Playa vista direct by Playa Vista Direct

April 路 May 2016

Premiere

Issue

Music Night @ YouTube Space LA A Taco Tour of Sol Cocina Google Teaches Kids to Code

D i r e c t

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Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 3

Contents

Vol. 1 | No. 1

EDITOR’S NOTE

HEALTH

6 A New Magazine for a New Community COMMUNITY

2 8 LA Clippers Team Nutritionist Meg Mangano on How to Eat Like an NBA Star

8 Biscuits, Barks & Brew @ Oberrieder Dog Park

FOOD

10 Music Night @ YouTube Space LA

32 Take a Taco Tour of Mexico with Sol Cocina Head Chef Tia Baker

12 Super League Gaming @ Cinemark

SHOPPING

PEOPLE

40 Join the Sisterhood of the 14 Google’s Jennifer Vaden Barth Teaches Traveling Wine Gift Bag Kids to Code at Playa Vista Elementary 2 0 Developer Randy Johnson on Bombs, Bones and Other Surprises while Building Playa Vista

E VENTS 4 Get Ready for Concerts 4 and Movies in the Park

HOME 22 Marlowe at Playa Vista’s “slingshot” design gives every room an impressive view

GROUP EVENTS THAT WOW

corporate events | social celebrations 5,000 sq. ft. ballroom | pool with cabanas Barbianca Local Kitchen custom catering | up to 300 people Contact jeanninep@hotelmdr.com or at 310-577-6064.

ON THE COVER: Playa Vista residents Peggy and Brian Moreno spend an afternoon out with the kids by the fountain at Common Grounds. Photo by Susan Werner (wernerphoto.com). Design by Michael Kraxenberger.

H E Y, N E I G H B O R …

WELCOME TO THE MdR KIND OF WATERING HOLE Mix a spoonful of northern Italian fare with a dash of Napa Valley sensibilities and you get Barbianca Local Kitchen. A neighborhood favorite in Marina del Rey located inside Hotel MdR. LOCALS ONLY RECEIVE 20% OFF* at Barbianca Local Kitchen when you mention this ad. Barbianca Local Kitchen at Hotel MdR reservations: 310-577-6039 • barbianca.com • 13480 Maxella Ave. • Marina del Rey 90292 *Food items only. Not valid during Happy Hour. Expires 12/31/16.

4 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

w w w.JesseWeinberg.com

Jesse WeinBeRG vivian lesny 310.995.6779 Ca BRe #01435805

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Pl aya Vista sPecialists

RecORd sale

fOR sale MaTisse- 6651 seaBlUff dR. 4Bd/3 Ba 2,681 sq.fT. $1,849,000

RecORd sale

CaPRi CoURT- 5742 kiyoT Way 3 Bd/3 Ba 2,849 sq.fT. $2,020,000

RecORd sale

BRidGeWay Mills- 5400 Playa visTa dR. #25 2 Bd/2.5 Ba 2,200 sq.fT. $1,100,000

leased

PRiMeRa TeRRa- 12920 RUnWay Rd. #161 3 Bd/2 Ba 1,310 sq.fT. $965,000

leased

PRoMendade- 13044 PaCifiC PRoM #406 2 Bd/2.5 Ba 1,488 sq.fT. $3,995/Mo

TeMPo- 6020 seaBlUff dR. #403 2 Bd/2 Ba 1,260 sq.fT. $3,750/Mo

RecORd sale

TaPesTRy ii- 6020 Celedon CReek 3 Bd/3.5 Ba 3,130 sq.fT. $1,515,000

leased skylaR- 12491 osPRey #3 3 Bd/3 Ba 2,027 sq.fT.

PaRaiso- 13173 PaCifiC PRoMenade #205 2 Bd/2.5 Ba 2,215 sq.fT. $1,150,000

RecORd lease $6,400/Mo

leased CResCenT PaRk-13200 PaCifiC PRoM #217 1 Bd/1 Ba 623 sq.fT. $2,395/Mo

CaMden- 12895 W. RUnWay Rd. #1 3 Bd/3 Ba 1,6015 sq.fT. $5,700/Mo

cOMiNG sOON esPlanade - 13080 PaCifiC PRoMendade 2 Bd/2.5 Ba 1,714 sq.fT. $949,000

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Playa Vista Direct | April 路 May 2016 5

4/1/2016 3:40:18 PM

E ditor ’ s N ote

Creating a Visible Community

laya Vista has become famous as the Southern California home of such tech giants as YouTube, Facebook and, very soon, Google. But these aren’t the first innovators to thrive on this land. It was here in the 1940s that aerospace engineer and business tycoon Howard Hughes designed and built “the world’s largest flying boat” — the H-4 Hercules, nicknamed the Spruce Goose. As of late, the ground south of Ballona Creek and east of Lincoln Boulevard has been fertile in other, more literal ways: Playa Vista is in the midst of a baby boom. In this premiere issue, Brookfield Residential Executive Vice President Randy Johnson describes how the development of Playa Vista shifted from building mostly two bedroom homes to being more “bedroomcentric” — creating homes with three, four and even five bedrooms to accommodate the hundreds of babies born here over the last four years. Jobs in tech first attracted people to Playa Vista, but our local elementary school has made it a more complete community in which to raise a family. Google executive and Playa Vista mom Jennifer Vaden Barth, who teaches Playa Vista Elementary School students how to code and is also featured in our inaugural issue, talks about the importance of fostering tech-savvy creativity in our kids. “So many beautiful things are possible,” she says. “Who knows what these kids could be inspired to create for the world?” This isn’t the first time children have thrived near the Ballona Creek. As far back as 8,000 years ago, the Gabrielino-Tongva people raised families here too, sustained on the natural flora and fauna found in and around what we call the Ballona Wetlands. They wouldn’t recognize the technological advances being developed by local businesses like Belkin or understand the importance a YouTube channel plays in the career of a young musician, but they would understand the importance of community. Their survival literally depended on it. Playa Vista Direct aims to nurture community bonds in the modern village that is growing here so quickly. In your hands every other month and online at playavistadirect.com, Playa Vista Direct is dedicated to telling stories about the people, places and events that define the Playa Vista experience. Think of us as a community mixer in your mailbox. We’re excited to celebrate all the blessings of 21st-century living as creativity and community continue to thrive here in Playa Vista. Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com 6 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Alyssa Bruell Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case Evan Henerson Contributing Photographers Nicolas Bates Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo Shilah Montiel Ted Soqui Susan Werner Graphic Designers Kate Doll Nicholette Stephens Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy David Maury Jillian Libenson Advertising Director Steve Nakutin Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Publisher David Comden

(310) 822-1629

5301 Beethoven St., Los Angeles CA 90066 Playa Vista Direct is direct-mailed every other month to homes and businesses in the 90094 area code, with additional distribution to multiple office and retail locations throughout the Playa Vista area. © Southland Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. PLAYAVISTADIRECT.COM

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Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 7

community Photos by Susan Werner

Biscuits, Barks & Brew @ Oberrieder Dog Park The morning after a rare Los Angeles rainstorm showered the local Muttropolis, the skies above Playa Vista’s Oberrieder Dog Park looked doggone terrier-ific. This pooch pawty, sponsored by Playa Vista’s Brookfield Residential, generously provided dog parents free bagels, shmears, coffee and juice from Noah’s Bagels to make for a pawsitively fun Saturday morning. Eric Wiese, owner of Happy Puppy Dog Training, was giving out dog treats along with the folks from Bruno’s Dog and Cat Boutique (both pugnacious businesses have locations in nearby Venice Beach), but more than one hungry hound enjoyed some New York-style fi-dough. Stella Cimmarrusti attended the canine cabal with her chocolate Labrador, Sawyer. When we caught Cimmarrusti sharing her sesame bagel with her barking bestie, we couldn’t help but wonder if Sawyer is actually her “doggelganger.” 8 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

1 Lola, a five-year-old English bulldog, enjoys some morning sunshine with her dad. 2 Austin and his dog Chewy cruising in a mini red Ferrarri. 3 Local dog owners nosh on Noah’s Bagels on the basketball court next to Oberrieder. 4 Rashi Khanna, operations manager for Happy Puppy Dog Training, and her newly adopted puppy Rupert say ‘good morning’ to neighbor Bill Yudin. 5 Sawyer, a chocolate Labrador, shares a bagel with Stella Cimmarrusti.

B R E A K FA S T | L U N C H | D I N N E R

4375 Glencoe Ave. Marina del Rey 90292 | 310.823.2283 | www.jnicholskitchen.com

community Photos by Nicolas Bates

Music Night @ YouTube Space LA Why go to a club when you can hang out at the studio? On March 2, YouTube Space LA welcomed hundreds of music fans for a series of short concerts in the spacious lobby of the 41,000-square-foot video production facility. Performers included Atlas Genius, Sonny Boy Thorn and Jordan Smith — each of whom has a large following on YouTube. But the standout hit of the night was Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. Many women in the audience came specifically to see her. “She’s important because she’s fearless and not afraid to be herself,” said event guest Noor Haydar, who has been following Yuna since the artist first started posting music videos online. “She pursues her passion unapologetically and has a beautiful voice.” Watching Yuna perform was “magical,” said Carissa Caparas, a deejay. “I’ve heard her through my headphones before, but I was blown away. I got the chills — and not because it was cold outside.” 10 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

1 Music fans arrive at the main entrance of YouTube Space LA. 2 Guests enjoy Fresh Brothers pizza and free drinks near a retro Hughes Aircraft Co. helicopter. 3 Writer, actress, musician and dedicated Yuna fan Tasneem was eager to attend because she’s interested in creating her own video content instead of “trying to get in on someone else’s creation.” Tasneem now has her own YouTube channel where she posts her original sketch comedy. 4 Australian alt-rock band Atlas Genius, whose song “Trojans” you’ve heard on KROQ at least a thousand times. 5 Yuna plays an acoustic set for devoted fans. She’ll release her third studio album in May.

4:40pm

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community Photos by Inae Bloom

Video Games Go to the Movies @ Cinemark Super League Gaming kicked off its second season of competitive electronic gaming in February at Cinemark in Runway at Playa Vista. Area kids equipped with laptops, headphones and computer mice teamed up to compete against each other in the world of Minecraft, a popular sandbox game where users either build their own worlds from scratch or collect and craft materials to survive against unfriendly elements. Their game play was projected on the big screen with sound effects in real time. Super League COO Brett Morris founded the eSports organization with a group of “L.A. dads” so that junior gamers, like his two daughters, would have a place to socialize and play after school, like he used to do when he hung out with his friends at arcades as a kid. The kids think he’s onto something. “It feels really cool,” says nine-year old Mailee Johnson of seeing her game play on the big screen. 12 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

1 Todd Warren, 13, and Justin Wilkins, 12, engage with Minecraft on the big and small screens. 2 Cameron Yang, 9, (left) plays with his younger brother Brandon, 8. 3 Minecraft explodes onto the big screen, showing a third-person “worldview” of the virtual landscape. 4 Mailee Johnson, 9, immerses herself in the world of Minecraft. 5 A member of Super League Gaming’s Action Squad helps players with some troubleshooting.

A A

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odern look with classical beauty of sophisticated 5br+ 5.5 bath Cape Cod-style home with nearly 3,900 sf of living space situated on an oversized 7,400 sf lot. Perfect open floor plan with a guest suite situated on the first floor, and three en-suite bedrooms and a spacious master bedroom CUS T O M E R A D P R O O F located upstairs. F O R T h E i S S U E D A T E D : APRil 2016 Two-story foyer entry leads to an open floor plan living room. 1629 Modern kitchen anchored by a large center island, custom made 310) 822-2089 cabinets and high end stainless steal appliances including dual dishwashers, dual laundry, 48” refrigerator, wine cooler, 6 burner cook top, dual oven, central vacuum and many more. The entire house is wired with Adobe 5 wifi control sound system throughout, surveillance camera system, low voltage and media lines. Both floors enjoy 10-ft coffered ceilings and soffits with decorative square LED lighting throughout. Masterodern suite lookfeatures with classicalprivate beauty of balcony, spacious dual walk-in closet, sophisticated 5br + 5.5 bath Cape Cod-style largehome Euro-tub, rain shower with build-in steam. with nearly 3,900sf of living space situated on an oversized 7,400 sf lot. Backyard with surrounding hedges, grass and outdoor seating with Perfect open floor plan with a guest suite situated on the first room for pool and spa addition. Make this home your floor,plenty and threeof en-suite bedrooms and a spacious master bedroom located upstairs. paradise.

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Two Brand New Beautiful Homes M

7807 Henefer Avenue, Westchester

Two-story foyer entry leads to an open floor plan living room. Modern kitchen anchored by a large center island, custom made cabinets and high end stainless steal appliances including dual dishwashers, dual laundry, 48” refrigerator, wine cooler, 6 burner cook top, dual oven, central vacuum and many more. The entire house is wired with Adobe 5 wifi control sound system throughout, surveillance camera system, low voltage and medial lines. Both floors enjoy 10-ft coffered ceilings and soffits with decorative LED lighting throughout. Master suite features private balcony, spacious dual walk-in closet, large Euro-tub, rain shower with build-in steam. Backyard with surrounding hedges, grass and outdoor seating with plenty of room for pool and spa addition. Make this home your paradise. $2,595,000.

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tunning modern home nestled in the heart of coveted sought after North Kentwood with warm contemporary architectural design. Chic 5bd +5.5 bath home boasting 3,800sf of living space with dramatic foyer entry stepping into open floor plan living room, dining room and kitchen, infusing deep rich wood floors, 10-ft high ceilings, modern décor finishes with sliding collapsing doors inviting an 7807 Henefer Avenue, Westchester exotic indoor-outdoor ambience positioned on a 7,700 sf lot tunning modern nestled in the heart withhome a peacefully Zen grass yard. of coveted sought after North Kentwood with Includes gourmet with dazzling grand center island warm contemporary architectural design. kitchen Chic 5bd +5.5 bath home boasting 3,800sf of living space with top-of-the-line appliances, swanky master suite featuring with dramatic foyer entry stepping into open floor plan living room, dining room and kitchen, infusing incredible bathroom, steam shower, huge walk-in closet and an deep rich wood floors, 10 ft high ceilings, modern oversized private décor finishes with sliding collapsinglarge doors inviting an balcony, with fireplace + space heaters, exotic indoor-outdoor ambience positioned a 7,700 overlooking theonyard. sf lot with a peacefully Zen grass yard. Includes gourmet kitchen dazzling grand center Thiswith magnificent home is also equipped with smart home island with top-of-the-line appliances, swanky master technology controlled by an iPad, keyless entry, Dolby 7 theater suite featuring incredible bathroom, steam shower, huge walk-in closet and an oversized large private sound system, internet and media ready wired, solar ready, LED balcony overlooking the yard. lights throughout, This magnificent home is also equipped with smartcentral vac, saltless soft water system, closehome technology controlled an iPad, keyless entry, circuitbysurveillance system, in-garage electric car charger outlets, Dolby 7 theater sound system, internet and media 7708 Henefer Avenue, Westchester $2,695,000 and more amenities. Welcome to modern Paradise. ready wired, solar ready, LEDmany lights throughout, central

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Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 13

Jennifer Vaden Barth and third-grader Morganne Craig

| April 路 May | P2016 14 Vista DirectDirect 14 Playa Playa Vista eople

P eople

Teaching Creativity with

Computer Science Google’s Jennifer Vaden Barth opens a whole new digital world to Playa Vista Elementary students By Stephanie Case

Photos by Shilah Montiel

n 2000, Jennifer Vaden Barth was a traveling stage actress who could perform rock operas in roller skates and belt Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” songbook in perfect German. For a year and a half, she crisscrossed America with the touring cast of “Ragtime,” splitting her days between stage wings and hotel rooms. Once, after a performance in Portland, Barth found a copy of USA Today on her hotel dresser. “The cover story was about Google,” she says, “this new company by two kids out of Stanford, and how they were turning the tech world on its ear.” She kept the article in her suitcase for three weeks, pulling it out in her spare time to linger over its words. “If I ever leave acting,” she thought to herself, “I want to work for a company like this.” Sixteen years and one bold career change later, Barth commands a different stage: a computer lab. Her audience: 30 Playa Vista elementary schoolers wearing headphones, their eyes glued to the lines of code on their desktop screens. As an education program manager at Google, Barth brings free computer science clubs to local schools, fostering the Westside’s newest generation of budding tech whizzes. In the Playa Vista Elementary School computer lab, kids as young

A CS First teaching moment with students Clara Hazlitt (left) and Allison Cunningham

as seven let their imaginations run rampant. Using CS First, a beginners’ coding program designed by Google engineers, they learn to animate colorful computerized scenes: dinosaurs running around a racetrack, pigs dancing, heroes fighting crime — even pixelated tacos raining from the sky. When it’s time to share their work, eager hands shoot in the air. “The energy and the excitement is there,” Barth says. “We want them to have that joy and freedom to just create.” Since Google debuted CS First in 2014, some 340,000 students across the

world — and roughly 40,000 in Los Angeles County —have gotten a jumpstart into the world of coding. Last spring, Barth introduced the club to Playa Vista, her family’s home base. Since then it’s caught on like wildfire, with full classrooms, waiting lists and dozens of parent volunteers. If musical theater was Barth’s first love, giving kids the opportunity to explore technology is her second. “It’s amazing to me,” she gushes. “Sometimes they just want to create fun videos, but there are kids who think, ‘I want to impact the community [through

(Continued on page 16)

Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 15

P eople

(Continued from page 15)

‘inventor’ or ‘engineer,’ I thought space and Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. I wasn’t really thinking that there would be something like Pixar one day. “When I’d see a black screen with green ones and zeros, I’d say, ‘That’s boring.’ But if I’d known there’s this artistry, this beauty behind it …” she mused. In computer science, just like in theater, creativity is boundless. “So many beautiful things are possible,” Barth says. “Who knows what these kids could be inspired to create for the world.” At Playa Vista Elementary, students can take on the world of code with Barth as their motivator. But outside of the lab, she has one personal goal: learning how to code for herself. Barth often rises before the sun, pours herself a cup of coffee, then tries her hand at CS First. “It keeps me humble,” she admits with a laugh. “But if you’re curious, there are always ways to learn.”

Photos by Shilah Montiel

coding]. I want to change the world.’” Some want to make their mark in music, using CS First to program songs and orchestrate music videos. Others have a taste for fashion, designing digital patterns and cartoon runway shows. Barth’s eight-year-old son Jackson, a CS First club veteran, wants to take the gaming industry by storm. “His idea of a perfect world is to work [as a software engineer] for Minecraft,” she says. Jackson and his young classmates are undoubtedly the digital generation: they live and breathe apps, use tablets and watch more YouTube than television. While her son is rapidly picking up computer science, Barth never learned to code herself. As a teen, she had an affinity for calculus and physics but dropped it to pursue a degree in musical theatre, figuring the stage would better sate her artistic bug. “As a girl, when I thought about

Jennifer Vaden Barth left musical theater for a very different kind of performance — teaching kids how to tell stories through computer code

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Photo by Ted Soqui

Brookfield Residential Executive Vice President Randy Johnson

18 Playa Vista Direct | April 路 May 2016

P eople

Bombs, Bones and

Big Surprises

After 18 years overseeing the development of Playa Vista, Randy Johnson has some stories to tell By Shanee Edwards

hough commuters along Jefferson Boulevard may beg to differ, Playa Vista didn’t spring up overnight. Nor did things always go smoothly. But that gives Randy Johnson, who has spent the past 18 years overseeing the construction of Playa Vista on the former grounds of the storied Hughes Aircraft Co., plenty of interesting stories to tell. There was the time that developers had to call in the FBI to remove shell casings from World War II bombs discovered in the dirt. As it turns out, Playa Vista’s history wasn’t just Hughes building his Spruce Goose — defense contractors also set up shop here over the years. But military-grade explosives weren’t all they found buried here. Excavations also turned up bones and ancient artifacts of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe, causing a fair amount of controversy when they were exhumed prior to construction until they were reinterred in 2008 at what’s now Discovery Park. And then there were the soil problems and the presence of methane gas — not to mention a fortune spent on litigation that went all the way up to the California Supreme Court. So the next time you pick up some organic nut milk from Whole Foods, know that it took detailed planning, leadership and sheer tenacity on the part

of many to bring L.A.’s newest neighborhood to fruition. Currently executive vice president of Playa Vista master developers Brookfield Residential, Johnson, 60, remembers when this was all mostly empty space. Johnson came to Southern California in 1979, seeing opportunity for growth and development that just didn’t exist in his native St. Louis. He came aboard the Playa Vista development project way back in 1989. With an all-star team of developers and a deal exactingly negotiated by then L.A. City Council member Ruth Galanter, the first phase of Playa Vista was finally approved in 1993. “At that point, there was a tremendous amount of outreach with the communities, a lot of charrettes [collaborative sessions in which a group of designers draft a solution to a design problem] and things like that, but we had some real smart people working on it,” Johnson says. Shortly after that, however, came defense industry cutbacks that cost Southern California about 700,000 jobs. “There wasn’t a market at that point,” says Johnson of the monumental setback. A glimmer of hope came in 1995, when DreamWorks SKG wanted to build a movie studio campus in Playa Vista.

“They thought that the animated film ‘Prince of Egypt’ would be another ‘The Lion King.’ The capitol that they raised — they wanted to go into content, not bricks and mortar. They started building the animation campus in Glendale and were going to create the feature film and music departments here. They actually bought the land from us, but ended up moving on,” he recalls of giant setback No. 2. In spite of all the hurdles, Johnson and his team forged ahead. “Playa Vista is like my fourth child!” he says. Ownership changed in 1997, and by 2000 the first tenants moved in to Playa Vista’s westerly Phase 1 apartments. Johnson believes it was the vision for a progressive, inclusive community that helped Playa Vista succeed in the end. “We had 32 projects in the first phase, 1,324 units. The idea was to have stuff that was a little more affordably priced initially and to provide a mix of different housing. In our first phase, 15% were income-restricted apartments. So we had people who made 50% of the median family income, people who made 80% of the median family income, and people who made up to 120%.” Johnson is also proud of the nonresidential components that tie the community together. (Continued on page 20) Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 19

P eople

(Continued from page 19)

bedroom centric — three, four, five bedrooms. You shift with the market.” One of the more successful components of Playa Vista’s design is the way it balances density and open space. Given the requirement of four acres of open space for every 1,000 residents, Johnson said builders relied heavily on pocket parks to break up the density. When it came to aesthetics, the master developers were more hands off. “The beauty of Playa Vista is that we don’t tell the builder to conform to any type of architecture,” says Johnson. “We define the geometry of the box, but we need the builder to be able to produce the product. We never said, ‘You need to do this in Mediterranean.’ We celebrate the diversity of different architecture.” Johnson remains excited about the future, especially about Google building on 12 acres next to Hughes’ former Spruce Goose hangar. “We are going to do well with that,” he says, almost like a proud papa.

Photo by Ted Soqui

“Cedars-Sinai took 35,000 square feet for health care, and now you don’t have to schlep over to St. John’s,” he says. “The office campus, that’s all employment. It’s huge and it’s happening. We have something for everybody.” If he had it all to do over again, Johnson said he would have brought the retail component in earlier to help establish Playa Vista’s lifestyle component. And, he’d make sure the local school accommodated kindergartners up through eighth grade, not just fifth grade, so that parents could see a clearer educational pathway for their children. “Initially, we had more pets than kids. In 2010, we had 200 babies born here. In 2011, we had over 230 — there were a tremendous amount of young children being born here,” says Johnson. “That first phase, when we did the floor plan, we had a preponderance of two bedrooms. You could have a 2,800-square-foot two-bedroom apartment. In this current phase, we’re

Randy Johnson, photographed under the spiral outside Cinemark, has been working to bring Playa Vista to fruition since 1989

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20 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

Let i n

The Light Marlowe at Playa Vista’s “slingshot” design makes sure every room has a view By Evan Henerson

22 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

H ome

L e f t: The interior of a Marlowe home leads to a balcony with a spectacular view of Runway at Playa Vista. B e l o w : A nearly continuous bank of windows brings plenty of natural light into the living spaces inside Marlowe. Photos by Eric Figge (Courtesy of Brookfield Residential)

he design challenge was straightforward enough: How does one successfully incorporate upscale single family houses into an already tight urban setting? For Brookfield Residential’s Marlowe at Playa Vista development, the solution mixed creativity and practicality. Simply put: build upwards toward the sun, toward the light. The lots sit on a public street, with 10 feet separating neighbor from neighbor. But designers of the 3,100- to 3,330-square-foot homes insist that Marlow homeowners will enjoy all of the comforts and amenities that a highend Playa Vista resident deserves, and then some.

Featuring clean lines, plenty of glass and minimal ornate detailing, the contemporary styled development targets the successful younger buyers who have been coming into Playa Vista’s growing tech industry. The three-story units have lots of usable outdoor space on multiple levels. Living and dining space is on the first floor in easy proximity to the patios and side yards. A homeowner can enjoy a meal on the ground floor patio or a quiet drink up on an expansive 18’-by18’ third floor skydeck. From any part of the home — indoors or out — views of the surrounding landscape are designed to impress. Marlowe homes are built at a 28-de-

gree angle that allowed the designers to create a nearly continuous bank of windows on all three floors. In addition to the large windows at the front of the house, the angle in the design plan permits the addition of extra windows to turn the corner, opening the homes up to even more light to enter from the side. Up on the third floor, a giant sliding glass door leading to the skydeck blurs the definition of where the indoors ends and the outdoors begins. Robert Hidey Architects, Marlowe’s designer, used a similar “bend” or “slingshot” design configuration for its earlier Asher at Playa Vista development. (Continued on page 24) Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 23

H ome

(Continued from page 22)

“The lots at Marlowe are tight, so getting adequate light into these houses was a huge concern,” said Chris Barlow, the project director for Robert Hidey Architects. “That’s why you are going to see a huge amount of glass at the front of the house. When you’re in the house you can look out and see the entire block. The entire city is kind of right there at your doorstep.” The Marlowe homes are larger than the Asher units, which enabled the designers to put all of the living area on the ground floor alongside the twocar garage. With up to five bedrooms distributed across the second and third floors, the homes give designers more customization options to create bedrooms, dens or offices depending on the buyer’s need. On the eco-friendly and sustainability front, Marlowe is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification and can accommodate solar panels.

“The builder will offer numerous packages like outdoor kitchens and extra lighting or extra cabinetry, so you really can customize these homes to a great degree to make them yours,” said Barlow. “They are luxury plans in every sense of the word, with high quality materials, finishes, cabinetry. It’s a luxury house.” Carrying a price point starting in the high $2-millions, Marlowe expects to attract younger families working in the tech industries of Silicon Beach, where companies like Google, Yahoo, YouTube Space LA and Facebook sit alongside powerhouses 72andSunny and USC’s Institute of Creative Technologies. This is not tucked away suburban living. With their front doors situated in easy walking distance to the Runway at Playa Vista retail complex, Marlowe residents will enjoy the full benefits of an urban community. “Traditionally, single family housing has been in the suburbs — sort of just a statement in personal privacy and per-

Marlowe’s clean lines and contemporary feel make for a bright and cheery child’s bedroom

sonal space,” Barlow said. “At Marlowe, within 100 feet there’s shopping, movie theaters and a grocery store. It’s like you’re in a downtown area, yet here is this single-family product backed along the street.” Learn more about Marlowe at brookfieldsocal.com.

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28 Playa Vista Direct | April 路 May 2016

H ealth

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Sushi is a staple and processed foods are out of the picture, says team nutritionist Meg Mangano By Evan Henerson

hen a player for the Los Angeles Clippers makes a major change in his diet or gets more serious about his nutritional regiment, chances are he’s been “Meg-d.” For the past six seasons, Meg Mangano has been a key member of the medical team at the L.A. Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista, developing nutrition plans and working with individual players to help them feel and perform at their best. A sports dietician and certified functional nutritionist, Mangano is also a consultant with the U.S. Olympic Committee and works in private practice with clients through her company, Rejoov Wellness. We caught up with the Rejoovinator at a local coffeehouse. Do athletes and non-athletes eat differently? Yes, in the sense that, for athletes, it’s based around the energy and the performance demands of their sport. I look at sports nutrition as a three-step process. The first step is your everyday nutrition and hydration, what you’re drinking and when, and how it’s right for your body. That applies to everybody in the population. The second step is sports nutrition in performance and recovery — your pre-, during and post- workout. That’s specific to the athlete, and it’s all based

around timing and the food that’s tolerated, the right amount of fluids and the recovery based on each individual. The third step is competition day. That’s where we’re working with athletes on what they’re eating and when. By then, they should know what food they tolerate and the timing of their meals leading up to their specific event or game. Once a plan is in place, how easy is it to maintain it? That depends on where each athlete is, where they want to go and what they’re willing to put towards it. One of the first goals I always start with is hydration because I think it’s the least impactful, the least threatening and the easiest to change. There are tools around remembering to hydrate and checking on your hydration status that help when it comes to what I call your fueling plan. Can you offer some general nutritional tips? Always start with hydration. Your body is made up of over 65% water. Your muscles and your brain are over 75% water, so it affects everything bringing oxygen in, and waste out. So make sure you’re hydrating well with water early and often throughout the day. Second would be to get back to basics, finding time to get back into the kitchen and consuming less processed

foods as much as possible. I think the more we can take time and prepare food in our house, the better off we’re going to be. Always build your meals around vegetables and add in the other macro nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats. What sort of meals do Los Angeles Clippers players typically eat? A go-to favorite for most of the guys is sushi. We make sure we can balance that and get the right types of food and selections in there. Having high-quality pasta dishes is always a staple, especially for pre-game meals. Usually any type of rice and chicken dish is good too. Are there any fitness and nutritional trends we should be looking for coming down the pike? Something really great coming up more and more is the importance of gut health and the balance of your good and bad bacteria, and how that relates to your immunity and your overall health. It all kind of ties together when you think about hydration, eating less processed foods and having a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. All of those help to create a healthier gut, too. Learn more about Meg Mangano at rejoovwellness.com. Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 29

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A Ta c o T o u r

Of Mexico Chef Tia Baker explores endless possibilities of flavor at Sol Cocina By Christina Campodonico

32 Playa Vista Direct | April 路 May 2016

F ood THE SHORT RIB TAC O is one of more than a dozen specialty tacos at Sol Cocina, each inspired by a different culinary tradition.

Photo by Susan Werner

C H E F T I A BA K E R learned to cook from her stepfather’s family in El Paso and Mexico City.

all it tortilla tourism. The way Sol Cocina Head Chef Tia Baker sees it, each specialty taco on the upscale Playa Vista restaurant’s menu is a unique culinary destination. “Each taco has a different style,” Baker says as we sit for a tasting on Sol Cocina’s covered outdoor patio during a recent sunny afternoon. “I think of them almost as regions.” The Viper Taco ($6.50) — its grilled chicken, avocado, onion and melted cheese spiked with a spicy ghost chile chipotle salsa — draws on mole influences from Oaxaca. The Taco Bufalada ($8.50), on the other hand, has more of a “ranchero style,” says Baker. Filled with almost every variety of protein — chicken, pork and beef cut up in into tender little morsels — and garnished with a fat

smear of guacamole, thick-cut jalapenos and a crown of pickled radishes, its generous portions makes for a hearty meal. This is the gourmet version of the kind of taco you would want after working on the farm all day. Baker describes the “El Jefe” ($12.50), a succulent pairing of grilled angus fillet with two sweet, avocadotopped agave-chile grilled shrimp, as “TJ” or Tijuana style because it combines surf and turf. Still others fuse American dishes with Mexican flavors. Baker likens her favorite, the Short Rib Taco ($10.50), to an All-American pot roast, but with a tortilla and healthy dollop of sour cream on top. “The Short Rib Taco is kind of like that memory of a pot roast. It’s braised off and it’s cooked for four or five hours in the oven. It comes out and everything

is pulled apart. It’s already in its own au jus, and the chile and everything it’s already cooked in has its own broth.” Some of the tacos are in a league of their own. The “Canarditas” Duck ($12.75) features a deep-fried duck leg. The Garlic Ribeye Steak Taco ($10.75), true to its name, plunks a miniaturized steak smothered in chimichurri sauce right into the middle of a tortilla. Forget eating this one by hand; you’re given a steak knife to carve through the beef ’s mouthwatering tenderness. Vegetarians can enjoy the SpiceRoasted Butternut Squash Taco ($6.50), which has quite a kick, or the milder and garlicky Poblano, Mushroom & Corn Taco ($5.00), or the Sweet Potato & Black Bean Taco with roasted poblano and grilled onions ($5.75). (Continued on page 36) Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 33

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Sol Cocina’s signature Blackberry Ginger Margarita muddles fresh blackberries and ginger with Partida Blanco Tequila, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. 36 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

(Continued from page 33)

The Beer-Battered Shrimp Taco ($6.00), the sweet Grilled Agave-Chile Shrimp Taco ($11.00), the spicy Shrimp Taco Dorado ($7.00) and the hefty Ensenada Fish Taco (two for $12.50) each take a cue from the Baja coast, where Sol Cocina Executive Chef Deborah Schneider fell in love with the area’s surf, sand and street tacos. Partnering up with fellow Baja enthusiasts Rich Howland and Matt Baumayr, Schneider brought the fresh seafood flavors she sampled on the Mexican coast to Newport Beach, where Sol Cocina opened its first restaurant in 2009 before expanding to Scottsdale, Az., in 2012. Trained by Schneider, Baker continues the emphasis on fresh Mexican cuisine at Sol Cocina’s Runway at Playa Vista location, which opened in January, by giving special care to an essential but often overlooked ingredient — the tortillas. “A tortilla is to a taco as bread is to a sandwich. It makes all the difference … that’s your platform, that’s your vehicle for all your food,” says Baker, who explains that maintaining the tortillas’ moisture and temperature is crucial. Tortillas are delivered four times a week on the same day that they are made, refrigerated and sealed tight to maintain peak freshness, she says. The humble tortilla truly shines in the Taco Vampiro ($8.50), a popular menu item that fuses two tortillas together with melted jack cheese, butter and serrano chile beneath a bed of juicy chopped up carne asada and creamy chipotle sauce. The tortillas are soft, yet magically crispy all at once; the distinction between hard and soft taco is blurred. Such unexpected combinations give Baker, who learned to cook from her stepfather’s El Paso and Mexico Citybased family, joy in the kitchen. “A lot of people just lump Mexican food into to a stereotype,” she says. “There’s so much more flavor.” Sol Cocina is at 12775 Millennium Drive. Call (424) 289-0066 or visit solcocina.com.

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Shopping

Natural Gemstone Jewelry Varnish Lab is known for making your nails sparkle, but they also sell some sparkly baubles to compliment your mani and pedi. Acute Designs handmade earrings and necklaces feature glittery gemstones made from natural quartz. Earrings: $38; Necklaces: $44

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Jacket and T-Shirt Combo This dynamic duo exudes Westside fashion. The casual printed Tagline Tee (which reads “Live A Life Worth Imitating”) underneath a comfy-cool retro sherpa-lined jacket is the perfect go-to outfit for any California dude. Even better is that 10% of sales proceeds benefit The Living Room International, an organization providing free health care in Western Kenya. Now you can feel good about buying clothes. Coastal Santa Fe Sherpa: $79.99; New Tagline Tee: $29.99 Barnabus Clothing Co. 12775 W. Millennium Drive Playa Vista | (310) 862-5599

40 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

Traveling Wine Gift Bag Finally, a wine gift bag with a bright future. Made locally in Hermosa Beach, this reusable bag has a special tag that lets you celebrate its re-gifting journey by recording the history of the previous wine recipients. Made from eco-friendly fabric, you’ll be the hero of your next dinner party. $10

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No recovery – No fee

Call for a Free Consultation (310) 552-0007

www.HartunianLaw.com

Donald R. Hartunian, Esq. 10250 Constellation Blvd., Suite 2320, Century City 90067

• Brake Fluid Analysis • Test Radiator Coolant

($365 value) +tax and haza rdous dispos al fees

*Up to 5 quarts of Castrol GTX oil. Some models extra. No cash value. May not be combinedwith other offers. Limited time only. Inspections are visual only. Must present coupon to redeem.

WHY MODESTIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU:

3 YEAR / 36,000 MILE NATIONWIDE WARRANTY We’re so conﬁdent in the quality of our repairs and service that we provide this industry-leading, nationwide warranty. If we replace it, we take care of it, period.

TOP NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE Our friendly service advisors work with your budget, and tell you up front what you need, and what can wait.

NO SURPRISES All prices must be approved by you before any work is done. Stress free ﬁnancing available – apply today at www.modestis.com. COURTESY SERVICES & AMENITIES Comfortable, home-like environment offering complimentary coffee, tea, and free wi-ﬁ. Special discounted rates available on rental cars.

FREE CUSTOMER SHUTTLE We will drop you off and pick you up in the local area.

HYBRIDS WELCOME

310 596 3588 • www.modestis.com

12121 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 Conveniently located directly across from Playa Vista between Centinela and Inglewood Blvd. 42 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

HEALTHY KIDS DAY

is all about building on the “COOL” factor inside every kid…whoever they are and wherever they’re from. ® So come to HEALTHY KIDS DAY for a day of creative, challenging, smart, healthy fun and watch the “COOL” in your kid come out.

Saturday FREE COMMUNITY April 30 EVENT 10am-2pm Games, Food, HEALTHY Beverages, Climb KIDS DAY SUMMER CAMP our Rock Wall, GISTRATION Basketball Clinics, Obstacle Course & Bounce House, Dunk Tank & More!

WESTCHESTER FAMILY YMCA 8015 S Sepulveda Boulevard 310 670 4316 ymcaLA.org/wc

IS HERE!

APRIL 30

BEGINS

ril 30 Sign up on Ap and we will waive the e! registration fe

In The Heart Of Marina del Rey Vespa • Kawasaki Honda •Moto Guzzi Scooters • Sport Cruiser • Commuter New Rider Specialists! 310-823-3300 • www.pchpower.com 4110 Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey 90292

Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm is there. Abiy Tilahun

5250 Century Blvd. Suite 541, Los Angeles, CA 90045 email: abiy@kmb4all.com • kmb4all.com

310-216-9470 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 43

EVENTS SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Playa Vista 5k Fun Run Sponsored by Elevation, Whole Foods Market and KeVita, this is the Playa Vista community’s inaugural 5k run. Hurry up and register: Space is limited to just 50 participants. The run begins at 7 a.m. at Playa Vista Sports Park, 13196 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista. $10 playalink.playavista.com

Playa Vista Spring Fair SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Saturday, May 7

Friday, May 20

Sundays on the LMU campus at The Laband Art Gallery, 1955 Ignatian Circle. Free. (310) 338-2880; cfa.lmu. edu/labandgallery/ FRIDAY, MAY 20

Taste of Playa Vista Enjoy food and wine tastings from around the world and our own backyard while raising money to benefit Playa Vista Elementary School. The event is from 7 to 10 p.m. at the CenterPointe Club, 6200 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista. Tickets are $20. playalink.playavista.com

Join friends and neighbors for a fun-filled community gathering focused on health, wellness and safety. Dance to lively music, enjoy kids’ games and activities, visit the photo booth, check your blood pressure and even make SATURDAY, MAY 21 a smoothie using a special blender bike. It all happens Team One Global Diversability Awareness Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Concert Park, 13020 Pacific Hackathon Promenade, Playa Vista. playalink.playavista.com Open to developers and engineers in the Playa Vista community, the purpose of the hackathon is to build FRIDAY, APRIL 22 concepts and prototypes for people with accessibility challenges and disabilities. The event, sponsored by Sierra Nevada Sustainability Sampling advertising agency Team One, happens from 10 a.m. to The Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is known for its passion 10 p.m. at CTRL Collective, 12575 Beatrice St., Del Rey. for hops and commitment to ecological sustainability. ctrlcollective.com They invite you to sample seasonal beers from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Astro Pub at Whole Foods Market, 12746 W. Yoga, Ecology and the Environment Jefferson Blvd., Playa Vista. (310) 862-9900; wholeLoyola Marymount University lecturer Swami Omkarafoodsmarket.com nanda, head of the Los Angeles Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, leads a workshop that explores the connections TUESDAY, APRIL 26 between yoga and environmental activism. The event is from 1 to 6 p.m. at University Hall Room No. 3226 on So Cal Digital Health Meetup the LMU campus. $45. RSVP required. (310) 338-2799; Talk to local entrepreneurs about how new technology cal.lmu.edu can help you manage your health. The 6:30 p.m. event is free and open to the public as long as you RSVP through their Meetup page. CTRL Collective, 12575 SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Beatrice St., Del Rey. meetup.com/So-Cal-DigitalKahanamoku Klassic Outrigger Race Health-Meetup/ Pay homage to an exciting Hawaiian tradition at the Kahanamoku Klassic, an annual outrigger race that SATURDAY, MAY 7 features teams rowing 40-foot canoes. If you’re not competing, feel free to watch the action from Mother’s Bird L.A. Day Beach in Marina del Rey. gomarinaoutrigger.org Hosted by Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Bird L.A. Day is the third annual Migration Celebration in the Ballona Freshwater Marsh. The event includes two special SUNDAY, JUNE 12 bird walks in the marsh (at 9:30 a.m. and noon) led by Concert in the Park local avian experts, an arts-and-crafts table for kids Enjoy Playa Vista’s first free outdoor concert of the sponsored by Whole Foods Market, and a chance to season while dining on eats from a variety of gourmet interact with live owls and raptors cared for by South food trucks. The band will be announced closer to show, Bay Wildlife Rehab (9 a.m. to noon). Meet at the but the stage is booked from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Concert southwest corner of Jefferson and Lincoln boulevards. Park, 13020 Pacific Promenade, Playa Vista. playalink. ballonafriends.org playavista.com THROUGH MAY 7

Friday, June 17

44 Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016

Young Contemporaries 2016

FRIDAY, JUNE 17

The 32nd annual Juried Student Exhibition features works of art in all the disciplines taught in Loyola Marymount University’s art program, including drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, painting, ceramics, graphic design and new media. Entries are on display from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through

Leave your Netflix and sofa behind to catch a movie under the stars with your neighbors. Food trucks open at 5 p.m. and the movie (title TBA) runs from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Drive, Playa Vista. playalink.playavista.com

Movie in the Park

P l aya V i sta R e a l e stat e

ONGOING EVENTS Kids Coding Club Teens ages 12-18 can bring their laptops or borrow one to explore coding in a nurturing environment from 4 to 5 p.m. each Tuesday at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/branches/playa-vista

Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Make new connections in your community at 7:15 a.m. each Wednesday, when the club meets for breakfast at Whiskey Red’s, 13813 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey. (310) 740-6469; playasunrise.org

# of Homes Sold in Q1

2015

2016

2015

2016

Toastmasters Speakers by the Sea Learn to overcome your public presentation nerves with local Toastmasters from 11 a.m. to noon each Wednesday at the Pregerson Technical Facility, Room 230A, 12000 Vista Del Mar, Playa del Rey. (424) 625-3131

Kids Chess Club Students in grades one through six can sharpen their skills or learn new strategies from resident chess pro Ben Eubanks from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. each Wednesday at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista. Beginners welcome! (310) 437-6680; lapl.org/branches/playa-vista

Relationship Remedies • Dating • Premarital & Couples Counseling • Infidelity • Trust • Divorce • Family Relationships • Work • Communication • Social Media Issues • Phone Sessions

Days on Market (Average)

AverAge liSting price 2015

2016

999,100

1,022,100

AverAge SAle price 2015

968,000

$ “The work we do together will be active and problem solving. We will determine what the problem is and how to get you to a better place. The therapy is engaging while we create a partnership to create the life you aspire.”

Stephanie Mintz, MA, LMFT License #84968

424-248-8766 • stephaniemintz.com

AvA i l A b l e e v e n i n g s & W e e k e n d s

12777 W Jefferson Blvd • Building D/3rd Floor • Playa Vista 90066

2016

1,026,400

Active liStingS: 11 (as of April 6, 2016)

MiniMuM 2 bed/2 bath 1130 sq. ft. $779,000

MAxiMuM 4 bed/4 bath 2,681 sq. ft. $2,295,000

Playa Vista Direct | April · May 2016 45

N OP OW EN

37 BEERS ON TAP 7 LARGE SCREEN TV’S Burger, Fries & Any Draft Beer $15 Everyday!

Asian Inﬂuence Meets Gastropub! Our Menu includes; Ahi Salad, Poke Tacos, Ahi Burgers, Garlic Rib Eye, Orange Glazed Salmon, Coconut Prawns, Maple Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Fresh Cut Garlic Parmesan Fries and much more. Gulp also has a wide selection of Craft Cocktails and Wines.

13020 Paciﬁc Promenade, Suite 1, Playa Vista (Former Piknic location just doors away from Sweet Fish Restaurant)

Photos By Josue Soriano

310.496.3966 | gulpbrewco.com

Authentic Tacos, Burritos, Salads & Rotisserie Chicken Handmade Corn & Flour Totitllas

Fresh & Healthy Cooked Just for You!

BennysTacos.com

7101 W. Manchester Ave. | Westchester 90045 | 310.670.8226 915 Wilshire Blvd. | Santa Monica 90401 | 310.451.0200

15% OFF

IN STORE PURCHASE Must show cashier. Not to be combined with any other discounts/coupons. Exp. 6/20/16.

Let Us Do Your Next Catering

20% OFF CATERING

Call Benny 818-612-3875 Not to be combined with any other discounts/coupons. Exp. 6/20/16.

Family Owned and Community Driven Since 1995 Newly Remodeled Facilities Massive Parts and Service Expansion for Ford and Honda Huge Inventories of New, Certified Pre-owned Vehicles Ready For Immediate Delivery SALES HOURS Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. S E R V I C E A N D PA R T S Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. · Service closed on Sunday 5850 W. W. CENTINELA CENTINELA AVE. AVE. 5850 LOS ANGELES, ANGELES, 90045 90045 LOS (On Centinela between Sepulveda & La Tijera)

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(On Centinela between Sepulveda & La Tijera)

310.856.9319

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310.856.9309

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