Winter 2021/2022 by Malibu Magazine

MALIBU www.malibumag.com

WESTWARD Is LA County to Blame For the Erosion? SMMUSD Behind a 50 Year Divorce

MAGAZINE

Fitness Special

• Inside the Cryo Craze

• Personal Training Questions Answered • The Biohacking Revolution

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• Hana Monska Brings EMS Training To Malibu

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Julie Wuellner

Holly Bieler

The start of a new year always presents us with the opportunity to set new goals and ambitions for ourselves. And if you’re anything like us, some of those goals are bound to be focused around your health, wellness, or fitness - especially after these last couple of years in quarantine! That’s why we decided to center this issue around health and fitness and use this opportunity to take a look at all the hottest fitness trends coming to 2022, including an inside look at the state-of-the-art biohacking facility Upgrade Labs – just down the street in Santa Monica (page 78). We also cool it down and see what’s behind the new cryotherapy trend, along with all the incredible health benefits it brings (page 76). Finally, we sit down with CJ Critney, owner of FYTS Fitness to talk about why the age old approch of hiring a personal trainer might just be your best bet for actually achieving your fitness goals (page 84). Right on track with our fitness theme, we’re incredible fortunate to have the stunning Malibu local Hanna Monska grace our cover. As the founder of EMS Concierge, Monska is bringing EMS, one of the most popular workouts in Europe, to the U.S. The groundbreaking workout utilizes electric impulses to stimulate deep into the muscles with each contraction, making a 20-minute EMS workout equivalent to four hours of traditional fitness. Check out page 66 for a full overview on the revolution Monska is bringing stateside. As always, we also dive into some important topics affecting our community – one of them being the road collapse and beach erosion at Westward Beach and whether what’s being done to help might actually be hurting instead (page 48). And of course, we can’t ignore the much debated SMMUSD split. With the newest iteration of the City’s petition to seperate up again for review, we take a look at the years-long fight to create a Malibu school district, and whether or not it’s seen progress (page 60). Finally, we take you along on a couple of the greatest outdoor adventures that Malibu has to offer – rock climbing and whale watching. While Malibu might be better known for it’s beaches and celebrities, Malibu rock walls have been frequented by climbers for decades. We take a look at all the best outdoor spots to go climbing as well as what exactly it takes to actually go climb those walls, even if that means starting indoors at the local climbing gym (page 110). Next, we calm it down a little and take you along for an unforgettable whale watching experience and share some of the best ways to go see the ocean’s largest mammals for yourself (page 118). We hope you have a great start to 2022.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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The New Malibu Magazine Newsletter

ALL THE LATEST MALIBU NEWS DIRECTLY ON YOUR PHONE MALIBU MAGAZINE’s daily newsletter, full of the day’s top stories, real estate news, daily events, goings-on about town, and more!

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CONTENTS

PEOPLE EVENT ROUNDUP Coverage of the best fall and winter events in Malibu over the past three months, plus our People We Love features.

WESTWARD BEACH RD. WHAT HAPPENED? The Westward Beach service road’s collapse in August has drawn new questions about erosion and how it can be fixed.

48 WESTWARD BEACH RD. High tides and strong surf completely de-

stroyed the Westward Beach access road in a matter of hours.

SMMUSD THE LONG DIVORCE Malibu has been trying to seperate from SMMUSD since the city’s inception. As the fight renews, will anything change?

66 78 UPGRADE LABS An inside look into the state of the art biohackig facility.

90 THE MINDRY Inside Malibu’s new favorite wellness studio.

COVER EMS CONCIERGE Since opening in 2018, EMS Concierge has gained legions of followers with a workout that’s almost too good to believe.

FITNESS BENEFITS OF PERSONAL TRAINING Reaching your fitness goals is hard but hiring a personal trainer can make it significantly easier. We sit down with CJ Critney for all the best tips.

WELLNESS THE MINDRY 66 EMS CONCIERGE Utilizing deep-stimulating electric impulses, EMS

training offers a four hour workout in just 20 minutes.

Locals Jen Rossi and Willow Kalatchi are working to bring meditation to the masses from their Malibu Village studio.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

ART ARTIFY LIFE The brainchild of Malibu artist Katina Zinner, Artify Life infuses originally designed, colorful, and sustainable art into everyday life.

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FOOD THORNE FAMILY FARMS After fifty years, the Thorne family is still living on their spectacular farm on Bonsall Dr. MALIBU MAGAZINE takes a tour. 110 GET A GRIP There are few things more adventurous than rock climbing. We break down the best ways to get started both indoors and outdoors.

110

ROCK CLIMBING TOP LOCAL SPOTS California is a mecca for rock climbing with Malibu showcasing some of the region’s best spots. We break them down for you.

118

102 THORNE FAMILY FARM A Malibu legacy on Bonsall Drive.

128 ORBIT HOMES Inside the revolutionary Malibu company.

WHALE WATCHING GIANTS IN THE SEA Gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales – winter offers some of the best local whale watching. A guide for where to go.

128

PRE-FAB DESIGN ORBIT HOMES With ORBIT Homes, brothers Or and Dror Michaelo are extending the dream of luxury home ownership to more people.

132

FIRE PROTECTION SUN FIREDEFENSE 118 WHALE WATCHING We take you along for an unforgettable experience up close and personal with the ocean’s largest mammals.

Sun FireDefense founder Jim Moseley discusses his cutting-edge technology and how it’s helped so many in SoCal achieve peace of mind.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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112 East Arrellaga St.

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MASTHEAD PUBLISHER

Dirk Manthey EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julie Wuellner

MANAGING EDITOR

Holly Bieler

ART DIRECTOR

Petra Pflug

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

Holly Bieler Barbara Burke Arielle Eckerman Abigail Wilt Lauren Humphreys Hannah George CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julie Wuellner Jesse Weiner Daniel Fletcher

Jason Konysky Carlos Gauna Ryan Bough

INTERNS

Whitney Bussell Hannah George Alexandra Coenjaerts

SALES LEAD

Dorie Leo Lauren McCarran CJ Critney Melina Samayoa Michelle Mcleod SECURITY / MODELS

Bailey Willow ADVERTISING

advertising@malibumag.com EDITORIAL

editorial@malibumag.com DISTRIBUTION

Disticor Right Way Distribution Malibu Magazine (ISSN1938-9272) published quartely by ES Media Services 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.

ARIELLE ECKERMAN Writer

Arielle Eckerman grew up in Malibu embracing all that the Santa Monica Mountains has to offer. After graduating Malibu High, she attended Cal Lutheran University, where she received her B.S. degree in Environmental Science. She loves to write about her passions, including animals, the environment, and outdoor sports. In her spare time she rides horses, travels, works out at Crossfit, and spends time with her cattledog, Banjo.

WHITNEY BUSSELL Writer

Whitney Bussell is a student-veteran in her senior year at Pepperdine University majoring in Journalism. She is a part of the Pepperdine Graphic and represents the veteran community for Seaver College, Pepperdine’s undergraduate school. She loves hiking and kayaking where she can embrace all that nature has to offer. She enjoys sharing love and helping others everywhere she goes.

LAUREN HUMPHREYS Writer

Lauren Humphreys is an experienced life coach, spiritual guide, and writer. She takes her intuition from a higher perception and communicates with a client’s subconscious and higher self to provide clear insight into their journey.

ABIGAIL WILT Writer

Abby Wilt is a sophomore at Pepperdine University studying Journalism and Multimedia design. She is a part of Pepperdine Graphic Media, NewsWaves 32, Currents Magazine and Pi Beta Phi. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, going to coffee and spending time outdoors. She loves exploring Malibu and getting to know the community she now calls home.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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CONTRIBUTORS

JESSE WEINER Photographer

Jesse Weiner is the Head Routesetter for Boulderdash Indoor Climbing Gyms. A well known climber in the Santa Monica Mountains, Jesse has worked in the climbing industry for nearly 10 years as a coach and setter. His climbing students have podiumed at US National Championships and competed internationally at World Cup and World Championship events for Team USA.

DANIEL FLETCHER Photographer

Daniel was the kid who came home to dinner with mud on his shoes and dirt in his fingernails. As an adult his enthusiasm for wild places never diminished. When he first visited Yosemite he decided to become a photographer in the hopes of inspiring others to get outdoors. He’s since been obsessed with adventure and timelapse photography. California will always be his playground.

JASON KONYSKY Photographer

Jason Konysky is a Malibu photographer who’s passion leads him to the ocean where he captures unique images of water and light. “The dynamic nature of being at the mercy of the ocean while trying to create a perfect shot is a rewarding challenge that continues to draw me back into the water. I absolutely love what I do!” Custom orders of unique ocean imagery available for your home or office by contacting Jason directly on Instagram: @The_Wave_Seeker or email waveseekerjason@gmail.com

CARLOS GAUNA Photographer

Carlos Gauna is a professional photographer and FAA certified drone pilot based in Southern California. His work has been featured on National Geographic & Discovery Channel as well as a host of other media. He has a passion for art and believes it’s happening around us all the time. “My greatest joy is capturing its beauty” Gauna says. You can view more of his work at themalibuartist.com

MALIBU MAGAZINEE

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LIGHTNING STORM OVER THE COAST Outdoor photographer Jason Konysky captured this spectacular photo during the lightning storm that hit Los Angeles in early October. You can see more of his work on instagram @the_wave_seeker.

MALIBU MAGAZINE

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THE BIG PHOTO

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MALIBUITES

NOBU

Louis Vuitton Dinner Party

Emma Chamberlain

Camila Morrone Chloe Grace Moretz, Jaden Smith

Danielle Haim, Jedidia

Angus Cloud & HoYeon Jung

Whether you are a content creator or the lead on a new Netflix Hit, Nobu was the place to be on the eve of November 19th. After a year of isolation Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière was ecstatic to invite friends of the fabulous French Fashion house to its delightful annual dinner. This event, which has been taking place for many years, acts as a luminary experience for celebrities to come together for a fabulous dinner, filled with marvelous food, exquisite drinks, and of course an amazing opportunity to appreciate the world of fashion. It gave stars such as Miranda Kerr, Squid Game star HoYeon Jung, and Emma Roberts the opportunity to enjoy an intimate celebration. Whilst enjoying caviar tacos and spicy crispy rice the attendees were able to have a refreshing way of socializing that was outside of their regular show schedule giving them the opportunity to meet new talent in LA. Guests such as Jaden Smith, Phoebe Dynevor, and Jurnee Smollett were given the opportunity to meet fellow celebrities such as Kodi Smit-McPhee, Ava DuVernay, and Naomi Osaka. All in all it was clear that Nicolas Ghesquiere’s dinner at Nobu was a unique and luxurious way to make new friends and catch up with old ones.

Photos by Marc Patrick/BFA.com h Jenkins, Este Haim,

Alana Haim

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13th Annual Malibu Half Marathon

Amanda Stanton

Malibu is on the move again! Presented by Rusnak BMW, this blow-out event is back for the 13th time, hosting more than 4,000 eager runners alongside the Pacific Coast Highway. November 13th included the 5k and Kids Fun Run, and November 14th tackled the much-anticipated half marathon. Partly virtual, but mostly in-person, this charitable event was inclusive for all members of the community. The VIP Charity lounge catered Vintage Grocer produce, Liquid IV hydration stations, and post-race massages, sponsored by Bright Events Rentals. Proceeds raised will go to The Boys & Girls Club of Malibu and Girls on the Run Los Angeles. “We know that events like ours are essential for a community’s well-being because they’re giving people an opportunity to socialize in person again and to reconnect with each other,” said race director Erica Segel.

Written by Hannah George

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MALIBUITES

RAFI LOUNGE

Fitness & Wellness Mini Retreat

Eve Karlin

Members of the community gathered late afternoon on November 14th to reset their mind, body, and soul in the heart of Malibu at the stuning Rafi Lounge. Led by Eve Karlin, the sweat leader of the On the Go Fit, attendees were matched with full body workouts, Groov3 dance classes, and a deep relaxation sound bath taught by Kristina Joy. The icing on the fitness cake was a spectacular view of the Malibu sunset atop the Rafi Lounge and an exciting raffle to end the evening. “Getting in shape shouldn’t feel like a punishment. It’s an amazing and empowering lifestyle decision, and O.T.G. FIT helps make the fitness journey fun,” says Eve’s testimonial on Otgfit.net.

Written by Hannah George

Kristina Joy

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

KATHY ELDON

Invoking Change Journalist, teacher, mother, film and television producer - all describe Malibu’s Kathy Eldon, the motivational founder of Creative Visions that inspires journalists and youth to produce films addressing climate change, poverty and human rights issues. “Inspired stories ignite action,” Eldon says, noting the organization produces entertainment and impact media to catalyze social change. “Creative Visions’ projects shift public opinion, influence policy, and raise funds and awareness for critically-important societal challenges,” Eldon says. Eldon is the chairwoman of Creative Visions Foundation, an organization she and her daughter Amy Eldon Turtelaub formed to honor Kathy’s late son, Dan Eldon, a Reuters photojournalist who was tragically killed by an angry mob in Somalia in 1993. Eldon is known for her work on Dying to Tell the Story, a film about journalists at risk, and The Journey is the Destination (2016), a documentary concerning Dan’s death, chronicling his life and featuring his art. Eldon’s memoir, Heart of Life: Living by Forgiving, depicts an experience-filled journey that has taken her from her native Iowa, to London, Kenya and Malibu. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Kathy Eldon because she is prolific and impactful.

SHERMAN BAYLIN

A Safe Haven for Pets A Malibuite for 38 years, animal advocate Sherman Baylin is forthright and opinionated and bemoans what she views as the demise of Malibu’ rural character and its small town warmth. Like her mother, Teddi Sherman, an actress, TV writer and screenwriter Sherman is well known in the industry. She starred in Terrified, 1995 and Banana Wave: Taking a Stand (2019), and she produced Shortcut (2020). However, Sherman’s primary focus is helping animals. Sherman would, locals submit, do anything to save an animal. “Sherman is our animal rescue angel,” said a Go Fund Me campaign established to help Sherman get a drone to search for animals and to replace gear lost in the Woolsey Fire. “She has rescued horses, donkeys, chickens, hens, pigs, cows, squirrels, and, of course, hundreds of dogs and cats and even a blind rat during the Woolsey Fire. Her dedication knows no bounds.” When an animal needs help, Sherman quickly mobilizes and motivates people to assist other species. “I help to facilitate adoptions of all sorts of animals,” Sherman said. “When they see animals injured, the lifeguards and the sheriffs often call me.” Like Sherman always does, she tells people about the latest animals in immediate need. “Right now, I have two little girls who need adopting. Tell everyone you know.” MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Sherman Baylin for her warm heart and her eagerness to save every animal that comes to her.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

JULIA HOLLAND

Uplifting Through Song Using her professional vocalist skills to help students find their voice, Malibu’s Julia Holland provides a wealth of creative knowledge as she helps others strengthen and develop musical and performance abilities. Holland teaches private and group lessons at her vocal studio in Malibu and has helped to launch several local young professionals’ careers. In addition to supporting artists of all ages to improve their vocal skills, Holland’s Eco Hero Kids Foundation motivates young students to take meaningful actions to address the challenges presented by the Earth’s environmental challenges. The conscious and environmental organization’s mission is to educate, create and cultivate through its online learning platform and live theatrical performances. The organization trains students from local, national and global perspectives, helping them invent new standards and actions for people and the planet as we enter our next phase of existence, facing global climate challenges. “I just finished directing a production of Peter and Wendy that will be featured on the 9 O’clock Players YouTube channel,” Holland recently told Malibu Magazine, adding that she is currently in development on a musical about the environment for EcoHero Kids. Holland serves as the Vice-Chair of the Malibu Arts Commission, which supports cultural and arts-related events in the city. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Julia Holland because she gives youth a voice and empowers them.

PAUL TAUBLIEB

Racing to the Screen Based on the New York Times bestselling autobiography by race car driver Michael Waltrip, Blink of an Eye, is a cinematic film directed by multi-Emmy-winning action and motorsports filmmaker Malibuite Paul Taublieb. The piece won best documentary at the International Motor Film Awards, an organization Taublieb describes as “the Oscars of the automotive film awards.” Blink of an Eye is a quintessential triumph-meets-tragedy tale recounting the story of one of Nascar’s greatest underdogs, Michael Waltrip, who finally won the Daytona 500 in 2001, when his prior racing record was 462-0. However, tragically in the same race, Waltrip and the racing community lost Dale Earnhardt, Waltrip’s good friend, mentor and hero. The film is a nail-biting, dramatic portrayal of Waltrip’s career struggles and Earnhardt’s unwavering support of him. Taublieb Films was founded by Paul and his wife, multiple Emmy Award-winning producer and director Susan Cooper. The company’s other productions include the Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary, UNCHAINED: The Untold Story of Freestyle Motocross (2016), other award-winning action-filled productions and the hit theatrical film, The Vow (2012) starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Paul Taublieb for creating films that keep us on the edge of our seats.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

JEFF BAKER

Jeff Baker and his family moved to Malibu nine years ago. Baker is a law professor and the director of legal clinics at Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law. Raised by parents who instilled in him the need to serve from a young age, Baker believes in people helping people. When the Woolsey fire wreaked havoc and despair throughout Malibu, Baker’s immediate reaction was to find a way to help his adopted community. “I have the real gift of working at a place in a job where our mission is to serve and strengthen our community,” said Baker. According to Baker it’s a simple thing, to help uplift the community that he lives in comes as second nature. It’s a value he has also instilled in his two daughters who both attend school in Malibu and serve the community in their own ways as well. Baker worked to establish a pro bono Disaster Relief Clinic at Pepperdine to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. So when the Woolsey Fire brought despair to Malibu, it was an obvious solution to Baker and his colleagues to redeploy the Disaster Relief Clinic. Baker and his students worked fast to begin providing assistance to victims of the Woolsey Fire with any legal services that they needed. Baker views his profession in law as a way to serve others just as his parents taught him. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Jeff Baker for his initiative to help others, no matter where he goes.

Photo by Ryan Bough

Serving Others

LEVON AKOPYAN

Simple Joy in a Timeless Craft Malibu is an atypical small town where people of all sorts are able to carve out a section of the world. That is what Levon Akopyan was able to do with the help of his father nearly 35 years ago. Akopyan was raised working alongside his father repairing shoes. Akopyan’s family moved to America from Armenia when he was 14. Following a short period in the real estate business, he quickly realized that his love for his family’s work was his true calling and returned to his origins. Akopyan’s father had always dreamed of having a shop on the beach someday and gave him the idea to do just that. Akopyan opened the doors to his European Shoe Repair nearly 35 years ago where it has stood since, and has expanded to repairing purses as well. Life as a cobbler has brought Akopyan great joy, his customers frequently ask him what makes him so happy. For Akopyan, it’s simple, making the people in his community happy comes first. “I love what I’m doing and it’s an awesome feeling when you do something for somebody and they appreciate it and they like it,” said Akopyan. The relationship that Akopyan shares with Malibu and his customers is definitive of the small town support Akopyan has always received since opening his shop. “What I love is having that special connection with people that you know [...] I don’t consider it as a job, I consider it as a hobby,” Akopyan stated. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Levon Akopyan for the happiness he shares with the Malibu community and for his exquisite craft.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

PETER DEACY

Guiding Malibu in Total Wellness Malibu’s Peter Deacy, a well-known celebrity trainer, incorporates modalities including surfing, pilates, yoga, meditation, beach TRX and hiking to help clients reach fitness goals. Deacy also creates luxury retreats from Nobu Ryokan Malibu, curating wellness events for the likes of Netflix, Google, Calamigos Ranch and Lululemon. Deacy recently founded Malibu Fit Concierge, a platform and app that fights workout fatigue, allowing wellness seekers in Malibu and worldwide to practice and train privately with vetted, curated instructors. “Fit Concierge is the only app offering live, private, virtual personal training, yoga, breathwork, meditation, sound healing, nutritional counseling, and life coaching sessions,” Deacy said. “We have 1,600 fully vetted instructors to choose from, making getting fit easier than ever for clients.” All instructors are assessed rigorously by Deacy and his team based on certifications, skill, experience, mock sessions, video interviews and their aptitude working with clients. Collectively they offer sessions as wide-ranging as personal training, yoga, pilates, breathwork, sound bathing, meditation, energy healing, dance fitness, tai chi, tabata and more, making Fit Concierge an effective and efficient one-stop shop for all-things wellness. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Peter Deacy for his commitment to providing services that take care of all of our wellness needs.

LONNIE WEINSTOCK-GALATE

Keeping Malibu Moving Finding your fit is just around the corner. Lonnie Galate, owner and founder of Malibu Fitness, has incurred passion in the community for over 35 years. Previously a professional gymnast and physical education teacher, Lonnie not only loves athleticism, but loves to teach it, too! “I love the high from cardio—and the sweat and the music—but I also love variety,” Lonnie admits. Inclusive of all people at all levels, Lonnie shares the same tips to everyone who wants to begin or challenge their fitness journey: “Find something you like because if you hate it, it won’t last.” And the same goes for diets. Lonnie is a firm believer that diets don’t work—lifestyles do. She feels that everyone knows what healthy food is and encourages others to cook for themselves, avoid processed foods, and resist overloading their system. Eventually, “it becomes like brushing your teeth; it becomes a habit,” she states. Even though she owns a gym, Lonnie knows that exercise can exist beyond the realm of a workout room. She tells others to use Youtube videos, Instagram, or Zoom training to be fit anywhere. “Find a way you love to move and keep moving, change it up. Your body and mind get bored—like if you read the same book over and over,” Lonnie laughs. So, don’t be afraid to break a sweat. Lonnie is here to help. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Lonnie Weinstock-Galate for her enthusiasm to guide people to live their best lives and get moving.

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PEOPLE WE LOVE

STAN COOK

Comfort Empresario It’s no surprise we love Stan Cook. As the founder of Barefoot Dreams, which makes, no debate, the comfiest blankets in the world, Cook has brought comfort and warmth into people’s homes for decades. What’s more, he did it all from Malibu. Along with his wife, Annette, the Cooks started their small business out of a modest home on Kanan Dume. After years of work, the company took off, gaining a coveted spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list, devoted fans across the world, and distribution in some of the county’s biggest stores. Cook would continue that work after Anette tragically died of colon cancer in 2012. Today, Barefoot Dreams is bigger than ever, and recently paid tribute to its Malibu origins when it opened its first brick and mortar store in the Park at Cross Creek last year, and an expansion of the store in October of 2021. “I like to say, we were the first and original Malibu company in garment,” Cook told MALIBU MAGAZINE in 2019. “We started that, and I think being the original is the coolest. We’ve always hung our hat on being the Malibu lifestyle.” MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Stan Cook for his dedication to the comfort of everyone, but especially Malibuites.

DR. RON MAUGERI

Keeping Malibu Pain Free “People come to me in pain, often frustrated because they still have concerns although they’ve consulted many doctors. They want out of pain,” Dr. Ron Maugeri of Malibu Chiropractic and Wellness said. “We are known for very specific and accurate diagnosing and for treating people effectively so they get better fast.” Maugeri, who is affectionately called “Dr. Ron” by his patients, notes that many people consult him due to neck and upper back pain. “Every inch a person lowers his head to look at devices or do paperwork places ten more pounds of pressure on the spine,” He explained. Maugeri and his team heal with therapeutic medicinal massage, chiropractic, and physical therapy modalities. They also use specialized instrumentation to support hands-on treatments. Maugeri notes the new Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) is “a game changer” in healing injured people. The device increases one’s adenosine triphosphates in cell mitochondria, thereby bringing blood flow and oxygen to painful areas, reducing inflammation, and energizing cells by charging them up to make cell membranes softer and more permeable so blood can help to heal. The machine sends healing pulsed waves of energy to dilate blood vessels thereby allowing oxygen and essential nutrients to reach pinpointed painful spots. MALIBU MAGAZINE loves Dr. Ron Maugeri for his innovative treatment practices and commitment to helping.

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

✎ written by Barbara Burke, Whitney Bussell, and Hannah George

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PEOPLE

Malibu Author Tells All Robert Kerbeck explores the lies he told, celebrities he screwed, cons he ran, and the millions he made along the way in his new book RUSE. ✎ written by Abigail Wilt

Phone call after phone call, lie after lie. This is the life of a corporate spy — something that author Robert Kerbeck mastered right from his home in Malibu. Kerbeck is just now revealing his former job through a new book set for release in February titled RUSE: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street. Kerbeck has lived in Malibu for over 20 years and is a well-known author. His first book, Malibu Burning: The Real Story Behind LA’s Most Devastating Fire, was published in 2019 after the Woolsey Fire and received a lot of community support. “If it wasn’t for the community support of Malibu Burning, I wouldn’t have gotten a chance to publish RUSE,” Kerbeck said. Kerbeck grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Kerbeck’s father didn’t want him to pursue a liberal arts degree so he insisted Kerbeck pay for it himself. Kerbeck started working at the Hilton Hotel, taking out loans, and eventually becoming a member of the theater program. Involvement in the theatre program evolved into a love for acting, and after re-

turning to Philadelphia to work at his father’s car dealership for more than a year after college, he decided to move again to take an acting role in the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival to fight for Mark Antony in the play Julius Caesar. Kerbeck scored roles in two more plays after that, and in 1987, he moved to New York City to pursue his acting career. He moved into a one-bedroom apartment in the city, but there was one issue — he needed a way to pay for it.

VALERIE PLAME Kerbeck with former CIA spy Valerie Plame who makes an appearance in RUSE.

Kerbeck’s “survival job” came into the picture around this time — when he needed a larger source of income. Kerbeck’s college roommate’s brother had a phone job that Kerbeck thought would be a good way to pay his bills while pursuing acting. After an interview with his future boss, Kerbeck was offered the job of a corporate spy. He accepted the job, still not knowing exactly what he was getting himself into. A day in the life of a corporate spy is pretty straightforward — they lie on the phone. Kerbeck said his initial company’s job was getting non-public information from Wall Street companies. “At first, it was just a survival job,” Kerbeck said. “I was an actor — it was just to pay the bills. And then all of a sudden, as time went on, I got deeper and deeper into the world of corporate espionage.” In 1993, Kerbeck moved to Santa Monica to start working on shows including Sisters, Melrose Place, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He continued to make ruse calls on the side to pay the bills. “I’m not proud of it at all,” Kerbeck said “I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else, it’s just kind of what I stumbled into.”

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“EVEN THOUGH I’M NOT PROUD OF [RUSING], IT IS A HELL OF A STORY.” In 1999, Kerbeck stumbled across an ad in the LA Times real estate listing for a home in Malibu. Knowing that he and his wife, Gardia, eventually wanted to settle down and have a family, he purchased the home and moved to Malibu — which was always one of his favorite spots. “There’s a spot where you have a really clear view of the ocean and I was just in shock,” Kerbeck said. “I’m like, wow, you are living this close to the ocean.” Shortly after moving to Malibu, Kerbeck’s acting career ended and he focused his full attention on corporate espionage and starting his own business, RK Research. Finally in 2011, Kerbeck quit the job of rusing and let his team go. With the invention of new technologies like LinkedIn, the ruse job wasn’t in as high of demand. Without the spy job taking up his time, Kerbeck reemerged into writing. His first short story came out of losing his business. Around the same time, he decided to start Malibu Writer’s Circle — a group of writers that come together to help one another excel in their work. “It’s a great source of local people because there are a lot of really talented professional writers here,” Kerbeck said. “It’s really fun to come together and help each other improve our work. I don’t think I would publish anything ever if it weren’t for the notes of the other members in the group.” In 2019, Kerbeck published his first book, Malibu Burning: The Real Story Behind LA’s Most Devastating Fire, which told the story of the Woolsey Fire. After the book came out, his writing took off, and he won awards in-

cluding a Silver Medalist in Creative Nonfiction for the 2020 Winner of Independent Publisher Awards and a finalist for the 2021 SoCal Journalism Awards. “RUSE shines a spotlight on this unknown world of corporate spying,” Kerbeck said. “Most people don’t know that major American corporations and international corporations are spending billions of dollars a year to spy on each other.” Kerbeck said he felt like he was exposing

the truth with his new book, and shedding light on a subject that isn’t widely discussed. Kerbeck’s book, RUSE: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street, will be published in February 2022. “Even though I’m not proud of [rusing], it is a hell of a story,” Kerbeck said. “It is funny, it is interesting. And again, as I said, most people don’t know that American corporations are doing this every day — hiring spies every day to find out stuff.” MM

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PEOPLE

ATLANTIC CROSSING After discovering his passion for sailing, Epstein set the goal to sail to Europe and beyond.

Harmony on High Seas Malibu’s Michael Epstein and Maria Antonia Londono are on an adventure of a lifetime, sailing around the world. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

Harmony SV, a beautiful sailboat, is owned by Malibu’s Michael Epstein. He and his girlfriend, Maria Antonia Londono, are sailing around much of the world and are documenting their adventures on their Instagram page @sv.harmony. Epstein started the Malibu Triathlon in 1986 as a hobby, operated the event for 26 years, and recently sold it to Super League Triathlon in November 2020. After selling the Malibu Triathlon in November of 2020,

Epstein was ready for his next challenge. “Sailing is new for both of us,” Epstein told Malibu Magazine. “We started out at Channel Islands Harbor taking sailing lessons and then we went all in, renting boats around the world. We chartered boats in the Bahamas, San Diego, and Cabo, and then in Croatia.” “Ultimately, we set a goal to take a sailboat across the Atlantic. At first, we thought it was crazy. But, here we are doing it!” Ep-

stein said. Before they knew it they crossed the treacherous Bay of Biscay, a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean, bounded in the east by France and the south by Spain. Sailing incident-free for more than 1,000 nautical miles, they enjoyed excellent cruising along the rias - or bays. “There is such diversity along the coastlines,” Londono said. “There is striking, dramatic beauty along the coasts of Catalunya, a spot in Costa Brava along the Spanish coast”. Here one can enjoy a Mediterranean breeze while roaming the small fishing towns and historic Roman ports. Yet, it can not always be smooth sailing. Even though the couple hired a captain to help them cross the Bay of Biscay, it is now just the two of them at sea. This is both “exciting and exhilarating” Londono says “We’ve been in heavy winds in anchorage and the boat rolls a lot” She elaborated on the challenging aspects of sailing. “We’ve had some sleepless nights and some of our long crossings were between 24 and 36 hours,” Londono said. Yet their goal of crossing the Atlantic still remains. If all goes according to plan they will sail from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, “where we will encounter the same trade winds Columbus hit,” Epstein said, his voice full of anticipation. Luckily, once they have crossed the Caribbean Sea to Panama they will get to enjoy the Beautiful and tropical Baja. The timeline - approximately two years. MM The memories - eternal.

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✎ written by Holly Bieler and Barbara Burke

The recent collapse of the Westward Beach access road has sparked concern over how LA County has handled beach erosion.

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ROAD COLLAPSE On the morning of August 21st unseasonally large waves caused a total collapse of the Westward Beach access road. A few days prior to the collapse, a local lifeguard predicted that the road would give out.

he strength of a high tide is well-known to anyone who has lived in Malibu. For those near Westward Beach, this is especially true. In the summers, when high tides and rough surf tend to overlap, miles of it have been known to transform overnight, violent waves reorganizing the wide, level shore into craggy new dunes and shallow pools of water by sunrise. Still, the morning of August 21st came as a shock. As the first surfers pulled onto Westward Beach Rd. that day, taking advantage of an unsea-

sonal swell which had yielded massive waves throughout the week, the dawn began to reveal severe damage. Massive swaths of the beach had been waterlogged, volleyball courts hundreds of feet from shore transformed into marshland. All of the beach’s four concrete public bathrooms had been flooded to the point of disrepair. Worst of all was the Westward Beach Rd. access road, a small service road snaking along the end of the beach that serves as the only entrance to the 373-space Point Dume parking lot. Immediately it became clear that the road had been completely destroyed.

Within hours the City had taped off its entrance, sending an alert out to residents that the road would be closed indefinitely after suffering a total collapse. As photos of the damage began to spread on social media, however, the word “collapse” didn’t exactly appear to be apt. The pavement road, indeed, was almost entirely intact. It was the beach below it that was gone, not collapsed so much as completely swept away. In a matter of hours, it appeared, feet of thickly-packed sand, and the veritable backbone of one of Point Dume’s most traveled roads, had com-

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COMMUNITY

pletely disappeared, leaving the concrete atop awkwardly jettisoning into the air. It was a startling sight, and one which immediately drew questions around the city. If most residents had come to terms with the invariability of a diminishing Malibu coast, erosion’s death march towards the city was still largely understood to be a slow one. That a vital road could be swept away in a matter of hours sounded new alarms, both in terms of the future of the city and the people charged with protecting it. Indeed for many locals, the swift destruction of the Westward Beach access road was a symbol less of nature’s force and more of government ineptitude, the inevitable culmination of years of thoughtless construction and lack of oversight from the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (LACDBH). “It was like a train wreck in slow motion,” Malibu resident Andrew Ferguson wrote on Nextdoor. When people talk about mistakes at Westward Beach, and indeed at beaches around the world, a lot of the time they’re talking about dunes. These naturally-occurring sand mounds are perhaps the most vital tool in a beach’s arsenal against storm surge and strong waves, two major contributors to erosion. Dunes prevent flooding and structural damage which occur during both. Most significantly, they’re reactive: naturally formed by high winds and the trajectory of a season’s surf, new sand dunes are constantly being created, popping up in the areas of beach that need them most. If sand dunes provide myriad benefits, however, they also present one distinct problem: they’re a pain to build around. As a result, more often than not, they’re destroyed during beach construction. On Westward Beach, the topic of dunes is especially fraught. When the LACDBH built the Westward Beach ac-

“The sand had been eroding along the road for months and the County had done nothing to mitigate it.”

GARY B GRIGGS Griggs is a professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. His expertise is in coastal processes and engineering.

cess road and Point Dume parking lot in 1971, they destroyed dunes in the process. Some longtime residents remember the agency vowing to rebuild them as a condition of the construction, a promise they didn’t keep. Malibu Magazine wasn’t able to independently corroborate this claim. But the agency’s practice of leveling dunes during construction and maintenance on Westward Beach is well-documented in recent years, including just months before the access road was destroyed. “When the erosion started to reach [Westward Beach Rd.] in early 2021, the county dug up the beach and bulldozed the land-side dunes for sand that was swept away almost instantly,” Point Dume resident Malibu resident Suzanne Guldimann wrote on Nextdoor. For many in Malibu, the LACDBH’s history of destroying dunes is emblematic of a broader short-sightedness the agency has long exhibited when it comes to the threat of erosion in Malibu, a myopic stance towards one of the city’s most critical problems which at times, some say, can border on negligence. Indeed in the weeks after the Westward Beach access road collapse, many residents questioned why the agency hadn’t done more, and earlier, to mitigate what had been clear to so many for so long was an impending disaster. “The sand had been eroding along the road for several months and the County had done nothing to mitigate it,” wrote Ferguson. “The Saturday [before the collapse], a lifeguard predicted that the road was going to give out, and 5 days later he was proven right. The coastline erosion [of the Westward Beach access road] was caused by County incompetence.” The DBH has pushed back against assertions that their work, or lack thereof, has contributed to erosion. Nicole Mooradian, the Public Information Officer for LACDBH, said in the case of Westward Beach, blame could largely

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HELPING OR HARMING? Residents voiced concern over the use of boulders to protect the road. Fortifying a sea wall with

boulders might decelerate immediate impacts of erosion but can often lead to a more rapid diminishment of sand underneath it.

be placed on the inevitability of the ocean’s power. “Mother Nature just ran its course,” she said. However internal LACDBH documents show the county was aware of the service road’s precarious state at least two weeks before its collapse, and indeed took steps to try to mitigate what one of their own contractors said could be cataclysmic damage. In a report submitted to the agency weeks before the collapse, an LACDBH employee said his recent site visit to Westward Beach Rd. had raised concerns that upcoming strong surf could

In many cases man made sea walls can do more harm than good when it comes to erosion.

be a major problem for the access road. “Recent high tides and wave action have reduced the beach and vegetated dune width to the point that another series of spring tides and wave action could cause significant damage to the [Westward Beach Rd.],” he wrote. LACDBH didn’t take the report lightly, especially with forecasts in coming weeks predicting water levels of 6.7 feet. Emergency permit applications were submitted to the Coastal Commission to construct a sand berm, a raised ridge of pebbles and sand, along Westward Beach Rd. The agency also made arrangements to erect almost 150

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source: Nextdoor.com

truckloads of boulders against the sea wall. All told, $1.2 million in emergency funding would be spent on attempts to mitigate erosion on the Westward Beach access road over the course of a couple weeks. By Saturday, August 20, the berm had been constructed, and 42 of the 147 truckloads of boulders had been installed against the wall. The project, however, would never be completed. By the next morning, the road had been swept into the ocean. For the LACDBH, the failure of the emergency mitigation techniques in the weeks leading up to the road’s collapse proved, in the end, to be an inevitability, considering the strength of the waves at the time. “The surf ultimately proved to be stronger than anticipated,” Mooradian said. According to experts in coastal erosion and preservation, however, the very mitigation techniques the county used to thwart erosion damage could have actually ended up facilitating it. Indeed most experts agree that in many cases, man made sea walls, which are oftentimes erected to imitate the protective qualities of destroyed sand dunes, can actually do more harm than good when it comes to erosion. “Coastal engineering structures aimed at armoring beaches can further impound large volumes of sand along shorelines,” said Professor Gary B. Griggs of Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz. “By slowing water flow and wiping out waves, seawalls and other structures can hinder natural sand replenishment.”

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COMMUNITY

PROPOSED PROJECT LACDBH submitted a proposal to the Coastal Commission in early September with the goal being to add dozens more parking spots along the road by extending its width.

Fortifying a sea wall with boulders, for instance, might decelerate the immediate impacts of erosion, but over time can often lead to more rapid diminishment of the sand underneath it. For many, the LACDBH’s utilization of these questioned techniques demonstrates the kind of bureaucratic incompetence which has long characterized the agency’s approach towards the coastal effects of climate change For others, its evidence of increasingly skewed priorities on the County level. “The rocks [the County] dumped to save the [Point Dume] parking lot will

“The rocks dumped to save the parking lot will change the sand flow forever.”

change the sand flow forever at Westward Beach,” West Malibu resident Terry Lucoff wrote on Nextdoor. “If it was a homeowner trying to save his house, the rocks would not have been permitted. But the coastal commission can seemingly dump rocks overnight to protect their money-making parking lot.” In November of 2021, after four months of construction, the newly-rebuilt Westward Beach access road opened to the public. Within hours locals were jogging along its path, rock climbers and beachgoers pouring into the Point Dume parking lot once again. It only took a few weeks, however, before Westward Beach Rd. and its reserves of sand were again the hot topic in town. The LACDBH, it turned out, did have a long term vision for Westward Beach Rd.; they wanted to make it bigger. In a proposal submitted to the Coastal Commission in early September, the DBH set out a $3.8 million plan to add dozens more parking spots along the road by extending its width. All in all, the proposal called for utilizing 12 feet of the beach for the road widening. The project left many residents crying foul. But for others, it didn’t come as a surprise. For Point Dume resident Philippe Browning, it was just the latest indication that those charged with protecting our beaches have lost their way. “The public beach to which the project would supposedly improve access - by destroying part of it - is rapidly disappearing,” he said. “While Public Works represents the project as being “improvements” to “public access,” they nonetheless propose to destroy a substantial portion of the public beach.” MM

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Bloom Where You’re Planted Specializing in Hidden Hills Real Estate

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A Hidden Hills resident since 1977, Michael knows his town! From the ins and outs of development, to guiding families through the nuances within the gates, Michael Bloom has the deepest understanding for Hidden Hills to any of his counter-parties. “I’ve been lucky enough to live in this neighborhood since the 70s, and have watched it grow and develop. I’ve been able to build relationships with residents, community members, and developers to provide an insiders look at what is currently on the market, upcoming, and under construction,” Michael says. “I love being a part of a major decision in people’s lives—it’s an honor to provide guidance and I do whatever it takes to help my clients achieve their goals.” Michael is fluent in Spanish and Japanese.

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COMMUNITY

BRUCE SILVERSTEIN

Mr. Smith Goes to Malibu When he was elected to the Malibu City Council in 2020, Bruce Silverstein was a political novice and city newcomer. Over the last two years, however, he’s emerged as one of the most controversial members in the City Council’s history. ✎ written by Holly Bieler

Bruce Silverstein has only lived in Malibu for 11 years and served on the Malibu City Council for two. In that time, however, he’s become one of the most talked-about city politicians in recent history. More often than not, that talk has surrounded what many have characterized as his aggressive tactics, most well known in the case of former city manager Reva Feldman, who threatened to sue the Malibu City Council over what she characterized as harassment from Silvertein, before ultimately settling with the city and leaving her position. We sat down with Silverstein to learn more about his background, politics and some of the more memorable moments in his tenure so far.

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Before you moved to Malibu in 2011, you lived in Delaware for 30 years. Were you active in local politics there? No. I did nothing in politics in Delaware. I had no interest in politics my entire life. I am where I am today not because I ever designed to be here.

Did you feel like you were able to integrate into the Malibu community when you moved here? I’ve never been a big community person. We’ve always been a close-knit family that kind of kept to ourselves. And when we moved to Malibu, it was the same thing. We had a beautiful setup here on the beach, but pretty much kept to ourselves. I never really had any intention of becoming involved

with the community, or in politics, or anything like that. I was just enjoying my life.

What prompted you to become involved in Malibu politics? When the Woolsey Fire came, a number of my friends lost an eye. It was really amazing to me how many of the very small number of people in town I was friends with [were impacted by the fire]. The day of the Woolsey Fire, I was getting texts one after the other from people who had lost their homes, or knew people who had lost their homes. I was devastated. And when I went to the [City Council] meeting in Santa Monica before the evacuation was lifted, I saw that nothing was really being done. It was just a lot of talk and self congrat-

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doing what the city manager wanted, and not necessarily doing what the city council wanted or needed. And as I understand the way it works, and the way it ought to work, is the city council is like the board of directors of a company. They set the policy. They’re ultimately in charge of what is going to get done. The city manager is the implementer, not the the decider, but the implementer. And I didn’t see that dynamic at play in Malibu. I saw a dynamic where the city council was being led around by the city manager, the city attorney, and not taking initiative and doing things on their own.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT After the Woolsey Fire, Silverstein became an outspoken critic of city hall.

ulations, which really offended me. And then I went to my first city council meeting, the very first meeting that they had after the city was reopened. If I remember correctly, it was the meeting at which the city council changed, which is normally a ceremonial, joyous type occasion where you congratulate the people going out, and you congratulate the people coming in. And I thought, no way they’re doing that this year. Let’s just get down to business. Let’s figure out how the city can be helpful to those who just lost their homes. How can we be helpful to the whole community?

A big part of your campaign centered around ousting former Malibu City Manager Reva Feldman and former city Attorney Christie Hogan from their positions. Why did you feel that was so important? When I first began attending city council meetings as a resident of the city, it was my perception, right or wrong, that one, I was

unimpressed with the advice the city attorney was providing. I thought it ran counter to the vision and mission of Malibu in a lot of instances. It ran counter to my understanding of the law in some instances. And I also got the impression, right or wrong, that the city attorney was often

“I don’t look back and regret anything I did, or anything anyone else did.

The City ultimately paid Feldman a $375,000 settlement to leave her post after she threatened to sue because of what she alleged was your harassment. Do you feel responsible for that cost? No, I don’t feel responsible. I can’t explain to you what happened behind closed doors because I’m legally prohibited, but I’ll tell you I think the city overpaid in the settlement. I would be perfectly contented to this day if we had never settled.

Is there anything you regret about how you handled that situation? I mentioned earlier that determinism is a philosophy I subscribe to. I believe that everyone’s doing the best they can. Even people that seem to be doing bad are doing the best they can. Because I don’t believe people are inherently evil, or bad. We’re all products of our environment, and all the circumstances that surround any given moment have contributed to that moment. So I don’t look back and regret anything I did, or anything anyone else did. What was done was done. It was the thing that needed to be done at that moment in time. If the same situation presented itself tomorrow, would I do the exact same thing I did a year ago? Probably not. Because I now have the benefit of the last year of things that have occurred. Plus, everything that’s occurred is different. So I think I wouldn’t know how to handle what I thought I was handling. I

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don’t think I did anything wrong. But if tomorrow we had a city manager with whom I was dissatisfied, how would I approach it? I would have to give that a lot of thought. But I’m sure I wouldn’t do it exactly the same way.

You’ve developed something of a reputation for being aggressive on the City Council. Do you agree with that characterization? I had lunch a couple weeks ago with a relative newcomer in Malibu, who’s a lawyer from the East Coast, and he said, I get you. The way I am is the way people I’ve lived with a lot of my professional life deal with each other. What’s my reputation as a lawyer? I’m an aggressive lawyer. I don’t think I’m unprofessional. I get along with people, but I’m aggressive. But so are most of the people I’ve worked with in my life. California’s a laid back type of place. The lawyer I was talking to said, you know, we both understand that when we disagree over something, we’re just having a conversation. We’re not having an argument. And lawyers play devil’s advocate. If something’s getting done too easily, hey, maybe there’s a reason to be thinking about what’s on the other side of the coin before we make a decision.

Where exactly do you lie politically? I was a registered Republican from the day I became a voter back in the 1970s until Donald Trump was elected president. But even when I was really an Independent. I’ve never voted for someone because they were a member of a certain party. But I was a Republican for many years because I was in line with the objectives and ideals of the Republican party back then, which are not at all the same as they are now.

What were some of the ideals you believed in? Republicans believe in small government, so in that same vein, less regulation, more

“I’ve always been a strong believer in civil liberties. I always fight for the underdog.”

letting the markets and people decide. And when it comes to law, I believe that courts have to interfere as little with people’s rights as possible. When the government is telling people what’s right and what’s wrong, it should be doing it as narrowly as possible. So I still believe in that. But that’s not what the Republican Party stands for today. I’ve always been a strong believer in civil liberties. So in a sense, that may be contrary to the Republican side. I always fight for the underdog.

How do you square that statement, that you always fight for the underdog, with your anti-camping ordinance? [In January of 2021, Silverstein proposed an ordinance he said would allow police officers in Malibu to cite people living on public land. The ordinance was basically a workaround to the Ninth Circuit’s 2018 ruling in Martin v. Boise, which says a city cannot criminalize homeless behavior unless it offers a shelter service.] It’s very complex. Almost anything, when you dig deep into it, is complex. A lot of people think that the decision in Martin v. Boise says you can’t prohibit people from sleeping or living in public if they have no place to go.

I don’t think that’s a proper interpretation of the case. And I also think the case is wrongly decided. [In Martin v. Boise] the court said it violates someone’s Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment to criminalize the act of sitting, lying or sleeping in public when they have no other choice but to be sitting, lying or sleeping in public, because they have nowhere else to go. I don’t agree that that violates the Eighth Amendment, which has, with very rare exception, only been applied to the type of punishment that’s applied to somebody, not what’s substantively being punished. But okay, according to the Ninth Circuit, you can’t punish someone for having lost their ability to have a home. And since you can’t punish them for the fact of not having a home, or not being able to afford to have a home, you can’t punish them for the fact that they’re sitting or lying or sleeping in a park. Because where else do they have to live? They have to eat, they have to drink, they have to look. Okay. But they didn’t say they have to go somewhere else. They didn’t say they have to be able to travel 150 miles to another city that they like better, so they can live there at the expense of the residents of that city.

What you’re saying is kind of the opposite of fighting for the underdog though, isn’t it? Let’s go to the question of enabling. Let’s go to the question of, what really does help somebody who’s living unhoused? What really does help a mentally ill person? What really does help a drugaddicted person? What really does help a person whose family was wiped out because a lack of insurance? Does it help that person to let them have a park bench? Or is there something else that you should be doing that’s more valuable than letting them have a park bench. Does it even help them to have a park bench, or is that enabling them to live on the street rather than dealing with the problem that’s caused them to live on the street? But I don’t know the anMM swers to those questions.

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SMMUSD

Malibu’s Fight to Secede The fight for an independent Malibu school district has spanned generations, perhaps the one thing most Malibuites agree on. But after decades, is it anywhere close to a conclusion? ✎ written by Holly Bieler

n 1994, with two young children attending Malibu public schools, Karen Farrer was asked to serve on the executive board of the Santa Monica Malibu PTA Council (SMMPTA). The appointment made sense for Farrer, then the president of the Webster PTA. Farrer had started volunteering during her eldest son’s

first year at Webster in 1991, quickly becoming one of Webster’s most involved volunteers and eventually becoming a member of the Schoolsite Council. Farrer found she loved the work, and was excited to see what she could do at the SMMPTA, a consortium of the PTA units within the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD).

Almost as soon as she started attending the board’s monthly meetings in Santa Monica, however, she realized something was amiss: she hardly ever heard Malibu’s name. “I was sitting through three hour meetings and 90% of the talk was about Santa Monica schools,” she said. “It became painfully apparent that Malibu was just a disconnected ap-

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pendage to the school district.” It’s an issue which Farrer has spent the last 27 years trying to rectify. Now a Member of the City Council, Farrer has become one of the most pivotal voices in Malibu’s fight to separate into its own school district from SMMUSD. It’s a cause with few easy victories; in 2015 a petition to separate looked promising, but was ultimately stalled during district negotiations. The City’s most recent petition, submitted in 2021, has drawn similarly strong pushback from SMMUSD, and after countless county meetings and hearings was just recently granted approval by the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization to be researched more thoroughly. If it sounds like paltry progress for a cause which has been at the center of Malibu politics for nearly half a century, well, many Malibu residents would probably be inclined to agree. And yet enthusiasm behind it has never waned. Separating from SMMUSD is one of the rare issues that has animated every generation and pocket of Malibu. “People in Malibu who don’t agree on anything, agree on school district separation,” Ferrar said. Like any good old fashioned revolt, the issue of separating from SMMUSD centers around two main issues, as Malibuites see it: taxation and representation. For years, property taxes have comprised an outsized percentage of the district’s revenues, especially in relation to the number of Malibu kids who attend district schools. Today, only about 15% of SMMUSD’s student population comprises students from Malibu, while the city’s property taxes make up 35% of the district’s revenues. Despite this fact, Malibu residents say, Malibu students have a history of being short-shrifted by the district.

“Our parents just want some very basic things.”

KAREN FARRER Farrer has been

working since the mid-90s on the issue of Malibu’s seperation from the school district.

While Santa Monica High School offers five language courses, Malibu High School only has two. A dual-immersion language program and ESL courses have also been cut at Malibu over the years. Even basic necessities at Malibu schools, like working lockers, have been habitually ignored by the district, Christine Quinn, an attorney for the City of Malibu, said. “[Our parents] just want some very basic things,” she said. “You have to remember that at its core, our parents just want arts programs and project-based learning programs and a high school with lockers for their children, like kids in Santa Monica have.” If the notion that SMMUSD pays more attention and spends more money on Santa Monica students feels incredibly unfair to most Malibu residents, it’s not exactly incomprehensible. After all SMMUSD is, for all intents and purposes, a Santa Monica institution. It’s headquartered in Santa Monica, where the vast majority of its students and staff live, and currently the 7-seat Board of Education only has one member who is from Malibu. This means that almost all of the district’s decisions, including where and how to spend its money, are made largely by people who live in Santa Monica, and without any participation or feedback from someone who lives in Malibu. As a result it’s only inevitable, Malibu residents say, that Malibu schools would get the short end of the stick. Indeed, many point out, the chasm between the two cities extends beyond the theoretical; Santa Monica and Malibu literally do not share a border, separated by the Pacific Palisades for 10 miles. It only follows that in SMMUSD matters, Malibu would be out of sight, out of mind. So why won’t the district just let it go? For years, SMMUSD has argued that it comes down to the students. They’ve

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“There’s a huge amount of resolve to make it happen.”

pushed back on assertions that Malibu students receive less educational opportunities than those in Santa Monica schools, and what’s more, say Malibu’s departure from the district would have a disastrous impact on the education of Santa Monica students. Under the terms of Malibu’s current proposal for separation, which would

provide part of the city’s property tax revenue to Santa Monica schools for 10 years after the split, SMMUSD has estimated their revenues would drop 21.5%. As a result, per pupil spending in Santa Monica could decrease by about $10,000 in Santa Monica to $9,924, while Malibu students would be receiving an unheard of $33,759 in

Malibu of the day-to offer witho plans.

per pupil spending (Lawyers for the City of Malibu have said these numbers aren’t accurate). Critics of Malibu’s petition have also argued that the city’s small student population alone disqualifies it from have a dedicated district. Indeed Malibu High School’s population, at 518 students, is about a quarter of Santa Monica High School’s. What’s more, Malibu’s population has steadily been decreasing over the years. In only five years, between 2014 and 2019, Malibu’s total student enrollment in public schools dropped 25%, from 1,871 students to 1,406. Lawyers for the City of Malibu have said the district is in many ways responsible for the declining enrollment, citing a history of denying permits for out-of-area students to attend Malibu schools and a lack of marketing for them. Ultimately though, if there’s one thing both sides can agree on, it’s that more research is needed before any decisions can be made. For most in Malibu, that’s just fine. They’re long accustomed to waiting. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take before we have our own district,” said Farrer. “But I do know there’s a huge amount of resolve in this group MM to make it happen.”

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MALIBU PETS PETS

K9 Influenza and Lepto: What to know With both influenza and leptospirosis going around LA county it‘s increasingly important to vaccinate our dogs. We speak with Dr. Lupo to get the facts. John Lupo, DVM Malibu Veterinary Clinic

✎ written by Arielle Eckerman

It’s a beautiful brisk morning, and you are taking your dog out to Trancas Canyon Park for an early play session. You are chatting with a friend who just got back from a trip to Hawaii, and they mention they boarded their dog at a kennel over in the valley while they were gone. You think nothing of it, until two days later your dog has a hoarse cough and isn’t eating. You schedule a vet visit for later that afternoon. They have the core vaccines, and nothing out of the ordinary has changed, so what’s going on? Starting in the summer of 2021, LA county veterinary public health officials noted a large increase in cases of Canine Influenza and Leptosporisis. Leptosirosis has been specifically prevelent in the west side of LA county and the San Fernando Valley. According to LA county Public Health, “Leptospirosis (lepto) is a disease caused by a bacteria called Leptospira interrogans. The bacteria can infect multiple species of mammals, including humans, dogs, rats, mice, raccoons, skunks, opossums, cows and pigs.” It is typically spread in dogs through infected urine or bites from another infected dog but can also be spread from a dog eating wildlife scat. The bacteria can survive for long periods of time in soils or water. A severe infection from this disease can result in kidney and liver failure, and it can quickly become fatal. Even when a dog recovers from this disease, they may still continue to be a carrier, putting other dogs at risk. Risk factors for Leptospirosis and Influenza include exposure at dog daycare/

boarding facilities, dog parks or beaches. Both of these current outbreaks in LA county seems to be driven by dog-to-dog transmission in these high risk groups. Like the human flu, canine influenza goes around yearly and depending on your pets age and health conditions, the flu can be a significant health risk for your pet. “Symptoms of Influenza include coughing, decreased appetite and lethargy.“ Dr. Lupo, owner of Malibu Veterinary Clinic says. There are tests for both of these diseases and Dr. Lupo recommends a visit to your veterinarian if any of these symptoms are present in your dog. Both diseases have effective vaccines available and Dr. Lupo recommends them for the majority of his patients, especially those in the high risk groups mentioned above. The vaccines for both Canine Influenza and Leptospirosis are both administered in two doses. After the initial vaccine, the booster is given 3-4 weeks later. Most dogs can receive both vaccines in the same visit. Just like the human flu, getting the vaccine can save your pet from a costly hospital visit, and in some cases, their life. Hospitalizations for severe cases can involve quarantine, fluid administration, nebulization, and costly medication. These sort of vet visits can cost upwards of hundreds, or thousands, of dollars. However, every pet is different. Consulting with your veterinarian about your dog’s health and lifestyle will help determine if these vaccines are the MM right choice for your dog.

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A BETTER WORKOUT EMS training sends electric impulses deep into the muscles, activating up to 90% of muscle fibers, while traditonal workouts stimulate only 25%.

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FITNESS TRENDS 2022 SHOPPING

EMS CONCIERGE

A WORKOUT FOR THE DIGITAL AGE In Europe, EMS training has already revolutionized the way people work out. With EMS Concierge, Hana Monska is introducing this groundbreaking fitness routine stateside, and transforming the industry in the process. ✎ written by Holly Bieler  photographed by Julie Wuellner

here are people in this world, or so I’ve been told, who love to exercise. People for whom an early-morning run is a genuinely nice way to start the day, in the way pancakes are for people like me. When it’s time to go to the gym they just go, these people. They don’t say they’re going to go tomorrow. Hana Monska, for instance. Hana Monska looks like she’s never tomorrow’d a workout in her life. Indeed when I meet

Monska one recent afternoon for coffee in the Point Dume Plaza, it strikes me that she is probably the most in-shape person I’ve ever seen in my life, fit in a way which puts even the patio outside Sunlife Organics, some the most toned 300 square feet in the world, to shame. She definitely seems like an early-morning runner, is what I’m saying. But that’s to be expected. Since launching EMS Concierge in 2018, Monska has emerged as one of Los Angeles’ preeminent fitness entrepreneurs, her athome training sessions quickly gaining

a cult following throughout Southern California and a roster of A-list clients, from Chrissy Teigen and John Legend to Zach Efron, some of the biggest names in business and tech, including Google co-founder Sergey Brin. “It’s unlike any other workout I’ve ever tried before,” said actress Kristen Bell, a longtime client of EMS Concierge. “I didn’t know what to expect, and I loved it.” Monska’s sessions utilize EMS training, an almost sci-fi-y workout popular in Europe in which dozens of electrodes

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ON THE GO EMS Concierge’s fleet of EMS machines can travel anywhere.

ELECTRIFYING WORKOUT Clients are given a vest with electrodes, which transmit impulses into your muscles for a deeper workout.

are connected to your body as you do targeted exercises, sending electric impulses deep into your muscles that make each contraction stronger, ultimately working your body harder in less time and burning many more calories per minute than a traditional workout. A 20 minute EMS workout is equivalent to 4 hours of a traditional workout, and can burn up to 500 calories. While EMS training has exploded in popularity throughout much of Europe and Asia over the past decade, it’s never established much of a footing in the U.S. With EMS Concierge, however, Monska is almost single-handedly changing that, and indeed in many ways, transforming

HIGH-INTENSITY EMS training seems easy at first, but will leave you sore.

“IT’S UNLIKE ANY OTHER WORKOUT I’VE TRIED BEFORE.”

the entire industry. She’s among the first people in the world to offer EMS training sessions at home, which since the workout’s inception have usually only taken place at EMS studios, as the training necessitates an EMS machine. In Los Angeles, where there are only a handful of studios, this makes EMS virtually untenable for most people: who’s going to drive an hour on the 101 for a half hour workout? However with her fleet of state-of-the-art EMS machines, Monska is bringing EMS into people’s homes. The result is a full body workout almost unbelievable in its efficacy and convenience; in less than half an hour, from the comfort of your own home,

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: you can burn 500 calories by exerting little more force than you would during a slow day at the gym. It almost sounds like magic, the kind of thing I, a lazy person, would come up with, not a morning runner like Monska. But it turns out I have it all wrong. In fact, Monska tells me, she isn’t an exercise fanatic at all. That’s why she got into EMS in the first place. “I was never into sports growing up,” Monska says. “No one in my family was. I would go to the gym with my friends who played basketball, and I couldn’t do one [sit-up]”. That all changed in her late teens, when Monska embarked on a modeling career in her native Czech Republic. Facing competition from women who spent hours in the gym everyday, Monska decided that to work competitively, she needed to become more toned and add muscle. Like many people, however, that was easier said than done. She hired a trainer and began going to the gym almost every day, lifting weights and doing high-intensity cardio. But the workouts made her miserable, were long, tedious and boring, and worst of all, weren’t yielding great results no matter how much time she spent on them. “It just wasn’t for me,” Monska says. That’s when she gave EMS training a try. Immediately, Monska was hooked. Each class took less than half an hour, and yet a couple days later she was much more sore than she’d been after two hours in the gym. What’s more, the results were amazing. With only two EMS training sessions per week, and no other workouts, Monska was soon stronger and more toned than she’d ever been in her life.” “I loved it so much,” she says. “It wasn’t that hard, but every part of my body felt sore in a good way.” Monska was quickly obsessed. When she traveled to other cities for modeling jobs, the first thing she would look up when she landed was where the closest EMS studio was. In most places, this

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

20 min

Training Time High Intensity Low Joint Impact

Feels like 2 hrs

4 hrs worth

Great Workout Endorphins Great sleep

of Results Fast Toning Alleviates Pain

• How It Works: EMS uses electrical signals to stimulate mus-

cle fibers with each contraction. These muscle contractions increase blood flow as well as nutrient distribution, thus utilizing 70% more muscle fibers than a standard workout.

• Who It’s For: EMS can be used by anyone looking to lose

weight and tone their bodies while adding muscle, quickly and efficiently.

• The Benefits: EMS training is great for toning, improving

blood flow, and losing weight. Additionally, EMS can help your body to recover faster, increase muscular strength and endurance, and reduce the risk of muscular injuries.

• Where Can I Go? EMS Concierge comes to your home, office or hotel room.

• How Much Does it Cost? A 20-minute at-home full body

workout with EMS Concierge will cost you $180 for one person or $240 for two people.

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AT-HOME SESSIONS EMS Concierge is one of the few companies in the world offering EMS training sessions at home, instead of a studio space.

wasn’t a hard task: EMS had exploded in popularity across Europe, Asia and Latin America, putting studios on every other street in some cases. But not in the United States. Monska was shocked to find that even in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, there weren’t more than a couple EMS studios, if any at all. “Everywhere I went, they had it, but not here,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it.” This became more of a problem for Monska when she fulfilled her longtime dream of moving to the United States in 2011. Florida, where she first moved, didn’t have a single EMS studio to its name. In L.A., where she moved a couple years later, Monska’s prospects for getting back into EMS training didn’t fare much better. In the whole city, there weren’t more than a few studios, and when she moved to west Malibu a few years later, even these became entirely inaccessible. Frustrated, Monska eventually began looking into purchasing her own EMS machine. Sales of the machines for personal use weren’t really a thing– bulky, complicated, and prohibitively expensive at $20,000, seasoned studios were usually the only customers in the position to purchase one. But Monska was desperate. She reached out to the inventor of the model she’d first used in the Czech Republic, who gave her some good news: he would sell her one, but she had to wait. He had recently submitted the machine for FDA approval, and couldn’t sell Monska one until his application had been approved. And so Monska waited, for months, then years. Finally, she got a call from the inventor– the application had been approved. She purchased a machine on the spot. Utilizing everything she’d learned in years of EMS classes, Monska trained herself on the machine, and began to once again see the same incredible results she remembered. When friends came by her apartment, they were similarly intrigued by the bizarre machine

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EXPERT TRAINING EMS Concierge now has seven full-time trainers, who have undergone the highest and most vigorous levels of EMS training.

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DREAM TEAM EMS Concierge now employs seven trainers fulltime, bringing an extensive breadth of fitness industry experience in everything from yoga to professional cheerleading.

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MALIBU LOCAL Monska, a native of the Czech Republic, fulfilled her childhood dream of living in the U.S. in 2011, and moved to west Malibu in 2014.

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in the corner, and Monska was more than happy to strap them up and walk them through a quick session. Every friend who tried it was obsessed. Soon, friends of friends were calling Moska, begging to pay her to train them on the machine. It was soon clear to Monska that she had discovered an untapped market. From her west Malibu home, she began mapping out a plan to introduce EMS to L.A. Key to that, she decided, was bringing EMS to people’s homes, instead of making them come to a studio. So she applied to purchase numerous EMS machines and got cases that she could use to transport them. In the meantime, she got to work learning everything she could about the machines and how they worked the body. She became certified in personal training, and then in EMS training, taking the most rigorous professional EMS trainer course available. In 2018, with just herself and one machine, Monska launched EMS Concierge. If she’d known there was market potential for her sessions, she couldn’t have anticipated how overwhelming the response would be. After one session, clients were immediately booking five more, and inviting friends and family to try out the workout for themselves. Brody Jenner became an early client after a friend invited him to one such athome session. “He invited me to a session and it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before,” Jenner said. “I’ve been hooked ever since.”

“PEOPLE LOVE IT BECAUSE IT REALLY WORKS.”

For many in Los Angeles, it seemed, EMS Concierge provided the perfect workout: amazingly effective, and just as quick. “For someone as busy as me it’s so nice to get in a really great workout that only takes 20 minutes,” said celebrity hairstylist Tracey Cunningham, a longtime EMS Concierge client.

For those who had tried and fallen in love with EMS in other countries, Monska was also a godsend. “We first discovered EMS in Australia and were so happy to find Hana in the states to continue our sessions,” said Jon George, a member of Australian band Rüfüs Du Sol. “We started working with her two and a half years ago and have been hooked ever since. Its kept our stamina up and keeps us in shape.” Faced with overwhelming demand in a matter of months, Monska carefully began adding additional trainers to her crew, hiring women with a breadth of fitness experience and putting them through the same rigorous top-level training classes she’d taken. She also added a fleet of the most cutting-edge EMS machines on the market, so strong they work 90% of your muscle fibers in each workout. Today, EMS Concierge has seven trainers countless clients throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, and recently expanded to Aspen as well. With interest across the country, Monska is already considering expanding to other cities in the next year or so. If the success of EMS Concierge is overwhelming to her, it’s not surprising. “People love it,” Monska says, “because MM it really works.”

EMS Concierge emsconcierge.com (310) 625-2491 @emsconcierge

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FITNESS TRENDS 2022

CRYOTHERAPY One of the biggest growing health trends in America is no longer exclusively for the elite. This cold chamber now has widespread availability almost anywhere.

ctors, singers and athletes from all over the world have participated in one of the world’s biggest health trends. Once exclusive to the elite wealthy of the world, cryotherapy is now accessible to anyone. Referred to as an “ice box,” its extremely low temperatures reach negative 100-200 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the model. Individuals are required to enter the chamber nearly naked, protected only

by a bathing suit, gloves and a mouth guard. The procedure takes a maximum of three minutes, during which the skin is initially cooled to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but the body temperature inside remains stable due to the body’s ability to counter-regulate. Those who enter the cold chamber for the first time find their knees shaking — not from the cold, but from the shock. Though because of the chamber’s ability to cool at a rapid speed; it doesn’t feel like you are freezing. While definitely a cold experience, it is not unbearable.

Cryotherapy was developed in 1978 by Toshima Yamauchi, a Japanese doctor seeking treatment for his recurring problems with arthritis. The focus was on the health aspect, but later the cosmetic benefits of the cold chamber were also discovered. To this day, rehabilitation centers and health care facilities use the method to treat tendon and muscle strains, chronic pain and sports injuries. Scientists agree that this goose-bump therapy has several health benefits. Some of which include:

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

- Reduction of inflammation: In the cold, inflammation in the body is reduced, making joints fit again. For this reason, cold chambers are often used to treat rheumatism or arthritis. - Better sleep: Cold leads to a reduction of stress hormones in the body and thus more melatonin can be produced during this time. People are able to fall asleep faster in cold temperatures and as a result reach deep sleep phases more regularly. - Tightening of the skin: The effect of a cold face wash in the morning is well known. One session in a cryo chamber has the ability to jumpstart collagen production in the body, while also tightening and rejuvenating the skin. - Easier weight loss: As the body is exposed to extremely low temperatures, survival mode kicks in. This causes the metabolism to fire up, while also promoting better blood circulation. It has been shown to burn 500-800 calories per session. Cryotherapy is well-known and popular among Europeans, whereas in the United States, the practice is gaining popularity. Cold chambers are a relatively new concept for home use. Though this health practice has become widely available, it still isn’t cheap. Cheaper models start at $40 thousand, and for a really good system you have to reckon with upwards of $100 thousand. There are two types of cold chambers, the inexpensive units use nitrogen and are therefore not recommended for home use. Electric cold chambers are much safer and more efficient than the nitrogen models. Mecotec, the market leading German manufacturer, has already begun selling models in Malibu. If a $20 million house is in your budget, it may be worth spending an extra $100 thousand to better your health. MM

Cryotherapy

• How it works: Individuals step into a cryo chamber where

instant cold causes the body to react in a fight or flight manner. During this process blood vessels constrict, where blood is directed away from the extremities and to the core in order to protect vital organs. The body then becomes charged with oxygen, anti-inflammatory proteins and the metabolism is boosted in response.

• Who its for: This wellness treatment is for those seeking an alternative to common problems. Available to the public and spreading rapidly.

• The Benefits: Cryotherapy treatment is known to support

rehabilitation, reduce inflammation and boosts energy levels while reducing wrinkles in the process.

• Where can I go? Synergy Chiropractic and Physical Therapy

in Westlake Village offers cryotherapy services. Interested in owning your own? Mecotec is selling units in Malibu now at Sun Spa Wellness.

• How much does it cost? Rates start at $85 for the new member special at Synergy Chiropractic and Physical Therapy. After the new member special, rates are $50 per cryotherapy session.

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ATMOSPHERIC CELL TRAINER

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THE BIG SQUEEZE

OZONE SAUNA

INFRARED SAUNA

RED CHARGER

VIRTUAL FLOAT TANK

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FITNESS TRENDS 2022

BIOHACKING IN SANTA MONICA

BEATHE EZ

LIVE LONGER, LIVE BETTER Upgrade Labs is a biohacking facility that seeks to change the way wellness is achieved. We took an inside look at what the high tech facility has to offer. ✎ written by Whitney Bussell

CRYOTHERAPY

PEMF

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n a post-pandemic world, many are seeking healthier lifestyles as alternatives to what life pre-pandemic was. With locations locally in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, Upgrade Labs is the world’s first biohacking health and fitness facility. They are set to open the first franchise in Philadelphia soon, totaling its number of locations to four within four years of opening. One location is in Victoria, B.C., where the founder Dave Asprey resides. Known as the “father of biohacking,” Asprey surpassed theoretical vision and created a tangible lifestyle dedicated to improving the lives of others through cognitive, performance and recovery techniques. Asprey

first established Bulletproof Coffee, the butter coffee said to provide all the energy one would need without the post-caffeine crash. “Biohacking is the art and science of changing the environment around you and inside you, so you have more control over your own biology. It’s what you put in your mouth, it’s the air you breathe, it’s the light you’re exposed to,” Asprey said. “Most people have twice as much energy potential, but they’re doing hundreds of small things that hold them back.” Asprey has been known to stand at the forefront of many innovative moments during the start of the internet. He has always been concerned with what is next, which is why, according to Asprey, he is actively trying to live to the age of 180. This drive for finding

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RED LIGHT THERAPY Clients enjoy the effects of thousands of red and infrared lights to boost collagen production, decrease inflammation and rejuvenate the skin in 40 minutes.

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DAVE ASPREY Founder of Upgrade Labs, Dave Asprey, is known as the “founder of biohacking” and became well known for creating the bulletproof coffee trend. He is now actively trying to live to the age of 180.

the best in everything led Asprey to found Upgrade Labs following years where he battled various health issues of his own. Asprey set out to find ways to “hack” his cellular biology. Eden Danaher, assistant manager for the Santa Monica and Beverly Hills location described the health benefits of biohacking. “It’s a lifestyle and a culture. We take a balanced approach and utilize the efficiency that comes with state-of-the-art technology to upgrade the mind and the body,” Danaher said. At first glance, the “lab” appears to be a gym but when taking in the space, it is evident that Upgrade Labs has much more

SUPERHUMAN Asprey wrote the New York Times bestseller Superhuman about his revolutionary approach to anti-aging.

to offer than an ordinary gym. The space is filled with high tech equipment that appears to be futuristic, and in many ways the lab seems to be ahead of its time. To the people working there, it’s not strange but all representative of the advancements that Asprey has worked to share with the world. “All the equipment that we have here are things that he [Asprey] has used himself, that he’s chosen specifically for Upgrade Labs. So that’s really for us, that’s the ace in the hall. We have the father of biohacking making the choices and the decisions in guiding,” Danaher said. Biohacking at Upgrade Labs starts with the understanding of the body and what

it undertakes on a daily basis. Newcomers are welcomed by coaches ready to guide based on the individual’s personal needs. A needs assessment is conducted and a coach works with the client to figure out what exactly it is that they are looking for; this could be anything within Upgrade Labs three focus areas: recovery, performance, and cognitive training. Recovery training includes an Atmospheric Cell Trainer, a futuristic capsule pod capable of creating changes in air pressure to mimic being taken to the top of Mt. Everest and back down to sea level all within minutes. The Atmospheric Cell Trainer provides benefits such as detoxification, an increase in the production of

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: stem cells and an improvement in cellular energy. The recovery training also included cryotherapy, an infrared sauna and ozone sauna capable of strengthening the immune system, just to name a few. The performance training is similar to the workouts imagined in sci-fi stories of the future. The Cheat Machine is similar to a leg press but patented and way better. The Cheat Machine can provide a week’s worth of weightlifting in less than fifteen minutes. Clients can also try the oxygen trainer, Cold HIIT and the AI Adaptive Bike which provides the equivalent of a 40 minute jog in 40 seconds. Cognitive training offers a dry Virtual Float Tank, a large spinning pod that appears to be ready to take clients off to the future. Instead of floating to the future, users can expect to experience what Upgrade Labs describes as dropping the brain into a “meditative theta-wave state.” The Virtual Float Tank is different from anything else in Upgrade Labs as it is said to promote creativity and provide deep relaxation. “[Biohacking] is something that you can do regularly or you can do it as a maintenance thing once in a while. People say they sleep better. So we have ways that are non invasive, to really make big changes in the body. But again, in a short period of time,” Donaher said. Asprey’s vision was to create a place where everyone can have access to biohacking techniques that he had been testing on himself for years. Asprey’s dedication to unlocking our body’s full potential is a result of a lifestyle shift. It is not meant to be a replacement for other wellness practices but can be a place where individuals can go to recharge. “Total Wellness is obviously not going to be just about diet, it’s not gonna be just exercise, it’s the whole package. So that’s why we have those different branches [...] of performance, recovery and cognitive because it’s it’s mind and body,” Danaher said. After more than a year trapped inside significantly more than the past, we could all use the wellness reset that Upgrade Labs MM has to offer.

Biohacking

• How it works: Biohacking is essentially the pursuit of changing your own biology by upgrading your brain and, or body. For many biohackers this consists of making small incremental changes to their diet or lifestyle in order to achieve small improvements to their health and wellbeing.

• Who its for: Anyone can give biohacking a go. What makes

biohacking unique is that you control in what form you would like to practice it. Biohacking is for anyone willing change the environment around or inside themselves to gain control over their own body.

• The Benefits: The benefits of biohacking and vary drastically

depending on the type of biohacking one attemps. Biohacking promises anything from faster weight loss and muscle growth to enhanced brain funtion.

• Where can I go? Upgrade Labs is the most renowned bio-

hacking facility locally. They have locations in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

• How much does it cost? Single upgrade (session) at Up-

grade Labs costs $55 per upgrade. An monthly membership which gives you access to 12 upgrades per month will cost you $449, which brings the cost per upgrade down to $37.

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PERSONAL TRAINING

GET FYTS AND HAVE FUN Dedicated personal trainer and owner of FYTS Fitness, CJ Critney inspires and challenges his clientele. Now, he shares his tips and tricks to becoming your strongest self. ✎ written by Hannah George & Julie Wuellner

inding a fitness routine and sticking to it can be tough. That’s where CJ Critney comes in. His successful personal training business, FYTS (Find Your True Strength) Fitness, helps motivated individuals discover a healthier lifestyle that not only helps them reach their goals but is also sustainable. And the best part, he is there every step of the way to ensure you are getting the most out of your workout and avoiding injury at all costs. All it takes is a little push of your own, and Critney is ready to transform your physique and live your healthiest, best life. We sit down with Critney to get his tips and tricks on getting in the best workout possible.

Tell us a little bit about your background. Good question. I struggled with weight early on in life and through athletics I was able to find my true strength. During that process I had other friends struggling with the same issue and there I realized my passion for personal training.

Why should someone hire a personal trainer over just signing up for a gym membership? A large majority of people living in the U.S., thanks to the recent lifestyle change, have become deconditioned. We have gotten historically out of shape. According to a 2021 American Psychological Associ-

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20 MINUTE

FITNESS

WORKOUT Take the time out of your day and get healthy with this FYTS Fitness easy to follow at-home workout.

1. HIGH KNEES 20 seconds.

2. BUTT KICKS 20 seconds

REST FOR

30 SECONDS AND THEN REPEAT.

3. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS 30 seconds

6. QUADRUPED RAISES 15 on each side

4. SQUATS 30 seconds. Go as low as you can.

5. STRAIGHT PUNCHES 20 seconds. 2 lbs dumbbells are optional.

7. PLANKS 45 seconds.

8. GLUTE BRIDGES 15 for each leg.

REST FOR

30 SECONDS AND THEN REPEAT.

9. FLUTTER KICKS 20 alternating.

10. LEG LIFTS 10 with both legs together.

10. EXTENDED PLANK SHOULDER TAP 20 alternating taps.

Give yourself a huge pat on the back for taking the first step to a healthier you. Many people will skim over this, but you took the time to do it and improve your life. That’s awesome!

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ation study, 42% of U.S. adults said they gained too much weight with numbers reaching in the mid 20 lb range since COVID hit. In my fitness journey going from 40 lbs overweight to where I’m at now, I can promise you the first 20 lbs were the hardest! I know what you’re thinking, “OK, I’ll sign up for the gym and get started.” And I applaud your go-get-it attitude. However, walking into a local or big box gym has its drawbacks. Dr. James Annesi and Jennifer Unruh studied 17 YMCAs from different regions of the united states. They found that without intervention 63% of new members stopped exercising within six months. Why would that be? Let me introduce you to the average gym-goer: motivated, goal setting, serious about changing their life. Then why by 6 months are half of them back on the couch? I believe the system is designed for most of you to fail. A ghost member is a member of a gym who rarely, if ever, goes. Gyms live off of ghost clients. You pay a membership yet you don’t wear out equipment. And you keep paying based on your hope that one day you will start going again. I’ve seen it over and over again in the past 10 years of personal training. I started off as a general manager of a gym, and I would hap-

you want so don’t be afraid to tell us exactly what you hope to get out of our services. We are eager to get you there. It’s why we do what we do! Would you walk into a hospital and walk past the doctors and start grabbing syringes and blades? No. The same should go for a gym. I don’t mean to scare you, but improper use of equipment can slowly wear down your body and hurt what you have been trying to help. According to a study in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, hiring a trainer can increase the chances of hitting your goal by 30 percent. We know that when it comes to getting into shape we need the best odds possible.

“I believe the [gym] system is designed for most of you to fail.”

BY THE NUMBERS

According to a study done by Dr. James Annesi and Jennifer Unruh, without intervention 63% of new members stop exercising within 6 months. On the other hand, A study in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine found that hiring a trainer can increase the chances of hitting your goal by 30%.

pily sign a new member who was excited to start, the dream of being healthy in their eyes as they leave my desk. They turn around and the smile quick-

ly leaves their face as they look at the challenges in front of them: dumbbells, pulleys, plates. How many reps should I do? Is this proper form? How long should I rest? Cardio before or after? Why does my shoulder suddenly hurt? Has my knee always clicked? That machine looks intimidating, I don’t know the name or how to use it. Well, I’ll tell you who does: A personal trainer. We know all about what you need, but we also need to know what

How would you describe your philosophy on health and fitness? Find Your True Strength. This is where I came up with my idea. Fitness is an individual journey unencumbered by the opinions of others. You find the best you — the true you! You might be in your early 60’s and want to take up boxing. Maybe you’re a woman, and you want to get really strong. Or an ex-athlete who wants to leave the barbell behind for a bit and focus on longevity and flexibility. That’s for you to decide. And we support it! Find YOUR true strength.

How do you help clients prevent injuries while training? I believe we all need to learn how to manage load better. Load is life. The best way to handle load is to be in a harmonious balance within our bodies. I can go into great detail, but your kinetic chain and how well each link in your body operates (feet and ankles, the knees, the hip and pelvis, the shoulders, and the head) is very important to your overall capacity and ability to manage pain. The global, and local stabilization systems improve on managing load, once you isometrically can handle weight with postural integrity, then we

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FITNESS TRENDS 2022

will incorporate exercises inspired by the movement system (this process usually takes 6-8 weeks). And boom! You’ve turned a deconditioned human into someone who is ready to embark on any type of exercise regiment whether it’s powerlifting, boxing, or recreational sports. Balance and stability - I would definitely not recommend skipping this step and adding unnecessary wear and tear. Skipping this step can make the difference between having functional joints until 60-70 and needing surgery when you are in your early 40’s.

What’s your favorite form of exercise? Light sparring :)

What does a typical day of eating look like for you? In the morning, I’ll have a protein shake and for lunch I’ll generally have a salad. For dinner I’ll make a protein (chicken, fish, or beef) with veggies. As a late night snack I might have some popcorn, hummus and veggies, or some form of guilty pleasure. If I get hungry beyond that, I’ll have a spoonful of almond or peanut butter. That generally does the trick, and I have tons of water. However, if you are looking for a good regimen, consult your local dietitian or nutritionist, they are better equipped to provide foods specifically for you. I will only advise you to adjust your portion size.

ALL AROUND FITNESS From boxing to strength training, clients go crazy for Critney’s fun paced fat burning workouts.

How do you stay motivated? I’m a trainer! I am a different breed. I can’t tell people to eat better and work out often if I am not living the same life. Also, holding mitts and light sparring with 4-5 clients a day will keep anyone in good shape. But If I could give advice on ways to stay motivated, I would say we are what we consume; television, music, food,

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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: friends. I try my best to surround myself with as many healthy-minded environments as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I can spend too long with an acquaintance who isn’t on the same path as me and catch myself doing things that don’t support my ultimate purpose. And that happens, look, we make mistakes and we get discouraged. We are human. The best thing we can do is get back under that barbell and try again.

For someone just starting on their health and fitness journey, what’s your number 1 piece of advice? Call me! Haha, I’m only joking. I can’t help everyone just yet. I would recommend finding someone who looks how you want to look and start asking them questions. Not only will it make them feel great, but I’m sure they will be happy to help.

Do you have anything you’re working on that you are excited about? Since I am located mainly in Westlake Village, I really wanted to expand my reach so I figured online would be the best. I’ve spent a lot of time developing a life-changing online training program that keeps you accountable, helps you see results and helps you save money since it’s a fraction of what a trainer like me would cost in person.

What are your goals for 2022? I make plans and God decides. If it’s in his will, I will be opening up a gym and begin to franchise out. Merch, charitable events, online programs, competitions. I have a lot of plans. Also a very good team! MM

Personal Training Reaching your fitness goals is hard no matter how you go about it, but hiring a personal trainer can make the journey significantly easier.

people stop going to the gym within 6 months.

more likely to reach goals with a personal trainer

• How it works: You have an unbiased third party devoted to

improving your health. You start by explaining your goals and they help you track your goals, advise on nutrition, and encourage you along the way.

• Who its for: Anyone! • The Benefits: There are a lot of benefits to personal training.

The most important benefits being accountability, guidance on proper form and technique, and someone to offer simple solutions to difficulties in your fitness journey.

• Where can I go? Most gyms have personal trainers working

at them, however, we recommend going online and checking reviews or getting personal recommendations prior to signing up with a trainer.

• How much does it cost? Prices for personal training can

vary drastically on the trainer, however, on average a reputable trainer will charge anywhere between $60 to $100 per session.

CJ Critney | FYTS Fitness fytsfitness.com (805) 907-1112 source: Journal of Sport Science & Medicine, Dr. James Annesi & Jennifer Unruh

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FOUNDERS Malibuites Jen Rossi and Willow Kalatchi founded The Mindry in 2019.

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WELLNESS

THE MINDRY Malibu locals, Jen Rossi and Willow Kalatchi are on a mission to demystify meditation and bring the ancient healing practice to the masses. ✎ written by Lauren Humphreys and Holly Bieler

n the heart of the bustling Malibu Village sits The Mindry, the city’s very first meditation studio and a true oasis of meditative calm. Founded in 2019 by two Malibu natives, Jen Rossi and Willow Kalatchi, The Mindry seeks to demystify the oftentimes opaque, gatekept world of meditation. Offering a wide range of affordable classes suitable for everyone from novices to decades-long veterans of the practice, Rossi and Kalatchi are on a mission to change perceptions surrounding meditation, making it not just accessible, but a common part of people’s everyday routine. “[We want] meditation [to] be as normal as getting a daily Starbucks,” Rossi said. It’s an ambitious goal, albeit one the lifelong best friends believe in passion-

ately. Indeed if anyone is well-versed in the quick and transformative powers of meditation, it’s Rossi and Kalatchi. Like many of The Mindry’s students, the two were well into adulthood by the time they discovered meditation, only to watch it swiftly and profoundly alter the trajectory of their lives. At the time, both women were raising young families and juggling punishing work schedules, Rossi as the founder and lead designer of clothing line Jens Pirate and Kalatchi as the CEO of travel firm The Art of Refined Travel. Their hectic lives often left the two feeling depleted and anxious, and they began researching ways they could try to center themselves amidst their escalating daily stress. Soon thereafter, Rossi and Kalatchi tried a meditation class for the first time, and the two were

hooked immediately. They were stunned by how dramatically their anxiety levels seemed to recede after just a few classes, and the benefits kept increasing with each practice. For both women, it soon became clear that meditation facilitated a happier way of living overall. A few years into their practice, Rossi and Kalatchi were having dinner one night when they were struck with an idea. “We wanted to share this profound experience with others,” Kalatchi said. The two began imagining a meditation sanctuary where people could go to relax, open their minds, and reap the incredible benefits that had changed Kalatchi and Rossi’s lives. They couldn’t get the idea out of their heads, and as they began thinking through the concept more seriously, immediately settled on a location for their

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CLASS OFFERINGS The Mindry began with simple meditation classes, however, over time it’s expanded its offerings to everything from sound healing and yoga to breathwork.

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WELLNESS

COMMUNITY The Mindry has become a bonafide destination for the wellness community.

WORKSHOPS The Mindry puts on an impressive roster of both indoor and outdoor workshops.

dream studio: Malibu. “We [wanted] to give back to the community that helped shape us,” Rossi said. Raised in Malibu by free-spirited parents, Kalatchi and Rossi grew up surrounded by the ocean, mountains and beach, instilling a deep respect and sensitivity for the natural world’s energy from an early age. It was this special community which they always believed had allowed them to follow their dreams, developing their passion projects in travel and fashion into successful careers. In opening a meditation center in Malibu, the two hoped they could give back to their beloved community, arming their friends and family with the tools and space to transform their lives in the way they had. “We wanted to create a sanctuary for the community,” said Rossi. In 2019 The Mindry became a reality, opening out of an airy storefront that Rossi and Kalatchi filled with walls of candles, comfortable vegan leather chairs, and neutral, warm fabrics and tones. The two began with a few simple meditation classes, offered in-studio or online, which soon gained legions of fans throughout Malibu and greater Los Angeles. Slowly, they began adding more classes, building an impressive roster of traditional meditation classes like sound healing and breathwork to targeted classes focusing on everything from manifesting dreams, strengthening self compassion and even nourishing your nervous system. Today, The Mindry has become a bonafide destination for the wellness community in Malibu. Kalatchi and Rossi have slowly expanded the studio’s class offerings beyond meditation, adding an array of yoga classes as well as sound baths and even workshops (vision boarding was a recent popular one) all focused on increasing mindfulness and engendering inner calm. A rotation of talks and events at their space has supported that mission, with The Mindry welcoming wellness practi-

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ALEXANDRA JAMES A natural-born host, Clarke ensures every detail is perfect at her events.

ALEXANDRA JAMES Uses compassion as a force to help clients through emotions.

BRIAN JACOBS Uses pyschology and Pranayama Breath Work to create total connection.

CHANEL WOLF Shares a passion in teaching ancient Eastern approaches.

ALEXANDRIA GERINGER Creates a space for clients to tap into their true self through Sound Healing methods.

AVI SHERBILL Creates a unique sound experience to help cleients tune into their “higher essence.”

24 DIFFERENT GUIDES CALL THE MINDRY THEIR HOME. THESE ARE SOME OF THEM.

CHRISSY MJ ANDERSON A guide to adults and children who struggle with mental health utilizing her personal journey.

CHRISTIAN MACK Using Breathwork to teach clients about the awakening journey.

ALEXANDRA JAMES A natural-born host, Clark ensures every detail is pe her events.

BECCA ZIMBLE Offers transformative classes focused on philosophy and tradition.

CERI BETHAN LOARING Guides clients in present moment awareness to better embrace their inner-worth.

CODI JANE Helps clients heal from intergenerational trauma while guiding them to discover embodiment.

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XANDRA JAMES ural-born host, Clarke es every detail is perfect at vents.

WELLNESS

MAHI BODHI Sharing freedom and true self with clients to create a transformational life experience.

ERIC MELLGREN Bringing alternative therapy for everyday people through the sound healing world.

GINGER K Connecting clients to moving medition using asana. Passionate about the mind and body.

HARPER BOTOROWICZ Advocates in having power over the mind to obtain more power over life through hypnotherapy.

ISABELLE GRAY Through hypnotic healing practices, takes clients on a journey to find themselves.

JENN RENO Creates life-changing space for clients to overcome past trauma using alternative medicine.

tioners from around the world to share their insights with the Malibu community. The studio’s quick success has led to talk of expansion; additional classes are already being offered off-site as of recently, at the gorgeous El Cielo winery in the Santa Monica Mountains. There are even whispers of a second location. At the heart of their ever-expanding work is the goal of making meditation more accessible to more people. That’s why they’ve made sure that all classes remain at $25, about $5-$15 less than most meditation classes on L.A.’s westside. They’ve also focused on engaging areas of Malibu which tend to be isolated from the community at large, such as Pepperdine, where they recently held a series of events, and have expanded their offerings to include classes tailored to younger and older clientele. The focus is on reaching people like they once were; anxious and struggling and entirely unaware of how a single hour of meditation a few times a week could change all that. They’re aware it’s an uphill battle; for many, the idea of meditation is still shrouded in a hippie-ish mysticism that can engender skepticism as to its results. For others, sky-high prices for popular meditation programs have made many believe the practice is out of their reach. Having experienced the transformation themselves, however, Kalatchi and Rossi are focused on changing perceptions, and changing lives as they do it. Spending $5 on a macchiato every day seemed like an abnormal thing to do 20 years ago, after all. If the greater world can warm to designer coffee, they can certainly come around to living better lives. “We [are going] to bring meditation to MM the masses,” said Kalatchi.

The Mindry 3874 B Cross Creek Road themindry.com (424) 644-0844

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whatever yo pairs b autumn. S

TOP 10

Wellness Products of 2022

Juna Balance Drops, $58

Our editors have rounded up our top 10 wellness picks to help you start 2022 in the best possible way.

Juna’s Balance Drops offer a reliable dose of brain nourishing phyto-actives that center the mind and balance the body.

Nature of Things Floral Bath, $150

This Restorative Floral Bath seeks to intoxicate your senses and provide aromatherapeutic benefits as it replenishes the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

C & the Moon Brown Sugar Body Scrub, $64

Gently remove dead skin cells with all natural hydrating organic oils and vanilla brown sugar with this luxurious full body exfoliator.

Moon Juice: Ting, $42

With B vitamins crucial for energy, metabolism, and mood and adaptogenic ginseng, Ting brings you the calming energy your looking for.

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whatever you pair them with and the darker wash pairs beautifully with the rich, warm colors of autumn. Stay comfortable and relaxed with these

WELLNESS

Malibu C: Hard Water Wellness Collection, $28

Keep your hair healthy and happy with Malibu C’s Hard Water Wellness collection. This product is guaranteed to remove buildup from years of hard water minerals and chemicals.

Osea hyaluronic sea serum, $88

Wthn Acupressure mat set, $65

Osea’s award winning hyaluronic sea serum is a burst of hydration for all skin types. Nourishing, fast absorbing and assured to smoothe fine lines and wrinkles.

Wthn’s Acupressure Mat is designed to help with chronic pain, headaches, and any other aching body stiffness.

The Best of Green Beauty Detox Box, $149

This box includes curated pick from the experts at the Detox Market. Everything needed to start your wellness journey.

Sage Pocket Farmacy, Mindful Edition, $65

The Mindful Edition comes with five roll-on essential oils that support states of confidence, reflection, connection, unwind, and energy.

Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair, $88

A moisturizer that calms signs of irritation, strengthens the skin, and stabilizes your natural microbiome. Wake up feeling invigorated with Tatcha’s Indigo Overnight Repair serum.

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ART

ARTIFY LIFE

CELEBRATING DESIGN The brainchild of international artist Katina Zinner, Artify Life infuses originally designed, colorful, and sustainable art on clothing and interior decor. ✎ written by Barbara Burke

rtify Life helps customers curate their own unique fashion style and accessorize their homes, while also donating 10% of every sale to nonprofits that help animals and

the environment. Artify Life has surged - its products are highlighted in boutique shops across the country. The concept is simple, yet brilliant! Customers artify their lives with Zinner’s silk kimonos and wild bikinis, fun hoodies, leggings, and accouterments such as festive table runners, napkins and bright, bold pillow covers. Include family pets in the fun with a colorful, comfortable, washable pet bed, pet bandana or fun heart tags! Art pervades Zinner’s entire life. Her father, Oscar winner, director, producer, and editor Peter Zinner whose works include Deer Hunter and Godfather I and II inspired Zinner. Her mother, Christa Zinner, was an iconic fashion/celebrity photographer whose images graced many magazine covers, including Ebony, Life, Look and more. As a child, Zinner delighted in playing in the eclectic home of her neighbors, the

Eameses, now a National Historic Landmark in Pacific Palisades. Ray and Charles Eames, an internationally recognized power couple, were at the forefront of 20th Century design, filmmaking, architecture and furniture. “Every waking minute of the Eameses’ day focused on art, design and functionality,” Zinner says. “I loved being in their home with all the colorful, original Objets d’art and I was entranced by their creativity.” Against this backdrop, in 2019, Zinner launched Artify Life, a sustainable, fully branded line of beautiful, bold artistic products powerfully celebrating her strikingly large format oil paintings and her passion for life and nature. “The product line imbues my paintings’ movement, patterns, hues and textures in everyday, useful items that express the exhilaration I experience when ocean swimming, hiking and communing with Mother Nature. I want to bring the magic of the outdoors in,” she says. “The merchandise shares vibrant colors, elegance and presentation, quintessential elements of Artify Life’s vision.” Wear one of the sweatshirts or silk kimonos and people will pause and reflect, admiring their bold colors and outlines.

When holding the Malibu Pier series products, one feels as if he is listening to waves, basking in the warm sun and enjoying the beautiful coastline. Artify Life’s personal products include weekender bags, leggings, journals, original enamel mugs, one-of-a-kind latte cups, watch bands, and more. The apparel line’s luxurious clothing, swimwear, and flip flops, provide gorgeous ways for customers to express their fashion statements. Artify Life’s functional home goods include originally designed puzzles and tabletop holiday decor. They infuse one’s home with vibrancy and make amazing gifts too. Artify Life’s products inspire customers everyday, immersing their worlds MM with color and life! artifylifestyle.com | instagram: @artifylifestyle

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ONE OF A KIND Zinner’s Artify Life strives to create one of a kind, colorful, and expressive works of art for everyday life. From large format oil paintings to mugs, sweatshirts, tshirts, journals, and even pet beds, and bandanas, there is something for everyone.

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ART. FASHION. BEAUTY. WELLNESS ART. FASHION. BEAUTY. WELLNESS

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FOOD

THORNE FAMILY FARM

A MALIBU LEGACY For over 50 years, the Thorne family has been planting the soil of Malibu. Now, husband and wife duo, Larry and Laurel Thorne run the beloved Thorne Family Farm and farm stand bringing farm fresh produce to the community. ✎ written by Abigail Wilt  photographed by Julie Wuellner

ust under a mile away from the Pacific Ocean sits a 25acre farm nestled in Zuma Canyon. Consisting of strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, flowers and more, Thorne Family Farm is a family legacy that brings in attendees from near and far every Saturday. Larry Thorne, founder of Thorne Family Farm, started the stand after growing up watching his father, Al Thorne, provide farm fresh produce at his farm stand, Lowe’s Corn Stand, to Culver City every week. “That’s how I grew up, and I could just never get it out of my system,” Thorne said. Al Thorne started his farm stand in

COMMUNITY ORIENTED Thorne Family Farm welcomes shoppers every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

1938 when he came to California from North Carolina and started growing crops. Al Thorne owned land in Ramirez Canyon and later expanded his land to Zuma, Malibu Park, and Topanga Canyon. “At that time, there was probably only, I would guess, 2,000 people that lived in Malibu,” Thorne said. “So it was mainly wide open country.” Every week, Al Thorne would load his truck and haul fresh crops down Pacific Coast Highway, where he had a store that attracted celebrities, restaurants looking for venues and residents getting their weekly produce. “It was a real famous place that a lot of restaurant tours and movie stars would come and visit with him,” Thorne said. Al Thorne farmed until 1961 and then

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“SHE SUPPORTED THE FAMILY WHILE WE STARTED THE FARM. WITHOUT HER WE WOULDN’T BE DOING THIS.”

LOCAL MUSICIANS Thorne Family Farms creates an enticing athmosphere for shoppers with live music performances at the farm.

HOMEGROWN Husband and wife duo split up the work, with Laurel running the farm stand and Larry doing all the farming with help of volunteers.

closed his stand, leaving the idea in his son, Larry’s, hands. Larry Thorne continued to farm as a side-hobby, but didn’t open another farm stand until 2011, when he started Thorne Family Farm — his own farm inspired by his father’s farm. After over ten years in business, Thorne Family Farm has grown to attract over 300 visitors each week. Larry Thorne’s wife, Laurel, and his two children helped him grow the family operation, with the goal of teaching his kids to work hard and help carry on their grandfather’s legacy. “I’m lucky because my wife always wanted to have a farm,” Thorne said. “If the other people in your family didn’t like it, it would probably not be possible.” Now his wife runs the farm stand, alongside Malibu resident Kim Brown, while Thorne does all the farming, occasionally bringing in volunteers to help. “She supported the family while we started the farm,” Thorne said. “And without her, we wouldn’t be doing this.” Thorne said he enjoys the work he does because he doesn’t have to sit in a cubicle or work a typical “office” job, but instead gets to be outside and do

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GROWN WITH LOVE Produce at Thorne Family Farm is harvested and sold to customers every Saturday. The food grown helps to bring the Malibu community together. vel.

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LOCAL FARE Thorne Family Farms offers shoppers a wide array of local goods from fresh produce grown directly on the farm to homemade jams, local honey, delicious granola, and freshly baked breads from Varsity Bakers.

something he feels is good for people. “I ask, ‘why would a guy that is 72 years old be bending over picking broccoli,’” Thorne said. “It’s because I like it.” Not only is Thorne passionate about farming, but he also has the mind for it. While many farmers use computer programming to keep track of the crop rotations, Thorne retains it all in his head. He knows which crops are on 25-day rotations, which ones are on 30-day rotations, and which ones might not even have a set rotation. “It gets complicated,” Thorne said. “You have everything going on all yearround. It’s not like just growing wheat where you just go sow the wheat and then you come back in October and you just harvest the wheat. It’s a continuous turning of many different wheels all the time.” Even with the challenges of keeping up with a farm, Thorne said there are

“YOU’RE PICKING SOMETHING GOOD AND PICKING SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE.”

many rewards that come with it, most notably seeing people pleased each week with the food they purchase. “It’s just a good thing, you know,” Thorne said. “You’re picking something good and picking something that is good for people.” In the future, Thorne wants to continue to run the business and host Malibu community members, as well as out-oftown visitors each week, with the hopes of providing them with quality food and a moment to connect with their roots. “I just do what I do,” Thorne said. “And people like it.” The Thorne Family Farm Stand will be closed until 2022. Once it opens for the season, it will open to visitors every Saturday MM morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Thorne Family Farm | 6043 Bonsall Drive thornefamilyfarm.com | (310) 456-2795

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FASHION + SHOPPING

ECHO CLIFFS Katie Malinowski climbing “State of Grace” 5.13c at Echo Cliffs. Photo by Jesse Weiner

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

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GET A GRIP

ADVENTURE

✎ written by Arielle Eckerman

 photographed by Jesse Weiner and Daniel Fletcher

California is a mecca for rock climbing, with Malibu and the surrounding areas showcasing some of the region’s best spots. We take a look at what it takes to go climbing both indoors and outdoors, as well as where all the best local spots are. TEAMWORK In addition to running gorjana together, Jason and Gorjana have three

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“

ension!” a climber who is twenty feet up a sheer cliffside on the face of Point Dume calls down to the belayer standing in the sands below. “Tension on!” the belayer calls back.The climber lets go of the rock wall, sits back in his harness, and takes a well-deserved breather. His feet balance on the tiniest outcropping of rock, and the only thing keeping him suspended there is the rope held by his climbing partner on the ground. Yet he isn’t afraid, he has complete trust in his partner. A welcome ocean breeze cools him down, and he takes a moment to admire the expansive ocean to his right and the tiny beach goers in the distance. He takes one more breath, grabs back onto the wall, and continues climbing. Despite being known for its beaches and celebrities, Malibu has climbing walls that have been frequented for decades. However, Hollywood cinema did kick off one particular well known climbing spot. In 1968 the famous sci-fi adventure movie “Planet of the Apes” was filmed in Malibu Creek State Park. During the filming they fixed an anchor into a sixty foot wall as rigging for a scene of the movie. Climbers discovered the anchor, and so began one of the first official climbing routes in the park. Fast forward to the 1980’s and climbing had gotten so popular that locals would tell people that Malibu Creek State Park had “bad rock” to keep the spot a secret. In the meanwhile, local climbers were crafting classic climbing routes and bouldering problems that are still traversed today. The “Planet of the Apes” wall became one of the most popular climbing locations in the park, with various routes leaning into their primate origins, such as “Monkey Sang, Monkey Do”, “Spank the Monkey”, and “Apes of Wrath”. Though climbing has been around for centuries, the modern iteration of the sport began in the 1950’s in the United States and ascended to widespread popularity in the 1980’s. Over the years, new technologies have changed the way the sport operates, with innovative gear and indoor climbing

gyms making the sport far more accessible. However, when it comes down to it, not even the most expensive gear can carry you up a cliff wall. It takes strength, flexibility, and copious amounts of technique. Climbing can generally be divided into two separate approaches: with or without a rope. Each of these categories can be further separated into a number of different disciplines, including traditional (trad), sport, top roping, and bouldering. Typically people try climbing for the first time in an indoor gym with top rope climbing. The ropes are secured to an anchor point at the top of the climber’s route, and a climber relies on the belayer for safety while on the wall. This type of climbing can be performed outside on certain routes and is typically the safest form of climbing. In sport climbing, the climber is responsible for bringing the rope with them throughout the climb. A belayer is still in control of the safety of the rope, but the climber attaches the rope throughout the climb to preset bolts or anchoring equipment in the wall that will protect the climber in the event that they do fall. Lead climbing gets more advanced in terms of

“DESPITE BEING KNOWN FOR ITS BEACHES, MALIBU CLIMBING WALLS HAVE BEEN FREQUENTED FOR DECADES.”

trad climbing, in which the climber brings their own anchoring gear with them as they climb. This allows them to build their own routes on an otherwise barren rock face. This climbing is popular for high wall climbing like Yosemite, where climbers scale hundreds of vertical feet of granite. Bouldering requires the least amount of gear in terms of climbing. Indoors or outdoors, a climber simply needs: climbing shoes, chalk, a chalk bag, and a crash pad. When climbing you must have the complete trust of your partner, particularly when you climb outside or in unchartered territory. Malibu local Sammy Bassett, an avid outdoorsman, thrill seeker, and mountaineer, has summited peaks such as Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Rainier. In his free time he sets climbing routes locally and trains in the Santa Monica Mountains. “Things tend to get testy when life is at the end of a rope. Some of my most frustrating and favorite moments have been the undoubtable arguments that happen between climbing partners. If you can’t trust that you can literally tear your belayers head off verbally from 200 feet above and still know they are going to catch that fall no matter what, you need to rethink who you’re willing to climb with,” says Bassett. Climbing is perfect for thrill seekers, looking to tackle that next mountain. However, it can be a dangerous sport, especially when outside. As Bassett says, you must have complete faith in your team, knowledge of your gear, and awareness of your surroundings. That is why an indoor climbing gym is a great option to learn and train in because of the controlled environment. Not only is it a safe place to try climbing, but it’s a wonderful and unconventional way to get a sweat in. It is also a full body workout, and a relatively affordable option when it comes to the prices of gyms now a days. The entry level cost for gear is relatively low, and typically a climbing gym membership includes yoga classes or strength training classes of some variety. Most importantly, it is also fun, and a lot more social than a circuit class or the treadmill.

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MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK Katie Malinowski climbing “Ghetto Crossing” 5.13a at Malibu Creek State Park. Photo by Jesse Weinert

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POINT DUME CLIMBING One of the most scenic local climbing spot, Point Dume is a great spot for beginners and intermediate climbers to go on top rope climbs. thee

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ADVENTURE

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MALIBU TUNNEL BOULDERS Jesse Weiner climbing “Unnatural” V8 at Malibu Tunnel Boulders. Photo by Katie Malinowski.

Jesse Weiner, head route setter at Boulderdash, has spent years climbing, honing his technique and training athletes. When asked about why climbing is such a great workout, he says “that it can more or less substitute for any standard gym routine. It’s a great cardiovascular activity in addition to strengthening your entire body, mind included.” “I think one of the more overlooked aspects of climbing is how challenging it can be to solve the problems climbing presents you. Climbing is like a physical puzzle. Often you have to perform a specific sequence or choreography in order to complete a challenging climb. An obvious solution to the challenge in front of you might not be easy to come by. This problem solving aspect of climbing keeps you engaged, teaches you to focus under pressure, and has a

great social aspect if you choose to climb with other people. No more lonely days looking in the mirror and lifting dumbbells. Instead grab some friends, head over to your local climbing gym and solve some problems together,” says Weiner. Previously, Jesse Weiner led the youth climbing team at Boulderdash, though he now coaches privately and is the head route setter. The gym has produced several successful competitive climbers over the years, with youth and adult climbers having competed in national championships and world cups. Boulderdash, located in Westlake Village, CA is one of the closest climbing gym options for Malibu residents. In addition to the main location, there is also a location in Ventura and in the San Fernando Valley. Boulderdash offers classes to learn how to

belay and top rope. They also rent gear, host kids camps, and have a youth climbing team. Climbing is also an excellent family activity. As a previous youth team coach, Weiner believes that “climbing is a fantastic activity for kids, especially in a climbing team environment. It builds strength and confidence, problem solving, flexibility, and determination. I think the most important thing for youth climbers is learning how to try hard. Obviously, this translates to other aspects of life and is a super important trait to possess.” “The thing with climbing that many people forget about it is the adventure of it all. You can find that outdoors, as well as indoors. To get on something that you have never tried only lends to the potential of a wonderful trip into the unknown!” says Christiaan Luneberg, co-owner of Boulderdash. Ready to get outside, but don’t know how to go about it? Many adventure companies offer guided climbs which can include the necessary gear as well as a professional climbing expert. Unless you are going with an experienced group, this is the safest way to learn the ropes of climbing outdoors. REI Co-op offers various levels of guided climbs outdoors. From beginners to those wanting to learn about trad gear and anchors, REI offers classes at Stoney Point and Malibu Creek State Park. Another great local guided climbing company is Rocks n Rope Adventures which offers day trips in Malibu, including the scenic beach climb off Point Dume. All of their classes are led by a certified PCGI (Professional Climb Guide Institute) instructor, and they also offer drone footage of your climb if you want that memorable keepsake. Outdoor climbing is a great experience and is a year round activity in Southern California. Additionally, it is accessible for all age ranges and a perfect family activity. Whether you are looking for a new hobby to pick up and get you outside, a fun date night at the gym, or a weekend family activMM ity, climbing offers it all.

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Top 5 Local Climbing Spots After getting yourself rope savvy indoors, the next step is to take your climbing outside. Check out these local climbing spots:

Stoney Point

Echo Cliffs

Malibu Creek State Park

1 2

Point Dume

1. Malibu Creek State Park Possibly the most accessible climbing area, Malibu Creek State Park offers a huge variety of bouldering and sport climbing. In Los Angeles fashion, two climbing areas are named after famous productions filmed on site. The film “Planet of the Apes” and the tv show “*MASH*” both have climbing areas and routes named after them.

2. Malibu Tunnel Boulders Not far from Malibu Creek State Park, this climbing location can be a little tricky to get to. Parking on the road is illegal, but there is a parking lot located at Piuma Road and also parking at the Tapia Day use lot. You have to walk along Malibu Canyon Road to get here, but a drop down trail takes you to a scenic bouldering location. Be wary of both cars on the road and poison oak on the trail. The trek is worth

it, as this area has a stunning atmosphere with moss covered sandstone boulders surrounded by river water.

3. Point Dume Cliffs Known for its scenic views, Pt. Dume offers beginner and intermediate top rope climbs. This cliffside allows you to climb with ocean spray on your back, and the accessible routes offer a perfect place to practice your technique. Due to the location and limited routes, this climb can get pretty crowded. Located at the end of Westward Beach, you can either climb with your back to Zuma beach or adjacent to Pirates Cove.

4. Echo Cliffs Up the winding canyons of Mulholland and Yerba Buena, this climbing spot is one of the most well-known sport climb-

Tunnel Boulders

ing areas in Southern California. Most of the climbs are long, requiring at least 60-meters of rope. In addition, it is about a 45 minute hike in along the Mishe Mokwa trail. However, the hike in is worth itwith around 200 sport climbing routes and stunning scenic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Echo Cliffs provides the most challenging routes in the area.

5. Stoney Point Located in the LA basin off Topanga Canyon Road, this is one of the top bouldering areas in Los Angeles county. Stoney Point has a storied past, with many famous climbers learning to climb here. Climbers such as Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, and John Bachar, a famous free climber, are said to have started out climbing here. The sandstone crag offers top rope climbing as well, but the majority of the climbs are boulders.

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WHALES OFF POINT DUME Malibu is one of the best places to see whales from the shore since Point Dume is Marine Protected Area shelf and whales tend to hug the coast. Photo by Carlos Gauna.

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ADVENTURE

GIANTS IN THE SEA ✎ written by Barbara Burke

 photographed by Carlos Gauna

Gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales — Malibu and surrounding areas are ideal for spotting migrating whales, both from land and from boats. We take you along for a whale watching trip and show you the best spots to go see whales yourself.

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ADVENTURE

alibu and surrounding coastal cities are right in the middle of peak whale-watching season. Early December through the end of April is the best time of year to spot gray whales during their annual migratory journeys. Toward the end of the season, in April and sometimes in May, pairs of calves and cows can be spotted making their way north to Alaska for the Summer, often staying close to the shore to avoid predators, including sharks. Westward Beach is a prime location to view whales from the shore, according to local drone photographer Carlos Gauna, who notes that Malibu is one of the best places to view the whales from land because Pt. Dume is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) shelf and the great whales hug the coast. “I’m an aerial photographer,” Gauna explained. “Whales are very loving and show emotion and are smart and have a reputation for being peaceful. To come upon them and observe them in nature is incredible - anyone who has made eye contact with whales, regardless of which species, knows it’s a special feeling.” Gauna notes that filming whales from overhead gives one a whole new perspective and one can see how much they nurture their calves. “Watching with a drone is the least invasive way to observe whales - boats are loud, while viewing them with a drone is non-invasive,” Gauna said. “You don’t need to spend money on a whale tour on a boat - the best place in the world is from Pt. Dume in Malibu.” To check out some of Gauna’s images, follow @themalibuartist. If one climbs to the top of Point Dume Natural Preserve in Malibu, one can look down and see the enormous whales just sliding down the coast right off of the promontory’s headlands as they migrate to Baja Mexico in December and migrate back to Alaska in early Spring. Walk along the crown of Pt. Dume, enjoy the panoramic ocean views, and look in

the waters below to see whether whales are visible. Sometimes, one can view porpoises and dolphins as well. If one prefers to go boating to see the gentle giants up close and personal, there are several close-by options - either drive from Malibu up north to the Santa Barbara Channel or take a quick trip south to Marina del Rey. In both destinations, tour companies take passengers on excursions ranging from a couple of hours to a full day to see whales, dolphins, perhaps even a shark or two, as well as other exciting maritime sea life, including dolphins and a variety of birds. On a beautiful, Southern California morning, MALIBU MAGAZINE tagged along on a tour in the Channel Islands with Island Packers, which offers whale watching tours, kayak rentals, tours to the Channel Islands National Park and tours in the Santa Barbara channel. The Channel Islands form an eight-island archipelago along the Santa Barbara Channel that extends for 160 miles between San Clemente Island in the South and San Miguel Island in the

“ANYONE WHO HAS MADE EYE CONTACT WITH WHALES KNNOWS IT’S A SPECIAL FEELING.”

north. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park. The waters surrounding those islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which consists of thirteen Marine MPAs, places that provide wonderful habitats where whales and other sea life can feed uninterrupted by fishing. Such conditions are ideal for whale watching. MALIBU MAGAZINE hopped on a boat, eager to see some whales, and hoping to also perhaps catch a glimpse of dolphins, other sea mammals, and birds. All passengers hoped that whales and other animals would share a little time with us. However, we were mindful that nothing is guaranteed - unlike going to SeaWorld or a zoo, where one is almost guaranteed to view large sea mammals up close, on the open ocean, the whales and other sea animals will emerge if, when, and where they wish. The weather was excellent, the sea was glass, and we departed, with our hopes high and our eyes scanning the waters for movement. We motored along for a while. Suddenly, there was an announcement on the loudspeaker. “Look at 3 o’clock to see some California sea lions, lazily basking in the sun,” Capt. Jacob Hensley said. Hanging out near an oil platform, the dolphins seemed to almost smile, seemingly bemused as they surveyed our group, perhaps more curious about us than we were about them. “Look over there, there is a pod of dolphins, There are dolphins everywhere - let’s go that way and see them,” Hensley said, explaining “The dolphins are gorging on baleen - the biomass is pushed up - whales, dolphins, sea lions, and birds all feed on the same “meatball,” Excited, he added, “Let’s look for feeding frenzies.” Everyone in the boat leaned over the boat, straining to get a glimpse. “When you see birdlife and dolphins, you could be coming upon a squid nest.” Hensley said. The water in the middle of the Channel Islands is as deep as 1,200 feet and

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HUMPBACK WHALE PLAYING ON THE SURFACE Humpback whales are known to be one of the most playful whales on earth. In California humpback whales can most commonly be seen from April to October.

the underwater canyons attract large mammals, including the whales, he said. Then, it happened! “Look!” a guest exclaimed. “A Whale! At 2 o’clock!” All eyes followed her gaze and viewed a beautiful, lithe, limber juvenile gray whale, playfully turning in circles. “He’s messing with us a little, teasing us,” Hensley said. “He’s swimming on his back and turning round and round.” To be that close to such a large creature. To get a glimpse of its glory as it reigns in its realm. To - just for once - get a sense of its liberation, its power, and its presence - is an unforgettable experience. The group of humans on the boat collectively sighed, pausing to reflect on the whale’s wondrous splendor. “This is my seventh trip with this vendor and it is fabulous,” Customer Lori

Brasier said. “It is a really nice way to spend a morning with fresh air and to receive an education about wildlife. It’s cost-effective and you see things that you cannot see from the beach - you don’t have a true sense of the Pacific until you are out here on the boat.” A Peek at What’s Under Those Beautiful Waves The waters along the coast in and near Malibu are teeming with life. Michael Milstein, Public Affairs Officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)’s Fisheries Division, explained the whale demographics and census along the Southern California coast. “In the Spring we primarily see Gray Whales,” Milstein said. “Many of the oth-

er large whales, such as Fin, Humpback, and Blue Whales, are attracted to the local areas during periods of up-welling which produce the plankton they feed upon. Typically, ocean conditions that produce this feeding opportunity occur between June and September.” The gray whales migrate between Baja California, where they give birth in lagoons that serve as ideal habitats to raise their calves in the winter, and then migrate to the Arctic, where they spend their summers. Theirs is one of the longest migrations on the planet, Milstein said, noting they make a 10,000-mileround-trip journey every year. “The gray whales’ story is a phenomenal success story that explains how, with conservation, there are ways for a compromised species to recover,” Milstein

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BEACH GUIDE

HUMPBACK WHALE BREACHING It’s not uncommon to see humpback whales breaching or lunging out of the water. While breaching, whales are able to expose 90% of their body above the water.

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CALIFORNIA WHALE WATCHING CALENDAR

CELEBRATION CRUISES

Santa Barbara (805) 465-6676 www.Celebrationsantabarbara.com This company offers options for everyone, including coastal cruises, catered and private cruises, water taxi rides, weddings, private parties, corporate events. Patrons can choose between three boats: a 70-foot, multi-level yacht, Azure Seas; an all-electric duffy boat, Whisper; or Santa Barbara’s only water taxi tugboat, Lil Toot.

CONDOR EXPRESS Santa Barbara (805) 882-0088 www.condorexpress.com. source: condorexpress.com

explained. “For years, they were on the endangered species list, but now, with a lot of work by humans, there are approximately 27,000 of them.” More than 28 species of whales and dolphins have been identified within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, an area many call The Galapagos of the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout the year, it is possible to see Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, and Minke Whales, Orca Whales, Common Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, and Dall’s Porpoise. “Humpback whales are now growing in population,” Milstein said. “However, they are still on the endangered species list.” He explained that NOAA coordinates a whale census at a research station in Central California, trying to keep track of the cetaceans, collecting data that can assist in such efforts.

MARINA DEL REY SPORTFISHING Marina Del Rey (310) 822-3625 mdrsf.com

Closer to Los Angeles, one can consider taking a whale watching eco-tour in Marina del Rey with Marina del Rey Sportfishing, a company that offers tours with trained naturalists from the Cabrillo Whalewatch, a joint effort of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and the American Cetacean Society/Los Angeles Chapter. The company offers guests the opportunity to have an awesome day on the water, and sometimes, a tour group comes upon a whale who is feeding, an awesome sight to behold.

Offering year-round whale watching and a whale-watch guarantee, customers are sure to enjoy their experience with Condor Express. The company offers a variety of spectacular excursions in the Santa Barbara Channel, including whale watching, pelagic birding, wedding cruises, dinner cruises, private parties and corporate events.

DOUBLE DOLPHIN CRUISES

Santa Barbara (805) 962-2826 www.Sbsail.com The Double Dolphin’s fifty-foot catamaran design make her both roomy and very stable. Cruises can be as short as an hour-long cocktail cruise or as long as a fully catered all-day marine-life safari to MM Santa Cruz Island.

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dejaun jewelers The Oaks shOpping CenTer 805.495.1425 The Village aT WesTfield TOpanga 818.888.8292

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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.

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REAL ESTATE MALIBU MARKET TRENDS

DECEMBER 2021 MARKET TEMPERATURE BUYER

Source: Zilllow.com/Realtor.com/Own Research

SELLER

BALANCED

MEDIAN SALE PRICE SINCE 2019 The chart on the left shows Malibu’s median sale price fluctuations. Since 2019, Malibu has seen many fluctuations in price with a couple of big spikes in 2019. However, since the middle of 2020 the median sale price has been trending upwards with a slight decline in the second half of 2021.

Source: Redfin.com

$6.0M $5.0M $4.0M $3.0M $2.0M $1.0M

2019

$4.0M $1.5K $3.4M

2020

2021

Source: Realtor.com

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE

MEDIAN LISTING HOME PRICE SQ/FT MEDIAN SOLD HOME PRICE

Currently, the median sold price is on average 15% lower than the median listing price.

NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD SINCE 2019 Source: Redfin.com

50 40 30 20 10 2019

2020

2021

Overall, the number of homes sold in Malibu has increased drastically since the middle of 2020.

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REAL ESTATE

INDOOR-OUTDOOR Most Orbit Homes feature floor-to-ceiling windows and generous decks, for indoor-outdoor living.

ORBIT HOMES

LUXE HOMES FOR ALL With Orbit Homes, Malibu brothers Dror and Or Michaelo are disrupting the luxury home building industry, offering gorgeous designs that cost a fraction of standard construction and are built in a matter of months.

he home in Seminole Springs is hard to miss. It’s beautiful, for one, contemporary and extraordinarily chic, with gleaming white walls and floor-to-ceiling windows framing an open-concept kitchen rendered in sleek wood and quartz. It’s

a Malibu dream house in every sense of the word; effortlessly elegant, light-filled and brimming with luxurious details, from a massive soaking tub to a living room fireplace. It’s the kind of house that is expensive to build, to say nothing of the countless months and costs to secure building permits. But herein lies perhaps the dreamiest

part of this unique Malibu dream house; it is roughly half the cost of traditional construction, and takes only a few weeks to build. If you can’t quite believe a home like this exists, well, who could blame you? Soaring housing prices throughout Southern California have increasingly turned the dream of home ownership, let alone luxury home

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BRIGHT & AIRY Light-filled rooms are an Orbit Homes trademark.

IN THE DETAILS Each home incorporates fine materials.

ownership, into an untenable fantasy. This is where ORBIT Homes comes in. Founded in Malibu in 2019 by Or and Dror Michaelo, two local Malibu brothers with years of experience in high-end construction, ORBIT Homes is revolutionizing the home-building process. Think of it kind of like Tesla for homes; customers can choose a home model from a breadth of options, ranging from 495 to 2,225 square feet and 1 to 4 bedrooms, and then get to work customizing finishes to make it their own, choosing everything from the model and materials to luxe features like soaking tubs, walk-in closets and even pools. From there, the homes are pre-constructed in state-ofthe-art factories, and then assembled onsite in just a couple months. If it’s a time-honored model- Sears was selling pre-constructed homes as far back as the early 1900s- ORBIT Homes has revolutionized it for our times. For one, ORBIT Homes are as sturdy, if not more so, than traditional stick-builds, built on a steel frame engineered to withstand everything

CUSTOMIZABLE Clients choose from a variety of customizations.

from earthquakes and strong winds to fires. They’re exceptionally beautiful and thoughtfully-designed in the way you’d expect from a luxury custom home, embracing an indoor-outdoor sensibility with floor-to-ceiling windows and wide airy spaces that showcase the natural environment around them. “From the beginning the goal of the company was to challenge the norm in every way,” said Or. “How can we make the most affordable, easy-to-maintain, luxury homes?” For Or and Dror, ORBIT Homes is the culmination of a dream hatched years ago in the brothers’ teenage years, thousands of miles away from Malibu. Raised by an oft-traveling father, the brothers grew up surfing some of the most remote beaches and islands in the world. As teenagers, the brothers became obsessed with the idea of opening up these incredible places to habitation, in a way that honored the land and didn’t disrupt its natural habitat. “The idea was always to create some kind

of instant development on an island somewhere,” Dror said. “It was always a romantic idea for us before it became a real thing.” Both brothers would go on to successful careers in construction, making a name for themselves building and remodeling luxury homes across California, when years later they found their minds wandering to their childhood dream. “We wanted to create something with plug and play systems that also looked amazing,” said Dror. After years of research and development, Dror and Or built their first off grid home, a gorgeous, contemporary 4-bedroom just off the beach, completed construction in the South Pacific in 2013. The success proved eye-opening to Dror and Or. The off-site building techniques and processes they’d developed from scratch for the project had been mainly for logistics’ sake; the location couldn’t handle a traditional build, which would have involved transporting workers and materials to the rural site every day for years. But

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CONTEMPORARY DESIGN Orbit Homes are known for their sleek, modern aesthetic.

their new pre-construction process had turned out even better than they could have imagined, costing a fraction of what a traditional build would have and taking about a quarter of the time. The brothers realized they were onto something. In 2018 they launched Autonomous Homes, a first of its kind construction company that offered self-sustaining systems for homes, complete with their own solar electricity, satellite phones and water filtration systems. Best of all, the brothers’ developed a unique pre-construction model in the process, allowing for the majority of each home to be built in a factory then simply assembled onsite. That year, they began looking into ways they could adapt their expertise in off grid building domestically, and especially in their home of Southern California, where a debilitating housing crisis was unfolding.

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“THE GOAL WAS TO CHALLENGE THE NORM IN EVERY WAY.”

Amidst skyrocketing property prices and increasingly lengthy permitting processes, the brothers realized their unique ability to pre-construct beautiful homes at a fraction of the price and time frame of new builds could be a game changer. “We had already learned what the most efficient materials and codes were, and what would be more durable in the coastal area,” said Dror. They imagined Autonomous Homes could be genuinely helpful to the Southern California community, and especially near their hometown of Malibu, with its escalating building costs and increasingly lengthy permitting time frames. Little did they know how fortuitous their vision would be. Only months after Autonomous Homes opened for business, the Woolsey Fire hit Malibu, destroying more than 500 homes in just a few days. For many of those fam-

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ilies, the actual loss of their home was just the beginning of a nightmare which began to unfold in the months after the fire. Many would learn that they had been underinsured, discovering only too late that insurance would cover only a fraction of the cost to rebuild their homes. And for those who could afford to rebuild, there was another problem: where to live during it. Most insurance policies would cover rent for only a year or two during construction. Facing building timelines that could extend up to three years, many residents soon realized they’d be forced to cover months of alternate housing costs out-of-pocket. Malibu was facing a mounting crisis, it soon became clear, and one which Autonomous Homes seemed uniquely suited to help fix. A call from a longtime surfing

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buddy of Or and Drors, who had lost his home on Latigo Canyon, cemented the idea that they could provide vital relief to so many Malibu families who were facing an impossible situation. “He knew exactly what we were doing and suggested with all your know-how, you could really help the Malibu community,” Or said. “You have to find a solution to help the community.” Less than a year later, the two brothers, along with Or’s partner, Lauren Tucker, launched ORBIT Homes in Malibu in response. The company culled everything the two brothers had learned in their wide-ranging years in construction, combining their signature contemporary aesthetic and quality workmanship with the unique factory system they’d developed at Autonomous Homes. Tucker, a co-founder of Kiss the Ground with a longtime career in regenerative agriculture, solidified the vision, imbuing the models with an indoor-outdoor sensibility, all manufactured to be solar ready and environmental awareness that would become one of ORBIT Homes’ calling cards. The brothers optimized their designs to help fully meet the needs of the community. An issue they immediately recognized was one that had long stymied people building with modular homes; while the homes were easy to move, legally they couldn’t be. Permitting for modular homes was site-specific because of their customization; once the home was on its foundation, it’s location couldn’t be altered at all. This produced a distinct problem for the countless people who planned on living in ORBIT Homes on their property while they rebuilt their main homes, and then turning their ORBIT Homes into ADU/ guest homes later on a different location on their land. “That wasn’t going to work,” said Dror. And so the brothers set out to transform the construction industry again, endeavoring to create a modular home which someone could legally move around their property. After extensive research, Dror and Or came up with a solution; instead of building their models to the International Residential Code or regional codes, they would build ORBIT Homes to the national Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code. These guidelines were much more

stringent, basically integrating the specificities of municipal construction codes across the country into one set of strict guidelines. A home built to HUD code could be placed anywhere in the country, and certainly in multiple places on a single lot. What’s more, adhering to HUD code meant that ORBIT Homes didn’t have to go through new permitting processes for each home, or each change to the home. “We didn’t have to deal with new engineering every time we encountered a new client,” said Tucker. Dror and Or had finished adapting all their models to HUD code, and orders were soon in for homes across Malibu. Today, more than 15 have been built or are in the process of being built in the city and county. Interestingly, many of those customers who were originally interested in ORBIT Homes as accessory dwelling units would go on to change their mind, purchasing an ORBIT Home for their primary residence instead. “We have a lot of clients who were underinsured and purchased main residences from us,” says Tucker. “They’re beautiful,” said Adam Masato, who recently finished construction on his first ORBIT Homes in Joshua Tree. Indeed Masato was so taken by his new vacation home, and the ease and cost of building it, he’s already in the process of building another, which he plans to rent out. “Everyone’s been really impressed by it,” Masato says. “And my appraisal for the ORBIT Home came back significantly higher than the cost to build it.” For anyone who’s ever commissioned major home construction, you’ll know how weird that sounds. It’s not often that building a home from scratch engenders an enthusiasm for anything but therapy, let alone a career as a developer. But herein lies one of the major differences between a normal luxury home and an ORBIT Home. They may turn out the same, but the time, money and process behind each couldn’t be more different. “We wanted to disrupt the construction inMM dustry,” says Or. “And we did.” Orbit Homes orbithomes.us contact@orbithomes.us (310) 699-5333

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SUN FIREDEFENSE

THE ULTIMATE PROTECTOR Since opening in 2014, Sun FireDefense has emerged as the industry standard in home and commercial fireproofing, providing residents in high-fire risk communities with something that has become all to rare for many in Southern California: peace of mind. ✎ written by Holly Bieler

n the morning of November 8, 2018, Jim Moseley got an unusual call. “Can you come to Malibu?” the man on the other end asked. It was a request few others would receive that day. Around 6 a.m. that morning, the Woolsey Fire had jumped the 101 freeway and quickly descended upon Malibu, igniting 3-story flames

from Point Dume to Trancas. Moseley understood the fire’s threat better than most. As the founder and CEO of Sun FireDefense, one of the most well-respected residential and commercial fireproofing companies in the country, Moseley has built an esteemed reputation for innovative products and services that demonstrate a preternatural understanding of how fire works, and more importantly, how it destroys.

If anyone could help the man on the other end of the line, who said his $3.6 million house on Corral Canyon would almost certainly be in the fire’s path by afternoon, it was Moseley. Without a second thought he had jumped in his car, and along with a small crew of Sun FireDefense staff, was soon speeding towards the smoke-choked Corral Canyon. With no time to spare, Moseley and his team hurriedly got to work doing everything they could to protect the

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FAKE

“SEEING [THE HOUSE STANDING] FELT AMAZING.”

man’s house, dousing it in Sun FireDefense’s trademark intumescent coating and fortifying its windows before fleeing the property just as they began to see flames. Three weeks later, when the homeowner finally arrived home, the impact of Sun FireDefense’s quick work was revealed in incredibly visceral terms. The fire had hit Corral Canyon with force, destroying property after property on the man’s street. And yet, astonishingly, his home remained completely intact. In pictures he sent Moseley that day, you could clearly see patches of soot where embers had blown against the home’s windows, and flames made contact with the exterior walls. It was clear to everyone that if not for Sun FireDefense’s quick work that day, the home would have undoubtedly been destroyed “Seeing that felt amazing,” said Moseley. It’s moments like these which make the decades of work Moseley has dedicated to the art of fire-proofing homes worth it. It’s a passion which started years ago and worlds away, during a tour of an aeronautical facility Moseley was taking for work. As part of the tour, the company demonstrated the resilience of new tiles they’d just acquired for the

FIREPROOF Moseley’s products utilize cutting-edge materials and engineering to withstand the power of direct flames.

outside of spaceships, which utilized the same science behind fire blankets to create a surface that was almost completely fire-proof. Blasting the tiles with a torch, they seemed to show absolutely no signs of burning, even after minutes of direct, high-intensity contact “I was blown away,” Moseley said. “And I became interested in what [that material] could do as far as a crossover into commercial and residential types of applications.”

Moseley began consulting with residential architects and engineers, and was surprised to learn there were few products or services on the market for fireproofing homes and commercial buildings. And so he began researching the best way to do it, immersing himself in research on fire mitigation and culling his knowledge of innovative materials and engineering from his work in aerospace into truly original, effective products.

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“FOR MOSELEY, IT BRINGS GREAT SATISFACTION OFFERING PEACE OF MIND TO SO MANY.”

SKIRBALL FIRE In 2017, a house that had been treated by Sun FireDefense took a direct hit in the Skirball Fire, emerging almost entirely unscathed.

Eventually Moseley presented his findings to a local architect, who was so impressed he immediately connected him with the equipment manager for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Soon Moseley was working closely with the LAFD, integrating his new products and expertise into a variety of innovations that would transform many vital pieces of the department’s equipment, including new fire shelters and windshields that proved exponentially more fireproof than industry standard bearers. Moseley would go on to work with

a number of other fire departments throughout the west, developing fireproof equipment in some of the most high fire-risk areas in the country, before pivoting back to his original dream; providing cutting-edge fire-proofing to homeowners and small business owners. In 2014, Moseley opened Sun FireDefense, which soon established itself as the industry standard for residential and commercial fire-proofing. Unlike competitors, Sun FireDefense approached the task of fire-proofing holis-

tically, utilizing cutting-edge materials and engineering deployed through a breadth of services from window coverings and exterior sprays to sprinkler systems and even insulation, all expertly engineered to withstand the power and temperature of the most extreme flames. Pricing ranges from $3.50 to $30 a square foot, offering effective options for homeowners at every budget. In the years since, Sun FireDefense has become more vital to the Southern California community than Moseley could ever have imagined. With wildfires getting worse and afflicting more and more areas each year, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Sun FireDefense has become a necessity for hundreds of thousands of families across the country, including many in Malibu. For Moseley, it’s a great source of satisfaction to know that he’s offering peace of mind to so many. “These are scary times,” he says. “But it’s incredible to know that we can MM help.” SUN FIREDEFENSE

sunfiredefense.com (818) 532-0435

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NOON LODGE

A BOUTIQUE MOUNTAIN GETAWAY BIG BEAR LAKE, CA www.NoonLodge.com

MM_Ad_Noon Lodge_v2.indd 1

(909) 866-2526

info@noonlodge.com

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

28808 CLIFFSIDE DR.

$65,000,000

6 BR | 9 BA | OCEAN VIEW ESTATE W/ BEACH PATH

27234 PCH

$39,950,000

4 BR | 6 BA | 80’ BEACH FRONTAGE

29130 CLIFFSIDE DR. $22,995,000 5 BR | 6 BA | BLUFF FRONT OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

27234 PCH + 27242 PCH $51,500,000 | $350,000/MO.

4 BR | 6 BA | APX. 130’ BEACH FRONTAGE

33740 PCH $45,000,000 | $275,000/MO. 6 BR | 8 BA | NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED, APX. 1.7+ ACRES

11802

3903 CARBON CANYON RD. $35,000,000 6 BR | 9 BA | KNOLL-TOP ESTATE, APX. 3.25 ACRES

0 TRANCAS RD. $25,000,000 APX. 24.88 ACRES | 2 PARCELS, OCEAN VIEWS

21848 3 BR

21614 PCH 4 BR | 7 BA |

28859 5 BR |

22102 PCH 4 BR | 4 BA |

$21,750,000

BEACH VILLA, APX. 60’ BEACH FRONTAGE

$21,500,000

BEACH HOME, APX. 45’ BEACH FRONTAGE

Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit properties already listed.

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6 BR |

Compas ble but i by retain

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

11902 ELLICE ST. $16,995,000 5 BR | 6 BA | OCEAN VIEWS, APX. 111’ BLUFF FRONTAGE

6 BR | 6 BA | OCEAN VIEWS, APX. 133’ BLUFF FRONTAGE

31220 BROAD BEACH RD. $17,450,000 4 BR | 6 BA | CONTEMPORARY BEACHFRONT HOME

21848 PCH $15,750,000 3 BR | 4 BA | CONTEMPORARY BEACHFRONT ESTATE

30385 MORNING VIEW DR. $14,995,000 APX. 4 ACRES | UNDER CONSTRUCTION, OCEAN VIEWS

6345 TANTALUS DR. $11,995,000 6 BR | 8 BA | CONTEMPORARY W/ OCEAN VIEWS

28859 BISON COURT 5 BR | 4 BA |

27445 WINDING WAY DR. $8,450,000 7 BR | 8 BA | GATED HOME ON APX. 2 ACRES, OCEAN VIEWS

5737 BUSCH DR. $7,750,000 4 BR | 5 BA | BRAND-NEW OCEAN VIEW ARCHITECTURAL

11802 ELLICE ST.

$19,950,000

$8,450,000

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

33127 PCH 5 BR | 6 BA |

$7,450,000 MEDITERRANEAN RETREAT, APX. 2.5 ACRES

28882 VIA VENEZIA $6,450,000 5 BR | 7 BA | MEDITERRANEAN, 2+ ACRES, OCEAN VIEWS

3947 RAMBLA ORIENTA $2,585,000 3 BR | 2 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

4102 ENCINAL CANYON RD.

$6,900,000

32045 PCH 3 BR | 4 BA |

$4,995,000

APX. 137 ACRES | OCEAN VIEW BLUFF SITE ON 4 PARCELS

CUSTOM ITALIAN VILLA W/ OCEAN VIEWS

31864 SEA LEVEL DR.

$2,099,000

0.158 ACRES | PLANS SUBMITTED FOR HOME

23907 MALIBU RD.

$6,500,000

APX. 4.3 ACRES | PLANS & APPROVALS FOR 8,780 SF ESTATE

21463 CALLE DEL BARCO $4,200,000 3 BR | 3 BA | ARCHITECTURAL OCEAN VIEW HOME

19901 PCH $1,499,000 APX. 2.75 ACRES | OCEAN VIEW LOT

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0 ENC 21.4

CARR

APX 0.4

28936 5 BR |

Compass ble but is by retain

0,000

STATE

0,000

OME

000

med reliae obtained

o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

0 ENCINAL CANYON $1,375,000 21.447 | 22 ACRE PARCEL W/ OCEAN VIEWS

CARRITA RD.

$875,000

APX 0.41 ACRES | UNOBSTRUCTED OCEAN VIEWS

28936 CLIFFSIDE DR. $200,000/MO. 5 BR | 4 BA | CONTEMPORARY BLUFF-FRONT ESTATE

9533 DEER CREEK RD.

$1,250,000

APX. 10.3 ACRES | PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEW

OLD CHIMNEY RD.

$650,000

APX 3.3 ACRES | 6 SEPARATE APNS IN LATIGO CANYON

24434 MALIBU ROAD $ 175,000/MO. 5 BR | 6 BA | OCEANFRONT HOME, APX. 128’ BEACH FRONTAGE

SOUTH FOOSE RD. $1,050,000 APX. 5 ACRES | 3 APNS, EXPANSIVE

23402 MALIBU COLONY RD.

$300,000/MO.

6 BR | 7 BA | APX. 60’ BEACH FRONTAGE, 2 LOTS

32960 PCH 5 BR | 6 BA |

$150,000/MO. OCEANFRONT HOME, APX. 82’ BEACH FRONTAGE

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o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

25236 MALIBU RD.

$150,000/MO.

APX. 12 ACRES | ARCHITECTURAL BEACH HOME

27348 PCH

$85,000/MO.

4 BR | 4 BA | CAPE COD-STYLE BEACHFRONT HOME

23618 MALIBU COLONY RD. $75,000/MO.

4 BR | 3 BA | GATED OCEAN FRONT HOME

32453 PCH

$100,000/MO.

7 BR | 11 BA | BLUFFFRONT HOME ON APX. 5+ ACRES

28926 CLIFFSIDE DR.

$85,000/MO.

BLUFF FRONT OCEAN VIEW ESTATE

26901 SEA LEVEL DR.

$75,000/MO.

6 BR | 9 BA | OCEAN VIEW HOME

23816 MALIBU RD.

$100,000/MO.

6 BR | 6 BA | BUNGALOW STYLE BEACHFRONT HOME

33800 PCH

$75,000/MO.

4 BR | 5 BA | OCEANFRONT COMPOUND

24608 MALIBU RD.

$65,000/MO.

5 BR | 5 BA | CONTEMPORARY BEACHFRONT HOME

6238 BONSALL DR.

$100,000/MO.

27082 MA

8 BR | 9 BA | CAPE COD-STYLE HOME W/ 2 GUEST HOUSES

4 BR | 5 BA

26714 LATIGO SHORE DR. $75,000/MO.

6702 WI

4 BR | 3 BA | CONTEMPORARY BEACHFRONT HOME

28899 CLIFFSIDE DR.

$60,000/MO.

6 BR | 5 BA | CONTEMPORARY ESTATE W/ BEACH RIGHTS

MMM_Real_Estate_Cortazzo_Winter_2021_R2.indd 186

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6 BR |

31544 4 BR |

Compas ble but is by retain

000/MO.

ST HOUSES

00/MO.

ONT HOME

00/MO.

CH RIGHTS

emed reliae obtained

o: 310.457.3995 | c: 310.579.5887 | chris@chriscortazzo.com | www.chriscortazzo.com | CalBRE# 01190363

27082 MALIBU COVE COLONY DR. $47,500/MO. 4 BR | 5 BA | CONTEMPORARY BEACHFRONT HOME

6702 WILDLIFE RD.

$35,000/MO.

6 BR | 5 BA | LITTLE DUME BEACH KEY

31544 BROAD BEACH RD. $21,000/MO. 4 BR | 4 BA | LECHUZA BEACH ACCESS

23901 MALIBU KNOLLS RD. $40,000/MO. 3000 DECKER CANYON RD. $40,000/MO. 4 BR | 4 BA | MODERN OCEAN VIEW HOME

6750 FERNHILL DR.

$29,500/MO.

4 BR | 3 BA | RIVIERA III BEACH KEY

33406 PCH

$37,500/MO.

5 BR | 6 BA | GUEST HOUSE & TENNIS COURT

4 BR | 4 BA | ARCHITECTURAL OCEAN VIEW HOME

28873 BONIFACE DR.

6651 ZUMIREZ DR.

$25,000/MO.

4 BR | 3 BA | ARCHITECTURAL HOME

1790 OLD RANCH RD. $20,500/MO. 3 BR | 2 BA | CLIFF MAY RANCH HOUSE

$25,000/MO.

5 BR | 5 BA | RIVIERA 1 BEACH KEY

33461 PCH $9,500/MO. 3 BR | 2 BA | TRADITIONAL HOME W/ OCEAN VIEWS

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MONUS’S

MALIBU

BONUSES

VIEWTIFUL CONTEMPORARY OCEAN VIEW DECK WITH FIRE PIT $4 700 000 5330HORIZONDR.COM

With Unfinished Permitted GH

1955 MALIBU MID-CENTURY RANCH NEAR POINT DUME & ZUMA BEACH $3 150 000 29051PCH.COM

CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY GATED ENCLAVE ON CUL-DE-SAC $2 850 000 28932WBEACHLN.COM

SUSAN

MONUS

Coldwell Banker Realty’s 2021 #1 Agent YTD | Malibu Office (310) 589 2477 | SUSAN@SUSANMONUS.COM | SUSANMONUS.COM | CalRE#00827409 Your Home Deserves a Social Media Presence @malibuhomes

Facebook.com/MalibuEstates

@malibuhomes

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the MultipleListing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, notemployees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. AGT. CalRE#00827409.

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3835 CROSS CREEK ROAD 90265 | MALIBUCOUNTRYMART.COM @MALIBUCOUNTRYMART

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The New Malibu Magazine Newsletter

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Winter 2021/2022

Articles inside

GET A GRIP There are few things more adventurous than rock climbing We break down the best ways to get started both indoors and outdoors.