Issue 35 preview 122517a

MELROSE HEIGHTS MAGAZINE

Legenday

QUINCY JONES Lorne Buchman President of the Art Center College of Design

The History

of Mehraban Rugs The Tech World Who is Steve Adler? $14.95

ISSUE 35

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A Modern Actress

JULIA FAYE WEST

SEN Couture

Luxury Fashion

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Quincy Jones, Meeting a Legend

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by ELE

hen you read the latest book “My Journey and Passions” by Quincy Jones, with personal notes and pictures never previously released, you are truly in for a treat. Whether you are a music lover or not.

In January 2009, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Quincy Jones himself and received a personally signed copy of the book.

Even though I’ve been given recognition for my work as a photographer around the world, and I’ve worked with countless of celebrities, no one has ever impressed me quite like Quincy Jones.

Reading the book, you will soon find yourself immersed in the world of a legendary career, a life filled with passionate work and endless love that he continues to give to all around him. This man has so much passion and love for people, I would refer to him as the “walking love boat”.

Reading Quincy’s book and meeting with him in person helped me develop a tremendous admiration for his high spirit, humanity, and views upon how the world could and should be: A world where people live, work, and treat each other with respect and understanding, and that overcomes the strife of pre-judgment and hate.

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Quincy Jones, Meeting a Legend

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hen you read the latest book “My Journey and Passions” by Quincy Jones, with personal notes and pictures never previously released, you are truly in for a treat. Whether you are a music lover or not.

In January 2009, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Quincy Jones himself and received a personally signed copy of the book.

Even though I’ve been given recognition for my work as a photographer around the world, and I’ve worked with countless of celebrities, no one has ever impressed me quite like Quincy Jones.

Reading the book, you will soon find yourself immersed in the world of a legendary career, a life filled with passionate work and endless love that he continues to give to all around him. This man has so much passion and love for people, I would refer to him as the “walking love boat”.

Reading Quincy’s book and meeting with him in person helped me develop a tremendous admiration for his high spirit, humanity, and views upon how the world could and should be: A world where people live, work, and treat each other with respect and understanding, and that overcomes the strife of pre-judgment and hate.

My

meeting with Quincy Jones was so inspiring. Seeing what was once going on in his mind and what he once felt inside, had been captured note by note, and expressed into music. Suddenly it hit me, that the amazing music coming through the speakers at the local restaurant was the work and legacy by the very man I was sitting with.

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MELROSE HEIGHTS MAGAZINE

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We reserve the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. Publication of an advertisement does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Publisher is not responsible or liable for any claims, misinformation, misprint or typographical errors in any advertisment and assumes no responsibility for omission of copy or for errors beyond the value of the actual space occupied by such errors. Melrose Heights Magazine © 2007

photography Curtis Williams

Cover photos by Curtis Williams. Actress: Julia Faye West, fashion by Sen Couture, Makeup: Leah Malveaux

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Meet Julia Faye West J

ulia has flourished with years of success as a model and spokes model in print magazines, clothing brands, commercials, websites, tradeshows, and television.

She’s even done voiceover work for videogames. Julia is more than just her beauty, as she has proved by being involved heavily behind the scenes as a producer, crewmember, writer, and SAG/AFTRA actress.

Julia got her start in Hollywood in 2001, and has worked in the industry steadily since then. Julia has appeared in several television shows, television movies such as The American Mall, as a television hostess for the show Gs’ and Gents, and was the star of short films as well as features. She also appears in Ballet of Blood as ‘Wren Howard’, a horror film about ballerinas going on rampage at their ballet school.

(It is my theory that every successful person in Hollywood winds up in horror, just look at every known star’s resume.) Julia’s previous credits also include, The Disney series Even Stevens as ‘Gwendalyn’, as well as guest appearances in over 50 productions. She has served as a producer and location rep. on several feature films too.

Julia has even become a published author for her children’s book and in self-esteem books, such as Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul.

Julia resides in Los Angeles when she is not traveling for work in the industry. She also acts as a humanitarian, and a dedicated mother. Julia devotes her time to being an active mommy with the body of a young model, truly a Supermom. When Julia finds the spare time between her multiple projects, she does so to spend it helping others, specifically the homeless, helpless animals, and children.

Currently she is working as the lead in the soon to be released parody spoof film Reality Queen!, where she plays the character ‘London Logo.’ The film follows an heiress as she tries to show the world she isn’t just what people perceive her to be, a pretty face. Reality Queen! also stars, Denise Richards and Mike Tyson. The film is to be distributed by House of Film and has already highly anticipated reviews on IMDB. Julia also recently signed on to the film Gerald’s Mistress as both the actress and executive producer, which is currently in development, so look for that soon. Julia has made one thing clear, that she will remain a beautiful and stable figure in Hollywood with her tenacious attitude and immense work ethic. Julia Faye West is a role model who leads by example and that is one trend this city should stick behind.

Los Angeles may be where the magic is made, but Julia proves that great things can come from even stranger places.

photography Curtis Williams

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Fashion by Sen Couture, Makeup: Leah Malveaux

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Meet Julia Faye West

by Jess Kroll

As

I sit here and think of Wisconsin, I shudder from the old familiar feeling of cold wet slush falling from the sky. The inescapable cold that sinks down to the bone still stays with me, and I haven’t seen snow in over three years. Not much else besides long winters, fried cheeses, and Green Bay Packers comes to mind when I recollect my visits to the Badger state. Never thought I would find Maxim magazine cover models or Instagram queens in the snow, and they certainly don’t stir any of my memories from Milwaukee, but that’s exactly where Julia Faye West hails from. Cold winds and Aaron Rodgers are not the only recognizable things to come out of Wisconsin. Since coming to Los Angeles, Julia holds over 50 credits in productions. Even her name reminds me of classic Hollywood starlets, headed down the carpet that leads to accolades. It is no surprise that Miss West has established herself already as a multifaceted woman in the industry.

Julia first revealed her acting talents as early as preschool. She would go on to find her knack in elementary school, participating in plays and Improv Comedy Sportz, an all ages’ improv comedy show. Improv Comedy Sportz is a different kind of entertainment where comedy is played for sport when two improv groups compete for the applause. There she performed alongside her mother, who was a motivational speaker on television and radio shows. They collaborated on almost 50 recordings.

By the time she was 18, Julia had packed up and moved out on her own, gaining a great deal of independence at a pivotal age. She made her way out to Arizona, where she settled for a moment, but soon enough she arrived at the hub that is Los Angeles, the media Mecca. It was here that she could really pursue her childhood goals of becoming a performing artist, and an eclectic one at that.

She often had to work odd jobs to make rent and bills that can pile rather high here in Celebrityland. Julia was holding onto her day jobs, as she picked up stints on TV shows and even in feature films as well. As if that’s not enough, she put herself through classes at the University of Southern California, coached by Howard Fine. She went on to complete The Actors Studio West, Actors Workshop Studios, The Aquila/Morong Studio, and an ongoing education. Whew, what a woman. Julia has kept that busy uptrend throughout her many-sided career.

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Fashion by Sen Couture, Makeup: Leah Malveaux

photography Curtis Williams

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Steven Bernheim producer and-director

by Jess Kroll

Julia Faye West

in ‘Reality Queen’

by Jess Kroll

Getting Behind the Scene

Igot to talk with the director of Julia’s recent project, Reality Queen!, and got some details from behind

the scenes. The mockumentary inspired satire is from producer and debut-director, Steven Bernheim.

Steven says of the experience that it was a blast to make the movie and that he would put his comedy up against the Farrelly Brothers and Judd Apatow. After acting as producer on his first five features, finally getting the chance to direct he says, “I learned the worst day of being a director is better than the best day of being a producer.” Steven’s idea stemmed from his fascination with the rise of these reality superstars, like the first of them, Paris Hilton, next up the Kardashians, to countless YouTube stars of today. With reality television hitting just a little too close to our reality in the recent election, it was time to use satire to get the point across. “I wanted to do to reality stars what This is Spinal Tap did to rock stars.”

And with the beautiful Julia Faye West as the leading lady, Steven’s Reality Queen is born. Steven compares London Logo to Donald Trump, since they are both outlandish – and very good for ratings! “People wonder about how those two, and people like them, became successful despite their wild, unabashed eccentricities. Julia’s character London acts as a mirror of reality television, they both are very manipulative of the public, everything she says and does is marketed to the public. It has become quite clear that reality stars must be a lot smarter than we give them credit for or else they wouldn’t be that successful.” Steven’s Reality Queen! follows a woman who is exceptional at putting on the superficial narcissist, but even she can plan and put on a successful career. She “takes advantage of the American public, of their gullibility,” as Steven says, “She may not know why they buy her things she endorses, but she knows that they do.” I can’t think of a better summarization of today’s consumerism. Luckily, artists like Steven and Julia are hard at work to be the comedic mirror to Hollywood and the shallow grandiosity that is made into the people’s entertainment.

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photography Curtis Williams

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Lorne Buchman,

President of the Art Center College of Design

by Jess Kroll What does it mean to be presidential in today’s society? There are many variations on that theme especially when you look to leaders in higher education and an even more specific segment of that group, those individuals at the helm of art and design colleges.

Now more than ever, art and design have become a prevalent driving force for many industries especially automotive, technology, and communication. Most tech companies won’t even be considered by venture capitalists without an executive designer on their pay roll. Companies like Apple created a new standard when they realized there is artistry in technology, branding, and it is lucrative when done well. That is why institutions, such as ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, are thriving in the education climate. President of ArtCenter, Lorne Buchman gives all credit to Steve Jobs as the reason why the world views designers, the arts, and business differently today. As he says in a video interview with MHM, “Design is not just the process of making an object look pretty,” after all it takes a great deal to master one’s craft of creating meaning through making.

And the battle is rough to make it, not just in relatable fields but in the highly concentrated, highly competitive realm of the art and design industry. With many students today wondering if the costs outweigh the benefits of a higher education, ArtCenter, and its impressive 92% graduating job placement statistic, make it a target destination for intellectual creators to flock toward. Lorne graduated with a PhD from Stanford University and with a BA from the University of Toronto, Canada. He originally studied and trained in theater directing with dreams of becoming an actor. He found the idea of being able to teach students irresistible. Serendipitously, his theater training and studies helped him as he served as a faculty member of the University of California at Berkeley for 10 years and then became president of California College of the Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. All this prepared him for the ArtCenter job that he refers to as the peak of his professional life.

So how did this illustrious center come to be? It was started as the Art Center School, in 1930, located in a historic part of Downtown Los Angeles by advertising executive Edward “Tink” Adams. The original campus was small and only had to fit its then 12 teachers and eight students. Tink wanted to establish a place that would train professionals for the working world, who would in turn be taught by working professionals from that field, which was revolutionary at that time. For example, the prolific photographer, Ansel Adams, taught briefly at ArtCenter in the late 1930s and ever since, industry professionals have joined the teaching community bringing an impressive breadth of experience and real world knowledge. By 1940, the enrollment had grown to almost 500 students from across 37 states and several foreign countries. In 1948, their most celebrated (and still celebrated) Automotive/Transportation Design Department was founded. The following year, ArtCenter finally became an accredited four-year college, and offered its first bachelor’s degrees in Industrial Design, Photography, Illustration and Advertising. Almost every decade a new degree of technical study was introduced into the curriculum and made ArtCenter as diverse in fields of study as it is today, even offering a dual graduate degree in business and several masters programs. ArtCenter became a seminal part in the formation of the first advanced-concept design studio for the automotive industry in the 1950s. Tink Adams oversaw ArtCenter for nearly 40 years and after his retirement the leadership transferred to an alumnus, Don Kubly, who headed ArtCenter for nearly 20 years. During those two decades, the creative students walking the halls of ArtCenter and the eyes of the world witnessed a transformation of the institution.

Some of the most notable ArtCenter alumni are several world leading car designers working with companies as impressive as Tesla, BMW and Porsche. Others are many of today’s contemporary filmmakers on movies such as Man of Steel and the Transformers franchise. Alumni ad makers are behind some of the most unforgettable slogans such as “Thatsa one spicy meatball,” and the famed “Got Milk?”.

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Students learn through making work in the disciplines of interaction, product and transportation design.

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The North Pole was discovered 100 years ago

The North Pole Discovery Centennial

By Dr. S. Allen Counter Harvard University

by Mathew A. Henson (an African-American), U.S. Navy Commander Robert E. Peary (a European-American) and Ootah (a Polar Inuit [Eskimo] from Greenland). The American explorers Henson and Peary reached the North Pole by dogsled with four Inuit assistants (Ootah, Egingwah, Seegloo and Oqueah) on April 6, 1909. Attaining the North Pole in the early 1900s was viewed by world leaders of that period as tantamount to reaching the moon in our lifetime. This monumental achievement of being the first human beings to stand at the top of the planet was praised by nations around the world. Unfortunately, Peary alone was credited with this momentous discovery, and Henson, who by some accounts reached the North Pole first, was ignored by the press and left out of the history books because of the racial attitudes of the time.

Peary went on to receive numerous accolades, such as the National Geographic gold medal (that was reserved for White men), while Matthew Henson, who had served with Navy Commander Peary in Arctic exploration for eighteen years, and about whom Peary had said, “I cannot make it without him,” was deliberately excluded from the medals and other national honors given to the white men on the celebrated 1909 North Pole expedition. The Inuit men who enabled both Peary and Henson to reach the North Pole (and who traveled with them because of their admiration for Henson) were also excluded from awards of recognition for their role.

Also left out of the history books was the fact that Commander Robert Peary and his associate Matthew Henson both fathered sons with Polar Inuit mothers in 1906 in Northwest Greenland.

In the late 1980s, I led expeditions to Northwest Arctic Greenland, a thousand miles above the Arctic Circle, where I discovered and befriended the surviving 80-year-old Inuit sons of Henson (Anaukaq) and Peary (Kali), still living in remote Inuit villages north of Thule Air Base. Before I departed from Greenland, I was asked by the sons, Anaukaq and Kali the following: “We were left here by our fathers in 1909 when they abandoned our mothers, never to see them again. Since we were small boys, we have wanted to visit the land of our fathers, to place a wreath at their graves, and to touch the hand of a living relative. Can you help us, Allen?”

Dr. S. Allen Counter joins Inuit/ Eskimos in the village of Qaanaagin in Northwest Greenland. The northwest inhabited village on earth

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Left to right: Olivia Counter, Simisar Hanson, wife of Ussarkiag Henson, 73 year old grandson of Matthew Henson.

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The History of

Mehraban Rugs

by Jess Kroll

Three Generations Deep In one of the largest cities in the world a long-lasting legacy was born. No, I am not talking about here in Los Angeles; I’m not talking about America even, but the intricate melting pot of Isfahan, Iran. Isfahan holds a rich history of several dynasties, some of the oldest architecture from Persian and Islamic styled palaces, mosques, minarets to beautiful boulevards traced back to the 17th century.

Its origins date back to the Achaemenid era (c. 550–330BCE), but it did not emerge as an important city until 1150, when the Seljuk Dynasty chose it as the capital. It is also home to a bustling textile trade, an age-old craft. All this and more is why Isfahan is known as “Half of the World,” and is where our story begins. The Mehraban family ancestors made this their home and were among the other emigrating Spanish-Jews that settled down in Isfahan. Little did they know that this started a long journey that eventually leads to Los Angeles, and would weave their family’s textile business into successful longevity for decades to come.

Meir Mehraban started from the bottom in textiles, as a merchant. He learned the ins and outs of rug weaving straight from the source. There was a man hungry to expand Meir’s textile trade to a rug weaving business to attract tourists. His hope was to give a talisman to take home, a piece of his country’s relics to adorn their rooms forever. This spread to other merchants in Isfahan and eventually to the even bigger capitol city of Iran, Tehran. After this lofty expansion, Meir turned to his family to share the ropes with them. He introduced the trade to his son, Yahya Mehraban. By this time, it was the 1960s in Iran and after sending Yahya to Tehran to launch and run their first store there, the Mehraban’s reputation had been established. This was a family of the finest collections, and the best quality of high-end, hand crafted rugs in Tehran. Once his son took to learning about this ancient traditional skill, the Mehraban journey would begin again with Sammy’s, Yahya’s son, move to America.

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Soheil Mehraban

photo by Curtis Williams

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A LOS ANGELES LEGEND: THE LATE DR. ERNST KATZ

Dr. Ernst Katz was a man who dedicated his life to inspiring young

people through music. When he passed away in Los Angeles on August 11, 2009, at age 95, he had given the gift of music to thousands of young people for more than seven decades.

Katz, who was a concert pianist and musical prodigy, decided when he was in his twenties to give back to his community. On January 22, 1937, when residents of Southern California were suffering from the Great Depression, and there was no hope for young people, Maestro Katz founded the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra. He saved pennies, nickels and dimes to buy music and instruments for his young musicians. His motto was: “Give Youth a Chance To Be Heard.” He named his orchestra, The Little Symphony. That original ‘Little Symphony’ that he founded blossomed for more than seven decades under his leadership. As it grew in size and stature, it was named the California All-Youth Symphony Orchestra in the late 1940s. In 1960, it became the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra of California. More than 70,000 musicians, ages 12 through 25, participated in annual auditions and more than 10,000 were selected for membership.

For 72 years, Maestro Katz dedicated himself to his orchestra without accepting government subsidy, without soliciting contributions, and without charging membership or audition fees. Katz’ work is unprecedented. He touched the lives of thousands of young people from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Many of them traveled 100 or more miles to attend weekly practice sessions. Katz provided an opportunity for them to focus their energies on the positive – away from the drugs, gangs and violence – to make our nation a better, gentler and more harmonious place to live.

The Jr. Philharmonic has been an oasis for young musicians. Thanks to Katz’s generosity, they have had the opportunity to perform professional music – from classical Tchaikovsky to Broadway Rogers and Hammerstein – at Los Angeles’ finest venues such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Shrine Auditorium.

The musicians also had the chance to be inspired by remarkable talent. The Jr. Phil played the musicals Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang under the baton of its composer Richard Sherman and The Music Man conducted by composer Meredith Wilson. The orchestra also accompanied singers like Debby Boone, Pat Boone, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, Florence Henderson, Shirley Jones, Carol Lawrence and Dick Van Dyke.

Maestro Katz photographer: Steve Eisbner

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Alumni of the Jr. Philharmonic are members of many major symphony orchestras in the United States and around the world. Conductors such as Leonard Slatkin (former musical director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C.) and Jorge Mester (former conductor of the Pasadena Symphony and Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra) played in their youth under the baton of maestro Ernst Katz. And many popular musicians, including Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, received their musical training in the Jr. Philharmonic.

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DR. ERNST KATZ AND HIS JR. PHILHARMONIC DREAM CONTINUES UNDER THE BATON OF GARY S. GREENE

Dr. Ernst Katz was a man who dedicated his life to inspiring

young people through music. When he passed away in Los Angeles on August 11, 2009, at age 95, he had given the gift of music to thousands of young people for more than seven decades.

Katz, who was a concert pianist and musical prodigy, decided when he was in his twenties to give back to his community. On January 22, 1937, when residents of Southern California were suffering from the Great Depression, and there was no hope for young people, Maestro Katz founded the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra. He saved pennies, nickels and dimes to buy music and instruments for his young musicians. His motto was: “Give Youth a Chance To Be Heard.” He named his orchestra, The Little Symphony. That original ‘Little Symphony’ that he founded blossomed for more than seven decades under his leadership. As it grew in size and stature, it was named the California All-Youth Symphony Orchestra in the late 1940s. In 1960, it became the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra of California. More than 70,000 musicians, ages 12 through 25, participated in annual auditions and more than 10,000 were selected for membership.

For 72 years, Maestro Katz dedicated himself to his orchestra without accepting government subsidy, without soliciting contributions, and without charging membership or audition fees. Katz’ work is unprecedented. He touched the lives of thousands of young people from diverse social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. Many of them traveled 100 or more miles to attend weekly practice sessions. Katz provided an opportunity for them to focus their energies on the positive – away from the drugs, gangs and violence – to make our nation a better, gentler and more harmonious place to live.

The Jr. Philharmonic has been an oasis for young musicians. Thanks to Katz’s generosity, they have had the opportunity to perform professional music – from classical Tchaikovsky to Broadway Rogers and Hammerstein – at Los Angeles’ finest venues such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Shrine Auditorium.

The musicians also had the chance to be inspired by remarkable talent. The Jr. Phil played the musicals Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang under the baton of its composer Richard Sherman and The Music Man conducted by composer Meredith Wilson. The orchestra also accompanied singers like Debby Boone, Pat Boone, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, Florence Henderson, Shirley Jones, Carol Lawrence and Dick Van Dyke.

Alumni of the Jr. Philharmonic are members of many major symphony orchestras in the United States and around the world. Conductors such as Leonard Slatkin (former musical director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C.) and Jorge Mester (former conductor of the Pasadena Symphony and Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra) played in their youth under the baton of maestro Ernst Katz. And many popular musicians, including Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, received their musical training in the Jr. Philharmonic.

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THE NETHERCUTT COLLECTION Though

the items at this museum are worth an article each, we decided to mainly focus on the cars, 250 to be exact, and they are all mainly from the late 1890’s to the late 1960’s. Rolls Royces to Pierce-Arrow, Packard to Duesenberg and many more, you will discover all the wonders of the last century.

Every single car is in perfect condition and surprisingly ready to take for a drive. As J.B. Nethercutt, the founder of this collection, used to say: “These cars are functional fine art”.

This is all possible thanks to the sixteen passionate full-time employees working at the museum, in order to maintain each car but also restore the new acquisitions. Visiting the museum you will learn that each one of these cars has an interesting story of its own.

Some of the cars used to belong to some at the time’s biggest Hollywood names, such as Rudolph Valentino or Cecil B. Demille and many more.

Others cars have been acquired in catastrophic condition and restored virtually to perfection.

Another thing that will amaze you is, that the most of the cars are custom bodied.

Back in those days, the chassis were made at factories, and the body was built by specialists so you could order the finest details in order to customize your car.

1915 Packard model 548 Touring 34 34

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You

had the options of chosing from the kind of doors you wanted to type of tail headlighs, that way creating your very own, unique masterpiece!

Today’s car industry has a limited selection of customized items, that you can choose for your “car”, so imagine if it could be done the way it was done before, the roads would certainly be more interesting to drive!

Behind this huge collection is the Nethercutt family. It all started with J.B. Nethercutt and his high school sweetheart wife - Dorothy. When the two were in high school, and without money, they would come up with games about recognizing the make and models of cars, while walking the streets of their town.

J.B. Nethercutt later attended Cal Tech, but left his studies to work with his aunt in the cosmetic industry. He became very successful, and the success gave him the opportunity to finnaly focus on his passion.

In 1956, they purchased their first two cars: A 1936 Duesenberg Convertible Roadster for $5.000 and a 1930 Du Pont Town Car for $500, both needing total refurnishing. They certainly didn’t know at the time, that these two cars were to become the crown jewel of the American automotive museum.

The collection of cars grew bigger and bigger, and they eventually opened the Nethercutt museum in 1971, to share their passion for cars with others, free of charge for anyone who would like to visit this astonishing place.

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Sen means Lotus flower

Melrose Fashion Row

By Jess Kroll

Trang Phung

is the founder and chief designer of the SEN Couture, an American made clothing line. The showroom is located on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.

Growing up in Saigon, Viet Nam, where the country was always at war, she felt like that was the only way of life. After the war was over in 1975, her family was living in distress when her father was sent to a concentration camp. All her dreams were taken away in her teen years. When she was 17 years old, her mother used most of the family’s saving to send one person away to the Free World to save the family. Trang was the chosen one out of the 6 siblings – she was their only hope. She was a part of the infamous “Boat People Exodus” wave. They traveled on a small fishing boat and landed in an Indonesia Refugee Camp and stayed there for a year before coming to the United States. After 10 years in America, Trang was finally able to immigrate all 9 members of her family to reunite in California.

Trang remembers how she used to look at people working in the Financial Industry, everybody in a suit, looking sleek and she dreamed to become one. She managed to work her way into a successful career within the financial services industry as a Financial Planner at Fidelity Investments, LLC, and then a Regional Vice President at Nationwide 401K Division. Afterward, she chose to pursue her career dreams in the fashion industry by founding SEN Couture, and serving as its CEO. Trang always had a certain vision for what she thought was beautiful when she grew up. She had the ability to draw and loved to sketch designs because she loved to create, but most of all loved fashion. Trang often gets complimented on her taste in throwing together unique outfits. Her vision was already shaped from the time she was a child.

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photo by Curtis Williams

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MELROSE HEIGHTS ART

management 4242

marketing

public relations Photography by Curtis Williams

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DJ Fredy Muks

MELROSE HEIGHTS

MUSIC

by Jess Kroll

Meet

Hollywood’s residing DJ, Fredy Muks, music producer as well, and creator of Afro Trap House music, a combination of African rhythms and electronic sounds. Fredy is a new wave of international DJs bringing a new sound to Hollywood. Currently he holds a DJ spot at the W Hotel here in Hollywood. Fredy has held residency at The W for two years now, collaborating with other artists and making the nightlife in Hollywood a harmonious and happy atmosphere to have fun. Fredy has lived in Europe, Africa, and the U.S., experiences that have irrevocably shaped his musical career. On where his style is influenced from, his music comes from African rhythms and Europe’s electronic sounds, using instruments and pulls from multiple cultures. Some of Fredy’s earliest memories of music are from his older brother playing. Fredy described him as an amazing bass player with a love for Reggae. Fredy remembers his father and mother’s love for music and how it rubbed off on him as well.

Fredy is also the founder of Muks Entertainment, a Dallas based entertainment company focused on producing music, television, multi-media products, and events. Like sharing the joy of his love for music, Fredy believes in sharing the joy of life and people as well. He and the company seek out opportunities to engage in mutually beneficial relationships to promote people and projects that result in positive impacts to culture, community, individuals, and the entertainment industry.

After traveling around the world, being born in Cameroon, Africa, Fredy has seen all kinds of humanity across the world. Each culture teaching him something about people and their spirit. It was seeing the richest beings, who in our culture in America would been labeled as financially, the poorest, he made sure to give back to these communities. Muks Entertainment is involved in charities to donate and raise funds to help those less fortunate and those not born in America. He is also the Vice President USAfrica Superstar for almost five years. This charity is currently in 26 African countries and focuses on children’s health, education, and human rights and getting healthcare to all. Every person involved in the organization is in the medical field, or a teacher, or artist contributing to participate by visiting these countries or helping to correlate activates and fundraisers.

As of right now music is Fredy’s focused passion and it happens to pay, but even a dream job can feel like work. No matter how fun it is, at times, it can be difficult for any artist. Fredy finds his motivation in the goals he sets for himself, by having direction. “By building something that I want to achieve that could help people, it’s pretty easy to wake up when my motivation is charity.”

A perspective that isn’t so accessible to those who do not experience things outside of themselves. Most go day to day with what is perceived as their norm. What sets Fredy’s view apart from other artists today is his education he received by seeing another world from such a young age and still does today by staying current. “My greatest education comes from traveling and seeing other cultures, getting other perspectives and learning the difference between needs and wants.” After all poor is only poor financially. When people can have such joy that you cannot buy it, it’s a real nourishing joy that comes from people, and music of course.

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photo by Curtis Williams

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MELROSE HEIGHTS

MUSIC

Bobby Sexton

T

by Jess Kroll

alent can be found in places you probably have never visited and some places you have never heard of, they just appear like a plane blinking across the night sky. If you are lucky enough to recognize you have said talent, the earlier the better, which is precisely what happened to musician Bobby Sexton. I was fortunate enough to get to meet Bobby and his lovely wife, Liz, while at the Lawyer’s Philharmonic show at Royce Hall on the UCLA’s campus. Before I get to why you should know who Bobby Sexton is first, let’s talk about where he got started.

Bobby was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was fortunate enough to have parents who encouraged and empowered him to follow his dreams. There were myriad talented musicians in Bobby’s community who personally supported him continuing his education and musical development. Bobby got the opportunity to sing at an incredibly early age when his older cousin, Dolly, was entering the convent. In celebration of this family event, Bobby performed by singing his first song in church at the age of five. It was Bobby’s parents that introduced him to his first memories of music with their love and joy for the art. Bobby’s father even played the accordion and his grandfather played the violin. With generations of love for music it is obvious to an outsider that Bobby’s path was destined for this creative endeavor.

Bobby’s first gig was booked when he was in the first grade after he joined the St. Patrick’s church choir. The proverbial apple didn’t fall far from the tree when Bobby began playing both the accordion and organ when he was eight.

He also performed in his first rock band and appeared on his first live television show at eight years old. By the age of 10, Bobby had won the city competition by playing live and singing as a solo artist. Bobby even was performing live at the Cedar Rapids Veterans Memorial Building in a pop rock band that same year. Later, Bobby won a state competition for best instrumentalist by 13 years old. Additionally, at the age of 13, Bobby was invited to join a professional nightclub band, Louie Carr and the Highlanders. Talk about boy genius, Bobby started playing three nights per week, performing in nightclubs throughout high school. Bobby recollects the time by seeing the familiar faces in the crowds. “My junior high school principal, along with various teachers, would stop by and see me play. It was pretty cool.” Pretty cool accomplishments for an adolescent of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The next pivotal influence in Bobby’s life was when he started studying classical piano at the University of Iowa, in addition to working on his guitar skills. There he met the great Jazz Icon, Herbie Hancock. After attending one of Hancock’s concerts, the next day Bobby attended his master clinic. Herbie lectured on the benefits of chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo”, a meditative, mind observing practice. It is a practice you do for yourself which focuses on your absolute happiness, becoming the best possible ‘you’ that could ever be. Its basis is the ‘Law of Cause and Effect’, to eradicate or remove the suffering, negativity and doubt people experience in their lives. It is the same practice that Tina Turner attributes to turning her life around. Her movie “What’s Love Got To Do With It” documents how she was introduced to this practice and the benefits or ‘Actual Proof ’ she achieved as a result.

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photo by Curtis Williams

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Deniz

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photo by Curtis Williams

JUSTIN SPIO photo by Curtis Williams

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R

ealizing that he wanted to go back to school to do something he really enjoyed was when Steve put his life on the course he is on now. Steve had done some programming as an undergraduate and now decided that software would be an interesting and challenging path to set upon. In 1986, he applied to the Master’s Program in Computer Science at UCSD and was accepted, much to his surprise. He was looking for something that would enable him to engage and flex his advanced problem-solving skills – something challenging that he could sink his mental teeth into.

Steve believes strongly and wholeheartedly in being passionate about what you do in life and he actively encourages others to be introspective, honest, and aggressive in following a similar path to finding their life’s vocation instead of just going with what will bring in the most bucks. He wanted his work to mean something to him and to drive him if he was going to invest his time into it every day. And there have been some long arduous days for months on end throughout his career.

One-day Steve’s work ethic and dedication landed him in a terrifying and life-threatening situation. Steve was on location for a project in Southern China, where he developed and installed cutting edge control systems for hydroelectric power plants, to provide electric power for the first time to underdeveloped and underserved regions of China. Steve pushed himself to work excruciating long hours. Some days he clocked in for the morning and wouldn’t clock out for the day until 1 a.m. Aye caramba! Long days that were made longer when away from your wife and two kids, but served as the fire in the belly to get the job done. It was the end or the beginning of one of those long dreary nights. Steve resembled a Jimmy Buffet vagrant, toting a full beard and Hawaiian shirt in sandals with a backpack full of notes and tech books, when he walked up on a sleeping teenage PLA private guard with an AK47 resting on his lap. When he awoke from the sound of Steve approaching, he jumped up, leveling his automatic weapon at Steve in shaking hands while shouting at Steve in Chinese (the only words Steve knows in Chinese are “hello” and “ice cold beer”). Steve thought he was dead – certain that the young, nervous, and clearly frightened solider confronted by this gweilo, (loosely translated as “foreign devil,”) carting a heavy pack full of who-knows-what might just shoot first and never bother to ask any questions at all. Luckily, Steve’s driver happened to see this unusual confrontation in his rearview mirror as he headed back to the compound and quickly came careening back down the gravel road in reverse to confront the jumpy private and avoid a catastrophe. “That day was the closest I was ever to being killed, just makes me value my family a whole lot more.” Thankfully today, Steve is safe and sound and starting another new project. As he calls it, the third part of his career back on the tech side of the house as a CTO. Steve is currently working on a unique concept to bring high quality, engaging video content to consumers. The project is under tight lock and key, but Steve can reveal it will unveiled before the end of the year.

After chatting with Steve and hearing these little vignettes from his life, I understood that this is what makes life worthwhile. You never know what the person’s life next to you has endured or learned, connecting with those around you opens you up for knowledge and experiences as well and hopefully to a better understanding of each other. Take what others have learned and find your own perspective. Understand that we all just want to hug our families close and do something that gives life worth. As Steve said beautifully, “It does not matter how hard or far you fall, the art in life is how you get back up.”

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photo by Curtis Williams

Who is Steve Adler?

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Tricia Mendoza

shares personal

Logix Banking

by Jess Kroll

With every year that goes by I find that I have a growing concern with my general financial

situation. Things like cars, graduate school loans, or even a house have become real -- and understanding just how to build good credit soon becomes an essential reality here in America. That is why it is reassuring to find people like Tricia Mendoza, a Financial Officer at Logix Federal Credit Union. This company has got a reputation and it’s one we at Melrose Heights can get behind. With the skills to be people oriented, outgoing, and value of the customer’s needs it is a comfortable choice when going with Logix.

Tricia has her Bachelor’s in Marketing and has over a decade of banking experience behind her after working with Logix for 10 years, originally as a financial representative. Currently Tricia is assigned at the Burbank branch on Hollywood Way and encourages anyone who needs trusted financial advice to come in and see her with questions on car loans, home loans, and credit cards. She will be happy to assist and answer any inquiries. Tricia’s aptitude for finance was handed down to her by her money conscious mother. It was her Mom that gave her the tools on how to invest and to appreciate the value of money from an early age.

I know it is a wary task for some to seek out financial guidance, especially for young college kids just figuring things out like paying rent. But when there is a company offering its amazing customer reviewed and highly rated services to assist in your finances, you can rest assured that they are a little different.

Logix federal credit union is not-for-profit company and that makes it possible for them to offer lower fees, better interest rates, as well as better returns to customers. Just this past Valentine’s Day, Logix gave back 3 million dollars to their members. Tricia and her fellow officers understand it is important to make sure the member understands what they are getting and to address individual needs by making sure they are getting what is best for them, not just for the company’s interests.

Tricia’s advice to those who have no credit, or students just starting out to build credit, is to start with a secured credit card and then build up from there. As for those who have some credit started her tip is to keep the balance of your credit accounts low or 30% of the max limit. Be careful not to create patterns of having the card maxed out and then paid off all at once because that looks bad on your credit rating, so keep it low and consistent. Tricia has some words of wisdom for future home owners, and the word is to start saving and to start saving now, always be keeping track of your credit history as well.

After having received 6 Annual Star Employee awards for her work at Logix, Tricia’s next goal is to continue to grow and excel with the company. Tricia worked for years to take her promotion from representative to officer and if that taught her anything it is that next time she won’t hesitate at her next step up. A lesson we can all take away from Tricia, in addition to her financial tips, is to always be confident in what you are doing! After all, if you want to progress you must step out of your box.

No one ever got anywhere sitting comfortable. Real growth is anything but, it is taking a risk, it is out of your comfort zone.

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MELROSE HEIGHTS

MUSIC

Brigitte Bertrand

New wave of music evolution

by Jess Kroll

Today it feels as though we are drowning in content. Another new star sensation of the day. Countless artists

clamoring for a spot in the iTunes new releases section. I look at all these names some I recognize and most I do not. These seemingly iconic songs always left me feeling bored, tired of the trite hooks that lead me down late night scavenges for something more, something that strikes me in the gut. Music discovery is one of the most gratifying experiences once you finally hit. Something good that comes from how easy it is now to get your content out there is the possibility of finding the music that isn’t necessarily the number one seller or raking in vast mountains of cash. Good artistry can come from anywhere not just Hollywood’s chosen crowned stars of the year. You can fall in love with music that you decide is worth the space in your head.

One artist I was fortunate enough to speak with shares a similar take on the idea of fame and what constitutes great art in music. Her style reminds me of a peaceful moment I had at the ever so clustered shopping Mecca, The Grove.

I sat down on the grass and enjoyed the beautiful jazz covers come from the elegant voice of a classic Hollywood looking young lady, some songs being in French. What a gorgeous sound French singing is to the ears. I feel lucky to make time to be open to everything and experiencing other cultures. Finding talent from around the world and finding it in French and Argentinian singer-songwriter, Brigitte Bertrand.

Brigitte grew up differently from most Americans, who speak just English in their homes. I know that is not true for all, but I’m talking majority because I know plenty who grew up bilingual, even my own family. French was the only language spoken in the Bertrand residence and Brigitte attended a French school where she received a rather different education style. Not one made up of A, B, C, D, or None of the above that comes with the sterility of standardize testing. Brigitte credits why she can do what she does now because of her unique experience growing up immersed in French culture, where they don’t measure a student’s understanding on test results, but with 10 page analytical essays followed by discussions.

Growing up, her house was also always filled with music and learned to love it from her father. Brigitte always loved singing and was fortunate enough to have a happy childhood with a life that had a soundtrack to it. She remembers hours spent finding different music as a teenager and being very excited about constantly wanting to learn and finding different facets. She had a fever about expanding her brain and knowledge and not being afraid of that curiosity and really enjoying it, she still does.

Brigitte isn’t a woman who would do things just for the cameras. She does not care one bit if she is famous, or if you know who she is, or even if you like her songs, or singing, at all. Brigitte has surrendered that ego and answers to a more enlightened ideal, she simply creates because she loves to do so. Imagine that an artist is not in it for the accolades and attention. Sure, she agrees money for what you love is always nice, but it cannot be what drives you.

Before she realized that though, she believed the life of the artist wasn’t an actual way to live. It sounds like genuine fun, but in a world where you must make money, some artists like Brigitte suppress the dream to find a way to pay the bills. After living in Los Angeles for three years, it hasn’t gotten any cheaper.

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Fashion by Sen Couture Makeup: Leah Malveaux

photo by Curtis Williams

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Barbara BarbaraDeVorzon DeVorzon Gallery Gallery

by Kerry Liu

If

you drive up Benedict Canyon and wind through the wavy hills up to Cento Angeli, the home of the DeVorzon Gallery you will be greeted by bougainvilleas that wrap around the terra cotta facade and welcomed by succulent plants and palm trees shading iron sculpture as fluid as moving water within the garden’s horticulture.

This is the feeling of being taken back in time. Inside a setting within a setting known as the DeVorzon Gallery. Upon entering the front doors, you pass “Ambient Trap” by Laddie John Dill, welded and polished aluminum that flows 96 inches along with the visitor down the entry into the main foyer. That is where the smell of vanilla candles welcomes you. The candles are flameless, remote controlled new technology. The old world/new world charm of the gallery is furnished with contemporary art and period pieces, as art buyers are invited to wander and enjoy lunch al fresco on French Faience Quimper, a lemon yellow pottery with Breton figures made over a century ago.

Visitors notice right away that this is no ordinary gallery. Art is uniquely presented. A striking red oil on canvas “Prescenze Rossa” has a gold frame floated with a six inch relief.

That’s another hallmark of DeVorzon Gallery. The unique framing lifts the entire painting

by Fulvia Levi-Bianchi into a unique emotion. Next to it are the translayered and provocative works of renowned artist Emma Ferreira. Framed in steel, they depict dancers floating in glass and bring the viewer further away and into a separate world altogether. As if traveling up the hill didn’t take your breathe away, the art exceeds the expectation. But isn’t that what an art gallery should do?

A recent art buyer enjoyed a demitasse as they viewed “Lirios (Lillies)” by the last of the Spanish royal painters Enrique Senis-Oliver.

His “Kimono Morado” is a wrapped kimono that was painted on linen that is so appropriate in the master bedroom that Barbara DeVorzon has placed it there as the perfect setting for the painting.

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photography by CURTIS WILLIAMS

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MELROSE HEIGHTS

ART AND ARTISTS Craig Wilcox Artist

by Dorothy Walters Wilcox

“I’m fascinated

with the history of illumination as an art. It began in Roman times and developed into an intricate and delicate art form, practiced largely by religious orders through the 15th century and the invention of the printing press.”

Craig Wilcox spends eight to ten hours a day in his scriptorium grinding pigments, mixing unique paints, preparing vellum to receive 24 karat gold leaf. It is then laid, burnished and a fixative applied. He has developed a personal style of calligraphy which is also decorative.

Living and spending extended periods of time in Europe and the Middle East since he was twelve years old, Craig has been exposed to numerous cultures and internalized their art forms from medieval times to the present. Ancient symbols often appear in his work as well as his own whimsical forms and creatures.

Mr. Wilcox is an accomplished watercolorist having studied extensively with Patsy O’Connell in Washington State.

illuminated manuscript

An is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations. In the strictest definition of the term, an illuminated manuscript only refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver, but in both common usage and modern scholarship, the term is now used to refer to any decorated or illustrated manuscript from the Western traditions. Comparable Far Eastern works are always described as painted, as are Mesoamerican works.

Islamic manuscripts are usually referred to as illuminated but can also be classified as painted.

The earliest surviving substantive illuminated manuscripts are from the period AD 400 to 600 (also in the gothic period), primarily produced in Ireland, Constantinople and Italy. The significance of these works lies not only in their inherent art history value, but in the maintenance of a link of literacy offered by non-illuminated texts as well.

Had it not been for the monastic scribes of Late Antiquity, the entire literature of Greece and Rome would have perished; as it was, the patterns of textual survivals were shaped by their usefulness to the severely constricted literate group of Christians.

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WAYNE SCHOENFELD HUMANITARIAN Wayne Schoenfeld “The Humanitarian Visionary”

by LARL

From the sunny sandy beaches of Southern California to the desolate arid plateau of Ethiopia, Wayne Schoenfeld with his photographs and video documentary of global humanitarian projects brought his passionate quest to alleviate the human suffering of the people in that region of Africa plagued by war, famine, drought and illness,through the spreading of joy and happiness with the universal language of pantomime at the hands of Dawish the Clown, a Chaplinesque performer that after following a volunteer surgical team from the West operating in the hospital of Addis Abeba, is drawn beyond to the rural villages of Africa, where life is almost unbearable due to numberless difficulties people face everyday.The poignant photographs bringing out to life the tragedy of the ugly present but also the hope for a better future are displayed in the colorful book “Through This World But Once” (part of the “Eye To I” series), there are compassionate moments as well in the beautiful video documentary “The Memory Box”, in which he is the executive producer in co-production with Exeko and AuerFilms.

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A South-East Asia Experience to Remember!

MELROSE HEIGHTS TRAVEL

After the first time I saw photos of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia I knew I had to visit! I’ve always been obsessed with history, ancient civilizations, and old abandoned temples, castles, and ruins. It has fascinated me so much to see the structures and buildings and imagine how people lived in them before. Also, being on Instagram and seeing countless photos of Phi Phi Island I knew it was also a place top on my list. I decided one November day to book a ticket to Thailand, I couldn’t find anyone to go with me so I just thought “Why not just go alone?” I didn’t want to miss an opportunity or experience because no one else was as interested as me or because no one else had the money or work time off. I booked Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, Koh Samui, Kuala Lumpur, Siem Reap and Singapore.

I boarded my plane excited for my new journey only to be quite nervous upon landing in Bangkok as it was the first time I had ever traveled somewhere where I knew no one and I had no one coming to pick me up.

One of the most important things I did before I left was to always make sure I was arriving in a city during daylight hours. I also had all my hotels booked. I stayed in 4-5 star hotels because it was my first time traveling solo and I wanted to build my confidence and be as comfortable as possible and feel as safe as possible, I also knew I could afford to stay in that type of accommodation because SE Asia is generally a very cheap area for everything including hotels. You can get 5 star hotels for 3-star hotel prices. I also made sure that I booked my airport transport in advance through a trusted travel site like Expedia. I always had my hotel arrange any type of transport I needed if there wasn’t uber. I used Uber in every city that offered it which was Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. I didn’t go out alone after dark except if I was in a very crowded area like the night markets.

I loved the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, it was so interestingly busy to me, I went to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew! (*A wat is a temple basically.) Wow! Photos and words do these places no justice! I stayed only 2 days in Bangkok and headed to Chiang Mai. I adored Chiang Mai and the many temples it offers, there, I visited the long neck tribes which was an eye opening and amazing experience. I also fed baby tiger cubs at a tiger sanctuary, one where the lions are well taken care of and not drugged. I made some cool friends and explored the biggest and best (in my opinion) Wat in Chiang Mai, Wat Doi Suthep.

I explored and found some amazing treasures at the night markets for next to nothing. I then was off to Cambodia! The place I was most excited for! I would awaken every day at 4:30am to get ready and get to Angkor Wat by 530 for sunrise, Angkor Wat and the other temples are majestic at that hour and so mysterious. I explored every crevice of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom and then hired a tuk tuk driver for the rest of the day to drive me to all the other temples as there are so many. You need a full two days to see them all without rushing. I again can’t even describe the intricate beauty and the precise details of the carvings and stone work.

It’s something you must see to really understand and appreciate! It’s still one of the most fascinating places I’ve seen!

Then I was off to Malaysia for 2 nights to do a little shopping and see the Batu caves, the mall was incredible as were the twin Petronas towers but I must say I was quite disappointed with the Batu Caves and the rest of Kuala Lumpur as there isn’t much else to see. I would spend perhaps only one day here in transit if you must and see the Caves and the mischievous monkeys who play there. Watch your cameras and jewelry as those monkeys will steal anything they can from you! After KL, I went to Singapore to stay at my bucket list hotel “Marina Bay Sands” You know the hotel with the hugely long rooftop infinity pool that looks over the Singaporean skyline? This hotel was pricey but so worth the experience and to say I’ve been, as sadly unless you’re a hotel guest you’re not even permitted access to go near the infinity pool. I wandered across to “Gardens by the Bay” and saw the beauty in that and then I was out again back to Thailand to do the islands.

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Katy Johnson is an actress, model, and show host. She has been featured in GQ, Maxim, FHM, Glamour, People, Max, and LA Fashion Magazine. Katy has modeled for clothing and swimwear brands like Hannah Jo, Anja, CantiqLA, Beach Bliss, Mary Grace Swim, Arden B, MintLA, and Varley. Katy is beginning work on her documentary “One Model Mission,” in which she intends to visit 196 countries and document 196 definitions of beauty as defined by each culture. Her mission is to be the first model to travel to every single country with the purpose of finding beauty in women of all shapes, sizes, and forms. The film was inspired

by Katy’s own personal struggles with body image and the demands for ‘ideal perfection’ in the entertain65 ment industry.

FATIMA MARQUES

NATAS PASTRIES

by Anna Sarkisian

Fatima Marques, dual chef and owner of Natas Pastries in Los Angeles, is a

native citizen of Lisbon, Portugal. Fatima examined the Los Angeles area and discovered a culinary chasm in an otherwise diverse cultural landscape. She was inspired to fill the void for traditional Portuguese food by opening her own bakery and cafĂŠ in Sherman Oaks, CA.

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Portugal to Los Angeles Originally starting as a bakery only, Natas Pastries quickly became a hit in the community and eventually expanded serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as their signature pastries. The menu now consists of all the traditions of Portuguese culture and flavors.

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MELROSE HEIGHTS

Nutritional Mindfulness

by Jess Kroll

Sometimes

the people we encounter daily feel as though they were sent just to test us, push our every little button. So, when I meet people like Jeremy Smith, a young man of many creative talents, who spends most of his time at work tutoring kids of all ages, practicing yoga and dance, as well cooking up new recipes, studying for class or enjoying a new book! I tend to pick these people’s brains for all the useful knowledge and insights they’ve collected. You see I look up to this young man. He is a self-taught, ambitions student of life who, after years of research and trials, has discovered some things about nutrition and the body. I know firsthand because he has helped shaped my beliefs about nutrition and my understanding of what listening to your body really means.

Jeremy has been able to interpret his body’s messages. He says of the diabolical sweet tooth, of course, you get cravings for sugar if you have maintained a poor diet for most of your life. For instance, your body knows “I get sugar aka carbohydrates from this snickers bar” when really you should instead get yourself a smoothie. There is plenty of sugar naturally in fruit satisfying your carb intake. Set out to make these slight changes in choices for your nutrition to take care of yourself and give yourself the vitamins and minerals that your body craves. Don’t try to take on more than is maintainable. Sometimes it’s not changing your whole life inside out, it’s just making small adjustments in your day.

Then you won’t have those misinterpreted cravings because your body will be satiated with what it needs and you will start to build an understanding of what will benefit you most.

That was the biggest message Jeremy stressed and still stresses to everyone he comes across looking for knowledge.

Don’t take on more than you can carry, making too many changes will set you up for juggling and failure which is not encouraging for a beginner. Instead, you should also consider other methods other than western medicine if you need healing- a lot of what you can control comes from you diet and not prescriptions which tend to just mask the real problem. Jeremy explained that it is crucial to really learn to listen to your body and believes “A lot of people don’t realize to consider that each of our ancestors ate some certain things that available to them, depending on their region, and each person has different reactions to foods, so getting hung up on these dietary fads can be harmfully limiting. Going vegan isn’t just a diet to lose weight fast, a lot of things need to be considered before believing that ‘one diet fits all.’ It’s actually much more personal than that.”

And here is where you can take control of your eating habits. Jeremy suggests if you want a hamburger you make it yourself, don’t rely on chains or even fancy restaurants unless advertised that they use all organic and grass-fed animals.

Did you know the omega 3:6 ratio used to be 1:1 when humans ate wild animals, now the meat is a 1:46 ratio, so it is likely we cannot process most beef because they are fed a lot of soy and corn, which they cannot digest either. Invest in your health and get grass-fed and organic food. It’s better to spend the few extra bucks and make an investment your longevity. In the end, you will end up paying more for a doctor than for your healthy life style choices. Don’t set yourself up to change your life around just set out to attempt to make small or singular changes that will nourish your body.

Learn what you need and ask yourself what are you going to do first?

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photo by Curtis Williams

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Legenday

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A Modern Actress

JULIA FAYE WEST The History

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