Playa Vista Direct August-September 2018 by Playa Vista Direct

August · September 2018

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The Face of Phase II

Contents

Vol. 3 | No. 3

EDITOR’S NOTE 6 Summertime, and the Livin’ is Easy

NEWS 10 Elon Musk pays a surprise visit to Playa Vista COMMUNITY 12 Steely Jam @The Bandshell at Central Park 14 ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ @ Concert Park 16 Chamberfest LAeXpo @ Centerpointe Club 18 AnniFURsary Celebration @ Wallis Annenberg PetSpace People 20 TBWA’s Global Chief Strategy Officer Nick Barham shares Chiat\Day’s remodel with the public

4 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

24 LMU student and YouTuber Eva Amantea hits the red carpet at Comic-Con 30 Film2Future’s new grAD school creates a pipeline of diversity for the ad industry

HEALTH 46 Sweat Yoga opens at The Brickyard FOOD 52 Five easy-breezy kids meals at Runway

Pet Adoption 36 Meet Roo, Gigi and Sol — one of them could be your new best friend

Down the Road 56 Runway says bye-bye to cars

HOME 38 Mimi and Kofi Nartey’s home takes inspiration from their ancestors and aspirations

SPOTLIGHT 60 Documentary filmmaker Sonia Machado-Hines makes a movie about a very special dress

Style 40 Original artwork by Helio Bray adds urban “Tropicalism” to your home or office

Events 62 The Lucky Strike Film Festival is coming to Playa Vista

42 Silicon Beach Parents Group Fashion Show @ Concert Park

ON THE COVER: (clockwise) Mimi, Kofi, Lincoln and Liya Nartey welcome us into their home. Photo by Courtnay Robbins. Design by Michael Kraxenberger

JESSE WEINBERG Jesse@JesseWeinberg.com CalBRE #01435805

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A FEW OF OUR RECENT SALES & LISTINGS IN PLAYA VISTA

Editor’s Note

Summertime, and the Livin’ is Easy

urfing dogs. A French queen’s wedding gown. A man magically transformed into a donkey. Yoga in 106-degree heat. No, I’m not listing off all my crazy dreams from last night. This is a partial list of things that actually happened in Playa Vista over the first half of summer. The surfing dogs were part of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace’s one-year anniversary party. The dress is a reproduction, but impressive all the same, and the steamy yoga is happening at a new studio inside The Brickyard. To clarify about the donkey — that was part of LMU’s colorful production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the scene in which Puck puts a magical spell on Bottom. Every time we put an issue of Playa Vista Direct together, I’m amazed at the wide variety of experiences and diversity of people here. Power couple Mimi and Kofi Nartey invited us into their home, sharing their sports background and optimism about helping underserved kids reach their full potential through the Nartey Sports Foundation. Over at Steelhead, Film2Future worked with inner-city youth to help create a pipeline of diversity into the advertising industry. Their client was 7-Eleven, and the social media ads that students created were as inclusive as they were creative. At the Silicon Beach Parents Group’s fashion show, children showed off local designers’ trendy dresses, baby carriers and workout gear. At one point, the entire Peacock family — Jacob, Liz, Atlas and Odin — circled around the stage on scooters sporting adorable duds. I rocked out to ’70s hits at the Steely Jam concert at the Bandshell, singing along to the songs brought back great memories from yesteryear. And now I’m excited to share with you all these positive, uplifting stories that took place in Playa Vista — which proves itself a dynamic and welcoming community time and time again. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading them. Shanee Edwards Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com

Managing Editor Shanee Edwards Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Contributing Writers Lara J. Altunian · Christina Campodonico Stephanie Case · Richard Foss Jessica Koslow · Brian Marks · Robyn Paris Andrew Dubbins · Andy Vasoyan Gary Walker Contributing Photographers Erica Allen · Inae Bloom Courtnay Robbins · Maria Martin · Shilah Montiel · Zsuszi Steiner Emily Hart Roth Graphic Designer Kate Doll Account Executives Renee Baldwin Kay Christy Rocki Davidson David Maury Advertising Director Rebecca Bermudez Senior Editor Joe Piasecki Publisher David Comden

(310) 822-1629

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News

A Very Special Delivery Elon Musk pays a surprise visit to Playa Vista By Shanee Edwards

10 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Photo Courtesy Of Devin Scott

inancial planner Devin Scott was excited to finally go pick up his customized Tesla 3. When he got a call saying that the car would instead be delivered to his Playa Vista home, he didn’t think too much of it. But when Scott saw the giant trailer pull up outside his home on July 29, he knew something was up. “There were five or six Tesla employees,” says Scott, “and that seemed like a lot just to drop off a car.” Scott’s deep metallic blue electric vehicle was carefully backed out of the trailer. He did an external walk-though with one of the deliverymen. Having never sat inside any Tesla vehicle, let alone his own Tesla 3, he was eager to get inside the car. “But the guy said, ‘Why don’t we wait, because we have a surprise for you.’” That’s when they unloaded another Model 3 from the trailer. This one was a performance version, pearl white with white interior. “They said the white car was Elon’s configuration of the Model 3. By then, I was starting to put some pieces together, because they kept delaying.” Scott’s wife Katie joked that maybe they were waiting for Elon Musk to arrive in a spaceship. “The delivery guy had this nervous reaction to what she said. I looked at Katie and motioned to her that something is going to go down.” Scott asked her to text his brother and sister-in-law who lived down the street to come over quick. “Eventually, they told me that Elon’s going to be here in 11 minutes. It was

Tesla CEO Elon Musk personally delivers a Model 3 to Devin and Katie Scott

insane. They explained they’re trying out a new delivery system, and I was essentially the first one on the list. So Elon wants to come and check everything.” Musk finally rolled into Playa Vista in a black Model S. His two sons and his girlfriend, pop singer Grimes, came along for the ride. Scott says Musk was pretty quiet, not terribly outgoing or gregarious. “We were chatting for a little bit, I introduced him to my wife and my brother and sister-in-law. He never said the standard ‘thanks for being a customer, hope you enjoy your car.’ He was more interested in the delivery system, how it was going to work, but he did take some time to explain the thinking behind the delivery system.” Always the disruptor, Musk wants all the vehicle checks done at the factory,

then have them delivered directly to the customer instead of sending cars to a delivery hub. Since they’re not gasoline cars, they are not subject to current transport regulations and can be transferred in covered trailers, without the plastic covering. Now that Scott has finally had a chance to drive his Model 3 (he’s not sure what happened to the white one), he says it’s the most fun he’s ever had on four wheels. “I used to drive a 2009 BMW 3. It had a big engine and was a fun car to drive, but the acceleration in this car is just so seamless and instant, it’s not even close. And I have the standard version of the Tesla — it’s not the all-wheel drive or the performance model. You step on the gas half way and you’re in the back of your seat.”

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community Photos by Maria Martin

Steely Jam @ The Bandshell at Central Park The Steely Dan tribute band Steely Jam performed live for the community on July 22, a warm Sunday evening. As the golden sunshine waned, it became clear there were two groups of people watching the concert: those who remember the 1970s and those who, well, have never operated a rotary phone. Despite the divide, Playa Vistans of all ages sang and danced to the smooth groves that felt like a trip backwards to a simpler time. The band played “FM,” “Peg” and even brought out the wind chimes for “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” — my own personal karaoke favorite. Frontman Michael Lamper encouraged the crowd to sing along with the final refrain of “Hey 19”: “The Cuervo Gold, the fine Colombian, make tonight a wonderful thing.” At the end of the show, Lamper put the microphone in front of six-year-old Joseph Naiman, who said joyfully, “I love this music!” — Shanee Edwards 12 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Steely Jam frontman Michael Lamper takes time to interact with kids

The crowd enjoys ’70s hits under the Bandshell

Fans sway to the Steely Dan classic “Deacon Blues”

A father treats his son to his first outdoor concert

Steely Jam encourages the crowd to sing along to the song “Hey 19”

Lamper serenades his littlest fan

community Photos by Shilah Montiel

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ @ Concert Park Shakespeare came to life at the newly renovated Concert Park for the very first time on Sunday, June 30, with a gleeful sunset performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Loyola Marymount University’s theatre arts program. A giant golden frame served as a proscenium of sorts, but the actors — a cast that included professionals as well as LMU alumni, faculty members and current drama students — utilized the entire park to bring this romantic comedy to life. Because there was no backstage, actors stayed in character throughout the 90-minute show, sometimes crawling on their hands and knees through the audience seated on blankets. Puck even hung out on a lamppost for a spell. Parents sipped rosé as their kids chased each other and did cartwheels. LMU also brought a production of “Othello” to Playa Vista’s Central Park Bandshell on July 29. — Shanee Edwards 14 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

LMU theatre students perform “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” at Concert Park

A big crowd gathers to watch Shakespeare in the park, a first for Playa Vista

A child gasps at the magical mischief on stage

Titania falls under a love spell

The Mechanicals add big laughs to the play within the play

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community Photos by Maria Martin

ChamberFest LAeXpo @ CenterPointe Club More than 80 area businesses and organizations staged booths, games and giveaways for ChamberFest LAeXpo on June 28 at the CenterPointe Club. The annual celebration hosted by the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is a chance for members to entertain and interact with community members. True to form, the expo offered a wealth of information about local companies and service organizations and plenty of games and giveaways to keep guests entertained. The popular “taste of ” portion of the event offered delicious eats from Barbianca Local Kitchen, Akasha, Tony P’s Dockside Grill and Benny’s Tacos. A pair of round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines to anywhere they fly was the grand raffle prize of the day. “Our businesses are just really supportive of the Westside, and they want their community to know that they’re a great neighbor — that they’re involved, and that they want to do business locally,” said LAX Coastal Chamber President Christina Davis. — Maria Martin 16 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Onehope wine serves up its tasty beverages for charitable events

A man takes his chances at the Dave and Busters’s prize wheel

A woman investigates an aggressive wind puppet

Candy Clown paints Sophie’s face in pretty pastels

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A man reaches for some Barbianca ravioli

community Photo by Maria Martin

AnniFURsary Celebration @ Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Dogs and their humans celebrated the first anniFURsary of the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace on June 24. The unique pet rescue, adoption and education nonprofit offered party guests behind-the-scenes tours, grooming demos, and lots of entertainment to keep the fun going. Nick Olate, the charismatic leader of the performing dog troupe that won Season 7 of “America’s Got Talent,” put on quite the canine variety show. With many of the dogs being rescues, it was a doggone delight to see them perform tricks and don fanciful costumes. Lucy Pet Foundation’s Wave Maker literally brought the ocean in a truck. The 90-foot wave tank filled with 6,000 gallons of water allowed a rapt audience to watch surfing pooches in sunglasses. The Lucy Pet foundation offers spay/neuter and adoption mobile clinics in every major city in the United States. — Shanee Edwards 18 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Rebecca Olate leads her pup Cholo in a doggone fun performance

Adam and his son Alden enjoy the party

Suzanne gives her dog Duncan a treat

This pooch loves to hang twenty

This chill dog waits for his turn to ride the waves

Annenberg Petspace’s General Manager Carol Laumen thanks the crowd for a successful first year

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Chiat\Day HQ was designed like a city; architect Peter Culley (left), commissioned by TBWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nick Barham (right), added a sleek new espresso bar (upper left) to the mix.

People

Back to

the Future

The ad agency that told you to ‘think different’ gets a facelift for its 50th birthday Story by Christina Campodonico | Photos by Maria Martin

oasting an indoor “park,” awardwinning workstations, a very cool beverage bar, a basketball court and its own entrance tunnel, advertising giant TBWA\Chiat\Day’s Los Angeles headquarters has long been the envy of any cubicle-bound worker since 1998, when it moved to a completely tricked out light industrial warehouse on Grosvenor Boulevard. (Before that, it occupied Venice’s also very cool Binocular’s Building, now home to Google L.A.) But even the coolest of office spaces needs the occasional facelift. In June during the L.A. Design Festival, the Playa Vista-adjacent ad agency unveiled some of the recent work it’s done for its 50th birthday. Peter Culley, founder and creative director of architecture and design firm Spatial Affairs Bureau, and TBWA Global Chief Strategy Officer Nick Barham led a free guided tour of the headquarters and talked through their strategy to update parts of the 120,000-square-foot office space originally designed by the architecture firm of architect Clive Wilkinson, a Gehry Partners alum. Initially conceived by Wilkinson as an “advertising city” with corridors that function like “main streets,” executive office suites that stack on top of each other like apartments and an indoor “park” that functions like a central meeting area, the building was revolutionary at the time it was designed.

One of the new collaborative work areas Culley redesigned with his update of select Chiat\Day interiors

“This was one of the first creative office projects that we associate with [places] like Google,” says Culley. “The basketball court would have been radical in 1998. Now it might not seem pertinent.” So to keep Chiat\Day on the cutting edge of workspace design and embrace its rebel ethos (the company’s logo is a pirate skull and crossbones), Barham tapped Culley about three years ago to do an architectural study of the building and make recommendations on how

“to make the place more in line with the way that the creative process works in the 21st century.” “We’re in a business that’s extremely chaotic and ever-changing and fastmoving. It’s pretty fluid, and I think we wanted an architecture and a partner who would kind of understand that,” says Barham. “A kind of neat, one-size solution wouldn’t have been the right one.” Especially for a company that has (Continued on page 22) Playa PlayaVista VistaDirect Direct || August · September 2018 21

People

(Continued from page 21)

defined itself by going against the grain, he says. “When it opened in 1968, no ad agencies were on the West Coast,” notes Barham. “The West Coast was for hippies and surfers. What Jay Chiat and Guy Day realized was that you could still make great advertising but not have to live in New York. I think the decision not to follow Madison Avenue allowed Chiat in its early years to make a very different kind of advertising and to bring on a different type of client. Working in L.A. ... they were the pioneers of it.” With that legacy in mind, Culley’s suggestions ranged from moving the basketball court to the roof to turning Chiat\Day’s central park into a veritable forest. Those ideas didn’t quite pan out (they were more on the “fantastical end,” says Culley), but he did manage to transform Wilkinson’s park into a more functional meeting space and update

the company’s legendary bar laden with ramshackle surfboards into a sleek and sophisticated espresso bar where creative teams could intermingle. “When I first started working here it would be impossible to have a meeting here,” says Barham while standing in Culley’s revamped park, which wiped out Wilkinson’s original trees and sandpit and replaced them with a smooth cement floor, a clear pathway for light to travel from the skylight above, and colorfully spray-painted tables and chairs. “There were bugs hanging off the trees. It was a Tim Burton-like forest,” he says, “Full of dead trees and it was dark. You had to kind of fight your way through. “I think the nice thing that Peter has done is kind of broken down some of the barriers between different teams. They can also migrate to these more public areas… so I think he’s kind of freed

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people from being trapped at their desks the whole time.” Ultimately, Culley did not set out to abandon or erase Wilkinson’s architectural signatures — “Clive’s moves are sacred, in a way,” he says — but he did seek ways to honor and enhance them for a contemporary workplace with deep ties to the culture and history of Los Angeles. “I found L.A. here and thought I should be careful with it,” says Culley. (He left a surfboard above the bar as a nod to Chiat\Day’s embrace of surf culture, as well as left Wilkinson’s exposed plywood touches and industrial yellow accents intact.) “But also it’s a changing city, I felt like there are other ways this building should be adjusting and looking out a little bit more than it had to be in the past.” “Cities don’t transform overnight,” adds Barham. “They change. You’re kind of in a work in progress.”

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Eva Amantea with Disney star Adam McArthur at Comic-Con

People

Eva Amantea is

‘On the Spot’

An enterprising local YouTuber chases her bliss one red carpet interview at a time Story By Shanee Edwards | Photos by Yising Kao

s a kid, Playa Vista resident Eva Amantea preferred to spend her time playing games and making crafts. She couldn’t understand why people would spend their time in front of a TV. That changed the summer before eighth grade, when she discovered Disney Channel shows like “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “Shake It Up.” She was hooked. And lucky for Amantea, her aunt had a connection to “Shake It Up.” “I got to go to a taping of that show,” Amantea recalls, “and I thought it was the coolest thing ever — I got to miss half a day of school and go backstage. I was on cloud nine for a year after.” There was something about interfacing with her favorite celebrities that filled her with joy. So when Amantea heard that one of the actors from the “Twilight” movies was appearing at a charity event for the ASPCA, she knew she had to be there. Living in San Diego at the time, she didn’t think her mother would drive her to the event (Amantea was just 14). So she got creative. After sending an email to the organizers asking to do interviews on the red carpet (“from my Gmail account I got in third grade,” she says), Amantea hit a stroke of luck. Though she lacked any professional experience, the PR company was short an interviewer and needed someone to fill in. They gave her a list of questions and, though she was incredibly nervous, her

Amantea interviews the cast of “Impractical Jokers”

hosting career was born. Amantea then began interviewing anyone who was game, including kids from her high school. She put the videos up on YouTube and began to gain momentum. Seven years later, her YouTube channel “On the Spot Interviews” has more than 14,000 subscribers. Her list of celebrity interviews has grown exponentially. She attended Comic Con in

San Diego in July, where she discovered that disappointments are not always obstacles. “‘Riverdale’ is one of my favorite shows, and I was so sad when I wasn’t invited to the press junket. I felt like my career as a host had been invalidated. But later I realized that if I had gone to that, I would have missed an exclusive (Continued on page 26) Playa Vista Direct | august · September 2018 25

People

(Continued from page 25)

interview with one of my favorite people, Brian Quinn [known as Q] from ‘Impractical Jokers.’ He wasn’t feeling well, but he made time for me and invited me to one of his shows. It was amazing.” Amantea is about to enter her senior year at Loyola Marymount University, where she’s majoring in communications with a minor in journalism, and she’s well aware of the realities of trying to make a living as a YouTuber. “Unless I become the next Ryan Seacrest,” she says, “it just doesn’t pay the bills. I’m not set on doing it full-time. I’m realistic.” Her other passion is health care — “especially clear health communication, which is an umbrella term for health literacy and patient-provider interaction,” she says. She’s thinking of getting a master’s degree in health care or integrated marketing with the goal of working for a company that pairs celebrities with different health causes. But even if she ends up with a regular 9-to-5 job, she says she’ll keep doing celebrity interviews. “If you call me up and say there’s an event at 6 p.m. with Justin Bieber, I’ll grab my camera, put my makeup on in the back of the Uber and meet you there.”

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888.705.9970 | 1914 Pacific Coast HWY | Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Prices, terms, promotions, features, options, floor plans, elevations, designs, specifications, square footages, and descriptions are subject to change without notice. Prices shown refer to the standard house and the plan and do not include any optional features, upgrades or lot premiums. Square footages are approximate and may vary in construction and depending on the standard measurement used. EHOF II Redondo Beach, LLC (“Owner”) reserves the right to make changes to its home plan and the project design and layout. Any information such as but not limited to community or neighborhood benefits, features, descriptions, open spaces, and school information are not guaranteed, are subject to change or modification at any time. Owner does not guarantee that any specific level of energy utility costs or savings will be achieved or maintained. All renderings and floor plans are an artists’ conceptual drawings and will vary from the actual plans and homes as built. Home images, colors and sizes are approximate for illustration purposes only and may not represent the standard homes in the community. Images show model homes displaying options/upgrades and upgraded landscaping which may be available at predetermined stages of construction for additional charges. Models also display many decorator items and furniture which are not available for purchase. Visit the community or speak to our representative for additional important disclosures for the community and the home. Images do not reflect any racial preference. Maps may not be to scale. Equal Housing Opportunity. Information sources: http://www.visitredondo.com/ and http://thewaterfrontredondo.com/. Offered via Terra Nova Professionals CA BRE 01142554.

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Director of photography Daniela Peñaloza sets up the perfect shot for her team’s 7-Eleven commercial

30 Playa Vista Direct | August August··September September2018 2018

People

Promoting

Inclusion

Film2Future’s new grAD school helps young creatives find their way into the advertising industry Story By Stephanie Case | Photos by Maria Martin

n 2017, Film2Future needed a new home. The burgeoning nonprofit, which had hosted its inaugural summer filmmaking intensive for underprivileged and at-risk youth the year before, had lost its grant funding and location. To help out, ad agency Deutsch offered up space inside their agency until Steelhead, their brand-new Jefferson Boulevard production studio across the street, would be ready to play host. That summer, teens from all corners of Los Angeles traveled to Deutsch for their second annual workshop, centered on animation. As Deutsch creatives buzzed around the building, hard at work producing ads for big-name clients like Volkswagen and Target, the Film2Future students worked on their animated shorts in Deutsch’s commons area. With marketing pros operating under their same roof, the high schoolers naturally got curious about their neighbors. “I remember [Film2Future founder] Rachel [Miller] said to me, ‘When they walked into the building, [the students] asked, ‘What goes on here?’ ‘What are people doing here?’” recalled Ted Markovic, Steelhead’s Managing Director. Inspired by that piqued interest, Miller worked with Markovic and others at Deutsch to develop the punnily-named “grAD School,” a summer workshop that offers Film2Future students another creative crash course

For this stop-motion advertising spot, art director Andy Vasquez positions props around his actress while Nayeli Fernandez captures images on her computer

— this time, in advertising. Over the course of three weeks this July at Steelhead, Miller’s cohort of teens and twentysomethings developed 30-second social media spots for 7-Eleven based on real client briefs from the company. Despite being ad world newcomers, they excitedly embraced the challenge, applying the filmmaking and animation skills they’d learned from their previous summers to bring their visions to life. Dozens of Deutsch creative directors, copywriters

and digital strategists popped in, helping them hone their concepts to fit the client’s needs. “We ran it very seriously,” says Miller. “They got feedback. They were told no. They were told to change their ideas.” In three weeks’ time, they’d shot, edited and shipped their final pieces to 7-Eleven — and it’s not out of the question that you could spot one of (Continued on page 32) Playa PlayaVista VistaDirect Direct || August · September 2018 31

People

(Continued from page 31)

them on your computer screen or mobile device. “The hope is that we’ll send it to the brand, and they’re like, ‘We love this. Let’s do it,’” says Deutsch’s Karina Brennan. Getting professional-level experience is vital for these young adults, many of whom would have a near-impossible time getting their start in these creative industries — let alone imagining them as viable careers — without it. “I’ve always been into photography and editing, but it was always just a hobby. I didn’t think, ‘Oh, this could be a job,’” says Marlene Leyva, a 19-yearold grAD School participant, who’s entering her sophomore year in Cal State L.A.’s film and television program. Back at South El Monte High School, she and her friends would recruit Drama Club kids to participate in short films, shooting them on her iPhone under the football field’s bleachers.

Now, after two years with Film2Future, she’s the lead producer on her 7-Eleven spot and has an internship with Magical Elves (the production company behind “Top Chef ” and other non-scripted TV hits) lined up for the fall. Miller, who also works as founding partner of Haven Entertainment, originally built Film2Future to help Leyva and diverse students like her get a foothold in the tough-to-crack (and white and male-dominated) film industry. In developing grAD School, she realized that this type of program was just as necessary in the marketing world. “To [Deutsch’s] credit, they were like, ‘Advertising also has a similar pipeline problem. Let’s build a program that can help solve that,” she recalls. In one grAD School session, a guest speaker showed the students a series of tone-deaf ads, apparently made without feedback from people of different races and genders. For 22-year-old Hailey

Young, a recent Spelman College grad with a psychology degree, the experience helped solidify her desire to break into brand strategy and advocate for the underrepresented. “In a room that’s made up of one demographic — whether it’s all males, all white males, all one race — you can skim past how other people can be offended,” says Young. “I want to be a part of those conversations. I want people to know, ‘Hey, this isn’t the smartest [idea], because you’re putting a whole demographic of people in the shadows.” While a program like grAD School might help Young, Leyva and other aspiring creatives get their foot in the door, it’s the ad world that needs their creativity and voices more than ever. “Being a woman and being AfricanAmerican puts me in a unique position where I can help this industry grow and put other people’s perspectives out there,” says Young.

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Brokerage Products: Not FDIC–Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value Restrictions apply: The $4.95 commission does not apply to foreign stock transactions, block transactions requiring special handling, restricted Brokerage Products: Notlarge FDIC–Insured • No Bank Guarantee • MayorLose Valuestock transactions. Foreign ordinary shares that trade online in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) market and do not settle in the U.S. will have a $50 foreign transaction fee added to the cost of the transaction. All broker-assisted and automated phone trades are subject to service charges. See the Charles Schwab Pricing Guide for Individual Investors for full fee and commission schedules. Employee equity compensation transactions are subject to separate commission Restrictions apply: The $4.95 commission does not apply to foreign stock transactions, large block transactions requiring special handling, or restricted stock transactions. Foreign ordinary shares that trade schedules. online in the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) market and do not settle in the U.S. will have a $50 foreign transaction fee added to the cost of the transaction. All broker-assisted and automated phone trades are If you are completely satisfied any reason, at Pricing your request Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) or Charles Schwab Bank (“Schwabequity Bank”), as applicable, will refund are anysubject eligibleto feeseparate related to your subject tonot service charges. See thefor Charles Schwab GuideCharles for Individual Investors for full fee and commission schedules. Employee compensation transactions commission concern within the required timeframes. Schwab reserves the right to change or terminate the guarantee at any time. Go to schwab.com/satisfaction to learn what’s included and how it works. schedules. If you areSchwab not completely satisfied for anySchwab reason,Bank at your Charles Schwabcompanies & Co., Inc.and (“Schwab”) or Charles Bank (“Schwab Bank”), as applicable, will are refund any eligible fee related to SIPC. your Charles & Co., Inc. and Charles arerequest separate but affiliated subsidiaries of The Schwab Charles Schwab Corporation. Brokerage products offered by Schwab, Member concern and within the required timeframes. Schwab reserves the rightSchwab to change or Member terminateFDIC the guarantee at any time. Lender. Go to schwab.com/satisfaction to learn what’s included and how it works. Deposit lending products and services are offered by Charles Bank, and an Equal Housing Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank are separate but affiliated companies and subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation. Brokerage products are offered by Schwab, Member SIPC. Deposit and lending products and services are offered by Charles Schwab Bank, Member FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

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Pet Adoption

Adoptable Pets

from Annenberg PetSpace The coolest buddies in Playa Vista are waiting for their new forever homes

Roo

Gigi

Sol

Hi, I’m Roo, a young girl who is known as the resident social butterfly at PetSpace. I love playing with any bunny toy I can get my paws on and enjoy unwinding at the end of a long day by being brushed. I hope we can meet soon to see if I’m the missing part of your life!

Hi, I’m Gigi. I’m an outgoing girl who would love to meet you! I prance adorably when on walks and would be happiest being by your side. Could I be the one you’re looking for?

Hi, I’m Sol. I’m an affectionate girl in need of a home. I’ve faced some challenges, due to the way my front paws were formed, but I won’t let that bring me down! I’m still ready to come cuddle with you. Let’s meet and see if I can become the light of your life.

One Year of Annenberg PetSpace By Annenberg PetSpace Staff

Last year, we opened Annenberg PetSpace with a mission to strengthen the human-animal bond. We’ve since helped hundreds of dogs, cats, and bunnies find loving families and our

educational programs assist the community to better understand and connect with pets. To commemorate one year, we hosted an AnniFURsary Celebration on 6/24. More than 2,000 animal lovers and pets attended! Festivities included surfing & trick dogs, food, face painting, tours, and more.

Most importantly, we found forever homes for adoptable pets! Thank you Playa Vista, for welcoming Annenberg PetSpace to become your resource for pet adoptions, animal education and community engagement!

To learn more about pet adoption, or to see other available pets, visit annenbergpetspace.org 36 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

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Meet the Narteys Athletics, academia, real estate, giving back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this Playa Vista family really can do it all

Story by Brian Marks | Photos by Courtnay Robbins

38 Playa Vista Direct | August Âˇ September 2018

Home Left side:

Mimi and Kofi Nartey share a laugh in their spacious Bridgeway Mills home B e low:

B e l o w r i g h t:

here are numerous benefits to playing sports. Children who participate perform better academically, learn teamwork and problem-solving skills, and get a steady source of necessary exercise. For Playa Vista couple Kofi and Mimi Nartey, sports have been an integral part of their lives, and even brought them together in the first place. Kofi, who played football for UC Berkeley and the Oakland Raiders, met Mimi, a member of Ghana’s Women’s World Cup team, when his father hosted a dinner for the team in 2003. They hit it off, but Kofi took an unorthodox approach to follow up. “I always figured one path to a woman’s heart is through laughter,” says Kofi. “So I decided to impersonate an LA Times reporter. ‘Walter’ asked her questions about the game, kind of gave her a hard time, then just burst into laughter. She laughed, it worked, and here we are 15 years later.” Kofi now works with Compass Real Estate as director of its Sports

A staircase leads to the second level of this three-level home

The Narteys often start their day in this casual breakfast nook

and Entertainment Division, working with high-profile clients like Michael Jordan, Iggy Azalea, Derek Fisher and Kevin Durant. Mimi is an adjunct professor of sustainability at Occidental College and Loyola Marymount University, focusing on research into topics such as waterbased disease prevention and climatedriven impacts on health in sub-Saharan Africa. They and their two children have lived in Playa Vista for the last nine years, and in their three-story townhouse for the past four. Their home has soft loft elements, including an air duct and exposed beams that give the townhouse a youthful and slightly edgy feel. The walls and counter surfaces are done in soothing neutral colors, complemented by a more aggressive dark hardwood floor and patterned rugs, including one with black and white zigzags straight out of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” The ground floor’s open plan helps to instantly make visitors feel welcome, and an abundance of windows keep the

space bathed in natural light. One wall is completely devoted to windows, which illuminate all three floors. “I think what I like about Playa Vista is it seems like anywhere you can grow up,” reflects Mimi. “There’s quite a bit of diversity, and often when we talk about diversity we mean racial and ethnic diversity, but there’s also an economic diversity that’s kind of fresh. You have studio apartments and $3-million houses, all within this walkable territory, all the same community.” Kofi’s real estate business caters to athletes and celebrities, who often have needs that go beyond the realm of traditional high-end real estate. “The nature of their lifestyle, the need for privacy, the moving at a moment’s notice — it’s similar for both celebrities and luxury real estate in general,” explains Kofi. “High net worth people are busy, and they need to have a lot of things taken care of for them so they can focus on things that make them successful. So (Continued on page 40) Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018 39

Home

(Continued from page 39)

that’s everything from movers, staffers, nannies, helping them get their kids enrolled in school, to even event planning, which goes beyond their immediate real estate needs.” Athletes have additional complications: they may need to move on short notice due to the vagaries of contracts and unpredictability of trades. Some have had to switch residences multiple times in a single year. Kofi even wrote a book, “Sellebrity,” a guide to succeeding at luxury real estate. An acting stint before his real estate success, including roles in “Fast & Furious” and “Kick-Ass,” helps him to understand the needs of actors and celebrities as well as athletes. Though Mimi works in academia, her research and teaching interests still return to sports. In addition to her regular environmental science or public health courses, she recently developed a class for Occidental called “Women, Sports and Empowerment,” to which

her experience as a professional soccer player is invaluable. Yet with sports so important in the Narteys lives, their townhouse is surprisingly uncluttered with trophies and memorabilia. Instead, they decorate it with signifiers of the past and future, their ancestors and aspirations. The first thing visitors see when walking in the door is a framed picture: a copy of a photograph of Kofi’s greatgrandfather in tribal garb from the late-19th or early-20th century, a yellow timestamp along the side of the frame the only indication that it’s not the original. Across the room is a large painting of Muhammad Ali, mouth open as he spits his brand of outsized poetry. “It means a lot to me, because he’s reaching the pinnacle of success in his sport,” says Kofi. “Then he uses his platform to make a difference.” It’s an important example to remember as the Narteys near the pinnacles of their own careers. The two created the

Both Mimi and Kofi Nartey seek to empower others through sports

Nartey Sports Foundation, which supports programs for underserved youth athletes. “When it comes to what contribution we make to our community, it comes back to that sports angle,” says Mimi. “That’s the truth of our lives — it’s even how we met. So we really want to give that opportunity to other young people.”

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THRESHOLD REAL ESTATE GROUP’S RECENT SALES

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6010 Celedon Creek #3, Playa Vista 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath /+Bonus & Loft $1,790,000 - RECORD SALE!

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Style

Helio Bray Art “Tropicalism” is the name of Portuguese artist, Helio Bray’s, current exhibit at Street Art House, 12746 West Jefferson Blvd., Unit 115.

“California” Painted on premium cotton canvas with aerosol, gouaches & acrylic, this work combines pixilated images with zebra stripes to create a playful urban skyline. 47” x 48” $5,750

“Modern Age” Painted on premium cotton canvas with aerosol & acrylic, an iconic mouse gets buried beneath colorful, geometric shapes that have a bit of a cubist edge. 51” x 51” $6,750

42 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

“L.A. (Shield)” Painted on wood with aerosol & acrylic, nothing says urban jungle quite like this piece that juxtaposes jagged shapes with palm leaves. 29” $2,000

“Vibrant” Painted on premium cotton canvas with aerosol & acrylic, this graffiti-inspired work meshes urban themes with daunting mountainous peaks. 46” x 54” $6,250

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Style Photos by Maria Martin

Silicon Beach Parents Group Fashion Show @ Concert Park Playa Vista residents got a peek at some of the cutest clothes from local designers on Saturday, Aug. 4, at the newly refurbished Concert Park. Featured designers included Fi and Me, Irene’s Story, Freshgenet, Tianello, and Dot Dot Smile, with Silicon Beach Parents Group founder Gabrielle D’Addario playing host. Taking in the sunshine, both little girls and boys danced, twirled and strutted across the stage. Some models, including the entire Peacock family, rode scooters in circles around a decorated backdrop that read “Only in Playa Vista.” Dressed in a designer hoodie, riding a Micro Trike, it was little Bowie’s second birthday. The crowd sang him their best wishes. Panini Café at Runway in Playa Vista offered fresh Mediterranean meals for a $5 donation. Proceeds will benefit Safe Place for Youth, a nonprofit that provides mentorship and services for homeless kids and young adults in Venice and other Westside neighborhoods. — Shanee Edwards 44 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Liv Melius models a gown by Dot Dot Smile on a Micro Trike pushed by her dad Martin

Bruce Beaubien rides a Micro Mini2Go wearing a Micro Helmet with mom Tamara, who wears a Tianello washable silk dress

Tough Ruck carrier designer Francisco Macatol with son Roman

Books and Cookies owner Chudney Ross leads an interactive story time

Actress Ciarra Carter wears Irene’s Story; her daughter Love wears a Cee Cee and Ryan Onesie

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Sweat Yoga staff demonstrate Warrior 2, a pose inspired by a fierce warrior with a thousand heads

H e a lt h

Stretch and

refresh

Sweat Yoga is the next big heat wave to hit Playa Vista Story by Shanee Edwards | Photos by Shilah Montiel

“I

t’s kind of an addictive form of yoga,” says Sweat Yoga founder Tom Schey just before the opening of his new Playa Vista studio at The Brickyard. With four locations in Southern California and one in New York City, Sweat Yoga is growing fast. But it’s hard to say exactly what’s so addicting about it — is it the heated room, the lively music, the dedicated teachers? Whatever it may be, Schey says Sweat Yoga has struck a nerve in the yoga community. “The music is creative,” says Schey. “We’re young, we’re fun, we’re athletic. We’re soulful. We kind of own what we do, and no one else does what we do the way we do it.” He’s not kidding around. On the day of their grand opening, the gently lit studio with windows on all sides was 106 degrees, with a mister in the center of the room to add a bit of humidity. Schey says there are many benefits to doing yoga in a very hot room. “We feel the heat aids in loosening up and lubricating the joints. Our classes, from a duration standpoint, can be a little shorter because of the heat — it takes less time to warm up. There’s a fairly direct connection with detoxifying the body which is also caused by sweating, and then rehydrating the body with healthy liquids aids in that.” Schey says that rather than feeling beat up at the end of a class, students feel refreshed.

Tom Schey, owner and founder of Sweat Yoga

Located at The Brickyard, the space has windows on all sides. While it was challenging to build a studio with wrap-around windows — “Do you know how hard it is to put in a shower next to a window?” Schey says, comparing the raw space to a terrarium — the mirrorless studio is an inspiring place. After all, students come in to connect with their bodies for an hour, not to stare at the person in front of them or check themselves out in a mirror, he adds. “We concentrate on a moving meditation.”

On opening night, employees wear big smiles and point to where a freezer filled with frozen treats will go. The excitement is palpable. Descriptions of Sweat Yoga’s various classes are online. Their signature class is called “Sweat-Flow,” where the warmup includes connecting to the breath and is followed by three separate flows. The 60-minute class ends with a “sweet savasana.” There’s also the “Sweat-Chizle” class, which focuses on strength training. It includes some flows, but poses are held longer and light hand-

(Continued on page 48)

Playa PlayaVista VistaDirect Direct || August · September 2018 47

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weights are integrated into the session. If the 100+ degree heat sounds too intense for you, check out their “Candlelight Yin” class that includes candles, long holds and slightly lower temperatures. Due to the success of their Santa Monica location, Schey is optimistic about what the future holds in Playa Vista. “We’ve been knocking on doors in the neighborhood. It’s always tough to start a new studio, but I think Playa Vista is going to be our most successful location a year from now.” Single classes are $25, but you can get an introductory pass for $45 that allows you unlimited classes for 14 days. A one-month unlimited membership runs $185. Sweat Yoga Playa Vista is in The Brickyard at 12105 E. Waterfront Drive. Visit sweat-yoga.com for more information.

The Brickyard houses a gorgeous yoga studio with windows on all sides

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Big Ideas for Small 5 kids meal hacks to make breakfast, lunch and dinner a breeze at Runway Story by Gabrielle Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Addario | Photo by Maria Martin 52 Playa Vista Direct | August Âˇ September 2018

ith restaurants like Hal’s, Hopdoddy and ROC at Runway, there’s always something healthy and delicious to eat. But what about our tiny picky eaters who won’t go near a soup dumpling? We narrowed down the top five kid options with hacks to help families keep hangry at bay.

Charlie and Gracie Zacuto enjoy a kid-friendly meal at Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Appetites

1. Hopdoddy This burger bar has an easy kids menu with a simple burger (plain), a cheeseburger (with choice of cheese), a bacon cheeseburger or grilled cheese, plus your kid’s choice of Kennebec or sweet potato fries and a child-size drink. My kids love the “Pink Drink” from the fountain, but they also offer OJ, plain milk or chocolate milk. Hopdoddy has made it even easier for our tech-friendly community by introducing an online ordering system (hopdoddy.com). The milkshakes are big enough to share and come in yummy variations like Oreo Cookies N’ Cream, Bananas Foster, Strawberry Shortbread and Vanilla Birthday Cake. The gated patio is perfect for letting kids be entertained with the Runway action while staying contained. (Hack: Hit up happy hour Monday through Friday to find $5 menu items including burgers, beer, wine & “shareables.”) 2. Whole Foods We hit the Pleasant-Vista jackpot with our Whole Foods options. Their hot bar rotates between healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner options so you can choose from a large variety of kid-friendly foods at any time of day. The juice bar creates child-sized smoothies, fruit bowls and fresh juice right before your eyes with the fresh produce from their shelves. In the refrigerator section, pick up grab-and-go fruit cups, fresh sushi, bento boxes, pizza or kid-size sandwiches for a fast fix when you’re trying to beat a meltdown. Head to the express lane if you’re in a hurry or check out Instacart or Amazon Prime Now to have anything in the store delivered in about an hour. (Continued on page 54)

Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018 53

Food

(Continued from page 53)

(Hack: Visit the Kids Corner for complimentary snacks-while-you-shop for kids, located on the back corner of the customer service/express lane.) 3. Starbucks The iconic coffee house might not sound like an ideal food destination for mealtime, but it’s actually easy for families. They offer delicious sous-vide egg bites, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and snack boxes that include healthy options like hard-boiled eggs with apples and carrots. Order an offthe-menu kids drink like a Unicorn Frappuccino or a cake-pop for a special treat. Grab a protein bowl for a healthy lunch (big enough to share) and head to one of the 29 parks in Playa Vista for a picnic. (Hack: Avoid the line by using the Starbucks App and score points.) 4. ROC This is one of our kids’ favorite spots,

and we’ve found some pretty solid gotos. The rice cakes (with pork, chicken or veggies) are perfect for little fingers and come out quickly. The shrimp and shishito peppers dish (we substitute the peppers for broccoli) is a tasty, healthy meal that we frequently order and rarely have leftovers. You can never go wrong with any of the rice options here but we really love the shrimp or crab fried rice, which they’ll add garlic to upon request. The sautéed green beans or sugar snap peas are sharable sides that must have some sort of magic in their sauce, because these healthy veggies are always gobbled up in the blink of an eye. Don’t skip dessert here — the sweet dumplings and buns are a delicious treat that comes in fun flavors like pumpkin, taro, red bean and black sesame. (Hack: Request that you sit in the booths next to the kitchen so your kids can watch the action. Also ask for the kids chop stick holders.)

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5. Hal’s Bar & Grill This art-filled community treasure offers innovative and fresh dishes designed by Chef Manuel Mares (who’s been with Hal’s for 30 years), and their kids menu is no exception. With progressive takes on classic options like pizza, grilled cheese or chicken tenders, you’re sure to please picky eaters at this Runway hotspot. The fresh spaghettini tossed with Chef Manuel’s secret-recipe red sauce and topped with freshly shaved parmesan reminds me of the East Coast Italian food I grew up with. Also a popular brunch spot, Hal’s keeps us coming back for the blueberry vegan pancakes with cashew yogurt and pure maple sugar. And with two happy hours every day, this is the perfect place for a toddler timed dinner or a parents’ night out cocktail. (Hack: Ask to borrow their Etch-aSketch and let your little ones master this classic toy for a flashback to your own childhood and a quiet start to your meal.)

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Down the road

Runway Says Bye-Bye to Cars Playa Vista’s retail hub will reactivate the street that runs through it as a pedestrian promenade

This preliminary rendering by Design, Bitches offers a westward view of a more pedestrian-centric Runway

nspired by the popularity of Runway Funday pop-ups and the local farmers market, the managers of Runway at Playa Vista say they will soon close the shopping and retail hub to automobile traffic, turning Runway Road into a bustling pedestrian promenade As of early 2019, not even Teslas will be allowed to zip past Hal’s Bar & Grill. Invesco Real Estate, which pur-

56 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

chased Runway for a reported $475 million in 2016, and property managers DJM Capital Partners recently unveiled preliminary renderings for the new street configuration by the architectural and design firm Design, Bitches. Though the change means closing one of three parking structure entrances, it promises to make Runway a safer, more inviting space to hang out. New

outdoor seating, for example, will come in handy now that Whole Foods has removed its casual indoor dining tables (don’t worry, the Astro Pub remains open). The bigger question that remains: Will this change help fill the empty retail spaces at Runway? Only time will tell, but this feels like an auspicious start.

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A Perfect Fit

Film producer Sonia Machado-Hines says yes to the Renaissance dress By Shanee Edwards

60 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

Photo by Ricardo Kuettel

very bride agonizes over finding the perfect wedding dress, but rarely does a bridal gown inspire a movie. For filmmaker and Playa Vista resident Sonia Machado-Hines, one dress did just that. She produced the short documentary “Dressing a Renaissance Queen,” about the painstaking recreation of a famous gown by costume designer Nola Yergen. “This dress has quite a story,” says Yergen, who created it for her own wedding. Though the marriage didn’t last, the dress lives on. Yergen finds inspiration in historical garments and takes great pride in getting the tiniest details right. “All the pearls and garnets are real,” she says. “The dress is silk. Everything is hand-sewn. The materials cost over $2,000.” If you’re a fan of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, you may recognize this dress from his painting “The Wedding by Proxy of Marie de’ Medici to King Henry IV.” Yergen says the dress took a year to research and another year to construct. In person, the dress is stunning. I’m desperate to run my finger down the fine silk, but I restrain myself for fear of sullying the gown. It’s truly a work of art, and recently won Best In Show at CostumeCon, an international costuming event and competition. Machado-Hines met Yergen on the set of a film Machado-Hines’ actor-husband, Terence Bernie Hines, was working on. Yergen was the costume designer. The two spent hours together talking and getting to know each other before Yergen finally showed her the dress.

Filmmaker Sonia Machado-Hines and costume designer Nola Yergen pose with a replica of a Renaissance queen’s dress

“I knew we had to make a movie about it,” says Machado-Hines. As a filmmaker, Machado-Hines is completely self-taught. Originally from Cuba, she grew up in Indiana before meeting her husband in New York. Her current film, “Hyster-Talks: Real Women Tell Their Stories” is about the $20-billion industry around uterine fibroids. After living in Sherman Oaks, she and her husband decided to move closer to Hollywood so Terence didn’t have to drive so far to auditions. “We drove to West Hollywood,” says Machado-Hines, “and kept driving west. Then Playa Vista said ‘Hi, I’m it.’” Rubens’ painting still hangs in the Louvre and is featured in the film,

which isn’t available to the general public yet but is making the rounds at various film festivals. “The movie shows Yergen making the dress, and then she’s dressed. It cuts to the painting, and it’s so transcending. You’re transported to the time period,” says Machado-Hines. As far as the future of the dress, Machado-Hines says she would love to exhibit it in Playa Vista. “There’s a film festival in here and I really hope the movie gets in. We could display the dress. It’s its own entity — it talks to you. When I see all its parts [the corsets, crinolines, stockings, etc.] go on and off, it develops an identity which is fabulous.”

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Reshaping the Westside real estate experience Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018 61

EVENTS Saturday, Aug. 18

Aug. 23 & 25

Dr. Kwane Stewart – Street Vet

Marina Concert Series: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific”

Hear from Dr. Kwane Stewart about his efforts to care for pets of the less fortunate and his unconventional journey as a philanthropic veterinarian. He’ll be giving a sneak peek of his new television show featuring work to help a special group of people and their pets. 3 to 4 p.m. Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, 12005 Bluff Creek Dr. (424) 3841801; annenbergpetspace.org

Saturday, Aug. 18

Friday, Aug. 24

GR4CF #15

Friday, Aug. 24

Grace Rose’s 15th Annual Fashion Show Fundraiser, benefitting the Grace Rose Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Research, features celebrity models, an organic candy station, cocktail and mocktail bars, fashion activities, and a music and dance lineup led by DJ Micah Paul. 4 to 8 p.m. TOMS Shoes, 5404 Jandy Place. Tickets are $25 to $100 at Eventbrite.com

Beach Movie Nights: “Up” Get close to the sand for this tale of an old man and Boy Scout who fly away on a house tethered to balloons. You might want some tissues for the beautiful opening montage. 8 p.m. Free. Dockweiler Youth Center, 12505 Vista Del Mar. (310) 726-4128; beaches. lacounty.gov

Tuesday, Aug. 21

Aug. 24, 25 & 26

Teens vs. Stress

Fiesta La Ballona

Teen volunteers with the Playa Vista Library are collaborating with teens from the nearby Westchester Branch Library for a project to address the impact of stress on teens and the larger community. Ideas needed; open to all 12- to 18-year-olds willing to lend a hand. 4 p.m. Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Dr. (310) 437-6680; lapl.org

Food trucks, carnival rides, live musical entertainment, artisans and a beer-and-wine garden come together in Veterans Park for Culver City’s biggest weekend of fun and frivolity. 4117 Overland Ave. Free admission; $25+ for ride wristbands. fiestalaballona.org

New customers only. Participating locations only. Some restrictions may apply. Offer expires 9/30/18.

Molly Maid of Playa Vista 310-838-3300 www.MollyMaid.com

62 Playa Vista Direct | August · September 2018

The Marina del Rey Symphony stretches itself yet again to produce not one but two fully staged productions of this classic American musical. Expect dazzling sights and sounds. 7 p.m. Free. Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. (424) 526-7900; beaches.lacounty.gov

(Continued on page 64)

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EVENTS Saturday, Aug. 25

Yoga for a Cause Alexa Parashos guides this donation-based outdoor yoga session all about renewing body, mind and commitment to doing good. Proceeds support A Place Called Home. Bring a yoga mat, water and a few bucks. 9 to 10 a.m. Concert Park, 13020 Pacific Promenade. playavista.com

Venice Beach Music Fest 13 Saturday, Aug. 25

Big Brother and the Holding Company headlines this annual celebration of music, literature, art and dance on the Venice Boardwalk (1600 Ocean Front Walk). Bring canned goods for the Westside Food Bank. 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. facebook.com/venicebeachmusicfest

Cardboard Yacht Regatta Children get the chance to experiment with the physics of buoyancy by building boats out of cardboard and duct tape. The challenge is to paddle from one end of the pool to the other without sinking. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. RSVP to participate; free to watch. Annenberg Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Hwy. (310) 458-4904; annenbergbeachhouse.com Sunday, Aug. 26

Sunday, Aug. 26

free games for playful puppies and humans, including musical hoops and a tail-wagging contest. Open to puppies and humans of all training and abilities, with doggie swag and human refreshments on site. 10 a.m. to noon. Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way. Free. RSVP at eventbrite.com. Friday, Aug. 31

Beach Movie Nights: “Peter Rabbit” James Corden plays the trickster rabbit, who steals from the garden of Mr. McGregor before tussling with his young nephew, Thomas (Domhall Gleeson). Based on the classic Beatrix Potter story. 8 p.m. Free. Dockweiler Youth Center, 12505 Vista Del Mar. (310) 726-4128; beaches.lacounty.gov Saturday, Sept. 1

Marina Concert Series: La Santa Cecilia This critically acclaimed L.A. band named for the patron saint of musicians blends cumbia, bossa nova and boleros for a fresh take on Latin music that celebrates the unique culture of Southern California. 7 p.m. Free. Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey. (424) 526-7900; beaches.lacounty.gov

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(Continued on page 66)

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EVENTS

Saturday, Sept. 1 Photo by Maria Martin

Thursday, Sept. 6

Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26 & Oct. 3 + 7

Sept. 15 & 16 + 22 & 23

Twilight on the Pier

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The Twilight Concert Series reboots with a new name, immersive art and game experiences, a beer and spirits garden, food offerings and of course world-class music on Wednesday nights (plus a final weekend bash). A lineup of emerging Latin music artists kicks things off and a fusion of South Asian sounds closes out the festival. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free. santamonicapier.org

Modern artisan marketplace UNIQUE LA pops up on the Westside for two weekends at Culver City’s PLATFORM. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 8850 Washington Blvd. RSVP early for a free tote bag at eventbrite.com.

Thursday, Sept. 6

Mar Vista Art Walk Just in time for the start of the school year, the Mar Vista Art Walk puts on a culturally enriching night of art, music and creativity under the erudite theme of “Science.” 6 to 10 p.m. Venice Boulevard between Beethoven Street and Inglewood Boulevard. Free. marvistaartwalk.org Saturday, Sept. 15

Sept. 21 to 23

Venice Art Crawl: Afterburn Decompress from Burning Man with a beachside after party featuring art, music and some awesome “mutant” art cars. Times TBA. Windward Plaza, Venice Beach. Free. veniceartcrawl.com

Lucky Strike Film Festival Lucky Strike Films hosts its annual independent film festival and awards program at Beat Box Studio, 11828 Teale St. See eventbrite.com for information about festival screenings and how to get tickets.

Westchester Arts & Music Block Party (WAM)

Sunday, Sept. 30

The third annual rendition of this community celebration features live music, dance, vendor booths, kids activities, community garden tours and plus a beer-and-wine garden. Proceeds benefit the Emerson Avenue Community Garden. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Emerson Avenue, between W. 80th Street & W. 80th Place. Free. wamblockparty.org.

Artisans, musicians and food trucks collect on the “coolest block in America” as local shops, boutiques and eateries opening up their doors for a day of live music, food and fun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Abbot Kinney Blvd. between Main Street and Venice Boulevard. Free. abbotkinney.org

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