Real Creative Magazine

Issue #2 2019

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PAMELA COREY FUR FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

CINDY LORIMER THE BOSS AT PLG ESTATES

VLADIMIR RYKLIN FINE ART MASTER

SANDRA VIDAL

ACTRESS/MODEL/ REAL ESTATE AGENT

SONIA SIMON

INTRODUCES “JE NE SE QUOI” COLUMN

FRANK KAVELIN MUSIC PRODUCER

SONGEWRITER/PERFORMER BILLY HINSCHE FOUNDING MEMBER OF DINO. DESI AND BILLY AND “BEACH BOY” BAND MEMBER

Co-Publisher/Editor Atticus Scheindlin Publisher/Creative Director Lon Levin Contributing Writer April Snow Contributing Writer Sonia Simon

©2018 Lon Levin Real Estate All Rights Reserved

Real Estate READY is a subsidiary of Lon Levin Real Estate (LLRE) CalRE 01965638. ©2018 Lon Levin Real Estate. All Rights Reserved. All content is the property of LLRE and cannot be copied or used without the expressed written consent of the publisher Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2018 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker Logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo service marks are registered or pending registrations owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Real estate agents affiliated with PLG Estates Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2018 PLG Estates. All Rights Reserved.

JUST MY OPINION The Editor expresses his feelings about technology in our lives and who’s controlling who?

BILLY HINSCHE: MUSIC MAN Founding member of Dino,Desi and Billy, regular member of the Beach Boys and prolific songwriter.

SONIA SIMON : “JE NE SAIS QUOI” The wit of Interior Designer, World Traveler and Writer

Simon’s covers contemporary movement in design world.

“AROUND TOWN” Publisher Levin let’s us in on one of LA’s hidden gems, Little Ethiopia” VLADIMIR RYKLIN: RUSSIAN MASTER PAINTER Former Russian government painter now living in New York is a modern day “Hieronymus Bosch” PAMELA COREY: ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHER A candid and fun interview with a real “dog whisperer” and canine portrait photographer CINDY LORIMER : BOSS LADY OF PLG ESTATES The driving force and inspiration behind the success of LA-Based brokerage PLG Estates EMILY RICHARDS: “MADAME SNOWFLAKE” Recording artists and environmentalist Emily Richards reveals her alter-ego, recording artist “Madame Snowflake.

FRANK KAVELIN Music and Producing are in the DNA SANDRA VIDAL Mother, Actress, Model, Real Estate Agent. A true Reaniassance Woman.

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”

– Vincent Van Gogh photography by Lon Levin

What they said...

“Lon is a consummate professional. He is dependable, smart, kind and very creative. He really cares about people and making sure they are happy. I think this is what makes him standout most in all endeavors. I’ve known Lon for decades and can promise he will always be there for you.” - Rio Phior/COO Sagon/Phior Had the honor of doing an interview with REAL CREATIVE and The Illustrators Journal!!! Much love and thanks to Lon Levin for the remarkable interview and intriguing questions. Thank you! The Illustrators Journal is yet another informative outlet for all your artistic needs in a contemporary world. It’s a journey about cool art in a journal... Thanks again -Chor Boogie/Public & Modern Hierogylphics Award -Winning Artist

It’s an absolutely beautiful magazine. Great articles and thank you for featuring Cindy and me. Really it’s amazing. The articles are super and I enjoyed it all the way through.Great work Lon. Very impressive.

Peter Lorimer/Netflix Star/”Stay Here”

I would like to thank Lon and his team for an INCREDIBLE job on the magazine and feature on me.

It is highly professional and looks AMAZING !!

Blessings, - Native Wayne Jobson/ Grammy-winning Record Poducer, Film Maker and Legendary DJ

It’s Just My

Opinion

by Lon Levin

Illustration by Lon Levin

What about those who would rail against technology taking over our lives, corrupting our souls and burning our brain cells up at a rapid rate? Here’s the take away.

If you truly are against progress especially regarding electronic devices and social media apps then throw away your cell phone and your computer and move out into the woods. Going backwards is not going to make our quality of life better, it’s more about monitoring your usage of abuses of technology. Every now and then step away from the devices and take a walk. Gain some balance. But what about the children?…they will never know what it’s like to hike and fish and smell the wafting smell of azaleas. Horse pucky! as one of my grammar school teachers used to say. Our kids are smarter, better educated and move at faster rates than we do so they can do more than we ever did. That means they do both and are adept at each. They time manage better than we did because they have to. It’s progress baby! So you can rail against technology and remain terrified that giant robots will soon control everything or you can pick up the cell phone and see who’s on the line.

True story (as comics always say) I was in the emergency room at our local hospital. I was waiting to talk to the billing person when two distraught parents came in helping their son to the receptionist area. It looked like he had a head injury because he was loosely bandaged and there was some blood on the gauze surrounding his forehead.

I noticed he was clutching an iPad and cellphone in one hand as he pressed the bandaging to his head. It was a quiet night so he was escorted right in. The parents were asked to wait in the lobby until the doctor had seen the young man. Five minutes later an assistant approached the worried parents and told them their son would be fine. The doctor was stitching him up right now. She then handed them the Ipad and cellphone both of which were obviously damaged. The ipad screen was cracked and shattered and the cellphone was bent. The parents stared at the two gadgets with a longing look, then the husband put his head in his hands and started to cry. Was he crying for his son or the damaged equiptment?

Illustration by Lon Levin

Techno-love...Is this the utopia we all want? I have to end this piece now….my iPhone just informed me I have a meeting in ten minutes and I haven’t shaved yet.

Billy

HINSCHE

When did you first think about performing, writing and producing music as something you wanted to do?

I first started thinking about performing when Dino, Desi and I put the group together. We started playing local parties around Beverly Hills it was so much fun we just wanted to keep doing it.

Interview by

Lon Levin William “Billy” Hinsche (born June 29, 1951) is an American musician who was part of the singing group Dino, Desi & Billy and a touring musician with The Beach Boys. Hinsche was born in Manila, the Philippines, where his father, Otto “Doc” Hinsche, owned a casino. After World War II, the family moved to the United States and settled in Beverly Hills. Hinsche attended Beverly Hills Catholic High School, where he met Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Dean Paul Martin. The three later formed the group Dino, Desi & Billy and signed with Frank Sinatra’s record label Reprise Records.

I first met Billy on the baseball diamond at Roxbury Park. We were on rival teams. Billy was a “cool” pitcher with great control and I was a power hitter who ate fastballs. I loved hitting against Billy! Later on Billy applied his cool to pop music becoming the musical backbone to his first big group, Dino, Desi and Billy. They were a teenage sensation that featuring Dino Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy. I was delighted when my old rival and friend agreed to do this interview.

The notion of writing songs didn’t come ‘til much later and producing as well, after we saw the benefits of expanding our horizons in those areas. We started our own production company, created Dino Desi and Billy Music as our publishing company and started writing, producing and publishing our own songs. We also produced four songs for Dean Martin. I wrote two of them What kind of kid were you?

I was basically kind of shy and quiet but I was a good student, president of my class for several years, got really good grades and was popular with the other kids in my class.

Where did you grow up? .

I was born in Manila in the Philippines and our family moved to Beverly Hills when I was quite young - that’s where I was raised from about age 5.

What were your influences?

My piano tutors had me learn simple pieces from Mozart, Chopin, and some of the other Masters. I listened to a lot of musical soundtracks growing up such as My Fair Lady, Gigi, South Pacific and others. I started listening to the radio at an early age and enjoyed all the popular songs of the day like “Purple People Eater,” “Baby Talk,” “When,” “Splish Splash” and others.

I started buying 45rpm Records around that time too.

Listening to the radio always gave me an understanding of what was going on in the world musically and the popular

songs of the day continued to influence me throughout my lifetime and still going strong.

Did your dad’s business as a casino owner in Manila have any influence on you?

Not really, other than that provided the means by which we could live in Beverly Hills. Also I never became a gambler because of his advice that “the house always wins.”

How did Dino, Desi and Billy start?

I always get asked that question and a very simple answer is that we all met in school - grammar school, and were friends first and foremost. I met Dino when I was seven years old in second grade when he and his brother and sister came to our school, Beverly Hills Catholic, also known as Good Shepherd.

We became best friends and did everything together. We did what most young boys do like ride bicycles, skateboard, play Little League, drive go carts, go to the movies, etc.

We were pretty much inseparable I was either at his house or he was at mine. In the mid-‘60s when music was becoming more and more popular with The Beach Boys and The Beatles and The British Invasion it was a natural progression for us to want to play music too. I already had a background in music and a basic understanding of the guitar because of lessons I had taken on ukulele while I was vacationing with my family in Hawaii, I taught Dino a few simple chords and we began learning simple songs. One thing led to another and we realized if we wanted to have a real group we needed a drummer. Desi Jr. and his sister Lucie Arnaz were also now attending our school. We knew Desi could play drums because one day he came around to each classroom and did a drum demonstration and was really good, very impressive.

We approached him in the playground at school and asked if he’d like to be in our group as our drummer and he agreed.

So that’s how we got together as a band.

How did all the notoriety affect you and the two of them?

Of course Dino and Desi’s parents already had incredible notoriety. But the three of us didn’t have any notoriety of our own until we formed our group and had a couple of hit records. In short, we loved it and enjoyed every minute of it.

How did you arrive at the band’s way of doing things and why?

Dino and I were older than Desi so we tended to make decisions for the group. Since I had a pretty extensive musical background already, you might say that I was the musical director. We tried to pick songs where Dino and I alternated lead vocals or pick songs where we could do 2-part harmony. Dino had a great sense of style so you might say he was in charge of wardrobe for stage.

When and how did that evolve into gigging with the Beach Boys ?

We opened for The Beach Boys on July 3, 1965 at the Summer Spectacular show at the Hollywood Bowl that included The Kinks The Byrds The Righteous Brothers, Sonny and Cher and others. After that, they took us on

the road with them to Bakersfield, Fresno, and Hawaii.

You might say they took us under their wing. My sister Annie started dating Carl Wilson and they soon married. I started going on the road with them just for the fun of it - just to hang out. Once in a while I’d go on stage and play tambourine. I began playing piano and guitar for them more and more and eventually they offered me a full-time full membership in the group. For a number of reasons, I wasn’t able to make the commitment at that time. I continued touring with them throughout my years at UCLA and eventually went to work with them fulltime starting in 1974 when I graduated.

Your sister was married to Carl Wilson. How did that affect your relationship with the Beach Boys?

Annie’s marriage to Carl only solidified my relationship with the group even more. Now and forever The Beach boys are family to me. Carl’s death of cancer-related issues in 1998 was indescribable and I don’t think anybody in the family or friends that knew him have fully recovered from his loss even to this day. I do what I can to keep his memory alive in my own way and through the Carl Wilson Foundation that was set up by his two sons, my nephews, Jonah and Justyn Wilson. I have also written liner notes for two of his solo CD projects - one titled Carl Wilson and the other named Youngblood.

You have a film degree from UCLA. Have you had a chance to exercise your film chops?

...or is most of your work in the studio or writing and producing songs?

When I was at UCLA, I was also traveling on the road with The Beach Boys whenever I could. I asked several professors if I could do documentaries while on the road as part of my film or television projects. As a result, I had all this great footage that I shot on the road both on video and film. Many years later I decided to start assembling them and editing them and as a result I have made several documentaries from the footage I shot during that period of time.

Most of my work over the years has been on the road in live performance. I’m not that prolific of a songwriter but when I do finish a song I like to go to the studio and record it as soon as possible. As I am recording, I’m also producing the song.

Any projects we should know about?

If you’re interested go to http://www.billyhinsche.com/videos.html You’ve worked with a few rock n’ roll greats outside of the Beach Boy (Joan Jett, Elton John, etc) . How has that worked out for you?

It’s been great since most of these folks were friends of mine to begin with and remain so to this day; and I still get a check once a year for singing on “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” for Elton.

You live in Las Vegas now. Any kids, wife?

No What’s daily life at the Hinsche home like?

I got up early to do some reading, answer emails and do paperwork. I make calls and might have lunch at one of my favorite places in town. I go to the gym as much as possible and, weather permitting, I swim every day. I’ll either make dinner at home or eat with friends and I’ll often rent a movie to watch in the evening. It’s usually lights out by 11pm.

You grew up in LA, you traveled all over the world, why did you decide to settle in Las Vegas?

I needed a change in my life. The real estate market was good and so I bought a place at a really good time. I’ve been coming to Vegas for many years performing with The Beach Boys and was already familiar with it, so it wasn’t that difficult of a transition.

Do you still perform?...

Yes. My last big show was with Brian Wilson at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu in June 2017 for a private corporate event. I’ve done a few shows recently at the Rock Stars of Art gallery in Newport Beach, California.

Which performer did you enjoy working with the most?

It was always a thrill to record anything with the Beach Boys especially if Brian Wilson was producing the date. My role in the studio would usually be as a musician but it was always such a thrill when Brian gave me a vocal part to sing like on “Heroes & Villains.” The Beach Boys and the group Chicago did a tour in 1975 (I named it the BeaChago tour) that is still my favorite tour ever. I stay in touch with some of the guys in the band, in particular singer/songwriter/keyboardist Robert Lamm.

How has the advent of the computer affected your work?

Tremendously, especially in the area of filmmaking. I made one documentary film every year for seven years and I couldn’t have done it without my iMac computer. Also, the ability to share songs through MP3 files, etc., has facilitated the recording process too. Recently, I was working on a song I had collaborated on with a friend in Los Angeles and his engineer sent me the file for the recording we had already done in LA and I finished up the track here in Las Vegas where I live. It’s also forced me to renew my typing skills for writing emails, letters and other documents.

Any special projects we should be looking for?

I recently collaborated on a song with Robert Lamm It will be on their next Christmas album to be released on Rhino records in October.

The title is “(Because) It’s Christmastime.”

I’m also putting together my own show with multi media.

It will be a storyteller type of show - a stories behind the music show called Straight From The Heart. I’ll take you through the early years with Dino Desi and Billy through The Beach Boys years and will be filled with anecdotes of many of the interesting and talented people I’ve met and worked with throughout the years.

You can learn about Billy at www.billyhinsche.com

Je ne sais Quoi

by Sonia Simon

This past January, on a cold winter night in Portland, Maine, I stumbled upon these treelights, dancing against slate rooftops. The delicate texture and shapes just made me smile in spite of the minus 17 degrees weather.

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.�

-- Albert Albert Einstein Einstein

As a designer, trend forecaster, activist, Sonia Simon links art, fashion, design and consumer culture to provide lifestyle concepts for leading brands. Fueled by an extreme sense of curiosity and an inquisitive eye, she searches for signals that tell us things are changing and creates unique environments blending past and contemporary design. A trend researcher and creative product developer, she navigates between different cultures. with the wanderlust of a cosmopolitan. Her aim is to offer concepts that help others see the world through different lenses honoring great design traditions while remaining ahead of the future and being conscious of the dark consequences that our footprint is causing on Earth. Un Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, touches on the unexpected, out of the ordinary with a cosmopolitan flair and highlights edgy design trends in art, fashion and interiors.

Drawing from nature’s magical palette I photograph during my travels, I picked a few shades for my new upholstery line of textiles for FALL 2020.

Recently in Mexico I found unique interior light fixtures functioning more as sculptures which are elegant and ideal for a more subdued atmosphere.

ART FAIR SEASON At the Zona Maco fair in Mexico City, I noticed new embroidered and tapestry works from emerging artists Mitchell Anderson and Carlos Luna. The great textile artist Olga de Amaral, in a completely different genre, and now officially retired, had also a few pieces left on the market. For its first Los Angeles launch, Frieze art fair was all the buzz at Paramount Studios and brought the expected stellar galleries from NY and London. Rumor had it at the VIP opening, (more a cocktail party scene), that all

Bruce Conner

major work had already been sold.

Except for gems from the talented Michal Rovner at Pace, or the late Bruce Conner drawings, there were few discoveries. Both artists share a sense of timelessness and universality which stands

Carlos Luna

Mitchell Anderson

Olga de Amaral

out. Do Ho Suh’s rendition of smoke detectors in polyester fabric, from all the various homes he has lived in, was also simply magical.

Do Ho Suh

Michal Rovner

The LA Felix Art Fair, free and open to the public, was set in the restored Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and brought dealers showing a mix of emerging galleries in bedroom and suites, an affordable option for dealers hard-up for cash. If you are what I call “ecologic,” you too can create an iconic work of art with a $3.99 soft drink of your choice.

Who knows, it might even sell at Sotheby’s in twenty years or less for $ 390,000.00! As they say “Il fallait y penser”!

For my taste I prefer the ingenuity of Kim McConnell, a seminal artist of the Pattern and Decoration movement; ahead of his time and still going strong.

Kim MacConnell’s lamp and rug detail

Voila for my introduction of Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Stay tuned for more on fashion, food, art & interiors. A bientot!

- Sonia

I’m a resident of South Carthay adjacent to Fairfax. One of the true delights of the area is Little Ethiopia, which is located on Fairfax Avenue between Olympic Boulevard and Whitworth Drive in Los Angeles, California.

It is part of the P.I.C.O. Neighborhood Council. The area has a high concentration of Ethiopian businesses and restaurants, as well as a significant concentration of residents of Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestry. Los Angeles County hosts the 2nd largest Ethiopian American population, unofficially estimated at over 60,000.

SHOPPING

Many of the local shops contain items that are distinctly Ethiopian. Women’s traditional clothes are often made from cloth called shemma. It is basically cotton cloth, woven in long strips which are then sewn together. Sometimes shiny threads are woven into the fabric for an elegant effect. It takes about two to three weeks to make enough cloth for one dress. The bottom of the garment or shirt may be ornamented with patterns. Men wear pants and a kneelength shirt with a white collar, and perhaps a sweater.

They also frequently wear knee-high socks, while women might not wear socks at all. Men as well as women wear shawls: the netela. The shawls are worn in a different style for different occasions. Bracelets and necklaces of silver or gold are worn on arms and feet to complete the look.

ETHIOPIAN CUISINE Ethiopian cuisine characteristically consists of vegetable and often very spicy meat dishes. This is usually in the form of wat, a thick stew, served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread which is about 20 inches in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. Ethiopians eat most of the time with their right hands, using pieces of injera to pick up bites of entrées and side dishes. If you’re lefthanded I’m sure the locals will be accepting and of course the wonderful food tastes just as good.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church prescribes a number of fasting periods, including Wednesdays, Fridays, and the entire Lenten season, so Ethiopian cuisine contains many dishes that are vegan.

“The

music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of the country’s ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds...”

ETHIOPIAN CUISINE (continued) A typical dish consists of injera accompanied by a spicy stew, which frequently includes beef, lamb, vegetables and various types of legumes, such as lentils. Gurage cuisine also makes use of the false banana plant. The plant is pulverized and fermented to make a bread-like food called qocho or kocho, which is eaten with kitfo.The root of this plant may be powdered and prepared as a hot drink called bulla which is often given to those who are tired or ill. Another typical Gurage preparation is coffee with butter and Kita herb bread which is baked.

Pasta is frequently available throughout Ethiopia, including rural areas. Coffee is also a large part of Ethiopian culture and cuisine. After every meal, a coffee ceremony is enacted and coffee is served.

Of course describing these wonderful foods doesn’t do them justice. One has to sit down with friends, order a wide range of dishes and share. The aromas and tastes are unique and wonderful.

MUSIC CULTURE If you’re lucky enough to visit Little Ethiopia when there’s festival or music gathering you’re in for a real treat. Ethiopia is a musically traditional country. Popular music is played, recorded and listened to, but most musicians also sing traditional songs, and most audiences choose to listen to both popular and traditional styles. Popular musicians from Ethiopia include internationally renowned and recognized artists such as the Los Angeles–area expatriate Aster Aweke, The Weekend and Teddy Afro, who is often accredited with the fusion of Rastafarian styles into mainstream Ethiopian music.

Vladimir

Ryklin . .A master artist What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up?

What were your influences?

I am so happy to present this interview and work to our readers.Vladimir Ryklin's work is a treasure on an equal level with Old Masters Hieronymus Bosch or Peter Bruegel. Each piece is layered with messages real and absurd and you could literally look at the imagery for hours trying to decipher what's going in the art and Vladimir's mind as he was creating it\.

When did you first think about art as something you wanted to do? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

I’ve always been drawing. As far back as I can remember I was holding a pencil. I’m a lefty, and it was considered a big defect on a child back then in the Dark Ages when I grew up, so they tried to make me “normal” by tying my left hand, so I could only use my right. Eventually they gave up, but my mom told me that I’ve been drawing since around 3-4 years of age. Nobody really cared about it.

I was a normal Soviet kid. I grew up in central Moscow.

My first real tragedy happened when I was 8, when my paintings which I was hiding under the closet were accidentally irreversibly damaged by floor paint. I cried for a week…

Your style is very unique. Did you work on developing a style or is that what naturally came out of you?

When I started to study art, I quickly fell under the influence of some of the biggest masters of graphics: Beardsley and Durer. Later, my inspirations became Bruegel and Bosch. I think my style now is the result of the reworking and rethinking of the experience I acquired studying the tremendous heritage of those masters of art, combined with my own personal thoughts and inner luggage.

You worked as a commercial artist in the Central Commercial Art Bureau. How did that happen? Was that work under scrutiny of the government?

After graduating from my Art School one of my friends recommended that place, but its was known as hard to get into. However, after I showed them my skills in fonts, posters, and advertising sketches, I got a job.

Don’t forget, it was time when there were no Word or Illustrator or Photoshop programs. Every word and every letter on posters were written by hand, and that was my main task there.

Like every enterprise in the Soviet economy the Art Bureau was of course part of the government system, so every piece of printed product was supposed to be approved by the authorities.

Why were you concerned about censorship of your personal art and what did you think would happen if the authorities found out what you were doing?

Working in a Bureau was a “job”... and a well-paid one, all things considered. But I could only create what was directly ordered by some other organizations, like Circuses, theaters, movie companies, and so on, whoever needed a poster. Again, they could only be a part of the

"I’ve always been drawing. As

far back as I can remember I was holding a pencil. " government system. Any attempt to get an order from a private party and sell my own art in the Soviet Union would be considered a crime. Did we young artists do it? Of course! But it was always a “black market” thing.

How did you escape Russia? Were you able to take your work with you or did you have to start again?

Approximately in 1974-75 I started seriously considering an escape. The only legal way to do it was through Jewish organizations who helped Jews to immigrate from the USSR. Demand was huge, but approximately every fifth person

was allowed to leave by the Soviet government. I got lucky, and my papers where approved. However, I had around 300 of my own works, graphics, oils, etc, which I couldn’t take with me. And then, some kind of miracle happened. One day, when I already had all my papers in order, and in about a week was supposed to leave Russia, I put all of my works in a briefcase and walk into the US Embassy in Moscow. Naturally, I was stopped by a Russian policeman by the front door, and he asked me where I was going. I would like to remind you its 1975, when a Soviet citizen could be thrown in a KGB prison just by walking CLOSE BY the US Embassy! I told the guard that I was an artist and that I had a meeting with the Cultural Attaché of the United States.

And he let me in! Without even checking my briefcase!

Inside the Embassy I quickly got a meeting with one of the workers, whom I told my story, and said that approximately in a week I’m planning to be in the US, and maybe, just maybe, they can find a way to move my works to New York? If not, I said, I would be happy to present it as a gift to the United States Government.

They took it, and with an empty briefcase I walked out of the Embassy, saluted to the guard, and drove home…

Two weeks later I picked up my paintings in New York.

What’s going on in your head when you work on a piece? Your fears, anticipation, confidence, etc. How do you know something is finished?

I don’t. Its never finished to me. If a painting is not sold by a certain time, I start having the urge to change things.

Your work is so colorful and exciting, full of intricate imagery. It’s almost as if your subconscious has spilled out on the canvas.

Yes, you can say that. Sometimes it starts as an image (or images), a shadow of my thoughts or even a dream. Indeed sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and start to draw or paint trying to capture that kaleidoscope I just had in my head.

I’m curious about how you choose what to work on.

I imagine your process takes a long time to finish so it’s an important decision to decide what to work on.

What’s does your process entail? Start to finish. Can you give us a short step-by-step?

I usually work simultaneously on several new paintings.

In a beginning, it might be just a centerpiece, like a main character. I can leave it alone for a while and move to a different painting and subject. Then, after some time I come back to it.

Occasionally, I even might see a dream of that character started living its own life, surrounding itself with other objects and communicating with me. I’m trying to capture all that right away.

How has living in America influenced your work? Has your success and living in the US changed you?

I was happy to finally do what I want and even making a living out of it! Later, working with David Letterman and others on TV shows was also a very unique and satisfying experience. Time is changing us all, of course, but I want to believe that even now, at 85 years of age, I’m still young enough to fulfill my dreams. God created me as an Artist, and I don’t want to disappoint Him, so I still paint!

How do you view the younger Russian artists of today still living in Russia? Do you think they have more freedom to express themselves or are they still fearful of reprisals from the government?

Of course, in Russia today you are free to paint whatever you feel like, but the big question is – what you going to do with that? Will you be able to participate in exhibitions or public showings? I’ve seen galleries that were attacked by government-sponsored guerrillas just because they dared to exhibit something that some authorities consider “degenerative” art. Sounds familiar, right?

If you could meet anyone in the field you’re in (past or present) who would it be and why?

I would love to have a couple of words with Hieronymus Bosch. His view on art in general I think changed our world forever

P ACOREY MELA “Providing tremendous creativity and service to individuals and their furry family members.”

Ten years ago I left the comfort of the corporate world (I was in international marketing at 20th Century Fox) to pursue photography. Up until 2017, my efforts were focused more on live music, events, and portraiture (humans), but in the summer of 2017 I took a position as lead photographer for a company that focused on pets, and I realized that was my true calling. Animals have always been a true love of mine, and once I started working with pets it became very clear to me that this is what I’m meant to be doing! That company closed, so I struck out on my own, and Fur Family Photos was born in the summer of 2018. - Pamela I met Pamela at my WeWorks office in the Pacific Design Center. She had set up a display of her work in the Sky Lounge. After I poured myself a cappuccino I wandered over and started talking with her. She was enagaging, smart and very down to earth. I asked her if she would do an interview with me and she agreed. A few weeks later she shot photos of my two golden retreivers and they came out fabulous... a real treasure for my wife and me. Over the course of a month I finally got Pamela’s interview completed. I am delighted to present it here and I highly recommend dog lovers to engage her services.

Here’s the result.

When did you first think about photography as something you wanted to do? How did that evolve into Fur Family Photos? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors??

Although I wasn’t aware of it at the time, my interest in photography started as a child when I received my first little point and shoot camera, and our family dog Missy had puppies. I was madly in love (and obsessed) with them, and I knew that I didn’t have much time with them since they would be leaving for their forever homes soon.

I wanted to capture the distinct personalities of each one before they left, so I took photos of them to remind me of what each one was like… and POOF a documentary photographer was born!

It wasn’t until I left the corporate world of studio film marketing 10 years ago that I decided to focus on photography full time. Fortunately family and friends have supported me with words of encouragement throughout the ups and downs of the process. If not for them, I likely wouldn’t have endured the challenges along the way.

A My own insecurities have been my worst enemy by far in my journey of pursuing photography. However, now that my path has lead me to focus on pet photography, I’ve fallen so in love with what I do that I approach it from a place of joy in being able to share something so special with my clients. I no longer come from a mindset of what I can get from my clients, but rather what I can give to my clients; and that passion and love for what I create has changed everything for me. I truly feel like I’ve found my home.

What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?

I was very fortunate to have a wonderful family and childhood. I grew up in Tucson, AZ. in a neighborhood where we bounced between different friend’s houses, and had to be home in time for dinner. Kindness and fairness were a few of the biggest lessons my parents instilled in me as I was growing up, and above all else I’d say I was a very sensitive child. I’ve been extremely empathetic as far back as I can remember; and the “do unto others” philosophy has always been my religion. I believe this is part of the foundation of my love and respect for animals.

Your photo style and way of handling your business is very unique. How did you arrive at that way of doing things and why?

Until the last few years, I had focused on (human) portraits, headshots, events, weddings, and live music. I had done some wildlife photography, but hadn’t

ever focused on pets until I got a job as the lead photographer for a studio doing pet photography. I had the good fortune of learning the process from a wonderful photography mentor there. I was also able to see how they did business, and pondered on how I would do it differently. I truly love being able to provide people with images of their furry loved ones, as well as tying charity work into what I do.

Throughout my life there has been a lot of pain and heartbreak seeing how people treat animals as “things.” It’s something I’ve never understood, and I love that I now work with people who celebrate their connection with animals, and treat them with the love and respect they deserve.

What areas does your work appear in? How did that come about?

I have worked in the commercial world shooting pets for magazines, however I prefer to focus on the one-on-one, very personalized experience with my fur parent clients.

It may surprise some people how intimate the experience is in capturing the spirit and personality of their fur family. I often become quite close friends with my clients, and my clients’ reaction to seeing the images we’ve captured is the most gratifying part of what I do Does living in LA give you a certain tone to your work that living elsewhere wouldn’t?

thing to be treasured.

Do you have other photo interests or series you’re planning on?

Yes! I founded a non-profit organization called AARF (Advocating Animal Rescue through Fine art), which is an umbrella for various themed art projects. The images are in the same style as Fur Family Photos, and will also include the story behind them. Proceeds will be donated to the rescue organizations from which the participants got their animals. I’m very excited to be able to help a variety of organizations doing such wonderful work.

Angelinos tend to lead the way in many trends, and it’s been wonderful to be received by the community so positively, and have my work be so embraced and appreciated. I love that the community here really loves the fine art nature of what I create.

We’re currently looking for contributors, sponsors, and supporters, so if this project sounds interesting, please be in touch with us at aarfproject@gmail.com!

What’s does your process entail? Start to finish. Can you give us a short step-by-step?

RED CARPET RESCUE – celebrities and their rescue pets, telling the story behind their pet, and why rescue is important to them.

In all honesty, the process is different for each client. I find the most important part of the process is in taking the time to get to know both the fur client and the human client – both in a pre-consultation meeting, and at the start of the session. Being able to evaluate and embrace how the furry client “shows up” at the session is paramount to capture wonderful images them. The connection I have with each of them dramatically affects the outcome of the session.

We spend about 90 minutes in the studio together, during which the fur parent participates and is part of the process, helping to bring out those elements of their fur family that only they can. I couldn’t do what I do without the fur parents, since no one can bring out their babies’ true personality like they can. It’s a REALLY fun experience, and when they see the images it’s great because they know that they were a big part in making those moments happen.

After the time in the studio, my clients go on a quick potty break walk, while I do an initial edit of the images.

Then they come back to the studio, and we have a theater style viewing of the images, so they get to see them right after we took them. Their response is often “are you kidding me?!?!

THAT’S what we just did?!” accompanied by tears, because it’s a really personal experience unlike anything they’ve done before with their furry loved one(s) (which absolutely makes my heart smile); and then they choose the images they’d like to have. The entire experience lasts around 3 hours, and is truly some

AARF projects include:

VETS - Veterans with their rescue pets sharing their stories of how their rescue animal improved/changed their lives.

PURE – images of all purebred dogs that were rescues – encouraging people to get a purebred through a rescue organization instead of a breeder.

SAVED – images of people whose lives were literally or figuratively saved by their rescue animals (e.g. people who were suicidal, went through major trauma that they might not have survived without their rescue animal, etc).

What’s the future hold for Pamela and your furry friends? Any ultimate goal? Will there be a book?

I’d absolutely love to do books for not only Fur Family Photos, but also for AARF as a means of fundraising.

If you could meet any photographer past or present who would it be and why?

Annie Leibovitz. Not only because she’s insanely talented, but she put female photographers on the map, and has been a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry. Rock on A.L.!

From Scratch and Seasonal, Using the Freshest Ingredients.

548 Palisades Drive • Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 TheKBakery.com • 310.573.9900

“The

world

breaks

everyone, and

afterward, some are

strong

at the broken places.”

– Ernest Hemingway

LORIMER C INDY “The Boss”

Cindy is essentially a true LA native, even though she was born in the bustling city of Saigon in Vietnam and immigrated to the US as a small child to escape the Vietnam war.

Cindy is the V8 engine behind PLG Estates as she is the operations manager for the company. With a keen eye for detail she keeps the agency running at top speed with the efficiency of fine German engineering. Also a keen real estate agent in her own right she manages to don both hats of management and agent with dexterity and ease. Always quick to help and even quicker with a smile Cindy is an integral and essential part of the PLG family.

Cindy has a BA in Science from Cal State Northridge and was a professional actress on screen and T.V. After acting she was a senior account manager for American Express and was successful in catapulting one of the products in their Corporate Sales department from inception to implementation and huge national success.

It was a natural and obvious transition for her to team up with husband Peter to form a Real Estate alliance. Cindy and Peter compliment each other which has galvanized a very blessed and successful partnership. With sights set high Cindy and Peter look forward to providing, their trademark of top knotch service to all clients and agents in their brokerage.

First off what’s it like to be married to Peter? The energy this guy puts out is extraordinary along with his obvious talent and intellect. How do you get a word in edgewise?

I actually do a lot of the talking if you can believe it!

But he does have a lot of energy, that’s for sure. He’s extremely creative and very much the left-brained one in the relationship and I’m the right. It sounds cliché, but the combination works pretty great; he’s the yin to my yang. I feel extremely lucky that we get to go on this amazing journey together with our three kids… We seem to work so well together that no matter what we decided to do with our lives, I think we would be successful at it as a team. If say it was something small like running a lemonade stand, or something bigger like starting PLG, we would make it work. And yes, he is really intense :) Tell me a little about your background. Did you always want to be in real estate, let alone running a cutting-edge real estate agency? How about your family. Did anyone (family, friends) encourage your interest? Discourage?

I think most people don’t know what they really want to do in life. Unless you knew you wanted to be a doctor or lawyer and had to put in the time in school I believe most of the time your purpose falls into your lap. I met Peter when he was a record producer. Shortly after that he decided to get his Real Estate license and that’s when everything changed. Six months in and I saw him drowning… It was just too much work for one person. At the time I was an Account Manager for a gift card program.

I was great at what I did and really liked the work, but decided to up and quit my job to help Peter. He kept asking me if I was sure, and I just knew that I was. And that’s how it all began.

That’s a lot of blind faith in each other! Ok, so if you weren’t in real estate, what do you think you’d be doing?

I’d say so. Ok, what were like as a youngster? Your interests, passions. Do you have siblings?

The thing is, I didn’t really have the chance to have a dream of becoming something when I was a child. I was an immigrant, or a “boat person” as we called it. I came to this country at five and didn’t speak English. It was more about survival and acclimating. I suppose now as an adult looking at my skills and what I like, I would probably have a key role supporting someone building a business. Hmm… I guess I already did that though!

I’m the youngest of four and was your typical youngest child. We all share a unique bond from taking the crazy journey to America together and having had to start a whole new life together. We all actually ended up in California, which is nice. I have to say that we are all extremely different and that I think it’s really interesting, how people can have the same starting point in life and end up in completely different places; That’s what makes life so great.

“I was an immigrant, or a “boat person” as we called it. I came to this country at five and didn’t speak English.”

How do you feel about the #metoo movement? Have you ever encountered negative workplace issues?

(I experienced plenty in the entertainment business)

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? Any personal goals you have that are long-term and are in the makings right now?

We are all 1 out of 3, right? We are all somehow affected by it. It can be represented in so many different areas in life, which I think is the key to it. It’s putting a spotlight on instances where you feel alone and isolated and it let’s you know that you aren’t. So it’s about time and it’s amazing! It’s giving people who feel shame and like a victim, even outside of just sexual misconduct, the chance to feel unified and powerful. For me it’s wonderful that the #Metoo movement is celebrating all people who are brave enough to stand up and stand out for any negative experiences they have had and shed light on them.

I see myself not working as intensely as I do now. I’m a born workaholic and it’s hard for me to stand still. My ultimate goal is to slowdown and be there for my kids in their teens. Not sure exactly how I’m going to do it, but that’s my plan! And something that is already set in motion now, is that I’m planning on building my portfolio of homes, so I can flip them one by one. It’s something I love doing. When you create something with your own personal stamp, that is unique, and put love into it, there is no feeling more satisfying. With this endeavor I can work at my own pace and hopefully slow down a bit.

How did PLG come into existence? What do you think your role in it has been?

Aside from Peter, who do you admire the most and why?

We were both at another brokerage and decided we wanted to create an environment and a space where there weren’t any clicks and everyone was equal. We wanted to create a culture that we didn’t really have in the previous place we worked at. And the beautiful thing is that though that is what we set out trying to accomplish we didn’t necessarily know exactly what that was or what it looked like. Somehow, with those intentions everything organically developed and became our vision and what PLG is today.

What’s your vision for the future of PLG and how does it align with your future?

It’s hard for me to answer this question because honestly, PLG is where I want it to be already… I couldn’t be more thrilled with what we have accomplished and anything on top of what we have today is truly just a bonus. Maybe another cliché, but it’s the truth!

What’s been your biggest learning experience, one that may have shaped your attitudes about what you do and why?

I have to say, the major one that shaped my attitude on my life in general was my stillbirth. It’s the kind of thing that really put the important things in perspective. I always say to Peter, when things get tough, that just as long as our loved ones have their health that everything else is gravy. When you experience true loss you realize how beautiful and special all the good in life is. I hold onto that and try not to focus too much on the small stuff.

Assuming that I even admire Peter… Hmmm. That’s a tough one.

And that’s the last word from Cindy! Perhaps we’ll have to revisit her another time and see if she has an answer to that question.

SMILE

EMILY

Richards a.k.a... MADAM SNOWFLAKE

by Lon Levin

How did that evolve into Madam Snowflake?

To tell the truth I had no idea who Emily Richards aka Madam Snowflake was. As luck would have it Jodi and I were promoting the magazine in Brentwood and met Emily’s husband John. He suggested we talk to her because she was a very interesting woman. Well, a lot of people say things like this when you meet them and you take it with a grain of salt...however, in this case it’s true and more! I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did putting it together. And you MUST listen to Madam Snowflake’s music. It is awesome!

When did you first think about singing as something you wanted to do?

There was never a thought about singing, because there was never a time I wasn’t singing! My earliest memory is of a two year old curly-top belting out “On the Good Ship Lollipop” with full choreography -- surrounded by a circle of cheering, gray-haired fans. In Salt Lake City, my grandparents hosted regular dinner parties where their large coffee table was my stage for tap dancing and toddler-style crooning. I remember feeling a nervous embarrassment caused by the insistent adoration of my grandparents and their friends. Perhaps I was born signing!

The journey has been a colorful, winding road! From early childhood piano competitions and ballet performances to pre-teen pageants and songwriting, music has been a golden thread woven through the chapters of my life. I won my first songwriting contest when I was eleven – and that hooked me. Of all the arts I loved, I was most impassioned by songwriting (I wrote my high school’s prom and graduation themes). Though I graduated college with a B.S. in Accounting, I also studied music and dance. I worked for eleven years as a CPA for Price Waterhouse (so geeky!) but also enjoyed a dual career as a singer-songwriter. After winning an American Idol-type contest, I released my first album in Nashville, which led to opening for Martina McBride.

Those unexpected breakthroughs got me recording deals in Los Angeles with Grammy-winning producers John Jones and David Kershenbaum. With the release of my second album, my entrepreneurial-brain made a radical decision – to freely share my music on the internet, unheard of in 1998 (yes that is dating me). Millions downloaded my music on the revolutionary website MP3.com, and terms like “digital music pioneer” and “queen of the internet” appeared with my name in Wall Street Journal and USA Today articles.

Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

My family and close friends are my most supportive fans. I fondly recall my mom and sisters flying in for several big shows at the House of Blues on Sunset, my dad and brother coming to town when I played the legendary Troubadour as well as the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego. My entire family flew to Vegas when I headlined the House of Blues there. And now that I’m writing my first musical, they are my case study listeners.

I’ve had the most amazing managers and producers.

The musicians of ccMixter support and evolve my art continually. Providence has connected me with mentors and a team that think differently – and that has made all of the difference!

What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up?

What were your influences?

As the most downloaded artist on MP3.com, I headlined their 50-city tour in 2000 – where late in the tour tragedy struck. My little sister was killed by a drunk driver. It crushed me. Everything changed after that – my rising star went a completely different direction. I formed a nonprofit in her name and though I toured and released several more albums, life in the mainstream no longer interested me. I wanted to make a difference, not sellout to a music industry built on sex-appeal, lockdown and shallow, three-minute ditties. So when MP3.com’s founder/CEO asked me to run his new music company, I jumped -- and moved to San Diego.

Serving as the President of a high-tech company (sued by the major labels) was a sleep-losing challenge, and I finally realized neither music executives nor tech moguls really care about the art of music. In the thick of it, I met Lawrence Lessig who introduced me to ccMixter. org – a website where music was evolving through open sharing and genuine artistry. I joined the ccMixter community in 2006 under the moniker Snowflake (a nickname given me by my first LA band, when I moved from the snowy mountains of Utah to the warm beaches of SoCal). After three years of creating on this global platform I formed my own company, ArtisTech Media, and acquired ccMixter. As Madam Snowflake, I’ve uploaded the vocals (and stems) of over 130 original songs, well as 100 fully produced tracks, to ccMixter.org – under Creative Commons licenses. These “CC” licenses enable other creators to interact with my music – and it is the power of sharing that has virally advanced my deeper message all over the world.

I was and still am a nature girl. As an elementary school student, I spent hours alone in the woods that lined our home’s property. I can still smell that sweet scent of pine and feel the soft needles beneath my feet when I close my eyes. In my conservative Mormon family, we didn’t listen to much rock ‘n roll but our record player was constantly spinning music -- the Carpenters, John Denver, Barbara Streisand, and Neil Diamond. Luckily, I discovered my uncle’s vast vinyl collection when I was 14 – Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Beatles blew my mind open! I’ll never forget the first time I listened to ‘Stairway to Heaven’ – I was crying by the end, and copied all of the lyrics from the record sleeve into my songwriting notebook. “It makes me wonder….”

U2 was my favorite band in high school – ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ and ‘New Year’s Day’ my favorite songs as a sophomore. When “Joshua Tree” was released my junior year, the album became the soundtrack of my life (still is in a way). I was obsessed with every album, B-side and import I could get my hands on. I drove through the night to Phoenix to see the band play live (they wouldn’t play in SLC), and have seen them perform nearly two dozen times. I was an outgoing teen and got along with the smart kids, the nerds, the jocks, and the cheerleaders.

“I was an outgoing teen and got along with the smart kids, the nerds, the jocks, and the cheerleaders.”

I loved to read and my imagination was vivid in everything I created. I spent a lot of time alone in the woods that lined our property.

I was on the dance and track teams, in the glee club and was a student body officer. I got my first gig as a lead singer when I was 19 and had to lie about my age to play at most of the venues in the Salt Lake area. The band performed a lot of Aretha Franklin, Beatles and Al Green covers – all while I was on full scholastic scholarship at the University of Utah. I belonged everywhere, and yet fit in nowhere.

What areas does your work appear in? How did that come about?

Because I’ve freely shared my music, other creators incorporate my songs into their own works -- in ways I would never think of. I recently learned that I have millions of fans in Holland -- because music producers and DJs in Amsterdam perform their versions of my songs each year at festivals bigger than Coachella. My voice and songs are featured in thousands of YouTube videos, websites, podcasts, videogames, and more.

“My family was always amazing – my biggest fans!”

This is how the message of my music – peace, tolerance, evolution, and harmony with our planet – is being shared with the world.

How has the advent of the computer affected your work?

I love technology! Giving away millions of unique downloads launched my career. The ccMixter.org platform has opened up my music stems, and facilitates unique collaboration with producers and musicians I’ve never met, in countries I’ve never visited. Running Pro Tools in my home studio provides the time and resources to create exactly what I envision – without the big sticker price of my early albums (over $100k each). I’m currently working on my 17th album (singles are on my YouTube channel) and have just finished the second draft of my first Broadway-style musical. Computers have given me the freedom and independence to pursue my true art -- and its message.

I’m fascinated by your music, especially your new song Amplify the Light. I’m making a leap here but I’m assuming the present state of American politics is a motivating factor in the lyrics? What’s the origin of that and am I off base?

The division and anger in our country hurts, and I wrestle regularly with despair. Still, music can be cathartic and hopeful. Most of the songs I write are born from observing reality with an imaginative twist -- for what could be possible (in the John Lennon ‘Imagine’ sort of way).

‘Amplify the Light’ is a reminder – that what I focus on, think about, talk about – is what takes up the mental and emotional space in the minutes and hours of each day. If I give my energy and hope to the to harmony that could be on our planet, well, I get one step closer to that being my reality.

Did you take a performing name to allow yourself the freedom to create a persona that can be whatever you want? What is the concept behind that?

The frenzy of life on the road was wearisome – and I’m not adept at handling public criticism. Privacy and a nurturing home is important to my family and me. By transitioning into a virtual music career, I get to be with those I love, enjoy my every day life and still pursue my passion. And, there aren’t the same kinds of pressures for image and brand – which allows my creative work to be totally about the music.

Does living in LA give you a certain tone to your work that living elsewhere wouldn’t?

LA is a special place for music, and I’m so lucky my star first rose on the Sunset Strip. I worked with some of the most talented folks in the biz when I moved here – I was young and lucky! The magic of music became rooted inside me, and has never let go. Being around really gifted musicians pushes my craft – and LA continues to be a force of creativity for me.

What’s does your process entail? Start to finish. Can you give us a short step-by-step?

An inspiration surges within me like a volcano, usually from a topic I’m concerned about (climate change, equality, harmony) -- and then I go straight to the piano. I write my lyrics, melodies and musical arrangement all at the same time. Then I head into my home studio – I record a piano track to a click first, and then lead vocals. Harmonies really give me enjoyment, so I’ll usually record at least a dozen backing vocals. Then I add other instruments. Sometimes I play bass and guitar – and often times I go to the ccMixter community for for musical

– because other folks are better at playing drums, bass, and guitar than me! Their styles, influenced by their country’s culture, push me beyond my familiarity. (I usually end up doing a lot of editing and manipulation if I use stems from other musicians.) Then I mix the track and share it (along with my stems) on my page at ccMixter – where the song eventually ends up in all sorts of other DJ mixes, webvids, etc. My team helps curate favorite tracks or songs themed together on albums, that will be mastered (sometimes mixed too) by one of my professional producer buddies. For example, I released a Valentine’s Day album last year “Honey Valentine” that is a collection of lush, romantic songs for candlelight and lovers Is your involvement in environmental activities something that is an Emily Richards thing or a part of Madam Snowflake or a combo of both?

I can’t separate the two when it comes to the health of our planet – just like we can’t separate ourselves from the ecosystem that we utterly depend upon for each breath, our health and every meal by which we sustain ourselves.

On a tour in 2004, I shared the stage at festivals with Ed Begley Jr, Jane Goodall, Willie Nelson, and other good folks that enlightened me with awareness -- and I saw for myself how badly we’re degrading our environment. It is horrifying that we put millions of tons of plastic in the ocean each year, and that we’ve overfished our seas so radically that birds, whales, dolphins, turtles, sea lions, and more are endangered or going extinct because of our ignorant actions. My husband and I visit Kauai several times each year, and over the past six, we’ve seen the coral reefs go from flourishing with fish and turtles to becoming bleached and nearly dead. The mountains in Utah are suffering too – from much shorter, warmer winters that have not only hurt the ski economy over the past two decades, but have also caused devastating bark beetle infestations. 90% of forests at higher elevations are dying from climate change. And then there are the forests we’re intentionally cutting down – 18 million acres each year – for free range cattle, palm oil, construction, and drilling or fracking for oil and gas. The damage is aggravated by the cars we drive; the disposables we discard; the power and water we waste – it all rings a warning bell inside my heart.

Music is the truest way I know how to express myself – Madam Snowflake is my vehicle. I try to be the change in steps every day. Our home in Brentwood has solar panels, rain barrels, and gray water systems. We drive a Tesla. We grow most of our own food using permaculture and absolutely no chemicals. We’ve adopted a plant-based diet and zero-waste lifestyle. We pick up trash on our regular powerwalks around Brentwood and Santa Monica,

and organize beach clean-ups. We have adopted a few school gardens too, and I love seeing kids get their hands in the soil, and appreciate vegetables! It gives me hope.

What’s the future hold for Emily and Madam Snowflake? Any ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal is to help somehow turn around this sixth extinction humans are causing on our planet – for all of us that live and breathe -- as well as for future generations. My new musical is inspired by this crisis -- “we’re the cure because we’re the disease.”

Music is my passion and the purest way I can share this message – for increasing awareness, compassion and consciousness is what shifts people to make a change.

Emily and husband John above.

I love the permutations of my music that pop up – and the different creators that I connect with around the world as a result.

LON LEVIN

action photography lonfellow@gmail.com

Interview with Frank Kavelin

It’s in the DNA

“Growing up in Beverly Hills I loved music, but practicing music--not so much. Playing basketball certainly had more allure than practicing piano !”

I’ve known of Frank Kavelin since 1965. In fact the first time I became aware of Frank was band practice in 8th or 9th grade. I actually thought he was part of our band, but in fact he told me before our interview that he wasn’t, he was simply there to teach us how to play!

Although Frank and I never spoke in High School, I was always aware of this tall, dark, good looking, cool guy strolling around the lawn at Beverly High. When we sat down to lunch back in September it was as if I had reconnected with a long lost friend. It was one of those moments that stick with you in a good way.

I learned many things about Frank at that lunch, most of which made me realize how little we know of each other as we pass through life. The purpose of this publication is to bring those hidden stories to life, so here’s Frank’s.

Lute Records and its affiliated labels, TransWorld, Marsh and Kammy were owned and presided over by Al Kavelin, Frank’s father. One of the earliest releases on Lute Records was its most successful: “Alley Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles which topped the Cash Box and Billboard charts in July of 1960. Its initial release sold well in excess of 1 million copies internationally.

Although not enjoying the same level of success as “Alley Oop,” subsequent releases reflected Kavelin’s choice of artists and repertoire, and rendered some great pop music— particularly in the genres of R&B, Doo-Wop and Novelties.

The producers, arrangers and instrumentalists that supported Lute’s various artists were the best of the best. Although many of these tracks have been reconfigured and marketed “six ways from Sunday” over the last 40 years, the relaunch of Lute Records offers digital re-masters of the original releases under the supervision of Frank Kavelin, Al’s son (pictured here).

In the near future, Lute Records will be releasing new product in the genres of soul, jazz, smooth jazz, gospel and novelties.

“I would be inspired by the pop acts I would see on TV shows like “Shindig” and “Hullaballoo.”

When did you first think about music as something you wanted to do? How did that evolve into your present business? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

I loved Motown and the great music coming out of the Mississippi Delta and New Orleans.

Although I played piano and clarinet as a kid, it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I discovered what arrangers do in placing a familiar piece of music in an entirely fresh and new setting. That led to an interest in songwriting, composing and orchestrating. My father was my biggest supporter and it didn’t hurt that his colleagues took an interest in my musical efforts. His associate, Gene Von Hallberg became my teacher. And composer/arrangers like Elmer Bernstein, Ben Homer, Tom McIntosh, Benny Golson, Oliver Nelson, Jimmie Haskell, Charlie Calello and Earle Hagen provided real world experience as I started to work professionally.staff together.

What type of music do you compose and produce? How did that come about?

What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?

How has the advent of the computer affected your work?

Growing up in Beverly Hills I loved music, but practicing music--not so much. Playing basketball certainly had more allure than practicing piano. I was greatly influenced by the classical and jazz music that was always playing in our home as well as the diverse popular music that my father published and produced.

For me, the computer has become my pencil and paper, my recording studio, my access to the outside world of selling music, an endless source of information and a great place to schmooze via social media. In sum, it has greatly streamlined my world as it has the world in general.

When did you start writing songs? Did you work on developing a style or did it naturally came out of you?

I began writing songs in middle school. I would be inspired by the pop acts I would see on TV shows like “Shindig” and “Hullaballoo.”

Before too long, I found myself gravitating toward rhythm and blues.

During my career as a “hired gun,” I had to understand and write in many different styles. That is especially true with film music. In recent years I have been had the luxury of picking and choosing the styles of music I like to write and record. These include symphonic, jazz, jazz-fusion and a variety of pop music styles.

Is there a market for the classic tunes in the library and how will you market that?

Ever since Lute Records began in the early 1960s, its product has been consumed with

regularity by fans all over the world. The revitalization of the label in 2014 has brought the music to new audiences, first through digital distribution and, looking forward, through direct marketing utilizing the Lute Records website, social media and email campaigns.

How does the classic stuff of Lute differ from your own work and style?

My father’s mantra was “Material is King.” If the basic material is strong you have something solid to build upon. If not, you can spend a lot of time and money with disappointing results.

That has always guided my efforts, so in basic ways, my music is not that different than what my father produced on Lute. My music differs as to the musical influences that have come into being since my father’s day.

Does living in Rancho Mirage affect your work and how you go about it now that you’ve moved from LA? Living in Rancho Mirage is like always being on vacation. It’s rejuvenating. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I should be in my studio working. When I think of L.A., I think of rushing through traffic to get to work. Now, as long as I avoid stepping on one of my two cats I can safely get to my studio, which is attached to my garage.

What’s does your daily process entail? Start to finish. Can you give us a short step-by-step?

My days are split in half: one-half creative and onehalf business. Most of the time I work on marketing in the morning, which involves initiating and answering correspondence, and monitoring sales. In the afternoon, I am in the studio either writing, recording, mixing or mastering. On rare occasions, I find myself working through the night (which used to be the rule, not the exception).

What do you do to promote yourself and get your work out there?

Arthur Hamilton, who wrote the lyrics to “Cry Me A River,” told me that you do more to advance your career at a cocktail party than by sending out hundreds of tapes. In my case, just about all the work I have done is the result of personal connections and relationships. Even in the impersonal world of online marketing, I find building online relationships to be vital.

What’s the future hold for Frank? Any ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal was to have a studio in a beautiful setting. Somehow, I find myself in just that situation. I still aspire to greater recognition and more opportunities to see the world through travel.

VIDAL

SANDRA

Sandra Vidal is a famous actress and reality TV star from Argentina. She is best known for her role in the television series Ángeles, which is the Spanish version of Charlie’s Angels. She has also acted in the film White Rush, the television series The Bold and the Beautiful. Most recently she has appeared in the Estrella TV’s reality show named Rica, Famosa, Latina. She started developing an interest in acting and modelling from a quite young age. She began walking on ramps when she was just 14 years old.

She took part in a beauty contest at the age of 17 and ended up winning the title of Miss Punta del Este. Her gorgeous looks and sense of style caught the eye of Prince Pierre D’Aremberg. He took her to France and made her the face of the fragrance brands Perfume Rocks and Bizance perfume. That was the first step towards her promising career as an international model. It was not long before she was considered one of the top models in the European circuit.

“My priority as single mom is to provide and to raise a healthy, strong, happy eleven year old boy.

I love my role as a mom as well as working as an agent. It’s not a job it’s what I love to do.”

When did you first think about acting as something you wanted to do? How did that evolve into your present business? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

I was five years old when I told my mom that I wanted to be an actress.

I was a happy girl who loved to dance and smile all day long. I grew up in a middle class family with two other sisters. My mother taught me to work hard and follow my dreams.

“I was a happy

girl who loved to dance and smile all day long. ”

Her dreams led her to Europe where she became one of the top models.

Several model agencies hired her to work in Paris, Milan, Hamburg and Madrid. Soon some producers from Hollywood who were on a lookout for a sexy, young girl took notice of Sandra. This is how she landed the significant role of Elena Sanchez in Ángeles.

Why did you decide to give up a lucrative modeling career in Europe to come to America?

I came to the USA with a contract to work on a TV Series, but the thing that was the strongest pull on me was to act in another language. At that time having a strong Latin accent wasn’t ok.

I spent thousands of dollars in dialogue coaches to get my English more clear on the set.

She gained a great fan following after it started airing. It was co-produced by Sony Pictures and Telemundo. The Spanish version of Charlie’s Angels gained huge popularity among the Spanish-speaking audience. Soon she started living a lifestyle a few could dream of having. A lavish life surrounded by celebrities. She was seen in all the high-class parties and often with various handsome men..

She started receiving, even more, fame after starring in “The Violent Kind”.

She starred in the comedy named “The Cattle Call” along with Chelsea Handler. She also appeared in a number of feature films made by American film production houses New Image and Millennium.

How has working so hard all over the world affected your personal life?

I missed my mom and my sister and I still do.

Sandra Vidal was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 17. She grew up in a comfortable home and had a good childhood. Since childhood, she had a natural inclination towards modelling.

She attended school in her hometown. She studied acting with Argentine directors such as Alberto Ure, Flores Yunguerman and Rodolfo Vias. Along with that, she continued to pursue economics. She also attended dance and piano classes.

What led you into real estate?

I started flipping properties as soon as I moved from Buenos Aires, while working as an actor.

I’d rather have a brand new kitchen than an expensive purse.

Once I came to America I had a dream to get my real estate license. I accomplished that five years ago. I started working as a agent and I love helping my clients realize their dreams coming true. I like helping them find the right price for a home they’re selling or buying or helping them with the creative process of building a home.

Do you still work as an actress?

I still work at The Bold and The Beautiful soap opera as recurrent character. I’ve done it in a while... the show has 32 actors. I did 4 season of Rica Famosa Latina for three years. Currently it’s in Netflix and 35 countries of Latin America and USA Spanish Estrella TV.

I’m currently working as a fulltime agent for PLG Estates.

My priority as single mom is to provide and to raise a healthy, strong, happy 11 years old boy.

I love my job as a mom as well as working as an agent. It’s not a JOB it’s what I LOVE to do. So I don’t work a single day of my life.

What is your plan for the future?

My dream is to get the rights of a book that I love and turn it into a movie. The books of Psychology and Spirituality.

A MOMENT IN TIME

Greystoone Manor To Beverly Hills residents Greystone Manor is an iconic building. And while a lot of them have visited the famous landmark few of them know the real history of the property.

Completed in 1928 for the son of oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, Greystone Mansion & Gardens is a Beverly Hills and Los Angeles treasure. The City of Beverly Hills purchased the property in 1965, and in 1971 the entire 18.3 acre site was formally dedicated as a public park.

Greystone was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and in 2013 was designated Beverly Hills Local Historic Landmark No. 4.

Greystone Mansion

Greystone Mansion, and the surrounding grounds with which it shares its magnificent beauty, are rich in California history. Edward Laurence Doheny, who bought the land in the 1910s, was born in 1856 in the small Midwestern town of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. By the time he was a young teen, Doheny’s adventuresome spirit and love of the wilderness led him to prospecting for gold and soon thereafter,

“ Edward “Ned” Laurence Doheny, Jr., was born and grew up as heir to one of the world’s great financial empires ”

oil. In 1892, Doheny and his friend Charles A. Canfield, were the first to strike oil in Los Angeles.

They later discovered large oil deposits in Mexico which, combined with their Los Angeles holdings, made them the largest producers of oil in the world at that time. Edward Doheny and his wife Carrie Louella Wilkins had two children. Their first, a daughter Eileen, passed away when she was just seven years old. On November 6, 1893, their only son, Edward “Ned” Laurence Doheny, Jr., was born and grew up as heir to one of the world’s great financial empires. Ned went on to marry Lucy Smith of Pasadena and in 1926 Edward Laurence Doheny Sr. gave his son a premium parcel of land consisting of 12.58 acres with sweeping citywide views. Construction of the palatial manor home began February 15, 1927 and although Ned, his wife Lucy, and their five children moved into the residence in September 1928, the estate took three years to complete at a cost of over $3 million, an almost unimaginable sum in real estate at the time. The extraordinary result became known as Greystone for its

abundant use of stone construction and its rather somber gray appearance. In addition to the mansion, originally located on the grounds were stables and kennels, tennis courts, a fire station, gatehouse, swimming pool and pavilion, a greenhouse, a lake, babbling brooks and cascading waterfalls.

On the night of February 16, 1929, only five months after the family had moved in, Ned Doheny was found shot to death inside the home, at the age of 35 and the victim of an apparent murder-suicide perpetrated by his longtime personal friend and aid Hugh Plunkett. Lucy continued living at Greystone until 1955, after which she and her second husband Leigh M. Battson sold the majority of the original land to the Paul Trousdale Corp., developers of Beverly Hills’ prestigious “Trousdale Estate” homes. The following year Lucy and her husband sold for approximately $1.5 million the remaining 18.3 acre parcel, including Greystone Mansion, to Henry Crown of Chicago-based Park Grey Corporation. Mr. Crown, however, never formally occupied the site but instead leased it out as a popular filming location, a legacy Greystone still maintains today.

REAL RESTAURANT PICKS

“Innnovative, well executed and very Los Angeles”

“Great food and friendly service” - Daniel Velasquez /REALTOR

- TRIP ADVISOR

BAVEL

TEDDY’S RED TACOS VENICE

Bavel, in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, is a This popular East LA eatery has expanded to Middle Eastern restaurant from Chefs Ori Menashe a prime street location in Venice’s Boardwalk, and Genevieve Gergis. With family roots in Israel, which is amazing news for taco fans on the Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt, Ori and Genevieve have always wanted to open a restaurant that showcases the cuisines of their family lineages, bringing together the flavors and dishes they grew up with.

In 2012, Ori and Genevieve pursued their dream of opening their first restaurant, Bestia and in 2018 their second restaurant, Bavel. With a background in the field of interior design, Genevieve played a key role in the design of both restaurants. When not in the kitchen, Ori and Genevieve can be found spending time with their daughter, Saffron.

“Eating at Bavel isn’t about checking it off your list. You eat here

Westside. With freshly chopped, slow-cooked beef served in warm tortillas and covered in a red-tinted consomme broth, this Tijuana dish is quickly taking over every corner of Los Angeles — even the sunny enclave of Venice. Owner Teddy Vasquez is making good on his dream to put a delicious taco into as many LA hands as possible. His new outlet in Venice sits just by the beach in a prime location, and serves up the same delicious birria de res, or simmered beef, tacos with signature bright red consomme as his Slauson truck original.

“The hottest item on Instagram right now, naturally, is tacos.

Places all over greater Los Angeles are building huge social media followings on the backs of some beautiful shots of

because this is one of the most exciting restaurants in Los Ange-

regionally-specific tacos, but one of the biggest in the game

les, and it feels like it’s going to stay that way. So make that 5pm

has to be Teddy’s Red Tacos.”

Review courtesy THEINFATUATION.COM

Review courtesy THE EATER LOS ANGELES

The journey starts with the first step

CONTACT: LON@PLGESTATES.COM

www.lonlevinrealestate.com CalBre#01965638