2000 feet above Malibu, the location of the petit vineyard is just about as good as it gets. With rich, rocky topsoil and optimally positioned for

APPAREL PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com JEWELRY PROVIDED BY: Child of Wild www.childofwild.com

With just two acres and 1,000 vines to farm, Colcanyon embodies the definition of a “boutique vineyard.” But don’t let their modest size fool you. If anything, their pipsqueak stature is responsible for the gargantuan flavor and quality of their wines.

maximum sun exposure on a south-facing 45-degree slope, the vines of Colcanyon are perfectly positioned for ideal growing conditions. Early morning mists rise from the sleepy Pacific, which provide a natural irrigation system that keeps the vines quenched even in SoCal’s relatively thirsty climate.

With just two acres and 1,000 vines to farm, Colcanyon embodies the definition of a “boutique vineyard.” But don’t let their modest size fool you. If anything, their pipsqueak stature is responsible for the gargantuan flavor and quality of their wines. Much like the parents of an only child, the vintners of Colcanyon can afford to shower their small family

of vines with the kind affectionate attention and meticulous care that brings out the very best in quality and taste of the grapes, and results in wine that is a truly honest reflection of the grapes at their time of harvest.

The planting blocks of Colcanyon are laid out as 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. All of the wines are 100 percent Malibu estate grown. Their commitment to quality has proven to consistently produce fruit-forward wines that are full-bodied, well balanced, and tonally complex.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was recently awarded a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

| AUGUST 2015 | 145

WHITE TOP AND TAUPE BOTTOMS PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com BODYCHAIN PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com

BEADED TOP PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com LACE PANTS PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com

MALIBU ROCKY OAKS ESTATE VINEYARDS 340 Kanan Rd Malibu, CA 90265 877.676.7660 www.maliburockyoaks.com 146 |

| AUGUST 2015

There are a variety of factors that make Malibu an ideal location for growing world-class wine. Its mild Mediterranean microclimate, nutrient rich volcanic soil, and proximity to the coast provide a perfect storm of growing conditions that allow winemakers to nurture their grapes to their fullest potential. Nowhere in the region does this cocktail of geographic advantages converge more favorably than at Malibu Rocky Oaks. Planted at 2,000 feet above sea level, the vines of Rocky Oaks Estate reside on a steep southfacing slope. The high elevation makes the skin of the grapes thicker, providing a richer, fuller color. The jagged angle and direction of the slope position the grapes in a way that optimizes sun exposure, funnels the cool coastal breeze, and allows for exceptional drainage. The rhythmic ebb and

flow of warm desert days and cool coastal nights facilitated by the region's coastal microclimate conducts the chemical maturation process of the grapes like an orchestra leader’s baton. Warm sun-drenched days enrich the grapes, while drastically cooler nights slow the metabolization process, which controls acidity and helps maintain an even pace.

The resulting rhythm is music to any winemaker’s ears and results in wine that is far more balanced and flavorful.

The combination of these factors leads to happier, healthier vines and produces wines overflowing with the most sought after qualities of flavor, color and aroma in the business.

Founded and family owned since 2003, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate consists of 10 planted acres on a 37 acre plot. Although if you showed me a picture of the estate, I’d probably guess I

Not to be overshadowed by its majestic scenery, the wine produced here is carefully crafted to ensure that the quality of the flavor matches the beauty of the estate.

was looking at a set piece from “Game of Thrones” rather than a vineyard. All the wineries we visited for this article were spectacular in their own right, but after visiting Rocky Oaks, I’d have to say that objectively, it was the most breathtaking.

Located right down the street from Cielo Farms, the gated driveway to the estate winds up to the very pinnacle (that’s right, the top) of its own mountain, which is crowned by a prominently regal, Gatsby-esque Tuscan villa. A five-year project in the making, this Dionysian temple to the fruit of the vine was built with imported stone from 15th century French castles and comes complete with oversized wooden doors, jaw-dropping terraces, 360 Garden of Eden views, and an infinity pool that just might be the king of infinity pools.

Not to be overshadowed by its majestic scenery, the wine produced here is carefully crafted to ensure that the quality of the flavor matches the beauty of the estate. The vineyard’s 10 varietals are meticulously tended to by hand, carefully ensuring that all of the geological advantages of the terrain are employed to the max. As the host of luxurious private parties, celebrity weddings, and exclusive events, the Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate has had no trouble establishing itself as the preeminent elite winery of Malibu, which makes the fact that their brand appeals to enthusiastic Millennials all the more interesting. As the most followed winery on Instagram on the planet, this small vineyard has become an undeniable influence in the wine business.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: After The Rocky Oaks Estate was built, the local government passed a law prohibiting the future construction on the pinnacles of the Santa Monica Mountains. ROE was the last house to be built on a pinnacle before the law was passed.

| AUGUST 2015 | 147

ROSENTHAL – THE MALIBU ESTATE WINES 18741 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA 90265 310.456.1392 www.rosenthalestatewines.com

148 |

| AUGUST 2015

When you’re driving along the PCH, it’s hard enough to simply keep your eyes on the road. The majestic stretches of jagged coastline combined with the perspective-altering expanse of the great blue Pacific act on the eyes of passing motorists with a kind of aesthetic gravitational pull which begs them stray from the yellow-lined asphalt. With this kind of oversized ocular pressure, it’s easy to understand how one could miss some of Malibu’s finest roadside institutions. The legendary highway is lined with a wide array of culinary pit stops, which have delighted both faithful locals and eager tourists for years. But for any wine lover set to traverse America’s most beloved highway, there is one stop that you absolutely cannot miss, the Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio.

Magnificently located across from Topanga State Beach, Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio boasts the only wine bar along Malibu’s stretch of the PCH. Nestled up against the foot of the mountains and with a clear view of the shimmering Pacific, Rosenthal’s Wine Bar offers an inviting, laid-back atmosphere that admirably evokes the “Endless Summer”

spirit while simultaneously embracing a sophisticated appreciation for the finer things. Patrons are invited to enjoy Rosenthal Estate’s exclusive selection of wine either inside their charming tasting room or while reclining on the outdoor patio.

Rosenthal Wine Bar & Patio serves as the fountainhead for Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate Wines, a local vineyard located 4 miles inland. The vineyard was the brainchild of founder and owner George Rosenthal, a successful Los Angeles businessman who, upon returning from a trip to Europe in the early '80s, was inspired to transform his expansive Malibu estate into a working vineyard of his own.

No small undertaking, Rosenthal spent years working with specialists checking soil composition, drainage and weather conditions to optimize growing conditions for his vines.

In 1987 he started planting and in 1991, he victoriously sipped his first vintage, a fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

Now with 38 acres under vine, Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate Wines has emerged as one of the finest wine producers in

FLORAL BLOUSE PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com WHITE PANTS PROVIDED BY: Laurenly www.laurenly.com NECKLACE AND BRACELETS PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com FLORAL SHORTS PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com NECKLACE PROVIDED BY: Chan Luu www.chanluu.com RING PROVIDED BY: Wren and Glory www.wrenglory.com

As if you needed any further motivation to enjoy a tasty glass of wine while watching the sun set into the ocean, Rosenthal donates a portion of every bottle of Surfrider sold to charities that help keep Malibu’s beaches clean.

the region. Bottled under two labels, The Malibu Estate and Surfrider, wines under the Malibu Estate Label are made from the grapes harvested by hand directly from the Malibu vineyard, which offer delightfully flavorful, well balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, crisp, Burundian-style Chardonnay, and a chocolaty, tannic Merlot along with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. In order to expand their roster of varietals, Rosenthal created their Surfrider label, which sources grapes to create unique blends such as the popular, easy drinking Hang Ten Red. And as if you needed any further motivation to enjoy a tasty glass of wine while watching the sun set into the ocean, Rosenthal donates a portion of every bottle of Surfrider sold to charities that help keep Malibu’s beaches clean.

In addition to offering their own selection of cheeses, meats, and crackers, the Malibu Wine Bar & Patio invites guests to bring their own food to accompany their wine picnic-style or to purchase meals from one of the various food trucks that post up beside the patio on weekends. Saturdays and Sundays offer live music on the patio that in addition to a lovely glass of wine provide the relaxing ambiance of a perfect Malibu summer night. Walk-ins are welcome, and reservations can be made for private educational tastings and parties. Whether you're just dropping in from the beach or seeking a quality wine tasting experience, The Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wine Bar & Patio is sure to provide the very best Southern California has to offer.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: About $1 from every bottle of Surfrider wine sold goes to charities dedicated to keeping the beaches clean.

| AUGUST 2015 | 149

LOCALEendar

20

THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES TO KEEP YOUR SUMMER ENDLESS WRITTEN BY: ERICA LEITZ

TWILIGHT CONCERTS AT THE PIER

FYF FEST

www.fyffest.com

www.santamonicapier.org/twilightconcerts

¢ Every Thursday night, from July 9th until September 5th, catch a free live music performance at the Santa Monica Pier.

With bands ranging from covers, to classic rock, to reggae, you and your friends are bound to find one (or a few) to agree on.

Bring food, something to lay on, and watch the sunset while grooving out.

PARTY PROHIBITION STYLE

1

www.queenmary.com/events/artdeco-festival

2 3

LOS ANGELES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL www.lafw.com

¢ Get your taste buds ready to go for this 4-day festival taking place August 27th-30th. Set along Grand Avenue and spanning the city, guests will enjoy sampling cuisine and product from some of the most famous chefs, amidst live entertainment. Previous lineups have included “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto, Curtis Stone and Thomas Keller.

NIGHT SWIM @ THE HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT

www.thehollywoodroosevelt.com

¢ Tropicana Pool Bar’s Night Swim offers pool toys but adult fun. One of LA’s longest running and most loved nighttime pool parties, it’s not just heavy hitting DJs who take the stage.

If you’re lucky, you might catch a surprise celebrity DJ that you didn’t even know spun tracks, such as Elijah Wood!

150 |

| AUGUST 2015

SPLASH HOUSE www.splashhouse.com

¢ This multi-venue wet music festival happens twice a summer, June 13th and 14th, and August 8th & 9th. So take advantage and check out all three of their pool stages in Palm Springs! With non-stop shuttles and non-stop fun, this fest is known for pulling big-name and up-and-coming DJs from around the world.

Can you say greatest pool party of all time?

LA CRAFT BEER CRAWL www.213nightlife.com/ lacraftbeercrawl

¢ A ticket to LA Craft Beer Crawl lets you taste over 50 craft beers in seven downtown LA bars and restaurants. But it doesn’t stop there. Gourmet food trucks are parked all along the crawl, hand picked

by Jonathan Gold. Meet the brewers and hear what they have to say about their latest creations. Then Uber home!

NIGHT OF THE LIVING ZOO www.lazoo.org/ nightofthelivingzoo

¢ Have a howling good time at The LA Zoo’s Night of the Living Zoo event. See the zoo transformed into a theater of spooky delights from 7pm to 11pm on October 24th to celebrate Hallow’s Eve. Enjoy live music while viewing the animals, and dress your best for a shot to win their costume contest with a grand prize of a VIP behind the scenes tour of the venue. Catch the show: actors performing Edgar Allen Poe tales…goosebumps guaranteed.

LA COUNTY FAIR www.lacountyfair.com

¢ September 4th-27th, enjoy rides, games and endless people watching at LA County Fair! The fair also offers many live performances and interactive activities such as tribute bands and circus performers. Nothing says summer like the fair!

¢ Cruise back in time to the golden age of travel for a weekend aboard the Queen Mary! Enjoy drinks, dancing and dining as you immerse yourself in Art Deco opulence.

Elaborate murals, paintings and sculptures made this ship one of the best examples and landmarks of Art Deco style in the world. Channel your inner Gatsby for this 10th annual art festival in one of the most historic and unique venues in the world!

JAZZ AT LACMA

www.lacma.org/programs/music/ jazz-at-lacma

¢ Jazz at LACMA is one of the best free events in the city! Featuring some of LA’s finest, including such legends as Wayne Shorter, John Clayton and Kenny Burrell, this program celebrates over 20 years at LACMA. Needless to say, has gained widespread popularity, with over 42,000 visitors annually. Don’t miss out on this local favorite, happening now through November.

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival: 1. & 2. Photos By: Gina Sinotte | 3. Photo By: Jake Ahles

¢ LA’s favorite music festival returns for its 11th year August 22nd and 23rd. This year they’re moving to a new home; the event will now be held at the LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park. Previous headliners include Phoenix, The Strokes, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, to name a few.

11

CINESPIA @ HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY

www.cinespia.org

¢ Grab a blanket, some wine, a few friends, or a date, and you’ll fall in love with the outdoor movie screenings shown on a giant wall right smack in the middle of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Showing classics such as “Dazed and Confused” and “The Godfather,” you’ll want to buy tickets early—they sell out quickly!

EAT | SEE | HEAR www.eatseehear.com

¢ A summer-long celebration of food, film and music, this traveling series is hosted at different venues across the city every Saturday through September. Come for the food trucks and stay for music and a movie. Bring a low chair, a blanket, and you’ve got yourself the perfect date or girl’s night out! Don’t forget to bring Fido; all venues are pet friendly.

ELECTRIC DUSK DRIVE-IN

FRIDAY NIGHT WINE TASTINGS AT BARNSDALL ART PARK

www.electricduskdrivein.com

www.barnsdall.org

¢ What are the quickest two ways to trick people into thinking you’re classy? Talking about wine, and talking about art. Every Friday (through September 4th) you can taste boutique, small production, artisan wines from around the world, while funding the Art Park’s Foundation programs and projects. Did we mention you get to take home a limited edition wine glass? Triple score!

OKTOBERFEST AT ALPINE VILLAGE

www.alpinevillagecenter.com/ oktoberfest

¢ Get hopped up at Alpine Village’s annual Oktoberfest.

As California’s oldest and largest Oktoberfest gathering, you can celebrate traditional Bavarian festivities including an Oom Pah Pah party band, fare straight from the homeland, and “Das Boot” chugging competitions. If beer isn’t your thing, come for the festivities, and get down on some wine or hard cider instead! It takes place from September 11th through October 31st, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

PICNICKING AT THE BOWL

www.hollywoodbowl.com/ tickets/group-tickets/picnickingbowl

¢ Hosting concerts since 1922, this LA landmark is as iconic as the Hollywood sign itself. As the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States, the Hollywood

Bowl provides the perfect acoustics for listening to your favorite music under the sun or stars! Come on an empty day and enjoy a picnic in the amphitheater, and you can say you’ve been there without all the screaming fans!

at $5, this is one you don’t want to miss.

AFTERNOON DELIGHT AT THE STANDARD ROOFTOP POOL www.standardhotels.com

¢ A techno and house-heavy pool party awaits you atop The Standard hotel in Downtown LA! From the waterbeds to the blue AstroTurf, you will get to party under the Californian sun, show off your ping pong moves and dance, all while staying cool in the pool. Make a splash this summer, and get your social time in the sun.

¢ At Electric Dusk Drive-In, you can expect monthly or bi-monthly movies right in Downtown LA, or you can request a private screening or event if that is more your style. You can stay in your car and enjoy the movie from there, or get a ticket to sit on the AstroTurf grass with a lawn chair or a blanket. They provide you with a snack order sheet (everything from hot dogs to popcorn to their brownie stuffed chocolate chip cookies). As if you needed another reason to go, they also allow pets! So bring the family and Fido and enjoy a movie under the stars, just like the good old days!

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS THE CALABASAS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com

¢ This annual festival in Calabasas has been held for over 40 years. Taking place October 17th and 18th, this pumpkin festival brings the community together for 2 days of family fun. Indulge in pumpkin flavored beer while listening to live music. Enjoy dancing, treats, professional pumpkin carving, and painting for the kids—there’s something for everyone!

With a low cost of admission

www.halloweenhorrornights.com/ hollywood

¢ With 80 years of experience in film production, Universal Studios is just the place to go for the most realistic fright of your life. At this 360-degree event, everywhere you turn will be something that frightens you. With haunted walk-through attractions, intense scare zones, scare actors roaming the premises, and nightmare worthy rides, it’s a wonder if you’re able to sleep at the end of the night!

LA TIMES’ THE TASTE

www.events.latimes.com/taste

¢ Held August 29 through the 31st is the massive culinary event aptly called ‘The Taste.’ It’s a foodie paradise showcasing the best of what you can find in Southern California. The festival features five major events over 3 days, such as tastings and presentations by local favorites. | AUGUST 2015 | 151

home

/away

August 2015

154 HOME EXPERT How Blake Andrews Builds Hope Through Building Homes

158 ESCAPE Immerse You and Your Soulmate with Utopian Island Life at This Tropical Paradise

170 SETTING THE TABLE

PHOTO BY: Jessica Alexander

See How the Love of Beautiful Things Turns a Backyard Into a Stunning Oasis

174 SU CASA Welcome to Hollywood House, Home to Some of Tinseltown’s Most Iconic Stars

174 SU CASA Home Sweet Hollywood

153

AUGUST 2015

THE

BUILDING BLOCKS of What Matters A Man’s Journey to Helping the Less Fortunate Through Real Estate

WRITTEN BY: TAYLOR SIMMONS PHOTOGRAPHED BY: JONATHAN MEINERS

THE EXPER T

BLAKE ANDREWS Founder & creator of Give Back Homes

Life Motto: “If you fish in muddy waters, you will catch muddy fish.”

Home. A place of security.

A place of safety. A place with a certain feeling and smell—a smell of comfort, cleanliness and free of chaos. A place filled with love. This is how I would define my home, and many others around me would give similar definitions. It is a luxury we have, to give definitions filled with stability.

Blake Andrews, the founder of Give Back Homes, believes safety should be a common denominator when it comes to homes and the houses that create those homes. As a man who found his strength in working with people through his father’s beer distribution company, he decided to move to California to give back. He began his work for TOMS Shoes, and after meeting a little girl in Nicaragua, he decided he wanted to give more, and so Give Back Homes began.

Blake has pride in his company’s transparency. It is the first of its kind, and he is adamant about trust. Give Back Homes is a for-profit company made up of a network of real estate professionals who are excited and motivated. It uses 100 percent of its donations for the building of homes for those who are not able to give definitions like mine.

Blake is a man of values, and you can see with your own eyes his compassion for his employees and the passion he has for what he is doing. As a purist, he believes in communication skills and hard work.

From giving shoes to giving houses, Blake has become a true humanitarian, fighting for people who don’t have the strongest voices. Join me for the ride as we get to know him as well as his life changing company.

“SOMETHING SO SMALL THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED CAN MEAN SO MUCH TO SOMEBODY ELSE. THAT IS WHY I WANTED TO GO EVEN BIGGER WITH THE HOMES.” — BLAKE ANDREWS

154 |

| AUGUST 2015

GIVE BACK HOMES 1300 Highland Ave, Unit 111 Manhattan Beach, CA 90277 310.545.4343 www.givebackhomes.com

| AUGUST 2015 | 155

“MY FAVORITE THING IS TO SEE THESE PEOPLE COME ON THESE BUILD TRIPS. THEY SEE HOW THEY ARE LIVING BEFORE WE BUILD THE HOMES. IT’S A HIGH THAT YOU CAN’T IMAGINE.” — BLAKE ANDREWS

LIVING LIKE A LOCAL g On Blake’s days off, you can find him lounging with his cute dog Sadie, cycling, or surfing at the beach you can see from his window.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE g Give Back Homes can be found locally building houses in the LA area.

156 |

| AUGUST 2015

Q: Could you explain how the company works?

Blake Andrews: What Give Back Homes is, is a network of trusted real estate professionals that come together and want to differentiate themselves. After learning there are two million realtors out there, you have to figure out a way to differentiate yourself. A lot of times, realtors get a bad rap. This is a way for them to turn their clients into humanitarians and have a way to gain the trust of their clients. One thing that is so cool is that 100 percent of all members’ donations goes directly to building homes for families.

We are not a charity. People ask me all the time why we aren’t a charity. We wanted to provide a service, but we didn’t want to ask for money. It’s very transparent. I always tell people that what makes our company so powerful is that we can say 100 percent goes directly to building homes for families. Our building partner is Habitat for Humanity, and a lot of people do give to Habitat, but when you just give money, you don’t always know where it goes. So what we want to do is be very transparent about where the money goes, and then you get to see the families that you have helped.

Q: How has traveling inspired this company?

BA: A lot. Traveling inspired it all. I spent 3 years traveling around the world, and putting shoes on kids’ feet, working for TOMS. In Nicaragua where I put a pair of shoes on this little girl’s feet, it just changed me. I saw what that pair of shoes did for her. That day, I looked up and said, “I have to figure out a way to build these people homes.” They lived in wood shacks with tarps, no windows, no doors and no floors. I made a commitment to finding out a way to build them homes.

Q: Could you talk about your lightbulb moment?

BA: My lightbulb moment actually was when Tricia, my wife, and I were looking to build a home, and our realtor got to know me. He one day came to me and asked, “What can I do? I know you worked at TOMS. What can I do to differentiate myself?” Most realtors say they give back.

He wanted to do something different. He wanted to stand out. That’s when I had the thought, “I think I can figure something out for real estate professionals to give back with tangible results, similar to TOMS.” Q: Could you talk about the little girl in Nicaragua? Why did she stick out to you?

BA: You see how happy these kids are. What they have is pretty much nothing. Every day is tough, but the kids remain happy.

There was something about this little girl. When I put her pair of shoes on, she said something about how happy she was and how her life was complete with this new pair of shoes. I took a step back and decided that it was insane to think that a pair of shoes had completed this girl’s life. Something so small that we take for granted can mean so much to somebody else. That is why I wanted to go even bigger with the homes.

Q: Do you have any real estate experience?

BA: I do not and that’s the neat thing. We are so focused on the giving part. Our first year we built 25 homes in Nicaragua. Our members donated 150,000 dollars that all went to building homes.

But I don’t have any experience. Just last week we brought on a girl who has worked for a realtor in San Diego. She will work more on the realtor side of things. But we have some really exciting things that are happening and some really exciting people joining our team.

Q: Where do you see the company in 5 years?

BA: Well I would like to see the company at our 50,000 membership.

We’re going to stop at 50,000 members. We don’t want it to get diluted. We want it to be exclusive. We want it to be a trusted network, and build thousands of homes. Right now, we’re only in the U.S. and Nicaragua. We want to expand to other countries.

Q: What are some future projects?

BA: We have a very exciting project that we are working on right now. Alex Rodriguez, the baseball player, is getting involved. He built a home in Nicaragua, and now is very excited to get more involved with the company.

Q: When you were a child, what did you say you wanted to be when you grow up?

BA: I never said I wanted to be a doctor or an astronaut. My father has been in the beer business for 39 years. I just figured I would follow and I did. I worked for him for 12 years out of college. But then I wanted to do something different, away from family. That’s why I started working for TOMS and moved out here.

Q: What’s the ideal home you’d like to give those you are helping?

BA: Well that can vary. At the end of the day, they are living in homes without windows or doors, and there is no safety. Their dream home is simply to have one with doors, floors, windows, and it’s amazing to hand them a key for the first time.

Q: How do you pick the families?

BA: We don’t. Our building partner does all that work. Here in The States, the families have to go through a big process. We don’t consider it a handout. We consider it a hand up. They have to pay their mortgage. The last thing we want to do is give them a home and then not keep it. They need to put in 200 – 500 hours of manual labor so that they understand and have a sense of accountability towards the home.

Q: Do you have a life motto?

BA: I have a few, and they’re from my dad. One of them is, “If you fish in muddy waters, you catch muddy fish.”

Q: How would you describe the company in three words?

BA: Innovative. Life changing. Socially driven.

Tahitian

PAIR-A Where Adventure Turns Into a Happily Ever After WRITTEN BY: ERIK HALE & ERIN PRICE PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ERIK HALE

“Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.”

– ERNEST HEMINGWAY You will hopefully travel places you love in this lifetime and see things that amaze and awe you. The more places you visit, the more likely it is that you will begin to categorize and rank them (just like we did on this trip). Each of these lists will hold places for the things you treasure most, from the view, the culture, the warmth of the locals, the pace of life, or even the clearness of the water. I can promise you that your list is incomplete if you have not visited the islands of Tahiti. Taha’a is a postcard come to life. Bora Bora is the screensaver on your co-workers desktop that she stares at while eating her packed lunch. Huahine is a #nofilter needed Instagram post. Tahiti is more beautiful than anything you could imagine.

158 |

| AUGUST 2015

THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT Motu Ome'e BP 506-98730 Bora Bora, French Polynesia +689 40 60 78 05 www.stregisborabora.com

-DISE | AUGUST 2015 | 159

RELAIS MAHANA PK22 Parea – Huahine, French Polynesia +689 40 60 60 40 www.relaismahana.com/?lang=en

THE FIRST STEPS INTO PARADISE:

O

ur flight from LAX to Tahiti only took about 8 hours and was very comfortable.

We kept remarking how close it felt to previous destinations we traveled to like Hawaii and New York City—it had us wondering why we hadn’t considered 160 |

| AUGUST 2015

this destination before. Our flight was with Air Tahiti Nui, and we thought it provided the island spirit we needed to begin this trip of a lifetime. As we boarded, we were greeted by a smiling crew member and a fragrant Tiare, or a Tahitian Gardenia, to place behind our ears. The attendants were very well dressed at takeoff, changed into more comfortable island wear during

the flight, and then back to their original outfits before we landed. It was the perfect mixture of the French and Polynesian cultures. The cabin was clean, bright and decorated with a soothing aqua and gray landscape.

The seats were very comfortable, and we loved the two-four-two seat configuration. It made our two seats near the window seem even more

private. We had an interactive IFU (an in-flight entertainment system) with plenty of movies (we watched two), music and some very unusual local comedies. We flew into Papeete, Tahiti from LAX on Air Tahiti Nui, and arrived late at night. From there, we shuttled to a hotel, slept for 7 hours and then went back to the airport for our inter-island flight to Huahine.

I PUT A RING ON IT!

I

went to Tahiti with more than a vacation on my mind. My girlfriend Erin and I had been dating for 3 years, and I was ready to pop the question. Of course, there were several steps to take before doing so, and the first and probably most important was finding the perfect ring. I knew that I wanted it to be different, elegant, classy and hopefully handcrafted.

One day after a walk on the beach at Crystal Cove, we were driving home through Corona Del Mar when I stopped in front of Mark Patterson Jewelry. With the cover that we needed to say "hello" to one of our partners, we quickly stepped in.

Once inside, Erin and my daughter Makena looked around the showroom commenting on all of their beautiful jewelry. I made my way to the case that held the engagement rings and asked if we could peek inside. You should have seen Erin’s face. Makena was shocked also. They showed us several rings before settling on some that she favored. We left the store that day and never talked about the ring or our visit again.

!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: The islands of French Polynesia combined are no larger of a land mass than Rhode Island. They became their own colony in 1880 and all 118 islands and atolls are scattered over an area nearly the size of Western Europe. There are eight archipelagoes including the Society Islands and are approximately equidistant from California and New Zealand. The distance from one end of the island groups to another is nearly 2,000 miles. (The Islands of Tahiti get half as much rain as Hawaii and have seven sunnier months!) Language is a hard barrier to cross when on traveling adventures. French is by far the most common language spoken outside of our resorts, but we found that most people within the resorts spoke great English.

I contacted Mark and Josette at the store and told them I was ready to get a ring for Erin. I was so nervous. We decided on a ring and the stone, soon after they went straight to work in their on-site manufacturing facility building on the exact ring I chose. She was going to love this. I told them that I needed it before we ventured to Tahiti, and sure enough it was ready the day before we left.

It was hard keeping this a secret, and even harder packing it undetected and not giving her any clues for 2 full days.

When we arrived in Huahine at the Relais Mahana Resort, I knew that this would be the place I would ask her. We stayed in the cutest hut right on the sand. You could literally jump from our back patio onto the white sand and within three big steps, have your toes in the crystal clear water. There was a lazy palm tree bowed outside our back door that framed the scene into a perfect postcard.

That night, the resort was nice enough to set up a beautiful table on the sand decorated with shells and flowers. There was a dock in front of the resort that extended out about 75feet and had lights shining into the water so you could see the fish swimming at night. I asked her to go look at the fish with me, and we left our dinner table. When we reached the end of the pier, I tapped her on the shoulder, and when she turned around, I was on one knee. She was not expecting this. She turned quickly and swatted at my hand. The ring came free, and I watched it floating freely in the air. I was lucky enough to catch the ring before it made its way to the ocean floor— and even luckier to hear her say yes. | AUGUST 2015 | 161

RELAIS MAHANA PK22 Parea – Huahine, French Polynesia +689 40 60 60 40 www.relaismahana.com/?lang=en

The ring came free, and I watched it floating freely in the air. I was lucky enough to catch the ring before it made its way to the ocean floor—and even luckier to hear her say yes.

GET LOST & FIND YOURSELF Where We Stayed: RELAIS MAHANA

FAVORITE PART OF OUR STAY:

This one is easy. Proposing to my fiancé on the tiny pier in front of the restaurant and her response being “yes."

Best day of the trip and best day of my life.

L

ooking to get lost for a while? Maybe need to unplug from a hectic work life? Maybe you owe someone money and don’t want to be found. If you want to be alone on your own beach, drive down a secluded highway or swim in what feels like a private ocean, this is the place for you. We landed on a tiny landing strip guarded by grass.

On one side there is a rickety fence, on the other, rocks holding back the beautiful lagoon. We disembarked, gathered our backpacks and met our

162 |

| AUGUST 2015

FAVORITE MEAL:

At lunch we ordered the Ahi Poke and were very impressed with the quality and the presentation. It was served in a carved wooden boat and would have easily fed both of us for dinner.

transport car just on the other side of the very small building being currently purposed as a terminal.

The drive from the airport to our resort took 30 minutes or about the same amount of time as our flight had from Papeete. The drive became more beautiful with every turn. We drove past mountains but never up them.

We were lagoon-side for most of the trip staring at aqua colored water so colorful that it is usually only possible with a really good photo filter. The island is so sparsely populated that we saw less than 10 people and even fewer cars during our drive.

We arrived at the property and were warmly welcomed by their staff.

There are fewer than 40 bungalows, and we were lucky enough to have one directly on the sand. The rooms are clean, welcoming and rustic, but have all modern conveniences from home. We opened our patio door and stepped outside. We had 180-degree aquamarine ocean and white sand views. It was truly difficult to turn away. We found ourselves wanting to spend time sitting on our patio, just taking everything in. Since it was our first day on the Islands of Tahiti, we were a little restless and this resort

MUST-DO:

Rent a scooter. Tahiti is one of the few places in the world where riding a scooter is not scary at all.

The roads are deserted, and there are hundreds of places to pull over to enjoy the view.

definitely offers alternatives for restless types. In the first day alone, we paddle boarded, snorkeled, swam and rented a scooter from the front desk. There are few nearby options for food, so stopping by the in-town grocery store is a good idea.

However, the restaurant is wonderful and eating every meal there would not be difficult.

QA

MONETTE ALINE

Owner at Relais Mahana

Q: Describe the style of Relais Mahana.

Monette Aline: We are wanting to be a lodge or boutique resort. We are a small property. We have 32 bungalows that are called "fare" here. They are all thatched like the local style. We do not want to be a design hotel. We want it to look the way it did in the ’50s or ’60s. We want to be simple.

Q: What is the motivation for a person to stay here?

MA: The most important thing is the island of Huahine.

There are many things that are unique in Huahine. We have ancient fish traps and sacred eels that are only here.

We are very secluded, but it is still only a 30-minute flight from Tahiti. It is safe from mass tourism—the kind of guest that might enjoy that seclusion would love it here.

Q: Would you say that the island of Huahine and your resort might be reminiscent of how Tahiti was decades ago?

MA: Yes. This island was like Moorea 30 years ago. There are only 6,000 inhabitants. You don't see many cars on the road and there aren't any traffic lights of course.

Q: What is the best feature of your resort?

MA: The beach. Your bungalow is directly on the white sand beach, and a lagoon is close by to swim in. There's a coral garden to snorkel right in front of the hotel and no one in front of you.

Q: What islands do we see there in the distance?

MA: From your bungalow you see Raiatea and Taha’a.

The islands are about 25 nautical miles away and take about 3 or 4 hours to sail to.

Q: How many visitors come to the resort from the United States?

MA: About 25 percent of our visitors are from the United States. We find that most Americans end up in Bora Bora or Moorea and miss out on Huahine altogether.

10

Q: What challenges exist for a traveler from The States when they come to Huahine?

MA: The language. We could always use more English speaking staff on this island. At the resort it is fine, but it can be difficult outside of the island. Our menu is translated, and all of our front desk workers speak English. We are also great at speaking with our hands.

INSTAGRAM SHOTS TO POST

(I recommend the #nofilter because all filters are unnecessary here.)

Q: What is the nightlife like here? We have found it to be very quiet at night.

MA: Don’t come here for nightlife—otherwise you will be disappointed. Come here to rest, not for a speeding life.

Only relaxation.

Q: As someone that grew up here, tell us a special place to go that only a local would know.

MA: The church. I tell everyone about it, but they never go. The temple is great on Sundays—not for religion but to meet the people. They are so happy to meet you. When you are going there for mass (which starts at 10:30 a.m.) they will come and kiss you—the whole village will come and kiss you. They are so proud. They will even put you on the first row. They all wear beautiful hats and they sing beautiful songs. It is something everyone should do.

Q: What is a must-try food that is unique to this island?

MA: We have a neighbor, a Tahitian lady, who cooks every Sunday in the traditional Tahitian in-ground oven. We heat it up using hot lava rocks and put all the dishes in there. Piglets, fish, breadfruit, taro, all go in the oven; then we cover it with banana leaves and stand back while it cooks. It takes 3 hours to cook itself. You can go swimming, shopping or to church and when you come back, the food is ready—just like the ancient times.

| AUGUST 2015 | 163

Where We Stayed: THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT

THE EXTRAEXTRAVAGANT

THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT Motu Ome'e BP 506-98730 Bora Bora, French Polynesia +689 40 60 78 05 www.stregisborabora.com

FAVORITE PART OF OUR STAY:

Waking up and plugging my iPhone into the thumping Bose system, pushing one of my bedroom windows open and plopping into the ocean below.

FAVORITE MEAL:

Even though we loved our morning breakfast, our 5-course dinner held at Lagoon by Jean Georges in a glass floor dining room, sharks underneath our feet, was by far the most memorable.

MUST-DO:

Make sure to snorkel in the Lagoonarium behind the spa. To say beautiful would be an understatement. For the more adventurous, the jet ski excursion trip around the entire island was the most fun we had on the entire trip.

I

f you chose the left-hand side of the plane as we did, your mouth is most likely still open from the views of Bora Bora you saw from your window. As you disembark the plane from the rear and enter the small, mostly glass airport, you realize you are situated directly on the water.

As we began to gather ourselves, we are greeted by the representative of the St. Regis with a warm smile and a welcome flower necklace. He guided us through the sliding glass doors and on to our shuttle boat. What a great feeling to be whisked away by water across the vast lagoon to our retreat for the next few days. We were so excited. We passed other resorts and then finally our resort with their beautiful over-water bungalows.

We arrived at our destination, and our mouths dropped.

The resort property is breathtaking. Row after row of thatch-roofed over-water bungalows. Our butler loaded us into a six-seater golf cart and took us to our room, driving directly onto the thin bridges connecting our bungalow. While being escorted to our new haven, it was hard not to be distracted by the crystal clear water and the rays below.

Once entering the room, we were given a quick tour that I hope the accompanying pictures can do more justice to than these words. Our bungalow was about 1500 square feet—one bedroom with separate living area and a massive bath area. The highlights of the tour were the wall-less shower, walk-in closet, the sheer mass of window open to the ocean below, and a large, private patio with dining cabana and swimming dock. It doesn't stop there. A Bose surround sound system and the see-through glass windows in the floor complete this perfect atmosphere. We were left with one direction. Call if you need anything—your butler is here to serve you 24 hours a day.

We jumped wildly around the room and on the beds (sorry St. Regis) as we could not believe that this was for us. The view of the island was iconic. The only thing you could see from the bed was our deck and the ocean. The rooms and staff are as close to perfection as we have experienced. However, we got in a little bit of trouble on the last day because we overstayed our checkout by 3 hours. Can you blame us?

10 MUST-DO’S FOR YOUR FIRST TIME IN TAHITI: 164 |

| AUGUST 2015

WAKE up by jumping

out of your bedroom window and directly into the ocean below in your overwater bungalows at The St. Regis Bora Bora.

JUMP down into the fresh water canal near the bridge and pet the super squishy Sacred Blue Eyed Eels in Huahine.

GET ENGAGED on a boat dock over clear waters at the Relais Mahana in Huahine. Keep a good, tight grip on the ring in case your soon-to-be fiancé gets emotional and almost knocks it into the ocean.

RENT

a scooter and drive around the entire island of Huahine counting how many cars you pass. My guess is less than five.

WORDS

TO GET YOU BY: HELLO = Ia Orana (yo-rah-nah) HOW ARE YOU? = Maita’i oe? (my-tie

oh-ay) *The way I sound ordering a Mai Tai on vacation.

I AM FINE. = Maita’i vau. (my-tie vah-oo) THANK YOU. = Mauruuru (mah-roo-roo) BYE BYE. = Nana (nah-nah) also what I call my Grandma.

I LOVE YOU. = Ua here vau ia oe (oo-ah hay-ray eh-ah-oh-ay) What I said at some point during my proposal.

LAY in a hammock tied between two palm trees and directly over the ocean at Le Taha’a Island Resort and Spa. Make sure to have your Mai Tai in hand.

HEAD IN to the town square and order a French Fry and Ketchup Baguette at Snack Hai Ling on Raiatea. All the cool kids do it.

DO NOTHING AT ALL, all day long, besides soaking in that ocean breeze and sunny rays.

CLAIM your

HAVE YOUR BREAKFAST delivered by

canoe to your room at The St. Regis Bora Bora. This brings a whole new meaning to breakfast in bed.

FEEL like royalty while locals help you make your self-made flower crown at the Relais Mahana in Huahine.

very own motu for a romantic lunch while staying at Le Taha’a. White sand, live music and a great meal.

| AUGUST 2015 | 165

TAHITI YACHT CHARTERS +689 40 66 28 80 www.tahitiyachtcharter.com

For the next 3 days, my fiancé and I had to employ every tactic imaginable to suppress our giggles. This boat was huge. It was the size where you were unsure what to call it. Was it a boat? A yacht? Whatever it was, we were living well above our means, and it felt good.

BOAT LIKE BEYONCÉ Where We Stayed: TAHITI YACHT CHARTERS

FAVORITE PART OF OUR STAY:

A

Watching a 3 a.m. lightning and thunderstorm from our cabin window.

s the dinghy putted along, carrying us along with our hopes and dreams, it closed the distance between the shore and our nomadic home. For the next 3 days, my fiancé and I had to employ every tactic imaginable to suppress our giggles.

This boat was huge. It was the size where you were unsure what to call it. Was it a boat? A yacht? Whatever it was, we were living well above our means, and it felt good. We jumped out of the smaller boat and onto our yacht.

We didn’t even wait for the tour. It was hard to believe that this was all ours.

It was 56-feet long, had 4 separate guest quarters with private showers, an indoor and outdoor living room, and a killer sound system. What did 166 |

| AUGUST 2015

FAVORITE MEAL:

Hands down the fresh fish, vegetable and coconut ceviche Xiao made for us onboard.

we want to drink? Where did we want to go? Was there anything they could do for us? These were the only hard decisions we had to make from then on for the next 3 days. We answered, “Champagne” or, “to that island over there” and, “could you please plug in this Beyoncé mix?”

This was by far the most unusual place we have ever stayed. We have traveled on boats plenty of times, but usually only in hour increments.

They have always been a means of transportation, not a floating hotel.

During our stay, everything we wanted happened with ease. We had breakfast waiting every morning, and I am pretty sure they thought there were more of us because the breakfast they served would have fed 10 people. We were served enough fresh fruit, scrambled

eggs, bacon and pancakes to feed a small army. There was toast with delicious jellies, granola and yogurt.

Dinner was fresh, tropical and much like what you would be served in the nicest of restaurants.

The best part of our stay was the freedom. Our skipper would pull out a map and ask us to point to where we wanted to go. He would make suggestions, but he made us feel like the boat was ours. We anchored the boat and jumped on the paddle boards in the lagoon, and we paddled up rivers in kayaks and were retrieved by the dinghy. After dinner, we would grab a glass of wine, walk to the front of the boat, and sit on the netting, staring up at the entire Milky Way Galaxy in HD clarity. It is hard to imagine

MUST-DO: Skinny dip.

anything being more romantic.

Beyoncé was right when she said, “If you like it, then you better put a ring on it.” And so I did.

QA

ALEX DELATTRE AND XIONARA AZZOPARDI

Skipper and Chef at Senso Lagoon

Q: If someone was coming to French Polynesia for the first time and had chartered a catamaran like this, what is one thing that they must do?

Alex Delattre: I think they should see all of the Society Islands as there is such a difference between each island, and most people like to see sun, blue water and beautiful lagoons.

Xionara Azzopardi: And the snorkeling.

Q: You live on Raiatea so you might be a little biased, but which is your favorite island?

XA: I don’t know. I love all of the islands, but I love Taha’a.

AD: I love Raiatea and Moorea.

Q: When people come on board, what is your favorite meal that you make for them?

XA: The Tahitian Mahi Mahi with vanilla sauce and the raw fish which is a local specialty.

Q: What is in the raw fish dish you made for us? It was beyond amazing.

XA: Raw fresh fish (tuna), coconut milk, lime, cucumber, carrots, tomato, onion, ginger and green pepper.

Q: What is the most dangerous thing that happens in your job as skipper?

AD: When someone falls in the sea when it is stormy.

5 1.

Q: Has that happened?

AD: (Laughs) No, no that has never happened.

MUST TRY ACTIVITIES:

PADDLE BOARDING:

The calm water in the lagoons makes paddling a breeze. Paddle out as far as possible and lay down on your board for a serene experience.

2.

KAYAKING:

3.

JET SKI AROUND THE ISLAND OF BORA BORA:

4.

5.

Paddle up a river through the mangroves of Taha’a and take in the untouched beauty of the island. When you get tired of paddling, arrange for the captain of the catamaran to follow you upstream and tow you home in the dinghy.

Take in the beauty of the island, the sea life beneath you, and experience the thrill of speeding at 40 mph across what looks like the world's largest swimming pool. Please be careful and only do this if you are adventurous—make sure you maneuver your ski at least once, hard enough to toss yourself off the craft and into the lagoon’s remarkably clear and warm water.

HIKE TO THE TOP OF BORA BORA

Mt. Otemanu rises 2,200 feet above the lagoon. It is about a 3-hour climb to the top. Some sections require rope to navigate up steep inclines, so we would suggest seasoned hikers only try to attempt this one. At the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the island, lagoon and reef surrounding it.

SWIM WITH SHARKS AND MANTA RAYS

Q: What size is the boat we are on and who makes it?

AD: Lagoon makes this boat; it’s French. It is 56 feet long and the most luxurious ship in our fleet. It has four guest rooms, and one especially big crew room.

Q: How many people usually come on this size boat?

AD & XA: (In unison) It depends…

AD: All different. The best is five or six I think.

AD: They have different sizes like this one for large groups or for a couple maybe the 40-foot boat.

Q: If you could sail your boat from here to anywhere in the world where would you sail it?

AD: (Laughs) Woah!

XA: With our boat? Patagonia.

AD: We would love to go to Patagonia. We would like to go in 2 or 3 years.

Q: How long have you been sailing?

AD: I was born on a boat, so I was 5 days old when I went on my first boat.

Q: The meals have been amazing. Where did you learn to cook?

XA: My parents have a restaurant in the South of France, and I learned by watching them cook.

Q: Have you ever had celebrities on this boat?

AD: We are not allowed to say.

Q: Shake your head if yes?

AD & XA: (Shake heads yes)

This is not for the faint hearted. Join a group for an excursion to find some wildlife. Curious Black Tip Sharks and Lemon Sharks swim within arm's distance of you. It is a truly unique experience. | AUGUST 2015 | 167

LE TAHA’A PRIVATE ISLAND & SPA RELAIS & CHATEAUX Motu Tautau, Taha’a, French Polynesia +689 40 50 76 01 www.letahaa.com

Le Taha’a looks like it was taken straight out of the “Swiss Family Robinson.” They want the place to seem authentic, and with 80 percent of the materials sourced locally, it definitely has that feel. It has been recently renovated and the attention to detail is perfect.

THE SHY TYPE Where We Stayed: LE TAHA’A PRIVATE ISLAND & SPA

FAVORITE PART OF OUR STAY:

FAVORITE MEAL:

W

The hammock between two palm trees over the ocean.

The amazing breakfast buffet.

e couldn’t believe our luck. Each part of our trip seemed to get cooler and cooler, and this time it was not just the setting, it was the weather. The Society Islands are tropical, and therefore rain is always a possibility, especially between November and April. Today that possibility came to life as the thunderstorm we had listened to in our cabin aboard the catamaran had caught up with us. We disembarked the yacht on to the pier of Le Taha’a

168 |

| AUGUST 2015

MUST-DO: Nothing at all.

in an absolute downpour. Le Taha’a is on its own island or motu off the coast of Taha’a. It is extremely remote and very private. We were greeted by their staff and handed umbrellas to make the trek to the lobby. When walking in, we were taken back by its showpiece, a 100-year-old Polynesian canoe built from one piece of wood.

Le Taha’a looks like it was taken straight out of the “Swiss Family Robinson.” They want the place to seem authentic, and with 80 percent of the materials sourced locally, it definitely has that feel. It has been recently renovated, and the attention to detail is perfect. It was amazing to hear that it

takes 35 square kilometers of bamboo to renovate the resort completely.

We were escorted to our room through the rain, and we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was gorgeous. The “selfie” we took of us walking to our bungalow located over the water was the most popular of our trip. The rain could not spoil the crystal clear ocean, beauty of the curved walking bridge, or the warmth of the resort.

We made the most out of our trip by having a poolside lunch between rain showers, drank Champagne, and saw sharks and rays through the glass window of the floor of our room.

8

INSIDE TIPS:

SOCIETY ISLANDS: A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

TAHITI: The main airport is in Papeete. The majority of the population lives here.

BORA BORA: Probably the most popular and arguably the most beautiful of the islands.

RAIATEA AND TAHA’A: Sister islands that share the same lagoon. Only a few small hotels are on the islands and Le Taha’a has its own motu (or island) just off the coast.

HUAHINE: A remote island with a small population. Very few cars are on this island and zero stoplights. Two small islands are connected by a bridge that share a lagoon.

MOOREA: Extremely popular with American tourists and are in contention with Bora Bora as the most beautiful place.

BORA BORA HUAHINE

MOOREA TAHITI

RAIATEA & TAHA’A

*Map not to scale

| AUGUST 2015 | 169

ON EARTH A Personal Touch on an Elegant Poolside Retreat

WRITTEN BY: TAUNA CARSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY: FREEMAN MCFADDEN STYLED BY: TAUNA CARSON & DEWAYNE CARSON

L

ocated in the affluent neighborhood of Brentwood on the beautiful Westside of Los Angeles, you’ll find Haven & Co, specializing in home decor, everyday gifts and seasonal merchandise. As a family-owned business, Haven & Co. opened its doors 7 years ago to offer beautiful home decor choices, gifts, and more recently, custom stationery. Join us at the gorgeous home of owner, Cindy Williams, who grew up locally in Brentwood, as we prepare to set the table.

Staged in her beautiful backyard, Cindy has opened her home in order to showcase some of the exquisite merchandise offered by Haven & Co. Set on a hill, the backyard is complete with a large swimming pool, a cozy pool house and beautiful floral landscaping throughout. Set amongst this backdrop is our take on an elegant backyard pool party.

“I’ve always had a love for beautiful things. I love decorating and working with different colors, different ideas and creating themes. I enjoy incorporating that into decorating rooms and tabletops. I love to entertain, so it was a natural business choice.”

— CINDY WILLIAMS

170 |

| AUGUST 2015

HAVEN & CO. 11965 San Vicente Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90049 310.476.3060 www.havenandcompany.com

“We have everything, but you don’t feel like you are walking into a department store. You’re walking in, and you feel like, ‘I know when I come to Haven, I will find a lovely gift or something very special for my home.’”

– CINDY WILLIAMS

| AUGUST 2015 | 171

After dining, enjoy your leisure time with a few cocktails and snacks with even more serving options from the store. Featured here, a wicker serving tray by Zodax is stocked with tall martini glasses paired with standard-sized martini glasses. A small silver bowl is filled with your favorite salty snack and fun printed napkins by Caspari add a pop of color to the scene. Atop the table, delicious chocolate tarts are served in a Field of Flowers serving platter by Juliska.

Owner, Cindy Williams, has worked in the gift and retail industry for over 20 years. Her unique ability to demonstrate beauty through decorations and tableware is highly recognized throughout the community. All of the merchandise Haven & Co. carries has been hand-curated by Cindy, who has a passion for helping people select the perfect thing for their homes and entertaining needs.

Interview with

CINDY WILLIAMS Owner, Haven & Co. Q: What inspired you to get into this business?

Cindy Williams: I’ve always had a love for beautiful things. I love decorating and working with different colors, ideas and creating themes.

I enjoy incorporating that into decorating rooms and tabletops. I love to entertain, so it was a natural business choice. I love being in the store around all of the beautiful merchandise and helping clients select just the right thing for their home and entertaining.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE • For locals looking to host events, Cindy and her staff freely give party decoration, invitation and tabletop advice as part of their friendly customer service. Find everything you need to host your end of summer and fall holiday events all in one place.

PLAN THE PERFECT PARTY • Haven & Co. is lucky enough to work with some of the most celebrated event planners and decorators. The Brentwood location makes the store an easy stop for just the right thing for your party.

DECORATE THE COMMUNITY • Haven & Co. supports the local community by donating to Westside German Shepherd Rescue as well as donating gift certificates and products to many of the schools on the Westside.

Q: What do you look for as a curator of your store?

CW: We have the classics—beautiful crystal lines from Baccarat and William Yeoward, which we used in this photoshoot. We also carry Simon Pearce—handblown glass from Vermont that’s 100 percent made in the United States; it’s beautiful and in great demand. We carry stunning Italian pottery, glassware and serving pieces from all over the world. I carry the classics, but I’m always trying to experiment and bring in new things. I like to be open to what my clients are telling me. This year especially, my store has a blue theme running throughout because of my love for the Asian blue and white table settings. It’s really fun to mix this classic look with newer bold colors and prints.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

CW: I get my inspiration from growing up with a mother who loved elegant decor, and I grew to have a great appreciation for artfully collected home wares. We are having a lot of pool parties this summer, and the look we photographed today is the look I’m going for this season—entertaining with classic pieces I have collected mixed with some very special accent pieces like our napkin rings and tablecloths. Just add great food, a signature cocktail and fabulous friends and you have the makings of our summer pool parties. My mother was an amazing cook, and we were always asked to set the table. I can remember hearing my mother telling us how to do it.

She always had flowers on the table and growing up with that, it just kind of becomes you. Having this lifestyle store is an extension of what I love from my childhood.

Q: Who are some decorators that inspire you?

CW: I’m inspired by Charlotte Moss, William Yeoward and Carolyne Roehm.

Q: Who is your favorite designer in your collection?

CW: One of my favorite designers is Kim Seybert. A lot of the placemats and napkins we used in this photoshoot are from her. I can always count on her for beautiful napkins and napkin rings. Another one is Deborah Rhodes. I love using her for tabletop settings. I really like to mix different patterns and textures when putting together a tabletop.

Q: Do you have any decorating tips for someone who’s planning to host a party?

CW: For a casual party, make it easy on yourself and take one of our amazing platters and have your favorite restaurant fill it with food. Choose from our Caspari party paper goods and the table is set. Get easy food to eat, tropical drinks, and big ice buckets full of wine, all ready to go. I don’t like a party where you have to search for drinks; I like to have things in abundance.

I love to have candles burning with fragrance, and it’s a must to have flowers that set the mood. I think that just makes the party. I’ll use hurricanes with candles both inside and outside. When we have big parties, I’ll wrap the silverware in my napkins and use big Bhutan baskets to put them in. It’s a relaxed look that makes people feel comfortable. I don’t like things too formal; I’d rather put a buffet together where everything is easy and everyone has a good time. At parties, it’s all about the food and drinks.

Q: What’s next for Haven & Co.?

CW: Next we are gearing up for the holidays. We will be helping customers order their custom Christmas and holiday cards from our stationery department. We really take the holidays seriously here at Haven. The stores are filled with beautiful decorations, seasonal home decor and lovely gifts.

172 |

| AUGUST 2015

THE LOOK

SERVING TABLE: • Tablecloth by Beauville • Cake stands by Vietri • Water dispenser by Tag • White serving stand & punch bowl by Juliska • Napkins & napkin ring by Deborah Rhodes • Serving utensils by Julia Knight • Imported blue & white vases

FOUR PLACE SETTINGS BY CANDLELIT FIREPLACE:

“My mother was an amazing cook and we were always asked to set the table. I can remember hearing my mother telling us how to do it. She always had beautiful fresh flowers on the table and growing up with that, it just kind of becomes you. Having this lifestyle store is an extension of what I loved from my childhood.”

• Tablecloth by Beauville • Blue snakeskin placemats by Kim Seybert • Wicker placemats by Calaisio • Stemless wine glasses by Juliska • Martini glasses by William Yeoward • Napkins & napkin rings by Deborah Rhodes • White pottery by Vietri • Throw pillows are available at Haven & Co. • Bamboo rimmed dinnerware & bamboo spreaders by Juliska

— CINDY WILLIAMS

RALPH LAUREN DINNERWARE & TABLE SETTING: • Empress dinnerware & teacup with saucer by Ralph Lauren • Wicker placemat by Calaisio • Stemless wine glasses by Juliska • White condiment bowl in lastra by Vietri • Silver bamboo flatware by Ricci • Bamboo spreader in mojito by Julia Knight • Napkins & napkin ring by Deborah Rhodes

BLUE & WHITE COUNTRY ESTATE DINNERWARE & TABLE SETTING: • Country estate & colette blue dinnerware by Juliska • Berry & thread flatware by Juliska • White condiment bowl in lastra by Vietri • Napkins & napkin ring by Deborah Rhodes • Blue & white chevron placemat by Kim Seybert

LOUNGE WITH MARTINIS: • Wicker serving tray by Zodax • Martini glasses by William Yeoward • Paper napkins by Caspari • Field of Flowers serving platter by Juliska • Throw pillows are available at Haven & Co. • Imported vases

POOLSIDE WITH DESSERT & DRINKS: • Field of Flowers party plate by Juliska • Imported vases | AUGUST 2015 | 173

SU CASA Our sneak peek inside gorgeous local homes

Home Sweet

H o llywoo d Hidden in the Hills, Step Inside This Iconic Tinseltown House

WRITTEN BY: SUSAN KRUPA PHOTOGRAPHED BY: JESSICA ALEXANDER

T

urning off Sunset Boulevard and meandering up through the Hollywood Hills, you leave the city behind and enter an elegant area where the homes are beautiful—perched on steep inclines. As you climb higher, the roads become narrower until you reach your destination, a home at the end of Evanview Drive. An unassuming cream façade hides a house that has been host to more than one Hollywood legend.

This five bedroom, seven and a half bath home has 6,100-squarefeet of living space and is nestled on a 13,000-square-foot lot. Built in 1944, it was first occupied by Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli.

Later, the home was acquired by Sammy Davis Jr., who expanded the property to its present size. Throughout the home, traces of these famous inhabitants have been preserved and put on display so that their presence can be felt throughout.

The result is a feeling of being in a secluded paradise high above the streets of LA. This beautiful estate is more than just a house; it is a refuge high in the hills.

174 |

| AUGUST 2015

As you climb higher, the roads become narrower until you reach your destination, a home at the end of Evanview Drive.

| AUGUST 2015 | 175

This beautiful estate is more than a house; it is a refuge high in the hills that is alive with Hollywood history and glamor.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: The Hollywood Hills

are synonymous with beautiful homes, celebrity residents and sweeping vistas. However, living in the Hollywood Hills is a completely different experience. Each neighborhood or canyon is a community unto itself. Due to the acoustical properties of the geography, music and parties can be heard throughout. The result is the bustle of living in a city, with the familiarity of knowing your neighbors. The hills are full of energy and life; it’s a place where everyone has an interesting story to tell.

176 |

| AUGUST 2015

Through the front door and down a few steps, the foyer opens into the great room, a large open space with maple floors and floorto-ceiling windows overlooking the hills. A balcony off the great room provides for sweeping vistas of the hills around and the city below. Throughout this space and the rest of the house, as much of the original ironwork, flooring and design has been preserved.

The original owner, Judy Garland, would still feel very much at home here.

From the great room, a living room with a fireplace leads to steps up to the dining room. Both the living and dining rooms have substantial windows so that the view below is never out of sight. The kitchen can be accessed from either the dining or living rooms. It is slightly elevated, accessible by stair, as it was originally intended for use by servers and staff who would have been separated from the action. Today, a substantial rectangular cutout in the wall allows for more interaction between the rooms and also provides a view of the landscape from the kitchen. The kitchen itself has been remodeled with a creative oval stone backsplash, countertop stove and sizable refrigerator.

Leaving the main floor, and down a few steps, you will find yourself in an office space between floors that provides a transition from the upstairs great room to the downstairs space where Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli had their living quarters. Continuing down the stairs will take you to the downstairs living room, which has

blackout curtains and a retractable screen that turns this space into a media room ideal for movie screenings.

Right off of this downstairs living room is a bedroom that was originally occupied by Liza Minnelli when she lived here with her parents. On the opposite wall are built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookcases. It would appear that the room ends here. However, the bookcase actually holds a hidden door that leads into the Judy Garland suite—the home’s original master bedroom, complete with a walk-in closet and dressing area. Today, an ornate golden bed frame stands in the room, and an old photo of the famous sparkling ruby slippers hangs on the wall. The dressing area is untouched from when Garland and Minnelli lived here and is complete with the original mirrors. Hidden in the back of the closet and dressing area is a panic room that was built with the original house. It’s unknown why Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli felt this was necessary, nor whether this area has ever been used for its intended purpose.

Walking back up the stairs and through the Great Room, another staircase leads up to a floor that wasn’t part of the original home.

Up here you’ll find a home gym and spa-like bathroom, as well as the spacious master bedroom. Complete with a sitting area and fireplace, the bedroom also has an enormous attached bathroom with its own fireplace and a free-standing tub adjacent to a window overlooking the hills. A gentle breeze flows through the space

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT SAMMY DAVIS JR.: His first performance was at the age of 4.

He was taught his tap

dancing skills by the famous Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson.

He wrote three autobiographies.

As a result of his refusal to

play any segregated venues, several clubs in Las Vegas and Miami Beach became integrated.

As part of the army during World War II, Davis joined the entertainment unit.

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT JUDY GARLAND: Judy Garland’s birth name was Frances Ethel Gumm.

She was just 4’11” and as

such, often played roles much younger than her actual age.

She was originally given

a blonde wig to wear in “The Wizard of Oz.”

Fred Astaire starred in

“Easter Parade” with Judy Garland because Gene Kelly, the original co-star, broke his ankle.

Judy Garland was the

highest paid entertainer during her time performing in Las Vegas.

ABOUT THE CURRENT HOMEOWNER: Sharleen Ernster and

her husband Charlie are the current owners of what they have aptly named ‘Hollywood House,’ an expansive estate in the Hollywood Hills previously owned by Judy Garland and Sammy Davis Jr. Ernster is a designer with executive level experience at Guess?, Victoria’s Secret and Armani Exchange.

She is now in the process of launching her own brand, HotAs-Hell, a line of swimwear and beach apparel. The clothing is chic and timeless, made specifically for everyday wear, not just special occasions. It is sexy and sophisticated clothing for the modern woman. They just debuted at Miami Swim Week!

| AUGUST 2015 | 177

Davis was known for being an extremely detailed and conscientious planner and, as such, there is no aspect of his architectural creation that was left to chance.

making it a relaxing and cool place to be on a hot summer day.

When you leave the house and enter the backyard, you find yourself in an urban oasis designed by Sammy Davis Jr. himself. He expanded the home during his time as owner, adding the top floor of the house, and introducing a pool and pool house to the property.

He felt very strongly about these additions and spoke of them in great detail in his autobiography “Yes, I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis Jr.” Coming down the stairs from the main house, the black double doors of the pool house bear large, eye-catching silver handles in the shape of two overlaid ‘H’ letters standing for ‘Hollywood House.’

The structural integrity of the pool and pool house remains; they carry the same footprint as when Davis designed them. The pool is an unusual round yet rectangular shape because he insisted there not be any sharp edges or any square corners. Davis was known for being an extremely detailed and conscientious planner and, as such, there is no aspect of his architectural creation that was left to chance.

He was very clear that his pool house was meant to be a chic space fit for a Hollywood superstar, a place for recording music and hosting late-night parties away from the main house where his children slept.

The main floor of the pool house hosts a bar and lounge area. The wall behind the bar is decorated with framed pictures of Sammy Davis Jr. at the house, parties at the pool, and even one of Frank Sinatra sitting at the bar. The overall look of the pool house is modern yet classically chic. Black and white photos

on the wall sit well with the monochrome interior. In this space, you can easily imagine being at a fabulous party attended by the Rat Pack and the glamorous Hollywood set.

The pool house includes an upstairs bedroom and bathroom so that after a late-night party, Davis would not have to climb the stairs to go back to the main house. Additionally, as he anticipated having guests over frequently, he included separate men’s and women’s powder/changing rooms on the bottom floor, for when the daytime pool party turned into an evening soirée.

Being as involved in the music industry as he was, Davis let out the pool house for the purpose of recording music. In fact, The Band recorded their second album in here. Released in 1969, The Band’s self-titled album includes many of their most wellknown songs, including “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” After unsuccessful attempts at recording in the studio, The Band was looking for a recording space that would give the album a grittier feel. Apparently they had a good experience while recording at the home, as they write about it in the album cover itself.

From the pool area and looking up, lush foliage surrounds the entire property with bamboo, banana leaf trees, fruit trees, and tropical plants along with the smell of fragrant jasmine in the air. The result is a feeling of being in a secluded paradise high above the streets of LA. This beautiful estate is more than just a house; it is a refuge high in the hills, alive with Hollywood history and glamor.

thank YOU

TO OUR PARTNERS

180 |

4G Wireless Verizon

Irvine Resorts

Audi Beverly Hills

K1 Speed

Avalon Hotel

Kafe Neo

Biologix

Manhattan Margarita

Bronzed Bunny

MERE Boots

Broughton Hotels

Pandora | Hearts on Fire

Cassievan | Johnny B Hair Care

Pernod Ricard USA

Cenci Ventures | Duke’s

Red O Restaurant

Cinepolis

Restauration

Club Pilates

Ruby’s Diner

Dr. Gary Motykie

Santa Monica Seafood

Dr. Sanjay Grover

Stansbury Collection

Drai’s Beach Club

TechSpace

El Cholo

The Roost at LA Farm

Felix Design Studio

True Food Kitchen

Greystar | Urban Village

Vestar Long Beach

Haven & Co.

Walk With Sally

Hyatt Regency

William Grant & Sons

| AUGUST 2015