Sept/Oct 2019 by Malibu Magazine

MALIBU www.malibumag.com

EXCLUSIVE: BEACH EROSION

Where Will Malibu’s Beaches Be In 20 Years? DINING The Perils Of Malibu’s Restaurant Industry

a n a j or G

MAGAZINE

GETAWAYS

The 6 Most Unique California Road Trips FALL + FASHION Get Chic and Comfy for Autumn

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Alexander McQueen · Balenciaga · Bottega Veneta · Brunello Cucinelli · Burberry · Cartier · Celine · Chanel Chloé · Christian Louboutin · Dior · Dior Men · Dolce&Gabbana · Eve by Eve’s · Fendi · Giorgio Armani Givenchy · Golden Goose · Gucci · Hermès · Lanvin · Louis Vuitton · Maje · Marni · Max Mara · Moncler · Moynat Roger Vivier · Saint Laurent · Salvatore Ferragamo · Stella McCartney · The Webster · Tod’s · Valentino partial listing

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Julie Wuellner

Holly Bieler

For our Sept/Oct issue, MALIBU MAGAZINE took a deeper look at a problem affecting beaches around the world, including many in Malibu: beach erosion. Owners of homes along Broad Beach are all too familiar with this problem, as Broad Beach, along with Surfrider Beach, has been at the forefront of Malibu’s beach erosion. For years now, homeowners have been battling to save their beach, even going so far as collectively paying $50 million to bring in 300,000 cubic yards of sand to be dumped on the beach every five years for the next 20 years. MALIBU MAGAZINE sat down with leading scientists and conservationists to get a sense of what the future holds for Broad Beach and the rest of Malibu’s beaches. We also took a long and hard look at what’s going on in Malibu’s food scene, specifically why it’s so difficult for restaurants to stay in business. Most of us are familiar with the slew of restaurants that have closed in the last few years, the most recent casualties being Coral Beach Cantina, Zooma Sushi and Malibu Burger Co. On the flip-side, restaurants like Malibu Farm and newcomer Broadstreet Oyster are thriving with a seemingly neverending line of patrons out the door. We set out to take a look at how various local restaurants are doing, what’s working for them and what’s clearly not. As runways around the world are gearing up for fashion weeks, we dove into some of Malibu’s own success stories and newcomers in the fashion and accessories industry. And who could be more perfect for a fashion feature in our fall issue than Malibu’s own Stan Cook who’s opening up the first brick-and-mortar Barefoot Dreams location in The Park at Cross Creek? The oh-so-soft collection of sweaters, robes and blankets are not only beachy and beautiful but also incredibly cozy. For our cover story, we sat down with Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel, the husband-and-wife team transforming the jewelry industry with gorjana, their line of beautiful yet affordable pieces. Their new Malibu Village store recently opened in August, and has already become a new favorite in town. Check out our cover story on page 90 for an in-depth look into the fasinating story behind the company. As schools start up again, life settles into a normal routine once more and tourists start clearing out, don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Might we suggest a weekend escape? We’ve put together 6 super unique and fun roadtrips perfect for the season that we’re sure you’ll love. From watching (and perhaps surfing) monster waves up north to a street food festival in San Francisco or a serene camping trip by June Lake, there’s something for everyone. If you’d rather stay closer to home, our getaway of the month is focused on Santa Barbara and Ojai and will give you our top recommendations for the top things to do and places to go. We hope that you had an amazing summer in Malibu and that our Sept/Oct issue can help fall be just as incredible, no matter where it takes you.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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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 of left: My personal home in Hollywood Hills recently completed. MALGOSIA MIGDAL, CID, ASID Owner/Principal Designer T. 310.345.9299 E. mm@malgosiadesign.com www.malgosiadesign.com BEVERLY HILLS OFFICE 420 N. Camden Dr. PH Beverly Hills, CA 90210 MALIBU OFFICE 29160 Heathercliff Rd. #415 Malibu, CA 90265

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CONTENTS

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

BEACH EROSION OUR BEACHES IN 20 YEARS Beach erosion has threatened Broad Beach in Western Malibu for years, and is becoming a more imminent threat. 40 BROAD BEACH One of Malibu’s favorite beaches, Broad Beach is facing a dire threat in the form of beach erosion.

DINING HEADACHES IN THE INDUSTRY A spate of recent closings points to the unique challenges of opening and operating a restaurant in Malibu.

70 80 FALL RECIPE Chef Maria Manuel creates the perfect fall side dish.

70 MAVERICKS Head up north to experience monster waves.

FALL SIX UNIQUE FALL ROAD TRIPS The top places to head for the day or long weekend for every taste and interest, whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a foodie.

SURFING BACK IN THE HEYDAY An intimate sit-down with the ultimate Malibu icon Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, also known as Gidget.

COVER GORJANA 90 GORJANA Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel in the new Malibu

Village storefront of their jewelry line gorjana.

Husband-and-wife duo Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel bring beautiful jewelry to Malibu with their newly-opened store.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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TEAK WAREHOUSE The place to go in Southern California for luxury outdoor furniture, all at wholesale prices and open to the public and trade. All pieces are fully assembled and available for delivery. Manufactured in Italy, France, Belgium, Northern Europe, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The SunbrellaÂŽ Cushions are included with Deep Seating purchases as shown on our website.

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Adley Sofa

Sherman Table & Luci Chairs

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Nairobi Pure Relaxing

Suppliers of high-end outdoor furniture at wholesale prices to the public & trade nationwide for over 25 years. 2653 Manhattan beach blvd., Redondo beach / 800.343.7707 / Open Daily 10 to 6 www.teakwarehouse.com

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CONTENTS

100

PHOTO STORY GRAY MALIN Photographer Gray Malin’s birdseye photos provide unique perspectives of famed coastland from Zuma Beach to the Côte d’Azur.

112

ART FASHION MEETS ART

Malibu Magazine’s art columnist Jac Forbes discusses the divergence of contemporary art and fashion. 100 GRAY MALIN Fine art photographer Gray Malin’s ‘À la Plage’ series captures spectacular views of some of L.A.’s most iconic beaches.

116

FASHION BAREFOOT DREAMS Based in Malibu since 1999, Barefoot Dreams has come to encapsulate the coastal lifestyle, and is now expanding with its first storefront.

140

110 I BULIEVE Get to know Malibu based artist Ann Krasner.

138 TUSOL The Malibu upstart transforming wellness.

A WEEKEND IN... SANTA BARBARA With its Spanish architecture, bustling State St. and slew of new bars, restaurants and hotels, Santa Barbara is the perfect weekend trip.

150

SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL’S CORNER The latest news from Malibu schools, and a sit down with all the new and returning local principals.

154

REAL ESTATE TODAY’S MARKET 116 BAREFOOT DREAMS A sit-down with Stan Cook, chief executive of Barefoot Dreams, maker of the “original Malibu garment”.

Some of Malibu’s top listings, as well as our Home of the Month story featuring ‘Villa Splendido’.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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MASTHEAD

MALIBU www.malibumag.com

EXCLUSIVE: BEACH EROSION

Where Will Malibu’s Beaches Be In 20 Years? DINING The Perils Of Malibu’s Restaurant Industry

Gorjana

MAGAZINE

Dirk Manthey EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julie Wuellner

GETAWAYS

The 6 Most Unique California Road Trips FALL + FASHION Get Chic and Comfy for Autumn

MANAGING EDITOR

Holly Bieler

ART DIRECTOR

Petra Pflug

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

DISRUPTING JEWELRY

Michelle Gisler OCTOBER 2019

$ 5.95 US

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

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PUBLISHER

9/6/19 14:48

Holly Bieler Barbara Burke Josie Lionetti Tammy Arlidge

Jules Williams Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes Maria Manuel

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julie Wuellner Gray Malin Jules Williams Matthew Seifner

Richard Polk Ben Gibbs Dana Fineman Vivien Killilea

Kimerlee Curyl Tyler William Parker

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Lauren Holliday SALES LEAD

Tricia Baak Makenzie Rasmussen Lauren McCarran Danny Wang

Dorie Leo Steve Bliman

INTERNS

Leila Anawalt Lauren Holliday Taylor Tomlinson SECURITY / MODELS

Emma Bailey 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

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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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 host her own political news show.

TAMMY ARLIDGE Writer

Tammy Arlidge is a freelance writer and real estate agent for Pinnacle Estate Properties. Originally from NC, she has been in the Malibu area for over 25 years having worked in the film industry. Author of the blog UnWinedinMalibu, she is currently working on her Great American Novel and proud to be a contributor to Malibu Magazine.

GRAY MALIN Photographer

Gray Malin is a world-renowned fine art photographer. While he is perhaps most known for his stunning aerial beach photography, Malin shoots a wide range of subjects from portraits to adventure and lifestyle photography. Malin has also authored several books including the best sellers “Beach”.

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.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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MALIBUITES

MALIBU VILLAGE

Gorjana Store Opening On August 9, jewelry brand gorjana celebrated the grand opening of its 8th store at the Malibu Village. The opening brought out a whole host of guests including local fans, influencers and bloggers. Guests were able to enjoy margaritas from a margarita bar featuring Gorjana's favorite tequila by Casamigos while they perused gorjana's new fall collection. The event also featured a raffle with prizes ranging from winning a store party, a layering set, and gift cards as well as prizes by other beach based retailers such as RAEN, Kopari, L Space, Vitamin A, Summer Water Rose and Nekter.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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MALIBUITES

CROSS CREEK

Annual Summer Block Party On August 10, Malibu families gathered under the summer sun with festivities during this year's annual Summer Block Party at the Malibu Country Mart. Normally a premier shopping center, Malibu Country Mart was transformed into a summer celebration for a whole afternoon. Activities and treats were aplenty for the whole family, with a petting zoo, face painting, caricature drawing, a henna tattoo station, and tunes from a DJ and steel drum trio. The party even featured Malibu Country Mart's own Malibu Shaman, who offered tarot card readings. Amidst all these fun activities were the sweets, which included ice pops from Pacific Organic Pops, ice cream pops by Ginger's Divine Ice Cream, and even cotton candy from Love Swirls. Everything provided at the event was complimentary, bringing Malibuites together with hours of fun in a beautiful shopping and park setting.

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MALIBUITES

MALIBU VILLAGE

Custom Hats with Teressa Foglia Milliner Teressa Foglia recently opened her second atelier and retail store, located in the Malibu Village. The hat maker and designer handmakes ready-to-wear, bespoke and custom hats in her Brooklyn, NY and Malibu, CA spaces. Every hat is entirely one-of-a-kind using the highest quality sustainably sourced materials, many of which are found throughout her world travels. Hats range from $450-$1,600 with additional wearable art pieces by her partner, Tyler Hays Wild. Foglia and Hays Wild hosted a preview of their next ready to wear collection and bespoke designs at her store in the Malibu Village on August 8. Guests were invited for a custom hat making experience where they designed their own hats. Beverages were provided by Recess and Jaja tequila and guests left with their own piece of custom art by Tyler Hays Wild.

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GEM COLLECTION BY HENRIK PEDERSEN

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MALIBUITES

CROSS CREEK

Ba&sh Opens in Malibu Malibu Country Mart welcomed a new tenant on July 17 with the opening event for Ba&sh. The new location will be the Parisian inspired boutique's second west coast location, adding to the 200 Ba&sh locations that are open around the world. Ba&sh will feature a program called "The Ba&sh Dream Closet" where customers can "borrow" pieces to wear without charge for special occasions. Shopping trips will never feel dull at the new boutique, with monthly popups of female lead brands through a program called"Ba&sh Friends," with the first featured brand being Fleur Marche. Guests celebrated the store's opening in style by touring Ba&sh's latest collection while enjoying coconut water refreshments. Once celebrations at the Malibu Country Mart wrapped up, attendees enjoyed cocktails at the Surfrider Hotel. Notable guests to the opening include Morgan Stewart and Rocky Barnes.

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BEVERLY HILLS

Rothy's Conscious Cocktails On August 20, Rothy's, the beloved brand creating chic, comfortable shoes from recycled plastics hosted the "Rothy's Conscious Cocktails," to celebrate the launch of their August collection, which will available online starting Thursday, 8/22. Held at The A List's founder, Ashlee Margolis', Beverly Hills residence, guest that included: Mandy Moore, Isla Fisher and Busy Philipps wore Rothy's (natch!) and clothing from conscious brands, Farm Rio and N:Philanthropy. Guest imbibed on Viva XXXII Tequila and listened to dj sets by DJ Kara and Mia Moretti while learning more about GEM and Twice. Farm Rio plants a tree in the Amazon for every purchase made and N:Philanthropy donated 10% of its proceeds to Childrens LA & ASPCA.

Photos by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Rothy's

Monet Mazur with Twice Founders Julian Levine and Cody Levine

Creative Directo r of Rothy's Erin Lowe nb Busy Philipps, So erg, phia Bush, and Kiersey Clem ons

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

AVA RAY

16 year-old Malibu High School student Ava Ray has a true passion for baking. As a sixth grader, Ray opened up her own online bakery after discovering her love for baking during a school project. Malibu Cake Pops, run by Ray herself, is a website where Malibu locals can order an array of sweet treats all homemade by Ray, from fudge and cookie dough bites to classic cupcakes. However, cake pops are her bread-and-butter and the focus of her business. While she is busy keeping up with all the assignments and homework that high school demands, Ray still finds time to bake on the weekends. Instead of following recipes to a tee, she puts her own spin on things, often swapping one ingredient for another. This way, her creativity can shine through in each dessert she makes. As a teenager, Ray understands the power of social media in the digital age. With her instagram account, @malibucakepops, Ray is able to reach out to Malibu locals who are looking for some eye-catching desserts. Being in Malibu, Ray feels that the close knit community has helped her connect with others and expand her business. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Ava Ray for her passion for baking, creativity, and her talent at a young age.

photo by Kimerlee Curyl

Bake it Till You Make It

CLARE STAPLES

A Heart for Horses Nonprofits have always had a special place in Malibu and Skydog Sanctuary is no exception. The ranch is quintessentially Malibu with its sprawling land, picturesque views, and endless love for horses. And no one loves horses more than the woman in charge, Clare Staples. A Malibu local for six years, Staples opened Skydog as a way to give back to the animals whom she finds such comfort with. Through online donations Skydog Sanctuary is able to rescue horses and donkeys in need and give them a home within the beachside community of Malibu. Aside from Staples herself, the staff is made up of animal-loving volunteers. Staples first opened Skydog Sanctuary while she was living in Woodland Hills, but soon after moved to Malibu and built a home within walking distance of the ranch. “I always thought that this would be the most heavenly place to live,” Staples says. However, Malibu is not Skydog Sanctuary’s only home. Staples also spends a significant amount of her time travelling up to the ranch’s Oregon and Mariposa locations. While she spends a lot of her time in Oregon, she considers Malibu her one true home. Staples has a special bond with each and every horse at Skydog. The horses, who formerly lived lives of abuse, starvation, and terror, now have a place where they are loved and cared for thanks to an outstanding Malibu local. Skydog Sanctuary is accepting volunteers to help out on the ranch at Skydogranch.org MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Clare Staples for her dedication to charity and passion for animals.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

ISABELLA ISLES

The Next Big Thing in Jewelry Malibu local Isabella Isles is gearing up to launch the next big thing in jewelry. The Malibu High School alumni will soon be releasing her new line of jewelry, Isabella Isles Jewelry, incorporating precious metals and pastel colors into the new collection. Isles started her jewelry career early; designing and crafting handmade jewelry for Brandy Melville at just 14 years old. Her early experience in the fashion world has prepared her to take on such a daring project as a college student. Isles finds inspiration for her designs by studying architecture at Berkeley as well as looking at the styles of the past. “I think people have done it right before,” Isles says. “So if you can take something and update it a bit then you have something that’s good.” She is planning on selling all kinds of jewelry in a wide variety of colors and materials. While she describes the collection as a bit “random”, certain designs and symbols can be seen throughout. Isabella Isles Jewelry strives for a high standard of quality while maintaining affordable prices so that young people, like Isles herself, can afford to purchase the collection. “My ideal goal is to be somewhere totally random and see someone wearing my jewelry” Isles says. The collection will soon be available exclusively at isabellaislesjewelry.com MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Isabella Isles for her work ethic and all of the love and care she puts into her jewlery.

DICK AND LORRY HADDOCK

Lifeguards On Duty Lorry Haddock had big shoes to fill when he became a lifeguard on Zuma Beach. His father, Dick Haddock, served as a lifeguard on Zuma Beach for thirty-seven years. “I started working as a lifeguard in 1950 while I was still a sophomore in high school,” Dick told MALIBU MAGAZINE. “We had a great time every summer and slept at headquarters – some nights, we were awakened by Rex Guthrie having a bad dream and armed with a rifle.” Dick recalls Zuma Beach as it was back in the day, with beautiful sand dunes. He and his wife of 64 years, Shirley, lived in a county house that the actor Robert Taylor once owned. They paid only $37.50 a month, utilities included. “Back in the day, there was no Kanan Road, so we didn’t have a lot of beachgoers from the Valley,” Dick said. “We really had some wild rescues in those days - in one day, we had 408 rescues and I believe that record still stands.” Dick was honored by fellow lifeguards who named the “Run, Swim, Run” race that went from Zuma to Paradise Cove after him – it is known as the Haddock Race. Dick’s son, Lorry took over representing the Haddock clan when Dick retired in 1987. The Haddock legacy goes on. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Dick and Lorry Haddock for their unwavering committment to keeping Malibu’s beaches safe.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

KEVIN MCCARTHY & LEO HARRINGTON

With its 21 miles of beach, Malibu is a surfer’s paradise. As part of the THERAsurf team, Kevin McCarthy and Leo Harrington give surfing a whole new meaning for special needs kids and their families. At zero cost to the families, THERAsurf brings children with disabilities to the ocean and gives them the perfect beach day. Originally started by Malibu locals Jimmy and Kim Gamboa, THERAsurf has been apart of Malibu for ten years. Many of the children find THERAsurf through the recommendations of others and partnership of MOST, an occupational speech therapy group. Taking ten to 25 kids at the most, Harrington and McCarthy are dedicated to making sure the young surfers get the best surfing experience as possible. Their mission of inclusion is not just locally as THERAsurf hosts international events in Mexico, as well as countries in Asia. As for the team, Harrington and McCarthy only employ the cream of the crop to work with THERAsurf. Although they arrive at the beach for a day of surfing, the kids and the professional surfers, or THERAsurfers as McCarthy calls them, have a bond for life. “You can have a surfer who was surfing the North Shore of Hawaii and really extreme surf on Saturday and surfing with THERAsurf on Sunday making sandcastles,” McCarthy says. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Kevin McCarthy and Leo Harrington for their work to spread inclusion.

photo by Dana Fineman

Creating the Perfect Beach Day

JOE GIESE

Never Sit if You Can Dance Malibu’s Jo Giese, author, radio journalist (Marketplace) and TV reporter, smiles broadly as she greets you, ready to share her stories of positivism and share vignettes from her respectful, insightful, loving, perceptive book, “Never Sit if You Can Dance”, an homage to her bigger-than-life mother, Babe. Giese’s smile is infectious, yet it denotes internal peace and a driving creative passion, perhaps because it is informed by her exploration of the politics and complications of mother-daughter dynamics and how prior generations shape each person’s world experiences and viewpoints, the subjects of her book. Perhaps it is attributable to her many intrepid sojourns around the world, travels that make one broad-minded and tolerant. Perhaps it is the culmination of her many experiences in her media career, from contributing to Ira Glass’s This American Life, to penning various pieces for diverse magazines. “We’re living in a pretty coarse, crude, impolite time,” Giese said. “People are hungry to celebrate joy and my book about Babe focuses on how to live together civilly and how to use the pretty simple lessons of life she taught us.” MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Joe Giese for sharing her uniquely positive viewpoint on life with everyone around her.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

DR. MARWAH

A Lifetime of Philanthropy There’s an intersection in L.A. named after him and a statue erected in his honor in a village in his homeland, Punjab. Both tokens of appreciation honor the civic and philanthropic leadership of Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah, a Malibuite for fifty-one years who came to America in 1950, became the first Indian dentist in America and helped to get the first Indian congressman elected. “For more than four decades, Dr. Marwah has been the selfless voice for the American Indian community, opening his heart, mind and home to American and Indian Community leaders in every field of endeavor,” said Gunjan Bagla of Malibu’s Amritt, Inc. “Thousands of people, from students, to village residents in India, to mayors of Los Angeles, have benefitted from his support and generous caring.” Dr. Marwah and his late wife hosted dignitaries, both political and secular, including Bollywood Stars, American Presidents and even Indira Ghandi on their Malibu estate. He was the dentist to many Hollywood celebrities – Elizabeth Taylor among them – and he chaired the Cultural Heritage Commission and the Hollywood Art Commission. “I’ve had a very blessed life and I do all I can to give back to others.” Mr. Marwah said. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah because he is esteemed, distinguished and the essence of generosity and leadership.

NICK RUSSO

A Love for Service “Nick’s just a great kid because he participates in the parish and the school and he’s always ready to help,” said Michael Smith, Principal of Our Lady of Malibu School. Affable, Nick greets one with a firm handshake, flashes an enormous smile and exudes a maturity beyond his years. Nick is involved in fun extra-curricular activities, like ultimate Frisbee and martial arts. He won second place in the Knights of Columbus free throw competition. He assists teachers at Pt. Dume Elementary where he enjoys helping kids needing extra attention. Nick’s faith is important to him. He serves as the church’s lead altar boy and was honored to receive a People of Faith Award. He values family and loves to visit his Grandmother in a rural area where he and his sisters enjoy laid-back summers. He enjoys serving as vice-president of the student council. “Nick is an extraordinary young man who possesses exceptional people skills and can relate easily to folks of all ages, which is unusual for a person of his age,” said Father Matt Murphy. “He also displays the heart of a servant in all that he does. He serves because of a desire to do so, not out of a sense of obligation.” MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Nick Russo for his love of life and genuine desire to help all those around him.

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

✎ written by Barbara Burke and Taylor Tomlinson

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RISING SEA, DISAPPEARING COASTLINE

WHERE WILL MALIBU’S BEACHES BE IN 20 YEARS? ✎ written by Barbara Burke  photographed by Jules Williams

The rapid erosion taking place in recent years of Malibu’s beaches has garnered much concern from citizens, researchers and public officials. MALIBU MAGAZINE takes a look at the causes (in part climate change), the outlook for beloved beaches and what can be done.

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ADAMSON HOUSE One of Malibuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most historic structures, the Adamson House built alongside Surfrider Beach is among structures that are threatened by beach erosion.

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SURFRIDER BEACH Malibu’s famed Surfrider beach is one of the many beaches across California that has been heavily affected by beach erosion. Most recently city officials were forced to add boulders in order to protect the iconic wall at First Point.

“W

hen we bought our house on the Colony in ’64, the beach was far away and water never came up much on the sand,” said Carol Moss, one of Malibu’s favorite matriarchs. “We had minnows instead of dolphins.” Now, Moss said, due to serious beach erosion, she and her neighbors must wait for low tide to enjoy walking on the beach. The rapid erosion of Malibu’s beaches in the past few years is nothing short of startling and has drawn the concerned attention of local citizens, advocacy groups and public officials. Beach erosion, attributable in part to climate

change and in part to the hand of man, is pervasive, invasive and expensive. Some of Malibu’s beaches, especially Surfrider Beach and Broad Beach, have displayed stunning levels of erosion. In early June 2019, startled city officials added boulders to bolster the iconic wall at Surfrider Beach, a place that is indelibly connected to the surf at iconic First Point. “Natural and manmade forces, including the re-nourishment projects in the nearby Malibu Lagoon and the unusually wet winter that followed November’s Woolsey Fire, have combined to expedite erosion at Surfrider Beach, also threatening the integrity of the famed wall.” wrote an astonished Surf Magazine reporter in June.

Surfers mobilized to vociferously renounce the City’s solution to counteract the erosion. “The Surfrider Foundation is dismayed that City and County officials have chosen to drop boulders on the beach at Malibu in order to protect a historic landmark from erosion at First Point,” read a social media posting by the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit advocacy organization that supports sustainable solutions to beach erosion. “Emergency seawalls are inevitable without proactive planning to accommodate ongoing erosion and the impacts of sea level rise. Surfrider continues to advocate for soft beach nourishment solutions at the Adamson Estate and a seasonal management pro-

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gram to encourage flows to exit Malibu Lagoon to the west at Third Point. We are calling on all stakeholders to come to the table and develop short- and long-term sustainable solutions that protect the beach at Malibu.” Down the Pacific Coast Highway toward Oxnard, residents of Broad Beach have grappled with a beach that is, to say the least, no longer broad. Struggling to find solutions, they have proactively taken herculean, years-long, citizen-based efforts to replenish their beach. “For anyone that has lived in Malibu for any length of time, man-made climate change is not theoretical,” said Matthew Mark. “We’ve all seen the sea levels rise over the decades. We’ve watched our wide sandy beaches get narrower, the rip rap rocks get installed to protect houses, and our infrastructure be taken slowly by the sea. It’s sad that irreparable harm is being done to the planet, and that my children and grandchildren are going to be left with versions of Malibu and the world that are worse than mine.” Before one can solve a problem, first, he must define it. Then, he must develop possible solutions after exploring all plausible alternatives in consultation with knowledgeable professionals and concerned stake holders. Then, he and other citizens must engage decision makers to fashion short-term and longterm solutions and, importantly, to fund them.

SOURCES OF SAND FOR MALIBU’S BEACHES To fully understand why Malibu’s beaches are experiencing sand erosion, one must first assess the sand replenishment sources that have traditionally helped to maintain and build Malibu beaches. First, there is a paucity of natural sand supply from the Santa Monica Mountains adjacent to Malibu’s coast, according to Professor Gary B. Griggs of the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Al-

“For anyone that’s lived in Malibu for any length of time, man-made climate change is not theoretical.”

PROFESSOR GARY B. GRIGGS

A professor at the Institue of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, Gary Griggs’ research focuses on coastal evolution and sea level rise.

though sediment from relatively small area creeks and eroding coastal bluffs can provide sand for beaches, Rindge Dam impounds large volumes of sand destined for Malibu’s beaches. Moreover, coastal engineering structures aimed at armoring beaches, such as placing groins, jetties or breakwaters can further impound large volumes of sand along shorelines, Griggs explained. By slowing water flow and wiping out waves, seawalls and other structures can hinder natural sand replenishment. Second, in an article Griggs co-authored, he explained that the erosion challenges that Malibu’s beaches face are also a function of topography and geography. The intensively developed California coastline from Malibu to the Palos Verdes Peninsula can be divided into two littoral cells - coastal compartments with rocky headlands and submarine canyons that contain a complete cycle of sedimentation, including sources, transport paths, and sinks where sand deposits. According to Professor Griggs and other scientists, the cells have undergone significant but very different changes over the past century. He and Professor Kiki Patsch of the Environmental Science and Resource Management Program at California State University, Channel Islands published a recent article in Shore & Beach entitled Natural Changes and Human Impacts on the Sand Budgets of the Zuma and Santa Monica Littoral Cells. The authors explain that from Point Mugu to Pacific Palisades, the shoreline trends nearly east-west, such that littoral drift driven by waves from the west moves sand rapidly along the coast and the beaches are generally narrow. Whereas, at Pacific Palisades, the shoreline changes orientation to approximately north-south, nearly parallel to the wave approach, reducing littoral drift rates and allowing for wider beaches to develop. Those realities partially explain why Malibu’s beaches are comparatively narrow while Santa Monica’s

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BROAD BEACH EROSION

CIRCA 1973

2013

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2019, BROAD BEACH The beloved west Malibu beach has seen some of the most alarming levels of erosion in Malibu. To the left photos of Broad Beach circa 1973 and 2013. Above Broad Beach in 2019.

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are broader. Zuma Beach is, by comparison, quite broad when compared to other beaches in Malibu and scientists attribute that configuration to the existence of Pt. Dume.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH BEACHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? According to Sean Vitousek, a researcher for the U.S. Geological Survey who helped to design a Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) to predict coastal erosion and shoreline behavior for Southern California, most beaches, including those in Malibu, could seriously erode within one hundred years without human intervention. The phenomenon is worldwide; it is not just unique to Malibu or Southern California. Indeed, further north along the California coastline, Pacifica has experienced massive problems with beach erosion and the City has been forced to exercise eminent domain to condemn several structures as uninhabitable. Similarly, San Diego must grapple with collapsing cliffs and stairs on beaches. Indeed, on August 3, three people were killed at Grandview Beach in Encinitas when a bluff collapsed, engulfing them. In 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey released a study revealing that California officials all along the coast will be faced with a Hobson’s Choice – save public beaches that are enjoyed by millions of tourists each year, or close them off with boulders, revetments and concrete armoring to strengthen the shores and stop incessant waves from compromising more cliffside homes, many of which are valued in the millions. “From the highest sea-level rise scenario, taking an average cliff height of more than 25 meters, the total cliff volume loss would be more than 300 million meters by 2100,” the study reported. According to the scientists’ statement synopsizing the study, “With-

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out the supply of sand from eroding cliffs, beaches in Southern California may not survive rising sea levels — and bluff-top development may not withstand the forecast 62 to 135 feet cliff recession.” See Maps depicting cliff retreat to the right. As a result, the authors wrote, “Managers could be faced with the difficult decision between prioritizing private, cliff-top properties or public beaches” when they allow or ban hard shore protections. Patrick Barnard, a USGS research geologist, provided some reference points when the study issued. “It’s a huge volume of material,” he said. “We place this in a context of dump truck loads. It would be 30 million dump trucks full of material that will be eroded from the cliffs. The trucks would stretch around the globe multiple times.” Malibu is one of many ground zero venues for such climatic crises. Anthropogenic climate change is driving sea level rise, leading to numerous impacts on coastal zones such as Malibu’s iconic beaches, according to an article published by Barnard, his colleague, Vitousek and other scientists in the Journal of Geophysical Research which notes that changes to coastal areas “include increased coastal flooding, beach erosion, cliff failure, saltwater intrusion in aquifers, and groundwater inundation,” and that beaches are currently experiencing chronic erosion as a result of gradual, present‐day rates of sea level rise (about 3 mm/year). Such erosion can be exacerbated by human‐ driven restrictions in sand supply, including armoring strategies such as placement of jetties, groins and large revetments like those constructed at Broad Beach as discussed more fully below in this article. Accelerated sea level rise threatens to worsen coastal erosion and challenge the very existence of natural beaches in Malibu, and indeed, throughout the

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BROAD BEACH RESTORATION The Broad Beach restoration project is estimated to cost owners of the 131 Broad Beach parcels up to $50 million every 10 years. According to the project 300,000 cubic yards of sand would be dumped on the beach every five years for 20 years, with supplemental deposits of 75,000 cubic yards as needed.

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world, scientists report. Understanding and predicting the rates of sea level rise and coastal erosion depends on integrating data on natural systems with computer simulations such as the CoSMoS, which shows that with little human intervention, up to 67 percent of the beaches in Southern California could erode completely in less than 100 years, according to the paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The study concluded that Malibu is not alone – coastal communities throughout the world are exposed to numerous and increasing threats, including coastal flooding and erosion, saltwater intrusion, bluffs and wetlands degradation. For details on shoreline retreat in Malibu, see maps on page 48.

THE CITY’S EFFORTS TO FASHION SOME SOLUTIONS “There has been an undisputed need to do a hydrological study to determine how to handle the severe beach erosion at Surfrider Beach,” said Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner, mayor of the City of Malibu and Concessionaire at the Malibu Pier. “The Lagoon project was not as successful as we had hoped in some aspects and we need to address the fact that Rindge Dam, which traditionally facilitated feeding sediment to the beach, is clogged up, precluding natural processes from succeeding.” City officials recently issued two requests for proposals (RFP’s), one specific to conducting a geomorphology and hydrology study of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, inclusive of Surfrider Beach, the first-ever declared World Surfing Reserve by the non-governmental organization Save the Waves Coalition which aims to protect global surf habitats. Geomorphology is the study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features created and affected by physical, chemical and biological processes at or near the Earth’s surface, the RFP helpfully explains. The

67 percent of the beaches in Southern California could erode completely in less than a 100 years.

SEAN VITOUSEK A researcher for the U.S. Geological Survey has been working on designing a Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMos) — pictured on the previous pages.

winning vendor will assess the vulnerabilities and the projected impacts of the SLR in the near term (2030), mid-term (2050) and long term (2100) in Malibu. The other RFP seeks a highly-qualified consulting firm experienced in Sea Level Rise (SLR) analysis and technical assessments to assist the City with a comprehensive updating of the City’s certified Local Coastal Program contained in the Malibu Municipal Code and the City’s general plan. Both RFP’s ask awardee vendors to utilize computer-based conceptual and mathematical models, such as CoSMoS, the model developed by Barnard, Vitousek and colleagues to identify beach erosion risks. The City’s efforts to identify and address vulnerabilities at Surfrider Beach is supported by the California Department of Parks and Resources, which owns the Malibu Lagoon State Beach and the historic Adamson House, Malibu Lagoon, Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier. The assessments will be used to inform public and private stakeholders and decision makers about the potential impacts and SLR adaptation strategies to try to determine whether Malibu’s beaches can survive climate change, El Nino storms and other weather patterns. The updating of the LCP will occur in two phases. The first phase will focus on addressing the vulnerability of the City’s coastline to SLR. Once that assessment is complete, a draft regulatory and adaptive strategy outline will be produced for review during a public workshop hosted by the City of Malibu Planning Commission. The options, evaluations and recommendations that are developed in the workshop will be summarized in a report. The second phase of the project will consist of the preparation of an adaptation plan and revisions to land use controls required for implementing the LCP in the Malibu Municipal Code and General Plan. The second phase is not yet funded.

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LOCAL RESIDENTS COMMITTED TO SAVE BROAD BEACH Although many Malibuites are thankful the City is attempting to define and address beach erosions throughout Malibu, the residents of Broad Beach have long been proactively attempting to save their beach, which has suffered profound erosion. Residents sought an environmentally responsible and long-term solution to save their homes and accompanying septic tanks and to restore public access. “Beaches all across Malibu are eroding and residents of Broad Beach whom I represent want to restore their beach to how they remember it from the 1970’s,” said Kenneth Ehrlich, an attorney who represents the Broad Beach Geologic Hazardous Abatement District (GHAD), a political subdivision formed by Broad Beach residents who have steadfastly gone through a years-long process of forming the District and imposing assessments on residents’ homes to fund a beach replenishment project for a one-mile stretch along Broad Beach. “I’m getting calls from residents of the Colony as well as Corral Beach and beach erosion is everywhere – it is a regional problem and Los Angeles County has to get involved to address these issues because it controls most of them.” Currently, a temporary revetment armors Broad Beach. However, the California Coastal Commission approved a coastal development permit for a beach restoration project and the State Lands Commission approved a lease for the project. The restoration project, estimated to cost up to $50 million every 10 years, is being funded by the owners of 131 Broad Beach parcels. The project calls for 300,000 cubic yards of sand to be dumped on the beach every five years for 20 years, with periodic supplemental deposits of up to 75,000 cubic yards on an as-needed basis. The beachfront homeowners hope to create Infographic by Lauren Holliday ©Malibu Magazine 2019

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a 100-foot-wide beach and 60-footwide sand dune system to serve as a buffer between the ocean and the houses. “We’re very proud of the project,” Ehrlich said, noting the Broad Beach Living Shoreline project will not only implement a phased shoreline restoration, it will also restore the dunes that once graced the beach. “However, we cannot implement it until a dispute is resolved regarding assessments between the GHAD and two property owners. We anticipate that will occur in October when a judge approves the proposed settlement or he provides guidance regarding how the assessments should be modified.” The project is estimated to generate 44,000 one-way truck trips over the course of three to five months, once every five years for 20 years and sand will be transported to Malibu by trucks from Grimes Canyon and CEMEX quarries (and a limited amount of sand from the P.W. Gillibrand quarry). All the quarries all located approximately 20 miles inland from Broad Beach. The two main quarries are along State Highway 23 between Fillmore and Moorpark. Ehrlich noted that litigation has been settled between the GHAD and the city of Fillmore and Ventura County regarding heavily loaded sand trucks traversing across State Highway 23 and the GHAD made a contractual settlement that no sand-hauling trucks from the project would go through Moorpark, or even be staged or parked near the town. Residents are hopeful that one day, Broad Beach will be broad again and that implementation of the project will protect their homes from direct ocean wave attack and damage. Jetties, groins, revetments and sand walls, all are some of man’s desperate efforts to forestall an ever surging sea, efforts to armor beaches that ultimately deprive nearby beaches of sand sources, Professor Griggs explained. Those “shoot-oneself-in-the-foot solu-

“Residents of Broad Beach want to restore their beach to how they remember it from the 1970s.”

PATRICK BARNARD A USGS research geologist, Patrick Barnard’s research focuses on storm- and climate-related changes to beaches and estuaries bordering the Pacific Ocean.

tions are not as efficacious as beach replenishment projects such as those developed by Broad Residents.” So what of Surfrider’s advocacy of “soft beach nourishment solutions,” at the Adamson House? Recently, scientists have more strongly advocated using plants or kelp to develop “Living Shorelines,” a term that refers to restoring shoreline habitat with natural elements such as replenishing sand, planting native vegetation, creating marshes, kelp beds, oyster reefs and eelgrass beds, all in an effort to protect the coast from the effects of sea-level rise. “Living shorelines can be used alone in some areas, although they are not very efficacious by themselves where there are consistently strong waves,” Griggs said. “However, they can be combined with hard structures as appropriate to the local geomorphology and ecology.” Griggs noted however that Southern California is highly urbanized with one of the most hardened coastlines in all of the United States, and space is limited. Accordingly, to be successful in areas where their implementation is indicated, living shoreline projects will need to be coupled with the managed removal and realignment of built infrastructure to provide the space needed for coastal ecosystems to function properly.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS FOR MALIBU The economic costs of massive beach erosion also weigh heavily on civic leaders’ minds. With more than 340 miles of coastline, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, greets approximately 67 million to the state’s parks each year. Community and state leaders, non-profit organizations and concerned citizens all are rallying to address all the concerns attributable to Malibu’s shrinking beaches.

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RESTAURANTS

MALIBU’S FOOD SCENE

THE PERILS OF MALIBU’S RESTAURANT INDUSTRY Operating a restaurant in Malibu has always been a daunting task, and since the Woolsey Fire it’s only become more challenging. MALIBU MAGAZINE takes a look at restaurants that are doing well and those that aren’t. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

oth before and after the Woolsey Fire, operating a restaurant in Malibu is daunting, given the seasonal nature of such a business, the availability of fast food, a limited supply of food trucks during the work week in various neighborhoods, food delivery services and the plethora of private chefs who curate delicious cuisine in Malibu homes. The frequency of epicurean enterprises succumbing to financial pressures and shuttering their doors seems endemic. The most recent casualties are Zooma Sushi and Coral Cantina and Cisco Adler’s Malibu Burger Company. Those were preceded by a veritable litany of predecessors, leading Malibuites visiting the Nextdoor Neighbor app and website to write lamenting

posts referring to Malibu’s “restaurant graveyard.” Yet, despite the challenging economic environment in operating a restaurant in Malibu, some venues nevertheless thrive. Malibu Magazine set out to determine what obstacles new and longstanding restaurants grapple with and the secrets to success in the Malibu restaurant industry. Two primary obstacles hinder efforts to open new restaurant venues and to succeed in the business in Malibu – amazingly expensive rent and the permitting process. “Rents are insanely high,” Adler said. “If small businesses, including restaurants, are to succeed in Malibu, landlords need to give local owners a discount similar to the rate that native Hawaiians are afforded.” Public records searches reveal that some restaurants of

moderate size pay upwards of $30,000 monthly lease rates, leading many to wonder how they survive, let alone thrive. Rental payments are not the only concern. Jimmy Chavez, manager of Duke’s Restaurant in Malibu and other restaurant owners noted that when the minimum wage increased, Malibu venues had yet another challenge - keeping the costs competitive while paying the higher wages, while still dealing with the fact that Malibu is relatively remote for lower-wage employees who commute, thus adding to concerns about finding and keeping quality workers. Economic considerations aside, Malibu’s foodscape is ever-changing and unpredictable. One of the secrets to operating a successful food establishment

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KRISTY’S After Kristy’s burned down in the Woolsey Fire, owner’s Greg and Kristy Bashant opened their new roadhouse in time for Fourth of July.

in Malibu is for a venue to offer a niche menu serving cuisine that one cannot get elsewhere in Malibu. Locals know if they want Greek food – good Greek food - Taverna Tony’s is the place to go. Whereas, if they want falafel – good falafel – in an informal setting, then Malibu Mutt’s in Cross Creek is the place to go. Both of those venues have thrived in Malibu for decades. Similarly, Lily’s Café, the go-to place for an excellent, affordable breakfast burrito, is a restaurant that is near and dear to Malibuites’ hearts – many younger Malibuites grew up grabbing breakfast on the fly from the café as they raced to school or work. Those who have a hankering for New York Deli food know that the best place to go is Malibu Kitchen. Ditto if they want Thanksgiving pies – getting them from that restaurant is a Malibu tradition for many. There is a dearth of places in Malibu to hear live music. However, those venues that do so attract loyal locals. If you want to get your karaoke on and enjoy excellent cocktails while doing so, then

NICHOLAS EATERY Malibu’s newest restaurant opened September 4.

it’s Café Habana. If you want to see belly dancing, then it’s Taverna Tony, and if you want to hear locals perform and have some excellent Mexican food, Casa Escobar is the locals’ favorite.

“If restaurants are to succeed in Malibu, landlords need to give local owners a discount. ”

YOU’VE GOT TO BE THERE AND CARE Having an on-site managerial style is another component of operating a successful restaurant in Malibu, according to Greg Bashant who, along with his wife, Kristy Apana Bashant, operate Kristy’s Restaurant and Kristy’s Roadhouse Grill in Trancas Country Mart, two venues that are thriving. “Being successful in the restaurant business in Malibu means being handson - either Kristy or I, or both of us, are always there to greet customers,” Greg said. “We ensure that we offer the best menus with foods that customers want and we listen to our customers - we’re very excited that Kristy’s Roadhouse has just gotten its liquor license and that we can sponsor the Friday night concerts for a few more weeks – we know that locals

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BROADSTREET OYSTER Ever since opening Broadstreet Oyster just a couple of months ago the restaurant, located in the old Malibu Burger Company location, has been receiving raving reviews from locals and tourists alike.

love being able to have a glass of wine with their meals and if they can hear local bands while doing so, all the better.” Greg and Kristy are resilient. Their first Roadhouse on Kanan burned to the ground in the Woolsey Fire – the only restaurant to be totally destroyed in the inferno. Undaunted, they tenaciously and patiently pursued getting a permit to open their new Roadhouse just in time for the Fourth of July. The venue offers barbeque and burgers in a comfortable setting and serves food to go. Resilience is appreciated by Malibu locals and no restauranteur in Malibu is more resilient than Lily Castro, owner of Lily’s Restaurant. Castro opened her establishment when she was still in her teens and locals remember her pushing her daughter in her stroller to and from work, all the while being a single mother, an entrepreneur and taking lessons to become English-fluent. Despite the terrible tragedy of losing her daughter to cancer several months ago, Castro is back in her restaurant visiting with customers and greeting them. While she, of

“Being successful in the restaurant business in Malibu means being hands-on.”

course, offers excellent food, much of her success is also attributable to the fact that she is one of Malibu’s own and locals know and care about her. The owners of Nicolas Eatery, similarly showed grit, gravitas and grace as they waited for permitting and construction. The venue opened on September 4 in east Malibu and when MALIBU MAGAZINE visited, the place was full of happy customers. The eatery offers fresh, fast French-influenced fare that is both delicious and reasonably priced. “We are a family of five who operated a food truck while we waited for our brick and mortar location to open during the permitting and construction processes,” said Nicolas Fanucci. “We believe that our values are the same as the locals in Malibu and in meeting us, people recognized that – it’s ultimately why we were able to make it through.” Despite the challenges of opening a restaurant in Malibu, some establishments take the market by storm, such as Broad Street Oyster Company. “We came into Malibu just two months ago

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ABOVE Duke’s chef Calvin Holladay prepares fresh fish for the day. BELOW General Manager of Duke’s, Jimmy Chavez.

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and every day, we are blessed with a full line as soon as we open,” said Christopher Tompkins, founder and owner of the restaurant. “The secret is that we serve fish that is of the absolute highest quality and freshness in a casual setting. Very few restaurants do that, and the few that do so fail to execute their food production like we do.” Tompkins and Chef Alex Jermasek make sure to greet customers, offer streamlined service and ensure the vibe of the restaurant is relaxing and fun. “I had been searching for an amazing lobster roll and Broad Street delivers,” said Malibuite Brian Petrie. “I’ve been here about twelve times since they opened and it is hand-down the absolute best – better than anything I’ve had on the East Coast.” Offering simple eats that are consistently delicious – that seems to be one recipe for success in Malibu. At the end of the day, Malibu residents, like residents from most cities, are loyal when the food is good, but they stay away when the food is not up to par. When non-corporate venues are operated by locals who are involved in the community, they also seem to be more likely to thrive in Malibu. “Duke’s in Malibu is a local site and I and my wife are locals,” Chavez said. “We love to serve visitors of course, but we love locals, we hire locals and we are very active in the community of Malibu because that’s what it’s all about.” Duke’s, like Malibu Kitchen, Kristy’s and D’Amore’s pizza locations, served first responders and locals after the Woolsey Fire, attempting to give back to the community and to help people dealing with desperately dire circumstances. “Duke’s supports Malibu in many ways, including continuing to support the victims of the fire by co-hosting the Chamber’s monthly Rebuild Malibu Together mixers that provide a free dinner and drinks to homeowners who lost their homes so they can take a break and enjoy the sunset and meet local builders,” said Barbara Bruderlin, CEO of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce. Locals remember such generosity and loyalty and pa-

“We love to serve visitors of course, but we love locals, we hire locals and we are very active in the community. ”

CALVIN HOLLADAY Holladay works as Chef of Duke’s restaurant.

tronize venues that give back to Malibu. Chavez remembers living through the Woolsey Fire with his customers. “In the first few days of the fire, our parking lot was full of hundreds of people and we kept people fed and we served as a hub for helping Malibuites get information,” Chavez said. “It was a local effort and one of the most endearing things that I remember was when Joe D’Amore, who was tirelessly serving pizzas and sandwiches to first responders at his two pizza places, took the time late on one of the nights right after the fire to bring my crew pizza – we were so grateful and it helped us all remember that we were all in it together.” D’Amore’s Pizza has two locations in Malibu, one in the PC Greens complex and one at Pt. Dume Plaza. As with all Malibu businesses, after the Woolsey Fire, the venues were slow because many Malibuites who lost homes were not staying in town. However, D’Amore’s, like the locals they’ve served for years, hung in there and, indeed, Christiana D’Amore, with the help of her husband, is opening Café D’Amore in the Park. The new venue will feature healthy foods, entrees and salads. “Café D’Amore means café of love,” Christiana said. “We are looking forward to opening that venue soon and we are so grateful to have so much support from locals for our two pizza locations that are picking up again and for our new restaurant.” Despite the vagaries of the local economy and the seasonal nature of tourism, Malibu’s restaurant scene has launched some success stories that extends far beyond Malibu. Local Helene Henderson’s Malibu Farm opened as a pop-up on the Malibu Pier in 2014 featuring ingredients from Henderson’s Malibu ranch. Henderson’s restaurant empire now has seven locations to date spanning across the U.S., the most recent being at Pier 17 in lower Manhattan which opened on September 4. MALIBU MAGAZINE asked Henderson why her restaurant succeeds in Malibu while many others struggle or fail. “This

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MALIBU FARM Perhaps one of the biggest international success stories to come out of the Malibu restaurant scene, Malibu Farm has eight locations to date including Cabo, Lanai, Miami, New York and Tokyo. The restaurant originally started as a pop-up on the Malibu Pier where owner, Helene Henderson served dishes made with ingredients sourced from her own backyard.

has been an incredibly difficult year for all local businesses,” Henderson said. “From the fires to the massive rains, and then grey, gloomy mornings all summer, it has not been easy. To survive in Malibu, you need a healthy mix of locals, day visitors and international tourism, a lot of which is dependent on good weather. It is also necessary to plan and anticipate for the slow season, while maximizing in the high season – if you do not plan for the slower season, it can be hard to survive, especially after a year like we just had.” Henderson discussed other challenges faced by those who operate a restaurant in Malibu. “Retaining staff has always been a major priority for us, and a part of our success has been holding on to a large number of our employees –many of our team members have been here since the day we opened.” MALIBU MAGAZINE asked Henderson about her perceptions of what Malibu locals want with regard to restaurant fare. “I think most customers want to find a menu that includes something healthy, gluten free, and vegan as well as some more traditional offerings like a burger. We aim to cook for the variety of guests that may come to our restaurant and recognize that not all of our guests are foodies,” Henderson said. “Everyone wants a good price, including the restaurants, because we want to offer the most affordable price point. However, it is very hard to keep the prices where we like them to be because our costs continue to rise and sometimes, it can be frustrating when customers say our food is expensive when they do not grasp the costs of operating – I think every restaurant in Malibu aims to give the best quality food at the best possible price.” Like other successful restaurants in Malibu, Henderson focuses on the basics. “We work to set goals for ourselves – offering simple, healthy foods with lots of vegetables and salads.” That is a recipe for success in Malibu, a hub of

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health-conscious thought leaders who want organic food. A good number of Malibuites are vegetarians or vegans who are environmentally conscious and who favor menus featuring dishes made with fresh, locally grown produce. A relative newcomer to the market, Café de la Plage, also has found its niche by offering healthy cuisine. If customers are looking for some of Malibu’s best vegan breakfast and lunch options or for vegan ice cream, Café de la Plage is the goto spot, as the Los Angeles Times recently recognized when it honored the establishment as one of the best vegan ice cream spots in all of L.A. Khalil Rafati, another local success story opened Sun Life Organics. The author of “I Forgot to Die,” a story about Rafati’s near-death experiences when in the depths of drug-induced despair, has found a highly successful niche in Malibu. “We wanted a place where people could go for organic juices, organic smoothies, organic salads, organic everything really,” Rafati said. “But beyond that, we wanted a place where we could come together and re-connect as a community - we wanted to hire kids from the local community and provide a fun, safe and sober environment for them to learn, grow and thrive.” Nate Heydari’s three mainstay establishments in Malibu - Bui Sushi, Ollo and Ollie’s Duck & Dive – each feature interesting cuisine and customer-friendly menus. Ollo, located where Coogie’s used to be, offers some of the dishes that locals enjoyed from that restaurant as well as fresh salads, omelets and fare with a Mediterranean twist, while Ollie’s Duck & Dive is a locals hangout that hosts local bands. Bui Sushi has been a favorite sushi spot in Malibu for thirteen years and, except for the chain restaurant, Nobu, is the best place to get sushi in Malibu now that Zooma Sushi has closed. “Malibu residents want a good value,” said Kaya Ramos, who manages Heydari’s three restaurants. “The main reason we are successful is that we focus on serving consistently good food and providing ex-

OLLO, BUI SUSHI & OLLIE’S DUCK AND DIVE Owned by Nate Heydari, the Malibu restaurant trifecta is among Malibu’s most popular, especially for locals.

cellent service, while offering a high-end, yet family-friendly ambiance.” Overall, an epicurean excursion across the community reveals that the secret to having a successful restaurant in Malibu is to focus on the community and to listen to what locals want - they know their town and they know how they want their foodscape to be – healthy, organic whenever possible, innovative and at an affordable price point. MM

SUNLIFE The smoothie chain has been rapidly expanding since its opening.

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SHEILA MOROVATI

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER Change maker, Sheila Morovati has worked tirelessly on projects ranging from the Crayon Collection to the plastic straw ban in Malibu. Now she is turning her focus to her newest project #CutOutCutlery. ✎ written by Josie Lionetti

“ CRAYON COLLECTION Sheila Morovati’s Crayon Collection collects leftover crayons from restaurants and donates them to schools within a 5 mile radius. The organization has donated over 14 million crayons to date.

guess people call me a change maker. I am more of a go-getter, I don’t like to follow the grain.” Going against the grain is something environmental activist, and Palisades resident Sheila Morovati practically invented. In April of this year, Morovati founded Habits of Waste, a non-profit organization behind movements such as the single-use plastic straw ban in Malibu and most recently, a new initiative known as #CutOutCutlery. The goal of the organization is to encourage people to rethink their habits of waste, and become HoW changers. Morovati originally had intentions to go into marketing and advertising and has a sociology background from UCLA. She

photograph by Rich Polk MALIBU MAGAZINE

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photographs by Rich Polk

VISITING CLASSROOMS The Crayon Collection not only collects and donates crayons but they also go to schools to visit with kids in person.

never made a conscious decision to make the move into environmental activism— but rather it fell into her lap. While eating out with her family, she grew tired of the amount of crayon waste she was seeing. “I couldn’t stand it anymore...we would get four crayons each time and my daughter wouldn’t use them, and I would see them get thrown away,” Morovati said. “I knew schools needed those and knew there were kids who would really yearn for a crayon and here we are just tossing them.” To help mitigate the 150 million crayons wasted each year, Morovati started “Crayon Collection” in 2009. The organization collects the leftover crayons from restaurants and donates them locally within a 5 miles radius. Crayon Collection has been able to implement their crayon saving system in almost every single state, nine countries, and has donated over 14

million crayons to date. But Crayon Collection was just the beginning for the changes Morovati was about to make. Her next project was one that the residents of Malibu know all too well—the plastic straw ban. The waste she noticed at the restaurants was not exclusive to crayons, and also encompassed plastic straws, cutlery, and stirrers. “I would notice cups of water going around and a plastic straw in each one and almost every single time I would wonder if anyone ordered that water or anyone asked for that straw,” Morovati said. While single-use plastic waste is a global issue, Morovati felt a massive disconnect with the ocean-oriented mentality of Malibu and the amount of waste occurring in its restaurants and stores. “I knew the city of Malibu as this iconic beach community, and it seemed odd to see so much single-use plastic in a city

that cares so much for the ocean,” Morovati said. What Morovtati saw in Malibu, was only a small glimpse into the sheer amount of plastic straws being wasted, with one estimate suggesting 500 million plastic straws being used every single day in the U.S alone. So, she decided to do something about it. Morovati partnered friend Andrea Arria-Devoe who is an executive producer on a documentary titled “STRAWS.” Morovati saw the screening of the film as an opportunity to educate the Malibu City Council on the issue of single-use plastic straws. “I didn’t want to do a typical screening just for fun—I wanted to make some real change,” Morovati said. So, Morovati presented the film to the Malibu City Council and brought in everyone involved in the film’s creation. “If people knew why this (single-use plastic) was so bad they would want to be a part of it and there wouldn’t be so much pushback,” Morovati said. After the council watched the film and heard from a panel of experts, Morovati asked for the straw ban, and it was a unanimous decision among the council to approve it. On June 1, 2018, the ban went into effect. “Before we knew it, [there] was a straw, cutlery and plastic stirrers ban around the city,” Morovati said. The Starbucks locations in Malibu were the first in the world to serve paper straws. Morovati saw the straw ban in Malibu as a chance to ignite change not only locally, but around the world. “If Malibu does it, why won’t the rest of the world follow,” Morovati asked. “After Malibu’s plastic straw ban passed it was almost a domino effect with the plastic straw ban happening everywhere.” Having lived in Malibu for 25 years, Morovati knows the city and believes that its community cares deeply about the environment, the ocean, and the marine life. “My theory is that people really want to do the right thing,” Morovati said. “I don’t think people are deliberately trying to harm the planet, they just don’t know or have the right resources or systems in

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place, which is why #CutOutCutlery is so important right now.” #CutOutCutlery is a new initiative aimed at helping reduce the 40 trillion pieces of plastic cutlery that are thrown away each year. “The problem lies in the social norm being that everyone gets plastic cutlery-you expect it when you order in,” Morovati said. “But even when you try and break that, the person filling the order is also part of that norm--so that person needs to have a shifted mentality of how to make the order right without making mistakes.” This idea stems from a concept called choice architecture, which emphasizes that default options matter. An example of this was highlighted by researchers Dan Goldstein and Eric Johnson when they sought to see how influential default options can be. In their book “Nudge,” Goldstein and Johnson looked at the effects of default options when it came to organ donation rates. They found that when the default option was to not be an organ donor, meaning the participant had to change a selection from being ‘not a donor’ to ‘donor’ only 42 percent of people opted to do so. However, when switching the default option to be a donor, with a choice to opt-out, 82 percent of people consented to organ donation. This opt-in versus opt-out setting is an integral part of societal behavior, and Morovati believes we will see as significant of an impact on plastic cutlery that Goldstein and Johnson saw with organ donation. “It was almost like an experiment; would we be able to shift behavior, would we be able to shift societies understanding of what trash is,” Morovati said. Morovati pitched the idea to the environmental team at UberEats who she says are trying to come up with ways to reduce waste. “This was an idea they liked and so they implemented it in 10 cities,” Morovati said. The pilot was conducted on April 22, which coincided with Earth Day. “The pilot went really well, so good things are coming,” Morovati said. Morovati believes once #CutOutCutlery is implemented first with UberEats, other food delivery companies like PostMates and Grubhub will follow.

“Sometimes you think you need more than you actually do.” “We aren’t asking for no cutlery, but asking to just give people the chance,” Morovati said. “Restaurants will benefit because they will spend less money--it makes everyone happy.” The #CutOutCutlery campaign has an activation link on their website so individuals around the country can participate. With one click, they can email UberEats, Postmates, and GrubHub and ask to shift the setting. “We need to let these companies know we care about the environment and all we are asking for is an opportunity to give us a chance to do better if we can,” Morovati said. The next step for Morovati involves trying to pass a bill that would make all plastic cutlery be available by request only. If this bill is passed in California, Morovati is optimistic other states will follow California’s example. For people looking to make changes in their lives to reduce their plastic waste,

photograph by Ben Gibbs

ABOVE Sheila Morovati with friends at the Habits of Waste launch party.

Morovati emphasizes “refusal, refusal, refusal.” “Refusal is my favorite thing,” Morovati said. “Sometimes you think you need more than you actually do.” Morovati often hears from those around her about going wastefree as trendy, but expensive. She hopes to dismiss this misconception. “My friend had a glass jar on her counter and I told her to save that empty jar because it can be useful for so many things,” Morovati said. ”You don’t have to buy so much to be waste-free.” Morovati acknowledged a noticeable shift in the perception surrounding going waste-free, such as bringing your own glass container, to-go cup or grocery bag. Morovati explained that she could have never expected her idea for the crayons to have turned into so many other sustainability initiatives that have had global impacts. “The crayons happened because it was a thorn in my side, and I had an experience as a 9-year-old when I was in Mexico, seeing what the kids on the street would do for a balloon I had and how much it meant to them to have a balloon,” Morovati said. “So just imagine four crayons—it would change their world,” Morovati said. Her latest action involves donating 500,000 crayons to the children currently stuck in border facilities. “We have already sent crayons and we heard back that the art the kids create with the crayons have helped them get through such a difficult time,” Morovati said. “The only thing we have to give is crayons and paper, at least they can use those to create.” For Morovati, it all comes down to shifting social norms and making small changes, whether that is refusing plastic cutlery, or bringing your own bag to the grocery store. “I’m not expecting people to be completely waste-free because it’s a tall order, what I’m saying is where can you find your habits of waste and how can you be a “HoW MM changer?”

To learn more, visit: crayoncollection.org habitsofwaster.org

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2 5

Grape Stomping

Food Festival

3 June Lake

Santa Cruz

Ghost Town

6 Salvation Mt.

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GETAWAYS

6 UNIQUE FALL ROAD TRIPS Hit the road this fall and discover all the beautiful, slightly-weird, historic and colorful places California has to offer. ✎ written by Leila Anawalt & Julie Wuellner

3 Hours Away

1. FOR FANS OF THE OLD WEST

Visit a Ghost Town Looking for a spook this Halloween season? Why not explore some of Southern California’s infamous ghost towns. Whether you’re hoping for a sighting of a pistol-whipping ghost or just looking for a glimpse into how people used to live, ghost towns let you literally walk through an era frozen in time. Indeed a visit to a ghost town doesn’t have to be eerie at all; they also can provide interesting historical context. One of the most famous is Calico, a former silver mining town only a three-hour drive from Malibu. The town quickly fell into ruin when the value of silver started plummeting in the 1800’s, and has been abandoned since 1907. Pioneertown is another great bet. Also about three hours away, Pioneertown wasn’t ever an actual town, but instead a Western movie set studios utilized during the 1940’s. Calico, CA | www.calicoattractions.com

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7 Hours Away

2. FOR THE WINE-LOVER

Go Grape Stomping Take a roadtrip just less than 7 hours up the coast and inland to the beautiful wine country. Fall is an exceptional time to make the trip, as Napa thrives this time of year with fun events and exceptional wine. The Fall Harvest Party on October 12 at the Reynold’s Family Winery is a legendary event in the area, and one of the best ways to celebate the harvest season. Some others include the Harvest BBQ at Rutherford Ranch Winery on September 28 and the Great Grape Stomp on October 19 at Conn Creek Winery. These festivities create the perfect opportunity to drive up to Napa and indulge in the celebration of the season. Once there, you can also experience Napa’s amazing food, culture, and of course, fine wine. Another reason to drive up to Napa in the fall is the region’s beautiful foliage. Napa Valley, CA | www.napavalley.com

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FALL

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5.5 Hours Away

3. FOR THE OUTDOORSY TYPE

A Weekend in June Lake The scenefic June Lake Loop in Mono County is just less than a 6 hour road trip north, and offers visitors access to half a dozen different lakes, plenty of camping opportunities and, this time of year, exceptional fall foliage. Trade the seasonless climate here in L.A. for a serene autumn getaway in nature for a weekend. The trees in June Lake offer beautiful colors as the seasons change, and beckons visitors to find themselves in the stunning atmosphere. Take the opportunity to hike June Mountain and trek through beautiful trees to catch a glimpse of the exceptional view at the top or take a boat out fishing on one of the many lakes. Of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to treat yourself on vacation, and the Creekside Spa offers amenities to relax and rejuvenate. If you have extra time, June Lake is only about an hour away from the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park which is especially beautiful during fall. June Lake, CA | www.junelakeloop.org

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5.5 Hours Away

4. FOR THE SURFER

Surf a Monster Wave Santa Cruz offers beautiful sights, beaches, and waves for visitors, making it an especially appealing destination for surfers. Whether you’re advanced or just beginning, Santa Cruz can provide an unforgettable surfing experience. In fact, Santa Cruz is the birthplace of mainland surfing in the USA, which you can learn more about at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. For avid surfers with a bit more experience, The Hook or Pleasure Point are two beautiful point breaks. For beginners, Cowell’s surf spot is the wave for you with a long, gentle ride. Another draw to Santa Cruz, especially in the fall, is the fact it’s only an hour away from Half Moon Bay. This means that you have a chance of seeing the world famous Mavericks surf break in its prime. This is one of the largest, most dangerous waves in the world and is a true wonder to witness. 4000 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

6.5 Hours Away

5. FOR THE FOODIE

Street Food Festival If you consider yourself a foodie, head up to San Francisco for the La Cocina Street Food Festival on October 12. La Cocina is a non-profit organization with a goal of supporting and cultivating low-income food entrepreneurs as they grow their business. The event, now in its 10th year, will feature 40+ established and up-and-coming chefs and restaurants from the Bay Area, as well as music and other local entertainment. While you can get tickets at the door, we recommend ordering them in advance as its possible for the popular event to sell out. Of course, once you’re in San Francisco there’s countless incredible places to eat outside of the Street Food Festival. Some top picks include the China Live’s Market Restaurant for delicious pan-fried shen jian boa in a sleek modern setting or Bix for classic California favorites and old-school cocktails served by waiters clad in white jackets. If you like creative dim sum, newcomer Dragon Beaux is not to be missed. 2948 Folsom St., San Franciso, CA | www.lacocinasf.org

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5 Hours Away

6. FOR SPIRITUAL ART LOVER

See Salvation Mountain Salvation Mountain is a hill located in Niland California, “dedicated to God and his unconditional love.” The hill isn’t just any other hill though, as its completely covered in brilliant colors of paint, with the message “GOD IS LOVE”. It is a spectacle of art and attracts many roadtrippers all throughout the year. Tourists can observe, walk upon and around the hil, which is a great place to take pictures. One can’t help but be enlightened as they admire the art piece. The beautifully-painted mountain is a site to see as the multicolored hill contrasts against the tan desert and blue sky. The location is also conveniently located in close to Palm Springs. 603 Beal Rd., Niland, CA | www.salvationmountaininc.org

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SALVATION MOUNTAIN Dedicated to the message that “God is love” Salvation Mountain in Niland, CA, is open all year for tourists.

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MARIA MANUEL Malibu-based private chef Maria Manuel spends most of her time cooking for Malibu residents like architect Richard Landry. A chef for 13 + years, Manuel specializes in paleo, organic and anti-inflammatory cuisine. For our fall issue, we got together with Manuel who created us a delicious, heart-warming and incredibly healthy roasted root vegetable salad to share with our readers.

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READER RECIPE

FALL

MARIA MANUEL

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE SALAD I’m a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef specializing in paleo, organic and anti-inflammatory cuisine. In my youth I experienced several health conditions that have now shaped my approach to nourishment. I also acknowledge the need for balance in our daily lives. Malibu has been my home for over a decade and this quick and delicious fall recipe reflects Malibu’s easy, breezy, clean atmosphere of health and happiness. The ingredients used are not only delicious but also good for you with plenty of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, not to mention prebiotics essential to gut health. My recipe for life: A teaspoon of consciousness A cup of joy A slice of nourishment A heap of respect A dash of magic

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INGREDIENTS 2 yams 2 beets 4 parsnips 4 carrots 2 thyme sprigs 2 rosemary sprigs Avocado oil for drizzling Sea salt to taste Micro arugula or greens

Photography by Julie Wuellner

1 cup onion 3 cloves garlic 2 thyme sprigs 2 rosemary sprigs Handful of finely chopped chives 1 tbsp dijon mustard 1/2 cup avocado oil 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp maple syrup Sea salt & pepper

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FALL

STEP 1 Preheat oven to 450 & pepare a baking dish with parchment paper. Peel vegetables and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Carrots can be left whole with tops. Rind and dice the squash. Repeat the steps with the sweet potato and onion. Toss vegetables separately in olive oil, sea salt and pepper and place on baking vessel.

STEP 4 Plate the vegetables, alternating bright colors and spoon on the balsamic dressing.

STEP 5 Garnish with fresh chives and microgreens. Serve warm or room temperature. Happy Fall!

STEP 2 Bake the vegetables for 15 minutes uncovered until fork tender and golden brown.

STEP 3 While the vegetables are baking, sautee onions with sea salt, thyme, rosemary and pepper until translucent. Add the minced garlic, stir and remove from heat. Whisk in the dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, avocado oil and maple syrup. Taste before serving and set aside until vegetables are roasted

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE SALAD This roasted vegetable salad is not only hearty and seasoned to perfection, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also beautiful and colorful making it the perfect side dish for any fall event you may be headed to.

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GIDGET When looking at Malibu’s surf history there are few who have made an impact as significant as Kathy Kohner Zukerman, aka “Gidget”.

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SURFING

AN ODE TO SURFING

BACK IN THE HEYDAY Malibu and the surf culture are intertwined to the point that it can be hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. We take a look at how it all started. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

t’s an obsession. It’s a lifestyle. It’s almost a religion. It’s definitely a culture. Surfing is integral to the essence of Malibu and, quite literally, contributed to “putting Malibu on the map.” Over time, the configuration of Malibu’s iconic First Point, and its Second and Third Points have changed at the hand of nature and at the hand of man. See Article on page 40 discussing the effects of climate change on Malibu’s beaches. The popularity of various lengths of surf boards also have changed, as have the music and the apparel now integral to a surfing lifestyle. However, the visceral rush of catching, as Kathy Kohner Zukerman, aka “Gidget,” an iconic matriarch of surfing, would say, “a

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SURFING

bitchin’ wave,” the sheer terror of a wipeout, the thrill of barely - and often, miraculously - avoiding one. The sense that one must be a respectful and dutiful, lifelong learner of tides to surf correctly, to read the waves correctly, to understand the physics going on below, above and just beyond one’s surfboard - all of those fluid dynamics have not changed, and it is on the heels of those constants that seasoned surfers steadfastly adhere to, adore, and are addicted to. However, as younger surfers learn their craft and as older surfers reminisce, once in awhile, it’s fun to look back at where it all began and at what engendered the surfing craze with its beach blanket movies, surfing music and lifestyle craze. Tom Blake and Sam Reid first rode Malibu in September 1926, according to local lore, thus planting the seed for Malibu to become the epicenter of surfing, both the sport and the culture. Blake and Reid took the dirt road from Santa Monica and stopped before the Rindge’s gate at Las Flores which bore an imposing No Trespassing sign. They entered the water with their 10’ redwoods and paddled to the pristine beach at Malibu Point, in those days as deserted and private as a South Sea island. Malibu was very sparsely populated and as Tom Reid once said, “there was no audience but the seagulls.” After the Malibu Motion Picture Colony was established west of Malibu Point (now Surfrider Beach) in 1926, actor Ronald Colman built #16 Malibu Colony. Duke Kahanamoku, namesake of the current Malibu restaurant Duke’s, was a great friend of Ronald Colman, and starred with him in motion pictures, and was often seen at Coleman’s cottage in the Colony in the late 1920s with his board heading for Malibu Point. Why has there always been such an obsession about Malibu given that there are many other waves that thrill surfers? Malibu is uniquely positioned, facing south, in a hook in the coast nestled between Santa Monica to the east and Ventura County to the west. Between May and September, South Pacific storms consistently deliver up to four-foot waves. In times past, the Point was nourished by sand carried south down the coast. However, with

“SURFING WAS A LITTLE OUT THERE. I LOVED THE ADVENTURE.”

climate change, those days are no longer. Surfrider Beach affords three right-hand point break waves – First Point works through the tidal range, becoming more hollow as the tide drops, yet keeping its long wall, while Second and Third Points operate on a mid-tide, all to the thrill of surfers who come back for more and more and more. These days, when one walks into Duke’s Restaurant in Malibu on Taco Tuesday or for Sunday brunch, they are met by . . . Gidget! Yes! Gidget. Now 78, she is delightful and dynamic and has served as the venue’s ambassador of Aloha for seventeen years. MALIBU MAGAZINE sat down with Gidget to reminisce about how a once obscure sport transformed surfing into a culture that swept America, caught on worldwide, and markedly changed Malibu forever. Diminutive, delightful and a true dynamo, Gidget animatedly talks about her magical summers that inspired a book by her father, Frederick Kohner, then a movie, and then, a movement. “When I surfed, we didn’t call it “Surfrider,” Gidget said. “Rather, we called it “The Bu.” My mother and father always used to take us to the beach and my experiences that my father wrote about in the book were when I was in that awkward age when one is an adolescent and is not quite yet at adulthood – it’s that time in your youth when you’re trying to figure life out.” Gidget reflects on her infatuation with Moondoggie and how she could hold her own with Kahuna, the troupe’s leader.

Her depiction of Malibu’s beaches back then paint an image of idyllic, pristine beaches and free-flowing surfing. A hodgepodge of ramshackle lean-to shacks that were randomly scattered along the beaches, with surfboards at the ready, were all the structures along Malibu’s coastline, except of course, for the iconic Adamson House built by the Rindge family, pioneers of Malibu who helped settle the area. No million-dollar mansions. No paparazzi. No commercialization of surfing. Definitely no Nobu or Soho House. Just free-spirited freedom and summers full of unfettered latitude to hang out and enjoy the waves. They were more delicate, uncomplicated times and they defined the genesis of the surf culture. “Surfing was a little out there,” Gidget said. “It was a little unusual and I guess that’s why I liked it so much – I loved the adventure and the freedom.” So, what was Malibu like back in the day? In 1967, Miki Dora reminisced, “Malibu is my perfect wave. And, when it’s right, it’s right in the palm of my hand – these waves will never change, only the people – and that’s what I remember, the waves I ride.” In 1994, Terry “Tubesteak” Tracy recalled, “The wave is great. I surfed it, but mostly what I did (in the late ‘50’s) was run the beach. Going to Malibu – it was an event. It was the waves, and the people, and the place, the whole thing. All of it. When Tinkerbell flies through the air, sparkles come down behind her, magic sparkles. Malibu is covered with that stuff. Malibu was the majors.” It was Tubesteak, the ringleader of a host of surfing beach bums that may have nicknamed Kathy Kohner, “Gidget” after she traded him a peanut butter sandwich for his surfboard. “He has said he recalls coining the nickname,” Gidget said. “However, I don’t have an exact entry in my diaries about who did so.” In any event, the name stuck and sixty years ago, Gidget the movie was released. To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the movie, Zuckerman attended an event at Laemmie’s Ahrya Fine Arts in Beverly Hills where a documentary of her life and the era premiered. “Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story” The clothes have changed and the boards have changed and technology has an impact

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HOME + DESIGN SPECIAL

NOWADAYS Most days Gidget can be found happily greeting guests at Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant where she has served as the Ambassador of Aloha for 17 years. MALIBU MAGAZINE

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THE SHACK Back in the day, the only buildings by the beach aside from the

Adamson house were a series of ramshackle shacks with surfboards at the ready.

now, Gidget noted. However, there is nothing like the visceral experience of catching a wave, becoming one with it, living within it and living to tell the tale. Even the waves have changed. Nature has her role and recently, Surfrider Beach, home of iconic First, Second and Third Points and, ground central for Gidget’s transforming experiences, has succumbed to unprecedented erosion. To learn more about how surfing served as a catalyst to many of her generation coming of age, read Gidget, The Little Girl with Big Ideas, by Frederick Kohner, a book that catalyzed surfing’s transition from being a pastime of a few rather rag-tag youth, to an obsession of many. Like Gidget’s magical summers, for author William Finnegan, who grew up surfing in Malibu and Hawaii, surfing provided a frame of reference, a constant Northern Star, a platform for growing up. Surfing became inherent in Finnegan’s ethos, essential to his being, and transformed into a lifelong obsession that is a part of his soul.

“My parents used to drop us off in Malibu on Summer days and we’d surf all day long,” Finnegan said. “Back then, the beaches were dotted with shacks, often owned by single dads.” Finnegan’s Barbarian Days, A Surfing Life, recounts the author’s life-long search for the perfect wave, the most excellent experience, the meaning of life, the mark of a man. The book was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for an autobiography and the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. However, like Gidget and, indeed, surfers generally, it would be unwise to think that one could grasp the essence of either surfers or surfing in a quick read. One cannot merely take Finnegan’s book to the beach and read it on a lazy afternoon. Au contraire. The tome is hundreds of pages long, and like any good set of waves, it provides a helluva ride, gives one pause at times, leaves one in awe at others and truthfully speaks of tribulation and jubilation and everything in between. In short, the book personifies the essence of Malibu’s surfing tradition – the quest for the best wave and for

reveling in the ethos of surfing is a life-long journey. Life-long Malibu lifeguards Dick Haddock and his son, Lorry, know well how wonderful surfing and the beaches were back in the day when Zuma Beach was dotted with movie stars’ houses and, as depicted in the book about Gidget, surfers had little, lean-to huts and the sport was more counter-culture than mainstream. “The County bought six houses on Zuma Beach sometime between 1946 and 1948,” Dick said. “Clark Gable and Robert Taylor were some of the old stars that were around.” Back then, Zuma Beach had sand dunes, and between seventy-five to one hundred feet of beach and 12-foot berms, Dick recounted. “It was a quiet life for the lifeguards and I and my family rented a home on Zuma Beach for $37.50 a month in County housing,” Dick said. “There was no Kanan Road until the 1970’s; there was only Malibu Canyon Road.” Quiet, that is, until one evening when none other than Spencer Tracy suffered a heart attack, Dick recounted, “Katherine Hepburn was almost hysterical, understandably.” No ambulance for Tracy. No. Rather, he called his doctor and “just a few minutes later, a helicopter came to the beach to take him to the hospital,” Dick said. “He pulled through it and, a week later, a long black limousine came up to the guard station and the driver delivered a twenty-pound box of See’s candy and relayed Mr. Tracy’s sincere thanks.” Dick retired in 1987 and Lorry carried on the lifeguard legacy, becoming a permanent life guard in 1988. Over time, Malibu and its surfers changed, beaches became overcrowded, and surfing became mainstream and a focal point in a generation’s making its mark on the world. Long boards were avant garde, then short boards, then again, both. Now, beaches are dotted with stand up paddles, surfers and tourists. Through all of those transitions, Lorry and others saved lives. Today, surfing is a sport that high-schoolers participate in and Malibu High School is a leader. The sport teaches young people grit, gumption and guts. Some things never change. Surfing reverberates through generations, takMM ing us all on a swell ride.

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MAKE THIS SEASON A TIME OF RENEWAL SO RENEW YOUR HEALTH, YOUR FITNESS

29575 PACIFIC COAST HWY MALIBU, CA 90265

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310.457.5220

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GORJANA

DREAM TEAM With gorjana, husband-and-wife duo Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel are redefining the contemporary jewelry space.

Photography by Julie Wuellner

✎ written by Holly Bieler  photographed by Julie Wuellner

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Photography by Julie Wuellner

COVERSHOPPING STORY

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CHIC YET TIMELESS In just 15 years, gorjana has become a top contemporary jewelry line on the market, known for their beautiful yet affordable pieces.

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MALIBU VILLAGE Gorjana’s 11th store opened in the Malibu Village in early August. Gorjana and Jason have a history in Malibu — Jason graduated Pepperdine Law School, and the couple livied in Paradise Cove in their twenties.

f you passed them on the street and didn’t know them, you could hardly be faulted for taking an instant disliking to Gorjana Reidel and Jason Griffin Reidel. The husbandand-wife team behind Laguna Beachbased jewelry brand gorjana are the kind of good-looking that just invites sidewalk-envy-turned-scorn; are both blue-eyed and tall and have the mega-watt smiles of models, which they used to be. Add to this the incredible success of gorjana, which has grown into a multi-million-dollar company since it was founded in 2004, now employing over 150 employees and available at 1,000+ retailers worldwide, and the Reidels start to sound like the kind of annoyingly-perfect people you might stick on a vision board, but are definite-

ly not trying to hang out with any time soon. What’s even more insufferable? They’re not like that at all. Disarmingly down-to-earth, the Reidels are warm and funny in a way that’s impossible to begrudge, quick to laugh, charmingly self-effacing and both possessed of that most magical yet rare of Southern Californian attributes: laidback, but not in an annoying way. However if here are many things towards which the Reidels demonstrate an almost infectious laidback calm, about just as much they still find themselves giddy. One of these things is their eleventh brick-and-mortar location, an airy, light-filled space that opened in the Malibu Village last month. The Malibu opening is particularly close to the Reidel’s hearts, and symbolizes something of a culmination of the adolescent

dream which spurred the 15-year adventure which has been gorjana. Standing outside the Malibu store a few days after its opening, Jason tells me the first home he and Gorjana lived in together was in Malibu, a tiny Paradise Cove guesthouse they rented during his final year at Pepperdine Law School, just a few miles from where he’s standing now. He was 25 at the time, Gorjana 22, and on clear mornings they would sit on their doorstep, the spectacular blue of the pacific spanning just a few feet away from them to eternity. At some point, invariably, one or the other would make their running joke at the time. “We would always say, we were peaking [then], living in this amazing guesthouse in Paradise Cove,” Jason said. “I remember thinking, ‘It’s going to be a long climb to get back to this quality

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“WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.”

of life.’” Now with their own store open just a few miles away, I asked Jason if he felt like they’d achieved that climb. “We’re getting there,” Jason said. “Brick by brick.” In many ways, this is how the Reidels built their company; brick by brick, necklace by necklace, sale by sale. First-time entrepreneurs when they launched gorjana, Gorjana and Jason had no business plan, no funding, and about as little ambition for their fledgling jewelry line when they began selling a small inventory of necklaces in 2004 on consignment at local boutiques. At the time Gorjana and Jason, who originally met as undergraduates at Arizona State University, were in the midst of something of a “finding themselves” period, Jason just having just graduated Pepperdine Law and Gorjana recently taking leave from the Newport Beach fine jewelry designer where she’d worked since graduating ASU. Sure that they didn’t want to pursue traditional 9-5 jobs and buoyed by their shared entrepreneurial spirit, the Reidels stayed up most nights brainstorming ideas for companies; they’d start a men’s skincare company, perhaps, or maybe a sports management firm, specializing in new recruits to the NBA.

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STARTING OUT gorjana began out of Jason and Gorjana’s Laguna Beach apartment. For years, the living room of their one-bedroom rental, above, served as the brand’s headquarters.

IN THE FAMILY Gorjana was initially inspired by her grandmothers, who were skilled artisans.

EXPANDING gorjana’s 4th St. store, in New York City’s West Village.

SOCAL LIFE The brand’s Abbot Kinney store opened in 2017.

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“We knew we wanted to do something ity. With her small collection of pieces, inventory, Gorjana mixing her intuitogether,” said Jason. “But we were kind Gorjana attempted to bridge that gap— tive eye for design and affinity for fine of flying by the seat of our pants.” recreating the sensibilities and craftsconstruction with a burgeoning underAs they began researching top NCAA manship of fine jewelry while utilizing standing of who her clientele was, and recruits and moisturizers, the couple the more affordable materials common the role her pieces could play in their relied on Gorjana’s newfound jewelin contemporary jewelry. lives. ry-making hobby to keep them afloat. “My friends and family loved it and I “A lot of jewelry is hard to make your Developing a passion for the craft while realized I had this niche of having the own,” she said. “It wears you; you don’t working wiyh the Newport Beach jewelquality and beauty that the higher-end wear the jewelry. That’s not how I want ry designer, Gorjana had started going pieces had, but at an accessible price to design for women. Our demographic to downtown L.A. on weekends, purpoint,” she said. is so broad, so I want the pieces to be apchasing gemstones and plated pealing to many different types metals with which she’d craft of people and different ages. delicate necklaces and bracegorjana has a certain aesthetic lets for friends in her downwhere you can meld it to your time. Gorjana loved how the style, wear it how you want, work combined her talent for make it be part of you and fit design with an intuitive grasp into your life.” of construction she’d inherited As the gorjana brand identifrom her father, an engineer. ty matured, the couple began And on late nights, when she cutting their teeth on the busihunched over the loose gems ness end, researching wholeand bits of wire scattered on sale production, erecting a her small working desk, she barebones fulfillment center in was reminded of her childthe living room of their Laguna hood in Serbia, watching as her Beach one-bedroom, and setgrandmothers transformed ting off on weekend road trips tangles of wool into beautiful up and down the California textiles. coast to pitch stores on their “[My grandmothers] were product. With no experience in homemakers in every sense of retail, let alone starting a busithe word,” Gorjana said. “They ness, the Reidels were learning RETAIL FOOTPRINT would knit my sweaters and as they went, and it wasn’t algorjana currently operates 11 stores across the United sew my dresses by hand. When ways a smooth process. States, 8 of which are in Southern California. I was 8 years old, I wanted a “I remember I called a spesweater for my Barbie, and cialty boutique in Newport they taught me how to crochet one. I Their friends’ enthusiasm convinced Beach and told the manager I was inlearned from an early age that if you the Reidels to shop a few of their pieces terested in showing him my jewelry to want something, you can just create it to local boutiques. Planet Blue was an sell,” Jason said. “He said, ‘Do you have on your own.” early fan and retailer, as was Lisa Kline a line sheet?’ I said no. He said, ‘Do you Her friends and family were soon on Robertson Blvd., which took a batch have a showroom?’ I said no. He said, obsessing over Gorjana’s pieces, subof necklaces on consignment and was ‘Well are you going to be at market?’ I tle and timeless in a way that was rare sold out within days. Bolstered by their said no, hung up the phone, looked at for jewelry without a four-figure price early success, the Reidels began apGorjana and said, ‘Ok we’ve have to figtag. Indeed, at the time, most affordproaching other retailers across Southure out what a line sheet is, what a marable jewelry on the market felt pointern California and attending trade and ket is, and [find] a showroom.’” edly un-timeless; tended to be trendy fair shows, slowly growing their distriHowever the Reidels say that even in and loud, where the fine pieces Gorjana bution and name. New pieces and styles the most difficult times, they never confavored exuded a quiet, classic simplicwere slowly integrated into their small sidered the potential for failure.

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TEAMWORK In addition to running gorjana together, Jason and Gorjana have three children.

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COVER STORY

“Neither one of us has that gene,” Gorwatched other bigger and more welljana said. “Maybe it’s blind-faith.” known brands post devastating losses or “I call it a high-developed capacity for shut down entirely as shoppers curbed self-delusion,” added Jason with a laugh. their spending, they braced themselves Also making the work of building their for what the sinking economy could do empire less intimidating was the fact to their still-young brand. And then, that, at the time, the Reidels didn’t think much to their surprise, nothing hapthey were building an empire at all. Inpened. Actually, better than nothing. deed throughout gorjana’s early years, “Our business actually grew in 2009, they still viewed the small company as and that was a really eye-opening expelittle more than a means to pay the rent rience,” said Jason. “That’s when we liftwhile they waited for ed our heads up and inspiration to strike. realized wow, OK, After a day of pitching we’re already doing their jewelry at local this. We’ve already boutiques or fulfillgot this amazing ing that day’s orders thing going on.” by hand, the couThe company ple would spend the would grow tremennight brainstorming dously over the next the far loftier comdecade, eventually panies they believed securing distribuwould lead to their tion in over 1,000 success. retail locations and “You have this idea some of the most in your hand that well-known e-comlaunching a business merce websites in the is this big, formal world. In 2016, the process,” said Jason. couple opened their “Our thought was, very first brick-andwe’ll just [sell jewelmortar store in their ry] until we have the hometown of LaguPARTNERS time and energy to na Beach, followed Gorjana and Jason originally met at Arizona State University, and launch our real big soon thereafter by began dating a few years later. business idea. But a second storefront what we didn’t realin the West Village ize was we were already making a real in New York City, on the same block of business out of the jewelry. Rather than what had become their second home making a business plan, raising money apartment. 9 more stores have opened and overanalyzing everything, we were in the three years since, totaling 9 in just doing.” California and 2 in New York City, and Things changed when the recession the Reidels say they’re looking to grow hit in 2008. In business for four years at that number substantially over the next the time, gorjana had far-surpassed exfew years. pectations, amassing distribution in bigBut as is the Reidel’s way, they’ll be dobox retailers like Nordstrom and a newing things on their own terms. If they’ve ly-launched online store performing heard a million times that fashion comsurprisingly well. However as the Reidels panies should open in major cities only,

they’d also heard a million times that you need a business plan to start a company. So they’re focusing on opening stores in only those communities they love, places that recall the friendliness and humility and breezy coastal light of their hometown of Laguna Beach. And they want those stores to feel like shoppers are at home; plentiful seating is a must, as is candy for the kids, refreshments for the parents, and biscuits for the dogs. “All of our interiors are meant to feel like you’re in a welcoming beach cottage,” Jason said. “We don’t want people to feel like they’re shopping. We want to make them feel like they’re at home, hanging out.” On this warm, lazy August afternoon, it certainly appears they’ve accomplished this at the Malibu gorjana store. On the patio outside, a couple settles into one of the store’s plush teak love seats, the husband soon snoring softly in the muggy heat. Inside, a woman and her daughter leisurely circle the store once, then twice, modeling necklaces for one another, totally unrushed. The Reidels look plenty at home as well. As our photographer changes film, Jason settles into one of the front seating area’s chairs, Gorjana perching casually on his arm. They’re the picture of SoCal laid-back chic. And yet there’s a markedly un-laidback electricity in their eyes as they take in their new store, almost a sense of awe. “Sometimes I think, ‘is this space really ours?’” Jason says. “I’m pinching MM myself.”

gorjana 3900 Cross Creek Rd., #4 (424) 644-0031 gorjana.com @gorjana

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MANHATTAN BEACH Malin’s ‘À la Plage’ series captures birdseye views of stunning beaches, many in Los Angeles.

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PHOTO STORY

GRAY MALIN

A GLIMPSE OF THE GOOD LIFE, FROM ABOVE With his lush birdseye images of locales from Zuma Beach to the Côte d’Azur, Gray Malin is gaining fans and transforming the fine art world. ✎ written by Holly Bieler

or many, the idea of fine art evokes staid museum halls; baroque religious paintings from great European masters. Subversive contemporary sculptures housed in big, white-walled galleries. Not the type of thing you’re trying to hang in your house. And definitely not the type of thing you can afford. And then there’s Gray Malin. One of the most celebrated fine art photographers in the world

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RED AND BLUE UMBRELLAS, SANTA MONICA ”Beach umbrellas and towels create interesting geometric shapes from an aerial perspective,” Malin says.

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PHOTO STORY

MALIBU PIER Malin shot the famous Malibu Pier as part of his ‘À la Plage’ series.

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RAINBOW LIFEGUARD STAND, VENICE BEACH Veniceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous rainbow-hued lifeguard stand on the deserted beach.

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PHOTO STORY

“SHORELINES HAVE A GREATER BEAUTY ABOUT THEM WHEN SHOT FROM ABOVE.” today, Malin has built a career around subverting expectations; of fine art, the industry, himself. Joyous, exuberant and unapologetically beautiful, his work trades in an optimism that’s rare in the world of fine art, and has winnowed out for him a unique position within the industry; one foot in the fine world, one in the commercial. A word he often uses is “accessible.” Throughout his career, Malin has broken down the infamously insular walls of the fine art world to make his work seen and available to as large an audience as possible. His pieces aren’t just sold at fine art galleries, as many of his peers’ work is, but on his website as well, under a pricing tier system that provides many surprisingly affordable options. Malin’s trademark is fabulous beaches, shot birdseye hundreds of feet above the ground in a helicopter from which Malin will dangle for hours to get framing, patterns and colors just right. The resulting images are stunning examples of nature photography, proffering jaw-dropping shots of crystalline beaches from Malibu to the Cote d’Azur, but also beautiful glimpses into the lives of the people who frolic on them. Malin has a spectacular eye for color and a strong narrative sense that can capture a story even from hundreds of feet away. A small group of people on a whitesand beach, tiny as ants, watch as a surfing instructor lays bellydown on a board, teaching them the motions. Two lone paddle-boarders enjoy a moment of quiet to-

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BLUE UMBRELLAS, SANTA MONICA ‘À la Plage’ includes a few shots of the Jonathan Club and their famous umbrellas.

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MALIBU COAST “Shorelines and coastal areas have an even greater beauty about them when shot from above,” says Malin.

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gether in the immense blue of the pacific. If Malin’s photos look like they’re out of a dream, they capture intensely human moments as well. We sat down with the artist for a chat about his work and process.

OUR SPECIAL TIP

If you’d like to purchase prints to hang in your home, all of the images featured plus hundreds more are available on www.graymalin.com, with many size and framing options to choose from. All the images are printed and signed in house to guarantee the highest quality.

How did you get into photography? Photography has always been a part of my life. I remember my grandfather having an impressive collection of cameras and constantly practicing photography, which no doubt influenced my father’s inclination to always have a camera in hand. So, inevitably, I started taking photos at a young age. In high school, I discovered the dark room and became addicted. I absolutely loved seeing the images develop right before my eyes. However, at this point I didn’t think I was going to be able to become a serious photographer. After pursuing my hobby as my second major, my drive to make my dream come true was getting stronger and stronger. After a brief stint as an intern in the entertainment industry, I decided to pursue this dream, learn from professionals and eventually open up my own booth at the swap-meet in West Hollywood. This path led to me making a name for myself through popular images such as my Prada Marfa series and eventually create my own business. How did you develop your aerial beach aesthetic? I have always been attracted to colors and patterns, which is no doubt attributed to my interior designer mother who would

THE GOOD LIFE Malin has shot luxe vacation destinations across the world.

very often bring me into her studio as a child. However, the inspiration for my personal aesthetic was sparked when I was looking down at a hotel pool from a high vantage point. Amazed by the shapes and colors formed by umbrellas, beach chairs and multiple pools, the whole scene below began to look like a work of art. From here, I had the idea to go even further up to see the patterns on a larger scale from a helicopter. Where did the idea to shoot from a heilcopter emerge? Expanding on my initial inspiration of a hotel pool from above, I rented a helicopter to get an even better view of a beachscape. The patterns create very eye catching and unique moments which I love, and I am lucky enough that other people love it as well! I find the entire doorless helicopter experience very thrilling, although there have been many times that conditions in the air have made it difficult

and even dangerous during the shoot. One thing that is always unpredictable is the weather — when it is windy or extremely low temperatures, like when I have shot ski mountains, I end up only being able to stay in the air for short periods of time, making it hard to get the shots I want. However, I am always amazed and pleased with the results What projects are you currently working on? I had the tremendous opportunity to shoot at The Breakers Palm Beach Resort, an iconic property which allowed me to capture the lifestyle of glamour from an earlier era, that still permeates the culture there today. This is a series that will be released at the end of October so stay MM tuned. graymalin.com instagram: @graymalin All images © Gray Malin

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THE I BULIEVE PROJECT

B.U. In the Arts With her fantastical pieces featured in exhibitions around the globe, Malibu based artist Ann Krasner is another artist in Pothier and William’s I BUlieve Project who truly stands out from the crowd.

ANN KRASNER Influenced by music, primitive art, and living in Malibu, Krasner’s one-of-a-kind pieces are full of love and soul.

cclaimed artist Ann Krasner, has a prolific body of work that has been exhibited around the world, all originating from her creative home and studio here in Malibu. Unique and unrepeatable, Ann’s work can be framed as both whimsical, and precise but always with a smile for those that witness it. Born in Moscow, a Russian Jew, Ann’s family lived by the maxim of striving to be the best at what they did whilst also attempting not to stand out and draw at-

tention to themselves. This idea is best encapsulated in Ann’s I BUlieve where she explains: “I BUlieve in the younger version of me, the Russian Jew growing up in a communist regime where the paradox of living in an atmosphere of survival of the fittest in a school for highly gifted children juxtaposed with the constant affirmation of [don’t stand out]. Don’t stand out embracing being ‘brilliant despite being Jewish.’ The years of Jewish discrimination in Russia, that elevated me to be the best - and then to go beyond. Excellence borne out of discrimination.”

Ann goes on to express in her I BUlieve that: “I BUlieve in that very mathematical and physics heavy upbringing which danced alongside the Bolshoi ballet inner me – that to this very day allows my latitude with vivid colors and shapes all proportionally in tune to the laws of science also within me.” Ann, a proud mother of three exceptionally gifted children, was given her first canvas and paintbrush by her husband Pavel and from that moment on she has created a distinctive, instantly recognizable style in art. More than 4,000 pieces of original oil paintings, sculptures in bronze, ceramic

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and mixed media, achieving worldwide recognition with numerous exhibitions around the world. She describes her style with these words: “I BUlieve in my signature style which although may be seen on one level to include long necks, small heads and big hands, reaches deeper into the psyche as traditional portraits or landscapes of mine are instantly recognizable too. I can’t escape my own language but BUlieve it helps to be bilingual, multi-cultural and innovative – with a broader imagination.” Music plays a large part of Ann’s inspiration with her art. In her episode, Ann describes her relationship with music: “I BUlieve in Kandinsky who said that art is frozen music, that color is the keyboard to evoke vibration in the soul. For me with anything beautiful I am urged to preserve it, where colors become an emotional interface with us, where colors play independent roles – free roles – almost like music itself. I BUlieve that my art is infused with music and that music is infused with art, when my son Benjamin plays the piano, I am literally producing with it. Our room is bursting with music and my sound emotions are constantly inspired… I get to create in tandem with the best classical pieces for piano and I BUlieve too, that my children find some inspiration in my art. I BUlieve music and art are sensory, and that I am orchestrating my paintings with sound, and within that, a commitment to create an overwhelmingly positive emotional experience.” Ann also pays homage to Malibu and its influence on her creativity: “I BUlieve in Malibu, the co-creator who took me in all those years ago. To me the center of Primitive art, an influential atmosphere and environment that offered me the opportunity to innovative freedom – it was creative love at first sight.” Finally, all those years later from growing up in Russia, Ann is now at peace with “Standing Out.” To watch current episodes visit MM www.ibulieve.com

I BUlieve Creators

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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ART COLUMN

by Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes

BLURRED LINES For our fashion issue, Malibu’s Jacqueline ‘Jac’ Forbes, co-owner of CANVAS.MALIBU, explores the correllation and often blurred lines of the art and fashion worlds.

hat better time to discuss the relationship between fashion and art as runways all over the world kick off the fashion calendar and artists set back into the cycle of art fairs, new museum exhibits and gallery openings. The runway shows serve as a canvas for the artistic presentation of some the best designers that take their art seriously. This time for me highlights the parallel universes of fashion presentations and art exhibits “a porthole” as described by artist Grant Levy Lucero a fine art knitter turned artist/sculptor. The blurred lines between the fashion world and fine art are intensifying at an explosive pace. Art Basel oddly presented an art installation LifeDress by artist Alicia Faris composed of a grouping of mannequins cloaked in seemingly haute couture garb fabricated from auto air bags – meant to fashionably protect the wearer from work place harassment by deploying the bags against harm. Fashion. Function. Art. Top news in the art world this summer is the controversial opening of architect turned artistic

Platforms ‘Is Fashion Modern’ at MOMA.

director of Louis Vuitton men’s wear design, Virgil Abloh, Figures of Speech at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. This exhibit made headlines posing the echoing question “Can Virgil Abloh fit in a Museum?” yielding to the real question - is this designer ready for prime time in the fine art world? Sotheby’s landed a whopping $800,000 for a sneaker collection in a venue traditionally known to land 6 figures mainly for fine art. Artists have and continue to utilize influences borrowed from fashion design, through the use of textiles, strings, structural

forms, color palettes etc… But are designers invited into the elite club to share the platform in the fine art world with the same ease? Let’s get this personal disclaimer out of the way, I am an owner of a gallery of art and fashion; I could speak on both my passions in perpetuity. Some days art leads fashion and others, fashion leads art, but most days it’s a confusing tie. When my husband Arlington and I decided to open up a space in Malibu over 10 years ago we knew we wanted it to be unique and offer something to the community. Off of the heels of a tour of America as a director, Arlington came home with a lot of art ‘things’ and a discovery, ‘there are more artist with great talents than places to show’. He loved shoes, I loved art; a perfect match. In our endeavor, we were led by the perfect execution, of an art and fashion exhibit in early 08’ Skin + Bones held at LACMA. It was an impeccable curation exhibiting iconic architectural designs from the likes of Frank Gehry paired with iconic clothing designs of Juno Wantanabe to name a few. We knew the correlation was clear and in the cards for us. We felt instinctively that art along-

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ART MEETS FASHION From left to right, top to bottom: Comme des Garcons at the Met, Noir Key Ninomiya at Dover Street Market, Barkley L. Hendricks at the Broad, Life Dress Alicia Fairs at Basel, and Comme des Garcons at Dover Street Market LA.

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ART COLUMN

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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side fashion would be the heartbeat of this new venture. The gallery would position art thoughtfully alongside some of the best designs and unique offerings. Art would not be an afterthought, it would be the forethought. We understood geographically this idea would need an audience that was creative in its DNA, unique and with an open mind – Malibu! Challenging discussions about what is art and what is not would be welcomed here. A Yohji shoe next to a fine art piece could lead to a relaxed and interestingly refreshing debate. Our patrons sealed this magnificent relationship where art and fashion could cohabitate under one roof. Throughout the years at our gallery their has been a verification of what we felt to be the truth. We credit trailblazers such as Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, as she championed the Metropolitan Museum of Art to fully integrate fashion design as a part of the permanent art collection of this world renowned museum. Through this initiative we see the legitimizing of fashion as museum quality fine art. Wintour speaks of Andrew Bolton, lead of the Costume Institute at the Met, “he is able to put costume into historical context that can show how important fashion is in terms of being a reflection of our culture …. that it explains to people that there is so much more to fashion”. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bolton at the presentation of the iconic exhibit Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between in 2017 at the Met. The structures, bold colors, molded fabric on mannequins in dramatic groupings created structural importance reminiscent of walking through a traditional exhibition of sculpture. Similarly, one of my favorite designers, Dries Van Noten uses

arduous and detailed fabric development for the creation of the canvas he designs from. He calls upon ‘these tools to tell the story he wants’. The designer gathering elements for a collection parallels the preparation and the planning of a collection being prepared from the traditional artist gallery exhibitions. There are so many relationships where the line is blurred in both directions. Designers such as Raf Simmons utilize direct influences from artist Mark Rothko with a color palette proprietary to Rothko’s combinations in his fabric creation. Inversely contemporary artist Turiya Magadlela uses nylons and fabrics instead of paint to create bold and amazing constructs on Canvas. Revolutionary post-modern artist Barkley L. Hendricks ‘bold portraiture reflects the style of the era through vivid, precise images of everyday black Americans, depicted in fashionable and colorful attire’. Greg Lauren nephew of Ralph Lauren sits in a tight niche of artist turned designer often questioned about his costly but unique designs. In response Lauren says, “when I set out to make clothing, I started as an artist making clothing. The pieces are really labor-intensive and time-consuming. I think they embody a message, and they’re endowed with a soul and a story”. Is fashion the daily art we live? As walking Canvas’s do we document our self expression through our attire? Dries says it best, “fashion is such an empty word. I think we have to invent a new word for fashion…this word fashion I don’t like because fashion means something that is over after 6 months that’s what people consider fashion”. The Blurred lines between art and fashion may be a good thing , hybridity in life is something we may all MM benefit from.

“THE BLURRED LINES BETWEEN FASHION AND ART ARE INTENSIFYING AT AN EXPLOSIVE RATE.”

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Photographed by Julie Wuellner

STAN COOK The president of Barefoot Dreams, Stan Cookwill soon open his first brick-andmortar location in Malibu in October.

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FASHION

THE ORIGINAL MALIBU GARMENT

BAREFOOT DREAMS With his new storefront at The Park at Cross Creek, Stan Cook is expanding the footprint of his beloved Malibu brand.

Photographed by Julie Wuellner

✎ written by Holly Bieler

tan Cook didn’t want to go out. Then an industrial broker at the San Fernando Valley office of real estate services and investment firm Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE), the 38 year-old Cook had just finished a long day at work, and a night out at the Twin Palms, a Newport Beach restaurant and bar, did not sound particularly appealing. But Cook’s friend Allan, a local contractor, had put a lot of effort into that night’s festivities, chartering two limousines to take Cook and other area com-

PUPPY LOVE Cozychic Ribber Pet

Sweater. Photo by Matthew Seifnia

mercial brokers to the popular haunt. Plus, Allan had said that a friend of his girlfriend’s would be attending that night whom Cook should meet, a young

entrepreneur named Annette Seifert who’d just launched a blanket business that was already doing gangbusters. She was also blonde and beautiful, Allan had mentioned to Cook for good measure. And with that, Cook relented. Much has changed since that night 25 years ago. Annette and Stan fell in love, of course, almost instantaneously; within 2 months, Annette had moved into Stan’s Burbank two-bedroom, bringing with her the small inventory of blankets she’d been selling at swap meets for the past year. They would marry soon thereafter, have three boys, and eventually build Barefoot Dreams into a multi-mil-

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RIGHT Cozychic Shrug in the color Carbon. Photo by Tyler William Parker

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lion dollar empire. They’d move into a spectacular central Malibu home, bigger and more beautiful than they ever could have ever imagined during those early years in Burbank. And then, just as everything seemed perfect, a chance doctor’s visit would reveal Annette was suffering from an advanced stage of colon cancer. In 2012, three years later, she would pass away. Cook would continue on as CEO of the company, and over the next few years Barefoot Dreams would sustain its massive growth; posting higher revenues year after year, expanding into new sectors like men’s and women’s loungewear and pets, and developing a significant philanthropic arm which has helped countless families facing diagnoses like Annette’s. It’s been a whirlwind two decades, Cook contends, trading stories of his company’s austere beginnings and incredible success on the eve of yet another significant milestone: Barefoot Dreams’ first U.S. store, set to open in the company’s hometown of Malibu, in the new The Park at Cross Creek center, in October. And yet Cook expected no less when he met Annette for the first time that September night. She was so intelligent, he says, so confident and so driven, he’d known everything was about to change when he’d first laid eyes on her at the Twin Palms. “She was so, so smart,” Cook said. “And she never took no for an answer. I learned that from her.” A recent grad school drop-out when she met Stan, Annette had moved to L.A. four earlier from her native Wisconsin to pursue a career in optometry. However, everything changed when tragedy struck her family a few years later, first her mother then her father dying within two years of one another. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Annette faced even more devastating news; her parents’ untimely deaths had plunged her into financial

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LEFT Cozychic Leopard Poncho in Espresso Multi. Photo by Matthew Seifna

RIGHT Cozychic Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Topanga Cardigan in Carbon Multi. Photo by Matthew Seifna

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Cozychic

Shrug in the white, pearl, dusty rose, dove gray, slate blue and carbon. Photo by Tyler William Parker

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RIGHT Cozychic Pom Pom Beanie and Cozychic Cable Scarf both in Ocean. Photo by Matthew Seifna

LEFT Cozychic Lite Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Calypso Wrap in Heathered Pewter/ Pearl. Photo by Matthew Seifna

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FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Cozychic Lite Cable Cardi in Heathered Olive/Loden, Cozychic Lite Heathered Cable Blanket in Heathered Cocoa/Pearl, Cozychic Kids Zip-Up Starfish Robe in Deep Sea Blue, Cozychic Starfish Baby Blanket in Deep Sea Blue. Photo by Matthew Seifna and Tyler William Parker.

ruin, saddling her with nearly $100,000 of student loan debt and no funds to cover the rest of her graduate school tuition. Forced to drop out of optometry school, Annette immediately began brainstorming ways she could pay off her debts. The daughter of business owners, Annette had always harbored a strong entrepreneurial intuition, and as she continued to grieve her parents’ passing, she found herself returning to a business idea she couldn’t shake; products that felt like a hug. More than most people, Annette was aware of the power of comfort, and on her darkest nights she’d been surprised how much of it she derived from her favorite snuggly blanket. She imagined an inventory of products engineered to soothe and comfort, blankets and loungewear for children and adults made from the softest material she could find and produced at the highest-quality standards. Products that were meant to pass along; made with love, and which could bestow it. Annette named her company Barefoot Dreams, and after intensely researching fabrics, settled upon a spectacularly-soft material from which she produced baby blankets, adult blankets, and robes. By the time she met Stan in 1994, Annette had already been touring her wares on the swap meet circuit for a year, developing a substantial fanbase and reputation that was beginning to gain he notice of buyers for big-box retailers. Stan was all in from the second he met Annette. “I helped support what she wanted to do because I knew it would be something really successful,” he said. “And she did, too.” Within a few weeks of Annette moving in, the couple set to work transforming their small Burbank home into Barefoot Dreams headquarters. A dim corner of their living room became the company office, their 2-car garage the warehouse. Soon thereafter they hired their first full-time employee, poaching Stan’s mother’s housekeeper, Elizabeth Sando-

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LEFT Cozychic Multi

Stripe Stroller in Blanket / Pink/White/ Blush/Cream. Photo by Matthew Seifna

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ANNETTE COOK Founding Barefoot Dreams in 1993, Cook would helm her company for two decades before passing away of colon cancer in 2012.

val, to work as their operations manager. They fell into an easy rhythm; awakening together, Annette would set out for the living room office, working on Barefoot Dreams all day, while Stan headed to his day job at CBRE. Returning home around 8 p.m., the couple would work on the company together late into the night. “We were a great team,” said Stan. “We were always talking about, what do you think about this, what do you think about that? What about this color? Should we call [this product] this or that? When we agreed on something, that’s what we would do. It was fun. There was no business plan. We just did.” Which was not to say that everyone in their lives were as enthused. “I told my dad I was probably going to quit commercial real estate and marry this woman who made blankets and robes,” Stan said. “He said, ‘Why would you do that?’ I said, ‘Because no one makes this product like her.’” Stan and Annette married in September 1997, and while Stan didn’t quit his day job just yet, the couple started seeing their efforts beginning to pay off. By 1999, Barefoot Dreams had developed a substantial retail foothold, with distribution in several big-name department stores, including Nordstrom, and substantial increases in sales each year. Their first child Grayson was born in 1999, and that year the Cooks moved from Burbank into a Malibu home on Kanan Dume Rd. with a backyard big enough for kids and a garage big enough for their offices and warehouse. Their son Chase was born later that year, followed by Preston five years later. Before the Cooks knew it, Barefoot Dreams was beginning to develop into a true family company, Grayson and Chase helping fulfill orders in the warehouse while Preston played with his toys. When Barefoot Dreams released its first catalogue in 2003, the children’s clothing was modeled by none other than their sons. By this time, Barefoot Dreams had developed into a distinctly Malibu brand, something uncommon for the time. Cook

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likes to point out that while countless Finally, the answer was no. Stan quit companies cash in on the caché of the his job soon thereafter, dedicating all of Malibu name today, Barefoot Dreams was his energies into growing the Barefoot something of the original ‘Malibu compaDreams brand. ny.’ Inspired by the incredibly tight-knit, By 2005, Barefoot Dreams was doing friendly community and casual elegance so well Annette was able to take off time of their adopted home, Barefoot Dreams from day-to-day operations to pursue her had come to encapsulate the easy Southern California way of life in a way few brands yet had. “I like to say, we were the first and original Malibu company in garment,” Cook said. “We started that, and I think being the original is the coolest. We’ve always hung our hat on being the Malibu lifestyle.” By the fall of 2003 all was going extremely well, when the Cooks got a call that would change everything. FAMILY TIME Cook and his sons (from left to right) Chase, Grayson and Preston at home in Malibu. As calls which change everything tend to do, this one involved Oprah. She was interested in featuring a Barepassions for home and design. Working foot Dreams robe on her December 2003 with an architect, she designed a dream list of “Favorite Things”, an editor at O house for her family to live in, a massive Magazine told the Cooks, the famous feayet intimate estate in central Malibu with ture spotlighting Oprah’s favorite things. spectacular views of the Pacific that the A golden ticket in the retail world, befamily moved into in 2007. ing chosen as one of Oprah’s “Favorite And then, one day in 2009, Annette visThings” veritably guaranteed an unfathited her doctor after suffering stomach omable amount of exposure and an equal pains and was given a terrifying prognonumber of sales. Barefoot Dreams has sis: stage 4 colon cancer. been picked as Oprah’s Favorite several Annette never stopped working. Still times thereafter. giving back, she designed and launched The next few months were among the The Covered in Prayer Collection®, the most hectic they’d experienced, the a special collection of blankets inscribed Cooks having to ensure they had enough with inspirational messages that were of inventory in stock to meet the impending particular comfort to her. A percentage of swell in demand. If they were a bit unpresales are donated to The Wunder Project; pared by the time the piece published in a progressive charity that directly benelate 2003, it didn’t matter; as soon as the fits the doctors and researchers working issue hit newsstands Barefoot Dreams to develop a cure for colon cancer. To this sales soared like they’d never seen. As day, hundreds of thousands of dollars they looked at the orders pouring in, Anhave been raised. nette asked Stan the same question she’d After battling cancer for three years, on been asking for years. December 29, 2012, Annette passed away “Are you still going to work at CBRE?” in Malibu surrounded by her husband

and sons. Amidst his grief, Stan went back to work, taking over his wife’s CEO title, a position he has helmed ever since. Barefoot Dreams has continued to grow since then, expanding its inventory of products and entering new sectors like men’s and women’s loungewear, launching an instantly-successful e-commerce site and, this fall, venturing into totally unknown territory: brick-and-mortar. The new store, which will open in The Park at Cross Creek in October, will be Stan’s first. Chances are it might be his last as well. After 25 years of hard work, and with a house that’s as beautiful as his, Stan Cook doesn’t have a ton left to prove. The store isn’t really about making money, he says, but is a way for him to give back to Malibu, something of a hobby in recent years. As “the original Malibu garment company”, Cook feels a responsibility to help out his hometown any way he can, to give back to the community which has given him so much, even sponsoring the Chili CookOff for the last few years. With the store, he hopes, he can give Malibu a space to celebrate all of those things upon which Barefoot Dreams was founded. “We’ve been [in Malibu] since 1999, and we’re going to be here forever,” Cook says. “Having the store to me it just about giving back. People are excited, we’re excited. We’ll hire local people. It’s just awesome. And I want a place where people can see what we’re all about. A place full of things that make people feel good. That’s what Barefoot Dreams does. It’s love and compassion, like wearing a hug. MM It transforms you.”

Barefoot Dreams 23401 Civic Center Way www.barefootdreams.com @barefootdreams

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MADELYN CARDIGAN

Earthy tones and timeless stripes meet oh-so-soft 100% cashmere. 360Cashmere, $598

WILLA BLOUSE

Casual, bohemian vibes with romantic details make for the perfect fall top. Faherty, $148

MOD

TOP 5

T highl one w

Chic Fall Fashion Finds Make 2019 your most fashionable fall yet with MALIBU MAGAZINE editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite selects from all of our favorite stores around town.

3 CAROLINA SUNGLASSES

Perfect for anyone who loves both form and function. Sunroom, $445

FABRIZIO VITI BOOTS

These timeless leopard-print boots from Fabrizio Viti will make a statement for many years to come. Malibu.Canvas, $450 STONE HOOP EARRINGS

These oversized hoop earrings are embellished with multicolor stones and beads and make for the perfect fall accessory. Freepeople, $40

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FAKE TEXT range from antiques hand-chosen by owner Stephen Block from around the world to Inner Gardens’ eponymous own label.

PERMANENT VACATION In her Brentwood Village boutique, Nicole Kirwan has curated a spectacular inventory of travel-inspired wares. Chic yet comfortable, fashion-forward yet effortless, each piece at Permanent Vacation aims to bring the magic of travel to the everyday. ✎ written by Holly Bieler

or many of us, the grind of everyday life can make dressing well a low priority. Those Lululemon leggings become just too tempting when you’re facing a full day of work, childcare, errands, etc. This has always been one of my favorite parts of a vacation: not only is each day special, but with the luxury of foresight you can dress accordingly. Nicole Kirwan, the owner of Brentwood Village boutique Permanent Vacation, feels the same. “When you’re packing for a trip, you’re putting way more care into what you’re

bringing,” Kirwan said. “You want to be pretty and comfortable and look good every day.” Clothing has long been one of Kirwan’s favorite parts about traveling, from plotting each day’s outfits while packing to scouring local markets and shops for unique finds. And if finding the perfect dress or jacket for travel wasn’t always easy, when Kirwan did, those pieces became quick favorites; were pretty and special but in an effortless sort of way. Comfortable and yet romantic. “The clothing I packed for trips was always the kind of clothing I liked most,” she said. “It had always been a daydream

of mine to open a store [inspired by that].” In November 2016, Kirwan left a career in design and manufacturing to follow her dream, opening a travel-inspired clothing boutique in Brentwood named Permanent Vacation. With an expert eye and deep rolodex, Kirwan has filled Permanent Vacation’s racks with deeply stylish yet practical clothes, shoes and accessories. Inventory has been carefully selected for chicness and quality as well as versatility; pieces are as perfect for a lunch in Portofino as they are for a quick brunch with friends at home. Ultimately, Kirwan’s meticulously-curated selection is an ode to wanderlust. With clothing

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FASHION

ACCESSORIES Permanent Vacation sells shoes and accessories as well.

AUTUMN TRENDS Permanent Vacation’s inventory changes with the seasons. Fall is a favorite season for many customers.

NICOLE KIRWAN Kirwan opened Permanent Vacation in 2016.

INTERNATIONAL STYLE Kirwan sources her pieces from around the world.

sourced from artisans and up-and-coming designers from around the world, you feel a sense of the serendipity and excitement of exploring an international bizarre as you sift through Permanent Vacation’s racks. For fall and winter, Kirwan has stocked an incredible array of colder-weather pieces perfect for everything from your next vacation to spiffying up your everyday wardrobe. Hot picks for fall include ethically-sourced knitwear in a variety of beautiful hues and patterns from Milan-based brand Happy Sheep, and new inventory from cult-favorite designer Raquel Allegra, who designs and crafts her trademark tye-dye dresses right here in Los Angeles. There is something for everyone, and every occasion, at Permanent Vacation. Whether Portofino is on the horizon or not, Kirwan thinks everyday should hold a some of the pleasure and excitement of travel, even if you’re just going to work or picking up the kids. “When you’re on vacation you’re your best self,” she said. “I wanted to bring that into people’s everyday lives.” MM

Permanent Vacation 11630 Barrington Ct., Brentwood (310) 208-8500 www.permanentvacationshop.com @permanentvacationshop

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EUROPEAN SHOE REPAIR

SOLE SAVER With the footprint of the shoe repair business changing, Malibu’s Cobbler, Levon Akopyan, stands strong after thirty-one years and shows how everything old is new again. ✎ written by Tammy Arlidge  photographed by Julie Wuellner

loose line four-people deep forms near the counter. Shelves of shoes, saddles on hooks, and rows of shoelaces, dyes, insoles and the like cover nearly every square inch of wall space in the small shop, the smell of leather wafting in the air. Emerging from the back room is Levon Akopyan, known simply in the community as ‘Levon’. He hands the woman in front a stunning pair of Manolo Blahnik heels. “Wow!” She stares in amazement recalling how the silver satin straps that had been chewed by her new puppy are now perfect. “Did you buy me a new pair?” Sandwiched between Lululemon and Wall Street Gallery in Malibu Village, European Shoe Repair is a burgeoning scene of colorful people and lively conversation that spills onto the sidewalk. Ever present Levon is the antithesis of the lonely cobbler stereotype. He greets everyone, knows everyone by name, and his

EUROPEAN SHOE REPAIR One of the only original tenants left, Levon attributes the long-term success of his store to his loyal customers.

calm demeanor can soothe even the most anxious customer. He examines each of his patron’s items with precision as they await those four magic words: “We can fix that.” He prides himself on customer service. Everyone’s taste and demeanor is different. And let’s face it, a person’s shoes oftentimes reflect their personality. “You have to keep shoes authentic for the customer. What I think is perfect and nice and shiny may not be what that customer wants. They may want it to stay ‘beat-up’ or ‘broken in’. It’s my job to give them what they want.” He acts as a therapist of sorts, a ‘podia-therapist’ if we dare coin that term. He understands that it’s not just a financial investment, but an emotional one too. “The best part of my job is seeing their expression when I bring out something that they really didn’t think could be fixed and it’s reborn! For some it’s an $800 pair of Gucci sandals. For others it may be a small leather purse they bought with their first paycheck when they graduated college.”

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“THE COMMUNITY HAS KEPT ME HERE. THEY’VE PROTECTED ME.”

CRAFTSMANSHIP Every shoe, purse or saddle that comes into the store is artfully repaired with the highest skill and finest attention to detail.

Even though he specializes in high-end luxury handbags and shoes: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton to name a few, he concentrates on ripped, torn, worn, stained, faded, dated, and broken pieces, designer or otherwise. There is rarely an item that he turns away. The list has grown including belts, saddles, boots, luggage, jackets, and even boat cushions, all filtering through the 700 square foot space. “I even repaired a bikini for someone!” he says. “There’s really nothing that we can’t fix.” Not just anyone can take a pair of shoes and make them look great again. It takes skill, a talent that has been meticulously honed for three generations. His grandfather was a cobbler in Greece and made custom shoes, then handed down to his father who had a shoe making business in Armenia. He recalls his grandfather sitting on a small wooden stool, hunched over with tiny nails between his teeth stitching a leather shoe. “I started helping my dad when I was around fourteen when we moved to LA. I’d hang out in his shop and he’d let me put glue on leather. It also kept me out of trouble.” He recalls with a grin. “His shop was in Montebello, but he always had a vision of having a shop at the beach. We found this place in Malibu in 1988. We’re the first and only business in this space”, which is unusual in this area of retail shuffleboard

that’s experienced an abundance of makeovers and new tenants. Four landlords later, a few rent hikes, fires, and an inconsistent economy, European Shoe Repair has survived. But in a profession that has spiraled downward over the past few decades, many have not been as lucky. Nearly 100,000 shoe repair shops sprinkled the country back in the late 1920’s, pre-Depression, and remained in demand throughout WWII, as buying new shoes was not an option for most and materials were hard to find. Today there are less than 5,000. “It’s not always been easy. Materials are more expensive. The technology has changed; it’s better but that has gotten more expensive” he continues. “And people buy cheap imported shoes. They don’t last as long. It’s simple.” When a shoe’s life expectancy doesn’t outlast the duration of a new-generation I-Phone, the consumer trend is to toss them and buy another pair. Fortunately there is still the need to prolong the life of things they love and that have history. It’s not just an economic advantage to shop in your closet and repair or rejuvenate your shoes; it saves the environment too as an obvious form of recycling. 300 million shoes make it to our landfills each year and many materials are not biodegradable. Also, resoling is better for your feet, your back, and thus your health, therefore going against the old adage that one must sacrifice comfort

for style. “The community has kept me here. They’ve protected me.” Though he has a website, and is on social media, it’s constant word of mouth and repeat customers that have kept his business strong. His work ethic hasn’t changed either. He works six full days a week and that has not wavered in thirty-one years. Levon attributes his wife, Taleen, his biggest cheerleader and supporter to his success. “I wouldn’t be here without her.” Together they started a sister company, Purse Rehab, and as the name implies fully rehabilitates and adds life to your handbag. Their 2500 square foot repair facility is located in Agoura to accommodate the growing demand. The outpouring has been so great and has attracted clientele from not just the US, but all over the world. “I just got a purse from Africa. We have clients in Israel, Japan, Europe, everywhere.” “Cobblers are like doctors. Some are good. Some are ok. You can have the best equipment, but if you don’t know how to use it, it doesn’t matter. It’s the attention to detail.” An older gentleman walks up, hands over a pair of loafers that have clearly had a long life. Sizing the loafers carefully, hands tracing the soles and the worn leather, he reassures him. And as if a doctor was saying to his patient ‘It’s going to be ok’, he says those four words: “We MM can fix that.”

European Shoe Repair 3882 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu (310) 456-2795

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WELLNESS

TUSOL

HEALTH, SIMPLIFIED With TUSOL, their new line of nutrient-dense, scientifcally-formulated smoothies that promotes health on a celluar level, Malibuites Ilana Friedman and Ingrid De La O are taking the wellness industry by storm. ✎ written by Holly Bieler  photographed by Julie Wuellner

f the pursuit of a happy, healthy life isn’t a particularly contemporary aspiration, the aggressive commercialization of it certainly is. The wellness industry has exploded in recent years, flooding the market with a bevy of strict diet regimens, cutting-edge products, expensive classes, etc. purporting to help consumers turn their sluggish minds and bodies into beacons of well-tuned health. Ilana Friedman and Ingrid De La O don’t think it has to be that complicated. “It’s about eating the right foods, and keeping it simple,” says Friedman. It’s this much-simplified ethos upon which Malibu locals Friedman and De La O have built their new wellness company, TUSOL, which has already gained fans since officially debuting their first product, a collection of nutrient-dense smoothies, in September. Packed with some of the world’s most heart-healthy ingredients, from Lion’s mane (acclaimed for its anti-inflammatory properties) to ashwagandha (helps the body cope with daily stress), each TUSOL smoothie has been painstakingly engineered to nourish the body deeply on a cellular level. Smoothie mixes are available in five different recipes ⁠— ILLUMINATE, CALM, BALANCE REJUVENATE, ENERGIZE ⁠— each chockful of a scientific cocktail of probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, proteins and other good stuff, @PAQUERAMEZCAL none of it filler, to provide every part of your body with what it needs to perform

its best. “Your body is like an ecosystem,” says De La O. “And you need to give your ecosystem the food it needs to be happy.” De La O understand this better than most. After giving birth to her son in 2015, De La O was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression, followed soon thereafter by a litany of other health issues, including Crohn’s Disease. As her mental and physical health plummeted, De La O was beginning to consider suicide when a friend gave her a book on gut health. She became fascinated, researching how certain ingredients and combinations thereof could transform the body, and began to test out different combinations of smoothies, through which ingredients are more easily absorbed in the body. She settled on a few recipes, which she began to drink every day. Within months, she had cured both her Crohn’s and her depression.

De La O started giving out her smoothies to friends and family, including Ilana Friedman, who had worked in hospitality and wellness for years. Having battled her own stomach issues since childhood, Friedman had tried every medicine and diet in the book to no avail. After a few days of drinking De La O’s smoothies, however, she found herself feeling better than she had in years. With TUSOL, Friedman and De La O are bringing this feeling to the masses. Truly delicious, portable and convenient (smoothies come in dry sachets, and need only be blended for a minute with ice), their smoothie mixes are also affordable, purchased on tusolwellnes.com in boxes of 20 via a subscription plan that delivers MM every four weeks, for $120. TUSOL tusolwellness.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH TUSOL’s smoothie mixes are available via subscription boxes.

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GETAWAYS

A WEEKEND IN... SANTA BARBARA Bohemian meets beachy just 66 miles north of Malibu in the hip, coastal city of Santa Barbara and through vibrant, green vineyards stretching from Santa Ynez to Ojai, providing visitors with countless small town treasures. â&#x153;&#x17D; written by Lauren Holliday

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SANTA BARBARA

Photo by Gabriela Herman/Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara MISSION SANTA BARBARA The city’s oldest landmark offers clear, spectacular views of the Santa Barbara’s coast.

n hour drive up the coast from Malibu will take you to the beautiful city of Santa Barbara. Like Malibu, Santa Barbara has its own unique, rich character, defined by its thriving, contemporary art scene and historical footprint. Its proximity to the beach, the Santa Ynez Mountains and Ojai makes Santa Barbara a hub for Malibuites seeking a getaway that isn’t too far away from home. Sunkissed year round, Santa Barbara is the perfect destination for those who don’t like straying too far from the beach. The beaches are prime for surfers, casual sunbathers, and adventurers alike, and offer activities and landmarks that seperate it from Malibu’s own beachy vibes. Whale watching has rightfully become a defining aspect of Santa Barbara due to a variety of species prevelent year round. Stearn’s Wharf is home to shops, restaraunts, boating services, and beach access. The pleth-

ora of coastal gardens such as the ones at Mission Santa Barbara make for serene stops to rest and take in the city’s beauty. Within walking distance of the beach is State Street, Santa Barbara’s downtown, which acts as the center of action. Along State Street and the nearby art district aptly named the Funk Zones are countless local distilleries and wineries dispersed among galleries and shops. Santa Barbara county home to a Mediterranean environment that makes the land prime for agriculture, especially wine vineyards and orchards. For the most part these vineyards are nestled in the Santa Ynez mountains, making the region a wine tasting hotspot akin to Napa Valley. The mediteranean climate and wine culture spans all the way into Ojai, where next to traditional wine tastings you can attend unique tasting experiences such as an olive oil tour. Much of Ojai’s undeniable charm stems

from its emphasis on supporting local business, which not only makes larger, chain businesses a rare sight, but also makes this little town full to the brim with hidden treasures to explore. The Arcade Plaza is Ojai’s downtown destination, and is home to sustainable, artsy cafes, locally crafted goods and souveniers, and even an outdoor bookstore. Close to the vast Los Padres National Forest and surrounded by rolling hills, Ojai is beloved by hiking enthusiasts and adventurers alike, providing much of the great outdoors to explore. For those looking to kick back and relax, Ojai also offers many great spas such as world-renowned Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. Malibuites looking for an adventure close to home will delight in all that Santa Barbara and Ojai have to offer. With our weekend itinerary, visitors can see the best of what this beach town and its surrounding areas have to offer.

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SEVEN COURSE DINNER Try Yoichi’s for a delightful dinner.

Photo by David Collier, Courtesy of Visit California/Visit Santa Barbara

STEARN’S WHARF Check out its restaurants and shops.

FRIDAY 11 AM - STEARN’S WHARF

California’s oldest and longest wharf is also one of Santa Barbara’s more iconic attractions, brimming with plenty of things to see and do. Stearn’s Wharf is home to numerous restaraunts, souvenier shops, boating activities, and even a museum: the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center. With beautiful views of the coast all day long and access to Santa Barbara’s East Beach, visiting Stearn’s Wharf is an exciting and inviting way to start your getaway. 2:00 PM - EAT AT ENTERPRISE FISH CO.

A trip to a beach town wouldn’t be complete without trying seafood. Enterprise Fish Co. is a longtime tenant of nearly 40 years on State Street, and it continues to thrive on the philosophy of using

Photo by Max Whittaker, Courtesy of Visit California/Visit Santa Barbara

THE FUNK ZONE This district has many local distillieries.

only the freshest ingredients, including seafood that is sustainably sourced and cooked over their famous charcoal grill. Dishes such as the Fresh Mahi Mahi Tacos and the Greek Salmon Salad won’t fail to disappoint. 4 PM - TOUR CASA DEL HERRERO

This historic Montecito home built in 1925 is a time capsule of the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture. It’s nicknamed the “House of the Blacksmith,” and features beautiful gardens and collections of 16th century Spanish artifacts that make it deserving of being named a National Natural Landmark. Touring this house is a great way to get to know some of Santa Barbara’s rich history. 5 PM - EXPLORE THE FUNK ZONE

The Funk Zone is a contemporary arts district that makes it an excellent place to shop and explore. Its lively art scene and

numerous galleries makes it one of of the most vibrant places to visit. Because of its numerous local wineries and distilleries all within walking distance, and its fun, soulful atmosphere, The Funk Zone has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. 7 PM - DINNER AT YOICHI’S

After exploring the Funk Zone, change tune and have dinner at one of Santa Barbara’s only traditional Japanese multicourse dining experiences. The reservation-only restaurant features a deceptively modest 10-table dining room along with elegant and complex dishes. Each dinner is comprised of seven small courses that include appetizers, soups and sashimi. To finish the night off, guests are served a complimentary glass of yuzu sake.

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SANTA BARBARA

Photo by Jay Sinclair, Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara SUNSTONE VILLA WINERY Enjoy an afternoon wine tasting in a beautiful villa surrounded by the Santa Ynez Mountains.

SATURDAY 8 AM - BOATHOUSE BREAKFAST

Start your morning off with breakfast done right on the beach at Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach and take in the early morning views. This fine establishment offers classic dishes like its Traditional Style Breakfast which includes bacon or sausage, potatoes, and eggs, and more unique breakfasts like the House Cured Salmon Plate. 10 AM - GO WHALE WATCHING

Santa Barbara is one of the best places in California to go whale watching. Condor Cruises offers year round whale watching trips that even include a stop at one of the

Channel Islands, with weather conditions permitting. During the early fall, you will be able to see humpback whales and blue whales, among other smaller species. About 30 species of sealife can be seen, including dolphins, sea lions, and many different seabirds. Just be prepared for cold and windy weather on board. 12 PM - VISIT MISSION SANTA BARBARA

Not only is Mission Santa Barbara one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, but it’s also a gorgeous, tranquil spot to take in the city’s serene atmosphere. Join one of the hourly guided tours, or take the time to stroll around the churchgrounds and gardens that gave it the nickname “Queen of the Missions.” The mission also includes a museum and a mausoleum. 2 PM - SUNSTONE VILLA WINE TASTING

Nestled at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains is the family owned Sunstone

Villa Winery, the first organic vinyard in Santa Barbara. For groups of four or more, reserve one of Sunstone’s many options for signature, private tastings, such as the Library Wine Experience where you can taste some of the Villa’s own vintage, library wines. For smaller groups reservations aren’t necessary as the winery offers walk-in tastings where you can try wine by the glass or try a selection of their most popular wines with their tasting flight. The architecture and stunning scenes alone makes this a must-go stop on your trip. 8 PM - DINE AT SANTA YNEZ KITCHEN

End the evening in Santa Ynez with an impecable fine dining experience at the Santa Ynez Kitchen. Recently, the restaurant opened up a patio area named the Courtyard, where you can enjoy the full menu under the stars. Share a fresh, woodfired pizza, or try a pasta dish like the Wild Mushroom Papparadelle.

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Photo via Las Vegas News Bureau RICH OUTDOORS See Ojai’s beautiful scenery via horseback.

AZU’S Try one of Azu’s small plates or a specialty items.

SUNDAY 10 AM - MORNING AT BEACON COFFEE

Begin the morning of your visit to Ojai with a local favorite café. Beacon Coffee’s brews are made from beans grown by coffee-direct growers and roasted in house. Their fresh blends pair with their baked goods perfectly with options such as savory scones and even donuts. 11 AM - OLIVE OIL TASTING

Much of Ojai Valley is well-preserved, and that includes the many farms and groves that surround the valley, auch as the groves dating back around 150 years ago owned by the Ojai Olive Oil Company. Free tastings of their award-winning vari-

BART’S BOOKS Ojai is famous for its many small businesses.

etals are offered seven days a week at the Olive Barn. On Sundays, walking tours of the grove and olive mill are offered, giving guests insight into the history of Ojai’s olive oil production. Take home some of their signature olive oils by visiting the shop after touring. 1 PM - SHOP AT THE ARCADE PLAZA

Ojai is well-known for supporting local businesses, and the downtown Arcade Plaza is where you can visit some of the best of their small businesses. One business famous in Ojai is Bart’s Books, also known as the world’s greatest outdoor bookstore. Many of the books that line Bart’s outdoor bookshelves are rare art books or first editions, and with a never-ending rotation of books, it has drawn visitors to its doors for years. If you’re looking for unique souveniers, Fig Curated Living sells local goods for homes and gardens, among other small gifts such as jewelry.

2 PM - LATE LUNCH AT AZU’S

Opened in 2001, Azu’s Mediteranean Grill and Tapas Bar has become one of Ojai’s most popular restaraunts. Azu’s offers many small plates for those looking for a quick bite, including the shrimp taco and fried calamari. Their specialty entrées are unique and memorable, such as their Goat Cheese Relleno and the Azu Paella. 3:30 PM - GO HORSEBACK RIDING

Finish off your trip by exploring Ojai on a horseback riding tour by the Ojai Valley Riding Company. Rides are offered throughout the day, and are available for all ages. For beginners, take the River Valley Trail Ride, which will take you through the valley and take you past the Topa Topa Mountains, or if you’re more comfortable, take the Forest Ride, which takes you through the Enchanted Forest. Pony Rides are available for those bringing young children and allows them to meet the other animals that live at the Ranch.

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SANTA BARBARA Where To Stay

More Time?

THE WAYFARER

VISIT SOLVANG

Located in downtown San Diego, near the Funk Zone and Stearns Wharf, The Wayfarer will put you in the center of activity in Santa Barbara. The Wayfarer labels itself as a boutique hotel, which is strongly reflected in its colorful decor. Anemities include continental breakfast each morning, a heated pool, DIY kitchen and dining room, bikes, and more to help you both relax and make the most of your trip to Santa Barbara.

Nearby the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley is the Danish Village of Solvang. It is famous for its Danish architecture and authentic bakeries. Visitors can go cycling, golfing, and even wine tasting at local vineyards. There are always special events to go see, such as the Polo Classics or a performance in the Solvang Festival Theater.

Photos by the Wayfarer, courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA ZOO

For a fun family trip, visit the Santa Barbara Zoo, which is home to 500 animals from around the world. The zoo offers a train ride around the park, a climbing wall, and the opportunity feed giraffes or get a behind the scenes look at how animals are taken care of at the zoo with a guided tour. GO ON A WINE TOUR OJAI RANCHO INN

For a getaway that will connect you with nature, stay at the rustic Ojai Rancho Inn. Here you can reserve a conventional hotel room, or book a room with your own private jacuzzi or kitchenette. Other rooms include the Cottage Room, which has its own fireplace. Each room includes its own semi-private patio as well. The inn has a very down-to-earth, communal feel, with outdoor firepits, BBQs, a swimming pool, and a bar. It is also a short walk from town, providing hospitality in a serene location that isn’t too far from the action.

With so many distilleries in Santa Barbara, it may be difficult to decide where to go. The Urban Trails Wine Tour is a guide to some of Santa Barbara’s best places to go wine tasting and the best local varieties of wines to try. The trail can be traversed by foot or by shuttle. The “Eat This, Shoot That!” wine, food, and photo tour takes you downtown and through The Funk Zone, where you can also get a taste of local foods along the way. SANTA BARBARA PUBLIC MARKET

Whether you are searching for lunch or something sweet, this marketplace has something for everyone. The Santa Barbara Public Market hosts local purveyors, such as The Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar, where you can try some Thai Noodle Bowls, and Enjoy Cupcakes, which boasts an impressive menu that includes wine cupcakes. The marketplace is also home to The Garden, which has 41 craft beers available on tap, and an extensive menu that makes it a great lunch spot.

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LOS ANGELES 310.709.3429

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stephenstonedesigns.com

stephen@stephenstonedesigns.com

SANTA BARBARA 805.220.8515

9/10/19 5:41 PM

SHOPPING

HIDEAWAY SANTA BARBARA

COASTAL ELEGANCE

INTIMATE YET CHIC Hideaway Santa Barbara features nine beautifully-appointed guest rooms and suites.

While the Santa Barbara area has seen a slew of recent hotel openings, one standout is the luxurious yet intimate Hideaway Santa Barbara. Housed in a 1908 California Craftsman, the nine-room hotel comprises deluxe guest rooms and spacious suites, offering views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the historic Fernald Mansion. The pedestrian-friendly location is just blocks from the beach, the Urban Wine Trail, and the Funk Zone. The property is designed by Kirkwood Collection’s design director Michelle McClory, who has worked alongside acclaimed designers Jeffrey Alan Marks and Michael Smith. The governing design principle is use of natural light, reflected in the choice of skylights, finishes and artisan materials throughout the property. Beautifully-appointed guest rooms are bright and breezy, with contemporary organic furnishings and high-end elements meant to evoke the iconic American Riviera. Hideaway Santa Barbara caters to the international traveler and promises its guests a true “home away from home” experience, with thoughtfully features including Apple TVs , fireplaces and complimentary MM breakfast and afternoon champagne.

ENVIABLE LOCATION Hideaway is located close to some of Santa Barbara’s top attractions.

Hideaway Santa Barbara

420 W. Montecito St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 965-2333 www.hideawaysantabarbara.com

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The Creative Influencer Podcast

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SCHOOLS : K-5

New Year, New Schools! The enthusiasm is palpable in Malibu as school has officially started. This year, we welcome a host of new principals as everyone gears up for an exciting academic season full of rebuilding, regrouping, and recharging. ✎ written by Tammy Arlidge WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MALIBU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Webster Elementary School welcomes new principal Lila Daruty. Ms. Daruty has been in the field of education for over twenty years, and fifteen of that in the SMMUSD system. She served as the assistant principal of Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica. She also brings experience as having been a 2nd-5th classroom teacher, and a K-5 Instructional Coach for the Cotsen Foundation and the Beginning Teacher Induction Program. “This is a well-established community with amazing programs in computer science, dance, music, and arts.” Webster is excited to announce that its new STEM program is in the design phase through the support of the PTA. It will include magnetic walls, a green screen, and many other tools for tinkering and project-based learning. “It will be a space for students to participate in open-ended science inquiries.” “Our plan is to deepen the delivery of these programs and continue to provide student-centered instruction of the common core state standards.”

With a new name and a new principal, Malibu Elementary School, the recently combined Pt. Dume Elementary and Juan Cabrillo Elementary, is headed by Christopher Christopher Hertz Hertz. Mr. Hertz has more than twenty-five years experience in education, having been a principal and elementary teacher for the past ten years, serving the Beverly Hills Unified School District as well as Santa Cruz. He has also served as Director of school safety and student services. Mr. Hertz has implemented the Accelerated Reader program, which combines “Old school with New school” in which students will check out as many as 5-7 books daily from the school library, monitored by their teacher, and parents can access their child’s success online. “This blended technology allows parents to work with their kids, while each child is encouraged to achieve their independent goal at an optimal level.” “The library is the hub of our school. We raise readers!” Amid structural additions with four new classroom and office bungalows, complete with advanced SMART boards, Mr. Hertz has many new ideas planned for the upcoming year. Among them are new landscaping and new play structures. “I’m geared for challenges and I’m honored to be selected as the first principal of the combined schools and look forward to this exciting year!”

Webster principal Lila Daruty

OUR LADY OF MALIBU SCHOOL

Michael Smith will be starting his eighth year as principal of Our Lady of Malibu School. Mr. Smith has been an educator and administrator for over 40 years serving LAUSD and SMMUSD before his career at OLM. He has taught from Kindergarten through University levels as well as served as principal for Elementary, Middle School, and High School, and Adult School. “At Our Lady of Malibu School, we are structured to remain using a common core curriculum in all content areas. We also offer foreign language (Spanish and French) in grades K through 8th, physical education; competitive sports teams (volleyball, basketball, track and field in grades 5-8), art, technology (STEM), music - both choral and instrumental, and community service.” OLM also will continue its positive discipline Roots and Wings program as well as its collaboration with Pepperdine University. “OLM’s uniqueness is founded in small class sizes, parental and family collaboration, and our effort to develop each child to master our five school wide Learning Expectations: Person of Faith; Dedicated Learner; Community Leader; Ambassador of the Arts; and Ambassador of Wellness and Fitness. “At OLM, we will continue our vision and mission in educating each and every student to be the best person they can be in preparing them for their future.”

OLM principal Michael Smith

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AGES 3 months - 6 years

Where Friendships are Nurtured and Education is Fun Accepting Applications Now

(310) 456-6573 â&#x20AC;˘ 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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SCHOOLS : MIDDLE & HIGH

MALIBU MIDDLE SCHOOL

(Left to Right) Malibu High School principal Patrick Miller and Malibu Middle School Principal Melisa Andino.

MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL

Campus Plans for Malibu High Malibu High School welcomes Patrick Miller as its new principal. This will be his thirteenth year in the community where he taught Spanish for six years and was the assistant principal in charge of Malibu Middle School for two years. Mr. Miller has also served as assistant principal of AE Wright and principal of Webster Elementary. He is excited to be back on campus at MHS, servicing alongside Melisa Andino. As many exciting facility changes are underway at both the High School and Middle School, Mr. Miller sees these changes as community building efforts and strengthening student to student and student to staff relationships. “Malibu is a small school in a small town. Some of these kids have grown up together, and have been involved in various community activities since they were three years old!” Music, performing arts, and visual arts will continue to be community priority as well as other programs like their engineering pathway, robotics, film program, photography, and media classes in journalism. SharkTV broadcast journalism, digital design, and ceramics in additional to their foreign language program and advanced electives in Math and Science will continue to be offered. The student/teacher ratio is small which allows the teachers to work closely with students at all levels as well to meet their specific needs as well as challenge them. The district is finalizing its master plan that will determine the next steps in building the new Malibu High School. For the time being High School will be spread out and also continue to utilize the portables installed near the pool and the old Juan Cabrillo campus. “In many ways, we are a “boutique school” where kids are graduating extremely well-rounded going on to pursue great opportunities. No one slips through the cracks at MHS.”

Melisa Andino is Malibu Middle School’s first principal. Originally from Texas, she began her career in education sixteen years ago teaching 7th and 8th grade math. When she moved to Malibu, Ms. Andino served as Malibu High School’s middle school Math teacher and built the Varsity cheer program where she also coached for eight years. Among the Middle School electives offered will be band, orchestra, choir, Exploratory (rotation of art, woodshop, and decisions) Art, ASB (student leadership), foreign language (Spanish/French 8th grade), and computer programming. “My focus this year is to build a middle school identity. Middle school years are very different than high school years. We want to be sure that our middle school kids are prepared for high school and beyond.” With the opening of the new middle school classroom building complete with ‘flexible’ furniture in a state-of-the-art environment, Malibu Middle School with have the opportunity to create project-based learning activities for all the students. The Administrative building is slated to be completed by August 2020. “I am honored to lead as Malibu Middle School’s first principal. Alongside Mr. Miller as Malibu High’s principal, our students are in great hands.” OAKS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Oaks Christian is proud to open its brand new IDEAlab for its Institute of Engineering, its Institute of Arts and Innovation which “will feature guest artists and innovators who will mentor our artistically talented students”, and its Institute of Global Leadership that will “train our next generation of leaders in the areas of law, entrepreneurship, and human development.” They also recently opened the new residential life facility to accommodate students wishing to live on campus. “I think that our mission statement sums it up”, says Pricipal Karen Coyle, “to dedicate ourselves to Christ in the pursuit of academic excellence, artistic expression and athletic distinction, while growing in knowledge and wisdom through God’s abundant grace. We focus on the whole student, developing strong character, intellect, and perseverance.”

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S ATH IGNI

TI U

I NS

TA PRUDENTIA

CL ARITAS A R

L E T IC A

ERUDI

Oaks Christian School Preparing Minds for Leadership and Hearts for Service

CELEBRATING OUR

TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR! Learn about our new

• Institute for Arts and Innovation • Institute for Engineering • Institute for Global Leadership

ADMISSIONS

INFORMATION NIGHT

THURS., SEPT. 19, 2019 • 7:00pm to 9:00pm

ADMISSIONS

Tour our new

• IDEA Lab (Innovation, Design, Engineering, Aeronautics) • Residential Boarding Facility

OPEN HOUSE

Sun., Nov. 3, 2019 • 1:00pm to 4:00pm Admissions Events Held on the Beautiful Oaks Christian Campus

Oaks Christian School

A Day and Boarding School • Serving Grades 5 - 12

31749 La Tienda Drive • Westlake Village, CA 91362 • 818.824.9492 • www.oakschristian.org

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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

MEDIAN LISTING PRICE SINCE 2011

Source: Zillow.com

$4.1M

Source: Trulia

$3.3M

$2.5M

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014 Source: Zillow.com

The median sold price is on average 10% lower than the median listing price.

$16K $15K

Malibu’s rental listing price over the last year has remained relatively stable with an upturn in the months after Woolsey.

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SEP-

JUL

JUN

MAY

APR

MAR

FEB

$13K JAN

MEDIAN SOLD HOME PRICE

Source: Zillow.com

DEC

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE SQ/FT

RENTAL LISTING PRICE OVER THE LAST YEAR

NOV

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE

OCT

$3.3M $1.2 K $3.1M

2013

2012

2011

$1.8M

The chart on the left shows Malibu’s median listing price fluctuations. Since 2011 Malibu has seen a steady increase in median listing price with a spike in 2014 and a slight downturn since the middle of 2018. However, even with the recent downturn, median listing prices are still significantly higher than they were a few years ago.

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HOME OF THE MONTH

5046 Carbon Beach Terrace Perched high above Malibu’s “Billionaire’s Beach” sits ‘Villa Splendido’ a modern-day architectural wonder. ✎ written by Ani Dermenjian & Leslie Wade Wooldridge  photographed by Luke Gibson Photography

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ENTERTAINMENT ENCLAVE Featuring a state-of-the art movie projector, pool table and a bountiful bar inspired by a boutique hotel, the lower level also boasts a true “Wellness Wonderland” with a fitness center, steam room, sauna and indoor Jacuzzi.

GOURMAND’S DREAM The property includes both a beautiful show kitchen, pictured here, and a production kitchen, at right.

Photography by Simon Berlyn PRODUCTION KITCHEN In addition to the 2 interior kitchens, the estate features an outdoor culinary station.

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TRUE OASIS Tucked away in one of the most prestigious seaside communities in the world, this exclusive, architectural wonder offers vast views spanning from the Queen’s Necklace to Point Dume.

MODERN MASTERPIECE Perched high on the hillside where land meets the sea resides “Villa Splendido” that like a rare work of art, is both sexy and sleek.

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HOME OF THE MONTH

ANI DERMENJIAN

Q&A WITH THE STAR BROKER We sat down with Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Realtor Ani Dermenjian to hear more about her career and her spectacular listing, Villa Splendido.

You’ve been selling Real Estate in Malibu for 25+ years, and have gained a reputation in the industry as an “Architectural Specialist.” what initially attracted you to that specific design style? I’ve always been drawn to unique architectural designs and find myself fascinated by the imaginative creative process. These distinctive estates ultimately serve as true pieces of art where the architect’s artistic vision is ever-present throughout. For those with a special appreciation for unique architecture, these properties can almost be equated to a rare collector’s piece that not only holds its worth, but often increases in value over time. You’re a consistent Top Producer who is well-recognized in the industry and genuinely respected in the community. You’re also considered a mentor that continues to inform the next generation of talent. How do you do it all? I’m fortunate in that for the most part, I’ve always been surrounded by good people with strong character and moral integrity. Over the years, I’ve worked with stellar assistants that have ultimately become like an extension of me. Having the ability to work together in unison toward the same goal seemingly serves to streamline our internal processes seamlessly. In my personal life, I’m so blessed to have the unwavering support of my husband of 29 years, Raffi Dermenjian, who’s my backbone, coupled with our two beautiful children Alexander, 8 and Christopher, 9, who continue to delight, inspire and motivate me daily. I’ve always

put my whole heart into everything that I do. What’s the most impressive listing you’ve had to date? Of course that would be my latest and (most exciting!) new listing “Villa Splendido,” (featured here) which is absolutely breathtaking. It’s a true honor and privilege to represent both this stunning architectural masterpiece and it’s fabulously loyal sellers who I initially sold the property to back in 2011. What’s so unique about this property? Superb quality, craftsmanship, and the tranquil setting are true hallmarks of a rare find, and its prime location offers panoramic sunrise-to-sunset views from almost every room. Who’s the ideal buyer for this property? The “Smart Home” appeals to multiple demographics worldwide due to elements such as the size, warmth, and

optimal functionality and modern amenities. It’s offered fully-furnished and comes equipped with a vast assortment of indoor and outdoor furnishings, luxurious accessories, modern fixtures and curated fine art from across the globe, as well as a bar and wine cellar stocked with some of the finest liquors and wines. We’ve read that “Villa Splendido” was designed by world-renowned architect and longtime Malibu Local Douglas Burdge (AIA). What differentiates this particular project from others that he’s worked on? The inventive design is a direct result of a collaboration between award-winning Architect Doug Burdge and seller Kirkor Suri, as their combined vibrant energy and meticulous attention to detail is ever-present with an abundance of love and attention poured into the property, which really brought the vision to life in a unique way. Burdge’s brilliance and iconic signature style is readily recognizable throughout.

$49,995,000 5

Beds

Baths

Fully Furnished

ANI DERMENJIAN Architectural Specialist Coldwell Banker Global Luxury CalBRE#: 01185123 D: (310) 317-9382 | C: (310) 738-0499 www.Come2Malibu.com

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REAL ESTATE

CLASSIC DESIGN The Dvele catalogue features an array of different style and layout options.

DVELE

PREFAB PERFECTED Brothers Kurt and Kris Goodjohn are transforming the prefab industry with Dvele, their line of beautifully-designed, healthy and energy-efficient modern homes.

hen brothers Kurt and Kris Goodjohn began building homes professionally in the [mid-2000s], it soon became obvious to both that the traditional process of home

construction was outdated. While tech was transforming so many industries, the vital work of designing and building homes still felt surprisingly archaic to the Goodjohns. “A home is the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy, and yet it’s probably the only thing you’ll ever buy that was built outside, in the elements, over many months,”

said Kris. “It just made sense to us that the most important thing you own in your life should be built to the highest standards and level of precision, not the opposite.” The brothers became fascinated with the burgeoning prefab home movement, in which the home’s modules are produced in a factory and assembled into a home on-site, and in 2011, launched their first

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NATURE Dvele homes feature inside/outside living spaces.

TECH Homes are outfitted with a sensor-monitoring system.

CUSTOMIZABLE Dvele offers a range of size and price options. Rendering: MGI Designs

prefab building company, Karoleena. This first entree proved incredibly successful; in 2016, the company was acquired. However only a few months later, the Goodjohns decided to reenter the prefab space. They’d learned a tremendous amount building Karoleena, and their biggest takeaway, ultimately, was how ripe the prefab market was for innovation. With their second company, they didn’t want to create market-quality homes; they wanted to totally upend the market. “We wanted to create an experience that didn’t really exist in the marketplace,” said Kurt. With this mission in mind, the brothers launched prefab home company Dvele in 2016. Compiling an all-star team of engineers, scientists and designers, the Goodjohns produced a catalogue of home options engineered to make consumers rethink not just prefab homes, but the role of the home in general. From their incredible energy-efficiency

and unparalleled healthy living standards to the cutting-edge tech built into every property, Dvele homes are engineered to do way more than your traditional house. For instance: leaky windows and bad ventilation systems means that in the majority of homes, air quality is worse inside than outside. Not so in a Dvele home, where windows and doors have been specially engineered to remain leak-resistant and airtight. In addition, the homes don’t utilize any natural gas, relying solely on electricity, and thus eliminating harmful carbon monoxide toxins. A state-of-theart ventilation system ensures your family is only breathing in the cleanest air, 24/7. Every Dvele prefab is also outfitted with a system of sensors which constantly monitor air levels to ensure your home’s atmosphere is healthy and clean as possible. That data is routed to the “cockpit”, the central location for all the house’s mechanical systems, where it’s analyzed for any inconsistencies. If the system detects

something is the slightest bit off, homeowners will get an alert. If the homeowner wants, they can give the Dvele team permission to receive alerts as well, so they can follow up immediately if something looks wrong and dispatch a technician. Energy-efficiency is also of principal importance to the Goodjohns, and conservation is at the heart of their company. Each Dvele home is built to a “passive standard”, the gold-standard in high-performance, energy-efficient housing. “We think that the home is such a focal point in society we can really drive change in people’s mentality with [our commitment to energy-efficient homes],” said Kris. “A home should not be wasting energy. If we can get that mentality into people’s minds, we can spread the idea that our homes should be a hell of a lot more MM energy-efficient and healthier.” Dvele www.dvele.com

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HOME OF THE MONTH

ANI DERMENJIAN

Q&A WITH THE STAR BROKER We sat down with Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Realtor Ani Dermenjian to hear more about her career and her spectacular listing, Villa Splendido.

$49,995,000 5

Beds

Baths

+ Guest House

ANI DERMENJIAN Architectural Specialist Coldwell Banker Global Luxury CalBRE#: 01185123 D: (310) 317-9382 | C: (310) 738-0499 www.Come2Malibu.com

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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 weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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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Malibuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 us at advertising@malibumag.com. accounting

builders

Free New Client Consultations Flat Rate Services for Personal and Business Needs

General Contractor

License #1003020

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attorneys

310-729-9612

Serving the West Side for 32 years

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PROTECTED caregiver

Stand Up For Your Rights

YOUR IDEAS

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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

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Housekeeping

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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: advertising@ malibumag.com

I have wonderful letters of rec. nellyramos66@yahoo.com

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