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A local’s guide to visiting Italy’s Dolomites.
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From helping people to create families to guiding them to the perfect home— some of the top female professionals in the Valley.
The local boom in upscale senior living communities.
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Linda Grasso
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Wonder Women
I’ve always been fascinated by strong, accomplished women. Women who have real confidence and grit. Women who encounter obstacles and conquer them. And who, as they ascend the ladder, always treat people with kindness and respect. Maybe it comes from my own upbringing. My mom was divorced at age 30 and raised me and my three siblings on her own. She worked during the day while we were in school, then went to school herself at night, first getting her BS and then her MBA. She ultimately became a senior executive at the National Institutes of Health. With some assistance from government loans, she put all four of us through college.
My fascination with amazing women is why I created my podcast, SheSez. Over the years I’ve interviewed more than 200 women who’ve shared their amazing and sometimes heartfelt journeys—successes and stumbles— as well as their secrets to health and happiness. I have the same unbridled curiousity now that I had in 2017 when I launched SheSez.
A woman who certainly falls into the fascinating category: Jennifer Prince, chief commercial officer for the LA Rams, who is featured on our cover. Jen handles brand partnerships (aka sponsorships) for the NFL franchise.
Raised in the Valley, she is also a mom of three. When I heard about her, I had so many questions. How did she get this top-tier position? What is it like working in such a testosterone-fueled atmosphere? And how in the world does she juggle such a challenging job with three teenagers? I got the answers to all those questions and more while working on this story (page 22).
Another power-woman profile in this issue: Melanie Apple, founder of Voyage et Cie (page 30). You might have noticed her shop in Studio City, but Melanie has more going on than her brick-and-mortar business. Voyage et Cie, which started as a scented candle company, now markets all kinds of aromatic products—perfumes, laundry detergent, lotions, balms—and sells them in 400 retail outlets, as well as online. Back when I first met the multitalented Melanie, she was a fashion designer with her own eponymous label. I was a newbie on-air talent in LA and Melanie offered to outfit me in exchange for credits at the end of the show. I loved wearing her duds; I am an even bigger fan of her candles. Her exquisite sandalwood version scents several rooms in my house.
Enjoy reading about these and other formidable women in this fall issue. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do. ■
Linda Grasso, Editor-in-Chief
With Jennifer Prince at SoFi Stadium in August.
PHOTOGRAPHED
Belong
Randall Goosby
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor
Randall Goosby, violin
Aida Cuevas
Canta a Juan Gabriel
Lark, Roman & Meyer
Tessa Lark, violin
Joshua Roman, cello
Edgar Meyer, double bass ONSTAGE SESSIONS
Coco Live-to-Film Concert
Featuring Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México
Explore the full 2024-25 Season
Single Tickets & Membership Discounts Available Now
Mummenschanz
50th Anniversary Tour
Emanuel Ax, piano
Leyendas del Mariachi
Reuniendo a Los Mejores Talentos del Mariachi
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Avi Avital, mandolin
Estelí Gomez, soprano ONSTAGE SESSIONS
Conrad Tao & The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in JAZZ
Christopher Rountree, conductor with musicians from Wild Up
Ballet BC
New Works by Medhi Walerski and Crystal Pite
Conrad Tao
Day Glam
WHETHER RUNNING TO THE MARKET, A KID’S SOCCER GAME OR A GIRLFRIEND LUNCH, SOMETIMES YOU WANT TO FEEL … WELL … DRESSED . YET THE MOST COMPELLING DAYWEAR LOOKS ALMOST ALWAYS FEEL THROWN TOGETHER. A SHOWSTOPPING GOLD NECKLACE PAIRED WITH WELL-WORN LEATHER BOOTS. OR A SIMPLE WHITE COTTON T-SHIRT COMBINED WITH A MOHAIR DESIGNER JACKET. WE TAPPED STYLIST DANA ASHER LEVINE TO SHARE—FROM DENIM TO SILK—SOME INSPIRED MIX-AND-MATCH LOOKS FOR FALL.
Photographed by Shane O’Donnell | Hair and makeup by Jenny Karl Mitzi Martin courtesy of LA Models | Location “Casa Mallorca” in Studio City courtesy of Studio Rob Diaz; currently listed with realtors Jen Winston and Andrew Dinsky
Sablyn outfit: olive tank, $375, knit cardigan, $530, silk trousers, $775; all available at Neiman Marcus Westfield Topanga.
left page
Veronica Beard floral print silk Seymour dress, $698; available at veronicabeard.com. Clear plastic twostrap Manolo Blahnik heels, $745; available at manoloblahnik.com. Fauxpearl drop necklace, $17; available at amazon.com (part of the Kiss Wife faux-gold jewelry set).
this page
Ramy Brook Walker belted dress, $545; available at Nordstrom Westfield Topanga.
L’Agence Hale camel sleeveless trench dress with black trim, $475; available at saksfifthavenue.com. AGL Lorette black suede boots, $640; available at agl.com.
Veronica Beard Cason ankle flare jean in olive, $268; Veronica Beard Claudine knit jacket, $548; both available at veronicabeard.com. Vince white T-shirt, $80; available at Bloomingdale’s Westfield Fashion Square. Gianvito Rossi taupe platform boots, stylist’s own. 14-karat gold link chain, $12,040; available at XIV Karats Ltd in Beverly Hills.
Celine ivory brushed mohair jacket, $3,200; available at celine.com. Faux gold and pearl necklace, $17 (part of the Kiss Wife jewelry set); available at amazon.com.
Rails
denim dress in indigo, $238; available at Nordstrom Westfield Topanga. Stetson hat, stylist’s own. Paris Texas faux-snakeskin boots, stylist’s own.
SHE PLAYS FOR THE RAMS
FOR THE LA RAMS, JENNIFER PRINCE MIRRORS THE TEAM’S ON-FIELD SUCCESS WITH OFF-FIELD INNOVATION, TENACITY AND GRIT.
Written
Linda Grasso
by
| Photographed by Shane O’Donnell | Hair & Makeup by Jenny Karl
For dedicated football fans, it’s the day they’ve been waiting for since the Super Bowl in February. It’s a scorching Sunday in August at SoFi Stadium and the preseason opener between the hometown Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. As usual, Jennifer Prince is walking the stadium hours before kickoff. Jennifer is the chief commercial officer for the LA Rams, which means for her and her team of 40, it’s a different kind of game day.
“Happy game day!” she says with a big smile as she greets her squad. Dressed in their own version of corporate casual (the favored color is Rams royal blue), the sales and marketing team is getting down to business. While they have their game faces on, Jennifer cuts through with a big hug for her number two, James Daniel, and a warm welcome for the newest member of the team, Jessica Weinstein. “This is your first game, right?” Jennifer says. Like a coach, she is getting her players ready to do what they do best.
Jennifer Prince cuts a petite frame in a world full of large humans. She is, however, comfortable with colleagues and clients—so much so that she casts a long shadow. Before and during the game, she spends hours luxury box-hopping and connecting with the Rams’ most valuable partners. “I consider myself an extrovert. I’m social and outgoing and can be put in any social situation with ease and comfort.”
As one of the NFL’s premier franchises, the LA Rams are a big business. While NFL teams generate most of their revenue from the league’s TV contracts, each franchise is able to market their team locally through sponsorships with brands and partnerships with media outlets like KABC-7 and Good Karma Brands/ESPN Radio.
According to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, the Rams are estimated to have received
nearly $150 million from partners for the 2023–24 season. (A Rams spokesperson would not confirm the dollar amount.) This is the Rams’ vast enterprise that Jennifer oversees.
A quick trip around the futuristic SoFi shows the fruits of her sales team’s labor. The logos of Rams sponsors fill every high-impact spot: American Airlines, Verizon, Google, Pepsi, Corona, YouTube and more.
Playing in the big-ticket sponsorship world for the Rams is a logical progression for an executive whose résumé is filled with major players in the world of digital media. From Google to Twitter, Jennifer played an important role in the commercialization of these behemoths. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve done it all,” she says. “I’ve worked the buying and selling sides of media. I’ve worked for start-ups, private and public companies. I’ve been through two IPOs. What I’ve learned is that there is no script to succeed professionally and that the one constant is embracing change.”
In August 2013, Jennifer signed on as senior director of media and entertainment at Twitter. Just a few months later, the social media platform went public, an experience that she describes as challenging and rewarding.
She stayed at Twitter for more than eight years, ending up as a VP running all global content, helping sports leagues, media companies and creators distribute content on the platform worldwide.
It’s no surprise that she got on the radar of the LA Rams. At one point she had an email business exchange with Rams president Kevin Demoff, who later reached out to her about coming on board to work for the franchise. At the time she took a soft pass on the opportunity, but eventually she became intrigued and got hired as chief commercial officer.
Once again, she stepped into a new job in a tumultuous arena. She started with the Rams on December 1, 2021, toward the end of what turned out to be a “pretty wild” season. After losing all their games in November, the Rams started winning again in December. They capped the season by winning Super Bowl LVI on their home turf at SoFi Stadium. It was their second Super Bowl championship; the last time the Rams won was in 2000.
“Imagine writing a script for the first season—fans in a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium, where the team that plays in that stadium wins the Super Bowl on their own turf. It was sensational. After we won the Super Bowl, a former Twitter executive said, ‘You already peaked three months into your new sports job. It’s all going downhill from here!’” she recalls laughing.
But in fact the exact opposite has happened. When Jennifer started the job, 20 people reported to her; today that number has doubled. And her role has expanded beyond the NFL team. She has her hands in numerous other ventures owned by Stan Kroenke. In addition to the Rams and SoFi Stadium, the Kroenke sports empire includes the NBA Denver Nuggets, NHL Colorado Avalanche, MLS Colorado Rapids, and Arsenal FC of England’s Premier League. While she has no official responsibilities with those organizations, it’s not unusual for Jennifer to get involved in those businesses; as she describes it, “collaborating with my peers.”
In particular, she gets excited about the work she and her team have done tapping into the state-of-art-technology at SoFi Stadium. “With our focus on media and entertainment partnerships (like with the video game publisher Activision) and being in the heart of LA, we bring next-level entertainment, culture, innovation and experience to our fans on game days with our extraordinary infinity screen and stadium.”
Jennifer realizes that as a woman working in the NFL, particularly one at a high level, she stands out. But she is seeing a shift. “There are a ton of females who are interested in sports and working within sports. I recommend this industry for any females looking to shine in a traditionally male-dominated industry with massive opportunity ahead.”
To underscore her point, she shares that the NFL’s longtime chief revenue officer is a woman and that two NFL teams now have women as presidents. As for diversity within the Rams, she notes that more than 50% of its front-office employees—essentially customerfacing employees—are female.
“I get asked to speak on a ton of panels and at conferences about the power of being a female in sports.
And really, if you think of tech and sports and my career journey, I’ve always been in male-dominated industries. I’ve spent a lot of time working with employee resource communities and women’s groups telling my story and having an impact on females early in their careers. I want to help catapult our position and our voice in any way I can.”
It’s an exciting time to be with the Rams. In August the team moved their headquarters from Agoura Hills to a massive compound at Warner Center in Woodland Hills. The new site was part of a 100-acre acquisition by Kroenke in 2022. The Kroenke Group, which has a foundation in constructing and managing shopping centers, also bought the adjacent outdoor shopping mall Topanga Village. In addition to the Rams brick and mortar headquarters, the land is also being used for a training facility with two football fields. Since arriving from St. Louis in 2016, the team has been practicing at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The company is also exploring plans for future development on the site for residential, commercial, retail and green spaces.
While Jennifer’s extroverted nature, work ethic and smart job choices all have led her to where she is today, she credits her success to a humanistic approach. “I lead with the personal—by being human first. I focus on the power of human connection.”
She traces that approach back to her earliest jobs while growing up in Calabasas and Woodland Hills. “I worked at the Topanga Mall when I was 15 at the Original Cookie Company in the food court. I also worked at a little yogurt and pizza shop on Valley Circle Boulevard and as a hostess at Sagebrush Cantina. Ventura Boulevard has been the through line for me,” she quips.
She graduated from UCSB with a degree in communication in 1994, later married, had three daughters (now all teenagers) and divorced. Through it all, she has held a job. “I grew up with a mom and dad who both worked. My mom wanted and needed to contribute to our family’s lifestyle, and I watched her do it all. We weren’t well-to-do, but we always had what we needed.”
Sixteen years ago she married Chris Prince, whom
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she describes as a “Valley boy” from Studio City who went to Carpenter Elementary, Campbell Hall and Notre Dame High School. Chris works in education technology, a job that has allowed him to work virtually from their Agoura Hills home. “So he’s been very present. I couldn’t do it without having a partner who is a lot of the time a better parent than me in terms of teaching and making sure the girls understand values. He’s my better half for sure.”
At the Rams’ training camp this past summer, the buzz was around wide receiver Puka Nacua, the fifthround Rams draft pick who had a record-setting season as a rookie last year. “Who knew—such a star!” says Jen. “Puka has done numerous brand deals and is sought-after. He’s doing a lot of great custom-branded content and community work. By the way, he is also a very sweet guy,” notes Jen, never one to forgo a personal touch. ■
Jennifer and Chris Prince with daughters (left to right) Delaney, Carly and Avery.
The Candle Alchemist
FROM HER PROPRIETARY WAX RECIPE TO HER IMPORTED WICKS, MELANIE APPLE HAS CREATED THE BESPOKE CANDLE COMPANY VOYAGE ET CIE. TODAY HER PRODUCTS ARE SOLD AT EXCLUSIVE RESORTS AND UPSCALE BOUTIQUES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING AT HER OWN VALLEY STORE. AND TO THINK IT ALL STARTED IN HER SHERMAN OAKS LAUNDRY ROOM.
For Melanie Apple, creating intoxicating scents—and using them as the foundation for a line of candles—was the culmination of all her passions: art, fashion, design— and a love of all things French.
“I always had loved France. I’m originally from Montreal, so I started learning French very young. I’ve spent 20 summers in France. It’s just always been in my soul. You get up every morning and smell that lavender and orange blossom. You go to the flower markets and notice the way people smell. The men smell so good.”
Her love of France and travel are reflected in the creation and name of her company—Voyage et Cie— which translates to “Travel and Company.” In fact, she discovered several of the items she uses to make her candles during her travels. Voyage et Cie’s cotton wicks come from Egypt; its sandalwood comes from Australia; its lavender flower petals (used to make the oils that scent the candles) are from Luberon in the south of France.
In retrospect, Voyage et Cie would seem to be the perfect career for Melanie, yet her 20-year journey was circuitous. As the daughter of a fabric seller dad (he owned House of Fabrics in Sherman Oaks, located where there is now a Joann Fabrics) and a homemaker mom, Melanie attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks. She originally wanted to become a costume designer but “I just didn’t know how to get there. In those days, there was a push for everyone to go to USC. I wanted to go to Parsons School of Design in New York. They said, ‘Oh, no. No one really goes to art school.’”
To appease her parents, she enrolled in USC, majoring in history. She satisfied her penchant for art by taking classes at the community school Every Woman’s Village in Van Nuys (which closed in 1999). At 22, she moved to France and enrolled in Sorbonne University for a year. Later, she got her way and enrolled in Parsons in Los Angeles.
It turned out to be a pivotal experience.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But it was fascinating. Anyone who goes to art school learns how to do everything—from building a chair to hanging a picture on a wall. I went from really not being able to do anything into being able to doing everything. I loved all of it.”
After two years, she transferred to the school of fashion École Supérieure Des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (ESMOD) in Paris, a city she ended up living in for nine years. After she graduated from ESMOD, she worked at several fashion houses including Christian Dior.
In 1991—back in the U.S.—she founded her eponymous clothing label with a line for women, made from body-hugging Lycra. She started with swimwear.
“No one was really using it here, and people would look at me kind of quizzically saying ‘Why does it have to stretch?’ I’d say, believe me, you’re going to love this fabric. It’s fantastic.”
After just one year, the line, which eventually included a body suit, dresses, skirts and pants, took off with top-tier buyers including Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Melanie credits the explosion, in large part, to the material.
“It could transform into anything. In France people would wear a bathing suit, pull a skirt on, and then go to lunch. I wanted to create something like that with clothes that were easy to travel with and that you could hand-wash in the sink. So that’s what I did.”
The fashion line rolled along, and so did her personal life. In 1996 she married producer Simon Fields. Then, in 2004, a pivotal event occurred, sparking a life change.
“I’d just had a baby—our daughter Isabelle—and my mom died and I was just devastated. On top of that, the company had grown too big, too fast. We’d gone from being sold in small boutique stores to huge department stores. It was exhausting, and I couldn’t handle it.”
She started thinking about her love of and experiences in France. “Whenever I’d go back, there was that smell, the south of France, and I was just so moved by it.”
She enrolled in a perfume course in Grasse, the perfume capital of France, and once back in the States,
“I still love creating, and that still includes new fragrances.”
started experimenting with fragrances. It was pretty down and dirty. “I was making candles with a double boiler in my laundry room!” she laughs.
She also took a class at General Wax & Candle in North Hollywood but was turned off by its use of paraffin wax, which is distilled from petroleum, a byproduct of gasoline production. When paraffin is burned it releases chemicals that have been linked to lung diseases such as cancer and asthma. “I thought, I can’t use paraffin. I don’t want that in my lungs.”
Soy wax, which releases fewer toxins, was one option, but soy-based candles don’t give off as much fragrance. Instead, she started adding coconut wax and apricot oil to her ingredients, discovering that the addition produced candles with a stronger and longerlasting scent.
As she was wrapping up her clothing business, she attended one last trade show. As a thank-you, she gave her buyers candles made from violets imported from Grasse.
Some of those candles wound up burning in boutiques
scattered across the U.S., and customers started commenting on them. The boutiques asked for more— not just to burn, but to sell. Before she knew it, the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills was selling her candles at their spa. This turned out to be a game changer.
“They would burn the big candle we sell and the whole hotel would smell like it and all their clientele would ask ‘What is that?’ The Peninsula started ordering weekly. Then it would be a store in Florida or a store in Arizona, or whoever was staying there would say, ‘Oh, I have a spa. I have a retail store; I have a furniture store.’”
Today, 20 years later, the Peninsula remains a top client. Other LA hotels including Hotel Bel-Air, Shutters on the Beach and Casa Del Mar are also clients—part of a network of about 400 stores that sell Voyage et Cie candles.
In 2010 Melanie opened a retail store of her own, a tiny space tucked behind the Studio City commercial strip that includes Le Pain Quotidien and Dry Bar.
Somewhat organically, people found it and began trickling in.
A few years ago the operation moved to a larger, more prominent spot in the same strip—the Ventura Boulevard space formerly occupied by Canyon Beachwear. Today the shop is filled not just with candles but perfume, a diffuser/oil line, laundry detergent, a line of face and body products, and a wellness line. The boutique also carries gift items such as coffee table books and journals.
Candles, though, remain the core of the business, which now employs 14 people and is headquartered at a 5,000-square-foot facility in Downtown LA. “I still do the actual candlemaking myself,” Melanie shares. “The percentages of oils have to be perfect. And when you have the clientele I have, you have to be a control freak.”
She says she finds Voyage et Cie infinitely more satisfying than her clothing line.
“My clothing business was much bigger than this, but I used to see people walking around in the clothes, and
I’d think: This isn’t great; I’m stuck in a manufacturing facility every day. When I’m in my store and I hear people commenting about the candles and complimenting them, I think to myself: I was just making candles for fun. I don’t know how this happened,” she giggles.
As for the secret of her success: “What I’ve learned through the years is, it’s all about the throw—the scent a candle gives off. When something isn’t strong enough, it’s not necessarily the fragrance; it’s the throw.”
She says her unique formula has enabled her to create a product with a scent as strong as those made with paraffin wax. That has been a key. The other secret: using high-quality organic flowers and plants and essential oils, which are expensive. Available in scents like the popular sandalwood-based Sandal and Lime Basil, the classic 4-inch size (the most common size home candle) is $70. The candles in “French cut” glass vases (slightly wider at the top than the bottom and ranging in height from 6 to 16 inches), are priced from $98 to $360.
“I start at a high price point. Sure, there is more profit with candles made from paraffin and less expensive ingredients. That is not what I do.”
Melanie’s Candle Burning Tips
• The first time you light a candle, allow it to burn for at least two hours, until the whole top is liquid with wax. This will help your candle burn more evenly.
• Before lighting your candle the first time, trim the wick to 1/4-inch length. By shortening the wick you allow it to burn more slowly and also avoid unsightly black smoke marks around the edge of the glass.
• After blowing out your candle, re-center and straighten the wick.
• If you have a multiple-wick candle, be sure to burn all wicks simultaneously for an even burn.
She believes most people think candlemaking is easy, but she considers her craft a meticulous form of art.
“It’s not easy. It is a science. And as with any flammable product, it’s also dangerous. So it has to be controlled. The wicks are a major part of it—the size of the wick. For me, it’s about health. I use wicks that do not have lead and are made from Egyptian cotton.”
With two decades at Voyage et Cie under her belt and her daughter now grown, one might think that Melanie has started thinking about her next chapter. But with an easy smile and the relaxed confidence of a person who owns who she is and her accomplishments, she prefers to focus on the present.
“I love what I do, and I don’t want to retire. I’m always creating new things, like our new line of Santal Laundry Detergent. I still love creating, and that still includes new fragrances. I’d like to see our products in more stores. I’d like to maybe do one in Malibu, maybe one in New York, maybe a small boutique hotel or few of them.”
After that comment, there is a pause in the conversation and she loses eye contact. You can just see her head ticking. ■
Old-School, Forever
DINING AND DRINKING TRENDS COME AND GO, BUT AT SMOKE HOUSE IN BURBANK THREE THINGS REMAIN CONSTANT: THE RESTAURANT’S OLD-SCHOOL VIBE, ITS EMPLOYEES AND ITS LEGION OF PATRONS.
Carol Wolper and Chloe King |
Written by
Photographed by Dima Otvertchenko
Whenever you speak to patrons of Smoke House, one of the Valley’s most enduring landmarks, a resounding sentiment comes through: “Once you enter, you never want to leave.”
Lifelong patrons like Alison Martino, who runs a popular Facebook page called Vintage Los Angeles, can’t imagine Burbank without it. Known as something of an LA historian, she started going to Smoke House as a child with her father, pop and jazz singer Al Martino.
“That is not uncommon. Generations of parents have passed down their love of the place to their kids and their grandkids,” Allison says. “Very few establishments can claim that. There is Dan Tana’s and Musso & Frank Grill, but there aren’t many other places that remain. So many have fallen by the wayside.”
Allison adds that having a familiar place—one you have history with—makes it feel safe and comfortable. She cautions that no one should underestimate the impact that can have on a person’s life.
“Look, if they ever decided to shutter the place, I would be the first to lie down in front of the bulldozers. And I wouldn’t be alone. People are that devoted to Smoke House.”
Smoke House opened in 1946, and has only changed hands twice. In a city known more for its fluidity than continuity, one can’t help but wonder about its secret to success.
Some of it certainly has to do with the restaurant’s proximity to Warner Bros., located directly across the street. Some of Smoke House’s success can be attributed to its classic steak house menu with perfectly cooked prime cuts of meat, crisp wedge salad and, of course, its famous garlic cheese bread. There is also live music on weekends and a charming throwback atmosphere. With four separate dark dining rooms (one, with a sprawling bar, is called “the lounge”) that can seat 300 people, red leather booths, white tablecloths, and walls graced with photos of showbiz luminaries such as James Dean, Bob Hope, Hedy Lamarr and Cary Grant—the oldschool Hollywood vibe just can’t be beat. Today the photos are all bolted to the wall because so many have been stolen over the years.
Over the decades, the newer guard has also jumped on the bandwagon. The casts of Friends and ER—as well as other Warner Bros. productions— were known to hang out after taping shows.
“I remember Jennifer Aniston pulling in, driving a 1965 Mustang and giving the valet a hundred bucks to take good care of it,” recalls 30-year office manager Sasha Mirzayans.
ER costar George Clooney, who has his photo on a wall above the circular booth he favors, even named his production company Smokehouse Pictures (cofounded with producer Grant Heslov) after the joint.
As we dug deeper, we discovered a surprise. That “one never wants to leave” sentiment may have literal connotations: ghosts!
“Did you know Smoke House is haunted?” That question was posed to us by Hector Mier, a decadeslong employee. He lightheartedly added, “My cousin Jesse saw a man standing in the back dining room with no shoes on when no one else was on-site.”
“I remember late one night years ago hearing a loud boom,” Sasha recalls. “And then a single stick of Chapstick rolled down the stairs that lead up to our offices. No one was upstairs at the time. It was unnerving.”
The original 1946 menu
Other sightings by employees include a shadowy figure on the stairs during night shifts, a glass that fell on its own, and the inexplicable whiff of a perfume that was the favorite of a waitress who worked there for 30 years, but is now long gone.
Mimi, a waitress who has been there for 26 years, whom Hector affectionately addresses as “the new girl,” declares, “I will not go upstairs alone at night. Strange goings-on in the computer room!” As the staff enjoys swapping these ghost stories, it becomes obvious that a camaraderie exists among them—the kind created by a shared history.
Hector veers off the ghost stories to recount his introduction to Smoke House. He was 17 years old in 1982 when he turned up hoping to land a job. It was Mother’s Day, and two employees had failed to show up. That was his in. “And I never left. Hell, everything I own is because of this place,” he murmurs.
Hector goes on to add that his father and uncles started working at the restaurant in the ’60s and ’70s. His brothers were also ultimately employed at Smoke House, along with several cousins, and more recently, nephews. Hector eventually became a bartender, and after 15 years moved on to become a server. Long-term employment is common here. Hector mentions other employees who’ve also been around for decades. “We’re family; no two ways about it.”
Today the staff is a mix of young and old, as are the customers. An old-timer might be at a corner booth having his usual prime rib, while across the room, a TikTok star might be at the bar watching a Lakers game, sipping a Manhattan. According to Hector, the trend among younger customers is to drink cocktails that were popular long before they were born. For example you’ll see 20-somethings drinking Manhattans. In other bar trends, he notes that when he first started
working at Smoke House, when someone ordered a martini, it was understood that they wanted gin to be the alcohol. “I’ve never seen a gin drinker drunk,” he notes. Vodka became the thing in the ’80s, and typically the drinks were flowing. “At the end of the night there’d be money all over the bar. I was making $300 a night in tips.” In that pre-Uber era, Hector sometimes ended up driving inebriated customers home. Things changed in the ’90s when tequila started becoming popular. “Some people who drink tequila get very chatty and happy,” Hector says.
As visible as Smoke House is, sitting almost directly across from Warner Bros., it is also discreet—yet another reason why it’s been around for three-quarters of a century. Unlike so many restaurant-bar patrons in Hollywood, Valley people don’t necessarily dine out to see and be seen. They truly want to be low-key. Hence celebrities who show up at Smoke House quickly become part of the scene rather than creating a scene.
You can see this in particular on Friday nights when Rick Whitfield’s band plays in the lounge. The singer has worked with Branford Marsalis, Ziggy Marley and Joni Mitchell, who sometimes shows up at Smoke House to hear her friend Rick when she’s in town. Mitchell even took over the place earlier this year to celebrate her 80th birthday, just as Bob Hope did to celebrate his 100th, 21 years earlier. “You never know who will show up or what’s going to be going on on any particular night,” Rick says. “That is part of the fun.”
It is that blend of the present and the past that keeps patrons, some alive and some otherworldly, coming to Smoke House—and never wanting to leave.
This article is an excerpt from a book that Chloe King and Carol Wolper are working on titled Hollywood North, a collection of interviews and stories about the Valley’s role in Hollywood life and lore. ■
Famille Affair
DEUX BISTRO MAY HAVE AN ACCLAIMED, FRENCH-BORN RESTAURATEUR AT THE HELM, YET THE VIBE IS FRIENDLY, CASUAL AND AUTHENTIC IN EVERY WAY.
Written by Jeffrey Saad
Considering the many moving parts that must all come together, most restaurants strive to create a family vibe with the staff. That goal is easily accomplished at Deux Bistro in Woodland Hills because nearly the entire family works there—pedigreed restaurateur Nicolas Fanucci, son Lucas who co-owns and operates the eatery, son Sebastian—an architect student who did its design—and wife Fazilet, who makes the desserts and does the flowers. The youngest son, Enzo, is training as a chef in Napa Valley.
Nicolas was born and raised in Canne, France, and has worked in hospitality since he was a teenager. He acquired his sense of premier service from working front-of-house for the greats—in France with chefs Paul Bocuse and Alain Ducasse and later in Napa Valley with Thomas Keller at The French Laundry. Nicolas was the general manager of that eatery when it earned its threestar Michelin rating—a rarity in the restaurant world.
Nicolas’ outpost in Woodland Hills, which opened earlier this year, is his third. He ran one in Malibu for a few years (now closed), and he also owns a location at the Beverly Center, which offers Vietnamese and French fusion cuisine. In Woodland Hills, Nicolas aims to offer hospitality without pretension. He says the experience is geared to be “fun, yet we still respect the rules.” Son Lucas chimes in with a smile: “This is a fun way to eat good. French food can scare people.” But don’t think that playful vibe comes at the expense of upscale hospitality. “We are not about taking shortcuts. It needs to be right,” Nicolas states.
People who know and love food always say that LA is missing real French bistros. I agree. But starting with butter-drenched escargot—served with the most perfect French baguette, crunchy on the outside with a
light airy center—I immediately recognized that Deux Bistro is a standout. As I mopped up the herb butter sauce at the bottom of each simmering ceramic divot, my anticipation level was high.
Next up was duck confit. Although cooked in its own fat and quite rich, when done properly, it is crispy, and the meat is not fatty. I cut through a perfectly crisp skin and grabbed a morsel of moist meat—a texture symphony that’s not easy to achieve. And while it is classic to pair duck with a gastric sweet-sour sauce or chutney, Deux Bistro does a delicious twist by laying the duck on a bed of watercress with pickled cucumbers, roasted raisins and caramelized onions. The sweet acidity is the perfect foil to the richness.
The wines here are unpretentious and a perfect match for the food. I had their house red, a Loire Valley Malbec, which was bright and medium-bodied. The menu is classic French bistro with starters like French onion soup, steak tartare served with French fries, warm goat cheese salad with beets, and a Bibb salad with champagne vinaigrette. Entrees include trout almondine, steak frites, an 8-ounce “Deux Burger” and a grilled tuna Niçoise. All of this culinary pleasure takes place in a small, quaint dining room with a dimly lit dining patio that runs alongside. Soft music plays throughout; service is warm and impeccable. As I left, satiated in every way, I couldn’t help feeling like I’d just enjoyed a small slice of Europe—dining in a real French bistro. ■
Nicolas Fanucci and son Lucas.
Pie Time
WINSTON PIES OPENS AT THE SHOPS AT SPORTSMEN’S LODGE IN STUDIO CITY— JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
Written by Chelsee Lowe | Photographed by Marie Buck
Brianna Abrams’ fondness for cherry pie began in an improbable place: inside the convenience stores at gas stations in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There, a young Brianna could revel in the joy of a prepackaged, glazed, and very sweet cherry hand pie—but that’s not what she makes today.
Brianna launched Winston Pies in Brentwood in 2017, which was a leap of faith and a serious professional pivot. For many years she’d been a practicing attorney, but she wanted a job with more creativity and flexibility, which from-scratch baking provided.
“Pie is my personal favorite—although my family made every type of dessert when I was growing up,” she said. “Cakes were my mom’s specialty, my older sister makes cookies perfectly decorated with piping, and my little sister is a bread maker. But bread takes a lot of forethought; you can’t just whip it together.”
That’s not to say pie making is easy. Brianna spent countless hours honing her recipes before opening up shop. She perfected the basics first: apple, blueberry and cherry pies (the latter made with whole dark cherries and a flaky double crust). She practiced her grandmother Edna’s lemon meringue pie, which has been on the Winston Pies roster since the beginning. Pumpkin, key lime and chocolate chess pies were also in the mix from the start.
More storefronts followed in Marina del Rey, West Hollywood and Santa Monica. Then in June, Winston Pies opened its doors in The Shops at Sportmen’s Lodge, where customers can often be seen enjoying a slice of pie on the shaded redwood deck outside.
Though Brianna is always developing new flavors, customers can expect a few menu mainstays. Harvest apple pie, Key West lime, Southern pecan and Carolina cherry are constants, as is her chocolate cowgirl pie. Decadently fudgy, it’s made with Dick Taylor chocolate, caramel and an oat crust.
There’s always a gluten-free and vegan crumble in the glass case, too. Limited-time special offerings often appear, ranging from cookie dough pie to old-school, candy-inspired treats like Payday peanut butter pie and a Whopper pie. Customers also have the option of
buying take-and-bake pies and 2-inch PieBites.
How to choose? Brianna suggests trying your historical favorite first. Chances are that if you usually like key lime pie, you’ll love her version.
“We get emails that say, ‘Your Key lime was really tart.’ And we’ll reply, “Yes! That’s a compliment; thank you so much.”
As you would imagine, pumpkin pies will show up at the shop in late fall. Brianna also makes a babka chocolate swirl pie around the Jewish High Holy Days and a beloved cranberry orange chess pie around Christmas.
To see what pies are being offered, Brianna suggests following @winstonpies on Instagram and signing up for the shop’s newsletter for holiday preorder announcements.
Final pro tip: “If you’re open to it, consider bringing one of our take-and-bake pies to your gathering,” she says. “Fresh from the oven, they make a home smell absolutely delicious.” ■
BRIANNA’S SPICED PUMPKIN PIE
Moravian cookie crust (recipe on right)
6 eggs, whisked and strained through a sieve
2⅔ cups heavy cream
2⅔ cups milk
2 27-ounce cans pumpkin puree
3 cups sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 tablespoon ginger
3 tablespoons cinnamon
2 teaspoon teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons cardamom
1 teaspoon clove
2 teaspoons salt
Preheat oven to 300°. Take Moravian cookie dough, press into a disc, and roll into a circle. Gently press dough into the pie dish. Trim edges of the dough and form a decorative crimp or smooth edge. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Bake cookie crust for 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
Combine sugar, salt, spices and pumpkin puree. Mix eggs, milk and vanilla. Slowly add the egg and milk mixture to the pumpkin mixture.
Pour filling into cooled cookie crust. Bake at 300° for 35 minutes until it starts to set on the edges (the first 2 inches around the edge) and the center has a
3- to 4-inch diameter center that is still loose. The pie continues to bake once removed from oven, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look totally baked. Let cool for at least 1 hour before placing in refrigerator. Top with spiced candied pepitas and whipped cream and serve. See recipe for pepita topping at ourventurablvd.com
Moravian Cookie Crust
¼ cup molasses
1 large egg yolk
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
¾ cup brown sugar
1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon allspice
Mix butter, brown sugar and molasses together until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix baking soda, baking powder, spices, salt and flour. Slowly fold the flour mixture into the sugar and egg mixture until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in fridge until you are ready to form and bake pie crust.
Learn
Divine Hideaway
HERE IN THE VALLEY WE HAVE TWO EXCELLENT WINE BARS: AUGUSTINE AND MIRABELLE. SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU DRIVE TO CHATSWORTH TO HIT UP THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, CANTO VI? BRIAN KALLIEL
Written by Linda Grasso
CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU THE ANSWER.
If I were famous and wanted to go on a date and not be seen (really not be seen; not like the British Royals’ version of not wanting to be seen), I’d go to the new wine bar and gastro pub Canto VI. The vibe is dark and moody and borders on romantic, the wine selection is excellent, and the food is damn good. And I can guarantee that no one will spot you there.
Canto VI is tucked in the northwest corner of the Valley on scrappy Devonshire Boulevard in Chatsworth.
No shops or eateries are within eyeshot. A Holiday Inn Express is its next-door neighbor.
Brian Kalliel, who was the wine director at Melisse for 15 years and also worked at Augustine Wine Bar in Sherman Oaks, is co-owner and operator. He wasn’t planning on opening in that region of the Valley but his daughter lives there, and he stumbled upon a good deal with the location. (His partners own the building as well as a nearby wine store.) The bar’s name
Chester Hastings and Brian Kalliel.
comes from the Italian poem by Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, that follows Dante as he awakens in the third circle of hell where Cerberus stands over the souls of the gluttons. “It’s that situation when you eat and drink too much,” Brian laughs.
He realizes that for most Valley dwellers, Chatsworth is a trek. “But the fact is you drive all the way to Chatsworth, and you are gonna drink fantastic wine,” says Brian. “Every wine here is from a great winemaker. And hands down we have the best prices in LA for the varietals I pour.”
As at Augustine, the more stellar wines at Canto— predominantly French and Italian varietals—are printed on a big chalkboard that hangs over the wine bar. (There is also a full liquor bar.) “I don’t do hype-heavy wines or fat California cabernets,” notes Brian. For reds, he much prefers, say, robust cabernet Francs from the Loire Valley region of France.
The wine list rotates weekly, with glasses starting at $18. Higher-priced offerings (typically $27 to $30) might include uncommon French bottles like a Meursault white burgundy by Jean-Philippe Fichet, a rare Benjamin Leroux pinot noir from Burgundy, or a Lys d’or Condrieu by Christophe Semaska from the Rhone Valley.
Also mimicking Augustine, Canto VI has no waiters or bussers. You order everything at the bar; food is brought to your table. Chester Hastings, previously a chef at Joan’s on Third, heads up the kitchen. For appetizers, my husband and I went kind of crazy. You can order all kinds of combinations of cheese plates and salumi boards. (“Ours are twice the size as the ones you
get at Augustine!” quips Brian.) We opted for a decadent hunk of the buttery French triple-cream cheese Brillat-Savarin (“You don’t even need crackers with it!” said Brian while enthusiastically dipping my fork into it), a deliciously savory fennel sausage atop a crostino, a tasty dish of hummus with black tahini and za’atar flatbread, and two wallet-sized squares of semolina bread topped with Normandy butter and Sicilian anchovy (the only app I didn’t care for—too much butter). For our main course, we shared the boneless game hen cooked under a brick. We both loved the dish, but quite honestly, I couldn’t stop staring at our neighbor’s meal: perfectly cooked New Zealand lamb chops with a side of crispy frites-style fries. Next time.
Despite its off-the-beaten-path location, Brian aspires to have Canto feel like prime Santa Monica. “I take my Melisse-ness to any place I operate. Look, I know how to run a dining room with a 15-course wine dinner. Everything needs to be in perfect harmony to carry that out beautifully. And we do that here. Plus we have a doorman and free valet parking. And there is a dress code: no flip-flops, no cutoff shorts.”
We enjoyed our experience at Canto VI immensely and easily let go of the unsexiness of the region. We totally get and appreciate what Brian is bringing to the table. We like adventure when we go out. Sameness bores us. Will we be able to drag some of our Ventura Boulevard-tethered friends out there for a weekend night out? I’m not sure. But I hope so. With Brian’s effervescent enthusiasm and bold willingness to try something different, you can’t help but root for him— and Canto VI. In Chatsworth. ■
Cannone di Capra goat milk cheese with bee pollen and honey.
Los Angeles Jewish Health...Energizing Senior
• Independent Living
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THE VALLEY GIVES BACK
Ventura Blvd will shine a spotlight on leaders in the community, special donors and businesses, as well as the people who run charitable organizations, in the The Valley Gives Back profile section in the December/January issue.
As we head into the holidays, we invite you to join an exceptional group of philanthropic leaders and charitable organizations to share more about the people who have made an impact in the community through their work and giving.
The Valley Gives Back profiles are complete turnkey. The Ventura Blvd team will schedule a custom photo shoot and create the engaging copy. This is a once-a-year opportunity to introduce our readers to your charitable organization and highlight the people who help make it possible.
For more information contact Jill Epstein at 213-309-0052 or jill.epstein@thegoldenstatecompany.com Space Reservation Deadline is 10/09
THE GOLD STANDARD
Deck your halls with the finest Christmas baubles.
We know everyone’s been traveling these days, so what a relief it is that a premier destination to enjoy the holiday season is found right here in Los Angeles. For more than 70 years, Aldik Home has been the go-to place for stunning Christmas displays, jawdropping decor and a stunning array of artificial Christmas trees. Each year is a completely new design, and you’ll just have to trust us when we say this one is next-level!
There are thousands of unique ornaments, sparkling lights, spools of luxurious ribbon and so much more around every corner. There are Santas, angels, glittery stems, gigantic displays—the list goes on and on!
Customers often describe Aldik Home as a Disneyland for Christmas without that admission fee and the throngs of people. It’s impossible not to be in awe as you stroll through this enchanted forest of delightful decor.
Truly the most breathtaking aspect of this entire display is the trees themselves. Every size of every style of artificial Christmas tree—more than 70 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. Exponentially better than any Christmas tree you’ll find at an online retailer, AH Gold Label Trees represent the gold standard. These long-lasting trees are expertly designed and crafted to be more realistic, with the most advanced lighting systems 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.
It’s never been more important to experience the magic of Christmas at the most incredible holiday display in the country. When it comes to Christmas decor, lights and especially trees, there’s no place like Aldik Home!
ALDIK HOME
7651 SEPULVEDA BLVD., VAN NUYS
818-988-5970
ALDIKHOME.COM | @ALDIKHOME
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE IN AWE AS YOU STROLL THROUGH THIS ENCHANTED FOREST OF DELIGHTFUL DECOR.
TURNKEY TRANSFORMED
MOST SPEC HOMES ARE MOVE-IN READY, BUT MAKING ONE FEEL LIKE YOUR OWN TAKES THOUGHT AND EFFORT. HERE’S HOW INTERIOR
DESIGNER VICTORIA HOLLY HELPED ONE FAMILY TRANSFORM THEIR SHERMAN OAKS TURNKEY INTO THEIR HOME SWEET HOME.
Written by Jessica Ritz | Photographed by Stephen Buskin | Justine Liu Photographed by Nicholas Tatone
When Justine Liu, Michael Fitzgerald, and their infant son relocated from Boston to Sherman Oaks in 2018 and purchased a contemporary farmhouse-inspired residence, they were excited. But despite the home’s newness, they knew they had some work to do.
Justine says when she and Michael bought the home on an 8,000-square-foot lot, it was “a clean slate” and the couple felt the need to personalize it. They reached out to interior designer Victoria Holly, whose husband had been a friend of theirs since college. “It was a natural fit. We felt comfortable working with her,” Justine adds.
“I UNDERSTAND TRENDS, BUT I’M ALWAYS THINKING, ‘HOW DO I MAKE THAT MY OWN?’ I DO THAT FOR MY CAREER, AND I WANTED TO DO THAT FOR OUR HOME AS WELL.”
“They loved the idea of buying something that was turnkey. But in reality, it was not completely turnkey,” says Victoria. “They wanted to tailor the home and infuse personality where possible.” To get started, Justine created Pinterest boards that aligned her and Victoria’s design and decor sensibilities.
Both Michael and Justine are in visually oriented professions, which turned out to be an asset during the process. Michael works in the video game industry, and Justine is a consultant for fashion and accessory brands. Justine says her job skills proved to be insightful for designing her new home. “I understand trends, but I’m always thinking, ‘How do I make that my own?’ I do that for my career, and I wanted to do that for our home as well.”
In the open-plan living and kitchen area, “the number one thing is making a family-friendly space,” Victoria says. She designed a large custom sofa scaled just-so to anchor the living room, which is quietly
enlivened with low, drum-shaped coffee tables from RH Modern, a vintage rug, and bouclé-covered accent chairs from Four Hands. An auction-purchased antique French mirror positioned opposite a mid-century slatted bench in the entry hall—and a slick of dark green paint in the powder room—add interest, while incorporating a variety of eras and styles. The corner banquette, painted a contrasting, rich navy blue shade, is illuminated by an updated vintage rattan pendant that Victoria reimagined from its original function as a sconce. Plenty of eclectic throw pillows make this dining nook comfortable and not overly precious.
In the expansive primary suite, Victoria cozied up the bedroom with vintage nightstands, chicly understated glass and brass pendant lights from Arteriors, and an antique Danish bench reupholstered with a jewel-toned green velvet, which she placed at the foot of the West Elm bed frame.
When Justine and Michael welcomed another baby—a
girl—in late 2020, they called on Victoria again to create a new nursery for her and to redo their son’s nursery into an age-appropriate bedroom that better suited his needs. The bedroom for the boy, now 7, is tasteful with Schumacher wallpaper in a subtle, textured, striped pattern, which is complemented with vertical-striped Roman shades.
The time eventually came for the daughter’s nursery to get a makeover, too. “I wanted our daughter’s room to feel like a girl’s room with cute details—but not kitschy,” Justine says. Vinyl peel-and-stick wallpaper emblazoned with densely patterned rabbits and botanical motifs against a gray-beige background makes for a whimsical setting. It can also be removed if she later desires.
During the pandemic, the couple converted the freestanding garage to an ADU to augment Justine’s office, which is located off the foyer. “It needed to be multifunctional, and it was seamless,” Justine says about
that remodel. Now that Michael is no longer working from home, the ADU serves as a pool cabana with a full kitchen and a hidden Murphy bed that’s ready to welcome overnight guests. In addition, Victoria’s team designed a major backyard upgrade featuring Mediterranean-influenced landscaping complete with olive trees, a new streamlined rectangular swimming pool, and dining area with a sleek outdoor RH table.
Justine credits Victoria’s elevated aesthetic sense, practical approach and deep listening for the creative collaborations that have resulted in the home the family (which also includes rescue mix Hank) enjoys today.
“My husband and I have different styles. He’s a little more mid-century. I like some more traditional details. She’s great at figuring out how to incorporate both and drill down what about this style is actually resonating. She’s been a great partner in helping us grow the house as we grow our family.” ■
The outdoor dining area connects the ADU (in photo on left) which the family uses as a poolside cabana, with the dramatically dark-hued main house.
Grades 5-10 are welcome to come to our beautiful campus to meet Marymount’s incredible Faculty, Staff, and Student Ambassador Team! This is an interactive and exciting event featuring various breakout sessions, giving you the opportunity to learn about everything Marymount, including: Academics, College Counseling, Athletics, STEM, Arts, and more! Join us as we proudly celebrate over 100 years of educating and empowering young women.
OPEN HOUSE Sunday, Nov 3, 2024 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
10643 Sunset Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90077 Open House Registration:
mhs-la.org/visit
ALPINE ALTERNATIVE
A TRIP TO ITALY’S DOLOMITES OFFERS SPECTACULAR VISTAS, HIDDEN VILLAGES AND EVERY LEVEL OF ADVENTURE. HERE A WRITER EXPERIENCES THE VERY BEST KIND OF ITINERARY—ONE PLANNED BY SOME LOCALS.
Written and photographed by Karen Gaspin
Approximately 6 million American tourists make Italy their travel destination every year, with Rome, Florence and Venice among the top cities visited. On past trips to Italy, I too tailored my travel plans to visit these destinations. That changed this past summer, when my husband and I experienced the Dolomites—a spectacular mountain range in Italy’s northern Alps—through the eyes of our good friends who had purchased a home in the tiny town of Badia.
Our plans weren’t geared for the extreme adventure that many seek when visiting this mountain venue. Our goal was simply to see the magnificent mountains and towns that our friends had fallen in love with, and to have a different type of experience in Italy.
A three-hour drive from the Venice airport on winding mountain roads put us in Badia close to midnight, so it was not until the next morning that the most spectacular view met our gaze from the terrace of our room at the Badia Hill Hotel. Contemporary in design, with a rooftop pool and spa, as well as delicious food and warm hospitality, the hotel is a hidden gem.
The Dolomites are sometimes called the “Kingdom of the Pale Mountains,” and the magnesium-rich limestone mountains stand guard over—and contrast with—pastures so green they look like richly colored oil paintings. Previously Austrian territory, the Dolomites saw front-line battles during World War I. They became part of Italy in 1919, following the Treaty of St. Germain. The region is called the South Tyrol, and interestingly, all posted signs throughout the Dolomites are printed in three languages: German, Italian and Ladin, the traditional language of the area that 20,000 people still speak. In 2009, UNESCO deemed the Dolomites a World Heritage Site. The most well-known city in the region, Cortina, was the venue for the 1956 Winter Olympics, and will again host the Games in
The rooftop of the Badia Hill Hotel has a terrace with a glass-enclosed sauna. Left: the Dolomites loom above the hotel’s swimming pool.
2026, in partnership with Milan.
In winter, the area is a skier’s paradise; in summer, a giant playground for hikers and cyclists. With the advantage of having locals (our friends) as guides, we explored at our leisure. Our first mountain experience took us up the Piz La Ila gondola, near the town of Corvara. Here we admired the vast scale of the mountain range, the brilliant greenery, and the blankets of multicolored wildflowers—and envied the contentment of what must be the happiest cows in the world.
We wandered the endless trails, stopping for lunch at one of the many gourmet rifugios that dot the mountaintops. These family-owned mountain huts serve hikers and mountain bikers, and offer some of the best food in the region. Wine flows while visitors enjoy the views, dining on pizza and pasta served alongside delicious spinach or beetroot dumplings, grilled meats, polenta with melted cheese, and the sweet pancakelike kaiserschmarrn dessert, an Austrian favorite.
Our second day’s hike took us to a more secluded location near the Armentara Meadows in San Leonardo, thanks to a tip from the owner of a Badia bakery/cafe called Dolci di Ricky. While we enjoyed her yummy homemade pastries, Veronica gave us directions to reach the mountaintop destination, a favorite of locals. We passed only two other hikers while on this isolated wooded trail.
A spa day at the historic five-star Adler Hotel in the lovely town of Ortisei in the Val Gardena (a 30-minute drive from Badia) was another terrific experience. For about $200 per person, we enjoyed a spa treatment, lunch, and unlimited access to the hotel’s world-class pools, saunas, steam rooms and salt cave.
In retrospect, given the daunting extent of the Dolomites, planning our trip might have been overwhelming without the help of our friends. But the region offers some excellent online resources, such as dolomites.org and altabadia.org. Be prepared for constantly changing mountain weather and steep mountain roads with hairpin turns. Most of all, come prepared to witness Mother Nature’s brilliance in all its mountainous and verdant glory. ■
The village of San Leonardo in Alta Badia. Opposite page: one of the delicious dishes served at the Badia Hill Hotel.
WOMEN WHO LEAD PROFILES
With this Women Who Lead profiles section, we celebrate some Valley professionals who are leading the charge in each of their respective industries. From helping people plan a family or find their dream home to making it possible for us to enjoy world-class entertainment, their endeavors and accomplishments are evident throughout our community—and part of what makes this such a great place to live.
Since 1988, HRC Fertility has aided hopeful parents in building families by providing them with personalized assisted reproductive technology. HRC Fertility was honored by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Fertility Clinics in 2023. Here we ask Alison Peck, MD, Irene Woo, MD, Sasha Hakman, MD, Rachel Mandelbaum, MD, and Sahar Wertheimer, MD, about their work as reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists with HRC Fertility.
SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY.
Dr. Peck: Having a supportive community around you is one of the most important aspects of life. Our job is to be the best version of ourselves and do our best in all things we do. But we need support, wisdom and guidance along the way—and that comes from our community. Since I joined the HRC family in 2012, I have felt supported both professionally and personally as an integral part of our team. From the first phone contact our patient makes to graduation day and each encounter in between, the HRC community welcomes our patients into our family while helping them create theirs. Community happens in the office environment, and it also happens outside our doors. The people and professionals I have surrounded myself with throughout my career have had the strongest impact on my success.
I have been blessed to have a network of OB-GYNs and other expert women’s health professionals in the fertility industry by my side as I’ve navigated my career and helped my patients achieve their fertility goals. We are meant to lean on each other and support each other in the challenging times and the wins of life. It truly takes a village to create a family, and I am grateful my village has helped me create a beautiful life in the field that I love. You have to find your people—those who motivate and inspire you—and I am fortunate to have found mine.
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN IN BUSINESS?
Dr. Woo: As a doctor, supporting other women in business begins with recognizing and celebrating their achievements. It’s vital to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that women entrepreneurs and professionals contribute to their fields. By publicly recognizing their successes—whether through sharing achievements with colleagues, discussing innovations in health care forums or promoting businesses among patients and peers—we can elevate their visibility and inspire others.
Tangible ways to demonstrate solidarity include collaborating with women-owned health care practices, recommending their services to patients or investing in their innovations. By actively supporting women in health care entrepreneurship, we contribute to their growth and success. As doctors, our support for women in
business within health care goes beyond clinical practice. It involves championing their achievements, offering mentorship, expanding networks, advocating for equality and actively promoting their businesses. These actions collectively empower women to thrive professionally and contribute meaningfully to advancing health care delivery and innovation.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK.
Dr. Hakman: I am a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive specialist treating all causes of infertility, such as ovulatory disorders and polycystic ovary syndrome, diminished ovarian reserve, endometriosis, tubal factor infertility, male factor infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. I also help couples in the LGBTQ+ community who want to start a family. In addition, my practice heavily focuses on fertility preservation, whether it is elective egg-freezing to delay childbearing or preservation due to a cancer diagnosis. I am proud to assist patients in achieving their long-term family goals through compassionate care, aiming to transform their treatment journey into a positive experience.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT PASSION PROJECT?
Dr. Mandelbaum: As an admitted needle-phobe and after hearing so many patients express anxiety over the injections involved with in vitro fertilization (IVF), I became motivated to improve the process by removing self-injections from the equation. Needle-free IVF is a program I created using a small subcutaneous catheter to administer all the medications for ovarian stimulation. I first trialed the catheter on myself two years ago during my own IVF cycle and subsequently completed a clinical trial, now published, proving that the catheter led to equivalent hormone levels as if needle injections were used. I am so thrilled to now offer this technology to my patients to hopefully remove this barrier to treatment and improve the experience of IVF or egg-freezing.
WHAT STRUGGLES HAVE YOU FACED IN YOUR WORK?
Dr. Wertheimer: The biggest challenge I had to overcome during residency was that of trying to grow my family and nurture my relationships. The residency training hours are long and grueling, and I felt little grace for the physical challenges that come along with pregnancy and new motherhood. There is a famous saying that women are expected to “work like they are not mothers and mother like they do not work,” and I have found this to be true time and time again. It is for this reason that in my current practice, my team and I will try all reasonable measures to accommodate our patients’ needs during their stimulations. Fertility treatments are hard enough without thinking of your life’s responsibilities and deadlines as well.
L to R, back: Alison Peck, MD, Rachel Mandelbaum, MD, Sahar Wertheimer, MD
Front: Irene Woo, MD, Sasha Hakman MD
WOMEN WHO LEAD
MEGHAN PRESSMAN
Managing Director/CEO, Center Theatre Group
Center Theatre Group is an arts organization that programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman joined Center Theatre Group in 2019 and has worked professionally in theatre for more than 20 years. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in theatre management from Yale School of Drama and a Master of Business Administration from Yale School of Management.
WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE THIS CAREER?
I grew up in theatre. My mother, Debbie, was a professional actress in New York and has taught theatre to hundreds of students. I was in an off-off-Broadway production in grade school and have been hooked ever since. I am grateful for the opportunity to support great artists in connecting to the audience and the community.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU STAND OUT?
As the largest not-for-profit theatre company outside New York City, Center Theatre Group is committed to ensuring that every Angeleno can see themselves on stage and feel welcome. We produce and present 10 to 20 groundbreaking productions each year and invite thousands of local students to the theatre for free.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT PASSION PROJECT?
In October we are creating a new production of the musical American Idiot in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre. I love bringing this show back to life at the same time as the 20th anniversary of the Green Day album it is based on. Incorporating deaf performers into the production really changes and deepens the story in thrilling ways.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN?
Mentorship! Women can help promote each other’s professional development and source career opportunities. Don’t just wait for people to seek you out as a mentor. Look for talent and approach women you work with to see how you can help progress their interests.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
My husband, Josh, and I live with our two kids, Cairo, 12, and Moxie, 9, in Los Feliz. My mom is with us for about half the year. We love exploring the world, including Namibia, Scotland, Turks and Caicos, and Flagstaff this past year.
WOMEN WHO LEAD
MARLENE GEIBELSON & DAYNA CAMPBELL
Realtors®, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Mother-daughter Realtor team Marlene Geibelson and Dayna Campbell work with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties and have a combined experience of more than 42 years in real estate. Marlene has received several Top Producer awards and ranks among the top 10% of sales associates at Berkshire Hathaway. Dayna started selling real estate in 2015 and holds the National Association of Realtors’ GREEN designation.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THE VALLEY?
We are Valley natives! Marlene went to Grant High School and graduated with her bachelor's degree from UCLA. Dayna went to Portola Junior High and Birmingham High School and graduated from Cal State, Northridge.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES AUTHENTICITY PLAY INTO YOUR BUSINESS MODEL?
We believe that people want to work with people they genuinely like. We are friendly and have integrity. We rely on our prior transactions to lead us to the next one. We believe in being honest with our clients throughout the process so they trust us inherently with their most treasured investment. We are patient and willing to explain everything—to go the extra mile, always. We also believe this to be true for our relationships with other agents. Credibility and communication is everything in the real estate business.
WHAT TREND ARE YOU LEADING?
This year we listed the first Phius-certified passive home to be sold in Los Angeles. The house meets (and in many cases exceeds) the stringent standards for creating a nearly hypoallergenic living environment and ultimately operates at net zero. With its solar panel system, the home generates more electricity than it needs to operate and can run almost essentially off the grid. It’s an incredible concept to see in Studio City and a building technique we wholeheartedly believe can and should change the way builders develop and construct new projects. We will list a second passive/net-zero home for sale later this year in Sherman Oaks that adopts these same principles— saving homeowners money and also creating the healthiest possible living environment.
Founder & President, The Payab Group | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Stephanie Payab is an award-winning Realtor® who has worked in the industry for over 20 years. She created The Payab Group in 2016 to assist clients in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.
WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE THIS CAREER?
I love people, and I love hearing people’s stories! I am a natural problem-solver, so applying that skill to real estate seemed like a no-brainer. I get so excited when I find a property that I know a client is going to love because it checks all their boxes.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU STAND OUT?
My pink hair, of course! Beyond that, it’s our team approach. We blend unique personalities with exceptional expertise to provide an unforgettable, enjoyable real estate experience.
MULTITASK OR SINGLE FOCUS?
I multitask within my multitasking! You can have many clients at once, but they are all at different stages of their property journeys. It’s my job to stay organized and on top of the process for each one of them. It’s like juggling—no, please don’t throw tennis balls my way! Just the metaphoric ones like open houses, writing the offer or inspections.
SHARE SOME REAL ESTATE WORDS OF WISDOM. The real estate market constantly fluctuates, making it crucial for buyers and sellers to understand that the present is always the best time to engage. The best advice I can give: Stay calm, cool and collected, and always be ready to roll with the punches.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT PASSION PROJECT?
I am passionate about mastering changes in the industry. Staying ahead of the curve allows me to explain things clearly to clients, allowing everyone to feel informed.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES AUTHENTICITY PLAY INTO YOUR BUSINESS MODEL?
It’s so important to work with an authentic real estate professional. It can be overwhelming to the buyer or seller who’s not familiar with the protocols and verbiage. I will always tell them what they need to know.
Los Angeles Jewish Health, an award-winning nonprofit senior health care provider that was founded more than a century ago, offers an array of programs and activities for more than 4,000 older adults throughout Greater Los Angeles. Chief Operating Officer Larissa Stepanians joined the organization in 2013 and has worked in health care for more than 20 years.
WHY HAS THERE BEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NEW SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS RECENTLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY?
The number of people aging into the senior market is growing dramatically, and there is certainly a need for additional senior living accommodations. This need is why at Los Angeles Jewish Health, we have plans underway for growth and expansion with new facilities as we refresh and update our existing locations. Today’s older adults are quite sophisticated. Many have spent years working outside the home providing for the needs of their families and loved ones. Now it’s their turn to relax and enjoy their retirement years in the way they choose. We will be here to support them each step of the way.
WHAT
LED YOU TO THIS CAREER?
When I was a teenager, I volunteered at Keiro Senior Healthcare located at the original site of Los Angeles Jewish Health in Boyle Heights. This early experience deeply resonated with me, and I realized I wanted to make providing both health and care for seniors—especially those in need—my life’s work.
WHAT
ARE THE LATEST TRENDS IN YOUR INDUSTRY THAT YOU’RE LOVING?
One of the things that is exciting in senior care right now is that there are many of us working to ensure that we are meeting the needs of today’s seniors wherever their care needs might be at that moment. For instance, you may come to us very active, perhaps still working and seeking quality, safe, independent living options. As the years go by, you may require increasing levels of care and can remain in the Los Angeles Jewish Health continuum of care community. We specialize in coordinating care and services, from our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly to short-term rehabilitation following a hip replacement, memory and specialized geriatric medical care, and hospice and palliative care services.
GINA MICHELLE
Director, Estates Division, The Agency
Gina Michelle runs a high-volume real estate team at The Agency, focusing on the Valley and Calabasas. She has achieved more than $1 billion in career sales and has been recognized among the top 1% of real estate agents nationwide by RealTrends every year from 2019 to 2024. Gina has been named as one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Dynamic Brokers and is ranked by RealTrends as #12 Small Team in California and #39 Small Team nationwide. Her team has been named Top Team in the Valley and one of Los Angeles Magazine’s Real Estate All-Stars for five consecutive years. Gina has been a licensed real estate broker since 2005, and she joined The Agency in 2018.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR MARKET?
My business partner, George, and I run our team with a white-glove, concierge-level customer service approach above everything else. Buying or selling a home can be extremely stressful, and we ensure that this process is professional, easy and as fun as it possibly can be. That level of service has contributed to our success in this field, since 90% of our business comes from referrals.
WHAT STRUGGLES HAVE YOU FACED?
I think my biggest challenge, both personally and professionally, is the constant push and pull of a successful career and also being a mom of two children, one of whom is a special-needs child. My daughter has a very rare seizure disorder and is on the spectrum, and the balancing act that is required is intense at times! While it is a mountain to climb, these challenges have made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t change any of it.
HOW DO YOU FOSTER A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT?
It is a priority that I have a positive attitude, and my team knows that is what they are going to get from me every single day. Real estate is not an easy business. However, most stress will come from the way that you respond, not from the actual situation. Adjust the lens, change how you see things, look for the positive in every situation— that will foster a positive work environment.
Anew luxury Life Plan Community—offering both independent living residences and access to higher levels of care on a single campus—is in the works in Calabasas. Designed for residents ages 60+, Livelle is accepting priority deposits to reserve specific residences preconstruction. California Commercial Investment Companies (CCI), a Westlake Village-based property management and development firm, is creating Livelle in collaboration with Life Care Services, a leader in senior living development, which will manage the new community. Danielle Hastie is the CEO of CCI and has more than 20 years of experience acquiring, developing and managing real estate. Dana Holden, sales and marketing director for Life Care Services, has over 20 years of experience in sales, with 10 years in senior wellness.
TELL US ABOUT LIVELLE.
This future community highlights a pristine 19-acre California landscape with open space and walking paths in an area where large sections of open land are fewer and fewer. Livelle will offer resort-style living designed for those who love the area and have
the desire to leave the responsibility of homeownership behind while enjoying services and amenities that promote wellness and longevity—a true oasis where sophistication and nature meet. We will offer a host of amenities and curated activities, including a resort-style pool, gardening areas, a gourmet restaurant and alfresco dining areas, a wine bar, classrooms, a fitness center, a theater, a dog park and outdoor game courts.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN YOUR FIELD?
We both have always had an affinity for innovation and housing to support our growing and aging population. We are inspired to create an opportunity that doesn’t exist in this area. Livelle will be a community where residents can live comfortably and thrive.
SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ON YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY.
There is not a single business leader who accomplishes greatness without help and inspiration from others. Community serves to lift us and make us better; all of our successes are joint successes.
WOMEN WHO LEAD
SHIRLI DEPAS DINER
Realtor®, Shirli Depas Diner Real Estate | Rodeo Realty
Shirli Depas Diner is a real estate agent with Rodeo Realty as well as a certified life coach, business coach and master neurolinguistic programming practitioner. Born in Israel, Shirli moved to the United States 20 years ago with her husband, Tzvika, with whom she has four children. She owns a property management company and is the CEO of Sunshine Life Coaching. Shirli is deeply involved in the community, volunteering her time for nonprofit organizations such as the Israeli American Council and Larger Than Life.
WHAT WORDS OF WISDOM DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN IN BUSINESS?
Throughout my journey in real estate, I have embraced a myriad of roles—leading a construction company, managing properties and developing homes. These experiences have provided me with a unique perspective but also a persistent challenge: continually proving my worth to those who may not fully grasp my diverse background, particularly in sales. To my fellow women in real estate and beyond, I urge you to celebrate the distinctive path that has shaped you and the strengths it has nurtured; boldly display your wide-ranging expertise without hesitation; assert your place at the table with unwavering confidence; push through skepticism with determination; use your unique perspective to drive innovation and achieve greatness; and support one another, amplifying each other’s voices and contributions. Let our shared experiences and collective wisdom illuminate a path toward a more inclusive, vibrant future.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES AUTHENTICITY PLAY INTO YOUR BUSINESS MODEL?
Authenticity is the very heartbeat of my business model. By being genuine, transparent and true to myself, I cultivate a powerful ripple effect of trust, empathy and connection with my clients and community. In embracing authenticity, I’ve learned that true success lies not only in achievements but in living a life that genuinely reflects my soul.
WHOM DO YOU CREDIT FOR YOUR SUCCESS?
I owe my professional success to my incredible parents, who have been my foundation, guiding light and unwavering support. Despite the financial struggles we faced as a family, they taught me the power of perseverance, hope and the importance of following my dreams. I am forever grateful for their sacrifices, wisdom and constant support.
WOMEN WHO LEAD
ADI LIVYATAN
Luxury Estates Director, The Livyatan Group | Rodeo Realty
The Livyatan Group is a real estate team specializing in development and new construction across Los Angeles. Owner Adi Livyatan began her real estate career with Rodeo Realty in 2009 and later founded The Livyatan Group within Rodeo. She has become a trusted resource for builders and investors, assisting with land acquisition, architectural consulting and selling the completed projects.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE?
I’ve always had a passion for real estate, construction and design—especially the transformation of land into someone’s dream home. My goal was to set records in the San Fernando Valley, and my team and I have done just that throughout the Valley, particularly in Encino.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR MARKET?
I stand out as a true expert in real estate development, with extensive knowledge of construction costs, zoning regulations and the best styles for different locations. Given the potential pitfalls and common mistakes, my role is to educate clients from the outset, ensuring a smooth process and ultimately a swift sale of their property.
HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK?
I am deeply involved in my community, where a significant portion of my business originates, including as a member and co-chair of the Israeli American Council. I truly believe in the importance of being engaged in and contributing to the places we live and work.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE?
As a woman in the industry, I feel a strong drive to demonstrate that I can achieve as much as anyone else. I believe that being a woman brings unique advantages to any business for many reasons. While I don’t focus on my gender, I strive to excel in my work, trusting that success will naturally follow.
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT WOMEN IN BUSINESS?
I always make it a point to support and cheer on other women. There’s room for everyone to succeed. I firmly believe in karma—what you give comes back to you. I’ve always enjoyed helping women in my industry—answering questions and offering support whenever I can.
The Boomer Building Boom
WITH OUR LAND EXPANSE AND AGING POPULATION, THE VALLEY HAS BECOME A PRIME LOCATION FOR DEVELOPERS OF SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENCES. FROM CALABASAS TO ENCINO, NEW CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY. THESE HOMES OFFER SENIORS CONVENIENT HUMAN CONNECTION, LUXURIOUS AMENITIES, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LATE-LIFE PEACE OF MIND.
Written by Robert Earle Howells
The
silver tsunami is upon us. That demographic storm we’ve been hearing about for years is reality now, as more than 12,000 American baby boomers are turning 65 every day.
The sheer numbers amplify the perennial concerns of seniors: How to live as happily and healthfully as possible. How to stay socially connected and avoid debilitating loneliness. How to find safe living situations, efficient transportation, convenient access to health care.
Here in the Valley, one option, an innovative senior living concept called Life Plan Community (also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community) addresses all of those concerns. Toss out your old notions of a retirement community, assisted living facility, nursing home, or board-and-care. Life Plan Communities are bright, happy, upscale, resortlike communities that offer a full range of living and care situations right on-site. In a Life Plan Community, you buy in to an attractive dwelling where you live independently, even luxuriously, and enjoy a deluxe menu of recreational and dining options. Then, if and when you need any level of dedicated care—acute or long-term—it’s right there with no need to hire caretakers or trouble your family.
Two new Life Plan Communities are on the horizon in the Valley. Wisteria at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, slated to open in the first quarter of 2026, offers lovely residences that range from one-bedroom condos to multimillion-dollar homes with expansive views. The master-planned community has a country club-like vibe with a clubhouse and gym, several restaurants, a hair salon and an aquatic center with a retractable roof. It will also have a mixed-use component with several onsite independent retailers and eateries bordering Canoga Avenue and Burbank Boulevard. Wisteria is a sister community to University Village in Thousand Oaks.
Troy Bourne, a partner in Wisteria and a principal with Streiker Senior Development Partners—developers of Wisteria, University Village, and six other Life Plan Communities in California—fleshes out that characterization. “Yes, we offer a range of homes, multiple health spas, restaurants, coffee houses, and all sorts of activities.” And like other Life Plan Communities,
This photo and on left: The Variel at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, sister property to The Vered in Encino. Below: Wisteria, also in Woodland Hills, is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026.
residents are freed from the obligations of homeownership—all maintenance and upkeep are included. “But where we differ from, say, a golf course retirement community in Palm Springs, is in comprehensive care at all levels. The idea is that you can truly age in place and have geographic continuity. You don’t need to move as your needs change.”
If those changing needs require assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing, those services “are just a phone call away,” adds Bourne. “You know right where you’re going to get whatever you need.”
Bourne says this particularly appeals to a certain type of senior. “Our residents tend to be planners. They’ve planned for every life stage. They’re not necessarily wealthy, but they have usually paid off their home. They have a financial plan even if they’re not rich.”
Another Life Plan Community, Livelle Mulholland, is slated to rise in Calabasas on a 19-acre property adjacent to the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Construction hasn’t begun at Livelle—completion is expected to be in 2028. Like Wisteria, it’s a 60+ community that will offer independent living residences, and access to health care on site. Also like Wisteria, the development is designed to encourage community and connection. Among the planned perks are multiple
restaurants and a wine bar, pool, saunas, pickleball, a theater, a dog park and walking trails.
“It’s about healthy living,” says Livelle’s marketing and sales director, Dana Holden. (The name Livelle is a mash-up of “live well.”) “Livelle is a place for people who enjoy an infusion of nature and luxury with the comfort of being supported, and enjoying quality of life.” As at any Life Plan Community, the concept of community is a strong emphasis at Livelle. Obviously, given the abundance of recreational opportunities, friendships can be easy to forge and isolation easy to avoid. But some folks are considering bringing their friendships with them. Dana cites a Tarzana resident who heard about Livelle and spread the word among his longtime neighbors, all in their 70s. “There is a good chance that they might all wind up living at Livelle— continuing their friendship.”
Livelle has not yet broken ground, but is accepting $1,000 deposits that secure preconstruction pricing and a choice of location. That raises an obvious question: How do these communities work? How do you buy in, and what exactly does that get you?
At both Livelle and Wisteria, customers buy in by paying an entry fee that secures them a place to live. Entry fees depend on the type of home selected, but
Livelle Mulholland in Calabasas, slated to open in 2028.
When The Vered of Encino opens in early 2025, you’ll discover a more graceful approach to assisted living and memory care. Surround yourself with the timeless glamour of old Hollywood as you live in dignity and style. ELEVATED senior living SUPPORTIVE CARE with attention
at both communities they begin in the $500,000s and range upward. Many residents use the proceeds from the sale of their current home to cover the entrance fee.
Dana clarifies that this is “not a real estate transaction. The contract buys you the right to occupy the space.” Residents are therefore not homeowners. The bulk of the entry fee is repaid to the resident should they leave, or to the estate when they pass away. In addition to that, residents pay a monthly fee proportional to the size of their home that covers maintenance, housekeeping, dining and recreation. On average, monthly fees run in the upper four figures.
That monthly fee also covers health services, but here the terms differ. Wisteria is what is known as a Type A community, where long-term care services are covered if and when they are needed: assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. Livelle is a Type B community, where assisted living and memory care are available on-site at an additional cost that residents pay only if such care is needed. Skilled nursing is not offered in a Type B community. You can expect to pay higher entry and monthly fees in a Type A community for the more comprehensive coverage.
Wisteria and Livelle are lively new options where prospective residents can lock in an attractive deal prior to their opening. But the Valley is also home to The Variel, a flourishing senior community at Warner Center that operates on a rental basis. It opened in 2022 and is
running at full capacity. And the concept of resortlike ambience is spilling over into assisted living/memory care facilities as well: to wit, The Variel’s sister property, The Vered, under construction on Ventura Boulevard in Encino (next to Encino Hospital) and Belmont Village in Calabasas. The Vered will offer 123 apartments with upscale decor of which 107 are equipped for assisted living residents; 16 are located within its memory care area.
“Our memory care will feature large floor-to-ceiling windows in common areas maximizing natural light,” shares Cassandra Moan, staff gerontologist at The Vered. “Studies have demonstrated that abundant natural light can significantly enhance the well-being of individuals living with dementia.” The Vered will also offer hybrid sensing technology that detects and analyzes critical events (such as falls) while residents are inside their apartments and notifies the staff to respond.
A word to the wise for careful life planners: The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) reports high demand for Life Plan Communities. NIC states that 90% of them nationwide are reporting an 80% or higher occupancy rate. To underscore that, Wisteria is still a year and a half from opening and has already sold 202 of its 486 units. The silver tsunami is calling for innovative living options. Fortunately, innovative developers here in the Valley are answering that call. ■
The Vered in Encino, due for completion in early 2025.
High-Tech Aging
FOR MOST OF US, LIFE IS NOT JUST ABOUT LIVING LONGER, BUT LIVING HEALTHIER AS LONG AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. THAT APPROACH, DUBBED “MEDICINE 3.0,” ESPOUSES BEING PROACTIVE, GAINING KNOWLEDGE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR BODIES, AND PUTTING PLANS IN PLACE NOW TO OPTIMIZE HEALTH AND REAP BENEFITS LATER.
Written by Linda Grasso
For all its successes, mainstream medicine has failed to make much progress against the diseases of aging that kill most people: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes. When those diseases strike, we seek treatments—but often it is too late. We may continue living, but our quality of life decreases.
Enter medicine 3.0—a new school of thought being embraced by a growing number of physicians as well as health and longevity centers around the country. This approach goes beyond even functional medicine which, instead of merely treating symptoms, is aimed at addressing the root cause of a health issue or illness.
Medicine 3.0 takes it a step further. It advocates for people to undergo a battery of diagnostic—and in some cases, high-tech—tests to learn about their body. The information yielded is then used to formulate plans of action for maintaining peak cognitive, physical and metabolic health.
Medicine 3.0 has become a water cooler topic of late partly due to the 2023 New York Times bestseller Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity—a manifesto on living better and longer by physician Peter Attia and coauthor Bill Gifford. In it, Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques
for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health.
Biomarkers—measurements of blood, tissue or other bodily fluids that can indicate a disease or condition— are an important tool in medicine 3.0. And they are a critical measurement used in the health and longevity centers that have popped up all over the country. At the Westlake Village Center for Health & Wellbeing (part of the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village), biomarkers are credited for taking a lot of the guesswork out of health evaluations.
“People have a lot more knowledge and information than they ever did before,” says the center’s executive director, Victoria Nickle. “People used to think, ‘Hey, I smoke. I might get lung cancer, but I might not because my grandma smoked until she was 101, and she’s great.’ But with so much testing available, people are starting to take hold of their health a bit more and realize that you can actually get data based on where you are at right now. And when you make any change, no matter how small, you can actually start staving off the progression of inevitable decline.”
Cenegenics is another longevity-focused health center in SoCal. Founded in 1997, it now runs 22 centers across the U.S., including one in Beverly Hills. Rudy Inaba, Cenegenics’ vice president of performance health, says the company’s growth is reflective of our growing shift in mindset about aging.
“It used to be like I want to live to be a certain age, and I accept the fact that I’m not going to be able to lift weights or pick up my grandchild,” says Rudy. “Look, we are all going to get older, and things will get harder. But you don’t have to accept that there is nothing you can do. There are concrete things you can do to maintain, preserve and maximize.”
Patients at longevity facilities run the full gamut— from high-performing, highly stressed, fatigued executives to people who have recently experienced a health scare or loss of a loved one. Patients typically undergo a daylong series of tests. Then, results in hand, they meet with a roster of professionals—physicians, nutritionists, fitness coaches, sleep experts and therapists—who
“THERE ARE CONCRETE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAINTAIN, PRESERVE AND MAXIMIZE.”
create a plan of action.
Both Cenegenics and Westlake Village Center point to the VO2 max test as a critical tool in evaluating health. VO2 max is a measurement of your body’s ability to consume and utilize oxygen. In other words, a measurement of fitness. The 15-minute test, performed while you’re on a bike and connected to a machine that analyzes expired air, provides data on pulmonary health. “We want to see how well your heart, lungs and muscles work during exercise,” Rudy explains.
A VO2 max reading can determine if a patient is having pulmonary, cardiovascular, blood vessel or muscular limitations. How well a patient recovers from the test is also insightful. Assessing recovery can be a strong measure of cardiovascular risk.
While many people opt for what they believe are quick fixes such as cleanses, fad diets and miracle supplements to feel better, longevity experts concur that fitness is a smarter choice.
“Just improving fitness helps establish better nutrition, sleep, stress management, strength, and cardiovascular health,” Rudy shares. “Typically if someone really doubles down on fitness—essentially saying ‘I’m going to do everything in my power to improve my fitness level’—that’s going to optimize your health span and longevity.”
Another popular test offered at both facilities: the DEXA scan, a noninvasive body composition test that measures bone density, body fat and lean muscle mass. That information can help assess, for example, your risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures.
Why is all this information worth knowing? It could
Both Cenegenics and Westlake Village Center offer the VO2 max test, which measures your body’s ability to consume and utilize oxygen.
save your life. Take hip fracture risk, for example. More than 300,000 Americans over the age of 65 suffer a hip fracture each year. According to the National Institutes of Health, mortality within one year of the fracture ranges from 18% to 33%. The increased risk persists even beyond 10 years of the break. Bottom line: A good plan of action includes steps that you can take now to avoid this type of injury in your twilight years.
This is why risk mitigation is critical part of medicine 3.0. If, for example, the DEXA scan shows too much body fat and not enough muscle mass, an appropriate diet and exercise plan can be implemented and other health risk factors can be identified.
Rudy explains: “In that kind of situation—too much fat and not enough muscle mass—we can identify risk factors related to sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass over time. Sarcopenia can impact lifestyle: not being able to put away groceries on the top shelf or walk from a far parking space. Those activities are all tied into how much muscle mass and how much muscular strength you have.” An exercise plan might be developed to build muscle mass through strength training, and a dietary plan to increase protein intake.
So what does a day at one of these facilities look like? Victoria says typically a patient at the Westlake Village Center will undergo a full physical exam, and each service provided will lead to the next one. For example, a patient might go for a chest X-ray and a DEXA scan in the morning and then in the afternoon undergo performance testing. By afternoon, the test results of the X-ray and the scan are available. So by the time the patient does a VO2 max test, the clinical exercise physiologists have the information from the morning’s tests at hand. Late in the day a patient might do
brain mapping, in which electrodes are used to see how your brain responds to stress. Patients who suffer from stress and anxiety can meet with a licensed therapist who can share cognitive behavioral techniques to help them cope.
What about cost? First: Count on most of it being out of pocket. While insurance may cover a test here or there, most patients pay themselves. Secondly: It is not cheap.
An entry-level program at Cenegenics is $1,500 a year (including DEXA scans and VO2 max tests each quarter), rising to $4,495 for a full performance health assessment. That includes a comprehensive set of labs that are drawn at your home, analzing everything from organ function to cardiovascular and hormone health. The ultimate performance health assessment at Cenegenics includes, among other things, a full-body MRI as well as a CCTA (coronary computed tomography angiography), which shows one’s risk of having a cardiovascular event. The ultimate assessment costs around $15,000.
Point of fact: You can get some of these tests without going to a longevity center, but it is worth noting that knowledge is one thing; what you do with it is another. I got a keen understanding of that this past year. My husband and I, both middle-agers who work hard to stay fit, decided to have a CT scan done on our hearts. We wanted to make sure everything was functioning properly. Our traditional internist sent us to a traditional cardiologist who delivered our test results: “Everything is OK for both of you. No problems spotted.” A medicine 3.0 conversation might have gone like this: Your tests showed you are in the healthy range. Now, what can we do to optimize the health of your heart, helping it function even better at your age and beyond? Now, that would have been interesting. ■
— David Kramer PRESIDENT, HILTON
Nobody does it better...
Don’t take my word for it. Here is what my clients say…
We are happy to write this letter as a testimonial of our endorsement of Carol Wolfe, who recently represented us in the sale of our Encino residence. We had been represented by another agent/agency earlier, unsuccessfully, and withdrew our home from the market, and re-listed with Carol a short time later. The real estate market is not fully predictable, but being represented by someone with integrity and perpetual availability, who knows the marketplace, is truly important. We found Carol to have these qualities and more; she has vast experience, she’s been very successful in her business for many years, yet her down to earth, personal and hands on approach remains her strongest points. There is none of the flashiness and hype of other “high end agents,” who then fail to deliver on their promises; Carol is seemingly always available, responds quickly to questions and addresses issues with honesty and expedience. Thank you, Carol, for helping us through the process; we are pleased to recommend your services to anyone interested in buying/selling in Encino and surrounding areas, and are confident they will not be disappointed with your representation. Bob and Andrea Decker
Don’t take my word for it. Here is what my clients say…
You took me by the hand and led me through every step of the way with kindness, understanding, and ability. You not only sold my house, but you also got me an apartment. Your knowledge, compassion, and understanding of how difficult it is to sell a house you have lived in for 49 years enabled you to take care of everything for me and made it a completely pain-free process. I will always be extremely grateful for everything you did to make this transition easy. Arlene Ginsberg
Carol Wolfe was referred to us by a person in a realty associated business, as being one of the top producers in the area. We interviewed four experienced, highly rated realtors and chose her to be our agent. Our deciding factor was her extensive experience in local real estate and her negotiating acumen. We were not disappointed. Carol was professional, efficient, effective and knew all the ins and outs of the various laws and potential pitfalls. Her marketing strategy got us the best price for the house (with multiple offers) – $501,000 over asking! Most importantly, she was on top of all the details at every step and her lightning fast follow-ups ensured a smooth and surprise free experience. She was patient with our questions and was always friendly and helpful. We highly recommend you consider her for your own home sale or purchase! Jessica Feldman
Matchbook Memories
Remember when customized matchbooks used to be customary? And, of course, complimentary. Restaurants and other businesses used to offer them at checkout. Not just good promotion (“merch,” as it’s now called), but also a customer service.
Matchbook manufacturing peaked during the 1940s and ’50s, when cigarette smoking was at a high—an estimated 45% of American adults smoked in 1954. Health concerns and antismoking campaigns lowered that percentage
steadily through the years. The availability of disposable lighters was another factor in matchbook decline. Due to their scarcity, matchbooks have become a popular collectible. The most expensive matchbook on record was purchased in 2015 by Kevin Saucier in Santa Ana. The rare matchbook was created for a Charles Lindbergh dinner celebration in 1927, the year of his solo transatlantic flight. It sold for $6,000—even though it was missing four matches. ■
