August 2022
Fine living in the greater Pasadena area
ARCADIA HOSTS 2022 STATE FAIR
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arroyo
VOLUME 17 | NUMBER 08 | AUGUST 2022
33
IMMACULATE HEART
A Catholic, Independent, College Preparatory School For Girls Grades 6-12
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16 ChapCare
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New EF Academy holding open house —By Michele Robinson
M A RIA
12 Global Education in Pasadena
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State fair gives more bang for the buck —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
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06 Let Them Entertain You
IMM
“Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906”
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5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 461-3651 www.immaculateheart.org
Local nonprofit improves the community’s health —By Laura Latzko
22 Spiritual Journey
Pasadena Wine Shop helps sommelier heal —By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
24 Getting Organized
Declutter your home with these expert tips —By Kamala Kirk
28 Driving for a Good Cause
Gala kicks off San Marino Motor Classic —By Summer Aguirre
31 A Pasadena Girl
Singer Phoebe Bridgers has fond memories of home —By Xavier Omar Otero
33 Modern Dim Sum
Internationally acclaimed chef Tony He celebrates grand reopening in Pasadena —By Kamala Kirk
DEPARTMENTS 36
CULINARY CUPBOARD Fluffy, fruity and fresh
arroyo
fine living in the greater pasadena area
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Christina Fuoco-Karasinski DEPUTY EDITOR: Luke Netzley ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres CONTRIBUTORS Summer Aguirre, Emily Chavez, Kamala Kirk, Laura Latzko, Xavier Omar Otero, Michele Robinson PHOTOGRAPHERS Luis Chavez, Chris Mortenson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb OFFICE MANAGER Ann Turrietta
TIMES MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT Steve Strickbine V.P. OF OPERATIONS Michael Hiatt ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Zac Reynolds CONTACT US EDITORIAL christina@timespublications.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1349, South Pasadena, CA 91031 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2022 Times Media Group All rights reserved.
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FA M I LY A N D E D U CAT I O N
Let Them
Entertain You State fair gives more bang for the buck
T
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
he summer fair of Los Angeles is produced by State Fair Entertainment Los Angeles — and there’s good reason for the moniker. It’s all about entertainment. State Fair Entertainment of Los Angeles, the official summer fair of LA, is hosted at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia through August 20. The all-inclusive $10 to $12 general admission tickets include all entertainment. A season pass for rides is $20. “I think the idea of the ‘better together’ concept is to have an all-inclusive $10 ticket that gives you free music, 96 attractions, a motorcycle stunt show and pig races for free,” owner Ron Sever-
LA’s summer fair will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
continued on page 8
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Free verbal appraisals and fair, competitive offers on your items. The value of old, broken or out of fashion jewelry adds up faster than you think. Clean up that jewery box! Get rid of unused inherited items and things from past relationships. Trade in old pieces for new designers we carry in our store like Pomellato, Pasquale Bruni, Ginette NY, Dinh Van, Persee and Le Gramme. Place Vendome Jewelers 48 Hugus Alley Pasadena CA 91103 Located in Old Town Pasadena in the One Colorado Courtyard
Please call for a private appointment. 626-577-7001
Department of Justice Secondhand Dealer License #001583, City of Pasadena Permit #11436642 08.22 | ARROYO | 7
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ance says. “This is State Fair 2.0. We have a gaming center for people who like to game, a lot of shaded seating so people can gather as families.” This year, the event features 25 extreme live shows daily included in admission, like Wheel of Destiny, motorcycle/BMX stunt shows, the Dominguez Extreme Circus, human cannonball, ExtremeDog Stunt Show and the classic pig races. Guests can bite into fair food just featured on A&E’s “Deep Fried Dynasty,” like Juicys’ Texas-sized turkey legs, funnel cake, deep-fried Oreos, cotton candy and lemonade. Juicys Outlaw Grill cooks 1,500 turkey legs at once on the world’s largest grill; it’s 83 feet long. “Juicys is the largest food concessionaire in the country,” Severance says. “They’ve been features in the Guinness Book of World Records. They have all the greats. They have a smash burger concept this year that’s great. His corn product is one of the best. They have everything you’d want and some of the stuff you shouldn’t.” Brett Enright is chief executive officer and founder of 30-yearold Juicys LLC. “We’re always a popular — if not the most popular — stand out there,” Enright says. “Annually, we serve 1 million customers at the fairs in Cali-
The all-inclusive $10 pass includes a motorcycle stunt show.
Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
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The fair includes over 90 concerts from tribute bands and award-winning artists.
fornia. A lot of people know our brand. It’s a family business.” Enright had his first food stand at age 15, selling hot dogs and lemonade at the Del Mar fair. “What’s been so neat about this business is most of the kids who work for us, this is their very first job,” Enright says. “That has been quite an honor to be able to work with talented and amazing kids from California to around the country.” As far as the “fun stuff,” Enright says his company goes all out. “On our big barbecues out front, the food is always on display,” he says. “The giant corn dogs are a fair favorite. They’re almost 13 inches long, and they are amazing. The other thing we’re doing this year is Juicys’ curly fries. “We have a mountain of curly fries, and we’re having fun with them. We do a Mexican curly fry with jalapeños, beans, and fajita onions and peppers. We’re doing to curly fries what people did to nachos. We have mac and cheese and carne asada curly fries.” Kicking it old school, Enright has lemonade made with California lemons and strawberries. He boasts that the turkey legs and “amazing.” “At the end of the night, when the meat is absolutely the best, we make turkey leg street tacos,” Enright says. “Not only is it good, but it’s not wasting anything.” Other items on his menu are cheeseburgers made with doughnuts, deep-fried Oreos, and funnel cakes with vanilla soft-serve ice cream.
“We have Juicys’ big famous sausage sandwich with a big heaping pile of peppers and onions,” he says. “The new arrival is jalapeños and cheese sausage sandwich. We have variants of that. We fun-faired them up. We Frankenstein all these things. “We have a lot of fun with some of the traditional fun food.” For music fans, the fair includes more than 90 free concerts from nationally recognized tribute bands and award-winning artists. Among the artists are tributes to Bruno Mars, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Elton John and the Beatles. “State Fair Entertainment was created around the idea that a large-scale, high-quality entertainment venue can promote positivity, be eco- and family-friendly, and be an asset to the community in which it is held,” Severance says. “The whole idea was to create a bunch of attractions. A lot of fairs do the agricultural piece and do it well. We decided it was best for us to focus on the entertainment piece. Hockey games have gotten expensive. Dodgers games have gotten expensive. With Ticketmaster, concerts are expensive. We’re trying to get people together.” State Fair Entertainment of Los Angeles WHEN: Various times through Saturday, August 20 WHERE: Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia COST: Tickets start at $10 INFO: statefairent.com
Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
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FA M I LY A N D E D U CAT I O N Boasting a Global Leadership Program structured around the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, Pasadena’s new EF Academy brings a new type of educational experience to the city’s high school students.
Global Education in
Pasadena
New EF Academy holding open house new, state-of-the-art global high school experience is available locally. Pasadena will soon be the new home of EF Academy, a product of the global educational organization EF Education First. This highly acclaimed international private high school has campuses in Oxford, England, and Westchester County, New York. Now opening its third location this fall, it will offer students both day school and boarding options. continued on page 14
Education First/Submitted rendering
A
By Michele Robinson
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“The mission of EF Academy is to open the world through education, and the vision of our school is to empower the next generation of global changemakers,” says Dr. Sally Mingarelli, founding head of school for EF Academy Pasadena. Students attending EF Academy will receive a globally centered education. EF Academy offers its students a signature Global Leadership Program with three pathways to choose from: ● Global citizen, with a focus in international relations, politics, law and economics. ● Global entrepreneur, with a focus in business, finance and management. ● Global innovator, with two tracks: ● A focus in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, OR ● A focus in arts, media and cultural studies. The Global Leadership Program is structured around the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The program encompasses the four years students are on campus and encourages students to engage in global problem solving and complete student-driven projects. This ties in to another feature that sets this private school apart – the student-centered approach to education. “This brand-new campus offers a student-centered learning approach. Teachers and students work together, and students have a hand in what they want to learn,” explains Alexandra Jareck, marketing, admissions and communications manager. After breaking ground in 2019, this artfully designed 16-acre campus will offer modernized amenities including four new oncampus residence halls and many modern sports facilities. There are also art spaces, design labs and a dining hall on campus. “The roofs of the dorms are sloped to mirror the San Gabriel Mountains,” Jareck says. As for the sports, students can enjoy indoor and outdoor sports activities. They can swim in the new recreational pool or play beach volleyball in the sand volleyball court. “Students can also take advantage of the outdoor basketball court, full turf soccer field and dance studios. There is also a large gymnasium for indoor volleyball and basketball,” Jareck says. Students are encouraged and expected to participate in at least one after-school extracurricular activity. Many of the clubs will be based on the Global Leadership Program. An example of a club that may be formed is one related to policy making in the United Nations. “The clubs will be formed based on what the students are interested in,” Jareck explains. The school supports a tight-knit community of learners and
expects several hundred students this fall. Because this will be the first inaugural class, only ninth graders through 11th graders will be on campus this year. Next year the campus will expand its grades to encompass the full high school range of ninth to 12th graders. The EF Academy Pasadena attracts students locally, nationally and internationally. There are day school options for those who live close by. Students who live in Southern California but do not want to commute during the week have the option of boarding five days a week and going home on the weekends. Students who live out of state or are international have the seven-day boarding option. One advantage of attracting students from around the world is the school community is diverse. There is no one nationality that is more than 20% represented. This allows for students to interact daily with others who may be culturally different from them and/ or speak different languages. This diversity reinforces the goals of global communication and collaboration and creates empathy toward those who have different origins and perspectives. “About 90% of those who are boarding seven days a week are international students from over 30 countries. There are global admissions offices all around the world,” Jareck explains. For families interested in applying, there is an admissions process that includes submitting relevant documents and interviewing the prospective student. Deadline for final admissions is Friday, August 12. Students are selected based on being a good academic fit for the rigors of EF Academy and encompassing the attributes of the EF Academy Student Profile: learner, leader, scholar and global citizen. For those families interested in finding out more about EF Academy, there will be an open house at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 18. “We encourage prospective families to join us on campus and learn about our curriculum, signature Global Leadership Program, founding staff and faculty, and receive a campus tour,” Jareck says. EF Academy is thrilled to be opening its doors soon and become a part of the Pasadena community. “All of us at EF Academy Pasadena are delighted to become part of the Pasadena community, and we look forward to building connections and collaborations. As much as we value our international community on campus, we also value the rich opportunities for learning in Pasadena and the broader Los Angeles area,” Mingarelli says. For more information, visit efacademy.org/pasadena. The full posting to the open house event and a sign-up form can be found at efacademy.org/infomeeting/sign-up/?id=5559.
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Rolling admissions open for the 2022-2023 school year Day and 5-Day Boarding applicants are eligible for our $7,000 Founding Families scholarship Become a 21st century solution-oriented changemaker in our Global Leadership Program Live and learn with peers from over 30 nationalities including the United States Individualized university guidance Project-based learning enhanced by daily extracurricular activities, clubs & sports The most international private high school in LA County
Learn more about EF Academy's global community at our Open House on August 18
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FA M I LY A N D E D U CAT I O N
Marcus McDuffie from Aion Fitness center with ChapCare patients.
ChapCare
Local nonprofit improves the community’s health lack of insurance and medical care can mean conditions go untreated. This is especially true for the low-income population. The nonprofit ChapCare — or Community Health Alliance of Pasadena — has been working to help individuals in this position get access to the care they need. For the third year, it will host the ChapCare Swing Fore Health Golf Tournament on Monday, August 29, at Glendora Country Club, 2400 Country Club Drive, Glendora. The signature event raises funds to support insured patient care. Earlier this summer, ChapCare and Aion Training held Workout for a Cause, which stressed the importance of fitness and nutrition, regular checkups and ChapCare services. As part of this campaign, community members worked out as a group at Aion Fitness. This event also allowed patients the chance to share their stories. During the campaign, the two organizations raised money to fund medical visits and prescriptions for low-income and uninsured patients. Those interested in supporting the organization can still donate to the patient assistance fund throughout the year.
ChapCare was founded in 1995 by health care organizations, city officials and community members who saw a need for health care services for low-income, uninsured people in Pasadena. Mauricio Ramos, marketing and outreach director for ChapCare, says the organization has since reached out to the whole of San Gabriel Valley, with clinics in Pasadena, Monrovia and El Monte. “We started 25 years ago as a small neighborhood response to the need of health care access in the Northwest section of Pasadena,” he says. “There was an old hospital building that was acquired. We took over and renovated it. It became our flagship health center in Pasadena.” The nonprofit receives funding through state, federal and local grants, as well as donations from foundations, individuals and corporations. They offer a range of medical services, including family and pediatric care, women’s health, podiatry, vision, behavioral health, substance abuse counseling and dental services, to more than 100,000 patients annually. A low-cost pharmacy is among the services as well. ChapCare uses a patient-centered medical home model, which continued on page 18
ChapCare/Submitted photo
A
By Laura Latzko
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ChapCare stresses the importance of fitness. continued from page 16
Reaching out Throughout the year, ChapCare hosts and takes part in community outreach events with school districts, churches and other nonprofits. In July, it hosts a back-to-school event with immunizations and yearly physicals, and a mini fair. Near Thanksgiving, ChapCare collects collect turkeys, vouchers and food boxes for families in need. For its holiday cheer events, ChapCare holds a gift drive to provide presents to children and parents in their programs. Last year, they were hosted in Pasadena and El Monte. “We engage with our patients and our community and really go beyond what is expected of most health centers,” Ramos says.
The staff deems it important to maintain relationships with patients and their families. “It is making sure that our patients feel like an extended part of our family. This is their medical home, where they come and feel comfortable to bring their kids. Trust is really important to us,” Ramos says. Available clinics ChapCare hosts clinics based on the needs of their communities and schools. Last year, it held a pop-up clinic in Arcadia designed to make COVID-19 vaccinations accessible to those in need. Ramos says especially with COVID-19, educational efforts have been important. “With COVID-19, there was a lot of hesitancy in our community about getting tested or getting vaccinated,” Ramos says. “We were able to provide that education and still are and are also advocating to make sure that they have access to vaccines and testing. The work that we do is very rewarding. We definitely see the impact that we are making in our community. Our values are focused on being compassionate to others and treating them the same way that we expect to be treated, with respect and dignity.” An overweight, diabetic patient lost 100 pounds thanks to ChapCare. Her diabetic foot and ankle problems were treated, and she started eating healthier. “She didn’t know that she had that condition until we started seeing her and did testing,” Ramos says. “We identified that problem and treated it. Now, it’s all managed. She’s very grateful for us being there for that whole process. Now, she can come to ChapCare for anything because we take care of her.” ChapCare 626-398-6300 chapcare.org
ChapCare/Submitted photo
is focused around a team approach to medical care, led by a physician who provides continued care to patients. Through the Cover California Navigator Program, the organization provides free health care enrollment assistance to those who need help finding an insurance plan or enrolling in state assistance programs such as Medi-Cal, My Health LA and Covered California. Counselors speak various languages. “We have a strong insurance involvement and community outreach team that is able to go out there and educate our community about the importance of health care and options for health care coverage,” Ramos says. For those who don’t qualify for insurance, ChapCare can cover medical care and prescription costs through a patient assistance fund. “Whoever doesn’t qualify, we are still able to help them. We don’t turn anyone away,” Ramos says. Along with medical care, ChapCare provides locals — especially homeless individuals — with food and transportation assistance. “Transportation is often an issue because they don’t have it or they take public transportation,” Ramos says. “We find a way to make it easy for them to make sure they don’t miss their appointments.”
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BUSINESS
Spiritual
Journey Pasadena Wine Shop helps sommelier heal
N
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Nicole Lalagüe’s Pasadena Wine Shop carries 300 selections of hand-picked wine.
Long road Lalagüe is well versed in the world of wine. The California native learned about the F&B industry at restaurants in her early 20s. “It’s history. It’s geography. It’s geology. It’s people. It’s social,” she says. “I think it’s a real jack-of-all-trades type of industry. If you’re curious about a lot of different things, wine will scratch that learning itch. It’s always changing, too. Every year is different with new styles, new producers.” Her resume includes stints as a sommelier with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group and managing sales and distribution locally for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leflaive. She lived in Bordeaux for six months and, like her father, is a French citizen. In a previous position, she traveled regularly to California wine country. “I was granted citizenship because my father was born in France,” she says. “That’s part of what got me into wine. It’s something my dad always enjoyed, and it was really romantic to me.” After the crash, she wasn’t sure if she would find a new calling.
Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
icole Lalagüe was working her dream job in wine sales, helping “amazing” restaurants build their programs, all while living in Pasadena. “I loved my job, and I loved living in Pasadena,” she says. That is until 2019, when she was rear-ended on the 210 Freeway, leaving a 10-millimeter lumbar spine herniation. “I had never been in pain that didn’t go away,” she recalls. “I had surgery and then it herniated again.” Lalagüe just couldn’t regularly step into a car again, raising the odds of a crash happening again and being unable to find comfort. “I tried to find work for myself, but with that second discectomy, I couldn’t get back to that old way of working,” she says. “I had to resign from a job I loved and couldn’t find a job that suited my needs.” After lengthy planning, Lalagüe opened the doors to Pasadena Wine Shop, in the heart of historic Green Street Village district, in the spring. Open 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, Pasadena Wine Shop offers private shopping appointments for individuals or small groups. “I realized in this area there were no indie wine shops,” she says. “This one is less than a mile from my home. People are coming in. It’s been my dream.” In the 600-square-foot Pasadena Wine Shop, the Bungalow Heaven resident carries 300 selections of wine she hand-picked from around the world. IPAs, sours and beer are on the shelves, too. “We focus on family-owned, small producers,” she says. “A lot of our wines are classic wines whom I know personally and visited the properties myself. There’s a real intimacy with the wines I have.” She likens finding a customer’s perfect wine to being a sleuth. “I ask them what they like, what they want to drink, and then I play Sherlock Holmes and try to find the wine for them,” she says with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter what I like or what I think is good. I match people to a wine they can’t find elsewhere. That’s what keeps them coming back.”
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Chris Mortenson/Staff photographer
Pasadena Wine Shop is a mélange of past and present worlds. “It’s been so nice to work again. I didn’t know I would work again,” she says. She recalls trying to return to work but, although mentally stimulated, physically she just couldn’t do it. “It’s weird navigating my new world with pain. I lay down and work on the website when people aren’t here. I walk through the world of wine with them when customers are here. “Physically, I feel the best I have in years. After a three-month break from work, I was mentally stir crazy. Working in sales, you’re always proactive. You’re making things happen.” Pasadena Wine Shop is the only female-founded wine shop in the San Gabriel Valley. “It’s just me and Wells Fargo,” she quips. “It’s just me taking a huge risk. I don’t have a huge investor. It’s just me asking questions of city hall every day.” Giving back to the city is pleasing to the Bungalow Heaven resident. “The thing I love the most about the shop is I get to know so many people in the community,” she says. “Being able to have that human interaction keeps people coming back. We launched our online store a few weeks ago. But customers usually come into the shop so they can explore. People are using the online store to see what we have. It’s a passion for both of us.” Pasadena Wine Shop 1055 E. Green Street, Pasadena 626-720-7407 pasadenawineshop.com nicole@pasadenawineshop.com Instagram: @pasadenawineshop
Pasadena Wine Shop is the only female-founded wine shop in the San Gabriel Valley.
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Deposit Account Balances must be in the account five (5) Business Days following final loan approval and Investment Account balances must be in the account six (6) Business Days following final loan approval. Citi eligible accounts include a personal, consumer Citibank Deposit Account in which the borrower is a direct signer, Citibank IRAs, and Investments held in linked Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”) accounts. The borrower must be an account holder on investment accounts. IRA and annuity positions shown on linked CGMI Account statements are eligible (except tax qualified annuities under sections 401, 403, or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code). Balances from Citibank Business / Commercial accounts, ERISA accounts, Keogh accounts, Bank Collateral accounts, Foreign accounts, Fiduciary accounts, and Trust accounts where the borrower is only listed as the Beneficiary are excluded. All Custodial type accounts are excluded with the exception of Custodial IRA accounts through Citibank or Pershing LLC where the borrower(s) is the beneficiary, which are eligible unless otherwise noted. Citibank IRAs that are not linked to a Citibank Deposit Account are excluded. The closing cost credit offer will be applied at closing and may not be used prior to closing. In Texas, the credit may not result in you receiving cash back. If you are interested in Citi’s banking account relationship offers, please contact your Home Lending Officer or Mortgage Representative. Speak to your loan officer about whether the relationship offer is best for you. Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing for Citibank account holders can only be applied prior to loan closing and is subject to account and balance validation. Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing is subject to change without notice. Glossary of terms for this offer: Business Day means Monday through Friday and does not include federal holidays; Eligible Balances means total funds showing in the account at the time we verify the balances less any funds we determine you will need for a down payment or closing costs; Deposit Account means a Citibank personal checking and/or savings account as well as certificates of deposit and money market accounts; Investment Account means IRAs and investments held in Citigroup Global Markets Inc. accounts.
Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, offers, products and services are subject to change without notice at any time. Offer may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined with other offers, except when applied with specific Community Lending Programs. Offers are not applicable on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit. This is not a commitment to lend. This offer contains information about U.S. domestic financial services provided by Citibank, N.A. and is intended for use domestically in the U.S. Investment products are offered through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”), Member SIPC (http://sipc.org). Citibank and CGMI are affiliated companies under the common control of Citigroup Inc. © 2022 Citibank, N.A. NMLS# 412915. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Citi, Citi and Arc Design and other marks used herein are service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates, used and registered throughout the world.
99501 - Arroyo Monthly Ad - McGuigan.indd 1
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DESIGN
NEAT Method is a luxury home organizing company that specializes in organizing, unpacking and downsizing homes and offices across Los Angeles and Canada.
Getting
Organized Declutter your home with these expert tips
NEAT Method offers a variety of high-quality products for organization and storage including Grid Baskets, which can be used to store items in an elevated way.
t can be challenging to stay organized and maintain a tidy home, especially when dealing with busy work schedules, kids, pets and everything else. We also tend to accumulate a lot of personal items and belongings over the years, which take up space in our homes. Studies have shown that there is a strong connection between clutter and stress, which can have a big impact on one’s mental health. “We believe that an organized home helps you live a more calm and composed life,” says Krisztina Galambos, owner of NEAT Method Los Angeles, a luxury home organizing company. “You will find that it truly saves so much time because everyone
NEAT Method/Submitted photos
“I
By Kamala Kirk
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NEAT Method/Submitted photos
The first step when organizing any space is to take everything out and edit the items, then sort them into categories and decide what type of organizing product to implement.
in your household will know exactly where everything is located and can quickly put items away. Being organized also allows you to maximize storage in small places and easily keep track of what you own to ensure overbuying is a thing of the past.” NEAT Method specializes in organizing, unpacking and downsizing homes and offices across Los Angeles and Canada, in addition to offering a variety of high-quality products for organization and storage. “NEAT Method specializes in providing elegant and customized solutions through thoughtful organization,” Galambos says. “We pride ourselves on offering a whiteglove service; we organize, purchase organizational solutions, implement these solutions, donate/consign unwanted items and leave you living the NEAT life. We also manage moves and relocations, as well as consult on builds and renovations to simplify life during those times when it might feel like anything but.” Embarking on a big home organization project for the first time can be overwhelming, but Galambos recommends taking it slow by starting out small.
According to Krisztina Galambos, owner of NEAT Method Los Angeles, maintaining an organized home not only helps one live a more calm and composed life, but it also allows them to save time and maximize storage.
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Krisztina Galambos recommends tackling one cabinet or drawer and completing that project prior to starting the next task.
“We always suggest tackling just one cabinet or drawer when you’re first getting started,” she says. “Many times clients try to organize an entire room in a short amount of time and quickly get overwhelmed or give up on the project altogether. By starting small, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and will gain the confidence needed to continue on to another space.” According to Galambos, the very first step when organizing any space — especially when going through drawers, closets and other storage — is to take everything out. “Once it’s empty, give it a good wipe down before you put things back,” Galambos says. “Next, go through and begin to edit items and decide what to keep, relocate, donate, recycle or throw away. After you are left with only the items you are keeping, start to sort them into categories and decide what type of organizing product to implement to create ‘boundaries.’” When it comes to organizing products, Galambos has several favorites from NEAT Method she likes to use and recommends to her clients. “Our Everyday Hangers and Spice Jar Sets are both great places to start because they make a big impact with little effort and don’t require measuring your space,” she says. “Our Grid Baskets are also one of our favorite multipurpose products that can be used to store items in an elevated way, all over the home.” While it can be difficult to decide what to get rid of and what to keep, Galambos offers several suggestions to make the process easier. “We recommend going through items at the end of a season and donating or selling anything you did not use, no longer need or that your kids have outgrown (or will outgrow by the next season), are broken, missing pieces or expired,” Galambos says. “Donating to a local charity is a great option, as well as selling through companies such as The Real Real, Thread Up and local consignment shops. If you are having a hard time deciding if you should keep an item, we suggest storing it for a bit and then reevaluating to see if you missed it.” One important thing to keep in mind is that getting organized isn’t a one-time thing; rather, it’s an ongoing form of maintenance and upkeep that requires commitment and dedication, even if just for a small amount of time on a regular basis. “Organization isn’t a one-and-done process. … You have to keep at it in order to maintain your system,” Galambos says. “The trick is to do a little here and there so it never feels too overwhelming. Try making an effort to put belongings away as soon as you’re finished using them and regularly donate anything you no longer need to prevent clutter from accumulating.” NEAT Method 310-276-5447 krisztina@neatmethod.com Instagram: @neatmethod, @losangelesneat neathmethod.com
NEAT Method/Submitted photos
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F E AT U R E
Held in Lacy Park in San Marino, the annual San Marino Motor Classic car exhibition is preceded with a gala and art exposition and sale.
Driving for a I Gala kicks off San Marino Motor Classic By Summer Aguirre
Aaron Weiss/Submitted
Good Cause
n 2011, blues artist Shawn Amos — musically known as “The Reverend” Shawn Amos — posted a four-part series of gritty essays on Huffington Post titled “Cookies & Milk: Scenes From a ’70s Hollywood Childhood.” Six years later, we discussed them during a conversation about Amos’ music for a story in The Argonaut (argonautnews.com, one of the Arroyo Monthly’s sister publications), when he said they were “cathartic but rough to write” and had been “intended to be a teaser for a book.” At the time, the material had been optioned for a possible play or movie. “That thing has a lot of legs,” Amos says, though nothing wound up getting made. Realizing he “didn’t have the stomach” for writing a full-blown memoir, he refocused on his music. A full weekend for car enthusiasts is fast approaching with the San Marino Motor Classic’s annual Symphony of Cars Gala in San Marino.
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Aaron Weiss/Submitted
The San Marino Motor Classic is held in Lacy Park, San Marino.
Sponsored by Hing Wa Lee Jewelers, the gala preludes the San Marino Motor Classic organization’s premier regional car exhibition and follows the Automotive Fine Arts Society Art Exposition & Sale. Proceeds from the gala will benefit several local beneficiary charities, providing the community with the chance to enjoy an elaborate evening of cars, drinks and art for a good cause. The weekend kicks off with the AFAS Art Exposition & Sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 27, at Lacy Park, followed by the Symphony of Cars Gala from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The San Marino Motor Classic car exhibition will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, August 28. “There are a lot of people that come to the show on Sunday, but they’re from out of town or they’re from far enough away where they’re going to stay in town overnight,” says Aaron Weiss, co-founder and chairman of the San Marino Motor Classic. “So, this (the gala) gives them something to do, and then the next morning they get up and come to the show. You have to make a weekend out of it. We entertain them and they seem to enjoy that.” In 2011, Weiss and fellow co-founders Ben Reiling and Paul Colony established the San Marino Motor Classic as a successor of the Rose Bowl’s Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance exhibition. The founders began throwing parties at Weiss’ car collection, accommodating about 150 guests for a few years before hosting the galas at Lacy Park. Today, the event entertains about 550 people annually. “We have a cocktail hour before the gala, and then we have an hourlong presentation of about 15 cars and we run them up on a stage like a debutante ball,” Weiss says. continued on page 30
The San Marino Motor Classic, founded in 2011, attracts around 5,000 car enthusiasts each year. There are approximately 30 classes of cars and about 480 entrants from all over the country. 08.22 | ARROYO | 29
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Held in Lacy Park in San Marino, the annual San Marino Motor Classic car exhibition is preceded with a gala and art exposition and sale.
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“We have an orchestra that plays music paired to the year of the car’s manufacturer. It’s a really nice event. … The program is good, the food is good, everything is good.” Proceeds from sponsorships and donations are split between Cancer Support Community Pasadena, the Pasadena Humane Society and Rotary charities. The latter distributes its share of the money to around 20 charities throughout the San Gabriel Valley. “Last year we raised $518,000,” Weiss says. “It doesn’t sound like much, but for a car show, it’s huge — most car shows lose money.” This is the second year the AFAS, an international society of automotive artists, is accompanying the Symphony of Cars Gala with an art exposition and sale. Hosted by Team Janice Lee Berkshire Hathaway and auction house Bonhams, the art event will feature 16 artists selling pieces for as much as $25,000. “These guys are top designers for some of the major motor companies,” Weiss says. “Some are professional artists, where there are certain guys that do a lot of magazine art for the car companies. On the side they like to paint or draw. So, they have a portfolio of work and they like to show it, just like the guys who like to show their cars, and if they can sell it, it just makes the day better.” The weekend closes with the San Marino Motor Classic car exhibition the following day. The event attracts about 5,000 guests and around 480 car entrants from all over the country. Entrants compete in approximately 30 classes. At the end of the day, cars are judged in several categories. “For the younger people, there’s the Ferraris and Porsches. That’s what they want to see,” Weiss says. “For the older people, they want to see the pre-war classics and then everything in between. So there’s really something for everybody. We’re not particularly skewed to one particular class. “I think we’ve run a really organized show where together the judging has been good and people want to come back. That’s the key,” he added. Along with the Sunday car show and awards ceremony, there will be vendors, food trucks and a public eating area. There will also be a VIP reception, featuring a gourmet luncheon and adult beverage while enjoying the awards at the end of the night. General admission to the San Marino Motor Classic car exhibition can be purchased online prior to the day of the event for $35 or at the gate for $40. VIP tickets are available for $150. Tickets to the Symphony of Cars Gala are $275 and include admission to the car exhibition and AFAS Art Exposition & Sale. Guests wear cocktail attire and are offered complimentary valet parking. The final day to RSVP to the event is August 10. Sponsorships for the gala and art exposition vary in number of event tickets and level of recognition in the dinner program. Packages include the Cadillac for $1,500, Duesenberg for $2,500 and Rolls-Royce for $5,000. San Marino Motor Classic and Symphony of Cars Gala 818-606-0638 sanmarinomotorclassic.com
Aaron Weiss/Submitted
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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E
A Pasadena
Girl
Singer Phoebe Bridgers has fond memories of home
Phoebe Bridgers/Submitted photo
I
By Xavier Omar Otero
n no time, Phoebe Bridgers has gone from busking at the Pasadena Farmers Market for tips to headlining major music festivals around the world. From the outset, with the release of 2017’s “Stranger in the Alps” — a diary of loneliness and heartbreak — the Pasadena native’s nuanced storytelling set a ground swell into motion. Bridgers’ ability to make intimacies feel universal is her strong suit. “My favorite music, like ‘You Missed My Heart’ by Mark Kozelek, has this quality about it that doesn’t quite make sense,” she says from Germany, where she was on tour. Lauded by Rolling Stone as “one of the year’s best albums,” her sophomore album 2020’s “Punisher” — which received four Grammy nominations — proved to be a launch pad that would propel Bridgers afar. She’s on tour, with stops in Amsterdam, London, Montreux, Paris, São Paulo, Mexico City, Vancouver and back to her hometown for This Ain’t No Picnic on Sunday, August 28, at Brookside at the Rose Bowl. Bridgers was born in Pasadena in 1994. Her father worked in construction while her mother held various jobs. Bridgers’ parents divorced when she was 19. “I mean, the Pasadena part was great,” she says. “I went to preschool in Sierra Madre. I graduated from Sequoyah Middle School. It was a gorgeous place to grow up.” Her lyrics to “Garden Song” reference life in Pasadena. “I always went to the Rose Bowl as a little kid. That was pretty cool,” she reminisces. “We got really good tickets the year that it rained really hard.” Her interest in music goes back as far as she can remember. Influenced by her parents’ record collection, her musical heroes then were “everybody my parents
listened to: Tom Waits, Nina Simone, Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell.” Her music-loving mom encouraged her to pursue her passion. “I started out with piano lessons, which I hated. Then I moved to guitar pretty quick,” she says. Her first band formed while attending Sequoyah. “I don’t think we had a name. We did a lot of covers,” Bridgers recalls fondly. “We’d play at Pinocchio’s Pizza on Lake Avenue.” Another one of her early bands, Phoebe & the He-Men, was inspired by the most powerful man in the universe. “Because I liked ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ TV show. We played Battle of the Bands quite a bit.” Once bitten by the music bug, for Bridgers there was no other course of action. “I really wanted to go to LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts),” she says. “By sixth and seventh grade I was already thinking about my application there.” At LACHSA she studied vocal jazz, opera and music technology. Around that time, Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance, smiled upon her with grace. “When I was 18, I was cast in a commercial, which helped me to take a break from odd jobs and busking while I made my record.” The 2014 commercial for Apple iPhone 5S featured a fresh-faced Bridgers singing the Pixies “Gigantic.” Bridgers reflects, “I don’t come from money. So, it gave me the freedom to not have a plan B.” At the end of August, the “Patron Saint of Sadness,” as christened by The Guardian, is scheduled to perform at This Ain’t No Picnic Festival. Excited to perform for a hometown audience, Bridgers enthuses, “It’ll be cool. It’s five minutes from my continued on page 32 08.22 | ARROYO | 31
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affected most.” Despite being sickened by the conservative faction of a court that seeks to turn back time, Bridgers sees a path forward. “There are a lot of organizations I really love: The Mariposa Fund is a great abortion fund. The Lilith Fund. Planned Parenthood is still doing really good work.” She continues, “For trans rights there is The Ally Coalition and The Trevor Project.” Bridgers is donating a portion of ticket sales from her tour to The Mariposa Fund. “Throwing money and resources at those (organizations) right now is the best that I can do as someone with a platform,” she concludes. “Hopefully, it helps.” On “I Know the End” — a dystopian folk ballad with references to American culture and recent events — Bridgers says, “The billboard said, ‘The end is near.’” When queried, Bridgers ruminates, “I think so. I think it is. I don’t pretend to know when the heat death of the planet is going to happen. Or, if talking politics, I don’t know when we’re going to be under 100% totalitarian rule. “Some of this there is no turning back from,” she says soberly. “But it’s not like hope is dead. There are a lot of really cool people out there, way smarter than the people on the Supreme Court, doing really great work,” she declares. “Hopefully we can overturn the environmental laws that were put into place two weeks ago.” As for her plans, Bridgers is uncertain. “Right now, I love playing live. Maybe next year will come more music. I’m following whatever intrigues me the most. That’s the way that I’ve always been.” True to form, like on “Halloween,” she sings, “There’s a last time for everything. Oh, come on, man. We can be anything.”
This Ain’t No Picnic WHEN: Various times Saturday, August 27, to Sunday, August 28. Phoebe Bridgers performs August 28 WHERE: Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena COST: Tickets start at $159 INFO: thisaintnopicnic.com, 1-888-320-7328
Phoebe Bridgers/Submitted photo
mom’s house. It’s fun to have everybody that you know in one place.” She adds, “And I learned how to drive in that parking lot.” In addition to living in Pasadena, Bridgers spent time “walking Scott Street, feeling like a stranger,” as she sings in the song. “It’s actually Scott Avenue. It’s in Echo Park,” she clarifies. Echo Park — the final home of her musical idol Elliott Smith, and that of Bedrock.LA, a large rehearsal facility a few blocks from Scott Avenue — is where she once shared a practice space with drummer Marshall Vore. It was at Bedrock where the strikingly confessional songs that comprise “Stranger in the Alps” began to coalesce. Throughout her career, Bridgers has lent her voice to causes close to her heart. Recently, she partnered with HomeState: A Texas Kitchen as a participant in its band taco program, bringing music and tacos together in support of neighboring communities, with proceeds donated to local charities. “As of right now, I have not decided what’s going to be in my taco. I’ve been busy on tour,” Bridgers imparts in mid-July. “But I’m sure it’ll be great.” An outspoken advocate for abortion rights, Bridgers took a hard stance during her set at the Glastonbury Festival in England the day Roe v. Wade was overturned. She led the sea of concertgoers in a chant, “(Expletive) the Supreme Court!” “I felt the ruling in my whole body. It was unexpected. I somehow thought it was going to turn around,” Bridgers says. “I had an abortion in October of last year.” After a pause, she reflects, “It’s basic human empathy to be torn apart knowing that it’s going to be marginalized people, people of color, queer people who will be
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DINING
Modern
Dim Sum
Internationally acclaimed chef Tony He celebrates grand reopening in Pasadena
W
By Kamala Kirk
ithin a month of opening his first U.S. Chef Tony location in February 2020, Tony He was forced to close his doors due the pandemic. Two years later, the internationally acclaimed Cantonese chef, who also opened Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant in Rosemead in 2003, is excited to welcome guests back and celebrated with a grand reopening on June 25. Chef Tony Dim Sum is a modern dim sum concept in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. The stunning 1,260-square-foot restaurant, which is located in the historic Bear Building on Colorado Boulevard, features historic art deco walls, red accented booths and chairs, original
Chef Tony Dim Sum/Submitted photos
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The menu includes unique items such as squid ink shrimp dumplings with gold leaf, savory deep-fried Chinese doughnuts, sticky rice balls stuffed with lava salted egg yolk, and coconut pudding in the shape of bunnies. continued from page 33
The stunning restaurant is located in the historic Bear Building on Colorado Boulevard and features historic art deco walls, red accented booths and chairs, original chandeliers and a cocktail bar.
Chef Tony Dim Sum/Submitted photos
chandeliers in the main dining room, and a separate cocktail bar. “Pasadena is our first Chef Tony location in the U.S.,” He says. “It is one of the most famous locations, and there has never been a restaurant like it in Pasadena before. We have a pioneering spirit, and we believe it will bring a completely different dining experience to Pasadena and the surrounding areas. We were confident it would be a success here, so Pasadena became our first choice.” The menu at Chef Tony Dim Sum has 12 different sections, including starters, dim sum steamed, dim sum rice noodle roll, dim sum baked and fried, seafood, meat, soup, congee, noodle, rice, vegetable, and dessert. Every dish is made to order and fresh out of the kitchen. “Innovative ideas, premium ingredients and strict quality control are our specialty, and this differentiates us from traditional dim sum restaurants,” He says. Among the menu highlights are dishes such as savory deep fried Chinese doughnuts, squid ink shrimp dumplings with gold leaf, shrimp and pork dumplings with black truffle, shrimp wonton with house spicy sauce, roast duck and minced duck lettuce wrap prepared two ways, and pan-fried taro cake. Other signature items include roast crispy chicken with black truffle, black truffle chicken with cilantro and onion; BBQ pork, stewed chicken soup with matsutake mushroom; steamed lave salted egg yolk pub with gold foil; and coconut pudding shaped like bunnies. Aiming to elevate traditional dim sum, Chef Tony Dim Sum’s
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Chef Tony Dim Sum/Submitted photo
dishes are a reflection of Guangdong Cantonese cuisine layered with refined touches and high-quality ingredients. There are no rolling carts in the restaurant, and the dishes include ingredients such as freshly shaved black truffles and gold leaf touches. “The variety of hand-made dim sum are prepared by experienced dim sum chefs and dishes are stir-fried by experienced Cantonese chefs,” He adds. “The goal for our Pasadena location is to create a memorable dining experience, serving modern dim sum to a new generation of diners. Guests are welcome to sit solo at the bar, order a cocktail and try a special dim sum platter or celebrate with a group of friends or family in our private dining room downstairs.” The cocktail bar also highlights Chinese spirits such as Baijiu with brands like Wuliangye and Chu Yeh Ching Chieu, Tsingtao Beer and a selection of wines. “We will always keep the spirit of innovation, and we will continue to introduce new innovative dishes that showcase the quality, flavor and the healthy concept of dim sum,” He says. “We also welcome each of our guests to taste and give us their valuable suggestions. I wish to bring to America the art of making and savoring Chinese dim sum, and I hope my staff, ambiance and food will touch yours.” Chef Tony Dim Sum 2 W Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena 626-803-0028 Instagram: @cheftonypasadena 08.22 | ARROYO | 35
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CULINARY CUPBOARD
Fluffy, fruity and fresh By Emily Chavez
T
ender cake crumb, sweet strawberry, zesty lemon and fluffy whipped cream enjoyed in a composed bite is one of the most refreshing desserts on a sweltering August afternoon. Reminiscent of the store-bought strawberry shortcakes many of us enjoyed as children, but without the chemicals and preservatives that are nearly impossible to pronounce, this upgraded version puts you in control of your cake-to-cream ratio. Although canned whipped cream is a reliable standby for some households, absolutely nothing beats fresh whipped cream made up in minutes with its cool and light with substance texture. Dollop the cream over the entire cake just before serving a group or add it as needed to a single portion so the cake doesn’t get soggy. You could also serve a slice of cake with a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a more indulgent option or top with a pat of butter to enjoy with a cup of tea. STRAWBERRY AND CREAM BUNDT CAKE HANDS-ON TIME: 25 MINUTES | READY IN 1 HOUR 25 MINUTES YIELDS: 15 SERVINGS
INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 CUPS GRANULATED SUGAR 1 CUP MILK 1 CUP OIL, CANOLA OR VEGETABLE 2 LARGE EGGS ZEST OF ONE LEMON 3 TEASPOONS VANILLA EXTRACT 4 CUPS AND 4 TABLESPOONS
ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR 2 TEASPOONS BAKING POWDER 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA 1/2 TEASPOON SALT 4 CUPS DICED STRAWBERRIES 1 CUP HEAVY CREAM, CHILLED 1 TABLESPOON CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR
1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 350 DEGREES. PREPARE A 9-INCH BUNDT CAKE PAN WITH BUTTER AND FLOUR OR A NONSTICK SPRAY. 2. IN A MEDIUM BOWL, STIR TOGETHER THE LEMON ZEST, GRANULATED SUGAR, MILK, OIL, EGGS AND 2 TEASPOONS VANILLA. 3. IN A SEPARATE BOWL, COMBINE THE 4 CUPS OF FLOUR, BAKING POWDER, BAKING SODA AND SALT. 4. ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS TO THE WET INGREDIENTS AND STIR UNTIL JUST COMBINED. 5. IN A SMALL BOWL, TOSS TOGETHER THE STRAWBERRIES AND THE REMAINING 4 TABLESPOONS OF FLOUR TO COAT THE STRAWBERRIES. FOLD THE FLOURED STRAWBERRIES GENTLY INTO THE BATTER. 6. POUR THE BATTER INTO THE PREPARED CAKE PAN. 7. BAKE AT 350 DEGREES FOR 60 MINUTES OR UNTIL A TOOTHPICK INSERTED COMES OUT CLEAN. 8. ALLOW THE CAKE TO COOL FOR 10 MINUTES, THEN TURN OUT ONTO A CAKE PLATE TO COOL COMPLETELY. 9. WHIP THE HEAVY CREAM, CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR AND REMAINING TEASPOON OF VANILLA ON MEDIUM-HIGH SPEED IN A CHILLED BOWL UNTIL MEDIUM PEAKS FORM. 10. TOP WITH WHIPPED CREAM JUST BEFORE SERVING.
Luis Chavez/ Staff photographer
INSTRUCTIONS
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CUSTOM POOLS AND OUTDOOR SPACES
(626) 332-1527 • HUNTINGTONPOOLS.COM
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