June · July 2016
D i r e c t
The Future of
Work
CTRL Collective’s Community of New Ideas Electronic Arts Races for the Prize Drink in the Good Life at Gulp Farmers Market Takes Off at Runway
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Selling | Buying | Leasing
Josh Goldstein
424.226.8069 josh.goldstein@compass.com Estate Director CalBRE# 01880805
As Seen On:
Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. To reach the Compass main office call 310.230.5478
424.226.8069 | GoldsteinEstates.com
Exclusive Representation | Playa Vista Real Estate
Contents
Vol. 1 | No. 2
EDITOR’S NOTE
HOME
6 Tech, Creativity & Community
32 Mason and Cleo reinvent the townhouse
COMMUNITY
HEALTH
10 Bird L.A. Day @ Ballona Wetlands
3 8 Creative companies bring fitness to work
12 Taste of Playa Vista @ CenterPointe Club 14 Community Yard Sale @ Concert Park
FOOD
16 ‘Balancing the Odds’ @IMAX HQ
4 Gulp takes burgers and beer 4 to the next level
18 Farmers’ Market Takes Off @ Runway
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SHOPPING
PEOPLE
50 Vintage Top Hats and Dancing Shoes
2 0 CTRL Collective is a co-working community that incubates ideas and relationships
E VENTS
28
54 Summer brings free outdoor concerts and movies
24 Electronic Arts visionary Frederick Loving trains for a virtual world
ON THE COVER: CTRL Collective CEO David Bren (front), Chief Strategy Officer Matt Stodder and Chief Operating Officer Taleia Mueller. Photo by Shilah Montiel. Design by Michael Kraxenberger.
2 8 The Playa Vista Chess Club values imagination over winning
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Rockreation is a family Rock Climbing Community that promotes health and wellness through climbing, yoga & fitness classes, and massage. KIDS CLASSES
Ages 6–12 M/W 4:00–6:00 p.m. Sat/Sun 3:00–5:00 p.m. ADULT CLASSES
Fight Gravity Series Ages 12–Adult Tue 7:00–9:00 p.m. Sat/Sun 12:00–2:00 p.m.
ofthfe 2Kid5s % Climb or FG series
Mention
ummer #ROCKs
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
11866 La Grange Ave. | Los Angeles CA, 90025
www.rockreation.com | 310-207-7199 4 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
Jesse WeinBeRG
vivian lesny
www.Jesseandvivian.com Our recent SaleS & liStingS in Playa ViSta 310.995.6779 Ca BRe #01435805
fOr Sale
cOMing SOOn
TaPesTRy ii- 6010 CeleDOn CReek #6 4 BD/3.5 Ba 3,130 sq.fT. $1,595,000
recOrd Sale
esPlanaDe - 13080 PaCifiC PROM 2 BD/2.5 Ba + Den 1,714 sq.fT. $949,000
recOrd Sale
MaTisse- 6651 seaBlUff DR. 4BD/3 Ba 2,681 sq.fT. $1,749,000
recOrd Sale
CaPRi COURT ii- 5743 DaWn CReek 3 BD/3.5 Ba 2,314 sq.fT. $1,517,000
recOrd Sale
BRiDGeWay Mills- 5400 Playa visTa DR. #25 2 BD/2.5 Ba 2,200 sq.fT. $1,100,000
PRiMeRa TeRRa- 12920 RUnWay RD. #161 3 BD/2 Ba 1,310 sq.fT. $965,000
cOMing SOOn The lOfTs-13020 PaCifiC PROM 3 BD/2 Ba 1,480 sq.fT. $925,000
recOrd Sale TaPesTRy ii- 6020 CeleDOn CReek 3 BD/3.5 Ba 3,130 sq.fT. $1,515,000
recOrd Sale COnCeRTO lOfTs- 13045 PaCifiC PROM #308 2 BD/2 Ba 1,140 sq.fT. $910,000
310.428.7378 Ca BRe #01409458
recOrd Sale CaPRi COURT 1 - 5742 kiyOT Way 3 BD/3 Ba 2,849 sq.fT. $2,020,000
recOrd Sale PaRaisO- 13173 PaCifiC PROM #205 2 BD/2.5 Ba 2,215 sq.fT. $1,150,000
leaSed skylaR- 12491 OsPRey #3 3 BD/3 Ba 2,027 sq.fT.
$6,400/MO
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E ditor ’ s N ote
Tech, Creativity & Community
I
t’s been well over a decade since the film “The Aviator,” directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo Di Caprio as mysterious icon Howard Hughes, debuted on the silver screen. But I was surprised to read that actor-director Warren Beatty’s passion project — a biopic of Hughes — will be making its way into movie theaters later this year. Forty years after the death of the quirky aerospace engineer, inventor and filmmaker, Hughes’ story still baffles and inspires. I believe that’s because Hughes managed to harness the power of creativity while pioneering cuttingedge technology to create a new world — on the ground, in the clouds and on screen. That’s exactly what Playa Vista’s best companies and community leaders are trying to do. In this issue of Playa Vista Direct, we’re highlighting local people and events who are pioneers of their own. Friends of Playa Vista School raised nearly $20,000 during the recent Taste of Playa Vista at the CenterPointe Club — money that’s headed for Playa Vista Elementary to help fund various science, art and music programs. Electronic Arts visionary Fredrik Loving uses his childhood experiences with videogames to inspire his work to create them at the company’s DICE LA studio. On his eleventh Christmas, Loving received a Commodore 64 console that forever changed his life, imparting a love of games that fuels his mission at DICE LA. “We’ve only scratched the surface of what we actually could do with games,” he tells us. A visit to CTRL Collective revealed a new kind of workplace where tech, creativity and community all come together. As CEO David Bren tells us, “If you leave that community aspect out of technology in any way, shape or form, then all it’s doing is pushing us more towards being by ourselves — secluded and alone, versus being together, which is ultimately what I think everyone is looking for.” The need for togetherness that fuels groundbreaking technological advances speaks volumes about the people and businesses of Playa Vista. I hope you enjoy their stories. Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com
6 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Alyssa Bruell · Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Evan Henerson Laurel Minter Contributing Photographers Nicolas Bates · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel Ted Soqui · Lyle Okihara Susan Werner Graphic Designer Kate Doll Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy David Maury Jillian Libenson Advertising Director Steve Nakutin Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Publisher David Comden
CONTACT US Editorial editor@playavistadirect.com Advertising info@playavistadirect.com
(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.
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Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 7
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 Shilah Montiel
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Bird L.A. Day @ Ballona Wetlands Beneath a morning sky still deciding between rain and brilliant sunshine, a robust group of intrepid bird fans trekked through the Ballona Wetlands down the normally off-limits Freshwater Marsh Trail. The occasion was Bird L.A. Day, a May 7 celebration of local diversity organized by the Audubon Society. Through free binoculars — or “bins,” as Friends of Ballona Wetlands Executive Director Lisa Fimiani called them — we glimpsed red-tailed hawks, egrets, white-throated swifts and the prize of the year, a rare yellow-breasted chat. The serene and lush wetland marsh was blooming with California sunflowers, elderberry trees, non-native mustard plants and cowboy cologne, a pungent sage that real-life cowboys once rubbed on themselves before venturing into town so’s not to chase away the ladies. And speaking of ladies, said Fimiani, “it’s breeding season for another six weeks”, which is why all the male birds were puffing out their feathers, serenading, trilling and generally showing off to the delight of both avian and human outlookers. — Laurel Minter 10 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
1 Manny Cloribel holds daughter Kate while she looks for the telescope. 2 Christina Jones of South Bay Wildlife Rehab holds a barn owl. 3 Wild Birds Unlimited head Bob Shanman educates locals about the Anna’s Hummingbird. 4 Siblings Meztli and Yaxkin participate in the art and craft booth. 5 Manuel Duran, left, and Alejandra Cedillo look for birds at the Ballona Wetlands.
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Two Brand New Beautiful Homes
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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 dĂŠcor finishes with sliding collapsing doors inviting an exotic indoor-outdoor ambience positioned on a 7,700 sf lot with a peacefully Zen grass yard. Includes gourmet kitchen with dazzling grand center island with top-of-the-line appliances, swanky master suite featuring incredible bathroom, steam shower, huge walk-in closet and an oversized large private balcony, with fireplace + space heaters, overlooking the yard. This magnificent home is also equipped with smart home technology controlled by an iPad, keyless entry, Dolby 7 theater sound system, internet and media ready wired, solar ready, LED lights throughout, central vac, saltless soft water system, close-circuit surveillance system, in-garage electric car charger outlets, and many more amenities. Welcome to modern Paradise. 7708 Henefer Avenue, Westchester
Z SO
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7807 Henefer Avenue, Westchester
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odern look with classical beauty of sophisticated 5bd+ 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 located upstairs. 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 media lines. Both floors enjoy 10-ft coffered ceilings and soffits with decorative square 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.
Amir Zagross 310-780-4442
community Photos by Maria Martin
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Taste of Playa Vista @ CenterPointe Club Playa Vista residents and their guests gathered at the CenterPointe Club on May 20 to sip wine paired with international bites during the fifth annual Taste of Playa Vista. A fundraiser in support of Playa Vista Elementary, the event featured live music by the Hollywood Rhythm Kings and auctions for sports memorabilia, gift certificates and even a week at the School of Rock summer camp. Lisa Weinbaum, who has two kids at Playa Vista Elementary and a two-year-old who’ll be attending soon, led the auctions for the nonprofit Friends of Playa Vista School. Her goal was to raise at least $15,000 to help fund music, art and science programs. “I think every kid deserves the best in education. If the district is unable to fund it, it’s important for us to make sure they’re getting the best they can,” she said. — Shanee Edwards 12 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
Playa Vista residents enjoy wine, food and giving back to the community.
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2 World on a Plate executive chef and co-owner Kevin Lee. 3 Community members bid on items during the silent auction. 4 Kevin Lee’s famous crispy risotto is served with careful attention to detail. 5 Locals bond over wine and conversation. 6 Friends of Playa Vista School board member and mom Lisa Weinbaum.
N OP OW EN
37 BEERS ON TAP BURGER, FRIES AND ANY DRAFT BEER $16. EVERYDAY! ALL DAY!
D A I LY D R I N K S P E C I A L S 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
community Photos by Maria Martin
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Community Yard Sale @ Concert Park Trees became clothes hangers and benches turned to display tables at Concert Park for the spring Playa Vista Community Yard Sale on May 14. Local families, pooches on leashes and everything from toys and collectibles to DVDs and home video systems lined the sidewalks of the park. For a $5 fee, Playa Vista residents could bring and sell just about anything. It’s very friendly, and family- and neighborly-oriented,” said yard sale organizer Jennifer Kingshott, a 13-year resident of Playa Vista. The Playa Vista Community Yard Sale happens twice a year, with the next one set for November. Sellers make an average of $75 to $100 for the day, Kingshott said, though a few can near $400 or more. Other than allowing sellers to walk away with some quick cash, the mission of the yard sale is to bring locals together so that neighborhood bonds grow tighter. — Michael Reyes 14 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
1 Nore and daughter Amina shop for headbands. 2 Melissa keeps her eye on baby Devon during the sale. 3 Christa Sprague sells an array of hardcover books. 4 Delicate glassware and tableware are popular items at the yard sale. 5 Heidi Sutter hands over some cash to vendor Catherine Tyrrell. 6 Manny Cloribel shops with daughter Evelyn, who dreams of taking home a Hello Kitty karaoke machine.
Get the facts from the expert, Tami Humphrey. Tami Humphrey has specialized in Playa Vista real estate since 2006—and she lives here, too! Learn all about Playa Vista real estate by signing up for Tami’s complimentary, no obligation Playa Vista Market Report.
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TAMI HUMPHREY Owner / Playa Vista Living Team
310.927.2433 Tami@PlayaVistaLiving.com PlayaVistaLiving.com
Voted
TOP
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% OF LA REALTORS IN LA MAGAZINE FOR 2013, 2014, 2015
SPECIALIZING IN PLAYA VISTA SINCE 2006
BRE 01745122 This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This is not intended to solicit listed property. If your property is currently listed for sale with a broker, please disregard.
As Seen on HGTV House Hunters
community
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‘Balancing the Odds’ Premiere @ IMAX HQ Diversity in employment is among the tech industry’s biggest challenges. St. Bernard Catholic High School in Playa del Rey hopes to balance the odds, one graduating class at a time. With its new Single-Gender STEM program, St. Bernard hopes to inspire more girls and students of color to choose science, technology, engineering or mathematics as college majors and careers. On April 26, the IMAX Corp. Headquarters in Playa Vista hosted the premiere of filmmaker Varda Bar-Kar’s “Balancing the Odds,’ a short documentary relating the experiences, accomplishments and aspirations of students in the all-girl science and math program. Girls highlighted in the film shared appreciation for a learning environment that facilitates stronger student bonds, increased confidence and fewer distractions. See the film at stbernardhs.org/documentary. — Michael Reyes 16 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
1 St. Bernard Catholic High School Principal Dr. Patrick Lynch with students. 2 Guests enjoy food and conversation before the screening. 3 Filmmaker Varda Bar-Kar speaks with some of the film’s subjects. 4 An excited audience waits for “Balancing the Odds” to appear on the giant IMAX screen. 5 Bar-Kar enjoys accolades for her film.
Photos by Glenn Marzano and Susan Werner
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THE UNIVERSITY OF
SILICON BEACH WE’VE BEEN ON THIS BLUFF FOR A CENTURY
We’ve had neighbors come and go. We cheered when Howard Hughes launched the Spruce Goose, waved to the first boats sailing into the Marina harbor, and supervised construction of the 405 and 90 freeways. We brought over a pie when LAX showed up. Now, the cool kids have moved in across the street and the neighborhood is jumping. Friends and collaborators abound, there’s chatter on every corner with big ideas taking shape in the open streets. Together, we are cementing L.A.’s reputation as the world’s capital of creativity and tech innovation. The epicenter of diverse thought, culture, religion, and language interconnect here. Welcome to the block, Silicon Beach. We’ve been waiting for a partner just like you.
™
community Photos by Maria Martin
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Farmers’ Market Takes Off @ Runway On June 4 the Playa Vista Certified Farmers’ Market moved four blocks from its original location on Seabluff Drive to the streets of Runway at Playa Vista, where children can enjoy balloon sculptures and live music while their parents pick up fresh produce. Market operator and former tomato farmer Mark Anderson, known around town as Farmer Mark, says the move is mutually beneficial. “Runway is just kind of getting ramped up here, so we’re going to bring our existing customers. It’s also great to have a more permanent home that has a nice, walking promenade feel to it,” he says. Farmer Mark recommends picking up some organic peaches while they’re in season. Lauren Levine, who regularly lunches at the market with her mother, likes the new location. “I think it’s livelier. There’s a nice flow to it and it seems like there are more food vendors.” Another added benefit: lots more parking. — Shanee Edwards 18 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
1 Playa Vista Farmers’ Market booths line up at Runway for the first time. 2 Patrons peruse Sola’s all-natural gourmet salsas, relishes and jams. 3 Linda Ayentes helps Maya and Gemma show off their acrobatic skills. 4 Delicious apricots and nectarines, ripe and in season. 5 Fresh goose eggs — only $7 each! 6 Lunch choices include tasty gluten-free lasagna and quiche created by local bakery The Good Cookies.
See and BE SCENE Go Ahead, Have It All. Come home to an oasis of relaxed luxury in the heart of Silicon Beach. Walk or bike to shopping and dining at Runway or lounge by the pool at The Resort, all just steps from your front door. This is Playa Vista.
SUMMER in PLAYA VISTA
New Luxury Home Collections from the Mid $1 Millions Sophisticated Apartment Homes Now Leasing
Movies & Concerts in the Park Beach Shuttle Farmers’ Market
PlayaVista.com PLANS, PRICING, SQUARE FOOTAGE, PRODUCTS, AMENITIES AND COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. MODEL DOES NOT REFLECT RACIAL PREFERENCE. HOMES SHOWN DO NOT REFLECT ACTUAL HOMESITES FOR SALE. © 2016 PLAYA VISTA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CALBRE #00991326.
Photos by Shilah Montiel
CTRL Collective CEO David Bren and Chief Operating Officer Taleia Mueller
20 Playa Vista Direct | P e o p l e
P eople
The Future of Work CTRL Collective is a co-working community that incubates ideas and relationships By Shanee Edwards
G
ame-changing business models sprout from environments of innovation and intellectual exchange. If you’re building a startup, you have to talk people. CTRL Collective, a 24-hour coworking workspace south of Jefferson Boulevard, aims to help entrepreneurs realize their dreams by providing not just coffee, computers and conference rooms but also community. Today’s entrepreneurs cannot work inside a bubble (or garage) the way Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak did some 40 years ago, says CTRL Collective CEO and founder David Bren. A serial entrepreneur, Bren’s experience taught him that smart people would be willing to pay for access to a community of enterprising minds. “At the end of the day, we’re all human beings interacting with each other. Technology is a tool with which to do that. If you leave that community aspect out of technology in any way, shape or form, then all it’s doing is pushing us more towards being by ourselves — secluded and alone versus being together, which is ultimately what I think everyone is looking for,” says Bren. He doesn’t use the word “community” lightly. CTRL Collective lives by what Bren calls the “80/20 rule.” “Our members spend 80% of their time focused on their own project, but that other 20% is spent giving back to the community,” he explains.
While that may sound intimidating, giving back activities can be as simple as giving a short seminar to benefit other members, such as teaching non-programmers a little bit about coding. CTRL Collective also screens potential members to weed out covert salespeople who infiltrate co-working spaces only to pitch products and services to members. General membership rates start at $349 per month, with a nights and weekends plan for moonlighting professionals offered at $79. Celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, CTRL Collective counts about 400 members. But there’s room for more. CTRL Collective sits on a full two acres of land, and its main building alone is 26,000 square feet. The space was formerly the headquarters of the W.M. Keck Foundation and includes a 2,000-square-foot garage where the oil entrepreneur and philanthropist once stowed his collection of rare cars. Another 6,000 square feet of outdoor area will soon hold a shipping container that CTRL Collective plans to convert into a portable makerspace — one that can be shipped around the world, including to events such as next year’s South by Southwest festival in Austin. As exciting as this all is, CTRL Collective isn’t meant to be a permanent home for startups, says Chief Operations Officer Taleia Mueller. Rather, it’s an incubator.
Open workspaces inspire conversation and collaboration
“The plan for anyone creating a business here is for them to outgrow the space. It’s natural that they will eventually move on. We’ve already seen it happen,” she says. Passionate about people, Mueller is the community leader and self-described “mom” of the clan. With vibrant (Continued on page 22) Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 21
P eople
(Continued from page 21)
crimson hair, Mueller knows how to stand out in a crowd and her eyes light up as she discusses future plans for CTRL Collective or the teambuilding value of free onsite yoga and meditation classes for members. In a world where so many of us are fixated on virtual communities in social media, Mueller thinks communication is becoming a lost art. “Facebook was great for reconnecting people. But then a couple years back I thought, people are going to start losing themselves in creating this façade of a lifestyle that they’re pretending to be living to impress one another. It’s almost become a new form of social status — does my life look better than yours? Even though it may all just be pretend,” she muses. “I tell people all the time that you have to talk with one another to be able to grow.” Chief Strategy Officer Matt Stod-
der is proud of CTRL Collective’s truly useful amenities, including a virtual reality lab, media editing facilities and a 3D makerspace. “We’re partners with the Loyola Marymount University’s school of entrepreneurship and work with 27 interns,” he says. Members also get free legal advice from the law firm Manatt Digital Media and legal help at a reduced cost. But Stodder’s ultimate goal is to facilitate a space where “people can be free, be creative, and thereby move our society forward with their ideas and not be stuck,” he says. “I think our society is stuck in old things — old ideas and old arguments. Places like this encourage new thinking.” Bren agrees. “You may have someone doing big data analytics all day long, and they’re thinking of something linearly. When they come to a problem, they may only
know one way to solve that problem. But if you throw in someone like an artist, who’s throwing paint everywhere, suddenly that might inspire the person doing the big data analytics to think of the problem differently. They might create a solution from a place they wouldn’t normally be thinking out of.” And yes, there is an artist in the house. Tyler Ramsey, best known for his design collaborations with TOMS Shoes (CTRL Collective’s next-door neighbor), keeps his art studio here. The floor of Ramsey’s paint-spattered workspace serves as a vibrant reminder of CTRL Collective’s mission — a place where people with different backgrounds, skills and goals can make magic together. CTRL Collective is at 12575 Beatrice St. For more information, visit ctrlcollective.com.
Great Food & Hot Jazz are coming your way this Summer!
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22 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
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Fredrik Loving, General Manager of DICE LA
24 Playa Vista Direct | P e o p l e
P eople
Training for a
virtual world
Electronic Arts visionary Fredrik Loving treats creative work like an Olympic sport By Stephanie Case
Photos by courtney robbins bradgagnolo
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redrik Loving is a video game kind of guy, but he thinks more like an Olympian. “I love talking to athletes about what makes them the best in the world,” he says. “They always say the same thing: train really hard, eat well, sleep well, repeat.” It’s good advice for anyone, whether you’re running the 100-meter dash or designing a sleek, action-packed video game for millions of users. Loving is general manager of DICE LA, an offshoot of gaming giant Electronic Arts that’s best known for its first-person shooter franchise, “Battlefield.” When DICE LA opened their Los Angeles offices in Playa Vista three years ago, the native Scandinavian packed his life into a suitcase and traded Stockholm for Silicon Beach. Here, he’s assembled an elite squad of game developers who code like the wind and craft hyper-realistic warscapes on state-of-the-art hardware. It’s every game-crazed kid’s dream gig, and it wasn’t long ago that Loving was in their shoes. The best moment of his life was unwrapping a Commodore 64 — a boxy eight-bit computer with a chiclet keyboard — on his eleventh Christmas. “I even remember the smell of the gift when I opened it,” he laughs. “It was
DICE LA workers program the next big thing in their Playa Vista office
a magical machine. It could do anything in my mind.” For fun, he’d spend hours engrossed in the stories on screen. “Back then, adventure games were a lot of text, no audio and really no visuals,” Loving says. “So I really used my imagination to put these worlds together in my head.” These days, technology does a lot of the work for him. Loving remembers the first time he tried a virtual reality game at DICE LA. He snapped on a dark pair of goggles and was swept into another dimension.
“It blew my mind,” he says. When Loving’s coworker got a turn, he was so engrossed in the visuals that it left a bruise. He tried to lean on a desk he saw in the virtual world — and fell flat on his face in the real world. The two burst into laughter. “He was so in the moment that his brain connected the dots and thought there was a table there,” Loving says. “That’s a very powerful thing.” Still, Loving says there’s a disconnect between technology’s possibilities and gaming’s reality. (Continued on page 26) Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 25
P eople
(Continued from page 25)
“We’ve only scratched the surface of what we actually could do with games,” he says. Companies like DICE LA are in a heated race to create more enthralling storylines with slicker graphics on rapidly evolving platforms. It’s tough competition, and new innovation “literally happens every day,” says Loving. To keep up with that breakneck pace, Loving and Christian Grass, the team’s director of product development, constructed a work culture that’s almost a training regimen. “We have certain bursts where we’re extra-focused,” says Loving — and when deadlines loom he means it. The workplace is stripped of distractions. There’s no perusing Facebook or Twitter. Healthy breakfasts and lunches are catered in, and designers discuss their work while they eat. The entire building is abuzz, absorbed entirely in making games.
A full-scale replica of a “Battlefield” soldier defends the DICE LA office
“It’s about getting the most out of people and their creative spirit when they’re at work,” Loving says, “but then they should go home, enjoy life, have fun, rest, come back and do the same thing again.” Train hard, sleep well, eat well, repeat. All that focus gave the studio a big win in 2013: “Battlefield 4” debuted
FEAR NOT.
to solid reviews, and copies sold in the millions. But DICE LA hasn’t rested on those laurels, and the hype for the next installment of the franchise is considerable — both from the players and the developers themselves. “There’s this energy in the office — you can almost touch it,” Loving says. “It’s a very special thing.”
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A Playa Vista Chess Club member carefully positions his bishop
28 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
P eople
A Winning
Strategy
Playa Vista Chess Club founder Ben Eubanks emphasizes imagination over victory By Alyssa Bruell
A
few blocks from the L.A. business offices of some of the world’s biggest digital media companies, 20 kids sit quietly at the Playa Vista Library, not on their phones or tablets but playing chess — on a physical board, with wood pieces you have to move with your hand. The Playa Vista Chess Club meets every Wednesday to give children a free, safe and educational afterschool activity. First through sixth graders match up against one another in free play and then receive a lesson from provisionallyrated chess player Ben Eubanks. A practicing realtor by day, Eubanks is used to a competitive environment. But unlike the high-stakes world of buying and selling real estate, Eubanks says chess is one of only a few legitimately “fair games” with a truly level playing field. “My arsenal as a chess player is exactly the same as my opponent’s. We both start with 16 pieces each, and all 16 pieces are exactly alike. In cards or dominoes, your hand is up to chance — it’s luck, basically. In chess, there’s no luck involved,” he says. There are, however, emotional and creative components to the game “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will get you everywhere,” says Eubanks. Longtime chess club member Ty Rutledge credits Eubanks with helping
him become a more successful and wellrounded person. “I wouldn’t have gotten into Loyola High School without chess or Ben. He has been a role model to me,” he says. One aspect of the game that Eubanks overtly downplays is winning. “A parent asked me to explain the difference between winning and losing to her child, who’s about 9. I asked him, ‘How to do you feel when you win?’ He said, ‘I feel happy.’ ‘How do you feel when you lose?’ ‘I feel sad.’ My response was that you should feel the same after both games, whether you win or lose, because if your emotional response is solely based on winning then you’re not going to have a satisfactory outcome in this game.” These are some of the life lessons Eubanks hopes his students will glean from the game. “I’ve lost thousands of chess games, and as a result I have an even keel toward things in life. Whatever happens today, I have to do my best. I have to survive. I’m not going to take it so hard if I lose or be so thrilled if I win that I lose sight of the long-term message of life,” says Eubanks. Cathy Rodriguez, the mother 7-year-old twin boys Canaan and Caleb, has brought her kids to chess club for two years. “Chess club has taught my kids about respect, how to have good sports-
Ben Eubanks coaches his students on the fundamentals of the game
manship, shake hands and be civil to each other,” she says. The boys just say it’s fun. The Playa Vista Chess Club meets from 4:15 to 5:15 Wednesdays at the Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista. Call (310) 437-6680 or visit lapl.org/branches/playa-vista. Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 29
Life Adjustment Team — four decades of helping people he Life Adjustment Team (LAT) is now celebrating almost four decades of helping T thousands of people to become exceptional
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examples of hope and recovery. Pete Linnett founded the Life Adjustment Team in 1977 to help people successfully discharge and stay out of psychiatric hospitals by developing an overall support system that picks up where western medicine leaves off, and exponentially increasing the odds of successful recovery. “What I noticed when I worked with psychiPete Linnett atric hospitals back in the ‘70s was that it was very difficult to watch a family crushed by a doctor diagnosing a loved one with schizophrenia, with the implication that there is no hope. When the latest breakthroughs in technology are combined with a proven recovery system like the Life Adjustment Team, a high percentage of people go on to lead positive and productive lives. Some of our clients have even become professionals and returned to help the mental health community,” said Linnett. Using a holistic body, mind, spirit approach, LAT treats individuals with mental illness and addictions by providing high-quality, dignified in-home support systems using proven treatment concepts that help patients recover and advance in every aspect of their lives. The Life Adjustment Team can help those diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. The family is also provided with guidance, support and education to become a member of the treatment team, when appropriate. During the initial consultation with Life Adjustment Team professionals, families are shown clear and concrete steps that have to be taken to resolve their situations. They are shown that these steps can help their loved ones, and begin to feel hope. After a few months of treatment, many families have called to express gratitude to the Team because they have gotten their son or daughter back. The Life Adjustment Team spends as much as 10 to 15 hours a week with clients, helping them with tasks that are the hardest for them. Western medications treat the illness and not the person, and while medications and a therapist are critically important, the first just treats the symptoms and the second is only an hour or two a week. Using a team approach, LAT works in conjunction with the client’s psychiatrist, therapist or other treatment provider. While significant progress has been made in developing new medications that treat the symptoms of mental illness, the transformational, self-empowering state-of-the-art rehabilitation that the Team provides is now being recognized globally by doctors and the mental health community at large as the driving force behind what leads to successful recovery. The Life Adjustment Team is located at 11936 Jefferson Blvd., in the gateway to Playa Vista. For information, please call 310-572-7000 or visit our website at www.lifeadjustmentteam.com — TESTIMONIAL —
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate everything that you have done for me. I am currently holding down several jobs and have a 3.9 grade point average in school. I’m living independently outside of institutions and things are going great. There’s no way that I would be where I am today had it not been for your care and compassion and the Life Adjustment Team’s help and guidance. — Stacy
Rei nven t i ng
the Townhouse Mason and Cleo mix urban glamour and family-friendly designs By Stephanie Case
32 Playa Vista Direct | June ¡ July 2016
H ome L e f t: The elongated design of a Mason townhouse gives it a spacious, airy feel
The living room area of a Cleo townhouse blends cozy comforts with sleek contemporary design
B e low:
Photos by Maria Martin
I
t takes a special kind of community to make an architect’s creativity run wild. But when KTGY Architects was tasked with designing Mason and Cleo, a pair of brand new townhouse clusters along Bluff Creek Drive behind the Runway South Apartments, they saw a chance to build a different kind of home. “It’s exciting knowing we can pursue all those great ideas that don’t make sense in every neighborhood,” says Alan Scales, principal at KTGY. “We can take that creativity to the next level. And Playa, frankly, is demanding it. They don’t want something run-of-themill. They want unique design.” The 81 new homes of Mason and Cleo, each situated in four-story resi-
dential buildings, are rife with interesting design choices. First, the layout: Each residence is a single story, eschewing the more typical three floors and a connective staircase layout in favor of a spread-out, 1,800to 2,600-square-foot plane. “We’re basically flipping the traditional townhouse on its side,” says Scales — and going horizontal makes all the difference. Front doors unveil an open-concept great room, flowing through the kitchen and living areas into large outdoor decks with space for dining and entertainment. Sky-high ceilings stretch up to 11 feet, giving the main area a vast, airy feel. Glass panels and near floor-to-ceil-
ing windows extend visuals from indoor to outdoor environments, making the space feel even more expansive. Two to three bedrooms, plus a modernized master bath and a two-car garage, branch off from the great room. While Mason buildings come as a six-plex, Cleo has just one unit per floor, allowing the sun to pour in through windows on all four sides of each home — a rarity for attached dwellings. This offers not only light, but also privacy. “You get the exclusivity of being the only one on any given level,” Scales says. The KTGY team built in an elevator to whisk each homeowner up to their floor, giving each residence the feel of a
(Continued on page 34)
Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 33
H ome
(Continued from page 33)
sleek Manhattan penthouse. But then there are some conventional elements that balance out the urban glamour: warm, neutral bricks and familiar architectural details. Mason embodies this best, with its cozy blend of East Coast brownstone and beachside flat. “It has an appeal to a traditional eye, aesthetically,” Scales explains. Cleo, in contrast, is Mason’s edgier sister, with a more artful, geometrically composed exterior featuring clean lines, mixed materials, glass panels and bold pops of fire engine red. Together, the pair captures the dual personalities of Playa Vista: part cutting-edge, part traditional. While this is home to innovation hubs like Google, Facebook and YouTube Space LA, whose employees work day in and out on sleek, high-tech designs, it’s also home to families who enjoy the traditions of suburban life. On any given weekend, kids run around
with their parents in tow, kicking soccer balls at Bluff Creek Fields or climbing jungle gyms at The Lawn, the new urban park that runs between Mason and Cleo. On the afternoon of Mason’s and Cleo’s May 21 grand opening, Village Drive and McConnell Avenue were packed with young families perusing their potential future homes. To celebrate the occasion, vendors passed out free ice cream and waffles, and guitarists strummed upbeat songs to keep the mood cheery. But the energy never sunk: Toddlers with wide smiles ran through each bedroom of the units, climbing over furniture and gaping out the vast windows. KTGY had Playa Vista’s growing families in mind when they built Mason and Cleo. The open layout can accommodate the biggest of gatherings, whether a dinner party is flowing from the deck to the great room, or a gaggle of elementary schoolers are comfortably
Visitors check out the view from a Cleo back patio during the May 21 grand opening
seated around the vast kitchen island and starting their homework. Beyond Mason’s and Cleo’s accessibility, it’s their fresh design concept that Scales thinks sets them apart. “It’s always about creating something unique,” he says. “Not just your average stucco boxes.” Learn more about Mason and Cleo at brookfieldsocal.com.
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Alex & Kate Real Estate Playa Vista Residents Since 2005
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YouTube Space L.A.’s Bridget Humphrey and Lori Webster take Charlie out for a walk in Discovery Park
38 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
H ealth
Get Healthy While
You Work
In Silicon Beach, staying active is becoming part of the job By Shanee Edwards
M
orning commutes, email backlogs, long meetings and hours trapped behind a desk — sometimes it feels like office culture is a conspiracy by coffee industry tycoons who want to fill our energy voids with sugar and caffeine. Coffee-Mate offers more than two dozen flavors of creamer because they know you’ll do anything to make that fourth cup of joe a little more appealing. But the kind of businesses that thrive in creative office suites in and around Playa Vista are addressing employee needs for a pick-me-up in a much healthier way: encouraging physical activity as a regular part of the workday. Belkin International, across the street from Playa Vista’s Central Park, has become the go-to brand for connectivity devices that improve how we experience technology in everyday life. It should come as no surprise that Belkin offers its employees ergonomic assessments to ensure healthy workstations, but there’s also a Pilates class every Thursday, free access to the pool at the CenterPointe Club, and special events like a 5k run/ walk along the trail at Discovery Park. Advertising agency TBWA Chiat\ Day Los Angeles, located north of Jefferson Boulevard alongside Ballona Creek, integrated exercise into its office’s architectural design by including a basketball court. A popular perk for employees, the court has also hosted celebrities and athletes, though “when Shaq visited for a Reebok initiative
TBWA Chiat/Day has a nearly regulation-size basketball court inside its L.A. offices
he was quick to point out that the rim wasn’t quite at ‘regulation height,’” says PR Manager Jenna Hollmeyer. Deutsch LA, in the former offices of Southern California Institute of Architecture at Jefferson and Beethoven Street, encourages work/life balance as a way to attract and retain talent. “Our belief at Deutsch is that you can have a great career and a great life with us. That’s why we have bootcamp and yoga sessions during the summer. We offer free, healthy snacks and lunch. We take advantage of the great environment we have right here in Playa Vista by hosting paddle boarding sessions in the marina. And to celebrate our big holiday, the Super Bowl, we do a snow/ ski day in the mountains the day after
The Big Game,” says Deutsch LA President Kim Getty. “When it comes to talent, we believe that if you take care of us, we’ll do our best to take care of you.” Lizzie Brown, who operates the marketing firm Kamala Collective out of the co-working community CTRL Collective (see our cover story on page 20), takes advantage of the free yoga classes for members. “It gets us all in gear and balanced before we start the week,” says Brown. CTRL Collective also has ping pong tables to get the blood and ideas flowing. On the east end of Playa Vista’s Hercules Campus, advertising agency (Continued on page 40) Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 39
H ealth
(Continued from page 39)
72and Sunny takes advantage of being near the beach by championing surf culture. The company provides surfboard racks, hot showers, and “a culture that encourages people and gives them the freedom to do what they need to do to be happy,” says partner and Chief Strategy Officer Matt Jarvis. Jarvis has even surfed with some of his clients, including team members from Sonos and Activision, and it’s never about showing off. “The person having the most fun is always the winner,” he says. On the other side of Campus Center Drive, YouTube Space L.A. maintains a fleet of bicycles for employees and visiting YouTube talent to get between their two buildings or for a quick trip to Whole Foods. “It’s a good way to get exercise and helps to get to the other building a little bit quicker. Taking a bike is actually faster than driving a golf cart,” says
YouTube Space LA events coordinator Bridget Humphrey. “And the golf carts don’t have power steering,” adds Production Coordinator Lori Webster.
• Call a Meeting Recess: For every hour a meeting lasts, schedule a 10-minute recess to stand, stretch, jog in place, or roll your wrists and shoulders. It’s also a good time to refill your water bottle.
Even without the Silicon Beach perks, a day at the office should include at least some moving around. Expert tips include:
• Walk to Lunch: There are lots of new restaurants in Playa Vista. Make plans to visit a new one each week — and walk there. On other days, head to Central Park or Concert Park to enjoy some fresh air.
• Take Walking Meetings: Obviously, this works best if the meeting only involves two or three people. But in Playa Vista, there’s rarely a day where you can’t comfortably spend some time outside. • Wear an Activity Tracker: Fitbit, Jawbone Up bands and even some watches track your physical activity and report back through your smart phone. Wearing a tracker will reveal how much — or how little —you’re really moving during the day. (Hint:
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The more water you drink during the day, the more times you’ll have to trek to the bathroom.)
• Blast your Favorite Song: Once a day, take time to play your favorite Adele or Drake song through your headphones, go into the stairwell and shake your moneymaker. This is not only good for your body, but it’s also good way to relieve stress and lift your mood.
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WHETHER BUYING, SELLING OR LEASING...ASK
P l aya V i s ta R e a l e s tat e Sold in April/May Days on Market (Average)
2015
2016
27
24
2015
2016
50
42
AverAge liSting price 2015
ARIS ANAGNOS 424-582-9006
Playa Vista Resident, Single Family Residence & Commercial Expert
RECENTLY SOLD
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2016
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2015
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current
Active liStingS: 11 (as of June 8, 2016)
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JUNE · JULY 2016
D I R E C T
THE FUTURE OF
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CTRL Collective’s Community of New Ideas
Electronic Arts Races for the Prize Drink in the Good Life at Gulp Farmers Market Takes Off at Runway
4 bed/5 bath 4,436 sq. ft. $2,300,000
Statistics from MLS, June 2016. Information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed. © playa vista Direct, 2016
42 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
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P l a ya V i s ta’ s
Neighborhood Pub Gulp pairs a diverse selection of craft brews with Asian-inspired comfort food By Richard Foss
44 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
F ood The Gulp b u r g e r with bacon, Swiss, blue cheese and onion jam
G u l p ow n e r A l Wats o n and his diverse lineup of craft beers — 37 of them on tap!
T
o gulp something is to consume it with haste, but Al Watson didn’t name his restaurant in the hope that people would eat and run. Watson was walking in one of the beach cities trying to think of a name and saw the word on a dog’s bowl. He considered the enthusiasm implied in the term, and decided it fit his idea for a restaurant specializing in upscale food and microbrews. That original restaurant is on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, and the second opened in Playa Vista in late March. The former Piknic location has been redecorated with what Watson describes as a “clean industrial” look with a slightly old-school character, thanks to muted dark wood tones.
Manager Bryan Sny explains that they had an important ally in the design process: their customers. “We took a lot of input from the residents and community about what they were looking for,” says Sny. “We settled on a pub atmosphere, which is different from a bar — more family friendly, a comfortable community gathering place.” The menu is wide-ranging and has several Asian fusion items crafted by a chef who previously worked at the nearby Japanese restaurant Sweetfish. One of the most popular starters is a wonton cup topped with a mix of mango chunks and poke, (Hawaiian marinated tuna) along with avocado, green onion, shallots and micro greens. There’s
variety in every bite, and the tangy, fruity, salty flavors of the marinade are balanced from beginning to end. Another item that mixes East and West is the shrimp wrapped in wonton skin, fried and tossed with plum wine and garlic sauce. The menu description doesn’t do this justice, as it doesn’t mention the mixed green salad with sesame dressing that makes a nutty, tangy counterpoint to the fruity, garlicky shrimp. The greens make this a candidate for a fine light meal rather than just a bite before the main course. You might want a cocktail before dinner. Perhaps try the Playa Water — a mix of lime, mint, Peruvian pisco brandy (Continued on page 46) Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 45
F ood
(Continued from page 45)
and India Pale Ale. Slightly bitter flavors are what make a cocktail interesting, and getting them from a hoppy beer adds a dimension to the drink. If you prefer your hops straight, you have your choice of 37 specialty beers on tap, and they’re not all the usual lagers and IPAs. Here you’ll find Belgian-style sours and strong ales, wheat beers, and classic British-style pub drafts. Local breweries, including Three Weavers and Santa Monica Brew Works, are well-represented. There are main courses that continue the fusion theme, items like sesame radish halibut or yaki udon seafood noodles, but Gulp also serves American favorites like a buttermilk-fried chicken breast over mashed potatoes with maple-bacon gravy. Maple and bacon are often overdone to where you can’t taste anything else, but here they offer a touch of sweetness and smoke to enhance the natural flavors. If you prefer a stylish version of bar food, you might go for a Gulp Burger — your choice of beef or turkey topped with bacon, Swiss and blue cheeses, onion jam, arugula, tomato and garlic mayo. It’s the beloved everything-but-the-kitchensink burger that you can’t make at home because you don’t have that many fresh ingredients on hand, and with a big pile of freshly made parmesan-garlic fries it’s a deal at thirteen bucks. If all those toppings sound like too much, there’s a classic burger with any tap beer for sixteen bucks, which leaves you a bit of spare change from a twenty for dessert or another beer. (And set some aside for a tip, because the servers are fast and friendly.) When it comes to your dining experience, the main theme is choice. As Sny observes, “Summertime is coming up and they’ll be doing concerts and movies in the park, and we expect that a lot of people will order to go. Or they can just sit on our outside patio and enjoy the music and full service and have the best of both worlds.” The Playa Water cocktail mixes Peruvian pisco brandy with lime, mint and India Pale Ale 46 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
Gulp is at 13020 Pacific Promenade. Call (310) 496-3966 or visit gulpbrewco.com.
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Sat 10 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. • Sun 9.30 a.m. – 2.30 p.m. Lunch & Dinner 7 Days | 203 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey
310-822-6422 | MosPlacePdR.com |
MosPlace Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 47
Great Food & Exceptional Service Since 1959 $5 OFF Any Purchase
Famous Fried Chicken!
of $20 or more. Dine-In or Take Out Must present coupon. Not available with Senior or Junior Menu Items. Excluding beverages. Not valid with other offers. Expires July 31, 2016.
. . . a most enjoyable atmosphere! 6521 SEPULVEDA BLVD, LOS ANGELES 90045
Non-Resident and Corporate Memberships available 2 Racquetball Courts • 6 Tennis Courts 3 Swimming Pools • Outdoor Jacuzzi His & Her’s Indoor Steam, Sauna & Jacuzzi 30 Weekly Fitness Classes • Massage State of Art Equipment • Free Weights Private Lockers • Personal Training Complimentary Towels • Social Events Poolside Food and Beverage Service 2 Restaurants • Banquet and Private Events
Marina City Club For membership information:
(310) 578-4906 www.marinacityclub.net 48 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
We’re now doing deliveries & ordering online at atmospherecafe.net
tm o sph er e Ca f e Y o u r N e w N e i g h b o r h o o d R e s t a u r a n t ! B e s t w a r m c o z y c o v e r e d p a t i o i n M a r V i s t a w i t h a t a s t e o f t h e F r e n c h R i v i e r a H o m e m a d e F r e n c h & A m e r i c a n c u i s i n e G l u t e n - f r e e b r e a d & v e g e t a r i a n e n t r é e s a v a i l a b le
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Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 49
Shopping Flamenco Shoes Stars like Derek Hough can be spotted picking up custom-made dance shoes at this friendly little studio in Playa del Rey that’s a staple of the Flamenco and dance community. As the exclusive U.S. distributor of Senovilla Artesano flamenco dance shoes, the store also has a great selection of dance shawls, skirts, fans and castanets. By appointment only. Shoes featured here: $250
Flamenco West Playa del Rey | (310) 305-7661
Vintage Top Hat Both the hat and its original leather carrying case come all the way from Glasgow, Scotland. The hat, made in 1959, is in excellent condition. Perfect for your next Steampunk party or fancy dinner. $290
Ms. Vintage 314 Culver Blvd. | Playa del Rey | (310) 314-6999
50 Playa Vista Direct | June ¡ July 2016
Griff’s Razor Glide Shave Cream This minty fresh, rosemary-infused shave cream creates a thick, rich lather that can be applied to your face with your hands or your favorite badger brush. The cream is water-based, preventing any sting. $26
18/8 Fine Men’s Salon 12775 Millennium Drive, Ste. 155 Playa Vista | (310) 596-8018
At the Market Multi-Patterned Fray Scarves These colorful scarves are the perfect accessory both on the yoga mat and off. Wrap a scarf around your neck, shoulders or hips as an after-workout cover-up or to add that extra splash of style to your yoga practice. $48-$54.
YogaWorks 12746 W. Jefferson Blvd., Ste. 3120 Playa Vista | (424) 228-8899
Handmade Glass Surfboard Totems Make some waves with these colorful fused glass miniature surfboards from artist Gina Michel. Use as wall or desk decorations to remind you the beach is always nearby. These and other customized glass items are available at the Playa Vista Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. $20 to $22 Playa Vista Farmers’ Market 12775 W. Millennium Drive Playa Vista | (310) 600-8252 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 51
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Contact Your Local Water Lady - Fee King Cell: 310.663.6058 | Store: 310.314.9800 fee.king@alkalogic.com www.alkalogic.com 328 Lincoln Blvd Venice Beach, CA
Health & Wellness Center Affordable Health Care for Teens and Adults
Now accepting Medi-Cal and Family Pact • Family Pact Services — FREE coverage for family planning and reproductive care • Pregnancy Tests, STD screening/treatment • Birth Control, Plan B, Condoms • Sick Visits • Physicals • Lab Services • Skin Tag Removal & Acne Skin Care
7121 W. Manchester Ave. Westchester, CA 90045 Open MWF by appointment • 424-750-9789 52 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
FREE STORAGE Present coupon for offer. See manager for details.
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Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 53
EVENTS
Compiled by Michael Reyes
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
SUNDAY, JUNE 26
Campus Dessert Social
Concerts in the Park: Hollywood U2
Workers with a Campus ID badge can mix, mingle and satisfy their sweet tooth from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playalink.playavista.com
“The world’s greatest U2 tribute show,” with frontman Joe Hier as “Hollywood Bono,” hits Playa Vista to cover U2’s iconic hits. Food trucks open at 4 p.m. and the band plays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
Friday, June 17
Movies in the Park: “Top Gun”
Killer Rides Car Show
Maverick and Iceman mix it up with the best of the best at Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School in this 1986 Tom Cruise classic. Food trucks start serving at 5 p.m. and the movie screens at 8 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com
Gather the family for an outdoor festival of music, food, classic cars, hotrods and exotic bikes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Killer Shrimp, 4211 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey. Event happens again on July 31 and Aug. 28. Free. (310) 578-2293; killershrimp.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Westchester Fourth of July Parade
Beginner Birding & Creek Cleanup
Wear your best red, white and blue to Westchester’s annual Independence Day celebration. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. dozens of interactive floats and parade entries created by community groups parade down Loyola Boulevard from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University. Free. (310) 645-5151; laxcoastal.com
Explore the Ballona Wetlands, do some casual birding and help keep nature natural from 9 to 11:30 a.m. each third Saturday of the month (the next outing is July 16). Wear closed-toe shoes, and kids under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market / Alkali Water at 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey. Free. (310) 306-5994; ballonafriends.org
“Your Sacred Story” Writing Workshop
Friday, June 24
Let author and educator Christie Havey Smith help you shape your life experiences into creative and well-told stories. Through discussion, reflection and writing you will begin to make strides in understanding yourself and your purpose. Beginners welcome. The workshop happens from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at LMU’s University Hall, Room 1859, 1 LMU Dr., Westchester. $20 to $25. cal.lmu.edu FRIDAY, JUNE 23
ChamberFest LAeXpo
Sunday, June 26
Freshwater Marsh Tours
54 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
MONDAY, JULY 4
Culver City Fourth of July Fireworks Show West L.A. College hosts Culver City’s 50th annual Fourth of July fireworks show and celebration, which starts at 4 p.m. and continues into the evening. The event features live music, food trucks and games. Entrance is free, but donations are suggested. West L.A. College, 9000 Overland Ave., Culver City. culvercityfireworksshow.com MONDAY, JULY 4
Marina del Rey Fireworks Celebration The marina lights up in red, white and blue with a traditional 20-minute fireworks display from 9 to 9:20 p.m. Great viewing locations include Fisherman’s Village, Mother’s Beach and Burton Chace Park. Free. (310) 305-9503; beaches.lacounty.gov.
Part business expo, part “taste of” event, this networking mixer features music, entertainment and dozens of local businesses showcasing their products and serTHURSDAY, JULY 7 vices. The fun lasts from 4 to 7 p.m. at The CenterPointe Marina Summer Concerts: Opera at the Shore Club, 6200 Playa Vista Dr., Playa Vista. Attendance is free; tickets to the tasting event are $10. laxcoastal.com Maestro Frank Fetta leads the 75-member Marina del Rey Symphony for a sunset concert featuring emerging FRIDAY, JUNE 24 opera stars from the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Movies in the Park: Competition. Bring a blanket and picnic basket. Show“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” time is 7 p.m. in Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 305-9545; beaches. Luke, Leia and Han reunite 30 years after the defeat of lacounty.gov the Galactic Empire to fend off a new threat to the galaxy. Food trucks start serving at 5 p.m. and the movie SUNDAY, JULY 8 screens at 8 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 Movies in the Park: E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com SATURDAY, JUNE 25
Monday, July 4
MONDAY, JULY 4
Explore the Ballona Wetlands’ freshwater marshland areas from 10 to 11 a.m. each second and fourth Saturday of the month. Park and meet on the southwest side of Jefferson Boulevard west of Lincoln Boulevard. Free. (310) 306-5994; ballonafriends.org
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”
A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while coming to terms with her heritage and cultural identity. Food trucks open at 5 p.m. and the movie begins at 8 p.m. at Concert Park, where Concert Park Drive meets Seabluff Drive, Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com (Continued on page 58)
The Department of Beaches and Harbors presents free Movie Nights. Pack your picnic baskets and bring the family to the Dockweiler Youth Center on Friday nights and Burton Chace Park on Saturday nights to enjoy our free outdoor movie screenings under the sta The start time for all movies will be stars. at 8:00 pm.
Dockweiler Youth Center
12505 Vista del Mar Playa del Rey, CA
JULY 1 & 8, AUGUST 12 & 19
For movie listings, please call (310) 726-4128.
Burton Chace Park
13560 Mindanao Way Marina del Rey, CA
JULY 9 & 23, AUGUST 6 & 20
For movie listings, please call (310) 305-9595.
CONNECT WITH US! marinadelrey.lacounty.gov
lacdbh
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Am I in the right relationship? How do we fight fair? What questions should I/we be asking? • Premarital Counseling • Infidelity • Trust • Communication Phone and Video Sessions Available
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Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 57
EVENTS
(Continued from page 54)
SUNDAY, JULY 10
Salt Marsh & Dunes Tour Get a firsthand look at a functioning coastal ecosystem each second Saturday of the month, when the Friends of Ballona Wetlands leads a family-friendly tour of the Ballona’s saltwater marsh area. Meet at the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market / Alkali Water at 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey. Free. (310) 306-5994; ballonafriends.org SATURDAY, JULY 16
Marina Summer Concerts: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. 7 p.m. The Grammy Award-winning R&B power couple performs a song-packed theatrical production inspired by their rise to stardom as members of The 5th Dimension. The show is at 7 p.m. at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 305-9545; beaches.lacounty.gov Thursday, July 16
SUNDAY, JULY 17
Concerts in the Park: Space Oddity Singer David Brighton celebrates the creative genius of David Bowie with an eye-popping show covering a slew of the late musician’s greatest hits. Food trucks open at 4 p.m. and the concert happens from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Concert Park, where Concert Park Drive meets at Seabluff Drive, Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com THURSDAY, JULY 21
Campus Luncheon
Friday, July 29
Campus employees with Campus ID badges can enjoy lunch with coworkers, make new friends and enjoy an outdoor lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playalink.playavista.com
Marina Summer Concerts: Megan Hilty Soprano and Broadway bombshell Megan Hilty — known for her soaring voice in the musicals “Wicked” and “9 to 5” and television’s “Smash” — gives a 7 p.m. seaside concert at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 305-9545; beaches.lacounty.gov SUNDAY, JULY 24 Saturday, July 30
Sunday, July 31
58 Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016
Concerts in the Park: Impact Groove to rock, soul and Top 40 dance covers from the likes of Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. Food trucks open at 4 p.m. and the concert is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Concert Park, where Concert Park Drive meets Seabluff Drive, Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com
open at 5 p.m. and the movie runs from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com SATURDAY, JULY 30
Marina Concerts: Brian McKnight The R&B crooner wraps up his national tour with a 7 p.m. full-band performance at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 3059545; beaches.lacounty.gov SUNDAY, JULY 31
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks @ Dodger Stadium Enjoy an afternoon at Dodger Stadium with family, friends and neighbors. Tickets are $50 each and include a private chartered coach to and from the game, so all you have to do is just sit back and relax. The game begins at 1:10 p.m. and seats are in section 129LG and 131LG. Book your tickets at playalink.playavista.com. THURSDAY, AUG. 4
Marina Summer Concerts: Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles L.A.’s premiere Mexican folk dance company tangos to the sounds of the Marina del Rey Symphony in vibrant traditional attire during a 7 p.m. concert at Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. Free. (310) 305-9545; beaches.lacounty.gov FRIDAY, AUG. 5
Movies in the Park: “Aladdin” Aladdin frees a genie from a lamp and finds his wishes granted, but can he save Princess Jasmine? Food trucks open at 5 p.m. and the movie runs from 8 to 10 p.m. at Concert Park, where Concert Park Drive meets Seabluff Drive, Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com SUNDAY, AUG. 7
Concerts in the Park: Natural Wonder This Stevie Wonder tribute band, helmed by the soulful Gabriel Bello, spans five decades of Stevie’s hits in a single night’s concert. Food trucks open at 4 p.m. and the concert happens from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Central Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. Free. playavista.com FRIDAY, AUG. 12
Movies in the Park: “The Intern”
Starting a new job can be a difficult challenge, especially if you’re already retired. Looking to get back into the game, 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker seizes the opportunity to become a senior intern at an online fashion site and soon becomes popular with his FRIDAY, JULY 29 younger coworkers. Food trucks start serving at 5 p.m. Movies in the Park: “Inside Out” and the movie screens from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Central Riley is a happy 11-year-old Midwestern girl whose world Park Bandshell, 12405 E. Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista. turns upside down when she and her parents move to Free. playavista.com San Francisco. Riley’s emotions — as played by Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling and others — try to guide her Help us build our calendar. Send information about through this difficult, life-changing event. Food trucks local events to editor@playavistadirect.com.
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12121 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 Conveniently located directly across from Playa Vista between Centinela and Inglewood Blvd. Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 59
Manchester Medical Group ONE STOP COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CARE
Don’t wait until you’re sick to find the right doctor ON SITE SERVICES INCLUDE: · Lab & Blood Testing · X-ray & Ultrasound · Urgent Same Day Appts
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VISIT
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 James Richards, M.D. Paymon Banafshe, D.O. Board Certified Internal Medicine
Manchester Urgent Care
Local Clubs
No Appt. Needed! Medicare & most insurances accepted.
Open 7 days a week • Se habla espanol
310-670-1840
6222 W. Manchester Ave. Suite A Los Angeles 90045
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
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Go on board an original DC3
Flight Path Museum and Learning Center For those who love aviation and adventure...
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R & J CONSTRUCTION Playa Vista Direct | June · July 2016 61
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