Jul/Aug 2019

MALIBU www.malibumag.com

CANNABIS SPECIAL

• The Woman Behind Malibu’s Dispensary • Miracle Cure? The Health Benefits of CBD • The Chef Mixing Fine Dining and Cannabis

GROCERY REPORT

Our Big Price Comparison THE NEXT BIG FIRE? Why Topanga Should Prepare

MAGAZINE

THE PARK

The New Stores Coming to Town LAS VEGAS

A Summer Getaway You Won’t Forget

YVONNE DELAROSA We sit down with the “High Priestess” of Malibu

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Julie Wuellner

Holly Bieler

For our Jul/Aug issue, MALIBU MAGAZINE took a deeper look at an issue which has been at the forefront of the nation’s mind lately, especially in Southern California: cannabis.

While medical marijuana has been legal and widely enjoyed in Los Angeles for years, the recent legalization for recreational use in California in 2018 and in Malibu in 2019 has led to a proliferation of new cannabis products and wider usage, especially by people that might not have been as familiar with it in the past. Thus, we endeavored to look at all the new ways this plant is being utilized in recent years, and the ways it’s gaining increasing influence in sectors such as the medical industry.

We began right here in Malibu, sitting down with the founder and co-owner of Malibu dispensary 99 High Tide, Yvonne DeLaRosa Green. DeLaRosa Green and her husband, Sam Boyer and young daughter Summer Rain, lost their home in last year’s Woolsey fire, along with most of their belongings. However the “High Priestess” of Malibu and her family are survivors, and have forged some incredible new projects out of their loss. Read more about Yvonne’s story and her mission to make cannabis usage, especially for the medical community, more socially acceptable and the benefits more widely known, in our cover story on pg. 116.

Our special cannabis section also includes our trip to one of Chef Aaron Ziegler’s well-known cannabis-infused dinners, during which we sampled some incredible food, met some great people and participated in an impromptu game of Heads Up! in a lavish Abbot Kinney living room (“Fine Dining Meets Cannabis”, pg.

138).

Heading back to Malibu, we took a tour of the beautiful new The Park at Cross Creek center, and had the chance to sit down with owners of some of the exciting new stores. Take a look at what’s to come, from a sustainable fast-casual spot that’s sure to become your new favorite lunch space to the Oakland-based artisanal coffee shop that’s already open (pg. 82). We also took a deeper dive into the state of local grocery stores now that the new Whole Foods is open, including a comprehensive price comparison of Malibu grocery stores that you’ll be sure to want to bring on your next trip to the store (“Malibu’s Grocery Report”, pg. 64).

Now that the weather’s warm, we also wanted to take a look at some forgotten and hidden gems to check out in Malibu this summer. Check out our ultimate “Malibu Staycation Guide” on pg. 104 to fall in love with this community all over again.

Whether you find yourself giggling over cannabis-infused panzanella with some strangers or sipping a cocktail on the beautiful Surfrider hotel rooftop bar, we hope our Jul/Aug issue will help you make the most out of this beautiful Malibu summer.

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CONTENTS

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PEOPLE EVENT ROUNDUP Coverage of the best summer events in Malibu over the past two months, plus our People We Love features.

44

FIRE HOW TOPANGA CAN PREPARE In the wake of Woolsey, officials have cautioned that the next fire could hit Topanga. We outline the ways the community can prepare.

44 BEAUTIFUL TOPANGA Jules Williams takes us up in the air for an

incredible view of beloved Topanga.

60

SHERIFF STATION THE NEW LT. IN TOWN A sit-down with Lieutenant Jennifer Seetoo, who was recently named Woman of the Year by Senator Henry Stern.

64 64 WHOLE FOODS How Whole Foods stacks up against local grocery stores.

60 LT. SEETOO Lost Hills Sheriff Station’s new Lieutenant.

GROCERY REPORT PRICE COMPARISON Our comprehensive guide to pricing and features at Malibu’s 5 grocery stores, from the big brands to the independent chains.

82

THE PARK NEW STORE ROUNDUP We take a walk around The Park at Cross Creek for a look at what stores are opening in the coming months and the people behind them.

98

ART THE SWEETEST HANGOVER

100 I BULIEVE The next I BUlieve feature focuses on Malibu’s Catherine

Malcolm-Brickman, concert flutist, filmmaker and photographer.

12

Canvas.Malibu’s Jac Forbes travels to Art Basel in Switzerland and then Hong Kong to bring the newest trends back to Malibu.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

104

SUMMER THE ULTIMATE STAYCATION Spend the summer re-discovering all that our beach town has to offer, from the best surf spots to local art galleries.

112

BEAUTY A VISIT TO THE PENINSULA This summer, treat yourself to an ultimate day of relaxation and wellness at The Peninsula Beverly Hills’ newly-renovated spa.

96 PARIS IN MALIBU The cult-favorite French brand Ba&sh brings effortless Parisian style to Malibu at its new Country Mart location.

126

CANNABIS MIRACLE CURE? Cannabis has received a lot of attention for its all-natural medicinal benefits. We take a look at what those are, as well as any side effects.

142 142 ARIA Explore Aria’s extravagant, multi-use complex.

138 INFUSED DINNERS Fine dining meets cannabis.

A WEEKEND IN... LAS VEGAS For a Las Vegas weekend unlike any other, take check out our curated itinerary featuring speakeasys and yoga atop a ferris wheel.

150

SCHOOLS UPDATES The latest news from Malibu schools, including a new name for our elementary school and plans for the Malibu High renovation.

154

REAL ESTATE TODAY’S MARKET

116 THE MERMAIDS We sat down with 99 High Tide’s Yvonne DeLaRosa Green, pictured with employees of the Malibu dispensary.

14

Some of Malibu’s top listings, as well as a look at what’s going on in the insurance market following the Woolsey fire.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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MAYA COLLECTION BY MARK GABBERTAS

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MALGOSIA MIGDAL DESIGN Malgosia Migdal Design is a full service design firm based in Beverly Hills for more than 20 years. With a personal home in Malibu, the devastation of the recent Los Angeles fires left many of our friends and neighbors in need of rebuilding their homes. In response to this tragedy, we have decided to open a second office in Malibu to better serve the community in which we reside.

Images on left: My personal home in Hollywood Hills recently completed,.

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MASTHEAD

MALIBU www.malibumag.com

CANNABIS SPECIAL

• The Woman Behind Malibu’s Dispensary • Miracle Cure? The Health Benefits of CBD • The Chef Mixing Fine Dining and Cannabis

GROCERY REPORT

Our Big Price Comparison THE NEXT BIG FIRE? Why Topanga Should Prepare

MAGAZINE

THE PARK

The New Stores Coming to Town LAS VEGAS

A Summer Getaway You Won’t Forget

YVONNE DELAROSA We sit down with the “High Priestess” of Malibu

$ 5.95 US

AUGUST 2019

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PUBLISHER

Dirk Manthey EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julie Wuellner

MANAGING EDITOR

Holly Bieler

ART DIRECTOR

Petra Pflug

SAN DIEGO The Perfect Summer Getaway

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Michelle Gisler

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

Holly Bieler Barbara Burke Michelle Willer-Allred Josie Lionetti Sami Jen Straiton

Brenna Spaldings Jules Williams Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes Patricia Seymour

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julie Wuellner Kevin McDonald Emily Sher

Gooya Ighanian Alexia Carroll Jules Williams

SALES LEAD

Tricia Baak Makenzie Rasmussen Lauren McCarran Danny Wang Dorie Leo INTERNS

Leila Anawalt Adam Rosenberg Lauren Holliday SECURITY / MODELS

Bailey Emma ADVERTISING

advertising@malibumag.com DISTRIBUTION

Disticor Right Way Distribution Malibu Magazine (ISSN1938-9272) published bimonthly by ES Media Service LLC. 23410 Civic Center Way Unit E-8, Malibu, CA 90265.

Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material, and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Malibu Magazine’s right to edit.

POSTMASTER

Send address changes to Malibu Magazine 23410 Civic Center Way Unit E-8, Malibu, CA 90265.

Copyright © 2018 by ES Media Services LLC. All rights reserved.

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MALIBU MAGAZINE

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Your dream Parisian wardrobe Now Open at Malibu Country Mart

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CONTRIBUTORS

BARBARA BURKE Writer

Barbara Burke is a freelance journalist and writer from Malibu. She obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Arizona. She delights in digging deep, delving into details and thoroughly researching a topic, whether the subject focuses on the lighter side or delves into deeper topics, such as her articles in the realm of investigative journalism. She is honored to write for Malibu Magazine.

JOSIE LIONETTI Writer

Josie is a senior at Pepperdine University studying journalism and political science—but mainly, she is a storyteller. She grew up with a passion for storytelling and in high school, knew she wanted to raise awareness about important issues and share people’s experiences. Aside from writing, she is an anchor for NewsWaves 32 at Pepperdine and hopes to one day to host her own political news show.

MICHELE WILLER-ALLRED Writer

Michele Willer-Allred is a journalist who covered news for the Ventura County Star for more than 20 years, and whose work has appeared in USA Today and numerous other publications. A true “Valley Girl,” born and raised in Southern California, she has spent countless hours in Malibu over the years even though she lives in Moorpark. She is a docent at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, and writes a blog called Discover 805.

BRENNA SPALDING Writer

Brenna was raised on the beautiful coast of Northern California where she first took to writing at a young age. Now 20 years old with a strong will to tell a story, she resides in Los Angeles where you can find her reading, sipping caffeine, and taking full advantage of the numerous cafes. As a writer, she’s excited to be a part of honest, local journalism and quite honored to bring stories to light in such an enjoyable way.

ALISON POTHIER & JULES WILLIAMS Columnists & Photographers

Jules Williams and Alison Pothier are husband and wife filmmakers living in Malibu. Also writers, coaches and intuitive practitioners, they create short-form documentaries, write books, and coach private and professional individuals. Jules has directed Elliott Gould, Sir Alan Parker,and Hans Zimmer, among others. The owner of Inside Out Retreats, Alison runs retreats for individuals and executives.

JAQUELINE ‘JAC’ FORBERS Columnist

As the co-owner of CANVAS . MALIBU – A Gallery of Art and Fashion in the Malibu Country Mart, Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes has curated over 50 Artist exhibitions featuring local, national and international artists. She enjoys working closely in the development of future gallerist and emerging artists, sharing her eye, experience and expertise. Forbes has travelled the world to view great works participating in various art markets.

KEVIN MCDONALD Photographer

Kevin McDonald is a freelance photographer and videographer based in Malibu. A few years ago he begrudgingly helped his now-wife photograph a few weddings knowing little more than which end of the camera goes where, and since then has fallen in love with capturing moments and telling stories.

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MALIBU COUNTRY MART | PALISADES VILLAGE

Clothing for Life’s Great Moments

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MALIBUITES

SADDLEROCK RANCH

Cassie Randolph and Michelle Randolph

Amber Davis and Amanda Taylor

David Jarrett, Marc Forgione, Sylvain Bitton, Tony Schubert, Bobby Rossi, and Ben Biscotti.

Jamie Chung

Ben Biscotti and wife Mandana.

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Tiffany Haddish, Jam ie

Foxx, and Nicole Sch

Rosé Day L.A. Presented by Corkcicle National Rosé day on June 8 was once again celebrated the the lovely Saddlerock Ranch. Rosé Day L.A. is a celebration of food, wine, and art.

Celebrity guests including Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Foxx, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Nicole Scherzinger, Brody Jenner, and many more. In addition to the wide variety of high quality rosés, the event featured gourmet food trucks with dishes curated by Iron Chef Marc Forgione. Guests were surprised by rose petals being showered from a helicoper as well as pink Corksicle cooler bags. Many forms of Rosé were offered such as fine Rosé champagnes and Svedka Rosé Vodka.

The Rosé Beer Garden offered a variety of Rosé beers, and the Frozé zone offered Viva Rosé tequila margaritas.

Guests could also stay hydrated with Voss Water, and satiated with gourmet food trucks, Wolo snacks, and even delicacies provided by The Caviar Co. The event was made possible

by Ben Biscotti of 1ota Productions, award winning event planner Tony Schubert, Bobby Rossi of Bungalow 8 and Rec Room, Sylvain Bitton, JT Torregiani, and David Jarrett of Warwick.

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MALIBU-POINT DUME BROKERAGE | 28700 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265 | sothebyshomes.com Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. SIR DRE License Number: 899496

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MALIBUITES

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On Saturday June 29, Malibu had its first ever Art Walk. The event was hosted by Tracy Park to coincide with the opening of her new pop-up art installation, the Tracy Park Gallery. For the walk, all the local galleries joined together, including Canvas.Malibu, Red Ladder Gallery, Surfing Cowboys, and Lumber Yard Gallery to showcase pieces made by Malibuites. Businesses stayed open late to support our local artists, many of whom were amazed and excited by everyone's high spirits.

This event was a great way to bond, and bring Malibu together. The community holds so much beauty and talent that deserve to be seen, and the ArtWalk was the perfect way to exhibit this. Locals enjoyed the art while mingling and curating. Tracy Park hopes to establish a tradition in which the Malibu community joins together for an art walk every single month!

These art walks are a perfect way to show the creative spirit that defines Malibu.

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MALIBUITES

Lenise Soren

Norma Quon, Sylvia Gonzalez and Denise Valdez.

Gabby Reece

Teresa Dean with her daughter Avalyn

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Taylor Davis, Emmie Cummings, Elise Canta nese and Valerie Vollm er.

THE PARK AT CROSSCREEK

Whole Foods Market Opens in Malibu The all new Whole Foods location in Malibu opened its doors to the public on June 12. The first 300 shoppers of the store who attended the grand opening were treated with a custom, reusable tote bag filled with Whole Foods goodies and a mystery value gift card ranging from $5 to $100. Over 140 full and part time employees were hired for the new store. Whole Foods prides itself on its locally sourced and natural goods, with strict quality standards that include the banning of high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats.

This new location includes a Nektar Juice Bar, fresh produce from about 50 growers, a bakery department, seafood department, specialty foods, and a beauty and body care department, and a prepared food stations, and more.

The Park at Cros s Cr community memb eek developer Steve Soboroff wi er Maggie Lucker th ath.

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MALIBUITES

FRED SEGAL

Divine Feminine at Fred Segal Ana Puello proudly models the line.

Founders of Divine Feminine, Ana Puello and Jennifer Mellon

On June 22-23, the newly opened Fred Segal Malibu celebrated the divine nature of women with a weekend of sipping RosĂŠ and shopping the new Divine Feminine collection. The event was brought together through a partnership of Divine Feminine, Sawa and Saje among others. Guests were gifted a free portrait with their purchases. Divine Feminine was founded

by Jenn Mellon and Ana Puellow in Laguna Beach. All clothing is made in LA. The collection is comprised of modern goddess dresses perfect for a summer day. The collection was inspired as a result of the successful workshops held by the owners that guide and inspire women of all ages to harness their inner queen, warrior, sage or lover. The designers were also peresent for the weekend event to personally match shoppers with a style that aligns with their inner lover, warrior, sage or queen.

Owner of Blesse d and Jennifer M Booch, Christy Rumbaugh ellon

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MALIBUITES VENICE

Sips N’ Silks On Tuesday, June 11, The Piece Collective hosted the Sips N’ Silks event for the Sun Child Pop-Up. Sun Child is a women’s clothing company created in 2015 by fashion publisist Elissa Kravetz. All of the clothes sold by Sun Child are unique and sustainably made, being hand crafted from recycled materials. From June 1st to 28th, Sun Child showcased their clothing at their Pop-Up shop on Abbot Kinney. The event celebrated Sun Child's arrival in L.A by offering customers Rose, coconut water, and Fronuts while they shopped. Attendees include celebrity guests like Selenis Leyva, Emma Kenney, Brielle Barbusca.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

JO BARRY

One-Of-A-Kind

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Vivacious and gregarious, Jo Barry, office administrator and certified transaction coordinator at Sotheby’s International Realty, greets customers with a huge smile. “Jo is a pleasure to work with,” said Michael Novotny, Vice President and Brokerage Manager at Sotheby’s. “Her energy and wit add so much to our office. She is one-of-a-kind and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Jo has worked in the Sotheby’s office for years and loves her job. “It’s so nice to be able to say that you absolutely love to come to work each day,” she said.

Originally from London, Jo has lived in the U.S. since 1985.

She raised her children here and was always very involved in their lives, serving as president of the PTA, Little League Coach and as a Scout leader. An avid traveler in her youth, Jo is filled with wonderful stories. “I was one of the first female club D.J.’s in the world and worked for a London Company named Juliana’s Discotheques,” she said. “I travelled around the world, including Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.” Jo shared a photo depicting her in Bali in 1979, with one of her regulars from the Pitstop Disco. “I worked in Sardinia at Cala Di Volpe on Costa Smeralda, where they filmed The Spy Who Loved Me with Roger Moore – I was an extra in that movie.”

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Jo Barry for her amazing attuitude, work ethic, and story, all contributing to our community.

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ARASH “JOEY” AMINI

Malibu’s Newest Maestro One of Malibu’s newest musical talents is the affable and supremely talented Arash “Joey” Amini, a cellist par excellence who moved here with his family last year. Trained at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with the renowned David Soyer and at The Julliard School, where he trained with Aldo Parisot, Amini describes his mentors as “the last two of the old school cellist masters.” Amini has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician throughout America and internationally. The prestigious venues where he has played are too long to list. Want to be impressed? Check out www.joeyamini.com. His favorite memory? Meeting American violinist Isaac Stern, whom he describes as “brilliant, with an incredible mind.” Amini is a substitute for the L.A. Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Opera. His roster is full. He’s always thrilled to play, and he’s thrilled to be in Malibu. “I find so much peace [in Malibu], which inspires me and I can concentrate here,” he said. “It is serene to live amidst the beautiful mountains and the ocean.”

Amini is a fan of all types of music, ranging from classical, jazz, country, rock ‘n roll and blue grass. He is also a huge fan of two special people – his lovely wife, Eveline, and their three year-old daughter. Malibu Magazine loves Arash “Joey” Amini because he adds to the symphony of our community.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Arash “Joey” Amini for enriching Malibu with his musical talents.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

EAMON HARRINGTON

Creativity with a Cause “Art is the signature of civilizations,” American operatic soprano Beverly Sills once said. Artist Eamon Harrington, of Red Ladder Gallery in the Malibu Village, manifests that principle in large, bold acrylic works filled with incisive insights, some vociferous, some vehement. Harrington announces percipient perspectives, denounces injustices and challenges viewers to take a stand, make a difference, and be mindful that in times of turbulence, climatic crises and violence, mankind’s global narrative must effect critically-needed change, right wrongs and preserve our planet for future generations. Planet Grande Pictures, an independent production company owned by Harrington and his friend John Watkin, has won seven Emmys for its documentaries. Like Harrington’s documentaries, his art prods viewers to think about issues which are far too often ignored. When one enters Red Ladder Gallery, they often pause in reflection, lean in and learn.

“Is your art a release, an expression of opinion, protestation of gratitude, or perhaps all of those?” Malibu Magazine asked. Harrington paused in reflection.

“I think it’s all of those,” he said. “I’m Irish, so politics runs in my veins. I came of age in the 1960’s and 70’s and music and politics of that time influenced me.”

Extemporaneously painting, Harrington is often surprised by what his canvases reveal. Harrington’s gallery will be relocating and he will be announcing his new venue soon, but for now you can find him and his art on his website, eamonharrington.myshopify.com.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Eamon Harrington because his works reveal his love of creative expression in whatever medium he employs.

SHANNON MCGIFFERT

Mother Daughter Magic Malibu’s answer to the itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie polka dot bikini is on show at the Tracy Park Gallery in Cross Creek on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through July. Beautifully crocheted by the equally beautiful Shannon and Natalie McGiffert, a charming mother and daughter pair, the intricate designs on their “wonkytops” are fun and lovely, with gorgeous colors and detail. The pair makes bikini tops for babies and children as well. There are also a few bikinis available at Ambiance Skin and Body Day Spa in the Malibu Country Mart. This is the first collaborative venture for the mother and daughter, each well-known throughout Malibu and beyond. A Malibu native, Shannon is a staple in the community, often surfing every morning before her work as a staffer at the beloved K Chocolatier in Cross Creek. Natalie is an accomplished and decorated gymnast, having won a gold medal and two silver medals as part of America’s group rhythmic gymnastics team in the 2015 Pan American Games.

She was also an Olympian at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero. In addition, Shannon is a local artist, specializing in producing tiles that harken back to the motif of Malibu tiles. “My favorite medium is acrylic on wood using the iconic Malibu tile designs,” she said. “I call some of my works Malibu Tile Diety’s.” Wonkytops are available for order online at www.wonkytops.com.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Shannon McGiffert and her daughter for their artistic vision and how it spreads positivity.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

BIBI JORDAN

Turning Grief Into Greatness Harnessing inner strength as she recovers from the Woolsey Fire’s destruction of her home, author, producer and artist Bibi Jordan exemplifies Malibu’s pertinacity. Bibi is on a journey – literally and figuratively – as she reconfigures her life, redefines her focus, and shares her positivity through her website Hipsilver.com, which features her activities as a travel curator focused on transforming women. “I’m kicking off a new story about my fabulous trip to Uganda,” Bibi wrote in an email to followers, noting it will be “an extraordinary journey of dreams manifested...not just mine, but my Uganda family, all for two great causes: protecting the Gorillas and creating economic viability for their coffee-farmer neighbors.” Many who lost everything in the Woolsey fire continue to struggle and grieve. However, the fire also ignited Bibi’s creativity and adventurous spirit. “It’s not what you own that matters,” she said. “It’s what’s in your mind and heart.” Recently, Red Ladder Gallery hosted a premier of Bibi’s mini-documentary The Phoenix Sisterhood of Malibu, a work depicting how five women affected by the fire supported one another, transformed, and found strength to work through emotions and challenges, emerging stronger and fashioning new futures in the process.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Bibi Jordan for her ability to recover from devastation in a way that inspires others.

photo by Alexia Carroll

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HEATHER CARTER

The Mermaid of Malibu Mermaid ~ mer·maid /noun ~ a fictitious or mythical half-human sea creature with a woman’s head and the tail of a fish, conventionally depicted as beautiful and with long flowing golden hair. Malibu’s beloved Mermaid, aka Heather Carter, fits the definition perfectly. Blonde and beautiful, she’s the quintessential mermaid. “I love living in Malibu and being able to swim daily with the sea life in these sacred waters as a mermaid,” she said. As a mermaid, Carter “helps people remember their sea origins and respect the ocean and all her beings.” Her journey as a mermaid segued into a professional dance career, including in a production of Splash in Las Vegas. Questions abound. Where does one get a mermaid costume? Carter got hers at Merbella Studios. Being a mermaid surely sounds like a fun gig, but just how does a person make a living being a mermaid? Carter does many things and wears many hats, er – fins. She offers party services, teaching children about the sea. Using soul lore, she helps clients achieve spiritual enlightenment.

She also helps them incorporate crystals into their lives and environments and teaches Vinyasa Hatha Flow yoga. With love and sea kisses, gratitude and wonder, and omnipresent respect for our ocean and environment, Malibu’s mermaid graces our majestic waters.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Heather Carter for her passion to spread love, respect, and knowledge about the ocean.

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photo by Cara Harman

PEOPLE WE LOVE

CISCO ADLER

Hippieland and Happiness A consummate musician and life-long Malibuite, Cisco Adler, a GRAMMY® Award-nominated songsmith and artist, is one of those affable, rockin’ locals who makes Malibu special. “I make music all day, every day,” Cisco said. “Being a musician and songwriter is in my soul.” Adler invites us to escape with him on a journey through rhythms and harmonies, through Sunday vibes and, of course, to enjoy the Hippiedance – clothing optional, free spiritedness included – with his latest album, Hippieland. This is the third full-length solo from Adler, and was produced by his own label, Bananabeat Records. Extremely danceable, fun-loving and always with a vintage feel, Cisco’s music has a coastal, easygoing vibe that is contagious. “Cisco has an organic-ness of a vibe, time and space in music,” said concert producer/promoter Matt Diamond. “I’ve witnessed him create unique styles of music that have reached charted successes and that have influenced and brought joy to many as fans and as musicians.” Adler is hard at work on additional projects he said, full of the excellent vibes and rhythms his fans have come to expect from his music. “I’m excited about my new album by Yung Pinch that I produced, co-wrote and executive-produced for Columbia Records,” Cisco said. “I also produced a couple of songs for Super Duper Kyle’s next album on Atlantic Records and my artist, Goody Grace, is about to drop his debut album on Bananabeat/Atlantic, and I also just finished work on an EP

by Gabriel Black for RCA Records. The first single, “Dead Yet” just dropped.”

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Cisco Adler for his zeal to create fun, positive music that creates good vibes and benefits the community.

ALEJANDRA DE LUCA

Intuitive Healing “Your time as a caterpillar has expired . . . open your wings and fly,” declares a sign at the entrance to Alejandra DeLuca’s new Trancas Country Mart meditation center, Malibu Meditations. “I’m so grateful to open this space as an offering to the community,” DeLuca said, as she sat in her center in front of a gorgeous, gold-leafed image reading: Journey. Visitors to Alejandra’s center can expect a quiet, sacred space of peace and solace, where the walls and floors are treated to prevent electromagnetic field (EMF) rays from interrupting visitors’ efforts to center themselves, practice yoga and breathe deeply. The center has been designed as a place where guests can gather strength and focus. “We are bombarded with electrical energy,” DeLuca said. “We need a safe place to be calm.” The center offers yoga, meditation, sound healing, and one-on-one healing sessions with Alejandra, who is trained in Pranic healing, an energy “no-touch” modality focusing on one’s body being able to heal itself. Alejandra noted that several healing modalities are offered at the center and she stressed proper breathing is central to healing. Guests can also enjoy a well-curated boutique offering healing essences, herbs and meditation accoutrements from all over the world.

MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Alejandra De Luca for her mission to restore peace and healing in our frenetic world.

If you have suggestions for community members to feature in our next issue, email us at editorial@malibumag.com

✎ written by Barbara Burke

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THE PARK

AT

CROSS CREEK

COME VISIT! • WHOLE FOODS MARKET • BAREFOOT DREAMS • BLUE BOTTLE • CAFE D'AMORE • DOOR TO DOOR DRY CLEANERS • HOWDY'S SONRISA CAFE

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• MALIBU IN SIGHT • NAIL SPA @ THE PARK • SORENITY ROCKS • THE REAL COCONUT • TOPIKAL

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SEASON SPECIALFIRE REPORT

WILL THE NEXT WOOLSEY BE IN TOPANGA? ✎ written by Barbara Burke  photographed by Jules Williams

In the wake of the Woolsey fire, officials have cautioned that the next devastating fire could very well hit Topanga, which shares many of Malibu’s fire hazards but was spared from last November’s conflagration.

We spoke with LAFD and elected officials to learn more about what Topanga residents can do to help mitigate the threat.

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FIRE SEASON

1993 - Topanga‘s Last Big Fire Occurring between the L.A. Riots and the Northridge Earthquake, the Old Topanga Fire of 1993 left locals devastated. On November 2, 1993, authorities were informed that a fire had ignited on Old Topanga Road. It quickly grew in speed and intensity, and within an hour had destroyed over 1,000 acres of chaparral brush.

Soon the fire had produced a 30,000 foot column of smoke, creating a firestorm of winds over 70 mph with blow torch-like intensity. The response was enormous, with the LAFD assisted by many departments on the west side of the Continental Divide. Even military units responded to help aide with manpower and special equipment. By the time the fire was put out 8 days later, it had killed three people, decimated 16,800 acres of land and destroyed 359 homes.

FIRE PATH The map above charts the Old Topanga Fire’s path.

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I

n the wake of the Woolsey Fire, have created using computerized modTopanga residents are acutely els that consider terrain, vegetation and aware that their town could be the location of past fires, place Topanga ground zero in the forthcoming at extreme risk, with 90% of its buildfire season. The memory of the ings in the most severe risk zone.

1993 fire that left three people “Virtually all of Topanga is in a Wilddead and destroyed almost 400 homes land urban Interface, which is an area still haunts many residents. with high fire risk where people reside,” “Topanga is much more dangerous said Jesus Lopez, “J. Lopez,” Assistant with regard to the potential damages Chief of the L.A. County Fire Departfrom a fire than is Malibu,” said Maliment Forestry Division. Lopez oversees bu City Council Member and Los Anthe Fire Department’s Defensible Space geles County Fire Captain Rick Mullen.

Program throughout 4,001 square The greatest danger miles in Los Angeles posed to residents, County. he said, was “the sinThe U.S. Forest gularity of ingress Service defines a and egress,” refer“Wildland-urban ring to the fact that interface” as a place Topanga Canyon “where humans and Road provides the their development primary artery in meet or intermix and out of the town. with wildland fuel.”

“If people evacuIn high-risk areas ate too late and there such as Topanga, is a big traffic jam or that intermixing can an accident on Tobe a recipe for disasJESUS LOPEZ Lopez is the Assistant Chief of the LAFD’s panga Canyon Road, ter.

Forestry Division. that would place “Clearing your people in treacherbrush in accordance ous and dangerous conditions,” he said. with the County Fire Department’s “The key to evacuating in Topanga is to guidelines and creating a defensible leave early when the sky is still blue and space is super-important in Topanga,” one doesn’t see smoke from a fire – do Mullen said. “I think that historically, not wait to see if a fire crosses the 101.” going back thirty years or so, people in Topanga’s unique architecture, with Topanga have been reluctant to clear many structures built in hillsides, also out their brush as much as they should. presents special concerns with regard However, it should be noted that people to fires, Mullen said are taking brush clearance more seri“Hillsides often have gullies on the ously these days and, although Topanga sides of houses and those are a topomay not have the appearance of wide graphic danger for fire behavior,” he open spaces that one sometimes assosaid. “Topography is the most dangerciates with clearing property to prepare ous aspect of a brush fire and people for a fire, what is important is whether need to realize that fire goes uphill the people have cleared the ground under same way water goes downhill. Where large trees such as oak trees which bewater will go down in a stream in little have quite well in fire conditions.” gullies or canyons, fire will race upward The Woolsey fire “provided a wake-up along those same paths.” call regarding the importance of clearRisk maps that California scientists ing brush,” Mullen said. “Once the fire

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SPECIAL REPORT

CANYON ROAD Topanga Canyon Road is the primary artery in and out of Topanga, which could make evacuations that much more difficult.

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BRUSH Residents have long been drawn to Topanga for its lush natural beauty.

However officials caution brush clearance is a necessity for homeowners.

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FIRE SEASON

crossed the 101 freeway, it was game-on because the fire had ample fuel to burn all the way to the ocean.”

Those who are in the thick of clearing brush in fire-prone areas emphasize the importance of being proactive in one’s landscaping practices.

“Don’t be a fool about fuel that feeds a fire,” said Chris Loguidice, owner of Malibu tree servicing firm Environmental Tree Care, Inc. “People have to understand that if they have brush, or old railroad ties, mulch or other flammable materials up against a structure, it’s a disaster waiting to happen because those materials provide fuel for a fire.

Homes were saved in the Woolsey fire on Phillip Drive and Dume Drive in Malibu because [of brush clearance].”

Attempts to avoid complying with laws mandating proper clearance of brush are usually attributable to “a combination of people being naïve and not understanding the consequences and their worrying about costs,” Loguidice said.

Assistant Chief Lopez explained that applicable ordinances require brush clearance on properties and that areas be clean along major roads and access roads so that firefighters have access to enter and battle blazes.

“Sometimes, citizens are concerned about trees being cleared along roads because many people care about the trees,” he said. “However the roads must be clear. Further, the ordinance requires that an area of four feet be cleared away from utility poles, but the California Public Utilities Commission has now stated that Southern California Edison should clear a twelve-foot area.”

Experts explained that there are three ways that a home can be exposed to fire.

Of course, direct flames hitting a structure during a fire’s initial firestorm can cause a structure to catch fire. An ember storm, or even a single ember, can also ignite a home. Finally, radiant heat generated from burning structures or plants can be hot enough to ignite a fire, even without direct flame contact,

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“Homes were saved in the Woolsey fire because of [brush clearance]. ”

What‘s a WUI? WUI stands for Wildland Urban Intermix, which is a geographical area where homes are intermixed in and around wildland vegetation, such as in Topanga. It also stands for Wildland Urban Interface, which is a developed area of homes and structures that come right up against wildland vegetation, usually with clear delineation at the interface.

a particularly dire concern in densely-populated areas of Topanga.

Accordingly, Lopez noted that it is important to educate citizens not only about how imperative it is to conduct brush clearance and clear roadways to allow fire units to have proper access, but also about the necessity of creating defensible spaces on properties to defend against both wildfires and ember storms. Defensible spaces are areas around structures that do not contain fuel for an initial firestorm to consume and just as importantly, for embers from a fire to catch onto.

An integral part of creating a defensible space is to “harden a structure.”

This means preparing it for both wildfire and an ember storm by addressing the structure’s most vulnerable components utilizing building materials and installation techniques that increase resistance to heat, flames and embers that accompany most wildfires, said Ryan Ulyate, Co-President of North Topanga Canyon FireSafe Concil, which helps citizens create defensible spaces.

“The way we evaluate how to harden a structure is to look at it from the eaves down,” Ulyate said, a sentiment echoed

by Lopez.

“People should box-off their eaves, meaning that they close off the area where the eaves overhang because those areas can let embers in,” Lopez explained.

Ulyate agreed, explaining that the first five feet around a structure are the most crucial to protect from combustible material. Citizens should think of their structures as being surrounded by imaginary concentric zones, he said, noting, as did Lopez, that the first one hundred feet surrounding a structure is the most important in defending from fire.

“Anything that can catch on fire in that area can ignite a structure,” Lopez said, noting that the embers from a wildfire “are like millions of flaming matches just waiting to spread fire.”

Essentially, the science of fires should

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What To Do (and Don‘t Do) During Red Flag Conditions Topanga and Malibu residents should always work to ensure their properties are as fire-resistant as possible. During dry and windy red flag conditions, however, extra precautions should be taken.

Do:

Don’t:

•

Position your Car Moving your car so that you face your exit route will help you evacuate faster.

•

Whack Weeds Any rocks hit while weed whacking can create sparks that could potentially start fires.

•

Have an Evacuation Kit Ready Make sure your kit is fully stocked and placed by your door or inside your car.

•

Weld or Cut Metal Fires can be started by flying sparks that hit nearby vegetation

•

Pack Pet Carriers in Your Car Ensure that your pets can be efficiently and safely moved during an evacuation.

•

Smoke Cigarettes Cigarettes that are improperly disposed of can ignite fires.

•

Light Campires Open flames such as campfires are illegal in many areas and can be extremely dangerous in the Santa Monica Mountains during Red Flag Conditions.

•

Use Gas-Powered Gardening Tools Any open gasoline containers that come into contact with sparks can quickly start fires.

•

•

Keep Flammable Materials Away Protect your property by moving outdoor furniture, potted plants, doormats, and other flammable materials as far away from your home as possible.

Change Automatic Garage Door Settings Make sure you can manually open your garage doors so that you can get your car out even during a possible power outage.

If you leave your home during a red flag warning: •

Close exterior windows and doors to prevent flying embers from getting inside.

•

Close interior doors to slow the spread of fire if your home catches fire.

•

Open any drapes to slow heat buildup around windows and keep flammable materials away from them.

Sources: The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide & www.t-cep.org

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WILDLAND URBAN INTERMIX Geographically Topanga is situated in a unique environment, known as a wildland urban intermix, where homes are intermixed in and around wildland vegetation.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Where Is This Home Vulnerable To Embers?

1

1. Wood Roof Replace wood shake and shingle roofs with fire- resistant roofing materials.

9. Siding Fill in any gaps in the siding and trim materials with high-quality caulk.

16. Flower Boxes Remove wooden flower boxes when there is a wildfire in the area.

2. Roof Openings Fill in roof coverings with non-combustible materials.

10. Wood Piles Move wood piles and any lumber scraps at least 30 feet from buildings.

17. Eaves Cover open eaves with sheathing such as plywood.

3. Roof Debris Routinely remove leaves, branches and bark.

11. Patio Furniture Place combustible patio furniture inside if there is a wildfire in the area.

4. Skylights Replace plastic skylights with double-pane glass.

One should be tempered glass.

5. Spark Arrester Install an approved spark arrestor on chimneys.

6. Windows Make sure all windows are multi-pane glass and one of them is tempered glass.

7. Vents Cover attic, eave and foundation vents with 1/8-inch wire mesh or install vents made to prevent ember entry.

8. Rain Gutters Keep rain gutters free of plant and other debris during fire season.

12. Deck Boards Replace any deck boards less than one inch thick or that are in poor condition with thicker boards.

13. Deck Debris Remove plant debris from the gaps between deck boards.

14. Porch and Deck Accessories If there is a wildfire in the area, move any combustible materials inside.

15. Under the Deck Remove plant debris, wood piles or any other easily-ignited materials from under the deck. Consider enclosing the deck with siding that is properly-vented.

18. Flowerbeds Replace wood mulch with non-combustible types and remove plant debris.

19. Vehicles Close vehicle windows.

Back into the garage and close garage door or park away from the house.

20. Garage Door Adjust garage doors to achieve a tight fit with the door frame. Close door if there is a wildfire in the area.

21. Garbage Cans and Recycling Bins Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids close to the house. Move newspaper recycling bins indoors.

22. Wooden Fences Keep wooden fences in good condition and create a non-combustible fence section next to the house for at least 5 feet.

Source: The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide

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inform one’s common sense approach to preparing for wildfire season.

“To harden your home and defend against wildfire ember storms, citizens should ensure that vents and spark arrester screens on top of their chimneys and other openings to the home have one-eighth-inch screens, because onequarter-inch screens can allow embers in,” Lopez said.

“Once a fire gets into an attic, many times the structure cannot be saved,” said Alex Abdalla, a firefighter-EMT. “Citizens should take anything that is flammable away from near their homes, such as lawn furniture and wood piles.”

They should also clear their gutters and the area around their homes of all pine needles and leaves, he said.

Mulch can also be highly dangerous if it abuts a home, Lopez said, noting that combustible bark can be replaced with rocks and stones that can serve the same aesthetic purpose. Careful landscape selection, placement and maintenance are also integral to fire hardening a home, according to Ulyate and the California Fire Safety Council. Vegetation right next to a home is not recommended, such as a trellis, which is often made of wood and will often support a woody vine. Even healthy vegetation will likely have dead leaves that can be hidden from view by healthy plants.

Wood decking can combust, especially if debris collects between slats or below the decks because embers can ignite there and spread to a home. Attics, crawl spaces and dryer vents are also areas where embers can penetrate, the experts stated.

“If you have old wood fences or old wood decks, you have to get rid of them – it’s as simple as that,” Loguidice said.

“The same is true for firewood piles and any old brush. In the fall, all of that needs to be gotten rid of. Be aware of whatever the fire department misses, because you need to remain conscious of the fact that any dry material will ignite.” Single-pane windows can also

Evacuation Is Your Best Bet For Surving A Fire Evacuating during a fire can be an incredibly stressful time, but a little prep and foresight can help the process run as smoothly and safely as possible, and possibly save your home.

Things to Remember: •

Keep a pair of shoes by your bed and a flashlight handy in case you have to evacuate at night.

•

Remember the 6 P’s for evacuation. We’ve included a refresher below.

•

Pull garden hoses out to their full length. This is not for you to fight the fire, but to aid firefighters who may come onto your property. If you have extension ladders, pull them out into plain view.

•

Close all windows and doors and open all window coverings and curtains unless they are fire-resistant. This will help your home be more visible to firefighters coming through the area.

•

Don’t wait for authorities to tell you to leave. They may not have enough time or manpower to knock on every door or drive down every street. Leave early enough to avoid being caught in fire, smoke or road congestion. You can always come back if the fire doesn’t reach your area.

•

Think three times (at least) about trying to defend your home.

It’s extremely dangerous even for well-trained firefighters. You could also become a victim in need of rescuing, which will put firefighters at further risk as they attempt to save you. Leaving is your safest and smartest option.

Source: The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide

val Guide

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COMMUNITY Organizations such as the North Topanga Canyon FireSafe Council help residents ensure their properties are fire-ready.

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Remember to Evacuate Large Animals Early!

If you own large animals in Topanga, such as horses, it’s extremely important to have a detailed emergency plan in place before a natural disaster strikes.

Things to Remember: •

Plan ahead, especially if you don’t own a trailer. Make sure you can evacuate animals early, or shelter-in-place if absolutely necessary.

•

Have a halter and lead rope readily available for each horse. Make sure your contact info is engraved on them.

•

Take photos and prepare written descriptions of each animal, with vaccination and any medical information.

•

Keep trucks and trailers well-maintained and ready to move. If there is a wildfire in the area, think about hitching up the trailer so it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice. Make sure you have at least half a tank of gas.

•

Know where you can evacuate your horses. Make plans with friends, trainers and stables, and know what facilities outside of Topanga you can take your animals in case you need to evacuate.

•

Practice loading into the trailer. Especially if your horses are not used to loading and unloading, take the time now to get them comfortable with the process.

•

If sheltering-in-place is the only option, make sure there is adequate clearance by removing hay and brush far from where your animals are being kept and provide enough water and food for at least three days.

cause problems, Ulyate said, noting that they are more easily broken by radiant and direct flames that double-pane windows. Accordingly, he and Lopez advise that citizens use double-pane windows with tempered glass. Other efforts to mitigate the risk of extreme fire hazards, such as using steel roofs or installing sprinkler systems on roofs, although not a panacea, can also assist residents in being fire-ready.

Topanga has an extensive volunteer network that helps citizens prepare by hardening their homes, as discussed above. However, volunteers in the town go even further. They have developed a comprehensive plan to evacuate from high-risk areas, Lopez and Mullen noted.

“The Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness, TCEP, is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization,” said Scott Ferguson of TCEP. “We provide emergency preparedness education and real-time disaster status updates to residents of Topanga and surrounding areas in the middle of disasters.”

“Topanga has a more organized community evacuation plan than many other cities because in Topanga, they realize that the evacuation process is most dangerous as they only have one road to use,” said Mullen. “They developed an annual exercise for practicing evacuating. They have divided the whole canyon into zones and evacuate in an orderly fashion zone by zone and they’ve identified tactical refuge assembly areas that are relatively safe zones within Topanga that citizens can go to in emergencies.”

Fire is, Ulyate aptly stated, “a way of life for those who live in Topanga and nearby areas.” He noted that “the difference between a wilderness fire and an urban inferno turns on ensuring that people have defensible spaces around their homes.”

If residents choose to live in this beautiful place, he said, they have to respect its environmental hazards and MM take measures to be prepared.

Source: The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide

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MALIBU’S NEIGHBOR While Topanga sits just above Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains, it was spared from last year’s Woolsey fire.

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LT. JENNIFER SEETOO From the Woolsey Fire to being named, “Woman of the Year” by Senator Stern, Lieutenant Seetoo of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s station has been working hard to implement positive changes in the community.

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PROFILE

LT. JENNIFER SEETOO

“WOMEN OF THE YEAR” Since her first day as Lieutenant, Jennifer Seetoo has seen Malibu at its lowest of lows. Yet amidst the destruction, she has been a guiding force behind bringing the community together and changing it for the better. ✎ written by Josie Lionetti  photographed by Julie Wuellner

S

ince becoming Lieutenant at the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s station, Lieutenant Seetoo has seen Malibu at it’s lowest low.

She’s seen friends killed at the Borderline Bar in Thousand Oaks during last year’s mass shooting, neighbors lose their homes, and Malibu’s beautiful landscape engulfed in flames. Yet amidst that destruction, she has been a guiding force behind bringing the community together and changing it for the better.During a recent sit down with Lieutenant Seetoo, she shared how she got to be where she is today, the problems she has already tackled in the community, and what she plans to do moving forward.

What was your law enforcement career through the green zone, to the Baghdad like, leading up to becoming Lieutenant International Airport,” Seetoo said. “You of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station? really feel like you’re making an impact.

“I started in law enforcement when I You’re saving lives. So it was very rewardwas only 18 or 19 years old when I worked ing.” as a custody assistant,” Seetoo said. She “I was an anomaly over there as a womwas one of the first women to graduate an,” Seetoo continued, “You don’t see as an honor recruit from the Los Angeles female contractors doing what I was doCounty Sheriff’s Academy and graduated ing.” She would walk through the streets top of her class (which she is more than and get to know the people. Even today proud to admit). Afterward, she spent she is still friends with some of the Iraqis time working in the Men’s Central Jail she met during her time there. and Century Regional Detention Facility.

After nine months in Iraq, she moved Following that, she patrolled at Compton to Jordan, where she spent the next three station. months training Iraqi police officers.

In May of 2004, she left the states to Once her year in the middle east conwork in Iraq. “I may not look like it but cluded, she returned to the states and when I was in Iraq I worked as a bodybegan working for the Department of guard and ran convoys from the red zone Homeland Security on the Joint TerrorMALIBU WIDE EFFORTS (Above) A group of Malibuites bring in supplies from boats at Para-

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PROFILE

ism Task Force. She later went to the East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station, where she worked as a sergeant. She also worked as Deputy Director of the Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC), a cooperative effort between United States federal, state and local law enforcement and public safety agencies to address terrorism-related threat intelligence for the greater Los Angeles region.

Three days before the Woolsey Fire began, Lieutenant Seetoo was transferred to the Lost Hill’s Sheriff’s station as the operations lieutenant. Her first day on the job Department Captain Joshua Thai had an emergency medical issue, putting her in charge as the Woolsey fire broke out.

On March 4th, in honor of the work Seetoo did during the fire, and the leadership role she played, Senator Henry Stern named Lieutenant Seetoo as Woman of the Year for the 27th Senate District.

The Woolsey Fire began your third day on the job. What were some of the emotions you experienced as you dealt with the situation?

“Within my first three minutes here, I became the acting captain,” Seetoo said.

She explained that in the days leading up to the fire both, the community and herself were still paralyzed by the tragedy at the Borderline Bar & Grill, in which a gunman took 13 lives at the popular Thousand Oaks bar.

“People from my church were killed at borderline,” Seetoo said. Despite her fear, there was no time to panic. Once she got word of the fire, she immediately called Assistant Fire Chief Anthony Williams and began preparing and planning. Before the fire hit Los Angeles County, Williams ordered an evacuation from Valley Circle to Lindero Canyon.

“I was in shock,” Seetoo said. “I couldn’t believe what was happening.” While working tirelessly to evacuate the community, and getting emergency operations underway, she had her own family

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“It’s a special place.

There is nothing like Malibu.”

How do you think the community has recovered since Woolsey?

“The way the community came together, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Seetoo said. “I really watched a community rally together, and that was important.” Seetoo held a pancake breakfast during the holidays to show the community how much they matter to her and how grateful she is to have them in her life. Despite the signs of hope that

WOMAN OF THE YEAR Earlier this year Senator Henry Stern named Lieutenant Seetoo the Woman of the Year for the 27th Senate District.

to worry about, which includes her husband Joseph and two young daughters.

“We ended up having to live in the captain’s office until we could return to our house. It was a devastating time,” Seetoo recalls.

Once the fire jumped the 101 Freeway, it became too big to handle, and incident command stepped in and took over the fire operations. However, her work didn’t end there. Seetoo took charge of the station, where she led to the department as they attempted to handle the situation and the aftermath.

arose from the ashes of Woolsey, Seetoo also saw criticism from those who were reluctant to offer support to a place like Malibu.

“I often hear a lack of sympathy from people, because of Malibu being an affluent area, but that isn’t really true. We have mobile home parks that are just gone,” Seetoo said. “There are normal, everyday people here who lost everything, and they need help just as much as anyone else.”

Now, even though much of the rubble has cleared, and the hillsides bloom with

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vibrant wildflowers, Seetoo believes the community is still in the process of healing.

“I am happy to be the liaison lieutenant to see the healing, and we must not look back,” Seetoo said. “We can look back to learn lessons, but we must look forward to repair and rebuild.” Despite the difficult tasks she has had to take on as lieutenant, Seetoo is thankful to be where she is.

“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster working for the community, but it has been amazing,” Seetoo said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

What have you found most challenging about the job?

“The most challenging part of the job is that people look to law enforcement to solve all the problems, and that isn’t really the case. We can only do as much as the law allows us to do,” Seetoo said. “I want to help, but people must understand I can only work within the laws given to me.”

And the most rewarding?

“A big passion of mine is protecting our kids in our schools. The school districts here are amazing and I love working with the community.” Seetoo said.

She has been able to bring people together in this effort, and is continuously impressed by the desire of parents to work in this endeavor. One organization in the area which is part of bettering the community’s schools and the children that attend them is something known as Armory of Harmony. The organization was founded by Richard Gibbs, who is also a founding member of the Malibu Cultural Arts Commission. Armory of Harmony is an organization that melts down guns and turns them into musical instruments to put back into schools.

“Working with organizations like this, and the Boys and Girls Club, are the things that I enjoy doing the most—making an impact on the community,” Seetoo said.

What are some of the top issues you want to tackle as Lieutenant?

When she began her position, it was important for Seetoo to hear what concerns the community had and what changes they wanted to see.

“When you reach out to the community, they come up with these great ideas,” Seetoo said. “It’s really important to include the community on the plans, even as we prepare for things like fires.”

One of the main concerns Seetoo has already worked on, is the issue of homelessness in Malibu.

Following complaints from parents regarding the safety around Malibu Library and Legacy Park, Seetoo led an initiative to clean up the park.

Along with other deputies, she brought in special teams from the city and Los Angeles County to help with the project. The homeless teams often included veterans and even people who had been homeless themselves.

“It was neat to watch the interaction [between the teams and those in the park] and gaining the trust of that individual,” Seetoo said.

Seetoo is extremely proud of the work she and her deputies have done with the park, and not only what was done, but how it was done.

“The way the community came together, I’ve never seen anything like that.”

“We did a great job with the park and I think the public saw we do care about people and people’s safety,” Seetoo said.

“We did it in such a way where it touched people’s hearts. The humanitarian aspect of it really moved the community.”

Not only does Seetoo believe the community has benefited from the cleanup, but that those homeless individuals have benefited as well.

“We have gotten people permanent housing out of it, medical help…it’s been amazing and unique to see,” Seetoo said.

“We are continuing to keep Legacy Park what it’s supposed to be—a park for everyone to come and enjoy.”

On top of the homeless problem in Malibu, another one of the concerns community members have raised is traffic.

“A lot of people complain, so we listened to the community, sat down, and created a plan,” Seetoo said. The first part of that plan has been a bike patrol in the Civic Center area.

“Malibu has never had a bike patrol and now it enables people to respond more quickly to deal with a situation,” Seetoo said.

On top of the bike team, Seetoo devised another plan which involved sectioning Malibu in four quadrants, with deputies in each quadrant.

“The goal is to increase visibility. We are dealing with people parking in incorrect lanes, stopping to get into a valet...the point is to try and keep traffic moving. I know this traffic team we created will save lives,” Seetoo said. “It may not solve the traffic problem but it will save lives, and that brings me peace.”

What makes Malibu different from other places you have worked before?

“Malibu is this amazing electric community. In other areas, people are so individualistic, but Malibu is this thriving, community-oriented, and special place.

It’s close-knit and the people here are so different, yet they are able to come together and mesh. It’s a special place.

There is nothing like Malibu.”

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MALIBU’S THE BIG PRICE COMPARISON

GROCERY

REPORT ✎ written by Holly Bieler

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With the opening of Whole Foods at The Park at Cross Creek, Malibuites now have more options than ever when it comes to grocery shopping.

We checked in with local stores in Malibu and surrounding areas to get a better look at how pricing and features compare from the big-box chains to the independent little guys.

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W

ith the late May opening of Whole Foods in the new The Park at Cross Creek complex, Malibu’s 13,000 residents now have a total of five grocery stores to choose from for their shopping needs. Once dominated by small independent shops like PC Greens and family-owned chains like Cooke’s Family Market and HOWE’s, Malibu consumers now have an array of shopping experiences and inventories to choose from when weighing where to purchase food and necessities.

Whole Foods, which was acquired by Amazon in 2017, marks the third bigbox grocer in the area, joining Pavilions, which is owned owned by Albertsons LLC and opened in the Point Dume Plaza 11 years ago, and 20-year community mainstay Ralphs, owned by supermarket conglomerate Kroger. However Malibu’s stock of smaller chains and independent stores still remains strong, with the 26 year-old PC Greens right across from Carbon Beach and the 5 year-old specialty organics store Vintage Grocers, recently acquired by the boutique Southern Cailfornia supermarket chain Erewhon, located in the Trancas Country Market.

There are also a variety of choices readily accessible to Malibuites willing to commute a few miles over the hill to the Valley or to the west side of Los Angeles in Santa Monica or the Pacific Palisades, from large chains like Gelson’s, Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s to the smaller Arizona-based Sprouts, which has quickly become a favorite among Malibu shoppers since opening in Westlake Village in 2011.

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PRICE TEST With so many choices now readily available to Malibuites, deciding where to grocery shop can sometimes seem daunting, especially for budget-minded consumers. For many Malibu consumers, the price of goods is still the leading factor in choosing a grocery store, however it’s not always clear which local option presents the most cost-effective option. Among the big-box chains, Whole Foods has long had a reputation for higher prices. However its August 2017 acquisition by Amazon and the accompanying price decreases on many items and special discounts afforded Amazon Prime members has somewhat pushed back on its reputation for high prices, although its not always clear just how much the changes have effected grocery shoppers’ bottom line. Other large chains like Ralphs and Pavilions are generally viewed as more economical options than lesser-known specialty organics brands like Erewhon or Sprouts, if by reputation alone.

To help consumers better navigate pricing, MALIBU MAGAZINE ran a test in early June, comparing the price of common groceries between the five Malibu markets as well as Vons in the Pacific Palisades, Albertsons and Erewhon in Calabasas, Ralphs and Trader Joe’s in Agoura Hills and Gelson’s and Sprouts in Westlake Village. We chose common grocery items such as Chobani yogurt and Cliff bars, Horizon brand milk, frozen pizza from Real Good Pizza Co. and Vital brand eggs. We also included household products like cleaning wipes from Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyers brand dish soap. A significant perceived benefit at the larger chains are loyalty shopper programs like the Ralphs and Pavilions club member card and Albertson’s’

rewards program, which offer discounts on a range of grocery items for customers who sign up. If these membership discounts can sometimes lead to significant savings, its not always clear whether the slashed prices these programs afford actually lead to a lower final grocery bill than do normal sales and promotions most grocery stores hold on many items everyday for all shoppers. To get a clearer understanding, we ran two tests; one one utilizing membership and sale prices and one that didn’t.

In many cases, the results were surprising. Taking a look at prices excluding all sales and membership discounts, we found that Whole Foods and Sprouts — chains normally associated with higher prices — offered some of the best rates of the bunch. Among the legacy bixbox chains, Ralphs was another clear winner. Consistently, we didn’t see extreme price differences in rates between the bigger grocery stores, such as Albertson’s, Ralphs and Trader Joe’s. The same couldn’t always be said when we compared those prices against smaller grocery stores in Malibu. One carton of Chobani yogurt, for instance, cost $.99 at Whole Foods Malibu. Take a trip a couple miles down PCH to PC Greens, however, and the price jumped to $1.99. A 64 oz. carton of Horizon brand milk presented another stark example of how big chains can often out-price smaller stores, with Ralphs pricing the item at $4.99 to Vintage Grocers’ $6.99. However the Phoenix-based Sprouts in Westlake Village had every other store beat, offering Horizon milk at a slight discount from Ralphs at $4.29.

Membership discounts like Pavilions’ and Ralph’s club member programs seemed in many cases to deepen the pricing divide between local smaller and

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1110

9

8

1

4

SPECIAL REPORT

7

5

3

6

2

Store

Owner

Who is the owner?

Year Founded

Years At This Location

Number of Stores

1

Ralphs

Kroger

This U.S. company is the world‘s largest supermarket chain.

1873

21 years

2

Pavilions

Albertsons Companies LLC

Subsiduary of Cerberus Capital Management

1985

11 years

26

3

PC Greens

Michael Osterman

Osterman is a longtime Malibu resident.

1993

26 years

1

4

Vintage Grocers

Paige Laurie

Laurie is the granddaughter of a Walmart co-founder.

2014

5 years

3

201

(as of Jan 2016)

5

Whole Foods

Amazon

The online retailer behemoth is owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos.

1980

6

Von‘s

Albertsons Companies LLC,

Subsiduary of Cerberus Capital Management

1906

30 years

325

7

Albertson‘s

Albertsons Companies LLC,

Subsiduary of Cerberus Capital Management

1939

18 years

564

8

Erewhon

Tony and Josephine Antoci

The couple purchased the small chain in 2011.

1968

5 years

4

9

Trader Joe‘s

T.A.C.T Holding Inc (aka. Aldi Nord)

Nord, a German businessman, acquired Trader Joe‘s in 1979.

1967

9 years

488

10

Gelson‘s

TPG

TPG is one of the world‘s largest private equity investment firms.

1951

37 years

24

11

Sprouts

Sprouts Farmers Market

Phoenix-based supermarket chain operating 315 stores.

2002

8 years

300+

1 year

(May 2019)

501

(480 in US)

©Malibu Magazine 2019

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WHOLE FOODS Malibu’s new 25,000 square foot Whole Foods includes a hot prepared foods bar, juice and coffee cafe and expansive dried nuts section, pictured, among other features.

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larger grocers. A frozen cauliflower margarita pizza from Real Good Pizza Co. Inc. rang in at $6.99 after club member discounts at Ralphs Malibu and Vons in the Pacific Palisades. However the same item at PC Greens and Vintage Grocers, neither of which have membership discount programs, cost considerably more; $8.99 at Vintage Grocers and $10.69 at PC Greens.

Even without a membership program, however, Westlake Village’s Sprouts consistently offered some of the best deals we encountered, holding sales on many items that ultimately priced out most of their competitors. Loyalty program discounts at Pavilions Malibu, Von’s in the Pacific Palisades and Albertson’s in Calabasas all brought down the price of a carton of orange juice from Simply brand from $5.29 to $4.49, for example.

At Sprouts in Westlake Village, however, the same item was on sale for $3.99, without a membership discount. Horizon cheese singles, were priced down $1 from $6.49 to $5.49 for loyalty rewards members at Pavilions Malibu and Von’s in the Pacific Palisades. However the same item was available for sale in some stores at a cheaper price, without membership discounts. Ralphs in Malibu and Agoura Hills as well as Sprouts had the same product on sale for a slightly lower price at $4.99. Vital Eggs, gala apples and Angie’s Popcorn were a few of the other products Sprouts was offering on sale, at a total greater discount than other stores.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION For many shoppers, however, price isn’t the only factor when determining which grocer to frequent. Location, especially in Malibu, is often of tantamount importance. While Downtown Malibu has a plethora of options, with Ralphs, Whole Foods and PC Greens within a few miles of each other, the only option for residents of Point Dume unwilling to make a 10-15-minute drive west or east is Pavilions. Same for residents of Western

“You really get a very personalized shopping experience at independent stores like PC Greens.”

Malibu, whose most proximate option is Vintage Grocers at the Trancas Country Market. During a recent survey of shoppers during a weekday lunch break, numerous consumers in Point Dume and Western Malibu said they frequented Pavilions and Trancas Country Mart because of the proximity to their homes.

Many Malibu consumers we spoke with, however, said that long-held routines and familiarity played as much of a role in their choice of grocer as did price and location. Ralphs has been a mainstay in the community for years, opening in the Malibu Colony Plaza in 1998, while Pavilions has become a flagship store for Point Dume shoppers since it replaced the long-vacant Cooke’s Family Market space in 2008, leading to a revitalization

of the shopping plaza which has held to this day.

And if PC Greens, which was opened in 1993 by Malibu local Michael Osterman and has operated out of its Downtown Malibu location ever since, might not offer the same competitive pricing as Ralphs or Pavilions, some shoppers said there is something to be said for the store’s local touch.

“You really get a very personalized shopping experience at independent stores like Pacific Coast Greens,” said Emily Stowe, a Pacific Palisades resident who works in Malibu and has shopped at PC Greens for years. She said she frequents PC Greens because of the store’s healthy smoothie and coffee bar and raw prepared foods, and appreciates the fact that the store is not corporate-owned.

THE NEW PLAYER The recent opening of Whole Foods Malibu, however, has changed the landscape for Malibu’s grocery stores in many ways. While Whole Foods and The Park complex project was on the receiving end of protest from the community for years leading up to its opening, largely from locals who feared the grocery store behemoth’s entrée into Malibu could shutter smaller businesses and upend the community’s “local feel”, much of the initial protest seems to have dwindled since the store actually opened in mid-June of this year.

If elected officials were notably absent from the store’s grand opening on June 12, many locals showed up early to tour the store and begin shopping.

“It’s a beautiful store,” said resident Christine Thompson at the store’s ribbon cutting. “Everything looks so nice, clean and perfect.”

At 25,000 square feet, the new Whole Foods features expansive produce, meat, cheese and wine and beer departments, as well as a hot bar, prepared foods section and a Nékter Juice Bar featuring smoothies, fresh juices and specialty coffee drinks from local partner

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PRICE COMPARISON Excluding Sales

Chobani Yogurt 5.3 oz

Clif Bar 2.4 oz

Dave‘s Killer Bread

Horizon Milk 64 oz.

Vital Eggs 12 count

Gala Apples per lb.

Real Good Pizza Co.

Ralphs Malibu

$1.25

$1.25

$6.99

$4.99

$5.99

$1.99

N/A

Pavilions Malibu

$1.69

$1.69

$6.49

$5.99

$6.99

$2.99

$7.99

PC Greens Malibu

$1.99

$1.85

$7.05

$6.99

$7.79

$1.99

$10.69

Vintage Grocers Malibu

$1.79

$1.79

$6.49

$6.99

NA

$2.79

$8.99

Whole Foods Malibu

$0.99

$1.35

$6.99

NA

$5.99

$1.99

N/A

Von‘s Pacific Palisades

$1.69

$1.69

$6.49

$5.99

$6.99

$2.49

$7.99

Albertson‘s Calabasas

$1.69

$1.69

$6.49

$5.99

$6.99

$2.49

$7.99

N/A

$1.89

$6.99

$5.89

$7.29

$2.49

N/A

Ralphs Agoura Hills

$1.25

$1.25

$6.99

$4.99

$5.99

$1.99

$7.99

Trader Joe‘s Agoura Hills

N/A

$0.99

$6.49

N/A

N/A

$0.69 each

N/A

Gelson‘s Westlake Village

$1.79

$1.79

$6.99

$4.99

$6.59

$2.99

$8.99

Sprouts Westlake Village

$1.39

$1.59

$5.79

$4.29

$6.49

$1.79

$8.99

CALABASAS

PP

MALIBU

Conducted on June 13-15, 2019

WESTLAKE VILL.

AGOURA HILLS

Erewhon Calabasas

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SPECIAL REPORT

HaagenDaz Ice Cream

POM Juice 14 fl oz

Horizon Cheese Singles

Mrs Angie‘s Seventh Popcorn Generation Meyers Cleaner Wipes

Fiji Water 1.5 Liters

$4.49

$3.99

$3.99

$9.99

$4.69

$4.99

$4.99

$3.49

$4.99

$4.99

$3.19

$5.29

$4.99

$4.49

$11.99

$5.69

$4.99

$6.49

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

N/A

$4.59

$4.35

$13.99

$6.99

$5.79

N/A

$3.89

N/A

$5.25

$3.39

$5.79

$3.99

$5.89

$12.99

$5.99

$4.29

N/A

$3.49

N/A

$4.79

$3.29

$3.99

$3.99

$3.99

$9.99

N/A

$4.49

N/A

$3.69

N/A

$4.69

N/A

$5.29

$4.99

$4.49

$11.99

$5.69

$4.99

$6.49

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

$5.29

$4.99

$4.49

$11.99

$5.69

$4.99

$6.49

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

N/A

$4.39

$4.29 $4.39

N/A

N/A

$5.49

$5.99

N/A

N/A

$4.79 $4.99

$2.79

$4.49

$3.99

$3.99

$9.99

$4.69

$4.99

$4.99

$3.49

$4.99

$4.99

$3.19

N/A

N/A

$3.19

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$1.99

$4.59

$4.59

$3.99

$10.99

$4.99

$3.00

$5.99

$3.99

$6.49

$5.99

$3.49

$3.99

N/A

$3.69

N/A

N/A

N/A

$4.99

$3.49

$4.49

$4.29

$3.29

depends on scent

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Simply Green & Kerrygold Peets Orange Blacks Coffee Irish Juice Chocolate Butter Ground

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PRICE COMPARISON Including Sales Conducted on June 13-15, 2019

Ralphs Malibu

Dave‘s Killer Bread

Horizon Milk 64 oz.

Vital Eggs 12 count

Gala Apples per lb.

Real Good Pizza Co.

$5.99

$1.99

N/A

ON SALE

CLUB MEMBER

ON SALE

$1.25

$1.00

$5.99

$4.99

4 for $5

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

$1.25

$1.00

$4.99

$4.99

$6.99

$2.99

$6.99

PC Greens Malibu

$1.99

$1.85

$7.05

$6.99

$7.79

$1.99

$10.69

Vintage Grocers Malibu

$1.79

$1.79

$6.49

$6.99

NA

$2.79

$8.99

Whole Foods Malibu

$0.99

$1.35

$6.99

NA

$5.99

$1.99

N/A

Von‘s Pacific Palisades

ON SALE

$1.25

CLUB MEMBER

$6.99

$2.49

Albertson‘s Calabasas

ON SALE

ON SALE

ON SALE

ON SALE

$1.25

$0.69

$4.99

$4.99

$6.99

$2.49

$7.99

4 for $5

must buy 5

NA

$1.89

$6.99

$5.89

$7.29

$2.49

N/A

ON SALE

CLUB MEMBER

ON SALE

$4.99

$5.99

$1.99

$7.99

MALIBU

ON SALE

CALABASAS

PP

Cliff Bar 2.4 oz

Pavilions Malibu

Erewhon Calabasas Ralphs Agoura Hills

AGOURA HILLS WESTLAKE VILL. 72

Chobani Yogurt 5.3 oz

4 for $5

$1.00

$6.49

CLUB MEMBER

$4.99

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

$6.99

4 for $5

$1.25

$1.00

$5.99

$0.99

$4.99

NA

NA

$0.69 each

N/A

$1.00

$1.79

$6.99

$4.99

$6.59

$2.99

$8.99

ON SALE

ON SALE

ON SALE

ON SALE

ON SALE

$0.88

$1.25

$5.49

$3.99

$5.99

$1.79

$8.99

4 for $5

Trader Joe‘s Agoura Hills Gelson‘s Westlake Village Sprouts Westlake Village

NA

ON SALE

ON SALE

4 for $5

ON SALE BOGO free

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SPECIAL REPORT

Simply Green & Kerrygold Peets Orange Blacks Coffee Irish Juice Chocolate Butter Ground

HaagenDaz Ice Cream

POM Juice 14 fl oz

Horizon Cheese Singles

$3.99

CLUB MEMBER

$4.49

$4.99

N/A

$4.59

$3.99

$7.49

Fiji Water 1.5 Liters

ON SALE

ON SALE

$4.49

Mrs Angie‘s Seventh Meyers Popcorn Generation Cleaner Wipes

$4.69

$4.99

$4.99

$3.39

$4.99

$4.99

$3.19

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

$3.49

$9.99

$3.50

$4.99

$5.49

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

$4.35

$13.99

$6.99

$5.79

N/A

$3.89

N/A

$5.25

$3.39

CLUB MEMBER

2 sticks per box only

$5.79

$3.99

$5.89

$12.99

$5.99

$4.29

N/A

$3.49

N/A

$4.79

$3.29

$3.99

$3.99

$3.99

$9.99

N/A

$4.49

N/A

$3.69

N/A

$4.69

NA

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

CLUB MEMBER

$3.49

$9.99

$3.50

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

ON SALE

CLUB MEMBER

ON SALE

$3.49

$9.99

$3.50

$3.99

$5.39

$5.99

$3.19

N/A

$4.79 $4.99

$2.79

CLUB MEMBER

$4.49

$4.99

CLUB MEMBER

$4.49

$4.99

$4.29 $4.39

CLUB MEMBER

$4.99

$5.49 ON SALE

$4.99

$5.49

N/A

$4.39

$4.49

$3.99

$3.99

$7.49

$4.69

$4.99

$4.99

$3.39

$4.99

$4.99

$3.19

N/A

N/A

$3.19

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

$1.99

unsalted higher price

N/A

N/A

$5.49

$5.99

ON SALE

N/A

depends on scent

ON SALE

$4.59

$4.59

$3.99

$10.99

$4.99

$3.00

$5.99

$3.49

$6.49

$5.99

$2.50 2 for $5 ON SALE

ON SALE

$3.99

N/A

$3.69

N/A

N/A

N/A

$4.99

$2.50

$4.49

$4.29

$2.99

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ON SALE

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Which Products Did We Test?

Chobani Yogurt, any flavor in 5.3 oz.

Cliff Energy Bar, any flavor in 2.4 oz.

Dave’s Killer Bread, 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Organic in 27 oz.

Horizon Milk, Organic Reduced Fat in 64 oz.

Vital Pasture Raised Large Grade A Eggs, Alfresco, 12 count Organic Gala apples measured per pound unless otherwise specified Fiji Water, 1.5 Liters Real Good Pizza Co. Cauliflower Margharita Pizza in 11.6 oz.

Green & Blacks organic chocolate, any flavor, 3.5 oz.

Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter, both salted and unsalted in an 8 oz. bar Peet’s Coffee, Ground in 12 oz. bag Haagen-Dazs ice cream, any flavor in 14 oz.

POM Wonderful 100 Pomegranate Juice in 16 fl oz.

Simply Orange Juice, all kinds, 52 fl oz.

Horizon America Cheese Singles, 8 oz. packet Angie’s Boomchickapop Light Kettle Corn, 5 oz.

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Wipes, 35 count Mrs Meyers Clean Everyday Cleaner (all scents), 16 fl oz.

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Coffee Manufactory. “We are so excited to bring Whole Foods Market to Malibu,” said Amy La Boube, store team leader. “We look forward to serving the community and providing our customers with the tastiest and highest-quality natural and organic food available.”

Whole Foods’ new location in Malibu isn’t the only big shift in the community’s grocery marketplace, however.

Ralphs has also recently undergone a major remodel, which they rolled out in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Major “Zuma Jay” Wagner in late May. The changes span from inventory to design, and include a new sushi bar at the front of the store, where sushi is prepared fresh all day, a hot foods bar featuring entrees like orange chicken and fried rice, and a grab-and-go prepared foods section at the front, where beach-goers and local residents can quickly grab specialty items like sliced meats without waiting in line at the deli.

In addition to the revitalized sections, the Ralphs remodel includes a vast array of new products meant to compliment the Malibu diet, including over 1,000 new organic items and much expanded meat, water and dairy sections.

“It’s been great in the community,” said store manager Chelle Lujan. “We expanded on the things the community was buying more of, which was super important.” That means more specialty and gourmet items like dryaged, wagyu and grass-fed beef, a 4 foot smoked salmon case (which includes a new community favorite—candied salmon) and redesigns to ensure peak freshness. The produce section, for instance, now includes a wet rack that is more product-dominant and restocked more frequently throughout the day.

“It’s fresher product all of the time now,” Lujan said. “We might put out 10 bunches of kale 4 to 5 times a day now versus trying to load it all in the old case. We’d put 40 bunches of kale, but only half of them were getting the water they needed.” Lujan says thus far the community has embraced the changes.

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JOAN LAVINE Lavine has been shopping at Ralphs for 20 years.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from customers,” she said. “They love the new product selection.”

“It’s much easier to shop here now,” said Malibu resident Joan Lavine, who has shopped at Ralphs Malibu since it opened in 1998. “They’ve got things beautifully organized and grouped.

They have a great selection. Everything is very fresh, and they have great sale items.”

The Trancas Country Market’s Vintage Grocers is another local store to undergo some a change in recent months, having been recently acquired by the small SoCal-based grocery chain Erewhon in March of this year.

The acquisition led to the shuttering of Vintage Grocers’ two other locations, with the Westlake Village storefront quickly closing and the newly-opened Pacific Palisades store rebranded as an Erewhon just a few months after its grand opening.

As of now, Trancas’ Vintage Grocers, which opened in 2014 in the old HOWE’s space, remains the only Vintage Grocers location. While some initial reports seemed to indicate that the site would be reopened as an Erewhon market, it appears for now the space will remain as a Vintage Grocers.

CHELLE LUJAN Lujan has been the manager of Ralphs Malibu for a decade.

The Malibu Colony Plaza store recently underwent a comprehensive renovation.

THE DUST SETTLES Amidst all the changes to Malibu’s grocery stores, the fate of long-loved stores and new players is yet to be determined.

It’s not yet clear if Malibu’s relatively small 13,000 residents can support the array of options now available to them, or even whether the myriad recent changes will ultimately change anything at all.

While many consumers we spoke with said they were excited by the new opening at Whole Foods and changes at Ralphs, still more said they would continue to frequent the stores they had come to know intimately and that had become part of their routine.

“I go to Ralphs, Pavillion’s or PC Greens,” said Mayor Wagner of his grocery-shopping habits.

He also pointed to Ralphs’ role in November’s Woolsey Fire, during which

management ensured the store stayed open to residents and first responders even as other supermarkets shuttered, as a reason for his continued loyalty. “[Woolsey] was the backbone of supply and and support during Woolsey,” Mayor Wagner said.

Some residents we spoke with also said that the new changes just provided more chances for Malibuites to fill their homes with the items they wanted without having to venture out of the community. Lenise Soren, chair of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce and owner of Malibu’s Sorenity Rocks Malibu, said she divides her time and wallet between all stores.

“I get different things at different stores, and I really try to give business to every store,” she said. “It is really nice to have so many wonderful choices here in MM Malibu.”

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THE COMMUNITY GROCER It’s been an event-filled last few months for Ralphs Malibu, the 20-year community staple which has been lauded for serving residents during the Woolsey Fire and just rolled out an exciting new remodel. ✎ written by Holly Bieler  photographed by Julie Wuellner

W

hen Ralphs opened its Malibu Colony Plaza store more than 20 years ago, Malibu was a very different place.

Still a sleepy beach town, the 1998 opening marked one of the first forays of a large grocery chain into the community.

“It’s such a small town, and it felt like we were kind of on our own little island,” said

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Store Manager Chelle Lujan. Fast forward 20 years later, and much has changed at Malibu’s Ralphs market. In early June the store unveiled a massive remodel, infusing shelves with an array of new products and integrating exciting features such as a delicious gourmet hot bar and sushi bar with rolls prepared fresh all day. Inventory changes were expertly curated to serve the Malibu diet and tastes, and include over 1,000 new organic products, a remodeled produce section designed to ensure peak

freshness, and 20 feet of new meat products with gourmet offerings such as wagu, dry-aged and grass-fed beef. Other additions include a new smoked salmon case and much-expanded selections of specialty waters, dairy and nut-milk products, as well as other healthful items popular with Malibuites.

However despite all the changes, the core mission and ethos which has made the store a bedrock in the community for over two decades has largely remained the

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COMMUNITY

same. If you’ve lived in Malibu for more than a few years, chances are you have a favorite cashier at Ralphs, which has long boasted a staff lauded for their friendliness and involvement in the community.

If you’ve lived here for longer, chances are your relationship with Ralphs runs even deeper.

“I know the cashier’s names and what areas they live in,” said Malibu mayor “Zuma Jay” Wagner. “I know their idiosyncrasies and they know mine. I come in and they say, ‘Hey, you’re coming in to get some Ben and Jerry’s.’”

Lujan said that with many employees having worked at the Malibu location for upwards of 10 and 15 years, the store feels deeply engrained in the community in a way she’s never experienced.

“Being out here in Malibu for so long and being in this store, we truly feel like we are a part of the community,” she said.

“So many employees know customers by name. They’ve been out here for so many years, and they know everybody.”

Never has Ralphs’ dedication to the community been displayed in such moving force as last November, when the Woolsey fire ravaged Malibu, forcing most residents to flee while a sizeable contingent remained to defend their properties. Lujan, herself evacuated from her Agoura home, made it through the police barricade along with a small group of store managers as the fire broke out, and was able to open the store’s doors to first responders in need of bathrooms, food and supplies. However on the second day of the fire, residents who had stayed behind began making their way to Ralphs as well, the only place for miles that looked open. Lujan didn’t hesitate before deciding she would open the store to customers.

“I called my boss and I said ‘I’m going to open the store,’” she said. “It just felt like the right thing to do. There wasn’t any-

MALIBU DIET Ralphs’ recent renovations included an infusion of new products curated for the Malibu diet, including a remodeled produce section and greatly expanded meat selections.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT Ralphs’ employees were honored with a Harvey Baskin Malibu Business Citizen of the Year award by the Malibu Dolphin Foundation for their work during the Woolsey Fire.

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A HEALTHY OPTION A newly remodeled sushi bar offers customers a fast, fresh and healthy option for lunch or dinner.

where else open at the time. You couldn’t even get a bottle of water. So it was one of those things where, how can we not be open for the community?”

Ralphs would remain open as the fire ravaged much of the community, store managers alternating between 12 hour shifts as the air became choked with smoke and many of their own families remained evacuated.

“Being evacuated myself, I understood the feeling of not having anywhere to go,” Lujan said. “We wanted to be a place where people could come in if they wanted to talk about it, or they wanted a hug, or they just needed that 20 minutes of normalcy back in their life where they could come in and get some stuff they needed before they went back to their homes to fight fires.”

As Malibu finally returned to a semblance of normalcy after the Woolsey fire, Lujan and the entire Ralphs staff received an outpouring of support from the com-

“RALPHS WAS A BACKBONE OF SUPPLY AND SUPPORT DURING WOOLSEY.”

munity for their efforts, not to mention a Harvey Baskin Malibu Business Citizen of the Year Award from the Malibu Dolphin Foundation. “[Ralphs] was the backbone of supply and support during Woolsey,” said Mayor Wagner. “They were even ready to drop off supplies at another market. That’s how embedded they are in 90265.” In the months

since, the supermarket has renewed that loyalty to the community in more ways than one. One of the most exciting ways is via the store’s new remodel, which Lujan says customers have been extremely enthusiastic about so far.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback,” she said. Another is with increased participation within the community, through initiatives such as Ralphs’ Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, which endeavors to end hunger in Ralphs communities and eliminate waste throughout the company by 2025. As part of the program, Ralphs Malibu has been donating any in-code, healthy products that are not sold to community organizations which distribute them to families in need. In June alone, Lujan said Ralphs Malibu donated over 1,000 pounds of food to Malibu Methodist. Residents who have shopped at the Malibu Ralphs for years would expect nothing less.

MM “We really are a family,” Lujan said.

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HEALTHY FIRST Vegan diets have become increasingly popular as a means of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while supporting sustainable food production.

VEGAN OPTIONS AT THE FARMER’S MARKET ARE PLENTIFUL From healthy vegan treats for your dog to freshly-baked bread made of stone-milled grains baked right in Topanga, there is no limit to the healthful, tasty vegan options available at the Malibu Farmers Market every Sunday. In addition to the famous produce and products available at the market, guests can sit down and indulge in an array of dishes cooked by world-class chefs at the Farmers Café.

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MALIBU FARMER’S MARKET

VEGAN, VEGAN, VEGAN! Vegan diets have exploded in recent years as a great way to stay healthy while helping the planet. And some of the best vegan products and gourmet dishes can be found right here in Malibu at the Malibu Farmers Market.

I

n today’s world of social media, more and more people are realizing what veganism is all about. The plant-based diet can be extremely healthy and make a positive impact on our environment. And one of our own little gems in Malibu, the Malibu Farmers Market, sells an array of delicious vegan products and meals.

The Malibu Farmers Market has always been known to sell the freshest locally-grown produce in the area. However many do not realize how many exceptionally-talented chefs also that sell their prepared food at the market every Sunday.

This market is helping people realize that you can have a delicious-tasting product that does not lack in flavor just because it is plant-based. In fact, the level of quality and taste might just exceed your expectations.

The Malibu Farmers Market is 90% certified organic. All products are GMO free. When it comes to vegan, all the vendors have vegan options. Whether you’re in the gourmet

grab-and-go section or the Farmers Cafe, the quality of the taste at the Malibu Farmers Market is consistently beyond measure.

You can find all that you need to prepare your delicious, healthy vegan meal at home.

The president of The Cornucopia Foundation, Deb Bianco, hand selects all these vendors to make sure the quality of their product is right on par with top chefs around the world.

“I am so proud of each and every one of my vendors,” she said. “From the farm to the chef to your kitchen table, you can find all you need to prepare your delicious healthy meal at home.”

While your family and friends are feasting on your delightful meal, rest assured you can also serve some yummy healthy treats to your furry friends. Among other offerings, Malibu Farmers Market features vegan dog treats which are home-baked in small batches right here in Malibu. ‘Biscuits in the Bu’ has freshly baked treats that are extremely tasty for the pups, and also packed with powerful nutrients. All ingredients are

organic and preservative-free. The products never contain grain, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, peanuts, eggs, salt, sugar, GMOs, or any animal by-products, ever.

Another delicious vegan product offering is the Farmers Market’s gluten-free sourdough bread, which utilizes a 3-day fermenting process to achieve its distinctive, delicious flavor and beneficial cultures that is extremely healthy for the gut.

It makes sense that you would find this new company here in Malibu. Bianco said she is very passionate about animals and feels that they deserve only the best. There are many events held during the course of the year at the Malibu Farmer’s Market to help support animal charities.

Go check out Malibu Farmer’s Market; not only will you feel good that you didn’t harm any animals, your taste buds will thanks MM you as well!

Malibu Farmer’s Market Open Every Sunday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. cornucopiafoundation.net/location/

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Whole Foods Market Grocery Store

Cafe D’Amore Restaurant

Door to Door Dry Cleaners Dry Cleaners

Topikal

The Real Coconut

Wellness & Beauty

Restaurant

Nail Spa at the Park Nail Salon

Barefoot Dreams Clothing Store

Malibu In Sight Eye Center

Sorenity Rocks Crystals & Wellness

Blue Bottle Coffee Howdy’s

Coffee Shop

Restaurant

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SHOPPING

THE PARK

WHO’S COMING TO TOWN? Now that The Park at Cross Creek is open, a host of new tenants will be opening their doors in the coming months. From old-time Malibu favorites to fresh faces, MALIBU MAGAZINE takes you on a tour of what’s to come. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

T

hey’re hip, with innovative, interesting vibes and expansive, inviting storefronts that beckon people to stop and take a look, to lean in and linger, to join in the fun. Over the next few months, several new establishments are opening at The Park at Cross Creek, a multi-building development featuring Whole Foods as the anchor business. Malibu Magazine took a tour to get a feel for what’s on at the new venue.

There is something for everyone on the culinary scene. There are proprietors providing high-end services, including a business offering professionally-curated, attention-to-even-the-littlest-detail dry cleaning, an optometrist that has been a Malibu favorite for years, and a place where one can get her nails done. Crystals abound at another shop and Topikal Everything Hemp Store offers hemp-based health and beauty products. There’s even a store with cozy, comfy, casual wear that is perfect for Malibu’s marine-layer-blessed days.

“Landlord Steve Soboroff has always promoted a positive, locally driven energy in his projects,” said Salvatore Sampino, manager of the Malibu Eye Center who is opening Malibu In Sights as a new venue in the development. “The Park has a holistic, healthy, linear vibe which distinguishes it from any other shopping center in the area.”

Lenise Soren of Sorenity Rocks Malibu agrees. “I’ll be helping The Park curate

events to support our tenants and the community in the amphitheater,” Soren said. “Steve Soboroff is a visionary who has done an incredible job choosing tenants who will contribute fresh and innovative wellness-oriented goods and services to the future of Malibu’s retail market. The chemistry of our tenants feels like when you cast a powerful ensemble for a great play.”

Let’s go on a tour.

STORE OPENINGS The Park opened with Whole Foods and in the months to come many new stores, restaurants and even a salon will join the grocery store.

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HOWDY’S

A local Favorite Returns If one enters the complex from Civic Center Way they’ll catch some of Malibu’s favorite restauranteurs, Howdy and Linda Kabrin, who are opening Howdy’s Sonrisa Café in The Park. The café will offer fresh, innovative cuisine intersecting healthy comfort food served on an expansive, enclosed patio. The new restaurant will bring back some of the dishes that Malibuites loved for twenty years when the couple operated Howdy’s Taqueria, while also introducing new nutritional choices.

“The restaurant is named to honor my daughter Gaby who was tragically killed in South Africa,” Howdy said. “Sonrisa means smile in Spanish and every morning when we woke up, my daughter and I would talk about waking up with a smile.

Gaby, mi hija, is my inspiration for opening this restaurant and together with my wife and I and our terrific staff, including Benjamin, my wonderful manager, we are bringing smiles to Malibu.” Having Howdy’s as one of the restaurants at The Park was very important to Soboroff.

“I’ve always felt that Howdy is synonymous with Malibu,” he said. “Howdy is Malibu and Malibu is Howdy.”

During Malibu Magazine’s visit with Howdy near his new restaurant, longtime customer Ron Manger happened by.

“So looking forward to having Howdy’s back,” Manger said. “They are the best and they have the best soup!”

Howdy smiled and said, “We’re excited to be back in Malibu and bring that Howdy energy back to Malibu – Howdy’s in Malibu is an experience. It’s not just the food, it’s the friendliness, the relationships we have with all our customers that really sets us apart, and that tradition will continue.”

MALIBU’S FIRST TAQUERIA RETURNS Howdy and Linda Kabrin first opened Howdy’s Tequeria Malibu in 1995. They are returning as Howdy’s Sonrisa Cafe.

LINDA AND HOWDY KABRIN The couple is so excited to “bring that Howdy energy back to Malibu,” and Malibu is exicted to have them back!

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SORENITY ROCKS MALIBU

Crystals For Everyone

LUXURY CRYSTAL DESIGN Lenise Soren, owner, admires her beautiful crystals, available at Sorenity Rocks in Point Dume or at The Park.

CRYSTAL ENERGY Malibu City Council woman Karen Farrer poses with the magnificent crystal wings outside of Sorenity Rocks at The Park.

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As one exits Howdy’s and heads towards Whole Foods, they encounter Sorenity Rocks Malibu, one of the world’s premier crystal interactive wellness galleries, a venue with ceilings so high that it can accommodate some of the largest crystals in the world.

“There will be a private session room where we will offer a variety of healing modalities and wellness education,” said proprietor Lenise Soren. “Guest practitioners will offer alternative wellness practices, such as brain-based physical therapy, solfeggio tuning forks and crystal wellness treatments.”

Malibu Gives, Soren’s charity supporting art, wellness and community in Malibu and beyond will also have a presence at the gallery. The store will also offer jewelry designed by local artists, books from local authors and a cozy book nook for readers of all ages to enjoy. Malibu Gives Mail will also be providing private mailbox services that were previously offered by PC Greens.

Sorenity Rocks Malibu is opening later this year and already has its beautiful, large crystal angel’s wings outside the store’s entrance. The venue welcomes customers to take pictures in front of them and post their pictures on social media at @SorenityRocksMalibu for a chance to win monthly photo contests.

“We’re very excited to open at The Park,” Soren said. “The store will change its inventory on a monthly basis to highlight different mines and we will offer crystal meditations and interactive crystal events where attendees can sit, stand and lay in, on and around the largest crystals in the world and feel their energy.”

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BAREFOOT DREAMS

Comfy Beach-y Style

Ubiquitous at The Park these days is the talented Steven Olshan, whose firm Olshan & Associates is handling the tenant improvements for five of the companies and is consulting with two others. Olshan is ensuring that each venue maintains its unique ambiance and that each store’s vibes permeate their space. This dedication is illustrated wonderfully in Olshan’s workBarefoot Dreams, a shop featuring upscale, cozy-chic apparel for women, men, children and pets, as well as an array

of distinctive accessories. Barefoot Dreams has been in business in Malibu since 1994, but this is its first brick and mortar location. The company was founded by proprietor Stan Cook’s (pictured above) late wife, Annette Cook, who envisioned creating a collection that was elegant, soft and soothing to the senses.

“Each of the venues has its own feel and there will be a lot of lovely wood and a beachy vibe at Barefoot Dreams,” Olshan said.

OH SO SOFT The beachy wares are not just elegant but also incredibly soft.

NAIL SPA

ManiPedis & More

Continuing on to Whole Foods, one will come upon The Nail Spa at The Park, a venue owned by Don Nguyen, who provided nail services at a business near Ralphs for years.

“I’m back in Malibu and delighted to be here,” Nguyen said. “We will offer waxing and traditional manicures and pedicures, as well as acrylic nails and we will also feature organic gel treatments using Biogel.”

The Nail Spa is slated to open in late July.

NAIL ART The Nail Spa at The Park will offer a range of beauty services including artisan nails, organic gel treatments and professional waxing

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TOPIKAL EVERYTHING HEMP

Healing with Hemp

TOPIKAL EVERYTHING HEMP Brothers Greg and Gary first founded Topikal Everything Hemp in 2015 to spread awareness about the health benefits of hemp.

HEALING PRODUCTS Products such as creams, salves, tinctures, Zen Pens, and beauty products are meant to soothe pain and heal the body.

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Topikal Everything Hemp is the next venue that customers will encounter on their tour. Founded by brothers Greg and Gary Avetisyan in 2015, the first CBD only retail boutique in California is opening its third location at The Park.

Topikal Everything Hemp offers products using whole plant hemp. The CBD used is grown and extracted in the United States. The company focuses on educating customers about how hemp-based products can provide pain relief. Its merchandise includes pain creams, salves, tinctures, Zen Pens and beauty products, all aimed at providing refreshing relief and fostering health.

“We opened our first store with a concept that people can use CBD for a lot of pains,” Gary Avetisyan said.

“Both my brother and I used CBD for ailments and found great relief from using it and we succeeded from using CBD for ourselves. A lot of friends and family found they could benefit from it and then, we decided to make it accessible to all.”

Topikal prides itself on the fact that it is a go-to source for CBD for pets as well and that is utilizes both a third-party lab and in-house rigourous product testing process to ensure that customers receive the CBD without any hint of THC, and thus without any psychoactive effect.

“We’re hoping for the architecture and design processes to go smoothly and we hope to open by the end of August,” Avetisyan said.

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DOOR TO DOOR CLEANERS

Cleaners who Care

The honor of being California’s 2018 Dry Cleaners of the Year was awarded by the California Cleaner’s Association to Door to Door Valet Cleaners & Tailors, a longtime Southern California favorite. The cleaners, now in their 25th year of operation, will open at The Park in the next few months and will offer toxin-free dry cleaning, hand-finished laundry and in-home tailoring, as well as on-site services including home remediation after fires and floods. Supported by an award-winning 15,000 square-foot processing facility, and offering pickup and delivery, the company focuses on quality and service, according to owner Sajid Veera, who operates the family business with his brother Habib.

“We will offer all the services featured at our other locations, such as factory-finished shoe and handbag repairs, wedding dress storage and cleaning, fire and water damage restoration of garments, alterations and tailoring and home remediation services in the event there is fire, smoke or flood damage,” Sajid told MALIBU MAGAZINE. “Our repertoire of services also includes hand-finished bed and table linen cleaning and suede, leather and fur cleaning.”

Sajid noted that the company offers onsite cleaning for large pieces of furniture and window furnishings such as roman blinds. Cleaners use the same toxin-free cleaning products and technology as they use to clean customers’ bespoke garments and fine silks and cashmeres. Door to Door hopes to open at the end of August, depending on permitting and construction completion. The company will be open six days a week and will be closed on Sundays.

HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE In business for 25 years, Door to Door offers services such as toxin-free dry cleaning and in-home tailoring.

Many in Malibu already use Door to Door for their cleaning and restoration needs.

“I have antique carpets and tapestries and there was smoke in the house after the Woolsey Fire and Door to Door picked up the carpets and tapestries and did a great job of cleaning them,” said Malibuite Ellen Olivier. “Indeed, they found some places that were worn and restored them. Sajid also has someone on staff who is familiar with rug-making.”

“We’ve been servicing the Malibu area with our pick-up and delivery service for a few years,” Sajid said. “With increased activity due to helping people after the fires, a lot of those clients needed wardrobes and furniture cleaned and they convinced us of the need to have a physical location in Malibu.”

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CAFE D’AMORES

More Than Just Pizza

JOE AND CHRISTIANA D’AMORE The couple behind D’Amores uses family recipes from Naples as well as new ones to create delicious and nutritious food.

NEW OPTIONS Cafe D’Amore’s in The Park will be offering more than just pizza with health conscious and gluten-free dishes as well.

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Next to one of The Park’s most delightful sites – the playground that accommodates special needs children – sits Café D’Amore’s, the brain child of the model, producer and actress Christiana D’Amore.

“With Café D’Amore’s, we will lower the ceilings to make it have a lovely restaurant feel,” Olshan explained, painting a picture of the upscale restaurant that Christiana and her husband Joe D’Amore will open.

“The venue has beautiful outdoor seating where customers can enjoy beer and wine and the side that faces the playground will have a window so that people can pick up food while their kids are playing.”

“Café D’Amore is my baby,” Christiana said. “The restaurant will be a wonderful go-to place for breakfast and will be a hybrid between a sit-down venue and a pizzeria that will offer a host of specialties.”

“I’ve always loved to cook and I am extremely health-conscious,” she said. “Our food will be full of herbs and fresh ingredients and we will have weekly soups and excellent salads.” Lunch and dinner will feature Joe’s special pastas, fish and meat dishes, delicious sandwiches and individual pizzas. Christiana noted that the venue will offer a variety of gluten-free and dairy-free options.

“I want people to know that our restaurant is all about community,” Christiana said. “Locals with specialty products can contact us to see whether their items are a fit for our restaurant. My dream is to have a restaurant that the community can be involved in.” Café D’Amore’s hopes to open between the end of July and mid-August.

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MALIBU IN SIGHT

Organic & Unique Eyewear

MALIBU FAVORITE Dr. Gregory O’Connor opened the Malibu Eye Center in 1980 and has been catering to the community ever since.

FASHIONABLE AND FUNCTIONAL Malibu In Sight will offer a wide range of glasses including designer brands and organic children’s eyewear.

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Many owners of establishments opening at The Park credit Steve Soboroff for his curation of a repertoire of businesses that many in the community hope will merge to make Malibu more special.

One such company is Malibu In Sight.

“Dr. Gregory O’Connor started the Malibu Eye Center in 1980,” said Salvatore Sampino, Practice Manager at the Eye Center. “I joined in 2002, and renovated the practice in 2006, with an elegant and exotic mix of crystal, marble, granite and steel to highlight a unique, bespoke eyewear collection from all over the world. We cater to the eclectic, creative Malibu community. This is our hallmark and our flagship.”

The new location at The Park will be called Malibu In Sight, Sampino said, explaining that the product mix “will be complementary, with such organic lines as Stella McCartney, the contemporary Police and Spektre, the classic Randolph and trendy Saint Laurent, and the Balenciaga and Mykita artistic collaborations.”

Sampino noted that Malibu In Sight will carry organic children’s eyewear as well.

“Our company will have a more holistic, high-tech millennial vibe,” he said. “It will not so much be aimed at a millennial clientele, but will utilize a different approach to elevate the awareness and importance of eye care within this demographic.”

The spacious eye center will perform state-of-the art eye examinations and will fill prescriptions for eyewear and contact lenses. “Our turnaround time will be between two and five business days for most prescriptions,” Sampino said. “Malibu In Sight seeks to open its doors in December.”

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SHOPPING

THE REAL COCONUT

Tulum Meets Malibu

Already a popular favorite in Tulum, Mexico, The Real Coconut opens their first U.S. location at The Park. But The Real Coconut isn’t just a resstaurant; it’s a movement. “Conscious kitchens for you and our world,” is the theme summing up the restaurant’s culinary philosophy.

“Over the last four years, we have pioneered unique and delicious menus in Tulum, free from grain, gluten, dairy, corn, soy and refined sugar,” co-owner Charlie Stuart Gay said. “Good fats are vital for our health and we cook only with minimal amounts of avocado and coconut oils. We focus our recipes around easily digestible plants, particularly those that are globally abundant, have multiple uses and grow rapidly without the need for pesticides or intense irrigation.”

Gay and his wife Daniella Hunter are behind the vision for the restaurant and the company’s partner food line. “We love coconuts, but we also love yucca (Cassava), plantains and hemp, as well as anything green and leafy,” Gay said. “Our restaurant promotes plant-based choices as the basis of meals, and we offer options of sustainably sourced, pasture-reared or wildcaught animal proteins from local farmers and fisherman. We employ a nose-to-tail methodology wherever possible.”

After experiencing epicurean delights at The Real Coconut in Tulum, many customers have asked the couple to bring the restaurant to the U.S., Gay said, adding that he and Hunter “are delighted to start that process in Malibu.”

“Can we sustainably feed ourselves and our growing global population, while at

the same time working towards supporting and healing the planet?” asks Hunter, whose inspirational, admonitory aspirations for a more ethical and equitable world first spawned The Real Coconut.

“This is the question we ask ourselves daily as we influence and disrupt the food and beverage industries through the developments within The Real Coconut, and the query corresponds to the urgent direction for our planet as set out in the U.N. Intergovernmental 2019 Bio-diversity & Eco System report.” Stated another way, the couple is committed to ensuring that they source their products in a way that supports sustainable farms which employ ethical practices.

“We have the largest square footage space on our side of Whole Foods Plaza,” Gay said. “We’ll have a lovely casual restaurant and our large kitchen is designed to support both the restaurant and catering, and it will offer healthy options to Malibu residents.”

Now, for a sneak peak at the menu. Coconut ceviche in lime juice sounds intriguing, as do the plant bowls, wellness shots and beverages like probiotic kefir lemonade. Where else in Malibu can one get yucca and taro fries? The Real Coconut is the real deal and Malibuites are very excited for it to open.

FROM TULUM TO THE BU Daniella Hunter and Charlie Stuart Gay’s first restaurant location is on Tulum.

CLEAN PRODUCTS The Real Coconut also produces a host of healthy snacks.

FRESH & HEALTHY Dishes are plant-based, with sustainably-sourced proteins.

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BLUE BOTTLE

A Modern Approach to Coffee Finishing a tour of The Park, one will need to stop by the last lovely venue, which opened July 6. Riding the third wave of coffee, it is apropos that Blue Bottle, an upscale coffee shop, should have a Malibu presence.

“Blue Bottle’s Malibu café offers seasonally changing single origin coffees for espresso and drip coffee, as well as a rotating selection of blends,” said Rose Bridges, Local Marketing Manager. “Guests can enjoy liège waffles, avocado toast, overnight oats, and pastries baked daily and sandwiches from our seasonal culinary menu.”

As with the other venues, the ambiance intrigues. “The Malibu café evokes a traditional modern design that plays with various types of woods and cuts, referencing the history of lumber yards surrounding the area,” Bridges said. “The inside of the cafe boasts extra wide double doors that open up to the inviting patio, a space that creates a feeling of bringing the outdoors inside.”

Blue Bottle will also offer brewing classes, a staple of the Bay-Area-based brand.

Originally founded in Oakland 15 years ago, the company has expanded to include international locations, and counts a reputation for high-quality beans and an educational arm for curious coffee-drinkers.

Like the other vendors, Blue Bottle can’t wait to open in Malibu.

“Blue Bottle is so excited to be joining the city of Malibu,” Café Leader Matt Uramoto said. “Our café will be a gathering spot for the community and a great place to grab coffee before heading to the beach. We can’t wait to meet our new neighbors.”

GOURMET CUP Barista Morgan Temanson displays a signature Blue Bottle brew, cultivated from only the highest-quality beans.

INSIDE MEETS OUTSIDE Blue Bottle’s Malibu store features a bright and airy interior that leads to a lovely outdoor seating area.

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BA&SH

PARIS CHIC IN THE BU

CAREFREE FEMININITY Ba&sh is the dreamchild of two best friends, who endeavored to create a collection of their dream wardrobe for all occasions.

Effortless Parisian style meets laidback SoCal chic at Ba&sh, the newest opening at the Malibu Country Mart. Featuring an array of drool-worthy womenswear from beautifully-hued, flowy dresses to brightly-patterned tops and elegant pants and jumpsuits, Ba&sh’s Malibu store has quickly amassed a dedicated fan base since opening in mid-July.

This is the 7th U.S. store and second on the West Coast for the cult French brand, founded by best friends Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief 16 years ago in Paris. In less than two decades the brand has become a true global powerhouse, and now counts more than 200 retail locations around the world.

In addition to its wide range of inventory, The Malibu store also boasts an array of special experiences for customers, including a “Ba&sh Friends” pop-up bar, which will feature a different female-founded brand each month, starting with Fleur Marché, a CBD apothecary founded by two Goop alumnae. Another ridiculously exciting perk? The “Ba&sh Dream Closet”, a program running every Friday from 5-7 p.m., during which you can can “borrow” Ba&sh pieces for free, as MM long as you return them by a given date.

WEST COAST Ba&sh’s new Malibu store is the brand’s second on the West Coast and 7th in the U.S.

Ba&sh

23410 Civic Center Way Malibu, CA 90265 (424) 235-2339 www.ba-sh.com

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MALIBU

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SWEETEST HANGOVER Malibu’s Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes, co-owner of CANVAS.MALIBU, recently traveled to both Art Basel in Hong Kong and then in Switzerland to bring a snapshot of the global art market back to Malibu.

✎ written by Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes

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et- lagged and dragging from Basel Switzerland, safely sliding into my familiar West Coast home base, I feel exhausted but grateful to be relishing an ‘Art Hangover’, after attending both Art Basel Fairs, on opposite sides of the globe with my Hubby. Experiencing the World’s most important contemporary Art fairs back to back was the ultimate goal, the mission… to better service clients and our Gallery - CANVAS.MALIBU, with Fresh Art and a Global perspective. I knew that by witnessing Art Basel Hong Kong followed quickly by Art Basel in Basel I would have the opportunity to gain a snapshot of the current Global Art Market. It was time to take my show on the road, first stop Hong Kong then, Basel Switzerland.

Just a bit of backstory on the Art Basel Fairs - Established in 1970 I have to say Art Basel has proven to be the undisputed champion of Art Fairs, with annual fairs held in Miami, Hong Kong and Basel. Thousands of Artists and Galleries from around the Globe come primed and ready to deliver a stellar showing of their proven winners. I was in great anticipation of seeing the elite performers and their newest presentations of not only paintings but massive installations, including ‘Art-tech’ the fresh flavor virtual reality Art experience… which turned out be quite bizarre! Anything you may deem

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ART BASEL HONG KONG ‘Paradise of Eyes’, 2018 by Keiichi Tanaami.

ENCOUNTERS ‘Where Are We Going’, 2017-2018 by Chiharu Shioto.

Art, is there. Stretching across exhibition spaces the size of several football fields and with multiple floors, art shines under these bright lights in these massively curated spaces, vibrating with excitement color and texture. Though Art may in its purist form be altruistic in nature, there is a strange mix in these places, the Artist’s passion mixed with the ‘Art hustle’ of

this bustling marketplace. A marketplace where work is being introduced, art stars are being made and artwork is being sold en masse.

Hong Kong is the center of Asia’s international Art Scene and most suitably its Convention & Exhibition Center hosts Art Basel in the district of Wan Chai. At Art Basel Hong Kong the energy is palatable. It was an art fair, like I had never experienced. This was like a Rock Concert with long lines wrapped around the convention center for ticket holders to be ushered into a sold out four day event.

Hearing murmurs of desperation of how to get a ticket created urgency – weird for an Art fair, but patrons were wiling to line up at 5 am in hopes of purchasing a ticket.

This unique Art fair experience started to make sense. Hong Kong is comparable to NYC on steroids, with over seven million people on the island of alone. This city pioneered the contemporary Art Market in the region and is experiencing an innovative time, with the World’s best Galleries and Artist to match with buyers ready to consume. This fair was special. There was heightened excitement due to the fairs commitment to insure that half of its exhibitors were based in the Asian Pacific Region- historically, this is a region where Artist have been censored and even criminalized. The moment you step into the exhibition hall your eyes trace up to impressively large installations perfectly

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ART

curated and integrated among smaller installations and gallery spaces. Galleries present a diverse overview highlighting “Modern Day Masters’ such as Yoshitomo Nara, Qiu Zhijie and Henry Taylor and cutting-edge artist such as Shinro Ohtake and Yang Fudong. In this Fair there is a notable freshness that is tangible and visually impressive. My mind opened with opportunities to meet with and engage new artists and friends, see new works and engage in new conversations. A conversation starter was the large-scale sculptural Installations, ‘Encounters’ curated by Alexis Glass- Kantor, fittingly titled ‘Still We Rise. These gigantic installations set the stage for Artists to express their voice during this time of social, cultural and political change around the world. A highlight of the week was American artist ‘KAWS’s Hong Kong take-over, with an off-site exhibit titled ‘Along the Way’. This exhibit came with a giant inflatable sculpture “Companion” floating in Victoria Harbor. My husband was convinced that the giant inflatable sculpture was eluding him daily, but we became aware that it was pulled due to weather conditions! Nevertheless weather could not dampen Kaw’s weekend - ending with a record-shattering sale of The Kaws Album (2005) by Sotheby’s Hong Kong for 14.7 million dollars.

With 60 days between the two fairs, I was excited to make the journey to the city of Basel, which hosts The Mecca of art fairs, Basel ‘s Art lineage is the backdrop of the entire event. With roughly 200,000 residents, but boasting over 40 galleries and museums, art is not taken lightly in this town. The Gem of the city center is the oldest art museum in the World, The Kunst Museum - origins dating back to 1661. Viewing Basel’s hillsides it feels like stepping on to the canvas of a Monet masterpiece. Outside of the fair there are no lines and the energy is oddly calm in contrast to Hong Kong. I quickly noted the Patrons and Collectors most fashionably attired in the regalia of the ‘Basel Blue Blazer’ uniform (once only

navy, now in a myriad of blue hues). Stepping into Messe Basel, you simply look up into the breath taking view of the sky. This Architectural structure by famed Architect Jacques Hertzog is an art installation, housing over 290 premiere galleries from 34 countries attracting over 90,000 visitors. There is business happening – rather big business. Don’t blink you may miss something like the ca-ching of 20 million being rung up for Gerard Richter’s Versammlung (1996), followed by California’s own Mark Bradford (My top 10) garnering just shy of 8 million for his Rat Catcher of Hamelin II(2011).

Similarly at both Art Basel’s - Artists had much to do about BIG things in the World. At Basel Hong Kong the message rang loud and clear - ‘We are not China’ - claims of autonomy and independence were pervasive through out. In the Unlimited Section of Art Basel Switzerland a towering structure of red by Andrea Bowers ‘Open Secret’ told the stories of men and women accused of sexual misconduct, highlighting the #MeToo movement. Artist Hugo Mc Cloud took a turn from the abstract with his new figurative work ‘The Burdened Man Series’, a bold expression of the immense loads carried on the backs of laborers. You could not miss commentaries on Brexit, and textual warnings of the global environmental crisis. Art Basel artists used their work to continue a bold and needed discussion in our world today.

Mission Accomplished, I took my show on the road and after many miles (trains planes and automobiles) with the help of a great pair of common projects and more than enough espressos, I was pleased. I wanted to see the international art market at it highest levels through some of the strongest venues and I did. Friends and colleagues were made, my repertoire as an art curator and consultant was enhanced I feel refreshed and find the state of the art market exciting. Socially, culturally and creatively I was moved... but I am glad to be back in the Malibu as I nurse my sweet sweet Art Hangover!

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Meet Jac Forbes

For Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes, Art is major part of her life. As the co-owner of CANVAS . MALIBU – A Gallery of Art and Fashion in the Malibu Country Mart, Forbes has curated over 50 Artist exhibitions featuring local, national and international artists. She enjoys working closely in the development of future gallerist and emerging artists, sharing her eye, experience and

expertise. Forbes has travelled the world to view great works participating in various art markets. She recently expanded the Art component of her business by adding an Art Consultancy - Canvas Art Dept. Inc.- specializing in Art Curation, Acquisition and Project Management for both Private and Corporate Clientele. “Bringing people to art they love and supporting today’s artists is my joy”.

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THE I BULIEVE PROJECT

B.U. In the Arts In the latest installment of husband and wife duo, Jules Williams and Alison Pothier’s ongoing docu-series, I BUlieve we are introduced to Catherine Malcolm Brickman, former chair of the Malibu arts commission.

CATHERINE MALCOLM BRICKMAN Not only a concert flutist, Brickman is also a documentary filmmaker and photographer.

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ormer chair of the Malibu arts commission Catherine Malcolm Brickman, embodies the heart and soul of the true creative.

Catherine grew up in Vancouver and was surrounded by musicians and artists from the earliest of ages. In her own words…

“I BUlieve so deeply in the arts. Having grown up in a house filled with it, surrounded by family and friends who created it, patronized it, we consumed it like the sweet persimmons of fall that one has to wait for before eating or it makes you pucker. I am

awestruck by the birth of an original idea – that genuine expression from the artist. It’s not anything a machine can stamp out or a computer can copy. It’s something soulful and human. I suppose art is the celebration of that human spirit - whether that’s something beautiful and pleasing or deeply thought provoking. Without art, I lose my sense of place in the world.”

Featured in the short form docuseries ‘I BUlieve,’ Catherine shares her life’s influences and reflections giving an insight into what shaped her growing up and in her art. A highly accomplished concert flutist, Catherine went on to become a documen-

tary filmmaker and photographer while championing the arts and other artists. She expresses in the film how her heritage also shaped her.

“I BUlieve in justice and the power of Shigata Ga Nai which means “It Can’t Be Helped”. I learned those Japanese words from my grandparents and mother and family who were interned during the War. It is this part of my story, finding strength in the cellular memory of the resilience and courage of my elders that I learned to dig deeper. It is here that I BUlieve in the ability to go with the flow with grace and with strength. Not to acquiesce, but to rise

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I BUlieve Creators above in the face of adversity with the wisdom to bend. That is the underpinning of my strongest pillar and the core of my strength. I BUlieve in Gambari, an ability to persevere even when you think you can’t.”

This is one example of the powerful sentiments Catherine shares in her short film.

She is very much a champion of other people’s art which was witnessed locally when she so eloquently expressed her role in Concert on the Bluffs.

“I BUlieve in the inspiration of the next generation of artists and so I BUlieve in arts and education. I BUlieve that through the Arts, we are building a community of inclusiveness. I BUlieve in Concert on the Bluffs, a dream I had to create a concert hall without walls. A symphony by the sea with ballerinas leaping across the sunset and families on the lawn having picnics in the park.

I BUlieve we made that dream come to life because my co-founders and I BUlieve in each other. I BUlieve that the magic of collaboration and working for the good of the whole makes anything possible. Malibu responded by filling the park - neighbors next to neighbors without fences. An idea I conceived that came through me, suddenly became greater than me through the power of collaboration.”

Catherine, similarly to the other contributors in the I BUlieve series, has a strong connection with Malibu which she shares in her closing sentiments of the film.

“I BUlieve in Malibu and I BUlieve it helps define who we are, it’s not just a place to live it’s part of who we become. And from this world-famous landscape, with iconic beaches and surfing and art, our shores do sound loudly. I even see them loudly when I walk on Lechusa Beach it’s so sublimely beautiful, I can’t stop photographing it. She speaks to me daily and almost every day I walk it. And I BUlieve they don’t ask Why, but encourage us to get involved by saying, Why Not. To watch current episodes visit MM www.ibulieve.com

ALISON POTHIER

JULES WILLIAMS

Previously a Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director in investment banking, Alison has long worked in the business of Futures and Options. Only now, she works on helping others to redesign and refine their options for the future they dream to experience in this lifetime.

As Director of Inside Out Retreats, Alison provides coaching, retreats and consulting to professional and private clients wishing to transform their worlds “from the inside out”.

Through her many endeavors, Alison’s passion is to help others to write and rewrite the stories that shape their worlds.

Sharing her own story, Alison was featured in the documentary “ChoicePoint” alongside world leading thinkers and visionaries including Richard Branson, Nelson Mandela, Jack Canfield, Barbara Marx Hubbard and others.

Collaborating to inspire, Alison films, produces and edits “I BUlieve” alongside her beloved husband.

First conceived by him in 1992 under the name “I Believe”, Jules wanted to create a series about how our lives get framed by our experiences and the beliefs that are borne out of those experiences. From our aspirations to the significant events that impact us, Jules envisioned encapsulating the inspirational life philosophies that are derived from living it. Jules called this our “I Believe”, a statement of the beliefs that derive from our life story expressed through poetic prose.

Twenty-five years and two countries later, now readied by his own colorful life experience, Jules, together with his beloved wife Alison, launch “I BUlieve” adding one key ingredient to the mix: the desire to Be You (“BU”) in the world. Recognizing that our lives are not only a reflection of our beliefs, but also the acceptance and celebration of our authenticity, I BUlieve invites you to “B and Believe in U.”

Coach, Writer, Intuitive, Filmmaker, Dreamer

Writer, Director, Producer, Coach, Intuitive

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PHILANTHROPY

SUZAN HUGHES

HELPING THOSE IN NEED

With the Suzan Hughes Education Foundation (SHE), Malibu local Suzan Hughes is continuing her lifelong commitment to helping children in need.

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ith more than 25 years of philanthropic experience, Suzan Hughes has helped millions of children in over 60 countries. Now, the Malibu local is continuing her work with the SHE Foundation, which advocates for children and parents in need.

When and why did you found the Suzan Hughes Education Foundation?

I founded the SHE Foundation in 2017 as a continuation of my lifelong dedication to philanthropy. I started the Herbalife Family Foundation in 1994, which grew into a global success helping millions of children in over 60 countries.

Children’s rights advocacy has been an important part of your life and work for years.

Why is this cause so near to your heart?

Many people are unaware that I had a difficult childhood. The childhood traumas I experienced as an orphan and in foster care made me determined to create a better life for myself, all the while serving as the source of my compassion for others.

Finding strength in adversity and using

that power to create good things has been the key to my success.

Your ability to overcome insurmountable obstacles early in life is inspirational, what life lessons did you learn from that experience?

In times of adversity, we are reminded of the importance of being grateful. You understand how people feel when they go through what you’ve experienced. I also learned that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We’ve all gone through that point in our lives when we thought our world was going to end. It might have been a financial setback, loss of a loved one, or just everyday stress. Whatever it was, it made us feel distressed, weak, hopeless and on the verge of just giving up on life. But at the end of that setback, we were stronger, weren’t we?

In addition to your philanthropy, you have a career as an actress and producer, do you consider your work in the entertainment industry as a creative outlet?

Yes, absolutely. I am a firm believer that everyone should find at least one creative outlet. A creative outlet is a pre-requisite for innovation & thinking outside the box.

Behind every great brand, business or innovation was someone with a great imagination. By tapping into your creative juices, you’ll be surprised at how it can benefit your ability to innovate at work and think outside-of-the-box.

How are you able to do it all?

We all lead hectic lives and my busy schedule inspired me to create “Take 10 To A Better You,” my philosophy for leading a balanced and happy life. It only takes 10 minutes a day to improve your health, cheer you up, and maintain a steady weight. Numerous studies have been conducted that prove this theory. Readers can learn more at take10.life.

What is one of your favorite things to do during your 10 minutes?

Relax. Relaxation is a true luxury in life. For many busy people, relaxation and meditation is tough. When you’re used to your brain buzzing 24/7, it’s tough to turn off those thoughts, even for just 10 minutes.

However, many people find that creating something, whether a sound, painting or clay pot, is like an active meditation that’s MM incredibly mentally soothing.

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THE ULTIMATE MALIBU STAYCATION Whether its spending a weekend finding new shops and surf spots or dining at a beloved local restaurant, seek out these local treasures to help you rediscover the wonder of this beautiful city. ✎ written by Leila Anawalt

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ith summer in full swing, MALIBU MAGAZINE put together our list of suggestions for Malibu residents to enjoy the beautiful weather and rediscover our community in the process. All of these activities are great for any occasion such as a date, family time, or even alone time.

Whether you’re looking for a delicious meal, relaxation, or even just a day at the beach, Malibu has so much to offer, and summer is the season to truly enjoy it all.

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Spend a night at The Surfrider Hotel

The Surfrider Hotel’s rooftop patio is the ultimate destination for food and drink and presents the perfect excuse to book a room and enjoy the ultimate staycation, as it can only be accessed by guests. Everything from the menu to the decor to the music is curated with Malibu in mind and is beautifully done. The Surfrider Hotel’s rooftop restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients to create delicoius yet light dishes. The rooftop also proffers an unparalled

view of the the famous Surfrider beach and surfbreak. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the view any time of day as this breathtaking patio is meant to make you feel at home in your own beach house.

23033 PCH (310) 526-6158 www.thesurfridermalibu.com

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Enjoy Saddlerock’s Garden Dinners

Saddlerock offers dreamy dinners in their

Indulge in a treatment at Vernonica Skin & Body Care Center

At Veronica Skin & Body Care Center, you’ll find all things luxury skincare and wellness. Experts at their spa will carefully examine your skin type to provide the best services and advice for a perfect, radiant glow. This wellness center also offers massages, facials, makeup, waxing, and even an infrared sauna. Customers can also bring Veronica home with them by shopping her line of skincare products available at the spa, which includes moisturizers and exfoliators.

4955 PCH (310) 456-8883 veronicaskincare.com

MALIBU FARM RESTAURANT Enjoy a casual breakfast and great views at this

Malibu staple.

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garden where you can experience an unforgettable evening under the stars. Established chefs from the L.A. area are invited to create farm-to-table masterpieces for guests. Locally-produced wine is also paired with the meal to compliment each dish. Dishes are served family style, creating a communal yet sophisticated experience. You can’t help but feel the good energy radiate throughout the idyllic surroundings.

31727 Mulholland Hwy (818) 889-0008 saddlerockgardens.org

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Get and old-school dinner at the Old Place

At The Old Place restaurant, you will find an authentic, saloon-style ambiance and great food. This Western establishment has been family-run for generations, and their small scale adds to their authenticity. This means that their ingredients are always fresh, and the seating and special orders are first come first serve.

29983 Mulholland Hwy (818) 706-9001 oldplacecornell.com

OLD PLACE Charcuterie plate.

GARDEN DINNER Saddlerock Garden Dinner TAKE A WALK Tuna Canyon

chefs serve fresh meals in a beautiful ranch setting. Park offers magnificent views.

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Spend a day on the water with Malibu Coastal Adventures

For those who seek adventure, Malibu Coastal Adventures offers fun outdoor activities such as boat tours, surfing, paddleboarding, diving, fishing, and more.

For over 35 years, Captain Dave Ogle has been exploring the coastline, and is experienced in all the activities he offers. This is the perfect way to explore Malibu’s coast.

(310) 701-1996 malibucoastaladventures.com

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Go for a scenic hike at Tuna Canyon Trail

The Tuna Canyon Trail is an easy hike that welcomes all hikers, dogs (on leashes), and mountain bikers. Located in between Topanga and Malibu, this trail presents outstanding views of the ocean and surrounding mountains. Enjoy scenes of the Santa Monica Bay and the coast of Malibu as you walk through this local hidden gem.

Head there on a clear day to get optimanl, panoramic views. This trail is less populated therefore making it all the more peaceful, and a great escape from everyday life.

2802 Tuna Canyon Rd (323) 221-9944 mrca.ca.gov

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7 MALIBU HISTORY The Adamson

House boasts stunning interiors.

Take a stroll through Bluff’s Park

Malibu’s Bluff’s Park is a community park that overlooks The Pacific and The Santa Monica Bay and offers something for all visitors. The park contains recreational fields, picnic tables, and a playground, as well as serene trails with lovely views of the ocean and the rolling hills behind you.

Set aside some time to yourself and take a tranquil stroll in this part of the park.

These lesser-known trails offer views of the ocean as well as the rolling hills behind you. Because it is more hidden, it is all the more peaceful and relaxing.

24250 PCH (310) 317-1364 www.malibucity.org

CATCH A WAVE County Line’s surf break is suitable for all surfers.

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Tour Malibu’s beloved Adamson House

Visit a cornerstone of Malibu’s history at the Adamson House, home to the Adamsons, one of Malibu’s first families. Built in 1929, this National Historic Site museum offers an unparalleled look into old Malibu. The building was designed to the Adamson family’s liking, and today still contains original furnishings. The architectural design, as well as views of the Malibu Pier and Surfrider make it an enchanting site.

23200 PCH (310) 456-8432 adamsonhouse.org

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Check Out Malibu’s local art scene

Recently Malibu held its first art walk, comprising various local galleries. If you missed, don’t worry; summer is the perfect time to go on a tour of the galleries yourself. The Red Ladder Gallery in Cross Creek offers artwork from local artists such as Eamon Harrington. The Wall Street Gallery is located nearby, and offers thought-provoking, contemporary art by street and pop artists throughout L.A. Around the corner, Canvas displays beautifully-curated pieces along with contemporary clothing.

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Go surfing and enjoy the beach at County Line

COMMUNITY PARK Bluffs Park is the perfect place to spend time with friends and family and offers many activities, from hikes to picnics, and more.

County Line is located at the intersection of Malibu and Ventura, right across from Neptune’s Net. The beach break tends to be calmer, and therefore better for beginners. The beautifully-shaped point break wave is more suitable for experienced surfers. Bring your family to the beach, as there is room for relaxing on the sand.

Remember, always be aware of your surroundings, and be polite, courteous, and respectful to other surfers.

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$

Ralphs (310) 456 - 2917 23841 Malibu Rd Malibu, CA 90265

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Any Grocery Purchase With Coupon, Ralphs rewards Card & $50.00 Minimum Purchase

off

Limit One Coupon per Customer. Coupon Good thru September 18, 2019.

Purchase requirement must be met. Purchase is after all discounts are applied and excludes alcohol, tobacco products, money orders, postage stamps, gift cards/gift certificates, lottery, promotional tickets, fluid milk, milk products, CRV, tax and pharmacy purchases. Void if reproduced or transferred.

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PALISADES DENTISTS

A BETTER SMILE FOR A BETTER LIFE A beautiful smile is about more than aesthetics; it’s about overall body health.

We sat down with Doctors Max and Cerisa Moncayo, of The Palisades Dentists, to learn about the surprising and powerful ways a great smile can lead to a healthier life.

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s there more to a pretty smile than meets the eye? There’s a large conception that unless you’re filling a cavity, fixing a broken tooth, or addressing pain, dental treatment is elective. However there is an inextricable link between our oral cavity and overall health and wellness. The bacteria and disease found in our mouths are linked to the rest of our body. We sat down with doctors Cerisa and Max Moncayo, of The Palisades Dentists and Palisades Surgical Arts, to help us understand how some dental and surgery procedures can address both aesthetics and, more importantly, health.

Crooked Teeth or a Bad ‘Bite’ While crowded teeth and a bad bite may seem like a purely aesthetic concern, they can have harmful consequences. Even with diligent home care, teeth that lack proper spacing, contours or contacts between them accumulate biofilm and bacteria, which puts your teeth at higher risk for cavities and your gums at higher risk for periodontal disease. Additionally, a bite that is ‘off’ (when your jaw closes and teeth come in contact unevenly) causes excessive forces on select teeth, causing trauma to the teeth

themselves and stress on the surrounding ligaments and gums, compromising the lifespan of the affected teeth and gums.

Straighter teeth with good contours and contacts facilitate tooth cleansibility, reducing bacteria accumulation, food impaction, and trauma. Some ways to obtain and maintain better tooth position and bite are: orthodontics, fillings, veneers, retainers, and mouthguards.

Receding Gums A variety of factors can lead to gum recession—the condition where the root surfaces of the teeth become exposed, making your teeth look longer than they should. While not always associated with sensitivity, recession is important to treat because: 1) root surfaces are more prone to decay, 2) teeth can become loose because of the lack of support, and 3) root surfaces attach more bacteria than smooth enamel, worsening the already present gum disease.

In addition to addressing the underlying cause of the gum recession, a minimally-invasive treatment called the Pinhole® is a method of gum rejuvenation that treats and reverses the recession itself. Not only do your gums and teeth look better, your oral cavity is healthier. Research shows the link between periodontal disease and a slew

of other systemic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s, among others. While association does not mean direct causation, why not minimize the risk of disease in general if it’s within your control?

Missing Teeth Our teeth are not just for smiling. They aid in chewing, speaking, establishing your bite, and retaining the bone levels in your jaw. When you have missing teeth, either from genetics or they were pulled due to disease, one or more of those are affected.

Dental implants are the standard to replace missing teeth, and if the patient is a good candidate, implants are biocompatible, FDA-approved, and safe. Drs. Moncayo offer these treatments in their state-of-theart practices in Pacific Palisades, CA. They utilize the latest technology to custom-tailor treatment for each individual patient with a conservative, minimally invasive approach.

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The Palisades Dentists 881 Alma Real Dr., Suite T2, Pacific Palisades (310) 459-2303 thepalidentists.com

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WOW FACTOR Jac Arlington says that she was immediately ‘mesmerized’

by Lacey’s photograhy.

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THE PENINSULA

FASHION MEETS ART For the ultimate day of relaxation and wellness, head to the Peninsula Beverly Hills’ luxury spa, which recently underwent its own makeover, adding more treatments and services than ever before. ✎ written by Lauren Holliday

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ne of the top 10 spas in the world is just 30 miles away from Malibu. Recently, the Peninsula Spa in Beverly Hills got its very own makeover and has reopened its doors to those seeking rejuvenation with a host of all-new luxurious spa treatments. A new area of treatments combines technology with facials to create Medical Beauty Research, or MBR. These anti-aging facials treat the skin on the cellular level, using patented technology to restore the skin’s elasticity by promoting collagen production. The MBR Age Defying Customized Facial, one of the Peninsula’s two new options, revives the skin in three steps: Infuse, Prep, and Seal. Subtle Energies, a treatment unique to the Peninsula, includes a facial that implements 24K gold,

which heals the deepest layers of the skin, targeting fine lines and wrinkles, and refreshes the spirit. Subtle Energies focuses on healing the whole body, both physically and mentally. For spa-goers looking for a more traditional experience, there are a plethora of massage and manicure options to choose from. Customize your own massage with your choice of deep tissue, Swedish, sports, or a combination of all three, for a massage that perfectly caters to your unique needs. The Perfectly Peninsula is a massage and pedicure in one, using scrubs and soaks to hydrate tired feet, followed by a massage to lock in moisture.

The Peninsula Spa also offers hair and make-up styling in their new studio for those heading to a special occasion. There

are several blow-outs to choose from, including styles named Runway and Lustrous.

If you’re heading to the spa with friends or your significant other, the Peninsula offers numerous group treatments.

Couples can get their own Duet Harmony Massage, or if you want the full Peninsula experience you can indulge in the Couples Spa Package. For larger groups, the Spa Soiree can accommodate groups of six or more looking to get treatments MM together.

The Peninsula Beverly Hills 9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills (310) 551-2888 www.peninsula.com

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TOP 8

MALIBU MAGAZINE’S SUMMER BEAUTY EDIT Whether it’s a luxe new sunscreen or a serum that gives that you that fresh-off-the-beach glow, summer’s the perfect time to refresh your beauty routine.

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IS CLINICAL ECLIPSE SPF 50+ DERMSTORE.COM, $44

Meet your new favorite everyday sunscreen. Impossibly lightweight and sheer, iS Clinical’s Eclipse SPF 50+ looks beautiful under makeup while shielding skin from harmful UV filters for hours. An added bonus? It’s water resistant.

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BU SPF 30 SUNSCREEN BUSCREEN.COM, $20

This hometown brand was created right here in Malibu, and offers a great spray sunscreen that’s environmentally and ethically manufactured.

3 MAY LINDSTROM SKIN PROBLEM SOLVER MAYLINDSTROM.COM, $100

This is the Rolls-Royce of face masks, produced with a powerful blend of top-of-the-line ingredients that instantly soothes breakouts.

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COOLA MINERAL BODY SUNSCREEN SPRAY COOLA.COM, $42

Specially formulated for even the most sensitive skin, COOLA’s mineral sunscreen spray goes on sheer and matte with a delightful coconut scent all while providing fantastic sun protection.

WILDLING EMPRESS COLLECTION WILDING.COM, $129

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This luxe kit from new brand Wildling includes a brightening tonic, plumping oil and signature Empress Stone to sculpt and lift the face.

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THE RANCH BEE’S MILK FACIAL SCRUB VIOLETGREY.COM, $62

If you can’t make it to Malibu’s beautiful wellness retreat The Ranch, this lovely, skin-refining scrub offers the next best thing.

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VINTNER’S DAUGHTER BOTANICAL SERUM VINTNERSDAUGHTER.COM, $185

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This spectacular serum corrects nearly every skin malady you can think of, from fine lines to breakouts, all while leaving skin impossibly nourished and dewey.

VIVE SANA SERUM CREMA VIVESANE.COM, $75

This antioxidant-packed face serum is lightweight and perfect for summer, with an impressive broad spectrum SPF 20 sunscreen built in.

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HAIR/MAKEUP BY WENDY DOYLE GLASS SILVER JEWELRY

BY DONNA OF BETTY BELTS

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CANNABIS SPECIAL

99 HIGH TIDE

PHOENIX RISING When the Woolsey fire hit Malibu, actress, activist and CEO of Malibu’s beloved cannabis dispensary 99 High Tide Yvonne DeLaRosa Green and her family were among hundreds of residents in the community to lose everything. However in the months since, DeLaRosa Green has utilized her loss to manifest. ✎ written by Sami Jen Straiton  photography via Emily Scher

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t’s 1:30 p.m. on November 9, 2019. In a few minutes, Yvonne DeLaRosa Green’s home will be swept up by the largest wildfire in Malibu’s recorded history.

She, her daughter Summer Rain, and her husband Sam Boyer will barely escape with their lives. But after a disaster of such magnitude, what rises from the ashes are not only stories of survivors, heroes and loss, but of new hope.

“Losing it all has a way of awakening you to a new perspective and renewed purpose,” says DeLaRosa Green.

“We grew up in Malibu and have been through many fires,” DeLaRosa Green recalled. “However this one was different.”

That morning, the power had been out throughout Malibu since dawn. The last DeLaRosa Green and Boyer had heard was that the fire had descended on Oak Park.

“We never imagined it could cross the freeway, let alone Pacific Coast Highway,”

says Boyer. However soon a black and red cloud was rising hundreds of feet over their Malibu home, like something out of a disaster movie. With flames and smoke surrounding them, DeLaRosa Green, Sam, Summer Rain and their fur babies jumped into the car, racing down their long driveway only to realize that their electric gate wouldn’t open due to the power outage.

“That was a definite moment of terror,” says DeLaRosa Green. Suddenly a few of their neighbors appeared with bolt cutters, and were able to pull the gate open.

“Thank God for friends and good neighbors,” said DeLaRosa Green.

DeLaRosa Green and her family frantically weaved their way down the frightening canyons that were being consumed in smoke and ashes with only minutes to spare.

“Seeing the ocean through the smoke was one of the most beautiful sights of my life,” she said. “We were alive and safe.”

Without a doubt, the Woolsey fire will be a topic of conversation for generations to come. Along with legendary movie stars, surf culture and one of the most beautiful coastlines in California, Malibu has also always been known for its fires and floods. In the wake of Woolsey, many have asked why so many people are attracted to this wild and dangerous landscape. For DeLaRosa Green and Boyer, the answer is clear.

“It’s our home,” they say.

Raised in Malibu, DeLaRosa Green followed a dream to open Malibu’s first dispensary in her hometown. That dream is The 99 High Tide- Malibu which is often cited as one of the best cannabis retailers in the world. As the co-founder and CEO of Malibu’s premier cannabis dispensary and as a Hispanic and Native American woman, it is certainly a historic win for DeLaRosa Green who along with her husband and co-founder Sam Boyer fought the good fight to make sure that Malibu had legal

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“SEEING THE OCEAN THROUGH THE SMOKE WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHTS OF MY LIFE.”

MALIBU MAGIC

A staple in Malibu, 99 High Tide’s beautiful space on PCH is decorated to be reminiscent of a mermaid cove, with ocean treasures and welcoming consultants lovingly referred to as the “Malibu Mermaids”.

access to cannabis. “It was one of the most challenging and emotional battles of my life,” DeLaRosa Green said. “There were so many hoops of fire to jump through.

So many obstacles to making this dream come true. It was truly a blood, sweat and tears experience and years of hard work to win our license and open our doors. In the end, good always triumphs and we feel very blessed to share 99 High Tide- Malibu with our community.”

This is indeed a cultural and truly historic chapter to add to Malibu’s history of pioneers and mavericks. Perfectly situated on Carbon Beach’s billionaire block, 99 High Tide is welcoming and affordable to all. 99 High Tide’s beautiful interior spaces and knowledgable staff have made the dispensary an enormously popular staple of the Malibu community.

As the first and only all-vegan cannabis retailer, 99 High Tide Malibu is a true oasis.

Upon entering you are immersed in a hidden paradise, where anyone 21 and over is able to shop in a private and peaceful sanctuary. The shop gently envelopes you in a sense of spa-like calm, and delicious aromas of sage, palo santo, and herbs. The tranquil and inspiring decor is reminiscent of a mermaid cove, with ocean treasures and welcoming consultants lovingly referred to as the “Malibu Mermaids”. 99 High Tide’s website has a list of their most frequently asked questions. One of them

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FAMILY DeLaRosa Green with her husband Sam Boyer and daughter Summer Rain on Westward Beach in Malibu.

is: “Are you all real mermaids?” The answer? “Yes.” This female-run dispensary is truly a one of a kind cannabis shopping experience.

“We created 99 High Tide as a home for everyone to feel and be their highest self,” DeLaRosa Green said.

Considered one of the most recognized and respected women in cannabis, with awards ranging from High Times’ Top 100 Most Influential Person in Cannabis and Business Woman of The Year, DeLarosa Green seems to float in an ethereal way.

With an air and flair all her own, Malibu’s lovely High Priestess’ voice is calm yet full of confidence, passion and knowledge.

DeLaRosa Green is a gorgeous vision with long flowing hair, and stands out like a beacon of light. During a recent tour of 99 High Tide, she exchanged hugs with most customers, who seemed to know her. She’s a modern day flower child and artist, who’s friends and colleagues refer to as the “unofficial mayor of Malibu.”

However DeLaRosa Green was born far from Malibu in Los Angeles, under the glow of the Hollywood sign to a Colombian mother and a Native American father.

Growing up in the city, DeLaRosa Green would dream of living in a place by the ocean, with beautiful mountains, where she could raise animals and feel free from the pressures of Los Angeles. She discovered this place was a reality when her mother bravely moved her and her sister to Malibu as kids, to have a new experience other than Los Angeles city life.

After graduating at the top of her class from Hollywood High’s Performing Arts Magnet, DeLaRosa Green began studying directing and screenwriting at UCLA’s prestigious Film and Television Program, Where she earned her BA in film and her Masters in Screenwriting.

“I wanted to be so many things as a kid, but I couldn’t choose which,” DeLaRosa Green said. “Acting was perfect because I could get to be so many people and pro-

fessions.” After landing the lead role on a comedy pilot for the Fox network, (not bad for her first audition), DeLaRosa has since starred on myriad series and films (yes, including Weeds). She has starred opposite some of the top actors in the industry, and has won many accolades and awards for her acting. Unfortunately, aside from a few great roles, the parts she was being offered did not represent the diverse kaleidoscope of characters she had dreamt of portraying as a child.

“The majority of roles I was being offered were stereotypical Latina roles,” she said.

DeLaRosa Green was disheartened to say the least. Rising from adversity as a young girl in Hollywood born to a single mom, DeLaRosa Green created a life of magical adventures and movie-worthy experiences where she would always find herself on the forefront of popular cultural movements.

Her life has been full of adventures, from meeting and following the Grateful Dead as a teen, becoming the literal Wood-

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DeLaRosa Green quickly found a signed stock anniversary poster child when she bis history books, DeLaRosa Green is now first edition copy of the book: The Emperor was singled out amongst the half million credited with creating the first upscale attendees, as an early pioneer at Burning Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer, essentially cannabis dispensary in the world back in Man where she got married and painted the cannabis and hemp bible. DeLaRosa 2008, a location that served not just as a and built pirate ships, and as an activist on Green had met the legendary Herer when store but as a visionary art gallery, catering, the frontlines for animal rights and cannashe began her involvement in efforts to deas she says, to “all things higher consciousbis. At the same time, she was also working criminalize cannabis as a tenn, including ness.” hard on her acting and film craft at UCLA marching for hemp at the federal building As the descendant of a long line of Cuwhile serendipitously being invited to DC in Westwood, where her fateful meeting randeras (natural healers), DeLaRosa to have dinner with President Obama. with Herer would set her on a path of acGreen felt her family legacy was manifestPhew. A very colorful life indeed. tivism. ing itself through cannabis.

“But where were those roles for Hispanic Now, DeLaRosa Green found her passion “My grandmother was always healing or Native women?” DeLaRosa Green said. for cannabis renewed, as she searched for a us with herbs and natural cures when we “Those roles were not bewere kids and I had foring written for women of gotten of our lineage,” she color even though it was said. But first she had to my true reality.” convince her mom, who So she set out to write had never even had a sip of roles for herself and others alcohol, let alone consumed that broke the stereotypes cannabis, to see if a cannabis treatment might work she so often encountered. for her.

“They say write what you “I said, ‘Mom, what would know, and what I knew Abuelita do?’” she said. “My from my life was a whole mother was very hesitant lot more wild and fascinating than what I was beabout it but after some ing offered to portray,” she thought she did the bravest said. “As were the lives of and most frightening thing so many other Latinos and I have ever seen: my mom native people I knew. I had forewent all traditional to write about them, about treatments. No chemo, no us.” radiation, no drugs.”

DeLaRosa Green quickly “The oncologist was fuTHREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN DeLaRosa with her mothfound success as a writer, rious but not because she er Marina and her daughter, Summer Rain. Marina’s cancer diagselling several scripts and was worried for my mothnosis originally led DeLaRosa to become interested in cannabis. optioning many others. er’s health, but because it However just as her writappeared she had lost a big ing career was beginning sale,” DeLaRosa continued. to take off, she was given the worst news of “But that is a whole other topic. She never her life; her mother had breast cancer. even called to ask how my mother was dorespectable dispensary to take her mother “I was more scared than I have ever ing ever again. Had she called she would to aid in her cancer treatment, but found been,” DeLaRosa Green said. “My mom, my have known that, 12 years later, with canto her surprise that she could not find one. everything, had just been given a possible nabis as her only treatment, my mother is a The ones she did find were frightening and death sentence.” world traveler and yes: cancer free.” unwelcoming.

DeLaRosa Green spent months researchThis all led to DeLaRosa Green establish“I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a beauing alternative therapies and treatments tiful dispensary you could go to, take your ing her first cannabis dispensary, the now for breast cancer. Her research repeatedly mother to, somewhere you could feel safe legendary 99 High Art, in 2008, partnering kept bringing up a familiar word: cannabis. and be treated with respect and helped with her husband Sam Boyer, a surfer and “Cannabis! Of course, I thought,” she with knowledgeable consultants.” award-winning filmmaker, to open her said. “I instantly remembered a book I had So DeLaRosa Green set out to create dream dispensary and world’s first hybrid read long ago about cannabis curing cana sanctuary for all seeking a way to heal dispensary by way of a visionary art gallery cer.” themselves naturally. Adding to the cannain a beautiful space on Abbot Kinney in

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THE MERMAIDS 99 High Tide has gained a repuation for its extremely knowledgable and friendly staff, pictured here.

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MALIBU LOCAL DeLaRosa grew up in Malibu, and now lives here with her family.

Venice Beach. Unbeknownst to them, they would soon be known for launching one of the first original lifestyle cannabis brands.

“It was a high-end dispensary and community space where the cannabis literati, artists, celebrities, healers, musicians and authors would convene on all things art, plant medicine and healing,” said Boyer.

During those 99 High Art years in Venice Beach, DeLaRosa Green was among an early wave of entertainment industry figures to stand up for cannabis during a time when it was still illegal recreationally and taboo in many circles. Putting her rising acting career at risk, DeLaRosa Green stood up for what she believed in and in doing so both helped to legitimize and raise the image of cannabis. “It took so much courage, determination and a warrior’s spirit,”said Boyer. “That is Yvonne. She is always the first to stand up for what she believes in, especially if it help others.”

Her mother Marina’s miraculous healing is one of hundreds that DeLaRosa Green has personally helped manifest with the use of cannabis and a dose of higher consciousness practices.

“Healing takes place not only on a physical level but it begins on a spiritual path,” she said. “When we awaken to our higher calling and see our lives as interconnected with mother earth, the road to healing is open to us to travel upon. Life is a precious gift and when we honor our mother earth and her sacred plant medicine, we step behind the veil of pharmaceuticals and propaganda, and discover that in most cases, we all hold the secret to healing ourselves naturally.”

DeLaRosa Green and Boyer brought that healing to their own home town, with a nod to the cannabis industry’s official holiday, on April 20, 2015 at 4:20 p.m. 99 High Tide- Malibu opened their doors in a beau-

tiful space just off PCH with comedian and activist Tommy Chong as their first patient and former mayor Skylar Peak cutting their green grand opening ribbon. Since then, DeLaRosa Green and Boyer’s recognition and respect in the cannabis industry has continued to rise higher and higher.

In the years since it opened, DeLaRosa Green and Boyer has been showered with praise and humbled by the immense and loving embrace of 99 High Tide by her hometown community.

“Cannabis has always been a part of our lives and culture here in Malibu,” DeLaRosa Green said. “When dispensaries were finally being allowed, we were determined to make sure that Malibu had one of the best, and one that clearly represented what Malibu meant to us.”

“It was about healing, about the ocean, about nature and magic and it was always about high vibes,” Boyer added. “When

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people come up to us on a daily basis and hug us and start crying because cannabis saved their mother or father’s life, it’s a pretty clear indication that we are on the right path.”

That path now includes expanding her brand of upscale dispensaries to multiple locations, as well as launching their organic and Vegan cannabis product line. And in addition to her work in cannabis, as well as entertainment and activism, DeLaRosa Green last year also added politician to her resume. Along with Boyer, she co-wrote Malibu’s Measure G, an initiative which would legalize adult use cannabis and delivery in Malibu and made it onto the 2018 ballot. On November 6, just two days before the fire, Measure G won by a landslide.

“I never really ever considered getting involved in politics, but I recall envisioning it many times, and dreaming of making important changes in the world,” DeLaRosa Green said. “Now I realize that we must all be very involved as a civilization in how laws are created, how they affect us and our society and what we must do to make a positive difference for everyone.”

Despite having lost nearly everything, except the clothes they were wearing in the Woolsey Fire, DeLaRosa Green and Boyer immediately stepped in to help in the recovery effort by donating free cannabis to not only fire victims but to anyone who needed it.

“If ever there was a time for cannabis in Malibu, it was after the fires,” said DeLaRosa Green. “People were not only sad and afraid, but they were also in pain.” Cannabis has recently been heralded as an incredible healing tool for PTSD. “We all have some level of PTSD from the fires,” said Boyer. “With all the shutdowns on the highway and canyons it made it so challenging to help our city. But with the support of many in our community we were able to get medicine to those who really needed it. So many of our favorite brands came to the rescue like Dosist, Cannacraft, Select, Island, Kush Queen, Sana Sana, Care by Design, Absolute extracts, Satori, Cookies, Loud and Clear and many more.

This industry truly cares. And of course, there were family and friends and kind

strangers who helped us personally. We felt so loved by so many.”

“I think the fire brought many of us closer together than ever before,” added DeLaRosa Green. “We all share this bond now, forever.”

The pain of the loss from the fires is slowly fading for many, but for DeLaRosa Green, the fire has also brought many gifts.

“The loss we all share as a community is very real, but as the months go by, I am seeing the fire as a teacher,” she said. “It has taught me to focus on what truly matters and for me that is my family, friends and mother earth.”

Luckily, DeLaRosa Green was able to grab a few small possessions as she, Boyer, their two-year old daughter Summer Rain and their three dogs and little kitten they had just rescued, escaped the flames.

“One of the few mementoes I was able to grab was one of my awards for best actress and my High Times magazine award for most influential person in cannabis,” she said. “There it was, in my two hands; my life’s work.”

The rest of DeLaRosa Green’s and Boyer’s life’s work became ashes. But like the Phoenix rising out of those ashes, DeLaRosa Green is taking tragedy and manifesting her latest calling to form a team of incredible women and produce a very timely film.

“It’s a film about one of the most beloved and legendary Native American women in history and it’s a story that has never been told and whose time has come,” DeLaRosa Green said. “Her story will remind us all of the power and courage that women have and how we still hold the secret to the earth’s salvation. It’s time that women and men who support female films come together and put their time, talents and financing towards films that will serve to inspire this new generation of women that will soon take over this world.”

Undoubtedly DeLaRosa Green’s passion and courage are fueled by her 2 year old “mini me” and CBO (chief baby officer), Summer Rain.

“Having a baby puts many things in perspective, but having a baby girl inspires you to create an even better world where they can take their rightful place as the God-

desses that they are,” she said. “Film is one of the most powerful influencers and tools to accomplish this en masse. Whether it is as an actress, a writer or activist, I want to leave a legacy for my daughter and other girls. That they can be, do, dream and accomplish whatever it is they want in life.”

Given her life’s intense ordeals and subsequent triumphs, it seems certain that DeLaRosa Green will make these new beginnings come true and the roles of her life continue to evolve and change much like the dream she had as a child to be many different things. Her manifestations have thus far led her to become a respected actress, filmmaker and a cannabis icon and most importantly to her, a mom. And as if being the CEO of her company and growing her brand were not enough, her future manifestations include not only producing meaningful films but also creating a higher consciousness festival (appropriately named: Phoenix Rising), traveling the world with her family, saving the earth and continuing to help heal those in need with, yes, cannabis.

“We are living in troubled times where we must remember to help each other and love each other and contribute to protecting our earth,” she said. “I truly believe that when you do something based out of love, you can never be wrong. I am happiest when I am doing things that helps others. Helping people heal naturally is based in love. I know in my heart that cannabis will be legal worldwide in my lifetime.

Cannabis saves lives, heals, and expands consciousness. It has been written about in many bibles, and is theorized to be the holy oil itself. We are in an incredible era of re-discovering what our ancestors knew long ago; that plant medicines are not only physically healing, they are indeed a portal to being your higher self.”

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99 High Tide 22775 Pacific Coast Highway @99hightide www.99hightide.com (310) 456-9930

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CBD Described as a sort of “miracle cure” by some, CBD has received a lot of attention in recent years for its natural medicinal benefits.

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HEALTH BENEFITS OF CBD

MIRACLE CURE? Since Cannabis has been legalized in Malibu, more and more people are exploring its many uses. MALIBU MAGAZINE takes a look at the potential benefits as well as side effects of CBD. ✎ written by Brenna Spalding

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s communities across California are rapidly becoming more and more cannabis friendly, the market for cannabidiol (CBD) products is expanding just as quickly. Cannabis dispensaries and spas, as well as residents in communities like Malibu are catching on to this less traditional form of medicine and using their voice to promote wellness.

Yvonne DeLaRosa Green and Sam Boyer, Malibu natives and co-owners of 99 High Tide, a cannabis retail shop located in Malibu, believe in the many healing benefits of CBD. They promote the use of topical oils, creams, and lotions to help people with chronic pain and inflammation, among other things (read more about Yvonne and Sam on page 116).

“People are consistently realizing how beneficial [CBD] is for lots of things, [including] topical pain relief,” said Green.

In recent years, cannabis has become more accepted among the Malibu community. Following the general election

in November 2018, recreational cannabis and CBD products became accessible for recreational purchase at cannabis retail shops in Malibu for the first time through Measure G. Since passing by a

ENDLESS OPTIONS From creams, to oils and flowers there’s many options.

landslide with 3,616 votes yes and 1,543 votes no, Malibuites can now access cannabis products, including full spectrum CBD products, at local dispensaries. Two prominent activists behind Measure G, in fact, were Green and Boyer themselves.

“We fought for that right because there were so many people that did not have access,” Green said. Through this law, anyone over the age of 21 can legally purchase cannabis products, like CBD. Measure G also helps serve the elderly and the disabled because it allows for delivery of such products. “We were able to get delivery legalized in Malibu which is critical for senior citizens and the disabled,” Green said.

Measure G not only legalized access to CBD for Malibu residents, but pushed the social boundaries of acceptance of such products, according to Green.

“Having won by a landslide, we have actual numerical proof that Malibu is close to one hundred percent behind cannabis in our community,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”

The endless array of CBD oils, creams, and lotions available for purchase can be overwhelming to say the least. In order to understand their benefits and uses, one first must understand what CBD is and how it works. The human endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an intricate receptor system mapped out throughout the entire

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APPETITE SUPPRESSANT

human body. This system is responsible for everything from regulating our mood and sleep cycles to influencing pain, stress, and inflammation in our bodies.

In order to function properly, the ECS needs activators, called cannabinoids.

Some of these are produced naturally by our own bodies, known as endocannabinoids. Others, known as phytocannabinoids, come from plants such as ginger, echinacea, magnolia, clove, and cannabis. The cannabis plant contains CBD, a phytocannabinoid that interacts directly with the human endocannabinoid system. Once CBD is bound to human receptor sites, a cascade of neurotransmitters are released that communicate with cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body. Because of this reaction and its

“With any product that has been found to have so many amazing benefits, you get a lot of snake oil out there. ”

benefits, CBD is becoming widely used across communities and in Malibu to maintain homeostasis and overall health.

CBD has been regularly used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain. “What many people may know already is that it helps with seizures,it helps children with epilepsy,” Green said. He explained that her godchild struggled with epilepsy until trying CBD. “He used to have [many] seizures a day before cannabis, then that went down to just a few. Some children are fortunate enough to have seizures go away completely. If that isn’t a reason to stand behind cannabis, I don’t know what is.”

In fact, the FDA recognized this and allowed for medicinal CBD to be exclusively

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accessible for cases of epilepsy by approving the medication, “Epidiolex” - the only CBD medicine that exists on the market today - in 2018. Not only has this medication been proven to significantly improve conditions of childhood epilepsy, but it was noted in the Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research under the US National Library of Medicine - an institution run under the United States Federal Government - that, “In comparison with other drugs used for the treatment of these medical conditions, CBD has a better side effect profile.”

Although proven to be quite helpful in healing an array of illnesses and ailments, CBD products don’t come without risk of side effects. Some minor side effects of CBD oil include: tiredness, drowsiness, diarrhea, changes in appetite, changes in weight, dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Although the effects of CBD have yet to be studied thoroughly, these side effects, as well as some safety hazards, have presented themselves to experts in recent years.

Cannabis therapy consultant and holistic health practitioner Dr. Pepper Hernandez noted that CBD, in its pure form, is generally thought to be very safe. However, some studies have found that CBD can interact dangerously with some prescription drugs. These findings are thought to exist due to byproduct of CBD isolates, according to Hernandez. She said, “I have yet to hear any side effects,” Dr. Hernandez said. “I think any side effects are coming from these byproducts of CBD. I don’t think they’re coming from a true source. I’ve never heard of anything from the natural plant itself.”

Nonetheless, in a study conducted by the University of Alabama CBD program in 2017, Epidiolex caused levels of antiepileptic drugs to be higher in the patients’ blood when taken in combination with CBD. Apart from studies involving Epidiolex, there has been no research regarding the effects of CBD when used in combination with other prescription drugs, but experts cannot guarantee that CBD does not affect the levels of other prescription drugs when used.To Hernandez, these

“Even CVS is selling CBD products, but there’s nobody there really that’s knowledgeable.”

studies do not reflect her experience.

She noted that even given this research, there is rarely a guarantee of the purity and type of the CBD being used, making it difficult to trust. Hernandez said, “All these tests, they’re not doing it strain-specific.” She continued, “I think there needs to be a lot more research done and I think that… as fine-tuned as they supposedly are with the synthetics in all the testing they’re doing with the purity and clarity of that, they have to make sure that they’re doing that with cannabis too because you don’t know what they’re using.”

As for the rest of its uses, the market for CBD products is purely supplemental - rather than medicinal - due to lack of FDA approval. Since CBD can usually only be sold as a supplement, which do not need to be approved by the FDA, there’s not much of a quality guarantee for consumers. In order to maximize its effectiveness, Green recommended con-

sumers purchase “whole plant CBD.” She said, “You want to make sure that you get whole plant CBD product…for us, being so close to all of the research and all of the benefits of whole plant cannabis, we always recommend whole plant CBD. It’s important to start with that because that is, from what we’ve seen, far more beneficial.” This kind of CBD is easily found at a licensed cannabis retailer, which - in some ways - acts as a benefit to consumers.

“It’s important that people are careful of where and who they’re getting their CBD products from,” Green said. “With any product that has been found to have so many amazing and profound healing benefits, you get a lot of snake oil out there.”

Dr. Hernandez took it a step further to say that consumers should only be using “full spectrum” CBD. The term “full spectrum” encompasses CBD that is sourced exclusively from a whole flowering cannabis plant. “That’s like the jewel of CBD,” she said. That’s what you should be having in your body.” As for low quality, hemp-derived CBD - commonly found at convenience stores - Hernandez recommended that consumers avoid it at all costs. She explained that the CBD that is frequently found at convenience stores is an isolate from a hemp plant - not cannabis - meaning that the CBD compound has been synthetically removed from its plant form.

“Which we know now, any type of manipulation to a plant source or a food source is GMO, genetically modified organisms, and that’s what’s happening with the CBD,” Fernandez said. “People haven’t really said that... but that’s what’s happening.”

Not only that, but the CBD found in hemp is significantly less effective when compared to CBD from cannabis, due to lack of its counterpart, THC. In small amounts, THC can boost the effectiveness of CBD in the body, while the product remains non-psychoactive.

According to a study conducted by Marcel Bonn-Miller of Penn Medicine, a majority of cannabidiol products were found to be mislabeled, meaning they either contained less or more than the indicated amount of CBD. Of the 80 different CBD

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side-effects side-effects

FATIGUE FATIGUE

common commonadverse adverse side sideeffects effects

Less Lesscommon common side sideeffects effects

• •Tiredness/drowsiness Tiredness/drowsiness • •Diarrhea Diarrhea • •Deduced appetite Deduced appetite • •Changes in weight Changes in weight

• •DryDry mouth mouth • •Low blood pressure Low blood pressure • •Lightheadedness Lightheadedness • •Fatigue Fatigue

or an isolate?’ At least ask that question.”

As for effectiveness in general use of CBD, Hernandez emphasized the importance of choosing a cannabis strain. Different strains of cannabis react more effectively with the associated body systems.

She explained, “Truly, if you’re using CBD as medicine, what you’d want to do is dial it in and see what strain of cannabis has the highest amount of CBD in it for your particular body system.” For someone who is looking at CBD for anxiety, she explained that if they are not looking for the right delivery method, the right dosage, or the right plant strain - and it being organic - they are not going to get a benefit from it. “So if someone takes it and says ‘That didn’t work for me.’ Well, no wonder it didn’t work for you, it’s a little bit of [hemp] powder in a glycerin from wherever the heck, of course it didn’t work for you.” She continued, “The real plant will have huge benefits.”

In Malibu, the benefits of CBD are being

seen just about everywhere. Even spas in Malibu have adopted CBD into their relaxation and healing practices. Nalu Malibu, a spa dedicated to alternative and holistic health services is California’s first CBD centric healing center. To Nalu Malibu, CBD as a spa element is regarded as “Truly one of the most remarkable compounds in the natural world with healing powers that are unfolding each day.”

Through the major successes of Cannabis acceptance in Malibu, Green emphasizes the value of such a movement. “We’ve seen a shift in the past twelve years since we’ve been in this industry just grow and grow and grow,” She explained. “Even from people who were on the fence becoming activists for CBD, they’ve seen how it’s helped themselves and their families.” As Malibu develops more awareness of CBD and its uses, the cannabis community will continue to expand and heal those that are open to it.

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products across 31 companies that were tested, only an astonishing 30% contained amounts of CBD within 10% of the labelled concentration. This could be troublesome for patients across the board as these discrepancies in CBD concentration continue to exist. Differences in concentration between products could directly influence patient results. Whether the patient is receiving too much CBD - or too little - without knowledge of their dosage, results can surely be hindered. While CBD product labels remain unchecked by the FDA, experts say consumers should take matters into their own hands by being knowledgeable about their CBD purchases. Green suggests exclusively buying from a cannabis retailer. “Even CVS is selling CBD products, but there’s nobody really there that’s knowledgeable on CBD or who can consult with you on CBD,” she said.

Because of such easy access, it’s possible that consumers are navigating the whirlwind of CBD products blindly and without knowledge of which products will work for them. “So it’s important that people go to cannabis retail shops and ideally a shop that is knowledgeable on CBD to really get a good consultation about it,” said Green.

Not only are consultations important, but Hernandez also advised consumers to “make your money speak for your choice” by purchasing products from companies who use full spectrum CBD. “Right now, there are major companies that are laser beam focused on doing this particular thing,” she noted. These companies only use organic, flowering cannabis plants that contain less than 2% of THC, meaning that they can legally be sold in stores as hemp. ”They just really dialed it in because they understand all of these pieces,” Hernandez added. In order to seek out these companies, she recommends that consumers reach out to select CBD companies and question what their sources are. “You have to ask them if it’s organic, you have to ask them if it’s from flowering cannabis, sustainable, biodynamic - all the good stuff,” she said. “[Most importantly] you want to ask, ‘is this a full spectrum,

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HORA Overnight Exfoliating Mask horaskincare.com, $62

Get rid of dead skin and refresh your skin with this exfoliating face mask. Packed with healthy oils and infused with CBD, the HORA overnight exfoliating mask will awaken and hydrate your skin for a beautiful summer glow.

3

TOP 10 High CBD Body Lotion lordjones.com, $60

This extra-strength CBD-infused body lotion is formulated for a cooling sensation that soothes aches and pains in your body. The luxurious lotion is made from U.S. grown CBD, and has no psychoactive effects.

Adreas Seed Oils Farmer’s Market, $49

2

One of the only certified organic, 100% plant based and cold-pressed Hemp Oils on the market, Andreas Seed Oil’s Full Spectrum Hemp Oil can be found at the Malibu Farmer’s Market and is an effective, plant-based method to reduce inflammation and pain.

CBD Products For All Your Needs Now that Cannabis is fully-legalized in California, take advantage of the many products meant to relieve pain, calm nerves and rejuvenate skin. Here are our editors’ top picks!

Life Bloom Organics: Nano CBD 99 High Tide, $39.95

5

Life Bloom Organics is a local company that creates hemp based products made for natural wellness. Their Nano Hemp Oral Sprays provides healing formulas meant to make everyone feel their best.

Dosist Vape Pen, ‘Calm’ 99 High Tide & Atrium, $44-110

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Calm your mind and body naturally with Dosist’s vape pen consisting of a combination of CBD & THC. The “Calm” pen is meant to relax you, and has health benefits such as soothing anxiety, depression, addiction, and more.

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Vertly CBD Infused Bath Salts Anthropoligie Santa Monica, $29

These CBD infused bath salts are the perfect remedy for a fatigued, or achy body. Soak in the tub to give yourself some well deserved self-love with these CBD and mineral containing bath salts.

Vet CBD 99 High Tide, $77

Kiva Dark Chocolate CBD 99 High Tide, $25

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CBD isn’t just good for humans. Even your furry friends can benefit with Vet CBD, a Veterinary formulated tincture meant to alleviate pain, support joint mobility and brain function of your pets.

For anxious or overly energetic pets, Vet CBD can also help calm them down.

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The Kiva chocolate bar is an all natural, delicious CBD & THC infused treat meant to help manage pain, fatigue, and discomfort.

Naturally grown in California, it functions as a pain reliever, but without harming your liver.

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Pot d’Huile CBD Infused Olive Oil pdhcbd.com, $37

This high quality olive-oil is infused with CBD to create a sophisticated culinary experience. Formulated with both THC and CBD, Pot d’Huile is meant for a therapeutic intake of cannabis.

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Beboe CBD Infused Pastilles 99 High Tide, $28

These pastilles contain a high CBD dosage which balances out the THC, therefore creating a fun yet controllable high. Beboe also stands out for its all-organic ingredients and beautiful aesthetic.

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NEW CONSUMER EXPERIENCE ATRIUM’s beautiful Woodland Hills space is the first location for the new dispensary.

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ATRIUM

SHOPPING FOR CANNABIS GOES LUXE With its lush interiors and expansive inventory, Woodland Hills’ ATRIUM is heralding a new generation of dispensaries. ✎ written by Holly Bieler

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isitors to ATRIUM’s spectacular Woodland Hills store wouldn’t be faulted for feeling like they’ve walked into a high-end landmark chain like Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman. With its high ceilings, beautiful arched windows, sprawling open floor plan and lush palm trees at every corner, ATRIUM immediately invokes a luxury retail experience, an atmosphere further compounded by its incredibly warm and knowledgeable staff. However, ATRIUM isn’t selling $900 shoes or the latest designer handbags. Instead, the Topanga Canyon Blvd. shop is one of the top purveyors of a product not traditionally associated with a high-end, beau-

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tifully-appointed shopping experience; cannabis. “When we found this Incredible location, we knew that we had the opportunity to elevate the cannabis experience for consumers,” said Marketing Manager Melinda Gonzalez.

Although it’s been open less than a year, ATRIUM has made strides in achieving this goal. With a mission of transforming the cannabis-buying experience into a fun, interactive and more luxurious shopping experience, the store is one of the first in Los Angeles to challenge the trope of the dark, stuffy and intimidating dispensary.

“Most people when they come in are amazed by how open the floor is,” said Gonzalez. “They are excited to look and move around freely. A lot of dispensaries they’re coming from have products behind a shelf and you can’t touch anything.

Here, you have access to everything in our display cases and can touch and smell the products. People ask, ‘Am I allowed to go on the other side of the counter?’ I’m like yeah, of course! We want this to be an enjoyable process.”

In addition to cultivating a more relaxed and fun-filled cannabis buying experience, Atrium was founded upon a mission to cultivate a community space, with an unparalleled inventory of products for customers and education about a new industry many might now know much about.

“Our priority is serving the community and our customers with what they need and what they desire,” said Gonzalez.

“Education is very important to us, and we make sure we provide an abundance of information. Consumer Interest In cannabis Is growing exponentially, so we definitely want to serve that curiosity and do it the right way.”

Education is of tantamount importance to the ATRIUM ethos in part because of the diverse demographics the store serves. With over 100 cannabis brands represented and more than 1,000 products in stock every day, ATRIUM serves a large range of customers, from younger

“WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR PRODUCTS ARE CLEAN, TESTED AND OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY.”

consumers well-versed in cannabis who are looking for recreational products, to older customers who’ve never partaken, but are looking for medicinal products like CBD oils to help with ailments from back pain to insomnia.

“We get everyone from young adults to their grandparents that come in and say, ‘I never imagined I’d see a store like this,’” Gonzalez said. “We really do cater to everyone and that’s why we have so many products.”

Given their plentiful range of products, ATRIUM opted from the start to provide a one-on-one budtending experience.

While customers are free to roam the store and interact with all the products on their own, ATRIUM employs a large and incredibly well-versed staff to answer any and all questions and help guide customers towards the best product for their needs.

“Because we have so many products, someone might walk in and say there’s just so much I don’t even know where to start,” Gonzalez said. “Our budtenders are here to walk them through all of the products, get to know their specific needs, then recommend the best product for what they desire.”

“All of our budtenders are very knowledgeable when it comes to cannabis,” Gonzalez said. “We hold monthly staff trainings where we educate the team on any new products so that when somebody

comes in with whatever they’re looking for they know exactly where to take them.

We encourage our staff to try all of our products themselves as well, so they can provide a personal opinion to customers.”

And don’t let the vast array of products fool you. If ATRIUM has one of the widest selections of recreational and medical cannabis products in the area, their selection is expertly curated to ensure every product is as effective and top-of-the-line as possible.

“When it comes to our product selection, we want to make sure that all products we carry are clean, tested and of the highest quality,” said Gonzalez. “Customers visit our store for various reasons; some seek pain relief, others need help with their insomnia, or some people come in seeking a new way to spark creativity. True quality products will provide the desired result. We make sure we carry products that will have the intended effect. We only carry products that we truly believe in. That’s why they are here.”

Just opening in fall of last year, ATRIUM has also quickly become an integral part of their Woodland Hills community. Customers have now forged strong connections with budtenders, and events such as ATRIUM’s 4/20 and 4th of July party, at which Atrium passed out hotdogs and ice cream to customers, allows for locals to get to know the staff and products more intimately.

“We see the same faces very often, and I think that goes along with the concept that we’re very open and inviting and we provide a lot of special opportunities for people to [get to know us],” Gonzalez said. “We’re always looking for new ways to get the community involved so this isn’t something intimidating. It’s just MM cannabis.”

ATRIUM 5441 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills @atrium_topanga www.atriumtopanga.com (818) 810-7379

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THE HERB PROJECT

FINE DINING WITH A SIDE OF CANNABIS With The Herb Project, Wolfgang Puck alumn Aaron Ziegler is putting a twist on traditional fine dining, microdosing his beautiful, locally-sourced dishes with up to 3 milligrams of cannabis per course. We tagged along on one of his private dinners to experience it first-hand. ✎ written by Holly Bieler  photographed by Julie Wuellner

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s a teenager growing up near the Venice canals, Aaron Ziegler quickly fell love with two things: cannabis and cooking. And while loving food isn’t exactly a giant leap for most weed smokers, even at 15 years old Ziegler was combining his two passions in a more elevated way than his peers, experimenting with complicated extraction methods and infusing the increasingly complex dishes he made for his friends with microdoses of cannabis.

Fast forward to 2019, and Ziegler has leveraged his two passions into a groundbreaking new dinner series. A celebrated chef, Ziegler served as executive chef of Wolfgang Puck’s catering division for years before leaving in 2013 to found Bull & Dragon, a private culinary events company which quickly gained fans across the city with it’s intimate private dinners host-

ed in the backyard of Ziegler’s own Venice bungalow.

As his private dinners gained in popularity, Ziegler began experimenting with his interest in cannabis-infused cooking more seriously, and a few years ago debuted The Herb Project, his private multicourse dinner series comprising delicate, delicious dishes each micro-dosed with cannabis.

“If you’re going to consume cannabis, eating it is definitely the best way,” Ziegler said in early June, as he prepared for one of his The Herb Project dinners. Normally hosted in the backyard of his Rose Ave., Venice home, Ziegler’s recent move has turned The Herb Project into a roaming experience for now, held in various beautiful homes throughout L.A. That night’s was in a palatial concrete modern estate a few blocks off Abbot Kinney, with a small bar-type seating area at which diners at the intimate dinner could watch as Ziegler

prepared each course. “Eating cannabis is more controllable and you get a specific dose,” explained Ziegler as he prepped an assortment of fresh, rainbow-hued local vegetables for the night’s meal, John Coltrane lulling from the home’s speaker system in the background. “And if you use it [correctly] you can get a bright, herbaceous flavor, like a basil or thyme. You don’t get a gross marijuana flavor.”

Flavor and sustainability is tantamount to Ziegler’s method of cooking, and his entire career in food. With both Bull & Dragon and The Herb Project, Ziegler utilizes only local ingredients from farmers and ranches that utilize sustainable techniques like whole animal butchering. When he can, he seeks out farms which are helping to rebuild soil health and reverse the ravaging effects of factory farming.

The result is food that’s both sustainable and delicious. At the early June Abbot Kinney tasting, diners seemed just as excited

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“MY MAN IS AN AMAZING CHEF. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO TASTE THE MARIJUANA.”

MICRODOSED Chef Ziegler uses an array of methods to perfect his micro-dosed dishes, including CO2 compression, extractions and blending of the actual flower. Each course contains roughly 3 milligrams of cannabis, and Ziegler expertly doses courses to ensure guests won’t experience too strong a sensation or experience adverse side effects such as social anxiety.

by the promise of Ziegler’s flavor combinations as they did the approximately 3 milligrams of cannabis per course.

The night’s dinner was a more intimate iteration of the normal The Herb Project, which generally counts 20 or so guests, who spend $150 per plate for a 5-course meal. His dinners routinely draw a range of diners, attracted by both his reputation as a chef and the experience of micro-dosed eating. The early June dinner was only four people, and included a young couple in town from Pittsburgh and a well-known actor currently starring in a hit CBS show.

“Marijuana’s still not legalized in Pennsylvania,” said Tim (we’ve used a pseudonym) as he and his girlfriend looked on

excitedly, if somewhat trepidatiously, as Ziegler spooned a healthy drizzle of cannabis-infused olive oil on the first course; a delicious burrata, tomato and basil panzanella that served as something of a deconstructed caprese salad.

“We still have to buy cannabis from a dealer,” Tim continued. “So we’re pretty excited about this.”

If guests were unsure what to expect as Ziegler served the first course, which he paired with a light rosé, the actor Sam (a pseudonym as well), a frequent guest of The Herb Project, assured everyone they were in for a good time.

“Not only do you get an amazing experience from it—I mean you get high, damn,” he said with a laugh. “But also my man is an

amazing chef. And to utilize both of them, you won’t be able to taste the marijuana in the food. That’s what’s really dope.”

Sam’s assurances proved correct—the delicious burrata and tomato salad didn’t betray the slightest taste of cannabis, while the basil, farm-fresh tomatos and imported cheese shone. The next course, an impossibly light homemade cheese ravioli, didn’t betray any trace of cannabis as well.

Indeed the only indication the meal had been microdosed with cannabis emerged after the first two plates had been cleared, as Ziegler made his way upstairs to grill a beautiful beef filet for the third course.

Chef Ziegler doses meals expertly so the effects of the cannabis ebbs and flows. The most potent sensation, he said later, had been calibrated to occur right after the second dish, before guests were served the heavy beef dish. And indeed if guests had been relatively reserved unto that point, as Chef Ziegler made his way upstairs there was hardly any question the dishes had, indeed, been microdosed.

As Ziegler made his way back downstairs with a plate of beautifully-roasted steaks, he found all the guests, strangers only 45 minutes before, ensconced in a raucous, laughter-filled game of Heads Up!, the iPhone charades game. Such, Ziegler said, was how his dinners normally go.

MM “Guests leave as friends,” he said.

To reserve a The Herb Project tasting, visit: bullandragon.com/reserve

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SWEETS RAKU The recently opened sister location to Aburiya Raku offers mouthwatering, and stunning desserts such as the “Carib” their coconut pannacotta with melon sorbet (pictured to the right).

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Photo via Sweets Raku

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GETAWAYS

A WEEKEND IN...

LAS VEGAS From its larger-than-life casinos and resorts, to the magnificent desert beyond its city limits, the fabulous Las Vegas welcomes all who seek a getaway full of nonstop surprise and spectacle. ✎ written by Lauren Holliday

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LAS VEGAS

Photo via The Venetian

LOVE INSTALLATION The Venetian recently unveiled its larger-than-life LOVE installation by artist Laura Kimpton.

F

ar into the quiet, solitary Mojave Desert in Nevada lies the sprawling urban jungle of Las Vegas. At night, this city is transformed into a show of dancing lights and extraordinary entertainment, which has rightfully garnered Las Vegas its reputation of having luxurious nightlife that is defined by the famous Strip. But Las Vegas is more than its casinos and lightshows, making it an ideal destination for any thrill-seeking Malibuite.

The Las Vegas Strip is the hub for late night activity in the city, being surrounded by well known casinos and resorts such as Caesar’s Palace, MGM and th Bellagio, but a little up north is the just as famous Fremont Street, which features some of Las Vegas’ oldest casinos that are still open. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to go off the beaten path on this dazzling street to find hidden gems such as the new Container Park

Shopping Center, full of plenty of shops, restarants, and a giant Preying Mantis sculpture, and even secret speakesies.

The city of Las Vegas isn’t all glitz and glamor, with plenty of nature-oriented activities to do. Being surrounded by natural parks and conservatories, Las Vegas has beautiful untouched desert landscapes to go explore. One of these areas is Red Rock Canyon, where hikers can get brilliant views of the massive rock formations that it is named after. Best of all, the 13 mile road through Red Rock circles straight back to the city.

Back on the strip, explore City Center, the home of Las Vegas’ modern art scene represented by its unique geometric architecture. This is a great place to go for shopping, as this multiuse complex houses The Shops at Crystals, a mall composed completely of the world’s highest end luxury designer brands and boutiques.

Located a little ways out of downtown, the Ethel M. Botanical Gardens and Chocolate factory is a fun place to take a break from the lively city, with beautiful native desert plantllife surrounding the whole area, and the aforementioned chocolate factory with free daily tours and plenty of sweet treats to try. Las Vegas has many fun museums to visit as well, and unforgettable landmarks like the Bellagio’s nightly fountain shows and the world’s tallest ferris wheel.

The food in Las Vegas is just as extravagent as the city itself. World famous celebrity chefs have opened their restaraunt doors here, but the cuisine of lesser known establishments is just as diverse and delicious.

If you are planning a trip to Las Vegas, we have made an itinerary full of the city’s must-see, iconic landmarks and hidden treasures for a glamorous Las Vegas weekend getaway.

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YOGA IN THE SKY Relax on the High Roller Ferris Wheel.

Photo via Seven Magic Mountains

PHOTO OP Stop by the colourful Seven Magic Mountains.

FRIDAY 11 AM - SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS

The first stop in Las Vegas lies outside its bustling city. Just 10 miles south from the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard stands a towering art installation of brightly colored bolders. Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinonein in 2016, Seven Magic Mountains has quickly become the newest staple of iconic Las Vegas imagery, and a great photo spot.

DOWNTOWN TERRACE Dine with a view of Container Park.

en and Waffle Sliders, Avocado Toast, as well as bottomless drinks. After lunch, take the opportunity to explore Container Park’s locally owned shops.

some of the most fantastical modern art on the strip. The Aria is a great place relax through its spa, pools, and club lounge, or to explore with its many unique shops.

4 PM - YOGA ATOP THE HIGH ROLLER

7 PM - DINNER AT ABURIYA RAKU

A yoga class isn’t something that one would expect the world’s tallest ferris wheel to offer, but it is a real experience that can’t be missed. These unique classes run by yoga company Silent Sivasana allow attendees to unwind while getting a grand view of the entire city.

Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in the world, dining at Raku is a must. Adventurous foodies will delight in trying dishes like pork ear or kobe beef liver.

2:30 PM - ROOFTOP LUNCH

5 PM - EXPLORE ARIA

Once in the city, we recommend visiting Container Park: a shopping center built entirely from shipping containers.

Downtown Terrace in Container Park offers a casual dining experience with a rooftop view overlooking the entire complex and its live entertainment. The restaurant features dishes such as Chick-

Las Vegas features many resorts with spectacular architecture, and the Aria is no exception. It islocated within City Center, a massive, multiuse complex that has

9 PM - HEAD TO DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB

For your first adventure into Las Vegas nightlife, we suggest seeing a live show at Drai’s, self-proclaimed as Las Vegas’ Best Nightclub. There is a different live music performance every night, which often is featured by one of their eight giant pools for Drai’s Swim Nights. After they close, the party continues in Drai’s Afterhours club in the basement of the Cromwell Hotel.

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LAS VEGAS

Photo via Las Vegas News Bureau

DESERT HIKE Go beyond the urban landscape to get a breathtaking view of the vast Nevada desert at Red Rock Canyon.

SATURDAY

hosts numerous educational programs every single day that are perfect for kids.

8 AM - BREAKFAST AT SADELLE

12 PM - LUNCH AT PEPPERMILL LOUNGE

First opened back in December, Sadelle brings its New York based American cuisine to the Bellagio, where you can enjoy breakfast options available all day. Try their Vegas style omlette with bacon, american cheese, and muenster, or order the tuna salad, which comes with vegetables and your choice of bagel.

For lunch, go to the neon-lit, vintage Peppermill Lounge. It has been featured in classic TV shows and films, and is a favorite of stars like Guy Fieri and Floyd Mayweather. Peppermill Lounge is open all day everyday, and features an expanse of sandwiches, steaks, pasta, and more.

We suggest trying their flagship Peppermill Burger, and if you’re up for it, a classic banana split.

10 AM - DRIVE TO RED ROCK CANYON

Take a break from the big city and explore 13 miles of majestic red rock formations that are only 20 minutes from the strip.

Red Rock Canyon has 26 hiking trails, guided tours, and a visitors center that

2 PM - CHECK OUT THE MOB MUSEUM

See more of Las Vegas’ past in the Mob Museum, just off Fremont Street, which takes you through the history of crime and law enforcement in the United States. Exhibits include Prohibition, a Crime Lab Experience, and even a secret underground bar.

8 PM - COOKING CLASS AT GUY SAVOY’S

Step foot in the kitchen of Guy Savoy’s in Caesar’s Palace to get your own personalized lesson on how to make their signature French cuisine. The lessons include creating an appetizer and entre that you will be able to eat afterwards. If you prefer a sit down fine dining experience, there is plenty to choose from on their prestige, forbes, and a la carte menus, and an exclusive dining experience with the head chef called Krug’s Chef Table.

10 PM - DRINKS AT THE SPEAKEASY

Not all of the Mob Museum closes at 5pm sharp. If you choose to return, you can indudge in a taste of 1920’s Las Vegas with a late-night drink at The Speakeasy, a Prohibition-era style bar. Just like the speakeasies of old, its entrance is hidden in a secret side door, and it can only be accessed via password, which can be found on their website.

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Photo via Las Vegas News Bureau

CACTUS GARDEN Stroll around the Ethel M. Botanical Garden.

Photo via Samballate

Photo via The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

COFFEE ARTISTRY Try Sambalatte’s brew with a colorful twist. BLOCK 16 The brand new food court is sure to impress.

SUNDAY 10 AM - COFFEE AT SAMBALATTE

Relax in the morning with a soothing cup of Sambalatte coffee. The beans come from sustainable farmers in Brazil, and the roasts consist of locally crafted blends. If you request coffee art, you can get a taste of their delightful Rainbow Lattes.

11 AM - PERUSE LUXURY GOODS

If you didn’t get the chance to go shopping at Crystals in City Center when visiting the Aria, then now the perfect opportunity to revisit its stunning atmosphere and modern art. The shopping center has a variety of luxary brands like Versace, Cartier, Prada, and more, and fifteen flagship stores, including those of Gucci and Louis Vuitton, making this a great place to get some shopping done.

1 PM - BLOCK 16 URBAN FOOD HALL

One of the best times to visit the Cosmopolitan is when you’re hungry, specifically because of the all new Block 16 Urban Food Hall, a brand new food court like no other. This hall is home to six very different restaraunts bringing flavors from all over the world under one roof.

From award winning Chef Andy Ricker, there is Pok Pok Wing, a hit establishment that features wings both spicy and sweet. District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew is a restaurant true to its name, with over 100 donut flavors to choose from, among items like the pork belly slider.

2 PM - BOTANICAL GARDEN WALK

After lunch, take a walk through Nevada’s largest cactus garden, which happens to be a part of the Ethel M Chocolate

Factory. The garden primarily features drought tolerant plants native to Nevada, as well as the Cactus Garden Cafe which is a great spot to relax on your stroll.

Inside the chocolate factory, you can see how chocolate is freshly made in the self-guided viewing isle, take a chocolate tasting class, or visit the shop to get a sweet treat on the go. For Ethel’s 35th Anniversary in 2016, the entire factory was remodeled and got a fresh new look.

3:30 PM - NEON MUSEUM

On the way out of town, tour through Las Vegas’ preserved historical signs.

Visitors can choose between an hour long guided or self-guided tour around the museum including its most famous outdoor areas, the Neon Boneyards and North Gallery. As you go through this tour, you can see how the style of Las Vegas’ scene changes over the years. To beat the Las Vegas heat, stop by the Visitors Center in the La Concha Motel lobby.

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LAS VEGAS Where To Stay

More Time?

SKY SUITES AT ARIA

SARA’S “MEAT-EASY”

For those seeking an electrifying Las Vegas experience, then the Sky Suites at the Aria is the place to stay. Sky Suites guests get the additional benefit of the private lounge, access to the exclusive Sky Pool, which offers upscale dining and pampering, and priority access to other amenities. The Sky Suites themselves are 2,060 sq ft. of master bedrooms, living rooms, and spa-like bathrooms that are just as spectacular as the strip itself.

A play on the word “Speakeasy,” Sara’s is a secret room of Mabel’s BBQ in Palm’s Casino and Resort. Michael Symon’s latest and most exclusive restaurant embraces eloquent 20th century style in both its design and cuisine. We recommend their smoked prime rib and 1924 Caesar Salad. Remember to wear your finest attire to this curated experience.

LIP SMACKING FOODIE TOURS

Photos via Aria

If you can’t get enough of the cuisine in Las Vegas, the foodie tours are for you.

The tours take you to four different restaurants around Las Vegas to give you a taste of some of the city’s hidden gems. There is something for everyone with a variety of different tours such as the Boozy Brunch and the Savors of the Strip.

SWEETS RAKU

NOMAD

European style hospitality is what the NoMad prides its hospitality on, while its extravagent design is inspired by both the beauty of the desert and the thrill of city life. With its hotel, casino,restaurants, as well as access to the heart of the Strip, there is plenty to do at this luxurious resort. As of this spring, NoMad has opened an all new pool, which offers a relaxing getaway from the always buzzing Strip. Every weekend, NoMad hosts a pool party called JEMAA, which includes DJ performances, coctail services, and more.

This sweet, sister location to Aburiya Raku Grill contains some of the most unique desserts in Las Vegas in terms of both flavor and presentation. Their menu consists of dessert sets, main desserts, and even dessert wine. Best of all, sweet treats like their macaroons are offered on their takeout menu. One of their main dessert items, Mt. Fuji, consists of a sponge cake with chesnut cream.

HELICOPTER TOURS

Photos via instagram @thenomadhotel

Go on a skyhigh adventure in Las Vegas though a private helicopter tour. These tours are offered every night, giving you a birds-eye view of the shining lights of landmarks like the famous resorts in the Strip, Fremont Street, and more. In just two hours, attendees will have a luxury overview of the dazzling city, which is perfect for those who are low on time but don’t want to miss a single thing.

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PRESCHOOLS, K-5

GAN MALIBU PRESCHOOL

This summer at Gan malibu the underlining theme is kindness. From kindness in the community, to the oceans, to the gardens and to friends. The school is working on random acts of kindness , from delivering fresh cookies, picking trash up at the beach, to making fresh pressed juices. You can join them Friday August 9 at 6:00 pm at Gan Malibu preschool to see an exhibition of their kindness journey and summer art show!

WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Lila Daruty is the new principal of Webster Elementary School in Malibu. Daruty has served as the half-time assistant principal at Grant Elementary School is Santa Monica since 2014. “I’m so honored and excited about the opportunity to be principal of Webster Elementary,” Daruty said. “I look forward to working with students, teachers and families that make up this beautiful community in Malibu.”

Chris Hertz (pictured above) was named principal of Malibu Elementary School.

OUR LADY OF MALIBU

MALIBU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A New Name For A New School ✎ written by Michele Willer-Allred

Paying homage to our city, the name for the newly-merged elementary school at the Point Dume campus will be Malibu Elementary School. The new name was announced on May 28 by Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Malibu Pathway Director Isaac Burgess after a survey asking for name suggestions was sent out mid-May. After the initial collection of suggestions, the Malibu Naming Task Force created a list of top five options, eventually choosing Malibu Elementary School as the new name. A new school mascot and colors for the school are still being decided as of time of print, and students will be involved in that process as well. The school is also getting a number of upgrades and additions that will help improve and revitalize the campus. The new Malibu Elementary school is a merger between Point Dume Marine Science and Juan Cabrillo Elementary schools.

The school on Fernhill Drive also has a new principal, Chris Hertz. Hertz’s appointment comes after Dr. Pamela Herkner, initially brought on as principal of both Juan Cabrillo and Point Dume Elementary School last year, retired somewhat unexpectantly. Hertz brings more than 25 years of educational experience to the district, having served at Beverly Hills Unified School District for seven years. “It will be a unique challenge in bringing the two schools together, and I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Several events were recently held at the private middle school to celebrate the end of the school year. Mrs. Trujillo’s Spanish classes made pinatas, Ms. Ru’s Mandarin classes made dumpling and orange chicken, and Mr. Diba’s French classes had a French-style breakfast.

Also, the school’s annual art show and dinner were held, as well as student performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

MALIBU WOMEN’S CLUB

The Malibu Women’s Club recently awarded 10 scholarships to recent high school graduates from the Malibu area. Each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship for scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community services. Seventeen fifth-graders from Webster, Our Lady of Malibu, Juan Cabrillo, and Point Dume Marine Science schools were given writing awards.

This year’s theme was the Woolsey Fire and how it affected the community.

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AGES 3 months - 6 years

Where Friendships are Nurtured and Education is Fun Accepting Applications Now

(310) 456-6573 • www.ganmalibu.com Serving the Malibu community for close to 20 yrs 2017 & 2018 recipient of the Malibu Choice award for best Preschool

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MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES

photo courtesy of SMMUSD

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY

(Above) One of the proposed plans for the Malibu High School renovation.

MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL

Campus Plans for Malibu High ✎ written by Michele Willer-Allred The community recently got a look at several campus plants to completely rebuild Malibu High and Malibu Middle Schools, which school officials hope will help campus planning for the next 50 to 100 years. The plans, designed by architects from LPA, Inc. and worked on with Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District officials, are based on a survey and from input from a community-wide Campus Planning Committee. The input SMMUSD received were taken and used to create four unique campus plans, each with names, including “the canyon,” “the villages,” “the park,and “the terraces.”

Each plan has distinct features, but the goal on each is keep the middle and high schools in separate buildings to give each their own identity. Also, several out-dated buildings will be removed and replaced with more modern facilities. For instance, “the canyon” plan would give middle schoolers a new space in the nearby Juan Cabrillo Elementary area (students there were moved to the new Malibu Elementary School), but share a common space with the high school.

Funding is coming from Bond Measure M, a $195 million bond passed by voters in November 2018. “This will give (SMMUSD) the ability to recreate the entire campus and not just do a little modernization,” said Gail Pinsker, community and public relations officer for the district.

The Pepperdine School of Public Policy has announced the formation of an innovative academic enterprise with the nonprofit Los Angeles Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), which will focus on disaster preparedness, crisis management, and resiliency through engaging the public, private, and civic sectors. The enterprise, called the Homeland Security Advisory Council at the School of Public Policy, is designed to prepare the current and next generation of public leaders by utilizing the school’s unique curriculuum dedicated to looking at a cross-sector of information technology solutions to tackle public policy challenges. The goal is to ensure the security and resilience of the Los Angeles region in the face of threats of hazards, school officials said.

Pete Lowy, chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, said that if a major disaster happened right now, public agencies are limited with what they can do with information needed to make strategic and tactical decisions.

Lowy said that with Pepperdine’s help, that information can be more easily and effectively shared. “With this partnership with Pepperdine, now I think the skies the limit,” Lowy said.

VIEWPOINT SCHOOL

A film called “Static” by students in the Calabasas school’s 2019 Film III class is an official selection at the Academy Qualifying for LA Shorts Festival, which runs July 17-25. The festival ranks among the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world.

OAKS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Oaks Christian School has announced the hiring of Julie (Rubenstein) Bennett as the new girls varsity volleyball coach. The school also announced the appointment of Jade Molina as the new head coach for the middle school tackle football program.

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Live Area 8.25 x 10.375

Stand Up for Your Rights

Now accepting select fire cases Photo Credit: Buck Lewis

Free Consultation Select Verdicts & Settlements (partial list)

$8+ mil settlement................................product liability $3 mil settlement.....pharmaceutical product liability $2.85 mil settlement.................construction accident $2.4 mil verdict.......................motor vehicle accident $1.4 mil mediation...............................wrongful death $900,000 settlement...................motorcycle accident $800,000 settlement...............motor vehicle accident $640,000 arbitration award......under-insured motorist $500,000 settlement...............................truck accident $385,000 settlement....................................trip-and-fall $343,000 settlement..................................sexual abuse $321,000 verdict.........................premises liability case $300,000 settlement...........................bicycle accident

• Malibu Resident • Best Lawyers of America • Southern California Super Lawyers • Top 100 Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers • Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers • Santa Monica Bar Association, 2014, President • Association of Surfing Lawyers, Founder • Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Board of Governors (former)

310.566.0010

david@olanlaw.com

212 marine street, suite 100 • santa monica, california 90405

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JOIN OUR TEAM! Malibu Magazine is searching for local contributors, journalists and photographers who would like to get involved with the magazine, as well as local sales reps looking to work for commission part or full-time.

for more info email:

julie@malibumag.com

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REAL ESTATE MALIBU MARKET TRENDS

MARCH MARKET TEMPERATURE

Source: Zilllow.com/Realtor.com/Own Research

BUYER

SELLER

BALANCED

SALES CURVE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

Source: Trulia.com

80

Source: Trulia

70 60 50 40 30 FEB 19

AUG 18

FEB 18

AUG 17

FEB 17

AUG 16

Source: Zillow.com

The median sold price is on average 10% lower than the median listing price.

$2.5M $2M $2.5M FEB 19

AUG 18

FEB 18

AUG 17

FEB 17

AUG 16

$1M FEB 16

MEDIAN SOLD HOME PRICE

Source: Trulia.com

$3M

AUG 15

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE SQ/FT

MEDIAN SALES PRICE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

FEB 15

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE

AUG 14

$3.5M $1.3 K $3.2M

FEB 16

AUG 15

FEB 15

AUG 14

20

The chart on the left shows Malibu’s market fluctuations, with 2017 and 2018 averaging a higher number of sales than 2016. One can see that since the Woolsey fire, the market saw a downturn with a improvement in recent months.

Malibu’s median sales price has seen a slight but steady increase in the past five years with a decrease since early 2019.

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INSURANCE COSTS It’s estimated that the 2018 wildfires exceeded a total cost of $18 billion last year alone. Many of those rebuilding are now faced with higher insurance premiums or the complete unavailability of fire insurance.

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REAL ESTATE

INSURANCE

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? As homeowners are starting to rebuild, many Malibuites are either running into an increase in fire insurance premiums or finding it hard to obtain insurance at all. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

R

ichard Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, estimated that insurance costs for the 2018 wildfires, which devastated parts of Malibu and nearby communities as well as towns in Northern California, rose by $2.3 billion to a record $11.4 billion — a 25 percent increase. Of course, not all losses were covered by insurance — the total losses from California’s more than 8,000 wildfires exceeded $18 billion last year, according to Lara, and, even as fire victims go through the long, arduous rebuilding

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process, some are experiencing difficulissuing new homeowners policies. We The Realities of the Insurance Marties with insurance claims. The economare in an unusual time as far as ability ket After the Woolsey Fire ic fallout includes not only the costs to to obtain coverage and the availability of Silverberg discussed the current rerebuild but also higher insurance precoverage – the calculus comes down to alities in the homeowner’s insurance miums for homeowners, especially for what type of coverage a person can get.” market. “The number of companies that those who own the 3.5 million homes Baker stated that factors affecting will write homeowners insurance has at risk in future fires, including many whether insurers will issue fire insurbeen reduced since the Malibu fire,” He in Malibu. Now, many Malibuites are ance for homeowners include a parsaid. “After the fire catastrophe, some having difficulty obtaining reasonably cel’s slope and available water supply, companies may have a moratorium on priced fire insurance, a reality that was and brush clearance. See Related artitaking on new business and sometimes, foreshadowed by Dave Jones, the forcle at page 44 addressing laws mandaton writing renewal business because mer California Insurance Commissioner ing brush clearance to make defensible they want to see how an area rebuilds who warned of the “growing problem” of spaces near structures. and then determine whether to take fire insurance unavailability. the risk.” Silverberg added that insurCalifornia homeowners are exance companies annually make periencing rate increases in high decisions regarding whether to fire risk areas, according to Janet write homeowners’ insurance in Ruiz of the Insurance Information a particular area from an actuarInstitute, which represents propial standpoint. erty insurers nationwide. Accord“After the catastrophe in Maling to area insurance professionibu, a neighborhood can be als, the increased costs involved viewed differently by insurance in rebuilding, including those companies. For example, if beattributable to making structures fore the fire, everyone was a fullcompliant with current building time resident in the neighborcodes, higher costs of permitting hood and kept a watch on things, and architectural services, and but after the fire, the neighborheightened labor costs for qualhood is sparsely populated and ified contractors due to the basic there is a lack of loving, caring market forces of supply and dehomeowners to oversee daily mand after a catastrophe are all happenings, that can potentially contributing to homeowners’ preincrease the risks of thefts and mium increases. liability issues,” Silverberg said.

MALIBU MAGAZINE sat down “Such a change in a neighborwith Bart Baker, owner of a Farmhood’s character can be viewed BART BAKER Owner of a Farmers Insurance Agency ers Insurance agency in Malibu by an insurance company as in Malibu, Baker is knowledgable of the local market. who is knowledgeable about the causing increased risks of proplocal market and Ted Silverberg, erty and liability losses, especialPresident of Malibu Insurance ly because there may be a lot of Group, an independent insurance con“Insurers are also using tools such as people working in the area during the sultant and broker who specializes in fire line to obtain a property’s score and rebuilding process.” Importantly, insurMalibu and offers homeowners insurthe lower the score, the better.” Baker ance needs change over time and thereance from a variety of companies, to get said. Silverberg elaborated, by explainfore, it is imperative for homeowners to a pulse on the current insurance situing “The fire score is based on numerous review their insurance options at least ation and the costs and obstacles that factors, such as the proximity of a home annually. some homeowners are facing in obtainto brush and the ability of fire engines to “By all means, check out every insuring coverage after the fire. access water and a property so that they ance provider out there,” Baker said.

“The homeowner’s insurance marketcan respond in a safe, quick and timely “There have been moratoriums in the place has changed dramatically since the manner as well the number of homes in past after major disasters in Malibu, but fire,” Baker said. “Quite a few carriers the area, among other factors such as the they have been short-lived and often, have imposed moratoriums and are not roof on a home.” insurers would re-emerge in the mar-

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Baker elaborated, discussing the limpersonal property which can amount to ket relatively quickly.” The availability itations of the FAIR policy program. a lot, loss of use and rebuilding and it of homeowner’s insurance options in “In this difficult market, some people doesn’t cover theft or liability.”

Malibu presents a dynamic and fluid may only be able to get the FAIR plan The FAIR Plan is not a state agency situation. policy which insures against fire and and is not publically funded. Rather, it “The fact that a person’s current vandalism and if that is true, they can is an insurance pool association funded homeowner’s insurance company may explore getting a wrap-around policy by all insurers authorized to transact not be writing new policies at this time which covers things that the FAIR plan basic property insurance in California, does not mean it will not be writing new policy does not cover for homeownSilverberg explained. The FAIR Plan’s homeowner’s policies relatively soon,” ers, including liability, theft and water website states that this form of insurSilverberg said. “The logistics of insurance should only be used after a homedamage,” He said. “A wrap around polance is that each company evaluates owner makes a diligent effort to obtain icy is designed to get you as close to a how much risk it has taken on in a parcoverage in the voluntary market. Furtraditional home policy as possible, but ticular area and it wants to ensure that ther, importantly, the FAIR plan does any type of loss having to do with fire it can get adequate premiums to cover or smoke will only be covered by the risk in a particular area. Afthe FAIR Plan policy.” Baker notter a catastrophe in an area, the ed that coverage for smoke daminsurers’ views of the risk in that age can cost a lot as it will pay to area can change at any time and clean carpets, walls and textiles at any point along that continuand, if those cannot be cleaned, um, they can decide to re-enter it will, in appropriate cases, pay the market in that area.” Further to replace items. addressing the realities of the insurance marketplace, Silverberg added, “Insureds should Insurance Rate Increases Are know that there are two types On the Horizon of homeowner’s insurance sales Discussing potential increases people - there are captive agents in fire insurance policy premiand there are brokers. A broker ums, Baker said, “We expect to can offer a vast array of choices. have rates increase given the fact If your agent and his company that insurance companies have cannot provide coverage, contact paid many billions of dollars in a broker, because, unlike agents insurance claims and rate inaffiliated with a particular insurcreases will be considered by the er, brokers look out for the best Department of Insurance which interests of the homeowner.”

TED SILVERBERG President of the Malibu Insurance takes some time.”

Group, Silverberg is a consultant and broker.

Baker and Silverberg note that The California FAIR Plan Baker noted that he has been filling out applications for homeowners, only to have many declined. “When there is no other available source of insurance, citizens can go to the carrier of last resort, the California FAIR Plan, which stands for The California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements,” Baker said. “However, it provides limited coverage of only $1.5 million in the aggregate, which initially sounds like a decent amount, but that includes the loss of the home, any separate structures,

not estimate the fair market value of property or rebuilding costs, nor does the program determine the appropriate level of coverage. Rather, that task is left to the homeowner. Silverberg noted that as a consultant, he specializes in assisting homeowners make these risk assessments, taking into account the value of their home and structures and the personal property in those structures, including any high-valued collections, assets or valuables.

it is pivotal for homeowners to keep premiums paid and to review policies to ensure that there is adequate coverage. Silverberg agreed and stated that now is an excellent time to do a review of one’s insurance coverage, both in terms of what a policy covers and whether the amount of insurance will adequately cover losses. “Find out the fair market value of your home and of the property itself and figure out how much it would cost to rebuild by getting estimates from contractors.” Baker said.

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Rebuilding and Insurance Turning to a discussion of the insurance aspects of rebuilding, Baker noted that a homeowner will need to obtain a course of construction policy prior to rebuilding to cover potential losses during the rebuilding process.

“It is important to get coverage that includes the cost of all building materials and theft and fire as well,” He said. “In Malibu, there will between five and six hundred homes under construction in the next couple of years, and unfortunately, thieves will be attracted to construction sites [which] will be Candyland for thefts because of all the building materials on the sites.”

“It is important to review what insurance is needed while rebuilding,” Silverberg said. “A person’s needs may include a course of construction policy and/or a renter’s policy and if he has stored items, he should contact his broker and verify that anything in storage is covered under existing policies.”

Insurance Considerations for Renters Malibu and its surrounding communities have a high population of renters, and MALIBU MAGAZINE inquired about whether there have been changes in the cost or availability of renter’s insurance.

“I have not seen premium increases for renter’s insurance yet,” Baker said. “It is important for renters to ensure that they, like homeowners, are adequately covered for contents, for loss of use of the property and as well as for mudslides, floods and earthquakes.”

Insurance for Floods, Earthquakes, Mudslides and Landslides Because many consumers are unclear about how insurance claims are handled for floods, earthquakes, mudslides and landslides, MALIBU MAGAZINE asked Baker to explain. “Homeowners insurance

policies and traditional renters’ policies do not provide coverage for floods or earthquake losses,” He said. “Flood insurance policies are mandated by most lenders if a property is in a flood zone and having private carriers in the business of offering flood insurance is relatively new and has been mandated by the federal government.”

Homeowners and renters should strongly consider adding coverage for earthquakes and floods, Baker advises, noting that after the Northridge Earthquake, the State of California created the California Earthquake Authority and state law mandates that if an insurer offers homeowners insurance, it must also offer earthquake coverage.

Mudslides are responsible for between $1 billion and $2 billion worth of damage in the United States each year, according to Zack’s Investment Research.

“The Department of Insurance has mandated that if mudflow is proximal to a fire and is attributable to brush and trees being burned, then there is coverage under a fire policy,” Baker said.

“Whether flood insurance will cover a mudslide depends on how the mud travels into a structure. If the mud is carried by a river or stream, it is known as a mudflow and will be a covered event.

Whereas, mudslides that occur from earth movement, such as saturated hillsides, fall into the landslide category and are not usually covered by a traditional flood insurance policy - of course, a person will need to file a claim and have it examined to determine coverage.”

To be fully protected against mudslides and landslides, a person needs landslide insurance, Baker advises. However, predictably, that discussion leads one back to where this article started – insurers may not offer landslide policies in areas at risk.

Most importantly, Silverberg and Baker emphasized, owners and renters should take the time to evaluate their insurance profiles and, as a final matter,

they should not overlook the importance of having adequate loss of use coverage.

“When you think about it, if a person has to rebuild, he may be out of his home for up to three to four years and renters who have loss of use coverage will be provided equivalent housing to what they are accustomed to while they are displaced.”

Baker said.

Some Homeowners Are Experiencing Difficulties with Their Insurance Claims Silverberg also noted that insureds should be mindful, diligent and well-educated before agreeing to a final settlement with an insurance company. MALIBU MAGAZINE spoke with Brian Strange, a partner at Strange & Butler, about the insurance ramifications of the Woolsey Fire. Strange’s firm specializes in insurance bad faith claims and some of his clients are consulting him about problems they are encountering with their insurers.

“A lot of Malibu residents were underinsured and a lot of insurance companies were accepting premiums over the years, but never analyzing whether an insured’s house increased in value,” Strange said. “Over time, as the houses increased in value, insurance companies, through their brokers, had an obligation to at least annually review whether insureds were protected in case of loss.” That’s not the only area where the firm’s clients are experiencing problems.

“Some insurance carriers are stepping up and doing the right thing,” Strange said. “However, we are finding some insureds are experiencing intentional delays in payment and underpayment by the carriers and that some insurance companies are trying to obtain releases from the insureds without paying what they’re entitled to. Therefore, we are seeing insureds who possibly having claims against insurers.”

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g n i r Sp Is In

r i A e Th

MAKE THIS SEASON A TIME OF RENEWAL SO RENEW YOUR HEALTH, YOUR FITNESS

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OVER 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Jim Levesque and Sten Miles bring a wealth of experience to their projects. Levesque is a wellknown contractor in the area, while Miles was the senior building inspector for the city of Malibu for over 20 years.

STEEL FRAMING Levesque and Miles are well-versed in construction projects which utilize fire-resistant steel framing.

COMPREHENSIVE PORTFOLIO Levesque has worked on an array of projects, from large-scale commercial to residential.

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REAL ESTATE

EQUAL PARTNERS, INC.

REBUILDING MALIBU

Partn

their

Partners Sten Miles and Jim Levesque are sharing their collective experience of nearly 100 years in development, inspections and construction of thousands of commercial and residential buildings with the goal to rebuild Malibu while forging new building standards.

De

of tho

✎ written by Patricia Seymour

S

ten Miles and Jim Levesque, long acquainted professionally, came to realize that they had a common mission and passion that could be used to meet the challenges of the rebuild of homes in Malibu. Both agreed that a similar work ethos and a shared agreement to “build custom homes right the first time” could make for a successful partnership. With Jim’s many years of commercial and healthcare developments, steel and drywall subcontracting and custom home construction experience combined with Sten’s 20 plus years as the Senior Building inspector in Malibu, they determined that they were a good partnership to contribute to the rebuild efforts in Malibu and surrounding towns.

After many years in business, they felt they had a deep grasp of the many challenges involved in helping clients and their architects build either their dream homes or develop a plan to rebuild their fire-damaged home to live safely, or maximize their equity for ultimate sale with a minimum of hassle. Agreeing on their shared interests and vision was just the first step. The next step was putting together a crew that they were able to cherry pick because of their long-term relationships in the field. As Sten points out,

The “knowing and trusting the people that you are delegating to involves experience, expertise and the ability to ask the right questions.” Next, in their efforts to provide superior advice to their clients, is the ability to match the needs of the client, including their short and long-term goals in relation to the timeline of the project.

As Levesque and Miles talked through their partnership and goals, they realized that building wooden structures may not be the best fit for all their clients. Although wood is still a favorite and reliable choice, the men looked around to determine feasible alternatives. The prospect of using steel framing soon became an attractive alternative to traditional wooden frame structure.

“Even though I had been involved in commercial and healthcare building construction with steel, metal framing and non-combustible materials for decades, it has always intrigued me why the same systems were so rarely used in the housing sector,” said Levesque. “I have long realized that steel-metal and concrete materials were excellent solutions for homes in high wildfire risk areas.”

The timing and commitment to alternatives has been hampered by many factors including competitive material costs and sufficient trained labor capa-

ble of “true custom designed homes” utilizing metal framing. Given the devastating damage inflicted by last years’ fires throughout California, renewed focus and commitment to alternative construction methods is under the microscope by all involved with rebuilding and for future home construction.

As Levesque and Miles point out, it is clearly superior in a point by point comparison. Steel buildings are more durable than wood, and more resistant to water and insect damage. Steel will not warp or expand like wood does, and it does not rot, so it will be less likely to attract mold and other types of fungus. Miles also points out that the long-term upkeep of steel is less expensive because it is not likely to need replacement due to warping or other damage. Steel roofs, for example, increase energy efficiency in steel-framed structures. In an added benefit for the planet, steel framing can be made from recycled materials, making it a greener choice than wood.

MM

Equal Partners, Inc. 1112 Montana Ave., Suite 545 Santa Monica, CA 90403 (310) 496-3700 www.equalpartners.com

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

26848 PCH $62,000,000/$450,000/MO 10 BR | 14 BA | OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

33740 PACIFIC COAST HWY $48,500,000 6 BR | 8 BA | NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED

0 ZUMIREZ DR. $39,995,000 5 BR | 6 BA | JAMES PERSE PROJECT

22150 PACIFIC COAST HWY $34,500,000 0 CLIFFSIDE DRIVE $30,000,000 5 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME 5 BR | 6 BA | BEACH KEY HOME

6970 WILDLIFE RD. $25,950,000/$100,000/MO 5 BR | 7 BA | OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

7049 BIRDVIEW AVE. $24,500,000/$70,000/MO 5 BR | 7 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23950 MALIBU ROAD $22,900,000 4 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23634 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $23,500,000 4 BR | 7 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

23556 MALIBU COLONY RD. $16,750,000/$75,000/MO 31412 BROAD BEACH ROAD $16,450,000 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME 6 BR | 7 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

28730 GRAYFOX STREET $13,995,000 5 BR | 5 BA | BEACH KEY HOME

24752 MALIBU ROAD $12,995,000 3 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

7157 BIRDVIEW AVENUE $14,500,000 3 BR | 4 BA | BLUFFTOP RETREAT

30966 BROAD BEACH ROAD $12,900,000 7 BR | 9 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

29046 CLIFFSIDE DRIVE $9,995,000 7163 BIRDVIEW AVENUE $12,750,000 28929 BISON COURT $11,995,000 4 BR | 3 BA | BLUFFTOP HOME 3 BR | 2 BA | BLUFFTOP HOME 6 BR | 4 BA | MODERN FARMHOUSE W/ BEACH KEY ©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

26820 MALIBU COVE COLONY DR. $9,995,000 5 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

27140 MALIBU COVE COLONY DR. $9,995,000 5 BR | 7 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

27033 SEA VISTA DRIVE $9,995,000 5 BR | 5 BA | ARCHITECTURAL HOME W/ GH

27580 WINDING WAY $9,995,000 5 BR | 3 BA | EQUESTRIAN COMPOUND

31042 BROAD BEACH ROAD $8,995,000 5 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

27445 WINDING WAY $8,995,000 7 BR | 8 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

25316 MALIBU ROAD $8,850,000 6 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT PROPERTY

20858 PACIFIC COAST HWY $8,795,000 3 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

31636 SEA LEVEL DRIVE $8,795,000 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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27420 PACIFIC COAST HWY $8,750,000 4 BR | 5 BA | BLUFFTOP CONDOMINIUM

32453 PACIFIC COAST HWY $8,450,000 7 BR | 12 BA | OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

26050 PACIFIC COAST HWY $7,500,000 6 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

31952 1/2 PACIFIC COAST HWY $7,495,000 4 BR | 3 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

20649 LAS FLORES MESA DRIVE $7,450,000 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

3216 SERRA ROAD $7,300,000 5 BR | 6 BA | STUNNING ARCHITECTURAL

28922 GRAYFOX STREET $6,995,000 3 BR | 2 BA | BEACH KEY HOME

6172 BONSALL DRIVE $5,995,000 2 BR | 3 BA | GATED 1.5 ACRE PROPERTY

101 OCEAN AVE, #A200, SANTA MONICA $5,895,000 2 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW CONDO

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

27318 WINDING WAY $5,450,000 APPROX. 3.07 ACRES WITH OCEAN VIEW

6701 PORTSHEAD ROAD $3,495,000 APX. 2.64 ACRES WITH BEACH RIGHTS

21701 PCH $2,759,000/$20,000/MO 4 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

20607 EAGLEPASS DRIVE $4,750,000 6 BR | 7 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

21569 PASEO SERRA $3,995,000 4 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

2914 MAIN ST. SANTA MONICA $3,449,000 1445 EL BOSQUE PACIFIC PALISADES $3,150,000 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ONE-OF-A-KIND APPX. 2 1/3 ACRE LOT

23929 DE VILLE WAY $2,750,000 3 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW CONDOMINIUM

0 WINDING WAY $2,750,000 APX. 3.488 ACRES WITH OCEAN VIEW

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

3030 ENCINAL CANYON ROAD $2,595,000 APPROX. 12 ACRES

11770 PACIFIC COAST HWY, #U $2,250,000 3 BR | 4 BA | KEY ACCESS TO BEACH

2451 NALIN DR. LOS ANGELES $1,999,999 LARGE FLAT BEL AIR CANYON VIEW LOT

9533 DEER CREEK ROAD $1,595,000 APX. 10.32 ACRES WITH OCEAN VIEWS

0 LAS FLORES $1,395,000 APPROX. 25 ACRES WITH OCEAN VIEW

2216 S. PALM GROVE AVE. L.A $1,395,000 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

0 AZURELEE DRIVE $995,000 PRELIMINARY PLANS FOR CUSTOM HOME

26668 SEAGULL WAY #D101 $949,000 1 BR | 1 BA | TWO-STORY OCEAN FRONT ROW

28366 REY DE COPAS LANE $750,000 2 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW CONDO

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

25236 MALIBU ROAD $150,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23314 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $120,000/MONTH 5 BR | 5 BA | BEACH HOUSE W/ 48’ FRONTAGE

23816 MALIBU ROAD $100,000/MONTH 6 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

31776 BROAD BEACH ROAD $100,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

22102 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $100,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

24752 MALIBU ROAD $80,000/MONTH 3 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23649 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $70,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | GUARD-GATED HOME

27348 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $70,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23614 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $65,000/MONTH 5 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

26966 MALIBU COVE COLONY DRIVE $65,000/MONTH 3 BR | 3 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

32496 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $55,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23530 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $50,000/MONTH 4 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

24608 MALIBU ROAD $49,000/MONTH 5 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

28899 CLIFFSIDE DRIVE $45,000/MONTH 6 BR | 5 BA | BEACH KEY HOME

26050 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $45,000/MONTH 6 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

6368 SEA STAR DRIVE $40,000/MONTH 6 BR | 6 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

27082 MALIBU COVE COLONY DR. $35,000/MONTH 4 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

31636 BROAD BEACH ROAD $40,000/MONTH 5 BR | 4 BA | BLUFFTOP HOME

22148 PACIFIC COAST HWY. $35,000/MONTH 2 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

23618 MALIBU COLONY ROAD $39,500/MONTH 4 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME

33406 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $32,500/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

6750 FERNHILL DRIVE $30,000/MONTH 4 BR | 3 BA | BEACH KEY HOME

6574 DUME DRIVE $19,995/MONTH 4 BR | 5 BA | GATED HOME W/ BEACH RIGHTS

5828 FOXVIEW DRIVE $17,000/MONTH 5 BR | 6 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

32026 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $16,000/MONTH 4 BR | 4 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

24600 SKYLINE VIEW DRIVE $14,995/MONTH 4 BR | 5 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

11770 PCH, #U $13,000/MONTH 3 BR | 4 BA | BEACH ACCESS HOME

6107 PASEO CANYON DRIVE $10,000/MONTH 4 BR | 3 BA | RANCH-STYLE HOME

6440 LUNITA ROAD $6,250/MONTH 2 BR | 3 BA | OCEAN VIEW CONDO

29821 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY $17,500/MONTH 3 BR | 4 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

©2019 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 LLC. Broker does not guarantee the accuracy of square footage, lot size or other information concerning the condition or features of property provided by seller or obtained from public records or other sources, and the buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals.

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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Come home to Malibu and come home to Bungalow, Ltd!

Come let us captivate your mind, delight your senses, and create your ideal home.

Come to our design studio or call for an in-home consultation and let us show you why we’re proud to have many happy customers throughout California and the nation.

Welcome home to Bungalow, Ltd.

Curt Blackburn, lead designer and co-owner Kevin McEvoy, co-owner Keiko, the shop-dog

22223 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, California 90265

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|

Malibu’s Premier Design Studio

(424) 644-0344

|

www.BungalowLtd.com

3/8/19 15:43

MALIBU DIRECTORY The Malibu directory is our handy guide of services and companies in the Malibu area. To join, e-mail Michelle Gisler at michelle@malibumag.com. accounting

builders

Free New Client Consultations Flat Rate Services for Personal and Business Needs

General Contractor

License #1003020

Residential & Commercial

Honest Handyman Service

YOUR IDEAS IDEAS YOUR

424-333-8952

310.456.1920 info@malibusurfsidebookkeeping.com www.malibusurfsidebookkeeping.com

attorneys

310-729-9612

Serving the West Side for 32 years

Fortconstructionla.com

PROTECTED caregiver

Stand Up For Your Rights

YOUR IDEAS

.

Personal Injury Employment Insurance Bad Faith

PROTECTED

.

Custom Home Builders

DMS Contractors Inc. B#1030028 General Contractors

(310) 742-5677 www.DMSContractors.com

(310) 742-5677 info@dmscontractors.com www.DMSContractors.com

Mirna A. Sanchez

Housekeeping

HERE

Care for Elderly

HERE

Baby Sitting

sandragetin@gmail.com

Certified Postpartum Doula 818.297.8616 mass618andrea@gmail.com

LA’sbeauty premierlaw lawfirm firmspecializing specializingin inrepresenting representingindividuals individualsand andbusinesses businessesin in LA’s premier patent,trademark trademarkand andcopyright copyrightmatters mattersall allover overthe theworld. world. patent, Nelly Ramos

.

Caring Caregiver

(855)IDEA IDEABANK BANKor or(855) (855)433-2226 433-2226 (855) www.OmniLegalGroup.com www.OmniLegalGroup.com

I am a Caregiver with 28 years of experience and knowledge with children & clients with health issues, mental & physical disabilies looking for a full time job.

To Advertise In This Section, Email: Michelle@ malibumag.com

I have wonderful letters of rec. nellyramos66@yahoo.com

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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DIRECTORY

dentists

catering

Jennifer Naylor

fitness

Delectable You

lauren@delectableyou.com

Catering & Special Events 310-753-7619

Dr. Cerisa Moncayo

info@jennifernaylor.com

The Palisades Dentists Ph. 310.459.2303 www.thepalisadesdentists.com

MONICA CASTILLO PRIVATE CHEF

To Advertise In This Section, Email: Dr. Max Moncayo Palisades Surgical Arts Ph. 310.459.0014 www.palisurgicalarts.com Michelle@malibumag.com

917.975.1481 monica@chefmonicacastillo.com

entertainment

DA I N T Y DA M E S E V E N T S (310) 457-5220 | contact@malibufitness.com www.malibufitness.com

23410 Civic Center Way, Ste E3 Malibu, CA

A MYSTERY FOR EVERY OCCASION Your GO-TO-GALS for unique murder mystery entertainment and other customized events.

(424) 274-1483 | info@daintydamesevents.com

(310) 455-6681

To Advertise In This Section, Email: Michelle@malibumag.com

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DIRECTORY

financial

golf

POWERED BY PLANNINGÂŽ INDOOR TRAINING

Focused on protecting and improving your life with:

The Club House

savvy financial planning

Jim Plowman

astute portfolio management

3095 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

trusted advice

(805) 379-3372

ManchesterFinancial.com 805-495-4405 Westlake Village, CA

groceries

Greenrock Life Group provides individual access to a safe, non-correlated alternative asset historically reserved for the large institutional investors. Call (866) 828-2266

Brent Borchert 2930 Westwood Blvd., Suite 100 866.828.2266 www.greenrocklifegroup.com

clothing

landscaping

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pcgreens.com | The Natural Choice | 310.456.0353 pacificcoastgreens

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photography J. Wuellner Photography

TanyaBarcessat.com www.juliewuellner.com (310) 962-5207

T@TanyaBarcessat.com (323) 428-4591

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real estate

wellness Wendy Carroll

Malibu’s Real Estate Specialist

Acupuncture Functional Medicine Private Yoga Malibu | Beverly Hills | Miami 310.990.2285 wendy@wendycarroll.com www.wendycarroll.com CalBRE #01188306

310.456.8811 23410 Civic Center Way Suite E1 malibuacupuncture.com

Infrared Sauna Steam Room Massage Facials Haircuts & Color Med Spa I.V. Drips Cryotherapy Neurofeedback Concierge Medicine

Contact us today 310-456-1458

80,000+ Healthy Recipes www.EatSmarter.com 23410 Civic Center Way Suite E8 Malibu, CA 90265

Memberships Available

22741 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu curedaily.com

veterinary

Malibu Veterinary Clinic

Sean Landon (310) 962-4028 sean.landon@theagencyre.com seanlandonestates.com

310.457.6453 MalibuVetClinic.com GalbraithBega.com

Sunny Foroosh

videography

Luxury Estate Agent | 310.429.5474 DRE 01455149

Cece Webb

Guiding You Home DRE #01510746 310-463-0302 | cecewebb.com

To Advertise In This Section, Email: Michelle@malibumag.com

Wedding & Event Videography www.heartflixmedia.com (805) 551-0524

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Advertising copyright © 2019 ALOR International LTD. All designs copyright © ALOR International LTD.

dejaun jewelers The Oaks shOpping CenTer 805.495.1425 The Village aT WesTfield TOpanga 818.888.8292

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