Ventura Blvd | Nov/Dec 2022

’Tis the Season

SNOWBOARDER TOBY MILLER

Sat Jan 21 | 8pm

Fela! The Concert

Thu Jan 26 | 8pm

Hélène Grimaud Plays Silvestrov and Mozart with Wild Up Christopher Rountree, Music Director and Conductor

Nochebuena

Hélène Grimaud with Wild Up

Fela! The Concert

Alton Brown Live!

May your holiday season be filled with joy, laughter, and grace, and may the coming year be filled with peace, love, and joy.

Happy Holidays

F ROM O UR H OME T O Y OURS .

Made In Italy

Manhattan Bedroom Set

The new Jaromír Střížka Emergency Department at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is now open. Built by a generous community, designed especially for you.

Photo by Mercie Ghimire

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Linda Grasso

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Darren Elms

COPY EDITORS

Bob Howells, Laura Watts

CONTRIBUTORS

Micaela Cleary, Jam Leonard Chelsee Lowe, Kara Mickelson Tanya Monaghan, Brenda Randall Anne M. Russell, Steven Stiefel Jean Trinh, Carol Wolper

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Michelle Villas

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Ajay Peckham and Yuiko Sugino

DIGITAL MARKETING

Paul Fisher

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mike Dawson Matt Garcia

Tameka Jacobs Andrea Mendoza Shane O’Donnell

PUBLISHER

Robin Sanders 424-220-6340 robin@thegoldenstatecompany.com

ADVERTISING

DIRECTOR OF BRAND PARTNERSHIPS Sue Williams 818-625-3515 sue@thegoldenstatecompany.com

MARKETING & OPERATIONS

PARTNER/BRAND PUBLISHER | Emily Stewart

PARTNER/MANAGING DIRECTOR, MEDIA & ANALYTICS | Warren Schaffer MANAGING DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY | Charles Simmons

DIRECTOR OF FILM & VIDEO | Bryce Lowe-White

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | Allison Jeackjuntra

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER | Melissa Hattab ACCOUNTING | Janet De La Cruz, Tanisha Holcomb

To learn more about us, visit thegoldenstatecompany.com.

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TO OUR READERS Ventura Blvd welcomes your feedback. Please send letters to: Reader Response Department, Ventura Blvd at address below. Include your name, address and email. Edited letters may be published. 200 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 110, El Segundo, CA 90245 Tel 310-376-7800 | Fax 310-376-0200 | goldenstate.is | venturablvd.goldenstate.is

Charlie Koones Todd Klawin

MANAGING PARTNERS

VENTURA BLVD IS A DIVISION OF THE GOLDEN STATE COMPANY

As the holidays and the New Year approach, it feels like the perfect time to express gratitude. For me, that starts with thanking all of you, the Valley community, for embracing us so warmly and enthusiastically. When we kicked off this publication nearly 12 years ago, it was amid a flurry of uncertainty. Major national print magazines were shutting down left and right. Would businesses and the community support a high-end lifestyle magazine that celebrates the art, culture, places and people that make the Valley such a great place to live?

That question loomed as the first, rather thin, issue went to press. After it came out, the sister of a neighbor barked, “Well, I saw the first issue and you certainly don’t have many local ads!” Though the premiere issue was a bit advertiser-starved, we were convinced that a community of 2 million people deserved and would ultimately respond to a high-quality publication with original content. And you did. Just look at the magazine today. At the risk of sounding boastful, I’ll point out that some VB issues have a higher page count than Vanity Fair or Architectural Digest

I also want to thank everyone who keeps me hyper connected to the community by sending me story ideas and introducing me to interesting, accomplished residents and business owners—and tipping me off

about cool eateries and shops. You’ve helped me weave a wonderful web of stellar connections. Through that network, I’ve been able to generate compelling articles for each issue. You all know who you are. I couldn’t do it without you.

Finally, I want to thank my longtime team: publisher Robin Sanders, sales rep Sue Williams, art director Michelle Villas and copy editor Bob Howells. You guys are the heartbeat of the magazine and are responsible not only for keeping it alive—in print eight times a year and digitally at ourventurablvd.com—but for keeping it fresh, visually exciting, and grammatically/factually correct. I appreciate your dedicated efforts throughout the year.

Come to think of it, a current of gratitude runs through this entire issue, from the story on the Valley couple who offered shelter to a Ukrainian family (page 26) to the article on the philanthropic efforts by the owner of HomeState (page 54) to the piece on the importance of writing thank-you notes (page 32).

So consider this my thank-you note to all of you. Physical gifts are wonderful to give and receive this time of year, but it’s the human connection they represent that makes them so meaningful. In that spirit, I wish you and your loved ones Happy Holidays!

Follow me on Instagram @she_sez

Linda Grasso, Editor-in-Chief

INCREDIBLE CARE INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Providence and Cedars-Sinai are partnering to better serve the people of the San Fernando Valley. Our newly expanded, state-of-the-art hospital, which will be completed in fall 2023, will bring the highest-quality health care available, right to your own backyard.

Learn more at incrediblecaretarzana.org

NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2022

ALL THAT GLITTERS

The season’s prettiest party frocks. More on page 64.

Left: Faux fur jacket by Apparis, $360, velvet dress, by Staud $426; Neiman Marcus. Mini bucket bag in blush, $195; whitinganddaviscollection.com Emerald and diamond necklace, $48,500; sylvacie.com. 18kt gold emerald necklace, $16,210: Hamilton Butler Jewelers in Hermosa Beach.

Right: Gold lamé knit jumpsuit, $225; shoplahive. com. Hobo bag, $396; whitinganddaviscollection.com. 18kt gold bracelets with diamond clasps, from $9,095. 18kt gold chain with diamond clasp, $18,125, 18kt gold pendants, from $5,650; all jewelry from waltersfaith.com

half-pipe dreams

WHEN PRO SNOWBOARDER TOBY MILLER ISN’T ON THE SLOPES, HE IS HEADQUARTERED AT HIS WOODLAND HILLS HOME, CROSS-TRAINING HARD TO PULL OFF THE ULTIMATE RIDE.

Written by Steven Stiefel | Photographed by Mike Dawson and Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Imagine as a child getting to train with one of your biggest sports idols. And then he takes you under his wing and helps you prepare to become a professional athlete, which you accomplish when you’re 13. That’s the start of Toby Miller’s story.

“I met (pro snowboarder) Louie Vito when I was 8,” 22-year-old Toby says. “We’d ride together, and he gave me his phone number. It was surreal being able to text one of your heroes.”

Toby grew up in Big Bear Lake. After a brief stint on skis, he began snowboarding at age 6 at Snow Summit Ski Resort. His parents would take him to the mountain each day after school. “I’d change into my snowboarding gear in the car on the way to the slopes, so I didn’t waste a second of time.”

It was at that young age—as unusual as it sounds— that Toby mapped out his life plan, based on his burgeoning skills and pure love of the sport.

GOLDEN BOY

When Toby was 7, he began making the podium in regional snowboard competitions. In 2007, at the Big Bear USA Snowboard and Freeski Association (USASA) competition, he qualified for the USASA Nationals in Lake Tahoe. “It was my introduction to riding with the best kids in snowboarding from all around the country.” He didn’t win the event, but for the first time he realized the opportunities that snowboarding could offer.

Toby’s parents were supportive of his snowboarding from the start. “I was never under any pressure from my family to become a pro or reach any level,” Toby says. “They just recognized how much I loved snowboarding and that I had a lot of ability.” In 2009, the family, which includes two siblings, started spending winters at Lake Tahoe to allow Toby access to more mountains with world-class terrain parks and

top-notch coaching.

In 2009, while attending a summer snowboarding camp in Oregon, Toby met pro snowboard coach Chris Hargrave. “I owe a lot of my success to Chris—he’s the one who really taught me how to ride a half-pipe.” When Toby turned pro in 2013, he started getting sponsored by large companies and being invited to compete in bigger events.

His breakout year was 2018. “The Copper Mountain Grand Prix was the first professional event where I landed on the podium, finishing in second place.” Shortly after, he placed third at the Dew Tour in Breckenridge.

By that time, he’d also become friends with five-time Olympian Shaun White, the most decorated snowboarder in the sport’s history. “I met Shaun when I was 13. He was always a hero of mine growing up, but after meeting him and snowboarding with him he became a mentor and close friend.”

Despite those early successes, there were challenges to come.

INJURED PARTY

Toby’s brisk start in the competitive world has slowed down over the past four years due to injuries. “I scored high enough to get third place with my second run at the 2019 Dew Tour in Breckenridge. Then I broke my ankle in a fall on my third run.”

Toby rehabbed seven days a week and was able to finish fourth at the Park City World Championship in February 2019. Then later that month, he shattered his wrist at the World Cup in Calgary and had to undergo two surgeries.

Things started looking up in December of that year when Toby placed fourth at the Copper Mountain Grand Prix. “It was my first competition after breaking my wrist. Coming off back-to-back injuries, I was really proud of that. Then in January 2020, I got third place at the X Games SuperPipe Session in Aspen, which was surreal.” It had been one of Toby’s childhood dreams to win an X Games medal. “But then COVID hit.”

PEAKS AND VALLEYS

In October 2021, Toby bought a condo and moved to Woodland Hills. “I found myself spending more and more time in LA, utilizing the world-class gyms and trainers during the snowboard off-season.”

Another aspect of the appeal of living in the Valley is the accessibility to mountains and roads without a lot of traffic. “Unfortunately, you can’t snowboard year-round—if I could, I would,” Toby says. “But having access to world-class road biking has been a game changer.”

He has a rigorous year-round regimen, training during the off-season three days a week in the gym and road biking from the Valley to Malibu three days a week. In road riding, his goal is to get in 10,000 feet of climbing each week. “I don’t care how many miles I ride or how long it takes. The goal is to get in the vertical climb.”

Proximity to Mammoth Mountain is another benefit of Valley living. “We spend the majority of our spring training in Mammoth,” he says. Many people may

think that a pro snowboarder living in LA is a bad idea. “But we’re traveling the world for more than half the year, following the snow. Anywhere we call home doesn’t have snow the majority of the time.” Toby says it would surprise people to learn how many pro snowboarders live in places where it never snows.

MOVING MOUNTAINS

Toby’s year-round training has paid dividends. Today, he’s sponsored by numerous companies including Toyota, Backcountry and U.S. Snowboarding.

His goals for this coming season are simple and strategic. “Step one is to make the finals (top 12) with the run I need. Step two is to show what I can do with more difficult tricks when I make the finals.”

Toby realizes that the career of a pro snowboarder can be short. “Some pros peak early and some peak when they’re 28.” Clearly, he hopes to be in the latter camp. “Regardless,” he says, “When the day comes to stop competing professionally, I’ll continue to snowboard for the rest of my life. Because I love it.” ■

From Ukraine With Love

A SHERMAN OAKS EMPTY-NEST COUPLE

OFFERS REFUGE TO A FAMILY FLEEING THE WAR IN

UKRAINE—A BLESSING THAT WENT BOTH WAYS.

Written by Anne M. Russell | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

Dasha, a 14-year-old girl from the suburbs of Kyiv, has a single word to describe her journey from her Ukrainian homeland to the United States: “terrible.”

Her family’s flight from their home in Ukraine began this past winter, she says, when her father, Vadim, “heard the first sounds of war the very first morning at 6 a.m. We decided to move to our grandma’s house. She lives about 250 miles from Kyiv.”

Dasha, Vadim, her mother, Tanya, and the family dog, Ritchie, began their journey by car. (The family asked that their last name not be used for safety reasons.) After leaving the dog with Dasha’s grandmother, the family drove into neighboring Moldova and later to the Czech Republic. They felt, however, that the Czech Republic “was not the safest of places because of the aggression of Russia,” Dasha says. “My mom said we should try to go to the U.S.”

The family left Prague in late April, driving to Vienna and then taking a flight to Madrid, and then to Mexico, which they could enter without a visa. From Mexico City, they needed to catch a short-hop flight to Tijuana, the final stop before attempting the border crossing into the U.S. Dasha, Vadim and Tanya had been traveling for four mostly sleepless days when they were told by a Mexican airline representative that each ticket to Tijuana would be $4,000.

REVERSING THE TIDE

Fortunately, a Spanish-speaking Ukrainian volunteer who had met the family at the airport in Mexico City interceded on their behalf, “with a lot of arguing in Spanish,” Dasha recalls. After the price dropped to $200 per ticket, the family was on their way, arriving in Tijuana just

weeks before the border was closed to Ukrainian refugees. That lucky break in timing led to another: The pairing of Dasha’s family with Sherman Oaks residents Jane Kaplan and her husband, Matt Epstein, a local realtor who is president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. Jane and Matt were keenly aware of the plight of the refugees and wanted to find a way to help.

“It was a big decision,” says Matt, “but an easy one after what we saw on TV.” Knowing that they had an empty two-bedroom guest house on their spacious property in Sherman Oaks—and that neither of their two adult children were home—“We felt like, how could we not?” says Jane. As real estate professionals (Jane and Matt work together), both felt that the flexibility in their work schedules would allow them to be available to help the family as needed.

MAKING CONNECTION

But actually extending that help wasn’t easy. Early in the war, there were few organized efforts to place the millions of Ukrainians fleeing their country—6.8 million to date; Poland alone has accommodated 2 million.

Jane began her quest by calling the Ukrainian embassy and religious groups that she thought might be sponsoring refugees, but got nowhere. She eventually connected with a woman in Beverly Hills who was hosting a family. That led to a contact with Ukrainian American volunteers at the Mexican border and a surprise call asking Matt and Jane to drive down to Irvine that same day to pick up a family that had just crossed into the U.S.—Dasha’s family, as it turned out.

Once the family arrived, the couple worked to set

Matt and Jane visiting the family at their new apartment in Huntington Beach. Below: Dasha playing with dog Lucy in Sherman Oaks; Tanya preparing dinner for the couple’s visit.

them up with supplies. “There’s no owner’s manual on how to host a family,” says Matt. “So we reached out on social media. The South Valley really came through—there was an outpouring of love and support.” The couple says they were offered lots of clothes and household goods—more than they needed.

Although both Vadim and Tanya hold advanced degrees—Tanya was a law professor at Kyiv University— neither speaks English, and they needed help navigating the complexities of American social services. “So we started orchestrating a plan for them to do well here,” says Jane.

SETTLING IN

The family arrived well prepared with the personal documents they needed, such as birth certificates

and passports. Within 48 hours of Jane’s visiting the California Department of Social Services with the family, they were able to secure medical coverage, food assistance, and a monthly stipend, all funded by the federal government. Ukrainians fleeing the war are being admitted to the U.S. under a status known as “humanitarian parole,” which is good for only three years and prohibits employment without special authorization. It also leads to the occasional use of the confusing and stigmatizing description of Ukrainian refugees as “parolees.” This temporary status is different from that of asylum seekers and is not a conduit to U.S. citizenship.

Although school was almost out for summer, Matt reached out to The Buckley School, a private K-12 institution in Sherman Oaks. He asked if they’d admit Dasha for the remaining three weeks. “The school stepped

“THERE’S NO OWNER’S MANUAL ON HOW TO HOST A FAMILY. SO WE REACHED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SOUTH VALLEY REALLY CAME THROUGH—THERE WAS AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE AND SUPPORT.”

right up to the plate,” says Jane. “They wanted to give her a safe landing place.” Buckley even provided Dasha with the required uniforms.

Talking to Matt and Jane, it’s clear that they really enjoyed having a kid around again. They delighted in watching Dasha play in the pool and with their sheepadoodle, Lucy. And the feeling is reciprocated. “Matt and Jane are really good people,” shares Dasha. “I really enjoyed being at their place.”

They all recently reunited at the Ukrainian family’s Huntington Beach apartment, which is being provided to them gratis by its Ukrainian American owner. Tanya made dinner; Dasha played with Lucy, who came along for the visit.

Although Dasha is settling into SoCal life remarkably quickly, attending a local public school and spending most weekends at the beach, she is wistful about her homeland. “I miss my dog, my friends and my school,” she adds. “And I miss my city: There I was confident; I knew every street.” And as the war intensifies, she’s worried for loved ones who stayed behind.

Jane and Matt say they treasure the three months Dasha and her family spent with them and that they’d love to host another Ukrainian family. “We’re talking about it right now,” says Jane, even as the backlog of Ukrainians seeking admission grows. ■

TIP SHEET: IF YOU’D LIKE TO HELP

• In April, the Department of Homeland Security kicked off Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) to match Ukrainian refugees with American families willing to sponsor them. For more go to: ukraine.welcome.us/connect.

• The commitment of a sponsor is to provide the newcomers with financial assistance and help navigating the social services maze. The U4U program encourages sponsors to crowdsource financial and social support, either through organizations such as church groups or their own social media networks.

• In May 2022, new legislation expanded refugees’ eligibility for federal benefits such as Medicaid and services funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the Department of Health & Human Services.

• As of the end of 2022, the U.S. is on track to admit more than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, almost all under the “humanitarian parole” status, although the backlog of applications means that the program isn’t currently accepting new Ukrainian applicants. California was the third most popular destination for Ukrainian arrivals, following Illinois and New York, which both have substantial established Ukrainian American populations.

SCOTT & RANA CASWELL

Providence Tarzana Foundation

EDITED BY LAURA L. WATTS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

For more than a decade, Providence Tarzana Foundation has supported Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center through the development of charitable contributions and community engagement. The foundation is the sole philanthropic entity raising funds for the Tarzana Reimagined project, an expansion of the medical center.

Scott Caswell, a member of the Providence Tarzana Foundation board of directors, and his wife, Rana, are longtime residents of the Valley. Scott is a principal and commercial real estate advisor with Lee & Associates, and Rana is a licensed acupuncturist and health and life coach with a wellness practice in Encino. They enjoy playing tennis and pickleball, socializing with friends and spending time with their grown children.

Matthew Rinnert, chief philanthropy officer of the foundation, is grateful that Scott and Rana give of themselves to make Tarzana better. “I hold them up to others as an example to follow,” he says. “They are selfless and generous. They understand the work and the need to grow resources and are willing to put themselves out there. They are also incredibly warmhearted, caring, spiritual and wonderfully fun to be with.”

We asked Rana and Scott to tell us about their philanthropic interest in Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center and the Providence Tarzana Foundation.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN THE FOUNDATION?

Scott: For a long time, we had been looking for something philanthropic that really

resonated with us. We wanted to give back to the Valley, where the two of us have become successful and where we felt our contributions would go back to those in the Valley— something of a “pay it forward” concept.

We were invited by Steve Fazio, a member of the Providence Tarzana Foundation board, to attend a Providence event where they spoke about the future construction of the new medical center and their aspirations for impacting the community. We realized we already knew several members of the board and hold all of them in high regard.

We left the event knowing we planned to become part of the Providence Tarzana Foundation. We believe we can make a big impact not only through our involvement but by bringing others in to get involved philanthropically with the organization.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET INVOLVED?

Rana: With so much gratitude for all that Providence has done for my family, I am thrilled that I have found an opportunity to give back in some way. I am passionate about health care and believe that all patients and their families should always be treated with care, understanding, empathy and professionalism. Providence embodies all these qualities.

My family has lived in Encino for close to two decades. My mother has been cared for at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center several times, and the hospital helped us navigate the final days of my father’s life. The nurses and doctors and entire team were amazing and went above and beyond. For this, I am forever grateful.

WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF PROVIDENCE CEDARS-SINAI TARZANA MEDICAL CENTER?

Scott: We hope our community will see the medical center as a source of unparalleled service. For those who wish to be philanthropic, we hope they choose Providence Tarzana Foundation and gain as much pleasure from giving as we do. I sincerely believe our community could be a better place if more took the initiative to pay it forward. I assure you; it feels really good.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN NONPROFIT WORK?

Rana: It is about giving without wanting anything in return, except the accomplishment of the goal to help make a difference. It is truly about giving to those who are in need, giving people hope and letting them know that there is kindness in the world. Kindness and giving should be an ongoing goal in life.

PROVIDENCE TARZANA FOUNDATION 818-757-4384

TARZANAFOUNDATION.ORG

Good Graces

Photographed by Matt Garcia

We often associate the holiday season with gift giving, but etiquette expert Kelly Browne reminds us that the holidays should also be about expressing gratitude. The author of the new book 101 Ways to Say Thank You: Notes of Gratitude for Every Occasion has shared her advice in Parade and The Wall Street Journal, among other outlets. Kelly recently chatted with Ventura Blvd editor Linda Grasso about the art and importance of expressing gratitude for acts of kindness not only during the holidays but throughout the year.

Why are thank-you notes important?

In this world of electronic communication, nothing lets people know how much you appreciate an act of

THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING THE TIME TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

kindness more than a personal, handwritten thank-you note. When we don’t acknowledge someone for their gift of generosity, it can cause hurt feelings. Studies have shown that when someone says thank you, it creates a chain reaction of kindness that promotes a cycle of gratitude. I call it the magic of gratitude.

What about making a positive first impression?

Always. Saying thank you reflects your character, and in business situations, the kind of employee you would be. Being gracious for someone’s gift of time, for giving you a leg up, or for a present, creates a positive impact. Good professional manners go a long way in life.

What are the parameters of a well-written thank-you note?

The classic handwritten thank-you note is on white or ecru paper using black or blue ink. Your note should be in your best penmanship and be conversational. Imagine what you would say in person. It’s a note with a few sentences, not a letter. Your choice of paper, stamps, and ink should reflect your personality and the occasion.

Does it make a difference whether a thank-you note is written, emailed or texted?

Yes. Social and formal events always call for the handwritten note. In business, emailing a thank-you note following interviews, deals, meals, or gifts is acceptable, but the handwritten note shows a stronger desire to make an impact. If you want to text someone to acknowledge a gift, fine. However, a text doesn’t have the same prestige as a mailed, handwritten thank-you. With loved ones, sending a text with a video of you or your child opening the gift is a lovely way to say thank you.

How does one make an emailed thank-you as gracious and heartfelt as a handwritten note?

There are some benefits to email. When typing a note, you can review what you have written and polish it a

bit. You can also attach a photo of yourself with the gift to make it more personal. In my new book, 101 Ways to Say Thank you for Every Occasion, I offer sample thankyou note templates you can copy or use for inspiration

It bugs me when I mail someone a gift and they don’t take the time to text me that they’ve received it— much less write a thank-you. Thoughts?

When we have taken the time, love, and expense to buy someone a gift, the recipient should always thank us. If that person can’t take a minute to at least acknowledge it, I’d reconsider sending them a gift in the future.

I didn’t let my sons touch their Christmas gift money until the thank-yous were written. Other ideas?

I suggest sitting down with children on Thank-You Note Day, December 26, to write holiday notes. I created a thank-you note box with colorful cards, pens, crayons, stickers and fun postage stamps so my children have everything they need to write notes.

What about when you’ve opened up a gift in the giver’s presence?

I think it is still a good idea to send a note. Even if it’s a close relationship and you feel it’s unnecessary, consider how good that person will feel receiving your note. In the digital era we live in, handwritten thankyou notes are extraordinary.

What about sending a note of gratitude for no reason at all?

These are the most coveted thank-you notes of all. Holiday cards are a powerful opportunity to express love and gratitude to people who have touched our lives. They also create an opportunity to reconnect with loved ones and perhaps even let go of hurt feelings. Or they can raise the possibility of renewing a relationship. One sentence filled with good intentions and written without expectation can change everything. ■

all that sparkles

AS MATTHEW’S JEWELRY CELEBRATES ITS 50TH YEAR IN BUSINESS, OWNER AIDA BOGOSIAN SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON WHY THE STORE STILL STANDS TALL, PLUS WHY SHE IS NOW SELLING DIAMONDS THAT AT ONE TIME SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE ALLOWED IN THE SHOP.

Written by Linda Grasso | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

With yellow and white diamond cufflinks at her wrist and substantial diamond rings on both ring fingers, tapping away on her old-school computer in the Matthew’s Jewelry Studio City showroom, Aida is the first to admit that she never envisioned herself as a businesswoman. But that indeed is what she has become. As owner and chief designer at Matthew’s, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, she presides over a bustling retail operation, not only selling but designing and creating custom jewelry. Some of her clients, including Paula Abdul and Angela Bassett, have been loyal customers for decades. There’s also the celebrity couple (to protect their privacy, Aida declines to share the name) who recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.

“Twenty years ago, they bought their wedding band from me. They came back and asked me to create a ring to go with the band. I created a piece with a yellow diamond with yellow diamond prongs. I brought the ring with me to attend the ceremony when they renewed their vows. I felt such pride to be able to make the ring for them and attend the ceremony. This is a happy business!” she says with a big smile.

SETTING THE STONE

Aida’s late husband, Michael Bogosian, was the founder of Matthew’s Jewelry, which he opened in 1972 when

he was just 23 years old. Michael’s father had been a jeweler in Istanbul, Turkey, and Michael started working alongside him as a boy. “As a child, he’d do basic things like get coffee for everyone. He started apprenticing, and ultimately he learned the business.”

Over the years, using his designer’s name, “Michael B,” Michael became a sought-after, award-winning jeweler. Sifting through the snapshots at the store, Aida finds one of Michael at his design table with a Faberge egg. “He was commissioned by J. B. Nethercutt, who founded the car museum The Nethercutt Collection up in Sylmar, to make that egg. It was for his 50th wedding anniversary, and it hid a band fashioned with interlocking hearts and set with 50 diamonds,” she explains.

With each passing year, the business grew, mostly by word of mouth. “He was a true creative in every sense, and people just started coming to the store—not only from the Valley, but from all over,” Aida shares.

THE HERITAGE PIECE

Aida also comes from a jewelry background. Her father was a rough-diamond expert. Growing up in the 1960s in Beirut, Lebanon, she and her mother and three siblings lived apart from her father most of the year.

“He worked in Liberia, Africa—a bold move at the time. When my dad arrived, he was the very first white man there. He bought rough diamonds from what are called diggers, people who get them from the mines.”

Aida migrated to the United States in 1976 to escape the war in Lebanon, ultimately attending the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica (the GIA is now in Carlsbad) and becoming certified as a gemologist. She worked for five years—until the age of 24—at the estatebuying company Kazanjian in Beverly Hills.

“James Kazanjian, the owner, taught me everything about being a gemologist. He’d give me an expensive diamond and challenge me to determine the grade. He’d give me all sorts of challenges, trying to catch me on this and that. And my skills really grew.”

Aida’s father in Liberia, Africa, where he worked as a rough diamond expert

Michael Bogosian at his Studio City store in the 1970s

Aida says that as a certified gemologist she can’t tell the difference between natural diamonds (left) and organic lab-grown diamonds (right).

Below: Matthew’s craftsman Leo Cruz works on a piece

She ended up working in sales for an Italian line of jewelry—and that is in fact how she met her husband. “I went into Matthew’s to try and sell him, but he wasn’t there. I left my number with the employees, and he called. On our first date he told me he was going to marry me.”

Six months later the two were married, also joining forces to run the store. Aida gave birth to two sons (now 32 and 36 years of age) and continued working alongside Michael until his sudden death in 2002.

“He was traveling for business and had a heart attack in the airport. The police called me at 10 p.m. that night. I thought it was him calling to check in at the end of the day. I remember just screaming. It was a shock.”

NEW FACETS

Operating Matthew’s Jewelry as solo owner over the past 10 years has been a learning experience for Aida. For one, she’s learned how to adapt and change. Take, for example, the store’s long-standing philosophy toward lab-grown diamonds.

“People kept trying to sell me lab diamonds. Of all the jewelers in the world, I thought to myself, I should not even consider this. I kept saying no, no, no. But when the GIA, the most highly respected lab in the world, certified lab-grown diamonds, I said, ‘Game over. I’ve got to get into this.’”

Nowadays she counts herself as a fan of lab diamonds, which are generally half the cost of natural diamonds. “Look, I’m a certified gemologist and I can’t tell the difference. Younger people come in here and ask for lab diamonds. This is what a first-time buyer can afford. And if I can help a young couple find their dream ring, or a woman whose stone has been lost or damaged, I take a lot of pride in that. I recently put a lab diamond in a ring that had a stone fall off into a trash compactor and get damaged.”

She’s also learned how to bounce back, not just from her husband’s death, but from the crushing experience

of being a luxury retailer during the pandemic.

“It was a rough time. I do own the building, but I had to defer the mortgage. And yes, we’ve come back from a sales standpoint, but it is not as good as it was before the pandemic. Plus, I’ve gone from 20 to only four employees. But you have to go with the punches in life. At the end of the day, I love what I do, and I take a lot of pride in doing things in a refined way. Creating and designing jewelry is an art. Here we craft things knowing the difference between quality work and just product. Just a stroke of a file can make a difference between a well-made piece versus something that is computer-generated.”

And on this point, she digs in: “And that will never change.” ■

“I LOVE WHAT I DO, AND I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN DOING THINGS IN A REFINED WAY. HERE WE CRAFT THINGS KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITY WORK AND JUST PRODUCT.”

GROWING HEALTHY, CREATIVE MINDS

Learn more about our thriving transitional kindergarten through eighth grade educational community at an upcoming Open House Event!

Elementary School

Thursday, Dec. 01 from 9:30-11:30a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 12 from 9:30-11:30a.m.

Middle School

Sunday, Nov. 20 from 9:45a.m.-12:45p.m.

RSVP at heschel.com/ a dmissions/visi t

THE WOW FACTOR

Celebrity Realtor® Kofi Nartey presents a unique estate that’s dressed to impress—inside and out.

WRITTEN BY LAURA L. WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANTHONY BARCELO, BARCELO PHOTOGRAPHY INC.

As you enter this gated Monte Nido estate and traverse the gently winding road that leads to the welcoming front doors of this stunning residence, you’ll get your first glimpse of the imagination and expertise that went into its recent renovation. If you had the indulgence of an aerial view, you’d see a wooded, 3.65-acre lot nestled into the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Adorned by a lagoon pool with waterfall and spa, there’s also a putting green and a vineyard … but let’s not get ahead of ourselves!

The diamond-patterned front doors—a design echoed on the vintage window above— evoke the sensation that you’ve arrived at a Montauk-inspired retreat. As you step inside this 7,263-square-foot, 5-bedroom, 5-bath estate, your eyes are drawn upward to the grand wrought iron staircase, which leads to a second-floor catwalk overlooking the living and great rooms and beckoning you to the 1,600-square-foot primary suite.

Premium features abound—thanks to celebrity interior designer Jennifer Farrell, who reimagined the property from start to finish with top-of-the-line products and materials that elicit oohs and aahs at every turn. From the Mohawk white oak flooring, Emser tile and Karastan rugs beneath your feet to

the opulent chandeliers and bespoke light fixtures overhead, no detail was overlooked during the reinvention of this dwelling.

Jennifer partnered with 23 luxury brands on this unique project, resulting in an unparalleled place to call home.

Ready for a quiet evening indoors? Cozy up to the fireplace in the elegant formal living room. Host a wine tasting at the bar in the speakeasy great room, which opens to the backyard via a wall of glass doors. Or chill out in the soundproof home theater with a 118-inch screen and luxurious seating for 10.

Want a taste of nature? Entertain guests at the outdoor Lynx kitchen. Bask in the pool flanked by a rock waterfall and a 14-person in-ground spa. Or for a little more activity, enjoy a competitive game of table tennis or go for a hole-in-one on the putting green or the 85-yard pitch hole—all part of your whimsical and delightful retreat.

And then there’s the estate vineyard. For the ultimate farm-to-table experience, this is the perfect spot to host an alfresco wine dinner. Currently producing wine, the vineyard includes 350 proprietary Grenache vines, a drought-tolerant drip system and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.

Back inside, the chef’s fantasy kitchen incorporates a 19-foot soft quartzite island, GE Monogram appliances, four wall ovens, a built-in coffee maker, plus a butler’s pantry and catering kitchen with a separate entrance for the in-law or nanny suite.

The primary suite boasts two separate seating areas—one with a fireplace—plus a gym and a spacious walk-in closet. Not only does the ensuite bathroom feature two vanities and two water closets, it also contains a wetroom with multiple showerheads and a Victoria + Albert custom tub.

This move-in ready estate—available furnished, if you desire—is your sanctuary to escape the world. The whole-house sound

system and exquisite artwork entice the senses, while the majestic indoor-outdoor spaces and contemporary warmth create an environment like no other. With all the elements of an entertainer’s paradise, there’s never a reason to leave home.

But if you do venture out, you’ll appreciate easy access to Calabasas and Malibu. The epitome of Southern California living, Malibu Canyon is a rural paradise surrounded by rolling hills and lush meadows, with access to miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking and biking. The tranquil, private neighborhood is only 10 minutes from the beach, the Valley and the 101 Freeway.

This impressive property is listed by real estate broker Kofi Nartey and his firm, GLOBL RED—the go-to for celebrities, sports figures and entertainment clientele looking to buy or sell. Backed by more than 100 years of combined experience and over $6 billion in transactions, Kofi and his team are trusted and admired for their integrity, discretion and insider knowledge. As a Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist and guest trainer for the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, Kofi has unparalleled knowledge of the premium real estate market both locally and globally.

If you’re seeking a real estate adventure that’s a notch above, let this dream team introduce you to the home of your dreams awaiting you in Calabasas. 24520

Granville

Specializing in wholesome, handcrafted recipes and libations. With warm hospitality, good vibes, globally inspired food and music, we are a culture—not a concept.

Silver Triangle District

12345 Ventura Blvd., Studio City 818-506-7050 | granvillerestaurants.com

IG: @granville

Osteria La Buca

A casual, local gathering place for food, friends, wine and cocktails with a menu that reflects an uncomplicated, classic, grassroots approach to Italian country food inspired by our Southern California backyard.

14235 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks 818-456-1216 | osterialabuca.com

IG: @osterialabuca

Joe’s Cafe

A family-owned scratch kitchen that puts a unique twist on your breakfast and lunch favorites. Featuring draft beer, wine, mimosas and a monthly Supper Club with a chef-driven tasting menu.

17823 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills 818-488-9841 joescafegh.com

IG: @joescafegh

Sadaf Restaurant

A modern restaurant and bar with influences from traditional Persian flavors. Fresh cuts of meat and produce grilled over an open flame, served in a relaxed, chic atmosphere.

16240 Ventura Blvd, Encino 818-981-8100 sadafencino.com

IG: @sadafrestaurant_la

Lovi’s Delicatessen

A New York-style deli with traditional Jewish fare and international and American cuisine. Reserve your whole Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings, or spend Thanksgiving with Lovi’s!

24005 Calabasas Rd., Calabasas 818-223-8777 | lovisdeli.com

IG: @lovisdeli

Wood & Water

Experience a modern American restaurant and bar with multicultural influences, featuring the freshest seafood, produce, proteins and oyster bar.

13359 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks 818-855-1661 woodandwaterla.com

IG: @woodandwaterla

Savory & Sweet Surprises

Get creative with your holiday spreads this season, adding in colorful, delicious treats from your local Asian market. More on page 58.

a toast that delivers

TOAST THE NEW YEAR WITH A COZY COMBINATION OF FRESHLY MADE BREAD, SCRUMPTIOUS SPREADS AND A DELIGHTFULLY BOOZY COFFEE.

Written,

produced & photographed by Kara Mickelson

RUSTIC HONEY CREAM BREAD

Makes 1 large or 2 smaller loaves

With substance from wheat germ and depth from honey and cream, this bread feels decadent enough to serve for the holidays but is also terrific for everyday use. Whip up the starter the night before and make the recipe the day-of for fresh bread to toast.

Starter

¾ cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons mild-flavored honey

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

1 cup all-purpose flour

Mix cream and lemon juice in a bowl or pitcher and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Stir in water. Warm mixture in microwave for 30 seconds. Stir in honey. Sprinkle yeast on top and lightly stir to mix. Let rest 5 minutes until yeast bubbles or looks frothy. If there is no activity in 5 minutes, start with fresh yeast. Add flour and work into a sticky paste with whisk or fork. Cover container with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature in a draft-free location overnight or until doubled in size (6 hours minimum).

Bread Dough

1 teaspoon active dry yeast

1 cup warm water*

3½ cups all-purpose flour*

2½ teaspoons salt, divided

1/3 cup wheat germ, not toasted olive oil

*Measurement is approximate; use more as needed.

Sprinkle yeast over starter and massage to combine. Slowly add water in small increments to mixture and then work in ½ cup flour at a time until fully incorporated. Knead in wheat germ. As flour and water combine, dough will look shaggy and then form a soft, pliable dough that should feel smooth and elastic, not dry or sticky. Work 2 teaspoons salt into dough and turn onto a smooth, clean work surface. Knead dough with the palm of your hands in a rolling fashion. Work dough into a smooth ball, kneading about 10 minutes. Use both hands to tuck dough under the bottom, rolling, pinching and pushing it together to create a smooth top surface.

Place dough ball in a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free location for 1½ hours or until dough has doubled in size.

Punch expanded dough to release air. Turn onto a clean work surface and knead until smooth, about 2 minutes. Shape into a large ball or two smaller discs. Place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Score dough top with a sharp razor and dust with some flour.

Cover with a clean, damp kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until doubled, about 30–40 minutes. Sprinkle top with remaining salt. Bake until golden brown crust forms and dough sounds hollow when thumped, about 35–40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting. Serve toasted with your favorite toppings.

STRAWBERRY, ASIAN PEAR & GINGER STOVETOP JAM

Makes 1 cup

Ditch the canning jars and complicated instructions. This recipe is quick and easy and comes together with a few simple ingredients. It is great on pancakes too!

1 (12-ounce) package frozen strawberries ½ Asian pear, seeded, diced small 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled, finely grated ¼ cup mild honey

1 orange slice, seeded ¼ cup fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to boil. Cook over medium heat until almost all liquid is evaporated. Stir constantly so honey doesn’t burn; add a small amount of water if necessary. Remove from heat and cool. Store refrigerated for up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE WITH SALTED PISTACHIOS

Makes about 1 cup

½ cup dark chocolate chips (at least 60% cacao) ¼ cup whipping cream 1 teaspoon butter, unsalted 1 teaspoon instant espresso 2 tablespoons salted pistachios, chopped

Place chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Heat cream to a simmer in microwave on high, about 40 seconds. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips. Slowly stir until all chips are melted. Stir in butter and espresso until completely incorporated. When ganache mixture cools, place in refrigerator for 1 hour or until firm. Before using, heat in microwave for 10 seconds until pliable. Spread a generous amount on toast and top with pistachios.

SPICED BUTTERED RUM COFFEE

Serves 1 (6-ounce coffee or 4-ounce espresso drink)

1 tablespoon butter, unsalted ¼ cup dark rum

2 cinnamon sticks ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar (preferably muscovado)

4 ounces strong brewed coffee or 2 ounces espresso ¼ cup fresh sweetened whipped cream

1 teaspoon white chocolate curls

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add rum, 1 cinnamon stick, vanilla, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Turn off heat and remove cinnamon stick. Leave saucepan on burner to keep sauce warm. Pour coffee or espresso into a mug; add buttered rum mixture. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle with white chocolate curls and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Tacos From The Heart

WITH THE NEW HOMESTATE IN SHERMAN OAKS, THE POPULAR BREAKFAST TACO BRAND EXPANDS TO THE VALLEY, BRINGING ITS HALLMARK COMFORT FOOD AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS.

Written by Jean Trinh | Photographed by Andrea Mendoza

On a weekday morning at HomeState in Sherman Oaks—the fifth location of the popular breakfast taco chain—the mood is lively. Guests are chatting around wooden picnic tables in the casual outdoor patio where small yellow lights are strung up on the ceiling. Owner Briana Valdez is buzzing back and forth, politely asking her staff to make small adjustments to the music volume and taco presentations.

Briana is a perfectionist when it comes to her restaurants, and that makes sense, because the ideas of home and hospitality play such large roles in how she runs her business. The Texas native remodeled the space, outfitted from a former auto repair shop, to look like a white house with windows, leading to a covered patio with roll-up doors.

“It’s something I miss so much about Texas: just the nature of patio life,” says Briana. “You don’t see anything that says ‘Texas,’ but you feel Texas in here. The ceiling fans and music are always going, the doors are always open, and there’s a nice breeze.”

The easygoing nature of the restaurant extends to its food. HomeState is known for its house-made flour tortillas and tacos filled with scrambled eggs, brisket and refried charro beans. Hot Cuvée Coffee from Austin comes out in a mug, and cold margaritas in a glass boot. The queso dip is special. It took Briana five years to perfect the recipe because she wanted to make it from scratch, without using the traditional Velveeta cheese.

One of the constants at HomeState are “Band Tacos,” a tradition Briana started in 2015 with her triplet sister Andy Valdez, who is the company’s director of brand

and communication. The sisters collaborate with popular indie musicians, from the likes of Best Coast to Future Islands, to create one-of-a-kind tacos. A portion of sales goes toward a variety of charities. They’ve donated over $250,000 to nonprofits like ACLU of Southern California, No Us Without You, and Watts Empowerment Center.

“We like to help an organization for a while so that we can make an impact,” Briana says, adding that her team gets together to discuss what issues are most pressing to them.

The current Band Taco is a co-creation with indie rock musician Phoebe Bridgers. “The Maxine,” a nod to her dog’s name, is a vegan offering that comprises a corn tortilla stuffed with black beans, shiitake mushrooms, avocado, caramelized onions and corn chips. For every taco sold until November 22, $1.25 goes to CASA of Los Angeles (CASA/LA), a nonprofit that advocates for children and families in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

“Not only do CASA/LA and the children we work with receive donations with every bite, but collaborations like this resonate with people, and we definitely need to bring more attention to our work,” says CASA/LA CEO Charity Chandler-Cole. “Good food creates good memories, and we want people to remember they can do good in the world.”

Briana’s drive to help others stems from her own upbringing. “We grew up so poor,” she recalls. “My dad had a construction company when we were born and filed for bankruptcy when I was 5 or 6. My parents

Owner Briana Valdez

had two daughters, and then they had triplets. So they went from a small to a very large family. My parents struggled so much.”

But some of her fondest memories were at her Grandma Lala’s house, where she watched her hand-roll fresh tortillas, and stew meats and beans in large pots.

“She had this beautiful servant’s heart,” Briana says. “She didn’t have much at all, but she took care of people with what she did have.”

There’s a framed photo of Grandma Lala at every HomeState. Briana says she is HomeState’s spirit and her family’s matriarch. “I never want to forget those roots because it’s so important to us,” she adds.

Briana’s roots have guided her throughout her own trajectory. When she was working as a hostess at Bouchon in Beverly Hills, she came up with the idea of bringing a piece of home to LA in the form of breakfast tacos, migas and queso. She toiled in the kitchen, trying to recreate her Grandma Lala’s dishes while playing the Tejano music she grew up listening to.

After introducing her food to the public through pop-ups, Briana finally found a space for her first restaurant in Hollywood in 2013. Her first investor was her mother, who contributed $5,000 from her retirement savings. HomeState has blossomed since, and with investment money from a private equity fund, has locations in Highland Park, Pasadena and Playa Vista; planning is underway for more.

It all comes full circle to Briana’s family. Her parents, who are first-generation Mexican Americans, grew up feeling unseen.

“They never felt their story was important enough to share,” she says, “so seeing that HomeState exists out in the world, it’s just mind-boggling for them.” ■

Crunch Time

SPRUCE UP YOUR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING—AND SAVE PREP TIME—WITH UNIQUE ASIAN SNACKS AND SWEETS.

Written by Jean Trinh | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell | Flowers courtesy of Orchid Republic

Entertaining guests for the holidays is no easy feat. There’s the challenge of creating a menu with main courses, sides and desserts, not to mention what nibbles to serve while the bird is roasting in the oven.

Add a fresh take and an element of surprise to your holiday hor d’oeuvres and desserts by serving unique Asian snacks and sweets—tasty tidbits that also serve as great conversation starters.

1. CALBEE: SEAWEED & SALT POTATO CHIPS

Japan’s most popular snack brand, Calbee, may be best known for Shrimp Chips, but its other creations are just as ubiquitous in Asian markets. Calbee’s Seaweed & Salt Potato

Chips are a unique take on the light and crispy Lay’s Classic, but packed with umami via soy sauce and seaweed. The chips are best enjoyed without any dips, as they’re flavorful enough on their own. If you want to do a trio of Calbee chips, consider adding the Honey Butter and Hot & Spicy varieties. Available at 99 Ranch.

2. LOTTE: CHOCO PIE

The popular South Korean brand has been making Choco Pies—marshmallow sandwiched between two slices of biscuit cake and coated in chocolate—since 1979. Think of these treats as a blend between American MoonPies and Ding Dongs. Over the years, Lotte has come out with clever flavors, such as green tea and black sugar milk tea. Why not try them all? Available at 99 Ranch.

3. MAE PLOY: SWEET CHILI SAUCE

You may recognize this sweet chili sauce, often served at Thai restaurants as a dip for fried egg rolls and barbecued chicken. For an easy-to-make appetizer, blanket the mildly spicy sauce over a block of softened cream cheese and pair it with crackers. It becomes a compelling salty, sweet and creamy combination. Or use to baste chicken satays. Available at 99 Ranch, Farm Boy, Bangluck Market

4. SHAO MEI: BROWN SUGAR BOBA ICE CREAM BAR

Taiwanese company Shao Mei created a viral sensation when it debuted its Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bars a few years ago. A creamy vanilla base is covered in swirls of brown sugar and dotted with tapioca pearls that are chewy to the bite. It’s a formidable dessert for kids and adults alike. Available at 99 Ranch and Seafood City Supermarket.

5. IRVINS: SALTED EGG POTATO CHIPS

Irvin Gunaman, a Singaporean restaurateur, created a salted egg sauce consisting of 30day brined egg yolks, curry leaves (no relation to curry powder), and bird’s eye chili peppers and coated it over potato chips. The result of this unique concoction? An incredibly crispy chip packed with salty and creamy goodness. Irvins Salted Egg Potato Chips and their Salted Egg Cassava chips are good entry points to the brand, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try their Salted Egg Salmon Skin and Spicy Salted Egg Salmon Skin options. Available at 99 Ranch and Seafood City Supermarket.

6. GLICO: POCKY

It’s easy to quickly get through a box of Glico’s Pocky. The Japanese thin biscuit sticks, which have been around since 1966, are lacquered in a variety of creams and chocolates, from strawberry to matcha to crushed almonds & chocolate. A pretty way to display: Drop the sticks in small mason jars, vases or silver cups and make a mini buffet of the different flavors for guests to try. These versatile sweets can be served as a light snack before or after dinner, or even to jazz up a bowl of ice cream. Available at 99 Ranch, Seafood City Market and Bangluck Market.

7. HUANG FEI HONG: SPICY PEANUTS

A perfect accompaniment to a frosty pint of beer, Huang Fei Hong’s Spicy Peanuts take nuts to a new level. Popular throughout China, these savory and lightly sweet nuts are flavored with a Sichuan peppercorn-based seasoning called mala that leaves a slightly numbing spice sensation. The peanuts are grown in Jiaodong Peninsula in Shandong province, where the terroir produces flavorful and crunchy nuts that beat Planters on any given day. Available at 99 Ranch. ■

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

The best Christmas display, right here in LA

More than ever before, the magic of Christmas is a welcome relief. If you didn’t already know that there is a full-blown winter wonderland right here in Los Angeles, then you have certainly been missing out. For 70 years, Aldik Home has been putting together jaw-dropping displays of the most beautiful Christmas décor found anywhere in the world. Each year is a completely new design, and you’ll just have to trust us when we say this one is the best yet!

Aldik Home has thousands of unique ornaments, sparkling lights, spools of luxurious ribbon and so much more around every corner. You’ll find Santas, angels, glittery stems and even an overhead light display.

People often describe Aldik Home as a Disneyland for Christmas but without the admission fee and throngs of people. It’s impossible not to be in awe as you stroll through this enchanted forest of delightful decor. But truly, the most breathtaking aspect of this entire display is the trees themselves. Every size of every style of artificial Christmas tree—more than 60 in total—can be found in Aldik Home’s expansive, indoor tree lot.

The crown jewel of the tree lot is Aldik Home’s collection of AH Gold Label Trees, which are quite simply the gold standard of Christmas trees. Expertly crafted with the most advanced lighting systems and designed to be more realistic and longer lasting, there’s no

better artificial Christmas tree on the market.

Be sure to check out Aldik Home’s brilliant LED trees—simply the most stunning trees you have ever laid eyes upon. Don’t make a mistake and order something online that you’ll regret when you can see the best trees in the world with your own eyes.

It’s never been more important to experience the magic of Christmas at the most incredible Christmas display in the country. When it comes to Christmas decor, Christmas lights and especially Christmas trees, there’s no place like Aldik Home!

ALDIK HOME 7651 SEPULVEDA BLVD., VAN NUYS 818-988-5970 | ALDIKHOME.COM

“IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE IN AWE AS YOU STROLL THROUGH THIS ENCHANTED FOREST OF DELIGHTFUL DECOR.”

Faux fur jacket, $480; farfetch.com. Staud velvet dress, $425; Neiman Marcus at Westfield Topanga. Pendant in 18k gold with Santa Maria aquamarine, $8,000, brushed 18k gold poppy ring with pink tourmaline, $5,800, open bud 10k bracelet with diamonds, $5,200, handmade lace bracelet in brushed 18k gold with jade stones, $4,500, 10k flattened teardrop earrings edged with diamonds, $3,200; all designed by Lisa Ziff and available at lisaziffdesigns.com or Mag.Pi in Studio City.

brightly shining

GET YOUR GLAM ON THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BY PAIRING FESTIVE FASHIONS IN RICH JEWEL TONES WITH BOLD BAUBLES.

Styled by Tanya Monaghan | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

Hair by Jam Leonard | Makeup by Micaela Cleary | Styling assistance by Brenda Randall

left

Sequined fringe jacket, $108; Katwalk in Manhattan Beach. Black velvet dress by Rhode, $475; Bloomingdales’s at Westfield Fashion Square.

Twisted hobo chainmail bag by Whiting & Davis, $395; Nordstrom at Westfield Topanga. Diamond 18k gold chain link ring, $2,250, and 17k gold blue sapphire band, $4,500; both at waltersfaith.com 14k mixed tourmaline flat green band ring, $1,848; Hamilton Butler Jewels in Hermosa Beach.

right

Black blazer dress with feather cuffs, $298; Anthropologie. Burgundy velvet foulard, $23; Zara. Maroon top, $198, and matching skirt, $498; both at cultgaia.com. 18k yellow gold emerald ring, $14,625, 20k yellow gold, ruby and diamond ring, $7,840, 18k yellow gold mixed gems diamond earrings, $9,460; all from Hamilton Butler Jewels.

Organza ruffle tube top, $59, rhodium-plated bracelet, $52, 18k gold-plated bracelet, $49; all available at Katwalk in Manhattan Beach. Sequined fringe skirt, $158, and earrings, $54; both at Anthropologie.

above

Faux fur jacket by Jakke, $316; The Beehive in Manhattan Beach. Tulle dress, $82; Katwalk. 18k yellow gold/sterling silver diamond ring with four links by Spinelli Kilcollin, $6,400; Neiman Marcus. 18k gold and emerald bracelet, $7,800, 18k gold sapphire bracelet, $8,375, 18k gold emerald and diamond bracelet, $15,095, 18k gold yellow sapphire ring, $30,500, 18k gold emerald ring, $14,625, 18k gold mixed gemstone and diamond ring, $11,500; all from Hamilton Butler Jewels.

right

Metallic lamé wrap blouse by Forte Forte, $912; farfetch.com

Top with ring choker, $328, and clutch, $278; both at cultgaia. com. Sequined flare pant, $188; Anthropologie. Rhodium-plated bracelet, $52, and 18k gold-plated bracelet, $49; both at Katwalk. 18k yellow gold/sterling silver diamond ring by Spinelli Kilcollin, $6,400; Neiman Marcus Topanga. 14k yellow gold mixed tourmaline gemstone bands, $1,848 each, and 14k yellow gold flat emerald band, $1,485; both by Three Stories and available at Hamilton Butler Jewels.

Pampering Pursuits

SOMETIMES THE HOLIDAYS CALL FOR A LITTLE PERSONAL POLISHING AND PIZZAZZ. HERE ARE SIX SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO GET YOUR SPARKLE ON, OFFERED BY SOME OF THE TOP BEAUTY EXPERTS—ALL OF THEM PHYSICIANS—IN THE VALLEY.

Written by Chelsee Lowe | Illustrated by Yuiko Sugino

1Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Cohen says that CO2 laser treatments bring impressive results. The laser removes thin layers of skin with minimal damage, treating sun damage, wrinkles and scars. Dr. Cohen says the treatment works best when patients take care of their skin—that means sunscreen, skin care products free of toxins, healthy eating and lots of water. “Laser skin resurfacing with my CO2 laser makes every result amazing,” Dr. Cohen says. “It’s the latest addition to my Encino practice.”

2At Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas (and Beverly Hills) cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Anna Guanche says her top recommendation right now is the GuancheLift, a face filler treatment that lifts the neck, lower face and jowls. The injection sites are behind the hairline and ear, and depending on the filler chosen, and the physician says the treatment lasts between 9 and 24 months. “There’s no downtime after this procedure,” Dr. Guanche shares. “I’ve had people do it, then walk the red carpet immediately. Your face is completely natural, with some fullness behind the hairline that is practically invisible.”

3Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Elliot Hirsch, who has a full-service med spa at his Sherman Oaks practice, says now that it is winter and there is less sunshine, advanced fluorescent therapy, or AFT, is an oft-requested treatment. “This treatment helps correct the effects of sun damage, diminish age spots, and correct overall skin tone, texture, discoloration, and even active acne,” he says. “Now is the perfect time to try this, since it is easier to stay out of the sun.”

4For slipping into those body-hugging evening outfits, Dr. Gene Rubinstein suggests body contouring treatments like Coolsculpting, also known as fat freezing. At his practice, the Dermatology and Laser Centre in Studio City, the physician uses a device that cools a targeted area and is left in place for a designated time, destroying fat cells. “This is still the gold standard in noninvasive fat reduction, but now we can do it faster, and virtually pain-free,” says Dr. Rubinstein.

5Dr. Sherly Soleiman says a highly requested treatment over the holidays is Emsculpt Neo, a noninvasive, body-contouring treatment that strengthens muscles or reduces fat cells in a targeted area. Patients at her practice, Cosmetic Injectables Center in Sherman Oaks, recline while a device is applied to a specific area of the body. While they may feel a little pressure, there is no pain. “Many people target the abs or buttock with this machine,” she explains. “It helps lift and firm the buttock. With abs, the machine helps to tighten and reduce fat in the abdominal region.”

6Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Michael Persky specializes in aging face surgery at his Encino practice, including the popular deep-plane face and neck lift. This rejuvenating procedure impacts the midface, jawline and neck area, and, according to the physician, a brow lift is a common accompaniment. “There is no evidence of a pulled or unnatural appearance with this technique, and it can dramatically improve a patient’s appearance and well-being.” ■

Deeply Rooted

ANN DUNNING TAPS HER EXPERIENCES GROWING UP AS AN IMMIGRANT IN WOODLAND HILLS TO FOUND HER LATINA-FOCUSED COSMETICS LINE, VAMIGAS.

Written by Chelsee Lowe | Photographed by Rachel Manning

It’s a Friday morning in early October, and Laidrey coffee house in Tarzana is abuzz. Just a few miles from where Ann Dunning (née Murray) grew up in Woodland Hills, she sips a honey latte and contemplates how her Chilean ancestry and immigrant experience helped spark a roller coaster of events the past few years, culminating with her founding a clean, plant-based beauty company aimed at Latinas.

After graduating from UCLA, then USC with a master’s degree in strategic public relations, Ann landed in Silicon Valley, where she worked with mega brands like Myspace, YouTube and Waze amid the boom of social media. Within a few years, she was supporting Black and Latinx start-up founders as an angel investor. Many of the start-ups were beauty companies striving to expand inclusivity in the market.

Around the same time, Ann was in the middle of a challenging fertility journey. When she began the IVF process, her doctors warned her off deodorant and beauty products with fragrance, because they contain ingredients believed to hinder egg transfers. Shocked, Ann kicked off a self-motivated research project. Among her discoveries: Latinas outspend their counterparts in the beauty market. Latinas also have higher

levels of problematic substances (such as phthalates, considered disruptive to the endocrine system) in their bloodstream. And researchers have correlated some of these ingredients with fertility struggles and diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Ann also discovered that the beauty industry is largely unregulated.

There was a visible hole in a market, and Ann was impassioned.

“There was no clean beauty brand that was authentic and outwardly speaking to the Latina community, despite our spending power,” she says, “and there was no clean beauty brand that understood how different we all are, how three-dimensional, and that didn’t lump us all together.”

She partnered with her friend and fellow angel

investor Christina Kelmon, whom Ann jokingly refers to as “the Steve Jobs of beauty.” Christina had already been down this path, having founded beauty company Belle en Argent. The duo aspired to bring clean beauty to Latinas and beyond, and they’d make it relatable and accessible, in both their marketing story and price point.

Thus Vamigas was born—a clean beauty brand with vegan, cruelty-free products made with vitamin-packed organic ingredients harvested from the Andes mountains and other Latin American locales. The brand’s cornerstone product is Rosa Mosqueta oil ($20), made with a single ingredient—organic Chilean rosehip—and good for reducing hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Another customer favorite is the moisturizing Luz De Sur face oil ($25), made with just eight ingredients,

including acai berry, prickly pear and papaya.

Vamigas officially launched in the summer of 2021, and thus far, it’s been a stellar debut. Nordstrom’s beauty department was the first to carry Vamigas. Then came Anthropologie, Thrive Market and e-commerce site Thirteen Lune. According to Ann, Whole Foods will begin selling the brand early next year.

The entprepreneur’s sense of pride is palpable. Vamigas isn’t even two years old yet, but Ann believes it’s breaking barriers, targeting a community that has largely felt marginalized in the past. She remembers thinking that she was “weird,” as a student at Portola Middle School in Tarzana and Taft High School in Woodland Hills. Looking back, she believes her sense of aloneness stemmed from her experiences as an immigrant.

“I think we were the only Latinx family in Woodland Hills at the time,” she says. “My family immigrated here in 1998—my parents first, then me the following year—for more opportunities, and because the Valley was, and still is, such a beautiful place to live. I didn’t speak English until a few years later. I was different, sure, but as a child I never knew why.”

A few years ago, Ann moved to Temecula with her husband and young daughter. She loves that they can visit her parents, who are still in Woodland Hills, with ease. And as she reflects on the trajectory of Vamigas, she’s buoyed at the thought of her daughter one day feeling included.

“She’ll go down the aisles in Target and she’ll be like, ‘Oh, that brand speaks to me.’ She will feel like she belongs here, which maybe I didn’t when I was little. She’ll feel more welcomed, more at home.” ■

“THERE WAS NO CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND THAT WAS AUTHENTIC AND OUTWARDLY SPEAKING TO THE LATINA COMMUNITY, DESPITE OUR SPENDING POWER, AND THERE WAS NO CLEAN BEAUTY BRAND THAT UNDERSTOOD HOW DIFFERENT WE ALL ARE, HOW THREE-DIMENSIONAL, AND THAT DIDN’T LUMP US ALL TOGETHER.”

family-style fusion

DANIELLE CUCCIO AND TYLER KASUPSKI’S SPANISH-STYLE HOME EXUDES EASYGOING COMFORT, A FAMILY VIBE, AND A LOVE FOR SOCAL LORE AND THE BEACH. Written by Dakota Kim | Photographed by Shane O’Donnell

“This space is what really sold the house for me,” Danielle says, gesturing to the open-plan kitchen that spills into the living room.

At first glance, with its white stucco walls, black wrought iron accents and tile roof, the home of Danielle Cuccio and Tyler Kasupski looks quintessentially Spanish. However, the couple eschewed the interior design typically seen in Spanishstyle houses. Instead, they designed interiors more akin to those of a beach bungalow. Take, for example, the white Adirondack chair near the front door. And after you cross the threshold into the home, dark ebony floors, beams, and wrought iron give way to textured white and ivory textiles, fixtures, and accessories.

You also see lively black-and-white photographs of LA landmarks, several of them depicting the city’s iconic beaches.

Danielle—a yoga teacher and owner of Cuccio Somatology, a spa and wellness company, and Tyler, a digital marketing executive—moved with their two kids, Easton and Rowen, from Los Feliz to the Sherman Oaks property in 2020.

“It was love at first sight,” says Danielle of the five-bedroom, five-bath home, lounging in her lush backyard under a bower of cascading magenta bougainvillea. “With the palms, it’s so LA. Every time I come back here, I feel the same way I did the first time I saw it. It’s just a really unique house.”

Danielle, who grew up in Sherman Oaks, wanted to be closer to her parents. And after the pandemic,

Danielle and Tyler felt a desire for a more child-friendly, spacious home. They found it in the 4,000-squarefoot contemporary structure built in 2000.

Tucked into a charmingly woodsy area, the home exudes a gracious, yet lived-in decor sensibility with a note of sentimentality: an enduring love for Southern California style and history, evident in photographs of Griffith Observatory, Old Hollywood, Palm Springs and the beach.

“I really wanted to create a space that felt open, light, bright and cozy,” Danielle says.

Upon seeing the open kitchen for the first time, Danielle fell in love with the home, but the pitch-black cabinets had to go. Though Danielle was willing to keep the black hardwood floors, which felt cool and mysterious, the dark kitchen cabinets felt too heavy, and so they were painted white. “It truly opened the space up,” Danielle says. Other projects the couple plans to take on: completing the theater room on the ground floor, converting the bedroom carpets to hardwood floors, and constructing built-in cabinets for the children’s playroom.

In the evening, Tyler heads to the small bar alcove adjacent to their kitchen, packed with cookbooks, and makes lemon spritz cocktails. Danielle and Tyler, both Italian by heritage, believe in the Italian tradition of a big Sunday family dinner. They carry it forward by inviting Danielle’s parents over every Sunday.

“It was always my dream to have these Sunday family dinners,” Danielle says. “Family is one of the reasons I moved back here, and now we’re all at this big wooden kitchen table.”

Tyler cooks Sunday dinners at the large table that Danielle found on Facebook Marketplace, often grilling pizza in their Ooni oven. The family and their two dogs, Bea the boxer and Toby the pug, spill into the kitchen, and eventually, the living room.

An espresso-hued buffet table from West Elm anchors the living room—a dramatic contrast to an

A large beach photograph by Judith Gigliotti adorns the living room wall.

otherwise light area. Topped with a muted green ceramic lamp discovered on Chairish, the poplar wood and marble buffet is the appropriate foil to a clear acrylic coffee table from CB2, which floats nearby, almost invisible. A Goop-designed ivory bouclé chair, the “Gwyneth” from CB2, snuggles into the corner. The white sofa, custom-made by Jessica Nicastro Design, sits alongside a rough-hewn vintage Olive Ateliers elm wood bench.

For larger parties, the family draws guests downstairs and into the backyard, where palms, cypresses, and white birch trees flank the private space.

At the end of every day, after the kids have gone to sleep, Danielle heads to the en suite bathroom and enjoys the large tub with her company’s Detox Bath, featuring Greek mastiha, Mediterranean sea salts, and hemp and goji berry extract.

“That time for me is a huge reset,” Danielle says. “I meditate or just enjoy the quiet after a long day of work and then being with the kids.” A moment of respite for a busy working mom in a perfectly calming abode. ■

“WITH THE PALMS, IT’S SO LA. EVERY TIME I COME BACK HERE, I FEEL THE SAME WAY I DID THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT. IT’S JUST A REALLY UNIQUE HOUSE.”

Range Rover

A WYOMING RANCH OFFERS THE FULL COWBOY EXPERIENCE. YOU BRING THE BOOTS.

Written by Darren Elms

Arriving at Casper-Natrona Airport in Wyoming, I’m greeted with a sign in the men’s restroom: “Please Do Not Spit Tobacco in the Urinals.” Crude? Maybe. But this is cowboy country, and already I’m 100% here for it.

Since spending a few summers as a kid at my grandfather’s brother’s ranch in southern Utah, I often long for the Western adventure. I miss the stories of campouts and deer hunts, surrounded by cousins who rode ATVs and horses like we did dirt bikes and station wagons here in Los Angeles.

Those times were unfussy, often dirty, sometimes dangerous and always memorable. And although it felt like another world from my cushy suburban life, a small part felt like home.

Maybe that’s why I jumped at the chance to visit Reid Creek Lodge in Wyoming. The lodge is one small part of the sprawling 300,000-acre Wagonhound ranch located north of the little town of Douglas. The ranch touches three counties in the shadow of the Laramie Range and varies between 5,000 and 9,000 feet of elevation. This is a real working ranch— home to horses, cattle, outfitting and farming. It’s also the home of Catherine and Art Nicholas, who took ownership of the historic property in 1999 and helped steward its preservation, growth and sustainability over the last two decades.

Reid Creek Lodge is a brand-new offering designed to give guests a taste of the Wagonhound experience. A former hunting lodge, the 8,000-square-foot structure was renovated and outfitted with Western-inspired furnishings and art and comfortably sleeps up to 22 people. When you book the Reid Creek Lodge, you get the whole kit and caboodle: accommodations, transportation, a private chef and your choice of ranch-style daily activities. If you’ve dreamed of having a whole “national park” to yourself for a spell, this is your ticket to paradise.

Your party will fly into Casper and be greeted by your

host for the trip. Ours was Mitch, born in Douglas, a welltraveled and reliable guide to all things Wagonhound. En route to the ranch, he made a fortuitous stop at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters, a destination for more than a century for boots, hats and all things cowboy. We stocked up on ranch essentials and hit the highway for an hour-long journey into the glorious Wyoming wild.

At the ranch, you’ll meet the family of employees who keep the property and business in working order, including cowhand Tait and married stable and arena managers Cougar and Heather.

At the lodge, your private chefs (ours were the incredible Nancy and Ashley) cook up three square meals a day, which you can enjoy from the comfort of the dining room or alongside your adventure somewhere on the ranch. This is not your average ranch fare: fresh-baked rosemary bread, tri-tip sandwiches, fresh salads, French toast, spiked watermelon juice, and rich chocolate cake, to name a few menu items. It’s elevated but still true to the seasonality and local ingredients.

You can have your pick of activities including horseback riding, hiking, archery, shooting, fishing and more. Horseback riding is a must for this urban cowboy, and I got saddled up with Hollywood—my trusted companion for a beautiful saunter through the yellow grasses, rolling hills and unusual rock formations that span the property.

If two wheels rather than four legs is more your style, they have a fleet of e-bikes to take you up and down the unpaved paths in and around the lodge. If you’re lucky, you might spot some of the regular wildlife, like elk, mule deer or antelope.

And don’t forget to watch the sunset and stargaze. From some of the higher vistas on the ranch you can take in nature’s panorama. It might not be home, but you may wish it were. ■

Available wherever you listen. More on SheSez.com.

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BEAUTY & WELLNESS

The building blocks of good health are clear: eating healthy, working out, getting good sleep and paying attention to our bodies. But sometimes we want to go that extra mile to look and feel our best.

In this Beauty & Wellness profiles section, we spotlight surgeons who have the level of experience and state-of-the-art skills to help you achieve your goals—whether you need a simple in-office treatment or a complex procedure.

86 ELLIOT M. HIRSCH, MD

88 MICHAEL PERSKY, MD & WILLIAM HARRIS, MD

WRITTEN BY LAURA L. WATTS PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMEKA JACOBS

ELLIOT M. HIRSCH, MD

Owner,

Elliot M. Hirsch, MD Inc.

Dr. Elliot Hirsch practices plastic and reconstructive surgery and has a full-service med spa on-site offering nonsurgical facial rejuvenation procedures such as Botox and other fillers; chemical peels and facial treatments; lasers; and PRP to reduce wrinkles, add volume and work in conjunction with other treatments. Dr. Hirsch specializes in both cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery including microsurgical and other forms of complex breast reconstruction, breast reduction, breast lift, breast augmentation, and breast implant removal and revision. He performs several cosmetic surgery procedures that can enhance patients’ aesthetic appearances including breast augmentation, body contouring after massive weight loss, and facial plastic surgery.

Dr. Hirsch grew up in Westlake Village and attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, followed by the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He completed his integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Boardcertified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Hirsch is an active researcher in the field of plastic surgery. He has worked as a surgeon for 17 years and opened his practice in 2014.

Dr. Hirsch has coauthored more than 40 manuscripts and book chapters, has received several grants for original research projects, and holds patents for wound care devices. He was named to the Top Doctors in Los Angeles list by Los Angeles magazine and the Super Doctors Rising Stars list every year since 2017.

SHARE A SIMPLE FIX FOR APPEARING MORE REFRESHED AND RELAXED.

I can’t stress enough the importance of never leaving the house without sunblock for all of us living in Southern California. There are some really great medical-grade

sunblocks out there that have additional ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and antiaging benefits that can boost our skin’s glow in addition to protecting it from the sun’s dangerous rays. Some of our favorite brands that we sell in our office also have a nice glowy tint to them, so you don’t need to layer on foundation or lotions before you leave the house every day.

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR THERAPIES AND SERVICES YOU OFFER?

When people come to our med spa for laser skin care treatments or aesthetician services, they are often expecting immediate results—wanting wrinkles to disappear and skin to look smoother overnight. One of our favorite expressions is that doing skin treatments is like working out with a trainer—you won’t see the results after your first session, but after a few treatments you realize how much better your skin looks. And it just keeps getting better after each treatment. One of our favorite treatments is microneedling with BB Glow. This treatment goes beyond normal microneedling by adding semipermanent pigments to the mix to tint the complexion. Patients can see some immediate results, and the skin just gets better with every following treatment.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOUR PATIENTS LIKE MOST?

We developed a skin care line called ORÁ Rx to meet the needs of our patients looking for medical-grade skin care that soothes, renews and protects their skin. Patients love our HA Calming Balm and HA Soothing Serum post-surgery and post-procedure.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU LIVE A BALANCED LIFE?

I am an avid surfer and snowboarder in my free time. Anytime I get out of surgery early, I head to the beach to catch some waves. I love snowboarding in Mammoth or Tahoe

with my kids—spending time on the mountain all together. I also help out with my son’s baseball team. It’s very important to me that my staff and I have work-life balance, so no one works weekends or late hours.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST GRATEFUL FOR?

I am grateful for my family, of course, but now that it finally feels like we are emerging from the pandemic, I am grateful that our kids’ lives are starting to resemble more pre-pandemic normalcy without school, activity and friend disruptions. I don’t think anyone will take the joys of chauffeuring our kids around town for granted again.

HOW DOES THE AMBIENCE OF

YOUR

OFFICE AND MED SPA MAKE PATIENTS MORE COMFORTABLE?

We love when patients walk into our office and say it doesn’t look like a doctor’s office. We have really cozy armchairs, soothing music and a big candy bowl. It is very important to us that the first faces our patients are greeted with at our office are friendly and reassuring. Our staff members work hard to cultivate relationships with our patients so they can help walk them through the whole surgical process and help them choose med spa services. Our treatment rooms look like an upscale spa, which puts patients at ease.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY FOOD?

I love being in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving. I brine it overnight in a mixture I make with salt and herbs, and then I stuff it with lemon, rosemary and onions before I cook it. We always have potato rolls and homemade cranberry sauce, and my wife has been experimenting with different types of Studio City Farmers Market sweet potatoes in her sweet potato puree recipe the last few years. She also makes the best pecan pie, and we have been trying some new cranberry margarita recipes for this year’s festivities.

MICHAEL PERSKY, MD & WILLIAM HARRIS, MD

Michael Persky, MD, has practiced facial plastic and reconstructive surgery since 1985. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and completed his residency at the LAC+USC Medical Center in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, specializing in facial plastic surgery. As a clinical instructor at USC, he educates and supports new physicians during their residency. Dr. Persky is board-certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

As a medical expert and consultant, Dr. Persky has appeared on numerous television news segments discussing a variety of medical topics. He has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News and Los Angeles magazine. He travels throughout the United States lecturing and offering workshops.

Dr. Persky is married and has two daughters. He enjoys music, art, literature, theater, golf and walking his dogs.

William Harris, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He completed medical school at Louisiana State University and a head and neck surgery residency at Tulane University. An artist from a young age, Dr. Harris found a natural passion for facial plastic surgery during his residency and was accepted into one of just 50 coveted AAFPRS facial plastic surgery fellowship positions in the country. During his fellowship in Palo Alto, he trained with world-class mentors and taught Stanford University residents while performing the full spectrum of facial plastic and reconstructive procedures.

He specializes in deep-plane facelift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow-lift, facial implants and a wide range of nonsurgical treatments including injectables. He also offers scar revision, natural hair transplantation techniques, Mohs defect reconstruction and other reconstructive

techniques for head and neck defects. Dr. Harris enjoys golfing, skiing, painting and traveling.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE.

Dr. Persky: Our goal is to help our patients achieve and maintain their lifetime aesthetic goals. We specialize in rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, laser skin resurfacing, nonsurgical skin tightening and body contouring cosmetic devices. Enhanced tools such as our computer imaging are helpful when investigating treatment options. Our office offers a warm, friendly, professional and discreet environment in which patients can trust our expertise and feel taken care of. We pride ourselves on providing impeccable patient care service and building long-term patient/provider relationships.

WHAT SERVICE DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Dr. Harris: Rhinoplasty is one of my favorite surgeries and can be a very impactful procedure for patients interested in refining their nasal shape and improving their breathing. My aim is to always provide a natural result that suits the patient’s face well and draws attention to the eyes rather than the nose. The recovery is straightforward, and external incisions are either nonexistent or very minimal with the techniques I use.

ANY OTHER SERVICES YOU’D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT?

Dr. Harris: The extended deep plane facelift and necklift that I perform is a highly specialized technique for naturally rejuvenating the midface, jawline and neck area. There is no pulled or unnatural appearance with this technique, and it can dramatically improve a patient’s appearance and well-being. I also like to incorporate several additional treatments to this surgery including platelet-rich plasma and tranexamic acid to improve healing and reduce downtime. Combining a deep plane facelift with other procedures to

restore the position of the brows or open up the eyes can also be performed at the same time, if desired, for a comprehensive approach to address facial aging.

WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED AT A PATIENT’S FIRST CONSULTATION?

Dr. Persky: We listen to our patient describe their concerns and wishes, evaluate their face, discuss their treatment plan and then give an estimate of cost. Botox is the only treatment recommended at the initial visit. A follow-up appointment is scheduled for two weeks later, at which time we make sure our patient is satisfied. We then proceed with our individualized treatment plan. Our goal is to increase our patient’s unique attractiveness. We restore and rejuvenate the natural appearance of each particular face with our expertise, experience, knowledge, skill and natural artistic vision. We are grateful for the privilege of earning our patients’ trust.

WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT YOUR FIELD?

Dr. Harris: I aim to provide the highest level of care for my patients with a focus on achieving natural, consistent and profound results all within a luxurious yet relaxed setting. The most exciting and humbling aspect of being a facial plastic surgeon is having patients come to me interested in improving their most valuable asset—their face—and being able to offer them the latest techniques and solutions. The ultimate reward is seeing their excitement and oftentimes a notable boost in confidence following the procedure, whether it be surgical or nonsurgical.

I am also very grateful to have a skill set that allows me to give back through surgical missions in various countries including India, Haiti and Honduras, as well as locally through pro bono surgery with organizations like Face Forward, which supports survivors of domestic violence and other cruel acts.

16311 VENTURA BLVD. #600, ENCINO | 818-501-FACE | DRPERSKY.COM | @MICHAELPERSKYMD HARRISFACIALPLASTICS.COM | @DRWILLIAMHARRIS

Dr. Harris & Dr. Persky

Lake Hollywood Estates Stunner

Ave- SO- $6,499,000 6Br+5.5 Ba in 6,725 SqFt on a 20,000 SqFt

of materials has been merged to create a private oasis of spectacular beauty & functionality. This 6 bedroom 5 1/2-bathroom home sits on just under a beautifully landscaped1/2 acre lot. All in all, this is a home that offers west-side designer style in the Longridge Estates & exemplifies the best of the indoor/outdoor lifestyle that makes living in Southern California a delight. This is one not to be missed!

3372 Longridge Ter.– EN- $2,995,000 5Br+3.5Ba in 3,838 SqFt on a 43,679 SqFt Lot – This amazing home in Sherman Oaks is on the end of a cul de sac. Features 5 bd and 3.5 ba with jet-liner views of the SFV, an open floor plan, a wine room, two fireplaces, and much more. The home also has an open office space, a wine room, and a spacious family room which could be made into a fantastic home theater. Wake up to the sounds of birds singing, canyon breezes, and spectacular sunrises every morning. There is simply nothing else in the marketplace like this amazing property - it has to be seen to be believed.

lot-Stunning Mediterranean Villa in Longridge Estates. Attention to detail & quality

John Musso

Home Lending Officer 818-518-1008 john.musso@citi.com citi.com/johnmusso

Automated

Citi

$1 - $49,999.99 $500 off closing cost

$50,000 - $199,999.99 1/8% (0.125%) off interest rate

$200,000 - $499,999.99 1/4% (0.250%) off interest rate

$500,000 - $999,999.99 3/8% (0.375%) off interest rate

$1,000,000 - $1,999,999.99 1/2% (0.500%) off interest rate

$2,000,000 or more 5/8% (0.625%) off interest rate

Deposit Account Balances must be in the account five (5) Business Days following final loan approval and Investment Account balances must be in the account six (6) Business Days following final loan approval. Citi eligible accounts include a personal, consumer Citibank Deposit Account in which the borrower is a direct signer, Citibank IRAs, and Investments held in linked Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”) accounts. The borrower must be an account holder on investment accounts. IRA and annuity positions shown on linked CGMI Account statements are eligible (except tax qualified annuities under sections 401, 403, or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code). Balances from Citibank Business / Commercial accounts, ERISA accounts, Keogh accounts, Bank Collateral accounts, Foreign accounts, Fiduciary accounts, and Trust accounts where the borrower is only listed as the Beneficiary are excluded. All Custodial type accounts are excluded with the exception of Custodial IRA accounts through Citibank or Pershing LLC where the borrower(s) is the beneficiary, which are eligible unless otherwise noted. Citibank IRAs that are not linked to a Citibank Deposit Account are excluded.

The closing cost credit offer will be applied at closing and may not be used prior to closing. In Texas, the credit may not result in you receiving cash back.

If you are interested in Citi’s banking account relationship offers, please contact your Home Lending Officer or Mortgage Representative. Speak to your loan officer about whether the relationship offer is best for you.

Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing for Citibank account holders can only be applied prior to loan closing and is subject to account and balance validation. Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing is subject to change without notice.

Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, offers, products and services are subject to change without notice at any time. Offer may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined with other offers, except when applied with specific Community Lending Programs. Offers are not applicable on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit. This is not a commitment to lend. This offer contains information about U.S. domestic financial services provided by Citibank, N.A. and is intended for use domestically in the U.S. Investment products are offered through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”), Member SIPC (http://sipc.org). Citibank and CGMI are affiliated companies under the common control of Citigroup Inc. © 2022 Citibank, N.A. NMLS# 412915. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Citi, Citi and Arc Design and other marks used herein are service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates, used and registered throughout the world.

* Citi Mortgage Relationship Pricing - A Citibank deposit account is required to receive the interest rate discount or closing cost credit.

monthly transfers of the mortgage payment from a Citibank Deposit Account using automated drafting will be required. Actual interest rate discount or closing cost credit will depend on the level of the Citi Eligible Balances, which will be verified after final loan approval.

Merry Birthday

THE GOOD, BAD AND UGH FACTOR OF SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT WITH THE HOLIDAYS.

Written by Carol Wolper | Illustrated by Yuiko Sugino

“Having a Christmas birthday is like playing the lounge in Vegas while Sinatra is singing in the main room.” Jack Nicholson told that me years ago when I was at his house for a holiday gathering and my birthday came up in conversation. The line stuck with me because it’s the perfect description of what it’s like to have a birthday on the biggest holiday of the year.

There’s no way to compete with the season’s star attraction, be that Santa or Jesus. No one wants to watch you blow out candles when more interesting things are going on—from Lakers basketball to dinners with all that rich food you are usually too disciplined to eat to watching the plethora of Oscar hopefuls released that time of year.

My birthday is actually Christmas Eve, which is slightly better than being born on the 25th. But as a child, I still felt cheated. For me, the combo birthday/Christmas present was an early lesson in the adage that timing is everything.

Eventually I came to see the upside of my holiday birthday. Learning at an early age that it’s not all about you is good training for emotional health. It slams the brakes on any narcissism you might develop. Plus, a Christmas birthday is liberating. No pressure to celebrate. No pressure on friends to organize a celebration.

Still, birthdays do demand some attention. It’s important to indulge in at least one activity that makes you feel special. Rituals matter. Go for the perfectly chilled martini

instead of the glass of pinot grigio. Go on an online shopping splurge, buying the ankle boots you love without waiting for the sale. Order takeout from your favorite Mexican restaurant. El Cholo? Casa Vega?

If you have a friend or family member with a holiday birthday, here’s the good news. Since it’s such a busy time of year, you’ll get points for remembering to extend your good wishes. The downside is you don’t get a lot of wiggle room. No one will believe you forgot your friend’s holiday birthday, because once you hear someone was born on Christmas you don’t forget it.

I have friends with other holiday birthdays who share my sentiments. Not easy for those born on the 4th of July, or worse, January 1, which might be the worst birthday of all. On the 4th, you have to compete with the beach and fireworks. On the 1st, you’re competing with hangovers.

One problem that came with my Christmas birthday still persists—my name, Carol, given to me for obvious reasons. If I’d only been born two weeks earlier or later, I might have escaped that name. But then I might never have learned the upside of, as Jack put it, “playing the lounge.” ■

Carol Wolper is the author of the best-selling novel The Cigarette Girl, and a screenwriter. She’s currently working on a memoir about the art and challenges of being a writer in Hollywood.

Some moments in life create lasting memories.

Burbank

Choose the medical group voted best by Daily News readers for 14 years in a row.

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We’re proud to be those doctors, caring for you since 1923. And thanks to our affiliation with Providence, chosing a Facey doctor means a seamless experience at our clinics and the area’s top-rated hospitals.

If you haven’t already, choose a Facey doctor today and see for yourself why Daily News readers have voted us the best medical group since 2009. For a list of the health plans we currently accept, give us a call or visit our website at: facey.com/insurance

191 S. Buena Vista St. 818-869-7600

Canyon Country 14550 Soledad Canyon Rd. 661-250-5200

Mission Hills 11133 Sepulveda Blvd. 818-365-9531

Northridge 9111 Corbin Ave. 818-743-5700

Porter Ranch 19950 Rinaldi St. 818-403-2400 Saugus 27924 Seco Canyon Rd. 661-513-2100

Simi Valley 2655 First St. 805-206-2000 Tarzana 18133 Ventura Blvd. 818-466-7700

Valencia 26357 McBean Pkwy. 661-222-2600

23803 McBean Pkwy. 661-481-2400

Facey Medical Group doesn’t sell health insurance but choosing a Facey doctor for your care is easy. We accept most HMO, PPO, Medicare and Medicare Advantage health plans. Ask your insurance company how you can switch today. For a list of the health plans we currently contract with, visit our website at facey.com/insurance or call 1-855-359-6323.

We’re honored to be among yours.